AT BAYOU GENTILLY--MARCH--APRIL.
The month of March was dull enough to suit an epicure or sluggard.
Additional details from the regiment for service elsewhere was the
order of the day. In response to a call by special orders from
headquarters, Defences of New Orleans, the following men were detailed
from Company E, March 1st, for service in the Fourth Massachusetts
Battery, in need of men:
Privates Alender E. Dorman, Henry C. Tyler, George H. Hathorn, Lyman
Hathorn, Leonard Mahon and Michael Nedow.
On the tenth, Captain Coburn and Lieutenant John P. Burrell, Company
A, with three sergeants, five corporals and forty-eight privates, left
camp to take post at Battery St. John, situated on the Bayou St. John.
The monotony of camp life was relieved by a brigade drill held on the
third. On this occasion Sergeant Charles A. Attwell, Company G, who
had been detailed March 2d to act as band-major, made his first effort
in that line of business. Attwell was a stout, pompous appearing man,
well calculated to deceive anybody on a slight acquaintance, and he
made out of his position all that any man could possibly squeeze. On
the march to and from the drill ground he made love to all the women,
who followed the regiment with pies and cakes for sale. Dropping to
the rear of the column, when a route step was taken, Attwell would be
found, escorted by these women, liberally helping himself to their
goods. There was a reason for all this on his part; a perfect specimen
of a “dead beat,” he never paid for anything, except in compliments.
A ripple of excitement was created on the eighth, when a letter from
Colonel Farr was received, with orders to hold the men in readiness
for marching orders at a moment’s notice. On the thirteenth, when the
paroled men were ordered to get ready for transfer to the United States
Barracks and there quartered, it looked like a general breaking up of
camp at Gentilly Bayou, and the men were in fine spirits again. The
latter orders were immediately countermanded, and the camp soon settled
down to the old state of things.
There existed, among regiments that arrived in January and February,
a heavy sick list, accompanied with a loss of many men by death. An
inquiry into the cause, ordered by General Sherman, produced the
following interesting circular, issued to all commanding officers under
his orders. One reason for incorporating this circular as a part of the
regimental record, is to show certain officers and men of the regiment,
who were accustomed to disregard nearly all of the recommendations
contained therein, what results will follow from not performing one of
the highest duties that belong to an officer on active service, viz.,
personal attention to the health of his men.
“CIRCULAR.
“HEADQUARTERS DEFENCES NEW ORLEANS,
“NEW ORLEANS, March 7th, 1863.
“Upon the following report of the medical director of this command of
February 21st, ult., the brigadier-general commanding has made this
indorsement:
“’It is believed that a publication of Surgeon Sanger’s report, to
the troops of this command, fully approved as it is by me, will be
sufficient to awaken a greater spirit of pride and vigor in attention
to duty.
“’There is no doubt but that a want of attention to personal
cleanliness, of proper police, and of vigorous, hearty, and interested
attention to duty, is the cause of most sickness now prevalent.
“’I call upon all commanding officers to look carefully into this
matter, and endeavor to prevent not only all unnecessary mortality, but
that continued reduction of the duty list, which so much enfeebles the
efficiency of the command.
“’Commanding officers must not take upon themselves to excuse men and
officers from duty on the plea of sickness. The medical officers alone
are to decide who are fit or unfit for duty.’
“WICKHAM HOFFMAN,
“_Assistant Adjutant-General_.
* * * * *
“NEW ORLEANS, March 5th, 1863.
“CAPTAIN W. HOFFMAN,
“_Assistant Adjutant-General_:
“In obedience to your instructions, I have examined with care and
interest the various hospitals and regiments in this command, to
ascertain the cause of so much sickness. My investigations have been
thorough, having visited nearly every cook-house, street, and tent,
observing drainage, etc., in this command.
“The results of my investigations are not altogether satisfactory,
and in some instances contradictory. The special cause of disease
in individual regiments is hard to arrive at, because what seems to
predispose to disease in one case is harmless in another, and results
are so dependent upon the mental and moral influences exerted over
the men, their special predisposition and resistance to disease, and
their idiosyncracies, and previous habits. I have, however, arrived at
certain general conclusions of importance.
“_First._ There is but little, if any, malarious poison generated at
present. I did not see a characteristic case of intermittent fever,
and but one case of remittent. In many cases where malarial fever was
reported, it was either initiative fever, or one of the species of
the continued form, or the regiments had been previously exposed to
malaria, and the damp weather, or other untoward circumstances had
developed or reproduced it. In confirmation of this may be instanced
the Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts, now suffering from intermittent. This
regiment had fever and ague severely at Forts Philip and Jackson last
June and July, but after being ordered to the Custom House, beyond
malarious influences, recovered. Since the rainy season set in, their
quarters have been dark and damp, and this fever has been reproduced.
“_Second._ The camping ground outside the city is very similar in
character; there is but little choice of grounds, most of the camps are
susceptible of pretty good drainage, and the difference of altitude
does not vary more than twelve to seventeen inches. Some camps are more
accessible to certain conveniences, such as drinking water, sinks and
places for the disposal of slops, and those on the immediate banks of
the river are more exempt from whatever malaria exists at the present
time, yet these differences do not account for the disparities in the
sick reports.
“_Third._ Neatness in cooking and person, and cleanliness of camps,
are powerful agents in preserving health, and in proportion to the
observance of Heaven’s first law, did I see exemption from disease.
It is not sufficient, however, that soldiers should be passive agents
in the accomplishment of this, but their pride and ambition should be
aroused, they should be made to feel that it was not only _necessary
for the preservation of health_, but _laudable_.
“Wherever I found officers who had inspired spirit in their men, and
had taken a personal interest in keeping their soldiers and camps
clean, and where soldiers had been made to feel that excellence in
these points was meritorious, and that a deviation would not only
not be _permitted_ but surely _punished_; and where I found men were
convinced that to complain was unmanly and nursing not the privilege of
the soldier, there I found a healthy regiment.
“The One Hundred and Tenth New York had the largest sick list, two
hundred and ninety-two; this regiment was on shipboard fifty-three
days; after landing had some ship fever and about one hundred cases of
measles; lost fifteen men. The voyage, measles and deaths depressed the
men somewhat, besides men from agricultural districts do not seem to be
so hardy and stand campaigning as well as city soldiers. The camp was
neat, tents floored and cooking good; men looked pretty vigorous; think
the surgeon too lenient, but he said if he did not excuse the men the
colonel would. Should say the sick report might be reduced one-third
with impunity.
“The Sixteenth New Hampshire was encamped near the One Hundred and
Tenth New York, had one hundred and seventy-three sick; only fifteen
days on shipboard; lost ten men; principal disease, diarrhœa; camp was
not so well drained as the One Hundred and Tenth New York. Tents and
streets were very dirty and the men unwashed, some had not washed for
four weeks and the most not for two weeks.
“The One Hundred and Sixty-Second New York, camping on the same ground,
had very few sick. This regiment was enlisted in New York City; were
forty-one days on shipboard, and, I believe, had not lost a man in
camp. The surgeon attended personally to the cooking, drainage and
cleanliness of camp, and the commanding officer had his suggestions
rigorously enforced.
“The Thirty-Eighth Massachusetts had one hundred and fifty-five sick;
tents provided with floors; streets pretty neat, and the facilities for
drainage good; cook tents too much crowded, and cooking not attended
to as it ought to be; principal disease, diarrhœa; think the surgeon a
little too lenient; says there were forty chronic cases, which never
ought to have been enlisted; attributes diarrhœa to sour bread.
“The Fifty-Third Massachusetts had one hundred and thirty-six sick;
sick list swelled by a number of cases of scarlet and lung fever; lung
fever caused by sleeping on the damp ground for the first fortnight
after their arrival. The hospital was not neat; sick were not provided
with comforts, and the surgeon complains that he could not make his
hospital fund available. Both assistant-surgeons sick. Cooking done in
the open air, without shelter from the heavy rains.
“The One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth New York had one hundred and
twenty-three sick; were on shipboard forty-two days; did not pay the
same attention to cleanliness and fumigation that the One Hundred and
Sixty-Second New York did; have had a large number of cases of ship
fever, nearly one hundred; lost thirty-nine men. Principal cause of
disease at present, diarrhœa. Neither the camp nor hospital are in good
condition. The soldiers don’t take pride in grading their streets and
keeping their tents clean. Counted beef bones by the dozen about their
tents. Many of their patients are treated in hospital tents and on the
floor. Suggested to the colonel to take a confiscated house within his
regimental lines, now occupied by the One Hundred and Sixty-Second New
York. A vacant house can be found near the camp of the One Hundred and
Sixty-Second New York, quite as convenient for the latter.
“The Twenty-Sixth Connecticut has one hundred and fifty sick. Diseases,
typhoid fever and diarrhœa. Number of deaths, nine. I think the cause
of so much disease, and _kind_, can be traced to want of cleanliness.
The tents were all disorderly and dirty. Attention was not paid to
keeping the drains and streets free from mouldy bread, meat bones and
orange peel. The men had a listless and indifferent look, as if waiting
the expiration of their term of service.
“The Fourth Massachusetts had one hundred and fourteen sick; on
shipboard forty-eight days; no deaths; diarrhœa prevailing. Through
the energy and attention of their commander, this regiment has escaped
serious disease. Did not see any very sick in hospital or quarters. The
men were enjoying a little respite after long confinement on shipboard.
“The Sixth Michigan is improving; still show the effects of the malaria
of last summer.
“The Fifteenth New Hampshire are rapidly improving; officers and men
becoming very much interested in improving their camp.
“The Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts has a large number in general hospital.
The inclement weather and dark, gloomy and damp quarters give them a
sickly look. I think they would rapidly improve if the regiment was
removed to drier and more airy quarters.
“The One Hundred and Sixty-Fifth New York and Thirty-First
Massachusetts are very free from disease. Much is due in both these
regiments to the spirit, energy and attention of their commanders and
surgeons. The camp of the One Hundred and Sixty-Fifth New York is
scrupulously neat, clean and well drained--best camp in this command;
and personal attention seems to be paid by the officers to everything
conducive to health and comfort. The other regiments of your command
are in very good condition, and present very small sick reports.
“I found very few of the regimental cooks furnished with the little
cook books issued by the Commissaries. Either the Commissaries have
failed to furnish them, or the company to distribute them. Most of the
cooks seemed anxious to be supplied with them.
“The use of mixed vegetables is almost universally neglected. It is
important to accustom the regiments to the use of them, at least once
a week, in soups, as fresh potatoes will soon fail, and the habitual
use of some succulent vegetable is essential to health, as well as to
prevent the cravings of a ravenous appetite, produced by a want of
that variety to which soldiers have been accustomed in private life.
A morbid appetite is created by this neglect, and when soldiers get
access to such food they invariably overload their stomachs.
“Respectfully, your obedient servant,
“EUGENE F. SANGER,
“_Medical Director, General Sherman’s Command_.”
The first vacancy among commissioned officers of the regiment was
caused by the resignation of First-Lieutenant David A. Partridge,
of Company B, who remained in Massachusetts to look after deserters
when the regiment left the State, and was granted a discharge by War
Department Special Orders No. 105, dated March 5th, to enable him to
accept a commission and recruit for the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts
Colored Volunteers. The vacancy was filled March 24th by the
_election_ of Second-Sergeant Benjamin C. Tinkham, Company B, jumping
Second-Lieutenant J. C. Clifford and the first-sergeant, who were in
the line of promotion.
The second vacancy was caused by the resignation of Captain Charles
A. Pratt, Company E. This vacancy was also filled by an _election_
by the company, April 2d. First-Lieutenant John W. Emerson was made
captain, and Second-Sergeant Augustus Ford, Company E, was elected
a first-lieutenant, _vice_ Emerson, promoted (if this can be called
promotion), jumping Second-Lieutenant Brown P. Stowell, a prisoner of
war in Texas, and the first-sergeant, who were in the line of promotion.
This _elective_ system of filling vacancies, one of the inducements
held out to attract men to enlist in the nine months’ troops from
Massachusetts, was a ridiculous system; one of caucus politics in the
army. It was the cause of considerable ill feeling and much trouble in
nine months’ organizations from the State. To allow the rank and file
to choose by an election their company officers was entirely wrong.
Under it any man in the company, no matter what his qualifications may
be, stands a chance, by electioneering, to win an officer’s position
that is vacant. Merit in that officer who has a right to expect the
promotion is overlooked, if that officer has been so unlucky as to
incur the displeasure of a few prominent men in his company, and they
proceed to spread the dissatisfaction to others, and take their revenge
by electing another over him not entitled to the vacancy. What is the
consequence? The officer so jumped forthwith loses the interest he
formerly had in the command, and does not exert himself to work for the
good of the men under him.
It is just to say that in the above cases the selections were good.
Perhaps could not be better.
With the exception of a slight clashing of authority between Captain
Coburn, in command at Battery St. John, and Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman,
concerning some captures of prisoners and seizures of contraband
goods on the night of the fourteenth, which required two peremptory
letters to be sent to Captain Coburn before it was straightened out,
everything worked smooth with the command. This was a case where four
citizens were arrested near Bayou St. John in the act of smuggling
contraband goods across Lake Ponchartrain; three of them were sent to
New Orleans March 17th by orders, and one was discharged March 16th by
Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman.
The City of New Orleans so near to many camps, full of enticements
of a varied character, was the place to tempt many a soldier who was
disposed to evade duty and absent himself without leave. Stragglers
from these camps without passes gave provost-guards so much trouble
and the evil grew to such proportions every day, Department Special
Orders No. 61 were issued March 2d to put a stop to it. There were five
hundred men in the city without passes and in confinement reported to
the provost-marshal-general March 2d. In one day the provost-guard
found nineteen men from one company without a pass; but one man from
the Forty-Second is known to have visited the city in this way during
March, and he, Private Owen Fox, Company A, was promptly arrested by
the guard and sent back to the regiment.
Besides the details already mentioned, the following details were made
and changes occurred during the month:
March 4th--Corporal John C. Yeaton, Company E, was reduced to the ranks
by regimental special orders as unfit for the position.
March 4th--Private G. G. Belcher, Company F, was relieved as a wagoner
and ordered to duty in the ranks, and the captain ordered to appoint a
trustworthy person to fill the position of wagoner.
March 5th--Privates Thomas H. Sawyer, Company B, and Joseph V. Colson,
Company G, were detailed as markers.
March 5th--Private John A. Loud, Company A, was ordered to report to
Lieutenant Pease, division ordnance-officer, to do duty as a mechanic
in unspiking guns at Chalmette. He returned to duty in the regiment
June 13th.
March 7th--Private J. Augustus Fitts, Company B, was detailed as
orderly at regimental headquarters.
March 7th--Private William H. Haven was transferred from Company E to
Company F, to date from March 1st.
March 8th--Private Clark K. Denny was relieved from duty as orderly and
made a clerk at regimental headquarters.
March 9th--Special Orders, Defences New Orleans, appointed Corporal
Uriel Josephs and Sergeant Eben Tirrell, Jr., of Company A, as
ordnance-sergeants at Batteries Gentilly and St. John, reporting to the
division ordnance-officer.
March 9th--Private Elbridge G. Harwood, Company B, was made regimental
carpenter, serving in that capacity until relieved in July.
March 9th--Private George H. Greenwood, Company B, was made cook for
the wagoner’s mess, serving as such until relieved in July.
March 31st--Major Stiles and Lieutenant Duncan, Company F, were
detailed on court-martial duty by general orders, Defences New Orleans,
to serve when such court was held. They were not relieved until July
30th.
In addition to these details the chief-quartermaster asked for names
of such men in the regiment as were qualified to act as superintendent
of machine works, and in the manufacture and preparation of lumber.
Upon inquiry there were found quite a number, who were recommended
accordingly, but no detail was made from the regiment.
In this month (March) a few unimportant incidents occurred worth notice
because a few members, who are aware of the facts, cannot forget them.
One was a hunt after dogs, on the night of March 31st, by a few wild,
restless spirits, with a view to exterminate all they could from the
neighborhood infested with them. Another was an old negro who could not
tell his age, but, from facts gleaned in conversation with him, must
have been over one hundred years old. Bent over with age, trembling
with weakness, without a home or friends, this old man was a wanderer
from camp to camp for food and shelter. On a bitter cold night he
struck the Forty-Second camp, and was provided with lodging in the
guard-house. None of his kind would care for him, so he said, “since
old massa had dun gon’ away.”
Sergeant-Major Bosson, and Sergeant Phil. Hackett, Company G, had an
adventure on the Gentilly road on the night of March 10th. A beautiful
moonlight evening it was. As they strolled along the road songs were
heard, sung by a party of men evidently in liquor. To hide and listen,
under the shadow of a board fence, was suggested by Hackett. No sooner
done than a few snatches of a secession refrain raised Hackett’s
anger to such a point that he was ready to whip the entire party.
Bosson advised no interference, as the men had a perfect right to
sing. Hackett’s blood was up, however, and when a citizen (the party
separated a few moments before) arrived opposite their hiding place,
Phil. jumped for him, when the man showed fight. Hackett threw him
into a ditch, alongside the road, and by the time he got out, swearing
vengeance, Bosson was on hand. The two confronted him. He raised one
arm to the back of his neck, when stories, often read in books, of
Southerners with bowie knives carried in that spot flashed across the
minds of both men, and simultaneously they seized him. Hackett held
his arms while Bosson placed a pistol to his head. Frenchman as he
was, excited with anger and liquor, the cold muzzle against his temple
completely cowed the fellow. A search was made for the suspected bowie
knife, but none was found. The man, who gave his name as citizen
Ambrose Leonard, was marched into camp a prisoner. As nothing could
be charged against him, he was released from arrest March 12th by
Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman. There was no good cause for this arrest;
the affair sprang from a spirit of mischief and from ignorance of what
they had a right to do.
On March 21st occurred the first loss by death the regiment sustained
at Bayou Gentilly. Private Obed F. Allen, Company G, a paroled prisoner
of war, died in the regimental hospital of typhoid fever. The disease
was contracted on the march from Houston. His body was embalmed by a
city undertaker at the expense of his comrades in Company G, and sent
to his home in Quincy, Massachusetts.
At the close of March there were present for duty in the four
companies at Gentilly Bayou and vicinity, seventeen officers and three
hundred and fifty-five men.
Present sick in hospital, thirty-six. The average sick per day of the
regiment during March was: taken sick, two; returned to duty, two; in
hospital, twenty; in quarters, three.
In April the companies attached to regimental headquarters had some
work to perform. Brigade special orders, issued on the fourth, placed
Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman in command of the stations Bayou Gentilly,
Bayou St. John, Lakeport, and the bayous dependent upon the same,
with headquarters at Gentilly Bayou, and he was ordered to relieve
two companies of the Ninth Connecticut Infantry, then stationed at
Lake-end of Bayou St. John and at Lakeport, with two companies from the
Forty-Second.
On the fifth, a fine Sunday morning, about ten o’clock, Captain
Cogswell (who had been relieved from command of the paroled camp by
Lieutenant Powers, Company F) proceeded with his company to Lakeport
and relieved Company E, Ninth Connecticut, Captain Wright, then on
picket duty from Lakeport to Point aux Herbes, fifteen miles. On
the same day thirty-five men of Company A, under Captain Coburn,
proceeded to Lake-end of Bayou St. John and relieved Company G, Ninth
Connecticut. The Ninth Connecticut men behaved in a most unsoldierlike
manner, causing Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman to state the facts to
brigade headquarters in the accompanying letter:
“HEADQUARTERS FORTY-SECOND REGT., MASS. VOLS.,
“CAMP FARR, BAYOU GENTILLY, LA., April 6th, 1863.
“_Sir_,--I have the honor to report that I proceeded yesterday,
according to Special Orders No. 54, and moved Company F of this
regiment to Lakeport, and there relieved the Ninth Connecticut, Captain
Wright, who turned over the public property in his possession to
Captain J. D. Cogswell, commanding Company F. The pickets were taken
from Company F for Lakeport and all stations below that point.
“At the Lake-end of Bayou St. John I placed thirty men and four
non-commissioned officers from Company A, leaving thirty men of the
same company at Battery St. John; the whole under command of Captain
Coburn, of Company A.
“I have remaining of Company A, nineteen men, four non-commissioned
officers and one lieutenant, who are now stationed at Battery Gentilly
on the Ponchartrain Railroad, thus making all the stations and pickets
outside of this immediate camp under charge of Companies A and F.
“In connection with the relieving of the companies of the Ninth
Connecticut Volunteers, I am sorry to be obliged to report the ill-will
manifested by many of them at their removal from the lake.
“At Lakeport they broke up and destroyed all the bunks in the building
they occupied as quarters and sold all the boards they could remove
from the building. Several of them were badly intoxicated, and one
drew a knife and another a club on one of the members of Company F for
refusing to allow them to pull out the faucets of the water tanks and
waste all the water at the quarters.
“At the Lake-end of Bayou St. John the Government schooner _Hortense_
was lying, and the crew of that boat managed, before my men took
possession of her, to damage her in several ways. Twelve lights of
glass were broken of the cabin windows, and the cabin furniture
considerably damaged. They sold the hawser, also the launch, or
tender, of the schooner, and many of the cooking utensils were thrown
overboard and lost. The water cask and a few of the ropes have been
recovered from parties who bought them, but the launch and other
things, which they sold, we have not found as yet.
“I would respectfully submit this report as a simple statement of facts
which have come under my observation since relieving the companies
named.
“I have the honor to remain,
“Your most obedient servant,
“J. STEDMAN,
“_Lieutenant-Colonel commanding_.
“To LIEUTENANT GEORGE E. DAVIS, _A. A. A. General_,
“_Second Brigade, Second Division, New Orleans_.”
The boat of the _Hortense_ was found May 2d at Hickok’s Landing in the
possession of a coffee house proprietor. There was some correspondence
with the brigade commander about this affair, but it was allowed to
blow over, and no steps were taken to punish the ringleaders. The
Connecticut men were very angry, because taken from a post where they
enjoyed themselves to the neglect of duty.
Captain Cogswell soon found there was business to occupy his attention.
Within two hours after his arrival a man representing himself as J. D.
O’Connell, special detective in Government employ, with a companion,
requested assistance in a case they were engaged in working up. Not
producing any proof, as requested, that they were in the Government
service, a special messenger was sent to the provost-marshal of New
Orleans, who returned with the information O’Connell was “all right.”
While not fully satisfied in his own mind, the captain concluded to
join in the game, intending to arrest them if they did not prove “all
right.”
The case was one in which a party of Confederates wished to get across
the lake. A sail-boat was furnished by Captain Cogswell with one man
disguised as a fisherman, who was to have the boat ready at a certain
lonely spot on the road leading to Bayou St. John where it ran close
to the water. The party of Confederates were to be ready to cross
on the eighth, but did not make the attempt until the night of the
tenth. Requesting assistance from the lieutenant-colonel, eight men
from Company B, under Lieutenant Tinkham, were sent to Lakeport on the
eighth.
A detail of twelve men, divided into two squads, under the commands of
Lieutenant Tinkham and Orderly-Sergeant J. A. Titus, Company F, were
secreted among bushes that bordered upon the road. Accompanied by the
two detectives, who pretended to be Confederates, the party appeared
about nine o’clock P.M. The detectives waited until their
companions had reached the boat, when they gave a pre-arranged signal,
responded to by Lieutenant Tinkham shouting the agreed-on command,
“Rally on centre,” fired his pistol, and the squads dashed out from
their hiding-places with a shout. One detective pretended to be killed,
the other was made a prisoner; all in the plan. It was supposed the men
who reached the boat would make a hot fight, but they shouted not to
fire and they would agree to come in; as there was some delay in doing
so, Sergeant Ballou, Company B, asked and received permission to wade
out and hurry them up, taking possession and remaining upon the boat
until relieved.
Under guard, the prisoners were marched to Captain Cogswell’s
headquarters for examination. They proved to be Major Breedlove, a
Confederate spy within the lines for nearly three months, Captain
Switzer, a Confederate steamboat man, on his way to take command of a
gunboat, and three other men. On the person of Captain Switzer was
found $3,098.00; $2,800.00 was in one-hundred-dollar Confederate bills,
the balance in notes of Louisiana State Banks, located in New Orleans.
Relieved of their personal effects, the prisoners were turned over to
the provost-marshal of New Orleans, and the property also. They were
confined in the Parish prison for several weeks, and then released.
Breedlove and Switzer afterwards visited Captain Cogswell to obtain
their property.
Later, on the same night, a negro reported men loading a boat on the
lake near the “White House.” Sergeant Ballou was sent with a detail
of men to the spot, but did not capture any prisoners. The boat was
secured, and found to contain boots, shoes, cards for carding cotton,
pipes, matches and sundries.
A schooner, under a Confederate flag of truce, conveying one hundred
and thirty-three United States soldiers, sailors and marines, captured
at Vicksburg, paroled for exchange, arrived on the sixth, accompanied
by Confederate Commissioner of Exchange, Colonel Zyminsky. The men were
in a sad condition from detention upon the lake by a severe storm,
three days without food or water. They were supplied with all of the
food at the post, not enough to go around, and some of the men ate raw
potatoes, preferring to do so instead of waiting to have them cooked.
After a few hours delay sufficient supply for their immediate wants was
obtained.
Colonel Zyminsky, a Pole by birth, resided in New Orleans when the war
commenced. His wife was then residing in the city, and came out to the
post to see him. Captain Cogswell allowed her five minutes to exchange
compliments, but that was all the colonel desired, and, in fact, said
he did not want to see her anyhow. Zyminsky was a giant, six feet
four inches in height, as large everyway in proportion. Such a nose!
A pickled blood-beet was pale beside it. He wanted a twelve-gallon
demijohn of Louisiana rum more than he did a visit from his wife. He
got the visit, but did not get the rum, although he clandestinely
ordered it. The demijohn was brought to the wharf, where Cogswell would
not allow it to pass, so Colonel Zyminsky went back across the lake
very dry.
To northern soldiers all southern scenery, cities and towns, so
different in character to what they were accustomed to see North,
charmed the eye and senses of those men who had not travelled far away
from home, until a thorough acquaintance with any locality where they
were stationed produced a desire to get away. After the novelty of
being in a new section of country wore off, the men were unanimous in
praise of their own sections as the proper place to live, enjoy life
while living, and be laid away when dead.
Lakeport was no exception to this first seductive influence. A small
village, with a few one-story houses, two hotels that entertained
dinner parties from New Orleans, repair shops for the Ponchartrain
Railroad, and a school-house was about all there was to it. On Sundays
there were many visitors from the city bent on pleasure, as though no
war was in progress. The hotels for dinners and bath houses to sport
in the lake water were objective points. Occasionally, large numbers
of colored men and women came out early on Sunday mornings to witness
ceremonies of baptism to a score of both sexes who had joined a church.
The religious fervor was always great on such occasions, coupled with
antics of voice and body that cannot be described. White-robed negro
women would become unmanageable when _ducked under_, as the boys termed
it; if two stout assistants did not lead their religious sisters to
where the minister stood and be ready to seize them after baptism for
conveyance on shore they would drown. An exhibition of this character
once seen can never be forgotten. While on duty at Lakeport, Company F
could not complain of a monotonous existence.
Picket duty at the Lake-end Bayou St. John requiring extra attention,
ten privates were sent from Gentilly Battery, on the sixth, to
reënforce Captain Coburn, and on the ninth, Lieutenant Clifford,
Company B, was ordered there to assist the captain, remaining at the
post until the twenty-first.
The schooner _Hortense_ was repaired under supervision of Corporal
Croome, Company F (an old sailor), who was detailed to command her,
with the following crew: Kirkland A. Hawes (an old sailor) was mate;
Privates John J. Upham, cook; George M. Roberts, Thomas H. Robinson,
George Adams, all of Company F, and Rufus C. Greene, Company G, were
seamen. Two picket-boats for night duty were respectively in charge
of Corporal George L. Stone, assisted by Privates Charles M. Marsh
and John Kraft; Sergeant Hiram Cowan, assisted by Privates Albert
W. Cargell and James F. Harlow. These small boats captured many
prisoners with contraband goods, in their attempts to cross the lake.
The schooner was used for picket duty and to carry supplies to such
picket-posts as were stationed on the bayou outlets.
On the fifth, Corporal Rhodes and three privates of Company B, with
rations for one week, were detailed to proceed as a guard, on the
schooner _Concordia_, carrying stores and property to Fort Pike and
Fort Macomb.
When the steamer _N. P. Banks_ was loaded at Lakeport with supplies
for Pensacola, and ready to sail on the twenty-first, Captain A. N.
Shipley, A. Q. M. in New Orleans, called for a detail. Sergeant Ballou,
Corporal Fales and twelve privates from Company B composed the detail,
with rations for one week. The instructions Ballou received from
Shipley were, to go aboard the _Banks_ as a guard, watch the captain,
a southerner, and see that he stopped at all forts on the lake to
leave provisions and various stores, then to proceed to Fort Pickens,
and Pensacola. If the steamboat captain showed any disposition to
do otherwise, then he was to arrest all of the officers and run the
steamer into the blockading fleet off Mobile and report. The transport
vessel that made a similar trip, a short time previous, had been run
through the blockaders into Mobile by her officers, and the cargo
passed into Confederate hands. The round trip was made in five days,
without any event of importance.
These duties of detailed men, with constant activity at the lake posts
to prevent smuggling across to the enemy, gave many men a taste of
active duty that was fatiguing, if it was without glory.
It was hard work to get rolls, returns and statements, required by
army regulations, made correctly and promptly by company officers of
the regiment. A few officers appeared to think these documents were
unnecessary, a species of red tape to be fought down. Still it was said
they averaged as good as any organization in the Gulf Department, if
not better. In the army, among those who knew nothing about it, a great
deal of talk was constantly made about red tape. Among business men the
wonder was, that the vast machinery of an army could be successfully
kept going with such simple returns. There was nothing about them a
school-boy of ordinary ability could fail to understand in a short time
of study. To understand the nature and use of these documents was as
much the duty of an officer as to know how to drill his men. His duty
to the men demanded it. Without them payments could not be made, either
bounties or wages, rations provided, clothing held in readiness for
issue, pensions granted for disability or to the proper relatives of
deceased soldiers. Many a large corporation or business house, in their
method of conducting business, requires a system much more complicated
than the Government has in use for administration of the army. When
delays and trouble occurred in the rolls, returns, etc., it was usually
traced to the inability of some officer to understand them.
The company returns required were: morning reports, company muster
rolls, company muster and pay rolls, company monthly return, returns
of men joined company, descriptive lists, quarterly company returns
deceased soldiers, muster-in rolls, muster-out rolls, enlistments,
re-enlistments, furloughs, discharges, final statements, rolls of
prisoners of war, ordnance returns.
All very simple to fill up properly; each return so printed that there
was no excuse for not understanding how it was to be done.
The regimental returns required were: consolidated morning reports,
field and staff muster rolls, field and staff muster and pay rolls,
muster rolls of hospital, muster and pay rolls of hospital, regimental
monthly returns, lists of officers, alterations in officers, quarterly
regimental returns of deceased soldiers, annual return of casualties.
Careful supervision at regimental headquarters was necessary of company
pay rolls, in order to have them correct before forwarding to proper
officers.
The regimental books were lost at Galveston; it became necessary to
make out a new descriptive book, and could only be done by obtaining
the company descriptive books to copy. Captain Bailey, Company H, had
peculiar ideas of his own in regard to making proper company returns
to regimental headquarters, and when he refused to obey an order from
Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman, to forward his company book, it was proper
to discipline him.
On the thirteenth a regimental order to Captain Leonard, Company C, in
command of Companies C and H, contained the following: “You will also
forward to these headquarters the descriptive books of both companies
C and H of the regiment, for copying in the regimental records.” What
followed is explained in a letter written to the brigade-commander next
day:--
“HEADQUARTERS FORTY-SECOND REGT., MASS. VOLS.,
“CAMP FARR, GENTILLY STATION, LA., April 14th, 1863.
“_Sir_,--I would respectfully report that the enclosed is a copy of an
order sent to Camp Parapet yesterday, by my orderly, and that Captain
Leonard complied with the order at once. Captain D. W. Bailey, of
Company H, absolutely refused to send his descriptive book, saying that
‘the colonel or no other man should have his company books.’ If he was
under my immediate command here at the camp, it would be clear to my
mind how I should act in this case. In the present instance I am not
sufficiently informed what my action should be in the premises, not
knowing fully how the commanding general considers their relations to
this regiment, and more particularly to the commanding officer of the
same.
“I would respectfully refer the case to Colonel Farr, for advice and
information.
“I have the honor to remain,
“Your obedient servant,
“J. STEDMAN,
“_Lieutenant-Colonel, 42nd Mass. Vols._
“To LIEUT. GEO. E. DAVIS, _A. A. A. General_,
“_Second Brigade, Second Division, New Orleans_.”
By orders of General Sherman, Captain Bailey was placed in arrest on
the sixteenth, sent to Gentilly Station the next day, an orderly
bringing the descriptive book that caused the trouble. Under orders
from brigade headquarters, charges and specification of charges were
forwarded on the sixteenth. The assignment to quarters, while in
arrest, was as follows:
“HEADQUARTERS FORTY-SECOND REGT., MASS. VOLS.,
“CAMP FARR, BAYOU GENTILLY, LA., April 17th, 1863.
“_Captain_,--You having been reported at these headquarters in arrest
by orders of Brigadier-General Sherman, you are hereby assigned
quarters in the large tent to the left of these headquarters, and you
will hold yourself within the following limits, viz.: On the right, on
a line with the guard line and the right flank of this camp. In front,
on a line with the woods in front of the camp. On the left, on a line
with the tents on the left flank of the camp of paroled prisoners. In
the rear, on a line with the road extending along the rear of this camp.
“You are also referred to the Army Regulations in relation to officers
in arrest, in relation to communications, etc.
“By command of
“LIEUTENANT-COLONEL J. STEDMAN,
“CHARLES A. DAVIS, _Adjutant_.
“To CAPTAIN DAVIS W. BAILEY,
“_Company H, 42d Regt., Mass. Vols._”
Until May 14th the captain remained at Gentilly Bayou, when he was
allowed the limits of New Orleans, until the findings in his case were
promulgated.
The charges and specifications in this case, and findings of the Court,
were as follows--copied from General Orders, No. 48, Nineteenth Army
Corps:
CHARGE FIRST.
“Disobedience of Orders.”
* * * * *
_Specification_--“In this: that he, Captain Davis W. Bailey, Company
H, Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, when ordered by
Lieutenant-Colonel J. Stedman, in the execution of his office, and
through Captain O. W. Leonard, senior captain of Companies C and H,
Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, and to whom the order
was addressed, to send to the regimental headquarters his company
Descriptive Book, did absolutely refuse and fail so to do. All this at
Camp Parapet, Louisiana, on or about the thirteenth day of April, 1863.”
CHARGE SECOND.
“Conduct unbecoming an Officer and Gentleman.”
* * * * *
_Specification First_--“In this: that he, Captain Davis W. Bailey,
Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, when notified
by Captain O. W. Leonard, senior captain of Companies C and H,
Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, that he (Captain
Leonard) had received an order from Lieutenant-Colonel Stedman
(commanding Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers), to send
to the regimental headquarters the Descriptive Books of said Companies
C and H, did then and there use disrespectful language of his superior
officer, saying in substance as follows: ‘the colonel or no other man
can have my company books.’ All this at Camp Parapet, Louisiana, on or
about the thirteenth day of April, 1863.”
_Specification Second_--“In this: that he, Captain Davis W. Bailey,
Company H, Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, did, on
or about the thirteenth day of April, 1863, at or near his quarters
at Camp Parapet, Louisiana, when waited on by an orderly from the
regimental headquarters of the Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts
Volunteers, which orderly was sent by Lieutenant-Colonel J. Stedman, in
the execution of his office, with a written order to Companies C and
H, Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, to forward their
company Descriptive Books for copying on the regimental records, did
refuse to send his Descriptive Book, and neglect so to do. All this at
Camp Parapet, Louisiana, on or about the thirteenth day of April, 1863.”
CHARGE THIRD.
“Conduct to the prejudice of Good Order and Military Discipline.”
* * * * *
_Specification_--“In this: that he, Captain Davis W. Bailey, Company
H, Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, when informed by
Captain Leonard, senior captain of Companies C and H, Forty-Second
Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, that the lieutenant-colonel had
sent an order for the Descriptive Books of said companies, did, then
and there, at or near his quarters at Camp Parapet, Louisiana, and in
the presence of Captain Leonard and at least two enlisted men of the
Forty-Second Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, refuse to send his
Descriptive Book, averring in substance as follows: ‘Lieutenant-Colonel
Stedman or no other man can have my company books.’ All this at Camp
Parapet, Louisiana, on or about the thirteenth day of April, 1863.”
To all of which charges and specifications the accused pleaded “not
guilty.”
The Court, after mature deliberation on the evidence adduced, finds the
accused as follows:
Of the specification, first charge--“Not guilty.”
Of the first charge--“Not guilty.”
Of the first specification, second charge--“Not guilty.”
Of the second specification, second charge--“Not guilty.”
Of the second charge--“Not guilty.”
Of the specification, third charge--“Not guilty.”
Of the third charge--“Not guilty.”
And does therefore acquit him.
* * * * *
The case was clear and charges filed correctly, but, on his trial
before a general court-martial, held in New Orleans, March 25th, the
charges were not sustained; a material witness failed to remember
anything.
The proceedings of this court-martial were approved by General Banks in
General Orders of June 9th, when Captain Bailey was acquitted, released
from arrest and returned to duty; the orders did not take effect until
July 20th, when they reached the regiment.
At a general court-martial convened in New Orleans, January 27th, 1863,
of which Major F. Frye, Ninth Connecticut Volunteers, was president,
the following enlisted men of the Forty-Second were tried, in addition
to the case of Private Denny, Company E, already mentioned:
Private William H. Thomas, Company B, for “sleeping on post.”
Private Frank L. Fisher, Company B, for “sleeping on post.”
Privates Thomas and Fisher when found asleep, were awakened and
cautioned by the officer of the guard as to the penalty they would
incur by going to sleep while on sentry duty. Notwithstanding the
caution they allowed themselves to fall asleep again while on guard,
and in the same relief.
The findings of this Court were not promulgated in General Orders
until March 7th. In the case of Thomas, he was found asleep on post
13, in front of regimental headquarters at Gentilly Bayou, between
the hours of one and half-past one o’clock on the morning of February
12th. He pleaded “guilty” to the charge and specification. His plea was
accepted, and, as it appeared that he was sick at the time and excused
from duty by the surgeon, it was recommended that he be returned to
duty.
Private Fisher was found asleep on post 15, at the stable and
quartermasters’ department at Gentilly Bayou, between the hours of
one and two o’clock on the morning of February 10th. He pleaded “not
guilty” to both charge and specification, and the Court on the evidence
adduced found him “not guilty,” and recommended that he be returned to
duty. Fisher and Thomas, confined since February 12th, were released
from confinement in the guard-house March 18th.
Private Freeman Doane, Company F, was also found asleep on post at
Lakeport on the twenty-ninth of April, and placed in arrest. Upon
examination of the case Captain Cogswell was so well satisfied that
Doane was sick and not fit to have been placed on sentry duty, being
under the surgeon’s care, that he asked for and obtained his release
the next day.
Lieutenant Albert E. Proctor, Company G, acting regimental
quartermaster, met with a very serious accident on the morning of the
twentieth by being thrown from his horse, in front of headquarters,
immediately after mounting, preparatory to proceeding to the city on
official business, sustaining a fracture of the right arm near the
socket of the shoulder, which incapacitated him from further duty with
the regiment during its term of service.
A moment before he left headquarters in fine spirits, and when
brought in looking deathly pale everybody present was dumfounded.
Luckily, Assistant-Surgeon Heintzelman was present on duty with the
regiment, having reported at camp March 1st. He immediately made a
careful examination of the fracture, properly bandaged it, and prepared
everything to make Proctor comfortable until he arrived at the hospital
in New Orleans, where he was sent the same day and had his arm reset.
Lieutenant Proctor showed true fortitude throughout the day. Not a
groan escaped his lips, although the pain he suffered was excruciating.
He gave proper directions for the continued performance of his duties
and what disposition to make of unfinished business he had on hand with
utmost _sang-froid_.
Lieutenant Proctor was a twin brother of Captain Alfred N. Proctor,
Company G, then a prisoner of war in Texas. It was difficult to say
who was who, even when seen together. The lieutenant remarked, soon
after the accident to himself, that his brother Alfred had met with an
accident also. His reason for thinking so was because a sympathetic
feeling had always existed between them. As a matter of fact, Captain
Proctor did have one of the bones of an ankle broken while wrestling
with Sergeant Wentworth, March 27th.
Until May 20th, when Quartermaster Burrell reported back for duty,
having been relieved as acting brigade-quartermaster, when Colonel
Cahill, Ninth Connecticut Volunteers, superseded Colonel Farr,
the active duties of the position were well performed by Acting
Quartermaster-Sergeant Alonzo I. Hodsdon, corporal in Company D.
The regiment was fortunate in having good quartermasters during the
term of service, and in obtaining supplies of proper food. The salt
meats, coffee, potatoes, bread, etc., were of excellent quality. It was
necessary only once (May 15th) during the entire term of service to
call for a Board of Survey to examine into the quality of subsistence
stores received from the Commissary Department. Quartermaster Burrell
was socially one of the best of men, with business qualifications
for his duty of a high order. Acting-Quartermaster Proctor was also
adapted to fill the position, and was a jovial man. Corporal Hodsdon,
without a business training to fit him to hold such a position at once,
had mastered the details to such extent from his connection with the
department that during the time he performed the duties everything went
along smoothly.
At the close of April there were present for duty in the four companies
at Gentilly Bayou and vicinity, thirteen officers and three hundred and
fifty-six men. Sick in regimental hospital: one officer (Lieutenant
Harding, Company K, who arrived April 27th, sick with fever), and
twenty-one men. Thirteen men were sick in quarters. The average sick
per day for the month had been: taken sick, four; returned to duty,
four; in hospital, twenty; in quarters, fourteen. One man died at
the camp hospital of typhoid fever, Private Frank Covell, Company G,
a paroled prisoner, April 22d. The body was embalmed and sent home.
Private Covell, quite young in years, was careless of his health. He
would insist on sleeping at night in the open air instead of under tent
cover, exposed unprotected to change in the atmosphere, usually very
rapid after nine o’clock. Repeated cautions not to do so were given
him. Company G was unfortunate at this camp in the loss of men by death
from disease. The other companies of paroled men, D and I, did not lose
a man.
At Bayou Gentilly the night air was treacherous and dangerous. In good
weather the days, at this season of the year, would be hot and sultry
up to about ten o’clock in the night, when changes would commence to
occur, becoming damp and hazy. About midnight sentinels were obliged
to wear their great-coats. Many men would persist in sleeping upon the
ground in the open air, regardless of repeated warnings not to do so.
When the midnight change took place, if they by chance awoke, they
would occupy their tents. This careless habit caused much sickness in
the regiment from bowel complaints and fevers, that was charged by the
sufferers to bad quality of rations issued.
Discipline of the camp continued good, and the paroled men behaved
well under their enforced idleness. Very few men absented themselves
without leave. Corporal Clapp, Privates Holt, Barnard and Davis, all
from Company G, tried it on and were picked up by the patrol in New
Orleans, April 4th. Privates Dolan, Dellanty, Contillon and Morgan, all
from Company I, were bagged by the patrol on the fifth, and Private
Marshall, Company G, was arrested by the police of New Orleans, April
12th. These men were returned to camp by the provost-marshal in one or
two days after their arrest.
Two deserters reported back to the regiment this month: Private Chauncy
Converse, Company K, on the eleventh; Private Lewis Buffum, Company B,
on the twenty-fifth.
While able to furnish details of skilled mechanics, if wanted, on a
call for telegraph operators, made on the twenty-ninth, to do duty in
the Defences of New Orleans, a careful inquiry failed to find any--the
only request ever made by a general officer, either of brigade or
division, that the Forty-Second Regiment was not able to meet.