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diff --git a/58833-0.txt b/58833-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..08af294 --- /dev/null +++ b/58833-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7045 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 58833 *** + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + + BATTERY D, + FIRST RHODE ISLAND LIGHT ARTILLERY, + IN + THE CIVIL WAR, + 1861-1865. + + BY + Dr. GEORGE C. SUMNER, + A MEMBER OF THE BATTERY. + + Rhode Island Printing Company, Providence. + 1897. + +[Illustration: MEMBERS OF BATTERY D, FIRST RHODE ISLAND LIGHT +ARTILLERY, VETERAN ASSOCIATION. + +AT ROGER WILLIAMS PARK, JUNE, 1891.] + + 1 John S. Gorton. + 2 John Rathbone. + 3 John Brod. + 4 Joseph W. Corey. + 5 Charles Gallagher. + 6 Charles E. May. + 7 Ezra K. Parker. + 8 Charles W. Cornell. + 9 John J. Busby. + 10 Samuel Jenkins.[1] + 11 William H. Fisk. + 12 Stephen Ballou. + 13 James S. Hayward. + 14 John J. Hopkins. + 15 William Stalker. + 16 Willett A. Johnson. + 17 Daniel W. Elliott. + 18 Lyman Nicholas.[1] + 19 James Tanner. + 20 Joseph F. Means. + 21 Henry W. Smith. + 22 Jeremiah D. Hopkins. + 23 Frank M. Tucker. + 24 John McKenna. + 25 Erich P. Botter. + 26 George Rathbone. + 27 Clark Walker. + 28 Halsey A. Aldrich. + 29 Rice A. Wickes.[1] + 30 George C. Sumner.[1] + 31 Otis G. Handy. + 32 Isaac D. Russell. + 33 Joseph B. French. + 34 Charles C. Gray. + 35 George N. Hawkins. + 36 Joseph B. Kenyon. + 37 Edwin R. Knight. + 38 Moses Budlong. + 39 Capt. J. Albert Monroe.[1] + 40 George E. Arnold. + 41 Olney Arnold.[1] + 42 Henry C. Whitaker. + 43 Charles E. Bonn.[1] + 44 Gideon Spencer. + 45 Christopher H. Carpenter. + +[Footnote 1: _Deceased._] + + + + +PREFACE. + + +At a meeting of Battery D Association, held at Roger Williams Park, +June 6th, 1891, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: + + RESOLVED, That George C. Sumner is hereby appointed Historian of the + Association, and earnestly requested to write and publish a History of + Battery D, First Rhode Island Light Artillery. + +Comrade Sumner accepted the position, and at once commenced to look +up material for the work. He soon found that he had quite a task to +perform. At the battle of Cedar Creek, late in the war, all the books +and papers of the battery were captured by the enemy, it thus became +rather a tedious undertaking to hunt up facts and dates. Artificer +Clark Walker and Corporal Knight had diaries of some parts of their +service, which was about all the material on hand to start with. + +The Adjutant General's Office furnished considerable information. The +Roster of the Battery was taken entirely from that office. The "War +Records" was another source from which facts and dates were collected. + +Comrade Sumner took a great deal of interest in this history and had a +large part of it written when he was "called away to join his comrades +who had gone before." The death of our comrade made it necessary for +some one to take up the work. It was impossible to fill his place, and +when the writer agreed to take up the history and complete it, it was +with a great deal of hesitation, knowing his inability to carry on +the work, and not having time to devote to the proper carrying out of +Comrade Sumner's ideas. + +Comrade Sumner had a great many marginal notes attached to his +manuscript which he was familiar with, but to another person they were +not very plain. Without doubt he intended to add considerable to his +manuscript, but on taking up the work I found it almost impossible +to follow out what he had evidently intended to do, and came to the +conclusion that it was best to publish it as he left it. I hope the +comrades of the Battery and whoever else that reads this work, will +remember that the author was called away before he had time to even +revise his original manuscript. + + Very respectfully, + Your obedient servant, + A Comrade of the Battery. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER I. + + Organization--Camp Sprague, Washington, D.C.--Winter Quarters + at Munson's Hill, Va. 1 + + + CHAPTER II. + + Campaign to Centreville--Falmouth--Fredericksburg--Thoroughfare + Gap--Rapidan River 6 + + + CHAPTER III. + + Rappahannock Station--Groveton--Bull Run (or Manassas) 13 + + + CHAPTER IV. + + South Mountain and Antietam 28 + + + CHAPTER V. + + Fredericksburg--Bell's Landing--Hampton--and Trip to the + West 40 + + + CHAPTER VI. + + The Campaign in East Tennessee 62 + + + CHAPTER VII. + + The Siege of Knoxville, Tennessee 98 + + + CHAPTER VIII. + + Battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania--The Campaign in + the Shenandoah Valley 125 + + Roster 157 + + Commissioned Officers 181 + + Enlisted Men Commissioned 181 + + Temporarily Attached Men 182 + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +Organization--Camp Sprague, Washington, D.C.--Winter Quarters at +Munson's Hill, Va. + + +At the commencement of the Civil War, in April, 1861, there was in the +city of Providence, among other excellent military organizations, one +of light artillery, known as the Providence Marine Corps of Artillery, +which for years had been interesting and instructing the young men of +the city and vicinity in the manoeuvres of this branch of military +service. A natural sequence of the presence of this company was to draw +attention to this arm, and led Gov. Sprague to offer the government +a fully equipped light battery, in addition to the First Regiment of +Infantry. The offer being accepted, a battery was speedily organized +for three months service, and on the 18th of April, six days after +the firing upon Fort Sumter, it left Providence, fully equipped, for +Washington. When it became evident that more troops and a longer term +of service would be needed, Gov. Sprague at once began the organization +of a regiment of light artillery. The second battery (or A, in +regimental orders) was mustered into service June 6th, 1861, for three +years or the war, and left home for Washington June 19th. After which, +at intervals of less than a month, a battery left Providence for the +seat of war, until eight had been sent, which completed the First +Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery. + +Battery D was the fifth in number, but fourth in the regimental +formation, that was recruited, its organization commencing immediately +upon the mustering of Battery C (Aug. 25th). Its quota was filled +perhaps the most rapidly of any of the batteries, for by the 2d of +Sept. it had its complement of men, and was sent to Camp Ames, on the +Warwick road, just beyond Pawtuxet, where, on the 4th of Sept., it was +mustered into the service of the United States. + +On Sept. 10th, the battery moved to Camp Greene, near the Stonington +Railroad. While in this camp the men were uniformed, divided into gun +detachments, and drilled in the manual of the piece, marching, etc. + +On the 13th the battery left Camp Greene on the steamboat train for +Stonington, under command of First Lieut. Geo. C. Harkness, the other +officers being First Lieut. Henry R. Gladding, Second Lieuts. Stephen +W. Fisk, and Ezra K. Parker. From Stonington it proceeded by boat to +Elizabeth City, N.J., from which place it continued on by cars to +Washington via Harrisburg, reaching its destination shortly after noon +on the 15th, and marched immediately to Camp Sprague, where Capt. J. +Albert Monroe, who had just been promoted from First Lieutenant to +Captain, and transferred from Battery A to Battery D, took command. + +The personnel of the company was particularly well adapted for the +especially active work appertaining to the successful manoeuvering +of light artillery. Its members were young; scarcely one in ten had +reached his majority; most of them had left good homes, where they +had received the advantages of a fair education, and except in rare +instances their physiques were such that camp life and the exercise +of the drill speedily developed endurance and suppleness. To no one +was the possibilities of this command more apparent than to Captain +Monroe. His experience in the home company, and three months of +practical service with Battery A, convinced him that here was material +from which, by persistent hard work, and by a proper and judicially +administered discipline, there could be evolved a battery of light +artillery which would honor itself and the State from which it came; +and he immediately proceeded to work for the accomplishment of that +idea. Requisitions were speedily obtained for horses and guns, and the +battery was soon fully equipped, the battery consisting of four ten +pound Parrotts and two twelve pound howitzers. Drilling was commenced +immediately, both field and the manual of the piece, and continued +without cessation from the 18th of Sept. to Oct. 11th, and such was +the progress made by the company that at a review held on the 9th of +Oct., on the grounds back of the Capitol, of all the artillery in the +vicinity, at which Gen. Scott was reviewing officer, the battery was +complimented for the excellence of its movements. + +Oct. 12th Capt. Monroe received orders to report with his battery to +Gen. Fitz John Porter, near Hall's Hill, Va., and as soon as possible +the company commenced its first march, passing through Washington via +Pennsylvania avenue, thence through Georgetown to the Potomac River, +crossing at Aqueduct Bridge. Hall's Hill was reached about 7 P.M., and +the battery went into camp. Having no tents, the men were obliged to +spread their blankets on the ground, and had their first taste of a +field camp in Virginia. + +Oct. 14th orders were received to report to Gen. McDowell, and the +battery moved about three miles, to Upton's Hill. While here they were +given their first impressions of war. It was intimated that the enemy +was in the immediate vicinity, and were liable to make an attack at any +time. Each night one section of the battery was sent out on picket. +At no time in their service did they feel the responsibility of their +situation more keenly than on these occasions, and not a rebel soldier +within twenty miles. The two sections which were to remain in camp +were obliged to work upon the earthworks with picks and shovels, an +occupation they did not relish. + +Oct. 29th camp was moved just over Munson's Hill, on the north slope, +and a camp laid out, under the direction of Capt. John Gibbon, who had +assumed command of the artillery in our division. His own, Battery B, +Fourth U. S., was placed upon the left (instead of the right, as it +should have been according to strict military etiquette, presumably +because the ground was higher and drier). Our battery came next, then +the First New Hampshire, Capt. Gerrish, and the Pennsylvania battery, +Capt. Durrell, on the right. Tents of the Sibley pattern were now +issued in place of the small A tents. These were circular in form, +and large enough to accommodate ten or twelve men comfortably. When +the weather became cold enough to require them, stoves were issued, +and when the tents were properly ditched, the bunks built and filled +a foot deep with straw, they became very comfortable homes, even in +the coldest of weather. We soon had orders to prepare this camp for +a winter's sojourn. Details were made each morning to work upon the +stables for the horses, and in the course of a few days the finest camp +in the history of Battery D was completed, and named Camp Dupont. + +The battery was parked in regular style, pieces in front, caissons +in the rear; on the right and left of them the stables were built. +The tents for the men were pitched in the rear of the stables. The +officers' tents were in the rear of the battery, the Captain's being +in a line with the centre of the guns, and two others, one on each +side of the Captain's, a little in advance, for the four Lieutenants. +The cook-house was at the upper end of the right tents, and the +guard-house was placed quite a distance in front of the battery. + +In this camp the battery remained from Oct. 29th, 1861, to March 10th, +1862, occupying its time in drill, inspections, sham fights, target +practice, etc. Everything calculated to increase its efficiency was +indulged in. Days were spent in perfecting the men in horsemanship. +Heroic measures were used; no saddles or bridles were allowed; men were +expected to learn to manage their horses successfully bareback, and +with only the halter, and they did it, but there were many laughable +and some serious incidents occurred before they thoroughly mastered the +art. + +The sham-fights were particularly exhilarating and entertaining to us, +the whole corps, numbering fifteen or twenty thousand, participating in +them, and blank cartridges were used without stint. A change of front +would sometimes necessitate a long run for the battery, and if over +open ground, was participated in with a relish; but if, as it sometimes +happened, the route lay through what had been woods, but had been +freshly cut off by the soldiers, leaving stumps of irregular height, +it sometimes became very annoying to the cannoniers, as the carriages +struck first one stump and then another, throwing them about, making it +very difficult to retain their places on the boxes. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +Campaign to Centreville--Falmouth--Fredericksburg--Thoroughfare +Gap--Rapidan River. + + +For some time rumors had prevailed of a forward movement, but nothing +of a definite nature occurred until March 9th, when orders were issued +that four days rations be cooked, and the battery prepared to march +at an early hour the next morning; the limbers of the pieces and the +caissons were supplied with ammunition, and everything put in order for +a campaign against the enemy. + +At an early hour on the 10th of March, "boots and saddles" was blown, +the battery was speedily hitched up, and in a short time Capt. Monroe +gave the order, "Right piece, forward," and we moved out of park, from +Camp Dupont, where we had spent four months, for the last time. The +line of march was toward the Centreville Pike, and when we reached +Baily's Cross Roads, a halt was made near the road until our turn +should come to join the column. The entire Army of the Potomac was on +the march for Centreville, where the enemy was reported to be in force. +It was several hours before our turn came, but at last we were ordered +to move into the road, and commenced our march in earnest. It was a +most disagreeable day, very cold, and a heavy mist prevailed, which +soon wet our clothing; the freezing temperature soon converted this +moisture into a coating of ice, making it exceedingly uncomfortable for +the men, particularly the drivers, who were obliged to sit their horses +without any opportunity to warm themselves by exercise. + +Our progress was slow and tedious. Six o'clock found us in the vicinity +of Fairfax Court House, where we made camp. Early next morning we +hitched up and had barely time to prepare coffee for ourselves, when +we were ordered to join the column, and proceeded on our way towards +Centreville, but after marching about a mile we were ordered to make +camp. + +It had been discovered by our advance that the enemy had retired upon +our approach, and there was to be no opportunity to display our valor. +We remained in this camp until the 15th. + +On the morning of the 15th, the army started on its return towards +Washington. Soon after starting it began to rain, and by noon the water +was coming down in torrents, soon wetting the men to their skins. The +column marched much more rapidly than they did when going out, they +evidently hoping to find shelter at their old camps. + +About 7 o'clock P.M., Battery D turned into the dooryard of Mr. Cloud, +at Cloud's Mill. Both officers and men were in a miserable condition, +and they immediately set about improving it to the best of their +ability. The fence in front of the house was soon demolished, and +a fire started, around which all hovered until morning. During the +forenoon of the 16th we marched back to Camp Dupont, after an absence +of just one week. This seemed like home to us, and we all felt that +we would like to stay here for a while at least; but that was not to +be, for next morning we were ordered to proceed at once to Fairfax +Seminary, where we remained until April 4th. While in this camp, on +March 29th, our first batch of recruits, nine in number, were received +from Rhode Island. + +At daylight on April 4th, the battery, with the First Division of +the army, under Gen. McDowell, the rest of the Army of the Potomac +having gone by transports to Fortress Monroe, marched to Fairfax, +and bivouacked for the night, early the next morning continued on to +Manassas, remained over night, and at daylight next morning started on +to Bristow Station. + +The weather on this trip up to this time had been pleasant and fairly +comfortable; but on the night of the 8th there came a change; it grew +rapidly cold, and about 10 P.M. began to snow. Those of the men who +were not frozen out and obliged to hover around the camp-fires, found +themselves covered by a blanket of snow about four inches deep in the +morning. + +We remained at Bristow until the 16th, and then continued on the march +to Catlett's Station, remaining one day, and on the 18th marched to +within three miles of Fredericksburg, camping near the village of +Falmouth. Some of our men started into the village and attempted to +make small purchases, but the people of the place were very loyal to +the South, and at this early period of the war had great confidence +in the Confederate money, and but very little in Uncle Sam's crisp +greenbacks, and refused to take them in exchange for their goods. + +Now it so happened that an enterprising firm in Philadelphia had just +issued a _fac simile_ of the rebel money, of various denominations, +and the men had purchased several thousand dollars worth, as _curios_. +These were offered the rebellious tradesmen, and accepted with great +glee, as an indication of the final success of their side, that the +Yankees were already being obliged to use their money. They soon +discovered that the bills were not genuine, some one having pointed +out to them the printer's name and location in the margin, and they +refused to take any more, notwithstanding the Yankee customers assured +them that the bills were worth just as much as the genuine. A complaint +was made to head-quarters, but the general, after hearing both sides, +decided that they were entitled to no redress. + +On the 19th the battery marched to a position directly opposite +Fredericksburg, on the north branch of the Rappahannock River. The guns +were placed in position, pointing directly at the city, but the next +day the pieces were limbered and a regular camp laid out, tents were +pitched, and preparations made which indicated that we were to tarry +here for some time. Drill received our undivided attention; from four +to six hours a day being given to that work, excepting on Sundays, +which were given up to inspections of the men and material of the +battery. Cleanliness was important, and was carefully looked after. + +On the 10th of May the battery was ordered to move down to the bank of +the river, near the railroad bridge, for the purpose of protecting it +from an expected attack of the enemy; but they did not come, and things +soon quieted down and assumed their normal condition, and the battery +resumed its usual occupation of drilling. + +The effect of such long-continued and constant work in this direction +began to show itself in the accuracy with which the movements were +executed. The efficiency of the battery began to attract attention, and +almost every day when we reached the ground where we were to have our +field-drill there would be quite an audience awaiting us. Senators and +Representatives from Washington, visiting officers, and distinguished +people from all over the country, would be taken out to see the show. + +As an illustration of how it impressed one individual from our own +State, I quote from an article which he sent to the _Providence +Journal_: + + "The proficiency attained by the sturdy fellows of Battery D, is + really surprising, and would do credit to a company of Cadets fresh + from the rapid practice of West Point. I saw them yesterday, under + command of Captain Monroe, performing the evolutions of field-drill + with such accuracy as to command the admiration of old army officers + who were present." + +On the 26th of May the battery crossed the Rappahannock River into +Fredericksburg, and made camp on a common in the centre of the town, +remaining until the 29th. + +Union soldiers were not welcome guests in that city at that time, and +the citizens took no pains to disguise the fact. Their manner towards +us and treatment of us left no doubt in our minds that they wished we +were anywhere but in their presence. We did not mind it, however, and +made ourselves just as much at home as though we were welcome. + +Early in the morning of the 29th the battery recrossed the river, and +joining our division, commenced our journey for Thoroughfare Gap, +for the purpose of aiding Gen. Banks, who was being badly pressed +by the rebel Gen. Jackson, in the Shenandoah Valley. We made only a +short distance the first day, but did better next day, making nearly +twenty-five miles, and reached Catlett's Station. + +On the 31st we marched only four miles, but pushed on the next, and +reached Haymarket, near the Gap. + +June 1st was a day of rest for us, but on June 2d the troops were early +in motion, and after marching through the Gap were halted for an hour, +then countermarched, passing through the Gap, and encamped on almost +the same spot that they had left in the morning. + +This was a movement which at the time was very confusing to us, but +time developed the fact that the emergency which demanded our presence +in the Shenandoah Valley had passed, Jackson having accomplished what +he desired, and his troops being wanted at Richmond by Gen. Lee, he had +left the Valley, and at the moment of our arrival at the Gap, was well +on his way. Our stay at Haymarket continued for three days. + +On the 6th we had orders to move. Our destination was Warrenton, where +we arrived after an easy march, late in the afternoon. Here we remained +until the 8th, moving on that date to Warrenton Junction, bivouacking +for the night, continuing on the next day towards Catlett's Station, +which we reached on the 10th, and made a stay of four days. This trip +was very pleasant to us; the weather was good, the roads were fair, our +marches were not long, and the whole more of a pleasure trip through a +rather interesting country. + +June 15th we marched to Cannon Creek, and after remaining for five +days we continued our journey to Spotted Tavern, and, after a stay of +forty-eight hours, returned to Fredericksburg on the 23d, after nearly +a mouth of marching, and made camp within a short distance of the old +one, in which we remained until Aug. 5th, our time being occupied with +the usual duties of camp life, drills, inspections, etc. + +July 2d we turned in our battery of Parrotts and howitzers and drew +one of light twelves or Napoleons. These guns were of brass, smooth +bore, and had fixed ammunition. They were of short range, which would +necessitate our coming in close contact with the enemy; but the fixed +ammunition would enable them to be fired much more rapidly; and as they +had the reputation of being very destructive when used at short range, +the exchange was on the whole very acceptable to the men. + +July 4th was celebrated by a salute in the morning, and repeating it in +the afternoon. + +Aug. 5th the battery, with a portion of our Division, started on a +reconnoisance towards the Rapidan River. Towards noon on the second day +out, a portion of our troops had a slight skirmish with the enemy, but +it was of short duration. + +Early on the morning of the third day of the reconnoisance our column +countermarched, and marched rapidly towards Fredericksburg. Our cavalry +were constantly skirmishing with the enemy. When within fifteen miles +of the town a regiment of infantry and our battery went into position, +but after firing a few shots the enemy fell back, and we rejoined +the column. Continuing our march we reached our old camp on the +Rappahannock Aug. 8, where we remained until Aug. 22d. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +Rappahannock Station--Groveton--Bull Run (or Manassas). + + +August 22d King's Division to which Battery D belonged, left camp +opposite Fredericksburg, it having been ordered to report with all +possible haste at Rappahannock Station. The battery pulled out of park +at daylight, and after a hard day's march, made camp within eight miles +of the station, some time after dark. Very early next morning as we +were aroused, the battery hitched up, and everything made ready to +proceed, we heard heavy and continuous firing, which indicated to us +that some one was having a hot time of it. + +At 9 A.M. we were ordered to continue on to the station, which we +reached about noon, remaining until dark. All the afternoon troops +were continually recrossing the river and moving to the rear, and just +before we left, the buildings around the station were fired. The light +from this fire illuminated our way for some distance. At the station, +and for a mile or so beyond it, as we passed along the road, men were +engaged in tearing up the railroad, heating the rails and twisting them +beyond any possibility of their being used again. + +Everything indicated that we had commenced a retrograde movement, and +the constant picket firing, which would occasionally increase in +volume, as though a regiment or brigade had become engaged, with the +added noise of cannon, told us plainly that the enemy were pressing our +rear vigorously. + +In order that our situation may be fully understood, it may be well to +give a brief description of the general military events of a few weeks +previous to our arrival at the station. + +On the 27th of June Maj. Gen. John Pope assumed command of the Army +of Virginia, composed of Fremont's, Banks's and McDowell's Corps, +in all about 38,000 men. The first two of these commands were at +Middletown, in the Shenandoah Valley. Of the latter command, one +division, under Gen. Ricketts, was at or near Manassas Junction, and +King's (to which Battery D belonged) at Fredericksburg. It was the +first intention of Gen. Pope to unite these widely separated troops, +and in concert with Gen. McClellan, who was occupying an advanced +position on the Peninsula, attempt the capture of Richmond; but in the +interim between the assumption of this command by Gen. Pope and the +uniting of his forces, Gen. McClellan had decided to retire from his +advanced position, to the James River, at Harrison's Landing, which was +accomplished after seven days of continuous and severe fighting. + +The rebel commander, Gen. Lee, being relieved from any anxiety for the +safety of Richmond, determined upon a demonstration towards Washington, +and sent Gen. Jackson with a large force to oppose Gen. Pope. The two +armies met at Cedar Mountain, on the 9th of August. A severe battle was +fought, resulting in the defeat of our army, which was driven from its +position at dark. + +It was soon discovered by Gen. Pope that Gen. Lee was moving nearly his +whole force from Richmond, for the purpose of crushing his (Pope's) +army, and it was now determined by the authorities at Washington to +transfer Gen. McClellan's forces from the Peninsula to the Potomac, as +a reinforcement for Gen. Pope. + +On the 23d of August, the day the battery arrived at Rappahannock +Station, Gen. Longstreet had reached our front, and made an attack upon +our troops at Beverly Ford. It was the firing from this engagement +which had been sounding in our ears all day. + +We continued our march well into the night. Just after midnight the +battery pulled into a lot and halted without unharnessing. The men were +told to lay down near their pieces and get what rest they could. About +daylight we were aroused and started on again, reaching Warrenton about +dark on the 24th. Early next morning the battery was on the road, and +after a slow, tedious march of five or six hours bivouacked at Sulphur +Springs for the night, without unhitching. + +The evening of the 26th found us in the neighborhood of Waterloo +Bridge. Twenty-four hours later we were on the Warrenton Pike, about +half-way between Warrenton and Groveton, wet through from a drenching +rain which had prevailed for several hours. + +After a very uncomfortable night we took the road again on the morning +of the 28th, headed towards Groveton. About 5 P.M. the battery moved +off the road into a field upon the right, came into park, and, without +unhitching, the men commenced to prepare supper. + +Just as Capt. Monroe and the other officers, with Gen. King as their +guest, had seated themselves at the camp-table, a few picket shots +were heard on our left, followed almost immediately by a considerable +volley. Gen. King immediately mounted his horse and started in the +direction of the firing. Capt. Monroe ordered the drivers to mount, +put the battery in motion down the pike, then galloped on ahead; soon +he returned, gave the order "Trot, march," and, after going a short +distance, turned the head of the column towards a hill upon the left +of the road. We had almost reached the base of the hill when a staff +officer was seen coming over the top towards us, waving his sword in +the wildest manner and calling upon us to go back as quick as possible. +He hurriedly made the Captain understand, but before our direction +could be changed, we saw the lead horses of a rebel battery appearing +over the brow of the hill--we were both after the same position and +they had beaten us. Our direction was soon changed and we made every +possible effort to get under cover before they could do us much damage, +but they succeeded in getting in a few shots, which, however, did us +no damage. Soon we reached a sunken place in the road which afforded +us protection, and we were halted while Capt. Monroe searched for +a new position. After a stay of five minutes we were again ordered +forward. About one hundred yards of our way was fully exposed to the +fire of the rebel battery. They took every advantage of it, and threw +their shells thick and fast at us. It did not seem possible that we +could pass this exposed part of our journey without being seriously +damaged; but notwithstanding the shots flew around us, only one took +effect, hitting the stock of one of our caissons, breaking it and +disabling the carriage and necessitating its being blown up. Lieut. +Parker was ordered to accomplish this, and although he was exposed to +great personal danger, both from the enemy's fire and the explosion, he +successfully accomplished it. + +The battery soon turned from the road into the fields on the left, and +with all possible speed made for the top of a hill not far distant; +on reaching the top of which it came into battery and immediately +commenced firing at the rebel battery which had taken the first +position from us. + +I quote from Capt. Monroe's account of this battle: + + "It was evident that we were in for it, and I hastened back to + the battery, which started at a quick trot for a knoll that I had + observed, and which appeared to be a good position. As the leading + carriage reached the foot of the knoll an officer rode rapidly towards + me from its top saying, 'For God's sake, Captain, get out of this; + they are putting a battery right on this hill.' I lost no time, for I + could see the horses of the rebel artillery above me, and we turned + back to the road. We took cover in the road where timbers skirted both + sides of it for a short distance. We were very uncomfortable here, for + the battery that had stolen the hill from us knew our position, and at + less than six hundred yards range, sent its shot and shell crashing + through the trees and over them, exploding their shells directly above + us. + + We were where we could do nothing, and I determined to run the + gauntlet of fire that swept over the open road beyond the timber we + were in, to another copse that would afford more shelter, and at + the same time probably an opportunity to get our guns into action; + therefore the necessary order was given, and the battery passed over + the space intervening at a rapid gallop. This movement resulted in + few if any casualties to the men, but a shot struck the stock of a + caisson, disabling it. To prevent its capture by the enemy it was + blown up by Lieut. Parker. + + It had now grown quite dark, and the opposing lines were easily traced + by the sheets of flame and flashes of powder pouring from each, while + the positions were plainly discernible. The ground the battery had + secured appeared in the darkness to be unfavorable for the use of + all the guns; therefore two were posted in the road, where they had + a flank fire upon both the infantry and artillery of the enemy. A + captain of one of the rebel batteries engaged here told me several + years afterwards that the guns away off to his left, which he had + understood were those of a Rhode Island battery, inflicted terrible + punishment upon him, and that he lost more heavily in men, horses + and material, than in any one action of the war. Considering that we + had but two guns in this position, this was a high compliment to the + efficiency of Battery D. + + Before or about nine o'clock the action was over. Its close was + terrific: fire leaped in waves from the musket's mouth, and men saw in + the darkness the angry flames; bullets filled the air, or struck with + heavy thud a living mark, and men heard the cruel sound; but neither + fire, scream nor blow, nor the presence of almost certain death, + appalled the Federal lines." + +Soon after nine o'clock the heavy firing ceased, and in a half hour +everything was quiet, save occasional shots from the pickets. By ten +o'clock the men were sleeping quietly, the drivers near their horses, +and the cannoniers in their positions about the guns. + +About midnight a staff officer entered the battery, found the captain +and ordered him to awaken his men, have the guns limbered, and move the +command into the road with the least possible noise. Sergeants were +awakened and sent around among the men, who were awakened with great +care, and cautioned not to speak save in a whisper. Everything about +the harnesses and carriages which would rattle or make a noise of any +kind was muffled. When everything was ready the battery started out of +its position, and gaining the Warrenton Pike, took up its line of march +back towards Gainesville. + +The explanation of this movement was, that our division commander +had become very much exercised in his mind as to the wisdom of his +remaining in this position, as it seemed to him untenable; and as Gen. +McDowell, our corps commander, was inaccessible, he decided not to +remain. + +After-knowledge has made it plain that it would have been much better +for our side if our position had been firmly held, for our army had the +rebel Gen. Jackson at such disadvantage and his supporting force, under +Gen. Longstreet, was so far away, that in all probability had he (Gen. +Jackson) been assaulted by our combined forces at daylight, he would +have been so disabled as to have been of no service to his side in the +fighting of the two following days. + +Upon reaching the intersection of the Warrenton and Manassas Pikes, +just beyond the village of Gainesville, the direction of our march +turned towards Manassas Junction, to which place we now marched, +reaching there just as the day began to dawn. The battery was parked +without unharnessing, and the men allowed to prepare their breakfast. + +About the middle of the forenoon we left the Junction, taking the +Sudley road towards the old Bull Run battlefield. Our progress was slow +and tedious, the road being filled with troops and wagon trains. As we +neared our destination we could hear the sound of battle, which grew +louder and seemingly more extended with every mile we traveled. Our +halting and hitching-along progress became very annoying to the men of +Battery D, for it seemed to them that with such delay it was extremely +doubtful about their reaching the battlefield in time to be of any +service. + +About 3 P.M. we left the road and entered the fields at a smart trot, +and soon reached the "Henry House" plateau, with the full expectation +of immediately entering the fight; instead of which the captain +indulged in a field-drill, for the purpose, as he has since said, of +satisfying himself as to whether his men would remain "steady" with +the immediate prospect of coming under fire. The result was entirely +satisfactory to him, and he has been pleased to say since, "that after +that experiment he would not have hesitated to have marched through the +whole Confederacy with those men." + +Towards night we were ordered into a position on low ground between the +Stone House and Dugen's, north of the Warrenton turnpike, but after +a few moments found that the position was untenable, because of our +own batteries, who, from a position on a hill in our rear, persisted +in cutting their fuses so short that most of their shells exploded in +close proximity to us. + +From here we marched back and took position on very high ground, +overlooking quite an extent of territory towards an unfinished +railroad, where Jackson had been fighting our troops since morning. We +were not near enough to take part, but could see the struggle quite +plainly, and frequently the shot and shell from the enemy would strike +or burst in close proximity to us. + +We now began to get our first impressions of what war really was, and +soon became thoroughly convinced that it was very serious business. We +had hardly settled down in our new position before wounded men began to +pass through our intervals; those with light wounds on foot, and the +more seriously wounded were brought upon stretchers. + +This night we spread our blankets, and lay down in our positions, the +cannoniers about the guns, and the drivers at their horses' heads, and +were soon fast asleep. + +At daylight on the 30th we were awakened by picket firing upon our +right, which in an hour or so increased into a constant roar of +musketry and artillery, which, until about noon, seemed to be confined +principally to our right, but soon after noon we began to see great +clouds of dust on our left, and column after column of our troops could +be seen hurrying in that direction, which indicated to us that trouble +was brewing there. Batteries were taken from positions near us, and +hurried along with the troops, but we were allowed to remain in ours +until nearly three o'clock, when we were ordered to move down to the +Warrenton Pike, upon reaching which we moved along for perhaps a half +mile in the direction of Groveton, then moved into a field upon the +left of the turnpike and halted. We remained here for nearly an hour. + +It was in the neighborhood of four o'clock that a staff officer from +Gen. McDowell rode up to Capt. Monroe, upon the full gallop, and, after +a few hurried words had passed between them, the order "Forward, trot, +march" was given. The battery was countermarched, and back we went, +bearing off to the south of the pike, and making for a hill perhaps +eight hundred yards distant. Upon reaching this hill (by name Bald +Hill), we moved down about two-thirds of the way to the bottom, and +there being a piece of level ground, we went into position. The ground +in our front descended quite abruptly for a hundred yards or so. At the +foot of the hill a brook ran, in which at this time the water was very +low, and when we reached our position the farther bank was occupied +by a single battle line of our troops, consisting of two brigades of +infantry. Gen. Milroy's independent brigade formed in line of battle in +our rear. + +A great cloud of dust which we had been watching for some time coming +from the direction of Gainesville, has finally reached our front, and +we earnestly watch for the first appearance of the enemy. Soon we +notice a cloud of dust and considerable commotion upon a hill perhaps a +mile away. The dust has hardly settled when we see a puff of smoke, and +in a few seconds a case-shot explodes in our midst, we receive orders +to open fire, and our struggle has commenced. + +Our guns are short range, and we find it impossible to reach the rebel +battery; but it became certain that rebel infantry are moving through +the woods in our front, and we begin to throw shell and solid shot in +their direction. Soon the line of battle in our front opens upon the +rebel line coming through the woods, and a sharp and vigorous fire is +kept up for a while, when the rebels charge our thin lines, which break +and run up the hill towards us, passing through our intervals to the +rear. + +Battery D is now face to face with the enemy, who have halted in the +depression of the brook for the purpose of perfecting their alignment. +Soon they make a rush for the battery, probably without the least doubt +but that we will prove an easy prey; but Capt. Monroe had drilled the +men of that battery for nine months, and it had prepared them for just +such an emergency as this. Every man was perfectly familiar with his +duty, and determined to do it. Guns were never served faster than +were these; round after round of canister is thrown into this mass of +approaching rebels; and it is thrown in such a manner that it is most +effective, and more than the enemy can stand, and they fall back to the +brook. + +While Battery D had been thus engaged, battery after battery had been +placed in position by the enemy, and these were now filling the air +with bursting shell and case-shot; but our position being so far down +the hill about all of their shots went over us. + +Soon the enemy appear again, but this time their lines extending way +beyond both our flanks, the right and left pieces change the direction +of their fire so as to protect our flanks. We became anxious about +our support, who ought now to be ready to assist us, but a hurried +investigation gives us the information that they have left us to our +fate--not an infantryman is in sight save their commanding general and +three or four of his staff officers. + +Gen. Milroy is standing on his dead horse cheering us on, and his +staff officers are trying to help us work our guns. We appreciate +their motives, but not being versed in light artillery duties, they +are rather a detriment to us. In justice to his brigade which has +retreated, it may be well to take into consideration that they were in +position some thirty yards in our rear, which brought them well up the +hill, and they were exposed to the artillery fire which was passing +over us. + +To add to our trouble word is brought from the limbers that our +canister has been exhausted, and only a few rounds of solid shot +remain. We cannot do much execution with this kind of ammunition, but +we keep it going at a lively pace. The enemy in our front soon discover +that we are not using canister, and taking advantage of it are fast +approaching us. Will Capt. Monroe delay too long, and shall we be +obliged to leave our guns as we have seen two batteries do just a few +moments before? No; he has his eyes upon them, and we soon hear the +welcome order, "Limbers to the rear." The limbers are whirled across +the trail, the pieces are limbered and hurried away almost from the +possession of the enemy! + +Lieut. Pardon S. Jastram, of Battery E, of our regiment, saw the latter +part of Battery D's engagement, and its withdrawal from its position, +and has described it in the following story: + + The heat of the battle was over on the right of our line, at the + second Bull Run, and we were watching the movements of the troops + away up on the plains at the top of Bald Hill. Kearney was there with + us, as well as a large number of officers and men of the line, all + watching with breathless interest the operations of the contending + lines clearly exposed to our view, save where a clump of timber hid a + portion of the rebel line, and concealed what was going on. There was + a line of our batteries, supported by infantry, all heavily engaged in + an effort to repel a determined attack that the enemy's artillery and + infantry were making. + + It was evident Lee had concentrated his efforts upon this point, + and that he proposed to carry it by hurling all his available force + against it. It was so plain from our standpoint that he would be + successful that Kearney remarked, "You will see a second stampede from + this field before night." + + Slowly the rebel line advanced, and rapidly the rebel artillery poured + shot, shell and shrapnel into the Union lines, which stood steady and + unbroken, but all aglow from the rapidity of the fire streaming from + it, which had a sulphurous hue as seen through the enveloping smoke + which rose in the air and floated away in great clouds. Guns were + served as it seemed they never were before. It appeared as if the + heavens would be rent in twain by the thunder of the artillery and the + discharges of the small arms on both sides combined. + + The rebel line never faltered, but continued to move on, + notwithstanding the deadly havoc in its ranks. Finally came the + charge, and, with yells that rang out clearly over the space between + them and us, they impetuously dashed upon the apparently firm, + immovable line before them. The quickened fire of the artillery told + that they were throwing canister with all their might and main, and + if human power, so far as those men were concerned, could stem the + approaching crest of glittering steel, they would do it. It looked as + if it was an impossibility for any living force, however determined, + to advance through that storm of iron and lead; but the rebel line + wavered for a moment only, then it gathered its strength again almost + in the very second that it appeared to lose it, and with renewed ardor + swept on. + + Our advanced line of infantry, occupying a sunken road in front of the + artillery, broke and rushed pell mell through the intervals between + the guns and limbers; and the second line just behind the limbers of + the batteries, joined them in their mad race to the rear, and down + the hill. Double canister went from the well served guns, and great + gaps appeared in the hotly charging line; but it was only for a few + seconds, for in that brief space of time they were in among the guns + and gunners, the latter seeking safety in precipitate retreat; there + was nothing else to do except to remain and become prisoners. The guns + were silent; they could hardly be seen on account of the great number + of the enemy in among them. The drivers hastily mounted the horses of + the limbers, and making a short "left about," hurried away with the + fleeing cannoniers. + + Not so, however, the limbers of one battery: like lightning they + dashed forward towards their pieces, and almost in the twinkling of + an eye, they emerged from the confusion in an unbroken line with a + light twelve pounder attached to every one of them, the captain of the + company proudly riding before, wildly waving his sword! + + It was a bold movement, and evidently one the enemy had not + anticipated, and so quickly had it been executed, he did not have time + to realize it until the guns were beyond his reach. Except the men + with these guns, not a Union soldier nor Union commander of any kind + save in hasty retreat, could be seen on that, the south side of the + Warrenton Pike, while the rebel lines continued to increase in extent, + and to advance as rapidly as formations could be made. + + Our interest was centered in the battery, now all alone, entirely + without support, and all expected to see it gallop to the rear and + join the general stampede. To our infinite surprise, after advancing + two hundred or three hundred yards to the rear, the captain again went + into battery, as if, single handed, to defy the whole centre of the + rebel army. The assurance of the battery commander, his effrontery + and impudence, were as much of a surprise to the rebels apparently, + as to us, and they seemed to be staggered for a few moments, as if in + doubt whether or no our lines had reformed and were about to advance + again. Their doubts were soon dispersed, and they charged with + such a dashing impetuous rush that apparently the battery could by + no possibility escape. Again the horses and limbers plunged wildly + forward, and it seemed as if the pintle-hooks of the limbers actually + shot into the lunettes of the trails of the gun carriages. Before the + charging line reached the ground that the guns stood upon and fired + from the battery was moving away at a smart trot! + + It looked as though the battery captain was now playing and trifling + with the enemy, for when he reached the crest of the hill leading + down into the valley, he went into battery again, to pay a parting + compliment to the Johnnies, but he failed to surprise them for a third + time, and they resumed their formation for a charge. The captain saw + his danger and without firing a shot he limbered to the rear and + coolly moved down the hill, where he was lost to our sight. + + Several of us were light artillery officers, and we knew from our own + experience on the drill ground and under fire, what skill must have + been exercised by a battery commander in training his men and horses + to enable him to handle his battery like a plaything in the face of + overwhelming numbers of the enemy, and to take what would have been + enormous and unpardonable risks with a command not almost absolutely + perfect in drill and discipline. + +Such was the manner Battery D retreated from its position at the second +Bull Run. + +After limbering the pieces as narrated in the preceding pages, the +battery moved down the hill, and, following the edge of the woods, soon +reached the Warrenton Pike, near the Stone Bridge. We found the road +to be filled with wagons, parts of batteries, infantry, cavalry, etc. +We halted at the bridge and Capt. Monroe tried to get some ammunition +for the battery, but it was impossible to do so. The battery was now +ordered forward onto the bridge, but the bridge at this time was +blocked up with wagons, etc., which we had to remove, and by the time +we crossed it was quite dark. We moved up the pike about half a mile +and entered a field on the left, and remained there until about nine +o'clock. We took advantage of this halt to have supper. While we were +halted at the bridge we supplied the battery with coffee, sugar, and +hard-tack from an abandoned baggage wagon. Just before we reached the +bridge there was a large number of camp-kettles that were filled with +corned beef. The fires were about out under them owing to the bullet +holes that had let out the water from most of them; but we found a +number that were all right and took them along. We had a good square +meal, which put us in first class condition. + +At about nine o'clock we were again put in motion, and reached +Centreville Heights about midnight, parked the battery, unhitched the +horses, without unharnessing, and the men lay down in a drizzling rain +for a very much needed rest, and slept soundly until morning. + +Our stay on these heights was extended through the whole of Sunday, the +31st, and until nearly two o'clock P.M. of Sept. 1st. We were then put +in motion, and proceeded along the Centreville Pike towards Washington. +We moved along very leisurely, and it was in the vicinity of four +o'clock that we reached a point about half way between Centreville and +Fairfax Court House, when our ears were again filled with the roar +of volley after volley of musketry, seemingly not a great distance +away. Our column was halted immediately, and for an hour or more we +stood in expectation of being momentarily called upon. To add to the +impressiveness of the occasion, a very severe thunder storm commenced +about the same time with the engagement, and the noise of the thunder +added to that of the battle, made it seem terrific. The rain fell in +torrents, wetting us through in a few minutes, and increasing our +discomfort. + +This engagement was the battle of Chantilly, and was brought about by +the rebel Gen. Jackson's endeavor to intercept and cut our retreating +column, moving along the Warrenton Pike, by marching via Little River +Pike, a road which leaves the Bull Run battlefield from a point near +his position upon that field, crossing the Warrenton Pike near Fairfax +Court House; but the watchfulness of our cavalry had discovered the +movement, and it was promptly frustrated. Soon after dark the firing +ceased, and the battery was moved into a field upon the right of the +road, parked, and notwithstanding that the ground was thoroughly +soaked, and the men wet to the skin, they rolled up in their blankets +and were soon asleep. + +Tuesday, Sept. 2d, we continued our march towards Washington, reaching +the vicinity of Bailey's Cross-roads about dark. Since the 22d of +August, the battery had been upon the march day and night, not once had +the horses been unharnessed, and they had been short of forage for most +of the time, and it may be imagined were in a very exhausted condition. +The men were thoroughly used up; what with the excessive duty, lack of +rations, and the discouraging termination of the campaign, they were +very much disheartened. + +On our arrival in the vicinity of our old camp, at sometime in the +early evening, considerable cheering was heard down the road leading to +Alexandria, which increased in volume as it approached. Our interest in +the singular and unexpected demonstration drew us out into the road, +and we could soon see in the growing darkness the approach of a large +cavalcade, and by a close inspection we were able to distinguish the +form of Gen. McClellan. We immediately added our cheers to the others, +and when a few moments later it was said that he had been reappointed +to the command of our armies, our enthusiasm was unrestrained. + +From Sept. 2d until Sept. 6th, we remained in camp near our old camping +grounds at Upton's Hill and Dupont. Each night a section of the battery +was sent out on picket, but nothing of importance disturbed us. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +South Mountain and Antietam. + + +About nine o'clock on the evening of Sept. 6th, the section on picket +was called in, and as speedily as possible the battery packed up and +started towards Washington, passing through the city towards midnight, +and early on the morning of the 7th made camp about twelve miles from +the city, on the Maryland side of the Potomac River, where we remained +until the 10th, when we marched to Lisbon. On the 12th we reached +New Market, continuing on to Frederick City the next day. Here the +head of our column began to encounter the rebels, and on the 14th our +troops fought a severe battle with them at South Mountain, and after +persistent and hard fighting, succeeded in driving them over the +mountain. + +Battery D was not engaged in this battle, but from its position, +which was upon very high ground, the men had an excellent view of the +engagement. + +Let us pause a moment, for the purpose of narrating the movements of +the Confederate army, which had caused this sudden departure of ours +into Maryland. After the check given to Gen. Jackson at Chantilly, Gen. +Lee decided to invade Maryland. He hoped by this action to have his +army largely recruited from the great number of Southern sympathizers +in that State, whom it had been said were only waiting for just such +an opportunity as this would give them, to join the Confederate army. +Gen. Jackson was ordered to march for the Potomac, and between the 4th +and 5th of Sept. the whole Confederate army had crossed into Maryland, +and was encamped near Frederick, on the Monocacy River. Gen. Lee +issued an address to the people of Maryland, inviting those who were +in sympathy with the Southern cause, to join the army; but it fell +flat, and he lost more by desertions than he gained by recruits from +the Marylanders. On the 9th of Sept. Gen. Lee issued Special Order No. +119, in which he ordered Gen. Jackson to proceed to Harper's Ferry, and +oblige its surrender. Gen. Longstreet and the rest of the army were +ordered to proceed to Boonsboro,--thus his army was divided. Happily +this order fell into the hands of Gen. McClellan, who acted upon its +information immediately by following the main part of the Confederate +army, attacking it and driving it over South Mountain down to Antietam, +and it was late in the afternoon of the 17th before Lee's army was +fully united. + +The morning of the 15th saw Battery D upon the road again, and by noon +we had reached the summit of South Mountain. As we passed along we saw +numerous evidences of the severe struggle. Many of the dead, both of +our own and the rebel forces, lay by the roadside and in the fields, +burial parties being then at work digging graves. + +During the afternoon we continued our winding way down the mountain, +following the pike road which led through the village of Boonsboro, and +went into camp just beyond the village. On the morning of the 16th we +were hitched up and ready to move, but did not get the order to move +until about noon; when, passing through Keedysville, we followed the +pike until near McClellan's head-quarters, the vicinity of which we +reached just before dark, and turning to the right crossed Antietam +Creek, and after marching for sometime in a somewhat circuitous route +went into park about nine o'clock, with a number of other batteries. +Our position was on cleared ground and on the summit of a commanding +ridge, as we discovered next morning. + +As our infantry advanced to establish a picket line, they were met +with a heavy fire, which convinced us that the enemy were in our near +presence, and in large force. Their artillery shelled us continually, +and the flight of the shells with their burning fuses, together with +the flash of the small arms, made a very pretty display, but we were +all glad when the exhibition came to a close, just before ten o'clock. + +The teams were not unhitched, but the bridles were dropped, giving +the horses an opportunity to feed. It was late before the horses were +fed and the men had eaten their suppers, but finally all had disposed +themselves for sleep, either upon the ground, or on the chests of the +caissons, and were soon utterly indifferent to their surroundings and +the prospects of trouble on the morrow. + +Just at daylight the next morning we were awakened by a shell that went +screeching over the battery, and in a minute or two it was followed by +quite a lively lot of them, but their elevation was just a little too +high, and they passed over us, only one doing any damage. + +Cannoniers rushed to their posts, drivers to their horses: bridles were +hastily slipped on, and in less time than it takes to tell it, were +executing the movement "Action front," in answer to an order from the +Captain. As the men succeeded in rubbing their eyes open, and recovered +from their astonishment, they looked about for an explanation of this +disturbance. It was in the gray of dawn, and the few first rays of the +rising sun had made it possible for us to see the surrounding hills. +From one of these a battery or two of rebels had discovered our +position, and gotten in the first blow; but they had no idea what a +hornets' nest they were stirring up, for it so happened that upon that +ridge there lay four batteries: upon our left lay Battery B, Fourth +United States, upon our rear Battery L, First New York, and the First +New Hampshire, and as quickly as possible every gun, twenty-four in +number, was firing in reply to the enemy. + +Capt. Monroe says of this part of the action: + + "I have always thought that but one battery opened upon us, though + others believe there were two or three opposed to us. Whatever number + there was, they must have found their position a warm one, for the + gunners of three of these (our batteries) could not be excelled for + marksmanship, estimation of distances, and all the good qualities + which go to make a skillful gunner. The previous winter they had been + exercised by Capt. Gibbon in firing at target, sighting, etc., and + they had acquired great proficiency in these points. The fuses of the + shell and case were accurately timed, and the projectiles burst where + it was intended they should, among the guns and limbers of the enemy, + who had stirred up a hornets' nest, and the hornets proved too many + for him." + +After the rebel battery had retired, and the firing ceased, the men of +Battery D had an opportunity to look about them, take in the lay of the +land, etc. In our front the ground sloped gradually for several hundred +yards, at which distance it was crossed at nearly right angles with our +position by a sunken road, in which the rebel line of battle was posted. + +Immediately upon our left was a thin belt of woods, and beyond that an +extensive cornfield, in which was done as stubborn fighting as was ever +seen. During the whole day its possession was hotly contested; first +one side and then the other would occupy it, and so vigorous was the +assault, so brave the defence, that by noon it was possible to trace +where the various stands had been made, by the continuous lines of dead +and wounded, extending from one side of the cornfield to the other. + +After the cessation of the artillery fire, the men of Battery D were +kept busy replenishing the limber chests with ammunition, and various +other duties, until about nine o'clock, and for an hour afterwards had +a comparatively easy time. Two batteries in our line, Campbell's and +Reynolds's, were moved from their position near us to a new one just +beyond the woods in the edge of the cornfield, where they received very +warm treatment. + +About ten A.M. one of Gen. Hooker's staff came to Capt. Monroe and +ordered him to report to Gen. Hooker. After ordering the drivers to +mount, and putting the column in motion, left in front, under Lieut. +Fisk, Capt. Monroe sought Gen. Hooker, whom he found at the front of +our line of battle, mounted upon a white horse, altogether the most +conspicuous object in that vicinity, and less than five hundred yards +from the rebel line. As coolly as though in a drawing room, he pointed +out to the Captain the position he desired him to occupy, and the +work he wanted him to do. The position was upon the top of a slight +elevation fully a hundred yards in front of our line of battle, and the +work was the silencing of a rebel battery which had secured a position +from which they had an enfilade fire upon our line of battle, which was +very destructive. + +Upon receiving this order, Capt. Monroe returned to the battery, +joining us just as we had passed through the woods and were entering +the cornfield. Our passage through this field was necessarily slow, +because of the impossibility of moving in a direct line in consequence +of the great number of dead and wounded; frequent stops had to be made +for the purpose of moving them out of the way. + +Just after crossing the Smoketown road Capt. Monroe halted the caissons +and advanced the pieces a short distance and gave the order "Form +line advancing, trot, march," and soon gave the order "In battery, +action front," "Commence firing." This manoeuvre brought us upon level +ground nearly in front of the Dunker Church, and about one hundred and +twenty-five yards from the Hagerstown Pike. + +The battery that we were to silence was south of the church on the east +of the pike. They did not seem to pay any attention to us until we were +fairly in battery, and had opened on them, then it was give and take +for a few minutes. They had been firing at quite long range, and did +not get their guns depressed so as to do us any damage, all of their +shots going over us. Our gunners were putting case shot in among them +at a rapid rate, and soon their fire slackened and in a little while +ceased altogether. After the smoke had cleared away we found that they +had retired, leaving one limber and several dead men and horses on the +ground they had occupied. + +We stopped firing and watched a brigade of our infantry which was going +into position on our right and rear. They moved to the right until +they were on a line with our right piece, and then faced to the front +and charged into the woods just to the north of the Dunker Church. In +the meantime we began to get a few minie balls from the south of the +church, and sent back a few shells; but we soon had orders to cease +firing, as there was some doubt about whether the brigade that had just +passed into the woods had not moved to that side of the church. It was +not over six or eight minutes before volley after volley was fired in +the woods just behind the church, and the brigade which had charged +into the woods but a few minutes before in such dashing style now came +pouring out in a confused mass. They had run into a large force of the +rebels and could not hold their ground. + +We expected now to get the order to limber up and move to the rear; but +instead, we were ordered to "Commence firing." Up to this time we had +lost but two men and two or three horses. We directed our fire into +the woods in our front, and in a few minutes we saw a line of rebels +coming through the woods just to the right of the church. Knowing that +if that line was not stopped that Battery D was in a bad place, as they +would flank us on the right, and the ground to our left was such that +we could not get out that way, we sent round after round of canister at +them in quick succession, and had the satisfaction of seeing the line +waver and then break and return to the woods. + +We were now feeling that we had things our own way again, but the +minie bullets were beginning to come again, not so thick as before, +but with a great deal of accuracy, and we soon found, that although +we had driven the main line back, in the meantime quite a number +of sharpshooters had dropped into the depression on the east side +of the pike, and also behind a pile of rails on our right not over +seventy-five yards away, and were making it very uncomfortable for us. +The right piece of the centre section had three number ones shot down +before they could load their piece, and had lost every man but Corp. +Gray and private Mills. The piece was finally loaded, and a shell was +sent into the pile of rails, which must have done some damage. The +right piece had lost every horse on its limber, and the other pieces +were suffering losses in men and horses. + +It was now apparent that it was time for us to fall back if we wanted +to save our battery. Capt. Monroe soon gave the order, and we fell back +to Mumma's house, just under the hill to our rear. We had to leave one +piece, but Lieut. Fisk soon returned with some men and the piece was +taken to the rear with the prolonge, leaving the limber, which was +recovered next day. + +The battery soon moved back to the position we occupied in the morning, +and replenished our ammunition. Lieut. Parker went on a hunt for +horses to replace those that were killed and wounded. He succeeded in +getting horses enough so that we were in shape to move at a moment's +notice. + +In this battle our battery lost four killed, sixteen wounded, and two +missing (six of the slightly wounded staid with the battery). We lost +thirty-eight horses. Capt. Monroe's horse was shot six times. + +Capt. Campbell, of Battery B, Fourth United States, having been +severely wounded, Capt. Monroe succeeded him as Chief of Artillery, and +the command of Battery D passed to Lieut. Fisk. + +The afternoon was well advanced when an order was received that we +take position "In battery" along the ridge occupied by us in the early +morning, and with us went four other batteries, making twenty-nine +guns. Every officer was ordered to keep a sharp lookout, and at +the first indication of an attempt by the enemy to place artillery +in position, all the guns in that line were to commence firing, +concentrating their fire upon that spot. + +About five o'clock a horseman was seen to ride over the hill from +which the rebel battery had shelled us in the morning, followed almost +immediately by the teams of a battery, and rapidly making the left +about, drop their pieces into battery, but before they had fired a +shot, twenty-nine projectiles of various kinds and sizes were flying +towards that unfortunate battery, creating, a few seconds later, the +greatest consternation, as they exploded among the pieces and limbers; +round after round followed in quick succession, and that battery beat a +hasty retreat. Other batteries tried to maintain the position, but it +was of no use; our fire was too frequent and well directed for anything +to live upon that hill for any length of time. Gradually it became more +and more quiet, so that by nine o'clock all firing had ceased, save an +occasional picket shot. + +Battery D remained in position. Through the night rumor had it that we +had practically destroyed Lee's army, and that it only remained for us +to up and at him in the morning, to drive him into the Potomac. But +the next morning we were very much surprised at the entire absence of +noise; instead of the roar of battle, we could not hear even the noise +of a single picket gun. Our curiosity kept us hunting for a reason, +until it was ascertained that we were under a flag of truce. + +All day long we lay in our position, expecting that the truce would +end, and we should resume the fight. During the forenoon we took +advantage of the inaction to recover the limber left on the field, +visit our wounded in the hospitals, refitting our disabled pieces, +caissons, etc., and at last night closed in without our having fired a +shot. This was not entirely satisfactory to us, for although we were +not actually starving for a fight, still the impression of all, even +the privates, was that we had our enemy at great disadvantage, which we +were by this delay losing. + +On the morning of the 19th of Sept., the battery was early prepared +for an advance movement, but it was nearly noon before we moved out +of park. Since early morning we had seen troops moving forward along +the Hagerstown Pike, and were momentarily expecting to hear the roar +of battle, but not a sound reached our ears until near the middle +forenoon, when distant artillery could be heard. What has happened? +Soon mounted messengers returned at full speed to McClellan's +head-quarters, and the mortifying intelligence is given that there is +no enemy in our front, Gen. Lee having taken advantage of the darkness +of the night and moved his entire command across the Potomac at +Shepherdstown Ford. + +It is well that it was not possible for Gen. McClellan to hear all +that was said of him by the soldiers of his army when this was fully +understood by them; the feeling that here was one more illustration of +the superior generalship of the enemy was very depressing. + +About 12 o'clock our battery pulled out of park, moved across the +fields to the Hagerstown Pike, and started towards Sharpsburg. Our +route carried us along that part of the road over which there had been +such a fearful struggle on the 17th; nothing had been disturbed (except +that the wounded had been removed), but lay just as it had been left on +the evening of that day. As we reached that part where the cornfield +was upon our left and the Dunker Church upon our right, the sight +became sickening, even to men who had become inured to such scenes, +for there lay within the reach of our vision hundreds, yea, thousands +of dead, just as they had fallen, swelling into most horrible shapes, +twice their natural size, and mortification, which had been hastened +by a light rain on the night of the 18th, and a very hot sun on the +morning of the 19th, had turned the exposed parts of the bodies black. +We were glad when we had passed beyond the battlefield. + +It was our impression that we had started in pursuit of the enemy, +but that was soon corrected, for before we reached Sharpsburg we were +ordered into camp, upon ground which had evidently been occupied very +recently by the rebels, as was made plain to us by the debris which +lay around, and emphasized by large numbers of a certain kind of live +stock, which for some reason (probably an over-crowded condition) had +left them, and now proceeded to fasten themselves upon us, much to our +discomfort. + +On the 20th our camp was moved to a more acceptable place, and we +remained in it just one month. + +Oct. 1st President Lincoln visited the army, and remained four days. +During his stay a grand review was held of the Army of the Potomac, +which had been increased to nearly 150,000, and was in superb +condition, while Lee was at Winchester, Va., with his army, reported +to be in a wretched condition; still McClellan did not show any +disposition to move upon him, notwithstanding he was urged time after +time by the President to do so. + +All through October the weather was of the finest, just such as was +needed for a campaign, but all through the month Gen. McClellan was +inactive, and it was not until Nov. 1st that he was ready; then +he moved, but it was too late, for on the 7th there was a heavy +snowstorm--winter had commenced, and now movement would be necessarily +slow and tedious. His opportunity had been thrown away. + +Oct. 20th Battery D left camp near Sharpsburg and marched to +Bakersville, going into camp with our Division Artillery, where it +was said we were to quarter for the winter; but at two o'clock in +the afternoon of the 26th, orders were received to pack up, and we +were soon on the march again, which was continued until nine o'clock, +through a drenching rainstorm, and finally made camp in a plowed field, +which was very inconvenient for men and horses, as the mud was ankle +deep. + +On the 28th, our march was continued three or four miles, and we made +camp near Crompton's Pass. The next day we continued on, went through +the gap, and camped near Knoxville, Md. We remained here over the 29th. + +A new disease had broken out among our horses, three-quarters of them +having swollen tongues, and so badly affected that their tongues would +protrude from their mouths, rendering it impossible for the poor +animals to eat their grain or hay; and added to this, a hoof disease, +caused by their being so constantly in the mud, had become so bad that +in many cases the hoof nearly rotted off, necessitating the shooting of +a considerable number of them. + +Oct. 30th we crossed the Potomac into Virginia, at Berlin, and next +day commenced our pursuit of the rebel army, with a four gun battery, +being obliged to leave two of our guns because of lack of horses. + +From the 31st of October to the 6th of November, we continued our +march, reaching Warrenton on the afternoon of the 6th, where we +remained until the 11th. + +On the 7th the battery was ordered into position, expecting an attack. +A furious snow storm prevailed all day, making us very uncomfortable, +and as we were without tents, we were obliged to depend entirely upon +our blankets for protection. + +On the 10th it was officially announced that Gen. McClellan had been +relieved from command of the army, and Gen. Burnside appointed to +succeed him. Their addresses, one of farewell and the other assuming +command, were read to us upon parade that night. + +Towards the last of October Capt. J. Albert Monroe left us, having +been promoted to Major of our regiment, and assigned to duty at +Washington. He was a strict disciplinarian and a thorough and efficient +drillmaster. Early in November Major Monroe was assigned to the +duty of organizing and commanding the Artillery Camp of Instruction +at Washington, in which duty he made a national reputation as an +artillerist of the first order. + +Lieut. Fisk, being the senior officer present, had command of the +battery from a short time after Antietam until our arrival at +Bakersville, when Lieut. Harkness, having returned from his sick leave, +assumed command. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +Fredericksburg--Bell's Landing--Hampton--and Trip to the West. + + +On the 11th of November the battery marched to Waterloo, remaining +until the 17th, and then continued on to Morristown. Here it was again +rumored that we were to go into winter quarters, and a removal on the +19th into a fine grove rather strengthened our belief that there was +some foundation for the rumor; but orders which were received late +on the 21st that we were to be ready to move early the next morning, +settled effectually the winter camp question at this place. + +Next morning the battery made an early start, and at night reached +Brook Station, on the Fredericksburg & Aquia Creek Railroad. The +weather was perfectly horrible, a cold drizzling rain prevailing all +day long, made the march very disagreeable. + +Our stay here was extended until the 7th of Dec. Twice during that time +we received marching orders, but heavy snow storms necessitated their +being countermanded; but on the 7th we started, but after marching +four or five miles we reached a hill so steep and icy that the horses +were unable to pull the carriages to the top, and we made camp upon +the hill with our pieces and caissons strung along from the top to the +bottom. The next day we managed to get over the hill, and continued on +to Fredericksburg. On the 9th we moved to a position opposite the city, +and made camp. + +Gen. Burnside, upon assuming command of the army, with the consent of +Gen. Halleck, abandoned Gen. McClellan's plan, which was, by a rapid +march upon Gordonsville, to interpose between Gen. Lee's divided forces +(he having sent Gen. Longstreet over the Blue Ridge to resist the Union +advance upon the Confederate capital), and beat them in detail, and +adopted a new plan of operations. The capture of Richmond, rather than +the destruction of Gen. Lee's army, was to be his objective. + +The Union army at this time was 120,000 strong. Some precious time was +wasted in its reorganization. Instead of the old corps formation, it +was now organized into three Grand Divisions, each consisting of two +corps. Gen. Sumner was placed in command of the right, Gen. Franklin of +the left, and Gen. Hooker of the centre, and a large reserve commanded +by Gen. Sigel. + +The plan as stated by Gen. Burnside was to concentrate the army at +Warrenton, make a feint of crossing the Rappahannock, leading the enemy +to believe that an attack was about to be made upon Gordonsville, +and then move the whole army to Fredericksburg, and thence march +rapidly upon Richmond; but here again some one blundered. To cross the +Rappahannock, it would be necessary to construct pontoon bridges. Gen. +Burnside supposed that the matter had been fully attended to, and that +the pontoons would be on hand at the time of his arrival, Nov. 15th; +instead of which it was the 25th of the month before they arrived, and +the 10th of December before things were ready for throwing the bridges +across the river. + +In the mean time the enemy had discovered the plan, and on the 22d Gen. +Burnside and his division commanders had the mortification of seeing +the opposite heights covered with the enemy's batteries, and filled +with his infantry. Gen. Lee's army, some 80,000 strong, had all been +brought up, and it lay in a semicircle around Fredericksburg, each wing +resting on the river--its right at Port Royal below the city, and its +left a short distance above it. + +On the 10th of December, everything being ready, Gen. Burnside gave +orders that the bridges should be thrown across at an early hour the +next morning; three were to be constructed immediately in front of +Fredericksburg, and two a couple of miles below. The morning of the +11th was cold and raw, a dense fog prevailed, amid which the work +commenced. + +The heights upon the Falmouth side were close to the margin of the +river, which at this point is about three hundred yards wide. Upon +these heights there were placed in position one hundred and forty-seven +guns. The bridges below the city were laid without much opposition; but +in front of the city a galling fire, from behind stone walls and from +windows, was opened upon the bridge builders, driving them back, and +effectually preventing further work upon them. + +About six o'clock another attempt was made, with the same result. +Then Gen. Burnside ordered the guns mounted upon Safford Heights to +open fire upon the city, and batter it down if necessary. More than a +hundred guns responded immediately to the order, and a roar commenced +which could be heard miles away, and that fairly shook the earth, +lasting nearly three hours. + +In the midst of this firing another attempt was made to lay the +bridges; but, strange to say, there still were sharpshooters to oppose +them, and they were obliged to fall back; then volunteers were called +for to cross the river and drive the enemy out of their hiding places. +Three regiments responded to the call, were quickly conveyed across, +and in a brief space of time the sharpshooters were driven away, nearly +a hundred of them being made prisoners, and the bridges laid. + +Before dark Sumner's and a few of Hooker's Division had crossed to +the south side of the river. Considerable skirmishing occurred as the +troops forced their way through the city and out upon the plains beyond. + +Early on the morning of the 12th, the rest of the army crossed, and +Battery D went with it. Our progress up the streets from the river was +extremely dangerous, from the fact that the enemy had a perfect range, +and succeeded in ricocheting shot after shot down the very centre of +the street, obliging us to use the sidewalks. Occasionally they would +explode a shell uncomfortably close; but we succeeded in reaching the +upper part of the town without any serious casualty. Here we sought +protection behind a large stone warehouse, where we remained all day, +and until before light next morning, when we were moved up nearer the +enemy. + +All day of the 13th we lay under fire, protected by buildings. The +enemy shelled Fredericksburg all the morning, and about noon the order +was given for our infantry to advance upon Marye's Heights. The mist +had cleared, and every movement of our troops could be distinctly +seen by the rebels upon the heights. Then commenced a most furious +cannonading, followed in a few moments, as our troops reached the stone +wall at the foot of Marye's Hill, by volley after volley of musketry. +So terrific was the fire from Marye's Hill that our artillery could not +be advanced, and the infantry had to fall back. + +The men of Battery D were soon convinced of the terrible work that was +going on in front, from the great numbers of wounded which passed them, +going to the rear. In fifteen minutes, of the 5600 led into battle by +Gen. Hancock, 2000 were disabled. All day and until nearly dark on +the 14th our battery remained in the place we had moved into in the +morning. + +Just before dark we were ordered to move forward across the plain to +the left of the city and shell the works on Marye's Heights. We came +into position on the edge of an embankment which was at least five +or six feet high. We placed our pieces in position and then took our +limbers and caissons back under the embankment, and when all was ready, +we opened with a will. We thought we had quite a snap on our enemy, +but in about three minutes they convinced us that we had "barked up +the wrong tree," for they just sent in a shower of shells and minies +that made us seek cover. We laid close to the embankment until they +let up, and then loaded all our pieces and gave them a broadside. We +fired two or three rounds, and then they had their turn again; this was +repeated three or four times; but at last we were denied the privilege +of even getting in a round or two, as their fire was kept up for a long +time, and they were putting their shells just in the right place. We +afterwards found out that they had platted the ground in their front, +and knew to a nicety every position, and could drop a shell into any of +them; and then it became apparent to all of us that we were not wanted +there anyway, so we limbered up and retired to the lower part of the +city. + +Here we remained until two o'clock in the morning of the 15th, when we +recrossed the river, and returned to our old camp. By daylight all our +army had recrossed the river to the Falmouth side, and the battle of +Fredericksburg was over. + +Battery D, although under fire all the time, did not become engaged, +save in this single instance, and was but little injured--First +Sergeant R. Henry Lee's wounded hand, and a broken stock of a caisson +being our only casualties. + +Capt. W.W. Buckley, who had been promoted from First Lieutenant to +Captain on Oct. 30th, and assigned to Battery D, reached our camp on +Dec. 10th, just in time to participate in this fight. + +Dec. 17th the battery was moved about a mile and a half back from the +river into a grove, and began to build winter quarters. A cellar about +a foot deep, six feet long and four feet wide, was first dug; this was +fixed around with pine slabs, dirt was then tamped around the outside +of the slabs, a ridge-pole was raised in the crotch of two upright +poles and covered with our shelter tents, and a mud chimney was built +on the outside, the tent being tacked tightly around the fire-place. +We had a bunk on either side, raised from the ground and filled with +boughs. When these houses were completed and we had built good rousing +fires in the fire-places, we were just as comfortable and happy as it +was possible for soldiers to be. + +From this time to Feb. 6th, 1863, our time was occupied in performing +the ordinary duties of the soldier, such as drills, having inspections, +etc., varying the operations between Jan. 10th and 21st, by being under +marching orders for the purpose of crossing the Rappahannock River on +an expedition against the rebels. + +Gen. Burnside desired to redeem, if possible, the disaster which had +befallen the Union army, and he originated a new plan, the purpose of +which was an immediate advance upon Richmond. His plan was to make a +feint above Fredericksburg, and to cross with the main body six miles +below. A large force of cavalry with four guns was to cross at Kelly's +Ford, push towards the Rapidan, destroy the railroad and bridges in the +rear of Gen. Lee, traverse Virginia, and join the Union garrison at +Suffolk. + +This movement was stopped by order of the President, representations +from dissatisfied officers had had their effect, and Gen. Burnside was +ordered not to make the movement. + +By Jan. 10th the plan had been changed. It was now proposed to cross +the Rappahannock above Fredericksburg, flank the enemy and force a +battle. The President gave his permission, and the troops were placed +under marching orders. The pontoons were brought up to the vicinity of +Banks' Ford, and everything made ready to throw the bridge across the +swollen river. Most of the army had been brought up to the vicinity of +the ford, and it was contemplated to make the movement on the morning +of the 21st of Jan., but on the evening of the 20th a fearful storm of +wind, sleet and rain came on, such as is seldom seen in that region, +which continued all night, and when morning came the entire country had +been converted into a vast bed of mud, and for hours the troops were +hopelessly mired--it was impossible to move in either direction--every +attempt to move only sank the wheels of the artillery and of the wagons +deeper into the soft sticky mud. Orders were finally issued to the +troops to return to winter quarters, and what is known as the "Mud +March" was ended. + +Battery D was fortunate enough not to have left its camp on this +occasion; for ten days we were hitched up ready to move at a moment's +notice, but happily were not called upon, and thus escaped a most +disagreeable episode. + +Stormy and cold weather prevailed during the last week of January, +but as we were comfortably housed, rations plenty, and duty light, we +managed to get through it without much discomfort. + +February came in like a lion--the 2d was very cold, the 3d still +colder, and on the 4th the men could do little else than sit by their +fires, the cold was so intense. + +On the 6th orders were received to pack up as soon as possible, and be +ready to march in an hour. About eight o'clock the battery moved out +of our winter camp and took up its line of march in a cold drenching +rain, towards Bell's Landing on the Potomac River, distant about twelve +miles. The roads were exceedingly muddy, so that our progress was +necessarily very slow; the very best we could do was about six miles on +the first day; the pieces and caissons would become fast in the mud, +and we would have to double our teams to pull them out. Our condition +may be imagined--tired out, wet through, and no way of protecting +ourselves from the cold storm, which continued through the night. + +We succeeded after great difficulty in pulling our pieces and caissons +through to the landing on the next day; but the battery wagon and forge +not having arrived, six teams of horses were sent back after them, and +they were found about five miles back, the forge being bottom side up +in a creek, having run off the bridge the night before. We finally got +it on the road and hauled it and the battery wagon to camp. + +About two o'clock in the morning of the 9th, the men were aroused, +and commenced loading the battery on canal boats. At nine o'clock the +loading of the battery was completed. The boats were shoved out into +the stream and anchored until four o'clock in the afternoon, when a +steamer took our tow-line and towed us down the river a few miles, +where we again anchored, and remained until the 11th, when we continued +our journey; but about noon it commenced storming, and we put into St. +Mary's Bay for a harbor. All day of the 12th the storm continued, and +we remained in the harbor. + +Within a hundred yards of where our boats lay, were some immense rocks, +and at low tide large numbers of oysters could be seen clinging to +their sides. Permission was given that the men could use the small +boats to gather them, and soon large quantities were secured, and, as +it may be imagined, to men whose diet had been principally "salt junk" +and pork, this change in their diet was very acceptable. + +The 13th opening clear and pleasant, an early start was made, and we +moved on down to the mouth of the river, but the bay was found to be +so rough that it was not considered safe to attempt crossing it, and we +made harbor until three o'clock in the afternoon, when the wind having +gone down, we started again towards Fortress Monroe. We reached Hampton +at daylight, and immediately disembarked. The next day we went into +camp near Hampton. + +Hampton at this time was in ruins. When the rebel Gen. Magruder +evacuated the place, he burned it, hardly leaving a house standing. It +must have been a beautiful place before the war, but at the time of our +arrival it had been given over to the negroes, who had built huts out +of the ruins, and were taking life very easily. + +One enterprising darkey had established an oyster house, and as soon +as we were in camp he solicited our trade, but as we had not been +paid in some time, about everybody was "broke;" we did have some +"Kalamazoo" greenbacks, but they had lost their value. We felt that +our constitutions needed a change of diet, and oysters were about the +proper thing to tone us up, so we sent one of our number over to the +oyster house and he bought a gallon of oysters and offered in payment a +two dollar "Kalamazoo." The darkey had some doubts about the bill, but +was assured it was genuine, and that he could go up to the captain and +convince himself that it was all right; but before the darkey had time +to go, the captain walked in; the bill was produced, and the captain +gave him two dollars and eighty cents in good Government greenbacks, +remarking that it was worth three dollars to him. This move established +the worth of Kalamazoo greenbacks, and we had a fair supply of oysters. +(Capt. Buckley was at this time on a sick furlough, but _his dress +coat_ was in camp.) + +From the 15th of February until the 11th of March, we remained in camp +at Hampton, the time being occupied with the regular round of camp +duties. Snow and rain alternated with pleasant weather. Duties were +light, and, with plenty to eat, a good comfortable place to sleep in, +and the privilege of passes to visit the numerous places of interest in +the vicinity, made us feel very well contented with our situation. + +On the 27th of February Capt. Buckley returned from a sick furlough. +Lieut. Parker, taking his turn at a furlough, left the battery on March +2d, for Rhode Island. + +At two o'clock in the morning of the 6th, John T. Green died of +measles, and was buried at three o'clock in the afternoon of the 7th, +with military honors. + +First Lieut. G.C. Harkness, at his request, was mustered out of +service, and left for home on the 7th. + +March 11th the battery moved to Newport News, where it remained until +the 16th, on which day the camp was changed about a mile back towards +Hampton. + +Just at night on the 18th, orders were received to prepare five days +rations and be ready to march at an early hour next morning. At six +o'clock in the morning of the 19th, we started for Fortress Monroe. It +began to snow soon after leaving camp; the storm rapidly increased, +and by afternoon became a blizzard. It was found impossible for us +to reach our destination, and we were obliged to camp. We passed a +most disagreeable night; wood was very scarce, and it was with great +difficulty that we gathered enough to keep us from freezing. Snow fell +to the depth of eight or ten inches, adding much to our discomfort. + +Next morning we continued on to Fortress Monroe, and from the wharf at +that place loaded our battery upon the steamer John Brooks, and the +horses upon two schooners, and started early on the morning of the 22d, +in tow of the steamer, for Baltimore, Md. Our passage across Chesapeake +Bay was rather tempestuous, indeed so rough was it at one time that the +steamer was obliged to cut the tow-line and cast us adrift. She lay to +near us until morning, when she picked us up again, and we proceeded on +our journey without further interruption, reaching Baltimore at sunrise +on the morning of the 24th. + +The battery was transferred as rapidly as possible from the boats to +the cars, and at three o'clock in the afternoon left Baltimore over the +Baltimore & Ohio Railroad for Parkersburg, on the Ohio River. Our train +consisted of flat cars upon which the pieces and caissons were loaded, +and freight cars in which the men and horses were accommodated, the +only difference between those occupied by the men and those in which +the horses were, being the placing of a few pine planks across the car +for the men to sit upon. Two nights and one day were occupied in making +this journey, arriving at Parkersburg on the 27th. Frequently long +stops were made which enabled the men to make little foraging trips, +and, as they were almost always very successful, there was a sudden +increase both in the quantity and variety of their diet, which was very +acceptable to them, and this, together with the constant change of +scene, made the trip very enjoyable. + +Most of the 27th was occupied in transferring the battery from the cars +to a river steamboat, and in the evening commenced our trip down the +Ohio River, which was continued all night, and until eight o'clock in +the evening of the 28th, when the bow of our steamer was run up against +the bank of the river some six or eight miles above Cincinnati. Early +next morning we continued on down the river to Covington, where our +mode of conveyance was again changed from boat to cars. We reached +Lexington, Ky., about eight o'clock on the morning of the 30th, and +unloaded our battery and went into camp about six miles from that city. + +After the failure of Gen. Burnside's last movement with the Army of the +Potomac, which resulted in the "mud march," he was relieved at his own +request from that command, and went immediately to Washington, and +formally tendered his resignation as Major General of Volunteers to the +President, but Mr. Lincoln refused to receive it, remarking that he had +"other fish for him to fry." + +After a short furlough, during which he visited Providence, where he +received an enthusiastic ovation from his townsmen, Gen. Burnside +returned to Washington, hoping to have command of his old Ninth Corps, +but the President, after several consultations with him, on the 26th +of March placed him in command of the Department of the Ohio. Upon +accepting this command Gen. Burnside requested that he might be allowed +to take the Ninth Corps with him. His request was granted, and as +Battery D had been transferred to that corps, we were thus enabled to +follow the fortunes of our much loved Burnside. + +The battery remained in camp at Lexington just a week. On the evening +of April 7th marching orders were received, and early on the 8th we +packed and hitched up, but were delayed until nearly noon, while the +men were paid. As soon as this was accomplished we commenced our march, +but after making eight or ten miles, bivouacked until morning, when we +continued our march, reaching Camp Dick Robinson before dark, after a +pleasant journey of about twenty miles over one of the best of roads. + +Battery D's camp was upon one side of the road and directly opposite +the Seventh Rhode Island was encamped. As there were many acquaintances +in the two organizations, this proximity made it very pleasant for the +men of both commands. + +On our way from Lexington to Camp Dick Robinson some of our men had +stopped by the way to inspect the country in general and the whiskey +distilleries in particular. An irresistible desire had seized them +to learn just how that beverage--which, for a small outlay, would +so soon make a millionaire of a pauper, or a brigadier of a private +soldier--was made: so great was their interest that they took no heed +of time, and their inspection lasted two days. The men of the battery +began to think they would never see their comrades again; all of them +were popular fellows and their return was anxiously awaited. + +At last, one afternoon a great cloud of dust was seen rolling down the +pike towards our camp, and occasionally as the curtain of dust was +blown aside, a family carriage, with a colored driver mounted upon the +box, a soldier by his side, with the horses upon the dead run, could +be seen. As it drew nearer the soldier was recognized as one of the +absentees, and when the carriage whirled from the pike through our +camp, drew up before the captain's tent with a great flourish, while +from inside our missing comrades one after another crawled out, formed +a line, and as the captain appeared, saluted him and reported for duty, +it was so ludicrous and audacious that it brought a shout of laughter +from the men, and made it impossible for the captain to say anything +more than "Go to your quarters," while he maintained a straight face. + +Frequent trips were made by the men to distant villages in the +vicinity; the weather for the most part being very pleasant and warm, +made these trips through this beautiful country very enjoyable. + +On the 26th we started early in the morning for Stamford, about +eighteen miles distant. We reached our destination about three o'clock +in the afternoon, and made camp, in which we remained until the 30th, +when an order was received to pack up as soon as possible and proceed +to Columbia, about twenty-five miles distant. We were soon on the road, +and after marching about twenty miles, went into camp at Carpenter's +Creek. + +The next day, May 1st, was spent in bivouac, momentarily expecting +orders to march, but nothing was received until evening, when we were +ordered to prepare to march at five o'clock in the morning. At daylight +the order was countermanded. + +May 2d we were allowed to pitch our A tents, which led us to think our +stay at this place was to be prolonged. Fortunate it was for us that we +pitched our tents, for a heavy thunder storm prevailed all day of the +3d, and nearly all day on the 4th, and without the tents we should have +been in a sorry condition. + +Late on the 4th orders were received to cook two days rations, and +be ready to march at midnight, and shortly after that time "Boots +and saddles" was blown, and we commenced a march of about fifteen +miles, over a very rough road and through an all day rain, which, +with the rain of the two previous days, transformed the red clay into +several inches of a sticky paste, which made our progress very slow +and tedious. Early on the morning of the 6th we continued our march, +reaching the town of Bumpus about noon. Stopping only long enough to +feed our horses and eat dinner, we then pushed on and made camp a few +miles from Somerset. + +On the 7th we moved our camp to Somerset, where we remained until June +4th, our time being occupied with general camp duties, drills, etc. +Hay was very scarce, and every other day the horses were taken out and +allowed to graze. These trips proved very pleasant for the men, as it +brought them in contact with the farmers, and gave them opportunities +to buy butter, eggs, and other desirable eatables. + +On the 22d orders were received to turn in A tents and all our +surplus baggage, and rumor had it that we were soon to start for East +Tennessee; but day after day passed and nothing further was heard of +such a movement. + +On the 25th, the drivers being some three or four miles from camp +grazing their horses, an orderly rode furiously into camp with an +order to have the battery hitched up as soon as possible, and bringing +the startling information that our pickets had been driven in by the +enemy, who were fast approaching Somerset. + +A messenger was immediately dispatched for the horses, and upon his +reaching them there commenced as grand a hurdle race as one would +care to witness--every one upon his own responsibility starting for +camp--across fields, over fences and through ditches they went, making +for the men in camp a most interesting and amusing finish. Upon their +arrival the battery was hitched up, and remained in that condition, +ready to move at a moment's notice until dark, when everything quieted +down and assumed its usual condition. + +It was while in this camp that the men of the battery had a rather +startling illustration of the cavernous condition of this part of +Kentucky. Our camp lay upon the ridge of quite a sizable basin, in the +bottom of which there was a pond of perhaps five or six hundred feet in +circumference. It had been there ever since we came to the place, and +we had no reason to think that it was not a permanent fixture to the +landscape; but one night about midnight the men were aroused by strange +and unusual noises, evidently proceeding from the pond. Investigations +were made, but nothing was ascertained beyond the fact that the water +in the pond was falling very fast. Daylight was patiently waited for, +when it was discovered that our pond had disappeared, and in the very +centre of the depression was a hole as large as a hogshead, evidently +leading into one of the numerous caverns with which the country +thereabout is filled. + +Gen. Burnside left Cincinnati on the 30th of May for Hickman's Bridge, +Ky., for the purpose of leading the Ninth and Twenty-third Corps over +the Cumberland Mountains into East Tennessee, but when he reached +Lexington he was met by an order from the War Department directing him +to reinforce Gen. Grant, at Vicksburg. Gen. Burnside had at this time +the Twenty-third Corps, formed from small bodies of troops which had +been scattered about in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana, whose organization +he did not consider thoroughly perfected, and his old staunch and true +Ninth Corps. With his usual unselfish noble-heartedness Gen. Burnside +put behind him all his plans and desires and immediately put two +divisions of the Ninth Corps in motion for Vicksburg, and telegraphed +the Secretary of War for permission to accompany them, but the +Secretary would not permit it, and Gen. Parks assumed command. + +The order for this journey of the Ninth Corps reached Battery D at its +camp in Somerset just before one o'clock on the morning of June 4th, +and at sunrise the battery pulled out of park and started on its march +for Lexington. + +On the evening of the 5th we reached Stamford, and the men were kept up +until after midnight signing the pay roll and receiving their pay. The +night of the 6th we occupied our old quarters at Camp Dick Robinson. + +At ten o'clock in the forenoon the battery arrived at the depot in +Lexington, and the men immediately commenced to load the battery upon +the cars for the purpose of commencing our proposed journey, but after +having nearly completed this work, the order was countermanded; the +battery was unloaded and moved about three miles from Lexington and +encamped. + +During the night word was brought to us that Louis LaFont, a member of +the battery, had fallen or been thrown down stairs at the guard house +in Lexington, and his neck broken. LaFont was a genial, good-natured +man, much liked by his comrades, and his death cast a gloom over the +whole company. + +The next day the battery received orders temporarily transferring it +to the Twenty-third Corps, together with marching orders for the 11th, +and on that day it moved to Camp Nelson, about five miles distant, +where the battery remained until July 12th. Our situation here was +very pleasant, in the very centre as it was, of that beautiful blue +grass country, surrounded by the most luxuriant fields of corn, wheat +and rye, and such fields of clover. Our horses enjoyed it, and it made +the drivers feel glad to see them growing so fat and sleek upon this +excellent fodder. + +As the 4th of July drew near we began to make great preparations for +its celebration. Clark Walker, our carpenter, went to Nicholsvale and +built a platform for dancing; arrangements were made with the citizens +to provide a banquet for a fair consideration; in fact everything +that could be thought of that would add to the success of the day was +arranged. By daylight on the morning of the 4th the men were astir, +cutting grass to be used as wadding (for at sunrise we were to fire a +national salute), and piled it up near each gun. + +Just as the sun appeared above the horizon, every cannonier was at his +position--the guns having been previously loaded, filled almost to the +muzzle with the wet grass--number four stood with his lanyard held +taut in the position of ready, when out broke upon the morning air the +order "By battery, fire." At that instant there came a report from the +six guns of the battery that was heard for twenty miles, followed as +rapidly as possible by other reports until one volley had been fired in +honor of every State then in the Union. + +After stable call had been attended to, the men were allowed to go +to the village and carry out the programme previously arranged. The +violinist of the battery, Dan Elliott, provided the music for the +dancing, fairly eclipsing all of his former efforts. It was a very +enjoyable occasion, the men returning to camp about six o'clock, well +satisfied with the entire success of the celebration. At sunset the +salute of the morning was repeated, thus making everyone feel that the +day had been properly observed. + +July 5th rumors of the approach of Gen. John Morgan, at the head of +about 3000 mounted men and six guns, began to excite the citizens. +Farmers made all possible haste to drive their cattle, horses, etc., +within our lines; the battery placed its guns in position commanding +the roads, while the infantry dug rifle pits and made every provision +to give these raiders a very warm reception should they have the +temerity to come our way. + +The excitement continued for the next five days, but on the 11th it was +learned that Morgan had avoided us, having passed many miles to the +west of our position, and on the 8th had crossed the Ohio River into +Indiana, where he was committing all sorts of depredations. + +July 12th orders were received for the battery to march at nine +o'clock in the forenoon for Lexington, load upon the cars and proceed +at once to Cincinnati. At eight o'clock on the morning of the 13th +Covington was reached, and as quick as the battery could be unloaded, +we crossed the river into Cincinnati. That city was in a state of great +excitement--Morgan was expected to ride into their streets at any +moment, and with the greatly exaggerated reports of the enormity and +cruelty of his depredations constantly ringing in their ears, it was +not surprising that they should welcome with open arms anything which +promised them protection from such a monster. All the militia was under +arms, but the advent of a battery of light artillery, particularly +a veteran organization that they knew had seen service, and lots of +it, like Battery D, was very reassuring to them. Their pleasure was +evidenced by the welcome they gave us; indeed so royal was the welcome +I am afraid had John Morgan appeared to us that night he would have +met very little resistance from us, a circumstance which happened but +once in the nearly four years service of Battery D. + +No sooner had we landed on the levee than we began to receive an +ovation which increased with every block, and when we crossed +the Rhine--a canal which ran through the centre of the city--the +demonstration reached its climax. This part of the town was largely +occupied by Germans. There was a lager beer saloon upon each corner, +and sometimes one or two between. As we passed, the saloon-keepers +came out to us with each finger of both hands holding a glass of beer. +Capt. Buckley had mounted the cannoniers and given strict orders that +none should dismount without permission; but this precaution was wholly +unnecessary, for the men had no desire to dismount with all this beer +surrounding them. A few indulged once, more twice or thrice, and a +much larger number so frequently that when we arrived in camp on the +outskirts of the city, it was found that quite a number of the men +were ready to turn in at once, and the temperance men would have the +privilege of doing all the work of unharnessing, watering and feeding +the horses, as a reward for their good behavior. + +Early next morning the three sections of the battery were sent out +upon three principal roads approaching the city from the north, and +selecting positions which commanded these different roads for a +considerable distance, went into battery. Our support was the militia +from the city and the surrounding country, who felt, and we agreed with +them, that should Morgan attempt to enter Cincinnati he would meet with +a very warm reception. But Morgan did not attempt to enter the city, +but passed some miles from our front, and was finally captured by Gen. +Shackleford on the 26th, near New Lisbon. + +July 16th the battery was withdrawn from picket duty, and encamped upon +Vine Street Hill. + +July 17th Gen. Burnside ordered Capt. Buckley to move the battery to +Ninth Street, within a short distance of his head-quarters, place the +carriages in a wagon yard, the horses in a stable, and furnish the men +with quarters in a hall near by. To say that the men were very much +pleased with this arrangement but mildly expresses their feelings. +It was a matter of much speculation among them as to just why this +good luck had fallen to them. At first the men were inclined to think +that it was because Gen. Burnside was kindly disposed towards us, and +having an opportunity to give us a "soft snap," had improved it; but +with the light of future events, they were inclined to think that, +added to this reason, was a desire to keep the battery in the city near +him, that he might use it as an intimidator against the draft rioters, +whose grumbling and growling were growing louder and louder, and +their nightly meetings in the different market places more numerously +attended, as the draft proceeded. + +The first intimation that the officers of the battery received that +such duty would be required of us came a few evenings after the +commencement of our new arrangement, when an orderly from head-quarters +came to the hall and inquired for Capt. Buckley, who could not be +found; in fact it unfortunately happened that the highest officer that +could be found was a duty sergeant, which fact the orderly was obliged +to report to the General, who ordered him to return to the battery, +find an officer, and order him to report at head-quarters immediately. +Lieut. Parker had returned by this time, and he immediately reported to +Gen. Burnside, whom he found very wroth, and who proceeded to lecture +him upon the great lack of attention to duty by the officers of Battery +D, and ordered him to inform Capt. Buckley that he desired him to have +his battery prepared to hitch up at a moment's notice, at any hour of +the day or night. This gave us the knowledge that we were not in these +comfortable quarters just for our own pleasure, but that there was a +probable duty connected with our situation. After this only a few men +were allowed to leave at a time, all others were expected to be within +hailing distance of the hall. + +As often as every other day the battery was called out for parade, and +was taken through the different portions of the city. On Sunday we +were marched down to the levee, where we went through an inspection, +and afterwards were drilled for an hour or two, just to remind the +evil-disposed citizens that there was a six-gun battery still in +their city, that would make short work with any mob who attempted any +violence. + +About half-past eight one evening the battery was ordered to hitch up +as soon as possible, and as soon as ready it started for a market-place +situated nearly in the centre of the city, where a crowd was reported +to be gathering. As we neared the place the captain gave the order +"Trot, march," and the battery swept around the corner into the +market-place in a column of sections, dividing as it reached the +market-house, the right pieces passing it on the right, the left pieces +upon the left, uniting as they passed the house and continuing on to +the end of the square, then countermarched and came back. By the time +we had reached the end of the market-place there was hardly a person to +be seen, everybody seemingly having become satisfied that Gen. Burnside +was determined that there should be no hostile gathering in Cincinnati. + +This was the only occasion when it was necessary to make such a +demonstration as this. Everything quieted down, and from this time +until the end of our stay, Aug. 10th, Battery D was not called upon to +do any more intimidating. + +At nine o'clock on the morning of Aug. 10th we crossed the Ohio River, +loaded the battery on the cars, and at two o'clock in the afternoon +left Covington en route for Lexington. Arriving just after midnight, +the men were immediately put to work unloading the battery, and as +soon as this was accomplished, and they had prepared and eaten their +breakfast, "Boots and saddles" was blown, and the battery started for +Camp Nelson, where we remained until the 15th, the time being occupied +in general repairing and refitting, and every care was taken to get +our battery in the best possible condition. New harnesses were drawn, +the battery wagon was thoroughly overhauled and replenished, and +clothing was issued to the men. Those of them who drew a liberal supply +had reason to be thankful that they had done so; those who did not, +regretted it before the coming campaign was over. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +The Campaign in East Tennessee. + + +On the 11th of August Gen. Burnside arrived at Hickman's Bridge, Ky., +and began making the final arrangements for his movement into East +Tennessee. He received information that the Ninth Corps had been +relieved by Gen. Grant, and was then on its way north, the advance +regiments having already reached Cairo, and could be expected to arrive +in Cincinnati not later than the 15th. + +The Twenty-third Corps, under Gen. Hartzuff, had rendezvoused in three +columns, at different points; one, under Gen. White, at Columbia; +another, under Gen. Hascall, at Somerset; and the third, under Gen. +Carter, at Crab Orchard. With this last column Gen. Burnside was to go. + +On the 20th the General issued orders for a forward movement to take +place on the 21st, and _at last_ this long delayed, much wished for, +and most fervently prayed for expedition was to start. + +What significance those two words--At Last--had for thousands, yea, +tens of thousands at this time. It signified to President Lincoln +that at last one load which had been upon his heart for a year and a +half--namely, his sympathy for the loyal people of East Tennessee--was +about to be removed; it signified to those three great leaders of the +Union men of that section--Andrew Johnson, Edward Maynard, and Parson +Brownlow, that at last all their labor, efforts and prayers were about +to bear fruit in the accomplishment of their most cherished desire. + +It signified to Gen. Burnside that at last he could push forward an +expedition which had had full possession of his heart--primarily, for +the relief of a long-suffering, intensely loyal people--and secondly, +to seize and hold as much as possible of the East Tennessee and Georgia +Railroad. + +It signified to Gen. Rosecrans that at last he need give himself no +uneasiness about the rapid transfer of any portion of the Army of +Virginia to Chattanooga, via the East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad, +and after being used successfully against him, to be as rapidly +returned back again. + +But what an infinitely greater significance did these words have for +the thousands of women and children in East Tennessee. In imagination +I can see those mothers, wives and sisters (as they receive the news +carried by some fleet-footed messenger over the Cumberland Mountains, +by secluded paths) gather on their mountains, in their valleys, in +towns and cities, and turning their eyes towards the mountains at the +north, cry out in all the ecstacy of lightened hearts, "At last, thank +God, dear fathers, husbands and brothers, you are coming back to us!" +And in answer I can hear, coming from the throats of those fathers, +husbands and brothers, who had come over the mountains into Kentucky in +such numbers that they had organized eight full regiments of infantry +and three of cavalry, "Yes! dear ones, at last we surely are coming, to +protect you and our homes." + +Our battery having been thoroughly refitted and prepared for the +expedition, was ordered upon the 15th to report to Gen. Hascall, +at Danville. Here it remained until the morning of the 17th, when +it continued its journey to Stamford, laid over one day, and at two +o'clock on the morning of the 19th was aroused by "Boots and saddles," +marching as soon as ready, for Crab Orchard. + +This place had in ante-bellum days been noted as a watering-place, +or perhaps more properly speaking, sanitarium, it being possessed +of numerous medicinal springs. If my memory serves me, it was more +fortunate than most fakes of this sort, in that these springs were +supposed to contain waters of different therapeutical effect. There was +the alterative, tonic, and aperient water, a liberal and intelligently +administered course of which would rejuvenate the most thoroughly +used-up system in the world. No wonder that it was the Mecca toward +which all the chronics of the South journeyed. + +Any veteran will remember how apt an old soldier was who had been +living upon salt junk, salt pork and hard-tack for a considerable time, +to allow his imagination full scope whenever his surroundings reminded +him of a full course dinner or banquet. Thus it was with Battery D on +the evening that we spent at Crab Orchard. + +A lot of us gathered on the piazza of the vacant hotel and gave +orders for dinners that would have taxed the ability of a Delmonico +or a Tillinghast to have filled; and the fearful drop that came when +the men who had been personating waiters to help along the joke and +had dashed away for the kitchen on receiving our orders to have them +filled, and returned with a raw pork sandwich for each, profuse with +their apologies from the proprietors, that they were unable to fill +our orders because of the great rush of business, which had entirely +destroyed their assortment of eatables. + +We ate the sandwiches, using all the imagination that we possessed, +then went to the springs and tried a course of the waters. One of the +springs, which I suppose must have been the alterative, was loud in its +smell and loud in its taste, and we vowed we would have no more of it. + +Crab Orchard is situated at the beginning of the foot-hills of the +Cumberland Mountains, and from here the difficulties of the way will +increase with every mile we travel. From this on for some eighty miles +we are to march through a wilderness, from which we cannot expect to +gather anything in the way of forage, consequently we must secure all +the grain and hay that can be found, to take with us. All day of the +20th we spent in this work, scouring the country for ten miles around +with indifferent success. + +On the 21st we marched to Cub Creek, a small stream emptying into the +Cumberland River. Next day we moved to Cumberland River and camped on +its bank, near Smith's Ford. On this day our battery made twenty miles, +which was considered astonishing by our corps commander. In a report +to Gen. Burnside he said that the roads were the worst he ever saw, +particularly the last five or six miles before we reached the river, +but thought they would be better when we had crossed to the other side. + +I think that my comrades of Battery D will smile at this prophecy when +they remember what we really did find in the line of roads after we +crossed the river. The approach to and exit from Smith's Ford were +two of the steepest hills I ever remember to have seen, and the next +morning when we began to cross I contemplated the work with fear and +trembling; for I considered my position of wheel-driver on the sixth +caisson a dangerous one. But as I stood upon the top of the hill and +watched piece after piece and caisson after caisson go down safely, and +feeling that I was perhaps as expert a driver as any of the others, +and had a pair of horses--of which I propose to have something more to +say later on--as reliable as any in the battery, I began to have more +confidence, and when my turn came made the descent successfully. On the +other side it required the united efforts of six pairs of horses and +all the cannoniers that could get a hand on the carriages, to make the +ascent. + +We spent the 24th in foraging for grain, and succeeded in finding +enough for three or four feedings, which was very unsatisfactory. We +had hardly enough to feed the horses, on small rations, for more than +three days, and as on the morrow we were to commence our climb to the +top of the Cumberland Mountains, should our horses give out we would be +in a sorry plight. + +On the 25th we continued our march, and to our surprise found the roads +in much better condition than we expected, and were able to make about +eighteen miles. We began to feel that perhaps our way was not to be so +difficult after all; but the next morning before we had been on the +road an hour we found that the good road was a delusion and a snare--a +sort of "will-o'-the-wisp" to lure us on, and then suddenly throw +before us difficulties which were almost insurmountable. + +The road began to narrow rapidly, until it became simply a bridle-path, +over which I do not believe a carriage had ever passed before. The +ascent became steeper and steeper, many places being encountered over +which the carriages had to be lifted by the men. The horses could +hardly be driven over these precipitous places, much less be made to +pull. + +The infantry which had been ordered to accompany the battery to assist +in getting us over the rough places, became tired very early, and the +men of the battery becoming disgusted with their continual grumbling, +and the awkward manner in which they rendered their assistance, drove +them away, preferring to do it alone. Both men and horses performed +herculean labor that day. + +During the afternoon we had been encouraged by the report that there +was very little more of this terribly hard labor to be performed. If we +could only hold out just a little while we should reach the top of the +mountain, and after we passed the "Pine Knot Tavern," the road would be +level, and in much better condition. + +I do not know whether it was the hope of getting through with the +labor, or the anxiety to reach the tavern--many of them picturing to +themselves an establishment something after the style of the good +old New England tavern, filled with plenty to eat and drink--that +stimulated the men to greater exertions or not, but for an hour or two +our progress was much more rapid. It was after dark when we reached +a spot large enough to park the battery at very close intervals, and +bivouacked for the night. + +Early on the morning of the 27th, after giving our horses all the corn +left, we started on. Very soon we passed "Pine Knot Tavern," which +consisted of a cellar half filled with the debris of what had been a +small log cabin, the supports of which had rotted off and allowed the +cabin to fall into the cellar. + +Several natives, who had come from their homes, located in the ravines +on either side of the mountain, to see us pass, and sell a few chickens +(their stock had been exhausted long before we passed), were the first +people we had seen since we entered the wilderness. + +All day we marched at this high elevation. Occasionally a cloud would +sweep across our path, enveloping us in fog for a while; then there +would be places where we would pass out of the woods and a most +magnificent landscape would unfold to our view. Sometimes it would be +Kentucky, at others East Tennessee upon which we were looking. Taken +all together it was the most enjoyable panoramic sort of a march that +the battery ever made. + +It was left, however, for the morning of the 29th to unfold the most +magnificent sight that most of us had ever looked upon. As we gazed +about, we found that our location gave us a view on both sides of the +mountain. To the north we could see back into Kentucky, almost to our +starting point, and trace the route which we had just come over, dotted +here and there with the towns and villages through which we had passed. +Many of us had wondered why that section of the State had been called +the "Blue Grass Region;" the reason was plainly evident to us now, for +there it lay before us, as blue as though it had been dyed. + +Then we turned our eyes towards the south, and looked upon that +land into which we were about to enter; beautiful it was to look +upon, divided into valleys by spurs of the Cumberland Mountains, the +ever-changing color of the landscape as the sun rose higher and higher, +enabling us to see farther, until our eyes could discover the Smoky +Mountains, the tops of which were covered with a smoke-like cloud, +located beyond Knoxville. + +As our eyes became tired of looking such a distance we fastened them +upon the scenery near at hand, and found it as grand and romantic +as any we had ever looked upon. Taken all together it was a most +magnificent sight, and did not fail to arouse the most unenthusiastic +nature in the battery. + +While we are contemplating the scene before us, and before we commence +our descent into these valleys, it will be well for us to consider what +manner of people these are whom we are going to succor. That they are +a peculiar people is perfectly evident from the fact that, living as +they do in the almost geographical centre of the Slave States, they +are by a large majority opposed to the institution of slavery. This is +evidenced by the fact that the first abolition paper ever published in +the United States emanated from a press in Jonesboro, Tennessee. Among +the first abolition societies ever organized in this country were those +of Eastern Tennessee, and in the year 1816 the Manumission Society, +of Tennessee, held a meeting at Greenville, and issued an address +advocating the abolition of slavery. Whence came this abhorrence of +slavery, and this love of liberty? Certainly the origin of this people +must have been different, totally different, from those who surrounded +them on all sides. + +I am indebted to my friend William Rule, Esq., of Knoxville, for the +following account of the first settlement of East Tennessee: + +"On the first day of May, 1769, a young farmer started out from the +banks of the Yadkin River, in the State of North Carolina, accompanied +by five stalwart hunters. It was about the time that the descendants +of the Pilgrim Fathers in Massachusetts were denying themselves the +luxury of tea rather than pay tribute to a tyrant king. About the same +time the House of Burgesses was dissolved by the Colonial Governor of +Virginia, for having dared to pass resolutions condemning the Stamp +Act, and Governor Tryon, of North Carolina, was serving his royal +master by oppressing the patriots of that colony. + +The name of the young farmer was James Robertson, the founder of the +first colony in Tennessee; and one of the hunters who accompanied him +was Daniel Boone, whose daring exploits are familiar to everyone. They +went, as did the messengers of old sent by Moses, to spy out beyond the +Alleghanies a land where they and those who sent them might live free +from the restraints and oppression of English rulers. + +One year afterwards a colony was established beside the swift-running +waters of the beautiful Watango River. It was composed of men and women +of heroic mould, filled with inspirations of patriotism, resolved that +their abiding place in the wilderness, surrounded by savages, should +be "Freedom's home or Glory's grave." It was the descendants of these +patriots who became the first Abolitionists. It was these same people +that, in February, 1861, when voting upon a proposition proposed by the +Legislature as to whether a convention should or should not be called +for the purpose of passing an ordinance of secession, declared by a +majority of more than twenty-three thousand out of a total vote of +forty-three thousand, against holding the convention." + +It was these same people who furnished to the Union army during the +Rebellion thirty-five thousand troops--two thousand more than our own +State. + +It should be borne in mind that these men could not go quietly and +peacefully to enlisting places, situated in their own towns and cities, +place their names upon the rolls in the presence of friends who +encouraged and praised them for so doing, nor could they leave their +families with the assurance that they would be looked after and taken +care of by a kind and sympathetic State. + +On the contrary they were obliged to travel on foot by night over +mountains, swimming swift-running rivers, avoiding all roads, taking +only unfrequented paths, because the Confederates, who realized that +these men were bound to serve the Union cause, and were willing to +endure any hardship or privation necessary to accomplish that object, +were patrolling all the roads leading into Kentucky, for the purpose +of capturing these patriots and carrying them off to rebel prisons. +Journeys varying from two to three hundred miles were made by tens of +thousands of these men, for the purpose of fighting for their country, +leaving their families to the tender mercies of an enraged enemy. + +Show me a people possessed of greater heroism, patriotism and love of +country, than the men and women--of whom I propose to say more--of East +Tennessee! + +It had been the custom of Capt. Buckley after we entered the +wilderness, to ride on before the battery after he had seen it under +way, taking with him as orderly, William Fisk, and hunt for forage. +On this morning they started as usual, and were nearly the first to +pass the tavern. They were successful in securing two of the chickens +before-mentioned, but could get no information as to any grain in +that vicinity. Continuing on, it was well into the afternoon before +they came across any other citizens. Turning a bend in the road they +suddenly came in sight of a log cabin just off the trail we were +following. No one was in sight, but a few vigorous hulloas from the +captain brought into view two men and three women, evidently father, +mother, son and two daughters. + +Capt. Buckley, in his most suave manner, asked if they had grain or +any knowledge of any in that vicinity. They very promptly answered +that they had none, neither did they know of any, and the captain was +about to continue his journey, when the younger daughter said, "John +Cooper has some." "Who is John Cooper, and where does he live?" asked +the captain. "A right smart piece down that road, on Pond's Creek," she +replied, pointing to a path which opened from the main road directly +opposite where they were standing. Mounting their horses the captain +said to Fisk, "We will go and see John Cooper," and started down the +path. + +After riding a little more than two miles, they reached a log cabin, +and noticing what appeared to be a grist-mill a little further on, the +captain thought he would investigate before going to the house. The +result of this investigation was between twenty-five and thirty bushels +of corn, wheat and oats, upon which the captain's seal was immediately +placed. + +They went to the house and were pleasantly greeted by Susan Cooper, +wife of John Cooper, as the lady informed them. In reply to the +captain's question as to whom the grain belonged, she informed him +that some of it was John's and the balance belonged to neighbors. No +objection was made by her when informed by the captain that he should +be obliged to take the grain, but he would leave a receipt for it, +which would be paid if her husband was a Union man. + +At the captain's suggestion Mrs. Cooper expressed a willingness to +provide dinner for her guests, the number of which had been enlarged +by the arrival of an artillery captain and two buglers, who had come +down into the ravine in quest of grain, and had been invited by Capt. +Buckley to partake of the meal then being prepared by Mrs. Cooper, +which consisted of fried chicken and bacon, with a liberal supply of +corn bread. The lady was considerably embarrassed by her inability +to supply dishes for so large a company, and apologized for her +impoverished condition in this direction by saying that "It was a long +time since John had been where dishes could be put off." + +Three things in connection with these people are thoroughly impressed +upon my mind:--First, the very small environment within which they +lived; secondly, their entire lack of interest in anything not entering +upon their own lives; and, thirdly, the exceeding simplicity of their +lives, and the little that was required to make them apparently +contented and happy. Mrs. Cooper, for instance, living at the bottom +of that ravine, the only entrance to which was down a narrow mountain +pathway, in a log cabin having but one room, with about two acres of +cleared land, surrounded upon all sides, save at the entrance, by a +solid wall of rock towering seventy-five feet in height, passing months +at a time without seeing anyone save the members of her own family, +certainly had as monotonous an existence as could be imagined. + +The grain secured by the captain did not reach our bivouac at Chitwood +until late at night, but so badly was it needed by the horses--they +having been without any grain for one day at least--that the drivers +were aroused and their horses fed immediately. + +The time had now arrived when we must commence our descent from the +mountain top. It is less laborious for the cannoniers, but much more +so for the wheel-drivers, of which I, unfortunately, happened to be +one. It has always been a matter of surprise to me that we brought +the battery safely to the foot of that mountain. I consider that the +agility displayed by me in dodging that pole as it flew about in +every direction--sometimes over one horse, then the other, at one +time pointing to the earth, and then to heaven, caused by the dashing +(sliding would perhaps be a better word, as the wheels were locked) of +the caisson over the rocks, sometimes making necessary a jump of four +or five feet, and be able to shout to my comrades as we reached the +bottom, "It never touched me," was one of the best things I ever did. + +I claim no special merit for the successful manner in which I guided +the caisson down that awful road, because there were thirteen other +wheel-drivers who were just as successful, but all the same, I believe +it was my thorough knowledge of the peculiarities of my horses that +enabled me to do it. I was intimately acquainted with both of them, +as I had driven them for twenty months. Both were powerful animals, +but with entirely different notions as to how their strength was to +be used. Hercules, the nigh horse, which I rode, was always willing +to do his full share of the pulling, and if upon occasions it became +necessary for him to make an extra effort, he would, at my bidding, +take the whole load of the caisson upon his shoulders. The off horse, +with almost as much strength, did not believe in pulling, and would not +unless he thought I was watching him, when he would put in apparently +for all there was in him; but when asked to hold back, he entered into +the performance of that act with all the enthusiasm of a horse's +nature. I have frequently stopped the whole team by signifying that I +wanted him to do his best at holding back. + +I have always regretted that I obliged that horse to go down to his +grave with a name which entirely misrepresented him. He had the most +vicious expression I ever saw upon a horse. His ears were always lopped +(I never saw them erect), and he had a habit of parting his lips, +showing his teeth in such a manner that it gave one the impresssion +that he only awaited an opportunity to attack. His appearance led me, +when the sergeant presented him, saying, "George, here is a horse just +suited to go with Hercules," to exclaim, "He looks like Old Satan +himself!" and from that moment he was known through the battery as "Old +Satan." + +It was wrong thus to name him, and I desire on this occasion to do +him justice by declaring, after two years constant association, +during which I learned to think a great deal of him as a horse, that +I never saw any evidence of his possessing a single attribute said to +be possessed by his namesake. Kind and gentle, he never gave me any +trouble. He seemed to have acquired a perfect understanding of how that +caisson should be managed upon the march, and I soon learned to trust +him with its management. Upon long marches at night, when I found it +almost impossible to keep my eyes open, many were the restful naps I +enjoyed sitting on Hercules' back with my head pillowed upon the valise +in "Old Satan's" saddle. + +Speaking about horses, I wonder if my comrades of Battery D have +forgotten what an amount of affection was lavished upon the horses +by their drivers. Certainly no one of the sixth detachment will ever +forget "Old Curley," driven so long as the nigh leader upon their +piece, by Anson Mathewson, possessed of an intelligence which enabled +him to reason more successfully than some animals of the human species. + +We all remember the affectionate regard held by St. John, Billy Mills, +William Stalker and many others for their teams. Any of them would +tramp miles after dark to some haystack which they had seen during the +day, make as large a bundle of the hay as they could carry, bring it +to camp, spread it before their horses, and then sit up half the night +watching until the horses had consumed it, from fear that some one +would steal it and feed it to his own team. + +At last we are over the mountains, and the great difficulties of our +journey passed. This march of the Army of the Ohio over the Cumberland +Mountains has been likened to the crossing of the Alps by Bonaparte, +and it seems to me the simile is well taken. Certainly it is hard to +imagine difficulties greater than those encountered by our army. The +rebel Gen. Buckner, who is said to have had an army of 20,000 men to +oppose our entry into East Tennessee, while Gen. Burnside had but about +15,000, was so thoroughly satisfied of the absolute impossibility +of the passage of an army from Kentucky to Tennessee at this point, +believing that they must come by way of Cumberland Gap, that he made +no attempt to oppose us; consequently when we appeared before him his +astonishment was so great, and his retreat so precipitous, he failed to +notify a detachment of his army, numbering 2,000 men, who were guarding +Cumberland Gap, and who soon were obliged to surrender to Gen. Burnside. + +Our march of the 28th and 29th had been through a wilderness of rocks; +that of the 30th and 31st was through a wilderness of woods. The troops +in advance of the battery had worked the road-bed into an almost +impassable condition. Our horses having had but little forage since the +21st, and had been forced to work beyond the limits of their strength, +now began to give out, many falling from sheer exhaustion. It began +to look as though if grain could not be secured for them our chances +for getting through would be rather slim. Quartermaster Remington +was scouring the country in search of it; but on his return gave the +discouraging information that no forage could be secured until we +should reach a point about twenty miles further on. There was no other +way out of our present difficulty: that point _must_ be reached, and +the cannoniers must help the horses pull the carriages. + +Our progress was necessarily very slow, but patience, perseverance +and lots of hard work, finally accomplished the task, and late in the +afternoon of the 31st, as we drove into park, we had the pleasure of +seeing Quartermaster Remington ride into camp, followed by two wagons +loaded with corn. It gave the drivers much satisfaction to see their +teams enjoying the first good feeding which they had had for ten days. + +We had now gotten out of the wilderness, and were just about to enter +one of those fertile valleys which we had seen from the mountain top. +The men who had accompanied the wagons upon the forage trips after +the corn, gave us our first impression as to the kind and friendly +treatment which we might expect from the people whose country we were +just entering, in their description of the reception they had received +from those at whose places they had secured the corn. + +On the morning of September 1st, after another good feeding, the +horses seemed to be in much better condition. About ten o'clock in the +forenoon the battery pulled out into the road and joined the division, +which had been ordered to make "Big Emery," about twenty miles distant, +before dark. We accomplished the task easily, and formed a junction +with the column under Gen. Carter, with whom Gen. Burnside had crossed +the mountains. + +Foraging was now reduced to a perfect system. Gen. Burnside issued an +order calling attention to the fact that as it would now be necessary +for the army to depend upon the country largely for its subsistence, +he desired to remind us that we were among a loyal people, who +were our friends, and he was unwilling that they should be robbed +or despoiled of their property except in a legal manner, and by the +proper authorities. Officers were to be held strictly responsible for +any depredations committed by the men under their command; division, +brigade and regimental quartermasters were ordered to receipt for +everything taken by them for their commands, which would be paid upon +presentation to the proper authority, provided that the loyalty of +the person could be proven. Officers and men must pay for anything +taken by them for their personal use. The quartermaster sergeants of +batteries were allowed to give receipts for forage, but they must be +countersigned by the commanding officers to secure payment. + +Details were made each day to do the work, and the privilege of going +upon these trips began to be much sought after. The kind manner in +which we were received by the citizens, made such excursions very +pleasant for the men. + +September 2d we remained in camp near Big Emery River, resting and +grazing the horses until two o'clock in the afternoon, but the time +lost in the morning was made up by continuing the march well into the +night, it being eleven o'clock before we pulled off the road and parked +the battery for the night. + +Very early the next morning we started for Clinch River, crossing some +five miles above Kingston, and continued on towards Knoxville, camping +that night about twenty miles from that place. + +Next day, September 4th, our battery countermarched some six or eight +miles, and taking a road leading to Loudon, where the rebels were +reported to be in strong force, in a fortified position, marched +rapidly to that place. + +Early in the afternoon artillery firing in our front convinced us that +at last we had come up with the enemy. Two hours afterwards, as we +came out upon the bluffs of the Tennessee River opposite Loudon, we saw +our cavalry crossing the river, under the protection of our artillery, +and driving the enemy beyond the town. Before the arrival of our troops +the enemy had fired the bridge over the river, and it was soon totally +destroyed. + +Next day our infantry crossed the river and took possession of the +town, occupying as many of the fortifications as they could use, and +destroying the rest. The battery remained in camp opposite Loudon until +the 15th of September, enjoying a much needed rest. Both men and horses +had become thoroughly used up by this long and difficult journey, +which had just been completed, and the opportunity to recuperate was +thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated. + +The rebels in their hurried flight had left us a few horses, mules, +and beef cattle, which were appropriated by our troops with thanks. A +large amount of wheat and corn were found in possession of the farmers, +which was immediately seized by our quartermaster. A steam flour-mill +in Loudon was found to be in perfect condition, and was soon at work +converting the wheat into flour, which was issued to the army for the +first time on the fifth. Corn meal was soon added to our rations; +flap-jacks and corn-dodgers became plenty; chickens and fresh pork +could be obtained without much trouble; and we were soon able to get up +a dinner the quality and quantity of which was very satisfactory to us. + +September 14th orders were received late at night for the battery +to be prepared to march at an early hour next morning. The men were +aroused by "Boots and saddles," the battery hitched up, and marched +to the railroad, where all the knapsacks, together with the chests of +the caissons, were removed and placed upon flat cars. In this light +marching order the battery left Loudon at two o'clock in the morning +of the 15th. Our first camp was made near Knoxville, second at +Strawberry Plains, and the third at New Market, where we arrived early +in the afternoon of the 17th. It began raining on the evening of our +arrival, and continued throughout the night and the next day. Happily +we were not ordered to march and could spend the time fixing up our +tents for protection. The cooks were ordered to prepare rations for a +march on the following day. + +September 19th we left New Market for Loudon, arriving on the 21st, +having been absent about one week, during which we had covered +ninety-eight miles. + +The emergency which had occasioned this long march seems to have been +of double origin. Our movement to New Market had been occasioned by a +reported raid of the rebels of Southwestern Virginia upon Gen. Scannon, +with the view of driving him out of West Virginia, and our movement had +been made with the intention of leading the rebel commander to believe +that we were about to move upon him from the rear. + +The occasion of our quick return was a dispatch from Gen. Halleck +to Gen. Burnside, notifying him that three divisions of Lee's army +had been sent to reinforce Bragg, and he desired him to go to Gen. +Rosecrans' assistance as soon as possible. + +September 23d the battery was ordered to cross the river at Loudon. Our +crossing upon this occasion was a long, tedious work, occasioned by +the fact that it had to be accomplished by the use of one flat-boat, +just large enough to accommodate one carriage and the team at a time, +and the first streaks of day were appearing before it was fully +accomplished. + +As soon as everything was across, the battery started for Sweet Water, +a station sixteen miles south of Loudon, on the East Tennessee and +Georgia Railroad. We had just arrived at that place, when we were +ordered to countermarch and return as rapidly as possible to Loudon. We +were all night upon the road, arriving at our destination at daylight, +when the troops were ordered into position upon the south side of the +river. Our battery was placed in a fort commanding the approach by the +road. + +The 20th was a day of excitement among the citizens, who flocked to us +in great numbers for protection. It was reported that the rebel Gen. +Forrest was coming up the railroad from Athens via Cleveland, with a +large body of men, and it was also rumored that a large force of rebels +had crossed the Little Tennessee at Meyerton, a village about fifteen +miles to the left of Loudon, which it was supposed would unite with +the main column at or near this place. Skirmishing in our front was +continued all day; desultory firing to the left of our position, but at +considerable distance, was heard, convincing us that the rumors which +had been circulated had considerable merit of truth in them. + +Early in the morning of the 27th we hitched up, expecting an attack. +A pontoon bridge had been completed during the night, and at daylight +troops began crossing the river from the north bank and moved to the +front, but it soon quieted down, and the day passed without further +incident. + +Next morning cannonading could be heard from a distance, and our troops +fell back, forming three lines, making elaborate preparations for a +battle; but, as on the previous day, the cannonading soon ceased, and +everything became quiet. + +On the 29th it was reported that the rebels had fallen back. Our +cavalry moved to the front, while our battery remained in position upon +Loudon Heights, with the three lines of infantry in front. + +All excitement had subsided by the 30th, and although cannonading could +be heard occasionally, it was at such a great distance that it had no +terrors for the citizens, and they began slowly to return home. Several +regiments of cavalry and mounted infantry passed our position on their +way to the front. + +It will be of service for a fuller understanding of our situation if we +spend a few moments in explanation. It was expected by Gen. Burnside +when he entered East Tennessee with the Twenty-third Corps, that the +Ninth would soon follow; but the surgeons' reports convinced him that +this would be impossible, fifty per cent., perhaps more, of the men of +that command were down with malarial fever. The commander, Gen. Parks, +was very sick, and could not be expected to do duty for a month at +least; Gen. Welch, the second in command--a man much admired by the +members of the Ninth--had died from the disease, at Cairo. Regiments +had been reduced until many of them could not muster more than a +hundred men for duty; while the batteries could hardly find men enough +to take care of the horses. Truly, the swamps around Vicksburg had +proved to be a more destructive enemy than the rebels. + +Becoming convinced that the corps must be allowed to recuperate before +attempting a march so full of difficulties as the crossing of the +Cumberland Mountains, he ordered that they should rendezvous at Crab +Orchard, and give the corps a much needed rest, but they had not had +time to fully recuperate when Gen. Burnside's pressing need of more +troops compelled him to order the corps to join him in East Tennessee +as soon as possible. + +On Sunday, Sept. 20th, the advance of the Ninth Corps passed through +Cumberland Gap and bivouacked in Tennessee, and by long, difficult and +continuous marches, reached Knoxville on the afternoon of the 26th. + +It was the timely arrival of the Ninth which enabled Gen. Burnside to +send the Twenty-third Corps to Loudon and below, making a demonstration +of such strength that the rebel Gen. Forrest concluded not to hazard +an attack, but fell back towards Chattanooga. + +From Oct. 1st to the 5th our battery remained in the forts at Loudon. +Each day details were made to accompany the three wagons upon forage +trips, and many are the pleasant episodes recollected of those +occasions. Seldom did those teams return to camp without the carcass +of a slaughtered hog or a fine sheep underneath its load of corn on +the ear. The citizens had kindly planted a liberal supply of that +improvement upon the sweet potato--those golden yams--and any foraging +trip which did not produce a large stock of them upon its return, was +pronounced a failure. + +Most of the boys will remember trips of this sort, when the distance +from camp made it necessary that they should remain out over night. +How gladly they accepted an invitation to spend the night with the +people at whose house they happened to be--if they received such +invitations--and how persistently they demanded such hospitality from +those who did not extend the invitation. + +It is well remembered by some of us how much we were embarrassed upon +the occasion of our first experience in spending the night with those +people. Most of their homes were log cabins, containing but one room, +and as it most always happened that the family consisted of mother +and from one to seven daughters, it became a vexed question with us +as to how the act of retiring would be accomplished; and as the time +for retiring approached, we became anxious. It was all unnecessary, +however, for when the time came, the women arose, threw a straw bed +upon the floor, with blankets, produced a curtain, which they hung +across the centre of the room, bade us good night, and retired to their +side, leaving us to go to bed at our leisure. + +Oct. 5th our troops fell back from Athens, and crossed to the north +side of the Tennessee River upon the pontoon bridge at Loudon. + +Oct. 6th our battery received orders to report to our old division +(First) Ninth Corps, at Blue Springs, distant about ninety-seven +miles. It was reported that the enemy were advancing from Virginia, +threatening our communications with Cumberland Gap, and on the 3d Gen. +Burnside had ordered the Ninth Corps to oppose them. All the infantry +were carried on the cars, and in order that the battery should reach +the objective point as soon after the infantry as possible, they were +hurried along at the rate of thirty miles a day. + +Fortunately our horses were in a much better condition than they had +been for some time. Since our long march to New Market and back, Sept. +15th to 21st, they had had but little work to do, and with liberal +feeding on grain and much opportunity to graze, they had gotten into +very good condition. + +We left Loudon at noon on the 6th, and reached Bull's Gap about dark on +the 9th. We found the roads in very good condition, the streams were +low, lessening the difficulties of fording, in fact everything seemed +to work favorably for the accomplishment of this long march. + +Oct. 10th we passed through the Gap towards Blue Springs, but very soon +came up with our division, posted in line-of-battle along Lick Creek. +Capt. Buckley reported his arrival, and was told to hold himself in +readiness to move against the enemy. + +Soon Gen. Burnside appeared and ordered the line to advance. Our +cavalry encountered the enemy a mile or two south of Blue Springs, and +a rattle of musketry ensued for a few minutes, when the enemy retired +to their reserve line and maintained a fire upon our skirmishers. + +It was Gen. Burnside's desire to capture as many as possible of the +enemy, and for that purpose he sent Col. Foster's brigade of cavalry +around to seize and hold the roads in the Confederates' rear. When +sufficient time had been allowed for the colonel to reach his position, +our troops in front attacked the rebels, and a sharp, hotly-contested +battle upon both sides was continued until dark. + +Our men had succeeded in driving the enemy from their position, and +after forming in a new position were ordered to lay upon their arms +during the night, prepared to assault the enemy at daylight. Next +morning our line advanced at daylight, only to find that the enemy had +abandoned his position--Col. Foster not having reached their rear in +time to intercept their retreat. + +Our battery had been in position all day, but did not open fire until +nearly dark, when we threw a few shots at a rebel battery. + +Our troops pursued the enemy nearly twenty miles, Battery D +accompanying them. Cannonading was heard in the vicinity of Greenville +soon after we started, showing that the enemy were some distance in +advance of us. It was nearly noon when we passed Greenville, and four +o'clock as we reached Rheatown, about nineteen miles from our bivouac +of the previous night. Continuing for a mile further, we halted for the +night. + +On the 12th our cavalry reported the enemy so scattered that further +pursuit would be useless. Early in the afternoon the battery moved +back through Rheatown and encamped on the other side of the valley, in +proximity to the troops of our division. + +Next morning, Oct. 13th, the army started on its way back to Knoxville. +Although there was no special haste in our return movements, it seemed +to me that very good time was made by the battery. Our first bivouac +was made at Blue Springs, near the battlefield, a distance of twenty +miles; that of the 14th at Morristown, a distance of twenty-five +miles; that of the 15th at New Market, a distance of twenty-three +miles: that of the 16th at Armstrong's Ford, on the Holston River, a +distance of twenty miles; and that of the 17th at Temperance Hill, +Knoxville, a distance of eight miles, making ninety-six miles, which +added to one hundred and seventeen, the distance from Loudon to +Rheatown, gave a total of two hundred and twenty-six miles traveled by +the battery between the 6th and 17th of October--an average of a little +more than twenty-two miles for each of the eleven days. Oct. 18th and +19th, the battery lay in camp in Knoxville. + +Late in the afternoon of the 19th orders were received to have the +battery prepared to move at an early hour next morning. Requisition had +been made for more horses, and the division quartermaster had promised +Capt. Buckley that he should have them promptly; but as yet they had +not materialized. + +Next morning, the horses not having arrived, the battery left Knoxville +with only four pieces, one section being left behind because of lack of +motive power. During the march cannonading was heard in the direction +of Kingston. We were getting rather used to that sort of thing, and +would not have been much surprised had the sound of cannonading reached +our ears from all points of the compass at one and the same time. We +bivouacked that night near Campbell's Station, about seventeen miles +from Knoxville. + +Oct. 21st our battery was in motion at daylight, towards Loudon. After +passing Lanoir's Station we continued on towards Loudon for about two +miles, where we halted for about an hour, after which we countermarched +back to the station and made camp. Lanoir's Station at this time was +a large--perhaps the largest--plantation in East Tennessee, belonging +to a Dr. Lanoir. Its land was very extensive and beautifully situated. +The station consisted of the doctor's mansion, farm buildings, yarn +factory, houses for his overseers, and a hundred or more negro huts, +making a very sizeable settlement. Lanoir was a large owner of slaves, +and, as may be imagined, a very pronounced secessionist. + +A good many of us felt inclined to forgive the doctor for all the hard +things he said of and to us Yankees, because of his wisdom--from our +standpoint--in planting such an extensive cornfield, many of us being +willing to make oath that it extended for four miles along the road +towards Campbell's Station--for our use. It certainly was for our men, +and the doctor's part in it was simply that of an instrument in the +hands of a higher power. + +Oct. 22d we were ordered to Loudon. We moved out of park about one +o'clock in the afternoon, crossed the river on the pontoon bridge, +and camped at sunset. On the next day it looked a little as though we +should have a brush with the enemy. + +On the 24th the battery wagons, forge, and all surplus baggage was sent +to the north side of the river. The right section of the battery, left +at Knoxville for want of horses, returned to us on this evening. + +Oct. 25th, 26th and 27th were days of perfect quiet. Towards evening on +the 27th we received orders to be ready to move in the morning. + +On the morning of the 28th all our troops on the south side of the +Holston River were withdrawn, the pontoon bridge taken up, and the +Ninth Corps fell back to Lanoir's. + +On the 29th our camp was changed a short distance, just on the edge +of a fine grove of pine trees. When the battery was parked, the men +were ordered to the front, and Capt. Buckley addressed them, saying: +"This spot will probably be our winter camp, and I desire that each +detachment build for itself log cabins, from the materials in sight." + +As soon as the line was dismissed, the men commenced staking out their +locations, and felling the trees preparatory to the building of their +houses. The material was of the very best, straight as an arrow, and of +about uniform size; they were just what was needed for this purpose, +and could be laid one upon the other so closely that it was unnecessary +to do but very little "chinking." + +Day after day the men worked at this hut-building, and as they +progressed became more and more interested in them. An immense amount +of labor was expended upon these huts, the desire of each detachment to +equal if not excel the others, resulting in the production of some very +excellent cabins. + +Chimney-building was by far the most difficult and intricate part of +the work. These were built of wood and clay, the base being built +of quite large logs, growing smaller as the chimney rose in height, +until as it neared completion the sticks were the size of ordinary +kindling-wood. As the wood-work was laid it was thickly plastered with +clay both inside and out, which soon became as hard as a brick after +fires had been kindled in the fire-places. + +By the 5th of November many of the huts had been roofed in and were +occupied by the men. Improvements, however, were being constantly +added, such as securing boards for flooring, and building of bunks +one above the other. The making of mattresses, by carefully picking +over pine boughs, removing the larger sticks, then with an old blanket +covering the boughs and carefully tacking it all around, resulting when +finished in a most delightful bed. + +The officers' quarters were of course finished before those of the +detachments, because they had at their command the whole mechanical +ability and muscular strength of the battery, and were occupying their +finished huts by the 6th of November. + +With perhaps a single exception, the detachments did not occupy +theirs, fully completed, until the 13th. Certainly no member of +Battery D will fail to recollect that night; seated around those +fire-places in which were roaring fires, they gave perfect freedom to +their imagination and built castle after castle of great magnificence, +in which the certainty of a winter of ease, comfort and happiness +predominated. Luxuries were promised, a rumor prevailing that some of +our enterprising scientific comrades of the centre section had secured +a still, and within a week or two would be prepared to furnish us good +Bourbon whiskey, at a moderate advance over the cost of production. We +went to bed that night feeling that we had all the comforts of home +that a soldier could possibly expect, and were soon lulled to sleep by +the contentment of our surroundings, and the delightful aroma of our +pine beds. + +At daylight on the morning of the 14th we were awakened from a most +refreshing sleep by first call, and almost immediately were astonished +to hear heavy artillery firing in the direction of Loudon. Each man sat +up in bed and looked at his comrade. "What does that mean?" they asked +each other. + +Just at that moment a member of the detachment who had been on guard +entered, and was eagerly plied with questions as to what was up. He +could only tell us that there seemed to be considerable commotion +among the infantry around us, and that two regiments of cavalry had +just passed our camp in the direction of Loudon. Five minutes of such +cannonading as we had been listening to convinced us that this was not +an ordinary cavalry raid such as we had been engaged in following for +the past three months, and our hearts sank within us. Evidently there +was trouble ahead. + +We were soon dressed, and hurried into line to answer to the assembly +call. After roll-call had been completed and the line broken, the +buglers were ordered to sound "Boots and saddles," which thoroughly +convinced us that we were in for it. Breakfast was hurriedly prepared +by the men, and by the time it had been partaken of, the troops in +our vicinity were in motion, going in the direction of Loudon. A cold +rain which had set in sometime during the night, added much to our +depression. + +From a despatch-bearer we learned that Gen. Longstreet had been +detached from Gen. Bragg's army at Chattanooga and sent north to +capture or delay the Army of the Ohio, and was now attempting to cross +the Holston River, at Huff Ferry, just below Loudon; in which effort he +was being opposed by Gens. Potter and White and part of the Ninth and +Twenty-third Corps, with success. + +From our information of to-day we know that these generals, together +with many others in our army, and also the members of Gen. Burnside's +personal staff, believed that it was possible for us to prevent Gen. +Longstreet from crossing the river, or even defeat him in battle, and +so expressed themselves to Gen. Burnside, who had astonished them by +declaring his intention to retreat to Knoxville. + +Understanding the plan of Gen. Grant (who had succeeded Gen. Rosecrans +in command of the Army of the Cumberland) as he did, he realized that +he could do Gen. Grant a greater service by drawing Gen. Longstreet +to Knoxville, thus taking him away from Gen. Bragg, and making that +general's defeat by Gen. Grant more certain. + +Our battery remained all day of the 14th in park, with the teams +hitched up and attached to the carriages, expecting every moment to +be ordered to the front. One battery of our division, Capt. Roemer's, +moved out of park, and started toward Loudon about eleven o'clock in +the forenoon, and again we looked for the expected order. + +Sharp skirmishing, with an occasional artillery duel, continued all +day. Just at night our troops advanced upon the enemy and drove them +back to their bridge-head, where they held them during the night. + +On the morning of the 15th Gen. Burnside ordered a retreat upon +Lanoir's Station, and by daylight the whole command was upon the +road, followed by the enemy, they pushing their skirmishers forward +with considerable caution. At dark that night our army bivouacked at +Lanoir's, and with the exception of a rather vigorous attack upon our +lines at ten o'clock in the evening, which was easily repulsed, we were +not further molested. + +After dark on the 14th the men of the battery not on guard improved +their last opportunity to enjoy one more night in their huts. It was +noticed that there was none of that happiness and hilarity which had +prevailed to such an extent the night before. The faces of the men +expressed an amount of seriousness which had not been present then. + +The morning of the 15th still found the battery waiting for orders to +move. Early in the morning troops of the Twenty-third Corps began to +pass our camp, and as it seemed to us, in some confusion, but Gen. +Burnside soon appeared and restored order, after which everything moved +with clock-like precision. + +Just before five o'clock in the afternoon the battery moved out of +park to the road, and commenced its march towards Campbell Station. +Not more than three miles had been accomplished before we began to +have trouble. The rain which had commenced the night before still +continued, and had softened the clayey soil of the road into a clinging +substance which made it almost impossible to move the battery. There +was a series of hills to climb, and our only way was to take the horses +from the caissons and put them on the pieces, and haul them to the +top of the hill, and then go back and haul up the caissons; this was +repeated several times before we had reached the railroad crossing. It +was now three o'clock in the morning, and the officer commanding the +rear guard informed us that we must get ahead at once, as he should +be unable to hold his position after daylight, as Gen. Longstreet's +advance was close at hand. Capt. Buckley had in the mean time sent word +to Gen. Burnside of our situation, and he had ordered some mule teams +to our relief. The teams soon made their appearance, and the mules were +quickly hitched on, and we were on the move again. The wagons that had +been left in order to send us (and also the other batteries) the mule +teams, were burning as we passed them, as it was impossible to move +them. + +By this time it had grown quite light, and the rapidly increasing fire +in our rear and on the left convinced us that we were being pushed by +the enemy. As an incentive to increase our efforts and hurry us along +during the night, we had been frequently told that unless we reached +the junction of the Kingston and Loudon roads before daylight, we +should be cut off and become prisoners of war to Gen. James Longstreet. +It was now long past daylight, and we were several miles from the +junction. Fortunately for us our pursuers had been unable to reach that +point. + +Gen. Longstreet had detached a column under Gen. McLaw and ordered him +to proceed by the Kingston road to this point. Having secured a guide +perfectly familiar with the road, but who, unfortunately for Gen. +Longstreet's plans, happened to be a staunch Union man, who became so +strangely mixed in his bearings that when daylight appeared Gen. McLaw +found himself several miles from his objective point. + +In the meantime Gen. Burnside had sent Gen. White with his division +out upon the Kingston road, with orders to extend his line to the left +until it joined the right of the Ninth Corps, and hold the enemy until +the artillery had passed. + +It was shortly after ten o'clock in the forenoon when Battery D passed +the Kingston road, and continued on towards the village of Campbell +Station, noted as the birth-place of Admiral Farragut. Passing through +this village we were ordered into position upon the right of the road, +about half way up a long, steep hill, above the village. + +Just before we went into position our hearts were rejoiced by the +discovery of one of our pieces and its caisson which we had about given +up as lost, fearing that it must in some manner have missed its way +and been overtaken by the enemy. Sergeant Gray explained his early +arrival by saying that, becoming convinced that being obliged to render +assistance to less fortunate teams was rapidly exhausting his own +teams, he determined to push on as fast as possible, and wait for the +battery at the station. + +At this time Benjamin's battery of twenty-pound Parrotts was in +position upon the right of the road, some distance below our battery. +Gettings was on his right, while Von Sehlen was in position in line +with us, on our left. + +When at twelve o'clock the enemy opened upon us, it was found that +Benjamin's and Gettings' positions were not favorable for their heavy +rifled guns, and they were moved to the left of the road, upon higher +ground a little in our rear. + +Our infantry was posted across the Kingston road, beyond the creek +which ran through the village at the foot of the hill upon which we +were. The centre was held by White's division, Twenty-third Corps, +while the Ninth, which had retired from the front and formed in the +rear of these troops, took position upon the right and left of this +division. + +Benjamin, Roemer and Gettings opened upon the enemy a most terrific +fire from their rifled guns. Our battery was unable to throw its shells +far enough to reach the enemy, and was obliged to content itself with +an occasional shot at their skirmishers. + +We soon saw a heavy line of skirmishers advancing out of the woods in +our front, and with perfect nonchalance approach a ravine only a short +distance from one of our batteries, carrying their guns at a trail. The +coolness of the act made it somewhat doubtful as to whether they were +friend or foe. + +Sergeant Gray, who was some distance in front of the battery on the +pike, took in the situation at once, and tried a shot at them with his +carbine, and was severely reprimanded by an officer standing near, +for firing at our men. A moment settled the question, however, for no +sooner had they reached the ravine than they dropped out of sight, and +instantly there came the pop, pop, pop of their rifles, and the officer +who had objected to their being treated as foes, had lost a horse. + +The rebels who had so boldly sought this position had failed to notice +one of our regiments, which lay under cover of a building to their +right, which position gave then an enfilading fire the entire length +of that ravine, and in a few seconds the rebels found themselves in a +place hotter than they had ever been in before, and one which they were +glad to vacate as soon as possible. + +Soon after the failure of the enemy to drive our centre, they made a +vigorous assault upon the right of Christ's brigade, Ninth Corps. Our +battery was ordered to change its position and direction of its fire, +to co-operate with this brigade, and we shelled the woods upon the +right with such good effect as to check the progress of the enemy in +that direction. It was while executing this movement that the men of +our battery became thoroughly convinced of the utter impossibility of +successfully manoeuvering light artillery with mules as a motive power. + +No sooner was the attempt made to limber the pieces than each +individual mule commenced a performance of his own, entirely at +variance with that of his mate, which soon resulted in a tangle that +was exceedingly discouraging to the men. In some of the teams half +the mules seemed determined to run away, frightened by the bursting of +the shells, while its effect upon the rest of the team was to create +a determination not to move a step. Some of them were seized with +an irresistible desire to climb over each other, in many instances +elevating themselves to such a degree as to lose their balance and go +over backwards, in one or two instances falling upon the men who were +trying to control them. + +An instance of the perverseness of these animals came very near +depriving the battery of one of its most valued members, Sergeant +Spencer, of the first piece, who found himself at the beginning of the +execution of this order to change positions, with his gun limbered, +to which was attached a team of mules, but without a driver, who had +mysteriously disappeared. There were none of his companions present who +felt competent to drive this team, nor did the sergeant himself have +the utmost confidence in his ability to successfully manage them; but +something must be done, and that quickly. + +Riding up to the nigh wheel mule he seized the jerky-line--the use of +which he knew to consist of a rapid succession of jerks when it was +desired that the leaders should turn to the right, while a steady pull +would cause them to turn to the left--and started the team. It was his +desire that the gun should move in the middle of the road, but the +mules preferred the side close to the fence, and as they were masters +of the situation, that was where the gun moved. + +It was very uncomfortable for our comrade, the uneven character of +this part of the road constantly throwing the wheel mules against his +horse and obliging him to lean for support upon the rail fence at his +side. Very little progress had been made, and the sergeant had but +just rested his hand upon the fence when a rebel shell carried away +the uprights of the fence within a foot of his hand. It was a natural +impulse which caused him to remove his hand instantly from its resting +place. This convinced Sergeant Spencer that it was time to assert his +authority over those mules. Dropping the jerky-line, he rushed to the +leaders, forced them into the road, and soon had the gun up with the +rest of the battery. + +This last position held by our battery, was upon very high ground, +overlooking the entire field occupied by both Union and Confederates, +and save an occasional disappearance behind a ravine or into scattered +clusters of woods, the manoeuvering of the Ninth and Twenty-third Corps +was in plain view. It was a grand panoramic martial picture which was +unfolded to our vision that afternoon. + +The rebel host, commanded by Gen. Longstreet, upwards of twenty +thousand strong, composed of such well-known fighting troops as +McLaw's and Hood's divisions, of Alabama, South Carolina, Georgia +and Mississippi regiments, to which had been added for this occasion +Buckner's division, commanded by Gen. B.R. Johnson, had started from +Chickamauga, flushed with their recent victory over Gen. Rosecrans, +upon a pleasure trip up the Tennessee Valley as far as Knoxville. + +Pardonably proud were the first two divisions of that army at the +record of their prowess and success gained upon many of the hardest +fought battlefields of the war; and when camp rumors placed the foe +opposed to them to consist of a single corps of inexperienced troops, +it was not surprising that they should have entered upon this campaign +with a feeling that there would hardly be excitement enough in the +journey to make it interesting. This feeling was strengthened somewhat +when, upon arriving at Huff Ferry, on the Tennessee River, they found +us so willing to leave their front and retreat. + +It is entirely probable that our foes entered upon this, their first +battle with us, having very little respect for our fighting abilities, +and a somewhat exaggerated opinion of their own, forgetting that +"pride goeth before a fall," and that it is always well to respect your +enemy's ability until you have proved his weakness. + +The independent, indifferent way in which the rebel skirmish line +advanced, has already been described. The advance of his main force in +three columns, soon followed the repulse of his skirmishers, and then +began to occur surprises of which our enemy had little dreamed. + +The eight or ten batteries of the Ninth and Twenty-third Corps opened +upon their lines as soon as they became uncovered, with such an +accuracy of range and correct judgment of distances as to keep the air +in front and about them well filled with bursting shells and case shot, +which must have convinced them that if these were new and inexperienced +troops which were opposing them--which they had been told we were--then +we must have made wonderfully good use of our time. + +It will be easy, they think, to brush asunder this line of blue which +they see just in advance; but this line of blue rises up and delivers +volley after volley into the rebel ranks, absolutely refusing to be +brushed aside, and in a moment our over-confident foe is falling back +in a confused, uncertain way, as though they were not quite sure what +had happened. Indeed, it required one trial more before they were +willing to believe that our troops would not throw down their arms and +retreat at their approach. + +A second repulse convinced our enemy that a direct attack would not +be a brilliant success; he then opened his artillery, and began a +series of flank movements, which were promptly and successfully met and +frustrated by Gen. Burnside. + +About half-past five o'clock in the afternoon our battery was ordered +to pull out of our position, section at a time, and commence our march +towards Knoxville. The right section went first, then the centre, and +last the left. During this time a long-range battery of the rebels +was making it very uncomfortable for us. The twenty-pound shells were +falling and exploding unpleasantly near, creating a great disturbance +among our mules; indeed it required the united efforts of our own men, +together with a large detail of infantry, to control them sufficiently +to limber our pieces. At last it was accomplished, and considerably +after dark we reached the road, and made as rapid progress as possible +towards Knoxville. + +This was our second night out, and it found every man thoroughly +exhausted. For thirty hours the men had not slept or partaken of food, +excepting a little corn bread, and were covered with mud from head to +foot, which the freezing weather had stiffened, making it difficult +to walk, adding to our uncomfortable condition. Many would have lain +down by the roadside for rest if they had been allowed to do so, but +infantry carefully patrolled the road and for a considerable distance +on either side. Anyone found inclined to take a nap was aroused and +started on his way. + +The battery reached Knoxville at about three o'clock in the morning, +and went into camp near an earthwork, afterwards called Fort Sanders. +The troops began to arrive about daylight on the 17th, and were +assigned to positions in the defence line of Knoxville, by Capt. O.M. +Poe, Chief Engineer, Army of the Ohio. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +The Siege of Knoxville, Tennessee. + + +The site occupied by the City of Knoxville, which we were to defend, +was in front of a plateau of about half a mile in width, running +parallel to and near the Holston River. This plateau was intersected +by three creeks, First, Second and Third, giving the position the +appearance of separate hills. First Creek separated Knoxville from East +Knoxville, or Temperance Hill; Second Creek separated the town from +College Hill; and Third Creek ran into the river beyond our lines. + +To the north and west of the town the plateau descended gradually to +a valley or basin of about three-quarters of a mile in width, beyond +which was a small plateau similar to the one just described, and of +about the same height. On this ridge the enemy's forces were stationed, +with their batteries at prominent points. + +The line of defence established commenced at a point on the river and +ran at nearly right angles with the river to a fort which the enemy had +commenced on a hill north of the Kingston road and about a thousand +yards in front and to the right of the College. From this point it ran +along and nearly parallel to the river, across Second and First Creeks, +over Temperance Hill to Mabey's Hill near to Bell's house, thence to +the Holston River. + +Our forces at this time in Knoxville numbered about twelve thousand +effective men, exclusive of the new recruits of loyal Tennesseeans. The +enemy was estimated at from twenty to twenty-three thousand, including +cavalry. + +In the line of our defence occurred the following strategic points: +College, Loudon, Summit, Temperance, and Mabey's Hills, all of them +of considerable height, and upon these hills were built forts of +varying strength, those upon Loudon, Summit, and Temperance Hills being +bastioned earthworks, protected by ditches of considerable depth and +width, while those upon the other hills were merely earthworks without +ditches. The parapets of all these forts were protected by cotton +bales, covered with raw hides. + +Upon Loudon Hill was constructed by far the most important work of the +entire system. As has before been intimated, this fort was commenced by +the enemy before Knoxville was occupied by the Army of the Ohio. From +its strategic situation, coupled with the fact that the single assault +made by the enemy upon our lines during the siege of Knoxville was upon +this fort, when a force of less than three hundred men successfully +repelled and disastrously defeated nearly four thousand picked men from +Gen. Longstreet's army, it would seem to require a somewhat detailed +account of its principal features. + +There have been several different ideas expounded in relation to the +build of Fort Sanders (called by the enemy Fort Loudon); the atlas +accompanying the War Records has been taken as the most accurate one, +but that differs very materially from what was built as Fort Sanders. +Capt. Poe, Chief Engineer of the Army of the Ohio, laid out the works +in quite an elaborate style, but on our arrival at Knoxville we went +to work on the old fort that the Confederates had started, on Loudon +Hill. The bastion on the extreme northwest corner was where the members +of our battery put in hard labor with pick and shovel, and when it was +completed we had a good defensible work. Perhaps it was not not quite +up to the engineer's idea; every fort is expected to have a berme, ours +did not; the western face of the bastion was as near a straight line as +possible; the line from the bastion running to the Kingston road took a +slight curve outward (or towards the west). + +The following are the dimensions as we knew them at that time, and by +actual measurements: + +Starting at the northwest corner of the bastion it ran about south four +hundred feet, then east one hundred and thirty-five feet, then south +to the Kingston road, six hundred and seventy feet; from the northwest +corner of the bastion running east one hundred and fifteen feet, then +southeast eighty feet, then in an easterly direction until it reached +the creek at the foot of the hill. + +When we arrived at the fort it was simply a rifle-pit, but in two or +three days it was in good shape. The irregularity of the site was such +that the parapets of the bastion varied in height, the one on the north +being thirteen feet, while the western front was twelve feet. The ditch +on the west was twelve feet wide and eight feet deep; on the north +it was eight feet deep at the corner of the bastion, and ran back to +almost nothing at the northeast angle; on the south side of the bastion +the ditch ran from eight feet deep to about a level where it joined the +line running south. There was one embrasure on the west and one on the +north side of the bastion. On the northwest angle the ground was built +up so that a gun could be fired in barbette. + +The line running south was quite heavy, where it joined the bastion, +and had four embrasures, which were occupied by Benjamin's regular +battery. As the line ran down the hill it was lighter, being about +four feet with no ditch, or only a slight one where dirt had been +thrown up from the outside, except in two places where the ground +inside the breastworks had been dug lower to allow a piece of artillery +to be placed and an embrasure cut in. + +In front of the northwest angle of the bastion Capt. Poe had some +telegraph wire stretched from stump to stump. Some time after the siege +was over a fort was built south of the bastion, so as to command the +ditch on the west, but during the siege there was no line of fire that +could enfilade the ditch on the west side of the bastion. + +During the siege the Seventy-ninth New York had a plank laid over the +ditch from the embrasure on the west, which they used in going to and +from the picket line, and when the enemy was looking for a good place +to assault the works, they saw some men of the Seventy-ninth crossing +on this plank, and came to the conclusion that there was no ditch in +front of the bastion. Gens. Longstreet and McLaw both speak about this +in their report of the siege and assault. + +All of the large forts, such as Sanders, on Loudon Hill, Comstock, on +Summit Hill, Huntington Smith, on Temperance Hill, were connected by a +line of rifle-pits; on and near this line were built batteries for from +one to six guns, which could command both a direct and enfilading fire +for a considerable distance in their vicinity. Battery Noble, located +to the left of the Kingston road, below College Hill; Battery Zoelner, +to the right of Fort Sanders, commanded the railroad for a considerable +distance on the left of Second Creek; Battery Galpin, on the right of +Second Creek, overlooked the railroad for a considerable distance; +Batteries Wiltsie and Billingsley were located between Gay street and +First street, covering the ground near the depot and beyond; Battery +Clifton Lee, east of Fort Huntington Smith, together with Battery +Fearns, on Flint Hill, were in the second line of defence; Battery +Stearman was located in the gorge between Temperance and Mabey's Hills; +Fort Hill, the extreme north-eastern limit of our line, was situated +upon Mabey's Hill. + +It must be remembered that upon the morning of the army's arrival at +Knoxville, Nov. 17th, almost none of the immense work contemplated +in the line of defence which we have been considering, was begun. As +fast as troops arrived and were assigned to their positions, they were +ordered to select either a shovel or pick and dig for all there was in +them. + +Early in the morning Gen. Burnside, in order to relieve his exhausted +troops, and also hurry along the work as rapidly as possible, had +started patrols through different parts of the town with orders to +arrest every able-bodied citizen, white or black, Union or Confederate, +and put them at work on the fortifications. Relief gangs were +organized, and the work continued night and day. + +By the 20th our line was in such a condition as to inspire the entire +command with confidence that we could hold the town against any rebel +force that might be brought against us. First and Second Creeks had +been dammed, the back water creating quite large ponds, the overflow +from which made most formidable wet ditches in front of a considerable +portion of the line. + +The pieces of Battery D remained in Fort Sanders from their arrival +until the 20th, when the right piece, right section, under Lieut. +W.B. Rhodes, was moved into what afterwards became Battery Noble. The +lieutenant felt that he would like to take both pieces of his section, +and asked permission of Gen. Ferrero to do so, but the general refused, +giving as his reason that "he thought one piece quite enough to be +sacrificed." This remark, overheard as it was by the men, created +in their minds the impression that in the general's opinion he was +placing them in an extra-hazardous position, and they were constantly +on the alert expecting an assault down the Kingston road. + +On Wednesday, the 18th, the men of our battery, together with those +from Benjamin's, and a large detail of citizens, commenced active labor +upon the ditch and bastion of the fort. During the afternoon we were +joined by the Seventy-ninth New York Highlanders. Lieut. Benjamin, +who was appointed to the command of Fort Sanders, had requested that +this regiment be assigned to duty as defenders of the fort, and it had +been so ordered. While all of the regiments of the Ninth Corps had the +thorough confidence of their comrades of the artillery service, the old +Seventy-ninth was held in especial esteem because of its long service, +and it was very gratifying to have them with us in the fort. + +The work upon the fort was pushed forward with the greatest rapidity. +The men were arranged in details and required to work a certain number +of hours, then allowed a certain number for rest. In this way there was +no cessation in the work. + +The morning of Tuesday, the 19th, opened dull and cloudy. A heavy fog +obscured the valley below the fort, and occasional picket shots made +us very anxious that the mist should clear, that we might locate our +enemy. The previous afternoon he had made his appearance upon the +heights in the vicinity of the Armstrong house, where he had been held +at bay for several hours by a force of mounted infantry and cavalry, +under command of Gen. Sanders, of the Twenty-third Corps. + +Gen. Longstreet had ordered Gen. McLaw to force his way into the town, +and sent reinforcements to enable him to do so. Our troops were finally +forced down into the ravine below the Armstrong house, and the enemy +getting within easy range of our guns at the fort, both batteries +improved the opportunity to shell them. + +Gen. Burnside was in the fort at the time, and watched the battle over +the parapet. He went from point to point along the west front, speaking +encouragingly to the men, advising them to "keep cool, fire low, and be +sure and hit something every time." + +Towards evening the enemy ceased his efforts to push us further, +seemingly contenting himself with occupying the heights in front of the +Armstrongs. When the fog cleared we found that during the night the +enemy had occupied a range of hills running from a point on the river +south of the Armstrong house, thence along our west and north front to +a point on Second Creek, while their pickets extended nearly to the +Farwell road. A little later they established a battery upon this road +and from it threw the first shells into the city. This line of the +enemy was from three-fourths to one mile distant from our works, and as +it became light enough we could plainly see their men at work throwing +up breastworks for almost the entire length of their line. + +All day long the pickets kept up a constant exchange of shots, which +near the Armstrong house assumed the proportions of a fair-sized battle +on several occasions during the day. + +In the afternoon we raised a flagstaff in the fort and in a short time +a flag was unfurled and heartily greeted by the men with cheers. The +enemy desiring to honor the occasion, opened a furious cannonading upon +the fort, fortunately doing us no damage. During this, the second day +of the siege, bullets began to sing right merrily over the parapets +and through the embrasures of the fort, a music which we were obliged +to listen to day and night from this on for the seventeen days of the +continuance of the siege. + +The morning of Friday, the 20th, was cool and misty. The enemy had been +very quiet during the night and allowed us to get a full night's rest; +but at nine o'clock, when the new pickets made their appearance, they +increased the vigor of their fire, causing the relieved men to hustle +for all they were worth to get inside the fort. + +During the afternoon bales of cotton had been hauled into the fort from +the town, and gangs of negroes were employed to roll them onto the +parapets for the better protection of the men. The interior crest being +only about four feet above the banquette tread, the upper part of the +bodies of the infantry were exposed to the enemy's fire. The bales of +cotton were covered with raw hides to prevent their being ignited from +musket fire. It began raining during the afternoon, and continued well +into the night, and, as we were without tents, it made our situation +rather uncomfortable. + +A brick house on the Kingston road in the ravine below the Armstrong +house had become a source of annoyance to our men; the rebel +sharpshooters occupying it had from the windows kept up a most +disastrous fire upon our pickets and the fort, the distance being about +five hundred yards. + +Gen. Ferrero determined to destroy this building, that it should +furnish no further protection to the enemy, and ordered Col. Humphrey, +commanding the brigade in its front to detail a regiment to proceed +under cover of darkness of the evening, dislodge the enemy from the +house and burn it. The Seventeenth Michigan, under command of Lieut. +Col. Comstock, was chosen for this dangerous and difficult work. + +The sortie was made at eight o'clock in the evening, so quietly and +with such alacrity as to completely surprise the enemy. Many of them +were captured, while others had very narrow escapes, such as taking +advantage of the opening of a door by one of our men to slip under his +arm and escape. This was not an easy thing to do, as many found, quite +a number losing their lives in the attempt. + +As our men were returning from this successful assault the enemy +seemed to suddenly realize what had happened, and opened furiously +upon our lines with three or four batteries; but by that time our +troops were back within the works, the light from the burning building +enabling both infantry and artillery to pour a most destructive +fire into the enemy's line, who, by half-past nine, confessed their +willingness to call it enough for this day, by discontinuing their +firing. + +Work upon the rifle-pits and north front of Fort Sanders was continued +during Saturday, Nov. 21st, strengthening them in every possible way. +We were not molested by the rebels, and nothing worthy of mention +occurred during the day. + +A rumor reached the battery about noon that the enemy had commenced the +construction of a raft at Boyd's Ferry, some distance above Knoxville, +on the Holston River, which they proposed setting adrift, hoping that +it would carry away our pontoon bridge, and thus break our connection +with the south side. At five o'clock in the afternoon Chief Engineer +Poe commenced the construction of a boom, made by stretching an iron +cable across the river above the bridge. This cable was finished and +placed in position by nine o'clock on the next morning. + +Sunday, Nov. 22d, was passed quietly. Up to this time the pickets +had been relieved about nine o'clock in the morning, but as many +of the men had been badly wounded while performing this duty, the +commanding officer decided to change the time for doing this work, +to early morning before light, and this Sunday morning was chosen to +make this change. The wire entanglement which had just been completed +on the northwest in front of Fort Sanders, proved its efficacy upon +this occasion, for notwithstanding the men of the relief party were +perfectly familiar with its existence, nearly one-half their number +were sent to the ground before they were reminded of the entanglement. + +On Monday, Nov. 23d, two pieces of Battery D were moved from their +positions on the northern portion of Fort Sanders, and placed in +Battery Galpin, a small earthwork upon the eastern side of Second +Creek. From this point they covered a considerable extent of territory, +reaching from the pond made by the damming of Second Creek, along the +railroad to the west and north for several hundred yards. + +The section had but just reached this position when the enemy made +an assault on Col. Christ's brigade, driving in his skirmish line, +who, as they were driven back, set fire to a considerable quantity of +combustible material which had been placed in the large round-house +for just such an emergency. This fire soon communicated with adjacent +buildings, and created an illumination which enabled our troops to see +the entire field. This was not satisfactory to the rebels, and they +soon retired. + +Tuesday, Nov. 24th, it began raining at daylight. During the night +the rebels had dug and occupied a rifle-pit which gave them a flank +fire along our west front. This proved very troublesome, and it was +decided that it must be stopped if possible. As soon as it was light +enough to see, the Second Michigan made a charge on the enemy's new +line at this point. The brave men of this regiment formed near the +ditch of our fort, pushed rapidly forward, reached the objectionable +ditch and had nearly destroyed it, when the enemy hurled a very heavy +reserve force against them and drove them back. Further to the right +a second determined assault was made by the Forty-first Massachusetts +and the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania, our men driving the enemy from the +rifle-pits and taking many prisoners. + +On Wednesday, Now 25, the enemy made a determined effort to push +forward their lines on the south side of the Holston River. It was +evidently his desire to force us from our position opposite Knoxville. +This would have given him the key to our position, and made it +untenable for us. + +Thursday, Nov. 26th, the work of strengthening our works continued, and +all of the intrenching tools were kept busy. + +On Friday, Nov. 27th, the enemy still appeared to threaten our troops +on the south side of the river, moving their forces from one part of +their line to another, but did not attack us. + +Saturday, Nov. 28th, opened cold and rainy. The water in and around +the fort formed into quite heavy ice during the night, while men +woke with a coating of ice on their clothing which occasioned them +much inconvenience in moving about. All the afternoon the enemy were +moving large bodies of troops towards our right, constantly pushing +our pickets nearer our works. In front of the northwest angle of Fort +Sanders our picket line was only a few yards from the fort. + +That the assault was near at hand, and must come in a few hours, we +were all certain. That every one was on the alert was proven when at +about ten o'clock in the evening a general alarm was sounded; our +artillery immediately opened from Battery D's section at Battery +Galpin, under Lieut. Parker, around Fort Sanders to Battery Noble, +occupied by the right piece of Battery D, under Lieut. Rhodes. + +Our fire at this time was only continued for a short time, ceasing +as soon as we ascertained that the enemy were not coming. One of the +greatest difficulties labored under by us was the absolute necessity of +using the closest economy with regard to ammunition. + +This ten o'clock attack had been for the purpose of driving in our +pickets close under the fort, where they now lay. This enabled the +enemy to advance within one hundred yards of our guns, and at that +moment they were lying in a depression a short distance from the +northwest angle of the bastion of the fort, waiting for the first dawn +of day that they might rush on to what?--victory, they thought, but we +had quite a different idea, and our idea was nearer right than theirs. + +By five o'clock on Sunday morning, Nov. 29th, every man in our line had +been aroused, and was occupying his position, either at the parapets +or embrasures. The third piece of our battery was located on the north +side of the fort some two hundred feet from the bastion; the fifth +piece was located on the line running south about one hundred and fifty +feet from the Kingston road; while the fourth had been mounted in the +northwestern bastion, in barbette. This gun, under command of Sergt. +Chas. C. Gray, was by far the most serviceable in the fort on that +morning, as will be seen as our story progresses. + +All of the guns were loaded with double canister, and at half-past +five the cannoneers were at their posts in the position of "Ready," +every number four holding his lanyard taut, ready to pull at a second's +warning, and send the gun's charge of death into the ranks of the enemy. + +It was a minute or two of half-past six when a signal gun was fired +from the rebel battery near the Armstrong house, the shell passing over +Fort Sanders and exploding in its rear. Instantly all the artillery in +the enemy's line opened, and for twenty minutes poured a furious fire +of shot and shell into and beyond the fort. + +Suddenly the firing ceased, and the cannoneers who were straining their +eyes trying to pierce the gloom and mist of the early winter's morning, +saw our pickets hurry across the plank which gave them passage over +the deep ditch through the embrasure into the fort, and rapidly fall +into their places. Then we were certain that there was work before us. +At this instant the first gun in the fort to fire--Sergt. Gray's--was +discharged. + +During the twenty minutes cannonading by the enemy not a gun had +been fired from our side, every man having been cautioned to reserve +his fire until he could see or hear the enemy. Soon the cannoneers +caught the sound as of the rushing of many feet, followed quickly by a +confused sound as the rebels encountered the wire entanglement, over +which many of them stumbled and fell. Then we saw them coming through +the mist, and greeted them with the contents of our double-shotted guns. + +Sergt. Gray soon discovered that the position of his gun (in barbette) +was a failure, because of the ease with which the rebel infantry could +prevent his men from loading the piece--they being obliged to expose a +considerable portion of their bodies in the performance of that duty. +Ordering the piece taken down from its elevated position, the sergeant +had it run into the embrasure upon his right, from which he rapidly +poured round after round of canister among the mass of rebels that were +charging the bastion on the north side. + +Either the rapid and terribly destructive work of this gun, or the +desire of the enemy to find some easier way of entering the fort, +caused them to swing away from this point around to the western front, +and soon our sergeant noticed that there was apparently no enemy in his +front. Not being of the kind to throw away ammunition, and having in +mind the necessity for observing economy in its use, after taking the +precaution to load the piece with double canister, and have the number +four affix his friction primer, with the lanyard held taut in his hand, +he awaited events. + +It was only a moment before the head and shoulders of a rebel officer +appeared above the brow of the ditch, who, after a hurried glance +around, sprang into the embrasure, rushed up to the muzzle of the gun +and placing his sword upon it, ordered its surrender. William Mills, +the number four, turned to his sergeant and asked, "Charlie, shall I +let him have it?" "No," replied Gray, "don't waste a double round +of canister on one d----d fool." Not long, however, did the sergeant +have to wait for more victims. Before his words were hardly spoken +three more brave rebels had followed their leader. Gray gave the order +to "Fire!" and when the smoke cleared away not a vestige of the four +heroes who had stood before that gun a moment before remained. + +This seemed to quiet the enemy on the northern front of the bastion, +but a fresh column now commenced a furious assault upon the western +front, the noise and confusion of which attracted the attention of +Sergt. Gray, who, glancing around to the embrasure in his rear, +discovered that the gun from a New York battery, which occupied it, was +evidently in trouble. Hurrying across, he ascertained that the horses +had run away with the limber, thus depriving the gun of ammunition. + +Sergt. Gray had the gun replaced with his own, and during the remainder +of the battle, ably and heroically supported by the men of the fourth +detachment, did such efficient service that although many desperate +attempts were made to drive them from their position, none were +successful. + +Benjamin's twenty-pound Parrotts had opened fire at the same moment +with our own, and were sweeping the opposite side of the glacis with +double canister. + +The infantry support in Fort Sanders consisted of the Seventy-ninth +New York and two companies of the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts. These +men were posted along the parapets and angles of the fort, every place +that would afford opportunity for a shot at our assailants being fully +occupied. Full cartridge-boxes, with hundreds of extras, were placed in +front of each man, to facilitate the most rapid work. Men who could not +find a place in the line were employed to load muskets and pass them to +their comrades who were in position. + +Soon we were in the midst of the very hottest work, the enemy charging +in "Column by division, closed en masse," and although the entanglement +prostrated many, the weight of the column carried them over it to +the edge of the ditch, the formidableness of which caused them to +momentarily hesitate. Then it was that the terrific fire from the +double-shotted guns of our artillery and closely posted infantry, +delivered almost in their faces--not ten yards distant--caused them to +melt away as grass before the mower's scythe, and jump into the ditch +for safety; but, alas! no sooner had they reached the ditch than Lieut. +Benjamin had some of his twenty-pound Parrott ammunition with fifteen +second fuses brought into the bastion of the fort, and lighting the +fuses with a burning stick they threw them through the embrasures or +rolled them down the parapets into the ditch. + +Acts of heroism followed each other in rapid succession; the brave +rebels were making every effort to scale the twenty feet from the +bottom of the ditch to the parapet, under the greatest difficulties; +digging with their fingers into the slippery surface they would raise +themselves up the embankment for a short distance, only to lose their +hold and slide back into the ditch; and if perchance one did reach the +top without being shot on the way up, the moment his head showed above +the parapet it would be pierced with a bullet, and back he would roll +into the ditch. Two or three times the enemy succeeded in reaching the +top of the parapet, upon which they placed their flags, but they were +instantly killed. + +An incident illustrative of the fierceness with which this battle was +fought is described in the "History of the Seventy-ninth New York +(Highlanders)": "Sergeant Dunn, of Company K, owing to the excitement, +had forgotten to withdraw his ramrod when he last loaded his piece, and +it was fired with the charge. On attempting to reload he was unable to +ram home the cartridge. Two of the enemy were making their appearance +above the crest, within six feet of him; clubbing his rifle he flung it +at them, but failed to hit either. No other piece was within reach, his +companions were busy with their own work; the enemy were nearly upon +him; time was precious. Looking hastily about he espied an axe; it was +but the work of a moment to seize it, swing it above his head, and hurl +it at the approaching foe. It hit and knocked one down, while the other +fell at the same instant, pierced by a bullet." + +It was now apparent that the enemy had enough, for their main attacking +force had been driven back under the protection of the depression just +in front of the bastion of the fort, and those in the ditch could not +stand the havoc which the shells that were thrown over the parapet were +making, so one of them stuck a piece of cloth on his gun and poked it +up in front of the embrasure, a signal that they surrendered. + +Sergt. Gray stepped into the embrasure and commenced to pass what men +there were left through. In taking their arms and equipments he soon +found some men with artillery equipments on, who, when questioned, +allowed they had been sent up to work our guns; but as we were not +in need of recruits, they were sent to the rear with the rest of the +prisoners. + +About this time the enemy's artillery again opened on the fort, but +ceased in a few minutes, when Gen. Burnside offered the enemy an +armistice lasting until noon, to allow them to care for their wounded +and to bury their dead, which was promptly accepted. + +How thankful they were to be relieved from their terrible position may +be imagined when it is remembered that for fully an hour most of them +had been exposed to as terrific and deadly a fire as ever fell to the +lot of a soldier to endure. Every stump within the northern and western +glacis of the fort yielded from one to two rebels, while those in +the ditch still alive and not too severely wounded, made haste to get +within the fort. + +"Yanks" and "Rebs" were soon fraternizing, discussing the events of +the past few weeks. It was then we learned that our enemy had been +told they had only new troops opposed to them, who would run at the +first fire, and could be swept away from their front with very little +effort. Their confidence in this story had been somewhat shaken after +their encounter with us at Campbell's Station, when they discovered +the old Ninth Corps was in their front. They were as familiar with the +fighting qualities of this corps as we were with theirs, and began to +realize that our encounters would very likely resemble the traditional +one "when Greek meets Greek." They had been told that Fort Sanders was +garrisoned only by Tennessee conscripts, and all they had to do was to +yell like devils and they would run. Considerable bluffing was indulged +in on both sides. They informed us that they were coming again soon, +and when they did the boot would be on the other leg. We assured them +that we would be glad to see them at any time, and guaranteed them a +warm reception. + +When noon arrived it was found that the work was not nearly completed, +and the time was extended until five o'clock. On the arrival of that +hour each side retired within its lines, our pickets occupying the +rifle-pits from which they had been driven the night before. + +The loss of the enemy in their attack upon Fort Sanders, as taken from +their own reports, was 129 officers and men killed, 458 wounded, and +228 prisoners, an aggregate loss of 815. Besides this we captured three +battle-flags, and between five and six hundred stand of small arms. + +Monday, Nov. 30th, the thirteenth day of the siege, opened with much +less firing from the pickets. It was said that during the armistice of +Sunday the soldiers on both sides had entered into an agreement not to +fire on each other's pickets. + +Tuesday, Dec. 1st, some time before daylight an alarm sent every man +to his post, where they remained until sunrise, when, as there was no +demonstration on the part of the enemy, the men were dismissed. During +the afternoon there were indications from within the enemy's lines of +another attack. We made ready to receive them, but happily it did not +materialize. + +Wednesday, Dec. 2d, the enemy pushed forward their lines, their pickets +very nearly reaching the advanced position occupied by them on the +morning of the 19th. They could be seen erecting a new battery on a +hill near the Clinton road. We sent a few shells at them, but the +necessity of observing the closest economy in regard to our ammunition +still continued, obliging us to use it very sparingly. + +At daylight, Thursday, Dec. 3d, it became evident to us that the enemy +were leaving our front, and rumors of the abandonment of the siege were +current in the fort, much to our relief. Probably for the purpose of +deceiving us, a rattling picket fire was maintained by the enemy well +into the night, which kept us at our posts, much to our disgust. + +Friday, Dec. 4th, the news that Gen. Sherman was advancing with an army +of forty thousand men, and that his advance had crossed the Tennessee +River the day before, made us all very happy, and when, at one o'clock +Saturday morning, our pickets reported that the enemy were leaving our +front, our joy knew no bounds. At daylight our skirmish line advanced +and found that the enemy had departed. + +The siege of Knoxville was over. + +It is customary to date the commencement of this struggle between the +Union and Confederate forces, on the 17th of November, that being the +date on which the Union army entered Knoxville and began the erection +of the defences. + +A careful consideration of the movements occurring a few days just +previous to that date, will convince anyone that the siege practically +commenced on the 13th, the date upon which Gen. Longstreet reached +Loudon, attacked our pickets, and moved down the Tennessee River to +Hough's Ferry. From that moment until midnight Dec. 5th, there was +no cessation, day or night, from deadly encounters, varying from the +picket or skirmish fire, to that of the pitched battle, in which record +will show as many men lost in killed, wounded and missing, as in any +battle of the war where the numbers engaged were equal. + +Commencing also on the 13th, the soldiers of this army were called +upon to endure an amount of physical and mental strain such as men +have seldom been called upon to pass through. Battery D's experience +during this trying time was an average one. The record of its daily +participation in the struggle of those three weeks is one of which its +officers and men are justly proud. Not only were the members of the +battery complimented by the commanding general for the excellence of +their service, but individual members were specially complimented and +praised in reports by other officers. + +The faithful and intelligent serving of the fourth gun, in its two +positions at the northwestern bastion of Fort Sanders, was acknowledged +to have been of greater service in repelling the enemy from that +section than any other piece of artillery; and when Gen. Burnside +visited the fort with his staff soon after the flag of truce had been +accepted, he personally shook hands with every member of the fourth +piece, and thanked them for the gallant manner in which they had done +their duty, and directed Capt. Buckley to apply at once to the Governor +of Rhode Island for a commission for Sergt. Gray. + +The first piece, under Lieut. Rhodes, had done excellent work from +Battery Noble; the second and sixth, under Lieut. Parker, had done +themselves proud in preventing the enemy from entering our works by the +ravines at Second Creek, while the third and fifth, under Lieut. Chase, +had as usual, done efficient service in their respective positions. +The battery had certainly added much during the siege to its excellent +record as a fighting battery. + +Battery D entered East Tennessee well supplied with clothing, the men +having replenished their wardrobes at Camp Nelson, but the long journey +over the Cumberland Mountains had been so rough, and so filled with +difficulties, in the way of climbing the rocky and precipitous roads, +the lifting necessary in order to get the heavy carriages over the +rough places, had, to say the least, entirely destroyed that appearance +of newness which the cloth had possessed a month before. Then came +the twice-repeated march, almost from one end of East Tennessee to +the other, and it began to dawn upon some of us that the time was not +far distant when we should be obliged to draw clothing to hide our +nakedness. We were told that a train was then upon its way over the +mountains, and promised that as soon as it arrived clothing would be +issued. That was a train which was longingly looked for, but never came. + +During the three weeks siege the men had no time to give any attention +to their persons, and as may be imagined, they were, at the close of +the siege, in a deplorable condition. Daily the expected clothing train +was looked for, but it did not materialize. Fortunate was it for us +that we could not see into the future, and have known that it would be +more than two months before we would see that clothing, and realize +fully what suffering we would have to endure from the extreme poverty +of our condition in regard to clothing and food. + +Up to the appearance of Gen. Longstreet, before we had been deprived +of the privilege of foraging, our army had been able to live upon the +country. His coming altered that condition of things immediately. As +soon as Gen. Burnside became assured of the approach of the enemy, +he ordered Col. Goodrich, Chief Commissary, to collect all the beef +cattle, hogs, etc., and drive them into Knoxville. The hogs were killed +and salted; the cattle were collected in two droves, one located near +Temperance Hill, the other near Second Creek, in close proximity to +Battery D's caissons. + +Orders were at once issued to reduce rations. The Commissary, hoping, I +suppose, to impress the men's minds with the fact that they were after +all getting a fair amount of food, stretched his conscience as much as +he could, and called the amount given us one-fourth rations; but the +old soldiers that he was trying to deceive were too well posted upon +the size of a ration to be thus taken in. They were perfectly certain +that a piece of fat pork about the size of their hand, together with +a quart of flour or corn meal--ground cob and all--issued to last +three days, but frequently made to last four, which could be eaten +at one meal without the least sensation of fullness or the slightest +indication of indigestion, was not only not a fourth ration, but was +not even an eighth. Small rations, such as coffee, beans, etc., were +discontinued entirely, the supply being so small that it was found +necessary to reserve them all for the hospitals. + +Our flour ration was not a popular one, from the beginning, in +consequence of the difficulties attending the getting it into edible +condition. Before we were shut in we succeeded in getting along fairly +well, because we were able to secure from our lady friends a supply of +those rather essential articles for making good bread--leaven and salt. +After we were shut in we found it impossible to procure those articles, +and our efforts at bread-making yielded only a cake of burnt dough, +which required a good appetite to enable us to eat. + +The enemy found it impossible to extend their line on the northwest +much beyond the Taswell road, and on the south the excellent work of a +division, aided by the cavalry of the Twenty-third Corps, prevented the +rebels from extending their lines much beyond their works, which left +open to us the free use of our bridges and enabled us to forage along +the French Broad River and out on to the Louisville road, both of which +were kept open to our foraging parties during the principal part of +the siege. The loyal citizens sent down the French Broad River a large +amount of grain and meat in flats, and Capt. Doughty maintained a small +force up the river during the whole siege directing the efforts of the +people in our behalf. + +On our arrival at Knoxville on the 17th, we had a mixed motive power +consisting of mules and horses, but as soon as we had been assigned +positions in the works, we gave up our mule teams. They had helped us +out of a bad hole on the road from Loudon, but we had not taken kindly +to them, and were glad to see them go. + +Our caissons were parked in the ravine near Second Creek, and all our +horses but the wheel teams on the pieces, were picketed in a small +grove of pine trees near the caissons. Forage was short, and it was +soon found that it was an impossibility to keep them hitched, as they +would chew up every piece of leather that they could get at, and in a +few days there were no halters to be had, and the picket ropes went +with the halters. They ate up all the pine boughs, and finally we had +to shoot quite a number of them, as they were so near starved it was a +mercy to put them out of their misery. + +The departure of the enemy was very satisfactory to us. A person who +has never passed through the experience of being confined within very +narrow limits for a considerable time, under an almost constant fire +from artillery and infantry, can hardly realize what a strain it +produces on one's nervous system. + +To be continually upon the alert, prepared to dodge a shell, never +forgetting to keep your head down and your body out of sight, lest some +sharpshooter should get a bead upon you which would certainly end your +earthly career; the constant screaming of the shells and the whirring +of the minie balls, all have such a wearing effect upon the nerves of +a man that he wishes something would happen that would make the other +fellow quit and give him a rest. With us something had happened--the +other fellow had gone, and for the first time in weeks we could +straighten our backs and walk erect. + +Among the very few pleasant recollections of that disagreeable time is +the writer's remembrance of the affection entertained by the men of +the Army of the Ohio for their commanding general. His appearance at +any time, day or night, along the rifle-pits, or in the forts, always +aroused their enthusiasm to the highest pitch. His interest in, love +and sympathy for them in their sufferings, conveyed to them in orders, +conversations and kindnesses, quite won their hearts. + +Many are the stories in circulation illustrative of the kindness of +his heart towards his army; true or not, they found ready believers +among the men. Personally, the stories were accepted as truthful by my +young mind, and to-day I would not willingly listen to any argument or +story which had for its object the lessening of my faith in the great +humanity of my beloved general, Ambrose E. Burnside. + +On Dec. 6th the battery was paid, and for the first time in our +experience we took no interest in receiving money. We had received +pay more frequently since entering Tennessee than at any previous +time during our service. There was very little to buy, and our stock +of greenbacks had accumulated. It was said that the government's +liberality toward us was occasioned by the fact that our paymasters +had found themselves at the beginning of the siege with a large supply +of money, and desiring to be relieved of part of the responsibility, +allowed the men to share it with them. + +After a careful searching for information, I am fully assured that the +following brief account of the Confederates' movements from ten o'clock +on the evening of the 28th to half-past eight on the morning of the +29th, is substantially true: + +At dark on the 28th, Gen. Longstreet sent a dispatch to Gen. McLaw +ordering him to double his pickets, and as soon as the moon had risen +sufficiently to throw a little light upon the movement, to press our +pickets back as far as possible. After having successfully accomplished +this, he was to move the three brigades of his division chosen for the +assault, to a depression occurring in the topography of the glacis in +front of the northwestern bastion of Fort Sanders, where they were to +lie down until the signal gun should be discharged. + +At daylight Anderson's brigade, of Hood's division, was ordered to +take position about one hundred yards to the left--our right--of the +fort, and in case of the success of McLaw's column, to break over our +breastworks, wheel to the left and force their way through the ravine +of Second Creek to the rear of Fort Sanders. If, however, McLaw was +unsuccessful, Anderson was to wheel to the right after passing our +breastworks, and take the fort by an attack in reverse. + +At the appointed time, as we have seen, the signal gun was fired. +Wofford's brigade sprang to their feet, closely followed by Bryan's and +Humphrey's brigades; the Seventeenth Mississippi, of Humphrey's, and +Phillips' Georgia, of Wofford's brigade, leading the assaulting column, +dashed forward to the fort. + +Wofford, who was to attack the northwest bastion, with his left well +extended along the northern face of the fort, was so disturbed by the +physical difficulties, including the wire entanglement through which +he was obliged to pass, that he took so much distance to the right +that the attack extended only about twelve feet upon the northern face, +or to the first embrasure, occupied on that side by the fourth gun of +Battery D. + +Humphrey's brigade, with Bryan on his right, moved to the assault on +the right of Wofford's, meeting with all the physical difficulties of +the last-named, in their endeavor to get to the ditch. + +Anderson's brigade, of Hood's division, which had been ordered to +attack the rifle-pits upon the left of Fort Sanders, became so excited +and exasperated over the terrible treatment their comrades were +receiving, that they rushed with impetuosity toward the fort, and were +into the ditch and suffering the same treatment, before orders which +had been sent them to retire from in front of the fort, could reach +them, leaving many of their number in the ditch dead or wounded. + +As to the number of Confederates engaged in the assault on Fort +Sanders, it can only be approximated. Four brigades participated. +Wofford's contained six, Humphrey's four, Bryan's four, and Anderson's +five regiments. + +Gen. Jenkins, who commanded Hood's division upon this occasion, gives +us the only clue, when he states that Anderson's brigade, which had +been greatly reduced by details for picket duty, contained only about +one thousand rifles. This would seem to make the statement truthful, +that four thousand men of the Confederate army marched to the assault +of Fort Sanders on Sunday morning, Nov. 29th, 1863, and out of that +number, less than two hundred and eighty Union soldiers obliged nearly +twelve hundred in killed, wounded and prisoners, to remain. + +Of this bloody work Battery D did its full share. The fourth piece +did the largest part, because of its situation, but the third and +fifth did a work which caused the rebel Gen. McLaw to complain of the +damage done to Wofford's brigade by guns on his left--our right--in +the fort. The second and sixth pieces won this compliment from a rebel +source: "That two guns, mounted in a redoubt on the left [our right] of +Second Creek, fired so rapidly and accurately as to prevent his column +from penetrating the ravine at that point." The first piece, in its +position at Battery Noble, was too far removed from the scene of active +operations to take a prominent part. + +Dec. 7th we were ordered to prepare as many of our guns as possible and +be ready to start in pursuit of the enemy. In consequence of losing +so many of our horses, we found it impossible to equip more than four +guns. These, with about three-fourths of our army, started at noon for +Strawberry Plains. Capt. Buckley, Lieuts. Rhodes and Chase accompanied +us. The other two pieces, with the battery wagon and forge, were left +at Knoxville, under command of Lieut. Parker. + +Following the enemy as fast as our impoverished condition would allow, +we reached Rutledge about two o'clock on Dec. 9th, where we remained +until late in the evening of Dec. 15th, and then began a retrograde +movement towards Knoxville. Our enemy had been encamped during this +time about nine miles beyond Rutledge. He had now turned upon us, and +rumor had it that an attempt was being made to flank us at Strawberry +Plains, and Thursday, Dec. 17th, quite a brisk engagement occurred +at that place, which quieted down toward evening, and some prisoners +captured upon that evening gave us the information that the rebels were +retiring from our front. + +We encamped for the night, and next day started for Knoxville, arriving +on the 20th, and went into camp on the south side of the city. After +a rest of a day or two the order came to have fifty men detailed each +day to work on fortifications. This was a duty which the men did not +relish, and being still short of rations, and having very little +clothing, it was a physical impossibility for the men to do even a half +day's work. + +The weather was very cold, and many of the men left the prints of their +toes on the snow as they walked. This was by far the hardest winter +that we had seen in the service, and when, about the first of March, we +had a chance to draw clothing and shoes, it was appreciated, and when a +few rations of coffee and some "hard-tack" was issued, the members of +the battery thought they had struck a bonanza. + +Notwithstanding the privations we had passed through, nearly two-thirds +of the battery re-enlisted, and on March 10th we turned in our guns +and horses, and on the 12th started for Rhode Island, on a thirty days +furlough. The men that did not re-enlist were left at Knoxville. + +We marched to the depot at two o'clock in the morning on the 12th, and +took cars for Loudon; crossed the Ferry at eight o'clock that forenoon, +and boarded cars for Chattanooga; from there we went to Stevenson, +Ala., Nashville, Louisville, Jefferson, Cincinnati, Pittsburg, +Harrisburg, New York, and finally reached Providence on March 20th. We +had been eight days on the road, having had several delays, but as we +were going toward home, we found no fault. + +It was quite a change to us when we were told that we could now go +to our respective homes for thirty days. It is needless to add that +we made the most of our leave of absence. I think most of us rather +appreciated our change of diet, and it seemed as if those thirty days +passed off very quickly; but notwithstanding the good times we were +having, on April 20th, every man but one reported in Providence to +Capt. Buckley, ready to again go to the front. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +Battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania--the Campaign in the +Shenandoah Valley. + + +Leaving Providence at quarter past seven o'clock, on April 20th, 1864, +we took the steamboat train en route for Washington, where we arrived +at dark on the 23d, and went to the "Soldiers' Rest" barracks. + +On the 24th we took in the Capitol and other sights about Washington, +and the next day went into camp about a mile east of the Capitol. + +The 26th we drew two government wagons, ambulance, and horse equipments +for the officers. The men who did not re-enlist, and were left in +Knoxville, joined the battery at this camp. + +On the 27th we drew horses, a battery of six Napoleon guns, ammunition, +etc., and were now ready for the field; and on the morning of the 30th +we were ordered to Alexandria, and arrived there in the afternoon, and +went into camp near the city. + +May 2d, loaded the battery on cars and started for Warrenton Junction, +arriving there at three o'clock in the afternoon, and were assigned to +the artillery brigade of the Ninth Army Corps. + +The whole Army of the Potomac was in our immediate vicinity, under +command of Gen. Meade; the Ninth Corps, under Gen. Burnside, reporting +direct to Gen. Grant, who was in command of the entire Army of the +United States, and was personally directing the movements of the +campaign against Richmond, and at this time, May 2d, had about +completed his plans to cross the Rapidan and attack Lee's army. + +On May 4th, the Fifth and Sixth Corps crossed at Germania Ford, and the +Second Corps and Sheridan's cavalry crossed at Ely's Ford; Burnside's +Corps was at the crossing of the Rappahannock River and Alexandria +Railroad, to hold that position until our troops had crossed the +Rapidan. + +On May 3d we got everything in shape for a forward movement, and on the +4th moved toward Brandy Station, and encamped near the railroad bridge +for the night. + +May 5th, broke camp early in the morning, and moved with the corps +across the Rapidan, at Germania Ford, and continued our march until +late in the evening. Since early in the forenoon we had heard the +incessant roar of artillery and musketry in our front, and during the +last part of the march had passed large numbers of wounded men going to +the rear. + +On the morning of the 6th we hitched up at three o'clock, and awaited +orders. At five o'clock we started with Benjamin's battery, and marched +about four miles and went into position near some woods. There had been +a constant roar of musketry since five o'clock. Our position was such +that we could see but a very small part of the field, and we wondered +why we were put in such a position, as the underbrush in the woods just +in our front was so thick that we could not see an enemy until they +were right on our guns. + +We remained in this position until nine o'clock in the evening without +firing a shot. All day long the roar of battle had continued; large +numbers of wounded had been passing our position all day; occasionally +a stray shot would come our way, but nothing of any account. + +At nine o'clock in the evening we had orders to limber up, and moved +about five miles out on the Chancellorsville road, and went into camp +at three o'clock in the morning. + +On the 7th we hitched up at eight o'clock in the morning, but did not +move until dark; then we marched by the Chancellorsville House, and at +daylight went into camp. From this until the 15th, we remained near +this camp, going into position once or twice, but not firing a shot; +in the meantime the infantry and cavalry with some artillery, had been +having some very hard fighting, but the large amount of woods and the +contour of the ground was such that a small amount of artillery was +used in the battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania, so that on the +15th a large number of batteries were sent back to the rear. + +We hitched up at four o'clock on the morning of the 15th, and started +for Fredericksburg, where we arrived in the evening, and encamped; +remained in camp the 17th, crossed the Rappahannock on the 18th, and +next day marched to Belle's Landing, and remained there until the 24th, +when we started for Port Royal, where we arrived on the 26th. + +On the morning of the 27th we received orders to send forty horses and +twenty men to the front. + +On the 28th we turned over the balance of our horses, and loaded guns +and caissons on steamer and started for Washington, landing at the Navy +Yard on the night of the 31st, and turned in our battery, then marched +to Fort Lincoln, about four miles north of the city, and went into +barracks. We remained there doing garrison duty and having drills on +both light and heavy artillery until July 5th. + +On the morning of the 5th we started for Fort Sumner, on the northwest +of the city near the Potomac, arriving there in the afternoon, and went +into barracks. In the fort was a battery of six thirty-two pound rifled +guns, and we were given charge of these. The infantry in the fort were +all one hundred day men. + +On the 7th Gen. Augur visited the fort and ordered Capt. Buckley to +draw muskets for the men. We did not like this move, but had to "take +our medicine." We had to smile when we saw some of the hundred-day men +out on drill; but when we went out on our first drill with muskets I +guess it must have been rather amusing to the spectators. + +We appeared on dress parade with the infantry the same night we +received our muskets, and it wasn't a success as far as we were +concerned. Quite a large number of our men had been in the service +long enough to get quite a good idea of infantry tactics, but on this +occasion they failed to remember "just a little bit" of them. + +The next morning we sent a detail of thirteen men and a sergeant up +the Potomac on picket. That night at about one o'clock we heard firing +on our picket-line, and in a short time some of the infantry pickets +reached the fort and reported that the rebel cavalry were driving in +our whole line. + +Everybody was turned out, and there was considerable excitement. We +waited for some of our men to show up, but they did not come, and we +came to the conclusion that it was a scare. + +In the morning our relief went out, and when our men came in we found +that two farmers had come down the road with a wagon and some led +horses. Our men halted them, but some of the led horses got away and +started on. The infantry pickets opened on them, and our men tried +to stop their firing, but the more they halloed the faster came the +bullets. For self-protection, our men opened on the pickets, firing +high, and in a few minutes everything was quiet on the picket-line. + +Perhaps a slight history of the situation of affairs at this time will +be of interest. The Army of the Potomac was before Richmond; Gen. +Hunter, commanding forces in the Shenandoah Valley, had moved up the +valley and had met with good success, destroying the Central Virginia +Railroad at Goshen Springs and at Staunton, also destroying at Staunton +the enemy's depot, woolen factory, government stables, and large +quantities of army material, and captured fifteen hundred prisoners and +three pieces of artillery. + +Here Hunter was joined on June 8th by the troops of Crook and Averell, +who had marched from West Virginia by way of Warm Springs and Goshen, +making his available force about eighteen thousand men. On the 10th +Hunter started with his whole army for Lynchburg. Two days marching +brought him to Lexington, Va., where he remained until the 14th, +waiting for his expected wagon train, and then continued his march. +Averell reached Lynchburg on the afternoon of the 17th, and Hunter's +main force the same evening. + +On the 18th Hunter attacked with all his available force, but was +repulsed. From some prisoners taken Hunter found that Breckenridge had +been re-enforced during the night by the corps of Gen. Early (Stonewall +Jackson's old corps). + +Hunter was now in a tight place, and could not retreat up the +Shenandoah Valley, as the enemy had repaired the railroad and could +now send troops by rail and hold Rockfish Gap, so Hunter resolved to +retreat by way of Bulford's Gap to Charlestown, in the Kanawha Valley. +Early hurried him along for a time, but soon turned back. By this move +the Shenandoah Valley was left open, and Gen. Lee immediately started +Early and Breckenridge down the valley and into Maryland, and on the +11th of July Early was in front of Washington. + +Things remained quiet in our front until the afternoon of the 11th, +when our pickets reported that our cavalry was falling back under quite +a brisk fire from the enemy's cavalry. We had our muskets piled up +and at once took our positions on the thirty-two pound rifle battery, +thinking we could do more execution with them than we would be apt to +with the muskets. At about five o'clock in the afternoon our men out on +picket were relieved by some cavalry. + +We did not fire a shot from our battery, and only one shot was fired +from the fort, and that was at a squad of our own cavalry. The shot did +no harm, as it went wide of its mark. The major commanding our fort +wanted us to open on this same party, but Capt. Buckley refused to do +so until he was satisfied who we were going to fire on. + +We felt rather blue over our situation, as all in our immediate +vicinity were new troops or clerks from the city, and we did not have +much confidence in them, but we soon heard that the Sixth Corps and a +part of the Nineteenth had arrived, and we felt that Washington was +safe. + +The night of the 11th was quiet in our front, and on the 12th only +a little picket firing. Before dark Early had been driven back by +Wright's Sixth Corps, and things had quieted down. + +About noon time we received orders to turn in our muskets and report +at Camp Barry. Nobody objected to this order, and soon we were on the +march. Capt. Buckley and Lieuts. Bonn and Gray started ahead, and when +the men under command of Lieut. Chase arrived at Camp Barry, they had +requisitions for a four-gun battery of three-inch rifles. We did not +get our complement of horses, baggage wagons, ambulance, etc., until +the next morning, but at five o'clock on the afternoon of the 13th we +marched in pursuit of Early. + +We reached Tenallytown and went into camp, but the next morning we +found that many of our horses were lame, and we had to stay there two +days, working night and day to get them shod. + +On the 16th we started for Snicker's Gap. Marched twenty miles, and +went into camp at Edwards' Ferry. Hitched up early in the morning, +crossed the Potomac, and marched to Leesburg, and joined the Nineteenth +Corps. + +Early in the morning on the 18th, we were on the road; passed through +Snicker's Gap and went into camp near the Shenandoah River, but later +crossed the river and marched about four miles and went into position, +where we remained until about nine o'clock in the evening, when we +received orders to recross the river and report at Washington with the +Nineteenth and Sixth Corps. + +This movement was by order of Gen. Grant, he supposing that Early +had started for Richmond, and wanting the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps +forwarded via Washington to join the Army of the Potomac, then in front +of Petersburg. + +We marched nearly all night, stopping at Leesburg to feed, and then +continued on to Goose Creek, where we went into camp, having marched +about twenty-four miles. Our march was continued for three days, +starting early in the morning and making camp at dark. + +The 23d we started at daylight and arrived at Chain Bridge in the +afternoon and went into camp, remaining there two days, which gave the +men and horses a rest. The weather had been very warm, and the dust on +the march was almost suffocating. + +On the 26th we had orders to start back to Harper's Ferry, and we +broke camp early in the morning and hurried along, arriving at our +destination on the evening of the 29th and went into camp, the men and +horses being pretty well tired out. We omitted the evening roll-call so +as to allow the men to go to sleep early; but we were just a little +vexed to get orders in the evening to be ready to move at three o'clock +in the morning--where? Right back over the road we had just come! + +"Boots and saddles" were blown at half-past two the next morning, and +we moved out of camp promptly at three o'clock. It was reported that +some one in the battery, on being woke up and told that we were to +retrace our steps over the same ground that we had covered twice since +the 16th, made a very profane remark, but on investigation the culprit +could not be found. + +We marched that day until late in the evening, when we encamped in +a lot alongside of the pike. Starting early next morning we passed +through Frederick City and went into camp on the Gettysburg pike, where +we remained one day, and then started back, making twenty-four miles, +and again went into camp. We remained there until Aug. 6th, when we +stared at daylight and reached Knoxville, having marched twenty-three +miles. + +On the 7th we crossed the Potomac at Harper's Ferry, and encamped at +Halltown. + +There were various reasons for the marches and countermarches we had +been making for the past fifteen days. Early had not started up the +valley as was supposed, but was holding on to some of the fords, and +his whole force was in the lower part of the Shenandoah Valley. There +were a number of generals commanding certain sections of the country +in the vicinity of Washington, and each thought that Early was sure to +attack him, and if a small cavalry force showed up in his vicinity, he +immediately wired to Washington that Early's whole force was after him, +and then everything had to "hustle;" but at last Gen. Grant insisted +that one man should take command of the whole, and Gen. Philip H. +Sheridan was sent from his command of the Cavalry Corps of the Army +of the Potomac to take command of all troops on the Upper Potomac. +Gen. Grant, on the 6th of August, ran down to Monocacy Bridge, in +Maryland, and met Gen. Sheridan at that point, and gave him his final +instructions. + +Gen. Hunter had just arrived from his long trip down the Kanawha +Valley, and his troops were at or near Harper's Ferry, having been +delayed by low water in the Ohio River, and also by various breaks on +the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, from reporting as soon as expected. + +Gen. Halleck had sent one or two sharp telegraph orders to Hunter, +hurrying him up, so Hunter, as soon as he had his troops at the Ferry, +sent his resignation to Washington, and it was accepted, and the army +lost a good general. + +Sheridan's army consisted of the Sixth Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. +Wright, its three divisions by Gens. Russell, Getty and Rickets; one +division of the Nineteenth Corps, Maj. Gen. Emory commanding corps, +Gen. Dwight commanding division (the second division of the Nineteenth +Corps, Gen. Grover, arrived on the 18th of August); Army of West +Virginia (Eighth Corps), Gen. Crook commanding, Gens. Thoburn and +Duval as division commanders. The cavalry consisted of Gen. Torbert's +division and Averell's; Torbert was appointed as Chief of Cavalry, with +Merritt and Averell commanding divisions. + +The rebel force in the valley consisted of "Stonewall" Jackson's old +corps, now commanded by Early, with Gens. Rodes, Ransom and Gordon +commanding divisions. Breckenridge's division, three battalions of +artillery and one corps of cavalry commanded by Gen. Lomax, with +Vaughn, Johnson, McCausland and Imboden as brigade commanders. + +I quote from Sheridan's Memoirs the following description of the +Shenandoah Valley, that the reader may have a better idea of the +different movements of the army: + + "The valley has its northern limit along the Potomac between McCoy's + ferry at the eastern base of the North Mountain, and Harper's Ferry + at the western base of the Blue Ridge. The southern limit is south of + Staunton, on the divide which separates the waters flowing into the + Potomac from those that run to the James. The western boundary is the + eastern slope of the Alleghany Mountains, the eastern, the Blue Ridge; + these two distinct mountain ranges trending about southwest inclose a + stretch of quite open, undulating country varying in width from the + northern to the southern extremity, and dotted at frequent intervals + with patches of heavy woods. + + "At Martinsburg the valley is about sixty miles broad, and on an + east and west line drawn through Winchester about forty-five, while + at Strasburg it narrows down to about twenty-five. Just southeast of + Strasburg, which is nearly midway between the eastern and western + walls of the valley, rises an abrupt range of mountains called + Massanutten, consisting of several ridges which extend southward + between the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah River until, + losing their identity, they merge into lower but broken ground between + New Market and Harrisonburg. The Massanutten ranges, with their spurs + and hills, divide the Shenandoah Valley into two valleys, the one + next the Blue Ridge being called the Luray, while that next the North + Mountain retains the name of Shenandoah. + + "A broad macadamized road, leading south from Williamsport, Maryland, + to Lexington, Virginia, was built at an early day to connect the + interior of the latter State with the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, and + along this road are situated the principal towns and villages of the + Shenandoah Valley, with lateral lines of communication extending to + the mountain ranges on the east and west. The roads running toward the + Blue Ridge are nearly all macadamized, and the principal ones lead to + the railroad system of eastern Virginia through Snicker's, Ashby's, + Manassas, Chester, Thornton's, Swift Run, Brown's and Rockfish Gaps, + tending to an ultimate centre at Richmond. These gaps are low and + easy, offering little obstruction to the march of an army coming from + eastern Virginia, and thus the Union troops operating west of the + Blue Ridge were always subjected to the perils of a flank attack; for + the Confederates could readily be brought by rail to Gordonsville and + Charlottesville, from which point they could move with such celerity + through the Blue Ridge that, on more than one occasion, the Shenandoah + Valley has been the theatre of Confederate success, due greatly to the + advantage of possessing these interior lines." + +As before stated, our battery arrived at Halltown on the 7th of August. +We put our guns in position and remained there three days. + +On the 9th, Lieut. Gray was detailed as Ordnance Officer, Artillery +Brigade, Nineteenth Army Corps. + +The 10th we moved with our corps to Berryville, and on the morning of +the 11th we made a forward movement, Sheridan intending to force Early +into a fight. Early was not willing to accept a battle, and moved his +army up the valley. + +We followed as far as Cedar Creek, and on the afternoon of the 13th +had quite a lively brush with Early's rear guard, we only firing a few +shots. We remained there until the evening of the 15th, when we moved +out of camp at ten o'clock, and reached Winchester at daylight, and +went into position, where we remained until the morning of the 17th, +when we moved back to Berryville. + +Next morning we retired about four miles and formed line-of-battle, +Crook on the left, Emory in the centre, and Wright on the right. This +retrograde movement was caused by Sheridan receiving notice that +Kershaw's division of infantry and two brigades of Fitzhugh Lee's +cavalry were on the way to re-enforce Early, and at that time, the +16th, had reached Front Royal, where Merritt, with his cavalry, was +disputing their advance. + +Early, as soon as he found that Sheridan had fallen back, put his +force in motion, and lost no time in following us down the valley, and +from this until the 19th, our army was on the defensive. We were at or +near Halltown, where several skirmishes occurred, we firing only a few +shots, however. + +On the 3d of September all the three-years men who had not re-enlisted +were mustered out at Charlestown, and went home under the charge of +Capt. Buckley. + +Sheridan learned on the 16th that Kershaw's division of infantry and +Cutshaw's artillery had been returned to Richmond, and he immediately +made preparations for a forward movement; and on the morning of the +19th his cavalry forced the Berryville crossing of the Opequon, +followed by the Sixth, Eighth and Nineteenth Corps. The enemy was +posted in line-of-battle, and in a short time the engagement became +general. It was nearly dark before Early was fairly beaten and sent +"whirling through Winchester." + +Our part in this important victory may be seen in part from the report +of Capt. E.D. Taft, Chief of Artillery, Nineteenth Army Corps: + + "Battery D, First Rhode Island Artillery, by my direction, took + position in a skirt of woods on the right of the Nineteenth Army + Corps, and immediately opened fire on one of the enemy's batteries, + then enfilading our lines on the right, when the enemy opened fire + from two guns in the wood with canister, about two hundred yards + distant and in rear of our line of infantry. The battery soon + silenced these two guns, and then renewed the fire on the battery + enfilading our line, silencing it for a short period, but the infantry + falling back for want of ammunition rendered the position unsafe for + artillery. The battery had whilst in this position, although under a + severe fire front and left oblique, been gallantly fought. The support + having retired, and the battery having lost four men and six horses + and one wheel broken, I ordered it to withdraw, which was done in good + order. This closed the operations of these batteries for the day." + +Capt. Taft's report is wrong in one particular. When our infantry fell +back, Capt. Taft did ride up to our battery and tell the commanding +officer to hold his position as long as possible, but look out and not +lose his pieces, and then rode away. We soon had orders to limber up. + +At this time some infantry in our front was showing up rather near our +position. As we were afraid they would get at us before we could get +through the woods, we thought that a few rounds of canister, rightly +distributed, would give them a check and allow us to retire. + +Lieut. Bonn was in command of the right section, and Lieut. Gray of the +left. Lieut. Gray was still on detached duty, but came up while we were +halted in the woods and took his section into the fight. We promptly +commenced to distribute canister among the infantry in our front, and +they soon took shelter under the bank of Red Bud Run. Just at this time +Lieut. Gray's left piece was disabled by a shot, and he sent it to the +rear, but retained the cannoneers to help on the other pieces. It was +now decided that we could pull out. + +The right section pulled out, and the right piece of the left section +was about to limber up, when a shot from a twenty-pound Parrott that +was across the Red Bud Run passed entirely through the swing horses. We +had to stay, then, and Sergt. Tucker and his men needed no orders to +commence firing again. + +We soon expended all our canister, and had to use solid shot as our +shell had given out some time before. The infantry that was under the +bank to our right and front now commenced to give us some trouble, and +we began to think that we had staid too long; but we would shy a shot +along the bank and they would lay low; meantime we were hurrying to get +our dead horses on the limber clear, but it was a slow job. + +About this time an officer rode out of the woods in our rear and gave +us the welcome news that a brigade of the Eighth Corps was close at +hand; and in a minute or two we saw them coming on the double-quick. +When they arrived we ceased firing and limbered up, and taking the +harnesses from our dead horses, we soon joined the rest of the battery. +When our lines advanced, we were ordered to move with them, and we had +quite a good view of the final rout of Early's army. We went into camp +for the night just outside of Winchester. + +On the morning of the 20th we started early in pursuit of the enemy, +and on arrival at Strasburg went into camp. Gen. Early was found in +position just in our front at Fisher's Hill, strongly fortified. His +position was almost impregnable from an attack in front, so Sheridan +sent the Eighth Corps around his left to take the position by flanking +it. It took until the afternoon of the 23d to get the Eighth Corps +into position, as they had to make most of the movements through thick +woods, and keep out of sight of the rebels' signal stations. On the +afternoon of the 23d the Eighth Corps charged down on to Early's left +flank and routed it. The movements in our front were to help carry out +this project. + +On the morning of the 23d our corps was advanced, and at three o'clock +in the afternoon Grover's division drove in the skirmish line in our +front and formed in line-of-battle. Some two hundred yards in our front +was a ridge, and the rebel sharpshooters took up their position on +this ridge, and made it very uncomfortable for us. The third brigade, +second division, Nineteenth Corps, soon made a charge and captured +this position, which was within three hundred yards of the enemy's +fortifications. + +Gens. Sheridan and Grover were at the right of our battery when the +infantry carried the hill. Sheridan wanted a piece of artillery sent +out there, and Gen. Grover came and asked Lieut. Chase if he could put +a piece on that ridge. Lieut. Gray was sent to see if it was possible +to do so. Dismounting just before the top of the ridge was reached, he +left his horse in charge of an orderly and took to all fours to do the +rest of the distance. + +There was quite a depression on the top of the ridge, and just on the +other edge was a slight rifle-pit that had been hastily thrown up +by the enemy. Our skirmishers were occupying this, and it was quite +necessary to keep well down, as the enemy's infantry and artillery were +within short range, and were giving this particular spot very close +attention. + +Becoming convinced that if a piece could be put into this depression it +would do good execution, Lieut. Gray gave the signal, and Sergt. Tucker +with his piece started on the gallop and was soon there, the piece +being halted before the top of the ridge was reached. The pickets kept +up a sharp fire so as to have the smoke hide our movements, and we ran +the piece by hand into the depression and filled both haversacks with +ammunition and loaded. We had a sure mark, and when we sent that shell +into the earthwork in our front, it made things jingle. The enemy was +not slow in returning the compliment, and as they had eight or ten guns +in our immediate front, we laid low, but just as soon as we thought +they had fired everything, we repeated the experiment before they had +loaded. + +We had been in this position about fifteen or twenty minutes when +Gens. Sheridan and Grover ran over the ridge and took shelter in the +depression just to our right. Sheridan was anxious to see the whole +situation, and crawled up to the skirmish line, some ten feet in +advance of us. Gen. Grover soon joined him, and just about this time +a shot from a twenty-pound Parrott ploughed through the slight ridge +within a foot of Sheridan's head, covering him with dirt. He rolled +over on his side, and we thought he was wounded, but he was only +getting the dirt out of his ear and neck; he came back, though, and +took his position by the side of our piece. + +In a few minutes we heard cheers on our right and soon saw the +enemy breaking all along the line. We sent shot after shot in quick +succession, but were told to stop firing. Soon our corps came sweeping +over the ridge and down the other side. + +Sheridan now wanted his horse, but could not see it, so Lieut. Gray let +him take his, but regretted it in a moment, as Sheridan went dashing +down the hill over stumps and fallen trees, and we expected to see +horse and rider take a tumble, but they were soon out of sight. + +We limbered up and went back to where the remainder of the battery was, +and then started over to the pike and joined our division. We marched +nearly all night and then went into camp at Woodstock, to get a little +sleep and some rations. + +At two o'clock in the afternoon we started again and reached Edenburg, +where toward night we fired a few shots and then encamped. In the +morning we were away early, and marched all day, going into position +two or three times and firing a few shots, but apparently doing the +enemy no great harm. The next day we marched to Mount Jackson, having +quite a skirmish in the afternoon. + +On the morning of the 29th we started at nine o'clock, and on reaching +Harrisonburg, went into camp, remaining there until the 6th of October, +occupying the time in foraging for our horses. + +On the morning of the 30th Lieut. Gray took nine mounted men from the +battery, armed with revolvers, and started out into the country to +secure some horses that he had seen the day before, but on arriving +where he had seen the horses he found the natives had run them off to +the mountains. Following the trail for about seven miles we ran across +a few straggling rebel cavalrymen, several of whom were captured, and +also a number of horses. + +We continued on until we were about fifteen or sixteen miles from camp, +when we stopped at a farmhouse and had dinner and fed our horses. We +then started toward camp again, but by a different road than that +on which we came. We had two or three quite sharp skirmishes with +squads of rebel cavalry, and about dusk Billy Mills, who was in the +advance, rode back bringing the information that there was a company of +rebel cavalry drawn up on the side of the road with the intention of +obstructing our passage. We had at this time nine rebel cavalrymen as +prisoners and twenty-three horses. + +The line was immediately halted, and Lieut. Gray rode ahead to +reconnoiter. When he arrived at the edge of the woods he found a +company of rebels drawn up in line in a large field adjoining the road. +On looking over the situation he found that the fence in the rear and +on the left had been taken down, to allow egress from the lot, which +gave him the impression that the force there had some doubt as to the +number of our men. + +Riding back, the column was started forward, following the road +until close to the edge of the woods where we could be seen from the +lots. We filed by twos from the road into the woods and made a short +countermarch on to the road and into the woods again, which manoeuvre +made it look as if we had two companies. On moving into the woods the +second time, all the rebel cavalrymen were dismounted, their arms +strapped to each other and ordered to sit down, and one man left as +guard. + +The darkies that had been confiscated to take care of the spare horses, +twelve in number, were mounted on them, and a line was formed at the +edge of the woods, consisting of twenty men, nine of us and eleven +darkies sandwiched in, the other darkey being left to look after the +horses. These arrangements were not quite satisfactory to some of the +darkies; but they were told that when we started out of the woods they +must keep well up in the line or get shot. + +An order was given to charge, every man was told to halloo as loud as +he could yell, and ride straight for the line of the rebel cavalry. +The scheme worked like a charm. The rebel line soon broke and fled to +the woods, we in hot pursuit, capturing three, two seriously wounded, +while our loss was one darkey shot, and slight wounds on two horses. We +soon collected our men together and sent them back to the woods under +command of Sergt. Tucker. + +Lieut. Gray and Mills rode down to the town to see if there were +any rebels there, we having seen a squad of men leaving there a +few minutes before we had our brush with the company of cavalry. +Both Lieut. Gray and Mills had on rebel uniforms, and they soon had +information that the body of men which had left the town a few minutes +before were Yankees, which information was pleasing to them. + +Mills was immediately sent back to have the line moved forward, and we +soon entered the town. Lieut. Gray sat on his horse with a dozen people +around him, who were giving what information they could, and urging +him to hurry so as to capture some of the Yankees that had left a few +minutes before. The squad of men we saw leaving the town was Lieut. +Corthell and some men from Battery G. of our regiment. When our line +came up there was a look of astonishment on the faces of some of the +people when they found we were Yankees. + +We arrived in camp about eight o'clock with twenty-eight horses and +thirteen rebel cavalrymen, which we considered a good day's work for +ten light artillerymen. + +On the morning of the 6th Sheridan started his army down the valley, +having done all the damage with his cavalry that he could in this +neighborhood. We bivouacked at Mount Jackson, and started the next +morning and reached Woodstock late in the evening. + +On the morning of the 8th we hitched up early, but did not move. We +soon learned that Sheridan had made up his mind to give the rebel +cavalry another lesson. + +Gen. Rosser had just arrived in the valley with his brigade, and he was +put in command of all the cavalry. Since leaving Harrisonburg they had +been annoying our rear guard, so Sheridan sent word to Torbert on the +evening of the 7th to "give Rosser a drubbing in the morning, or get +whipped yourself, and the infantry will be halted until the affair is +over." + +Torbert had the divisions of Merritt and Custer, and in the morning +he attacked Rosser. After a hard fight of about two hours Rosser had +received his "drubbing," losing eleven pieces of artillery, several +wagons, and three hundred prisoners. + +We started on our march at ten o'clock, and encamped near Strasburg, +remaining there one day, and then moved to the north bank of Cedar +Creek, and went into position just off the pike on the extreme left of +the Nineteenth Corps. Crook (Eighth Corps) went into position on the +left of the pike joining the left of the Nineteenth Corps, his right +advanced some hundred and fifty yards beyond our position. The Sixth +Corps had started for Port Royal, to rejoin the Army of the Potomac, +while Merritt's cavalry was on the extreme right of our line. + +Our cavalry destroyed all the mills and crops in the valley as we +fell back, and gathered in all the live stock, so that Early could +not subsist his army in the valley. Early was at Fisher's Hill on the +morning of the 13th, just the same, but probably brought his rations +with him. We occupied this position until the morning of the 19th. In +the meantime the Sixth Corps had come back and taken position in rear +of the Nineteenth Corps. Sheridan had been called to Washington, which +left Wright in command. + +At break of day on the 19th, three of Early's divisions surprised +Crook's camp and stampeded his whole command. Our battery, being on the +extreme left of the Nineteenth Corps, were the first troops to receive +their attention after the Eighth Corps had been swept away. + +We had orders to have our battery hitched up at daylight, and we had +just completed the task when we heard a volley of musketry on our left. +We fired four rounds, just to make a noise and wake up the camp, not +yet realizing just what had happened on our left. + +Lieut. Gray hurriedly gave orders to have the tents struck and +everything in readiness to move. In a few minutes we saw a line coming +over the hill on our left, and making sure they were not our troops, we +opened on them, but after firing for a few minutes, Gen. Emory dashed +up and ordered us to stop firing, as they were some of our men, and +Lieut. Gray was told to always look out before he commenced firing. At +this moment Lieuts. Chase and Bonn came up, and Chase took command. + +In the two or three minutes that had elapsed since we had stopped +firing, the line of infantry that we had driven behind the brow of the +hill, now opened on us, and in a few seconds we had orders to "give it +to them." We had just opened on them as Gen. Wright rode up. He asked +Emory "What is the matter?" and Emory replied, "Early has surprised +us--Crook's corps has gone." Wright quickly took in the situation, and +started off. + +We had warm work before us, the enemy's line of infantry on our left +having a notion of charging us, but as they came over the ridge we +had very nearly a complete flank fire on them, and our left section +commenced using canister. The right of their line was driven back over +the ridge, but the left was swinging up parallel with the pike, which +gave them a flank fire on our battery. We were lucky in having three or +four loads of hay piled up just in rear of the limbers and on a line +with the caissons on the extreme left of the battery, this pile of hay +stopping many of the bullets from our left. + +At this time the fourth brigade, second division, Nineteenth Corps, +swung into position on our left. The smoke and fog was quite thick, and +they did not open fire for some minutes thinking that the line in their +front was some of the Eighth Corps falling back. Their mistake was +discovered, and none too soon, for the enemy made a dash for our guns, +but the line on our left had their guns loaded, and poured a volley at +them which checked their onward rush. + +We were firing very rapidly and doing good execution, as we kept the +line on our left (or in front of our left section, which had swung to +the left) back to the brow of the ridge; but it now became apparent +that we must fall back, as the right of our support had given way and +the troops on the left of the battery were only hanging on so as to +give us a chance to get out; and to add to our troubles, the line of +infantry on our left, which we had until now been able to keep back to +the ridge, was joined by Wharton's rebel division which had moved up +the pike, and they were pouring in a nasty fire. + +When we received the order, "Limber to the rear," we were not long in +executing it, as the rebels were now very close to us. All the pieces +were taken off but the left piece of Lieut. Gray's section--three of +the limber horses being down, and in a minute every horse on the limber +was shot. It was impossible to take the piece by hand to the rear, and +the caisson had started some minutes before. The pike had been in the +hands of the rebels for the last fifteen minutes, so Lieut. Gray told +the three or four cannoneers who had been trying to get the limber +clear, to join the battery. + +Maj. Hart, of Gen. Emory's staff, wanted to save this piece, and told +Lieut. Gray to fix the prolong and he would have the infantry haul +it off. It was simply sacrificing men to make the attempt under the +circumstances. Maj. Hart lost his life, also Capt. Watson and Lieut. +Quay, both of the Eighth Indiana, and Lieut. Col. Kenny, commanding the +Eighth Indiana, was severely wounded, and four others. Lieut. Gray was +the only one who escaped from the attempt to get the piece away. + +The following is from Vol. XLIII. of the Official Records of the War: + + Hdqrs. Fourth Brig., Second Div., 19th Army Corps, + Cedar Creek, Va., October 24, 1864. + + Captain: I have the honor to submit the following report of operations + of my command in the engagement on the 19th of October, instant: + + * * * * the right regiment (Eighth Indiana) supporting Battery D, + First Rhode Island Artillery. In consequence of the dense fog, which + existed at the time, the enemy advanced on the battery and were within + a short distance of it before we could distinguish whether they were + friends or foes, the more so, as we supposed them to be a portion + of the Eighth Corps, and notwithstanding we received a very heavy + fire from that direction, we did not reply to it until they charged + directly on the battery. Five pieces were withdrawn successfully, and + while attempting to save the last one Major Hart (of General Grover's + staff), Capt. William D. Watson, and Lieut. George W. Quay (both of + Eighth Indiana) were killed, and Lieut. Col. A.J. Kenny (commanding + Eighth Indiana) severely wounded. * * * * * + + I cannot close this report without referring to the bravery of the + lamented Major Hart (of General Grover's staff), who was killed while + cheering on the men in their attempt to save the last gun of Battery + D, First Rhode Island Artillery. In him we have lost a noble, brave, + efficient officer. + + I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + + DAVID SHUNK, + _Colonel Eighth Indiana, Commanding_. + + Capt. E.A. Fiske, + _Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen._, + _Second Div., Nineteenth Army Corps_. + + Hdqrs. Third Brig., Second Div., 19th Army Corps, + Near Cedar Creek, Va., October 24, 1864. + + Sir: In obedience to orders, I have the honor to make the following + report of the operations of this brigade in the action of the 19th + instant: + + * * * * the left of the One Hundred and Seventy-sixth New York reached + nearly to and supported Battery D, First Rhode Island Artillery. + + These dispositions had scarcely been made, and orders given to the + men to reserve their fire until the enemy was near enough to make the + fire effective, when we began to receive a heavy fire of musketry from + the advancing, but still hidden, enemy. The fire came from our front, + our right, and our left, with a heavy, but random fire of artillery + from the heights formerly occupied by General Crook's command. The + enemy's lines were not developed until they were within one hundred + and fifty yards of our lines, and then were but dimly visible + through the fog. At this time they opened a furious and destructive + fire upon us, still advancing, which was vigorously and effectively + returned, checking to some extent their advance. The enemy's lines, + as now developed, were nearly at right angles with the main brigade + line, and facing the One Hundred and Seventy-sixth New York and the + three companies of the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth New York, which + had changed front. The left of their lines extended very nearly to + Cedar Creek, while their right extended as far as the eye could reach + through the fog and smoke. In a very few moments they were on us in + force, their left swinging to the right, while their right poured + heavy volleys in our rear. A desperate hand-to-hand fight ensued on + the left of the brigade line. The enemy had planted their colors on + our works and were fighting desperately across them, meeting with a + stubborn resistance, while they swarmed like bees round the battery on + our left and rear. * * * * + + I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, + + ALFRED NEAFIE, + _Lieutenant Colonel, Commanding Brigade_. + + Capt. E.A. Fiske, + _Acting Assistant Adjutant General_. + +When the battery retired, we moved to the right and rear of our +position, crossed Meadow Brook, passing to the west of the Bell Grove +house (Sheridan's head-quarters) and joined some infantry about one +thousand yards to the rear, and went into position, firing at a line +of infantry on the pike, and then fell back just beyond Middletown, +and again went into position behind some light breastworks that had +been thrown up. We remained there until three or four in the afternoon, +firing occasionally when we could see anything to fire at. + +Gen. Sheridan joined his command at about half-past ten in the +morning, from Winchester. At this time Getty's division, of the Sixth +Corps, was holding a position about one mile north of Middletown, his +left near the pike. Col. Lowell's cavalry extended from Getty's left +to near Middletown. The other two divisions of the Sixth Corps, the +Nineteenth, and part of the Eighth Corps, were just south of Newtown. + +Our army had lost twenty-four pieces of artillery, a large amount of +camp equipage, ambulances, wagons, and thirteen hundred prisoners. + +Sheridan's arrival gave our men confidence. He had the two divisions of +the Sixth Corps, also the Nineteenth, and part of the Eighth Corps put +in line on the right of Getty's division. The enemy tried to break this +line, but Emory handsomely repulsed the charge. + +At about a quarter of four o'clock Sheridan advanced his whole line, +which was met by a stubborn resistance; but soon the enemy was obliged +to give way, and in a short time it was a complete rout. + +Our infantry followed the enemy until their old camps were reached at +Cedar Creek, and then the cavalry took up the chase. All of our guns +were recaptured, and twenty-four of Early's (just the number we lost in +the morning), besides about all of the ambulances and wagons that were +lost in the morning were in our hands that night, with a large majority +of Early's. + +Our battery followed the infantry when the advance was made, and on +arrival at Cedar Creek, went into our position of the morning. We +had lost one gun and one limber and all of our camp equipage (our +teams, having taken the pike when they fell back, were captured); +notwithstanding, we felt happy at the way things had turned out. We +also experienced just a little regret that we had no blankets, tents, +or anything else in fact, but what we had on. + +Not a man of the battery had had a morsel to eat since the night +before, and no show for rations getting to the front that night. We +could get along without tents or blankets, but the day's excitement +had given us a good appetite. We built up two large camp fires and sat +around discussing the events of the day. + +About nine o'clock Lieut. Gray (who had left the battery shortly after +we arrived in our old position) rode into camp escorting a four-mule +team which he had captured. The contents of the wagon were soon spread +out, disclosing three boxes of "hard-tack" as a part of the capture. +This was issued at once, and we had a good supper. + +The following is Lieut. Gray's report of his two hours' absence: "When +we arrived in our old position just at dusk, there was a rebel battery +on the hill beyond the bridge, and quite a piece to the right. A few +shells came over our camp, and I knew they were from a three-inch +rifle; having lost one of that kind in the morning, I thought I would +ride over and see if I could find it. + +I rode down toward our right, crossed a small stream in the woods, and +came out near a small plateau where some two or three hundred rebel +infantrymen were trying to hold our cavalry from coming up the hill. I +swung back and joined the head of our cavalry line, which proved to be +the First Vermont, Col. Bennett. He was waiting for his men to close up. + +I crossed the stone wall and rode a few yards to the left, when Gen. +Custer, with the Fifth New York came up, and both regiments charged. I +was carried along with the crowd, but before we had gone fifty yards +the rebel infantry broke. I made friends with a sergeant, and suggested +that we shove ahead and get the guns of the battery that had been +firing but a minute or two before. + +He fell into the scheme, and we gathered about a dozen of his command +and struck out for the battery, but they had limbered up, and were +quite a piece from where we expected to find them. We were riding at a +sharp trot, passing through quite a number of rebel infantry, who paid +not the least attention to us. I soon made out the battery, which was +bearing off to the right. + +I rode to the head of the battery and ordered them to halt. The +officer in command told me that he had orders to go to the rear as +quick as possible. I explained to him who I was, and ordered him to +countermarch. As soon as the battery was halted three or four of +the mounted men rode up to see what the matter was, and heard the +conversation. I heard the click of two or three revolvers, and wished I +was at home, as my friend the sergeant and his men had stopped to take +some of the rebel infantry into camp, leaving me entirely alone. + +I rode directly in front of the commanding officer of the battery, +holding my Colt's navy revolver very close to him, and told him it was +no use making a fuss, as our cavalry was some distance in our front, +and it was impossible for him to get away. + +He finally gave the order to countermarch, and we were nearing the pike +when some of our cavalry came up, and they demanded our surrender. I +explained to them how things stood, and that they could have all the +pieces but one, but I wanted one at least. The officer in command +allowed I had no business out there anyway, and he would take charge of +the guns. We had quite an argument, but I had to let him have his own +way. + +I now came to the conclusion that I didn't want any guns, so I rode up +the pike, where I soon got into their infantry, which was scattered +over the lots on each side of the pike. On the pike were three lines of +vehicles going at a slow trot, the lines being composed of pieces of +artillery, wagons, ambulances, and caissons, all mixed in together. + +I rode alongside the pike until I came to a place where there was a +down grade, and I then took a whip from one of the drivers and his +"jerk-line" and swinging his lead mules over against the next team to +him, I put the whip to them, and it was fun to see those mules try +to climb over that team. In a few seconds there was a mix-up, mules, +horses, wagons and drivers, being piled up, completely blocking the +road. + +I went back down the pike asking different drivers what they had in +their wagons. I soon struck one that said he had three boxes of Yankee +hard-tack, a wall tent, blankets, and the mess-kit of the surgeon of +the Fourth Georgia. I asked him to pull out out into the lot, but he +allowed that he would lose his place in line if he did; but as the line +was halted, I persuaded him to do as I suggested, telling him I would +answer all questions if anyone asked them. + +I remained there some fifteen or twenty minutes, meanwhile there were +hundreds of men going along, but no organization to them. One small +squad of four or five came by and they had two flags. I started to +capture the flags, but saw a squad of mounted men coming, and waited +for them to pass. One of them asked what I had the team there for, and +I told him that the captain was wounded, and I was waiting to put him +in the wagon, as I could not find an ambulance. He advised me to hurry +up, as the Yankees were right near. + +I followed up the flags for a minute or two, but finally weakened, and +gave it up. When our cavalry came up I was again ordered to surrender, +and I had quite a task to keep my wagon, but I soon led it down the +pike, and at about nine o'clock I arrived at our camp. The driver of +the team I had, as soon as he found I wasn't going to harm him, told me +he was glad to get away from the rebel service." + +Major DeForrest, aid on Gen. Emory's staff, in his letter published in +_Harper's Monthly Magazine_, of February, 1865, gives the following: + + "Lieut. Gray, Company D, First Rhode Island Artillery, galloped up + to a retreating battery and ordered it to face about. "I was told to + go to the rear as rapidly as possible," remonstrated the sergeant in + command. "You don't seem to know who I am," answered Gray. "I am one + of those d----d Yanks. Countermarch immediately!" The battery was + countermarched, and Gray was leading it off alone, when a squadron of + our cavalry came up and made the capture a certainty." + +As soon as we had eaten our hard-tack, we made ourselves as comfortable +as possible, and tried to get some sleep; but the night was chilly, and +most of the men were up at daylight. We rather envied our officers, +who had wall-tents and plenty of blankets (part of the contents of the +captured wagon). + +About nine o'clock in the morning we drew rations, and soon had hot +coffee, which put us all right again; but it was nearly noon before we +could obtain grain for our horses, by which time they were very hungry, +having had nothing to eat for about forty-two hours. + +Capt. Buckley arrived in camp at about five o'clock in the afternoon on +the 18th, from his visit to Providence with the men that were mustered +out. He did not take part in the proceedings of the battery on the +19th, and was mustered out Oct. 23d. + +Nov. 7th Elmer L. Corthell, who had established an excellent military +reputation by long service on various fields, joined the battery +and took command, having been promoted from First Lieutenant of +Battery G, to Captain of Battery D. We found him a very efficient and +conscientious officer. + +We remained in camp in our old position at Cedar Creek until Nov. 9th, +when we moved to near Newtown, and went into winter quarters. + +On the 9th Early, hearing that Sheridan had fallen back, immediately +advanced, and the 11th crossed Cedar Creek. On the morning of the 12th +Sheridan sent his cavalry out on both flanks and they had quite a sharp +brush with Early's cavalry, and with the usual result. Dudley's brigade +of the Nineteenth Corps, and a small force from the Sixth Corps, were +advanced up the pike to assist the cavalry. Early soon found that Gen. +Sheridan was still in the valley, and promptly retreated to his old +camp at New Market. This was Early's last advance in the Shenandoah +Valley. + +We built shelter for our horses, and quite good quarters for the men; +but we had not more than completed our quarters before we had orders +to move nearer our base of supplies, so on Dec. 12th we broke camp and +marched through Winchester to within a short distance of Stephenson +Station. + +This march was very hard on both men and horses, as it commenced to +snow soon after we started, and when we arrived at camp there was about +six inches of snow. It cleared up at night, and came out cold, the +ground freezing up, making it quite a job to pitch our tents. There was +very little sleep that night. + +The next day we had time to log up our tents, and at once began to +build shelters for our horses. We soon had a very comfortable camp, +where we remained until the 10th of March, 1865, with no hard duty to +perform. + +By the middle of December Gen. Sheridan had sent all of the Sixth Corps +to the Army of the Potomac, then in front of Petersburg. One division +of the Eighth Corps was sent to City Point, and the other to West +Virginia, the cavalry and the Nineteenth Corps remaining in the valley. +The cavalry made a raid through Luray Valley and destroyed all the +forage and wheat; they also drove off about three thousand sheep, one +thousand hogs, and hundreds of cattle and horses. + +On the 19th of December Torbert started up the valley with eight +thousand cavalry, to strike the Virginia Central Railroad and destroy +the James River Canal. This enterprise was not a success, and on the +27th he returned to Winchester, many of his men frost-bitten by the +excessive cold. + +This ended all movements until February 27th, when Gen. Sheridan +started with ten thousand cavalrymen and two sections of artillery +on his successful trip up the valley, through to Grant's army before +Petersburg. At Waynesboro he captured all of Early's command, and the +valley was clear of any large force of the enemy. + +On the 10th of March we broke camp and moved near Winchester, remaining +in this camp a short time, and then moved to the east of Winchester +about a mile and went into camp. Our duties there were light. We fired +a salute of one hundred guns on Lee's surrender. Knowing that the war +was about over, we had very short drills, both mounted and the manual. + +On the 4th of July we received orders to turn in our battery and other +government property, and proceed to Rhode Island. It is needless to +say that this order was received by the men with every conceivable +manifestation of joy; some hugged each other, while others shouted and +threw their hats in the air, and when "water call" was blown it took +fifteen minutes to form the line, but after that things quieted down, +and on the morning of the 10th we started for home, under command +of Capt. Corthell, taking the cars as far as New York, and then the +steamer John Brooks, which landed us at Fox Point wharf on the morning +of July 13th. + +The officers accompanying Capt. Corthell and belonging to the battery +were First Lieuts. Frederick Chase and Charles E. Bonn, and Second +Lieut. Charles C. Gray. The men numbered ninety-five, and presented a +remarkably fine appearance, having nearly new uniforms. + +We were received by the Mechanic Rifles and a detachment of the Marine +Artillery, and escorted to Washington Hall, where we found a bountiful +collation prepared for us by L.H. Humphreys. The collation was soon +over, and the men dismissed with orders to report at the Revenue +Office, on South Main Street, on the 17th for final pay and muster out. + +On the 17th of July, 1865, the battery was mustered out by Capt. Joseph +S. York, of the Fifteenth United States Infantry, and Battery D, First +Rhode Island Light Artillery, was no more; but we all felt that the +battery had made a record that was honorable alike to itself and the +State. + +[Illustration] + + + + +ROSTER. + + + Aldrich, Halsey A., Corp., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as private; Sept. 3, + 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. + + Andrews, Robert H., 1st Sergt.; Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as Corp.; Nov. 12, 1861, + promoted Sergt.; Aug. 30, 1862, wounded in action and borne as absent + sick in hospital until April, 1863; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as Vet. + Vol. Borne on furlough of fifteen days from April 29, 1865; June 25, + 1865, promoted 1st Sergt.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Arnold, George E., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; Aug. 29, 1862, captured at Bull Run, Va.; Sept. + 1, 1862, released at Bull Run, Va., and reported at Camp Parole, Md. + Borne as absent on detached service at Knoxville, Tenn., from Dec. 8, + 1863, until Jan., 1864; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. + + Arnold, Olney, Priv., Lonsdale, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital, from May 21, + 1863, until Oct. 8, 1863, when transferred to 74th Co. 2d Bat. V.R. + C.; Sept. 4, 1864, mustered out as of 74th Co. 2d Bat. V.R. C. + + Austin, Allen, Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, + 1861, mustered in; April, 1864, absent sick in hospital, and so borne + until Sept., 1864; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. + + Ballou, Stephen, Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, + R.I.; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at + Charlestown, Va. + + Barber, Robert F., Priv. Oct. 22, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Oct. 22, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Bates, Daniel J., Priv. Dec. 22, 1862, transferred from Battery H. + Borne as absent sick in hospital, from Feb. 7, 1863, until May, 1863. + Borne as absent sick in hospital, from Aug. 12, 1863, until Oct 15, + 1863, when transferred to 83d Co. 2d Bat. V.R. C.; May 15, 1865, + mustered out as of 83d Co. 2d Bat. V.R. C. + + Bennett, George, Priv. Dec. 4, 1862, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Dec. 4, 1862, mustered in. Probably recruited for Battery H. + Re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; Jan., 1864, granted furlough of forty-five + days; March 7, 1864, deserted at Providence, R.I. + + Bennett, William R., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Relieved from duty as Corporal, by + request; Sept. 17, 1862, missing in action; Dec. 22, 1862, joined from + missing in action; Aug. 10, 1863, deserted at Cincinnati, Ohio. + + Bezely, John F., Priv., Coventry, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne on detached service at Knoxville, Tenn., + from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., 1864. Borne as absent sick in hospital, + from Feb. 23, 1864, until March, 1864; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at + Charlestown, Va. + + Biglan, John, Priv., Woonsocket, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. + Mustered in as Biglow. + + Billen, Michael, Priv. Oct. 26, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Oct. 26, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Bizburger, John, Artificer. Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Dec. 23, 1861, transferred to Battery G. + + Blush, Curtis A., Priv. July 9, 1863, enrolled at Camp Nelson, Ky.; + July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Bonn, Charles E., 1st Lieut. April 26, 1864, commissioned. Mustered in + to date from May 4, 1864. Promoted from 1st Sergt. Battery H, to 2d + Lieut. Battery D. Borne on leave of absence from Oct. 24, 1864, until + Nov., 1864; Nov. 24, 1864, ordered on detached service as A.A. A.G. + at Hdqrs. Art. Brig. 19th Army Corps, and so borne until July, 1865; + April 3, 1865, commissioned 1st Lieut., and mustered in as such April + 11, 1865; July 17, 1865, mustered out. Brevet Captain, for bravery and + good conduct in the field, to date from March 13, 1865. + + Botter, Erich P., Priv., North Kingstown, R.I. Oct. 20, 1862, + enrolled; Oct. 20, 1862, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Bourn, Samuel D., Priv. Nov. 30, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + March 12, 1865, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Stephenson's + Station, Va. + + Bowers, William R., Artificer, Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, + enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Dec. 23, 1861, transferred to + Battery G. + + Boyle, John, Priv. Dec. 7, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; Dec. 7, + 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Brady, Alexander, Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. March 25, 1864, enrolled; + April 20, 1864, mustered in. Borne on furlough for fifteen days from + May 23, 1865; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Brand, William G., Priv., Coventry, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; March, 1862, in General Hospital; April + 10, 1862, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at camp near Bristoe, + Va. + + Brod, John, Artificer, North Kingstown, R.I. Oct. 20, 1862, enrolled; + Oct. 20, 1862, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Brown, Herbert M., Priv., North Providence, R.I. Aug. 8, 1862, + enrolled; Aug. 8, 1862, mustered in; June 23, 1865, mustered out. + + Brown, William W., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Aug. 14, 1862, enrolled; Aug. + 14, 1862, mustered in; June 23, 1865, mustered out. + + Buckley, Andrew, Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. March 14, 1864, enrolled; + April 20, 1864, mustered in; Oct. 19, 1864, missing in action near + Cedar Creek, Va. Gained and borne as absent sick in hospital, from + Nov. 24, 1864, until Feb., 1865; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Buckley, William W., Capt. Oct. 30, 1862, commissioned. Mustered in + to date Nov. 1, 1862. Promoted from 1st Lieut. Battery C. Borne on + leave of absence sick, from Jan. 18, 1863, until Feb. 28, 1863. Absent + with leave from May 10, 1863, until June 8, 1863; March, 1864, absent + with leave; Sept. 3, 1864, granted leave of absence; Oct. 23, 1864, + mustered out; Brevet Major for faithful and meritorious services + during the war, to date from March 13, 1865. + + Budlong, Moses, Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; July + 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Burdick, John C., Priv. Nov. 1, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Nov. 1, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Burkhardt, Charles J., Priv. Dec. 19, 1864, enrolled at Providence, + R.I.; Dec. 19, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Burns, Christopher, Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. March 14. 1864, enrolled; + April 20, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Burt, Everett B., Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 17, 1862, severely wounded at the + battle of Antietam, and sent to hospital; borne as absent sick until + June 27, 1863, when dropped from rolls. No further record. + + Busby, John J., Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; July + 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Caesar, Daniel, Priv., Smithfield, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; March 19, 1863, admitted to Chesapeake General + Hospital, Fort Monroe, Va.; March 26, 1863, died of disease. + + Caesar, Royal W., Priv., Smithfield, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 17, 1862, injured by cannon shot at + Antietam, sent to hospital and borne as absent sick until Dec. 1862; + Sept. 6, 1864, mustered out at Providence, R.I. + + Cahoone, Andrew J., Corp., Coventry, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as private. Borne as + absent on furlough for twenty days from June 14, 1863; borne on + detached service at Knoxville, Tenn., from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., + 1864; borne as absent sick in hospital, from Jan. 24, 1864, until + Feb., 1864; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. + + Carbier, Andrew, Priv. Dec. 12, 1862, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Feb. 10, 1863, deserted at Belle Plain Landing. + + Card, Samuel A., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital, from March 24, + 1863, until March 7, 1864, when he deserted from hospital. + + Carpenter, Christopher H., Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept.4, 1861, + enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at + Charlestown, Va. + + Carrigan, Thomas, Priv., Warwick, R.I. April 15, 1864, enrolled; Dec. + 16, 1864, deserted near Opequon Creek, Va. + + Carroll, Edward, Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 17, 1862, killed in action at Antietam. + + Carroll, James, Priv., Warwick, R.I. Feb. 21, 1862, enrolled; Sept., + 1862, in General Hospital, and borne as absent sick until Nov. 21, + 1862, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate at Mount Pleasant + General Hospital, Washington, D.C. + + Cary, Owen A., Priv., Providence, R.I. Oct. 28, 1864, enrolled; Oct. + 28, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Chase, Frederick, 1st Lieut. Dec 4, 1862, commissioned. Promoted from + Sergt. Battery F, to 2d Lieut. Battery D. Borne on leave of absence + for thirty days from Dec. 17, 1863; March, 1864, absent with leave; + April 8, 1864, commissioned 1st Lieut., and mustered in as such to + date April 8, 1864; Sept. 1864, commanding Battery, and so borne until + Nov., 1864; borne on leave of absence from Nov. 20, 1864, until Dec, + 1864; Jan., 1865, commanding Battery; June 12, 1865, commissioned + Captain (never mustered); July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Collins, Alexander, Priv. Dec. 12, 1862, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Feb. 10, 1863, deserted at Belle Plain Landing. + + Corey, Augustus, Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; March 10, 1862, left in hospital at Upton's + Hill, Va., having been run over by a caisson while in line of duty; + April 24, 1862, discharged on Surgeon's certificate. + + Corey, Joseph W., Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; + July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Cornell, Charles W., Priv., Coventry, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from + March 19, 1863, until Aug. 1, 1863, when transferred to 30th Co., 2d + Bat. V.R. C; Nov. 28, 1865, mustered out as of 4th Co., 2d Bat. V.R. + C., to which transferred. + + Cornell, Daniel B., Q.M. Sergt., Coventry, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, + enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as Corp.; June + 13, 1862, promoted Sergt. Borne on detached service at Knoxville, + Tenn., from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., 1864; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted + as a Vet. Vol.; April 13, 1865, promoted Q.M. Sergt.; July 17, 1865, + mustered out. + + Cornell, Patrick, Priv., Smithfield, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from + Oct. 20, 1863, until March, 1864; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at + Charlestown, Va. + + Corthell, Elmer L., Capt. Oct. 21, 1864, commissioned; Nov. 2, 1864, + mustered in. Promoted from 1st Lieut. Battery G. Borne on leave of + absence for fifteen days from Jan. 21, 1865; July 17, 1865, mustered + out. + + Coyle, Olney, Priv., Providence, R.I. Nov. 19, 1864, enrolled; Nov. + 19, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Crawford, William, Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at + Charlestown, Va. + + Cross, Benjamin, Corp. Dec. 22, 1862, transferred from private + Battery H; Jan. 5, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; Jan., 1864, + granted furlough of forty-five days; Oct. 19, 1864, captured at Cedar + Creek, Va.; April 1, 1865, escaped from Salisbury, N.C.; May 2, 1865, + reported at Camp Chase, Ohio; June 27, 1865, mustered out at Camp + Chase, Ohio. + + Cross, Henry C., Priv. Dec. 22, 1862, transferred from Battery H. + Borne as absent sick in hospital from June 15, 1863, until Oct. 8, + 1863, when transferred to 74th Co., 2d Bat. V.R. C.; Sept. 5, 1864, + mustered out of the V. R.C. to accept commission as Capt. 115th U.S. + C. Inf; Feb. 10, 1866, mustered out as Capt. Co. D, 115th U.S. C.T. + + Cullen, Patrick, Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. March 12, 1864, enrolled; + April 20, 1864, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from + Sept. 4, 1864, until Dec, 1864; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Curigan, Thomas, Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. March 21, 1864, enrolled; + April 20, 1864, mustered in. Borne on furlough for fifteen days from + April 29, 1865; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Currie, William, Priv., Westerly, R.I. Feb. 24, 1862, enrolled. Borne + as absent sick from Dec. 30, 1862, until Feb. 9, 1863, when discharged + on Surgeon's certificate, at Providence, R.I. + + Daniels, William, Priv. Dec. 22, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Dec. 22, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Darcy, Thomas, Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. March 16, 1864, enrolled; April + 20, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Dearnley, James, Priv. Nov. 30, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Nov. 30, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Deming, Richard H., 1st Sergt., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, + enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Dec. 4, 1861, discharged for + disability, at Camp Dupont, Va. + + DeSilvey, John W., Priv. July 30, 1863, enrolled; July 30, 1863, + mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Dixon, John, Priv., Apponaug, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, + 1861, mustered in; Dec. 27, 1862, deserted at Falmouth, Va. + + Dodge, Reuben D., Priv., Block Island, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 17, 1862, wounded at the battle of + Antietam, sent to hospital and borne as absent sick until Dec, 1862; + April 14, 1863, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Armory Square + Hospital, Washington, D.C. + + Dolan, Joseph, Priv. Dec. 12, 1862, enrolled at Providence, R.I. No + further record. + + Donnelly, James, Corp., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as private. Jan. 30, 1864, + re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol. Borne on furlough of fifteen days from May + 23, 1865; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Doran, Hugh, Priv., Apponaug, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, + 1861, mustered in; Aug. 30, 1862, killed in action at Bull Run. + + Doyle, Patrick, Priv. Dec. 12, 1862, enrolled at Providence, R.I. No + further record. + + Duddy, Thomas C., Priv., Westerly, R.I. Aug. 7, 1862, enrolled; April + 20, 1864, deserted at Providence, R.I. + + Edwards, Edwin, Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept + 4, 1861, mustered in; July, 1862, absent sick, and so borne until + Oct., 1862; Dec. 13, 1862, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at + Providence, R.I. + + Egan, John, Priv. Dec. 1, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; Dec. 1, + 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Eldred, George A., Corp., Coventry, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Aug. 30, 1862, killed in action at Bull + Run. + + Elliott, Daniel W., Priv., Smithfield, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol. + Borne on furlough of fifteen days from Jan. 21, 1865; July 17, 1865, + mustered out. + + Ellis, Leonard G., Priv. Transferred from Battery A; Nov. 16, 1863, + wounded at battle of Campbell's Station, Tenn.; June 23, 1865, + mustered out. + + Esser, Philip, Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; Dec. 3, 1861, admitted to General Hospital, + Baltimore, Md.; Jan. 14, 1864, discharged at Providence, R.I., to date + Jan. 20, 1862. + + Fairbrother, James H., Corp., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as private; Sept. 3, + 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. + + Finley, Roger, Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; Oct., 1862, in General Hospital, and so borne + until Dec., 1862; Oct. 12, 1863, discharged on Surgeon's certificate + at Lovell General Hospital, Portsmouth Grove, R.I. + + Fisk, Stephen W., 2d Lieut., Providence, R.I. Sept. 7, 1861, + commissioned; Sept. 9, 1861, mustered in; Dec. 4, 1862, promoted 1st + Lieut. Battery C. + + Fisk, William H., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, + R.I.; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at + Charlestown, Va. + + French, Joseph B., Priv., Providence, R.I. July 18, 1862, enrolled; + July 18, 1862, mustered in; June 23, 1865, discharged at Winchester, + Va. + + French, Joseph S., Priv., Providence, R.I. July 21, 1862, enrolled; + July 21, 1862, mustered in; Oct. 24, 1862, died of disease at + hospital, Smoketown, Md. + + Galindo, Peter, Priv. Jan. 2, 1863, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; Feb. + 10, 1863, deserted at Belle Plain Landing. + + Gallagher, Charles, Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from + July 15, 1863, until Aug., 1863; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at + Charlestown, Va. + + Galloughly, John, Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 17, 1862, killed in action at + Antietam. + + Gilmore, Solomon, Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; + July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Gladding, Henry R., 1st Lieut., Providence, R.I. Sept 7, 1861, + commissioned; Sept. 9, 1861, mustered in; Nov. 30, 1862, mustered out + at Brooks Station, Va.; Aug. 1, 1863, commissioned 1st Lieut. Fifth + Rhode Island Heavy Artillery. Never mustered in nor served under + commission. + + Glassey, John, Priv., Lonsdale, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, + 1861, mustered in; May, 1862, received injury, sent to hospital, and + borne as absent sick until Oct. 7, 1862, when discharged on Surgeon's + certificate, at Providence, R.I. + + Goff, Bernard, Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. March 12, 1864, enrolled; April + 20, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Goodwin, Terrence, Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. March 14, 1864, enrolled; + April 20, 1864, mustered in; Sept. 19, 1864, wounded at battle of + Winchester, Va., sent to hospital, and borne as absent sick until May + 20, 1865, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at U.S. General + Hospital, York, Pa. + + Gordon, James, Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. March 18, 1864, enrolled; April + 20, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Gorton, Erastus, Priv., Coventry, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne on extra duty as teamster from March 1, + 1863, until May, 1863; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; July + 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Gorton, John S., Priv., Coventry, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol. Borne + as absent sick in hospital from Aug. 1, 1864, until Oct., 1864; July + 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Gray, Charles C., 2d Lieut., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as Corporal. Promoted + Sergeant; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; May 26, 1864, + commissioned 2d Lieut.; May 26, 1864, discharged as Sergeant to accept + promotion. Mustered in as 2d Lieut. to date May 27, 1864. Borne on + detached service as Acting Ordnance Officer 19th Army Corps from Aug. + 9, 1864, until Sept., 1864; June 12, 1865, commissioned 1st Lieut., + never mustered; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Green, John T., Priv., Coventry, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; March 6, 1863, died of disease at Newport News, + Va. + + Grey, John, Priv., Smithfield, R.I. Aug. 2, 1862, enrolled; May 18, + 1863, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Providence, R.I. + + Grinnell, Robert A., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne on detached service at Knoxville, + Tenn., from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., 1864; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted + as a Vet. Vol.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Handy, Otis G., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; + July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Harkness, George C., 1st Lieut., Providence, R.I. Sept. 7, 1861, + commissioned; Sept. 9, 1861, mustered in; Jan., 1862, on leave of + absence; Aug. 30, 1862, wounded in action at Bull Run, and borne as + absent sick until Nov., 1862; Nov., 1862, commanding Battery; March 3, + 1863, discharged on tender of resignation. + + Hathaway, Charles B., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, + R.I.; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; April 24, 1863, deserted at + Parkersburg, Va. + + Havens, William, Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Jan. 21, + 1864, until Sept., 1864; Sept. 3, 1864, discharged at Charlestown, Va. + + Hawkins, George N., Priv., Coventry, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; + July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Hawkins, Richard S., Priv., Coventry. R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Dec, 1861, absent sick in hospital, and so + borne until Feb. 11, 1862, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, + at Georgetown, D.C. + + Hayward, James S., Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from + July 13, 1862, until Oct., 1862; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at + Charlestown, Va. + + Hicks, Otis F., Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; Aug. 30, 1862, killed in action at Bull Run. + + Hollihan, Thomas, Priv., Warwick. R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from + March 24, 1863, until April 26, 1864; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at + Charlestown, Va. + + Hood, William H., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 26, 1861, deserted at Camp Sprague, + Washington, D.C. + + Hopkins, Daniel, Priv., Foster, R.I. Feb. 24, 1862, enrolled; Aug. 28, + 1862, missing in action, taken prisoner; date of parole not shown; + Nov. 10, 1862, died of disease at Military Hospital, Camp Parole, + Annapolis, Md. + + Hopkins, Henry H., Priv., South Scituate, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, + enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as teamster from April 1, + 1862, until Jan., 1863. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Jan. 25, + 1863, until Sept. 3, 1864, when mustered out. + + Hopkins, Henry W., Bugler, Foster, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as private; Jan. 30, 1864, + re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol. Borne as absent sick in hospital from July + 27, 1864, until Oct., 1864; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Hopkins, Jeremiah D., Priv., Coventry, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Nov., 1861, absent sick; Dec. 27, 1861, + returned to duty; Sept. 17, 1862, wounded in action at Antietam, and + borne as absent sick until Dec. 29, 1862, when discharged on Surgeon's + certificate, at Frederick, Md. + + Hopkins, John, Priv., West Greenwich, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 12, 1862, discharged on Surgeon's + certificate, at Camp Dupont, Va. + + Hopkins, John W., Priv., Coventry, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 17, 1862, wounded at the battle of + Antietam, and borne as absent sick in hospital until Dec., 1862; April + 2, 1863, discharged on Surgeon's certificate. + + Hopkins, Thomas W., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; April 2, 1863, discharged on Surgeon's + certificate, at Antietam Hospital, by reason of gun shot wound. + + Howard, Martin L., Priv., North Scituate, R.I. Jan. 2, 1805, enrolled; + Jan. 2, 1865, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Hoxsie, Joseph W., Priv., West Greenwich, R.I. March 14, 1864, + enrolled. Borne as absent sick in hospital from July 6, 1864, until + August 13, 1864, when discharged for disability, at Judiciary Square + Hospital, Washington, D.C. + + Hunter, Samuel, Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. Nov. 17, 1864, enrolled; Nov. + 17, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Jackson, Charles O., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, + R.I.; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne on detached service at Hdqrs. + Chief of Arty., Dept. of the Ohio, from March 7, 1864, until Sept., + 1864; Sept. 14, 1864, discharged at Providence, R.I., to date Sept. 3, + 1864. + + Jencks, Hezekiah, Artificer. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, + R.I.; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan., 1862, transferred to Battery B. + + Jenkins, Samuel, Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; April, 1864, sick in hospital, and so borne + until Sept., 1864; Sept. 3, 1864, discharged at Charlestown, Va. + + Jerrold, Frederick L., Priv. Aug. 13, 1862, enrolled at Providence, + R.I.; Aug., 1862, mustered in. Reported as having been transferred + from Battery B; June 23, 1865, mustered out at Winchester, Va. Also + borne as Jerraulds. + + Johnson, Hugh, Priv., Providence, R.I. Nov. 25, 1864, enrolled; Nov. + 25, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Johnson, Willett A., Priv., Warwick. R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick from Sept. 2, 1862, + until Dec. 29, 1862, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at + Philadelphia. + + Jones, Thomas Lloyd, Priv. Nov. 30, 1864, enrolled at Providence, + R.I.; Nov. 30, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Keables, Thomas A., Priv., Westerly, R.I. Feb. 24, 1862, enrolled; + June 4, 1862, discharged on Surgeon's certificate. + + Keach, Jesse D., Priv., Smithfield, R.I. Oct. 27, 1864, enrolled; Oct. + 27, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Kehoe, James, Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. March 12, 1864, enrolled; April + 20, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Kelly, Patrick, Priv. July 27, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + July 27, 1864, mustered in. Transferred to Battery B. + + Kennison, Charles H., Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick from March 24, 1863, + until Aug. 3, 1863, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at + United States General Hospital, Baltimore, Md. + + Kenyon, Joseph B., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne on duty as teamster from March 1, 1863, + until May, 1863; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. + Mustered in as John B. Kenyon. + + Kilburn, Bernard, Priv., North Providence, R.I. Aug. 6, 1862, + enrolled; Sept. 17, 1862, missing in action at Antietam. No further + record. + + Kimball, Charles H., Sergt., North Scituate, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, + enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as Corp. Borne + as absent sick in hospital from Oct. 20, 1863, until Dec., 1863; Dec. + 13, 1863, died of disease in General Hospital, at Knoxville, Tenn. + + Knight, Edwin R., Corp., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; Aug., 1862, in General Hospital, and so borne + until Dec., 1862; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; July 17, + 1865, mustered out. + + Knowles, John B., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Oct. 12, 1861, discharged on Surgeon's + certificate, at Camp Sprague, Washington, D.C. + + Landry, Joseph, Priv. Nov. 5, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; Nov. + 5, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Lee, Royal Henry, 1st Sergt., Pawtucket, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as Sergt.; Nov. 12, + 1861, promoted 1st Sergt.; Dec. 25, 1862, discharged to accept + promotion as 2d Lieut., Battery C. + + Lewis, Clark, Priv., Richmond, R.I. Jan. 2, 1865, enrolled; Jan. 2, + 1865, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Linn, Peter, Corp., Pawtucket, R.I. March 12, 1864, enrolled; April + 20, 1864, mustered in. Borne on furlough of fifteen days from Jan. 21, + 1865; March 25, 1865, promoted Corp.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Locke, James W., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne on detached service at Knoxville, + Tenn., from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., 1864; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted + as a Vet. Vol.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Loper, Peter, Priv. Transferred from Battery H; April 24, 1863, + deserted at Baltimore, Md. Also borne as Lopez. + + Lopez, Manuel, Priv. Jan. 2, 1863, enrolled at Providence, R.I. Feb. + 10, 1863, deserted at Belle Plain Landing, Va. + + Lynch, Daniel, Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. March 16, 1864, enrolled; April + 20, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Lyon, Lewis, Priv. Dec. 22, 1862, transferred from Battery H; Sept. + 14, 1863, deserted at Loudon, Tenn. + + Matthews, Albert N., Corp. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, + R.I.; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as private. Borne + as absent sick in hospital from March 21, 1863, until Dec., 1863; Jan. + 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; Sept., 1864, absent sick in + hospital; Nov. 30, 1864, detached for service at Hdqrs. Arty. Brig., + 19th Army Corps; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Mattison, Anson, Sergt., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as private. Promoted Corp.; + Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Mattison, Edmund H., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; + July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + May, Charles E., Bugler. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick from Nov. 16, 1862, + until June, 1863; June, 1864, in hospital, and so borne until Sept., + 1864; Sept. 20, 1864, mustered out at Providence, R.I. + + McCann, John, Priv. July 22, 1862, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; July + 22, 1862, mustered in. Probably recruited for Battery E; June 23, + 1865, discharged at Winchester, Va. + + McCausland, Alexander, Priv., Warwick, R.I. Aug. 13, 1862, enrolled; + Aug. 13, 1862, mustered in. Borne on detached service at Knoxville, + Tenn., from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., 1864; Nov. 30, 1864, detached + for service at Hdqrs. Arty. Brig., 19th Army Corps; June 23, 1865, + discharged at Winchester, Va. + + McCausland, Norman L., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, + R.I.; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; March, 1862, in General Hospital; + April 10, 1862, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at camp near + Bristoe, Va. + + McCormick, James F., Jr., Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, + enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Dec. 27, 1862, deserted at camp + near Falmouth Station, Va. + + McGinnity, John, Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. March 12, 1864, enrolled; + April 20, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + McGovern, John, Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 17, 1862, killed in action at Antietam. + + McKearnan, Edward, Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; July + 17, 1865, mustered out. + + McKenna, James F., Priv., Pawtucket, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from July + 29, 1863, until Aug., 1863; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol. + Borne as absent sick in hospital from Aug. 24, 1864, until Feb., 1865. + Borne as absent sick in hospital from April 6, 1865, until June 7, + 1865; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + McKenna, John, Priv., Warwick, R.I. Aug. 13, 1862, enrolled; Aug. 13, + 1862, mustered in; Dec. 8, 1863, detached for service at Knoxville, + Tenn.; June 23, 1865, discharged at Winchester, Va. + + McKenna, John, 1st, Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at + Charlestown, Va. + + McLaughlin, John, Priv. Nov. 25, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Nov. 25, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + McMannus, James, Priv. Nov. 30, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Nov. 30, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + McQuade, Patrick, Priv. Oct. 22, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Oct. 22, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Means, Joseph F., Priv., North Providence, R.I.; Nov. 23, 1864, + enrolled; Nov. 23, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Mendosa, Raphael, Priv. Dec. 12, 1862, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Dec. 12, 1862, mustered in. Originally assigned to Battery H; Feb. 1, + 1863, deserted at Falmouth, Va. + + Mills, William T., Priv., Warwick R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol. Borne + as sick in hospital from May 15, 1865, until June, 1865. Borne on + furlough of twenty days from June 10, 1865; July 17, 1865, mustered + out. + + Milne, William O., Sergt. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Promoted Corp. Absent on furlough for + fifteen days from July 24, 1863; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. + Vol.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Moore, Frederick, Priv., Westerly, R.I. Feb. 20, 1862, enrolled; Feb. + 25 1864, mustered out by virtue of re-enlistment; Feb. 26, 1864, + re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Monroe, J. Albert, Capt., Providence, R.I. June 6, 1861, commissioned; + June 6, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as 1st Lieut. Battery + A; Sept. 7, 1861, commissioned Captain, mustered in as such to date + from Sept. 7, 1861, and assigned to Battery D; Oct. 24, 1862, promoted + Major; Oct. 29, 1862, resigned as Captain to accept promotion. + + Moore, John, Priv., Westerly, R.I. Feb. 24, 1862, enrolled; Feb. + 25, 1864, mustered out by virtue of re-enlistment; Feb. 26, 1864, + re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol. Borne as absent sick in hospital from July + 27, 1864, until Oct., 1864; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Morgan, Edward, Priv., North Kingstown, R.I. Oct. 13, 1862, enrolled; + Oct. 13, 1862, mustered in. Deserted, date not shown. + + Morgan, Michael, Priv., Richmond, R.I. Oct. 13, 1862, enrolled; Oct. + 13, 1862, mustered in. Deserted, date not shown. + + Morrell, Joseph, Priv. Nov. 5, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Nov. 5, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Mulick, Charles A., Priv., Providence, R.I. July 19, 1862, enrolled; + Dec. 6, 1862, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Providence, R.I. + + Nicholas, Lyman, Priv., Coventry, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; Feb. 19, 1864, ordered on special duty as + teamer. Borne as absent sick in hospital from July 16, 1864, until + Sept., 1864; Sept. 3, 1864, discharged at Charlestown, Va. + + Nickerson, David R., Priv., Coventry, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Nov., 1861, on extra duty at hospital, + and so borne until May, 1862. Borne as absent sick in hospital from + July 13, 1862, until Nov. 16, 1862, when discharged on Surgeon's + certificate, at Fort McHenry. + + Nichols, Edward L., Sergt. Aug. 11, 1862, enrolled at Falmouth, Va.; + Aug. 11, 1862, mustered in. Originally served as private; June 1, + 1863, promoted 1st Lieut. Va. Arty.; June 14, 1863, discharged by + reason of promotion. + + Norris, Bradley J., Priv. Dec. 22, 1862, transferred from Battery H. + Borne as absent sick in hospital from Dec. 28, 1863, until Jan. 3, + 1864, when he died of disease at camp near Blaine's Cross Roads, Tenn. + + Oakes, William A., Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Aug. 30, 1862, wounded and borne as absent + sick until Dec., 1862; borne as absent sick in hospital, probably + wounded, from Nov. 27. 1863, until March, 1864; Sept. 3, 1864, + mustered out at Charlestown, Va. + + Oglesby, Samuel S., Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol. + Borne as absent on furlough of fifteen days from Jan. 21, 1865; July + 17, 1865, mustered out. Also borne as Samuel I. + + O'Rourke, John, Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; April 10, 1862, discharged on Surgeon's + certificate, at Camp near Bristoe, Va. + + O'Rourke, Mathew, Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; May 10, 1862, left in hospital at Upton's + Hill, Va.; May 26, 1862, discharged on Surgeon's certificate. + + Parker, Ezra K., 2d Lieut., Coventry, R.I. Sept. 7, 1861, + commissioned; Sept. 9, 1861, mustered in; Nov. 30, 1862, mustered out + and re-commissioned 2d Lieut., by Governor of Rhode Island same day; + again mustered in to date Dec. 15, 1862. Borne on detached service at + Knoxville, Tenn., from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., 1864; March, 1864, + absent with leave; April 23, 1864, mustered out by reason of promotion + to 1st Lieut. Battery E. + + Parmenter, Orange S., Corp., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 10, 1862, discharged on Surgeon's + certificate, at Camp Dupont, Va. + + Peckham, William S., Priv., Wakefield, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; June, 1862, on extra duty as teamster, and + so borne until Oct., 1862. Borne as absent sick from Oct. 30, 1862, + until Dec., 1862; Feb. 28, 1863, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, + at Providence, R.I. + + Perez, Joseph, Priv. Jan. 2, 1863, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; Jan. + 2, 1863, mustered in; July 12, 1863, deserted at Nicholasville, Ky. + + Phetteplace, David, Priv. Dec. 21, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Dec. 21, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Phillips, George G., Priv., Providence, R.I. July 21, 1862, enrolled; + Sept. 13, 1862, deserted at New Market, Md. Also borne as George Y. + + Phinney, Thomas R., Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1862, enrolled; + Sept 19, 1864, wounded in action near Winchester, Va., sent to + hospital and borne as absent sick until May 19, 1865, when mustered + out from United States General Hospital, West Philadelphia, Pa. + + Pickering, Daniel, Priv., Scituate, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from + Sept. 2, 1862, until Dec. 6, 1862, when discharged on Surgeon's + certificate, at Philadelphia. + + Pierce, William T., Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; + July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Pinkham, Charles H., Priv., Providence, R.I. Nov. 7, 1864, enrolled; + Nov. 7, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Pitcher, Joseph S., Priv., Providence, R.I. July 12, 1862, enrolled; + April 21, 1864, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Lovell General + Hospital, Portsmouth Grove, R.I., by reason of injuries received while + on duty at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec., 1862. + + Place, John E., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, + 1861, mustered in; Nov. 20, 1863, transferred to Co. G, 1st Regt. V.R. + C.; Nov. 14, 1865, mustered out as of Co. G, 1st Regt. V.R. C. + + Place, Joseph B., Priv., West Greenwich, R.I. Aug. 13, 1862, enrolled; + Aug. 23, 1862, mustered in. Transferred to Battery B, previous to Oct. + 31, 1862. + + Pollard, John, Jr., Priv., Cranston, R.I. Feb. 20, 1862, enrolled. + Borne as absent sick in hospital from June 29, 1862, until July 31, + 1862, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Fredericksburg, Va. + + Potter, Frank A., Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 17, 1862, missing in action at + Antietam. No further record. + + Pratt, Albert F., Q.M. Sergt. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, + R.I.; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as Corp.; promoted + Sergt. Borne on detached service at Knoxville, Tenn., from Dec. 8, + 1863, until Jan., 1864; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; + Oct. 19, 1864, wounded at Cedar Creek, Va., and borne as absent + sick in hospital until April 13, 1865, when discharged on Surgeon's + certificate, at Baltimore, Md. + + Pratt, Henry B., Priv. Sept. 28, 1861, transferred from Battery C; + Oct. 7, 1863, transferred to 19th Co., 2d Bat. V.R. C.; Oct. 25, 1864, + mustered out as of the same. + + Ragan, William H., Priv. Oct. 26, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Oct. 26, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Rathbone, John, Priv., West Greenwich, R.I. March 4, 1864, enrolled; + March 4, 1864, mustered in; Oct. 19, 1864, captured at Cedar Creek, + Va.; March, 1865, released at N.E. Ferry, N.C.; subsequently reported + at Camp Parole, Md.; May 3, 1865, sent to Camp Distribution, Va.; June + 23, 1865, mustered out at Winchester, Va. + + Rawson, Samuel G., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Dec. 5, 1861, discharged at Regimental + Hospital. + + Rector, John H., Priv., North Kingstown, R.I. Sept. 13, 1862, + enrolled; Sept. 13, 1862, mustered in. No further record. + + Remington, Charles R., Priv., Providence, R.I. Aug. 25, 1861, + enrolled; Aug. 27, 1861, mustered in; Aug. 25, 1864, mustered out at + Halltown, Va. + + Reynolds, Thomas J., Corp. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, + R.I.; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne on furlough of twenty days + from June 14, 1863. Borne on detached service at Knoxville, Tenn., + from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., 1864; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a + Vet. Vol.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Rhodes, Francis W., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 12, 1862, discharged on Surgeon's + certificate, at Camp Dupont, Va. + + Rhodes, William B., 1st Lieut. Dec. 26, 1862, transferred from Battery + G. Commanding Battery from May 10, 1863, until June, 1863; March, + 1864, absent with leave. Mustered out to date April 7, 1864, to accept + promotion as Captain Battery E. + + Rice, John E., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; March, 1862, in General Hospital, and so borne + until May 12, 1862, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate. + + Rice, William T., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Dec. 10, + 1861, until March 25, 1862, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, + at General Hospital, Alexandria, Va. + + Richardson, James A., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, + R.I.; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital + from May 21, 1863, until Aug., 1863. Borne on detached service at + Knoxville, Tenn., from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., 1864; Jan. 30, 1864, + re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Rider, Hugh, Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, + 1861, mustered in. Borne on detached service at Knoxville, Tenn., from + Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., 1864; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. + Vol. Borne on furlough of ten days from June 27, 1864; July 17, 1865, + mustered out. + + Robbins, Duty, Priv., Warwick, R.I. Aug. 14, 1862, enrolled; Sept. 17, + 1862, missing in action at Antietam. No further record. + + Rober, John, Priv. Transferred from Battery H; March 10, 1863, + deserted at Newport News, Va. + + Ross, David G., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, + 1861, mustered in; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. + + Ross, John M., Priv. Oct. 18, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; July + 17, 1865, mustered out. Also borne as John M. Rose. + + Russell, Francis, Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 17, 1862, missing in action at + Antietam. No further record. + + Russell, Isaac D., Priv., South Kingstown, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, + enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a + Vet. Vol.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Samaniego, Joseph, Priv. Dec. 30, 1862, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Feb. 10, 1863, deserted at Belle Plain Landing. + + Schmidt, I. Jacob, Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from June + 22, 1863, until Oct. 31, 1863, when transferred to 43d Co., 2d Bat. + V.R. C.; re-transferred to Battery D, by order dated Aug. 8, 1864; + Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. + + Shaw, David, Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, + 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital at Falmouth, Va., + from May 18, 1862, until Aug., 1862; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at + Charlestown, Va. + + Sheldon, Charles B., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Aug. 30, 1862, wounded in action, and + borne as absent sick until Jan. 16, 1863, when discharged on Surgeon's + certificate, at Philadelphia, Pa. + + Shourdon, Robert, Priv., Lonsdale, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from March 24, + 1863, until Jan. 25, 1864, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate, + at Lovell General Hospital, Portsmouth Grove, R.I. + + Slocum, Isaac P., Priv., Westerly, R.I. Feb. 24, 1862, enrolled; June + 7, 1862, left in hospital at camp near Haymarket, Va., and borne as + absent sick until Oct. 10, 1862, when dropped from rolls. No further + record. + + Smith, David, Priv., Westerly, R.I. Aug. 16, 1862, enrolled; Sept. 17, + 1862, missing in action at Antietam. No further record. + + Smith, Henry W., Bugler, North Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, + enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick from March + 21, 1863, until May, 1863; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; + July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Smith, Israel S., Priv., Providence, R.I. Nov. 22, 1864, enrolled; + Nov. 22, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Smith, William G., Priv. Dec. 22, 1862, transferred from Battery + H; Sept. 19, 1864, wounded in action near Winchester, Va., sent to + hospital and borne as absent sick until June 19, 1865, when mustered + out from United States Army Hospital, York, Pa. + + Smith, William R., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from + March 21, 1863, until Sept., 1864; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at + Charlestown, Va. + + Spear, John W., Priv., Richmond, R.I. Aug. 9, 1862, enrolled. Borne as + absent sick from April 5, 1863, until May 26, 1863, when he deserted + from United States Hospital, Cincinnati; July 17, 1863, returned from + desertion; Jan. 14, 1864, deserted at Blaine's Cross Roads, Tenn. + + Spencer, Gideon, Sergt., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as private; Jan. 30, 1864, + re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol. Discharged to date April 28, 1864, by + reason of promotion to 2d Lieut. Battery B. + + Stalker, William, Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Aug. 30, 1862, wounded at the battle of + Bull Run; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. + + Steinhaur, Kirby, 1st Lieut. Feb. 8, 1863, commissioned; April 14, + 1863, promoted from 2d Lieut. Battery H. Borne on leave of absence for + thirty days from Oct. 22, 1863; March, 1864, absent with leave; April + 19, 1864, resigned. + + Stickney, Daniel, Priv. Regimental return for Dec., 1862, reported + him "Dropped Dec. 21, 1862, by G.O. 15, 1st A.C." No additional + information found. + + Stillman, Gideon S., Corp., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as private. Borne on + extra duty as teamster from March 1, 1863, until May, 1863; Jan. 30, + 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Stinson, James, Priv. Transferred from Battery B, by order dated Jan. + 1, 1862; Sept. 13, 1862, deserted at New Market, Md. + + St. John, John, Corp., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as private; Jan. 30, 1864, + re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Stollard, George F., Priv. October 31, 1864, enrolled at Providence, + R.I.; Oct. 31, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Sullivan, Jeremiah, Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from + Aug. 7, 1863, until March, 1864; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at + Charlestown, Va. + + Sullivan, John, Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept., 1862, in General Hospital; Oct., + 1862, on detached service at Div. Hdqrs., and so borne until March, + 1863; April, 1863, deserted. + + Sumner, George C., Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at + Charlestown, Va. + + Sunderland, Henry A., Corp., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4. 1861, mustered in; Dec. 5, 1862, discharged on Surgeon's + certificate, at Washington, D.C., by reason of injuries received when + entering battle of Antietam. + + Sutton, Henry L., Priv., Bristol, R.I. Dec. 31, 1864, enrolled; Dec. + 31, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Swan, William, Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital at + Fredericksburg, Va., from July 13, 1862, until Sept. 22, 1862, when + discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at Cranch Hospital, Washington, + D.C. + + Taft, Anthony, Priv., Woonsocket, R.I. Nov. 28, 1864, enrolled; Nov. + 28, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Taft, Charles G., Priv., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; April 24, 1863, deserted at Lexington, Ky. + + Tanner, David B., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Oct. + 15, 1861, until March, 1862; April 7, 1862, discharged on Surgeon's + certificate, at Washington, D.C. + + Tanner, James, Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, + 1861, mustered in. Borne on detached service at Knoxville, Tenn., from + Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan, 1864; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. + Vol. Borne on furlough of ten days from March 20, 1865; July 17, 1865, + mustered out. + + Thornley, William H., Artificer, Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, + enrolled; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital + from July 13, 1862, until Oct. 30, 1862, when discharged on Surgeon's + certificate, at Fort McHenry. + + Thurber, Edwin I., Priv., Johnston, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Sept. 28, 1861, transferred to Battery C. + Mustered in as Edward J. Thurber. + + Tibbetts, J.R., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. 4, + 1861, mustered in; Nov. 12, 1861, discharged at Camp Dupont, Va. + + Troutay, Alexander, Priv. Nov. 5, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Nov. 5, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Tucker, Frank M., Sergt. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as Corp.; Jan. 30, 1864, + re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; June 12, 1865, commissioned 2d Lieut., for + gallant and meritorious service during the war; never mustered in; + July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Tyson, John, Priv., Portsmouth, R.I. Aug. 6, 1862, enrolled; Aug. 6, + 1862, mustered in; June 23, 1865, discharged at Winchester, Va. + + Underwood, William J., Priv., Scituate, R.I. Aug. 14, 1862, enrolled; + Dec. 27, 1862, deserted at Falmouth, Va.; Jan. 10, 1863, joined + from desertion, tried by G.C. M., and sentenced to be dishonorably + discharged. + + Vickery, William H., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 3, 1862, injured by a fall from + his horse; May 3, 1862, discharged on Surgeon's certificate, at + Philadelphia, Pa. + + Wagg, Charles, Priv. Nov. 30, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; Nov. + 30, 1864, mustered in. Borne as sick in hospital from June 3, 1865, + until July, 1865; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Walker, Clark, Artificer, Coventry, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as private; Jan. 30, + 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Warner, John, Priv., West Greenwich, R.I. March 25, 1864, enrolled; + April 20, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Warren, Charles W., Sergt., Lonsdale, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as private; Aug., 1862, + in General Hospital, and so borne until Nov., 1862; Jan. 30, 1864, + re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol. Borne on furlough of fifteen days from Jan. + 21, 1865; June 25, 1865, promoted Sergt. from Corp.; July 17, 1865, + mustered out. + + Waterman, Frank A., Sergt., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Jan. 1, 1862, promoted Corp. Borne on + detached service at Knoxville, Tenn., from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., + 1864; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; July 14, 1864, + discharged to accept promotion as 2d Lieut. Battery G. + + Watson, Charles H., Priv., Coventry, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Dec. 27, 1862, deserted at Camp near + Falmouth Station, Va. + + Way, John, Priv., Westerly, R.I. Feb. 24, 1862, enrolled; Feb. + 25, 1864, mustered out by virtue of re-enlistment; Feb. 26, 1864, + re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol. Borne as absent sick in hospital from June + 24, 1864, until Oct., 1864; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Webb, Edward J., Priv., North Providence, R.I. Aug. 8, 1862, enrolled; + June 2, 1863, died at Somerset, Ky., of disease. + + Weeden, Henry M., Priv., Bristol. R.I. March 30, 1864, enrolled; April + 20, 1864, mustered in; Nov. 12, 1864, detached for service at Hdqrs. + Art. Brig. 19th Army Corps; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Weish, George, Priv. Aug. 14, 1863, enrolled. Borne as absent sick in + hospital from March 5, 1864, until Oct. 5, 1864, when discharged on + Surgeon's certificate, at Cincinnati, Ohio. Also borne as Weist. + + Westcott, James, Priv. Dec. 22, 1862, transferred from Battery H. + Borne as sick in hospital from April 6, 1865, until June 19, 1865, + when mustered out at Jarvis United States General Hospital. + + Whipple, Benjamin N., Corp., Providence, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Originally served as Artificer; Aug. 30, + 1862, wounded; Sept. 17, 1862, wounded in action at Antietam and borne + as absent sick until Feb., 1863; Jan 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. + Vol.; Sept. 19, 1864, wounded near Winchester, Va.; July 17, 1865, + mustered out. + + Whitaker, Henry C., Priv., Cranston, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick from Aug. 22, 1862, + until Dec., 1862; Sept. 3, 1864, mustered out at Charlestown, Va. + + White, Henry J., Priv., Lonsdale, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; March 10, 1862, left in hospital at Upton's + Hill, Va., and borne as sick in hospital until April 24, 1862, when + discharged on Surgeon's certificate, because of injuries received + while in service. + + Wickes, Rice A., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; + Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick in hospital at + Fredericksburg, Va., from June 29, 1862, until Sept., 1862; March, + 1863, absent sick in hospital and so borne until Aug. 21, 1863, when + transferred to the 30th Co., 2d Bat. V. R.C.; Sept. 5, 1864, mustered + out at Fort Monroe, Va., as Sergt. 30th Co., 2d Bat. V.R. C. + + Wilbur, George W., Priv., Warwick, R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in; Nov., 1861, absent sick; Dec. 15, 1861, returned + to duty. Borne as absent sick in hospital from April 14, 1863, until + Sept. 20, 1863, when transferred to Co. B, 20th Reg. V.R. C.; Sept. + 12, 1864, mustered out as of Co. B, 20th Regt. V.R. C. + + Woolley, John, Priv., Scituate. R.I. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled; Sept. + 4, 1861, mustered in. Borne as absent sick from Jan. 25, 1863, until + Feb., 1863; Jan. 30, 1864, re-enlisted as a Vet. Vol.; Oct. 19, 1864, + wounded in action near Cedar Creek, Va., and borne as absent sick in + hospital until July 26, 1865, when mustered out. + + Woolley, Samuel, Priv. Nov. 25, 1864, enrolled at Providence, R.I.; + Nov. 25, 1864, mustered in; July 17, 1865, mustered out. + + Wrightington, James H., Priv. Sept. 4, 1861, enrolled at Providence, + R.I.; Sept. 4, 1861, mustered in; Oct. 1, 1861, discharged on + Surgeon's certificate, at Camp Sprague, Washington, D.C. + + * * * * * + +This Roster was taken from the Revised Adjutant General's Report +of this State. There were several members of the Battery who were +Sergeants or Corporals during part of their service. + + Edward H. Matteson was First Sergeant for quite a long time; + Stephen Ballou was Corporal and Sergeant for at least two years + of his service; + Reuben D. Dodge and + Charles H. Kennison were Sergeants. + Charles Gallagher, + Edward McKennan, and + Isaac D. Russell, served as Corporals. + +Those above named are all that I can remember for a certainty. Without +doubt there were others. The reason that they were not credited with +that part of their service was (as before stated in this work) that all +our books were captured at Cedar Creek, and the new books only showed +those that were serving at the time. + + + + +COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, + +AND TIME OF SERVICE WITH BATTERY D. + + + J. Albert Monroe, Capt., Sept. 7, 1861, to Oct. 21, 1862. + William W. Buckley, Capt., Nov. 1, 1862, to Oct. 23, 1864. + Elmer L. Corthell, Capt., Nov. 23, 1864, to July 17, 1865. + George C. Harkness, 1st Lieut., Sept. 9, 1861, to March 3, 1863. + Henry R. Gladding, 1st Lieut., Sept. 9, 1861, to Aug. 1, 1862. + William B. Rhodes, 1st Lieut., Dec. 26, 1862, to April 7, 1864. + Kirby Steinhaur, 1st Lieut., April 14, 1863, to April 19, 1864. + Frederick Chase, 2d and 1st Lieut., Dec. 4, 1862, to July 17, 1865. + Stephen W. Fisk, 2d Lieut., Sept. 9, 1861, to Dec. 4, 1862. + Ezra K. Parker, 2d Lieut., Sept. 9, 1861, to April 23, 1864. + Charles E. Bonn, 2d Lieut., May 4, 1864, to July 17, 1865. + Charles C. Gray, 2d Lieut., May 27, 1864, to July 17, 1865. + + + + +ENLISTED MEN COMMISSIONED + +FROM BATTERY D. + + + 1st Sergt. Henry Royal Lee, to be 2d Lieut. Battery C. + Sergt. Gideon Spencer, to be 2d Lieut. Battery B. + Sergt. Charles C. Gray, to be 2d Lieut. Battery D. + Sergt. Frank A. Waterman, to be 2d Lieut. Battery G. + Sergt. Edward L. Nichols, to be 2d Lieut. First Virginia Art. + Sergt. Frank M. Tucker, commissioned but never mustered. + + + + +ROLL OF MEN TEMPORARILY ATTACHED. + + + Allen, Erasmus, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st Mass. + L.A.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery. + + Arnold, Philo, Priv. Detached from 35th N.Y. Inf., from May 29, 1862, + until Dec. 31, 1862. + + Austin, Edward G., Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st + Mass. L.A.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery. + + Barber, Amos P., Priv. Detached from Co. C, 7th R.I. Vols. Borne on + detached service at Knoxville, Tenn., from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., + 1864; Dec. 10, 1864, returned to 7th R.I. Vols., by order dated Dec. + 3, 1864. + + Barner, Albert, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. Vols.; + May 11, 1865, returned to his regiment at Winchester, Va., by order + dated May 8, 1865. + + Barney, Marshall, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. Vols. + Borne as absent sick in hospital from Dec. 28, 1864, until Jan, 1865; + May 11, 1865, returned to his regiment at Winchester, Va., by special + order dated May 8, 1865. + + Bashee, Eli, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. Vols.; May + 11, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, Va., by order dated May + 8, 1865. + + Bauer, John C., Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from Co. M, 14th N.Y. H.A. + Borne as absent sick in hospital from Aug. 4, 1864, until Dec., 1864; + Dec. 10, 1864, returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, + 1864. Also borne as John C. Bonn. + + Beardsley, Philo, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N.Y. H.A. + Borne as absent sick in hospital from July 12, 1864, until Dec., 1864; + Dec. 10, 1864, returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, + 1864. + + Beck, William, Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery + L, 2d N.Y. Art., by special order dated Jan. 16, 1864. + + Bird, Charles, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, transferred from Battery A, 1st + Mass. L.A., by order dated Dec. 31, 1864; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred + to 9th Mass. Battery by order dated Feb. 9, 1865. + + Blanchard, John E., Priv. Jan. 15, 1863, detached from Co. E, 7th R.I. + Vols.; Feb. 1, 1865, returned to regiment. + + Bogardus, John, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N.Y. H.A. Borne + as absent sick in hospital from Aug. 24, 1864, until Dec., 1864; Dec. + 10, 1864, returned to regiment by order dated Dec. 3, 1864. + + Boon, John, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. Vols.; May + 11, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, Va., by order dated May + 8, 1865. + + Boss, Joseph A., Priv. Jan. 15, 1863, detached from Co. G, 7th R.I. + Vols.; Dec. 10, 1864, returned to regiment by order dated Dec. 3, 1864. + + Brill, Christian, Sr., Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from + Battery L, 2d N.Y. Art., by special order dated Jan. 16, 1864. + + Brill, Christian, Jr., Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from + Battery L, 2d N.Y. Art., by special order dated Jan. 16, 1864. + + Burman, Ira, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N.Y. H.A. Borne as + absent sick in hospital from Aug. 4, 1864, until Oct., 1864; Dec. 10, + 1864, returned to regiment by order dated Dec. 3, 1864. + + Cameron, Donald, Priv. Jan. 15, 1863, detached from 12th R.I. Vols.; + July 12, 1863, returned to regiment. + + Capron, Alpheus, Jr., Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. + Vols.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment by special order dated May + 8, 1865. + + Carbinan, John, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N.Y. H.A. Borne + as absent sick in hospital from Aug. 4, 1864, until Oct., 1864; Dec. + 10, 1864, returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, 1864. + + Carman, Silas, Priv. April 18, 1862, detached from Co. E, 7th Wis. + Inf.; March, 1864, returned to regiment. + + Chandler, James C., Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. + Vols.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment by special order dated May + 8, 1865. + + Chatterson, Jesse, Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from + Battery L, 2d N.Y. Art., by special order dated Jan. 16, 1864. + + Cleveland, Lundon, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N.Y. H.A.; + Dec. 10, 1864, returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, + 1864. + + Cole, William, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N.Y. H.A.; Dec. + 10, 1864, returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, 1864. + + Collins, William, Priv. Jan. 15, 1863, detached from 7th R.I. Vols. + Absent on detached service at Knoxville, Tenn., from Dec. 8, 1863, + until Jan., 1864; May 1, 1864, died in Asylum Hospital, Knoxville, + Tenn. + + Coons, David S., Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. Vols., + near Cedar Creek, Va.; Oct. 20, 1864, accidentally shot at Cedar + Creek, Va. + + Covel, Milo, Priv. Detached from Co. G, 7th Wis. Inf., from April 18, + 1862, until Aug., 1864. Borne as absent sick from Jan. 8, 1864, until + Aug., 1864. + + Cunningham, John, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. Vols.; + May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, Va. + + Cushing, William S., Priv. Detached from Co. I, 6th Wis. Inf., from + April 18, 1862, until Aug., 1863; Aug. 30, 1862, wounded in action and + borne as absent sick from that time until June, 1863. + + Davis, Albert C., Priv. Jan. 14, 1863, detached from the 12th R.I. + Inf.; July 12, 1863, returned to regiment. + + Davis, Thomas, Priv. Detached from Co. B, 6th Wis. Inf. Borne as + absent sick in General Hospital from Aug. 31, 1862, until Dec. 12, + 1862, when discharged on Surgeon's certificate. + + Dehue, Fritz, Priv. Temporarily detached from Battery L, 2d N.Y. Art., + by order dated Jan. 16, 1864. + + Dinkins, William T., Priv. Temporarily detached from Co. G, 20th + Indpt Inf. Borne as absent sick from Jan. 25, 1863, until July, 1863; + Nov. 10, 1863, slightly wounded at battle of Campbell's Station, + Tenn.; Jan. 5, 1864, discharged and returned to regiment by reason of + re-enlistment. + + Doolan, Patrick, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st + Mass. L. A.; transferred to 9th Mass. Battery by order dated Feb. 9, + 1865. + + Doremus, William, Priv. Temporarily detached from Battery L, 2d N.Y. + Art., by order dated Jan. 16, 1864. + + Dorsay, John, Priv. Jan. 14, 1863, detached from 12th R.I. Inf.; Jan. + 6, 1863, shot by a citizen at Camp Dick Robinson, Ky. + + Dunn, James N., Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st Mass. + L.A.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery. + + Dunwell, William, Priv. Jan. 14, 1863, detached from 12th R.I. Inf.; + July 12, 1863, returned to regiment. + + Dutcher, William, Priv. Detached from Co. A, 2d Wis. Inf., from May 4, + 1862, until June, 1864. + + Fannon, Joseph, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st Mass. + L.A.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery. + + Fitzgerald, John F., Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st + Mass. L.A.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery. + + Fogerty, Michael, Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from + Battery L, N.Y. Art. + + Fox, Samuel W., Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, temporarily detached from 175th + N.Y. Vols. Borne as absent sick from Nov. 5, 1864, until Nov. 22, + 1864, when he died in hospital at Winchester, Va. + + Gann, Isaac, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. Vols.; May + 11, 1865, returned to regiment by special order dated May 8, 1865. + + Gardner, John, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st Mass. + L.A.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery by special order + dated Feb. 9, 1865. + + Graves, Leander W., Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. + Vols. near Cedar Creek, Va.; Dec. 21, 1864, died at Jarvis United + States Army Hospital, Baltimore, Md., from effect of gunshot wound. + + Griffin, Joseph H., Jr., Priv. Jan. 15, 1863, detached from 7th R.I. + Vols.; Dec. 10, 1864, returned to regiment. + + Griffiths, James, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. + Vols. near Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at + Winchester, Va., by special order dated May 8, 1865. + + Gyett, Lewis, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. Vols., + near Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at + Winchester, Va., by special order dated May 8, 1865. + + Harry, Charles E., Priv. Jan. 14, 1863, detached from 12th R.I. Vols. + Borne as absent sick in hospital from March 19, 1863, until July, + 1863; July 12, 1863, returned to regiment. + + Hastings, John, Priv. Temporarily detached from Co. I, 7th Wis. Inf. + + Hawkins, Orlando S., Priv. Temporarily detached from Co. H, 2d Wis. + Inf. Borne as absent sick from Aug. 22, 1862, until Dec. 21, 1862, + when dropped from rolls. Joined, and borne as absent on detached + service at Knoxville, Tenn., from Dec. 8, 1863, until Jan., 1864. + + Head, Henry P., Priv. Jan. 14, 1863, detached from 12th R.I. Vols.; + July 12, 1863, returned to regiment. + + Helme, Anthony, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N.Y. H.A. Borne + as absent sick in hospital from Oct. 19, 1864, until Dec, 1864; Dec. + 10, 1864, returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, 1864. + + Henon, William, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st Mass. + L. A., at Camp Sheridan, Va.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. + Battery by special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. + + Hill, Eben, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st Mass. + L.A., at Camp Sheridan, Va.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. + Battery by special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. + + Howes, George, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st Mass. + L.A. at Camp Sheridan, Va.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. + Battery by special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. + + Hubbard, Franklin D., Priv. Temporarily detached from Co. D, 6th Wis. + Inf. + + Hudson, William J., Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st + Mass. L.A., at Camp Sheridan, Va. Borne on furlough of fifteen days + from Jan. 21, 1865; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery by + special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. Also borne as N.L. Hudson. + + Johnston, Daniel, Priv. Feb 18, 1864, temporarily detached from + Battery L, 2d N.Y. Art., at Knoxville, Tenn., by special order dated + Jan. 16, 1864. + + Kellogg, McKendry, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N.Y. H.A.; + Dec. 10, 1864, returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, + 1864. + + Knecht, John, Priv. Jan., 1863, detached from 12th R.I. Vols.; July + 12, 1863, returned to regiment. + + LaFont, Louis, Priv. May, 1862, detached from Co. C, 2d Wis. Inf.; + June 8, 1863, killed by a fall at Lexington, Ky. + + LaFountain, John, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. + Vols., near Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at + Winchester, Va., by special order dated May 8, 1865. + + Laich, John T., Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery + L, 2d N.Y. Art., at Knoxville, Tenn., by special order dated Jan. 16, + 1864. + + Lampe, Christian, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N.Y. H.A.; + Dec. 10, 1864, returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, + 1864. + + Lance, Alfred, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. Vols., + near Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment by special + order dated May 8, 1865. + + LaRocke, John, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. Vols., + near Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at + Winchester, Va., by special order dated May 8, 1865. + + LaRose, John, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. Vols., + near Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at + Winchester, Va., by special order dated May 8, 1865. + + LeMay, Peter, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st Mass. + Art., at Camp Sheridan, Va.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to the 9th + Mass. Battery by special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. + + Lewis, Frank, Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery + L, 2d N.Y. Art., at Knoxville, Tenn., by special order dated Jan. 16, + 1864. + + Main, John W., Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st Mass. + L.A., at Camp Sheridan, Va.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. + Battery by special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. + + Main, Joseph H., Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, transferred from Battery A, 1st + Mass. Art., at Camp Sheridan, Va.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th + Mass. Battery by special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. + + Malone, John, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N.Y. H.A. Borne as + absent sick in hospital from Oct. 19, 1864, until Dec., 1864; Dec. 10, + 1864, returned to regiment at Opequan Creek, Va., by order dated Dec. + 3, 1864. + + Maloney, Daniel, Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from + Battery L, 2d N.Y. Art., at Knoxville, Tenn., by special order dated + Jan. 16, 1864. + + Marshall, John, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N.Y. H.A.; Dec. + 10, 1864, rejoined his regiment at Opequan Creek, Va., by special + order dated Dec. 3, 1864. + + Matteson, Robert F., Priv. Jan. 14, 1863, detached from 12th R.I. + Vols.; July 12, 1863, returned to regiment. + + Melvin, Edward, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. Vols., + near Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment by special + order dated May 8, 1865, at Winchester, Va. + + Miller, George, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N.Y. H.A.; Dec. + 10, 1864, returned to regiment at Opequan Creek, Va., by special order + dated Dec. 3, 1864. + + Millett, George L., Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st + Mass. L.A., at Camp Sheridan, Va.; Jan. 22, 1865, died of disease at + Stephenson, Va. + + Mills, Leander F., Priv. Temporarily detached from Co. C, 19th Ind. + Inf. Also borne as Frederick Mills. + + Mitchell, Stephen D.W., Priv. Jan. 14, 1863, detached from 12th R.I. + Vols.; July 12, 1863, returned to regiment. + + Moffatt, George, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. + Vols., near Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at + Winchester, Va., by special order dated May 8, 1865. + + Moore, George, Priv. Sept. 16, 1863, detached from 1st Tenn. Battery, + at Knoxville; Sept. 10, 1863, deserted at New Market. + + Moore, Ira, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st Mass. + L.A., at Camp Sheridan, Va., and borne as absent on detached service + at Hdqrs. M. M. Div., until Feb., 1865; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to + 9th Mass. Battery by special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. + + Morse, George, Artificer. Jan. 5, 1865, detached as private from + Battery A, 1st Mass. L.A., at Camp Sheridan, Va.; Feb. 16, 1865, + transferred to 9th Mass. Battery by special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. + + Mundon, Hosea, Priv. April 21, 1863, detached from Battery C, 7th Wis. + Inf.; June, 1863, returned to regiment. + + Murphy, David S., Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st + Mass. L. A., at Camp Sheridan, Va; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th + Mass. Battery by special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. + + Narrow, Joseph, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. + Vols., near Cedar Creek, Va; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at + Winchester, Va., by special order dated May 8, 1865. + + Nash, Richard, Priv. Temporarily detached from Co. F, 19th Indpt. Inf. + + Nott, Peter, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. Vols., near + Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, + Va., by special order dated May 8, 1865. Also borne as Noll and Kott. + + Palmer, Samuel, Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery + L, 2d N.Y. Art., at Knoxville, Tenn, by special order dated Jan. 16, + 1864. + + Parker, Horace I., Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N.Y. H.A.; + Dec. 10, 1864, returned to regiment at Opequan Creek, Va., by special + order dated Dec. 3, 1864. + + Peterson, Thomas, Priv. Aug. 17, 1863, detached from 100th Ohio Vols., + at Stanford; Feb., 1864, returned to regiment at Knoxville, Tenn. + + Pettis, David, Priv. Jan. 17, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery + L, 2d N.Y. Art., at Strawberry Plains. Also borne as Pettit. + + Pickett, Erastus, Priv. Oct. 15. 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. Vols. + near Cedar Creek, Va. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Nov. 16, + 1864, until Nov. 24, 1864, when he died at Winchester, Va. + + Pollard, John, Priv. Jan. 15, 1863, detached from 12th R.I. Vols.; + July 10, 1863, returned to regiment. + + Potter, Franklin H., Priv. Dec, 1863, detached from 7th R.I. Vols.; + Dec. 10, 1864, returned to regiment at Opequan Creek, Va., by special + order dated Dec. 3, 1864. + + Prouty, Robert A., Priv. Jan. 5. 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st + Mass. L.A., at Camp Sheridan, Va.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th + Mass. Battery by special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. + + Raney, John, Priv. Jan. 14, 1863, detached from 12th R.I. Vols.; July + 12, 1863, returned to regiment. + + Rathbone, George, Priv. Jan. 15, 1863, detached from 7th R.I. Vols.; + Dec. 10, 1864, returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, + 1864, at Opequan Creek, Va. + + Reed, Charles, Priv. Temporarily detached from Co. A, 6th Wis. Inf. + + Rengie, Samuel, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N.Y. H.A.; Dec. + 10, 1864, returned to regiment at Opequan Creek, Va., by special order + dated Dec. 3, 1864. Also borne as Resign. + + Rhodes, Charles G., Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. + Vols. near Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at + Winchester, Va., by special order dated May 8, 1865. + + Rice, Richard M., Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. + Vols, near Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at + Winchester, Va., by special order dated May 8, 1865. + + Richards, George, Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from + Battery L, 2d N.Y. Art., at Knoxville, Tenn., by special order dated + Jan. 16, 1864, and borne as absent sick in hospital until March, 1864. + + Ridiker, Theodore, Priv. Aug. 16, 1863, detached from 103d Ohio Vol. + Inf., at Danville, Ky.; March 11, 1864, transferred to 104th Ohio Vol. + Inf. + + Rogers, Silas, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. Vols. + near Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at + Winchester, Va., by special order dated May 8, 1865. + + Roselle, William, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. Vols. + near Cedar Creek, Va. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Nov. + 23, 1864, until Jan., 1865; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at + Winchester, Va., by special order dated May 8, 1865. + + Rowley, George W., Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N.Y. H.A.; + Dec. 10, 1864, returned to regiment at Opequan Creek, Va., by special + order dated Dec. 3, 1864. + + Russell, John B., Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. Vols., + at Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, + Va., by special order dated May 8, 1865. + + Schwamb, Charles, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st + Mass. L. A., at Camp Sheridan, Va.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th + Mass. Battery by special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. + + Seymour, John N., Priv. Detached from Co. B, 2d Wis. Inf., from May 2, + 1862, until April 18, 1864. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Aug. + 12, 1863, until Dec., 1863. + + Shannon, Edward, Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st + Mass. L. A., at Camp Sheridan, Va.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th + Mass. Battery by order dated Feb. 9, 1865. + + Smith, John H., Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st Mass. + L.A., at Camp Sheridan, Va.; Feb 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. + Battery by special order dated Feb. 9, 1865. + + Smith, Reuben, Priv. Aug. 17, 1863, detached from 103d Ohio Inf. Borne + as in hospital from April 26, 1864, until May, 1864; June 19, 1865, + returned to regiment at Winchester, Va., by order dated June 17, 1865. + + Somers, John, Priv. Reported as temporarily detached from 12th R.I. + Vols.; returned to regiment, term of service having expired. Name not + borne on rolls of 12th R.I. Vols. + + Stamford, William, Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from + Battery L, 2d N.Y. Art., at Knoxville, Tenn., by special order dated + Jan. 16, 1864. + + Starkweather, Melvin M., Priv. Temporarily detached from Co. D, 7th + Wis. Inf. + + Steinberg, Surgen, Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from + Battery L, 2d N.Y. Art., at Knoxville, Tenn., by special order dated + Jan. 16, 1864. + + Sullivan, Patrick, Priv. Temporarily detached from 19th or 20th Ind. + Inf. + + Sutliff, James, Priv. Jan., 1863, detached from Co. C, 12th R.I. + Vols.; July 12, 1863, returned to regiment. + + Taylor, Charles, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. Vols. + near Cedar Creek, Va. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Oct. 19, + 1864, until Nov. 11, 1864, when he died at York, Pa. + + Terry, Maurice, Priv. Jan. 15, 1863, detached from Co. H, 7th R.I. + Vols. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Sept. 1, 1864, until Dec. + 10, 1864 when returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, 1864. + + Tierny, John, Priv. Jan. 17, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery + L, 2d N.Y. Art. Borne as absent sick in hospital from Feb. 20, 1864, + until March, 1864. + + Toland, John, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. Vols. near + Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at Winchester, + Va., by special order dated May 8, 1865. + + Tuckerman, James F., Priv. Jan. 15, 1863, detached from Co. C, 7th + R.I. Vols. Borne as absent sick in hospital from July 29, 1863, until + Aug., 1863; Dec. 10, 1864, returned to regiment at Opequan Creek, Va., + by special order dated Dec. 3, 1864. + + Vosburg, Ira, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N.Y. H.A.; Dec. + 10, 1864, returned to regiment by special order dated Dec. 3, 1864, at + Opequan Creek, Va. + + Wardbuger, Jacob, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N.Y. H.A.; + Dec. 10, 1864, returned to regiment at Opequan Creek, Va. Also borne + as I. Waldberger. + + Warner, Harmon, Priv. Oct. 15, 1864, detached from 175th N.Y. + Vols. near Cedar Creek, Va.; May 11, 1865, returned to regiment at + Winchester, Va., by special order dated May 8, 1865. + + Weaver, George, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N.Y. H.A.; Dec. + 10, 1864, returned to regiment at Opequan Creek, Va., by special order + dated Dec. 3, 1864. + + Weaver, George H., Priv. Jan. 15. 1863, detached from 12th R.I. Vols. + Borne as absent sick from Jan. 25, 1863, until March 15, 1863, when + discharged for disability from General Hospital. + + Webb, George A., Priv. Jan., 1863, detached from 12th R.I. Vols.; July + 12, 1863, returned to regiment. + + Werner, Frederick, Sergt. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from + Battery L, 2d N.Y. Art., at Knoxville, Tenn., by order dated Jan. 16, + 1864. + + Wheelock, Charles C., Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st + Mass. L.A., at Camp Sheridan, Va.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th + Mass. Battery, by order dated Feb. 9, 1865. + + Whitney, Henry, Priv. May 4, 1864, detached from 14th N.Y. H.A.; Dec. + 10, 1864, returned to regiment at Opequan Creek, Va. + + Wick, George, Priv. April 24, 1862, detached from Co. K, 2d Wis. Inf.; + Feb. 2, 1865, mustered out by reason of expiration of term of service. + + Wilhelm, John, Priv. Feb. 18, 1864, temporarily detached from Battery + L, 2d N.Y. Art., at Knoxville. Tenn., by order dated Jan. 16, 1864. + + Wilson, Daniel G., Priv. Jan. 5, 1865, detached from Battery A, 1st + Mass. L.A.; Feb. 16, 1865, transferred to 9th Mass. Battery by special + order dated Feb. 9, 1865. + + Winsor, Chauncey A., Corp. Temporarily detached from Co. A, 6th Wis. + Inf. + + Worden, Charles H., Priv. Jan. 15, 1863, detached from 7th R.I. Vols.; + Feb. 18, 1863, died of disease in Hampton General Hospital. + + +[Illustration: THE END] + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Battery D First Rhode Island Light +Artillery in the Civil War, by George C. Sumner + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 58833 *** |