CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GIFT OF Anonymous Cornell University Library E528.7 3d Shot and shell: olln 3 1924 030 915 817 /^ / ^f "^ -^ COT, TJATHAKIEL W. BROWIT. S'*" Reg* B I Vol Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030915817 il)ot on^ il|ell: THE THIRD RHODE ISLAND HEAVY ARTILLERY REGIMENT In the Rebellion, 1861 -1865. CAMPS, POETS, BATTBEIES, GARRISONS, MARCHES, SKIRHOSHES, SIE&ES, BATTLES, AND VICTORIES ; ALSO, THE ROLL OF HONOR AND ROLL OP THE REGIMENT. ILLUSTRATED WITH PORTRAIT, MAPS, AND SCENES. Rev. FREDERIC DENISON, A. M., Chaplain, And Corresponding Member of R, I. His. Society. PROVIDENCE : Published for the Third E. I. H. Art. Vet.. Association, By J. A. & K. A. KBID, . , 1879. ' '^ Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1879, by CHARLES H. WILLIAMS, Trustee for Third Rhode, Island Heavy Artillcnj Veteran AssociAXtion, In the office o£ the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. INSCRIBED W^9 JIBarl^grs of yrppboni, WHO, BEING DEAD, YET SPEAK ; AND TO ALL WHO BRAVELY STOOD IN THE BREACH IN THE HOUR OF OUK COUNTRY'S PERU. " O Beautiful ! My Country 1 ours once more 1 Smoothing thy gold of war-disheveled hair O'er such sweet hrows as never other wore, And letting thy set lips, Freed from wrath's pale eclipse, The rosy edges of their smile lay bare, What words divine of lover or of poet . Could tell our love and make thee know it, Among the Nations bright beyond compare ! What were our lives without thee ? What all our lives to save thee? We reck not what we gave thee : We will not dare to doubt thee ; But ask whatever else, and we will dare." —Lowen. PREFACE. We give important records of a memorable struggle : the story of the voluntary services of more than two thousand men aiding their country in her unparalleled civil strife of four years. Justly the Veterans of the Third Rhode Island Heavy Artillery Regiment have felt it a duty owed to them- selves, to the State and to the nation, to secure in a permanent form the substance of the record they made by toils, sufferings and achievements, in co-operation with the great army of the republic, in maintaining our priceless government and overthrowing the great political heresy and evil of our times. The part we acted, and the losses we endured, belong to the story and glory of our land. Stranger than fiction will be found the sober tmth of our toils and triumphs in Georgia, South Carolina and Virginia. Painter and poet maj"^ here find thrilling themes. Though our record was demanded immediately upon the close of our service, the nature of the work, involving the collection of the material, the leisure and disposition of authorship, and the responsibility of publication, made it ilnpracticable till the Veterans had united in an Association. No pains have been spared to make our record accurate. We give only summary views of the conflict, and pass by necessity to the particular work given to our hands. It must suffice us to give our regi- mental experiences — strange and momentous enough for one volume, since the execution of the heaviest siege work of the war fell to our lot, and our guns were engaged from the everglades of Florida to the Capital of the Con- federacy. Our successors will wish to know not only the minute facts, but as well the animus of the conflict, and hence our justification in introducing into our narrative so many incidents, anecdotes and observations, which will best reveal the spirit of the strife. We aim to be brief in words, but abundant in facts. 6 PREFACE. Our material has been drawn from our own papers, the archives of state, journals and diaries of officers and men, articles for publication penned in th£ field, orders and reports of military chiefs, and special papers prepared by comrades. As best conforming to our design, the journal structure of narrative has been adopted. All readers will wish to know the dates of the events, and some will read our history 'in the far years to come, and they will particu- larlj' prize the names, dates and incidents. Really the full history of the war must be looked for in the histories of the regiments that were engaged in it. Adjutant G. O. Gorton, with his characteristic kindness and fidelity, has both furnished recollections, and with great labor prepared, corrected and wisely arranged our regimental roll. The names of the officers and men who have furnished contributions will generally be found in connection with their communications ; but we would especially express our indebtedness to Colonel Metcalf ; Generals Bray- ton, Rogers and Ames ; Majors Metcalf and Barker ; Captains Burroughs, Churchill, Greene and Shaw, and Lieutenants Williams, Higgins, Bailey and Sabin. In respect to the form, illustrations, and general dress of the volume, the Historical Committee have given generous directions, while the sub- stance of the work has passed their examination. We camp again on hill and shore ; Afresh the foe survey ; And count, with pulsing heart, once more The cannon as they play. Providence, R. /., iS-jg. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. THE SIGNAL GUN OP THE WAB. December, 1860 -July, 1861 Pages 17-20 CHAPTER II. CALL FOR THE REGIMENT. August, 1861 ■ . . . . Pages 21-26 CHAPTER III. COMPLETION OF THE COMMAND. August -September, 1861 Pages 27-30 CHAPTER IV. DRILLING AT FORT HAMILTON, N. Y. September, 1861 Pages 31-36 CHAPTER V. FORWARD TO PORTRESS MONROE, VA. October, 1861 Pages 37-40 CHAPTER VI. FORWARD TO SOUTH CAROLINA. October -November, 1861 Pages 41-45 CHAPTER VII. CAPTURE OF PORT ROYAL, S. C. November, 1861 Pages 46-50 8 CONTENTS. CHAPTER VIII. FORTS AND OUTPOSTS. November -December, 1861 Pages 51-55 CHAPTEE IX. EBCONNOITERING SERVICE. December, 1861 . . , Pages 56-58 . CHAPTEE X. GUNS ON OTTER AND ST. HELENA ISLANDS. December, 1861 -May, 1862 Pages 59-62 CHAPTEE XI. HILTON HEAD ENTRENCHMENTS. December, 1861 -March, 1862 Pages 63-65 CHAPTEE XII. SIEGE BATTERIES ON TYBEE ISLAND, GA. January -April, 1862 Pages 66-68 CHAPTEE XIII. GUNS ON JONES, BIRD AND LONG ISLANDS. January -April, 1862 Pages 69-74 CHAPTEE XIV. CAPTURE OP PORT PULASKI. April, 1862 Pages 75-81 CHAPTEE XV. ARMY AND NAVY OPERATIONS. May -June, 1862 Pages 82-84 CHAPTEE XVI. FIRST ADVANCE ON CHARLESTON. May -June, 1862 Pages 85-91 CHAPTEE XVII. BATTLE OF SECESSIONVILLE, JAMES ISLAND. ^^^^'^^^^ Pages92-98 CONTENTS. 9 CHAPTER XVIII. SCENES FOLLOWING THE BATTLE. June, 1862 Pages 99-105 CHAPTER XIX. RETURN TO HILTON HEAD. July-September, 1862 Pages 106-112 CHAPTER XX. EXPEDITIONS ON THE FRONT. October, 1862 . . Pages 113-115 CHAPTER XXI. BATTLE OF POCOTALIGO. October, 1862 Pages 116-119 CHAPTER XXII. THE YELLOW FEVER AND DEATHS. i October-November, 1862 Pages 120-124 CHAPTER XXIII. THANKSGIVING AT FORT PULASKI. November, 1862 . . ' Pages 125-127 CHAPTER XXIV. CAMP LIFE AND OUTLOOK. , December, 1862-January, 1863 Pages 128-134 CHAPTER XXV. PREPARATIONS FOR HEAVY WORK. , February-March, 1863 Pages 135-142 CHAPTER XXVI. SECOND ADVANCE ON CHARLESTON. April, 1868 Pages 143-146 CHAPTER XXVII. LOSS OF THE " GEORGE WASHINGTON." (April, 1863 Pages 147-150 10 CONTENTS. CHAPTEE XXVIII. WATCHING AND WAITING. April-May, 1863 Pages 151-154 CHAPTEE XXIX. EXPEDITION UP THE COMBAHEE. June, 1863 Pages 155-157 CHAPTEE XXX. DESTRUCTION OF DAEIEN. June, 1863 Pages 158-159 CHAPTEE XXXI. BATTLE OF LIGHT-HOUSE INLET. July, 1863 Pages 160-166 CHAPTEE XXXII. ASSAULTS UPON FORT WAGNER. July, 1863 Pages 167-170 CHAPTEE XXXIII. BREACHING BATTERIES. July-August, 1863 Pages 171-178 CHAPTER XXXIV. THE SWAMP ANGEL. August, 1863 Pages 179-182 CHAPTEE XXXV. PALL OP PORTS WAGNER AND GREGG. August-September, 1863 Pages 183-187 CHAPTEE XXXVI. DEMOLISHING PORT SUMTER. September-October, 1863 Pages 18&-t97 CHAPTEE XXXVII. SHELLING THE CITY OP CHARLESTON. November-December, 1863 p^^g^g jgg_2(yi CONTENTS. 11 CHAPTER XXXVIII. SONGS OF THE PREEDMEN. December, 1863 Pages 208-209 CHAPTER XXXIX. WINTER IN FORT PULASKI. December, 1863 January-April, 1864 January-February, 1864 February, 1864 CHAPTER XL. RE-ENLISTMENT OP VETERANS. CHAPTER XLI. SCENES ON THE SAVANNAH. CHAPTER XLII. BATTLE OF OLUSTEE, FLA. March-April, 1864 January- June, 1864 April-June, 1864 June, 1864 July, 1864 CHAPTER XLIII. INCIDENTS AT PORT PULASKI. CHAPTER XLIV. SIEGE GUNS ON THE FRONT. CHAPTER XLV. WORK OP OUR LIGHT GUNS. CHAPTER XLVI. HONORS ON MORRIS ISLAND. CHAPTER XLVII. ACTION ON JAMES ISLAND. Pages 210-215 Pages 216-219 Pages 220-224 Pages 225-228 Pages 229-232 Pages 233-242 Pages 243-250 Pages 251-253 Pages 254-255 12 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XLVIII. ATTACK ON POET JOHNSON. July, 1864 Pages 256-259 CHAPTER XLIX. INCIDENTS ON THE FRONT. July-August, 1864 I'ages 260-264 CHAPTER L. BENEVOLENCES ON THE FRONT. August, 1864 Pages 265-267 CHAPTER LI. BATTLE OF GAINESVILLE, FLA. May- August, 1864 Pages 268-269 CHAPTER LII. PRISON EXPERIENCES OF GEORGE H. LUTHER. August, 1864-March, 1865 Pages 2'70-275 CHAPTER LIU. RETURN OF THE THREE YEARS' MEN. August-September, 1864 Pages 276-279 CHAPTER LIV. VETERAN GUNNING. October-December, 1864 Pages 280-283 CHAPTER LV. BATTLES OF HONEY HILL AND DEVEAUX NECK. November-December, 1864 Pages 284-288 CHAPTER LVI. BREAKING THE REBEL FRONT. December, 1864-February, 1865 Pages 289-29S CHAPTER LVII. SURRENDER OF CHARLESTON. February, 1865 Pages 294-301 CONTENTS. 13 CHAPTER LVIII. THE PALLING CONFEDERACY. March-April, 1865 Pages 302-306 CHAPTER LIX. RE-RAISING THE FLAG OP SUMTER. April, 1865 Pages 307-309 CHAPTER LX. OUR FIELD GUNS IN VIRGINIA. June, 1864-June, 1865 Pages 310-313 CHAPTER LXI. EVACUATION OP RICHMOND. April-May, 1865 Pages 314-316 Chapter lxii. THE PINAL SHOTS OF THE WAR. April-geptember, 1865 Pages 317-324 CHAPTER LXIII. DISMOUNTING THE GUNS. September, 1865 Pages 325-331 CHAPTER LXIV. ARMY HYMNS. 1863 Pages 332-333 ■ CHAPTER LXV. ROLL OF HONOR. 1861-1865 Pages 334-335 ■ CHAPTER LXVI. ROLL OF THE REGIMENT. 1861-1865 Pages 336-362 i CHAPTER L XVII. VETERAN ASSOCIATION. 1872-1877 Pages 364-368 '^ ; :f LIST OF ENCOUNTERS Page 324 Portraits, Maps and Scenes. POETKAIT OF COL. N. W. BROWN Frontispiece. FORTRESS MONROE IN 1861 Page 38 MAP OF THE SOUTHERN STATES .... Opposite 41 MAP OF COAST « PLAN OF BATTLE AT PORT ROYAL HARBOR .... 49 FORT WALKER 51 FORT BEAUREGARD 53 STONE FLEET BLOCKADE 57 POPE'S HOUSE AT HILTON HEAD 64 MARTELLO TOWER, TTBEE ISLAND 66 BREACH IN FORT PULASKI 76 THE PLANTER 83 HEAD-QUARTERS OF GENERALS HUNTER AND MITCHELL . 86 DRAYTON'S MANSION FORT PULASKI NEW IRONSIDES AND MONITORS 144 LIVE OAKS AT PORT ROYAL SIEGE OF CHARLESTON 161 FORT WAGNER AT POINT OF ASSAULT 168 BOMB AND SPLINTER PROOF 172 SWAMP ANGEL BATTERY 180 FORT SUMTER AFTER THE BOMBARDMENT .... 190 BEACON HOUSE ARMY SIGNAL TELEGRAPH FORT WAGNER (SEA FRONT) DB. FRIEND'S HOUSE . 192 199 240 244 BULLET PROOF IN THE WOODS 247 PONTOON BRIDGE AT JONES' FERRY DEFENCES OF RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG CHAPIN'S BLUFF INTERIOR OF FORT STEADMAN GENERAL GRANT'S HEAD-QUARTERS MCLEAN'S HOUSE, PLACE OP LEE'S SURRENDER PLACE OF .JOHNSTON'S SURRENDER ARMY HUTS 291 303 306 311 315 318 320 326 3n ()|U^monam+ COLONEL NATHANIEL W. BROWN Page 121 SURGEON HORATIO G. STICKNET 367 QUARTERMASTER WALTER B. MANTON 120 CAPTAIN JEREMIAH LANAHAN 108 FIRST LIEUT. LATHAM T. BABCOCK 365 FIRST LIEUT. GEORGE CARPENTER 100 FIRST LIEUT. GEORGE W. GREENE 367 FIRST LIEUT. HENRY HOLBROOK 177 FIRST LIEUT. EDWIN W. KEENE 320 FIRST LIEUT. FREDERIC METCALF 276 FIRST LIEUT. JOHN MORROW, JR 365 FIRST LIEUT. A. RICHMOND RAWSON 153 FIRST LIEUT. JOSIAH W. ROBINSON, JR 365 SECOND LIEUT. JOHN AIGAN 367 SECOND LIEUT. ERASMUS S. BARTHOLOMEW ... 99 SECOND LIEUT. ROBERT SLATTERY 365 CHAPTER I. THE SIGNAL GUN OF THE WAE. Bbcbmbek, 1860 — July, 1861. A ruthless wrong's eruptive fire. However the fact may be disguised by special pleading, the signal gun of our Civil War was forged and fired by Slavery. In that hoary abuse was born and developed the giant Rebellion. The North had thrown off the ancient semi-barbaric system. The young and growing West had reso- lutely refused to adopt the depressing, thriftless wrong. In the South, however, the slaveholders educated and deeply involved in the peculiar institution, regarded it as justifiable and even christian, and could not brook the opposition and reproofs brought against it by the majority of the nation. Adopting, therefore, for a plea, and conscientiously on the part of many the theory of state rights as against the national sovereignty, the slave states finally planned and inaugurated the disastrous revolt. The revolting states went out as follows : South Carolina, Dec. 20, 1860 ; Mississippi, Jan. 9, 1861 ; Florida, Jan. 10 ; Alabama, Jan. 11 ; Georgia, Jan. 19 ; Louisana, Jan. 26 ; Texas, Feb. 1 ; Virginia, April 17 ; Arkansas, May 6; Tennessee, May 7; North Carolina, May 20, 1861. Their preliminary organization was at Montgomery, Alabama, Feb. 4, 1861 ; their full formation occurred March 11, 1861. The first gun of the Rebellion was fired on the Star of the West, off Charleston Harbor, on the 10th of January, 1861, while that vessel was endeavoring to bear supplies to Major Anderson in Fort Sumter. But the gun that woke the whole land and set ablaze every loyal heart, was fired by order of General Beauregard, in the name of the Confederates, at half-past-four o'clock in the morning of Friday, April 12, 1861. The stroke was dealt from Cummings Point, on Morris Island, upon Fort Sum- ter and its loyal, heroic garrison. On that Point our regiment was des- tined to show the greatest gunnery of the world. April 15. President Lincoln, as Commander-in-chief of the forces >f the United States called for seventj^-five thousand volunteer troops 2 18 SHOT AND SHELL. [^P^l, from the states, to serve three months, and at the same time summoned an extra session of Congress to meet July 4. The Confederate States were already in arms and resolved upon the capture of Washington. From every loyal State the President's call was instantly and enthusitically an- swered. On the 19th of April Massachusetts blood ran in the streets of Baltimore. Before the middle of May three hundred thousand men had offered themselves for the defence of the Union. The rebels in arms pressed to the soil of Virginia and resolved to beleaguer the Capital of the nation. The lines between Freedom and Slavery were drawn and bristled with' swords and guns. In defence of the adopted Constitution of the Confederate States, the Vice-President of the Confederacy, A. H. Stevens, in his memorable speech, March 21, 1861, said: " The new Constitution has put at rest former all the agitating questions relating to our peculiar institution — African Slavery as it exists among us — the proper statxis of the negro in our form of civilization. Tins was the immediate cause of the late rupture', and present revolution." " Our new Government is founded upon exactly the opposite ideas (tO; those of Jefferson) : its foundations are laid, its corner-stone\ rests upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, — sub- ordination to the superior race, — is his natural and moral condition.' (Applause). This, our new Government, -is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this, great physical, philosophical and moral truth." On the 23d of April the Richmond Examiner, thus spoke : — "The capture of Washington City is perfectly within the power of Vir- ginia and Maryland, if Virginia will only make the effort by her constituted authorities ; nor is there a single moment to lose. The entire population^ pant for the onset." . . "From the mountain tops and valleys to the shores of the sea, there is one wild shout of fierce resolve to capture Wash- ington City at all and every human hazard. The filthy cage of unclean birds must and will assuredly be purified by fire. . . . It is not to be en- dured that this flight of Abolition harpies shall come down from the black- North for their roosts in the heart of the South, to defile and brutalize the land." •■••■■...... m " Our people can take it — they will take it — and Scott the arch-trait<^ and Lincoln the Beast, combined, cannot prevent it." . . . "Many indeed will be the carcasses of dogs and caitiflfs that will blacken the ail' upon the gallows, before the great work is accomplished. So let it be." In that controUing Providence whereby all human affairs are shaped W bring forth the praise of the Divine Ruler and the ultimate good of manldnd, the hour had now arrived for the overthrow of the monstrous wrong of our land and the regeneration of our political life. -?861.] THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 19 No patriotic American citizen could hold himself aloof from the vast agitation, or be indifferent to the destinj- of the continent now to be recast in the fires of the conflict. While the nations of the old world had often and confidently predicted that our free, representative republic would ulti- mately be a failure, since it would never bear the strain of a civil war — brother armed against brother — a trial sure to come to every nation, the loyal people throughout the land recognized the greatness of the hour that had unexpectedly come, and deeply, religiously inquired for the path and particular steps of duty. The question was. Are we a nation, or are we a mob? At its outbreak the Eebelhon was quite imperfectly measured by both parties. It proved to be, in the numbers engaged, in the treasure and blood expended, and in its issues, one of the great wars of the world. Both parties in the strife, taken as a whole, were sincere, and therefore deter- mined. Their chosen principles were antagonistic, and hence all was staked on the struggle for their ascendancy. The rebels fought like cru- saders. The loyal armies fought hke martyrs. Providence concealed the greatness of the conflict and the grandeur of its issues, that all might act freely, and that the wrong might finally bring to pass its own utter over- throw. The war was a battle of ideas — a struggle of principles — the mighty grapple of the opposing forces aiming to dominate our country and shape the destiny of our continent. Not for a moment let it be supposed that the wonderful uprising of the people in the free states, that so greatly disappointed the people in the seced- ing states, and so astonished the nations of the old world, was the ebuUition of passion, or the unthinking impulse of mere patriotic feeling. The devotion of the North and West to the Union and the Constitution was grounded in deep and sacred principles, in their love for their own freedom and the free- dom of their fellow men . Their principles were not merely inherited from their fathers, but were founded in their religious convictions and doctrines. For long years they had intently watched and studied the strategy and struggles of the slave-power to control our country, and now that it had madly lifted up arms against the republic, they were prepared to meet and resist it at all I hazards. Historically viewed from the present date (1879), it is evident that the subhmest political and moral results attached to our civil strife.. What could not have been foreseen, and what no one anticipated, has, by direc- tion of Providence, followed the great struggle. It may be said that our Revolutionary War with England was our nation's natural birth. But in our Civil War our nation experienced its regeneration — a second and diviner life. The first war gave us personality and independence. The second war gave us freedom, manhood, brotherhood, and unconquerable principle. Moreover, it virtually decided the character and fate of North America as well as of our country. In short, never was there a more important war on 20 SHOT AND SHELL. [May. the face of the earth. Slavery battled with Freedom and fell. It dug its own grave and perished in endless disgrace. Were it our province to philosophize in this our brief narrative of regi- mental experiences, we should venture to observe how timely, in the order of Providence, occurred the great conflict between the irreconcilable forces of Freedom and Slavery. It had been foreseen that the struggle was sure to come, though it had not been expected so soon. Surely we were not pre- pared for it before, as, for success, we needed not simply men and money, but also, and in a special sense , the advantages of machinery, of steam ships, steam cars, telegraphs and improved guns of all calibres. Not only was Slavery ripe, but Freedom was in a state of development to meet it. Had the " irrepressible conflict "been delayed, it would in the end have been only the more terrible and destructive. Indeed, we had reached the point where the barbarous wrong must be sloughed or the national bodj' would lapse into decay and death. But God had predestined the overthrow of the crime, and the renovation of the republic. Every nation has its own method of reasoning, growing out of, and con- sistent with, its own life and historic teachings. Absolute monarchies have their peculiar modes of thinking, consistent with their absolutism, and making no account of the wishes and abilities of the masses of the people. Limited monarchies grant more to the people, or to certain classes of the people, but yet hold to arbitrary power and the virtues of royalty. Only republicanism has faith in a government "of the people, by the people, and for the people." This will explain why, in our struggle, we had so little real and effective sympathy from foreign nations. Reasoning from their own old historic grounds and established precedents, they did not, and in ;; fact could not comprehend us. In truth, it is hard for any people to have faith in what they have never experienced. CHAPTER 11 CALL FOR THE REGIMENT. August, 1861. To do or die for Freedom's sake. In answer to President Lincoln's call, Rhode Island, equally with her sisters, responded by patriotic words and deeds. A little sister in the group, But on her trow the seal of Hope. Throughout all her borders were throbbing hearts and ready hands. Instantly she sent her First and Second Infantry Regiments with Light Artillery Batteries attached, to aid in defending the national Capital, and, as it proved, to wet with valiant blood the Plains of Manassas. Other of her brave sons stood waiting to follow their brothers to the perilous field. Governor Sprague and the leading men of Rhode Island were equal to their duty and the demands of the hour. Troops were freely offerd as they were needed. Immediately upon the departure of the Second Regiment for the front, plans were laid for the foimation of a Third. Nor when the battle stroke fell so disastrously upon our First and Second Regiments with our Batteries, July 21st, at Bull Run, was there any abatement of patriotic fervor or the spirit of sacrifice, but rather an increase. The spirit of freedom and of sacrifice was native to Rhode Island. " Roger Williams was the incarnation of the idea of soul liberty; the town of Providence became its organization." In her days of loyalty to England, in the '« old French war," " more than one-quarter of the eflTective force of Rhode Island was at one time, on sea and land, in privateers, in the royal fleets, and in the camp^ learning the stern lessons of war." " To the town of Providence is due the honor of priority in the national movement for a Con- tinental Congress." " The Assembly of Rhode Island was the first to elect delegates to that Congress." The "first blow for Freedom " was struck in Narragansett Bay in the capture of the Gaspee June 10, 1772. In 1774 the Assembly took steps for the abolition of Slavery. " Esek Hopkins was commander of the first American fleet, which sailed Feb. 17, 1776, and captured Nassau." On the 1st of May, 1776, the- Assembly " abjured all '22 SHOT AND SHELL. [June, allegiance to the British crown - a declaration of Independence which con- stitutes Rhode Island, by two months, the oldest independent State in America." Her revolutionary wreath is still Greene, and the guns of her Perry in 1812 still sound over Lake Erie. In 1861, when the Rebellion broke on the country, it was a phenomenon to be studied by the patriot and the philosopher to see a people, like those of Rhode Island, eagerly and happily engaged in productive, peaceful pur- suits,— building up their homes, towns and cities, — at once turn from their quiet, dehghtful occupations to gird themselves for a great war, and doing so voluntarily and enthusiastically. By what inspiration did they thus leave the farm, the factory, the fireside, the shop, the mart and all the endearing scenes of life, for the camp, the march, the bivouac, the privations and cer- tain perils of embattled fields ? How was it that, while their own borders were uninvaded, they rose above themselves and sacrificed not only their property and business, but freely offered their lives for the preservation and honor of our country ? " As if the very earth again Grew quiclc with God's creating breath. And from the sods of grove and glen, Kose ranlrs of lion-hearted men To battle to the death." O'er hill and plain and prairie vast Was heard the rallying bugle blast. From the pines that o'erhang Penobscot's breast To the Golden Gate of the distant west, In the holy armor of Freedom dressed The loyal ranks with ardor pressed To meet Kebellion's maddened band And sweep oppression from our land. Beneath the hallowed Stripes and Stars — The holy sign of Freedom's wars — They rallied the right and the true to maintain Like the phalanx of Freedom on Marathon's plalD. When the intelligence of the Bull Run disaster reached Providence the tide of patriotic enthusiasm swelled high through the city. An incident may illustrate the general state of mind. Lieutenant-Governor Arnold J the absence of Governor Sprague, appealed to the citizens for re-enfor| ments for the front. Finding Hugh Hamill (afterwards one of our cd tains) working on the engine of a steamer in the harbor, he inquired if ; could raise a company, and being promptly answered in the afllrmativi promised Mr. Hamill the endorsement of the State. Mr. Hamill wsu so full of the spirit of the hour and of true military heart, that in an instan he slipped off his overalls and tossed both them and his dinner-pail into tb harbor, and started for the military depot. He was, of course, successfu in raising a company. Such were the patriotic heart-beats of bothtli native and adopted citizens of Little Rhody. The great uprising of the North to meet the insurgents and overthro' the Rebellion, was an astonishment to the nations of the earth. At tt 1861.J THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 23 outbreak of the revolt most of the monarchical powers confidently pre- dicted the destruction of our Government. As we had no throne, no dynasty, no ancient national glory, and no enlargement of territory or prospect of spoils for which to battle, it was affirmed that we would not fight at all. It was inconceivable that we would voluntarily lay down vast treasures and even life itself for great ideas alone. Such grandeur of political life, and self-abnegation, for principles and the welfare of others, , was unprecedented, and hence not to be expected. Alas ! that our mother England, after the battle of Bull Run, counted us as dead, and hasted to make friends with our foes. But the Lord of hosts had a purpose for the furtherance of Freedom, and so inspired and girded the North for the great struggle. July 23. General Order No. 42, of the State, was issued, opening as follows : — "Commanders of the several military companies, chartered or otherwise, throughout the State, will at once cause their armories or places of rendezvous to be opened, and will receive enlistments for a Third Eegiment of Infantry and a Battery of Light Artillery, to be mustered into the service of the United States for a period of three years, unless sooner discharged." Although this order was countermanded on the 6th of August, that it might be reconstructed, already several companies had been nearly com- pleted. On the 2d of August there were sixty-eight volunteers at the armory of the National Cadets-; forty-six at the armory of the Mechanics Rifles ; thirty-three at the armory of the Providence Artillery ; twenty- eight at the Infantry armory, and squads in other depots. Enlistments were progressing rapidly at Pawtucket, Woonsocket and Apponaug. So general and fervid was the flame of patriotic zeal among the people that almost countless national flags, great and small, were raised on pajeks, hiU-tops, street crossings, public buildings and private residences. Flag- raisings were largely attended by men, women and children, who listened to stirring speeches and joined in fervently singing our choicest patriotic songs, the "Star Spangled Banner," and " My Country 'Tis of Thee." The red, white and blue dominated all colors, as devotion to our Govern- ment controlled all thoughts and interests. Time, money, and our lives were at the command of our country. Recruiting stations were open "in every centre of population, and troops were moving to their military ren- dezvous. Incessantly the railroads and steamboats were transporting com- pleted commands from the North and East to the seat of Government and to the regions threatened with battle. During the Rebellion the entire forces sent into the service bj' the State of Rhode Island, consisted of eight regiments of infantry, (three for three months, and two for nine months) ; three regiments and one squadron of cavalry, (the squadron for three months) ; three regiments of heavy ar- tillery ; one regiment of light artillery, consisting of eight batteries (two 24 SHOT AND SHELL. [AugUSt, Ught batteries (unattached) for three months) ; and a company of infantry stationed at LoveU General Hospital, Portsmouth Grove, as hospital guards. The numbers enrolled were infantry, 10,832 ; cavalry, 4,394 ; light artillery, 2,979 ; heavy artillery, 5,644 ; navy, 645 ; total, 24,494. Aggregate ex- penditure of State, cities and towns of Rhode Island, $6,500,772.15. All this, be it recorded, was accomplished without resorting to a draft. Such a volunteer record has a lustre. We have mentioned that our regiment had been called for by the State, though for a time the original order was re-called that it might be modified and adjusted to the pressure of circumstances. The order that finally gave us full legal existence and form may be here inserted : — " State of Rhode Island and Pbovidenck Plantations) ) . Adjutant-Genbbal's Office, ' V Providence, August 12, 1861. ) " General Orders, No. 46. " The Third Regiment of Infantry from the State of Rhode Island, will be organized under the direction of Brig-Gen. C. T. Robbins, acting as Colonel, Christopher Blanding, acting as Lieutenant-Colonel, and Peter A. Sinnott, Major, with Brigade-Major Balch as assistant to General Robbins. "The above officers are also constituted a board to examine those who may be recommended by companies for commission to the Commander-in-Chief. " Officers who have enlisted men for this regiment will repdrt immediately with a muster-roll of their non-commissioned officers and privates at the Headquarters of General Robbins, Custom House street. " Companies will be organized in accordance with Orders No. 15 from the War Department, viz. : 1 First Sergeant ; 4 Sergeants ; 8 Corporals ; 1 Drummer ; 1, Fifer ; 1 Wagoner ; 64 Privates. "Each company may recommend officers, 1 Captain, 1 First Lieutenant, andl Second Lieutenant. " The Commander-in-Chief in his anxiety to have men of the highest qualn fications head the Regiments from this State, has delayed the permanent appoints ment of the two highest Field Officers. " Companies will be mustered into the sei'vice of the United States when the muster-rolls are completed and the men have passed a thorough sui'gical examina- tion by Doctors Rivers and Millar, who are assigned to that duty. " Companies will be furnished clothing, arms, equipments, and cooking utensils upon the requisition of the Captains, approved by General Bobbins, upon Quartermaster-General Stead, and will go into camp and be drilled, prepara early marching orders. " General Stead will supply rations for the men until furnished by the Unitei States Government. Companies will cook their own rations. " The Commander-in-Chief takes this opportunity to observe that the State gives to each man mustered into this Regiment a bounty of fifteen dollars ($15), which, with the additional pay from the United States Government, pays thi^ Regiment more than was originally given to the First and Second Regiments. "Rhode Island looks to her soldiers in the field ; and, when circumstances deprive them of the cares and comforts to which they are entitled, she is pledged to supply them. ^ "By order of the Commander-in-Chief, EDWARD C. MAURAN, '■ Adjutant-General Ehode Island Militia."' 1861.J THIRD E. I. H. ARTILLERY. 25- Company C was formed in the armory of the Mechanics Rifles, in. Providence, and like the other companies was fortunate in receiving some members of military education and experience. The first officers were Capt. C. "W. H. Day, First Lieut. Asa A. Ellis, Second Lieut. John Mor- row, Jr. Company D was recruited at the armory of the Pawtucket Light Guard,, in Pawtucket, and was fortunate in its membership, both of officers and men. At its organization the officers were Capt. Pardon Mason, First Lieut. Augustus W. Colwell. Company E was enrolled in the armory of the Providence Artillery, ob- taining its members both in and out of the city, but securing strong hands and wilUng hearts. At first its officers were Capt. James E. Bailey, First Lieut. John D. Eldridge, Second Lieut. Charles H. Spink. Company F, at first an Wsh company, was made up from various parts of the State, and had excellent fighting stock. For officers it had First Lieut. S. S. Rankin, Second Lieut. W. C. Barney. Company G was enlisted from Apponaug and vicinity, in the armory of the Kentish Artillery ; it had the right sort of muscle and nerve from the beginning. It was mustered in Railroad Hall, in Providence, with the fol- lowing officers : Capt. J. H. Gould, First Lieut. Charles R. Brayton, Second Lieut. J. B. Blanding. Company H was made up at Fort Hamilton, on Long Island, from de- tails of the other companies, to complete the regimental organization. Its original officers were Capt. Horatio Rogers, Jr., First Lieut. C. R. Bray- ton, Second Lieut. William C. Barney. Company I enrolled in Railroad Hall, by Captain Hamill, was intended as an Irish company, and had in it some of the best martial qualities of the " Gem of the Ocean." This was the first company mustered into the service, and it entered Camp Ames the same day with Company A. The muster by Colonel Loomis, of the Fifth United States Infantry, occurred in Railroad Hall. Its officers were Capt. Hugh Hamill, First Lieut. J. P. James, Second Lieut. Jeremiah Lanahan. Company K was also originally largely of Celtic stock, furnished from difierent localities, but a unit in patriotic devotion. This company was enlisted by Capt. John Dailey and Lieut. James Moran. At first its offi- cers were Capt. John Dailey, First Lieut. William H. Joyce, Second Lieut.^ James Moran. Companies L and M were added to the original ten companies after ■ the command was raised to a heavy Artillery Regiment, and were recruited in Providence at the armory of the Marine Artillery. They first reached the regiment in the field. They were primarily enlisted for Light Batteries to- be a part of the First Rhode Island Light Artillery (a temporary organi- zation) . Company M was composed of men nearly all of whom stood six feet, and were known as the "Grenadiers." Company L composed of 26 SHOT AND SHELL. [AugUSI shorter men, had the sobriquet of the " Pony Battery." On receiving th order from Governor Sprague transferring these companies to our com mand great dissatisfaction was felt and expressed amongst the men, am they were well nigh mutinous, asserting that they had been sorely deceived The ' ' Grenadiers " especially stood high in their indignation ; but patriot ism shortly overcame all personal feeling. CHAPTER III COMPLETION OF THE COMMAND. August— Septembbb, 1861. The sons of Freedom are her shield.. Aug. 14. By order of General Robbins the regiment went into camp in Warwick, on Spring Green Farm, upon the lands of the late Gov. John B. Francis, in the vicinity of Pawtuxet, the encampment bearing the name of Camp Ames, in honor of Judge Samuel Ames, father of one who after- wards became an honored officer with us. August 15. Though by General Orders, No. 47, the Governor ap- pointed as Captains, C. W. H. Day, Hugh Hamill, John Dailey, T. W. Wrightington, S. S. Rankin, James Stokes, Peter Smith, William Harris, E. McManus, and William Duffee ; as First Lieutenants, J. J. Comstock, Jr., and William Byrne; as Surgeon, F. H. Peekham; as Chaplain, T. Quinn, and requested them to report for inspection, yet only a few of these were actually commissioned and mustered into the command. Light artillery was at this time the special pride of the State ; the heavier arm had its reputation to win, and we were to be the first regiment of volun- teers in this arm to enter the Union army. As Rhode Island was largely a manufacturing State, she had within her borders, especially in her cities and villages, numerous representatives of the old world, who had sought our shores on account of our free institutions and our large remuneration of labor. The larger portion of this foreign- born population was from the Emerald Isle. These lovers of liberty heartily espoused the loyal side in our hour of trial, and were ready to enter the field as soldiers. Governor Sprague at first conceived the idea of making up the regiment of these brave Irishmen. For various reasons — such as the difficulty of finding a sufficiency of officers of that nationality, and the natural opposition to all appearances of caste amongst us — the project was soon abandoned. This will explain how so much Celtic blood V7as found in the first enlistments of the command. Company A was enlisted and drilled at the armory of the National IJadets, on North Main Street, Providence, securing some men and officers 28 SHOT AND SHELL. [AugUSt who had seen previous service. This was the first company to enter Caim Ames, Aug. 14th. The first officers were Capt. Thomas B. Briggs, First Lieut. Thomas Wl^Fry, Second Lieut. M. S. James. Company B was enrolled and drilled in squads at Woonsocket, in the armory of the Woonsocket Guards, during the latter part of August, and was sworn into the service Aug. 31st and Sept. 2d. It then numbered three commissioned officers, Capt. L. C. Tourtelott, First Lieut. A. E, Greene, Second Lieut. George O. Eddy, five sergeants, eight corporals^ and sixtj^-nine privates. Some of its members had previously seen service. This company reached Camp Ames on the 4th of September. August 17. Col. C. T. Bobbins issued his Special Order, No. 1, rela- tive to divine serivce to be held in camp the next day bj^ the Chaplain, and also in reference to roll calls and uniforms ; and Capt. Hugh Hamill, then the officer of the camp, wisely carried all orders into effect, through the acting Adjutant, J. J. Comstock, Jr. Camp life now really began, and the companies as they were formed, appeared to take their places in the command. The restraints of " red tape" at first seemed unnecessariS arbitrary, but all soon saw the wisdom of complying with the regulations, Unavoidably military service is exacting and firm. Obedience to orders and rigid discipline are the characteristics of a proper camp as they are o| the field. t Aug. 19. Capt. Asher R. Eddy, United States Army, was appointef Colonel of the regiment, and Lieutenant-Colonel Blanding was at the same time commissioned as second in command, and the drill and discipline of the regiment were in the hands of the latter. The stern school of the sol- dier absorbed the time and attention of all. To nearly all the duties were new and strange. Dwelhng in tents, handling arms, forming platoons, battalions and columns, and moving as if to meet a deadly foe, were exercises and experiences that demanded study. But the voice of duty made the service cheerful and inspiring. When our camp-flag rose to the air, our cheers and pledges went heaven- ward with it. Beneath its inspiring folds we applied ourselves to the studies and exercises necessary for its defence and honor. And in our hours of preparation and driU the citizens of Rhode Island flocked to oni encampment to speak their words of encouragement and cheer. In the camp with us was Battery D, Rhode Island Light Artillery, under Capt, J. Albert Monroe. We were not without the appropriate inspirations of martial and pati otic music. As with other commands organized during the early stages 7 the war, we made arrangements for a regimental band, which, on the 23d August, was mustered into the service, under W. T. Marshall as Dra Major. Our first hospital steward was Edwin S. Thurber, who very faithful! and acceptably filled his important post. We liad an additional and eft 1.861.] THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 29 iient hospital steward detailed from Company E, in November, Fenner H. Peckham, Jr., son of our surgeon. At this stage of the war, and out of so nany enthusiastic volunteers, it was no easy matter to make a wise selec- ion of commissioned officers. Actual and immediate war demanded officers )f experience if they could be obtained. Aug. 27. Governor Sprague officially announced as appointed officers, Major, Edwin Metcalf ; Captains, T. B. Briggs, George F. Tui-ner, L. C. Courtelott, Hugh Hamill, James E. Bailey, C. W. H. Day, John Dailey, r. H. Gould, George W. Tew, Albert C. Eddy ; First Lieutenants, "William P. Martin, Joseph J. Comstock, Jr., Peter J. Turner, John D. Eldridge, Thomas W. Fry, Asa A. Ellis, S. S. Rankin, Charles E. Brayton ; Second Lieutenants, Jabez B. Blanding, George O. Eddy, James Moran, Charles rl. Spink, Martin S. James, Jeremiah Lanahan, William C. Barney, Jharles G. Strahan. Lieutenant Comstock was appointed Adjutant and Lieut. "William P. Martin, Quartermaster. And immediately to the roster of captains was idded the name of Richard G. Shaw, who, since the war, has borne a com- nission in the Regular Army. Perhaps it might be said of our regiment, more truly than of any other ;hat Rhode Island sent into the field, that we were just the warm-hearted md strong-handed men for mounting and handling heavy guns, and hurling ihot and shell upon the foe. The working element was largely represented imongst us. And our blood, estimated by genealogical records, was of nixed nationalities, hued with the roses of England, the shamrock of [reland, the heather of Scotland, and a little genuine Teutonic tinge. We lappily and strongly represented the composite and libertj'-loving New Engls,nd people — one in heart, and determined to maintain the God-given •ights of men. A person gifted with the prophetic glance, in looking into )ur faces, might have caught the promise of hard and effective blows from IS on our country's enemies. It was too much to expect that, with whatever talents and acquirements ve might have as civilians devoted to peaceful pursuits, we should at once 56 adepts in the exercises and arts of war, that in themselves constitute a profession. Mistakes at first were inevitable. We fraternally withhold he name of the young officer who, in his first essay as a drill officer, )rdered his men to march " endways," and in another instance exclaimed, ' Darn it, can't you double up without being counted off ? " But some of our officers had seen field service in Virginia, besides laving been educated in the State militia. And of those who had never leen on an embattled front, some, hke Major Metcalf," Lieutenant irayton. Captain Rogers, and others, had abilities, education, rank, nd influence, that greatly added to our strength. A few of our number ad known service in foreign lands. ' As with the members of the two regiments that preceded us from Rhode 30 SHOT AND SHELL. [Septcmbei Island to the field, we were the recipients of many unmistakable and substan tial favors from the hands of our fellow-citizens. Men and women, fromal ranks of society, and especiallj' from the wealthy families, not satisfied t( visit om' camp and speak words of cheer, made our officers, companies anc our hospital, presents that were both verj' valuable and useful. Such citizens as were too old, or too young, or too infirm to enlist, were determined to evince their interest in such as girded themselves for the battle. We therefore felt that we went out to the field as representative men. Churches and benev- olent societies — some of them by special labors — aimed to inspire us by their gifts and benedictions. That would be a lengthy catalogue whicli should record the donations we received and the names of the donors. Passing the sentry in imagination, we enter our camp. What a con- trast to our home life. Walk along the lines of tents, in the narrow com- pany streets and gaze on the insignia of war. Go up near the head-quar- ters tent, and stand bj^ the lofty flag-stafl' from which floats the beautiful inspiring standard of the nation — our Star Spangled Banner. Hear the roll of the drum, and the rally of the bugle and the fife. Watch the sol- diers as, in war harness, they file out of the company streets, and, at the vigorous command of officers form into ranks, companies, battalions, and regimental line for drill, review and parade. The swell of martial music, the weighty tread of battaKons, the waving of guidons, the shimmer of muskets and swords, all speak of hostiUty to treason and enthusiastic loy-, alty to law. Our uniform consisted of gray pants, blue blouse and blue cap of the Rhode Island militia pattern. Our arms were the old stvle Springfield rifles. Finally the order came for the regiment to break camp and move toward the seat of war, touching at New York and reporting to G-en. T. W. Sher- man, United States Army. Governor Sprague wishing to review the com- mand, asked Lieutenant-Colonel Blanding at what hour he would leave Camp Ames, and was answered, "Three o'clock, p. m., precisely." The hour came. The music struck, and the column moved, and having gotwell on the road, the Governor's Aid dashed up and said: "Colonel the Gov-, ernor expected to review you before you left your camp." " Where is the Governor?" asked our commmander. "Up the road here a short dis- tance," said the Aid. "I waited, sir, till the time named to move, and then ordered forward my column ; please so inform His ExceUency," said our officer. Returning with this report to the Governor, the Aid soon came back and added, "The Governor says, 'All right!' he will review you here as you pass." Such was Lieutenant-Colonel Blanding's habitual promptness. CHAPTER IV. DEILLING AT FORT HAMILTON, N. Y. Septbmbbe, 1861. The loyal stand for duty girt. Sept. 7. Proceeding to the City of Providence, the regiment formed in I square on Exchange Place, and was appropriately addressed by Eev. A. I. Clapp and Rev. Thomas Quinn, after which we proceeded to the steamer /Ommodore, at Smith's wharf, and embarked for Fort Hamilton, on jong Island, N. Y., then in charge of Gen. T. W. Sherman, United States brmy, who, at that place and at Annapolis, Md., was organizing an Expe- litionary Corps for a blow on the rebel front. Great interest was felt and ixpressed in Providence by the people in our new and muscular command. iVe left Ehode Island amid the waving of flags, the booming of cannon, and I chorus of cheers. Sept. 8. Our steamer grounded off the fort, and the regiment was letained on board all night, sufiering not a little, in some of its members, br want of good drinking water, since, through the unwise kindness of riends, their canteens had been flUed with the " exhilarating" instead of he refreshing beverage. Lieutenant-Colonel Blanding, to impress on the nen a wholesome lesson in reference to providing for marches, was in no laste to slake the thirst of the transgressors. Governor Sprague, joining IS from New York, landed with us on Long Island. While General Sherman had his head-quarters for the time at Governor's Island, the post ivas commanded by Lieut. -Col. Martin Burke, United States Army, and ihe garrison of Fort Hamilton was under Maj. Henry B. Clitz, of the rwelfth Infantry, United States Army. On reaching New York harbor we received the following commu- lication : — " Hbad-Qxjaktebs, Vol. Bbig., New Toek, Sept. 7, 1861. ' The Commanding Officer, Third Begt., B. I. Vols. : — "SiK : I have to request that you will encamp your regiment in the imme- iate vicinity of Fort Hamilton, L. I., at some suitable place convenient for the bjeot herein mentioned. g2 SHOT AND SHELL. [September,- " The commanding officer at the fort will no douht designate to you a proper locality, and will place at your disposal, for drill purposes, Ms field, siege, and iarbette ordnance, and all the necessary implements for their use. " You will immediately proceed to the rapid instruction of your regiment m 1;he elementary school of infantry and artillery. "As the amount of ordnance at the post is insufficient to employ all your officers and men at the same time, you will have sufficient opportunity to dis- <;ipline them in the indispensable infantry branch ; but care should be taken that each and every company is well practiced in the artillery. " Your attention in the artillery branch is especially called to the instruction of your officers and men in the manual of field, siege and garrison (barbette) ar- tillery, in loading and firing with rapidity and judgment, and in moving, mount- ing and dismounting the same. " The officers should receive a course of theoretical instruction in connection . with your practical drill. I shall endeavor to obtain for your assistance one or two artillery officers. ; " Copies of all orders issued by you, you will please furnish these head-quar-, ters weekly, on Saturday. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, T. W. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General Commanding. " This order put us at once upon a heavy artillery status. Our encampment was located on the glacis on the eastern side of the fort. It was in proximity to a regiment of regulars (compo^d now largely of paroled prisoners of General Twiggs' command in Texas; . Said Major Clitz, ^'This is a good place for a camp if you are not compelled to move by these belligerent Regulars." Lieutenant-Colonel Blanding re- plied, " I think the Third Rhode Island boys will remain ; it may possibly be necessary for the Regulars to move." We remained, and gave the Regulars as good as they sent — and won the regards of all the troops at the post. Colonel Burke finally paid us very high compliments. Sept. 10. Lieutenant-Colonel Blanding issued General Order No. 1, naming the camp from General Sherman, and specifying the daily calls ; reveille, 5^ o'clock, a. m. ; police call — putting tents, company ground and the camp in order, following reveille ; peas on a trencher, 7 o'clock; surgeon's call, 8 ; guard-mounting 9 ; companj^ drill, — the manual, follow- ing guard-mounting ; recall, 12 m. ; roast beef, 1p.m.; battaUon or com- pany drill, 2i ; recall, 5^ ; supper, after recall ; retreat, sunset, marked hy ■sunset gun ; tattoo, 9 ; taps 9^ — lights out — all still. Martial music stirred all the air around us. Troops from the East were steadily pressing on thi-ough New York to the seat of war. Washington suffered for a moment a little alarm and we were sent for, but Genen" Sherman was sure that we would be returned to this post. Sept. 14. In obedience to orders from Lieut.-Gen. Winfield Scott, then in command of all the forces of the Union, to report immediately in WashI ington, D. C, to aid in meeting an emergency, we promptly left Fort 1861.] THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 33 Hamilton and proceeded by the steamer Transport to Amboy, and thence by rail through Philadelphia and Baltimore, in both of which cities we shared the hospitality so generously extended to soldiers by the voluntary associa- tions existing in those places. The spirit and bounty of Philadelphia were particularly noticeable and may never be forgotten. On our way to Washington we first formed the acquaintance of the Seventh Connecticut Infantry, under Col. A. H. Terry, a regiment moving to its rendezvous at Annapolis, Md., and destined to be our fast friends in the heavy struggles that lay before us. We can never speak of Colonel (afterwards Major-General) Terry without particular regard. And our military acquaintance on om- route to Washington and in that city became greatly extended. Most hearty visits were exchanged with the Second Rhode Island Infantry, then in Camp Brightwood. From that day on, we seemed, in heart, to be a part of the forces whose objective point was Rich- mond. Sept. 16. Reaching the national Capital we were assigned to Camp Sprague, the spot made historic to us by Rhode Island's First Regiment, of which a number of our officers had been members. We were now associated with the forces that afterwards became the famous Army of the Potomac. We were greatly impressed by our view of Washington, which was then little else than a vast cantonment, where hbsts were drilling and swiftly girding themselves for the great impending strife. It was only too evident that a heavy war was before us. Our generals were diligently planning to meet the growing issues ; only a few, however, were let into their secrets. The alarm which had summoned us to Washington having subsided without requiring the use of our muskets, we were ordered to return to our former post, Fort Hamilton, to await, as we found, a movement from that point by sea. We returned by the route on which we came, again having occasion to bless the Philadelphians. Sept. 22. Reaching Fort Hamilton, we entered once more Camp Sher- man to wait new developments and orders. Muscle and memory were invoked for work. First, we had the full school of infantry drill and parade ; second, we had the heavj' drill on the heavy guns ; third, we had the routine and discipline of camp and gamson. Apt scholars alone could meet all the demands of these varied tactics. Imagine one of our heavy guns and the following drill with it : (1 .) Fall in detachment. (2.) Detachment to post. (3.) Piece in gear — (by hand- spikes). (4.) From battery — (run back on chassis). (5.) Piece to a level — (ready to load) . (6.) Enter cartridge. (7.) Ram cartridge. (8.) Enter shot. (9.) Ram home. (10.) In battery — (forward to position) . (H.) Out of gear — (down on chassis) . (12.) Sight piece — (train on object) . (13.) Elevation of piece. (14.) Prime. (15.) Ready. (16.) Fire. In ictual firing came the spopging, and the forwarding of powder and shell — 3 34 SHOT AND SHELL. [October, four men being required to lift the shot. Our heaviest pieces weighed several tons. Already the command had developed a praiseworthy esprit de corps. General Sherman required of us regular and full reports. These, Lieuten- ant-Colonel Blanding, then in command, promptly made at a given hour. On a certain day, as the report was completed, the rain was descending in torrents, and Adjt. J. J. Comstock, Jr., questioned whether he might not wait a little in forwarding the report, but was instructed to obey the es- tablished order even if it "rained loitchforks. " As he reached head- quarters in the pelting storm, Genei'al Sherman paid him a handsome com- pliment and added, " Give my compliments to Colonel Blanding, and say to him that the Third Rhode Island is made of the grit that I like ; it is a command that I can count on." The Adjutant felt abundantlj' rejDaid for Ms drenching, and the incident was a good one for the command. General Sherman alwaj^s felt a pride in us as his artillerists. As Colonel Eddj' was a Captain in the United States Army on staff ser- vice, and much occupied with that service, he was never more than a nom- inal commander of our regiment. Our n^eds called for a commander to be constantl}' with us. Nathaniel W. Brown who had served with honor as Captain of Company D, of the First Rhode Island Detached Militia, during its three months of service, was, on the 17th of September, appointed our Colonel, and was mustered as such on the 9th of October. On the 5th of October when most of the line and field officers were mus- tered into the service, Lieutenant-Colonel Blanding, who assiduously and effectively trained us, for reasonssatisfactoryto himself, if not to us, declined i to be mustered ; and shortly returned to Providence, R. I., where he aided in raising the Fifth Rhode Island Volunteers, that took the field as a bat- talion under Maj. John, Wright. The subjoined communication will indicate the rank assigned us at this time : — " Hbad-Quaetbbs (Expbditionaey Corps), 1 Washington, D. C, Oct. 2, 1861. ) ■' Colonel Brown, Commanding Third Rhode Island Segiment, Fort Hamilton, N .Y :- "Sib: An officer will be detailed to complete the mustering in of your Eegi- ment. See that it is done promptly. Are you making good progress in the artillery? Great dependence has to be placed in your Regiment. They are all the artillerists we shall have. Tou will move in a few days. Respectfully, T. W. SHERMAN, Brigadier-General." It will readily be beheved that we had not a little pride in the fact that General Sherman was a Rhode Island man. His superior abilities his com- plete soldiership, his elevated rank and just fame, will be an adornment of our State history. 1861.J THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 35 Sometimes the necessary discipline of camp was trying to the trans- gressors and amusing to the beholders. At one time, when Captain Rogers was officer of the day, he had occasion to make an example of a certain offender, and did so by taking a barrel, minus one head and a hole cut in the other, and putting it on the liian like a coat. As the culprit thus stood land walked encased, he was, of course, the laughing-stock of the men. Mortified and mad, he at last walked to the top of the glacis, and laid down and rolled to the foot of the slope near the cook-house, in the vain hope that the barrel would burst in the operation. Even now the men laugh as they recall and describe the " rolling sinner." The scrutinizing reader of our record and roll will discover the fact that several men who were officially appointed by Governor Sprague as officers in our command during the period of its formation, were never formally mustered with the regiment into the United States service. This is ex- plained in part by the choices of the officers themselves, and in part by certain after 'conclusions of the Governor. And it is also proper to state iihat while our regiment was being organized, the State authorities were also engaged in making up the Fourth Regiment of Rhode Island Infantry. Unavoidable haste under such circumstances led to more or less changes. Indeed, some who were recruited for one regiment finally took the field with the other. Oct. 7. The beautiful regimental flag given by the benevolent and patriotic ladies of Providence was formally presented to the command at dress-parade by Major Metcalf, who at the same time made in behalf of the fan* donors an appropriate and impressive address. Oct. 8. Henry H. Warfield (Company C), died of injuries received while working a heavy gun. The first death in our camp was deeply laid to heart. Our lamented comrade received the funeral honors he deserved. Oct. 9. Stephen R. Bucklin, of Pa'wtucket, formerly commander of the Pawtucket Light Guard (State MiUtia) and a captain for three months with 'Company E, of the First Rhode Island Detached Militia, having received his commission as Lieutenant-Colonel, was mustered among us, making our field-roll full. Here at Fort Hamilton we found William H. Hamner, a Sergeant-Major in the Regular Army, who was chosen to give us instruction in the use of the heavy guns. He finally received a commission as Second Lieutenant in our regiment, and was a valuable accession to the command. He was with Major Anderson in Fort Sumter when the rebels assailed that work, and it fell to his lot to draw down the flag when the fort was evacuated. While at Fort Hamilton colors were also thankfully received from Mrs. Martin, of New London, Conn., wife of our Quartermaster. And many valuable articles, for the comfort of the camp and the cheer of our hos- pital, were sent to us by Mrs. Bucklin (wife of Lieutenant-Colonel Bucklin) and other ladies of Pawtucket, R. I. Both at the beginning and through- 36 SHOT AND SHELL. [October. out the war, the patriotism and benevolence of the women in the loyal States well matched the devotion and courage of the men. No record of the war would be complete that did not render to them this high praise. If they might not enter the field in person, the}^ entered it in spirit. In fact, like ministering spirits, the}' did enter the camps and the hospitals, and sent their benedictions to our brave men in all our marches and on all our fields of battle. CHAPTER V, FORWARD TO FORTRESS MONROE, VA. OCTOBEB, 1861. The armies gathering to the front. General Sherman had been vigorously preparing his Expeditionary Corps. His forces were now to be concentrated and fullj- organized for their appointed descent upon the rebel lines. Of our destination we re- mained profoundly ignorant. In war time soldiers may only know their orders. Oct. 12. Animated by the order of " forward to the front," down came tents, together rolled our effects, and we embarked on the large, staunch steamer Cahawba (Captain Baker) and headed south. As the north star receded, the sea winds saluted us and introduced us only too fully into the mysteries of " life ou the ocean wave." Quite too majestically for the strength and equilibrium of our stomachs did the ocean rock our speeding ship ; moreover the rain kept us much between decks. Oct. 14. Running up the Chesapeake, we disembarked in the after- noon, despite the storm, under the imposing walls and guns of Fortress Monroe, and were at once ordered to encamp about a mile beyond the fortress, towards the village of Hampton. We reached our camping- ground — low and now very wet — about 9 o'clock in the evening ; and the water we had to drink was quite distasteful from its intimacy with the Virginia mud. We named our location Camp Hamilton. Of our arrival here we will let Capt. A. E. G-reene give a few incidents : — "And didn't it rain? It is my impression that the regiment felt about as blue at this time as at any period of their service ; at least the writer of this did. But brighter things were in store for at least one officer and a few men. There was a young fellow of a jovial disposition, whom the Woon- socket boys knew at home before the war, by the name of Jim Thayer, but of whom they had not heard for some time. It appears that he had strayed away and joined a New York regiment, and was stationed near Fortress Monroe, and was on detached service in charge of some outside duty which 38 SHOT AND SHELL. [October, in a measure left him free from military routine. Well, it seems that as the regiment was marching through the rain towards their camp, Jim espied • Company B, and knowing how we must feel, and desirious of doing as h& certainly would be done by, made certain arrangements and the next day made his appearance in camp. And the word was passed among the right ones, ' ' Jim Thayer has come and has brought a keg of lager." We greeted Jim heartily and soon made the acquaintance of his lager. And it is wonder- ful how soon things brightened up. A quart of lager inside a fellow who has. been contending all night with the cold and rain makes the world look brighter to him, for a time at least. And as a sort of sequel to the lager, the storm FORTRESS MONROE IN 1861. .1 cleared awa}', and during the remainder of our short staj' hero, we enjoyed! ourselves very much in examining the different camps and, especially, as we were to be artillerists, in inspecting the fortifications and guns in and { around Fortress Monroe." Though our term of artillery study here was short, it was very ser^dceable to us in furnishing hints and general ideas. Our men were quick to accept i the lessons presented to their view. ! While here. Companies A and C exchanged their Springfield rifles for the Whitney rifles with sabre bayonets. Here, too, we laid aside our gray pants and blouse, except for fatigue duty, and drew blue pants and coat^jl 1861. j THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 39 atid donned the genuine regulation fatigue caps common to most of the troops. We may here speak of our first acquaintance with the New York Engi- neers, under Col. E. Serrell. When the}' reached Fortress Monroe in a storm they were wet, chilled, hungry, and short of rations. Remembering our own landing here, we hastened to greet them as true brothers, and immediately furnished them with hot coffee and the rations requisite for their cheer. From that day a warm friendship existed between the com- mands, and the attachment was afterwards further cemented in heavy siege operations. Colonel Serrell was a worthy and efficient officer. Fortress Monroe, commanding Hampton Roads, Norfolk, and James River, is built of brick and stone, and encloses an area of sixty acres. Its protecting ditch is 150 feet wide and twenty deep. The work mounts 400 guns. Opposite the fortress, in the middle of the Roads, is an old fortifica- tion now known as the Rip Raps, used as a place of imprisonment for criminal soldiers and sailors ^ especially those convicted of mutinj'. The village of- Hampton had been laid in ruins by the rebels. They even burned the old church, the bricks for which were brought from England. In the ruins around us we began to learn something of the spirit and reso- lution of the secessionists with whom we were soon to contend. Our study of Hampton Roads and the surroundings prepared us to afterwards recall the locality with peculiar interest when it became the remarkable theatre of war between the giant Merrimac and the little but mighty Monitor ; an event that marked a new era in our struggle and a new development of modern naval warfare. We could also in thought afterwards look upon the forces here marshalled under McClellan, under Bnrnside, under Butler, under Grant. And we were, in the end of the war, sure that rebel Jeff was " in a tight place " when he found himself a prisoner in Fortress Monroe. As Rhode Island was the first State in the Union to present to the nation a battery of light artillery — the first battery in the history of our country to use rifled field-pieces (James' rified gmis) — so was she also the first to present to the Government a regiment of heavy artillery, ten companies— soon increased to twelve — the- first regiment in our country and in the world to wield monster rifled guns, and with them to achieve such results in reaching distant points and breaching forts of mason work, as have given to our country's gunnery a world-wide reputation, and compelled great modifications in the artillery theories and practices of the world. Our artillery pride, as a regiment, was doubtless not a little quickened from the fact that, among volunteers, we thus held the right of the line in our arm of the service. It enters not into our design, however interesting and instructive the subject might be to some, to give a history of heavy guns and the manner of their construction ; that matter would of itself require a volume. Artil- « 40 SHOT AND SHELL. [October, lerj-, however, in a proper sense, has been known only a few centuries, and has, within the last centurj^ undergone great changes of enlargement, im- provement and efficiency, and now holds very great prominence in warfare. Up to 1860 English artillerists had but little confidence in rifled pieces, either for field or siege work. But rifled field guns were successfully employed by the French, in 1859. Our war, as the history of our regiment will fully show, made a new era in the construction and use of both light and heavy rifled ordnance. Other changes, especiallj' in Germany, have since followed. And as the intricate science of the construction of heavj' guns and the various projectiles, both solid and chambered, is j'et in a state of evolution, we shall be more readilj^ pardoned for not discussing the matter in our narrative. To avoid repetition and save space in our volume, we may here state that we shall not pause in our narrative to give, under their respective dates, all the changes and promotions among the oflJcers of the regiment, but refer the reader to the chapter giving our regimental roll, carefuUj- prepared by our Adjutant, where all such information maj' be found in a succinct and rehable form. We intend, however, to mention, under the right dates, the killed and wounded, and all instances of death from wounds and diseases. Of our experience at Fortress Monroe, Lieut. George Carpenter thus wrote in a home letter : " The rain fairly poured ; the tents were scarcely any shelter, the water dripping down upon us ; and soon the water began to rise around our feet. The men fairly broke and scampered for higher ground. But a Yankee in misery has a happy faculty of joking about it, and the camp rang with jokes and laughter. The tents and bed-sacks were . fished out and the tents were pitched on higher gTound, though there -was small preference in elevation. Our last week there was little else than a continual storm ; wet, dampness and discomfort reigned supreme." The soaked and flooded condition of the Twentieth New York (Turners), camped by our side, furnished a lively cut in the New York Illustrated News ; it might have passed quite well for ours. CHAPTER VI. FORWARD TO SOUTH CAROLINA. October — NovBMBEB, 1861. The stormy sea but glasses life. The secret of our destination was as yet onlj' known to Com. S. F. Dupont and G-eneral Sherman, under whose direction and leadership, in Hampton Roads and at Fortress Monroe, with great care and thoroughness, our expedition was fitted for the capture of Port Royal, South Carolina, the finest harbor on the southern coast — a broad, deep, beautiful estuarj', nearly half-way between Savannah and Charleston, formed by the Broad and Port Royal rivers and various important bayous. This was to be a base of fur- ther advances upon the Confederate front in the south. The fleet consisted of seventeen war vessels, with thirt3--three transports and supply vessels— fifty in all — a fair armada, under the command of Commodore Dupont. The steam transports were the Vanderbilt, Baltic, Atlantic, Ocean Queen, Daniel Webster, Ariel, Empire City, IHinois, Roanoke, Coalzacoal- cos, Star of the South, Osceola, Philadelphia, Union, Marion, Parkersburg, Ericson, Cahawba, Potomac, Locust Point, Ben Deford, Belvidere, May- flower, Oriental, Matanzas, Governor, Peerless, Winfield Scott, and perhaps others not now recalled. The sailing transports were the famous Great Republic, Ocean Express, Golden Eagle and Zenas Coffin. A list of the naval keels is not now before us, but many of their names will appear when we come to their hour of action. The whole fleet, moving in three columns, led by the flag-ship, Wabash, on the sea would occupy an area of twelve miles square. We belonged to the centre column and were near its rear, Where we had a grand view of the whole fleet. The army, commanded by Gen. T. W. Sherman, consisted of three brig- ades, numbering fifteen thousand men, under Brig. -Generals Egbert L. Viele, Isaac I. Stevens, and Horatio G. Wright — all veteran officers. First Brig- ade, Third New Hampshire, Eighth Maine, Forty-sixth, Forty-seventh and Forty-eighth New York ; Second Brigade, Eighth Michigan, Fifth Pennsyl- rania, One Hundredth (" Roundheads") Pennsylvania, Seventy-ninth New 42 SHOT AND SHELL. [November, York ("Highlanders") ; Third Brigade, Sixth and Seventh Connecticut, Ninth Maine, Fourth New Hampsliire. To these were added the Thir|^|, Ehode Island, Hamilton's (late Sherman's) Regular Battery of six rifled pieces, and a battalion of New York Volunteer Engineers under Colonel Serrell, all of which reported directly to General Sherman, whose head- quarters were on the Atlantic. Twenty-five coal vessels to supply neces,, sary fael, were dispatched, under convoy of the Vandalia, one day in advance of the armed command. Oct. 29. All things being in readiness, we moved out of Hampton Eoads on our war mission, with sealed orders. Our regiment was on board the Cahawba, that brought us from New York to Fortress Monroe| and on board of which we had been for six days, waiting for our consortj to complete their preparations. As we put to sea and passed out from the capes of Virginia, the view of our armada, the largest that ever passeif along this coast, was a grand and sublime one. It was evident that heavy work was somewhere intended, though we could not conjecture where. Oct. 30. The morning was pleasant, but soon a strong wind from the southwest raised a' heavy and ugly sea that compelled the two ferry boats, Ethan Allen and Commodore Perry (intended for landing troops) , to back, since the waves dashed over and through them. Oct. 31. With a smoother sea and a mild air, we sped on our way with all our remaining fleet, and greatlj- enjoyed the grandeur of the ocean,, But this was onlj' the lull before what was coming. Nov. 1. In the middle of the day the wind from the southwest in-! creased to a gale. Now we " land-lubbers" were put to our metal. A few amongst us, however, had smelt salt air before, and could box the coni' pass and splice a rope. These, for a time, kept their legs. Some of the vessels hove to ; others scud before the storm. In the night the wind rose to a hurricane. Our noble ship fell into a trough of the sea and made two alarming lurches, turning everything movable upside down, and throwii most of us from our bunks. From the roll of the ship, a heavj- water-cask broke its hampers and rolled with the noise of thunder back and forth across the ship and againl' the companionway. This, with the smash of crockery in the cabin and the general confusion on deck, created such an alarm among the men helo« that they attempted to rush above, but were stopped by the guard, when'* mixed scene occurred, some crying, some swearing, some praying. At this. Sergeant (afterwards Lieutenant) Keene, leaping from his berth|iii shirt, drawers and stockings, flew into the crowd and said : " Stand backl Go below ! Don't be frightened ! This is nothing. It will be time enougl to make a fuss when the craft goes end over end." The Cahawba was a fine transport steamer of seventeen hundred to* and capable of can-ying fifteen hundred troops. Formerly she plied betwej New York and New Orleans, in which latter place she was when the wave] .861.] THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 43 if Eebellion broke on the cit}', and she was seized by a party of Texans, ut was released by the Governor of Louisiana. She was chartered by our Government for war purposes at a cost of $800 per day. Captain Baker fas an accompUshed seaman and gentleman. Thus we were fortunate in ur transport, that, under her skillful commander, securely rode the pond- rous and contending billows. Still, we were not in a mood to sing '• A home ou the rolling deep." f we are not mistaken Neptune's trident is a kind of stomach pump. We had heard of Cape Hatteras, but now we took our hats off before he famous promontory, around which northern and southern winds strug- ;le for the mastery. Here, now, all the furies seemed to be joined in deadly strife. It was a sublime and fearful war of the elements. The allows swelled, and foamed, and broke in awful grandeur. The gale rose ,nd roared, sweeping clouds and seas before it as if it were an infinite ind wrathful power, and the rain fell in torrents. Our navj' and army in his battle shrunk into insignificance. We were the sport of the hurricane. Vliatever we thought of our abUity to meet hostile human forces, we here bought of the measure and irresistibility of Divine power. To add to the aajesty of the hurricane, at one time in the deep darkness of the night the ightning broke above and around us in sheets of flame. We may add a word in reference to the Governor. On her, Henry A. $artlett, son of Hon. John R. Bartlett, Secretary of State of Rhode sland, was a Lieutenant of Marines. She was a transport, under Capt. 5. L. Litchfield, carrying a marine battalion of 350 men, under Maj. J. G. leynolds, and heavily laden with stores. The gale broke her hog-braces, arried away her smoke-stack and rudder-chain ; meanwhile her cylinder- lead blew out and her rudder-head broke. To her signal of distress — nsign half-mast, union down — the Isaac P. Smith and the Sabine iromptly responded, and by the latter all on board save a corporal and ix privates were rescued. The small steamer Peerless, laden with beef cattle, succumbed to the torm, though all the men were rescued by the gunboat Mohican. The propeller Osceola, Capt. J. F. Morrill, loaded with beeves and pro- isions, was driven on the Day Breaker, off North Island, on the coast of (Outh Carolina, where aU on board were taken prisoners. The steamer Union, Capt. J. I. Swain, went ashore off Beaufort, N. C, chere her crew and the soldiers — seventy-three in all — were taken risoners. The Winfield Scott barely escaped, and the Isaac Smith saved herself y throwing her armament into the sea. Driven like chaff before the howUng blasts, our vessels were widely and e feared hopelessly separated. Deep and convulsive sea-sickness pre- liled. Old Neptune ought to have been satisfied with the tribute we paid m. 44 SHOT AND SHELL. [Novembei Withal the protracted voyage produced a tobacco famine, wherein there was not a little suffering ; a plug of the narcotic constituted quite a| capital ; some men offered a dollar for a chew ; some men exercised theii benevolence; others indulged in speculation; we realized how great .aj thing a habit is. Doubtless Dr. Stickney could have told us something about the loss of certain hospital stores, in the hold of the ship, during the voyage, such m case of whiskey, broken more by bayonets than the billows, and some of tie liquorice. All will recollect a very pungent odor that filled the whoffl ship, from a bottle of valerianate of ammonia, broken by the intrudtS^ upon the medical stores. The tell-tale perfume and the condition of certail of the marauders revealed the whole story. Nov. 3. By evening twentj'-five vessels hacl anchored off Port Eoyal bar, which was about ten miles from the coast. Before us lay the prize we sought, the splendid harbor, around wMd lay the islands of Hilton Head and Pinckney on the south ; St. Philip; Hunting, Helena, Paris and Port Royal on the north and west. The parish — St. Luke's — of which these islands formed a part, was the riehei agricultural district in South Carolina, with a population of about thiitj- nine thousand, of which thirty-two thousand were negroes. These islandi| and particularly the city of Beaufort, on Port Royal Island, were tli favorite summer resorts of the wealthy planters and leading men in SontI Carolina. Here, perhaps, more than in anj' other region, was planned an! nurtured the unrighteous scheme of secession. It will be remembered by historical students that Port Royal hark was first entered by and received its name from the Huguenot colonj, under the famous navigator Jean Ribault, of Dieppe, May 27, 1562, whei a small but unsuccessful settlement was effected on the banks of Port Roj'al River, where still may be seen the remains of tiieir concrete fort, then named Fort Charles, now called Fort Plantation. The name of tli city of Beaufort and of the island, river and harbor, still perpetuate V memorj' of that heroic band that fled from the religious persecutions of till sixteenth century in their fatherland. On our outward voyage occurred two deaths : William H. Wordei (Company C), died of fever, Nov. 2, and was tearfully committed to til deep, after funeral solemnities, while still the gale was raging. We wen also called to bury T. H. Trumbull (Company E) , in the same hilloiyj grave, Nov. 4th. "Philo" — Silas Weston — thus describes the last serviei we rendered : "The body was sewed up in canvas, with cannon balls al tached to prevent it from floating. Mournful, indeed, was the sight vhti we beheld it lying upon the guards of the ship, with the beloved flag of oi country wrapped around it during the burial service, — the solemnity of ti scene being heightened as the flag was removed and the body was coJ mitted to the great sea." Adds another, " The affair was the most solpn that I ever participated in." , j861.] third R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 4& il We were now near our objective point, and in the presence of the foe. I Nov. 4. Our gun-boats on a reconnoisance ran up and exchanged a 'ew shots with the rebel forts and fleet, thus being assured that our land- ing would be stubbornly disputed. Nov. 5. The navy had quite a skirmish with four of Tatnall's gun- '•oats, pushing them up the harbor. We had thus learned the positions |,nd strength of the enemy. Our ships' of war now made ready their guns limd ammunition. The troops on the transports quickly rubbed the sea-born kust from their muskets and set in order their accoutrements. Here, at bst, was the real, ruffled front of war. But our spirits and purposes were olmruffled by fear ; we came to do the kind of work that la}^ before us. CH^APTER VII. CAPTURE OF PORT ROYAL, S. C. NOVEMBEK, 1861. TJie hour of fiery conflict comes. The channels of entrance to the southern ports are usually tortuou^ and extend far outward to sea, leading through the broad belts of i that shield the shores from the billows of the ocean. Long and windingj the entrance to Port Royal. On the coast of South Carolina, as all a the coasts of the seceded States, the rebels had removed the buoys aid blown up all the light-houses that might guide our lo^'al keels. Our fleet and the transports now lay off the bar. The channel wai carefully sounded, and little buoys, with signal flags attached, were placed at all the channel angles. Expectancy was a tip-toe, and both navy armj' were waiting and impatient for the stroke. Some one tells the story of a slaveholder remarking to one of his negroes : " The forts at Hilton Head are impregnable ; they cannot W taken. I tell you that G-od Almighty could not take those forts at Hiltoi Head." Whereupon, the slave, with a significant look and turn of tli( head, replied, "Yes, Massa ; but spose de Yankees come wid God Al- mightj^ ? " And here it may be stated that while Gen. T. F. Drayton was in com- mand of the rebel force on Hilton Head, his brother, Capt. Peroll' Drayton, a loyal officer, true to his country and obedient to orders, com- manded the Pocahontas, in our fleet, and took his place in the battle* sweep the insurgent front. Capt. Charles Steedman, of the Bienville, was also a South Carolinian. Verily, the few loyal men in the South, particu- larly those holding commissions from the Federal Government, were peculiarly situated. The more honor to those who stood by the nation. At the entrance of Port Royal harbor were two large and formidabli rebel fortifications. Fort Walker, on Hilton Head, at the south of tlit channel, mounting twenty-three heavy guns, some of them rifled, seveii of them im'jjorted from England, and Fort Beauregard, on Hunting Island at the north of the Channel, on Bay Point, mounting twenty guns, am 1861.] THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 47 supported by an outwork half a mile distant, mounting five guns. These forts, Walker and Beauregard, were two and a half miles apart, and fully commanded the channel and harbor. Some two miles beyond the forts, near the junction of Port Royal and Broad Rivers, was the boastful fleet of the ill-starred Commodore Tatnall, consisting of eight gun-boats. The rebels also had a strong land force on Hilton Head, for the support of fleet and forts, commanded by General Cray ton, whose residence was near Fort "Walker. MAP OF COAST. ^°^ ^^ ,^^^^^^^°^^ ' Nov. 7. ii 'f^^ °"''""^^l»^^ Q'^^^^. At 9 o'clock, *\^^^^ ' h 1 ->^^'^'^xl^^^ A. M., theflag- W*a r-'-^^^^^^-M jC^^ftm^^tf'^ to form in order of battle, (III vTlfig^ ^^t. ^^^P^"^M^»ll^^^' ^'^ *^° columns, made up as ^ ^^^M^^^^^Q ^^^^^ (^ follows : First and main column, wAiKEB^^^^''^*"' Wabash, Susquehanna, Mohican, Seminole, Pawnee, Unadilla, Pembina ; second column, on the starboard, and a lit- tle in rear of the head of the first column, Bienville, Seneca, Curlew, Penguin. Ottawa, Van- dalia. The Wabash led the way. As thus they steamed into the harbor the sight was a magnificent one. The troops on the transports were excited spectators. The _ channel between the rebel forts being about a mile and a quarter ■wide,, gave fair scope for the naval manceuvre contemplated. 'j.' As the fleet moved up, the rebel forts opened their largest and best jguns with heated shot on the head of the main column. At ten minutes "' nast ten o'clock, the Wabash, having reached the point between the forts, "opened with all her guns, giving two broadsides,, one'to each fort, plowing 'their fronts handsomely. This column then tt)ok a circuit in the form of 'Ian ellipse between the forts, giving each fort broadsides as the vessels '^passed them, hugging up to the forts as closely as the channel of the har- gaTVBEE 48 SHOT AND SHELL. [Novembe^^ bor would allow. The second column, passing on the left of the harb&t- and giving broadsides to Beauregard took its station beyond, up the harbor, to engage Tatnall's fleet, if necessary, and prevent its interference, and alsc^ keep up a flanking fire on Fort Walker. The first and main column was now h'otly engaged in its work, moving in its elliptical orbit, pouring its thundering broadsides into the forts as; they were passed, and receiving in return the fiercest, heaviest blows the rebels could inflict ; the approach of the column to Fort Walker was within six hundred yards. It was a magnificent fight between fleet and forts. We had read of the battle of the giants, and had seen falling stars ; but here was something new ; so thought the rebels. Tatnall, with his gun- boats fled into Skulk Creek towards Savannah. Drayton's infantry was as powerless to help the forts as our army was to assist Dupont. Three grand, thundering circuits of the harbor were made, and about fifty blazing broadsides had been delivered, when the bruised and disabled forts gave over the contest and the rebels struck their fiag. This was at a, quarter to three in the afternoon. Tears of joy ran down the hardest! cheeks, while huzzas from navj' and army rent the air. One of the tars exclaimed : "We have given them Hatteras." Away fled the ' ' Confeds," as one expressed it, at " treble-double quick," leaving everything behind, tents, trunks, clothes, knapsacks, muskets, revolvers, camp equipage, and even swords ; nor did they stop to spiM their guns or carry off their dead. This was worse than the stampede of Bull Run. When the flag-ship's boat reached Fort Walker, its officer found a per- fect desolation,'' while General Drayton and his bruised, panie-strickeli force were flying over fields and through forests to the shores of Skuli Creek. Quickly went up over Walker the Stars and Stripes, when again the most rapturous cheering from fleet and transports filled the heavensi Around lay the dead and a scene of indescribable ruin. A rebel surgeoi had been killed in the bomb-proof while dressing a wound. In the battle we had eight killed and twenty-three wounded. The enemy lost 120 killed, and had about 100 wounded. We captured twenty- five prisoners, fortj-'-eight cannons, and quantities of stores. Thus, in about six hours, throwing 3,500 shot and shell, we had uttei^, broken this proud rebel front, captured the strongholds, demoralized Drayton, disgraced bragging '^^\ routed all opposition, and taken pos- session of the best military base on the southern coast. And here we would not forget to mention that the rebel dead were tenderly buried, not far from the fort, under the direction of Commaiide?| Charles Steedman, the Episcopal service being pronounced by the Chapv lain of the Wabash. Special mention should be made of the valiant and effective part playel in the bombardment of Fort Walker by the steam-tug Mercury, acting. 1861.] THIRD R. I. H. Artillery. 49 apart from the regular line of assailing ships. She ran close in to the shore, directly under the shadow of the fort, so near that the guns of the fort could not be sufficiently depressed to harm her. Here she played her guns on the foe in the most gallant and telling manner. General Sherman disembarked some of his troops from the transports in boats directlj' in front of Fort Walker, and a few in boats on the ocean- face of the island, in the rear of the fort; but he found no occasion for charge or assault. The strategy employed in the capture of Port Eoyal harbor is worthy of special remark. The original plan of landing troops in boats on the sea-face of Hilton Head to attack Fort Walker in the rear, when the navy had disabled the guns in front, had to be abandoned on ac- count of our loss of lighters and surf-boats in the gale, and 'the heavy Confederate force on *the island to dispute our land- ing. And the rebels, in antici- pation of a naval attack — for 'Somehow they had received in- belhgence of our coming, — ■ and PLAN OF BATTLE AT POBT BOYAL HABBOB. supposing that our war-ships Vould take position in line ilong the centre of the roads, 'lad trained their guns and Practiced on that line. But 'Oupont — genuine sea-king as %e was — not only kept his '"ships in motion, but avoided Altogether the fatal line select- 5d ; now hugging Beauregard, iaow hugging Walker, never ''passing twice exactly in the same track ; thus constantly thwarting the snemy's aim. The manoeuvre was alike novel and astounding, inaugurating i% new feature in naval warfare. *" Company C, of our regiment, was the first of the army to set foot on tte shore and to enter the fort, and with -^...paiiy B were put into the fort it once as its loyal garrison. The next day Company D was thrown into alFort Beauregard, to hold it with the region around it. Infantry encamped %ound the forts. In Fort Walker we found the rebel shot-heater still in itilast with its red-hot shots, and the grommets of Spanish moss in buck;ets if water, to use as wads between the ca;rtridges and the hot shot. tl* . And here we have the satisfaction of recording the fact, appreciated by ill soldiers, that the Confederate flag of Fort Walker, the first captured i 50 SHOT AND SHELL. [November, in South Carolina, was found by Capt. C. W. H. Day (Company C),iii the magazine, and so became the trophy of our command, and afterwards Tras put in the keeping of Prescott Post, No. 1 , Grand Army of the Repul). lie. Providence, R. I., where unfortunately it was destroyed by fire in the Fall of 1877. By the capture of Port Ro5'al harbor we at once gained possession of the J coast, from the North Edisto River, South Carolina, to Ossabaw Sounij Georgia. General Draj'ton reported that he had under him, on the morning of the 7th, 1,837 men, the force being Colonel Wagner's First Regiment Artillery, South Carolina Militia ; three companies of Colonel Hayward's Ninth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers ; four companies of Colonel Duno- vant's Twelfth Regiment South Carohna Volunteers ; Captain Screven'sl mounted guerillas, as scouts and couriers ; 450 of Captain Berry's Georgia troops ; Captain Read's battery of two eleven-inch howitzers and fiftf men ; and Colonel DeSaussure's Fifteenth Regiment South Carolina Volun- teers. Fort Walker was manned by 220, afterwards augmented to 255 men, The force at Bay Point consisted of 640 men, under Colonel Dunovant; the 149 men in Fort Beauregard being under Captain Stephen Elliott, Jr. On taking possession of Fort Beauregard, at Bay Point, we fortunately discovered, in season to avert a catastrophe, a well-laid ]5lot for bloT up the fort and destroying the loyal party that might first enter it. i train of powder, connecting with the magazine, was so laid that the t that should haul down the Confederate flag would at the same instant fre the diabohcal train. An eagle-eyed Yankee detected the connecting link and the train. A short distance from Fort Walker stood the large two-storied mansion of General Drayton, and here, before the battle, might have been heard " The sound of revelry by nig-ht." It was another sound when one of our eleven-inch shots let new liglt straight through the lordly castle. CHAPTER VIII. FORTS AND OUTPOSTS. November — Decembeb, 1861. FOKT WALKEK. Beneath the proud palmettoes camped. We immediately devoted ourselves to the work of holding the ground we had captured. Fort Walker was repaired and named Fort Welles. Fort Beauregard was refitted and named Fort Seward. Fortified outposts in the rear of these forts and on the exposed points of the islands were secured as soon as jpossible. On Hilton Head batteries were sent to Seabrook and Brad- dock's Points. The men of our command were relied on for handling the heavy guns. The head- quarters of the command for a time were in Fort Welles. Shortly, Lieutenant-Colonel Bucklin quartered with the companies 3 stationed at Bay Point. ■ Not a little of historic interest attached to the capture of the islands around Port Eoj'al harbor, from the fact that here were the homes of the Elliotts, Draytons, Popes, Jenkins, Barnwells, Stuarts, Fripps, Capers, Middletons, Fullers, Khetts, and other of the old dominant families of South Carolina. And here once lived some of the famous Pinckneys. One can hai'dly imagine more attractive shores, rivers, bays, islands, and grand specimens of semi-tropical forests. The city of Beaufort, though small, was the seat of a proud aristocracj* of the southern type. And we found, near the centre of the island of Port Eoyal, alone in a clearing among the great trees, on the north side of the Shell Road, a large one-storied building, called " The Club House," reported to have been built purposely bj' a wealthy political club — the leaders in society — for the secret discussion of southern questions of state. When the meetings were held, a watch was stationed around the building, and no written record of the doings was permitted. Here, it was said, the heresy and crime of secession was born and fostered. Here Calhounism developed into rebellion. 52 SHOT AND SHELL. [Novemkr, Be it remembered as a historic fact that before the war the inhabitants of South Carolina consisted of five classes, thus: (1.) The aristocracy, founded on blood and wealth, slave-holding planters (plantations averag- ing 1,600 acres and more than 200 slaves) , holding more than half the land and slaves in the State, and devoted to the chase, dissipation, stiidj, hospitality, pohtics, and public interests. '(2.) The respectable peopfejj having wealth and culture, but no ancestral rank, having less lands and slaves than the ai-istocracy, and called farmers ; or being merchants, clerks, and corporation men. (3.) The working people, owning no slaves ; sucli as farmers doing their own work, and carpenters and the various kinds of mechanics. (4.) The poor whites, or sand-hillers, or crackers, squalid, lazy, ignorant, penniless, nearly as much despised as the slaves. (5.) The slaves counted as nothing in themselves, but set as cyphers at the left of their masters' names. Slavery, state-rights, and the rebellion had theit paternity' and encouragement from the aristocracj-. When the rebel forces, and the planters with their families, on the capture of Port Royal, fled to the main-land, they forced away with them as many as possible of the slaves, and, in their haste, aimed to burn all the cotton in their store-houses. During the night following the capture, flames of the burning cotton and buildings lit the skies far and near on the neighboring islands. Yet, quantities of valuable cotton and other crops fell into the hands of our govenarnent. The negroes rernaining on tk lands rejoiced at our coming, and offered to us their services. Many who at first were forced' away by the rebels, soon escaped and crowded joyfully within our lines. Only a few of them believed the horrid stories told then by their masters, that the Yankees originated the war to obtain negroes % be worked like oxen and mules. It was true " Ole massa run away, Dc darkies stay at home." : One uegi-o, a bod3- servant of one of the lordlj- Popes, was sent backji the night, across Skulk Creek, with orders to burn several store-houses filled with cotton, that had been left unharmed in the retreat. The negm cunningly entered into his master's scheme, secured a boat, selecteBS trusty rowers and a few favorites of his kin as passengers, and took5 precaution of carrying with him a white towel. Under the mantle of nid- night and the fog of the creek he reached Hilton Head and landed in a cluster of woods, undiscovered by our picket. Here he instructed^ company to lie low and silent till daybreak, when, with his towel attache! to a stick, ho ventured out to our sentinel and surrendered himself anl his associates to the service and protection of the Yankees. In this cas^ at least, darkness comprehended the light. Other similar cases occurred. The original Confederate flag consisted of a blue union, witf "& ctoli of seven stars (representing the seven States that first seceded) , and ttr« bars, upper and lower red, and middle white. It was afterwards chdB''ctl 1861.] THTRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 53 the blue union coutaining a white cross in which were the stars. Hence the flag was sometimes styled " the Stars and' Bars." It was intended to add other stars as other States joined the Confederac}-. It maj- be remembered that Leroy Pope Walker, the rebel Secretary of War, said, on learning of the fall of Sumter: "I will prophesy that the flag (Con- federate) that now flaunts the breeze here, will float over the dome of the Capitol at Washington before the 1st of May." In honor of this windy prophet Fort Walker took its name. Doubtless he had a different ■prophetic spasm when he heard that the "greasy mechanics" of the •North had captured this stronghold of South Carolina. s The Department of the South, assigned to the Tenth Army Corps, em- ibraced the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida, and so much tof the main-land as might be recovered. This coast in general consists i;Df a multitude of low, flat, rich islands, of all conceivable sizes and shapes, making a grand fringe or net-work between the ocean and the main-land. :,Amongst these islands and the marshes that separate them from each jrther and from the main-land, run numerous rivers, great and small, and jinnumerable narrow, deep, bayous and creeks, into which the tides, rising find falling from seven to ,,.en feet, carry the life and ^ — -_j_^=__j^m^^^^S=^ ^^;_, ^^^^_^ I Ijivarmth of the sea. These ^ ^ ,u-e the famous Sea Islands, jjmderlainby a deep, rich, veg- ^■itable stratum, and blank- j,i!ted by the fine sands of ,,,he ocean's margin; on an .„„x,r,A„T, It. " ' FORT BBATJEEGARD. iverage about six feet above he ocean level, and presenting on their ocean-side numerous sand-hills )r bluff's. ,j Here grows in its glory the Sea Island cotton, with green seeds and ' lOng, silky fibre. Here rise in majesty the fat, southern pine, the slender -iypress, the proud, pompion-shaped palmetto ; and here spreads abroad I he stout, solid live-oak. Shrubs, vines, grasses, mosses, and flowers are ' n tropical abundance and luxuriance. Beauty and fragrance abound, 'J 'r<}m the lovely jessamine to the lofty magnolia. The forests teem with )easts and birds, and the waters nourish great varieties of the finny tribe e^^ nd of mollusks. Between these islands and the elevated portions of the '"Vain-land lie the rice swamps. The whole is naturally as rich as a garden. ',* While we were engaged in strengthening the captured posts around Port *loyal harbor, the fleet was busy in running along the coast north and south, nd probing the bayous and rivers. "* Charles W. Weeden (Company E), died in Pawtucket, R. I., Nov. 15, '°^861. Henry Carroll (Company I), died at Hilton Head, Nov. 30th. 'J, The Charleston Mercury, of Nov. 30th, contained the following language : )9 54 SHOT AND SHELL. [December, "Patriotic planters on the seaboard are liourly applying the torch to theii' crops of cotton and rice." . . " Such a people can never be sulyugate^ Let the holy flames continue to ascend, and let the demons of hell, who , oome here on their diabolical errand, learn a lesson and tremble. Let tlie j torch be applied wherever the invader pollutes our soil, and let him find, as is meet, that our people will welcome him only, with devastation and ruin. | Our people are in earnest, men, women and children — and their sacrifice will ascend as a sacred holocaust to God, crying aloud for vengeance against', the fiends in human shape, who are disgracing humanity, trampling down civihzation, and would blot out Christianity." Our command had the pleasure of receiving the accompanying cheering letter : — "State of Ehodb Island, Executive Dbpabtment, I Peovidencb, Dec. 1, 1861. ) " To the Third Regiment Rhode Island Volunteers: — "The Commander-in-Chief, on his own behalf, and In behalf of the people of Ehode Island, congratulates Colonel Brown, his officers and men, of the Third Regiment Ehode Island Volunteers, for the efficiency displayed by them in the operation of taking and occupying Port Eoyal, in South Carolina. " He thanks God, and the brave soldiers of this Eegimeut, that tliey are upon South Carolina soil, as it has been his fervent hope that Ehode Island might meet South Carolina face to face ; that the people who have exhibited the most energetic determination to defend the rights of freemen, government, and law, should meet those who have exhibited a like determination to destroy. " Go on, then, brave soldiers of the Third Ehode Island Eegiment. The m- complishment of one gallant act calls for others still more gallant. You have no inglorious part to perform. Hasten, then, for yourselves, your country, and your race. Let it be said of you, as you pass, ' There goes one of the braw army of Slierman.' Ehode Island entrusts her honor to you. You will not prove recreant. ^jj_ SPRAGUE." Passing from Port Roj'al harbor up Beaufort River to the city of Beau- fort, some of the views were very attractive and impressive. The island of St. Helena on the right is rich in forest and field, and boasts lordly old homesteads with surrounding gardens. Midway between this and Beaufort, on the left, on a bokVand beautiful angle of Port Royal Island, are tlie quaint remains of old Fort Plantation. Unlike the Martello Tower in formi it was a battery or low fort. Its outline is yet very distinct, but the tides and storms have encroached upon it and jostled out of place portions of the wall. Near this is an old, rich plantation residence, shaded by moss-draped live-oaks, .specimens of the pride of India, magnolias, lines of orange treesj and ornamental bowers. In the rear cowered a cluster of low, dark, slave cabins. Back into the island stretched the fertile plantation. Southern jjlantation-houses to our northern eyes were by no means pre- possessing. Our reading, and our studies of the pencils of artists, had led us to expect something more tasteful and elegant. Reputed wealth and cavalier pride naturally promised culture and excellence. But we fovnd 1861.J TIIIED R. I.* H. ARTILLERY. 55 ;the slave-holders' mansions quite unlovelj* ; usually large, but coarse and ,unfinished, showing best from a distance ; for sanitary reasons, without cellars, and raised a few feet from the earth on stone or brick piers, and •largely furnished with coarse verandas ; all revealing a lordlj' ambition jwithout a lordly cultivation. Even the abundant surrounding shade-trees lacked the superintendence of knowledge and taste. These mansions were, as a general thing, the castles of haughty indolence and aspiring inability. .Their back-ground consisted of low, dark slave-barracks. Magnolias over- shadowed miser}'. CHAPTER IX RECONNOITERING SERVICE. Dbcembbb, 1861. With wakeful eye survey the foe. Though the rebels made no systematic resistance on the islands around Port Roj^al harbor, after the capture of their forts, they yet lurked in every place that afforded them facilities for harassing our front. Occasionally small raiding parties would dash within our lines in the night. Constant vigilance was the price of security. As soon as possible, in connection with the navy, we fitted and armed such transports as might run up the rivers and creeks to feel out the enemy's front. In these reconnoissances, with shot and shell, we probed every little cape, peninsula, and landing- place that might be Of avail to the foe. Dec. 18. Captain Day (Company C), with twenty-five of his men, on the steamer Mayflower, that mounted a six-pounder, accompanied I Colonel Bell (Fourth New Hampshire Regiment) , made ai'econnoissance i Broad River and Whale Branch to Coosaw River. At a narrow place in the river we were hotly fired on by rebel infantry, but our muskets and cannon soon repulsed the assailants. Shortly after, we encountered, near Port Royal Ferry, a rebel battery of three field-pieces, one shot from ■which hit the boat. While the enemj^ fired seven shots we gave them ten, and an appropriate amount of metal that sent them suddenly to theii plantation retreats. ^ Above this point the steamer grounded, when we were again attacked by infantry, but without damage. On our return we were complimented from two pieces of light artillery ; but one of oiii shells, bursting splendidly in the midst of the assailants, concluded the dispute by persuading them into a hurried retreat. In all these attaofe we suffered no loss of life. This action was complimented by General Sherman, who mentioned it in a report that we shall hereafter quote. After this bold and plucky advance, that gave the Captain and his men very honorable position, Company C was furnished with four good fi howitzers and necessary horses, that they might be ready for future expe- ditions. This step shortly led to the regular formation of the company as a light battery, in which rank it ever after served with honor and success. 1861.J THIRD R. I. H. jiRTILLERY. 57 Henceforward, tlirough the war, services similar to this on gun-boats and armed transports, were perfonned bj^ detachments of our regiment. Some- times these detachments would serve for months. This picketing and re- connoitering of the rivers, bays and creeks was a difficult and responsible service, though seldom attended with conspicuous and brilliant encounters with the foe. What we had been in reality since the 7th of September, we now became by action of the War Department, as shown by the subjoined paper : — "Head Quaeteks of the Akmy, Adjutant-General's Office, ) Washington, Dec. 19, 1861. ) Special Orders, No. 333. 3. The Third Regiment Eliode Island Volunteers is, by direction of the Sec- retary of War, increased to twelve companies, to serve as heavy artillery. By command of Major-General McClellan, L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General." By this order we were also en- titled to two first lieutenants and two second lieutenants for each company, and a major for each of the three battalions, and to don the red designating our arm of the service. Necessarily, besides our proper garrison duty, we performed not a little fatigue work in the recon- struction and enlargement of the fortifications, and in erecting the new batteries called for at diflferent points. Indeed, first and last, we performed no unimportant service in constructing and arming the en- trenchments for the permanent defense of the head-quarters of the De- partment. Meanwhile om' New England eyes were busj^ with the new scenes in the strange region around us. The great, ridged fields, recently white with cotton as with a blanket of snow, but now full of dry stalks, where the Con- federate army had not trodden them down, in their desolation were a fair war picture. The mansions of the Popes, Draytons and Lawtons, were the bivouacks of confused and wondering blacks. Even the mocking-birds seemed to be filled with astonishment at the new order of things, and were trying to catch the language and songs of the Yankees. ! Dec. 20. The Federal Government, in lack of a sufficient number of ships of war to enforce the blockade that had been proclaimed relative STONE FLEET BLOCKADE. 58 SHOT AND SHELL. [December. to the rebel ports, adopted the project of temporarilj' obstructing the •channels of some of these ports by sinking in them the hulks of old vessels, loaded with stone. These worn-out ships were purchased in northern harbors and towed to their destinations. Under the direction of Fleet Captain Charles H. Da^ds, sixteen of these stone-freighted hulks were scuttled and sunk in the channels of Charleston harbor. These were called the " Stone Fleet." The project, however, proved unsuccessful, as the swift tides cut new channels in the vast beds of surrounding sand. Dec. 24. Detachments from Companies A and E — fortj- men from each — under Captain Bailej- and Lieutenant Frj', accompanied by Lieu- tenant Wilson, United States Topographical Engineers, with three days' rations, left Seabrook in surf-boats for a reconnoissance in the vicinity of Savannah. In the night, passing north of Daufuskie Island and through Pull-And-Be-Damned Creek (so named on account of the swift tide), they pushed up to Pine Island, and finallj' landed within the enemy's lines. One boat and company reached, the next night, within five miles of Savannah and came upon the rebel gun-boat Samson (four guns and fifty men). Fired upon by rebel pickets, Lieutenant Wilson retui'ned the address. After feeling out the rivers and creeks, visiting a few plauta- ': tions, finding a little cotton, and mapping the path of future operations, the three daj-s' exploration satisfactorily terminated. However, a report had reached camp that our partj' had been cut off and Captain Bailej' had been killed. The whole afl'air had the credit of being a bold one. Jan. 1, 1862. As the rebel forces on our front were combining for raids as well as resistance, and occasionally dashed from the main-land by night, upon the islands, and in a particular manner seemed anxious to recover Port Royal Island — the gem of their coast — we fitted a strong, mixed expedition — navy and army — to make the circuit of Port Royal- Island and push the foe farther back upon the main. Some of our men acted on the armed transports, and a lively dispute of arms occurred with the enemy at Port Royal Ferry. At this point was at once established a strong picket station, with a heavy reserve. The Federal, loss was one killed, ten wounded, and two missing. Charles H. Monroe (Company E) , died of heart disease, at Hilton Head, Dec. 31, 1861. CHAPTER X. GUXS ON OTTER AND ST. HELENA ISLANDS. December, 1861 — May, 1SC2. Unsleeping are :' Apropos to the Sergeant's Johnny-cakes ; the corn was ground by the i negro women, in little hand-mills, the only sort used on the Sea Islands, J, after the pattern of the ancient (old Hebrew) mills — - " two shall be grind-, ingat amill," — the two mill-stones, about the size of No. 1 Northern ,« cheeses, mounted on a bench or block of live-oak, the upper stone revolved by a stick inserted in a hole near its margin. One person attended to the „ revolving of the stone, while the other fed in the grain ; and both usually '' sung some easy and cheering refrain. Perhaps it would be this : — 62 SHOT AND SHELL. [Jaiiuaiy, " I'm gwine to jine de raornin' band, Hail ! hail ! I'm on my journey home ; Ef you get dare before I do, I'm on my journey home ; I'm on my journey home ; Look out for me ; I'm comin', too, I'm on ray journey home ; I'm on my journey home ; Hail! hail! I'm on my journey home." Not unfrequently strange and painful scenes occurred along the coast. Thus, W. T. Truxton, Lieutenant-Commanding United States ship Dale, St. Helena Sound, S. C, June 13, 1862, writes: "There was a large Are this morning on Hutchinson Island. I immediately started .... a canoe containing three negroes was met, who stated that the rebels three hundred strong were at Mrs. Mardis' plantation, killing all the negroes. On arriving at Mrs. Mardis' the scene was most painful. Her dwelling and chapel in ruins, and the air heavy with smoke, while at the landing were assembled one hundred souls, mostly women and children in the ut- most distress. . . . The rebels, during the night, landed on the island from Fort Chapman ; ... at early dawn they fired a voUej: throng the house, and as the alarmed people sprang nearly naked from their bed and rushed forth frantic with fear, they were shot, arrested, or knocked down." A number were riddled with bullets. Can men read fates ? Why strikes the hand of war so heavj' on this coast ? Why fall the blows so emphaticall3^ in the line of slave-redemp- tion on this fair portion of the southern shore ? Look within the forest- shaded inlets and creeks, between Port Roj'al harbor and St. Helena Sound, among the yet wild and deer-trod Hunting Island, and you may see the site of a quite recent barracoon where slavers landed their dark and la- menting cargoes to supply the lords of the Sea Islands with hands for rais- ing rice and cotton. On St. Helena we found one black who remembered her African home, and her kidnapping, and her voyage to South Carolina. Could the bayous and creeks' of this coast speak, sad and thrilling would be their story. Heaven now bade that barbaric chapter close ; and Freedom's shot and shell were the chosen agents in the work. To spectators, the drill of heavy artillery, saving the fire of the pieces which is rarely indulged in drill, is less exciting than that of cavalry or infantry ; but it is far more laborious and complicated in its particulars, as it involves not only the movement of heavy pieces and the delicate manage- ment of magazines, but also many intricate scientific questions of range, forces of nature, distance, and elevation. Moreover, heavy artillerists are also expected to be expert in the use of muskets, as light artillery are re- quired to be proficient with pistols and sabres as well as with their o-uns. In short, heavy artillerists are supposed to be skilled in the use of cannon of all calibres, under all varying circumstances, and at the same time to be ready as infantrymen and also in some measure as engineers. The drill of our regiment, therefore, called for much labor and intelligence of offlcets I and men. I CHAPTER XI HILTON HEAD ENTRENCHMENTS. Dbcembbk, 1S61 — March, 1862. The right has bulivarlts large and strong. In all the operations of the Department of the South, Commodore Du- pont and General Sherman united their forces, and their co-operation was always cordial and harmonious. As Port Royal was the naval rendezvous, and Hilton Head was selected as the base for the army and the depot of supplies for the Department, it became necessary to have this base thor- oughly protected. Hence, immediately upon its capture, measures were taken to fortify the post against all possible attacks, for the Confederates were exasperated on account of our foothold on the soil of South Carolina. The line of entrenchments projected and built at Hilton Head on the margin of Port Royal harbor measured a mile and three-quarters in length, and embraced an area of perhaps six hundred acres. The palisades and embankments, beginning at the ocean beach on the east, extended across marshes and the upland to a creek on the west near to what was finally known as MitcheUville — a settlement of freedmen. Thus, the fortified post had the harbor with forts and batteries on the north, the ocean on the east, the palisades and earthworks with batteries on the south, and the creek with palisades and batteries on the west. The whole work was im- mense, elaborate, scientific, expensive, and strong. Within were the head- quarters of the Department of the South and the depots of ordnance and supplies for the armj'. A long, heavy pier soon connected the beach with the channel of the harbor. The sally-ports of the entrenchments were on the south and west, well guarded by trenches and guns. Jan. 10. Alfred S. Ketchum (Company K), died at Hilton Head. As we make record of the deaths of our comrades we could wish that we had the facts of their lives and space in our volume for brief biographical sketches. They will ever live in our memory, and their names are found on our roll of honor as they also are upon our State monument, and in our State's historj^ Jan. 17. Edwin R. M. Horton (Company A), died at Hilton Head. 64 SHOT AND SHELL. [March, Jan. IStli, John Bullock (Company D) , died at the same post. In the hos- pitals our sick men received kind attentions and skillful treatment, and the dead were tenderly buried with military honors in the Pine Grove Cemetery,< south of the entrenchments. None of us may forget the dirges, the funeral trains with reversed arms, and the parting volleys above the graves. The narrow but deep, crooked creek on the west of Hilton Head, con- necting Port Royal harbor with Calibogue Sound and the Savannah River, has been variously called Scull, Skull, and Skulk Creek. Its present name, Scull, is an euphonism of its old name, Skulk ; the old name derived- from the notorious fact that formerly slavers, with their African cargoes, dodged into Port Royal harbor and the mouth of the Savannah, and then skulked into this narrow, shaded channel, where thej' could land their living chattels without detection. And manj' of the negroes that we foundg in this region and in the vicinitj' of Savannah, told us that their pareiits came from "the negro country." We even found in the vicinity of Savannah some specimens of recently imported cargoes. The barbarous trade had few to expose or condemn it on this coast. And why should the southerners have condemned a " divine institution ? " Our cut will recall one of the aiistocratic mansions commanding a fine view of island and creek. Every soldier well re- members when he first heard the beat of "the long roll." This occurred'' to us not long after we had taken possession of Hilton Head, and before we had secured ourselves hy the completed entrenchments. Our security against surprise depended upon the fidelity of our pickets, and the promptness of all the troops to obey an instant call. It was a dark, drizzly, winter night, peculiarlj' uncomfort- able, notwithstanding our uniforms. Suddenl}^ there broke from the head- quarters of the post, and instantly sounded through all the camps, the start- ling, thrilUng ' ' long-roll " — the summon to arms in a moment. The sharp, rapid, rising, reiterated roll of the drums and the shrill, piercing notes of fife and bugle roused every nerve and limb. At once we were in rank and line, waiting orders for action. No action came ; it was only an alarm, The unpleasant night was wakefully spent. Feb. 22. Our Surgeon, Fenner H. Peckham, m. d., an able and faith- ful physician, who had served the Second Regiment in Virginia before*'' joining our command, now, by reason of his health and the peculiarities of the climate, resigned his commission, greatlj^ to our regret. Mar. 23. Lieutenant-Colonel Blanding, our first real commanderf! having accepted in December, 1861, a Major's commission with us, and having opened a recruiting-office to raise our command to its maximum of POPE'S HOUSE. 1862.] THIRD R. liiH. ARTILLERY. 65 heavy artillery — 1,800 men — now rejoined us at Hilton Head with 225 recruits, and was heartily welcomed by officers and men. On the outward passage he and his men suffered greatly from a severe gale off Hatteras. On account of his qualifications, the Major at once filled important places and performed valuable services. The recruits he brought completed Companies L and M. These, with other recruits received, raised the number of each companj' from 1 10 to 140. Lieutenant-Colonel Bucklin still had his head-quarters with our com- panies at Bay Point. When Major Blanding began to recruit for us, Colonel Brown wrote : " The Governor has advised me of your appointment and acceptance, and I feel now like a strong man armed ; hurrj' out here, for I need you."* Major Metcalf, with his characteristic magnanimity, and, in proof of his firm friendship, offered to resign his place, that Major Blanding might rank him ; but such changes were not deemed necessary. These little incidents revealed the fraternal spirit ruling among our superior officers, and will be pleasantly remembered. Major Blanding sent us one squad of recruits by a sailing-vessel before coming on himself with the 225. Certainly the early experiences of Companies L and M were somewhat . trying to men who had just left the easy walks of secure homes. Their voyage on the Oriental to Hilton Head was very stormy and perilous. The captain of the vessel was ill ; the crew was disorderly from whiskey ; no fire could be used in cooking on account of the wind and sea, and the steamer once took fire. When off Charleston thej' were , mistaken for a blockade-runner and fired uj)on. After reaching Hilton Head, on being told that thej' were to take muskets and drill as infantry', in order to become full-fledged artillerists, , they were exasperated and threatened insubordination. Drawn into line for ; inspection. General Sherman himself addressed them, complimenting them , on their fine appearance, sympathizing with them in their disappointment, ,- hoping they roight yet be mounted as light batteries, but assuring them that s mutiny would be summarily dealt with. This calmed the excitement. We ; were not offended that the mein had grit. 1 March 25. Benjamin Chase (CompanyD) , died of heart disease, at Baj- J Point. General Viele, when in command of the entrenchments at Hilton I Head, having issued verj' strict orders in reference to countersigns and passes, was among the first caught in neglecting them. He allowed him- ; self to remain outside of the sentinels till after taps without the countersign or a night pass. He was at his wits' end. His orders could not be re- ] called, and must not be violated. No exceptions might be made in favor of officers, not even for the commandant of the post. Finally an idea dawned on him. Searching till he found a piece of board, he pencilled on it a night pass for himself over his own signature. As the sentinel recog- ' nized him, he accepted the genuineness of the pass and admitted the bearer. 5 CHAPTER XII SIEGE BATTERIES ON TYBEE ISLAND, GA. Jasttjary — Apeil, 1862. The right sees triumph uxnt hy toil. Shortly after the capture of Port Roj-al harbor and its surrounding islands, the gun-boats Flag, Augusta, Pocahontas, and Seneca made a demonstration upon the mouth of the Savannah River to more firmly- close that avenue of blockade- running. On approaching Tybee Island, which guards the river mouth on the south, they met with only momentary opposition from a rebel force in the Martello Tower, and surrounding earthworks on the point. A few well-directed eleven-inch solid shot, one of which struck the Tower, put the ' ' chivalrj- '' to flight, who left the front and took refuge in Fort Pulaski, the heav}' work that eifectuallj' held the chan- nels of the river about its mouth. The loftj^ and costly light-house near the tower was a Adctim to rebel flames, that consumed all its interior and irreparably injured its walls. By the waj', the Martello Tower is a real curiosity, built, they say, by the .Spaniards, near 1530, hence a relic of the earliest colonial times. It is cylinderical in form, forty feet in diame- i'jr, and about forty feet in height, of solid mass — -mortar'and shells. The walls are ten feet thick, pierced b}'' small openings in the two lower- stories, and twelve loop-holes in the third-stor}', and has a slightlj' retreat- ing parapet. The top aifords a splendid military picket-post and look- out ; but the structure has no military strength against modern instruments of warfare . Jan. 21. An expedition was fitted out at Hilton Head to operate against Foi-t Pulaski by using Tybee Island as a final base for siege-work, 5[AKTET,L0 TOWEK. 1862. j THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 67 and Daufnskie Island as a base from which to push forward men and means to Jones, Bird, and Long Islands, for cutting off reinforcements and supplies from Pulaski. Feb. 21. The first vessel with ordnance and ordnance stores for the siege arrived in Tj'bee Eoads. The forces chosen to prepare for and con- duct the siege were the Seventh Connecticut, the Forty-sixth New York, Colonel Serrell's Engineers, and Companies F and H (and afterwards Compauj' B) , of our command ; we, of course, being the special artillerists. Immediately the work of landing and hauling ordnance, erecting earth- works, building magazines, constructing splinter-proofs, making roads over marshes, completing the batteries, and mounting the heavy guns was commenced, and continued day and night till the 9th of April. Remember, everything was landed b^' boats and rafts through the surf on the ocean- side of Tybee and then moved across the island near to Goat Point, two and a half miles from the place of landing. Much of this was night-work, and very fatiguing to the men. The road to Goat Point was built largelj^ over a swamp — deemed impassable b.y the rebels — by piling brush, pine logs, and poles on the mud, and covering all with sand, on which were laid planks for the wheels of the sling-carts. Xo beasts could be used; all was done bj' human hands. The work was performed secretlj' under cover of the forests, and the batteries near Goat Point and along the north side of the island were so hidden bj' the chaparral and vines, that the garrison in Fort Pulaski did not suspect our real work. Says General Gillmore, "No one except an eye-witness, can form anj^ but a faint conception of the Herculean labor by which mortars of eight and one-half tons weight, and columbiads but a trifle lighter, were moved in the dead of night, over a narrow causeway, bordered by swamps on either side, and liable at any moment to be overturned and buried in the mud be- yond reach. The stratum of mud is about twelve feet deep ; and on sev- eral occasions the heaviest pieces, particularly the mortars, became de- tached from the sling-carts, and were with great difficulty, by the use of planks and skids, kept from sinking to the bottom. Two hundred and fifty men were barely suflBcient to move a single piece on sling-carts. The men were not allowed to speak above a whisper, and were guided by the notes of a whistle." Herein was a development of Yankee ingenuity, tact, hardi- hood, and persistency. The landing of our troops on Tybee Island greatly excited the Georgians. In a printed address sent out to the people of the State, signed by Howell Cobb, Robert Toombs, Thomas R. R. Cobb and M. J. Crawford, we find the following language : ' ' The foot of the oppressor is on the soil of Georgia. He comes mth lust in his eye, poverty in his purse, and hell in his heart. He comes a robber and a murderer. How shall you meet him ? With the sword at the threshold! With death for him and for yourself! But more than this ; let every woman have a torch, every child a fire-brand ; 68 SHOT AND SHELL. [February. let the loved homes of youth be made ashes, and the fields of our heritage be made desolate." In one part of the address the Federals are spoken of as " a nation already sunk below the contempt of the civilized world." It may be confessed that as we toiled through the swamps of Tj^bee, and arranged our line of siege batteries in the sand-banks and among the tangled bushes, the idea of our success would at moments tremble in the balance. There stood the loftj', solid, frowning fort, huge black guns protruding defiantly from the casemates of three of its sides, and monster barbette pieces bristling on its parapets. And, in case of our making a breach that might prepare the way for an assault, our advance must then be over the south channel of the river, across the marshes of Cockspur, over the embankment, by the water batteries, and through the wet ditch of the fortress. Even to Yankee hopefulness and enthusiasm this looked like a difficult task. But the songs of the birds in the forests of the island cheered our spirits. The following were the batteries on Tybee Island, their armaments, and distances from Pulaski : — 1. Stanton, 3 13-incli mortars 2. Grant, 3 " " . 3. Lyon, 3 10-inoli columbiads 4. Lincoln, 3 8-inch " 5. Burnside, 1 13-inch mortar 6. Sherman, 3 " " mortars 7. Halleck, 2 " " 8. Scott, I ^ ^°:?°°}J I columbiads 3,400 yds, 3,200 " 3,100 " 3,045 " 2,750 " 2,6.50 " 2,400 " 1,740 " 9. 10. McClellan e;rroi 5 30-pounder Parrott's I Sigel, I 148^ .< j^^g^, [ . . . . 1,670 " 2 8i " " I 2 64 " " f • • • • 1'650 " 11. Totten, 4 10-inch siege mortars .... 1,650 " Eacli battery had a service magazine. There was also a depot powder- magazine of 3,600 barrels near the Martello Tower, the landing-place for all supplies. Number of guns bearing on the fort ... 20 " " mortars " " << ■ ■ . ' 16 Total pieces ..... .36 If our scheme of operations was at last suspected by the rebels, they deemed it hair-brained and impracticable. How could siege batteries ever be built on Goat Point? How could siege guns be transported over the bottomless mud of Tybee marshes? And even if guns should there be brought into position, how could they break the heavy walls of Pulaski, more than a mile away, especially while Pulaski's heavy barbette pieces had a fair, plunging fire on the assailants? In fact, thfe best artillery practice of the world up to this time, justified the conclusion that our scheme was chimerical ; and hence Colonel Olmstead felt perfectly secure in his fortress. But here was to be written a new chapter of artillery tactics and achievements, as our subsequent operations will show. CHAPTER XIII. CxUNS ON JONES, BIRD, AND LONG ISLANDS January — April, 1862. Truth malies the earth heneath un firm. While the plans and operations on Tj^bee Island for reducing Fort Pu- laski were progressing as rapidlj' as possible, it became necessary to hasten the completion of the batteries proposed by General Gillmore up the Sa- vannah River, to isolate the fort from the rebel front and assist in beleag- uering it. This work was particularly disagreeable and laborious, but absolutely necessary to the plan of reducing the fort and closing the Savan- nah River. Companies E and G, and a detachment of Company A of our regiment were chosen to handle and operate the heavj' guns, after assisting in the erection of the proposed batteries. Wall's Cut, a narrow, artificial channel between New and Wright Rivers — the inland passage between Savannah and Port Royal harbor — had been obstructed by the rebels with heavy piles and the hulk of a large schooner. These obstructions were removed by our engineers, under Major Beard (Forty-eighth New York) , with his men and a detachment of sixteen men of our regiment (Company G) , under Sergt. J. B. Hudson. They sawed off the piles close to the bottom of the channel — by a pecul- iarly operating Yankee saw — and swung the hulk to one side of the stream. Commencing their labor on the 10th of January, by prosecuting it day and night, it was completed on the 14th, giving passage to our gun- boats. In the meantime our navy and the rebel gun-boats had a sharp, short fight in the Savannah, in our view. Jan. 28. A reconnoissance — navy and army — in boats and armed keels, was made through New River, Wall's Cut, Wright and Mud Rivers, np to the Savannah ; and it was concluded to locate batteries on Jones and Bird Islands — Jones on the north and Bird on the south side of the Savannah's main channel. These islands — long and narrow — are vast, mud marshes, clothed with tall grasses and reeds, the mud being about fifteen feet deep. For Jones Island, the battery was located on Venus 70 SHOT AND SHELL. [February, Point, about 1,300 yards from Mud River, to which it became necessary to make a causewa}- of poles, sand, and plank. This was the first point to be secured ; then the advance was to be made to Bird Island. Feb. 1, 2, 3, 4. These days were spent by fatigue parties in cutting poles and saplings, on Daufuskie Island, for the contemplated work on Jones Island. They cut 10,000 poles, from five to six inches in diameter and nine feet long, and transported them on their shoulders to the boats. Hannibal crossed the Alps, but we imagine he would have stuck at Savannah mud. Feb. .5, 6. Fatigue parties were still toihng, cutting poles and filling sand-bags on Daufuskie, and making . wheelbarrow tracks across Jones Island. Little knew the rebels of what we were doing. Feb. 7, 8. We commenced the floor and sides of the batterj' on Venus Point, and named it Battery Vulcan, as in fact it seemed more mythological than real. Had Vulcan been with us, he would have desired something more firm than this island for his. anvil. Major Bailey (then Captain) tells with a good relish of the negroes at their oars, assisting in rowing a boat through Pull-And-Be-Damned Creek, keeping time for their oars with their rude melodies. On one occasion, puUing against the strong ebb-tide that had just set, and extremely anxious to reach the landing on Jones Island, they bent themselves to their utmost and raised a favorite song, the refrain of which was " We're boun' to go. We're boun' to g-o, We're boun' to go, We're boun' to go." meanwhile the boat had grounded fast on the muddy bottom. The stuck boat and the lusty song of the sweating oarsmen, were quite too much for the Captain's gravity. He often refers to this "fast in the mud" and " boun' to go." Feb. 8. Daniel Golden (Company G-), was killed by lightning, on Daufuskie Island. Says Lieut. Horace Porter (of Ordnance, United States Army) : j' The boats lay at anchor in New River until February 10th, guarded day and night by two companies of the Third Rhode Island Volunteer Artillery, Captains Gould and Bailey, whose skill and energy alone saved the flats during the long time they were exposed to rough waters, winds, and tides." He might have added a detachment of Company A. Men, materials, and guns were advanced through New River, Wall's Cut, Wright River, and Mud River, and lauded on the north side of Joues Island, opposite Venus Point. Feb. 10. The heavy flats, loaded with guns and materials for the causeway and battery, were towed by row-boats through Wall's Cut up Mud River, to the chosen landing on the north margin of Joues Island. "I 1862.] THIRD E. I. H. ARTILLERY. 71 * Now commenced the fall work of the path across the island, and the con- It struction of the battery ; and it was work, indeed. Fatigue parties found sore fatigue. The guns were moved a few feet at a time, taking up the planks in the rear and moving them forward. A fearfulljr muddy task it was ; men miring to their waists ; the plank sinking into the ooze and becoming slippery ; the guns sometimes sliding from the planks into the soft marsh ; all wheels settling to their axles ; the labor reaching through day and night. The joke of " mud-sills '' was here not so much out of place ; but we were bound to succeed. Feb. 11. Some of the men, by order, cased their feet in sand-bags up to their knees, giving them a very comical look, though the floundering in the mud was far from comical exercise. At last, laying the planks end to end, and changing them forward, we brought six guns to the battery and mounted them. Feb. 13. We were prepared just in time to give nine shots to the rebel steamer Ida as she passed down to Fort Pulaski. Feb. 14. To open the way for the Ida to return, four rebel gun-boats — the relics of Tatnall's fleet — came down to within about a mile and opened a lively fire. The " mud-sills" were more strongly bedded than the enemy supposed. We fired about thirty shots, striking and crippling one of our assailants. Finding our pepper too pungent for their taste, the rebels withdrew. Some of our gun-boats came to our support in the flght. The action was a sharp one. Great was the astonishment and excitement in Savannah on learning that the Yankees were entrenched within sight of the city, and had cut off supplies from Pulaski. Our brave workers on Tybee, on hearing the roar of our guns and observing the fight of the rebel gun-boats — the boasted force of Tatnall — tossed up their caps behind their batteries, and, as soon aS possible, sent us their congratulations. Indeed, as a matter of engineer- ing and of gunnery, our work up the Savannah deserves a handsome record. General Sherman's Adjutant-General sent the following letter to General Viele, and ordered a copy sent to Colonel Brown : — " General : — The Commanding-General directs me to acknowledge the receipt of your highly satisfactory report of yesterday's date, and to request that you will thank the Chief of Artillery, and the officers and men of the Third Rhode Island Artillery, for the admirable conduct displayed during the recent engagement with the rebel gun-boats on the Savannah Kiver, having every confidence they will always dis- tinguish themselves; and at the same time express his conviction that when op- portunity offers, every other Company of the Regiment will emulate the conduct of Companies E and G, and the detachment of A, on the occasion alluded to. Very respectfully, etc., L. H. PELOUZB, Captain Fifteenth Infantry, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General." 72 SHOT AND SHELL. [February, This was in accordance with the report of General Viele, made from his head-quarters on Daufuskie Island : — " Head-quakteks United States Foeces, ) Savannah Kiveb, February 15, 1862. i Sir: I Lave the honor to report that the batteries on Venus Point were at- tacked at three o'clock, p. m., yesterday, by four rebel gun-boats, with a view of effecting a passage from Fort Pulaski for the rebel steamer then at that place. After an engagement of one hour, the rebels were driven off, the flag-boat being disabled and taken in tow, and the steamer that attempted the passage of the river returned to Fort Pulaski. The guns were manned by the Third Rhode Island detachment, under Captain Gould, and effectively worked. There was no loss on our side. Your obedient servant, EGBERT T. VIELE, Brigadier-General. To Capt. L. H. Pelouze, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General." The armament of Battery Vulcan (Jones Island), consisted of one ten- inch Columbiad, two twenty-four pounder howitzers, two thirty-pounder Parrots, and two twenty-pounder Parrots. On first landing on the island we inquired of a "contraband," " How much water is there on these islands at the springtides?" He replied, " Wal, massa, not more'n fo' or five foot;" which was very encouraging! The negro's figures proved to be a little extravagant. As the island was submerged by the spring-tides, the battery and the camp were surrounded by a protecting embankment, making our position a miniature Holland. Feb. 20. Battery Hamilton, on Bird Island, was completed and furnished with one eight-inch siege howitzer, a thirty -pounder Parrott, a twenty-pounder Parrott, and three twelve-pounder James guns, under command of Capt. J. E. Bailey. Much of this work was done by tow- boats through Mud River and the Savannah. The forces engaged on these works up the river to isolate Fort Pulaski were the Forty-eighth NeW' York Volunteers, two companies of the New York Engineers, and two companies from our regiment. The guarding and the handling of the guns was the special work of our men. We also had the assistance of a portion of the Seventh Connecticut in the whole work. The experience of all these commands in this novel and exhausting work, by day and by night, in the vast realm of Savannah mud, might make a lengthy and curious chapter. Here our boys learned to eat alligator-steak ; but thej- refused to cook the snakes they found. While on Bird Island completing the battery and mounting the guns, fortunately Lieutenant Turner discovered something coming down the river, borne by the stream. Immediately ordering a boat and crew,, he pushed up the river to reconnoitre the advancing object, when he found, to his great satisfaction, that it consisted of detachments of a huge raft of 'i 1862.] THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 7,3 ' large, yellow, pine timber, some of the logs being sixteen or eighteen inches square and about thirty or forty feet in length. These had broken from their moorings up the river, perhaps at Savannah, and were still S connected in parts by ropes and chains. Details from Jones Island and ,. from the steamer "Western World assisted in towing these rafts to the IB islands, where our men were happy to use the fat wood in feeding camp- » fires and meeting other military necessities. Altogether the timber was a "!' prize. ^ Sergt. (afterwards Lieut.) C. H. Williams (Company A), reported a (V log-like object in the* Savannah, and suggested an examination of its nature. When reached by a squad in a boat, it proved to be a veteran alli- gator. A few bullets in his vulnerable points from Captain Bailey's rifle soon turned the old settler on his sides and compelled his surrender. He « measured above fourteen feet in length. Age exempted him from the frying- pan ; the boys preferring "game" that measured about Ave or six feet. (iji During the firing of our cannon on the islands these proprietors of the world »- of mud were greatly disturbed and revealed their hiding-places. During our operations here we had to be on our guard against torpe- ' ;[ does, for our gun-boats found a number of these infernal machines located ij,! at the mouth of Wright River. This was the first use of torpedoes in the ^ war. On securing indisputable footing on the islands commanding the upper jjI side of Fort Pulaski, and so cutting off supplies from its garrison. Captain (jj Gould (Company G), took a boat's crew, and, crossing the south channel of the Savannah to McQueen's Island — another realm of mud and lofty ,jj|, marsh-grass — destroyed the telegraphic line, posts and wires, con- '^ neeting Pulaski with the city of Savannah. The boys will remember the , amount of mud brought away on Federal uniforms, particularly on that of \^. the Captain. Reasoning from this part of the kingdom of " Secessia," we J'j concluded that the entire realm was an unsubstantial and oozy affair, as in u, the end it proved to be ; it had no better foundation than mud and reeds. ' . After completing the batteries on Jones and Bird Islands, a detachment , was thrown upon the east end of Long Island, next to Cockspur Island, ! nearer the fort than the two other positions, where a mortar battery was 1''^^ hastily constructed to aid in the siege of the fort by a flanking fire. * ,' This battery, successively under the command of Lieutenants Turner and ' ' Tisdale, was of service in the siege, and especially called out the angry^ "j^ fire of one of Pulaski's barbette guns, named Beauregard. Perhaps the "' men engaged in the erection of this Long Island battery will remember, ^ With a laugh, the condition in which they found the mortar they first landed ''^, there and left unguarded for the night. Rebel scouts had visited it during the night and profaned it. '', Michael Migan (Company G) , died on Daufuskie Island, April 8th ; , and on the same island, Edward Haskell (Company G), died April 21st. 74 8H0T AND SHELL. [April, Rarely may the eye fall upon a more beautiful, fertile, luxuriant, quiet island than Daufuskie. Looking out through heavy forests on Skulk Creek, Calibogue Sound, the ocean beyond the sand-bars, and the Savan- nah river, with its islands on the south, it seemed to invite to indolence, luxurj', and ease. The large and elegant Stoddard mansion, with ample out-buildings and rich gardens, graced the native, semi-tropical wildness of this charming Sea Island. The island also contained a few smaller planta- tions, on one of which General Viele had his head-quarters. Here, also, we had a hospital. One glorj' of the floral kingdom — the passion flower— abounding here, cheered ovu- vision, preaching of triumph through suf- fering. As" our regiment was necessarily distributed to different points for effective work, we may here state the positions of the companies. April 8. Head-quarters, Camp Stephen Olney, entrenchments, Hilton Head : Company A, Fort Wells, with a detachment on Savannah River; Company B, Tybee Island; Company C, one section at Hilton Head, one section on Edisto Island ; Company D, Baj' Point ; Company E, Savannah River ; Company F, Tybee Island ; Company G, Savannah River ; Company H, T3'bee Island ; Company I, Otter Island ; Company K, Hilton Head ; Company L, Hilton Head, with a detachment on two guns" at Edisto Island ; Company M, Hilton Head. CHAPTER XIV. CAPTURE OF FORT PULASKI. Apeii,, 1862. The pelican dared the eagU's heaTt. FoKT PoLASKi, commanding the channels of the Savannah River, is a large and costly brick fortification, on the eastern portion of Cockspur Is- land, between the channels. It is five-sided, with a large demilune adjoin- ing the gorge wall on the west, and surrounded with a wide, deep moat. It was designed to strike north, east, and south. It mounted forty-eight guns in casemate and barbette, and was capable of an armament of 140 guns. Goat Point, on Tybee Island, bears southeast from it, and is about one mile distant. It ought to be remembered — as one of the facts showing who in- augurated the war and gave it justly the name of Rebellion — that on the^ 2d of January, 1861 — before our government had taken a single military step, the Governor of Georgia, Joseph E. Brown, ordered Col. A. R. Law- ton, commander of the First Regiment Georgia Volunteers, Savannah, to immediately take possession of Fort Pulaski, in the name of the State of Georgia. The next day this oflScer, with artillerj- and infantry, by steamer and transports, reached the fort, and, forcing our national guard — consist- ing of an ordnance sergeant and a few assistants — took possession of the works and the island, lifting over all the Pelican flag. And be it remem- bered, too, that Georgia did not pass her formal act of treason and seces- sion till Jan. 19, 1861. The Nation's Flag- By a Pelican rag Assaulted, trailed, and flouted. Cockspur Island, containing the fort, its entrenchments, water batteries, wharves, and a few houses for outside workmen — • notable among which was the " Pelican House," is little else than a vast marsh, about one mile long and half a mile wide, covered general^ by grass, reeds, bushes, prickly-pear, and a few palmettoes. Above it is Long Island, of similar size and whollj- marsh. Above Long is Bird Island. North of Bird is Jones Island. South and west of Cockspur is McQueens Island, all 76 SHOT AND SHELL. [April, marsh. Between McQiieens and Tybee Islands runs Lazaretto Creek, con- necting with Wassaw Sound. Our batteries for the siege-work, constructed under the immediate direction of General Gillmore and able engineers, were now ready to open fire along their whole line, from a point a little above the Martello Tower,' following the margin of the island, to Goat Point. In a previous chapter we have named these batteries and their armaments. A formidable front they were, in which some of the guns, particularly the rifled-pieces, were destined to achieve a remarkable success and a world-wide fame. Gen. David Hunter came into command of the Department a few days before the siege opened. Everything had been made ready, however, by General Sherman. April 10. AH things being . in readiness to open the bombardment, General Hunter sent Lieut. J. H. Wilson, of the En- gineers, to demand' the surrender of the fort, bj- its com- mander. Colonel Charles H. 01m- stead, of the First Georgia Regiment. Colonel Olmstead replied, "I am here to defend the fort, not *to surrender it.'' At a quarter-past eight in the morning, the batteries opened and con- tinued firing all day, disabling and silencing some of the enemy's barbette guns. That was a warm and musical day's work on both sidfl|, as both' parties will remember. Companies B, F, and H were prominent actors in this fiery work; Capt. Horatio Sogers, Jr. (Company H) , commanded Battery McClellan, composed of two eighty-four and two sixty-four pounder James i-ifle guns — sometimes called forty-two and thirty-two pounders, because that would be their calibre with round shot. This battery was sixteen hundred and twenty yards from the walls of Pulaski. Captain Mason (Company F) had charge of Battery Scott, about forty yards further off, containing three ten-inch and one eight-inch columbiad guns, which were handled witK' great vigor and success. Captain Tourtellot (Company B) had two batteries about two miles distant from the fort, and his gnns were served BREACH IN FORT PULASKI. 1 862.] THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 77 with telling effect, the firing receiving the commendations of Generals Hunter and Benliam. There were also employed some thirteen-inch mortars. The battle was kept up on both sides till dark, and two of our guns fired at intervals of eighteen minutes through the night. The James guns were very effective, more than realizing our expectations. On this day (the 10th) Captain Rogers fired 383 solid shot and twenty shell. His 1 guns were elevated from four to five degrees ; their recoil on sanded -rail- ways was from three to five feet. Guess how our brave men bent them- ■: selves to their loyal, warrior-work, under the clouds of smoke that rose > from their heated guns. Was there ever a more 'exciting and impressive battle of big guns? The defenders of the fort doing their utmost, blazed their pieces from 1 ^^isi*gmates and parapets — a steady and heavy roar. A far heavier fire continually poured from the line of besieging batteries. The screeching n shot and howling shell — making an awful flying arch of fire and iron over ji the south channel of the Savannah — as they passed each other in mid- I heaven and as they smote their objects, were, at least, suggestive of the ,; legendary wars of the gods. Ah ! the old Greek fabulists never saw any- ,, thing of this kind. i] April 11. At five and a half in the morning all the guns opened again, J and plaj'ed their awful notes, and struck their deadly blows, tearing y. through the pan-coupe and southeast wall of Pulaski, and dismounting the rebel guns, till two and a half o'clock in the afternoon, when the rebels, ,; finding the fort cut through, and their magazine exposed, run up the white ^ flag for surrender. On this day Captain Rogers fired 187 solid shot and ,. 203 shell — the shell doing the cutting and tearing work. His batter}* ^ was highlj'^ complimented b}' General Gillmore, whiose first words on reach- ing the fort, after receiving the surrender, were, " Tell Ca;ptain Rogers the „ forty-two pounders did it.'' Colonel Olmstead, the rebel commander, de- 1 clared that but for the James guns he should not have surrendered, and 1 that their penetrating force was overwhelming. We were proud to remeni- , ber that James, the inventor of the shell, was a Rhode Islander. When General Gillmore went to receive the surrender of the fort, he ''was accomj^anied by Chaplain H. L. Waj'land (Seventh Connecticut), Mr. , Sears (of the New South), and other officers of good height. When thej- ; passed through the breach of the fort, showing their height to advantage ', against the horizon, the rebel surgeon in the fort, standing by his com- , mander on the parade, exclaimed, " My God, what Yankees ! " The com- mander, Colonel Olmstead, was generously' allowed to retain his sword. . The rebels called our James shells, on account of their singular ap- ' pearance, "cart-hubs." In one instance, when, from difficultj' in ram- [jl 'jl ming home the shell, a billet of wood had been used that could not be /Withdrawn, and was shot from the piece with the shell, and both reached the fort, the rebels vowed we " fired cart-hubs, spokes and all." 78 SHOT AND SHELL. [-'^P"!? During the action, a shot from the fort killed one of Colonel Serrell's engineers, near the old chimney bj' the landing on Goat Point. The formalities of the surrender are thus described by an actor in the scene : ' ' The ceremony was performed in Colonel Olmstead's head- quarters, all standing. It was just at dark, and the candles gave only a half-light ; the weapons were laid on a table, each officer advancing in turn, according to his rank, and mentioning his name and title ; nearly every one adding some remark ; the Colonel's was dignified, ' I yield my sword, but I trust I have not disgraced it.' Some of the others were not equally felicitous. Major Halpine spoke gracefully in replj'. As soon as the surrender was complete. Colonel Olmstead turned to his officers and addressed them, whereupon his captors withdrew. The American flag was then raised upon the ramparts, and Pulaski became again part of the possession, as well as of the property of the Unioji. " The arms of the privates had been previously stacked on the parade, and the men marched to quarters. Both officers and men were allowed to remain all night in their usual quarters. The interior of the fort presented a sorrjr sight. Blindages had been put up extending on all sides of the ramparts, and apart rendered bomb-proof ; but shot and shell had burst through many of them, Jiad knocked in walls, had broken down stairways, entered casemates, upset guns, and piled up masses of rubbish and debris all around. Seven guns on the parapet were dismounted, nearly every traverse had been struck and partly torn to pieces ; all the passage-ways were obstructed by piles of stones and fallen timber ; the magazine had been struck, and part of its outer casing of brick torn away ; while at the breach the havoc was, of course, greatest of all. The breach was quite : practicable, and so acknowledged by the commandant ; the ditch, sixty feet across, was more than half filled up by the fragments that had fallen, and half a dozen men abreast could have entered the aperture. The Colonel declared, however, that he should have held out until nightfall had the mag- azine not been struck. This, of course, settled his fate, and rendered any i prolonged resistance a useless risk of hfe." Company B, that had reached Tybee on the 7th to assist in mounting and working the guns, was divided and put in charge of two batteries on the right of the line ; Captain Tourtellot with Lieutenant Potter and half of ' the company in Battery Lyon with ten-inch columbiads ; Lieut. A. E. '. Greene with the remainder — smaller-sized men being from the left of the company — in Battery Lincoln with eight-inch columbiads. These batter- ies were a few rods apart. Of Battery Lincoln the following incident is , told : — "On the second day of the siege, Sergeant Hackett was approached by a staff officer, who inquired, • ' What battery is that, and who commands it ? " Said the Sergeant, "Battery Lincoln, under Lieut. A. E. Greene, Third Rhode>Island." Shortly after an officer arrived accompanied by a negro, the 1862.] THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 79 latter bearing a case of claret wine. The officer inquired for the Lieuten- ant, calling his name and his regirnent. When the Lieutenant appeared the officer said : " Lieutenant Greene, of the Third Rhode Island, and his men will accept this case of wine from General Hunter, with his regards for the splendid firing of this battery." The heated and fatigued men soon disposed of all the wine save one bottle that it was proposed to send to Captain Tourtellot. The men of Captain Tourtellot's detachment grambled a little, arguing that the wine and compliments were intended for the whole company. The men in Lincoln replied, " We can't see it. If you large fellows want to band together and try your skill against us, all ' right ; we've no objection to it ; but you can't claim our honors and wine." ' No doubt General Hunter, who was a gentleman, paid like compliments to other batteries that were heroically manned and did famous service. On account of smoke, sand, and the Are of the enemy's guns, the work '' in the batteries on Tybee was extremely trying. Twice during the siege Battery McClellan, against which the rebels concentrated their guns, came '■ near being blown up. Once a shell burst directly over the magazine into '' which Captain Rogers had just stepped, blowing it to pieces and burying him up with sand and splinters, without seriously injuring him, however, 1; but shghtly wounding two men. Again, a ten-inch columbiad shot struck '' the front of the magazine, carrying off the sand-covering and baring the f hoards beneath. Captain Rogers was one of the first to spring upon the i-f magazine to direct in its speedy repair. r. Fragments of this ten-inch shell struck James Campbell (Company H) , iti crushing Ms head and cutting his thigh. He was at the same time nearly ' f buried by the sand. He was immediately extricated and sent to the hospi- ;«- tal, but, though perfectly conscious, he died in less than an hour. Private *: Christian Noller (Company H) , was hit by a splinter of the same shell, Cilihuta little metar box in his vest pocket proved the shield of his body, Isa though a painful contusion was left on his side. Of course, under such a «i! heavy hail of rebel shot there were many narrow escapes. In working his battery Captain Rogers was bravely sustained by Lieu- iit tenants Brayton and Barney, one "of whom was knocked down by a frag- .■ ment of the exploded shell. And his brave men witnessing the effect of \i!l their shots, opening a yawning breach in the wall in direct line with the .J, I magazine, were enthusiastic in their work and cheered their favorite guns. tt!'- Similar scenes were witnessed in most of the batteries, particularly in tfi Scott and Sigel. Captains Bailey and Gould, up the river with their iJ(( respective commands preventing retreat, bore an honorable part in the memorable contest; and the mortar battery on Long Island played a flanking fire. S On the surrender of the fort, Company B, of our regiment, and the jESeventh Connecticut were selected for its garrison, entering it about mid- arOiinight. We captured forty-seven heavy guns, a large supply of fixed 80 SHOT AND SHELL. [^Pril, ammunition, forty thousand pounds of powder, a large amount of com- missary stores, and three hundred and eighty-five prisoners. And now we had command of the mouth of the Savannah and the range of the adjacent islands. We had fired on the fort 3,543 shots from guns and 1,732 from mortars ; total, 5,275 shots. Sergeant Hiepe (Company H) , an old English soldier of true grit, was in the regimental hospital, near the Martello Tower, on account of an injury in his foot. But when the siege was about to open he was unable to restrain his martial impulses ; so, hiring a passage to the front in a small dump-cart, drawn by a mule, he reported in his compaiij''s battery (McClellan) and demanded his right to his relief on one of the heavy guns (No. 3), where, despite his lameness, he did valiant service. Tlie boys gave him their cheers. In view of the loss of their comrade, the members of Company H raised for Campbell's widow a contribution of one hundred dollars, that their words of condolence might have the more significance. Sergt. George W. Greene (Company B), afterwards Lieutenant,, re- ceived a wound in his face from a fragment of the copper primer of the gun he was working. Thinking little of the injurj^, as he was always fearless and intent on his duty, he did not report to the surgeon. His wound, for some cause — perhaps from the copper and mercurial powder that long remained in his face — finally became most serious, and, though he faithfully served his three years, produced great suffering and led to his death. • As Company H struck the heav}' blows in the siege, to them was assigned the honor of escorting the surrendered garrison to Hilton Head, to the guardianship of the Provost Marshal. " Company B had charge of the artillery in the fort, and immediately commenced collecting the shot and shell lying in and around the' work. April 14. Sergt. G. J. Hill, with four men, were collecting and emptying shell on the parapet of the fort, and had completed, as they thought, their work, when, on returning to their quarters, they discovered a James shell that had been overlooked. As they proceeded to unload it, it exploded, and instantly killed John Gorton and Michael Giblen. . Sergeant Hill and Joseph Luther were so badly injured that they died the same evening. The remaining man of the squad, Charles Morgan, was obliged to have his leg amputated ; but he also' died a few weeks after. Company B remained in Pulaski a little more than a month, engaged in artillery drill and in instructing the Seventh Connecticut in the use of mounted guns. In searching for documents relative to our history. Colonel Metealf having addressed a note to General Sherman, received the following pa- pers in reply : — -^ • 1862.] THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 81 " Ne-wpobt, E. 1. , Sept. 28, 1876. Edwin Metcalf, Esq., Providence, E. I. : — My Dear 3ie: Tour favor of the 18th was duly received, and I regret to have delayed an answer so long. I have been trying to hunt up some documents relat- ing to our expedition. . . . The fact is, the whole Adjutant-General's Of- fice connected with my head-quarters, in which -sfrere all the orders, correspondence reports, &c., were necessarily turned over to General Hunter. They of course should now all be in the Adjutant-General's Office at Washing- ton But I regret to say, I have found most of them missing, not even my order-book has yet been found there, and I have not a copy of any one order that was issued. I send, however, a couple of extracts from Eeport of the Southern Expedition that specially refers to your regiment Should I succeed in getting hold of anything interesting to you, I will send it You may be sure that I feel the deepest interest in your efforts to get up a good and faithful record of your regiment Tours truly, T. W. SHERMAN." {Extract from Beport.) "General Stevens, after driving the enemy from Port Royal island, the western portion of which seems still to have been occupied by the enemy on his (Stevens' ) landing at Beaufort, informed me that there was a strong probability of the enemy fortifying on the Inain-land opposite his picket station at the Ferry, and that there was an indication of his having commenced to block the Coosaw River with piles to intercept its passage. The steamer Mayflower with some field-pieces and a couple of companies of the Rhode Island Artillery were sent from Hilton Head to reconnoitre Coosaw River, with the object of ascertaining how far these supposi- tions were true, and at the same time to ascertain by soundings the depth of water in that river. This was on the 18th of December, 1861. The steamer en- tered by Broad River and Whale Branch, and in passing Port Royal Ferry was opened upon by a rebel battery which was within full view and behind a well con- structed epaulment. The steamer ran the gauntlet of this battery at full speed and succeeded in its passage with some injury to the boat, but with little to the troops on board. Three miles further on, however, she ran aground, owing to the want of water or to the want of precise knowledge of the channel. Here she lay exposed to the fire of a field battery, which, with other troops of the enemy, soon gathered in her vicinity. But the artillery on board, well handled, succeeded in keeping the enemy off at a safe distance until the arrival of some of General Ste- vens' troops, stationed on the island, made their appearance in the river upon flats, coming to their assistance. These last troops when in sight of the enemy received part of their flre, and sufficiently relieved the troops on the Mayflower as to ren- der it easier to maintain their ground until the rise of the tide and darkness enabled the steamer to pursue her course unmolested. Captain Day, of the Third Rhode Island Volunteers (Artillery), was in command of this reconnoissance, and his conduct throughout deserves the greatest praise." {From Page 121 of Beport to War Department.) "The New York Battalion of Volunteer Engineers, under Colonel Serrell, and the Third Regiment of Rhode Island Volunteers, transformed into an artil- lery regiment, under Colonel Brown, were of great assistance in the occupation of the coast and in the consolidation of its defenses. The large amount of engineer work, required both for attack and permanent defense, could hardly have been accomplished without the formet. As to the latter, it was absorbed among the defensive positions of the coast, as well as having furnished its quota in the investment and siege of Port Pulaski. It was a detachment from this regiment that so promptly dispersed the Confederate gun-boat fleet under Commodore Tatnall, which attacked the battery at Venus Point, in the Savannah River ; and anotlier detachment from the same regiment that executed the daring and suc- cessful reconnoissance of the Coosaw lUver, in December. T. W. SHERMAN." CHAPTER XV, AEMY AND NAVY OPERATIONS. Mat— June, 1862. Kcw li{iMs were hinclled on the shores. After gaining possession of Fort Pulaski and effectually closing the Savannah against blockade-runners and rebel rams and gun-boats, we first reiDaired the injuries suffered by the fort, refitted the water batteries around the fort, strengthened our positions on Tybee Island and Brad- dock's Point, and established outposts and pickets on the islands adjacent to the Savannah. Along the front, up the river, and in the deep creeks, occurred occasional skirmishes with rebel scouts and pickets. Soon after the recoverj- of Pulaski, a reconnoitering force of about 400 men, including 225 of the Eighth Maine Regiment, and a detachment of fifteen men of Companj- F of our command, under Lieutenant Colwell, oa board the steamer Honduras, visited "Wilmington Island, about eight miles? from the citj- of Savannah, and had quite a duel with the " graj'-backs." The enemy's bullets, in numerous volleys, made exciting music in our ears. Our response was as vigorous as the address. Our infantry were undismaj'ed, and our Lieutenant was equal to the hour in his part of the work. The exchange of metal decided no important matter except that both parties were endowed with spunk_,| Amid the war-waves, just as the*^children of Africa were emerging, from their bondage, homeless, penniless, unenlightened, and weak, thej found unexpected friends and sympathy through the Freedmen's Soeiet)' of the North, that sent down to the Department in March teachers and helpers, with books and manifold helps for the organization and instruction of all the freedmen who desired such assistance. Prominent amongst these philanthropists was Rev. Mansfield French, who had his bureau at Beaufort, and operated largely on Port Royal Island. Another company, under Richard Soule, Jr., had their head-quarters on St. Helena. Schook were established also on Hilton Head and wherever the freedmen gathe^fd. The corps under Mr. French were soon known as " Gideonites," ond Mitchellville. When Lieutenant joined us and was assigned to Cap- tain Lanahan's com- pany, at his first drill with big guns, noticing that the entrenchments were open at the rear, he asked Captain Lanahan, " In case of an attack in the rear, what would you do. Captain? I see you cannot turn the guns around." Said the Cap- tain, " Do you see that little round knob on the end of the gun?" "Yes," said the Lieutenant. "Well," added the Captain, " that is the cascable knob. You pull that out, stick it in the other end, and fire to the rear." The green young officer saw the point, resigned the next day, and left for home. Captain Lanahan once said to the Adjutant, " Should the Colonel order me to shoot j'ou, I would do it. I should not be to blame. The Colonel would be responsible." While the southern coast had its occasional gales and its numerous thunder-tempests, it had its many bland and beautiful days. Usually the mornings and evenings were calm and delightful. The sea-breezes prevailed at mid-day. With pleasure we recall that rare, rich phenomenon known as mirage, that, in the morning— perhaps nine o'clock — on a summer day, hung in the horizon off the harbor of Port Royal. It seemed that every vessel in the offing, and some, too. that were out of sight seaward, had DBAYTON'S MANSION. 1862.] THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 109 been lifted into the air, reversed in position, and were sailing in the heav- ens. And some of these were even seen in a third upright position, above all the rest sailing in the sky. We were almost persuaded that we had left the real world for the enchanting realms of fancy. Again we were kindly and substantially remembered by the good people of Rhode Island, and especiallyby the citizens of Providence, from whom as a gift, there reached us on Julj' 4th, a cargo of ice in charge of Charles E. Bailey, Esq. It was wisely appropriated by Colonel Brown to hospital uses, reserving to the men on duty the right of using what might be neces- sary for their health and comfort. July 14. Benjamin F. Brayton (Company C) , died of typhoid fever at Hilton Head. July 22. Henry Conboy (Companj' H), died in regimental hospital. July 24. George F. Goodwin (Company M) , died of typhoid fever. July 25. William Davis (Company B), died of gunshot wound at Hil- ton Head hospital. His remains were afterwards sent to his home in Cen- tral Falls, R. I. July 27. Peter Nailan (Companj^ H) , died of gainshot wound at Hil- ton Head hospital. July 30. Silas H. Stewart (Company G) , died at Fort Pulaski. An animating episode of garrison life occurred with our gunners of Company G, in Fort Pulaski. Blockade-runners — our anti-slavery English cousins — were reluctant to forego their commercial relations with Savan- nah ; cotton brought a higher price than conscience. On a dark night, in the midst of a severe thunder-storm, a splendid English craft, having on board Ave thousand stand of arms, with ammunition, slipped through the fleet and expected to dodge the fort. Our sentinels descried her. The men of Company G were instantly at their guns. Corp. R. Linton trained his James' rifle and put a shell through the culprit, leaving her helpless to fall into the hands of the awakened navy. The prize should have fallen to our hands. About the 1st of August, there being near a hundred prisoners of war on our hands, with no opportunity of exchanging them on our front, and some of them being sick, it was determined to send them North. As their guard on the transport, the Arago, the following were selected : Major Fessenden, of General Hunter's staff, Sergt. C. H. Williams (Company A) ; Corp. W. H. Andrews (Company H) ; Corp. A. Wilkinson (Company L), and ten privates of Company M. In reality Sergeant Williams had the care of the men and captives. The treatment of these prisoners was of the best character. They were supplied with all the comforts that we would have bestowed upon our own soldiers ; the sick received wines and medicines and little luxuries from the ship's stores at the expense of our guard. On reaching New York they were taken by a tug-boat to Fort Columbus, on Governor's 110 SHOT AND SHELL. [AugUSt, Island, and turned over to Colonel Loomis, United States Army, com- mandant of that post. Major Fessenden here left our men, and, finally, after delays. Sergeant Williams returned to Hilton Head on the propeller George C. Collins. On the voyage a certain Captain of recruits rudely interfered with the Sergeant's command in a way that, after reaching Port Royal, cost the Captain his position in the army. To experience the sublimities of thunder-storms, one needs to spend a season in the region of the Sea Islands, a sort of disputed ground be- tween the sea and the continent, and often sharply disputed between the winds of the mountains and the gales of the ocean. These storms come at all seasons, but more frequently in the summer and autumn. They are indescribable in their strength and majesty. Whether the winds sweep down from the hills of the main-land, or in from the sea, over the level, forest-clad islands, they come with unchecked fierceness, with great dark wings of clouds, with breaking thunder and leaping lightnings; Anon the heavens are black ; anon thej^ are a sheet of flashing fires. The waters are lashed into angry. billows, and the forests bend and wail before the strokes of the tempest. In such a storm a man feels small and weak. The convulsion, however, is soon past. Aug. 10. George W. Mace (Company M), died of typhoid fever. Aug. 11. George W. Hicks (Company E), died at Hilton Head. Aug. 12. William Burroughs (Company F), died of wounds at Hilton Head. Aug. 18. George W. Jagneth (Company B), died in New York. Aug. 28. Patrick Burke (Company I), died at Hilton Head. In the same place, on the same day, died Samuel S. Sweet (Company E). Sept. 1. Abiel L. Leonard (Company G), died at Providence, E. I. Sept. 10. John Lambe (Company E), died at Hilton Head. Aug. 4. Greatly to the regret of our command, Maj. E. Metcalf resigned his place amongst us and accepted a Colonel's commission in th4 Eleventh Ehode Island Infantry. However, we shall soon have the pleasure of mentioning his return as our Colonel. Meanwhile, on his visit to Rhode Island, and during his service in Virginia, through his influence with Governor Sprague, he was of great service to us in adjusting oflScial matters. His record with the Eleventh Regiment will appear with the history of that command. Aug. 7. Maj. Henry T. Sisson closed his services with us by the resignation of his commission. He, like several others of our field and line, had seen service before we took the front. He was commissioned as First Lieutenant and Paymaster of the First Rhode Island Detached Militia, April 18, 1861 ; afterwards was chosen Captain of the First Light Artillery, Dec. 20, 1861. His relation to us as Major commenced Feb. 5, 1862. After leaving us he was appointed Colonel of the Fifth Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, Nov. 5, 1862, and served till Oct. 5, 1864. 1862.] THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. Ill Aug. 25. William Blair (Company I) , died in United States Hospital, on Hilton Head. In the same hospital died Patrick Burke (Company I) , on the 28th of August. Aug. 29. A detachment of Companj' G, from Fort Pulaski, with other troops, on the armed transport Starlight, made an advance up May River to the town of Bluffton, and indulged in a little dispute with the chivalry of that section, putting their opponents to flight by the eloquence of their guns. Aug. 30. About four o'clock, a. m., Company G, the gunners at Pulaski, were ordered in haste to their posts and pieces, as the sentinels on the island reported a steamer coming down from Savannah. Our men were ready for the visitor. The craft proved to be the steamer Emma, attempting, under cover of the night, to run by the fort, but had grounded. We opened our iron lips on the friend of England and of the CoDfederacy, and her crew deemed it wise to set her on fire and flee. We, however, secured some of her cargo of cotton, to prove that cotton was not King of the Yankees. Aug. 30. First Lieutenant and Quartei-master "William P. Martin, commissioned Aug. 21, 1861, a very able and excellent officer, resigned his place amongst us and accepted an appointment from President Lincoln as Commissary of Subsistence of Volunteers in our Department. He was formerly in the Regular Army, where he lost his leg in, one of the battles of the Mexican war. The colors presented to us at Fort Hamilton by his wife gave her also a good record in our esteem. On account of his wooden limb, but without the least tinge of disrespect, the worthy and beloved Lieutenant was familiarly styled " Old Peg Leg.'' He is now serving as mihtary store-keeper in the Regular Army. Sept. 3. On account of impaired and failing health, Maj. Christopher Blanding resigned his commission and returned to Rhode Island. His services with us at our organization, in our preparations for the field, in recruiting for us, and in the labors of the field, while he could endure them, secured for Mm a prominent record. After leaving us he honorably served as a Captain of the Hospital Guards, stationed at Lovell General Hospital, at Portsmouth Grove, R. I., till the close of the war. The post bakery at Hilton Head was under the supervision of Sergt. F. A. Wilcoxson (Company L) , whose executive abilities won for him warm encomiums. Sept. 26. Rev. James Gubby, Chaplain of our comrtfand, mustered with us Oct. 21, 1861, and who had served us to the best of his abilities, now resigned his commission and went north, but, after a period of recup- eration, returned to the Department and acted for a time as Chaplain of the general hospital on Hilton Head. The regiment remained without a chaplain till Jan. 20, 1863, when the author of this history. Rev. F. Deni- son, who had previouslj' served with the First Rhode Island Cavalry till 112 SHOT AND SHELL. [September. the severitj' of Virginia campaigns had broken his health, choosing a milder climate, was mustered to serve among our heavy guns. Having some ambition for music, we endeavored to maintain a regi- mental brass band. Manj^ will remember Band-master Marshall. It is said that music hath charms. This was hardly true of the kind we had. But in justice to the members of the band it should be stated that their instruments were of an inferior qualitj^ One evening at dress-parade as the band were beating otf down the line, a pet dog belonging in camp appeared in front of the line, and was attacked with convulsions, and almost instantly died. The bo^'s affirmed that the music of the band killed him. On another occasion, as the band got the order from the Adjutant, "Troop — beat off," they struck and started. Instantly Colonel Brown, with a loud voice, and a peculiar shake of his head' denoting displeasure, said, "Adjutant! Stop that band; and have the Band-master report to me at once. Down the line to the front and centre with a Drum-major's salute." The Band-master reported as ordered. The Colonel said, "You have played that tune for six months ; ifj'ou play it again I will put the whole band in the guard-house." After this we had some variations of music, but no inspiring improvements. Finally, by a general order from the "War Department, relating to all the Federal forces, regimental bands were abolished as too expensive and cumbersome for the war we were waging. Whatever bands were retained after this were voluntaril}' supported by the regiments they served. Our band was mustered out. This left us only our fifers and drummers, with the buglers connected with the light battery. In due time we had a fife-major and a drum-major ; these organized, the musicians left us into a very spirited and proficient drum-corps. For dress-parades, marches, and reviews we had, indeed, excellent music, equal, if not superior, to any among the troops in the Department. Music, as we shall hereafter mention, had its devotees in our command. CHAPTER XX. EXPEDITIONS ON THE FRONT. September — October, 1862. Lmo presses on to victory. With the autumn we renewed our aggressive movements. Unpre- pared for heavier operations, we indulged in raids and expeditions in the bayous and up the rivers. Sept. 30. An incursive force, under Colonel Barton, of the Forty- eighth New York Infantrj^, and Captain Gould (Company G-) , left Fort Pulaski for Bluffton, a settlement on the main-land west of Skulk Creek. The troops, consisting of detachments from Companj^ G- and from the Forth-eighth New York, left on two transports — the Starlight, mounting two guns, and the famous Planter, mounting five guns. With pleasant weather we steamed our way to our destination, shelling the shores and all suspicious spots as we passed. Captain Gould commanded the artillery. A part of our men, with some of the Fortj'-eighth, landed at Bluffton, finding only four negroes. The " chivalry" of the village had fled. As this was equivalent to a surrender of the place, we freely helped our- selves to what property thus fell into our hands. A negro reported that a body of cavalry was about two miles off prepared to make a stand at the salt-works. Two detachments of our Company, with Lieutenant Fry, offered their services to advance and meet the enemy. Some were indignant at being refused. Bluffton was thoroughly inspected — some would say ransacked and plundered. At one house we found the dinner- table spread and abandoned ; of course we made ourselves guests. Taking with us, at last, some needed furniture, and a piano to cheer us in Fort Pulaski, and all the negroes we could reach, save one, we turned back and safely reached the fort in the evening. Oct. 1. With nearly the same force we made an expedition up the Savannah to Mile Point and into the streams on the west of Calibogue Sound. Coming within range of the rice-works on the Savannah, w« silenced an opposing rebel battery and put to flight five rebel steamers that thought to meet us. At least two of our shots took effect in the rice-house. The enemy's shots fell short of us. In allusion to our gun- ning, Colonel Barton said, " Men, you have done well p I do not ask for any better firing." 114 SHOT AND SHELL. [October, Oct. 12. At midnight, seven detachments from Company G, to work the guns, and two companies of the Fortj^-eighth New York, on board the Planter and the George Washington, left Fort Pulaski to pa}- another visit to Blufftou and its vicinitj'. From the bow-guns of the boats we shelled the shores as we passed on our way, but no Johnnies revealed themselves. Eeaching the salt-works, some of our force landed in boats and destroyed the works, which inflicted quite a loss upon the enemy. Returning, we landed at Bluffton and made another requisition on the furniture and loose goods left in the town, deeming abandoned propertj' in war lawful prey. On our return home a few rifle-shots were fired on us from the shores, but without effect. The spoils of our expedition added to the comforts of our post at Fort Pulaski. Oct. 18. The Planter, with our men as cannoniers, and the Forty- eighth New York boys as infantry, made a third visit to BluflftOn to find our faithful negro spy, left there on the 13th, and to learn of the whereabouts and intentions of the foe. As usual. Colonel Barton commanded the light arms, and Captain Gould directed the artillery. Shelling the shore, we landed and reconnoitred, and again picked up arti- cles of comfort and value. On returning, we encountered the enemj' con- cealed on the shore about a hundred yards distant from us, firing with musketrj'. The heavj', unexpected attack for a moment threw us into con- fusion, as we were all at our ease. We rushed to our cannons, and the boys of the Forty-eighth New York seized their rifles. Corporal Fisher fired the first gun. Soon our howitzer was in full play and did splendid execution. Colonel Barton and Captain Gould, both with rifles, swelled the music of the light and heavj- guns. We received two heavj^ volleys, but made more than equal returns. Some of the shots of the rebels cut clean through the light work of our steamer. Cries were heard on shore ; one voice said,- "Don't go and leave me." We were liberal with our shell, canister, and bullets. Corp. George Duranne of Company B (Forty- eighth New York) , fell mortally wounded, and died' a few days after. Mr. Smith, mate of the Planter, was wounded in the ankle. Corporal Fisher of Company G, of our regiment, was slightly injured in the face. A number were cut in their caps and clothing. The enemy seemed to muster a full company, and only lacked field-pieces to have fatally smitten our light-framed steamer. As it was, they failed in their design. We returned at night, bringing with us our trusty negro spy, who ga\'e us much valuable information. Oct. 18. Brig.-Gen. Rufus Saxton issued his General Orders, No. 10, for the organization of the First Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers (colored). This regiment had already had a qitasi existence without suffi- cient forms of law for its equipment and pay, having been enrolled by di- rection of General Hunter, following the general instructions first given to General Sherman. Now the command took full and regular form. This was an era in the war, and in the history of the ex-slaves. Col. T. W. 1862.] THIRD E. I. H. ARTILLERY. 115 Higginson, of Massachusetts, finally became associated -with this command, and gave it reputation by his talents and his sword. History is stranger than fiction. A son of Massachusetts leads a regiment of ex-slaves — volunteers from South Carolina — under the Stars and Stripes, against the slaveholders' rebellion. Gen. 0. M. Mitchell on succeeding General Hunter in the command of the Department, applied himself with great energy and enthusiasm to the interests of the troops and of our government. He was alike a scholar and a patriot ; an astronomer and a soldier. He personally visited and ad- dressed all the troops of the Tenth Corps. His address to our command was particularly happy and stirring. In the middle of an earnest and elo- quent passage in his speech, where he expressed his discontent at being penned up on that island (Hilton Head) , and his anxiety to reach the main-land, an English soldier in our ranks, kindled with the enthusiasm, shouted, " 'Ear! 'ear! 'ear!" A heartj^ smile rose from the whole com- mand. The General paused in his splendid speech and joined us in the generous laugh, which deepened the impression of the occasion. Our regiment had its geniuses of every sort — men equal to anjj^ situa- tion. Private C , a recruit in Companj' — , disappointed in not receiving his paj^ on reaching ship in New York, and again refused after arriving at Hilton Head — some one having made him promises without authority — concluded to slip his neck from the military j'oke. Being no dullard in planning, and withal a superior penman, after informing himself in respect to the mysteries and faces of red tape, he made out for himself discharge papers so complete that with them he passed the sentinels and provost guards and took passage on the regular transport' for New York, and securely reached New England. Wonders are everywhere around us, and these, at present, are explicable only in part. Great are the mysteries of alligator life. These we some- times studied with partial success. It was not difficult to comprehend why the amphibious quadruped knight was in armor dight, since his habitat was in the region of sharks, sturgeons, storks, cranes, and bayonet-billed galUnippers. Life needs to be iron-clad in southern rivers and marshes. But why his long, horny tail ? Horns and beaks are always in front for de- fense and assault. Battering-rams and gun-boats have metal noses and no tails. As the alligator is neither fish nor monkey to need a long tail, and does not run backwards, why his prodigious, hard, round, caudal extremity? Lieut. J. M. Barker, while stationed at Bay Point, came nigh solving this problem at his expense. Riding along the creek beach he spied a monster of this species, supposed at first to be something else, when, dismounting and approaching, he first discovered an ominous winking and slight moving of the head. As he drew a few steps nearer, of a sudden the prone, cun- ning knight of the marshes, using his fore feet as a pivot, made a fearful sweep with his tail at the Lieutenant's legs, and only just failed of reach- ng them. CHAPTER XXI. BATTLE OF POCOTALIGO, OOTOBBE, 1862. Old schemes of tolekedness die hard. Early in the autumn of 1862, General Mitchell made his an-angements for commencing an active campaign in the Department. One of his first objects was to interrupt the railroad communications between Charleston and Savannah, to prevent the rebels from rapidly transporting their troops from one point to another, and to gain if possible a Federal foothold on the main road. One of the objective points selected was Pocotaligo, near the bridge crossing the river by that name ; a locality about thirty-five miles from Hilton Head. The command of this expedition was assigned to Brig. -Gen. J. M. Bran- nan. His force consisted of a portion of the First Brigade (his own), Col. J. L. Chatfield (Sixth Connecticut) , commanding, 2,000 men ; a por- tion of the Second Brigade, Brig. -Gen. A. H. Terr}' commanding, 1,410 men ; a detachment of the Third Rhode Island Heavy Artillery, Col. N. W. Brown commanding, 300 men ; a detachment of the Forty-eighth New York, Col. W. Barton commanding, 300 men ; a detachment of the First Massachusetts Cavalry, Capt. L. Richmond commanding, 108 men ; a detachment of the New York Volunteer Engineers, Lieut.-Col. J. F. Hall commanding, 250 men ; a section of the First United States Artillery, Lieut. G. V. Henry commanding, forty men ; a section of the Third United States Artillery, Lieut. E. Gettings commanding, forty men ; total strength, 4,448 men. In Colonel Barton's command were fifty men of Company G, of our regi- ment, which added to our detachment from Companies E, K, L, and M, gave us 350 men in the expedition. Company M assisted in transporting and working three boat-howitzers. Oct. 21. The troops on nine gun-boats and a few transports left Hil- ton Head in the evening and proceeded up Broad River. Our men were on the Marblehead, Vixen, and George Washington. Oct. 22. At 4.30 o'clock, a. m., the transport Ben Deford and gun- 1862.] THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 117 boat Paul Jones arrived off Pocotaligo Creek. Colonel Barton, with his regiment, fifty of the Engineers, and fiftj' of our regiment, proceeded to the Coosahatchie River to destroy the railroad and bridges in that vicinity. The other gun-boats and transports did not arrive till 8 o'clock. In- fantry and artillery were landed at Mackey's Point — the junction of Pocotaligo and Tulitinny Rivers — and advanced in the direction of Poco- taligo bridge. The force advanced in the following order : First Brig- ade, with section of First United States Artillery ; Second Brigade, Col- onel Brown commanding, with section of Third United States Artillery, and three boat-howitzers lent hj the navj', and forty-five men of our regi- ment under Captain Comstock. Lieut. C. R. Bray ton was our Acting Adjutant. On advancing about five and a half miles and debouching upon an open, rolUng country, the rebels opened upon us with a field-battery from a posi- tion on the plantation known as Caston's. The First Brigade deployed ; the artillery was brought to the front, and the rebels were driven from their position. In their retreat, however, the enemy destroyed all the small bridges and so retarded our pursuit. As our engineers repaired the bridges we advanced. We had proceeded but little more than a mile when a battery opened upon us from the Frampton plantation. Here, as the rebels had great advantage of position, ensconced in a wood with a swamp in front, passable only by a causeway, the bridge of which had been destroyed, we had a large number killed and wounded. "We met the enemy's shot, shell. Canister, grape, and musket ball^, till the ammunition for our field-pieces fell short, and our infantry, though ateting with great courage and determination, were twice driven back. At last we pressed desperately forward, and the enemy precipitately retreated ; and plunging through the swamp — nearly to our arm-pits in mud — we piirsued them. Fortunately we captured a caisson full of ammunition to supply our great need. Delays were occasioned by destroyed bridges. Pursuing till we i-e ached the point where the Coosahatchie road joins that through a swamp, the rebels again opened batteries of field-pieces and siege-guns on the further side of the creek. I^ere, again, our ammunition failed us, and we had to send back several milei to Mackey's Point for a supply. Charles B. Oakes (Company C), drove ba^k with Hamilton's wagon, post-haste, and obtained the supply. • The rebels now destroyed the , Pocotaligo Bridge and took position be- yond it in strong earthworks. "What we were aiming to do — to cut the road — they had done. The battles had now lasted all day, and rebel troops from Savannah and Charleston were reaching the point of action. With the approach of night we retired, falling back upon Mackey's Point, gathering up our dead and wounded. Our dead we buried. Our wounded we bore with us on stretchers extemporized of boughs and blankets. Col- from Mackey's Landing and runs on us with a murderous fire from 118 8H0T AND SHELL. [October, onel Barton and his command was only partially successful in tUfe movement on the Coosahatchie and was obliged to retire. Oct. 23. The entire force fell back in good order to Hilton Head. Our casualties in killed, wounded, and missing, amounted to 215 ; those of the enemy were reported as 126. Our regiment had three wounded: Lieut. J. B. Blanding (G), loss of the use of arm and side wound ; Corp. J. N. Bogman (M), mortally ; private Josiah W. Thompson (M) . Of Corp. J. Nelson Bogman, the only one of our wounded men who died of his injuries. Adjutant Gorton thus writes : " The loss of no mem- ber of my old Company (M) , came nearer home to me than that of young Bogman, well-known to me before his enlistment, born in Providence, • E. I., March 22, 1843, hence not twenty years of age; a young man of excellent character, with everything in life bright before him ; the pride of his family ; the loved of his comrades ; endeared to all who knew him. On my last visit to him, a few hours before his death, he gi-eeted me with a smile, spoke of the battle and the noble conduct of his associates, especially of the bravery of Lieutenant Holbrook (then Sergeant). The exertion brought on a hemorrhage, for he was nigh his end. A favorite comrade was constantly at his side to the last, giving every attention that friendship and affection could prompt. He died at Hilton Head, Oct. 25, 1862, calmly, peacefully, bravely, like a true soldier. His remains were sent north and now rest in Swan Point Cemetery, Providence, R. I." We had some forty men on board the George Washington, that was armed with howitzers and Parrott guns, to aid in clearing the river banks before our men might be landed. This steamer took a side creek, long, deep, and exceedingly narrow — in places hardly wider than the steamer— and reached the front a little too late to render efdcient aid in the battle- strokes. Her critical retreat, necessarily running backwards through the winding, swift-streamed, natural canal, was a mixed manoeuvre of maritime and military skill. In the battle a little drummer-boy of the Forty-eighth New York, on board the Planter, attracted the attention of all on the vessel by his supe- rior soldierly record. Seeing Lieutenant Blanding sorely wounded and disabled from using his weapons, the lad obtained the Lieutenant's pistol, and coolly taking the most advantageous position possible, took deliberate aim and emptied every barrel in the face of the foe. On the Federal side the losses were 43 killed, 258 wounded, and 5 miss- ing. The Confederates lost 14 killed, 102 wounded, and 9 missing. They were commanded by Gen. W. S. Walker. i>mmg the action a rebel light battery had evidently expended their projectiles, and resorted to all means for a supply. An unusual sound fol- lowing some of the missiles that reached us, a German soldier on our side, pursuing one of the projectiles, to satisfy his curiosity, found it to be a 1862.] THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 119 monkey-wr6nch, -whereupon, returning with extended hands, he exclaimed, '■Capteen ! Dey is trowing de blacksmith's shop." The falling back of the forces under Colonel Barton was covered by the gun-boats and the Planter, on the latter of which, when she grounded, Corp. J. B. Hudson (Company G) , with fourteen men, handled his gun and expended all his ammunition. For gallant conduct he was soon pro- moted to be Sergeant. In the vicinity of the Pocotaligo battle Colonel Brown had occasion to cross one of the streams. At once Private Drummond (Company C), of- fered to bear him over on his shoulders, but in the middle of the stream stumbled, and both himself and the Colonel had a thorough bath. Both soon reached the bank,- when the Colonel simplj- remarked, "Well, if you had told me of the perils of our passage, I would have volunteered to transport you, and both of us might have been dry." Oct. 29. David D. Harrington (Company A), died at Hilton Head. Nov. 1. A detachment of Compan}- G, on the Planter, made a visit to Daufuskie Island ; but, not finding the enemy, were unwilling to return empty-handed. They therefore conscripted oranges, eggs, fowls, sweet- potatoes, and garden vegetables. The negroes remaining on the island seized the opportunitj' to make their exodus. Very tenderly did our men place inscribed head-boards to the graves of Daniel Golden and Michael Migan, members of Company G, who had been previously buried there. At this time our companies were stationed as follows : Company G, Fort Pulaski ; Company B, in battery at .Seabrook, on Skulk Creek ; Company D, in Fort Seward, at Bay Point ; Companies A, C, E, F, H, I, K, L, and M, in the entrenchments at Hilton Head, except a detachment of A in gun-boat George Washington on picket through creeks and along the rivers. J. Templeton (Company L) , died of congestive fever Nov. 4th, at Hilton Head. Bernard Murray (Company I) , died Nov. 6th. Daniel Diggle (Company A), died Nov. 20th, at Port Royal. Our monthly return for October reported our aggregate number at 1,275. Companies A, B, C, H, I, K, L, M, at Hilton Head ; D, E, F, at Bay Point ; G, at Fort Pulaski. CHAPTER .XXII THE YELLOW FEVEK AND DEATHS, OcTOBBB — November, 1862. " The afaicted warriors come To the deep wail of the trumpet And beat of muffled drum." Neae the middle of October, 1862, two cases of yellow fever were developed among the men emploj'ed in the Quartermaster's Department of the Armjr Corps at Hilton Head, supposed to have been contracted in unloading a vessel from a southern port. The plague spread somewhat before it was really comprehended. Some sickened and died in a few hours. General Mitchell was attacked and died October 30th. We cannot refrain from copying some of the lines written by Lieut. - Col. Gr. Douglas Brewerton "on the death of General Mitchell, who was eminently a christian man : — " The eyes that loved to read the stars Have closed upon their lig'ht, To open, if our faith fail not, Where God's own stars are bright. His upright life, his soldier fame. Are memories of the past ; His hero words, his very name Are still a trumpet blast." Notwithstanding everj"- possible sanitary precaution and the utmost skill of medical officers, several noble lives were lost by this fearful and uncon- querable disease, which raged on Hilton Head during the latter part of Oc- tober and the most of November, until the chills of approaching winter checked its career. Some regiments, for want of due care, suffered more than others. Our command was afflicted in the loss of two excellent officers. LIEUT. WALTER B. M ANTON. He was born in Providence, R. I., Aug. 10, 1832, of wealthy and highly honorable parentage, being the son of Joseph and Mary Whipple Manton. Belonging to one of the oldest families of Rhode Island, and enjoying the best advantages of home society and of education in his native citv, he 1862.] THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 121 proved himself worthy of his inheritance and his opportunities. Qualified by talents and culture, he assisted his father in his wholesale trade in cot- ton, and visited different portions of our country. He married Helen A. Stevens of Cincinnati, O., and had one son. Though surrounded by the most inviting and endearing home attractions, his largeness of thought and heart led him to fly to the defense of his country in the hour of her agony. He was commissioned as First Lieutenant of Carbineers in the First Rhode Island Detached Militia, June 27, 1861, and faithfullj- served in that command till the expiration of its three months' service, passing through the fiery experience of the first battle of Bull Run. He was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the Third Rhode Island Heavj' Artillery, Feb. 11, 1862, and was true to his post of duty to the last. On account of his abihty, skill, and fidelity, he was called to fill the rank of Acting Quarter- master of the regiment, and his promotion to be First Lieutenant had been ordered by the Governor and his commission was on its way to him, when he fell a victim to the fatal scourge — yellow fever — that had entered the Department of the South. His illness was short. In the quarters of the Surgeon, Dr. Sticknej', he received every possible care that love and skill could dictate ; but the maladj' was incurable. He died Oct. 25, 1862. His funeral services were observed at 4 o'clock, p. m., on the following day, and were conducted by Eev. H. L. Wayland, Chaplain of the Seventh Connecticut Regiment, and son of Dr. Francis Waj-land. The officers and most of the men of our regiment then at head-quarters, notwithstanding the exposure to the plague, attended the solemnities and testified in all possible ways of their esteem for their noble comrade. He was a gentleman as well as a soldier ; attractive in form and feat- ures ; neat in appearance, chaste in language, quiet and unassuming in manner, exemplary and upright in habits, exact and punctual in duty, affable and affectionate in disposition, and won the high regards of all who knew him ; leaving not an enemy, but a host of friends, admirers, and mourners. His remains were taken north in the winter following, and, after suitable solemnities, from his father's residence, were laid in Swan Point Cemetery, Jan. 31, 1863. The price of Liberty, how great ! COL. NATHANIEL W. BKOWN. He was the son of Isaac Brown, and was born in Dighton, Mass., Feb- 22, 1811. Of excellent native powers, well developed by education and strengthened by industry, he became a man of influence and mark even in his early years of business. Engaging in manufacturing, he became a member of the widely-known firm of Jacob Dunnell & Co. When the Rebellion broke upon the land he was among the first to offer himself for 122 SHOT AND SHELL. [November, the defense of his countiy, and was appointed Captain in the First ^hoA& Island Detached Militia, and manifested his courage and coolness in the battle of Bull Kun. Of his ability and valuable ser\'ices in command of the Third Eegimeiit from the date of his commission, Sept. 17, 1861, to the daj^ of his death, it would be difficult to speak in sufficiently appreciative terms. He was seized with the virulent fever on the 25th of October, and, de- spite the best medical skill and care, died on the 30th, at the age of fiftj- one years, yet fresh in his strength and honors. During the period of his service and command with us, he manifested all the high and soldierly qualities of a patriot and officer. He was a wise and thorough disciplina- rian, prompt and unwavering in action, and ever watchful and considerate of the interests of his regiment. His strict temperance made him conspic- uous and esteemed ; and what he practised himself he urged upon all. He cherished an exalted sense of true religion and sincere religious observ- ances, and was deeply interested in the maintenance of worship near head- quarters at the post, and was a regular attendant until stricken down by disease. A few weeks before his death he was assigned to duty by Gen- eral Mitchell as Chief of Artillery in the Department, a position for which he was well qualified. On account of the nature of his malady, his body was buried on the day of his death, but with appropriate funeral services. The ambulance draped and festooned by the national flag, was drawn by six gray horses. Services were conducted by Rev. H. L. Wayland, of the Seventh Connecticut, and Rev. Mr. Hudson, of the New York Volunteer Engineers. The Colonel's horse was led in full trappings by his servant in the procession. The body was laid in Pine Grove Cemetery outside the entrenchments at the south. Here they remained till the following winter, when they were carried to Providence, R. I., where, on the 30th of Janu- ary, 1863, with becoming military and religious ceremonies, they were laid in the North Burjdng-ground. It is proper here to introduOe the following official paper : — " Hbad-quabteks Thibd Rhode Island Abtii.lbky, ( Camp Stephen Olney, Hilton Head, S. C, Kov. 24, 1862. i General Orders, No. 35 ; — The Colonel Commanding rejoins his regiment with mingled feelings of pride, of pleasure, and, alas, of painful regret. He has ever been proud of his connec- tion with this command — never more so than now. The bearing and appearance of all, the condition of the camp, everything that first attracts the attention of a commanding officer, have gratified him far beyond what he could have antici- pated. But to-day, for the first time, he is fully alive to the loss himself, the regiment, and the country has sustained in the death of our late commander. You know he was in a peculiar sense my friend ; and I know, as you could not, what a privilege it was to enjoy his friendship. Others mourn his departure with a sorrow too sacred to be invaded by us; but as our commander — as one it was an honor to serve, and who served honorably in every position, we must ever cherish his mem- 1862.] THIBD R. I. H. ARTILLEBY. 123 ory, and deplore bis untimely death. To me it was especially sad, coming as it seemed to come, at the very moment when the way was opening to him for what lie so earnestly desired, a life of activity, and an opportunity for the distinction he was so sure to win . His successor does not come among you hoping to be to you what he was. But I shall try to enforce the lessons he taught you of coolness and subordination ; and I have no other ambition to satisfy, if you, comrades, under me, as under him, are obedient to authority and resolute in the hour of danger ; cheerful in obedience ; cool in courage. I should not be here did I not know the Third will never fail in these cardinal virtues of the soldier. I rely upon you. May the hour never come when any one of you shall feel he cannot rely upon his commander. E. METCALF, Colonel Commanding." Nov. 9. Henry Welsh. (Companj' H), died at Hilton Head. In the month of November, Lieut. A. E. Greene with about two-thirds of his company (B) moved to Skulk Creek, about four miles from the en- trenchments at Hilton Head, and assisted in constructing, and afterwards manned, the earthwork known as Fort Mitchell. Here he remained, receiv- ing at times portions of other companies, till Jan. 8, 1863. On the 1st of November, 1862, Lieut. G. O. Gorton was appointed Adjutant of the command ; and at the same time Lieut. P. G. Turner was appointed Quartermaster. And we may here add that Lieutenant Gorton re- ceived a commission as Captain on the 2d of November 1863, but refused to be mustered, it being the sum of his ambition to serve as Adjutant of the command, a post that he gracefully and nobly filled till his term of ser- vice expired. And we might add in reference to him, that at the outbreak of the EebeUion he volunteered as a private in the First Ehode Island De- tached Militia, and bravely met the Confederate fire on the plains of Manas- sas. He joined our command as Second Lieutenant Feb. 5, 1862, and was advanced to be First Lieutenant Nov. 28, 1862. He was a gentleman as well as a soldier in every position he occupied. No regiment ever had a more accomplished, accommodating, beloved Adjutant. It was a feast to one's eyes to witness the guard-mounting as he conducted it, and look upon his work in any place. By the way, the Adjutant furnishes the following incident : When Col- onel Metcalf took command of the regiment, as he was a strong temperance man, — he declined signing officers' requisitions for whiskey, without which official approval the cheerful element- could not be obtained of the Post Commissary. As a consequence there was a scarcity of the "critter" in camp. Sev- eral officers who were overtaken by thirst and had vainly reconnoitered for supplies, were finally told that the Adjutant had a little in a bottle under his bunk. The bottle was found and most of its contents were abstracted, when the Adjutant put in an appearance and learned of the state of affairs. He thereupon wished his fellow-officers much joy, but honestly explained 124 SHOT AND SHELL. [November. that he had been making a collection of insects for a kinsman who was an enthusiast in entomology, and that he had put his bugs and insects in that bottle, which he had filled with whiskey obtained at the hospital to preserve them. Ah ! ^hat a puckering of lips and griping of bowels. One man certainly lost his hold on his "roast beef." The Adjutant adds, "I had seen pictures of bottles of whiskey with horrible creatures dancing around in them, but here I had a real case." Besides its humor, this incident has a value for physicians and psychologists as illustrating the close and mysteri- ous relation of the mind to the nervous system. In honor of a Ehode Island friend our encampment was styled Camp Stephen Olney. Nov. 28. Lieut. C. E. Brayton, who left his college course in Brown University to join our regiment at its formation, was now commissioned as Captain of our light battery (Company C), consequent upon the promotion of Captain Day to a Majority, and by his superior tact and energy more than kept good the high prestige won by this company. The frequent calls for the use of his field-pieces on expeditions along the front gave him rare op- portunity to exercise his talents and his courage ; and he proved himself equal to everj' emergency. Of Quartermaster Turner a good line of record should be made, as there never was a more industrious, exact, reliable Quartermaster in the army. But he also carried his qualities with him everywhere. He joined the regiment as a private Sept. 7, 1861 ; was promoted to be Second Lieutenant Oct. 9, 1871, and to be First Lieutenant May 20, 1862. He finally rose to be Captain May 1, 1863, and did valiant ser-\dce on Morris Island till his term of enlistment expired. His voice, and face, and manner, were the revealers of his warm and cheerful heart. Memory will ever closely hold the name of Capt. Peter J. Turner. CHAPTER XXIII THANKSGIVING AT FORT PULASKI. November, 1862. The camp and, cabin now rejoice. The day of national Thanksgiving — first made national by President Lincoln — one of the good, unforeseen results of the war, was joyfullj'- hailed in the army as it was at our homes. For its observance, and to en- joy a daj' of relaxation from the stern duties of war, a programme was arranged for a " Grand Thanksgiving Fete and Festival, given by the Offi- cers of the Garrison of Fort Pulaski, Ga., Nov. 27, 1862." Invitations were sent to diflferent parts of the Departihent, and espe- cially to Hilton Head. The day was propitious and cool. Three steamers conveying guests from Hilton Head reached the fort at noon, and found a cheering reception. At the entrance of the fort was an arch with the em- blazoned word ' ' Welcome." Over the sally-port was the name ' ' Mitchell," suitably draped, and near by the names "Brannan" and " Terrj'." Over the officers' quarters and the doors of the casemates were mottoes, wreaths, arches, and stars ; and the walls were festooned. All needful preparations had been made for "a feast of reason and a flow of soul." The guests were received with a salute from the fort. Then followed religious services conducted by Rev. Dr. Strickland, Chaplain of the Forty- eighth New York. In the matter of festive exercises, amusements, and enjoyments, the following programme had been arranged and printed, and was handsomely carried out : — "Target Practice. —Three competitors from each Company. Distance 200 yards. Best string in three shots each. First prize — Gold Medal, valued at $25. Second prize — Silver Medal, valued at $15. Third Prize, Bronze Medal, valued at $10. Rowing Match. — Distance one mile around a stake-boat and return. First prize — Purse of $10. Second prize— Purse of $5. Third prize — Purse of $2.50. Foot Kacb. —Three times around Terre-plein, and over 12 hurdles, three feet high. First prize -^ Purse of $10. Second prize — Purse of $5. Third prize — Purse of $2.50. HuBDLB Sack Race. —100 yards and return; over three hurdles 50 yards 126 SHOT AND SHELL. [November, apart and 18 inches high. First prize — Purse of $10. Second prize — Purse of $5. Whbblbabeow Kace. — Competitors blindfolded, trundling a wheelbarrow once across Terre-plein. First prize — Purse of $10. Second prize — Purse of $5. Meal Feat. — Exclusively, for Contrabands ; hands tied behind the back, and to seize with the teeth a $5 gold piece dropped in a tub of meal. Six competitors to be allowed five minutes each to accomplish the feat. Prize, $5. Gkeased Polk. — Pole to be 15 feet high. Prize, $10. Greased Pig. — To be seized and held by the tail. Three competitors from each Company. Prize, pig. Bublbsque Dress Parade. — Each Company will be allowed to enter an equal number of competitors for each prize. The usual dress parade of the Garrison will take place at 4.30 p. m. Ball, 8 p. M. Supper, 12 p. M. Lunch at all hours. The Third Khode Island Minstrel Band will play at intervals during the evening. The Band of the Forty-eighth New York Regiment will perform at intervals during the day and evening." The execution of these parts can be better imagined than described. The " sack-race" and " meal-feat" brought forth rapturous applause. The terre-plein and ramparts were crowded with spectators. "When one of the wooly-headed contraband boys raised the $5 from the flour, the cheers rent the air. The mock dress-parade was inimitably comic. FORT PULASKI. The regular dress-parade of the evening was highly creditable. Then followed the social boards and the festive music. The officers' table, near a h^ildred feet in length, was on the terre-plein. Company G- had a superb table in their quarters — four casemates — lighted with four chan- deliers ; while the walls were decorated with wreaths and illuminated with mottoes: "Maj.-Gen. Burnside, the R. I. hero;" "Maj.-G-en. George B. McClellan (likeness) Commander-in-Chief of U. S. A. ; " " Colonel N. W. Brown, — the father of the Regiment — we mourn his loss ; " " 3d R. I. H. A. , Co. G, Slocum Avengers ; " "Lieut. Blanding, the star of the R. I. Boys;" "Gov. Sprague (seal of the State) ." It may be guessed that the spoils of Bluffton aided in setting out the tables and furnishing the quarters. The piano as well as the minstrel band performed for the " light fantastic toe." Oyster suppers, pies, lemonade — if nothing more spirited — kept up the evening cheer and rounded out the rare Thanksgiving-day. 1862.] THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 127 The new era that had dawned for the colored people was announced by General Saxton : — "PROCLAMATION, FOB A DAT OF PUBLIC THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE. I hereby appoint and set apart THURSDAY, THE TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER, as a day of public thanksgiving and praise ; and I earn- estly recommend to the Superintendents of Plantations, Teachers, and Freedmen in this Department, to abstain on that day from their ordinary business, and as- semble in their respective places of worship, and render praise and thanksgiving to Almighty God for the manifold blessings and mercies he has bestowed upon us during the past year; and more especially for the signal success which has attended the great experiment for freedom and the rights of oppressed humanity, inaugu- rated in the Department of the South. Our work has been crowned with a glori- ous success. The hand of God has been in it, and we have faith to believe the re- cording angel has placed the record of it in the Book of Life. You freedmen and women have never before had such cause for thankfulness. Tour simple faith has been vindicated. "The Lord has come" to you, and has answered your prayers. Your chains are broken". Your days of bondage and mourning are ended, and you are forever free. If you cannot yet see your way clearly in the future, fear not; put your trust in the Lord, and He will vouchsafe, as he did to the Israelites of old, the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, to guide your footsteps "through the wilderness," to the promised land. I therefore advise you all to meet and offer up fitting songs of thanksgiving for all these great mercies which you have received, and with them, forget not to breathe an earnest prayer for your brethren who are still in bondage. Given at Beaufort, S. C, this ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two. R. SAXTON, Brig. -Gen. and Military Governor." CHAPTER XXIV CAMP LIFE AND OUTLOOK, December, 1862, — Januaey, 1863. With varied thread life's weti is wove. Before this we might have stated that our camps on the Sea Islands pre- sented a peculiar aspect on account of the manner of pitching our tents. The fine sand with which the islands are blanketed, when free from water, is blown like snow hither and thither, filling the low places and banking be- hind every object that breaks the wind. On this account we were obliged to have raised floors for pur tents, and to seek very level spots for our en- campments. Fresh water was obtained by digging a few feet into the sand, but much of it had a slightly sulphurous taste. Only a few days during the winter were cold enough to call for camp-fires. Dec. 1. All the troops at Hilton Head were called out to witness a very painful scene that was enacted by necessity according to the usages of war — the execution of a hardened criminal. The desperate character was WilHam H. Lunt, (true name Albert Lunt), of Company I, Ninth Maine Regiment. He was duly convicted by court-martial, and sentenced to be shot for the double crime of desertion and highway robbery. The place of execution was beyond the entrenchments on the south side. Twelve rifle- men were his executioners firing at a mark placed on his breast. Eleven bullets took effect in him — the twelfth rifie having no bullet — and he fell from his kneeling position on his coflSn dead on the moment. Desertion on the front is a crime that may not be measured. The character of Lunt was vile beyond description. We had a picket-station under command of Sergt. J. W. Howcroft, (Company D) , about a mile up the island from our garrison at Bay Point. The picket head-quarters were in an old fort, and a guard under Corp. A. B. Brown was stationed on the beach. Before morning a light was seen and a sound of oars was heard. A small blockade-runner, loaded with fancy goods, feeling her way into the creeks to run up inside the rebel lines had struck a sand-bar. Her captain and two men in a boat were try- 1862.] THIRD B. I. H. ARTILLERY. 129 ing to escape. Espied at break-of-day they were captured by Corporal Brown and Ms guard and handed over to Sergeant Howcroft, and finally to Captain Shaw, in Fort Seward, and by him to the authorities at Hilton Head. Our boys felt a little proud over their prisoners, beingthe first they had captured. The stranded vessel in a few daj's came ashore. Among the noticeable features of the post, within the entrenchments at Hilton Head, was the line of sutlers' barracks, popularly designated "Robbers' Row," albeit there were some honest, worthy men engaged there in trade. These barracks for trade were located, numbered, and regulated in their dealings by military orders, and paid taxes for their privileges. Acts of extortion were punishable by expulsion from the Department. One or two traders incurred this penalty under the firm rule of General Hunter. Intoxicating liquors were contraband on the Row with severe consequences. And yet it was reported that trunks of goods, with an exterior chamber or wall containing the exhilarating fluid, found their way into and out of these centres of business. Moreover, great care had to be taken to prevent some of the sutlers from taking advantage of the ignorance of the freedmen. While our thoughts were absorbed in the strategies and strokes of war, our northern eyes were not indifferent to the peculiar flora and fauna of this semi-tropical region ; the giant live-oaks festooned with waving Span- ish moss (tillandsia) ; the parasite mistletoe with its bright leaves and white fruit ; the lofty arrow-shaped cypresses ; the supple jack climbing to the tree-tops ; the yam vines (on Tybee) overrunning the chapparal ; the oleanders by the fresh waters ; the lofty reeds in the marshes, and canes by the forest pools ; the proud palmettoes and the grand magnolias. Around the mouth of the Savannah we studied the strange pelican, the huge sea-turtle, the loathsome alligator, the cunning raccoon, the wild hog, the turkey-buzzard, the crane, the curlew, the turtle dove, and the mock- ing-bird. In the channels we heard the drum-fish and saw the leaping sturgeon. And over island and river soared the bald and gray eagles. How often camp-life with its varied scenes will return to admonish or to amuse us ? We still hear the voices of our favorite bards and gleemen — the popular "Port Royal Minstrels" — as they sang for us at Hilton Head in the pleasant evenings — Wilcoxson, Hanscom, Bean, Pratt, Higgins, Keating, Butcher, and others — sixteen in all. We also recall the musician in the drum corps who could never keep step to his own music ; and the member of Company M, who could never learn to catch the last step ; and the member of Company H, whose speech and action so iini- tated our first Chaplain that he was almost always called " Gubby ; " and the auctioneer in Company M, who was on the alert to pick up cast-ofl' clothing and sundry articles whereby he might practise the art and skill of the auctioneer for the diversion of the camp. All will remember the man- ufacturers of pipes and rings and bird-cages and shell-boxes. Some 9 130 SHOT AND SHELL. [December, may recollect the pet coons and alligators. One man was an adept in mak- ing bird-lime and catching mocking-birds. As of old, in every house some vessels were to honor and some to dis- honor, so was it with us. One man, to get his bountj-, before enlisting had colored his hair and reduced the figures of his age ; but, once in the field, became gray and very infirm and hung upon the hospital, studying to secure a discharge. Our really sick men, and perhaps Dr. Stickney (who knew ? ) tried a few practical jokes on him ; certainly he had some shocks from a galvanic battery that our boys found in the house of the rebel Dr. Fripps and presented to Surgeon Stickney. Another man of like ambition, on reaching the field became very rheumatic, and was obliged (he thougTit) to use crutches, as his knees lost their flexibilitj'. Greatly to the disgust of all, he passed from his company to the hospital several times, till finally, on one of our movements, he was sent to the general hospital where he finally obtained his discharge ; but, as we finally heard, elsewhere re-enlisted and got a second bounty. Said Lieut. G. W. Greene : " Being officer of the day in the entrench- ments at Hilton Head, late at night I discovered from the right and left of the line of company tents, men in shirts and drawers gliding silently, with tin cup in hand, into one of the centre company streets. Unobserved I slipped in between the lines of tents and, coming opposite the point to which the men were resorting, 'stepped into the crowd near the object of attraction, and found it to be a tub of punch. Just then, some one said, ' OflScer of the day ! ' and away flew the men to their quarters, except the master of ceremonies, who stood by his tub. He explained that he was appointed simply to mix the tub and deal it out, and solemnly promised that there should be no disturbance in the camp.N I took him at his word and suffered the programme to be carried out, keeping my eyes and ears open to the results. The tin cups did not recoil upon the peace of the camp." ' Dec. 15. Henry A. Angell (Company L), died at Hilton Head. Dec. 24. James Eyan (Company L) , died at the same post. ' Also in December, died, George E. Dexter, (Company C) . Our boys will pleasantly remember that the military authorities at the head-quarters of the Department, in recognition of the talents and attain- ments of our glee club — Port Eoyal Minstrels — gave them the use of a large hall in the second story of a store-house, where on certain evenings during the winter they held forth their art, now to the general and field-ofli- cers, now to the bars and chevrons, and not unfrequently to crowds of privates, always greatly to the amusement and edification of the audience. To Yankees, newspapers are as indispensable as their lungs ; even while fighting they must write and print and" read. The little, loyal, brave sheet entitled The New South, of which Joseph H. Sears was editor and 1862.] THIRD E. I. H. ABTILLERY. 131 proprietor, was published at Hilton Head, commencing its career in the summer of 1862 aaid continuing till after the close of the war. It was a real auxiliary to oui- troops. With the opening of 1863 the friends of the freedmen sta,i-ted a larger weekly in the city of Beaufort, called The Free South, of which J. G. Thompson was the editor and pubhsher, and J. M. Latta & Co. were pi^oprietors. Entering- any camp and any tent you would iind papers , books , ink , pens , and writing-paper. A regimental mail-sack was no small institution, and the postmaster, chaplain or adjutant, found his oiHce no sinecure. Facts would show that the world never presented so intelligent an army as that which fought against " the barbarism of slavery " in our civil strife. Dec. 26. Lieutenant-Colonel Bucklin resigned. He left us with the esteem and best wishes of the command. His record will be cher- ished in Ehode Island. As a valued citizen in Pawtucket prior to the war, he was the commander of the Pawtucket Light Guard, one of the best mihtary organizations of the State. In answer to the first call of the Pres- ident for seventy-five thousand men, he volunteered and bore honorably a captain's commission in the First Rhode Island D-etached Militia and acted well his part in the battle of Bull Run. On" the full formation of the Third Regiment he was ap'pointed Lieutenant-Colonel Oct. 20, 1861, and his fellow-townsmen with members of his former command made him a pres- ent of a horse and equipments. It may truly be said of him that both at home and in the field, he was an upright, true, faithful man. What reversals of condition were wrought by the war in Carolinian so- ciety? In the winter of 1862-3, we found the large and costly Baptist meeting-house in the city of Beaufort on Port Royal Island, in the hands of the former slaves of the island, and in constant use by them as their place of worship, under the ministry of Rev. Solomon Peck, d. d., the well known Baptist minister of Boston, 'Mass., and the honored Secretary of the American Baptist Missionary Union. The manner in which this aristocratic place of worship — the leading one in the city — came into the virtual posses- sion of the negroes, is worthy of record. On the capture of the island by the Federal troops, the whites fled to the main-land, taking as far as possible their slaves with them, but inevita- bly leaving the larger part of them on the island ; for the slaves were the large majority on the island and understood the Union flag as bringing them their liberty. All public property, including meeting-houses when abandoned, 'fell into, the hands of the War Department. The negroes left upon the island, with some that escaped from their masters and returned, desired a place of worship. And the majority of them, who were Baptists, never having been allowed to form a church among themselves, though they held in their cabins meetings for praise and prayer, had their names on the roll of the Baptist Church to which their masters belonged; and their names constituted the major number on the church register. There were seven- 132 SHOT AND SHELL. [January, teen hundred names of colored persons on' the roll. Under these circum- stances, when Dr. Peck came to open schools and preach amongst them, he applied to the military authorities for the use of the Baptist house for wor- ship. The military officers, while favoring the proposition, had no power to pass over property in this way and so referred Dr. Peck to Mr. Lincoln as Commander-in-Chief in all such regards. On addressing a letter to Mr. Lincoln with a rehearsal 'of the facts and naeds of the colored people, Dr. Peck received from the President a reply which in substance stated : (1.) According to Baptist usage, the majority of a church represents a church ; (2.) According to the facts recited, the majority of the members of the Beaufort Baptist Church are still present on the island ; (3.) According to testimony furnished, these members are loyal to the United States Government ; (4.) Therefore they are entitled to the use of their meeting-house, and are hereby authorized to enter and use it. It was a historic scene, to look upon that great assembly of ex-slaves, seated in that lordly church, built by slaveholders, while Dr. Peck, with his white locks and tender voice, preached to them the gospel of spiritual and civil freedom. " Out of the eater came forth meat ; and out of the strong came forth sweetness." When President Lincoln's Proclamation of Emancipation reached Beau- fort, Dr. Peck read it from the pulpit of this church on the Sabbath. As he closed, a gray-haired negro, who was a sort of deacon or leader among his people, rose and said, " Massa Peck ! Massa Peck ! I moves fre cheers for de proclimason, and frc cheers for Massa Linkum." "But wait,'' said Dr. Peck; "it is the Sabbath; and this is the sanctuary. I honor j'our feeling and thought. Next Thursdaj', which will be the first day of the new year, when the Proclamation goes into effect, we will have a mass meeting in the grove, where we will again read the great new law, and when you and all the assembly present may give, with all your voice and heart ' Three cheers for the Proclamation, and three for Presi- dent Lincoln.' " That meeting was held, and those three cheers were given with a will ; and the blacks sent a handsome address and resolutions to Mr. Lincoln. The jubilant mass meeting referred to was authorized and emphasized by the following manifesto from General Saxton : — "A HAPPY New Year's geekting to the ooloeed people in the Depaetment of the South. In accordance, as I believe, with tlie will of our Heavenly Father, and by direc- tion of your great and good friend, whose name you are all familiar with, Abra- ham Lincoln, President of the United States, and Commander-in-chief of the Army and Navy, on the. 1st day of January, 1863, you will be declared 'forever free.' When in the course of human events there comes a day which is destined to be an everlasting beacon-light, marking a joyful era in the progress of a nation and 'k 1863.] THIRD E. I. H. ARTILLERY. 133 the hopes of a people, it seems to be fitting the occasion that it should not pass unnoticed by those whose hopes it comes to brighten and to bless. Such a day to you is January 1, 1863. I therefore call upon all the colored people in this Depart- ment to assemble on that day at the Head-quarters of the First Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers, there to hear the President's Proclamation read, and to in- dulge in such other manifestations of joy as may be called forth by the occasion. It is your duty to carry this good news to your brethren who are still in slavery. Let all your voices, like merry bells, join loud and clear in the graild chorus of liberty— 'We are free,' 'We are free,' — until listening, you shall hear its echoes coming back from every cabin in the land, — ' We are free,' ' we are free.' E. SAXTON, . Brig.-Gen. and Military Governor." Col. T. W. Higginson — poet, novelist, and warrior — with his historic regiment (First South Carolina Colored Troops), assisted in the New Year's Jubilation, and shared the roast-ox feast with intensest zest. By the way, his command felt its dignity when they made their first parade (Jan. 19), through the streets of Beaufort, escorted bj' the band of the Eighth Maine. Said one of the soldiers, " Ebry_ step was wuf half a dollar." But the color-sergeant. Prince Rivers, best expressed it : " When dat band wheel in before us, and march on — my God! I quit dis world altogeder." For such stock — however derided by theorists — Colonel Higginson had no occasion to blush ; here were the germs, at least, of true manhood. Jan. 1. Capt. James E. Bailey was commissioned as Major in our command, a position, which he filled till his term of service expired. He was among the first volunteers in Rhode Island at the opening of the war, and was chosen Second Lieutenant in the First Rhode Island Detached Militia, April 18, 1861, and was promoted to be First Lieutenant in that command June 4, 1861. Returning from the field with that regiment after the battle of Bull Run, he was commissioned as Captain in the Third Regiment, Aug. 27, 1861. His services in camp and field, in the reduc- tion of Fort Pulaski and subsequent actions, furnish him a record that he proudly recalls. A certain lieutenant (nameless here for sufflcient reason) , was detailed officer of the guard, and duly instructed in reference to his duties, since he had not long been amongst us. He was charged to visit his outposts at midnight and see that all things were in military order. On approaching the first post the following dialogue ensued : — Sentinel. " Who comes there ? " Lieutenant. " Faith, I don't know whither I'm oflScer of the day, grand rounds, or what I am ; but if you've got a pipe, for the love of God give us a smoke." This was the same officer who was instructed by Captain Lanahan in the use of the cascable knob. His merits excused him from protracted service. Jan. 10. Maj. Horatio Rogers, Jr., greatly to the regret of the com- 134 SHOT AND SHELL. [January. mand, resigned his commission amongst us to accept the command of the Eleventh Ehode Island Volunteers. He joined us as First Lieutenant Aug. 27, 1861 ; was advanced as Captain Oct. 8, 1861, and was appointed Major Aug. 18, 1862. Brave and capable, he held a high place in our regards, and amongst all who knew him in the Tenth Army Corps. His services in command of the Eleventh Regiment, and afterwards as Colonel of the Second Regiment, will be found in the records of those commands. His name, however, will ever brightly stand upon our roll. TJie army gun-boat G-eorge Washington, on picket service about this time in Skulk Creek, manned by Company A, under Lieutenants J. Mor- row, Jr. and George L. Smith, as she passed Chimney Point — always an exposed place — received a sharp and telling volley from the rebel pickets. Our men sprang to their guns to answer with shell. Lucklessly our James ' rifle burst in firing. Private Warner was lifted by the explosion to the hurricane deck and, of course, seriously shocked. A fragment of the gun entered and lodged in the right side of Lieutenant Smith — a serious affair — remaining in him for five weeks. Indeed, he has never wholly recovered from the wound. During the night of Jan. 30, one of the Charleston rams under cover of the fog and darkness, passed out of the harbor into our blockad- ing fleet without discovery, till she struck the Mercedita with her iron prow, breaking through the side near the stern, at the same time opening her heavy gun on her victim. Captain and crew were made prisoners. Next the ram attacked the Keystone State and met with stubborn resistance, as the alarm and previous firing had called every man to his post. The Key- stone State gave the wandering sheep nineteen shots. Meanwhile a sloop-of- war came up with her big guns and ended the fray by spherical arguments that persuaded the blatant assailant to re-enter the Charlestonian fold. The Mercedita was not led captive, and after re-fitting still did us good service. Jan. 31. Our compatriots of the navy had the satisfaction of bringing into Port Royal harbor, as their prize, an elegant English screw steamer, the Princess Royal, who had hoped to skulk into Savannah. She was loaded with machinery for three propellers, armor for iron-clads, machines for making steel-pointed shot, powder, and small arms. John Bull and Jeff Davis lost their investment, and our tars replenished their pockets. CHAPTER XXV PEEPARATIONS FOR HEAVY WORK, Febhuaky — Maech, 1863. Hope waves her banner on the wall. A CAREFUL survey of the work going on at the naval depot near Baj' Point and on board the armed ships in Port Royal harbor, with the many consultations held by the general officers of the Department, revealed the fact that some large movement of navj' and army was contemplated. Un- usual drilling of troops was required ; and unusual movements of ordnance and stores were manifest. The military and naval forces were at this time in possession of the coast from Charleston Bar to St. Augustine — a dis- tance of two hundred and fifty miles. Further advance was now being studied. In crossing Port Royal harbor to Bay Point our boats were rowed by negroes who were fond of measuring their strokes by songs. Seeing us very busy with a pencil, one of them remarked, " 'Spec dat be sent 'way, an' put in book." Well, we will put it in : — • 1. " O my brudder, want religgun? Go down in de lonesome valley. Go down in de lonesome valley, To meet my Jesus dare. Brudder Peter, want rellggun 1 ' To feed on milk and honey ? Go down to de lonesome valley, To meet my Jesus dare." The remaining stanzas varied only in the first lines. Another song ran thus : — II. " Good by, my fadder ! sweet water rollin' ; Sweet water roUin' — jes from de fountain. Good by, my mudder ! sweet water rollin' Sweet water rollin'— jes from de fountain." The following was a favorite song on account of its flowing measure : — III. " Jordan's stream is a good old stream. Ain't got but one more riber to cross ; I want some valiant soldier To belp me bear de cross " 136 SHOT AND SHELL. [February, Perhaps the quaintest of their compositions was the following : — " Death be a leetlo ting Dat go from door to door ; He kill some soul, An' lie wounded some, An' he leave some to pray. Do Lord, remember me ; Do Lord, remember me ; Do Lord, remember me ; Bemember me till de year roll roun' Do Lord, remember me." We are tempted to add a few more specimens : — V. " I can't Stan de Are, No, I can't stan de Are ; O roll, Jordan roll, O roll, Jordan roll ; I can't Stan de Are, While Jordan roll so sweet. VI. I ax Die Satan for to leave me alone ; Satan hab nottin for to du wid me ; Hoi your light, Hoi your light. Hoi your light. On Canaan's shore. VII. For I'll die on de field ob battle, I'll die, I will die. And I'll die on de field ; For I'll die wid my armor on. My armor on, my armor on. Fighting for de crown." Riding through a grove of giant pines — some of _ them stretching up well nigh a hundred feet — meeting a stalwart " contraband," engaged by the Quartermaster-General, felling the trees, we halted and indulged in a brief colloquy : — Chaplain. "Who are you at work for Csesar?" Caesar. " Massa Elwell says I works now for Uncle Sam." Chaplain. " Do you like to work for Uncle Sam better than for your old master ?" Ccesar. " Yas, sar ; yas." Chaplain. "Why so?" Ccesar. " Now I reaps my own benefit." Almost enchanting was a ride through one of these forests, the wind soughing among the branches, and the air filled with resinous fragrance, while song-birds added their jubilant melody. Though sometimes singular in their phraseology, the colored troops were correct in principle. A rebel private (Gibbs, of Charleston) , Sav- ing been captured and brought to Hilton Head, was guarded by a negro 1863.] THIRD B. I. H. ARTILLERY. 137 soldier, and seeking a fit moment, brusquely approached his guard and authoritativelj' asked, "Whom do you belong to?" Confused for an in- stant, the negro replied, " To de state of G-eddis, on de main ; " but then recovering himself, and standing straighter than ever, added, " Look yere ; Stan off dar ! didn't j'ou know I'se put yere to guard you ? I belongs to Mister Gineral Hunter and myself now." yards in width. On the inland side are a few sand-hummocks. The rebels had destroyed the large light-house at the south end, and nearly demolished . the Beacon House or old hospital building in the centre of the island, and had also cut down what palmettos and other trees once graceH the protected portions of the island. The rebel fortifications were Fort Gregg on Cum- mings' Point, Fort Wagner on the sea-face at the mouth of the harbor, and earthworks or batteries on the sand-hills at the south end commanding Light-house Inlet, and the entrance of the south channel. The general bearing of the island is northeast and southwest. Gen. Q. A. Gillmore had now succeeded General Hunter in command of the army, and Commodore Dahlgren had followed Commodore Dupont in command of the navy. Since April our forces on Folly Island had been clearing spots for camps and preparing roads to the north end. In early summer concealed batteries were erected to command Light-house Inlet and reach the rebel batteries on the south end of Morris Island. Behind the sand-banks and thick bushes, General Gillmore flnallj' planted a concealed line of works ready to be opened when needed. He also had his light artillery ready to assist. Lastlj', he arranged a portion of his troops in boats in the creeks inside of Folly Island, out of sight of the enemy to wait the opening fire of his bat- teries, and the guns of the narj'. July 10. At four in the morning our guns in conjunction with the navy opened fire on the rebel works across the Inlet. The sui-prise was complete. The enemy's reveille was sounding. Some ofHcers and men were kiQed while standing at roll-call, and at once all available forces flew to their guns. The Inlet was narrow and deep. Nearly down to it came the large sand-bluffs on which bristled and now blamed the rebel guns. On the right of these batteries, and confronting our left, were handsome rifle-pits in the keeping of a good force of shai-p-shooters. To the ordinary calculation, Morris Island seemed secure. As the north end of Folly Island was low and level, our batteries were at a little distance from the Inlet where rose a small sand-ridge, and the dense jungle answered for their concealment. Naturally the enemy's front was much more advantageous than ours, the several sand-hills being quite nigh. But Commodore Dahlgren had arranged to aid us by dealing a flanking fire on the rebel forts from the Catskill, Montauk, Nahant, and Weehauken, and to assist us with boat-howitzers in the creeks. Writes Captain Shaw : ' ' The whole operation of preparing the bat- teries, getting the guns in position, conveying the ammunition to the mag- azines — 200 rounds to a gun — was a delicate one, as all the work was performed in close proximity to the enemy, who could at any time, had he known what was going on, have stopped the work by opening his powerful batteries upon us. We were concealed from view by a low range of hillocks ; and a narrow inlet separated us from the ' rebs ' — so narrow that 1863.] THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 163 the opposing pickets could and did, at one time, converse with ease. All ■the work was done at night, the 'rebs' contenting themselves with shelling the opposite shore prettj' thoroughly during the daj- and occasionallj' at night." . . . "A large share of the work of preparation fell upon the battalion of the Third Ehode Island, and the officers in charge of the Work- ing parties will all bear witness to the zeal displayed by the men. Night after night the fatigue parties continued their labor, marching after dark from their camp at the upper end of the island, and re- turning before the break of day. During the working hours communica- tion was kept up in whispers, and the use of a loud tone of voice to stir up delinquents was denied the officers in charge." . . . " But the officer on fatigue duty always found the Rhode Island part of his detail present or accounted for." The boys would hardly forgive us if we should omit to mention the story of the canned food in Company D. On the night of the 8th, it then being expected that the battle would open on the next morning, our boys were short of rations and very hungr}', so much so that Sergts. B. F. Davis, J. Newcombe, and E. W. Hamilton concluded for themselves to make an effort for supplies ; one of them saying: "We maybe killed, to-morrow, but let us have one square meal, anyhow." Davis and New- combe mustered $15, and Hamilton, being clean in pocket, agreed, for his part, to go after the suppUes — almost five miles — to a sutler's at Stono Inlet, and so in the night run the guard and run the island. He found the sutler had nothing of his stock left but some canned provisions ; but this just met his idea, so in the dark he invested the $15 in cans, and again measured the island — five miles — and appeared to his comrades with a face as smihng as a harvest moon, saying: " I've got something good." With keen appetites they broached the treasures, when, zounds ! the}- found nothing but old, tough, spoiled asparagus. In their dismay, they said : " Well, let us buckle up another hole in our belts and try to get some sleep." When the battle opened they put the cans into the guns and passed them over to the enemy, but how the rebels rehshed them we never heard. Till the morning of the 10th, the chaparrel in front of our batteries had been left untouched. Before daylight the pioneers cut it in front of our em- brasures, and the gunners stood by their pieces. General Seymour coming into the battery of Parrott rifles on the right, said : " Captain Strahan, can you yet see the guns on the sand-hills across the Inlet?" "Not distinctly enough for aim," said the Captain. Added the General : " It will never do to let them have the first shot. Clear the sand from your embrasures." In a few moments he again asked : " Captain, can you see the guns?" " I can ;" answered the Captain. "Blaze away !" cried the General. And the flames leaped from all our forty-seven guns. The refrain of thunder came in from the navy. To this music Strong led the charge with his gal- lQn+ Vi-mnc-.y^.. "TT^ +1-. '. ..^r^^^ri V»-r>i^Tir i^f nr»»l TYl TCPQT* 164 SHOT AND SHELL. BATTERIES OS NORTH END OF FOLLY ISLAND. [July, Battery. No. guns. Kind of guns. How manned. A 2 3-lnch field rifles Co. C, 3d R. I., Capt. C. K. Bray ton. B 4 20-pdr. siege Parrotts . . Co. I, 3d R. I., Capt. C. G. Strahan. C 4 30-pdr. Parrotts 1st U. S. Art. & Co. C, 3d R. I., Lt. Sabin. D 6 10-incli siege mortars. . . Co. B, 3d R. I., Capt. A. E. Greene. E 2 3-inch field rifles 1st U. S. Artillery. F 6 10-pdr. field Parrotts. . .. 3d U. S. Artillery, Capt. Hamilton. G 8 30-pdr. Parrotts Co. D, 3d R. I., Capt. R. G. Shaw. H 4 lO-inch siege mortars.. . Co. M, 3d R. I., Capt. J. J. Comstock, Jr. I 6 3-inch Wiard field rifles 3d N. Y. Artillery. K 5 8-inch siege mortars. . . Co. M, 3d R. I., laeut. H. Holbrook. Batteries I and K on th.e extreme left, were under Maj. J. E. Bailey. All were under the command of General Seym'our. The entire action occupied about two hours. Our artillery and the guns of the navy severelj- marred the rebel front and covered the advance of our troops. At about 6.30 a. m. General Strong gave orders to advance the boats and land. A portion of the Seventh Connecticut, under Capt. V. B. Chamberlain, first reached the shore, and, dashing on with a shout, drove the rebels from their rifle-pits. General Strong gallantly led his forces upon the remaining rifle-pits. Then the whole force. Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania, Sixth and Seventh Connecticut, Third New Hampshire, a portion of the Forty-eighth New York, Ninth Maine, and sharp-shooters, charged upon the batteries on the sand-bluff's, captured them in a few minutes, and pursued the escaping foe toward the north end of the island. They captured about a hundred men, eight guns, two mortars, tents, camp-equipage, and a large amount of stores and ammunition. Some of the rebel gunners were killed while loading their pieces. After our troops reached the Beacon House, in the pursuit, the guns of Wagner and Gregg halted them. Thus we gained possession of more than three-fourths of the island. Several Confederate flags were captured, one of which was inscribed " Pocotaligo." Beauregard reported his loss at 292 killed, wounded, and missing, including several officers. The officers were Captains Cheves and Haskell and Lieutenant Bee. The Federal loss was eighteen killed, ninety-six wounded, and two taken prisoners ; total, 116. This was remarkable, as we were the exposed party ; but we surprised the enemy, and did our work with astonishing dexterity. But few bolder strokes were ever undertaken, and no one was ever better executed. The assailing batteries were commenced on the 15th of June, and constructed with so much silence and concealment as not to be detected, though the rebels shelled the front to call out some responses. The English blockade-running steamer Ruby went ashore at the mouth of the inlet, but we let her alone so as not to awaken suspicion. To facilitate the battle of Light-house Inlet, by drawing off as many as possible of the rebel troops from Morris Island, or at least preventing their 1863.] , THIRD R. I. H. .4RTILLERY. 165 re-enforcement, by order of General Gillmore, Gen. A. H. Terry, with above one thousand troops, on the night of July 9th, and in the morning of the 10th, made a strong feint on James Island in the direction of Seces- sion\'ille. We had two officers on his staff, Capt. Geo. Metcalf and Capt. P. J. Turner. Terry struck the enemy's front and held him to business till the object of the demonstration was accomplished. He continued to harrass the rebel forces on James Island till July 16th. Among his oppo- nents was the brigade of the famous " Stonewall" Jackson, sent down from Richmond. In the battle we had two men hoi-ribly wounded while loading a piece, by its premature discharge, each losing both arms, and one having also his face and body fearfully mangled. Can you see our men at their guns ? Do j-ou know the manual of the pieces? Were ever guns worked with truer aim or more rapidity? Look on those powder-grimed faces and hands. See the sweat streaming from those brows. See the clouds of smoke rolling up from the mouths of our guns. Notice the heavy sprays of sand raised by our shots among the enemy's rifle-pits. There you have a picture that may show you the kind of work that our boys knew how to do. The accident to which we have referred occurred from a split in the vent of one of the thirty-pounders worked by Company D, in Battery G. The wounded men were Thomas B. Tanner, who also lost his sight, and Samuel C. Shippey, who died of his wounds, Aug. 21st. None of our men were injured by the enemy's shots. As one of the embrasures in Battery G became obstructed, the gunner called for some one to mount the parapet and cut the obstruction out, that the gun might maintain its range on the rebel bluffs. As the rebels were now doing their best, and shot and shell were raining around us, the duty required was hazardous. The last man that we had supposed was the one who volunteered, for he was so short-sighted that he could not see a man five feet from him in a starlight night. Leonidas Franklin sprang into the exposed embrasure and quickly had it clear ; and our men gave him the cheers he deserved. By the way, he was always a faithful man. As General Strong's infantry were landing on Morris Island, Capt. C. R. Brayton (Company C), springing upon the breast-work in front of his men, asked who would volunteer to break down the embrasure and take a gun out further to the front to give the enemy warmer shot. Instantly Sergt. James Monroe, James Capper, Abraham Harris, and John Stewart answered to the call, and down went the breast-work and out went the gun on the extreme right, and was advanced to a clear, open space in front. Here the fire of the piece was resumed with rapidity and precision. Such promptness and courage were suitably cheered. From that hour General Gillmore had his eye on Captain Brayton as his man for brave and effective work. " The Third Rhode Island received great credit 166 SHOT AND SHELL. [Julj. for the able manner in which the artillery was handled on that occasion ; particularly from the officer in charge, General Seymour, who expressed his admiration in the most unqualified terms." Following the successful battle, General Gillmore promulgated the subjoined order : — " Hbad-quaetbes, Dbpaetmbnt of the South, | MoEEis Island, S. C, July 13, 1863. ) General Orders : — The Brigadier-Greneral Commanding presents his congratulations and thanks to the army which he has the honor to command, for the brilliant victory of the 10th inst., which places them three miles nearer the rebel stronghold, Sumter, the first among all our country's defences against foreign foes, that felt the polluting tread of traitors. Our labors, however, are not over, they are just begun; and while the spires of the rebel city still loom up in the dim distance, hardships and privations must be endured, before our hopes and expectations can find their full fruition in victory. Let us emulate the heroic deeds of our brothers-in-arms at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, and add to that roll of fame which will be transmitted to a grateful posterity. Special thanks are due to Brig.-Gen. I. Vogdes and his command, for the untir- ing energy and patient endurance displayed by them in erecting the batteries on Folly Island, under almost every conceivable disadvantage; and to Brig.-Gen. Geo. C. Strong and his command, for the heroic gallantry with which they car- ried the enemy's batteries on Morris Island; this being the first instance during the war in which powerful batteries have been successfully assaulted by a column disembarked under a heavy artillery fire. Q. A. GILLMOEE, Brigadier-General Commandi)i^." CHAPTER XXXII ASSAULTS UPON FORT WAGNER. JiTLy, 1863. The gold is in the furnace cmt. GiLLMORE and Dahlgren had undertaken a great task — the breaking of the strongest front of the Confederacy ; the humbling of the proudest city and port of the rebels. They had gained a footing for their work, but the north end of Morris Island was fortified with consummate ability, and held by heavj' forces. Aware that every hour of delay was an advan- tage for the enemy, General Gillmore planned an immediate assault upon Fort Wagner, hoping to carry the work by storm, and then press on to the capture of Fort Gregg. He well knew that this would be bloody work. July 11. Soon after midnight. General Strong advanced to assault Wagner. His forces were the Seventh Connecticut, Seventy-sixth Penn- sylvania, and Ninth Maine to lead the attack ; the remainder held as reserves. About two hundred yards from the work he met the rebel pickets and drove them in. The Seventh Connecticut, under Lieut. -Col. D. C. Rod- man, pressed on with cheers and dashed to the crest of the work. The Sev- enty-sixth Pennsjdvania charged upon another point. The Ninth Maine followed as bravely. All faced grape, canister, and musketry ; an awful storm of lead and iron. Their ranks were mown down. Lieutenant-Col- onel Rodman's leg was shattered. The Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania lost five oflicers and 130 men. The Seventh Connecticut had 103 killed, wounded, and missing ; the Ninth Maine, thirty-four. The repulse was inevitable. Ittimediately preparations were begun to weaken Wagner, preparatory to another assault, by erecting batteries and constructing saps. The enemy's sortie on the 14th was repulsed. July 15. Company B reached the left front and had a battery of mor- tars. While we were getting our large guns into position, Company C brought over one section of our light pieces from Folly Island on the 12th, another section on the 15th, and on the 16th was on the front with four rifles, and played the two sections all day on Wagner on the 18th. 168 SHOT AND SHELL. [July, Headers must be left to imagine the severe toil with shovels and all sorts of extemporized appliances now expended on the right and left and middle of our new front, and going on day and night, especially in the night, providing defensive and oflFensive works. And what strength was- also expended in hauling heavy guns, timbers, planks, shot, powder, and all sorts of supplies. Never was there more activity and anxiety in an assailed bee-hive. The first line of approaches was near the Beacon House, 1,700 yards, from Wagner, and was completed by the 17th in the face of a fearful fire. Guns and mortars were moved up. July 18. The line of batteries was now ready to open fire. The fleet was also ready, the New Ironsides, Weehauken, Patapsco, Nahant, Cats- kill and gunboat Paul Jones. The right of the batteries was under Lieut.- Col. R. H. Jackson, (Captain First United States Artillery), the left under Maj. J. E. Bailey, of our regiment. From land and sea the fiery hail poured on Wagner, which could only feebly respond ; but Sumter, Moultrie, Bee, Gregg, and Johnson, met us with all their strength. Wagner's flag and staff were cut awaj' ; but a regimental standard, and finally another Confederate flag, arose. By four in the afternoon Wagner was si- lent. Our troops for the new assault were now ready, and General Gillmore re- viewed them. They were the brigades of General Strong and Colonel Putnam. Among them were Colonel Shaw's Fifty-fourth Massachusetts, selected to lead in the attack. General Seymour had command of all. When night had drawn her curtain. Colonel Shaw led on, followed by Strong and Putnam. The air was full of deadly missiles ; but the brave assailants pressed on, right over the wet ditches and right up the slopes . They met waves of fire that thinned their ranks. The fort, without and within, was red with blood and strewn with the dead. Never was there nobler fighting. But Wagner was too large and too well-furnished to be taken by storm with that force. This was soon evident. Colonel Shaw was killed. Colonel Chatfield was mortally wounded. General Strong received a fatal blow. Colonel Putnam fell dead. Most of the officers were cut down. Only a remnant of the rank and file survived. The repulse was complete and ter- rible. Our loss was very great : fifty-five officers and 585 men ; total, 640. Richard F. Johnson (Company C) , was wounded in the ankle by a shell. From an exceedingly interesting address of the Confederate commander of the First Volunteer Regiment of Georgia, Col. Charles H. Olmstead — whom we formerly captured with Fort Pulaski, but who again met us with FORT WAGNER AT POINT OF ASSAULT. 1863.] THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 169 the command just named on Morris Island — in his record of the siege of Wagner, states that, ' ' during the siege the Federal signal-book was in our possession, having been captured on the person of a signal-officer, near Georgetown, S. C. Its valuable secrets had been drawn from him by a Confederate who shared his place of imprisonment in the garb of a Federal prisoner. More than once the knowledge thus acquired proved of essential service to us. On this occasion the following dispatch from General G-illmore to Admiral Dahlgren had been intercepted and in General Beauregard's possession hours before the assault : ' Continue the bom- bardment throughout the day ; at sunset redouble it. The assault will commence at seven.'" Thus the enemy was forwarned, and, of course, forearmed. " Yet," says Colonel Olmstead, " the assault came very near meeting with perfect success." Now began anew the work of erecting batteries, extending rifle-pits, planning and executing saps. A full history of the labor of building these batteries, constructing spHnter-proofs, erecting magazines, laying out and digging the zig-zag lines of saps, and arming the front, at this time, would fill quite a volume. Nor was all this labor without loss of life upon both sides. Sharp-shooters were always at their work. Sorties and attacks were frequent along the line of the front, especially as we pressed our saps within easy rifle-reach of Wagner's moat. July 23. Our second parallel was opened, having an average advance of 700 yards beyond our first. Here was wonderful engineering. July 25. We commenced erecting battenes to silence Fort Sumter. Little did we dream, upon our first landing on Morris Island, that more or less of our regiment would here be under fire, day and night, for 588 days. It was well for our nerves that this future was concealed from us. Men who have been under the fire of an enemy a few times, and only a few hours at a time, dwell upon their record and recount their perils. Surely such will allow that our experiences may not soon be forgotten. Respecting the firing of our men on Wagner to weaken it before we made the second assault by storm. Captain Shaw relates the following : "Capt. A. E. Greene had a battery of five ten-inch siege mortars on an elevation a short distance in our rear, from which he was throwing shells into Wagner over our heads ; and I can clearly recollect the deafening noise those mortars made. I also remember a little circumstance connected with that affair, which Greene and his ofllicers thought was a pretty good joke upon the officers of Company D. I proposed to him that we should improve the occasion by putting on full dress with sash, etc. , and so di- rected in my^ company ; but regretted the order soon after we opened fire, for many of the shells of Sumter and the rebel batteries struck in the marsh in front and rear of the strip of sand upon which my battery was located, completely drenching us all with mud, so that our uniforms soon presented a mournful appearance, much to the delight of Greene and his officers, who adhered to the fatigue dress." 170 8H0T AND SHELL. [July. The following contribution to the New South will be recognized as one of the Chaplain's off-hand compositions : — The Heroes of Wagneb. They fought with banner overhead, Till Wagner's top and floor were red "With blood of foes and lAders, dead ; O memorable battle hour ! How deep the spell of thy strange power I Diverse of hues, but one of life. What heroes perished in that strife ! No, perished not those valiant men ; In more than life they live again ; Their deathless deeds we grateful own. And bid them live in long renown. How many noble patriots fell. Our history's page shall truthful tell. There wounded lay our honored Strong, His deed a theme for stirring song ; His name in love for aye shall live, The nation's bosom is his grave. There Putnam, cheering on his band, With sword and banner firm in hand, Poured on the parapet his blood. And made his tomb where martyrs trod. There lifeless fell, 'mid battle cries. Where yet a monument shall rise. The gallant Shaw, whose rude-dug grave Was with his sable soldiers, brave ; That bloody trench ordained to be The ground of new-born liberty. Alike for Chatfield freemen weep. And bid fair fame his record keep ; Such hero records for our race Nor time nor change may e'er' efface. O yes, let history proud enroll High on her fair and precious scroll. The cherished names of all the braves Who sleep thus loved in martyr graves ; For still it is that earth's best good Comes only through vicarious blood, And men can never let such die As give their lives for Liberty. July 17. Michael Burns (Company F) , died, at Beaufort. July 18. Daniel N. Harvey (Company M) , wounded on Morris Island. July 19. Company H (Captain Colwell) , reached the front. CHAPTER Xxklll, BREACHING BATTERIES, July — August, 1863. The earth shakes 'neath the thundering guns. It was now evident that the rebel forts were to be first weakened and silenced by siege operations, before they could be carried by storm. To this end many and heavy batteries would be requisite. The skill, the daring, and the strength for this work were at Gillmore's command. Daj^ and night his engineers and his best officers devoted to the planning and constructing of breaching batteries. The work went on with amazing rapidity, and Admiral Dahlgren held the New Ironsides and the monitors ready to co-operate with the army. To save, as far as possible, the lives of the fatigue parties engaged in constructing the batteries and parallels, a watch was set on the highest points of the works on the front, to observe the puffs of smoke from the enemy's guns, and give warning, calling the name of the fort from which the missile was coming, thus : " Johnson ! cover ! " " Moultrie ! cover ! '' " Sumter ! cover ! " The men, if possible, would throw themselves under their protections, splinter-jiroofs, and embankments, till the shot had done its work. July 24. There occurred an exchange of wounded prisoners. Under a flag of truce, the hospital steamer Cosmopolitan, in charge of Lieut.- Col. F. Hall, First New York Engineers, Provost-Marshal-G^neral of the Department, carried up the harbor to Charleston thirty-nine wounded rebel prisoners, and received 105 wounded Union soldiers. The rebels refused to deliver any of the wounded colored soldiers. One hundred and eight wounded men remained in the enemy's hands ; fifty-one had died since being captured. Unnecessary cases of amputation had taken place. "While the exchange was being effected all was still on the front ; but when the steamer passed from the harbor, on her way to Hilton Head hospital, the war-dogs again opened their throats. During the month of July the forces on Morris Island and its vicinity were increased by the arrival of one brigade of Gen. G. H. Gordon's division, of the Eleventh Corps, and a brigade commanded by Gen. 172 SHOT AND SHELL. [August, Alexander Schemmelfennig, and certain other troops. These re-enforce- ments amounted to about ten thousand men, which greatly relieved our men, alreadj'^ over-taxed in the gigantic siege-work, and gave us assurance that our great task would be pressed to success. July 25. William C. Tillinghast (Company D), was instantly kiUed by the fragment of a shell, on Morris Island, and was buried near the Beacon House. About this time, by a premature discharge of one of our Parrott guns, Howard Rose and Samuel Kirk (both of Company D), were seriously injured. Young Kirk, who was the most severely wounded, as he was carried from the batterj^, forgetting his wounds and pain, exclaimed : " Give it to them, boys ; give it to them." We carried out the injunction. Mark, ye philosophers, how a principle outweighs suffering, and the public welfare becomes to men more sacred than life. July 26. David Smith (Company F), died at Beaufort. _^ _ ^ July 27. By Special Order, No. 441, Gen- eral Gillmore appoint- ed "Captain Brayton Assistant Chief of Ar- tillery of the Depart- ment." At this date we had in both parallels nine batteries in prepara- tion to open on the rebel forts ; the one on the left of the second parallel was 3,328 yards from Sumter, 1,942 from Cummings' Point (Gregg), 4,264 from Fort Johnson, but only 624 from Wagner. Only a lively imagination, well educated in heavy artillery experiences, can depict the frowning, fiery fronts. Here was to be a fight of the fiercest kind, making earth and sea alike to tremble under the bellowing guns. July 30. ^ilas H. Stewart (Company G), died at Fort Pulaski. Aug. 4. James Kelley (Company F), died at Hilton Head. Funeral honors were always given to our patriot dead. The rebels on James Island, under cover of the woods, threw up a new battery and armed it with good pieces, one of which proved to 'be an excel- lent Brooke, gun. Unexpectedly one morning this battery opened on us and did not a little execution. Our men very soon had a name for this new annoyance, suggested possibly by the English gun. General Gillmore, coming to the front, asked Lieutenant Hanscom : "What battery is that?" "Excuse me. General, but our men have named it the ." The General laughed, and agreed that the name was significant if not polite. The work was afterwards known as the " Bull-of- the- Woods." BOMB AND SPLINTBE PKOOF. 1863.] THIRD R. I. H. ARTILLERY. 173 Before the reduction of Forts Gregg and Wagner, our batteries erected for their reduction and the demolition of Sumter, were known as those of the First Parallel (first erected) , Second Parallel (in advance of first) , and the Left Batteries on the inland side of the island. The First Parallel contained Batteries Reynolds and Weed, using eight-inch and ten-inch siege-mortars. The Second Parallel embraced Battery Brown, with two 200-pounder Parrotts ; Battery Rosecrans, with three 100-ponnder Parrotts ; Battery Meade, with two 100-pounder Parrotts ; and Battery Kearney, with Coehorn mortars and three thirty-pounder Parrotts. The Left Batteries were, Hayfis, with one 200-pounder Parrott and seven thirty-pounder Par- rotts ; Reno, with one 200-pounder Parrott and two 100-pounder Parrotts ; Stevens, with two 100-pounder Parrotts ; Strong, with one 300-pounder Parrott ; Kirby, with two ten-inch sea-coast mortars. These were commanded as follows : "Reynolds,'' Capt. A. E. Greene (B), Third Rhode Island; "Weed," Capt. B. F. Skinner (D), Seventh Connecticut; "Brown," Capt. C. G. Strahan (G), Third Rhode Island; "Rosecrans," Capt. J. J. Comstock, Jr. (M), Third Rhode Island; "Meade," Lieut. H. Holbrook (M), Third Rhode Island; "Kearney,'^ Lieut. S. S. Atwell (C), Seventh Connecticut; "Hayes," Capt. R. G. Shaw (D), Third Rhode Island; "Reno," Capt. A. W. Colwell (H), Third Rhode Island ; " Stevens," Lieutenant J. E. Wilson (C), Fifth United States Artillery; "Strong," S. H. Gray (I), Seventh Connecticut. It will be seen that six of the batteries were commanded by our officers. On the death of Lieutenant Holbrook, his place was filled by Lieut. G. W. Greene (B). In all the batteries detachments from different commands rendered assistance according to circumstances, since the labors were heavy and exhausting. Never can we forget the brave men of other regiments associated with us in working our batteries. It should be confessed that in the early part of the war there was a decided prejudice against employing colored men in the army, and par- ticularly against enlisting them as soldiers. Many were afraid of the ghost of " abolitionism." The Government, itself, seemed to stand in awe of slavery. General Butler made a happy breach upon all old notions by his use of the word "contraband;" and afterwards the whole of the old policy and prejudice was carried by assault. Officers of the Regular Army were among the last to be reconciled to the use of negro soldiers. In the Tenth Army Corps this reconcihation was largely brought about by the conduct of the colored troops, especially the First South Carolina and Fifty-fourth Massachusetts. Aug. 1. Under this date Jeff Davis again attempted to inflame the heart of the secessionists by an address to the Confederate soldiers, in which he thus characterizes the Federals : " Their mahgnant rage aims at nothing less than the extermination of yourselves, your wives, and children. They seek to destroy what they cannot plunder. They propose. 174 SHOT AND SHELL. [AugUSt, as the spoils of victory, that your homes shall be partitioned among the wretches whose atrocious cruelties have stamped infamy on their govern- ment. They design to incite servile insurrection, and light the fires of incendiarism wherever they can reach your homes, by promising indulgence of the vilest passions as the price of treachery." Here we cannot but call the attention of every careful student of the Rebellion to the peculiar style and spirit of address, taken as a whole, employed by the rebels, as compared with the language and spirit revealed by President Lincoln and all the officers and organs of our government. The difference will be found to be that between passion and principle. Aug. 9. The Third Parallel was opened by means of the flying-sap, at a distance of 450 yards from Wagner. This ilying-sap consisted of a huge roll or bundle of withes and poles, bound by straps of iron, which was kept as a shield in advance of the party opening the sap. A heavy rain of rebel bullets was always on this movement, but the work wsut. swiftly on. Aug. 11. In the evening the enemj' opened on our advance lines with grape and canister to arrest our work and prevent the approach of reliefs ; but the effort was vain. A similar fire was dealt upon us on the following night, but with no better success. Aug. 12. On this day we opened our first gun on Fort Sumter. It was under command of Capt R. G. Shaw (Companj' D), and was fired by Sergeant Davis of Pawtucket. The first shot from a thirt3'-pounder Par- rott ' ' struck the gorge wall near the centre of that part of the work. The next shot that was fired at Sumter was from the 200-pounder in the same battery.'' This battery was planted in advance of our other batteries and behind an extemporized embankment. Perhaps it was unfortunate that General Seymour ordered the opening of these pieces before the battery had been completed and before our line of guns had been advanced for the regular siege, as it forewarned the enemy and led them immediatelj^ to the work of protecting Sumter's walls by cotton bales, sand-bags, and timber blindage. When our breaching batteries, then called the Left Batteries, near the middle of the island on the left hummocks, were completed, and Captain Colwell had opened fire on Sumter, he found it impossible to rely upon the quality and weight of his cartridges. Some shots would overreach and some would fall short. The powder was old and not uniform,. Reporting this to General Gillmore, he had orders to do what he could to remedy the difficulty. He then ordered the powder carried to Folly Island and emp- tied out on canvas and thoroughly mixed, and then carefully weighed out in new and exact cartridges. His ammunition thus arranged with utmost care, to his mind, he opened on Sumter with precision and eflfect, and im- mediately the rebel ramparts and the gorge wall began to tumble to the sea. We may here give an extract from a private letter written by Capt- A. W. Colwell under date of Aug. 12th : — 1863.] THIRD B. I. H. ARTILLERY. 175 " I -went to my battery (Battery Reno) , at four tHs morning ; and as soon as it was light, I began firing at fatigue parties on Sumter, Gregg, Johnson, and other rebel works. It was fun to see the skedaddling ; their work has not amounted to much to-day. This morning I put one of my 200-pound shots into and through a steamer — about the size of the New- port steamers — two miles and a half off. That is what we call fine shoot- ing. At 5 o'clock this afternoon the Chief of Artillery came to me and ordered me to fire into Sumter, and I put seven shots into her — some' of them making openings as large as a barn door. I think we shall begin with all our batteries in a few days. In the meantime I have orders to fire at all squads of rebels that I can see. Our mortars are firing to-night to keep the rebels from repairing their works. "Aug. 13. My company have named all my guns: No. 1, Baby Waker; No. 2, Whistling Dick; No. 3, Brick Driver. I forgot to say that in my firing yesterdaj^ morning I knocked one of the guns from the top of Sumter over the parapet into the water." The amount of work assigned to our regiment at this time may be inferred from the following Special Order, No. 341, dated August 16th : — "I. All the breaching batteries established against Fort Sumter that are com- pleted and in condition for efficient service, and the other batteries hereinbelow mentioned, will be opened at break of day to-morrow. Those in process of con- struction will commence firing as soon as the several pieces in succession are ready to open effectively. The firing will continue from day to day, under the immediate supervision of the Chief of Artillery, commencing at daybreak and ending at dusk in the evening, with such intermission during the heat of the day as may from time to time be ordered, as follows : — First — Battery Brown, Capt. C. G. Strahan, Third Rhode Island Volunteer Artillery, commanding, against the gorge wall of Fort Sumter, one piece firing shot and the other percussion shell exclusively. Second — Battery Eosecrans, Capt. J. J. Comstock, Jr., Third Rhode Island Volunteer Artillery, commanding, against the gorge wall of Fort Sumter, one piece to fire percussion shell and two pieces to fire shot exclusively. Third — Battery Meade, First Lieut. Henry Holbrook, Third Rhode Island Volunteer Artillery, commanding, against the gorge wall of Fort Sumter, both pieces firing percussion shell exclusively. Fourth — Battery Kearney, First Lieut. S. S. Atwell, Seventh Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, commanding. The guns will operate against Battery Gregg, with shot and shell, unless otherwise directed, and the mortars against Fort Wagner, exploding the shell just over the fort. -FV«/»— 'The ISTaval Battery,' Commander F. A. Parker, United States Navy, commanding, against the gorge wall and barbette fire of Fort Sumter, at the dis- cretion of the battery commander. Sixth — Battery Reynolds, Capt. A. E. Greene, Third Rhode Island Volunteer Artillery, commanding, against Fort Wagner, exploding the shell just before striking. Severdh — Battery Weed, Capt. B. F. Skinner, Seventh Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, commanding, to fire the same as Battery Reynolds. Eighth — Battery Hayes, Capt. R. G. Shaw, Third Rhode Island Volunteer Artillery, cominanding, against the gorge wall of Fort Sumter, with shot exclu- 176 SHOT AND SHELL. [AugUSt, sively, and against Fort Wagner or Battery Gregg as may from time to time be ordered. JV^inift — Battery Reno, Capt. A. W. Colwell, Third Rhode Island Volunteer Artillery, commanding, against the gorge wall of Fort Sumter, one piece to Are shot and the other pieces to fire percussion shell exclusively. Teni/t — Battery Stevens, Lieut. J. E. "Wilson, First United States Artillery, commanding, against the gorge wall of Fort Sumter, one piece firing shot and the other percussion shell exclusively. Eleventh — Battery Strong, Capt. S. H. Gray, Seventh Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, commanding, against the gorge wall of Fort Sumter, firing shot and percussion shell, commencing with the former. Twelfth — Battery Kirby, Lieut. Charles Sellmer, Eleventh Maine Volunteer Infantry, commanding, against Fort Sumter, the shells to be exploded within the fort just before striking. II. The Brigadier-General Commanding takes this occasion to remind the officers and men under his command, and especially those to whom he has this day assigned the posts of honor and danger, that the eyes of a beneficent country are fixed upon them, not only with the ardent hope, but the confident expectation of success. The nation is indeed waiting to crown you the victors of Sumter. We need not — must not fail. Let us fearlessly do our whole duty to our beloved country, and, in the language of our late companion in arms — the gallant and lamented Strong — ' Put our trust in God.' By order of Bris.-Gen. Q. A. GILLMORE." Aug. 17. All the heavj^ guns to bear on Sumter were now in position and in full operation. Of course the enemj^ poured on us an unceasing fire. There is not onl^' a general fellowship of arms, but a special one. All who wield sabres glory in that dashing arm. All who bear muskets — the arm that bears the brunt in every great engagment — have a pride of their own. Such as handle heavy ordnance and strike the thundering blows, have also a distinguishing attachment for each other. Hence the close and strong fellowship between our regiment — the heavy land-gunners — and the navy— the grand gunners on the decks. Besides, our men often assisted in working the guns of naval transports, and the naval forces in some instances landed with their pieces and fought by our side in siege operations. We rejoiced in our common victories, and wept in our com- mon losses. And here we cannot refrain from some record of one whom we honored and loved. COMMANDEK GEORGE W. ROGERS, Killed at his post on board the Monitor Catskill, bombarding Fort Wagner, by a shot from the fort, Aug. 17, 1863. How oft the support of the standard is cleft While the stars of the banner still shining- are left. Dnawed in his duty and pure in his heart To bear for his country the perilous part, In the front of the battle he valiantly fell — Brave Rogers — for whom o'er the land rolled a knell ; Let canvas and marble his record preserve — The leader in dang-er who never would swerve ; As a star pours its light over mountain and sea, Let his name shine afar o'er the land of the free. 1863.J THIRD E. I. H. ARTILLERY. 177 Aug. 19. "While we sincerely mourned with our brothers of the navy, they found just occasion to sorrow with us, as on this day one of our truest officers received his mortal wound. LIEUT. HENRY HOLBROOK. This intrepid officer was born in Mendon, Mass., June 10, 1833. Left an orphan at the age of ten, he lived awhile with his brother and then became a sailor. Leaving the sea in 1855, he enlisted in the Tenth United States Infantry and served in Utah. On the opening of the Rebellion he volunteered as an officer in the Tenth Massachusetts Battery. In our com- mand he was chosen Second Lieutenant Nov. 28, 1862, and was promoted to First Lieutenant April 3, 1863. "While in command of Battery Meade, hitting Fort Sumter with every shot, he was struck bj' a fragment of a rebel shell in the left shoulder, necessitating the amputation of the whole arm with the shoulder blade — usually a fatal operation. He would allow only Surgeon Burton to perform the surgerj^, wishing the best skill on the front. "While under the influence of ether, during the amputation, his mind was still with his command in the siege, and with firm voice he continued to give his orders : " No. 1, Ready ! Fire ! No. 2, Ready ! Fire ! Stand to your work men! No. 3, Ready! Fire!" On the return of conscious- ness he was in a remarkably cheerful mood, and, slapping his leg two or three times with his remaining hand, he said: "Well, Doctor, I'd rather let the arm go than lose one of these fellows." But he rapidly failed. He received his wound Aug. 19th, and died on the 21st, and was buried on the 23d. The funeral cortege was impressive — mid awe-inspiring battle- scenes, under the guns of the foe. Men of our regiment, officers of other commands, a company of infantry, and two field-pieces, with the band of the Sixth Connecticut, made the funeral train. How sadly we laid him in his sandy grave by the side of other fallen braves. His fellow-officers and the men under him, having respected and esteemed him as a capable, de- voted soldier, greatly mourned his sudden death. Thus was laid another patriotic, heroic spirit on the altar of freedom. Not lost are the tears which the loyal must shed, As in anguish they bend o'er the forms of their dead ; When the valiant thus fall while defending the right, The living, for duty, are nerved with fresh might. While we were advancing and preparing our batteries the rebels poured upon us the heaviest and hottest of their metal ; and we allow that they executed some good practice. Before again storming "Wagner, it was re- solved to silence Sumter, which sorely annoyed us with plunging shot, and eommanded the approaches to "Wagner. And the navy as well as the army disliked the heavy fire from those high walls. Aug. 18. "Warren Eddy (Company H), was killed on Morris Island. Aug. 28. Michael Gormby (Company Q), wounded. 12 178 SHOT AND SHELL. [AugUgt. Aug. 30. Charles Abby (Company M) , killed by explosion of gun on Morris Island. Thus gallant and deeply-mourned comrades were falling. Aug. 21. Lieut. Jabez B. Blanding, on account of the loss of the use of his arm from the battle of PocotaUgo, resigned his place amongst us to accept a commission as First Lieutenant in the Veteran Reserve Corps. He joined us as Second Lieutenant, Aug. 27, 1861, and was promoted to be First Lieutenant, Nov. 11, 1862. He was almost idolized by Company G, and beloved by the whole regiment. A more gallant officer never drew sword. The loss of his arm was his full justification for retiring from the front to a more quiet position among those whose losses of limbs were their enduring proofs of noble conduct. It will not be inappropriate to here introduce a few extracts from the dispatches (afterwards captured) sent to General Beauregard from Col. Alfred Rhett, the commandant of Fort Sumter : — "Aug. 13. Seventeen 200-pounder Parrott shot and shell struck the fort. Two men wounded. A clear breach of three feet made in the northwest angle by a single 200-pounder shot. Aug. 15. Four hundred and seventy laborers and mechanics engaged in reUef , day and night, upon the defences of the fort; 300 bags of sand received, 2,500 built up on exterior of gorge. Aug. 17. They have hammered the fort a good deal. All the guns, except one eight-inch and one ten-inch gun, on northwest point are disabled. About fifty shot and shell came into the fort; over one hundred struck the walls outside. Aug. 18. Nine hundred and forty-eight shot and shell fired ; 445 struck out- side, 223 inside, 270 passed over. Should the enemy contemplate moving in to- night on the northeast face, we could not open a gun. Aug. 19. Twenty feet of gorge wall fallen; two-thirds will probably be down to-morrow. Seven hundred and sixty-two shots to-day; one killed, four wounded. Aug. 20. Flag just shot away, and replaced. Firing more destructive than ever. Flag-staff disabled; flag twice shot away during the day; 9,000 lbs. pow- der, quantities of shot and shell, implements, etc., 120 barrels pork, and seventy- five barrels flour shipped from the fort. Aug. 21. Flag twice shot away this morning. Should the fleet come in, I don't think the men could stay at the guns; 923 shots; 445 struck outside, 259 inside, 219 passed over. Flag-staff shot down four times. Fire the heaviest that has yet taken place. Aug. 22. Have but two guns en barbette. Five arches and terre-plein, north- west face, fallen in. Shots fired from Aug. 16th to Aug. 23d: Total, 5,750; struck outside, 2,700; struck inside, 1,724; missed, 1,336. The first 200-pounder shots were fired on the morning of the 12th. Aug. 23. Monitors threw fifty-nine shot and shell; batteries threw 633. Only one gun on east barbette serviceable." Aug. 24. General Gillmore reported to the War Department "the practical demolition of Fort Sumter, as the result of our seven days' bom- bardment of that work." It was, indeed, as viewed from our batteries, a shapeless mass, and it was unable to open on Morris Island, or on our fleel! a single gun. The completeness of its disability we shall show in a subse- (juent chapter from the records of the rebels themselves. CHAPTER XXXIV THE SWAMP ANGEL. August, 1863. Mijsterkms a7igcl-niinii