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BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURGH, 
 
 llcmiiusaitas uf tl]^ CtimjHigu, 
 
 HOSPITAL EXPERIENCES, DEBATES, ETC. 
 
 BY JAMES R. BURNS. 
 
 NEW YORK : 
 PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 
 
 18G5. 
 
L 
 
 .yf '/-? 
 
 DEDICATION". 
 
 What, dear reader, -would you have me do ? 
 
 Would'st thou that I should dedi-cate this book to you ? 
 
 Or is thy conscience with treason rife, 
 
 That thou should'st take a part in this unholy strife ? 
 
 For, if this thy foul intention be, 
 
 I will not, must not, dedicate this book to thee. 
 
 But if thou'rt of a different mind, 
 
 And thy heart to treason has not been inclined — 
 
 Then I with true patriotic fire, 
 
 Nor kindled by a fantastic vain desire, 
 
 Do, in honor of the brave and true, 
 
 Dedicate this book to you. 
 
 The author. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Dear Reader : 
 
 In order to give you an account 
 of the battle of Williamsburg-, that you 
 may become more fully informed of the 
 occurrences and particulars of that 
 bloody fight, I have compiled this work. 
 It was there I lost my right arm, and 
 received a wound in my left leg, which 
 have crippled me for life ; for these rea- 
 sons I have taken a more special in- 
 terest in its preparation. 
 
 Before going into action, our regi- 
 ment (the Seventy-fourth New York) 
 halted on the road about two hundred 
 yards from the field of battle. Yvliile 
 doing this, I availed myself of the favor- 
 able opportunity to make a cup of tea 
 and lunch before entering among rebel 
 bullets. I made a fire on the side of 
 the road, took some water from a pool 
 
IV IXTEODUCTIOTT. 
 
 adjoining', and made as good a cup of 
 tea as any soldier need desire. When 
 I '2:oi tliroLi^rh drinkim^" it, the order was 
 g"iven to fall in, and prepare for the con- 
 test. We marched on the field amid a 
 shower of bullets from the enemy, and 
 made all haste to return the compli- 
 ment, because we were well aware 
 that it had been sent with a good inten- 
 tion. We foug-ht well and bravely 
 against great odds ; never did troops 
 fight better than ours on that long-to- 
 be-remembered fifth of May. I say 
 ours, because I am confident that the 
 brigade to which I belonged did its 
 duty. In the evening, your humble 
 servant was wounded, and tlirew him- 
 self down between two trees. In a 
 few moments my comrades got the 
 command — Retreat; they then retreated 
 about fifty yards from their former po 
 sition. In short, I was in the company 
 of rebels, who, when they saw that I 
 
INTRODirOTIOX. V 
 
 was wounded, g-ave me water to drink ; 
 a kindness not expected from rebel 
 hands. One young- man asked me to 
 what regiment I belonged, and when I 
 told him to the Seventy-fourth New 
 York, he immediately said : " That is 
 the Sickles Brigade." Then this sym- 
 pathizing- rebel said : '' Young man, I 
 pity your condition, but we must fight ; 
 this is a cruel war, and I have two 
 hundred dollars in my possession, and 
 would willingly give that sum, as my 
 share, to put an end to this bloodshed, 
 but allow me to say that you are fight- 
 ing in a bad cause." One of his com- 
 rades, a big, burly rebel asked why I 
 fought against them, or if I was fighting 
 for niggers. I answered : '' To pre- 
 serve the Union, and for no other pur- 
 pose have any of our men enlisted." 
 He immediately retorted with the an- 
 swer : " We'll preserve the Union for 
 you." 
 
VI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 These men belonged to the Fifth 
 North Carohna regiment. Siiortly after, 
 another rebel came up, whom I asked 
 for a drink ; he told me he had nothing" 
 but molasses, but would give me some 
 of that. So he put his canteen to my 
 mouth, and I drank of the sweet bever- 
 age nearly a pint. About nightfall a 
 rebel came to me and had the assur- 
 ance to ask if my watch was a good 
 timekeeper, he having seen the chain 
 hanging from my pocket. I told him 
 it was not a bad one. He said that he 
 would take it and send an ambulance 
 to convey me to the hospital. I re- 
 plied that I did not wish him to have 
 it, as it was a memento of my father. 
 This specimen of Southern Chivalry, 
 having a peculiar fancy for such a pre- 
 cious article, seized his prize and 
 bounded away to the tune of " Dixie." 
 
 Yours truly. 
 
EEMmiSCEXCES. 
 
 While the Excelsior Brigade was en- 
 camped within two miles of Port Tobacco, 
 Maryland, and near the Potomac, several 
 slaves had deserted from their masters, and 
 would have come into our lines, if we had 
 assured them protection. Orders were often 
 issued prohibiting them from entering camp, 
 and they were not unfrequently seized and 
 sent back to their brutal masters, to be tor- 
 tured by them even unto death ; and as an 
 illustration : 
 
 While the regiment to which I then be- 
 longed was leaving Port Tobacco for Livei*^ 
 pool Point, some sla\''e owners came along 
 scanning the men in each company to try 
 and find out the slaves whom they had lost. 
 One of them, whose name was Cox, came 
 forward and made an attempt to rescue his 
 man Jack, from the company of which I 
 was a member. This man had obtained 
 some valuable information while in the ser- 
 
8 EEMINISCENCES. 
 
 vice of liis master, and had imparted tliis to 
 our officers, who sent immediately an escort 
 of men with him to make some captures. 
 Jack proved, however, being an intelligent 
 negro, to carry out successfully the plan 
 which he had formed. It resulted in the 
 capture of a very handsome secesh flag 
 which his young mistress had so tastefully 
 prepared for her friends in Dixie. Also a 
 number of ball cartridges, percussion caps, 
 fire-arms to the number of sixty, and some 
 highly finished swords, which the owner had 
 carefully sharj)ened to amputate the heads 
 of '' Yankee Mudsills." For the non-accom- 
 plishment of this treachery by his master. 
 Jack had become the victim, and it was 
 deemed expedient, for the sake of the 
 Southern cause, to have him arrested. To 
 accomplish tliis, his master, in company 
 with another, rode up the second time, 
 seized his man, and was about to give him 
 a sound whipping, were he not prevented 
 by our men, who had, in lieu of the service 
 rendered, taken Jack under their protec- 
 tion. 
 
REMINISCEXCES. 9 
 
 Mr. Cox, or Capt., as he was then called, 
 being in commaiid of a company of Yir- 
 ginians, had determined, in some manner, 
 to obtain his man, and be, by bribes and 
 promises to some of our officers, succeeded 
 in having him given up. This was done 
 very secretly, and to carry out the plan, our 
 captain, who had imbibed rather freely of 
 the juice of the grape through the good- 
 naturedness of his friend, Mr. Cox, sent two 
 men, with their black charge, back to Port 
 Tobacco, there to be tried and condemned 
 by a court of slave-owners. 
 
 The result was as expected ; poor Jack, 
 convicted, tied to a tree, and when in that 
 position, was lacerated by his brutal master 
 nntil life had left its time-worn frame. I 
 will here mention that he was above fifty 
 years old, and had been in the employ of 
 his master for twenty years. 
 
 Having arrived at Liverpool Point, we 
 are about to select a suitable spot where we 
 may pitch our tents and look across the 
 sparkling waters of the Potomac, into the 
 promised sacred soil of Yirginia. 
 1^ 
 
10 EEMINISCENCES. 
 
 On the 9tli of Marcli, the rebels evac- 
 uated this point, burning up their camps, 
 and leaving nothing but a heap of ruins; 
 it was reported that they were going to rein- 
 force Fredericksburg and Yorktown, which 
 proved to be true. 
 
 On Sunday, the 6th of April, our regi- 
 ment took leave of Camp Magaw, Liverpool 
 Point. This camp was called after a cap- 
 tain of the same name, Avho tlien had com- 
 mand of the fleet on the river. We re- 
 mained on board for three successive days, 
 owing to some difficulty with our general in 
 Washington. 
 
 It was reported that he had lost command ^ 
 and that Colonel Taylor, of the 3d Excelsior, 
 had superseded him. The difficulty, how 
 ever, being settled, General Sickles resumec 
 his office. He is a brave soldier, and we woulc 
 be sorry to lose him. lie conducted us int( 
 Virginia with a coolness and courage rarel;) 
 exhibited by any other. See him leading 
 on his brave little band of fourteen hundrec 
 men to Stafford Court House, capturing 
 that place, together with a number of com 
 
EEMINISCENCE5. 11 
 
 missaiy stores. I will not enter into a de- 
 tail of the articles taken ; it may suffice to 
 know that we partook of a sumptuous re- 
 past when we had taken the town. 1 must 
 not omit to mention the capture of forty 
 horses. 
 
 The rebels were panic-stricken, and en- 
 tirely taken by surprise, for a regiment of 
 infantry and six hundred cavalry left the 
 town as soon as our advance-guard entered 
 it, firing a few rounds of cartridges at our 
 men, but with little effect. They then re- 
 treated to Fredericksburg, which is about 
 seven miles from Stafibrd Court House. The 
 force in Fredericksburg, at that time, was 
 said to be ten thousand ; and if we had pro- 
 ceeded thither, we might have captured it 
 also, for the rebels, as we afterwards learned, 
 thought the Army of the Potomac was ad- 
 vancing by that route towards Eichmond. 
 It was rumored that they fled from Fred- 
 ericksburg also, but returned when the 
 news reached them that our force was infe- 
 rior to theirs. Tlie fences on both sides of 
 the road were covered with cowhides, plain- 
 
12 EEMINISCENCES. 
 
 Ij showing, that sccesli were great lovera 
 of the flesh of that useful aiiimaL It would 
 be unnecessary to relate all the incidents 
 connected with the expedition, since they 
 bear no relation to the account of Williams- 
 burg ; but I shall proceed to relate part of 
 the voyage from Liverpool Point to where 
 we landed, which was Ship Point, Yirginia. 
 We sailed down by Mathias Point, a place 
 of some importance in the history of this 
 present war, for it was there our regiment 
 first learned the art of w^ar. There the 
 regiment first unfolded its Starry Banner on 
 Virginia's sacred soil. There are not many 
 places worthy of note till we come to Fort- 
 ress Monroe. When we arrived there, we 
 cast anchor, and remained for about three 
 liours, and saw the Monitor, or Yankee 
 Cheesebox, as it is called. But what is that 
 hu2:e monster in tlie distance? It is the 
 Merrimac, which has come out wdth foui 
 other iron clad vessels. Now there is a 
 large fleet in port, mostly composed of 
 wooden vessels, and the iron clads w^oukl 
 no doubt, destroy them, if tlie Merrimac 
 
EEMINISCEXCES. 13 
 
 could only force the Monitor to give battle,, 
 and from nnder the guns of the fort. Lieu- 
 tenant Worden, then acting master of the 
 Monitor, calls all hands to their posts. Xow 
 the steam-pipe is lowered, the deck is 
 greased, the guns are manned, and all are 
 ready for action. Tlie Cheesebox, being 
 thus ready, got up steam and went down to 
 meet the monster and protect the shipping, 
 l)ut not before the Merrimac had taken two 
 of our schooners and towed them off to I^or- 
 Iblk, " a nice prize for secesh." 
 
 We started from the fort at 2 p.m., having 
 received orders to go to Ship Point. The 
 latter place was formerly occupied by the 
 rebels, but when we landed, the brave 
 Sixty-ninth was there, together with other 
 regiments. We staid at this place for one 
 night, and next morning moved three miles 
 further up, encamped five days, and left on 
 the 18th for Yorktown, where w^e arrived 
 the same day, and encamped on the ground 
 where General Washington planned the 
 siege of that ancient town during the Kevo- 
 lution. It was this town that Cornwallis 
 
14: REMINISCENCES. 
 
 surrendered to our noble Father and Pa- 
 triot, Washington ! It is a place full of 
 interest to every American. We were then 
 in sight of the enemy's works, and occa- 
 sionally we would hear a shell whizzing 
 over our heads, an iron messenger fi-om the 
 enemy. There was a continued fire kept up 
 from both sides, the enemy's pickets and 
 ours being in close proximity and exchang- 
 ing shots. Night after night w^e were called 
 out of our beds to throw up intrenchments, 
 as we could not work much in the day time 
 for fear of being seen by the rebels from 
 their batteries. 
 
 "We had a large balloon in camp, and 
 every day, General McClelhan, with Pro- 
 fessor Lowe, made an ascension to reconnoi- 
 tre the enemy's works. The rebels, at tltis 
 time, made several attempts to strike the 
 old Saw Mill. This mill formerly belonged 
 to them, but fell into our hands after they 
 were driven inside tlie fortifications of York- 
 town. We put it to good use in sawing up 
 planks to build batteries. 
 
 Look around, and you see the direful 
 
EEMINISCENCES. 15 
 
 effects tliis war lias produced ; devastation 
 on every side ; houses deserted by their 
 occupants and in ruins, although the apj^le 
 and peach trees are in full bloom, producing 
 a striking contrast with the scenes around. 
 Still, I^ature spreads its halo of brightness 
 ai'ound that memorable spot. On the morn- 
 ing of the 1st of May, while our regiment 
 was doing picket duty, the rebels fired shot 
 and shell into our midst so thickly that we 
 thought there was going to be a general 
 onset. ^We had to lie down all night for 
 fear the rebels would find out our lurking 
 places ; but their pickets kept just as much 
 concealed as ours. 
 
 About three o'clock in the morning, they 
 opened fire into the woods where we were 
 concealed, thinking they would find out 
 our position. They were not unsuccessful, 
 for another regiment, on the right of ours, 
 returned the fire, thereby disclosing our 
 place of ambush. When the rebels saw 
 the fire of our men, they immediately opened 
 a terrific fire on us from their batteries, with 
 little loss save among the trees. The firing 
 
16 REMINISCENCES. 
 
 was kept up nearly the whole day, but with 
 no injury to us. 
 
 Yorktown is a place of great strength, 
 and the rebels are of the opinion that if it 
 had not been for our gunboats they would 
 never have evacuated it. 
 
 Truly yours. 
 
THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUEGH. 
 
 "' The Battle of Willi amsbiirgli, whicli oc- 
 curred on Monday, the fiftli of May, 1S62, 
 was one of the most sanguinary engage- 
 ments of the war. On the morning of the 
 fourth, the rebels opened a terrific cannon- 
 ade from their batteries, when they re- 
 treated nnder cover of them from Yorktown 
 to Williamsburgh. 
 
 The silence which had so long reigned 
 throughout the camps, at once broke out into 
 mirth and revelry, and all were anxious to 
 get a proper view of that almost impregna- 
 ble defense ; many had left their camps to 
 behold the long expected prize. 
 
 Drums beat their old familiar tunes, bands 
 played, trumpets sounded, all was bustle 
 and excitement. Cavalry and infantry were 
 drawn up in line of battle in front of York- 
 town, their bayonets and sabres glistening 
 in the sun. The gunboats in front of the 
 v.beleagured city weighed anchor, all, and 
 2^ 
 
18 THE BATTLE OF WILLI AMSBUEGH 
 
 everything seemed to be in motion, render- 
 ing, to tliose who behehi it, a most magnifi- 
 cent scene. That morning the Star Span- 
 gled Banner waved in defiance over the 
 stronghold of the enemy, amid loud and 
 enthusiastic cheers from the men that were 
 drawn np in line of battle. In about two 
 hours afterwards, an order came from head- 
 quarters to march and pursue the retreating 
 rebels. We struck tents, packed knapsacks, 
 and. started in pursuit over a rough and dan- 
 gerous road to Williamsburgh. I say rough, 
 because of the terpedos which were placed 
 in the road to obstruct our maroh. On we 
 went, however, taking care that we did not 
 step on tliose instruments of death, which 
 rebel hands had placed in the road. 
 
 We marched twelve miles that day, and 
 when night overtook us, we found that our 
 regiment (the Seventy-fourth) had marched 
 three miles ont of its right course, and, as 
 soon as our colonel found that we were on 
 the wrong road, he gave the command, 
 " night about." Tui-ning, we marched on 
 in another direction during a heavy raiii 
 
THE BATTLE OF WILLTAMSBUKGH. 19 
 
 storm. When we had proceeded about two 
 miles, we entered the woods. It was about 
 midnight, and a portion of the regiment 
 threw themselves into the arms of Morpheus, 
 while others built fires to warm themselves 
 and dry their w^et clothing. 
 
 The troops were stationed that night in 
 the following order: General Hooker's di- 
 vision in front of the enemy's centre, near 
 Williamsburgh ; Gen. Smith's division and 
 General Stoneman, with the advance Cav- 
 alry and Artillery, on the right wing ; the 
 divisions of Generals Kearney and Couch 
 had halted in the rear, while other divisions 
 occupied the positions assigned them by the 
 general commanding. It was a fearful night, 
 and our position a strange and eventful one. 
 The roads were in a dreadful muddy condi- 
 tion. The troops had had a difficult march, 
 and there, at night, without shelter from the 
 rain, wdiich was falling fast, without food or 
 nourishment, they all, officers and men, re- 
 posed as best they could on the wet ground 
 and among the forest trees. On the morn- 
 ing of the fifth, the march was resumed, and 
 
20 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUROH. 
 
 bj six o'clock, General Grover's brigade, 
 Tvhicli led the advance of General Hooker's 
 division, arrived witliin sight of the enemy's 
 works. Fort Magruder, a very strong posi- 
 tion, and in front of which timber was felled, 
 as well to obstruct our march as to give free 
 range to the rebel artillery. The open 
 space in front of the fort was filled with 
 rifle pits ; yonder, in the distance, is the an- 
 cient and beautiful town of Williamsburgh, 
 where, among other objects of interest, is 
 situated the well-known college of William 
 and Mary, which Yirginians regard with so 
 much love and veneration. 
 
 Tlie principal road runs through the town, 
 and it was over this that the whole rebel 
 army was retreating. The enemy's rear- 
 guard had evidently determined to make a 
 temporary stand at Williamsburgh, in order 
 to successfully cover the retreat of their re- 
 tiring columns and save the baggage of his 
 ar.my. On the other hand, we were deter- 
 mined to press their rear so as to render 
 their flight both difficult and dangerous. 
 
 In accordance with instructions from the 
 
THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUKGH. 21 
 
 commander of the corps, General Hooker's 
 division first engaged the enemy. At half 
 past seven o'clock in the morning, General 
 Grover's brigade opened the attack. A por- 
 tion of the First Massachusetts regiment, 
 under Lieutenant-Colonel AVells, were de- 
 ployed as skirmishers to the front and left 
 of the IIam]3ton road, the remainder of the 
 regiment being held in reserve under Colonel 
 Cowden. Two companies of the Second 
 ^ew Ilampsliire, under Colonel Marston, 
 w^ere ordered to clear the edge of the tim- 
 ber, with instructions to pick otf the enemy's 
 sharpshooters and artillerists, while the other 
 companies remained in the rear. Subse- 
 quently, the Eleventh Massachusetts, Col. 
 Blaisdell, and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania, 
 Col. Small, were placed in the same man- 
 ner on the right of the Second New Hamp- 
 shire, which was deplo3"ed as skirmishers. 
 Early in the morning, Col. Small w^as 
 wounded in the leg. Capt. Weber's bat- 
 tery of artillery was sent in advance of the 
 fallen timber, and about seven or eight hun- 
 dred yards from Fort Magruder. At this 
 
22 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUEGH. 
 
 moment, a terrific fire was opened from four 
 guns in the fort and two in one of the re- 
 doubts to the left, and before our battery 
 had been placed in position, several of onr 
 men, including two officers, had been strick- 
 en to the ground by the fire of the enemy. 
 The drivers of the limbers could not stand 
 the fire, and retired to the rear. Major 
 Wainright, commanding the artillery in the 
 division, immediately galloped to the rear, 
 and called for volunteers from Capt. Os- 
 borne's First l^ew York battery, while, in 
 the meantime, Capt. "Weber succeeded in 
 rallying quite a number of his own men. 
 "With great alacrity the volunteers from the 
 otlier batteries came forward. Thus, the 
 four guns of battery II were manned and 
 speedily in action, replying to the enemy's 
 artillery. Half an hour afterwards, Capt. 
 Bramhall, of the Sixth 'New York battery, 
 came up, and five of his g"un»s were placed 
 on the right of those of Capt. Weber's. 
 Both, batteries now poured a most destruc- 
 tive fire into the enemy's position, while 
 our infantry did the same, and before nine 
 
THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSEUEGIT. 23 
 
 o'clock in the morning, the troops in front 
 were dispersed, and the guns in the fort 
 silenced until late in the afternoon. These 
 batteries were well supported by the Fifth 
 InTcw Jersey regiment. Col. Starr. 
 
 Gen. Ileintzelman, who was on the field 
 in person and to the rear, had sent Gen. 
 Emory forward with a small command, 
 which was afterwards increased to four 
 regiments of infantry, with Benson's Second 
 artillery, and two batteries from Gen. Kear- 
 ney's division, all accompanied by Col. 
 Averill's Third Pennsylvania Cavalry. — 
 When Gen. Emory reached the front with 
 the cavalry, he learned from Gen. Hooker, 
 who had immediate command, that the lim- 
 ited length of the line in that locality did 
 not admit of an opportunity to bring his 
 arm of the service into action at that time. 
 Geii. Emory, however, was sent with some 
 of the force along the road to the left and 
 rear, to observe the movements of the ene- 
 my, which the woods concealed. Gen. Em- 
 ory's command had a little skirmishing 
 among the fallen timber to the left and near 
 
24 THE BATTLE OF WILLTAIMSEURGH. 
 
 an opening witliin view of one of the re- 
 doubts. 
 
 A. squadron of cavalry took possession of 
 the work, which was jj'^^i'tlj deserted, and 
 captured forty prisoners. 
 
 Quite early in the morning, it was no- 
 ticed that the enemy was endeavoring to 
 turn our flaidv to the left, for heavy firing 
 was heard in that direction. The remain- 
 ing companies of the First Massachusetts 
 regiment were then deployed, and the 
 Eleventh Massachusetts and Twenty-sixth 
 I^ennsylvania regiments, under Gen.Grover, 
 were ordered through the w^oods to outma- 
 nceuvre the tactics of the enemy. The 
 Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania, whose colonel 
 was wounded, did not receive the order, and 
 remained on the right with little loss. 
 
 "While the Eleventh Massachusetts was 
 engaged, not more than fifty yards from the 
 enemy, a rebel officer displayed a white 
 flag and shouted : " Don't fire on your 
 friends !" Col. Blaisdell immediately or- 
 dered his regiment to cease firing, and when 
 private Doherty advanced to take the flag, 
 
THE BATTLE OF WILLI AMSBUEGH. 25 
 
 the rebel officer said to liis men, "Xow, 
 bovs, a'ive it to them." The command was 
 obeyed, and we lost a number of men in 
 
 onsequence. Doherty was the first victim 
 i'l this treachery ; but ere he fell, he dis- 
 •harged his riile at the officer, who received 
 
 otributive justice in the form of a bullet 
 through the head. When the ammunition 
 of the First Massachusetts regiment, which 
 fought so bravely, had given out, the regi- 
 ment was relieved by the Seventy-second 
 IS^ew York, Lieut.-Col. Moses, which was in 
 time replaced by the Seventieth 'Now York, 
 Col. D wight, both of the Excelsior Brigade. 
 In obedience to an order, Lieut.-Col. 
 Moses pushed his regiment in front for the 
 purpose of silencing a battery which was 
 annoying us on the left. It was only when 
 confronted with a most murderous fire, and 
 bearing in mind the liability of having his 
 command cut off from su2:)port unless Gen. 
 Patterson, already engaged with the enemy, 
 
 hould immediately succeed in dislodging 
 
 liim in front, that he was prudently ordered 
 
 to retire to his original position, where he 
 
 3 
 
26 THE BATTLE OF WILLTAMSBUllGH. 
 
 was tlieii relieved by tlie Sevetieiitli regi- 
 ment 'New York Yolimteers, Col. D wight. 
 Tlie lirst rebel reoimeiit which confronted 
 this, mistook it for one of its own side, and 
 the commanding officer, dictated by his 
 mistrust, demanded of Col. D wight to show 
 his colors. At the same time, the rebel 
 flag was displayed by tlie rebel color-bearer, 
 then our standard was raised and the Star 
 Spangled Banner waved in defiance of that 
 of the enemy. No sooner had the good old 
 flag been displayed, than a volley was dis- 
 charged at our men, but passed over our 
 heads. The fire was returned with good 
 effect. The rebel regiment was soon sup- 
 ported by another, and both were engaged 
 by onrs of the First Excelsior. Col. Dwight 
 at this time received a slight wound in the 
 leg, and Lieut.-Col. Farnum, being severely 
 wounded, was carried to the rear. StiL 
 the regiment fought with determined brave- 
 ry against superior numbers, and as we 
 were gaining the advantage, CoL Dv/ighfe 
 ordered his regiment to charge through the 
 fallen timber. The men, with cheers, ad- 
 
THE Bi^TTLE OF WILLIAMSCrRGH. 27 
 
 vanced upon the rebels, who were put to 
 flight, and thus, the flag which the rebels 
 had demanded to be shown, proved to be 
 triumphant. The soldiers in this regiment 
 held their position as long as any ammuni- 
 tion in their cartridge boxes held out, and 
 then, as our supply train, l)y reason of the 
 muddy condition of the roads, had not yet 
 come up, they still presented an obstinate 
 front, and held their ground as long as car- 
 tridges could be found in the boxes of their 
 dead and wounded comrades around them. 
 Reinforcements still confronted us, and the 
 favorite project of the enemy to outflank us 
 was still continued. Thus reinforced, they 
 pressed vigorously to the front, and, while 
 Col. D wight was still endeavoring to resist 
 this additional onslaught, he received two 
 dangerous wounds, and, with several of his 
 men, was taken prisoner by the enemy. 
 He was carried by his captured men to 
 Williamsburgh, where, when the rebels had 
 evacuated, he was found by Gen. Jameson. 
 Out of thirty -three commissioned ofticers 
 in this regiment who went into action, 
 
28 THE BA'ITLE OF WILLIAMSEURGIT. 
 
 tweiitj-two were eitlier killed or wounded. 
 Both the Seventieth and Seventy-second 
 regiments displayed the most valorous con- 
 duct on this occasion. 
 
 The engagement had now assumed exten- 
 sive proportions, the infantry and artillery 
 keeping up a continuous and destructive 
 fire. ' All of Gen. Patterson's 'New Jersey 
 Brigade, except the eighth regiment, had 
 previously arrived on the ground. The 
 two regiments, the Sixth, Lient.-Col. Yan 
 Lear, and the Seventh, Col. Carman, were 
 conducted by Gen. Patterson through the 
 forest, to assist in repelling another attempt 
 to turn our left flank. They occupied the 
 lieavy timber which intercepted our view of 
 the enemy's works. When they advanced, 
 they Avcre also met by fresh regiments, and 
 for a tunc, the advantage alternated between 
 the contending forces, and the tide of battle 
 was seen to ebb and flow on eitlier side, 
 seer.iing uncertain as to the issue. As well 
 as the forces of the enemy, our regiments 
 which, while firing, were lying down, but 
 still sufi:ered severely, until, at an opportune 
 
THE BATTLE OF WILLI AMSBUEGn. 29 
 
 moment, Col. Johnson came np with the 
 Sixth i^ew Jersey in time to check the 
 flanking fire of the enemy, which was rapid- 
 ly running round to the left. Heavy firing 
 s«on broke out on the right of this com- 
 mand, and was also handsomely repulsed. 
 Again, the orders of rebel oflicers, in tlie 
 woods, to the front and rear, proved that the 
 attempt which had previously been unsuc- 
 cessfully made to turn our left, was resumed, 
 and this time, as before, after a protracted 
 struggle, they were again foiled in their 
 attempts. 
 
 From the first, it seemed a subject of 
 solicitude to have Gen. Heintzelman's com- 
 mand join that of Gen. Sumner, in line of 
 battle on the Yorktown road, to the right. 
 Tliis, having been effected, Gen. Hooker, at 
 about half-past eleven o'clock, despatched 
 to Gen. Heintzelman's assistant-adjutant 
 general a note, in which he said : " I have 
 had a hard contest all the morning, but do 
 not despair of success. My men are all at 
 work, but are very much exhausted. It is 
 reported to me that my communication with 
 
30 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBTJROH. 
 
 yoii, by the Yoi'ktown road, is clear of the 
 eiiem}^ Batteries, cavalrj and infantry can 
 take part by the side of mine and whip tlic 
 enemy." This was sent to a point on the 
 Yorktown road, nnder the impression that 
 Gen. Ileintzehnan, who had command of the 
 corps, was still there, whereas, that gallant 
 and intrepid soldier was near the Hampton 
 road, where the fighting was severest, clieer- 
 ing the long expected and welcomed rein- 
 forcements. This note, therefore, was not 
 received by Gen. Ileintzehnan, but was re- 
 tnrned to Gen. Hooker, and on the enve- 
 lop indorsed, '^ Opened and read by the 
 senior officer on that field," who was Gen. 
 Sumner. 
 
 It would seem this timely note of Gen. 
 Hooker's had the eifect of infusing renewed 
 energy into our commanders on the right, 
 for about noon, Gen. Peck received orders 
 to proceed to the front in support of Gen. 
 Hooker. Gen. Peck urged on his command, 
 which went through the deep mud and 
 drenching rain with commendable alacrity. 
 He was met by Gen. Keyes, commander of 
 
THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURGir. ^1 
 
 the fourth corps, who gave him some in- 
 structions, and accompanied on the field by 
 Gen. Conch, who advised the disposition of 
 his troops. IvTotwithstandi ng the fearful 
 condition of the roads, two batteries — Capt. 
 Flood's and McCarthy's Pennsylvania artil- 
 lery — came np to assist Gen. Peck's bri- 
 gade, and later in the day, the troops were 
 placed within supporting distance. 
 
 At an earlier hour. Gen. Hancock's bri- 
 gade liad been ordered still further to the 
 right, abont a mile and a half from the 
 Yorktown road, for the purpose of silencing 
 and taking possession of a battery which 
 commanded a dam across a tributary to 
 Queen's Creek, and which had been de- 
 serted by tlie enemy early in the morning, 
 with further instructions to attempt to turn 
 their left. Gen. Hancock, with the ]3rinci- 
 pal portions of the Fifth Wisconsin regiment, 
 Col. Cobb ; Sixth Maine, Col. Barnhen ; 
 Forty-ninth Pennsylvania, Col. Irwin ; 
 Seventh Maine, Col. Mason ; and the Thirty- 
 third Xew York, Col. E. F. Taylor— in all, 
 about two thousand -Q-yq lumdred men, and 
 
32 THE BATTLE OF WTLLIAMSEURGH. 
 
 Bupported by Lieut. Cowan's and Capt. 
 Wheeler's batteries of artillery, crossed the 
 creek and took possession of the works, and 
 also of another w^ork about twxlve yards in 
 advance, toward Fort Magruder, both of 
 which, for the time being, were deserted by 
 the enemy. About this time, our whole 
 line, from right to left, was engaged with 
 the enemy, wdio was still bringing up rein- 
 forcements, among which was Longstreet's 
 division, considered one of the finest in the 
 rebel service, and which was recalled by 
 the commandiug general of the rebel forces, 
 beyond Williamsburgh. Among these, w^ere 
 the commands of the rebel Gens. Pryor, 
 Goldson, Early and Pickett, which the 
 prisoners we had taken said had the reputa- 
 tion of being among the best troops in the 
 rebel army. At this time, as I have said, 
 between two and three o'clock in the after- 
 noon, our whole line was determinedly re- 
 sisting the obstinate efforts of the enemy to 
 drive back and win the day. To the left, 
 ISTew York regiments, commanded by Col. 
 I^elson Taylor, were firing away with unre- 
 
THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUEGir. 33 
 
 mittlng energy. The Fourth Excelsior, Col. 
 Brewster, and the Fiftli Excelsior, Col. Bnr- 
 tis, had just proceeded to strengthen that 
 part of the line which, throughout the day, 
 the enemy continued to j^ress with a vigor 
 which indicated that the turning of our left 
 flank was the most important part of Gen. 
 Johnson's plan. The first and third regi- 
 ments on tlie left of the road, and the Fourtli 
 and Fifth on the right, advanced and poured 
 a most effective fire into the rebel regi- 
 ments, which were pressing our position 
 with great tenacity. At the same time the 
 rebel artillery in Fort Magruder, and the 
 redoubt to its right (our left), reoj)ened with 
 shot and shell, which made terrible havoc 
 among the forest trees, much more than 
 among our men. The w^oods, in every 
 direction, bear the marks not only of shot 
 and shell from tlie artillery, but from the 
 musketry fire on either side. Tree tops 
 dropped o& as though they had been heads 
 severed from human bodies by the keenest 
 sword. The blood of our noble comrades 
 who fell in the contest, covered the ground 
 
Si THE BATTLE OF WILLTAMSBURGH. 
 
 in places, and mingled witli tlie rain. 
 The dead lay in every direction, and the 
 wounded formed a long, mournful proces- 
 sion, as they were being carried to the rear. 
 Many, however, were not found when nigl.t 
 closed upon the scene, and were necessarily 
 left on the field till the morning. My heart 
 was moved with pity to hear the groans of 
 the dying and wounded, as they lay around, 
 who were calling for their mothers-but no 
 mother was there to aid or comfort them. 
 Alas ! some had no mother, for, if they had, 
 she could not appeal to the words her brave 
 son had uttered, " Mother, I'm dying ! Oh ! 
 mother, Fm dying !" Yes, it was her pal- 
 j)itating heart that first nerved his strong 
 arm. For her protection and his country's 
 honor he first buckled the soldier's armor 
 on, and now dreams of home, sweet home, 
 and the loved ones left behind, steal upon 
 Lis fevered brain, and he again mingles 
 with family and friends, again listens to her 
 footsteps, and the artless prattle of younger 
 brothers and sisters ; and now, while ]iis 
 life fiows out, and the mists of death gather 
 
THE BATTLE OF WIIJJAMSBtJROK. 35 
 
 round him, the name of mother leaps to his 
 lips, and her form appears before him, from 
 the home to which he bids farewell for- 
 ever. 
 
 Remember the glories of patriots brave, 
 Though the days of the heroes are o'er ; 
 
 Long lost to their country and cold in the grave, 
 They return to their kindred no more. 
 
 The stars of the field which in victory poured 
 Their beams on th(; battle-field set ; 
 
 But enough of their glory remains on each sword 
 To light us to victory yet. 
 
 The felled trees presented great obstacles 
 to the advance of our men, and many were 
 shot in climbing over them. It was now 
 that Lieut.-Col. Benedict, of the Fourth Ex- 
 celsior regiment, who was always in the 
 advance, was taken prisoner. The troops, 
 in the Excelsior Brigade, fought in the most 
 gallant and intrepid manner, and when their 
 ammunition was expended, fell slowly back 
 behind our batteries, which continued firing 
 to keep the rebels in check until fresh sup- 
 plies of ammunition were received. Our 
 regiments advanced again, and kept up the 
 
30 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUKGH. 
 
 contest until relieved bj reinforcements 
 later in the afternoon. 
 
 Another instance of rebel treachery oc- 
 cnrred in front of the Second Xew Hamp- 
 shire regiment, similar to that in front of 
 the Eleventh Massachnsetts. Capt. Dronne's 
 company encoimtered a body of tlio enemy, 
 when the rebel commander cried ont, " Don't 
 lire, don't lire, we are friends !'' at the same 
 time directing his men to trail arms. Capt. 
 Dronne ordered his company not to fire, and 
 having thus obtained a good show at them, 
 the rebels fired a volley, killing Capt. 
 Dronne and many of his men. The support 
 to our artillery was withdrawn and sent to 
 a more important point, Gen. Hooker deem- 
 ing it better to run the risjk of losing a few 
 j)ieces of artillery, than of losing the day. 
 This was just previous to the time that our 
 reinforcements were coming up close in the 
 rear. Those reinforcemeiits consisted of 
 Gen. Kearney's division. When the divi- 
 sion was still far in the rear, hearing the 
 firing in front, and having received orders 
 to come forward with all possible haste, the 
 
THE BATl'LE OF WILLIAMSBURG H. 37 
 
 several brigades pushed on tlirough the 
 iiiiid, past other trooj)S and trains. Gen., 
 lieintzehnan, who was vio^oronslv watchinir 
 the progress of the battle, and weighing the 
 chances for victory or defeat, had sent other 
 orders to hasten on the coming division of 
 his corps. At this point, Gen. Berrj pushed 
 on his brigade, and sent to the rear requests 
 for the speedy advance of Capt. Thompson's, 
 battery of artillery. 
 
 The brigade and artillery soon arrived 
 near the held of action. Gen. Kearney,, 
 with Gen. Jameson, had ridden to the front, 
 and both, assisted by their staff officers, 
 urged their personal influence to good ad- 
 vantage in encouraging the weary soldiers 
 on to the scene of action. 
 
 As the troops passed where Gen. Ileint- 
 zelman was, he waved his hat, and they 
 greeted him with the most enthusiastic 
 cheers. The arrival of this brigade, at that 
 moment, was most opportune, for it was a 
 very critical period of the battle. The 
 enemy, seeing the supports withdrawn from 
 our artillery, made a determined attempt to- 
 4 
 
38 THE BATTLE OF AVILLIAMSBUKGH. 
 
 capture it, and indeed nearly all the liorses 
 having been killed, and the pieces deeply 
 embedded in mud, some of the guns had 
 already fallen into their hands. They were 
 pushing this part of the line, and had suc- 
 ceeded in entering the woods near the 
 Hampton road, which Gen. Hooker's divi- 
 sion had held all the day. Gen. Ileintzel- 
 raan himself was nearly surrounded ; but 
 that noble soldier chose rather to be killed 
 or captured, sooner than leave a position 
 where, at that critical juncture, he could by 
 liis presence inspire confidence in his troops. 
 Had he left, the result might have been dis- 
 astrous. Just at that moment, however, 
 Gen. Berry's brigade arrived, and then the 
 tide of battle was destined to turn com- 
 pletely in our favor. 
 
 When Gen. Kearney's troops were being 
 brought into action, they met the length- 
 ened files of Gen. Hooker's wounded being 
 carried to the rear. The slirieks of the 
 lacerated and bleeding soldiers, who had 
 been fighting so long and so well, pierced 
 the air, and this, ^vith the mud and rain and 
 
THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBTTRGH. 39 
 
 tlie exhausted condition of tliose who had 
 come several miles with so much speed, was 
 not calculated to produce a favorable im- 
 pression on them as thej were rushing into 
 battle. Gen. Heintzelman, however, or- 
 dered several of the bands to strike up 
 national and martial airs, and when the 
 strains of the familiar tunes reached the 
 ears of the wounded, as they were being 
 carried from the field, their cheers mingled 
 with those of the soldiers who were just 
 rushing into action. The effect, too, was 
 great on the other side, for some of the 
 prisoners stated that when they heard the 
 bands strike up Hail Columbia, and heard 
 our soldiers cheer, they knew that the vic- 
 tory would be ours. 
 
 The bands did play so merrily 
 
 Our own sweet martial airs ; 
 And when "Hail Columbia " was heard, 
 
 We soon forgot our cares. 
 
 Gen. Kearney quickly conferred with 
 Gen. Heintzelman, from whom he received 
 his orders, and with Gen. Hooker, who 
 pointed out the position of affairs, and made 
 
40 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSEURGH. 
 
 some suggestions as to tlie disposition of his 
 forces. Having observed tiie point of attack, 
 Gen. Kearney immediately threw his troops 
 into action. The Third Michigan regiment, 
 CoL Champlin, having been previously at- 
 tacked and sent with Gen. Emory, Gen. 
 Berry went on the field with three other 
 regiments. The Fifrh Michigan regiment, 
 Col. Terry, was filed off to the left of the 
 road into the timber, and was supported by 
 the Thirty-seventh Inxw York, Col. Hay- 
 man. Part of the Second Michigan, Col. 
 Poe, was placed on either side of the road. 
 Then a charge was ordered on the left, and 
 the Fiitli Michigan and Thirty-seventh IS'ew 
 York advanced in splendid style, driving 
 the enemy before them away from the fallen 
 timber, and out of the rifle-pits beyond. 
 Nearly all tlie field officers of the Fifth 
 IMichigan were wounded in the charge. 
 CoL Berry was slightly wounded, but he 
 still bravely urged on his command. Lieut.- 
 C^ol. Beach, who had won honors on the 
 field in Mexico, sustained his ciiaracter of a 
 galhint officer, and was wounded in the 
 
THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG H. 41 
 
 tliigli. Tlie fire of our artillery, and of our 
 Western troops, was accurate. In one of 
 the rifle-pits, sixty-three dead rebels were 
 counted, most of them shot through the 
 head. The dead and dvinG: were Ivinc: all 
 
 I/O «/ ~ 
 
 around. The Fifth Michigan regiment held 
 possession of this rifle-pit, and turned to 
 good account the advanced position it had 
 gained. Capt. Smith, Gen. Berry's Assist- 
 ant-Adjutant-General, displayed great gal- 
 lantry under heavy firing, and led the wing 
 of the Fiftli Michigan in the charge. Still 
 the enemy was pressing forward on the 
 centre, where our almost abandoned battery 
 was fast in the mud. In the meantime, 
 Capt. Smith had placed his battery in 
 echelon on a knoll to the right of the road, 
 and when the rebels came down from Fort 
 Magruder to take his comrades' cannon, he 
 met them with a raking fire, which pre- 
 vented their capture. At the same time. 
 Gen. Kearney (since killed at Chantilly), 
 perceiving this movement of the enemy, 
 ordered two companies of the Second Michi- 
 gan to charge on the rebels, who were now 
 6* 
 
42 THE BATTLE OF WILLTAMSBUKGH. 
 
 crowding on our pieces. This charge was 
 conducted in the mo-st gallant manner, and 
 the enemy was once more driven Lack oA'ei* 
 the felled timber. The Third and Fourth 
 Maine regiments, having been detached from 
 Gen. Birney's Brigade and temporarily as- 
 signed to Gen. Emory's, Gen. Birney came 
 forward with the two remaining regiments, 
 the Thirty-eighth I^ew York, Cob J. H. 
 Ilobart AYard, and the Fortieth IN'ew York, 
 Col. Eiley. These were deployed to tlie 
 right of the Hampton road, and, like those 
 under Gen. Berry, on the left, relieved frag- 
 ments of regiments which had borne tlie 
 brunt of the battle ever since the commence- 
 ment in the morning. All this time the 
 rebel artiUery Avas sending a rapid fire into 
 our ranks. The thirty-eighth iSTew York 
 regiment v/as ordered to charge down the 
 road, and take the riile pits in front by the 
 flank. Col. Ward, in the; most martial man- 
 ner, led seven companies of his regiment in 
 the most brilliant and successful charge 
 the other three companies, under Lieut. Col. 
 Strong;, were duini;' efficient service in an 
 
THE BATFLE OL' WILLI AMSUUKGH. 43 
 
 adjacent i^art of the Held. The charge of 
 Cul. Ward's regiment was a splendid iiiove- 
 ment ; they rushed forward, putting the 
 enemy to flight again across the fallen tim- 
 ber. The personal conduct of Coh Ward, 
 wdiose martial bearing on the field was re- 
 marked by all who saw him, could have bad 
 no otlier effect than to infuse military ardor 
 into all the soldiers near him. General 
 Kearney, who was in one of the most ex- 
 posed positions in the front, and who spoke 
 and moved with great rapidity, observing 
 the advantage to be gained at this import- 
 ant moment, immediately ordered the left 
 wing of the Fortieth Kew York, Col. Riley, 
 to follow the Thirty-eighth in the charge over 
 the open space, and dash into the enemy's 
 rear. The Col. being valiantly engaged in 
 front with the right wing of his regiment, 
 this cliarge of the left wing was led in the 
 most intrepid manner by Capt. Mindle^ 
 chief of Gen. Birney's staff. 
 
 The enemy was successfully driven back, 
 their artillery silenced, and the contest vir- 
 tually closed in that portion of the field. 
 
4-1 THE BAITLE OF WILLIA^ISBUKGn. 
 
 In the nieantime, tiie operations had ex- 
 tended farther to the riglit. Gen. Peck's 
 coiinnand, of Vv-hich mention has been pre- 
 viously made, -was brought into action hite 
 in the afternoon, and near the point Avliere 
 the YorktoAvn road opened upon tlie space 
 in front. The One Hundred and Second 
 Pennsylvania regiment, Col. Polly, was de- 
 ployed to the right of the road, and the 
 Fifty-fifth Is ew York, Col. de Trobriand, to 
 the left. This was the time of the general 
 movement along the whole line; and when 
 the enemy v»'as attempting to carry off Capt. 
 Weber's guns, the Fifty-fifth was dispatched 
 to the left, with instructions to prevent that 
 movement, but reached the spot too late to 
 accomplish the intended object. However, 
 those regiments, and the Sixty-second Penn., 
 Col. Piker, engaged the enemy till their 
 annnunition was expended. The Ninety- 
 tliird Pennsylvania, Col. McCarty, was 
 thrown in front, and contested the ground 
 ■Sv^ith the rebels until they appeared in larger 
 force to the right again, in front of Col. 
 Kelly's regiment. It was now quite doubt- 
 
THE BATTLE OF WILLI AMSBURGH. 4i> 
 
 ful whetlier Gen. Peck could hold his posi- 
 tion there. The JSTinety-eighth Pennsyl- 
 vania, Col. Balliere, was ordered forward; 
 but some of the companies manifested symp- 
 toms of disorder, — while the rebels were 
 gaining ground — but was placed in position 
 notwithstanding, and before night closed 
 upon the conflict, the brigade had partially 
 succeeded in driving back the enemy. The 
 supply of ammunition in the cartridge 
 boxes having been expended, the brigade 
 was relieved by other troops, which were 
 placed under command of Gen. Devin, on 
 the right, and Gen. Keim, on the left. Gen. 
 Keim, of Pennsylvania, of Gen. Casey's divi- 
 sion, was engaged actively in the battle, 
 rising from a sick couch to take part there- 
 in. He was complimented by Gen. McClel- 
 lan for the services he rendered in rescuing 
 Gen. Peck's brigade when in great danger. 
 Gen. Keim's death was caused by the ex- 
 posure he suffered at this battle. 
 
 The battle had now raged from early 
 morn till near night. By the superior in- 
 trepidity of our troops, the vigorous attacks 
 
40 THE BATTLE OF WILLlAMSBURftH. 
 
 of the enemy had been repulsed, and the 
 last grand advance along the line had been 
 handsomely repelled by Gen. Kearney's 
 troops. The enemy tried to turn our left, 
 but had failed, and the subsequent advances 
 gradually extended from left to right. The 
 rain was still descending, as it had been all 
 day. Gen. Ilancock's brigade, previously 
 placed on our right, remained in the position 
 it took up when it crossed the dam, and oc- 
 cupied some of the evacuated earthworks 
 earlier in the afternoon. Exj^ected rein- 
 forcements not coming up in time, it was 
 deemed more proper that the brigade should 
 fall back from the advanced position it had 
 gained, to the one occuj^ied at first, imme- 
 diately after crossing the dam. Being occa- 
 sionally engaged with the enemy, however, 
 in order to avoid the bad effect which a 
 retrograde movement might cause, it held 
 the position, keeping skirmishers deployed 
 in front. The fire near Fort Magruder, to 
 the left, had now almost subsided, and rebel 
 troops were observed moving in different 
 directions. A force of the enemy's infantry 
 
THE BAITLE OF WILLI AMSBLTlGn. 47 
 
 filled a work which had remained unoc- 
 cupied, and a body of their cavalry assem- 
 bled on the plateau, apparently with a view 
 of charging on the battery. A vigorous 
 attack on the right made Gen. Hancock 
 apprehensive that his position might be 
 turned, and be cut off from an opportunity 
 of retreating, if he should find it necessary, 
 across the dam. His brigade fell back in 
 line of battle, followed by the rebels firing 
 and cheering as they came; our artillery 
 was also brought back, piece by piece, the 
 last gun firing a few rounds of canister at 
 the advancing enemy. As soon as the ar- 
 tillery was safe, the Fifth Wisconsin regi- 
 ment, on the right, was ordered to retire in 
 the same manner as the others, disputing 
 the ground as it retreated. Another line 
 was being formed on either side of the re- 
 doubt by our retiring regiments. The 
 enemy was pressing them so hard, that 
 when the Fifth Wisconsin regiment had 
 reached the second line, followed by the 
 Fifth :N'orth Carolina, shouting, '' Bull Kun, 
 Ball's Bluft'," it was immediately formed to 
 
4:S THE BATTLE OF WILLTAMSLL'KGH. 
 
 the right and left of the redoubt. The 
 rebels were now within some forty yards, 
 and Gen. Hancock ordered an immediate 
 advance of his entire line. This, it will be 
 remembered, was composed of the principal 
 portions of the Fifth Wisconsin regiment, 
 Sixth and Seventh Maine, Thirty-third New- 
 York, and Forty-ninth Pennsylvania regi- 
 ments, in all about two thousand five hun- 
 dred men. These regiments went forward 
 with alacrity, and as they came close to the 
 enemy delivered a few volleys. Then Gen. 
 Hancock gave the command, " Gentlemen, 
 charge." And his gallant men, with tre- 
 mendous cheers, dashed down the slope. 
 The enthusiastic spirit of the men seemed to 
 be sufficient to frighten the opposing force, 
 which was said by prisoners to be Gen. 
 Early's brigade, and, with the exception of 
 three resolute rebels who stood to receive 
 the bayonets, the line broke and the rebels 
 ran. Pursuing them down tlie slope. Gen. 
 Hancock's comniand halted, and iired ten or 
 eleven volleys at tliem, and also at another 
 rebel force wliicli was observed advancing 
 
THE BAITLE OF WILLIAMSBURaH. 49 
 
 to support the first. When the smoke 
 cleared up, the ground was thickly covered 
 with dead and dying rebels. The loss of 
 the enemy, at this time, was great. The 
 Fifth North Carolina regiment was almost 
 annihilated : the Twenty-fourth Virginia, 
 and other regiments, lost many officers. 
 Gen. Early was wounded, and several 
 Colonels killed. 
 
 The prisoners we captured said, that, be- 
 fore they went into action, Gen. Hill made 
 a brief address to the rebel troops, in which 
 he told them that we had better arras ; that 
 tlie conflict would be close ; that he knew 
 they were equal to the task, and that they 
 must walk in and give us the cold steel. 
 Then Gen. Early asked them, if they were 
 ready to take that battery ; and they re- 
 plied that they would try it. They did try 
 it ; but instead of giving us the cold steel, 
 they themselves fled at the sight of it. Gen. 
 McClellan arrived with heavy reinforce- 
 ments at the scene of action on the right, 
 ■'iist about the time Gen. Hancock's com- 
 laand made the final charge : he was loudly 
 5 
 
50 THE BATTLE OF WILLTAMSBUEGH. 
 
 clieered as lie passed, and his presence on 
 the field created the most urshoundod en- 
 thusiasm among his troops. 
 
 Gen. Hancock's loss, in the operations of 
 the day, including this charge, was nine 
 killed, ninety-five wounded, and thirty 
 missing. That was about the concluding 
 act of the engagement, and when night 
 closed npon the final scene, our troops, all 
 along the line, soundly slept on the field 
 they had so bravely won. 
 
 This battle w^as a series of charges on 
 either side, from the left to the right of the 
 line, from the commencement of the action 
 to its close ; but, as the ground was covered 
 with felled timber, it w^as difficult to 
 manoeuvre speedily in any place except on 
 the right, where the advantage of position 
 gave Gen. Hancock an excellent opportu- 
 nity to charge. No battle was ever fought 
 with greater determination on both sides. 
 The repeated attempts to turn our left, were 
 successfully repnlscd each time in the most 
 gallant manner, and history does not fur- 
 nish instances of greater individual valor 
 
THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURGH. 51 
 
 tlian was displayed on that memorable 
 field. 
 
 On tlie day subsequent to the battle, the 
 dead were lying so thickly on the ground 
 that, in some places, it was necessary either 
 to pick your way or step on the body of 
 some dead or womided soldier half-buried in 
 the mud. Several rebel Indians were found 
 dead on the field. Our loss was over two 
 thousand in killed, wounded, and missing. 
 It was impossible to tell precisely what loss 
 the enemy had sustained, but from the num- 
 ber of killed and wounded left behind, and 
 other evidences, their loss was believed to 
 be fully equal to ours. Gen. Heintzelman 
 acted with a coolness and courage, when 
 surrounded by danger, which attest his 
 merits as an accomplished soldier. 
 
 Gen. Hooker opened the attack, and held 
 successfully the ground with his division, 
 against overwhelming numbers, until the 
 arrival of Gen. Kearney's troops late in the 
 afternoon. He was in immediate command, 
 ^vliere the fighting was, during the greater 
 
52 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURGH. 
 
 portion of the day, and, with great energy 
 an.d skill, fonght the rebel forces under Gen. 
 eToseph E. Johnston, the ablest of all the 
 rebel generals. 
 
 It is an interesting incident that Gen. 
 Hooker and Gen. Johnston, who confronted 
 each otlier on that occasion, were old friends 
 — fought side by side, for the American 
 cause, in all the battles which took place in 
 Mexico, and entered Chepultepec together. 
 Gen. Hooker has shown himself not oiily a 
 gentleman but an able officer also. 
 
 Gen. Kearney's activity is surpassed only 
 by his intrepidity. His conduct in the bat- 
 tle was of an inspiring character, and was 
 often in the most exposed positions ; once, 
 with Gen. Jameson, down in front of Fort 
 Magruder — it was somewhat surprising tluit 
 lie escaped with his life. One of our officers 
 met, in the hospital, a college companion, a 
 Yirginian, who was on the rebel side, and 
 wounded in the fight. He said that he and 
 others had, several times, taken deliberate 
 aim at that " man with the one arm'' — 
 
THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUKGH. 53 
 
 meaning Gen. Kearney, avIio had lost his arm 
 while leading a charge during the war with 
 Mexico. 
 
 But now he is gone, his battles are o'er ; 
 Hi^ deeds wo remember, his loss we deplore ; 
 He is gone to his home, his Captain to see, 
 Where fighting's unknown, and all is victory. 
 
 Other generals, who commanded brigades, 
 conducted themselves with scarcely less 
 bravery and valor. The Staff officers, in 
 every instance, rendered valuable services 
 to the cause on this occasion. All exhibited 
 activity, and those who were under a heavy 
 fire showed great gallantry. Gen. Kearney's 
 Chief of Staff, Capt. James M. Wilson, was 
 killed while putting in execution the desire 
 for a general onset, falling within the ene- 
 my's lines ; and Lieut. "William C. Bernard, 
 one of his aids, late of West Point, lost his 
 life towards the close of the engagement, hav- 
 ing previously had a horse shot under him. 
 With scarcely an exception, officers of the 
 Field and Line behaved in the bravest man- 
 ner, while among the file there were thou- 
 sands of instances of individual prowess 
 
54 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUEGH. 
 
 wliich may never be widely known. All 
 conducted themselves commendably, and 
 tliongli they may not see their names in his- 
 tory, yet will feel conscious that they have 
 done their duty. 
 
 The contest throughout was of the fiercest 
 character : one or two examples will serve 
 as illustrations. After the action, a friend 
 and foe were found, each tightly clutching 
 his rifle, each having the other's bayonet in 
 his body, and both dead on the ground. 
 One of our Lieutenants, w^ho was killed, had 
 run his sw^ord through a rebel, and was 
 cleaving the skull of another, when he was 
 killed by a bullet from the enemy. The 
 Thirty-eighth New York, and the Four- 
 teenth Louisiana regiments, which first con- 
 fronted each other at Bull Run, met again 
 on this occasion. The one was opposed to 
 the other in the fight. At the battle of 
 Bull Run, some of the Thirty-eighth N"ew 
 York were taken prisoners, and were guard- 
 ed in prison, at Richmond, by the Four- 
 teenth Louisiana. At tlie battle of Wil- 
 liamsburgh, some of the Fourteenth were 
 
THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURGII. 00 
 
 taken prisoners by the Thirty-eighth. Tlie 
 tables had now been completely turned, for 
 familiar faces were recognized again, and it 
 was found that some of our men wdio had 
 been guarded by rebels, were now guarding 
 rebels themselves. But it would be useless 
 to prolong the narrative ; it will suffice for 
 the end — that the battle of Willianisburgli 
 w^as one of the most sanguinary engage- 
 ments of the war. Gen. Hooker's loss was 
 in the ratio of one iu six, which is a propor- 
 tionate loss of that of the allied armies at 
 the battle of Alma, in 1854-. ISTo other bat- 
 tle, in the recent European wars, compares 
 with it. The bloodiest battle in Xapoteon's 
 career, if I mistake not, was that of Wag- 
 ram, where the loss was one in eight. Our 
 regiments, engaged at the battle of Williams- 
 burgh, were small in numbers, for the rea- 
 son that, when they were urged on, some 
 were found physically unable to keep up on 
 the double-quick, and therefore dropped out 
 of the ranks exhausted before the regiments 
 readied the field of action. The force op- 
 posed to ours was said to be thirty thousand. 
 
56 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBTIRGH. 
 
 We had prisoners taken in the fight, who 
 represented forty different regiments. All 
 the Union regiments, who participated in 
 the battle, have " Williamsbnrgh" inscribed 
 upon their banners. 
 
 Dr. Franklin Kidgeway, Assistant Sur- 
 geon of the Fourth Excelsior regiment, was 
 on the field throughout the fight, attending 
 to the wounded, besides having his horse 
 shot under him, but remained on the field 
 notwithstanding. He was riding near Gen. 
 Hooker when the horse of the General was 
 shot down, and was the first to assist him in 
 rising. While dressing the shattered ancle 
 of one of the men, a shell took the top of the 
 man's head off. At one period of the action, 
 the rebels made a desperate charge upon 
 the battery on the right, and fearing its cap- 
 ture. Dr. Ridgeway rode up to the battery, 
 and, dismounting, continued to assist in 
 working the guns until the rebels were 
 driven off. He was highly complimented 
 for the gallantry displayed by him on the 
 field. 
 
 The l^ational colors were first raised on 
 
TIIK BATTLE OF WTLLIAMSBURGTT. 57 
 
 the walls of Yorktowii by the Standard- 
 bearer of the Fourth regiment, in Trhich Dr. 
 Ridgeway assisted. After the battle, our 
 troops were disposed along the whole line, 
 and pickets were placed in front. Scouts 
 were sent out to observe the movements of 
 the enemy. 
 
 An hour or more after midnight, Sergeant 
 Green, from the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania 
 Volunteers, reported to Gen. Jameson, and 
 he to Gen. Kearney, that the enemy was 
 evacuating their position in front of the re- 
 cent scene of action. He was sent out 
 again, and in two hours returned with a 
 corroboration of his previous statement. At 
 dawn. Gen. Jameson, with two companies 
 of the One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania 
 regiment, was sent to reconnoitre, and, with 
 a detachment of a dozen men under Lieut. 
 Gilbert, entered Fort Magruder, which was 
 found to be deserted. He was the first to 
 take possession of the rebel fortifications at 
 Yorktown, and also the first to enter the 
 works at Williamsburgh. He then advanced 
 with his whole line, supported by artillery. 
 
58 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUROH. 
 
 Tlie rear- Canard of the enemy was iiist de- 
 parting as he entered Willi amsbnrgh. The 
 town itself was almost deserted. Deserters, 
 stragglers, and sick and w^ounded rebels, 
 to the number of nearly six hundred, were 
 found in the streets and suburbs, in hospitals 
 and private houses. Gen. Jameson was 
 marching on with his brigade, when he was 
 instructed, by the General commanding, to 
 encamp just outside the town. If tins re- 
 treat of the rebels had been followed up, 
 w^e, probably, should not have been com- 
 pelled to retreat from^ Malvern Hill to Har- 
 rison's Landing. Gen. Jameson was made 
 Military Governor of "VVilliamsburo^h. 
 
 Thus, after a signal discomfiture, the 
 enemy evacuated his strong position also,* 
 and pushed his retreating columns along the 
 picturesque Peninsula. 
 
 I shall not attempt to give the names oi 
 the killed and w^ounded at this battle, but 
 will merely mention the number in each 
 division engaged on the Union side. Gen. 
 Hooker had four hundred and three killed, 
 nine hundred and eighty-seven wounded, 
 
THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBUIiGH. 59 
 
 and l^lirec Imndred and seventeen missing ; 
 making a total of one thousand seven Imn- 
 dred and seven. Gen. Kearney's division 
 had eighty-seven killed, three hundred and 
 fourteen wounded, and seventeen missmg ; 
 total, four hundred and eio-hteen. Gen. 
 Couch's division lost nineteen killed, eighty- 
 five wounded, and twenty-four missing ; 
 total, one Imndred and twenty-eight. Gen. 
 Hancock's brigade had nine killed, ninety- 
 five wounded, and thirty missing ; total, 
 one hundred and thirty four. J^Iaking in 
 all, five Imndred and eighteen killed, one 
 thousand four hundred and eighty-one 
 wounded, and three hundred and eighty- 
 eight missing : or, a grand total of two 
 thousand three hundred and eighty-seven 
 killed, wounded, and missing. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 After the battle of William sburgh, it 
 was deemed expedient to despatcli the 
 wounded to the various hospitals, for which 
 purpose thej were sent in ambulances to 
 Queen's Creek, and from thence were sent 
 by steamboat to Fort Monroe. 
 
 While we were being placed on board, 
 the cook in the kitchen was busy preparing 
 some refreshments for the wounded passen- 
 gers. Shortly the Captain came to me with 
 a cup of coffee, which I partook of with 
 great eagerness, after which I was removed 
 to another part of the boat. In short, I was 
 highly honored by the presence of Col. 
 Small, who was placed by my side, and we 
 immediately fell into conversation. The 
 Colonel asked where I was wounded ; I 
 told him, in the leg and arm. lie said that 
 he was wounded in the leg, but it would 
 6 
 
62 APPENDIX. 
 
 not be very serious ; and also told me, that 
 he had been wounded in the Mexican war. 
 From Col. Small I gathered some informa- 
 tion concerning the battle in which we had 
 just been engaged. The Colonel is a very- 
 compassionate man, and cares more for 
 others than for himself. He gave me an 
 opium pill, saying, that it would make me 
 sleep, and thereby would case my pain ; 
 and said that he always carried medicine 
 with him in battle. 
 
 The officers belonging to the boat seemed 
 very much interested in Col. Small, and 
 occasionally would bring him a cup of ruby 
 wine, which he cherished as a dear friend. 
 I expected every moment to become the 
 recipient of a glass of the stimulating bever- 
 age, but there were none who cared for the 
 little corporal, save the Colonel ; and I 
 thought if I only had shoulder straps, how 
 I should then be looked upon as somebody. 
 But it was too late ; I was about to become 
 a cripple for life, and nmst say good bye to 
 Buch marks of distinction. 
 
 There are some who, when they leave the 
 
APPENDIX. 63 
 
 service, boast tliat tliey never desired to 
 wear the badge of a commissioned officer. 
 Such men, I say, never had any merits of 
 their own whereby they could become offi- 
 cers ; and I knew an individual who, at a 
 public meeting, in l^ew York, thanked Pro- 
 vidence that he was only a private soldier. 
 That man, from the account which he gave 
 of himself, never bore a good reputation 
 while in his regiment, nor had he any merits 
 whereby he could obtain shoulder straps. 
 But I am wandering from my intended 
 subject. 
 
 On the third day after the battle, I be- 
 came an inmate of the hospital of Fort 
 Monroe, and while there was very kindly 
 cared for. My wounds were carefully 
 dressed, my linen changed, and I was made 
 the recipient of a very nice cup of tea and 
 toast preparatory to going to bed. Of the 
 latter, I had an excellent one ; and on either 
 side was a secesh, both ISTorth Carolinians. 
 These men were groaning nearly the whole 
 time, and I was therefore obliged to pass 
 several sleepless nights, by being thus sur- 
 
64: APPENDIX. 
 
 roimcled by the enemies of my coimtry. 
 One of these, who was on my right, had his 
 leg amputated : the other, in justice to him, 
 was a good looking fellow, and one whom 
 any of our Yankee ladies might desire for a 
 husband. He was w^ounded in the spine, 
 and the doctors, in searching for the bullet, 
 had made a terrible gash in the man's thigh, 
 much larger than that inflicted by the bid- 
 lets of Union soldiers. This rebel told me 
 that he was about to be married, w^hen he 
 w^as called upon to serve in the rebel army, 
 and on which account he deferred the mar- 
 riage nntil " this cruel w^ar would be over." 
 Bidy alas ! the ill-fated missile had done its 
 w^ork, the doctors had done theirs, and the 
 poor youug man "shuffled off this mortal 
 coil." 
 
 1 was conversing wdth him one morning 
 about his sweetheart, — for I ahvays took a 
 partlcuhir interest in that subject — and, 
 growing somew^hat tired of conversing, I fell 
 asleep. I liad not, however, slept more than 
 fifteen minutes, wdien 1 awoke, and behold ! 
 my companion had fled ; the bright youth 
 
APPENDIX. 65 
 
 took his departure for another world — the 
 lover was no more ; his soul had taken its 
 flight to the land of spirits. Death had laid 
 his icy hand upon him, and grasped in its 
 cold embrace his lifeless form. The othei 
 still lingered, complaining now that his toes 
 pained him, while those same toes were 
 either buried in the cold earth, or pickled in 
 the doctor's surgery. But, notwithstanding, 
 his toes did pain him, for he felt them 
 throusjh imasfination ; the nerves were still 
 there, and, if I am not mistaken, he feels 
 them still ; if so, I can sympathize with him, 
 for I feel my fingers, though they are buried 
 in the city of New York. 
 
 May '^\8t. — I was put on . board the 
 steamer Kenebec for ISTew York, where I 
 arrived on the twenty-fourth. Happy was 
 I and my mangled comrades when we 
 learned that we were in sight of the Empire 
 City, and thrice happy when we beheld a 
 number of patriotic ladies and gentlemen 
 enter the boat, with many delicacies for 
 those wdio had fought and bled in their 
 6* 
 
66 APPENDIX. 
 
 country's defence, l^ever were viands more 
 acceptable than on that occasion. 
 
 On the morning of the 25th, the boat was 
 cleared of the wounded passengers, they 
 being sent to the different hospitals through- 
 out the city, and glad was I to liave the 
 good fortune to be accounted an inmate of 
 the Ladies' Home, which is situated on the 
 corner of Fifty-first street and Lexington 
 Avenue. I say fortune, for in the above 
 hospital I exchanged the rude treatment of 
 iron-handed war for the many comforts 
 which the Home then contained, together 
 with the tender care which the ladies are 
 ever ready to bestow. It was to me cni- 
 phatically a home, a name to which I had 
 long been a stranger ; when pain and sick- 
 ness sent their quivers through my emaci- 
 ated frame, the hand of the gentler sex was 
 there to soothe my fevered brow — there to 
 impart those sweet smiles and fond caresses 
 which woman alone is capable of imparting. 
 Dr. A. B. Mott, who has charge of the insti- 
 tution, is an able and efficient surgeon. 
 
APPENDIX. 67 
 
 The usual compliments, liowever, were 
 extended me, such as I had met with in the 
 former hospitals, namely, a collation of tea 
 and toast. In the evening I was furnished 
 with comfortable quarters, after a dreary 
 passage on board the Kenebec, and I now 
 felt secure from the evils which I had gone 
 through during the passage. 
 
 'Next morning I beheld a number of my 
 comrades who belonged to the same com- 
 pany, and who had arrived the day pre- 
 vious. They were glad to see me, and were 
 much surprised, when they found I was 
 alive, for my name had been in the daily 
 papers as among the killed. But no, I am 
 still alive, and with my remaining hand, 
 take pleasure in announcing that I am able 
 to pen these lines. 
 
 Here my wounds were carefully dressed, 
 and I was as comfortable as I could desire. 
 The worst, however, was yet to come. On 
 the 20tli of June — nearly four weeks after 
 my initiation to the hospital — my arm was 
 amputated by Dr. Mott, in the presence of 
 Drs. Crane, Peters, Kobie, and a number of 
 
68 APPENDIX. 
 
 others. 1 was taken completely by surprise, 
 until Dr. Mott said : " ISTow, Burns, I am 
 going to do something for you." But I was 
 well aware of what he w^as about to do, 
 when I saw the chloroform in the hand of 
 Dr. Robie, and by way of encouragement, 
 Dr. Crane said to Dr. Peters, " We are going 
 to reset the joint." The resection, however, 
 proved to be an amputation. 
 
 I made diligent inquiries of the officials 
 before the arm was taken off, as to whether 
 the doctors came to the conclusion to ampu- 
 tate it, but could not gain any definite in- 
 formation on that point. The questions, 
 however, were in due time solved. 
 
 I was taken out of the ward, where I had 
 been since my initiation to tlie hospital, and 
 carried up stairs by Drs. Eobie and "Walker, 
 who I pitied, because of the burden they 
 bore. They, however, said that I was no 
 incumbrance, and I w\as taken to Ward 4, 
 where I was placed close to the operating 
 rjom. Here I awaited my turn on a water 
 bed, which 1 did not like at first, but after- 
 wards was sorry to part with it. Dr. E. 
 
APPENDIX. 60 
 
 administered tlie cliloroform, which I did 
 not like, and pushed it away in disgust; 
 but there was no time to trifle — " do or die," 
 was the motto. 
 
 The cloth was held to my mcuth the 
 second time with more success than at first, 
 but was taken away before I became insen- 
 sible, and, feeling somewhat better, I told 
 the doctor I was not asleep. " Are you 
 not?" said the good-natured gentleman. 
 " [N'o," said I. '' Well, then, take some 
 more," he said. It was put to my mouth 
 the third time, when I became wholly in- 
 sensible, and was unable to tell the doctor 
 that I was asleep. I was then taken into 
 the operating-room, where the surgeon 
 severed from my body a worthy friend, and 
 one that had rendered good service for 
 twenty-three years. 
 
 Alas ! my friend, thou'rt gone and left me, 
 Thy absence to lament and mourn ; 
 
 But aid from God is not bereft me, 
 For he, to me, does help retm-n. 
 
 I felt much better next morning, after the 
 amputation, and now began to recover. 
 
TO APPENDIX. 
 
 My wounds were carefully dressed by Dr. 
 Hobie, whose presence, to me, was as good 
 as his medicine. He always went cheer- 
 fully about his work, which was accom- 
 panied with the well known ditties, " Annie 
 of the Yale," or " Fairy Belle." 
 
 There was another young man, who I 
 must not forget to speak of, and who used 
 to join in the chorus with the doctor. This 
 man was a very efficient nurse, and inter- 
 ested liimself in the welfare of the patients. 
 His name is Leonard, and after Dr. R. had 
 left on a visit to his friends, he took charge 
 of my arm. 
 
 Still another, whose name is Gould, who 
 was shot in the leg, and having his left arm 
 amputated on the field, was brought to this 
 hospital in a very weak condition. This 
 man w^as my 2:)articular friend ; he was also, 
 being an intelligent young man, a favorite 
 of the ladies, and who would smile in the 
 midst of pain. He is now, by his own re- 
 quest, discharged from the service, having 
 an artificial arm, and is, I understand, doing 
 well. 
 
APPENDIX. 71 
 
 Tbere were also five rebels in tliis hospital, 
 four being from JSTorth Carolina and one 
 from South Carolina. The Soutli Caro- 
 linian was a very intelligent man, but a 
 bitter enemy to our cause, and who had lost 
 his leg below the knee. With him I had 
 several controversies, but all to no use. His 
 name was Hanahan, whose brothers were 
 merchants, then living in Charleston, S. C, 
 and who owned quite a number of slaves. 
 
 On one occasion, Gen. Thomas Francis 
 Meagher came to see him, and introduced 
 his lady to the sergeant, for he was an orderly 
 in the rebel service. In him, also, the ladies 
 took a great interest. There was another, a 
 North Carolinian, who slept in the north- 
 east corner of the room. This man said 
 that he was conscripted into the rebel ranks, 
 being a resident of ISTewbern, and was en- 
 gaged to be married at the time, but had 
 heard that his adored was then wed to 
 another, which I am sure made him feel 
 sad, as he often talked about Iier. This 
 man had also lost a leg. 
 
 Oh ! cruel war, why didst thou sunder 
 
72 APPENDIX. 
 
 the cords of affection, wliicli bound this once 
 happy pair ! 
 
 I might truly say that he was loyal to the 
 Stars and Stripes, and he said he did not fire 
 a shot against us. He and the South Caro- 
 linian had many an argument concerning 
 the illegality of the rebellion, which proves 
 his loyalty to the Union cause. His name 
 was Gaskin. 
 
 There was another who was wounded in 
 the shoulder, and had much the same kind 
 of story to relate, excepting the marriage. 
 This man was also conscripted into the rebel 
 ranks, but refused to serve, and for which 
 he was condemned to be whipped, the 
 marks being quite visible on his back. Not 
 satisfied with this, they put him under a 
 pump, and while in that position, threatened 
 his life if he would not consent to serve. 
 So to save his and the lives of his family, 
 he at last complied. His name was Sexton, 
 and as an extension, we called him Grizzly 
 Bear, for he was all bone, and being six 
 feet three inches in stature, he appeared 
 almost a giant. His temperament, how- 
 
APPENDIX:. 73 
 
 erer, was very mild, and did not admit of 
 the savage appellation given liim, altliongh, 
 in one sense, lie acted like the one exhibited 
 in the well known Barnnm's Mnseum. He 
 would get up from his bed at night and 
 walk np and dowm the room for nearly an 
 lionr Yvithout stopping, and would after- 
 wards go to the latter and scratcli for nearly 
 another hour. He was also quite an eccen- 
 tric fellow, and would pass many lively 
 jokes among the patients, for which we 
 were very much attached to him. He had 
 a peculiar appetite for raw onions, saying 
 tliat they were fine things to make one 
 sleep. 
 
 Of the otlier two, I will not speak much, 
 they being of a sober disposition, and not 
 given to conversation. One, a lieutenant, 
 wlio belonged to the Eighteenth North 
 Carolina regiment, the other a private in 
 the same. The lieutenant had his slave, or 
 servant, as he called him, attending liim 
 while in the hospital. On one occasion he 
 was asked by one of the nurses, if he was in 
 need of anytliing. The answer was given 
 7 
 
74 APPENDIX. 
 
 in tlie negative, saying that his servant 
 would attend to him. 
 
 I mentioned that these men had not mucli 
 to say ; but the okl adage is, that " still 
 water runs deep." In short. Sambo became 
 ill of the Typhoid fever, of which he died 
 soon after, thus depriving the lieutenant of 
 his services. 
 
 These men were, afterwards, sent to tlie 
 realms of Davis & Co. The rebel officer, 
 however, was furnished with a new suit of 
 ■clothes by a kind secessionist of ^N'ew York, 
 who is well known to many in Third Avenue, 
 and especially to those who reside near the 
 corner of Fiftieth street. 
 
 June 2Sth, 1863. — I was transferred from 
 this hospital to the St. Joseph's, at Central 
 Park, being then a member of the Invalid, 
 now Yeteran Eeserve Corps. Here I was 
 very kindly treated by the Sisters who were 
 in charge of the Institution. Dr. Gouly, 
 however, was principal surgeon, a very aris- 
 tocratic gentleman, and a strict disciplina- 
 rian. I soon found I had work to perform, 
 and was placed in the capacity of Ward 
 
APPENDIX. 75 
 
 master, whicli office I held until mj removal 
 to ISTew Haven, Conn. 
 
 On one occasion, Dr. G. came to where I 
 was sitting playing chequers — which game 
 I was very fond of — and asked me if I had 
 nothing else to do, reprimanding me, at the 
 same time, for associating with privates. 
 He said, that there were several non-com- 
 missioned officers around the buildino; with 
 whom I might associate, and, at the same 
 time, he said, if I continued keeping com- 
 pany with my inferiors, that they would not 
 obey me. 
 
 I was transferred from this hospital, on the 
 20th day of August, to the Knight Hos- 
 2)ital, INfew Haven, Connecticut. This in- 
 stitution is conducted by Surgeon P. A. 
 Jewett, a very efficient person, and it is one 
 of the best in N^ew England. It contained, 
 at the time I became an inmate, about live 
 hundred and fifty patients, nearly all of 
 whom were convalescent. 
 
 Here I was a stranger for about three 
 weeks, when I became acquainted Avith some 
 very excellent ladies, who have shown, by 
 
76 APPENDIX. 
 
 their kindly offices, that they are soldiers' 
 friends. I wonld mention some of them, 
 hut in doing justice to a few, I might, by 
 implication, do injustice to many. Their 
 names, however, are inscribed on the tablets 
 of my memory. 
 
 A portion of the mirth-loving patients had 
 organized themselves into a band of min- 
 strels, doing ample justice to the negro 
 character, and who were a lively set of fel- 
 lows. I would mention, that the surgeon iu 
 charge was very fond of the eccentric. On 
 one occasion, he appointed four one-legged 
 men to run races in the yard attached to the 
 building, and the man who should win the 
 race was to receive one dollar. This created 
 quite a sensation among the cripples. The 
 race was run twice, the same man Avinning 
 both heats. The distance was five rods. 
 
 A German friend of mine said, that ho 
 would give ten dollars if this war was at an 
 cud. 1 asked him if he would not give 
 more, telling liim that I would give ten and 
 one-half. '' JSTo ;" said he, "I give it to 
 make Chef Davis as tight as ter tivel." I 
 
APPENDIX. 77 
 
 told him it would not take tliat much to 
 make him tight. " Oh, veil," said he, "I 
 give him some goot stuff; I make him 
 drmik on champagne." I think he ought 
 to be made drunk on " real pain." 
 
 A young lady, in visiting that hospital, 
 inquired for her brother ; but, when asked 
 his name, said she had quite forgotten it. 
 Suddenly she recollected that she had a 
 number of brothers, but had forgotten their 
 names also — a very treacherous memory, 
 
 Oct. St/i. — One of the inmates of the 
 guard-house being allowed to go outside, in 
 company with one of the guards, and said 
 guard, being anxious to peruse the morning 
 paper, left his prisoner to himself and step- 
 ped to one side. At an opportune moment, 
 however, knowing tliat he had been con- 
 fined long enough, prisoner made his escape 
 in triumph. 
 
 Oct. 9th. — ^The guard-hoTise contained 
 
 thirty-two inmates. Some of these were 
 
 confined for drunkenness, some for being 
 
 absent at roll-call, and others for going out 
 
 7* 
 
78 APPENDIX. 
 
 on French leave. Tlie prisoners confined 
 there did not seem to mind it much, as they 
 were amply provided for. One young 
 man, speaking ironically, said, this rebel- 
 lion would soon be ended if the public 
 only knew what good care is taken of 
 soldiers in hospitals, how the men would all 
 volunteer, and get wounded, for the sake of 
 getting there. 
 
 Oct. 10th, — The number of prisoners had 
 increased to thirty-nine. They enjoyed 
 themselves pretty well, notwithstanding tlie 
 small place allowed them for recreation, the 
 room being only twelve feet wide by twen- 
 ty long. 
 
 On this occasion there was quite a num- 
 ber of lady visitors, and, among other ob- 
 jects, tlie guard-house was the theatre ot 
 attraction, which the ladies went to see, ac- 
 companied by their soldier friends. After 
 exchanghig many words of sympathy for 
 the prisoners, the fair sex were ordered away 
 by one of the guards. 
 
 The men had a violin, and were enjoying 
 its thrilling notes, putting in practice the 
 
APPENDIX. 79 
 
 words of tlie poet, " Music liatli charms to 
 soothe a savage hreast." 
 
 I staid in this hospital until the 15th of 
 Oct., wlien I was transferred to Bedloe's 
 Island, New York. Before leaving, how- 
 ever, three cheers were given for Major 
 Jewett. 
 
 Arrived atBedloe's Island on the IGth of 
 Oct. Here we had very comfortable quar- 
 ters, and, I may say, safe ones too, as regards 
 running the guards or taking French leave ; 
 for we could obtain but a bird's-eye view^ of 
 the Empire City, and wished ourselves once 
 more on the soil of !N^ew Haven. In short, 
 I became a modern Bobinson Crusoe, only 
 
 I was not monarch of all I survej^ed, 
 My rights there were some to dispute ; 
 
 From the centre, all around to the sea, 
 Uncle Sam did those rights confute. 
 
 We were at liberty, however, to go all over 
 the Island, and through the Fort, which is 
 not a very formidable one, and, in my judg- 
 ment, could not resist a heavy storm, having 
 fifty -four guns for its defense. While at the 
 latter j)lace, I employed my time in writing, 
 
80 APPENDIX. 
 
 or rather, learning to write ! for, in the 
 former, I was not proficient. 
 
 I soon became accustomed to my new 
 abode, but desired a change, owing to the 
 too frequent visits of rats with which the 
 place aboPinds. These were very offensive, 
 and would often make very destructive raids 
 on our clothing and the faces of my room- 
 mates, often biting the latter, but being 
 good tacticians, they always retreated in 
 safety. Here I remained until the 28th of 
 I^ovember, when I was transferred to my 
 compan}^, it being stationed at David's 
 Island. But it was only jumping out of the 
 frying-pan into the fire, the change being in 
 no way a desirable one. 
 
 Of the latter place I will not say much, 
 nor recommend it to those who may be 
 placed in the same predicament, for I suf- 
 fered intensely with the cold. My stay here 
 was but short, and on the 1st of December, 
 was sent to Fort Schuyler, I^ew York 
 Harbor. 
 
 The hospital, at the latter, was conducted 
 by Dr. Webster, a very able and efficient 
 
APPENDIX, 81 
 
 surgeon. Here we had excellent quarters 
 provided. Our company occupied one of 
 the Wards or Barraclis intended for the 
 2)atients, of whom there were seven hun- 
 dred. 
 
 This hospital is divided irto three sections, 
 A. B. and C. Section A. having ten wards, 
 E, ten, and C, fourteen. Each ward could 
 accommodate about fifty patients. There 
 was a steward in charge of each section, and 
 nurses in charge of wards. A railroad was 
 Luilt around the hospital, by which the food 
 was sent to the different wards ; this was 
 roofed overhead, affording shelter from the 
 rain and snow. In the centre, and near 
 head-quarters, stands a neat little church, of 
 gothic architecture, in which service was 
 held every Sabbath. 
 
 In short, I was sent to the executive 
 office, where I made some proficiency in 
 writing. Mr. Chapman, who was chief 
 clerk, proposed that we should organize a 
 debating club of the clerks in tlie ofiice, 
 which was agreed to. It was therefore de- 
 cided that we should open our debate uu 
 
82 APPENDIX. 
 
 the following 'Wednesda}^ The subject pro- 
 posed for discussion was as follows : 
 
 " Resolved^ Tliat our forefathers had no 
 right to encroach upon the possessions of 
 the Eed Man." 
 
 Each debatee was to write out his sub- 
 ject. Our first discussion was held in the 
 office, the object being for our mutual im- 
 provement. I now give my debate or 
 affirmative side of the question, which I was 
 appointed to take. 
 
 JResolved^ That our forefathers had no 
 right to encroach upon the possessions of the 
 Kod Man. 
 
 Mr. President, — The question we are 
 about to discuss is one of imj^tortaiice — it 
 not only concerns those engaged in its dis- 
 cussion, but the community at large. It 
 remains for me to prove, sir, that our fore- 
 fathers had a right to deprive the red man 
 of the land wdiich he possessed, that they 
 might establish a government, which foun- 
 dation was to be built upon the principles 
 
APPENDIX. 83 
 
 of justice, liberty, and humanity. Tlicse, 
 Mr. President, should exclude all otlier 
 chiims. If the red man had held predomin- 
 ancy in the land, many of the millions who 
 now possess the light of the Gospel, might 
 have remained in ignorance. They would 
 not have known the use of the plough, the 
 spade, and the harrow. They would not 
 have known the first rudiments of husbandry. 
 In the main, civilization would not be hailed 
 with joy by the thousands who now possess 
 its gratifying influences. Was it not a duty, 
 sir, incumbent upon our predecessors, to 
 open the way for the progress of religion 
 and civilization, and while such obstacles 
 stood in the way of these, was it not neces- 
 sary that they should be eradicated ? We 
 all know that the savage loves his native 
 sliore ; we also know that he loves the 
 forest, wbere he may chase the wild deer — 
 these are his delights. Talk to him about 
 the cultivation of the soil — he knows noth- 
 ing about it. He would say, " give me my 
 own mountain home, and I care not for the 
 pursuits which you may teach me, since 
 
81: APPENDIX. 
 
 they tend to deprive the Indian of the liap- 
 piiiess which he was wont to enjoy from his 
 Youtli. "We cannot abide in your populated 
 towns and vilhiges ; we prefer onr wig- 
 wams." They prefer the lower caste while 
 we prefer the higher. " AYe are averse to 
 your mode of living; in tTutli, vre are averse 
 to civilized life, and things pertaining to it. 
 Our tools are the tomahawk, the hatchet, 
 aiui the scalping-knife — with these we will 
 live, with these we will die." ''But," say 
 our forefathers, " in lieu of the things which 
 you say we deprive you of, we offer those 
 that are niore essential ; if you accept them, 
 tiiey are free ; then you will be equal with 
 us ; if not, then must we establish them. 
 You are averse to civilization, since you do 
 not know the value of it ; nor will we allow 
 barbarism to stand in the way cf the lat- 
 ter." 
 
 Civilization, Mr. President, must be 
 foremost in the ranks of nations, for it is that 
 which makes nations what tliey are. Do 
 we not see it verified every year ? If there 
 is anything which prevents it, then must it 
 
APPENDIX. 85 
 
 also prevent the one thing needful, namely, 
 the spread of the Gospel. 
 
 Our forefathers knew this, and to estab- 
 lish the latter, they must necessarily eradi- 
 cate the first. I ask, was it not essential ? 
 The command was given, " go ye into all 
 the world and preach the Gospel to every 
 creature," and in going forth on such a holy 
 mission, did our forefathers expect to meet 
 with no opposition — were there no obstacles 
 in the w^ay ? if there were any, then was it 
 a duty to remove them ? 
 
 iS"© doubt, Mr. President, there were some 
 among our predecessors, to whom that com- 
 mand was given ; and to proclaim such glad 
 tidings, it was incumbent upon them to use 
 every means in their power, especially when 
 the savage was opposed to that which per- 
 tained unto his temporal and spiritual in- 
 terests. 
 
 '' Ask of me and I will give thee the 
 heathen for thine inheritance, and the utter- 
 most parts of the earth for thy possession." 
 Thus it was necessary for our forefathers to 
 possess the land of the red man. 
 8 
 
86 APPENDIX. 
 
 The celebrated Ilariot, in 1585 — ninety- 
 three years after America's discovery — wrote 
 an account of ISTorth America, and to prove 
 the richness of the soil, had introduced to 
 Europe three productions, which were of 
 immense consequence. The potato^, tlie 
 Indian corn, and tobacco. This insured a 
 renewal of the enterprise the following year. 
 It was attempted, but was in a measure a 
 failure, because they did not use force 
 enough. Thus, Bancroft, another celebrated 
 historian, says the stimulus of private pro- 
 perty has always been found not to be 
 spared, when it hinders the production of 
 industry and wealth. 
 
 Our forefathers were well aware of this^ 
 and to promote the interest of civilization 
 and religion, they took the possessions of the 
 red man. Their better judgment taught 
 them that he had no rights that the white 
 man was bound to respect ; that he followed 
 no industrial pursuits that the white man 
 might envy. On the other hand, there was 
 no beauty in him that he should be desired — 
 all was desolation. It seemed, sir, that the 
 
APPENDIX. 87 
 
 hand of Providence had worked out this 
 scheme, and through his will it Avas con- 
 cocted. That scheme, if I may so call it, 
 has been a triumphant one ; millions have 
 realized the desirableness of it. Through it 
 the Gospel sound is heard in the dark places 
 of the earth. Industry and agriculture have 
 been taught to many benighted lands. Tlie 
 country we have taken possession of, has 
 proved a happy boon to thousands. It is 
 the mart where all nations may bring theij 
 produce, where their rights will be re- 
 spected, where they can live peaceably 
 and happy under one glorious banner of 
 liberty. 
 
 It seems, Mr. President, that this land was 
 reserved for the purposes set forth. Tlirongli 
 its possession, we have been enabled to dis- 
 pense, with a willing hand, many comforts 
 to the starving inhabitants of Europe. I 
 care not, sir, what my opponent may say to 
 the contrary, he cannot, without proving 
 that black is white, prove that our fore- 
 fiithers had no right to possess the land of 
 the red man. 
 
05 ArPENDIX. 
 
 What rig-bt bad be to show that it was bis, 
 and from wbom did be receive bis patent ? 
 lie bad none, nor did be know of any ; tbe 
 wbite man taught bim that, after be bad 
 gained possession. They understood not 
 right or wa-ong, for bow could tbey know 
 tbe difference, tbey were never taught it ? 
 I^eitber does a wolf know of a wrono^ done 
 tbe farmer, after it has devoured bis lamb. 
 Xor does the red man know, by bis aversion 
 to civilization and religion, that be is doing 
 a fatal injury to mankind ; be is not at all 
 aware of it. Thus be must be taught, and 
 to teach bim, you must wdiip bim, as the 
 schoolmaster whips the obstinate sclioolboy ; 
 being bis superior, be knows what is best 
 for him. 
 
 And, sir, having particularized tbe many 
 blessings which have arisen from tbe pos- 
 sessions of tbe red man, I may safely expect 
 that you will decide in favor of tbe affirma- 
 tive. I have endeavored to prove that bar- 
 barism batli no abiding place with civiliza- 
 tion ; and to establish tbe one, you must 
 necessarily eradicate tbe other. They can- 
 
APPENDIX. 89 
 
 not live peaceably together, for they are 
 enemies. 
 
 Thus, Mr. President, I have attempted to 
 show that om* predecessors were justified in 
 taking the affirmative side of the question. 
 If they were here, I should then produce 
 the livino^ witnesses ; but thouo-h they are 
 not present in body, yet their spirit is always 
 before us. A noble republic, which they 
 have formed upon this once barren waste, 
 remains as a witness. The pilgrims, who 
 poured out their supplications on Plymouth 
 rock, remain as witnesses. Our latest 
 voyagers, in trying to explore some new 
 land, that they inight phant the flag of 
 liberty on its soil, and be accounted a colony 
 of the young republic, they also remain 
 witnesses. 
 
 What I have said, Mr. President, may 
 suffice. I will therefore trust to your good 
 judgment for a decision in favor of the 
 affirmative. 
 
90 APPENDIX. 
 
 Debate second. 
 
 Resolved^ That the desire of fame is a 
 greater stimulant to exertion than that of 
 wealtli 
 
 Mr. President, — ^The subject proposed for 
 discussion is certainly an important one — 
 one that has interested all nations, and still 
 continues to stimulate the public mind to an 
 exertion of that much to be desired object — 
 " fame." 
 
 Fame, Mr. President, stimulates to exer- 
 tion in various ways. The rich and the 
 poor, the king and the lowest subject, are 
 desirous of possessing it. His sovereign 
 majesty's desire is to gain the good opinion 
 of his subjects, to make wise and equable 
 laws for the governing of his kingdom, and 
 if war should be declared, he puts his king- 
 dom in a state of defence, that he may 
 defeat his enemies, and thereby establish his 
 reputation. That is his desire. It is not 
 wealth, not gold, for he has these at his 
 command, but desires to hold the sceptre, 
 that it may not be given to another. 
 
APPENDIX. 91 
 
 Fame, then, is the object sought and at- 
 tained. Education may be an object aimed 
 at, through which man may gain a reputa- 
 tion. He may become wealthy by the pos- 
 session of it. When I say wealthy, I mean 
 as regards this world's goods, riches, what 
 men term a sufficient amount of property. 
 To be able to pay your rent when the land- 
 lord pays you a visit. To meet the demands 
 of your better half when she wants a new 
 sett of crinoline. To be able to purchase a 
 cradle for the baby, and a pair of shoes when 
 it becomes old enough to wear them. In 
 short, to meet the demands of the domestic 
 circle, and when having supplied all these, 
 you will be deemed wealthy. But I ask, is 
 this fame ? True, you are going in a direct 
 line for the possession of it, that is one way. 
 The baby will strut about the room exhi])it- 
 ing its new shoes ; you have created within 
 it a desire to become something more than 
 a baby. It is the desire of fame immaturely 
 developed in that young mind. The madam, 
 to exhibit your affluence, puts on a larger 
 sett of crinoline, or displays her costly orna- 
 
92 APPENDIX. 
 
 ments to the world, that she may establish 
 a reputation, that she may be thought 
 famous. Thus, I have attempted to show 
 that the desire of fame stimulates to exer- 
 tion in various ways, while the desire of 
 wealth is only secondary to the procurement 
 of the other. 
 
 To strike the nail on tlie head the blow 
 must be square, then you will send it home 
 without knocking the head off. That is our 
 intention, and it is also the intention of the 
 world. Some are striking one way, some 
 another, but their sole object is to drive it 
 home. One man uses a wooden mallet, 
 another the hammer ; thus it is with all, they 
 are trying to promote their interests in some 
 way, while their only desire is to strike the 
 one object, and that is fame. 
 
 Fame ! thou brighter gem ! Princes of the 
 earth h ave sought thee, casting their crowns 
 at thy feet ; they would fain possess thee. 
 
 King Richard would have given his king- 
 dom rather than lose the battle, that he 
 might hold his reputation, and cried out, 
 midst the roar of cannon, " A horse ! a 
 
APPENDIX. 93 
 
 liorse ! My kingdom for a horse ! I" He 
 knew what fame meant, yes ; lie would have 
 been satisfied with a jackass. 
 
 Shakspeare knew what fame meant, 
 when he said : ^' Who steals my purse, steals 
 trash, 'tis something, nothing ; 't'was mine, 
 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands ; but 
 he who filches from me my good name, rohs 
 me of that which ne'er enriches him, but 
 makes me poor indeed." 
 
 "We see^the desire of fame developed in this 
 present struggle, while both parties contend 
 for the mastery. The chivalric sons of the 
 South on the one hand, and the " mudsills" 
 of the North on the other, are contending 
 with an iron grasp that they may establish 
 a reputation. 
 
 It was the desire for fame, sir, that in- 
 volved our nation in this difficulty, a diffi- 
 culty of enormous magnitude. 
 
 Fame is the main-spring by which the 
 time-piece of nations is kept in order ; and 
 while such men as Washington, Jeffer&on, 
 Jackson, Clay, "Webster, Franklin and 
 Grant, while these have set such noble ex- 
 
94 APPENDIX. 
 
 amples, as are recorded in history, in wind- 
 ing up tlie old clock, is there no desire, no 
 stimulant, to exert us to keep it in running 
 order ? Yes, Mr. President, we see the de- 
 sire predominating in our land. America 
 is contending for fame ; is setting a good 
 exap-iple, and ere long will have established 
 a more lasthig reputation. 
 
 England, on the other side of tlie Atlantic, 
 seems to understand the meaning of the 
 word fame, and is building her iron clads 
 and fortifying her harbors that she may de- 
 fend it. France, on the other hand, under- 
 stands it, and desired to attain a larger por- 
 tion than that she possessed, but failed. 
 Johnny Crapeau's stimulants were too strong 
 for him, and led him to take advantage of 
 our present difficulty, in order that he might 
 inherit the State of Texas, and thereby es- 
 tablish his reputation. 
 
 Take ISTapoleon the first, for illustration. 
 What prompted him, when a poor boy, to 
 become the hero, the conqueror, the great 
 warrior, the famous Kapoleon ? Was it not 
 the desire of fame ? Look at him when a 
 
APPENDIX. 95 
 
 scliool-boj, forming his comrades into com- 
 panies and exercising them in the art of war. 
 Truly the desire of fame stimulated him at 
 a very early age. Yes ; he hit the nail on 
 the head and used the hammer. 
 
 "We see men in our day, sir, making the 
 same efforts. Do we not see it verified in 
 the conflict that is raging in our midst, in 
 this once happy and glorious Eepuhlic ? 
 
 Men may say, that it is not for fame we 
 are now contending. I dispute it. True, 
 we may be anxious to obtain a largo portion 
 of this world's goods, and are lusting after 
 the seed of Abraham, " GreenbacksV' but 
 is this the only object ? ]S"o ; the very de- 
 sire for wealth, and exertions for the various 
 offices by which they may attain this wealth, 
 are preparatory to the precoveted object, 
 namely, the desire of fame. 
 
 Tims, I have shown that the desire of 
 wealth is only a preface to the obtaining of 
 the other. 
 
 Solomon says: "A good name is rather 
 to be chosen than great riches." Fame, then, 
 may consist in a good name, and I contend', 
 
OS 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 that the desire of it is a greater stimulant to 
 exertioTi than that of wealth. 
 
 To illustrate the argument, let us take 
 some of our great statesmen ; Washington, 
 Jackson, Henry Clay, Webster, and others. 
 Was it the desire of wealth that stimulated 
 these to the exertions wliich they made in 
 erecting the ediiice of this noble Kepublic ? 
 No ; a holier and purer motive inspired tlieir 
 breasts, the fire of patriotic zeal burned 
 within, prompting them to a greater woi-k, 
 that of establishing, for themselves and 
 country, a lasting reputation. This, sir, 
 they have accomplished ; the country is 
 wealthy to-day, and the inhabitants of the 
 old continent know this and are immigra- 
 ting by thousands. Why ? Because it bears 
 a good report — its reputation is estab- 
 livshcd. 
 
 Who will dispute then, seeing so many 
 proofs, that fame is no stimulant to exertion ? 
 ^ I may say, that it stimulates us to an exer- 
 tion in its favor, while we contend for a de- 
 cision on the one side or the other. We 
 prove, sir, by our presence here, that we are 
 
APPENDIX. 97 
 
 contending for that one object, althongli it 
 may be on a small scale. 
 
 I might say, that it is the desire of fame 
 that stimulates a large number of our offi- 
 cers to offer sums of money, that they may 
 gain the title of^ Lieut. A., or Lieut. B., 
 Capt. a, or Capt. D., and when having ob- 
 tained the title, the desire again prompts 
 them to get an extra bar on their shoulder 
 straps, or an extra button on tlieir coat 
 tails. 
 
 King John, when they were about to cut 
 off his famous moustache, cried: "Oh! 
 take my head, for Vve no place to put it ; 
 but my superb moustache— I pray don't 
 cut it." 
 
 Who will contend, sir, that the desire of 
 fame does not stimulate to exertion more 
 than all others? Will Solomon, Shaks- 
 peare, or Benjamin Franklin? ]S"o; they 
 speak in glowing terms of its merits. Tlie 
 marks that they leave behind, give no room 
 for disputation. Take the latter gentleman 
 for an example ; see him workin^^ his way 
 9 ^ 
 
98 APPENDIX. 
 
 to the exalted position in wliicli he was 
 j^hiced. Look at him when a boy, toiling 
 in the office of his brother, that he might 
 become a printer. But the desire of fame 
 still urged him on, nutil he became one of 
 our most accomplished statesmen. I need not 
 recount the works of a Franklin, nor of a 
 Shakspeare, for they are cherished within 
 the breasts of every lover of genius and 
 history. 
 
 There are thousands of witnesses that I 
 might mention to establish my argument, 
 but I need not recall them. History por- 
 trays their deeds of heroism and worth. 
 They were men in every sense. It was not 
 gold that made them so. A good reputa- 
 tion makes men, and the want of it the 
 fellow. 
 
 I have endeavored to show, that the de- 
 sire of fame is a greater stimulant to exertion 
 than that of wealth ; although I may have 
 used the mallet in driving the nail, yet I 
 trust tiiat I have lent some assistance to the 
 other workmen ; and if I have not knocked 
 the head oS*, then I shall be satisfied. 
 
APPENDIX. 99 
 
 Fellow Slt^feeers,— To you I would ad 
 dress a few words of consolation, altliougli 
 that whicli I may say will not suffice'to 
 console you for the irreparable losses you 
 sustained in defense of your country. 
 I In the first place I would remark, that you 
 have come through all the trials and hard- 
 shij^s to which you were subjected, stainless, 
 except that which the bullet of the enemy 
 left in your bodies, a stain that will never 
 be imputed to you as a disgrace ; but, on 
 the other hand, you may have reason to be 
 proud of, I may say, such honorable scars 
 as those received — 
 
 Amid blood and carnpge wild, 
 When for liberty yon toiled ; 
 When the cannon loud did roar 
 On the field of crimson gore. 
 
 Be not discouraged, my fellow-sufferers, 
 when thus afflicted ; you will yet become 
 triumphant, and though yon may render no 
 more service to your country in this her 
 hour of need, yet, by the example you have 
 shown, for which none can impeach you 
 with cowardice, you will at the end arise 
 victorious. 
 
100 APPENDIX. 
 
 No doubt you grieve for the loss sustained, 
 but never, I trust, regret the indomitable 
 service rendered, by which you lost a pre- 
 cious limb, by which health may be 
 impaired. 
 
 You may be deprived of joining in tlie 
 sports and festivities of which you were once 
 partakers : but, notwithstanding all this, 
 there are other means by which the human 
 mind can be entertained, and a provision 
 made for all our wants; this kind Provi- 
 dence has wisel}^ set apart for the piirpose 
 of supplying the deficiencies incurred in re- 
 storing peace to our once happy and pros- 
 perous countrj^ He is able to su23ply all 
 our wants and necessities ; therefore, my 
 suffering friends, you need not fear, for tlie 
 injunction is given — 
 
 To the weary, heavy laden, 
 Weak and wounded, sick and sore, 
 
 He is able, lie is willing, 
 Doub^i no more. 
 
 Many of you have wealthy relations, from 
 whom you derive support; to such I would 
 Bay, " you have reason to be thankful." 
 
APPENDIX. 101 
 
 Others there are who have but few of the 
 l^ecuniary blessings, and to those I would 
 saj, " be thankful also ;•' with you I can 
 sympathize. 
 
 Many of you have a wife, a sister, for 
 whom you have braved the dangers of the 
 battle, and for their protection encountered 
 numerous difficulties ; such I honor and 
 respect. Show me the individual who 
 would not say '* you've done well," and I at 
 once come to the conclusion that he or she 
 is void of patriotism. From such, the 
 country need not expect support, and I am 
 sorry to say there are some who give no 
 encouragement, but on the other hand, con- 
 demn you as a pauper, and would cast you 
 away as the scum and dross of society. 
 From these, 1 say, you derive no succor ; 
 but let them consider for a moment. Have 
 you encountered the trials and dangers of a 
 soldier's life for naught ? Have you left 
 home and friends for such, and receive no 
 recompense ? Have you, when our country 
 called to arms the brave and true, gone 
 forth at its call, to receive no friendly greet- 
 9^ 
 
102 APPENDIX. 
 
 ings ? Have you left your workshops and 
 nieclianical institutions for tlie mere lov^e of 
 self? I answer, no, a brighter and purer 
 motive inspired your breasts, until the fire 
 of patriotic zeal burned within, promptly 
 bidding you go fight in defense of your 
 country, its laws, its institutions, and a 
 liberty-loving people. Who then shall im- 
 peach you with cowardice, will say you've 
 done wrong, that you have fouglit in a 
 wrong cause ? ISTone ; you leave no room 
 for such an impeachment. You leave no 
 stain that might be imputed to you. 
 
 If you had stayed at home, and said, " let 
 others fight my counti-y's battles, what need 
 is there that I should interest myself about 
 it?" then you would be entitled to these 
 impeachments. Therefore, I say, you have 
 come through tlie conflict stainless ; you 
 hearkened to the voice of justice at the pro- 
 per hour and at the desired time. 
 
 You stayed not for questions while freedom stood gasping, 
 Nor waited till honor lay wrapped in its pall ; 
 
 Brief were the lips meeting, swift the hands clasjiiug, 
 Off for the war was enough for you all. 
 
APPENDIX. 103 
 
 Y(?s, by your noble efforts, tlie country 
 will be saved. Can you ever forget the day 
 yoLi parted from loved ones at home, when 
 that solemn but impressive word, "fare- 
 well," was littered by a mother, a sister, or 
 younger brothers ? Can you forget the 
 solemn warning imparted by that mother, 
 who watched with a tearful eye the footsteps 
 of her son, as he wended his way to the 
 steamboat or railroad car? The answer 
 comes home to yourself, " I never can." 
 
 I never shall forget the day 
 When parental joys were sundered — 
 
 When mother, with a tearful eye, 
 My boyhood days had numbered. 
 
 In conclusion, let me say, that you have 
 faithfully discharged the duty incumbent 
 upon you, faithfully responded to your 
 country's call, cheerfully bore the fatigue of 
 long marches, and under eveiy circumstance, 
 faithfully performed the work assigned to 
 you, for which you are entitled to the 
 thanks of a free and liberty-loving com- 
 munity. 
 
 Once more — I cannot conclude without 
 
104 APPENDIX. 
 
 saying a few words bj way of an appeal to 
 the reader, if lie be a young man, and lias 
 any doubts concerning how this war will 
 end, or whether it will end at all. But, my 
 young friend, you and I know that it must 
 end some time, and if you will only buckle 
 on the armor, as I have done, there can be 
 no doubt as to its speedy termination. Cast 
 aside that which binds you to home and 
 friends. 
 
 Break from the arms that would fondly caress you — 
 Hark ! 'tis the bugle blast, sabres are drawn ; 
 
 Mothers shall pray for you, fathers shall bless you, 
 Maidens shall weep for you when you are gone. 
 
 Men, now-a-days, esteem their services of 
 too much importance, and think that their 
 country is under an obligation to them ; 
 though it should pay a thousand dollars' 
 bounty for the protection of their own 
 homes and firesides, that they are bound by 
 reason of justice and humanity to figlit 
 for. 
 
 But life is too precious to sacrifice for a 
 country that has nourished and cherished 
 them, as a mother would her tender charge. 
 
APPENDIX. 105 
 
 Tliey ask, "Why allow tlie coTUitiy to bo 
 plunged into war?" James Buchanan could 
 better answer that question, but would rather 
 decline. Tliat simple-minded old bachelor, 
 while filling his pockets and playing with 
 his pet-kittens, allowed the country to go to 
 ruin ; whereas this destructive rebellion 
 might have been averted, if he had not 
 been attending to his self-interests. lie 
 knew, having held the reins of government, 
 that this country would be thrown into civil 
 war — that at the outburst it might have 
 been blown to atoms, had he used his can- 
 non, as the people expected that it should 
 be used. But I am sorry to say, he never 
 fired anything but blank cartridges. He 
 never fired a single solid shot during his ad- 
 ministration. There was no solidity in him. 
 ISTow he is gone out, leaving another to build 
 and cement the shattered walls of a once 
 happy and glorious republic. His name, at 
 this day, is nothing but a blot, and his his- 
 tory will be that of blackness. 
 
 Ah! we placed the wrong cannon on our 
 ramparts, for it always missed fire. It was 
 
106 APPENDIX. . 
 
 only a smooth boar (bore). But, as the 
 Jews said of old, we have Abraham to our 
 father, and, being an honest patriarch, have 
 placed him in the Presidential chair to 
 guide the old ship of state, and drag it o& 
 the accursed sand-bar, on which an inex- 
 perienced pilot has driven it. Uncle Abe 
 has kept his powder dry so far, and has 
 fired some very big guns. The Emancipa- 
 tion Proclamation, which I am about to dis- 
 cuss, was one of them. They vary in color, 
 too; some are white, some black, and others 
 of a brown color. 
 
 It does not make any difference, how^ever, 
 if the arm is only strong and sinewy, that is 
 what we want — treason must not go un- 
 punished. The banner of stars shall yet 
 wave over the stars and bars ; events that 
 are transpiring in our midst prove it. 
 
 Thus w^ill we triumph, when the Star- 
 spangled Banner doth wave o'er the land 
 of the free and the home of the brave. 
 
APPENDIX. 107 
 
 Debate third. 
 
 Resolved^ Tliat the Emancipation Pro- 
 clamation was inexpedient. 
 
 Mr. Pkesident, — The question proposed 
 for discussion is one that has interested the 
 minds of the American people, and will con- 
 tinue to create various opinions on the sub- 
 ject, until it is fully solved. Thus we meet 
 here this evening to discuss that very im- 
 portant point, viz., the inexpediency of the 
 Emancipation Proclamation. 
 
 Before I begin my argument, it may be 
 necessary for us to know what tlie word 
 " inexpedient " means, in order to find out 
 wherein the blemish lies. 
 
 The word means simply this, " that which 
 does not tend to a good end, unfit, improper, 
 unsuitable to time and place. Shall I say 
 that it was inexpedient ? Shall I say that 
 no good originated from it, that it was un- 
 suitable to time and place, that it was im- 
 proper, unfit to be issued, and put forth at 
 an unsuitable time % In other words, shall 
 I condemn the President for the indomitable 
 
108 APPENDIX. 
 
 good produced by so wise, so judicious an 
 undertaking ? 'No ! uot if I know myself. 
 I cannot condemn tliat wliicli was just and 
 upright, that which will be a lasting good 
 to the American people and to mankind in 
 general. 
 
 What good has it accomplished ? Let ns 
 see. Of those who were shives at the out- 
 break of this rebellion, full two hundred 
 thousand are now in the United States 
 military service, and one Imndred thousand 
 of these actually bear arms in our country's 
 defense, thus giving the advantage of taking 
 so much labor from the rebellious States, 
 and supplying the places which otherwise 
 mnst be filled with so many white men. 
 Was it improper ? Let us see. A father 
 puts in the hands of his son a pistol, and 
 tells him to shoot at a target ; the boy does 
 so, but in his endeavor to fire it off, the 
 father sees that he is liable to shoot himself 
 and others, and takes the weapon from him. 
 Thus it is with the mock Confederacy ; see- 
 ing that it was likely to do a great deal of 
 injury, we must wrest the weapon from its 
 
APPENDIX. ^ 109 
 
 hands — we niTist take this power away, and 
 lay it aside, that they may not get hold of 
 it, for, if they should come to possess it 
 again, they would certainly do a great deal 
 of injury. 
 
 Was, it improper that we shouki do this? 
 No ! If it is not improper to confiscate the 
 property of your enemy for public use — 
 and I believe that is the rule of warfare — 
 you can also take the slaves, and make use 
 of them in the army, or elsewhere, for they 
 were the strong arm of the Confederacy. 
 Was it inexpedient at the tin:ie it was 
 issued ? No ! There could not boa more 
 expedient one, since it tends to the termina- 
 tion of this gigantic rebellion — since it 
 draws the substance from the bone, leaving 
 it to be filled up with other matter. My 
 opponents may argue, that it stimulates the 
 South to a greater exertion in retaining their 
 slave property. No doubt it do.es; but 
 while they are doing this, they lessen their 
 strength, which might otherwise be em- 
 ployed in filling xi-p the ranks of their army. 
 The slave, on the other hand, knowing that 
 
110 APPENDIX. 
 
 he was proclaimed free, will no donbt exert 
 himself in endeavoring to rmi away. Tims, 
 the time and money of his master is spent 
 in vainly endeavoring to arrest him, which 
 might otherwise be expended in lending 
 assistance in the field. 
 
 Give them slavery, sir, and you give them 
 riches, power; they are better adapted to 
 w^ar against yon ; in other words, you are 
 giving the master a rod to punish yourself. 
 Take these things away, and their power is 
 lessened ; they are not so fully prepared to 
 punish you. You break the rod in twain. 
 Was it not, therefore, expedient that this 
 should be done when treason was rife in tlie 
 land ? There is not an American to-day, or 
 an adopted one, who would not say that the 
 President's plan was a wise, jnst, and patri- 
 otic one. Therefore, it must be expedient. 
 
 For a series of years prior to this war, the 
 South had much cause of complaint, but 
 none for rebellion ; and for such, every 
 honest man will condemn their treasonable 
 course. In the annals of history, or of the 
 world, a more causeless rebellion never 
 
APPENDIX. Ill 
 
 darkened any nation. Was it inexpedient, 
 then, that the proclamation should be 
 issued, and at a time, too, when justice, 
 liberty, humanity, and the preservation of 
 our national honor demanded it ? If it was, 
 then I say, give up the ship. Let slavery 
 pilot it. Give tlie South the helm ; do this, 
 and you will run into the icebergs of de- 
 struction. You would find, after a short 
 anchor in the harbor, that the vessel would 
 be trimmed, her sails set once more, her 
 prow pointing forward, to hurl you against 
 the breakers that have already proved so 
 destructive to you and country. 
 
 Slavery has been the turmoil, the agita- 
 tor, and disturber of this continent. It has 
 been the incursion of the American people. 
 It has brought destruction upon its own 
 head. It has destroyed our peace and hap- 
 piness. It has brought about this present 
 difficulty — one of enormous magnitude — a 
 difficulty that has brouo-ht o-rief home to 
 the hearts of many families. It has left 
 numerous orphans and widows. It has 
 caused the loss of health, life and limb, and 
 
112 APPENDIX. 
 
 having bronglit about such miseries as these, 
 was it not expedient that it should be eradi- 
 cated? Yes. The many sufferers of our 
 fellow-men will concur with me, that the 
 proclamation issued in September, 1862, 
 was conducing to the public interests of our 
 country. Did the President, sir, not sift 
 the matter thoroughly, before he undertook 
 it, and offer a proposition to the South 
 before he put it in force ? But they would 
 not comply. The modern Pharaoh's heart 
 was hardened — he chose death rather than 
 life. But the Patriarch Abraham, weighing 
 well the results, and studying the country's 
 interests, issues his Bull of Emancipation, 
 saying : " Let my children go." But they 
 would not. They could not destroy the 
 foundation of all their hopes. They said : 
 '' We want them to build batteries, cast our 
 shot and shell, to dig entrenchments, to till 
 the soil, while tlie white man fights our bat- 
 tles. We must not part with them, or our 
 cause would be lost." Yes, they knew that, 
 and father Abraham knew it too. Wa3 
 such a proclamation as this inexpedient ? 
 
APPENDIX. 113 
 
 At the outbreak of this rebellion, it was 
 declared by the Southern chivalry, that Cot- 
 ton was King. Why did they place such 
 strong dependence in that king ? Because 
 slavery was the crown which lie wore ; it 
 was the throne on which he sat ; it was the 
 foundation on which that throne was built. 
 King Cotton, then, having so many attri- 
 butes, it was deemed the nations of Europe 
 would do him homage. But they now find 
 their mistake. King Cotton has been de- 
 throned ; his crown has faded ; his throne is 
 crumbling to dust. This great earthquake 
 that has disturbed you and 1, has shaken his 
 foundation. The Lincoln gun, fired in 
 January, 1863, has taken away his breath — 
 has taken his strength away — ^poor King 
 Cotton is dead ! who will restore him to 
 life ? England and France tried it before 
 life was almost extinct, but found it was of 
 no use. Shall we, then, mourn his loss? 
 No ! Bring forth the timbrel — shout tl;e 
 glad tidings. Let us make merry, for h 
 who sought the life of the young republic, 
 s no more. 
 
 10* 
 
114 ArrENDix. 
 
 Nor can men sa|^, that tlie proclamation 
 was nnconstitutional, for ^Secession was the 
 overthrow of the Constitution. If I take 
 my brother into partnership, and we bind 
 ourselves by an agreement to assist and 
 study each others' interests, has he a right 
 to go to the safe and take all the money out 
 without my consent, or contract debts, in 
 my name, leaving me to pay them ? I think 
 it would be very unjust. He should first 
 consult his partner; if he felt aggrieved, then 
 we might adjust our affairs to the satisfac- 
 tion of both parties. He does not do this, 
 but robs me of everything I had. I am 
 bankrupt. lie might as well set iire to my 
 house. Thus stood the Constitution. They 
 would not keep it inviolate ; they robbed 
 our treasury, contracted debts, and left us 
 to pay them — we became bankrupt. Have 
 we not a right, therefore, to avenge our 
 wrongs, to have this property restored, no 
 matter whether in the shape of money or 
 negroes — for they are money — they are the 
 property of our enemies? Should we not, 
 then, weaken them at every point? Yes, 
 
APPENDIX. 115 
 
 if it is proper to take his sheep or his oxen, 
 his cows or his corn, we have also a riglit to 
 take his negroes, for thej are property. If 
 we liave a right to make a breech in the 
 walls of his fortress, we have also h right to 
 make a breech in his nigger. Having en- 
 deavored to solve the question, sir, the only 
 decision that I can arrive at, is, that it was 
 not inexpedient; that it tends more to the 
 good of the nation than the clash of arms • 
 it is the destruction of the Confederacy' 
 whose corner-stone and boast was slavery 
 That the proclamation, sir, has a tendency 
 to promote the interests of our nation, no 
 one can dispute. That it has set a noble 
 example to other powers, no one need 
 deny. 
 
 Having thus shown tlie happy results 
 which have originated from it, and those 
 hat will subsequently follow, I trust, there- 
 lore, that you will decide in favor of the 
 Qegativo. 
 
116 APPENDIX. 
 
 THE SOLDIER THINKS OF THE LOVED 
 AT HOME. 
 
 He thinks of the loved ones at home, 
 
 When walking his lonely beat ; 
 And at the silent hour of night 
 
 He dreams of home so sweet : 
 He hears the well known voice of her 
 
 That was his onlj joj, 
 Who with solace sweet, comforts still 
 
 Her soldier's infant bov. 
 
 He thinks of the loved ones at homo — 
 
 The thought still cheers him on ; 
 At morn he hears the bugle's blast, 
 
 And wakes at reveille drum : 
 *Ti3 duty that calls him to arms — 
 
 Thau bids him quickly obey, 
 Its voice he has heard when at home, 
 
 'Tis that he now hears when away. 
 
 He thinka cf the loved ones at home,' 
 
 And the friends he loved so dear, 
 Tlie fond recollection of these 
 
 Oft causes the falling tear : 
 Wken battling for Country and Right, 
 
 He fears not death's alarms, 
 For the thought of the loved at home 
 
 Brings naught to Win but cliarms. 
 
 C. K. BUKNS 
 
APPENDIX. 117 
 
 DEFEND THE RIGHT. 
 
 Defend the right, defend tlie right, 
 Ye men of noble fame, 
 
 And by your courage and your might 
 Defend this noble frame. 
 
 Go battle for the right, brave boys- 
 Heed not what traitors say; 
 
 Boldly cling to the right, brave boys, 
 And you will win the day. 
 
 Defend the right, defend the right, 
 
 Ye patriots bold and true ; 
 Your country calls you to the fight — 
 
 Your country calls on you. 
 Columbia, and Columbia's laws. 
 
 Defend with might and main ; 
 Yours is the holiest, noblest cause — 
 
 A nation's rights sustain. 
 
 Defend the right, defend the righ*-., 
 
 Saith your sires from their graves ; 
 Defend the right, defend the right— 
 
 Your children will be slaves ! 
 And you, young heroes, battle too, 
 
 With noble hearts and brave. 
 For the land which you inherit, 
 
 Is yours alone to save. 
 
118 APPENDIX. 
 
 Defend the riglit, defend th^ riglit, 
 
 Sweethearts and sisters dear, 
 And urge your lovers, brothers on, 
 
 Their weary hearts to cheer : 
 Inspire them with true zeal and love, 
 
 When they for Country fight, 
 And pray that they may victors be 
 
 In battling for the right. 
 
 Defend the right, defend the right, 
 
 Bold Erin's sons of Mars, 
 "Who aid us in our just defense 
 
 Of the old '^ Stripes and Stars." 
 Tou, w^ho have fought for Liberty, 
 
 When by wrongs oppressed ; 
 Americans, will you assist 
 
 To have those wrongs redressed ? 
 
 Defend the right, defend the right, 
 
 Ye men of England's Isle ; 
 Too long you have leagued with treason 
 
 To drive us from our soil : 
 But battle for the Right, John Bull, 
 
 Then you'll not rue the day. 
 You rouse the Eagle from its nest 
 
 In North America. 
 
 Defend the right, defend the right, 
 All you who love the laws, 
 
 And battle for a Nation's rights 
 In Freedom's holy cause. 
 
APPENDIX. 119 
 
 Defend your homes, your lionor too, 
 
 While strength to you is given. 
 Until the foe, who Right assails, 
 
 Is to subjection driven. 
 
 Defend the right, defend tlie right, 
 
 Let all true men combine 
 To aid the right with all their might. 
 
 And hail the glorious time 
 "When we shall live in peace and love. 
 
 And know no war or strife ; 
 When Freedom in its father's God 
 
 Proclaims, Defend the Right ! 
 
 JAMES E. nrRNs. 
 
M23 81 1 
 

 
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