IPIi^^^PliiliiiiiliiliiiSyfi^M ^ -^^ / -^^ ^ -;^^V^ / .0 O A " o . "^o v\ •^, o > ... Vyr?^ .HO, ^o \^ ^^^'^ -^.c/ ,0^ ^ A ,-0' "^ o c;^ v<> .V ^^ ^^^^, .^^-^-^^ "=. .^q V^^*'^'\/^ "-^'^^'\q' V^'^^'^^""' "" "-^^0^ .-1°<. ^- .^ \ ■ "°.'^-'*/ V-^'/ "°^'^-'*/ *^ .ov-.. iw.^^: .^o^ Col. George E. Randolph at 40. THE HISTORY BATTERY E, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, IN THE WAR OF 1861 AND 1865, TO PRESERVE THE UNION. BY / r' GEORGE LEWIS. Illustrated with Portraits and Map. r Pf AY 7 c : PROVIDENCE; Snow & Farnham, Printers, 1892. Entered according to act of Congress, in theyear 1S91, By GEORGE LEWIS, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. OFFICERS ANF MEN BATTERY E, AND TO THE Tender ivlemory Brave arid Loyal Dead THE AUTHOR DEDICATES THIS BOOK. The Author at 60. AUTHOR'S PREFACE AT a reunion of the First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery Veteran Association held at Rocky Point August 9, 1888, a historian was appointed from each battery to prepare material for a history of the regiment. It becoming evident that the plan of a regimental history would prove a failure, the author of this volume was requested by his comrades to write the history of Battery E. When the work was nearly completed a petition was presented to the legislature for an appropriation to publish the work. Before this was acted upon by the General Assembly the executive committee of the regiment appointed a special com- mittee to ask the legislature to so amend the petition of Battery E as to include the other batteries of the regiment. A resolution to that effect was passed March 20, 1891, which authorized the purchase of two hundred copies of each bat- tery history by the state at two dollars and fifty cents ('1l'2.5o) per copy whenever approved by the Secretary of State. The author of this volume makes no claim to possess special qualifications for the work assigned him. Being en- gaged in daily labor in the employ of a business firm he had only his spare hours to devote to his task. This necessarily delayed the progress of the work. Every precaution has been taken to assure the trustworthiness of the history. Yet some errors must be expected in this as in all histories covering the details of so many important events. Doubtless a few dates in the roster will be found incorrect as the re- cords from which they were taken have not always agreed. The work has been prepared with a view of meeting the wants of those not in possession of a large number of war histories. VI BATTERY E, FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. The writer has endeavored not to bring the honorable part borne by Battery E in the Army of the Potomac so much to the front as to make its claims appear egotistical. Neither is it claimed that the battery was superior to the other excel- lent Rhode Island batteries that served the state so honora- bly during the war. Many volumes of standard authors have been read, and no expense has been spared in order to substantiate every statement made. A large number of dia- ries kept by the men belonging to the battery have been kindly loaned to the writer. These daily records have inva- riably agreed upon every important event. Besides these and other sources of information the Official Rebellion Records have been consulted so far as they have been pub- lished. As a rule in all cases of variance preference has been given to the Official Records. After three years of labor performed as stated above the author presents this volume to the surviving members of the battery and to the friends of its fallen heroes. I desire to express my obligations to Adjutant-General Dyer and his assistants and to Colonel Randolph, Major Rhodes, Captain Bucklyn, Lieutenants Jastram and Hum- phrey, Dr. Hill, Sergeants Remington, Millen, Slocum and Hargraves, Corporal Butts and Comrade William H. Phinney, for valuable aid and material. I am also indebted to Mrs. Mary H. Clarke, sister of Lieutenant Gardiner, also to Mrs. James A. Tanner, Charles H. Williams, son of First Ser- geant Williams, and to the widow and son of Comrade George F. Lord for the loan of diaries left in their possession. To many others whose names are not given my obligations are due. I am especially indebted to Rev. Augustus Woodbury, Lieutenants Jastram and Humphrey, Colonel Bliss and M. S. Lewis for assistance in revising the work. GEORGE LEWIS. Januakv I, 1892. CONTENTS. Chapter I. September-October, 1861. Page. Organization and Departure, ..... i Chapter II. October, 1861. Camp Sprague, . . . . . . . . 9 Chapter III. October 29, 1861, to March 14, 1862. Camp Webb and Artillery Camp, .... 17 Chapter IV. March-April, 1862. Departure for the Peninsula, and Siege of Yorktown. 34 Chapter V. :\Iay, 1862. Battle of Williamsburg, . . . . . . 41 Chapter VI. May-June, 1862. In Pursuit of the Enemy and Battle of Fair Oaks, . 45 Chapter "V^II. June, 1862. In Front of Richmond and Battle of Glendale, . . 53 Viii BATTERY E, FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. Chapter VIII. July, 1862. p^^^ Battle of Malvern Hill and Retreat, • . . 66 Chapter IX. July-August, 1862. Harrison's Landing and Battle of Kettle Run, . 76 Chapter X, August, 1862. Second Battle of Bull Run, Chapter XI. September, 1862, Battle of Chantilly and Death of General Kearny, Chapter XII. September-October-November, 1862 Arlington Heights, Poolesville.- Pursuit of Lee's Army to Fredericksburo- &' • • • • , Chapter XIII. November-December, 1862. Camp Pitcher and Battle of Fredericksburo- Chapter XIV. December 17, 1862, to April 27, 1863 Camp Pitcher Resumed, Burnside Second Failure, Win- ter Quarters, Camp Sickles, Chapter XV. May, 1863. Battle of Chancellorsville. -Return to Camp Sickles, 154 92 100 107 124 138 CONTENTS. IX Chapter XVI. May-June-July, 1863. page Campaign of Gettysburg, . . . . . .177 Chapter XVII, July 17th to November i, 1863. General Lee — Recrosses the Potomac — Camp at Sul- pher Springs — Lee Pursued to Culpepper — Meade is Flanked and Retires to Fairfax Court House, . 226 Chapter XVIII. November, 1863. Battles of Rappahannock Station — Kelley's Ford — Payne's Farm and Mine Run, .... 236 Chapter XIX. December, 1863, to May, 1864. Winters Quarters at Brandy Station — Re-enlistments — Change of Battery Officers — Preparation for ^Summer Campaign, ...... 253 Chapter XX. May, 1864. Battle of Wilderness, 281 Chapter XXI. May, 1864. Battle of Spottsylvania, ...... 289 Chapter XXII. May-June, 1864. Crossing the North Anna. — March to Hanover Town — Battle of Cold Harbor, 301 X BATTERY E, FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. Chapter XXIII. June, 1864. Page. Crossing the James River — Assaults upon the Intrench- ments of Petersburg, ...... 320 Chapter XXIV. July-August, 1864. Embarked for Washington and Return. — The Mine Explosion, ....... 338 Chapter XXV. August-September, 1864. Battles of Deep Bottom Run. — Weldon Railroad, and Reams Station — Fort Rice — Thirty-three Men Re- turn Home. . . . . . . -3 53 Chapter XXVI. September 26 to December 20, 1864. Battery Re-organized. — Hatcher's Run. — South Side Railroad — Death of General Birney — Presiden- tial Election — Captain Rhodes on Sick Leave — Lieutenant Parker in Command, . . . 3/7 Chapter XXVII. December 20, 1864, to March 26, 1865. Fort Wadsvvorth — Winter Quarters — Weldon Rail- road — Lieutenant Bucklyn and Captain Rhodes Resign, 396 Chapter XXVIII. March 26 to April 9, 1865. Richmond and Petersburg Surrendered — Pursuit and Capture of Lee's Army, . . .412 CONTENTS. XI Chapter XXIX. April-May-June, 1865. page. Camp Near City Point — March to Alexandria — Re- turn Home and Muster Out of Service — Biogra- phical Sketches, 429 Appendix, ......... 463 Roster and Battery Index, ..... 483 Index to Officers and Persons Mentioned not Belong- ing to Battery, 533 ILLUSTRATIONS Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra Portra ]iattery Map, Page. of Col. George Engs Randolph, . Frontispiece of the Author, . . . Opposite Preface of Capt. George Engs Randolph, Opposite page lo of Capt. Walter Otis Bartlett, . ■■ ■ ^ of Lieut. Israel R. Sheldon, of First Lieut. Pardon S. Jastram, of Lieut. Charles A. Brown, of Capt. John K. Bucklyn, of Lieut. Joseph S. Milne, . of Lieut. Lester S. Hill, of Lieut. Herbert F. Bennett, of First Lieut. George W. H. Allen, of Brevet Maj. William B. Rhodes, of Lieut. Allen Gardiner, of Israel Riley, of Ordnance Sergt. William Millen, of P^irst Sergt. Charles P. Williams, ) of P'^irst Sergt. James Donnelly, [ of Sergt. James A. Tanner, [ of Sergt. Arthur W Hargraves, j of First Lieut. Benjamin Freeborn, of Lieut. Edward A. Chandler, of First Lieut. Ezra K. Parker, of Capt. Jacob H. Lamb, of Capt. William Albert Arnold, \ of Lieut. James F. Allen, \ of Lieut. Hezekiah Potter, ) of Lieut. George Humphrey, of Lieut. George Lewis, ) of Lieut. William S. Blair, [ of F'irst Sergt. William E. Bowen, ) of First Serst. Charles S. Winslow, of O. M. Sergt. Benjamin N. Remington, of Sergt. John Slocum, of Corporal Francis B. Butts, E Monument, .... ' 1 ) 28 103 127 149 177 224 255 265 269 281 316 332 368 379 388 394 440 446 450 454 45 8 " 471 In rear of book. HISTORY OF BATTERY E. CHAPTER I . September— October, 1861. Organization and Departure. THE great struggle between the admirers of the barba- rous system of American slavery and the believers in a higher civilization commenced at Charleston, S. C, when the secessionists opened fire from Sullivan's Island upon the feeble but brave garrison at Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861. Three days later President Lincoln issued his first procla- mation for seventy-five thousand three months troops. On the following day, Governor Sprague, of Rhode Island, responded to the call by offering, in addition to her quota of one regi- ment of infantry, one battery of light artillery, which was promptly accepted by the War Department. Such was the energy displayed by Governor Sprague and his assistants that the Marine Artillery, of Providence, was organized in three days for three months' active service, and on the 1 8th the battery, under command of Capt. Charles H. Tompkins, embarked on board the Empire State for Jersey City. Thence it proceeded, byway of Elizabeth, to Easton, Pa., for a week or two of drill. It arrived at Washington on the 2d of May, and, on the 7th, it was mustered into the ser- vice of the United States. Lieut.-Gov.-elect Samuel G. Arnold accompanied Captain Tompkins. The battery was followed on the 20th by the first detachment of the First Regiment, under Col. Ambrose E. Burnside, and four days after by the second detachment, under Lieut. -Col. Joseph S. Pitman. The regiment and battery were temporarily quartered at the Patent Office. In the meantime. Camp Sprague was being built for the headquarters of the Rhode Island troops, and on the 18th of May the battery moved into this new camp. 2 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Sept., The President, on the 3d of May, issued another call for additional troops. This call was for 42,034 volunteers to serve for three years, unless sooner discharged ; 22,714 regu- lars, to serve for five years ; and 18,000 seamen. In anticipation that a call for another regiment from Rhode Island would soon be made, recruiting had been going on ever since the First Regiment left for the front. On the 7th, Governor Sprague authorized the organization of another bat- tery, to be known as Battery A. Their camp was located on Dexter Training Ground, in Providence, and bore the honored name of Camp Burnside. The regiment being rapidly completed, was mustered into the United States service June 6th, and on the 19th took pas- sage on the State of Maine, at Fox Point, for Washington, where it arrived on the 22d, encamping in Gales's Woods, near Camp Sprague. Battery A was recruited at the same time and place as the Second Regiment, and accompanied it on the Kill von Kidl. It went into camp, after arriving in Washington, at Camp Sprague, and was assigned to General McDowell's command. Aug. I, 1 86 1, the Secretary of War authorized Governor Sprague to equip a battalion of artillery, to consist of three batteries, one of which. Battery A, was then in the field, and Capt. Charles H. Tompkins was promoted to major to com- mand the battalion. Battery B was rapidly recruited under Col. William H. Parkhurst, who was appointed its captain, but he declining the appointment. First Lieut. Thomas F. Vaughan, of Battery A, was given the command. The battery left Providence for the seat of war on the 13th of August. Governor Sprague issued an order on the 12th of August, for the organization of the Third Regiment Rhode Island Heavy Artillery. Its camp was on the Spring Green Farm, on the Old Warwick road, in Warwick, and was called Camp Ames. The regiment was recruited and drilled here until September 7th, when it left for Providence, sailing from there on the Commodore for Long Island, N. Y. From that place it was sent, in October, to Fortress Monroe, and encamped near Hampton, Va., where it remained until the 23d, when it embarked with the expedition under General Sherman and Admiral Dupont, for Port Royal, S. C. iS6i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 3 The recruiting for Battery C followed rapidly, and on August •25th was mustered into service, under command of Capt. William B. Weeden, who had been promoted from second lieutenant of Battery A. The battery left for Wash- ington on the 31st, and during the month of September its headquarters were at Camp Sprague. Early in October it crossed the Potomac River, encamping near Fort Lyon, Va., at Camp Randolph, so called in honor of Lieut. George E. Randolph, who a few days after assumed command of Bat- tery E. While Battery C was being recruited. Governor Sprague asked permission of the War Department to add two more batteries to the battalion, which request was granted, and in less than one week after Battery C left for the seat of war, Battery D was mustered into service under the command of Capt. J. Albert Monroe, who had been promoted from first lieutenant from Battery A. It reached Washington on Sep- tember 15th, remaining in Camp Sprague, perfecting its drill, until October 8th, on which date it crossed Long Bridge into Virginia and became a part of the division under the command of Gen. Fitz John Porter. It remained in camp at Upton's Hill until March, 1862. Two days before Battery D reached Washington the War Department granted Governor Sprague the privilege of in- creasing the number of Rhode Island batteries to eight, the whole to be known as the First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery. Before proceeding further with the artillery companies, I will refer briefly to the Fourth Rhode Island Infantry, whose first squad of recruits was sent into camp Sept. 5, 1861. It was organized under the command of Col. Justus I. McCarty, of the regular army, who was soon after superseded by Col. Isaac P. Rodman, and by the last of the month was reported full. No regiment that preceded it had been better drilled, and the expectations of its friends were never disappointed. The next in order of the Rhode Island troops was Bat- tery E. The battery was recruited at the armory of the Marine Corps of Artillery, on Benefit Street, Providence. The camp selected for the headquarters of the battery during its enlistment was the same as that occupied by the Fourth Regiment, Camp Greene, named in honor of Gen. 4 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Sept.. Nathanael Greene, of Revolutionary fame. The camp was situated about eight miles from Providence, a short distance from what is now known as Hill's Grove, the Stonington railroad running just east of the camp. It was a level piece of land and well suited for the object for which it was used. It was a healthy and pleasant locality, w^ell situated for the transportation of troops, and easy of access for the friends of the soldiers, whose daily visits were a great pleasure to those who were about to leave home, perhaps never to return. The first squad was sent to camp September 5th, and con- sisted of four persons, namely : Francis B. Butts, Charles A. Brown, Silas A. Brown, and Charles E. White. For several days, according to the statement of Francis B. Butts, they had no duties to perform except to prepare for the recep- tion of additional recruits. They made themselves comfort- able, and sought amusement in any way they pleased. In a few days additional recruits were forwarded from Prov- idence, also guns, horses, and equipments, for the purpose of drilling the men. Capt. Henry B. Brastow was in command of the artillery part of the camp. Soon after the camp was instituted, William A. Arnold, who had asked for a commission in the artillery, was ordered to report to Captain Brastow^ Other men, who had expected to receive commissions, were occasionally present, among them being Walter O. Bartlett and John A. Perry. The battery was rapidly being filled and daily drilled in field and foot movements. William Millen, Amasa A. Dar- ling, Joseph S. Milne, Jacob H. Lamb, and others, who were expecting warrants as non-commissioned officers, assisted in drilling the recruits in the various artillery movements. After the battery was nearly full, Lieut. William A. Arnold was put in command of the men, and Captain Brastow com- menced the formation of another battery. John K. Buck- lyn was appointed acting quartermaster-sergeant by Lieu- tenant Arnold, which appointment was aftei'wards confirmed. On Tuesday, September 24th, Lieutenant Arnold received orders to move the battery near the city. The place selected was on the west side of Mashapaug Pond, near its northern termination, and was christened Camp Perry, in honor of Rev. John A. Perry, who was active in recruiting men for the iS6i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. _ 5 battery and who was soon after commissioned as one of its first lieutenants. The daily drills were continued as before, and the battery had now nearly completed its organization. It was at this camp that the writer dates the birth of his military experi- ence. The rations which were supplied to the men consisted principally of potatoes, corn beef, bread and coffee, and they were not always prepared with that regard to personal taste that many would desire. It was, doubtless, one of the iirst home sacrifices that they realized. The regard for cleanli- ness in its preparation, which we had seen at home, was too plainly omitted to suit us. As the time approached for the departure, permission to pay the last visits to their homes and friends was often asked by the men, which was seldom refused. Many of those who had families near by went home every night and returned to camp the next morning. The dear mother, and loving wife accompanied by her little ones, were daily seen in camp, ex- pecting every visit to be the last, and possibly the final "good bye" to a dear husband or son would be spoken. Only those who have experienced the soldier's parting " good bye " can realize the emotions of such a separation, and the members of Battery E were not long to remain without the experience, for September 30th, the day set for their being mustered into the United States service for three years, if not sooner discharged, had arrived. Previous to being sworn in, the men drew their uniforms from the quartermaster, and many of them realized that but little regard had been given to the size or form of its occu- pant, and no doubt many were not well pleased with their appearance. But there was no remedy, and they bore the dissatisfaction with as much grace as possible. On September 30th Col. Justus I. McCarty reported at the camp to muster in the battery. The men were formed into line, and the oath of fidelity to our superior officers and the demands of the service, was administered. After the regular muster, orders to leave for the seat of war were hourly expected. The fifteen dollars bounty promised by the State was paid us on the 4th of October, and not a few turned the small pittance over to their families, who doubtless were in need of 6 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., it, and, although we had disposed of it well, we soon learned that it would have been of great service to ourselves. In anticipation of future needs we began to supply our- selves with every conceivable article thought to be necessary during our service ; our knapsacks, of course, were not neg- lected, and their contents, if all were placed together, would have made quite an inventory for starting a small junk shop. To the supplies received from the quartermaster were added several pairs of socks, handkerchiefs by the half-dozen, needles, scissors, thread, buttons, bottle of ink, pens, envel- opes, portfolio filled with paper, brushes and shaving material. Some had Bibles from anxious friends, others carried a small photograph album filled with 77>zV^i- of dear and loving friends, and those who were smokers did not forget pipes, tobacco, etc. Add to these the necessary haversack filled with rations, supplemented with cakes, pies and cookies, obtained from home ; knife and fork, tin plate and cup, water filter and other supposed needed supplies for our new life, and the can- teen filled to suit the owner. Doubtless many thought that other articles should have been taken. What a contrast when compared with our stock on hand ten months later, when we were minus knapsack and contents, with nothing left but the suit of clothes on our back. Saturday, October 5th, came and with it the order to pack up and start for the seat of war. The "assembly" was sounded for the last time at Camp Perry, and, mounted upon our limber chests, we started, with the exception of the camp guard and a few others, on our journey. When we reached the city we were joined by the Fourth Regiment, who had previously arrived from Camp Greene, and with them marched through High, Westminster and South Main streets to Fox Point, where we embarked, the Fourth Regiment on the CommodoTc, and the battery on the Kill von KulL* At the wharf the battery was joined by the guard, who had left the camp shortly after the battery. During the march through the city the men were loudly cheered by their friends and citizens, and by them many a hearty wish was given for their safe return to friends and home. At five o'clock v. m. the lines were cast off, the boat swung slowly away from the wharf, and, amid the thundering * The Kill von Kiill was totally destroyed by tire at Elizabetliport. X. J., on the niijlit of March 3, 1SS9. It then bclonj^'od to the N'ew Jersey Central Railroad. i86i.] FIRST R, I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 7 of cannon, mingled with tlie cheers and tears of our friends and relatives, we took our departure. That night will never be forgotten, at least by sons who had left behind them aged parents, or by fathers who left wife and children, who were dependent upon them for sup- port and protection. We passed the night as best we could under the gloom of separation from home, and the morning found us well on our way to New York. On our way up the sound, we were delayed by a hot shaft, and consequently did not reach New York until about noon, but we did not stop, going directly to Elizabethport, N. J., arriving there about the middle of Sunday afternoon. Boarding the cars on the Central Railroad, we slowly crossed the State of New Jersey, followed by the Fourth Regiment, and reached the Delaware River about sunset. Continuing our journey on the East Pennsylvania Railroad, we passed Allenton, thence to Reading on the Schuylkill River, reaching Harrisburg, Pa., at sunrise on Monday, the 7th instant. We could see but little of the enterprising country through which we passed, except when the lightning revealed a glimpse of its grandeur. Taking the Susquehanna and Baltimore Railroad we fol- lowed the banks of the Susquehanna River for fifteen or twenty miles, then branching off we passed the town of York, and reached Baltimore about ten o'clock that night. Previous to reaching the city we were advised to put out our lights in the cars, and if any demonstrations of disloyalty were shown by the Baltimoreans in our passing through the city, to pay no attention to them, but to keep quiet and allow no insults to disturb us. No occasion to swallow our wrath occurred, for during our march in company with the Fourth Regiment, headed by their band with the venerable Joe Greene as leader, we were cheered on our way by as much apparent loyalty as we had received at any point on our way since leaving Providence. When we reached the Baltimore and Washington depot, we were again charged to be cautious and not buy any food from the venders at the depot. No doubt some of us saved what little change we had by listen- ing to the advice of our officers, but the greater part of the men concluded to practice their courage and attacked the much feared weapon of assassination. 8 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., The assault was vigorous and persistent, with no loss to us except a portion of pocket ammunition ; but it was uncalled for, as plenty of coffee and sandwiches were provided for us at the depot by the loyal citizens of that city. Remaining at the depot all night till five o'clock a. m. on the 8th instant, we were then allowed to load ourselves into coaches and cattle cars, the latter being provided with tempo- rary seats, and, after a long delay, we slowly moved on towards Washington, which place, although but forty miles distant, was not reached untill three o'clock in the afternoon.. Immediately after leaving our coaches and cattle stalls, we were formed into line and marched to the well-known " Sol- dier's Rest," where we were not long in introducing ourselves to soap and water, the first acquaintance with those articles since leaving Rhode Island, seventy-two hours before. After cleansing ourselves from the coal dust of a three days' journey, we hastened to the tables well loaded with cold ham, bread, cheese and hot coffee, and, although they were not of the best quality, we did not fail to satisfy, for a few hours at least, a demanding appetite ; neither did we forget that our haversacks were not too well filled. Certainly we did not suffer for rations the next day. Our first glimpse of Washington was a great surprise, as we expected to see a city worthy of the great nation of which it was the capital. The condition of Washington was forcibly expressed in a sarcastic manner by one of our comrades, George W. H. Allen, in a paper written by him years after, from which I will quote : " Great Scott ! Mud and hogs seemed to be the principal products, and it looked as though it would be a public benefit for some one to carry it away, instead of sacrificing lives and money to save it." We expected to see more large buildings and mansions built upon wide and cleanly kept streets, more to the credit of this enterprising nation ; but, instead, we found the city full of filth and mud, and the streets stocked with hogs, goats, ducks, and geese, giving it the appearance of a country farm-yard. After our repast and disappointment with the view of the city, we were again ordered into line, and marched to Camp Sprague, the headquarters of the Rhode Island troops. iS6i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. CHAPTER I I. October, 1861. Camp Sprague. WE found Camp Sprague to be partly located in a beautiful grove nearly a mile north of the city and about two from the capitol, with ample space ad- joining it for parade ground. The encampment was planned by Lieut. Henry A. De Witt, of the Engineers, the huts being built under the superintendence of Maj. William God- dard and Lieut. William R. Walker, all of the First Rhode Island Infantry, by which troops it was first occupied. The barracks for the men were built of boards in regular order, each company in line, and facing a street, at the head of which was a hut, with a quaint little porch, overlooking the camp, being the quarters of the company officers. In the grove, sheltered from the scorching summer sun, were erected rough cottages for the field and staff officers and a headquar- ters. These were the quarters of the First Rhode Island Regiment. At the south and closely adjacent to the above camp, was where the Second Rhode Island Infantry first went into camp. This part was called Camp Clark, so named after Bishop Clark, of Rhode Island. At the west, and in front of the whole, was a large level space used for company and regimental drills. Battery E occupied a row of barracks at the south of the camp, which previously had been the shelter of the First Battery. This camp was of the greatest interest to the members of Battery E, on account of the many anecdotes related of it by the members of the First Regiment, who returned home July 28th, having served out their term of enlistment.* "* The above description of C.imp Sprasrue is \n.ve;e\y copied, by permission, from a paper read Jan. 2, ii>?5, by Corp. Francis B. Butts, before the Soldiers' and Sailors' Historical Society, of Rhode Island. lO HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., When the battery arrived at the camp it was occupied by Battery D, but their stay was only until the twelfth of the month. During that time Battery E was what would be termed in civil life temporary boarders, but after Battery D left they became proprietors of the vacated barracks. During the passage from Rhode Island to Washington, the battery was under the temporary command of First Lieut. Walter O. Bartlett, the acting non-commissioned officers hav- ing been previously designated before leaving Providence, by Lieutenants Bartlett and Arnold. The commissioned officers held commissions dated Sept. 28, 1861, and all the lieuten- ants were commissioned as first lieutenants on the same date, as the following order will show : State of Rhode Island and Providence Plan'tations. Adjutant-General's Office, "(^ Providence, Sept. 28, 1S61. j General Order No. 67. George E. Randolph having been appointed captain, Walter O. Bart- lett, John A. Perry, William A. Arnold and George C. DeKay, first lieu- tenants in Battery E, ist Regiment R. I. Lt. Artillery, will report at once to Lieutenant-Colonel Reynolds for orders. By order of the Commandei"-in-Chief. Edward C. Mauran, Adjutant- General. Captain Randolph, who had been promoted from first lieu- tenant of Battery C, arrived in camp October loth, and as- sumed command on the i ith. At the hour for drill, the com- pany was formed in line and our new captain was introduced by Lieutenant Bartlett, in a few appropriate and well chosen words. During the time when the words of introduction were being spoken, every eye and ear waited with anxious hope or fear, to learn from the responding words of our youthful captain, something of what our future as a battery would probably be. We had but a moment to wait, when Captain Randolph, raismg his hat, spoke in a very modest way, such words as were appropriate for the occasion, and in conclusion made the remark : " I am proud to command such a body of men, and hope that you will always be proud of Capt. Geo. E. Randolph. iS6i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. II me." How well his hopes were realized, no member of Bat- tery E who served under him, need be told, for there is not a man whose love and respect are desirable, but will say that not a word spoken, nor an act done by him during his com- mand, failed to meet the approval of the officers and men un- der his charge. At the time of taking command, Captain Randolph was only twenty-one years of age, and having had but four months' experience as first sergeant and second lieutenant in Battery A, and two weeks as first lieutenant in Battery C, he had reason to be proud of his success. The admiration of the men for him as a commander was no more than their love for him as a man, for he possessed all the qualities required to make a noble man and a good citizen. The day after our arrival at Camp Sprague (October 9th) the battery was divided into seven detachments, the seventh being made up of artificers and spare men. A gun detach- ment is composed of two corporals and seven privates, com- manded by the gunner. "When the cannoneers and drivers attached to a piece are assembled in rank and file formation, they constitute a platoon, which is commanded by a ser- geant." Including the drivers and extra cannoneers there were usually about twenty men attached to each gun, which, for general purposes, was also called a detachment. Before the men were selected to form the several detach- ments, the sergeants had an understanding between them- selves as to the composition in part, at least, of their respec- tive commands. The method of selecting the members was similar to that used at country spelling schools, the first ser- geant choosing the first, the second sergeant the next, and so on, until the detachments were completed; the result being that the sixth detachment was composed entirely of men who had enlisted from the town of Scituate. 12 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., The roster of the battery, after being completed, was as follows : Captain — George E. Randolph. First Lieutenants — Walter O. Bartlett, right section. John A. Perry, centre section. William A. Arnold, left section. Pardon S. Jastram, chief of caissons. First Sergeant — William E Bo wen. Quartermaster-Sergeant — John K. Bucklyn. George C. DeKay declined the commission as first lieu- tenant, and Pardon S. Jastram was commissioned October 1 6th, to fill the vacancy. The descriptive lists of the first and second detachments are missing, but the names given are copied from First Sergt. William E. Bowen's detachment book. The sergeants were mustered as such Sept. 30, 1861. Corporals Butts, Brown, Trescott, Tanner, Mathewson, Gardiner, and C. P. Williams, were mustered as corporals on the same date. Corporals Darling, Hargraves, Lord, Burlingham, and Hale, were not promoted until November ist, but all were acting as such except Hale from October nth. First Detachment. Sergeant — Jacob H. Lamb. Corporals — Francis B. Butt.s, Seth B. Darlinc;. Privates. Silas A. Brown, James Mulligan, Martin Brown, Richard Poynton, John Carr, Richard Russell, Richard Conley, Adolphus Strausman, John Crothers, Robert Sutcliffe, Adelbert a. Fairb.\nks, Tho>l\s Waterhouse, John Hoi.i-v, Charles Y.. White. William |. Kellers, )S6i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. Second Detachment. 13 Sergeant — James F. Allen. Corporals — Albert H. Trescott, George F. Lord. Privates. Herbert F. Bennett, William S. Blair, William H. Cartwright, Jerahmeel Dexter, Gamaliel B. Goff, William E. Hooper, Thomas Lever, Emory W. Marble, Richard Rose, William Smith, Palmer B. Taylor, William Torpy, Charles S. Winslow, Henry Binns. Third Detachment. Sergeant- Corporals- -Amasa a. Darling. -James A. Tanner, Halliton p. Hale. Privates. Sylvester Can a van, George W. Coville, William Crothers, Joseph F. Devens, George Humphrey, Michael C. Hughes, John Martin, Michael McKenna. Charles A. Mulick, Thomas Nolan, Thomas H. Potter, John Riley, William H. Steere, Edson Walcott, Henry Williams, Albert B, Wilson. Fourth Detachment. Sergeant — William Millen. Corporals — Charles A. Brown, Arthur W. Hargraves. Privates. Thomas T. Beard, Almy M. Brownell, James Donnelly, Bartholomew Fitzgerald, John McAlees, John J. Mulhall, Israel Riley, John Ryan. H HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct. Privates. Joseph Harrop, Ernest Simpson, John VV. Hollahan, Lowry Strait, Alba Hopkins, James H. Walsh. Thomas Keenan, Fifth Detachment. Sergeant — Joseph S. Milne. Corporals — John B. Mathewson, George H. Burlingham. Privtaes. William H. Bailey, Edward A. Chandler, Philip A. Dexter, George W. Fisk, Lester S. Hill, Henry S. Holloway, Thomas Joslin, George Lewis, Nelson Lovell, David H. Macomber, Elias H. Mathewson, George H. Pierce, William H. Polk, Benjamin N. Remington, James Sterling. Sixth Detachment. Sergeant — George E. Williams. Corporals — Allen Gardiner, Charles P. Williams. Privates. George W. H. Allen, Edward Austin, John M. Battey, Frederick L. Burden, John Colvin, Albert N. Colwell, Lemuel A. Greene, Samuel H.\nxey, Jr., Albert A. Hopkins, Elisha Potter, Jeremiah Potter, Alfred B. Ramsdell, John F. Simmons, Thomas W. Simmons, Squire B. Tucker, Gilbert A. Weaver. Seventh Detachmetit. Artificers. David H. Colvix and Otis John H. Carney, Carriage- B. Jencks, Blacksmiths, maker, Asa Wilson and Nathan C. Joseph D. Hanev, Farrier. Lazelle, Harness-makers, i86i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 5 Spare Men. Jeremiah Bennett, John McKenna, Bugler, John R. Brayton, William H. Mulick, Charles Durfee, William M. Straight, John F. Keegan, Henry C. Wightman, George Maxfield, afterwards Carriage-maker. Officers Cooks. Isaac Cook, John Hilton. After the detachments had been fully organized, the men were drilled at the various foot movements belonging to the artillery service. We received our horses on Saturday, the 1 2th. The next day we changed our temporary quarters to those left the day before by Battery D, which had been or- dered to cross the Potomac. Our new quarters were an improvement on our former ones, the bunks being arranged in four tiers around the sides of the barracks, there being twenty-five in each. It was well that nature designed us to sleep with our eyes closed, for the dust falling from the bunks over our heads would have made it very annoying had it been otherwise. October 14th the harnesses were fitted to our horses, and on the 17th we received four ten-pounder Parrott guns, and drew our dress jackets and hats. The latter were made of felt, somewhat after the Kossuth pattern, one side of the rim being rolled up and fastened to the side of the crown. While they were useful in protecting us from the sun, they were not convenient to carry on the march, and they were soon discarded. The 1 8th of October opened with showers, but it was a day which gave us the pleasure of visiting the Second Rhode Island Regiment at Camp Brightwood, where a beautiful flag was presented them by the Rhode Island citizens of Califor- nia. President Lincoln, Governor Sprague, and Bishop Clark, of Rhode Island, and other distinguished persons, were present, as was also the Fourth Rhode Island Infantry. The Presi- dent and Bishop Clark made eloquent addresses. The exer- cises were closed by the singing of the Do.xology. We re- turned to our camp highly pleased with the ceremonies which we had witnessed. 1 6' HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., On the 19th we sent to Washington and obtained two twelve-pounder howitzer guns, which completed the equip- ment of the battery. Maj. Alexander S. Webb, of the First Rhode Island Light Artillery, reviewed us on the 20th ; and on the 27th we were again reviewed by Gen. William F. Barry, chief of artillery, assisted by Maj. A. S. Webb. During the remainder of our stay at Camp Sprague our time was spent in field and manual drills and in perfecting ourselves for active duties. Passes were given the men, as far as the duties of the ser- vice would permit, to visit Washington and other places of interest. The White House, Patent Office, Capitol, Post Office, War and Treasury Departments, Washington Monu- ment, Willard's and National Hotels, and the Smithsonian Institute were among the places visited. Our amusements in camp were in social pleasures, card playing, and occasionally singing of hymns and songs, the latter not being, perhaps, such as our civil deacons would sanction. However that may be, they were, doubtless, the only ones available. During the stay at Camp Sprague the men were gener- ally anxious to perfect themselves in all the duties belonging to the soldier's life, not forgetting the art of foraging. In reference to the latter an incident is remembered by the writer. Corp. J. B. Mathewson, of the fifth detachment, having introduced himself to a garden in the absence of the owner, and knowing that his comrades would also like some vegetables, he brought a supply to camp, and buried it under the floor of the barracks. After the morning inspec- tion by the officers it was exhumed, cooked, and duly dis- posed of by the corporal and his companions. iS6i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. I 7 CH A PTER III. October 29, 1861, to March 14, 1862. Camp Webb and Artillery Camp. AT eight o'clock a. m. on the 29th we hitched up and started for Dixie's land, passing through Washington, over Long Bridge, and through Alexandria, in the lat- ter place passing the Marshall House, where the brave Col. Ephraim Elmer Ellsworth was shot dead by the proprietor for taking down a rebel flag that was floating over the roof. After passing through the uninviting city, we crossed Hunt- er's Creek, and proceeded about a mile, when we entered a field and encamped. It was in this camp that our first experi- ence with Virginia mud began. We remained here in " Camp Mud," as we called it, four days, waiting until a better place could be selected for a permanent camp. The first night we had no tents pitched, and had to sleep, or, rather, tried to sleep, under tarpaulins spread over the guns ; but the next day (30th), we pitched our tents, arranged the grounds around them, and made ourselves as comfortable as possible. On the 31st we were formally mustered into General Heintzelman's division, Governor Sprague being present at the ceremonies. Our first drill in Virginia was on November ist, on which day our first accident also occurred, Corp. John B. Mathew- son being run over by the piece during the drill. He was, however, but slightly hurt. November 2d. Raining in torrents. The first blood by our battery was shed to-day. A Confederate pig came around to investigate, but he never returned to make his report. Of course nobody had killed it when the owner, a Mr. Fairfax, made a demand for its value, but it never was seen again as a pig, and the men had fresh pork for rations that night. Lieu- tenant Arnold, who was officer of the day, gave the battery '"^ HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., deran'd ol'fhr ^°' '^"'' P^?"^^^^'^^ '^^^- He said that the hrworrlinl r"''«"'"'' ^' '°"^P^'^^ with, and to make his word good, the officers very generously paid their share as, doijbtless, they should. The' day following (3d) was Sun- day, which as a general rule, gives no rest tol soldier This was specially true with us, for we were ordered to move ou? camp a short distance upon higher ground. The new camo was called ''Camp Webb," after Major Webb, of the Fi s Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, and we were al highly pleased with the change of location Another accident occurred to-day, Charles S. Winslow S^ ^^K ^ u V^" ^">"^ ^y "^ h^'"^^ ^"d his forehead quite badly cut by the horse's shoe. The battery was honored o' day by a visit from Jabez C. Knight, Mayor of Providence vvho was bounty paymaster, with the rank of colonel f"; during the. following week, but the field and manual drills were continued daily. Our camp was completed and made quite peasant, the officers having floors laid' in their tents! but as our stay was not expected to be of long duration no e.xtra arrangements were attempted. The few days of com RhodJ'l.T"'! f "' '^' "^'" ^" opportunity to visit^such oth" r Rhode Island troops as were encamped within visitin^x dis- tance. Priends at home were not forgotten, as they we?e a ourmre'irif""''° i'^'" ''■'''' --eme^ts. and' some of our more lucky comrades received boxes of provisions from sp^rcfaltieiKir^^^ ^^uly appreciated by the r^eiver "a^i JTs thS^ ^m"" ^^^- S''}^'' ^ ^^'S*^ ^^^t^^' o^ ni^^n were sent about three miles with baggage wagons, after some unhusked co n h" ;V "'f^^'^^^^r"^ '° ^ '^^^^ "'-^"^^^^1 Johnston, said to be a brother of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. The corn had to be husked before returning, but before the task was accom- pished It began to rain, and the men had to go back to camp in the storm getting thoroughly wet through. Uur first Sunday morning review since leavin- Camo bein'fSnt°t ''''%T ""'"^^"'^^ ^°^^^' ^^^ ^^---"^ offi er S?^ fs A Hi/ ''rT'T^''°c"' "^ ^^""'"''y G. Second\Tnited brLtitnaL^Periy." '''' ^^"^'^^y — n was also preached Previous to this, on October 15th, the Army of the Poto- i86i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 9 mac was organized into divisions and independent commands as follows : First division, Brig.-Gen. George Stoneman's cavalry com- mand. Second division, Col. Henry J. Hunt's artillery reserve. Third division, Brig.-Gen. Andrew Porter's City Guards. The other divisions of the army were commanded respect- ively by Generals Banks, McDowell, Heintzelman, Fitz J. Porter, Franklin, Stone, Buell, McCall, Hooker, Blenker, and Smith. Brigadier-General Montgomery commanded the forts about Washington, and Gen. John A. Dix a division at Balti- more. Battery E was assigned to Gen. Samuel P. Heintzel- man's division, which was composed of the following com- mands : First New Jersey Cavalry, Colonel Halstead ; Battery G, Second United States Artillery, Capt. James Thompson. General Richardson's brigade : Second, Third and Fifth Michigan, and Thirty-seventh New York Volunteers. Gen- eral Sedgwick's brigade : Third and Fourth Maine and Thirty- eighth and Fortieth New York Volunteers. General Jame- son's brigade : Thirty-second, Sixty-third, Sixty-first and Forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and Wild Cat Reserves (Pennsylvania Volunteers). On November nth. Captain Thompson of the regulars, who commanded the division artillery, drilled Battery E, and gave us some regular army styles, but owing to his imperious manner his efforts were not appreciated. The battery was paid to-day for October, partly in silver, the first and last in specie during the war. On the 1 2th a new experience was in store for us. About three a. m. "boots and saddles" aroused us from our quiet slurnbers. Notwithstanding the unexpected call, any kind of movement was welcome, even if for nothing more than a change. After a hastily prepared breakfast of hard tack and coffee, with one day's rations in our haversacks, we left camp, not knowing where we were going nor for what pur- pose the move was made. Before starting our captain ad- dressed a few words to the battery, in which he expressed a hope that, should it be necessary to go into action, every man would manifest the quality of a brave and loyal soldier. 20 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., Our course was in a southwest direction, and it was not until daylight that we were aware that Richardson's and Jameson's infantry were with us. Companies G and E of the Lincoln Cavalry also joined us. We marched towards the Pohick church in company with Richardson's brigade until within about three miles of the church, when we were detached with the Thirty-seventh New York and the Third Michigan regiments under the command of Colonel Hay- man of the Thirty-seventh, and ordered to take the road branching to the left, which led us to Accotink Village. We then took the right hand road, which brought us to Pohick church, arriving there about eleven a. m., where we found the rest of the brigade waiting for us. As soon as we arrived, Colonel Hayman, with his regiment and a company of cavalry, made a reconnoissance to Colchester, about five miles farther on. Colonel Terry, with his Fifth Michigan, four pieces of Thompson's battery and one company of cav- alry, went as far as Occoquan Village, a distance of about six miles from Pohick church on the Occoquan River. No enemy was found by Colonel Hayman, but Colonel Terry found a small force of cavalry and infantry, who quickly retired. Our troops were then ordered back to camp. While on our return Captain Thompson filed out into an open field and fired a few blank cartridges, remarking to Captain Ran- dolph, by way of explanation, that " if he could not be seen by the rebels they should hear him." The reason for this movement was owing to General Heintzelman having sent out the day before two small parties of cavalry to recon- noitre. On their return they reported that the rebels with four hundred cavalry and two regiments of infantry were encamped near Pohick church. Having learned this fact he telegraphed to headquarters for authority to disperse them, which was granted. The Union loss was slight. Capt. Henry B. Todd, one sergeant and four privates, all of the P'irst New York Cavalry, were taken prisoners, and two wounded. One of the wounded died soon after. The officers and men were somewhat disappointed in not meeting the enemy, as they desired to test their quality as soldiers. The next day the men were somewhat tired after their long march, nevertheless a large detail was sent about three miles with teams after corn, whish had to be husked before iS6i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 2 1 loading. It was something new to the city boys to become farmers, but the change from the monotony of camp life was quite agreeable. For several days following we had only our regular drills and camp duties to perform, of which oiling and washing harnesses and carriages was a part. Passes to Alexandria and to Rhode Island regiments near by were given daily to a few, generally to those who had been on guard the day before. Our Reverend Lieutenant Perry preached to us another sermon on the 17th. A tem- porary choir was improvised for the occasion, consisting of corporals Williams and Gardner, privates Hill and Lewis, and others whose names are not remembered. Doubtless it added slightly to the interest of the service, although the in- terest in Sunday sermons was not so general as many would have desired. On the 1 8th Corporal Hale was reduced to the ranks for drunkenness and pugilistic conduct. He was not a Rhode Islander, but joined the battery soon after our arrival in Wash- ington. He was a man of some capacity, but had an unusual amount of self-conceit, and, when intoxicated, he had, in his own estimation, but few superiors. Private George W. H. Allen was promoted to fill the vacancy. We were daily receiving luxuries from home, and happy the man who was the special friend of the receiver. The rest of us felt very much as the smaller canines do when the larger mastiff stands guard over his rations. November 20th we witnessed one of the most imposing military reviews that had ever taken place within the history of the nation. It occurred near Bailey's Cross Roads, which is about eight miles from Washington, at the junction of the Columbia, Alexandria and Leesburg turnpike. About one and half miles beyond the cross road a plain nearly two miles in length had been prepared by filling up the ditches and removing the fences for this display. The review was under the immediate charge of General McDowell.* The day before the review, an order was issued to all the regiments to carry forty rounds of cartridges, and to have one ambulance and all the surgical implements necesssary for a campaign. This order naturally caused much speculation as to the object of this movement. It was afterwards learned * Set- Rhode Island in the Kchellion, by Stone, page 3. 2 2 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., that it was only a precautionary measure against a possible attack by the enemy. About 6.30 A. M. we left camp accompanied by all the army of the Potomac (except a strong guard left in charge of each camp) and moved forward toward the reviewing ground, which was reached about ten o'clock.. Several divisions had arrived before us and were followed by continuous columns until after eleven o'clock, at which time there were present seventy-six regiments of infantry, seventeen batteries, and seven regiments of cavalry. President Lincoln arrived about eleven o'clock accompanied by his Cabinet, also by Mrs. McDowell and two daughters of General Taylor. They were soon joined by General McClellan and his staff. Besides the military officers present, there were from twenty to thirty thousand citizens of all grades, having come by every possible mode of conveyance. Quite conspicuous among those pre- sent, were the Prince de Joinville, Mrs. Lincoln and many of the families of the generals and high officials, besides many foreign ministers. There were three Rhode Island batteries present, C, D, and E, and fifty or more bands, the martial music of which was of the best order and added greatly to the enjoyment of the occasion. Everything being in readiness a salute to the president and general-in-chief was fired by four batteries, of which Battery E was one, after which the column started and passed the reviewing stand in the following order, viz. : General McCall's division, composed of the brigades of Generals Meade, Reynolds, and Ord ; General Heintzelman's division composed of Generals Sedgwick's, Jameson's and Richardson's brigades ; General Smith's division composed of Generals Hancock's, Brooks' and Benham's brigades ; General Frank- lin's division composed of Generals Slocum's, Newton's and Kearny's brigades ; General Blenker's division composed of Generals Stahl's brigade and two brigades commanded by senior colonels ; Gen. Fitz John Porter's division composed of the brigades of Generals Merrill, Martindale and Butter- field ; General McDowell's division composed of the brigades Generals King and Wadsworth, and a brigade commanded by Colonel Frisbie. The time in j^assing was about three hours. The troops were in the best of spirits and manifested much enthusiasm iS6i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 23 while the general-in-chief and staff were passing in review. The review ended, the regiments and batteries marched back to their camps having passed one of the most enjoyable days since their enlistment. The day following, the review it was rumored about camp that we were to move our camp and go into winter quarters, as all hope of any forward movement until spring, had van- ished. It was hoped that the rumor would prove to be a fact. We had thus far, since leaving Camp Sprague had only A tents in which only four men could sleep, and the only place where one could stand erect was in the middle of the tent. As our well known and popular physician, Lester S. Hill, who was then only a young man of seventeen, expressed it, " at night when we turned over, one said ' flop ' and all turned at once." To the civilian this may seem to be an exaggeration, but to the soldier it was a common experience. November 22d the order to change camp came and a gen- eral house breaking followed. All of our traps were packed and we started eastward and went about one mile and halted at what was known afterwards as Artillery Camp. There were during the following winter three batteries in this camp, Battery E taking the north, Captain Beam's Battery B of New Jersey taking the east, and Capt. James Thompson's Battery G, regulars, taking the centre. The ground was partially covered with small trees and shrubs, which had to be cleared. The camp was on high ground sloping towards the east. A short distance in front of the camp was a small stream at which we watered our horses. On the west the camp was bordered by woodla.nd which gradually disappeared, it being cut for camp uses. A ravine, starting near the north end of the camp and runnmg at right angles to the river, formed a boundary to the grounds in front' of the camp on the north. Several springs of water were located in the ravine from which we generally supplied ourselves with water for drinking and cooking purposes. Our horses were picketed for the first two weeks north of the camp, but during the first week in December our picket line was moved to the front of the camp. A short time after a roof was built of poles and covered with pine and cedar boughs, but soon after it was covered with boards. The north side of the stable was hedged with pine and cedar boughs also, which made an excellent 24 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., protection for our horses from the cold winds and stormy- weather. Our officers were suppHed with wall tents, situated in rear of and overlooking the camp. The first sergeant and quartermaster's tent being in line with the officers'. For several days after changing camp we were kept busy in making our quarters comfortable. We had hoped for bet- ter tents than we had previously used but we were for a while disappointed ; those who were disposed dug a trench from the inside of the tent to a short distance outside, and covered it over with stones and dirt and built a chimney at the outer end, leaving an opening at the inside end of the trench which was used as a fire-place. Those of us who had lived in the country saw quite a simi- larity between our fire apparatus and that used for smoking hams, and, if we could have been supplied with that swinish article, we doubtless would have so employed it. The guard system was changed after moving to this camp, from a battery to one of camp guard, detailed from the three batteries. This put us more under the command of Captain Thompson, of the regulars, who was not liked by the men of Battery E. His harsh manner and brazen profanity were very- repulsive, even to his own officers. It was no uncommon thing to see him on drill so intoxicated that it was with some effort that he could sit upright upon his horse. We were frequently drilled by Captain Thompson in company with his and Cap- tain Beam's battery. Of course this necessarily produced some effort to excel each other, and if good judges were cor- rect. Battery E was found equal, if not superior, in drill and discipline, not excepting the regulars. November 28th being Thanksgiving, Battery E and other Rhode Island troops were made happy by the practical kind- ness of friends at home. We received i 50 pounds of turkey sent by the good people of Rhode Island. The next day we enjoyed a feast of roast turkey, minus the fixings. December ist. The guard commenced the system of grand rounds which we thought quite useless, at least for artillery. December 6th. Our first practice at target shooting oc- curred to-day. A pile of rails ten feet wide was erected one mile distant to serve as a target. Lieutenant Perry bore off the honors for the best shot. iS6i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 25 December 9th. We were again visited by Col. Jabez C. Knight, mayor of Providence, who expressed himself well pleased with our situation. December iith. We were aroused from our slumbers at five A. M. by the bugle sounding "Boots and Saddles," and were soon on our way towards the enemy in company with the Fortieth New York and the Third Michigan regiments of infantry. We went some five or six miles when orders were received to return to camp, where we arrived about eleven a. m. The movement was caused by a demonstration of the enemy on our picket line. The next day we were ordered to go out on another target practice at the same place as before. We were accompanied by Mrs. Charlotte F. Dailey, wife of Albert Dailey, a well- known lumber dealer of Providence. She was escorted by a lieutenant of some regiment. Mrs. Dailey, who was colonel upon Governor Sprague's staff, and wore the eagles upon her shoulders, was appointed by the governor to visit the hospitals in and around Washington and Alexandria and to look after the welfare of sick Rhode Island soldiers. During her term of service she visited sixty-one hospitals, where her noble influence was highly appreciated and many a sick sol- dier had his lonesome hours made happier by her presence. The writer had the pleasure of making her acquaintance years after the war ended. A nobler and braver woman is seldom met. During the following week there being no special work ex- cept the usual camp duties, the men were allowed to visit the Fourth Rhode Island Regiment and other places of interest. Alexandria being near by it was often visited for various pur- poses, usually to purchase rations such as could not be had in camp. The places of interest in Alexandria were few and of such a character as not to invite much interest. The Old Market, Museum, and Liberty Hall, are excepted. We all desired to visit Mount Vernon, the home of Washington, but the distance was so great, being nine miles below Alexandria, that but few could get permits to go. Among the few en- listed men who were lucky enough to get passes were Cor- porals Gardiner and Williams, Sergeants J. F. Allen and Milne, Privates Hill, Humphrey and Lewis, and a few others. The writer has often thouo;ht that it would have been no more 26 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Dec, than justice if every regiment desiring to visit the home of the Father of his Country, should have been permitted to visit the place in rotation. No harm could have come from it, but much satisfaction and loyalty inspired by the pilgrim- age. To see the tomb and sarcophagus which contained the mortal remains of Washington was a privilege eagerly sought. Many relics were to be seen about the house and yard, among them being an old sofa, chair, and table, and platter, all of which were used by Washington. A musical instrument, not used at the present day, was one of the attractive relics. An old knapsack, used by Washington, was of very great interest to the soldiers. An old iron mortar, which stood in the yard, was not to be overlooked. A drink from the well was not forgotten, although the water was not palatable. Most of the rooms used by Washington were kept empty and always open to visitors. Fort Washington, on the opposite side of the Potomac River, is 900 rods distant. The river opposite the mansion is 385 rods wide. The Mount Vernon estate contains about thirteen hundred acres. In the entry there hung a chart, giving the names of the different parts and buildings on the estate. The old flour mill, which .was the last place Wash- ington visited previous to his death, was three miles distant. This, of course, we did not see. The various epitaphs on the monuments near the tomb were in themselves a history. Af- ter spending several hours we started for camp feeling deeply the sacred impressions derived from a visit to this Mecca of America. December i8th. Many of the boys had a revival of their school days in a game of ball. These amusements had much to do in preventing us from being homesick, and were pro- ductive, also, of health and happiness. December 19th. Another review. This time it was only Heintzelman's division. The review was about three miles from -camp. Eleven regiments of infantry, three batteries and one regiment of cavalry were present. Generals Heint- zelman, Richardson and Sedgwick were the reviewing officers. December 24th. Each detachment commenced building their Sibley tents. Logs were drawn from the environments of Fort Lyon, which had been cut down to give the guns bet- ter range. The logs were then cut about eisrht feet long and i86i.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 27 split in two parts, then set close together endways, in a ditch, which was dug three feet deep, in a circle about eighteen feet in diameter, and then the dirt was tamped securely around them. The cracks between the logs were plastered up with "Virginia" mud. On the "top of these logs the tents were placed and securely fastened by guy ropes fastened to stakes driven into the ground. Seven bunks were ar- ranged around the inside of the tents, the head being wider than the foot. A stove, somewhat like a cone, stood like a ring master in the centre of the tent, whose smoky antics were anything but agreeable. At the end of four days the tents were finished. Our quarters were now very comfort- able, although the number in the tent interfered somewhat with the selection of congenial companions. The general character of the men in Battery E was such that but very few were unwelcome as comrades. A guard- house during our stay here was uncalled for. Seldom was a comrade seen drunk, and all rules and regulations were, in the main, cheerfully obeyed. December 29th. The writer was excused from duty on ac- count of sickness, which resulted in a regular run of typhoid fever. Comrade Chandler was also sick, and for the ne.xt si.\ weeks we were very useless members of the battery. The last day of 1861 the officers celebrated by having new quar- ters built for themselves. We were now fully equipped for a winter campaign of idleness. January 2d, 1862. Twenty-one new horses were received in exchange for as many condemned as being unfit for ser- vice. January 9th. The first furlough granted since entering the service was received by Lieut. J. A. Perry. January nth. The welcome paymaster arrived on his second official visit, he paying us for November and Decem- ber. The battle now commenced between the appetite and the pocket, the former winning the honors. Those having families had to fight a different foe. The struggle with them was self or family, and generally the family was the winner. On January i6th our first recruits arrived. Their names were James Maguire, David P. Riley, Alexander Merchant, Benjamin Nickerson, Thomas Rogers, Thomas Shaw, John Slaver, Charles Moore, Leonard Steamer, Martin Harvey, 28 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [J;in., and Moses L. Wigglesworth. John Jordan, who should have come with these, arrived a short time after. January 20th. Governor Sprague called to-day and ex- pressed himself well pleased with the condition of the bat- tery. January 22d. Corp. John B. Mathewson died of typhoid fever, having been sick only ten days. His body was sent to Alexandria from here. His friends conveyed it to Nayatt, R. I., where he belonged. He was a young man of eighteen years, over six feet tall, possessed of a robust constitution, full of life and ready for any emergency ; a cordial and con- genial companion, and the last man that we should have se- lected to die first. He belonged to the fifth detachment. January 25th. The knapsacks which were given to us at the beginning of the service were condemned. A few days after the regular army knapsack was substituted. Those who first enlisted will remember the first knapsack, which had a patent canteen fastened to the under side of the knapsack, one end of it being connected with a rubber tube which passed under the left arm, with a filtering mouthpiece through which we drew the water from the canteen. A fireman would have called it a suction hose. In theory it was apparently a nice arrangement, but practically it was worthless. January 26th. Second Corp. George H. Burlingham was promoted gunner, vice Mathewson, deceased. Second Corp. George W. H. Allen, of the third detachment, was trans- ferred to the fifth, in the place of Burlingham. Private Ernest Simpson was promoted to second corporal and as- signed to third detachment, vice Allen transferred. January 31st. First. Lieut. Walter O. Bartlett having re- ceived a commission dated January 24th, as captain of Battery B, left us to assume his more responsible duties. His loss to the battery was deeply regretted, especially by the right section, which he commanded. Before taking his departure he was presented with a field glass by the members of the battery as a small token of the respect and esteem in which he was held by them. Lieut. John A. Perry having received a commission dated January 13th, as chaplain of the First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, two vacancies were made in the battery. Lieut. Israel R. Sheldon having re- ceived a commission dated |anuar\' gth, was assigned to the Capt. Walter O. Bartlett. iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 29 battery. He arrived the same day that Bartlett left. This made a complete change in the section commanders. Lieu- tenant Arnold, who had command of the centre section, was transferred to the right, Lieutenant Jastram taking the left, and Sheldon the centre section. During the first three weeks in February nothing of spe- cial interest occurred, the regular camp and guard duties be- ing the only service required. This left us plenty of time to amuse ourselves as we thought best. From the middle of January to the 23d of February there had been only ten clear days, the remaining ones being cloudy and stormy, causing the ground to be unfit for field drill. A supply of boots was received from Rhode Island which we highly appreciated. The mud around our camp was so deep that it was no uncommon affair that in attempting to walk through it our boots would be left standing in the mud. Through this mud we had to go whenever we watered our horses, which greatly increased the labor of grooming. The springs from which we obtained our supply of water for cooking were overflowed from the constant rain, making it necessary to go a long distance to obtain a supply of pure water. The close proximity of the stables to the spring was another source of trouble to the water. The effect of this could be tasted in our rations of coffee, but this was some- times partially removed by adding a few drops of pepper- mint. On the 20th an order from headquarters compelled all the men to be vaccinated ; this caused some grumbling, but its demand was imperative. Several more target practices were had during the month. Our Sunday reviews were seldom neglected, which kept us from getting rusty. On the 24th another alarm came in from our picket line at Lewis chapel, about a mile beyond Pohick church. Two regi- ments of infantry from Richardson's brigade and our battery were sent as their support should they need any. Our bat- tery went only as far as Winsor's Hill. From its great height we could overlook the surrounding country for miles. In the distance we could see our infantry seeking to find the enemy, but none were found. In the meantime our guns were masked and trees were cut down to give us a clear range at the enemy should they come to receive the salute prepared 30 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Feb., for them. After waiting an hour or two we were ordered to return to camp. When we had nearly reached there an order came for the left section to return, which was promptly obeyed. On reaching the hill, the alarm being over, the section was again ordered to camp. When we left camp in the morning the weather was warm and the roads quite muddy. As the day passed it grew cold and the wind in- creased almost to a gale, the ground becoming partially frozen and treacherous. The condition of the roads made it exceed- ingly tiresome to travel. Our ankles became sore by con- stantly breaking through the half frozen mud and stumbling into holes and ruts which were hidden by the darkness of the night. When we reached camp, which was not until mid- night, the men and horses were nearly exhausted. During this march our captain with his horse fell down an embank- ment some eight feet, but received no material injury. As he was a strict temperance man, we, of course, had to lay the blame upon the poor beast. February 20th. Orders to be ready to move at a moment's notice. Our knapsacks were packed and ready to move, but the order was soon countermanded. February 28th. Chaplain Perry arrived with the follow- ing recruits : Richard Alexander, Charles W. Robbins, James M. Durfee, Albert M. Bennett, James Fitzpatrick, William Mason, Sampson Burgess, S. W. Corp, J. M. Davidson, Luther L. Young, J. A. Hopkins, Geo. H. Burgess, C. Chap- man, H. O. Collins, D. A. Sweet. March 8th. Quartermaster John K. Bucklyn having re- ceived a commission as second lieutenant, assumed his duties as chief of caissons, vice Jastram, who had been advanced to command the left section ; Corporal Charles A. Brown, of the fourth detachment promoted to quartermaster-sergeant, vice J. K. Bucklyn, promoted ; Second Corporal Hargraves promoted gunner, vice Brown, promoted ; Private Wm. H. Polk* promoted second corporal of the fourth detachment. During the first week in March various rumors were in motion. Orders to have rations on hand, shelter tents and rubber ponchos were being issued throughout the army. On the 7th General Franklin ordered his first brigade, com- manded by General Kearny, to Burke's Station on the Alex- andria & Orange Railroad, for the purpose of guarding a party * Formurly spelled Pcoke. iS62 ] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 3 1 of laborers. While there General Kearny was informed by negroes that the rebels were about to leave Manassas. On the 8th he notified Franklin of the rumor, and, without wait- ing for orders, sent troops in all directions scouring the country and driving in the rebel cavalry and pickets. He continued his movements on the 9th, when he encountered some rebel cavalry, which he soon put to flight. On the loth Kearny still continued to advance, when, about ten a. m., he entered Centreville and Manassas, and found them de- serted. It was subsequently learned that the rebels left on the 8th and 9th. Everything indicated that they left in great haste, as an immense amount of commissary stores, baggage wagons, several locomotives and cars were found, besides a large number of tents and other valuable property. It was not until the nth that the main forces who were ordered forward to Manassas reached there, fully twenty-four hours after Kearny and his brave Jersey troops entered the vacated forts. I refer to this statement as Battery E was afterwards so closely identified with Kearny's movements that it is of great interest to them. This move of Kearny's was unknown to us at the time. Let us now return to Battery E, which we left on the 8th waiting for something to turn up. On the loth orders came to be ready to move the next day at nine a. m. The nth came but we made no movement, although large bodies of troops were marching towards Centreville, but we, instead of moving went on target practice. We had not heard of the evacuation of Manassas until to-day, which plainly revealed to us the cause of so much activity for the last few days. The next day large numbers of steamers and vessels were constantly arriving at Alexandria. This added greatly to the mystery of the anticipated movement. On the 14th our large Sibley tents were lowered, never again to be used by us. Our sick were sent to the hospital, except First Sergeant Wm. E. Bowen, Privates John Hilton, and James McGuire, who were discharged. Bowen had been subject to epileptic fits for quite a period ; were it not for this he would doubt- less soon have received a commission. He was a soldier of unusual merit and always performed his duties faithfully. It was a cold, cloudy day, and having no tents we had to resort to camp-fires to keep comfortable. All the regiments far and near had broken camp and were encamped temporarily 32 . HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [March, near Alexandria, and, like ourselves, had to build camp-fires, around which they made a pretence of keeping warm. It was a cheerless day, but the anticipation of a real movement dispelled somewhat the disagreeableness of our situation. It was a se- vere trial for those who were not in good health. Among these was James M. Durfee, a pale-faced boy of fifteen years, whose bloodless face and hacking cough indicated a short career. Nevertheless, although he was several times sent to the hos- pital, he served out his time and was one of the bravest boys in the battery. The average number on the sick list during our stay at this camp was about fifteen per day. Only three or four were dangerously sick, and only one death occurred. During these days of suspense Sergt. Jacob H. Lamb of the first detachment was promoted first sergeant, vice Bowen, discharged ; First Corp. Allen Gardiner, of the sixth detach- ment, promoted sergeant, vice Lamb promoted ; Corp. F. B. Butts, of the first detachment, was transferred to the sixth detachment as second corporal ; Second Corp. C. P. Williams was advanced to gunner on the sixth piece ; Private Charles S. Win slow was promoted to second corporal and assigned to first detachment. Here, for future reference, let us give the organization of the army as it existed just before being sent to the Peninsula, by inserting the following order by General McClellan : HEADqUARTERS ArMY OF THE POTOMAC, Fairfax Court House, Va., March 13, 1S62. General Orders, JVo. iji. In compliance with the President's War Order, No, 2, of March Sth, 1S62, the active portion of the Army of the Potomac is formed Into army corps, as follows, viz. : First Corps, Maj.-Gen. Irvin McDowell, to consist for the present of the divisions of Franklin, McCall and King. Second Corps, Brig.-Gen. E. V. Sumner; divisions Richardson, Blen- ker and Sedgwick. Third Corps, Brigadier-General Heintzelman: divisions F. J. Porter, Hooker and Hamilton. Fourth Corps, Brig.-Gen. E. D. Keyes; divisions Couch, Smith and Casey. Fifth Corps, Maj.-Gen. N. P. Banks; divisions Williams and Shields. The cavalry regiments attached to divisions will, for the present, re- main so. Subsequent orders will provide for these regiments, as well as for the reserve artillery, regular infantry and regular cavalry. Arrange- ments will be made to unite the divisions of each army corps as promptly as possible. iS62.] FIRST R, I. LIGHT ARTILLERY, 33 The commanders of divisions will at once report in person, or where that is impossible, b}' letter, to the commander of their army corps. By command of Major-General McClellan. A. V. CoLBURN, Assista7t/ Ad/' u taut- General. The Third corps after being fully organized consisted of the following divisions and brigades : First division, Gen. Fitz John Porter, artillery : Grififin's battery (D), Fifth United States, six ten-pounders Parrott guns ; Weeden's battery (C), Rhode Island ; Martin's battery, (C), Massachusetts, six Napoleon guns ; Allen's battery (E), Massachusetts, six three-inch ordnance guns ; infantry: Mar- tindale's brigade ; Second Maine, Eighteenth and Twenty-Sec- ond Massachusetts and Twenty-fifth and Thirteenth New York Volunteers ; Morrell's brigade : Fourteenth New York, Fourth Michigan, Ninth Massachusetts, and Sixty-second Pennsyl- vania Volunteers ; Butterfield's brigade : Seventeenth, Forty- fourth and Twelfth New York, Eighty-third Pennsylvania, and Stockton's (Sixteenth) Michigan Volunteers. First Berdan Sharpshooters were attached to this division, but were inde- pendent. Second division, Gen. Joseph Hooker, artillery: Hall's battery (H), First United States four Parrotts and two howitzers ; Smith's battery Fourth New York, ten-pounder Parrotts ; Bramhall's battery, Sixth New York, three-inch ordnance guns ; Osborn's battery, First New York, four three-inch ordnance guns ; infantry : Daniel E. Sickles's brigade ; First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Excelsior, New York ; H. M, Nagle's brigade ; First and Eleventh Massachusetts, Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania, and Second New Hampshire Volunteers ; Col. S. H. Starr's brigade. Fifty- sixth, Seventh and Eighth New Jersey Volunteers ; Third division, Charles S. Hamilton ; artillery : Thompson's bat- tery (G), Second United States, six Napoleon guns ; Beam's battery (B), New Jersey, four Parrotts and two Napoleon guns ; Randolph's battery (E), Rhode Island, six guns four ten-pounders, Parrotts and two twelve-pounder howitzers ; infantry ; Jameson's brigade, One Hundred and Fifth, Sixty- third, and Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania, and Eighty-seventh New York Volunteers ; D. B. Birney's brigade ; Thirty- eighth and Fortieth New York and Third and Fourth Maine Volunteers ; H. G. Berry's brigade ; Second, Third and Fifth Michigan and Thirty-seventh New-York Volunteers. 34 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [March, CHAPTER IV. March— April, 1862. Departure for the Peninsula and Siege of Yorktown. HAVING given in the previous chapter the general formation of the Army of the Potomac and as Battery E was so long connected with the Third corps, I have given its regimental and battery formation as it existed when we left Alexandria for Fortress Monroe. I will again return to battery E, which we left on the 14th waiting in the rain for orders to move. The next day brought nothing but a heavy rain. On the 17th, orders came to put our battery on board the transports that were lying at Alexandria to con- vey troops to our then unknown destination ; but we soon learned that it was to Fortress Monroe. The guns and am- munition chests of the left section and all the horses of the battery, with men enough to care for them, were put on the barge St. Nicholas under the charge of First Sergt. Jacob H. Lamb. The guns and carriages of the right and centre sec- tions, with most of the men and all the commissioned officers, were put on the barge Walkill. These barges were a part of a fleet of about thirty crafts of all kinds, that were to carry Hamilton's division of the Third corps, to which we belonged. The fleet started at two p. m. on the i8th. Our battery started at 2.30, the St. Nicholas being towed by two propellers, the Decatur 2ccidi P ant Jicnia. At six p. M.we were off the Occoquan River and continued down the Potomac to near Sandy Point, when the St. Nicholas and the propellers ran aground. It was then ten p. isi. Here we remained until ten a. m. next mornin,g, when the St. NicJiolas got afloat, but the two propellers were unable to extricate themselves. While in this condition we signaled the steamer E. D. Collins and one other, but they failed to get the propellers afloat ; later the steamer Herald came to our relief and took us in tow and went as far as Cedar iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 35 Point Neck, where we cast anchor at five p. m. The next morning the steamer left us and returned after the two pro- pellers left behind. She never returned, but the two pro- pellers came up at 2.30 p. m. We did not start, but remained here until the next morning, when we were taken in tow by the steamer John Brooks. During our stay of thirty-six hours at Cedar Point our rations were reduced to hard tack and raw bacon, not very palatable to raw troops, but there was no remedy. We continued our journey in company with the barge California loaded with forage, which was fastened to the St. Nicholas, both being towed by the steamer Johji Brooks. We sailed until 1.30 p. m., when the tow line broke that held us to the steamer, but the delay was only short. Without further trouble we reached Fortress Monroe at three p. M., being one of the first to reach our destination, having been seventy-three hours on the passage. The Walkill, which contained the remaining part of the battery, separated from the St. Nicholas during the first night when she was aground, and was more unfortunate than her companions. She con- tinued her voyage, being towed by a vessel till the 19th, when, on account of an approaching storm, it was thought unsafe for so small a craft to proceed, and, being near St. Mary's Bay, she entered it and cast anchor to await events. It was not until the 23d that they were relieved from their prison, pro- visions not being provided for delays. The result was that rations were decidedly short. Every day they were reduced in quantity, and, if relief had not finally come, they would have had to go on shore and call upon rural quartermasters for supplies. The officers were more fortunate, as a small pas- sing gunboat left a small quantity of meat for temporary relief. Signals of distress, finally, on the 23d, brought a propeller with hard tack and beef. Once during the stay the officers went on shore to the residence of a Catholic priest, and were absolved from their hunger at least ; but judging from their future some doubts were entertained as to their sins having been absolved ; they were certainly no better than before. One relief came to them through a company of slaves who came on board with a violin and banjo and had a regular plantation dance, which was highly enjoyed by all. A collection was taken up for them for the entertainment, and they departed well pleased. 36 HISTORY OF BATTERY K, [March, At nine a. M.,on the 23d, Captain Thompson, of the regular battery, who was on board with some of his officers, pressed a passing steamer to take them in tow to Fortress Monroe, where they arrived shortly after midnight. The next morning they unloaded and joined the rest of the battery, which had arrived three days before, and had awaited their coming with much anxiety. After the arrival our interest was turned to see- ing the sights at the fortress. Only a few who were fortunate enough to get on detail to go after bread, had the pleasure of seeing the inside of the fort. This was a great, and we thought unnecessary, disappointment. The great Union gun, which was mounted on the beach, was of much interest. We had never before seen a gun so large that men could amuse them- selves by crawling into it. The famous Monitor that lay in the harbor, which only a few days before had driven and dis- abled that novel craft, the rebel Mertimac, was by far the greatest object of interest. Her harmless appearance was such that one could hardly believe that a craft formidable enough to destroy the Cuvibcj-land and Congress could be put to flight by her. During the next ten days the Army of the Potomac was being concentrated near Hampton, a small village about two miles from the fort, which was burned by the rebel general, Magruder, Aug. 7, 1861. During these days of waiting the men were in good spirits and anxious to move. On the 28th, Lieutenant Arnold was badly hurt by his horse falling upon him, and a few days after was sent to the hos- pital. He subsequently received a leave of absence and did not return to his battery for duty until the 24th of June. On the 3d of April, an order was issued by General Mc- Clellan for Porter's and Hamilton's divisions and Averell's cavalry of the Third corps, with Sedgwick's division of the Second corps, and General Keyes, with two divisions of the Fourth corps, to move on the following morning. Agreeable to the above order, we started about eight a. M.with Hamilton's division over the New Bridge road which led directly to Big Bethel, arriving there at two f. m. Big Bethel w\as the battle ground of General Pierce, June 10, 1861, where he was de- feated with a loss of fourteen killed. Why the prefix " Big " was used none of us could understand, as the only building was a small bethel. Passing on some two miles further we went into camp for the night on the farm of Colonel Russel. i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 37 Left camp on the 4th early in the morning, Morrell's brigade of the first division in the advance. On reach- ing Howard's Bridge over the Poquosin River, where some rebel works were encountered, and, after a slight re- sistance, the enemy was driven out by the Fourteenth New York and the Fourth Michigan. The march was re- sumed on the 5th in the same order as before. Battery E reached Howard's Bridge about noon. After a short halt we passed on towards Yorktown and came in sight of the enemy's fortifications at three p. m. General Porter with the first division of the Third corps had arrived about noon, had been attacked by the rebel artillery and promptly re- sponded with infantry and artillery. Battery C of Rhode Island being the first to open fire upon the enemy's works, losing one man (John T. Reynolds) in the attack. Almost immediately after our arrival we were ordered into action near the centre of the line, not far from Wynn's mill. The right and centre sections, with Parrotts, went into ac- tion some distance from the left section, with howitzers. The former, although at longer range, were subjected to a se- vere fire from the rebel batteries, which had a good range upon the locality. The position was held until night, with a loss of some six or eight horses and one wheel damaged. This place was afterwards called " Randolph's slaughter- pen." The left section, although within five hundred yards of the rebel rifle-pit, received no loss. This was our first ex- perience under fire. Although quite severely shelled by the enemy's artillery, with our limited experience we thought we had experienced quite a severe engagement. About sunset the battery was again united and soon after went into camp in an open field. Owing to previous rains the roads were in a terrible condition, and the trains, with our rations, were stuck in the mud several miles in the rear. On this account, not a few of our comrades had no supper, which was an ex- perience with which we soon became familiar. The next morning found us hitched up at three .-\. m., expect- ing that a forward movement would be attempted, little think- ing that we were to have a regular siege of one month's dura- tion. Not seeing any signs of moving, many of the men tried their hand at foraging to supply their rations, one squad 38 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April, being so successful as to capture a steer.* Some went among the infantry, and, in some cases, as much as twenty-five cents was offered for a single cracker. Such offers were generally refused with the remark, " If you are hungry enough to offer that amount, I will give you one with pleasure," showing that kind hearts were not strangers in the army. An eighty-four pound percussion shell was fired into our lines to-day, which was viewed with much interest by the men, it being the first shot of the kind that we had seen. We much preferred that they should be kept at home. Owing to the shell not being properly prepared, it did not explode. It was sent to Fortress Monroe. It was soon evident that a siege had been decided upon, the result being that light artillery was of but little use for the next four weeks. A siege train of over one hundred guns was or- dered to the front, and were during the month placed in position as rapidly as possible. Guns of every kind and cal- ibre, from two hundred to twelve-pounders, were placed in position at every available point. The conveying of these heavy guns and mortars made it necessary to build many miles of corduroy roads and a large number of fortifications. To accomplish this large details had to be made daily to do the work, mostly from the infantry, although the light artil- lery had more or less corduroying to do when such roads were needed near their camp. Movements of a temporary nature were constant, and many false alarms occurred during the siege, which kept us on the alert. The battery, on the 12th, moved into the woods and formed a comfortable camp, in which we remained while the siege lasted, although sections of the battery were often sent to the front to assist in some movement, and orders to hitch up and unhitch were almost of daily occurrence, caused mostly by false alarms. Usually the Parrotts were sent to the front, as the howitzer, to be of service, would have to go within musket range. On the 14th, the right section, under Lieutenant Jastrani, was ordered to the front to shell a rifie-pit which was causing ♦Lieutenant Buckh'n.on being asked by the men if they should kill the steer, replied, " If 1 see ycu kill that steer 1 shall certainly report you, but f am gfoing out of camp to remain awhile." It need not he said that the animal was duly dressed and eaten. iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 39 US some trouble. They fired fifteen rounds and returned at night. Comrade E. A. Chandler returned from a furlough, having received it while sick at Artillery Camp near Alexandria. On the 1 6th, Sergeants Millen and Darling were sent out on picket to the place where the battery was engaged on the 5th. After having fired all their ammunition, the rebels opened upon them with eight pieces of artillery, causing them to withdraw, as they had no ammunition to continue the fight. On the 1 6th, the right section went to the front and into battery behind breastworks, near Battery G (Rhode Island), and fired until one a. m., but the rebels made no reply, 19th. Right section again shelling rifle-pit, and, after silencing them returned to camp. 2 1 St, Right section out again on picket. Chaplain Perry came to the battery with the intention of making it his headquarters for an indefinite length of time. On the 29th, the left section was sent out on picket duty, remaining until the next morning. May ist, Lieutenant Arnold, who was hurt by his horse falling upon him when near Hampton, made a visit to the battery before starting for home on a leave of absence, Chap- lain Perry serving as substitute for awhile during his absence. At three o'clock on the third of May a large fire was dis- covered inside of the rebel works, and at daylight three pris- oners were taken at the rifle trenches, who reported that the town was evacuated. Four companies of the Sixty-second Pennsylvania, and two companies of the Twenty-second Massachusetts were sent forward to ascertain if the report was correct. The two commands entered the fortifications almost together. Colonel Gove, of the Twenty-second Massachusetts, planted the first Union flag upon the rebel works. Thus ended the siege of Yorktown, which was then generally, and now almost universally, thought to have been an unnecessary delay. During the siege of Yorktown, General Kearny, who commanded a brigade of Jersey troops in Franklin's division of the First corps, had been, with his command, temporarily detached from the Army of the Potomac. On the 17th of April he embarked his troops on board the steamer Elm City, 40 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [April, at Alexandria, bound for the Army of the Potomac, which was then at Yorktown. On the 30th, his troops were landed on the shore at Yorktown. On the same day he was assigned to the command of the Third division of the Third corps. On the 2d of May, General Hamilton, who commanded the Third division of the Third corps, having been relieved and ordered further south. General Kearny assumed command on the 3d to fill the vacancy. Once before Kearny had been offered a like command, but he refused to accept for the rea- son that his Jersey troops could not be allowed to go with him. 52.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 4I CHAPTER V. May, 1862. Battle of Williamsburg. THE 4th of May was one of the most lovely days. In connection with the retreat of the enemy it was a day of great rejoicing. Our hearts were buoyant with hope and faith that we should soon be in possession of Rich- mond. The army was already in pursuit of the retreating foe. Kearny's division was one of the last to leave York- town. It was not until 2.30 p. m, that the Third division left camp to share in the results that were to follow, now that the brave and intrepid Kearny was to be our division com- mander. We felt sure that the Third division would never fail to do its duty in future battles. Before the rebels evac- uated the town they buried torpedoes in the ground over which we were expected to pass. They were soon discovered, but not until a few brave soldiers were slaughtered by this barbarous method. These torpedoes were taken up by rebel prisoners under command of our provost guard. We passed unharmed, and, after reaching a distance of two miles beyond the fortifications, the battery went into camp for the night. The next morning at two a. m. reveille was sounded. At three we were hitched up in the rain, but did not move until near the middle of the forenoon. In the meantime the rain increased so that by the time we started the roads were quite muddy. At a distance in our front the sound of artillery was distinctly heard, revealing to us that the rear guard of the enemy had been overtaken. Already Hooker was showing his fighting qualities, and had forced the rebels to halt a short distance this side of Williamsburg, where they had erected earthworks, the largest of them being Fort Magruder. The trees in the woods fronting the forts were felled to give range to their guns and to give cover to their sharp- shooters. In these woods most of the fighting was done. 42 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [M^v, which continued all the forenoon with no signs of abating. During these hours of anxiety the army was being hurried forward with all possible haste, but the roads were so muddy it was with the greatest difficulty that troops could make even the slowest advance. Temporary roads were cut through the woods by the pioneers at every available locality through which the troops were hurried, but in spite of these extra roads the baggage trains and artillery were so badly mired that only slow progress could be made. It was a constant halt and start instead of being the rapid movement so much de- sired. In the meantime aids and orderlies were constantly sent by Hooker and Sumner for assistance, and to Kearny in particular, but the energy of Kearny needed nothing more than this roar of artillery and the rattling of musketry to arouse his utmost efforts to relieve the brave troops who were struggling against odds to hold the ground till assist- ance could arrive. By the most strenuous exertions Kearny, with Berry's brigade in the lead, followed by General Birney and Jameson's brigades in quick succession, reached the front and immediately went into action. There was consid- erable controversy as to the time of Kearny's arrival, but nearly all agree that it was about three p. m. Hooker had at the time every available regiment in action, all of which were being hotly engaged by a rebel force which largely outnum- bered them, and which was making strenuous and determined efforts to drive in our left and centre and capture our artil- lery. Three regiments of Kearny's division, the Third and Fourth Maine and the Third Michigan were detached and ordered to support General Emory's cavalry on the left. Berry's and Birney's brigades were rapidly deployed into the woods in front of Fort Magruder. Berry's brigade on the left of the Williamsburg road and Birney's on the right went immediately into action. Hooker's Second division of the Third corps having nearly exhausted its ammunition was withdrawn. Soon the whole line was hotly engaged and was successful in slowly driving the enemy back, but the felled timber and obstructions were so formidable it was not possi- ble to advance further. At this juncture of affairs Col. Hobart Ward, of the Thirty-eighth New York, followed by Colonel Riley, of the Fortieth New York (Mozart), was or- dered by General Kearny tc charge down the Williamsburg road, which was done with the characteristic bravery they i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 43 ever afterwards sustained. This charge was successful and resulted in the silencing of the light artillery of the enemy and gaining their rear. General Jameson's brigade having arrived and the three detached regiments having returned from the left, they were formed into a second line and com- manded to await orders. About this time Battery E was ordered down the Williamsburg road and unlimbered on the right of the road where the mud and water was nearly hub deep, from which it was with the greatest difficulty that the pieces could be moved. While thus situated a few shots were fired over our heads and buried harmlessly in the mud. After waitmg a short time for the command to fire, orders were given to limber up and return to the open field in rear of the woods, near where we lay before going to the imme- diate front. After our long and weary march through the mud and slush, we were glad to get a rest. After a supper of hard tack and partly drying ourselves by camp-fires, we spread our blankets on the ground and slept as soundly as we had ever done upon our pillows at home. At an early hour on the 6th it was learned that the rebels were evacuating the forts in our front. At dawn a squad of twelve men of the One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania Regiment advanced and entered the works and found them empty, but rebel cavalry were seen near the town. General Jameson then ordered his brigade forward, deploying four companies of the One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania Vol- unteers as skirmishers, and with one section of Thompson's and the left section of Randolph's battery, commanded by Lieutenant Bucklyn, moved forward towards Williamsburg, the rebel cavalry retreating out of the town just as we entered it. The section of Lieutenant Bucklyn followed the enemy a short distance beyond the town and went into bat- tery upon a knoll, remaining a short time, and then returned to the town and went into park upon the grounds of W'illiam and Mary College. On returning Bucklyn brought with him a small Spanish gun, abandoned by the rebels, mounted upon a miniature carriage. The gun, according to Lieuten- ant Jastram's statement, carried a shot of three pounds, but the diary of Sergt C. P. Williams reads "a two-pounder." On top of the gun was marked " P. Seesta 1778," with mon- ogram A. & V. underneath, and with letters O. & C. endorsed near the vent. The gun before we left was mounted upon 44 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, the wall near the camp, where we left it when we left town, but rumor has it that a Massachusetts regiment sent it home soon after as a trophy. The other sections of the battery came up during the fore- noon and joined the left section at the college, except the battery wagon and the caissons of the centre section, which were mired during the battle. One of these in command of Corporal Humphrey, by the assistance of extra horses, was brought up the next day. The other caisson and the battery wagon were drawn out of the mud by the skillful management of Lieutenant Buck- lyn, with the twenty-four horses of the left section, who in doing so had to use the prolonge, as the muddy ground near the carriages would not admit the near approach of the horses. Battery E had now passed through two battles, although it had not been called upon to do any very hard fighting. It had nevertheless been tested in its capacity to endure fatigue and to face dangers with that courage which alone can give victory. It was also our first experience of coming in contact with the wounded and dying soldiers, many of whom we passed on our way into Williamsburg. Several negro shanties were occupied by these from both armies, they having reached there after being so severely wounded that they were unable to rejoin their commands. It was a heart-rending experience to hear their imploring calls for water, of which we had none. We could only encourage them to bear their sufferings bravely until the ambulances and assistance arrived. It was a hard duty, but as we were advancing with the skirmish line we had no choice but to leave them to the fortunes of war. Our stay at Williamsburg was for only three days, but dur- ing this period we had quite a pleasant time. Sutlers came up with their wares, but those who could purchase had to pay enormous prices. Butter sold at one dollar per pound and other articles in proportion. Battery E always thought itself equal in good conduct to the general character of the army, but sometimes we were somewhat unchivalrous, which was shown at Williamsburg in our foraging propensities, by not forgetting to milk any Secesh cows that came in our way ; but the strict discipline of our captain put a check to this and we were soon restored to order. iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 45 CH A PTE R V I. May— June, 1862. In Pursuit of the Enemy and Battle of Fair Oaks. ON the 9th of May we started with three days' rations on our way towards Richmond. As the season had now advanced beyond the need of winter supplies, all but two blankets were turned in, which lightened our burdens somewhat, although the weather occasionally called for them. The first day we advanced about six miles over roads strewn with rebel equipage, encamping in an open field. On the loth we advanced near to Barhamville, a small hamlet eighteen miles from Williamsburg. Here we remained two days, forag- ing in the meantime forty-five bushels of corn, and some corn- stalks for the use of our horses. On the 13th, we went to within four miles of New Kent Court House. On the way private Joslin was so sick that we had to hold him on the caisson. He was better the ne.xt morn- ing. Remained here all the next day. On the i 5th hitched up at four A. M., and marched to Cumberland on the Pamunky River, which is one of the sources of York River. One of the first objects that met our view was the steamer Canoniciis, of Providence, R. I. We encamped on the ground just va- cated by Porter's division, which had quite recently rejoined the Army of the Potomac. Soon after arriving it commenced raining in torrents, almost flooding the ground upon which our tents were pitched. It was a tedious and sleepless night for the many thousands of troops encamped here. We re- mained here two days. During the stay the men took ad- vantage of the tempting river for bodily ablution, which was very much needed. On the 19th we moved back two miles and encamped over night, and then at an early hour started forward again, and reached Baltimore Cross Roads at 7.30 a. M., where we remained two days. On the first day our knap- 46 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, sacks were ordered to be carried in the baggage wagons. This 'was more to relieve the horses than ourselves, as they had invariably before been carried on the caissons and limbers. The second day will long be remembered by the drivers who had to ride their horses some three or four miles in the sultry heat before finding water for them. It was here that our first experience from rations of whiskey was tried. Its effect was as usual, — producing more harm than good. The issue was by order from headquarters and against the wish of Captain Randolph, whose well known opinion was against its use. One of its results was that drunkenness followed, making it necessary to reduce one of our best gun- ners, but he was in a day or two reinstated. On the 23d we advanced six or seven miles through a most delightful country where fields of over a hundred acres of wheat waved in splendor. What a contrast to the desola- lation usually left by war. May 24th found us encamped near a small church about one and a half miles from Bottom's Bridge, on the Chickaho- miny River. We remained here until the next morning. At six A. M. we broke camp for Bottom's Bridge, where we arrived at nine o'clock, and crossed at eleven a. m., marching about two miles and went into camp. Here we remained for five da\-s, experiencing heavy thunder showers and hot weather. All of our camp equipage, except overcoats and ponchos, was sent back to the baggage wagons beyond the Chickahominy, which showed evidence that a battle was near at hand. The Fifth and Sixth corps, commanded by General Porter and General Franklin held the lines of communication crossing the Chickahominy to Richmond, from a point north of Richmond to Boatswain Swamp. General Sumner's Second corps joined General Franklin's left and extended to near the York River Railroad. General Keyes's Fourth corps had crossed at Bot- tom's Bridge on the 23d, and on the 24th had advanced to near Fair Oaks, throwing up a line of rifle-pits near the Seven Pines. General Heintzelnian, who had crossed with the Third corps on the 25th, being the senior officer on the south side of the river, was ordered to take command of both corps ; the Third corps was to guard the crossing of White Oak Swamp and to hold Seven Pines at all hazards. Our picket line al this time extended from the lower trestle i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 47 bridge on the Chickahominy to White Oak Swamp on our left. Casey's division was stationed three quarters of a mile in front of Seven Pines, Couch's division at Seven Pines, Kearny's division between Savage Station and Bottom's Bridge, Hooker's division on the line of White Oak Swamp. During the afternoon of the 30th and the following night heavy thunder showers caused the river to rise, threatening to carry away the bridge and making the road almost impassable. At an early hour on the morning of the 31st we were ordered forward about three miles to a line of breastworks crossing the Williamsburg road, when Lieutenant Bucklyn's left section and the fourth piece, all under command of Lieutenant Jastram, were ordered behind the breastworks, a short dis- tance from and to the left of the road. The right half of the battery, under Captain Randolph and Lieutenant Sheldon, was ordered a quarter of a mile further forward to the right of the road. The caissons were ordered to the rear under command of First Sergeant Lamb. Chaplain Perry, who was with the battery, was at liberty to be with either half as he should choose. About one p. m. Casey's division was attacked vigorously by General Hill and General Longstreet's divisions, composed of Rodes, Rains, Garland, G. B. Anderson, Wilcox, Colton, Kemper, and Jenkins' brigades and others. The attack upon Casey was directed upon his front and both flanks with such force that his inexperienced troops fell back in great confu- sion to the second line of rifle-pits, which were occupied by Couch's division. Generals Berry, Jam.eson, and Birney's brig- ades, of Kearny's division, were now ordered into action. Birney's brigade was ordered up the railroad, but owing to some misunderstanding did not reach the scene of action. Berry and Jameson soon became hotly engaged. Li the meantime Hooker was ordered to move up from the White Oak Swamp and arrived in the early morning. At the com- mencement of the firing orders were sent to General Sumner, who was then on the north side of the Chickahominy, to hold his corps ready to move at a moment's notice. There were only two divisions in this corps, General Richardson's and General Sedgwick's, and each had constructed a bridge over the river opposite their command, so that when the order came at 2.30 p. M., the divisions were immediately started for the 48 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [May, battlefield, only one division (Sedgwick's) arriving in time to engage in this day's fight. During the anxious hours awaiting the arrival of the Second corps and Hooker's divi- sion, the battle had continued with great stubbornness on both sides, although we had been driven back to the second line of defences by the breaking of Casey's division. The arrival of the Second corps renewed our hope of success in the end. During the night both sides moved their forces for a re- newal of the fight, with a determination to win the battle. Soon after daylight, June ist, skirmishing began between (jur skirmish line and some rebel cavalry. Soon after the rebels opened fire along the whole line. The attack upon General French's brigade of Richardson's division, who lay to the left of the railroad, was very persistent. Nearly an hour this brigade held the ground against great odds. The enemy was several times reinforced, and General Howard's brigade was sent to French's assistance, when the enemy fell back in his front. In the meantime General Hooker had advanced on the railroad with the Fifth and Sixth New York regiments, and when approaching the woods he found Colonel Hobart Ward in command of Birney's brigade in line of battle (General Birney being under arrest). He at once attacked the enemy with the two New York regiments, being ably supported by Birney's brigade. Hooker advanced into the woods under heavy fire, which continued for more than an hour. A charge was then made with the Fifth and Sixth New York, Third Maine, and Thirty-eighth and Fortieth New York, and the rebels fled in confusion, leaving many of their arms in their flight. General Sickles was ordered to advance on the line of the Williamsburg road, when a sharp musketry fire was opened upon him from the woods while he was crossing the open field. The Excelsior brigade with fixed bayonets charged into the woods and drove the enemy out in disorder. On the right the enemy again attacked General Richardson's brigade with great fury, making a determined effort to break his line, but the courage of our troojis made it useless. General Rich- ardson then adv^anced his whole line, firing at close range, causing the rebs to fall back in confusion. General French then made a charge with the Fifty-seventh and Sixty-sixth iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 49 New York, supported by the Seventy-first and Seventy-third New York, of General Sickles's brigade, which put the enemy to flight. Our troops had now retaken the ground lost the day before and the battle was virtually ended. Unexpectedly General McClellan made no effort to follow the defeated enemy. It was the misfortune of Battery E not to have the privilege of being actually engaged in this battle, although we were hourly expecting to be allowed to do so. Our position was such that we could not fire without endangering our own troops. The right half of the battery was stationed near Casey's posi- tion and was within rifle-shot during the action of May 31st, and many shots passed through their part of the battery, but no one was hurt. However one may feel about going into action, there is usually the desire to have the honor of participating with one's comrades in every effort to sustain the cause for which they are fighting. Here, as at Williamsburg, Battery E was an anxious but silent partner in the struggle for victory. Sergt. William Millen was the only man fortunate enough to have any active duty to perform, he being temporarily at- tached to Kearny's staff as an orderly, a position that his loyal sentiments and undoubted courage would have qualified him to have held permanently. The battery remained in its position during the rest of the •day and through the night. About two a. m., June 2d, quite a panic occurred, caused, it was said, by a loose mule running against a stack of muskets, one of them being discharged by the fall. This caused the pickets to open fire, supposing the report to come from the enemy. In an instant thousands of troops sprang to their feet, and rushed to their arms, which gave a roaring sound through the woods like the approach of a tornado. At the time the left half of the battery were sleeping soundly upon their tarpaulins, and, like the infantry, hurried to their guns to be ready for action if required. At ten A. M. the left half of the battery was moved to where the right half was stationed during the battle. At two p. m. we were ordered forward about one and a half miles and en- camped on the battle ground, near the railroad, and remained all night. 50 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, The total loss in this battle was 5,031. Of this number the Second corps lost 1,185; Third corps, 1,246; Fourth corps, 2,600. Kearny's division alone had a loss of 1,091, 207 of them beino^ in Birney's brigade ; 419, in Jameson's brig- ade, and 465 in Berry's brigade. No artillery was engaged in Kearny's or Hooker's divisions. The rebel loss was about 6,134, 980 being killed. The number of Union troops in the three corps engaged was about 51,000. The rebel force present was about 62,000. June 3d, rumors of an attack. At nine a. m. hitched up in consequence, and, at four p. m., unhitched, the alarm proving false. June 4th. An order of congratulation from General Mc- Clellan was read to the army, thanking them for their former acts and asking them to show the same courage in the battle soon to follow. June 7th. Our baggage wagons came up with our knap- sacks, containing a change of clothing. This was the first time that we found ourselves keeping company with grey- backs. As the first to discover them was considered to be a model of cleanliness, we all thought if he was so afflicted we must have the greyback fever in its full force. After an ex- amination of our wearing apparel we found that our supposi- tion was correct. The result was a hasty doffing of our army blue and the substitution of a new suit ; but we soon learned that this method was useless and expensive. Per- sonal cleanliness, with plenty of soap and water, with a good selection for a bunk-mate, was the best method to be pursued. On June 8th another alarm was caused by firing on our right and front. Chaplain Perry, who had made his head- c;[uarters with us since the 21st of April, started for Rhode Island, he having been appointed by Governor Sprague re- cruiting officer for that State. June 9th. Two sections of the battery went to the front as a support to the Sixty-third Pennsylvania regiment, which was on picket, remaining out all night. June nth. The battery changed camp a short distance to the rear. The land in this section of the country was le\cl, mostly woodland, many parts of it being swampy. That part not woodland was covered with shrubbery and briers. Acres of felled trees lay in our front, and, being entwined i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 5 1 with shrubbery and briers, it was with the greatest difficulty that we could pass through, as some of us often did to gather berries. It served as an excellent picket line. On one of these berry excursions two or three of us passed to the right of these felled trees into some woodland, where there were several pools of water caused by the recent rain. Lying be- side one of these pools we found five dead rebels. They crawled there, probably after water, and, not being dis- covered, died of wounds or starvation. The bodies were so badly swollen and black that their friends could not have recognized them. Yet, doubtless they had loving friends, who were ignorant of their sad deaths. Such is the result of the barbarous system of war, yet we boast of our high civilization. Is not such a claim a misnomer .'' The discovery was reported and a detail at once sent to bury them. On the 13th the enemy commenced shelling our camp with siege guns, which became a daily practice. Pickets were almost constantly firing night and day. It was one con- stant hitchup and then unhitch. Cannoneers were almost hourly at their posts, expecting an attack. The left section, under Jastram, had been for nearly two weeks at the left of the line, and shared in the constant strain. The infantry were constantly on the alert, being moved from one point to another as the movements of the enemy made it necessary. The weather was very hot at the time, with occasional showers. The hot weather, with the loss of sleep, and want of more active movements for the last ten days, began to show its ef- fect upon the health of the men ; quite a number were on light duty, and several quite sick, George W. Fisk and Rob- ert Sutcliffe dangerously so. June 24th, Lieutenant Arnold returned to duty, having re- covered from his injuries received at Hampton, and took charge of his former section (right) Lieutenant Jastram re- turning to the left, relieving Bucklyn, who again resumed command of the caissons. June 25th, the battle of Oak Grove (or Orchard) vi?as fought, the first of the seven days' battles before Richmond. Heint- zelman's Third corps, one brigade (Palmer's) of Keyes's Fourth corps, and a part of one division (Richardson's) of Sumner's Second corps, were engaged, making a total of thirty-one regiments and two batteries, one of them being Beam's battery. 52 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, of Kearny's division. Although it is usually called a skir- mish, the losses exceeded those of many other battles, the killed and wounded being over 500 on our side alone. The battle grew out of a movement to advance our picket line, to gain a better view and position for our advance move- ment, which was intended to have been begun the next day. The line which was advanced lay on our front and right. Hooker and Kearny were the leading spirits in the move- ment. Our battery lay in a redan just south of the railroad, with cannoneers at their posts, waiting for whatever might turn up ; but the artillery, owing to the swamps and wood- land, was almost useless, and we were allowed to remain at our post, much to our regret. The only satisfaction left us was that our comrades were successful in their efforts, hav- ing advanced the picket line as desired, although Gen. A. R. Wright, who commanded the rebels, denies the claim, and affirms that his lines at the close of the action were precisely the same as when the attack began. i862.] FIRST R. 1. LIGHT ARTILLERY. CHAPTER VII. June, 1862. In Front of Richmond and Battle of Glendale. JUNE 26th was an anxious day for McClellan. His hope that General McDowell would join him on the right gave him confidence that he would be able to capture Rich- mond, which was modified by fears that Jackson would re- inforce General Lee from the Shenandoah Valley and attack him on his flank and rear. Rumors that the latter would happen had been rife for several days. Should defeat come McClellan had decided to change his base to the James River; his plan to that effect had been made known to General Por- ter about the middle of June. General Ingalls, quartermaster at the White House, was notified on the 26th to have every- thing loaded and ready, and, if defeat should come, to send everything to the James River, and to destroy what he could not take away. Orders were also sent to the Second, Third, Fourth, and Sixth corps, which were now on the south side of the river, to hold themselves ready to send all the troops they could spare to the north bank of the river. All of these orders indicated that a great battle was expected and that there was some apprehension of defeat. Gen. Fitz John Porter's Fifth corps, and McCall's Division of Pennsylvania Reserves, a total force of about 27,000, was all the force on the north bank of the river. About two p. m. the Confederates under Longstreet, D. H. and A. P. Hill, commenced to cross the Chickahominy and moved rapidly to attack our fortified lines along the Beaver Dam Creek. The venerable McCall was in immediate command of the Union forces. The at- tack was vigorous along the whole line, and especially so against Generals Reynolds and Seymour. Although the Con- federates had more than double our number, our position was so strong and ably defended by Reynolds, Seymour, Martin- 54 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, dale, Griffin, and Meade, that after a few hours of severe fighting the rebels retired. Only eleven regiments and six batteries were engaged on our side. The Confederates had twenty-one regiments and eight batteries. Our loss was 361. The rebel loss was reported at 1,589. According to S win- ton's statement Longstreet admitted their loss to be between three and four thousand. On the left, in front of the Third corps, the pickets were very active, and kept up a continuous racket all day, doubt- less with the intention of deceiving us as to their strength in our front. It was soon after discovered that only about 25,000 troops lay between us and Richmond, the bulk of the army having been sent to attack our right, while the Union forces consisted of four corps, having an aggregate of 60,000 men, a force sufficient to have crushed General Magruder, who was in command of the rebels, in a few hours. In our ignorance of their weakness lay the safety of the Confed- erate citadel ; but the knowledge, or want of knowledge, of an enemy's movements is an essential factor in fighting a battle. June 27th found Porter's forces about six miles further south in line of battle east of the Powhite Creek. This line was selected to fight the main battle because it could better cover the bridges and more easily communicate with the main army, and in case of defeat it could better protect itself against a flank movement to head off his columns when on retreat to the James River. During the afternoon of the 26th Slocum's division of the Sixth corps had been sent to Porter, raising his troops to about 35,000, to be pitted against nearly twice that number. The siege guns and all extra wagons had been sent during the night to the south side of the river. Jackson's corps having now arrived in full force, the rebels advanced with a bold front and by two i". m., were in full line of battle i)arallel to our own. B.XTTLE OF Gaines Mills. The battle commenced about 2 v. m., by Gen. A. P. Hill, who attacked our right and was stoutly resisted by our troops, although at one time our lines were broken. The enemy iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY, 55 was driven back in great disorder and with heavy loss, A feint was then made on our left by General Longstreet, to cover the main attack for an advance along the whole line, which .commenced at six p. m., with all the available troops at hand. The attack was met on the right by Sykes division of regulars and Griffin's brigade and Bartlett's brigade of Slo- cum's division. The slaughter was terrible on both sides, and the roar of artillery was incessant and could be heard plainly by us in the Third corps, who were anxiously await- ing the result. The left of our line was attacked by Jackson with great impetuosity, and although resisted with a like per- sistence, its lines were finally broken by Texan troops led by General Hood, who captured fourteen pieces of artillery. During the panic which followed, the confusion was increased by a charge of our cavalry, who were mistaken for the enemy, thereby throwing our lines into disorder. In the meantime our right had maintained its ground against Generals Ewell's and Hill's divisions, but the breaking of the left made defeat certain, and if night had not set in our defeat would in all probability have been a complete rout. During the night the Union troops crossed the Chickahominy, and by early morn- ing the bridges were destroyed. The losses on our side were 894 killed, 3,107 wounded, 2,836 missing, a total of 6,837. The losses of Jackson's, Ewell's, Whiting's, and D. H. Hill's divisions were: killed, 589; wounded, 2,671 ; missing, 24; a total of 3,284. The losses of Longstreet and A. P. Hill were not reported, but it is estimated it would raise their loss about to ours. Returning again to Battery E, we find although not in the battle, that death had taken two of our men, Robert Sut- cliffe and George W.- Fisk, who had been sick several weeks with typhoid fever. Both had been good and faithful sol- diers. Sutcliffe belonged to the first detachment, and Fisk was a valuable driver in the fifth detachment. He was the eldest son of Reuben and grandson of Isaac Fisk, well-known farmers at the west end of Coventry, R. I. If the writer had not himself seen with his own eyes the inhuman treatment given Mr. Fisk he would not have believed such brutality possible. He was in the field hospital, about half a mile in rear of the battery, and as the battery was constantly on duty it was not often that a comrade could get away to see his 5^ HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, friends in the hospital. Being anxious to know how my comrade was getting along, I took leave without permit to do so. On approaching the sick tent and being known by the man in charge, he said that Mr. Fisk needed a change of underclothing, which at once excited my fear that all was not as it should be. On reaching the tent I beheld what I never saw before and never wish to see again. He was not only unwashed and dirty, but he lay alone and almost uncon- scious, with flies encircling his mouth by the hundred. Those who have seen the entrance to a beehive can realize the con- dition he was in. Although his attendant came to his relief as soon as I came, it did not clear him from the charge of cruel neglect. Let us hope that this case was an exception. _ June 28th, we were paid for two months, and during the time of being paid heavy skirmishing was in progress on our front near the railroad and on our right wing, which had now crossed to the south side of the Chickahominy. While active movements were being made to move the army to Harrison's Landing, on the James River, an attack was made upon the Forty-ninth Pennsylvania and the Thirty-third New York by the Seventh and Eighth Georgia, but they were repulsed with a loss of 100, while the two Georgia colonels with fifty men were taken prisoners. On the evening of the 27th the corps commanders received their orders as to the course of retreat, as agreed upon. General Keyes crossed White Oak Swamp Bridge in the forenoon of Sunday, the 2Sth, and took a strong position to defend the approaches when the enemy should appear. The different commands of the army were now with the army stores to be conveyed to the new base. Orders were given to leave a large supply of hospital stores and rations for the 2,500 sick who could not be moved. The necessity of such an order was to be deplored, but it was unavoidable, and the poor fellows had to go to Richmond by the aid of those who had for weeks prevented them from going of their own will. A herd of 2,500 cattle was sent safely to James River without loss. Porter's corps also crossed the swamp and was ordered to cover the road leading to Rich- mond The Second and Third corps were ordered to a new line about two miles nearer the swam]) than the old line. General Slocum's division, which had been sent from the iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 57 Fourth corps to assist Porter, was, owing to its exhausted state, sent on over the swamp to join its corps. The Second, Third and Sixth corps were to cover Savage Station on the morning of the 29th, and to hold the enemy in check until the remaining wagons and troops could cross White Oak Swamp. Early on the morning of the 29th orders from the Third corps headquarters arrived, ordering Battery E to be ready to move at a minute's notice. At once we began to obey our summons. Leather washers were put between the hubs and linch-pins of the guns and caissons for the purpose of concealing our movements from the enemy. The guns and caissons were drawn by hand a short distance to the rear, when our horses were attached, and then we waited until daylight when we left camp and returned to near the old ground we occupied at Fair Oaks. The Parrotts were placed in a redoubt on the left of the Williamsburg road, the howitzers on the left of the same line, under Lieutenant Jas- tram. While here we were made aware of what we were ignorant of before. We learned that the whole army was to change its base of operations, which fact was freely circu- lated, doubtless to blind the common soldiers to the fact that we had been really defeated. It certainly had that effect with many. Before leaving the vicinity of our temporary halt the rebels were seen to emerge from the woods near the railroad, west of Savage Station. Soon after we started for Brackett's Ford. The howitzers two or three times unlimbered to the rear and waited until ordered forward. After our final move toward the swamp, in our haste we took the wrong road and had to return towards the enemy and take another road, which led us to Brackett's Ford, where we crossed between five and six p. M. After marching about two miles we encamped for the night. At ten p. m. we unhitched our horses and lay down to rest, which was needed by both men and horses. During the hours of our crossing the swamp Sumner's corps was fighting the battle of Savage Station, assisted near its close by Brooks' brigade of Third division, Sixth corps. At the close of the battle the enemy was forced to retire. During the nis^ht General Smith's division, the last of Frank- lin's corps, crossed the White Oak Swamp and posted his troops to defend the bridge against the approach of the 5^ HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, enemy. The next morning at ten a. m., the rear of Sumner's corps (Richardson's division), crossed the bridge and took position on Smith's left, to assist him in holding the cross- ings. Thus ended the fifth day's fighting before Richmond. The Union army having successfully held the enemy at bay, found itself on the morning of the 30th on the south side of White Oak Swamp, but its safety was not yet as- sured, for the enemy was in pursuit, one column, in com- mand of Jackson, following on the line of retreat. The other column moved down upon our right flank, with the in- tention of striking us at Charles City Cross Roads. Mc- Clellan having anticipated such a movement, had ordered General Franklin to take charge of the crossing at White Oak Swamp with his own corps (Sixth) to which was added Richardson's division of the Second corps and Nagle's brig- ade of the Fourth corps. Smith's division was posted on the right of White Oak Bridge, Richardson's division of the Second corps on the left, Nagle's brigade of the Fourth corps on the left of the road in front of Richardson's division. Hancock's brigade was posted across the Brackett's Ford road ; Hazzard's (C, Fourth United States), and Pettit's bat- teries were posted in front of the crossing. The enemy under Jackson opened fire with about thirty guns, which was at once replied to by Captain Hazzard, and later he was joined by Pettit's battery. Both batteries were severely handled by the enemy's batteries, but they maintained their position until ordered to retire. Captain Hazzard was mortally wounded. Several attempts were made during the afternoon to force a passage, but failed. The artillery continued to fire until dark and then withdrew. The enemy made no further effort until morning, when they found that the Union troops had left. If we, in this engagement, had been unsuccessful, our chances would have been very much endangered at Charles City Cross Roads, where another engagement" was in proo-ress about the same time. * The day before General McClellan had ordered General Slocum, of Franklin's corps, to post his division about one mile from Brackett's Ford, upon the right of, and at right angles to, the Charles City Cross Roads. Vicneral Kearny's division was posted on the left of Slocum, at nearly right angles with him. McCall's division joined Kearny's 'left. Hooker's di- iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 59 vision, composed of Sickles's, Carr's, and Grover's brigades, were on the extreme left, his left swinging well to the front. General Sedgwick's division, two brigades of which had been sent in the forenoon on the double quick to Brackett's Ford to reinforce the troops there, had been ordered back in great haste, and was held in reserve in rear of McCall. Our total force in line was fourteen brigades. Opposed to us were twelve brigades under command of General Longstreet, with four brigades under General Huger, within supporting dis- tance. It was expected that Jackson would also be in time to assist, but he failed to arrive on account of obstructions that our troops had placed across the roads. Previous to and during the hours that our lines were being formed, Battery E, after being aroused before daylight, started at sunrise and soon after reported to General Kearny for orders, who at once ordered the battery to Birney's brigade, which was guarding a line extending two miles on the left of Slocum's division. Birney posted the battery well to the right of the Charles City Roads, in an open field, where we went into bat- tery and fired four shots into the woods in our front, through which we could see a column of rebel infantry moving towards our left. About noon we moved with the brigade a short dis- tance to the left into the woods, to cover a ravine. Had we been attacked here we should, doubtless, have been under the necessity of going into Richmond under a rebel escort; but to our great satisfaction we were soon, by the aid of axes, relieved from our entangled position and were ordered to General Kearny's headquarters. In the meantime the en- emy had opened with artillery on our right, in front of General Slocum. Anticipating that a heavy assault would be made, our captain, with the Parrotts of our battery, was sent to his support and relieved Porter's Massachusetts bat- tery, which had exhausted its ammunition. These two sec- tions, which were commanded by Lieutenants Arnold and Sheldon, were ably handled, and kept up a constant fire until late in the evening, firing about 460 rounds. The fight- ing at this point was mainly by artillery, and doubtless was intended to hold our right from reinforcing the left, where they were to make the principal attack. The Confederate record calls this the action at Brackett's Farm. Mahone's ^° HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, and Armistead's brigade, of Huger's division, were the only rebel troops engaged, their loss being seventy-eio-ht VVhile ourParrotts were engaged on the right.^the left and centre were engaged in one of the most desperate battles of vr^r^'^tr ^he attack was commenced about three p. m., upon McLall s division, who was, as before stated, on Kearny's lett. His division consisted of the Pennsylvania Reserves who fought bravely until sunset, although their line wavered at times, and had to fall back a short distance before Lono-- street s superior force. They finally, by the aid of rein- torcements, succeeded in holding the enemy in check, but their brave and veteran commander, McCall, was taken prisoner he having ridden by mistake into the Fortv-seventh Viro-inia Regiment About four p. m. the attack began on our division, (Kearny s) in front of Robinson's brigade, composed of the Iwentieth Indiana, Eighty-seventh New York, and the Fifty- seventh, Sixty-third and One Hundred and f^fth Pennsylvania 1 he brigade fought desperately against a superior f^rce for several hours. The Sixty-third Pennsylvania (Colonel Hays) was especially commended for daring charges made to protect Ihompson s battery, which was raking the rebel columns with double canister. It was now f^ve p. m. and our line was being hard pressed by the enemy, who seemed to be re- inforced. Berry's brigade, composed of the Second and Third Michigan, First and Thirty-seventh New York, now came to the assistance of Robinson, the First New York beino- placed to assist m supporting Thompson's battery, which wa^s being severely assailed. The contest continued with unremitting severity until seven p. m., when a part of Colwell's and Burns s brigade, from the Second corps, was sent to our re- iiet. Ihe rattle of musketry and the roar of artillery indi- cated clearly that a desperate effort was being made by the enemy to break our lines and capture our trains. While this desperate struggle was in progress General Kearny sent an orderly (A. Malpus) for our howitzers. I will now let Lieu- tenant Jastram speak for himself by quoting in full his re- port to Captain Randolph. [See page i6S, ist Series. Vol. n., Part Second, of Rebellion Records.] i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 6l Report of Pardon S. Jastram, Battery E, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, of the battle of Glendale, or JVelson's Farm {Frazier's Fa rm ) . Camp Near Harrison's Landing, Va., July 7th, 1S62. Sir : In accordance with your instructions on Monday, the 30th iilt., I remained with the howitzers in position in front of General Kearny's headquarters and awaited his orders. About half an hour after one of the General's aides* rode in at full speed from the field in front, with orders to bring in the howitzers as soon as possible and save the day. The neces- sary orders were given, and I started oft' at a quick trot, the aide continu- ally urging me to " hurry up." Passing through to the main road, and turning one side to allow the passage of Captain Thompson and his bat- terv, I entered the field on the right. On inquiring of the aide what posi- tion I was to occupy or where I should go, I could obtain no definite in- formation. The order was to " Fire towards the sun." The dense smoke covering every part of the field in front, prevented me from judging for myself where my presence was most needed. Accordingly, I moved to the front and right, gave the orders, "Action front and fire with spherical case, two seconds' time." But three cannoneers succeeded in accompany- ing each piece, and the corporal of the sixth piece was acting as Nos. 5, 6 and 7. The lead driver also acted as No. i, and was obliged to leave the horses as soon as the piece was unlimbered. By some mistake, too, the piece had been loaded with canister which had to be fired into the air, since I knew not the position of our own men in our immediate front. The other charges of spherical case were thrown bevond into the woods. At this moment our men began to fall back on our left and front, and came between the pieces, so that [ could not work them. I then gave the order to limber to the rear, and at the same time some field officer ordered me to get my pieces out as quickly as possible. I saw the fifth piece leave the field safely', but the near wheel horse of the sixth piece had been hit when we first unlimbered, had fallen over the pole, and so entangled the harness that we could not draw the piece out. Accordingly, I gave orders to spike the piece, which was faithfullj' executed by young Harvey, of the sixth detachment; and, at the same time, Albert A.Hopkins, the lead driver, unfastened the lead horses from the swing team, one horse of which had also been hit, and brought them from the field. Definite orders as to the position I was to take upon the field would undoubtedly have made the howitzers of some service, while the want of such orders could not but make their presence of very little service. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, P. S. Jastram, First Lieutenant Battery E, First Rhode Island Light Artillery. While the howitzers were on the way out we were met by a column of troops, said to be the Meagher Irish Brigade, who were advancing on the double-quick, and went into the action with that vim which was characteristic of the Irish soldiers. Burns' and Dana's brigades of Sumner's corps were *It was an orderly, A. Malpus, Fourth New Jersey. 62 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, of great value during the evening in holding the enemy in check. Kearny's old brigade from the Sixth corps, the gal- lant Jerseys, who were now commanded by Gen. Geo. 1v. Taylor, appeared upon the field in the evening and were ordered to occupy McCall's abandoned position!^ Althou^rh not severely attacked they gave the adjoining troops conli- dence that no danger would come to them by the breakino- of the Jersey brigade. Hooker's First division, althoucrh not so severely handled, was, nevertheless, m for their sha're of glory; each of his brigades, commanded by Grover, Sickles, and Colonel Carr, were conspicuous in daring action durmg the closing hours of the fight, which, by nine p m was virtually over. To the Third corps, and especial] v to Kearny's division, is due the honor of staying the strong arm of the exultant foe, who, at the commencement of the battle was confident of crushing McClellan's army and capturing a large part of his immense wagon trains. It is true that fhe lines remained at the close of the battle nearly where thev were at its beginning, and that both armies were in condition to renew the fight had it been necessary. The object sought by the rebels was to capture a large portion of the army and to destroy their wagon trains, in both of which they failed. Our motive was to protect our trains from destruction while en route to a new base on the James River, which we suc- ceeded in accomplishing ; therefore, by the law of logic, it was a victory for us. . * As much has been said relating to the action of Jastram in this engagement, I will again refer to it. Being one of the cannoneers who served on the fifth piece at the time in controversy, I can speak as an eye-witness. When the or- derly came for the howitzers at Kearny's headquarters, the cannoneers were scattered about the ground near the guns. When the order for drivers to mount was given, the cannon- eers, of course, started for their posts, but as the section started on the trot and was being constantly hurried forward. It was now going so fast that only three of the cannoneers of each piece could keep up, and they mounted themselves while on the trot at the risk of being run over. The distance was from one-quarter to one-half a mile to the field of action When we reached the field we beheld w.hat we had never seen before. Our engagements had been hitherto at lono- iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 63 range between artillery ; but here was a desperate encounter going on between infantry and artillery combined at close quarters. The ground in the open field into which we were ordered was partially covered with sand, into which the mus- ket balls of the enemy were fast falling, and, as they struck the ground, sprays of sand were scattered in all directions, giving it an uninviting appearance. On entering the field Lieutenant Jastram's horse was seen riderless, and we sup- posed at first that Jastram had been shot, but instead he had dismounted and gone forward to seek a location for the pieces. Soon emerging from the smoke he took the section forward a short distance and gave the command, "action front," which was accomplished in as quick time as three privates, a sergeant and a corporal could be expected to obey the order. We had only time to fire five shots, two by the fifth piece and three by the sixth, when a field officer rode up and in a hurried manner gave the order to "get out as soon as possible for we were being surrounded." Although it was not so, I venture to say that few even of older and more experienced officers but would have pursued the same course that Jastram did. I think that all of us present supposed that the troops falling back in confusion through our line of artillery were being driven, and that the enemy would soon be upon us in force. The order of the field officer confirmed us in that supposition. Up to the time of the statement that we were being surrounded every man was doing his duty, but when told that we were being surrounded some confusion was manifest by the sergeant of the sixth piece, who gave the order to cut the traces (which was not obeyed) of the unwounded horses, and with drawn pistol pointed over his shoulder towards the enemy hastened the movement of his horses to the rear. Had it not been for the more steady nerve of Gunner C. P. Williams and private Albert A. Hopkins, and Martin Harvey, and some others, whose names I am sorry not to be able to give, the flight would have been of no credit ; but the bravery of the cannoneers and drivers saved its honor. Among the last to leave the position was Lieutenant Jastram, who manifested a commendable courage throughout. After the firing had ceased Lieutenant Jastram and Butler, of G (Second United States), attempted to reach the abandoned pieces, but the guard would not allow them to 64 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [June, pass. The non-commissioned officers in this action were on the sixth piece, Sergt. G. E. Williams, Corp. Charles P. Williams, and Francis B. Butts ; on the fifth piece, Sergt. Joseph S. Milne, Corporals Geo. H. Burlingham and Geo.W. H. Allen. Burling- ham, the gunner, when we started for the field of action, said to Corporal Allen, " You take charge of the piece and I will soon be there," but he never came, although he had ample time to find us as the other men did who were left behind during the night. He was made prisoner and afterwards paroled. But no doubt existed in our minds that he deserted into the rebel hands intentionally. He was a constitutional coward, and how he ever became a corporal was a mystery. John H. Carney, an artificer, and Private Richard Poynton, were also taken prisoners. They returned to the battery Sept. 26, 1862, and Poynton was soon after discharged. Sub- sequently, while at Harrison's Landing, as Kearny was dis- satisfied with the loss of the howitzer, Lieutenant Jastram demanded a court of inquiry, which was granted, and held in August following. Col. Charles H. Tompkins being presi- dent. The findings of the court wei'e : first, that Lieutenant Jastram failed in not mounting his cannoneers before start- ing his section ; second, in unnecessarily abandoning his position ; third, in not making proper efforts to withdraw his piece that was lost. The court said in conclusion : " It appears, however, that in moving to the front and in opening fire on the enemy he acted with promptness and spirit ; that objects had then become very indistinct to the eye ; that confusion prevailed around ; that no one gave him sufficient information or any instruction for his guidance, and that his abandonment of the position was an error of judgment." McClellan approved of the findings, and ordered that no further proceedings be taken against him. I think the members of the battery at least, will be glad to have Captain Randolph's endorsement of the conduct of his officers and men in this battle. Quoting from his report to Kearny, he said : Of the general behavior of my officers and men during the foregoing action, I can only say, that in every instance where I could observe it, I wJis entirely satisfied. My men were cool and persistent, my officers col- lected and carefully attentive to tlie efficient working of tlieir sections. Where all did so well it is somewhat unjust to mention anv, and vet I can- iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 65 not forbear to mention Lieut. W. A. Arnold, my first officer, for the cool- ness and determination he showed upon every occasion. I regret greatly the loss of one of the pieces of my battery, the more that I -was not present and am unable to judge from my own knowledge of the circumstances attending its loss ; yet the entire confidence that I repose in Lieutenant Jastram and in the non-commissioned officers of his section, makes me confident that the loss of the piece was a military necessity. I am the more completely convinced of this when I learn that one of Captain Thompson's pieces (an officer of well-known judgment and bravery) was left, although it was away from the field when Lieutenant Jastram entered. I feel confident that as Captain Thompson had personal charge of his battery there must have been good and sufficient cause for the loss of his piece and inine. George E. Randolph, Comviaiider Battery E, Rhode Inland Light Artillery. This act of Captain Thompson's in losing his piece was also censured by Kearny. This grew out of no intended injustice by Kearny, but he was so full of daring and cour- age that it sometimes overpowered his judgment, and made him seem uncharitable and severe. ^^ HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, CHAPTER VIII . July, 1862, Battle of Malvern Hill and Retreat. AT the close of the battle of Glenclale, or Charles City Cross Roads, as we usually call il, the Parrotts which had been sent to reinforce Slocum on the ricrht' started between twelve and one with Kearny's division" for Malvern Hill, which they reached at an early hour on July 1st. The howitzer under command of Jastram and the re- maining caissons which had been under the charge of Lieut John K. Bucklyn, left the rear of the battlefielcf about two A. M. to join the right and centre sections which had pre- ceded them, reaching there at eight a. m. We found our battery comrades anxious to learn the result of our action after they left us the day before. Captain Randolph compli- mented Sergeant Milne and Second Corporal Allen for savino- their piece, and promoted Allen to first corporal in place of Burlingham, missing. After remaining at the centre of the line a short time we were moved further to the right to take our position with Kearny's division. Our troops* were now nearly all in position. As no map accompanies this narrative I will state only the general position as it existed on the morning of the ist of July. A few changes were made in the afternoon to assist Couch, among them were Meao-her and Sickles' brigades and two sections of our own battery _ Porter's Fifth corps held the left on Crew's Hill ; Couch's division of Reyes's Fourth corps joined Porter's right, Rich- ardson of the Second corps and Sedgwick were still further to the right. Next came Slocum's and Smith's divisions of the Sixth corps, the extreme right being held by Peck's division of Reyes's corps. McCall's division was now under command of Gen. Truman Seymour, and was in reserve at the right front of the Malvern House. Tyler's light sieo-e i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 67 artillery was at the left of the Malvern House, on a line with Seymour. The batteries in reserve were on the west slope of Malvern Hill. Hunt's reserve artillery was on Mal- vern Hill in the rear of the centre of our lines. Battery C of our regiment, with three guns (having lost three at Gaines Mill) under Lieutenant Waterman (Captain Weeden being chief of artillery), were stationed on the extreme left, but later were sent to assist Couch's division. General Warren with his brigade, which had been reduced to less than seven hundred men, was stationed on the lowlands to the west of Malvern Hill. With him was one regiment of regulars and Martin's battery, and a detachment of cavalry. This com- mand was attacked on the 30th by General Holmes' division at Turkey Bridge (or Malvern Cliff), where the rebels were badly handled and made a hasty retreat, with a loss of several hundred. Heintzelman's Corps, which now consisted of only two divisions (Porter's First division having been taken May iSth to form a part of the Fifth corps), was virtually on the right, resting on Western Run, a small stream running through a low marshy land diagonally across our front on the right of Hooker. The junction of Hooker with this river formed an angle in our line. Beyond this angle Sumner's and Frank- lin's corps were in position. Although nominally at the right, they were nearly in our rear. Our battery was in position on Kearny's right. Thompson's battery, of our division, and Beam's reserve battery were with Hooker. Birney's brigade held Kearny's front line in rifle-pits except the Fourth Maine and half of the Third, who held the wooded ravine a little to the left of our position. Berry's brigade was held in reserve behind Birney's. Although not engaged, they lost about fifty men from the rebel artillery, whose shots passed over our battery into their ranks. Robinson's brigade was also in support of the same brigade, and especially Thomp- son's and our own battery remaining so until the attack on our left, when General Robinson led the Fifty-seventh and Sixty-third Pennsylvania and the Eighty-seventh New York to the support of Couch's division. Their loss was only twenty-three during the day. Opposite and beyond the river lay Poindexter farm, upon which there was a range of hills, from, the surface of which was developing a promising harvest ^^ HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, of wheat. About eleven a. m. a battery appeared in view upon one of these hills, advancing one of its sections to the summit of the hill, and opened fire upon our battery We immediately responded to the challenge with such effect as to cause them to limber up and retire in great haste apparently with one gun dismounted. After a short interval three bat- teries, W. T. Poague's, Carpenter's, and Balthi's, of Whitino-'s division, appeared and renewed the attack with great enei^o-y for an hour or more. The shots mostly failed to reach us or passed over our heads into the ranks of Robinson's brigade causmg quite a severe loss. After an hour or two of silence (during which we disposed of our rations), the enemy's bat- teries again renewed the attack, and, being reinforced bv two more batteries, the contest became quite lively, and continued until after five p. m. with the exception of a few short inter- vals. The artillery of Heintzelman's corps was evidently the winners in this artillery duel. The loss reported in Poague's battery was two killed and ten wounded. Carpenter' s° loss was two killed and five wounded, with the loss of two horses besides the loss of two wheels. Reilley's battery lost twelve wounded. Courtney's battery became eng-aged about five p m Their loss was slight. Wooding's batte^ lost one or two These batteries were all of Whiting's division of Jackson's corps. Battery E, up to this time, had only one man killed He was acting No. i on the fourth piece (Sergeant Millen) He was struck by an exploding shell just as he was rammino- down the charge. His name was Joseph Harrop, and be- longed in River Point. He was an Englishman, and one of our best men. During the forenoon he seemed to be im- pressed that he would be killed, so much so that he asked Corporal Hargraves to take his pocket-book and send it home if anything happened to him. No effort of the corporal to convince him that he was as safe as himself could quiet him, and, to satisfy him, the corporal took the money, little think- ing that he would have to fulfill the request. As one howitzer was lost the day before, the two detach- ments served on the fifth piece, which was fired so rapidly that It required two, and sometimes three, to cut the shells fast enough to supply the demand. It finally became so heated that we had to cease firing and freely use water to cool It. The rapid firing of this piece evidently for a time caused iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 69 one of the enemy's batteries to be concentrated upon it. Although the shot and shrapnel fell in showers about us, but few fell near enough to do us any harm. They must have been poorly supplied with good gunners, as our battery was not covered by any protection whatever. They should, with good practice, have caused us very much more damage. Notwith- standing our exposed position, every officer and private stood bravely at his post, none more so than Captain Randolph, whose every movement showed the best qualities of a brave and reliable commander. The infantry opposite to us upon Poindexter Farm was a part of Gen. T. J. Jackson's corps, composed of Whiting, Ewell, and Jackson's old division proper, which was still under his command. The brigades which composed this division were Winder's, Jones's, Wade Hampton's, and Gen. A. R. Lavvton's. Poague's and Carpenter's batteries were in Winder's brigade. Wooding's battery was in Hampton's brigade. Whiting's division contained Hood's and Col. E. M. Law's brigades. Balthi's and Reilley's batteries were in this division. Ewell's division was made up of Early's, Trimble's, and Taylor's brigades. Courtney's battery was at- tached to Trimble's brigade, which was the battery that at- tacked us at five p. m. The brigades in our front were en- gaged only in skirmishing, but their loss from Heintzelman's artillery was several hundred, one brigade losing one hundred and nineteen. In front of our left lay Magruder's corps and a part of Jackson's, which had not been idle during the contest. On Our right its artillery had been feeling for our weak points, with the intention of making an attack where it would be the most successful. They found our forces posted upon an ele- vated plateau about one and a half miles in length, the ap- proaches sloping gradually towards the north and east. Being- woodless it gave us a clear vision of the advancing columns of the enemy. The ground occupied by the enemy was swampy covered mostly by woods. The crossings over the swampy ravines were few and difficult. The woods were a protecting cover from our infantry, but our artillery made sad havoc in their ranks during these preliminary movements. Our army was now so strongly posted that it was content to await the coming: assaults of the foe. About the middle of 70 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, the afternoon, Anderson's brigade, of D. H. Hill's division, made a rash advance upon Couch's division and were repulsed by the fire of the Tenth Massachusetts Regiment and a charge of the Thirty-sixth New York, who captured the colors of the Fourteenth North Carolina Infantry in a hand-to-hand conflict. Kingsbury's battery also assisted in this repulse. During the preliminary skirmishing Magruder's corps had been massed for a determined assault upon Porter and Couch. The signal for the attack was for Armistead (after the rebel artillery had silenced ours), to advance with a yell and carry the battery in his front. Gen. D. H. Hill, hearing what he supposed to be the signal, ordered his division to advance, but, for some reason, the commands on his right and left did not respond. After repeated assaults, finding himself over- powered by the concentrated fire of our artillery and infan- try, he retired with a fearful loss. It was now evident that the battle was to be finished on Porter's and Couch's front. We were soon made aware of this by the forces of Magru- der's corps advancing to the assault under cover of his artil- lery. Regiments and brigades, without regard to their loss, were advanced against our batteries, whose terrible and accu- rate fire mowed swaths of death in their ranks. A call for reinforcements brought Meagher's Irish and Caldwell's brig- ades from Sumner, Sickles's brigade from Hooker's division, and our four Parrotts from Kearny's division, to their sup- port. The Fourth Maine and four companies of the Third Maine, of Birney's brigade, with the Fifty-seventh, Si.xty- third and Eighty-seventh New York, of Robinson's brigade, who, in person, led them to the support of one of Couch's and De Russy's batteries. These supports were well timed, as some of our regiments had used up their ammunition. Column after column continued to advance against the de- structive fire of our artillery, and, when within range of the infantry, a withering fire greeted them with increased destruc- tion and caused them to retire in confusion. Some of our brigades followed after the retreating foe and captured their colors, in some cases at a severe cost to themselves. The contest was continued with unabated fury until nearly nine p. M., having brought into action the entire P'ifth corps. Couch's division of the Fourth corj^s, Meagher's and Cald- well's brigades and the artillery of Sumner's Second corps. iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 7 1 Sickles's and a part of Birney's and Robinson's brigades, and our battery of Heintzelman's corps. In addition to these, the reserve artillery and Tyler's corps siege guns were active in promoting the success of the day. Opposed to these were twenty-five brigades and eleven batteries of the enemy's. The action of Battery E in this battle was a credit to the officers and men, they receiving great commendation from the division and corps commanders. In Heintzelman's report he said : " Towards dusk General Porter sent to Sumner for a brigade and a battery of artillery. These were sent. I added another brigade and battery of artillery (Randolph's) to ena- ble him to make the defeat more complete. All the troops under my command were exposed to this artillery fire. In General Kearny's division only the artillery and skirmishers were engaged. Captain Thompson managed his battery with the full genius of that arm, whilst Captain Randolph, with his Parrott guns, persecuted all that attacked him, silencing several times batteries that were sweeping our front or cover- ing their columns of attack on General Couch to our left. The Fourth Maine was particularly distinguished for its cool- ness in holding a ravine and repulsing the enemy's skirmish- ers on our right. In General Hooker's division the men be- haved with their usual coolness. The batteries were so placed that they were enabled several times to enfilade the enemy's artillery and infantry advance. We have to deplore the loss of Captain Beam, who commanded Battery B, New Jersey Light Artillery." Beam's battery formerly belonged to our division when it was under the command of Hamilton, and was associated with us at Alexandria. It was now in the artillery reserve. Here let me give an extract from Captain Randolph's report : "After a short rest, enough to water my horses and replenish ammunition boxes, I took position under direction of Cap- tain Thompson, Second Artillery, United States Army, on the left of the house occupied by General Kearny as headquar- ters on the first of July. Here I almost immediately engaged a battery of the enemy that appeared in the wheat-field op- posite, and one thousand or twelve hundred yards distant, re- ceiving in return a hot fire of shell and shrapnel, which, how- ever, was more destructive in front and rear than to us. 72 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, Until afternoon I suffered no loss. I kept up a fire at inter- vals, whenever I saw in the opposite field any enemy to op- pose, until towards night, when General Couch engaged the enemy to our left. I was specially ordered to silence a bat- tery of the enemy that was covering their attacking columns and making havoc in our lines. I opened a sharp fire im- mediately, drawing the fire of the rebel battery from Couch to myself, and succeeded, after a short time, in silencing it alto- gether. Soon after my attention was called to a column of reinforcements going to the support of the enemy. Here, too, I had opportunity to do good service, as our previous practice had given us the range and elevation of the point at which the enemy's column entered the woods. Our fire ceased about 8.30 p. m., Tuesday, and, at two a. m., I moved, in company with Kearny's division, to Harrison's Landing, arriving there at about nine a. m., July 2d." No record of the number of shots fired by Battery E in this battle has been kept (so far as I know), but as the am- munition chests were refilled and again exhausted, there must have been two hundred, if not more, fired from each of the four Parrotts. The single howitzer fired about four hundred and fifty rounds. Our loss on the left, by the Parrotts, was three wounded, Henry Binns, Stephen W. Corp, and Charles E. White, the two former severely. Corp died from the ef- fect of his wounds, Dec. 24, 1866. Binns was wounded in the arm, and, if he had not protested, the surgeons would have amputated it. He was first sent to the hospital at Washington. In September he was sent to Portsmouth Grove Hospital, Rhode Island. In November he was ordered to Convalescent Camp, at Alexandria, where he was dis- charged in March, 1863. He afterwards obtained a pension of four dollars per month. April 5, 1864, he enlisted again, and reached the battery soon after, at Brandy Station. A reporter who visited the hospital reported him to be " one of the most cheerful and courageous little fellows that was ever carried to the rear." He was only thirteen years and eleven months when he first enlisted. No sooner had this battle ended than the troops began their march to Harrison's Landing. The Third corps re- ceived its orders to march at eleven a. m., but before the road was clear of other troops it was near four a. m. when the iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 73 leading brigade started. Soon after it began to rain in tor- rents, causing the only road over which we had to march to become almost impassable. Notwithstanding our great vic- tory, the biographer of Kearny says, after having won such a victory, "The exulting troops looked forward to harvest- ing the fruits of their bloody toils, orders were given to re- treat to Harrison's Landing. Then, and not till then, the bonds of discipline seemed to be unloosed, and a disorderly rush ensued, which justified the remark that * in the storm and darkness the Union army fled from a victory as though it had been a rout.' " De Trobiand says, in his Four Years witJi the Army of the Potomac, " It was there (Harrison's Landing) that like a shipwrecked crew this army rallied," etc. An officer of Hooker's division states that corps, division, brigade and regimental staff officers were stationed at certain points to disentangle the snarled skein and reassemble the men under their proper commanders. Greeley says in his American Conflict, that " when the order for retreat was received some refused to obey the command. General Mar- tindale shed tears of shame. General Porter's devotion to his chieftain was temporarily shaken by this order, which elicited his most indignant protest." From the brave and chivalrous Kearny this order of re- treat drew forth the memorable words recorded by more than one historian, " I, Philip Kearny, an old soldier, enter my solemn protest against this order of retreat. We ought, in- stead of retreating, to follow up the enemy and take Rich- mond ; and, in full view of all responsibility of such a decla- ration, I say to you all, such an order can only be prompted by cowardice or treason." Some doubt the truth of the above protest by Kearny, which was attributed to him by Dr. Marks in his Peninsular Campaign, but his biographer slys that the truth of the state- ment has been confirmed by an officer of high rank in the regular army, who was present at the time. He says that " Kearny became so excited that he went on like a wild man at the idea of a victorious army abandoning the field to a flee- ing foe, and, in spite of every effort to restrain him, he gave vent to his indignation in sentences, of which the one quoted is the most severe." 74 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, The saddest order given after this battle was that the dead and wounded were to be left on the field to the care of ?he enemy. This was the last of the seven days' fightin^ before theb.'t^le of n fr ^^'"i^-^ght June 25th! and is known ^ .).^".wu"^^^ occurred the battle of Mechanicsville On the 27th the severe battle of Gaines' Mill. On the 28th the action at Gannett's and Golding's farms. On the 2Qth was he Vy.lhamsburg Road, James River Road, and Jordan Ford On the 30th took place the engagement at Glendale, known also as the battle of Charles City Cross Roads, New Marke Road Frasiers Farm, or Willis Church. An engagement also took place at Turkey Bridge, or Malvern Cliffs? bet ween General Warren and the rebel General Holmes. On July is took place the final battle of Malvern Hill or Crew's Hill Ihe official war records give the following casualties in the foTcl o7V""a 25th to July 2d inclusiv?: The effective s?sted of cV ™^ "^ '^2 ^"^°"^^^' J""^ '^' '^^'^ ^°"- QOQ7C inf.'n ""-"^^f ''^' ^.5 1 3 cavalry, 6,446 artillery, and 1:3^ IT \-1 ''^ '°5'^45. During the seven days' fighting before Richmond the Confederate army consisted of m regiments and 12 battalions of infantry, 71 batteries and 12 regiments of cavalry. Their loss was: Killed, 3286- wounded, 15 909; missing, 940; total, 20,135. The strength r.nl.H ^°"^^^ie^^tes >s not officially stated, but it probably ranged from 80,000 to 90,000 effectives. The Union army consisted of 150 regiments of infantry, 2 regiments and r battalion of engineers, i regiment of siege artillery, 58 ba enes and 10 regiments of cavalry. The loss was • fcS ^'734; wounded, 8062; missing, 6,053; total loss,' 15.849- The Second corps loss was : Killed, 201 ; wounded 1,195 ; missing, 1,024; total, 2,420. Fifth corps' loss was • Killed, 995 , wounded, 3,805; missing, 2,801; total, 7,601" I he excess of losses in this corps is largely due to its lar-e w^^ T-lf", '''/'""' ^°f '" prisoners. Sixth corps' loss was^ Killed, 296; wounded, 1,472; missing, 1,110; total, -,878 engineers and reserve cavalry loss was 177 The Third corps loss was: Killed, 158; wounded, r,02i- miss- ing, 794, total, 1,973. The Second division's (Hooker's) lo.ss i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 75 was : Killed, 55 ; wounded, 412. Third division (Kearny's) : Killed, 96; wounded, 604; missing, 527; total, 1,227. The losses in the brigades of Kearny's division were: Robinson's First brigade: Killed, 56; wounded, 314; missing, 161 ; to- tal, 527. Birney's Second brigade : Killed, 10 ; wounded, 53 ; missing, 185 ; total, 248. Berry's Third brigade: Killed, 28 ; wounded, 225 ; missing, 176; total, 429. Battery E, Rhode Island Light Artillery : Killed, i ; wounded, 3 ; missing, 3 ; total, 7. Second United States Battery G : Killed, i ; wounded^ 13; missing, 2; total, 16. Fourth corps' loss was: Killed, 70; wounded, 512; missing, 218; total, 800. To the Fourth corps was assigned the duty of acting as rear guard, being stationed near Turkey Creek. This corps became really the new front. Before reaching this position the rearguard was under the command of Col. VVm. Averill, of the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, who had, in addition to his four regiments of regulars under Lieutenant-Colonel Buchanan, Tidball's United States battery. To the vig- ilance of these commands is due the honor of permitting the Army of tbe Potomac to reach a harbor of safety. 7^ HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [J"lj> CHAPTER IX. July— August, 1862. Harrison's Landing and Battle of Kettle Run. THE night of July 2d found the troops of the army a^-ain united m one camp at Harrison's Landing. Althoucrh tired and weary, and sad over the loss of so many comrades, there was still left a brave and loyal army Bat- tery E had borne the trials and fatigue of the seven days of fighting with commendable courage. The officers of the battery had proved themselves an honor to any command and they did not propose to surrender the good standino- of the battery, which it had so honorably won. ^ On the morning of the retreat an incident occurred by which our comrade, Lester S. Hill, came near being captured by the enemy. Our battery had been stationed in a wheat- field, from which the wheat had been gathered into shocks which were utilized the night after the battle to furnish a bed as well as a covering. Comrade Hill laid down with others under an apple-tree, covering himself over with the wheat, and was soon wrapped in slumber. On awaking the follow' ing morning, he protruded his head out of the straw and found to his surprise that the battery had gone. He came out of that straw in the twinkling of an eye. He saw the direction the battery had taken by the imprints on the soft soil, and immediateiy took up the trail. Approaching an old barn, he saw some soldiers lying near clad in blue uniforms He stopped to arouse them, but they were sleeping the sleep that knows no waking, being stiff in death. Having been wounded in battle they had apparently crept to the old build- ing for shelter. After going about a mile, running as fast as possible, he met the Union cavalry pickets that had been left to watch )862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. ']^ the approach of the enemy. From them he learned the di- rection the army had gone, and hastened on, joining his bat- tery at Harrison's Landing, where his comrades had been wondering what had become of him, accounting for his ab- sence upon the supposition that there was nothing under the apple-tree but bundles of wheat, and as it was dark when the battery moved off, they supposed he had gone on. Comrade Hill is of the opinion that if his sleep in the wheat-field had lasted half an hour longer the rebel advance would have been upon him. As it was, by making good use of his legs, with which nature had well endowed him, and making quick time in the direction of the Union forces, he was enabled to es- cape being made a prisoner of war. Being wet and cold after our march through the rain and mud, we passed the day and night as patiently as circum- stances would allow. What the next movement was to be was a standing question, more easily asked than answered. The change of base to which we had listened so often during our retreat had lost its charm. It was a change not from choice but one of necessity, and had cost us over fifteen thou- sand men, forty pieces of artillery, thousands of arms, stores to the value of millions, to say nothing of the demoralizing effect upon the army and the encouragement it gave to the disloyal element at the North. July 3d, we were aroused from our anticipated quiet by the explosion of shells, which were being thrown into the camp a short distance to our right, and in the rear of the Harrison mansion, it being at that time the headquarters of General McClellan. Captain Randolph with two sections of his battery immediately moved to the point of attack and opened fire upon the un- timely intruders. Lieutenant Arnold with the right section was ordered in company with an infantry force to move upon their right flank and disperse them, which was accomplished by the infantry. No action was required by Arnold s sec- tion. We fired nearly a hundred rounds, by which time the infantry had put the intruders to flight. The rebel artillery that opened upon us proved to be Captain Pelham with one of General Stuart's howitzers. Our loss was only two or three horses slightly wounded. When we left camp to go into this action we were ordered to leave our knapsacks behind in camp. For some reason 78 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [July, no guard was left in charge. When we returned we found that every knapsack had been rifled by some thievish com- rades, we losing thereby our changes of clothing and some articles which we had brought from home of precious value. Our baggage wagons joined us after being absent several days, bringing a much needed supply of forage. July 4th, although our Independence Day in name, in reality we had none, for we were the subjects (so far as movements were concerned) of the traitors of our country. Neverthe- less several of our batteries fired a national salute and the bands played national airs, which gave it the semblance of such. General McClellan also rode with his staff through the several commands, receiving the cheers of the troops while on his way. The staff officers of the several corps commanders were kept busy in locating their regiments and batteries, ourselves being moved back one mile to join the regiments of Kearny's division. July 5th all was quiet. The bands played familiar airs to cheer up the weary men. July 6th. The battery harnessed up all day, but made no move, the bands still continuing their music. July 7th. Hitched up at 2.30 a. m., so remaining until six A. M. David H. Macomber, who had been absent without leave since July ist returned to camp, but only remained un- til the 8th, when he deserted and enlisted in the navy under the name of John Smith. July 8th. President Lincoln visited the army. A salute was fired in his honor by several batteries, among them was our own. General McClellan and his staff accompanied the President, and they were invariably received with hearty cheers at every point. The bands also added to the enthusi- asm of the troops by the playing of patriotic tunes. July loth. Three men who had been absent without leave with Macomber returned. They were John F. Keegan, Jere- miah Potter and James H. Walsh. Potter was really a kind- hearted man and quite an expert at juggling, but he was in- clined to leave camp as though he was moved by a law of gravitation. Walsh was of more than ordinary ability and was quite an adept at rhyming, as the following extract from a poem entitled "To the Rhode Island Boys of Battery E" iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 79 shows. It was probably written just after the battle of Williamsburg, although it is dated April 21, 1862 : " Now Rhody's sons with guns and howitzer, how they rattle, Are here ready night and day to meet our foe in battle. Our little state is dearlj' loved by every son and daughter. And well they may, for some books say our fathers dearly bought her. With Union hearts, and Union hands, come let us fight for glory. And if we die upon the field, our names on pages' story; But if Jetf 's shot and shell we miss, ah ! wont that be his blunder.' Then we'll advance with double quick and give them Yankee thunder. " Remember Father Washington who braved the Revolution, The patriot Father of our land, by balls he ne'er was frightened, And by his glory through that war the stars and stripes were brightened, I've stood beside the warrior's tomb, my heart swelled with emotion. Then cheer up boys, our land's yet free, just play up Yankee Doodle. Our battery's ready any time to march at sound of bugle; Commanded by our captain brave, we'll follow you brave Randolph ; Come, lead us forth through fire and smoke, we'll make the rebels stand oft". All Battery E as plain you see, loved you as their brother; We'll stand by you through life till death; come, let us pull together." During the remaining part of July the troops suffered much from the intense heat, the dust and flies, the thermometer ranging for days in succession at nearly 100 degrees, some- times reaching as high as 105 degrees in the shade. At one time the road over which we rode to water our horses was so dusty that it was with difficulty that we could see the horses next in front. Sickness also prevailed to an alarming degree. Malaria, typhoid fever and diarrhoea were the diseases most common. There were thirty at one time in our battery on the sick list ; one-half of the non-commissioned officers being among them. So many being, sick of course, added to the labor of those remaining well. Several were discharged on the surgeon's certificate, among them being David H. Col- vin, Isaac Cook, and Alexander Merchant. On the 14th of July we received about twenty detailed men from the infantry, among them were Henry Allen, John Mc- Allister, Joseph McCarty, Gould E. Utter, John Robinson, Richard Manly, Robert Jost, all from the Fortieth New York, and Jesse Drake from the Fourth Maine. On the 1 6th we again moved our camp about half a mile to the west, near some woods, which gave us some protection from the excessive heat. During; the evening after moving So HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., there was a tremendous thunder shower, which cooled the heated air from which we had suffered so severely. On the 23d the Third corps was reviewed by General McClellan, who pronounced the corps as being under excellent discipline, although its ranks were much depleted by the losses in the late battles and its absent sick. On the 25th the battery was ordered to relieve a twenty-pounder battery, which was stationed in a fort at the front, while they attended a review. On the 27th two of our Parrotts were turned over to Lieu- tenant Clark commanding Battery B, First New Jersey. On the 28th we drew a full battery of twelve-pounder brass guns, our old Parrott guns having been condemned. On this day we performed the last rites over the remains of Corporal Albert H. Trescott, who died that morning of typhoid fever in the hospital, where he had been since the 22d. At the time of his death he was company clerk. To say that he was a true and brave soldier would be but a partial truth, for he was a young man of promise, whose character was irreproachable. But few men surrounded as he was would have so iirmly lived up to their convictions of duty. He was a religious man, but not given to intruding his thoughts upon others, but rather by example invited others to imitate his life. He was the son of John F. Trescott, who was for many years office clerk for the well known firm of Sackett & Davis, jewelers. At sun- set his remains were laid to rest near the camp with militar}' honors, Captain Randolph officiating as chaplain. His body was never taken to Rhode Island. The following promotions and changes were made Aug. i, 1862 : Private Lester S. Hill was promoted to lance corporal of fifth detachment in place of George W. H. Allen, who was acting gunner in place of Corporal Burlingham, who was sup- posed to have deserted at Charles City Cross Roads ; Second Corporal Charles S. Winslow of first piece, transferred to second piece as gunner, vice Trescott, deceased ; private James Donnelly promoted to second corporal of first piece, vice Winslow transferred to second piece ; Second Corporal William H. Polk, of fourth piece, reduced by his own request, and transferred to hospital as nurse ; Second Corporal Ernest Simpson, of third piece, transferred to fourth piece, vice Polk transferred ; private George Humphrey promoted second cor- poral and assigned to third piece, vice Simpson transferred. iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 8 1 August 5th, Sergt. George E. Williams, of the sixth de- tachment, who had been sick for several weeks, received his discharge. August 6th, First Corporal Charles P. Williams was promoted sergeant, vice George E. Williams. The day following Lemuel S. Greene was promoted gunner of sixth piece, vice C. P. Williams, advanced to sergeant. August 8th, soft bread was issued, the first since leaving Alexandria in March. This change was appreciated by us all, and, could we have had this constantly, it would doubtless have prevented much of our sickness. During the first week in August a slight improvement in the sanitary conditions were discernible, although many were still off duty. Several were in the hospital, among them Corporals Williams and Butts. Williams returned to duty two days before his promotion to sergeant. Butts about the same time was sent with others to the hospitals in the north, finally reaching Philadelphia, where he remained until October 5, 1862, when he entered service in the navy, of which an ac- count can be found in the publications of the Soldiers and Sailors Historical Society of Rhode Island. A much larger number of the sick remained in camp strug- gling with malaria in its various forms, the writer being one of these. He preferred the kindness and care of his battery comrades to that of the hospital discipline, notwithstanding its superior facilities. Our life at Harrison's Landing was generally quiet, we hav- ing only occasional attacks upon our camps and lines of com- munications. The most noted of these was on the night of July 31st, when our camps and shipping opposite Coggins Point were shelled by the enemy, who had successfully placed (unknown to us) forty-one pieces of artillery in position, some of them within eight hundred yards of our shipping. Our first knowledge of their presence was when they opened fire upon our camps causing a great commotion. Their firing continued for nearly an hour. Our batteries and one gun- boat soon responded to their challenge, and after a warm con- test they gradually ceased firing and withdrew. Our loss was ten killed and twelve wounded. A few horses were killed and some slight damage was done to the shipping. The enemy's loss was only one killed and seven wounded. G ^2 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug, The next clay McClellan sent a force across the river and took possession of Coggins Point and held it. Our cavalry supported by infantry, were almost daily sent out on reconnoisances on all the important roads leading from -our camps. The most important reconnoisance was made by General Hooker August 5th, with his own and Sedgwick's divisions, when he drove the enemy from Malvern Hilfand re- occupied it. Our battery and division were also under orders with two days' rations to support Hooker if necessary, but the division was used only to take the place of Hooker's troops that were on picket. The object for which the move- ment was made being accomplished, the troops returned to camp, having driven the enemy some miles back towards Richmond and taken about one hundred prisoners. The Unionloss was three killed and eleven wounded. During the remainder of our stay here but little service was required of us, except our usual camp duties and an occasional field drill, which, owing to the excessive heat usually took place at an early hour in the morning. Specu- lations were rife as to what the next movement %vould be. The usual conclusion arrived at was that the army would advance upon Richmond along the line of the James River, never supposing that we should so soon have to withdraw from tiie Peninsula. Later events revealed to us that even then orders had been given by General Halleck (who had on the nth of July been appointed to command the armies of the United States and assumed command on the 23d) to withdraw the army from the Peninsula to Aquia Creek This order was dated August 3d. Previous to this, on July 30th, an order had been given to send away the sick {12,500) as soon as possible. This order for sending away the sick was supposed by McClellan to contemplate an offensive movement rather than a retreat, and it was the beginning of a long and somewhat acrimonious correspondence between McClellan and General Halleck, and it was not until the 14th of August that the first troops (Fifth corps) began to evacuate the position. McClellan confessed that it caused him the great- est pain of his life, and said that he was convinced that the order to withdraw the army to Aquia Creek would prove dis- astrous to our cause, and feared it would be a fatal blow. Previous to receiving these orders General Burnside arrived iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 83 on the 8th at Newport News with two divisions from New Berne, N. C, and one division from Port Royal, S. C. On the 17th of July this command was organized into the Ninth Army Corps, its three divisions being commanded respectively by Generals Stevens, Reno, and Parke. Very early in August it left Newport News on transports, and, on the 3d and 5th, landed at Aquia Creek, at which time the corps numbered about thirteen thousand men. It immedi- ately proceeded to Fredericksburg and relieved King's divis- ion of McDowell's corps, which had been ordered to report to Gen. John Pope, who had assumed command of the Army of Virginia June 27th. The Fifth corps started on the 14th for Aquia Creek, marching direct to Williamsburg. When learning that General Pope was being hard pressed, he changed his course for Newport News, arriving there in three days. From here he transported his troops to Aquia Creek, where he arrived August 21st. On the 15th and i6th the remaining troops left the Peninsula, the Second and Sixth corps by way of Fortress Monroe and Newport News. The Fourth corps after leaving Harrison's Landing went to Yorktown, doing garrison duty. The Third corps left the Peninsula on the 15th, General Birney's brigade of Kearny's division taking the lead (the number of this division was changed from the Third to the First on the 13th of August) accompanied by one section of Randolph's battery, under Lieut. Wm. A. Arnold. It went as far as Jones's Bridge on the Chickahominy, guarding it until the remaining portion of the corps arrived at sunset, and encamped on a high hill until the next morning. At sunrise we broke camp and crossed the river and passed through a rugged and hilly country containing some splendid farms, upon which were growing fine crops of grain and a great variety of fruit, to which the troops helped themselves without any invitation. Neither did we forget that pigs and poultry were useful to hungry soldiers. Thus we continued on our pilgrimage of luxury until we reached the vicinity of Liberty and Camerhel churches, on the Diascund Creek, encamping here over night, although most of the infantry went on as far as Barhamville. On the I 7th the battery moved on, passing Barhamville at noon, reaching Burnt Ordinary, and remained until the next morning. Only a brick church remained standing, the other 84 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., buildings having been burned with a large amount of ord- nance stores. From this incident it derived its name. It is ten miles from Williamsburg, where some of the infantry- reached before halting. The next morning we started at six A. M. and reached Williamsburg about noon and encamped near the town. On the 9th of May we left here on our way to Richmond with feelings far different from those we had now. We could but ask ourselves if all the blood shed and the millions of money expended, to say nothing of the sufferings borne by the soldiers, the anxious aching hearts at home, had not been worse than wasted. On the 19th we continued our journey, reaching Yorktown at about six p. m., and went into camp a short distance be- yond the town, where we remained until noon of the 20th. During the day the infantry of Kearny's division were being embarked for Aquia Creek, followed later by the rest of the troops, our battery being placed upon the schooners Memento and Village Queen and the brig John H. Allen. The infantry sailed as soon as they were embarked. Our battery remained over night and until noon of the next day, the 21st, sailing then past Fortress Monroe and up the Chesapeake Bay, reaching the mouth of the Potomac River at midnight, where we anchored until the morning of the 22d and started at sunrise, sailing up the Potomac in a light rain, reaching Aquia Creek at three p. m., where we had expected the corps to be landed ; but when Heintzelman arrived he received orders to hasten his corps forward to Alexandria. Accordingly, after an hour's delay, we started again and sailed until a very heavy shower in the evening made it necessary to cast anchor until the next morning. At sunrise we resumed our sail, and between ten and eleven a. m., of the 23d, reached Alexandria, where the infantry had arrived the day before. A part of Kearny's division started immediately upon cars for Warrenton Junc- tion, and the remaining infantry followed the next morning. Our guns were loaded upon the cars in the evening of our arrival, our horses not being loaded until the next morning. We slept all night on the depot platform, accompanied by Capt. Drake DeKay, of General Pope's staff, whose mam- moth signature was well known to the city soldiers of Wash- ington during the summer of i86r, when he was an adjutant of General Mansfield and signed all papers. He was brother i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 85 to George C. DeKay, who had been appointed to the battery as lieutenant, Sept. 28, 1861, but declined commission; but afterwards served on the staff of General Williams, and was mortally wounded May 26, 1862, at Grand Gulf, Missis- sippi. Twelve buckshot entered his body, causing paralysis and his death a few weeks after. Our stay was necessarily short as orders to hasten the Third corps to General Pope's assistance had been received by Heintzelman when he first arrived. About noon the "all aboard" was sounded and two long trains of Heintzelman's brave troops started upon the Orange & Alexandria Railroad for Warrenton Junction, passing through Burke and Fairfax stations, Manassas Junction, then through Bristoe and Cat- lett stations to Warrenton Junction, where we arrived at three p. m. on the 24th, having been three hours in reaching our destination of forty miles. We immediately unloaded and went into camp near the station. The Third corps was now acting with the Army of Vir- ginia, with which it sustained its reputation as a fighting corps. Whatever may be said of other corps commanders, no suspicion of disloyalty was ever known to exist against any of its generals. The record of the old regiments that were with us at Fair Oaks was never excelled by any other command. Since then a few changes had been made in Kearny's division, in no way to its disadvantage. The addi- tions were the First New York Volunteers, who joined Beirry's brigade June 3d. The One Hundred and First New York and Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania joined Birney's brigade; the former June 9th, the latter July 5th. The Twentieth Indiana became a part of Robinson's brigade on the loth of June. The Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania was transferred from Robinson's first brigade to Birney's second. Thompson's Battery G, Second United States, was relieved July i8th, its place being filled by Graham's Battery K, First United States Artillery. Clark's battery (formerly Bean's) was re- lieved in June and placed in the artillery reserve. A brief statement relating to the Army of Virginia may not be out of place here. The Army of Virginia was organ- ized on the 26th of June, 1862, General Pope assuming com- mand, as before stated, on the 27th. It was composed of the departments of the Mountain, Rappahannock, and Shenan- 86 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., doah, which had been under the commands of Banks, McDow- ell, and Fremont. The latter immediately resigned and was succeeded by General Sigel. It was divided into three corps, the first being commanded by Sigel, the second by Banks, the third by McDowell. Stonewall Jackson's forces having gone to reinforce Lee at Richmond, the commands of Sigel and Banks were ordered to concentrate on or near the Rap- pahannock River, McDowell being already at or near Fred- ericksburg. In order to assist McClellan to withdraw from the Peninsula, the forces under General Banks had advanced about ten miles south of Culpepper, where he was met by General Jackson's and A. P. Hill's forces, and August 9th the battle of Cedar Mountain was fought. The defeat of Banks made it necessary that Pope's command should fall back beyond the Rappahannock, which was successfully accomplished, although not without several minor engage- ments by General Sigel, the most important being at Sulphur Springs and Waterloo Bridge, on the 23d and 24th of August, After the battle of Cedar Mountain Jackson retired to Gordonville and awaited the arrival of General Lee, who had left Richmond with the main portion of his army about the same time that McClellan commenced his retreat. Lee's ob- ject was to crush Pope's command before it could be rein- forced by the Army of the Potomac. Upon the arrival of the rebel army in his front. General Pope to protect his lines of communication had to fall back to near Warrenton Junction. Pope had not at this time received any reinforcements, ex- cept Burnside's command. Such was the situation when the Third corps began to arrive on the 22d, Kearny's division be- ing the first to reach Pope's army. On the 26th, two days after our battery arrived, Heintzelman's whole corps had reached the Junction and the several commands were at once ordered to such points as the situation required. Battery K, having been ordered from the Junction on the 25th, found itself on the morning of the 26th some five miles from its starting point on the railroad in the direction of Rappahan- rock River in camp near Birney's brigade. In the morn- ing the right section, under the command of Lieutenant Arnold, was ordered to Rappahannock Station where they found the bridge across the river burned. They were to iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 87 assist in guarding it against the threatened attack of the en- emy. The other two sections remained as they were in the morning, comparatively idle, the only exception being that our quartermaster (C. A. Brown) made a raid upon some Secesh cows, capturing three and bringing them into -camp as prisoners of war. No proposition being made for an ex- change, we proceeded to confiscate them by the usual meth- ods relating to such captures. It was supposed at this time that the enemy's entire force was on the south side of the Rappahannock, and not until near night did we realize our mistake. We then learned that a rebel force was in our rear and had already captured Bristoe Station, taking a few prisoners and capturing two trains of supplies. The third train made its escape by dashing against the obstructions which had been placed upon the track, and was soon beyond reach. After destroying our sup- plies at this station, a force of 500 infantry under General Trimble, supported by a portion of Stuart's cavalry, turned their attention to Manassas Junction where our army had an immense quantity of supplies of all kinds, with but a small force to protect them. Resistance was useless by the small force present, the eight pieces of artillery being taken at the point of the bayonet. General Lee reported the results of this raid to be eight pieces of artillery, with their horses and equipments, more than 300 prisoners, 175 horses, besides those belonging to the artillery, 200 new tents, with an im- mense quantity of quartermaster and commissary stores ; 50,- 000 pounds of bacon, 1,000 barrels of beef, 2,000 barrels of pork, and 2,000 barrels of flour were burned. The next day General Taylor commanding the First brigade of Slocum's division of the Sixth corps, was sent with his commafid on a train from Alexandria to drive away the raiders (as they sup- posed) and recapture the supplies. In attacking the enemy he found them in strong force and was obliged to retire with a loss of two hundred prisoners and the train which had transported them, being himself mortally wounded. Further depredations followed in the destruction of Bull Run Bridge and the tearing up of the track at several points on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Fitz Hugh Lee's cavalry went as far as Fairfax Court House on the turnpike and to Burke's Station on the railroad, destroymg the telegraph oo HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., lines as he advanced, thereby severing communication with Alexandria. It was not supposed while this destruction was in progress that it was any thing more than a strong raiding force of the enemy's cavalry. By the morning of the 27th it was known that something more than a raid^ing movement was intended. Subsequently it was learned that Stonewall Jackson started on the 25th from the Rappahannock River, making a circuitous route around the right of Pope's army passing through Thoroughfare Gap on the morning of the 26th, then taking a course at right angles with the previous day's march, passing between Pope's army and Washington, striking our line of communication at Bristoe Station, with the result which has been stated. Jackson's forces in this raid consisted of three divisions commanded by Ewell, A. P. Hill, and Jackson's old division commanded by General Talia- ferro. Seventeen batteries and two brigades of cavalry accom- panied this force. On the morning of the 27th, being satisfied that Long- street's corps had left its line on the south side of the Rappahannock, and was en route to join Jackson, whose troops were then at Bristoe and Gainesville, General Pope abandoned his own line on the north of the Rappahannock, and ordered his army to concentrate on a line from Gaines- ville to Manassas Junction. McDowell's corps, which was then near Waterloo Bridge on the Hedgeman River, was ordered to Gainesville. General Reno, of the Ninth corps and Kearny's division, was ordered to move on Greenwich so as to reach there by night and then to report to McDowell. Hooker's division, which lay a few miles below Warrenton Junction, was ordered to move along the line of the railroad towards the Junction. Captain Randolph, with the centre and left sections of his battery, was ordered to move with Hooker's division joining it near Catlett Station, with a part of Robinson's brigade of Kearny's division. Lieutenant Jastram early in the day had been ordered bv Captain Randolph to report to Colonel Poe commanding Berry's brigade, who was absent on sick leave. Soon after reporting, firing being heard in the rear, he was ordered to re- port to General Hooker, who was on the advance, as soon as possible. He did so, and ascertained that his were the only guns then with Hooker, and also that the rebels were in our iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 89 rear near " Broad Run," and that the general was ordered by General Pope to find them. Hooker moved his infantry across Kettle Run and advanced cautiously till meeting the enemy's videttes, driving them from the hills when the at- tack commenced. Captain Randolph now came up with the centre section under Sheldon. We then advanced a short dis- tance beyond Kettle Run and found a division of the enemy under command of General Evvell in line of battle ready to re- ceive us, with all the daring for which that division was noted. As soon as we were in range of the enemy's batteries they opened upon us a rapid fire, to which Captain Randolph promptly responded with his two sections. In the meantime, Colonel Carr commanding Hooker's Third brigade had de- ployed and was briskly skirmishing with the enemy in the woods on the right of the railroad, who gradually retired as our line advanced. Further to the left the enemy appeared in force and were met by General Taylor's brigade (Excelsior) when the battle commenced with renewed fury along the entire line. Our battery in the meantime was in position about one thousand yards from the enemy's batteries, whom we were fighting with solid shot, causing them to retire across Broad Run upon a range of hills overlooking our position. We then limbered up, and, after a short rest, advanced and went into battery upon a knoll, again attacking the enemy's artil- lery across the river, whose shots were well directed and went ricochetting through our battery with a disagreeable familiar- ity, one of these shots striking Corp. Lemuel S. Greene and private John Brannan of the left section, giving them mortal wounds. The infantry in the meantime were pushing the enemy, who were stubbornly resisting our advance ; but they fell back before the veterans of Hooker's division, retreating across Broad Run, and continued their retreat to Manassas Junction, where Jackson still remained with the rest of his corps. Our battery was supported in this action by seven companies of the Sixty-third Pennsylvania Regiment of Rob- inson's brigade, the other company being deployed as skirm- ishers on the left, seven companies of the One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania and three companies of the Eighty-seventh New York were supporting Durell's battery, which, with our two sections and Capt. J. C. Clark's Battery E, Fourth United States, were the only artillery engaged. with the Union forces 90 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., in this battle. Evvell's division consisted of twenty-tliree regiments of infantry and six batteries. Hooker had under his command only eighteen regiments and three batteries. The losses on each side were about three hundred. During a rest between our actions the enemy's sharp- shooters had a range upon our battery, which caused the officers and drivers to dismount in order to be less exposed to their bullets. None were effective, however, except one, which cut in two a halter buckle on Lieutenant Jastram's horse. _ Battery E never fought better than in this action, receiv- ing due credit from Kearny, who said in his report: "On the 27th, with two sections and Robinson's First brigade, Captain Randolph, had powerfully contributed to General Hooker's success at Bristoe Station." The short and very modest report of Captain Randolph reads as follows, viz. : " Camp Near Cextreville, Va., 1 Aug. 31,1862. ,• biR :— I have the honor respectfiill v to report that, in accordance with orders from General Kearny, I reported mv battery to General Hooker, near Catlett s Station, on the 27th inst., and proceeded, under his direc- tion, along the road to the left of the R. R. towards Bristoe Station The enemy having been previously discovered on the right of the R R., was found upon our advance to have its batteries on prominent hills to the tront and right of our advance. I occupied a position about one thousand yards trom a battery in our front, and opened fire with solid shot from SIX (4) Napoleon guns. After a very few discharges the enem v withdrew its battery, and, proceeding to a range of hills across Broad Run, re- opened fire. Meanwhile, I threw a few shots into his cavalry as it retired supporting the battery. After changing position to a more commanding hi , a little to the front and right, I engaged two batteries placed on the nius opposite His fire was severe from two difterent points, but a well- directed fire of shell and solid shot compelled him to retire hastilv. My loss was two men killed. Expenditure of ammunition about one hundred and hlty rounds, mostly of solid shot. With great respect, I have the honor to be Your obetiient servant, George E. Randolph, Ciittain C omnia ii.il, or BatUry E, First Rhode Island Artillery. After the close of this action the battery crossed Broad Run, and went about one mile, and encamped upon the rebel battlefield, arriving there at dark. I'revious to crossino- the t862.] first R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 9I Run our brave comrade, Brannan, after a short interval of great agony, during which his entreaties to be given some- thing to shorten his sufferings were agonizing, died, and was buried under the shade of a small tree near where he was shot. He was a good soldier and joined the battery as a re- cruit June 26, 1862, while we lay before Richmond.* He en- listed from Seekonk, Mass. Corporal Greene was carried upon a stretcher by his comrades to where we encamped. Although suffering severely, he was heroic to the greatest de- gree, reaching almost to cheerfulness. He died soon after reaching camp without a struggle, apparently, from loss of blood. As this action was somewhat unexpected, no medical stores were on hand. If there had been it is quite possible that his life could have been saved, although it would have been necessary to have amputated his leg. In the sixth de- tachment, to which he belonged, the men who had enlisted from the town of Scituate gave to him a brother's care, and tenderly laid away his body under the shadow of a tree, placing a suitable head-board to mark the resting-place of their beloved comrade. Brannan, who was No. 5 on the same piece, was killed by the same shot while they were in the act of moving the piece forward from its recoil. This battle is officially known as the battle of Kettle Run, but is as often called Broad Run. The action took place be- tween the two rivers. Kettle Run is the middle one of three forks which form the source of the Occoquan Creek. Broad Run (north fork) crosses the Orange & Alexandria Railroad just north of Bristoe Station. Kettle Run crosses about two miles below. Cedar Run (south fork) follows the line of the railroad four miles on the east, until nearly opposite War- renton Junction, when it turns at right angles and runs north of the junction. Broad and Kettle Run come together and form one stream about two miles east of Bristoe Station, then forming one river for about one mile before reaching Occo- quan Creek. It was near this junction of the two rivers that the right of our army fought. *With Br.innan, on the 26th, came the following recruits: James S. Campbell, Georjje H. nig-gins, Benjamin Judd, George H. Kelley, William 11. King, Edward McCaft'ery, Patrick Sullivan, Cornelius Sullivan, John B. Saunders, Edward Teague, Michael Dillon, John Groves, and David Ronan. 92 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [ Auj CHAPTER X. August, 1862. Second Battle of Bull Run. ATjiine A. M., on the 28th, our battery left near Bristoe Station for Manassas Junction, which we reached about noon, halting for awhile, and fed our horses Three burned trains were still smoking when we arrived While resting here an incident occurred which was not cred- itable to one of the actors. Not far from our restino-.pjace a weary cavalryman had hitched his horse, and, lyin* down near by to rest, had fallen asleep. While in this co'iidition one of our corporals stealthily approached the horse un- hitched and led it away. How the horseless trooper man- aged after awaking we never knew, but I venture he never re- peated that part of the Lord's Prayer which reads, " Forcrive those who trespass against us." '^ While awaiting orders to move, Kearny's and Reno's divi- sions arrived from near Greenwich. Soon after noon the forces here moved on towards Centreville, where we arrived during the early evening, one gun of our battery being placed in an old fortification and the others outside in battery. Here we remained through the night. Kearny's infantry encamped just west of the village. Hooker's division halted on the Bull Run about three miles south of Centreville. The right section, which was sent August 26th on picket duty on the Rappahannock, returned and joined the battery in the evening at Centreville, being well supplied with turkevs which they had obtained by methods well known to every wide-awake soldier. It is needless to add that some of their comrades, the officers in particular, did not sleep on empty stomachs that night. I can learn but little of their duties iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 93 while absent. General Ward, in his report relating to the movements of his regiment before the battle of Bull Run, speaks of a section of Randolph's battery which may refer to Lieutenant Arnold's section. He says, having reached Bull Run from Manassas Junction on the 28th : " General Kearny arriving on the ground, directed me to cross the run and to take an advanced position on an eminence to protect a fork of the roads on which General Birney had advanced with the cavalry. After taking position, a section of Randolph's bat- tery arrived, and the regiment took position for its support. Suddenly a portion of the enemy's cavalry appeared in sight under full charge, and, approaching within a sufficient dis- tance to discover the reception awaiting them, suddenly wheeled their horses and retreated amid the dust. My command, about an hour afterwards, advanced to Centre- ville and encamped for the night." Reno's division, of the Ninth corps, was encamped one mile south of Centreville. Reynolds's division was at Newmarket, five miles southwest from Centreville. Sigel was near Groveton, about the same distance as Reynolds, but about one mile to the north. King's division lay on the Warrenton pike, two miles south- west of Groveton. General Rickett's division was about three miles in front of Thoroughfare Gap, watching Long- street, whose corps was then coming through the gap. Taylor's brigade was at Fairfax Court House. Stonewall Jack- son's corps, which had left Manassas Junction during the night and early in the morning, was now at the old battle ground of July 21, 1861, his left resting on Catherpen Run, near Sudley Mill, his right reaching near to Warrenton pike and in close contact with General King's division of Mc- Dowell's corps, with which he had a sharp encounter just at night, darkness closing the contest, both parties holding their ground. Banks's corps lay on the railroad at the crossing of Kettle Run. Porter's corps was stationed just north of Bris- toe Station. Such was the situation in the evening of the 28th of August, 1862, During the night Porter's corps advanced to Manassas Junction. King's division fell back to the same place. General Lee, with Longstreet and his corps, was now east of the Bull Run Mountain with no force between him and Jackson, as Ricketts had retreated towards Bristoe 94 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., Station during the night. At daylight on the morning of the 29th General Kearny left Centreville and its vicinity for the battlefield, our battery leaving at sunrise. We took the Gainesville pike, crossing Stone Bridge, reaching the scene of action about the middle of the forenoon, and halted upon the ground near where the First Rhode Island Infantry were engaged at the first Bull Run battle, July 21, 1861. Three hours before our arrival the divisions of Generals Schenck, Steinvvehr, and Schurz, of Sigel's First corps, had been hotly engaged with- Jackson's forces, and had adv-anced their line over one mile. The enemy then appeared with heavy rein- forcements and made a determined effort to turn his flanks. The struggle was now desperate and extended along the whole line. It was at this crisis that Kearny arrived and was ordered to the right. General Reno with his division of the Ninth corps arrived about the same time and was posted to support Sigel. The contest continued until near noon, neither side having during the last hour made any gain. General Pope arrived about one o'clock p. m., at which time our troops were nearly out of ammunition, A supply was obtained and soon after the fighting was renewed. Two hours before General Pope arrived General Lee had arrived with General Longstreet's corps and took his position on Jackson's left, thereby disarranging the plans of the com- manding general, who had previously ordered the corps of McDowell and Porter to advance and attack Jackson on his right flank. These two corps failing to arrive as anticipated, caused much anxiety to Pope. About two p. u. McDowell was reported to be advancing on the Sudley road to a point on Jackson's left, and not hearing from Porter, who should have been at this time in front of the enemy, at 4.30 Gen- eral Pope sent a peremptory order to General Porter, who was about four miles distant, to push forward at once into action on Jackson's right, and, if possible, on his rear. After waiting until about five p. u., to give Porter time to reach the enemy's front, Heintzelman and Reno were ordered to attack Jackson's right. The infantry of this command had been to the front since their arrival. About four ]'. m. our battery was ordered to advance and hold itself ready for action. Accordingly we moved slowly forward upon the Manassas and Sudley Spring road, which ran through the woods towards the 'S62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 95 extreme right. After passing through the woods we came to an open field which was skirted on the south and east by woodland. The unfinished railroad upon which Jackson's troops were in battle array ran diagonally across our front on the north and west of this open space. A hollow ran through the field parallel with the unfinished railroad. The western part of this hollow field was where we went into bat- tery and immediately commenced firing. This at once drew upon us a rapid fire from a battery on our front, whose shots mostly passed over our heads, more endangering the caisson drivers than it did the cannoneers. After a short time another long range battery of the enemy opened upon us from a point further to our left, their shots passing diagonally across our battery, whose shots, in addition to those from the battery on our front, made it decidedly uncomfortable, notwithstanding every officer and private stood bravely to his work. This engagement lasted about half an hour. Although sharp and severe our loss was only one man killed. Our escape from a serious loss was mainly due to the enemy's too high eleva- tion, but their line shots were excellent. That no more were hurt seems almost a miracle. The fifth piece barely escaped a serious accident. Having placed some solid shot near the muzzle of the gun during the firing, the cartridges by some means ignited and exploded, doing no damage, although for a moment we were somewhat startled. Had this ammunition been shell or shrapnel with cut fuses, the result would have been more serious. Our action at this time was in support of a movement of Kearny.'s to drive the enemy out of the woods on the right, and if possible turn Jackson's extreme left. The assault was made by Birney's and Robinson's brigades, the P'ortieth New York being on our immediate left. Our battery was sup- ported by six companies of the Third Maine. Robinson's brigade was on the left of Birney, holding the line firmly, while Birney advanced and drove Hill's division back across the railroad and on beyond the Lewis Lane road, doubling his left back at a right angle with his main line. This left Birney's brigade so much exposed that on General Hill's being reinforced by Early's and Lawton's brigades, Birney during the night withdrew his brigade to its original position. After Kearny's success our battery withdrew to where we 96 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., halted upon our arrival on the field. In this assault many of these regiments had only from two to four hundred when they entered the fight ; after the assault they had only enough to form two companies, the First New York going into the fight with only two ofificers and eighty-five men, being commanded by Major Burt of the Third Maine. That this assault of Kearny's division was determined and severe is well sustained by the reports of Gen. A. P. Hill, who was in command of the assaulted position. Hill says : " The most persistent and furious onsets were made by column after col- umn of infantry, accompanied by numerous batteries. Soon my reserves were all in, and up to six o'clock my division, assisted by the Louisiana brigade of General Hay's, com- manded by Colonel Forno, with a heroic courage and obstin- acy almost beyond parallel, had met and repulsed six distinct and separate assaults, a portion of the time a majority of the men being without a cartridge." The two batteries that attacked us were Braxton's of Fredericksburg and Crenshaw's (Virginia) battery. Latham's battery, of North Carolina, with Braxton's were also engaged against our infantry. Hooker's division arrived about ten a. m. His first brigade (Grover's) was at once ordered to General Sigel's support, who was on the left of Heintzelman. About three p, m. the brigade advanced through an open field to the railroad, beyond which lay the enemy. Grover says in his report: "We rapidly and firmly pressed upon the embankment, and here occurred a short, sharp and obstinate hand to hand conflict with bayonets and clubbed muskets. Many of the enemy were bayoneted in their tracks, others struck down with the butts of pieces, and onward pressed our lines. In a few yards more it met a ter- rible fire from a second line which in its turn broke. The enemy's third line now bore down upon our thinned ranks in close order, and swept back the right centre and a portion of our left. With the gallant Sixteenth Massachusetts on our left I tried to turn his flank, but the breaking of our right and centre and the weight of the enemy's lines caused the necessity of falling back, first to the embankment and then to our first position, behind which we rallied to our colors." In this fierce encounter of not more than twenty minutes' duration, this brigade lost 4S6 men. General Heint- zelman, in his report, says : " It was on this occasion that iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 97 General Grover's brigade made the most gallant and deter- mined bayonet charge of the war." The other brigades of this division were in support of Grover doing excellent service, although with less casualties. Late in the afternoon King's division of McDowell's corps, commanded by General Hatch, made an attack upon Jackson's right which was warmly contested by the enemy, and lasted until late in the evening, both sides claiming to have made successes. It was supposed by General Pope and other •officers of high command that the enemy were preparing to retreat during the night. Orders to be ready to pursue them, should the supposition prove correct, were sent at once to the several commands. When the morning of the 30th arrived this was discovered to be one of the many mistakes which characterized this battle. Owing to Jackson's capture of our provisions at Manassas on the 26th, we were on the morning of the 30th very short of rations. On the 28th Pope telegraphed Halleck to send rations and forage as soon as possible, and not until daylight of the 30th was an answer received, asking for an escort of cavalry to protect them while on the way. Pope says : " Such a letter when we were fight- ing the enemy and Alexandria was full uf troops, needs no comment. ... It was not until I received this letter that I began to be hopeless of any successful issue to our operations, but I felt it to be my duty, notwithstanding the broken condition of the forces under my command, to hold my position." No more reinforcements were expected by General Pope, who further says : " I accordingly prepared to renew the en- gagement." Early in the afternoon Porter's corps, which had arrived early in the morning, was ordered to prepare to ad- vance, supported by King's division, under General Hatch, and supported also on their left by Sigel's corps and Rey- nold's division, and attack the enemy along the Warrenton turnpike. At the same time our corps and Reno's division were ordered to advance, and, if possible, to turn the enemy's left and attack him on his flank. About two p. m. Porter commenced the attack on Longstreet, and soon became furi- ously engaged with a resolute and determined foe, who con- tested every inch of ground. The contest soon extended to the centre and right. It soon became evident that the enemy 7 98 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Aug., was massing on our left, at the same time making a formid- able appearance along the whole line. Porter soon gave signs of weakness. Two brigades of Rickett's division were now sent by McDowell to reinforce Porter, — Schenck's brigade of Sigel's corps, and ]\Iilroy's Independent brigade. These com- mands, against which the enemy had hurled their masses with great fury, fought superbly. Porter commenced to retire when Reynolds came to his support, giving him time to re- form some of his regiments. In the meantime Hooker's di- vision advanced upon the woods in his front and drove the enemy a short distance back. Kearny's division was, in the meantime, waiting for orders. The contest on the left con- tinued until near six o'clock with unequaled fury, the enemy hurling their concentrated massive column against ourtroops, who were now slowly falling back, being closely pressed by the elated enemy. From our position we could plainly see that the day was lost. The prediction of General Kearny, who made his quarters with Captain Randolph the night be- fore, was fulfilled, when he said, while sitting on a limber chest, there would be another Bull Run before night. Our trains now began to retire in haste towards the fords of Bull Run. Reno's corps was now thrown into action on the left, meeting the brave assaults of the foe with unequaled courage. About live p. m. the left centre gave way and re- tired from before the enemy. When Kearny sent Robinson's and Birney's commands to fill the vacated positions, just be- fore sunset, our battery was sent to join these brigades, tak- ing a position at the foot of a hill, in front of the woods, near to one of the small streams which form the source of Young's Branch. Our right being weakened from sending reinforce- ments to the left, began also to give way, but held their line unbroken. The left, by sunset, had been driven back three- quarters of a mile, but held the lines intact. By dark the enemy were in possession of the Manassas and Sudley Spring road, thereby endangering our line of retreat. At eight o'clock General Pope sent orders to the different commands for a general retreat, also defining the route and order of movement. To Generals Kearny, Reno, and Gibbon, fell the honor of covering the retreat from the field. As the artillery was of little service after dark it was soon after ordered to cross Bull Run. Our battery left its position just before iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 99 dark, slowly retiring, and sev^eral times going into battery- while cii route to the river. As we retired we were severely shelled by a long range battery, which, it is said, threw pieces of railroad iron. Whatever they were, they certainly were not welcome guests. No missile had ever before so unnerved us as these unknown shots. On arriving at the river we found ourselves, with many other commands of every de- scription, anxious to cross the bridge. Our battery was soon across safely, except the fifth caisson, which, by some un- known way, had a wheel run off. This caused us some vexa- tion, but by heavy lifting the unruly wheel was replaced, and after a struggle we obtained an opportunity to cross the river and soon rejoined the battery. After crossing the bridge one piece of Lieutenant Sheldon's had trouble, also, by getting stuck. It soon, however, obtained its freedom, and, having taken its place in line, the battery moved on towards Centre- ville, reaching there about midnight. Birney's and Robin- son's brigades did not leave the field until ten p. m., when they quietly withdrew, reaching Centreville about two p. ^l It is to be regretted that no report by Captain Randolph, of this battle is on record. General Hooker made no report whatever. Kearny's is very brief. Of the artillery he says : "Randolph's battery of light twelves was worked with bold- ness and address. Though narrowly watched by three long- reaching enfilading batteries of the enemy, it constantly si- lenced one of theirs in its front and shelled and ricochetted its shot into the reinforcements moving from the enemy's heights down into the woods." Considering the severe shell- ing we received, our loss was remarkably small, only one man, by the name of Edward Galvin, being killed. I know nothing of his history, except that he enlisted at Providence, Dec. 26, 1 861, and arrived at the battery Jan. 16, 1862. He was in every way an excellent soldier, and, so far as I know, a very worthy man. His leg was shot off on the 29th, and he died on the 30th. At the time he was wounded he was acting as No. 5 on the third piece. lOO HISTORY OF BATTERY F, [Sept., CHAPTER XI. September, 1862. Battle of Chantillv and Death of Kearny. AUGUST 31st our battery lay at Centreville, in a cheer- less rain, thinking over the fortunes of another re- treat and wondering what next in the line of misfor- tune was in store for us. As we had not for the last two weeks had time to write to our friends at home, our leisure hours were spent in that agreeable service, although it was but little that we could communicate of a hopeful nature, so far as it related to our military efforts, but it served to re- lieve the fears of our friends as to our safety in the late bat- tle. During the afternoon we were in battery for a few hours ; after that we went into the park just below the forts. Dur- ing the day a gentleman from Rhode Island, by the name of Nichols arrived at our camp, and very kindly offered to take our mail to Providence for us, which favor we thankfully ac- cepted. We were all anxious that the rebels would not attempt to follow up our retreat, but by night rumors to the contrary began to be passed about the different camps. In anticipa- tion of such a possibility our troops were posted in a line to the right and left of Centreville, Sumner on the right. On his left were the other corps, in the order named — Porter, Heintzelman, Franklin, Sigel, with Reno on the extreme left. Sumner and Franklin, with their corps, joined the army on this date. Our forces now, with these two corps added, was about 60,000. Had they been with us during the battle the result would doubtless have been very different. Early on the morning of the 31st Jackson was ordered for- ward with the intention of striking us on our right flank, and by evening had reached the Little River turnpike, which runs )862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. lOI from Aldie to Fairfax Court House, making it necessary to change our position. September ist Hooker was ordered to take charge of all the troops near Germantovvn (turning over his division to General Grover) a small village near the junc- tion of the Little River pike and the Fairfax road. Hooker formed the right of the line, which was located upon a range of high land called Ox Hill. On the left of Hooker came iMcDowell, then Franklin; next Reno, with Kearny in his rear as reserve ; next came Porter, then Sumner on the ex- treme left, making a line of three miles. On the same day General Jackson moved down the turnpike. On reaching the point where the Ox Hill road crosses the turnpike, he was met by Ricketts's division, who opened upon the enemy and held them in check. At the same time General Stevens's division, of Reno's command, attacked the enemy's right flank in his accustomed manner, driving back the enemy quite a distance ; the enemy being reinforced, in turn drove back a part of Stevens's division. The general himself, in this attack, " bore aloft the colors of one of his regmients, cheering on his men, and fell, fatally wounded, by a Minie ball through the head." At this time General Birney ap- peared upon the scene, whose action I will give by quoting a part of his report : " On reaching that point I found the division of General Stevens retiring in some disorder before the enemy, the officers in command of regiments stating that their ammunition had been exhausted. I immediately or- dered forward the Fourth Maine Regiment, and it gallantly advanced and was soon in active conflict. I successively took forward the One Hundred and First New York, Third Maine, Fortieth and First New York. These regiments held the enemy and sustained unflinchingly the most murderous fire from a superior force. At this juncture General Kearny reached the field with Randolph's battery, and, placing it in position, aided my brigade by a well-directed fire. I pointed out to the general a gap on my right, caused by the retiring of Stevens's division, and asked for Berry's brigade to fill it. He rode from me to examine the ground, and, dashing past our lines into those of the enemy, fell a victim to his gallant daring. I sent forward the Thirty-eighth New York and Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania to complete our victory. They advanced gallantly, and night closed in, leaving my brigade 102 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Sept., in full possession of that portion of the battlefield in which we were engaged. General Kearny not returning and supposing that he had been taken prisoner, I assumed command of the division and ordered forward Robinson's and Berry's brigades, re- lieved my tired regiments, and held until three o'clock a. m., September 2d, the battle ground, at which time I followed with the division the corps of General Reno to Fairfax Court House. The preliminary movements of our battery commenced at four p. M., when we left Centreville in company with our division. We had advanced about three miles when General Kearny with one or two of his staff rode up in haste from the direction of Fairfax and asked whose battery it was. Being told that it was Randolph's he said : " Just the battery I want, follow nie." Taking the battery forward a short dis- tance he turned our course at right angles upon a road leading- north towards Ox Hill ; advancing a short distance he halted the battery, commanding us to remain until further orders. During the suspension a terrible storm broke over us, the thunder being so loud it was said it was utterly impossible to hear artillery at Centreville. The shade of night spread over us even before sunset. The rain fell in such torrents that it was almost impossible to keep ammunition serviceable. During this battle of the elements our troops continued the fight although the rain somewhat slackened its severity. About sunset our battery was ordered forward some half mile or so and went into battery upon a hill sloping to the north- west, at the foot of which was an extended tract of woodland. We immediately went into action, directing our shots into the woods on our front. After firing a short time word was received that we were firing into our own ranks. .We then ceased firing. It was at this time that General Kearny, whose headquarters were with the battery, told Sergeant Millen that if any of his aides or orderlies came to find him tell them to wait until he returned. This order to Sergeant Millen was before General Birney pointed out to Kearny the break in our lines on his right, as a later statement will show, but it was the last time that our beloved division commander was seen alive by us. After we had ceased firing, Colonel Foe, of the Second Michigan Regiment, who was in command Lieut. Israel R. Sheldon. IS6:;.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. IO3 of the brigade of General Berry (who was on sick leave), arrived in our rear. Kearny being absent and no other proper ofBcers being present, he reported to General Reno, who ordered him to remain where he was, at the same time ordering that one regiment be sent to his left in support of a battery. The Fifth Michigan was sent. Soon after, General Birney, having assumed command of the division, ordered the brigade to relieve the second brigade (Birney's) at the front, where it remained until 2.30 a. m., when it was ordered to leave the Second Michigan Regiment on picket and retire towards Fairfax, the pickets soon following. Our battery left the field several hours before, going back as far as the Centreville and Fairfax road where we halted until the small hours of the next morning, when we moved on to Fair- fax Court House, reaching there at sunrise. During the night it cleared off cold, and, being wet through by the heavy shower of the afternoon before, we suffered quite severely with the cold, the drivers especially. Our loss in this short but sharp contest was only the horse of John McKenna, our bugler, and Private Philip A. Dexter, who was hit by a spent Minie ball, but suffered no injury. The valor of Captain Randolph in this, as in all previous engagements, was so ob- vious that every man felt justly proud of being one of his command. Lieutenants Arnold, Jastram, Bucklyn, and Shel- don, his worthy assistants, were likewise an honor to the bat- tery ; all but the latter possessed more than an average degree of executive ability, and what he lacked in that line was more than redeemed by his manly and amiable demeanor.* After arriving at Fan-fax Court House the sun rose bright and cheerful, its warm rays being of great service in driving away the cold chills afflicting us during our morning march. This, with the apparent victory which we had just achieved, failed to give us any degree of satisfaction, as we had learned on our way that General Kearny was probably killed, or at least was a prisoner. It was anxiously hoped that the latter fate would prove the correct one. It was not long, however, be- fore the real truth became known, as his lifeless body had *While our battery was tiring, General Kearny, whose staff were all absent, sent Lieutenant Jastram to General Grover (on Kearny's left), to request liini to be sure and have his right and Kearny's left join each other, jastram rode at once to deliver the mes- sage meeting on his way one of Kearny's aides telling him where his chief could be found; then after considerable trouble, owing to the darkness, delivered Kearny's order. I04 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Sept., been borne into our lines under a flag of truce, accompanied by a note to General Hooker from General Lee, saying that he thought it would be a great consolation to his family to have his body. His horse and equipments were sent in a few weeks after. His biographer gives many interesting facts relating to his death. From these I think a few ex- tracts will not be out of place. The quotations that I make relate more particularly to the manner of his death. There are so many conflicting statements, that I will give those that his biographer considers the most reliable. Brevet Col. W. H. Paine, in a letter to Kearny's biographer, after giving a description of the location of the troops and the break in our lines, says : " On riding from the front I found General Kearny with his command about to march from the rear towards the vacated position and informed him that it was vacated, and that his own left and front was un- covered by the movements of General Reno's troops. He expressed surprise, and said that from instructions he had re- ceived he thought there was a force there which he was to support if necessary. After replying to his particular in- quiries as to who I was and my means of information, he added that it conflicted both with his instructions and other information received, but if true, was very important for him to know. I then left him. I learned subsequently that he went forward and was shot." His biographer then says Kearny could scarcely have parted from Paine when he en- countered Birney. In a letter received years after from Birney, he says : •' During the battle of Chantilly, my brigade was actively engaged. I noticed that Stevens's division had retreated leaving a gap of half a mile on my right. I asked General Kearny for Berry's brigade to fill it ; he stated that he had ordered the colonel commanding to report to me and was indignant at his delay. But he said it was impossible that General Reno could have jiermitted such a gap ; that I must be mistaken ; that there certainly were troops there of ours. I assured him that there was not. At this time it was raining and the smoke from the batteries hung low. I gal- loped down to send in a regiment to my left. He accom- panied me and as we leaped a ditch his horse shied, and he remarked how disagreeable that a horse should behave so in a battle. He then galloped to the right and I saw him no i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. IO5 more." From colonel, now General Mindell, who was then his aide, I fill out the history. General Kearny was on a black horse, covered with an India rubber cloak. It was late in the evening, dark with clouds, the drizzling rain, and the shade of the woods. He determined to see for himself if such a danger existed as such a gap in the Union line. Bid- ding Colonel Mindell to stay behind, he dashed forward to inspect." Pollard says : " General Kearny met his death in a singular manner. He was out reconnoitering when he sud- denly came upon a Georgia regiment. Perceiving danger, he shouted, 'Don't fire, I'm a friend,' but instantly wheeled his horse around, and, lying flat upon the animal, had escaped many bullets, when one struck him at the bottom of the spine, and, ranging upwards, killed him almost instantly." He was seen after leaving Birney by Lieutenant-Colonel Benjamin, of the Second United States Artillery, riding •swiftly forward in the direction where he was killed. He shouted to him of his danger, but failed to make him hear. A few shots were heard shortly after, and, no other shots fol- lowing, he supposed it must have been those that he heard that killed him. Another account gives substantially the same story, only substituting a Louisiana regiment for a Georgia. Another account by a rebel officer who was pres- ent gives what he saw with his own eyes. He said : "The gallant Kearny received his death wound from a private sol- dier under my command, and when he fell from his horse I hastened, with many others, to the point where he lay, not supposing that his wound was a mortal one. Just as we reached his body, however, his limbs gave one convulsive quiver and then all was over. Seeing that he was a maj-or- general, word was sent to headquarters to that effect, and General Jackson coming to the spot, immediately gave one glance at the dead officer's features and exclaimed, " My God, boys, do you know who you have killed ? You have shot the most gallant officer in the United States Army. This is Phil Kearny, who lost his arm in the Mexican War." He then involuntarily lifted his hat, every officer of the group fgllowing his example, and for a moment a reverential silence was observed by all. Subsequently the body of the dead sol- dier was placed upon two boards, and, being removed to head- quarters, was followed by General Jackson and other officers, I06 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Sept., while a regimental band preceded it, playing a dead march." Gen. A. P. Hill said when he saw Kearny dead : " Poor Kearny ! He deserved a better fate than this." It was, in- deed, a sad fate, — -and for his country which he served so long and well it was a great misfortune. He was at the time of his death only forty-seven, having been born in New York city in June, 1815. He frequently made his headquarters at our battery with Captain Randolph, whom he held in the highest esteem. Kearny was by no means austere in his de- portment, although at times he seemed to be so. He had no patience with a soldier who during a battle did not forget his temporary infirmities, but when no active service was re- quired no general was more persistent in his care of the sick. We remained at Fairfax Court House until noon, feasting ourselves upon apples and green corn, which were found in abundance upon the Fairfax farm. Then we moved on towards Alexandria, and, after going about eight miles, pass- ing through Fairfax Station on our way, we encamped for the night. The next morning we started at sunrise and marched by way of Pohick Church, reaching our old drill ground near Fort Lyon about noon, Sept. 3, 1862. Just five and one half months before, we left Alexandria to capture Richmond and to crush the Rebellion. History has seldom recorded so many failures as the brave Army of the Potomac had to encounter during this short time. For these failures Battery E was in no way responsible, having done its duty and brought no dishonor upon its history. The losses in these battles are not given separately, but include all the losses from August i6th to Sept. 2, 1862. The losses in Kearny's division were 1,029 5 Hooker's division, 1,209. Only two of these were in Battery E. Total in Third corps, 2,238. The losses in Fifth corps were 2,151 ; Sixth corps, 339.- Total losses in the Army of the Potomac, 4,728. The losses in Sigel's First corps were 2,087, Banks's Second corps, 341 ; McDowell's Third corps, 5,469. Total losses in the Army of Virginia, 8,105. The losses in Reno's (independent) Ninth corps were 1,523 ; reserve corps, 222. The total losses in the two Union armies were 14,462. The total losses in the Confederate army were 9,474. Four thou- sand two hundred and sixty-three of the Union losses were captured or missing. iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. IO7 C H AFTER XII. September— October— November, 1862. Arlington Heights, Poolesville, Pursuit of Lee's Army to Fredericksburg. SEPTEMBER 4th, the battery receiYcd fifteen recruits, as follows : William H Phinney, John Slocum, Samuel Havens, Charles S. Huling, Charles H. James, George I. Cole, Marvin M. Leavens, Edwin A. Matteson. Edson S. White, William C. Winslow, Edward Whiting, James F. Pratt, Edward Bucklin, Jr., Jeremiah Bucklin, Thomas Kinder. While we lay here, a Mr. Johnston, who lived near our camp- ing ground, was doing a good business in providing troops with good dinners at thirty-seven cents per meal, Battery E men being among his best customers. Mr. Johnston was a Northern man, but his wife was a true type of a Southern woman and a genuine rebel in spirit, and did not hesitate to defend on all proper occasions the secession movement. Nevertheless she w^as kind to the sick soldiers, as many could testify. On the 6th, the welcome paymaster arrived and paid us for two months. In the afternoon we moved with Berry's brig- ade one and a half miles to the west and occupied a redan, from which we could overlook Washington and Alexandria, and their surroundings. We arranged our camp in good order, expecting to remain awhile. A supply of clothing was issued, of which we were in need. On the afternoon of the loth, the battery moved to near Fort Worth upon a hill, giving us another beautiful view of our surroundings. Near by was the residence of General Cooper, who was the adjutant-general of the rebel army. Here we remained until the 12th, when the battery was ordered to occupy a breastwork about four miles further north, just west I08 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Sept., of Fort Albany, our camp being on the south side and joining the Columbia Pike, about one a half miles from Long Bridge. The range of hills upon which we lay was known as Arling- ton Heights, from which we had a fine view of Washington and its environs. It was a healthy locality and just such a place as we needed 'to recuperate from the malaria and fatigue of the Peninsular campaign, the effect of which was plainly visible upon a large number of the battery. During the eleven months of our service our losses from deaths and disability had been about forty, besides those absent sick in the hospitals. Among the latter was Lieu- tenant Bucklyn, who was taken sick during the battle of Bull Run, where he temporarily served on General Kearny's staff. He, however, persisted in remaining with the battery until after the battle of Chantilly, during which General Kearny in person complimented him on his bravery. Leaving the field at Chantilly, he took the company's wagon and rode to Alexandria. He was then sent to the hospital at George- town. During the battle of Bull Run General McClellan was in command of the defences of Washington, and when the de- feated army arrived within the fortifications it came under the command of McClellan by virtue of his superior rank. General Pope being relieved on the 5th of September, was ordered to report to the Secretary of War for orders. On the 8th General Banks assumed command of the defences of Washington on the north of the Potomac. On the 9th Gen- eral Heintzelman assumed command of the defences of Wash- ington south of the Potomac, retaining his own corps for that purpose. This took us from the field of active service for a few weeks, and gave us an opportunity for a much needed rest. During the first week in September, the Army of Virginia was consolidated with the Army of the Potomac, General Hooker being assigned to the command of McDowell's corps, who, at his own request, had been relieved. On the 12th the P'irst corps (Sigel's), Army of Virginia, was changed to the Eleventh corps. The Second corps (Banks's) was changed to the Twelfth corps. The Third corps (McDowell's) was changed to the First corps, of which our gallant Hooker was in command. The vacancy made by Hooker's promotion was i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY, IO9 filled by Gen. Daniel E. Sickles. General Birney, soon after his arrival within the defences of Washington, was detailed to act as a member of a court of inquiry. From this duty he made an effort to be relieved, but without success. Dur- ing this service Gen. George Stoneman was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by Kearny's death. This so irritated Birney that he promptly resigned, but was finally prevailed upon by Secretary Chace to withdraw his resignation. Stone- man assumed command on the 15th of September, and, on the i6th, with Birney's brigade, under the command of Col. Hobart Ward, with two regiments of new troops, moved to Poolesville, Md., the other brigades of the corps remaining at or near the defences of Washington doing picket duty. Sickles's division alone covered a distance of eight miles. This, while so many troops were in this vicinity, would seem unnecessary, for on the loth of September there were in and around Washington over 70,000 troops, with 120 field-pieces and about 500 heavy guns in position. These forces included the Third, Fifth, and Eleventh army corps, commanded re- spectively by Heintzelman, Fitz John Porter, and Sigel. Besides these forces, 87,000 men had been put in motion a few days before to meet the rebel forces under General Lee, who had immediately after the defeat of General Pope moved towards the upper Potomac, and by the 6th had crossed into Maryland by the fords near Leesburg, and on the 14th fought the battle of South Mountain. On the 15th Jackson's corps captured Harper's Ferry with the entire garrison. Two days later (17th) was fought the battle of Antietam. Lee, being defeated, retired across the Potomac with a loss of 11,000 men. The strength of the Union army was about 87,000, the number engaged being about 60,000. The Confederates had about 40,000. The Union loss was 12,410. It was not permitted us to participate in these two battles, nevertheless the duties performed were as effective in the desired results as though we had been allowed to move with the army in the field. During the time when the battles were being fought we were still in camp on the Columbia Pike. Our duties were light we having nothing but camp duties to perform. For the previous six weeks we had been almost constantly on the march or in battle, which prevented us from attending to personal cares and duties. Our mails were not regular, and IIO HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., many letters due us had not been received ; but after being settled our back mails arrived, bringing us cheering words from our friends at home. A large number of boxes were also received containing provisions and many useful articles. Many of these boxes had been so long on the way their con- tents were spoiled. One received by the writer had been delayed since the 31st of July. On the 1 6th the Seventh Rhode Island Regiment arrived from Providence, having left there on the loth. It was assigned to Casey's division. Its camp being near us it soon became an object of daily visits, as many of us had personal friends from whom we received a hearty greeting. Its stay near us ended on the 29th, when it left for Sandy Hook. But very few passes were granted at this time to Washing- ton or to any place beyond a short distance from camp, which was quite a disappointment ; but some of our Rhode Island friends found it convenient to visit us ; among them was George B. Jastram, father of our Lieutenant Jastram. He was a genial and social gentleman, who made himself very agreeable during his stay. He left us on the 21st taking with him such articles as the men desired to send home. Our Sunday morning reviews by our captain were resumed on the 2ist, the first since leaving the Peninsula. John H. Carney and Robert Poynton arrived in camp on the 2Sth, by an exchange of prisoners, they having been captured at Charles City Cross Roads June 30th. Jeremiah Potter also returned. He left the battery the day we reached Alexan- dria from the Peninsula. Although he did not intend to de- sert, as he had before committed the same offence he was court martialed October 4th, and sentenced to forfeit $10 per month for six months and to be under guard for twenty- five days. October ist, a review of nine regiments, five batteries, of which our battery was one, took place at Bailey's Cross Roads. The reviewing otficers being Generals Heintzelman, Birney, and Robinson. October 5th, another Sunday review by our captain, who had been for a few days acting temporarily as chief of ar- tillery. First Sergt. Jacob H. Lamb received his commission as sec- ond lieutenant, dated October i, 1S62, and was assigned to Bat- iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. I I I tery A. Sergeant Lamb was one of the most faithful ofificers in the battery and had well earned his promotion. October 6th, Sergt. James F. Allen of the second piece was promoted to first sergeant, vice Lamb promoted. First Corp. Charles S. Winslow, of the second piece was advanced to sergeant of the same piece, vice Allen promoted. October 7th, Sergt. Allen Gardner of the first piece was by his own request re- duced to gunner of the second piece, vice Winslow promoted. First Corporal Seth B. Darling of the first piece was pro- moted sergeant of the same piece, vice Gardner reduced. Second Corp. James Donnelly of the first piece was advanced to gunner of the same piece, vice Darling promoted to ser- geant. The reduction of Sergeant Gardner at his own re- quest was because of his inability to ride horseback, and not for any deficiency or inability to perform the duties of a ser- geant. On October 8th, William H. Steere, who had about two weeks before been appointed company clerk, received a sick furlough dated October 6th, for thirty days. After two ex- tensions of furlough he was on the loth of January, 1863, sent to Portsmouth Grove Hospital. Sept. i, 1861, he was transferred to the Veteran Reserve corps, and afterwards de- tailed to the commissary department at the hospital. In the spring of 1864 he was transferred to Providence and acted as clerk in the provost department until Sept. 30, 1864, when by reason of the expiration of his term of service he was mustered out. After he received his furlough he was promoted lance corporal. Had he remained in health he doubtless would have been rapidly promoted. In the evening of the 8th, the boys had a lively time in front of the ofBcers' tents by way of dancing and singing, which was highly enjoyed by both officers and men. Our camp concerts were of frequent occurrence among the men, but this was the first entertainment they had given in honor of their officers. October loth. Captain Randolph received orders to have his battery ready to move at four a. m. the next morning. This order, although anticipated, made us realize more fully the pleasant times that this camp afforded us. No place in which we had tarried was more adapted to enjoyment than this. It was nicely arranged and well provided with every convenience 112 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Oct., that the rules of the service would allow. Its proximity to places where we could obtain luxuries, and the magnificent scenery, added much to its enjoyment. Its mail facilities were another source of pleasure, which we knew must be sac- rificed when we moved. As this was our last night here it was arranged to have a farewell jubilee, which took place in a barn situated upon our camping ground. It consisted as be- fore, of music and dancing, and lasted until taps. At day- light, October nth, reveille awoke us for the last time at this place, and at sunrise we bade farewell to a month's camp of unusual pleasure. Our route lay through Georgetown and Tenallytown to Rockville, about twelve miles from Washington, where we en- camped for the night ; resumed our march at four a. m. next morning, passed through Darnestown and reached Poolesville at two p. M. From Rockville we had a forced march caused by the rebel cavalry raiding near Poolesville. We were accom- panied by Robinson's brigade. Two hours after reaching Poolesville the right and centre sections under Lieutenants Arnold and Sheldon, accompanied by the One Hundred and Fourteenth Pennsylv^ania (Collis Zouaves), and the Twentieth Indiana regiments, were sent out after the rebel raiders, but before overtaking them they had recrossed the Potomac. The sections went as far as the canal, and then returned to camp, reaching it at midnight. October 14th, the battery in company with Robinson's brigade, was ordered to Conrad Ferry. Berry's brigade under Colonel Poehad previously been sent to Edward's Ferry. This move was on account of a report that 10,000 cavalry were near Leesburg preparing for a raid. No enemy appearing the battery returned to camp in the evening. October i6th, we hitched up on account of a false alarm, but soon unhitched. The next day we moved camp a short distance. On the 19th, Lieutenant Lamb, who had been pro- moted to second lieutenant on the 5th, left us to join his command with the best wishes of his comrades. We were also reviewed by our captain. October 21st, we again went to Conrad's Ferry, in company with the Twentieth Indiana and a part of the One Hundred and Fourteenth Pennsylvania regi- ments. We carried no rations with us as we left in a hurry, but they were sent to us after our arrival. We remained until the next morning when we returned to camp. iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. II3 A very pleasant affair occurred on the 2^d. The Sixty- eighth, One Hundred and Fourteenth, and One Hundred and Forty-first Pennsylvania regiments had each a flag presented them by a citizen of Pennsylvania. General Stoneman and staff with General Robinson were present. October 24th, our battery and Robinson's brigade were re- viewed by our division commander. October 26th, the bat- tery was reviewed with Robinson's brigade by one of Burn- side's staff officers, but owing to the severe cold rain we were ordered to camp to be inspected in park. Later in the day orders came to be ready to move in the morning, but the order was soon countermanded. On the 27th, Captain Ran- dolph received a leave of absence for fourteen days and Lieu- tenant Arnold was left in command. The cold storm of two days subsided at noon, when it cleared away cool, but pleas- ant. October 28th, reveille at five A. M. Left camp for White's Ford, reaching there at 7.30 a. m. Here we found Birney's brigade encamped under command of Gen. John H. Hobart Ward, whose brigade left Washington September i6th. After reaching the ford we were ordered into battery where we re- mained two days. In the meantime our division forded the river. The water being from two to three feet deep their progress was slow. The infantry were followed by a long train of wagons. Two men in Livingstone's battery were, by some accident drowned, while fording the stream. On the 29th our ciuartermaster arrived bringing a heavy mail and several boxes of provisions from Rhode Island. At three p. M. on the 30th we limbered up and crossed the stream, the water just clearing the ammunition chests. After going a short distance we encamped for the night. The date of Gen. George Stoneman's assignment as commander of the gallant Third corps is the same as that of our crossing at W^hite's Ford. General Heintzelman had, three days before, superseded General Banks in command of the defences of Washington, which gave him the control of both sides of the Potomac. On the 31st, after being mustered for two months' pay, we started for Leesburg, where we arrived at night and encamped just north of the town. It would require the graphic pen of Bayard Taylorto do jus- tice to the sublime and romantic scenery which greeted our 114 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., eyes at this place. Nothing like it had ever before been seen by us. It was about this time that General Birney was relieved from special service at Washington, and, as ordered, reported to take command of his brigade, but finding that General Stoneman had been assigned to the command of the corps, he by virtue of his senior rank, became commander of the division, Gen. J. H. H. Ward soon after becoming permanent commander of Birney's old brigade. General Stoneman on crossing the river issued orders to forage on the enemy for such supplies as the battery was in need. The order referred, I presume, to horses and forage, as we were short of both ; however that may have been, it was evident that with the men of Battery E it had a more liberal meaning". The great supply of ducks, chickens, and mutton, was certainly an evidence that they thought it covered all the needs of a hungry army. November ist. After six weeks of impatient waiting the loyal people of the North were glad to hear that the Army of the Potomac was once more making a forward movement. General Lee was slowly retreating up the Shenandoah Val- ley, watching sharply the passes through the Blue Ridge. General McClellan was equally vigilant, advancing along the east side. While the mountains were a barrier against a gen- eral battle, skirmishing by the cavalry and artillery of the two armies was almost of daily occurrence. While our ad- vance was fighting at Philomont we hitched up, but did not move. November 2d, the Second corps advanced to Snicker's Gap, meeting a slight resistance. The Ninth corps, on the ad- vance, had reached Bloomington. Our battery hitched up at daylight and moved at one p. m., with Birney's division, along the Winchester turnpike, to the summit of Catoctin Moun- tain, then moving south until the Mountain House, at Mount Gilead, was reached. Went into camp about ten r. m., upon a high bluff, at the foot of which was a stone mill. Battery E did not fail, during the evening, to throw out its skirmish- ers The enemy being usually posted in hen-coops always surrendered, although not without making a noisy protest. The result was, that after waiting some three hours, we dined upon chicken soup, George H. Pierce being master of cere- i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. II 5 monies. Our prisoners, when taken, were placed in bags and carried upon the caissons, but they kept up such a continual squalling that Lieutenant Arnold vetoed the practice. November 3d, the Sixth corps was in the advance, followed by the Ninth, to which Stoneman's command was tempo- rarily attached, the other corps following in the rear, except the Twelfth corps, which was left to guard Harper's Ferry, under General Slocum. Pleasonton had a sharp fight at Up- perville, driving the enemy before him. Battery E halted and encamped at Melville in a cornfield. November 4th, the Fourth corps took possession of Ash- ley's Gap and our advance reached Piedmont on the Manassas Gap railroad. Battery E remained at Melville all day and through the night. November 5th, our cavalry had several sharp skirmishes, — Averill at Manassas Gap, and Pleasonton at Barbee's Cross Roads, while General Bayard had a lively skirmish at Salem. Our battery left Melville about nine p. m. and encamped. Some of the men had plenty of fowls and potatoes, which they foraged on the march. November 6th, the First corps advanced to Warrenton ; the Second to Rectortown ; the Fifth on the way to White Plains ; the Ninth to Waterloo and vicinity, on the north fork of the Rappahannock. The Eleventh corps had now joined us from the vicinity of Washington and was at New Baltimore and Thoroughfare Gap. General Sickles, with the Second division of the Third corps, was guarding the rail- road from Manassas Junction towards Warrenton. Our bat- tery left Salem and passed over a very hilly road, halting at a farm-house owned by a man named Morgan, from whose hay- stacks our horses were fed. While the horses were feeding there occurred an affair not very creditable to those concerned in it. While our officers were in the house, and were enjoy- ing a good dinner and a social chat with its inmates, some of the men had found or forced an entrance into the cellar, and proceeded to help themselves to a good supply of butter, flour, and other articles of a more liquid nature. Being dis- covered and reported to their officers, they changed their raid to the milk-room, doubtless thinking that a share of the spoils would prevent any punishment by their superiors. However that may be, the officers certainly had no lack of Il6 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., butter for the next few days ; furthermore, our limber chests, in which we were not generally allowed to carry articles other than ammunition, were well stocked with butter without any protest from the ofificers. After this affair we marched to within a few miles of Waterloo and encamped. November 7th, remained in camp all day and night. It was a day long to be remembered, as it early commenced snowing, accompanied by a cold wind. By night nearly two inches of snow covered the ground. Not having any protec- tion save our shelter tents, we suffered quite severely. In all it was one of the most gloomy days thus far in our mili- tary history. This was also an eventful day for the Army of Potomac, as the following extract from McClellan's report, found in Vol. 19, Official Records of the War, Part ist, will show : " Late on the night of the 7th I received an order reliev- ing me from the command of the Army of the Potomac, and directing me to turn it over to General Burnside, which I at once did. I had already given the orders for the movements of the 8th and 9th. These orders were carried into effect without change. The position in which I left the army, as the result of the orders I had given, was as follows : The First, Second and Fifth corps. Reserve Artillery, and general headquarters, at Warrenton ; the Ninth corps, on the line of the Rappahannock, in the vicinity of Waterloo ; the Sixth corps, at New Baltimore ; the Eleventh corps at New Balti- more, Gainesville, and Thoroughfare Gap ; Sickles's division of _ the Third corps, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, from Manassas Junction to Warrenton Junction ; Pleasonton, across the Rappahannock at Amissville, Jefferson, etc., with his pickets at Hazel River, facing Longstreet, six miles from Culpepper Court House ; Bayard, near Rappahannock Sta- tion. When I gave the command to General Burnside, the best information in our possession indicated that Longstreet was immediately in our front, near Culpepper; Jackson, with one, perhaps both of the Hills, near Chester and Thomaston Gaps, with the mass of their force west of the Blue Ridge." The order of President Lincoln, ordering the removal of General McClellan, dates November 5th, and reads as follows, viz.: iS62.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 11/ Executive Mansion, Washington, Nov. 5, .J By direction of the President it is ordered that Major-General McClellan be relieved from the command of the Army of the Potomac, and that Major General Bnrnside take the command of the Army. That Major-General Fitzjohn Porter be relieved from the command of the corps (the Fifth) he now commands in said army, and that Major-General Hooker take command of said corps. The General-in Chief is authorized, in his discretion, to issue an order substantially as the above forthwith, or as soon as he may deem proper. A. Lincoln. On the 9th General Burnside issued the following : HEADqUARTERS ArMY OF THE PoTOMAC, )^ Warrenton, Va., Nov. 9, 1862. J General Orders No. i. In accordance with General Orders No. 182, issued by the President of the United States, I hereby assume command of the Army of the Poto- mac. Patriotism and the exercise of my every energy, aided by the full and hearty co-operation of its officeis and men, will, I hope, under the blessing of God, insure its success. Having been a sharer of the priva- tions, and a witness of the bravery of the old Army of the Potomac in the Maryland campaign, and fully identified with them in their feelings oX respect and esteem for General McClellan, entertained through a long and most friendly association with him, I feel that it is not as a stranger that I assume their command. To the Ninth corps, so long and intimately associated with me. I need say nothing; our histories are identical. With diffidence for myself, but with a proud confidence in the unswerv- ing loyalty and determination of the gallant army now intrusted to my care, I accept its control with the steadfast assurance that the just cause must prevail. A. E. Burnside, Ma jo r-General Coin m a 11 ding. November 8th was still cold but more pleasant. We moved about two miles south, and went into camp about two miles east of Waterloo, which is situated at the junction of Carter's Run and the Hedgeman River. Our camp lay some five or six miles southwest of Warrenton, and was quite well protected- from the wind by the surrounding hills. Negro Run being near us furnished water for our horses. Some of the men during the day foraged several sheep. One man complained of losing one hundred and fifty. This practice of Il8 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., foraging had been more in vogue since passing Leesburg than ever before, which may have been owing to Captain Ran- dolph's being on a leave of absence. Amasa A. Darling, ser- geant of the third detachment, and one of our best non-com- missioned officers, was reduced to the ranks by Lieutenant Arnold, It was an act which I think Arnold always regretted, for he was perhaps more to blame than Sergeant Darling. The trouble grew out of an order that the horses, after encamping, should be fed before the men had their own rations. The ser- geant, in order to hasten matters, had given his men permission to fill the nose-bags before reaching camp, and immediately after their arrival the grain was given to them. Lieutenant Arnold, not noticing this, and observing that the men were eating their own rations, demanded to know why the order had not been complied with, and when told by the sergeant that the horses were already fed, seemed to take no notice of what the sergeant had said, but with a great display of tem- per demanded that he should go and obey the order, and would not listen or believe that the order had already been en- forced. Continuing in an impulsive manner, he told the ser- geant that he would reduce him to the ranks, which threat he carried out. As the sergeant was a very sensitive man he, doubtless, during the altercation showed considerable temper, but the manner of the lieutenant would have provoked less sensitive men than Sergeant Darling. As the lieutenant him- self had lost his temper he should have been more charita- ble. A more proper course would have been to refer the case to Captain Randolph, who returned four days after. Although the matter was brought to the captain's notice, he said he re- gretted the occurrence, but as the act had been done he preferred not to interfere in the matter. Although Sergeant Darling lost his rank, he never lost the esteem of his com- rades. He continued in the faithful performance of his duties until the battle of Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863, when he was severely wounded, and was discharged by the War De- partment, Dec. 23, 1863. On the 9th, we remained quiet in camp, but on the lothwe were reviewed by Captain Livingstone in the morning, and at four r. M. we left camp and crossed the Hedgeman River at Waterloo, going about two miles, and encamped near Glen Mills, passing the Fourth Rhode Island on our way. Here i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. II9 we remained during the night and through the next day, hitching up once in the meantime on account of firing on our front, but soon unhitched. On November 12th, the Seventh Rhode Island Regiment passed through Glen Mills, greeting us with Rhode Island cheers. At three p. m. we hitched up and returned to camp at the Spring House, east of Waterloo. We were accompanied back to camp by Birney's division, which encamped near us. Our captain returned from his furlough, bringing with him three recruits, one of whom was George W. Gleason. On the 14th, Corp. Arthur Hargraves, of the fourth detach- ment, was promoted sergeant and assigned to the third de- tachment in place of Darling, reduced. Private Thomas T. Beard was promoted corporal, vice Hargraves promoted. The camp was unusually well supplied with fresh pork, the result of an evening raid upon a pig pen adjoining our camp, and immediately under the eye of the general, whose head- quarters were within a few feet of the pen. The writer must own to being one of the leaders in this affair. The plan, as agreed upon, was that at about ten p. m., after the lights were extinguished, we should silently lay aside the rails of the pen, and then step back to await the outcoming of two fine pigs of about one hundred and fifty pounds weight. After a short time the pigs quietly left the enclosure, when they were driven in the extreme darkness to a distant field, taking with us a dog well trained for the work. While a portion watched one of the pigs, the dog was set upon the other, and held it until seized by the men in pursuit. This, of course, caused a ter- rible squealing, but a knife carried for the purpose soon silenced the unwelcome noise. The same method was re- peated with the other pig. We then, with some effort, car- ried our prey to a distant field in order to escape possible pursuers. The pigs were then dressed and stealthily taken into camp and as quietly distributed. The day following the general, who was the host of the owner, having a suspicion of the battery men, ordered a search of our camp. Lieutenant Arnold, who was in command, went to each detachment and gave notice that a search was to be made to find the missing pigs, and advised us to hide the pork if we had any. As our tent floor was covered with a good supply of straw, we found no difficulty in doing so. Soon an officer came, accompanied 120 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., by Lieutenant Arnold, and searched our quarters, but, of course, found no fresh pork. It is needless to say that Lieu- tenant Arnold and his brother officers did not go without a good share of the secesh pig. It was on the 14th that the army organized into three grand divisions, right, centre, and left ; the right commanded by Gen. E. V. Sumner, the centre by Hooker, and the left by Gen. W. B. Franklin. The right grand division consisted of the Second and Ninth corps, the left consisted of the First and Sixth corps, and the Third and Fifth corps formed the centre. The Eleventh corps was held in reserve under Sigel. At the time of Burnside's appointment as commander-in- chief he was requested to forward his plan of operations. Within a few da)'s he sent a report of his intended move- ment. It was in these words : " To concentrate all the forces near this place and impress upon the enemy a belief that we are to attack Culpepper or Gordonsville, and at the same time accumulate a four or five days' supply of men and animals ; then make a rapid move of the whole force to Fredericksburg, with a view to a movement upon Richmond from that point." Burnside then proceeds to give at length his reasons for his plan. Upon the reception of this an ar- rangement was made for a consultation between Halleck and Burnside at Warrenton. They met on the 12th and contin- ued the consultation into the next day. Halleck agreed if the President approved the plan to send the pontoons and sup- plies promptly. He then returned to Washington and laid the plan before the President, who after a careful study of the movement proposed gave his consent. General Burnside then proceeded to act upon his designs. On the 15th, the r ght grand division, under General Sumner, began the for- ward movement, followed on the i6th by the left and centre grand divisions, under Generals Franklin and Hooker. Soon after Sumner's command started an attack was made upon General Sturgis's wagon train, near Sulphur Springs, in con- sequence of which our battery hitched up and moved to the top of the hill joining our camp, and, after waiting several hours, were ordered to return to camp. On this day, Sergt. Joseph S. Milne received his commission as second lieutenant, dated November i ith, and was assigned to Battery B, of Rhode Island. Serijeaiit Milne was a voung man of fine abilitv and i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 121 had a promising" future. His departure from us was regretted by all, especially by the fifth detachment, whose sergeant he had been from the beginning, being then only twenty years old. He belonged in Tiverton, R. I., but was born in Bolton, N. Y. By trade he was a printer. He served faithfully at Fredericksburg, where he had a horse shot under him. At Gettysburg he likewise served with increased credit, but be- fore the battle ended he received his mortal wound, of which more will be said at a later date. The battery left camp November i6th, at nine a. i\l., and marched with the corps to Warrenton and encamped on its western hills, which gave us a fine view of the town and its surroundings. November 17th, left Warrenton in the rain about six A. m., and went about ten miles, and halted at Lib- erty Run, a branch of Marsh River. A shooting affair caused quite an excitement about the time of our arrival. It was said that an officer shot one or two men during a dispute about some straw, which so enraged the regiment that they chased the officer out of camp. On the 1 8th, moved at nine a. m., and passed through Bealeton Station, to about one mile beyond Morrisville, a hamlet of three houses. On the 19th left park at nine a. m. and marched some six miles and went into camp, passing on our way the First Rhode Island Cavalry, whose band was playing in a church. Our company teams during the da}'' w^ent to Belle Plain Landing after forage. Elias H. Mathew- son, although an excellent driver, overturned his team, doing no special damage. November 20th, w^e made no forward movement, but a sad affair occurred which resulted in the death of George Higgins. It seems that Quartermaster- Sergt. Charles A. Brown was ordered with a detail of men, of whom Higgins was one, to go after some hay that was stacked some distance from camp. During the loading the men became engaged in a rude frolic, and after it had been unduly prolonged, the quartermaster sought to bring it to an end. This effort Higgins stoutly persisted in defeating, which brought on an encounter with sabres. The sergeant Avarned him to desist, to which he paid no heed, but contin- ued with his reckless thrusts ; when the sergeant, with no intention other than to prick him slightly with the point of the sabre, hit him in the abdomen, penetrating so deep that 122 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Nov., it caused his death the next day. It caused quite an excite- ment in the battery, and threats of revenge were freely hinted at among his friends. In the meantime Sergeant Brown reported the affair to the captain, who reported the case to General Birney, who refused to take any action in the matter. Captain Randolph then had the company formed into line and told them of Birney's decision, and added that if any more threats were made he would severely punish the offenders, or words to that effect. Higgins was not over wise and by no means as vicious as his acts would seem to indicate. Nothing suited him better than a rough and tumble frolic, and when once started he never knew when to stop, and no amount of hard usage would in the least keep him quiet. He was what might be called the clown of the battery, and was more sinned against than sinning. He belonged in Canterbury, Conn , and was from eighteen to twentv years old. On the 2 1st, Higgins was buried just in rear of camp. George H. Burlingham, on account of his reported desertion, was reduced to the ranks. The position of Corp. F. B. Butts, who had changed his service to the navy, was declared vacant. Private William H. Steere was promoted corporal and was probably assigned to the sixth detachment. Private James Mulligan promoted corporal and probably assigned to first piece. Steere and Mulligan were both in the hospital, and neither ever served as non-commissioned officers. Gunner Geo. W. H. Allen, of fifth piece, was promoted ser- geant of same piece, vice Milne promoted second lieutenant. Second Corp. Lester S. Hill promoted gunner of fifth piece, vice Allen promoted sergeant. Private Edward A. Chandler promoted second corporal, vice Hill promoted. The new officers of the fifth detachment were in every way worthy of their advancement, as their subsequent history fully proved. November 22d, we left this unfortunate camp and marched to within about two miles of Fredericksburg and encamped on the south side and near the Richmond, Fredericksburg & Potomac Railroad, near what was afterwards known as Stone- man's Switch. It was about two miles west of Belle Plain Landing. The camp afterwards was known as Camp Pitcher, near Falmouth, Va. The whole of Burnsidc's armv. 116,000 strong, was now in i862.] FIRST R. I. LIGHT ARTILLERY. 1 23 front of Fredericksburg, the advance under Sumner having arrived on the 17th. General Burnside arrived at Falmouth on the 19th. Hooker's grand division, to which we belonged, was the last to arrive. It was the intention of General Burnside to have crossed as soon as his forces arrived, but when he reached Falmouth he was greatly disappointed, as the promised pontoons had not arrived. The result was that the crossing had to be postponed. For three days after the advance had arrived at Falmouth, there was no force that could have prevented our army from crossing the Rappahannock. On the 22d the hills in the rear of the city were bristling with shining bay- onets borne by the defiant army under General Lee, whose two massive army corps were commanded by the unsurpassed generals, Jackson and Longstreet. It was not until the 2$th that the pontoons arrived at the general headquarters. Of the delay of the pontoons much has been written as to who was responsible, but from the best evidence available it rests upon General Halleck, and General Meigs the quartermaster of the army. Had the engineer officers in charge been in- formed of the necessity for their prompt delivery the result might have prevented the terrible slaughter at Fredericks- burg Heights. It was now necessary for the army to await the maturing of another plan of procedure. * The commanding officers in the meantime had suitable quarters provided for their re- spective commands. It was not feared that General Lee would take the offensive, as his army had been too much broken and depleted by his Maryland invasion and the battle of Antietam. The natural defensive position the heights of Fredericksburg offered him in which to recruit and strengthen his army, confirmed this conclusion. It was not General Burnside's intention, however, that General Lee should reap any advantage from his inactivity, and he at once proceeded to form a plan to overcome the formidable obstructions thrown in his way. In the meantime our camps were assum- ino" a more comfortable condition. 124 HISTORY OF BATTERY E,' [Nov., CH APTE R XIII. November— December, 1862. Camp Pitcher and Battle of Fredericksburg. NOVEMBER 23d, our battery resumed camp duties by- washing carriages and cleaning harnesses, preparatory to an inspection, which occurred on the 24th, by Gen- eral Stoneman. On the 25th there was a division review in an open field south of our camp, the reviewing officers being Generals Hooker, Stoneman, and Birney. The three follow- ing days we had field and manual drills, followed by a Sun- day inspection on the 30th. Several Rhode Island regiments and batteries were en- camped in the vicinity, which gave us an opportunity to visit our Rhode Island friends. December 2d, James F. Pratt died from an overdose of morphine, taken by mistake during the night before. Dr. Smith had prescribed for him two kinds of medicine, one being morphine, to be taken alternately. By mistake he repeated the dose of morphine. Every effort was made to restore him from its effect, but, after several hours spent in unsuccessful efforts, the attempt was given up, and he died soon after and was buried the same day. Dr. Smith had been in constant attendance from the discov- ery of the accident. One month later his father, who be- longed to the First Rhode Island Cavalry, came and with the assistance of his son's comrades, had the body e.xhumed and sent home. December 3d, Lieutenant Bucklyn returned from Rhode Island, having been absent for three months on sick leave. As before stated he was sent to the hospital at Georgetown, where he remained si.x weeks, when he received an extension of his leave of absence for six weeks more. The officers and men gave him a hearty welcome, and congratulated him upon i862.] FIRST R. I. -LIGHT ARTILLERY. I 25 his return to his duties, which he had always so faithfully- performed. The men began to cut logs for tents, which work was con- tinued for several days, little thinking they would soon after being finished have to vacate them. On the 5th, it was cold, rainy, and cheerless, followed the next day^ by snow, which fell some two inches deep. We continued daily at work upon our tents until the 9th. December loth, the unwel- come order came to have three days' rations prepared, which was soon followed by an order to pack up. To leave our comfortable quarters at that season of the year was by no means an agreeable one, but as true soldiers we knew our duty too well to complain. The question as to what the movement was to be and where we were going was upon every man's' lips, although from past experience we knew that time and patience alone would answer the question. The next morning at sunrise we broke camp, and started towards Fredericksburg, the sight of which, with the vast army around us in motion, soon revealed the mystery of the movement. It was plainly evident that Burnside had matured a plan of action, and that its execution had now commenced. Whatever it might be, Battery E was determined to perform its duty with credit to itself and to the state it represented. For a better understanding of the very brief description of the battle of Fredericksburg I will state the position of the troops. The general course of the Rappahannock in front of the city runs from the northwest to the southeast. About one mile north of the city lies the little town of Falmouth, opposite of which the river changes its course nearly west, and half a mile west of Falmouth you come to Beck's Island. Just west of this island a range of hills commences and ex- tends down the south side of the river to near the Massaponax River, a small stream about four miles south of the city. The northern portion of this range, where it joins the Rappahan- nock, is known as Taylor's Hill. Joining this on the south- east comes the now famous Marye's Hill ; next comes Tele- graph Hill, where Lee had his headquarters, and what is now known as Lee's Hill on that account. On the south side of Lee's Hill is a valley through which flows Deep Run Creek, to the south of which is a gentle elevation extending to Ham- ilton's crossing, over the railroad. 126 HISTORY OF BATTERY E, [Dec, Upon this elevation was posted Jackson's corps, whose brave troops two divisions of the gallant Third corps unsuc- cessfully attempted to dislodge. R. H. Anderson's division of Longstreet's corps occupied Taylor's Hill. Ransom's and McLaws divisions of the same corps, were posted upon Marye s Hill between the unfinished railroad and the plank road. Pickett's division occupied Lee's Hill ; Hood's division lay across Deep Run Creek joining the division of A P Hill of Jackson's corps. The divisions of Early and Taliaferro were in rear of A. P. Hill. D. H. Hill's and Stuart's cavalry guarded the right flank of the Confederate army to the west and east of Hamilton's Crossing. On the Union or northsideof the river were the Stafford Hills, from whose towering heights our artillery shelled and partly burned the city on the nth. This was a sad necessity, owing to the fact that 3,000 rebels were sheltering themselves in and behind the houses, and firing upon the engineer brigade layino- the pontoon bridges. At three a. m. the bridges were ''com- menced, and, as daylight approached the rebels bec^an to fire on the men constructing them, killing and woundino- fifty- seven. These attacks were kept up until three p m^ when troops were sent across in boats, they advancing and drivino- the rebels from their hiding places. The bridges were theS finished without further delay. It was during these constant attacks upon our men who were laying the pontoons, that a portion of the 133 guns posted upon Stafford's Heights opened upon the city. The bridges below the city were laid without much annoyance and were completed during the forenoon Ihe guns upon the range of Stafford's Heights included the reserve, and all but one battery belonging to each division After the completion of the bridges and our troops had ettected a landing the division batteries rejoined their com- mands as they passed over the river. Five pontoon brido-es were built on the nth and one later, two above the centre^'of the town, one opposite the lower end, and three about one and a quarter miles below the town. Over the latter crossed l