'"Cy Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030912145 Cornell University Library E523.5 144th .M15 Back "in war times." olin 3 1924 030 912 145 Back "In War Times." COLONEL JAMES LEWIS. BACK "IN WAR TIMES." HISTORY OF The 144th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, WITH ITINERARY, SHOWING CONTEMPORANEOUS DATE OF THE IMPORTANT BATTLES OF THE CIVIL WAR, -BY- James Harvey McKee. ILLUSTRATED WITH HALF-TONES AND MAPS. Copyright 1903 By LIEUT. HORACE E. BAILEY, Publisher. A.£t»G^to Printed at the TIMES OFFICE, UNAD1LLA, N. Y. Geo. D. Raitt. Robert Rutter & Son's Bindery, New York. TO THE MEMORY OF COMRADES: those who died in service, those who have since been "mtjstered-out," and the goodly company that sth,l live to enjoy the fruits of victory, secured by the "grand army 1 ' of the civn, war, this record of the 144th, new york volunteer infantry, is gladly dedicated by its historian, James Harvey McKee. PREFACE. The Historian of the 144th N. Y. Vol., as he submits the results of his labor, is alive to the fact, "that he who writes or makes a feast as certainly invites his critics as his friends;" but he is comforted in the thought that those to whom this volume may come will not criti- cise harshly since they will know that the scenes enacted so long ago have not all held their rightful sequence in memory. They will recall that in the effort which many have made to secure "proof" in adjusting pension claims how elusive the evidence of facts that seem- ed so easy to secure at the first outlook. Facts that the Historian thought could be secured by a single letter have required a dozen and then failed, sometimes in part and often entirely. Government records that at the outset he supposed he could have ready access to or could secure copies from were entirely closed to the public — so worn out by those interested as pension agents, that they had to be closed to all. Often, avenues of information that seemed open, when effort was made to explore them were found filled with the debris of time, hard and often impossible to remove, and so, very many interesting and valuable things concerning the history of the Regiment will be miss- ed, but not so many, the Historian hopes, as will invalidate what has been gathered. Thinking of this the Historian ventures to suggest to the comrades into whose hands this volume may come that they make memoranda, interleaving their volume with incidents of per- sonal history or of facts overlooked, or of surrounding history con- nected with that of our Regiment, data which may be of value in any 7 8 PREFACE. revision of the history or in a supplemental history — valuable as per- sonal history to those who later will take up the work of "fathers," and read their war records. In preparing this history the author has been greatly encouraged by the assistance he has received from so many sources and would make grateful acknowledgements — for books and portraits loaned; for files of war letters, and for war diaries placed in his hands for examination; for files of the Delaware Republican and Stamford Mirror, covering the years of the Civil War, which he was permitted to examine and copy from ; for the cheering and helpful letters receiv- ed from so many comrades, accompanied by the loan on the part of officers of the Regiment of orders and other documents. He woul^ make special mention of the continuous, ready help given in the pre- paration of the history by the officers of the "Veteran Association of the 144th N. Y. V.," and of the Committee on History appointed by the Association. The President, Dr. O. T. Bundy, has given without stint, of time and effort, making repeated journeys to further efforts to prepare and bring out the history. The large file of letters received from the Secretary, Jas. K. Penfield, attest his interest and the fact that Comrade Gibbons when President of the Association copied entire the "Muster-Out Rolls" of the Regiment for the use of the Historian is proof of the large place the Regiment and its history has had in his heart. For all these and many other helps received, the Historian tend- ers sincere thanks. To the surviving comrades this volume goes out with hope that it may find ai welcome and bring with it pleasant memories of the goodly comradeship which it was ours to enjoy during the years of service together, and that it may prove to those who may come after us a stimulus to worthy deeds and a loyal service under the flag which meant so much to us "In War Times." TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. PAGE Value of historic incidents — Lossing's work — Opening of war of '61 — Battles of '61 and '62 — President's call for 300,000 — Action of Governors of loyal states — Governor Morgan's Proclamation — Enlistment committees — Union rally at Delhi — Town committees and enlistment in towns — Plans for Delaware county Regiment - 21 CHAPTER II. ORGANIZATION. History of company organizations — Officers of Regiment — Incidents in volunteer work — Work of women — Statistics, 30 CHAPTER III. CAMP DELAWARE. Tent life — Guard duty — First dress parade — Routine — Overcoats issued — "Ride on a Rail" — Presentation of flags Muster-in — Visit of paymaster, 41 CHAPTER IV. CAMP DELAWARE TO WASHINGTON. Marching orders — March to Hancock — First bivouac — Re- ception at Walton — Camp Chase — 'Presentation of sword — Address of Col. Wheeler — At Elmira — Equipments issued — Start for Washington — Rumors of battle — Halt at York, Pa. — Order of Gen. Wool — March through Baltimore — A good supper — Cattle cars — A halting journey — Lessons in picketing — At Soldiers' Retreat, 52 9 10 TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER V. WASHINGTON, UPTON'S HILL, CLOUDS MILLS, VA. March through Washington — Gen. Casey — Camp Seward — Waking of encampment — Drill — Fort Marcy — March to Upton's Hill — Gen. Abercrombie — Guard and picket duty — Military etiquette — First hardtack — Manual of arms — Sick call — Dead beats — First death in Regiment — Burial service — Winter in camp — Soldiers' devices — Picket line — Grand rounds — "Bloody Annandale" — Changes in field and staff — First pay day in Dixie — Moving day, 66 CHAPTER VI. "PEDICULUS CORPORIS." Wash day' — "I'm lousy" — "Pediculus" in Andersonville — Effect on sick — Treatment — In history, 82 CHAPTER VII. CLOUDS MILLS, VIENNA AND SUFFOLK. Spade drill — Ready for march — Mosby at Fairfax Court House — Snow storm in Dixie — On steamboat at Fortress Monroe — Dismal Swamp — Suffolk, Va. — Investment by Longstreet — Capture of Battery Huger — Service at Suffolk — Contraband camp — Action of May 1st — Gen. Gordon — Reconnoissance — "Julius ' Caesar" — Siege raised — Los- sing's comment on siege of Suffolk — Gen. Peck, 85 CHAPTER VIII. CHANGE OF OFFICERS LIEUTENANT BOYD. Resignations and promotions — Life of Lieutenant Boyd — A comrade's vindication, 94 CHAPTER IX. SUFFOLK TO WASHINGTON. Designs on Richmond — General Dix — General Keyes — At West Point, Va. — Colored spies — Camp arrangements — "A Joke" — Hospital boat — Colonel Hughston resigns — Life of Col. Hughston — Kilpatrick's raid — Transferred to York- TABLE OF CONTENTS. 11 town — .Another advance — Lessons in marching — Pickets appropriate a dairy — "Red, White and Blue" — "Councils of War, Never Fight" — March down the Peninsula — Back to Washington, ioo CHAPTER X. AFTER LEE. Under "General Barleycorn" — Accident at Monocacy Junction — Frederick, Md. — Start for Gettysburg — Lee crosses the river — Pay rolls — March to Berlin — Assigned to nth Corps, Gen. Howard — Pontoon — March to Leesburg — Mule scare on Goose Creek — Whoa ! Whoa ! ! Whoa ! ! ! — A hard march — Recruiting detail — At Warrenton Junction — Shooting deserter at Greenwich — Sabbath service in CHAPTER XI. ALEXANDRIA TO FOLLY ISLAND. Disaster at Charleston — Division ordered to Charleston — "Sardines in a box" — View of Charleston — On Folly Island — Water supply — Review of siege — Fortifications on Cunr ming's Point — Fort Wagner — Naval attack — Capture of enemy's works on south end of Morris Island — General Gill- more's approaches, 1 19 CHAPTER XII. SIEGE OF CHARLESTON. On Grand Guard — "These fellows are playing off" — "Cover from Johnson" — First casualty — Bombardment of Sumter — The "Swamp Angel" — Methods of construction — Con- federates "capture" our signal code — Results — Capture of ridge in front of Wagner — Controversy between Gen. Gill- more and Admiral Dahlgren — Camp 144th on Folly Island — Sand storms — Sickness in camp — Mind conditions — Experience of Lieut. Heimer — "I vill not die" — Convales- cent camp at St. Augustine — Convalescent experiences — Flour rations — Soft bread, - 126 12 TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER XIII. SIEGE OF CHARLESTON (CONTINUED). Pressing the siege — Evacuation of Wagner — Conditions in- side of Wagner during the siege — The last Sabbath service — 'Wagner and Gregg do service for the Union — "The Avenging Angel" — Beauregard's treatment of Union pris- oners — Gen. Gordon's story — Anniversary of "Muster-in" — Review of condition of Regiment — Death of officers — James M. Way — Col. Gregory resigns — Col. Lewis in com- mand — Reconnoissance to Sabrook Island — Fatigue duty on Kiowah Island — Naval experiences in Stono — Torpedoes — Maj. Gilchrist's account of in "Confederate Defense of Charleston" — Expedition to Florida — Demonstration on John's Island — Olustee — Ames' division ordered to Florida — Feb. 22d festivities — Battle with the rodents, 139 CHAPTER XIV. CAMPAIGNING IN FLORIDA. Conditions following battle of Olustee — Gen. Gillmore relieved from the command of Department — Gen. Hatch — Camp ex- periences — The "Flying Dutchman" — Religious awakening — "A little of what killed the dog" — "Whiskey nerve" — Political condition in Florida — Change in command — Gen. Ames transferred to Army of Potomac — Political conditions in Florida — Military conditions — Rebel activity — Tor- pedoes in the St. John's — Recruits — Col. Slidell takes com- mand of Regiment — Expedition of the St. John's — A hard march — The willing yet seeming unwilling guide — Raid on Camp Finnigan — Gen. Gordon relieved — General Birney — 144th ordered to Hilton Head, S. C. — Gen. Foster, 153 CHAPTER XV. HILTON HEAD BATTLE OF JOHN'S ISLAND. Capture of Hilton Head, S. C. — Its importance — A severe rain storm — Duty at Hilton headquarters — Turtle hunting — Insect pests — Shooting a deserter — Expedition against Charleston — Gen. Hatch leads his Division on TABLE OF CONTENTS. 13 John's Island — Skirmish — A hot Fourth of July — Sharp- shooters — Wounding of Col. Davis — Repulse of 26th U. S. C. T. — Blunders — 144th in advance — The Johnnies wake us early — Battle of John's Island — Some special experience — — On board hospital boat — " Miss Sanitary " — Return of expedition — Results. - 164 CHAPTER XVI. TN CAMP AT HILTON HEAD. Return to camp — Special duties — Letter writing — Welcome to released Union prisoners — Confederateofncers as prisoners — Col. Slidell resigns — Recruits arrive — 144th band — Martial music — History of drum corps and band — Col. Lewis takes command — Compelling colored men to enlist — Dishonor- able methods — Colored organizations — Chaplain Fullerton — Soldiers vote — Thanksgiving— Gen. Potter, 177 CHAPTER XVII. BATTLE OF HONEY HILL. On board steamer Sylph — Lost in a fog — Make up of expedi- tion — Boyd's landing — Advance on wrong road — Night march — Bivouac at Bolan church — Confederates bar the way — Captain Penet wounded — Burning sedge — Fortifi- cations at Honey Hill — Advance upon them — Battle Honey Hill— Corp. Wells— Sergt. Butler— Corp. Craft— 25th Ohio — Killing of Lieut. Mack — Movements on the left — Charge of Gen. Hartwell's brigade — Charge of the 127th N. Y. — Movements of Union artillery — Retiring from the field- -Covering movements — Funeral march — Inci- dents— Sergt. Clark— "Red-head"— Sergt.Axtell— Confed- erate account of battle, - 184 CHAPTER XVIII. BATTLES OF DEVAUX'S NECK AND COOSAWHATCHIE. Reconnoissance to Bee Creek— Expedition to Devaux's Neck — Delay of Sylph — Commencement of engagement — 144th on the field — "I wish my sister were here" — Naval Brigade 14 TABLE OF CONTENTS. — "Begorry I'll not move wan step" — Flag of 5th Georgia captured by 144th — Pursuit of enemy — "Come on my heart- ies" — 144th destroy bridge over Tullifinny — Award of flag of 5th Georgia— Return of this flag in 1885 — Skirmish on morning of January 7th — Artillery commands Charles- ton and Savannah R. R. — Demonstration against enemy of January 9th — Movement of "Skirmish Brigade" — 144th comes to the front — Killing of Sergt. Hotchkiss — Christian burial under fire — Sequel — Account of it by Dr. Bundy — Efforts of enemy frustrated — Casualties — Return to Hilton Head, 200 CHAPTER XIX. REBEL PRISONERS EDIST0 ISLAND BATTLE JAMES ISLAND. 144th in charge of camp of Rebel prisoners — Andersonville impossible with Union soldiers on guard — Illustrations — Reception of Secretary Stanton — Visit to Edisto Island — Oysters " on the half-shell"— "Co. B, Co. B"— "I'll attack him in the rear" — Gov. Aikin's plantation — On Folly Is- land — Demonstration on James Island — Assault on the works — "Remember Fort Pillow" — Wounding of Capt. Johnston and Lieut. Nutt — "I never saw anything in battle as fine as that charge" — "You tell me sometings or I blow your head off " — Forgot his gun — Return to Stono Inlet, 209 CHAPTER XX. EXPEDITION TO BULL'S BAY. Attempts to land — Landing at Graham's Creek — Tremendous reports of guns in direction of Charleston — News of evacu- ation reach us — Scenes in Connection with as given in "Lost Cause" — Gen. Potter moves forces toward Mt. Pleasant — Scenes on entering place — Division is moved to Charleston — "Bah" — "Don't you think it will" — "You drinks some" — Foragers — "Halt" — March to San- tee River — Itinerary of march — Excuses — Return of con- fiscated property — Greetings of colored people — Unwrit- TABLE OF CONTENTS. 15 ten history — Census taken in Department of South — "Go way dar man"— "Bress de Lawd," - 218 CHAPTER XXI. DETACHED SERVICE OUR "COMMODORE." Officers and men detached — Companies detached — Provost Marshal — Capt. Rich — "This man sold whiskey to sol- diers" — Lieut.W. B. Lewis Officer of the port — Jeff. Davis — On staff of Gen.Ames — Capt. St. John and Lieut. Hart — Inspt.-Gen. and his work — Maj. Plaskett on Examining Board — Our "Commodore" — A Map Maker — On Croton — Detail of 144th men — With Gen. Hatch — Engagement on Dahoo river — Croton laid up for repairs — On May- flower — On St. Helena Island — Commands Edwin Lew- is and Plato — Takes wounded to Hilton Head — Com- mands three boats — Attacks a masked battery — Worsted — Takes Col. Gurney on Mayflower to hospital boat — Removes obstructions from Savannah river — Gen. Foster follows — Lays telegraph line from Fort Pulaski to Savan- nah — Commands "tin clads" — Savannah and Augusta — In Charleston — Up Cooper river — "Live" Alligator steak — Out in a storm — Reports to Col. Lewis, 228 CHAPTER XXII. ANDERSONVILLE PRISONERS. Reason for chapter — Dr. Bundy writes account of his experi- ences — Arrangements for exchange of prisoners — Detail of Gen. Gillmore — Attempts to open Communication at Darien, Ga. — Detail returns — Reason prisoners were not sent — 3,300 Andersonville prisoners paroled at Baldwin, Fla. — Dr. Bundy detailed to look after them — Methods of treatment — Condition of men — Assistants — Dr. Balzar's work — Letters of prisoners — Picture of group — Supplies for them — Fruit — Order of Gen. Imboden — Dr. Balzar's testimony on "Wirz's trial" — Copy Gen. Imboden's or- der — "I am killing off more men than twenty regiments" — Order No. 13 of Gen. Winder, 239 16 TABLE OF CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXIII. RAISING FLAG ON SUMTER. News of Sherman's victories — April 13th, 1861 and 1865 — Events between — April 13th, 1861 — Sunrise greetings — The guests — 144th representatives — In the Fort — Guests of women — Gen. Anderson — Chaplain Harris — Sergt. Hart and the old flag — Invocation — Singing — Maj. An- derson's dispatch read — The historic mail bag unlocked — Gen. Anderson receives the flag from it — Wreath at- tached' — Flag raised — Greetings — Appomatox — Prayer — H. W. Beecher's address — Death of Pres. Lincoln — "Oh! Captain! My Captain!" — Surrender of Johnson 247 CHAPTER XXIV. MUSTER-OUT. Preparing the muster-out rolls — Col. Lewis' statement as to muster-out — Estimate in which 144th was held — Break- ing camp — "Hay-foot, Straw-foot" — On steamer Fulton — Ripples — "Let me kiss him for his mother" — The school of porpoise — In New York — Presentation of a stand of colors — Ed. Judd receives snare drum — Go to Albany — Poor foraging — Celebrate the Fourth at Canandagua — In ESmira — Soldiers' board — "Capturing the college" — Homes, - 252 CHAPTER XXV. OUR FLAGS WELCOME HOME. History of flags — Letter of Col. Lewis — New flags procured by ladies of Delaware county — Presented in New York — Love for the flag — Reception of soldiers planned for — Ac- count of in Delaware Republican — Great gathering — Ad- dress — Flags returned to ladies of Delaware county — Flags deposited in Memorial Hall, Albany — Poem by Mrs. How- ard — Down-pour of rain — Toasts — Soldiers' reception in towns — Welcome by the state voiced by Gov. Fenton, 261 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 17 CHAPTER XXVI. OUR SURGEONS. Medical staff — Dr. Leal — Before the War — During the War — After the War — Dr. Bryce — Education — Examining surgeon at Delhi — Fond of a joke — Burn's birthday — Death — Dr. Bundy — Education — Detached service — The soldier that was not shot — Cares for Andersonville pris- oners — After the War — Assists in organizing of Veteran Association — Receives watch - - 272 CHAPTER XXVII. COLONEL JAMES LEWIS. Early life — Education — In college — College men enlist — Gov. Andrews' advice — In Ithaca, N. Y. — Enlists Co. C, 144th N. Y. V. — In command of 144th — Letters of com- mendation — Efforts in behalf of Col. Slidell — In Union theological seminary — Member of Kansas band — Settled at Humboldt, Kansas — Married — Work in Humbodlt — At Howell, Mich. — Pastor at Joliet, 111. — Death of wife — Positions of honor and trust — Disease — Deathbed scene — Death — Memorial Service at Joliet — Services at Detroit — His interest in veterans — In memoriam - - 279 CHAPTER XXVIII. ITINERARY. 293 ILLUSTRATIONS Col. James Lewis, Frontispiece Capt. P. L. Burrows, Capt. R. H. Evans, page Lieut. C. M. Hathaway, Lieut. H. F. Miles, 30 Capt. John Crawford, Capt. Geo. W. St. John, Lieut. Chas. S. Bradford, Lieut. N. H. Hebbard, 34 Major Robt. T. Johnson, Major Wm. Plaskett, - 38 Camp Delaware, ----- 42 Col. David E. Gregory, Col. James Lewis, Col. Robert S. Hughston, ... 50 Lieut. J. H. Wright, Qr. Mr., Adjt. Geo. R. Cannon, Lieut. S. Gordon, Qr. Mr., - 58 Camp Bliss, Upton's Hill, Va., - - 68 Brig. Gen. Adelbert Ames, - 76 Map of Newport News, Norfolk and Suffolk, Va., - - 86 Capt. O. B. Boyd, Capt. Edward A. Griffith, Lieut. Eli Gibbons, Lieut. J. H. Zabriskie, 96 Map of West Point, Va. , 104 Map of Charleston, Ft. Sumter, Folly and Morris Is., S. C, 120 View of Sumter, - 128 Capt. M. C. Lewis, Capt. John Rich, Lieut. Jas. K. Penfield, Lieut. Wm. M. Murray, Lieut. John C. Mein, 136 Capt. Wm. Stone, Lieut. F. T. Hine, Lieut. Dewitt C. Thomas, 144 19 20 ILLUSTRATIONS. Map of Jacksonville, Fla., - 154 Maj. Gen. John G. Foster, Maj. Gen. Geo. G. Meade, Maj. Gen. John P. Hatch, Maj. Gen. Q. A. Gillmore, 164 Capt. John Clark, Capt. Witter H. Johnston, Lieut. Wm. B. Lewis, Lieut. James Nutt, - 172 Chaplain A. H. Fullerton, Lieut. James H. McKee, Col. Wm. J. Slidell, - 182 Map of Honey Hill, - - - 184 Capt, P. W. Smith, Capt. C. C. Siver, Lieut. Wm. J. Clark, Lieut. Horace E. Bailey, Lieut. Hamilton S. Preston, 190 Capt. Matthew W. Marvin, Capt. Wm. Deverill, 200 Lieut. Geo. A. Colton, ... Capt. John D. Penet, Lieut. John A. Coulter, Lieut. James Adee, Lieut. G. W. Graham, Lieut. Frank Heimer, 208 Capt. Geo. W. Reynolds, Capt. Wm. B. Dowie, Lieut. Edgar A. Vermilyea, - - 216 Capt. Frank B. Hart, Lieut. Charles Rollins, Lieut. Walter Dickson, Drum Maj. Ed. Judd, 224 Regimental Band, .... - 230 Sergt. Geo. Crawley, Sergt. Jas. L. Clark, Corp. Cyrus W. Hotchkiss, Edgar L. Thomas, Joseph B. Gilmore, James F. Quick, ... 236 Andersonville Prisoners, - - 242 Raising the Old Flag on Sumter, - - - 248 President A. Lincoln, Secty. of War Edwin M. Stanton, Lt. Gen. U. S. Grant, - - - 256 Commissioned Officers of Regiment when Mustered Out July, 1865, 260 Govs. Horatio Seymour, Edwin D. Morgan, Reuben E. Fenton, 264 Surg. John R. Leal, Asst. Surg. Wm. M. Bryce, Asst. Surg. 0. T. Bundy, - - - 272 Col. James Lewis, D. D., - - - . 280 History of the 144th Regiment. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION. " To die in a just cause and in our country's service has been the best office of the best men," and to commemorate the names and deeds of those who thus offered their lives is not only just to their memory but becomes a means of education in patriotic duty and heroic service to the commonwealth. A few years ago a man went up and down through the country visiting the old battlefields, deciphering moss-covered inscriptions in the old graveyards, interviewing men and women especially those who had participated in or who knew about those who had partici- pated in the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812. Here he sketched a battlefield, there he drew the portrait of an old man wrinkled with age and underneath the sketch a name would be sign- ed in a trembling hand. Again he outlined an old fort, drew an old weather-beaten building, a room with a history or some pieces of fur- niture. These were only mosaics which inlaid a story of wondrous in- terest— "The Field Book of the War of the Revolution," and "The Field Book of the War of 1812," — the patient, patriotic service of Benson J. Lossing, works that will live as long as the country has a history. All through these books, as we read we feel with the author constant regret that so much was lost, so little known of individual history and of the several organizations in which these heroes served. It is in the interest of history, as well as a tribute to the memory of those who served their country in a time of need, that this effort is made to gather up the scattered records of the 144th N. Y. Vol. in the war of 1861 and put them in permanent form. 21 22 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." History always has its roots under the surface of events which precede the actual record of facts. The enlistment, the real heart enlist- ment of those who served in the 144th N. Y. Vol., and indeed of the great body of volunteers in the war of 1861, occurred while in- telligently following the current of events in which was recorded the development of movements in the great struggle. In the volunteer soldier, therefore, there was more than mere physical strength. There was the entire man, physical, intellectual, moral. American soldiers were not mercenaries, not hirelings who fought for plunder and pay; but men who founght for principle and for that principle were willing to and did lay down their lives, shed their blood, endured hardship and brave disease. From the moment in which that impetuous South Carolinan, standing in Battery Wagner on April 12th, 1861, pulled the lanyard and sent a shell hurtling into Fort Sumter, not curious eyes alone, but intelli- gent, deepening conviction and hastening resolves, followed all the fell current of events that hurried into history the scenes of '61 and '62. Aching hearts all over the North followed the evacuating soldiers under the gallant Anderson as they filed out of Sumter on that fate- ful 15th of April. They were with the 6th Massachusetts at Balti- more and next month with the martyred Ellsworth as he snatched the Rebel flag from the Marshall House at Alexandria, only to be stricken down by the assassin Jackson. How rapidly history grew in those months ! In June, the battle of Big Bethel ; in July, RichMountain and Bull Run ; the one a Union victory and the other a most disastrous defeat. No, not disastrous since it awakened deeper thought and gave a larger meaning to all this movement, throughout the North, with corresponding activity to meet issues involved in this gauge of battle. Thus far the scene of conflict had been largely in Virginia; but in August the attention is directed westward, where the impetuous General Lyon confronts in Missouri the gathering hosts of the Confederacy and at Wilson's Creek gives his life. During this month General Burnside captures Fort Hatteras, N. C, and battle is joined all along the line from the seaboard to the far West with constant skirmish and alternating suc- cess. In October at Ball's Bluff, Va., the "silver-tongued" orator, General Edward Baker, leads a forlorn hope and is killed in that fear- ful struggle, resulting in disaster and loss to the Union cause. In HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 23 November at Belmont, Mo., the coming hero of the war, General Grant, asserts the latent power of a victorious leader and lets the light of victory in to cheer the spirit of the great Lincoln, who watches with burdened heart the rising tide of war. When the year 1861 closed, over one hundred battles and skirmishes had been fought, at- testing to the intensity of feeling and determined purpose which stir- red the hearts of the contestants. This year of conflict had drawn the lines. Upon the side of the so-called Confederate States of America were arrayed South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, covering about one-half of the inhabited portion of the United States and including about one-third of its inhabitants. With these were the semi-Con- federate states of Kentucky, Maryland and Missouri, contributing largely of men and means during the entire war, and making the strength of the Confederacy about one-half that of the states which remained loyal. At the same time these states were determining their attitude in the great struggle, men were determining theirs in- dividually. The years of persistent teaching and legislating on the question of "State Rights" showed, in these months of decision, marked fruitage in the almost united action of officers from the South in the United States army resigning their positions and taking ser- vice with the Confederacy. There were some marked and honorable exceptions, as in the case of Captain, afterward Major-General Thomas of the Army, and Captain, afterward Admiral Farragut of the Navy, whom neither entreaty nor threats could swerve from their allegiance to their flag. And with these a goodly number of others, both in the army and navy, were loyal to their country and faithful to the oaths they had taken when they accepted their commissions. The seven states first seceding organized a form of government modeled after that of the United States, established their capital at Montgomery, Alabama, selected Jefferson C. Davis as President, Alexander H. Stevens as Vice-President and at once proceeded to gather and consolidate their army. The Confederate Congress, two days after the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, authorized the enlistment of one hundred thousand men. Sidney A. Johnson, accounted one of the ablest men in the old 24 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." army, was selected Lieutenant-General commanding their forces in the field. The year 1862 opened with the entire nation pulsing with the fever heat of fratricidal war. Both the North and South were ready at the opening of the year to commence aggressive work each intent on securing and holding the border states. Kentucky and Tennessee witnessed the first in this series of death grapples at Mill Spring in January. In February General Grant earned his soubriquet of "Un- conditional Surrender" at Fort Donaldson. The month of March recorded the battles of Pea Ridge in Arkansas, Newbern, N. C, and Winchester, Va. April witnessed the fearful struggle and fearful loss of life at Shiloh, disastrous to the Confederacy, since it lost to them their Commander-in-Chief and of benefit to the North since it opened the way to the command of the Union armies for General Grant. Following Shiloh came Island Number 10 with its three thousand prisoners of war, and the capture of New Orleans through the bravery and genius of Admiral Farragut. These victories bright- ened all the outlook, only to be darkened by the sickening losses and defeats in the Peninsular Campaign, Seven Pines, Fair Oaks, Gaine's Mills, Savage Station and Malvern Hill, all stubbornly contested fields accompanied with fearful loss of life for both North and South and all before mid-year. Following all this struggle and loss of life, with burdened heart but busy brain, the great President realized that the North must make more earnest effort, still larger sacrifice, and so issues a call for three hundred thousand more soldiers. The sturdy yeomanry all over the North had followed even,- movement with a patriotic interest, had measured the need and as soon as the loyal governors had issued their stirring calls to their several states there was an immediate and ready response. These various proclamations voiced the spirit of the times and characterized the noble quality of leadership directing the affairs of the states. The following proclamation of Governor E. D. Mor- gan of New York, well illustrates the spirit prompting to action throughout all the loyal states. "PROCLAMATION. "By Edwin D. Morgan, Governor of the State of Nezv York. "The President of the United States has duly called upon the HISTORY OF THE i 44 th REGIMENT. 25 country for an additional force of three hundred thousand volunteers to serve three years, or for the war. The wisdom of this is obvious to all. Our army in the field has been reduced by the ordinary casu- alties of the service and must be recruited and the positions captured by our arms must be held by military authority. The people appre- ciate these facts. They fully estimate the magnitude of the great struggle, and the sacred obligations imposed upon them, and the necessity of exerting a power that will speedily quell the rebellion, restore the rightful authority of the government and give peace to the country. "This appeal is to the state of New York; it is to each citizen. Let it come to every fireside. Let the glorious example of the revolu- tionary period be our emulation. Let each feel that the commonwealth now counts upon his individual strength and influence to meet the de- mands of the government. The period has come when all must aid. New York has not thus far stood far back. Ready and more than willing, she has met every summons to duty. Let not her history be falsified, nor her position be lowered. We cannot doubt that the in- surrection is in its death throes; that a mighty blow will end its monstrous existence. A languishing war entails vast losses of life, of property, the ruin of business pursuits, and invites the interference of foreign powers. Present happiness and future greatness will be secured by responding to the present call. Let the answer go back to the President and to our brave soldiers in the field that in New York the patriotic list of the country's defenders is being augmented. It will strengthen the hands of the one, and give hope and encourage- ment to the other. "An order fixing the quota of this state, with others will be immed- iately issued from the War Department. The details of organization will be in accordance with orders from the Adjutant-General of New York. The state will be districted, local committees will be appoint- ed, and regimental camps be established. "In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the privy seal of the state, at the city of Albany, this second day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty- two. "By the Governor, Edwin D. Morgan. 26 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." "Lockwood L. Doty, Private Secretary." In furtherance of this proclamation and supplanenting it the Governor divided the state into regimental districts and named com- mittees to further enlistment work. The counties of Delaware, Schoharie and Schenectady formed one of those districts. General G. E. Danforth, Dr. Nelson Fanning, Hon. J. H. Ramsey of Scho- harie county ; Prof. S. W. Jackson, Hon. Piatt Porter and General Jay Cady of Schenectady county, and Hon. R. Parker, Dr. H. N. Buckley and Colonel S. F. Miller of Delaware county were named as committee, with General G. E. Danforth chairman. The following is the call issued by the committee for Delaware county : "GRAND RALLY FOR THE UNION! "Delhi, Aug. 6, 1862. "To the Citizens of the County of Delaware: "In apportioning the troops to be raised under the recent call for volunteers, made by the President of the United States, the state of New York is called upon to furnish a number of regiments corres- ponding to the number of its senatorial districts, which is thirty-two. This county with Schoharie and Schenectady are expected to raise its regiment, and to do this Delaware should furnish about four hundred and thirty men. "This call for volunteers is made by the President because of the peril of the government. The necessity for it was imperative. The danger is imminent. To discuss the various causes which led to the present position of the country is at this time useless. A rebellion, widespread and determined, which threatens the existence of the best government upon which the sun ever shone, exists and has been the necessity for the call. Action and not discussion is now required. This call must be observed and men furnished in pursuance of it. Thus far Delaware has nobly responded to the demand which has been made upon her, and the gallantry and bravery of those already sent is acknowledged by all. Will she now falter? We cannot, we do not believe it. "The citizens of the country are invited to meet at the Court House in Delhi, on Wednesday, the 6th day of August, at one o'clock in the afternoon to devise means to meet the emergency. The under- signed were appointed by the Governor of the state a committee for HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 27 this county, to aid in the organization of the regiment; were also authorized to add such other names of citizens in the county to that committee as might be deemed expedient. In pursuance of that authority we have added to the committee the following persons, to wit : Major G. S. Mead, Dr. J. S. MacNaught, Col. James Oliver, Charles Maples, S. R. Thatcher, Geo. G. Decker and Ira E. Sherman. We are advised also that the Governor has issued circulars to the sev- eral Supervisors of the state, asking their co-operation in the work. It is especially requested that the committee as well as the Supervis- ors of this county shall be present and add their influence and energy to the cause. "Dated, Delhi, July 23, 1862. "Robert Parker, "H. N. Buckley, "S. F. Miller." The response to this call of the committee was most enthusiastic. From all parts of the county earnest, loyal men, ready to meet the need of the hour, came in hundreds. The constantly gathering crowds soon made it evident that the meeting intended to be held in the Court House would have to be held in the park in front of the Court House. Here, from an improvised platform, stirring speeches were made by Judges Hathaway and Gleason, District Attorney John Grant, Hon. S. F. Miller, James Lewis, afterwards Colonel of the 144th N. Y. Vol., Hon. Samuel Gordon and Henry Dowie. One of the things remembered of the speeches was an allusion to the then "burning question," the status of the negro, and the method of disposing of him when within the lines of our army. Hon. Samuel Gordon in the course of his fervid address said : "Use the negro, by all means use him, in any and all ways that will further our success; if necessary cram him into the guns and shoot him at the accursed Rebels." Henry Dowie of Andes, following Mr. Gordon and refer- ring to the same question, said that he agreed with the previous speaker that it was right and proper to avail ourselves of the services of the colored men coming within our lines ; but would differ as to methods suggested. He would place them not at the muzzle, but at the breech of the gun, — "Put them at the breech, sir, put them at the breech !" 28 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." Among the practical things resulting from this meeting was the selection of town enlistment committees, whose business it was to awaken interest in and secure enlistments as rapidly as possible. The following are the names of those on these several committees : Andes — Henry Dowie, C. B. Shafer, L. B. McCabe. Bovina — J. Calhoun, J. Telford, Alexander Stone. Colchester — B. R. Johnson, Levi Lindsey, Townsend Shafer. Davenport — Andrew Oliver, J. Coulter, S. D. Fiero. Delhi — R. S. Hughston, J. B. Graham, James Lewis. Franklin— A. J. Stilson, C. H. Tread well, William Mills. Hamden — William Lewis, Jr., Henry Holmes, Marshall Shaw. Harpersfield— R. E. Davis, R. T. Hume, A. Wilcox. Hancock— J. R. Landfield, F. M. Wheeler. George H. Hawk. Kortright— J. G. McCall, J. L. Clark, J. H. McKee. Masonville — J. G. Davis, A. C. Bailey, E. H. Covey. Meredith— T. Couvert, J. Mitchell, P. H. Peaster. Middletown — D. Waterbury, M. Griffin, Isaac Birdsall. Roxbury— P. W. Smith, A. J.Craft, J. F. Grant. Stamford— D. C. Thomas, W. E Bates, G. W. Martin. Sidney — Witter H. Johnston, D. Edson, Charles S. Bradford. Tompkins — P. L. Burrows, L. P. Allen, S. Durfee. Walton— Frank B. Hart, J. F. Ames, Fred Eells. Only six days remained within which to raise the county's quota of troops which had been fixed at four hundred and thirty and thus far there had been but very few enlistments under the call. In order to still further stimulate the work, enlistment commissions, issued by the Governor of the state, were given to those recommended to the cen- tral committee by the town committee as having enlisted and were competent to hold commissions in the service. Immediately following this rally at Delhi there was a blaze of en- thusiasm all over the county. War meetings were held in the several towns and enlistments went on so rapidly that in a few days it became apparent that more than the quota assigned to the county could be raised and steps were taken at once by the central committee to se- cure from the Governor permission to raise an entire regiment within the county. The application was granted and Hon. Robert S. Hughs- ton named as Colonel. Twenty days from August 17th, was the time named within which to complete the organization. When this HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 29 news went out through the county there was enkindled a new enthus- iasm. Added to love and loyalty to country was love and loyalty for Delaware county and to enlist in a Delaware county regiment officer- ed by Delaware county men gave an added zest to the already glow- ing patriotism and zeal. CHAPTER II. ORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT. In the organization of the Regiment each Company had its own special experiences, but there were some general experiences common to all as may be noticed in reviewing the stirring scenes. COMPANY A. The town of Tompkins was early astir and under the stimulus of its young men, aided by its efficient War Committee, led by Charles Maples and Palmer L. Burrows, it soon had enough men recruited to form a company. The following extracts from a letter written by G. S. Ward, Principal Musician of the Regiment and a member of Company A., bring vividly to mind the incentives and excitement of those days : " The morning the news came over the wires that ' Uncle Abe.' had made a call for 'Three Hundred Thousand More,' I was sent to post- office for the mail of Ford & Perry, Deposit, N. Y., for whom I was clerking at that time. On my way I heard the news and a few of us stopped on the street corner to talk it over. It was not long before some twenty or more had congregated, taken in the situation and in the excitement of the moment, all had promised to enlist if the others would. All were boys and mostly clerks in the different stores. "On reaching the store of Ford & Perry, I informed my em- ployers of the news and what had transpired and that we were all off for the war. Mr. Ford asked me who we had chosen for Captain. I replied that we had not reached that point or even talked of forming a company ; but the idea struck me as a good one — that we could raise a company in Deposit there could be no doubt — and said we would immediately go at it. Mr. Ford suggested that we try to get Palmer L. Burrows to go as our Captain. Thought his experience in State 30 , Uv*M -1 . ' . *(^~ ■J o o > a o as "3 id u HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 31 Militia and with his fatherly disposition he would take care of us boys in great shape. Acting on his suggestion I drove over to Mr. Burrow's farm about two or three miles in the country and found him at work in his hay field, made known my errand and had his consent and approval and in less than half an hour later he was on his way to Deposit. Before two o'clock in the afternoon of the same day his request and necessary papers in application to raise a company were on their way to Albany." This spirit of patriotic action was infectious. At a meeting held in the Presbyterian church in Cannonsville, August 11, after patriotic songs had been sung and fiery speeches made, an opportunity was given to any who desired to enlist, to enroll their names. Immediate- ly there was a rush for the table and the names of some twenty young men were enrolled. C. M. Hathaway' s name, afterwards Lieut. Hathaway, heading the list. Another war meeting was held in De- posit, August 15th, when some twenty-five more names were secured on the enrollment and by August 21st enough had been secured to perfect an organization and on that date at Cannonsville, Palmer L. Burrows was elected Captain; R. H. Evans, 1st Lieut., and A. E, Heath, 2nd Lieut. The company reported at once at Delhi, some six or eight days in advance of any other company. COMPANY B. Company B., had a similar but slower growth. Public meet- ings held at Walton and in the near-by villages and communities brought together young men whose blood already stirred by their country's need, was quickened by fervid speech and stirring songs. Gen. B. J. Bassett, Maj. G. S. Mead, C. Marvin, Esq., and many others by personal effort and public address helped to quicken the spirit of patriotism. Thus moved they were not long in determining what was duty for them. And not only young men but those of more mature years left the plow and the shop to enroll themselves as soldiers. Matthew Marvin, afterwards Captain Marvin, held a re- cruiting commission and before the plans for the organization of a Delaware County Regiment had been perfected had arranged to go out in the 20th N. Y. Vol., Col. George Pratt's Regiment of Greene county; but immediately on learning of the new effort in Delaware county, he gave active assistance in recruiting a company in Walton. 32 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." The town of Masonville, was represented by twenty-five men, enroll- ed by Horace E. Bailey, who held a recruiting commission from the Governor. The Walton band, two years later the 144th band, aided not a little in the recruiting work, with its stirring patriotic music, moving the martial spirit of Walton's sons. The company organized by the election of Wm. Deverill, Cap- tain; Matthew W. Marvin, 1st Lieut., and George A. Colton, 2d Lieut. On September 2d, the Company reported at Camp Delaware and at once began their lessons as soldiers by putting up tents. company c. The towns of Delhi, Hamden, Stamford, Meredith, Harpers- field and Kortright all contributed of their sons to make up Company C. In all these towns war meetings were held and earnest speeches made by Col. Robert Parker, Samuel Gordon, James Lewis, after- ward Captain of the Company, and others from Delhi. John Hax- ton, an old veteran of the Mexican war. gave material assistance in stimulating the soldier spirit. The first enlistments were made Aug. nth, and by Sept. 2d, the organization had been perfected by elect- ing James Lewis, Captain; Thomas Lewis, 1st Lieut., and James K. Penfield, 2d Lieut. COMPANY D. The fourth company in line, Company D., was organized in Franklin. One of the most active workers in the county, a member of the County War Committee, Col. Samuel F. Miller, of Franklin, had from the outset given time and talent in the effort to arouse the county, speaking in the mass meetings at Delhi and in the smaller gatherings in the towns around. In his own town he was active in stimulating enlistments, assisted by George W. Reynolds, editor of Franklin Visitor; Elijah Roe, afterward Captain Roe and A. Rose, afterward Lieut. Rose. In Croton, O. B. Boyd, a returned soldier, was active in securing enlistments. On Sept. 2d, the Company, ac- companied by the Franklin band, went to Delhi when the organization was perfected by the election of Elijah Roe, Captain; Alexander Rose, 1st Lieut., and O. B. Boyd, 2d Lieut. After completing the organization, the Company marched down to Camp Delaware and went into camp. HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 33 COMPANY E. Company E., the fifth company organized, was recruited from among the sturdy Scotch yeomanry of Andes and Bovina. The first enlistment, however, was not that of a Scot, but one from the "Vater- land," Frank Heimer, afterward Lieut. Heimer. He enlisted on Aug. 13th, and with him William Roberts. Two days later seven more enrolled with them. At this time they expected to join the Schoharie Regiment, but when the word came that a Delaware county regiment was to be organized these nine became the nucleus of a company organization. War meetings held at Andes, Bovina and Shavertown, addressed by Hon. Henry Dowie, Hon. O. M. Alle- ban, Hon. Samuel Gordon, Maj. Von Beck of Rondout, and others, soon brought to the standard the required number. About Sept. 4th, the organization of Company E. was completed by the election of William B. Dowie, Captain; John McArthur, 1st Lieut., and John D. Penet, 2d Lieut. COMPANY F. On Sept. 4th, the sixth company, Co. F., marched into Camp Dela- ware. This was the Hancock company. The first enlistment in the company was Aug. 12th, Bishop A. Cook having enrolled him- self on that day. Company F. was a body of stalwarts, a large num- ber of its members having had their muscles hardened in the lumber woods of Hancock and borders of Pennsylvania. A goodly number of its men came from the Quaker State. At the organization of the company William Plaskett was elected Captain; Chester H. Cole, 1st Lieut., and John P. Cole, 2d Lieut. After reaching Camp Delaware, by an arrangement of great advantage to the company, Chas. C. Siver of Unadilla, N. Y., took the place of 1st Lieut. COMPANY G. The town of Middletown during these days of martial fervor, had not been idle. On public notice given in the several villages of Mar- garetville, Halcottsville, Arkville, Kelly's Corners, New Kingston and Lumberville, now Arena, the loyal sons of Middletown gathered, and after, and some before, earnest speeches had been made, gave their names as soldiers of the Union. In the work of enlistments 3 34 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." Hon. O. M. Alleban, Hon. Daniel Waterbury, Hon. Matthew Griffen and others gave earnest service. These together with the active or- ganizing work of William H. Stone, afterwards Captain Stone and Irving C. Smith, afterward Lieut. Smith, soon secured the required company quota. The earliest enlistments, according to the muster- out rolls, were on Aug. 21st. On perfecting the organization, Sept. 6th, William H. Stone was elected Captain; Irving C. Smith, 1st Lieut., and Robert Crawford, 2d Lieut. On reporting at Camp Dela- ware the Company was assigned quarters in horse sheds attached to the Presbyterian church on "The Flats." COMPANY H. This Company was organized chiefly from the towns of Rox- bury. Stamford and Harpersfield. Peter W. Smith, afterward Cap- tain Smith, held a recruiting commission from the state and was early at work in the town of Roxbury enlisting men. In this he was assisted by Hamilton S. Preston, afterward Lieutenant in the 144th, and after the war Sheriff of Delaware county. John Clark of Hobart, Sergeant of Co. I., 71st N. Y. Vol., was at the time the 144th was being organized, home on furlough, and he gave active work in se- curing enlistments in the town of Stamford and surroundings, as did also Dewitt C. Thomas, afterward Lieut. Thomas. In Harpersfield, Fred Davis, the first Orderly Sergeant of Co. H., assisted by his fath- er, Richard Davis, and others, found a ready responsive body of men in their call for volunteers. By consolidating the men enlisted from the three towns a company of ninety- four was raised and Company H. perfected its organization by electing Peter W. Smith, Captain; John Clark, 1st Lieut., and Dewitt C. Thomas, 2d Lieut. About Sept. 6th, the company reported at Camp Delaware and were supplied with tents — the eighth company in line. company 1. By combining enrollments made in the towns of Kortright, Davenport, Sidney and a few from Meredith, enough men were se- cured to constitute the company designated Company I. John Craw- ford, afterward Captain and G. W. St. John, made Lieutenant on organization, secured about fifty enlistments in Davenport. In this they were assisted by other workers in the town, Col. Z. Goodrich O ft ni O a a <& u O S O a O •a « u ai J3 a HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 35 among the most active. War meetings, addressed by Major-Gen- eral Burnside of the State Militia, Hon. L. L. Bundy of Oneonta, and others helped to kindle enthusiasm in volunteering. At a war meet- ing held at East Davenport it is recalled as one of the marked features that "John Brown's Body Goes Marching On," was sung for the first time in that locality. This popular army song appeared in the New York Tribune that reached the place on that day. In the town of Kortright, Joseph G. McCall, chairman of town committee, gave time and effort in arranging meetings, securing speakers and stimulat- ing zeal in the cause. The earliest enlistment in the company and also in the Regiment was that of James L. Clark, enlisting Aug. 8th. He held a recruiting commission and as one of the town committee assisted in arousing the town. The Historian also assisted in the same direction. Sidney, through the efforts of Witter H. Johnston, afterward Lieutenant, and Charles Bradford, the first Orderly Ser- geant, with other workers, secured the enlistment of twenty-five men. Porter T. Gibbs secured several enlistments in Meredith. The con- solidation of these several enlistments was not perfected until after the men had reported in Delhi. After arranging for such combina- tion the company was organized by electing John Crawford, Captain ; George W. St. John, 1st Lieut., and Witter H. Johnston, 2d Lieut. The company was assigned quarters in the sheds. COMPANY K. Colchester had in May, 1861, assisted in organizing Company I., of the 71st N. Y. Vol. Elbridge G. Radiker had been active in raising this company and served in it as Sergeant. Later he interest- ed himself in the organization of the 144th and with the assistance of other loyal patriotic workers secured the enlistment of thirty-four men, the nucleus of Company K., with which he reported at Camp Delaware. In order to complete the organization of the Regiment, details were made from other companies which were assigned to the tenth company in order to bring it up to the minimum required for a company and entitle it to its full complement of officers. By appointment of the Governor of the state, George W. Reynolds, who had enlisted in Company D., was made Captain of this company. El- bridge G. Radiker received a commission as 1st Lieutenant and later William E. Holmes as 2d Lieutenant. The church sheds furnished 36 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." barracks for this company. Wlith the formation of Company K., the organization of the Regiment was complete and on reporting the fact to the authorities at Albany the following order was issued : "GENERAL HEADQUARTERS, STATE OF NEW YORK, "Adjutant-General's Office, "Albany, Oct. 7th, 1862. "Special Orders, No. 680. "The several companies of volunteers enlisted in the county of Delaware in this state, in conformity with the provisions of General Order No. 52, from this department, having been duly organized, said companies are hereby formed into a Regiment to be known and desig- nated as the 144th Regiment, New York State Volunteers. "The following persons are hereby appointed Field, Staff and Company officers and will be commissioned whenever complete muster rolls of the Regiment thus organized shall have been filed in this office: ROBERT S. HUGHSTON, Colonel. DAVID E. GREGORY, Lieutenant Colonel. Major. John R. Leal, Surgeon. William M. Bryce, 1st Assistant Surgeon. Oliver T. Bundy, Jr., 2d Assistant Surgeon. Alexander H. Fullerton, Chaplain. Marshall Shaw, Adjutant. James H. Wright, Quartermaster. company a. Palmer L. Burrows, Captain; Robert H. Evans, 1st Lieutenant; Alfred E. Heath, 2d Lieutenant. COMPANY B. William Deverill, Captain ; Matthew W. Marvin, 1st Lieutenant; George A. Colton, 2d Lieutenant. company c. James Lewis, Captain; Thomas Lewis, 1st Lieutenant; James K. Penfield, 2d Lieutenant. HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 37 COMPANY D. Elijah Roe, Captain; Alexander Rose, 1st Lieutenant; Orsemus B. Boyd, 2d Lieutenant. COMPANY E. William B. Dowie, Captain; John McArthur, 1st Lieutenant; John D. Penett, 2d Lieutenant. COMPANY F. William Plaskett, Captain; Charles C. Siver, 1st Lieutenant; John P. Cole, 2d Lieutenant. COMPANY G. William H. Stone, Captain; Irving C. Smith, 1st Lieutenant; Robert Crawford, 2d Lieutenant. COMPANY H. P. Whittlesey Smith, Captain; John Clark, 1st Lieutenant, De- witt C. Thomas, Jr., 2d Lieutenant. COMPANY 1. John Crawford, Captain; George W. St. John, 1st Lieutenant; Witter H. Johnston, 2d Lieutenant. COMPANY K. George W. Reynolds, Captain; Elbridge G. Radiker, 1st Lieu- tenant; , 2d Lieutenant. "By order of the Commander-in-Chief. "Thomas Hillhouse, Adjutant General." The office of Major left vacant in this order was subsequently filled by the appointment of Capt. Robert T. Johnson of Company I., 72d N. Y. Vol. Infantry, the first company organized in the county. He led the Company in their first battle at Williamsburg, Va., May 4th, 1862, where he was wounded. The vacancy of 2d Lieutenant in Company K., was filled later by the appointment of William E. Holmes. Six of the officers named in the order had seen active service in other organizations, Lieut. -Col. David E. Gregory, Capt. William Deverill, Lieuts. Charles C. Siver, John Clark, Elbridge G. Radiker and Or- semus B. Boyd. In preparing this account of the organization of the Regiment many things of special interest have doubtless been omitted and which have not been recorded because they were not known to the Historian. 38 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." One of the large factors contributing to the success of the effort was the earnest, continuing interest and work given by the leading men in town and county. Among these were the ministers who almost without exception contributed of their talent and influence. They were present at the war meetings often opening them with prayer and dismissing them with a benediction and when called upon gave no uncertain sound in fervid speech and less formal addresses. Churches were often thrown open for the meetings and very rare, indeed, was it to find any of the pastors who were lukewarm or indifferent in this crisis of our country's history. Some of their utterances were most forceful if not convincing. One, Rev. Samuel Wilson, the then vener- able pastor of the Associate Reformed Church of Kortright, in an address before a mass meeting in '62, noting the fact that there were some men in this 19th century here at the North, who were pagan enough to assert that the colored man had no soul, said : "Now, if it was possible, I say, if it was possible, to get down to the soul of one making such an assertion, you would find it blacker, yes, a good deal blacker than the blackest nigger that ever lived." It was at a later date and just before a fall election that Rev. Dennison, a Methodist minister, was in the course of a Sabbath ser- vice praying earnestly for the welfare of the country and that the Christian citizen might be guided aright in the exercise of his fran- chise, when he was interrupted by one of the congregation saying: "We don't want any politics in the pulpit." Mr. Dennison explained that it was not politics, only Christian duty to ask for guidance and then went on with his prayer. Immediately four or five of the con- gregation got up and went out. The next day some one was telling the venerable Rev. Harper Boise of the incident, when he remarked : "Well, I always knew that Mr. Dennison was a good man ; but I didn't know he had power to cast out devils." These incidents illustrate something of the warmth and trend of feeling on the great questions that were thought over and talked over "in war times." A chapter might be written, and one full of interest, describing the work and the incidents connected with it which business and professional men gave to the recruiting of the Regiment. Nor was it a word service alone, good as that was, but a service in which warm-hearted and pat- riotic men put their hands down deep into their pockets and made personal provision for a bounty to each man who would enlist at a « g I c c ■a o « HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 39 given meeting and sometimes to all who enlisted from the town. It is the regret of the Historian that these names are not all known to him that a record might be made of them. Then too, there was the warm-hearted, loyal, glowing interest which the women of Delaware county manifested in giving up and sending out fathers, husbands, sons and "neighbors' sons" to do their country's service. Their presence in the meetings, their voices in song, their words of encouragement to individuals, the practical pro- vision made for soldier needs, and then the beautiful stand of colors which they took upon themselves to provide and present to the Regiment at Camp Delaware, and when by reason of use these were no longer serviceable in the field, to provide and present a second stand. These all were aids in their country's service which cannot be measured. And this interest in the soldiers and their welfare did not abate ; but continued to grow and develop as the needs of the great army in the field developed. The well packed boxes, full of com- forts, that reached the "boys" from time to time; the grand, far- reaching work of the Sanitary Commission attested then and remain still a monument to the loyalty and patriotism of the women of the North. There are a number of interesting facts in regard to the make-up of the Regiment that are of interest and will be given here. These figures refer to the entire enrollment of the Regiment, including all who during the three years joined it, and whose names appear in the final muster-out roll. Whole number of men enrolled, 1,409. Average age, 25.54 years. Average height, 5 ft. 7.2 in. The tallest man in the Regiment was Peter Helsinger, Company G., 6 ft. 3.5 in., and the shortest was James Russell, Company D., 5 ft. 5.5 in. The oldest enlisted man was Alexander Lewis, Company C, age 50 years, and the youngest man was Alexander Ayres, Company C, age 15 years. This is not as it appears on rolls, but as it was in fact Number of foreigners, 83; native born, 1,326; farmers, 972; laborers, 79; mechanics, 45; lumbermen, 64; carpenters, 33; blacksmiths, 29; students, 21; shoe- makers, 15; clerks, 13; wagonmakers, 12; coopers, 10; printers, 10; masons 8; moulders, 5; painters, 6; millers, 5; teamsters, 4; mer- chants. 4; tinners, 4; tailors, 4; jewelers, 4; harnessmakers, 4; land- lords, 3 ; butchers, 3 ; lawyers, 2 ; teachers, 2 ; sawyers, 2 ; railway men 40 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." 2 ; saddlers, 2 ; paperhangers, 2 ; one each of ministers, clothiers, gen- tlemen, engineer, baker, axlemaker, boatman, currier, photographer, weaver, soldier, beekeeper, bartender and flowermaker. CHAPTER III. CAMP DELAWARE. The camp selected as the gathering place of the Regiment at its organization, designated "Camp Delaware," was located on "The Flats," about a mile below the village of Delhi and just opposite the Scotch Presbyterian church. This camp was first occupied Septem- ber 3d. Before that time Company A. and members of other com- panies, as they arrived at the county seat, were billeted in the hotels of the village. Tents were supplied to all but three companies. These used the church sheds as barracks. These sheds also served as guard house and one was fitted up as "Headquarters." A large tent was set up by the contractor having contract to provision the Regiment, which serv- ed as dining room during the time this camp was occupied. It was evident from the very outset that young life made up the body of the Regiment. It was the exuberance of young life which in those first days of camping made the nights resound with rooster crowing, dog barking, cat spitting, sheep bleating and all other sounds familiar on field and farm. Jokes of all kinds abounded—fun was the safety- valve for active young life. The days at Camp Delaware seemed very much like a picnic on a large scale. It was a rare day when the camp was not visited by delegations from some town or towns bring- ing large table supplies for their soldier boys. With ready, deft hands and warm hearts these mothers, wives and sisters spread the tables with toothsome viands and made them bright with flowers. On these days the difference between love's supplies and contract supplies was most marked. The comfort for those who looked away from the bare board tables over to the cloth covered, bounty-laden, flower- decked ones was — tomorrow. It is true the more serious business of soldier life was begun — 41 42 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." drilling, guard duty and the routine of camp work, but few were quite ready to enter upon it seriously. Companies that were fortunate enough to have officers who had seen service, or who had had the ad- vantage of drill themselves, began regular work and continued it. The others tried to go through the forms, but with very indifferent success. Valuable time was lost for the want of knowledge as to the business in hand. The state furnished enough of guns to arm the camp guards; but these were soon in a sorry condition because of the frequent charges of sand with which the guards loaded them by way of amuse- ment and to help while away the weary two hours of guard duty. Not infrequently in those first days of camp life when the officers of the guard visited the guard line all he would find on some posts would be the musket standing upright with the bayonet driven deep into the ground. It required not only admonition, but punishment to open the minds of quite a number of men to the fact that now they were under military rules and must conform to them. On the i ith of September the Regiment held its first dress pa- rade. More than in any experience which had preceded this in soldier life, there was awakened the military spirit, and in it, too, made to realize the power of numbers represented in a regiment of men. While looking from the outside, and sometimes from within soldier life, men have been disposed to question and criticise these formal oc- casions of military usage, reasoning that they made uncalled for de- mands upon the health and strength of the soldier, — irksome require- ments which could be dispensed with. But the fact remains that in and through them were awakened soldierly instincts and aspirations. This was the influence of all parades of ceremony, reviews, inspec- tions, guard mounting, dress parade and honors paid to officers of rank and to government officials, as laid down in Army Regulations. Gen. Grant records in his Memoirs that it was at a review of the cadets at West Point, by Gen. Winfield Scott that there came to him, "A presentiment for a moment that some day I should occupy his place on review, although I had no intention then of remaining in the army." Although so many years have intervened since these soldier ex- periences, the mind recalls and the soldier sense quickens as it recalls the ceremony of dress parade. It hears the first signal and with this > M a; K CM ,=! CD +j oo •* T-t -* 7-t u +-> S3 aj a> u 4-J 'u « HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 59 I know you will not. But I want you to excel all other regiments in all that constitutes true military worth and reputation. Many of your friends expect this and all hope for it. Do not disappoint them. It is in your power to be not only the pride of your county but the pride of your state. We shall hear and know all about you from day to day. Our interest in the war will be centered in you, and whenever the newspapers speak of the 144th N. Y. Volunteers, thousands of your friends with greedy eyes will devour the paragraph. To gratify their hopes and expectations in regard to their favorite regiment all that is necessary is that each man of you should simply do his duty. If every man does as well as he can, then the aggregate will be perfect and the regiment a paragon. Set your faces like flint against intem- perance and all riotous conduct among you whenever and in whom- soever it may appear. Have your fun and your sports, but let them be manly and innocent. Plant yourselves like an iron wall to arrest the first stealthy steps of anything like mutiny. Seek redress of grievances if you have any by presenting them to the proper authori- ties. In short, set your mark high and help make what the men who compose it are capable of making, a model regiment. Be devoted to the Union cause. Love your flag — it is your country's banner and the emblem of what is dear and sacred! to you and your friends. Reverence it, aye, I had almost said worship it, for God himself is there. He reposes in its stripes, sparkles in its stars and floats in it and around it as it waves in the breeze. Remember also while dis- charging your duties to yourselves, your company and regiment and your country this embraces your duty to your comrades individually. A soldier's life is eminently a joint existence, every man among you will influence his fellows for good or ill. You necessarily lean upon and support each other; therefore, stand by your comrade, whether right or wrong, stand by him and befriend him for if he gets into difficulty, a scrape or a quarrel and is in the wrong he needs a friend to extricate him quite as much as if he were in the right. If a com- rade is sick see that he is cared for. If he be wounded risk your life to save him from the hands of the enemy. Never quarrel with each other, but if any are 'spoiling for a fight' vent yourselves on the Rebels, but not on a fellow-soldier. You are licensed to fight Rebels to vour hearts' content, but not each other ? 60 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." "Give good advice to each other, freely, frankly and in a friendly manner. If one of your number becomes dissolute, profligate, or otherwise vicious, do not hate or shun him, but still treat him as an equal, counsel him kindly and with a friendly hand draw him away from his errors and his vices. Let each man of you set his mark high. Do not be contented with simply doing nothing in violation of military rules. You must do something affirmatively worthy. Be not satisfied with merely a negative man doing no positive wrong. You must do some positive good. Aim at promotion, not by intrigue, but by real positive merit. This is a laudable ambition. General Halleck orders that vacant offices shall be filled by inferiors who have proved themselves worthy. Any of you have a chance and the. right to be a Major-General in time, if you deserve it. If you are truly worthy of a higher place whether officer or private you cannot fail, sooner or later to be appreciated and probably promoted. But never get discouraged because you think you are not duly appre- ciated and that you do not get your reward as soon as you imagine it is your due. Real soldierly merit cannot always remain in obscurity. Somebody will find it out and in time it will get its just reward. True courage and perseverance, indomitable perseverance, are indis- pensable requisites of a good soldier, not only in conquering the enemy but in securing his own interests and ultimate promotion. And now, my friends, farewell. May God Almighty bless you. In parting with you I could not refrain from this plain, familiar, friendly talk, nor withhold the advice which I have ventured to give. It has been called out by earnest wishes for your welfare, and knowing as you do the kind motives on my part which prompt it, I confidently trust that even if you think the advice needless, you will at least not be offended by the liberty which I have taken. I have said just what I would in a private letter to the most intimate friend I have in your ranks. And now, farewell, neighbors and fellow townsmen, fare- well." Immediately on the conclusion of these exercises the Regiment was. marched to the depot, where a train of twenty passenger cars had been made up for the accommodation of the 144th. These were soon filled and about five o'clock in the afternoon the train was un- der way, taking us to> Elmira, which place was reached about mid- HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 61 night. The next day arms and equipment were issued to the men. If inanimate things could be surprised these accouterments must have been very much surprised at the manner in which they were adjusted to the person of many of the soldiers receiving them. Often the cart- ridge box would appear at the left, front, or rear and the gun was tucked away in "any old place" that the -encumbering accouterments would allow. These guns were the then celebrated rifle known as the Enfield. Those issued to us were intended by the English makers of them for Confederate service; but the blockade-runner having them on board was captured in its effort to reach Charleston and so were appropriated by the War Department to meet a pressing need in arm- ing Northern soldiers. The rifle weighed about eleven pounds and this with the entire equipment of knapsack, haversack, canteen and accouterments made quite a load for the soldier new to the business. These new acquisitions acquired a new value, and a new interest was attached to them when word reached us, as it did that day, that the Confederate General Jeb. Stuart was making a raid into Pennsyl- vania and was likely to cross the line of railroad which the 144th was to take in its journey to Washington. Rations consisting of bread, ham and cheese were issued to the men and then they went on board cars provided for their transporta- tion to Washington. At this point the private soldier bade good-bye to passenger cars, for, ever after, in his soldier rides by rail, cattle cars, often very questionable in quality and condition, without seats, just the empty box cars, were provided for his journeying. This fact is not recorded as finding fault, but as a fact. The government had a large job thrust suddenly upon it and had to avail itself of every agency at its command to meet the emergency. To have waited un- til it could collect passenger cars for every body of troops it desired to move would have been to cripple all aggressive or defensive work. Just as the Regiment was taking the cars Col. Shepard, who had charge of the work of forwarding troops arriving at Elmira, received a telegram from Gov. Curtin of Pennsylvania with information as to the progress of the Rebel raid. Col. Shepard telegraphed in reply that the 144th N. Y. Vol., was on its way to Washington and if the services of the Regiment were needed to repel the raiders, he could call on it. 62 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." The train left Elmira about seven o'clock, running in two sec- tions. The night was a beautiful one and many of the soldiers to whom riding on the cars was a new experience watched with pleasure the fleeting landscape. Others tried to adjust themselves to the new conditions which required that they should transform these cattle cars into sleeping cars, but with very indifferent success. When opposite Harrisburg on the 12th, Col. Hughston received a dispatch from Gov. Curtin saying that he had all the men he needed and directing that we report to Gen. Wool at Hanover Junction, Maryland. On reaching the Junction there was no little excitement there because of rumors prevailing that the Rebels were within a few miles of the place. Upon reporting to Gen. Wool, Col. Hughston received the following order : "Headquarters 8th Army Corps, "Hanover Junction, Md., Oct., 12th, 1862. "Col. Robert S. Hughston will proceed with his regiment, the 144th Regiment, New York Volunteers, to Washington, via Balti- more, and report himself upon his arrival at Washington to Brig.- Gen. Silas Casey or the Adjutant-General of the army. "The men of this regiment are entirely 'green,' not having had the least practice in loading and firing. "By command of "Maj.-Gen. Wool. "E. Christensen, "Major U. S. A. "Aide-de-Camp." This order answers the question asked by so many at the time, "Why didn't the 144th stop at Hanover Junction?" About seven o'clock in the afternoon of the 12th, Baltimore was reached. It was a very tired and hungry body of men that de- barked from the cars and lined up for a two mile march across the city to Camden Station, but the fact that we were in Baltimore soon quickened the blood and the step. Songs and cheers greeted the U. S. flag floating from the windows of the loyal citizens, while "John HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 63 Brown's Body Lies Mouldering in the Grave," "We'll Rally Round the Flag Boys," and "The Star Spangled Banner," could not but have startled the disloyal citizen as company after company sounded out these stirring refrains in resonant song, vibrating with the soul of patriotism. At the Soldiers' Relief Association rooms a substantial supper was served up to the Regiment by kindly, loyal hands and hearts. This supper with the rest and relaxation that came with it will always have a place in the memory of the soldiers who were present. This pleasant experience helped very much to sweeten in the minds of the men the sour memories of Baltimore's early record in the Civil War. Some of the men were so tired and sleepy that no sooner was their coffee disposed of than they leaned forward on the table, pillowed their heads on their arms and went fast asleep. Only for a few moments, but what soldier does not recall the blessed refreshment these moments of relaxation in sleep brought to body and brain, so often in the service, "knitting up the ravelled sleeve of care." Owing to the large number of troops that were being hurried to the front to meet Jeb. Stuart on his raid, it was found difficult to se- cure transportation for the Regiment to Washington. Then, too, there were quite a number of the men sick with mumps and some with other ailments, and no little trouble was experienced in finding means to convey these sick soldiers across the city to the depot where we were to take the cars for Washington. It was two o'clock in the morning of the 13th before our train was made up and loaded. To add to the discomfort of the men it began to rain, the cars were old and leaky and so crowded that there was not much chance to dodge the trickling soot-colored streams that found their way down through the cracks in the roof. We had proceeded but a littlewaybeforetherear car containing the officers and the sick became uncoupled and there be- ing no way of communicating the fact to the engineer it was left be- hind. A little farther on the engine gave out, and this gave opportun- ity to inform the engineer about the lost car which was picked up after repairs were made on the engine. This engine was an old "double- decker" that had "outlived its usefulness," except for the antiqua- rian's museum. We made our way to Washington by fits and starts, 64 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." with three experiences of uncoupled cars. It was five o'clock in the afternoon before the great dome of the capitol was sighted. The frequent stops between Baltimore and Washington had one advantage in that it gave opportunity to study soldier life in actual service. All the line of the railroad was guarded by soldiers. At one point where the engine broke down and there was a long wait, a picket post was just being relieved by a new guard of three men. The way in which this new guard built its camp home was an object lesson of special interest to those just beginning soldier life. One of the three went at once on guard duty. The other two set themselves to work without delay, in preparation for soldier housekeeping. From some place, not from the Quartermaster, they had secured two boards which they set on edge about six feet apart and fastened them se- curely in place with stakes driven into the ground. Midway between these boards at either end crotched sticks were driven into the ground so as to stand about four feet from ground to the crotches, and a light pole was laid in the crotches. Then from the knapsacks three shelter tent pieces were procured. These tent pieces were made of cotton duck, each five feet six inches by five feet five inches, with but- tons and buttonholes on the three sides, arranged so that they could be buttoned together, and with eyelets and cords at corners of the side without buttons. Two of these shelter tents were buttoned to- gether, laid over the pole and fastened to the boards on either side. The third tent piece was buttoned into the rear and the tent house, "dog tent," the soldiers called it sometimes "pup tent," was built. A bundle of cedar twigs was then cut and spread on the ground within and a rubber blanket spread over them. This serves as a bed and "sitting room" as well. Then the knapsacks and haversacks were placed in the back of the tent house. It looked when finished so cosy and comfortable that we, who had for the last three clays and nights been much "tumbled up and down" in our bodies as well as our minds, wished we might just lie down in this soldiers' home and take a good nap. Our last view as the train lumbered away was of one man with the canteens going in search of water and the other gathering wood and arranging for the evening meal, while the third kept up his measured tramp as guard. It was a most valuable ex- HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 65 perience in soldier object lessons, touching methods which very soon we would have to make use of as soldiers in active service. At the Soldiers' Retreat in Washington, supper was procured and lodging provided in the soldiers' barracks near the depot. The room assigned to us was so scant that when the men had lain down it was a case of "four in a bed." CHAPTER V. FROM WASHINGTON TO CLOUD'S MILLS. On reporting to Gen. Casey, Col. Hughston received orders to march his Regiment out to Arlington Heights. Accordingly, on the morning of October 14th, we marched through the city and out across Long Bridge to Arlington Heights. All along the way we were greeted with hearty cheers by the soldiers we passed. On the way through the city we passed the headquarters of Gen. Casey. As we marched by, the venerable veteran came out and in an informal way reviewed the Regiment. He was at this time in command of the de- fenses of Washington and engaged in preparing volunteers for the field. A special interest attached to Gen. Casey, not only because he was our first Department Commander, but also because he prepar- ed the book, "Infantry Tactics," from which we took our lessons in soldiers' drill. It superceded Hardee's. Maj.-Gen. Silas Casey was born July 12th, 1807, at Greenwich, R. I. After graduating from West Point in 1826 he served in Sem- inole and Mexican Wars. He was engaged in the battles of Con- treres and Churubusco in Mexico, receiving his commission as Major for service in these actions. He was also at Molino del Rey, and Chapultepec, where he was wounded in leading an assault. Promotion followed. He also served on the frontier against the Indians. At the opening of the Civil War he was assigned to duty in preparing volunteers for the field. He was in the Peninsular Cam- paign and commanded a division at Fair Oaks. Later he was Presi- dent of Board for the examination of officers of colored troops. He prepared and edited a system of tactics especially for the colored troops. He was retired in 1868 and died January 22d, 1882. Gen. Casey had two sons in the service during the War, Lieut. Silas Casey of the navy and Capt. Thos. L. Casey of the Engineers. 66 HISTORY OF THE i 44 th REGIMENT. 67 The camp selected for us on Arlington Heights was a very pleas- ant one and was designated Camp Seward. The tents were soon in place, and requisition made on the cedar trees that lined the road furnished material for a very comfortable soldier's bed. Thirty rounds of ammunition were issued to each man and all cautioned to be in readiness for a call to arms should one be sounded. The men were so weary that long before "taps" everything was quiet in camp. At eleven o'clock the bugle sounded the call to arms. A battery of artillery went thundering by and to our inexperienced war senses a battle seemed imminent, but after a little time Companies A. and B. were directed to move into the rifle pits near us and the rest of the Regiment was dismissed. The alarm was a "ripple" occasioned by the movements of Jeb. Stuart. To one early awake there was some- thing impressive in the waking up of an encampment of soldiers. First, just after daybreak from far away at headquarters, there comes the clear tones of the bugle sounding the reveille. At once in response to it from all the individual camps of regiments and detachments sounds out a chorus of bugles waking the sleeping soldiers. Some- times a wide-awake band closes this part of the morning entertain- ment with a selection. Before the last notes of the bugle have died away there is a hum of voices all through the camp and then the com- mand of the Orderlies to the men to "fall in for roll-call." In this way, in the regular routine of camp life the day's work of the soldier is begun. To the soldier a good ear for music was a most valuable posses- sion, since not only in the camp routine, but also in the drill of the soldier the bugle calls directed us to duty and to movement. In a camp near Camp Seward was a detachment of cavalry and at first the sounding of the bugle at frequent intervals and at almost all hours of the day seemed to us, novices in the art of war, a great waste of good breath; but later, appreciating what value there might be in these sounds in the emergencies of action, we began to wish for a better and quicker understanding of them. In order that we might not be accounted "green" when the next opportunity for duty came, active work was commenced in the manual of arms and methods of loading and firing; but this work was not continued long at Camp Seward, since an order reached Col. Hughs- 68 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." ton about the 19th to move his Regiment to Fort Marcy, some six miles north, near Chain Bridge and opposite Georgetown, and when this movement had been made and a new camp established orders came directing us to march to Upton's Hill the next day. We started in the middle of the afternoon of the 20th and made the march of about nine miles with only one halt. From some cause the line of march was not well defined and we traveled farther and later than the actual distance required. It was about eight o'clock when we stacked arms. The tents were not at hand and the Regi- ment bivouaced for the first time. The next day tents were pitched on iwhat was known as Camp Bliss and the men were "at home" again. The mumps had taken hold of quite a number of men, who had to be left, in charge of nurses at camp near Fort Marcy. Two officers, Quartermaster Wright and Lieut. Rose, of Company D., were also left behind sick in Washington, and Dr. Bundy had to make the trip each day for some time, visiting sick at Chain Bridge and these officers in Washington. Besides these sick a number were left back in Delhi in an emergency hospital opened there. The camp of the 144th on Upton's Hill, known as Camp Bliss was pleasantly situated on the eastern slope with a very good water supply near at hand. The wood supply at first quite convenient was soon exhausted, compelling the men to make quite a journey for it, not so far out, but a long way in when weighed down with a back- load of poles. The Regiment had for neighbors, encamped near at hand, the 127th, i42d and 143d N. Y. Vol. The first regiment, the 127th was recruited in New York City and in Brooklyn and nearby surround- ings, Col. William E. Gurney commanding it. The i42d was a St. Lawrence county regiment, commanded by Col. Judson and the 143d was a Sullivan county regiment, commanded by Col. DeWitt. By a general order the four regiments, 127th, I42d, 143d and 144th, were formed into a brigade, known as the Third Brigade, in Gen. J. J. Abercrombie's Division. General Abercrombie was a veteran of several wars — Black Hawk, Seminole, Mexican and now of the Civil War. He was a native of Tennessee, born in 1798, and graduated from West Point in 1822. He was in the Shenandoah Campaign of '61 and in the . 'Tjftl ■:?■ %y^ :? arm I -- ••F^n T*- AST . ■ £5 S > O (S 11 -/■ > m 5 ? on 5 +j *ss* HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 69 Peninsular Campaign of '62. At the battle of Fair Oaks he was wounded ; but was able to take part in battle of Malvern Hill. After- wards he was placed in command of troops before Washington. He was retired in 1865 ar >d died January 3d, 1877. The command of the Third Brigade in Abercrombie's Division was given to Col. Gurney of the 127th N. Y. V., and since he was so long and closely identified with the interests of the 144th, the follow- ing brief biography will be of interest : General Gurney was a native of New York State, born at Flush- ing, August 31st, 1 83 1. He entered business as a clerk in a wholesale provision, store and later became a partner in same store and was do- ing business there under the firm name of Gurney & Underhill at the time of the breaking out of the Civil War. He was at this time First Lieutenant in 4th Co. of 7th Regiment N. Y. N. G., and served with the Regiment during the three months call and afterward serv- ed as Captain in the 65th N. Y. V. In 1862 he was on Gov. Morgan's staff as Asst. Inspt.-General. In the latter part of 1862 he recruited the 127th and served through the war with it — a large part of the time commanding the Brigade of which it was a part. In 1865 he was promoted to Brigadier-General by brevet. After the war he re- turned to Charleston, S. C, and established himself in business as a wholesale grocer and commission merchant, changing later to the business of cotton and rice selling. In 1870 he was made treasurer of Charleston county and held this position for six years. In 1877 he came North, suffering from Bright's disease and died in Brooklyn, N. Y., February 2d, 1878. It was at Camp Bliss that the 144th, using the expressive words of Kipling, began to "find itself." Every body of men organized for a specific purpose has to adjust itself to its work. A regiment of men has to find out the working relations of the men to the officers, to each other and to their immediate work and surroundings. Up to this time the Regiment had been simply a structural organization, the ves- sel just off the stocks that had only made its trial trip in the quiet har- bor. Guard duty that had seemed so irksome and unnecessary when no enemy was near now began to assume a new importance in the minds of the men under these new conditions, with frequent alarms 70 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." at picket outposts calling for vigilance and constant watchfulness to prevent surprises from the enemy. Even that, which seemed to so many to be a hardship and in some way to interfere with the prerogatives of a free-born American citi- zen, the saluting of officers, began to have a new meaning. Little by little the relative importance of obedience, implicit obedience to orders, in order to insure prompt results in the movements of the army was seen to be necessary and to this end all the units must know their place and give a ready and loyal recognition of each officer according to his rank. Sometimes, indeed often, it might be found, was found, that there were officers not at all equal in merit to their rank, entirely unsuited to their place ; but all the more was there need that the office itself should have full and prompt recognition in order to insure something of power to it when in the movement of the great machine, The Army, this cog was called upon for its ratio of force. With some men there remained always a rankling feeling because of this re- quirement. Some in the process of "the finding" of the Regiment, had to learn this lesson in the guard house and through other military processes. Happy the soldier who settled it at the outset with this mental soliloquy : "When I cannot salute the man, I can salute the office." Then, there was the "finding" process by which knowledge was acquired as to how the soldier could best be cared for in the sanitation of the body, the tent and the camp. So much that had to be learned by sad experience where there was no education or theories in advance, so much that had to be learned as to a ready obedience to well-estab- lished theories, but resented by the free-born American citizen, new to the duties of a soldier. In some cases a scrubbing squad had to be detailed to take down to the creek and initiate into body cleanliness, with a horse brush, individual soldiers who had not learned that "cleanliness was next to godliness." The matter of the food ration and how best to use it was another of the problems, and not the smallest in the "finding" of the Regiment. Few have forgotten the first issue of the "hard-tack" ration in place of soft bread. "Humph," sniffed one squad of soldiers, "just about enough for one good meal," and forthwith they sat themselves down and ate up at one sitting the entire day's ration of "hard-tack." The HISTORY OF THE i 44 th REGIMENT. 71 results recall the cynic's recipe for boarding school fare, "Feed them dried apples for breakfast, give them water for dinner and let them swell for supper." The problem of corned beef had to be solved, that good ration, our stand-by in later experiences on the march, but at Camp Bliss the much' abused, talked about, wrote about, traduced "horse beef," all because we had not yet learned how to cook it proper- ly. More or less of these experiences came into the life of every vol- unteer organization in the war of '61, and should have explained some of the many stories that were current during the late Spanish War. Another and a large factor in the "finding" of the Regiment came through the experiences on the drill ground at Upton's Hill. The En- field rifle and equipment was not yet a part and parcel of the man, but rather a cumbrous attachment and dangerous to every one but the enemy. Casualties, the result of awkward handling of the guns, were of frequent occurrence. The volunteer had not yet acquired that "touch of elbow" and ready change of step which made him one with his fellow in the dark as well as the light. How many awkward, laughable mistakes were made by officers as well as men in the ex- planation and execution of Hardee's and later Casey's tactics. They furnish the occasion for many a hearty laugh in their recital about the "camp-fire" of today, but it all had much to do in knitting together officers and men and making them ready for their mutual work. That old drill ground, just north of the camp, sloping off through the bushes down to the creek, witnessed some very strange maneuvering both in company and regimental drill ; but it all helped to make the soldier, even if some lessons had to be unlearned. Hall's Hill and Bailey's Cross Roads are points of special interest because associated with brigade drills and reviews in which the soldiers came into touch with the general officers and were made to realize something of the power there is in masses of men working and moving in harmony under a tried leader. Inspections of all kinds served like examinations in school to quicken both officers and men to do better and more intelli- gent service. Thus far the Regiment had been quite free from sickness, except that the mumps had a short run ; but after a few weeks at Camp Bliss negligent sanitation on the part of companies and men, together with changed conditions of living brought consequent result in long lines of 72 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." men responding to sick call and a large number in tents not able to respond in person. The shirking soldier very soon found the sick call a very convenient way to evade duty. This fact gave some waggish soldier occasion to compose this rhyming adaptation to sick call : "Ye dead beats, ye dead beats; come and get your pills, your pills, pills, pills." It proved a very healthful deterrent to any disposed thus to evade duty. The surgeons also had some very effectual methods by way of restraint. One day a soldier who was one of the "stand-bys" in the sick line was detailed by his orderly sergeant for guard duty. The man protested against this detail because he had such a lame back he could not do duty. The Orderly insisted, and as a final resort the soldier reported to Dr. Bryce at sick call and related his grievance as to the cruelty of the Orderly. "Let me see your back," directed the doctor, and at once the back was bared. "A very bad case," com- mented the doctor, "I will treat you here, but you must report at once to the Orderly and show him your back, no one else will do for it demands special treatment." The doctor then took his iodine bottle and with a brush painted across the back the words : "DEADBEAT." With triumphant stride the patient reported to the Orderly and bared his back again for the "special treatment." It is needless to add that after examination the treatment consisted of a summary ordering to duty. It should be added that in not a few cases, a very great in- justice was done to worthy men by the wholesale judgment rendered in the rhyming of the sick call as given above, since it deterred some really sick from reporting. Another practical adaptation to the sick call, brings vividly to mind the two standard "sick rations," so often dealt out : "Quinine, quinine, and a blue pill too, and a blue pill too, and a blue pill too." All this review of these too familiar memories recalls the name and faces of three men who for three years served steadily at their posts and by their skill and courage gave material strength to the Regiment. Few men in the 144th, who cannot recall the patient, thoughtful care of the three surgeons and their personal ministrations in the tent, or hospital, at the dispensary or on the march and with it all cheery, help- ful words, often the best of tonics. HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 73 November 17th was marked by the first death in the 144th, on southern soil. Curtis Fagan of Company B. died on that date in Regimental Hospital after only a few days' illness. His dis- ease is one known to the physicians as purpura haemorrhagica, a very rare disease. This was the only case known to our surgeons in all their experience during the war. The next day the Regiment witness- ed and took part in that which has left such deep impress in the minds of every soldier — a soldier's funeral. The army regulations pre- scribe the forms to be observed. In case of a private the escort is to consist of "eight rank and file," commanded by a Corporal. These receive the body with a "Present Arms," and then with arms reversed, follow the body, while the music with drums muffled and covered with crepe, precede it playing in slow time appropriate airs. One which the members of the 144th will recall as often used was Portuguese Hymn, arranged as a march. When the grave is reached the escort forms on one side, receiving the body again as it is brought to the op- posite side with a "Present Arms." When the coffin is at rest the command, "Rest on Arms," is given and then each soldier places the muzzle of his gun on the left foot, and both hands on the butt, then with head bowed awaits the funeral service. When this is over and the body is lowered in the grave the escort comes to "Attention," and loading "at will," fires three volleys of blank cartridges over the grave. Immediately after it wheels into line and at quick step, with music pre- ceding, leaves the grounds. On the occasion of this first funeral the entire Regiment followed the escort in the order of companies to Fall's Church, where the body was buried. There came times and often, later in the history of the 144th, when only the regulation escort could be secured. This first death was the occasion of the largest funeral procession in the history of the Regiment. During the months of November and December there were a great many sick and a number of deaths. Quite a num- ber of the sick were sent to the General Hospital in Washington and at Fairfax Seminary. With improved sanitary surroundings that came with a larger experience, there was an improvement in the health of the men. Among these improved conditions was the stockading and flooring of tents. One of the things which characterized the U. S. Volunteer was 74 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." his ready and ingenious adaptation to his environments. The ac- tual experience of one tent squad at Camp Bliss will stand as an illus- tration of methods, only varied in form, practiced by other tent squads in all the U. S. Volunteer forces. The government furnished an A tent, seven feet by seven, and a tenting place for a temporary home, but without bed or bedding or other furniture. The tent squad put the tent in place and then began to lk around for the things that may bring comfort. One finds at an abandoned cavalry camp a number of grain sacks which he brings to the tent and very soon they are trans- formed into a straw tick large enough for five to sleep on. The straw is found by cutting and curing some tall grass found in a swale nearby Another one of the squad finds an old rusty ax. It is soon provided with a helve. A grindstone is found and the rusty ax becomes a good cutting instrument, almost invaluable in camp life, so valuable that it has to be watched with care lest covetous eyes lead to covetous act. One day an old water pail without bottom is found. A cracker box furnishes the material out from which, with a jackknife, a new bottom is made and another article of furniture is added to the tent house. Later a cast-away camp kettle is picked up — true it has a hole in the bottom, but an ingenious use of an old button makes it water tight and then there is a washdish provided for. From time to time as they have had opportunity in their trips outside of camp the tent mates have brought in a brick or bricks as they have found them loose, with pieces of sheet iron or old stovepipe. Out from this material a fire- place was constructed, a most timely provision, for by this time one of the members was taken clown with typhoid fever and in his care and comfort, as well as final recovery the little fire-place had a large part. When orders were given directing the stockading of tents the squad proceeded at once to rive out material to raise the tent about four feet from the ground. In the meantime they had procured by purchase a quantity of lumber, boards and boxes, and when the tent was in place there was enough of this material to make a floor and a drop table with other conveniences. The new tent home with its added comfort brings renewed health and strength to its occupants all of whom in their turn have been off duty because of varied ailments, that came with undue exposure and no ready means at hand to counteract. An interesting chapter could be written describing the various ex- HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 75 pedients resorted to by the soldiers to bring comfort and to meet soldier needs, where to the ordinary observer, not under the compul- sion of need which had quickened their "habits of observation," there would not be a sign of material in sight which could be utilized. One of the factors which was a material aid in supplying comforts and sometimes luxuries to the soldier was the much abused regimental sutler. It is true they sometimes used their opportunity to "fleece" the soldiers, but large prices were not always evidence of this. The sutler had to take large risks, for added to the chances of having his property captured by the enemy there were large losses in expense and waste of transportation by sudden and repeated removals. They could "a tale unfold" in doing business under circumstances of which the ordinary business man knows nothing. The business men who served the 144th as sutlers were Delaware county men and brought to this duty patriotism as well as business, and so served the Regiment well — became an agency through which needed supplies were furnish- ed and also a line of communication, bearing messages and packages to and from loved ones at home and often giving material assistance to those in need. While at Camp Bliss, S. B. Champion, the editor of the Bloom- ville Mirror and now the veteran editor of Stamford Mirror, assisted in the "sutler's shanty;" but true to the news instinct, born in him and nurtured by years of experience, he started a newspaper, "The Sold- ier Boy," a little regimental paper which was much sought after in camp and at home. It was printed under difficulty in the tent of John G. Griswold, Quartermaster Sergeant. Those who have access to files of this little paper will find many interesting items of the Regiment's experiences on Upton's Hill. The special service aside from the regular drill and camp duty re- quired of the 144th during its stay on Upton's Hill was on the picket line, in the defenses of Washington. The part of this line which fell to our brigade to guard, extended from Fall's Church to Rose Hill. Fall's Church, so often mentioned in connection with movements of troops in the vicinity of Washington, was a little hamlet some eight miles west from Washington and about one mile from Camp Bliss. There were three churches in the place. One of these, the Episcopal, was of special interest since at one time Washington 76 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." was a pew holder in it and often attended services there. In the grave- yard attached to the church a great many Union soldiers were buried, some of the 144th. Rose Hill at the other end of the line was on the Alexandria and Fairfax turnpike and commanded quite an extended view of the surrounding country. Between these two places picket posts were established at points of best observation or where they could guard approaches by roads or other lines of advance. It might be of inter- est to visit this picket line and make the "grand rounds" with the "Officer of the Day," or at least go a little way with him and so re- new our acquaintance with familiar sounds and scenes. He has se- cured his escort, a non-commissioned officer and two men at Rose Hill and with it moves along the line toward Fall's Church. We make our way cautiously through the woods, across the ravine, and out into the edge of the woods, when out from the darkness beyond there conies from a vigilant sentinel the ringing challenge : "Who comes there?" that command that always awakened something of apprehen- sion no matter how peaceful the errand or how often heard. The answer "Grand Rounds," brings the prompt response, "Halt ! Grand Rounds; turn out the guard; Grand Rounds!" In the blinking glow of a fire, hooded from the enemy, we can see the half awake guards tumbling into line, and almost hear the muttered imprecations on Grand Rounds. When the guard is formed a Sergeant and two men advance to within ten paces of the Rounds. The Sergeant repeats the challenge "Who comes there?" The Sergeant with the Rounds, rq>lies, "Grand Rounds," and at once there comes the command "Advance Sergeant, with the countersign." When the mystic word has been whispered over the point of the bayonet of the chal- lenging Sergeant, the Sergeant with the Rounds returns to his place while the Sergeant of the Guard calls to the Officer of the Guard: "The countersign is right," and the Officer in turn calls out: "Ad- vance Rounds."' The Officer of the Day advances alone passing down the front of the guard, who receive him with shouldered arms. The Officer of the Day, then gives to the Officer of the Guard the "parole," examines the guards, gives any special directions or cautions that the exigencies of the time call for, orders back his escort from > 'A t- B o S o u a •a < .bo M HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 77 last post, takes a new one from this and so proceeds from post to post to Fall's Church. This picket service was full of incidents, not large in themselves, but which colored the beginning of soldier life in such a marked way that they stand out on the canvas which memory paints so often of scenes and experiences now long past. The night of December 28th was marked by special watchfulness and wakefulness on the picket line. The Officer of the Day, Maj. Little, of the 1 27th, as he made "the rounds," reported that some of the pickets of Gen. Sigel's Division, holding the line south of us, had been driven in and that the Confederates under Jeb. Stuart were again threatening our front. At about half-past ten p. m., the long roll was sounded in the various camps of our brigade. Orders were given directing that knapsacks be packed, haversacks filled, ammuni- tion distributed and the men ready to form on the color line in fifteen minutes. About midnight the brigade moved out on the Alexandria and Fairfax turnpike and marched toward Fairfax Court House, the objective point being Annandale. After a march of a mile or so the command was halted and guns loaded. It was a beautiful moon- light night so that there was no trouble in executing all the move- ments required on the march. The 127th had the advance and with skirmishers on either flank the march was resumed. The 9th Mass- achusetts Battery followed, then the 144th under command of Lieut- Col. Gregory, while the 143d brought up the rear. Annandale was reached about five o'clock of the 29th. A line of battle was formed, the ^44th on the right, 143d on the left and the 127th in reserve. Pickets were posted, arms stacked and the men directed to lie down and secure what sleep they could. It was a frosty night and the sol- diers were early astir, gathering material and starting fires. In the morning the cavalry pickets brought in six hungry Rebel cavalrymen that they had captured, and this was all of the enemy in sight. About six o'clock in the afternoon orders were received directing a return to our camps which were reached about ten o'clock. This expedition is down in the memory of "the boys," as "Bloody Annandale." Billy Northrup, the jolly fifer of Company D. has preserved in verse not ex- actly Tennysonian, his version of "The Fight of Annandale," ar- ranged to tune "Annie of the Vale." It is reproduced here not so 78 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." much to chronicle the incident as to illustrate how readily the comic side of things presented themselves to the soldier and was made to do good service in cheering and sustaining him. FIGHT OF ANNANDALE. ( Air, "Annie of the Vale.") Oh ! boys ain't it jolly to march all night, my golly ! With nary a handy chance to get a shoot ; Some confounded fool swapped a horse for a mule And Gen. Gurney sent us down to get the boot. chorus : March, march, march, boys, march — March till the night torches pale; March with your knapsack, Carrying all your hard-tacks To brutal, to bloody Annandale. Oh ! chilly was the breezes and bare were the treeses, And filthy were the ditches in the vale; We like to froze our faces a sleeping on such places, And anathematize the dirty town of Annandale. Now when the morning in the pale east was dawning, We stripped the meadows bare of every rail ; The roosters were screaming and the streets fairly steaming, In that dirty little town of Annandale. Then boys, had we fit under David P. DeWitt, We'd beaten all the rebels without fail; But as we didn't fight we surely have the right, To blow that little town of Annandale. With Hughston in the front to bear the battle's brunt, HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 79 The Colonel who has never yet turned tail ; If we had only fought, we'd driven the rebels out From that dirty little town of Annandale. Now boys, ray song is ended, the least said the easier mended, And then I hope you'll never let my song get stale; But boys, if you see Gurney, just remind him of our journey From Upton's Hill to "Bloody Annandale." During these months of adjustment to soldier conditions quite a number of men grew restless and thought to better their condition by deserting to and enlisting in the regular army. Unfortunately for the service there was a provision, or rather a construction of army regulations which made such an enlistment a bar to any punishment for desertion from volunteer organizations. This unfortunate and anomalous condition in military affairs was corrected later; but in the meantime it led a number of men to make the effort to change con- ditions. In the interest of more thorough drill and discipline the fol- lowing order was issued by the Division Commander : "Headquarters Abercrombie's Division, "Arlington, Va., Jan. 3d, 1863. "General Orders, No. 21. "Commanders of brigades will require the field officers of their respective brigades to drill in person their regiments and such as are found incapable of doing so will be brought before the Board of Ex- aminers. The same test of capacity of company officers will be made by their respective Regimental Commanders as far as it relates to com- pany drill. "By order of "Brig.-Gen. Abercrombie. "Samuel Appleton, "Lieut, and A. A. Gen. "Official : " W. B. Dean, "Lieut. A. A. A. G. "Headquarters 3d Brigade, Jan. 4th, 1863." 80 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." The almost immediate result of this order was a number of changes in both field and line officers throughout the regiments of the brigade. There was also a very noticeable toning up in methods of discipline in the various commands. Army Regulations and Casey's Tactics were in more demand and consulted oftener, indeed there was compulsion in this matter in more ways than one. which required study as well as frequent consultation of these books, surprises in the way of reports called for and not infrequently notices from the Army Department at Washington that pay was stopped until certain property receipted for, was made good or accounted for. To many of the volunteer officers it was a startling revelation that they must account for everything receipted for from a cannon to a cap pouch, and some were hundreds of dollars in debt to the government before they had learned their lesson in company bookkeeping. But in this as in everything else the versatility of the American soldier was mani- fest, since these officers not only learned these lessons but became adepts in the matter of accounting. The Regiment's first pay day in Dixie came on February 8th. These visits of the paymaster were always most welcome and helped very much to brighten all the camp or field surroundings. Owing to the large amounts which the men had reserved from their wages to be paid direct to families at home, but comparatively little money came directly into the hands of the soldiers. This having proved something of a hardship, steps were taken at first opportunity to lesson the amount reserved and after a time these reservations were discontinued altogether in the 144th. It illustrated something of the home-loving character of the members of the 144th that they wanted to reserve so much from their wages for their home, as is shown by contrasting with the amounts reserved by the several regi- ments in the brigade. These amounts were as follows: 127th, $62,796; I42d, $43,120; 143d, $88,914 and 144th $100,896. Later experience proved to the soldiers that money was needed, even though government did provide clothing and rations, and that health and strength were conserved by a judicious use of money in supplement- ing these supplies with things not down in the Army Regulations. "Moving day" came early for the 144th in 1863, for on February 1 2th orders came to "break camp" and move down into the vicinity of HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 81 Alexandria. Accordingly, we were marched out near Fairfax Sem- inary where we commenced to put in order a camp designated, Camp California ; but next day another order took us to Camp Cloud's Mills, near Alexandria. CHAPTER VI. PEDICULUS CORPORIS. In Camp Cloud's Mills the 144th met an enemy that it was never able entirely to subdue in all the years of service. It was Pediculus Corporis. Very diminutive as an individual was Pediculus, but for- midable in numbers with such secretive instincts, voracious appetites and persistent dispositions that they seemed to defy every effort to subjugate them. There was something ludicrous in the manner in which the presence of this enemy was reported. It was not until he had been most thoroughly entrenched within our camp with his posts established and his pickets out that any quasi-official announce- ment was made of it. For some time it had been noticed that individual soldiers, some- times squads, would borrow from the cook a camp kettle and steal away to some sequestered place and have "wash day," all alone. One evening after returning from a "wash day" experience, one soldier seemed quite downcast and despondent. When his tent mate made inquiry as to the cause he was startled by the explosive reply, "Jack, I'm lousy!" The response came back in lugubrious tones, "Zeke, I am lousy, too." Zeke's face brightened with the fact of having a com- rade in trouble and he suggested "Let's ask Dick, when he comes in if he is lousy." When the inquiry had been made 'Dick' responded in a what-you-going-to-do-about-it tone, "Yes, I am." Immediately a council of war was held resulting in this tent squad starting out on an exploring expedition through the neighboring tents. They introduc- ed themselves with this formula : "We have found that we are lousy and have come to see if you are?" The old proverb, "Misery loves company," was in this case proved signally true, for there was some- thing most humiliating to the individual to find out that he was lousy 82 HISTORY OF THE i 44 th REGIMENT. 83 and his tent mate likely to find it out and charge him with it, but it was quite another thing to know that not only his tent-mate but the entire Regiment suffered with him, and more to know that it was through no fault of his but because this vicious enemy had possession of the camp ground before we came, having held it after another regi- ment camping there had left. While there was a humorous phase to this new experience, there was another very serious one and this chapter is introduced here be- cause none who have not had the experience can know anything of the suffering and discomfort which these little pests caused the soldier. They intrenched themselves securely in the seams of the clothing, close to the body and it was literally not a "hand to hand" struggle to dislodge them, but a thumb-nail to thumb-nail struggle, oft repeated. To the sick, unable to defend themselves, the presence of these body companions helped to induce conditions of despondency and homesickness at the same time draining physical vitality. They were in evidence at all times waking or sleeping. One officer relates his fearful experience on a sick bed dreaming of home and loved associations. He finds himself in his dreams with "The girl I left behind me." She was at the piano and he was turning the pages of music for her, when lo ! on the page, horrendum monstrum ! he sees Pediculum Corporis, crawling along. In the intense agony of the moment he awoke glad to know it was only a dream, but sorry to find so many active agencies at work on his body as to induce such a dream. To prisoners confined in Rebel prisons these active enemies of the soldiers were able to get in their best work, since there were no active efforts on the part of those in charge to secure sanitary conditions, and no means which the prisoners could command adequate to any suc- cessful effort to rid their clothing of them. One prisoner who spent several months in Andersonville, in describing a game of "odd or even," gives perhaps the grimmest account, showing how completely these pestiferous insects possessed themselves of the whole body. Those playing the game would thrust their hand under their ragged clothing, make a catch and bringing it out demand, "Odd or even." A count would be made to determine and so the game would go on. This prisoner's experience illustrates not only the extent of 84 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." this evil in soldier experience, but also the philosophic endurance and versatility that could make light of an evil which they could not remove. In camp, after a time, a soldier was detailed to act as "company wash- erwoman," and with a strong barrel, plenty of soap and hot water, he could with vigorous pounding and rubbing in about three successive washings permanently dislodged the pests; but in the long marches without opportunity for such vigorous treatment another colony was sure to appear and multiply and this in spite of the efforts of the most cleanly. There is in the experiences with Pediculus Corporis a long chap- ter of unwritten history, not only of discomfort, but of actual suffer- ing which the soldier was called to endure, and because so little has been known about it, so little said or written, the Historian of the 144th has ventured to insert this short chapter. CHAPTER VII. CLOUD S MILLS, VIENNA, SUFFOLK. Time at Camp Cloud's Mills came to be divided largely between camp duty, military drill and work on fortifications. Later we came to know that spade drill was no mean supplement to the more aristocratic soldier service, military drill, and that in cer- tain emergencies proficiency in spade drill was a very desirable accom- plishment ; but all this, like so many other things in the soldier's life had to be learned by experience. He did not take kindly to the spade when constructing fortifications for the defense of Washington and yet there was material growth in the forts and connecting rifle-pits in the vicinity of Fort Ward as day by day the details wrought in the work. More than that, there was an absorption of engineering skill which would later assist in the construction of similar works when a pressure of need required them. Occasionally there were details for other work. Company F was sent out to assist in securing sup- plies of wood for military use in Alexandria and for our camp. As the month of February drew to a close rumors prevailed in camp that the brigade was to be called into active service. Taking advantage of these rumors some waggish punster caused to be cir- culated on the last day of February, as coming through the Adjutant, an order to have by twelve o'clock three days' rations ready for March. It created quite a ripple of excitement at the time and later no little amusement when the joke came to the surface. In this con- nection it is recalled that in the social life of the Regiment there was much that was gay as well as grave and that probably in no three years of his life did the soldier laugh as much as in the three that he gave to the special service of his country. On the 8th of March, the noted Confederate ranger, Mosby, raid- ed our lines at Fairfax Court House and captured General Stoughton 85 86 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." and thirty-three men. The continued activity of Mosby, threatening our lines with considerable force, led to the moving of Abercrombie's Division on the 28th and 29th to Vienna. I fere lines of rifle pits were thrown up, batteries of artillery posted and every precaution taken to guard against surprise. Every day reconnoissances were made to disclose the location and purposes of the enemy. In the early morning of the last day of March a severe snow storm visited us, the snow falling to the depth of one foot. During the time of one relief of guard the snow fell in such quantities as to cover out of sight the sleeping guards. Only mounds of snow showed the officer of the guard where to look for his men. On April 10th orders were received directing the division to move back to former camping grounds, and on the 15th further orders were received directing it to be embarked on transports at Alexandria and by twelve o'clock of that day we were on board the vessels pro- vided and moving down the river. To most of the men of the 144th it was a new and pleasureable experience traveling by steamboat. The constantly varying scenery along the shores of the Potomac, added to the historical interest of so many points, gave continued pleasure and profit to this journey. Af- ter reaching the Chesapeake Bay the transports would run for long distances alongside of each other and always with a spice of excite- ment, since there seemed to be a test of speed which was stimulated by the shouts and cheers of the soldiers as one or the other of the ves- sels seemed to be making gains. Then too, the military bands belonging to some of the regiments gave pleasure by their rendering of choice music. On the afternoon of the 16th we were so far down the Bay that we could look out upon the Atlantic and at six we were at Fortress Monroe, where we stopped long enough to receive orders which di- rected us to proceed to Norfolk. Here and there we could see the masts of sunken vessels projecting above the waters of the Bay remind- ing us of the scene enacted in these waters on March 8th and 9th, 1862, when the Confederate ironclad ram. the Virginia, once our good fri- gate Merrimac. which had been scuttled but afterward raised by the Confederates and transformed into this formidable floating fortress; came into the harbor and sunk almost without effort, the frigates Con- I I s r^ .Is, I U 'J' 1 S3 i]j- I 1 1 mi*' it yi f '; 1 5- / .W-/} lAi - ■ >i c S "i 3-3 - s §- iM A- - 53 > O 3 w G o Z to" S3 o HISTORY OF THE 144-rft REGIMENT. 87 gress and Cumberland on March 8th, but on the 9th was compelled to limp back to her anchorage as a result of battle with the then new and strange war vessel, the Monitor. At Norfolk we found our destina- tion was Suffolk, Va., where the Confederates under Longstreet were just now making a special demonstration with intent to open up a way for the Confederacy to the sea. That portion of the Regiment that came on the transport James Lewis, debarked and bivouaced on the dock, waiting the coming of the rest of the Regiment. The next morning the balance of the 144th having arrived in the night, all took the cars for Suffolk. Our route for a large part of the way was through the Dismal Swamp, that phenomenon in the geography of Virginia and North Carolina. The water in the Swamp is of a dark, reddish color and strongly impreg- nated with aromatic and balsamic qualities characteristic of the trees and roots which abound in the Swamp and which give to the water a preserving quality which makes it sought after by the masters of coasting and sea going vessels in providing water supplies for their voyages. About three o'clock in the afternoon we reached Suffolk and went into camp on the north of the town. The continuous roar of cannon, the frequent bursting of shells and the desultory firing on the picket lines indicated that the siege was on and both sides intent on doing each other harm. Our encampment was so near the rifle-pits of the enemy that the bullets would whistle past the tents, sometimes entering them. In some of the camps men were wounded in their tents. Suffolk is situated on the Nansimond river, a wide-mouthed arm of the James river, flowing almost clue north. The place was connected with Petersburg and Weldon by railroad running through to Norfolk, and was the key to the approaches to James river. In September of 1862 the Confederate Generals, Pettigrew and French were directed to move on Suffolk from the Blackwater. Their com- bined forces numbered fifteen thousand men. Maj.-Gen. John Peck was directed to take command of the forces sent to defend the place; and on the 25th of September, began to for- tify, placing the river Nansimond and the Dismal Swamp in condi- tions of defense. The Confederates thinking that this might perhaps prove a line of approach to Richmond began to fortify on the Blacks 88 BACK "IN WAR TIMES. 1 ' water. In February of '63, Gen. Longstreet with two divisions of his corps was detached, by Gen. Lee from the Confederate army, con- fronting Gen. Hooker and placed in command of the Department of Virginia with headquarters at Petersburg. About fifteen thousand of his troops he located on the Blackwater and disposed of as many more on the line of railroad toward Petersburg, but all so located that the entire force could be concentrated at Suffolk within twenty-four hours. Cien. Peck had about nine thousand men to meet this force, but later was re-enforced by Gen. George W. Getty's Division of the 9th Corps. On the 10th of April an intercepted Confederate mail fell into the hands of Union forces. This mail had in it communications showing that Gen. Longstreet was about to attack Suffolk with a force estimated at fifty thousand men, supported by Gen. A. P. Hill and his Corps. On April 1 ith Hood's Division of Longstreet's army came up on the South Quay road. On the 12th Pickett's Division came up on the Somerton road and another column came up on the Providence road completing the investment of the place. It was to meet this em- ergency that our division had been hurried to Suffolk. Among the first efforts of the enemy was to blockade the Nansi- mond and prevent the movements of gunboats up and down the stream. The presence of these gunboats had proved a most efficient force in the defense of the place. The enemy succeeded in establishing a bat- tery at the mouth of South Bend a branch of the Nansimond. In an engagement with this battery and its supporting infantry the gunboats were worsted, two of the four engaged having to be towed out of the fight. O11 the night of the 19th of April this battery, known as Bat- tery Hugor, was captured by a detail of two hundred thirty men from the 89th N. Y. V. and 8th Connecticut V., assisted by a battery from the navy. The entire movement was under the direction of Lieut. Lampson of the navy. The detachment was embarked on board the gunboat Stepping-Stones early in the evening. The men were secret- ed behind canvas screens so that they could not be seen from the shore. The boat steamed rapidly down the river. The battery was waiting with double shotted guns; but holding fire until the boat should come abreast. When within about three hundred yards of the battery the HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 89 boat was headed for the shore, but striking some obstruction was shunted off and likely to drift with tide in front of battery. Lieut. Lampson directed the engines to be reversed and backed the boat aground when the concealed men sprang ashore, some wading through mud and water. With a cheer they made a rush for the battery. Lieut. Lampson rushed his howitzers ashore and threw in his comple- ment of shot and shell. The enemy received the attack with a volley and tried to reverse their artillery ; but finding themselves cut off from their supports and receiving the fire from Lampson's guns they im- mediately surrendered. Seven officers, one hundred and thirty men with five pieces of artillery were the results of the capture. Our loss was four killed and ten wounded. It was a well conceived and brilliantly executed affair and re- ceived as it deserved the warm commendations of the commanding officers. To the enemy it was a matter of very great chagrin and a brisk correspondence at once ensued between the Confederate officers in an effort to fix the responsibility for the loss. An immediate result of this action was the opening of the Nan- simond to the free movements of the gunboats. The service required of the men in the siege of Suffolk was continuous and severe night and day, on picket and fatigue duty. At first there had to be constant watchfulness on the picket line, since both sides were on the alert and the sharp-shooter was in evidence ; but later, by mutual understanding, shooting on the picket lines ceased except when there was an effort to advance either line or to construct new works. This condition of good feeling between the opposing lines was marked by an amusing incident which Gen. Longstreet has recorded m his war history, "From Manassas to Appomatox." "About this time the soldiers on both sides had considerable amusement over a Federal signal station that was within our lines as we had laid them. The Union troops had some time previously trim- med up a tall pine tree and built a platform for use as a signal station and coming upon this, to gratify his curiosity, a Confederate soldier •climbed to the staging and seated himself for a leisurely view of the Federal lines inside their works. An artillerist of the other side, after allowing sufficient time to satisfy a reasonable curiosity, trained one .of his rifle guns upon the platform and sent a shell screaming and 90 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." bursting too near for the comfort of the 'man up a tree.' As he did not care to be seen in precipitate retreat he thought to wait a little, but a second shot admonished him that hurry, if less graceful, might be more wise than deliberate retreat. Acting under pressure of the sit- uation, his legs to the amusement of both sides, brought him to a place of safety. When night closed in over the belligerents this soldier went to work on a scheme by which he hoped to get even with the Yankees. He carefully constructed and equipped a full-sized man, dressed in a new suit of improved 'butternut' dry goods, and in due form christened him 'Julius Caesar,' took him to the platform adjusted him gracefully in. position and made him secure to the framework with strong cords. A little after sunrise, 'Julius Caesar' was discovered by some of the Federal officers, who prepared for the target, so inviting to skillful practice. The new soldier sat under the hot fire with irritating in- difference until the Confederates, not able to restrain their hilarity, exposed the joke by calling for three cheers for 'Julius Caesar.' The other side quickly recognized the situation and good-naturedly added to purs their cheers for the old hero." A very material help in completing the lines of defense was found in the hundreds of contrabands, who had made their way within the Union lines. A large camp had been established for them, and laid out in streets. They proved themselves quite expert in building their temporary homes, riving out material for their construction from the pine and other growths of timber in the surroundings. Schools were established for the children and the activities of a well ordered com- munity set in motion. All the able bodied men among them were set at work on the fortifications and they entered upon the work with an intelligent interest. One of them expressed his thoughts about it to one of the soldiers in this way : "I reckon that you'uns can do de fitin' and we'uns can do de digin.' ' Another very material assist- ance in perfecting our defensive lines was the heavy rains which came about this time filling the Dismal Swamp with water and making sure the defenses on our right and rear. In the afternoon of May ist the brigade was called out to cover the return movement of General Corcoran' s Brigade. He had made a dash against the enemy's works, carrying an outer line, but was re- pihlsed on reaching their strongly fortified main line. Eight men kill- HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 91 ed in this action were buried in a graveyard near our camp on the next day. Ma j. -Gen. George H. Gordon who had been assigned to the com- mand of our division, reached Suffolk on May 1st and took command. Col. Gurney our Brigade Commander, had been in command of the division temporarily while Col. Hughston commanded the brigade. Gen. Gordon remained with us until June, 1864, leaving the command in Florida. Gen. Gordon was born in Charleston, Mass., in 1824. He was graduated from West Point in 1846 and served in Mexico on U. S. coast survey. In 1847 ne resigned from the army and com- menced the practice of law in his native place. At the outbreak of the Civil War he took command of the 2d Massachusetts Vol. serving first in Shenandoah Valley and later under Pope at Cedar Mountain and second Bull Run. He was at battle of Antietam where he com- manded a brigade. After serving with our division he held a com- mand in Mississippi. After the war he resumed his profession of law in Boston. He has written several books on the war and was an active member of the Historical Society of Massachusetts. His War Diary for 1862-65 covers his time of service with our division and contains matters of interest to the 144th N. Y. Vol. He died on August 20th, 1886. On May 3d a reconnoissance in force was ordered, the troops crossing to the west side of Nansimond by means of a temporary bridge made by using the gunboat Smith Briggs as the center pier. Her heavy guns also served as a supporting battery in the movement. The advance was made by Gen. Getty's Division leading. The troops had but little cover except now and then ridges which crossed the line of advance. The movement in advancing was made by rushes, the men moving at double-quick a short distance and then falling flat, and then rushing again and so they drove the enemy. Soon a piece of woods was reached in which the Confederates made a stand having some buildings to shelter them. After a short skirmish the enemy o-ave way. By noon they had been driven within their main line and met our advance with a hail of shot and shell. Prisoners taken de- scribed their works as being very strong and indicated that it would involve a heavy battle with great loss should we attempt to assault them. 92 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." The ( ienerals of Division when called to counsel as to a general attack advised against it, believing that the enemy would have to evacuate their works very soon. The 144th was in reserve division and did not take part in the active fighting of the day. Col. Ringold of the 103d N. Y. V., having exposed himself di- recting movements on skirmish line was picked off by a sharp-shooter. The Colonel rode a white horse and made quite a conspicuous target for the enemy. By nightfall the troops were all withdrawn to the east side of the river and the temporary bridge used in crossing was taken up. As had been anticipated, the enemy began to evacuate their posi- tion on the evening of the third and on the fourth were found to have fallen back to Franklin on the Blackwater. Our forces pressed the rear of the retreating enemy and captured about one hundred prison- ers. An examination of the deserted fortifications showed them to have been quite extensive and built on plans of most approved engi- neering. This examination seemed to approve the discretion which advised the waiting for the enemy to move out on his own motion without trying to force him out. There was at the time no little criticism both in military and civic circles as to the defense of Suffolk and especially after the crushing defeat of Hooker at Chancellorsville. The cry, "On to Richmond," was in the air and made to apply to every body of troops operating in any of the surroundings of the Rebel capital. The following ex- tract from Lossing's "Civil War in America," gives a very just and discriminating estimate of the work done by the army defending Suffolk : "The Army of Suffolk seems not to have had due consideration hitherto. As an act of war the holding of that position by the gar- rison against more than double its own number of assailants led by one of the best Confederate officers entitles the Commanding General and his troops to the highest praise, and which he received from those most competent to judge. But when we consider the great object at stake and the fact of holding Longstreet south of the James, so that he could not re-enforce Lee, probably saved the Army of the Poto- mac, then 120,000 strong, from far greater disaster, possibly anni- HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 93 hilation at Chancellorsville, the value of the service of the gallant Peck and his brave soldiers may be appreciated and should be fully recognized by the historian and student. "It has been asserted by some, writing on the Suffolk Campaign, that Gen. Peck allowed Longstreet to escape and to assist in the battle of Chancellorsville; but Gen. Lee in his report of this battle says : 'Gen. Longstreet with two divisions of his corps was detailed for service south of the James in February and did not rejoin the army until after the battle of Chancellorsville.' " Gen. John James Peck, who commanded the Union forces at the siege of Suffolk, was born at Manlius, N. Y., 1821, was graduated at West Point in 1843. He served in the Mexican War and gained brevets of Captain and Major for gallantry at Contreras, Churu- busco and Molino del Rey. In 1853 ^ e resigned from the army and entered business as a banker at Syracuse, N. Y. In August, 1861, he was appointed Brig. -General of Volunteers and in the Peninsular Campaign commanded a brigade in the 4th Corps. He was made Maj. -General of Volunteers in July, 1862, and in September was directed to take command of forces at Suffolk. Later he held com- mands in North Carolina and on the Canadian border. After the war he served as President of New York State Life Insurance, resid- ing at Syracuse, N. Y. He died April 21st, 1878. CHAPTER VIII. CHANGE OF OFFICERS LIEUT. O. B. BOYD. While the Regiment was at Camp Bliss and early in our experi- ence at Camp Cloud's Mills, there were a number of changes in the officers. Maj. Johnson resigned in October and the place made va- cant was filled by the appointment of Maj. Rice. He did not join the Regiment until we reached Yorktown, Va. Quartermaster Wright resigned in December. He had not been well since reaching Virginia and the surgeons advised him that he could not recover, or was not likely to recover from his disabilities in the army. This made his resignation necessary. Quartermaster Sergeant Gordon was promoted to fill the vacancy. Adjutant Shaw resigned in Feb- ruary and Lieut. Siver of Company F. was promoted to fill this va- cancy. The following Captains and Lieutenants had also resigned : Captains — Burrows, of A. ; Deverill, of B. ; Roe, of D. ; Dowie, of E. ; Crawford, of I., and Reynolds, of K. Lieutenants — Heath, of A.; Penfield, of C; Boyd, of D.; McArthur, of E.; Crawford, of G. and Holmes, of K. There had been one desertion that of Lieutenant Cole, of Com- pany F. These changes had brought promotions to Lieutenants and Orderlies with quite a general moving up of non-commissioned offi- cers, as well as some moving down, since the experiences of camp and soldier life in these months had been a testing time as to fitness for positions. The names of Orderly Sergeants have not been given elsewhere and are given here in connection with mention of their promotions : Bert Wilcox, Company A.; Frank B. Hart, B .; John Rich, C; F. A. Griffith, D.; Frank Heimer, E.; W. B. Lewis, F.; Edgar Vermilyea,. 94 HISTORY OF THE i 44 th REGIMENT. 95 G.; Fred Davis, H.; Charles Bradford, I.; and John T. Odwell, K. Sergt. Dewitt C. Mayo, of Company A., had also been commissioned Lieutenant. Lieut. Boyd resigned in order to accept a cadetship at West Point to which he had been appointed. His subsequent career has been of so much interest, that his comrades-in-arms will be glad to learn about it, and especially these who may have heard only the part which left his name clouded with dishonor, but have not known of the lifting of the cloud which left his soldier record clean and bright. The entire story of his life is well and vividly told in a book entitled, "Cavalry Life in Tent and Field," a loving tribute to his memory, prepared by his wife, Mrs. Orsemus Bronson Boyd, and published by J. Selwin Tait & Sons, 65 Fifth Avenue, New York, to which his comrades-in-arms are referred for his full history. His last soldier service and that which was the immediate cause of his death was in leading his troops in the effort to capture the noted Apache chief, Geronimo, and his followers, who had for so long devastated the set- tlers' homes in New Mexico. For this history, a statement prepared by a warm friend and fellow cadet of Lieut. Boyd in West Point, and which was read before the Association of Graduates at their annual meeting held at West Point, June 10th, 1886, has been selected because it gives in brief his soldier record with the strange and sad story which clouded his life as well as the full and complete refutation of the slander. "ORSEMUS B. BOYD. "NO. 22l6. CLASS OF 1867. "Died (in the field), at camp near Grafton, New Mexico, July 23, 1885, aged 41. " 'So passed the strong, heroic soul away — ' "Born in New York; appointed from New York; class rank 6.1; entered the War of the Rebellion as a member of the Eighty-Ninth New York Volunteer Infantry, September 1, 1861, and served until July 1, 1863, when he was appointed a cadet in the United States Military Academy. He saw active service in our great war and was mentioned for gallantry at Roanoke Island, North Carolina. 96 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." "He was graduated on June 17, 1867, and appointed Second Lieu- tenant, Eighth United States Cavalry ; First Lieutenant same, October 13, 1868; Captain, Jaunary 26, 1882. He died July 23, 1885, closing in acknowledged honor and undoubted manly effectiveness twenty- four years of faithful and gallant service in the saddest of our wars, and in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas, where he assisted in de- veloping our great inland resources. "His family have an honest pride in his unostentatious record, and we all may say : " 'Duncan is in his grave. After life's fitful fever, he sleeps well.' "THE RECORD OF A NOBLE LIFE " 'I, the despised of fortune lift mine eyes Bright with the luster of integrity, In unappealing wretchedness on high, And the last rage of Destiny defy.' "It is with deep solicitude that the writer endeavors, in a few words to do justice to the memory of Captain Boyd. "For several long and intensely painful years I knew him to be an innocent Enoch Arden in a lonely desert of solitude, bereft of — dearer to the soldier than wife or life — his honor — a sufferer for the crime of another man. "It was in 1863 that he entered the Academy a veteran soldier, a young man whose merits had gained for him the honorable rank of Cadet. In 1864 the writer joined the corps, and for three years marched shoulder to shoulder in the line of the dear old Gray Battal- ion, with the man who sleeps far away from the Hudson, and where the foot of the idle stranger may stop to mark where a good, honest and much-wronged man sleeps the sleep which knows no waking. "No man ever did better work in the army than Boyd. By steady, faithful and efficient service, he wore out suspicion, conspir- acy, bad luck, and scandal. Since the establishment of his innocence — unsought, unchallenged by him — his defamer has preceded him to the awful bar of the Great Judge. •*T*-J.--*. - ■- fc^; ,__ ,^t*.W .-. e _--»,i.^.,- .„..!•> l*-:^ i,__ 1 f-r . f- ^ - . fc ' J f .t 3 Si tsi o efore three o'clock some four thousand soldiers were hard at work on them. The front was well protected before dark, but work was continued through the night notwithstand- ing a pouring rain visited us. Besides these fortifications, gunboats patrolled the rivers protecting both flanks and ready to assist with their guns in repelling any attack from the front. Word reached us about this time of the disasters attending Hooker's movements at Chancellorsville, but at the cost to the Confederates of their strongest and most successful corps commander, Stonewall Jackson. This de- feat of Hooker put new and unlooked for conditions in the way of movements in the Department of Virginia and led to a revision of the original plans. 102 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." A spy in the service of the Union army came into our lines from Richmond, where he had been for several months gathering informa- tion. He brought word as to the number and disposition of the enemy in our front and of plans which they had made to surprise our forces. Information was brought in daily by the colored people, who were encouraged to break away from the toils of slavery and taste the joys of freedom. Some of these colored men made most valuable scouts, proving in emergencies very shrewd and ingenious in devising means to evade or deceive the enemy. An incident given by Gen. Gordon in his War Diary for 1862-65 illustrates this. "Col. Porter of the 40th Massachusetts had sent a negro scout to the front where he was making his way through a thickly wooded road when he came so suddenly upon Dr. Richards, a notorious Rebel, that his only mode of escape was his heels. Suspecting the darkey's movement he called to him to stop at the same time firing his pistol to enforce his order. Fortunately the scout, who was not hit fled all the faster un- til he gained a thicket, into which he plunged, running and scrambling until he fell breathless and exhausted into the hands of a squad of Rebel infantry. Escape was now hopeless, his only resource was his wits. Gasping for breath he cried out, 'Don't stop me ! Dr. Rich- ards sent me to tell you that the Yankees are coming on your flank with a large column of men ; and he wants me after telling you this to go down on your other flank and tell some more of your pickets to look out.' The other flank was in the direction of our front where he would be safe. So well did he simulate his message that after a few moments deliberation he was directed to go. But joy so over- came the man at this unexpected good fortune that when he sprang forward he did so with an alertness that roused suspicions in a Rebel Sergeant and he called him to stop. The scout acted so vigorously upon this conviction that he escaped unhurt, though a bullet passed through his hat. He brought the information that a regiment of Rebel in- fantry last night crossed the Matapony to the Peninsula and was now within seven miles of our outpost." The camping grounds of the 144th at White House Landing were very pleasant and after a little time the men had made themselves as comfortable as the very warm weather would permit. The shelter tents were raised by driving stakes at the corners to which cross pieces HISTORY OF THE i 44 th REGIMENT. 103 were attached and the canvas fastened to them. Bunks were raised from the ground in the same way and after covering them with cedar and sassafras twigs a very comfortable sleeping place was secured. A booth shading the front of the tent completed the tent home. One day a member of Company I. had been laboring hard to complete these tent arrangements. After the last finishing touches had been made he threw himself on the new made bunk, chest down and was soon fast asleep. A fun loving comrade in passing, noticed him and at once took out a ball cartridge and thrusting it up into the cedar twigs under the sleeping man, set it on fire. On its exploding the man seemed to bound like a rubber ball into the air and in a moment a very- angry Irishman was hunting up and down the company street with a bayonet on his gun, fire in his eye and some very forceful expletives on his tongue. There was quite an amount of sickness in the various commands of the army. Special provision was made to meet the needs of the sick by arranging for a hospital boat which made daily trips from West Point to Chesapeake hospital on Hampton Roads, going down in the morning and back at night. Dr. Bundy of the 144th was de- tailed to take charge of this boat and remained on this detached ser- vice until we left the Peninsula. This was one of many illustrations showing the thoughtfulness of the government in caring for the men who were bearing the burden of duty at the front. On the 23d the Rebels made known their presence in our vicinity by firing on the mail boat, Swan. They had posted a section of ar- tillery on the bank of York river, about two miles from West Point and opened on the steamer when within range ; but the plucky Captain brought his vessel in with flying colors and with but little harm done to it. In a few moments the gunboats were under way and shelling the grove and surroundings where the battery had been in ambush. Marines were landed who burned all the buildings in the vicinity as a warning to the inhabitants that they must not harbor or abet the Rebels in their efforts. Col. Hughston bade the 144th farewell on the 27th and left for Delaware county, having resigned his position as Colonel of the Regi- ment. Col. Hughston was a native of Delaware county, having been born in the town of Sidnev. After his common school education he 104 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." had the advantages of Unadilla Academy. Later he spent some time in teaching. He became interested in military affairs and rose through successive grades of office to that of Colonel in the State Militia. In i860 he was elected County Clerk of Delaware county and was serving in that office when appointed Colonel of the 144th. After resigning from the army he was appointed Auditor in the Treas- ury Department at Washington, D. C, where he served several years. He returned to his farm near Unadilla, N. Y., where he died June J 9. i873- Lieut. -Colonel Gregory assumed the command of the Regiment and soon after was commissioned Colonel. Capt. Lewis of Company C, was commissioned Lieut.-Colonel, taking the place made vacant by the promotion of Lieut.-Colonel Gregory. Other changes incident to these promotions appear in the Muster-Out Rolls, published in the appendix to this history. On the 29th, Col. H.J. Kilpatrick, 2d X. Y. Cavalry, afterward Maj.-Gen. Kilpatrick, reached White House Landing with his brave troopers, four hundred strong, with whom he had made his success- ful raid around Richmond, passing within a mile of the city and in- side of its fortified lines. In this raid, lines of railroad were broken, bridges burned, Confederate stores destroyed and careful observations made as to the defenses of Richmond, besides bringing consternation to the enemy. The raid covered five days, starting from Stevensburg, Va., crossing the Rapidan at Ely's Ford and skirting the flank of Lee's army, passing north of Richmond, penetrating to and fighting before its third line of defenses, and then through to our lines at White House. His command came in on fresh mounts captured from the enemy and with these captures, some five hundred prisoners of war. One division of the raiding force led by Col. Ulrich Dahl- gren, son of Admiral Dahlgren, was not so successful in reaching our lines. It had been successful in passing Richmond on the south, and had crossed the Mattapony river at Dabney's Ferry, some miles north of our lines, where he was met by a body of Confederate militia and at the first fire Col. Dahlgren was killed, and as a result his force was broken and a number captured. On the same day that Col. Kilpatrick reached our lines, Generals Dix, Keyes and Peck came to West Point to attend a council of war. J J I; ■'<- 'CI ,'"- »* ■A "I XT >i^> ',2- X a .1. 3k ; -. .5s / d ?7g •t-i 3 *■ SSL > -4 "VSL C ' C :¥ i- • ' * V* - * M#£\? (Iv "I" ft ^W i^~e taken by an assault following a bombard- ment. Accordingly, Gen. Terry, after a successful engagement with the enemy on James Island, was recalled to Morris to take part in the assault. Owing to a very heavy rain the bombardment did not open until about noon. At that time a semi-circle of batteries, reach- ing across the Island, opened fire and all the ironclads moved up and joined in the bombardment which was continued until dark, when the assault was to be made ; but a severe thunder storm, burst over the Island at that time delaying somewhat the perfecting of plans. These were under the immediate direction of Gen. Truman Sey- mour. The assaulting force was divided into three Brigades. The first was commanded by Gen. Strong and the leading regiment was the 54th Mass., the first colored regiment organized in a free State. This regiment had a long march and did not reach the point from which the assault was to be made until about the time the move- ment was to begin and so went into action without rest or refresh- ment. The Colonel, Robert B. Shaw, led the Regiment in the as- sault. Both Gen. Strong and Col. Shaw were killed as they reached the parapet of Fort Wagner and the men were forced to retreat be- fore the storm of shot and shell which met them. The Second Bri- gade was led to the attack by Col. H. S. Putnam, but with the same results as followed the first assault, Col. Putnam being killed with a large number of subordinates, and the men fell back to Union lines. In these assaults the Union loss was about fifteen hundred men, while that of the Confederates did not exceed one hundred. Gen. Gillmore at once resumed the work of reducing the fort by regular approaches, and it was to take part in this work that our Division had been summoned to Charleston and upon this work we entered activelv as soon as our camp on Folly Island was established. CHAPTER XII. SIEGE OF CHARLESTON. Our first tour of duty in the trenches before Charleston came to us on the 15th, Col. Gregory having received orders to report on Morris Island on that date. The change of guards was made in the night and in order to reach the front on time we left our camp at two o'clock in the afternoon. A ferry conveyed us across Light- house Inlet to Morris Island. The thunder of cannon and the burst- ing of shells indicated that we were approaching the "firing lines." As we marched past the sand hills on the south part of Morris Is- land we could see the effects of the wind in shaping the surface sur- roundings. These sand hills had been used as a burying place by the soldiers ; but the winds had so moved the sand covering that the bodies were partly uncovered. This was the occasion of rather a grim joke by Dr. Bryce and recalled the fact that in our Virginia campaign there had been some straggling. As we marched past the partly exposed bodies the Doctor said : "Boys, those fellows are playing off, as soon as the Doctors get by they will get up and run." The Regiment moved into the advanced trenches, relieving those on duty there at about midnight. Here a new experience awaited the men. Not much opportunity or inclination to sleep with the constant thundering of our own great guns to the right and left, while the great guns of the enemy in Forts Sumter, Wagner and Johnson, aided by those of Battery Gregg, sent their missiles constantly into our lines. Bomb-proofs had been erected to protect the men from these several forts and batteries and a sentinel on duty on the parapet gave due notice of coming danger by calling out, "Cover from Johnson," "Cover from Sumter." "Cover from Wagner." Accordingly, as the case might be and at the caution, the soldiers would seek the shelter of the bomb-proof designed to 126 HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 127 protect from that special danger. But the men soon became in a measure indifferent to the danger and watched with curious interest the shells as they rose from the various forts. The burning fuse marks their course as they mount up the heavens and then coming downward toward our line, burst in mid-air, the rough, jagged pieces of the sundered shell making each their several way with sinister whirr and whiz to the earth. If the shell burst above us, then the pieces are thrown beyond and do no harm; but if it bursts in front then the individual pieces hurtle past or perchance bury themselves in human flesh. This is what happened in the case of Uriah J. Goodenough of Co. H., who was killed by a fragment of shell on the forenoon of the 16th. He was reclining close up to the earthworks, along with other members of his company when he was struck by a fragment of shell, causing a frightful wound, which resulted in immediate death. Nor was the danger alone from shells for on a Rebel picket line among the sand hills in front of Fort Wagner, the sharp-shooters had established themselves. These sharp-shooters were provided with the Whitworth rifle with telescopic attachment and from their little sand-bag batteries, established in the sand hills, they watched through the hours of the day for opportunity to pick off the Union soldiers. These guns were able to reach with fatal result at a distance of fifteen hundred yards. The casualties averaged about two killed and eight wounded each day during the siege. With the trenches strongly guarded the work of fortifying went on, and every night saw new works erected and new siege guns in place. Some of these guns were two and three hundred pounders, intended to carry destruction even to Charleston itself. Special activity was manifest in the perfecting of these works during our tour of duty, indicating that some special movement or effort against the enemy was being arranged for. These plans were developed on the 1 8th. Our regiment had scarcely settled down in camp on Folly Island after being relieved from duty in the trenches before it was summoned again to Morris Island to support and to take part in the execution of these plans. By an arrangement with Admiral Dahlgren, Gen. Gillmore had perfected plans for a bombardment of the Confederate forts by both land and sea forces, the action to com- mence on the morning of Monday, Aug. 18th. 128 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." It was a grand sight upon which we were permitted to look and, apart from the knowledge that it must result in loss of life and limb, most pleasurable, stirring the blood and quickening life. Our camp was near some of the largest sand hills on Morris Island. Very soon these were covered by an interested body of soldiers watch- ing the imposing spectacle. The ironsides and monitors moved up to within easy striking distance of Sumter and Wagner and were each thundering away with their heavy armaments, fairly raining their ponderous missiles against and within the Rebel strongholds. The gunboats and mortarboats had also taken up positions from whicli they could reach the enemy and aid in this "tug of war." Nor were the land batteries silent. The great two hundred and three hundred pounders were launching their monster projectiles against the walls of Sumter. Great clouds of dust would mark the Titan stroke of shot and shell as they struck the brick walls which were buffeted now on this side and now on that, the guns from the fleet striking one side and angle while the land batteries reached another quarter. The guns talked in varied tones, from the heavy thunder- ous voices of the largest guns down to the sharp incisive intonations of rifled Weirds. It seemed impossible for Fort Sumter to with- stand the continued pounding ; but we looked in vain for a flag of truce or lowered flags, except as from time to time our projectiles cut the staff, dropping the "stars and bars ;" but only for a little for there were brave hearts and ready hands — albeit in a bad cause — within those walls ever ready to raise the drooping flag, often at the hazard of their lives. Night brought a partial cessation of this cyclonic iron storm, only to be renewed next day. The bombardment continued through the week with varying intensity and only intermitted, in part, as night's sable mantle concealed the contestants from each other. In the early morning of the 22d a new voice joined the Titanic chorus, bringing dismay to the hearts of the citizens of Charleston. It was that of the "Swamp Angel," as the Union soldiers had desig- nated an eight inch, two hundred pound Parrott that had been mount- ed in the "Marsh Battery." This was a new and rather unique struc- ture in military engineering, which Col. Serrell of the engineering corps, at the request of Gen. Gillmore, had constructed in the marsh on r A view of Fort Sumter after its surrender to the United States forces. HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 129 the west side of Morris Island. In making his first survey for the site. Col. Serrell and his assistant had to make their way in places- sitting astride a plank and propelling it with their feet. In this way they moved about taking soundings of the mud with an iron rod which showed that in places the mud was over thirty feet deep. At the point where the battery was located it was over fifteen feet deep. This fact led some wag to suggest that the detail for work on the "Mud Battery," as it was first designated, should consist of "twenty men, eighteen feet long, to do duty in fifteen feet of mud." A trestle- work bridge, two and a half miles long had to be built as a first pre- paration and a large detail of men was set at work preparing sand bags. No sooner was the work begun than the Confederate batteries on James Island, just across from Morris, concentrated their fire upon it. In order to deceive the enemy a mock battery was begun, some way to the left of the real structure, and upon this the enemy rained their missiles, while, especially at night, the work was pushed with energy to perfect the enterprise. Piling was pushed down at the point where the gun platform was to be placed and this piling securely fastened together with logs. Then a platform large enough to cover the entire area of the battery was laid down. Upon this an embankment with embrasure for the gun was built with the sand bags prepared, some thirteen thousand being used, their entire weight being eight hundred tons. Several details made from the 144th assisted in the construction of this "Marsh Battery." Immediately following the first gun fired from the new works, the ringing of bells in Charleston announced that the inhabitants were made to feel some of the terrors of the war which they had invited. The actual work of the "Swamp Angel" was rather short lived since on the thirty-sixth discharge the breech pin was driven out and it became harmless. It is now mounted on a granite pedestal and preserved at Trenton, N. J., as a memorial of the war. Later, mortars were mounted in the "Marsh Battery" and were fired from time to time, to hold the attention of the enemy. When Battery Gregg was captured the "Avenging Angel" took up the work of the "Swamp Angel." One circumstance not understood by the Union forces at the 9 130 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." time and not generally known now, tended to thwart their efforts in this department and to neutralize all their plans, bringing in some cases, notably at Olustee, Fla., most disastrous defeat. When the monitor, Keokuk, went down off Lighthouse Inlet, as a result of mortal wounds received in Dupont's attack on Sumter, April 6th, she carried with her a copy of the signal code used by the army and navy of the Union forces. This code the Confederates found in an examination which they made of the wreck. One of the Confederate Signal Corps was dressed as a Union soldier in uniform of the signal corps and with the signal code found on the Keokuk in his possession was imprisoned as a fellow prisoner with one of the Union Signal Corps, captured some time before. Here the Confed- erate succeeded in learning from the Union prisoner all the secrets of the code. With this knowledge the Confederates were able to read all the orders that were signalled from headquarters of the command- ing general and to anticipate any plans made with counter plans. A good illustration of the advantage which a knowledge of this signal code gave to the enemy in anticipating Union movements was given on August 24th. A plan had been laid by the navy to capture Battery Gregg by a night's attack, moving their force by boats through Vin- cent's Creek and so reaching the enemy from an unexpected point. These plans had been signalled from Admiral Dahlgren to Gen. Gill- more so as to secure co-operation from the land forces. These signals were read off by the Rebel signal officer. The guns of Battery Gregg were trained on Vincent's Creek and as soon as the watchful garrison noted, as they did about midnight, the phosphorescent light made by the muffled oars of the attacking party, as it moved silently up the creek, a signal was given and the entire battery of guns, trained on the spot, were discharged. This at once turned anticipated victory into sudden and disastrous defeat. This knowledge of the Union signal code, posssessed by the Confederates, will explain the readiness with which so many plans attempted against Sumter, Wagner and Gregg by both land and sea forces were defeated. The 144th was on grand guard, that is, doing duty in the advance trenches, on the night of the 25th, but powerless to assist in the move- ment of the navy or to give aid in the disaster which overtook it. One of the two hundred pound Parrott guns blew out its breech, one HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 131 of the fragments hitting William P. Fish, of Company F., inflicting a mortal wound of which he died on the next day. On the night of the 26th the Regiment was called out to support a movement against the advance picket line of the Confederates and the sharp-shooters stronghold. The movement was successful, the position being taken and about ninety prisoners secured. Holding this position we were enabled to commence and push to a successful conclusion the fifth parallel in the Siege of Wagner. The continued pounding of Fort Sumter from land and sea had reduced it to a state of passive endurance and yet with strength enough to deliver tremen- dous blows whenever there was a near approach to the battered walls. All the larger guns had been removed from the fort and mounted in works constructed on an inner line of defense. In the unfortunate controversy which sprang up between Gen. Gillmore and Admiral Dahlgren, not altogether creditable to either, both were in a sense right. It was true as Gen. Gillmore claimed, that he had practically silenced the fort. Maj. Gilchrist, of the Confeder- ate army, writing in his "Confederate Defense of Morris Island" says : "The massive walls of Fort Sumter had been battered down until they were a shapeless ruin. Its gallant artillery defenders could do little more than lie passive." It was also true as Admiral Dahlgren claimed, that the way had not been cleared for any successful effort on the part of the navy to enter the inner harbor and in view of later disclosures it was perhaps well that he adhered to this conclusion, for along the inner line of defense on well constructed works, the largest guns of Sumter had been mounted together with many others of heavy caliber commanding all the inner harbor, and our experience with sand fortifications like Fort Wagner had shown that they were not to be reckoned with lightly. On the 29th of August, the 144th returned to its camp on Folly Island. A new camp was laid out a little south of the old one and tents set up on it and more comfortable, and all the surroundings made as comfortable and healthful as circumstances would admit. It was in this camp, that the 144th fought its hardest battle and suffered its greatest losses during the Siege of Charleston and in- deed, during its entire service. The hard marches during the summer and now the poor water, 132 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." the drifting sand that found its way into all our food, and added to all this the issue of a flour ration with no means to properly cook it, had brought that great scourge of the soldier, "camp disease," and kindred troubles which seemed to defy all the efforts of our surgeons to cope with. Day by day the "sick call" brought longer and longer files of men to the dispensary for treatment and longer lists of men sick "in tent." The hospital filled up and overflowed. Day by day the head-boards in the little cemetery beyond the sand knoll grew in numbers. Every day and sometimes several times a day the muffled roll of the drum would announce the sad fact of diminished numbers. The 40th Massachusetts, encamped just south of us used the little cemetery in common with us and they were suffering as we were. The funeral dirge of their escorts as they filed past our camp added not a little to the mental depression of our own sick and suffering. Officers and men suffered alike and at times there were scarcely enough able bodied men to perform the duties of camp and guard. One of the things which helped or hindered the recovery of sick soldiers was the mental condition which prevailed with them. A strong will power which compelled the patient to look on the bright side of things amid adverse surroundings proved a most valuable help in overcoming the diseased condition of the body; but those who gave way to homesick, despondent feelings were almost sure with even slight bodily ailments to succumb to them. A good illustration of the effect of mind conditions as affecting the health is found in the experience of Lieut. Frank Heimer of Company C, as recorded in a letter to the Historian, which, with the consent of the writer is given herewith : "While on Folly Island in September, 1863, you will remember that very near every man in the Regiment got sick ; the cause being in my opinion that everlasting marching in Virginia in the hot sum- mer and then being transplanted to a sandy island in South Carolina, with bad and unhealthy water to drink. Well, for about three days I was the only officer for duty, the others reporting sick, and the com- mon saying was, 'You can never kill a Dutchman unless you hang him and he will get used to that.' But soon some of the officers got bet- ter and I too came on the sick list and got worse and worse every week. Surgeon Leal's opium pills did not do me any good ; only just HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 133 put me to sleep and being asleep saw lots of little men dancing and laughing with all their might around me. One week passed and no better ; another passed and still worse, and another week commenced finding me worse. Now things began to get serious. You will re- member also that we buried our dead over and beyond a sand knoll marching by the dispensary tent. A Massachusetts Regiment which had their camp south of ours also buried their dead on the same ground, and almost every day we were obliged to hear the Dead March played through our camp, which told to us that another good Massachusetts man had died for his country. You will also remem- ber that after digging about eighteen inches in the cemetery the bot- tom fell out and water filled the grave. Well, when on the third week I got worse I thought my time had come and I did not want to be buried in a water hole. I began to look around for a better spot. During my sickness which lasted three weeks (by the way this was the only time I was off duty during the service) I got in the habit of reporting myself daily at the dispensary tent to get the pills and drops and then crawl over the knoll on all fours, being so weak, and toward the burying ground and then set myself on a piece of palmetto log under a live oak tree. There was a cooler air here than in camp. I sat there in pain and distress thinking of my poor wife and children at home, and thought of all the good and bad I ever did in my life. The tree stood on a little rising ground and I expected to lay in a dry grave if buried under it. I took two of my most intimate comrades to the spot and asked them to bury me there, and they promised they would do so as soon as I was dead. This satisfied me and I thought I would died in peace. But lo ! and behold ! next day I again crawled over the knoll and to my surprise found two Massachusetts men dig- ging and just finishing a grave for one of their comrades on the very spot picked out for myself. This made me so angry and mad that I left with disgust and said to myself: 'Now, I shan't die anyhow, 1 and started, apparently with less pain but much vexation across the island. I got to the White House, the only house on the island and provided myself with a brick from the chimney and a door latch from the door, then started for Pawnee Landing, where the tide was about going out, exposing any amount of small oysters. I sat down placed the brick before me and with the. latch knocked off the end of 134 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." the oyster's shell and devoured the oyster, continuing at it the rest of the day. When night came I felt better and stronger, the oysters being the only thing 1 had eaten in two weeks. When I came to camp I bought a half pound of raisins and ate them skin and all. The next day I did the same thing and the next day reported for duty. I do believe if it had not been for that Massachusetts fellow stealing my grave I would not be here to relate this story." These experiences on Folly Island were the most dispiriting that came to the men of the 144th during their term of service. So much sickness prevailed that an examining board of surgeons was appoint- ed to examine applicants for furloughs. So many men came before this board and were granted furloughs that Gen. Gillmore determined to establish a convalescent camp to which those granted furloughs on account of disability should be sent. This convalescent camp was established at St. Augustine, Fla., and in pursuance of the order es- tablishing the camp the hospital boat Cosmopolitan included this among its trips. The following extract from an account given by one of the 144th convalescents as to experiences in this camp may be of interest : "As we drew up just at nightfall to the dock of the dilapidated city of St. Augustine, we thought it might well lay claim to great age as the patriarch among the cities of the United States. So forlorn was its appearance that one of the convalescents remarked : 'I guess they have been feeding it on quinine.' The doctor in charge of the boat here intimated that more quinine would be in order if we did not go below out of the dew. The next morning we were marched through the city to the convalescent camp situated on the west side. On the grounds occupied by the camp was a very fine residence used as head- quarters of the surgeon in charge. The grounds were surrounded on all sides by groves of orange trees hanging full of the golden fruit. As we filed by the headquarters the doctor came out on the veranda to look us over and as we passed he remarked to an assistant : 'All as dese men vill need ish dis fine climate and all de lager peer they can trink.' The step of some of the convalescents lengthened and one re- marks : 'That's the doctor for me! I would trade off quinine for lager beer any time.' During the day we were comfortably housed in hospital tents. HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 135 "The next day was the Sabbath and our ears were greeted with the chimes from the old Cathedral bells. Two convalescents conclud- ed that they would like to attend the services and as a preliminary, went over to see the doctor about a pass. After the request had been made the following dialogue occurred : " 'Are you a member of the church ? If you are I vill have a minister here dis afternoon.' " 'No, sir; but we would like to attend the Catholic service at the cathedral.' " 'Are you a Catholic ? If you are a Catholic, I vill have a Cath- olic priest here dis afternoon.' " 'No, sir ; we are not Catholics ; but we would like to witness their service.' " 'Young man ; matters of curiosity in religion I dislike very much to see.' "They were not disposed to dispute the soundness of this statement ; but did not want to give up their plans, and so, in military parlance, concluded to 'change base.' " 'Doctor, men go out without passes !' " 'Vat is dat you say ? Men go out midout passes ! I puts them in irons.' " 'Yes, the men go out without passes ; but if it is law and order we would like a pass.' " 'Dr. Mitchell ; write dese men a pass.' "As the men pass out one remarks : T don't believe the doctor has had his lager this morning.' "It was a very fortunate thing for soldiers that the sense of the ludicrous was well developed among them. Those who have been fortunate enough to hear Chaplain McCabe's lecture, 'The Humorous Side of Libby,' found abundant evidence in it of the existence of this 'sense,' as well as an illustration of the relaxing humanizing power of fun. Even disease could not banish it and sometimes it was a most helpful agency in restoring health. Sometimes disease itself or our emaciated condition would furnish the basis of grim jokes. Have you forgotten those hospital shirts, 'big enough for any man and small enough for any boy,' which the good women of the North used to make in their 'Soldiers' Aid Societies ?' One Sabbath morning when 136 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." all in the tent busy with their toilets, donning the clean raiment just issued, some one chuckled: 'See what a splendid builded man I am.' There stood 'Chips,' of Co. H., on the corner of his bunk, arrayed in one of those shirts, only his head visible, the sleeves dang- ling beyond his hands, the skirt dropping below the bunk, an ample collar reaching above the ears and out from it peered the cadaverous face of 'Chips,' all aglow with fun. Of course there was all sorts of advice about tucks, ruffs, plaits, etc. "As health and spirits grew, appetites increased amazingly; per- haps the appetites may have in a measure preceded. At all events, they came and the question of supply came with them. Hospital re- gulations as administered did not presume that a soldier convalescent knows when, how much, or what to eat, and any effort at independent action in these directions was regarded as a misdemeanor. Regard- less of this, since the regulation supply as dealt out did not meet the demand the convalescents used to visit the storehouse and help them- selves to potatoes, turnips, etc. To prevent this the doctor placed a guard over them — the turnips and potatoes — but while talking to the guard in a friendly way a visiting convalescent would find means to transfer potatoes to his pockets and under cover of the hospital blouse a good supply could be stored. The winter of '63 and '64 was quite severe in the South and no provision had been made in the hospi- tal tents for stoves and so the convalescents had to help themselves to loose boards and make a fire out of doors, around which they would sit and tell stories, army experiences, home reminiscences, and at same time watch a little mound of ashes under which toothsome tubers were roasting, all the time 'keeping an eye out' for the doctor. One day notwithstanding this precaution just as a convalescent was knocking the ashes off a roasted potato the doctor put in an appearance with the inquiry : " 'What you got there?' " 'A roast potato' was the reply. " 'What you do with him ?' " 'I was going to eat it; I am very hungry.' " 'Did you think you have a cast-iron stomach what can eat raw potatoes? I put you in irons,' and immediately ordered the delin- quent to be taken to the guard house. •■_<*■' '.J ■'*■-.■»•;--'.■*._-> | ; :-^-"W?$?- 1 -j C o •§■« ? ft a 3 2 is ►-I ci Pi ' smuggle liquors into the camp, doing temporary harm and at long intervals a whiskey ration would be distributed, but in such small quantities as not to disturb normal conditions as seen from the sur- face. As a poison it probably got in its work whether taken in large or small quantities. Prof. Atwater to the contrary, notwithstanding. Interesting statistics might be compiled from the experience of the 144th touching the value of whiskey as a "food ration" in the making of soldiers. One illustration will be sufficient. In one company four men were enlisted from a given community, all of them addicted to whiskey and "free fights." When they enlisted a common remark was : "These men will make good soldiers — they can stand anything." As a matter of fact the government did not get one month's continuous, HISTORY OF THE i 44 th REGIMENT. 157 good service out of the entire lot. In less than four months they were all in the hospital and before the end of the first year two were dead and the other two had been discharged. As to the "Whiskey Nerve," there is cumulative testimony in all the experience of the war that it was most unreliable, breaking down often at the critical point and bringing, not infrequently, disaster to the cause. There seemed to be in the District of Florida, elements which were most disturbing to settled conditions as to the command of the troops. After Gen. Seymour's unfortunate experience at Olustee, Gen. Hatch came into command. When Gen. Gillmore was removed from the command of the department, Gen. Hatch was given tempo- rary command, while Gen. Birney was assigned to command of Dis- trict of Florida, with Gen. Ames in command of our division. In April, Gen. Ames was removed to the Army of the Potomac. The next month Gen. Gordon was placed in command of the district. In June, Gen. Birney was returned to the command of the district and Gen. Gordon sent to 1 the Department of the Mississippi. General William Birney, was the son of the distinguished anti-slavery leader, James G. Birney, who in 1840 was the standard bearer in the Presidential election on the Liberty ticket. Three sons, William, David B. and Fitzhue attested to the strength of their con- victions on the question of slavery, when on the opening of the war, although southern born, they enlisted in the Union army and served with distinction and zeal. William enlisted as a volunteer in 1861 and served through various grades up to that of Brig.-General, and participated in the battles of Bull Run. Chancellorsville, Fredericks- burg and Chantilly. He was assigned to duty in the Department of the South in '64. After the war he engaged in the practice of law at Philadelphia, Pa., where he still resides. That something of the spirit of the father animated the son is evidenced in the incident related in an experience of Dr. Bundy in another chapter. The District of Florida was always of more political than mili- tary interest — the military movements intended to second the politi- cal. There were in the State a large number of Union men and the occupation of the State by the military was intended to so protect and encourage them that they might be enabled to organize a State gov- 158 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." eminent, favorable to the Union and be able to take a part in the com- ing political campaign for the election of President. A matter of military importance in the occupation of the State was to prevent the sending out of supplies of beef to the Confederate army. Florida was one of the large sources of supply for this important soldier ration. Since our occupation only extended to portions of the State east of the St. John's river and a limited area on the west side there remained large portions of the State that continued to furnish beeves for consumption by the Confederates. The entire Rebel force occupy- ing Florida was about three thousand, under command of Gen. Finne- gan with some two thousand State Militia subject to his call. While this force was numerically smaller than the Union forces, it had this advantage — that it could be re-enforced to almost any desired num- ber, upon one clay's notice, sent to Charleston or Savannah or to points in Alabama and Mississippi. It was this facility to summon troops from outside the State that enabled Gen. Finnegan to con- centrate such a large force at Olustee to meet Gen. Seymour's ad- vance. About the time that Gen. Gordon took command of the dis- trict, April 9th, the Rebel forces began to operate with some special activity. Their cavalry under command of officers familiar with every part of the country, moving rapidly from point to point, were able to create some apprehension as to the safety of our several de- tachments. Our own cavalry was made up of mounted infantry armed with Enfield rifles and entirely unable to cope successfully with well organized and well armed troopers. Added to this the enemy had been able to plant the St. John's river with torpedoes which at one time threatened to blockade the river preventing navigation. About one hundred men were employed by the Confederates at a place called Doctor's Lake, manufacturing these torpedoes and planting them in the river. On the day that Gen. Gordon took command, the Harriet Weed, an armed steamer, was blown up by a torpedo at a point in the river a little south of Jacksonville, killing five men and wounding others. Several other vessels were blown up during the year. Very soon torpedo rakes were attached to all the vessels so arranged as to move in advance and rake out any of the infernal machines that might be in its path. It will not be out of place to note here the fact that the Civil War HISTORY OF THE i 44 th REGIMENT. 159 demonstrated and developed the value of the torpedo as an offensive and defensive instrument in maritime warfare. In this the Con- federates took the initiative because of the special needs which con- fronted them. They were without an efficient navy to protect the long seaboard, with numerous navigable waterways leading inland to defend and so were almost driven to the use of the torpedo as a de- fensive weapon. In October, 1862, they organized a torpedo bureau which developed some most practicable and efficient torpedo engineer- ing. This is proven in the fact that during the war they destroyed by means of the torpedo seven U. S. ironclads, eleven gunboats and seven army transports, besides injuring many other vessels. It prov- ed, however, something of a boomerang, since the Confederates lost three of their own gunboats by submarine traps set for Union game, and then their fine ironclad, the Albemarle, was destroyed by torpedo methods they had set in motion but which were improved upon in the hands of the brave Cushing. Since the war these methods of torpedo engineering, developed by the Confederacy, have formed the basis of the modern torpedo boats, torpedo harbor and river defenses and other torpedo devices — a very large addition to modern methods of warfare. In the early part of May the recruiting officers sent north some months before, rejoined the regiment and with them came some forty recruits. While the motive which had impelled some of these men to enlist was not a "first water" patriotism, most of them made good soldiers and soon became adepts in soldier craft and soldier life. The following incident illustrates the kind of patriotism which induced some to enlist. One night on the picket line when the reserve were talking together one of the recruits burst out : "I wish I was at home. I'd give all my old boots to be at home with my wife." One of the old soldiers remarked that he ought not to be whining so early in his service and then asked : "What brought you down here any- way?" The reply came in lugubrious tone: "Why, there was a thousand dollars just ahead of me and the draft just behind me and what could a fellow do?" On May 13th Col. William J. Slidell, appointed by Governor Seymour to command the 144th, appeared and took charge of the reg- iment. Col. Slidell was born in Louisiana and was a relative of 160 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." John Slidell of Confederate fame in the "Mason and Slidell" affair. Col. Slidell was appointed to West Point from the State of Rhode Is- land and at graduation was made Lieutenant in the 16th Infantry, May, 1861, and promoted to Captain in November, 1861. He re- ceived the brevet rank of Major for gallant and meritorious conduct at the battles of Murfreesboro and Missionary Ridge, Tenn. After serving with the 144th he returned to his old command, serving until October 19th, 1865, when he resigned from the army. On the 2 1st of May, Gen. Gordon commenced a movement in- tended to capture a body of the enemy, reported to be making a raid on the east side of the St. John's. A detachment of two hundred men from the 144th under command of Col. Slidell was embarked on the transport, Houghton, and under convoy of gunboat Ottawa and an armed steam launch, the Columbiana, moved up the river to Pi- colata where we were re-enforced by Col. Beecher's regiment of col- ored troops and a detachment of the 157th N.Y.V., making our force seven hundred. At Picolata the forces were debarked leaving only two companies of Col. Beecher's men on the gunboats which had di- rections to move up the river, the steam launch to go as far as Volusia at which point there was a post occupied by a small detachment of troops now threatened by the raiding force of the enemy. The infantry under the command of Gen. Gordon moved out from Pilatka to the south-east, marching until Haw's Creek was reach- ed, about nine at night, where we encamped. During the afternoon firing was heard in the direction of the St. John's river and it was learned afterward that the Rebels had ambushed the vessels at a nar- row point Their first fire tore out the rudder of the steam launch and this vessel fell into the hands of the enemy — most of the men escaped. For the next day's march a good guide was needed and Gen. Gordon asked one of the residents who seemed to be quite intelligent to perform this service for us. The man refused all offers and slight- ed all commands to do this duty. At length the General riding close to the man to make further effort heard the whispered words : "Take me — tie me by force." Then the General understood that this man was being watched and that any service which he should render to the Union cause of his own free will would be at the sacrifice of his life. Accordingly a guard was ordered to take the man by force which they HISTORY OF THE 144TH REGIMENT. 161 did, the man meanwhile resisting with stubborn energy, but was at length securely fastened astride a mule in waiting. This guide prov- ed to be a staunch Union man with wide knowledge of affairs and willing to use it for the Union cause. The day's march brought us to a crossing of Haw's Creek. The route was through pine woods and over a monotonous flat country that kept the soldier constantly puzzled with the query : "What do we want this forlorn, forsaken section of country for anyway?" At the crossing, Col. Noble was waiting with the forces brought from St. Augustine and surroundings. A portion of his cavalry had push- ed on to Volusia and reported the garrison there safe and also that the raiding Rebels had crossed to the west side of the St. John's and so were beyond our reach. Col. Noble's brigade returned at once to St. Augustine, his cavalry driving all the beef cattle they could find. Gen. Gordon and Col. Slidell accompanied this force to St. Augustine. On the 24th our detachment, under command of Major Rice, commenced its return march to Picolata. This march proved to be one of the most severe that the 144th ever had a part in. It was very warm and the march of the day before had resulted in a large number blistering their feet. After a fifteen mile march the detach- ment was halted for dinner. At two o'clock we were under way again. Coming to a water sink we were directed to fill canteens as we would not reach water again in several hours. The march was continued long after dark, but no water was reached. Part of the way there was no road, only a path over which the men marched in single file. By this time the men were nearly exhausted and a large number had fallen out. The feet of many were covered with raw sores and they made their way in great pain. At ten o'clock at night a halt was ordered, although a water supply had not been reached. There were only a few files of men to stack arms in each company and these were so worn out that they laid down at once in their places and were soon asleep. Only a few were strong enough to make search for water. A well had been passed but the guide said that some time ago the water had been poisoned, but the men in their ex- tremity risked it and finding it wholesome a number of canteens were filled and brought into camp to the exhausted men. The one visiting the sleeping men found many of them muttering in their feverish sleep 11 162 BACK "IN WAR TIMES." about brooks and springs of water, and when the canteen was placed to their burning lips the one presenting it had to take fast hold of it, since it was seized with a half crazed avidity and it was only by effort that they could be made to relinquish it. The next morning's march brought us after a few miles to a stream of water. What a rush was made for it ! What delight, what comfort, to drink, to wash, to bathe the tired sore limbs in the cool, cleansing water. With this experience thirty-eight years away, yet it stands out distinctly in memory as if but yesterday. The guide had made a mistake as to distance and hence our hard march and con- sequent suffering. We reached Picolata in the afternoon of Thurs- day, May 26th, sore and tired. On the 28th the steamer, Mary Benton, came up and conveyed the detachment to Jacksonville. Later in the month an attempt was made to capture the Rebel garrison at their fortified camp, known as Camp Milton, about eleven miles from Jacksonville. Col. Noble with his command concentrated at Jacksonville, was on the 28th moved by boat to Cedar Creek and directed to move up the creek to the rear of Camp Milton. At the same time Col. Shaw with our brigade moved directly out making a feint of attacking in front. The enemy through information received from their scouts or otherwise, had anticipated the movement, and evacuated hurriedly their strong camp, which we occupied and set fire to. Evidence of their haste in leaving was found in the large amount of provisions left in store. Anticipating pursuit they burned the rail- road trestle. The stockade and breastworks were constructed of pine logs and so we were able to destroy in a few hours the work of thousands of men for months. There was some skirmishing with the cavalry of enemy, but no severe action. The object of the expedi- tion having been accomplished we returned to our camp at Jackson- ville the next day. This expedition proved to be our last in Florida. Gen. Birney was returned to the command of the district, on the 6th of June, tak- ing Gen. Gordon's place and about this time Gen. John G. Foster came into the command of the department. Among the first results of this change in command was the ordering of the 144th to Hilton Head, S. C. On the 10th of June the steamer, Mary Benton, carried the regiment down the St. John's and the next morning found us HISTORY OF THE i 44 th REGIMENT. 163 safely conveyed to the dock at Hilton Head, which proved to be our" permanent camping place during the remainder of our sojourn in the South. Here we came directly in touch with the Commanding Gen-- eral of the department, Major-General John G. Foster. For a good portion of the time the 144th furnished the headquarter's guard. Gen. Foster was New England born, his native place being Whitefield, N. H., and his natal day May 27, 1827. He was grad- uated from West Point, July 1st, 1846, and entered the army as 2d Lieutenant of Engineers. He served in Mexico in a company of Sappers and Miners and had as fellow engineer officers, Capt. Robert E. Lee, Lieuts. F. G. T. Beauregard, Isaac I. Stevens, Z. B. Tower, G. W. Smith and George B. McClellan, all afterwards leaders in the Civil War, some with the Union and some with the Confederate forces. Gen. Foster was severely wounded at Molino del Rey, never entirely recovering from it. He was engaged in coast surveys from 1848 to '54, Asst. Prof, of Engineers of West Point, 1855 to 'S7> and was later the engineer in the construction of Fort Sumter and Moultrie in South Carolina and of other works in North Carolina. In 1861 he was appointed B'rig.-General of Volunteers and com- manded a brigade in Gen. Burnside's expedition to North Carolina. In 1862 he was made a Maj .-General and assigned to command the Department of North Carolina, 18th Army Corps. Later, under new arrangements of departments, he was assigned to command of the Department of the South. He was mustered out of the volunteer service in 1866 and returned to his Engineer Corps and was placed in charge of the construction of works for the preservation of Boston harbor and of Portsmouth, N. H., harbor. He died September 2d, 1874. CHAPTER XV. HILTON HEAD BATTLE JOHN'S ISLAND. Hilton Head, S. C, was one of the places that returned to the possession of the Union quite early in the war, November 7th, 1861, through the well planned and gallant action of the U. S. fleet, under command of Admiral Samuel F. Dupont. A military and naval ex- pedition had been fitted out and dispatched under sealed orders from Hampton Roads, Va. The military, under command of Gen. Thomas W. Sherman, consisting of a force of three brigades, num- bering some ten thousand men and a naval force consisting of four- teen gunboats and twenty-two smaller vessels, with transports suffi- cient to convey the troops, made up this united command. The orders when opened directed the expedition to proceed to South Carolina and commence operations to secure possession of seaports and harbors. Early in November it appeared at Hilton Head and began active op- erations. The action by which possession was secured created no little enthusiasm at the North and is remembered because of the peculiar evolutions of the fleet in the engagement. The main entrance to the harbor of Hilton Head is from the south, between Phillips Island on the northeast and Hilton Head Is- land on the southwest. On Phillips Island the Confederates had erected a fort which they called Fort Beauregard and opposite to it on Hilton Head Island they had another fort called Fort Walker, after its capture called Fort Wells. The Confederates had also gathered for the defense of the place a small fleet of gunboats. The land force of the Confederates was commanded by Gen. T. F. Dray- ton, who had a brother, Commander E. Drayton, of the gunboat Pocahontas of the Union fleet, afterwards Captain of Admiral Far- ragut's flagship, Hartford, in the battle of Mobile Bay. In his attack Admiral Dupont arranged for the vessels of the fleet to move in an 164 o d c o c