Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery Part 1

Diary of Battery A First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery.

by Theodore Reichardt.

PREFACE.

COMRADES OF BATTERY A:--The time for the fulfilment of my promise to you, has arrived. The days of our trials, hards.h.i.+ps and sufferings are past, and it but remains to memorize the period during which we were battling for the sacred cause of the Union. Although we have not seen the closing contest of this sanguinary strife, yet I feel confident that we have done our share towards securing a good end, and n.o.bly has the old battery sustained the honor and name of Rhode Island. Of all the light batteries Little Rhody sent to the seat of war, none was ever equal to the old Second, or Battery A, in efficiency, endurance, and the intelligence of the men. Truly did an officer remark: "My men can fight without officers."

It is no easy task to give a true and satisfactory record of our three years service;--only the entreaties of my comrades induced me to undertake it. It is a natural wish to possess a copy of the records, to refer in future days to those of the past; it will not only be of interest to the members of the battery, but also to their friends and relatives.

Hardly had the first call for three months men been responded to, by sending the First Regiment, Col. Burnside, along with the First Battery, Capt. Charles H. Tompkins, before the military authorities of Rhode Island contemplated to organize another regiment of infantry and a second battery. Enrollments progressed rapidly, and but a few days after, not less than four hundred men were desirous of linking their fortunes with the battery; the armory on Benefit street was the rendezvous of men from sunrise till late in the night, eager to acquire the most indispensable knowledge of military tactics, foot drill, and manual of the piece, as speedily as possible. Some men were so anxious as to come before daylight, and would not leave in the evening until the armorer persuaded them to. We expected to get mustered into the three months service; but the federal government, by issuing a call for 75,000 men for not less than three years, left no other alternative but to serve the said term. Messrs.

Parkhurst and Albert Munroe were untiring in their exertions to complete the efficiency of the battery. At last the day that was to transform us from citizens into soldiers, arrived, the requisite number to man the battery being selected out of four hundred, by Surgeon Wheaton. On the fifth day of June, 1861, at five o'clock, P. M., we were mustered into the service of the United States for three years, unless sooner discharged. A few days afterwards, the battery, together with the Second Regiment, infantry, marched to Dexter Training Ground. Tents were pitched, and the people of Providence enjoyed the unusual spectacle of a field-camp, of reveilles, dress-parades, firing of artillery by sunrise and sunset, of tattoo and taps. The unusual sight attracted mult.i.tudes of men, women and children, day after day. While in camp, mounted battery drills wore away the hours of impatience; men in those days were eager for the fray. During our stay on Dexter Ground, all of our battery carriages were exchanged for new ones, (the pieces were James' bra.s.s rifle guns,) which we hailed as a sign of our early departure. Ammunition arrived on the evening of the 18th of June, and the limber chests being filled during the night, the rising sun of the 19th witnessed our leave of friends and dear ones, perhaps never to be seen again. Only those who have experienced such emotions themselves, can imagine the sad feeling, to leave whatever is dear to the heart, for three long years. But the time is past; the little band that was spared from carnage and disease has returned; they will forget all sorrow amidst the joyous welcome of their friends. Yet all joy is mingled with sadness. Some will look in vain for familiar faces. Let there be a lasting place in our memory for those who sleep forever on the blood-stained fields of Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

DIARY.

_Wednesday, June 19, 1861._--Embarkation of the Second Battery on the steamer Kill Von Kull, and of the Second Rhode Island Infantry, on the State of Maine.

Early in the morning the tents were struck, everything packed up, order was given to mount, and by nine o'clock we commenced our march through Westminster street; from thence, through South Main street, to India Point, where the steamers lay, and started by about four o'clock in the afternoon. The docks were crowded immensely during the day; the fair s.e.x, especially, was strongly represented. Amid the pealing of cannon and the farewell cheers of the mult.i.tude, we gradually distanced the sh.o.r.e. Those present will well remember that memorable day. Gov. Sprague and the patriotic Bishop Clark accompanied the Second Regiment, infantry, on the State of Maine. On our approaching Fort Adams, we were saluted by the artillery there. By nightfall, we were made acquainted with the first government ration--pilot bread, the so-called salt-junk, and a cup of coffee. The meat was of a rather poor quality, although it was served out with good grace by our respected captain, W. H. Reynolds.

_Thursday, June 20._--We steamed past Fort Schuyler, Hurl Gate, New York city, crossed the bay, and landed at Elizabethport, by ten o'clock A. M.

After a delay of several hours at the railroad depot, the train started off. Much sympathy was displayed by the people of New Brunswick, Trenton, Easton and other places we pa.s.sed through. Loud cheering hailed us at every station; strawberries, pies, &c., were freely handed in the cars.

_Friday, June 21._--Arrived at Harrisburg early in the morning. Coffee, bread and pies were given to us by inhabitants of that place. After a short halt, we resumed our journey, crossed the Susquehanna river, pa.s.sed Little York, and arrived at Baltimore by eight o'clock in the evening. Our battery was immediately loaded on flats, drawn by horses to the top of the hill, the horses unhitched then, and the cars rolled down the other side to the Was.h.i.+ngton depot. Order was given not to accept of any refreshments from the citizens. No demonstration was made, the throwing of a few bricks on the cars, in the neighborhood of the depot, excepted. Started for Was.h.i.+ngton by ten o'clock.

_Sat.u.r.day, June 22._--Arrival at the National Capital. By daylight the cupola of the Capitol greeted our eyes, a reviving sight after three sleepless nights. Col. Ambrose E. Burnside and Capt. Chas. H. Tompkins had a breakfast prepared for us, consisting of roast beef, soft bread and coffee. After unloading battery, we marched towards Camp Sprague, and established our quarters on the left of those of the First R. I. infantry regiment and battery. Our camp was named "Camp Clark," in honor of the celebrated Bishop Clark, of Rhode Island, the model of a Christian minister and true patriot.

_Sunday, June 23._--The sanct.i.ty of the day was well observed throughout the camp, and increased by an impressive sermon, preached by Bishop Clark.

In the afternoon, pa.s.ses were given to the men to visit the city. The day closed with a dress parade, President Lincoln and other functionaries being present.

_Monday, June 24._--Grand review of the Rhode Island troops by President Lincoln and Gen. Scott. Marched in front of the White House and through the princ.i.p.al streets of Was.h.i.+ngton.

From this time up to the 4th of July, nothing of importance occurred; everything went on quiet and pleasant; battery drills and manual of the piece were the usual occupation. Sometimes the long roll would be beat during the night, or guards would fire at some imaginary object of suspicion. On such an occasion a cow was shot.

_Thursday, July 4._--The day was duly celebrated in camp. Rhode Island furnished her troops with a good dinner. Prof. Sweet treated the mult.i.tude with a tight rope performance. The day pa.s.sed off smoothly, with the exception of a strange display of authority by a few corporals, laboring under the idea that their dignity was injured by the men not paying enough respect to them. In those days gunners and caisson corporals played gentlemen. They not only expected to be saluted by privates, but induced the men of their respective detachments to hire negroes to black the boots for all the men, while actually it was only to wait on the corporals; yet they did not want to stand the expense alone. Let it be said in our honor, we allowed this humbug to be of but short duration. I cannot help mentioning the names of the men of the fourth detachment, not because the men were any better than others, but because it furnished the most commissioned and non-commissioned officers of any other in the battery.

Corporals, Charles H. Clark and Harry C. Cus.h.i.+ng. Privates, Wm. Drape, George Greenleaf, John H. Lawrence, Ben. S. Monroe, Richard Percival, Theodore Reichardt, Robert Rowbottom, Robert Raynor, Charles V. Scott, and Arnold A. Walker.

_Tuesday, July 9._--A sad accident occurred to-day. At section drill, through some unknown cause, a limber-chest of Lieut. Vaughan's section, filled with cartridges, exploded, while the gunner Morse, and privates Bourne and Freeman were mounted. They were thrown some twenty feet up in the air. Morse and Bourne died within the s.p.a.ce of an hour. Freeman, being badly injured, recovered after a lingering sickness. Two drivers were slightly wounded, and two horses injured. We escorted the bodies of Morse and Bourne to the depot, to be sent to Rhode Island.

_Thursday, July 11._--Grand review before President Lincoln, Gens. Scott and Fremont. Salutes were fired.

_Monday, July 15._--Great excitement in camp; order was received to get ready for a forward movement; ammunition packed; haversacks and canteens were issued.

_Tuesday, July 16._--The morning of that day found us marching across the Long Bridge, directly through Fort Runyon, on the Virginia side; did not march over seven miles; after which we formed in line of battle and prepared to camp for the night, this being the first night in the open air. All quiet during the night.

_Wednesday, July 17._--Resumed our march soon after break of day, and entered Fairfax Court House, contrary to our expectations, towards one o'clock, at mid-day, the rebels having evacuated the town shortly before our entrance. Their rear guard could be plainly seen some distance off.

Our battery formed in park near the court house. Some of the boys were very lucky in finding a good dinner served on a table in one of the houses, besides some articles of value, undoubtedly belonging to some confederate officers. Some picket firing during the night.

_Thursday, July 18._--Advance at daylight. A part of the Union army, Gen.

Tyler's troops, engaged. This conflict the rebels call battle of Bull Run.

While the contest was raging, our division halted two miles to the left of Fairfax Court House, at a place called Germantown. We could plainly hear the distant booming of artillery, and were impatiently waiting for the order, "forward." Towards four o'clock P. M., we advanced again; preparations were made to get in action; sponge buckets filled with water, and equipments distributed among the cannoniers. But when we approached Centreville, intelligence came that our troops got worsted and the contest was given up. Our division went to camp within a mile and a half of Centreville. Strong picket lines were drawn up.

_Friday, July 19._--Camp near Centreville. The troops remained quiet all day. Fresh beef as rations.

_Sat.u.r.day, July 20._--Quiet during the day. About six o'clock in the evening the army got ready to advance; but after council of war was held by the chief commanders, they concluded to wait till the next day.

_Sunday, July 21._--Battle of Mana.s.sas Plains. This battle will always occupy a prominent place in the memory of every man of the battery. They all expected to find a disorganized mob, that would disperse at our mere appearance; while, to the general surprise, they not only were better disciplined, but also better officered than our troops. We started by two o'clock in the morning, but proceeded very slowly. Pa.s.sed Centreville before break-of-day. When the sun rose in all its glory, illuminating the splendid scenery of the Blue Ridge mountains, though no sun of Austerlitz to us, we crossed the bridge over the Cub Run. By this time, the report of the 30-pounder Parrott gun belonging to Schenck's command, who had met the enemy, was heard. Our division turned off to the right, and marched some miles through dense woodland, to the Warrenton road. Towards ten o'clock, nothing could be seen of the enemy yet, and the belief found circulation that the enemy had fallen back. Experience proved that, had we remained at Centreville, the rebel army would undoubtedly have attacked us; but hearing of our advance they only had to lay in ambush, ready to receive us. At the aforesaid time, the Second Rhode Island infantry deployed as skirmishers. We advanced steadily, till arriving at the Bull Run and Sudley's church, a halt was ordered to rest the men and the horses. But it should not be; the brave Second R. I. Regiment, coming up to the enemy, who was concealed in the woods, their situation was getting critical. The report of cannon and musketry followed in rapid succession.

Our battery, after pa.s.sing Sudley's church, commenced to trot in great haste to the place of combat. At this moment Gen. McDowell rode up in great excitement, shouting to Capt. Reynolds: "Forward with your light battery." This was entirely needless, as we were going at high speed, for all were anxious to come to the rescue of our Second regiment. In quick time we arrived in the open s.p.a.ce where the conflict was raging already in its greatest fury. The guns were unlimbered, with or without command; no matter, it was done, and never did better music sound to the ears of the Second Regiment, than the quick reports of our guns, driving back the advancing foe. For nearly forty minutes our battery and the Second Regiment, defended that ground before any other troops were brought into action. Then the First Rhode Island, Seventy-first New York, and Second New Hamps.h.i.+re, with two Dahlgren howitzers, appeared, forming on the right and left. The enemy was driven successfully in our immediate front. Our battery opened on one of the enemy's light batteries to our right, which left after a short but spirited engagement, in a rather demoralized state.

Griffith's, Ayer's and Rickett's batteries coming up, prospects really looked promising, and victory seemed certain. The rebel line gradually giving way. Gen. McDowell, seeing the explosion of perhaps a magazine or a caisson, raised his cap, shouting, "Soldiers, this is the great explosion of Mana.s.sas," and seemed to be highly pleased with the work done by our battery. Owing to different orders, the battery, towards afternoon, was split into sections. Capt. Reynolds, with Lieuts. Tompkins and Weeden, off to the right, while the two pieces of the left section, to the left; Lieuts. Vaughan and Munroe remaining with the last mentioned. Firing was kept up incessantly, until the arrival of confederate reinforcements, coming down from Mana.s.sas Junction, unfurling the stars and stripes, whereby our officers were deceived to such a degree as to give the order, "Cease firing." This cessation of our artillery fire proved, no doubt, disastrous. It was the turning point of the battle. Our lines began to waver after receiving the volleys of the disguised columns. The setting sun found the fragments of our army not only in full retreat but in a complete rout, leaving most of the artillery in the hands of the enemy.

Our battery happened to be the only six gun volunteer battery, carrying all the guns off the battle-field, two pieces in a disabled condition. A battery-wagon and forge were lost on the field. Retreating the same road we advanced on in the morning. All of a sudden the cry arose, "The Black Horse Cavalry is coming." The alarm proved to be false; yet it had the effect upon many soldiers to throw away their arms. But the fears of many soldiers that the enemy would try to cut off our retreat, were partly realized. Our column having reached Cub Run bridge, was at once furiously attacked on our right by artillery and cavalry. Unfortunately, the bridge being blocked up, the confusion increased. All discipline was gone. Here our battery was lost, all but one gun, that of the second detachment, which was carried through the creek. It is kept at the armory of the Marine Artillery, in Providence. At the present time, guns, under such circ.u.mstances, would not be left to the enemy without the most strenuous efforts being made to save them. We a.s.sembled at the very same camp we left in the morning. Credit is due to Capt. Reynolds, for doing everything possible for the comfort of his men. At midnight the defeated army took up its retreat towards Was.h.i.+ngton. Our battery consisting of one gun, and the six-horse team, drove by Samuel Warden.

_Monday, July 22._--Arrived at, and effected our pa.s.sage across the Long Bridge, by ten o'clock, and found ourselves once more at Camp Clark, where we had a day of rest after our _debut_ on the battle-field yesterday, under the scorching sun of Virginia.

_Wednesday, July 24._--Lieut. Albert Munroe addressed the battery in regard to the battle, and attributed our defeat to the want of discipline.

The men felt very indignant at his remarks. "We had to come down to regulations, the same as in the regular army, and should consider ourselves almost as State prison convicts." We have since seen that he meant no insult towards the battery; but have found out to our satisfaction that he spoke the truth, for we have seen the time that put us almost on the same level with convicts.

_Thursday, July 25._--Received the first government pay in gold. The First Regiment left Camp Sprague for home, marching by our camp. Capt. Reynolds proposed cheers for every company, which was spontaneously replied to.

_Sat.u.r.day, July 27._--Men of every detachment were selected to accompany an expedition on board a steamer towards Aquia Creek, to try one of James'

rifled guns of heavy calibre upon the rebel battery there. They all returned in the evening without any disaster having occurred.

_Sunday, July 28._--The Second Battery left Camp Clark by four o'clock P.

M., for Harper's Ferry, to receive the guns of the First Battery, whose term of service had expired. Gov. Sprague made a short speech to the men.

The battery travelled by way of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, via Annapolis Junction and the Relay House.

_Monday, July 29._--Arrived at Sandy Hook by two o'clock P. M. Relieved the First Battery, the pieces being turned over to us. They started for home in the evening. Our camp is one mile from Weavertown. The right section under Lieut. Vaughan, took position on Maryland Heights, which command Loudon Heights and Harper's Ferry. Gen. Banks is in command of this department. From this time, up to the thirteenth of August, nothing exciting occurred. Battery drill in the morning and the manual of the piece in the afternoon. Extremely hot weather during daytime. Capt.

Reynolds went home on a furlough.

_Tuesday, August 13._--News arrived towards evening that the rebels were making a demonstration at Berlin and Point of Rocks. Lieut. Vaughan's section left Maryland Heights, going directly towards Berlin by eight o'clock. The other sections, commanded by Lieut. Munroe, left Sandy Hook for Point of Rocks, marched all night, and arrived at said place the next morning, by seven o'clock.

_Wednesday, August 14._--The Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania, commanded by Col.

Geary, occupied the town. We established our camp about five o'clock, P.

M., close to that of the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers.

_Thursday, August 15._--Witnessed the drumming out of a soldier of the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania for stealing from his comrades.

_Friday, August 16._--Return of Capt. Reynolds, with the Third Battery, afterwards Battery B, Rhode Island Light Artillery, and some recruits for ours. The newly raised battery should have relieved us, and taken our pieces, as we had the promise of entirely new ones. We all expected to return to Was.h.i.+ngton; but Col. Geary, being in the immediate neighborhood of rebel troops, remonstrated against our departure, saying he would not rely on a new battery at such a critical moment. Owing to this, the Third Battery returned to Was.h.i.+ngton the same evening, in command of Lieut.

Vaughan, he being promoted to Captain. Sergeant-Major Randolph was promoted to Lieutenant. All quiet up to

_Wednesday, August 21._--The Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania received two guns for their own use. Signs of a demonstration show themselves this evening.

All our baggage was sent off; the tents only left standing, ready to be burnt in case we had to leave.

_Thursday, August 22._--The right section left Berlin and went towards Frederick City.

_Friday, August 23._--Rebel cavalry plainly to be seen on the other side of the Potomac.

_Sat.u.r.day, August 24, and Sunday, August 25._--Quiet. Great slaughter amongst turkeys and chickens!