CHAPTER XII.
Proximity to the Rebels.—Colonel Taylor fired at by a Sharpshooter.—Picket Skirmishing.—Building a Bridge.—Position of Affairs.—General McClellan Reconnoitring.—He writes to the President.—Lee’s Plans.—Second Battle of Mechanicsville.—Shelling the Thirty-third’s Camp.—Battle of Gaines’ Farm.—A Retreat to the James decided upon.
Soon after reaching “Camp Lincoln,” the Thirty-third was set to work on a formidable redoubt, since known as “Fort Davidson,” and likewise constructed numerous rifle-pits. The enemy daily threw shot and shell at our encampments, apparently for mere pastime, many of them striking among the tents. On one occasion a round shot, passing entirely over the officers’ quarters, killed Dr. Spencer’s Orderly in the rear. Not long after another came whizzing through the air, and carried away the shoulder blade of a reckless cavalryman, who was laughing as he rode along at the manœuvres of the men, declaring that he would not “dodge for their guns.” A member of the Seventy-seventh was killed in hospital close by.
Fort Davidson—Chickahominy Swamps.
The rebels also had a very disagreeable habit of climbing up in the forest trees and firing at us, some times even when sitting in the camp doors. One afternoon, as Colonel Taylor was reclining upon a lounge in the Lieutenant Colonel’s tent, a sharp-shooter deliberately fired at him from a neighboring tree, the ball passing through the lounge and out at the back side of the tent. He immediately ordered out several of his best shots to pick off the impudent rebel.
Not content with constantly annoying us during the daytime, they frequently got up night demonstrations, compelling our “troops” to turn out at very unseasonable hours. The Thirty-third were aroused from their slumbers one night by the bursting of a shell directly over the centre of the encampment. Gorman’s Brigade frequently engaged in these night skirmishes. Colonel Taylor’s command rarely indulged in picket firing, as many of the Regiments did, unless it was provoked by the enemy. This custom, so prevalent at the commencement of the war, has almost wholly ceased, and now, instead of “blazing away” on the slightest pretext, the pickets patrol their beats month after month within speaking distance, without molesting one another.
As the month advanced, the troops were kept busily employed in throwing up breastworks and constructing a new bridge over the Chickahominy, below the point where the lowest of the three previously carried away by the freshet was built. Frequently they were compelled to stand waist deep in the water, while cutting timbers, which were carried to the river on handspikes, many of them requiring sixteen or more men to transport them. This bridge, when completed, was an imposing structure, and afterwards saved the right wing of the army, by furnishing a passage to the opposite side of the river, when the rebel legions were hurled against it with such rapidity and violence.
Nearly three months had now elapsed since the Army of the Potomac landed at Fortress Monroe, and began the Peninsular Campaign. Yorktown had been evacuated, the bloody battles of “Williamsburg,” “West Point,” “Fair Oaks” and “Seven Pines,” besides several lesser engagements, fought, the troops arrived before and around Richmond, and our labors were apparently about to be crowned with success by its capture.
One evening, about the 20th of the month, Gen. McClellan, accompanied by Gens. Smith, Gorman and Porter, rode down to the picket line where Captain Warford, with his Company, was stationed. After removing their coats, in order to conceal their rank, and fording a small creek, they ascended to a tree-top to reconnoitre the enemy’s position. Their pickets were only about twenty rods distant, on the opposite side of a wheat field. Descending, the Commander-in-Chief remarked to Gen. Smith, with a smile on his face, “I have got them now,” accompanying the remark with a significant doubling up of his right fist. His army then numbered one hundred and fifteen thousand men fit for duty.
A few brief hours served to dispel the visions of success and glory which had brightened up his countenance. On the evening of the 25th, Gen. McClellan telegraphed to the President: “I incline to think that Jackson will attack my right and rear. The rebel force is stated at two hundred thousand, including Jackson and Beauregard. I shall have to contend against vastly superior odds, if these reports be true, but this army will do all in the power of man to hold their position, and repulse an attack. I regret my inferiority in numbers, but feel that I am in no way responsible for it, as I have not failed to represent repeatedly the necessity of reinforcements; that this was the decisive point, and that all should be concentrated here. I will do all that a General can do, with the splendid army I have the honor to command, and if it is destroyed by overwhelming numbers, can at least die with it and share its fate.... I shall probably be attacked to-morrow, and now go to the other side of the Chickahominy to arrange for the defence on that side.”
The reader will understand that our army was then arranged in the form of a semi-circle, extending across the Chickahominy, the left resting upon Savage’s Station, and the right upon Mechanicsville. In the rear of the right wing was “White House,” on the Pamunkey River, used as a base of supplies for the army, which were brought by way of York River. The plan of Gen. Lee, who had now succeeded Gen. Johnston, was to concentrate his whole force on our right wing, destroy it before the troops on the other side of the river could be brought against him, gain possession of White House, thereby cutting off our supplies as well as way of retreat, and capture the entire army. He had no sooner however, taken the initiatory step in this programme, by calling Jackson to his assistance, than Gen. McClellan, as appears from the above letter to the President, divined his whole strategy.
On the afternoon of Thursday, June 26th, the enemy fell upon Gen. McCall’s Division at Mechanicsville. Reynolds’ and Seymour’s Brigades bore the brunt of the attack. The battle continued until sundown, when the rebels were handsomely repulsed. At midnight the force fell back, in accordance with orders, to “Gaines’ Farm,” where was fought the bloody engagement of Friday, June 27th, resulting in a Federal loss of 9,000 killed, wounded and missing. Smith’s Division, it will be remembered, was now located nearly opposite from Gaines’ Farm, or Mill.
While the battle was progressing, on Thursday, at Mechanicsville, the enemy stationed on the opposite side of the river opened a furious cannonade on Gen. Smith, to divert attention. The tents of the Thirty-third were considerably damaged with shot and shell, and the horses of the Major and Quartermaster killed, in addition to several other animals. Very fortunately the men had just completed a formidable breastwork directly in front of the encampment, and taking refuge behind this, none of them were killed.
The contrabands, of whom a considerable number now accompanied the Regiment, were terribly frightened, and scampered away rapidly. Two of them sought refuge behind a pile of cracker-boxes, but they had hardly gained this shelter before a bursting shell scattered the boxes and contents in all directions, much to the horror of the fleeing negroes and amusement of the soldiers, who were ensconced away behind the earthworks. Several of them received such a fright that they were never seen afterwards. Of this number was one of the negroes who communicated the information before Yorktown of its evacuation.
On the following day, the 27th, a portion of Gen. Franklin’s Corps was sent back across the river to aid Gen. Porter in holding his position at Gaines’ Farm. Several of our batteries were likewise wheeled about and brought to bear upon the enemy. But these and other reinforcements were not sufficient to turn the tide of battle. The overwhelming numbers of the enemy, estimated by Gen. McClellan at full eighty thousand, precluded any hope of successfully resisting them and maintaining the position. All the troops on the east bank of the river accordingly crossed that night to the opposite side, destroying the bridge after them.
Gen. McClellan immediately summoned several of his Generals, and informed them that there was only one of two things to be done, either to mass all of his troops at that point, near “Golden’s Farm,” and risk a sanguinary battle, or to retire immediately and rapidly to the James River. In the former case, defeat would ensure the destruction of the army, whereas by abandoning the siege of Richmond for the time being, he could retreat in safety to the James, saving most of his men and material. The result of the interview was a determination on the part of the Commanding General to “change his base,” and, under cover of night, preparations were made for the retreat.
CHAPTER XIII.
BATTLE OF GOLDEN’S FARM.
During the following morning, Saturday, June 28th, Col. Taylor, in accordance with orders from Gen. Smith, moved with a portion of his command to relieve and support the picket line, then within two hundred yards of the enemy, leaving the remainder in camp, under command of acting Adjutant Tyler, to strike tents, secure baggage, &c., preparatory to retreating. The men had hardly reached the picket line before the confederates opened a heavy artillery fire from twenty pieces, which was mainly concentrated upon the camp.
Shot and shell flew in every direction, crashing through the trees, ploughing up the ground, completely riddling the tents, firing the baggage and commissary stores, and rendering every foot of the camp enclosure untenable. The camp guard, prisoners, sick, convalescents and, others, seizing their arms, immediately sought refuge behind the earthworks, consisting of ditches and the breastwork in front, which had afforded such good protection on the Thursday previous.
Several of the enemy’s missiles struck the breastworks and rolled over, occasioning not a little confusion. One shell dropped down into the ditch beneath the parapet among the men, but was quickly tossed out by J. W. Hendricks, Co. A, and again taken up by Peter Roach, of the same Company, and thrown down the hill, where it exploded, doing no injury. This heroic deed of these brave fellows undoubtedly saved the lives of several of their comrades at the imminent peril of their own.
Not being replied to by our guns, nearly all of which had been taken to the rear to form in the line of retreat, their artillery firing ceased at the end of an hour, leading our officers to infer that the rebels had withdrawn to some other point. The mistake was soon discovered, however, when the picket line (embracing, in addition to a part of the Thirty-third, two companies of the Forty-ninth Pennsylvania), which had firmly maintained its position, in spite of the artillery fire, was fiercely attacked by two full regiments of infantry.
The men stood their ground manfully at first, but were at length forced back to the earthworks, wheeling and firing steadily as they retreated. The defences gained, and the co-operation of the remainder of the Regiment secured, a most gallant stand was made. Colonel Taylor had hardly stationed the men in their places before the rebels, flushed with their first success, and confident of easily storming the defences and capturing the defenders, came charging furiously down upon them.
All became hushed along the line as the men nerved themselves for the encounter. The orders to “reserve fire,” “fire low,” &c., were given in a quiet undertone, and the soldiers, bringing their firelocks to their shoulders and resting them over the top of the parapet, calmly waited the approach of the enemy. On they came, yelling and shouting like demons, till within a few yards of the breastwork when there instantly shot forth from behind it a sheet of flame, followed by another and another, until, staggered by the galling fire, the rebels wavered, broke and fled in great disorder from the field.
When the smoke cleared away the number of killed and wounded that appeared scattered upon the ground testified to the accuracy of our aim. Nearly every one had brought down his man. They continued firing upon the retreating enemy until out of range. Not satisfied with the reception which they had received, the confederates, re-forming, again advanced, though more cautiously than at first. But they were again met by a murderous fire and compelled to fall back, leaving many of their number on the field.
Maddened by the defeat and carnage which had taken place around him, Colonel Lamar, of the Eighth Ga., who commanded the enemy, now sprang forward in front of his men, and, waving his sword and hat in the air, incited them to a renewal of the charge. Over a hundred rifles were instantly levelled at him, and he fell, dangerously wounded, to the ground. At the same time a section of Mott’s battery, which had come up, opened an enfilading fire upon them from the left, and the victory was complete, the enemy fleeing in all directions.
Huzza after huzza followed from our men, who could be restrained only with the greatest difficulty from leaping over the parapet and pursuing them. This it would not have been prudent to do, owing to the great disparity in numbers. A small party was, however, sent forward to secure several prisoners who had voluntarily surrendered, and also our wounded.
This attempt, on the part of the Seventh and Eighth Ga. Regiments, to capture the Thirty-third, resulted to them in a loss of 91 killed and left upon the field, a large number of wounded, 50 prisoners, including the wounded Col. Lamar of the Eighth and Lieut. Colonel Tower of the Seventh Ga., and two hundred stand of arms. We lost several, in killed and wounded, during the first part of the engagement, when forced back to the entrenchments. A number were also taken prisoners, including Captain Hamilton, of Company G, who was exchanged, and returned to the Regiment at Harrison’s Landing. The enemy’s balls mostly passed several feet over, or lodged in the earthworks, doing but little injury.
First Lieutenant Moses Church, of Company E, fearless to a fault, seized a musket and, going out from behind the protection of the works, fired repeatedly, with deliberate aim, at the advancing rebels, until he dropped dead, pierced through the head with a minie-ball. He was a brave and beloved officer, and was buried close to the spot where he so nobly died. Private Hildreth, of the same Company, also exposed himself in a similar manner, and was shot dead, the ball penetrating his eye.
Immediately after the final discomfiture of the rebels, Major Platner was sent by Colonel Taylor to establish a new picket line, and both parties buried their dead, under a flag of truce. One of the prisoners, belonging to the Eighth Ga., on seeing the mangled remains of his brother, wept bitterly and for a time refused to leave them. The same soldier afterwards conversed with members of the Thirty-third at the first battle of Fredericksburg, and reverted to the circumstance, and also to the fact that his Regiment had encountered the Thirty-third for the fourth time in battle.
While the engagement was going on, the Seventy-seventh N. Y., to the command of which Lieut.-Colonel Corning had been temporarily assigned, was drawn up in line of battle further to the left, to prevent a flank movement.
The following is Colonel Taylor’s report of the engagement:
Head-Quarters Thirty-third Regiment, N. Y. S. V., Virginia, July 10, 1862.
To the A. A. Gen’l, Third Brigade:
... On June 28th, the entire Regiment, with the exception of the camp guard, cooks, and a few convalescent sick, was ordered out on picket. Soon after, they became engaged with the enemy, and according to instructions they fell back, contesting every inch, into the rifle pits in front of their camp. During this time Lieutenant Lucius C. Mix and Lieutenant Ed. J. Tyler, of Company A, succeeded, under a galling fire, in collecting and placing in good order, the former his camp guard, and the latter all others in camp—some fifty men. Both of these officers were conspicuous in their endeavors to stop those who had become panic stricken, of which there were a few, and arranging them to good effect in the rifle pit—many of whom fought nobly. I can also mention the name of Quartermaster Sergeant John J. Carter, now Lieutenant of Company B, in connection with this affair, who not only did good service in quieting the men, but conduced to keeping up a continual fire on the enemy. Much praise is due to Captain Warford and Lieutenant Church, of Company E, also to Lieutenant Corning, of Company B, and Lieutenant Gale, of Company G, for their coolness in drawing in the men, and establishing order under such circumstances, at one time being nearly surrounded. Captain Hamilton, of Company G, was taken prisoner while actively engaged in rallying his men, and Lieutenant Church, of Company E, was killed while encouraging his men by words and deeds.
The above is respectfully submitted.
Your most obedient servant,
R. F. Taylor,
Colonel Commanding Thirty-third N. Y. S. V.
General Davidson, in his report of the affair, said:
“The Thirty-third N. Y. Volunteers, Colonel Taylor, of my Brigade, then on picket, in conjunction with the Forty-ninth Pa. (two companies), Colonel Irwin, had the honor of repulsing the enemy most handsomely. The conduct of the Thirty-third N. Y., Forty-ninth Pa., and Seventh Maine, under this terrible, concentrated fire, which took us completely by surprise, was all that could be desired.”