CHAPTER VI.
Life at Fort Richardson—Moved to Fort Smith and stationed there—Battery equipped again and sent to City Point.
Once more our battery was destined to forego an active participation in the stirring scenes at the front, and to the disappointment of our men we were assigned to the dull routine of garrison life, instead of the more congenial duties of a mounted battery.
Nothing of especial importance transpired during our stay in Fort Richardson. Our men were drilled at the guns in heavy artillery work, and also practiced in the use of mortars. An occasional long roll at night would relieve the monotony of our existence, when the men would hasten to the guns remaining there until reveille.
It was a source of regret to us that we were not permitted to remain with the Ninth Corps, which was at that time with the Army of the Potomac confronting the enemy at Cold Harbor, where a severe battle had just been fought. After the Wilderness and Spottsylvania battles General Grant became convinced that he had more artillery than could be brought into action at any one time. It occupied the roads in marching and taxing the trains in bringing up forage. He therefore sent back to the defenses of Washington over one hundred pieces of artillery, with the horses and caissons. As will be observed our battery was among the number returned. But we did not share our misfortunes alone, for Battery D, of our regiment, was ordered to turn in its guns and equipments to the Arsenal at Washington, and for a time garrisoned Fort Lincoln within the defenses.
General Burnside, who always took pride and satisfaction in having Rhode Island troops in his command, in a letter to General Grant dated June 28, 1864, requesting that more artillery might be added to his corps, said: “In addition to Benjamin’s battery, I should like Gitting’s battery of the Third Artillery and Allen’s (H) and Buckley’s (D) Rhode Island batteries, unless by so doing it would bring up too much field artillery. These have all been sent to Washington. If we are to continue our operations here, guns of heavier calibre will also be required, but these have been promised by General Hunt.”
We conclude that General Grant deemed it inexpedient to comply with this request, as the Rhode Island batteries were not sent to the Ninth Corps. At this time our battery was attached to the Twenty-second Corps, DeRussy’s Division, in the District of Alexandria.
July 10th. Left Fort Richardson at 9.30 A. M., and marched to Fort Smith, which is situated on the Potomac River, near Aqueduct Bridge. On our arrival at the fort we were assigned to No. 1 Barracks. During the night the assembly call was sounded, and we were ordered to take muskets and fall in. This greatly displeased our men, and at first they were inclined to rebel, but better counsels prevailed, and they accepted the situation with the best grace possible. Associated with us in the fort were several companies of the Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery.
On the 14th, the left section of our battery was sent to Bailey’s Cross Roads for picket duty.
July 18th. Inspection at 10.30 A. M. of all the troops in the fort.
July 19th. The centre section was detailed for picket duty near Fort Strong. On the 25th the right section went on picket at the same place.
August 16th. Our battery was inspected and reviewed at ten A. M. by Capt. C. H. Whittlesey, Assistant Adjutant-General of the Artillery Reserve.
August 18th. At nine A. M. we bade adieu to the attached men of the One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Ohio Infantry, who have served with us since the first of July. We held these soldiers in high esteem. Their term of service has expired and they are about to return to their regiment for muster-out. The original members of our battery are very much exercised, as they claim that they enlisted to serve the unexpired term of the regiment, and their term of service has already expired, and insist that they too should be mustered out. A meeting was held in the company mess room, and Corporal Howard was appointed a committee to wait upon President Lincoln and present our grievances to him. Upon interviewing the president he listened attentively to the complaint made by the committee, and then said: “I see by your petition that it has been through all the departments, and I find that your claim is right and just, and you should be discharged. You come at the eleventh hour to ‘Old Abe’ thinking he will order you discharged. But the government has 50,000 men just the same as you are. We cannot spare these men at present, but as soon as you can possibly be spared you shall be sent home. I am truly sorry for your men.” And this closed the interview of President Lincoln with our committee.
August 29th. Private Earl Fenner was detailed as acting sergeant, and ordered to duty as sergeant of the guard at the fort. Privates Sampson, Alderwick and Stone were detailed for picket, and ordered to report to the commanding officer of the picket near Fort Strong. During the afternoon the paymaster appeared in the fort and the men were paid two months’ pay. The men on picket were ordered to return to the fort and receive their pay, but they arrived too late as the paymaster had gone, and they were ordered back on picket, Private Alderwick having been detailed to relieve Private Hayfield on the outpost. On proceeding to the place, he was challenged and shot by Hayfield. He was hit in the right shoulder, causing a severe wound. It was generally thought that Hayfield was an unfit person to occupy the position of an outpost.
Lieut. Hezekiah Potter.
August 31st. Long roll was sounded at three A. M. All the companies in the fort were ordered to the guns and remained there until reveille.
October 6th. Artificer Leon Allison was sent into Washington to-day by Captain Allen on official business. On his return he was brutally assaulted and all his valuables taken from him, even to the shoes on his feet. On his arrival at the fort he was sent to the hospital, where it was found that his jaw was broken.
October 13th. Private James Booth died in hospital near Fort Strong. He was buried by a detail of men from our battery.
October 16th. We have received welcome news to-day. Our battery is ordered to Camp Barry, where we are to receive guns and horses and be remounted again as a light battery. The men are delighted and almost beside themselves with joy. They have been very much dissatisfied, not having enlisted as heavy artillerymen it was but natural that they should long to return to their own arm of the service. We moved from Fort Smith at ten A. M., and on arriving at Camp Barry occupied barracks No. 1.
October 18th. Twenty-five men were detailed to draw horses and harnesses for the battery. This order was obeyed with alacrity. We were subsequently ordered to draw a battery of Napoleon guns.
October 25th. More good news. At twelve A. M. we marched into Washington to Sixth Street wharf and embarked on steamer St. Nicholas, bound for City Point, Va., where we are to join General Benham’s forces. This command is guarding the base of supplies for twenty miles or more down the James River, and the line of breastworks from City Point toward our front.
October 26th. We arrived at City Point at eleven A. M. and went into camp near the Landing for the night.
October 27th. Marched to main line of breastworks and encamped. At twelve P. M. the long roll was sounded, caused by an attack by the enemy on our front and the rebel gunboats on the James River. The cannoneers were ordered to their guns and remained there until reveille. On the 31st the battery was mustered for two months’ pay.
During the month of November all was quiet along our lines and winter quarters were ordered to be built for the men. They were arranged in groups of four. The month was cold and stormy.
December 25th, being Christmas, we were bountifully supplied with turkeys for our Christmas dinner. There was a turkey for each group of four men who occupied the log cabins which had been erected the previous month. It was a Christmas long to be remembered by every man in the battery, bringing to mind the good cheer and kind faces of our loved ones at home, and we looked forward with intense longing for the time when we should be permitted to return to them again.