CHAPTER III.
December 1st, we had orders to march immediately, and at twelve o'clock our brigade were on the move. We passed through Washington just at nightfall, over the bridge which crosses the east branch of the Potomac, and encamped about two miles beyond the city for the night. In the morning we continued our journey along the Maryland side of the Potomac, and so on, from day to day, until our arrival opposite Aquia Creek, on the 6th inst.
We had fine weather until Friday the 5th, when it commenced raining, and at night turning to snow, made our encamping exceedingly unpleasant. We expected to have reached the Potomac Friday night, but the rain softening the road, made our marching extremely difficult and tedious, and at three o'clock we turned into the woods completely jaded, and commenced to pitch our tents, and make ourselves as comfortable as we could, under the circumstances. I could indeed appreciate the discomforts of our situation. I was fortunate in finding some poles in the woods, already cut, and with the help of the boys, made a shed, and covering it with our tents, with the addition of a lot of dry husks, procured from a barn close by for our beds, managed to pass the night quite comfortably. It stopped snowing early in the night, and at ten, A. M., the next morning, we were on the march again. It was a delightful morning; the mud had crusted over, bearing us up, as we marched, and the sun shining brightly, gave the evergreens by the roadside, covered with snow as they were, a beautiful appearance. At twelve we were upon the banks of the Potomac, with the rest of our brigade, waiting our turn to be ferried to Aquia Creek. It came at last, and at five, P. M., we were aboard of the boat and on our way. At seven we were alongside the wharf, and at eight were off the boat and in line upon the pier, waiting for orders. It was a bitter, cold night, and much impatience was manifest in both officers and privates, at being obliged to wait in this place so long, before moving to our camping ground. At half-past nine we finally received orders to march off. Passed up the railroad from Aquia to Fredericksburg about two miles, filed to the left, continued on from the road about one-third of a mile, and after another delay of perhaps half an hour, our colonel selected our camp, and we formed upon it, to pass another unpleasant night. The spot selected was in the woods, upon the side of a hill. The heavy wood had been cut, and most of it taken off, but all of the tops, and some of the largest logs were left, all covered with the snow which fell the night before. Every thing being wet, it was some time before we could start our fires. But little sleep could be had that night; the most uncomfortable one that the Twelfth Rhode Island Volunteers had experienced. The place we christened Camp Smoke, a most appropriate name for this place. The first night and the following day it was impossible for us to escape the smoke from our numerous fires, half of it passing into our eyes, and down our throats. We would pass around our fires, the smoke following our coat-tails as we moved along, and fastened to us soon as we stopped; it was impossible to escape it. We stopped at this place until Tuesday morning, the 9th, when the brigade again took up their line of march. We arrived opposite Fredericksburg Wednesday, the 10th, and encamped for the night alongside the Seventh Rhode Island.
The signal guns, ominous of the coming battle, were first fired at five, A. M., the next morning, and at intervals until sunrise, when a fierce cannonading commenced along the whole line in front of the city. At nine, A. M., we received twenty extra rounds of ammunition, three days' rations, threw our knapsacks and extra luggage into a pile, slung our blankets over our shoulders, and moving to within three-quarters of a mile of the city, formed in line of battle, and rested on our arms, ready for the emergency.
In trying to throw the pontoon bridges over, our forces met with determined resistance, and were obliged to shell the city, in order to dislodge the enemy. Being satisfied of the impossibility of crossing the river this day, late in the afternoon we returned to camp. Early in the evening, the cannonading, which had continued through the day, ceased; and two or three regiments crossing over in boats, after a fierce conflict in the streets of the city, finally succeeded in dislodging the enemy, and the bridges were completed. Early in the morning of the next day, the different brigades commenced crossing the river, and occupying the city, ours among the rest.
The main streets of this city run parallel with the river. We took our position opposite the pontoon bridge, in the rear of the second street. This part of the city suffered severely during the shelling of the place the day before, as the fire from the different batteries was directed in this vicinity, in order to demolish the buildings, which were occupied by the enemy's sharpshooters, who were firing upon our troops, rendering it necessary to dislodge them, to complete the bridge. We were fired upon by the enemy while entering the city, their shells bursting about us, but fortunately doing us no injury. They continued firing through the day, throwing an occasional shell as a regiment approached to cross into the city. From their batteries, they had a good view of the opposite bank of the river, and could see every regiment, as one by one, they approached the bridge. There were quite a number of casualties during the day, in the city, from the bursting of the enemy's shells. They might have done us infinite damage this day, if they had felt disposed to have directed their fire upon the city. Our position during the forenoon, was directly in range of the enemy's batteries, as they fired upon the troops coming over the bridge.
From the place where I stood in the ranks, I could see two defunct rebels, who were killed the day before, while our batteries shelled the city. I took the liberty to go close, and look at the one nearest me. A shell had struck him in the head, cutting the top of it completely off, leaving nothing above the eyes; killing him of course instantly.
From this place I continued on to another street, to see a group of dead bodies. There were sixteen of them, all belonging to a Massachusetts regiment, and who fell the night before, while engaged in dislodging the enemy. They were laid in a row, and buried close where they fell. I could not help thinking, as I gazed upon the mournful scene, of the loved ones at home, who were waiting, watching, and praying for the safe return of these poor men, who, in the dispensation of a mysterious Providence, they never more could see on earth.
I turned away from the sad spectacle to become acquainted with other features of this cruel war. I had passed along several streets, when the rapid firing of the enemy warned me to return to my regiment. The shells were bursting all about us, and I found the regiment on my return already in line, and soon after we moved and took a position in a less exposed situation, where we remained through the night. I went to a house close by, found some boards, returned to the street, where we were ordered to remain, placed one end of these boards upon the sidewalk, the other end resting in the middle of the street, and finding some straw in the neighborhood, made my bed upon these, and "laid me down to sleep."
Early in the morning, the different regiments were all astir, preparing for the coming battle. The different companies of our regiment were drawn up in line, our haversacks were filled with three days' rations, which consisted of crackers, pork, sugar and coffee, our canteens with water, and moving some half mile farther down the city, we rested on our arms, in readiness to take the part assigned us. While in this place, we were somewhat sheltered from the enemy's shells, which were thrown at different intervals, several of them dropping and bursting in the river, directly in front of us, causing much dodging and twisting, throughout the different regiments.
There was a space directly in front of our position, upon which there were no buildings, close upon the river. This space was occupied early in the forenoon, by the Irish Brigade, and I saw for the first time, Thomas F. Meagher, the general commanding this brigade, well known as the Irish patriot and fighting general. This brigade were called into action early in the day, and moved to the front at once. This was at about ten, A. M.
The booming of cannon and the sharp cracking of the musketry, soon told us that the "ball had opened," and at twelve o'clock, M. we were called upon. Our line was quickly formed, and we moved on. Filing to the left, we passed up a steep hill on the "double quick," and soon came in sight and within range of the enemy's guns, who immediately brought them to bear upon us. The firing becoming too hot for us, we were brought into line, and ordered to lie close to the ground. Down we went, accordingly, into the mud, and the firing partly ceased. Again we rose, and rushed ahead, the artillery playing upon us more furiously than ever. Gaining a trench, a short distance ahead, we again came to a halt and formed our line anew. Being partially sheltered from the enemy's fire, we stopped long enough to catch our breath, then throwing off our blankets, passed up the bank, and hurried on. Some twenty rods ahead of this trench, the railroad from Fredericksburg to Richmond passes, making a cut some twenty feet deep. Expecting to find a shelter in this from the enemy's fire, we sprang ahead. Upon gaining the bank, with one spring I ploughed to the bottom. I had hoped to find another breathing spell here, but found myself disappointed in this, as the enemy had a battery in position from which they threw shot and shell the whole-length of this cut, and it was here we first came under the fire of their musketry. We were ordered to gain the opposite bank as soon as possible. The ascent was very steep, and being out of breath, it required much effort on our part to reach the top. I never in my life strove harder than I did to gain the top of this bank. The distance from this place to the position we were to gain, was perhaps forty rods. And this under a scorching fire of musketry and artillery, at short range. We hurried ahead as fast as possible, knowing this to be no place to make long stops. Our regiment at this time was partially broken up, every man knowing the danger, exerted himself to escape it; and by a "double quick," which at this time had become a run, we were fast gaining the position already occupied by the rest of our brigade, which was partly sheltered from the fire of the enemy.
The report of the cannon, the shriek of the shell, its explosion in our midst, the sharp cracking of the musketry, and the whiz of the Minnie ball, (the different missiles ploughing and cutting up the ground in front of us,) furnished a terrible ordeal, through which the Twelfth were called upon to pass.
Thus we hurried on until we gained the position assigned us. Here a hillock, running parallel with our lines, and slightly elevated above the surface of the plain, intervened between us and the enemy. This afforded us some protection, and here within two hundred yards of the enemy's redoubt, our forces came to a halt, and it was only after our arrival here that we could bring our muskets to bear upon the enemy. Our regiment was brought into this action under many disadvantages. It will be remembered, that up to this time we had been in the service but eight weeks, had journeyed from Rhode Island, had established two different camps in Virginia, and just completed a march of one hundred miles. Tired and worn out with our long and weary march, and before we had time even to form our camp, or obtain any thing to eat, beside "marching rations," (hard crackers and salt pork,) upon which we had subsisted for the two weeks previous, and in all our inexperience as to how we should render our compliments to the foe, we were invited across the Rappahannock, and introduced to the enemy. Upon the first start, on going into action, we ascended a hill where scaling ladders would have been an advantage to us. Then followed a feat of fence jumping, passing barns, brick kilns, &c. Through these gymnastic exercises we were conducted by our colonel, ably seconded by our gallant major. The regiment passed these obstacles in good order, and under a heavy fire reached the first trench, where the line was formed anew. Here our gallant major unfortunately received a severe wound, was placed on a stretcher, and carried to the rear. This threw the whole command upon our colonel, who without assistance, found it extremely difficult to bring the regiment into action in a manner suited to the notions of some of our military brethren, who felt disposed to criticise us. This class of warriors, with a knowledge of military tactics that would hardly enable them when in four ranks to file right and left without blundering, in their criticism showed little judgment and much injustice, towards a brave and loyal regiment.
We retained our position until nightfall, when, having spent our ammunition, we were drawn off the field. It was nearly dark when we were ordered to fall into line, with strict orders to keep as quiet as possible, so as not to attract the attention of the enemy. We accordingly fell in, and moved quickly off. Upon approaching the railroad, the firing which had ceased commenced anew, and raged furiously. Our troops having charged upon the enemy's works, were endeavoring to carry them at the point of the bayonet, but were overpowered and driven back. As we were in range, this charge brought the enemy's fire directly upon us, as we were passing into the railroad cut. We hastened ahead, threw ourselves down and lay as close as possible, waiting for the storm to pass over. As soon as the firing slackened, we hastened to our feet, and hurrying along the track, soon entered the city and were out of danger, and thus ended a day ever to be remembered in the history of the Twelfth Rhode Island Volunteers.
Having as great a dread of going off the field without a blanket, (having thrown mine away upon going into the fight,) as of the few balls that were following us up, I lingered in the rear and managed to secure one. I found a large pile a short distance from the railroad depot, which our regiment in their hurry to escape passed without securing. They had a perfect right to have taken them, if they had chosen to. They suffered severely afterwards for the want of them, and I think if they should go into a fight again under circumstances that should cause them to throw away their blankets, especially in mid-winter, they will take good care to secure another when they come off the field. While getting my blanket, the regiment passed out of sight and hearing, and coming off the railroad into the street, the only one I could find whom I knew, was A. W., who had halted to catch his breath, having become nearly exhausted in trying to keep up with the regiment. As we could see or hear nothing of the regiment, I persuaded A. to go with me and get a blanket, he being also without one. We then returned to the city, and after awhile found our regiment, in the same place where we started from in the morning, and in this place we stopped for the night.
In my wanderings the day before the battle, I found an unoccupied house a short distance from where our regiment passed the night, and not relishing the idea of lying on the ground in the street, after our hard day's work, with three others with me, I made for it. We found a room furnished with a bed and sofa, and fastening the doors, we appropriated these luxuries to our own particular use, and slept soundly through the night.
In the morning, I went below to the basement of the house, and found quite a number of our boys busy cooking. There was a large cooking-range in the room, and plenty of wood, and finding a barrel of flour in the house, they were having a feast. I also engaged, and mixing up a batter, I contrived to cook me a good breakfast. The regiment remained through the day of the 14th, upon the street, in quiet, and we occupied the room where we passed the night. There was a piano in the room, a large easy chair, beside other furniture, and we had a good time "house-keeping" in our new tenement.
In the morning, finding plenty of soap and water, I took a good wash, and began to fancy myself at home again. I tried to get S. to wash himself. The answer he made was, that he should not until he knew whether his head belonged to himself or to "Uncle Sam." I was quite amused at the idea. It was plainly evident a little water would not hurt S., as he was looking very much like a contraband. We passed the day (Sunday the 14th) quite comfortably. At night, thinking it best to keep with the regiment, we took quarters in the garret of a house, with the rest of our company. We were ordered to lie upon our arms, keep quiet, and be ready for action at a moment's warning. Towards morning our pickets had a skirmish with the enemy. We were aroused, but the firing, which was quite rapid for awhile, ceased, and we turned in again. In the morning we arose, and were privileged in having another day of rest. This night, as soon as it became dark, the evacuation of the city commenced. This fact we were all of us ignorant of at the time, and from the disposition of the regiment, supposed we had more fighting to do. At dusk we were formed in line, and as soon as it became dark moved down the city, taking the same street we did on the morning of the battle. We ascended the same steep hill, and proceeded quietly to the front. This made some of us catch our breath, as we thought of what we had already passed through while on the same road. Just inside our pickets, and under cover of a slight eminence, we laid ourselves down. A detail of men was made from the regiment, for picks and shovels, and upon the arrival of these, the whole front rank were called upon, and proceeding to the top of the eminence, commenced throwing up an entrenchment. This, we afterwards learned, was to deceive the enemy, making them think we intended holding the position. About twelve o'clock the front ranks were called in, and forming in line, we quickly and as noiselessly as possible hurried into the city again. It was evident enough to us as soon as we entered the city that it was being evacuated. When we left, a few hours before, the streets were full of soldiers, regiment after regiment, and battery after battery; now hardly a man was to be seen as we passed through the streets. The hurried tramp of men and horses in the direction of the pontoon bridges told us our destination. We hurried along, and at one o'clock the morning of the 16th recrossed the bridge, passed up the hill, and proceeded to our camp, where we left our luggage the morning of the 12th. Our major, whom I had not seen since the fight, suddenly appeared upon our arrival in camp, and taking charge of the regiment, placed them in position, giving off orders in a loud tone of voice, which assured us that though severely wounded, he was fast convalescing. The next day I saw the major again. I could not discover that he was hurt at all from his appearance; I think he bore up remarkably well. Since then, I noticed at the inspection, and in the presence of the brigadier-general, he limped, and seemed quite lame. I could not help thinking of our able major, who endures his sufferings without a murmur, though severely wounded, and contrasting this self-sacrificing spirit with some I hear of who, though loudly defiant, and anxious to lead their men against the enemy, were known to have run from the field in a "Devil take the hindmost" style, reminding me of a passage in Shakspeare—a piece of advice suited to their case—to wit,—
"Just doff that lion's hide,
And draw a calfskin round thy recreant limbs."