Campaign of the Fourteenth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers

by J. Newton Terrill

General Sherman was making sad havoc on southern soil, and the rebel soldiers, disheartened by repeated defeats, were discouraged, and they deserted in large numbers to our ranks. Proclamations were issued by the authorities at Washington and freely distributed among the rebel pickets, that any one of their number deserting would be sent within any part of our lines to his home, and paid for his musket and equipments; though many deserted to our ranks, there were double the number that went to the rear. The rebel soldiers were ordered to fire on all their men attempting to desert, but the most of them were anxious to leave, and fired their muskets in the air. Despondency now prevailed to a great extent among the rebels, and all felt that their cause was lost, while on our side the men were furnished with clothing in abundance, with plenty of rations, and were well contented. Guerillas and raiders were very active, hovering on our flank and rear; often with concealed batteries posted on a hill on the banks of the James, would fire on our boats as they passed to and fro from Washington to City Point. The river was lined with gunboats, but a few shells from our iron-clads soon drove them off. The most noted of those was Mosby; with picked men from Virginia, men that knew every road, his operations were very successful, but not so successful as the previous year, when our army was dependent upon a single track railroad from Washington to Brandy Station, as this passed the entire distance through a hostile country, and every mile had to be guarded by troops. Occasionally Mosby with his men would make a grand raid, and after destroying a portion of the track, would retire with but small loss and with considerable plunder, before our men could recover from their surprise; now our water communications needed but a few men on iron-clads, while the most of the troops were at the front. Heavy rains now set in, and nothing of importance occurred during the month of January. During this time Jefferson Davis visited Macon, Georgia, and made a speech, which was reported in the papers south, and soon became known to the whole country, as the men exchanged papers daily with the enemy in front of Petersburg. He disclosed his plans, thus enabling Grant to fully meet him. He also exhibited the weakness of supposing that an army that had been beaten and fearfully decimated in vain attempt at the defensive, could successfully undertake the offensive against the army that had so often defeated it, as he said in his speech that Lee would soon resume the offensive, and would drive the Potomac army from its almost impregnable hold on Richmond and Petersburg; but the future showed that this never was accomplished.

The rebel cause now Looked gloomy enough. Sherman had reached the sea coast, and the Confederacy was cut completely in two. Nothing more could be looked for in the southwest, and the whole attention of Grant and Lee was turned to this one point. In the latter part of January the enemy again attempted to surprise our pickets and break our lines if possible, but they were signally defeated in their plans and driven back with severe loss. In front of the 2d brigade of the 3d division was one of the largest forts on the line, mounting fifteen guns; it was named Fort Fisher, and was manned by the 9th New York Heavy Artillery. A large lookout some two hundred feet high was built near this fort for the purpose of witnessing the enemy's movements. It was reported that on a certain day the enemy were to shell this lookout; all preparations were made in Fort Fisher, the guns doubly shotted and turned upon the enemy's works, and upon the headquarters of General Longstreet, but a short distance in the rear of their lines. The day passed and not a shot was fired, as they knew full well that our guns out-numbered theirs two to one, and if once opened would do terrible execution, as they had done heretofore. The breastworks at this point were nearer together than at any other part of the line, being but a few rods apart. Details were made from the various regiments daily to guard supplies from City Point, and to bring ordnance stores for the troops. The new recruits were also guarded to the front, and then furnished with arms and assigned to their different commands.

On the night of January 16th, the troops were formed in line of battle, as it was rumored that the enemy were about to attack; with extreme caution the men formed in line behind the works, but no attack was made. It was not known what move they would make, as their leaders were becoming desperate, and would not hesitate to sacrifice the lives of the men to accomplish their ends. The news of the capture of Fort Fisher was read to the troops, and cheer after cheer given for our army and navy. Gen. Butler was denounced as incompetent to command an army in the field; all honor was due Major General Terry for his bravery. One hundred guns were shotted and trained upon the enemy's works from Fort H—l as a salute. The enemy did not reply; they were crest-fallen enough, as Wilmington, their most important point, would soon fall, and like Fort Fisher would soon be occupied by United States troops.

On the 24th of January, the enemy made a desperate attempt to break through our water communications at City Point. Three gunboats moved down, and after a desperate fight with our shore batteries, they were compelled to fall back with the loss of one of their boats and another disabled. Our iron-clads had nearly all of them gone with the expedition to Fort Fisher. Lee hoped to take advantage of this, and lay City Point in ashes and destroy our base of supplies, thereby compelling Gen. Grant to fall back; but the shore batteries of one hundred pound guns did terrible execution, and with but small loss on our side, the enemy retired with heavy loss. For several months Gen. Butler had been digging Dutch Gap Canal, which had proved a failure, as the war ended before it was finished; he was relieved by order of General Grant, and ordered to report at Lowell, Massachusetts. The weather was now very cold, and the Potomac was frozen; often two and three days elapsed before the transports could arrive from Washington. The month of January passed dull enough. Desertions from the enemy were more numerous than ever, often one and two hundred coming over each night.

On the morning of February 1st, all was excitement in camp, as the troops were ordered to move out on the left of the line to Hatcher's Run. The sick were all sent to City Point, and preparations made to move with all the troops, with the exception of enough to hold the lines in our immediate front, which were strengthened by the pioneers. All preparations were made when a terrible storm arose, and the movement was abandoned. Montgomery Blair had been on a mission of peace to Richmond but had failed. President Lincoln had agreed to meet representatives from the Southern Confederacy, and arrange, if possible, terms of peace. Accordingly Vice President Stephens, Hunter and Campbell passed through the lines on February 2d, and met President Lincoln and Secretary Seward at Hampton Roads; but no terms could be agreed upon, as the enemy wished the recognition of the Southern Confederacy, their cry being independence or extermination. After a brief conference they returned to Richmond, and all hope of a speedy peace was abandoned.

The 67th Pennsylvania from the 3d division was filled with new recruits that had received large bounties. A great many of them deserted, and several of them were caught and sent back to division headquarters and placed in irons. They were tried by a military court-martial, and one of their number sentenced to be shot as a warning to others. Six of them had hid in the woods near City Point, and were constructing a raft for the purpose of escaping, but were captured, and one of their number named James Hicks, was sentenced to death. He was placed in close confinement in a tent with two guards over him, and was informed of his fate but bore it very composedly. He was furnished with good victuals, and attended by a Catholic priest from the 2d corps. He was also allowed to telegraph to his friends who interceded for him, and was finally pardoned by President Lincoln, and ever after made a good soldier, doing his duty well.

On the 5th of February, the 5th corps with two divisions of cavalry, moved out again to Hatcher's Run, on the Boydton Plank Road, for the purpose of lengthening our lines. After remaining out two days, the enemy in force attacked the 5th corps driving them back. The 1st division, 6th corps, was ordered to their support, and arrived in time to assist the 5th corps, driving the enemy back in return. The whole army was under marching orders but did not move, as nothing could be accomplished, and the 5th corps returned with the loss of one thousand men, several of the wounded dying from cold and exposure.

The rebels were now deserting at the rate of one hundred per day. The fall of Charleston was announced, causing gloom in the rebel army, but great rejoicing in ours, and the men now looked forward to the end of the war, it being currently reported that the enemy were to evacuate Petersburg and Richmond. Nearly four years had passed, and now our flag was floating over the battered walls of Fort Sumter and Charleston where the ordinance of secession was first passed. General Sherman was moving rapidly northward, and news of victories were constantly reaching us. The fall of Wilmington was their last important place, and they were now cornered, not knowing which way to move. The officers were now deserting as well as the men, bringing with them their side-arms and equipments.

General Grant deemed it of the utmost importance before a general movement of the armies operating against Richmond, that all communications North of the James River should be cut off, the enemy having withdrawn the bulk of their forces from the Shenandoah Valley, and sent it South up the valley, which, if successful, would accomplish a great deal towards the capture of Richmond. Ordering General Sheridan to move on Lynchburg, leaving a sufficient force to look after Mosby and his guerillas, he started from Winchester on the 27th of Feb. with two divisions of cavalry numbering five thousand each, and on the 1st of March he secured the bridge which the enemy attempted to destroy, across the middle fork of the Shenandoah at Mount Crawford, and entered Staunton on the 2d, the enemy having retreated to Waynesboro. Thence he pushed on to that place, where he found the enemy in force in an entrenched position under General Early, and without stopping to make a reconnoissance, an immediate attack was ordered, the position carried, and one thousand six hundred prisoners, eleven pieces of artillery and seventeen battle flags were captured; the prisoners under a strong escort were sent back to Winchester. After destroying a vast amount of property and railroads, he took up his line of march for the White House, following the canal towards Columbia, destroying every lock upon it and cutting the banks wherever practicable. He rested at Columbia one day, and sent information to General Grant of his whereabouts; an infantry force was sent to get possession of the White House, with supplies to meet him. Moving from Columbia in a direction to threaten Richmond, he crossed both North and South Anna Rivers, and after destroying all the bridges and many miles of railroad, proceeded down the north bank of the Pamunkey to White House, which place he reached on the 19th with his command in safety. After the long march by the cavalry over Winter roads, it was necessary to rest and refit at the White House. At this time the greatest uneasiness to the men was, the fear that Lee would leave his stronghold about Petersburg for the purpose of uniting with Johnson before driven out, or before our men were ready for pursuit, as Lee had the interior route and could form with Johnson, and with their forces combined, whip Sherman before our forces could get up.

As usual before a campaign, the troops were furnished with new clothing and extra rations. On the 24th of February the paymasters arrived, and the troops received four months' pay, their last payment in the field; but none knew it then, nor had the least idea of the war ending so soon. General Sheridan's raid had created a panic in Richmond, and Pegram's division was sent through Richmond at a double quick on Sunday morning, passing Libby Prison, and was seen by our prisoners; but they returned the next day, as Gen. Sheridan was safely at the White House strongly fortified against any attack. The pickets were ordered to watch the enemy closely, and if they attempted to leave at night, to follow them up. The 28th of February was the last day of Winter, and was rainy and disagreeable; the log shanties, or as the men called them, shebangs, were full of water, as this was the hardest rain there had been in some time. At division headquarters there were nineteen bounty jumpers heavily ironed, and under sentence of court martial; it was determined by the military court that one of them should die as a warning to the rest. Hicks had been pardoned by the President, and was at his regiment doing duty. Rebel officers now came in our lines, three and four each night; when the officers began to desert, there was not much to look for from the men.