Campaign of the Fourteenth Regiment New Jersey Volunteers

by J. Newton Terrill

Just four hours after the repulse of the rebel attack on the right of our line, the thunder of artillery and the crash of musketry again rolled loudly on the chilly March air. This time, however, everything was changed, the sound came from the left, not from the right; we were now the attacking party, not the rebels, and the ground we won was not recovered by them. General Grant, angry at their boldness, determined to let them know that the Potomac army was yet as ready as ever, and the 6th corps, which never knew the word fail, was ordered to the assault for the purpose of preventing the rebels from massing their troops, and at the same time to ascertain if possible their strength; advancing in three lines, the enemy's entire skirmish line was captured. They had erected a number of rifle pits in front of their main line; they were driven out of these works and compelled to fall back or else be captured; several surrendered at once as they were anxious to enter our lines. The position from which the attack was made by the 6th corps, was at the left of our line and near Fort Fisher; the thirty pound guns doing terrible execution. At two o'clock in the morning, Major-General Wright and staff reached Fort Fisher, where he was joined by Generals Wheaton, Seymour, Getty, Keifer and other 6th corps officers. The picket line was now held by the 10th Vermont and 14th New Jersey, supported by the 110th and 122d Ohio regiments. The order forward was given, and the first assault was made by the 10th and 14th, under command of Colonel George B. Davison, of the 10th Vermont. The rebel position was charged with great gallantry and success, entering and occupying the line assaulted. The rebels were now aware of the weakness of the attacking party, as the two regiments advanced, and they soon massed a column of troops to drive them back; but the 3d division of the 6th corps was on hand and gave them such a volley that they fell back in confusion, and the entire line remained in our possession. The loss in the 14th regiment was comparatively small, as the fighting did not continue long. The artillery in the different forts by this time became warmly engaged with the rebel batteries, and a company of the 9th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, of the 3d division, sent a shell with such accuracy as to blow up a caisson in one of the rebel forts; shells were screaming through the air, and away to the left volleys of musketry told that the 2nd corps was now heavily engaged. Part of the 3d division was placed on the left of the line with the 2d corps. It was composed of the 10th Vermont, 14th New Jersey, 110th and 122d Ohio, 6th Maryland and part of the 9th N. York Heavy Artillery; this composed nearly all the 2d brigade, with two regiments from the 1st brigade.

The line was now formed for another assault, and when everything was in readiness the flag of the 1st brigade of Colonel Truex was waved as a signal to move forward. From the parapet of Fort Fisher the blue cross of the 3d division, 6th corps, waved, and from thousands of brave men about to risk life and limb came back a ringing cheer, and as onward they swept many a God-speed followed them. The batteries on both sides were hard at work, and not many minutes elapsed before the sharper ring of small arms was heard.

The line was fast closing on the rebel position, and their outer works were soon reached. Major Prentiss, from the 6th Maryland, was the first to enter their works. Scores of rebels preferred capture to running away, and as soon as they saw our troops inside of their lines, they threw down their arms and gave themselves up as prisoners of war. The loss on both sides was heavy; the 14th, as usual, fought well, losing their share of men in killed and wounded. The result of this fight proved that the enthusiasm and energy of Lee's troops had dwindled down to zero. They fought like hopeless, not desperate, men; the spirit which animated them two years ago had been broken by repeated defeats, and tamed by short rations. The new position gained was, on Sunday morning, March 26, held by the entire 6th corps, ready to repel any attack the enemy would make. The 14th was again on picket, and the long night passed slowly away, without a shot along the entire line; the enemy was badly beaten and was quiet the rest of the night. Our men fought splendidly and successfully, and at night there was a wide-spread enthusiasm among the troops at the glorious success of the day. The enemy began the sanguinary work.

The Spring campaign was now opened with favorable auspices to our side, with a prospect of soon ending the war. The ground gained by the 6th corps was held during the next three days, the lines having been advanced one mile and a half from our former position. The 14th was now relieved from picket; tired and weary, the men lay down to sleep, having had none for nearly three days. The rebel dead, as they lay strewn around, were but skin and bone, a fact not to be wondered at, when it is remembered that for the last six months their chief article of diet had been a small quantity of corn meal daily.

From the night of the 29th to the morning of the 31st, the rain fell in such torrents as to make it impossible to move a wheeled vehicle, except when corduroy roads were laid in front of them. On the 30th, General Sheridan had advanced as far as Five Forks, where he found the enemy in force, and awaited re-enforcements. In the meantime, the 2d and 6th corps were holding the line they had captured without any farther fighting, awaiting orders to advance. The men were now confident that the enemy's main works could be carried, and were clamorous to be led on; but the rain and roads would not permit an advance.

On the morning of April 1st, General Sheridan, re-enforced by the 5th corps, drove the enemy back on Five Forks, capturing all their artillery and six thousand prisoners. In front of the 2d and 6th corps there was nothing but picket firing during the day; at night a heavy cannonade commenced, and was kept up until morning. Gen. Grant now ordered an attack along the entire line; accordingly, the 6th corps was massed and formed in three divisions. At three o'clock on Sunday morning, without a noise, the column was formed for a charge, with the 9th corps in reserve to follow the 6th, if successful. General Sheridan, with his cavalry and the 5th corps, were to attack at the same time, the result being well known to our readers. At four o'clock the order to move forward was given, and the 3d division in advance, with a yell charged the enemy's works, and their entire line was captured with many prisoners and guns. The 6th corps swept everything before them; the wildest enthusiasm prevailed, and the men fought reckless of life and limb. Three thousand prisoners were captured by the 6th corps alone. There was a tremendous struggle during the day in woods, fields, hills and valleys, and on the roads and creeks a few miles south and west of Petersburg, and from twenty to thirty miles beyond the rebel Capital; never was such a scene presented to the eye. The whole rebel army was now in full retreat before our victorious troops. Petersburg was captured by the 6th corps and the Southside road reached and torn up for many miles. The result of this day's fight was the capture of Petersburg with twelve thousand prisoners, many thousand stand of arms, and the utter rout of the rebel army. The most wicked of all rebellions had now absolutely received its death-blow, and was so positively crushed that no power on earth could save it. Lee's retreat proved an utter rout. At midnight on Sunday, Richmond was evacuated, Jeff. Davis taking the rail for Danville; the lower portion of the city was burned and totally destroyed. For four long years had our brave men fought, and now the rebel Capital was in our possession, General Wetsell entering and occupying it on Monday morning at daylight. The rebel army seemed to hold together feebly before the battles, but the fierce struggle of Saturday and Sunday had completely used them up. We had taken twelve thousand prisoners in the two days, and there were twelve thousand more killed and wounded. Only one-half of Lee's army was now left; such a force could not long stand alone with a victorious army in pursuit. It was now Lee's intention to join Johnson if possible, and such a run would cost them ten thousand more men.

While the 6th corps was holding the captured picket line without much fighting, there was severe fighting on the left of the line. It was reserved for this corps to divide the formidable rebel army, which for so many months defied our power to drive them from the city of Petersburg. There were two objects in view; one to create a division in favor of Gen. Sheridan, and the other to cut the rebel army in two and destroy the far-famed Southside road. The first notice given the men was at nine o'clock, when a dispatch came from Gen. Meade, telling of the success of Gen. Sheridan on the left, and his heavy capture of prisoners, and ordered the troops to be massed at three o'clock on Sunday morning as was heretofore stated, and charge the rebel line. The pickets were also ordered to advance in front of the different divisions, but did not succeed in arousing a suspicion among them that we were to attack. The rebels showed how far they were from suspecting a movement, by calling out to know if we were celebrating April fool's day at that time in the morning. The order given for the assault was carried out very punctually, owing to the fact that the greater the surprise the greater would be our chance of success; the troops therefore moved outside of the works at two o'clock. The moon had gone down, and the night was intensely dark; a thin chilly mist arose from the ground, which served still farther to conceal our movements from the enemy. On the extreme left of the line was the 1st brigade, with Colonel Truex in command, and the 14th New Jersey on the right of the brigade under Colonel Janeway. In forming the line, it was Gen. Wright's intention to attack in such overwhelming force that failure would be impossible; then when the column had made good its entrance into the rebel works, the divisions on the right and left might deploy, and drive the enemy from their works as effectually as if a fresh corps had attacked. To co-operate with the attacking column, Gen. Park, with the 9th corps, was held in reserve, while Sheridan, far away to the left, was thundering on their flank. Just before the attack, Gen. Wright and staff rode up to the picket line; a match was struck and the time ascertained; it wanted just fifteen minutes of four o'clock, and an officer was sent back to Fort Fisher with orders to fire a signal gun exactly at four o'clock. A few shots were fired by the enemy as the match was struck, and then all was still; no object was visible at a distance of a few yards, and of the thousands of men massed, not one could be seen by the enemy's line.

Suddenly a bright flash leaped out into the darkness, and a loud report from a twelve pounder rolled in the air; a minute elapsed and a similar sound came from the left some ten miles away, telling that the signal was understood. The veterans of the different divisions were now pushed forward, and the dull crash of musketry and the flash of artillery told that the battle had begun. The enemy was surprised, but soon rallied, and a terrific strife now took place. The entire line from right to left was heavily engaged. Daylight dawned slowly to the men, whose hearts were already relieved, as it was noticed that the enemy's firing became more feeble. Gen. Wright's assertion was fulfilled, that he would go through them like a knife, as their entire line was captured, together with thousands of prisoners, numerous pieces of artillery and many battle flags. It was the most complete achievement of the war, and the first rays of the morning's sun beamed on the ramparts of the captured forts with the rebel army in full retreat. To retain what we had gained was necessary to gain more; for this purpose, the 3rd division was deployed to the left from forts on other parts of the line. The rebels were already firing on our men, and it was necessary to capture those forts and silence the guns. The two brigades under command of Colonels Truex and Keifer, pushed gallantly forward, and Gen. Wright after assuring himself of the safety of that part of the line, turned his attention to the left. The division took possession of a portion of the rebel lines, and soon struck the Southside road, destroying it for over ten miles. Later in the day when our men had completely cleared the rebels out of that part of the line, the work of destroying the road was resumed. General Seymour continued pushing toward the rebels left with the 3d division, and at one point had as severe a fight as any which occurred during the day. The rebels had a battery of six guns, two twenty pounders and four light field pieces, which they served in magnificent style. Our line was rapidly advanced and a charge made by the 1st brigade, and six more guns were added to the number already captured. From this point our progress to the left was comparatively easy, as the enemy were in full retreat. Soon a line of glittering bayonets were seen advancing towards us, and Major-General Gibbons informed Gen. Wright that the advancing column belonged to the 24th corps.

The 6th corps had by this time reached the vicinity of Hatcher's Run, and it was decided to right-about-face and march for Petersburg by the Boydton Plank Road. The troops had but commenced moving towards Petersburg, when a hearty cheer was given by the rear regiments. The cause was soon ascertained to be the arrival of Lieut. General Grant and staff, and as soon as the soldiers saw the Lieutenant-General, they shouted, "Boys, here's General Grant, three cheers for him," and all along the line as he rode on his black horse, Jeff. Davis, the men cheered him with the wildest enthusiasm; he rode with head uncovered, and bowed his thanks for the soldiers' hearty greeting. On seeing Generals Wright, Seymour, Wheaton and other 6th corps officers, he shook hands with great heartiness, and after spending a short time in conversation, he proceeded towards Petersburg, the corps following rapidly. On reaching the place, preparations were at once commenced to attack the works immediately surrounding Petersburg. For this purpose Gen. Seymour of the 3d division was sent forward to the right of the line; Gen. Getty to the centre, and Gen. Wheaton to the left. Artillery was put into position, and soon the battle raged with even greater fury than in the morning. The rebels seemed determined to defend their forts to the last, but nothing could withstand the tried valor of General Wright's troops. The long lines were gradually closed on the forts and garrisons, and they were compelled to give way before the hard fighting of the 6th corps. Until after nightfall the contest continued, and the fate of Petersburg was decided. Major C. K. Prentiss, of the 6th Maryland, was the first to enter the rebel works, but was unfortunately shot through the chest a short time afterward. A rebel lieutenant was picked up wounded, who gave his name as Lieut. Prentiss, of the 2d Maryland regiment; he was a younger brother of the major, whom he had not seen since the rebellion broke out; they were both placed in the hospital together, and their wounds dressed. The meeting between the brothers was very affecting, causing many to shed tears. Our losses in killed and wounded, considering the hard fighting, were very light, as the rebels aimed too high for their fire to be destructive. Night found us in the possession of Petersburg, with an immense quantity of stores and ammunition that the enemy had left in their haste. Lee with the remnant of his army, had fled in the direction of Danville, a demoralized disheartened force. The loss in the 14th did not exceed one hundred in killed and wounded. The troops fought well, but none better than the 14th New Jersey. Led by a brave officer, Lieut.-Colonel Janeway, they with the rest caused many a rebel to bite the dust, and with about one hundred and fifty men left, participated in the attack.

The charge of Major-Gen. Wright's veterans under cover of the darkness and mist, preceding the break of day, will forever live in history as one of the grandest and most sublime actions of the war. With irresistible force they broke through the rebel line, in which months of labor had been expended, and then turning the rebel guns on other hostile forts, they swept along the rebel line for a distance of five miles, capturing men, guns and colors. When it is remembered how much depended on them, and what would have been the consequence if they failed, the country will treasure as household words the names of Wright, Getty, Seymour, Wheaton, and other generals who led the oft-tried but never defeated men of the 6th corps to victory, on the morning of Sunday, April 2d.