Part 12

The 14th was now re-organized, having received several recruits, to the amount of two hundred. Captain Janeway, for bravery and meritorious conduct, was promoted to the colonelcy of the regiment, he and Lieutenant Baily being the only old officers from Freehold. The officers were now mostly enlisted men, and by their conduct had won for themselves a lasting reputation. Among those that distinguished themselves, and in every action were at their posts, were Captains Wanser, Manning and Marsh; Lieutenants Foster, Barkalew, Fletcher, Hanning, White and Manderville. Each one had entered the ranks and had won for himself his position. Colonel Truex was still in command of the brigade, acting Brigadier General. The division commanded by General Seymour, formerly commander of the 2d brigade, being captured in the Wilderness, he was taken to Charleston and subsequently released, and placed in command of the division in the absence of General Ricketts.

All was now quiet in camp, with the exception of cannonading in front of Petersburg, and picket firing along some portion of the line. This was the third and last Winter in the army for the regiment; the first Winter was spent at Monocacy, the second at Brandy Station, and the third at Petersburg.

Reports from various sources led Grant to believe that the enemy had again detached three divisions from the army in front of Petersburg, to again attempt the capture of Washington, via the Shenandoah Valley. He therefore sent the 2d corps and Greggs' division of cavalry from the army of the Potomac, and a force of General Butler's army, to threaten Richmond from the north side of the James to prevent Lee from sending troops away, and if possible to draw back those that were sent. In this move six pieces of artillery and several hundred prisoners were captured. Detained troops that were under marching orders ascertained that but one division of the three reported detached had gone, which soon returned when the movements of our forces had been discovered. The enemy having drawn heavily from Petersburg to resist this movement, the 5th corps moved out on a reconnoissance on the left, to take possession of the South-side road. During the day there was considerable fighting, but the enemy were found in force, and the 5th corps was ordered back, forming a line in rear of the army and building new quarters.

The 6th corps was under marching orders, but did not leave as they were not needed. Camp life again passed very pleasantly, as quiet was resumed. A branch railroad was completed from the City Point and Petersburg Railroad to the Weldon Railroad, and supplies were forwarded in all kinds of weather without difficulty to all parts of the line. Occasionally the enemy shelled our trains as they passed, but our batteries opening theirs were soon silenced, as our ammunition was plenty and theirs scarce. Recruits now arrived rapidly, and the army was increased to one hundred and fifty thousand men. The enemy, by merciless conscription, had pressed every man and boy in the field capable of bearing arms, leaving none but the negroes at home to do the work. Each Friday there was an execution of some kind in the army; men were hung for deserting to the enemy, and others were shot for jumping bounties and then deserting. It soon became a common thing, but it was necessary as a lesson to others that these men should be executed. The troops had lain in camp some time, when Grant again attempted to take the South-side Road. The 2d corps followed by two divisions of the 5th corps, with the cavalry in advance and covering the left flank of the army, forced a passage of Hatcher's Run and moved up the north side of it towards the South-side Road, until the 2d corps and part of the cavalry reached the Boydton Plank Road where it crosses Hatcher's Run; at this point our advance was but six miles distant from the South-side Road, and the whistle of the enemy's engine could be plainly heard. But finding that we had not reached the end of the enemy's communications, and no place presented itself for a successful assault, it was determined to withdraw within our fortified line, and orders were given accordingly. On the return the enemy moved out across Hatcher's Run, and made a desperate attack on General Hancock's right and rear. Hancock immediately faced his corps to meet it, and after a bloody combat drove the enemy within his works, and withdrew that night to his old position.

From this time forward the operations in front of Richmond and Petersburg until the spring campaign of 1865 were confined to the defence and extension of our lines, and to offensive movements for crippling the enemy's lines of communications, and to prevent his detaching any considerable force to send south. Visitors from the north again came in large numbers, among them several distinguished foreigners. Our lines were to them a wonder, as they thought it impossible for two armies to lie in such close proximity to each other without fighting all the time; but the past had taught the men that picket firing was but murder, and resulted in no advantage to either side. The men drilled daily and were inspected each Sunday. The spring campaign was looked forward to as a hard one, as it was supposed that Lee and Johnson combined, if once together, would move south, and we would have to follow. The tents of the men were ordered to be cleaned neatly, as several cases of small-pox had made their appearance. General Seymour commanding the division, was a strict disciplinarian, and orders were issued by him that were thought by the men to be useless; every non-commissioned officer was ordered to wear his chevrons, and if not obeying was immediately reduced; each man in the division was also ordered to wear his badge, and if any private was found without the blue cross, he was placed under arrest. Division headquarters were but a short distance from the troops, and were near the camp of the 50th New York engineers, they having the prettiest camp in the army. They built a splendid church, and negro minstrels were held nightly, officers of distinction visiting it, and divine service was forgotten; each night found the church full of men, who, if service had been held, would not have been found there.

Christmas was spent as usual dull and lonesome. Boxes were sent from home to the men, and those that had none fared well, as the rations given the men by the Government were plenty. The last day of the year was very rainy. Early in the morning the rebel pickets in front of the division made an attack, and surprised our men. The morning was dark and our men were driven back, but the reserve pickets soon formed and drove the rebels back in turn. Three men from the 9th New York were killed and several were captured. The firing soon ceased, and the last day of the year passed gloomily enough. The regiment was mustered in for four months pay by Colonel Janeway, and the members of the 14th spent the last day of the year very dull and lonesome in camp.

January 1st, 1865, was a dull New Year's to the men, for instead of a warm dinner at home, the fare of the men was hard-tack and salt pork. The bands of the regiments were playing national airs. It was the Sabbath and all was as still as death; not a shot disturbed the silence of the day. The soldier as he thought of his home, contrasted that with camp life, and wondered when the war would end. Most of the headquarter officers were under the influence of liquor, but the regimental officers were unable to obtain whiskey and remained sober, as the orders of Gen. Seymour were very strict, that no whiskey should be sold at the brigade commissaries. It was feared that the enemy would make an attack at night, and orders were given the pickets not to sleep, as it was rumored in the southern papers that Lee was about to astonish the world by some bold movement, and what it was no one could tell. His movement was anxiously looked forward to by the men, as it was reported that he was heavily re-enforced by troops from General Hardee's command and from Breckinridge's. The rebels seemed to be in good spirits, and our men supposed something unusual had occurred, but it turned out that the rebel officers had furnished the men gunpowder and whiskey, and then ordered them to cheer in honor of some great victory, but what victory it was they knew not, neither did our men.

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.

Of the number of bounty jumpers under sentence of court martial, John Kelly, from the 67th Pennsylvania, was sentenced to be shot to death with musketry on Friday, the 10th of March. The rest were punished in various ways; some of them were sent to the Rip Raps, and others were to work on the fortifications around Fortress Monroe. As this was the first military execution in the division, it was hoped that he would be pardoned. His friends interposed in his behalf, but all to no purpose, and the order for his execution was given. The morning of Friday, March 10th, dawned clear and bright, and all were impressed with the solemn scene. The division was formed in line at nine o'clock about one mile from camp, to witness the sad event. He had been visited daily by the priest, and was prepared to die. At 10 o'clock he was led from the guard-house by the sergeant in charge of the prisoners from the 14th New Jersey, and the procession moved as follows: First, the band playing the dead march, followed by the prisoner sitting on his coffin with the priest and four pall-bearers, and an escort of twenty men marching with reverse arms to the scene of the execution. The division in line presented arms. After passing the troops, the band and firing party filed to the right, the prisoner and pall-bearers to the left. His sentence was then read to him, and the priest administered the sacrament; but he seemed totally indifferent, and as unmoved as if a spectator. He was then placed on his coffin with his arms and eyes bandaged, and exclaimed, "Fire low, boys, hit me in the heart and kill me at once." The command was given to fire, and eight balls entered his body; each one of them would have proved mortal. Four men were reserved in case he was not killed, but they were not needed, as he was instantly killed, a warning to all deserters. He was placed in his coffin and buried where he fell. The arrangements were conducted by the Provost Marshal, Major Brown; everything was in perfect order, and the division returned to their quarters.