Part 8

Grant had thus far failed to exterminate Lee, but, confident of success, he determined, using his own expression, to fight it out on this line if it took all summer. The 6th corps had thus far suffered severely in those terrible battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania, losing over 10,000 men; but there was yet more to be done, as Lee was merely acting on the defensive, choosing his own position. On the morning of June 1st, 1864, the army was again ordered to move, the 6th corps in advance, starting at two o'clock a. m., and marching fifteen miles, relieving the cavalry at Cold Harbor; the roads were very dusty and the sun very warm; a heavy line of battle was formed during the afternoon; again the enemy were ahead of us and were strongly entrenched awaiting our approach; the cavalry had discovered their position and awaited our arrival. An attack was made at five o'clock, forming in four lines of battle, the 3d division being ahead, and the 14th New Jersey in the front line. A terrible battle was fought which lasted long after dark; the losses were very heavy on both sides; the 14th suffered severely, losing in the fight, in the short space of two hours, two hundred and forty in killed and wounded; Lieutenant Stults, of Co. H, and Lieutenant Tingley, of Co. E, were killed. Our men were compelled to fall back a short distance, entrenching during the night and building three lines of works. Firing continued during the night; a great many wounded had fallen between the lines unable to move, and lay all night under fire from both sides. Robert Perrine, of Co. K, being wounded in the hip fell in a ravine, being unable to move; he was struck eight times while lying there and mortally wounded; he was brought in next morning, and died at the White House. The Colonel of the 106th New York was also killed, his body lay but a short distance off from our lines, but the firing being so heavy it was impossible to get to him. The other corps having been held in readiness now came up and formed under a heavy fire, the 9th corps on the extreme left, the 5th on the right, and the 2d, 6th and 18th in the centre. We were now but twelve miles from Richmond, and had, at an immense loss of life, succeeded in driving Lee steadily back from Mine Run. The dust and heat were almost intolerable and flies and lice were in abundance. The men were compelled to lie close, as skirmishing was continued day and night. During the attack the enemy made repeated assaults on each of the corps not engaged in the main attack, but were repulsed with heavy losses in every instance. The 2d of June was spent in getting troops into position for an attack on the 3d, when the enemy's works were again assaulted in hopes of driving them from their position; in the attempt our loss was heavy, the 14th again suffering severely. Both armies were very much weakened by repeated losses, the enemy acting only on the defensive. Over 350 men had been lost from the 14th since crossing the Rapidan, but one short month before, and more were yet to be lost ere the rebellion would be crushed. The troops remained in line at Cold Harbor twelve days, and forts were built, heavy lines of works erected, and a regular siege commenced. Firing was kept up by the pickets and sharpshooters day and night, the men lying close when not on duty; many were shot while going after water and cooking. There was no place to wash and the weather was intensely hot; officers and men were covered with lice, huddled together as they were behind the works. Those twelve days were days that never will be forgotten; the sufferings of the men can never be told; it was death to stand up, as the bullets were continually flying through the air.

On the night of the 9th the enemy made an attack along the line, hoping to surprise our men, but they were handsomely repulsed by the 2d corps, driving them back from their first line of works. On the afternoon of the 6th a flag of truce was sent in by Lee requesting a suspension of hostilities for two hours, for the purpose of burying the dead between the lines; it was granted by General Meade, the pioneers were sent out and the wounded brought in, the dead being buried where they lay. But a few moments before both armies were engaged in hostile combat, now all was as still as death, the men talking with each other and exchanging papers, the Yankees trading sugar and coffee for tobacco; the works were lined with unarmed men, all gazing upon the solemn scene. The two hours soon passed, the signal was given, the men rushed back to their arms, and the rattle of musketry was again commenced along the line, Lieut. Tingly's body was recovered, but the body of Lieut Stults could not be found. The brigade was still commanded by Colonel Truex, the regiment by Lieut. Colonel Hall. The men were weary of the campaign, but there was no rest, it being Grant's determination to take Richmond. From the proximity of the enemy to their defences around Richmond it was impossible, by any flank movement, to interpose between them and the city. The army was still in a condition to either move by Lee's left flank and invest Richmond from the north side, or continue the move by his right flank to the south side of the James. Grant's plan from the start was to defeat Lee north of Richmond, if possible; then after destroying his lines of communication north of the James River, transport the army to the south side and besiege Lee in Richmond, or follow him south if he should retreat. After the battle of the Wilderness, it was evident that Lee deemed it of the first importance to run no risks with the army he then had, and acted fully on the defensive behind his works, or feebly on the offensive immediately in front of them, and in case of repulse could easily retire behind them. Without a greater sacrifice of life than Grant was willing to make, all could not be accomplished that he had desired north of Richmond; he therefore determined to hold the ground we then occupied, taking advantage of any favorable circumstances that might present themselves, until the cavalry could be sent to Charlottesville or Gordonsville to break the enemy's communications between Richmond and the southwest, and to cut off their supplies, compelling them in time to evacuate Richmond; when the cavalry got well off so that the enemy's cavalry would follow, to move the whole army south of the James by the enemy's right flank, and, if possible, cut off all supplies from all sources except by the canal.

On the 7th, two divisions of cavalry were sent under General Sheridan against the Virginia Central Railroad, to join with Hunter, who was then moving up the Shenandoah Valley. Seigel had met the enemy and was defeated by them with heavy loss, and was superseded by General Hunter. Thus far the work of the three armies had been but one-half accomplished. From the start, Butler was to take Richmond and Petersburg; Siegel to move on Lynchburg, and the Potomac army to whip Lee. Butler and Siegel had both failed, and the Potomac Army, that had never yet failed, had thus far accomplished all that was desired of it, and was left to finish what the other armies could not do. When Sheridan started for Lynchburg he was instructed to again join the Potomac army, choosing his own route in returning, after fulfilling his instructions.

Attaching great importance to the possession of Petersburg, General Smith's command, the 18th army corps was sent back to Bermuda Hundred via White House, to reach there in advance of the army of the Potomac. This was for the express purpose of capturing Petersburg, if possible, before the enemy became aware of our intentions and re-enforce the place. The 1st New Jersey regiment, whose term of office had now expired, were relieved from the front and sent home; they bade their comrades good-bye with happy hearts, soon to meet their loved ones at home. For three long years they had battled for their country, and their thinned ranks showed that they had suffered severely. The 14th had still fifteen months to serve, the hardest yet to come.

Finding that nothing more could be accomplished at Cold Harbor, the movement to the south side of the James commenced. After dark, on the night of the 12th, one division of cavalry under General Wilson, and the 5th corps, crossed the Chickahominy at Long Bridge, and moved out to White Oak Swamp, to cover the crossing of the other corps. The advance Corps reached James River at Charles City Court House on the night of June 13th; the 6th corps was left to guard the rear and the trains; marching on the night of the 12th twenty miles, halting thirty-two miles from Richmond; on the morning of the 14th marched eight miles to Charles City Court House, halting at noon near the river and pitching tents; guarding the rear until the trains passed; a pontoon bridge was laid, the troops crossing at Wyandott's Landing. The 3d division, the rear of the entire army, remaining on the banks of the James three days, until the trains had all passed. The army had now joined with Butler and moved on Richmond. After the army had crossed, the pontoons were taken up, and the 3d division placed on transports, and after sailing 25 miles--a splendid moonlight night--we landed at Bermuda Hundred at three o'clock the next morning. The James is a splendid River. One year ago the 14th was on the cars riding to Harper's Ferry; now in the vicinity of Petersburg. After landing the division marched eight miles, halting at five o'clock near Butler's headquarters for breakfast; cannonading and musketry at the front; the army was now in position, having failed to capture Petersburg, were investing the place.

During three years the armies of the Potomac and Northern Virginia had been confronting each other. In that time they had fought more desperate battles than it had ever fell to the lot of two armies to fight, without materially changing the vantage ground of either. The southern press and people, with more shrewdness than was displayed in the north, finding that they had failed to capture Washington and march on to New York, as they had boasted they would do, assured that they only defended their capital and southern territory; hence Antietam, Gettysburg, and all the other battles that had been fought, were by them set down as failures on our part and victories for them. Their armies believed this, and it produced a morale which could only be overcome by desperate and continuous hard fighting. The battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna and Cold Harbor, bloody and terrible as they were on our side, were even more damaging to the enemy, and so crippled them as to make them wary ever after of taking the offensive. Their losses in men were probably not so great, owing to the fact that we were, save in the Wilderness, almost invariably the attacking party, and when they did attack it was in the open field. The details of those battles, which for endurance and bravery on the part of the soldiery, have rarely been surpassed, are too fresh in the minds of every one to be repeated again. During the campaign of forty-three days from the Rapidan to James River, the army had to be supplied from an ever-shifting base by wagons, over narrow roads and through a densely wooded country, with a lack of wharves at each new base at which to conveniently discharge vessels. Too much credit cannot therefore be given to our chief quartermaster, as the trains were made to occupy all the available roads between the army and our water course, and but little difficulty was experienced in protecting them.

Before proceeding farther, it will be necessary to explain as briefly as possible why Petersburg was not taken. As soon as the crossing of the army commenced, Grant proceeded by steamer immediately to Bermuda Hundred to give the necessary orders for the capture of the place. The instructions to Butler were to send to General Smith immediately that night all the troops he could give him, without sacrificing the position he held. After remaining with Butler a few hours, he returned immediately to the Potomac Army to hasten the crossing, and throw it forward to Petersburg by divisions as rapidly as possible. We could thus re-enforce our army more rapidly there than the enemy could bring troops against us. General Smith got off as directed, and confronted the enemy's pickets near Petersburg before daylight the next morning, but for some reason did not get ready to assault their lines until near sundown; then, with a part of his command only, he made the assault, and carried the first line for a distance of two and a half miles, capturing fifteen pieces of artillery and three hundred prisoners. This was about seven P. M. Between the line thus captured and Petersburg there was another line, and there was yet no evidence that the enemy had re-enforced Petersburg with a single brigade from any source. The night was clear, the moon shining brightly, and favorable to further operations. General Hancock, with two divisions of the 2d corps, reached General Smith soon after dark, but instead of taking those troops, and pushing at once into Petersburg, he lay quiet until morning, when the enemy under Beauregard came down from Richmond in force, and by the next morning the inner line of the works was fully manned by rebel troops. An attack was ordered the next morning, but failed, as the enemy were too strongly posted. The troops commenced entrenching, and a strong line of works was built around Petersburg.

The 5th and 9th corps had now arrived, and the attack was again renewed and persisted in with great fury, but only resulted in forcing the enemy to an interior line of works, from which they could not be dislodged; but the advantage gained in position by us was very great. The army then proceeded to envelope Petersburg towards the south side road as far as possible, without attacking their fortifications. The enemy, to re-enforce Petersburg, withdrew from a part of their entrenchments in front of Bermuda Hundred. Butler, taking advantage of this, at once moved a force on the railroad between Petersburg and Richmond. The 3d division was ordered to support Butler, if necessary, and was then lying in front awaiting orders. About two o'clock Butler was forced back, the enemy re-occupying their old line. As our division was not needed, we were ordered to join the balance of the corps that had preceded us.

On Sunday afternoon, June 19th, orders were issued. Accordingly at two o'clock the division started, marching ten miles and crossing the Appomattox River on pontoons. The evening was splendid; the boats sailing on the river all reminded us of home. The negro troops were guarding the bridge, their bands playing national airs as the columns passed. At 11 o'clock the division halted near Petersburg, in full view of the city. The next day a negro was hung in presence of the army, for abusing a white lady. We remained in line the next day, the enemy shelling the train.

On the afternoon of the 21st, the corps was ordered to move and take position on the left, the 3d division in advance; passed the 2d and 9th corps, marching six miles, and forming in line of battle to cut the enemy's communications, crossing the Norfolk railroad that had been taken possession of by General Smith, in the attempt to take Petersburg; lay in line of battle during the night, and advancing the next day, building works. The Weldon railroad was reached and torn up some distance. During the afternoon the enemy appeared in force, and succeeded in flanking us, capturing several from the division; about forty from the 14th were captured and several killed. At night the troops fell back, after destroying three miles of road. The headquarters of the 3d division was at the house of Brig.-General Williams, of the rebel army. A new line of works was soon erected, the men sleeping on their arms. The house of General Williams had been ransacked from top to bottom by the soldiers, carpets torn up and everything destroyed. A splendid piano was left in the house, and as several of the men could play, dancing and singing were kept up in a rude style for several hours.

On the 22d, General Wilson, with two divisions of cavalry from the army of the Potomac, and one division from the army of the James, moved against the enemy's railroads south of the James and southwest of Richmond, striking the Weldon railroad at Reams' Station, where he met and defeated a force of the enemy's cavalry, reaching Burksville Station on the afternoon of the 23d; and from there he destroyed the Danville railroad for a distance of twenty-five miles, where he found the enemy in position and was defeated with small loss. He then commenced his return march, and on the 28th met the enemy again in force on the Weldon Railroad, near Stony Creek; moving on the left, with a view of reaching Reams' Station, supposing it to be in our possession. Here he again engaged the enemy's cavalry supported by infantry, and was cut off with all communication, with the loss of his artillery and train. A Lieutenant and a few of his men cut their way through, and succeeded in reaching headquarters. Informing General Meade of the situation of General Wilson, orders were immediately issued to General Wright to take the 6th corps and move out to the support of Wilson; starting at three o'clock on the afternoon of July 29th, marched eight miles and halted for the night near Reams' Station, the enemy retiring, as their force was insufficient to cope with the cavalry and 6th corps.

Wilson was now extricated from his perilous position, and with the 6th corps remained at Reams' Station three days. The 14th New Jersey and 106th New York were detailed to destroy the railroad. General Wilson, with the remainder of his force, crossed the Nattoway River, coming in safely on our left and rear. The damage to the enemy in this expedition more than compensated for the losses sustained; it severed all connection with Richmond for several weeks. On the 13th of July the regiment was mustered in for the thirteenth time, for four months' pay, March, April, May and June, by Lieutenant-Colonel Hall. Our lines now extended a distance of over thirty miles, from Reams' Station to the Appomattox; the Potomac army lay behind extensive works that had been erected under fire. In the recent campaign our losses had been heavy, but still the army was large, as recruits and convalescents were continually arriving. Butler's army extended from the Appomattox to Deep Bottom, with cavalry on the flank and rear. It has been estimated that Grant lost from the Rapidan to Petersburg, eighty thousand men in killed and wounded. The losses of the enemy were not so great, as they were acting on the defensive behind their works.

It was supposed the enemy would make a grand attack on the morning of the 4th of July, and preparations were made to meet them. The morning dawned and the troops were all in line behind their works; the enemy's communications were in danger, and the Potomac army must be driven back; the morning passed and not a shot was fired along the entire line. It was now evident that the enemy did not intend attacking, and the troops laid aside their arms. The weather was warm and the sand dry and hot. The men laid off in their shelter tents thinking of former days, when the 4th was spent in a different manner. At noon General Butler, for the purpose of firing a salute, trained and shotted one hundred guns upon Petersburg, and the shells were soon flying through the air; the enemy replied, and a lively cannonade was kept up until sunset.

General Hunter having been placed in command of the armies of Western Virginia, immediately took up the offensive, and moved up the Shenandoah Valley, where he met the enemy, routed and defeated them, and moved direct on Lynchburg, which place he reached on June 15th. Up to this time he was very successful, and but for the difficulty of taking with him sufficient ordnance stores over so long a march through a hostile country, he would no doubt have captured that important place. To meet this movement under Gen. Hunter, General Lee sent a force equal to a corps, a part of which reached Lynchburg before Hunter. After considerable skirmishing, Hunter, owing to a want of ammunition to give battle, retired back from the place, and moved back by the way of the Kanawha Valley; this lost to us the use of his troops for several weeks. Immediately upon the enemy ascertaining that Hunter was retreating from Lynchburg by way of the Kanawha River, thus laying the Shenandoah Valley open for raids into Maryland and Pennsylvania, he moved down that Valley. It was at first supposed to be only a small force of the enemy, and General Wallace, with a brigade of one hundred days' men and detachments from the Invalid corps, was sent to Monocacy Bridge. Their advance, consisting of a few guerillas under the notorious Harry Gillmore, were met and driven back. The troops in the Potomac army were all lying in front of Petersburg, under fire day and night, preparing to besiege the place.

At two o'clock on the morning of July 6th the bugle sounded, and the troops were ordered to fall in and prepare to move, the 3d division being ordered to Harper's Ferry; the men were glad to go, as they were tired of lying in the sand. At four o'clock the division started, and marched fifteen miles to City Point, the dust and sand so thick that nothing could be seen, the men being completely covered and no water could be had; this march was very tiresome to the men, numbers falling out on the way. City Point was reached at noon, and the men were placed on transports, and new clothing was issued. The 14th Regiment and 151st New York were placed on a splendid steamboat called the Sylvan Shore, the men enjoying the sail very much, a distance of three hundred miles, passing Fortress Monroe, Point Lookout, and the Rip Raps. The scenery along the river was grand; they landed at Locust Point near Baltimore on the morning of the 8th, at five o'clock. Rumors were now in circulation, and the people of the North were alarmed for the safety of our National Capitol, for instead of a few guerillas as was first supposed, it was a grand raid of the enemy in force on an extensive scale. So silently and secretly had this movement been conducted, that none were aware of the magnitude of the invasion. Major General Jubal Early, with a force of thirty thousand veteran troops, had taken possession of Martinsburg. General Seigel, who was in command of our forces there, retreated across the Potomac to Shepardstown, and General Weber, commanding at Harper's Ferry, crossed the river and occupied Maryland Heights. On the 6th the enemy occupied Hagerstown, moving a strong column toward Frederick City.