December 1862: Battle of Fredericksburg (Part Two)

On December 12, 1862, the battle at Fredericksburg, Virginia was well underway.  Men from Warren County, NJ serving in many units within the Army of the Potomac were coming together for the battle.  Belvidere resident Sergeant Cicero H. Drake, was advancing with the 142nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment toward the Confederate fortifications outside of town. His brother, Sergeant Levi Drake, of Blairstown, was wounded as they advanced together.

Drake wrote, "We had now gotten within full range of their guns, and we, for the first time, began to fire.  We halted, but the whole regiment squirmed like a snake.  We had now got within 75 yards of their first line of entrenchments and at this moment, their whole line opened on us a fire that no man could describe.  The balls flew like a storm of hail.  And at the same time, a heavy battery commenced a crossfire from the left, completely raked us from left to right, and poured into our ranks all sorts of death dealing missiles.  Not a man turned his face to the foe, but like veterans stood up and were shot down.  No troops in the world could stand such a fire, and again we fell on our faces.

"We lay perhaps for three minutes, but those three minutes contained the horrors of the ages.  On my left and right, at my side, lay a man shot through the breast by a grape, and on my right lay one terribly mutilated by a shell.  As we lay, I could hear those poor fellows praying and beseeching High Heaven for protection, while others were groaning and yelling  most vociferously.  All these, with the wild whir of bullets, the singing of grape  and the bursting of shells.  All these, I say, formed a spell of terrors that will never be forgotten.  At one time, I raised my head and looked about me.  I saw dead men and horses scattered in every direction over the field, while great pieces of railroad torn from the rebel batteries plowed the earth in our front and rear.  Again, we were ordered to up and charge.  At this time, we had lost many of our best officers.  Our fellows kept advancing and firing.  Most of them would fall on their backs, load, jump up and fire.  Our line became a little confused.  

 

"A young officer - I do not remember his name, where he came from or anything about him - sprang up in our midst, and with sword drawn, leading his horse, pointed to the woods and shouted, 'charge in the woods, on them, with your bayonets; I will go with you, my brave boys!'  His noble face, so young and boy-like, glowed with valor.  I thought if he could go, I could, and I followed him.  I fired quite a number of times, and my gun barrel got so hot that I could hardly hold it.  I dropped on my back, loaded, jumped up and was in the act of of placing a cap, when a shell burst near me, a piece of which hit me between the thigh and knee joint. I thought a forty-pound cannon ball had taken it, but on examination, I found that, at least, my leg was left. However, my fighting was done for that day [December 13], and I fell to the rear.  I got behind a clump of earth, lay down with other wounded, and watched the progress of the conflict.

 

"I saw our fellows steadily advance, and saw the enemy fall back, but they rallied on their reserve and fell on us in overwhelming numbers.  They got us started back, then, having a full opportunity, they played on us at an awful rate.  At one time it seemed like the gates of hell had opened, and all the furies of the infernal region were pouring a perfect stream of death into our ranks.  After laying on the field about half an hour, I hobbled to the hospital.  I could a dozen sheets more in telling you what I passed through after the battle, but I have not time.  But this I will say, our drunken doctors used us worse than did the rebels.  One man, of our company, was wounded about noon, Saturday, and lay on the field till Monday night.  It was found necessary to amputate his leg, and he told me that the surgeon that had operated on him was so drunk that he staggered during the operation."  [The appearance of drunkenness may have been the effects of prolonged exposure to ether, which was used as an anesthetic.]

 

Reverend Alanson Haines, Chaplain of the 15th NJ Regiment, who acted as a messenger between brigade and regiment during the battle, reported, "The rebel fire was direct and close, and the exposure of a little knot of men or officers would bring a shell just over their heads or into their midst.  Colonel Ryerson had ridden up the further bank and was seated on his horse, when a shell came directly towards him and seemed to explode      on the very spot he occupied. Doctor Oakley exclaimed, 'Harry Ryerson is gone!'  The smoke cleared away, and he was seen to ride on unharmed, having marked the coming missile and thrown himself down on his horse's neck just in time and far enough to escape."

 

Reverend Haines reported on the first death in the 15th NJ Regiment during the battle, "Mitchell Mulvey, Company G, was the first man of the regiment killed.  At the time, shots were being exchanged with the rebel pickets.  He was cautioned not to expose himself, but he exclaimed, 'Hush, don't tell a Jersey boy to keep back when the enemy is in sight!'  He had fixed his attention on a rebel sharpshooter who fired from behind a tree.  When, at length, the rebel exposed himself in firing, he took aim and fired.  the rebel was seen to tumble over, evidently killed.  At the same moment, Mitchell fell back dead, shot through the brain."

 

During the fighting on the morning of December 13, the 15th NJ Regiment was stationed along a railroad line keeping up musket fire on the rebels.  In the afternoon, the 1st NJ Brigade was forced back. A large number of soldiers from the 4th, 23rd and 15th NJ Regiments were captured.  Colonel Hatch of the 4th NJ Regiment, was wounded in the knee.  He died a few days later after his leg was amputated.  Sergeant Major John P. Fowler, of the 15th NJ, was killed, and Captain William Slater and Major James M. Brown were severely wounded.

 

Copyright 1997-2012: Jay C. Richards            

December 1862: Battle of Fredericksburg (Part One)

On December 11, 1862, soldiers of the 7th Michigan Infantry Regiment, the 19th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, and the 20th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment launched an amphibious assault across the Rappahannock River at Fredericksburg, Virginia. 

 

Warren County soldiers were on the march toward Fredericksburg.  The 11th NJ Volunteer Infantry Regiment, commanded by Colonel Robert McAllister of Oxford Furnace, was assigned to General Daniel Sickels division when it began its march to Falmouth, Virginia, located across the Rappahannock River from Fredericksburg.  Sickels' father had founded The Belvidere Apollo newspaper in Warren County, and young Daniel Sickels had for a time worked in his father's newspaper in Belvidere.

 

The newly created 15th NJ Volunteer Infantry Regiment, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Edward L. Campbell, of Belvidere, was assigned to the Sixth Corps.  The 15th NJ was ordered to proceed toward Fredericksburg. 

 

Second Lieutenant Birdsall Cornell, of Branchville, and the 1st NJ Volunteer Cavalry Regiment were one of the first Federal units to engage in the battle.  Cornell wrote to The Belvidere Intelligencer [formerly The Belvidere Apollo], "Our Regiment has the distinguished honor of being the first to commence the engagement on the left at the great battle of Fredericksburg.  We moved across the river early in the morning, and were thrown immediately to the front as skirmishers. In about an hour, the infantry came up and we were ordered to the rear.   Strange as it may appear, although we were under galling fire during this time, both of infantry and artillery, not a man was injured, and only two horses were killed."

 

Sergeant Cicero H. Drake, of Belvidere, had joined the 142nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Regiment in Stroudsburg. He was wounded in the leg during the battle on December 13 and was sent to Finley Hospital in Washington, DC to recuperate. He wrote a letter to J. R. Butts, of Belvidere, while in hospital.  "On the 10th instant, we encamped near White Oak Church, three miles from Fredericksburg.  On the morning of the 11th, we were aroused at 2:00 by the long [drum] roll, and we started for the Rappahannock.  Shortly after, on our way, we heard the thunder of cannon in the direction of Fredericksburg and knew that the first scene of the great drama had opened - the bombardment of Fredericksburg.  About 9 a.m. we formed in line of battle in the woods, a mile or two from the town.  All day the fire continued, and about dark, the town was taken by a detachment of two regiments."

 

The Confederate troops had fortified the heights just outside of town.  A stone wall gave many cover from Federal rifle and musket fire.  The 15th NJ Regiment arrived at Stafford Heights on the morning of December 11.  Lt. Colonel Campbell was in command because Colonel Samuel Fowler was ill with typhoid fever.   While awaiting orders, the men of the 15th NJ watched the town being shelled by rebel guns.

 

Colonel McAllister's 11th NJ Regiment also arrived at Stafford Heights.  Pontoon bridges were under construction down on the Rappahannock.  On the morning of December 12, McAllister was ordered to have his men guard the bridges.  Campbell was ordered to have his men cross the river and prepare for battle orders. 

 

Sgt. Drake wrote, "On Friday, 12th, our forces crossed the river and took a position beyond. All this time, the mighty hosts of the rebels lay strongly fortified in the mountains back of Fredericksburg and directly in our front.  Although they were not a mile from us, and had a large army, that night not a sign of them could be seen.  No campfire, no noise, but all in that direction, silent as death.  The next morning (Saturday), we were led in the direction of the enemy.  The ground between us and the rebel works presented a level appearance.  As we came out in this open field, the lines were formed.    Our Regiment was on the left of the 2nd Brigade Pennsylvania Reserves, and in the 2nd line of battle.  After forming, we were ordered to advance, which we did, and took a position near to and in the rear of  our batteries.  Our batteries were placed on a ridge, perhaps a quarter of a mile from the enemy's works.  They had been shelling the enemy for some time. 

 

"Occasionally solid shot came whistling over our heads but doing no damage.  About 12, we shifted our position a little to the left.  This attracted the foe, and they opened on us with solid shot and shell.  We fell on our faces, everything, so as to escape the fire.  At the same time, the battery attached to our Regiment opened in return, firing right over our heads, and poured into the ranks solid 24 and 48 pounders.  Although we lay flat on the ground, their shot came unpleasantly close.  One cannon ball came so close to my head that I felt the wind from it  on my ear.  Sometimes I would look up and around me.  I then could see balls bounding majestically over the field.  They sometimes would strike a hundred yards front of us, throw up a sheet of sand, bound over us, and light perhaps fifty yards in our rear.  At this time, along the line, there was a perfect thunder of artillery. 

 

"Although we were on the left, we could hear the conflict rage on the right several miles off.  Between us and the rebels was a rise of ground hiding them from our view, but between this hill and them was a level field, occasionally cut by deep rifle pits.  On this rise, our batteries were planted, and in their rear, we lay.

 

"Soon after 12, the command, 'Attention, Battalion - Forward - Double Quick - March' was given, and we advanced to storm their stronghold.  When we reached the top of the rise before mentioned, we came to a deep rifle pit; we broke over this and formed beyond.  then the command, 'Fix Bayonets,' and the order for a grand charge across the plateau, but here they opened on us a most awful fire, but on went the 142nd; soon our advance was checked, and we were compelled to fall on our faces to escape total destruction.  Again we up and pressed forward.  Here I saw my Captain fall, and a moment after, my brother [Levi C. Drake, of Blairstown] fell by my side."

 

Copyright 1997-2012: Jay C. Richards

 

 

 

 

 

1861-1863: Belvidere's Newspaper War (Part Two)

On August 16, 1861, Franklin Pierce Sellers, Republican owner/editor of The Belvidere Intelligencer, published an attack on John Simerson, the Democrat owner/editor of The Warren Journal.  Sellers accused the anti-war Simerson of being "a most miserable tool" and a "most willful perverter of the truth."  [See 1861-1863: Belvidere's Newspaper War (Part One).]

Simerson wrote in response, "'Peace, Peace, Peace' is the language of all democratic papers in the country, and peace meetings are a good deal thicker now than war meetings were eight weeks ago."

 

Sellers replied in his next edition, "Yes, if you would have peace 'at the price of chains and slavery.'  In the language of the eloquent Patrick Henry, 'Gentlemen may cry peace, peace, but there is no peace,' nor there never will be, or should be, until either the rebels now in arms against the government lay down their arms and become loyal, or 'until the last armed foe expires.'  As well might the authorities of this town or county make peace with the prowling midnight thief or assassin, or with a band who premeditated the murder of their fellow men in our midst.  Be it ever remembered that the present rebellion against this Government has been long premeditated by bad men...We admit the laws allow of Free Speech, and of Free Press, when it does not amount to treason, but we ask the question -- Is not that man who wishes success to rebel arms, who extols their acts, and who condemns the whole course of the authorized powers that be to suppress rebellion, a guilty man in point of the letter of the law, as if found in arms against the Government?  We are willing to let a virtuous and free people set their seal of condemnation upon the author of such traitorous articles as appear from week to week in The Journal.  In the very last issue of that paper may be found a 'puff' in favor of the New York Day Book, an acknowledged traitor paper.  It seems not a little strange that such daring traitorism should be tolerated in Warren County, whose inhabitants, as a quite general thing, are intelligent and loyal."

 

In September 1861, Simerson, tiring of the public attacks by Sellers, challenged Sellers to prove The Warren Journal was a secessionist newspaper and "have us arrested."

 

Sellers replied, "The Journal calls upon us to make it out a Secessionist paper.  We have done this to our own satisfaction, and to the satisfaction of all persons outside of its own kind.  The secessionists here and elsewhere claim it is 'our paper' --this is evidence enough if there were none other.  'Have us arrested,' says The Journal.  We profess to be loyal, but we have more decent business on hand than to undertake so dirty a job as that.  It is all folly for The Journal to attempt to make it appear that it is anything but a disloyal paper.  It has gone so far in that, that people really laugh at its attempts to make a show of decency.  The Journal is a fit subject for the consideration of the Grand Jury. The Jury will find no trouble in obtaining evidence that the paper is a treasonable institution.  We therefore hand it over to the jury now about to enter upon its duties.  'Let justice be done though The Journal should fall'."

 

In addition to his vituperative attacks on Simerson, Sellers is known for his use of the phrases "Shamocracy" and "Shamocrats."  Here is an example of Sellers' use of the words in an article dated September 6, 1861: "ANOTHER HOWL!  John Dean, a Republican, has been appointed Post Master at Stewartsville, in this county, and a tremendous howl is set up by the Shamocracy, in which, of course, the filthy organ of the party, The Journal, joins most heartily.  It is a most dreadful matter with the Shamocracy that they are being debarred from further share in the emoluments of public office!  Mr. Fulmer, who has been ordered to make place for Mr. Dean, it appears, has held the office for forty years, yet the howl is created because of his removal.  What makes the removal of Shamocrats from office more sore now than formerly is the fact that they know they will never again be suffered to have the ascendancy.  They know this and feel it.  We hope Mr. Dean will not feel bad because a man having held the office for forty years has been removed to make place for him.  Such things happen - especially when men are not of the 'right stripe'."

 

Sellers attacks on The Warren Journal and on "Shamocrats" continued until his death in 1863.   The Belvidere Intelligencer continued to be the favorite newspaper of Warren County soldiers throughout the war.   The Belvidere Intelligencer was the oldest Warren County newspaper. It was originally created as The Belvidere Apollo in the 1825 by George G. Sickles, father of General Daniel E. Sickles - who commanded many Warren County soldiers in the Third Corps. After the war, the newspaper reverted to its original name.

 

Copyright 1997-2012: Jay C. Richards

1861-1863: Belvidere's Newspaper War (Part One)

Politics, in one form or another, was a major factor in the cause of the American Civil War and of the division among the people of New Jersey.  Warren County was not exempt from political division.  Although Asbury was the original headquarters for the Musconetcong Rifle Guards and Company H of the 8th NJ Volunteer Infantry Regiment, it also had a sizable pro-Southern contingent.  Bridgeville also had a group of anti-war/pro-Southern residents who were soon called the "Bridgeville Thinking Man's Club."  In Independence Township, a group of anti-war Democrats were soon nicknamed the "Knights of the Golden Circle" after a pro-Southern group in Pennsylvania.  The Republicans, in support of President Abraham Lincoln, were joined by pro-Unionist Democrats in opposing: "Breckenridge Democrats" or "Copperheads," who opposed the war against the southern states.

 

Franklin Pierce Sellers, a Republican owner/editor of The Belvidere Intelligencer, was a staunch supporter of preserving the Union at all costs.  John Simerson, a Democrat owner/editor of Belvidere's other newspaper, The Warren Journal,  did not see the need for a war to save the Union.  Thus, the stage had been set for a second war - a war of newspapers.  The war was waged between the two newspapers until Seller's death in 1863.  The news war continued, but not with the same intensity, when Andrew Jackson Shampanore, a pro-Unionist Democrat, took over The Belvidere Intelligencer.  If nothing else came from this war of newspapers, it was guaranteed that each newspaper had one definite sale - to each other.

 

Sellers, whose sons and stepson were volunteer soldiers, was very popular among the Warren County soldiers.  Sellers offered to print local soldiers' letters and reports of the war in his newspaper.  These letters of soldiers' first-hand accounts of the war are really the basis for this blog.

 

Simerson's motto was clearly stated in the April 26, 1861 edition of The Warren Journal, "The Union of the Fathers! The Flag of the Thirty-four States. Free Speech - Free Press! NO MOB LAW."  The flag of his newspaper also stated weekly, "Equal Education, Equal Rights, Equal Laws. Day Light and Fair Play -- and the Democracy of New Jersey ask no more."  

   

The newspaper war in Belvidere began in July 1861 around the time of the First Battle of Manassas Junction, VA (First Battle of Bull Run).  On July 26, Simerson wrote in The Warren Journal, "We have been informed that the Reverend George B. Day, of the M.E. [Methodist-Episcopal] Church of this village, preached a sermon last Sabbath evening for the especial benefit of the editor of this paper."  Simerson's anti-war stance had apparently been discussed in the Belvidere Methodist Church, and Reverend Day felt a need for his congregation to pray for Simerson. 

 

Simerson tried to defend his view that there could be peaceful ways of working out the political differences between northern and southern states of the Union and noted it was inappropriate  for the minister to attack another person's freedom of speech in church.

 

Sellers, after reading Simerson's article in The Journal, wrote in the August 2 edition of The Intelligencer, "If this be so, Mr. Day certainly is entitled to the thanks of this community.  We understand that some persons are disposed to censure Mr. Day for what he did.  This is ungenerous, inasmuch as it shows that Mr. Day feels it his duty to attack sin wherever it shows itself in a way calculated to deceive the unwary.  He could not have chosen a more fit subject upon which to exercise a reformatory influence.  The man who dares attack a prominent and dangerous blackguard, deserves more credit than he who directs his attention to one of less note and of less injurious influence.

 

"The Journal's sins of treachery are well known, and its disloyalty a foregone conclusion.  Abundant proof has been adduced to prove this fact -- now we may have mention the publication by that paper last week of Vallandigham's speech in Congress! So universal is the belief in Vallandigham's traitorous principles, that no one, except he of like feeling, speaks in praise of his speech.  Is it to be wondered at that The Journal should be            made the object of an especial sermon?"

 

Sellers reprinted an article from The Sussex Register on August 9, 1861, "Nearly every paper in New Jersey, which supported [John C.] Breckenridge for President last fall, is now insidiously at work undermining the Government, and trying to sow distrust and dissension in the ranks of the supporters of the Union.  They hold up the famous Vallandigham as a model of patriotism, while they studiously ignore the existence of such Jersey Democrats as John R. Thomson, George T. Cobb, Nehemiah Perry, and W. G. Steele.  But a day of reckoning is approaching.  We shall soon be engaged in the fall elections, and then it will be discovered that no man who shall be urged for office by such papers as The Sussex Herald, Warren Journal, &c., will have the remotest chance of success.  The people of this State, by an immense majority, are true to the Union, and they will not permit a single traitor to gain official position.  The candidate who seeks or receives endorsement from any of the editorial Iscariots, who now disgrace New Jersey by their shameless disloyalty, is a doomed man; he will be indignantly put down, and his name thenceforth   be loathed and execrated."

 

On August 16, 1861, Sellers wrote, "WHO ARE THEY? -- The Journal man asks us to name the twenty male secessionists in Belvidere.  If he had called upon us for nineteen out of twenty, and we furnished them, he would have been as completely informed on that subject as if we had added the name of the editor of The Journal to the list.

 

"The editor of The Journal, in the same article, says: 'We do not believe that we have a single Democrat in Belvidere, or in the County of Warren, who is a secessionist, or a sympathizer    with the secessionists;' and in the same column of his paper, he tells us that the Democrats of Hope have adopted the Oxford Club preamble and resolutions, and approvingly says: 'Thus the good work goes bravely on. The people of Warren are firmly attached to the Union, but they did not believe that the present Black Republican war programme is the proper mode of perpetuating it, or restoring peace'!  What does The Journal mean  by the first part of the last quotation?  Does it mean that the good work that goes so bravely on in the townships of Oxford and Hope, by men it styles Democrats, is the banding themselves into semi-secret politicals clubs, being emphatically a cheap edition of 'The Knights of the Golden Circle,' revised and adopted to suit the circumstances of Northern sympathizer with Southern Rebellion?  And while they commit no oopen act of legal treason, from which they are only restrained by fear for the safety of their necks, they go stalking through the community and hypocritically denounce the misfortunes of our country, crying peace, peace, compromise, fraticidal conflict, imbruing your hands in your brother's blood, and you can't subjugate the South -- that war was commenced by Lincoln, &c. &c., and after they have gone through with all this, and much more of such  sniffling, blubbering, lying pretense, they will declare their real sympathetic feelings -- the 'South are only fighting for their rights, and they will have them in spite of the d----d abolitionists;' never uttering one single word of sympathy for the Government at Washington, that has been, and is at this moment contending against the most wanton, atrocious and gigantic rebellion that modern history has, or ever will record.  Thus the 'good work goes bravely on,' as The Journal styles it, of embarrassing and paralyzing the power and energy of the government -- debauching public patriotism and weakening the love and veneration which every citizen should bear towards his, the only great free Government on the globe.  In the face of all this, The Journal says it 'does not believe there is a single Demorcrat in Belvidere, or in the country, who sympathizes with the secessionists'!

 

"If John Simerson -- a most miserable tool at best, besides a most perverter of the truth -- does not sympathize with speeches of such Union Democrats as Holman of Indiana, McClerand and Richardson of Illinois, Wright of Pennsylvania, Dickinson of New York, Crowell and Stratton of New Jersey, Frank Thomas of Maryland, Holt of Kentucky, the successor of the thief and traitor John B. Floyd, in Buchanan's Cabinet?  And above all, why has he excluded from The Journal those thrilling appeals to democratic and national patriotism, and the scathing denunciation of secession and treason by glorious Andrew Johnson, a Democratic Senator fronm the once loyal State of Tennessee, whose name and fame are so completely embalmed in the hearts of the true Union men of the nation that, like William Tell, it will need no historian to transmit it to future generations.  Why has The Journal excluded from its columns the last two great speeches of the dying patriot and statesman Stephen A. Douglas?"  [Seller's literary attack on Simerson went on in a column from the top to the bottom of the page.]      

 

Copyright 1997-2012: Jay C. Richards

October 29-November 1862: 27th NJ Regiment On The Move

Colonel George Washington Mindil's 27th New Jersey Volunteer Infantry regiment had originally set up camp on East Capitol Hill in Washington, District of Columbia in October 1862.  Mindil had ordered all his officers, without exception, to attend schools of instruction in tactics and the practical duties of soldiers .  Mindil wanted to make sure his officers could lead their men into battle and keep as many alive as possible.Mindil had seen the effects of good and bad leadership during the battles at Williamsburg, Fair Oaks and at Manassas during the second battle of Bull Run.

On October 29, 1862, the Regiment set up camp near Fort Albany, Virginia.  After a few days of rest the Regiment was ordered to march to Alexandria, Virginia.  A camp was set up on a hillside outside of the town. Mindil named his new encampment site Camp Philip Kearney in honor of the first commanding general of the First New Jersey Brigade. 

Mindil drilled and trained his men at Camp Philip Kearney.  The regiment would remain in Alexandria until December 1, 1862, when the regiment was ordered to march to Fredericksburg, Virginia to join the 25th NJ Regiment, the 13th New Hampshire Regiment, and the 15th Connecticut Regiment as part of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division of the 9th Army Corps.  The troops were sent to reinforce General Ambrose Burnside's Army of the Potomac for the attack on Fredericksburg. 

Copyright 1999-2012: Jay C. Richards

October 5, 1862: Conrad Miller - first to die in the 31st NJ Regiment

In October 1862, the men of the 31st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry Regiment left Camp Belvidere, in Flemington, NJ, and traveled to Washington, D.C.  The 31st was joined by the 30th NJ Volunteer Infantry Regiment, which also contained some Warren County volunteers.  Under the guns of Fort DeRussy, the 31st NJ Regiment established Camp Warren on October 6.  The 30th NJ Regiment was sent to Fort Baker on the Potomac River.

 

William H. H. Warman, of the Belvidere Company [Company I], wrote a letter to The Belvidere Intelligencer to report the regiment's first death.  "Our regiment has enjoyed tolerably good health - have but one death among us, and that, perhaps, was occasioned by improper indulgences in eating and drinking stuff containing poison.  The person referred to was Conrad Miller, a married man from Blairstown, in Comp. G, who was suddenly attacked on Friday, p.m., the 3rd instant [October 3, 1862], and died on Sunday about 10 o'clock a.m.  The Doctors say it was a case of poisoning.  He was embalmed and sent home.  Our regiment is much saddened by this occurrence, and I hope it will be a two-fold warning to others of the 31st and may it extend and have good influence in other regiments.  It seemed like a warning from God."

 

Conrad Miller, of Blairstown, enlisted in Company G of the 31st NJV on September 3, 1862 at 33 years of age as a Drummer.   According to regimental records, Miller died on October 5, 1862 at East Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. of cholera morbus.

 

Copyright 1997-2012: Jay C. Richards  

 

October 1, 1862: Lt. Charles Butts at the Blackwater River

On October 1, 1862, Lieutenant Charles W. Butts and the Belvidere boys of Company I, 11th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, went into their first battle. 

 

The company adjutant sent the following dispatch to The Belvidere Intelligencer, "On the first instant, company I was sent out on a scout toward the Blackwater River, it having been rumored that the enemy was crossing in strong force.  As the company neared Carrsville, a little village about half way between Suffolk and Franklin, on the Blackwater, Lieut. C. W. Butts was ordered to proceed with the advance guard through Carrsville. On doing so, he came up on the enemy's pickets in the village, who fired upon Lieut. Butts and his men and then fled; Lieut. charged upon them, wounding several, when he found himself in front of two or three hundred cavalry drawn up in a line of battle. He wheeled his men as soon as possible, and retraced his steps at full speed but not until the rebels had fired a volley into his ranks.  The balls whizzed over and through them, but fortunately not one was struck.  Lieut. Butts hurried back to the main body of the Company, informed the captain of the strength of the enemy, and erelong all were safely out of the reach of the rebel force.  But their retreat was ascertained afterward to have been necessary, for the rebels as soon as they recovered from their surprise at the approach of Lieut. Butts, started off toward Franklin as fast as their horses could carry them.

 

"Captain [John] Herr, commanding the company, dispatched a message immediately to camp, with the facts, and awaited further orders. Colonel [Samuel Perkins] Spear, on receiving the message, ordered Lt. Colonel Stetzel to take three companies, overtake Company I, and then proceed, if possible, to the Blackwater, and find out the strength of the enemy and then learn his intentions.  He proceeded as far as the Sommerton Creek, about three miles this side of the Blackwater, and on learning from the contrabands [slaves] that the enemy had crossed it the night previous and afterward destroyed the bridge; he sent Lieut. Basset, of Company A, to ascertain if the report was true, and if so, whether it would be possible to ford the creek.  Lieut. Basset found the enemy's pickets on the other side, in pretty large numbers, and soon returned with the report of one    of his horses killed and exhibited a wound in his waist.  Lt. Col. Stetzel then came forward himself, with a body of troops under his command, and satisfied himself the rebels were too strong for him to attempt to cross.   He, therefore, fell back to within ten miles of Suffolk and sent information to Col. Spear of the strength of the enemy, and waited further orders.  On reception of the dispatch, Col. Spear referred the matter to Major General [John James] Peck, commanding this post, who immediately ordered out three regiments of infantry, the remainder of the 11th Penna. Cavalry, and a section of Captain [Frederick M.] Follett's battery.  Thus with seven companies of cavalry, two howitzers, two rifled cannon, and three regiments of infantry, all under the command of Col. Spear, acting Brigadier, we felt strong enough to drive the enemy before us and over the Blackwater, should he make a stand on this side.

 

"We marched all of Thursday night and reached Franklin about 3 o'clock P.M. the next day.  On nearing it, Lieut. Butts was sent out to reconnoiter and see what had become of the enemy, whose pickets had been driven in at our approach.  He was found posted in a pretty strong force, on both sides of the river; and as we neared it, he soon let us know where he was posted by firing a few shells, which fell in the woods on our right.  No sooner was the challenge given that it was accepted by our Colonel, or rather acting General.  He immediately assigned the battery and howitzers their positions, overlooking the river, supported them by the regiments of infantry, and drew up the cavalry on the edge of the woods, on the right, to be in readiness to co-operate at a moment's notice.  We did not have to wait long to ascertain the strength and position of the enemy.  The balls and shells soon began to whiz and buzz around and over us, here and there cutting down the infantry and frequently making the cavalry change their positions.  We drove him over the river, and then our little howitzers and pet rifled cannon got their range, grape and shells poured profusely into their midst.  We riddled all the buildings in the village, which they were going to occupy as winter quarters, and must have scattered death and destruction far and wide.  The shore was shelled for a mile up and down, with terrible effect.  After having pretty well silenced their guns and accomplished our object, we calmly withdrew, bringing our dead and wounded with us.  WE lost one killed from the 13th Indiana, two wounded from the 103rd Penna., and one from the 9th New York.  We heard the next day that the enemy had lost 30 killed and 60 wounded.  Our boys behaved in a most soldierly-like manner.  They rushed into the engagement with a simultaneous yell...I take pleasure in speaking of the conduct of the Belvidere boys.  All were intent on the great object of their visit to the place, namely: cleaning this side of the Blackwater of the foe, who had been pestering us day and night, ever since we occupied Suffolk.  I cannot speak too highly of the valor of Lieut, Butts, who was  in command of Company I.  The utmost confidence is placed in him by his superior officers, and was evinced particularly on this occasion by the hazardous duties assigned to him, at three different times, in finding out the strength and position of the enemy.  We have not a cooler officer and one of better judgement in our ranks than Lieut. Charles W. Butts."

 

Copyright 1997-2012: Jay C. Richards