PERSONAL NARRATIVES OF. EVENTS IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. No. 6.— SEcoNnD.” SERIES. BURNS DE EXPE DUTTON: BY AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE, LATE MAJOR-GENERAL, UNITED STATES ARMY. PERSONAL NARRATIVES OF EVENTS IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION, BEING PAPERS READ BEFORE THE,” RHODE ISLAND SOLDIERS AND SAILORS HISTORICAL SOCIETY. No. 6—SECOND SERIES. ~ PROVIDENCE: N. BANGS WILLIAMS & COMPANY. 1882. BURNSIDE EXPEDITION, Copyright by N. BANGS WILLIAMS, AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE. LATE MAJOR-GENERAL, UNITED ST PR ENCE ROVIDENCE pRigs COMPANY, PRINT: ANY, a PROVIDENCE: N. BANGS WILLIAMS & COMPANY. 1882. Copyright by N. BANGS WILLIAMS. 1882. THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. [Read before the Society, July 7, 1880.] Tue paper which I am about to read to you was hastily prepared last fall, to be read to a literary so- ciety in a neighboring town. Some of our comrades were present at the meeting at which it was read, and exacted from me a promise that it should be given to our society for publication. As I before said, it was hastily prepared, and I asked some time to revise it, before having it published; but up to this moment I have not found the time, and must read it to you inits original form. Soon after the First Rhode Island regiment was mustered out of service, 1 was appointed by Presi- dent Lincoln to the office of brigadier-general. My commission was given to me on the sixth of Au- gust, 1861, and I was ordered to report to General 6 THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. McClellan, w and brigades which w as they arrived in Washington. look after the drill and discipline of these br igades, with a view to givir ig the men the efficiency neces- sary for assignment to the older diy isions of the army, which were then organizing in Washington under the name of the A rmy of the Potomac. The duty was _ interesting in some res pects, but was in fo} the main somewhat tame, so that I very naturally desired more active duty. One evening in the following October, General McClellan and I were chatting together over the affairs of the war, when I mentioned to him that I had given some thought to for the for of a coast division. a plan mation After giving him detailed account of the pl in writing a somewhat an, he asked me to put it #8 soon as possible, which was done. The next day it was presented to him, and it met his ap- proval. He laid it before the Secretary of War, by whom it was also The general details as follows: To organize a elve to fifteen thousand men, approved. of the plan were briefly division of from ty. ho placed me in charge of the division ere formed of the new troops My duty was to = DEDTTION 7. THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. mainly from states bordering abate piri coast, many of whom would be familiar with the ¢ e ing trade, and among whom would be found & Bo0¢ y ber of mechanics, to fit out a fleet of ae draught steamers, sailing nopeele aod eae ee enough to transport the division, us eee a supplies, so that it could By rapidly ee ae point to point on the coast with a view ay) es i Zs ing lodgments on the southern eonPE es ee and penetrating into the interior, there wu ae a ing the lines of pore porn spaghe Tene aa main army then concentrating in Virginia, an ie possession of the inland waters on the Atlantic ae the approval of the plan I was ordered to New York to fit out the fleet; and on the irenhy, third of October, orders were issued establishing my headquarters for the concentration of io as of the division at Annapolis. The Hend quarters 2 the fitting out of the fleet were cet tenee a Ned Bowling Green, New York. Troops arrive a time to time at Annapolis, and all went well in the camp, which was established on beautiful grounds > 8 THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION, Just outside of the town. The improvement in drill and discipline was very rapid, but affair at the headqu great difficulty aught, Sort having been alre after much diftic eral McClellan 83 did not arters in New in procuring yes- almost everything of that ady called into Service; but ulty I was enabled to report to Gen- on the twelfth of sufficient amount of tr: progress so smoothly York. There Was sels of a light dr. September that a ansportation and armament the division, had been secured for fleet. North river barges and pr Strengthened from deck planks, and w. them, It was a motley opellers had been to keelson by heavy oak Were built in nt parapets of could be built upon their arried from four ater-tight compartments They were go arranged ths bales of hay and each one ¢ Sailing Vessels, former sand-bags or decks, to six guns. ly belonging to the coasting p in the same manner. S eral large Passenger ste teed to draw le with tug fleet, which gi ad been fitted u amers, which were guaran- Ss than eight feet of water, together and ferry-ho uke up the pacity to transport fifteen thou- Agsage, camp equipage, rations, ats, served to m ave a ca sand troops, with b THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. etc. ioht-draught sa o@ vessels were also added t L a dr is S Ss SS r 6 to the fle et, on which were stored n. teria h buildi g ma pier a} ‘dees rafts, scows, en nching nplements k Cc , trenc’ g imp ’ fo Tages, t quar termasters’ stores, tools, extra or dnance, stores, Coy | é ) Ve dered t rendezvous at e all ¢ which were ordere Oo rend Fortre an ate vessels were ortress Monroe. Coal ar d water V a e fi an a rendezvous chartered in B ultimore, and ordered to at t 6 a0) T t 3 rts o ler t a place he transports re ord ay ne same place. 1 we ered to | ¢ Pa t; after most morti- Annapolis harbor, at which poin ufter sé hey all arrived by the fy ing and vexatious delay 8, t V = y IZ, a n sS day, 2, and o a1 fourth of Januar 7 186 1 th da rders were pl omulgated for embarkation which were re- OF ? celv =} a the other with eived from one end of the camp to th most enthusiastic cheers. I had organized the division into three brigades, which were plac ed in command of Ger eral G. S- ich w ) Le) Fo S ’ General Jesse L eno anc eneral n . es aed nd Gener: Joh G arke ee 10S ste rien We had y Ss. p thr my most tru k ’ of t= t d f d \ been cadets at West Point together, and I had al- wa terta for them tk greatest ¢ aence y S -onfid or th aXe) = $8 sen ined and esteem; so that you can well ir agine my grati- fication at t ma ng my request f elr A < ea. rth etall & y it or tk Jetail granted " e future a a S$ ll expedition, our close operations in the ex litio > 10 THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION, friendly relations were disappointed in gallantry, ski] Maintained, and I was never any reliance which I placed on their and integrity, state here’ that I had been McClellan that our de Inlet, with of North QC, It may be well to Notified by General ation would be Hatteras ations in the inland waters This order Was afterwards for- t supplemented to * Januar stin 2 view to Oper: rolina, mulated in an orde this paper. Y the troops beg: ay there wer an to em- e some delays ce in the maneuvering the new work to which they accus a at ni 8 stomed. On that night, snow to the ex- tent of from two to three inches fell, and surroun Ing of the sixth, Regiment after which gave to the camp : ding country, on the morn- a most picturesque regiment struck their arched to the point of appearance. tents and e with bands ing, colors flying : ing from ] With their d contrasted m trees ing and sing- lines of troops, ark iforms itteri a Uniforms glittering bayonets, arkedly with the Snow-clad fields and 7 as they passeq throy aint old town of ightness and igh the qu THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. ist Annapolis, the inhabitants of which at Bae day were not remarkable for their loyalty. Zus men were not cheered and encouraged by SN friendly voices, such as they had heard whilst coming from their homes to the seat of war; but they were not at all chilled by the reception, and cheer ee marched on to the work before them. Embatkauon had become more easy to each regiment than Hue to the preceding one, owing to the greater facility with which the vessels were handled. The oxdel to break camp had been obeyed with joyful alacrity, and more troops poured into the Academy grounds during the day than could pe. ees so a large numbers remained there fon the nig a z bivouac was one of the most enlivening and See ful that I saw during the war. There was Te ae tle sleep, but great joyousness. The oe e and night of the seventh was but a nopstinionee those of the sixth; and on Wednesday rage e every regiment was on ponng except the oe New Hampshire, which arrived late on the men of the seventh, and was on the next morning mbarked. The scene in the harbor was inspiring emb: 3 12 THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION, beyond description. The vessels, as they passed each other from time to time, with their steam whistles, while the bands played and the troops cheered, the decks being covered with blue-coats, some chattering, some sleeping, others writing their last letters to their loved ones at home. The whole fleet seemed to be under a mixed influence of excitement and contentment. On the morning of the ninth, each vessel set sail, under order S$ to rendezvous at Fortress Monroe. Nothing of importance océurred as they passed down the bay. The trip was made without much regulari- ty as to the order of the vessels, but rather in a go- as-you-please way. By the night of the tenth, all the vessels had joined the supply which were concentrated at F ing altogether a fleet of more than eighty vessels. The harbor probably never ance than on that night. minated, and the air and other vessels ortress Monroe, mak- presented a finer appear- All the vessels were illu- was filled with the strains of martial music and the voic es of the brave men who had left their homes to battle for the preservation of the authority of the government. Not a man in the saluted each other 13 THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. fleet knew his destination except myself, ean rie commanders and two or three staff officers, 18 : was no complaint or inquisitiveness, but all seeme ready for whatever duty was before them. Bees Sealed orders were given to the coat ie each vessel, to be opened at sea. Much discourage- ment was expressed by nautical men and by men i ili rity as to the success of the high in military authority as Pe ae expedition. The President and Coney ee were both approached, and the President He 2 quently warned that the vessels were ee re and that the expedition would be a et ae Great anxiety was manifested to Be ane tion, but the secret had been a One at our headquarters. As Mr. a ea a saath man was very importunate, d, in fact, almost demanded that the President and, ‘acl, should tell him here we ere going. i inally ) the sident said to him Now I will tell you in grea Pre , g t y ¢ y y prom- confidence where they are going, if you will p ise no peak C y . e promise C 0 Ds ie) > an me ) ) 10t to spe' a f it t or Lk ; was given, and Mr. Lincoln said, W ell, now, my riend, Pp § ur- frie d, the ex edition is going to sea. The inqul 2 14 THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. er left him without receiving any further informa- tion. In this jocular manner Mr. Lincoln was in the habit of throwing off the cares of state ; and it often occurs to me, that but for that habit he would h ave broken down under the gre at weight of public re- sponsibility which rested upon him from the first day of the war to the termination of his noble life. No man has ever lived, in my opinion, who could have gone through that struggle as he did. At no period of his life did I believe his heart was ever stirred with a feeling of enmity or resentment against any one. He was actuated by the simple desire and determination to maintain the government at all hazards. authority of the On the night of the eleventh the signal for sailing was given, and very soon the fleet was under way. My headquarters were on board a la rge steamer, the “George Peabody,” but I took for my headquarters during the voyage a small propeller called the * Pick- et,” which was in reality the smallest vessel in the fleet, and had with me two or three of my staff offi- cers. Iwas moved to do this because of the great criticism which had been made as to the unseawor- THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. 15 thiness of the vessels of the fleet, and becenee of a desire to show to the men my faith in their nine bility to the service. Their weaknesses were a n to me, but they were the best that eoule be Pro cured, and it was necessary that the pore should be performed even at the risk of losing ee a shipwreck. The weather was threatening, but a not foresee the storm by which we were atone s overtaken. At that time we had no weather signal reports, but the sailing would not have been delayed in any event, because the orders to proceed to our work were imperative. It was, of GOURD: Jeprned a all, after reaching the sea, that the destination of the fleet was Hatteras Inlet. irene . Just before midnight the “Picket” weighed an- chor, and we were soon at sea, and it was not ra before the little vessel was called upon to test e sea-going ability. On rounding ors Hatteras meta very strong breeze, and the little Uae go into the trough of the sea. It seemed for a Bae i if she would surely be swamped; but by et management the captain brought her head to, after which she behaved better. We passed a most un- 16 THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION, comfortable night. Everything on the deck that yas not lashed was swept overboard; and the men, furniture and crockery below decks were thrown about ina most promiscuous manner, The breeze died away towards morning, soon after which a heavy fog arose and continued the greater part of the day. The ocean’s swell during the d ay, which was something terr ant thought as in momentary danger of ible, kept one in const that the little vessel w going under. Towards night the wind arose , and within a short time it increased to a terrible g ale, and we experi- enced on that night more discomfort and dread, if At times, it ed to us moun- ould engulf us, but then the little vessel would ride them and stagger forward in her The great trouble, the captain possible, than on the preceding one. seemed as if the waves, which appear tain high, w course, said, was to keep her head to the wind, but his presen seemed to leave him for a moment, and every instant om time to time would he fol- ition of his ability to keep his ce of mind never of our extreme danger fr lowed by a demonstrs vessel above water. THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. 17 The fog had hidden from us the fleet tae a day before, (the twelfth,) but at about midnigh - discovered a large steamer upon our port bow. e fired a shot astern of her, which she answered ee coming near to us. It was the “Eastern nae Z but we dared not go too near to her for fear of peing crushed. She seemed to us a mammoth, and we were all delighted when she answered the one lay by us until daylight, but to keep offs a = morning more vessels were found to be in sig ht, a just before noon of the thirteenth, we hove to, Hatteras Inlet. Soon after, a tug-boat came a from the Inlet, which, it will be See been. occupied by General Butler and Se s Stringham. The little boat undertook we ie ; a of piloting the fleet over the bar. The : aie led the way, and bravely fought the breakers unti she was safely anchored inside the harbor. In thinking of it now, it seems almost any hae that she escaped the great dangers through uae she passed at sea, and the still greater danger < : breakers on the bar. Vessel after vessel followed y is ere us in until we were ready to wish that the fleet w: ’ 18 THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. not so large. At one time it seemed as if our little boat would be crushed hetw vessels which had dragged t coming down upon her, een two of the larger heir anchors and were Fortunately, the com- manders of the vessels succeeded in check king them just as they came in contact with us. Most of the fleet arrived inside the bar during the afternoon. The propeller, “The City of New York,” was laden with supplies and ordn ed on the bar, and proved a tot which ance stores, sround- al loss. Her officers and crew clung to the rigging until the next day, when they were rescued by surf-boats sent to their assistance. One of the troop vessels also grounded on the bar, after nightfall, and it seemed for a time as if she and her precious cargo would be lost. Some gallant volunteers went to her relief with a tug-boat, which succeded in getting her off the bar and into the harbor. The water and coal vessels did not approach the Inlet, but went to sea as a matter of safety. Such of the vessels as were of too heavy draught to pass over the bar, anchored under the cape. From one of these Vessels, two officers, Colonel Al- 19 THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. i Y T'Se len and Sergeant Weller, of the Ninth es os e _ started in a surf-boat to report to me. ney rter t on their re- ceeded in reaching my headquarters, bu ; reakers on the turn the boat was swamped by the break few, W ere more bar, and they were lost. The crew, who w ar, , skilled in such service, clung to the boat A oan rescued. Strange to say, these were the Ga ee lives lost during the entire voyage and pee the Inlet, notwithstanding the gloomy eae he tions touching the seaworthiness of the vessels 0 fleet. te Besides the propeller, “The Uy. ee sais before spoken of, we lost the ship Poca as, ar The gunboat with over a hundred horses on board. g Z Vv wa ‘ he Inlet a fter she crossed the ouave was sunk in the Ir bar, and proved a tota loss, but no ives were lost. ? I f ’ ; are the fourteent h until the twent, -sixth we oO iy: e ; ired tl t st care ri Wea r, and it require 1e utmos ATe had terrific wea the ’ - ¢ i the vessels to pre- 4 he commanders of Vv ls ti on the part of t vent a general disaster. Many of the vessels were I gr ee on ne 1ven from their anchors and grounded I : a € y isi surred, nien rast nd Al \ llisions occurre Ww swas a bar. Many co d hick caused great damage to the fleet. At times it seemed 20 THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. as if nothing could prevent general disaster. As I before said, the water and most of the co al vessels were driven to sea by the str ess of the weather, and the entire fleet was for many days on short rations of water. Much suffering resulted from this, and at one time a flag of distress was hoisted on many of the vessels in consequence of the want of w ater. On one of these dreary days I for atime gave up all hope, and walked to the bow of the vessel that I might be alone. Soon after, a small, black cloud appeared in the angry gray sky, just above the hori- zon, and very soon spread so as to cover the entire canopy; and in a few moments after > 4 most copious fall of rain came to our relief. Signals were given to spread sails to catch the water, and in a short time an abundance was secured for the entire fleet. I was at once cheered up, but very much ashamed of the distrust which I had allowed to get the m ter of me. as- To go into a detailed description of all that we suffered during those terrible d ays would require more time than I can give to this paper. From time to time we made efforts to cross the fleet from the In- 21 THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. let into Pamlico Sound, over what was ple io swash, which separated it from the ylert We a : been led to believe that there were cent fee . water upon the swash, but when we arrived a 2 covered to our sorrow that there were but six tee : and as most of our vessels, as well as the vessels 0 the naval fleet which we found at Baten: Tnlet on our arrival, drew more water than that, it was aa sary to deepen the channel by some ars a current was very swift upon the swash, which : cumstance proved to be much in our favor. Large vessels were used in going ahead, under full steam, on the bar when the tide was running out, and then anchors were carried out by boats in agnuce: i - to hold the vessels in position. The swift curren wonld wash the sand from under then and sae them to float, after which they were driven furt ss on by steam and anchored again, when ee would again wash out from under them, oes see the process was continued for days, until u ee channel of over eight feet was made, deep g to allow the passage of the fleet into the sound. ‘ On the twenty-sixth, one of our largest steame 22 THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. got safely over the swash and anchored in the sound, where some of the gunboats had preceded them. By the fourth of February the entire fleet had anchored and had passed into the sound, and orders were given for the advance on Roanoke Isl- and. Detailed instructions were given for the land- f=} ing of the troops and the mode of attack. At an early hour on the morning of the fifth the start was made. The nav al vessels, under Commo- advance and on the flanks. The sailing vessels containing troops w dore Goldsborough, were in ere taken in tow by steamers. There were in all sixty- five vessels. The fleet presented a most imposing appearance as they started up the sound. The day was most beautiful, and the sail was enjoyed beyond measure by the soldiers, who h penned up in the desolate Inlet. nal was given to come to ad been so long At sundown, sig- anchor within ten miles of Roanoke Island. At eight o’clock the n ext morning the signal to weigh anchor was given, but our progress was very much retarded by a gale that Sprung up, so we anchored, but very little in ad- vance of our position of the night before. During a 7 23 THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. that night all lights were carefully concealed. The naval vessels were well out in advance to protect the transports from the inroads of the rebel gunboats. On the morning of the seventh the gunboats passed inside the narrow passage known as fae Inlet, and were soon abreast of the lower part o Roanoke Island. Soon after the naval foe had passed through, the transport fleet began fanaa sage. The rebel gunboats were seen close in shore under the batteries of the island. At half-past ten o'clock a signal gun was fired from one of the forts, announcing our approach. At half-past eleven, one of the naval vessels opened fire, which was replied to by the rebels. Signals were given by the com- modore of the fleet to begin the action, and by noon the firing became rapid, and soon after te ies ment became general. The rebels had driven a line of piles across the main channel to obstruct ee ress of our vessels, leaving a narrow space for oe to retreat through, and as our naval vessels oe them they availed themselves of He We of 2 e- ty. Our guns soon got the panes of ear and by most extraordinary skill and rapidity 24 THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. ing, almost silenced them. I ordered a reconnois- sance, just before noon, bya small boat, with a view of ascertaining a point of landing. A young negro, who had escaped from the isl and on our arrival at Hatteras Inlet, had given me most valuable informa- tion as to the nature of the shore of the island, from which I had determined that our point of landing would be at Ashby’s Harbor, which was nearly mid- way up the shore. The reconnoitering party was accompanied by this young negro, and all that he had told us proved to be correct, so that I directed the landing to be made there. At one o'clock, the quarters of the garrison in one of the forts were fired by one of our shells. The rebel gunboats retired up the sound, but still contin- ued a brisk fire as they were followed by our ves- sels. Orders were given for the troops to land at three o’clock. The ground in the rear of Ashby’s Harbor was cleared by shells from the naval vessels, and our large surf-boats were lowered, rapidly filled with troops and towed up in long lines by light- draught vessels until they came near to the shore of the harbor, when each of the surf-boats was cut loose THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. re Was obstruc- and steered for the shore. There was no i i i an an hour four tion to their landing. In less th Ou; 4 8 6 q midnight thousand troops were ashore, and before 1 ; s § ee re for ed vith th