Letter from Port Hudson, from a Member of Co. K, 114th Regiment
Chenango American, July 2, 1863
Rear of Port Hudson, La
June 15, 1863
Dear Sir: It is with pain I have to relate the proceedings of yesterday, which day will ever be remembered by the 114th Regiment. On the evening of the 13th we were all served out with sixty rounds of cartridge, and at twelve o'clock at night, our cooks made their appearance with rations of which we supplied ourselves. We were soon ordered to fall in and in a few minutes were ready to march. Accordingly five Companies of our Regiment started with Col. Smith and Major Morse as our leaders. Soon were joined by the 75th and 160th New York Regiments, 8th Vermont and 12th Connecticut, which Regiments constitute Weitzel's Brigade. We marched along, silently through the woods, except some remarks about what we were going to do, every one forming his own opinion; but it being Sunday, a day so remarkable for the battles of the American army, everyone was satisfied that we were going to charge the enemy's works. As we went along from one ravine to another we found troops under arms, and after a little while we came up with a group of officers, among whom was Gen. Wietzel. The sight of our General seemed to give us new courage. Gen. Wietzel is highly esteemed by his command and their confidence in him is such that when even he is near we anticipate no danger.
Soon our artillery opened fire and as we turned in a ravine we halted and fixed bayonets. We soon heard a cheer on our left which told us that Payne's Brigade charged the enemy's works, and the roar of artillery and musketry told the bloody work had commenced. We started ahead but soon had to halt on account of the 91st New York Regiment, which was in the ravine before us. Soon the General's Aids ran by us to see what was the matter. As soon as the way was clear for our Regiment we proceeded in the best of spirits expecting to cover ourselves with honor by entering the enemy's works. About six o'clock we got to the scene of action, and soon the command was given to charge on a double quick. With a yell we darted forward under a raking fire from the enemy from behind their works, until our colors got shot. At this time we poured a volley into their works and lay down until reloaded. Our gallant Major stepped in front and asked us if we were ready, to which we responded yes. He then told us to give three cheers and follow him. This time a number of us got into a ditch under the enemy's works where our boys were slain like sheep. Our major, like the Colonel, got wounded in this charge. Most all of our officers were either killed or wounded. Once more our shattered companies tried a charge led by Lieut. Searles, of Co. G. he also got wounded at this time--nearly half our men lay wounded on the field. It was a most thrilling scene to witness the groans of our brave men in their agony of pain--all our color guards were wounded, and the color bearer killed, but a Lieut. of the 160th New York picked up our colors, and one of our boys stepped forward and demanded them, so we had the honor of bringing them off the field.
After laying two hours under fire and making three charges, we fell to the rear to form again. Never did five Companies of men go into a charge more willingly or with better courage, than did the officers and men of the 114th; but there was no such thing as entering the works, for we had to charge over fallen timber and brush, and there was a ditch at least six feet wide and six feet deep on our side of their works, the breast work or parapet being eight or ten feet high so it was impossible for any man to scale them without use of ladders or plank. If we had any fair kind of a chance we would enter the works, for never was there a more determined lot of men as the number of killed and wounded will show. There were several other charges made but without effect. There was a Regiment sent in ahead with bags of cotton to fill the ditch for us to charge over, but they could not be made to go there. Out of the officers of our five Companies there were only three came out whole. I don't intend to give only a faint idea of what it was, for if I tried to I could not. Those who lived or was not wounded remained under fire until after dark. To look round the little place our Company occupied in the woods, and to see so many missing made us very sad.
The following is a list of causalities in Co. E. Lieut. Longwell, of Co. D, who took command of our Company, was wounded in the hand while leading us into action. Much praise is due him, as he is the only man who ever led Co E into action yet. Indeed he is a brave officer.
Sergts. Uri Rorapaugh, acting Lieut. Wm. J. Rogers, Seymour C. Horton, wounded. Corpl. John C. Stoughton, missing. Privates, Jack Chidester, David McBirney, Chas. R. Hayward, Robt. Wedge, Benjamin Pittsley, Chas. B. Davis, Sophronus Hinman, Joseph J. Smith, Freeman S. Wedge, Edw'd Post, Lewis Handy, Preston R. Peck, all slightly wounded, excepting Preston and Handy who were mortally wounded and left on the field, probably dead. Col. Smith is living, Capt. Tucker, and Lieut. Corben, of Co. G, are killed.
I remain truly yours,
Wm. B. Corbett
Our own brave 114th has at last had the opportunity they so long and ardently coveted to cover themselves with glory upon the battlefield. Kept back by force of circumstances they have not had a chance to exhibit their valor until recently. In company with several other regiments forming Weiztel's brigade, five companies of our regiment joined in a desperate attack upon the works at Port Hudson, and bravely and gallantly did they bear themselves. Charging up to the very cannon's mouth, with a storm of leaden hail dealing death and carnage through and through their ranks, not a man faltered, but with cheers and shouts they dashed on where duty led them, leaving behind a record of fame and glory which will outlive them all.
We have not many of the particulars. Col. Smith, who was wounded, has since died. Nearly every line officer, was either killed or wounded. Among the killed is Capt. Tucker, of Hamilton. Letters have been received here by the friends of those engaged in the attack, which give interesting accounts of the gallant affair. Capt. Dederer, of Co. E, went with his company to Port Hudson, but was obliged to return to New Orleans to Hospital, in consequence of a severe attack of jaundice. Letters from others in the same hospital say that the Captain chafes under the galling necessity which compels him to lie upon a sick bed while his brave boys are winning laurels upon the battle field. We await with anxiety a fuller account of the doings of our boys, and an accurate statement of the casualties.
This news brigs the horrors of the war home to us more clearly than any previous engagements have done. The blood of the best and bravest of Chenango's sons waters the soil around Port Hudson. Many tears will flow and many lamentations go up from around our hearthstones, but we have the satisfaction of knowing that with our mourning for the dead we can mingle congratulations that they died nobly, fighting bravely for their country's salvation.
We publish in another column a letter received from an Irish lad, named Wm. Corbett, who enlisted in this village, addressed to his guardian, R.P. Barnard, Esq.,. Corbett was in the whole of the fight, and his statement will be found interesting. He gives a list of the killed and wounded from this vicinity which is doubtless as accurate as could be gathered the day after the battle, though other letters do not corroborate all of his account of the list of wounded.
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From the Adjutant General Report for NY 114th infantry
William R. Corbett: Age, 19 years, enlisted, August 11, 1862 at Greene [Chenango Co., NY], to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. E, August 13, 1862; promoted corporal, September 1, 1864; killed in action, September 19, 1864, at Winchester, Va.
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The 114th in Battle
Our own brave 114th has at last had the opportunity they so long and ardently coveted to cover themselves with glory upon the battlefield. Kept back by force of circumstances they have not had a chance to exhibit their valor until recently. In company with several other regiments forming Weiztel's brigade, five companies of our regiment joined in a desperate attack upon the works at Port Hudson, and bravely and gallantly did they bear themselves. Charging up to the very cannon's mouth, with a storm of leaden hail dealing death and carnage through and through their ranks, not a man faltered, but with cheers and shouts they dashed on where duty led them, leaving behind a record of fame and glory which will outlive them all.
We have not many of the particulars. Col. Smith, who was wounded, has since died. Nearly every line officer, was either killed or wounded. Among the killed is Capt. Tucker, of Hamilton. Letters have been received here by the friends of those engaged in the attack, which give interesting accounts of the gallant affair. Capt. Dederer, of Co. E, went with his company to Port Hudson, but was obliged to return to New Orleans to Hospital, in consequence of a severe attack of jaundice. Letters from others in the same hospital say that the Captain chafes under the galling necessity which compels him to lie upon a sick bed while his brave boys are winning laurels upon the battle field. We await with anxiety a fuller account of the doings of our boys, and an accurate statement of the casualties.
This news brigs the horrors of the war home to us more clearly than any previous engagements have done. The blood of the best and bravest of Chenango's sons waters the soil around Port Hudson. Many tears will flow and many lamentations go up from around our hearthstones, but we have the satisfaction of knowing that with our mourning for the dead we can mingle congratulations that they died nobly, fighting bravely for their country's salvation.
We publish in another column a letter received from an Irish lad, named Wm. Corbett, who enlisted in this village, addressed to his guardian, R.P. Barnard, Esq.,. Corbett was in the whole of the fight, and his statement will be found interesting. He gives a list of the killed and wounded from this vicinity which is doubtless as accurate as could be gathered the day after the battle, though other letters do not corroborate all of his account of the list of wounded.
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From the Adjutant General Report for NY 114th infantry
William R. Corbett: Age, 19 years, enlisted, August 11, 1862 at Greene [Chenango Co., NY], to serve three years; mustered in as private, Co. E, August 13, 1862; promoted corporal, September 1, 1864; killed in action, September 19, 1864, at Winchester, Va.
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