Soldier's Letter, Civil War, 114th NY Infantry, April 1863

 Chenango American, May 14, 1863

Letter from the 114th NY Regiment - Battle of Fort Bisland

Headquarters 114th Regiment, Brashaer City, La., Monday, April 27, 1863

Dear American: On the 9th of the present month Gen. Weitzel's command consisting of the 8th Vermont, 114th, 75th and 160th N.Y., and the 12th Conn. Volunteers, together with three batteries of artillery and two squadrons of cavalry were ordered to cross Berwick's Bay and take up a position and hold it until the entire division, some 15,000 men, had gained a foothold in our rear to support us.  All day did our transports work faithfully and the entire night was consumed in landing regiment after regiment on the enemy's side of the water.

The morning sun of the 10th beamed upon a busy scene, and horses, mules, cannon, wagons, ambulances, and all the appliances of war seemed mingled in an inseparable mass, but before noon all was in order, and we awaited the final signal to march.  We however bivouacked the second night opposite our old camp, sleeping upon our arms, that we might be ready for sudden attacks.  Today our cavalry had a skirmish with the enemy, but no one was lost on our side.

At noon, on the 11th, the long looked for signal from Dudley's brigade, who were to cooperate with us by taking a steamer and gaining the rear of the enemy while we occupied their attention in front, was given, and we immediately commenced our march, which was disputed by sharp skirmishing on the part of the enemy. After an advance of about three miles, our commander ordered a  halt, and sending forwards a section of a battery, told the gunners to send a couple of shells into a sugar mill that was about half a mile ahead, expecting that a battery had been planted there, but no reply was given.  Again the guns were moved up in range of another and a larger mill, and this time our fire was returned from three pieces of artillery, but they did not wait to receive an answering fire from us, and our brigade was ordered to advance slowly, keeping within supporting distance of our skirmishers.  In this way we advanced another three miles, when of a sudden the rebels seemed determined to make a stand, as they commenced firing with new vigor, and from a larger number of guns. We were again halted, and our artillery went rattling by to add its thunder with that of the rebels.  Our gun boat Clifton now came up the Bayou Teache, and she, firing a shell from her 92 pdr. scared the enemy into a dead run, and the infantry had no more opposition to its advance during the day, but the Clifton continued her fire until darkness closed objects from the view of her gunners.  As we bivouacked for the night we thought of the morrow, and wondered if our ranks would be decimated by the death dealing engines of war, for we were told that we lay within three miles of the enemy's fortifications, and that there we should have warm - perhaps desperate work.

The 12th of April - Sunday, the day for battles - will ever be remembered by the soldiers of the 114th regiment as the day when their "nerve" was tried.  It was a beautiful day, though very warm, and at early morn the troops were in their places, looking anxiously ahead, and patiently waiting for the order to advance.  Our General is a prudent and humane man and does not rush his men into unseen danger. The country here is covered with the last year's cane crop, and the fields are rendered a perfect cover, for riflemen, and even large bodies of infantry can lay in complete ambuscade.  Thus, you see, we have to advance cautiously, sending out skirmishers to patrol every foot of ground over which we have to advance.  The 160th N.Y. had this duty assigned to them, and at 10 A.M. reported the way clear to the fortifications. The order was given to "march," and again we moved cautiously toward the enemy. We advanced only a mile when our skirmishers were found to be falling back before a body of rebel cavalry, but our ever present "flying" artillery, checked the advance of the enemy, but they did not retreat.  Here was formed in line of battle and awaited an attack from the enemy, but all that they seemed to wish was to hold us in check.  Our line of battle was this:  on the extreme right six pieces of artillery - four 12 pound brass pieces and two 6 pound steel rifle guns; next the 8th Vt. and 114th N.Y., which last regiment supported the 6th Massachusetts battery of six 12 pound brass field pieces; next came the 75th and 160th N.Y. and between the last named regiment and the 12th Conn. was the 6th Maine battery of six 12 pound brass guns.  Our line was supported by four brigades of infantry and eight 20 pound Parrott guns of Mack's Massachusetts black horse battery, and four 30 pound Parrott guns from the Indiana battery, and a regiment of Louisiana cavalry.  Thus, every thing being in order, our reserve in proper distance, at 2 o'clock P.M., Gen. Banks, who is in personal command of the expedition, gave Gen. Weitzel the command to advance upon the enemy's works and slowly but firmly we marched along. At first the skirmishers had warm work, and the sharp crack of our rifles could be plainly distinguished from the coarser sound of rebel musketry, but soon the firing ceased, and we steadily advanced. The silence was ominous and every nerve was braced to meet danger and death in whatever shape it might come.  In this hush we arrived within half a mile of the enemy's line, when suddenly, like the crash of thunder from a clear sky, a terrible cannonade was commenced upon our whole line.  Our batteries wheeled and in less time than I can write it, the fire was as vigorously returned.  The plantations here are one up into deep ditches, and into one of these we were ordered to drop to protect us from the bursting shell, and there we lay for an hour and twenty minutes, with the shell screaming over us or bursting near by, the pieces flying around with a peculiar "whir" that was not at all agreeable to the ear. The second shot, from the enemy killed two horses, and wounded the rider of the battery in our rear. A shell from one of our guns burst as it left the piece and parts of it slightly injured two men in our regiment, but I have not got their names.  It was about 5 P.M. when the enemy commenced their "defense," and our General, finding they were strongly intrenched ordered us to fall back on the reserve for the night, which was done in good order and with perfect safety, and the firing ceased upon both sides. We learned by "an intelligent contraband" that the rebs cheered lustily at our "retreat" and that their band was out and played "Dixie's Land," the "Bonnie Blue Flag," etc., and had a "good time generally," which means that Kirby Smith, Dick Taylor and Tom Monton got "gloriously drunk"  The above "intelligent" also tells us that our shell "played de debil" with the enemy, for we dismounted two canon and killed about 40 of their men, and that they were swearing at the "d....d Yankee gunners."  Our brigade had six killed and from twenty to twenty-five wounded; six in our regiment were slightly hurt, but not disabled from duty.

Our night's rest was undisturbed, and our coffee was drunk in peace in the morning at an early hour, but we were assured that there was work ahead, and we prepared ourselves for even a hotter fire than that of yesterday.  At 6 o'clock A.M., the gunboat Diana, which fell into rebel hands some weeks since, commenced firing from her long Parrott gun, but the range was too long and she could not reach us with her shell. Gen. Weitzel ordered up his two 6 pound steel guns to cover the movement of the 20 and 30 pound guns which had been ordered forward into a position, the 20 pdr's on our right, two of the 30 pdr's on our left, and the other two 30's across the bayou on a pontoon bridge, which had been built during the night, to gain and "enfilade" fire upon the enemy.  These movements were all completed with success and apparently without awakening the suspicions of the rebels, who seemed to think that our attack would be made principally with infantry.  If this was their tho't they were mistaken, for soon Mack's battery on our right, which was somewhat protected by the huge bodies of live oak trees, commenced a heavy fire upon the right of the enemy's front, which rested in a wood, and our 80 pdr's at the same time opened upon their left, which was formed upon the bayou, and protected both by earthworks and the gunboat, Diana.  This gunboat, however, did not last long, for the second shot from our 30 pdr's killed both her engineers and wounded twelve men, most of them mortally, and she, finding that our range was too accurate upon her, drew back and did not again appear in the fight. This was an event unlooked for by us, for we knew that the enemy could not have better guns in the field than was upon her decks, and we considered the battle half our own as she steamed out of sight. The fire, however, continued along the intrenchments, and a heavy 32 pound slege gun on the enemy's left gave us shot after shot, and proved an inconvenient "impediment" to our advance.  Our General, at last, found a way to bring it to terms by "smaller caliber," for he sent a party of sharpshooters across, the bayou, telling them to cautiously work their way behind trees, cane and other obstacles, to easy rifle range and pick off the cannoneers as they came up to load their piece.  In this way, at about 4 P.M. this heavy gun of the enemy was silenced. From early morning until dark did the roar of artillery fill the air with heavy thunder, and the blue smoke of battle clothed the earth with its mantle of glory.  Patiently did we wait under the heavy and continuous fire from the rebels for orders to advance, but they did not come until long after noon, when it was rumored that a large force of Arizonians and Texans were working their way through the woods on our left to flank us. As our commander received this news, he ordered the 75th N.Y. to deploy into the woods as skirmishers, and our regiment, and the 8th Vt. to march forward and throw out skirmishers in front to relieve those of the 160th NY. and 12th Conn. Our advance was slow and tedious through a cane field, and when we were halted, Co. B, Capt Bockee in command, were deployed next to the wood or thicket in which were said to be concealed a thousand Indians, with orders to fire at the stir of a bush or the smoke of a gun.  We felt our way cautiously and soon drew the fire of the enemy, but no one could be seen through the thick foliage of the bush, and our fire was returned at random but low (We subsequently learned from prisoners that our fire, though no enemy could be seen, was most fatal, and caused them to fall back to the main body). After firing three or four rounds we received no reply and the order to "cease firing and advance" was given.  We came to the Cane field and a broad cane lot lay between us and the rebel breastworks and we could see the rebels behind them.  Our skirmishers continued to advance occasionally rising and firing, and receiving a return fire, until all at once a heavy volley was poured into us, and the order "in retreat" was given, when a double quick soon took us out of range of the rebels' in the woods.  One of our men, Wm. Weston, of South New Berlin, I believe, as he was rising from a kneeling position, received a ball through his right side, but he is recovering from his wound. We were ordered to fall back and join our regiment, and after getting there, one of the Staff visited each Captain and cautioned them to have his company lay close, as the 75th were about to fire upon the rebels concealed in the wood to "scare them out" if possible.  Agreeable to orders, we lay close to the ground, between the cane rows, awaiting the fire, many of us expected a warm engagement, as the 75th were old campaigners and a tough lot, and plenty of visits from stray bullets, but we did not expect the perfect storm of leaden hail that rained in upon us.  In answer to the first volley of the 75th, there was a continuous roar of musketry, for at least three quarters of an hour, and the bullets all seemed to fall around Co. B.  But strange as it may seem, only two men were hit - one seriously and one slightly.  Geo. Ballou was hit in the knee, the ball slanting downward, creating an ugly and painful wound, and Frank Fish slightly, on the shoulder. After the firing had ceased, we were ordered to fall back for the night, and as quietly as possible we took up our position beside a ditch in the cane field, nearly a hundred yards in rear of our former position.  The 75th in the bush, did gloriously, firing volley after volley, and returning cheer for cheer, until finally the enemy retired from before them, and they (the 75th) came out with the loss of but two men killed. We learned that our loss during the day was 30 killed and about 125 wounded - 6 killed in our regiment and 20 or 25 wounded.  It is not in my power to give particulars and names, though one man in Co. H was killed by one of our shells, it bursting as it left the gun.

Among all the occurrences of the day, one little circumstance created fun for the time, and has since been "laughed" about by all of our boys who saw and heard it.  When our big guns had arranged matters to their satisfaction, and the smaller field pieces taken up their position, they all commenced their fire at once, and the rebels replied with equal vigor, their shells bursting in close proximity to our position. Every Captain and Lieutenant has a black servant, "you know," and these sable warriors follow each company to which they are attached. At the commencement of the fire, one of these men came rushing back, the very picture of terror.  Our boys asked him if he was afraid, and what he was running for? "Oh, no, me no 'fraid! me no 'fraid! but me am mighty inconvenienced by de smoke!  me never did like smoke!"  and away he went with a hearty laugh after him for his wit.

The 114th bivouacked at night without supper of any kind, as it would be dangerous to build fires to make coffee, and our "hard tack" was miles back with the wagon train, but there was no murmuring, each soldier submitting to a "military necessity."

From some unaccountable reason, I could not rest this night, and I lay watching the stars as they shone so peacefully, that one would doubt that they looked upon a battlefield or had listened to the noise and strife of the day that had just gone to rest.  I wondered if any friend in our northern home was wakeful like myself and thinking of him, who that day had passed through a "fiery trial," under the protecting hand of the God of battle, and an answer came from a conscious heart, "aye many are wakeful, praying and hoping for the best."  And thus the slow hours wore away, sleep refusing her refreshing portion, and my sense of hearing as acute as the watchful sentinel.  As near as I could judge it was 1 o'clock A.M., when the faint boom of a gun was heard away to the northwestward, and others heard it too, for in less than half an hour the whole rebel encampment was in motion, and whether they were evacuating or receiving reinforcements I could not tell, but trusted that our cautious General knew what was going on.  It soon proved to be an evacuation, for a couple of aids passed by, and they said that the signal gun of Grover had just been fired telling us that he had just landed in rear of Franklin, and that the rebel army would be "bagged" without the further loss of men.  I hoped so, but it proved otherwise with Grover, for the retreating rebels saw that only by cutting their way through his forces could they escape, and at noon on Tuesday, the 14th of April, they fell upon him in a body and forced a passage. But they (the rebels) lost over 600 in killed, wounded and prisoners.  Among the killed was Gen Taylor. Grover's loss was about 100 killed and wounded.

On Tuesday morning our forces were put in motion after the retreating rebels, and for four days we made rapid marches after the foe, until we arrived at Vermillion river, when we were stopped by a burning bridge, the rebels having just crossed.  Here the army halted for a rest having marched about 90 miles in 7 days and fought a pretty severe battle.  Here, also, the hopes of the 114th for further honor were crushed, for we were detailed by Gen. Banks to return to Brashaer City, and on our way to steal all the horses, mules, cattle and sheep we could lay our hands on. We started back on Sunday the 19th inst., and the elements, as if to hide our shame, vied with each other in fury, for the wind and rain, the lightning and thunder, seemed conspiring together to do its worst.  From the 19th to the 28th inst. the men have worked hard as cattle drivers. Co B, arrived here two days ago, having been detailed to drive in the mules and horses, the rest of the regiment driving cattle and guarding prisoners.

Wednesday, April 29

Yesterday we heard from Gen. Banks army, and the news was very encouraging, they having been successful in capturing a large force of rebels (8,000) and now, together with a portion of Gen. Grants' army, are laying a siege to Alexandria, a fortified town on Red river. This expedition is a most damaging one to the Southern Confederacy, for it cuts off all supply to Port Hudson and Vicksburgh, and ought to have been done long ago. The country we passed through was a very rich one, and as we ascended towards Opelousas, the surface became more rolling, and the large plains were filled with cattle, sheep and horses.  Cotton and sugar are raised in abundance, and the government will more than pay the expense of the expedition from these last two articles.

Today we have orders to march, but where we are to go is a mystery to me.  I shall endeavor to keep you posted, however, at every convenient time I have.

Respectfully yours, A.