Chenango Telegraph, Norwich, NY, May 6, 1863
Letter from Ira D. Jacobs of 89th NY Regiment
Suffolk, Va. Apr 23d, 1863
Eds. Telegraph" A few lines from the 89th may not be unacceptable to some of your readers who have friends in the regiment. Our Division was detached from the 9th Army Corps in March, and sent here in anticipation of an attack from the rebels at this point.
The troops then doing duty here were mostly new regiments, not accustomed to active service. Corcoran's famous Legion formed a part. After remaining here a time and no demonstration having been made, we began to think there was to be no fighting from this way for some time at least. But on the 11th inst., information was received that the enemy were advancing in force to attack this place. At first we thought it merely a feint to cover other operations against Foster at Washington. Our regiment was ordered out on picket for that night, and the next morning taken to Fort Montgomery, and put to digging rifle pits and otherwise strengthening the works. Gunboats came up the river, and we could hear an occasional shot denoting that there was something ahead. For two or three nights the men were ordered to sleep with their accoutrements on, but that finally "played out," and we took matters very coolly.
Affairs remained in this condition with an occasional scout around the front of the lines, and artillery firing at different points, until the night of the 16th, when Gen. Getty ordered a detachment from several regiments to make a raid over the river and surround a house supposed to contain sharpshooters who annoyed our gunboats very much. There was a call for fifty volunteers from the 89th, but we replied with over sixty. the enterprise was considered quite hazardous, as we did not know the force to be met. We crossed on a gunboat about 2 A.M. of the 17th. After leaving the bank about 80 rods our advance guard came upon an out post picket of cavalry. Two shots were fired at them but without effect, when they "skedaddled" firing only one shot at us. As our success depended entirely upon our secrecy, this alarm of course frustrated the whole plan, and our only course was to fall back and return to camp, which we did arriving there about 7 A.M. On Saturday night the whole regiment was ordered out but did not cross the river.
About 8 P.M. on Sunday, the 19th, there came an order to fall in with nothing but guns and cartridge boxes. Several of the officers and men were absent from camp, not expecting a movement that day, so that we had only two Captains in the line. It seems there was an old fort on the other side, which the rebs occupied, whose guns had proved very destructive to our gunboats and their crews. Our object was to capture this fort if possible and thus open the way for the boats up and down the river.
We were marched on board a boat together with four companies of the 8th Conn. Regiment, fell down the stream about half a mile, and stopped. the order then was to jump ashore and "go in" every man for himself.
The water was nearly waist deep, but the men bounded in, scrambled up the bank and commenced cheering and running towards the fort. Their guns opened on us and the bullets flew "right smart." Seeing a swamp between us and the fort, about forty of us made a detour and reached a bank in the rear of the works where we halted a moment for breath. I think there were not more than fifty of us there mortly form our regiment. It was decided to charge up a road leading directly to the fort, about thirty rods distant. With a yell from every mouth on we went straight up to the work. The enemy had a heavy 24-pounder, charged with grape shot and canister pointing down the road. This they tried three times to fire as our men were advancing, but providentially the cap did not explode. On seeing the failure, and our men rushing along, they gave up and hoisted a white rag, just as we reached the top of the bank. The fort was ours. up went the stars and stripes and the banner of the 89th. Cheers upon cheers were given by us to be echoed by the marines and troops on the other side of the river, who had watched with intense interest the desperate attempt. It was a moment of pride, a moment when a man lives years of time in a breath.
On taking a survey of our success we counted five splendid pieces of artillery, three of them 12-pounders and two 24-pounders, a very large supply of the finest ammunition, over one hundred small arms, and 130 prisoners including nine commissioned officers. The value of the guns and stores is estimated at $40,000. One of the prisoners remarked that he supposed the guns belonged to us as they took them at Harper's ferry, at the time of the surrender of that place. The troops in the forts were composed of two companies of the 44th Alabama and Stribling's Battery of this State. They were the best looking men we have captured, but said we took them unfairly and did not fight like men. We expected to be relieved that night and return to camp, but instead were ordered to remain upon the ground and hold it until morning. Expected to be attacked before morning, but no serious demonstrations were made and at day break we were relieved and returned to camp, nearly exhausted from exposure, went to sleep and having nothing to eat for nearly 24 hours.
So ends this imperfect description of the affair at Hill's Point. It is considered here to be the most complete success, taking into account the number of men engaged, that has occurred during the campaign. I regret to write that we lost two men killed, and five wounded, one of whom died yesterday. His name was Fiske from Guilford. He died like a hero. Such men cannot be replaced.
Yours &c. I.D. Jacobs
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Adjutant General's Report, 89th NY Regiment: Ira D. Jacobs, age, 24 years, enlisted, November 6, 1861, at Delhi, to serve three years; mustered in as corporal, Co. I, November 28, 1861; promoted First sergeant; Commissioned second lieutenant, July 23, 1863, with rank from December 27, 1862; died, August 19, 1863 at Folly Island, S.C.
JACOBS: In Camp Hospital at Folly Island, S.C., Sept. 19, 1863, Lieut. Ira D. Jacobs, Co. I, 89th reg., N.Y.S.V. Lieut. Jacobs enlisted as a private in the 89th Regiment in the fall of 1861, and for good conduct and soldierly bearing was soon promoted to Orderly Sergeant and served as such until a short time previous to this death when he was commissioned as lieutenant. He had served his country faithfully for the past two years, and had been in every engagement in which his regiment took part and came out unhurt from all. He had just attained a position in which he could reap the reward which he so richly merited for two years hardship when death overtook him, Another noble son is added to the list of heroes who have laid down their lives for their country's good. A.L.S. [Chenango telegraph, Oct. 14, 1863]
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