|
HISTORY of the FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT
of
MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY
1863-1865
by Luis Fenollosa Emilio
Published:
Boston:
The History Book Company
1894.
----------
CHAPTER III.
THE SEA ISLANDS
[Page 35]
| MANY of the Fifty-fourth, born in
the interior, never had seen the ocean; others had
not voyaged upon it. Several of the officers,
however, had been over the course, or a portion of
it, before. For all it was a season of rest.
The "De Molay" was a commodious, new, and excellent
transport. The staterooms were comfortable,
the cabin finely furnished, and the table well
provided. For the men bunks were arranged
between decks for sleeping, and large coppers for
cooking purposes; plenty of condensed but
unpalatable water was furnished. May 29, the
sea was smooth all day, and the weather fine but not
clear. Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket were
passed in the morning. At night a fine moon
rose. Foggy weather prevailed on the 30th,
with an increasing ground-swell, causing some
seasickness. The next day the steamer
struggled against a head wind. At midnight the
craft narrowly escaped grounding on Point Lookout
shoals. Some one had tampered with the
sounding-line. June 1, pleasant weather
enabled the seasick to take some interest in life.
The air was soft and balmy, as we ran down the North
Carolina coast, which was dimly visible. A few
porpoises and a shark or two followed the ship.
Distant sails were sighted at times. When
evening came, the sun sank into the sea, red and
fiery, gilding the horizon. A |
[Page 36]
stiff breeze blew from
ahead, which freshened later. Fine weather
continued throughout daylight of June 2. With
the evening, however, it clouded up in the south,
and a squall came up, with lightning and some rain,
driving all below.
Morning dawned the next day, with the sun shining
through broken clouds. At reveille, some
fifteen sail of outside blockaders off Charleston
were seen far away, and soon passed. The sandy
shores of South Carolina were in full view, fringed
here and there with low trees. A warm wind was
blowing, ruffling the water beneath a clouded sky.
Every one was busy with preparations for landing, -
writing letters, packing knapsacks, and rolling
blankets. Running below Hilton Head, a pilot
came alongside in a boat rowed by contrabands, and
took the vessel back into Port Royal, completing a
voyage at 1 P. M., which was without accident or
death to mar its recollection.
Colonel Shaw, personally reporting to General
Hunter, was ordered to proceed to Beaufort and
disembark. On that day General Hunter
wrote the following letter: - |
| |
HEADQUARTERS
DEP'T OF THE
SOUTH
HILTON HEAD,
PORT ROYAL,
S. C., June 3, 1863. |
| HIS EXCELLENCY,
GOVERNOR ANDREW, Massachusetts.
GOVERNOR, - I have the honor to announce that
the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts (colored) troops,
Colonel Shaw commanding, arrived safely in this
harbor this afternoon and have been sent to Port
Royal Island. The regiment had an excellent
passage, and from the appearance of the men I doubt
not that this command will yet win a reputation and
place in history deserving the patronage you have
geven them. Just as they were steaming up the
bay I received from Col. James Montgomery,
commanding Second South Carolina Regiment, a
telegraphic despatch, of which certified copy is
enclosed. Colonel Mont - |
[Page 37]
gomery's is but
the initial step of a system of operations which
will rapidly compel the Rebels either to lay down
their arms and sue for restoration to the Union or
to withdraw their slaves into the interior, thus
leaving desolate the most fertile and productive of
their counties along the Atlantic seaboard.
The Fifty-fourth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers
shall soon be profitably and honorably employed; and
I beg that you will send for service in this
department the other colored regiment which
Colonel Shaw tells me you are now organizing and
have in forward preparation.
Thanking you heartily for the kindness and promptness
with which you have met my views in this matter, and
referring you to my letter to Mr. Jefferson Davis
as a guarantee that all soldiers fighting for the
flag of their country in this department will be
protected, irrespective of any accident of color or
birth, I have the honor to be, Governor, with the
highest esteem. |
| |
Your very obedient servant,
D. HUNTER
Major-General Commanding. |
It was 4 P. M. when the "De Molay" started for
Beaufort, leaving the storehouses, quarters, and
long pier making up the military station of Hilton
Head. The steamer crossed the grand harbor
with some seventy sail moored upon its waters,
including the frigates "Wabash" and "Vermont," a
monitor, several gunboats, and a French steamer, and
reached Beaufort before dark. Col. James
Montgomery with the Second South Carolina
Colored, was just debarking from a successful foray
up the Combahee River, bringing several hundred
contrabands. Brig.-Gen. Rufus Saxton
was temporarily absent, and Col. W. W. H. Davis
was in command of the district. June 4, at 5
A. M., the regiment landed too early in the day to
attract the attention of any but a few loiterers.
Passing through the |
[Page 38]
town to a point about half a mile
from the river, the command bivouacked in an old
cotton-field of the Thompson plantation.
Shelters from the hot sun were made from bushes or
blankets. During this first afternoon on South
Carolina soil Colonel Shaw thoughtfully sent
to the officers a present of champagne.
Beaufort was our abiding-place for only four days, and
the Fifty-fourth never returned to it. Sandy
streets shaded with fine oaks crossed one another at
right angles. There were some fine old houses
and gardens skirting the shell road running along
the low bluffs, with churches, public buildings, and
a spacious green. Scattered about the island
were some white and the two South Carolina colored
regiments, besides some cavalry and artillery.
The landward side of Port Royal Island, fronting
Rebel territory, was strongly picketed and
fortified.
While camped there, the days were intensely hot, with
cooler nights. Troublesome insects infested
our camp. Shelter tents for the men were
issued and put up. Our first taste of fatigue
work in the field was on June 6, when Companies A,
D. and H were sent out on the shell road to work on
fortifications. The Second South Carolina had
departed for the Georgia coast. Late in the
day orders came to embark, Colonel Shaw
having applied for active service.
Camp was struck at sunrise on the 8th, after a rainy
night, and an hour later saw the regiment in line in
accordance with orders establishing the positions of
the several companies for the first time. The
formation was with Company B on the right as
follows: -
H F G
D E K C
I A B. |
[Page 39]
Having
marched to the wharf, embarkation took place at
once; but the start was not made until 9 A. M., when
the steamer swung into the stream and ran down
river, the men singing "John Brown" gayly.
About a mile below town the steamer grounded,
delaying arrival at Hilton Head until noon.
There Colonel Shaw was instructed by
General Hunter to report to Colonel
Montgomery at St. Simon's Island, Ga., and the
"De Molay" steamed out of harbor at 5:30 P. M..
After a rather rough voyage of some eighty miles during
the night, the "De Molay" dropped anchor at 6 A. M.
in the sound off the southern point of St. Simon's
Island. Colonel Shaw landed and rode
across the island to report to Colonel Montgomery.
At noon the steamer "Sentinel," a small craft that
looked like a canal boat with a one-story house
built upon it, came alongside, and eight companies
were transferred, Companies A and C under Captain
Appleton remaining to get the cargo in readiness
for a second trip.
The little steamer took the regiment up the winding
river, along the west and inland shore of the
island, past Gascoign's Bluff, where the Second
South Carolina was encamped, to Pike's Bluff, some
eight or ten miles, where the regiment disembarked
on an old wharf. It was a pretty spot on the
plantation formerly owned by a Mr. Gould.
There was a large two-story house surrounded by fine
trees, and situated close to the wharf, which was
taken for use as headquarters. Close by it was
an old barn in which the supplies were stored when
they arrived. On the edge of a cleared field
the men pitched shelters for the night.
Col. James Montgomery, commanding the post, was
a |
[Page 40]
noted man. He was born in
Ohio, in 1814. In Kansas from 1856 to 1861, he
was the central figure in the Free State party.
Early in the war he was for a time colonel of a
Kansas regiment. By bold raids into the
enemy's country in 1863, he recruited his colored
regiment. He was a man of austere bearing,
cool, deliberate, and of proved courage. In
personal appearance he was tall, spare, rather
bowed, with gentle voice and quiet manner.
After his resignation in September, 1864, he
returned to Kansas, and died there in December,
1871.
Colonel Montgomery with five companies of his
regiment, on June 6, had made an expedition from St.
Simon's up to the Turtle River to Brunswick and
beyond, and destroyed a span of the railroad bridge
over Buffalo Creek. Quartermaster
Ritchie issued A and wall tents to the
Fifty-fourth on June 10; and all were at work
pitching camp and clearing the ground, when a
steamer came to the wharf. Colonel
Montgomery was on board, and hailing Colonel
Shaw from the deck, said, "How soon can you be
ready to start on an expedition?" Colonel
Shaw replied, "In half an hour," and at once
caused the long-roll to be sounded. Hurried
preparations were at once made, and at 6 P. M. eight
companies of the regiment embarked on the
"Sentinel." Companied F and C were left behind
as a camp guard.
Running down the river to Montgomery's camp, the
armed transport "John Adams" was found with troops
on board. Besides the Fifty-fourth, five
companies of the Second South Carolina, and a
section of Light Battery C, Third Rhode Island
Artillery, under Lieut. William A. Sabin,
took part in the expedition. Owing to the
"Sentinel" grounding after proceeding a short
distance farther, |
[Page 41]
and the "Adams" also running
on a shoal, there was long delay waiting for the
flood-tide. Not until 1 A. M. did the
"Sentinel" run up the coast, entering Doboy Sound at
sunrise. There the gunboat "Paul Jones" and
the "Harriet A. Weed" joined. Entering the
Altamaha River, with the gunboats occasionally
shelling houses and clumps of woods, the vessels
proceeded until the town of Darien appeared in
sight. Then the gunboats searched it with
their shells and fired at a few pickets seen east of
the place.
At 3 P. M. the troops landed without resistance at some
of the deserted wharves. Pickets were posted,
and the troops formed in the public square.
Only two white women and a few negroes were found.
The inhabitants were living at the "Ridge," a few
miles inland. Some fifteen or twenty men of
the Twentieth Georgia Cavalry, under Capt. W. A.
Lane, picketed the vicinity, but had retired.
Darien, the New Inverness of early days, was a most
beautiful town as Montgomery's forayers
entered it that fateful June 3ay. A broad
street extended along the river, with others running
into it, all shaded with mulberry and oak trees of
great size and beauty. Storehouses and mills
along the river-bank held quantities of rice and
resin. There might have been from seventy-five
to one hundred residences in the place. There
were three churches, a market-house, jail clerk's
office, court-house, and an academy.
After forming line, orders came for the Fifty-fourth to
make details and secure from the houses such things
as would be useful in camp, besides live-stock,
resin, lumber, etc. Soon the plundering thus
legitimized began. An officer thus describes
the scene: - |
[Page 42]
| "The men
began to come in by twos, threes, and dozens, loaded
with every species and all sorts and quantities of
furniture, stores, trinkets, etc., till one would be
tired enumerating. We had sofas, tables,
pianos, chairs, mirrors, carpets, beds, bedsteads,
carpenter's tools, cooper's tools, books, law-books,
account-books in unlimited supply, china sets,
tinware, earthenware, Confederate shinplasters, old
letters, papers, etc. A private would come
along with a slate, yard-stick, and a brace of
chickens in one hand, and in the other hand a rope
with a cow attached." But
the crowning act of vandalism is thus set forth in
one of Colonel Shaw's letters: -
"After the town was
pretty thoroughly disembowelled, he [Montgomery]
aid to me, 'I shall burn this town.' He speaks
in a very low tone, and has quite a sweet smile when
addressing you. I told him I did not want the
responsibility of it, and he was only too happy to
take it all on his own shoulders.
The reasons he gave me for destroying Darien
were that the Southerners must be made to feel that
this was a real war, and that they were to be swept
away by the hand of God like the Jews of old. In
theory it may seem all right to some; but when it
comes to being made the instrument of the Lord's
vengeance, I myself don't like it. Then he
says, 'We are outlawed, and therefore not bound by
the rules of regular warfare.' But that makes
it none the less revolting to wreak our vengeance on
the innocent and defenceless."
By Montgomery's
express orders, therefore, the town was fired, only
one company of the Fifty-fourth participating with
the Second South Carolina, Montgomery
applying the torch to the last buildings with his
own hand. Fanned by a high wind, the flames
eventually destroyed everything but a church, a few
houses, and some lumber- |
[Page 43]
works owned in the
North. The schooner "Pet," with fifty-five
bales of cotton for Nassau, lying in a small creek
four miles above, was captured, and a flatboat with
twenty-five bales near by was also secured.
Our transports had been loaded with plunder, and late
in the afternoon the troops re-embarked. Some
warehouses had been fired, and the river-bank was a
sheet of flame. A few moments' delay or a
change of wind might have resulted disastrously.
The heat was so intense that all were driven to the
farther side of our boat, and gun-barrels became so
hot that the men were ordered to old them upward.
Five miles below the town the steamer anchored.
Thelight of the fire was seen that night at St.
Simon's, fifteen miles away. Colonel Shaw
wrote two official letters bearing upon this
expedition. One was to Governor Andrew,
giving an account of the expedition, wherein he
expressed his disapprobation of Colonel
Montgomery's course. The other is as
follows: - |
| |
ST. SIMON'S ISLAND, GA., June 14,
1863. |
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL
HALPINE, A. .A. G. Tenth Army Corps,
and Department of the
South |
DEAR SIR, - Will you allow me to ask you a private
question , which of course you are at liberty to
answer or not? Has Colonel Montgomery
orders from General Hunter to burn and
destroy all town and dwelling houses he may capture?
On the 11th inst., as you know, we took the town of
Darien without opposition, the place being occupied,
as far as we ascertained, by non-combatants;
Colonel Montgomery burned it to the ground, and
at leaving finally, shelled it from the river.
If he does this on his own responsibility, I shall
refuse to have a share in it, and take the
consequences; but, of course, if it is an order from
headquarters, it is a different matter, as in that
case I suppose it to have been found necessary to
adopt |
[Page 44]
that policy. He
ordered me, if separated from him, to burn all the
plantation houses I came across.
Now, I am perfectly ready to burn any place which
resists, and gives some reason for such a
proceeding; but it seems to be barbarous to turn
women and children adrift in that way; and if I am
only assisting Colonel Montgomery in a
private enterprise of his own, it is very
distasteful to me.
I am aware that this is not a military way of getting
information; and I hope you will feel that I shall
not be hurt if you refuse to answer my question. |
| |
Believe me, very truly
yours, |
|
| |
|
ROBERT G. SHAW, |
| |
Colonel Commanding
Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Regiment. |
It is not known to the writer that any answer was
vouchsafed to this letter; but Colonel Shaw
afterward ascertained that Colonel Montgomery
acted in accordance with General hunter's
orders.
The "Sentinel" at 3 A. M. got under way, landing the
Fifty-fourth, after a passage of twelve hours, at
the camp. Our first mail since leaving home
came that afternoon. Colonel
Montgomery had gone to Hilton Head, leaving
Colonel Shaw in command of the post.
Camped on the Gould place, the Fifty-fourth
quietly remained until its departure from St.
Simon's The plunder acquired afforded many
comforts and even luxuries. Officers and men
lived on army fare, supplemented with poor fresh
beef, as a few cattle had been found.
Religious services were sometimes held in the yard
of a little church near by, most beautifully
situated amid a wealth of foliage which overshadowed
many old, decayed tombstones. Hardly a day
passed without more or less rain falling. It
was very warm at midday, but later came cool breezes
from seaward. |
[Page 45]
Besides
the usual camp guard the Fifty-fourth furnished
details for a long picket line, and a number of
posts watching the river.
St. Simon's came nearer a realization of the ideal Eden
than one could hope to find the second time.
There was a subtile languor in the hum of insects,
the son and flight of birds, the splash of the warm
green water upon the shore. Grand old oaks,
laden with moss and vines, canopied the flowers and
verdure beneath. Perfume of shrubs, plants,
trees, and grass filled the air, vying with the
fresher and more invigorating sweetness from marsh
and sea. One could almost see and hear the
growth of plant and cane, as the life-giving sun
warmed the sap, burst the blossom, and drew the
tendril skyward. Gigantic ferns covered the
shadier places, while the pools and swamps were
beautiful with lilies.
There were a number of deserted plantations on the
island, the most notable of which were those of
T. Butler King, James E. Couper, and Pierce
Butler The latter was the husband of
Fanny Kemble, and his place the one of which she
wrote in her "Journal of a Residence on a Georgian
Plantation, in 1838-39." All these places were
neglected and abandoned, except by a few old
negroes.
Historically, St. Simon's Island was noted ground.
Near the camp of the Fifty-fourth were the "tabby"
walls of Frederica, founded by Governor
Oglethorpe in 1736, of which John Wesley
was the minister. In the centre of the island
was "Bloody Swamp," where the invading Spaniards
were defeated July 7, 1742. It is a fact not
widely known that with the Spanish force was a
regiment of negroes and another of mulattoes.
During the Revolution the British overran the
island. On the next |
[Page 46]
island to the south Lamar
landed his last cargo of slaves from the "Wanderer."
St. Simon's had been fortified early in the Civil
War; but in February, 1862, the armament was
removed, and then the few remaining inhabitants went
away.
While the Fifty-fourth were enjoying the delights of
St. Simon's, Brig.-Gen. Quincy A. Gillmore
had relieved General Hunter. Admiral John
A. Dahlgren was to replace Admiral Dupont.
Tidings of these changes, of Lee having
crossed the Rappahannock, the capture of Harper's
Ferry, and the investment of Port Hudson, were
received by the "Harriet A. Weed," on June 23.
Orders also came for the Fifty-fourth to report at
Hilton Head.
During the afternoon and evening of June 24, the
regiment was taken in detachments of the "Mayflower"
to the ocean steamer, "Ben Deford" lying off
Montgomery's camp, whence it sailed early the
next day for Hilton Head. Colonel
Montgomerys regiment was also ordered away.
About noon, Colonel Shaw reported his arrival
and was ordered to St. Helena Island, across the
harbor. A new object of interest was the
Confederate ironclad "Atlanta," captured June 17 by
the monitor "Weehawken."
Rain was falling as the Fifty-fourth landed on the
wharf. Marching for a mile or so, we camped in
an old cotton-field near the water. Many
regiments were on the island preparing for active
operations. The post was commanded by Brig.
-Gen. George C. Strong, a brilliant young
officer who had recently arrived. The
Fifty-fourth, with the Second South Carolina camped
near by, constituted the "Colored Brigade," under
Colonel Montgomery. |
[Page 47]
Although it rained very frequently, the moisture was
speedily absorbed by the sandy soil. There was
a terrible thunder-storm on the 28th, accompanied
with such violent wind that many tents were blown
down. One man was killed, and several stunned,
by lightning, in adjoining camps.
Being near the water, sea-bathing was convenient and
thoroughly enjoyed. A few trees, shrubbery,
and some negro houses bounded the prospect landward.
There was swampy ground in front of the camp.
Beyond and back from the shore line were many
plantations and fine woods. Remains of former
camps were fund everywhere. Many contrabands
were employed planting under Northern men.
While at this camp the condition of the regiment was
excellent, and the men in high spirits, eager for
service. Drills went on incessantly. A
musician of the Forty-eighth New York was
instructing the band. On the 30th, the
Fifty-fourth was mustered for pay. It was then
first rumored that the terms of enlistment would not
be adhered to by the Government. The situation
is best evidenced by the following letter of
Colonel Shaw: - |
| |
ST. HELENA ISLAND, S.
C., July 2, 1863. |
| HIS EXCELLENCY
GOVERNOR ANDREW. |
|
DEAR SIR,
- Since I last wrote you, the Fifty-fourth has left
St. Simon's Island and returned to St. Helena near
Hilton Head. We are now encamped in a healthy
place, close to the harbor, where we get the sea
breeze.
You have probably seen the order form Washington which
cuts down the pay of colored troops from $13 to $10.
Of course if this affects Massachusetts regiments,
it will be a great place of injustice to them, as
they were enlisted on the expense |
[Page 48]
understanding that they
were to be on precisely the same footing as all
other Massachusetts troops. In my opinion they
should be mustered out of the service or receive the
full pay which was promised them. The
paymaster here is inclined to class us with the
contraband regiments, and pay the men only $10.
If he does not change his mind, I shall refuse to
have the regiment paid until I hear from you on the
subject. And at any rate I trust you will take
the matter in hand, for every pay-day we shall have
the same trouble unless there is a special order to
prevent it.
Another change that has been spoken of was the arming
of negro troops with pikes instead of firearms.
Whoever proposed it must have been looking for a
means of annihilating negro troops altogether, I
should think - or have never been under a heavy
musketry fire, nor observed its effects. The
project is now abandoned, I believe.
My men are well and in good spirits. We have only
five in hospital. We are encamped near the
Second South Carolina near General Strong's
brigade, and are under his immediate command.
He seems anxious to do all he can for us, and if
there is a fight in the Department will no doubt
give the black troops a chance to show what stuff
they are made of.
With many wishes for your good health and happiness, I
remain, |
| |
Very sincerely and
respectfully yours, |
| |
|
ROBERT G. SHAW. |
A deserter from the Second South Carolina was brought
by Lieut. George W. Brush of his regiment
before Colonel Montgomery on June 28.
After questioning him, the colonel ordered him to be
taken away and shot, which was done at once.
Montgomery was never taken to task for this
illegal action. Most of the troops at St.
Helena had departed for Folly Island by July 3.
Fears prevailed that the colored regiments were not
to take part in active |
LT. - COL. HENRY N. HOOPER
LT. COL. GEORGE POPE
MAJ. J. W. M. APPLETON
MAJ. JAMES M. WALTON.
[Page 49]
| operations.
Colonel Shaw's disappointment found courteous
expression as follows: -
|
| |
ST.
HELENA, ISLAND,
July 6, 1863. |
| BRIG. -GEN. GEORGE
C. STRONG.
GENERAL, - I did not pay my respects to you before
you left this post because I did not wich to disturb
you when making your preparations for departure.
I desire, however, to express to you my regret
that my regiment no longer forms a part of the force
under your command. I was the more
disappointed at before left behind, that I had been
given to understand that we were to have our share
in the work in this department. I feel convinced too
that my men are capable of better service than mere
guerilla warfare, and I hoped to remain permanently
under your command.
It seems to be quite important that the colored
soldiers should be associated as much as possible
with the white troops, in order that they may have
other witnesses besides their own officers to what
they are capable of doing. I trust that the
present arrangement is not permanent.
With many wishes for your success, believe me very
sincerely and respectfully |
| |
Your obedient servant, |
| |
|
ROBERT G. SHAW. |
| |
Colonel Commanding
Fifty-fourth Regiment Mass. Infantry. |
Upon the national holiday all unnecessary duty was
dispense with. Everywhere on land and water
the stars and stripes were displayed and saluted.
At the camp many men were permitted to pass the
lines. Several officers visited the camp of
the Second South Carolina. Colonel Shaw
and others attended a celebration of the day held by
the freedmen in the yard of the Baptist Church, some
six miles distant, where the Declaration of Indepen- |
[Page 50]
| dence was read, hymns sung, and
addresses made. Rev. Mr. Lynch, a
colored clergyman from Baltimore, held religious
services for the Fifty-fourth on Sunday, the 5th.
News was received of the promotion of Major
Hallowell to be lieutenant-colonel in place of
his brother, promoted colonel of the Fifty-fifth
Massachusetts. |
|
