Hood's "Texians" in Battle

As counterpoise to the Union account of the Battle of Eltham from Adams' Story of a Trooper, I present Nicholas "Chaplain" Davis' telling of events from The Campaign from Texas to Maryland.

"After a tiresome day's march, during which we were several times thrown into

line of battle, we reached Williamsburg, where the army had halted at about 5

P. M., and passing through, bivouacked about two miles above town. About an

hour after we had passed through, the advance guard of the enemy appeared,

and after exchanging a few artillery compliments, retired. On the following

morning afield onset was made and continued until morning. In this battle

the Yankees were repulsed with a heavy loss, amounting in killed, wounded

and prisoners to about 5,000. Our loss was also severe, and amounted to about

2,500 The courage and endurance of our troops were fearfully tried in this

engagement, but they stood the test like true Southrons and patriots, battling

for freedom. On the night previous to this battle, news reached our Generals

that the enemy with gunboats and transports was pushing up York river. It

was now evident that by a rapid movement on our rear, they expected to re-

tard our progress until they could disembark troops at Eltham's Landing, oppo-

site West Point, and by cutting our army in two, at least capture our artil-

lery and wagon train, Great energy and courage were now required to save the

retreating army. If they were allowed time to select and occupy their posi-

tion serious disaster must be the result. This enterprise was committed to

proper hands. At 11 o'clock that night, Gen. Whiting's Division, notwithstand-

ing their hard day's march, were called up and put in motion. Through the rain

and mud they marched until day, and on until night again, when a halt was

ordered, and tired, hungry and wet, the men dropped where they stood and

slept in spite of the storm. The next morning scouts were thrown out to feel

for the position of the enemy, and the command was allowed a few hours rest.

This being "ration day," and the commissary missing, the men were informed

that they could go across the road to a corn crib and help themselves to some

corn on the cob, to be eaten raw, or roasted in the ashes, as their different

tastes might prompt. All were hungry enough to appreciate this liberality,

and such corn-cracking as followed has seldom been heard outside a hog-pen,

and a hearty laugh went round when some wag, seated on a log, called impe-

riously for "a bundle of fodder and bucket of salt and water." After night,

two men of the 5th Texas* got separated from their company, which was put on

picket duty, and while searching for it came upon a squad of men in the

woods, just as the order "Fall in, company," was delivered. Not being cere-

monious they obeyed promptly and marched off. Judge of their surprise and

chagrin when they, too late, discovered that they had joined a Yankee com-

pany, and being unable to "surround it" as the Irishman did the Hessians,

they quietly surrendered their arms and acknowledged themselves ''taken in."

BATTLE OF ELTHAMS LANDING.

The command was put in motion at daylight of May 7th, and about 7 o'clock

A. M., came upon a picket of the enemy, who fired two shots at Gen. Hood,

who was riding at the head of the 4th Texas, now in front. One shot struck

Corporal Sapp, of Co. H, in the head, inflicting a severe but not dangerous

wound . Private John Deal, of Co. A, whose gun was loaded, immediately fired

upon the pickets as they ran, and struck the only one in sight, killing him

instantly . Some confusion was observed at first in consequence of empty guns,

but Gen Hood immediately called out to the men to "move up," which they

did at double quick, and line of battle was immediately formed on the brow

of a hill. Beyond this hill, which had a precipitous descent, was an open

field of six or eight hundred yards width. On the opposite side were some

four or five companies of the enemy, who immediately began falling back

into the timber, but not until several random shots had been fired by our men,

which we afterwards discovered had killed five and wounded as many more.

Company B (Captain Carter) was then ordered by Gen. Hood to deploy as

skirmishers and "feel the enemy." They advanced across the open field, and

entering the timber, began a "running fight." Co. G (Captain Hutcheson)

was then ordered forward to support Co. B, if necessary; if not, to deploy on

its right the latter course was adopted. Company K (Captain Martin) was

next sent to support Company B, and Company E (Captain Ryon) to the sup-

port of Company G. After retreating about half a mile, the Yankees made a

stand behind an old mill-dam, and a spirited engagement ensued between them

and the right platoon of Company B, under Captain Carter, and Company G,

Captain Hutcheson ; Company H (Captain Porter) now arrived upon the

ground, with orders to support the left platoon of Company B, under Lieuten-

ant Walsh. The firing now became general, and the enemy, many of their

guns missing fire, threw them down and fled. While pursuing then, the se-

cond platoon of Company B came upon a large force (some two hundred)

protected by a heavy palisade. This was more than was bargained for, and

the boys, some twenty-five in number, immediately "treed" and answered

their volleys by picking off every one who showed his head. At this juncture

General Hood appeared, and ordered the Lieutenant in command to charge

the works, and he would send support. Just as the command "charge" was

given, and the boys with a yell, had started for the works, the first platoon

of Company B. appeared upon the left flank of the palisade, and the Yankees

fled in confusion, leaving seventeen killed and several wounded in the track of

their flight. While Company B was thus engaged, Company G had also its

share of "fun." Discovering a company of about eighty Yankees, Captain

Hutcheson with his company and part of Company E, attacked them so vigo-

rously that they dared not run, and were so unnerved that they fired volley

after volley into the tree-tops. Captain Hutcheson, who was a Chesterfield in

manner, did not for a moment forget himself during the fight. "Charge them,

gentlemen, charge them."- "Aim low, gentlemen, aim at their waistbands,"

were his constant exhortations, until a portion of the enemy cried for quar-

ters "Throw down your arms, gentlemen, you scoundrels, throw them down.

Sixteen obeyed the order, and the remainder taking advantage of the momen-

tary cessation of hostilities, turned and fled. Bewildered, however, they took

the wrong direction, and coming upon the 5th Texas where it was lying down

in line-of-battle, they were greeted by a volley, which left not one standing.

The fruits of Captain H's victory, were eleven killed, several wounded, and

sixteen prisoners, together with several stand of arms. While these events

were transpiring, the 1st, 5th, and remainder of the 4th Texas had entered the

timber, leaving the 8th Georgia to support the artillery in the rear. A Yan-

kee regiment now appeared upon the left and rear of the skirmishers, with the

intention, doubtless, of cutting them off. There we witnessed, for the first time,

THE GALLANTRY OF THE FIRST TEXAS. .

The regiment now advancing 1st California† evidently intended to fight

well, and advanced steadily to within 80 paces of the 1st Texas, when they

halted, poured in a volley, and with three huzzahs attempted to charge. This

was expected, and "aim low, fire" was ordered by Colonel Rainey, and a dis-

charge followed that seemed to mow down the whole front rank, and sent the

remainder in confusion back .again. A whole-souled hearty yell now went up

from the Texans, such as only Southerners can give, and they in turn, charg-

ed. But the Californians were not yet ready to yield, and rallying, they made

a stubborn resistance, and for about twenty minutes the fire raged with terri-

ble fury. The Texans charged again, and the enemy broke and fled, leaving

about two hundred killed; and wounded on the field, and several prisoners in

our hands. The loss of the 1st Texas in this engagement was six killed and

twenty-two wounded. Among- the former we regret to chronicle Lieutenant

Colonel Black and Captain. Decatur, who were loved and mourned by all as

brave men.

After the rout of this regiment, the enemy did not again attack us, but con-
tented themselves with shelling us from their gunboats, and sweeping the
woods with grape from a battery they had planted upon the river bank, with-
out, however, doing us the slightest injury. While this was going on, the
boys had a hearty laugh at the conduct of an

INDIAN WARRIOR,

who was attached to the 1st Texas Regiment. During the entire battle, with
musketry, he had conducted himself in the most gallant manner, and had even
succeeded in capturing a Yankee, whom he turned over to the proper officer,
with the brief announcement, "Major, Yank yours, gun mine," and again par-
ticipated in the smuggle. When the first shell came tearing through the
tree-tops, with its screaming inquiry, "Where you, where you?" he uttered a
significant "ugh!" and listened until it burst. At that' instant another came
and exploded just over our heads, when he sprang to his feet, exclaiming, "no
good for Indian," and made for the rear with the agility of an antelope. The
boys did not, however, reproach him, because it has long been understood
that Indians won't stand to be shot at by wagons, more particularly when the
projectile itself shoots so terribly. The entire loss of the brigade in this
engagement was thirty-seven. Of that number Captain Denny, Commissary of the
5th, was killed by a picket, and two men captured, as previously related.
Corporal Sapp, of Company H, and private Spencer, of Company G, 4th Texas, were
wounded; all the other casualties were of the 1st Texas, of which regiment who
cannot speak too highly. These are the men who came from their distant homes,
at their own expense, before the President had called upon Texas for troops to
assist in this great struggle. And, though their names have not occupied a
place in the journals of the day, they have ever been at their posts, ready and
to do and die for our common cause. They are a lively, merry set. and though
often hungry and "ragged," they have shown in numberless instances that they
can march as far and fight as hard as any troops in the service."

 * these presumably are the two captured Texans from Adams' account.

† the 1st California mentioned is in fact the Pennsylvania regiment of that name.

Nicolas A. Davis(1824-194) a self-trained Presbyeterian minister was chaplain of the 4th Texas Infantry. Besides his normal ministerial duties he founded a medical ward in Richmond for members of Hood's Texas Brigade known as the "Texas Hospital."

"Among the first attractions in which Texas has an interest, stands most prominently the Texas Hospital, a large building capable of accommodating 300 patients very comfortably, and 350 if put to the push. Dr. Lindly has the entire supervision, assisted by Dr. Dandridge, both from Texas. Dr. Hughes is likewise a sharer in the duties, though not as yet commissioned. Dr. Allen, of Washington county, has been with the institution since its establishment since its establishment, but leaves for Texas in a few days. All the offices of clerk, steward, matron, nurses, &c., are filled by Texians; Mr. & Mrs. Ferrell, of Houston, holding the positions of steward and matron respectively, with great satisfaction to all concerned. The sick are delighted with this successful hospital, and I am rejoiced to see how completely all work for the general good - fulfilling to the letter the description that I gave your readers, when in Richmond last, of what we ought to have."

From the Houston Tri-Weekly Telegraph, March 23, 1863

-To be continued-

"Cruelty Unsurpassed": The Drake Divorce Petition I

"Before 1848, If Virginians . . . .wanted complete divorces on the ground of adultery, they had to petition the General Assembly to pass a private act in their behalf. Upon their receipt in Richmond, such petitions were referred to the Committee of Courts of Justice in the House of Delegates. Committee members sorted through the documents, discussed whether they believed the petitions" reasonable", and sent their recommendations for action to the entire House. The delegates then considered the opinion of the committed and voted whether to draw up a private bill to grant the divorce. The bill then had to pass both the House and the Senate before being enrolled into law."*

From the Virginia General Assembly Petitions files . . . with perhaps a little hyperbole thrown in . . .

Your Petitioner Louise W. Drake respectfully represents that she was married in the year 1822 to Robert Drake of New Kent County, by whom she has, without any reasonable cause on her part, been treated with a degree of cruelty unsurpassed in any civilized community- That she has, at length, been driven to the neccesity of quitting his house forever, and throwing herself and her two infant children on the charity of her poor relatives & her own feeble physical resources, to avoid a lingering death, from which there was escape if she remained in the inhospitable mansion of her husband. That after making every effort which could be desired by herself, and her friends to regain his lost affections, after she had drained the drop in the cup of humiliation, by stooping at his mandate to his base mistress, and had remained for months in his house altho' deprived even of the bed on which she lay and cut off by his orders from the charity of her neighbors, whom he would not permit to furnish her, or even his own babes, with a bed, she has felt herself impelled by every feeling of honour and by a regard to her own safety, and that of her children, to ask to be forever divorced from the monster in human shape, who would sacrifice not only the life of his wife, but the present and eternal welfare of his children to the indulgence of a low and grovelling(?) passion, which seems to have expelled every feeling of humanity from his [      ] breast. 

She has accordingly filed her statement under the act of Assembly in such case provided, preparatory to application to your Honourable body for a divorce- 

This statement has been found true by an intelligent jury of the county, and the copy of the record thereof, duly authenticated, is hereto attached, as a part of this Petition. 

Your Petitioner begs leave to remark that no language, however strong, can in general terms convey an adequate idea of the cruelty practised on your Petitioner by the said Robert, and she deeply regrets that your Honorable body cannot hear the testimony which at the trial of said Statement aroused the indignation of every person present. No one acquainted with the facts would consider any language too harsh, from your Petitioner. 

She humbly solicits a divorce from the said Robert Drake- and that there two surviving children, a son and a daughter, now under her care may be saved from the grasp of an unfeeling father, and his base and miserable mistress by confiding them to her own protection- To this last prayer, your Petitoner hopes there may be no objection on his part, as he has never since they were taken from his house altho' residing near them, envinced the least regard for them- neither seeing nor supporting them- enquiring after, nor sending, the smallest token of affection. As your Petitioner is suffering from no imprudence or fault of her own, and no earthly tribunal can grant relief save yr. Honorable body, she hopes altho' an humble member of society, that her grievances will be redressed by the General Assembly of Virginia- & she will, as in duty bound, ever pray.

Louise W. Drake


Drake V Drake
Petition for a Divorce
Dec 3  1834
refd. to Atty G

* "To Be Freed from Thate Curs and Let at Liberty". Interracial Adultery and Divorce in Antebellum Virginia
Joshua D. Rothman
The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography
Vol. 106, No. 4 (Autumn, 1998),

Story of a Trooper: Francis Colburn Adams in New Kent II . . . The Battle of Eltham

Continued from Story of a Trooper: Francis Colburn Adams in New Kent . . .

Drums beat, bugles sounded, and bands played on Brick House Point that night; and as the shadows of the setting sun played over the broad plateau, over the gleaming bayonets and flying banners, and over the ships on the broad river, giving to each a strange and shadowy outline, the scene became grand and imposing. The troops formed in line of battle as soon as landed, the right stretching away towards the Pamunky river, the left residing near the south bank of the York, and facing the ridge of wood where the enemy had his batteries. In a word, our thin line stretched nearly across the plateau, on each side of which there was a road leading to the wooded position in which the enemy was supposed to be concealed. 

We were entirely in the dark as to the enemy's strength, position, and intentions. Pickets were posted, and scouts were sent out, who soon returned and reported the enemy's pickets just in the edge of the wood, a few hundred yards south of us. The few people we found at Brick House Point had no information to give up. About ten o'clock at night our pickets captured and sent in two of the enemy's men, who, for some time, would give no particular account of themselves, except that they belonged to a Texas regiment, were out for a "look round,'' and didn't know our lines were so near their own. They were both intelligent men, and fine looking soldiers. One was both silent and sullen; from the other we ascertained that the rebel General Whiting, with two brigades of infantry, a small portion of Wade Hampton's cavalry, and two batteries of artillery, (one a Louisiana battery,) some of the best troops of their army, was in position in the woods in front of us, and would attack at daylight in the morning. This force consisted of that portion of the enemy's troops retreating along the bank of the York river.
  
A consultation was held at headquarters, and dispositions made to meet this attack with Newton's brigade, Newton being assigned to command the field. At nine o'clock, A. M., of the 7th, the enemy opened the fight with his skirmishers on our right and centre. This was the first time the troops of our division had been under fire, but they met the enemy with steadiness and fought with great spirit. The batteries on both sides opened about ten o'clock, and a fierce cannonading was kept up until one o'clock, the enemy fighting most of the time under cover of the woods.He now began to demonstrate on our right, and made several bold and desperate attempts to get possession of the road and turn our right. As soon as our batteries were got into position these attempts on our right were handsomely repulsed, with heavy loss to the enemy, regaining the ground we had temporarily lost. Newton was everywhere in the thickest of the fight, displaying remarkable coolness, great skill in handling his troops, and considerable power in encouraging his men. A little after one o'clock the 95th Pennsylvania, or Goslin Zouaves, were ordered to advance across a piece of open ground, and dislodge the enemy from a piece of wood, from which he had annoyed our center and left considerably. This regiment always had a bad reputation in the division, its material being of the very worst description.
  
It was noticed at this time that the regiment moved to its work in bad order, and with evident reluctance. It reached the edge of the woods, but broke in confusion at the enemy's first fire, and ran back like a flock of frightened sheep. The officers were quite as bad as the men. It was indeed amusing to hear the stories these distressed heroes told of meeting the enemy's infantry four deep, of getting waist deep into a swamp, of being led into a trap and cut down without any chance of defending themselves. Not a few of them sought a cover for their cowardice by attacking the general-
ship of the officer in command.*

This disgraceful affair of the Pennsylvanians encouraged the enemy to make one or two more bold movements on our right and center. The 3lst and 32d New York were now ordered up to do the work. It was a beautiful sight to see these regiments move promptly forward in a steady straight line, receive and return the enemy's fire as they approached the wood, and then charge into it, sweeping everything before them as they advanced up the hill. The enemy met them here with a deadly fire, the effect of which was seen in their thinned line. But there was no wavering in the ranks. The ground was here contested with

*Some of these absurd stories got into into the newspapers

great bravery on both sides, but the enemy began to give way before the steady advance of our troops, his fire slackened all along the line, and finally ceased about three o'clock, when he gathered up his dead and wounded and left the field. Just as the fight ended, the gunboats, which had found some difficulty in getting into position, owing to the tide, opened on the enemy's right, hastening his movements from the field. 

Various strange and somewhat romantic accounts have been written of this battle, if such it may be called, and given to the public for true. In nearly all of them the victory is credited to the gunboats, whereas they did not open their guns until the fight was essentially over. In one, General Morrill was credited with fighting the battle, and acting with great gallantry. Morrill was at least twenty miles away, and was much amused when he saw the part he had taken in a battle he was not in so carefully described by the veracious writer. Another intelligent correspondent wrote so remarkable a description of this battle as to astonish all the generals who were in it, and a good many who were not. He also described himself as continually in the thickest of the fight, and so "begrimed by the smoke of battle" as scarcely to be able to see the paper he was writing on, when, to tell the honest truth, he was spending the day on the West Point side of the river, gathering wild flowers. 

This was called a little fight, but there was some good fighting done, and General Newton deserves great credit for his coolness and gallantry during the day. Himself a Virginian, roared and educated amongst, and long the intimate associate of those who were now lighting to destroy the Republic, he stood firmly by his country, and no influence they could bring could make him a traitor. There were also three officers of lower rank whose coolness and bravery on the field that day deserve to be recorded. These were Colonel Pratt, of the 31st N. Y. V., and Colonel Matheson and Major Lemon, of the 32d N. Y. V., (formerly 2d California.) Nothing could have exceeded the steadiness and bravery with which these officers led their regiments into the woods, in the face of the enemy's hottest fire. They have since distinguished themselves on several battle fields. Pratt still lives, but was severely wounded at Gaines' Hill. The other two have given their lives to their country. Poor Lemon, in whose breast a more generous heart never beat, died of wounds received at the battle of Crampton's Gap.

The casualties of this battle, which was fought at Brick House Point, not West Point, as has been erroneously stated, were forty-four killed, and one hundred and fifty-two wounded, many seriously. We lost seventeen fine young officers killed. And out of a company of seventy-four men (31st N. Y. V.) which charged into the woods, only eight returned. The remainder, including its officers, were either killed or wounded. 

During the severest fighting on our right, Lieut. Baker of General Franklin's, and Captain Montgomery of General Newton's staffs, rode beyond our line, got confused, and fell into (he enemy's hands. A minute or two after, one of our batteries happened to drop a shell close to the spot where they were captured, causing the rebels to make a sudden movement for safety. Baker, who still had his horse, took advantage of this, started at full speed, and made his escape. Montgomery was not so fortunate. He had lost his horse, and lay on the ground affecting to be dead, when some rebel officers came up and began an inquisitive inquiry into the extent of his valuables. In the exercise of their chivalry his pockets had to be delicately examined, and as articles of jewelry and spare cash could be of no earthly use to a dead man, what harm could there be in appropriating them? "During this little operation," said the captain, "they tickled me. I could not stand that, and had to come to life, laughing." He claimed good treatment as their prisoner of war; but his captors were both sullen and earnest, and not disposed to enjoy such a joke, which they characterized as a mean Yankee way of "playing possum." But the captain was a pleasant gentleman, and by his manners soon succeeded in reconciling them to him. 

We had set the captain down as a prisoner. About 10 o'clock at night, however, he relieved our anxiety by walking into headquarters, and, of course, giving us a very interesting account of the way in which he made his escape, and what the rebels said and did while he enjoyed their hospitality. The captain's uniform was somewhat damaged; but the loss of his horse, sword, and watch was the most serious. 

There were acts of savagery committed on our dead and wounded by the enemy during this battle that were a disgrace to civilization, and should stand as an indelible proof of the cruel spirit which ruled in the southern army during the early stages of the war. One of our officers was found with his throat cut from ear to ear. And this act of savagery had been performed after his body had been pierced by balls. The bodies of two soldiers had been brutally cut with knives. The men reviewed these disfigured bodies with feelings deeply excited. Many of them swore to take revenge at the first opportunity; but the spirit of retribution did not accord with their notions of manliness, and I never heard of their treating the enemy's wounded and prisoners except with respect and kindness.

It was reported in camp that these acts of savagery were committed by Cherokee Indians, attached to Wade Hampton's command. It was also reported that negroes were seen dragging these bodies into the woods after they fell, and having stripped them of everything valuable, inflicted these wounds with knives. Being unable to trace these reports to a reliable source, I am inclined to discredit them, and to believe that these savage acts were committed by men with whiter hands, if not hearts. 

During the afternoon Lieut. Hoff, of General Franklin's staff, was sent with a steamer to West Point, to bring away about forty persons, mostly women and old men, who belonged in the vicinity of Fort Monroe, and had been taken and held by Magruder as hostages for a similar number of civilians " with rebel tendencies" arrested and held by Butler. The rebel force retreating from Gloucester Point had left them here. Lieut. Hoff found them in a most destitute condition, and took immediate steps to supply their wants and restore them to their homes. I shall not attempt to draw a picture of these poor people. Several of them were young, delicate girls, who told a sad and sickening story of the treatment they had received at the hands of men claiming to be southern gentlemen.

-To be continued-

Story of a Trooper: Francis Colburn Adams in New Kent

Francis Colburn Adams had been a published author for some eight years before he decided to join the 1st New York Cavalry, the "Lincoln Cavalry," in 1861. His 1865 account of his early war experiences, The Story of a Trooper: With Much of Interest Concerning the Campaign on the Peninsula, contains several chapters of his experiences in New Kent County in 1862.

MOVEMENT OF THE RIGHT WING.

The fleet in Poquosin river presented a busy, bustling scene during the 4th and 5th. Franklin was ordered to move with his division up the York river on West Point, at once. It was hoped by this movement to cut off or intercept some portion of the enemy's force

retreating up the Peninsula. But a flank movement by water, even for so short a distance, was likely to be attended with considerable delay. Such of the division as had been landed had to be re-shipped, and the work of getting animals and artillery on board was  heavy. And there was not room in the river, nor wharf facilities, to work to advantage. Officers and men worked night and day, and did their best, dispatching the vessels round to Yorktown as soon as they were loaded, but it was not until nearly noon of the 6th that the division was on board, and the fleet in line before Yorktown, ready to move.

The day was remarkably clear and springlike, and the river smooth. The signal was given at one o'clock, and the fleet moved in two lines, preceded by gunboats, and presented a grand appearance. These gunboats were at that time a terror to the people along river banks; a few shells thrown ashore causing many of them to leave their homes and seek safety at a distance.

The landscape here was new and strange to us. It  did, indeed, seem as if we were sailing on a grand excursion, with a gay and joyous company, through some fair and beautiful garden. The beautifully sloping banks of the river, the deep green fields, the fine farmhouses, with their pretty gardens, their orchards in full blossom, their broad avenues, and lawns dotted with shade trees, and the cattle grazing in the distance, formed a pastoral picture of great beauty. The people came out at times from their houses, and stood along  the banks, watching the movements of the fleet. The masts of a sunken vessel or the booming of a gun on one of the gunboats were the only things that gave a tinge of war to this beautiful picture.

Twenty miles above Yorktown the water began to shoal, and the river seemed to expand into a lake. There was a thickly wooded ridge on the south shore, and extending nearly at right angles from this, and  well across the head of the stream, was a broad level plateau, at the northern extremity of which a little  brick house stood. This was Brick House Point The river here made a sweep to the right, or north, and opened into what seemed a  sequestered cove. About a mile and a half beyond this, and to the west, was a narrow point of land, on which stood a number of large wooden buildings or sheds. This was West Point, the buildings marking the terminus of the Richmond and West Point railroad. The Mattapony on the one side, and the Pamunky on the other, swept past this point, mingled their waters in the cove below, and formed the York river.

Our light draught steamers and sailing vessels deployed along this broad plateau, some of them within one hundred yards of the shore, and prepared to land the troops, while the gunboats took position to cover the landing. The 15th New York, (engineers,) under command of Colonel McLeod Murphy, were soon at work, preparing landing stages of old canal boats and barges. In less than an hour from the time we had taken position, the water swarmed with all sorts of odd craft, from pontoons to canal boats. Newton's brigade was to land first, and began filling the pontoons. Slocum's, and then Taylor's, (late Kearney's.) were to  follow. But the enemy was not inclined to let us do

this work in peace. As soon as the first fleet of pontoons started to make a landing, the enemy opened from a battery concealed on the lower end of the ridge I have before described. His shells and round shot flew thick and fast; some of them exploding among the pontoons; others paying their compliments to the fleet. The pontoons kept steadily on towards the shore, which the men readied with cheers. But there was intense excitement among the fleet, and it was amusing to see the alarm created among some of the captains ; some ran up into the rigging, thinking it a better place of safely than the deck. Others sought shelter on the outside of their vessels. A shot whizzed past one who had sought

shelter in the rigging, and he came to the deck so quick that many thought him killed. But he was up in an instant, over the side of his vessel, and sculling away for dear life in his boat. That captain was remembered long after this event, and furnished the subject for many a pleasant joke. He had been brave among the bravest while we lay in Poquosin river. But he was not the only New England captain ready to forsake his ship at the first sound of the enemy's guns.

One shot cut clean through the smoke-stack of the steamer Vanderbilt. A second lodged in the cabin of a steamer. A third cut the rigging of a schooner. Officers began to inquire what our gunboats were doing that they did not open {fire}. The enemy's shot and shell fell too thick and fast to make the work of landing pleasant. The fact was, that owing to want of water the gunboats found it difficult to get within range of the enemy's batteries. They however succeeded at last, and a few well directed shells silenced the enemy and drove him from his position. The work of landing now went on unmolested, and it was surprising to see in what a short space of time the engineers had the landing stages ready. When the sun went down we had one brigade of infantry and two regiments of another

landed. We also had three batteries of artillery, Arnold's, Xamer's*, and Upton's; and two companies, A and C, of the Lincoln Cavalry. Quartermasters, too, were rapidly landing supplies. Professor Low was up taking an airing in his balloon, but came down  without bringing us any valuable information concerning the enemy. He thought he saw signs of the enemy north of West Point, but was not sure. I am afraid the balloon, as an instrument of war, was, like many of our cheap generals, a sad failure. The Secretary of War, I am happy to record to his credit, does not even give a passing word to the balloon corps in his report.

*almost certain he means Hexamer's Battery i.e. Battery A, First New Jersey Artillery

-To be continued- 

Improving the Chickahominy-1879

IMPROVEMENT OF CHICKAHOMINY RIVER VIRGINIA

This improvement was commenced during the last fiscal year under the appropriation of $5,000 made June 18, 1878. The original estimate was based simply upon an examination of the river and it was therefore necessary first to make surveys of the several obstructions. Accordingly in July, 1878 surveys of Binn's Bar, Old Fort Bar, and Windsor Shades Bar were made. At Binn's Bar, 2 miles below Windsor Shades, and 23 miles from the mouth of the river, the least depth found was 4 feet. The least depth at Old Fort Bar was 5.4 feet, but the natural channel had not sufficient width.

The least depth at Windsor Shades Bar was found to be 4.0 feet. Proposals for dredging channels through these bars were invited by public advertisement and the following were received October 30, 1878

Abstract of proposals for dredging in Chickahominy River Virginia opened at 12 m on Wednesday October 30 1878

G. H. Ferris            Baltimore, Md     $0.20    Mar 1 1878- July 1 1879         1 dipper     300*
H. E. Culpepper     Portsmouth, Va        .14    Dec 1 1878- May 20 1879       ---------   ----*
Daniel Constantine  Baltimore, Md         .14    Nov 20 1878- Feb 20 1879    1 Osgood   500*

Contract awarded to Mr H. E. Culpepper of Norfolk Va

During the winter of 1878-79 ice formed in the Chickahominy and delayed the commencement of the work until February 8 1879 The contractor commenced with one Osgood dipper dredge at Binn's Bar The material here was soft mud and was excavated readily. The channel was dredged to a width of 100 feet with a depth of 8 feet at low water Old Fort and Windsor Shades Bars were next dredged to the same depth and a width of 60 feet. The material found here was sand. A second dredge was put on the work by the contractor April 17 and the dredging was completed as far as the funds allowed May 5 1879. As to the future work on this improvement the channel already excavated should be widened and it is also important that several dikes be built for the purpose of closing subsidiary channels through which the tide now flows. The estimated cost of this work is $ 10,000.

Windsor Shades is now the head of navigation. Above this the river rapidly shoals to a very small stream winding its way through a heavy growth of cypress and other timber. The public interests hardly warrant the improvement of above Windsor Shades to the same depth as below at the present time. In order to estimate its cost even a detailed survey of the entire 7 miles of river to Forge Bridges would be necessary. Two appropriations have been made as follows June 1. 1878, $5,000 March 3. 1879, $1,000

The following are the estimated statistics of trade:
Seventy five thousand cords wood at $3 per cord
5,000,000 feet timber at $10 per thousand
75,000 railroad tics at $35 per thousand

 Merchandise valued at ..................... $150,000
Grain, vegetables, &c. valued at ..........$20,000
Lime, fertilizers &c. valued at ..............$10,000
Fish valued at ...................................   $15,000

Seven hundred Bail vessels per year One steamboat one trip per week.
For the completion of the work, $9,000 will be required.

The nearest port of entry is Richmond, Va where the collections for the fiscal were $15,030.62.

                                                           Money statement

July 1 1878 amount available ....................................................$5,000.00
Amount appropriated by act approved March 3 1879...............  1,000.00
                                                                                                                   $6,000.00
July 1 1879 amount expended during fiscal year ..........................................   4,982.38
July 1 1879 amount available......................................................................... 1,017.62

Amount estimated required for completion of existing project .........................9,000.00
Amount that can be profitably expended in fiscal year ending June 30 1881.....9,000.00


-ANNUAL REPORT OF LIEUTENANT- COLONEL GEORGE THOM, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, 
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1879 
Report of the Chief of Engineers Army
United States. Army. Corps of Engineers.
U.S. Government Printing Office, 1879



*[ a) price per cubic yard b) time of completion c) machines needed d) cu. yds of work a day]

What I'm Reading . . .

What I'm reading right now in order to familiarize myself more with the operations just over the border in Henrico. Sometimes it's easy to zoom in too much and lose track of operations once they leave the county's borders and having spent my life driving around markers in the East End of Richmond I feel that I may have just tuned them out a bit too much.
I've meant to read this for years; now I'm halfway through and highly recommend it.

Travails of an Assistant Subassistant Commissioner, Part II

A follow up to last week's post about the "difficulties" of Captain Brooks of the Freedmen's Bureau  . . .

Bureau R F & A L

Hd Qrs Supt 9th Dist. of Va

Fort Monroe, Va June 14 1866

Armstrong S. C.

Supt. 9th Dist Va

Endorses statement of Capt Brooks Asst Supr. with bills against Private "Wilson," and directs that such action shall be taken that as to secure justice both to Wilson and his creditors, etc. etc.

Bureau R F & A L

Office Asst Supt. York co. Va

Yorktown VA. June 30 1866

Respectfully returned with information that Private Wilson has received his pay prior to the receipt of the within communication. He acknowledging that he owed Thirteen 00/100 Dollars. Capt Parker 12th U.S. Infty Comdg his Company retained the same out of his pay and I believe now has the amount in his possession. I would respectfully request that Private Wilson be relieved from duty at this office and the vacancy be Supplied by a good trustworthy enlisted man from the "Fort." Wilson is diseased to such an extant that he is unable to ride on horseback making his services perfectly useless to this office.

F. A. Massey

for Dist 5 R F & A L

Asst Supt. York Co. Va.

"Virginia, Freedmen's Bureau Letters or Correspondence, 1865-1872." Index and Images. FamilySearch. http://FamilySearch.org : accessed 2013. Citing NARA microfilm publication M1913. College Park, Maryland: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.