Showing posts with label 75th NY INF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 75th NY INF. Show all posts

Friday, August 19, 2016

Diary of Sergeant George G. Smith: October 24, 1862

Embarked on board the Empire Parish at Carolton, the Iberville with the Nineth New Hampshire preceded by gun boat number 3, were in the advance. Then the Empire Parish with the First Louisiana came next, followed by the General Williams with the 13th C.V. Then the 12th C. V. and 75th New York, on two other transports. Three gun boats were in the expedition. Early the following morning the whole brigade disembarked at a plantation six miles below Donaldsonville, La. As soon as the troops were in line they were put in motion. The infantry saw no rebels: but the cavalry in advance reported seeing the coat-tails of some mounted infantry streaming in the wind, in mad flight down the Bayou Lafourche road for dear life, and that was all the enemy seen by the expedition that day.

SOURCE: Abstracted from George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 29-30

Friday, August 5, 2016

Diary of Sergeant George G. Smith: August 30, 1862

Generals Butler and Dudley reviewed the brigade. After the review General Butler had the First Louisiana drawn up in close column by divisions. After complimenting them for their soldierly appearance he gave them a lecture on military discipline, closing his remarks with this sentence, “The lightnings of heaven do not fall more swiftly than will justice overtake the evil doer.” We found Camp Williams not the healthiest place in the world. Lake Ponchartrain opening out to sea, was of course affected by the tides. When the tides were in the marshes would be full of water, but when they were out the contrary would be the result, and the portions exposed covered with ooze and silt would fester and ferment in the burning sun: while on the other side was the swamp, furnishing prolific breeding grounds for the festive mosquito: It is not strange that the result should prove to be what it was. In less than a week fully one half the regiment was at the surgeons tent on sick call in the morning; there were from two to four funerals in a day. Most all the time officers were sick so that the non commissioner officers were in command of companies. The writer of this was put in command of Company A. When it left the recruiting camp, a little over four weeks before it numbered 112 enlisted men. One night, a few days before we left, but four men turned out for dress parade and other companies were in a similar condition. The First Louisiana 12th and 13th C. V., the 75 N. Y., a company of Louisiana cavalry and two batteries were brigaded, General Weitzel commanding.

SOURCE: George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 27-9

Friday, July 22, 2016

Diary of Sergeant George G. Smith: August 30, 1862

Generals Butler and Dudley reviewed the brigade. After the review General Butler had the First Louisiana drawn up in close column by divisions. After complimenting them for their soldierly appearance he gave them a lecture on military discipline, closing his remarks with this sentence, “The lightnings of heaven do not fall more swiftly than will justice overtake the evil doer.” We found Camp Williams not the healthiest place in the world. Lake Ponchartrain opening out to sea, was of course affected by the tides. When the tides were in the marshes would be full of water, but when they were out the contrary would be the result, and the portions exposed covered with ooze and silt would fester and ferment in the burning sun: while on the other side was the swamp, furnishing prolific breeding grounds for the festive mosquito: It is not strange that the result should prove to be what it was. In less than a week fully one half the regiment was at the surgeons tent on sick call in the morning; there were from two to four funerals in a day. Most all the time officers were sick so that the non commissioner officers were in command of companies. The writer of this was put in command of Company A. When it left the recruiting camp, a little over four weeks before it numbered 112 enlisted men. One night, a few days before we left, but four men turned out for dress parade and other companies were in a similar condition. The First Louisiana 12th and 13th C. V., the 75 N. Y., a company of Louisiana cavalry and two batteries were brigaded, General Weitzel commanding.

SOURCE: George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's Diary, p. 27-9

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Remarkable escape of an Impressed Rebel Soldier


We find in the Syracuse Courier and Union the narrative of Francis Colehan, an escaped soldier from the rebel army at Pensacola, from which we extract:

I had a good opportunity to find out the private opinions of a great number of the soldiers, and I have no doubt there are over one hundred men at Fort Barrancas alone who were as loyal to the Union as myself.  Of course we all desired to escape from the despotism which compelled us to serve under the accursed flag.  We often cogitated plans of escape, but something would always seem to interfere with every project we formed, and we were unable to execute any of them.

On the 21st of December last, I was on guard as sentinel in charge of the 32 pounders on the beach, which were heavily loaded with grape for instant use, and could sweep the beach and water for a long distance around.  Unmindful of my duty, I very carelessly allow[ed] Timothy Conovan to spike both guns!  The spikes were short pieces of steel wire, shaped like a rat-tail file.  Connovan [sic] drove the spikes firmly down into the vents, broke them off close, and then put down the vent covers so that no one could see them.  That night we held a private council and the following persons resolved to make their escape the next day, or perish in the attempt:  Timothy Conovan, Springfield, Massachusetts; James Smith, Buffalo, New York; James Parker, Milwaukie, Wisconsin; Edward English, Baltimore, Maryland; Albert Johnson, a sailor, and myself. –

There was an old leaky boat hanging up in the rickety old shed near our quarters, and about four rods from the water.  We had previously looked upon that old boat as the means of our deliverance.  By stealth we had caulked and tarred it and made it perfectly tight and safe.  Before the break of day on the morning of the 22d of December, we crept one by one out of our quarters and silently congregated in the shed, where in darkness we held a brief council as to the disposition of the sentinel who was on duty, and who was pacing up and down the beach in front of us.  We were all well acquainted with him and were unwilling to take his life in that murderous manner although we knew he would instantly fire upon us and alarm the camp.

We concluded to pause until he turned on his beat, and when near the farther end we would make a rush for the water, and run all risks.  It [was] already seven o’clock, and daylight had begun to streak the east.  No time was to be lost.  It was life or nothing now. – The moment the sentinel turned his back we seized the boat, and swiftly and silently rushed for the water, into which we dashed the boat, and fixing the oars instantly began to glide from the soil of Dixie.  The noise of the oars arrested the attention of the sentinel.  He turned, challenged and instantly fired.  The bullet whistled harmlessly past us.  In a moment the whole camp was in a perfect state of confusion and alarm, but before they comprehended the matter we were beyond the reach of the Minnie or musket.  They resolved to give us grape, and the thirty twos were ranged upon us.  But when the captain raised the vent covers, and discovered the broken spikes, he fairly danced with rage.  We saw this, and rising in the boat pulled off our hats and gave them a wave and a cheer.

The United States troops in the fort who had witnessed the whole affair from the beginning, and when we waved our hats they gave us an enthusiastic and tremendous cheer.  As we approached the beach, hundreds of them came down to meet us, and a number rushed out into the water, seized the approaching boat, and carried it high and try upon the shore.  Before I could stir from my seat, some one slapped me on the shoulder, and looking up, I beheld Rowland Parish of (Fairmount) Geddes, an old schoolmate, now a member of the New York Seventy-fifth Volunteers from Auburn.  Right glad was I to find so quickly an old friend and neighbor.  He too had been watching us during that mile and a half row for life.

We were immediately taken before Col. Brown, who closely and rigidly questioned us.  But our statements were so plain, and we found so many old friends and acquaintances, that we were soon afterwards relieved of all suspicion.  Two days after two negroes escaped, and being interrogated by the Colonel, fully corroborated our statements.  They said that the suspicion and anger of the rebels were so great that they came near hanging two or three persons as accessories to our escape.

We stopped in the fort for the eleven days, and on the 2d of January were placed in the United States steamer Rhode Island, which arrived at Philadelphia January 18th.  The next day we sailed for New York, and landed at Fort Lafayette, where we were detained five days when an order came from Washington for our release.  We took the oath of allegiance with a hearty good will, and are once more at liberty.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 8, 1862, p. 2