hits me in the hand and goes through my haversack. Then a
bullet graze.* my thigh and I am in a bad way, when a cavalry-
man offers me a ride and we escape."
For a Chance to Pray. — One of the youngest boys in the regi-
ment was A. B. of — Company, though these were not his ini-
tials. His Sunday school superintendent began raising a com-
pany, so the mother was willing that the lad should enlist.
The religious meetings held in the regiment have been repeated-
ly mentioned. At one of them, while the regiment was making
forts, the boy experienced religion, and being a lad of sterling
parts, he intended to live up to his professions, but he found
difficulty in attending to his duties as he thought he ought.
When the company with others came back to the defenses, in
the summer of 1864, he had more trouble than ever in finding
a moment of quiet for the praying he wished to do.
He stood it as long as he could, but finally settled with his
own conscience that it would not be wrong to "run the guard"
in order to get a chance to pray. Of course it would be a viola-
tion of order, and if caught he would be placed under arrest;
still, he determined to run the risk, Accordingly, one night
after "taps," when the camp lights were all out, stealing quietly
around the corner of the captain's tent, and waiting till the
guard was up at the other end of his beat, A. B. ran quickly
over the rifle-pit, and in a minute more was hidden in the
shadow of a large oak-tree which stood a few rods away. Here
he knelt by a large stone, and, in a low tone of voice which
could not reach the guard, "prayed to his Father in secret."
Hefreshed in spirit, he returned as he came, successfully eluding
the vigilance of the guard. Night after night was this repeated
with like success, until Company — was ordered to rejoin the
regiment and return to the front.
In the final breaking up before Petersburg, the boy was sur-
prised at having his commanding officer say to him, "I am
afraid 1 shall not come out of this fight alive, and I should like
280 NINTH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.
to have you stay as near me as possible," but the officer came
through all right while the lad was wounded. Before he got
back to the regiment the war was over and the boys were dis-
charged. In the following winter, at revival meetings in Au-
burn, A. B. was doing his part, though in a silent way, till one
night he heard a negative given to the minister who asked a
gentleman, sitting back of him, to go forward for prayers.
Turning about A. B. saw his old commander, and he was moved
to ask him to do what he had just declined doing. He yielded,
and with his soldier-boy went down the aisle to the altar, where
he was converted. When there came an opportunity, the ex-
oflScer arose and spoke.
A man of ability and a good speaker, his words were received
with intense interest by the large congregation. He began by
describing the little fort north of Washington that had been
garrisoned by Company — under his command nearly two years
before.
Imagine our boy's surprise as he proceeded to tell of the
mysterious manner in which a young soldier frequently ran the
guard immediately opposite the commander's quarters after
"taps" at night, returning each time after a few minutes' ab-
sence. Picture his further agitation when the captain related
how curiosity, as well as regard for camp discipline, had im-
pelled him to follow the offender one night, when, to his amaze-
ment, he discovered that the man had run the guard in order
to get a chance lo pray.
Then said the officer, "I went back to my (]uarters resolved
that I would never arrest a man for running the guard to
pray. It was on account of his way of living that I wanted him
near me in the Petersburg fight when I expected to go under.
To-night there was only one man in the world who could have
induced me to take the step that I have taken, and that was
this soldier-boy* and I thank God that he took me by the hand
to do as I have done."
The officer, still a young man, became a preacher of the Gos-
pel, and is now the pastor of a large Baptist Church in Califor-
nia. A. B. prepared for college, was graduated with honor
from an eastern college, and for many years has been one of the
mo.st successful clergymen in the Methodist Church. This
praying episode has somewhat the flavor of Washington and
his prayers at A'alley Forge.
MISCELLANEOUS. 281
A Wounded Dutchman. — At Opequon creek a member of our
band was helping in the hospital, and had in hand a Dutchman
whose side had been struck bv a bullet. The missile had taken
an upward turn on striking one of the lower ribs, but his cloth-
ing was stiff with blood and he was faint from hunger and loss
of blood. He stood trembling and shaking like an aspen leaf,
saying. "Dot bullet got into me somehow. I don't leeve any
more. Oh, my poor leetle family!" He shook so badly that the
attendant had difficulty in helping him, and finally said, "Keep
still and stand up if you can." At this moment as the wounded
man's garments were moved the bullet dropped into the
helper's hand. "Oh, mein Gott,'' says Dutchy, "dot tam bullet
got out from me somehow," and he was a live man from that
moment. He ceased trembling, drank a cup of warm coffee.
after having his side dressed, went to bed on some clean straw,
and in less than ten minutes was fast asleep.
He Shot too Close. — There is not a man of Company F but re-
members Lyman Coleman. Well, Lyman was with the com-
pany on that never-to-be-forgotten day, October 19th. 1864.
Sheridan had come, and we were on the fierce charge that swept
the rebels like chaff before us. The ranks had been filled by
men from any and all companies; the orders were "fall in where
you are." The result was that strangers were in the ranks.
It so happened that a tall man from some other regiment fell
in the front rank just before Coleman. All went well till we
cleared the woods and came to the open field. Before us was a
small ravine and, just over this swale or ravine, the rebels were
posted in full force, and they met us as we came out of the
woods with a deadly fire. Indeed, it seemed as if nothing could
live under it. The line wavered for a moment, and then down
the slope they started, the tall stranger just in front of Cole-
man. As the fire was hot and Lyman was anxious to put in his
work, he brought up his musket and fired; he was not over-
careful perhai)s. and the conse
the head of the man in front that the latter's hair and ears were
badly burned, and the man was as mad as a hornet. He turned
about to jioor Coleman and said in angry tones, "You old
scoundrel, you shot so near my head you have nearly killed me,"
etc., "and I am going to whip you," and he held his gun in his
hand while preparing to chastise poor Lyman. We took in the
situation of things, and saw there was a chance for fun, so we
282 NINTH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.
yelled out. "Stand up to him, Coleman; we'll stiiud by you."
Lyman gathered courafre and said to his antaj^onist in his
squeaking voice, peculiar to him, "See here, you sou of a gun,
if you want to fight so bad, right down there is plenty of rebels
to fight without licking me." Vt'eU. there is a serious question
in my mind to this day whether General Sheridan or Lyman
Coleman did the most at that particular time to steady us and
cheer us on.
He Lired. — Soon after the 0th Corjis returned from the Shen-
andoah, and had joined the Army of the Potomac, Company L
of the 9th was put in charge of Eattery Lee, located about a
half mile to the left of the signal tower, and near the angle
where the reverse rear line began its curve, this battery was
composed of six thirty-i)ound Parrott guns, and a battery of
six Cohorn mortars, mounted at reserve picket three-fourths
of a mile in front of the battery. On the 2oth of March, when
the 2d Brigade charged and pressed back the enemy's pickets
close under their main line, the writer was on detail with the
mortar battery, and as General Keifer had ordered our oflticers
not to use the mortars, since their distance from the enemy
would not admit of effective service, we were at liberty to see
the "show." A portion of the brigade had massed on both
flanks, and a little to the rear of the picket-post; their move-
ments could be easily seen by us. As the charge was progress-
ing in fine style, we noticed the rifle-pits, scattered (]uite thickly
over the field, held nearly ail of them a soldier, no doubt as
rear guard( ?) — soconvenient to fall into in jiassing.and so decid
edly safe, but th.at horrible gang, the provost guard, soon dis-
turbed their quiet with their " get to the front.
git!'' I noticed one soldier start from a rifle-pit, with gun at a
charge as though he proposed to take the (Confederacy alone.
He had gone about five rods when he fell as proue as if struck
with a solid shot, his knapsack flying over his head and lying
in front of liim. We spoke together of that "poor fellow," that
he had nuide his last charge, etc. The balls up to this time
had been reminding one of a hail-storm, and no one wondered
that he should fall. There was a certain fascination in looking
at this "fallen hero.'' After fifteen minutes or so, I saw our
prostrate friend slowl.v raise his head and take a look over the
top of his knapsack. Some one said, "Guess that boy will live
to fight another day." Sure enough, when the hail let up a
MISCELLANEOUS. 283
little, lie got up very niiublj for a "dead man," and such a move
for the rear, no man ever made before.
BETWEEN THE LINES.
Between the lines in the gloaming,
When battle has sunk to rest,
And the boom and shook of cannon
Are hushed as a maiden's breast,
The vidette, as he stands watching,
Or marches his lonely beat,
Is thinking of home and dear ones
Gathered at their mother's feet.
Then it is the sounds of camp-life
Come sweetly on evening air.
The bugle and good-night drum-beat
Sound "lights out," that banish care;
Yet faintly and still more faintly,
Their cadence will softly fall
On our ears as we dreamily listen
To the good-night bugle-call.
There come from a distant bastion,
That floats high the "Stars and Bars,"
Tones of a band sweetly playing
The "Star Spangled Banner"— that's ours;
Union men listening in quiet.
Of our flag that leads the fight.
Have kindlier feeling for "Johnnies,"
And wish them kind good night.
Sweet music will bring men together.
Of whatever name or tongue;
The loved songs of home and country,
A touchstone that rights the wrong.
The Confederates listen to "Dixie"
As played by a Union band,
And answer ''Marching through Georgia,"
We with their "My Maryland."
Then when both are weary of playing,
The hour to turn in has come.
They join what is one the world over,
Both playing dear "Home, Sweet Home."
There's many a voice that's husky.
And many an eye that's dim.
As they close the evening's music
With that tender, touching hymn.
CHARLES A. FORD,
_ Company L.
Homer, N. Y.
284 Ni.VTH NEW ViiUK HEAVY ARTILLERY.
NINE AND THE NINTH.
At one of the regimental gatherings, J. S. Roys of Company
D called attention to the interesting manner in which the nu-
meral 9 was woven into the history of our organization, calling
attention to Cold Harbor, Winchester and Cedar Creek, which
were fought on days including the number. This thought might
be considerably extended, for as stated in the narrative the
order converting the regiment from infantry to artillery was
dated Dec. 9th. The designated numeral for the same came
Dec. 19th. May 9, 1864, the 2d Battalion is preparing
to leave Fort Foote. June 9th of the same year finds us
in the midst of Cold Harbor's struggle. July 9th takes us to
Monocacy and its direful story. September 10th and October
19th are matters of history with their tales of Winchester and
Cedar Creek, while not only our own story, but that of the
nation seems to culminate April 9th of 1865 at Appomattox.
Incidentally it might be said that the corps to which the reg-
iment belonged was only a nine inverted.
G. A. R. POSTS.
The Grand Army of the Republic exists to keep alive the
memories of the strife of lSGl-'65 as well as to exemplify fra-
ternity, charity and loyalty.
In looking over the names of nearly 700 posts of this organ-
ization in New York, it is pleasant to note the following named
for men who served with us; there may be others, but we are
sure of these:
Seward Post, No. 37, of Auburn may include the thought of
the great secretary as well, but the Ninth certainly followed
one of that name.
Keeslar Post, No. 55, of Wolcott ivcalls the two brothers,
Daniel and Simeon of Company E, though both were Huron
boys, and both shot to their deaths April 2, 1865, at Petersburg.
How aptly Mrs. Browning wrote in her " Mother and Poet":
"Dead! one of them shot by the sea in the east,
And one of them shot in the west, by the sea.
Dead! both my boys!"
George C. Stoyell Post, No. 155, Moravia, calls up the fair
face and trim form of the young lieutenant of Company E,
whose body, bereft of life, was sent home to its burial long be-
MISCELLANEOUS. 285
fore his comrades had entered upon the Battle Summer. A
victim of fever, he was none the less a sacrifice to country.
Mjron M. Fish Post, No. 40C, Ontario, reminds us of Winches-
ter, that fairest stand-up fight of the war, when, though death-
stricken, father and brother could not halt in duty's path longer
than to print a kiss on his dying lips and then were swept on,
they to glorious victory, he to immortality.
Selah Corn well Post. No. 632, Merrifield, suggests the pleas-
ant-faced gentleman who, fever-stricken, was the first officer to
be mustered out by that remorseless agent. Death. There was
mourning in Company E when their captain died.
Anthony Stacey Post, No. 647, Elbridge. At the word we
see a face of firm yet gentle features, a form sturdy and strong,
one of three brothers, serving at the same time in Company L.
Surviving the war, he later passed over to the eternal camping-
ground,
"beyond the silent sea,
Where those who marched with Sherman
Are camped with those of Lee."
REGIMENTAL POSTMASTER.
"ilail-to-go-oiit!" — If the oft-repeated expression sometimes
deteriorated into "Mail-t'-gwout," the boys didn't care. They
weren't particular about pronunciation; and they did feel very
kindly towards the soldier postman when he brought them
letters from home, but they couldn't help blaming him when,
for any reason, he persisted in skipping their names. "Write
me a letter, love, when you are away," needed just a little
change in wording, but he was a queer mortal, in war-times,
who did not have somebody, somewhere, from whom a missive
might be expected. "Do they miss me at home"? do they miss
me?" was a refrain often on our lips, and the man who brought
us news of "Home. Sweet Home," was our own detailed com-
rade, who gradually grew to be the best known man in the regi-
ment.
John Tidd, (Company E, performed this very pleasant duty
while in the defenses, at least for some of the forts and cainp.s.
but probably the office was longest identified with Henry P.
Howard of Comi)any H, who knew his business from A to Z.
His appointment dates from the following order:
286 NINTH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.
Headquarters 9th New York Artillery,
Fort Simmons, D. C, Aug. 13, 1863.
Special Orders No. 166.
Sergeant Henry P. Howard, Company H, this regiment, at
his own request is hereby reduced to the ranks, and appointed
regimental postmaster of this regiment.
Bv order
J. WELLING,
Colonel commanding.
W. DeW. Pringle, adjutant.
With his postbag, Howard is well remembered by hundreds
who received many a letter at his hands. So well did he per-
form his duties that be was promoted, as appears in the follow-
ing:
Headquarters 2d Brigade, 3d Division, 6th Army Corps.
November 16th. 1864.
Special Order No. 51. Extract [11].
Private Henry P. Howard, 9th New York Heavy Artillery,
is hereby detailed and announced as brigade postmaster of this
brigade.' He will report for duty without delay.
By command of
COLONEL J. WARREN KEIFER.
By J. T. Rorer, captain and A. A. A. G.
Official. William I. Parrish, lieutenant and acting adjutant.
After the advancement of Comrade Howard, his place was
taken in the regiment by H. H. Wheeler of Company A, later
a lieutenant in Company E, who remained till promoted.
Whoever filled the place, he had duties to perform, sometimes
exceedingly heavy, but \)vU\c in his work usually kept him up
to the faitlifiil discharge of his obligations.
FLAGS OF THE NINTH.
September sth, three days before the departure of the 138th
from Camp Halleck, the ladies of Auburn presented the regi-
ment with a stand of colors. When the change in regimental
hues came in 1862, the blue banner bearing the escutcheon of
the state was given by the officers to General Seward, in whose
library it is now siispfudcd, while a red one was substituted
for it.
These banners saw ttie campaigns of the Ninth-and, tattered
and torn, ciimc Iionu' with us. no enemy carrying off any en-
i
BATTLE-FLAG AND STANDARDS OF THE 9th NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.
MISCELLANEOUS. 287
sign of onrs, but our return was not early enough to allow of
our participation in the glorious exercises in Albany July 4.
lSt>5, when in the presence of Grant, Wool. Wallace, Kilpatrick,
Schofield, Butterfield, Sickles, Ricketts and a host of others,
with addresses by Buttertield, Governor Fenton and the Key.
E. H. Chapin. the colors, then returned, were consigned to the
perpetual keeping of the state.
We had not left Washington then, and not till the 20th
were we paid off and our banners became seekers for custo-
dians. Brave hands, many of them mouldering back to clay,
had borne them, Imt now their journey over, they must rest
with similar trophies beneath the roof of the Capitol. August
3, 1865, the flags, five in number, were carried to Albany and
there deposited. In the catalogue of the Bureau of Military
Record they are mentioned as one national, one regimental and
three guidons.
Carefully kept within glass cases, they and those of other
regiments merit and receive the admiring, almost reverential,
gaze of the thousands who visit the magnificent Capitol of the
Empire State. All are labeled and are inscribed with the names
of the engagements in which their bearers participated. Upon
our flag may be read, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, Monocacy, Ope-
quon. Cedar Creek, Petersburg, A])ril 2d, and Sailor's Creek.
The traveler in Britain finds in church and castle some re-
minder of the prowess of the fathers. In Canterbury Cathedral,
for more than fiOO years the coat of the Black Prince, worn by
him at Poictiers, has inspired the hearts of Britons to be like
him — brave, determined, true.
Battle-flags impress their lessons on the minds of youthful
beholders, and serve to keep alive the spirit of national pride
and love of country. It matters not who may be governor, nor
what party controls the Legislature, these colors and their
memories are far above and beyond politics; they represent not
the passing phase of political life; they stand for country itself.
To-day with bated breath and with quickened heart-beats,
the rambler beyond seas may see in Altorf, covered with glass,
banners borne by liberty-loving Swiss, at Mortgarten before
Columbus set forth on his westward journey. Let us hope that
centuries hence, travelers from the East and from the West
may stand beside these flags, still preserved, and hear some cus-
todian say. "They were followed by men who forsook the paths
288 NINTH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.
of peace and by the dread ordeal of battle drove slavery from
the land and made America from ocean to ocean
'The land of the free and the home of the brave.' "
MILES MARCHED BY THE NINTH.
One of the most difficult tasks essayed by any compiler is to
ascertain just how many miles this or that body walked during
its term of service. Had the men marched as the crow flies,
with the scale range, the answer could be easily given, but
armies did not move in that way. They usually took the long-
est way, if there was any difference. Again, if they had fol-
lowed the railroad tracks, the answer could be more easily
given, but if such a course were attempted it had to be very
much modified, as in our march to Danville. Tliousands of men
could not keep along that single line, though it marked tlieir
direction.
The very best that any one can do is to study the roads and
routes as carefully as possible, and then to make estimates.
having the table of railroad distances with the map scale by
him. It were a long list to follow each day's march from our
departure from Belle Plain, during those days in May; so it
will suffice if certain parts thereof are kept together; thus from
Belle Plain we walked 02 miles to reach the North Anna. Very
likely all these items are under rather than over the fact, owing
to the routes we pursued. From the North Anna till we were
placed before Petersburg, 126 miles; to Ream's Station and re-
turn with sundry other journeyings about Petersburg, 28 miles.
From Petersburg to City Point and from Frederick City to
Monocacy Junction, 21 miles. From Monocacy to Ellicott City.
45 miles.
Washington to Snicker's gap and return, 125 miles; to Fort
Richardson and return and to Harper's Ferry, thence to Freder-
ick City, lin miles.
In the valley, making no allowance for digressions, guarding
wagon-train, foraging, etc.. we marched from Harjier's Ferry
to Fisher's hill and back, 120 miles; then we walked up to
Mount Crawford, and finally came back to Harper's Ferry, 216
miles.
In our final Petersburg rambles we marched and counter-
marched fully 25 miles; then when we set out after Lee, we
MISCELLANEOUS. 289
rushed over 100 miles of distance before catching him; next
we came back to Burksville, 50 miles; the raid to Danville
followed, 125 miles, and finally we took foot and walker's line
from Richmond to Washington, fully 85 miles as we walked.
In this compilation no estimate has been made of the long
marches before leaving the defenses, nor of those that followed
our return, nor again of the distances accomplished by boat or
rail, but the figures already given make an aggregate of 1238
miles. Does not the regiment merit a place with Sheridan's
"Foot Cavalry"?
OUR CORPS CONNECTIONS.
Without access to the regimental books, by the order of
Daniel Lament, Cleveland's secretary of war, eflfectually
barred to all inspection, it is practically impossible to name the
brigades and divisions with which the regiment was at first
connected; but on the formation of the 22d Corps in February,
1863, the task became easier. The first commander was Major
General S. P. Heintzelman, who was succeeded in October,
1863, by Major General C. C. Auger, who remained at the head
of the defenses through the rest of the war.
In the newly formed 22d Corps, which included all the troops
in the defenses of Washington, the Ninth was at first assigned
to the 2d and later to the 3d Brigade, Kaskin's division. Joseph
A. Haskin was a grizzled veteran who had seen service in the
Mexican War, losing an arm at Chepultepec. He is well remem-
bered by the soldiers. He was New York born, of the class of
1839, West Point, and died in Oswego August 3d, 1874.
Our position as to Army Corps, on going to the front, has
been already stated, but it is here repeated that when in the
fighting ranks the 1st and 2d Battalions were in the 2d Brigade,
3d Division, 6th Corps, the .3d Battalion in the Artillery Bri-
gade, but same division. This same battalion served in the 1st
Brigade, Hardin's division, 22d Corps, from July 10th, 1864,
into September, and from September 22d till it left the defenses
in Colonel Keim's provisional brigade. Thence onward the
regiment was together.
While in the Shenandoah valley we were of the Army of the
Shenandoah, but on returning to Petersburg we were again in
the Army of the Potomac. In this connection it should be
stated that Brigadier General Martin D. Hardin was another
19
290 NINTH NEW YORK HEAVY ARTILLERY.
one-armed officer, having lost bis left arm in a guerrilla skirmish
near Catlett's Station in December, 1863. He also was a West
Pointer, class of 1859.
THE REGIMENTAL BAND.
''Here we will sit and let the Bounds of muBic
Creep in our ears."
The stay of the regiment in the defenses and its enlargement
to the heavy artillery standard gave an opportunity for the