CHAPTER IV.

THE BAND OF THE NINTH ENLIVENS THE TRIP DOWN BOSTON HARBOR - THE JOURNEY TO PORTLAND, ME. - THE TWELFTH MAINE INFANTRY EXPECTS TO BE TAKEN ABOARD, BUT IS SENT BACK - TRIP FROM PORTLAND TO FORTRESS MONROE - GEN. PHELPS COMES ABOARD THE "CONSTITUTION" AND ASSUMES COMMAND OF THE TROOPS —THE VOYAGE TO SHIP ISLAND, MISS.

As the Constitution left the wharf, she was given hearty cheers by the large crowd that had assem¬bled to see her off. The deck was a mass of soldiers who waved farewells to the people on shore. The band of the Ninth struck up a lively air and continued to play until well down Boston harbor. The Constitution at first picked her way cautiously owing to the shipping in the harbor, but when clear of this, more steam was put on and the ship increased her speed.

Samuel Colby, a veteran Boston pilot, was aboard, and safely guided the Constitution down toward the bay. Fort Independence, on the starboard, was passed and Fort Winthrop, to larboard. Lower down, Fort Warren was sighted. All this time, the band of the Ninth kept play¬ing, "to the great delight of the boys." By I p. m. the ship was pretty well outside, and the effect of the waves began to make itself felt on board. Many of the men showed indications of seasickness and clung to the rail or sought their berths below deck. The Constitution once clear of the lower harbor, shaped her course north¬erly for Portland, Me., the object being to take on a Maine regiment at that place.

The ship was now making about nine miles an hour. At 4 p. m. she was running up the coast, through a rough

sea. Only about a third of the force aboard remained on deck, the rest having gone below. The weather was cold, and those on deck were as well muffled up as cir¬cumstances would permit. At sunset, the Constitution was off Thatcher's Island and about five miles from that point. By this time, many of those on deck were sheltered in nooks around the smokestack, and elsewhere, to avoid the biting winds. Night came down cold, but clear. About 9 p. m. the ship was off Portsmouth, N. H., and at midnight reached Portland, Me.

The next morning, Nov. 22, 1861, was cold. The Con¬stitution was anchored about a mile from the wharves, and from her deck a good view of Portland could be ob¬tained, and was much enjoyed by the men of the Ninth. About 9 a. m. the steamer Forest City, with the Twelfth Maine Infantry aboard, came out to the Constitution. Col. George F. Shepley was in command of the regiment, and the intention was to transfer it from the Forest City to the Constitution for transportation south with the Con¬necticut and Massachusetts troops. Owing to the crowd already on the Constitution, however, Col. Jones finally decided not to take the Twelfth aboard, and ordered the regiment to return to Portland, proceed to Camp Chase, Lowell, and there report to Gen. Butler. Pay¬master Roland G. Usher, U. S. Volunteers, left Portland in a rowboat about noon, came aboard the Constitution and soon began distributing one month's pay to the Twenty-sixth Massachusetts regiment and the Fourth Massachusetts Light Battery. The next forenoon, Nov. 23, some 200 tons of coal were taken aboard; also two pilots—Sewall Drinkwater and David Jackson. There were now four pilots on the Constitution—Samuel Colby, of Boston; Richard H. Collins, of New York, and Messrs. Drinkwater and Jackson, just mentioned.

Sunday, Nov. 24, the ship was well out, and making good progress on a southerly course. There was a heavy sea running and many of the officers and men

were disagreeably aware of that fact. The Constitution made her fastest time at night when the soldiers were asleep and all was quiet aboard. Corporal Peabody of the Fourth Massachusetts Light Battery, to whose diary we are much indebted, makes the following entry:

"Nov. 26, Tuesday. Morning opened warmer and clear. Many on board think that we are now off the coast of Virginia, and this belief has given the sick new life and energy; for this morning the deck is crowded with men, all of them being cheerful and happy. Since midnight the course of our ship has been almost due west, which causes the belief that Capt. Fuller intends to make port. All hands are on the lookout for land, and all are re¬warded for their trouble, for about 9 a. m., a small speck is seen far away to the South which, growing larger as the Constitution rapidly approaches, reveals to view the sandy beach and tall trees on Cape Henry. Every man able to crawl was at this time on deck viewing with the intensest interest the scenery around us. At 10 a.m., we passed inside Capes Henry and Charles, and were in Hampton Roads."

Fortress Monroe is located about seven miles up the Roads. The Constitution steamed slowly and at about 11 a. m., dropped anchor within a mile of the fort. It now became reported among the Ninth that the object of the ship in coming here was to take aboard Gen. John W. Phelps, who was to assume command of the expedition. The location of Fortress Monroe, at the extreme end of Old Point Comfort, Va., made it a place of great strategic importance, and the works were, consequently, of tre¬mendous strength. At this period they covered about 60 acres and constituted the strongest regular fortification in the United States. During the forenoon of Nov. 27, the Constitution was busy taking on supplies, and it now became generally known, to those aboard ship, that the destination of the latter was Ship Island, Gulf of Mexico. General Phelps came on board about 1 p. m., and as-

sumed command. He was a native of Vermont, born Nov. 13, 1813. He was a tall man, and of medium, but strong, build. His hair and beard were of an iron gray and his address very pleasing. He graduated from West Point in 1836, served in the Fourth U. S. Artillery in the operations against the Creek Indians, distinguished him¬self in the Florida war and in the war with Mexico, in which latter conflict he served under Gen. Scott, and par¬ticipated in the capture of the City of Mexico. On the breaking out of the Civil War, he was made Colonel of the First Vermont Infantry, and on May 17, 1861, be¬came a brigadier-general of volunteers. He permitted no mere show or parade upon taking command on the Constitution, and created a very favorable impression. At 5 p. m., the anchor was "hove up" and the ship stood out to sea. Cape Henry was passed about 5.45 p. m., the course was shaped to the southward, and the Ninth and the other organizations aboard were on their way to Ship Island.

The Florida coast was sighted during the forenoon of Nov. 30, about ten miles away, and the men of the Ninth left their recreations, and hastened to get a glimpse of the scene. Not much was visible, however, but a low, dark fringe of coast and at times even this was not in plain view. About 8 p. m., on Sunday, Dec. 1, the revolving light on a distant reef, the extreme southern point of Florida, was sighted. It was some ten miles away. The weather was pleasant, the night clear, the sky studded with stars and the sea smooth as glass. The Ninth, and other troops, crowded the main deck intent upon enjoying these delightful conditions and witnessing every object of interest. The Constitution rounded the light above men¬tioned at 9.30 p. m., being then about five miles distant, and entered the Gulf of Mexico. On Tuesday morning, Dec. 3, a portion of the Alabama coast was in sight, some seven miles away, on the starboard side. The aspect was not particularly attractive, but was intently viewed by the

troops. Ships of the Union blockading fleet were sighted about 2.30 p. m., and a hour later more warships were passed. At 4 p. m., the Constitution dropped anchor in Mississippi Sound, half a mile off the westerly end of Ship Island. Here the voyage of the Constitution ended.

The New Haven Palladium, Dec. 19 1861, states that "At Ship Island, on the 4th, Major Frye, of the Connecti¬cut 9th, accompanying Gen. Phelps to the island pre¬vious to the disembarkation of the troops, hoisted upon the lighthouse there the beautiful American flag pre¬sented to the regiment just before its departure from this city."

Ship Island had been selected as the rendezvous for the troops that were to act in conjunction with the fleet for the capture, from the Confederates, of New Orleans. In the War of 1812, the island had been used for a similar purpose by the British, preparatory to their attack on the same city, then defended by that gallant soldier of Irish parentage—Gen. Andrew Jackson.

On the morning of Dec. 4, 1861, everybody aboard the Constitution was awake at an early hour, and after break¬fast, began preparing to go ashore. About 9 o'clock, a river steamer, the Henry Lewis, came alongside. She took the Twenty-sixth Massachusetts on board and landed the regiment at the wharf on Ship Island. At 10 a. m., the Ninth Connecticut regiment, and the Fourth Massachusetts Light Battery, were conveyed from the Constitution to the wharf by the same steamer. An hour later, a lot of camp equipage was brought ashore and the soldiers began securing their belongings. The Henry Lewis continued plying back and forth some time, transferring supplies and other material, and at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon the troops went into camp on the island. The Ninth was located on ground near the lighthouse, with the Twenty-Sixth Massachusetts close by. The Massachusetts Light bat¬tery was located at the rear of Fort Massachusetts, about

300 yards from the wharf. The men slept soundly that night. The next day, the various commands did consider¬able work toward improving their respective camps. Gen. Phelps established his headquarters in a house formerly occupied by the keeper of the light. The steamer Henry Lewis continued plying back and forth this day, between the Constitution and the wharf, and brought ashore a great amount of supplies. These were taken in charge by the commissary and the quartermaster. Ship Island is a dreary place, eight or ten miles long, and varying in width from a few hundred yards to a mile. It is about ten miles from the nearest mainland and a few hours by steamer from the mouth of the Mississippi. The island is little more than a big sand bar, and the walking in the loose sand is neither easy nor pleasant. The water be¬tween the island and the mainland is known as Missis¬sippi Sound. Through this sound, the enemy had been carrying on an extensive trade with New Orleans and Mobile. They used river steamers, chiefly. The Henry Lewis, for instance, already mentioned, had thus been used by the rebels, and was bound from New Orleans to Mobile, with a cargo of sugar and molasses, when cap¬tured by our blockading fleet. Ship Island is one of a chain of islands, the others including Cat Island, Horn Island, Petit Bois Island and Dauphin Island. Of these, Cat Island is about five miles to the westward of Ship Island, and Petit Bois is about sixteen miles to the east¬ward. One of the few good points about Ship Island was that water could easily be obtained by digging a hole, three or four feet deep, in the sand. Before the war, the island had been a Summer resort for wealthy families of the Gulf States, on account of the health-giving breezes. A large hotel had been located here, but about all that remained of it now was a chimney, 25 or 30 feet high, and a pile of debris. Sharks and porpoises were in evi¬dence in the waters surrounding the island, and thou¬sands of gulls collected daily in the neighborhood. On

one part of the island was a forlorn forest of oak and pine. Ship Island was well situated as a base for opera¬tions against New Orleans. At the breaking out of the war, the U. S. Government was constructing a fort on the island, the large force of men engaged being under Lieut. F. E. Prime, U. S. Engineer. On July 6, 1861, a Confederate force, consisting of three companies of the Fourth Louisiana Infantry, under Capt. Higgins, ar¬rived on two steamers from New Orleans, landed on the island, captured Lieut. Prime and his men and sent them North. The Confederates then landed guns, ammuni¬tion and supplies, erected barracks and started to com¬plete the fort. At 7 o'clock on the evening of Sept. 16, 1861, the Federal gunboat Massachusetts, and the sloops-of-war Marion and Preble, appeared off the island, so alarming the enemy that the latter evactuated, having, be¬fore their departure, set fire to the barracks and shanties, the woodwork of the fort, and the lighthouse. Since then our people had been in possession of the island. The fort—Massachusetts—had been put in as good con¬dition as circumstances would permit and, when the Ninth Connecticut landed, was garrisoned by 170 seaman and marines under command of Lieut. Thomas McKean Buchanan, executive officer of the gunboat Massachusetts. In an easterly direction from Gen. Phelps' headquarters could be seen all that remained of the English ship Eliza¬beth Bibby, that had been driven ashore by our gunboats while she was endeavoring to run the blockade with a cargo of coal.

Among the vessels of the Federal blockading fleet in these waters, at the time the Ninth landed on Ship Island, was the gunboat Neva London, Lieut.-Commander Reed. She was formerly a propeller and plied between New London, Conn,, and New York City. She was of 221 tons, 125 feet in length, and was purchased by the U- S. Government in Aug., 1861, for $30,000. In her new sphere of action her armament included four 32-pound

broadside guns and one 30-pound rifled pivot, which latter she carried in her bow. She rendered excellent service during the war.

Dec. 4, 1861, Gen. Phelps issued a proclamation ' against slavery. This was considered a premature act and was disavowed by his superiors. Phelps, believing that a temporizing policy was to be followed, eventually resigned. Late in the afternoon of Dec. 7, the Constitution having completed unloading, departed for Boston. She was heartily cheered by men of the Ninth, and other com¬mands, gathered on the beach.

At Ship Island the Ninth received its arms —the Enfield rifles already mentioned. Dec. 9, 1861, Col. Cahill issued "Circular No. 1," containing instructions as to the use of the arms, and requiring every man "not detailed for some particular duty or on the sick list" to be kept at drill every available moment. Dec. 13, the Colonel issued "Regimental Order, No. 6," establishing the following routine:

Reveille at daybreak.
Police call immediately after roll call.
Surgeon's call at sunrise.
Breakfast at 7.30 a. m.
Company Drill 'from 8.30 to 10.30 a. m.
Guard Mounting at 9 a. m.
Officers attend target practice at 10.30 a. m.
Recall from fatigue at 12 m.
Dinner at 12.30 p. m.
Police at 1 p. m.
Company drill from 2 to 3 p. m.
Recall from police at 3 p. m.
Battalion drill by wings from 3 to 4 p. m.
Dress parade at 5 p. m.
Supper after dress parade.
Tattoo at 9 p. m.
Taps ten minutes after tattoo.
Sunday inspection at 8 a. m.
Guard mounting immediately after inspection, at dress parade or at such hour as may be appointed.

Saturday afternoon was to be devoted to "a thorough cleaning of quarters, tents, knapsacks, arms, accoutre¬ments, etc., and to washing clothing, preparatory to the Sunday inspection." Regimental Order No. 7, required that commanders of companies in the Ninth would "forthwith make a requisition upon the Quartermaster for the number of knapsacks required for their com¬mands, having those before issued ready to return. They will also make a requisition forthwith for the number of canteens, blankets and tin cups now needed in their sev¬eral commands. The Quartermaster-Sergeant will com¬mence to issue on the above requisitions a 8 o'clock a. m., to-morrow * * * ."

Speaking of the early part of the Ninth's stay at Ship Island, the Croffut-Morris work on Connecticut during the Rebellion says of the regiment: "The men were still wretchedly clad, and it was midwinter. Nearly half of them were without shoes and as many more without shirts; several had no coats or blankets. Some drilled in primitive attire of blouse and cotton drawers. The tents were hardly capacious enough to cover them. There was no straw to sleep on. They were without transportation, and were obliged to bring the wood for their fires four miles. This was made1 into rafts, and men almost naked, in water up to their arms, floated it down to camp. The Twenty-sixth Massachusetts was equipped with warm blankets, ample tents, and two uniform suits of clothing per man; and to them the members of the Ninth furnished a contrast which would have been amus¬ing if it were not humiliating. With the buoyancy of the Irish character, the men were hopeful, and during these severe months sent home to their families not less than twenty thousand dollars,—almost their entire pay."

On another occasion while some of the Ninth were en¬gaged unloading vessels, or in similar work, "they came upon a stock of canvas shoes consigned to the post sutler. These Col.Cahill immediately appropriated, receipting for

them on his own account, and distributing them among his barefoot command. Gen. Phelps could find nothing in the regulations authorizing such an act; but the Colo¬nel found sufficient justification in the paramount law of necessity," and the men kept the shoes. The sutler was later reimbursed by the government. During all its privations, the regiment never flinched.

When, finally, fully uniformed and equipped, the Ninth was excelled in appearance by no regiment in the service. Lieut. John G. Healy,* of the Ninth, in writing home from Ship Island, under date of Dec. 12, 1861; says: "For the first time since this island was dis¬covered, Mass was offered up on last Sunday. I will try and picture to you the scene. In front of one of the tents, and before a rudely constructed altar, knelt about one thousand soldiers. Father Mullen, our worthy chap¬lain, was offering up the sacrifice of the Mass. There in the soft, white sand the poor fellows prayed—prayed to God to protect their wives and children, their fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters—prayed to God to send them home safe to those dear ones they had left behind. After Mass, Father Mullen preached an excellent ser¬mon, and during that time there were very few dry eyes. Our chaplain is in good health. He wishes to be remem¬bered to you all." Making another entry, under date of Sunday evening, Dec. 15, 1861, the same officer says in his letter: "We had Mass again this morning [in the camp of the Ninth], and a much larger congregation than on last Sunday. At an early hour, all the Catholics in the Twenty-sixth regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, came down and the U. S. Marines from the fort and off the gunboats attended. * * * In fact, Father Mullen had quite a congregation."

* Afterwards, successively. Captain and Lieutenant-Colonel.