The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1908-07-16
Stories Emneny Worth Telling of Experiences aud Adventures
in tile Great National Struggle
THE FIGHT AT CHucKaTUcK.
A Disastrous Expedition Into the Enc
my,s COgn.ry,


my's Country.
Editor National Tribune: Under the
caption An Unfortunate Expedition
Into the Enemy's Country in the
April 23 issue of The National Tribune
by Comrade Thomas W. Rodgers, Bat
terry A, Sd Pa H A. there is a letter
suggested by the death OF Capt. Rowe,
of the 99th n. Y, wherein he accounts
for the Smithfield disaster and attrib-
utes the failure OF the expedition to
Gen. Graham. 1nasniuch as am
named by Comrade Rodgers as probably
the only other survivor OF the unfortu-
nate affair, and aitho more than "A
years have passed away. the incidents
as 1 remember them are at such va
Rance with his / am pursuaded to give
an account OF the expedition as my
memory is refreshed by Retrospective
contemplation
In the first place let me say that this
Thomas W. Rodgers is our Own Billy
Rodgers, of Philadelphia, and it was he
who saved the writer from starvation
at Andersonyille. the circumstance of
which to reduce, to writing would re-
quire more space than we expect to use
in this letter. His memory of the bat
tie of Srrithfield will bear out my teSti-
mony to the heroic courage and pa
triotic loyalty of Capt Rowe, standing
on the upper deck of the gunboat Smith
Briggs, amid q shower Of rebel bullets,
as the boat approached the wharf and
shouting: For Gods sake, let my boys
get aboard first; / haven't men enough
to man a gum The last word was
scarcely uttered when q well-aimed shot
from rebel musi,et, passing under his
chin. tore the flesh from his threat: but.
undaunted, he stood with 'kerchief in
hand endeayoring 10 stanch the flow
of blood; gesticulating with invincible
courage and urging his men to Man
the guns and pour shot and shell into
tn
circumstance about this time the rud-
der chain was broken, the boat swung
out into the channel and the first shot
from the rebel artillery in that direction
pierced the steam chest, totally dis
abling the boat; and, on account of the
excited condition of the men, the
wounded commander could not bring
order out of chaos: his strenuous efforts
failed, and soon after the flag was low
cred and the surrender completed. /
never saw Capt. Rowe before that
eyentful morning; / have never seen
him since but have always remembered
his as an officer of inyincible bravery
and worthy the highest enconium. Re-
quiescat in pace.
As i have recounted the story many
times from "memory's tablet at camp
fires and to school childen in connee-
ton with our Memorial Day occasions.
/ will endeaVor TO relate from memory
the battle of Smithfield.
Start of the Expedition.
On the morning Of Jan. 81. 1854. the
gunboat Gen. Jessup neared the mouth
of Pagan Creek. where was anchored a
transport and upt n which were quar-
tered % troopers OF the goth n. Y. Cav;
SO members of the S9th n. Y, including
the crew OF the gunboat Smith Briggs,
a 12-pounder boat howitZer. and to
which was added II members of my
own Battery A, Sd Pa. H. A, detailed
from the gunboat Gen Jessup. The gun
boats returned down the James River
but the transport, laden as above indi-
Gated. steamed up Pagan Creek, arriy-
Ing at S:nithfield about O'Clock. After
disembarking the transport left US. re-
turning down the creek.
The column was formed under COM
mand of Maj. Lee, Of the 18th n. Y,
and the sealed orders opened giving in
sfructions to proceed southeast on the
main thorofare as far as the MIL"
which was to be destroyed and to con-
tinue on to Chuckatuck, a distance Of
nearly 10 miles from Smithfield, where
we were to reembark upon the trans
port ordered to meet rs there amply
protected by gunboats. The "MilF' was
located about midway between the two
villages.
The detail from the Gen. Jessup acted
in the capacity Of advance guard thru
the town. deployin- * skirmishers after
outskirts OF the village. And just here
we met an old darky who assured us
that we would find plenty of rebels. for
they had been marching out on the
Chuckatuck road nearly all night Upon
examination we easily discovered visible
marks in the road Of footmen, horsemen
and wheel Indications not unlike that of
artillery After entering the woods the
advance guard was deployed TO the right
of the road and when about four miles
from Smithfield we espied a rebel cav
alryman not far away coming over the
brow of a bill. apparently asleep on his
horse. Three of US nearest to the road
concealed behind a large tree, awaited
quietly until the horse had approached
near enough, when we sprang out,
seized horse and rider, much to his con-
sternation. and, diSar:ning him, sent him
to the rear. under guard. to the main
force about a quarter of a mile away.
We then advanced to the brow of the
hill and discovered within easy rife
range. at the foot of the hill. marching
toward us, n regiment of infantry. q
squad of as cavalry and two pieces OF
artillery. Their close proximity neces-
STATED immediate action, and without
attempting to report TO Maj. Lee other
wise than sending the captured picket to
him, we opened fire upon them at once
The first yoliey greatly demoralized
them and resulted in wounding the Off.
Ger in command. We saw his sword faf
TO the ground. The surprise fully awak.
ened any others who may have beer
sleeping. and, throwing their artillery
into position. they commenced a vigor-
Gus attack with shot and shell. Our lit.
tie 12-pounder replied in rapid success
sion and il really seemed as tho Oul
boys. wlth one piece, succeeded In firinf
more shots than the rebels did with two
The skirmishers kept up a constant fir,
ing, and, much to our surprice, within
20 or Is minutes the rebels limbered VI
their artillery, and the whole force tool
TO fight in doubie-quick time on q cross
road leading to the south. We followed
them for about two miles. keeping up {
rapid fire all the way. and returned u
find the main force occupying the sam,
position 2s when we left them. We re
ported the situation to Mai. Lee, ant
Lieut. Harris advised an immediate ad
vance 10 Chuckatuck. but Mai. Lee over
ruled our advice and urgent suggestions
and with six cavalrymen in the adyanc
We were ordered back to Smithnei1 IS,
next met these cayalrymen in Rich
mond.
The Fatal Mistake.
We believed at the time and are still
of the opinion that MAJ. Lee made a ia
tai mistake in not rushing forward il
compliance with his orders. The enem,
was several miles away and rapidly re
treating in another direction. The thor
ofare was clear OF distractions and W.
had covered nearly half the distance f
our destination. Our transport and gun
boats were at ChuckatuciS or would hav,
been there under orders waiting for us
And had the enemy discovered our I'm