The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-01-15
BATTLE OF CHAPIN'S FARM,
SEPTEMBER 20, 1864.

ter the second corps had returned
from some strong demonstration at
Deep Bottoms, we had orders on the
night of September 29th, 1854, at
about ten o'clock, to be ready to
leave Immediately, then fall in line
to be ready to be served with hard
tack. We were given about twenty
rounds of extra cartridges and waited
orders to march, which came lot
light marching. About twelve O'Clock
we started to cross the James River
at Riken's Landing. There we cross
ed the river on a mutfled pontoon
bridge; we marched up the bluff
about five miles from the Dutch Gap
canal. Here we saw the enemy and
formed in line of battle along and
across the Varina road. AS soon as
our lines were formed, we were on
dered to charge on the enemy, which
we did with such great earnestness
that it caused them to vacate in so
great a hurry that they left every
thing behind them, but their arms,
equipments, etc. We picked up
few things we thought we might
need and pressed on after them
through a piece of woods, whence
to the left we came in sight of one
of the most deadly combats, hand to
hand fighting for the possession of
Fort Harrison, we ever witnessed.
The combatants seemed to be so ex-
cited and crazed with desperation
and determination to hold the fort,
that they were fighting on the para
pets, in the bitches, on the bridge
across the sally port, surging back
ward and forward. General
Burnham who seemed to be in the
fah III nd
General Ard was so badly wounded
that he was carried from the field.
While in these woods, we were gath
ering up a few gum and rubber
blankets which we knew we would
need that night, if we were spared,
for our covering. While there
awaiting orders to move forward,
we saw wounded man sitting un-
der a tree with his left leg gone,
except enough left to tie hand
kerchief around to stop the blood
from flowing. He did not seem to
be in much pain, and said he was
not.
AS soon as Fort Harrison fell in
to our hands, we were ordered for
ward to charge on Fort Gilmore,
which was said to be the key to
Richmond. Colonel Fairchild took
charge of our Brigade composed of
the S9th N Y. and the End Pa. Hy.
Art. We had three battalions, there
fore three Majors, Majors Ander-
son, Sadler and Cap. Jones. We
passed to the right of Fort Harri-
son, just a few feet from where
General Burnham was killed.
We, the 2nd Pa. Hy. Art, were
to advance as follows: Major An
hptt tO1i in
the center. Major Sadler, with our
battalion, the second on the right,
and Captain Jones with the third on
the left. Fairchild with the S9th
N. Y. intending to move up as
support
When we reached the top of
knoll, we saw we were exposed, so
Major Anderson, not waiting for
Fairchild, ordered all of the battal-
ions forward to the assault. With
a shout, Follow me, my comrads,"
we rushed forward and were soon
deployed to the left, where we got
into a very hot contest among trees
cut down to obstruct the way, and
they sent the grape and canister in
to us, as we were so confused,-a
struggling mass of humanity, trying
to do something for the country in
taking this fort, amid this carnage.
The enemy, a mangling many, we
could see fall and hear them groan
when torn by the shells. AS a grape
shot raked across my hand, it left
a red mark. 1t was terrible the
way canister, grape and shells came
tearing through the trees, knocking
off the limbs. There seemed on
escape. Billie was close to me, much
in camp.) He remarked, wells,
don't you think they are sending
more canned fruit than we can
stand?" Billie" 1 said, 1--WE will
have to take it whether we want to
or not" Then Billie looked despef-
ate at me and said, ''Now, do you
think we will ever get there to pay
them back? l think if we get out
of this alive we will do we'll" Then
looking around we saw Captain
Higgins, swinging his sword and
commanding us to fall back, saying
that this is nothing but slaughter.
All of the afficers seemed to be
killed or wounded, so Captain Hig-
gins was left to command. We
obeyed his command and fell back
to the road for future orders.
This now being after dinner in the
afternoon, and not partaking of food
since the night before, and having
no time to eat, we were naturally
hungry, and very thirsty. We saw
a house a short distance from the
road and a well in front of it. l
took seven canteens and went to the
well for water. When a comrade
from Company B and myself had
filled our canteens full of water, we
entered this house and saw that the
folks had not had time to take the
provisions they had provided with
them, so we helped ourselves, think
ing that they might spoil if they
were left much longer. When we
returned to the road, we told the
rest of our comrades of our FORUM
ate find, and soon all was consumed.
There was severe fighting still on