thrust into our guard-house, the drunken soldier wept bitterly as he told us, in explanation of his conduct, that his captain had just died, and the company wanted to send his body home, and that having been told by the negro where he could find a splendid copper coffin, he thought he had a right to take it to send the captain home in good style.

Rumors have been flying about that the expedition is to be increased to a force of 40,000 men, and that we are going to strike into the interior of the country to cut the railroads connecting Virginia with the States south of us. As if in confirmation of these reports, we were reinforced in April by several new regiments, among them the 17th Massachusetts and 2d Maryland, infantry, and 3d New York cavalry.

CHAPTER V.

APRIL 15-22, 1862.

THE BATTLE OF CAMDEN (OR SOUTH MILLS), fought april 19, 1862.

UNION AND REBEL OFFICIAL REPORTS OF THE BATTLE.

It was whispered about camp on the 15th of April, that the 21st were going on an important secret expedition. We were glad of something to break the monotonous routine of camp duty, and the regiment went on board the old "Northerner" again, with light hearts, late in the afternoon of the 17th. When embarked, we were informed that we were going to stir up the rebels in the rear of Norfolk. The expedition was under the command of General Reno; and the troops from Newbern engaging in it were the 21st Massachusetts and 51st Pennsylvania regiments, accompanied by two boat-howitzers, organized as a brigade, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Bell of the 51st Pennsylvania; to be joined by a brigade of troops from the garrison of Roanoke Island, consisting of the 9th and 89th New York, and 6th New Hampshire regiments, under command of Colonel Hawkins of the 9th New York. The brigade from Roanoke Island also had two howitzers with them. We dropped down the Neuse, and, passing the familiar regions of Hatteras and Roanoke Island, ran up Albemarle Sound and the Pasquotank River, to the vicinity of Elizabeth City, where we landed on the morning of the 19th. Colonel Hawkins's brigade had arrived between two and three o'clock in the morning, and General Reno had at once started them off on the march towards Norfolk, while he remained to follow with the 21st and 51st, who had been delayed for several hours by the grounding of

their transports. At seven o'clock, however, the two regiments had landed, and entered upon one of the most wearisome marches ever made by troops. Each man carried two days' rations and sixty rounds of ammunition. The day was oppressively hot, and the men suffered severely from the heat and dust, but struggled manfully and rapidly on for nearly twenty miles, when they engaged and utterly routed a brigade of the enemy, supporting fourteen pieces of light artillery,' posted in a position well chosen for defense, near South Mills, beyond Camden. Then, after a few hours of rest upon the battle-field, the expedition made the weary return march, reaching the river and reëmbarking on the transports about daylight on the 20th; making a march of over thirty-five miles and fighting a sharp and spirited battle, within twentyfour hours.

The interesting story of the expedition is given quite fully in the official reports of General Reno and Lieutenant-Colonel Clark.

General Reno's report was as follows:

REPORT OF GENERAL RENO.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION.
NEWBERN, N. C., April 22, 1862.

CAPTAIN LEWIS RICHMOND, ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL. Captain: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to the order of Major-General Burnside, I proceeded from Newbern, with the 21st Massachusetts and 51st Pennsylvania regiments, to Roanoke, and was there joined by part of the 9th and 89th New York and 6th New Hampshire.

We proceeded directly to Elizabeth City, and commenced disembarking on the 19th inst., at midnight, at a point about three miles below, on the east side. By three A. M. Colonel Hawkins's brigade, consisting of the 9th and 89th New York and 6th New Hampshire, were landed and ready to move. I ordered Colonel Hawkins to pro

1 The rebel troops were the 3d Brigade of Volunteers of the Department of Norfolk, under the command of Brigadier-General Albert Blanchard. Their ar tillery was commanded by Captain McComas, who was killed in the battle. See rebel official report, hereafter given. - ED.

ceed at once with his brigade towards South Mills, for the purpose of making a demonstration on Norfolk. I remained to bring up the other two regiments, they having been delayed by their vessels getting aground at the mouth of the river. They came up at daylight, and were landed by seven A. M. I proceeded directly toward South Mills, and about twelve miles out met Colonel Hawkins's brigade, who, it seems, lost his way, either by the treachery or incompetency of his guide, he having marched some ten miles out of his way. As his men were very much jaded by their long march, I ordered them to follow the second brigade. Proceeding about four miles further, to within a mile and a half of South Mills, the rebels opened upon us with artillery before my advance guard discovered them. I immediately reconnoitred their position, and found that they were advantageously posted in line, perpendicular to the road; their infantry in ditches, and their artillery commanding all the direct approaches; their rear protected by a dense forest. I ordered the 51st Pennsylvania immediately to file to the right, and pass over to the edge of the woods, to turn their left. I also ordered the 21st Massachusetts to pursue the same course; and when Colonel Hawkins came up with his brigade, I sent him with the 9th and 89th New York to their support. The 6th New Hampshire were formed in line to the left of the road, and ordered to support our four pieces of artillery. Owing to the excessive fatigue of the men, they could not reach their positions for some time. In the mean time, the enemy kept up a brisk artillery fire, which was gallantly responded to by our small pieces, under charge of Colonel Howard of the Coast Guard, who, during the entire engagement, displayed most conspicuous gallantry, and rendered very efficient service, both during the action and in bringing up the rear on the return. As soon as the 51st Pennsylvania and 21st Massachusetts had succeeded in turning their left, they opened a brisk musketry fire, and about the same time the 9th New York also coming in range, and being too eager to engage, unfortunately charged upon the enemy's artillery. It was a most gallant charge, but they were exposed to a very deadly fire of grape and musketry, and were forced to retire, but rallied immediately upon the 89th New York coming up. I then ordered both regiments to form a junction with the 21st Massachusetts.

In the mean time, the 51st Pennsylvania and 21st Massachusetts kept up an incessant fire upon the rebels, who now had withdrawn their artillery and had commenced to retreat in good order. The

6th New Hampshire had steadily advanced in line to the left of the road, and, when within about two hundred yards, poured in a most deadly volley, which completely demoralized the enemy, and ended the battle. Our men were so completely fagged out by the intense heat and their long march, that we could not pursue them. The men rested under arms, in line of battle, until about ten o'clock P. M., when I ordered a return to our boats, having accomplished the principal object of the expedition, conveying the idea that the entire "Burnside Expedition" was marching upon Norfolk. Owing to want of transportation, I was compelled to leave some sixteen of our most severely wounded men. Assistant Surgeon Warren (of 21st Mass.) was left with them. I sent a flag of truce the next day to ask that they might be returned to us, Commander Rowan kindly volunteering to attend to it.

We took only a few prisoners (some ten or fifteen), most of whom belonged to the 3d Georgia regiment.

The 9th New York suffered most severely, owing to their premature charge. Our total loss in killed and wounded being about ninety, some sixty belonging to that regiment.1

The officers and men of the several regiments all behaved with their usual gallantry, and many are worthy of particular mention, and I presume the brigade and regimental commanders will do justice to their respective commands. I will forward their reports as soon as received.

The return march was made in perfect order, and few if any strag glers were left behind. Considering that during the advance the weather was intensely hot, and that on the return a severe rain rendered the roads very muddy, and that a portion of the command had to march forty-five miles, and the others thirty-five, and fight a battle in the mean time, and that all this was accomplished in less than twenty-four hours, I think that the commanding general has every reason to be satisfied with his command.

I desire to return my thanks to Commander Rowan and the officers and men under him for their untiring energy in disembarking and reëmbarking my command; and also to Lieutenant Flusser for the gallant manner in which he assisted us by proceeding up the river and driving the enemy out of the woods along the banks.

1 The total Union loss, as finally reported, was 15 killed on the spot, 98 wounded, and 2 prisoners. The killed and wounded in the 9th New York numbered 69.-ED.