Rainbow Bluff, North Carolina. A REBEL COLONEL'S CRUEL DISAPPOINTMENT. By W. P. DERBY, 27th Mass. ECEMBER, 1864, an expedition left Plymouth, N. C., with Rainbow Bluff and Tarboro as its objective point. The 66 force consisted of the 27th Mass., 9th N. J., 176th Penn., detachments of the 16th Conn., 85th N. Y., 12th N. Y. Cavalry, 2d Mass. Heavy Artillery, and Battery A, 3d N. Y. Artillery, the latter armed with muskets. This last force under Captain Russell, was temporarily attached to the 27th Mass.. under Col. W. G. Bartholomew. This force under Col. Jones Frankle left Plymouth December 9th, and after several light engagements, reached the vicinity of Rainbow Bluff at midnight the 12th. At this point the enemy contested the advance so warmly that it was concluded they were present in force. It was decided to attempt to flank this force, and if possible get to their rear and capture them; and this work was assigned to the 9th N. J. and the 27th Mass. Regts. This work was quite to their taste; and after more than three years' service--much of the time in the same brigade-it is not too much to say that they had unbounded confidence in each other. The night was bitter cold; the ground frozen and rough, and the water froze in the canteens. The moon threw a flood of light, requiring great care and secrecy to prevent discovery. The way lay to the right across wooded fields, some of the time through a deep dry ditch, then through a ravine shaded by overhanging cliffs to a stream over which the bridge had been destroyed. The stream was a roaring torrent, at flood height, but by the aid of floodwood and brush lodged against the pier a crossing was effected. As the column neared Fort Branch upon the bluff the sky became heavily clouded so that we passed it and reached the Hamilton road without opposition. As the column reached this road it was discovered by Colonel Hinton, commander of the post. Thinking we were re-enforcements Colonel Hinton mounted his horse and rode up to Captain Russell, who was at the rear of the 27th, and accosted him, “Good morning, Captain! never so glad to see any one in my life;" then turning to the men said, “Had a pretty rough jaunt, hain't you, boys?" There was not enough of light to discern colors, but Captain Russell scented the fun and replied, “Good morning! colonel is just ahead and wants to see you." Reaching Colonel Bartholomew, Hinton extended his hand saying, "Good morning, colonel! Just in time! There's fun ahead!" Colonel Bartholomew had walked just far enough to particularly admire the gray steed before him, and besides, he had a considerable bump for good horses. He grasped Colonel Hinton's hand and the horse's bits most affectionately and responded, "Ah! Good morning! I'm awful glad to see you! You may get off that horse; you won't need it any longer, as you are my prisoner!' "Wha-what!" exclaimed the astonished rebel officer. "What regiment are you?" "27th Mass.," was the prompt reply. "The d-1 you are! I thought you were the Weldon Junior Reserves," was the disconsolate rejoinder. We had it now; we not only had the commander, but the key to the position also; we would be the Weldon Junior Reserves. The 9th N. J. was at the front. Advancing to some log barracks a short distance ahead the sentinel was saluted, "Turn out the guard for the Junior Reserves." They came tumbling out, disgruntled by the disturbance, and without the firing of a gun were seized as prisoners. We were now in the rear of and near to the rebel intrenchments. Captain Hufty, of the 9th, was challenged by two sentinels, but he continued to advance saying in a drawling tone, "Come ah-n, boy-es; come ah-n! We uns are Weldon Reserves; they uns won't hurt we. Come ah-n!" and before the sentinels could decide what to do they too were prisoners. It was now reported that there was a body of troops approaching from the rear (it was the Junior Reserves), and Colonel Stewart, of the 9th N. J., who was in command of our force, deployed his troops, the 9th facing the approaching column and the 27th Mass. in an opposite direction facing the intrenchments, and gave the order "Charge!" The Junior Reserves broke in all directions before the impetuous charge of the Jersey boys and the Johnnies abandoned the works before the charge of the 27th and took to the woods and a cross road connecting with the Tarboro road. It was expected that the force remaining under Colonel Frankle would occupy the intersection on the Tarboro road, but this they failed to do, so that most of the enemy escaped. The result of this movement was the capture of Colonel Hinton and 128 prisoners with arms and equipments, and the destruction of their barracks. Rest, savior patriots, in your narrow beds, While all about you Nature's voices ring, Place a white tablet o'er each noble Far brighter crowns await your noble THE CRUTCH IN THE CORNER. [Written just after the war, by JOHN MCINTOSH-" Old Vermont."] HY, Billy, your room is as cold as the hut We had by the swamp and river, Where we lost our Major, and Tim, you know, And sixty more with the fever." "Well, Tom, old fellow, it's hard enough, But the best at times knock under; There's ne'er a stick of wood in the house Than live such a life as I'm doing now, With that crutch in the corner yonder. “There's ne'er a thing lef to pawn or to sell, And the winter has closed on labor; This medal is all that is left me now, With my pistols and trusty saber ; And those, by the sunlight above us, Tom, No power from my trust shall sunder But that crutch in the corner yonder! Save the One that releases me at last rations! From that crutch in the corner yonder. "I can raise this arm that is left to me To the blessed heaven above us, And swear by the throne of the Father there, And the angels all, who love us, That the hand I lost and the hand I have Were never yet stained by plunder, And, for love of the dear old flag, I now Use that crutch in the corner yonder. "Do I ask too much when I say we boys mad shells screamed My wife-she begs at the Nugget Had we known our lot would have been House, to beg, Circumstances After Cases. W. P. DERBY, 27th Mass. Made It for His Own Use. August 14, 1862, an expedition reached Swansboro, N. C., to destroy the salt works, five On miles from that place. reaching the works they found twenty-five bushels of salt ready for the market. The proprietor begged piteously for this, saying he made only a little for his own use. He must have been an old salt. In spite of his pleading the works and the salt were destroyed. Supported by the 9th N. J. A good squib—such as were common in soldier life-originated upon the battle field of Goldsboro, N. C. One of Belger's R. I. battery had been wounded severely, and when approached by a chaplain upon the field was asked if he was supported by divine grace. "No, we were supported by the 9th N. J.," was the laconic reply. |