Skedaddled as Fast as Our Legs Could Carry Us: With the 39th Illinois at Drewry’s Bluff

Struck early on the morning of May 16, 1864 by a Confederate attack that broke the Federal line near Drewry's Bluff, Virginia, Private Charles Burdick of the 39th Illinois shared his experiences in a letter he wrote home the next day to his mother.

    "Our company was out on picket on the left of the regiment," Burdick noted. "We knew they were trying to drive us back. They attacked us and drove us, wounding four of our company. Then we rallied and drove them but we soon had to fall back and it became a regular retreat for a short distance. Then we halted, faced about, and drove them back in the field. We could hear heavy musketry and cheering on our right but could not tell which army it was. We soon found the Rebels had charged on our boys of the 39th Illinois and drove them out of their pits and the order was given to retreat, but our company did not hear it. We were attacked by two regiments and we skedaddled as fast as our legs could carry us. The bullets flew thick over our heads."

    The fight cost the regiment 115 casualties, including Colonel Thomas O. Osborn whose right arm was permanently disabled. Private Burdick's description of the fight at Drewry's Bluff first saw publication in the May 28, 1864, edition of the Waukegan Weekly Gazette. 


Camp on field near Petersburg, Virginia

May 17, 1864

Dear mother,

          I received two letters from you last Friday night. We are all well but Thomas; he was taken sick this morning. Last Saturday [May 14] we were ordered to get ready to march at 2 o’clock. We did not think we would have to go far but we were mistaken. We left here a little after 2 without our knapsacks. After marching two miles, we began to think we were going out on picket but we kept marching on until we got to the Petersburg & Richmond Railroad. Halting a short time, we started up the railroad towards Richmond. We had not gone far when we met some of our men bringing in the wounded; they said they had a very hard battle the night before about three miles from there.

          We marched on until we got to Halfway Station, 12 miles from Richmond where we halted for dinner. While we were eating, orders came for 15 men to go after cars to carry the wounded. They took them from our company. Uncle was one of them. In a few moments we were ordered to march again. We had not gone far before we could hear the battle raging with all its fury. Then we knew what we were going to do. We still kept on until we within half a mile of the battlefield then we halted to look at our guns and after priming them, we marched about 80 rods to General [Quincy] Gilmore’s headquarters (a large white house) where I saw a great many frightfully wounded men. Our men were burying a Rebel officer.

Colonel Thomas O. Osborn
39th Illinois

          When we had marched a short distance, we were ordered to halt and lie down in the mud which we instantly did as we were in great danger of getting shot. None of us were struck while down but a ball went through our major’s coat sleeve. We were then ordered to support a battery and while marching to it we met them bringing in a wounded lieutenant who died shortly thereafter. When we got into the field where our artillery was positioned, the Rebs were shelling the woods all around us and we were ordered on double quick. We started and when the enemy saw us, they shot the shells right over our heads; one burst over my head and a piece hit our colonel [Colonel Thomas Osborne] on the elbow. He thought at first he was not much hurt but he has since had his arm amputated.

          When we got into line of battle, we were ordered to lie down, which we did while the shells flew over us every moment. It was about 2 o’clock when we arrived on the field. They kept up firing shells on both sides till nearly sundown when our battery withdrew with the loss of one man, a lieutenant, and two horses. After the shelling had closed, I went to sleep but did not sleep much for a shell came over Co. E right next to ours and killed two men, wounded four, and shocked T.W. Kennedy as he was so close to the shell when it burst. It threw dirt over our men. Then the Rebs began to fire musketry among us.

The fight at Drewry's Bluff, also known as the Battle of Fort Darling or Proctor's Creek, marked General Benjamin Butler's second foray from his entrenchments at Bermuda Hundred. The battle lasted four days, with initial fighting beginning on May 12th. The battle concluded on May 16th when General Robert Ransom's Confederate division struck the right flank of the Federal army and drove it back; the 39th Illinois was among the regiments caught up in this retreat. 

          We were ordered to get up and move farther to the right of our field; we did so in good order. One man in our company was hit in the back with a spent ball but it did him no harm. The Rebs ceased firing in a few minutes and we laid down and slept very well until morning, our pickets firing all night. Sunday morning [May 15], we were ordered to throw up rifle pits to protect us from the Rebel sharpshooters. One sergeant in Co. G was shot in the neck.

          About 3 o’clock they began to shell us again or rather the 96th New York which was on our left. We lost one captain and eight men. While the shelling was going on, our mail came in and I received two letters from home. The shells came so fast I could not read the letters to any advantage, but our artillery came up and soon stopped the firing. We could hear the cars whistle all night and knew the Rebels were being reinforced. Their pickets did not fire any during the night but in the morning [May 16], they attacked us with shells and musketry. [This attack was launched by Major General Robert Ransom's division of Beauregard's army.] 


Sgt Major Reese Bishop, 39th Illinois
Captured May 16, 1864 at Drewry's Bluff
Died November 7, 1864 at Andersonville

“At 8, our company was moved up to the left flank of our regiment and also of the line. The regiment was placed in a single rank in order to make up the deficiency of that and of extending the line. The right was very quiet except I noticed the rebels were extremely busy making use of peculiar signals, noises, etc., while their cars were running all night, music playing, etc. Generally they seemed to be having an interesting time of it. It was a splendid night, the moon shining brightly, the air clear and cool from the effects of the slight showers during the day before. As out men lay there, some awake and some asleep, that stillness of the hoarse-throated artillery and crack of musketry seemed to me, at least, ominous.” ~ Second Lieutenant Reuben Smith Botsford, Co. F, 39th Illinois

 

Our company was out on picket on the left of the regiment. We knew they were trying to drive us back. They attacked us and drove us, wounding four of our company. Then we rallied and drove them but we soon had to fall back and it became a regular retreat for a short distance. Then we halted, faced about, and drove them back in the field. We could hear heavy musketry and cheering on our right but could not tell which army it was. We soon found the Rebels had charged on our boys of the 39th Illinois and drove them out of their pits and the order was given to retreat, but our company did not hear it. We were attacked by two regiments and we skedaddled as fast as our legs could carry us. The bullets flew thick over our heads.

Our army was badly whipped in that battle but I have heard that Butler’s 18th Army Corps has whipped them again. Our regiment lost 115 killed, wounded and missing. Our major was shot through the left lung; our adjutant, who was a brave man and much liked, was shot through the body and died last night at 12 o’clock. We also lost three captains and one lieutenant. Our color bearer had a leg shot off and the colors were badly shot to pieces. We took some prisoners who are hard-looking cases; I don’t know the number. I hope when we fight another battle we shall whip them. My sheet is full and I have not time to write anymore, so goodbye for the present.

Sources:

Letter from Private Charles L. Burdick, Co. F, 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Waukegan Weekly Gazette (Illinois), May 28, 1864, pg. 3

Letter from Second Lieutenant Reuben Smith Botsford, Co. F, 39th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Waukegan Weekly Gazette (Illinois), June 4, 1864, pg. 3

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