The Capture of Captain John E. Michener

       

Whitemarsh Island Assault by Captains George H. Hooker and Robert P. Hughes
February 22, 1864     Map Courtesy of Craig Swain

         The last seven paragraphs of this entry is a lengthy quote from the 1867 book entitled "Prison Life" about the capture of Captain John E. Michener on Whitemarsh Island near Savannah, Georgia in 1864. Michener had spent the first 2 1/2 years of the war as a lieutenant in Company D of the 85th Pennsylvania. In early 1864, he was promoted to be captain of Company K. The Whitemarsh Expedition marked his first field command with his new company.

       I earlier have written about Michener's captivity in an article for Military Images magazine entitled, "Following the Torn and Bloodstained Colors: John Michener's Civil War Odyssey." This article features letters from Michener and his family as well as newspaper accounts of his captivity, courtesy of descendant Margaret Thompson.

         I have also written extensively about the Whitemarsh Island Expedition in my soon to be published Volume II history of the 85th Pennsylvania entitled, "Such Hard and Severe Service: The 85th Pennsylvania in the Civil War, 1864-1865" from by Monongahela Books.

       This author of "Prison Life," T.J. Simpson, offers further details about Michener's role the expedition and the early days of his time as a prisoner of war. Future posts will give additional details about Michener's time in captivity.

         The one-day expedition from Hilton Head to Whitemarsh Island, led by Colonel Joshua B. Howell of the 85th Pennsylvania, was intended to capture around 300 [Simpson said it was 500] contraband workers who were building defenses for the Confederacy. One report, which was accurate, said that some Confederate troops had been sent from Savannah to Florida, leaving Savannah under-defended. This action by the Confederates was meant to deal with Union General Truman's Seymour's Florida campaign that began with landing at Jacksonville and ended with a lopsided Confederate victory at Olustee.

Slaves Building Confederate Earthworks
Mississippi Dept of Archives and History

     The Whitemarsh Expedition was led by Colonel Joshua B. Howell of the 85th Pennsylvania. Accompanying the Howell regiment were elements of the 4th New Hampshire and 67th Ohio.

     The expedition landed successfully on February 22. Confederate pickets on the beachhead quickly fled with Michener and 20 men from his company (K) in hot pursuit. Michener was  under the command of Captain George Hooker, who was tasked with capturing a bridge between Whitemarsh and Oatland Islands and thus prevent the Confederates from sending re-enforcements.

       Michener and his men made it across the bridge but were confronted with an earthwork with a small two-gun battery.

Captain George H. Hooker
85th PA

Guiding the Union mission were several escaped slaves from the area who knew the terrain. But the fugitives did not know of the battery that had been built since their escape.

       Hooker's men halted their attempt to capture the Oatland Bridge. But as Simpson described, Michener and his sergeant from Company K, James C. Bailey, were trapped trying to re-cross the bridge. Near the interior of the island, another member of the 85th Pennsylvania, Private Eli F. ("Frank") Shallenberger of Company C, became separated from his Hughes' team and was also captured. Everyone in the expedition except for these three unfortunate captives were able to safely return to their boats and return to Hilton Head Island.

        This account below, in Michener's words as told to author Simpson,  is somewhat critical of Captain Hooker for not sending expected re-enforcements in a timely manner to help Michener's men escape from the other side of the bridge.

         "On the 21^st of February, 1864, while the Florida campaign [Olustee] was in progress, General Joshua B. Howell, commanding the district [that consisted of] Hilton Head, St. Helena’s Island and Fort Pulaski, embarked from Hilton Head Island, with the Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers and Fourth New Hampshire, for a small island about four miles distant from Savannah, Georgia known as White-Marsh Island. Upon this island some five hundred negroes were actively engaged in throwing up breastworks under the protection and supervision of about two hundred rebel troops. This island is about three miles wide and is connected with the main land by a wooden bridge. To destroy the [Oatland] bridge, so as to prevent succor from Savannah; attack and scatter or capture the rebel troops guarding the negroes; destroy the works and bring off these negroes to Hilton Head, were the objects of this expedition.

"Prison Life"
T.J. Simpson  1867

           "The destruction of the bridge, the first and most important object to be accomplished, was assigned to companies B, D, E, H, I and K of the Eighty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers under the direction of Captain George H. Hooker, acting assistant adjutant general to General Howell. The transports arriving a short distance above Fort Pulaski, dropped anchor and launched the small boats for the above-mentioned detachment. These boats were designed to carry from twenty to thirty men, each but having been lying up in the hot sun for months at Hilton Head, they were wholly unfit for the service. Many of them filled with water as soon as launched, and sunk immediately, while the others were only kept afloat by constant bailing.

           "This detachment was to proceed some three miles up a small sluggish creek and get in the rear of the enemy before the transports landed the remained of the troops at the front approaches to the island. It was long after midnight when the order 'cast off' was given and the tide coming in greatly assisted the strong but muffled paddles and caused the awkward and leaky boats to shoot through the water with astonishing rapidity.

           "The night was calm – the 'wind slept soundly'—while the twinkling stars in the hazy sky relieved the midnight darkness. The moon at length peered above the horizon and shone with a mellow light as she travelled from cloud to cloud. The snake-like stream, stirred by the many muffled oars, sparkled on its winding way, lending a soft attraction to the gloomy marsh. Far along its grassy borders the tall, green seaweed formed beautiful arches, through which the silent moonbeams crept as if to smile upon those daring men as they noiselessly glided along in their frail boats…

             "Arriving at the island, a dash was made for the shore, which was quickly gained without the loss of a man. The rebel picket only fired a single volley and then fled like frightened deer. Captain Hooker directed Captain Michener to deploy his company (K) as skirmishers – pursued the retreating pickets with all possible haste and gain the bridge before the alarm could spread among the enemy.

LOC

"After penetrating the dense timber and undergrowth for nearly a mile, Captain Michener came to a cleared field only a few hundred yards from the bridge. To his astonishment he discovered what appeared to be an earthwork but a few rods distant from the opposite end of the bridge. Halting for a moment, he sent his orderly sergeant back to confer with Captain Hooker and request him to come up. In a few moments this gallant officer arrived in company with Captain [Rolla] Phillips of Company D. they however doubted the fact of the enemy having a fortification there and agreed with the negro-guide (who had only escaped from the rebels a few weeks before) that it was only ‘earth-houses occupied by the colored folks,’ and Captain Hooker ordered Captain Michener to advance upon the bridge. Captain Michener still insisted that it was a battery and having only twenty men of his company with him asked for more men, stating that if he found it to be an earthwork when he arrived at the bridge, he would try and take it. Captain Hooker said it was not necessary, that he would support him.  ‘Yes’ responded Captain Phillips. ‘Michener, we will be at your heels.’ Captain Michener advanced at double-quick and on arriving at the bridge, discovered that his suspicions were correct and that the enemy had a small earthwork with one gun in position and the panic-stricken rebels trying to get up a second one. Believing to retreat would expose him to a close and galling fire and seeing but few rebels in the fort, he resolved to charge it. With a shout the gallant captain and his brave boys dashed towards the bridge, which was soon gained when the rebels opened upon them with one volley of grape, but the gun being too much depressed, the shot fell short and did no other damage other than to splinter a portion of  the bridge, a fragment of which struck Captain Michener, felling him to the ground. Quickly springing to hie feet, he dashed across the bridge with only ten men, the rest stopping short of the bride and seeking shelter from the shower of musketry concentrated upon them. With this immortal ten, Captain Michener pushed fearlessly up to within fifty yards of the earthwork; but finding no support coming up, as had been promised, he at once saw the folly of hurling those few devoted followers against the fort. Seeing a small embankment near the ditch to the left, he quickly deployed his men behind it and lying flat upon the ground, opened a brisk fire upon the enemy, killing one man and two horses. Here this little Spartan band fought bravely for more than an hour, waiting for reinforcements and not permitting a rebel to raise his head above the parapet. What an hour was that! Lying almost under the very shadow of the fort, with two guns and two hundred muskets concentrated upon them, how desperately they fought and how anxiously they looked for the promised supports. A half hour passes, the enemy is still held at bay, and now they listen for the shouts of their comrades rushing to the rescue. They load and fire again, rebels fall from the parapet; another half hour passes; the bloody strife continues, but no supports have arrived; the moment is big with danger; to advance is death, to retreat is almost hopeless, to remain longer in than position was certain destruction. Oh! That relief would come. They read each other’s thoughts in their anxious countenances; death is preferable to surrender, and a soldier’s glory is to fall, if fall he must, with his face to that foe.

Lt. Norman B. Ream
Dickey's History of the 85th PA

       "Lieutenant [Norman B.] Ream of Company H, a brave and gallant officer, had been ordered by Captain Hooker to hasten with his men to the aid of Captain Michener while he was thus being overpowered by the enemy. He had proceeded but a short distance, however, when he fell, severely wounded.  His comrades at once endeavored to carry him back to the boats, but were so hotly pursued by the rebels that the brave lieutenant requested them to lay him down and make their escape, saying it was better for him to fall into the hands of the enemy than for them all to be captured. They persistently refused, however, and finally succeeded in reaching the boats in safety with their noble but suffering leader.

         "At length, despairing of aid and knowing the hopelessness of their condition, they resolved to attempt escape at least by crawling through the marsh to the stream and swimming to the bridge. They gain the bridge; the heroic spirit that had sustained them through the last dreadful hour now yields to excitement. Captain Michener entreats them to be calm and courageous, that they would either escape or die together. He orders them to cross over, one at a time, so as not to

Captain John E. Michener
Courtesy of Ron Coddington

draw the enemy’s fire and resolves himself to bring up the rear. The first crosses, safely, and then the second and the third, but the rebels have discovered the skillful maneuver; they make a flank movement and gain the abutment of the bridge just in time to intercept the captain and his last man, Corporal [James C.] Bailey. The captain might have escaped with the first that crossed the bride if he had consulted his own safety alone, but acting the part of a true soldier and unselfish commander, he determined to see his comrades safely over before fleeing himself from danger, and thus, on the 22^nd day of February, 1864, fell into the hands of the enemy.”

NEXT: The early days of captivity for Michener, Bailey and Shallenberger.

Such Hard and Severe Service: The Story Tellers

 
 The author would like to acquaint the readers of Such Hard and Severe Service published by Monongahela Books with the following members of the regiment. They are each quoted through their letters, diaries, memoirs and newspaper articles.  Many other men of the regiment are quoted, but the words of the following men are used multiple times. I did not include these images in the first two volumes; I saved most of the individual photographs for Volume 3 (soon to be published). That last part of my regimental history provides biographical information for the men of the entire regiment.
         The information below hopefully will add context to their backgrounds, personal views, and military experience..

From Sharon Zbinovec

Private Milton McJunkin: This volunteer in Company D from Bentleyville, PA, wrote a series of  letters to his family that was published in 2000 by Patrick Schroeder, Richard Sauers and Ronn Palm in a book called,“The Bloody Eighty-Fifth: The Letters of Milton McJunkin, a Pennsylvania Soldier inthe Civil War.”  McJunkin offers a variety of observations on his fellow soldiers, officers, their camp conditions, as well as vivid descriptions of the fights in which he participated. 

                                                            

From His Memoir

Sergeant Mark Gordon: A young teacher in Greene County prior to the war, Gordon joined Company G as a sergeant with his father, Lieutenant John A. Gordon. Mark Gordon contributes his observations from  a variety of primary sources: a memoir, letters written to his family during the war, letters written to his hometown newspaper and a brief diary. Gordon reveals his thoughts in real time through his letters, and also from the perspective of time through his memoir written 25 years after the war called "Experiences in the Civil War." Gordon's great grandson, also named Mark Gordon, was elected governor of Wyoming in 2018.

                                                                                                                                                                                        

Lieutenant Colonel Henry Purviance: The captain of Company E, Purviance was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1862. He was wounded at Seven Pines and was later the acting regimental commander on Morris Island in 1863 when he was killed by friendly fire. Purviance was the co-publisher of the Washington (PA) Observer and Tribune newspaper and wrote a series of descriptive letters home that were published by his newspaper in the first two years of the war.

From Brian J. Ensley

Private Robert Roddy: Like Purviance, Roddy had a background in journalism. Roddy enlisted as a private in Company H and served for one year before being sent home on a medical discharge. Roddy was a reporter in civilian life and his brother, Edward, owned the Genius of Liberty newspaper in Uniontown, PA. Roddy wrote several letters under the pen name "Zingaroo" that were published in his brother’s newspaper concerning his time in Washington, DC and the Virginia Peninsula. 

From His Memoir

Corporal William E. Finley: Two years after the end of the war, Finley, from Uniontown,  wrote a brief memoir of the regiment that he titled The Privates’ History. Finley was wounded at Seven Pines and served for three years before returning home at the end of 1864. He was one of about 300 members of the regiment who completed his h original three-year enlistment. The rest were killed in battle, died from disease, or were sent home due to a medical discharge.

                                                                

From Dickey's Regiment History

Colonel Joshua Howell: Besides writing several reports that are found in the official records of the Union army, Colonel Howell also wrote a series of Civil War letters that were published in an 1891 book by John Howell, his descendant. Howell offers official and personal glimpses about "his boys," his fellow officers, his severe concussion suffered on Morris Island and the Bermuda Hundred Campaign.

From Ryan Berley

Corporal Davis Himmeger: The 43-year old farmer with a wife and five children never experienced the battlefield. Himmeger contracted a disease while on the Peninsula Campaign and died in a Baltimore hospital in May, 1862. A chapter of Volume 1 is devoted to letters written by Himmeger, his wife, Margaret, and various family members and friends. To the left is a picture of Himmeger’s frock coat sent home following his death.

                                                                       

From James Hadden
"History of the Old Flag"

Lieutenant Richard W. Dawson: The young lieutenant was studying to be an attorney when he joined Company I as a lieutenant. He was promoted to the Inspector General's staff but was still assigned to the 85th PA. In early 1865, he was wounded in the assault on Fort Fisher near Wilmington, NC and died the several weeks later. His diary, which covers the year prior to his death, is the subject of an entire chapter in Volume 2 of my book.

                                                           

From Ron Coddington

Lieutenant John E. Michener: The native of Fredericktown, PA joined the regiment as a lieutenant of Company D. Shortly after being promoted to captain of Company K, he was captured on Whitemarsh Island, GA and spent the next nine months in captivity before being traded for a Confederate officer in Charleston Harbor. Michener's letters recount the Battle of Seven Pines as well as his thoughts on the various environments in which his regiment was stationed.