Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 5.djvu/125

 GENERAL S. G. GRIFFIN. 103

On the seventh of April, he was sent in command of an expedition, con- sisting of four companies of the Sixth New Hampshire, and two of the Ninth New Jersey — about six hundred men — with five gunboats and one steam transport to break up a rendezvous of rebels, near Eh/abeth City, North Carolina. Arriving at the point just before daybreak, on the eighth, he ordered Major Jardine, with two New Jersey companies, to land at Elizabeth City, below the rebel camp — which was near the river — while with his own four companies he ran past in the darkness, and landed to cut off their retreat. Landing hastily, he marched directly upon the enemy, while Major Jardine came up on the other side. The rebels fled at the first fire ; but in the attack, one was killed, two wounded, and seventy-four made prisoners, and three hundred and fifty stands of arms and a quantity of ammunition was seized.

On the nineteenth of April, at the battle of Camden, North Carolina, he commanded his regiment, nearly one thousand strong, which formed a part of the left wing, and was held in reserve. At the critical moment. Colonel Griffin, having received orders to attack, moved his regiment forward, in line of battle. A sharp fire of artillery caused some losses, the ranks faltered ; but the coolness and assurance of the Colonel held them steady. Advancing to within short musket range, he halted the line, and gave the command to fire, and the regi- ment poured in a volley with wonderful coolness and precision. The enemy broke and fled, and the battle was won.

On the twenty-second of April, 1862, he was commissioned colonel of the regiment. WJien the regiment went to Roanoke Island, in March, it was suffering seriously from sickness and demoralization, and had at one time three hundred men on the sick-list ; but under the judicious management and thorough instruction and discipline of its new commander, it was soon put in excellent condition, and became one of the most effective and trustworthy regiments in the service. When it left the Island in June and joined Burnside at Newbern, it had but three men sick in hospital, and its proficiency in drill and its splendid appearance were remarked by all. In July, Colonel Griffin was assigned with his regiment to Reno's division which was sent to aid Pope in his campaign in Virginia.

At the second battle of Bull Run, he commanded his regiment, and the single brigade of the Ninth Corps, to which he belonged, was sent into a wood, with orders to " Drive the enemy out, and hold that ground." Advancing under a terriffic fire, they pushed forward bravely in their desperate attempt to obey the order. Penetrating some distance into the wood the Sixth New Hamp- shire received not only a murderous fire in front, but also from the left flank and rear. Thinking it must be a mistake of friends, who were firing into them. Colonel Griffin took the colors and waved them in that direction ; but the fire only came the hotter, and finding himself confronting an immense force, and deserted by all the other regiments, he gave the order to retreat, and brought off the remnant of his men, bearing the colors himself. The regiment behaved with great gallantry, showing the benefits of the excellent drill and discipline, which it had received from its commander ; but it lost heavily on that fatal day in killed, wounded, and captured.

On the first of September, he again commanded his regiment in a sharp fight at Chantilly, aiding to hold the enemy in check, while the army retreated to Washington.

At South Mountain he was also engaged in the fight, having his own regi- ment and the Second Maryland under his command.

At Antietam, after one attempt to cross the bridge in front of Burnside had been made by another force and failed. Colonel Griffin was ordered to make the assault with his regiment and the Second Maryland. The charge was gal-

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