Shifting back to the East Coast from Tennessee we will bring our focus back to another Union offense which occurred in early 1862- Burnside’s North Carolina Expedition.  For weeks the expedition had been held up by gales and bad weather, but in early February the winds stopped and the Union ships could bring in the Army troops to the mainland.  The first large assault of the campaign would occur on February 8^th, 1862.  150 years ago today reconnaissance was being conducted by the federals in preparation for the action by a company of the 5^th Rhode Island Infantry.  One of the soldiers in the group was Charles Viall of Providence, and today we will look at his experience on February 7^th, 1862.

Biographical information on Charles Viall was hard to pin down, so almost all of what we discuss today will revolve his time in the military.  His regiment, the 5^th Rhode Island, was mustered into federal service on December 16^th, 1861. Not long afterwards they boarded ships bound for the Carolina coast.  After enduring weeks on cramped ships in rough weather, it was finally time for Charles and his comrades to get on land and fight by early February. 150 years ago today led by a local guide – an escaped slave known only by the name Tom – Charles and several other soldiers rowed in a small boats to the shore of Roanoke Island, where landings would take place the following day.  A post war unit history describes what happened as the men came close to the Confederate held island:

While the author of the account felt that Corporal Viall’s wounding by a musket ball to the teeth was an honor, Charles may have felt differently after the reality of his injury sank in. 

Above: A map of Albemarle and Pamlico Sound with Roanoke Island highlighted in yellow.

While we’re not sure we suspect the wound earned Charles a disability discharge, and he would have returned to Rhode Island sometime in 1862.  After the Union passed draft legislation of 1863 went into effect the summer of that year, all potentially eligible males were recorded and previous military experience was recorded, if applicable.  We found Charles Viall’s draft record, and it lists his as simply “Discharged:”

Fortunately, his injury did not incapacitate him and he was able to find work as a laborer.  He was however part of a generation which would bear the scars of the division between North and South, and although he still apparently had his sense of humor after having had his jaw shot away, there is no doubt his experience 150 years ago today profoundly affected his life.