USA > Massachusetts > Clippings pertaining to the history and reminiscences of the 32nd Massachusetts Infantry > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10
COMPACT SHELVING
N 973.741 M38C
Newton Collection
NEWTON FREE LIBRARY
NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS GIFT To The Newton Collection by Mr. Franklin Balch
NEWTON FREE LIBRARY 3 1323 00540 880 1
Massachusetts infantry, 32nd regiment 1863 - 1065
Clippings pertaining to the .
history and reminiscences of 32nd regiment
1
913.741 1/34C
C.l
57PMASSINE
Design for the Monument of the
32d Reg't Mass. Infantry,
to be erected on the field of GETTYSBURG.
HERE <
THE
C.1
32d assachusetts Infantry
Aided in the repulse of the enemy about 3 o'clock, P. M. July 2, 1863. -
Later in the day it fought in the WHEATFIELD. - -*-
It lost in both actions in killed and wounded 78 out of 227, officers and men.
Inscription for reverse side of Tent.
Comrades, - The above cut represents the monument your committee have decided to place upon the field of Gettysburg, to mark our regiment's position in action there.
For the State appropriation ($500.00) we can get it of the following dimensions : 312 feet high, 312 feet wide, and 5 feet long.
We think it ought to represent not only the forma, but the full size of the "Shelter=tent, " namely, 434 feet high, 5 feet wide, and 612 feet long (exclusive of the base, which is to be 20 inches high). The increase in size will involve an increase in cost of $300.00. We therefore respectfully solicit your contribution (towards the three hundred) for such sum as you may feel disposed or able to give, not exceeding $10.00. We will account for all sums receive, and from whom, at our next December meeting.
Communications or remittances should be sent to S. C. Spaulding, Custom House, Boston, Mass.
As we desire to close the contract for or against the full size, according to the success of this appeal, we ask for an immediate reply.
Boston, Jan. 29, 1885.
S. C. SPAULDING,
C. H. PARSONS. Committee.
E. O. SHEPARD.
FREE NO1831
NEWTON
LIBRARY
MASS.
K
Reminiscences of Army Life. FROM ANTIETAM TORSPOT- SYLVANIA.
By S. C. Spaulding, Sergeant Company K., Mass. Thirty-Second Regiment.
Having been frequently solicited by some of my companions to give a sketch of my army experience, I have consented to do so, hoping thereby to add something of interest to the written history of our regiment, and if possible encourage and stimulate others of the file as well as the rank of the 32d to furnish their link in the chain, which, if complete, would reach from the Peninsula to Richmond, via-Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chaucel- lorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spottsyl- vania and Petersburg.,
It is my purpose to relate in a simple way my story of army experience in connection with the company and regiment of which Į formed a part, commencing with iny eu- listment.
If ny story shall interest my old com" panions who participated with me in the events here recorded, (and need only a jog of the memory to bring them vividly to mind.) or if those who were not called by a sense of duty to buckle on the armor and shoulder the musket in defense of their country in that trying hour, or the rising generation, (boys and girls) shall learn more fully to appreciate the blessings and privi- leges they now so freely enjoy, by learning something new of what it cost to preserve and perpetuate them, then the purpose of my story will have been accomplished.
"On the 4th of July, 1862, the President. of the United States (Abraham Lincoln) called for three hundred thousand volun- teers to form new reginents and fill the ranks of those then in the field."
During that month a series of War Meet- ings (as they were called) were held in the several villages comprising the town of Newton for the purpose of encouraging en- listment and filling hier quota. On the eve- ning of July 26th the meeting was held in the old hall at Newtonville. Never shall I forget that time, and place.
For then, and there, in that crowded hall, Amid the cheers of young men and old, I, in response to my country's call, Placed my name on the enlistment roll,
Thus taking an important step in the path of duty, which although it led through hardships, privations, and dangers, such as those only who have experienced thent can Know, I have never regretted,-but on the contrary look back upon as one of the roudest mets of my life.
and if you
In a few days our company was recruit t to its maximum number (100) and we were at once ordered to camp at Lynnfield, Mass., where were two companies, H and I, which with ours (K) formed a battalion that was soon after assigned to the 32d Regiment, Mass. Volunteers,seven companies of which were then in the field, and six of whom were recruited for garrison duty, and sta- tioned at Fort Warren, where they remained several months, (until the 26th of May) when they were sent to the field for more active service.
Having been ordered to camp soon after iny enlistment, it was uecessary for me to get a furlough of a few days, that I might properly arrange my business affairs at home. I obtained a furlough until the 6th of August,at which time I returned to camp again.
On the 13th of August we were mustered into the United States service, and having received our uniforms, arms, and equip- ments, we commenced drilling, doing camp duty, &c., thus preparing for the more ardu- ous and trying duties of the field upon which we were soon to enter.
August 20th we left camp for the seat of war,-our battalion under command of Captain Moulton (the senior officer) having been ordered to join the regiment to which we had been assigned.
We left camp about 10 A. M. and pro- ceeded to Charlestown, Mass., the home 'of Company I, where we made our first halt, receiving a hearty reception, and a bounti- ful collation in the City Hall. Stirring speeches, full of patriotism and good cheer, filled our ears, while we filled our sacks (not haversacks) with something more in- viting than " hard-tack."
It was there we were first called into action. Every man did his duty nobly, and in that onslaught (upon pies, cakes, roast- beef, turkey, &c.,) without a charge, we captured all before us.
Soon the hour for our departure arrived, and the order "fall in battalion," was given. Then came-
The parting word, the loving kiss, The fond embrace of those we should iniss, The silent tear that stole from the eye
As friend, said to friend, God bless you, good bye.
We were soon in line, and at the order "forward march," filed into the street, where we were greeted with cheer upon cheer by the throng of people which had gathered to witness our departure, and our march through Charlestown and Boston to the Providence?Depot was a complete ora- tion.
Late in the afternoon we left Boston via Stonington Line for New York, where we
there to
2 arrived the next morning. We were landed on the Jersey side of the North river, and were furnished transportation to Philadel- phia, where in due time we safely arrived. Of course we marched directly to the " Cooper Refreshment Rooms" for sand- wiches and coffee, at which place all of " Uncle Sam's boys " were made welcome. After dinner we proceeded on our way to Baltimore, arriving before dark.
Knowing from past experience that the city was a hot bed of secession, and con- tained more enemies than friends to the " boys in blue," our officers took the pre- caution to supply us with forty rounds of ball (not blank) cartridges just before our arrival.
As we marched across the city from one depot to the other, with drums beating and colors flying, we remembered with pride the Old Sixth Mass., which early in the war had to fight its way through; and could but contrast our experience with theirs.
It was near the small hours of the night before we left Baltimore for the capital, arriving without accident at about 9 P. M., the 22d. We marched directly to the barracks and there we received rations and quarters for the night, namely : Salt pork, coffee and bread, for supper; bread, coffee and salt pork for breakfast. Our bed was the soft side of a hard floor, with our knap- sacks for pillows and our blankets for cov. ering,-first-class accommodations however when compared with those we afterwards received. On the following day we went to Alexandria, Va. While on our way through the city to our quarters in a large brick building (doubtless the property of a rebel) a little incident occured as follows :
When we arrived opposite the Marshall House, the hotel in which the brave young Colonel Ellsworth sacrificed his life while descending the attic stairs with a rebel flag in his hands which he had captured on the roof, we made the welkin ring as we sang the old familiar army song,entitled, " John Brown," all joining in the chorus, " As we go marching on."
Monday, August 25th, we encamped just outside the city, and near the estate of the rebel General Lee, whose mansion at that. time was occupied by General Mcclellan and his staff, as " Headquarters Army of the Potomac."
Having pitched our tents on the " sacred soil of Virginia," (made sacred by the blood of our brothers, which had already been shed upon it, and was yet to be made more sacred by the blood of more than one third of our number, who before the close of the war were to be killed, or wounded, on her bloody battle-fields,) we were not surprised,
when four days later we heard the sound of battle, like the mutterings of distant thun- der, and saw the long columns of war-worn veterans, as they passed our camp> with their steady tramp, tramp, tramp, towards, the Bull Run battle-field. Nor were we; surprised when on the following day wed saw the long line of slightly wounded mnen, wending their way to the hospitals in the city ; also the long train of ambulances filled with mangled, bleeding, dying coni- rades, just from the field of carnage.
August 29th, I obtained a pass from our commander to visit the Soldier's Cemetery near Alexandria, where a large number of our comrades slept,no more to awake at the sound of reveille. Among them was a friend and relative, who early in the war left his Green Mountain home in the pride of youth to serve his country, and had given his life a sacrifice upon her altar. I had no difficulty in finding his resting place, for a neat, white head board, with his name, rank, company and regiment inscribed thereon, marked the spot where he lay.
Sept. 2d we struck tents and marched to Arlington Hights.
Up to this time our company had lost none of its number by death,-but on this our first march in Virginia, we parted with two comrades, who never rejoined our ranks again, one of whom was George Baker, (one of the smallest men in the company ) who died Sept. 11, 1862. The other was Seth Cousens, (one of the largest of our number) who died Feb. 8, 1863.
Having reached the point in my story where our numbers began to diminish, and the names on the roll of Company K began to be omitted at roll-call let me say, I pro- pose, as far as possible, to account for those,, and those only, of our company, who were killed in action or died of wounds or dis- ease during my connection with the regi- ment in the field.
On the 4th of September we joined our regiment near Falls Church, Va., where we were assigned our places in line, and cast in our lot with the 32d Regiment, Mass. Volun- teers, whose fate and fortune, defeatsand victories of the war we were to share.
There was a striking contrast in the ap- pearance of the old and new companies .- We were fresh from the Quartermaster's Department, dressed in new bright army blue, while they were fresh from the swamps of the Chickahominy, with their uniforms stained (to say the least) with Virginia mud.
We remained there in camp about a week, waiting the movements of the enemy, who were evidently about to leave their old en- trenchments for a fair field fight.
On the morning of the 12th of September, our regiment forming a part of the 2d brig- ade, (Griffins) 1st division, (Morells) 5th corps, (Porters) advancing with the army into Maryland, to intercept the rebel army, which was crossing the Potomac near Shep- herdstown. We marched through Wash- ington, Rockville, Maryland, and Middle- brook, and fordiug the Monocacy river, reached Frederick City on the morning of the 14th, where we halted till the following morning (our corps being the reserve. )
It was here the advance guard of the two great armies met,and the blow was struck, which not only checked the advance of the rebel host, whose watchword was on to Washington, but forced them to fall back to South Mountain, a very strong natural position, where they determined to stake a battle.
Our march from Washington to Frederick was a forced march, and terribly severe ou us "raw-recruits." I remember it well. Some of the incidents are vividly impressed upon my memory, a few of which I will re- late. It is an old (but true) saying, that experience is a good schoolmaster, but a hard one.
We (new companies) with no experience in marching, left camp in " heavy marching order,"-knapsacks full of extra clothing and many useful articles, placed there by sisters, sweethearts, and mothers; which in camp would have been very nice, but on such a tramp proved a burden too heavy for us to bear, while our comrades were not only used to marching, but were in " light marching order," having divested them- selves of everything they did not actually need. So you see the odds against us were heavy, -at least we thought so before we had marched many miles.
The day was excessively hot, the road was dry and dusty, and although our column moved rapidly forward, until we reached Washington, our files were scarcely broken. While we were marching through the city the men began to succumb to the scorching heat, and heavy knapsacks, and one after another fell out of the ranks,-many of whom were entirely prostrated. We did not proceed far before it was evident to our Colonel (I think) that one of two things must be done, -we must part with our knap- sacks or he must part with us, for he halted the regiment in the road, and ordered us to unsling our knapsacks, and remove such articles as we actually needed, and deposit them in the barn near by for [safe keeping with the promise that in due time we should receive them all right. Just three months from that time I received my knapsack all right, but that was all that I did receive; somebody had foraged the contents.
3
On the morning of our first day's march soon after passing through Washington, we halted in the road to hear for the first time a " General Order" read. I remember it well, especially the last sentence, namely : "' All men straggling from their commands will be shot." Perhaps you may wonder how any man after listening to such an order, would dare to leave his place in the line, but remembering my experience, the wonder to me is that any of us kept our places in the ranks, and I assure you, it was only by the inost determined and persevering efforts backed by a will which, when nature seemed almost exhausted, and my limbs refused to move, " whispered, try, try again."
When we encamped the first night, more than half of our company were absent at roll call, and the second night, less than a dozen men of company K were " present or accounted for." Although we were subse- quently known as the flat-footed cavalry, on account of our frequent rapid marches with them, we had not at that time had sufficient practice on the road to enable us to keep up with horses.
It was late in the evening of the second day when our Colonel led the way into an open field near the road, and the bugle sounded halt. After giving orders to stack arms he dismissed the regiment, then rode along the line to ascertain the number of men present in each company. Our com- pany had not much to boast of as to num- bers, but we did have guns enough to make one stack, and that was more than could be said of every company,-for when the Colo- nel asked, where is company -. 'Here,' sir, responded the only representative pres- ent, who for good and sufficient reasons had not obeyed the order to stack arms, but had fixed his bayonet, stuck his.gun in the ground and was standing by it. The Colo- nel who sat on his horse beckoned him to come near, when he asked his name, and at the same time took from his pocket a mem- orandum book in which he made an entry, for the purpose (I suppose) of rewarding him for his perseverance. I have often wondered whether he received a furlough or a commission, or both, as he most cer- tainly deserved.
On the morning of the 15th of Sept. we left Frederick and marched in the direction of South Mountain where there was heavy fighting. All day we heard the sound of artillery; and on our way to Middletown we met a large number of rebel prisoners.
On the 16th we pushed ou in the direction of the contending forces, and needed not to be told that ere long we too might meet the foe. The cannon's roar, which but a few hours before resembled the sound of dis- tant thunder, had grown sharper, quicker,
4
and more distinct, until at length we reached the summit of the mountain and found our- seives in close proximity to our army, which had forced the enemy from that strong po- sition.
Just before we reached the summit of the mountain we met an ambulance with an escort moving slowly to the rear. As it was draped with the " old flag, " we sup- posed that it contained some officer of high rank, and make inquiry who it was,-when we were told that it was General Reno, who had fallen in the thickest of the fight.
All along up the mountain side we saw evidences of the fierce struggle for that position. The rifle pit, the barricade, the breastwork, the new-made graves, and the lifeless forms of those who still remained unburied where they fell, told their tale.
It was about midday when we reached the summit of the mountain, after which we advanced slowly along the narrow, wind- ing rugged way that led through Turner's Gap, Boonsboro', and across the famous Stone Bridge] which Burnside's division carried after a desperate struggle.
The enemies position there was a strong one. I wonder how our troops conld possi- bly have crossed the bridge under the terri- ble fire that the rebels were able to bring to bear upon that point from the wooded bluff opposite.
After crossing the bridge we turned abruptly to the right, following the road that for a short distance led along the low land between the river on our right and the bluff on our left. There our loss must have been severe owing to the peculiar lay of the land, which gave the enemy a decided ad- vantage over our troops, who, nevertheless, drove them from that stronghold with heavy loss, as was evident to us by their numerous dead who lay along the river bank, and scattered among the rocks and trees and in the ravines along the bluff.
Toward evening we arrived near the bat- tle field of Antietam. Halting on elevated ground in the rear of our army, we had a bird's eye view of a battle then in progress, -the first I had ever witnessed.
-
I will not attempt to describe my feelings when my eye first fell upon the field en- shrouded in smoke, and my ear first canght the sound of musketry with which we after- wards became so familiar.
ANTIETAM
Sept. 17th, 1862, will long be remembered by the people of this country, (north and south), on account of the fearful sacrifice of life and limb on " the bloody field of An- tietam."
Early in the day we were sent to support a battery belonging to our corps (which was still in reserve.) The position was a fortu- nate one for us, as we were so far remote from the field of strife as not to be exposed to the enemies musketry fire at all. (And our position behind the ridge, or swell of ground on which our batteries were posted, made us comparatively safe from the shells and solid shot from the rebel guns. Never- theless there was a disposition to dodge, when a solid shot went screaming over ours heads, or to shrink when a shell exploded in the air, scattering its iron fragments wef knew not where.
Although there were no casualties in ourb regiment that day from the enemies fire, there was a sad accident occurred to a com- rade of our company lying by my side which! deprived him of an arm. It was the resulta of the careless handling of a musket, (by a comrade near by) the contents of which entered the arm at the elbow, and so shat- tered the bone as to make amputation neces- sary.
A soldier while crossing the field, or high ridge, in the rear of our position, was strucki by a solid shot and had nearly half of hisv head carried away.
Towards the close of the day our brigade was ordered to the support of troops on another part of the field, but we were not in action again.
Althoughi our army was victorious that day, our success fell far short of the expec- tations of our friends at home, in that the rebel army was not "annihilated " or " bagged." On the following day General Lee, anxious to return with his shattered army to the " Land of Dixie " -
Sent Little Mack a flag of truce Asking permission to bury his dead- When in fact the request was simply a ruse To gain time to rescue the living instead. His plan was well laid, the game was well
played,
But we buried his dead when his army he'd saved.
On the morning of the 19th we advanced with our artillery expecting to meet the en- emy. We marched rapidly through Sharps- burg, (which was quite full of the enemy's wounded) and pushed on towards the river in line of battle, feeling our way from one ridge of land to the next, the artillery shel- ling the woods in our front from each ele- vation. Thus we advanced until we reached the ford across the Potomac only to find that the rebel army had escaped to the opposite side of the river.
5
September 20th a brigade crossed the riv- er at the ford below Shepherdstown, on a recounoissance. They did not proceed far before they were compelled to retire, having encountered a large force of the enemy who drove thiem precipitately over the bluff to the river. Our brigade was marched rapid- ly to the bluff on the opposite side, where we remained in line of battle till our troops had recrossed. They did not escape with- out heavy loss, however, as the enemy fol- lowed them to the top of the bluff, from which they poured a murderons fire into their broken ranks, killing and wounding many of our men in the river. This was called the battle of Blackburn's Ford.
We found a large number of wounded rebels in barns and houses, under sheds and shelters in the vicinity of the battle-field.
We also found many relics on the field left by the Johnies in their hasty departure, among which were interesting letters, a specimen of which I give you, not only word for word but letter for letter:
FEBBRUARY the 19, 1862.
Dear Brother .- I this day take the time time of writing you these few lines to let let you no that I am well at this time hop- ing these few lines will find you the same or one superior to that I have no news of importans to write yon at this presant time we have a good eal of snow here this winter the snow is on the ground some six inches deep now at this time Brother there is a. good eal of talk about peas here at this present time and god grant that peas may be made for I am Completely wore out of leying in Camps I wish all the Yanks was in hell or at home I wouldent Cear which so that they would let me alone Brother we have a hard time here this winter we have to work on Brestworks ever 5 days we have to work three out of Eight we have to ditch and throw up dirt like irishman Brother I want you to rite to me I have not got any letter from you in three weeks I dont no what is the reason you dout rite to me Brother, I sent you a letter to you and told you to send me a shirt and a pair of shoes. From M. A. V. P.
September 21st General Griffin amused himself and us by a little target practice,- taking for his mark an old mill on the other side of the Potomac from our camp, which was occupied by rebel sharp-shooters, (dis- tance I should say about a mile.) The first shell he sent struck the keystone over the door, in the lower part of the building; the next one went through the door and ex- ploded in the mill, and was followed by more of the same sort which made things lively inside, and the Greybacks lively out-
side, for they left the old mill as "rats would leave a sinking ship" to save their lives. We could see them skedaddle to the wooded bluff in the rear of the building, and they gave us no more trouble from that quarter.
The General delighted to send his compli- ments to the Jonnies, not by carrier pigeons, but by 10-pound parrots.
On the 22d, our regiment with a large force under command of Gen. Humphreys, crossed the river into Virginia on a recon- noissance. We forded the Potomac below Shepherdstown early in the morning and passed through the town with little or no resistance,-the rebel picket hastily retiring before our advancing column, to their re- serve. We were not allowed to proceed far however, without hearing from them, for when the head of our column approached within range of their batteries they opened a brisk fire on us with shot and shell, to which our batteries responded, when the enemy fell back, pressed by our cavalry and flying artillery to the next available posi- tion, where they made a stand to resist our advance, but with no other result than the killing and wounding of a few of our men. Thus we advanced, feeling and fighting our way till about noon, when we came upon the enemy in strong force in the vicinity of Leestown, where a sharp skirmish took place. Having accomplished the object of our advance, namely : "to feel the enemy," we beat a hasty retreat. Now came our turn to be harrassed, and we were not al- lowed to reach our camp without a show at least, of fight, for the enemy pressed close upon our rear and flank, compelling us to march a part of the way in line of battle.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.