USA > Massachusetts > History of the Thirty-seventh Regiment, Mass., Volunteers, in the civil war of 1861-1865, with a comprehensive sketch of the doings of Massachusetts as a state, and of the principal campaigns of the war > Part 1
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
Gc 973.74 M38bo 1755390
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00824 7998
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2009 with funding from Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofthirtys00bowe
HISTORY
OF THE
37
Thirty-Seventh Regiment
MASS. VOLUNTEERS,
IN THE
CIVIL WAR OF 1861-1865,
WITH A COMPREHENSIVE SKETCH OF THE DOINGS OF MASSACHUSETTS AS A STATE, AND OF THE PRINCIPAL CAMPAIGNS 4 OF THE WAR.
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
BY JAMES L. BOWEN.
CLARK W. BRYAN & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, HOLYOKE, MASS., AND NEW YORK CITY. 1884.
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11
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1755090
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Battle Flags of 37th Reg't Kass. Vol's, as preserved at the State House, Boston.
? F 8349 .462
Bowen, James Lorenzo.
History of the Thirty-seventh regiment, Mass., volun- tvers, in the civil war of 1861-1865, with a comprehensive sketch of the doings of Massachusetts as a state, and of the principal campaigns of the war. By James L. Bowen. Holyoke, Mass., and New York, C. W. Bryan & company, 1884.
2 p. 1., 191-431, li p. front., pl. 21cm.
"Roster ... ": p. (xiv)-xliii.
1. U. S. - Hist. -- Civil war - Regimental histories - Mass. inf. - 37th.
2. Massachusetts infantry. 37th regt., 1862-1865.
2-14304 Revised
Library of Congress
E513.5.37th
3269
Copyright 1884: 14806
ARE :r23d2,
F8349.462
COPYRIGHT, ISS4, BY JAMES L. BOWEN. ,
3269 TC
TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE BRAVE MEN
WHOSE NAMES FORM OUR ROLL OF HONOR THIS RECORD OF THEIR SACRIFICE
.IT DUTY'S CALL
IS REVERENTLY DEDICATED BY THEIR COMRADE The Author
OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.
It is believed that no illustration which could be presented as a frontispiece would be more universally pleasing to members of the Thirty-seventh regiment than a faithful portraiture of the colors which for nearly three years they faithfully followed. The tattered standards were therefore carefully taken from their resting place in the State House, at Boston, photographed by E. F. Smith of that city in several different positions, and from the most satisfactory pro- duction the accompanying picture was made.
The excellent view of "Camp Edwards," directly after its occu- pation by the regiment, before the later decorations were added, is reproduced from the larger lithograph drawn by Hospital Steward W. A. Champney. Both of the present lithographs are from the establishment of Milton Bradley Company of Springfield.
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TO THE READER.
The first attempt at a historical sketch of the Thirty-seventh Massachusetts Regiment was a paper read by General Edwards at the reunion in Springfield, September 19, 1871. While the docu- ment thus presented was necessarily little more than an epitome of the service of the organization, it excited great interest and woke the demand for a more complete and detailed production. The following year, at the reunion at Pittsfield, September 24, the first appointment of a historian was made, E. P. Bridgman being selected. Two years later, at the Bernardston gathering of 1874, Colonel Montague was appointed historian, and the following year the office passed to Lieutenant S. E. Nichols, the following vote being taken: "That Lieutenant Nichols be urgently requested to fill the office of historian of the regiment. In case of his refusal so to do the matter to be left in the hands of the Executive Committee."
At the Northampton reunion of September 8 and 9, 1876, “ It was voted that Comrade W. E. Lewis be appointed historian of the Association, that he be authorized to employ any assistance he ‹leems necessary, and that this organization pledge itself to give him all details in their possession of interest to the companies or regiment, and that he shall have authority to draw upon the treas- urer through the secretary for such disbursements for this purpose as in his judgment shall be deemed proper. Upon Comrade Lewis's acceptance of this office a vote of thanks was tendered him by the association."
.At the Northampton reunion of 1877 Lieutenant Lewis was re- elected historian, though no report was furnished regarding his work. At the meeting of 1878 at Westfield a communication was and from him stating that " the history would probably be ready ' r publication by the next annual reunion," and he was again "'vcied to the position. The following year no definite action was
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TO TIIE READER.
taken regarding the history, but the records show that a letter was read from Comrade Lewis, containing, it would seem; no specific information. At the gathering of 1880 a letter was read from the historian "expressing expectation that the history of the regiment would be completed during the coming year." At the same time " the committee on the history was newly constituted to consist of the following members : W. E. Lewis, S. E. Nichols and William Bliss." The record of the meeting of 1881 says : "It was voted that General Oliver Edwards, Colonel George L. Montague, Cap- tain William Bliss, Colonel Thomas G. Colt, Lieutenant S. E. Nichols and Lieutenant William E. Lewis be a committee to have full charge of the revision and publication of the completed history of the Thirty-seventh Regiment."
At the meeting of the association at Westfield, September 19. 1882, a report of progress was made by the committee, of which Comrade James L. Bowen was elected a member. At a meeting of the committee held some three months later Comrade Bowen presented briefly his idea of the form which a regimental history should take and it was voted to instruct him to prepare a history of the regiment on such a plan. At the 1883 reunion Mr. Bowen made a report of progress, saying that it was hoped to have the book ready for delivery during the early part of the coming year. To fill the vacancy in the committee caused by the death of Colonel T. G. Colt, Captain Walter B. Smith was appointed, and Captain II. M. Abbott was added to the number.
Somewhat longer time than was anticipated has necessarily been consumed in the preparation of the book, but it is hoped that the work may be found sufficiently satisfactory in character to compen- sate for the delay. S. E. NICHOLS, Secretary.
BUFFALO, N. Y., AUGUST, 1884.
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PREFACE.
In this age of book-making no apology is needed for presenting in permanent form the present narrative. As will be seen by the statement of the History Committee, the matter of preparing a history of the Thirty-seventh Massachusetts Regiment had been long discussed, and numerous steps taken looking to that end, when at a meeting of the Committee held at Pittsfield, December 15, 1882, I was asked to undertake the task. The invitation was accepted, not without serious misgivings. Arduous duties in con- nection with daily journalism promised very little leisure for the new undertaking ; my retirement from wounds previous to the later campaigns of the regiment prevented that full personal knowledge of its movements so desirable ; my position as a private soldier was not one to especially qualify for the historian's office; the rec- ords of the regiment were found to be missing or incomplete ; its members were widely scattered, many of them with details of soldier life quite driven from mind by the stress of 20 years of active civil pursuits. For these reasons leniency is craved for any shortcom- ings which may appear in the following pages.
The book has been written with a sincere desire to do justice to a deserving organization ; having no prejudice and no individual ends to serve, I have sought to record the work of the regiment faithfully and impartially. The scope of the volume has been broadened to include features which, while not directly connected with the story of the Thirty-seventh regiment, it seemed after this Free of time desirable to present, that the doings of the regiment might be traced with an understanding of contemporaneous and
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PREFACE.
relative events. The details of personal history have not been closely followed, and in most cases no attempt is made to trace the fortunes of individuals subsequent to the disbanding of the organization. It did not seem to me either desirable to undertake to do so in connection with the extended scope of the work or possible to make such a record if attempted in any way satisfac- tory or complete. At the same time I have striven to follow the regiment closely in its varying fortunes, and to reproduce its ex- periences on the march, in camp or on the field of action, with the unfolding of military life as it presented itself to the citizen- soldier.
I desire to express my sincere thanks to all comrades and others who have kindly assisted me in collecting material for the volume. Necessarily I have been obliged to make many demands on the time and patience of others. In this direction I have met only kindness and encouragement. I feel under especial obligation to General Charles Devens, General H. S. Briggs, Mrs. E. J. Morse and Rev. J. W. Lane ; and among members of the regiment to Lieutenant Colonel Hopkins, Sergeant A. G. Taylor and George C. Clapp, in addition to the History Committee, all of whom have responded promptly to all demands made upon them. I must especially mention the tireless and invaluable services of the Secretary, Lieutenant S. E: Nichols.
In the hope that to the survivors of the regiment and the friends of the fallen the book may prove an acceptable record of their cleeds in the day of supreme trial, it is sent forth. J. L. B.
SPRINGFIELD, MASS., SEPTEMBER, ISS4.
CONTENTS BY CHAPTERS.
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I .- FROM SECESSION TO ANTIETAM.
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The Election of Lincoln. Revolt of the Southern States. Opening of the War. The Operations of the Army of the Potomac.
II .- MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
42
The Record of the Commonwealth. Its Public Men. Its Soldiers. Its Citizens.
III .- THE THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
58
The Gathering at Camp Briggs. Character of the Command. The Original Roster of Officers. Personal Notes and Incidents.
IV .- FROM PITTSFIELD TO DOWNSVILLE.
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68
The Journey to Washington. Life at Camp Chase. Via Frederick and South Mountain to the Army . of the Potomac.
V .- THE ADVANCE TO FALMOUTH.
82
The Expedition to Hancock and Cherry Run. Into the Land of Secession. A Change of Commanders. Incidents by the Way. White Plains and " Camp Misery."
14
CONTENTS BY CHAPTERS.
VI .- ON THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 104
The Battle of Fredericksburg. In Winter Quarters. The Mud March. Camp Edwards.
VII .- THE ARMY UNDER HOOKER.
127
. Events in the West. Chancellorsville, Marye's Hights and Salem Church.
VIII .- TO GETTYSBURG. . 153. After the Defeat. The Skirmish with A. P. Hill.
The Northward Movement. Exit Hooker, Enter Meade. The March to the Battle-field.
IX .- THE TURN OF THE TIDE. . . 175
The Battle of Gettysburg. The Thirty-seventh Tried by Fire. The Pursuit of Lee. Climbing the Mountains. Once More in Virginia.
X .- THE REGIMENT IN NEW YORK. 202
The Union Victories. Northern Treachery and Disloyalty. The Riot in New York. The Thirty-seventh sent to the City. Its Creditable Service There.
XI .- AGAIN AT THE FRONT. 223
The Return Trip. The Fortunes of the Army. The Victory at Rappahannock Station. The Dismal Expedition to Mine Run. Changes and Promotions.
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CONTENTS BY CHAPTERS.
XII .- WINTER ON THE RAPIDAN. 245 -
The Closing Year. Progress of the War. The Winter Camp and the Life in it. A Futile Expedition.
XHI .- NINE DAYS OF CARNAGE. . 267
The Reorganization of the Army. The Grapple in the Wilderness. By the Left Flank to Spottsylvania. Death of Sedgwick. "The Angle."
XIV .- A GLANCE TO THE REAR. · 209
The Wounded and Dying. Hospital Scenes and Incidents. The Christian and Sanitary Commissions.
XV .- SPADES AND BULLETS. 313
The Closing Struggles at Spottsylvania. "By the Left Flank." Crossing Swords at North Anna. The Death Harvest at Cold Harbor. -
XVI .- GOING TO MEET EARLY. 337
In Front of Petersburg. At Reams Station. Early in Maryland. Fort Stevens. The Spencer Rifle.
XVII .- THE CAMPAIGN UNDER SHERIDAN. 357
The Wagon Trains. Seeking Early by March and Countermarch. Sheridan at the Helm. The Fight at Charlestown. The Battle of Opequan.
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CONTENTS BY CHAPTERS.
XVIII .- THE SERVICE AT WINCHESTER. . 382
On Provost Duty. Changes and Promotions. Battle of Cedar Creek. Sherman's Campaign.
XIX -THE PETERSBURG CAMPAIGN.
395
Again in the Trenches. Days of Siege. At Hatcher's Run. Preparing to Strike. Fall of Petersburg.
XX .- ONE COUNTRY AND ONE FLAG. 413
Lee's Flight and the Pursuit. The Grapple at Sailor's Creek. The Surrender at Appomattox. In Search of Johnston.
XXI .- THE CLOSING SCENES. 425
Facing Northward.
Reviews at Richmond and Washington.
The Final Roster. Mustered Out.
The Welcome Home.
CHAPTER I.
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FROM SECESSION TO ANTIETAM.
THE ELECTION OF LINCOLN .- REVOLT OF THE SOUTHERN STATES .- OPENING OF THE WAR .- THE OPERATIONS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
THE election of Abraham Lincoln of Illinois and Hannibal Hamlin of Maine, the Republican candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States, November 6, 1860, fur- nished the pretext for an attempt on the part of the Southern states for a division of the Union. In this movement South Carolina had been a leader, and its Legislature was the first to adopt an ordinance of secession, which was done on the 20th of December. Mississippi, Florida and Alabama followed her ex- ample on the 9th, 10th and 11th of January, 1861, Georgia on the 19th, Louisiana on the 26th and Texas the 1st of February. The action of these seven states, in declaring themselves no longer a part of the Federal Union, was thus taken long before the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, and while the national gov- ernment remained in the hands of their political friends. Pres- ident Buchanan, undoubtedly loyal at heart, sat in his high office, dazed and helpless before the sweep of the tempest. Uncertain as to his duty, he met the most conflicting opinions from those to whom he turned for advice. Questions had arisen on which the Constitution shed no light-the situation was one which had not been provided for in the formation of the nation. But had his duty been never so clear, the President had no power with which to oppose the revolution. He sat in the midst of disloyalty. The cabinet, Congress, the depart-
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FROM SECESSION TO ANTIETAM.
ments, the army and navy were swarming with secessionists, and it was impossible to determine who was true and who false to the country he professed to serve. Men were daily resigning high positions of trust and hastening to join the councils of the conspirators. In the mean time the government property throughout the southern states and along the coast was being taken possession of in the name of the various states, and so well had affairs been manipulated in the interests of treason that at very few points was it possible for any resistance to be made. Forts, arsenals, naval vessels, navy-yards, custom-houses and the branch mint at New Orleans shared a common fate. Three forts on the Florida coast held out,-Pickens, Jefferson and Taylor,-and Fortress Monroe at Old Point Comfort, Va., was also saved to the Union; with these exceptions the entire gov- ernmental possessions were seized throughout the sea-board states south of the Potomac.
A convention of delegates from the seceded states met at Montgomery, Ala., on the 4th of February, and five days later the " Confederate States of America" were proclaimed a nation. Jefferson Davis of Mississippi being elected president, and A. H. Stephens of Georgia vice-president. On the 18th they were inaugurated, amid the most enthusiastic demonstrations throughout the Confederacy. Blinded and deluded, the Southern people indulged the wildest visions of a speedy and bloodless success, and the demagogues who were luring them to ruin were hailed as the heroes of a glorious cause.
A very different feeling prevailed at Washington and through the loyal states. The magnitude of the conspiracy and the threatening attitude of the insurgents, who were organizing in every part of the South, excited fears of some desperate at- tempt to prevent the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln ; but the prompt measures of General Winfield Scott, in command of the available fragments of the United States army, prevented any hostile demonstration, and the ceremony transpired March 4 in the presence of an immense gathering of people without dis- turbing incident. The inaugural address of President Lincoln was conciliatory, almost to weakness, and its tenor was revoiced
10
THE OPENING OF THE CONFLICT.
in the closing sentences : " We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battle-field and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as they surely will be, by the better angels of our nature."
But words of reason and kindness had no power over ears split by the din of demagogues, and the inevitable conflict drew near. The initial clash was to come at Charleston, S. C., where Major Anderson, whom the opening of the troubles found in command of the fortifications of the harbor, had with a few men been for months practically besieged in Fort Sumter. As early as Jannary an attempt had been made by President Buchanan to send provisions to the garrison, but the unarmed steamer carrying the supplies had been fired upon at the entrance to the harbor and returned to New York. On the 6th of Feb- ruary President Buchanan refused a demand made by Isaac W. Hayne for the surrender of the fort to South Carolina, and rapid preparations were made for its reduction. General P. T. G. Beauregard was assigned to the command of the rebel forces early in March, and as Major Anderson refused to surrender his trust without explicit orders from his government, fire was opened on the fort April 12, and the following day terms of evacnation were agreed on.
The fall of Sumter marked the end of hesitation and ban- ished all hopes of conciliation. The most important events fol- lowed rapidly. On the 15th President Lincoln called for 75,000 militia to serve for three months and ordered Congress to assem- ble in special session July 4. On the 17th President Davis of the Confederacy authorized privateering, and on the same day Virginia, which had been dallying over the question, finally de- vided upon secession. This precipitated like action in North Carolina, which was taken May 20, while Arkansas had also se- .det on the 6th. The situation now became intensely critical. on the 19th of April the President proclaimed a blockade of the Southern ports, but it was at first only a paper blockade, for the
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FROM SECESSION TO ANTIETAM.
government had no navy worthy the name, though the rapidity with which one was created was little short of marvelous. At the same time the first of the troops called from the loyal states began to arrive, the Sixth Massachusetts regiment fighting its way through a mob in the streets of Baltimore ; reaching the Capital that evening, but leaving the route behind it closed and Washington cut off from communication with the loyal portion of the country till General Butler with the Eighth Massachusetts regiment and some other forces opened a new route by way of Annapolis. Fort Pickens had been strengthened on the very day that the attack opened on Sumter. Fortress Monroe was saved from the designs of the Virginia forces under Magruder by the arrival of the Third and Fourth Massachusetts regiments, fol- lowed by others; Baltimore was garrisoned and brought to its senses, though unwillingly ; and the Capital was soon safe from immediate danger ; the whole galaxy of the Free states rose to the support of the Union ;- but on the other hand many of the ablest officers of the army, including Hood, Lee and the John- stons, had resigned their commissions to enter the Confederate service ; the fragments of the United States army in Texas were captured in detail ; the sturdy efforts of Governor Houston to hold that state loyal to the Union were overcome and himself finally swept from his loyalty by the current ; the border states of Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri were strongly urged to secession, and it was a question whether or not they could be saved for the Union. Tennessee, in fact, voted secession in June, though the people of East Tennessee, like those of West Virginia, remained loyal and fought bitterly and bravely for their principles.
No sooner had the ordinance of secession passed in Virginia than active military operations were begun by a night expedition for the capture of the government armory and arsenal at Har- per's Ferry. The loyal soldiers in charge of the post amounted to some 40 men under Lieutenant Roger Jones, and while the insurgents were preparing to march upon the place three com- panies of Virginia militia stationed there voted to disband. On the night of the 18th of April, learning that a large force was
21
THE GOVERNMENT PASSES A CRISIS.
within a mile of the place, Lieutenant Jones fired the shops and arsenal and retreated with his little command into Pennsylvania. Thwarted in their attempt to capture the arms and buildings, the Confederates held and fortified the adjacent hights and gathered there a considerable force, threatening Washington and cutting off communication in that direction.
The situation had become most perplexing. Scores of regi- ments were ready to set out for Washington, but the way was blocked and they had no weapons. The arsenals in the loyal states had been depleted to put their contents within reach of the plotters, and the President, Secretary of War, and General Scott were hemmed in at the Capital. Fortunately General John E. Wool, in command of the Eastern Military District, comprising the region east of the Mississippi, was at New York, and feeling that the occasion demanded prompt action, he at once ordered the troops supplied with whatever arms could be obtained, and in securing transportation and forwarding soldiers he rendered a service that won the admiration of the people. Invaluable as was this service, it provoked so much official jealousy that Gen- eral Wool was rebuked for taking such responsible steps without orders and sent to his home at Troy ; but the popular indigna- tion at the injustice was so strong and so vigorously expressed that he was in a short time given command of the district of Southeastern Virginia, with head-quarters at Fortress Monroe.
But the severest blow to the government was the loss of the Gosport or Norfolk navy-yard, which was evacuated and burned on the night of April 21, it being deemed impracticable to hold it longer. Here was a vast amount of naval property, heavy can- non to the number of 2,000, and 11 of the most valuable war vessels of the United States navy, though none of the latter were in a sea-going condition. A few were got away, and the rest with the buildings and stores were set on fire and abandoned; but the work of destruction was by no means thoroughly done, and the Confederates under General Taliaferro rescued millions of dol- lars worth of property, including the partially burned Merrimac, which was afterward to become so famous.
Thus far the government had struck no offensive blows, and
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FROM SECESSION TO ANTIETAM.
those which it had dealt in defense of its possessions had been piti- ably weak. With the management of affairs so largely in the hands of Southern men and sympathizers with rebellion, the way had been skillfully paved for the humiliation of the nation during the last months of Buchanan's administration. The arsenals at the North had on some pretext been nearly stripped of arms and munitions of war to supply those in the disaffected states, and the first care of the conspirators had been to secure these sinews of war for their own use. This work being completed, the Con- federate Congress on the 6th of May formally declared war against the United States.
In the mean time the situation at Baltimore was becoming unbearable. Following the assault upon the Sixth Massachusetts regiment and the destruction of the railroad bridges near the city, cutting off rail communication with New York and the East, the spirit of secession for a time ran wild and the city be- came an active rebel stronghold. Armed men poured in from all points, troops were organized and cannon maneuvered in the streets, while the display of the Stars and Stripes for 30 days was forbidden, on the ground that it would be dangerous to the peace. On the 5th of May General Butler, who had remained at Annapolis and gathered a considerable force there, finding that there was much latent Unionism in Baltimore and through the state, resolved to give it such encouragement as would if possible make it the controlling power and save the shedding of blood. For this purpose he moved a part of his forces to the Relay House, nine miles from the city, and established head- quarters there. The effect was at once noticeable in the encouragement of loyalty, and plans were matured for the occu- pation of the city itself.
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