USA > Massachusetts > Reminiscences of military service in the Forty-third regiment, Massachusetts infantry, during the great Civil war, 1862-63 > Part 1
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IC 73.74 13 8rog 1755376
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
Gc
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00825 0596
74 og 371
REMINISCENCES OF MILITARY SERVICE
IN 43rd THE FORTY-THIRD REGIMENT,
Massachusetts Enfantro,
DURING THE GREAT CIVIL WAR, 1862-63.
BY EDWARD H. ROGERS,
COMPANY H, CHELSEA, MASS.
TIGER
REGIMENT.
Cf B. L.
=1798.3
43
43
LIFE
DEATHOR ANI HONORABLE
BOSTON: FRANKLIN PRESS: RAND, AVERY, & CO. 1SS3.
1:55076
F 8349 .469
Rogers, Edward Henry, 1824-
Reminiscences of military service in the Forty-third regi- ment, Massachusetts infantry, during the great Civil war, 1862- 63. By Edward HI. Rogers, Company H, Chelsea, Mass. Bos- ton, Franklin press, Rand, Avery, & co., 1883.
210 p. front., illus., plates. 2313.
Title vignette.
Appendix : A. Historical portion of the address of Hon. R. C. Winthrop on the presentation of the colors of the Forty-third. n. Roster of the com- panies composing the Forty-third regiment, M. V. M.
Dawes F 8349
1. Massachusetts infantry. 43d regt., 1862-1863. 2. U. S .- Ilist .- Civil war-Regimental histories --- Mass. inf .- 43d. I. Title.
2-1885
another
copy. E513.5.434
Library of Congress
.469
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012
http://archive.org/details/reminiscencesofm00roge
CAMP ROGERS. DQUARTERS OF THE FORTY-THIRD REGIMENT, M. V. M. AT NEWBERN N. C WITH THE FIELD AND STAFF.
.
PREFACE.
THE veterans of Chelsea who served in the First, the Thirty- fifth, and the Fortieth Regiments, have a right to ask why this book precedes the record of their own memorable deeds. In answer, it may be said that its separate issue was not decided upon until after a persistent effort had been made to unite with others in the compilation of a complete military history of our city during the war. This was found to be, at present, impracticable. The effort, however, has resulted in the preparation by the various interested parties of a large part of the material for such a history. It is still confidently hoped, that, before many years elapse, our community will be favored with its publication.
There are, however, sufficient reasons why this history of the Forty-third should be given to the public without the abridgment to which it must have been subjected if bound with others. The regiment was a fairly representative organization of the " nine- months men" of Massachusetts. Very little has been written concerning this levy of troops. Our fields of action in North Carolina and Louisiana were distant, and slightly known ; and our operations seemed insignificant in comparison with the marches and battles of Virginia and the Central States.
I have shown that we were really an outpost of the great army which threatened Richmond. Not a movement could take place in Virginia without affecting us ; and the fact foreshadowed the grand
4
PREFACE.
combinations which took place around Goldsborough at the close of the war.
The loss of the coast of North Carolina was a great disaster to the Confederacy. It is reckoned that it cost us a hundred millions of dollars to capture and defend it. But it proved to be worth that sum. Its secure possession by the Union forces throughout the war, in spite of several determined efforts to recapture it, enabled Gen. Sherman to shape his northward course without opposition, except in the open field. Not even a single fort hindered him, as at Savannah, from effecting a union at Goldsborough with our troops from Newbern, who left an open passage to the sea behind them. United with the forces of Gen. Schofield from Wilming- ton, the great army carried despair into the hearts of the rebels. With Grant victorious, and Sherman close at hand, resistance was hopeless.
All this would have been changed for the worse, if Burnside's fleet had waited until the spring of 1865. It is with some degree of satisfaction, then, that I look back to the eight months of the darkest period of the war, during which the security of this vital point depended very largely upon the militia of Massachusetts.
My thanks are specially due to Col. Whiton, Major Lane, and Lieut. Turner, our quartermaster, for counsel and assistance. Nor can I omit, in this connection, our recently deceased comrade, Chaplain Manning, whose interest was very marked. It will be seen that I have quoted freely from his letters to "The Boston Journal," over the signature of " Old South," of which church he was the pastor. The same acknowledgments should be made to Capt. Hanover and Orderly Edmunds, with other comrades of the company.
Henry Mason, Esq., editor of "The Pioneer," has placed our community under obligations for the generous manner in which his paper has been put at my disposal, not only for the first printing of this work, but also for much fuller reference to its files than appears here. I have thought it best not to change the familiar forins of expression which were used in the original publication.
5
PREFACE.
I had prepared most of the material which is quoted, with a view to placing it in the hands of some one of sufficient leisure, and more competent than myself. That it does not still lie in- waiting for such a person is because diligent search has failed to discover any one who has the two requisites.
Nearly twenty years have passed since the war closed. Several attempts at a permanent record of the deeds of the soldiers and sailors of Chelsea have proved abortive. Under these circum- stances, I ask a friendly judgment for my own imperfect efforts, and also for those who may follow me.
Reluctant, for various reasons, to assume responsibility in so important a matter, my reserve has been overcome, first by the encouragement, and then by the approval, of our highest local authority in literary matters, that of Judge Chamberlain. The action of Theodore Winthrop Post 35, G. A. R., in placing this, and even more honorable duties of the same kind, under my con- trol, has also cheered me with the appreciative support of my associates in arms.
To the group of public-spirited citizens of Chelsea who met the first request for funds with such liberality as to insure success, I return my grateful thanks.
E. H. R. CHELSEA, MASS., Dec. 25, 1882.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE.
THE ENLISTMENT, AND THE CAMP AT READVILLE.
The Chelsea Rifle Corps. - Cessation of Recruiting. - National Disasters. -The Sabbath Enlistment. - General Statement of the Services of the Company and Regiment. - War Speeches in the Square. - Note from Capt. Hanover. - War Circular. - Patriotic Ballad, " Six Hun- dred Thousand more." - Choice of Officers. - First Letter from Camp. - Details of Life in Camp. - Sworn into the Service of the United States. - Roster of the Company. - Necrology. - March to Chelsea, and Reception at City Hall. - Visit and Speech from Hon. Frank B. Fay. - Incidents, Tragic and Comic. - Orders to the Scene of War. -- Presentation of Colors on Boston Cominon by Hon. Robert C. Win- throp .
11
CHAPTER II. THE VOYAGE.
The Storm in Boston Harbor. - Colliding with the Bnoy on Monomoy Point. - Sea Letter .- Nauseous Condensed Water. - Accident to the Quartermaster, Lieut. Henry A. Turner. - Arrival at Morehead City. - Railroad Ride to Newbern. - Description of Scenery in Vicinity of Camp Rogers. - Letter from Chaplain Manning. - The Regiment. - Roster of Field-Officers. - Details of Companies during Term of Service. - Desertions. - Formation of the Brigade. - The Camp. - Marching Orders .
29
CHAPTER III. THE GREAT MARCH. - KINSTON.
The March on Goldsborough. - Scenes in Newbern. - The Veterans. - First Day's March. - Cooking, Sleeping. - The Road blocked by Trees. - Crossing the Streams. - Home of a "Poor White." - En- gagement at South-west Creek. - Battle of Kinston. - Musical Bul- lets. - Rebel Battery. - The Charge. - Chaplain Manning's Letter. - The Flag of Truce. - The Witty Colored Girl. - The Twenty-third and Forty-fifth Massachusetts Regiments. - Firing on Kinston. - Loyal Verses. - Troops advance on Kinston en echelon. - Foster's
8
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
Despatch. - Ravages of War. - Weight of the Soldier's Load. - Plundering. - Countermarching over the Battle-Ground. - Dead Heroes. - Experience in First Fight. - Description of Plantation. - Sad Scenes in the Ambulances. - Letter of Chaplain Manning . . 39
CHAPTER IV. WHITEHALL AND GOLDSBOROUGH.
The Battle of Whitehall. - First Gun. - Go down into the Valley. - Pro- cession of the Wounded. - Under Fire. - Ordered back. - Sheltered in the Forest. - Advance again. - Heavy Artillery-Fire. - On Hands and Knees. - Back again to the Cover. - Death of Private Smith. - Rally again. - Placed in Front of Battery. - Sleeping under Fire. - Narrow Escapes. - Chaplain Manning's Letter. - Situation of the Twenty-third Massachusetts. - Placed in Charge of Baggage-Train. - Under Sharpshooters' Fire. - Interview with Comrade of the Ninth New-Jersey. - Experience with Baggage-Train. - Regiment ordered to Spring-Bank Bridge. - Devotional Exercises. - Recall of Sentries at Midnight. - Capt. Hanover and Orderly Edmunds lost. - The Forest-Fire. - Mirage. - Description of the Rebel Charge on our Artillery. - Witherby. - Services of the Seventeenth Regiment and Barney Mann in burning the Bridge at Goldsborongh 65
CHAPTER V. REVIEW OF THE GOLDSBOROUGH MARCH.
Killed, Wounded, and Missing. - Gen. Foster. - Able Strategy. - His Wife. - Our Guide. - Whitehall a Naval Station. - Capture of Plym- outh. - No Pomp, but some Impressive Sights. - The Sound Fleet. - The Blockade. - Singing. - " Stonewall Jackson's Way." - The "Battle-Hymn of the Republic."- Sacrificial Exposures of Officers. - Colored Camp-Followers. - Recruiting in North Carolina for Colored Regiments. - The Freedmen
90
CHAPTER VI. THE TRENTON MARCH.
Rest. - Christmas Rejoicings. - Letter of Chaplain Manning. - The Chapel Tent; Religious and Masonic Meetings. - Personal Eccentri- cities in Morals. - Visits of Mr. Boud, Charlie Farnum, and Capt. Dale. - Letters. - The Great Expedition to Charleston. - March to Trenton. - The Swamp. - The Child. - The Chapel. - The Rock Ledge in the Road. - The Mill-Dam. - The Skeleton File-Closer. - Young's Cross-Roads. - First Picket. - Under Water. - The March . 103 back
CHAPTER VII. THE CAMP AT NEWBERN.
All quiet on the Trent. - Full Description of Camp Rogers. - Letters. - Our Cook, Mr. William B. Bryant. - Our Sutler, Mr. James Q. Gil- more. - Gambling. - Drinking. - Drill. - Grand Review .- Artillery- Practice. - Avocations. - Visit to Newbern 119
9
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VIII. ATTACK ON NEWBERN. PAGE.
4
Notice to March. - Artillery Duel on the Road to Kinston. - Firing on Fort Totten. - On the March. - See Longstreet's Camp-Fires. - Meet the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts and the Forty-sixth. - Follow the Enemy to Deep Gully. - The Quaker Cannon. - Scripture Welcome. - Visit of Major Rogers of Boston. - Colory on the Steeple in New- bern. - Reviewed by Gen. Palmer. - Siege of Little Washington. - Letters. - Affair at Blount's Creek. - Full Account. - Gen. Spinola . 130
CHAPTER IX .. PAMLICO SOUND.
On Board a Transport Schooner. - Gen. Foster runs the Blockade. - "The Escort" comes alongside. - Companies H, C, and D left on Board the Schooners. - In Camp at Hill's Point. - Meet C, D, and I of the Forty-fourth. - Short Rations. - Company E runs the Blockade in Schooners. - The Rebel Artillery. - Appearance of " The Escort." - The Siege raised. - Reconnoissance in Force. - The Rebel Grave. - Blowing up the Earthwork. - The Alarm on Picket. - Return to Camp Rogers. - Another Advance on Kinston 147
CHAPTER X. NEWBERN.
Letters. - Guard Duty at Newbern. - Swiss Settlers. - Moral Deteriora- tion. - Colored Carpenter. - The Newbern Palm. - The Newbern Battlefield. - Burnside's Strategy. - The Resurrection. - Gun-Shot Accidents. - Thunder-storms. - Mosquitoes. - Vermin . 161
CHAPTER XI. THE RETURN HOME.
Exchange of Arms with the Seventeenth. - Letter from York River. -- Letter from Chesapeake Bay. - Our Voyage on " The Vidette."- Cop- per Poison. - Hampton Roads. - Company G, Fortieth. - Passage to Baltimore. - Drunken Delirium. - Camp Bradford. - Wounded Offi- cers. - Volunteers go to the Front. - Part of the Regiment returns. - Repulse the Last Enemy. - Report of the Comrades from the Front. -Invalids from Newbern by Sea. - Reception. - Bounties of Nine- Months Men .- Chelsea Ritle Corps. - Boston Light Infantry (Tigers). - Causes of the War. - Prevention of War. - Celebration of Peace at City Hall, Chelsea. - Te Deum Laudamus . 171
APPENDIX A. - Historical Portion of the Address of Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, on the Presentation of the Colors . 195
APPENDIX D. - Roster of the Companies composing the Forty-third Regi- ment, M. V.M. 199
ILLUSTRATIONS.
[The two camp scenes are from photographs taken by Lieut. NICKERSON of Company E. The battles were sketched by Private MERRILL G. WHEELOCK of Company F, Forty- fourth Regiment. They were painted in oil for Col. LEE, and photographed. The hellotypes in this volume are reduced from the photographs.]
PAGE.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE FORTY-THIRD REGIMENT, M.V.M., WITH THE FIELD AND STAFF
.
Frontispiece.
Col. HOLBROOK is scated on the left. Quartermaster TURNER is at his side. Lieut .- Col. WHITON stands in front of the colonel. Chaplain MANNING and Surgeon WEBBER are next. Adjutant WHITNEY reclines at the foot of the flagstaff ; and Major LANE is last.
CAMP ROGERS
35
Encampinent of the Forty-third Regiment, M.V.M., Newbern, N.C., March 12, 1863.
CAPTURE OF KINSTON
51
This scene is located after the battle. Morrison's Battery is firing on the town : the troops are passing over the bridge, and forming their lines on the meadow. The "earthwork " is seen in the foreground, with soldiers engaged in filling their canteens from the river.
BATTLE OF GOLDSBOROUGH.
The "covered bridge" is located on the right of the picture. It is nearly concealed by trees. The Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, along which the Seventeenth passed, can be traced from the bridge, across the battle-ground, to the left-hand side. The forest from which the Confederates emerged is visible on the left side, beyond the railroad; and their assault upon our artillery was upon the knoll represented in the foreground.
موحة
HISTORY
OF THE
FORTY-THIRD REGIMENT, M.V.M.
CHAPTER I.
THE ENLISTMENT, AND THE CAMP AT READVILLE.
T
THE "Chelsea Pioneer" of March 22, 1862, contained the following item : -
" CHELSEA RIFLE CORPS. - This company is now filling up its members fast, and, as soon as weather will permit, intend to turn out for street drill. As they own their arms and equipments, we would recommend any of our young Chelsea men who intend to join in this healthful and useful exercise to make early application, so as to be among the number who will (D.V.) shortly do escort duty to our Chelsea Volunteers (Company HI, First Regiment) on their return home from the field of victory."
Extraordinary as the lines which I have italicized appear, they undoubtedly represented the state of the public mind of the North at the time they were written. The Western armies were making rapid progress. Burnside had achieved brilliant victories in North Carolina ; and Mcclellan was mov- ing down the Potomac with a mighty host, which, it was con- fidently believed, would soon capture the rebel stronghold, Richmond, and put an end at once to the Rebellion.
These hopeful events had deceived the authorities at Washington ; so that during the spring, recruiting for the
12
HISTORY OF THE FORTY-THIRD REGIMENT, M.V.M.
army was stopped, as it was deemed certain that we had a sufficient force in the field to effectively crush all opposition to the national forces. Before three months were gone, events had transpired which changed the whole aspect of affairs, deferring for three long and sorrowful years the hopes of the loyal people of the North. In one of those years of gloom and disaster the following experiences were cast, and -- they are now offered to the public as an humble portion of the nation's record of patriotic effort.
Early in the afternoon of the sabbath, Aug. 31, 1862, the writer enrolled himself as a member of a military company afterward known as Company H, Forty-third. (Tiger) Regi- ment, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, for nine months, unless sooner discharged, and was present with the company and regiment, with a brief exception, until its arrival home.
The most noteworthy events of our term of service were connected with what took the name of " The Great March " from Newbern to Goldsborough, N.C., in which we formed part of a column of from twelve thousand to fifteen thousand men under Major-Gen. John G. Foster. During this march, which occupied eleven days of the month of December, 1862, we were under fire three times, either as a regiment or com- pany, -at Kinston, Whitehall, and Goldsborough. When Newbern was attacked by Gen. Longstreet's troops, in March, 1863, we were sent to the outer posts on the road to Kinston, several miles from town, and while there were in the imme- diate presence of a large rebel column. Later on, while the same forces were besieging Little Washington, N.C., the regi- ment was under arms for several weeks in active operations, and on one occasion, at Blount's Creek, was subjected to a vigorous shelling. On the passage of Gen. Lee into Penn- sylvania in 1863. we were ordered north, in company with several other nine-months regiments, and formed for a few days a part of the troops, supposed to be about eighteen or twenty thousand men, which were gathered at White- House Landing, on the Pamunkey River, under the command of Gen. Dix. From here we went back to Fortress Monroe, going into camp at Hampton, and remaining until July 2,
13
THE ENLISTMENT, AND THE CAMP AT READVILLE.
when we took the steam transport " Kennebec " for Balti- more, reaching there on the afternoon of July 3. We re- mained for several days at this place, after marching through the city on the morning of the 4th, and camping in elegant private grounds in sight of the Washington Monument and a large fountain. From this place, the colors of the regiment were carried, by two hundred and three officers and men who volunteered for that service, to Sandy Hook, near Harper's Ferry, Md. The remainder of the regiment and company availed themselves of the expiration of our term of service to return home, which we reached on July 10. A portion of our company had preceded us, being sent as invalids direct from Newbern to Boston by sea. Ten days after- wards, the comrades who went to the front in Maryland rejoined us in Chelsea, and on the 30th of July the company came together for the last time at our old camp at Readville, and were mustered out.
The materials for composing this history consist mainly of a series of letters written to my own immediate friends, though other sources of information are at hand, and will be freely drawn upon. The interest of much of what I wish to write will be limited to surviving comrades and their families, or to the friends of those who are deceased. The honorable record of the city of Chelsea in its dealings with its soldiers will be evident, and is of sufficient local importance to be impressed upon our community. But, above all these con- siderations, there will still remain enough of incidental allu- sion to the great contest in which we were engaged to fix the attention, and command the respect, of the general reader. If the record of our comparatively brief service and slight exposures contributes in any degree to set in its true light the sacrifices of the veterans of the three-years term, I shall feel that a desirable object has been gained.
Returning to my opening paragraph. On the sabbath in question, public worship in the churches had been interrupted early in the morning service by the terrible news from Washington, that the disasters of the Peninsula were being repeated on the banks of the Rappahannock, and that the
14
HISTORY OF THE FORTY-THIRD REGIMENT, M.V.M.
forces of Gen. Pope had been hurled back in a second Bull Run defeat upon Arlington Heights, our own Company H, First Regiment, being disastrously involved in the repulse. We scattered to our homes for the preparation of hospital stores, and Chelsea for several hours afforded an unusual change from its ordinary sabbath stillness.
I had for some time been quietly but earnestly considering the duty of enlisting as a matter of religious as well as pa- triotic obligation, for I had no other reasons. In order to insure a calm conclusion, I had avoided the stimulating war meetings which were being held, and at the moment of decis- ion, after circling Winnisimmet Square anxiously for an hour, I was so far from enthusiasm, that it was only by a supreme effort of moral power that I forced myself into the recruiting-tent, which was located near the centre of the old square, and signed my name to the enlistment-roll. There were but three or four present: of these I can only recall the name of the one whom I shall have occasion hereafter to introduce as our respected orderly. Much to my surprise, they instantly, as was the custom, rose to their feet, joined hands, and gave three lusty cheers. I confess I felt like any thing but cheering ; but still, this first earnest of the friendly relationships of the soldier's life, which endured throughout the rough experiences of a year's campaigning, and which is still in existence, was very encouraging to mne.
During the early hours of the evening of the same day, the square was thronged by our citizens, of both sexes, who were addressed by several public speakers, the Rev. Dr. Copp being one of them, and some of the members of our company ; and on that sabbath, or the next one, the evening meeting at Walnut-street Methodist-Episcopal Church was largely de- voted to recruiting-speeches from Capt. J. E. Round, a preach- er of the New-England Conference, and Licut. John W. Fletcher, afterwards mayor of Chelsea. Both of these officers were connected with Company K of the Forty-third. Lieut. Fletcher left us soon after we reached Newbern, and joined the expedition to Charleston, S.C., as an officer of the Signal Corps.
15
THE ENLISTMENT, AND THE CAMP AT READVILLE.
As nearly as I can remember, there were over eighty names upon the list before my own; and the patriotic motives of the signers were demonstrated by the fact that most of them had volunteered before any bounty was offered; then fifty dol- lars was promised, then a hundred dollars. After we were in camp, an additional hundred dollars was given, in the benefits of which we all participated. This last action was taken by the city government without pressure from us. The quota of Chelsea was not filled, the draft was impend- ing, and citizens who were of military age were urgent in their entreaties for relief. There was also a sincere convic- tion that the families of the enlisted citizens could not be supported on the scanty pay of the government, - thirteen dollars per month, -- without a liberal local supplement. The following note from Capt. Hanover shows the spirit with which the company was organized: -
BOSTON, Nov. 8, 1882.
Mr. E. H. ROGERS.
Dear Sir, -. . . I would like to make a suggestion or two in order to strengthen what I deem a fit and proper thing to say of our Company H, and its really patriotic impulses at the beginning. I have thought that some allusion should be made to the circum- stances of its origin.
A few members of the Rifle Corps sent in to the city govern- ment (at their Saturday evening session, Aug. 16) a petition for permission to raise men for the nine-months service. We waited anxiously in the armory in the Square, until after midnight, when a note from Mayor Fay was received, granting the prayer of the petitioners. We immediately obtained an express-wagon, and went to Boston, procuring a new Sibley tent. Returning, we broke ground in the Square, - so hard that crowbars had to be employed to make holes for guy-pins. On sabbath morning we displayed the first tent pitched in Chelsea for war purposes, show- ing to city government and citizens that we meant business.
GEO. B. HANOVER.
Perhaps there is no way in which I can more vividly recall the influences and scenes of those times than by reprinting a local flier which was distributed throughout the city some
16
HISTORY OF THE FORTY-THIRD REGIMENT, M. V.M.
time during the month of August, 1862. It was the first of several which I have (the last dated 1864), forming very_ conspicuous guides to the development of the war-spirit among us.
WAR COUNCIL.
This (Thursday) Evening, at 7 o'clock.
RALLY FOR YOUR COUNTRY !
And show that you are in earnest in bringing this unholy Rebellion to a close by immediately re-enforcing the Army of the Potomac.
Remember ! if the city has to resort to draft, that no Bounty or State Aid will be paid !
RALLY ONE AND ALL!
Let the Chelsea boys in the Army of the Potomac know that you are ready to sustain them at any cost!
I should also have associated with the above the circula- tion and singing of spirited ballads, one of which I will send down to posterity. The "six hundred thousand more " refers to the levy of the three hundred thousand three-years men of 1862 and our own contingent of the same number of nine-months men, which followed immediately.
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