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M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01757 0828
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Massachusetts infantry 13th regt. 1861-1864
13 /4, 19, 1 21 Circular no. - 3 Thirteenth Massachusetts regiment
Boston?
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[Circular No. 13.]
THIRTEENTH MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT.
54605
THIRTEENTH MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT.
.
BOSTON, Dec. 1, 1900. To the Members of the Thirteenth Massachusetts Regimental Association :
The annual meeting and dinner will take place in Young's Hotel . in this city, Tuesday, the 11th of December, at 6 o'clock P.M. Tickets for the dinner are $1.25 each, and may be procured on application at the office of the hotel.
Enclosed is a postal card on which you are requested to inform the secretary whether or not you will be present. Promptness on the part of each member will prevent delay in sitting down to the dinner. The annual meeting for the choice of officers will be held at six o'clock and the dinner at half-past six.
The last meeting of the Association was held in the Hotel Thorn- dike, Dec. 13, 1899, with the President, William B. Kimball, in the chair.
The following comrades were elected as an Executive Committee of the Association :
President, AMBROSE DAWES. Vice-President, GEORGE S. HUTCHINGS. Secretary, CHARLES E. DAVIS, JR. HORACE S. SHEPARD. GEORGE E. MECUEN.
Following are the names of those present at the dinner :
E. F. Allen, Edwin Howard Brigham, Thos. L. Appleton, Wm. H. Brown,
Clarence H. Bell,
W. C. Bryant,
Edward A. Bell,
W. H. Chase,
N. F. Berry,
John F. Childs,
A. H. Blake, J. P. Blake,
Walter A. Childs, C. H. Conant, (3)
: 7991 -
Ambrose Dawes, Freeman H. Duren, N. M. Dyer,
Geo. E. Mecuen, L. P. Parker,
Wni. A. Peabody, Elliot C. Pierce,
Henry Epple. Chas. M. Fay,
Enoch C. Pierce,
Frederic H. Fay,
J. D. Plummer, J. Frank Pope,
G. A. Fairbanks, Jr.,
J. F. Ramsay, Milton Reed,
James A. Fox,
John D. Richardson,
S. K. Goldsmith,
F. B. Ripley,
H. M. Hadley, Joseph Halstrick,
Wm. Ross,
W. J. Hobbs,
Thomas Ryan,
H. A. Holyoke,
J. M. Sawtell,
Chas. E. Horne,
Wm. D. Serrat,
Chas. E. Howe,
H. S. Shepard,
Cranston Howe,
Lindsley H. Shepard,
J. A. Howe,
Joseph P. Silsby, Jr.,
Samuel E. Hunt,
Jeremiah Stuart,
Geo. S. Hutchings,
Walter E. Swan,
Wm. P. Jackson,
Ansel K. Tisdale,
Edwin R. Jenness,
Thomas F. Trow,
A. V. Johnston,
Wm. H. Trow,
W. De Haven Jones,
Melzer G. Turner,
F. A. Jones,
Samuel Vaughn,
Anton Krasinski,
A. L. Vining,
William B. Kimball.
A. G. Walcott,
Samuel H. Leonard,
M. H. Walker,
Oliver C. Livermore,
M. R. Walsh,
J. S. Lockwood,
F. C. Warren,
Wm. H. Lord,
Wm. R. Warner,
S. W. Lufkin,
E. II. Whitney,
Geo. H. Maynard,
E. A. Wood.
Among those present will be found the name of our old comrade, N. M. Dyer, now a captain in the United States Navy, who was in command of the steamship " Baltimore," under Admiral Dewey at Manila. It was a great pleasure to us all to meet him and to listen to his words and to learn how useful, during the many years of his service in the navy, had been the instructions he received in the Thirteenth from Colonel Leonard, whose intelligence and thorough-
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John S. Fay,
Eugene Foster,
H. T. Rockwell,
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ness as a drill-master was unsurpassed and won the admiration of all who witnessed an exhibition of his skill.
Letters were received from the following comrades :
John H. White, New Haven, Conn. ; Wm. H. Cary, Wayne, Me .; Capt. Geo. A. Hussey (of the Ninth N.Y.) ; Dr. Lloyd W. Hixon, Nashotah, Wis .; Geo. D. Armstrong, Lewiston, Me .; E. W. Fiske, Ishpeming, Mich. ; Lyman H. Low, New York City ; L. I .. Dorr, San Francisco, Cal. ; Enoch C. Pierce, Greenfield, Mass. ; Samuel D. Webster, St. Louis, Mo. ; Wm. H. Jackson, Boston.
The following poem was read by Comrade Bell :
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OUR OLD COMMANDER. We knew him when the message came That Sumter's flag was down ; We heard him pledge his life and name To save the State's renown.
We saw him with commission signed Enroll his gallant band ; And proud of eye and glad in mind To hold the chief command.
We saw him draw his shining blade And march his troop away ; The gorgeous banners full displayed The crashing band in play.
Applauding thousands thronged to view, Fair hands were waving then ; From curb to curb the ranks of blue Met living walls of men.
The muskets sloped in lines of steel, The step was firm and true ; The colonel marked each perfect wheel ; Defied the critic's view.
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Where Cedar Mountain lifts its crest Above the Rapidan, His troop undaunted met the test Before the night began.
At Fredericksburg upon the plain We heard his " Forward !" ring, And far along that moving chain We felt the bullet's sting.
Where summer sunbeams fiercely shone He led his weary band ; Or camped in pleasant groves upon The hills of Maryland.
Throughout those years of toil and pain We knew his watchful care ; A thousand did a father gain, And each his love did share.
The waning years have bowed his head, His hair with frost is white ; The sunlight from his sight has fled, He sits in endless night.
But in his heart he holds us all, The living and the gone ; Our voices to his memory call, And bring again the dawn.
And yet, though age in many ways Has harshly played its part, The smile that lights his face betrays The sunshine in his heart.
DECEMBER, 1S99.
CLARENCE H. BELL.
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The receipts and expenditures of the Association are as follows :
$25 74 Received by assessments to Dec. 1, 1900 46 00
Total
$71 74 Expended :
Rockwell & Churchill for circulars and postal cards $45 34
Postage
5 00
Envelopes . ·
3 00
53 34
Balance on hand Dec. 1, 1900
$18 40
The annual assessment is now due. For the information of those living at a distance, who wish to send their assessment by mail, I have to say that every postmaster in the country has been authorized and instructed to forward to their destination all moneys or communica- tions entrusted to him ! !
According to a statement made by one whose opportunities for knowledge upon such matters are unequalled, our association among similar organizations has no superior, if equal, in point of interest in the United States. If this statement is true it is natural that such a person should inquire how it is that so many years after the war we are able annually to get so large a number together. A similar in- quiry has often been made of the secretary by men in other regiments. Perhaps our regiment was more fortunate than others in its esprit de corps, though of this we are unable to speak. However this may have been, it is the feeling that animates us to-day and accounts for our success. Feeling proud of the old regiment, we know of no better way to show our attachment for it and for each other than by keep- ing up the association.
The following deaths have been reported to the secretary since our last meeting :
Frederic M. Shepard, Norwell, Mass. June 11, 1896
James Sullivan, Ashland, Mass. . Dec. 25, 1898
Geo. D. Stone, Co. H, Natick, Mass. Feb. 11, 1900
Edson C. Davis, Co. H, Natick, Mass. Jan. 29, 1900
W. H. Lord, Co. C, Malden, Mass. Feb. 2, 1900
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Balance on hand Dec. 1, 1899 .
Joseph Colburn, Co. E, Denver, Col. . Mar. 29, 1900 William H. Given, Co. E, Bowdoinham, Me. May 8, 1900 Benjamin J. Whittier, Togus, Me. . May 26, 1900 William H. Briggs, Co. E, Malden, Mass. June 8, 1900 George E. Hartwell, Co. K, Westboro, Mass. June 27, 1900
J. Foster Pope, Co. A, Clifton, Pa. July 3, 1900 Charles H. Hovey, Boston, Mass. . May 11, 1900
Geo. H. Murray, Co. I, Northboro, Mass.
Oct. 13, 1900
In the list of deaths published in the annual circulars I have avoided making any discrimination in the service of members of the regiment, fearing to excite invidious comparisons. I have this year ventured to break this rule in favor of Colonel Hovey, whose service is admitted by all to have been conspicuous, and whose prominence for a time as one of the regimental commanders affords a reasonable excuse for this exception.
CHAS. E. DAVIS. JR., Secretary.
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CHARLES HENRY HOVEY.
Colonel Hovey was born in Boston, March 28, 1830, on Tremont street, near Van Rensselaer place. In 1834 he was sent to a private school, corner of Bedford and Washington streets. Later he attended the Adams school and subsequently the Brimmer school, from which he graduated in 1845, after being awarded a Franklin medal. He was then sent to Greenleaf's academy, Bradford, Mass., from which he graduated the following year.
At sixteen years of age he began work in the store of John Marsh, stationer, on Washington street, opposite State street, but after a short time he entered the employment of Joseph T. Brown, apothe- cary, corner of Bedford and Washington streets, where he remained until he went to Lowell and engaged in the same business for him- self. Afterwards he was in the same business in Roxbury. At the time of his death he was an inspector of customs, a position which he had filled for some years, and by reason of his intelligence and good sense he was considered one of the most valued members of that corps.
He became a member of the Boston Light Infantry in 1853 and continued in that organization until 1859, when he was commissioned as lieutenant in the Lowell Mechanic Phalanx. In 1861 he enlisted in the Fourth Battalion of Rifles, and in July of the same year was commissioned first lieutenant Company D, Thirteenth Massachusetts Regiment. Nov. 6, 1861, he was commissioned as captain of Company K, and on the 16th of April, 1864, he was commissioned as lieuten- ant-colonel, which rank he held when the regiment was mustered out, Aug. 1, 1864. During his service he served on the staffs of Generals Taylor and Robinson. He was wounded at the battle of Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862, at Gettysburg July 1, 1863, and taken prisoner, but recaptured three days after.
He was a member of the General Court of Massachusetts during the years 1868-69 and 1870.
July 25, 1861, he was married to Miss Louise C. Perry, of Worces- ter, Mass., by whom he had four children.
He was taken sick in June, 1899, and for months he was a great though patient sufferer from multiple neuritis, or inflammation of the
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nerves. After subsidence of the pain, when hopes of recovery were entertained, his system was so exhausted that he was unable to regain sufficient strength, and on the 11th of May this year he died. The following letter from Dr. Edson, his physician, and also a very dear friend, who was in constant attendance during his illness, so well expresses the sterling qualities of Colonel Hovey's nature that I have taken the liberty of quoting it in full :
Nov. 15, 1900.
C. E. DAVIS :
DEAR SIR: I have made interlinear correction of your statement of Colonel Hovey's disease in accordance with facts.
He suffered greatly, he suffered heroically, without complaint. His cheerfulness was remarkable. I cannot imagine that he ever showed more soldierly qualities in the field. If consistent with your purpose and in no way improper I should be glad to receive a copy of your circular to the regiment. He was a close friend.
Sincerely yours, P. O'M. EDSON.
Colonel Hovey was possessed of unusual qualifications as a soldier, and these had been well trained by his service in the militia prior to the war, so that when he enlisted in the Fourth Battalion of Rifles (April, 1861) he was at once conspicuous by the ability he displayed in teaching raw recruits the first rudiments of a soldier. When the battalion was organized he was commissioned as third lieutenant of Company D, and when the regiment was mustered into the United States service, July 16, 1861, he was commissioned as first lieutenant in the same company.
He was kind and just to the men under his command and suc- ceeded in winning and holding their confidence and affection. His intelligence and bravery in battle were frequently recognized in the reports of his superior officers.
He was a frank, generous, and loyal friend, and his attachment for the comrades of his regiment was sincere, enthusiastic, and lasting. His interest in our association was keen and deeply felt, and much of its success was due to his earnest advocacy, his unflagging devo- . tion, and the confidence he inspired in others. His death, therefore, is a great loss to us.
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To his grief-stricken family we tender our heartfelt sympathy, with assurance that his old comrades of the Thirteenth will continue to the last to treasure a recollection of his soldierly qualities and the love and respect he inspired in our hearts.
The following notice of his death, published in the Westboro' " Chronotype," written by Comrade Stearns, of Company K, will be read with interest.
CHAS. E. DAVIS, JR.
In the Boston papers of Saturday the twelfth of May there was a notice of the death of Lieut .- Col. Charles H. Hovey, late of the Thirteenth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. His funeral was on Sunday, the thirteenth, and was quite largely attended.
In the spring of '61 a company was formed and officered by men then living in Westboro'. They went to the front as Company K of the Thirteenth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, which left Boston on the 29th of July, 1861. The company was com- posed of as good men as could be found anywhere, in any organiza- tion of the like number of men; the iron was there, all it needed was to be brought out and put to use.
The first duty of the company was a nine weeks' stay at Harper's Ferry, where with Company I they picketed several miles of the Potomac river, while the regiment most of the time was at Darnes- town, Md., perfecting itself in drill. After saving several thousand bushels of wheat for the government, and skirmishing almost every day, and fighting the considerable battle of Boliver Heights, that nondescript called Captain Blackmer left us without so much as saying good-by. The two companies were ordered to join the regi- ment, then in winter quarters at Williamsport, Md. During our absence the regiment had, by constant practice, acquired a high degree of skill in military training, so that being detailed away oper- ated very much to our disadvantage. We were used to hard knocks, but not up much in drill. There was an officer in the regiment who had attracted the attention of some of us boys ever since we had been a part of it. That officer was First Lieut. Charles H. Hovey, of Company D; tall, broad-shouldered, straight as an arrow, a
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heavy moustache, and a heavy ringing voice that would inspire con- fidence in any man. To our minds he was an ideal soldier. After we joined the regiment, how we boys used to watch Company D in their almost perfect drill, when they were out under his command, and wish we had him for our captain ! Imagine our joy when it was announced to us that he was promoted and assigned as our com- mander. How well I now remember some of those first drills ! He told us if we would be obedient and take hold with him and try, he would make us in point of drill. second to no company in the whole regiment. The metal was there in the rough, but now the master hand had come that was to mold and fashion old K into that form which in after years could work as a single unit, or in that living compact mass of the whole. The record of old K proves what he did, for to no man is K so much indebted as to him. And West- boro' of to-day, if she is interested in the record of K, still owes much to his memory. How fresh to my mind comes that six-mile march to Falling Waters, on that bright crisp eve in December, and the ringing cadence of our steps as we marched over the frozen ground ; also that night march of twelve miles to Dam No. 5 with Company D, Hovey's old company, when they thought to outmarch us ! K was there every time. And that other night march of twenty-eight miles, in a snow-storm, to Hancock ! These only serve to show the mettle of officer and men. So when we crossed the Potomac river on the first of March, '62, the captain had made good his promise, for K stood as high as any company in the regiment. It was in June, '62, while in camp at Manassas Junction, that one forenoon, when returning from our drill, the captain marched us up on to the brigade parade ground, in front of the general's tent, where he sat with his staff, and for fifteen minutes he showed what we could do in bayonet drill. The men of the brigade, seeing us there, gathered round, and when we marched off the field they cheered us loudly. K was not always the model company, and sometimes broke over the bounds of order. When in camp in Warrenton the colonel gave orders for every light to be out at a certain hour. When that hour had passed, he walked out to see how his orders were obeyed ; in every company but K lights were out ; theirs were
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burning brightly. Now it happened Captain Hovey was officer of the day, who had charge of the camp, and here was his own com- pany disobeying the orders. The colonel walked over to Hovey's tent, called him out, and requested him to go with him. He showed him the bright lights in K. The captain was surprised, and cried out in his loudest tone, " Lights out in K;" if any were sleeping they must have awoke instantly, for a more surprised and startled camp would be hard to find, and it has served as a by-word even to this day. At Thoroughfare Gap when Hartsuff's brigade was sent up to hold Longstreet's corps in check, we advanced in line of battle. There was a large stone mill in our front. The minies were flying thick; the order came to occupy the mill. Hovey, cool and calm as though he was on dress parade, said, " K, take the mill," and it was taken. He went with the men.
At Antietam - every historian of that battle has told what Hart- suff's brigade did while we were going through that cornfield. Hovey, all up and down our line, cheered on the boys. How well I remember his words, as amid the din and roar of battle he said, " Close up to the right, boys, close up to the right." It was by such words, such deeds, such examples that he endeared himself to us.
AUSTIN C. STEARNS.
A HOT TIME -WINCHESTER, VA., MARCH, 1862.
It was very early in the morning of March 12, 1862, when the Thirteenth Regiment cut loose from its moorings, or rather, not being crafty enough to be nautical, broke bivouac and meandered toward Winchester. You will notice that I purposely use the word meandered. I might have said marched, or walked, or " hoofed it," but meandered is such a pleasant word, a sweet morsel under the tongue, that it is a delight to use it and use it right. It's like wear- ing a tall hat ; you feel that you have got some polish about you, so you throw out your chin and elevate your eyes as if you had strayed into the smart set. To be sure, at first start it sounds very similar to the persuasive wail of a predatory tom-cat, but we will let that pass.
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I said that it was early in the morning, in fact it was too early. There always seemed to be some one in authority in our army days who was bent on having us begin the day before sunrise and thus knock us out of from two to ten hours' sleep. And every one knows that the sleep we do not get is the sweetest, most enjoyable in imag- ination. Many an angelic disposition has been ruined by the loss of early morning sleep. I have been affected that way myself and can bring any quantity of witnesses to prove the ruin. Well, it was early in the morning when me and the others andered toward Winchester. There had been a lot of fellows in that place the night before, car- rying on a sort of Fourth of July celebration with ball cartridges. These chaps wore gray clothes, and they didn't like us. Indeed, they carried their dislike to such extremes that only a modern foot- ball match could excel the vindictiveness with which they inter- viewed us. We expected to find those people ready to receive us with extended arms - firearms, and we proceeded very cautiously, to avoid making mistakes. The Thirteenth was deployed as skir- mishers and every one carried his gun in both hands, ready to get in the first argument in case of a dispute. After we got out of the woods, we came in sight of the town a mile or so away, with a long line of dark red earthworks extended in front. All the trees had been felled, while the timber and brush had been left in lavish pro- fusion scattered all over the field, making a lovely place for a battal- ion drill or a morning promenade. These piles of brush seemed to be mutely calling on us to " wait a bit " and enforcing the admoni- tion by catching our garments and lacerating our flesh.
Geography tells us that the earth's surface is divided into land and water. We found it true that morning as a rule, but it was surprising the number of places we reached where the division had been ne- glected and the land and water left blended together ! Then there was a brook, like a hungry snake looking for his breakfast, that wig- gled all over that field. Sometimes we waded it, and sometimes we leaped across it ; once in a while, when some one fell down, tripped up by an unobserved branch, the brook would leap across him. We read about " babbling brooks," and if ever a brook babbled that pesky stream did. It seemed to have been in the babbling business
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ever since the year 6000 B.C., and after one had cleared it with a running jump and then crawled under a pile of brush he would find that brook babbling on the other side, " Here we are again."
All the time we were getting nearer that dark red line of earth- works, expecting the " ball to open." It always surprised me to hear that expression about the ball opening when a battle was about to begin. The two occasions were so unlike in their nature that the application of the term " opening of the ball " to a bloody encounter must have been by inversion, a grim sort of pleasantry. To be sure, we tripped the light fantastic toe very many times amid the brush that littered the field of Winchester, but the ball never opened. Whenever one emerged from behind some kindly cover, or rose to view from a generous depression, he expected to be plugged by the bullet of some skilful Confederate sharpshooter. I never did so much expecting in all my life. It was a whole week before Christmas crowded into a short hour. There was the line of skir- mishers advancing as rapidly as the nature of the ground permitted, and behind, the long line of battle resplendent with a dozen brand new flags, gorgeous as the ribbons on a bargain counter, surging for- ward to the baptism of fire. It came later, but the only blood spilled on the field of March 12, 1862, was that gleaned by the annoying twigs on the slaughtered trees in front of the town.
When we got very near without molestation we discovered that no guns were protruding from the embrasures and no rifles lined the ramparts with wicked eyes glancing along the barrels. We supposed the enemy to be waiting to see the whites of our eyes before giving us a volley, and we kept our eyes shut as much as we could to delay the catastrophe, and when we found that the foe had skipped by the light of the moon, our spirits rose to summer heat and we cleared those intrenchments with a rush, Company D having the head of the column as the regiment rallied on the left and entered the town.
Flushed with victory, we marched clear through to the other side and found never a foe to block our pathway or diminish our vanity. It was so pleasant to think that we had made the rebels run and not feel at the same time that they were tagging on behind us, as they so often did in later days, when we were executing a quickstep. When
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we got through the town we were halted in the streets, and then sat on the curbstones, steps, or fences, for several hours, while our gen- erals decided what to do with a conquered place. We devoured the contents of our haversacks and listened to the prattle of the delighted darkies, who told us they were "so glad you-alls have come." Then they told us about a little black boy who could not keep his exuberant spirits in control, who had incautiously shouted that he "was glad the Yankees were coming," which being over- heard by a trooper in the last squad leaving the place, the latter had turned in his saddle and shot the boy through the head.
After lounging about the streets till the pride of victory had dwindled into disgust, we learned that the Thirteenth was to perform guard duty in the town, and the various companies marched away to their assignments. Company D was allotted the protection of the railroad yards and adjoining property, with the passenger station as a sort of barracks. It was very near dark when we broke ranks and sought the waiting-room, which afforded meagre shelter for so many. Just before the moment of liberty I received the annoying informa- tion that I was detailed for guard duty, and then I went with the rush to select my location on the floor of the room, but was chagrined to find both sides lined with knapsacks and the blankets spread for the night's repose. Fortunately, as I supposed, I found a vacant place behind the stove in the corner, affording just room enough to squeeze in at full length with no danger of falling out of bed. As the system of doubling up the tours of guard duty had made my hours come from ten to two at night, I imagined that I could snatch a few winks of sleep after the fatigues of the day before beginning my allotted sentry duty. I had nicely arranged my couch and com- posed myself for the sleep of the just when I discovered there was a small fire in the stove. This was one of the old-fashioned air-tight constructions made of sheet iron with a cover on the top, as well as a door in the side. Such stoves are hotter than Hades if kept con- stantly supplied with fuel, but regular chills and fever if neglected. For a few moments I imagined that the warmth of the fire would add to my comfort, but when I found man after man lifting off the cover and depositing a stick of wood on the growing fire, I recognized
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