USA > Massachusetts > Clippings pertaining to the history and reminiscences of the 32nd Massachusetts Infantry > Part 6
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May 3d we marched leisurely to Culpep- per (distance six miles) where we halted several hours. Marched all the night fol- lowing, crossing the Rapidan the fifth time at Germania Ford at 8 o'clock in the morn- ing, where we halted for breakfast. Dur- ing the day we pushed steadily forward into the Wilderness, marching till dark, when we bivouaced near Wilderness Tavern in close proximity to the enemy.
May 5th. Early in the morning we were placed in line of battle with orders to forti- fy our position. As we were in the Wilder- ness we had an abundance of material witlı which to build breastworks, and axes, spades and picks were freely used by willing hands. In a few hours we built a forni- dable line of defense, behind which we ex- pected to fight, but were disappointed (as we had often been before) when the order " forward " was sounded. About noon we advanced, leaving our entrenched position for other troops to occupy. Our division which had the honor of opening the Wilder- ness campaign (on the part of infantry ) moved cautiously forward to attack the enemy in their stronghold. We had not gone far before we encountered their skir- mishers and drove them back to their main force. As we approached near to the ene- my, I remember the regiment made quick time in crossing a road which led through the woods from a large open field in our front, beyond which lay the enemy en- trenched. The occasion of our haste was the sudden shower of grape and canister that poured upon our column from the rebel battery in the field which was in position to sweep the road the instant we came with- in range. Scarcely had we reached the shelter of the woods on the opposite side of the road when we came under fire of infan- try, who gave us a warm reception, but fell back before our steady advance to their main line, where we engaged them across the open field until dark.
In this our first engagement in the Wil- derness campaign our regiment suffered less than the others in the brigade owing to the favorable lay of the ground where we ad- vanced from the woods to the opening.
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We lost none in killed, and but thirteen wounded.
That night we lay on our arms. There was but little chance for us to sleep how- ever, as we were in the extreme front, and almost within speaking distance of the ene- my. Early the following morning the fight- ing was renewed, and although our regi- ment was not engaged the fighting on our right and left was severe. Several times during the day the rattle of musketry and the roar of artillery as it reverberated through the forest, was terrific. Although we were under the fire of artillery, with the din of battle thundering in our ears, many of us slept as we lay on our arms, unable longer to resist nature's demand for relaxa- tion and repose.
I remember being awakened there by the fall of a large tree top. A large pine stand- ing just in the rear of our line of battle was severed about midway by a cannon ball. Several comrades who lay near the tree had a narrow escape as the top came down to the ground and stood erect by the trunk.
That night our company was detailed for picket duty. At dark we were posted along the edge of the woods skirting the open field, where lay scattered here and there the dead bodies of our comrades who had fallen in the conflict the day before. Towards midnight we were suddenly withdrawn, and returning to the place where we left the regiment,found that it had fallen back with our entire line of battle. We hastened for- ward and soon overtook them. After marching (or rather stumbling) through the woods in the darkness for about a mile, we halted near where we lay the morning of the 5th, with orders to unsling knapsacks, &c. There we lay down our arms and un- conditionally surrendered to an overwhelm- ing force-" nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep."
As it was quite dark when we arrived there, I was not aware that a twelve pound battery was in position behind our works only a few rods distant, until about day- light, it sounded the alarm with a bang, bang, bang, that brought us to our feet and the support of the guns in quick time. The occasion of our sudden movement was quickly ascertained. The enemy had as- sumed the offensive and was advancing with a strong force towards our works. They were handsomely repulsed however by our infantry supported by artillery. We remained in that position during the day, but were not engaged. Several times the enemy shelled us, but our regiment being protected by breastworks suffered no loss.
The line of battle behind us was less fortu- nate,-several shells exploding in their ranks, killing and wounding a number of comrades. Thus we passed the third day of the battle of the Wilderness.
That night the location of botli armies was plainly indicated by blazing camp fires, as well as by the cheers of the Yanks and the yells of the Rebs,-demonstrations that were intended by each to blind the other in regard to their contemplated flank move- ments.
SPOTTSYL VANIA.
About 9 o'clock we marched, making our first flank move towards Richmond. I wish I could describe it, but tongue or pen would fail to do justice to our experience,-never- theless I will try and give some of the inci- dents. The first hour's march through the Wilderness was terrible on account of the stench from the battle-field over which we passed, where many of our dead remained unburied. We marched all night (or rather marched and halted, but halted more than we marched.) We did not halt to rest, as usual, but jogged along at a snail-like pace. When our column moved we marched route step, arms at will, and when it halted we came to the order arms and leaned upon our guns, keeping our places well in the ranks, for being in close proximity to the enemy it was important for us to be on the alert to prevent a surprise, ready for any emer- gency.
About midnight an incident occurred which I will relate as showing one phase of our experience : We had just emerged from the woods, and halting in the road stood leaning on our guns. It has been said that soldiers could sleep while march- ing. I can't vouch for the truth of that statement, but I doubt not that three quar- ters of the men were three quarter's asleep, and the other quarter more so,as we waited there for the column to move. As a proof that this was our condition the scene which followed was conclusive evidence.
There we stood in the stillness and dark- ness of midnight. Our troops ahead (I know not how far) came suddenly to the front to meet (as they supposed) an attack of the enemy in ambush, which proved to be only a squad of stragglers who liad stole away into the bushes by the roadside, and turned in for a good night's rest, but for some reason had been awakened and aroused with the result above stated. The sudden movement of our troops (the cause of which was unbeknown to those in their rear and to us,) created a panic which run like an electric flash through the entire column, sweeping us as it were, from the road as quickly and effectually as though a bat-
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talion of cavalry had changed upon us un- awares. I remember the scene as one of the most ludicrous of my army experience. Our double quick change from flank to front, and heels over head, not to speak of other movements not to be found in Military Tac- tics, most effectually awakened us, and we resumed our places in line, to laugh and specula e over our experience and continue our tramp till daylight, when we halted near Spottsylvania. One would suppose that we would require rest and sleep by that time, but instead cur regiment was ordered to support a battery which occupied a com- manding position, where we remained dur- ing the day, (Sunday) spending most of the time fortifying it. There was considerable fighting during the day, in which the other regiments of our brigade participated .- They were engaged with the enemy when we joined them that night just at dark. Soon after the fighting ceased, and we moved to the position in line of battle, which we occupied during the 9th, 10th and 11th of May. We began at once to fortify our po- sition, which was within easy musket range of the enemy's . works. The following day we strengthened our line of defense. There was a slight ridge or swell of ground be- tween us and the enemy which was occupied by our skirmishers, who were protected by rifle pits. Although there was hard fight- ing at different points along our line, and our skirmishers were continually engaged with the enemy, our regiment was not in action. Nevertheless there were several killed and wounded in our ranks during the day while we lay apparently secure behind our works. The casualties in our regiment that day were by stray shots from the ene- my on our right, who fired over our works- their position being such as to give them a flank fire upon us, owing to the zig-zag course of our line of battle.
I remember as I sat behind our breast- works chatting with several of my com- rades, I was hit in the neck by a spent ball, which I doubt not would have hurt me had it not struck my coat collar. I picked up the minnie and put it in my pocket, con- gratulating myself, and being congratulated by my companions on my narrow escape. I was more fortunate than one of my com- rades who sat by my side, who a few min- utes later was struck in the forehead by a bullet which glanced and passed over his head, taking off his hat and a strip of his scalp. He was stunned by the blow and fell over against me. I immediately raised him up, when we were all struck (not with bullets but) by his coolness, as he with his eyes shut, and the blood streaming down
his face, reached out his hand to give us a farewell shake, as he supposed, saying "good bye boys." We examined his wound and found that the ball instead of penetrat- ing the skull had glanced off, leaving only a scalp wound. We bathed his head with cold water from our canteens, when lie re- vived so that two of us led him away to the field hospital, where we left him and re- turned to our places in the regiment. To- wards evening one of the stretcher bearers of our regiment who had gone on to the field to bring in a comprade from the skir- mish line who was wounded, was himself wounded and returned on his own stretcher, being borne over the works near where I was. I remember (as though it were but yesterday) how he looked as he lay there on his back, pale and ghastly and unconscious, the ball having entered his head just below the temple. In a few moments he was borne to the rear to die (as I supposed) and find a soldier's grave; and as he was not a member of my company I knew nothing to the contrary until, to my surprise and as- tonishment, as though from his grave he had appeared to me, we met face to face a few months later in Boston.
The 10th found us still in front of the enemy but not engaged, although there was hard fighting on our right and left.
On the morning of the 11th General Grant sent to Washington that memorable dis- patch which was characteristic of our leader and meant success, although at a terrible sacrifice of life, limb and treasure: " We have ended the 6th day of heavy fighting, and expect to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer."
That morning before daylight the right wing of our regiment relieved the picket on the line in our front, and kept up a constant skirmish fire during the day, with a loss of several killed and wounded.
The next morning the left wing of our regiment (to which I belonged) was ordered to relieve the right. Just before daylight we piled up our knapsacks behind the breastworks and advanced cautiously across the open field to the rifle-pits which we occupied, relieving our comrades who for twenty-four hours had faithfully watched and guarded our front against surprise by the enemy. As soon as it was light enough to see distinctly, the contest was renewed. Although the morning was wet and uncom- fortable we kept our powder dry and blazed away wherever we could see the enemy's head above their works, and they in like manner returned the compliment, compel- ling us to lay low.
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Just in line, and a few feet to the right of the pit I occupied, (in company with two or three othrer comrades) there stood a small log building unoccupied, until one of our number crawled in to get, as he supposed,a better sight of the enemy through the cracks between the logs, and still remain concealed from their view. I doubt not the enemy saw him take possession of it, for no sooner had he got inside than they opened on it with shot and shell, splintering the logs and scattering the shingles in every di- rection, causing our companion to beat a hasty retreat. Just then there was a shell exploded over our heads, and a fragment about a quarter as large as a man's hand struck in the bottom of the trench and buried itself in the hard clay, within a few inches of my knee. I dug it out and laid it one side, intending to bring it off as a trophy, but did not owing to unforeseen cir- cumstances which I will explain as follows : In a few moments afterwards we received orders to be ready to advance upon the enemy's works which were in the edge of the woods bordering on the open field, across which we must charge, say five hundred varde more or less
As there was a strong force of infantry in our front strongly entrenched and bat- teries so arranged as to be able to sweep the field, we saw but little chance for any of our single line of battle to reach the ene- my's works, much less to drive them from their position,-nevertheless the attempt must be made. The charging column hav- ing formed under cover of the ridge we oc- cupied, we were ordered to advance. Spring- ing from our trenches we moved forward over the ridge at double quick in a terrific storm of lead and iron which brought down not a few of our number and caused the rest to seek shelter behind the piles of dirt thrown from the rebel riffe-pits which they occupied on the arrival of our troops on the 8th, but from which they had been forced to retire to their main line. There I had an adventure which I would rather describe than repeat, viz. : When the order " for- ward " was given, I supposed the skirmish line was to advance across the field, followed closely by the charging column, therefore I rushed forward past the rebel pits before I discovered that the entire line of skirmish- ers had halted and fain down under cover of the dirt thrown out from them, and the charging column had not moved. I took in my situation at once and retreated without orders, and not being on my military just then, did not take my place in line, but jumped into the pit and laid down to escape
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the storm of bullets that whistled about me. The enemy were not satisfied with using me as a target while above ground, but seemed determined to bury me with dirt which the shower of bullets concen- trated upon that point scattered over me. Although out of danger from the enemy's fire, I found myself under a cross fire, for my comrades with the muzzles of their guns directly over me, were firing at the enemy and drawing their fire in return. Not relishing my situation I requested my comrades to cease firing while I changed my position, and immediately jumped out of the pit and placed myself alongside of them, but not withont attracting the atten- tion of the enemy who instantly fired at me, but hit instead a comrade by my side. For- tunately for him his blanket saved his life. He had rolled it lengthwise and tied the ends together, making it in the form of a horse collar, and carried it over his left shoulder and around his body diagonally, the ends resting on his right hip, (a very common way of carrying our blankets dur- ing a campaign.) The bullet entered and lodged in the roll just over his breast.
I said fortunately for my comrade (Joseph Kavanaugh) his blanket saved his life, but I believe it were better for him that that bullet had pierced his heart then and there than that he should fall into the enemy's hands and suffer and die in a rebel prison, as he did on the 19th of the following Au- gust, at Andersonville.
As I lay there I looked back over the ridge where we advanced and saw comrade O. J. Adams lying on his face. He was hit when about half way between the rifle-pits, and fell forward. The force of the fall had thrown his rubber blanket (which he wore over his shoulders) over his head. I do not know where he was hit, but from the fact that he did not move, and that quite a stream of blood was flowing from under his blanket down the hill towards me, I think he must have been hit in the head and in- stantly killed.
We lay there but a few moments, -less time than I have spent in relating my ex- perience at that point. The order was given for the column to move upon the rebel works, when we advanced across the field which descended slightly towards the ene- my. Then was their golden opportunity, and one which they were but too ready to improve, as our record of killed and wound- ed shows. (See Adjutant General's Re- port.) 21 killed and 80 wounded,-more than one in three of our whole number en-
gaged. When I think of that charge I won- der how any of us escaped alive in the terrible storm of bullets, grape and canister, solid shot, and bursting shells which was poured upon our single line. It was in this charge that comrade S. L. Nichols was killed. And doubtless Wm. B. Neff of onr company shared the same fate, as he was missing from the time we left the rifle-pits, and has never since been heard from.
We had proceeded only about half way from the skirmish line to the enemy's works, when I fell pierced with a minnie ball, which struck me near the left shoulder. passing through the arm; badly shattering the bone, thence into my body, striking the under side of the shoulder-blade, and turn- ing downward passed out at its lowest point, making its exit through my shirt, vest, and coat. When I was hit my position was that of charge bayonet. The force of the ball turned me partly round, throwing me in- stantly to the ground upon my right side, and upon my gun, which was grasped in my right hand,-my left having loosed its hold. The sensation when the ball struck me was as if some one had hit me a heavy blow on the shoulder with a piece of board, but no pain was experienced at the time,-in fact I did not know where I was hit until I tried to grasp my gun again, when I found that my left hand was paralyzed. Looking along up my arm I saw near the shoulder a hole through my coat froin which blood was flowing, and at once decided that I conld be of no further service in that as- sault. I therefore determined if possible to escape with my life from my perilous situa- tion, although I doubt not my chances of being hit again while retreating to the rifle- pit where I found temporary shelter, were as great (in the same time) as were those of my comrades who advanced to within twen- ty-five yards of the rebel works, where they halted and lay down. They did not remain long in that position, for to do so would have been certain death to every man, and to fall back would expose them to the dead- ly fire of an elated foe,-the result of which it would seem could be little less than anni- hilation. Nevertheless the troops on our right having fallen back, the regiment had only to choose between two evils, viz. : deatlı or retreat. They chose the latter, and with ranks already fearfully decimated, fell back across the field already strewn with their dead and wounded companions, adding at every step new victims to the deadly mis- siles of the enemy that swept through their ranks.
I said I found temporary shelter in one of our riffe-pits after I was wounded. I found there also a comrade of my company who refused to advance with the regiment be-
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cause his gun was so foul he could not drive the cartridge down. Although I had no further use for my gun, I had instinctively clung to it as one does to a trusted life-long friend, and had brought it from the field with my right hand, while my left dangled by my side, but there I parted with it per order of my superior, who told me to give it to my companion whose gun was useless,- at the same time ordering me to the rear, and my comrade to the front.
That was the last order I ever received from an officer of my regiment, for then and there I took my leave of the 32d Mass. Volunteers, never to rejoin them in the field,-consequently here ends my record of events connected with the organization.
On leaving the rifle-pit I made my way as quickly as possible across the field to our breast-works, making better time doubtless, than I should had not the singing of the " minnies " been heeded as notes of warn- ing against the danger of delay. When I climbed over the breast-works I was met by a Sergeant of the ambulance train who stripped me of my equipments and helped me into an ambulance. " It is an old say- ing that misery likes company,"-be it true or false it matters not. There was conclu- sive proof on every hand that it reigned there, for look which way I would I saw wounded men, and I found the ambulance occupied by a former Sergeant of our com- pany, who had been shot through the neck, making a serious, though not fatal wound. We were carried about a mile to the rear and placed in a large tent erected for a field hospital, which was being rapidly filled with our wounded. Never shall I forget the scenes I there witnessed, although there were hundreds of men about me wounded in every conceivable way,-some of whom had lost their limbs, and many more who were patiently waiting their turn for a place upon the amputating table, there was scarce- ly a murmur or a groan from all those suf- fering comrades. I remember the cheerful countenance of a comrade of company D, (I think) who lay bolstered up just oppo- site where I lay, with both legs off above his knees.
One more case among the many terrible ones about me I must mention, namely : That of comrade George M. Nash of our company, who lay in another part of the tent mortally wounded, having received five bullet wounds in our charge at Laural Hill from which he died in a few days. Our beds were simply blankets spread on the ground, and as we arrived from the field we took our places, or (if unable to walk) were placed on them in rows, lengthwise the tent,
where we waited for the surgeons to come around, who examined each case and pro- nounced their verdict. As there were hun- dreds of wounds to be examined, many of which required instant and careful atten- tion, it is no wonder that they sometimes erred in their decision in regard to the nature and extent of the injury, and so am- putated many limbs that might otherwise liave been saved. I can refer to my own case, as an illustration of unnecessary am- putation prevented, only by a second and more thorough examination by a surgeon, who revoked the decision of the first, (viz., that I was a subject for the table) saying, "I think that arm can be saved," and at the same time ordered it to be carefully dressed with splints. Many a time have I wished that I knew that surgeon's name, who by his decision saved my arm, which, although disabled, is worth to me more than a dozen artificial ones,-I would ac- knowledge a debt of gratitude for faithful service rendered me which I never can re- pay. After having my wound dressed I lay down on my blanket where I lay till towards night, when all wounded men who were able to ride in army wagons were ordered to go to the rear. I thought I could go with- out any difficulty, so I got up and walked towards the opening of the tent. I had taken but a few steps however when I sank down upon the ground, too weak to proceed further from loss of blood and the shock I had received. Just where I fell was an empty blanket which but a few moments before was occupied by a comrade who had died and been borne to his resting place,- a soldiers grave. I crawled on to his blan- ket where I lay five days, most of which time we (two hundred severely wounded men) were in the enemy's hands, owing to the lack of ambulances to convey us from the field, and the flank movement of our army which left us unprotected. And I doubt not we owed onr escape from a trip to Richmond with quarters in Libby Prison to a scarcity of any means of conveyance by which we could have been transported thither. Be that as it may, I rejoiced with joy which I cannot express, when, as I lay there on my blanket, looking out of the tent, I saw troops advancing towards us in line of battle, for I recognized them by their army blue as friends, whose coming meant rescue from the enemy's hands, and removal to more comfortable quarters .- Having been placed " hors du combat " we were now entitled to, and about to receive the protection of the Old Flag for which we had fought and bled.
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During the time we were prisoners we were under the care of our own surgeons and nurses, who gave us such care as they were able to bestow,-but had we been at home and received such treatment we should have expected to die; for instance, my wonnd received no attention except what I gave it, and that only by pouring cold water on it from my canteen, during the five days. We were supplied with ra- tions once. They were brought to us under a flag of truce by our Commissary Sergeant, who kindly offered to take any letters we wished to send to our friends, and mail them for us. I wrote the following on a scrap of paper I had in my pocket, expect- ing then to be in Richmond before I wrote again, although I did not intimate it in my letter:
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