USA > Massachusetts > Clippings pertaining to the history and reminiscences of the 32nd Massachusetts Infantry > Part 7
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IN HOSPITAL NEAR BATTLEFIELD. May 16, 1864. S
DEAR
"I was wounded about noon the 12th inst. The ball passed through my left arm near the shoulder. Am doing well. About two hundred of us wounded were taken prison- ers and are now in the enemy's hands. We are kindly treated. I send this by a com- rade who came with a flag of truce to bring us rations, &c. I am in good spirits, with a firm trust in Him who doeth all things well."
Immediately on the arrival of our troops we were placed in ambulances, (a large number of which accompanied them) and started for Bell Plain, and thence to Wash- ington by water. We rode all night over very rough roads. They were not only badly ent up by heavy wagon trains, but were corduroyed a part of the way. About daylight we arrived in Fredericksburg, where we halted in the streets a half hour, and received from members of the Chris- tian Commission temporary relief, in the form of stimulants and nourishment. We . then proceeded on our way over more cordu- royed, and if possible, worse cut up roads than those from Spottsylvania to Fredericks- burg. I cannot if I would, portray the suf- ferings we endured during that ride of twenty-four hours. In the five days we had been suffering with our wounds they had become very sensitive and painful,-there- fore the continual jolt and jar to which we were exposed made our suffering almost unendurable, and in many instances quite so, for not a few of our comrades died on the way and were buried by the roadside. We reached Bell Plain about dark, and as in Fredericksburg received relief from the Christian Commission. There I had my wound dressed for the first time since the day I received it. There those of our nuni-
ber who had survived our ride, and those from other battle-fields to the number of about a thousand, were placed ou a steamer and sent to Washington, where we arrived the 17th, and were distributed among the various hospitals in the city and vicinity. It was my good fortune to be carried to Harewood Hospital, a beautiful place out- side the city and near the President's sum- mer retreat. When I arrived there I could scarcely stand upon my feet, and grew weaker every day until I could not leave my bed. I had been there but a few days when I was happily surprised by the ap- pearance at my bedside of some of my New- ton friends, who, while in Philadelphia, saw my name in the list of wounded brought to Washington,and had come to see me and learn my condition. As I was very weak they remained with me but a few moments, (just long enough to learn the nature of my wound) when they left me saying they must leave for home that night. Their haste was explained when in a few days a stranger presented himself to me, with a letter introducing him as a student from the Newton Theological Institution, who, in response to a call of my friends for some one to go to Washington and minister to my wants, had volunteered his services. And they did not forget, or fail to supply him liberally with delicacies such as I craved, and which, with his care and faith- ful nursing, did more for my recovery than all else besides. In fact I began at once to gain, and in about six weeks was able to re- turn home on a sixty day's furlough.
On arriving at Newton I placed myself under the care of Dr. Robinson,-the sol- dier's friend, -who volunteered his services (without charge) to Newton men who should return sick or disabled. He not only attended me during the term of my fur- lough but got it extended for thirty days.
After ninety days at home, under the care of a skillful surgeon, and surrounded by a large circle of kind friends, who showed their kindness by deeds as well as by words, I went to the goverment hospital at Read- ville, Mass., accompanied by a D. D., (in- stead of an M. D.) who had been as con- stant in his efforts to supply my spiritual and temporal needs as the former had my physical. After seeing me safely in the hospital he left me, with his familiar "good- bye, God bless you." I remained there till about the middle of December, when I re- turned to the hospital in Washington from which I was furloughed. I immediately applied for a transfer to my own State, and was sent to Dale General Hospital, Worces- ter, where I arrived January 10th, 1865,and where I remained about eight months .-
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During my stay there I was most of the time on duty, having been detailed as Bag- gage Master for the hospital, although suf- fering from an open wound. As I was on duty only five hours a day I was allowed a pass to go where I chose from 3 to 9 o'clock, P. M. Occasionally I was granted a fur- lough of a few days to visit home. On the 3d of July as I was passing through Boston on my way to Newton. I learned that our regiment had returned from the seat of war and was then on the Common. Without delay I hastened to meet, and greet those of my old comrades, who had weathered the storm of thirty battles, -the names of which, had been authorized to be inscribed upon our banner. Many were the faces that I missed from the ranks of the 32d who had received an honorable discharge upon the battle-field, and many more, who like my- self had been permanently disabled, were absent,-not having been permitted to share in the honors of our brigade in being select- ed to receive the arms'and equipments of Lee's army after his surrender to General Grant.
The day following the return of our regi- ment being the 4th of July, the Colonel dismissed the men for a few days, with orders to report on the island for their final settlement and discharge from service.
When my furlough expired I returned to the hospital, where I remained till the 22d of September, when at my request,although still suffering severely from my wound, I received my discharge.
It is an old adage that "variety is the spice of life." We had an abundance of it in the army, as all who got a taste of army life will bear me witness.
I have attempted in a truthful but homely way to relate a few of the many incidents that crowd upon my memory as I review my army experience, with the hope that they will be of interest to those of you who have followed me through pree Fears
Of life on the picket line, Of life on the tramp, Of life on the battle-field, Of life in the camp.
Newton Journal.
REMINISCENCES OF ARMY LIFE .- We com- mence this week the publication of "Sketches of Army Life," by S. C. Spaulding, of New- ton Centre, Sergeant of Company K, Thirty- second Mass. Regiment, which company was obtained in Newton. This company was re- cruited in obedience to the call made by Presi- dent Lincoln, in 1862, for three hundred thou- sand additional volunteers. On the 20th of August of that year, they left camp for the seat of war, the first battle which took place after they had joined the Army of the Potomac, being that at Antietam, Maryland, one of the most desperately contested and bloody of the contest. The sketch given in this paper is preliminary, detailing the circumstances of their enlistment,and of their subsequent move- ments, until at last they stood face to face with the enemy upon the field of Antietam. Com- pany K afterwards participated in the battles of Gettysburg, and in that march of fearful encounters resulting in the capture of Rich- mond.
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG .- Sergeant Spanlding of Company K, of the Massachu- setts Thirty-second, gives a very interesting account this week of his reminiscences of the great battle of Gettysburg, Pa., which proved to be one of the deciding contests of the war, as its results ever after placed the rebel armies in a defensive position. In common with all sections of the country, the Mass. Thirty- Second and the Newton company, lost heavily in this battle. Out of a total of 229 members of this regiment taken into the field,81 or about one third, were included in the list of killed, wounded and missing. Among the killed was private Leopold H. Hawkes, who, while in the act of assisting a wounded comrade, Hosea Hyde (the present Clerk of the Newton Com- mon Council) from the field, was himself shot dead. It was during this battle that Sergeant Major Charles Ward of Newton, whose name has been given to the Grand Army Post of this city, received a mortal wound, dying on the 9th of July. It is stated that a Major of this regiment had a very narrow escape, a heavy shot taking off his military cap, but fortunate- ly leaving the head unharmed behind.
Sergeant Spaulding, in his reminis_ cences this week, speaks of the cold experi- enced by the moving army as so intense that they ran the risk of attracting the fire of the enemy by building fires, as they were in dan ger of freezing to death. He also describes a night spent upon the old Bull Run battle-field, and of the feeling experienced upon ascertain- ing that they were sleeping amidst the bones of comrades who fell in that fight. Some of the remains were still equipped with cap and cartridge-box, showing conclusively that they fell in the fight with their armor on.
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Newton Journal.
GENERAL GRANT'S ADVANCE UPON RICHMOND .- Sergeant Spaulding furnishes us this week with the conimencement of his reminiscences of Gen. Grant's advance upon Richmond at the head of a heavily reinforced Union army. This forward movement all along the line proved, as we all well remember, successful, leading to the downfall of the Confederacy and the restoration of peace, though at a heavy sac- rifice of life. General Grant kept his army in motion almost continuonsly, hardly giv- ing them time for the necessary sleep, so that they occasionally slumbered while on the march. Although General Lee was acting on the defensive, he was evidently overwhelmed by the suddenness and promp- titude of his opponent's movements, who gave his adversary no breathing-spell after defeat, as was the case at Gettysburg, and at other points. Stonewall Jackson was the only Confederate General who at all resembled General Grant in this particular, and he was killed before the commencement of this forward movement.
" The Army Reminiscences of Sergeant Spaulding, continued this week, contain an impressive account of the execution of five de- serters from the army, and also of the flight of the beaten rebel army, (at Gettysburg) with the union forces in close pursuit.
. Lines.
The following lines were suggested by my old army coat :--
" Old Blouse " your presence on the wall
A thousand stirring scenes recall , I fight the battles o'er and o'er Of sixty-two, and three, and four. First, Antietam, then Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, The Wilderness, and Laurel Hill, (Call it Spottsylvania, if you will) Where we charged the foe one day In sixty-four, the twelfth of May, When there we formed in battle-line, We mustered just two-twenty-nine; But twenty comrades there were slain In that fearful storm of leaden rain, And eighty more to the rear were sent, Wounded, out of our regiment. Together on that field we fell Amid the storm of shot and shell, A rebel bullet pierced us through, I bear the scars, and so do you. S. C.'SPAULDING, CO. K, 32d Regt. Mass. Vols.
The Roll of Co. K .-- 32d Regt. Mass. Vol's.
Comrades :- Never, no never, shall we forget the day,
When we enlisted for the war in Company K. T'was July twenty-six eighteen hundred sixty-two, I enlisted to defend the flag-" the red, white and blue."
Father Abraham had called for three hun- dred thousand more
Volunteers; to fill the ranks of those who'd gone before,
And lo, three hundred thousand men, were ready to respond
" To the call to arms," throughout the North from Maine to Oregon.
A hundred strong of Newton's sons, then volunteered to go
And fight, the Union to preserve, I give their names below:
Edmands was our Captain, when we went away;
Bancroft and Boyd, Lieutenants cach were they;
Farnsworth, Kingsbury, Churchill, Neff and Cousens, (be it said)
Were Sergeants, when we went down South, to fight with " Johnnie Reb."
Of Corporals, we had eight (all told) whose names I here record:
Benson, Hall, McGuire, Madden, Potter, Ramsdell, Ward
And Gilman, (the fighting Parson) whom we all remember well,
Also, our two Musicians, whose name were King and Fell.
Privates :- Adams, Bates, Baker, Bixby, Butler, Costello,
Cahill, Cary, Clifford and three Cousens, in a row;
A trio-ves, " a double-file," for there was still a :. other
(The Sergeant) thus you see, K had four Cousens brothers. Cropper, Cutter, Coggin (the last of whom deserte.i)
Callahan and Champion, Drake, Doherity and Durgin,
Dearborn, Dolan, Drown and Emanuel, Franklin, Fifield, Freeman, Friends, also senior Fell
The father of our Drummer Boy, who scarce hau reached his teens.
The two French brothers, Fuller, Fuller, Goyett, Gehling, Green, Hall, Hart, Hildreth, Hill and Hall (the other one,)
Hawkes, Hyde, Inglis, Jackson and Jenni- Son,
Kingsbury one, Kingsbury two, Kennedy's first and last,
Two Leavitt brothers, Latham, Leach. M. Carthy and McGrath, Moore, Morse, Neil and Neff (the younger one,) Nichols. and two Nichols brothers, also Nicholson,
Newell, Pratt, Percival and Pero (you know)
Ramsdell, Rice, Sanger, Summervill and Snow,
Skelton, Sherman. Smallwood, Spaulding, Sullivan and Stone,
Taylor, Toombs, Trowbridge, and Tufts (the smallest one,) Varley, Ward, and Wentworth, Woodbridge and Wright,
Complete the Roll of Co. K. that volun- tee, ed to fight. "" The RoR. S.
pany K.," was written by Sergeant & Spaulding, of Newton Centre.
The Story of the Massachusetts Thirty-Second.
We have received a copy of a handsomely printed book of 260 pages, just from the press, containing "The Story of the Thirty- Second Regiment of Massachusetts Infantry : whence it came ; where it went; what it saw, and what it did. By Francis J. Parker, Colonel. Boston, C. W. Calkins & Co. pub- lishers." It is dedicated " to the officers and soldiers of the Thirty-Second Massachusetts, in nie mory of the dead, and in honor of the living."
Company K of this regiment was recruited in Newton, with J. Cushing Edmands, after- wards Colonel and Brevet Brigadier General ; Lientenants Ambrose Bancroft, and John F. Boyd.
There is much to interest in this book. It is not a mere complication of dry details: but furnishes the reader with many interest- ing occurrences of every day camp life, and with much of the merry humor that begniled the dull hours during the days of waiting for active service; tells of the sudden alarm, the approach of the enemy. the desperate strng- rle with all the accessories of the contest. There is inneh to be learned from this unpre- tentions volume, of the sufferings of our sol- diers during those long years.
.We have given in the Journal, from time to time, sketches by Colonel Parker, Major Farnsworth, and Sergeant Spanlding,sketch- es of the campaigns of the Thirty-Second, which have been read with interest.
At Gettysburg this regiment met with a very heavy loss, and also through the strug- gle of that last terrible march to Richmond. The Thirty-Second had killed in battle 76; died of wounds or disease, 194; discharged for disability, 384. Total 654. This total does not include the number of men wound- ed who returned to duty nor of those, some 200 more, who died in captivity, or by the roadside in severe marches, who are included in the returns among the unaccounted for, missing and deserters. The number dis- charged at the expiration of service was 1,087. Total number of men enlisted, 2,285. Of the 37 commissioned officers who were included in the final muster-out of the regi- ment, all except seven were promoted from the ranks.
This regiment had the honor of receiving the flag of truce sent by General Lee, when forced to surrender at Appomatox Court House. Onr author gives this description of the closing occurrence :-
It was when the two armies stood in mar- tial array against each other, where the river Appomatox runs winding along through Vir- ginia, the great battle-field of the war, and just as the Union soldiers were expecting to receive the volley of the enemy, that firing suddenly ceased and a halt was ordered.
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Colonel Cunningham, of the Thirty-Second, seeing what seemed to be a flag of truce in our front, took the Adjutant with him, and, putting spurs to their horses they dashed for- ward and soon met a mounted officer attend- ed by an Orderly, bearing a small white flag upon a staff. The officer announced himself as one of General Lee's staff, and said that. he was the bearer of a message to General Grant with a view to surrender. Soon the expected surrender of Lee was known through our lines, and the hearts of all were joyous and gay.
April 11th came the formal surrender, and the brigade to which the 32d was attached was ordered to receive the arms of the rebel infantry, which duty was performed in solemn silence, and this was the practical ending of the war
May 1935
ale
ugh ron an-
-
ith 50- ial nd Ats
·TA The six rostered members of Charles Ward Post 62, Newtonville, Leonard Boyd of 161 Allerton road, Newton Highlands, commander, in- tend to observe Memorial Day · to- morrow by decorating the graves of all veterans in the morning and by a parade in the afternoon, led by Mayor Sinclair Weeks, Newton Post 48, A. L., chief marshal. Russell Viles, commander of that post, will be chief of staff; David Keefe, chair- man of the Veterans' Council of New .. ton, Adjutant General. At 2:15 p m the parade will start from near the Newton Fire Station and pass along Washington, Walnut, Washington pk, Park pl, Cabot and Walnut sts to the Newton Cemetery.
It is expected not more than two of the six living members of the Ward Post will be active enough to participate.
3
John Brown's Prophecy of the Civil War.
From an Article in the Atlantic Monthly for De- cember. by ex-Congressman W. A. Phillips .- The most important interview, the one that has pecu- liar historical significance, was the last I ever had with him. It occurred during the same year of the Harper's Ferry affair, although several months before. I had lost track of him, when one day Kagi came to my house in Lawrence, and told me that the old man had arrived and was at the Whit- ney House, and wished to see me. At first I refused to go, and sent him word by Kagi that as he never took my advice I did not see any use in giving him any. Kagi soon returned and said that the old man must see me; he was going away, and miglit never see me again. I found him in a small room at the Whitney House, then one of the Lawrence hotels, down toward the river. * * *
He sketched the history of American slavery from its beginnings in the colonies, and referred to the States that were able to shake it off. He recalled many circumstances that I had forgotten or had never heard of. * * * "And now," he went on, "we have reached a point where nothing but war can settle the question. Had they succeeded in Kansas, they would have gained a power that would have given them permanently the upper hand, and it would have been the death-knell of republicanism in America. They are checked, but nut beaten. They never intend to relinquish the machinery of this Government into the hands of the opponents of slavery. It has taken them more than half a century to get it, and they know its significance too well to give it up. If the Republi- can party elects its President next year, there will be war. The moment they are unable to control they will go out, and as a rival Nation alongside they will get the countenance and aid of the Enro- peau Nations, until American Republicanism and freedom are overthrown." * * *
He told me that a war was at that very moment contemplated in the Cabinet of President Buchian- an; that for years the army had been carefully arranged, as far as it could be, on a basis of Southern power; that arms and the best of the troops were being concentrated, so as to be under control of its interests if there was danger of hav- ing to surrender the Government; that the Secre- tary of the Navy was then sending our vessels away on long cruises, so that they would not be available, and that the Treasury would be beggared before it got into Northern hands. All this has a strangely prophetic look to me now; then it simply appeared incredible or the dream and vagary of a man who had allowed one idea to carry him away. I told him he surely was mistaken, and had con- founded every-day occurences with treacherous designs. "No," he said. and I remember this part distinctly-"no, the war is not over. It is a treacherous lull before the storm. We are on the eve of one of the greatest wars in history, and I fear slavery will triumph, and there will be an end of all aspirations for human freedom. For my part, I drew my sword in Kansas when they attacked us, and I will never sheathe it until this war is over. Our best people do not understand the danger. They are besotted. They have com- proluised so long that they think principles of right and wrong have no more any power on this * earthı." * * * *
He tlien went on to tell me of Spartacus and his servile war, and was evidently familiar with every step in the career of the great gladiator. Ire- minded him that Spartacus and Roman slaves were warlike people in the country from which they were taken, and were trained to arms in the arena, in which they slew or were slain, and that the movement was crushed when the Roman legions were concentrated against it. The negroes were a peaceful, domestic, inoffensive race. In all their sufferings they seeined to be incapable of re- sentment or reprisal. "You have not studied them right," he said, "and you have not studied them long enough. Human nature is the same every- where." Hethen went on in a very elaborate way to explain the mistakes of Spartacus, and tried to show me how he could easily have overthrown the Roman Empire. The pith of it was that the leader of that servile insurrection, instead of wasting his time in Italy until his eneniles could swoop on him, should have struck at Rome; or, if not strong enough for that, he should have escaped to the wild northern provinces, and there have organized an army to overthrow Rome.
I told him that I feared he would lead the young men with him into some desperate enterprise, where they would be imprisoned and disgraced. He rose. "Well," he said, "I thought I could get you to understand this. I do not wonder at it. The world is very pleasant to yon; but when your houseliold gods are broken, as mine have been, you will see all this more clearly." I rose, some- what offended, and said: "Captain, if yon thonglit this why did you send for me?" and walked to the door. He followed me, and laid his hand on my shoulder, and when I turned to him he took both my hands in his. I could see that tears stood on his hard, bronzed cheeks. "No," he said, "we must not part thus. I wanted to see you and tell you how it appeared to me. With the help of God I will do what I believe to be best." He held my bands firmly in his stern, hard hands, leaned for- ward and kissed me on the cheek, and I never saw him again.
Lines Suggested by Memorial Day.
BY A. W. ARNOLD.
When first on Plynyouth rock they stood, Our fathers felt the joy For freedom gained, and now they would Maintain it for the coming boy.
The boy. he camc, to manhood grew, And battled hard, as best he knew, For truth and right, and with his might Waged battle both by day and night.
The glorious freedom which he sought, As time rolled on and power he got, Began to fade away from sight, And soon was lost in darkest night.
For slavery a foothold gained, And cursed our land, and to our shame, Four million slaves were bought and sold To serve our greedy thirst for gold.
The conflict first of words did come, From Garrison, and Phillips, too; The country wide did hear the hum- A squad of men to thousands grew.
Then came the strife political- Words warm and intellectual - Violent threats of disunion, Presaging fears for our Union.
Fierce anger filled the Southern heart- They with a purpose took their part. Great guns were fired at Sumter's fort, To gain control of Southern ports.
War once began, O! who can span The bloody chasm ope'd for man ! Who now can tell, let him who will, How much of good, how much of ill?
See, brothers to the conflict come, Leave all they hold inost dear at home, And ne'er return to much loved ones, Leaving their bones 'neath Southern suns.
In war the chieftest need is men- Men who are brave, who know no fear, But Lincoln's mighty stroke with pen, Did much for freedom, far and near.
The war is o'er! We on this day Do strew bright flowers, and prayers we say, That war no more may curse our land, That freedom's banner now shall stand. May 30th, 1883.
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Lincoln at Gettysburg- His Speech-Other In- cidents.
WASHINGTON C. H., O., November 12.
To the Editor of the Commercial:
I read to-day, with considerable interest, your correspondent's article ("I. J. A.") on the dedication of Gettysburg Cemetery, in which President Lincoln, Edward Everett and several Governors of States took part. The then Secretary of State, Wm. H. Seward, was also present. It was a notable occasion, and has gone into the history of the country. I had the honor to be present on the platform from which both Lincoln and Everett spoke. Mr. Everett's essay was lengthy, but the as- sembled thousands listened to it throughout with the greatest interest. It was a calmn, thoughtful, statesmanlike view of the impend- ing times. Only at intervals did the people manifest any excitement. It wasla solemn oc- casion and all seemed to be sadly depressed. We had, after a bloody battle, driven the Rebels out of the North-that was all. The future was inexplicable.
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