USA > Massachusetts > Historical sketch of the old Sixth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, during its three campaigns in 1861, 1862, 1863, and 1864 : containing the history of the several companies previous to 1861, and the name and military record of each man connected with the regiment during the war > Part 10
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But the inexorable rule of the provost marshal cuts off all devotion at half past eight ; and the excellent colored preacher dismisses his flock with a benediction, keeping right along in the same tone of voice, " And now, don't ye go to loafing round after you leave here, but go right straight home, all of you ; if ye don't, ye'll jist get chucked into the guard-house, and good enough for you, too !"
Of course one cannot help seeing the grotesque that overlays what is said and done ; but no one who surveys the scene candidly can avoid perceiving and acknowledg- ing that there is much genuine devotion, and that the manner of conducting the worship is adapted to minds that would not be reached by the colder and more formal worship that characterizes the colder temperament of a
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more phlegmatic people. Though the act is unlike our own devotion, it is still true, that in such ways " Ethiopia stretches her hands to God."
Among my reminiscences of the colored people, at that early stage of the war, before our government had recognized their manhood, or had learned to treat them better than mules were treated, I recall my efforts to ob- tain some of the lines printed above. So interested was I in the exercises that I found it impossible to report the words they sang; and so, one day I asked a venerable darkey I met in the street, and whom I had heard singing in the congregation, to repeat some of their songs. He asked me if I wanted a " book piece," or a " holy jig." Of course it was the jig I desired, and he began to en-
deavor to recall some of the pieces ; but not a line would enter his cranium. At length I said, "Sing one !" and sure enough, without the least difficulty, he struck out into one, and pausing at the end of each line, to give me space to report, he would go back to the beginning, and sing on to the line I required. Of course, some of the lines were repeated a great many times ; but I suc- ceeded thus in obtaining what I have reported above, and many besides.
I might also illustrate the liberality of those simple- minded people, by relating another incident. The col- ored preacher of the congregation above alluded to came to my quarters, and earnestly invited me to attend his . church one Sunday, and administer the communion. Ask-
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ing private Fields, who was also a Methodist clergyman, to accompany me, and with an audience of white" and black, of ministers and laity, and of many denominations, we, a Universalist and Methodist preacher, administered the communion. It seemed a foregleam of the millen- nium, as we all worshipped together ; for, though speak- ing many sectarian dialects, we were united in one spirit.
WELCOME TO SUFFOLK.
It afforded us pleasure to be welcomed by the citizens of Suffolk, with the assurance that they preferred a Massachusetts regiment to any other, having had expe- rience with one, the Sixteenth, once stationed there. This gave us a new desire to do nothing unworthy the name of our noble old Commonwealth ; and I am proud to say that the campaign closed without any disgrace being inflicted on the honored fame of Massachusetts by any of our officers or men.
MASONIC MEETINGS.
One of our social pleasures consisted in masonic greetings. A regimental lodge was held in the room of the Suffolk Lodge (organized in 1790) ; and officers and men, from various regiments, frequently assembled to celebrate the rites of the mystic fraternity.
HOME ALLOTMENTS.
At this time, the " allotment " system was just begin-
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ning to work; and large numbers, instead of wasting their income in sutlers' trash, had made an allotment to their families of ten dollars a man; so that each one's family could draw that large proportion of his pay of the State Treasurer. In company C, 101 men allot- ted an average of ten dollars a month.
OUR FIRST EXPEDITION.
October 3d we achieved our first expedition. We went out to support an expedition against Franklin, the report of whose guns we had heard for several hours.
We moved in silence. Orders were given in low tones. No music was allowed. Only the katydid and locust, with sibilant voices, were heard, as we plodded on in the glorious light of the moon. A little way on we met two ambulances coming in. In one was stretched the stiffening body of a man just slain, and in the other were the poor fellows who were wounded. Ah, that told us, more eloquently than words, on what an errand we were out ; and I could not help saying, Who will be the fated ones who will never return, and over whose remains dear ones will never lean, but who will perhaps lie in unmarked graves in these swamps or woods ? Thus we went on, and at length the moon went down, and the narrow road pursued its way through swamp and forest, the tall cypresses hanging their ven- erable beards of Spanish moss, and the lofty pines rising like spires, mixed with the sweet gum, the oak,
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and the red cedar, - till, exhausted with loss of sleep, with hunger and fatigue, at four in the morning we reached an open space in the woods, in front of a farm- house occupied by a woman and her three little ones, whose negroes had all run away, the husband and father being with Jackson. Here we tried, for a short time, to make ourselves comfortable, our regiment forming in line of battle with guns stacked, while the men lay * around them and slept. As for myself, I took the ac- coutrements from my horse, picketed her to a tree, gave her some oats, ate a little bread and raw bacon, and, lying down on my saddle, dozed a short time on my first bivouac, when we were again roused, and camp-fires were built, and the men cooked their breakfast of sweet pota- toes found in the fields, and of frizzled pork, and ham, and bread. Our position was near Western Branch Church, so called, - a little country school-house-looking building, standing alone in a majestic forest ; and we were to hold a road here, and prevent any rebel force from descending, from the direction of Petersburg, to cut off the return of our advance forces.
With an Ohio regiment, and a regiment of mounted riflemen, we kept our position under arms till the force returned, when we resumed our march, arriving home at about seven- in the evening, having accomplished some twenty-two miles within twenty hours.
The men bore it finely, though some of them were rather used up. I left the regiment about six miles
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before it reached home, and pushed on alone, in order to have a good supper ready for the men on their arrival.
Old campaigners, who know the heavy roads there- abouts, the creeks to wade, the ditches of mud to fathom, and the hardships to be met by new troops on their first march, after a week of hard digging on fortifications, will know what a trying tramp this must have been.
This section of country is all after one pattern : wide tracts of forest ; at long intervals "plantations," on which scattering stalks of corn, long and lean, stand on a thin and famished soil ; roads of the wretchedest kind ; houses, with rare exceptions, perfect tumble-down concerns, in- habited by old men, women, and children ; and a gen- eral poverty-strickenness everywhere. Really, of itself alone, not worth conquering; and were it not for the prin- ciple involved in this struggle, we often said that we should be better off without than with such a tract as South-eastern Virginia.
Probably no subsequent military experience has equalled the impression made on the minds of us "raw recruits " by that lonely and almost silent march through the forest ; the halt to load and fix bayonets, in moment- ary expectation of meeting the enemy, and that most exhilarating of sights, so often enjoyed afterwards, the night bivouac, when the camp-fires are lighted, and as far as the eye can penetrate the darkness, the stirring
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scenes of the supper are exhibited, soon followed by the silence of the sleeping host.
DEATH IN CAMP.
October 6th, we lost our first man by death. Alonzo M. Woodward, of company E, of Boxboro', aged twenty- six years, died of typhoid fever. He was an excellent man. His body was embalmed and sent home, as were subsequently the bodies of all our dead. Not one rests in the adhesive mud of Virginia, except those who died in rebel hospitals, hereafter mentioned. On the 11th inst., Luke Lovrien, of Lowell, company D, died of asthma. He was a patriotic man, but too old to endure the hardships of camp-life, his age being about fifty.
The most of the month of October was pleasantly passed : the weather was fine, and drilling, brigade and division reviews, and arranging quarters for cold weather, and making themselves comfortable generally, occupied the men. The weather was for the most part as warm as a New England June.
A brisk skirmish was had outside the lines, near the Blackwater, on the 15th, between our cavalry and the rebels, and orders were received for us to keep one hun- dred and fifty rounds of ammunition on hand at all times.
SUPPLIES FROM HOME.
On the 8th, several large boxes from the city of Lowell were received through Hon. H. Hosford, mayor,
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containing all sorts of comforts and luxuries. It was pleasant then and subsequently, on the arrival of city or private boxes, to witness the distribution of the arti- cles, and the enjoyment of the boys, as they received them. Their contents were rejoiced over, and added a great deal of pleasure to those who received and shared them with others.
THE HOSPITAL.
The exertions of Surgeon Burnham, ever careful to secure good accommodations for the sick, obtained, as our regimental hospital, one of the best buildings in Suf- folk, the residence of a clergyman, surrounded with a garden, and embowered in trees ; and, during our stay, we found plenty of room, and the best of care and at- tention for all who became its inmates.
MARCH TO THE BLACKWATER.
On the 24th inst., we started on a reconnoissance, with a force about 4,000 strong ; and during a march of two days we accomplished about fifty-one miles (resting but nine hours in all), - more than twice the distance necessary to accomplish all the objects of the expe- dition. The reason was, " some one had blundered ; " and we were half the night stumbling in the darkness to find our way back from the wrong into the right road ; and the result was, the infantry and artillery failed to reach the position from which they could support the
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cavalry, until it was too late for the latter to make what otherwise might have proved a successful raid.
We went to the Blackwater, to a point about half way between Zuni and Franklin, where we lay until the cav- alry crossed by fording, and went as far as Zuni, re- crossed and returned, when we took the homeward march. We captured five of the enemy's pickets, but saw no rebel force, and met no rebel resistance, except a few shots from their pickets. A little forage and a good deal of experience in marching was the sum total of ad- vantage that remained.
The country over which we went resembles the most of this part of Virginia, and consists of vast level tracts of forest, with an occasional plantation or smaller farm, with mostly dilapidated buildings, and a general appear- ance of slip-shod about everything. Most of the men, with the exception of the old, are gone; and women, negroes, and children seem to constitute the population. But what besides poverty could prevail in a section where the raising and selling of " niggers " and the distilling and drinking of applejack had so long been the chief business and employment ?
Apropos of applejack, this diabolical fluid - a sort of cross between camphene and fire-and-brimstone (distilled from cider) - is one of the worst enemies our soldiers encountered. A small drink sets a soldier's brain on fire, with the fearfullest frenzy of drunkenness possible to man. In passing along our route, an officer was detailed to pre-
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cede the column, and destroy what liquors could be found. Riding to the front, on the banks of the Blackwater, I saw our pickets, on the very brink of danger, so drunk that they could scarcely sit their horses ; and I do not wonder that our army has sometimes been surprised by the enemy. One soldier from a Western regiment, in an altercation with a comrade, was struck over the head by a blow that broke his skull, and drove the hammer of the lock into his brain. The surgeon left him for dead, in charge of another ; and, on the arrival of the regiment in camp, preparations were made for his funeral, and his grave was dug. But when the rear guard of cavalry came along, not clearly understanding the case, he was made to mount a horse and ride home, a dozen miles. He did so, and then walked a half mile from the cavalry camp to his own, passing by his grave, and recovered.
About the first of November many of the regiment were detached to man the heavy guns in the forts, and to serve in the batteries. They occupied those positions till their term of service expired.
HYPERBOREAN WEATHER.
On the 7th of November, though in the " Sunny South," we were all startled from our propriety by wak. ing in the morning to see a couple inches of snow, and a driving storm, followed by snow on the ground and bleak weather for several days, making us think of home ; and
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great exertions were necessary to keep the quarters com- fortable, unprepared as we were for such a change ; for the weather, day and night, had continued delightful up to that date. All working parties, camp guard, etc., were dispensed with during the day. That apocryphal person- age, " the oldest inhabitant," was reported to have de- clared that it was the coldest weather for sixty years.1
THE LAKE OF THE DISMAL SWAMP.
On the 11th, the weather became as warm as before the storm, and it was improved by the Chaplain and Assist- ant Surgeon Humphrey, who made a pretty excursion to the Lake of the Dismal Swamp, some ten miles outside of our pickets, in the heart of the swamp. The voyage was made in a flat-bottomed boat, propelled by two negroes from the shore. It was a unique trip, though nothing was seen of that fair maid, who
" Down in the Lake of the Dismal Swamp, All night long, by her fire-fly lamp, Paddles her white canoe."
On the 15th, Corp. Orrin Park, a good soldier, belong- ing to company A, of Dracut, aged twenty-four, died of typhoid fever, after a brief illness.
ANOTHER RECONNOISSANCE.
On the 17th, we were all in line at one o'clock, P. M., on a pleasant day, with three days' rations, and our faces
1 I asked my contraband the reason of such weather, and he replied: " I speck you folks brung it down yere!"
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turned in the direction of what proved to be the ultima thule of our journeys southward, the Blackwater.
One or two cavalry dashes having been made at our pickets at Providence Church, some four or five miles out, about the 12th and 13th, it began to look as though a new order of things was being established, or that ad- ditional forces, of which these cavaliers were the advance guard, had reinforced the Blackwater troops ; and a large force, consisting of 3500 infantry, 1000 cavalry, and Fol- lett's Battery, left Suffolk for the Blackwater at day- break Tuesday, for a place about seven miles above Frank- lin, and thirty from Suffolk, known as Ludlow Lawrence's. This is one of those immense farms where the lord of the plantation bears sway over his many acres and his ebony vassals. The buildings were fine, and spoke of wealth and power ; the long avenue of red cedars, the lawns and gardens, and the lavish display of means of enjoy- ment, gave a good specimen of the gentleman of the F. F. V.'s. But alas, the lean and famished acres of this once opulent soil told of the ruinous institution that impover- ished them ; while the empty halls and rooms of the lordly mansion were eloquent in reprehension of the mental madness that made " unfenced desolation " of the " Ancient Dominion." And one solitary and ancient darkey, in one of the negro huts, was sole survivor, like the " Last rose of summer, left blooming alone."
The Sixth Regiment had the post of honor assigned to it, the right of the column, on this march, and was moving
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on to cross the Blackwater ford, just in the rear of Law- rence's house, when the advance guard of cavalry was saluted by rebel shots, and by the sight of three " gray- backs" retreating down the bluff just across the stream ; for this Blackwater River, though quite deep, as are most of the " rivers" in this part of the state, is no more than a good-sized canal in width.
As we pushed on a few rods farther, frequent and rapid firing saluted us, and the battery was ordered into position, and immediately commenced shelling the woods on the opposite shore, when the rebel force skedaddled. The Sixth supported the battery, and was consequently immediately under fire; though, as in their fright the rebels fired some thirty or more feet above our heads, I must say that we were a good ways under. But it was not the less exciting for all that ; for as the reveillé saluted us, -it was just at daybreak (and day broke a little louder than any of us remembered to have heard it be- fore), - none of us knew, of course, that the humming messengers, whose ticklish music we for the first time heard, might not select either of us as their victim. I was where I could see all our officers and men, and I was delighted to observe that they were as cool and uncon- cerned in manner as though going to a holiday drill.
£ As I passed along the line, I saw some of the men filling their pipes preparatory to a smoke ; while I -and I might as well confess it - could not, on two occasions, avoid
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ducking my head as the prolonged hum-m-m of the bul- lets tingled my ears.
When the rebels had scattered, company H, of Lowell, Capt. Ferson, was sent across the stream to support a squad of cavalry ; and they found the camp of a regiment of North Carolina soldiers. Had our battery been able to cross, we should have gone over the Blackwater ; but, on reaching the place of crossing, we had the misfortune to break one of our pontoons,- a long canal boat,- and it was not deemed safe to go with that part of our force which was at Lawrence's. We were misled - for the first time since we have had forces in Suffolk - by the information given us by a contraband. But the ford had been destroyed by the enemy, who had been warned of our coming with pontoons.
While we held our position we heard part of our pro- gramme being carried out, in the shape of heavy cannon- ading at Franklin ; and at about ten we were ordered to fall in, and proceeded to a point near the Widow Cobb's, some mile and a half from Franklin, where we found the rest of our battery in position, vigorously shelling the woods some two miles off, across the stream. Before our arrival, when the battery and cavalry first reached the place, there was a rebel cavalry force on this side ; but they speedily placed running water between us, and re- turned our compliments with solid shot and shell, and several discharges from the famous Rocket Battery, which was captured from McClellan.
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Here, too, we held the advance, and remained till our battery had sent some three hundred shot and shell, and while the enemy had dropped the iron exponents of his regard for us all around us ; and I must say, little as I had admired the sound of the minie bullets, that I was less in love with the sound of shell, three of which I saw drop and explode within a few rods, while several went as near to us as we cared to have them. But there was no flinching on the part of our boys. Two of our men - James L. Mckeever of the Cambridge company, and Luke Gray of Lowell -fell out of the ranks, and were taken prisoners.1
On the return from this expedition, we enjoyed the pleasantest bivouac of the campaign, near Beaver-Dam Church. The field and staff found plenty of rails, which were laid, one end on the ground, and the other on the second rail of the Virginia fence, and, well covered with fine boughs, they made a bed beyond description refreshing.
During the rest of this month, little occurred of special interest, as the men were busy in preparing for winter, and in recovering from the fatigues of the expedition. The hospital inmates always increased in number, and usually death followed in the track of a Blackwater ex- pedition. On the return from this march, Capt. A. C.
1 They were fagged, entered a house to rest, when they were gobbled, and carried to Richmond. They were shortly after exchanged, and went to Annapolis, whence Grey soon returned to camp. Mckeever, a Balti- morean, though he got as far as Annapolis, never made his appearance.
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Wright, of company A, applied for his discharge, and his application was granted.1
ANOTHER DEATH.
Private Chas. A. Cutts, company D, Lowell, died of typhoid fever, on the 25th ; and A. J. Herrick, a marker, formerly of company A, of the same disease, the 30th. These were both faithful soldiers and excellent men.
THANKSGIVING.
A Blackwater expedition was ordered on the 26th ; but a heavy rain setting in, it was " postponed on account of the weather." This was pleasant news ; for, the night before, we had received more than two tons of roasted poultry, pies, puddings, etc., from home ; and, on the pre- vious Sunday, the Governor's proclamation of Thanks- giving was read in church, and all were anticipating the festivities of that time, for which, all over the land, thou- sands of feathered bipeds had been
" Butchered to make a Yankee holiday."
The 27th was indeed a holiday in camp.2 The rough " board " (literally) of each soldier contained the tradi-
1 At this time we received the news of Mcclellan's removal. There were many in the regiment who admired him, but the course of the government was fully acquiesced in. No one would have known that any change had taken place by the conduct of the soldiers.
3 For a long time there was no little foraging, to forelay that poultry without which the genuine New Englander feels that the honored festival is not duly kept. To secure that article there was many a fowl proceeding
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tional luxuries of the day, - roast turkey, plum pud- ding, pies, fruit, - all from home, with the cooking done by beloved hands, so that it had the familiar taste and flavor, and, under such circumstances, more than the usual relish.1 The day was full of pleasant inci- dents that might be chronicled. I wonder if a certain corporal, who received two fine turkeys, roasted, from home, and who, in the fulness of his heart, gave one away, remembers that he gave away the wrong one, and recollects the hearty laugh that went round camp, when the receiver of the gift, in carving the fowl, found that his knife would not cut through the dressing, which, on further investigation, turned out to be a little black bot- tle, the contents of which would hardly have got into camp in any other way, but would probably have gone down the neck of some provost marshal ?
All sorts of games were indulged in, the most mirthful of which was the sack-racing, by our colored servants. Tied up in a bag, each one did his best to outstrip the others, and the result was side-splitting in the extreme. Now Clem, now Tom, now Lam, was ahead ; and the spec-
in the vicinity of our camp; though it must be confessed that the chief re- liance of the boys was a long way off, and that they expected something good from home.
1 There was not a canvas roof of ours in Suffolk whose occupants did not fondly remember and bless the wives and sisters, the mothers and daughters, and all the other home folk far away; and the blue-coated boys in each rough log camp were more than ever desirous that the wheels of time should roll more rapidly, and transport them to " home, sweet home."
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tators were convulsed with laughter, until the goal was reached, and the prize was won. Thanksgiving in camp will long be remembered. A large number of spectators was present, among whom was the rare and welcome spectacle of beautiful Northern ladies. The sight of them rejoiced our hearts for a moment, until each of us was saddened, as he remembered " the girl he left be- hind him."
" THREE DAYS' RATIONS."
Dec. 1, at twelve, M., the regiment was ordered to report at the South Quay Bridge, at three o'clock. Fatigue parties and pickets were called in, and all was ready at the appointed time. The force consisted of twenty-three hundred infantry, eight hundred cavalry, and six pieces of artillery, - the Seventh Massachusetts, - all com- manded by Colonel Spear, of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, a gallant officer as ever charged a foe. He was a Boston boy, a pupil of the old Franklin-Street School, and early entered the City Guard, and the United States Dragoons. He served through the Flor- ida war, went to Mexico, where he was seriously wounded at Cerro Gordo, in the memorable charge under Harney. He was promoted to the lieutenant-colonelcy for gallant conduct. Major Stratton, as well as Colonel Spear, was a Massachusetts man, born in Greenfield. The quarter- master - Mr. Sherman - was a Lowell boy ; so that though this gallant corps was a Pennsylvania one, it was officered by Bay State boys.
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