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 11
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A curious coincidence attended us on this march. When the Seventh Battery was originated, it was in- tended to be company G in the Sixth regiment. It entered the service, however, as Richardson's Light Infantry, eighteen months before, and served as such a year at Fortress Monroe, when it became a battery. It had done good service in garrison and as artillery, but never moved on any expedition promising real work, until it left camp with the Sixth, which entered the service a year and a quarter after it.
We marched, with a brief halting, till after sunrise next morning, when we camped around Beaver-Dam Church, three miles from Franklin. We were comfort- ably cooking our breakfast, when the mounted pickets brought our commander news that sent all his available men to their saddles, and we soon saw that finest of mili- tary spectacles, a cavalry charge. Mounted on splendid horses, - bold riders and brave officers, led by Major Stratton, - this crack corps swept like a tornado through our ranks, and out of sight. Soon we heard firing, and knew that work was going on ; and ere long the bespat- tered squadron returned, with prisoners and spoils. We learned from them that they encountered a force equal to their own, - four companies, - with the addition of two pieces of the Rocket Battery. This latter " gun" throws a rocket with great force, and accompanied by a fearful noise, that introduces the utmost confusion among horses, and it has long been the terror of our cavalry. It
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consists of fourteen pieces, presented to General McClel- lan, and then taken from him by the rebels, on the Penin- sula.
Our men charged with the greatest impetuosity on the foe, who made no resistance, but put their horses on their wind and mettle, to escape over the Blackwater. But they were overtaken about a mile out of Franklin, and twenty cavalry and battery men were captured, - most of whom were more or less sabred, - together with thirty- five guns, horses, saddles, etc., but most important of all, -a prize that elated the captors immensely and justly,- two of the guns, a caisson, and the horses and men of the Rocket Battery. At the request of Colonel Spear, one of the gunners shot off four of the rockets, and the sight was novel enough to us all.
The captured men answered the description we had all so often read of secesh soldiers. Clad in coarse but- ternut or gray clothing, with the cheapest saddles and military equipments, and with a famished expression of countenance, their appearance told of their poverty, while the avidity with which they seized food and coffee spoke of their long hunger. One told me that his drink of coffee was "worth three dollars, sure, for it is not rye coffee, but coffee coffee."
The battery was composed of men from Halifax coun- ty, Va. ; and the cavalry was the Second Georgia, Colonel J. R. Griffin, commander. I conversed with those who were not too much injured to talk. With one exception,
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they assured me that they were forced into the rebel service, and that they were rejoiced at the opportunity to take the oath of fidelity to the government ; that the war was ruining everything in the South, and that they longed to see it close. Their colonel was out with them, but having a better horse than his followers, he succeed- ed in escaping, reversing the Scriptures, which declare that " a horse is a vain thing for safety."
Next morning, the chaplain, as usual, rode into camp ahead of the regiment, to forward dispatches, and have warm food ready for the boys on their arrival. For twelve miles, through a desolate realm, on a most dismal day, he saw not a soul but one ancient darkey, in a re- gion intersected with cross-roads, and just the place for " guerillas." Two of our pickets were shot on this road, two miles from camp, the following night.
CHANGE OF CAMP.
On the 6th of December, Gen. Wessel's brigade having gone to North Carolina, we were ordered to oc- cupy their camp, and take their position at the front. We removed very reluctantly, for the place was low and swampy, and we at once and unanimously designated it as Camp Misery. But we transported our houses, piece- meal, and our " furniture," and at once began to drain and grade the land ; and ere long we had a very pleas- ant camp, and one which is, doubtless, remembered more
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kindly than either of the others. A handsome engraving has been published, representing Camp Misery.
DEATH.
Alfred A. Richardson, of company B, Groton, died of diphtheria, Dec. 8. He was a young man of promise and character, aged about twenty-two; was perfectly conscious to the last, aware that he was going, and passed away in perfect trust in God, finding the dying bed " soft as downy pillows are. " He laid off the armor of battle for that of the celestial host on high.
At this time, we received quite a donation of useful ar- ticles for the hospital, from the Sanitary Commission. We received no hospital stores from any other source than the Sanitary Commission, and the Haverhill Sol- diers' Aid Society, Mrs. E. P. Hill, President, and Mrs. I. E. Chase, Sec. and Treas., during the campaign.
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Some amusing stories might be told of our sentinels. One day a Dutchman from Pennsylvania was being drilled in his duties. After he had received his lesson once, his instructor caused him to advance as though he were a stranger, when he called out, " Who goes there ?" " Donnelson," was the response, giving the countersign. Another demanded of a soldier if he had a pass. He had. He asked to see it. It was shown. " Would you have the kindness to read it to me ?" said Pat, for it was not a Dutchman this time.
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AGAIN FOR THE BLACKWATER.
The familiar order, " Fall in with three days' rations!" was again heard on Thursday, Dec. 11. The regiment was promptly on the South Quay Road, at the appointed time, - half past eleven, - and with full ranks, for it was always noticed with pride that not even dress-parade or drill called out so many officers. and men as the prospect of a hard march and rough work. Even the hospital sent out its inmates, who suddenly discovered that they were not sick, at the prospect of a brush with the foe.
Our brigade had the advance; and, after marching all night, we reached a place about two miles below Zuni, on the Blackwater, where we intended to cross with our pontoon train ; but we found the place so swept by a fire of rebel sharpshooters as to make the sacrifice of life too great, until that force was disposed of; and the cannonad- ing, dictated by a proper regard for our own men, so noti- fied those we went out to visit, that we concluded not to cross, as we might easily have done.
When we first reached the place, we found a force of rebel sharpshooters in rifle-pits, guarding the only avail- able crossing ; and even there the water was some twelve feet deep. The Thirteenth Indiana had the front as skirm- ishers, and company I (of Lawrence), Capt. Hamilton, was with them. The rest of the Sixth stood in support of How- ard's battery. The fire of the rebels was rapid and exact. Almost as soon as company I was in position, a rebel fired at Lieut. Barr, and killed him almost instantly by a ball
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through the heart. He was seeking to keep his men in cover, with too little regard for himself, when he fell. He had placed one man in position, and was just direct- ing another, when the fatal messenger came. He stepped forward, saying, " I am shot ! " and continued his direc- tions to his men. His last act was to serve those com- mitted to his care : his last words were in behalf of his men. This was the first death in battle the regiment had experienced .. He was a most estimable man, beloved by his company and regimental associates, and held by his colonel in high regard. He fell nobly, though so early in life. Let his townsmen and countrymen pray to be found at the end of life doing their duty as was he. Lieut. Barr was born in Fall River, and was about twenty-two years old.
The rest of the regiment remained in support of the battery; and two companies of the Thirteenth Indiana crossed the river at a point about an eighth of a mile distant, and approached the enemy's rifle pit under cover, to within a short distance, when with loud cheers they rushed upon the foe, who had not time to run, but at the sight of the cold steel they surrendered. There were three killed or mortally wounded, others slightly so, and twelve prisoners. Some had escaped previously by a trench leading to the woods. We had hardly recrossed, when we were furi- ously shelled by a battery that was run down on the rail- road, - large guns on platform cars, - a very rapid and effective method. Here the Sixth was particularly ex-
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posed to a hot fire, for a long time, and though there were close escapes, there were none injured. Shells passed among them, and exploded all about them, but not a hair of their heads suffered. The regiment behaved splendidly. One shell, the moment the order to lie down was obeyed, passed over, within two feet of the ground, and struck the earth within a rod of the rear of the line, and then ricochetted over the One Hundred and Twelfth New York, in the same manner. The enemy fired with re- markable precision. Several of ours were hit in their clothing. There were several killed and wounded in other regiments.
Our battery silenced the enemy's fire, when the order was given to fall back, as the noise of our cannonading had put the force we went out to take on their guard, and there was therefore no utility in crossing.
While our engagement was going on, we had a small force at Zuni, and another at Franklin, shelling the enemy in those places. The " diapason of the cannonade," as " the Death Angel touched the swift keys," and sounded the " miserere" of the battle, was among the sublimest and most exhilarating of sounds I can imagine to fall on the human ear.
In the stillness of night, Col. Follansbee and myself rode into camp, fourteen miles. Liable at any moment to be challenged by guerillas or rebel scouts, each kept one hand in his overcoat pocket, grasping his revolver, ready to reply to a challenge with the bark of the pistol.
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. We were unmolested ; but the loneliness and excitement of the ride will long be remembered.
The body of Lieut. Barr was escorted by the chaplain to his home in Lawrence, and imposing services were held in the Baptist Church, on Sunday, the chaplain and another clergyman conducting the services. The fire department and citizens generally thronged the church, and testified to their regard for the departed.
Notwithstanding the unusual size of the regiment, it rarely appeared as it should, in consequence of the large number detached to other branches of the service. At one time nearly two hundred were thus detailed. There were orderlies, clerks, and detailed men in every part of the department, and not one of them ever betrayed his trust, or was punished for any neglect of duty. Dec. 22d, Corp. Leonard Brown, company C, was detailed as Division Post-master.
THREE DEATHS.
Nahum H. Whitcomb of Littleton, company E., died of pneumonia, December 12th, an upright man, an obe- dient and willing soldier. The eighth death, by disease, occurred Dec. 23d, when Hiram A. Legro, company D, of Lowell, died of swamp fever; and on the following day Corp. G. W. Swain, company C, of Dracut, died. Both were prompt, efficient, excellent soldiers.
Christmas was enjoyed as a holiday throughout the division. While some of the regiments decorated their
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grounds, and celebrated the day with much hilarity, a quiet Christmas supper arrived from home, and furnished most of the boys of the Sixth with a handsome entertain- ment.
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Dec. 28th, Spinola's brigade left for North Carolina, over land, and Gibbs' brigade, with two sections of the Seventh Massachusetts, went out toward the Blackwater, to effect a diversion in their favor. A little skirmishing was had with quite a force under Gen. Pryor, and the designed effect was produced, in enabling Spinola to cross the Chowan, and reach his destination unobstructed in spite of the Confederate forces. The day following Ferry's brigade commenced its departure for the same place.
NEW YEAR'S.
New Year's was a holiday ; and among the excellent things that made the time pass off pleasantly were twenty boxes full of " goodies,'' from the city of Lowell. There were in all about seven hundred packages.
January 4th, the chaplain returned to duty, after a short absence, during which he visited the towns in which all the 'companies in the regiment were raised and communicated to the friends of the soldiers their condition, and brought a large number of letters, pack- ages, and messages from home.
DEATH.
January 7th, Charles H. Balcom, of company B, from Pepperell, died of swamp fever. Private Balcom had won the respect of his officers and fellow-soldiers.
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At this time, our new camping-ground, situated on low land, and in the woods, was one vast pool of mire and mud. Frequent rain and occasional snow kept it wet down all the time ; and locomotion, except on the railroad track, was very difficult. The word "mud " has a new emphasis to all who have waded through it in the vicin- ity of Suffolk.
WISE PRECAUTIONS.
On the 12th, certain indications seemed to point toward an attack from the enemy; and Col. Foster directed, in case of sudden attack, that five companies should rally to Fort Nansemond, four behind the rifle- pits to the left of the fort, and the other to the Petersburg Railroad bridge, which passed across a deep ravine, and was very defensible. Gen. Peck, about this time, as we then thought with too much caution, was constantly on the qui vive, and sent extra forces here and there to sup- port pickets, and to watch, ready to defend exposed places, and kept the boys busy in strengthening the defences ; but we learned, after a while, that his course was a most judicious one. A great deal of complaining and fault- finding was indulged in, but much life was preserved ; and perhaps Suffolk itself was saved from capture, the next April, by the labors performed this winter, by order of Gen. Peck. Very much to our astonishment, a Blackwater expedition was organized on the 12th, and the Sixth Regiment was left out. We were less sorry than surprised.
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THE NINE MONTHS' CAMPAIGN. 196 . At this time Q. M. Wise sent in his resignation. He had a fine business opportunity, which he thought he could not afford to lose for so short a time as remained of the regiment's service ; and his request was granted. Lieut. Wise discharged the duties of his office with great fidelity, and was entirely honorable and upright in all his conduct. He was succeeded by Com. Serg. Coburn.
During the last of January, the weather was so warm that ordinary dress-coats were uncomfortable. Frogs were plenty, and mosquitoes were not uncommon.
DEATH BY ACCIDENT.
January 27th, Dennis McCarthy, of company I, of Lawrence, was instantly killed by a falling tree. He was at fatigue duty in the woods. He was a faithful soldier.
PAY-DAY.
Wednesday, January 28th, came the most agreeable. day in the calendar to the soldier, except the day when he honorably closes his term of service; and that was pay-day. It was our first. What soldier has not expe- rienced its pleasures ? It is the fruition of which the mustering-in is the anticipation. There is no man so welcome as the paymaster, and no day so welcome as pay-day, especially, if, as was our case, five months had passed, during which nothing had been received. For some weeks, letters had gone home without stamps, but with the chaplain's endorsement, so that they could be
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paid at the other end of the route, and sometimes with the significant words by the writer, on the envelope, "narry a red." All sorts of expedients have been resorted to in order to obtain the soldier's chief comfort, tobacco. Everything else, except his rations, he has long since gone without. Several times, it has been reported that the pay-master had been seen in some neighboring regiment. One reports that he heard he was in one, and another is confident he is in another place. All the reports are false: " the wish is father to the thought." But at last an ambulance is seen coming toward camp. It stops before the colonel's. Out jumps a major, and with him a gentleman dressed as a citizen, and lifting a trunk, which both of them hold very carefully, not ordering others to handle it like a com- mon trunk. Ah, it contains reams of greenbacks. It's the paymaster ! The word "Greenbacks ! Green- backs !" runs like fire ; and soon the aggregate length of . face in the regiment has shrunk several yards. The pro- cess of paying commences immediately. The boys march up by companies ; and, after deducting what the sutler has trusted them, - too often a large sum, - the money is passed over, and the boys' pockets are lined once more. Those who have not allotted any portion of their pay have a goodly sum, and all have something; and it is fun, indeed, to go to the sutler's, the shops in town, and everywhere that the boys can visit, and see them lay in the good things. Aside from his emoluments, I really
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think I should like to wear the shoulder-straps of the paymaster, he is so welcome wherever he goes. There are several kinds of welcome that have passed into prov- erbs ; but, of them all, commend me to a paymaster's welcome, when the boys have waited months for their pay.
DESPONDENCY.
At this time, there was a good deal of despondency at home ; and the papers began to intimate that the army was discouraged, and the war a failure. It was far from that. I wrote at the time in the Boston " Journal :" "It is true that the enthusiasm with which men are animated on entering the service soon evaporates. It is so always. Who of us does not know that the position, to which we have struggled and aimed for years, when reached is seen in a different light, and that possession is cool where anticipation is ardent ? It is also true that there is no little fault-finding and grumbling. Where is this also' ' not true ? Men who at home found fault with their din- ner and the weather, cannot of course undergo the hard- ships of camp without indulging in the old habit. The boys feel far better than one might infer from hearing some of their talk. For instance, one night one of ours was scolding generally,- running a muck at government, the paymaster, the army, and so on. A good-natured fel- low, who perhaps may sometimes have felt just so himself, said : "Suppose you heard a secesh, down town, talking that way, what would you do ?" " Knock him over,"
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was the quiet response. . This anecdote. is representative. We find fault ; we scold ; we grumble ; we long to be at home ; but, if anybody thinks we are discouraged or de- moralized, he is infinitely mistaken. We are here as ready and as efficient as ever we were ; and I must be- ieve that is true of our army generally."
AGAIN FOR THE BLACKWATER !
At midnight of January 29th, another Blackwater ex- pedition began ; and, with three days' rations, and under the light of a clear moon, but with the whole country sheets of mud and ponds of water, alternately, we took up our line of march on the old and familiar road. Our boys were as usual in the finest spirits, and tramped along through the " horrible pit and miry clay " with as much nonchalance as though a muster instead of a prob- able battle were on the tapis.
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The expedition was projected to attack and rout, and if possible capture, a large rebel force under General Pryor (the redoubtable hero who did not fight Potter, and whom we always found to be a general of retiring manners), known to be in strong position at the Deserted House, a well known landmark to all Suffolk soldiers, about ten miles on the road to Carsville. Our forces were all under command of Gen. Corcoran, who had a portion of his own brigade, with Spear's Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, Follett's, and the Seventh Massa- chusetts Batteries, the Indiana Thirteenth, New York
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One Hundred and Thirtieth, and Massachusetts Sixth, and other infantry.
The advance guard - Eleventh Pennsylvania - had proceeded but six miles, when a rebel picket squad of fifty, or thereabouts, poured a volley into them, seriously wound- ing one man, but inflicting no other damage. Not know- ing the number of their assailants, the advance fell back, when the Indiana Thirteenth, with fixed bayonets, and those cheers that have been heard on many a battle-field, charged on the unseen foe, putting them to rapid flight.
We then pushed on till we had gone about eight miles from Suffolk, when the enemy assailed us with great fury with solid shot, shell, and rockets, served with great pre- cision and effect, from guns so posted as to be unseen and yet rake the roads and open fields in which our line of battle was formed. The range was about nine hundred yards. Here Follett's and the Massachu- setts Seventh Batteries were brought into action, and the guns were served so well and supported so efficiently by the Indiana boys and our own, that after two or three hours of fierce artillery duelling, accompanied by the tattoo of rifles, the rebels were driven back from point to point, until they made a stand very near the Deserted House. So well had they ob- tained the range, and so accurate was their aim, that they troubled us a good deal, but though fighting an un- seen enemy, in the night, our forces were not the less undaunted, but fought their way step by step, the various
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corps being handled so well that shortly after daylight the enemy was again driven back ; at which time the Sixth, as supports, formed and held its line of battle on the exact spot just occupied by the rebel artillery, the batteries and cavalry sharply following the retreating foe. At about daylight, the firing on both sides was fierce and continuous, and to us was quite galling ; and though our advance was necessarily so slow that it afforded the rebels ample time to remove most of their wounded and dead, the bodies we saw, the large number of dead horses left by them, and the havoc committed on trees and buildings, on the exact spots they occupied, gave ample proof that they suffered far more than we did. Our regiment never before so well knew by experience the character of an artillery fire. The whole air at times seemed full of the noise of the flying missiles, and the fallen forms of dead and wounded comrades taught them bitterly what a sad work was going on. I shall never forget this, my first shelling. Dismounted, holding my horse by the bridle, my back against a big tree between myself and the enemy, I stood, like Paul, when he was shipwrecked, and " wished for day." My contraband left for the extreme rear as soon as the firing began. Next day, he reported that when he passed through a ditch in the road, at a two-forty gait, " dere came one of the biggest shells, and fried like anything in the water ! "
The most of our casualties were at about the time of
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daybreak ; and, in the midst of the sinking of the heart I experienced over the wounds and death of dear friends, I could not help noticing that the pink of sunrise was just as fair as on a marriage morn, and that the robins and blue birds played their mellow flutes as though no such scenes were transpiring.
" How strikingly the course of Nature tells, By its light heed of human suffering,
That it was fashioned for a happier world."
We had a brief but melancholy chapter of disasters to record, the most and the worst of which related to the excellent Groton company (B).
Lieut. E. D. Sawtelle of Groton, aged twenty-eight, was killed by a shell-wound on the chest and thigh. How well I remember him all along the march, within a few feet of me, the gayest of the gay, cheering his men with lively and pleasant words, and moving to the battle as though to festive scenes.
Lieut. S. G. Blood was slightly scratched in the face by the same shell.
George W. Blodgett, of Westford, aged eighteen, was instantly killed by a shell-wound in the head.
A. Withington, Townsend, aged nineteen, killed.
Augustus Reed of Westford, company B, was so wounded in the right arm as to render amputation neces- sary. He died Feb. 27, of secondary hemorrhage.
Francis I. Howard, of Westford, company B, lost his right leg, and died Feb. 3.
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Besides these, the rest were but slightly wounded. Lieut. I. N. Marshall, company C, slight injury from piece of shell near the knee ; Lieut. W. F. Wood, company K, contusion of the head by a piece of shell ; W. H. Smith, company K ; J. T. Smart, company C; W. Whitcomb, company B; C. W. Hildreth, company B. Capt. Bartlett was slightly lamed in the foot by a wheel, and Adjutant Allen somewhat injured by the falling of his horse across him, when he, together with Col. Follansbee, had a fearfully narrow escape. Both were sitting together, by the side of their horses, when a shell passed through both animals, killing them both, and throwing them across the adjutant. The colonel's noble horse "Jim" was one of the finest animals in the service. The shell that killed these horses, tore the back out of the blouse of Wm. Spalding, the colonel's clerk, without inflicting a scratch on him. And others of us had close but safe escapes.
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