USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > History of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Volume I pt 1 > Part 35
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On the morning of May 4th, with the rest of the army of the Poto- mac, it broke camp, and on the 5th it was engaged in the battle of the Wilderness, with a heavy loss. It was less actively engaged the next day.
The regiment moved forward to Spottsylvania, and on the 8th was in action. On the 12th occurred the severest fight in which the regi- ment was ever engaged.
On the 17th it went on a reconnoissance. On the 18th it was again sharply engaged at Spottsylvania Court House.
During the remainder of its term of service the regiment was on ac- tive duty in the very active campaign of the summer of 1864, and was engaged in battle at Cold Harbor, Va., on the 3d of June, and at Peters- burg on the 18th of the same month. On the 19th it was relieved and sent to the rear. On the 21st it embarked for Washington, and on the 25th it arrived in Springfield, where it was mustered out of service on the Sth of July.
Twentieth Regiment. Infantry. This regiment was recruited at "Camp Massasoit." Readville. It left the State on the 4th of Septem- ber, 1861. It was first in action at Ball's Bluff, where it lost in killed, wounded, and missing, 208. It passed the winter of 1861-2 near Pools. ville, Md., and in March. 1862. it went to " the Peninsula." where it was engaged in the campaign of that summer. It was in the battle of Fair Oaks on the 31st of May, 1862, and again at Savage's Station on the 29th of June. On the 30th it was in the severe action at Nelson's Farm, where it lost several officers, and sixty-three enlisted men were killed or wound. ed. It was under fire at Malvern Hill. but not actively engaged.
In August it left the Peninsula and went to the scene of General Pope's defeat. It marched with the rest of the army through Maryland to the battlefield of Antietam, September 17th, where it was engaged with a loss of 137 men, killed, wounded or missing. It was next engaged at the battle of Fredericksburg on the 11th. 12th, and 13th of December. 1862, and lost in the battle many officers and 123 enlisted men killed and 132 wounded.
On the 23d of May the regiment was again under fire at Fredericks- burg. After the battle at Chancellorsville the Twentieth participated in the movements of the army, and was next engaged at Gettysburg, in July, 1863. It went into this action with twelve officers and 218 men. It came
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GENERAL HISTORY.
out with one captain, two lieutenants and 116 men. After this battle it was constantly on the march till the 30th of July, when it went into camp at Morrisville, near Kelly's Ford on the Rappahannock, and remained till September 12th, when it moved forward.
On the 12th of October it had a fight at Bristow Station, Va., where it repulsed the enemy with great loss. It was afterward engaged at Mine Run, and went into winter quarters at Stevensburg, Va., on the 5th of December, 1863.
May 3d, 1864, it left its camp, and on the 5th it was engaged in the Wilderness. On the loth it was in action at Po River, and on the 12th and 13th at Spottsylvania Court House. On the 18th, and on the 24th it was in action near Pamunkey River, and on the 4th of June at Cold Harbor.
On the 15th of June it took position in front of Petersburg, where it fought till it was relieved. on the 24th.
A consolidation of the 13th Massachusetts with the re-enlisted vete- rans of this regiment was made in the latter part of July. It was engaged at Strawberry Plains, and on the 14th of August at Deep Bottom. It fought again on the 23d at Ream's Station, where it was surrounded and all but ten either killed or made prisoners. It was consolidated into one company of about seventy (some having rejoinedD) and then organized in three companies. It was afterward engaged at Hatcher's Run, Boydton Road, Vaughn Road, and Farmville. It did fatigue and picket duty during the winter of 1864-5, and was in the final campaign of the war. It was mustered out on the 28th of July, 1865.
Twenty-first Regiment, Infantry. This regiment, which had more than eighty men from Berkshire county. was made up of companies from the central and eastern parts of the State. It had its rendezvous at Worcester, and left the State for the seat of war on the 23d of August. 1861.
It was on duty at Annapolis, Md., till January 6th. 1862. when it left with the Burnside expedition for North Carolina. On the 7th of February the regiment was disembarked. and the next day it was en- gaged in the battle of Roanoke Island, where it lost thirteen killed and forty-four wounded.
On the 11th of March it sailed for Newbern. N. C., and on the 14th it was in the battle of that place, where it lost twenty-three killed and thirty-five wounded.
On the 17th of April the regiment embarked for Elizabeth City. where it landed on the morning of the 19th, and after a severe forced march of twenty miles took part in the battle of Camden, where its loss was four killed, eleven wounded, and one prisoner.
It returned to its camp at Newbern, where it remained until the 6th of July, when it embarked for Virginia, and on the 9th landed at New. port News.
On the 2d of August it sailed for AAcquia Creek, and entered on the
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campaign of the summer and antum of 1862 in Virginia and Maryland. It was engaged on the 20th and 30th of August at Manassas, where it had seven men wounded, and on the 1st of September at Chantilly, suffer- ing a loss of thirty eight killed. seventy six wounded, and twenty six missing.
The enemy was next encountered at South Mountain, Md .. on the 14th of September, 1862, and in that action five were wounded. Three days later, or on the 17th, the regiment was in petion at Antietam, where its loss was ten killed and thirty-five wounded. After this battle the regiment was in camp at Pleasant Valley. Md., during more than a month. It then went forward, and on the 13th of December was energed at Fredericksburg, where it lost thirteen killed, fifty-two wounded. and one prisoner.
After this battle it resimmed its former camp near Falmouth, where it remained (except during the " mud campaign " about January 20th. 1868, till the 9th of February, 1863. It then went to Newport News and on the 26th of March it started for the West, reaching Paris. Ky .. April 1st.
It was inactive during the summer, but about the middle of Septem- ber it went to East Tennessee and entered on more active duty. During its campaign in East Tennessee it was engaged in the battles of Blue Springs, October 10th. Campbell's Station. November 1th, and the siege of Knoxville. November 17th to December 4th, 1863; in all of which it lost four killed, eleven wounded. and two prisoners.
On the 29th of December all but twenty-four of the regiment reenlistell and received a veteran furlough. On the expiration of their furlongh they went to Annapolis, whence, on the 23d of April, 1861. the regintent went forward to participate in the campaign of the following summer. in which it achieved a splendid record.
Without attempting to follow it in its various marches, counter. marches, campings, etc., the following list of the battles in which it was engaged is given : Wilderness, May 6th : Spottsylvania, May 10th, 12th, 18th ; Shady Grove Road, May 31st, June Ist : Cold Harbor, June 2d; Assault on Petersburg, June 10th and also June 17th ; Petersburg Mine. July 30th ; Siege of Petersburg, June 18th to August 18th ; Weldon Railroad, August 19th; and Poplar Spring Church, September 30th. Its aggregate of losses in these actions was : killed, 47 ; wounded. 132 ; prisoners, 39.
The non-reenlisted men of this regiment were mustered out in the lat- ter part of August. 1864, and on the 21st of October the veterans were or- ganized with the Thirty-sixth Massachusetts. On the 27th of that month that regiment was engaged in the battle of Hatcher's Run.
Twenty-seventh Regiment Infantry This regiment was raised in Western Massachusetts, and had between three and four hundred men from Berkshire county. Its place of rendezvous was Springfield, and it left the State 981 strong, on the 2d of November, 1861. It arrived at An-
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napolis on the 5th, and encamped about three-quarters of a mile from the city.
They remained at that place perfecting themselves in drill. etc .. till January 6th, 1862, when they embarked for Fortress Monroe, whence they went to Hatteras Inlet where they arrived on the 13th. On the 6th of February they entered Pamlico Sound, and on the 8th they were in ac. tion at Roanoke Island where they lost five killed and fifteen wounded. On the 11th they went on board transports where they remained a month. and on the 11th of March they sailed for Newborn, N. C. where they were engaged on the 14th. with a loss of fifteen killed and seventy weight wounded. They remained in the vicinity of Newbern till September will. when three companies were sent to Washington and five to Newport har- racks. They took part in a recomoissance to Trenton, and an expedi- tion to Goldsboro, N. C. The companies were reunited on the 30th of November, and on the 11th of December they went on the expedition to Rinston, though they were not in action there.
On the 4th of January, 1863, they went to Washington. N. C. They remained at that place, engaged in ordinary duty. till the latter part of March, when it was besieged by the enemy, and the siege was not abandoned till the 16th of April. The loss of the regiment dur- ing this siege was one killed and eight wounded. On the 27th of April they returned to the vicinity of Newburn, where they remained during the summer, making occasional expeditions, on one of which they were engaged at Gum Swamp. On the 16th of October they left for New- port News, and on the 18th of October they left that place for Norfolk and Portsmouth, Va. They remained at these places and in the vicinity, doing provost duty and going on occasional expeditions. till the 20th of April, 1864. During this time a portion of the regiment re-enlisted and received a veteran furlough.
On the 26th of April it went to Norfolk, and on the 1st of May it embarked for Bermuda Hundred, where it arrived on the 5th, and en- tered at once on the active duties of the campaign. On the 6th it was engaged near Port Walthall, where two were killed and fourteen wounded.
At Arrowfield Church, on the 9th of May, they were again in action, losing five killed and thirteen wounded. In this battle the slaughter of the enemy was severe. On the 15th they were engaged at Drury's Bluff, and there a large number of the regiment were taken prisoners. The remainder of the men joined the army of the Potomac at Cold Harbor, and in the actions in that vicinity they lost heavily in officers and men killed and wounded.
On the 18th of June they were in front of Petersburg, where their loss was ten killed and thirty-five wounded, nearly fifty per cent. of those engaged. They remained in front of Petersburg till the 24th of August, when they joined the forces of General Butler, between the Appomattox and James Rivers.
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
On the 19th of September they sailed for Beanfort, where they were engaged in provost and picket Anty till the 4th of December, when they embarked for Newbern, and landed at Plymouth on the 7th. and made a part of an expedition to Hamilton, from which they re- turned on the 15th, having had one man killed and two wounded.
On the 11th of January, 1865, they reached Newbern, N. C., in the vicinity of which they remained till March 5th, when, with other forces, they went to South West Creek, where a severe engagement took place on the 8th, in which they lost seven killed and forty-one wounded ; and the rest of the regiment, with the exception of one commissioned officer and eight men, were captured with their brigade.
On the 12th this regiment of nine returned to Newbern and engaged in guard and picket duty. A few recruits joined them, and some cap- tured men returned. so that on the 20th of June, when the regiment was mustered out of service. it numbered seven commissioned officers and 132 enlisted men.
Thirty-first Infantry Regiment. The Thirty-first was raised in the western part of Massachusetts. It had its camp of rendezvous at Pitts- field and afterward at Lowell. It sailed from Boston on the 21st of Feb- ruary, 1862, and on the 26th of the same month it left Fortress Monroe for Ship Island, in Mississippi Sound. In a gale of Cape Hatteras the transport which they were on grounded on Frying Pan Shoals, and they were compelled to wait at the mouth of Cape Fear River two days for repairs, and at Hilton Head twelve days for further repairs. It left that place on the 12th of March, and on the 23d disembarked at Ship Island, where it remained till the 18th of April. On that day it sailed for Now Orleans. The regiment witnessed the bombardment of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, and the splendid naval operations of Admiral Farragut. It ascended the Mississippi River, and arrived at New Orleans on the Ist of May, 1862, and it was the first regiment to land with General Butler and take possession of the city.
In August the regiment was divided, a portion was sent to Forts Jackson and St. Philip, a portion to Kennerville, sixteen miles above New Orleans, and a portion to Fort Pike.
Two of the detachments were reunited early in 1863, and on the 12th of February in that year they formed a part of the troops of an expedi- tion down the Plaquemine Bayou, from which it returned to Carrollton on the 19th.
On the 6th of March they advanced with the army from Baton Rouge to Port Hudson, and on the 1st of April they went to Algiers, whence. on the 9th, they went to Brashear and Berwick cities, and on the 11th to Fort Bisland, where, on the 12th. they were sharply engaged with the enemy. They marched thence to Alexandria, on Red River, and returned from there to Port Hudson via Bayon Sam. At Port Hudson they were ยท actively engaged May 25th, May 27th, and June 14th. After the surren-
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der of that place they went to Baton Rouge, thence to Donaldsonville, and then back to Baton Rouge.
On the 9th of September the detachment at Fort Pike returned to the regiment which, in December, went to New Orleans and was changed from infantry to cavalry. They passed an uncomfortable mouth at Car- rollon, then had comfortable quarters in a cotton press in New Orleans.
On the 29th of February, 1864. the regiment crossed the Mississippi and marched for the scene of the celebrated Red River Campaign. Like all bodies of cavalry in an active campaign they were constantly on the move, and on the 8th of April they were engaged in the battle of Sabine Cross Roads, and the 23d of the same month in that of Cane River. On the first of May they were engaged at Hudont's plantation, seventeen miles from Alexandria. During the retreat from that place the regiment was engaged on the 14th, 17th, and 1Sth. and while the retreat lasted it was constantly on the move.
On the 3d of July it went to Algiers, opposite New Orleans, where the reenlisted veterans received their furlough, and on the 21st they started for Massaelinsetts, where they arrived August 4th. At the expira- tion of their furlough they returned to New Orleans, where they arrived on the 19th of September.
On its return the regiment was remounted as cavalry, and during the winter of 1864-5 it was constantly engaged in seonting and patrolling the country above New Orleans and thus protecting the loyal inhabitants of that region. In the discharge of these duties the men of the regiment met with exciting adventures, though they incurred no heavy losses.
In February, 1865, the companies were consolidated to five. and thus constituted the regiment was made a part of a cavalry brigade which was ordered to assemble at Carrollton, near New Orleans, to prepare for the campaign against Mobile.
Early in March they sailed for Barrancas, Florida. and on the 21st started from Pensacola to march across the country and strike the de- fenses of Mobile in the rear. After a difficult and fatiguing march of ten days, during which they frequently skirmished with the enemy, they arrived at the scene of the siege, and on the 4th of April they were de- tailed for duty at General Canby's headquarters.
On the 14th of April (Mobile having surrendered they encamped in the city, where they remained during the balance of their term of service. engaged in guard and provost duty.
On the 11th of September they left Mobile for New Orleans, where they embarked for Boston. They arrived on the 24th, and on the 30th they were mustered out of the service, their work being done and well done.
Thirty fourth Regiment. This regiment was recruited from the five western counties of the State, and it had about 200 man from Bork-hit county. Its rendezvous was at Worcester, which place it left for Wash- ington on the 15th of August. 1862. From Washington it marched to
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
Arlington Heights, near Alexandria, Virginia, where it arrived on the 19th. It remained in this vicinity some time, making several changes of camp.
On the 15th of September it encamped at Furt Lyon, where it re- mained till May 20. 1863. when it removed to Upton Hill.
June 2d it went to Washington, where it was engaged in guard and provost duty till July 9th, when it was ordered to Harper's Ferry. It remained there engaged in picket. patrol. and provost duty till the 10th of December, 1863. On the 19th of October an attack was made on the forces at Charlestown, and the Thirty-fourth went in pursuit of the attacking troops. They overtook and defeated them, sustaining a loss of two killed and eight wounded.
On the 10th of December they started on a march for Harrisonburg. where they were nearly surrounded, but they escaped and returned to Harper's Ferry, where they arrived on the 24th, having marched 100 miles in less than four days.
On the Ist of February, 1864, they were ordered to Cumberland. Maryland, but they returned on the 7th. On the 5th of March they went to Monocacy. and on the 7th to Martinsburg, Virginia. They returned to Harper's Ferry on the 2d of April. but went again to Martinsburg on the 17th. From that place they went forward on the 20th of April with the forces under General Sigel.
On the 15th of May they were in action at Newmarket, where they lost 23 killed, 174 wounded. and 18 prisoners. They were azain in action at Piedmont on the 15th of June, losing 15 killed and 95 wounded. On the 18th they fought at Lynchburg, where 6 were killed and 41 wounded. July 18th they were engaged at Snicker's Gap, with a loss of 4 killed and 11 wounded. On the 19th of September they were fiercely engaged at the battle of Opequan, losing 9 killed. 100 wounded, and I missing. Sop- tember 22d they were in action at Fisher's Hill, where 19 were wounded. On the 13th of October they were in the action at Cedar Creek, where 9 were killed, 48 wounded. and 10 made prisoners.
During all this campaign the regiment was almost constantly on the march, and its losses in the battles that it fought give evidence that they were not light skirmishes.
The regiment was not again in action till the 20th of March, 1805. On the 18th of December. 1864. it went to Washington, and thence to the James River, where it remained till March 25th, 1865, when it went forward, reaching Hatcher's Run on the 25th, and becoming engaged on the 20th. In the operations before Petersburg the Thirty -fourth was constantly in active service, performing severe matches and frequently fighting. On the 25th of Aquil it entered Richmond, and during the bal- ance of its term of service it was mostly engaged in fatigue and grand duty. On the 16th of June the regiment Started for Massachusetts where. . on the 6th of July, it was mustered out of the service.
Thirty-Secenth Infantry. Nearly one half of this regiment was re-
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GENERAL HISTORY.
cruited in Berkshire county. Its place of rendezvous was Pittsfield, and its camp was named, from General Heury S. Briggs, Camp Briggs. It was on the road that leads to Washington, about a mile from the village, where now is the pleasure park. The regiment was full on the 4th of sep- tember, 1862, and that date was reckoned the commencement of its term of service. On the 7th it took the cars at Pittsfield for Hudson, where it embarked on a steamboat that took it to Jersey City. From that place it went by railroad to Baltimore, though it was detained on the way by two collisions. From Baltimore it went by cars to Washington.
Immediately after its arrival it crossed into Virginia and encamped about one mile from Long Bridge. After two weeks it went to Frederick. Md., and thence successively to Bakersville, Downsville. Hancock, Cherry Run, Williamsport. Downsville, Berlin, Union, Va., White Plains, New Baltimore, Stafford Court House, White Oak Church, and Fredericks- burg where it was under fire, though with but small loss.
On the 18th of December it went into winter quarters at White Oak Church about three miles east from Falmouth. In this camp it remained till January 20th, 1863, when it went on the celebrated " Mud Cam- paign." It returned to its camp and the men resumed their monotonous life. Under the date March 9th, 1863, the colonel in his report to the ad jutant general said : ". I laid out a new camp, and the regiment built 160 log houses, every house alike, 12 feet long, 7 feet wide. 5 feet high on the sides and 9 feet in the center, with a fire place to each, and a floor of pine poles. This camp was built by the men in one week with but three axes to a company. and from standing wood."
On the 28th of April they left their camp and on the 34 of May they were engaged at Mayers' Heights and at Salem Heights. They returaed to their camp on the 6th of May. They left camp again June 6th, and on the 13th started on their March for Gettysburg. They reached the battle field on July 2d, after a forced march of thirty-four miles, and were im- mediately ordered to the support of the left of the Union army. On the 3d they were at one time exposed to such a storm of shells that within two minutes their loss in killed and wounded was twenty-three.
On the 5th they joined in the pursuit of the retreating enemy. fre- quently fighting with their rear guard. On the 7th they marche! for Middletown. Md., arriving on the 9th. On the 10th they crossed the South mountain range, and on the 13th skirmished sharply with the rebel pickets. On the 15th they went to Williamsport. on the 17th to Berlin, and on the 19th they crossed the Potomae into Virginia, and marched down the east side of the Blue Ridge to Manassas Gap.
On the 80th of July the regiment was detailed to go to New York. They arrived on the 2d of August and remained in the city and its siein- ity till the 14th of October. when they were ordered to Washington. They reported at that place on the 16th, and on the fifth joined their obl brigade at Chantilly, Va. They reached Warrenton on the 20th, and on the 7th of November marched for Rappahannock Station, where they
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HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE COUNTY.
were slightly engaged. They reached Brandy Station on the 11th, but broke camp on the 26th and during a week were marching from point to point, and were several times in line of battle though not engaged. They returned to their camp at Brandy Station on the 3d of December, and re mained there during the winter. They left their camp on the 20th of February, 1864, and marched to Madison Court House, but returned an the 2d of March. May 4th they left their encampment, six hundred strong, and crossed the Rapidan, and the next day participated in the first day's battle of the Wilderness, in which they were not heavily engaged. though exposed to a severe musketry fire. On the 6th they were hotly engaged, displaying great gallantry, and losing 29 killed, 102 wounded. and eight missing.
On the 7th they marched for Spottsylvania Court House, where they arrived on the Sth. and till the 12th ocenpied different positions in the line of battle, with some casualties. On the 12th they were fiercely en- gaged, losing 13 killed, 32 wounded, and two missing. During some day's following this action they were marching from place to place and were several times in line of battle, and in the affairs that ocenrred they lost four killed, 19 wounded. and five missing.
On the 21st they retired from before Spottsylvania, and on the Sth arrived near the Pamunkey. On the 29th they marched to Hanover Court House, on the 30th to Peake Station, and on the 1st of May to Cold Harbor. At that place they participated in several engagements. suffering a loss of four killed. 29 wounded, and two missing.
On the 12th of June they left the position at Cold Harbor, and ar- rived in front of Petersburg on the 17th. They remained in various positions in the line of battle till the 20th, when they went to Ream's Station, returning June 2d.
On the 16th of June the veterans of the Seventh, and on the 23d those of the Tenth Massachusetts regiments were attached to this regiment In the actions in front of Petersburg the regiment lost five killed and seven wounded. On the 9th of July the regiment and attachments went to City Point, and thence to Washington. They were in action at Fort Stevens. where they lost one killed and six wounded. On the 21st of August they were engaged in a brisk skirmish near Summit Point, Va., with a loss of three killed and fourteen wounded. On the 19th of September the regi- ment crossed the Opequan River, and was engaged with the enemy from noon till dark. losing thirteen killed and seventy-eight wounded. The conduct of the regiment in this action was highly commended. After the . battle they remained in Winchester doing provost duty till December 13th, when they returned to the front of Petersburg, where they remained in camp, with two interruptions, till April. 1865. On the 5th of February they left their camp and were employed in digging rifle pits during most of the night. They returned to their camp on the 9th. On the 25th of March they participated in a feint on the enemy's lines near Fort Fisher, in which affair they had three men wounded. On the 2d of April they
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