USA > Massachusetts > History of Massachusetts in the Civil War > Part 29
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The troops disembarked on the seventh day of February. A detachment of General Foster's Brigade, and the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts, was the first regiment to land and invade the soil of North Carolina. The capture of the island, the bravery exhibited by the troops, and the large number of prisoners taken from the rebels, made it one of the most successful and brilliant exploits, up to that time, of the war. The Massachusetts regi- ments were conspicuous for their bravery and good conduct, and captured three rebel regimental colors. On the reception of the news of Burnside's success, great joy was felt throughout the Commmonwealth, although many homes were made desolate by the death of members who had fought, and won the victory. The news of the battle reached Massachusetts on the fifteenth day of February ; the battle having been fought on the eighth. The Legislature was in session ; and a number of the members requested the Governor to send a special agent to the island to take care of the wounded. He at once selected, with great judgment, Hon. Alfred Hitchcock, of Fitchburg, a member of the Executive Council, and one of the most experienced and skilful surgeons in the State. The doctor reached the island in the quickest possible time, where his services as a surgeon were put in immediate requisition. He remained there
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295
RETURN OF SICK AND WOUNDED.
several weeks, and assisted in preparing the convalescents for transportation to New England.
On the seventh day of March, one hundred and twenty-five sick and wounded soldiers were placed on board a steam transport, by order of General Burnside; and Dr. Hitchcock was placed in charge of them, with full power to provide for their wants, and procure transportation to their several homes. They reached Baltimore on the evening of the 9th of March. On arriving at New York, the wounded soldiers were welcomed by Colonel Frank E. Howe, our Massachusetts agent, and amply supplied with whatever was necessary for their wants. The Massachusetts men, seventy-one in number, were at once forwarded by rail, and reached their homes or hospitals before the thirteenth day of March. At the New-York and New- Haven depot, in New-York City, a cruel and unjustifiable detention occurred in the embarkation of these wounded men, which elicited some very sharp criticisms in the loyal papers of that day, and in letters of Dr. Hitchcock and Colonel Frank E. Howe to Governor Andrew.
Colonel Howe writes to the Governor, from New York, March 11, " Received telegram from Dr. Hitchcock at two o'clock at night, got up immediately, did all I could for him and his poor men. Dr. Hitchcock is a remarkable man. It was very rough for him and all his men. I have spent a good many dollars to-day." Also telegraphs the Governor the same day, "Dr. Hitchcock leaves with his men in half-past- three-o'clock train. They will need litters, carriages, and re- freshments."
During the month of March, a large number of other sick and wounded soldiers were forwarded by General Burnside. March 25, Colonel Howe telegraphs to the Governor, "One hundred wounded men from Burnside left Baltimore this morning, mostly Massachusetts men. Shall take good care of them." Same day, he writes to the Governor, "Dr. Upham has just arrived, with thirty Massachusetts men, - Major Stevenson, Lieu- tenant Nichols, Lieutenant Sargent, Sergeant Perkins, and others. We shall get them off to-morrow morning by the eight- o'clock train. A hundred and fifty men, who left Baltimore
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REBELLION.
this morning, have not yet arrived." On the fourth day of April, Surgeon-General Dale made a report to the Governor, in which he submitted a plan of forwarding the sick and wounded men of the Massachusetts regiments, which would obviate much of the confusion and delay heretofore experienced. He says that Colonel Howe had leased in New York a large, commodi- ous, and well-ventilated store, on Broadway, for the accom- modation of the returning sick and wounded, and that Dr. Satterlee, the army purveyor stationed there, had provided them with one hundred and fifty iron bedsteads, with bed-sacks, blankets, sheets, and pillow-cases. He would also furnish medicines, dressings, and every thing necessary for the comfort of the sick and wounded in this temporary building. Colonel Eaton, U.S.A., would furnish subsistence, and Colonel Tomp- kins, United-States Quartermaster, would furnish transportation. Nothing is wanted of the State, except an ambulance wagon.
Colonel Howe writes, April 6, "The store is nearly ready. Every thing is in it but baths and cooking ranges, and those I am at work on day and night, and am ready to take in and care for the wounded soldiers from any and every where. Plenty of money, heaps of hearts ready and determined. I have got all the United States officials with us, and as many of the surgeons as we want. The community is with us, and we feel sure that we have the Almighty with us."
About the middle of March, General Mcclellan began his movement against Richmond, by a change of base from before Washington to the James River. It was not until the middle of April that the Army of the Potomac was ready to advance. Yorktown was captured April 26; and the battle of Williams- burg was fought May 5, in which Hooker's brigade bore a conspicuous part, and the Massachusetts First and Eleventh Regiments suffered severely.
From that time until the retreat of MeClellan, in August, the Army of the Potomac stood with its face towards the rebel capital, every foot of its onward march contested by the rebels, and almost every mile of its advance a battle-field. Many of the Massachusetts dead were embalmed, and sent home to their relatives for burial by the graves of their kindred. Many of
297
COLONEL HOWE IN NEW YORK.
the wounded were forwarded to the North ; the military hospi- tals at Washington, Fortress Monroe, and elsewhere being filled to repletion. On the 13th of May, the first instalment of the wounded at Williamsburg reached New York. Colonel Howe on that day telegraphs to the Governor, "I am com- pelled to send off thirty-three wounded to-night, by eight-o'clock train, all able to walk, - all from Williamsburg. Twenty-six of them belong in Boston. The transport 'Daniel Webster' in, with three hundred more." Next day, - May 14, - he tele- graphs, "I send, by eight-o'clock train, six bully Chelsea boys, bof the First Regiment, in care of a Councilman, John Buck, also five more brave fellows. All will have to ride from the depot. We are with the sick and wounded day and night, ladies and all. Have one hundred at rooms, and one hundred and fifty coming in this morning. Not one complains." Every assistance in the power of the Governor, the Surgeon-General, and other State officers, was rendered the brave men, upon their arrival in Boston. Among the many despatches received at this time is one dated New York, May 18, to the Governor : " Have sent forty-eight men, - Twenty-third Regiment, - by five-o'clock train, to Boston, from Burnside's Division, all able to travel." This, on being referred to Surgeon-General Dale, was returned to the Governor, with this characteristic indorsement : " The men came four hours ago ; 'and I am sorry I was not in- formed of it, though none of them required medical assistance, probably ; yet it is better to be there when they arrive. It looks more friendly, and as if the State was solicitous about them. No harm done now, however."
From this period until the end of the war, the number of our sick and wounded soldiers increased ; and the duties of the seve- ral State agents were rendered more important and arduous. The Governor was fortunate in the selection of gentlemen to fill these places, and discharge ;these duties. The most important of these agencies was the one established in Washington, of which Colonel Gardiner Tufts, of Lynn, was placed in charge. A brief sketch of its origin and subsequent growth deserves a place in this volume, and may as well be given now as here- after.
298
MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REBELLION.
When our Sixth Regiment reached Washington, April 19, 1861, it was ordered to the Capitol, and quartered in the Senate wing. No provision had been made for the wounded ; but by advice of Major McDowell, U.S.A., they were taken in car- riages by the Massachusetts residents, who met the regiment at the depot, to the Providence Hospital. This institution is under the direction of the Sisters of Charity. Here the first wounded in the war were kindly and tenderly cared for. On the same evening, a meeting of the Massachusetts residents was held, to organize a society to look out for the wants of the Massachu- setts soldiers. We have before us the original copy of the con- stitution which was adopted, with the names of the original members, who signed it. The preamble is in these words : -
"The undersigned, now or formerly citizens of Massachusetts, in order to secure, by organization and mutual co-operation, proper care for the wounded and disabled, and decent interment for the dead, of the Massachusetts troops which are now or may be on duty in this vicinity, do form ourselves into a society, to be called the Massachu- setts Association."
This preamble expresses, in clear language, the object of the association. This was the first organization of the kind formed in the war. The names of the original signers were Ben. Perley Poore, George W. Mcclellan, Charles F. Macdonald, Arthur W. Fletcher, Arnold Burgess Johnson, Ira Murdock, William Stimpson, I. O. Wilson, Nathan S. Lincoln, Edward Shaw, Henry O. Brigham, H. H. Pangborn, J. Wesley Jones, Z. K. Pangborn, Judson S. Brown, B. Fanuel Craig, B. W. Perkins.
The meeting for the choice of officers was held in the old Senate Chamber, in the Capitol. George W. Mcclellan, Sec- ond Assistant Postmaster-General, was elected president ; Z. K. Pangborn, vice-president ; Charles F. Macdonald, surgeon and treasurer ; and A. B. Johnson, secretary. This society appointed Miss Lander, of Salem, to distribute proper articles for the sick and wounded. Before the end of April, it was in successful operation. Upon the arrival of our Eighth Regiment at Wash- ington, Lieutenant Herrick, of the Beverly company, whose foot was severely wounded by the accidental discharge of a mus-
299
STATE AGENT AT WASHINGTON.
ket in the rotunda of the Capitol, was taken to the supreme- court room, where his foot was amputated. It was then de- cided to fit up the room as a field hospital; and it became the first army hospital established in the Rebellion. Its beds were soon all occupied ; and the care of sick and wounded devolved upon the members of the association, who were promptly sec- onded by the Massachusetts ladies then in Washington. Miss Lander, of Salem, sister of the late General Frederick W. Lander, was a leader in these good works. She " headed the advance-guard of that corps of mercy." This volunteer associa- tion fulfilled its mission. As the war went on, many of the most active members entered the army and navy. The de- mands for hospital accommodations now required the action of the Government, and an organized system. In the summer of 1862, when the sick and wounded were returned in great num- bers from the peninsula of Virginia, the Governor decided to appoint Gardiner Tufts the agent for Massachusetts in Wash- ington ; and, on the 18th of July, Mr. Tufts was commissioned for that purpose.
His instructions were prepared at the State House, and for- warded to him. He was to prepare a weekly report of the dis- abled Massachusetts soldiers in Washington, with the company and regiment to which they belonged. As far as practicable, he was to visit the hospital in 'person, and supply all proper wants of our men. He was to communicate with the families of the patients, stating their wants, and how the needed sup- plies could be forwarded. He was to have an oversight of the burial of the dead, and, when requested by their friends, to have the bodies forwarded, at the expense of the parties re- questing it. He was to aid the soldiers with money in return- ing home, if they had not sufficient for their wants themselves. The instructions were very comprehensive, and drawn with marked ability. They covered every service which an agent could do, or a soldier require.
Mr. Tufts entered upon his duties July 28, 1862. There were, at that time, forty-four army hospitals in the District of Columbia, Fairfax, and Falls Church, Va. The battles of Cedar Mountain, second Bull Run, Chantilly, and Centreville,
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REBELLION.
soon after increased the sick and wounded to sixty hospitals, which were filled. The first business of the agent was to ascer- tain the number of Massachusetts soldiers among the sick and wounded, also their condition, the regiments to which they be- longed, and what assistance they required. Nearly five hun- dred of our men were in these hospitals ; and the whole number upon the books of the agency, as having been in the hospitals in that department, during the war, was seventeen thousand four hundred and eighty-eight, of which seven hundred and thirty-six died. Soon after the appointment of Mr. Tufts, an- other society, composed of Massachusetts men, living in the district, was organized, under the name of the " Massachusetts Soldiers' Relief Association," the members of which visited the hospitals regularly, and ascertained the name and condition of every Massachusetts soldier, and relieved his wants. This organization ceased some time in 1863 ; and the labor which the members had performed devolved upon the State agent, who was empowered to employ persons to visit the soldiers, for which they were paid by the Commonwealth. By systematic effort, the agent, during the entire war, was enabled to ascertain the exact condition of every patient belonging to the State, and to have a perfect record in his office. The greatest number of persons employed at any one time was eighteen. This was in December, 1864. All accessible battle-fields were visited by the agent, a knowledge of our wounded obtained, and assist- ance rendered. In May, 1864, when General Grant began his memorable advance toward Richmond from the Rapidan, a field- agency was established, following the army, which continued in successful operation until the end of the war. During the general exchange of prisoners, which began in December, 1864, a force of the agency was maintained at Annapolis, Md., and information of great value obtained in regard to our men who had suffered and who had died in rebel prisons, and much needed assistance was rendered.
Up to Jan. 1, 1867, over twenty-five thousand letters had been written at the agency at Washington, which covered twenty thousand pages of letterpress. During the same period, about five hundred and sixty thousand dollars had
STATE AGENTS AT PHILADELPHIA AND BALTIMORE. 301
been collected from the Government for soldiers or their heirs without charge. During this period, the total amount of money transactions of the agency was $721,722.87. The total num- ber of names of Massachusetts soldiers invalided during the war at the agency was 36,151, the names of whom had, from time to time, been reported by Mr. Tufts to the State authorities. Many more interesting facts connected with the agency might be given ; but those already stated are suf- ficient to show its importance, and to make manifest the ar- duous and faithful labors of the agent, in grateful recognition of which the Governor appointed Mr. Tufts an assistant adju- tant-general, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. The entire cost of the agency to the Commonwealth was thirty-five thousand dollars. We cannot close this brief sketch without expressing our acknowledgments to Colonel Tufts, for the services rendered by him to the sick and wounded soldiers of the Commonwealth ; and also to Mrs. Jennie L. Thomas, of Dedham, who was appointed in October, 1862, to assist Colonel Tufts in his humane labors, and whose devotion to the cause and kindness to the worn and weary of Massachusetts soldiers, suffering from honorable wounds or from fevers engendered by exposure in the Wilderness of Virginia, the morasses of the Carolinas, and the swamps of Mississippi and Louisiana will never be forgotten by them.
Agencies were also formed in Baltimore and Philadelphia. William Robinson was appointed to take charge of the first named, and Robert C. Carson of the last. Mr. Robinson had been kind to our soldiers who were wounded on the 19th of April ; and Mr. Carson had been distinguished for his attention to our men on their way to the front, and on their return, while in Philadelphia. Mr. Robinson died before the close of the war; Mr. Carson was appointed assistant quar- termaster-general, and commissioned by the Governor lieu- tenant-colonel. These two agencies were of much assistance to the State authorities, and of material service in many ways, especially as useful auxiliaries to the two great agencies in New York and Washington, at the heads of which were Colonel Howe and Colonel Tufts.
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302
MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REBELLION.
In addition to the agencies established by the Governor to guard the rights and protect the suffering soldiers of Massachu- setts, members of his staff, at various times, were sent to the front to look after them, to report their condition, and ascertain if any thing could be done by the State to render them more comfortable. The Governor also frequently visited the Massa- chusetts regiments, and made himself personally acquainted with their condition. During the year 1862, which was one of much disaster and suffering, the Adjutant-General, Colonel Ritchie, Colonel John Q. Adams, and Dr. Bowditch, were sent to the front and visited our men, and reported to the Gov- ernor all matters of interest in relation to them. An abstract of these reports we now present.
The Adjutant-General left Boston on the 21st of January. He remained in New York one day, and visited the Twenty- eighth Regiment, which was in. the old fort on Governor's Island, New-York Harbor. The cold and gloomy casemates, in which they were quartered, and the badly provided cominis- sariat, caused much suffering and discontent among the men. IIe hurried on to Washington that night, and the next morning, accompanied by Senator Wilson, called at the War Department, and had an interview with Adjutant-General Thomas, and ac- quainted him with the condition of the regiment. The latter promised to lay the subject before the Secretary of War imme- diately. The Adjutant-General says, " I waited three days be- fore I could see him again ; and it was not until I received your Excelleney's letter, 'inclosing a copy of a letter from Captain Barrett complaining of the treatment of this regiment, that I was enabled, with Senator Wilson's assistance, to have action taken by the War Department. Secretary Stanton issued orders immediately, by telegraph, to the commander of the fort and to the colonel of the regiment, which I subsequently ascer- tained were of great service in obtaining the necessary comforts for the men. On my return to New York, a fortnight after, I found the regiment in good condition." The Twenty-eighth sailed, on the 16th of February, from New York, to join General Sherman at Port Royal, S.C.
The Fifth Battery was encamped on Capitol Hill, and had
303
VISIT TO THE ARMY.
been assigned to General Franklin's division. The officers had preferred to be put in General Fitz John Porter's division, as he had many Massachusetts regiments in his command. This he effected with the aid of Messrs. Elliot and Gooch, members of Congress. He next visited the camps of the Seventh and Tenth Regiments at Brightwood, about six miles from Wash- ington. He says, " Although the weather had been bad, and the roads were in a condition hardly conceivable by a New- Englander, I found the officers and men in good health and excellent condition. There was but one man sick in the Sev- enth, and the Tenth had not a single person in the hospital. The men lived in comfortable log huts, which they had built themselves, and were quite well satisfied with their quarters. After spending some pleasant hours with the officers, and making an inspection of the men's quarters, I returned to Washington, much pleased with the day's labors." The journey was made on horseback ; and he was accompanied by Captain Dudley, U.S.A., then stationed in Washington, but who was shortly after appointed by the Governor colonel of the Thirtieth Regi- ment ; and by Major Fletcher, United-States paymaster. The next two days, he remained in Washington, transaeting business at the War Department, and endeavoring to secure the accept- ance of Maxwell's company of sharpshooters, but failed to accomplish it. The report then proceeds : -
" Having obtained a pass from General MeClellan, I proceeded to tho Virginia side to visit the Massachusetts troops beyond the Poto- mac. I passed over the Long Bridge about nine o'clock, and was surprised at the number of wagons, equestrians, and pedestrians, moving through the mud into Virginia. At the end of the Long Bridge is Fort Runyon, garrisoned by a company of the Massachu- setts Fourteenth [shortly afterwards changed to the First Heavy Artillery ]. The other companies of this command are near, at Forts Albany and Hamilton; the main body being at Fort Albany, the headquarters of Colonel Green."
Here he spent an hour, and then rode on to visit the Ninth, Eighteenth, and Twenty-second Regiments, and the Third and Fourth Batteries in General Porter's division. The roads were shocking. IIe stopped at General Blenker's headquarters,
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REBELLION.
which were in what had formerly been a cross-roads tavern. He was kindly received, and was introduced to a number of the staff officers. They were all foreigners, among whom was Prince Salm-Salm, who has since become famous for his ex- ploits in Mexico, under the late Emperor. Blenker's brigade was composed almost entirely of German regiments. The Massachusetts regiments named above were encamped near Hall's Hill. The camps of many of the regiments were decorated with evergreens ; beautiful arches, made of pines and cedars, adorned the company streets. On a large, open field, between the German and the Massachusetts camps, he witnessed a spendid sham-fight, in which upwards of five thousand men, of all arms of the service, took part. After making a pleasant call at the headquarters of the Eighteenth and Twenty-second Regiments, where he found the men in good health, and supplied with every necessary for camp life, he passed on over Hall's Ilill and Minor's Farm, through fields made desolate by war, to the camp of the Ninth Regiment, stationed within a mile of Fall's Church, which was plainly in sight, though it was within the rebel lines, where piekets were plainly visible. " Between Hall's Hill and the camp of the Ninth is a large field, where a skirmish had taken place some months before. The graves of the men who had fallen, and the skeletons of dead horses, half buried, mark the spot."
He found Colonel Cass in his tent, and received from him a warm and hearty welcome. The regiment was full, and not a sick man among them. General Morrell, who commanded the Brigade, came over to Colonel Cass's quarters in the evening, and stopped several hours.
" That night I slept under canvas; and, although it rained inces- santly, not a drop came through. The next morning, I saw the regi- ment in line ; and, notwithstanding the snow and rain which continued to fall, the ranks were full. I 'saw most of the officers, and passed many pleasant hours with this regiment. On my return, Colonel Cass accompanied me as far as Fort Albany. On our way, we called on Major-General Porter, and arranged with him about receiving our Sixth Battery. We also called at the headquarters of Brigadier- General Martindale, but he was absent ; but I was glad to find, in a
305
GENERAL SCHOULER'S REPORT.
tent near by, our old friend Dr. Lyman ; also, Captain Batchelder, late of the Twenty-second Regiment, now on Martindale's staff. We then proceeded over fields of fallen timber, and across ravines, for about four miles, to Fort Cass, which was constructed last summer by the Ninth, and named in honor of their colonel. After warm- ing ourselves and drying our clothes, we started across the country towards Fort Albany, passing through several camps ; among them, that of the Nineteenth Indiana, commanded by an old veteran friend of mine, Colonel Meredith. At Fort Albany, we parted with Colonel Cass ; he returning to his regiment, and we to Washington, and reached our hotel about six o'clock."
We never saw Colonel Cass in life again. He was mortally wounded before Richmond, and died July 12, 1862. The report continues, -
" I had been two days on horseback, through a continued storm of rain and snow, with mud up to the stirrups part of the way ; and yet I never had a more delightful journey."
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