USA > Massachusetts > History of Massachusetts in the Civil War > Part 30
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Two more days were passed in Washington, transacting busi- ness at the War Office. On the third day, accompanied by Colonel Coffin, of Newburyport, went on board a steamer, and were taken to Budd's Ferry, about fifty miles down the Potomac, on the Maryland side. Here were the First and the Eleventh Regiments, which formed part of General Hook- er's brigade. We quote again : -
" On the opposite side from the landing, one of the rebel batteries was distinctly visible. The roads from the landing to the camps of our regiments were the worst I ever saw. At one place, a wagon of the Second New-Hampshire Regiment was stuck fast in the mud. The forward wheels were completely out of sight, and the thin, red mud was running into the bottom of the wagon. We soon came to a de- tachment of the First Regiment, under command of my friend, Captain Chamberlain, of Roxbury, making a corduroy road. After a tiresome ride on horseback of two hours, we came to General Ilooker's head- quarters."
We had a pleasant interview with the General, and then went forward to the regiments, where we met with a hearty welcome. Colonel Cowdin was acting Brigadier-General. The regiments were comfortably quartered, and there were but few in the hospi-
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REBELLION.
tals. We remained in Colonel Cowdin's quarters all night, made an inspection of the regiment next morning, and, taking a friendly good-by of officers and men, rode back to the ferry, and reached Washington that night.
" The next day " (says the report), "I went to see General Barry, chief of artillery, with Captain Davis, of Lowell, to have his com- pany, which has been at Fortress Monroe ever since May last, changed to a light battery, as recommended by Major-General Wool."
The change was made the next day, and the company was from that time known as the Seventh Light Battery Massachu- setts Volunteers. On the following day, we went to Baltimore, where the Seventeenth Regiment and the First Light Battery were stationed. We received a hearty welcome from officers and men ; visited the barracks and the hospital. There was more sickness in the regiment than in any others we had visited, which we attributed to its close proximity to a large city. The number in hospital was thirty. The report says, -
" The officers take good care of the health of the men. Both the regiment and battery are highly esteemed by the loyal citizens of Bal- timore, several of whom I saw, and conversed with."
On the same evening, we left Baltimore in a steamer for Fortress Monroe, and arrived there the next morning. We paid our respects to Major-General Wool, who was in command of the department. He spoke warmly in praise of our State, and of the Massachusetts troops in his command. We quote again : -
" I remained three days at Fortress Monroe and Newport News, and had an excellent opportunity of becoming acquainted with the condition of our Sixteenth and Twenty-ninth Regiments. Here, as elsewhere, I found our men in general good health, and earnestly de- siring to advance on the enemy. Colonel Wyman is almost idolized by his regiment (the Sixteenth), which he has brought to a high state of discipline. Colonel Pierce had taken command of the Twenty- ninth a short time before my arrival. From all I can learn, his ap- pointment seemed to give general satisfaction ; and I believe he will be an efficient and popular officer. The New-York Ninety-ninth is sta- tioned near Fortress Monroe, and commanded by my old friend, Colonel
307
COLONEL RITCHIE'S REPORT.
Wardrop .* As nearly one-half of his regiment is composed of Mas- sachusetts men, I regret he does not hold a Massachusetts commission. Captain Davis's company, to which I have before alluded, is stationed inside of the fortress, and is permanently attached to the garrison."
We remained at Fortress Monroe three days, and then re- turned direct to Boston. We succeeded in getting from the regiments correct rolls of desertions, discharges, and deaths, since they had left the Commonwealth. These rolls were of great value in correcting the descriptive rolls at the State House, and in preventing frauds in paying the State aid to the families of soldiers. We were absent from the State about three weeks.
It was difficult to realize the change which the war had made in Washington and vicinity. Soldiers were everywhere. From the dome of the Capitol, a splendid view was obtained of the different camps, in which were stationed a hundred thousand armed men, - the nucleus of what afterwards became the Grand Army of the Potomac. The railroad from the Susquehanna was guarded by soldiers, along the entire line, to Washington. Pennsylvania Avenue was patrolled by detachments of infantry and cavalry. New regiments arrived daily, marched up the avenue, crossed the Long Bridge into Virginia, selected their camp-ground under orders of brigade commanders, pitched their tents, lighted their camp-fires, and became a part of the living mass wherein were centred the best hopes of loyal America, and for whom the prayers, from a million family altars, as- cended daily to heaven. No one can fully realize the grandeur of the army, and the magnitude of the Rebellion, who never visited Washington in the years when it was being fought.
On or about the 20th of July, the Governor despatched Colonel Ritchie, of his personal staff, to the James River, to make a per- sonal examination into the condition of the Massachusetts regi- ments in General Mcclellan's army, which had fallen back from before Richmond to the James River, near Harrison's Landing and Malvern Hill. On the 28th of July, Colonel Ritchie had
* Colonel Wardrop commanded the Third Regiment of Massachusetts Mili tia, in the three months' service.
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REBELLION.
reached Harrison's Bar, James River, Va., where he wrote a long and interesting letter to the Governor. It appears that Colonel Ritchie went by way of Washington, where he found General Burnside, who had been summoned from North Carolina to a consultation with General Halleck ; "and they both left, that same day, for this place, to confer with General Mcclellan. This move on the part of General Halleck was intended to be kept a great secret, and he left Willard's almost in disguise ; but, though no one at Fortress Monroe or this point knew of the visit, it was duly recorded by those admirable spies for the enemy, the New-York papers. Generals Halleck, Burnside, Reno, Parke, Cullom, and Sedgwick have all made most earnest inquiries concerning the success of the recruiting in Massachu- setts, and expressed the greatest satisfaction at your determina- tion to fill up the old regiments first. At the same time, I find that the almost universal feeling of the army is against the sys- tem of bribing men to do their duty by large bounties, and in favor of an immediate draft." General Burnside offered Colonel Ritchie passage to Fortress Monroe in his flag-boat, which offer was accepted ; and, finding that our Twenty-first and Twenty-eighth Regiments were at Newport News, he deter- mined to visit them at once. Captain Davis (Seventh Battery) had left Fortress Monroe, that morning, with a force of infantry, to reinforce against an apprehended attack. It was represented to be in splendid condition.
The Colonel then writes, -
" It may be useful to remark, that General Dix, in command at Fort- ress Monroe, exercises a discretionary power, or revising power, at Old Point, as to passes from the Secretary of War; and the vise of the provost-marshal is absolutely necessary to enable any one to get up this river. I will also notice, for the information of any of the staff whom your Excellency may see fit to send out here at any time, that, con- trary to General Reed's opinion, I find my uniform an 'open sesame,' while a civilian's dress would stop a man at every step."
Colonel Ritchie found, at Newport News, three divisions of Burnside's corps, and General Stevens's division, from Hil- ton Head. General Burnside expected to have, in a short time, thirty thousand men ; but it was a curious fact, that not a regi-
309
COLONEL RITCHIE'S REPORT.
ment had been sent up the river to Harrison's Landing. He found the Twenty-first Regiment, which had come from North Carolina, "in fine condition," and only requiring a hundred and fifty recruits to fill it up. Colonel Clarke, who commanded the Twenty-first, informed Colonel Ritchie, that "he had forwarded his recommendations for promotions, and had nothing more to add, excepting that he hoped your Excellency would not give any commissions to officers who had resigned. I will add here, that this is a point upon which I find the greatest sensitiveness, in every direction. The number of resignations have been scandalously large ; only those are accepted which are consid- ered beneficial to the service ; and it would have a most disastrous effect to send back men with increased rank, or with any rank, who have shirked the hardships and exposures of the army."
Colonel Ritchie next visited the . Twenty-eighth Regiment, which was composed, in great part, of men of Irish birth, and which had been brought up from South Carolina to reinforce the Army of the Potomac. It was stationed at Newport News, and formed part of General Stevens's division. Of this regi- ment, the Colonel writes, -
" They have made full returns of the number of recruits required. Colonel Monteith is under arrest, and is now before a court-martial. He has been very ill, and is such a sufferer as to be unfit for duty. The lieutenant-colonel has resigned. Major Cartwright is in command, and is an excellent officer. The regiment is composed of splendid mate- rial ; but it requires two new field officers, of energy and capacity, and who are also gentlemen, to bring up its morale and discipline, which is, at present, very unsatisfactory."
Colonel Monteith was a citizen of New York. He was strongly recommended by James T. Brady, Esq., of that city, and by prominent Irish gentlemen of Boston. The Governor had no acquaintance with Colonel Monteith, but commissioned him upon the representations made of his fitness by the gentle- men referred to. In five days after Colonel Ritchie wrote the report from which we quote, - viz., on the 5th of August, - Colonel Monteith was discharged. Colonel Ritchie left Fort- ress Monroe on Saturday, the 26th, for Harrison's Landing,
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REBELLION.
in the mail-boat, taking a gunboat as convoy from James Island, about sixty miles up the river. The passage was somewhat hazardous, and very exciting. On landing, he says, -
" I should have been miserably helpless, had not General Devens sent down his orderlies, with horses and wagon, and Lieutenant Church Howe, aide-de-camp to General Sedgwick, to show me the way. We had to take refuge at this general's headquarters. This gave me a chance of talking with him. He spoke most warmly of the Fifteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth, which are in his division, Sumner's corps. The officers he particularly commended were Hinks, whom he has repeatedly urged for a brigadier-generalship; Palfrey, who, he says, is a most excellent officer ; and Major Paul Revere, who, he says, ought to have a regiment. General Sumner says that he has offered Revere the inspector-generalship of his staff. Revere hesitates, as he has made application for a position in one of the new regi- ments."
The brigade commanded by General Devens included the Sev- enth and Tenth Massachusetts Regiments. The brigade was in Keyes's corps. These were next visited by Colonel Ritchie. The Seventh had been but little exposed in action, and was "in magnificent condition. The colonel is held in high esteem." The lieutenant-colonel was regarded as inefficient ; the major, a most excellent officer. A board had been appointed to exam- ine the lieutenant-colonel, and he would probably resign. He was discharged Oct. 4, 1862. A great many officers and men were at this time in hospitals, and a good many enlisted men had deserted. General Marcy, of General Mcclellan's staff, "urged the importance of some appeal, by the Governors of States, to the authorities of cities and towns, and the people in general, to force deserters to return to their duties, and give such information concerning such men as to get them returned." Colonel Ritchie reports at great length in regard to filling the existing vacancies in the Seventh and Tenth Regiments, and gives a full and impartial review of the qualifications of those who were naturally looking for promotions. The Tenth Regi- ment wished to have an army officer appointed colonel in place of Colonel Briggs, wounded, and promoted brigadier-general. Captain Dana, of the regular army, was the choice of nearly all.
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311
EDWARD S. RAND'S REPORT.
"Dexter F. Parker, who has resigned his commissariat to go into the line is highly recommended by General Devens, for a major- ship in the Tenth. Captain Parker said he would not go into the regiment ; but, on the suggestion that the regiment might get Captain Dana for colonel, Parker said, that, in such a case, he would be too glad to go into it; that he knew Dana well, and considered him one of the entirely honest and reliable men and gentlemen in the Quartermaster's Department." Captain Dana was not commissioned colonel of the Tenth, but Henry L. Eustis, a graduate of West Point, was. Captain Parker was commissioned major, and served until he was mortally wounded in General Grant's advance from the Rapidan, and died May 12, 1864. The remaining part of Colonel Ritchie's report relates to matters not of general interest, though of importance to the Governor, in furnishing information to guide him in making appointments to fill the vacancies in the Massachusetts regiments in the Army of the Potomac.
Edward S. Rand, Esq., of Boston, who had a son, an officer, in the First Regiment of Massachusetts Cavalry, in April, 1862, visited the regiment, then stationed at Hilton Head, S.C. Of this regiment, much complaint had been made, even before it left the State, concerning the severity of the discipline imposed by Colonel Williams. These complaints reached the State House ; and Mr. Rand was requested by the Governor to in- quire into them, and report the facts upon his return. The report made by Mr. Rand was in the highest degree complimen- tary to Colonel Williams, and to the condition of the regiment, which had been brought to an excellent state of efficiency. The charges of undue severity and cruelty, made by interested parties, were declared to be entirely groundless. The men were satisfied, were well cared for, and in good health. In conclu- sion, he says, -
" I cannot omit mentioning a custom introduced by Colonel Wil- liams, which I could wish prevailed in all the regiments of our vast army. At the close of the dress-parade, each day, and before the parade is dismissed, the chaplain, who has been standing in the rear of the colonel, advances to the front, and, while officers and men stand uu- covered, offers a short and earnest prayer to Him who is the only shield from danger, and the only Giver of all victories."
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REBELLION.
Mr. Rand also visited the camp of the Twenty-eighth Massa- chusetts Infantry, who were eneamped near the cavalry. The camp was kept clean, and the general health of the men good, for which, he says, -
" Much praise is due to the skilful and attentive surgeon, Dr. O'Connell, for his faithful discharge of duty, his care of the men ; and perhaps the highest praise will be found in the fact that in the hospital were but four patients, all convalescent."
Dr. Henry I. Bowditch, of Boston, who also had a son, an officer, in the regiment, visited the regiment about the same time. On his return, the Governor requested him to state, in writing, his opinion in regard to the regiment, and upon the general question of the best way to preserve the health of the soldiers on duty in the extreme Southern States. Of the condi- tion of the regiment, he fully confirms the favorable report of it made by Mr. Rand. He says, -
" The drills are actively carried out, and the highest officers in the army agree that, at times, they are equal to any in the regular cavalry. Three times a week, the colonel has recitations, at which the highest principles of military tactics are enforced. To sum up my opinion in one sentence : I have very near and dear relatives, and many young friends, in that regiment ; I should greatly regret, if, from any cause, any of them should be compelled to leave the service of such a com- mander."
Colonel Williams, at the time of his appointment, was a captain of cavalry, U.S.A. He was a graduate of West Point, and distinguished as a cavalry officer. He was a Vir- ginian by birth, but never hesitated which was the path of duty for him to tread. He was a strict disciplinarian, but he was kind to his men. During the last two years of the war, Colonel Williams was assistant adjutant-general of the army, and was brevetted brigadier-general, for brave and meritorious services.
John Quincy Adams, who was appointed on the personal staff of the Governor to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Colonel Horace Binney Sargent, who was ap- pointed lieutenant-colonel of the First Massachusetts Cavalry,
313
COLONEL J. Q. ADAMS'S REPORT.
was directed by the Governor, in September, to visit the Mas- sachusetts regiments in the Department of North Carolina, and to report their condition on his return. These regiments were the Seventeenth, Twenty-third, Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth, and the Twenty-seventh. The Seventeenth he found in camp upon a fine plain across the river, westward from Newbern. It was stationed there to guard the ends of two bridges which span the river. The regiment was in excellent order, and the men looked hardy and cheerful, and were under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Fellows. Colonel Adams requested a report showing the exact condition of the regiment on that day, - their wishes, wants, notes, or information in any way appertaining to their condition, - in order that he might lay the same before the Governor. But the regiment was ordered on an expedition up the Roanoke River, and Lieutenant-Colo- nel Fellows promised to send the report home by mail. Colonel Amory, of this regiment, had been for some time act- ing as brigadier-general. Colonel Adams witnessed a review of the regiment, and afterwards made a thorough inspection of each company. He says, -
" I examined every musket personally, and almost every equipment, and can say, with perfect satisfaction that their condition, in almost every case, was admirable. The arms, particularly, were as clean and bright as when they were issued. The regiment was then drilled by Lieutenant-Colonel Fellows in various evolutions, concluding with the drill as skirmishers, in all which the men showed careful and faithful training, and most commendable proficiency."
The Twenty-third Regiment, Colonel Kurtz, had been sta- tioned, since May preceding, in the town of Newbern itself, where it performed the duties of provost guard, Colonel Kurtz acting as provost-marshal. He could not, therefore, speak of the condition of their camp-equipage ; but the barracks, which he visited, were clean and orderly, and the appearance of the men tidy and excellent. He also reviewed the regiment, and inspected their arms and equipments, which were in perfect order. "Altogether," he says, "the condition of the regiment was very satisfactory, and reflects great credit upon their of- ficers."
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REBELLION.
Colonel Adams next visited the Twenty-fourth Regiment, Colonel Stevenson, who had been for some time acting as brigadier-general ; and the command had devolved upon Lieu- tenant-Colonel Osborne. The regiment was in camp on a fine, dry plain, about a quarter of a mile from the town. Every thing was in perfect order, as he found upon careful inspection of the arms and equipments, and of the camp. " Both officers and men might well be a source of pride to the Com- monwealth."
On the morning of the second day of his stay in Newbern, he rode out to the camp of the Twenty-fifth Regiment, Colonel Upton ; but neither he nor the lieutenant-colonel nor the major were in camp at the time; but the adjutant was there, and with him he examined carefully the camp, which was on a fine, beach plain of very large extent, and admirably adapted for a drill and parade ground, about, half a mile from the centre of Newbern, and westerly from the camp of the Twenty-fourth Regiment. He says, -
"I was entirely satisfied with the appearance of the camp, and the aspect of the men. Great neatness was evident in the cleanliness of the company streets, and the men seemed tidy, cheerful, and contented. I attended a dress parade of this regiment with General Foster, and found their appearance admirable, and their drill excellent."
Colonel Adams says General Foster told him, -
" The first thing an officer should do is to try to make every man of his regiment a dandy, proud of his appearance, the glitter of the musket, and the polish of the brass on his equipments. When you see such a man, be sure he is a good soldier."
The Twenty-seventh Regiment, Colonel Lee, he found under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Lyman. Colonel Lee was acting as brigadier-general. There were only five com- panies in camp, the remaining five being engaged in picketing the railroad to Beaufort, and thus scattered, in small squads, along twenty miles of road. Colonel Adams could not see them. Those in camp looked as well as any companies he had seen.
These comprised all the Massachusetts regiments in that department ; and as each had made regular reports to the
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315
APPOINTMENT OF ALLOTMENT COMMISSIONERS.
Adjutant-General of the Commonwealth, showing their exact condition, nothing more was necessary to be done. Colonel Adams says, -
" Major-General Foster repeatedly assured me, that he considered them as good as any regulars in the army ; and he was never weary of extolling the energy, efficiency, accomplishments, and bravery of Mas- sachusetts officers, and the intelligence, docility, discipline, and courage of Massachusetts privates."
Colonel Adams concludes his report in these words : -
"I was much impressed with the untiring energy and interest with which General Foster looked after every thing within his reach ; and I was pleased at the high commendation lie bestowed upon Colonels Stevenson, Amory, and Upton, in especial. I was the bearer of a recommendation from him to the Secretary of war, that Colonels Amory and Stevenson should be appointed brigadier-generals. He desired me to solicit your recommendation for them also."
During the early part of the year 1862, three allotment com- missioners were appointed by the President, as provided by acts of Congress, passed July 22, 1861, and Dec. 24, 1861. These acts provided, -
First, for the transmission, free of expense, of portions of the soldiers' pay to their families or friends, as had been done under the half-pay system in the navy.
Second, for the appointment, by the President, for each State which chose to adopt this system, of three commissioners, without pay, who should visit the troops, and invite each soldier to avail himself of this opportunity.
In February, 1862, President Lincoln, upon the recom- mendation of Governor Andrew, appointed, as commissioners for Massachusetts ; Henry Edwards, of Boston ; Frank B. Fay, of Chelsea ; and David Wilder, Jr., of Newton. They imme- diately proceeded to visit all the Massachusetts volunteers, - in the Army of the Potomac, under General Mcclellan ; in the Shenandoah Valley, under General Banks ; and at Warrenton, under General McDowell : and, when the Army of the Poto- mac moved to James River, they accompanied. it to Fortress,
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE REBELLION.
Monroe, and to Yorktown. Allotments were made by the First, Second, Seventh, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Thir- teenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Eighteenth, Nineteenth, Twen- tieth, Twenty-second, and Thirty-second Regiments, and the Third and Fifth Light Batteries, and, subsequently, by the Thirty-third, Thirty-fourth, Thirty-seventh, Thirty-ninth, and Forty-first Regiments, and the Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Light Batteries ; at a still later period, allotment rolls were made up for the Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, Forty- third, Forty-fourth, Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth, Forty-seventh, Forty-eighth, Forty-ninth, Fiftieth, Fifty-second, Fifty-third, Fifty-fourth, and Fifty-fifth Regiments, - making, in all, forty- one different organizations which were visited, either in the field, or at the camps at home, before the men were sent forward. The Legislature of Massachusetts passed an act, March 11, 1862, to carry out more perfectly the system of payments. Mr. J. P. Wainwright, as a volunteer agent of the commissioners, aided in getting the soldiers to make allotments, and, in the fulfilment of this work, visited the Massachusetts regiments in the De- partment of the Gulf. Communications were made by the commissioners to the officers of the Massachusetts regiments, pressing upon them the advantages, to the soldiers and to their families, of the system. No allotments were received, how- ever, from regiments not visited, except, in a solitary case, of the Twenty-fourth, - Colonel Stevenson's regiment. Much of the success in securing allotments in regiments depended upon the interest felt, and the encouragement given, by its officers. For instance, in one company, containing eighty- three men, seventy-four, following the example of a worthy captain, allotted a portion of their pay; and thirty-three of these, mostly young men, placed it in the State Treasury on interest, subject, at any time, to their order, properly approved by the commanding officer of their company ; and two regi- ments allotted about seven thousand five hundred dollars a month each.
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