History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892, Part 32

Author: Ellis, Leonard Bolles
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Mason
Number of Pages: 1170

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333

THIRTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.

the work. Up to, over, and into the entrenchments, the boys in blue went resistlessly; the enemy was driven from his works, broken and demoralized, and the stars and stripes waved in triumph. The civil war saw no more heroic charge than this. The men of the Thirty- third had captured a position defended by a superior force, which, according to all military science, should have been impregnable against many times the number of the defenders. The Thirty-third had twenty-four men killed and fifty-three wounded in this engagement."

The regiment took part in the battle of Missionary Ridge, November 25, and formed a part of General Sherman's expedition in the battle of Re- saca. The severity of this work may be judged from the fact that this regiment lost two officers and seventeen men killed, and sixty-three wounded. During the spring and summer the regiment was engaged in several skirmishes and engagements, notably those of Cassville and Dallas.

In September, 1864, the regiment was ordered to Atlanta, and was detailed to guard the Confederate prisoners at the military prison on Peach Tree street. While at this place Major Elisha Doane was pro- moted to lieutenant- colonel, and had command of the regiment. The regimental band, under Israel Smith, gave a number of concerts while in the city that gave great pleasure to large audiences. In November the regiment joined its brigade in Milledgeville and proceeded to camp near Savannah. It participated in the battles of General Sherman's army, and was mustered out of service June 11, 1865. The regiment was accorded a most enthusiastic reception on its arrival in Boston, and was served with a collation in Faneuil Hall.

THE THIRTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT INFANTRY

Was mustered in August 12, 1862, for three years' service; colonel, Timothy Ingraham; lieutenant-colonel, William L. Rodman. The line officers of Company H, when they left the State for the front were : Captain, Thomas R. Rodman, of New Bedford ; first lieutenant, Julius M. Lathrop, of Dedham; second lieutenant, Charles C. Howland, of New Bedford. Subsequent officers of this company were : Timothy Ingraham, jr., and Charles F. Shaw as first lieutenants.

334

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

This regiment, to which were attached many New Bedford soldiers (Company H was raised in this city), left Lynnfield for the seat of war August 26, 1862, and went into camp at Baltimore, where it remained until November 10. It sailed for New Orleans, via Fortress Monroe, December 8, arriving off Ship Island December 13, and on January I, 1863, it was ordered into camp at Carrollton, four miles from New Or- leans. April 9, with the rest of the Nineteenth Army Corps, under Major General Banks, it started on the Western Louisiana campaign. · The Thirty-eighth was in the Third Brigade, Third Division, and was under the command of Lieutenant- Colonel Rodman, Colonel Ingraham being in command of the First Brigade, Third Division. The following is an authentic account of the experience of the regiment, its hard marches and continuous fighting, leading to the siege of Port Hudson, in which one of the noblest of our citizens was killed :

" We came upon the enemy, strongly entrenched, at Bisland, on the Bayou Teche, on the afternoon of April 12, when a lively artillery duel commenced, which was kept up until dark. The next morning (13th) our brigade crossed the bayou, and after a day's fight compelled the enemy to evacuate the works, which were taken possession of next morning; and then the pursuit commenced. We had six killed and twenty-nine wounded on the 13th. Among the former was Captain Gault, Company A. We pursued the enemy so closely that we were frequently enabled to prevent the destruction of the bridges, which span the almost innu- merable bayous of this section of the country We arrived at Vermilion Bayou on the 17th and rested one day, during the rebuilding of the bridge across it, and on the 19th we continned our forced march. On the 20th we arrived at Opelousas, where we encamped until May 4, when we started for Alexandria, arriving the evening of the 7th, and remaining there until the 15th; then we started for Semmesport on the Atchafalaya, where we encamped on the 19th. At 10 o'clock on the morning of the 21st we took up our line of march for Port Hudson. We reached the town of Mor- ganza on the afternoon of the 22d, where we immediately embarked on the river steamer Empire Parish for Bayou Sara. Here we landed, and the same afternoon, amid a terrible storm, started for Port Hudson. On the 25th and 26th we supported the Eighteenth New York Battery, and protected the bridge builders at Sandy Creek, a few hundred yards from

335

THIRTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.

the extreme right of the enemy's works, when we were relieved by the Third and Fourth Louisiana (colored) and were ordered to rejoin our brigade, preparatory to the grand assault of the 27th.

" In this connection let me remark that the Thirty-eighth had the pleasure of witnessing the admirable behavior of the first colored troops under fire in this war, namely, the Third and Fourth Louisiana, May 26. On the 27th we were ordered to support Duryea's Battery F, First United States, which we did till about 10 o'clock A. M. when we volun- teered in a charge with a few regiments of Grover's Division. We charged over ravines and an abattis of felled timber to within about 150 yards of the works, when the severity of the enemy's fire compelled us to seek such cover as we could find. Lieutenant-Colonel Rodman was instantly killed by a sharpshooter, while in the act of giving a command. On the 30th Major Richardson rejoined us and took com- mand, although still unwell. There being some fear of an attack in our rear, the Thirty-eighth, with other troops of our division, were marched out to Clinton, starting on the morning of June 5 and arriving at Clinton the 7th. The heat was so intense that many officers and men were sun- struck, and for that reason the rest of the marching was done by night. The enemy having left, we returned to Port Hudson, arriving on the 9th. On the 14th of June another assault was ordered The Thirty- eighth and Fifty-third Massachusetts were deployed as skirmishers, and had the advance. We skirmished up into the ditch around the works, and waited for the column of assault, but waited in vain ; and we were obliged to remain there all day under a boiling sun. Our loss was: Commissioned officers, one killed and five wounded ; enlisted men, seven killed and seventy-seven wounded. Upon the surrender of Port Hudson, July 8, two regiments from each division were ordered to march in and take possession. The Thirty- eighth was selected to represent the Third Division, but during the night the Third Brigade was ordered to Plain's Store, about four miles in the rear of Port Hudson, and we were ordered to go to them, where we re- mained on picket until the afternoon of the 1 1th, when westarted for Baton Rouge in charge of artillery and baggage. We arrived there early on the morning of the 12th and remained in camp until the afternoon of the 15th, when we embarked on board the steamer St. Charles for Donaldson- ville, where we remained in camp until the 3Ist. August I we moved

336

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

back to Baton Rouge, to the old camp of the Forty-ninth Massachusetts, which was called Camp W. L. Rodman, where we remained until December 9, 1863."

From Lieut. Chas. F. Shaw the following account is obtained : " Marsh 23, 1864, the regiment broke camp and left the city of Baton Rouge, and was transported by boat to Alexandria. Here for a time it was kept busy in drilling, unloading steamers, and on fatigue duty. April 11 the regiment embarked on the Mittie Stephens and started on the disastrous Red River expedition. While on this trip the boat was fired on by guerrillas and one man was killed, and Lieut. T. Ingraham, jr., and two soldiers were wounded. The regiment went into camp at Grand Ecore, but remained only a few days, as General Banks's army had met the foe, but the battle had resulted in favor of the Confederates. So, on the 21st of April, preparations were made to evacuate our camps and retreat to Alexandria. April 23 the regiment was fired into by the rebel artillery in crossing Cane River, and later in the day a sharp bat- tle took place while our troops were charging across a field, and in this engagement the regiment lost two killed and eight wounded, among the latter being Thomas E. Bliffins, now residing at Smith Mills. The reg- iment arrived at Alexandriaagain on the 26th, and immediately went to work with other regiments in constructing a dam, planned by Lieuten- ant-Colonel Bailey of the Fourth Wisconsin regiment.

"The water in Red River was at a very low point, and most of our gunboats were hard aground ; but by Bailey's fine engineering all our boats were successfully extricated. May 11 we bade farewell to Alex- andria and commenced our march toward the Mississippi river. The enemy kept at our heels continually, and another engagement was pre- cipitated at Mausura on the 16th. Thisbattle was essentially an artillery duel, and proved to be the finest military spectacle seen in the Depart- ment of the Gulf during the war. May 20 the regiment marched to Semmesport, and for nearly two months suffered the intense heat of a Louisiana summer in camp, near Morganza. July 3 the regiment em- barked on board the steamer City of Memphis, and the next day, July 4, landed at Algiers (opposite New Orleans), went into camp and re- mained until the 20th. On that day it embarked and steamed out of the Mississippi into the Gulf of Mexico. July 28 the steamer arrived at

337

RETURN OF THE THIRTY-EIGHTH.

Fortress Monroe and, a few days after, the troops were transported to Washington and thence went by rail to Harper's Ferry. During the autumn of 1864 the regiment participated in all the engagements in the Shenandoah Valley under the leadership of that intrepid general, Sher- idan, and in this campaign saw more real fighting than ever before. On the 19th of October, made memorable by Sheridan's ride, the regiment lost heavily, and performed its share in turning a rout in the morning to a decided victory in the afternoon. During the campaign in the Shenandoah Valley the regiment suffered a loss of 120 men. In Jan- uary, 1865, the regiment embarked on a transport, the destination of which proved to be Savannah. During the balance of the service it performed garrison and fatigue duty at Newbern, Morehead City, and Goldsboro, N. C."

The Thirty eighth Regiment was engaged in the following battles : Bisland, Port Hudson, Cane River, Mausura, Opequan, Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek.

May 4, 1865, the Thirty-eighth went into camp again at Savannah. Here it remained until June 30, and, the war being over, it embarked on the steamship Fairbanks for home, arriving at Boston July 6. It went into barracks on Gallup's Island, and on the 13th was paid off and dis- charged from the service. By invitation of the city of Cambridge, where companies A, B, and F belonged, the regiment visited that place and received a most gratifying reception and ovation.

Reception of Veterans.1-" The returned members of Company H, Thirty eighth Massachusetts Regiment, whose names we give below, re- ceived a hearty welcome upon their arrival home last evening. They were escorted from the north depot by the City Guards, preceded by the New Bedford Massachusetts band, with members of the celebrated band of the Thirty third Regiment resident here, and tliese, preceded by a cavalcade of citizens, marched to City Hall square Here were collected the children of the public schools, with their several drum corps, their pretty banners, and a liberal supply of bouquets. Clustered upon the steps and in the space in front of the hall, with their neat uniforms and showy banners, the gilded mottoes upon which glistened in the setting sun, they formed a most pleasing spectacle. As the veterans approached,

1 From the New Bedford Mercury, July 14, 1865.

338

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

handkerchiefs were waved by the children, and when the former halted in front of the hall, they were greeted with hearty cheers and a shower of bouquets from the little ones, who then sang, to the grand " Old John Brown " tune, the song of welcome composed by James B. Congdon, esq., for the celebration on the 4th. Cheers followed from the children and from the throngs of citizens with which the entire square was packed, when the soldiers retired to the Guards' armory, laid aside their arms, and then partook of a collation at the dining rooms of Messrs. Wing & Brockway They subsequently assembled in the armory, and after hearty cheers for Lieutenant Shaw and their old commander, Captain Rodman, they retired to their homes."

The following are the names of the returned veterans :

New Bedford .- Lieut. Charles F. Shaw, commanding ; Sergeants Benjamin Hillman, Henry Hillman ; Corporals John P. Brenning, Gil- bert M. Jennings ; Privates Thomas Lapham, James F. Edgerton, George S. Howard, Matthias H. Johnson.

Acushnet .- Sergeant George D. Bisbee; Privates A. E. H. Brooks, Orrin D. Perry.

Westport .- Peleg S. Borden.

Sandwich .- Corporal N. H. Dillingham.

Falmouth .- Sergeant George W. Swift; Corporal Reuben E. Phin - ney ; Privates John B. Crocker, Henry O. Davis, Leonard Doty, Perry W. Fisher.

Fairhaven. - Private Thomas Nye.

Middleboro. - Private James C. Reed.

Capt. Albert F. Bullard, of Company E, of New Bedford, returned with Company H.

The following members of Company H were wounded during their term of service : George F. Lincoln, Luther P. Williams, Albert F. Ballard, T. Ingraham, jr., Isaiah B. Bullock, Thomas E. Bliffins, James N. Parker, George D. Bisbee, Benjamin Hillman, Perry W. Fisher, Will- iam Phillips. Killed in action or died of wounds : Lieutenant Colo- nel Wm Logan Rodman, Joseph H. Bly, Alonzo W. Leach, Augustus E. Foster, Silas C. Kenney, J. M Lathrop. Taken prisoners: Henry Hillman, also wounded ; Otis B. Phinney, Matthias H. Johnson, George W. Swift, also wounded; Peleg S. Borden, Arthur E. H. Brooks,

339

THIRD REGIMENT MILITIA.

George Crabtree, Levi Pittsley, Edwin R. Pool, died in hands of the enemy, and Patrick Honan, all captured October 19, 1864, except the last. Deaths from disease : Leander A. Tripp, Peter C. Brooks, George E. Hawes, Bartholomew Aiken, William Bentley, Hiram B. Bonney, Samuel E. Dean, Timothy F. Doty, John Dunlap, George W. Fish, Jehiel Fish, James Holmes, Benjamin Jenks, Ezra S. Jones, Shu- bael Eldridge, jr., Charles G. Kempton, Horace E. Lewis, Walter T. Nye, Jason S. Peckham, William Pittsley, Joshua Roach, James Ryan, John W. Phipps. Received commissions : J. M. Lawton, jr., Edward J. Anthony, as lieutenants in the colored troops ; Edward Bealy, as captain in Louisiana Cavalry ; Albert F. Bullard, as captain Company E, Thirty-eighth Massachusetts ; Elijah Swift, as quartermaster of reg - iment ; George A. Fletcher, as lieutenant in another regiment; Charles F. Shaw, as first lieutenant in Company H, Thirty-eighth Regiment.

THIRD REGIMENT INFANTRY M. V. M.

Of this regiment, Companies E, F, and G were from New Bedford. This regiment, which had rendered three months' service at the begin- ning of the war, under Colonel Wardrop, was again recruited for nine months, in October, 1862, under Col. S. P. Richmond.

The following New Bedford men were attached to his staff : Lieut. - Col. James Barton, Quartermaster Bethuel Penniman, jr., Sergt. - Ma - jor, Joseph E. Nye, Quartermaster-Sergt. Theodore A. Barton.

Company E -- Captain, John A. Hawes ; first lieutenant, Wm. E. Mason ; second lieutenant, James L. Sharp ; sergeants, Daniel A. Butler, Joseph E. Nye, Charles H. Tobey, James C. Hitch, Isaac A. Jennings ; corporals, John H. M. Babcock, Francis Herley, George R. Paddock, Alexander M. Brownell, Frank H. Kempton, Henry H. Pot- ter, Franklin K. S. Nye, Sylvester C. Spooner.

Company F .- Captain, George R. Hurlburt ; first lieutenant, William H. Allen 3d ; second lieutenant, Jonathan W. Davis ; sergeants, Pat - rick Canavan, James H. Williams (Dartmouth), Frederick A. Plummer, Joseph C. Brotherson, Charles H. Walker ; corporals, Charles A. Gould, James Smith (Edgartown), Zacheus H. Wright (Acushnet), Andrew Dexter, John H. Ricketson (Dartmouth), Frederick Hoffman, C. W. Cleaveland (Edgartown), Henry Kohn.

340

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

Company D .- Captain, William S. Cobb ; first lieutenant, Henry W. Briggs ; second lieutenant, James L. Wilbur ; sergeants, Charles West, William H. Chase, John W. Look, Abel Soule, Roland W. Snow ; cor- porals, Simeon Webb, Thomas H. Hammond, William G. Hammond, Andrew Potter, William Eldredge, John L. Flynn, George W. Perry, Ira P. Tripp.

The organization of the regiment was completed at Camp Joe Hooker, Lakeville, and it left for Boston October 22, 1862, where it embarked on transports Merrimac and Mississippi for Newbern, N. C., October 29. The men were supplied with Austrian rifled muskets. These arms were of poor quality, and much dissatisfaction was felt because of it. The regiment was at once put to drilling, and entered upon its nine months' service. It performed picket duty at Newport barracks and at Batchelor's Creek No. I. in November, and December 1I it joined the expedition for Goldsboro, N. C. The troops were gone eleven days and marched a hundred and fifty miles. They participated in the battles of Kinston, Whitehall and Goldsboro, and were authorized by General Fos- ter to inscribe these names and dates of the battles on their banner.

They performed efficient service in the last-named battle, and received compliments from their brigade commander "for their bravery in tear- ing up the railroad track while under fire, and their steadiness in sup- porting Belger's and Morrison's batteries while repelling the brilliant charge of the rebels under General Pettigrew, and also for its coolness while re-crossing the creek, which had been flooded by the rebels." Although the regiment was under fire for several hours during the day, yet it was miraculously fortunate, its loss being but six men killed.

January 14, 1863, the Third Regiment M. V. M. was attached to Col J. Jourdan's brigade, with which it continued during its term of en- listment. It gained a high reputation for excellence in discipline and drill, and received the compliments of its division and corps command- ers. General Foster says: "The Third Massachusetts Regiment al- ways obeys orders, and performs all its duties promptly and without grumbling." Camp Jourdan was located near Newbern, and it was, by reason of the diligence and persistence of this regiment, pronounced by the medical director " one of the cleanest, prettiest and most healthy camps near Newbern, although formerly considered a very unhealthy

34 1

FORTY-FIRST REGIMENT.

locality." This regiment was engaged constantly in reconnoissances, expeditions and marches, and the names of Deep Gully, Fort Ander- son, Neuse River, Washington, N. C., and Blount's Creek represent some of the places at which they did excellent service.

When the term of enlistment expired the regiment was escorted to the station at Newbern by the One Hundred and Fifty-eighth New York Volunteers, preceded by the band of the Forty-sixth Massachu- setts. General Foster and Colonel Jourdan honored the column by a standing review.

In Boston the regiment received a most cordial reception, and was welcomed at the State House by Adjutant- General Schouler. June 22, 1863, it was mustered out of service at Camp Joe Hooker. The official record says : "During the campaign the regiment was transported by steamers and railroad more than 2,000 miles, and marched more than 400 miles over the swampy roads of North Carolina, most of it being done during the most inclement season. It bivouacked upon the ground, without shelter, when the water froze in canteens, and also marched when the thermometer averaged 107 degrees in the shade. During a portion of the time more than 200 men were furnished for extra duty as mechanics, and a number were detailed as overseers of ' contrabands' and others."

FORTY-FIRST REGIMENT MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS.

The organization of the Forty-first Regiment of Massachusetts Vol- unteers, of which Company A was raised in New Bedford, in August, 1862, was completed November 1, 1862, and the regiment was that day mustered into the service of the United States for three years or for the war. Company A was largely composed of New Bedford men, and was officered as follows when it left the State : Captain, John F. Vinal ; first-lieutenant, James W. Hervey; second lieutenant, Eliphalet H. Robbins. The regiment went into camp at Lynnfield, Mass., until, August 27, when it moved to camp E. M. Stanton, at Boxford, Mass. It remained there until November 4, 1862, when it proceeded to New York City, with orders to report to Major-General Banks ; and it then went into quarters at Park Barracks, located on the site of the present

342

HISTORY OF NEW BEDFORD.

post office. November 13 the regiment was transferred to Camp Banks, on the Union Race Course, Jamaica, Long Island, and remained there until December 3. December 4, 1862, it embarked on the steamer North Star, having on board General Banks and staff, and after a pleasant voyage arrived at New Orleans December 15. The next day it proceeded up the river, arriving at Baton Rouge on the 17th, fol- lowed by seven other ocean steamers, transports for the expedition, and six gunboats. After a few shells had been thrown from the iron-clad Essex, the rebels fled and the various regiments landed, under com- mand of General Grover (General Banks having remained at New Or- leans), and occupied the city. February 1 Captain Vinal was pro- moted to major, and First Lieutanant Hervey was placed in command of Company A. The regiment, besides garrison and picket duty, made several excursions into the rebel lines, destroying bridges and meeting with stubborn resistance from the enemy. On the 28th.of March Grover's Division, to which the Forty-first was attached, pro- ceeded by steamer to Donaldsonville, and from there marched through the La Fourche country via Thibedeaux, Terre Bonne and Bayou Boeuf to Brashear. After remaining here from April 4 to April 9, the regi- ment went by steamer Arizona across Grand Lake, and reached the bay of Indian Bend at noon of the 13th. The Forty-first was soon en- gaged with the enemy's pickets, and the firing lasted until dark. On the 14th it was engaged in battle at Irish Bend. It participated in the raid on Avery's Island, Bayou Petit Anse, and assisted in the destruc- tion of the salt-works and in corralling a large number of horses from the enemy.

On April 20 Grover's Division reached Opelousas, having marched from Baton Rouge, 300 miles. Here it performed provost duty, and confiscated a sufficient number of horses from the residents of that territory to mount the entireregiment. Whenit moved, May II, to Barre's Land- ing, horse equipments were furnished, and the command was thence- forth known as the Forty-first Mounted Rifles. The official record says : " During the month it was on duty at Opelousas and Barre's Landing, it collected and sent to New Orleans via Brashear upwards of 6,000 bales of cotton, large quantities of sugar, molasses, and other products of the country, and at least 10,000 contrabands (men, women,

343

FORTY-FIRST REGIMENT.

and children), to work the government plantations in the La Fourche country. This regiment set all the corn-mills in operation, thus fur- nishing large quantities of meal to the troops and inhabitants, and feed- ing the contrabands. It established a free market for the benefit of the poorer inhabitants, reopened the printing-office, and issued a daily paper. The regiment left Barre's Landing May 21, in advance of a wagon-train five miles long, and an immense number of contrabands. The flanks and rear were covered by seven regiments of infantry and a section of artillery, Colonel Chickering commanding the column. About 7 o'clock P. M., May 25, near Franklin, the rear guard with the train was attacked by about 2,500 Texas cavalry and 2,000 infantry. Two or three companies of the Forty- first, including Company A, with a section of Nimm's Battery, were sent to assist the rear guard. After a struggle of about two hours, the rebels were repulsed.

The march to Berwick City occupied five days. Thence the regi- ments were forwarded to General Banks at Port Hudson, early in June. Here the Forty-first was transformed into a permanent mounted regi- ment, June 17, by special order No. 144, and for the rest of its service was known as the Third Massachusetts Cavalry. The regiment was re- tained at Port Hudson for the remainder of the year 1863 and was en- gaged in collecting forage and in such service as belonged to a force of cavalry. On the 7th of January, 1864, the Third went to New Or- leans and remained there until about March I, when it left the city to participate in the Red River expedition, and was assigned to the Fourth Cavalry Brigade, Colonel Dudley commanding. The regiment reached Brashear on March 18, and on the 21st engaged the enemy at Hender- son's Hill. The month of April brought vigorous work, frequent en- counters, and severe fighting with the enemy. The official account says that on the 12th it escorted a flag of truce with three wagons loaded with supplies for the Federal wounded within the Confederate lines ; that after the Union army had fallen back to Grand Ecore, where it remained till the 21st, the regiment, for several days follow- ing, skirmished and fought, driving the enemy before it, and clearing the way for the general column. After the battle the Third took post on Henderson Hill, which was held till the Union army had passed. On the 29th it crossed the Red River, and after a march of twenty

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History of New Bedford and its vicinity, 1620-1892, Part 32

Author: Ellis, Leonard Bolles Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Mason Number of Pages: 1170

Author: Ellis, Leonard Bolles
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y., Mason
Number of Pages: 1170