USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > North Bridgewater > History of North Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to the present time, with family registers > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
March 14, 1864, an order was given to the various provost marshals throughout the State, by order of President Lin- coln, to draft two hundred thousand men, as a reserve force, in addition to the five hundred thousand called for in Feb-
279
THE REBELLION OF 1861.
ruary, 1864, to be used in the army, navy, and marine corps of the United States.
The different towns were allowed till April 15th to fill up their quota, under this call, by volunteering.
Under this call, the following persons were in service in the Veteran Reserve Corps of the United States : -
Patrick Powers, Edward Creedan,
Daniel Donahue,
Daniel Delaney, Thomas Hlavy,
Patrick Lynch,
Simeon Dowling,
Elbridge L. Leach,
Edward P. Packard,
Caleb Badger,
James Fadden,
Cyrus L. Williams,
Turner Torrey.
First Brigade, First Division, Twentieth Corps, United States troops : -
Orlando Dow, A. M. Robinson,
Otis H. Hamilton,
Alden B. Winns,
George A. Stone,
George II. Stearns,
John L. Hibbard,
William Kearney, Nathaniel McKinsley,
The following persons were obtained to fill up the town's quota under call of March 14, 1864: -
Three Years' Recruits obtained at Washington.
James Wilson. May 2, 1864, Ist Reg. Reserve Corps.
James Rexss
Gerthref Wentgel
Charles Hammond
"
Lyman A. Root
66
George J. Miller
60
George Jordan May
3, 1864,
James R. Brown.
Michael F. Kelley
66
66
James D. Cole
Baptist Sawyer.
Adolphus Richards. May
2, 1864,
James S. Badger . April 30, 1864, Ist Battery.
Nathaniel Colman May Robert Eckhart.
1, 1864, 22d Reg., Co. H. 66
Henry Hughes
Michael Ryan
Andrew J. Covell
May Nicholas Paul
3, 1864, 24th Reg., Co. B. 66 66
Henry A. Leviek
66
William Hunt
66
· 280
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
Michael Stanton .May 3, 1864, 24th Reg., Co. B.
Christian Alson
John F. Cunningham
2d Batt., 101st Co.
David Martin
Michael Fony
66
66
123d Co.
Charles Gall
Charles R. Goodwin.
James Miller
David P. Shaw
Theodore Sheltz
John Lyons.
39th Co. V. R. S.
Thomas Hillman
1st Batt., 205th
Jobn Darling
Albert Marquis
James H. Grew
Lewis Artemas
David White.
Nathaniel Brown
May 6, 1864.
Jacob Greely
Again in July, 1864, the enemy having marched to within a few miles of the capital, and the governors of several States feeling desirous to aid in the defence of the same, at their earnest solicitation, they were permitted to call for troops to serve for one hundred days. An order was issued by General William Schouler, from the head-quarters at Bos- ton, July 8, 1864, calling for four thousand men to do gar- rison duty in the forts in and around Washington, to be raised immediately. In response to the above call, forty- two companies were in camp at Readville in less than ten days after the order was issued. Again did North Bridge- water come up nobly to the work of filling up the ranks. A company of a hundred and one, rank and file, was re- cruited, and left the town under the command of Captain Uriah Macoy, July 13, 1864. The company left town in the morning train of cars for Readville. A large con- course of the friends of the company assembled at the depot to witness their departure, and to bestow their parting good wishes.
The following is a list of the company : -
THE REBELLION OF 1861.
281
One Hundred Days' Men, Company C, Sixtieth Regiment. Mustered in July 14, 1864; mustered out November 30, 1864. URIANI MACOY, appointed Captain July 11 ; promoted Major July 30.
. CHARLES L. SPROUL, Ist Lt.
Captain
THOMAS P. BARNFIELD, 2d Lt.
60 Ist Lt.
BERIAN T. HILLMAN,
D. Perkins Reynolds, promoted Ist Sergeant, July 31.
John Ryan,
2d
Daniel L. Weymouth,
3d
66
Peter Dalton,
5th 66
IIuron Wade, 3d Corporal,
Emery Z. Stevens,
66
5th
66
Alfred W. Jones,
6th
Amos S. Perkiss,
7th
Seth L. French,
8th 66
66
F. D. Millet, Musician, Benjamin F. Lewis,
Geo. F. Hayward, "
Benjamin E. Mitchell, Frederick Mitchell,
Seth M. Hall,
Elijah Bates,
Timothy MeCarty,
Bela B. Hayward,
Willard Bryant,
Austin S. Macoy,
Frederick Hanson,
Ezekiel R. Bartlett,
Albert W. Mowry,
Roland Harris,
Charles R. Beals,
William MeGonnigle,
Edwin Holmes,
George W. Barnfield,
Augustus Melburg,
David Perkins,
James E. Ball,
Joshua Morse,
Cyrus Reed,
George W. Barnard,
Timothy Mullens,
Gardner W. Reynolds,
*Herbert C. Blood,
Anthony Phillips,
Howard W. Reynolds,
Frederick N. Bigelow,
Harrison Phillips,
Josiah E. Reynolds,
Nathan B. Blood,
Charles D. Packard,
Henry A. Soule,
John A. Belcher, James Corcoran, John H. Cole,
Barzillai Field,
William Stevens, Clerk,
George Churchill,
Seth L. French,
James Sullivan, Alexander Thrasher,
Charles R. Curtis,
Leonard Faunee,
Varanes Filoon,
Charles II. Thompson,
Benjamin B. Curtis, James Dwyer,
Michael Fitzgerald,
David L. Tinkham,
Willard Howard,
Thomas Fitzpatrick,
Andrew Johnson,
William II. Foster,
Flavel B. Keith,
Henry Gardner,
Asa W. Tinkham, John Towle, Ilerbert M. Thompson
Thomas Kenney,
Charles E. Graves,
Albert E. Windship,
Justin V. Keith,
Spencer B. Glass,
Edward M. Willis,
Avory F. Keith,
Charles W. Gardner,
Dexter E. Wilbor,
Edward Luney,
George A. Haven,
Samuel J. Wade,
Danicl Lawson,
Robert Henderson,
John Westgate,
George HI. French.
Lewis D. Stinchfield,
Reuel W. Dunbar,
George B. Smith,
John W. Porter,
Frederick M. Hathaway,
Samuel W. Holbrook,
Ethan Allen,
2d Lt.
This company was located at Indianapolis, Ind., and, * Died October 25, at Indianapolis, Ind.
36
282
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
although not actively engaged in any battle, did valuable service in doing guard duty, and received the thanks of the commanding general.
The following persons enlisted in the service, in August and September, 1864, for one year, mostly in heavy artillery companies : -
Charles W. Bacon,
Otis Cobb,
Lucas W. Alden,
Joshua R. Bartlett,
Thomas Shean,
Stephen Davis,
John Gartland,
James Herrod,
George W. Stephens,
Thomas Moran,
John Donohue, 2d,
James Hoyt,
Galen E. Pratt, Franklin M. Sturtevant,
Wilson Morse,
Patrick Diamond, James Farrell,
Daniel D. Sanford,
Ira O. Severance,
Jacob Peacock,
Edward W. Spencer,
John Fury,
Jolın Keegan,
George E. Peek,
John Diamond,
Charles H. Crosby,
St. Clair MeLeod,
William Emerson,
Volney H. Dunbar,
Marcus W. Wheeler,
Alexander D. Washburn, James H. Keenan,
List of men in Company B, Captain Robert Crossman, 2d, Fifty-eighth Massachusetts Regiment, under command of Colonel John C. Whiton, for three years' service : -
William A. Start, Chaplain, Joseph Skinner, Charles Bond.
Company D, Captain Charles E. Churchill : -
Charles D. Hunt, Daniel Y. Soper, Isaac A. Reynolds,
Osman J. Perkins,
Daniel W. Willis, John R. Mills,
Charles W. Reynolds,
Joseph L. Bunker, Clarence Caulkins,
Joseph G. Warren,
Francis I. Snow,
Samuel J. Caulkins,
William F. Willis, Bradford Snell.
Company F, Captain Charles D. Copeland : -
George E. Holmes, Levi B. Holbrook, George M. Skinner,
George II. Thompson,
Nehemiah Thompson, Henry M. Bartlett,
William Mackay,
Jerrie C. Vaughn, Daniel C. Bird,
Albert G. Thompson,
John B. Parker, Thomas Eagan,
Iliram A. Freeman, Henry D. Peircc.
Company G, Captain Samuel B. Hinckley : -
Anthony P. Faunce.
Company H, Captain William H. Harley : -
James A. Smith, Dennis Iliggins,
283
THE REBELLION OF 1861.
Company I, Captain Nathan S. Oakman : - Elijah Gay, George B. Stevens, Henry L. Thompson, James F. Williams.
Company K, Captain Albion M. Dudley : - William S. Brett, John S. Perry, Peter Johnson.
Frank Benson,
Fifty-ninth Massachusetts Regiment, Captain James Gib-
son : Harrison A. Hunt, John E. Hunt.
United States Signal Corps : - James M. Kimball, Edwin T. Cowell, Jeremiah S. Young.
Second Massachusetts Light Artillery, Captain William
Moreland, for one year's service : -
Henry J. White, Ziba H. Bryant, Jeffrey A. Potter, James Coffee.
Fourth Massachusetts Light Battery, Captain George G. Trull, three years' service : -
William Geary.
Fifth Massachusetts Light Battery, Captain Charles A. Phillips, one year's service : - James Sheerin, Francis E. Baxter.
Seventh Massachusetts Light Battery, Captain Newman W. Storer, three years' service : -
Patrick MeCullough.
Tenth Massachusetts Light Battery, Captain J. Webb Adams, one year's service : -
Cornelius MeAuliffe.
Eleventh Massachusetts Light Battery, Captain Edward J. Jones, three years' service : -
Josiah H. Foye.
Sixteenth Massachusetts Light Battery, Captain Henry D. Scott, three years' service : -
Rufus C. Bean.
284
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
Fourth United States Artillery, Company L : -
Nathaniel J. Huntress, Willis F. H. Fisher.
Fortieth United States Regiment Colored Troops, three years' service : -
George Bussey.
Third Massachusetts Cavalry, three years' service : - Thomas P. Williams.
Fourth Massachusetts Cavalry, Captain Joseph W. Morton, three years' service : -
Charles M. Hathaway,
Edward E. Holden, Philip Rochester.
For one year's service in same regiment : -
Lawrence IIogan, John Farrell, Jr.,
James Donahue,
Philip Il. King, Allen F. Williams,
Cornelius Birmingham.
In the call of July, 1864, for 500,000 troops, a draft was to be made in all districts that were not filled within sixty days. To avoid a draft and the liability of serving, the fol- lowing persons furnished substitutes : -
SUBSTITUTE.
PRINCIPAL.
James Davis Aug. 29, 1864, 3 years.
George E. Bryant.
John Brown Sept. 3,
Charles II. Curtis.
James Collins 5,
Horatio B. Thayer.
Emill Thompson
1,
John II. Stevens
1,
Peter Keenan Aug. 15,
John Dobbins
25, 1864, 4 years.
John James " 14, 1864, 3 years.
John Roach Sept. 1,
Francis A. Thayer.
Ambrose Dube 2,
George R. Thompson.
7, 66 Alfred Grey 66
9,
Henry L. Bryant.
Charles R. Ford.
Martin Hawkins 27,
George Sawyer. Simeon F. Packard.
Charles Auringer
24, 66
John Nelligan
" 24, 1864, 4 years.
Barnabas H. Gray.
John Dyer.
30,
Augustus T. Jones.
Jeremiah Maloney
23, 1864, 3 years.
Sylvanus Keith. Henry E. Lincoln.
Michael Martin.
14,
Arza B. Keith.
Jonathan J. Thompson . . 15,
Charles Howard, Jr.
William A. Osborn. Elmer L. Keith. Charles P. Keith.
Charles II. Cole.
Nelson J. Foss.
John Fitz Gibbons
Luther Studley.
John Allen Aug. 29,
Charles Felman Sept. 14,
285
THE REBELLION OF 1861.
SUBSTITUTE.
PRINCIPAL.
John Pointon . Sept. 17, 1864, 3 years.
Jonas Reynolds.
Edwin R. Siee
" 21,
Eben G. Rhodes.
Benagah C. Boston
13,
L. Bradford Howard.
Charles Werner
22,
Elbridge W. Morsc.
James Edwin
19,
Mitchell Willis.
Thomas MeManus Aug. 1, 1864, 1 year.
Jonas R. Perkins.
James Brown
.Oct. 10, 1864, 3 years.
Cyrenus W . Blanchard.
Antone Robero
" 25,
Eliphalet L. Thayer.
Navy Recruits.
Alvan Howe, September 6, 1864, one year. Stillman Billings, September 7, 1864, one year. William C. N. Sanford, Acting Master's Mate.
List of casualties, promotions, changes, deaths, etc., in the foregoing companies : -
David W. Graves, First Heavy Artillery, wounded in the foot at the bat- tle of Spottsylvania, May 19, 1864.
George W. Pope, enlisted October 28, 1861, in Company G, Twenty- ninth Massachusetts Regiment for three years' service, was soon promoted to Seeond Lieutenant, December 6, 1862; First Lieutenant, July 29, 1864 ; he died August 5, 1864, at the Seminary Hospital, Georgetown, D. C., from the effects of a wound received in one of the battles before Petersburg, Virginia, June 15, 1864.
.
John B. Cobb, Company A, Seventh Massachusetts Regiment, died of yellow fever at Mansfield, North Carolina, October 20, 1864. At the time of his death he was Quartermaster Sergeant of Company B, Second Massa- chusetts IIcavy Artillery.
Preston IIolbrook, Company C, Thirty-fifth Massachusetts Regiment, taken prisoner in the battle at Poplar Spring Church, carried to Libby Pris- on, and there remained one night ; from thence to Salisbury, North Carolina, where he remained five months ; released from prison in March, 1865.
George E. Holmes, Company F, Fifty-eighth Massachusetts Regiment, was taken prisoner while on picket-duty near Petersburg, Virginia, June 7, 1864 ; was carried to Andersonville Prison, released in March, 1865 ; he died at Camp Parole Hospital, Annapolis, Maryland, May 28, 1865.
John E. Hunt, Company B, Fifty-ninth Massachusetts Regiment, Musi- cian.
Harrison A. IIunt, taken prisoner at Petersburg, died November 22, 1864, at Danville, Virginia.
Alfred II. Tilden, Company G, Seventh Massachusetts Regiment, wounded in one of the battles in the Shenandoah Valley, 3d and 4th of June, 1864.
Samuel T. Packard, Company G, Fifty-sixth Massachusetts Regiment, severely wounded in the face ; died at his residence October 10, 1864.
286
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
Sylvanus C. Packard, Company A, Thirty-ninth Massachusetts Regiment, taken prisoner in one of the battles on the Weldon Railroad ; released in March, 1865.
Charles T. Packard enlisted in Company F, Twelfth Massachusetts Regi- ment ; promoted to Second Lieutenant June 26, 1861 ; Captain, August 20, 1862; he was wounded in the severe battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, De- cember 13, 1862, losing one eye.
Frank E. Drake, Company I, First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, taken prisoner, and died at Andersonville, Georgia, November 18, 1864.
Daniel W. Willis, Company D, Fifty-eighth Massachusetts Regiment, killed in battle.
John R. Mills, Company D, Fifty-eighth Massachusetts Regiment, killed in battle.
Simeon W. Edson, Twenty-second Massachusetts Regiment, lost a leg in the battle of Spottsylvania, May 10, 1864.
Daniel W. Edson, Twenty-second Massachusetts Regiment, lost a leg in the battle of Spottsylvania, May 10, 1864.
Walter D. Allen, of the Third Massachusetts Cavalry, died at the Philadel- phia hospital October 29, 1864, from the effect of wounds received in Sheri- dan's army, in the Shenandoah Valley.
Charles E. Johnson, Company C, Third Rhode Island Battery, wounded while skirmishing near Harper's Ferry.
John D. Sanford, Company K, Fortieth Massachusetts Regiment, died a prisoner at Andersonville, Georgia, July 16, 1864.
Heman F. Stranger, Company C, Thirty-fifth Massachusetts Regiment, wounded at the battle of Antietam.
Alonzo S. Hamilton, Company F, Seventh Massachusetts Regiment, also of Company C, Thirty-third Maine Regiment, wounded at the battle of Pe- tersburg, Virginia, June 17, 1863.
George M. Nash was drafted and sent to join the Thirty-second Massa- chusetts Regiment ; was severely wounded at Spottsylvania, and died in an ambulance on the way to Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Jerrie C. Vaughn enlisted March 12, 1864, in Company F, Fifty-eighth Massachusetts Regiment ; promoted to Second Lieutenant March 25, 1864 ; wounded near one of his eyes, a bullet lodging behind one of them ; he was formerly Major of the Sixty-seventh New York Regiment.
Horace Baker lost an arm in one of the battles of May 12, 1864.
John A. IIolmes, Twenty-ninth Massachusetts Regiment, severely wounded in both knees.
John B. Parker, Company F, Fifty-eighth Massachusetts Regiment, wounded in the leg in battle, June 3, 1864.
Andrew C. Gibbs, wounded in the leg June 1, 1864. -
Daniel C. Bird, stunned by a shell in the head, May 12, 1864.
Frederic C. Blanchard, Company C, Forty-second Massachusetts Regi- ment, appointed one of the Louisiana Engineers ; also ordered on the staff of General Couch, as chief engineer of the Department of the Susquehanna.
Ilenry L. Thompson, Company 1, Fifty-eighth Massachusetts Regiment,
287
THE REBELLION OF 1861.
taken prisoner near Petersburg, July 30, 1864 ; sent to prison at Danville, where he remained one month ; paroled, and arrived at Annapolis, Maryland, September 3, 1864.
Samuel F. Howard, Company G. Seventh Massachusetts Regiment, was shot in the foot in the battle of Fredericksburg, during an assault on St. Mary's Hill.
Charles W. Reynolds enlisted April 2, 1864, in Company D, Fifty-eighth Massachusetts Regiment ; fell in the battle of Petersburg, a day or two be- fore the final surrender.
John W. Burns, Bugler in Company HI, Twelfth Massachusetts Regi- ment, taken prisoner October 11, 1863, and sent to Libby Prison, Richmond, Virginia, where he died February 24, 1864.
Caleb T. Athearn, Company F, Thirty-third Massachusetts Regiment, wounded in the leg.
Dr. Charles H. Mason, Surgeon on board the gunboat " Virginia," died at a station near New Orleans of yellow fever, Thursday, October 13, 1864 ; was medical examiner of recruits at New Orleans.
George W. Packard, Eleventh Massachusetts Battery, wounded by a bul- let in the neck.
William Mackey, Albert Fisher, D. Y. Fisher, B. C. Allen, of North Bridgewater, were removed from prison at Salisbury, North Carolina, Decem- ber 15, 1864.
Daniel P. Sherman, Company B, First Massachusetts Cavalry, killed at the battle of Aldie, June 17, 1863.
Enos W. Thayer, enlisted in the volunteer service September 10, 1861; commissioned as Captain of Company C, Twenty-sixth Regiment Massachu- setts Volunteers, September 25, 1861 ; he sailed with the regiment from Bos- ton, November 21, 1861, on the steamer " Constitution," and arrived at Ship Island December 3, where they remained till May 30, 1862 ; was in the attack on Sabine Pass ; also in the battle of Winehester, where he fell, wounded in a charge upon the rebels, September 19; he was a prisoner within the rebel lines five hours, when the Union cavalry made a charge, and rescued him. He died October 10, at Winchester Hospital ; his remains were buried at Mansfield, Massachusetts, with military honors, November 11, 1864. He was very much respected as an officer by his superiors, and was a brave, noble, and generous man.
Albert M. Smith, son of Albert Smith, of Charlestown, Massachusetts, for- merly of North Bridgewater, was a member of Company C, Forty-second Massachusetts Regiment ; was in the " Banks Expedition," at New Orleans, Louisiana, 1862-3. At the expiration of that service, re-enlisted, and was en- gaged in the battle of Coal Harbor, since clerk in the hospital department.
Joseph Scott Packard, Jr., formerly of North Bridgewater, was color-bear- er in the Second Massachusetts Regiment ; wounded at Gettysburg, Virginia.
Acting Master Frederic Crocker, promoted to Lieutenant for bravery at Sabine Pass ; afterward commanded an expedition that captured one thou- sand prisoners, with their arms and ammunition ; he was attached to the gunboat " Kensington," on the Florida coast, under the command of Commo- dore Farragut ; his promotion is said to have been richly deserved.
288
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
Lucius F. Kingman, son of Davis Kingman, formerly of North Bridgewa- ter, lately of Northboro', Massachusetts, was killed in battle 1863.
George II. Thompson, Company F, Fifty-eighth Massachusetts Regiment, taken prisoner June 7, 1864 ; died at Andersonville, Georgia.
Sumner A. Smith, Company HI, Second Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, died on the Mississippi River.
Edwin E. Faunee was in the Seventy-fifth Illinois Regiment.
Ambrose Henry Hayward was in Company D, Twenty-eighth Pennsylra- nia Regiment of Veterans ; he enlisted May 24, 1860 ; he died in the hospi- tal at Chattanooga, Tennessee, June 15, 1864, from the effects of wounds re- ceived at the battle of Pine Knob, Georgia. He was a noble, true-hearted soldier ; at the time of his being wounded, he was in command of his com- pany, and had been in several engagements. He was endeared to all his companions by his courteous and manly deportment.
Charles N. Packard, Corporal, was in the Thirty-fifth Massachusetts Regi- ment. Mr. Packard was one of the one thousand that were inspected by the regimental, brigade, and division commanders, and pronounced in every respect the most efficient soldier. He has participated in no less than fif- teen battles ; was at the siege of Vicksburg, and marched through Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi, with great credit to himself, and much respected by his comrades.
Austin Packard enlisted July, 1862, in the Ninth Massachusetts Battery ; wounded in the arm at the battle of Gettysburg ; he was conveyed to Phil- adelphia in the cars, where his arm was amputated. A prostrating fever was caused by the operation, in consequence of which he died September 21, 1864. Funeral honors were paid to his remains at the grave by a detach- ment under Captain A. K: Harmon.
George W. Cole, William Mackey, Fernando Skinner, and Ellis Howard were released from rebel prisons in March, 1865.
Samuel Kimball enlisted in Company E, Eighteenth Massachusetts Regi- ment, August 26, 1861, and was killed at the battle of Bull Run, August 30, 1862.
William Flannagan enlisted June 26, 1861 ; killed at the battle of Bull Run, August 30, 1861.
Ferdinand Robinson enlisted August 26, 1861 ; killed at the battle of Bull Run.
Joseph Beals enlisted July 30, 1862 ; died July 30, 1863, of wounds re- ceived at Gettysburg.
Edward F. Drohan, Company C, Twenty-ninth Massachusetts Regiment, enlisted May 22, 1861 ; died January 12, 1862.
Charles F. Swanstrom, Thirty-third Massachusetts Regiment, died Decem- ber 23, 1862.
Ilenry Fenn, Ninth Massachusetts Battery, killed in the battle of Gettys- burg.
Andrew P. Clson, enlisted in Company C, Forty-second Massachusetts Regiment ; died at the Massachusetts Hospital, New York City.
Orrin D. Holmes, son of Nathan Holmes, of North Bridgewater, enlisted from Plymouth ; fell in the battle before Petersburg, Va., March 25, 1864.
289
THE REBELLION OF 1861.
NARRATIVE OF THE TWELFTHI MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT .*
WE have inserted the following account, thinking it would be of great interest to those who have taken a part in sub- duing the rebellion.
" On the 23d of July, 1861, this regiment left Boston, and arrived at Sandy Hook, Maryland, on the 27th inst., and went into eamp. They marched twen- ty-one miles to the Monocacy River, and encamped, remaining there several days ; from that place they marched to IIyattstown, a distance of six miles ; to Darnestown, eighteen miles ; to Muddy Braneh, seven miles ; to Edward's Ferry, fifteen miles ; and to Seneca Mills, by the way of Poolesville, fifteen miles. They went into winter quarters at Frederick, Maryland, having ar- rived through Darnestown and Barnestown, a distance of thirty miles. Upon the 27th of February, 1862, they broke camp at Frederick, and went into camp at Shenandoah City, Virginia, distant twenty-five miles from Freder- ick. March Ist, they went to Charlestown, Virginia, by the way of Bolivar
Ileights, a distance of seven miles ; they left Charlestown March 10th, for Winchester, Virginia, by the way of Berryville, twenty-four miles ; marched from Winchester to Snieker's Gap, by the way of Berryville, on the 21st of March, eighteen miles ; March 23d went to Aldie, distant eighteen miles ; they returned to Snicker's Gap on the 24th, from whence they marched to Goose Creek, distant eleven miles ; on the 28th they left for Cub Run, and on the 29th marched to Bull Run, five miles. They were almost continually on the mareh from place to place, through the Shenandoah Valley between the 1st of April and August Ist, seldom remaining long in one camp ; Au- gust 9th they were engaged in the battle of Cedar Mountain, in which they lost Captain N. B. Shurtleff, Jr., and ten men wounded ; after this they made several marehes and counter-marches, and on the 20th of August were engaged in the battle of the Rappahannock, in which they suffered no loss ; from this to the 30th, they were almost constantly on the march, and on the day last mentioned, in an engagement at Grovetown, near Bull Run, Colo- nel Webster, Captain Kimball, and ten men were killed, and one hundred and thirty-five men were wounded and missing. After this battle, the regi- ment retreated to Centreville, arriving there the next day ; on the 14th of September, they marehed to South Mountain, and were engaged in that bat- tle, in which one man was killed, and five wounded ; from that place they
went to Keedysville, and on the afternoon of the 16th, formed in line of bat- tle and bivouacked for the night ; they engaged the enemy at five o'clock in the morning, but were ordered to leave the field at nine A. M., and withdrew in good order. They went into this fight with three hundred and twenty-five men, and lost forty-seven men killed, and one hundred and sixty-six wounded, several of whom subsequently died of their wounds. On leaving the field, bringing off their regimental colors, four officers, and thirty-two men, they volunteered to support a battery ; after which they rejoined their brigade,
* For a further and very interesting account of this regiment, see the Adjutant General's Report for 1863-4.
37
290
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
and participated in the pursuit of the flying enemy, who withdrew across the river.
" The regiment was at this time under the command of Captain B. F. Cook, of Company E. On the 23d of September, Colonel James L. Bates took command of this regiment. From this time, until November 10th, they were mostly on the march in Maryland and Virginia, and arrived at the Rappa- hannock Station November 8th, near which they encamped.
" At the battle of Fredericksburg, fought on the 13th of December, 1862, the Twelfth Regiment was in General Gibbons's Division. The division was formed in three brigade lines, and the third, commanded by General Taylor, had the advance, the Thirteenth Massachusetts Regiment acting as skir- mishers for the division. Colonel Lyle's Brigade, composed of the Twelfth Massachusetts, the Twenty-sixth New York, and the Nineteenth and One Hundred Thirty-sixth Regiments of Pennsylvania Volunteers, formed the second line, this regiment having the right. The third line was Colonel Root's Brigade, the Sixteenth Maine Regiment having the right. The posi- tion of the Twelfth Regiment was taken nine o'clock A. M. ; the enemy were hidden from view by a thick wood. Our men remained lying down until one o'clock P. M. under a brisk fire of shot and shell, the skirmishers being hotly engaged, and the balls of the enemy passing over us. During these four hours there was but one man of this regiment injured. At one o'clock the signal to advance was given to the whole division, and immediately obeyed. A heavy fire of musketry broke from the whole line of woods in our front. General Taylor's brigade stood the fire some thirty minutes, when the brigade in which was this regiment was ordered to relieve them. As they advanced, they became separated from the brigade by the retiring regi- ments of the Third Brigade, and continued to advance independently, taking a position and firing until their ammunition began to fail. Their brigade had fallen to the rear, and they were alone until the third line came for- ward ; their solid ranks broke the right of this line, which opened to the right and left to get to the front, where it was quickly formed. The Twelfth Regiment followed the one in their front, the Sixteenth Maine, a short dis- tance, and being out of ammunition, were about to join their brigade in the rear, when they were ordered by General Taylor to prepare for a charge. The colonel thereupon gave the command to fix bayonets, and filed to the right of the brigade, and charged with them into the woods in their front. About two hundred of the enemy rushed through our lines, and gave them- Eclves up as prisoners of war. We carried the position and remained some twenty minutes, expecting support ; but none was in sight, and the men were constantly falling before the fatal fire of an unscen enemy. Captains Ripley, Reed, Packard, and Clark, and a hundred of the men had fallen. After consulting with the officers, the colonel gave orders to about face, and they fell back slowly and reluctantly, and in very good order, bearing their tattered banners with them to their brigade. After reaching the place, they were ordered to fall back to where they were supplied with ammunition and rations. They remained under arms all night, and early on the morning of the 14th, they were ordered to another position, where they remained till
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.