USA > Massachusetts > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I > Part 43
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 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186
The regiment moved again on the 21st two miles nearer Richmond, and in the evening Cos. B and I were detailed upon outpost duty beyond the Chickahominy, crossed the burned railway-bridge on planks, waded knee-deep through the swamp, and watched for the enemy until daylight, when the enemy's cavalry pickets were driven in. The picket-line was advanced a half-mile on the 22d, and occasionally ex- changed shots with the rebel pickets in their front on the rail- way.
On the 23d the regiment crossed the river, when the picket companies were called in, and on the 24th the troops advanced to within twelve miles of Richmond. The 10th was on a re- connoissance with Gen. Negley's division, and witnessed an artillery dnel between the 7th New York Battery and the enemy.
May 25, at nine A.M., the 10th marched to Seven Pines, within seven and a half miles of Richmond; all baggage
and trains ordered to the rear. On the 27th the enemy began their attacks upon the extreme right of Gen. Mcclellan's army near Mechanicsville, which finally ended in the retreat of the army from in front of Richmond to a new base at Har- rison's Landing, on the James River. During the 27th the division to which the 10th belonged was employed in cutting timber and throwing up rifle-pits and light field-works.
On the 31st of May was fought the battle of Fair Oaks, which was commenced by a sudden and desperate assault by the rebels, soon after noon, upon the division of Gen. Casey. Instantly the varions regiments were in line, and the strag- glers from Casey's division were swarming to the rear. The 10th was ordered forward to some rifle-pits, when, finding them full of water, the men threw themselves upon the wet ground, where they remained for some time, while the bat- teries on both sides played over their heads. Several men were wounded, some of them by defective shells from the Union guns.
The 55th New York Regiment was in the mean time ordered to take a position in front of the 10th Massachusetts, in the midst of some felled timber, where they were exposed to a heavy and destructive fire from the enemy, and soon compelled to fall back. The 10th was now ordered forward, and soon found itself " under fire" and in a dangerous position, with the enemy on the front and left flank. The regiment was in the midst of the fray from this time until dark. The losses were heavy, and the gallantry of both men and officers con- spicuous even among the many other gallant regiments en- gaged.
Col. Briggs, who was in command of his men, was severely wounded about five o'clock in the evening by a minie-ball, which passed through his left thigh and into the right. Lieut .- Col. Decker being disabled by rheumatism, and Maj. Marsh absent as officer of the day, the command devolved upon Capt. Miller, who handled the troops with such skill and bravery as to call out the highest compliments from bis com- manding officers.
Among the many encomiums bestowed upon the 10th, the following by Gen. Keyes is all we have space for. In conver- sation with a gentleman from Western Massachusetts, he said : " Tell them, when you go back, that I have led a hundred regiments into battle, and never did I see such bravery. I looked at them as they advanced, while the shot fell like hail, and there never was such a dauntless corps. When the fight was over I spoke to them of their courage, and they said they had only done their duty ; but I never heard them mentioned in the journals. Their conduct was, and is, unparalleled in the whole war."
The total losses amounted to 27 killed and 95 wounded, 6 of them mortally. Among the officers killed were Capts. Smart and Day, and among the wounded were Col. Briggs and Capts. Parsons and Newell.
On the 1st of June, which was Sunday, the regiment was on picket duty all day. Details were made from cach com- pany to bury the dead, who were mostly interred where they fell. So far as possible, the graves were marked for identifica- tion at a future day. The rebels retired from in front of their lines, leaving all their dead and part of their wounded. A curious incident is related by Capt. Newell of an omnibus- load of sight-seers from Richmond venturing so far that they were taken prisoners and brought into the Union lines.
From the date of the battle of Fair Oaks to the 28th of June the 10th was engaged in picket and fatigue duty, oc- casionally varied by a sharp skirmish. About the 10th of June the surgeon received two large boxes of hospital stores from the Ladies' Soldiers' Aid Society, consisting of articles of clothing, bedding, bandages, dried fruits, wines, jellies and jams, and many other things, all most acceptable and useful.
On the 14th, Maj. Marsh received his discharge and started for home. Lieut. Woodward, of Co. H, was also discharged
141
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
for disability on the same day. Lieut. Chase resigned, and started home on the 23d.
On the 25th the division was called out and marched to the battle-ground of Fair Oaks, where line of battle was formed and arms stacked for a brief period, when the division was ordered to the front, and again formed in line in the edge of some timber, about four hundred yards from the enemy, where the men began to throw up breastworks, but found so much quicksand they were obliged to desist. The division remained here all night, during which there was a constant skirmish-fire in front, and the rebs were busy felling timber and apparently strengthening their lines. Just before day- light on the 26th the troops were withdrawn to the breast- works of Casey's division, and about noon returned to camp.
There was heavy firing on the right of the army during the 27th. On the 28th the great movement toward the James River commenced. On the night of the 29th the army passed within less than a quarter of a mile of the enemy's outposts, but such was the silence of the march that the movement was not suspected. On the 30th the 10th arrived at Haxall's Landing, on the James, and the entire army was rapidly moving and concentrating at Harrison's Landing.
The morning of July Ist found the whole army united for the first time since crossing the Chickahominy, and holding a strong position at Malvern Hill.
" Malvern Hill forms a high plateau, sloping toward Rich- mond from Cold Banks, near the river, and bounded by deep ravines, making an excellent defensive position.
" The national line of battle was formed with Porter's corps* on the left, near Crew's house, where the artillery of the re- serve, under Col. Hunt, was so disposed on high ground that a concentrated fire of sixty guns could be brought to bear on any point on his front or left, and on the highest point of the hill Col. Tyler had ten siege-guns in position."+
The 10th Massachusetts was in Couch's division, which was on the right of Porter's line.
The extreme left of the army, near the river, and where the heaviest attack was likely to he made, was strengthened by abatis and covered by the gunboats.
On this ground was fought one of the most terrible battles of the war.
The Union army had lost heavily on their retreat from the Chiekahominy, both in men and material, but now they were in a strong position; and, moreover, defeat would be almost certain destruction, and they resolved that hitherto the rebels could come, but no farther.
The battle began about ten o'clock in the morning with a heavy artillery fire, which continued until afternoon, when Gen. Lee resolved to carry the Federal position by storm ; and about two o'clock P.M. Anderson's North Carolina bri- gade charged across the level ground in front of Couch's division, but were bloodily repulsed by the 10th Massachu- setts and 36th New York Regiments and the fire of the bat- teries.
The moment the enemy broke, the 10th and 36th left their works and charged them in turn, and took a new position in advance of the regular line. In this charge the flag of the 30th North Carolina Regiment was captured, and a large number of prisoners. While the 10th was occupying the advanced position Maj. Miller was mortally wounded by a shot through the neck, and when the Union army fell back was left, with other wounded men, in charge of Dr. Jewett, and taken to Richmond, where he died.
About four o'clock p.M. the enemy made a second attempt, with overwhelming numbers, to capture the position. They formed in three double lines, which deliberately filed out of the woods, formed in line of battle, and pushed steadily and rapidly on with the determination to force the position with
the bayonet, and so roll up the Union army from left to right.
When this stern gray mass of men fairly appeared in the open ground, sixty guns from the heights and the whole line of infantry opened a storm of fire upon them which flesh and blood could not withstand. After a desperate but vain attempt to force their way through the lines of the Union army, dur- ing which the "rebel yell" could be distinctly heard above the roar of battle, they broke, and fled in irretrievable confusion.
In this battle the 10th had a little over 400 men engaged. When the fight began each man had sixty rounds of ball-car- tridge, and these were all expended, besides many more taken from the cartridge-boxes of the fallen. The losses in the regi- ment were 8 killed and 73 wounded. Among the killed or mortally wounded were Maj. Ozro Miller and Sergts. IIem- menway, of Co. D, and McFarlane, of Co. E; and among the wounded were Lieuts. Wheeler, Pieree, and Shurtleff.
After the battle was over the 10th was relieved, and marched to the rear of the batteries.
On the 2d of July the whole army was put in motion from the field where it had given the enemy such a terrible defeat, and moved to Harrison's Landing. Why Gen. Mcclellan was in such baste to retreat before a beaten enemy, leaving his badly wounded and considerable stores on the field, seems in- explicable, but such was the fact, and it most certainly reflects little credit upon him as a commander. When the veteran Taylor was hard pressed by Santa Anna at Buena Vista, and his officers urged a retreat, he nobly replied, " My wounded are behind me, and I will never pass them alive." But here was a general claiming to have defeated the enemy, and yet hastily retreating before him and leaving many of his wounded to languish in rebel prisons !
At evening on the 2d the whole Army of the Potomac were encamped in column, by division, in an immense wheat-field, under cover of the gunboat fleet.
At this point the 10th remained until the 16th of August. On the 8th of July, President Lincoln visited the army, and was received with the greatest enthusiasm. The regiment was engaged a good part of the time on picket and fatigue duty, varied by an occasional reconnoissance toward the enemy's lines.
On the 16th of August the retrograde movement of the army was continued, and on the 20th the 10th arrived at York- town, where it remained until the 29th, when it embarked on board the screw-steamer " Key West" for Alexandria.
At Yorktown, on the 27th, Dexter F. Parker, of Worcester, formerly brigade quartermaster, reported for duty as major of the 10th, in place of Maj. Miller, who had died of his wounds in Richmond on the 15th of July. This appointment was received with anything but satisfaction by the line-officers of the regiment, and eventually produced a vast deal of trouble. It was not claimed by the officers of the regiment that Maj. Parker was lacking in bravery or any of the essentials of a gen- tleman, or the necessary qualifications for his particular branch of the service. The objections were precisely the same as would be raised in any volunteer regiment. He did not belong to the regiment and was not educated in the experience of a line-officer, and the officers of the 10th regarded the appoint- ment as an innovation upon the claims of brave and competent men in their own ranks.
The troops debarked at Alexandria on the 1st of September, and were ordered to Fairfax Court-House, to the support of Gen. Pope. The march was commenced, and continued for a few miles, but on the 2d the troops were ordered to return to Alexandria ; which order was soon changed, and they moved to the Chain Bridge, which point they reached at noon on the 3d. Here Col. Eustis assumed the command.
On the 5th the 10th moved forward with the balance of the troops toward the rebel army in Maryland. Gen. Pope had been superseded by Gen. McClellan, and on the 14th and 17th
* Grand division.
t From history of the Tenth Regiment.
142
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
were fought the battles of South Mountain and Antietam, in consequence of which the rebel army retreated once more into Virginia.
The regiment was in the vicinity of both these great actions, but not actively engaged in either. On the 15th a strong force, including the 10th, was ordered to the relief of the gar- rison at Harper's Ferry, then closely invested by Lee's army. The command proceeded rapidly on its way, but within an hour the firing at Harper's Ferry, which had been very heavy all the morning, suddenly ceased, and it was at once understood that the garrison, amounting to about 12,000 men, had snrren- dered. It was no doubt a shameful and unnecessary act, and the Union commander has been severely criticised. On the evening of the 17th the 10th reached the Antietam battle-field after a most fatiguing day of marching and countermarching, and threw themselves on the ground for a little rest.
On the 18th the 10th was assigned a position on the right of the front line, where it remained during the day. The battle, as is well known, was not renewed, and the morning of the 19th found the rebel army across the Potomac, and evidently retreat- ing southward. After a great amount of marching the 10th went into camp on the 24th of September, near Downesville, where, on the 25th, the men were mustered for pay. The eam- paign had been a rough one, and the regiment-both officers and men-was ragged and shabby.
At this camp, on the 27th, eleven line-officers of the regiment tendered their resignations in consequence of the appointment of Maj. Parker. The names of these officers were as below : Captains Thomas W. Clapp, George Pierce, Samuel C. Traver, . Joseph K. Newell; Lieutenants Hiram A. Keith, Joseph HI. Bennett, Lorenzo M. Remington, George E. Hagar, Henry E. Crane, Edwin E. Moore, and James Knox.
Lieuts. Charles Wheeler and David W. Wells were honor- ably discharged on surgeons' certificates.
At dress-parade Col. Eustis informed the officers that he had received the resignations, but had not forwarded them, and would hold them until the next morning, trusting that they would be reconsidered and recalled. He cautioned them at the same time that they were violating the 7th article of war, and must expect the consequences.
None of them were withdrawn, however, and on the 28th the officers were all ordered under arrest. A court-martial was advised by Gen. Devens, the brigade commander, who deprecated in strong terms the action of the officers. From this time until the 14th of November the court-martial sat as opportunity was offered, and in the mean time the offenders remained with the regiment, under arrest and without arms or command. The last case was disposed of by the court- martial on the last-mentioned date, and forwarded for ap- proval.
In the mean time, the regiment was almost constantly on the move in Maryland and Virginia, though scarcely under fire.
During the month of November a number of men were transferred from the regiment into the regular artillery ser- vice, most of them going into Butler's battery, 2d U. S. Artillery.
During the greater part of November the regiment was moving from place to place in Virginia, and in the beginning of December began a movement which terminated in front of the rebel position on the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg.
The 10th was present at the great battle of Fredericksburg, on the 13th of December, 1862, but, with the exception of being exposed at one time to a heavy shelling, did not partici- pate. Upon the retreat of the army on the morning of the 15th, the 10th was selected as rear-guard for the left wing, and was the last regiment to leave the ground. The troops went into camp near Falmouth.
The officers who tendered their resignations had their cases gradually disposed of, and on the 20th of December the last of them received their discharges from the service. The sen-
tence of the court-martial was that the four senior officers be cashiered and the remainder dismissed the service.
Upon the presentation of a written statement of the facts to the President of the United States, he set aside the findings of the court, and all the officers were honorably discharged. Several of them subsequently served with credit in the army.
On the 26th of November, Lieut. Wallace A. Putnam, of Co. E, had exensed some of his barefooted men from drill. Upon hearing of this the colonel called the lieutenant to ac- count, and ordered him to take these men and hring wood three-fourths of a mile to replenish the fire in front of his tent, and keep at work until he ordered him to stop. The lieutenant, considering the order an inhuman one, flatly refused to obey it, and was at once put under arrest by the colonel. Upon his trial he pleaded guilty to the charges, and upon giving a written statement of the reasons for disobeying the orders the reviewing-officer returned him to dnty.
About the 5th of January the 10th was virtually recon- structed, with mostly a new set of officers, the places of those killed, disabled, and discharged having been filled by new men.
The following list shows the officers at this time : Colonel, Henry L. Eustis ; Lientenant-Colonel, Joseph B. Parsons ; Major, Dexter F. Parker; Adjutant, Charles H. Brewster; Surgeon, C. N. Chamberlain ; Assistant Surgeon, A. B. Rob- inson; Acting Assistant Surgeon, G. C. Clark; Quarter- master, Allen S. Mansir ; Chaplain, A. J. Bingham.
Company A .- Captain, Ralph O. Ives ; First Lieutenant, Levi Ross; Second Lieutenant, C. H. Knapp.
Company B .- Captain, William Streeter ; First Lieutenant, E. B. Bartlett; Second Lientenant, G. C. Kaulback.
Company C .- Captain, James H. Weatherall ; First Lieu- tenant, Edwin Whitney ; Second Lientenant, E. HI. Graves.
Company D .- Captain, Homer G. Gilmore ; First Lieuten- ant, H. M. Cotrell ; Second Lieutenant, E. B. Whittlesey.
Company E .- Captain, Edwin L. Knight; First Lieutenant, Wallace A. Putnam; Second Lieutenant, Simeon N. El- dridge.
Company F .- Captain, George W. Bigelow ; First Lieuten- ant, L. O. Eaton ; Second Lieutenant, T. S. Noble.
Company G .- Captain, George Pierce, Jr. ; First Lienten- ant, N. H. Gardner ; Second Lieutenant, George W. Potter, Jr.
Company H .- Captain, Flavel Shurtleff; First Lieutenant, A. E. Munyan ; Second Lieutenant, A. W. Midgley.
Company I .- Captain, Willard I. Bishop ; First Lieutenant, William A. Ashley ; Second Lieutenant, W. F. Darby.
Various articles from the officers of the regiment and others appeared in the papers, and altogether, with its distinguished services in the field and its internal difficulties, its history was among the most interesting and eventful of any that took the field from the State of Massachusetts.
The new chaplain did not remain long before continned ill health compelled his resignation. He was quite popular in his regiment, and upon the eve of his departure made a very feeling address to his companions.
In the latter part of January occurred the famous " forward- and-back" movement of Burnside's army, which was denomi- nated the " mud campaign" by the soldiers. In this the 10th bore, as usual, a conspicuous part. The movement took place between the 20th and 24th of the month, and resulted in nothing except wear and tear of men and transportation.
Soon after the " mud campaign," Col. Eustis was placed in command of the brigade to which the 10th was attached. While encamped and doing picket duty along the Rappahan- nock, the pickets of the two armies kept open communications across the river, and exchanged newspapers, tobacco, coffee, and compliments, and occasionally written correspondence, notwithstanding it was strictly forbidden.
On the 6th of March, 1863, three wagon-loads of express
143
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
goods were received and distributed, making glad the hearts of the soldiers, who felt that they were still remembered at home. During the month of March reviews and drills indieated ac- tive work at hand. On the 8th of April the army was reviewed by President Lincoln, who was accompanied by his two sons.
At one period during the spring of 1863 a balloon was at- tached to the army, and the 10th Massachusetts had the honor of furnishing an officer (Lieut. Kaulback) and 30 men to take charge of the apparatus.
Gen. Joe Hooker was now in command of the Army of the Potomac, and high hopes were entertained of great things to come.
On the 20th of April, Gen. Charles Devens, Jr., who had been a long time in command of the brigade, was ordered to report to Gen. Howard, of the 11th Corps, as commander of a division, and on the following day he bade his old command an affectionate adieu.
While lying in their camps about Falmouth the boys of the 10th and various other regiments instituted a series of base-ball games to while away the monotony of camp-life. The game had not then risen to the prominence it has since acquired as a national one, neither had it been reduced to such a science as at the present time, but it furnished abundance of sport, and was played with the greatest zest by both officers and men.
On the 28th of April commenced the series of movements which culminated, on the 3d of May, in the battles of Salem Heights and Chancellorsville. The left wing of the army, under Sedgwick, gallantly carried the rebel positions in front of Fredericksburg which had cost such sacrifices in Burnside's army the previous December ; but the centre and right wing, under the immediate command of Gen. Hooker, were re- pulsed at Chancellorsville, and this enabled Gen. Lee to throw an overwhelming force upon Sedgwick's corps and compel it to fall back across the Rappahannock with considerable loss.
The 10th was heavily engaged in the attack upon Salem Heights and suffered severely, losing 10 killed and 56 wounded. Among the killed was First Sergt. Amos Pettis, of Co. I, and among the wounded were Capt. Shurtleff and Lieut. Noble.
Col. Eustis, of the 10th, exhibited great skill and bravery in handling the brigade after Col. Brown was wounded. Maj. Parker was in command of the 10th.
The regiment remained in camp, which was named " Camp Eustis," from the 8th of May to the 5th of June, when active operations were again commenced. On the 23d of May, Co. K was made the color-company. The men were constantly exercised in drilling and fatigue duty.
On the morning of June 5th the ball was opened by the Vermont brigade, who crossed the Rappahannock in boats, charged the enemy gallantly under a heavy artillery fire, drove them from their rifle-pits, and captured 200 prisoners. During these operations the 10th was under arms, but took no part in them.
On the 7th a detail of 1000 men, including seven companies of the 10th, was sent across the river about eight o'clock in the evening, fully armed and equipped. Once on the farther side, they were furnished with intrenching tools, and by daylight of the 8th had thrown up a strong line, a mile in length, con- fronting the rebel position. The detail was then relieved, and recrossed the river.
Intrenching and skirmishing, varied by artillery firing, was kept up until the 14th of June, when the army began the famous march toward the culminating battle of the war, at Gettysburg. Lee was moving his army toward the North, and the Federal army moved in a parallel course abreast of him, and brought him to bay at length among the hills of Southern Pennsylvania when the rich eities of Philadelphia and Balti- more were almost within his grasp.
During the long and toilsome march, while at Westminster, the 36th New York, which had been brigaded with the 10th Massachusetts ever since they were at Brightwood, left the
brigade and returned home, the two years for which they enlisted having expired.
The 10th, during the terrible battle of July 3d, was among the reserves, almost constantly moving from one point to another, and during Gen. Lee's terrific eannonade with one hundred and twenty guns upon the centre of the Union position it passed through the concentrated storm, but for- tunately losing only two men wounded.
On the 5th the army started in pursuit of the retreating enemy. On the 25th the 10th was near Warrenton, where it remained until the 15th of September. On the 21st of July a detail of three commissioned and six non-commissioned officers was made, to proceed to Massachusetts on recruiting service. On the 29th of July a fine new set of colors was received from Boston. The old colors were sent to Boston for safe-keeping.
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.