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 44
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On Saturday, the 8th of August, Capt. George Pierce re- joined the regiment, having been reinstated by Governor Andrew in his command. He was one of those who resigned on account of the appointment of Maj. Parker. About this time, also, the sutler made his appearanee with two wagon- loads of goods. On the 17th of August the regiment was paid off for four months. Besides the allotments to their families, the quartermaster expressed home for the boys $10,105. The regiment at this time numbered about 400 men.
On the 3d of September, Capt. Ives, who had gone to a house outside the picket-line for a glass of milk, was captured by guerrillas and taken to Richmond. About the middle of ยท September, Col. Eustis was promoted to brigadier-general for meritorious services. Col. Parsons had commanded the regi- ment after the battle of Salem Heights.
Soon after the promotion of Col. Eustis about $300 was raised to purchase a sword and accompanying trappings, to be presented to him as a token of esteem from the officers and men of his old command. A subscription was also started for the purpose of procuring a suitable memorial for presenta- tion to Gen. MeClellan. This last was participated in by the whole army.
At dress-parade on the 26th of September an order was read dismissing Capt. Ralph O. Ives from the service for violation of the 49th article of war. The regiment was again paid off on the 19th of September.
During the month of October the regiment was marching in Virginia, stopping for a few days at Bristow Station, where it was expected the troops would go into winter-quarters. On the 15th of October, Capt. Fred Barton, of the staff of Gen. Eustis, was captured by guerrillas while at Fairfax Station to see his father off on the cars.
On the 7th of November occurred the action at Rappahan- nock Statiou, where a strong work was eaptured by Gen. Rus- sell's brigade at the point of the bayonet. In the course of the day the 10th lost 2 men wounded, 1 mortally.
At this place about 1500 of the enemy were captured, in- cluding the famous " Louisiana Tigers."
During the latter part of November the whole army made an advance beyond the Rapidan, and there was mueh skir- mishing and considerable fighting between the 26th of No- vember and the 1st of December, at which latter date the army commenced falling back toward Brandy Station. The 10th went into camp on the John Minor Botts farm on the 3d of December.
At this place the regiment constructed a permanent camp. The men built log huts, using tents for roofs. The huts were six feet by ten on the ground, with walls four feet in height.
During their stay at this camp a large number of the 10th Regiment re-enlisted for three years. Every man who re- enlisted was promised thirty-five days' furlough. On the 2d of January, 1864, the re-enlisted men of nine companies were mustered for three additional years of service by Capt. Smith, of Gen. Terry's staff, and on the next day the remaining com-
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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
pany was mustered. At one time during their stay here ru- mors were afloat that the regiment would be ordered to San- dusky, Ohio, to guard prisoners of war.
About the middle of January the regiment was supplied with a new chaplain, in the person of Rev. Mr. Perkins, of Montague. Recruits began now to arrive in camp. Early in February the chaplain, having no suitable place for con- ducting religious services, set about constructing a chapel, which was soon completed. It was built of logs plastered with mud, and was seventeen by twenty-three feet and could accommodate about one hundred persons. It was decorated with bunting and evergreens.
Not long after the chapel was completed the major took possession of it for the purpose of practicing the bayonet exer- cise, but upon a representation of the matter to Col. Parsons the business was discontinued. A lyceum was organized in the regiment, and meetings were held once a week. There was heavy firing along the Rapidan on the 6th of February, and indications of some movement in the rebel camp.
On the 10th of February the re-enlisted veterans left for home on their promised furloughs. The balance of the regi- ment was consolidated into four companies, under command of Maj. Parker.
On the 19th, Gen. Eustis was presented with an elegant sword and trappings by the 10th Regiment. Maj. Parker made the presentation in an appropriate speech, which was feelingly responded to by the general. The old band of the 10th was reorganized as a brigade band, and rejoined the command under the lead of B. A. Stewart on the 14th of Feb- . ruary, and on the 20th Mr. Burdick died very suddenly in the hospital. The regiment was again paid off on the 25th of this month.
From the 27th of February to March 2d the regiment was out on a reconnoissance. From the latter date until May 4th it remained in camp. On the 2d of April the paymaster again made his appearance. On the 18th there was a grand corps review by Gens. Grant, Meade, and Sedgwick. During the latter part of April various games of ball (wicket, base-ball, etc.) were indulged in, one company being generally matched against another.
On the 4th of May the whole Army of the Potomac broke camp and began the great forward movement under a new and at length successful leader.
The 10th was hotly engaged in the battle of May 5th, the initial conflict of the terrible " Wilderness" battles, and lost 115 killed and wounded, being about one-third of the whole. Among the killed was Lieut. Ashley, of West Springfield, and among the wounded were Lieuts. Eaton and Midgley, the latter mortally.
During the next day's fighting the 10th was in the reserve line, and suffered very little. Capt. Shurtletf was severely wounded in the arm. After two days' severe fighting, Gen. Lee became convinced that new tactics had been adopted by the Army of the Potomac, and that he could no longer main- tain his position against Gen. Grant's tremendous assaults. He accordingly abandoned his advanced line, and retired behind his heavy intrenchments.
The 10th was slightly engaged on the 8th, losing 1 killed and 8 wounded. During the night of the 8th, Gen. Lee succeeded in taking up a very strong position across Gen. Grant's line of march, and here he held the national army at bay for the space of twelve days. On the 9th, Gen. John Sedgwick fell near the right of the 10th. Gen. H. G. Wright succeeded him in command of the 6th Army Corps.
During the battle of Spottsylvania, on the 10th, about 900 prisoners were captured by Gens. Russell and Upton's brigades of the 6th Corps. The total losses of the 10th from the 5th to the 11th of May were 17 killed and 94 wounded.
On the 12th of May occurred some of the most terrible fighting of the war. Under cover of a dense fog, in the gray
light of the early morn, Gen. Hancock, by direction of Gen. Grant, suddenly penetrated the left centre of the Confederate army, and captured their works and about 30 guns, together with 2 generals and 3000 men, who were immediately sent to the rear by Hancock with the laconic dispatch, " I have cap- tured from thirty to forty guns ; I have finished up Johnson, and am going into Early." The charge cut the rebel army in two, and Lee himself narrowly escaped capture.
But though this success was highly satisfactory, it did not demoralize the rebel general or his army, and preparations were immediately made by him to recover the lost ground, at whatever cost.
In the mean time the brigade to which the 10th was attached was placed inside the captured works, and here for twenty- three consecutive hours they withstood one continuous as- sault and sustained a most terrific fire. As evidence of the truth of these statements, it is said that two years after the battle "full one-half of the trees of the wood, at a point where the fiercest struggle ensued within the salient of the Confederate works, were dead, and nearly all the others were scarred from the effects of musket-balls."
A large oak-tree, twenty-one inches in diameter, was cut in two by musket-balls alone .*
A section of this tree is preserved at Washington.
The small battalion of the 10th lost in this battle 11 killed, 44 wounded, and 6 missing and prisoners. Among the killed or mortally wounded were Maj. Parker, Capt. Weatherell, Lieut. A. E. Munyan, and Sergts. James H. Abbott and Charles W. Thompson.
On the 17th the 10th Massachusetts and 3d Vermont Regi- ments made a reconnoissance in the direction of Spottsyl- vania Court-House to discover the position of the enemy's infantry line, which was successfully accomplished, the com- mand driving the rebel cavalry before it for a distance of five miles.
On the 18th was fought the battle of Spottsylvania Court- House, in which the 10th took a prominent part, and suffered correspondingly. The losses were 3 killed, 6 wounded, and 12 taken prisoners. Among the killed were Lieut. E. B. Bart- lett and Sergt. Paull.
From the 18th of May until the 3d of June the regiment was moving toward the James River, foraging and skirmish- ing by the way. On the 3d of June occurred one of the bloodiest affairs of the whole war, the assault upon the rebel lines at Cold HIarbor. The 10th was in the supporting line, and consequently suffered less than those in front. The loss was 1 killed and 4 wounded. Four men were also wounded on the 1st inst. On the 4th the regiment lost 1 man killed and 1 wounded. On the 6th, James Cormick, of Co. A, was killed.
On the 16th of June the regiment crossed the James River, and, marching all night and the next day, reached the vicinity of Petersburg at nightfall. On the 18th the 10th was engaged in an attack which carried the enemy's line in front, in which it had 7 men wounded.
On the evening of the 19th the regiment was relieved, and ordered to the rear.
During the 20th, while awaiting orders to return home, the rebels opened a battery of 20-pounder guns upon the command, by which Sergt .- Maj. George F. Polley was instantly killed. t
* The compiler recollects, during the investment of Atlanta, Ga., by Sher- man's army, seeing a black-walnut tree, about two feet iu diameter, nearly cut off by musketry-fire.
t A day or two preceding his death Sergt. Pulley carved out the following inscription upon a board similar to those placed at the head of soldiers' graves : "Sergt .- Maj. George F. Polley, 10th Mass. Vols., killed June , 1864." He re- marked, " I guess I'll leave the date blank." Afterward, by advice of his com- rades, he split up the board to kindle fires with.
An exact fac-simile of this was placed at his grave. He had been commissioned first lieutenant, but the commission did not reach the command until after his death.
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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
The poor fellow was buried on the 21st at City Point, and the regiment embarked for home on the 22d.
It arrived in Springfield on the 25th, where it was tendered, on behalf of the people of Western Massachusetts, a most en- thusiastic reception. The streets were decorated with banners and inscriptions, and every window and balcony was crowded with faces. Salutes were fired, church bells rung, and citizens, societies, and orders turned out to do it honor. The regiment numbered 220 men in the grand procession which graced the occasion.
The procession marched to Court Square, where Mayor Alexander welcomed the remnant of the gallant band which had left the city three years before, 1000 strong, in a most ap- propriate speech, which was responded to by Col. J. B. Par- sons on behalf of the regiment, after which the men partook of a grand collation.
On the Ist of July the field and staff officers and five com- panies were mustered out by Lieut. Arnold, of the 18th U. S. Infantry, and on the 6th the remaining companies. On the 18th the regiment was paid off at Springfield.
CHAPTER XXX.
EIGHTEENTH, TWENTIETH, AND TWENTY- FIRST REGIMENTS.
EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT.
THIS regiment was raised mostly in the counties of Norfolk, Bristol, and Plymouth, and was mustered into the service Aug. 27, 1861. A portion of Co. K was from Springfickl and Chicopee.
The commander, Col. James Barnes, and the surgeon, David P. Smith, were also from Springfield. Col. Barnes was pro- moted to command of the brigade July 14, 1862.
The regiment left the State under orders for Washington, D. C., Aug. 28, 1861, and on the 3d of September was ordered to cross the Potomac and report to Gen. Fitz-John Porter.
It participated in Gen. MeClellan's Richmond campaign, was engaged in many of the bloody battles of the advance and retreat, and was present at the second battle of Bull Run or Manassas, Aug. 30, 1862, where its loss was equal to fifty-two per cent. of the number engaged.
The regiment was present at the battles of Antietam and Fredericksburg, in the latter action losing again very heavily. In May following (1863) it took part in the disastrous battle of Chancellorsville, and in July following was on the field of Gettysburg.
In the great campaign of 1864, under Gen. Grant, it bore a conspicuous part and gallantly sustained the honor of its State. In July it was reduced to a battalion by the expiration of the term of service of a portion of the regiment, which was ordered to Washington. The battalion left in the field was in Sep- tember consolidated with the 32d Massachusetts Regiment, and mustered out upon expiration of its term of service. The 32d Regiment was one of three to which was awarded a splendid outfit, furnished by Americans in Europe, for the three best- disciplined regiments at that time in the Union army.
TWENTIETH REGIMENT.
The 20th Regiment was first stationed on the upper Poto- mae as a portion of Gen. F. W. Lander's brigade of Gen. Stone's division. It was engaged in the unfortunate affair at Ball's Bluff, where it lost 208 men, killed, wounded, and missing.
During the following winter the regiment was on picket duty on the Potomac. In May, 1862, the brigade, under Gen. Dana, marched to the assistance of Gen. Banks in the Shenan- doah Valley, but on reaching Berryville was ordered back to Harper's Ferry. On the 25th it returned to Washington, and on the 27th of May embarked for Fortress Monroe, Va.
The regiment was engaged throughout the Richmond cam- paign of 1862, and took part in the actions at Yorktown, West Point, Fair Oaks, Allen's Farm, Savage Station, White Oak Swamp, and Nelson's Farm.
After the retreat to llarrison's Landing it was transferred with the army to Northern Virginia, and thence to Maryland, and on the 17th of September it took part in the severe battle of Antietam, where its loss was 137 men.
Again, at the disastrous battle of Fredericksburg the regi- ment was warmly engaged and lost heavily ; during the follow- ing winter it was encamped at Falmouth.
In the grand campaign of Gettysburg it took an important part, and in the dreadful battles of July 2d and 3d, out of a total of 230 officers and men engaged, lost 110. It was in the pur- suit of Lee toward and into Virginia, and at Kelly's Ford, on the 25th of August, received 183 recruits. On the 12th and 13th of October it was engaged with the enemy at Catlett's and Bristow Stations.
In October and November the regiment was skirmishing with the rebels under Ewell, and on the 5th of December went into winter quarters at Stevensburg.
While in this camp about two-thirds of the old members of the regiment re-enlisted for three years.
On the 3d of May, 1864, it moved forward into the terrible campaign of the Wilderness, and thence "on to Richmond," and arrived at Petersburg, twenty-three miles beyond the Confederate capital, on the 15th of June.
It was hotly engaged with the enemy on the 20th, 21st, and 22d of June, and on the latter date its services were of vast importance in checking a formidable assault.
The term of its original enlistment expired on the 18th of July, 1864, and those who had not re-enlisted were sent to Boston, where they were mustered out of service. The veter- ans and recruits were consolidated into seven companies and incorporated with the 15th Massachusetts, which made up a total of ten companies.
On the 12th of August it was engaged in the action at Deep Bottom, where it met with considerable loss, Maj. Patten being among those mortally wounded.
On the 23d of the same month it was in the severe engage- ment at Reams' Station, on the Weldon Railway, where the entire number of men present, excepting ten, was either killed or captured.
On the 11th of September, Capt. Magnitzky arrived at the front and took command of the remnant of the regiment, now consolidated into one company of 70 men. Subsequently, upon the arrival of convalescents from hospital, it was organized into three companies, and employed in fatigue duty upon the forti- fications until the latter part of October, when it was moved down the left of the line and encountered the enemy at Hatcher's Run. Advancing on the Boydton Plank-Road, it again encountered the enemy. On the 30th of November tbe battalion went into camp near Fort Emory.
On the 5th of February, 1865, it participated in the second movement aeross Hatcher's Run, and on the 29th of March began its march in the final campaign against Gen. Lee, par- ticipating in all the operations which culminated in the sur- render of the rebel army on the 9th of May, 1865.
The regiment took part in the grand review at Washington on the 23d of May, and was mustered out of service on the 28th of July, after serving three years and ten days.
TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT.
This regiment had a considerable number of men from Hampden County seattered through its ranks, though there was no single company wholly from the county.
The regiment was organized at Camp Lincoln, Worcester, which place it left on the 23d of August, 1861, numbering 1004 men.
Its first campaign in the field was in connection with the
19
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HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
Burnside expedition against Roanoke Island. The regiment was commanded by Licut .- Col. Albert Maggi. It left An- napolis, Md., on the 6th of January, 1862, and passed a stormy and disagreeable month on board the steamer " Northerner," off Cape Hatteras, N. C.
It disembarked on the 7th of February, and was conspieu- ously engaged, capturing a rebel battery and a stand of colors in a steady charge with the bayonet.
On the 4th of March following Maj. Clark was promoted to the lieutenant-coloneley in place of Lieut .- Col. Maggi, re- signed, and took the command.
In the battle of Newbern it was hotly engaged, and again captured a battery in a magnificent bayonet charge, for which gallant action it was commended by Gen. Burnside and pre- sented with one of the guns captured from the enemy. The gallant Lieut. F. A. Stearns fell in this engagement.
The regiment left Newbern on the 17th of April, and, marching via Elizabeth City, took part in the spirited affair at Camden on the 19th, and thus celebrated the first blood shed in the Rebellion by a victory.
In May the regiment made a forced march to Pollocksville, and rescued the 2d Maryland (Union) Regiment from immi- nent danger of capture.
On the 9th of July it went into camp at Newport News, near Fortress Monroe, and from thence, on the 2d of August, proceeded, ria Aquia Creek, to Fredericksburg, where it en- camped for a short season.
The command took part in the campaign of Gen. Pope, und was present and warmly engaged at the second battle of Bull Run. It was also engaged at the battle of Chantilly, where its losses aggregated 150 men, killed, wounded, and captured. In this battle the brave and accomplished Gen. Kearney fell near the battle-line of the 21st. Col. Clark was very near being captured, but finally came into the Union lines, after wandering in the woods until the fourth day suc- ceeding the battle.
The 21st was hotly engaged at the battle of South Mountain, Sept. 15, 1862, where another valuable Union officer, Gen. Reno, was killed in the moment of victory. It was also present at the great battle of Antietam, fought on the 17th of the same month, by which the rebel commander was compelled to withdraw once more within the Virginia fortifications.
In the fatal attack upon the enemy's lines at Fredericksburg, in December following, the 21st bore an honorable part, and lost 69 men. The regiment was stationed at Falmouth, where it performed pieket duty, until the 10th of January, 1863, when it was transferred to Newport News, and thence, in March, to the State of Kentucky. It was engaged in pieket and scouting duty in various parts of East Tennessee from July to the middle of November, when it was moved toward Knoxville, where Gen. Burnside was besieged by a strong force under the rebel Gen. Longstreet. After sharp fighting and much weary marehing, the 21st succeeded in reaching Knoxville on the 17th of November.
During the siege it was actively engaged, and bore a con- spicuous part in the action of the 24th of November, when, in connection with another picked regiment, it forced the enemy from his positions in North Knoxville and occupied his works.
Upon the advance of Sherman's column from Chattanooga for the relief of Burnside, Longstreet hastily broke up his eamps and retreated into Virginia, and during the pursuit the 21st was actively engaged, and shared all the dangers and privations of that remarkable period.
On the 29th of December the regiment, with the exception of twenty-four men, re-enlisted for the war. On the 8th of January, 1864, it started home on " veteran furlough, " and on its arrival at Worcester was accorded n most enthusiastic reception.
Upon the expiration of its furlough it rejoined the Army
of the Potomac, and was assigned to the first division of the 9th Corps, under Gen. Stevenson. In the famous movement of Gen. Grant's army upon Richmond it hore its full share of the murderous conflicts of the " Wilderness," Spottsylvania Court-House, and Cold Harbor, losing many men and officers. On the 16th of June it was transferred to the lines in front of Petersburg, where it immediately became fiercely engaged with the enemy, taking part in the desperate assault which followed the explosion of the mine under the rebel works on the 3d of July, where its losses were severe.
On the 18th of August the military authorities decided it was not a veteran regiment, because, of the three-fourths who had re-enlisted, 56 men, for various reasons, had been rejected. The organization was ordered to be broken up, and the officers and non-re-enlisted men were ordered home to be mustered out of service.
On the 19th of August the remnant left behind was engaged, and lost several men, among them Capt. Sampson, Sergt. May, and private Murphy. Those remaining were soon after consolidated with the 36th Massachusetts Regiment. Capt. Clark was mortally wounded at Petersburg, but lived long enough to reach his home.
CHAPTER XXXI.
TWENTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
THIS regiment was raised in the four western counties of the State,-principally in the three river-counties. ITorace C. Lee, of Springfield, was its first Colonel ; Luke Lyman, of Northampton, Lieutenant-Colonel ; Wm. M. Brown, of Adams, Major ; Gco. A. Otis, of Springfield, Surgeon ; Miles Sanford, of Adams, Chaplain ; Geo. W. Bartlett, of Green- field, Adjutant ; and William II. Tyler (2d), of Adams, Quar- termaster.
The regiment was mustered into the United States service at Springfield, Mass., Sept. 20, 1861. It was known as the 2d Western Regiment, and its officers were from the militia regiments of the State.
It left the State on the 2d of November, 1861, and arrived by sca at Annapolis, Md., on the 5th of the same month. At this point it remained until the 6th of January, 1862, em- ployed in perfecting its drill and in learning the duties of eamp- life.
On the last-mentioned date the regiment embarked on trans- ports and proceeded to Fortress Monroe, where it arrived on the 11th. At this place two men-Michael Cavanaugh, of Co. F, and James M. Hamblin, of Co. E-were drowned hy the upsetting of a boat, which was run down by a steam-tug.
The 27th formed a part of the Burnside expedition, and left Fortress Monroe on the 12th of January and arrived at Hatteras Inlet, N. C., on the 13th. Here the expedition re- mained, on account of severe weather, until the 6th of Feb- ruary, when the fleet proceeded to Pamlico Sound, and ar- rived in sight of Roanoke Island the same evening .* .
On the evening of the 7th, after a heavy bombardment by the gunboats, the land forces, of which the 27th formed a part, were landed on the island, where they bivouacked in an open field in a drenching rain.
On the following morning, February 8th, the troops were formed, and advanced to the attack of the enemy's intreneh- ments. The approach was through almost impenetrable thickets and miry swamps ; but nothing could check the ardor of the men, and the enemy's right and left were turned after a sharp encounter, and the place soon surrendered. In this its first engagement the 27th lost 5 men killed and 15
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