USA > Massachusetts > History of the Fifth Massachusetts Battery : organized October 3, 1861, mustered out June 12, 1865, v.1 > Part 19
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
288
HISTORY OF THE
order came into camp- Un Hitch,' so we all went to our tents again. It was expected the rebels would make a sortie out on some of the regiments and if they had they would have been cut to pieces."
Later in the day he saw 15 rebel prisoners who had been taken that morning.
LETTER OF THOMAS E. CHASE.
"CAMP NEAR YORKTOWN VA.
April 29, 1862.
We were paid off yesterday, and all is lovely again. For the last two months our standard currency has been hard bread: five hard breads for a sheet of paper, and a whole day's ration for a postage stamp. We have eaten hard tack so long that now it is second nature to us, and I believe that if worst came to worst we could masticate flint. We live on hard tack; hard tack is our money; we use them for dipper covers and candlesticks, and if they were large enough we should make them into 'spare wheels' for our gun carriages, but hard tack are of no account now for money, which is the one thing needful, is plenty.
We are in camp today, but the Right section is at the Bridge, and while I am penning this I can hear the enemy's shells bursting very near the Battery. They are nervous about something today, for they have blazed away quite brisk this a. m. Their firing is all guess work, and has not yet done any harm. They cannot see the bridges or work- men, but fire as near as they can judge, and try to shell the men at work on the bridges and siege guns.
You say your business is dull. Well, our business out here is 'looking up.' All the canvas we have on hand is what makes the roof of our house, iron remains quiet. but there is a prospect of an upward tendency, as we have a big contract to fill in Yorktown. We are doing something in
.
239
FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
lead. and expect that trade in this line will be very active + soon.
You say that Easter Sunday was observed as a day of Thanksgiving and prayer for the recent victories of our army. I attended divine service that day with the 17th N. Y. Regiment.
There is so much confusion in the tent that I hardly know what I have written or am writing."
At the close of this letter reference is made to the lint which was prepared by individuals and by the ladies of the Soldiers' Aid Societies (see p. 2) at the North, meeting at their own houses or in the church vestries to " scrape lint" and roll linen bandages. He says :-
"I have the package of bandages and lint, which you kindly gave me. and before Yorktown is taken they will be needed, if not by me they will by others. When you gave them to me I did not realize that they would ever be needed for the purpose for which they were so carefully prepared, but the stern reality is fast approaching."
FROM A LETTER OF LIEUT. PHILLIPS.
"April 30, 1862. Our preparations go on gradually they are now building the mortar beds, having taken a lot of oak timbers which were lying round our Battery at the bridge for that purpose. One of the pontoon bridges was taken up two days ago, and the pontoons are being used to bring planks, shot and shell. up the creek. The gunboats fire 15 or 20 shots a day, make a great deal of noise and accomplish very little. We want an ironclad gunboat to sail up . York River past the water batteries, and take the rebel lines in the rear . . . the 'Galena' is an iron clad "steamer of 6 guns . . . she is now at Fortress Monroe. . .. 5 p. m. We were mustered this afternoon at 2 o'clock, in
.
وشر الرعية جيمي ٤٥ م
240
HISTORY OF THE
the midst of a rain storm, by Captain Griffin. As a muster for pay includes a parade, inspection, and roll call, you can imagine the pleasure of the thing. \bout noon the rebel; seemed to have a new idea in their heads, for they suddenly threw 3 shot towards the battery by the house. . . . Five 100 pdr. Parrotts sent back our answer, and have been bang- ing away ever since. We can hear the whir-r-r-r of the shell as it flies through the air, the thud as it strikes, and then the explosion. Two shells upset after leaving the gun, as we could tell by the irregular sound they made."
Phillips' Diary: "April 30th. The rebels continually shell our intrenchments across Wormley's Creek, and Mon- day killed one man in the N. Y. 44th."
RELATIVE TO RECRUITS see p. 194.
WAR DEPARTMENT ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, May 1, 1862.
General Orders No. 49.
Upon requisition made by Commanders of Armies in the field, authority will be given by the War Department to the Governors of the respective States to recruit Regiments now in service.
By Order of the Secretary of War.
L. THOMAS Adjutant General.
FROM LETTERS OF LIEUT. PHILLIPS.
"May 2, 1862. We have established batteries of siege guns and mortars,-II batteries at least, -- but as yet they are not ready to open. The only exception to this is Bat- tery No. I of five 100 pdr. Parrott guns, which now fires once in a while through the day and night. Last night when I was down at the bridge the noise was incessant all night, and I could hardly get a wink of sleep. Their prin- cipal attention seemed to be directed to our earthworks, and as most of the shell exploded within 500 or 600 yards of
241
.
FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
our guns, the noise was rather disagreeable. This fore- noon the performance has been kept up, and Battery No. I has had quite a duel with the rebels. . . . We can see the rebels' shots strike in a large field where they are pretty sure not to hurt anybody. One of their shots struck close by a large barn, and with our glasses we could see our men run- ning to pick it up. During the forenoon the rebels ap- peared to get a little excited, for they elevated their gun and sent a shot whirring clear over our camp towards Gen. McC.'s headquarters. Last night our guard at Wormley's Creek reports that they sent one shell right into the camp fire of the heavy artillerists encamped across the creek. Our house at the bridge we extended yesterday, making it now about 25x13 feet. Our quarters there are altogether the best we have, although my tent is pretty comfortable.
THE PROVOST GUARD.
One of the institutions round here is the Provost Guard which makes itself particularly obtrusive. The guard is stationed all over the Division about half a dozen at each post. They pitch their shelter tents and keep one man on the lookout all the time : and then woe betide civilian or pri- vate soldier, who attempts to cross their beat without a pass. There are three posts down by the bridge, and one about 50 ft. from our tents, and many more, scattered all around the lot.
THE SUTLER.
Another institution, rather more popular, is the sut- ler's, which is now exceedingly well patronized. One is in sight from our camp, and I should think at least 50 men have been standing outside the door ever since pay day, three days ago. Prices run rather high and change is not to be had. The unlucky wight who has nothing but a
242
HISTORY OF THE
$5 treasury note,-and this includes most of the army, -- and wants a pound of tobacco, must take his change in sur- lers' tickets, or go without his tobacco. . . . P. S. Our Quartermaster Sergeant, just returned from Fortress Mon- roe, says that the 'Galena' will be here in a few days."
THE EVACUATION.
Chase's Diary : "May 3, 1862. Yorktown was evacuated today by the enemy. The Right section was withdrawn in the evening. Terrific shelling by our gunboats."
LETTER OF LIEUT. PHILLIPS. "Sunday Morning, May 4. 1862.
The American Flag waves over the fortifications of Yorktown, and Mcclellan can again advance to occupy the deserted intrenchments of the enemy.
For the last week there have been rumors that the enemy were leaving, and last night they took their final departure. burning up what they could not take with them. We were awakened in the night by the firing of the outposts, and a bright light was seen over Yorktown, and this morning our troops took quiet possession. The gunboats have been sig- nalled to move up the river. We are ordered to march to- morrow with two days' cooked rations, forage &c."
Grows' Journal : "Sunday, May 4. 1862. Went on my post at 2 this morning. I had not been on more than an hour when I heard heavy cannonading in the direction of Yorktown. In about ten minutes it was almost deafening. In a short time I noticed quite a fire which soon increased to a tremendous large one. I first thought the fight on the
243
FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
Right had begun but I soon found that the rebels were de- stroying their stores and some of their works. The reports of the large guns and the rattle of musketry were both awful and sublime. Shortly after 7 o'clock word was re- ceived in camp that the rebels had evacuated Yorktown. During the night if Pandemonium had been let loose it would not have caused more excitement than did the leav- ing of Yorktown! Drums that they have not dared to beat for the last four weeks; bugles that have not sounded since we have come here, now opened their music, and never was a Fourth of July at home equal to it. It is a beautiful morn- ing and the bands are playing the 'Star Spangled Banner,' 'America,' and 'Hail Columbia.' Soon the different camps take up the cheering, and it can hardly be described. for from the throats of 100,000 men cheer after cheer went up, and thanks that the place is ours and without the loss of blood. Divine service was held in the different camps in commemoration of the event.
This place has been for the last four weeks one of dread both to our officers and men, and now that the place is ours our feelings can hardly be described. It does look good to see our old flag flying over the rebels' rag. Some of our men have gone to the city. They found about 1000 barrels of flour and a large quantity of stores. I have a piece of the house where Gen. Washington was at the surrender of Cornwallis. We have had orders to pack our knapsacks, and be ready to start at any moment. Went to Roll at 6. It did seem good to have our old bugle again."
Chase's Diary : . . Reconnoissance by balloon 'In- trepid' this morning. Whole company in camp to-day; (May 4th ) first time for three weeks."
Diary of Lient. Phillips : "May 5th 1862. Still at Camp Winfield Scott. Heavy firing all day towards Williams- burg. Rumors of all sorts round camp. Hitched up at 5 p. m., unhitched 15 minutes after, and unharnessed at I in the morning."
244
HISTORY OF THE
LETTER OF PELEG W. BLAKE. "YORKTOWN, May 5, 1862.
Saturday night ( May 3d) there was right smart' hot work here. The shells were bursting in all directions, and our big siege guns were 'giving them Hail Columbia.' The old original Duryea's Zouaves, the red breeches, charged on the right fort, and the rebels left Yorktown without eating their breakfast. We took all of their big guns and two thousand prisoners, and General Smith on the left wing took nine thousand prisoners, two batteries of light artil- lery, all hitched up ready for a start. On the Right, in front of where we are, they cut the traces from their guns, and left with their horses in double quick time.
Our troops are chasing the rebels up. While I am writ- ing we are having a big battle close by. The rebels set all kinds of traps to kill our troops when we went into the streets of Yorktown. You could not tip over a barrel, or anything else, but what had a string attached to a big shell or some kind of torpedoes, that would kill five or six men every time they did anything or moved anything. Wher- ever you could see the dirt thrown up loosely, look out for your feet, or else they would be catching in some string an inch under the dirt. and then shells would explode.
Our folks got plenty of tobacco."
FROM THE HISTORY OF THE THIRD MASS. BATTERY.
"At Yorktown the rebels buried shells underground which exploded when our forces entered the Fort. The gate of the Fort stood open. A heavy shell was planted there which the opening of the gate would have exploded. Our Army declined to enter there. A man who made a hole for a telegraph pole was terribly mangled, and 6 cav- alry men and 2 horses were killed in that way."
3
1
1
245
FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
NOTES OF LIEUT. HYDE MAY 21, 1900.
Accompanied by Lieut. Dillingham and Lieut. Daniel Tompkins of the Signal Corps. Lieut. Hyde on the morn- ing succeeding the evacuation of Yorktown, rode into the city on "Black Charley," passing circuitously by the marks set up to indicate the presence of buried torpedoes, placed there for the purpose of blowing up whoever might step upon them. They rode round and examined the fortifica- tions for a half hour, and then went back to camp.
Grows' Journal : "Monday, May 5, 1862. Was awakened about 6 this morning by the rain. I should think by ap- pearances that it has rained hard all night. Heard heavy cannonading at a distance. The rebels have done all that human ingenuity could desire to fix traps for our men. In some places you will see an overcoat laying on the ground, but it will not do to pick it up, for to it is attached a string leading to a fuze containing powder, so when the garment is picked up it causes the powder to explode and by this means destroy our men. Torpedoes are covered with dirt in the street and should horse or man step upon one it is death. In fact the whole place is mined, and so, to prevent accidents, small red flags are placed near these infernal articles, to give a person warning. One of the 22d stepped upon one which killed him and wounded five others. I saw them when they were brought into the Hospital."
Phillips' Diary : "Tuesday, May 6, 1862. Visited York- town with Captain Allen and Dillingham, Scott and Terry. Fort quite formidable. Visited the redoubt which was en- gaged the first Sunday."
LETTER OF LIEUT. PHILLIPS.
"CAMP WINFIELD SCOTT, Tuesday, May 6, 1862.
My writing materials have been packed up for the last two days. . . . Day before yesterday we kept receiving or- ders about every ten minutes. each one contradicting the
125% X
246
HISTORY OF THE
one which preceded it. Finally, however, we remained be- hind, Porter's Division being placed in the Third Reserve. while others pushed on ahead. The gunboats left and went up the river. Yesterday . . . we could hear heavy firing up the river, lasting through the day. . . . In the after- noon Lieut. Hyde went into Yorktown with an officer of the Signal Corps, but did not bring back any trophies. The houses were completely stripped. The streets of Yorktown are filled with ten iuch shell, with percussion caps buried just below the ground, and several of our men have been killed by them. Last night about eight o'clock, just as we had made up our minds that we should not move, came an order to hitch up. The night was pitch dark, but in less than 15 minutes we were ready for a move. I was looking after the Captain to report my section all ready, when there came an order to unhitch and leave the horses at the picket rope. So we turned in and at 1, came an order to unhar- ness. Today is very pleasant and the bands are going all round.
Tuesday Eve : I have just returned from a visit to York- town. ... The works are well built, with traverses and blindages in the most approved fashion: [Traverses werc masses of earth. thrown up at short distances, to screen the troops from shot and shells fired in ricochet, that is, by the rebounding of a shot which strikes in more spots than one. Blinds were covers of timber, bundles of brushwood er earth, under which guus were secure from projectiles reach- ing them at the top or in flank. ] heaps of sandbags seem to present an obstacle to a shell in whatever direction it should come. The guns, some 40 or 50 in number, are mostly stolen from Uncle Sam: old pattern 32 pdrs. and 24 purs., some few 42 pdrs., two 9 inch, some 8 inch,-64 pdrs., -- "one 8 in. mortar, and a number of 32 pdr. Howitzers or carronades. They had had six guns of their own manu- facture,-Richmond, 1862,-one 10 inch Columbiad and five Rifled Guns of 4 or 5 in. calibre. Four of these Rifle 1
247
FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
Guns are now burst: the fragments being thrown round promiscuously, one 32 pdr. is burst also. Very few of the guns are spiked. The guns of rebel make are rough cast. not turned, and probably never tested till tried here. The 10 inch gun was mounted in the eastern corner of the works. and commands nearly 3 of a circle. This is the place where the shots of Battery No. I were directed and the traces of our shots are plainly visible. One struck in a traverse, knocking the sandbags right and left, two ploughed deep furrows in the parapet, and another went through the rebel barracks, knocking down the chimney in its path. The water batteries were very well built and kept. There were four on the bluff, armed as follows, from east to west :--
No. I, two 32 pdrs. No. 2, three 32 pdrs. No. 3, four 32 pdrs. No. 4 four Columbiads. Each battery was provided with magazine and furnace for heating shot, and sandbag traverses. Down on the beach were two more batteries, which I did not go into. Grape, [Large shot, usually nine, sewed together in cylindrical bags, made to fit, like car- tridges, into cannon.] canister shot, and shell were lying round in great profusion. [Canister shot is a tin cylinder with iron heads, filled with balls packed in with sawdust. ]
.
1. 42 par.
Stockode
4
2. 24 pan
3
3. Rifled Gun ( burst)
2.
%
4. 32 par Howitzer.
Rebel Redoubt.
I brought away some canister shot. The work which we engaged the first Sunday is a redoubt about half a mile in advance of the main line, armed with one 42, one 24, one 32 Howitzer and one Rifled Gun burst.
248
HISTORY OF THE
A bloodstain on the ground where a man was blown up by one of the rebel infernal machines, and a little red flag about ,ten feet from it, admonished us to be careful in walk- ing, and so we did not extend our investigations very far. The rebels have shown great ingenuity in constructing in- fernal machines for our especial benefit, but since the first day no accident has occurred. They all consist of a ten inch shell with percussion cap hidden in various ways. They are buried all round the top just level with the ground. ready to go off as soon as stepped on. One house seems to have been the particular object of their ingenuity, shells be- ing placed in all convenient spots. Under a table in the corner of the room was placed a coffee pot which most per- sons would naturally seize as soon as they saw it, but the coffee pot was tied by a small thread to a weight hung di- rectly over the cap of a 10 inch shell, so that the weight would fall as soon as the coffee pot was moved. Then the cellar floor was paved with similar machines at the foot of the stairs, all ready to be stepped on. In this same house there is one room which no one has yet dared to enter, for a ten inch shell is lying on a table in the middle. Nothing can be seen to touch it off, but still people are suspicious here. Two of the magazines have not yet been opened, and we shall have to be careful. .. . We searched in vain to find some trophies, such as pipes, buttons, etc. The guns as yet have not been much meddled with, as they are loaded with-the Rebels only know what. One little rifled piece. the one which has fired so much in the direction of our guard at the bridge, had a shell sticking out at the muzzle, which I looked at but concluded to let remain. In another place I noticed a heap of shell and cartridges half buried in the sand, and I thought that prudence would dictate that they should be touched off with a very long 10 foot pole."
1
249
FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
FROM A LETTER OF LIEUT. PHILLIPS.
WRITTEN MAY 10. 1862. ON BOARD STEAMER NEW HAVEN, YORK RIVER, ABOUT THE FORTIFICATIONS AT YORKTOWN.
"The works are well constructed as far as the details go, of the general plan of the works I don't know enough to speak. I have learned this,-that it is not the quantity of dirt in a fortification that makes it strong, as much as the manner in which it is arranged. There was a great pile of dirt shovelled here, but the dimensions of the ramparts are nothing more than those of an ordinary field work. The height of the rampart and the depth of the ditch are per- haps 12 ft. on an average, or 24 ft. from the bottom of the ditch to the top of the rampart, but this would soon be diminished under the operations of breaching batteries. The batteries which we have already planted would prob- ably have dismounted most of the rebel guns in the first 12 hours of the bombardment. Battery No. 2 in the few scat- tering shots fired lately, had planted 3 shells within 30 feet of their Io inch Columbiads, and was placed to enfilade all their water batteries."
NOTES OF CAPTAIN ALLEN.
After the evacuation Colonel Stephen W. Stryker, of the 44th New York Regiment Infantry, garrisoned Yorktown, entering the city the next morning. He sent a note to Cap- tain Allen inviting him to dine with him that day, and, tak- ing an orderly with him, Captain Allen rode in from camp. After dinner Colonel Stryker said :
"Come with me. I want to show you something."
They went round to several places, finally bringing up at the building here described by Phillips and saw everything as here stated.
250
HISTORY OF THE
This note is added,-after reading the letter as here transcribed,-by Captain George D. Allen, April 19, 1900.
A few days later Corporal Spear made his visit to the fortifications at Yorktown while the Battery was waiting for the infantry to go on board the steamer. He says :-
"Having nothing to do the Captain gave permission to go and view the enemy's works. At the main entrance. which we entered, there were laid quantities of torpedoes for the purpose of destroying our soldiers should they at- tempt to enter the fortifications. I, in company with my sergeant, went all about the works and viewed the guns &c, which the rebels had left behind in their retreat. Many of the guns mounted in the fort were good, and some very poor : their magazines splendid and well stored with am- munition, but their quarters were far different, everything in disorder and confusion and very filthy. I managed to find several relics."
REPORT OF GENERAL PORTER.
Of the services of the Division of Artillery under his command during the thirty days of the siege, General Fitz John Porter says in his report :-
"I desire also to express my gratification at the gallaut and efficient service of the Division of Artillery, under the inmediate direction of Captain Charles Griffin, 5th Artil- lery, whose reports of service rendered and losses in respect- ive batteries were forwarded in proper time. Often exposed to a hot fire from the enemy, and meeting with some losses, these batteries were examples of superior discipline and in- struction, and the conspicuous coolness, gallantry, bravery and skill of the officers and inen, merited the highest com- mendation. . These batteries were : D. 5th Artillery. Captain Charles Griffin; C. Rhode Island Artillery, Captain
£
251
FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
Weeden: C. & E. Massachusetts ( Light) Artillery, com- manded respectively by Captain A. P. Martin and Captain (Geo. D.) Allen."
Grows' Journal: "Thursday, May 8, 1862. Struck my tent at 5 and began our march. Arrived in Yorktown at 7 this morning, found that the transports were not ready, so we went 'into park' and set our picket rope, then the men were dismissed except the guard. Harry Simonds and my- self then went into the town. The rebels could have held it against awful numbers. There are not many buildings in the place, but the fortifications are equal to a Sevastopol or a Gibraltar. I passed into the Water Battery and examined it, a most splendid work, then passed into the lot where the dead were buried.
There were in all about 60 graves in this lot, and 25 in another. Had quite a stroll through the place. At 3 this afternoon we hitched out again and went to the wharf, and had to get the guns ready to go aboard. We had to wait till half past eleven at night before we could load, then we commenced in good earnest."
Chase's Diary : "May 8, 1862. Turned out at 2 a. m. and packed up, hitched up, and left Camp Winfield Scott at sunrise and marched to Yorktown; halted just outside the village and unharnessed the horses. At 8 p. m. embarked on steamer 'New Haven' and lay moored in the stream all night."
CHAPTER VIII.
THE BATTLE OF HANOVER COURT HOUSE.
MAY 27, 1862. "And many a brave man from the war Came feeble and maimed of limb. Bullet-scar and sabre-scar And fevered weakness, sadder far, Were Glory's marks on him! These living martyrs of the war -- Who tells us where they are?"
-- ROSSITER W. RAYMOND, Captain U. S. V. -Vision and Duty.
The latest plan of the Peninsula campaign would have been successful, General McClellan asserted in his report, if supported with appreciation of its necessities, but which failed because of the repeated failure of promised support at the most critical, and, as it proved the most fatal moment. "The illustration of the heroism of the Army in the aban- donment of one plan and the originating of another," he says, "must be left for the pen of the historian in times of calm reflection, when the nation shall be looking back to the past from the midst of peaceful days."
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.