USA > Massachusetts > History of the Fifth Massachusetts Battery : organized October 3, 1861, mustered out June 12, 1865, v.1 > Part 6
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Within the last month the captain of a Massachusetts volunteer battery, who has long exercised with honor, the command of a Brigade of Light Artillery, in a Corps of the Army of the Potomac, has been superseded, through no fault of his own. but by the addition to the Corps of an officer who is his senior in point of rank only, by reason of one state being privileged to appoint artillery field-officers, while like permission is refused to another state.
It is irksome to me to be obliged to return to this subject. But I know not how I can otherwise discharge my duty to the officers and men of sixteen batteries of Massachusetts Light Artillery: many of them among the best the Commonwealth has contributed to the service during the war. I am convinced that I ought not to leave them un- supported by such effort as I may be able to command. I had hoped that the object would have been attained without my appealing to the Congressional Delegation from the Commonwealth in this formal man- ner. but now I fear that the session of Congress may end without its accomplishment.
If captains of batteries were never needed for field or staff positions pertaining to officers of higher rank, the inere desire to secure rank to our soldiers. however meritorious, would not have influenced me, but when I know that our officers are used and needed to command Brigades of Artillery, to act as chiefs of Artillery and otherwise, on the staffs of corps and division commanders, leaving their companies to be commanded by lieutenants; when I know that the laws and regu- lations for the Army of the United States, include the regimental or- ganization, with its field-officers, for regular United States batteries,
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when I know that such organization and officers are not denied to other states,-some of them with fewer batterics in the field than we have --; and when I know that by reason of this sort of discrimination, good and brave officers whom I have commissioned are made to suffer what the soldier feels to be a personal and undeserved humiliation, I am not at liberty to omit my efforts.
I. therefore, earnestly and respectfully commend this subject to the attention of the gentlemen whose presence in Washington, whose rela- tion to the Executive Government, and whose personal and official in- sight as the Senators of the Commonwealth and the Representatives of the People of Massachusetts, will enable them to speak efficiently, and entitle them and their opinions to the highest influence and con- sideration.
I have the honor to be, gentlemen, most respectfully,
Your obedient servant, JOHN A. ANDREW, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Official Copy.
A. G. BROWNE JR. Lieut .- Col. Military Secretary.
STATE LEGISLATION.
In the Acts and Resolves of 1864, may be found the fol- lowing :-
Section 17, Chapter 238. Concerning the Militia.
The volunteer companies shall be formed into separate regiments, Ar attached to such regiments of the active militia as the commander- in-chief shall deem proper, and he may retain any existing regiments of the volunteer militia.
Section 19. Companies of cavalry, artillery and engineers may re- main unattached to any regiment or brigade, if the good of the service in the opinion of the commander-in-chief, shall require it, and the two corps of cadets, or either of them, may be attached to divisions at the pleasure of the commander-in-chief. In such case, such companies or corps, shall be subject to the immediate orders of the commanders of such divisions or brigades as the commander in-chief shall designate : who shall receive the reports, returns and orders, have the authority and discharge the duties, with regard to such companies or corps, which are prescribed for the commanders of regiments with regard to other companies.
Section 25. Artillery. To each regiment of Artillery there shall be
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one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, one major, to every four com- panies or batteries, one adjutant, and one quartermaster, each with the rank of first lieutenant, but not to be extra lieutenants, one chaplain, ofte sergeant-major. one quartermaster-sergeant, one commissary-ser- geant, one hospital steward, and two principal musicians.
To each battery of Light Artillery, or company of Heavy Artillery, there shall be one captain, two first lieutenants, two second lieutenants, onc first sergeant, one quartermaster-sergeant, six sergeants, twelve corporals, two musicians, two artificers, one wagoner, and one hundred and twenty-two privates.
Approved May 14, 1864.
Thus it will be seen that no blame can attach to the state legislature for neglect of duty in this regard.
Every artillery officer from the highest to the lowest rank was interested in this subject, and pens were busily employed in the endeavor to effect a change. An article appeared in the Army and Navy Journal of Nov. 14. 1864. in which the following views are attributed to General W. F. Barry. The theme as expressed by the author of the article is "The Deficiency of Rank in the Artillery ser- vice" :---
"This faulty organization can only be suitably corrected by legisla- tive action, and it is earnestly hoped that the attention of the proper authorities may be at an carly day invited to it."
The editor adds that he "regrets to say that although their 'atten- tion' has often since been 'invited' to it, the evil remains to this day in almost equal force, and the gross injustice is seen of a body of officers, whose services are unequalled in their value and importance, suffering from the false organization of their arm. This radical defect has already lost us some of our finest artillery officers, and if not corrected, it must, we fear, lose us a great many more."
Of the result in Congress, Brevet Major Charles A. Phil- lips thus wrote in a letter home, dated at City Point, March 15, 1865; Captain Robert H. Fitzhugh of New York had gone above him, and was lieutenant colonel in command of a Brigade of the Artillery Reserve. after having been a junior captain to him at Gettysburg :--
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"Partly I think at my suggestion Senator Wilson intro- duced a bill to remedy the evil, and give all battery com- manders an equal chance of promotion, but I believe it was incorporated into the 'Oinnibus Bill,' and was lost at the close of the session. However, Congress managed to raise our pay, which will make a difference to me of $30 per month."
FROM THE REPORT OF B'V'T. MAJ. GEN. HENRY J. HUNT, . U. S. ARMY, CHIEF OF ARTILLERY :-
" ARTILLERY HEAD QUARTERS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
CAMP NEAR FORT ALBANY, VA. June 1, 1865.
In my previous reports I have had occasion to call attention . to the want of a proper proportion of field officers for the artillery, and this I did especially in the reports of the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg: and as there is no bureau of artillery nor other centre of administration for it, I take this occasion to present the same subject in order that the results of our experience may not be lost. This is due to the reputation of the artillery in this war, as well as to the future interests of the service. At an early period of the war, or- ders were given that field artillery should be taken into service only by single batteries, 'in order to save field officers'; this whilst infantry regiments of a single battalion were allowed four with their proper staffs. Why this policy, so contrary to that of all modern armies, and so destructive to the efficiency of the most complicated of all the arms of the service, was adopted, I am at a loss to discern. Its effects have been but too clear. Not only has the service suffered from the want of officers absolutely necessary to its highest efficiency and economy, but the system has stopped promotion in the artillery, and, as a conse- quence, nearly every officer of promise as well as of any distinction has been offered that promotion in the infantry, cavalry, or the staff, which no amount of capacity, gallantry, or good conduct, could secure him in his own arm. The result is that, with a few marked exceptions, in which officers were willing to sacrifice their personal advancement and prospects to their love for their arm, the best and most distin- ghished of the officers of the artillery accepted positions elsewhere, or left the service in disgust, as opportunity offered. The effect of this and of other errors of organization, has been but too evident: the artillery, although it has done much better than under the circum- stances could have been expected or even hoped, has not attained to that efficiency which was possible, and has failed to retain the pre-emi- sence it once held in our Army and in public estimation. This sacri- Ace of efficiency has been made at the expense of economy. I do not
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hesitate to say that the field artillery of this Army, although not in- ferior to any other in our service, has been from one-third to one-half less efficient than it ought to have been, whilst it has cost from one- third to one-half more money than there was any necessity for. This has been due principally to the want of proper organization, which has deprived it of the experienced officers required for its proper com- mand, management, and supervision, and is in no respect the fault of the artillery itself."
General Meade wrote to Captain Martin at the expira- tion of the term of service of the Third Mass. Battery, as quoted by the historian, "In no branch of the service is knowledge and experience so essential to success as in the artillery, nor is there any branch of the service where so little has been done by promotion to encourage the faithful and efficient officer."
Perhaps the Adjutant General of the State, William Schouler, who shared with the Governor the care of all the troops who went from Massachusetts throughout the War, had as clear an insight, and was as capable of impartially stating what treatment her light artillery deserved and what it received as any one.
In his "History of Massachusetts in the Civil War" pub- lished in IS68, he says :- "No arm of the Massachusetts volunteers did greater service to the nation, or reflected greater honor upon Massachusetts, than the sixteen light batteries which went from this Commonwealth to the War. Many of the officers held high commands, some of them of the artillery of a Corps, and yet none of them could ever reach a higher rank than captain, and for the reason that the Secretary of War would not consent to have our bat- teries given either a battalion or a regimental organization. States, which did not send half as many batteries into the service, had these privileges allowed thiem, and in conse- quence they had their majors, lieutenant-colonels, and colonels of artillery, while Massachusetts had no officer of higher rank in this arm of the service than a captain.
The Governor exerted his utmost power to have this
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wrong righted, but in vain. The only answer which Sec- retary Stanton gave, was that 'mistakes had been made in the beginning of the War, which he did not wish to keep up.
We will not say that the Secretary was altogether to blame : but the wrong done could have been righted by Con- gress fixing a brevet rank which would have carried com- mand and pay with it, and not have permitted officers of the skill and bravery of Martin, McCartney, Nims, and others we could name, to serve in positions which properly belonged to brigadier generals, and to perform the duties of those positions with pre-eminent merit, while only holding in reality the commissions of captains, and allowed only the pay and allowances of captains.
It is true that these gentlemen were named in official bul- letins in words of praise, for 'gallant and efficient service in the field,' and at the end of the War they were brevetted brigadier-generals: but something more was due the of- ficers and men of the light batteries of Massachusetts."
A GLANCE AT ARTILLERY TACTICS.
"The Artillery drill, although equally interesting, was not as rapid as that of the cavalry, because of the weight of the guns, but there was a grandeur in the movement of so many spirited, well-trained teams and heavy pieces, not seen in the other branches of the service. Target firing was also practice.l to a high degree of excellence."
EDWIN FORBES.
Brig. Gen. John Gibbon who compiled "The Artillerist's Manual," edition of 1863, declares that --- "Batteries derive all their value from the courage and skill of the gunners, from their constancy and devotion on difficult marches, from the quickness and capacity of the officers, and espe- cially from the good condition and vigor of the teams, with- out which nothing can be undertaken."
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From the revised system of Light Artillery Tactics sub- mitted January 15, 1859, by a Light Artillery Board con- sisting of Brevet Major Wm. H. French, Captain William F. Barry and Brevet Major Henry J. Hunt, having been approved by President James Buchanan, accepted for the government of the Army by the Secretary of War, and used by the Light Batteries during the War of the Rebel- lion, the following is taken :---
"The battery of manœuvre is composed of six fieldpieces and six caissons, properly manned, horsed, and equipped. It is sometimes reduced to four or increased to eight pieces. The tactics is adapted to either number, but six pieces are supposed. Each carriage is drawn by four or six horses, and the officers and nien are as follows .--- One captain, who commands the battery, three lieutenants, each command- ing a section: the section of the junior lieutenant should be in the centre.
One licutenant commanding the line of caissons.
When half batteries are formed, they are commanded by the two lieutenants highest in rank.
Six mounted sergeants, each charged with guiding and superintend- ing a piece.
Twenty-four, or thirty-six drivers, being one to each pair of horses.
Six detachments of cannoneers, each containing nine men in mounted batteries, and eleven in horse batteries. This number in- cludes two corporals, one of whom is chief of the caisson, and the other the gunner, has charge of the gun and its detachment.
Two trumpeters or buglers.
Onc guidon.
The battery is divided into three sections denominated the right, left, and centre sections.
A section contains two pieces and two caissons and in each section the pieces are denominated right piece and left piece.
The battery is also divided into half batteries denominated right half battery, and left half battery. The word piece applies to the gun or howitzer, either with or without its limber, and sometimes to the piece and caisson together.
The front of a battery, in the order in battery, is the front of the line of pieces. In all other formations it is the front of the first line of drivers.
The right or left of a battery is always that of the actual front, whether the pieces or caissons lead.
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PARADE FOR REVIEW AND INSPECTION.
The battery being in'line, with the pieces in front : the first sergeant : yards from the right: the bugler and guidon in one rank, 6 yards un his right : the quartermaster sergeant 2 yards from the left: the artificers in one rank, 6 yards on his left: all dressed on the lead drivers of the pieces: the Captain commands :
I. Attention.
2. Prepare for Review.
· 3. Action Front.
4. Right-Dress.
5. Front."
A LITTLE BIT FROM MEMORY.
Notes of Private D. Henry Grows Oct. 28, 1900 :--- "A section consists of two guns, as there are six guns to a bat- tery, they are called the Right, Left, and Centre sections. When in camp the tents are placed the same as the men are at the guns, viz., odd numbers on the right and even ones on the left, making Nos. 1, 3 & 5 on the right, and 2, 4 & 6 on the left, so you will see that I, being in the 5th detach- ment I would be placed on the right half. No. 6 is rarely changed, because the one holding the place has to learn the Aring table, which is placed in the cover of the limber .test."
Notes of Corporal Benjamin Graham Nov. 11, 1900 :-- "The pieces are all numbered from One to Six on a march or in a line. On a march the First piece is supposed to be in front or first, and in line of battle it is supposed to be on The right, thus : 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and the First piece is the First Detachment, the Second piece the Second Detach- Went, and so on."
.....
CHAPTER IV.
RECRUITING THE BATTERY.
"Come forth! come as the torrent comes when the winter's chain is burst!
So rushes on the land's revenge, in night and silence nursed --
The night is passed, the silence o'er -- on all our hills we rise-
We wait thee, youth ! sleep, dream no more! the voice of battle cries." -The Summons, Mrs. Hemans.
The summons of the Secretary of War, to send on all regiments and parts of regiments then enlisted, gave rise to an increased activity in the various executive departments. The demand made so peremptorily, called for prompt and speedy action. Governor Andrew issued a proclamation on August 20, 1861, which closed with the following words :-
"Citizen Soldiers of Massachusetts! Duty, Honor, the dearest sentiments of Patriotic Love and Devotion call for your brave hearts and unconquerable arms !
JOHN A. ANDREW Governor and Commander-in-Chief."
On the 25th advices had been received at the State De- partment in Washington, from all our foreign ministers, stating confidently that there would be no movement among the European governments to recognize the rebels so long as the federal government kept forces in the rebel states and held Washington.
The President not only directed that fortifications should be erected to protect Washington, but he desired that they should form a base of operations against the rebels. These
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works were divided into three sections,-western, middle, and eastern.
Army Head Quarters were at Arlington House on Ar- lington Heights, a ridge of land running parallel with the Potomac River from Alexandria to a point opposite Georgetown a distance of nine miles. South of these heights was Four Mile Run, a small creek, and upon them a series of earthworks were erected by which a few thou- sand men could hold a large army in check. The Potomac Canal crossed the river on a high stone bridge. The bridge was guarded by a breastwork, and two bomb proof block houses of large logs two stories high were erected and pierced on all sides for musketry. Opposite on the Vir- ginia shore the land rises about 150 feet to a plateau on which stood Fort Corcoran. About a mile from Arlington Heights towards Alexandria, were the middle works, erected at the crossing of the road from Alexandria to Georgetown and that from the Long Bridge to Fairfax Court House. They commanded a deep ravine towards Arlington, a wide plain towards Fairfax, and a broad val- ley toward Alexandria. A dense forest was cut down in order to permit an unobstructed view.
The castern defences were back of Alexandria on Shu- ter's Hill and were known as Fort Ellsworth. The level- ling of a forest of fifteen acres which sheltered Alexandria by three thousand men in a short time, is thus described in the Philadelphia Ledger in August, 1861 :- "The axmen cut the trees only on one side, leaving them with just enough of the body to keep them upright. When the ut- inost verge was reached the largest trees were cut, and falling. swept the entire fiftcen acres with one stroke. These laps are all sharpencd and present a formidable ap- pearance."
General George B. McClellan, at the immature age of turty-two suddenly summoned from Western Virginia to take command of the Army of the Potomac, was already
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from personal observation qualified to express an opinion on the methods to be adopted in carrying out the Presi- dent's plans. He criticised the conduct of the allied gen- erals of the Crimean war in the following terms :- "Their measures were half way measures, slow and blundering, they failed to keep constantly in view the object of the ex- pedition, and to press rapidly and unceasingly toward it. . If a deficiency in men and means is assigned as a reason for the early operations of the allies, it is but another proof that, in undertaking the affair, they neglected one of the clearest rules of war; that is, to undertake no impor- tant operation without full and reliable information as to the obstacles to be overcome, and the means of resistance in the hands of the enemy."
He immediately introduced the strictest discipline. of which there had been a lack. It had been said that the bat- tle of Bull Run exhibited the efficiency of artillery, and the comparative weakness of the infantry arm of the service. McClellan declared that this should be a war waged with artillery, and at once called for a large increase of artillery and cavalry, and after the review on the South side of the Potomac it was telegraphed August 25, 1861, all over the country :- "Gen. McClellan declares perfect satisfaction with his army, and his army, the greatest ever seen on this continent. is equally satisfied with him."
From this moment a sentiment of sacred honor attached itself to membership in the Army of the Potomac, and Mc- Clellan's acknowledged preference for artillery aroused in Massachusetts the latent liking for that arm of the service which had lurked in the militia system since the first two years of the Revolutionary War, when the one Corps of Artillery in the service of the Continent, under the imme- diate command of General George Washington, was com- posed chiefly of Massachusetts men.
September 5th. 1861, the mayor of New Bedford, Hon. Isaac C. Taber, was authorized to organize one or more
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companies "for the national army", the bounty to each member not to exceed fifteen dollars, and the next day the Taunton Gazette thus appealed to the people :--
"Shall we have an artillery company?" "We say yes:" replies the New Bedford Mercury, "and suggest that the company already in exist- ence here under command of John B. Hyde, as the nucleus of such an organization. Captain Hyde, we doubt not, would enter into such a scheme with zeal, and of his efficiency there can be no question."
John B. Hyde was born in New Bedford, August 14, 1830, and was educated in the public schools of that city. At the age of 18, he joined the New Bedford Volunteer Fire Department, and was Foreman of Columbian Engine No. 5, from 1854, to 1861.
In 1855, he became a member of the New Bedford City Guards, and served out the enlistment terin of five years, during which time the Guards were commanded by Major George A. Bourne and Colonel Timothy Ingraham, both superior military men. In 1857 and '58, he was elected a member of the Common Council. At that time the Hon. George H. Dunbar was mayor of the city.
When the war broke out and the Home Guard was formed, he was requested by Mayor Taber to take charge of two brass pieces belonging to the city, and organize a company to man them : and from the spring of 1861, to the time of his recruiting of the Fifth Mass. Battery, he was in command of that branch of the home guard for the pro- tection of the city in case of an invasion. This no doubt inspired the effort which resulted in the larger organiza- tion, whose destination was the seat of war.
The New Bedford City Guards, composed of so many of her citizens who were inclined to serve their country in the hour of danger, enlisted on the call for three months men, and with Timothy Ingraham as captain, went out as Company L of the Third Mass. Regt. Infantry. Colonel David W. Wardrop commanding. On their return July 23. 1861, with full ranks, their arrival was greeted by a
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salvo of artillery fired upon the Common, and they were escorted to the City Hall by four companies of the Home and Coast Guard where they were addressed about 5 p. m. by the mayor and Ex-Governor John H. Clifford.
It is recorded in the columns of the daily press that the Flying Artillery at the Common performed sundry evolu- tions, previous to the arrival of the City Guards, which evinced a commendable knowledge of their peculiar duty, and great dexterity in discharging, unlimbering, and lim- bering their pieces.
The New Bedford Mercury of July 25th says of this ar- tillery company :
"They are entitled to great credit for the proficiency they have made in artillery practice, and particularly as they have not had the benefit of any instruction, but have studied the science without any aid from a master. We regard it as quite extraordinary that Captain Hyde and his command have acquired such skill in all the details of duty from the mere reading of the manual."
Captain Timothy Ingraham was afterwards Lieutenant Colonel of the Mass. 18th Regt. Infantry, and Colonel of the 38th. He was provost marshal in Washington when President Lincoln was assassinated.
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