USA > Massachusetts > History of the Fifth Massachusetts Battery : organized October 3, 1861, mustered out June 12, 1865, v.2 > Part 10
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On this march, Major McGilvery's wagon got stuck in a mud hole the other side of Dumfries, and the driver got discouraged and left it, reporting to the Major on his arrival in camp. The Major sent back after it, but as several thou- sand infantry had passed over the same road, nothing was left but a drowned mule and a few fragmentary evidences. of the contents. By this accident the Major lost his trunk, clothing. papers, tents, mess stuff, and was in a very desti- tute condition. On the morning after we reached Fairfax Court House, Captain Phillips found him breakfasting off hard bread and coffee, and insisted on giving him some- thing better, which he was fortunately able to do, as his larder was pretty well stocked.
The night of the 15th all had a good night's rest. Reveille at the usual hour on the morning of Tuesday, the 16th. Rested in camp all day. At night shelter tents were issued to the men. Inspection of the Battery at 6 p. m. in light marching order by Major McGilvery. News came that the rebels were in Chambersburg. The Rappahannock evacuated. Roll call in the evening at 8 o'clock. Turned out at 9 p. m. Drew two days' rations of coffee, salt pork and bread. and strapped on 4 bags of grain to each caisson and two to each gun, at & past 9 p. m., to be ready to march the next day : then turned in again.
On this day Captain A. P. Martin was put on detached service, ---- commanding Artillery Brigade. Fifth Army Corps, by Special Order, and Lieut. Aaron F. Walcott as- sumed command of the Third Mass. Battery.
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Reveille at 4 o'clock June 17th. Rebels said to be in Maryland. Fifth Corps at Manassas; other corps on the march toward Leesburg. Struck tents, hitched up and packed up for a march. After waiting about an hour orders came to unharness and stretch the picket line. Turned in our grain, and quietness reigned again.
June 18th. Battery hitched up about half past 9 a. in., and was inspected by Major McGilvery. A sergeant and five gunners were sentenced to stand on the caissons, for not knowing what they had never been taught about the "time ' and "elevation" table. They were ordered to stand there until they learned the table, but were relieved in about & of an hour as ignorant as before. The men had raw pork for dinner.
June 19th. Big drill on the manual of the piece in the afternoon and harness by detail. Cavalry fight at Aldie. The Rebs are driven.
June 20. All the 2d Corporals called to Head Quarters and questioned about the "time table" etc.
On the 21st heavy cannonading was heard to the north- west in the direction of Bull Run. Fighting all day at Thoroughfare Gap. Cannonading at the rate of 6, 15, 12 rounds per minute.
June 22d, the Battery hitched up and drilled in the morn- ing : company drilled on the manual in the afternoon; also the drivers harnessed their horses by detail. The men were kept at drill on the piece, harness drill and battery. Noth- ing but famine rations of fat pork had been served out to the men for two or three days, and they were being reduced to a state of suffering and tyrannical discipline as fast as possible. No coffee allowed the "Non-Coms." for twenty- four hours, as punishment for not suppressing noisy and disorderly conduct of the men at tea time. "Non-Coms." had coffee as usual, without having to go after it. Pork
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without-anything else-for dinner. About 400. rebel prisoners pass, from Thoroughfare Gap.
This day Lient. Spear was appointed acting assistant adjutant general in McGilvery's Brigade. Some cannonad- ing to the west.
June 23d, laid out a new camp in the grove and cleared the ground of rubbish. Two rows of tents were arranged, and we now had a neat, orderly camp. Captain Water- man's battery had been transferred to the Sixth Corps, and Captain James F. Huntington (of Battery H, Ist Ohio, Light) had been transferred to the 3d Brigade of the Artillery Reserve, taking command of the brigade. The only infantry in our neighborhood, was the Sixth Corps, and we knew nothing of the whereabouts of the rest of the army. We heard firing occasionally to the westward, and knew the result when we got the newspapers. Two batteries of our brigade, Ames' (Battery G, Ist N. Y. Light, Captain Nelson Ames) and Dow's (Sixth Maine Battery, Captain Edwin B. Dow) started this morning for Edwards Ferry. News came of the cavalry fight at Middleburg on Sunday. Two pieces of artillery. 3 caissons, I blown up, and the enemy driven towards Ashby's Gap. Major McGilvery gone to Washington.
LETTER OF CAPTAIN PHILLIPS.
"CAMP NEAR FAIRFAX COURT HOUSE, Tuesday morning, June 23, 1863.
As things began to look like a permanent camp, I have taken to drilling, and yesterday I had the camp pitched over again. We have sent on to Washington, and are now living on such luxuries as tomatoes, pease, string beans, squash, asparagus &c., bottled ale for dinner, and oranges and bananas for dessert. I wish our men's fare was as good, but they are at present living very poorly, on hard bread
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and salt pork, no soft bread, no vegetables, not even salt beef, and what little fresh beef they get is hardly fit to be eaten. And as if to prevent them from improving the bill of fare the sutlers are not allowed to come out from Wash- ington,-ratlier aggravating, to be witliin 15 miles of a good market and not allowed to buy anything."
June 24th, about 125 rebel prisoners passcd in the morn- ing. The men of the Battery had boiled fresh beef, for a change. At supper tinie by request of the cook, Corporal Jonas Shackley called Tucker (bugler) to sound the call and the men repeated it along the line. As a punishment the Captain stopped the coffee for half an hour. As soon as the issue was resumed the calls for Tucker were heard, and the Captain stopped the coffee entirely and ordered that the non-commissioned officers go without coffee for 24 hours. Perhaps they did. Corporal Shackley did not ask any one for coffee, but it was in his tent at meal tinie.
LETTER FROM LIEUT. P. W. BLAKE.
FAIRFAX COURT HOUSE, VA., June 24, 1863.
"IF'e are now 15 miles from Washington, but the d-1 knows where the rebels are. We had a rather hard march up here, 48 hours without rest. The way that most of the corps came was the old road that we came to Bull Run last August. There was only one spring on the road; the men and horses suffered greatly for the want of water. There were 20 men in one corps who dropped down dead on the march. Most of our infantry are around the mount- tains somewhere. Wounded are being brought in every day from the mountains, ours and rebels.
I suppose there are a good many who are joining General
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Debility's army at present up north. I hope the rebels will come to New York and other places, and stir them up a little. My duty is rather laborious at present, one officer (Lieut. Scott) is on court martial, and another (Lieut. Spear) is on the Major of the Brigade's staff."
VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE. . WASHINGTON, June 25, 1863.
General Orders
No. 191
FOR RECRUITING VETERAN VOLUNTEERS,
In order to increase the armies now in the field, volunteer infantry. cavalry, and artillery, may be enlisted, at any time within ninety days from this date, in the respective states, under the regulations hereinafter mentioned. The volunteers so enlisted, and such of the three years' troops now in the field, as may re-enlist in accordance with the provi- sions of this order, will constitute a force to be designated "Veteran Volunteers."
By order of the Secretary of War,
E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant General.
June 25, 1863. Reveille and roll call just at sunrise. "Boots and Saddles" at 8 a. m. Broke camp and packed up, and left Fairfax Court House with the Artillery Reserve at about 9 a. m. Marched all day and evening. The Brigades marched in the following order : Ransom, Hunting- ton, McGilvery, DuPeyster, Taft,-
DuPeyster switched off for Washington. The Ninth Mass. Battery joined our Brigade. We started towards Washington, but changed the direction of our route, and marched towards Edwards Ferry on the Potomac River. Passed Leesburg station at 4 1+. m. Roads good, especially the Leesburg turnpike, a macadamized road. We had much halting until the last two hours of our march. when
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we moved very fast, a good part of the time "double-quick." Upset one caisson about 5 p. m., and broke the stock, but not so badly as to detain us. We righted the caisson and procecded. At 6 o'clock it commenced raining and rained all night. About half past 6 we passed through Dranesville. Halted for the night a mile from the river about II p. m., but did not unhitch. The men made coffee and lay down on the wet ground by the fire without shelter except a rubber blanket. They passed the long, dreary, wet night in misery, being wet to the skin and not a wink of sleep.
June 26th. Friday. Morning rainy, and the sky very cloudy. Horses still standing in harness. Left park about $ past 7 a. m., and marched about a mile to the bridge across the Potomac at Edwards Ferry. There were two pontoon bridges across the river. Our Battery crossed the bridge on the right. There were 65 boats under the bridge. Length 1400 feet. We crossed at half past 8 a. m., and went into Maryland. Camped about half a mile from the bridge and stopped here all day and all night on the plantation of a man of the name of Fisher. We had marched about 28 miles. Heavy masses of troops and wagon trains on the move all day. The Fifth Corps passed in the afternoon. Signs of a long rain at dusk. Every- thing was water-soaked. The men made tents of their tar- paulins and had plenty of wheat straw.
June 27th, 1863. Anniversary of the battle of Gaines Mills. Cloudy morning. Wc packed up and marched about 8 o'clock a. m. Marched through Poolesville, Union- town, Barnesville, and Monocacy Junction, crossing Mono- cacy River twice. Marched round Sugar Loaf Mountain, Md. The road was quite rough, and we capsized one of our wagons, but did no serious damage. After getting off the mountain the road was quite smooth, and we travelled quite rapidly. . No infantry marched on the road we came. We marched about 27 miles, a considerable part of it being
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"double-quick." We reached Frederick, Md. about 10 p. m., passed through it where we went into park about a mile north of the city, on the Gettysburg road. There were only three cannoneers present to stretch the picket rope, and some did not come up until the next day. The men went to bed supperless, too much fatigued to make coffee, but they had a good night's rest. The people of Frederick were very hospitable to us.
June 28th, Sunday, we were routed out about the usual hour, and remained in camp all day. Turned in some con- demned horses. Many of the men were allowed "passes" to the city. The Captain went into Frederick in the after- moon and evening. The city was full of soldiers and they heard a rumor that General Meade had relieved General Houker. Captain Phillips saw General Hooker in the town; also General ( Alfred) Pleasanton who was at the City Hall. The Third and Eleventh Corps went through in the after- noon.
EXIT HOOKER.
HIS FAREWELL TO THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
HEAD QUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
June 28, 1863.
General Orders No. 66.
In conformity with the orders of the War Department, dated June 27, 1863, I relinquish the command of the Army of the Potomac. It is transferred to Major General George G. Meade, a brave and accom- plished officer, who has nobly earned the confidence and esteem of this Army on many a well-fought field.
Impressed with the belief that my usefulness as the commander rf the Army of the Potomac is impaired, I part from it : yet not without the deepest emotion. The sorrow of parting with the comrades of so many battles, is relieved by the conviction that the courage and devotion cf this Army will never cease, nor fail,-that it will yield to my suc- cessor as it has to me, a willing and hearty support. With the earnest
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prayer that the triumphs of its arms may bring successes worthy of it and the nation, I bid it farewell.
JOSEPH HOOKER, Major General.
ENTER MEADE.
HEAD QUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, June 28, 1863.
General Orders
No. 67.
By direction of the President of the United States, I hereby assume command of the Army of the Potomac. As a soldier, in obeying this order-an order totally unexpected and unsolicited-I have no promises or pledges to make.
The country looks to this Army to relieve it from the devastation and disgrace of a hostile invasion. Whatever fatigues and sacrifices we may be called upon to undergo, let us have in view constantly the magnitude of the interests involved, and let each man determine to do his duty, leaving to an all-controlling Providence the decision of the contest.
It is with just diffidence that I relieve in the command of this Army, an eminent and accomplished soldier, whose name must ever appear conspicuous in the history of its achievements; but I rely upon the hearty support of my companions in arms to assist mc in the discharge of the duties of the important trust which has been confided to me.
GEORGE G. MEADE, Major General Commanding.
AS REWARD: A MEDAL OF HONOR.
WAR DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, WASHINGTON, June 29th, 1863.
General Orders No. 195
The Adjutant General will provide an appropriate Medal of Honor for the troops who, after the expiration of their term, have offered their services to the Government in the present emergency ; and also, for the Volunteer troops from other states that have volunteered their tem- porary service in the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland.
By Order of the Secretary of War.
E. D. TOWNSEND Assistant Adjutant General.
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June 29, 1863. Reveille at half past 3 a. m., packed up, hitched up, took rations of bread and raw pork, and after waiting three hours in a pouring rain, got on the road about 6 a. m. Marched through Frederick City. Had a halt for about an hour, half a mile from the place we left. Very rainy. Passed through the village of Walkers- ville, Md. about 10 a. m. Marched about three miles and halted for about two hours, to allow wagon trains and troops to pass us. Passed through Ladysburg and reached Woodsborough about half past 4 p. in. Marched very steadily until about 9 p. m. when we halted for the night. Roads very hard and good. Marched apparently about 25 miles through the pleasantest part of the country. The men reached camp very much fatigued and footsore, and had a good night's rest. We had been marching in the direction of the Pennsylvania line about ten miles distant. The camp was now about two miles from Taneytown.
June 30, 1863. Cloudy and rainy. Reveille as usual. Hitched up and left park about # past ro a. m., and we were until 2 past 4 p. m., going about three miles, the roads were so. full of troops. About 15 rebels passed us in the afternoon. Passed through Tancytown, Md. and went into park about a mile from the town, and about 5 miles from the Pennsylvania line, where we remained until the morning of July 2d, when we marched to Gettysburg. The camp was a very pleasant one, quite near a mill stream, and "all hands" had a good bath. Here we had plenty of hay for the animals. Lee's forces said to be at York and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
DUTY AND THE DEATH PENALTY. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, June 30, 1863.
Circular :
The commanding general requests that previous to the engagement soon expected with the enemy, corps and all other commanding officers
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will address their troops, explaining to them briefly the immense issues involved in this struggle. The enemy are on our soil. The whole coun- try now looks anxiously to this Army to deliver it from the presence of the foe. Our failure to do so will leave us no such welcome as the swelling of millions of hearts with pride and joy at our success would give to every soldier in the Ariny. Homes, firesides, and domestic altars are involved. The Army has fought well heretofore. It is be- lieved that it will fight more desperately and bravely than ever, if it is addressed in fitting terms.
Corps and other commanders are authorized to order the instant death of any soldier who fails in his duty at this hour.
By command of Major General Meade.
S. WILLIAMS Ass't Adjt. General.
July 1, 1863. First anniversary of the Battle of Malvern Hill. In camp, but liable to move at any moment. Rumors of fight at Gettysburg, the death of General John F. Reynolds of the First Corps, and the capture of a Brigade of rebels. Extra wagons sent to the rear. Our forces formed line and held the enemy. Fight heavy. A ration of fresh meat-raw-and 3 days' rations of coffee served out in the morning. Two Brigades of the Reserve marched at 7 p. m:
Thursday, July 2, 1863, the Battery crossed the celebrated "Mason and Dixons line," and entered the state of Mary- land. (This dividing line was partially re-surveyed in 1765, by two learned mathematicians and surveyors, Charles Mason and James Dixon, of London, employed by the pro- prietors of the two colonies of Penn and Calvert, and after- wards completed by other engineers. A stone was set up at the end of cach mile. and every fifth stone, which was larger than the others, had on the north side the arms of Thomas and Richard Penn, and on the south side the arms of Frederick. Lord Baltimore. The preliminary work of restoring the historic landmarks of Mason's and Dixon's line, for many years the dividing line between the free
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states and the slave states of the Union, in order to establish some portions now in doubt, was begun by a commission appointed by the state governments of Pennsylvania and Maryland and the U. S. Geological Survey, in September, 1900. The original stones which remained in a good state of preservation have been reset in solid cement bases, and iron posts are put up in places where the old markers have disappeared. )
July 2, 1863. First call at half past 2 a. m. We packed up and left camp about 4 a. in. Marched to the edge of Taneytown but countermarched, and took the road towards Gettysburg. Saw some prisoners and wounded men com- ing to the rear. Travelled very fast most of the time. Heard cannonading in the direction of Gettysburg about 10 a. m., and musketry skirmishing about half an hour later. Marched about 12 miles before halting. Weather damp and cloudy. Halted in a field, with close intervals, and cleared the guns for action.
THE FIGHT OF JULY 2D.
Two letters of Captain Phillips, one written soon after the battle, and the other after an interval of more than four months, give in detail his views of the situation, with ac- companying plans, drawn from the indelible impressions made upon his mind while the contest raged the fiercest around him at his post, one of the most conspicuous posi- tions on the field.
The first bears the date: "Camp near Littlestown. Penn. July 6, 1863."
"The long barns which abound in this country had all been converted into hospitals, and everything portended a fight. Some little shelling was going on, and we could see our troops in line on the hills in front. About 3 o'clock the fighting commenced. and Hart's and Bigelow's Ninth
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Mass. were sent to the front. I was ordered up at 4, and found the shelling pretty lively. I took position between Hart and Bigelow, and threw a few shells at a rebel battery, which was about silenced. The following diagram will explain our position. (See Plan of Operations.)
The woods on our left were occupied by our infantry, and skirmishers were deployed in the ravine in front of us. The line of battle extended some distance, and our infantry was placed on our flanks: there was none immediately in front or rear of Hart, Bigelow, or myself. Thompson was on a knoll higher than my position, which concealed the rebel line in that direction from my sight.
About five o'clock the rebels charged across the fields into the woods on our left and drove back our line on our right. We poured a very uncomfortable enfilading fire into them as long as they were in sight in the fields on our left, and could have driven them back if the infantry and artillery on our right had held their ground. But Thompson was driven back, losing one gun, Ames retired, and Hart left the field, and our whole line of infantry fell back.
We had been for an hour very much annoyed by the en- filading fire of some batteries on our right, which were pouring in shell in a very uncomfortable way. We could have silenced them if we could have seen them.
At the same time that our right fell back, the rebels had got so far into the woods on our left that their musketry became very annoying. Finding that the place was getting too hot, Major McGilvery ordered us to retire, which we executed very successfully. The horses on my left piece were knocked over. and we started the piece off by hand. Lieut. Scott was pushing the piece off when a bullet struck him in the face passing through both cheeks, and breaking the roof of his mouth. Fortunately it missed his eyes and teeth, and he will easily recover. We fell back across the fields, and took up a new position about 1000 yards to the
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rear. The rest of the Brigade had gone still farther to the rear, taking with them my caissons and three of muy pieces which had got beyond my control while I was looking after the rear of the column. Lieut. Scott's wound also created a little confusion. However, I got three pieces in position, and blazed away at the rebels. Lieut. Dow's 6th Maine Battery was on my left, and did good service. The rebels brought their batteries on the hill we first occupied, and commenced a pretty vigorous shelling, but I fancy they found that two could play at that game. I blazed away till dark. and used up all my ammunition, when I was re- lieved and retired to get the Battery together. (The guns had been carried about a mile to the rear.) I finally got them together by daylight.
I suffered pretty severely in this day's fight : 3 men were leit dead on the field, and one died the next morning in the hospital. Some 30 horses were killed. but all that the rebels made out of me was one limber and harness, and these we got off two days after. Bigelow suffered still worse. Four of his guns were left on the field. but were all saved event- ually. Lieut. Erickson was killed, Captain Bigelow and Lieut. Whitaker wounded. This battery did splendidly, particularly considering it was their first fight. They were exposed to a very hot fire of musketry and could not have saved their guns."
The remainder of this letter refers to the fight of July 3d, and his letter dated Camp near Kelly's Ford, Nov. 21, 1863. contains the following regarding the second day's fight which was also on the 2d of July :- The letter was addressed to his brother George.
"I received your letter and plans of Gettysburg the other day and have indicated our position as accurately as pos- sible on the enclosed plans. (These plans have been con- sulted in the present work. )
As I went into position on Thursday under a hot fire,
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and came out under a hotter one, I did not get a very clear idea of localities.
On the morning of July 2d we left Taneytown, and came into park on the right of the road. We stayed here till 3 p. m. when McGilvery's Brigade went up, one after an- other, to take position with the Third Corps which had been advanced in front of the rest of the line. As we came up we were formed in position on the road running from the Taneytown to the Emmittsburg road. The left of the Bri- gade rested on the woods held by the Fifth Corps, and the right stood in the peach orchard. We were arranged in the following order, commencing from the left :---
Ninth Mass. Captain (Jolm) Bigelow.
Fifth Mass. Captain Phillips.
A New Jersey Battery belonging to the Third Corps. (Battery B, 2d New Jersey Artillery. )
15th N. Y. Battery, Captain ( Patrick ) Hart.
Battery C, Penn. Art'y, Captain ( James) Thompson.
My left piece stood in the road. Hart was a little in ad- vance, but soon fell back.
Four of Thompson's Guns faced the same way as the Brigade, the other two faced to the right where a rebel bat- tery was enfilading our line in a very uncomfortable man- ner. Some rebel batteries in front of us on the wooded hills were firing pretty lively, but soon after we got into position we silenced them, and the only artillery fire that did us any serious damage was the enfilading battery on our right. As the peach orchard was on higher ground than where I was, I could not see any of the rebels in this direction, nor the Third Corps. About 5 o'clock the rebels started a heavy column across the field in front of us towards the woods held by the Fifth Corps. We blazed away at them all the time, but most of them contrived to get into the woods. A second column followed right after with similar luck though they suffered worse than the first. Some of them tried to
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