USA > Massachusetts > History of the Fifth Massachusetts Battery : organized October 3, 1861, mustered out June 12, 1865, v.2 > Part 13
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During this charge an event took place, which must have convinced the rebel artillery officers that they had something to learn. They advanced a 12 pdr. battery about 200 yards on our left, and blazed away. We let them get well at work, and then the Major turned four batteries on them. and in less than ten minutes not a cannoneer was left to work the guns: all were dead or had 'skedaddled.' The guns stood out in the field till late in the afternoon, when we allowed the rebels to take them off, as it cost too much ammunition to keep them off, and they could have removed them after dark any way.
After the repulse of the grand charge, a ridiculous demon- stration took place in front of us. A Florida Brigade ad- vanced and got into a ravine about 200 yards in front of us, when a Brigade of ours got the other side of them and cap- tured the whole concern! This finished the rebels for that day, and the next day their batteries had disappeared, but our forces, instead of advancing, by which we might have gained a decisive victory, spent the whole day in skirmish- ing, allowing a line of rebel pickets to conceal from us what was going on in their rear,-I may be mistaken, but this is the way it struck me.
Saturday forenoon we retired to the Rear and rested. and yesterday we marched to this place. My losses for the two days foot up i officer wounded severely, 4 men killed, 16 wounded,-2 probably mortally-40 horses killed. 690 rounds fired. There were, of course. the usual number of narrow escapes, but I was not wounded even in my coat or hat."
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HISTORY OF THE
In a letter dated December 16, 1901, Private Louis E. Pattison says of the reference of Captain Phillips to the action of General Hancock :----
"Phillips' comment upon Hancock's action at Gettysburg in ordering the artillery fire, is exactly what the rank and file thought.
Had Hancock let Hunt manage the whole line of artillery, the rebel column would never have reached the clump of trees, and a counter charge should then have been made by our Army, which would have been successful, and much of the slaughter of 1864, would have been avoided. Our Battery was only excelled by D, 5th U. S."
From the letter of Captain Phillips sent with the plans from the camp near Kelly's Ford Nov. 21, 1863 :---
"At daylight the next day (July 3d) McGilvery placed his Brigade in position. He had 37 guns placed close to- gether, arranged as follows, commencing from the left :---- Battery G, Ist N. Y. (Capt. Nelson Ames) 6 guns, 6th Maine (Captain Edwin B. Dow) 4 guns, New Jersey Bat- tery (Battery B, 2d N. J. Art'y), 6 guns, N. Y. ( Rank's Section) 2 guns, Ist Conn. 6 guns, 15th N. Y. (Capt. Patrick Hart) 4 guns, Fifth Mass. ( Phillips) 4 guns, --- I did not have men and horses enough for six, ---- C, Penn. Art'y (Capt. James Thompson) 5 guns. ["Rank's Sec- tion" was a section of Battery H, 3d Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, which served that day as Light Artillery. com- manded by Captain William D. Rank. ]
The rebel batteries were arranged along the crest in our front, the peach orchard being full of them. From the woods on our left to the right of our Brigade we threw up a little breastwork of rails and dirt, about two feet high, very useful and convenient. A Division of infantry were placed on this line between our guns, and only one man in the whole Division was hurt by the rebel artillery fire, and
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FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
he was foolishly lying about 10 feet behind the breastwork.
About noon the rebels opened a grand cannonade from their whole line, and for an hour and a half we had a grand Fourth of July performance. During the whole of this time the reports averaged by actual count 70 or So a minute. I don't know what the rebels expected to do, but it was certainly a very foolishi performance.
We hitched our horses to trees, placed all our men snugly behind our heap of dirt, and rather enjoyed it than other- wise. To be sure they made a great noise, and the shells whistled round our heads so thick that a timid man hardly cared to stand up and look round to see what was going on, but we did not care about running away, when it was a great deal safer to stay where we were. I suppose the rebels thought they were blowing everything to pieces. The at- tack of Longstreet's Corps was on our right, but we had a splendid range on them as they came across the fields, and must have injured them badly. The country was so open that they had no shelter from our fire and as we nearly enfiladed them, we could not help hitting them at every shot; so when they were repulsed they evidently did not care about going across the same open fields, but retreated more to our right, where they could get into the woods easier."
Corp'l George L. Newton in Notes dated Oct. 24. 1899. adds the following to the quotations from Captain Phillips: -- "I remember some years after the War ended, I was with Captain Phillips in his office in Boston, and we were talking over old times, and he told me that the Battery fired nearly 51 tons of ammunition at Gettysburg during the fighting on the 2d and 3d of July."
LETTER OF SERGT. WM. H. PEACOCK. "July 5, 1863. CAMP NEAR THE BATTLEFIELD OF --- , PA.
I came out of the fight all right. Our Battery was en- graged two days, and a terrible time we had of it. . . . The
!
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HISTORY OF THE
9th Mass. Battery lost 38 men killed and wounded. Captain Bigelow of Brighton was shot through the side; not a fatal wound, I hear. On my Gun one man was killed and five wounded, out of fo of us. The second day we gave them an awful whipping. I think we will have another battle before the rebels leave this state, or Maryland."
FROM CORPORAL CHASE'S DIARY.
"July 3, 1863. Not a wink of sleep last night : wound very painful. Four of our pieces left for the front about 6 this morning, the other two pieces, caissons, battery-wagon and forge advanced about half a mile nearer the front about 10 a. m. Cannonading began again this morning at day- light. Kept with the caissons this morning. Met Lieut. Lombard of the 16th Mass. Reg't. Not much fighting until I p. m. when a terrific cannonading commenced, and at 3 p: m. has not slackened. Wm. L. Purbeck died of his wounds this a. m. and his remains were buried. No hopes of the recovery of Wm. E. Estee this a. m. Battery engaged again this p. m. John Canty and John Olin wounded this p. m. Olin slightly. The battery-wagon, forge teams, two guns and caissons, started to the Rear when the heavy firing commenced. Serg't. Nye came to us this p. m. with rations. A furious cannonading kept up until about 4 p. m. when it gradually slackened. The men on our pieces in front report that the enemy is shelling them terribly. Quite a large lot of rebel prisoners-about Soo-passed us about 4 p. m .; among them several commissioned officers. The prospect looks more and more favorable for us this p. m. Martin J. Coleman and Henry W. Soule still missing. D. K. Shackley slightly bruised by a fragment of shell p. m. Very quiet up to the front at 6 p. m., but little can- nonading at this time. Many of the rebel prisoners today badly wounded. Our guns partly sheltered from the fire by breastworks, but many of the caisson horses were killed.
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FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
My wound very sore today and somewhat inflamed. Weather cloudy and quite cool. Stragglers warned of the wrath to come if they incur the indignation of General Meade by skulking. Wm. Greeley made delirious by the wind of a shell p. m .; sent him to the hospital. W. A. Waugh slightly bruised by a piece of shell. More hopes of Wm. E. Estec tonight. John Canty's right arm ampu- tated to-day. M. J. Coleman still missing. The 5th detach- ment exchanged gun ( see p. 923 Captain Fitzhugh ) for one with a charge wedged in from a New York battery.
July 4. 1863. All quiet this morning. Not as much as . 'bunch of crackers' to be heard, except the grinding of hard crackers this morning. Quite a comfortable night's rest last night. A little rain fell in the night. The dead body of H. W. Soule found on the field where we fought on the 2d inst. by Lieut. Spear this morning. Serg't. Smith reports that we have already lost forty horses in the two days' fight- ing. Had a good bath this morning and feel quite refreshed. My wound doing well but very sore. Martin J. Coleman found on the field seriously wounded, a. m. He was brought to the rear and carried to the hospital.
The 5th and 6th detachments with guns, caissons, and the battery-wagon, forge and team. moved to a field near where we halted before going into action on the ed inst .. in front vi the LIth Corps hospital. The whole Battery in park in the above field. A thundershower came up about half past 3 p. m. and rained very fast for about an hour. Went on the battlefield after the shower p. m. Many bodies of both Union and rebel soldiers were unburied. Saw 20 dead horses within the space of half an acre, probably horses be- longing to the 9th Mass. Battery. Put up tents and 'turned in' on the wet ground! A party of our men went out on the field p. m. and buried the remains of Fotheringham. Verity, and Sonle .- Distant cannonading heard in the evening. Weather cool and comfortable with some rain.
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HISTORY OF THE
Some of our men went out beyond the outer pickets for the limber of the Ist detachment gun and brought it to camp; a hazardous job. The rebel pickets fired upon them with- out effect.
July 5, 1863. Sunday. Went to the hospital this morn ing and had my wound dressed. No hopes of the recovery of Martin J. Coleman. J. Hathaway seriously wounded J. Canty comfortable. All quiet today. Lieut. Scott came to us a. m. Battery hitched up and joined the column on the march for Frederick City. Md. Went to the hospital of the Reserve Artillery with all our wounded, p. m., hospi tal on the Baltimore turnpike about three miles from the battlefield. Hospital a good dwelling house and a barn. All hands had a plentiful supper of broiled mackerel, bread and coffee. Remained with the wounded till HI p. m., with G. Trumbull, attending to their wants. Two of our men up all the time and were relieved every two hours.
Our Battery, with the Volunteer Reserve, passed the hos- pital about 6 p. m. on the march to Frederick. Md. Lieut. Scott left here with us.
July 6, 1863. Quite a comfortable night's rest last night. The wounded men rested very quietly most of the time. Hard bread and coffee with a little beef steak for break- fast. Some clean clothing given to those of us who needed it most. By request of M. J. Coleman wrote to his father that he could not live, and that the letter would probably be the last he would hear from him. The Dr. has no hopes of Coleman's recovery. Boiled meat and broth for dinner. ham, bread and coffee for supper. Went to see some rebel prisoners in the hospital,-wounded .- p. m. Their hospital was a small church and a cemetery, graves serving as pillows.
July 7, 1863. John M. Canty died last night about Il p. m. and was buried this morning. Arose at 2 a. m to help watch with the wounded. A good, plentiful breakfast
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FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
of fried ham this morning; boiled fresh meat, and a good broth for dinner. Lieut. Scott with other commissioned officers left us today for home. Ham for supper. Weather quite cool and comfortable.
DYING WORDS OF COLEMAN. NOTES OF AUG. 13, 1899.
Martin J. Coleman was mortally wounded at Gettysburg and was brought to a temporary hospital where I was. I did not know that he was seriously wounded until I asked the surgeon how he was getting on, and he told me he could not live long. Soon after Coleman sent for me to write a letter for him. I could relate other instances to show the spirit and material of the old 5th Mass. Battery, but writing that letter was the most pathetic act I was called upon to perform while in service. He dictated this to me :-- 'Dear Father : I have not long to live. I have tried to be a faithful soldier, and I die for the flag.'"
FROM NOTES OF CORPORAL SHACKLEY, 1863.
"On the 3d July we went into line with only 3 guns, not having men and horses to serve more.
THE WOUNDING OF JOHN M. CANTY.
After the enemy had shelled our lines, and had begun their advance, we commenced firing. John Canty was driver of the pole team of the Ist caisson-the limber of the Gun was left on the field on the previous day, -- and was kneeling on his right knee, his right arm behind the horse's left fore leg, his left hand holding the bridle rein. Corporal Shackley, assisting No. 5 to serve ammunition, had a Schenkle combination shell on the ground, between his knees, trying to turn the cap to set the time-fuze, when a shell came and took off the horse's leg above the knee,
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HISTORY OF THE
Canty's arm off above the elbow, and the horse's right hind foot off above the ankle with such force as to tear the shoe clear of the foot, and the shoe struck the Corporal on his left wrist, and made him lame for nearly a week. The skin was not broken, but turned very dark, the sleeve of his blouse having protected it to some extent. The shell fell to the ground under the Corporal's nose and he picked it up, and threw it away.
Canty died of his wound. The shell did not explode."
In relation to the battle Shackley wrote in a letter at the time :- "We have had two days of as hard fighting as has been done in this war, but as long as I have health I will not grumble."
NOTES OF JOHN E. DYER, 1863.
"July 3, 1863. A thick morning. Firing commenced about daybreak. Our Battery, with four pieces, went to the front at 6 a. m. At I p. m the most awful cannonading commenced from the enemy, and was kept up until 33 p. m. During the time we silenced one of their batteries. General Longstreet reported taken with part of his men. Slept on the field.
July 4, 1863. Independence Day. Still on the field. Went over it, and among the wounded found Coleman and J. Hathaway. Took a blanket, put one in at a time, and brought them off. About 7 a. m. we left our position, and went to the rear with all our pieces and caissons, but with a loss of 21 men killed and wounded, also 41 horses killed. This is a great loss for artillery."
NOTES OF CORPORAL GRAHAM. FINDING THE BODIES.
"On the afternoon of the 4th Captain Phillips ordered a sergeant to go down on the centre of the field, out beyond our pickets, where the rebs had left one of their guns the
1
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FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
day before. So he mounts a horse and starts down. When he got to the picket line his heart failed him, so he came back. Then the Captain came to me, and he says, 'Graham, you go down on the field, and get me that pole-yoke from that limber.' So I went out on the centre of the field, and tried to get it, but as I had no wrench, and there was none in the limber chest, I had to leave it. I walked from there in the centre of both picket lines, to the position we occupied on the second day. It was there where I found poor Henry Soule. He was the first one that I found. He was under a small apple tree. Fotheringham was nearer the position of the Battery.
From the field I went into the Trostle house, where I found John Hathaway and Coleman. They were both badly wounded. The rebels had stripped Hathaway of all his clothing. When I found him he was sitting in a chair underneath a mirror, and I saw him in the glass first, and he gave me quite a fright, for the only thing he had on was a white sheet. He looked more like a ghost than a man. I asked him if there were any other of the boys in the house, and he said he did not know, so I looked the house over from garret to cellar, and there, behind the chimney, found Coleman. I tried to get an ambulance to take them to tlie rear, but it was of no use. I went back to the Battery and reported to the Captain. He had the men make some stretchers, and had Hathaway and Coleman taken to the field hospital, where they died in a day or two. The last I saw of Henry Soule they were digging a grave under that apple tree, but I did not stay to see whether he was buried there or not."
The last resting place of Henry W. Soule is in Oak Grove Cemetery, New Bedford. Mass.
"You may lean your backs against comrades now,
They'll moisten your lips, and they'll kiss your brow.
---
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For they fought like men, and a man may weep When he lays a man to his last long sleep."
--- RICHARD MANSFIELD.
REPORT OF CAPTAIN C. A. PHILLIPS.
HD. QRS. BATTERY E, MASS. ART'Y,
July 6, 1863.
MAJOR MCGILVERY, Com'd'g Ist Brig. V. A. R.
MAJOR :
I have the honor to forward a report of the battery luring the action of July 2d and 3d.
On the morning of the 2d I marched from Taneytown towards Gettysburg, and came into park near the battlefield. At 4 o'clock I was ordered into action, and took position on the right of Captain Bigelow and left of Captain Hart. The enemy soon opened a heavy artillery fire on our front and right, one battery on my right which I could not sec, giving us a very hot enfilading fire. Towards 5 o'clock the enemy succeeded in forcing back our lines on our right and left, and the battery was subjected to a heavy musketry fire on both flanks. Accordingly upon receiving the order from you, I limbered to the rear and retired. The horses on the left piece were shot before limbering, and we were obliged to bring the piece off by hand, leaving the limber, -- this was however brought off on the 4th. Lieut. Henry D. Scott was shot in the face and severely wounded while bringing off this piece. After retiring about 1000 yards I came into battery by the side of the 6th Maine Battery, Lieut. Dow com'd'g, and remained until my ammunition was expended, when I marched to the rear, and went into park for the night.
At daylight on the 3d I was ordered to the front, and took position to the right and rear of the position of the day before, on the right of Captain Hart, and left of Captain Thompson. . Under your direction the guns were protected by a slight parapet, which proved of very great service.
£
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FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
About one o'clock the enemy opened a heavy fire from a long line of batteries, which was kept up for an hour, but beyond the noise which was made, no great harm was done. Having received orders from General Hunt, and from you. not to reply to their batteries, I remained silent for the first half hour, when General Hancock ordered us to open. We then opened fire on the enemy's batteries, but in the thick smoke probably did very little damage. By your orders we soon ceased firing. Soon after a charge was made by General Longstreet's Corps, and from my position I was enabled to pour a heavy enfilading fire into the rebel infantry. After the repulse of this charge, another was made by a Florida Brigade within range of my guns. During the charge of General Longstreet, the rebels advanced a battery of 12 pers. on our left, whereupon the batteries of the Ist brig. were ordered to concentrate their fire on it, which was done with such good effect that the rebel cannoneers were driven from their posts almost immediately, and left their guns in the field.
I remained in this position until Saturday forenoon.
I beg leave to express entire satisfaction with my officers and men. During the two days I fired 690 rounds, lost I officer wounded, 4 men killed, 16 wounded, 40 horses killed, and a number disabled. A number of small imple- ments were lost during the falling back of the first day, but the only losses of material which interfere with the efficiency of the Battery are:
1 Wheel Harness for one horse.
4 Sets Lead Harness.
2 Wheels.
I am very Respectfully Your ob't Serv't,
CHARLES A. PHILLIPS, Capt. Battery E, Mass. Art'y.
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HISTORY OF THE
LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED OF BATTERY E, MASS. ART'Y AT THE BATTLE NEAR GETTYSBURG, PA., JULY 20 AND 3D, 1863.
NAMES.
RANK.
Henry D. Scott Ist Lieut. wounded face Thomas E. Chase Corporal
arm slightly.
John Agen = Arm broke
Wm. L. Purbeck
Private Killed.
Henry W. Soule
.6
John G. Sanford
66
wounded side slightly.
Henry Fitzsimmons
66
leg severely
George R. Trumbull ..
=
foot slightly.
Martin J. Coleman
6.
Knee and Arm mortally.
William E. Estee 6.
hip severely
William H. Dunham ..
shoulder slightly
John F. Hathaway ..
breast severely
John M. Canty
66
arm amputated.
Daniel K. Shackley
6. aun slightly
John H. Olin
William A. Waugh
66
hip severely. arm slightly.
LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED OF THE IOTH NEW YORK IND. BATTERY NOW SERVING WITH BATTERY E., MASS. ART'Y AT THE BATTLE NEAR GETTYS- BURG, PA., JULY 2D & 3D, 1863.
NAMES. RANK.
Edward Fotheringham Private Killed.
Henry Graffelman
Wounded by severely
Thomas Fairhuret 66
shoulder slightly
William M' Kern
groin severely.
John W. Verity 6.
Killed.
In the Roll of Honor, published in Fox's "New York at Gettysburg," names of soldiers in New York Regiments and Batteries, who were killed or mortally wounded at that Battle, are :
IOTH INDEPENDENT BATTERY L. A.
Fotheringham Edward. Private.
Verity John W., Private.
Temporarily attached to the 5th Massachusetts Battery.
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FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
In relation to the Third Day's Fight Captain Phillips wrote his little nephew, under date July 31st, 1863: "On the next day we had a splendid exhibition of fireworks got up by the rebel chief of artillery for our amusement. For about an hour and a half there were at least 100 shots a minute, and the banging and whizzing round was so con- stant as to be quite confusing. Just before it commenced Lieut. Lull and I were lying in a little shelter tent, but when the shower came we concluded to get behind a pile of dirt. and it was lucky we did so, for in less than five minutes a shell struck the shelter tent and knocked it all to pieces . . . But when the infantry came out we jumped up and went at it hammer and tongs. We had a splendid chance at them, and we made the most of it . . . The prettiest thing, however, was the way we silenced a rebel battery which they brought out into the field. We let them get into . position and all ready, and then we went at them. For about five minutes the shells were bursting round their heads pretty thick, and when the smoke and dust cleared away we could see one horse, but no men left. The guns stood just where they placed them, but they did not fire another shot."
LETTER OF LIEUT. J. E. SPEAR.
"The Major referred to here is Major McGilvery of Maine, who commanded several batteries on Sickles' line when he was forced back the second day. I was on his staff as Assistant Adjutant General." Note by Lieut. Spear July 24, 1901.
"HEAD QUARTERS Ist BRIG. VOL. A. C. CAMP NEAR FREDERICK, MD.
July 7, 1863.
Well here we are back to Frederick. Md., which place we left one week ago last Monday morning. The first day, ---
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HISTORY OF THE
Monday,-we marched as far as Middleburg, Md., and there we went into camp for the night. The next morning, -- Tuesday,-we broke camp and marched that day about ten miles, to Taneytown, where we went into camp, and re- mained until Wednesday morning, when we were ordered to move, but orders were countermanded, and we remained until Thursday morning, when we broke camp and marched towards Gettysburg, Pa., and we went into park about : o'clock, near the Battlefield.
At 4 o'clock the Major received orders for his batteries to move into position, and they were placed near the centre of the 3d Corps on the Left of the line of battle. As soon as the batteries were placed in position the rebels opened a heavy artillery fire on our front and right. Towards 5 o'clock the enemy succeeded in forcing back our lines on our right and left, and the batteries were subjected to a hot musketry fire on the flanks. Some of the batteries then com- menced to retreat before the order was given by the Major, but Capt. Phillips and Capt. Bigelow of the 9th Mass. Battery, remained until the Major gave the order to retire. When retiring Capt. Phillips and Capt. Bigelow lost a great many men and horses, and had to pull some of their . pieces off by hand. After retiring about 1000 yards these two batteries came into position and remained there until all their ammunition was expended. when they went into park to the rear of the Battlefield.
At daylight on the 3d we were ordered into position near the centre of our line, and here the men built a slight parapet to protect themselves from the shells and bullets of the rebels, which proved of very great importance, for it saved the lives of many men. About I o'clock p. m. of the 3d the enemy opened a heavy fire from a long line of batter- ies, which was kept up for an hour, but beyond the noise made no great harm was done. £ Soon after the firing ceased. the rebels made a charge, and from our position
FIFTH MASS. BATTERY. 667
we were enabled to pour a heavy enfilading fire into the rebel infantry.
After the repulse of this charge, another was made by a Florida Brigade within range of our guns. These were very soon repulsed, and we remained in position until the day after, when the rebels commenced to retreat, and we com- menced to march and head them off. We expect to move towards Antietam."
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