USA > Massachusetts > History of the Fifth Massachusetts Battery : organized October 3, 1861, mustered out June 12, 1865, v.2 > Part 20
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FROM LIEUT. APPLETON'S NOTES.
"Nov. 30, 1863. A cold, raw, windy day. An orderly came at four with orders for us to open fire at eight a. m. At S o'clock we opened fire with 50 guns. No response from the enemy. We ceased. I saw Colonel Wainwright, whose batteries were next to us, and had a chat with him. A little fire from the Rebs at noon which we soon silenced, a little more at dusk, and the day was over. The red flags floated gaily over the hospitals for in them were no wounded! At night the order came for half the artillery and all the trains and ambulances to recross the Rapidan. We all saw the meaning, we were to retire without a fight." "Dec. 1, 1863." (Scott's Notes. ) "The morning was very cold. Ice made I in. thick. A picket said to have been
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chilled to death on the line. Phillips ordered with 3 bat- teries to join the Artillery Reserve to recross the Rapidan. At sunrise we moved out over fields frozen solid that the day before artillery had mired on. At noon with the ammu- nition and other trains we forded the Rapidan, waist deep, at Ely's Ford, and went into park in a piece of woods. Horses stood in harness all night. The whole Army re- crossing the river. The road was blocked with trains moving back to the rear. It would be hard to describe the situation that surrounded us in swamp and woods. With the travel, the road, all had to move on, became liquid mud. We kept up a fire all night and froze one side and burnt the other. I had not seen a more trying time for the men and horses."
"Dec. 1, 1863." (Shackley's Notes. ) "The Centre section was ordered to join the others (the Right and Left sections ordered out of the earthiworks near Mine Run to make room for Battery M, ist Conn. Art'y. ) and, with two of the Fifth Corps batteries and the Reserve Artillery crossed the Rapi- dan at Ely's Ford, and went into park about 2 miles from the river. Unhitched, cleaned our horses, then hitched up and remained all night."
The place where they parked was near the wagons at Richardsville, and here they waited to be ready to march with the Fifth Corps when it came along. With them were Gibbs' and Barstow's ( Battery F, and K, 3d U. S. ) batteries and they were ordered to report to General Tyler at Robert- son's Tavern. The column consisted of the Reserve Artil- lery, and one half of the Corps Artillery .. Lieat. Appleton spent part of the time in the rear with four pieces, and part with the other two. He headquartered for the night with the Third Mass, Battery in the pines. "Through the night," he wrote, "sometimes on foot to keep warm, sometimes on horseback and with frequent halts, we had performed the tedious march."
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Dec. 2d, about 4 p. m., the Battery resumed the march, moving along 8 miles with the Artillery Reserve. The road was blocked up with trains, as on the day before, and almost impassable. Sun one hour high they were ordered to report back to the Fifth Corps at Stephensburg. At 9 p. m. they hauled out and went into camp near the Third Corps. The rear guard notified them that they would be left in the rear. A pole of one of the caissons was broken. They waited for the wagon trains to pass, for it was impossible to keep in line there was so much crowding of teams for right of way in the darkness and mud, and at midnight marched with the Third Corps 9 miles to Stephensburg, and went into park where the Fifth Corps was, 13 miles from Pony Moun- tain. Arrived at Stephensburg at daylight.
"All the Army" (Scott's Notes) "had retreated across the Rapidan, and this was the 3d time the Fifth Mass. Bat- tery had been with a retreating army across these rivers."
At 8 o'clock of the 3d they fed, and got breakfast, hitched up, passed with the Fifth Corps through Brandy Station, crossed the Rappahannock, and went into camp, for the night, a mile and a half from the Station, pretty well played out. Turned in at 9 p. m. They were to guard the rail- road to Manassas. Three batteries remained here; others at Bristoe and Manassas. Hitched up early in the morning of December 4th and changed camp to a more desirable place for headquarters, facing the south, about a mile from the station. The First Corps was sent to the comfortable quarters in the rebel log houses, and the Battery with the Fifth Corps was ordered to guard the railroad from the Rappahannock to Manassas Junction. The guns were put into the earthworks from which they drove the rebels on the north side of the Rappahannock River, at Rappahannock Station.
Lieut. Appleton returned to the Battery from serving on Captain Martin's staff. Lieut. Scott received leave of
,
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absence for 20 days, on account of his wound, and he did not see the Battery again until February 1, 1864. when he found thein at the Station on his return.
THE REPORT OF CAPTAIN PHILLIPS TO
LIEUT. P. F. NASON, A. A. A. G.
Written at Camp near Rappahannock Station. Dec. 4, 1863.
"Sir : I have the honor to forward a report of my Battery during the late movement of the Army across the Rapidan.
With the rest of the Corps we left camp at Mountain Creek on the 26th of November, crossed the Rapidan at Culpeper Ford, and inarched to Wilderness on the Plank Road from Germanna Ford.
. The next day we marched on the Orange C. H. road towards New Verdiersville. About 4 p. m. I was ordered into position on the left of the road, and received a few shots from the enemy.
First Lieut. Henry D. Scott was struck in the (left) hand by a piece of shell and his hand seriously injured.
On the 28th we marched to Robertson's Tavern : on the 29th at daylight we marched up the turnpike to the heights near Mine Run, and I was placed in position in earthworks. Four of my guns were soon after withdrawn to make room for Captain Pratt's Battery (Captain F. A. Pratt, M, Ist Conn.) of 43 inch rifled guns. We remained here in posi- tion till 5 a. m. December Ist.
On the 30th, in accordance with orders from Captain Martin to open as soon as the firing commenced on the right, I fired a little, but without receiving any fire in return.
On the morning of Dec. Ist I was ordered to report to Brig. Gen']. R. O. Tyler to go to the rear with my own battery, Battery L, Ist Ohio, Captain Gibbs, and Batteries
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F and K, 3d U. S. Art'y, Lieut. Barstow commanding. I immediately joined the Art'y Reserve, then on the march, crossed the river at Ely's Ford, and camped at Richardsville. On the 2d I received orders from General Tyler to rejoin the 5th Corps, which I did at daylight the next morning.
During the engagements of the 27th and 30th I fired 30 rounds. With the exception of Lieut. Scott I have no casu- alties to report."
FROM LIEUT. APPLETON'S LETTER HOME.
"We all suffered a good deal, accomplished nothing, lost nothing, and were sold.
Well, here we are, on a bleak and barren hill, doing garrison duty in the little forts which we took from the Rebs at the fight at Rappahannock Station, with the pros- pect of a long and cold winter before us. Lieut. Spear has been detailed as ordnance officer in place of Lient. W. HI. Follett. The 20th Maine Regiment (Chamberlain's), a jolly set of fellows, are close by us, and I expect we shall have a sort of heavy English military life 'in the barracks.' The train to Washington passes right under our nose, but the rub is to get a ticket, for General Meade is superintend- ent of the railroad. General Sykes ticketmaster, Captain Martin conductor, and Captain Phillips brakeman, and I can whistle for a seat all day. It will be very easy for any of my friends to visit me, as all they have to do is to get out just as they are going to cross the river, and there we are.
There are plenty of graves all around of the poor fellows who fell in the charge at the fight here three weeks ago, and in our own camp we can pick up the shells our own Battery tossed at it then."
December 5. 1863. they made preparations to stop awhile, but before night had orders to be ready to leave at short notice.
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Dec. 6, marched to Rappahannock Station to relieve Bat- tery C, Ist Va. Art'y., Captain Hill, in the works on the north side of the river. Very cold and blustering. Put two sections into the earthworks taken from the enemy Nov. 7, 1863.
LETTER OF SERG'T. W. H. PEACOCK. "CAMP NEAR RAPPAHANNOCK STATION,
Dec. 8, 1863.
Since I wrote last we have been in two fights, the first a month ago at this place, when we were hotly engaged with the Rebels in the Forts where our Battery is now in position. We were very fortunate in coming out of the fight all safe, although the shells were bursting thickly around us. After the fight we occupied the log houses, working like every- thing for three weeks, cleaning up the grounds, etc. Orders came to move, and over the Rapidan we went. When near Spottsylvania, on the Plank Road, we engaged two Rebel batteries for about an hour, having Lieut. Scott wounded .-- the same lieutenant who was wounded at Gettysburg .- he is now at home. This was our only loss in men: some horses wounded. I think it was lucky for us we were ordered to leave this place as we did, for the Rebel sharp- shooters were up in the trees pegging away at us so We were obliged to lie flat on the ground, or all get shot in no time. One bullet struck the ground at my head, so near that I had only to reach out my hand and pick it up, as I lay on the ground. We suffered much on this march being wet through and our overcoats frozen stiff. At this place we are on a hill, the Battery in position, covering the R. R. bridge over the river. It is awfully coll, and we live in nothing but the shelter tents, and sleep on the frozen ground with only one or two blankets under us. The offi- cers tell us to make no preparations for Quarters until we
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FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
know for certain where we shall winter. Quite a number of our men are sick from so much exposure. Mr. Story has been quite sick for several days. He sends his regards. I have a severe cold; have not slept warm a night for a month. Many of the men sit round the fire all night to keep warm. I tell you this soldiering is gay sport! Pork and hard bread until one's mouth is so sore he can hardly open it. The Boys talk all the time about when they are going home, as if it was but a few days, when it is ten months. One-half of this time will probably be spent in winter quarters. We all have much confidence in Gen. Meade, and consider him the best officer that could be placed over us."
Dec. 8th orders came to make themselves comfortable for the winter. Dec. gth the Third Virginia Battery left for Brandy Station. They began to haul logs. Moved their tents up to Captain Hill's chimneys, and commenced build- ing houses. Orders were read concerning re-enlistments of the original members. Dec. 10th, thirty-four of the men re-enlisted for three years or during the war. By Lieut. Appleton :- "Dec. 8th. Perhaps they will send some of us out to. Grant, as it is ridiculous folly to keep this big army here all winter doing nothing. Dec. 11th. There are only two lieutenants with the Bat- tery now, so we have to gn on duty every other day. and, as the days are very short, we don't have much time to pass in listless idleness. Then the newspapers have to be read, food has to be eaten, and pipes smoked. By the by, talking of newspapers, how solidly satisfactory are the reports of the President, Secretary of War. Navy, &c., &c. They make out good stories, and we feel that we can believe them. 'Old Abe's' proclamation is manly. What an old brick he is, after all! Our men are getting quite interested in this re-enlisting business. Sixteen of the Battery have done so already, and I expect that more will.
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Evening : I saw a lot of cavalry going by this afternoon, and I rushed out to see who they were, and on hearing they were Gregg's I waited for the Ist Mass. to pass. I soon espied the burly form of Ben. Crowninshield ( Benjamin William Crowninshield, author of a history of the Ist Mass. Cavalry), who said that what there were left of them were going down towards Warrenton Junction."
In a later letter Lieut. Appleton describing the events of the day of the cavalry fight, thus briefly refers to some of Captain Martin's duties at the moment :-- "I was riding round after Captain Martin when everything was in confu- sion, and he was busily engaged in taking care of his six batteries, leaving the caissons behind in one place, rushing up one battery to the extreme front, popping two guns in here, others there, wherever he could find the best shelter, keeping some well concealed in reserve, sending off some with another Division, and having about as much mental and physical work as one man and horse could stand."
FURLOUGHS: CAPT. PHILLIPS.
HD. ORS. BATTERY E, (FIFTH) MASS. (LT.) ART'Y., . Dec. 11, 1863. CAPT. P. F. NASON, A. A. A. G.
Sir.
! respectfully request that furloughs of forty-five (45) days be granted to the following members of Bat- tery E (Fifth) Mass. (Lt.) Art'y, who have re-enlisted as Veteran Volunteers under G. O. No. 191, War Dept. series of 1863, and have been duly mustered into the ser- vice. If they receive furloughs at the present time I think it would induce many more of the Battery to re-enlist.
Sergt. Harrison O. Simonds.
Mason W. Page.
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FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
Corp'l. Elisha J. Gibbs. Patrick Welch. Private Henry D. Crapo. Bugler James Winters.
Private William H. Dunham.
Mortier Gale.
Albion K. P. Hayden.
John F. Mack.
George W. Poole.
Amos Blanchard.
Very respectfully, &c., &c.
This paper was signed by Captain C. A. Phillips, and on this day twelve men went over with Lieut. Appleton to Corps Head Quarters and re-enlisted. The Battery busy drawing logs. Dec. 12, Serg't Otis B. Smith went home. Lieut. Appleton went over to Head Quarters with seven more men.
INVALID CORPS. WAR DEPARTMENT,
Dec, 12, 1863.
Under General Orders No. 394, transferred, to take effect December 15. 1863.
Smith, Benjamin F., Private, Co. E, 5th Massachusetts Artillery.
December 13, 1863, Sunday, was the anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg. Two boxes came to Lieut. Ap- pleton from Boston, one with clothes. He went to hear the chaplain of the 20th preach a good sermon. Of the camp Captain Phillips wrote Dec. 14, 1863 :-- "I cannot say much in favor of the location, which is one of the most desolate places around here. The nearest wood is nearly a mile off in a straight line, and there is nothing to shelter us from the
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wind which blows pretty strong occasionally, today for instance. We have been hauling logs the last week with much labor and difficulty, and by the end of this week, if we do not move before, we shall be comfortably located in our log houses."
Lieut. Appleton rode Dec. 14th with "Bristow" over to Army Head Quarters, and passed a pleasant morning with Bache, Lyman & Co. "Bristow" was a nickname Captain Martin had given to Lieut. Barstow. On the 15th Lieut. Blake got ten days' leave, and went off at II o'clock. Gibbs was made a sergeant, and Alpheus Haskins a corporal. H. O. Simonds was appointed ist Sergeant. Dec. 16th the Captain got into his new house, and the whole establishment was moved back. The Inspector came. Dec. 17th, Knox auctioneered some confiscated sutlers' goods at Captain Mar- tin's Head Quarters. They were confiscated for selling liquor.
LETTER OF LIEUT. APPLETON. "RAPPAHANNOCK STATION, 1
Dec. 17, 1863.
I am pretty busy just now, and in fact have about all the practical management of the Battery, as the Captain is not very well and spends most of his time in his log house; Lieut. Scott off with his wounded finger; Lieut. Blake away on a ten days' leave; and Lieut. Spear detailed as ordnance officer of the Brigade, but on the whole I rather like it, for it keeps all my time pleasantly occupied."
Referring to Follett's capture and the ammunition train, he says :- "It was rather an interesting little episode. Lieut. Follett was riding along quietly, with his train of ammunition, a Division of infantry ahead of him in the road, and one behind him, too, when some guerillas suddenly dashed in from the woods, ran out as many wagons as they could, set them on fire, took off the mules. and were awa;
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FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
before any troops approached. Lieut. Follett was the only :aan who showed any fight, and he slashed away at them well with his sabre, but he was easily overpowered, and has already been heard of from Libbey. Sykes did not like the adventure in the least, and well he mightent. While I was an A. D. C. I saw a good many of the little straits which envelop a general's career, and perhaps have grown a little wiser from the initiation. They are subject to mistakes like any other men."
REPORT OF CAPTAIN PHILLIPS.
HEAD QUARTERS FIFTH MASS. BATTERY LT. ART'Y., Dec. 18, 1863.
LIEUT. J. E. SPEAR, A. A. A. G.
Sir.
In compliance with a telegram from Hd. Qrs. Army of the Potomac, I have the honor to make the following report :-
No. of enlisted men belonging
to the Batt'y present with the brigade 89
No. who have re-enlisted 19
No. entitled to re-enlist 59
No. not entitled to re-enlist II
No. who will re-enlist 4
The above is as near the probable result as it is possible to arrive. In my opinion the number who will re-enlist will much exceed that stated above. The promised furlough is the principal inducement, and the fact that the men who have already enlisted-a week ago-have not yet obtained their furloughs. has rendered the men distrustful and doubt- ing, and they are unwilling to pledge themselves.
The actual granting of furloughs is necessary to confirm
£
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the intentions of those who have almost decided to re-enlist, and this class includes at least half the Battery.
Very respectfully, &c., &c.
Dec. 18, 1863. The day was cloudy, but the sky cleared with a very strange sunset. Appleton rode over to Head Quarters and raced back with the cars.
Captain Phillips wrote on the 19th regarding the re- enlistments :---
"General Meade is trying to find out how many will re- enlist and go off on furloughs, and it is said if the number is near 20,000, he will fall back to this side of the Rappa- hannock, and not attempt to hold his present line, with an army temporarily reduced by so large a number. The gue- rillas are quite active in our neighborhood, and it is not safe to go outside the picket line, or even inside of it a great way from camp. Major Edmands, of the 32d Mass. was gobbled up the other day."
Of his log house he says :-- "My house was finished a few days ago, and is a very good specimen of log architecture. The logs of which it is built are all split and the split sides put inside, so that the walls can be finished off quite smooth. The dimensions inside are 7 ft. by 15; door in the middle of one of the long sides, and fireplace opposite. It is not yet supplied with a floor, and the other decorations which will make it the abode of splendor and ease. The camp will be a very good specimen of winter quarters when finished."
During the five months passed here in winter quarters, Lieut. Nathan Appleton sent several communications on matters connected with the army, and especially the artil- lery, (sec p. 52) to officials and to newspapers and the following written in December is the first that ever appeared in the daily press. It was published in the Washington Chronicle, and had "Music for the Army" for its theme :---
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FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
"Sir. (To the Editor) As you seem always ready to accept and publish any letters from the soldiers, I wish through your paper to express a want which is sadly felt throughout the Army. I mean music.
Since the time when regimental bands were stopped, there has been a great dearth of this pleasant feature in military life. Bugles and drums, under whose notes the soldiers eat, rise, drill, and go to bed, are not enough. The soul-stirring music of brass bands only can supply the deficiency. And why should we not have them? Consider their utility. In the long, lazy days of camp life, they are one of the greatest sources of pleasure which fall to the soldier, and not only a pleasure but a real good. For who can deny the thrilling influence of martial or sacred music? In the heat of battle the opportune playing of a band may turn the fortune of the day. In the burial of the soldier they play their part. A regimental dress parade is tame without them. What is the objection to having them again introduced to the army ? It cannot surely be expense, for that is something this country laughs at. If it is the trouble of transportation, then let us at least have them in winter quarters, and let it be arranged so that a few can follow the army on its marches, and help it win some victories. The theory is, I believe, to have a band to each Brigade, but as in this arrangement there is no one to look after the band, it soon tumbles to pieces. If all the musical instruments, now scattered about in the different regiments, were collected together and sys- tematized, there would be music enough for the army. Here is a plan I would suggest: Let one Regiment from each Brigade be selected to have a band, and let this distinction be a mark of honor.
Very truly yours, THE MALTESE CROSS."
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NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS.
BY LIEUT. NATHAN APPLETON.
"As I have walked up and down in front of the stable, seeing that the artillery horses are properly groomed, I have often noticed how the national characteristics of the differ- ent men appeared in their attitudes, conversation, songs, and gestures, as they stood there at work.
Here is the burly old Irishman, fat, jolly and simple, with his hearty laugh and his full brogue, telling how 'the bloody baysts' try to kick him, and next him the fair-haired young German, always merry and half chanting some hymn of the Fatherland.
Again, we see a canny, rough-faced, wiry Scotchman of whom the thistle is a fit emblem, sturdily working away, or aiming some dry repartee at his companion. John Bull the genuine is there also, always dropping his 'h' and saying that 'the 'orses never thrive on so few hoats.' And then a light and airy Frenchman, a favorite with all, turning his versatility to the best account, and always seemingly com- fortable.
The American himself, of course predominates, the true and best type of Anglo-Saxon blood, whether he be the shrewd tobacco loving Yankee, or the more cosmopolitan westerner; whether he is an old salt, rolling in his gait and wearing ear rings, and his arms well tattooed. whether he has left the whirl of the inetropolis and daintily tries to avoid Virginia mud, or whether, like Cincinnatus, he is a country ploughboy; all trades and professions have come together .- the half developed boy and the gray haired veteran.
And is it not some great, some glorious object which has called together this mighty band?
'For Saxon, or Dane or Norman we,' says Tennyson, · yes, and what would he say of us, the people of the United
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FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
States? A universal brotherhood, a haven for those of all nations who are smarting under oppression and wrong. They swarm in this country from every portion of the globe, here to possess and enjoy those privileges which they know belong to them as human beings and as the children of God."
The line from Tennyson is from his poem on the mar- riage of Alexandra to the Prince of Wales.
"Sea king's daughter from over the sea.
For Saxon or Dane or Norman we Teuton or Celt or what ever we be We are all Dane in our welcome of thee, Alexandra."
LETTER OF WILLIAM H. PEACOCK.
Serg't Peacock wrote in a letter dated Dec. 21, 1863 :--- I got my house up three days ago, and I tell you, it seems good to get into some comfortable place, for we have been living in thin shelter tents. sleeping on the frozen ground. I have a very bad cold from so much exposure.
We guard the R. R. bridge at this place. The Battery is in two forts. The guerillas raise the devil with us here. taking men off in sight of their camp, making raids on the trains, &c. They go in small parties looking for victims. Some prisoners they send off: others are stripped of all their clothing and valuables, and let return to their camps. Our boys capture many of them."
"December 22, 1863, ( Private Dyer.) there was great excitement about re-enlisting."
Dec. 23d. There was a snow storm in the morning.
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Lieut. Appleton moved into his log house, and a dozen veterans went on 35 days furlough. The order came from the War Department that recruits in three years' organiza- tions in Massachusetts be discharged with their organiza- tions.
"In this camp" (Notes of Corporal Shackley) "the Bat- tery built log houses for officers, Orderly and Quarter- master Sergeants, Commissary and cooks, and for all the men, nearly thirty houses in all; also a stockade for the horses, enclosing about 50 yards square of ground by digging a trench nearly 3 ft. deep, and cutting trees about 10 feet long, and splitting them in halves, and standing them on end close together in the trench all around the enclosure except six or eight feet for an en- trance. All the materials for the houses, the stockade, and all the fuel to warm the houses and do all the cooking during nearly five months, had to be brought from one mile to three miles distance."
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