USA > Massachusetts > History of the Fifth Massachusetts Battery : organized October 3, 1861, mustered out June 12, 1865, v.2 > Part 33
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Nov. 14, 1864. the guns were ordered into Batteries 24 and 25, where they were before the Battery left for Hatcher's Run, to relieve Captain Hart and the 15th New York Battery ordered to Washington to recruit. The next day they tore down Captain Hart's quarters which were found in bad condition. having been robbed of their chim- neys and doors, and, there being plenty of timber at hand, new ones were started, including the house for the Orderly Sergeant.
Nov. 17th and ISth Major Phillips attended a meeting of a board to examine recruits at the Hospital. Decem- ber 7th he received notice of his Brevet Majority.
Two guns of the gth Mass. Battery relieved two guns of the Fifth Mass. in one of the forts, and at 3.30 they all marched to join General Crawford's Division on the Jeru- salem Plank Road outside our rear line. The force con- sisted of three Divisions of the 5th Corps, one Division of the Second Corps and four batteries belonging to the 5th Corps viz., Mink's ( Capt. Charles E. Mink ) H. Ist N. Y., Stewart's B, 4th U. S., Milton's 9th Mass. and the 5th
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Mass., one battery with each Division. The Battery marched with the 3d Division down the road, turned to the right, crossing the Nottoway River on pontoons, to Sussex Court House where they camped that night, sleeping on the ground without covering. Capsized one wagon containing a tent and supplies, off the bridge.
The object of the expedition was the destruction of the Weldon railroad and the Battery helped the Fifth Corps tear up the track from the Nottoway to the Meherrin River.
Dec. Sth they marched through Sussex Court House and struck the Weldon railroad near the Nottoway River. Camped near the railroad while the infantry tore it up, burnt the bridge and destroyed the track for 20 miles, as far as the Fifth Corps reached, ending at the Meherrin River. That night there was a bad storm of rain and sleet.
Dec. 10th. Much against the inclination of the men, who expected to go to Weldon, they started on the return march by the Halifax road, which is parallel to the railroad, and soon after turned into the road to Sussex Court House, leading Crawford's Division. Camped two or three miles from that town.
Dec. 1Ith, resumed the march at daylight. Lieut. Simonds was ordered to take the Right section to the rear, and with Gen. Edward S. Bragg's Brigade of Crawford's 3d Division, formed into a rear guard, and retired in line of battle. At night the cavalry which under Gregg covered this movement, were fired into but no scrious damage was done. On this march the men suffered severely. Crossed the Nottoway and went into camp.
Dec. 12th, marched at daylighit, and before night the guns were in their old places in Batteries 2.1 and 25, where they remained one week.
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LETTER OF MAJOR PHILLIPS.
"CAMP BEFORE PETERSBURG, Dec. 18, 1864.
The expedition was well managed, and highly successful. The Rebels were evidently taken by surprise, and could not tell where we were going. They expected that we would push through to Weldon, and although our abilities and dis- positions were equal to this task, I think General Warren went as far as his orders allowed. Perhaps had General Grant been able to communicate with us after we started, our orders might have been changed, for certainly no one could have anticipated that the Rebels would allow us to tear up 20 miles of railroad without interference. The rail- road was thoroughily destroyed, the troops following the usual way. This is as follows :- A Division, for instance, is drawn up along the road and arms stacked. then every man takes hold of the rail in front of him, and all lifting together, track. sleepers, and all are turned bottom side up. This serves to loosen the rails, and all hands then pry off the sleepers, pile them up. and place the rails on top, and then set them on fire. It is a very pretty sight at night to see a line of fires several miles long. After heating the rails they are bent by men bearing down on the ends. The most effectual method of destruction is to take a red hot rail and wind it round a tree, as I saw done in several in- stances. Besides destroying the railroad the expedition re- sulted in the destruction of nearly all the houses along the route, whether done by orders or by stragglers I do not know. What was more important was the large amount of forage destroyed, probably 100,000 bushels, more or less. I was quite astonished at the richness of the country, all the barns were full of corn, and corn stacks all over the fields. I do not think much of it is left."
Major Phillips speaks of the abundance of "apple jack,
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what we call cider brandy. Every family," he says, "seemed to be abundantly supplied with it, and cider presses and dis- tilleries were scattered all around. I cannot imagine what such a sparse population did with so much liquor, but our men seemed very glad to relieve them of their surplus.
We were in the advance going out, and in the rear com- ing back. No hostile demonstration worth mentioning was made on the troops."
On December 19th four guns of the Battery were placed in Fort Alexander Hays, and two guns in Battery 22. General Wainwright directed Major Phillips to place G rifled guns and ten 12 pdrs. on the 9th Corps line, and in the afternoon Lient. Simonds with the Right section was placed in Battery 22, between Fort Davis and Fort Sedgwick. The caissons were sent back to the Brigade camp, beyond our rear line of works between the Jerusalem Plank Road and the Weldon R. R .. where the Fifth Corps had their win- ter camp. Captain John Bigelow with the 9th Mass. Bat- tery was ordered to Fort Rice and Captain David F. Ritchie with Battery D, Ist N. Y., to Fort Davis.
Dec. 20th commenced the houses for the caisson camp, but stopped on account of the rain. 22d moved the houses, and put up two frames nix143 ft., and built winter quarters of framed houses stockaded.
From a letter of Phillips, Fort Alex. Hays, Dec. 26, 1864 :- "We shall remain here a week. At the end of that time we shall go to the 5th Corps camp, between the Jeru- salem Road and the Halifax Road, where my caissons are at present."
IN MASSACHUSETTS.
In 1865, John A. Andrew was Governor. Joel Hayden Lieutenant Governor, Oliver Warner. Secretary, Henry K. Oliver Treasurer. President of the Senate, Jonathan E. Field: Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alexander
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HI. Bullock.
U. S. Senators, Charles Sumner, Henry Wilson. U. S. Representatives. T. D. Chiot, Oakes Ames, A. H. Rice, Samuel Hooper, John B. Alley, Daniel W. Gooch, Geo. S. Boutwell, J. D. Baldwin, Wm. B. Washburn, Henry L. Dawes.
FROM GOVERNOR ANDREW'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS, IS65.
"Since the war began, four hundred and thirty-four officers whose commissions bore our seal, or who were promoted by the President to higher than regimental commands, have tasted death in the defence of their country's flag. . . . Nor will the history be deemed complete, nor our duty done, until the fate and fame of every man, to the humblest private of them all, shall have been inscribed upon the records of this Capitol there to remain, I trust, until the earth and sca shall give up their dead. And thus shall the Capitol itself become for every soldier- son of ours, a monument.
'Then plant it round with shade Of laurel, evergreen, and branching palm, With all his trophies hung, and acts enroll'd In copious legend, or sweet lyric song.'"
IN VIRGINIA.
January 2, 1865, the Battery retired from the forts and the gumus were taken back to camp with the 5th Corps. Jan'y Sth. Major R. H. Fitzhugh, Major Phillips, Captain Mink and Captain George Breck dined with Captain John Bigelow of the 9th Mass. Battery. It was his farewell dinner.
LETTER OF MAJOR PHILLIPS. "CAMP BEFORE PETERSBURG, Jan'y 10, 1865.
I had quite a pleasant time in Fort Hays, as part of the garrison was the 56th Mass., whose Lt. Colonel Jarves is a classmate of mine. Captain Shurtleff of the same reg't. was in the class of 1861. so we had a pleasant time together. Jarves and Shurtleff dined with me on Christmas, and I returned the visit on New Year's Day.
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We are now at work building winter quarters. My bed sack went into the road to lighten a wagon stuck in the mud a long time ago, but I have plenty of blankets. Our men got their Thanksgiving dinner from the North though a day or two late."
On the Jith the men's winter quarters were finished, and the next day stables were commenced again.
January 18, 1865, Major Phillips started on a 20 days' leave.
Jan'y 28th the guns were again placed in Fort Hays and Battery 22.
February 8th Major Phillips returned to camp, having walked from Hancock's Station, on the railroad from City Point. He found the guns of the Fifth Mass. Battery in the forts, and most of the Fifth Corps gone to the left. He brought the guns back from the front at Hatcher's Run, where they had been during the assault of Feb. 6th and 7th, 1865, and the three batteries on the left, the Ninth Mass., and Batteries L and E, ist N. Y. Light, were relieved by three other batteries, and returned to camp. On the 12th there was battery inspection at 10.30 a. in. Battery drill in the afternoon of the 13th and the following morning. On the 14th the frame of Lieut. Simonds' house was raised. Inspection on the 19th and drill on the 20th in the fore- noon. At 12 o'clock noon of the 21st a salute of 100 guns was fired by the Battery with Batteries D and G, 5th U. S., in honor of General Sherman's victory. On the 22d. Washington's birthday, there was Battery drill in the fore- noon, and inspection at 2.30 p. m. by Captain Carl Berlin. brigade inspector. It was rumored that an attack was to be made on our Centre. and the Battery remained hitched up till night.
Feb. 25. 1865, marched in the rain to Hatcher's Run and relieved Captain David F. Ritchie and the Ist N. Y. Light
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Battery D, who were in camp near General Griffin's Hd. Ors. on the new line of breastworks. Here houses for the men were found. but no officers' quarters, and they began at once to build chimneys. By the 4th of March a frame house had been built for the officers and a hedge around Hd. Ors. It rained most of the time. On the 5th the Bat- tery was inspected, and March 6th the Ist Division Fifth Corps was inspected by General Griffin. Two days after, on the 7th, the Division was reviewed by General Meade.
March IT, 1865, the Battery was relieved at 12 o'clock by Batteries G and D. 5th U. S., Lieut. Wm. E. Van Reed, and returned to the old camp over terribly muddy roads. March 12th the Battery was inspected and on the 13th there was drill on the piece and the company was vaccinated.
LETTER OF MAJOR PHILLIPS. "CAMP BEFORE PETERSBURG, March 13, 1865.
On the 25th of last month the Battery went up to the left at Hatcher's Run, relieving another battery there. We left our camp and merely carried enough to get along with. We had a very pleasant camp in the edge of a little pine grove and the weather was quite warm. For the first few days we lived in tents, until we could build houses. Lieut. Simonds and I occupied one house 9 ft. square, with berths one over the other. This arrangement did very well until one morning Lieut. Simonds, who occupied the top berth managed to come through, and 'what a fall was there. my countrymen" Fortunately no damage was done.
Several reviews came off while we were up there. Day before yesterday we were relieved, and returned to our old camp. . . . The (newspaper) accounts (of deserters com- ing in) are not exaggerated, and most of them now bring their arms with then. Almost any day one can meet squads of rebels prowling round in our lines. Day before
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yesterday I saw 4 Rebels, 2 of them armed, in charge of a solitary cavalry man."
March 14th. Drill on the manual of the piece in the morning, followed in the afternoon by a drill by Lieut. Col. Robert H. Fitzhugh with three other batteries.
March 15th, received orders to reduce Battery to four guns, and on the next day two guns were sent to City Point to turn in. Sutlers were sent to the rear. March 17th Lieut. Simonds went home on 20 days' leave. 18th, the guns of the Fifth Mass. Battery were again placed in Fort Hays, relieving Battery B, Ist N. Y. Lieut. Mason W. Page was sent up in charge of the pieces, and Major Phil- lips reported in person to General Tidball.
March 19th. 1865, orders were issued reducing the bat- teries of the Second, Fifth, and Sixth Corps to nine bat- teries of four guns each.
March 25. 1865. At daylight Fort Stedman on the Ninth Corps line, was surprised by an attack by the enemy. and the Fifth Corps batteries, among them the 14th Mass. Battery, were ordered up. Lieut. Ephraim B. Nye of the 14th. formerly Quartermaster Sergeant of the 5th Battery. refusing to surrender was shot and instantly killed.
In the end the rebels were driven out with a loss of about 1700 prisoners.
FROM LETTERS OF MAJOR PHILLIPS.
"CAMP BEFORE PETERSBURG, March 26, 1865.
Yesterday we had quite a scare and excitement, owing to the Rebels surprising Stedman. This is about two miles to the right of Fort Hays, so that we did not get into the scrape at all. I was waked from my quiet slumbers at day- break. by one of General Wainwright's aids, who told me
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the enemy had broken through the 9th Corps line. I had the caissons hitched up. mounted my steed and rode to Fort Hays and found everything quiet there, and the men listen- ing very unconcernedly to the firing on their right. The Rebels did not make much out of the attempt, though it is strange that our men allowed themselves to be surprised, as the line was notified at midnight to expect an attack at daylight. On Wednesday we had a perfect tornado; sev- eral trees in rear of our camp were blown down, and near the front line there is a path of prostrate trees, some 200 yards wide. . . . The caissons remain in our regular camp, and I stay there too, keeping one officer at the fort.
March 27th. General Sheridan has arrived here with his soldiers."
March 28th, 1865, the Army was preparing to make the movement to the left which resulted in Lee's surrender. Five batteries of the Fifth Corps marched to Corps Head Quarters at Hatcher's Run, and two batteries, the 9th Mass. Battery and Battery B, Ist Penn., reported to the Ninth Corps. Three batteries, C, E and L, ist N. Y., with the Fifth Mass. Battery were placed under the command of Major Charles A. Phillips, and operated with the Ninth Corps in the final attack upon Petersburg.
Wednesday, March 29. 1865, the Army moved at 3 a. m. to the left. Major Phillips placed his batteries in position in rear of the main line.
April Ist 1865. about midnight an attack was made along the front of the Ninth Corps, and by daylight of the 2d, we had captured about half a mile of the rebel works, extend- ing from the Jerusalem Plank Road towards our right.
Two Detachments of the Fifth Mass. Battery numbering 17 men, under Lieut. Mason W. Page, were engaged, and this was the last shot fired by the men of the Battery. The enemy received the fire from their own guns.
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The Rebel government left Richmond about 2 o'clock in the afternoon of the ad of April, 1865. Our forces took possession about 8.15 on the morning of the 3d. The city was in flames until extinguished by our troops.
REPORT OF BREV'T BRIG. GEN. JOHN C. TIDBALL, COM- MANDING ARTILLERY BRIGADE NINTH ARMY CORPS.
"At 4 a. m. (of the 20 April, 1863) the hour appointed for the assault upon the enemy's works in front of Fort Sedgwick, the artillery upon the whole line promptly opened and was immediately replied to in the most vigorous manner by the enemy, and it is probable that never since the invention of gunpowder has such a cannonade taken place. . . All the guns in these forts opened rapidly for fifteen minutes with evident effect, ceasing in the exact time for the infantry to make the charge that carried the enemy's lines. . . . A Detachment of 100 men from the Ist Conn. Artillery commanded by Lieut. William H. Rogers, accompanied the column of attack upon the enemy's works in front of Fort Sedgwick, and served the captured guns throughout the day. These men were fully equipped with everything necessary to serve such artillery as would be captured. They at once seized the enemy's guns and opened fire upon him as he fell back to his second line. .
During the entire day Lieutenant Rogers and his party, while op- posed to all the fierce attacks of the enemy, retained possession of the captured guns, and from positions entirely uncovered from the close fire of the enemy, kept up a constant fire, which besides doing great injury to the enemy, inspired our own troops to hold that which they had gained. These men were ably seconded by Captain David F. Ritchie, Battery C, Ist. N. Y. Artillery, who early in the day occupied a small work in rear of Fort Sedgwick, but after the enemy's lines were carried, it was deemed advisable to send him with his cannoneers into the captured No. 27, in which were three iron and two brass 12 pounder guns.
Captain Ritchie led his men in a most gallant manner through the embrasures of Fort Sedgwick, and across the open ground to Battery No. 27, and immediately turned with excellent judgment and effect the guns he found on the enemy. Through the whole day. notwith- standing the repeated attempts made by the enemy to retake the works, Captain Ritehje held his own: though at times unavoidably short of ammunition, he encouraged his support by checring representations and personal exposure. . . . Fourteen thousand two hundred and fifty-one rounds, is the amount of artillery ammunition expended dur- ing the engagement. . . . It was with much pleasure that, in compliance
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with an invitation from the major-general commanding the Corps, I was enabled to recommend the under-mentioned officers for promotion by brevet.
Second Lieut. Mason W. Page, Fifth Mass. Battery. All of whom did excellent service with their commands in repulsing the assault on Fort Stedman, and in the assault on Petersburg on the 2d day of April, 1865."
REPORT OF CAPT. DAVID F. RITCHIE.
. . At no time during the fight were there less than three guns in working order, and most of the time there were five. . .. During the day I was reinforced by ten men with a sergeant and corporal from Battery B, Ist Pennsylvania, under charge of First Lieutenant Rice; about a dozen men with a sergeant and one or two corporals from the Twenty-Seventh New York Battery, and First Lieutenant Teller, and two Detachments with their non-commissioned officers under charge of Second Lieutenant Page from the Fifth Massachusetts Battery. Captain McClelland of B, First Pennsylvania was present part of the day, and rendered good service. Captain McClelland and Lieutenant Page were slightly wounded.
To all the officers, non-commissioned officers and privates of Battery B. First Pennsylvania, Twenty-Seventh New York Independent Bat- tery, and the Fifth Mass. Battery, who assisted to work the guns in the rebel fort, too much praise can scarcely be awarded. I have men- tioned them in the order in which they came to the fort, and I would further mention particular instances of gallantry and coolness but will leave this for the officers of the respective batteries. .
About 4 p. m. B'v't Maj. C. A. Phillips, Fifth Massachusetts Bat- tery, eame up to the fort, and by virtue of his rank assumed command, remaining until the morning of the 3d instant." -
THE REPORT OF MAJOR PHILLIPS
of the part taken by his command in the recent battles which compelled the Evacuation of Petersburg. A copy of this report was forwarded to Lieut. Thomas Heasley 34th N. Y. Battery, Acting Assistant Adjutant General on General Tidball's staff, Art'y Brig. oth Corps, April 7, 1865.
HD. ORS. BATTERY (E). MASS. ART'Y, April 5, 1865. LIEUT. HEASLEY A. A. A. G. Art'y Brig. 9th A. C.
Lieutenant.
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I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by this Battery since the 30th of March.
The guns of the Battery were in Fort Alex. Hays and remained there until the 3d of April.
In the forenoon of the ad of April, in compliance with orders from General Tidball I sent 2d Lieut. M. W. Page with two detachments of cannoneers to Fort Sedgwick, and from there they were ordered into the rebel battery No. 27 across the Jerusalem Plank Road. This battery had been garrisoned by Battery B, Sumter Artillery, Georgia Volun- teers, with 6 Light 12 pdrs. Besides the men from my battery there were detachments from Battery C. Ist N. Y. Art'y: B, rst Penn. Art'y, and 27th N. Y. Battery.
The gorge of the battery being open, the men were ex- posed to a very severe fire from sharpshooters and from one 8 in. Columbiad and two S in. siege Howitzers in Fort Virginia about 600 yds. in our front, as well as from several pieces of Light Artillery. These pieces were mostly silenced by noon.
Licut. Page was wounded and obliged to leave the field about noon.
We kept up a constant and apparently successful fire until night. The behavior of the officers and men in the Bat- tery was excellent. I make especial mention of Privates Joseph Burns and Thomas Jones. These two men were sent up with dinner for men at the guns. Upon reaching the front they volunteered for a charge upon Fort Mahone and entered it among the first. They afterwards returned to Battery 27, and helped work the guns. Private Burns was here severely wounded in the arm.
I am very respectfully
Your ob't serv't
CHARLES A. PHILLIPS Capt. & B'o't Major, Com'd'g Battery E, Mass. Art'y.
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LIST OF CASUALTIES IN BATTERY E, MASS. ART'Y.
APRIL 2, 1865.
WOUNDED.
.
2d Lieut. Mason W. Page. Severe Gunshot wound in chest.
Private Michael Flynn. Arm. Amputated.
.. Joseph Burns. Severe contusion of arm. William Roberts. Gunshot wound in back.
Total i officer and 3 men.
Diary of Major Phillips: "April 1, 1865. Very pleasant. Rode round the line. At II p. m. received orders to re- port in person to General Tidball. Was told that all the batteries were to open fire immediately, and a general attack was to be made on the rebel line.
Sunday April 2, 1865. The ball opened about midnight. The brigade at Fort Hays advanced, captured the picket line, and by daylight had sent in about 150 prisoners. By sun- rise we held a large part of the rebel line in front of Fort Hell (Sedgwick) and were firing the Rebel's guns at them. About 10 a. in. sent Lieut. Page with two detachments to- Fort Sedgwick. He soon went into Battery 27 to man cap- tured guns. . . .
FROM A LETTER OF MAJOR PHILLIPS. "CITY POINT, VA. April 6, 1865.
. . . The 56th Mass. took the Rebel Battery No. 27 on the Plank Road mounting six 12 pdr. guns, and Captain Ritchie commanding one of my batteries went in with his cannoneers to work the rebel guns." After giving the names of the other Detachments ordered in he says :- "The guns were handled in good shape under a very hot fire from
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the enemy. Battery '27' is an open battery i. e. open in the rear. towards Petersburg, consequently, after the guns were turned round our men had no protection and might as well have been in the open field." Their guns, as described in his report. he says "ought to have knocked us all to pieces in 15 minutes, but they fired grape, canister, and shell at us. with their usual inaccuracy. Our only salvation for the first two or three hours was to fire as fast as possible, and we kept them pretty quiet. About 10 a. m. a charge was made on Fort Mahone, the work on the left of Battery 27,' and it was carried, two of my men entering the work at the head of the column with muskets. Soon after, Lieut. Page was struck in the breast and went to the rear. I had up to that time remained in Fort Hays, but when Lieut. Page came back I concluded to go up. Just as I reached Fort Sedgwick the Rebels had recaptured Fort Mahone and the troops with the exception of the 56th Mass. had left 'Bat- tery 27' in a panic. I did not like the looks of things, but I jumped through an embrasure and ran for the front. The plain between Fort Sedgwick and 'Battery 27' was swept by musketry and artillery from Fort Mahone, and people travelling across it went rather in a hurry. I had to cross our old picket line and the old rebel picket line. On both of these I found numbers of demoralized troops, but they could not be persuaded to go to the front. At the rebel picket line I halted a moment to get breath, and at that moment the 14th N. Y. (Zouaves) started at a run from the left of Fort Sedgwick to "Battery 27' and entered it by the left. just as I entered by the right. In the ditch of 'Battery 27' I found demoralized infantry and artillery who reported our men all driven out. I climbed up to an em- brasure and saw one of my men, and one of Captain Ritchie's loading a gun, so I jumped through and found everything all right though it had been a narrow escape. The rebels bad got so near that we had spiked one gun.
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