USA > Massachusetts > History of the Fifth Massachusetts Battery : organized October 3, 1861, mustered out June 12, 1865, v.2 > Part 6
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is, authorized by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to confer brevet rank upon such com- missioned officers of the Volunteer and other forces in the United States service, as have been, or may hereafter be, distinguished by gal- lant actions or meritorious conduct : which rank shall not entitle them to any increase of pay or emolument.
Approved March 3. 1863.
Phillips' Diary: "March 4, 1863. Cold and blustering. . Captain Martin returned from Washington with Mrs. . Martin and Mrs. Walcott."
Scott's Notes: "March 5th, 1863. . . . Balloon up on a reconnaissance."
Phillips' Diary: "March 7th. Started from camp at 7 a. m. on 10 days' leave. Reached Acquia Creek at 9, started from there at 2, in the 'John Brooks,' got aground and re- mained so till 4. Reached Washington too late for the train; put up at the Metropolitan. .. . "
Dyer's Notes: "Friday, 6th March, 1863. No drill, but field movements displayed this afternoon out on the drill ground. 7th. Lieut. T. W. Terry of the 13th Mass. Battery arrived here today on a visit to the officers."
Timothy W. Terry had been Q. M. Sergeant of the Fifth. Mass. Battery.
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FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
Dyer's Notes: "March 8th. Sunday. Cooking range which the company paid for by subscription came today. Cost, $50.00.
Scott's Notes: "March 8th. Lieut. Terry leaves for Washington to join his battery at Fort Monroe. Attended divine service at Captain Martin's Head Quarters, con- ducted by Elias Nason. 9th. Lieut. Spear Officer of the Day. . Drill on pieces; Scott. . . . Officers of the 5th in- vited over to Captain Martin's Hd. Ors. Band in attend- ance."
On this day a band of rebel cavalry passed through the Union lines, entered Fairfax, Va. and captured a general and a few privates; also all the government horses in the place, and made their escape.
Chase's Diary: "March 9th, 1863. . . . A 'council of war' was held by the men, and they voted to reform the cook-house discipline and to relieve Waddington and Burt from the cooking department. W. & B. were superseded by Townsend and Trumbull, who entered upon their duties with the new machine today. A new cook-house built and several improvements made."
Scott's Notes: "March 11th, 1863. 2 p. m. hitched up for drill by sections : Lull, Blake, Spear. 3 p. m. guns or- dered in position to command Potomac Bridge, fear of a raid by the Rebs. Ordered to report on some bread. Waterman in position near our left. Eve, sharp lookout kept."
Dyer: "fth. . . We expect a raid from Stuart's cav- alry. On guard."
Chase : "IIth. . . . A fatigue party detailed to clear up the ground round the guns, and three extra posts for guard added. With Whitcher all the forenoon cutting and draw- ing wood to camp 'for family use.' A picked up dinner, but hot supper of beef steak and soft bread. A game of base ball started after roll call this p. in. Company ordered
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at the evening roll call to be ready to turn out at a moment's notice, and not take off our clothing. 12th. Everything quiet as usual last night."
The same order for sleeping was given for the night of the 12th.
Scott's Notes: "March 12th. Guns still in position. New recruit came in today. Brought in also a deserter. Men employed fitting up camp. . . . Received notice of discharge .- disability,-of Geo. F. Manchester. Signal lights thrown up from Hd. Qrs."
Dyer : 12th. Thursday: "I was called up this morning at 3 o'clock to go on guard. Eighteen men are detached on the guard list."
LETTER OF SERG'T. W. H. PEACOCK. "CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA. Mar. 13, 1863.
We are hourly expecting an attack from the rebels, who are coming to try and destroy a high bridge of the Acquia Creek R. R. about three hundred yards from our camp. Our Battery is in position on a hill; also the Fourth R. I., and several others. Our pickets are drawn in to lead them on. The guns are all run back some from the brow of the hill, to be out of sight, and we will let them get to the bridge before we commence firing. Such are the orders, when, if they come, a force will cut them out in rear. For two days and nights no man was allowed to go out of camp or un- dress at night; not even to take off his boots. We think Gen'l Hooker is bound to trap them. I am anxious for the fun to begin, and think they will be surprised when we open up 30 guns on them, but the suspense is great."
Captain Phillips was in Boston.
Phillips' Diary: "March 13, 1863. Dined at Young's with Captain Allen."
Scott's Notes: "March 13th. Ice makes at noon. Guns
1
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still in position. Visited by Captain Martin and ladies. Sunday, 15th. Hitched up Battery. Inspected by Ist Lieut. Scott. Pieces still in position. Martin's and Haz- lett's batteries out on Inspection. Eve, snow and hail, thunder and lightning."
Serg't. Pattison left camp on furlough. Captain Phillips in New York on the 15th. Visited the iron plated ram "Dunderberg" building at Webb's ship yard.
Chase's Diary : ". .. Ground covered with hail and sleet this morning. March 17th. 'St. Patrick's Day in the morning.' Grand gala day with the Irish Brigade. Bat- tery drill about an hour, and at 4 o'clock. Acted as gunner for the 3d Detachment."
Captain Phillips March 17th was in Washington on the way to camp. Met Major Rice of the 19th, (Mass. Inf.) Captain Barnard (George M. Barnard Jr.) of the 18th, and Adjt. Patten of the 20th.
RECRUITS.
HEAD QUARTERS IST DIV. 5TH CORPS, March 17, 1863.
Special Orders No. 21.
The following named enlisted men, having expressed a desire to Serve with the Artillery, are temporarily attached to the Batteries in this command. with the consent of immediate commanders :--
Private Nelson Thrasher Co. B. 14th N. Y. Vols. to Battery E. Mass. Arty. ..
.. Thomas Scott .. ..
Samuel F. Brazee
.. JJohu Lahee .. ..
..
66
.. .. .. Samuel A. Gorton .. 6. .. 66 1. William Martis Co. G. 32d. Mass. Vols. .. .. ..
.. Michael Graham Co. C. 1-t Michigan Vols. ..
.. Albert Lind sley Co. C. Ist Michigan Vols.
.. Richard Hornby Co. G. "
.. .4 Randall Fox Co. G. " .. =
.. Walter Northrop Co. I. " .. ..
..
=
..
1.
..
..
.. J. Van Iderstine Co. I. "
.. William Bugbre Co. K. 22d. Mass. Vols. ..
.. Adolphu. S. Crawford. Co F. 2d. Maine Vols. ..
66 ..
..
66
Frank shepard Co. I. " ..
..
..
..
.€
:
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HISTORY OF THE
Private William H1. Foss Co. F. 2d Maine
Vols. to Battery E. Mass. Arty.
Charles Keene
William H. M. Henry 4:
..
.:
. .
..
William H. Jones Co. C. 64
..
..
6.
6. Alfred Fork ..
66
6.
..
..
..
.. ..
: Charles E. Foster
John Murray Co. I. F. C. Williams Co. K.
.
= Robert Joyner Co. F.
.6 Ernest Hein Co. H. ..
18th Mass. Vols. ..
.. Richard Downey Co. -. 25th N. Y. Vols.
Fred Bugler Co. F. 13th N. Y. Vols.
By command of Brig. Gen'l Griffin.
(Sd.) C. B. MERVINE, A. A. G.
HEAD QRS. DIV. ART'Y
Ist Div. 5th Corps, March 19th. 1863. Official :
A. P. MARTIN, Cant. Com'd'g. Div. Art'y.
Colonel Clement A. Lounsberry, who entered the ser- vice of the United States in the Ist Michigan Reg't. Infan- try, and went home at the close of the war colonel of the 20th Michigan, wrote in a letter dated Fargo, N. D. Aug. 17, 1899 :--
"It is unfortunate that the part taken by the ist Michigan in this campaign is lost to history. They, however, lost 35 killed and died of wounds, and 97 missing. from March Ist to June 30th. 1863. The win- ter previous they had been guarding the Washington and Baltimore R. R .. and came to the Potomac carly in March. They were at this time brigaded with the 18th Mass. and 13th New York. At Second Bull Run they were with the ISth Mass. in their assault upon the Con- federate batteries. advancing under a terrific fire, in which they lost in a few minutes eight officers, and nearly 50 per cent. of the men were either killed or wounded. They went into action with 20 officers and 227 men. and but 4 officers were in camp unhurt. and less than 150 men, when the battle was over.
The regiment had seen service at First Bull Run and was then re- organized 'for the War.' It was originally made up of militia com- panies, and was the first western regiment to reach Washington, in 'Sixty-One. It was from the cream of that regiment that the recruits mentioned came."
.. ..
.:
..
66
..
6.
..
..
3
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FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
Corporal Shackley's Notes: "March IS, 1863, a number of men from the 14th N. Y., Ist Mich., 32d Mass. and 22d Mass. Infantry Regiments transferred to the Battery."
Phillips' Diary : "March 18th. Started at 8 a. m. in the 'Zephyr' for Acquia Creek. Arrived at 12. Missed the train, took the next one at 3 p. m., and arrived at camp at 4."
Chase's Diary: "March 18th. No drill today. Captain Phillips returned. The advance troops had a skirmish with the enemy yesterday, and the booming of artillery was heard today. A. squad of recruits came today. . . . Gorton and Leahy came to board with us. .
Scott's Notes: "March 19th. Battery shooting at target near us. Our pieces in position. Cavalry drive the Rebs at Kelly's Ford. 20th. One inan detailed to Battery from 22d Mass. Order for Review of Division on the 25th."
Dyer's Notes: "March 20th. The ist Brigade went on picket this morning."
March 21st, 1863. Jonas Shackley was appointed Cor- poral to the ist Detachment. Patrick Welch was appointed Corporal to the 6th Detachment.
Scott's Notes: "March 21st Rebs undertake to cross the Rappahannock and are repulsed."
Phillips' Diary: "March 22d. . . . Lieut. Blake started on a ten days' leave. Fernald of my class called round in the afternoon."
Scott's Notes: "23d. 2 men from the 22d Regt. Bal- loons up on a reconnaissance. 24th. Review for the 25th postponed (to the 26th). Rebs seen in force by our pick- ets. An attack expected."
Chase's Diary : "March 24th. . . . Cutting and drawing up wood for family, use, with Gorton and Leahy part of a. m. . . . Sorgt. Pattison returned."
From a Letter of Capt. Phillips, March 24, 1863. "While I was off we had a hedge put up around our tents, and a
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HISTORY OF THE
little more done in the way of fixing up. Our quarters are now a little village by themselves. 25th. About midnight rec'd orders to be on the alert as the enemy was expected to make a dash."
Scott: "25th. Troops turned out 4 a. m. False alarm. 26th. Division reviewed by General Meade. Battery in line."
Phillips' Diary : "26th. Squally in the forenoon. . Division reviewed in the afternoon. . . . The artillery crammed up in a heap in the worst part of the field."
Chase: "26th. Went with the Battery to the Review. . Reviewed by Generals Hooker, Meade, and Griffin. .
The Division made a fine appearance, and was witnessed by quite a number of 'the gentler sex,' including Mrs. General Griffin's sisters. Weather fine inost of the day. but a slight snow squall about 5 p. m. 27th. On fatigue today the only fatigue duty I've done since last November."
Scott's Notes: "March 27th. Sergt. Morrison goes home on recruiting service with Lieut. (Thomas M.) Cargill of the 3d Mass. Battery. Drill by Capt. Phillips."
Dyer's Notes. "29th. We have had quite a spirited game of base ball today."
FROM A LETTER OF CAPT. PHILLIPS.
"CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA. March 29, 1863.
It is the day after a battle that decides the result, and many a defeat in the hands of an able general is of more advantage than a barren victory. . . . In my opinion if this Army is to make the main attack on Richmond from the North, it should be aided by another force operating from Suffolk against Petersburg and the enemy's communications with the South. There must be 50,000 or 60,000 men around Fort Monroe, Norfolk and Suffolk, and 20,000 could hold these points, leaving 40,000 free to operate
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FIFTH MASS. BATTERY. 565
against Petersburg. A vigorous movement upon this place would oblige the enemy to abandon Richmond, or to weaken its defences so much that General Hooker would find it an easy capture. It is not impossible that the main attack may be made on the south side of the James River."
Chase's Diary: "March 31st, 1863. . . . About 3 inches of snow on the ground and rain one minute and snow the next. . . . Cleared up fine p. m. the snow nearly all melted. Spent the day in the tent playing cards and dominoes. No roll call this morning. Eighteen months in service. . . . Gained 'the hilltop of our service' today. Will the descent be as easy as the ascent? 3 spare wheels taken away to- day."
Phillips' Diary: "31st. . . . About midnight received orders to be in readiness as the rebels were at Hariwood Church."
Scott: "3Ist. . .. Roads very bad and creeks rising. . Our pieces still in position."
FROM LETTERS OF CAPTAIN PHILLIPS.
April Ist, 1863. Camp near Potomac Creek: "Day be- fore yesterday I rode down to the Lacey house, and took a look at Fredericksburg. The inhabitants appeared to have moved back somewhat, and a few ladies were promenading the streets, dressed as stylishly, for aught I could see, as our Northern belles.
April 5th. Last Wednesday, Scott and I rode down to the town of Falmouth where the 20th Regiment is en- camped. I have several acquaintances in this regiment; among them Adjutant Patten of the class of '58 and Cap- tain Henry L. Abbott of my class.
A part of the way we went on the same road on which we marched last summer on our way to join General Pope, and it is astonishing what changes have taken place since
-
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HISTORY OF THE
that time. Then we marched along a narrow country road through a thick forest. Now nothing is left of the forest. The country presents nothing but a wide expanse of naked, barren hills. Fences have disappeared, and the old road can hardly be traced amid the labyrinth of wagon tracks.
The troops have gradually moved back from the river, and there are now hardly any camps within two or three miles of Fredericksburg. This movement has been more a matter of necessity than of choice, as troops must camp near firewood in winter time.
The town of Falmouth offers nothing remarkable. It consists of 300 or 400 houses, situated in a bowl shaped val ley on the edge of the river. Sentinels of the Provost Guard are posted in the streets, and the principal houses are occupied as brigade and regimental headquarters. The population, exclusive of the 20th Reg't. consists principally of tow-headed children and a few clay-faced women. Be- tween the town and the river a line of sentinels are pacing back and forth just as they do round camp at home. This is the outer picket line stationed on a narrow strip of meadow, which runs along the shore. On the other shore is a corresponding line of rebel pickets, posted at rather longer intervals than ours, and more inclined to stand still and sit down. A mill just opposite the town appeared to be a kind of headquarters, as there were half a dozen greybacks lounging round. The 20th had their dress parade while we were there, in one of the streets, perhaps 500 yards from the rebel pickets, who have the privilege of witnessing the show for nothing. An order has just been issued establishing distinctive badges (see p. 20) for the different divisions of the Army. All the members of our Division, officers and enlisted men, are to wear a red Maltese cross in the centre of the top of the cap. I rather like the idea. The object is to prevent straggling, as every man will be compelled to wear a badge and thus proclaim where he belongs."
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FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
Chase's Diary: "April 2, 1863. . . . Lieut. Blake re- turned and Corporal Gibbs left on furlough."
Scott: "April 2d. ... 3d Army Corps said to be mov- ing to Acquia Creek to embark. Roads drying up fast."
Chase: "3d. . . . Spent the evening playing cuchre with Gorton vs. Leahy and B. Graham. 4th. . . . Commenced snowing about 7 p. m. 5th. Sunday. All last night snowing, with a high wind. About five inches of snow on the ground this morning. No roll call last night or this morning, on account of the stormy weather.
Battery arrived in front of Yorktown, Va. one year ago today, when we first heard the guns of the enemy. Lieut. Lull left camp for home."
IN THE MASS. LEGISLATURE. RESOLVES CONCERNING MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENTS IN THE FEDERAL ARMY.
Resolved, That Massachusetts bears in her heart those of her loyal citizens who have gone forth to defend the constitution and the laws, and to establish the integrity of our national government :
That she views with satisfaction and pride their steadfast loyalty, and their gallant achievements :
That she will continue to encourage and sustain them to the full extent of her power, and will send such reinforcements to their aid as the national authorities shall, from time to time, demand :
That never has her determination to support the government, or her assurance of final success, been stronger than today :
That, as she was the first to enter, so will she be the last to leave the field, until every armed traitor has disappeared from the land.
Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor be requested to for- ward copies of these Resolves to the commanders of Massachusetts regiments in the field, with the request that they be communicated to their respective commands.
Approved April 6, 1863.
Chase's Diary: "April 6, 1863. Drill on pieces, which are still in position; 12 m. Grand Review of Cavalry by Abraham Lincoln our President,-God bless him."
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HISTORY OF THE
A CAVALRY REVIEW. LETTER OF CAPTAIN PHILLIPS. "HD. ORS. BATTERY E. MASS. ART'Y. CAMP NEAR POTOMAC CREEK, VA.
April 7, 1863.
President Lincoln is on here just now and will, I suppose, review the whole army before leaving. Yesterday he re- viewed the Cavalry under Major Gen. Stoneman, about 13,000 in number. The review was announced at 12 o'clock and I concluded to go. So Scott, Blake. and I mounted and set off. The roads were a little muddy, but not very bad. The Cavalry were drawn up in a hollow square covering considerable ground, in fact, there was no one spot from which you could see them all.
An American flag in the centre of the square marked the position of the reviewing officer, and thither we rode and soon found ourselves in a crowd of mounted officers of all grades, from generals to lieutenants; major-generals were quite plenty, in fact, I do not think I ever saw so many before, and there were brigadiers without number.
A guard was placed to keep a place clear for the review- ing officer, and they paid no regard to brigadiers, keeping them back with the rest.
General Stoneman was quite conspicuous, wearing his sash across the shoulder 'Officer of the Day' style.
A little after twelve the President arrived, announced by a salute of 21 guns, fired in poor style by a horse battery. General Hooker rode alongside of him, General Butterfield just behind, and then a numerous, nameless staff, and an escort of Rush's Lancers.
Mrs. Lincoln drove up in a carriage and took a stand in front of the crowd, in which were half a dozen ladies on horseback. Then the President, accompanied by Hooker and Stoneman, started off to review, and an immense caval-
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FIFTH MASS. BATTERY.
cade clattered after them. Although they rode along the lines at a slow gallop, the process occupied an hour or two. . General Hooker is the finest looking general in the army : tall and straight, with light hair and florid com- plexion. General Stoneman is a fine looking man : tall, and with a long beard. He is a very good cavalry officer. While the cavalcade was riding down the lines, I took the occasion to look round the crowd.
There were lots of major generals that I never saw be- fore. There was Carl Schurz looking very savage, Maj. General Howard with one arm, and Major General Meade. I also met Scott of my class now General Gordon's assistant adjutant general, and S. M. Weld on Benham's staff. By . and by the President returned to his station, and the troops commenced to pass in review. This was rather a tedious process, but we sat it through. The Ist Mass. looked very well. After the Cavalry came the batteries of Horse Artil- lery attached to Stoneman's command, and they passed a second time at a trot. And then the escort of Lanciers came up, wheeled into line at a trot in front of the Presi- dent in splendid style, and then we went home to dinner. Last night I received an order that the 5th Corps would be reviewed today, but it was countermanded this morning."
SOME RECRUITS GO BACK.
By Special Order No. 29, Head Quarters Ist Division 5th Corps, April 7, 1863, the following named enlisted men, temporarily attached to the Batteries of the Division, were relieved and ordered to report without delay to their regi- ment, the ist Michigan :- Privates Lindsley, Hornby, Fox, Shepard, Northrop, and Van Iderstine.
GRAND REVIEW ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
From Captain Phillips' Letter of April 9th :- "President Lincoln rode round through the camp, the troops being
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drawn up in line on the regimental parades. He rode by our camp about half past one: we presented sabres, he doffed his hat, and the ceremony was over. Yesterday the grand review of the season came off. The 2d, 3d. 5th and one other corps turned out on a large plain near the Phillips house, and in full view of the Rebels. The last corps men- tioned being some distance off, I did not learn what it was, I think it must have been the 6th. [In his Diary he says "6th."] ... The troops were drawn up . . . each corps in three lines of a division each, each division of three bri- gades in line of battalions and cach battalion in column closed en masse.
The Artillery did not turn out.
There must have been in the neighborhood of So,000 or 90,000 men.
About II o'clock the President and General Hooker rode up with the usual cavalcade behind, and Scott, Spear, and I fell in with the staff, having made up our minds that this was the only way to see the review. The President rode a dark bay horse, which he has ridden all the time. General Hooker on his usual, tall, white horse. Two little boys about 8 and 12, I suppose junior Lincolns, followed the President.
The 2d Corps was the first reviewed, and the President rode down in front of the ist Division, and we pelted after him. As we rode along, I began to have some idea of the pleasure of riding in a cavalry charge. Half way down the line we came to a ditchi and mud hole, and I expected to see somebody stuck, but the cavalcade all got through somehow, and away we went down the line, round the flank, and up the second line. More ditches and mud, but we pelt along up this line, down the third and round in rear, and the Corps is reviewed. Then we travel through the 5th Corps in the same way; the cavalcade diminishing in numbers all
+
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the time; then the 3d Corps was finished up in the same way.
Then the President and General Hooker took position by the colors, and we, the staff, formed behind them, packed like dried herrings. It is very pleasant being in a mounted crowd, particularly if the horses round you are of a kicking kind. However, no accident occurred, and we sat patiently for two hours, while three corps passed in review. There was the usual variety of officers and men, but a description would be uninteresting unless from a better pen than mine.
By the time it was all over our appetites were pretty hearty, and we raced home to dinner. We had rather a funny time going and coming. Spear has a great tall horse, that has no idea of stopping after he gets started, and Scott's horse is a little worse, and never stops till you run him into a stone wall or a house. As we were going to the review we started off at a slow trot, but as each horse has a great fancy for being ahead, our trot soon changed into a run, and away we went. After running about half a mile, I reined up, but the others kept on. Spear succeeded in stopping soon after, but Scott kept on till we began to think he was going to Acquia Creck. Finally he got his horse off the road, and ran him into a dense thicket of grape vines which stopped his career. Unless he had done this it is doubtful whether he would have stopped at all, as his curb chain had broken, and the horse had it all his own way. On our return we fell in with Licuts. (W. H.) Follett and (Lewis V.) Osgood of Martin's Battery, the latter having a horse very much like Scott's. They got run away with twice; the first time the horses were stopped by running into a fence round General Whipple's Hd. Qrs., the second time they rushed through Major General Slocum's staff, over half a dozen ditches, and finally brought up among the tents round General Griffin's Quarters."
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A
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Scott's Notes: "April 9, 1863. Ice made. Drill on pieces. Waterman taken his pieces from picket. The President reviews troops on the Potomac: Belle Plains. roth. Drill on pieces. Company mustered for strength. President reviews troops at Stafford Court House."
Chase: "April roth. . Music at General Griffin's Head Quarters last night by the band of the 33d Mass. Regiment."
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