USA > Massachusetts > History of the Fifth Massachusetts Battery : organized October 3, 1861, mustered out June 12, 1865, v.2 > Part 8
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long. In front of all this lumber was thrown solid red clay, eight foot thick, and the height of the logs. It was a strong work, and I was disappointed in not having a chance to use it. The Rebels fought very desperately, and charged bur artillery to the muzzle of the Guns. Our loss of artil- lery men was very heavy. If I had time I could write you incidents enough of the Battle to fill a book. A Rebel cap- tain. hearing heavy firing on the right,-he was a prisoner. -- said, "I would give my right arm to be with my company in that fight.'
It is reported here that our loss was 20,000, and the Rebels' 30,000. The firing on Sunday was the most terrific I ever heard. On both sides probably 150,000 men, and 250 pieces of artillery were banging at one time.
When you answer this please send me $io, I am all out of money. Write soon. My love to all the folks. If I get killed use my money as you think best for my little sisters."
CONGRATULATIONS FROM HEADQUARTERS. HEAD QUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA. May 6, 1863.
General Orders NO. 49
The Major General commanding tenders to this Army his congratu- Iations on its achievements of the last seven days. If it has not accomplished all that was expected, the reasons are well known to the Army. It is sufficient to say they were of a character not to be foreseen or prevented by human sagacity or resource. In withdrawing from the south bank of the Rappahannock before delivering a general battle to our adversaries, the Army has given renewed evidence of its Confidence in itself and its fidelity to the principles it represents. In fighting at a disadvantage, we would have been recreant to our trust, to nurseives, our cause. and our country.
Profoundly loyal, and conscious of its strength, the Army of the P. tomac will give or decline battle, whenever its interest or honor may demand. It will also be the guardian of its own history and its own fame, By our celerity and secrecy of movement our advance and pas- age of the rivers were undisputed. and on our withdrawal not a rebel
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ventured to follow. The events of the last week may swell with pride the heart of every officer and soldier of this Army. We have added new lustre to its former renown. We have made long marches, crossed rivers, surprised the enemy in his entrenchments, and whenever we have fought, have inflicted heavier blows than we have received.
We have taken from the cnemy five thousand prisoners, captured and brought off seven pieces of artillery, fifteen colors, placed "hors-de- combat" eighteen thousand of his chosen troops, destroyed his depots filled with vast amounts of stores, deranged his communications. cap- tured prisoners within the fortifications of his capital, and filled his country with fear and consternation.
We have no other regret than that caused by the loss of our brave companions, and in this we are consoled by the conviction that they have fallen in the holiest cause ever submitted to the arbitrament of battle.
By command of Major General Hooker. S. WILLIAMS, Ass't. Adj. General.
CAPT. PHILLIPS' REPORT TO CAPTAIN MARTIN. DUPLICATE SENT TO CAPTAIN WEED.
HD. QRS. BATTERY E, MASS. ART'Y. CAMP NEAR POTOMAC CREEK, VA. May 7th, 1863.
CAPT. WEED, Chief of Corps,
Artillery.
Captain :
The Battery under my command left Camp at Potomac Creek on the 30th of April, in obedience to orders from Captain Martin, and marched to Hartwood Church.
On the Ist we marched to near Chancellorsville. and remained in park all night.
The next day I marched about two miles to our left, and placed the Battery in position, supported by Humphreys' Division. I remained there till the evening of the 5th, when by order of Capt. Randol I marched to United States Ford, crossed, and returned to our old camp.
I have not been in action, have lost no men or horses, and the few implements I have lost can be easily replaced.
Your Ob't Serv't,
CHARLES A. PHILLIPS, Capt.
Battery E, Mass. Art'y.
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Chase's Diary : "May 7, 1863. . . . The guards are like dead men when once asleep. Almost impossible to rouse them. Troops straggling back to camp all day. At work all day repairing and cleansing our caissons."
Dyer's Notes : "May 7th. .. . Orders came in the after- noon to cook up three days' rations, and hold ourselves in readiness."
Scott's Notes : "May 7th. The Rebs in full force at Fred- ericksburg."
In a letter dated May 7th Captain Phillips says of the march back, that "it was the muddiest, dirtiest time" he ever had. The door, and all the furniture of his house, gone, desk and washstand, but the floor was left.
Chase's Diary: "May 8th. ... The Ist Brigade of the Ist Division, 5th Corps, started out again this morning to help get up the pontoon trains."
In camp near Potomac Creek, May 9th, Captain Phillips wrote the following review of the recent movement, begin- ning with the formation of the column :--
"The column consisted of the batteries of the 5th Corps which had remained behind, and marched in the following order :-- Hazlett, Martin, Phillips, Barnes, Gibbs. ( Ist Ohio Light Battery L, Captain Frank C. Gibbs. ) The roads were not very bad but our horses were unused to pulling, and the column lengthened out very fast. However, before dark we reached Hartwood Church and went into camp, Captain Martin occupying our old camp, and we occupying his old camp of last November. The next morning we took the road toward the river and after the usual amount of stop- pages crossed on the pontoon bridge and pushed on. The road was quite bad, and we made slow progress. When we got over the river we could distinguish firing ahead, though not very loud. During the afternoon we passed the 3d Army Corps which had crossed just ahead of us. They were just unslinging knapsacks, and getting ready for ac-
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tion. I saw General Whipple here for the last time, as he was riding along his Division. ( Major General Amiel W. Whipple died May 7. 1863, of wounds received at Chan- cellorsville.) About dark, just after passing a rifle pit which the Rebels had thrown up the day before and had been driven out of that morning, we came to a large open field, full of batteries. On our right was a large brick house, 'Chancellorsville,' and this field was where the fighting took place. The firing ahead was kept up till about 9 o'clock. We remained hitched up all night, and the next morning preparations were made for action. The 5th Corps came in from the front and formed line of battle behind us, extend- ing to the left. About six o'clock we started down a road which cut at right angles the one we had come up on, pass- ing along the front of our Division. After marching about two miles Captain Martin directed me to place the Battery in position on a hill running towards the river, with Hum- phreys' Division supporting. The 5th Corps formed the left wing of the line extending to the river. The artillery of this wing was arranged as follows, counting from the left :- Randol 4. 12 pdrs., Martin 6, 12 pdrs., Hazlett 6, 10 pdr. Parrotts, Phillips 6, 3 in., Barnes 4, 3 inch, com- manded by Captain Randol. Captain Weed commanded the Art'y of the Centre. consisting of So pieces. Waterman was between the Left and Centre. Randol, Martin and Hazlett were on a high hill, and their right was separated from my left by a deep ravine on which the line of battle formed a deep re-entering angle. Along our front extended rifle pits, at first mere brush fences, but growing all the time until they became quite respectable entrenchments. Our position was quite strong, as our artillery had a cicar range of the country for a thousand yards in front. In the afternoon the attack commenced on our right. We could hear heavy volleys of musketry and artillery, but of course had no idea what was the result. All was quiet in front of
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us. and a reconnoitering party sent out through the woods did not find any force of the enemy. So the day wore on and we quietly went to sleep. The next morning stragglers began to come along, most of them wearing the crescent- 1Ith Corps-on their caps, and all these reported the rebels victorious, while all the wounded men said we were beating them.
On Sunday the firing commenced at daylight, and con- tinued till afternoon very heavy. About midnight I was awakened by a trampling round me, and found regiments marching all around me. It was the 12th Corps relieving the IIth. One colonel jumped his horse over the log by which I was sleeping, and marched his regiment over, and . before I got up in the morning, the pioneers had carried the log off to the entrenchments. Monday was perfectly quiet all along our lines. About 5 p. m. a thunder storm came on. The weather had been pleasant up to this time. About 9 we were ordered to march to U. S. Ford. It was pitch dark and raining as we started out, but we managed to get along without serious trouble, except that one caisson got stuck in the mud and we had to unharness the horses and work an hour getting it out. We got to the hill near the Ford about midnight, and found a crowd of batteries wait- ing to go over. So we waited while the rain poured down on our backs and got over about daylight. As soon as we were across we pushed for our old camp, and arrived at home about noon, cold, tired, hungry, and disgusted. [ have not found any one who knows why we recrossed. The Rebels certainly had not licked us, and our men were in tip top condition. . . . No newsboys have been allowed up Here since we came back."
Phillips' Diary : "May Sth. The general conclusion seems to be that the rebels ran away from us a few hours before we ran away from them."
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Scott's Diary: "May 9th, 1863. Went down to Freder- icksburg. Rebels plainly to be seen at work repairing breastworks. Our forces returned to old camps. Rebel loss stated at 18,000 last fight. Stoneman went within two miles of Richmond ( see Hooker. p. 586) doing them a great deal of damage. Balloon up on reconnoissance. May Ioth. All quiet on the Rappahannock. . . . Rebs occupy Fredei - icksburg."
Chase's Diary : "May roth. Sunday. A day's rest." Scott : "May IIth. . Stoneman's cavalry returned. Found the people in Rebeldom not in a state of starvation. Brought off many horses. Went to Falmouth. Some of our prisoners, wounded, being brought across the River. 25th New York Reg't. refuse duty, their time being out, and are kept under guard all night."
Phillips' Diary: "Lith. Osborne of our class, ass't sur- geon of the ist Mass. Cavalry, came round."
Chase's Diary: "May 12th. . . . The 14th N. Y. Regt. passed our camp on their way home this a. m."
Scott: "May 12th. Ambulance train gone across the River for our wounded at request of the Rebs. Several regiments gone home today. Drill on pieces. May 13th. Official notice of General 'Stonewall' Jackson's deatlı, Rebel Army. Order to this Battery to report to General ( Robert O.) Tyler, Artillery Reserve."
Captain Phillips resumes his comments on the recent bat- tle in a letter dated May 13th, 1863 :--
"We crossed the river in good style, obtained a good position : the performance of the cavalry was splendid, and must have alarmed the enemy. But again we fell into the - usual blunder of allowing the Rebels to attack us in detail. Even then, when their whole force was concentrated in an attack on our right wing, we kept them back. Only a por- tion of our Army was engaged. Of their three Corps com- manders Jackson, Longstreet and A. P. Hill; Jackson was
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killed, and Hill wounded, and it is known that all the avail- able forces of Longstreet's Corps were engaged. Well, after we had driven them back, cut their lines of communi- cation and captured their trains, and two days had passed, during which they did not venture to attack us, why then, we retreated across the Rappahannock and reoccupied our old camps!
Our Corps is being reduced very much by the expiration of the term of service of the 9 mos. and 2 years men. Hum- phreys' Division of 9 mos. Pennsylvania Regts. will have but two regiments at the end of this week. The 12th, 13th and 14th N. Y., 2 years men have left our Division and there are several more to go. . .
Things look so much like a permanent occupation of the camp, that I am almost inclined to plant vines and flowers round my door. At any rate, it will do no harm if we move: morning glories, sweet pease &c. It will give me an oppor- tunity to resume my botanical studies."
Dyer's Notes : "Thursday, May 14th. Orders came for all the infantry men in our Battery to report to the 5th U. S. Battery. They left about 8 o'clock."
Scott's Notes: "May 14th. Large guns, 100 pounders, being taken up to Falmouth. The R. 1. Battery ordered to report to Artillery Reserve instead of 5th Regulars."
Chase's Diary : "May 15th. Broke camp about 8 o'clock this morning and marched about 1 miles towards Fal- mouth Station. Remained hitched up until about two p. m., when we unhitched and laid out a camp."
Scott's Notes: "May 15th. Broke camp and moved to within a mile of Fredericksburg, in sight of the enemy's lines, and camped with the Volunteer Reserve Artillery, 14 batteries, all under the command of General Tyler. Camped under the direction of Major (John A.) Tompkins of Rhode Island. Assigned to Ist Brigade, Major Freeman McGilvery, 7 batteries."
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"This move was a hard one for the 5th Battery," was a later comment of Lieut. Scott. "but it proved to be only temporary, for the interest of the movement then on foot."
The Battery was inspected by Captain George W. Adams, Battery G, ist R. I. Acting Assistant Inspector of Division.
Dyer's Notes: "May 15th. Started in the direction of Hooker's Head Quarters. After marching half an hour we drew up into line about half a mile from his Head Quarters where we were inspected : then unhitched and pitched our tents. Encamped in a large field."
May 16th was passed in preparing camp accommodations half a mile from General Ilooker's Head Quarters.
Scott's Notes: "May 16th. . . . Went down to the river in front of Falmouth. Rebs at work on their works, Gen- eral Barksdale in command."
LETTER OF CAPTAIN PHILLIPS.
"CAMP NEAR FALMOUTHI, VA. Sunday, May 17, 1863.
We have ceased to belong to the 5th Army Corps. An order was published last Wednesday, stating that the artil- lery in the different corps would be reduced, and certain batteries in each corps were ordered to report to Brig. Gen'l Tyler commanding Artillery Reserve. The batteries in our corps were Randol's ( E & G) Ist U. S. Artillery, Hazlett's D, 5th U. S. Artillery, and mine. Waterman's was subse- quently sent in place of Hazlett's. In accordance with this order, I reported to General Tyler, and on Friday marched from our old camp, and camped near a house formerly Gen. (D. B.) Birney's headquarters, and not a great ways from the Phillips house. . . . We are camped on a dry. barrer plain, without a tree in sight, and yesterday we found it very dusty. We have our tents pitched so that their fronts form three sides of a square, with a fly, covering the centre, form-
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ing a cool and shady porch, in which I am now writing. Our camp is roomy, clean, and rather pleasant than other- wise. We have a good view from it of the hills back of Fredericksburg, rebel eamp, etc. There are 13 other bat- teries encamped round us. . . . We are partially brigaded in brigades of four batteries. The weather is now quite warm and tents are very comfortable. We brought our floors along with us, and have found very good sutlers round here. This forenoon I had my usual inspection. . . . "
Phillips' Diary : "May 18th. .. . Lieut. Scott thrown off his horse."
Scott's Notes: "May 18th. Battery to be inspected by Captain Adams. . . . II a. m. inspection. Started with Captain Phillips on horseback, to go to Captain Martin's. Horse ran with me, and threw me against a tree, but did not hurt me beyond a few bruises."
Chase's Diary: "May 18th. On guard today at Head Quarters of Major Tompkins . . . with W. H. H. Lap- ham, M. Coleman, and B. Doherty. Head Quarters at the residence of Mr. Thrashley. 19th. Relieved from guard this morning about 8 o'clock."
Dyer's Notes: "May 19th. . . . This evening the string band across the road gave us a moonlight serenade. On guard."
Scott's Notes: " . . . Mr. Gale of this Battery detailed as hospital steward Div."
Dyer's Notes : "May 20th. . . . Today the Battery drew rations from the Commission, such as vinegar, hard tack, and beans. Vinegar dealt out at night."
Chase's Diary : "May 21, 1863. Usual drill a. m. Went to see the Rebels go through their brigade drill, at 'Water Call' p. m. Witnessed the above performance just across the river near Fredericksburg. Weather very warm. Rode Serg't. Peacock's celebrated war-steed 'Gabriel' to see the drill p. m."
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Corporal Chase says of this horse in a note dated January 20, 1901 :- "Alexander's 'Bucephalus' was no account com- pared with 'Gabriel'; when he was fattest his ribs stood out in high relief like the ridges of a washboard, and when he was lean, it was no worse. He would eat anything and everything, man included."
THE HORSE GABRIEL.
NOTES OF SERGT. PEACOCK, JAN'Y 26, 1901.
"About my old horse 'Gabriel, -he certainly was a won- derful horse, and had a great affection for the Battery. On a march, or in a battle, I never hitched him. He would remain right with the Detachment horses until I wanted - him, but gave me great trouble to drive away from the Battery, especially when on the move. Sometimes a car- riage would break down, and I would be ordered to the rear to attend to it. I would turn Gabriel away from the Bat- tery, but he would not budge. Often I was compelled to dismount and tie him to anything I could find, and wait until the Battery was out of sight, then I could manage him, He also was a great jumper, and would leap a wall or stream of water as easily as a rabbit. Sometimes lie would take a notion to run away with me. After he had done this several times, our Blacksmith, Mike Hewitt, made me a long mouth bit, that reached well up into his mouth. To over- come this, Gabriel would bend his long arched neck, and get his chin on his chest. This checked the power of the bit. and he would run when he felt like it.
In leading the horses to water, when near it, he usually made a dash for it, going in almost up to his ears and giving me a good wetting.
Aside from these failings, he was a good horse, and we were much attached to one another.
Serg't. Stiles told me when I saw him last, that after Gabriel was condemned and turned into the Corral, he felt
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. se bad about it he got an order and went there and brought him back to the Battery, cared for him, and put him in shape so he rode him for some time.
While the Battery had so many horses killed and wounded Gabriel was never hit. My recollection is that Lieut. Scott rode him off the field at Gettysburg when he was wounded."
Scott's Notes: "May 22, 1863. . . . Order came for a commissioned officer to accompany the horses at all Water Calls to and from water. Usually done by a sergeant.
LEFT SECTION TURNED IN.
May 23d. Orders came to consolidate the Battery, turn- ing in 2 guns, thus making us a 4 gun battery. Complement of men, present and absent, 118 men, 5 officers. This news was not well received by the company, but we were supposed to submit. Turned in Left section complete, to Major McGilvery at Acquia Creek."
Chase's Diary : "May 23d. Usual drill a. m. Ordered to make the equipments of the Right and Centre sections good from the Left section p. m., as two guns are to be turned in."
From Captain Phillips' Letters Sunday, May 24, 1863 :- "The batteries in this Division have been reduced to four guns, on account of the small number of the men, and I think it will add to their efficiency. I have not men enough to man six guns, and can manage a great deal better with four. Major Tompkins informs me that the arrangement is merely temporary --- until the batteries can be filled by the draft, and no officers will be mustered out.
I am sorry to say that everybody is moving to new and pleasanter camps. Hooker moved a day or two ago, and we shall move this week. My sorrow does not arise from any love for our present camp, but from the fact that these
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movements do not look like an early advance. The roads are in splendid condition. We have not had a drop of rain for a fortnight, and the whole country is parched and baked hard. I don't understand why we don't go ahead."
Diary : "24th : Rode over to the 19th Regt."
Chase's Diary : "May 25th. Lieut. Spear and J. Winters left camp on furlough today.
Scott's Notes: "May 26th. Lieut. Lull goes to Acquia Creek to turn in the Left section."
Phillips' Diary : "May 27, 1863. Moved camp at & a. m. to near White Oak Church. Camped in the edge of the woods."
Chase: "27th. Marched about 2 miles easterly. . . Reached camp about 12 m."
This was in the direction of Belle Plains.
Scott : "May 27th. . . . Camp at White Oak Church. A good situation in woods on a hill, quite a relief from the sandy plain we have just left. . . . Horses well-sheltered in a grove."
Chase : "28th. Quarters being built with much care."
Dyer : "28th. All hands busy fixing up around their quarters, cutting stumps, sweeping &c."
Scott's Notes: "May 29th. At 9 a. m. attended meeting of members to form a court martial at Major Tompkins' Hd. Ors. Present Major Osborne Pres't. Captains Hunt- ington and Douglass. Adjourned till Monday, same place. 5th Corps and other troops moving up River. Enemy quite active and said to have crossed the River. Turned in 26 horses. 4th Detach. equalized."
Chase's Diary: "May 29th. Lieut. Spear returned. An order read in line assigning Sergt. Pattison to the Ist De- tachment and Sergt. Simonds to the 3d. Sergts. Peacock and Page still retain the same positions as formerly. Plenty of whiskey, ale, and gin for the men in camp, for sale and
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gratis this p. m. The men of the Left section assigned to the Right and Centre sections today."
Scott's Notes: "May 30th. Rode over to Falmouth. Road very dry and dusty. Fifth Corps said to be at Kelly's Ford."
May 31st Licut. Scott was appointed Judge Advocate. The court met and adjourned from day to day.
Chase's Diary: "May 31st, 1863. Sunday. The Battery with the Ist Ohio, Battery H, (Captain James F. Hunting- ton) was inspected by Major McGilvery of the Volunteer Reserve Artillery and the officers of the two batteries. Weather very warm a. m. but a good brecze p. m. A fire was started in the woods in the rear of our camp, and the 'Assembly' was blown, and all hands sent to check the fire, which we succeeded in doing after some hot work. On guard yesterday and last night, first half. Battery H (Ohio) and E (Mass.) got mixed up some last night about Io p. m. and Licuts. Lull and Spear had to advance, and succeeded in scattering the guerillas. Some whiskey afloat and several knockdowns.
'All quiet along the lines' at II p. m."
Dyer's Notes: "Sunday. May 3Ist. A number of the boys are on mounted passes. June Ist. Today about 20 extra men were put on fatigue for a week."
THE IOTH NEW YORK LIGHT BATTERY.
Phillips' Diary : "June Ist. Captain Huntington marched about noon to Banks's Ford. Received 19 men from the Ioth N. Y. Battery."
Scott: "June Ist. . . . Battery drill by Captain Phillips -- the dust blowing in clouds."
Chase : "June Ist. A lively drill about 9 a. m. in presence of Major McGilvery: changed the wheels. dismounted the pieces, etc. Weather very warm.
June 3d. Battery hitched up at 8 a. m. and drilled about an hour and a half under command of Captain Phillips, and
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afterwards drilled about an hour with the 10th N. Y. Bat- tery under command, both batteries, of Major McGilvery. . . Drilled on the manual half an hour p. m."
Captain Phillips rode over to Falmouth and visited Col. Devereaux of the 19th Mass. Infantry.
Dyer : "June 4th. Orders came early this morning to prepare to move. Everything got in readiness at 5 a. m. About 7 o'clock orders came to unhitch, unharness, and pitch our tents. . . 19 men . . came over tonight."
Chase's Diary : "June 4th. . . The Ist Ohio, Battery H, hitched up the second time, and left the camp. Edward E. Rice left camp to accept a commission this a. m.
Some of the batteries have left their camps, and others still remain."
Scott: "June 4. . . . Only 2 batterics moved up to the Ford. All troops under arms. Alarm false."
Captain Phillips' Letter : "June 4th. A little brook runs along our front, where we water, and there is a wood in rear of our park in which our tents and horses are placed. . . . Our own tents are in among the trees, and we have built a green arbor where we swing a hammock and enjoy our- selves."
Scott : "June 5th. . . . Went to ride towards Belle Plain and Potomac Creek. Went outside Picket line. Received orders to draw another section, making us a six gun battery again: 33 horses from the roth New York, and 19 men. Five p. m. firing on the Rappahannock below the city. Sixth Corps after shelling the rebels out, crossed the River. Went down to the River. Saw some skirmishing. The 5th Battery was inspected by Major McGilvery. The men were encouraged, and the Battery stood well in drill and inspection."
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