USA > Massachusetts > History of the Fifth Regiment, M. V. M > Part 16
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The regiment was anticipating an opportunity of par- ticipating in the celebration of the 17th of June in Bos- ton, its time being out about that date, but it was not deemed advisable for too many troops to leave New Berne at the same time, other nine months troops' time of service expiring at the same date, so the Fifth hung on until the 22d of June, and were thus obliged to celebrate the anniver- sary of the famous battle-day on the soil of North Carolina, which they did, and being allowed " extra rations," and one of the firm of the Boston Ice Co., Private Arthur Harring- ton of Co. H, furnishing a large supply of ice, the boys kept cool, and in good spirits until the day of departure .*
About the first of June, Colonel Frankle commenced to recruit his regiment of heavy artillery (the Second Mass.) and the following members of the Fifth re-enlisted.
Company IT. Sergeant Edward F. Everett, promoted Lieutenant.
A. Private John Froghan.
A
.: John Kenney.
.6 A James Wiggins.
.6
F
Charles Jones. Ira Hines.
..
Atwell C. Keene.
I
.. George A. Corser.
Jeremiah Flynn.
Richard Murphy.
I I
UNIFORM.
The following is a description of the uniform worn by infantry during the war, including full marching order :
' See page 50.
225
HISTORY OF THE FIFTH REGIMENT
COAT. - Single-breasted frock, of dark blue cloth, made without plaits, skirts extending one-half the distance from the top of the hip to the bend of the knee; one row of nine buttons on the breast, placed at equal distances ; stand-up collar, to rise no higher than to permit the chin to turn freely over it, to hook in front at the bottom, and then to slope up and backward to an angle of thirty de- grees on each side ; cuffs pointed, and to button with two small buttons at the under seam ; collar and cuffs edged with a cord or welt of cloth ; sky-blue for Infanty. Nar- row lining for skirt of the coat, of the same color and material as the coat; pockets in the folds of the skirts, with one button at each hip, to range with the lowest buttons on the breast; no buttons at the ends of the pockets.
TROWSERS. -- Light blue cloth, plain, without stripe or welt, for privates. Sergeants with a stripe one and onc- half inches wide; Corporals, with a stripe one-half inch wide, of worsted lace, down and over the outer seam, dark blue for Infantry.
CAP .-- Dark blue cloth, and yellow metal letters in front to designate companies, with black glazed visor.
OVERCOAT. - Light blue cloth with cape, blouse of dark blue cloth, a large woolen and a rubber blanket.
ACCOUTREMENTS. - These consisted of cartridge box, cross belt and round-about ; Springfield musket, knapsack, haversack, canteen, dipper, tin plate, forty or more rounds of cartridges, provisions and regular army shoes.
THE ONE HUNDRED DAYS' CAMPAIGN.
As there is no authority, known to the author, for the details of the campaign of the Fifth Regiment during its one hundred days' service, the best material obtainable has been used in the following account.
229
MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER MILITIA.
Before giving the details of this portion of the Regi- ment's service, something may profitably be said concern- ing the importance of keeping a careful record of the events that may transpire, worthy of incorporating in the Regiment's future history.
Here is a Regiment that serves in its Country's Cause, forming a part of as great an Army as history mentions, and yet, when its campaign is over, and a few years have passed, there is not to be found any authority which can be used to show the part it took in the civil strife.
Surgeon Edward J. Forster, of the Fifth, has in his Manual for Medical Officers of the Militia and the United States, given much good advice on the honors and duties of a soldier, regarding his physical condition,* and, taking this for an illustration, the Author desires to give much good advice concerning the value of historic records.
A methodical record of the important Events which con- cern a community of men, whether in war or in peace, should be so arranged as to show their connection of cause and effect. This is the duty of history, and it is the duty of every man to write the history of his actions in life ; if not a duty, then life is not worth living, and man- kind too selfish to exist.
It may be argued that this dissertation on keeping the records of events is hardly needed, and that the Fifth did but little important service during its one hundred days' campaign ; but such arguments are of no value. For in- stance, who can tell the importance attached to the move- ments of the Regiment to Monocacey Junction ? Perhaps it may have changed the result of the war, or effected its
* Part of the Table of Contents is as follows : Honors, Ceremonies, Cor- respondence, Reports, Records, Requisitions, Sanitary duties, and Sugges. tions, etc., etc.
230
HISTORY OF THE FIFTH REGIMENT
more speedy termination. Smaller things than this have overthrown Empires and annihilated Armies.
The Capitol was menaced when the Fifth were sent into the field (1864), for one hundred days. Gen. Lee's troops were ready to pounce upon the Union Army when they should have crossed the south side of the James River, and through Maryland the confident Confederates would have marched, had it not have been for the ready response of the one hundred days' men to the call of the President. After this every movement of the Regiment, or men, or detachment was of great consequence, of how much, will perhaps never be known, and this is the reason for this verbosity.
Too careful an account of the Regiment's service can- not be made, and it is the Author's hope that as complete a record as may be will yet be obtained of the one hundred days' service.
Then, too, there are many interesting incidents that transpired which cannot be chronicled at present. Such incidents, though in some instances of an uninteresting character, add to the fullness of the true history, and make the every play life of the soldier more of a reality than a story.
In making inquiries of the members of the Fifth who served for one hundred days, the Author has often been answered that they did nothing of importance. "We only performed garrison duty." This may be all as far as is known, but if an association of the Fifth is formed, there is some hope that all of the best records of the Regiment may be obtained, and the supplement to this volume be- come of great value. It will thus be seen, that it rests with every comrade to complete the history of the Fifth,
231
MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER MILITIA.
By referring to pages 70 and 71, an outline sketch is given of this campaign. A letter received by the author from an officer connected with the Fifth Regiment during the one hundred days' service, is given below, and is doubtless correct. The writer says :
"The regiment left Readville, July 28th, 1864, under command of Col. George H. Peirson, and proceeded to Baltimore, stopping at the Soldier's Rest in Philadelphia, on the way, and traveling by night from this city, arrived in Baltimore the next morning. The regiment was marched to the Soldiers' Rest in this city, and were breakfasted in splendid shape. At about jo o'clock, A. M., the regiment took up its line of march for Mankin's woods, which is situated on the outskirts of the city. While there we were brigaded with other hundred-days' men. The day after our arrival the Colonel commanding the brigade reviewed the troops.
"The day was one of the hottest of the season, and many of our soldiers received sunstrokes. Colonel Peirson was highly complimented on the appearance of his command ; in fact, during the time it was in the Department it never lost the old and well established record. The regiment carried its old nine months' colors with the names of Kins- ton, WhitebyAll, and Goldsboro' on them.
" After remaining at Mankin's Woods about a week, the regiment was ordered to Fort McHemy. Here First- Lieut. Wm. Spaulding, of Co. H, was detailed to act as Ad- jutant of the post, holding the position until the expiration of his term of service, and performing the duty in a manner highly satisfactory to Gen. Morris, commanding the post.
"Companies B, E, and HI, under command of Col. Peirson, went to Fort Marshall, Companies A, C, D, F, Land K under comaand of Lieut .- Col. Worcester went to Federal Hill, and Co. G, remained in Fort MeHepry. Co. A after-
232
HISTORY OF THE FIFTH REGIMENT
wards relieved Co. E at Fort Marshall, Co. E taking their place at Federal Hill. The regiment remained here about two months, doing garrison duty and taking recruits to the front. The companies at Fort Marshall were ordered to Fort McHenry, and the various detachments were sent to different towns along the eastern coast of Maryland to guard the polls, threats having been made by the rebels that no Union man would be allowed to vote. The old settlers of Maryland could not be subdued; they were "secesh" way through, and although there were many who loved their old flag and the cause of the North, still they dared not to speak, and when the Fifth appeared in the towns, the loyalists treated them with the greatest kindness ; in some places the union men and women fur- nished us with our meals. The polls were carefully guar- ded, and the poor voters, of which there were many, seemed to act and talk like men who were for the first time for years exercising their right of prerogative, and the lines of Whittier frequently came to my mind as I saw the poor, white-faced. Southerner going to the polls :
""The proudest now is but my peer, The highest not more high ; To-day, of all the weary year, A king of men am I. To-day, alike are great and small, The nameless and the known : My palace is the people's hall The ballot-box my throne.'"
" Upon their return, Companies A, Band H went to Mon- ocacey Junction on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, for what purpose I never knew, except it might have been to be ready for duty and be nearer the front. From there they went to Monrovia on the same line of road, and shortly afterward returned to Monocacey. Here they remained for a week, during which time nothing of importance trans-
233
MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER MILITIL.
pired worthy of record. The usual routine of camp life was followed until they joined their regiment at Fort Federal Hill. Three days after we were ordered home, arriving in Boston in the night. The Charlestown companies D and H were received by a large number of military companies and friends headed by the Brigade Band, and escorted to Armory Hall, where a hearty welcome was given them by Mayor Stone in behalf of the citizens of Charlestown.
The one hundred days men were faithful to their duties, although they were never in action during their term of service, still they were ready and willing to face the enemy, and it is to be said to their credit, that they were as good, and in respect to drill and discipline, equal to any other regiment in the department, and the material was of as high a standard as the three months' or nine months' volunteers.
When the regiment was mustered out, the combined service of the Fifth during the war, covered a period of about eighteen months.
IN TIMES OF PEACE.
The Fifth Regiment has had its full share of praise from the people of the State for duties performed not only previous to, and during the war, but since its re-organiza- tion under the militia law of 1866; and to-day the regi- ment is second to none in the country in general disci- pline and the character of its composition.
The regiment has participated in all of the celebrations of any note during the past fifteen years, having paraded on the occasion of the reception of General Sheridan, Oct. 7th, 1867, Grant, June 16th. 1869, reception of Ninth Regi- ment, N. G. S. N. Y., Col. James Fiske, June 17th, 1871 ; performed guard duty at the Boston Fire, November 9th. 1872, paraded on the Centennial of the Battle of Bunker
23-4
HISTORY OF THE FIFTH REGIMENT
Hill, June 17th, 1875 ; performed escort duty to the Gov- ernor and Boston Cadets; entertained the Second Con- necticut regiment, attended the Concord and Lexington Centennials ; participated in the obsequies of the philan- thropist Peabody, and have made many other less impor- tant parades. Governor Rice, upon his return from the Centennial at Philadelphia, paid the Fifth the following compliment : --
" The reception accorded the Commander-in-Chief upon his return, by the Fifth Regiment Infantry is respectfully acknowledged and cordially appreciated by the Governor and staff."
The following testimonial was presented to the Fifth by the Independent Corps of Cadets of Boston, and shows the brotherly feeling existing between the two commands.
HEAD QUARTERS IST CORPS OF CADET ;. Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, Boston, Oct. 9th, IS76. To COL. EZRA J. TRULL,
Fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.
Sir : Upon the one hundred and fifty-fifth anniversary of this corps, I have the honor and the pleasure by its unanimous desire, to convey to the Fifth Regiment, M. V. M., an expression of the gratification with which the Cadets participated in the event which your command performed to the commander-in-chief on his return from Philadelphia, in May last, and to offer our congratulations upon the friendship existing between the two organiza- tions.
May we long continue, as at present, on intimate and friendly terms, and together aim to elevate the standard of the Volunteer Militia of this Commonwealth.
I am sir, very respectfully your obedient servant,
THOMAS F. EDMANDS, Lieut .- Col. Commanding.
2
-
---
235
MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER MILITIA.
The Fifth Regiment had an opportunity to show their discipline in comparison with that of organizations from many other States, on the Anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17th, 1875, and they won a merited compliment from the highest military generals who wit- nessed their evolutions. The following was the formation of the Second Brigade upon that day :
Brigadier General. George Il. Peirson. Lynn Brass Band. Eighth Regiment, M. V. M. Sixth Regiment, M. V. M. Fifth Regimental Pand. Fifth Regiment, M. V. M. . Col. Ezra J. Trull. Lawrence Brass Band. Second Battery Light Infantry.
There has long been a desire on the part of the past and present officers of the Fifth, that a club might be formed that would have a tendency to keep alive the in- terest in the organization, and it is understood that such a movement is, at the present writing, contemplated.
If such an organization had existed fifteen years ago, the present history of the regiment would have contained important facts that could never have been obtained from any other source, and it is hoped that the movement will be successful.
REGIMENTAL. ROSTER, FEBRUARY Ist, ISSO.
Field and Staff
Date of Commission.
Residence.
Colonel.
EZRA J. TROLL ..
Mar. 9, IS75.
Boston.
Lieut .- Col.
LEONARD C. LANE.
July 24, 1876.
Major. ALONZO J .. RICHARDSON.
July 17, IS7S.
Walthan. Woburn.
Major.
G. FRANK FROST.
Feb. 26, IS79.
Adjutant. NEWELL A. THOMPSON. Dec. 29, 1879.
Waltham. Boston. Somerville.
Quartermaster. FRANK G. WILLIAMS. Surgeon.
July 27, 1876.
19, 1871.
Boston.
Asst. Surgeon, URANUS O. B. WINGATE.
Oct. 1, 1879. Wellesley.
Paymaster. CHARLES A. FAIRBANKS.
July 27, 1876.
Boston.
Chaplain.
WILLIAM H. RYDER.
April 15. 1878.
Malden.
EDWARD J. FORSTER.
230
HISTORY OF THE FIFTH REGIMENT
Non-Commissioned Staff.
Date of Warrant. -Sept. 10, 1877.
Waltham.
Q .- M .- Sergt. FREDERICK W. JOHNSON. Sept. 7, 1876.
Somerville.
Hosp. Steward. SILAS S. BRADFORD.
May 15, 1878. Boston.
Drum Major. CHARLES F. DANE. .
April 6, 1879. Boston.
COMPANY A.
Date of Commission.
Capt.
JOHN F. PHIPPS.
Nov. 23, 1874. Boston.
Ist Lieut.
GEORGE H. WASHBURN.
Jan. 26, 1880. Boston.
ed Lieut.
J. HENRY TAYLOR.
Jan. 26, 1880. Boston.
1
COMPANY B.
Capt.
WILLIAM A. BANCROFT.
Mar. 31, IS79.
Cambridge.
Ist Lieut.
THOMAS C. HENDERSON.
Mar. 31, 1879. Cambridge.
ed Lieut.
CHARLES IL. CUTLER.
Oct. 27, 1879. Cambridge.
COMPANY C.
Capt.
JOHN A. KENRICK.
ist Lieut.
HENRY W. DOWNS.
Oct. 3, 1878. Newton. Dec. 3, 187S. Newton .
ed Lieut.
FRANK I. BARNES.
Jan. 25. 1879. Newton.
COMPANY D.
HENRY A. SNOW.
Mar. 15. 1875.
Boston.
Capt. Ist Lieut. ed Lient.
FRANK A. BOISE.
Aug. 29. ISTS.
Boston.
Capt. ist Lient.
' JAPHANES H. WHITNEY.
Jan. 24, 1876.
Medford.
CHARLES R. DAWSON. GEORGE C. CHASE.
July 18. 1877.
Medford.
ad Lieut.
Aug. 1, 1879. Medford.
COMPANY F. CHAS. H. D. STOCKBRIDGE. April Jo, IS;9. Waltham.
JOHN E. GLIDDEN.
July 31. 1879.
Waltham.
Capt. Ist Lieut.
COMPANY G. JOHN W. ELLARD.
CHARLES W. CONVERSE.
Oct. 30, IS;S.
Oct. 17, 1878. Woburn. Woburn.
2d Lient.
COMPANY E.
Capt. Ist Lieut. ad Lieut.
Sergt .- Major. DELMONT L. WEEKS.
MASSACHUSETTS . VOLUNTEER MILITIA. 237
Date of Commission. Residence.
Capt.
COMPANY HI. J. HENRY BROWN.
Ist Lieut.
JAIHIER .H. MARTIN.
June . 6, 1878. Boston. May 9, 1878. Boston.
ed Lieut.
In closing this history the author begs past and present members of the Regiment to overlook all undue praisc, and neglect to praise those who should have received it, and further, if there are mistakes discovered here and there, it rests with those who find them to make the cor- rections, and by having them incorporated with the supple- ment, an absolutely authentic history will be obtained.
The possibility of a mistake in the spelling of a name is very great, and it is hoped that those who are unfortu- nately found among the number, may not be too severe on one who has undertaken a work of love, rather than profit. The author's object has been to preserve the fast fading remnants of the history of the Fifth, before they were irrevocably lost, and although the fire of December 28th, 1879, destroyed much valuable matter, which was nearly ready for delivery, still there was enough in unproven sheets left to compile this work.
The author is indebted to the following gen- tlemen for favors received.
General Samuel C. Lawrence. .. George II. Peirson.
Colonel William T. Grammer.
Ezra J. Trull.
Private Andrew J. Mallon, Co. If, 9 months volunteers.
W. W. Davis, : Sergeant Joseph MI. Wilson, late of Co A.
-
,
-
ERRATA.
THREE MONTHS' VOLUNTEERS.
Co. A. James H. Estes. Co. I. W. Oliver Judson.
Albert J Lowd. Geo. A. S. Hodgkins. .
" C. Valentine Walburg. " " Wm. T. Gibson.
" F. William 1. Crooker.
" G. Eugenc M. Dearing.
NINE MONTHS' VOLUNTEERS.
CO. A. William Shannon. Co. D. Wmn. E. Gabriel.
Eugene F. Viles, Wm. A. Hardy.
Phillip Cassidy. Samuel Palmer, Jr. Disabled .*
" B. John C. Leavitt. " F. Joseph D. Bragdon.
Michael Mumnangh. .. . Henry G. Harriman. Died.
6: Francis H. Thompson. Dexter E. Paine. John Younie. F. Geo. W. Williamson. C. Joseph S. Nutter. James M. Powers.
John W. Barnard. Sidney M. Towle.
" D. John D. Battiste. I. George E. Sporreil.
Page 34 3st line, 11th instead of roth.
Morrison's instead of Belgier's.
.. 37. 4:57 **
ONE HUNDRED DAYS' VOLUNTEERS.
Adjutant, Edwin F. Wyer.
Co. A. Lieut. Charles I. Craibe. Co. F. George G. Barnard.
Augustus Roy. " F. Williard H. Lethbridge.
.. .. Sauds K. Chipman. .. .. Edwin A. Townsend.
.. . Phillip Degan. " G. Edwin C. Champney. " K. L. T. Quinby.
John Gately. .. C. Lieut. Jewis A. Manning.
" Adjutant General's Report says deserted.
" K. James K. Churchill.
In the spring of 1503 the Federals, In posses- sin of the town of washington, Newbery and Plymouth, were a constant menace, and were watched cicsely by such troops as could be spared fruin the regular army forces. Occasionally they would rally forth, drive in our pickets, collect sti pies, destroy such property 25
siren thened es and return to their
quar- te13 again. A simultaneous movement
maude by the, Federals from Washington and Plymouth, driving our three regiments before them for a whole day. Just before dark our forces formed a junction at Rewe's millis, and resolved to moske a stand. The Federals were approaching us on our flank, preceded by an advanced guard of cavalry. Company K, Twenty-sixth North Caro- lina Regiment, was detached and sent out to cis- unite their passage at the ford of A creek, The Iteli crouched to the earth in full view of the ford, bur under shelter of the underbrush. A cavalry- inga rode down into the water, and carelessly dropped his bridle rein for his jaded borse to drink. Suddenly, he heard the fetuiliar click, as une of our men cooked hte rife. Forgetting or ignoring his bridie. he threw his eye along the arow of the embankment. and was met by the LAsci gaze of eighty pr irs of eyes and the mu zles te Hunted by this cordon of death from which he could not hope to escave, he deliberately raised his carbine, with his eye fixed steadily on the eye of his intended victun, levelled 1 .... but instantly he was carvioped in smoke, as at Dit moipont luis corrad:3 appeared on the olber
embankment and (mened fre, and the brave ridex and his borse were lust.
Fachir the Bellots of Robel Sharpshootera. In Dereraber, 1862, Geneti! Foster, with tis base at Newborn, N. C., muy a demeustration wgunst tojeboie, with a viny of breaking the Wilmington & Welkeon rafront, our principal Nie of communication between Michmed and the Gulf St des He approached it rapidly by way of the south side of the Neuse river, aud was con- fronted by detactred regurerre and brigades which had been hurriedly summohed from: 705.03s points. Je grew up Mls lines of infantry htd artillery on the southern border of a large ofch plain, winch afforded them a vlasy o. the rell. road triigy. The river was skirted with
their right to the bridge. When only a small portion of our troons had ar- rivont they were ordered forward to charge the Federals. Only the infatuation lastarel by 1 0 spirit of Bacchus como have prompted such an order, for a forutblui attempt to extente it cours endis - Would get and welcomed it by wasing the. Hays to our lines. Suddenly a short of fame ( circ'ed the Southern border of the plain, and we were reduced to an irregubor skirmish !. Crc 1.Able anu disorganized forces wett greatly col .- fusint, and at
charged with the byportant city of preserving the bridge, & man from the Federal forces LICH cover of the world skirting the river, made the Wrillons trip and perform ! the daring det of it was said that aflor applying the match he drew the me of off Ro psleviers y Trusting t's coat oft tron blok the post and
General Foster promoted him. He Cenaiveth.
Catoen Wie Sie Dearly.
Frank Torres Robinson
Mr. Frank Torrey Robinson, the art crime and late director of the Jordan Art Gallery, died at his home in Roxbury at four o'clock this morning, after an Cress of two months. He was born in Salem July 16, 1543. He was of English Quaker stock, but his grandfather fought against England in the war of 1918, and, being
captured, tought school Dartmouth Prison and composed au arithmetic. Frank. Correr Robinson was educated in the Har- vard and Warren schools in Charlestown. Jit hir sixteenth year he enlisted in the Fifth Regiment of Massachusetts Volun- teers, and served over a year in the North Carolina and Virginia campaigns. Return- ing, bo entered the office of the Boston Advertiser, then under Charles Hale, edi- tor, and about a year after took up his studies in Professor Sperr's college. These completed, he was for some time employed in a wholesale grocery store. Falling into ill health he withdrew irom business and spent about two years in a blacksmith shop, and so built up a fine muscular sys- tem. Then he took un bookkeeping and also news correspondence for various papers. From this work the step to reg- War Journalismi was tooy, Gad he soon undertook local reporting for the Boston Journal, the Boston Advertiser and the Bunker Hill Times, in 18T5 he began art writing. From 1879 to 1883 he was editor of the Boston Sunday Times. For thead weers he was art director for the New Eng- land Manufacturers' Institute. Subsequent- ly he became art critic for the Boston Traveler, and later for the Boston r'ost. Ve was an extension contributor to tos columns of the Art Interchange, New York, under the pseudonym "Surrey,y and was one of the althere of a series of critical articles on contemporary American paint- ers' works, which ran for almost two
Years. He was the editor of an ort period- ical named American Art, published in Boston between 1886 and 1888. Ho was the historian of bts ragbrent, And wrote the
He ett den "Art Year Book" and the art catalogue of 1833, published by the New England Manufacturers' Institure; als "Quat New England" And "Living New England Artists.": For several years be are as literary curator of the Metropoli- tor Museum of Art. New York, whero hs edited seine valuable catalogues and hand- books, and where his work was highly an- priciated by the direct it. General Di Ces- hola, And the president of the board of trustees, Mr. Marquant. Mr. Robinson was married in IN71 to Mary Jane Tufts of Comorile, who, with free children, sur- tites fdm.
Robinson, although untu ING he wanted the advantages of travel abroad, became a. superior art erf in through his fine inmai- tions and his devant cindy of the arts
engell to him. The returnof the Per- fish and French modern schools exhibited In the galleries in 197 were chosen by him inst summer in London and Paris.
INWards Club, and was its Vice president for several terms; he ww a member ; in
5676
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