USA > Massachusetts > History of the Thirty-seventh Regiment, Mass., Volunteers, in the civil war of 1861-1865, with a comprehensive sketch of the doings of Massachusetts as a state, and of the principal campaigns of the war > Part 17
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Early morning of the 7th found the tired regiment once more astir. Those who had not been able to find their places during the night now did so, a limited supply of rations was drawn and many of the men ate their first food for 36 hours. A large mail -especially welcome at this time of great privation and exertion
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-was distributed, and at 8 o'clock the march was resumed. Pitiful as was the condition of the men, and meager as had been the time allowed for rest, the day's programme contemplated a march of fully 25 miles, and as nearly as possible the distance was made. But it was not till midnight that the column halted. and then it were more correct to say that it merely dwindled away till there was nothing left to procced further. The condi- tions during the day were rather favorable than otherwise save that the men were very weary ; but near night the ascent of Catoctin Mountain began,-an experience which after the lapse of 20 years may well cause a shudder at the remembrance. A drizzling rain had been falling during the day, but as the men began to climb the mountain it increased till it seemed to de- scend in torrents. Nothing worse in the form of roads could be · conceived of than that which infantry and artillery in a confused huddle were trying to follow. The darkness was intense-liter- ally nothing could be seen. The mounted officers could not dis- tinguish the men upon whom each moment their horses were in danger of stepping ; neither private nor captain could tell who was struggling along at his side save as the voice made revela- tion. The plunging and crushing of the ponderous artillery forced the infantry to the woods and fields for the possibility of a passage, and there the apology for a column melted away and dwindled till there was no remedy but a general halt. The woods and fields everywhere were full of men, singly or in groups, who had given up all effort at further progress. Happy were they who by rare good fortune had succeeded in kindling a little fire, but they were few. In the darkness and pouring rain men who could stagger no further laid them down to die, unheeding whether their life might be trampled out by groping horsemen or their stumbling comrades on foot.
Very forlorn indeed was the column which at 7 o'clock next morning took up its way toward Middletown, some six or seven miles away. The rain still continued and the mud was steadily becoming more liquid and abundant. The way led down the mountain, and the road was terribly hard for the footsore sol- diers, but they moved slowly, reaching Middletown about noon.
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FACING THE FOE AT WILLIAMSPORT.
Soon after the halt it ceased raining, the sun shone brightly forth, and as no further march was made that day the oppor- tunity for drying clothing and blankets was improved. A full supply of rations was now secured, the men prepared generous suppers for the first time in many days, after which they enjoyed a full night's rest which was highly appreciated. The 9th saw another advance of a few miles, the army pivoting on the right, composed of the Sixth and Eleventh Corps, while the left, ex- tending to the Potomac, closed up toward the enemy. A halt was made at Boonsboro about noon, shelters were pitched and a comfortable afternoon and evening passed. As the Union caval- ry had driven the enemy from that place the previous evening there could be no doubt of the proximity of the two armies, and the early opening of a great and decisive battle was confidently looked for.
Antietam Creek was crossed by the left the next day-Friday, July 10-while the right advanced to the vicinity of Funkstown, which was reached three hours after the enemy left. The pres- sure of the Confederate skirmishers against the Union advance now showed the near presence of Lee's entire force, and by noon the Sixth Corps was in line of battle, a portion of the Thirty- seventh being thrown forward to the outposts. The entire opera- tions at this time took place in one of the richest and finest agri- cultural regions of Maryland, and the necessary destruction of grain and crops was immense. Untold acres of the finest wheat, nearly ripe for the harvest, were trampled by lines of battle, by marching columns or wagon and artillery parks, and well might the unfortunate citizens exclaim, " From friend and foe alike deliver us." Beyond a little skirmishing and artillery firing to develop the Confederate position the afternoon passed without event. The Southern army, forced to assume the defensive, was found to be well intrenched in front of Williamsport. Four days previous they had reached the river, almost before the roundabout Federal pursuit began, but found the stream too deep for fording and they had not pontons enough to construct a bridge. The incessant rains continually swelled the flood, so Lee had no alternative to facing about and assuming the boldest
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front possible. That the condition of his troops was critical their own warmest partisans admit. They had courage in plenty, but next to no ammunition. The 11th was passed in the same quiet way, with Companies A, I and G of the Thirty-seventh on the skirmish line, the left of the Army of the Potomac being moved a little nearer to Lee's right. Early the following morning the Thirty-seventh passed through Funkstown and after feeling its way for two or three miles took position in front of the enemy's intrenced line between Hagerstown and Williamsport.
The two armies were now in position, face to face, and it re- mained for somebody to give the order to strike. General Meade held a council of war and decided not to attack. All the fol- lowing night was devoted to intrenching the Union lines and the 13th passed with only the exchange of a few shells by the opposing artillery. That night each commander reached a de- cision,-General Meade decided to attack next day, and General Lee-finding that it would be possible to ford the river and having also succeeded in constructing one ponton bridge at Fall- ing Waters-decided to go back to Virginia-which he did. The Union army moved down to Williamsport through a dis- heartening rain, which added to the gloom felt at the escape of the foc whose complete destruction the rank and tile had conti- dently hoped to see accomplished. With the evening a severe thunder storm came on, drenching out and washing away what little spirit still remained in the tired bodies.
Disappointing as was the escape of Lee across the river, it must be recognized that Meade had great reason for the caution with which he acted. While the Confederate army had suffered a decisive defeat at Gettysburg, his own had been sadly wounded, and he was even then unaware of the straitened condition of his antagonist. The close of the battle left the Army of the Potomac with but 47,000 muskets; and though General French with his division joined the Third Corps, of which he took com- mand, on the Sth, Meade still believed the enemy fully equal to him in numbers, with the advantage of a selected and fortified defensive position of much natural strength. The Union sol- fliers were by no means in good fighting condition. The Sixth
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MEETING MASSACHUSETTS FRIENDS.
Corps was counted as the main dependence of the army, since it was efficiently organized; had been but slightly engaged at Get- tysburg, and its morale was ever admirable; yet it was perhaps more than the others worn out by almost incessant marches and hard duty. In the Thirty-seventh regiment 180 men at that time-nearly a third of the whole number-were entirely desti- tute of shoes, while their clothing was correspondingly demoral- ized. Other regiments were certainly in no better condition.
Ewell's corps forded the Potomac at Williamsport, while the Confederate right and center under Longstreet and Hill retreated by the ponton bridge at Falling Waters. The rear guard of the latter was vigorously attacked by Kilpatrick's cavalry, two guns, three colors and a large number of prisoners being captured and General Pettigrew mortally wounded, with slight loss to the as- sailants.
The direct pursuit of Lee's army was now ended, and was to be succeeded by a parallel scramble southward,-the counter- part of so many other movements, the Union army east of the Blue Ridge and the enemy in the Shenandoah valley. "Cover Washington and take up a threatening position!" were Halleck's directions to Meade, and early on the morning of the 13th the Thirty-seventh in its place in the corps moved back over the road it had come, through Funkstown and Boonsboro, halting near the latter place for the night and receiving rations for two days. Soon after setting out upon the march that morning an interesting meeting took place between the Thirty-seventh and the Forty-sixth Massachusetts, Colonel W. S. Shurtleff, a nine- months' regiment from Springfield and vicinity containing many friends and acquaintances of the Thirty-seventh. During the closing days of its service the Forty-sixth had been moved from North Carolina to Baltimore, where it formed part of a brigade under General H. S. Briggs, moving to Frederick City and thence to the Army of the Potomac before Williamsport, where it was attached to the First Corps. A few days later Colonel Shurtleff's command left for Massachusetts, bearing many a warm message from the Thirty-seventh to friends at home. At 3 o'clock of the 16th the camps were astir, at half-past 4 the
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column was on the way, and at noon, having made a march of 16 miles, the Thirty-seventh halted within a mile of Berlin.
The associations of the place came vividly to the minds of all the members of the regiment. Less than nine months before they had stopped at the same place on the way into Virgini :. During the interval what an epoch of history had transpired. Then as now the Union army was in pursuit of a demoralized. retreating foe. The adored McClellan was then in command. The disastrous experiments of Burnside and Hooker had suc- ceeded, followed by the signal victory under the present conser- vative commander. Everywhere in the regiment, from field officers to privates, there was the feeling that the victory might and should have been made more decisive. There was a fear that the experiences of the previous year were practically to be repeated. The thought of another campaign in the desolate and unfriendly regions of Virginia, following the brief sojourn in a friendly country, was far from pleasant; yet underlying all preferences and wishes, there was ever manifest in the breasts of the soldiery a firm faith in the approaching triumph of the cause in which they were enlisted, and a disposition to accept patient- ly whatever of hardship and sacrifice might be necessary till the flag of the Union should float in triumph over the entire land !.
It was Thursday noon when Berlin was reached, and no fur- ther movement was made till Sunday, the 19th. The two entire days of rest, free from care or anticipation of an immediate battle, were heartily appreciated by the men. Friday was rainy and disagreeable, but the men received a supply of rations and clothing, both very much needed, and Saturday proved sunny and pleasant. That evening found a marked improvement in the external appearance of the regiment. The river had given opportunity for bathing, the worn-out clothing was in many in- stances discarded for fresh suits, the barefooted ones had onee more comfortable shoes and socks, generous mails had been re- ceived and dispatched, comfortable food had been prepared, and Sunday morning found the command. brightened and en- couraged by these circumstances, cheerfully responding to the orders for an early march.
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A LIVELY SCENE AT BIVOUAC.
It was half-past 7 when the column moved on to the ponton bridge, across its swaying length, and was once more on the " sacred soil." Over the same route they had traveled the pre- vious autumn the regiment pushed along some ten miles or more, passing through Lovettsville, the few visible inhabitants more scowling and ill-natured, if possible, than on the previous occa- sion. The halt for the night was made near the little hamlet of Wheatland, and though the march had not been long it had been very wearying, the sun seeming to shine with renewed fierceness after the weeks of almost constant cloud and rain. But if Sun- day had been hot, Monday was hotter. That day's march took the regiment to Union, about ten miles further down the valley, past Snicker's Gap, through which, as so often before and after, the two armies played peep with each other. Fortunately Gen- eral Meade was not in a hurry, the Thirty-seventh led the corps that day, marching leisurely with frequent halts, and the region was well watered by the various small streams tributary to Goose Creek. These factors combined to make the day's march quite comfortable considering the broiling heat.
The brigade halted for the night in a well-fenced lot of sev- eral acres, the sole occupants of which had been about a dozen lean, long-legged Virginia hogs. Never was the command to " Stack arms " more promptly obeyed, and what followed, the moment ranks were broken, can be pretty well imagined. The pigs were fleet of foot, and they ran for life, but the odds were fifty to one, and the boys in blue remembered that Lee's soldiers had recently been drawing rations at the expense of the loyal people north of the Potomac. The scramble was very exciting while it lasted, but within ten minutes the hundred camp-fires were sending up the aroma of roasting pork.
The 21st was given up to rest, the soldiers exploring the sur- rounding country in search of forage, though finding little ex- cept blackberries, which were abundant and delicious. Next day at noon the regiment again led the corps, marching to Upper- ville, near the base of the Blue Ridge, on the road from Fairfax via Paris to Winchester. Here a halt was made for the night, but at 3 o'clock the bugle rang out reveille and the line of march
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was soon taken up. Tho Thirty-seventh, however, now took its place as rear guard, following the wagon-train, and consequently, as a march of 20 miles or more was made, did not reach bivouac till 2 o'clock at night. The tired men dropped upon the ground and slept, almost wherever they chanced to be, during the two hours or so till daylight, when they were aroused to prepare a hasty breakfast and journey on again. The fires were lighted and the little cooking was about half done, when the sharp order to "Fall in!" came, and the half-cooked food was eaten as it best could be on the march. About 10 o'clock Manassas Gap was reached, where it was made known that a sharp skirmish had occurred the previous day, resulting in the driving back of the Confederate forces to Front Royal. The services of the Sixth Corps not being required, after waiting a few hours they marched back over the road they had come, and once more turned their faces in the direction of Warrenton, toward which the Army of the Potomac was concentrating. Halting for the night near Orleans, the march was resumed early next morning, Saturday. the 25th, -a day long to be remembered on account of the sul- try, breathless heat. At Cliffe Mills a bridge was wanting, and a detail from the regiment, under direction of the engineers, soon had a substantial structure in place. Then forward again over the miserable roads, hungry, weary, the men continually falling by the way from sun-stroke, till at last a halt was made on a steep hill-side within a mile of Warrenton.
Here for four days the regiment remained and rested. The following day being Sunday, religious services were held by Chaplain Morse, for the first time in many weeks. The re- maining days were devoted to explorations of the surrounding country, ostensibly in search of blackberries, though it was noticed that many a ration of fresh veal, pork and mutton fou ..!! its way into camp without having passed through the commis- sary department. The men rapidly recovered from the exhaus- tion of their recent marches while the general health of the regiment, greatly improving, had now become remarkably good. considering the severe nature of the service.
Up to this time the following changes had occurred in the ros-
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CHANGES IN THE SHOULDER-STRAPS.
ter of officers : Second Lieutenant Harris was advanced to first lieutenant dating from June 3, and was assigned to duty with Company F. On the same day Captain J. P. Kelley of Com- pany A resigned and First Lieutenant J. A. Loomis was made captain, continuing to serve with Company E. Second Lieu- tenant Bush, who was absent wounded, was commissioned first lieutenant, while Orderly Sergeant Albert C. Sparks of Company E was commissioned second lieutenant and assigned to duty with Company C. Sergeant Major Robert A. Gray was made second lieutenant and assigned to Company H. Sergeant Hub- bard M. Abbott of Company G succeeded Gray as sergeant major. Second Lieutenant Morgan of Company B resigned June 19, and Color Sergeant Charles S. Bardwell was commis- sioned second lieutenant dating from June 20, and assigned to Company B.
CHAPTER X.
THE REGIMENT IN NEW YORK.
THE UNION VICTORIES .- NORTHERN TREACHERY AND DIS- LOYALTY .- THE RIOT IN NEW YORK .- THE THIRTY-SEVENTH SENT TO THE CITY .- ITS CREDITABLE SERVICE THERE.
The night of July 2, 1863, closed upon the most momentous crisis in the history of the Southern Confederacy. At every principal point along the military frontier the opposing forces were locked in desperate and fateful struggle. At Gettysburg the most sanguine partisan of either army could only hope for victory; at Vicksburg, Pemberton's beleagured garrison were heroically struggling against despair while Johnston, with 30,000 men was seeking for an opportunity to strike the besiegers in the rear and make a way for the escape of the besieged: from the embrasures at Port Hudson the Confederate cannon still looked forth with grim defiance. With anxiety, there was still hope everywhere for the Southern cause. The night of July 3 found that hope shattered and the doom of the Confederacy clearly forecast.
At the very moment when Pickett's shattered legions were hurled back from Cemetery Ridge, Pemberton and Grant met between the lines at Vicksburg to discuss the surrender of that stronghold. For almost 50 days the siege had continued, pressed constantly with the indomitable energy of the Union comman- der, and repelled with characteristic determination by the Con- federates. Twelve miles of trenches had been dug in the in- vestment, and 89 batteries, mounted with 220 guns, constructed. The besieged and besiegers in many parts of the line looked each other in the face across the same parapet, and fought with hand grenades, bayonets and pistols. Twice had mines been exploded
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THE SURRENDER OF VICKSBURG.
under the defenses with no greater result than the slaughter of a few men, but preparations were now made for a general and simultaneous assault along the entire line on the morning of the 6th of July.
Three days before the time appointed for the terrible attempt the flag of truce appeared. The condition of the garrison fully justified the step on the part of their commander. The men, closely confined to the trenches for seven weeks, much of the time on short rations, had lost health, courage and subordina- tion. Consultation with his division commanders convinced Pemberton that they could not even be nerved up to attempt cutting their way through the circumvallating lines, while the danger of revolt could not but be recognized. General Bowen, with a flag of truce and a letter to Grant, appeared before the Federal lines on the morning of the 3d, and nearly 24 hours passed in conference and correspondence, Pemberton anxious to make the best terms possible for his command and Grant practi- cally insisting upon unconditional surrender. These terms were finally accepted, and at 10 o'clock on the 4th the Confederates by divisions marched out in front of their works, stacked arms and colors and retired to the town. General Logan, receiving the surrender, marched his division into the town amid the wild enthusiasm of the Union army. The surrendered force com- prised about 31,000 men, only 22,000 of whom were fit for duty in the trenches, and 172 cannon; making the total loss to the Confederates from the opening of the campaign not less than 46,000 men, 60,000 stand of arms and 260 pieces of artillery-a terrible blow to the Southern cause.
Johnston, meanwhile, had gathered as much of an army as possible about Canton, a day's march north of Jackson, where the first of June found him in command of some 36,000 efficient men. Instead of striking the best blow possible in aid of the beleagured garrison, he allowed them to starve and wear out in the trenches for four weeks while he maintained an argumenta- tive correspondence with the Richmond government. On the 28th of June, with no increase of force, he moved toward Vicks- burg, but found Sherman with 30,000 troops strongly intrenched
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facing to the rear. Johnston's plan had been to make as strong an attack as possible on the northern portion of the investing line, in the hope of weakening the southern portion so that the garrison could cut its way through and escape. The plan mis- carried totally, for not only was Pemberton's force too muell ex- hausted to throw itself upon the Federal bayonets, but Johnston was unable to find any point where it would be less than mad- ness to attack. He did not even begin to feel the Federal posi- tion till July 2, and while he was yet reconnoitering the ground those whom he sought to succor surrendered. Sherman was ap- prised of the surrender immediately and directed to move vig- orousły against Johnston, which he did, but the latter did not wait to receive the blow. Falling back rapidly to Jackson, which he reached on the 7th, the disheartened commander pro- ceeded to strengthen the fortifications while he appealed to Rich- mond for help. The victorious legions under Sherman closed around the place on the 10th, and a strong reconnaissance show- ing it strongly intrenched, a regular investment was decided on. But Johnston did not await siege. Despairing of any relief from the Confederate government, he evacuated Jackson on the night of the 16th and pushed rapidly to the eastward. He was followed sharply for some miles, but as a scrub race was no part of Grant's plan the pursuing column was recalled, the railroads about Jack- son thoroughly destroyed, and Sherman took his elated forces back to Vicksburg.
While these events had been transpiring in Mississippi another substantial drop had been added to the nation's cup of rejoicing. Port Hudson also had fallen, and the Mississippi "flowed un- vexed to the sea." This place, whose works were of immense strength, had been invested by the Army of the Gulf-the Nineteenth Corps, under General Banks-on the 25th of May. the garrison easily repelling determined attacks on the following day and on the 13th of June, at a cost to the besiegers of fully 4.000 men. But day by day the lines drew nearer the doomed stronghold, and the seanty supply of provisions rapidly disp- peared till starvation stared the defenders in the face. Sudden- ly on the 7th of July, from the lines of the Union army broke
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THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER OPENED.
rapid discharges of artillery and ringing cheers which drove from the breasts of the defenders the last ray of hope. The news had been received of Vicksburg's fall, and when the au- thenticity of the tidings was assured General Gardner announced his willingness to give up the hopeless struggle, commissioners were appointed to arrange terms of surrender, and on the morn- ing of the 9th the capitulation took place. It embraced some 6,500 men, 5,000 muskets and 51 cannon; but of vastly greater importance than the mere loss or gain of men and munitions was the breaking of the last barrier across the Father of Waters, giving to the Union fleet full command of that great waterway.
The Confederates had not relinquished these points without strenuous efforts to secure others, though all had been thwarted. While the siege of Port Hudson was being prosecuted the Con- federate General Taylor gathered what force was available in Louisiana and moved down toward New Orleans, capturing a few small garrisons and threatening the Cresent City itself. General Emory, who was in command there, became alarmed and sent to Banks for help, but the latter held steadily on till Gardner surrendered when a competent force was dispatched down the river, which speedily dissipated all danger and sent the insurgents beyond pursuit into the interior.
A similar but more pronounced effort was made in Arkansas, where Confederate General Holmes with a strong force made an attempt to capture Helena, hoping thus to secure control of the river at that point. A resolute assault was made on the 4th of July, but was bloodily repulsed by General Prentiss, with a gar- rison of less than one-half the Confederate number, when Holmes also sought safety in the fastnesses of his department.
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