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 32
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With morning of the 20th the Thirty-seventh was ordered to force a crossing, and Lieutenant-Colonel Montague selected a point observed the day before while on the picket line, where in the middle of the river was considerable of an island with the side toward the enemy heavily fringed with bushes. A portion of the regiment was posted here under cover to open fire if nec- essary when the skirmishers started to eross. The latter were deployed and at the signal jumped into the river and waded arross as rapidly as possible, with the water up to their waists. As there were distinguished lookers-on there was much rivalry, and each strove to do his best. Captain Loomis was the first to set foot on the coveted shore, with Lieutenant-Colonel Montague
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on horseback by his side and closely followed by the whole skir- mish band. Up the little bluff they rushed, expecting each moment the flash of hostile rifles in their faces, but no enemy was visible. It was a bloodless victory, as the last of the rebels had left less than an hour before; but none the less it was to those engaged a thrilling episode. While Early's attention had been directed to the force in his front, Hunter at Harper's Ferry had pushed Averell's cavalry and some other forces up the Valley so that they were almost upon Early's rear before they were dis- covered. The wily Confederate at once retreated toward Stras- burg, at the head of the main valley, and when the fact was established the Sixth Corps was ordered to advance to Berryville or beyond on the direct road to Winchester. Owing to a heavy thunder storm which occurred during the afternoon, the Thirty- seventh had not made more than about three miles after crossing the river when it was ordered to halt.
At this stage of proceedings General Wright reached the conclusion that as Early had retreated south ward his instructions required him to return to Washington and thence to Petersburg without delay. The soldiers, who were either already asleep or preparing to sleep, were accordingly startled by the order to pack up and fall in at once. Toward midnight the column turned its face back toward the Shenandoah and marched to and across it, but it did not halt. Up the slopes of the Blue Ridge it went. to and through the famous Gap, down the eastern declension and back toward Leesburg over the road by which it had come. After marching 17 miles a short halt was made for breakfast near Hamilton, and when the meal was over the column resumed its tedious way. "I shall bivouac to-night on the south bank of Goose Creek," General Wright telegraphed to Halleck at Washington, and the promise was kept. At Leesburg the turn- pike to the south was taken, a march of some four miles from the village placed the command in the designated location, and late in the afternoon a halt was ordered and ranks were broken. It. had been a long and tedious tramp, but, as a few hours of day- light still remained, the banks of the creek were presently lined by busy men who took the first opportunity presented for four
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IN THE WASHINGTON SUBURBS.
weeks to wash their clothes and bathe in the clear waters of the stream.
A grateful night's rest followed and at 8 o'clock next morning the marched was resumed. The experiences of this day were not so trying as those of the day before. At noon a halt of some two hours was made near Dranesville, after which the corps marched leisurely till after dark, crossing Difficult Run and halting for the night within 15 miles of Washington. The regi- ments were carly astir next morning, and at 4 o'clock the Thir- ty-seventh began to march. At 9 o'clock the brown earth works of the Washington defenses rose to view ; Fort Marcy, standing guard over Chain Bridge, was passed, the bridge itself was crossed, and about noon the regiment went into camp near Fort Gaines, half a mile from Tennallytown, two or three times that distance from the battle-ground of Fort Stevens and five miles from Washington.
During the afternoon the men drew five days' rations and made requisition for fresh supplies of clothing, which it scarcely need be said were much needed by most of the command. The next day was Sunday, the 24th, and after an inspection by Captain Tyler officers and men devoted much of the time to perusing the large mail which had been brought in and to writing letters. In the afternoon religious services were held, the brigade band assisting, the men were cautioned to be ready to move at short notice, and after they had retired for the night were called up to receive the clothing subscribed for the day before. A gener- ous rain fell during the night and the early part of Monday, but ceased before noon, and the day passed without further event than an order to be ready to march in the morning.
It was noon of the 26th, however, before the regiment quitted its camp, when it went through Tennallytown and turning its face to the northward took the road to Rockville. That town was passed at 6 o'clock and at 9 the regiment went into camp five miles beyond, the men seriously exhausted by their march of 15 miles, notwithstanding their three days' nominal rest. Let us look for the cause of this apparently aimless marching and conntermarching through the deadly heats of July.
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The want of competent direction had been sadly felt in the matter of meeting Early's raid. General Grant was supposed to direct in general terms with regard to the movements of all troops ; but he was at City Point, while Halleck, serving as his chief of staff, was in Washington. Neither could judge intelli- gently of the situation of affairs in the Valley, since one series of reports was likely to be contradicted by another within a few hours. Grant had decided that it would be better to have General 'Wright and his corps returned to the Army of the Potomac while the Nineteenth Corps was retained at Washington for a time. Almost simultaneously with this decision the aspect of affairs in the Valley became so changed that Wright and his troops were again hurried up the Potomac. On the day that Wright had turned back toward Washington, Early sent Ramseur's divi- sion to drive away Averell's force a short distance north of Wiu- chester. Averell had but 2,700 men, about half infantry, but with these he attacked and utterly routed the Confederate division, driving it in disorder from the field. Reinforcements were sent on to cover the retreat ; during the night Early with- drew to Strasburg, while Averell advanced to Kernstown, south of Winchester, where he was joined by Crook. Early learned on the 23d that the Sixth Corps had withdrawn and the next day he fell upon Crook with the impetuosity characteristic of Southern attack, defeated and pursued him to the Potomac. Crook halting his forces at advantageous positions at the South Mountain passes in Maryland.
The Confederate cavalry under MeCausland was now launched across the border and early in the morning of the 30th entered the city of Chambersburg, Pa., which, as it could not pay the $500,000 in currency or $100,000 in gold demanded as the price of exemption, was burned, leaving the greater part of the people homeless and helpless. Averell was but a few miles away with his troopers, riding in hot pursuit of the marauders now that their whereabouts were known, and MeCausland, leaving the town in flames, moved rapidly away toward the southwest. The way of retreat was not an easy one, the Union cavalry pressing McCausland so closely that he had little opportunity to demand
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A BRIEF VISIT TO VIRGINIA.
exemption money or apply the torch. On the 7th of August he was attacked near Moorfield at the junction of the north and south branches of the Potomac by Averell and utterly defeated, a large part of his command, with all his artillery and most of his wagons being captured, while the fraction which escaped was scattered in broken fragments in every direction. From this blow Early's cavalry never recovered.
While these events were transpiring, it was but natural that the loyal people, especially those exposed to the incursions of the desperate raiders, should be filled with alarm, and the news of Crook's disaster was the signal for the " about face " on the part of the Sixth Corps. We left the Thirty-seventh in camp beyond Rockville at the close of the first day's march. The onward way was resumed early in the morning of the 27th, the column pass- ing through some pretty villages, including Nealsville and Clarks- burg, and halting near Hyattstown early in the afternoon. The day's march had been only some 13 miles, but the weather was excessively hot and the men were foot-sore and dispirited at the prospect before them. Fortunately they were again in a country where blackberries abounded and many of them flavored their army rations with a delicious if informal dessert.
Starting at ? o'clock in the morning of the 28th, the column passed through Hyattstown and to and beyond Urbana, halting about noon near Monocacy Creek on the scene of the recent battle between Wallace and Early. Resting through the severest heat of the day the regiment marched again at 5 in the afternoon, fording the creek, and leaving Frederick to the right and rear halted a little short of Jefferson at midnight. Only a few hours could be devoted to rest and sleep, sadly as these were needed by the exhausted soldiers ; then up and on again, through Jefferson. Centersville, Petersville, to Knoxville on the bank of the Poto- mac ; thence up the river to and across the ponton bridge leading into Harper's Ferry, and four miles beyond to Halltown where the command halted in line of battle. The day's march had been but 15 miles, vet it was estimated that 30 men in the corps had died of sun-stroke during the day.
The forces of Wright and Crook were now reunited with their
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faces in the supposed direction of the enemy, when news was re .. ceived of McCausland's raid and the burning of Chambersburg. Hunter was at once ordered by Halleck to send the troops back to Frederick to prevent the enemy from moving southward hy that route. General Wright protested that his men were untit to march, but the order was insisted upon and at 3 o'clock the movement began. At Harper's Ferry a long halt was made, and the whole army being packed into the narrow valley exposed to the direct rays of the burning sun-the day being one of the hot- test ever experienced-suffered terribly. Many men had already fallen from the ranks of the Thirty-seventh with sun-stroke, and while waiting here Edward Dunn of Company I died from the heat and exhaustion.
The entire army was obliged to cross the river on a single pon- ton bridge, and the process was a tedious one ; but once across the column wound its way along through the greater part of the night, passing Sandy Hook and Knoxville, finally halting near Petersville, where the command rested till afternoon. Then the bugles sounded, the individuals fell into their places almost auto- matically and the great mass of suffering, despairing humanity moved out into the withering heat and the stifling dust. It passed through Jefferson, climbed the tedious slopes of Catoctin Mountain, looked out from the summit over the vast expanse of country which scemed but an invitation to perpetual journeying : then it wound down into the valley till within little more than a mile of Frederick, when the welcome orders to stack arms and break ranks were received. Ten miles had been accomplished, and short as was the distance one-half the members of the Sixth Corps-that organization whose powers of endurance had won the admiration of the world-had fallen out by the way. Many were still toiling along as best they could, but others in fearful number were quite broken down or had been prostrated by the deadly sun-stroke.
Thus closed the month of July, 1864, -one of the most trying experienced by the regiment. The first two days of August were devoted to rest, though on the 2d marching orders were again promulgated ; the Thirty-seventh packed up and had proceeded
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GENERAL SHERIDAN IN COMMAND.
about 20 rods when the time of moving was postponed to next morning, rations were drawn and the camp settled down for the night. During the day Chaplain Morse rode to Frederick, and while there lost his much-prized horse by theft.
At sunrise of August 3 the Thirty-seventh took the lead of the corps in the day's march, which proved much less serious than was contemplated. Passing through Lime Kiln Station and Buckeystown, five miles south of Frederick, the Monocacy was forded half a mile beyond and on the southern bank the camp was established. Here, in a pleasant camp followed two days more of quiet. The 4th being the day appointed by President Lincoln for a national Fast day was observed by services in front of brigade head-quarters.
The day following General Grant visited General Hunter at his head-quarters at Frederick, and an important change was the result. Two divisions of cavalry from the Army of the Potomac had been ordered to join the forces already available against Early, such of the Nineteenth Corps as was at Washington had been sent up and the rest of it was under orders for the same destination, while General Sheridan had been relieved from duty with the Army of the Potomac and was then at Washing- ton awaiting such command as it should be decided to give him. After consultation between Grant and Hunter the latter was re- lieved of his command and Sheridan was at once telegraphed to take command of all the forces in the field. At the same time the Middle Military Division was constituted, composed of the four departments of West Virginia, the Susquehanna, Washing- ton and the Middle Department, Sheridan being assigned to the command of the new Division. Organizing his cavalry into a corps under the command of General Torbert, the new comman- der was prepared with a stronger force than had ever before oper- ated in the Valley to take up the work assigned him.
Simultaneously with the arrival of General Grant at Hunter's hvad-quarters marching orders were promulgated. The Thirty- seventh received theirs during the evening of the 5th, tents were at once struck and everything packed, when it was found that the regiment was to serve as wagon guard and consequently it
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would be some hours before it would move. Rain fell during the night but ceased in the morning, and finally about 8 o'clock the long-expected summons came and the command trudged away in the rear of the trains. After making a few miles the now familiar Harper's Ferry road over the Catoctin Mountain and by way of Jefferson was struck. The march continued all day with no halt for dinner, nor did it cease till the evening was far advanced, when the regiment sank down to sleep on the tow-path between the canal and the river, eight feet in width, along which the last part of the march had been made.
With daylight of the 7th the regiment was again on the way. In an hour or two it toiled through Harper's Ferry once more. and passing Bolivar Hights took its place with the corps, which had gone into position the day before. A considerable detail went out on picket two or three miles in advance, and with no further incident than the advent of the paymaster with four months' wages two days passed while Sheridan was preparing for his forward movement. Torbert's cavalry arrived on the 9th, and next morning the advance began.
The Thirty-seventh broke camp soon after daylight, and during the forenoon passed through Charlestown, the county seat, made famous by the conviction and execution of John Brown in December, 1859. As the different drum corps and brass-bands entered the streets of the forlorn village each took up. with an energy regardless of the terrible heat, the air of "JJoli Brown." At 4 o'clock the regiment halted near Clifton, where the left of the infantry line was established, facing toward Win- chester, and bivonacked for the night in a forest.
The second stage of Sheridan's movement contemplated the advance of his army to the Opequan, all the fords of which were to be seized, and this part of the project was carried out carly in the morning of the 11th. It was then intended to throw the Union army rapidly around in the rear and to the south of Early, who had been left the previous morning near Bunker Hill, foreing him to fight in that unenviable position; but the shrewd commander had already divined the intention and marched his command to the south of Winchester, as Sheridan
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MARCHING UP AND DOWN THE VALLEY.
learned early in the day. The latter halted at Opequan Creek till further investigation could be made, the Thirty-seventh being sent forward some miles on a reconnaissance. Finding nothing, they returned to the corps and a slow march to the southward ensued, lasting till about sunset, when the regiment encamped in an open field not far from White Post. Here Nathan J. Hedger of Company C died from illness and the hard- ship of the campaign.
Edwards's Brigade was detailed on the morning of the 12th to return to Winchester and escort the trains, which it was not safe to move without a strong guard. The city was reached about noon; Lieutenant-Colonel Montague was at once made provost marshal and Companies C and G were detailed as pro- vost guard. Considerable numbers of wounded cavalrymen from both armies were found in the place, and though the gen- eral sentiment was intensely Southern, it should be stated for the credit of the citizens that the best of care was given regard- less of the sufferers' allegiance. The wagons started toward the front abont noon of the next day, the Thirty-seventh as rear guard once more, taking the Strasburg pike toward the south. Kernstown, Newtown and Middletown were passed in due order, and at 10 o'clock the brigade rejoined the corps near Cedar Creek, where the two armies were again confronting each other.
With no greater excitement than the skirmish lines afforded, the time passed till evening of the 16th. Sheridan had now become satisfied that Early, whose principal position and a strong one was at Fisher's Hill, had received heavy reinforcements from Petersburg, and directed a retreat down the Valley to the position on the Opequan to which he had first moved out from Halltown. It was 10 in the evening when the Thirty-seventh marched to the turnpike, along which it plodded all the rest of the night, reaching Winchester about sunrise of the 17th. Halting there for a while the march was continued till the Opequan Creek was crossed, when a halt was directed on the eastern bank. A night's rest did not follow. however, for about midnight the regiment was called up. sent back across the creek and deployed as skirmishers.
Morning saw the march continued toward Charlestown, by way
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of Berryville, and when the way was clear the Thirty-sevent !: rallied and followed. It rained most of the day, some of the time severely, and the jaunt was a hard one, more especially as the men had been practically without rations for two days. Near night a halt was reached in the vicinity of Charlestown and a four-days' supply of food obtained, after which two days of inaction ensued, the second being rainy.
The Sunday morning quiet of August 21 was rudely broken by the long roll giving notice of the enemy's presence. Early had in fact been reinforced.by Kershaw's division of infantry, one of cavalry and some artillery, and when Sheridan fell back had followed sharply, taking up his former position at Bunker Hill, leaving Anderson with the fresh troops at Winchester. A combined attack was planned for the morning of the 21st, An- derson to advance by the direct route from Winchester while Early came in from the west. The former found the cavalry in his front too strong and gave up his part of the programme; but Early came on impetuously, brushed away the cavalry outpost. and struck a swift and heavy blow upon the Sixth Corps skir- mish line.
The Thirty-seventh were quickly under arms and were ordered to strengthen the picket line. Lieutenant-Colonel Montague led his command at a double-quick to a sunken road command- ing a wide field in front, where they were judiciously posted. and almost immediately the spiteful crack of the Spencer ritle began to be heard. The new weapon was having its first general test, and grandly did it meet the expectations which had been raised. It was at first supposed that the enemy was beyond the reach of musket fire, but on trial being made it proved that ti ... Spencer bullets could be sent there with remarkable precision considering the distance, and the firing became general. 1 se- vere artillery fire was dirceted upon the Union skirmishers, and the southern sharp-shooters did their best to dislodge the ob- noxious Yankees, but the line never wavered. The skirmishing continued all through the day, the Confederates making numer- ous efforts to advance their lines and post artillery in front .: the seven-shooters, but wherever they appeared they were groet-
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THE BRAVE FIGHT AT CHARLESTOWN.
ed with so hot and well-directed a shower of bullets that they were forced to retire. To the left some progress was made, and at one time there was danger that the men of the Thirty-seventh would be flanked out of their position, but a detachment faced that way and sent in so lively and accurate a fire that the dan- ger was soon averted. The new rifle was somewhat shorter and heavier than the old, but the range was found to be superior; indeed, there seemed no limit to the distance to which the bul- lets might be sent with reasonable accuracy. The regiment tired during the day some 200 shots per man, and when darkness fell had the satisfaction of knowing that not an inch of ground been yielded.
But this brave resistance had not been made without loss. Five men had been killed : Corporal Levi Davis and Ithamer Woodin of Company A, Silas Miller of Company B, Corporal John E. Banks of Company G, and Robert Reinhart of the Tenth detachment. Fifteen others were wounded (see Appendix), in- cluding Captain William M. Hale of the Seventh detachment. The four sergeants of Company F were all wounded, First Ser- geant Joseph K. Taylor fatally. Sergeant Taylor was a young man of fine promise, who left the sophomore class of Amherst College, a home of affluence and charming social relations, to offer his life on his country's altar.
Finding his position at Charlestown not so good for defense as that at Halltown, Sheridan moved his army back to the latter during the night. The Thirty-seventh vacated at daylight the skirmish line which they had so well maintained, and followed the movements of the main body, finding the army posted in an impregnable position with the right, the Sixth Corps, resting on the Potomac, the left, Crook's Eighth Corps, on the Shenandoah, the Nineteenth occupying the center.
For several days there was more or less skirmishing, in which the Thirty-seventh had no active part. Early seemed to be feel- ing the front of the other corps in the hope of finding somo weak spot, and that failing he made demonstrations to right and left as though intending another invasion of Maryland; but the Union cavalry in strong force was watching his every movement,
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THE CAMPAIGN UNDER SHERIDAN.
and he presently retired again to his favorite location at Bunker Hill. Sheridan, then, on the 28th, moved back to his Charles- town position, and on September 3 advanced up the Valley to the former position near Berryville, where he proceeded to intrench.
The same day Gencral Anderson with Kershaw's division started from Early's camps to return to Richmond by way of Berryville. As Crook's men were going into camp Anderson came marching in among them. Both parties were wholly taken by surprise, but managed to get up a brisk skirmish, which lasted through the following day, Early coming up to the assistance of Anderson, when the latter returned to camp and waited for a week, when he again set out for Richmond, taking a safer ronte, by way of Front Royal.
The two weeks which followed the establishment of Sheridan's lines near Berryville were marked by no incidents of especial importance to the infantry of the Sixth Corps. Frequent clashes of arms occurred between the cavalry and the enemy, and! sometimes scouting and foraging parties were sent out on foot. meeting with more or less adventure ; but the usual routine of camp life generally prevailed, drills were resumed to some extent, and the men, invigorated by the cooler weather, recovered from the exhaustion and illness induced by their recent terrible marches. On the 16th the veterans of the Tenth and Seventh regiments were consolidated into the companies of the Thirty- seventh proper, increasing its effective force by 73 men, and entitling the regiment to additional officers, commissions for whom were promptly fowarded.
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