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 37
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ONE COUNTRY AND ONE FLAG.
the latter at the muzzle of the Spencer rifle to Corporal David White of Company E. First Sergeant Almon M. Warner of the same company attempted to capture a battle-flag, but was severe- ly wounded, when Private Charles A. Taggart of Company B sprang forward and secured the colors, for which act of bravery he received a medal .*
One brave corporal becoming somewhat separated from his comrades encountered a Confederate officer whose surrender hc demanded and on receiving a refusal shot him, inflicting a fatal wound. As the wounded man fell the corporal bent over him, saying: " I am sorry that I had to shoot you! I am a Christian. and if you wish I will pray with you; it is all I can do for you now." The offer was thankfully accepted, and while the ten- pest of battle raged near them the earnest voice of prayer rose in behalf of the departing spirit. At its close the dying officer joined in the " Amen," gave his sword to the young soldier with a message for his wife, when the latter, who had been fired at on the supposition that he was committing a robbery, resumed his rifle and continued the battle. For gallant conduet at the storming of the works before Petersburg Captain Hopkins re- ceived the brevet of major, to which in recognition of Sailor's Creek was added that of lieutenant-colonel. After the wound- ing of Adjutant Bradley, Lieutenant S. E. Nichols was detailed as adjutant, serving most creditably till the muster out.
The Thirty-seventh regiment had fought its last battle-in some respects its most brilliant. Its fair record, never tarnished, was nobly closed and crowned by this desperate encounter. Meeting superior numbers, cut off from all support and almost surrounded, receiving in hastily prepared formation without in- trenchment or cover of any nature the charge of a select brigade led by an ambitious young officer, -with never the yielding of an inch or a backward step, the regiment had nobly shown the superb quality of its composition.
" These medals had been authorized by a resolution of Congress approved July 12. ((2, "to provide for the presentation of Medals of Honor to the aliste i men of the army and volunteer forces who have distinguished, or may distinguish, themselves in battle during the present rel ci- Hon." On the Back of the Medal was engraved, " The Congress, to Private Charles A. Theairi. Co. I. ; th Mass. Vels." That these Molals were not promiscuously distributed is sufficient !! attested by the fact that but is were bestowed ou Massachusetts soldiers, of which two-those vi Tax;art and of Corporal Welch, were received by members of the Thirty-seventh.
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THE WHITE FLAG AT APPOMATTOX.
Though the loss was severe, it was found to be far less than might have been expected from the ferocity of the conflict. Nine had been killed and 31 wounded, several of the latter fatally and nearly all seriously. The killed were: Company B-Cor- poral Henry L. Messinger and Edgar N. Phelps. C-Sergeant Samuel M. Bolton and Charles Blakesley. D-Corporal Tim- othy D. Smith. E-William H. Henderson. F -- William F. Leggett. H-Sergeant David B. Miller. K-Timothy Mullin. Captain Walter B. Smith and Lieutenant Harrie A. Cushman were severely wounded in the early part of the engagement- the former by a charge of " buck and ball" in the thigh received at short range. The loss in non-commissioned officers was espe- cially severe. Four first sergeants were wounded-Warner of E, Cowles of D, Freeman of B and Partridge of H, the three latter fatally. Sergeant Bolton of Company C, who was killed, was one of the transfers from the Tenth, a fine soldier, who in the closing battle of the rebellion crowned nearly four years of faithful service by the supreme sacrifice.
That night the regiment camped near the battle-field, and the succeeding two days were ocenpied in following up the retreating fragments of the Confederate army. On the night of the 6th Lee had retired across the Appomattox at High Bridge with what was left to him of the hungry, broken, dispirited army, but before the bridges behind him could be destroyed the Second Corps was rushing across and the pursuit was unbroken. The 8th found his forces hopelessly hemmed in at Appomattox Court House, the Federal troops closing in resistlessly and General Grant demanding his surrender to save the further waste of life. There was one more desperate attempt on the morning of the 9th to force the thin lines through the cavalry environment which Sheridan had placed between the Confederates and further retreat, but the pushing back of the dismounted horsemen only disclosed the advancing bayonets of the Army of the James, and the white flag which preceded formal surrender took the place of the Stars and Bars.
As the fact of Lee's surrender became generally known through the Union army that afternoon there was joy too wild, too deep,
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ONE COUNTRY AND ONE FLAG.
too sincere for utterance in formal words. Cannon thundered, men shouted themselves hoarse, then pitched their shelter tents for the first time since leaving winter quarters and lay within them with the strange realization that there was no longer an opposing army to be watched and feared.
The Thirty-seventh enjoyed a night and a day of unbroken rest and were then ordered to report back to Burkesville, for which place they started on the morning of the 11th in a driz- zling rain, marching 20 miles toward Farmville over the road by which they had moved toward Appomattox. Both the rain and the march continued for two days longer, camp being pitched near Burkesville on the afternoon of the 13th in a beautiful pine grove. There the regiment remained for ten days, during which time every heart was inexpressibly.saddened by the news of the assassination of President Lincoln.
During this time occurred the last muster of officers-Doctor Charles E. Inches of Boston on the 13th as assistant surgeon and on the 15th Second Lieutenant James O'Connor of Company G as first lieutenant of Company C, vice Jones promoted. Surgeon Inches was a young man enthusiastic and ambitious in his profession, with a heart overflowing with kindness for his fellow-beings; and brief as was his service and happily free from the ravages of battle, his tender humanity won prompt and heart-felt appreciation from every member of the regiment.
Meantime in every direction the end of the armed rebellion was approaching. General Sherman after tarrying at Savannah for some weeks had moved forward in resistless force to Col- umbia, S. C., whence he swept straight through the Carolinas toward Richmond, driving before him the remnants of the Con- federate forces which General Johnston was striving to gather somewhere for a determined stand. Fort Fisher, guarding the harbor of Wilmington, N. C., having fallen before the deter- mined assault of General Terry and Wilmington itself before General Schofield's Twenty-third Corps, which had been brought to the Carolina coast by way of Washington, these forces were transferred to Newbern, and moved-though not without oppo- sition and some sharp fighting-toward the center of the state
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423
THE SURRENDER OF JOHNSTON.
to intersect the line of Sherman's march. Hardee had evacu- ated Charleston on hearing of Sherman's movement, lighting fires which burned most of the city and killed 200 of the inhab- itants by an explosion, and at Averasboro had a sharp engage- ment with some of Sherman's forces on the 16th of March. This was followed by the more determined battle of Bentonville, three days later, in which Johnston succeeded in checking the column under General Slocum from the 19th to the 21st, when Sherman having concentrated an enveloping force the Confed- erate commander retired during the night and the march of the Union army was resumed.
At Goldsboro Sherman formed a connection with Schofield and halted to rest his exhausted troops, communication being opened by rail with Newbern, but on the 10th of April the campaign was resumed. Next day the tidings of Lee's surrender were received, and Raleigh was occupied on the 13th ; the day follow- ing Johnston sent in a flag of truce and from the armistice which resulted his surrender ensued on the 26th. In his case as in that of Lee, the hungry Confederate soldiers were supplied with rations by the government they had so long fonght against, and at once started for their homes to resume the pursuits of peace and begin the great task of repairing the ravages of war.
Meantime the Sixth Corps had been ordered from Burkesville to Danville, on the North Carolina border, 100 miles away, and on the morning of the 23d set forth. The roads, following the general direction of the railroad, were good and the weather was quite favorable, which with the encouragement received from recent events gave the troops great heart and strength for what- ever trials might be deemed necessary. Twenty-five miles were made the first day and 20 the next, bringing the corps to bivonac on the banks of the Staunton river. Soon after dark of the 2:th the regiment as rear guard of the corps passed through Danville and a mile beyond went into camp.
As the corps approached the city, which is situated on the south bank of the Dan river, an attempt was made by some of the bitter inhabitants to burn the bridge, but the mayor and the more sensible citizens protested so vigorously that the purpose
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ONE COUNTRY AND ONE FLAG.
was abandoned. To the right on an elevation a fort with six guns commanding the bridge looked grimly down, but it had no garri- con and was simply a reminder of the days which had passed. The city had also been a depot for Union prisoners, but such as were there had been released and with joy had hurried to the now all-potent protection of the triumphant Stars and Stripes.
Reliable intelligence of Johnston's surrender, which had been prematurely rumored, was received on the following day, and then it was even more vividly realized that with the dispersion of the last formidable armed force the existence of the rebellion practically ceased, that the long looked for day had come when there was in reality but one Country beneath one Flag.
CHAPTER XXI.
- - THE CLOSING SCENES.
FACING NORTHWARD .- REVIEWS AT RICHMOND AND WASHING- TON .- THE FINAL ROSTER .- MUSTERED OUT. - THE WELCOME HOME.
The Thirty-seventh remained quietly in camp at Danville till the morning of May 3, when cars were taken for Wilson's Station on the Southside railroad, 28 miles west of Petersburg. The journey was very slowly made, lasting, including a stop of a few hours at Burkesville, till late in the afternoon of the following day, when the regiment went into camp in a beautiful grove near the Station. There two weeks passed very pleasantly, the brigade nominally guarding the railroad to Nottaway Court House, 14 miles distant ; but as there was no enemy save an occasional roving band of marauders who took good care not to come within the reach of Union troops, the duty was very light.
News of the capture of Jefferson Davis, the president of the late Confederacy, reached camp on the 15th, and two days later came an order to march next morning. The soldiers now real- ized that they were indeed on the homeward route, but there were just murmurs that the journey of the 1Sth was made to cover 25 miles of hot and dusty road when there was no exigency requiring such exertion. The halt for the night was made within four miles of Petersburg. At 3 o'clock next morning the reveille sounded, and soon after daylight the march was resumed. Petersburg was passed through early in the forenoon, and it was gratifying to note the signs of renewed life which were already being manifested. Passing on toward Richmond, about half the distance between the two cities was covered by easy stages during
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THE CLOSING SCENES.
the day, the intense heat culminating in a thunder shower dur- ing the afternoon. The following forenoon brought the corps within sight of Richmond, and the camps were pitched near Manchester, in the midst of the elaborate fortifications protect- ing that suburb, where the regiment remained till the 24th, many of the command going over into the late rebel Capital to view the various objects of interest, bathing in the waters of the historic James River, or lying idly in camp dreaming of the speedy reunion with loved ones at home and the return to the duties and pleasures of civil life.
The grand review of the united armies of Generals Meade and Sherman took place at Washington on the 23d and 24th of May, the 23d being devoted to the Army of the Potomac, composed of the cavalry corps, and the Second, Fifth and Ninth Corps of in- fantry ; while on the 24th the Armies of the Tennessee and of Georgia passed before the enthusiastic throngs. As the Sixth Corps could not take part in the pageant it was arranged to have it reviewed in Richmond on the 24th by Generals Halleck, Ord. and others. Reveille accordingly sounded at 3 o'clock and at 3 the column moved through Manchester, across the river into Richmond, passing the reviewing stand by company front. the streets everywhere lined by an interested throng, of which the enthusiastic blacks formed the most interesting element.
The review proved but the beginning of a trying day's experi- ence. Straight on the column moved, out through the aban- doned fortifications, past fields and scenes of historic interest without number, till at 9 o'clock at night, with 25 miles of dis- tance covered, the halt was made at Hanover Court House. The Pamunkey was crossed next day on a ponton bridge, the march of the 26th being accompanied by a heavy rain which made the mud almost impassable. The 27th and 28th were given to rest. and the following day a march of 20 miles brought the corps In Fredericksburg, " on our annual May visit," as some of the sol- diers humorously suggested.
Four days more of continuous plodding, crossing Occoquan Creck at Wolf Run Shoals and moving by Fairfax Station and Court House, brought the Thirty-seventh on the &d of June tu
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THE REVIEW IN WASHINGTON.
Bailey's Cross Roads, five miles from Washington on the Arling- ton side of the Potomac. There the regiment encamped during the remainder of its stay in the United States service, and the days which followed had but little more than routine interest. On the 6th the brigade turned out to speed with military honors the One Hundred and Nineteenth Pennsylvania, which set out for home, and on the Sth occurred the review of the corps in Washington by President Johnson, his Cabinet, Generals Grant, Meade, and a large body of prominent officers.
For this event the command was roused very early in the morning, crossing Long Bridge to the vicinity of the Capitol, where the corps was massed. At 9.30 the advance guard, the First Connecticut cavalry, cleared the way, and at 10 the column began to move. The brigades and divisions proceeded in numer- ical order, the artillery following the Third Division and the rear being composed of 200 New York Engineers with a ponton train. The Third Brigade, First Division, General Edwards, moved in the following order : Eighty-second Pennsylvania Veterans, 960 men, Brevet Brigadier General Bassett ; Second Rhode Island Veterans, 450 men, Lieutenant-Colonel Rhodes ; Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Veterans, 305 men, Colonel Hickman : Thirty-seventh Massachusetts, 300 men. Major Tyler : Fifth Wisconsin, 400 mnen, Colonel Allen. As the Thirty-seventh passed the reviewing stand by company front, fewer in numbers than any of its sister organizations, the waste of the terrible campaigns it had passed through was vividly realized. Company K, the color company, proudly bore the tattered standards be- fore the cheering multitudes with scarcely eight files to guard the priceless treasures.
It was an especially glorious day for the Sixth Corps, for apart from the noble record which it had made from the day of its or- ganization, the people of Washington had not forgotten that it came to their assistance the previous summer when Early was thundering at the northern gates of the city, and their enthusi- asm was loud and earnest. But notwithstanding all the ardor of the populace, the day was a very trying one to the soldiers, as it was terribly hot, and the sun beat down into the crowded
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THE CLOSING SCENES.
streets with a ferocity which prostrated many with sun-stroke and obliged the great majority of the corps to fall from the ranks before their camps were regained.
General Edwards, commanding the brigade, who had received the brevet of brigadier general for gallant conduct at the battle of the Opequan, had for his part in the fall of Petersburg re- ceived a commission as brigadier general of volunteers from May 19, with the brevet of major general in recognition of his ser- vices at Sailor's Creek. Other brevets will be noted as the re- cipients are mentioned. While the regiment was awaiting its turn for muster out, the officers absent from their commands on account of wounds were being honorably discharged the service. On the 15th of May Captain (brevet Major) John C. Robinson, Adjutant (brevet Captain) John S. Bradley and Second Lieuten- ant Harrie A. Cushman thus left the service; Second Lieutenant Jesse Prickett resigned on the 21st, and Captain (brevet Major) Thomas G. Colt* on the 23. First Lieutenants William A. Waterman and Flavel K. Sheldon were mustered out June 17.
A busy scene was the camp of the regiment on the 21st of June, 1865. On that day the Thirty-seventh was mustered out of the Government service as an organization, the recruits of the Thirty-seventh proper with the transfers from the Tenth and Seventh regiments being transferred to the Twentieth Massachu- setts. The roster of the regimental officers was as follows, a star designating those transferred to the Twentieth:
Field and Staff-Lieutenant Colonel Rufus P. Lincoln, * Major Mason W. Tyler .* Surgeon Elisha M. White,* Assistant Surgeon Charles E. Inches .* Chaplain Frank C. Morse, t Quartermaster Edward Bridgman.
*Captain Colt was one of the most popular officers in the regiment on account of his unwavering courage, quick military genius, warm social nature and untiring interest in the welfare of all with whom he canie in contact. Returning to his home in Pittsfield, he retained ever a keen interest in all that pertained to his much-loved regiment. His early death, which occurred from pneumo":1 on the roth of May, 1883. at the age of 41, was deeply mourned by a wide circle of comrades and friends in all walks of life.
tChaplain Morse, whose character as a noble Christian and a devoted patriot has been so fully illustrated heretofore as to need no further portraval here, left the service with health irrepara' !: injured. Returning to the ministry which he had left to become a private soldier, he was settl. d over the Methodist church at Leyden till the spring of 1668, when he went to Kansas and brug !!! a farm near Keno which he occupied for a year. in the vain hope of regaining his health. After- ward he took a position as express and station agent at laidore, which he held till his health unter gave way. January 14, 1871, at the early age of 16, he laid down a life which, though brief, hat. not been lived in vain, and whose influence for good still lives in many a human heart.
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THE FINAL ROSTER OF OFFICERS.
Company A-Captain Walter B. Smith,* First Lieutenant Richard H. Taylor. B-Captain George H. Hyde, First Lieu- tenant Albert Vincent, Second Lieutenant Samuel E. Nichols, acting adjutant. C-Captain Archibald Hopkins, First Lieuten- ant James O'Conner,* Second Lieutenant Joseph D. Calahan. D-Captain Charles L. Edwards, Second Lieutenant David M. Donaldson. E-First Lieutenant (brevet Captain) William C. Morrill. F-Captain George N. Jones, * First Lieutenant Erastus W. Harris. G-First Lieutenant William H. Calhoun. H- Captain (brevet Major) Jonas A. Champney, First Lieutenant Hubbard M. Abbott. I-Captain F. Edward Gray, Second Lieutenant Julius H. Reed. K-Captain George B. Chandley. First Lieutenant John W. Stockwell, Second Lieutenant Edward D. Taylor.
Preparations for the homeward journey, so far as preparations were needed, now occupied the thoughts of all. The Sanitary Commission had since the arrival of the troops from the field spared no pains to provide them with delicacies, comforts and luxuries and after the muster out rations were drawn in profu- sion, so that the supplies received by the men were only limited by their disposition to accept.
Reveille sounded next morning at half-past 3 and at 5 camp was broken, the regiment under the lead of General Edwards marching through Georgetown to Washington where at 11 o'clock cars were taken. Baltimore was reached at half-past 3 in the afternoon, dinner was eaten, cars changed, and at 5 the homeward route was resumed. Arriving at Philadelphia some time past midnight, the never-failing hospitality of the Quaker City was enjoyed in a bountiful breakfast at the Cooper Shop of blessed memory ; at daylight cars were taken to Amboy, whence the journey to New York was made by the steamer Transport. reaching the Metropolis at noon. After a most excellent dinner, the regiment marched up Broadway once more and at 6 o'clock took the steamer Traveler for Hudson. That city was reached about daylight of the 24th. and at half-past 5 the citizens pro- vided a generous breakfast, welcoming the return as they had speeded the departure of the Thirty-seventh.
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. THE CLOSING SCENES.
Pittsfield was reached at 10 o'clock, and at this first stopping place on Massachusetts soil, the point of the regiment's forma- tion and departure, it was received with hearty demonstrations. Yet sadness had a share, for it could not escape notice that while 27 cars had been required to take the command away, it was con- fortably returned in six. At the depot the regiment was met by an escort of firemen and conducted to the park, where a bounti- ful collation was served and the veterans were eloquently wel- comed by Hon. H. L. Dawes and E. H. Kellogg. General Edwards responded briefly, with a touching allusion to those who had fallen, the regiment gave a brief exhibition of the manual of arms and then continued the journey.
Springfield was entered at half-past 2, and the reception there was of the most enthusiastic nature. Many of the relatives and near friends of the members were in waiting at the depot, and as the command left the cars the greetings were rapturous and affecting. Presently the line of marched was formed and the regiment, escorted by the fire department, led by the Railroad band, marched to the City Hall. The streets were filled with enthusiastic people waving handkerchiefs and cheering the vet- erans, to whom a more familiar sound was the thunder of the Union Battery, whose rapid discharges emphasized the welcome. The national colors were everywhere displayed and many of the buildings and banners bore appropriate mottoes. In the City Hall a bounteous repast had been prepared, and when the soldiers were seated an appropriate address of welcome was made br N. A. Leonard, Esq., in the absence of the mayor. General Edl- wards responded in behalf of the regiment, after which his cont- mand did ample justice to the tempting viands ; another period of hand-shaking followed, the column returned to the depot. and the Thirty-seventh that evening reached their last camp at Readville.
While the regiment remained there waiting for the final set- tlement of its affairs and formal disbanding, Governor Andre w issued the following commissions, which gave the regiment . nominally complete roster of officers, but the promoted were e! course never mustered in the new rank :-
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DISBANDING OF THE REGIMENT.
Lieutenant-Colonel Rufus P. Lincoln as colonel; Major Mason W. Tyler as lieutenant-colonel and colonel; Captain Archibald Hopkins as major and lieutenant-colonel; Captain Charles L. Edwards as major; First Lieutenants Hubbard M. Abbott, Edward Bridgman, Albert H. Vincent and William A. Calhoun as captains: Second Lieutenants Samuel E. Nichols, David M. Donaldson, Edward D. Taylor and Julius H. Reed as first lien- tenants; First Sergeant Michael Casey of Company K as second lieutenant and first lieutenant; and as second lieutenants Com- missary Sergeant Dwight H. Parsons, First Sergeants William A. Shaw of Company D, Edward E. Stannard of C, Joseph F. Bartlett of I, Almon M. Warner of H and William E. Lewis of F. Sergeants Charles H. Tracy of A, Frederick A. Farley of F and Color Sergeant Edward D. Hooker of D.
On the 26th of June the colors of the Thirty-seventh were sent to Boston, where on the 22d of December following they were in common with those of the other Massachusetts commands which had served the Union placed in appropriate receptacles in Doric Hall at the State House, where they still remain, silent yet eloquent witnesses to the patriotism of the citizen soldiers of the old Bay State. They are torn and rent by bullets and deadly missiles; they are stained with the life-blood of her sons, but never with dishonor.
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