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 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
57
DEEDS OF MERCY AND HONOR.
Following the great battles, contributions of money were made at Boston for the relief of the wounded-after Gettysburg, *35,000 was received in small amounts; for the Wilderness, over $60,000; at the taking of Richmond, $30,000. The 1864 Thanks- giving dinner for 17,000 soldiers, in the Washington hospitals, was furnished by Massachusetts friends.
In labor for the welfare of the soldiers all classes and ages joined. Among the contributions of socks, were 191 pairs made by Mrs. Abner Bartlett of Medford, aged 85; several pairs by Mrs. S. A. Frazer of Duxbury, who was 92 at the opening of the war, and a pair knit by a Conway woman of 97.
Hospitals were opened on Pemberton Square, Boston, at Read- ville and Worcester; the first home for discharged soldiers in the country was at Boston, followed soon after by another at Weston. In November, 1864, the National Sailors' Fair, to secure a sailors' home, was held in Boston, netting $2S2,370. For the relief of Savannah in 1865, Boston joined with New York and Philadelphia, and $100,000 was raised, and so the list might be continued.
Governor Andrew had served faithfully throughout the entire war, and when peace came, he declined further service in the position he had filled with such honor. Alexander II. Bullock was "hosen his successor, and entered upon the office, January 6, 1866. In his inaugural address referring to the soldiers, and the deposit of the regimental colors at the State House, he said:
In storm and sunshine, in success and ropulse, they carried those banners through 12 hostile states. In the hour of utmost need they, before all others, had planted them on the National Capitol, staining on the way with the life-blood of some the pavement of a city in rebellion. They had carried them with Hooker to the summit of Lookout Mount- ain, and had fixed them, with Strong and Shaw, on the ramparts of Wagner. With Burnside, they had crossed the mountains of Tennessee, and had sheltered the hearthstone of Andrew Johnson. With Butler, they had forced the channel of the Mississippi and proclaimed law and order in the city of the Cresent. In all the campaigns of the East, in Sherman's grand march, with Banks at Port Hudson, with Grant at Vicksburg-whenever and wherever there was hazard to be encountered, or laurels to be won, they had carried the battle-flags of Massachusetts with unyielding devotion and national renown.
---
CHAPTER III.
THE THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
THIE GATHERING AT CAMP BRIGGS .- CHARACTER OF THE COM- MAND .- THE ORIGINAL ROSTER OF OFFICERS .- PERSONAL NOTES AND INCIDENTS.
The progress of General Mcclellan's campaign on the penin- sula early demonstrated to careful observers that the Union forces, thus far mustered into the service, were far from adequate to the task of suppressing the armed rebellion, and on the 28th of June, while the two armies were still in their desperate grapple in front of Richmond, the governors of 16 of the loyal states, with representatives of Tennessee and Kentucky, strongly advised President Lincoln to call for 300,000 more volunteers. Such advice, at a time when the need of more men was becom- ing severely felt was not to be disregarded, and on the 1st of July, 1862, the call was made. The energies of Massachusetts were at once directed to furnishing the quota of the Bay State. In his proclamation announcing the call, after urging the people of the state to every exertion in behalf of the national cause, Governor Andrew said: " Massachusetts, which has never slum- bered or slept, must now arise to still higher efforts, and pledge to all the duties of patriotism, with renewed devotion, the indi- vidual efforts, the united hearts, heads and hands, of all her people."
Throughout the Commonwealth the echo of this sentiment was everywhere heard. Public meetings were held, the press came nobly to the support of the government, municipalities and towns bent their best energies to the filling of the quotas sever- ally required of them. The most complete arrangements were made for the care of the volunteer's family during his absence,
59
THE RENDEZVOUS AT PITTSFIELD.
and considerable bounties were offered, payable on the muster in of the recruit.
At this time Massachusetts had three incomplete regiments in process of being filled-the Thirty-second, some companies of which were already in the service, the Thirty-third and the Thirty-fourth in camp, the latter at Camp John E. Wool, at Worcester. A considerable portion of the recruits under the call were mustered for the regiments already in the field, and pushed forward to their destinations in squads, in connection with which the work of filling up the new regiments, just mentioned, was carried on. In pursuance of this purpose, the delegations. from the western portion of the state all gathered at Worcester, and after the selection of the companies constituting the Thirty- fourth regiment, there remained a large number of skeleton companies or squads, mostly under the temporary command of men who expected or hoped for commissions. The organization of the Thirty-fourth being reasonably complete, a division was made of the remaining fragments of companies; those from Worcester county remained on the ground to occupy the camp when vacated and become the Thirty-sixth regiment, while the representatives of the four western counties-Berkshire, Hamp- den, Hampshire and Franklin-repaired to the rendezvous at Pittsfield, where a new camp had been formed.
Camp Briggs was so named from General Henry S. Briggs of Pittsfield, the original colonel of the Tenth regiment, who had just received a promotion well earned by bravery on the field, and who was at that time at his home recovering from a severe wound received at the battle of Fair Oaks. It was located on what is now (1884) the Pleasure Park, on the Washington road, something over a mile eastward from the village. and was in every way a desirable site. The location in itself was favorable, the ground having a very slight southerly slope, dry and airy, well supplied with good water, surrounded by the beautiful mountain scenery which makes the county a favorite resort for the lovers of nature from all portions of the country.
To this delightful spot, in the early days of August, came the advance guard of what was to be the Thirty-seventh regiment of
60
THE THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. It was a peculiarly fitting scene amidst which to teach the first lessons of a noble soldier life. The breath of the eternal hills whispered to the enthusiastic campers of strength, of patriotism, of freedom. The earnest, manly life of the sturdy sons of New England had no better representatives than those who had grown to early manhood amid such environments, and who now left the shop and the farm to consecrate themselves to the demands of their common country. To breathe such air, and to gaze upon such scenes of natural beauty, was to grow yet stronger in patriotic devotion.
The camp was for a time in charge of Lieutenant Alonzo E. Goodrich of the Allen Guard, Pittsfield, who, in providing for the arriving recruits, was assisted by Quartermaster Daniel J. Dodge of the same town, both of whom were identified with the early history of the regiment. As the number in camp increased, however, Colonel William Raymond Lee, of the Twentieth regi- ment, was placed in command of the post, and continued in that duty for a few days, till the arrival of Major Oliver Edwards, about the 12th of August. At that time there were the skeletons of 11 companies on the ground, and the different commands grew daily in numbers and in military education.
With characteristic energy, Major Edwards brought his soldierly qualities to the work of organization. Company and battalion drills at once began and were continued with vigor, while great care was manifested to preserve a healthful and an orderly camp. If some of the regulations and requirements at the time seemed unduly stringent and exacting to men coming from the utter freedom of rural life and without military experience, or any adequate conception of the requirements of the service, the result showed their wisdom, and with most of the recruits they were cheerfully accepted from the first. The commander and his command were well adapted to each other. While the former was especially qualified to create an efficient and well- disciplined regiment, the material which came to his hand was admirably adapted to the purposes of such a creation. Almost without exception the men had enlisted from the most patriotic motives, and each was anxious that his service should
61
THE EARLY DAYS IN CAMIP.
in of honor to himself, as well as of benefit to his country. While the great majority had never seen military experience, «ven of the simplest sort, not to speak of the battle-field, there were a few who had gone out in the earlier regiments, from which they had been discharged for wounds or other cause. These men, wherever they might be during the abundant leisure of the camp, formed centers of interested groups. Their words had a charm which no civilian voice could equal, for the speakers had personal knowledge of the sphere of life for which the listeners were training, and he who bore the marks of recent wounds was, to a most gratifying extent, the hero of his mess.
Let it not be supposed that the life upon which the men had entered was an idle or a wearisome one. Every day brought fresh cessions to the companies, there were many acquaintances to develop, the closeness and importance of which none could esti- mate in advance; the duties of the camp, the rapid succession of new developments, the preparations for a long, and perhaps a final adieu to home and friends ;- all these combined to fill the waking hours of the citizen-soldier with thought and labor. Nor was amusement of a healthful nature wanting. In the intervals of the busy day, groups would be visible here and there, keenly enjoying some athletic sport, or laughing heartily at the whim- sical oddities of those whose best work in the camp, it may be, was to lighten the spirits of their comrades. Especially was the varly evening given to this species of enjoyment. Who that remembers his experience in those stirring scenes does not recall with especial interest the uncouth elephants composed of soldiers covered by their army blankets, that in the dimming twilight tamed about the grounds indulging in such laughter-moving pranks as no bona tide elephant could ever have perpetrated; the vigorous tossing in a blanket by a half-dozen stalwarts of some willing or unwilling victim, whose evolutions were more rapid "Il varied than graceful; the bounding foot-ball, propelled by . idreds of vigorous feet; the thousand and one kindred means eliversion and companionship? .
The 15th of August found Companies C. F and B filled, and within a week, Companies D, G and II were also completed.
4 !
62
THE THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
These six companies were mustered into the United States ser- vice on the 30th, and the remaining four were ready for the services of the mustering officer, Captain Thomas of the United States Army, on the 2d of September, with the exception of Company K, which was not filled till the 4th, the term of the regiment consequently counting from the latter date. This company was the result of a consolidation, attempts having been made to raise two exclusively Irish companies for the regiment,- one by Peter Dooley of Cheshire, and the other by John B. Mulloy of Springfield. As neither could be filled in time, it was decided to unite them. At the final examinations a few men were rejected, much to their mortification and disappointment, but, as a whole, the command was highly complimented by com- petent judges, among others by General Briggs, who was often on the grounds and watched the formation of the regiment with much interest.
Meantime preparations were actively pushed for the depart- ure of the Thirty-seventh for active service, the anxiety of the government for additional troops increasing with the unfortu- nate developments that crowded fast upon each other from the Virginia fields. The men, having been uniformed, were given furloughs of three or four days each, going out in squads, and almost without exception returning promptly on time. The officers' commissions were issued Angust 27, and were as follows:
Colonel, Oliver Edwards of Springfield: lieutenant-colonel. Alonzo E. Goodrich of Pittsfield: major, George L. Montagne of South Hadley: surgeon, Charles P. Crehore of Boston; assistant- surgeons, Thomas C. Lawton of Sheffield, Joshua J. Ellis of Marshfield; adjutant, First Lieutenant Thomas G. Colt of Pitts- field; quartermaster, First Lientenant Daniel J. Dodge of Pitts- field; chaplain, Rev. Frank C. Morse of Blandford.
Non-commissioned staff-Sergeant-major, Robert A. Gray of Springfield: quartermaster's sergeant, Thomas Porter, Jr .. of Chesterfield: commissary sergeant, James C. Chalmers of Pitts- dell: hospital stewards. W. A. Champney of Hatfield. Richard E. Morgan of Pittsfield; principal musician, John L. Gaffney of Chicopee.
.
63
THE FIRST ROSTER OF OFFICERS.
Company A-Captain Jarvis P. Kelley, First Lieutenant Eli T. Blackmer, Second Lieutenant Carlos C. Wellman, all of Chicopee.
Company B-Captain Franklin W. Pease of Lee; First Licu- tenant Thomas F. Plunkett, Jr., of Pittsfield; Second Lieuten- ant P. Woodbridge Morgan of Lec.
Company C-Captain Edwin Hurlburt of Great Barrington; First Lieutenant John C. Robinson of Adams; Second Lieuten- ant Rufus P. Lincoln of Amherst.
Company D-Captain Algernon S. Flagg of Wilbraham; First Lieutenant Charles L. Edwards of Southampton; Second Lieutenant George H. Hyde of Lee.
Company E-Captain Archibald Hopkins of Williamstown; First Lieutenant Jonas A. Champney of Adams; Second Lieu- tenant Walter B. Smith of Pittsfield.
Company F-Captain Eugene A. Allen of Springfield; First Lieutenant Mason W. Tyler of Amherst; Second Lieutenant Elihu R. Rockwood of Greenfield.
Company G-Captain Marcus T. Moody, First Lieutenant William Bliss, Second Lieutenant Edward Bridgman, all of Northampton.
Company H-Captain Joseph L. Hayden of Williamsburg; First Lieutenant Joshua A. Loomis of Northampton; Second Lieutenant Andrew L. Bush of Westfield.
Company I-Captain Hugh Donnelly, First Lieutenant J. Milton Fuller, Second Lieutenant Charles Phelps, all of Springfield.
Company K-Captain Peter Dooley of Cheshire; First Lieu- tenant John B. Mulloy of Springfield; Second Lientenant George B. Chandley of Springfield.
It is but simple justice to say that few volunteer regiments left Massachusetts with a more capable complement of officers than those just named. While it would have been too much to expect that every selection should prove the best possible for the position to be filled, the few weaknesses were more than offset by the general strength of the roster, and the Thirty-seventh may properly claim over to have been a well-officered regiment,
64
THE THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
A fair proportion had already seen active service. Colonel Edwards, going to the front a year previous as the adjutant of the Tenth regiment, was serving as senior aide on the staff of General D. N. Couch when he was directed by Governor An- drew to proceed to Pittsfield to organize a regiment under the new call. Lieutenant-Colonel Goodrich had served with the Eighth regiment the previous year as first sergeant and second lieutenant. Quartermaster Dodge having been a sergeant in the same company-the Allen Guards of Pittsfield. Major Mon- tague had abandoned his teacher's desk at the firing on Sumter, and entered the service as a first lieutenant in the Sixth Wiscon- sin, serving till autumn of 1861, when he took a position on the military staff of the governor of that state, engaged in recruit- ing service till that official lost his life by an unfortunate acci- dent at Pittsburg Landing in the spring of 1862, when Mr. Montague came east to offer his services to his native state. Adjutant Colt was also a graduate of the Tenth, as were Cap- tain Moody and Lieutenants Loomis and Smith. Captain Allen, in addition to service in the same school, had long been con- nected with the Springfield militia, while the sturdy Drum- major Gaffney, also formerly identified with the Tenth, had taken his youthful lessons in the British service. Lieutenant Edwards had found his early military excitement in the days of the " Border Ruffian" troubles in Kansas, and others had re- ceived knowledge from the state militia and other sources.
One of the number, at least, Lieutenant Smith of Company E, had good personal reasons for lifting the sword against the fanatic horde who were bent on the destruction of the Union. The fall of Fort Sumter found Mr. Smith engaged in mining on the Yahula river, near Dahlonega, Ga., where he was super- intending works in which he had a considerable financial interest. Obliged to abandon everything and escape as best he could, he made his way with much difficulty to Richmond, where he suc- ceeded in obtaining a pass through the rebel lines and finally reached Washington and the shelter of the Stars and Stripes. having had many narrow escapes. Passing through Philadel- phia on his way to join the Tenth regiment in camp at Washing-
7716 346 1062 65
"FOR MY COUNTRY AND MY GOD !"
ton, he was severely wounded in the leg by a shot fired from a window, but on recovery was mustered into the service in time to receive a wound in the shoulder at Fair Oaks. Lieutenant Smith was not with the regiment at Pittsfield, however, joining it subsequent to the arrival at Washington.
Soon after taking command Major Edwards had announced, as an incentive for men and officers to strive for excellence, that the company standing best in drill and discipline should be made the color company, while the second best should be given the right of the line. The first position was won by Company F, then under the command of Captain George L. Montague, while Captain Moody's Company G took the right.
At the organization of the regiment Sergeant Charles S. Bardwell of Whately and Company F was appointed color ser- geant, and all who saw him in that position will remember how every inch a soldier he looked as he bore the national flag in that capacity. In reply to a friend who expressed regret at his ap- pointment to so dangerous a position he said: "This is the proudest day of my life. To this work I have devoted myself, and if I fall it is for my country and my God!"
The men borne on the regimental rolls were principally from the four western counties of the state, Berkshire furnishing 384, Hampshire 332, Hampden 259 and Franklin 82. It has already been remarked that in every respect they were a fine body of men. To an especial degree they embodied the best New Eng- land patriotic devotion. Largely they represented the thrifty, native-born element, with home ties and material interests cen- tering about them. There was no longer hope or expectation that the war was to be else than long and bloody. They were called to no holiday scenes, but to face in the field a desperate and at that time dangerously victorious enemy. The money compensation for the service, while liberal from the military stand-point, was no consideration as offset by the comfortable homes which they were leaving, the pain of parting from the dearest friends and all the sad uncertainties of the camp and the field. Under these circumstances the claim to the pure patriot- ism so worthily . voiced by Sergeant Bardwell will readily be
66
THE THIRTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT.
allowed for the great majority of his comrades, who on many a desperate field were to prove that claim but just.
The closing days of the regiment in Camp Briggs were full of touching interest. Daily the streets and grounds were thronged by visitors, a few from motives of mere curiosity, no doubt, but the great majority bearing thoughtful offerings for the confort of the soldiers in that strange life to which they were going forth, or seeking for a few brief hours that communion with dear friends which they might never more enjoy. They mani- fested the liveliest interest in all the military movements of the command, but especially in the dress parade of the afternoon, when the rear of the parade ground was invariably lined by a sea of proud and interested faces.
The usual gifts were bestowed upon the departing soldiers by the citizens, including Bibles or Testaments, with which cach was provided, and many of the officers had special tokens of re- gard either from their commands or from friends. A fine sword was presented to Captain Moody by his company, their Spring- field friends remembered Captain Donnelly with a complete uniform and Lieutenant Mulloy with a full sword equipment, and the day before camp was broken a splendid sword was given to Colonel Edwards. Chaplain Morse, who had left his pasto- rate of the Methodist Episcopal church at Blandford and en- listed as a private in Company A from a pure and conscientious desire to serve his country, was presented with a horse by his friends in the regiment, and there were other pleasant tokens of like character bestowed.
The Springfield muskets with which the regiment was equipped were issued on the 3d of September, and were received by the men with delight. Not only were they without doubt the most efficient muzzle-loading military rifles ever made, and the most satisfactory in form and construction, but there was a patriotic aversion to the foreign-made weapons with which some of the troops were armed. At dress parade on the 6th a fine silk flag was presented to Colonel Edwards by Mrs. J. R. Morewood of Pittsfield, and was accepted with an appropriate response. The body of the flag had been made by the young ladies of
MRS. MOREWOOD PRESENTS A FLAG.
Pittsfield under the direction of Mrs. Morewood, and it was affixed to a staff made from wood eut on Mount Greylock. On the staff was a silver plate thus engraved : "Presented to Colonel Edwards, 37th Mass. Vols., by his friend, Mrs. M." This flag was never borne in battle by the regiment, but was used to mark the head-quarters of Colonel Edwards, was some- times under fire and received some bullet holes, was inscribed with the names of the battles in which the regiment participated, and still remains in the possession of General Edwards, a treasured memento of the ladies of Pittsfield who in all stages of the great conflict did so noble a part in caring for the needy, wounded or suffering soldiers and in helping to maintain the honor and unity of the nation.
At the same dress parade the first marching orders of the reg- iment were read, announcing departure on the morrow for Washington.
CHAPTER IV.
FROM PITTSFIELD TO DOWNSVILLE.
THE JOURNEY TO WASHINGTON .- LIFE AT CAMP CHASE .- VIA FREDERICK AND SOUTH MOUNTAIN TO THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
A busy scene was witnessed at Camp Briggs on Sunday, Sep- tember 7, 1862. Great numbers of visitors were present-friends who came from distant towns, it might be, to speak a parting word with dear ones on the day of departure; patriotic citizens, with a just pride in the regiment composed of their friends and acquaintances; the curious and the indifferent who came to view the scene and to indulge in gossip and speculation. There were final gifts of trinkets and keepsakes to swell the already plethoric knapsacks, and as the forenoon waned the last articles were packed, and with impatient weariness the soldiers waited the word of command that was to be their farewell to the spot. The tents only were left, for a draft had been ordered early in August for 300,000 militia for nine months' service, and the Berkshire regiment under that call was to occupy the camp, and the advance squads were already on the ground-the nucleus of the Forty-ninth regiment.
At noon the line was formed, with every man for the first time in his place, and a proud line it was that stretched entirely across the camp and bent to the front on each flank. Never again was that line to be so long and strong and handsome as on that calm Sabbath day! They thought not of that, be sure, nor did they imagine that almost three long years would pass before their work should be done, and through the sacrifice of so many of their noblest and bravest the integrity of their country at last be assured.
69
THE JOURNEY TO NEW YORK.
The march to the Pittsfield depot, where cars were to be taken for Hudson, N. Y., though very wearisome to the men from the weight of their heavily-laden knapsacks and the heat of the day, was a continuous ovation. . Not the village only, but the entire neighboring country, seemed to have gathered to witness the departure of the " boys." The streets were packed with men, women and children, the national colors freely displayed, not only from buildings and flag-staffs, but worn, especially by the young of both sexes, in rosettes and ribbons, knots and bows of every description. It was a gala day, yet over all there spread a touch of sadness, and painful to all witnesses were the partings of many dear friends, as the last farewells were spoken.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.