USA > Massachusetts > History of the Thirty-sixth regiment Massachusetts volunteers. 1862-1865 > Part 15
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But, like all other pleasant experiences in a soldier's life, this rest was soon to end. At half-past three o'clock, on the afternoon of the 21st, we received orders to break camp.
1864. -
AT SPOTTSYLVANIA.
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and the brigade, with Jones' battery, was ordered to take possession of the crossing of the Po river at Stannard's Mills. After marching about five miles the Forty-fifth Pennsylvania, which was in the advance, encountered the enemy's pickets, and after a lively fight drove them across the river. Upon our further advance we uncovered a battery of three guns, posted near the river, which opened upon us with a heavy fire of shell and canister. Colonel Curtin formed his line of battle in the woods near the river, and the skirmishers became briskly engaged along the river's banks. General Potter came up at this time to examine the position of the enemy, which was found to be strongly intrenched. While searching for a ford by which to cross and attack, orders were received to suspend the attack, and our brigade and Jones' battery were left in position, to prevent the enemy from crossing, while the remainder of the column moved, by way of Smith's Mills, to Downer's bridge.
The day had been pleasant and very hot ; but at dusk, just as we had completed our movement, a heavy rain set in. We were in close proximity to a watchful enemy, and were obliged to maintain the utmost vigilance and quiet. We had no blankets nor shelter of any kind, and were not allowed to kindle fires, and, in consequence, passed a most dreary and un- comfortable night. Troops were marching in rear of our line all night, and before daylight our brigade was withdrawn and moved forward on the Telegraph road southward.
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178
THIRTY-SIXTHI REGIMENT.
May,
CHAPTER XV.
ON THE NORTH ANNA AND THE PAMUNKEY.
THE great army was once more on the march, and another "left-flanker" was in progress. At six o'clock, on Sunday morning, we halted an hour for breakfast. At seven the march was resumed. The day was pleasant and very hot, relieved by a half hour's rain at noon. Our brigade was separated from the remainder of the corps, which had marched during the previous night while we had been holding the river fords. During our noon halt all the trains of the army passed us, together with the head-quarters' guard, and the rebel prisoners captured in the recent battles. The noon halt was at Guiney Station. In the afternoon we marched in the direction of Bowling Green, toward the North Anna river, and our brigade had the rear of the column on this road. The march that day was very pleasant. We had emerged from the dense forests of the Wilderness and Spott- sylvania to an open and beautiful farming country, abounding with well-tilled fields and fine dwellings, which bore evidences of comfort and plenty, unscathed by the desolations of war. As we advanced southward the roads improved, and our march was very rapid. At five o'clock we came up with the remainder of our division, and continued the march until nightfall, when we bivouacked near Bethel Church, having marched sixteen miles.
Early the next morning the march was resumed, but the roads were so crowded with the wagon-trains and artillery that the progress was very slow, and we did not fairly com- mence our day's work till three o'clock in the afternoon. The
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roads having by that time been partly cleared we pushed along with great rapidity, our ears being every few minutes greeted with the distant booming of artillery. Our speed was not abated until about dark. when we approached the North Anna river at Ox Ford. We bivouacked for the night by the roadside near Chesterfield Church, and were lulled to sleep by the din of moving battalions and the steady fire of the skirmishers.
Grant's movement to the North Anna had been observed by Lee. The operation, which in the presence of a wary foe is one of the most hazardous, had been conducted. with great skill and complete success ; yet the enemy, possessing the direct road to the river, had been enabled to move with great rapidity, while the march of our army had to be made cautiously over comparatively unknown roads. When, there- fore, we reached the river we found the enemy prepared to dispute its passage. The army of the Potomac reached the North Anna on the afternoon of the 23d, at three points, - the Fifth and Sixth Corps, on the right, at Jericho Ford ; the Ninth near Ox Ford; and the Second, on the left, at the Chesterfield bridge. The river at the points where the army reached it makes a bend to the south, and then immediately to the north-east, thus nearly forming two sides of a triangle. Lee's army was in a strong position, the centre resting oppo- site General Burnside's position at Ox Ford, with his flanks drawn back, the line of battle being nearly in the form of the letter V ; or, as a rebel author aptly writes, Lee had "in- serted a wedge of gray tipped with steel," in the centre of Grant's line. The Fifth and Sixth Corps crossed the river to the right, and the Second, after sharp fighting at the bridge on the left.
When the passage at Ox Ford, between the two wings of our army, was attempted by General Burnside, it was resisted with great spirit ; and it being impracticable to attack at that point, although a portion of the corps crossed the river, the Ninth Corps was divided, and our division assigned to General
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THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
May,
Hancock to cooperate in the movement on the left. The 24th was excessively hot. The men were obliged to lie in an open field exposed to the sun. and suffered much from the heat. Soon after daylight the picket fire deepened into : heavy and continuons discharge of musketry, mingled now and then with artillery. At two o'clock came the order "Fall in !" and in a moment we were on our way toward the river which separated us from General Lee's position. Just before we reached the river a brief halt was ordered. We had moved out in column, and the Thirty-sixth had the left. When we resumed the march we faced by the left. and moved by a circuitous route through the woods to Chesterfield bridge, passing the hospitals of the Second Corps. Upon reaching General Hancock's head-quarters Colonel Curtin reported to that officer in person, who ordered us to cross the river at once. We were, however, obliged to wait for some time, while other troops and batteries were crossing, and were exposed to a severe artillery fire, which would have been very destructive had the guns been better served. We also encountered a severe fire as we crossed Chesterfield bridge, but fortunately no one was injured.
After crossing the river Captain Barker was directed to push on without waiting for the brigade, with orders to re- port to any officer of General Hancock's staff. We passed through a strong line of works captured early in the day by Birney's division of the Second Corps, and were ordered to relieve a Pennsylvania regiment of Mott's brigade, which had been deployed in the woods as skirmishers. This duty was at once performed, when General Hancock, who had come out to look at the ground, ordered us to push forward. with the remark. "See if you can find any rebels." The regiment advanced gallantly with a fine line. considering its length and the dense forest. In a few minutes a sharp rattling fire proved that we had found the enemy and in strong force. We continued the advance until we neared a large clearing, - an open, level field, across which, in the
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1-64.
edge of the woods, could be seen the enemy's entrenched picket line and the strong main line beyond. A charge across this field would entail fearful loss, for the rebels were burrowed in their works and could pour a most destructive fire upon our line. By this time the remainder of the division had come into line in our rear, and in a little while had a line of log breastworks erected. We were ordered to cover the front of our division, and it became necessary to extend our right to the bank of the river, which at this point was very high and steep. The enemy were well posted, and the fire of their sharp-shooters was very annoying and fatal. Company A lost Sergeants May and Derby, two of its best men, within five minutes after the line was extended. At the same time the left was extended, and our line, though thin, was in good position.
While these movements were in progress a most furious thunder-shower, which had threatened for some hours, burst upon us in great violence. The rain poured in torrents, and the blinding lightning and rolling thunder mingling with the vol- leys of musketry and crash of artillery produced an impres- sion calculated to inspire terror in the stoutest heart. The storm was so severe as for a time to put a stop to the firing while the battle of the elements continued. After the fury of the tempest had somewhat abated the picket-firing was actively renewed. Just before dark General Potter came out to examine the position, and while inspecting the picket line narrowly escaped death from the fire of the sharp-shooters. He was mounted, and presented a good target for their fire. Ile was cautioned of his danger and the nearness of the enemy, but answered only with an indifferent " Ihumph !" and after he had completed his inspection, which seemed unneces- sarily long, turned and rode leisurely away, to the evident relief of his companions.
Notwithstanding a heavy rain, which continued the greater part of the night, and our cheerless and exposed position, a steady fire was kept up all along the picket line, and the
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THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
May,
enemy's fire was unusually hostile. The returning daylight revealed the entrenchments of the enemy across the clearing in our front to be much nearer than we had realized in our advance in the previous twilight. They were very strong, protected by a formidable abatis, and were well filled with troops, who poured upon us a very close and effective fire. Our position, although somewhat protected by detached rifle- pits thrown up the night before, was greatly exposed and very dangerous. Soon after daylight the left of the regi- ment was advanced a short distance, for the purpose of cor- recting the formation of the pieket line. The work was accomplished under a severe fire, by which Luke Doyle of K, and Corporal Rice of C, were badly wounded. By slow degrees the picket-pits were extended, and by noon the line was made continuous and afforded a good protection. At four o'clock that afternoon the regiment was relieved, and posted in rear of the Forty-fifth Pennsylvania in the line of battle, having lost one man killed and four wounded.
During the 26th the brigade was under arms all day. The Second Brigade, supported by a portion of our own, attacked and drove back the whole line of the enemy's skirmishers in our front, and established a new line farther in advance. The works of the enemy were now reconnoitred. and found to be so strong as to make an attack impracticable ; accord- ingly the anticipated assault was not made. The rain con- tinued ; but the arrival of an unusually large mail caused much joy in camp, and more than compensated for the drenching we sustained. At nine o'clock that evening Cap- tain Smith, brigade officer of the day, advanced the entire skirmish line, under a sharp fire of musketry and artillery. Our brigade was then relieved by a brigade of Birney's division, and quietly withdrawn across the river. the Thirty- sixth leading the division line. After stumbling about in the mud and darkness for some five miles, the brigade, at two A.M., bivouacked near Mount Carmel Church, on the same ground occupied by us on the night of the 23d. The
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ON THE NORTH ANNA.
1864.
operations of the last four days had been extremely exhaust- ing. The constant strain by day and night, the exposure to storm, and all the dangers and fatigue incident to such a campaign, began to tell seriously upon the command. The effective strength of the regiment now was ten commissioned officers and two hundred and thirty-six enlisted men.
On the 27th orders bearing date of May 25th were pro- mulgated from General Grant's head-quarters, consolidating the Ninth Army Corps with the Army of the Potomac. Heretofore it had been an independent command, receiving directions from General Grant. By this arrangement Gen- eral Burnside, although senior in rank to General Meade, placed himself voluntarily under his command, and, with characteristic unselfishness, generously waived all considera- tions of rank and military etiquette for the good of the ser- vice.
During the forenoon of the 27th the corps was concentrated near Mount Carmel Church. Early in the afternoon the third flanking movement commenced. Each of these move- ments had brought us face to face with the enemy strongly intrenched to dispute our further progress. Each time, after days of toil and bloodshed, without gaining any material advantage, we had been withdrawn to renew the struggle at some other point. This movement was secretly and success- fully accomplished. Not a picket shot was fired, and the enemy did not seem to be aware of the withdrawal. In the march the Second Division had the rear of the column, and we moved in a sonth-easterly direction, toward the Pamunkey river. The roads were so obstructed by wagon trains and artillery that it cannot be said that we marched until night. We caught two or three hours' sleep at intervals during the evening, but after nine o'clock the halts were less frequent until about one o'clock, when we bivouacked by the roadside, after a toilsome march of about twelve miles.
At daylight on the 28th the camp was astir. At seven o'clock the march was resumed, and we passed through a tine,
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THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
May,
open country, level and well cultivated. The march, how- ever, was as tedious as that of the day before. The regular roads were given up to the immense trains, and the troops were obliged to make their way across fields and bottom lands. At noon we had an hour's rest for dinner, and at half-past two we halted on the grounds of an extensive plan- tation, where the corps was massed. Corps head-quarters were at the mansion-house. It was a princely establishment, surrounded by the cabins of the slaves, and from appearances "all the hands " were at home. We expected to camp at this place ; but, after an hour's halt, greatly to our disappoint- ment we were ordered forward.
The Second Division now had the right. The march was severe, and many fell out exhausted. Occasionally a halt was ordered, and the men dropped in the road for rest, and many had to be aroused to prevent them from being run over by the galloping artillery. It was emphatically a forced march. The roads were ablaze with burning rails, and the . tall pines on fire presented a most picturesque and brilliant scene for those who could keep their eyes open long enough to enjoy it. Soon after midnight, near Hanover Town, we reached the Pamunkey river, which we erossed on the pontoon bridge at one o'clock, and half an hour later bivouacked about two miles from the river. It was noticed that there was no playing " High, Low, Jack " to determine who should go for the water or cook the coffee. Every man dropped in his place, completely exhausted from the effects of a night march of more than twenty miles.
At four o'clock on the 29th we were again aroused. moved forward a few miles, and halted in the woods by the roadside while the Fifth Corps passed to the front. Soon after noon we were ordered to the rear, and halted for rest in a pine grove. through which flowed a stream of water in close prox- imity to the wagon train. It was Sunday ; surely rest was never more welcome to wearied. jaded men. It was the first rest deserving the name since the 20th, at Spottsylvania.
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ON THE NORTH ANNA.
1864.
Here we pitched our tents, and the men availed themselves of a fine opportunity for washing clothes, and overhauling their sadly diminished wardrobe. The evening was bright and beautiful. The head-quarters' band near us discoursed patriotic and saered music and songs of home, and the mem- ory of that pleasant Sabbath is undimmed even at this lapse of time. To many it was the last Sabbath on earth. The next dawned upon their lowly graves in the swamps of the Chiekahominy !
At eight o'clock on Monday, the 30th, we moved out of camp, and soon joined the remainder of the division at Hawes' shop. An intelligent guideboard informed us we were only twelve miles from Richmond. Line of battle was soon after formed, and an advance ordered. The enemy was in a strong position, and the skirmishing was very sharp. The division halted in the road while the Forty-eighth Penn- sylvania cleared the ground in our front by a gallant charge, when the division crossed a creek, and advanced about half a mile by the right flank into an open plain, where we formed line of battle under the personal direction of General Potter, who himself placed the guides. Here we were ordered to intrench, and soon had a good line of rifle-pits, while a heavy skirmish line was deployed in the woods in our front. The Second Corps was upon our right, our corps occupying a position between the Second and Fifth Corps. Strong recon- noissances were made on the roads leading toward the Chickahominy and Richmond. The firing was very heavy, and the rebel army was found to be in strong position on the line of the Totopotomoy. Again having the direct road they were enabled to confront us with their entire army strongly intrenched. The result of the movements of this day was to secure ground well up to the enemy's lines ; but no decisive action was fought.
On the 31st, in the afternoon. an advance was ordered. We left our strong works in the plain, and moved forward in line to the woods. and supported a gallant attack of the
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THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
May,
Second Brigade, made in connection with the Second Corps. We advanced about three-quarters of a mile over what Gen- eral Potter reported to be the worse ground he ever knew. The firing was very brisk, but being in the second line our loss was slight. The enemy was found to be strongly in- trenched ; but the attack forced him out of a line of skirmish pits, which were captured by our division, and the troops pushed closely up to the enemy's main line. The picket line was established with great difficulty, after severe fighting. The line of battle was now in a dense forest, reminding us of the Wilderness, and we occupied the remainder of the afternoon in preparing for a general attack. We connected on the right with Birney's division of the Second Corps, and were ordered to advance with the right or left, as the occa- sion might demand. On our right General Hancock at- tempted to force the enemy's line ; but the resistance was so determined that no advantage was gained. A strong line of works was erected, and the men slept on their arms, ready to repel an attack.
Early the next morning a battery of six Napoleon guns was brought up and put in position immediately in rear of our regiment, and opened fire on the enemy. At the same time heavy skirmishing was resumed, and the line was prepared to assault the works in our front. General Birney was to attack on the right, and our movement was to conform to his. His troops moved out ; but the works in his front were found to be very formidable, protected in front by marshy ground and a strong abatis, and the approaches enfiladed with artillery. In moving forward General Birney uncovered a battery, and he was obliged to suspend the attack. The men were under arms all day, ready to move forward or to the right or left. It was a long day of anxiety and suspense. Later the enemy made a fierce attack upon the two divisions on our left, but was handsomely repulsed. with heavy loss. Toward night he advanced a strong line to attack our division. He advaneed in fine order, under a
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1864.
heavy fire ; but, not liking the appearance of our works, prudently retired. The fighting all along the line was very severe. Much artillery was used, but no special advantage was gained.
About midnight we were aroused by whispered orders to move by the right flank, and with the utmost secrecy, to the rear. Long before daylight we were in position in the line of works built by us on the 30th of May. The Second Corps had been withdrawn from our right and moved to the left of the army. We were ordered to be in constant readiness for a rapid movement. While waiting here some of our com- rades of the Forty-fifth Pennsylvania, seized with a sudden attack of the Eastern Tennessee foraging mania, visited a recently deserted house in our rear. Upon searching the premises they found some hams and bacon sides buried in the cellar, and, on pursuing their investigations further, dug up, not hams, but bags of silver coin, which the owner had secreted. The amount found, it is said, was more than $3,000, besides a considerable amount in gold. The lucky miners carried on a profitable brokerage business for an hour, and soon the silver coin, exchanged for currency, was everywhere throughout the camp.
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THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
June,
CHAPTER XVI.
AT COLD HARBOR.
AT one o'clock we were ordered to the left, and moved by the left flank. The heat was intense, and the roads dusty. After marching about two miles that portion of the corps which had left the line was massed in an open field near Gen- eral Meade's head-quarters. in rear of the Fifth Corps right. Almost as soon as we halted we were overtaken by a furi- ous shower, which soon settled into an easterly storm. The rain poured in torrents, and each one was sheltering himself as much as possible, when the enemy made an attack. Rhodes' division of Ewell's corps, supported by Hill and Gordon, had been thrown forward along the road from Hundley's Corner, and had struck the skirmish line that covered our flank. The corps was at once put in position to resist the enemy's advance. The movement was on open ground, and the only corps manœuvre we had wit- nessed during the campaign. It was directed by General Burnside in person. The corps moved in three long lines by division fronts, and presented a splendid spectacle. It was a review under fire. When we came into position the First Division was in the front, on high ground near Bethesda Church. The Second and Third Divisions sup- ported the First. Two batteries of artillery opened upon the advancing enemy, who replied with artillery and musketry. and for a time there was a brisk duel. The attack of the enemy was handsomely repulsed, although, in the surprise occa- sioned by his first attack upon the skirmish line of the First Division, he succeeded in capturing a large number of prisoners.
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AT COLD HARBOR.
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Toward dusk the division was moved by the right flank to extend the line of battle in that direction, and a line of rifle- pits was thrown up. Later in the evening we advanced far- ther to the right and front, where the brigade was massed, and ordered to bivouac for the night. The men had hardly time to roll themselves in their blankets when the Thirty-sixth was sent for to prolong the line of the Second Brigade. It was raining hard when the regiment moved out. We halted in rear of the left of the Second Brigade line, which formed the extreme right of the army. In front of us and to the left was a line of deserted intrenchments, which the regiment was now ordered to occupy. This was a very hazardous op- eration. We were ignorant of the position, but knew that the enemy was in the immediate vicinity, if not in the very works we were ordered to occupy. Not a ray of light illu- mined the more than midnight darkness. The trees were dripping with moisture and every drop sounded like a foot- fall. As discovery would frustrate the entire plan, the men were sent in singly, each being cautioned to move quietly. We were obliged to use the utmost vigilance, and as it was, we drew some shots in moving in. We soon discovered the enemy to be on the other side of our line of pits, but a little on our left. A long, anxious night followed, a fitting prelude to the fearful day to follow.
We now fully comprehend what then we could not clearly understand. Of the previous movements we had been able to form some conception ; but the operations since crossing the Pamunkey, conducted rapidly in jungles, swamps, and laby- rinths of forest : in storm and darkness ; by marches and coun- termarches, advances and withdrawals, -all seemed to us to be without consistent plan or purpose. But these operations had been necessary to develop the strong position of the enemy along the line of the Chiekahominy. covering the railroad ap- proach and the principal roads leading to Richmond. The only direct path to the Confederate capital lay across this noted stream, which one writer says may be regarded as a wet ditch
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THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
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