USA > Massachusetts > History of the Thirty-sixth regiment Massachusetts volunteers. 1862-1865 > Part 22
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The movement in which the regiment was about to en- gage we found to be one of great importance, from the result of which much advantage to our arms was hoped. General Grant. it appeared, had decided to make one more attempt to turn the enemy's right flank, and, if possible, in- terrupt his communications, before the weather should become so bad as to render the roads impracticable for agres- sive warfare. A large part of the troops attached to the Second, Fifth, and Ninth Corps were withdrawn from the entrenched line for this purpose. The duty assigned to the Fifth and Ninth Corps was to advance upon the extreme right of the enemy's works, and capture them if possible, thus turning his tank ; while the Second Corps was to make a detour to the west, cross Hatcher's Run in the vicinity of Burgess' Mills, and operate against the Southside Railroad.
271
AGAIN IN THE TRENCHES.
1861.
At four o'clock we were on the road, and soon reaching the left of our line marched through an opening made in the works for our passage. The column then moved forward over an uneven country, heavily wooded in parts, and quite unfamiliar to the officers in command. The Fifth Corps worked its way with difficulty to a position to the left of the Ninth, and a general advance was attempted. The Third Division (colored) of the Ninth Corps led in this movement, and struck the enemy's line about two miles from our in- trenchments. The black men behaved admirably, driving the rebels to the shelter of their fortifications, which were found to be so formidable and well garrisoned that an esca- lade was deemed unadvisable ; and the position gained was simply held, for a time, to await the result of the movement to the left. The other divisions of the Ninth Corps remained in support of the Third Division, and the regiment busied it- self during the day in throwing up a line of rifle-pits, behind which it bivouacked at night. The night was rainy, and our condition anything but comfortable, as we wearily waited for the day.
The weather improved on the morning of the 28th, but, instead of the anticipated assault. we found that preparations were being made for the withdrawal of our forces, as it transpired that the operations of the two corps on our left had proved unsuccessful. Crawford's division, of the Fifth Corps, had crossed Hatcher's Run, with the intention of gain- ing a position behind the rebel right flank ; but became sepa- rated in the thick forest, and had remained all night in a dangerous plight. but was fortunately withdrawn without serious loss. The Second Corps had advanced, as directed, to Burgess' Mills, where it was thrown into some confusion by an assault of the enemy, from which it soon rallied and drove back the assailants, capturing many prisoners, and, although partial success was gained at this point, the evident strength of the rebel forces made further offensive operations unadvisable.
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272
THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
November,
Our division was ordered to retire about noon, and, in con- junction with a division of the Fifth Corps, executed a very pretty manœuvre. The troops of the Ninth Corps formed in line of battle, leaving an opening through which those of the Fifth passed by the flank ; the latter then in turn formed in line and in like manner guarded the passage to the rear of the other column. The movement was conducted with the coolness and regularity of a parade, notwithstanding the rattling fire of the skirmishers, which furnished an exciting accompaniment. After reaching our old line of defence we marched quietly back to our lately abandoned camp, and reoccupied it.
Soon after the return from this unprofitable excursion the regiment received a material addition to its strength by the consolidation with it of the Twenty-first Battalion Massachu- setts Veteran Volunteers. This command was the remnant made up of reenlisted men of the Twenty-first Regimeut Massachusetts Volunteers. and was justly proud of its long and brilliant record. On account of the smallness of it- numbers it was ordered to join our larger force ; but its vet- eran members were naturally averse to the change, as by it their old regiment lost its identity in a younger one ; neither did the men of the Thirty-sixth regard with favor the ac- cession of recruits in this wholesale manner, as their ten com- panies were now compacted into seven, and their accustomed formation lost. Military necessity is regardless of sentiment. however, and the change was peacefully made, the new-comer- being pleasantly received ; and they faithfully served with the regiment until its departure for home, when they were transferred to the Fifty-sixth Massachusetts Volunteers.
The following regimental order in reference to this con- solidation and organization was issued : -
HEAD-QUARTERS THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT,
MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS, November 1st. 1861. REGIMENTAL ORDERS NO. 28.
In obedience to Special Orders from War Dept., A.G.O. No.
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1801.
AGAIN IN THE TRENCHES. 273
358, the Thirty-sixth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers is con- solidated into seven companies, and the Twenty-first Battalion Massachusetts Volunteers is transferred to the Thirty-sixth Regi- ment to complete the organization.
The Thirty-sixth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers is consoli- dated as follows : --
Companies K and B to B.
G and I to G. C and II to C.
The Twenty-first Battalion to be HI, I, and K.
Commissioned officers are assigned as follows : -
Co. A, Capt. J. A. Marshall ; Ist Lieut. Saml. Osborne.
" B, " Wm. H. Hodgkins, " Austin Davis.
" C, J. B. Smith, P. G. Woodward. " D, H. S. Burrage, E. F. Emory.
" E, J. B. Fairbank,
G. W. Ilarwood.
F, " T. E. Ames,
J. Hancock.
G, " A. S. Davidson, W. H. Brigham.
HI, " E. F. Raymond, 6: J. R. Davis.
" I, 1st Lieut. F. M. McDermott ; 2d Lieut. A. R. Mott.
" K, Capt. C. W. Davis ; 1st Lient. W. H. Sawyer ; 2d Lient. W. H. Morrow.
By order of T. L. BARKER,
THOMAS H. HASKELL, Adj't. Maj. Comd'y Reg't.
Many of the officers were absent from the regiment, serving in various capacities : Captain Hodgkins was A.C.M. Third Division, Ninth A.C: Captain Smith, Provost Marshal, Sec- ond Division, Ninth A.C; Captain Ames. A. Aide-de-camp, First Brigade. Second Division, Ninth A.C; Captain Ray- mond, Assistant Inspector General, Second Division, Ninth A.C; Captain Davis, on detached service ; Lieutenant Austin Davis, on detached service, recruiting in Massachusetts ; Lieutenant Brigham, absent, sick at Annapolis, Md.
The uncertain and disagreeable weather, characteristic of a Virginia winter, had now set in, and stormy days came with such frequency that the more enterprising and active men 18
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274
THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
November,
began the work of "fixing up their tents." The experience gained at Falmouth and Lenoir's Station was of value, now that the erection of mud chimneys and log underpinning's became a frequent occupation. The hospitality of the thrifty ones who first became the happy owners of fireplaces was often subjected to a severe strain, when their improvi- dent friends crowded in to view the improvements, and. beguiled by the genial warmth, outstayed their welcome.
Little of severe duty fell to our lot at this period, the work of picketing the front constituting the main employ- ment ; and this was quite a peaceful pursuit when compared with that of the summer, as there was no firing on the line, and our relations with the enemy's outposts were generally friendly.
This feeling of confidence, however, was broken, Novem- ber 1st, by the capture of Captain Burrage. He was on duty as brigade officer of the day, and his instructions allowed him to exchange papers, if an opportunity offered, - an exchange having taken place at this point almost daily for some time. In visiting the picket posts, in company with the division officer of the day, Captain Burrage found a rebel officer wait- ing to exchange papers on a road which ran through the woods where our division had suffered so severely September 30th. Leaving the division officer of the day. Captain Burrage walked down the road and met the rebel officer. The latter had with him three Richmond papers, and these Captain Bur- rage, who had only a single Washington paper, received. promising to bring out another paper in the afternoon. Having made his rounds of the picket posts on our brigade front, Captain Burrage carried the papers he had received to General Curtin's head-quarters. On revisiting his lines, in the afternoon, he learned that the rebel officer had not appeared. After waiting a while, wishing to fulfil his promise even to an enemy, he concluded to call some one out from the rebel line. Unfolding the paper, and waving it in his hand, he walked down the road to the point where he exchanged in the morning.
1861.
AGAIN IN THE TRENCHES. 275
Then passing an angle in the wood he came in sight of the rebel picket line, which was about fifty yards distant. Halting, and still waving his paper, he saw a rebel soldier leave his post as if to go for an officer. In a minute or two the soldiers stood up in the rebel pits, levelled their muskets, and an officer called out, "Come in, or we'll fire !" To attempt to escape was useless, and Captain Burrage was compelled to go in.
General Curtin at once gave orders to capture, in retalia- tion, the first rebel officer found approaching our lines to ex- change papers. For a while the enemy made no efforts in this direction ; but, abont a fortnight later, Roger A. Pryor, formerly a General in the Confederate service, but now a cou- rier attached to General Lee's head-quarters, came over to exchange papers near the place where Captain Burrage was captured. A captain of the 11th New Hampshire, who had not forgotten General Curtin's order, met him, and, drawing his revolver on him, marched him into our lines. Pryor was at once sent to Fort Lafayette, in New York harbor, and after some negotiations, continued through several months, both Captain Burrage and General Pryor were at length ex- changed.
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276
THIRTY-SIXTHI REGIMENT.
November,
CHAPTER XXV.
IN WINTER QUARTERS.
DURING the latter part of November the Ninth Corps was ordered to the right of the line to relieve the Second Corps, which had been on duty in the trenches in front of Peters- burg since the movement of the Ninth Corps to the Weldon Railroad, in August. On the 29th the brigade marched to the vicinity of Hancock Station, on the military railroad, and was assigned to the main line of trenches, the Thirty-sixth being detailed for duty in Fort Rice as its permanent gar- rison. Thus, after an absence of nearly three months, the regiment was again on duty in the old line, a little to the left of the position it occupied during the summer months. Though in a new location all the scenes around us were fa- miliar. Immediately on our left stood the celebrated Fort Sedgwick, better known in military histories as Fort " Hell," - a name given to it by the soldiers on account of its ex- posed situation, which invited the fire of the enemy's artillery. It was frequently subjected to terrific cannonading from the guns opposite.
In front of us stood the grim batteries in the enemy's main line of defence. The principal battery in that portion of the line was in Fort Mahone,- called by the rebel soldiers Fort " Damnation," for the same reason which won for Fort Sede- wick its profane sobriquet. The brigade extended from Fort Meikle on the right, held by the Fifty-eighth Massachusetts, connecting with the left of the First Division, to Fort Davis. about forty rods to the left of Fort Sedgwick, held by the Seventeenth Vermont, Fifty-Sixth Massachusetts, and Thirty-
277
IN WINTER QUARTERS.
1864.
first Maine, which constituted the right of General Griffin's (Second) brigade.
The principal duty devolving upon the regiment during the winter was picket duty in the trenches. The pieket line was an intrenched work about one hundred and fifty yards in front of the fort, and about the same distance from the rebel picket line. Little of an exciting nature occurred during the day, but at night the picket-firing was kept up by both sides. There was more or less artillery firing from the main lines on each side, the shells going over our heads. When the enemy became aware of the change of troops in their front, and the substitution of the Ninth Corps for the Second, they supposed that the colored troops still belonged to the Ninth Corps, and their firing was sharp and continuous ; but after being told that the colored regiments had been trans- ferred to another department they subsided into their usual round of firing. At times the batteries indulged in lively duels. Almost directly in front of the line occupied by the regiment was a battery containing one or more eight-inch columbiads, which threw its shells to a great distance in the rear of our main lines, and annoyed the signal station at the Avery house, the range of which they had obtained. In one of the artillery duels our guns in Fort Sedgwick poured such a fierce fire into this battery as not only effectually to silence it, but finally, by a lucky shot, to burst the gun which had caused so much trouble.
During the raid which General Warren made with the Fifth Corps to Nottaway, in December, the regiment was ordered to he in readiness to march, but was not withdrawn from the fort ; and again, in February, during the movement to Hatcher's Run, it was expected that the regiment would be ordered to the left ; but the order to be prepared for movement was not followed by orders to leave.
Now and then an incident transpired to enliven the spirits of the men. On one occasion, after some days of extremely cold weather, firewood became very scarce on the picket line,
278
THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
November,
and one of our sergeants called out to the enemy that he pro- posed to ent down a large tree which stood midway between the picket lines. He accordingly went out, followed by five men with axes ; but before he could begin the work of chop- ping, he was joined by a rebel lieutenant and four men with an axe, who had come out for the same purpose. As each side claimed the tree it was agreed that both parties should assist in cutting it down, and then divide it as equally as possible. The top fell toward the enemy's lines, and two men stood on the trunk, back to back, - they who had stood so often face to face, - and cut through the trunk, our men taking the butt and the enemy the branches. That night the blaze of the little fires in the rear of each picket line added to the comfort of the men in their weary watches.
On the 31st of January a truce was declared during the passage of Vice-President Stephens and the Peace Commis- sioners from Petersburg to City Point. Many of the men along the entire Petersburg front crossed the lines to "con- fer with the enemy " in the peaceable exchange of coffee and sugar for tobacco and such other commodities as the "John- nies" had.
During a portion of the month of January the regiment was commanded by Captain Fairbank, in the absence on leave of Lieutenant-Colonel Barker. Adjutant Haskell also received a leave of absence, and some of the enlisted men were per- mitted to go home on furlough.
Once or twice battalion drill was ordered on the open ground in rear of the fort ; but, as the enemy had perfect range of the place, they did not propose to allow any show or parade in force, and their well-directed shots rendered any exposure for such a purpose impracticable.
Tidings of the steady and successful march of General Sherman's army were frequently received, and information of the capture of Fort Fisher, Wilmington, and Charleston was communicated to the enemy in shotted salutes of one hun- dred guns from all the batteries in the main line of works.
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1865.
IN WINTER QUARTERS. 279
Toward the close of February there were many indications that the enemy contemplated the evacuation of Petersburg, and attempt a junction with the army of General Johnston in North Carolina. Desertions from the troops along our front became very frequent, and the statements made by these men tended to arouse the apprehension of the commanding officers lest the enemy should elude our grasp. The piekets were kept constantly alert, and on dark and foggy nights scouts were sent out to ascertain if any movement was being made by the enemy. For the month succeeding the 25th of Feb- ruary there were numerous indications of changes in the enemy's position. These movements were accompanied with much yelling and firing on the part of the confederates, and whenever the scouts or skirmishers advanced they were fol- lowed to our lines by large numbers of deserters. One night, early in March, we saw the flames of an extensive fire in Petersburg, and heard distinctly the ringing of the bells. The reserves were under arms, and moved upto the main line, prepared to follow any withdrawal of the enemy. After the excitement had subsided the rebel pickets informed us that the fire in the city was accidental. Thus week by week, and month by month, the winter passed away, and the warmer sun and opening ground and balmy air proclaimed the ap- proach of spring, that season for more active and exciting work. Toward the middle of March enormous quantities of supplies were forwarded to the left. The trains were loaded with provisions, and the tops of cars covered with men re- turning to their regiments from hospitals and convalescent camps.
Old soldiers needed not to be reminded that an active campaign would soon be inaugurated, and with the pro- verbial instinet begotten of experience began that personal preparation for effective work and rapid marching in selecting what things to throw away. Inspections became more fre- quent and exacting, and the fact of a speedy movement " was in the air." Sutlers were ordered to City Point. The reserve
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280
THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
March,
division was moved to the left of Fort Davis, to stake out and fortify a new defensive line covering the left and rear of the Ninth-Corps line, and in a few days had a strong line of in- trenchments.
While these preparations were in progress, in fact, while the army of the Potomac was under marching orders, the enemy suddenly and unexpectedly assumed the offensive. On the night of the 24th of March, the day General Grant issued his orders for a forward movement of his armies, a strong force of the enemy, consisting of Gordon's corps and Bushrod Johnson's division, the whole commanded by General Gordon, was prepared for an attack on the right of the Ninth Corps. Before daylight on the morning of the 25th three heavy columns of the enemy charged and eapt- ured the main line on our right from Battery Nine to Fort Haskell, including Fort Stedman, the principal work in that portion of the line. The columns after reaching the works charged to the right and left of the aperture, and ad- vaneed a heavy line to the rear to seize the military railroad and sever connections with City Point. By this time a portion of the Third Division, under General Hartranft, reached the scene of action, and attacked the enemy with such vigor as to drive him into Fort Stedman and the adjoining lines. With the reinforcements from this division the troops on the right and left of the works held by the enemy were enabled to form a line perpendicular to the main line, and not only successfully resisted any attempt of the enemy to advance, but confined him to that portion of the line al- ready occupied.
Preparations were at once made to retake the captured line ; and General Hartranft's division, by a gallant charge, succeeded in reoccupying the works, and captured more than nineteen hundred prisoners. While this movement was in progress on the right. the troops of the Second and Fifth Corps, on the left of the Ninth. attacked and captured the enemy's strongly intrenched picket line in their front, gain-
281
IN WINTER QUARTERS.
1865.
ing very valuable ground, capturing nearly a thousand pris- oners, repelling several desperate attacks of the enemy to recapture the works.
In the action at Fort Stedman the regiment was represented by Captain Hodgkins, who was serving on the staff of General Hartranft, commanding Third Division. It was an action in which the Ninth Corps won deserved credit, ex- acting from the enemy a bloody price for his temerity, and fully avenging the disaster at the explosion of the mine eight months before.
Comparative quiet was maintained by the enemy for a few days following their repulse on the 25th. On the 27th General Sheridan and the Cavalry Corps arrived in rear of our lines, and moved to the left. On the 29th the surplus artillery of the army of the Potomac, two hundred pieces, was sent to the Ninth Corps, and the several corps desig- nated for the turning movement on the left moved out. The operations of the army had begun on a grand scale.
282
THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE FINAL ASSAULT AT PETERSBURG.
THE enemy's works from the Appomattox to a point in front of Fort Sedgwick were part of the old interior line of defences. At this point the old line turned to the ene- my's right, forming an angle, but the works were continued parallel with our front by a kind of spur, which diverged from an old line and swept down toward Hatcher's Run. The Ninth Corps fronted the whole of this old line to the angle and about two miles of the spur. When the main army moved to the left, on the 29th of March, the corps was disposed so as to hold our front line to Fort Davis, and a line of works running back from that point and covering our left and rear. In other words our left was eurved backward into a fish-hook shape, and our position became isolated.
On the night of the 29th a considerable detail of the regi- ment was sent out to level a disused parapet, some two or three hundred yards in front of the fort. While at work the men were startled at about ten o'clock by the sound of rapid cannonading on the right. Looking toward the Ap- pomattox they saw the air filled with shells, the burning fuses appearing like gigantic fireflies. It was an attractive spectacle, and for a few moments the men leaned on their spades and gazed ; but as the firing ran rapidly down the line, and mortar-batteries and pickets began to open in their immediate front, there was a sudden and unanimous decision that a view from the inside of the fort was not only prefer- able, but of the most pressing importance. The regiment turned out and took position in the fort ready for action,
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283
FINAL ASSAULT AT PETERSBURG.
1865.
but nothing occurred beyond the noise and a few casual- ties.
General Parke received orders on Thursday afternoon, the 30th, to assault the enemy's works at some point in his front, at four o'clock, the following morning. The point of attack was left to his discretion. He had already selected the position in front of Fort "Hell" (Sedgwick), on the Jerusalem Plank road, and at nightfall Hartranft's division and Potter's division, except the Thirty-sixth and the other regiments garrisoning the forts, were massed in rear of Fort Sedgwick. Before midnight, however, orders were received suspending the assault, the troops were returned to their camps, and, although everything was constantly on the qui vire, there was no movement for the ensuing two days.
Shortly before five o'clock on Saturday, the 1st of April, General Parke received orders to assault at four o'clock the next morning, and the same dispositions were made as be- fore. At ten minutes before ten in the evening came a tele- gram from General Meade, directing Parke to open all his artillery at once, push forward skirmishers, and follow them up with columns of assault. Before the necessary arrange- ments were completed these orders were modified by in- structions that the assault in force should be contingent on developments of weakness on the part of the enemy. The artillery opened, and the skirmishers demonstrated all along the line. The enemy was found to be in force and every- where prepared except opposite the line between Forts Hays and Howard, where Griffin's brigade of our division sur- prised and captured two hundred and fifty pickets. The original plan was accordingly adhered to, and preparations for assaulting at four o'clock the next morning were made.
At three o'clock General Parke entered Fort Riee. and es- tablished his head-quarters for the coming battle. Potter's and Hartrantt's divisions, and Harriman's brigade of Will- cox's, -all of which had been lying massed behind Fort Sedg- wiek for two hours, - moved forward at the same hour and
284
THIRTY-SIXTH REGIMENT.
April,
formed a column between our main line and pieket line. The enemy's pickets were in close proximity to ours, but the movement was executed so quietly as to give no warning to them. The formation was in column of regiments. On the right of the Jerusalem Plank road, its left resting on the road, was Hartranft's division of Pennsylvanians, six regi- ments, the Two hundred and seventh leading; the Two hundredth and Two hundred and ninth were held in reserve. On the right of Hartranft was a second column, consisting of Harriman's brigade, of Willcox's division. five regiments, with the Thirty-eighth Wisconsin leading, andthe Twenty-seventh Michigan and Thirty-seventh Wisconsin in reserve. On the left of the Jerusalem Plank road, right resting on the road, was a third column, our own division, minus the Thirty-sixth and five other regiments which were in the forts. Griffin's brigade, six regiments, led by the One hundred and seventy-ninth New York, had the ad- vance, supported by our own brigade, Curtin's, with the Thirty-ninth New Jersey in front, followed in order by the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania, the Forty-fifth Pennsylvania. and Fifty-eighth Massachusetts. At the head of each of these three columns was a storming party, flanked by pion- eers with axes to eut away abatis, ete. ; and a detail of one hundred men from the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery accompanied them to serve captured guns. Ely's brigade, of Willcox's division, occupied our line from the Appomattox to near Fort Morton, opposite the Crater, and the Fifty-fir -! Pennsylvania, of Harriman's brigade, was stretched along tin- part of the line at the Crater vacated by its brigade on the moving to the left to join in the main assault. To mislead the enemy as to the real point of attack, these troops on the right were ordered to make a strong demonstration at four o'clock, which was to be followed by the advance of the three columns along the Jerusalem Plank road.
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