USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Douglas > History of the town of Douglas, (Massachusetts,) from the earliest period to the close of 1878 > Part 23
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lading fire on our line while returning to the city, but, either through their great haste to join their fleeing comrades, or bad practice, they did us little harm - but two men slightly wounded during the whole shelling. After following up the enemy two miles, the Second Division was ordered back to the city - the Fifteenth to the north bank of the river, supporting battery A, First Rhode Island Artillery, which covered the pontoon bridge, where we remained until the following day about dusk, when companies A, B, E and G moved into the rifle-pits above and below the bridge, to cover its removal.
The regiment camped near the banks of the river until the 8th instant, when we moved half a mile to the rear, to get better ground for camping purposes. Here the regiment remained, doing picket duty along the river, until Sunday, the 14th of June, when it moved, about 9 o'clock P. M., towards Stafford Court-house. After going three miles it countermarched and returned to our old camp, and bivouacked until 3 A. M. of the 15th, when it again started, passing Stafford Court-house about 11 A. M. The day. was excessively hot, and the roads dusty, and a great portion of the way leading through valleys shut out. from air, and terribly. exposed to the hot rays of the sun, which told fearfully on the men. Halted about 6 P. M. for the night.
June 16. Moved about 3 o'clock A. M., passing Dumfries at 8, and arrived at the Occoquan river about sunset - being another sultry and tedious day. Bivouacked for the night. Moved, the 17th, at 8 o'clock, and arrived at Sangster's Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, at 2 o'clock P. M. Here the regiment went into camp, and remained until Friday, the 19th. Marched, at half-past. 12 P. M. for Centreville, five miles distant, where it arrived at dark.
June 20. The regiment moved to Thoroughfare Gap, a dis- tance of eighteen miles, arriving there about midnight, after a tedious march. It remained there until the 25th. Our forces moved towards the Upper Potomac. The right wing of the regi- ment was deployed as flankers, covering the line of march, which for a considerable distance was harrassed by the enemy's cavalry: and artillery. One man of the regiment was wounded. The: bivouack this night was at Gum Springs, fifteen miles from Thor- oughfare Gap. A heavy rain rendered the marching very tire- some.
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On the morning of the 26th the regiment marched to Edward's Ferry, where, after many wearisome halts, it crossed the Potomac, bivouacking about midnight on the Maryland bank of the river. Distance marched about ten miles.
On the 27th marched about 3 P. M. Bivouacked at 11 P. M., near Sugar-loaf Mountain, after marching a distance of twelve miles. Previous to this march the following order was read' to the regiment : -
" HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, SECOND CORPS, EDWARD'S FERRY, Va., June 26th, 1863.
[GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 105.]
The Fifteenth and Nineteenth Massachusetts Volunteers, for march- ing to-day in the best and most compact order, and with the least strag- gling from their ranks, are excused from all picket duty and outside details for four days.
By command of
Brigadier-General GIBBON.
J. P. WOOD, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General."
June 28. Marched to Frederick City, a distance of eighteen miles.
June 29. Moved at 8 A. M., and bivouacked at 9 P. M. near Uniontown, Md., after accomplishing a march of thirty-three miles. The men were much prostrated by this terrible tax on their endurance.
Tuesday, June 30. The regular muster for pay was made, and the order of General Meade, assuming command of the army, published.
July 1. Started at 8 A. M., and marched to Taneytown. About noon heavy cannonading was heard to the northward. The troops were at once put in motion, and marched rapidly towards the Pennsylvania line, under stringent orders to allow no man, for any cause, to fall behind. Bivouacked at night behind a barricade of rails, three miles south of Gettysburg. Distance marched this day seventeen miles.
Thursday, July 2. The regiment started an hour before day- light for the battle-field, and got into position about sunrise, be- hind Cemetery Ridge, where a large portion of the Second Corps was massed. Though there was constant skirmishing, no demon-
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stration of any importance was made from either side until about 1 r. M., when the enemy opened fire with artillery on the Second Corps, bursting their shells with great accuracy over its position. The Fifteenth, with another regiment of the brigade, was now moved out to position full three hundred yards in front of the main line. Here a barricade of rails was hastily thrown up. About simset the enemy made a furious assault upon our lines. Having driven in the Third Corps, they speedily gained the flank of this. advanced detachment of the Second. The batteries on the ridge opened on their advance with grape and case-shot, but through some deplorable mistake most of the shots fell short, and tore with destructive effect through the ranks of the Fifteenth. Ex- posed thus to a fire in front, flank and rear, the regiment was forced, after considerable loss, to fall back to the position behind' the ridge. The regiment bivouacked on the battle-field.
On Friday, July 3, the rebels opened on our lines with over a hundred pieces of artillery, at about 1 P. M. This terrible fire was continued for over two hours, but, though the air seemed filled. with the fragments of bursting shells, comparatively little dam- age was done. At 3 P. M. the rebel infantry moved to the as- sault. Our men sprang promptly to meet them, glad at a prospect of work -relieving them from their painful recumbent position, which a broiling sun rendered the more intolerable. This contest- lasted an hour or two, during which both armies showed a deter- mination to hold its ground, regardless of the results. A slight wavering of the rebel line was detected, and, at the suggestion of Colonel Hall, commanding Third Brigade, the colors of the Fif- teenth were ordered to advance, when the remnant of the regiment. rallied promptly around them, and the whole line, as if moved by one impulse, rushed forward and carried the position. The regi- ment was sent out to picket the field, and at daylight on the. morning of the 4th skirmishing commenced, and continued until the regiment was relieved, at 8 o'clock. The regiment went into action with 18 officers and 221 enlisted men. During the three days it lost 3 officers (Colonel Ward and Captains Murkland and Jörgensen) killed, and 8 officers wounded, and 19 enlisted men killed and 85 wounded - many of whom have since died. Satur- day, July 4, was spent on the field.
At 2 P. M., Sunday, July 5th, the regiment left the battle-
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ground and marched to Two Taverns, a distance of six miles, where it remained until the morning of the 7th, when it moved five miles further to Taneytown. Leaving Taneytown on the 8th, in a pouring rain, the march was continued over horrible roads, through Woodsborough to the neighborhood of Frederick City, a. distance of eighteen miles. On this march the dispatch announc- ing the capture of Vicksburg was published to the troops, and was received with the greatest enthusiasm.
July 9, the march was resumed at an early hour. Crossed South Mountain at Crampton's Gap. Bivouacked at 9 P. M. Distance marched, twenty miles.
July 10, marched to the vicinity of Antietam battle-field, a dis- tance of eight miles.
July 11, moved three or four miles, to a point near Hagerstown.
On the 12th the regiment took its position in the line of the Second Corps in front of the enemy, and built a strong breast- work of earth and logs, behind which it lay until the morning of the 14th, when, the enemy having retreated across the river, our forces moved up and occupied Williamsport.
On the 15th the regiment marched to Sharpsburg, and from thence by the "tow-path" to the vicinity of Sandy Hook, a dis- tance of seventeen miles.
July 16, moved about five miles to Pleasant Valley, and camped until the 18th, when, crossing the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers at Harper's Ferry, the line of march was taken up down Loudon Valley, over the same ground traveled in the fall campaign of the previous year. Distance marched this day ten miles.
, July 19, moved about eight miles, to the vicinity of Snicker's Gap.
July 20, moved to Bloomfield, six miles, at which place a halt was made until the 22d, when the march was continued to Ashby's Gap, a distance of eleven miles.
On the 23d moved to Markham Station, on the Manassas Gap Railroad. Here a halt of some hours was made. Meantime a por- tion of the Third Corps, having become engaged with the enemy at Manassas Gap, the Second Corps was started to their assistance. Hurrying as fast as possible over paths frightfully rough, it reached the scene of conflict about midnight, when the exhausted men were allowed to make coffee and to bivouac for the remainder of the night. Distance marched this day seventeen miles.
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HISTORY OF DOUGLAS.
On the 24th the rebels having retreated, our forces began to move out of the Gap. The Fifteenth bivouacked at Markham Station, five miles back.
On the 25th marched to White Plains, a distance of twenty miles, and continuing the march on the 26th, via Warrenton to the Juction, a distance of twenty-three miles, went into camp near the latter place. Here the regiment remained until the 30th. Tents were struck at 6 o'clock r. M., and the corps moved towards Morrisville. Being the rear-guard of trains, our move- ments were necessarily very slow, making but five miles before 2 o'clock A. M. of the 31st. Bivouacked by the roadside until morning. Moved again about 9 A. M., and reached Morrisville at -5 r. M., and encamped in the woods. Weather very hot.
August 4, moved one mile toward Bealton Station, for the pur- pose of getting better ground for camping purposes. Weather excessively hot.
August 15, received one hundred and seventy-nine recruits under the " Conscript Act."
August 18, again changed our camping ground by moving about one mile in a northerly direction, these camps being known as " Camp near Morrisville."
August 30, orders came for the regiment to be ready to move at 3 o'clock A. M. of the 31st. The Second Corps marched at that hour toward Falmouth, Virginia, to guard the fords along the Rappahannock, while the cavalry force, with flying artillery under General Kilpatrick, moved farther down, to destroy two small gun- boats in the river, captured by the enemy two days before. The regiment, with the rest of the Second Division, went to Banks' Ford, arriving there about sunset. Distance marched, twenty miles. Remained at this point until September 3d, when, the object of the movement having been successfully accomplished, namely, the destruction of the gunboats, we took up the line of march for our camp at Morrisville, at half-past 6 o'clock P. M., which place was reached at 2 o'clock A. M. of September 4th.
September 12, the regiment broke camp at 10 o'clock. A. M., and with the rest of the Second Corps marched to Bealton Sta- tion, and bivouacked near the railroad.
September 13, very rainy in forenoon. The regiment moved at 7 A. M., and crossed the Rappahannock at Rappahannock Sta-
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tion, the Second Corps being a support to the cavalary, which was advancing towards Culpepper Court-house, which place we. reached at 4 o'clock P. M. Remained here until the 16th, when the regiment moved out through the town one mile and a half in a westerly direction, and was directed to go into camp. All the while rapid cannonading was distinctly heard towards Raccoon Ford, on the Rapidan river. The men had scarcely got their tents pitched when orders came to be ready to move at a mo- ment's notice. Every man laid himself down that night with the feeling that he would be called upon to meet the enemy on the anniversary of the bloody battle of Antietam.
September 17, orders came to move at 5 o'clock A. M., when the regiment moved towards Raccoon Ford, where it arrived about noon. The Second Corps relieved the cavalry, and picketed along the river from the Ford to Cedar Mountain, this regiment being situated opposite Robinson's Ford. For several days the enemy kept up a constant fire on our pickets, whenever exposed to view, themselves being concealed among the scrub-oaks on the bluff on the south side of the river. They seemed to take the oc- casion of our relieving pickets to fire upon us, which compelled our men to deploy and reach their position at the double-quick.
October 5, the Second Corps was relieved by the Sixth Corps, and the regiment marched on the 6th back to Culpepper, and encamped about a mile north of the town.
October 10, orders were received about noon to strike tents immediately, and the regiment had scarcely got packed up when the bugle sounded the " assembly." Lines were formed, and we marched out some four miles west of the ground occupied, and formed a line of battle along a piece of woods, stacked arms, and bivouacked in rear of the stacks.
October 11, turned out at half-past 1 A. M., and moved at 2 o'clock via Brandy Station to Rappahannock Station. Re- crossed the river about noon, and moved out one mile north of Bealton Station.
October 12, the regiment received orders at 1 o'clock P. M. to move immediately. Proceeded back to Rappahannock Station, and again crossed the river, and moved in line of battle to. within some two miles of Brandy Station. Halted at sunset, and bivouacked. At 12 o'clock (midnight) the regiment received.
- --
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orders to turn out and move at once. Again marched back to Rappahannock Station, recrossed the river, and took up a line of march via Bealton Station towards Sulphur Springs, where our cavalry had been repulsed the day previous by the enemy's infantry. Arrived within about two miles of that place at 7 o'clock A. M., when the Second Corps was massed by divisions, stacked arms, and rested till about noon, when the regiment, together with the rest of the corps, moved towards Warrenton Junction, which place was reached about dark, and bivouacked for the night, to enable the baggage trains to get well out of the way, that they might not interfere with the march of the troops.
October 14, moved at 5 o'clock A. M. for Manassas Junction. While passing near Auburn the enemy attacked the Third Division of the Second Corps; still the column pressed on, this regiment marching as flankers for the First Brigade, until it reached Catlett's Station. Here a halt was made for coffee, and the column moved on, the cavalry skirmishing with the enemy in the rear. When near Bristow Station the head of the column (this regiment being second in line) was attacked by the enemy's infantry and artillery, and our line of battle formed, under a sharp fire, along the embankment of the railroad. We were hotly engaged for about an hour, repulsing the enemy with heavy loss to them, and comparatively light to this regiment. Its total loss was one officer (Lietenant Charles H. Stevens) mortally wounded (who has since died), and two enlisted men killed, nine wounded, and two missing. .Remained in this position until 9 o'clock P. M., when the regiment moved on via Manassas Junction, fording Bull Run at 3 o'clock A. M. of the 15th. Bivouacked on the north bank until daylight, when the regiment moved to the right, to a point one mile and a half from Centreville, and formed a line of battle. The pickets of the regiment were engaged with those of the enemy for the greater portion of the day, and the regiment exposed to the fire of their batteries, but no casualties occurred. Towards night tents were pitched, and the men directed to make themselves as comfortable as possible.
October 19. The regiment moved at 7 o'clock A. M. via Manassas Junction, and halted about 2 P. M., one and a half miles north of Bristow Station, and bivouacked at night.
Marched at 6 A. M., October 20th, towards Gainesville, fording
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Broad Run at two different points, and, later in the day, Muddy Run and Kettle Run. Reached Auburn at sunset, and bivouacked in the woods, near the point where a part of the Second Corps was attacked on the 14th. The regiment pitched tents the day follow- ing, and remained here till the 23d. Marched at 7 A. M. to within two miles of Warrenton, and went into camp along the Warrenton Branch Railroad. Here the men commenced building log-houses, and in some cases completed them, but were allowed to enjoy them but a short time, for on the 7th of November the regiment moved at 5 o'clock A. M. via Warrenton Junction and Bealton to Kelly's Ford, on the Rappahannock. Bivouacked at dark, half a mile from the river. This was one of the hardest marches, for the distance, that the regiment had ever experienced. Many of the men had just drawn clothing, which, together with eight days' rations and rapid marching over a dusty road, told on their strength severely, although the distance marched was but about twenty miles.
November 8. Turned out at 5 o'clock A. M., and crossed the river on pontoon bridges about sunrise. The Second Division advanced in line of battle, by brigade (this regiment being in the second line), about one mile, then moved in a westerly direction some three miles, halting at intervals, while our skirmishers were advancing slowly. At 4 o'clock P. M. pitched tents, and remained here until the 10th, when the regiment moved some two and a half miles west, and occupied the partially-built barracks of the " Stonewall" Brigade of the rebel General Picket's division. This camp was known as "Camp near Brandy Station." Re- mained here till November 24th. Orders came the night previous to march at 5 A. M. The regiment moved at that hour, and soon after it commenced raining. When about two miles out it rained in torrents, and the troops were ordered back to camp.
November 26. Marching orders were again received, and the regiment moved at 6 o'clock A. M. and proceeded to Germania Ford, on the Rapidan river. Crossed on pontoon bridges at 4 o'clock P. M., and bivouacked two miles from the south bank.
November 27. Turned out at 5 o'clock A. M., and marched at sunrise, making a rapid march to Robertson's Tavern, a dis- tance of six miles, where the Second Brigade of our division was already skirmishing with the enemy. Almost immediately this
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regiment was deployed as skirmishers, joining on the right of the Second Brigade. The regiment exchanged but few shots with the enemy for some two hours, when orders came to advance our line, and in so doing the right and center became briskly engaged - the enemy at once throwing forward a line of battle which com- pelled it to retire to its original position, where, with the help of our supports, we held them in check, and finally drove them back. In this skirmish the regiment lost two officers wounded - one mortally, and one missing (Lieutenant - Colonel Joslin), taken prisoner ; nine enlisted men were wounded, and six enlisted men missing. The regiment was again ordered to advance about sun- set, supported by a line of battle, to open the road by which General French, of the Third Corps, was expected to arrive, in doing which it received two volleys from the enemy, but owing to the nature of the ground their shots went harmlessly over our heads, and we gained the desired position, where we remained until half-past 9 o'clock P. M., when the regiment was relieved, and bivouacked in the second line of battle.
November 28. A line of battle was formed by divisions, and advanced (this regiment in the front line) about one and a quarter miles through the woods, when we came up to their fortifications .. Halted and stacked arms, and remained until the morning of the 29th (bivouacking by the stacks), when the regiment moved to the left, with the rest of the Second Corps, to a point some three miles below White Oak Churchi. Halted at 3 o'clock P. M., and bivouacked by the roadside.
November 30. Turned out at 2 o'clock A. M., and moved out. in front of the fortifications, which the Second and Third Corps, and one division of the Sixth Corps, expected to assault at 8 A. M. The enemy, having anticipated the movement, were reinforced to. such an extent, with both artillery and infantry, that the assault. was abandoned and the line withdrawn, after dark, about half a mile to the rear.
December 1. The regiment laid in line of battle most of the day, and at 7 P. M. was ordered to relieve another regiment of the brigade in the front line, and at 9 o'clock P. M. were with- drawn and marched to Ely's Ford, on the Rapidan, which place was reached about 8 o'clock on December 2d; crossed on pon -- toon bridge ; halted to make coffee at 11 A. M., and moved again.
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at 1 P. M., and reached our old camp near Brandy Station at 9 o'clock P. M., having been twenty-four hours on the march.
December 5. The regiment moved to a position one mile south of Stevensburg.
December 7. Moved back about one mile north of Stevens- burg, camped in the woods, and built winter quarters.
In the spring of 1864 the Fifteenth was again called into active service on the ground already made memorable by the events of the last campaign, being engaged in several of the bat- tles between the Rapidan and Richmond.
July 28, 1864. The regiment was mustered out of the service, and those soldiers whose terms of service had not expired were transferred to the Twentieth regiment.
The following is a list of its engagements during the war : Ball's Bluff, Battles of the Peninsula, Antietam, Fredericksburg; Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Bristow's Station, Robertson's Tav- ern, Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court-house, Cold Harbor, and all other battles from the Rapidan to Petersburg in which the Second Army Corps were engaged.
The casualties to Douglas men belonging to the Fifteenth were as follows : Samuel Sibley, wounded severely in the leg at Ball's Bluff during the early part of the fight and removed in a flat-boat to Harrison Island (which was then occupied by the Union forces, and where a temporary hospital had been established), was soon after removed to Poolesville, on the Maryland side, where he died November 6. Thomas A. Southwick was also wounded in the leg, escaped being captured, was honorably discharged and re- turned home. Hiram Ward was wounded in the arm, taken pris- oner, and confined at Libby Prison, Richmond, four months, when he was exchanged and returned to his regiment. At our request he has furnished a brief account of his experiences while in rebel- dom.
After being captured at Ball's Bluff he was marched with nearly 500 other Union prisoners to Manassas Junction. While resting from their fatiguing march, a small amount of corn bread and bacon was issued, and the boys, not having tasted food since go- ing into action on the morning of the 21st, made quick work of eating, and were soon ready to go forward.
The trip to Richmond was made in coal cars, and to add to
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their other misfortunes it began to rain. Arriving at their destina- tion and leaving the cars, they were marched in a procession through the principal streets of the city to be inspected by the people who turned out in large numbers, crowding the sidewalks and temporary stagings which had been hastily crected.
It soon became evident that the news of their defeat had prc- ceded them. General Evans, commander of the rebel forces at Ball's Bluff, in his dispatches had grossly exaggerated the facts by stating that he had driven four times their number from the soil of Virginia, and killed and wounded a larger number than there were men engaged in the fight. In consequence of which the people were inflated with an inordinate conceit of their own bravery and contempt for what they believed to be Yankee cowardice. This popular feeling was openly expressed all along the line of march, until they reached the place selected for their temporary confine- ment, a large building formerly used as a tobacco warehouse. Herc they were confined for a short time and then transferred to Libby Prison, where for two months they were not allowed a change of clothing, and for the first three months slept upon the bare floor without even straw to lie upon. The fourth month straw was pro- vided, which greatly increased their comfort. During this time our informant witnessed the shooting of several prisoners. One moonlight night two men were shot and instantly killed while standing side by side near one of the windows. A New York Zou- ave also shared a similar fate a few days afterwards. During most of this time the prison was so crowded there was scarcely room for the men to lie down at night, and deaths were of almost daily occurrence.
After being exchanged, Mr. Ward rejoined his regiment and entered upon active service. At the battle of Antietam Sept. 17, 1862, was badly wounded in the right hand ; received an honorable discharge Feb. 23, 1863, and returned home.
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