USA > Massachusetts > Massachusetts in the war, 1861-1865 Pt. 1 > Part 16
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 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48
Company A-Captain George H. Homer; first lieutenant, Charles L. Craibe, Jr., both of Boston; second lieutenant, Edward P. Jackson of Lowell.
Company B, Somerville-Captain John N. Coffin; first lieutenant, Charles T. Robinson; second lieutenant, Granville W. Daniels.
Company C-Captain, George F. Barnes of South Danvers ; first lieut. nant, William L. Thompson of Lawrence ; second lieutenant, Benjamin F. Southwick of South Danvers.
Company D, Charlestown-Captain, George H. Marden, Jr .; first lieutenant, Charles P. Whittle; second lieutenant, George W. Kilham.
Company E, Marlboro-Captain, David L. Brown; first lieutenant, George L. Crosby; second lieutenant, William B. Rice.
Company F, Boston-Captain, Philip J. Cootey ; first lieutenant, William C. Goff; second lieutenant, Walter S. Fowler.
Company G, Woburn-Captain, Charles S. Converse; first lieuten- ant, Charles E. Fuller; second lientenant, Montressor Seeley.
Company H, Charlestown-Captain, Daniel W. Davis; first lieuten- ant, William Spaulding; second lieutenant, Andrew J. Bailey.
Company I-Captain, Andrew A. Powers of Bolton; first lieuten- ant, William S. Frost; second lieutenant, Luther H. Farnsworth, both of Marlboro.
Company K. Stoneham-Captain, Francis M. Sweetser; first lieu- tenant, Marshall P. Sweetser; second lieutenant, Moses Downs, Jr.
On reaching Baltimore the regiment went into camp four miles from the city, but was soon ordered to Fort McHenry, then under command of General Morris. Later Colonel Peirson with three of the companies for a garrison took command of Fort Marshall, and a detachment under Lieutenant Colonel Worcester was posted at Federal Hill in Baltimore. Other companies and detachments were on duty at various points, and during the autumn elections most of the regiment was distributed at such places in Eastern Maryland as feared trouble at the polls. On the 1st of November the command prepared to return to Massachusetts. Boston was reached on the 7th, and the muster-out took place at Readville on the 16th.
THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
T HE Sixth Regiment of Militia became by the force of circun- stances the most famous organization called to the defense of the national government. The first, it is believed, to offer its services in case of their need, and prompt in response when the call came, it was the first to shed its blood and give of its lives, and it was the first command armed and equipped for active service to reach the national capital when that city was cut off from communica- tion with the loyal nation and surrounded by enemies of the gov- ernment.
At a meeting of its officers at Lowell January 21, 1861, a reso- lution was unanimously adopted tendering the services of the com- mand to the governor if they should be needed, and on the 15th of April following the demand came. The members of the Sixth were scattered in four counties, yet such was the energy displayed that most of them were at head-quarters at Lowell early the follow- ing morning, and the others were but a few hours behind. During the 16th the eight companies constituting the original regiment went to Boston by rail ; they were enthusiastically received and escorted to Faneuil and Boylston Halls where they remained that night. Going to the State House next day they exchanged their old style muskets for the rifled and were presented with a stand of colors by Governor Andrew. Companies from Worcester, Stone- ham and Boston were attached to the command, the organization and the roster of officers being as follows :-
Colonel, Edward F. Jones of Pepperell ; major, Benjamin F. Wat- son of Lawrence; surgeon, Norman Smith of Groton; assistant sur- geon, Jansen T. Paine of Charlestown; chaplain, Charles Babbidge of Pepperell ; adjutant, Alpha B. Farr of Lowell; quartermaster, James Monroe of Cambridge; paymaster, Rufus L. Plaisted of Lowell; sergeant major, Samuel W. Shattuck of Groton; quartermaster ser- geant, Church Howe of Worcester; commissary sergeant, John Dupee
158
MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
of Boston; drum major, Frederick K. Stafford of Lowell; hospital steward, from May 7, William H. Gray of Acton.
Company A, Lowell-Captain, Josiah A. Sawtell; first lieutenant, Andrew J. Johnson; second lieutenant, Andrew C. Wright.
Company B, Groton-Captain, Eusebius S. Clark; third lieutenant, George F. Shattuck.
Company C, Lowell-Captain, Albert S. Follansbee; first lieutenant, Samuel D. Shipley; second lieutenant, John C. Jepson.
Company D, Lowell-Captain, James W. Hart; first lieutenant, Charles E. Jones; second lieutenant, Samuel C. Pinney; third lieu- tenant, Lewellyn L. Craig.
Company E, Acton-Captain, Daniel Tuttle; first lieutenant, Will- iam H. Chapman; second lieutenant, George W. Rand; third heuten- ant, Silas P. Blodgett; fourth lieutenant, Aaron S. Fletcher.
Company F, Lawrence-Captain, Benjamin F. Chadbourne; second lieutenant, Melvin Beal; third lieutenant, Thomas J. Cate; fourth lieutenant, Jesse C. Silver of Methuen.
Company H, Lowell-Captain, John F. Noyes; first lieutenant, George E. Davis; second lieutenant, Andrew F. Jewett; third lieuten- ant, Benjamin Warren.
Company I, Lawrence-Captain, John Pickering; first lieutenant, Daniel S. Yeaton; second lieutenant, A. Lawrence Hamilton; third lieutenant, Eben H. Ellenwood; fourth lieutenant, Eugene J. Mason.
Company K, Boston-Captain, Walter S. Sampson; first lieuten- ant, Ansel D. Wass; second lieutenant, Moses J. Emery; third lieu- tenant, Thomas Wallwork; fourth lieutenant, John F. Dunning.
Company L, Stoneham-Captain, John H. Dike; first lieutenant, Leander F. Lynde; second lieutenant, Darius N. Stevens; third lieu- tenant, James F. Rowe; fourth lieutenant, William H. Blaisdell of Lynn.
Company B, Third Battalion, Worcester- Captain, Harrison W. Pratt; first lieutenant, George W. Prouty: second lieutenant, Thomas S. Washburn; third lieutenant, Joseph W. Denny; fourth lieutenant, Dexter F. Parker.
The regiment, accompanied by a band, left Boston for Washing- ton by rail direct, going by way of New York and Philadelphia, the streets being everywhere packed with enthusiastic, cheering multitudes. At the latter city the officers were quartered at the Continental Hotel and the men at the new and unoccupied Girard House, on the evening of the 18th ; but before quiet had fairly set- tled over the scene the long roll sounded and at 1 o'clock on the morning of the 19th the journey was resumed. Colonel Jones had information that the passage of his command through Baltimore would be opposed, and he pushed forward at once, the train bearing the regiment being preceded by a pilot engine to guard against interference with the track by evil disposed persons.
159
THIE SIXTHI REGIMENT.
Baltimore was reached at 10 o'clock on the 19th, the regiment having been furnished with 20 rounds of ball cartridge and having loaded and capped their pieces. It was intended to march the regi- ment across the city between the depots, but the method of handling the cars was not understood by Colonel Jones, and as soon as the train' stopped horses were attached and the cars started for the Washington depot. Seven companies passed without serious in- cident, only the rearmost-K-being seriously assaulted. Four of its men were wounded and their comrades fired from the car win- dows upon the mob. By this time the track was obstructed and torn up so that the cars containing the remaining four companies- C, I, L and D-could not be moved. The detachment debarked from the cars and under command of Captain Follansbee marched across the city, being for much of the distance compelled to fight its way through an infuriated mob of many thousands.
Four of the soldiers were killed in the melee-Addison O. Whit- ney, Luther C. Ladd and Charles A. Taylor of Company D, and Sumner H. Needham of Company I-and 36 were wounded. Cap- tain Dike was shot through the thigh and took shelter in a Balti- more hotel ; Lieutenants Lynde and Rowe were also wounded. Shutting themselves closely into the cars the regiment were finally drawn from the depot and reached Washington that evening with- out further adventure, but minus the band, which had been set upon by the mob and dispersed, losing instruments, music and extra clothing. Under police protection the musicians finally took the cars back to Massachusetts. Some unarmed Pennsylvania troops, following the Sixth, also turned back without attempting to pass through the city.
At Washington the regiment received a most cordial greeting from the friends of the national government. It was quartered in the Senate chamber, where officers and men slept on their arms, in readiness for any duty to which they might be called. The com- mand was mustered into the United States service on the 22d, and during the early part of May some changes occurred in the roster of officers ; Major Watson was made lieutenant colonel, Captain Sawtell of Company A becoming major. Several changes also oc- curred in the company officers, though the organization was not changed to the United States standard. In drilling, building ovens, making preparations for a siege in case one should ensue, with an
160
MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
occasional parade through the streets, to show to the spies' and se- cession sympathizers in the city that the government was no longer defenseless, the time was passed till the 5th of May.
Other troops had now arrived at Washington, and the Sixth re- ported to General Butler at Relay House, near Baltimore, pitching their camp on Elk Ridge Hights. When on the 13th General But- ler decided to occupy Baltimore, the Sixth Regiment was with poetic justice selected to form a part of the column of occupation. Accompanied by a part of the Eighth Regiment and Cook's Light Battery, the Sixth went on board cars, moving at first away from Baltimore ; but presently the train was backed down to the city, and in the darkness of a stormy evening the column marched to Federal Hill almost unobserved. The presence of the force proved a check on traitorous designs; arms intended for the secessionists were seized, and the authority of the national government was firmly established.
Having aided in this important work, the command returned to Relay House on the 16th, and was thenceforth principally engaged in guarding the railroad in that vicinity, a detachment soon after capturing the notorious Ross Winans. During the brief period of its service the regiment was at four times presented with colors and banners-the first occasion being when it left Massachusetts. New Jersey friends gave a stand of colors on the 29th of May ; the ladies of New York sent a banner on the 21st of June, and on the 4th of July the loyal citizens of Baltimore gave a Union flag of especial magnificence.
On the 13th of June the Sixth, with the Thirteenth New York and Cook's Battery, went to the city to prevent interference at the polls during an election, but no disturbance occurred. They were again summoned from Relay House to the city on the 26th, en- camping on Mount Clare and in the vicinity till the 1st of July. Returning then to Relay House, they remained till the expira- tion of their term of service. Owing to the Federal defeat at Bull Run on the day previous, the command was asked by General Banks to remain for a few days longer, and all but about 20 did so. Be- fore breaking camp the regiment received a finely engrossed copy of a vote of thanks passed by the House of Representatives at Washington.
The camp at Relay was broken on the 29th, and Boston was
161
THIE SIXTHI REGIMENT.
reached the 1st of August. The following day the regiment was mustered out of the United States service by Colonel Amory and the companies separated to their respective homes.
THE NINE-MONTHS' TERM.
With the other Massachusetts militia regiments, the Sixth re- sponded at once and most heartily to the call for troops for ninc- months' service in the summer of 1862; displaying its customary energy in preparation, it was again the first under the call to report at Washington for duty. The rendezvous of the regiment was Camp Henry Wilson at Lowell, where it was recruited to the maxi- mum required. Seven of the companies were the same that had gone forth the previous year, the organization being completed by the addition of Companies F, G and K. During the year many changes had taken place in the personnel of the command, as will be observed from the roster of the officers in charge of the regiment at its second muster, as follows :-
Colonel, Albert S. Follansbee of Lowell ; lieutenant colonel, Melvin Beal of Lawrence ; major, Charles A. Stott; surgeon, Walter Burn- ham, both of Lowell; assistant surgeon, Otis M. Humphrey of Natick; ยท chaplain, John W. Hanson of Haverhill; adjutant, Thomas O. Allen; quartermaster, William G. Wise ; sergeant major, William F. Lovrien, all of Lowell ; quartermaster sergeant, Oliver P. Swift of Boston; commissary sergeant, Charles HI. Coburn; hospital steward, Frank J. Milliken; principal musician, Elisha L. Davis, all of Lowell.
Company A, Lowell-Captain, Andrew C. Wright; first lieutenant, Enoch J. Foster; second lieutenant, Alfred J. Hall.
Company B, Groton-Captain, George F. Shattuck; first lieutenant, Samuel G. Blood ; second lieutenant, Edward D. Sawtell.
Company C, Lowell-Captain, John C. Jepson; first lieutenant, John W. Hadley ; second lieutenant, Isaac N. Marshall.
Company D, Lowell-Captain, James W. Hart ; first lieutenant, Samuel C. Pinney; second lieutenant, Hiram C. Muzzey.
Company E, Acton-Captain, Aaron C. Handley; first lieutenant, Aaron S. Fletcher; second lientenant, George W. Rand.
Company F, Cambridge-Captain, John S. Sawyer; first lieutenant, Theodore Collamore; second lieutenant, Lowell Ellison.
Company G, Lowell-Captain, George L. Cady ; first lieutenant, Selwyn E. Bickford; second lieutenant, Alfred H. Pulsifer.
Company HI, Lowell-Captain, Rodney C. Ferson; first lieutenant, Charles E. Poor; second lieutenant, Albert Pinder.
Company I, Lawrence-Captain, Augustine L. Hamilton; first lieu- tenant, Eben HI. Ellenwood ; second lieutenant, Robert G. Barr.
162
MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
Company K-Captain, Charles E. A. Bartlett of Boston; first lieu- tenant, William F. Wood of Acton; second lieutenant, Shapley Mor- gan of Dracut.
Nine of the companies were mustered on the 31st of August, the field and staff on the 4th of September, and Company F on the 8th. The day following camp was broken, the regiment proceeding to and through Boston without a stop, and taking ears to Groton, Ct., whence the steamer Plymouth Rock conveyed it to New York. Everywhere along the route, a great ovation was received, in which even Baltimore enthusiastically joined. Washington was reached on the 12th, and Colonel Follansbee on reporting to General Casey was directed to proceed with his command to Fortress Monroe. Embarking on the steamers John A. Warner and Swan, the regi- inent left the national capital the 13th and reached the Fortress the same day. On reporting to General Dix, the Sixth were supplied with tents and field equipage and directed to Suffolk, 23 miles dis- tant, where they arrived on the 15th and reported to General O. S. Ferry in command of the post. Camp was pitched in an orchard in the vicinity and the regiment was no sooner settled than it was called upon for fatigue parties to work on intrenehments and forti- fications in the neighborhood.
During the night of the 17th the regiment was called up and furnished with ammunition and a few hours later formed line of battle to meet an expected assault, but it was not till several days later that the sounds of distant skirmishing were heard. General John J. Peck arrived on the 24th and took command of the post, the Sixth being on the same day brigaded with the Thirteenth Indi- ana, One Hundred and Twelfth and One Hundred and Thirtieth New York Regiments, under command of Colonel Robert S. Foster of the Thirteenth. The camp was moved next day to a more suita- ble location, and for some time the round of camp, pieket and fatigue duty was only broken by a few eventless expeditions, the first of which occurred on the 3d of October, when the regiment marched to Windsor, some ten miles ont, in support of a mounted force which was feeling for the enemy, but none was found and camp was reached on the return some 20 hours after it was left. A larger force, of which the Sixth formed a part, made a longer expedition on the 24th, penetrating to the Blackwater river, some 20 miles from Suffolk, and skirmishing slightly.
163
THE SIXTHI REGIMENT.
About the first of November a considerable detail was made from the regiment for service as heavy artillerists in the forts about Suf- folk, in which position the men remained till the end of their term. Much sickness prevailed in the command at that time, the weather being very disagreeable; a considerable fall of snow on the 7th bringing a sharp realization of the New England weather and ex- tending over the whole of Virginia. Another expedition toward the Blackwater occurred on the 17th, demonstrations made against the federal outposts at Providence Church leading to a suspicion that the Confederate strength thereabout had been increased. The Sixth formned the right of the infantry column, and on reaching the Blackwater, 30 miles from Suffolk, found the enemy on the opposite shore, and some firing across the stream took place, the regiment supporting the artillery. After the Confederates had been driven back Company II crossed the river, but the Union main body could not follow on account of damage to the ponton boat, so that the column was ordered down the river to near Franklin, where the Sixth again supported the artillery during a sharp skirmish. This ended, the regiment returned to camp with no other loss than the capture of two stragglers.
It being reported that the enemy were intrenching at Beaver Dam Church, an expedition was sent thither on the 1st of Decem- ber, of which the Sixth formed a part, the whole under command of Colonel Spear of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry-a native of Massachusetts. The foe was not found in force, but the cavalry by a sharp dash captured some 20 prisoners and two guns of the Rocket Battery which had been taken from the Army of the Potomac on the Peninsula. With these trophies the column re- turned to Suffolk, and five days later the Sixth changed their camp to the ground vacated by Wessells' brigade. The new location was marshy, but the regiment at once set about its improvement, and soon had quite comfortable quarters,-named "Camp Misery"-in which they remained during their further stay at Suffolk.
Another expedition toward the Blackwater set out December 11, striking the river near Zuni, and a fight across the stream followed. Company I of the Sixth was detailed as skirmishers, while the rest of the regiment supported the artillery, and had scarcely reached the skirmish line when Second Lieutenant Barr was shot through the heart-the first member of the regiment killed in battle. No
164
MASSACHUSETTS IN THIE WAR.
other casualty occurred during the engagement, and after the enemy had been driven back, the column returned on the 13th to camp.
While General Peck guarded the approaches to Suffolk with great vigilance, and sent out frequent reconnaissances, the Sixth were not again called upon till the 29th of January, 1863, when they set forth at midnight forming part of a force of 4,300 under General Corcoran to disperse a detachment of Confederates under General Pryor at Deserted House, some ten miles out on the Carsville road. The outposts were encountered before daylight and a sharp engage- ment began, the regiment supporting the Seventh Massachusetts Bat- tery in an exposed position. Only the skillful handling of the regi- ment saved it from severe loss. The enemy were repeatedly driven from advantageous positions, falling back at first about a mile and then for eight miles before attempting the third stand, finally retir- ing across the Blackwater. The loss of the Sixth was five killed or mortally wounded, including Second Lieutenant E. D. Sawtell, and seven others were wounded. . Camp was reached on the return within 24 hours from the time of leaving, during which the regiment had marched almost 40 miles and been engaged in three distinct fights.
During February and March the abundant mud prevented military operations, and early in April the regiment was ordered in readiness to leave Suffolk at once ; the log huts had even been dismantled, when news of the approach of Longstreet was received ; the orders were countermanded, non-combatants were ordered out of camp, and preparations made for the threatened siege. The federal out- posts were driven in on the 11th of April, and from that time for- ward the siege went steadily on, no engagements of moment occur- ring, but an incessant skirmishing keeping all the forces at the front on the alert. The Sixth occupied the right of the Union line, three of the companies garrisoning Fort Nansemond till the arrival of the Hawkins Zouaves. The pits and fortifications com- manding the approach to Suffolk by way of the Somerton road were occupied by five regiments of infantry, including the Sixth, and the Seventh Battery, all under command of Colonel Follansbee. On the 24th a reconnaissance was made on the Somerton road in sup- port of another by a different route, more than half of the regiment taking part and having one man wounded. Two or three others were wounded on succeeding days by sharpshooters.
After 22 days of resultless siege operations, General Longstreet
165
THE SIXTH REGIMENT.
was recalled to the assistance of his chief, General Lee, who with the main part of the Army of Northern Virginia was fighting the battle of Chancellorsville, and on the 3d of May it was evident that the siege was being abandoned. Pursuit was at once made by the federal soldiers, the Sixth starting out by way of the Somerton road on the 4th. The regiment made a rapid march of 12 miles, pick- ing up a good many deserters and stragglers, but finding that the main force was well out of reach toward Fredericksburg.
Another expedition set out over the familiar roads toward the Blackwater on the 13th, Colonel Foster having command of the movement and Colonel Follansbee of the brigade. Carsville was reached about daylight of the 14th, and the troops were disposed so as to protect workmen engaged in tearing up the railroad; but the enemy soon sent in an artillery fire which drove the laborers to safer quarters. The regiment was not engaged carly in the day, but after noon it was sent to the front and took position near Cars- ville, where it lay in line of battle that night in a soaking rain- storm. Next morning Companies A and F were sent out to strengthen the picket line, other companies following from time to time during the day till nearly the entire regiment was thus scat- tered through the woods, a determined firing, with occasional ad- vances and retreats on both sides, continuing all day. Late in the afternoon the regiment was returned to the reserve, having suffered a loss of five killed or mortally wounded, 11 less seriously hurt, and seven unwounded made prisoners.
The enemy retired across the Blackwater during the night of the 16th and on the night of the 18th the federal column fell back to Deserted House, where the Sixth encamped on the ground over which they had fought on the 30th of January. There General Cor- coran took command of the force, Colonel Foster being ill, and on the 20th the Sixth were ordered to Windsor, where the railroad was being destroyed. The regiment remained in support of Howard's Battery until the 23d, when it was relieved and returned to Suffolk, and having received official compliments from General Peck and Colonel Foster for its faithful services, it was directed to prepare for muster out. Leaving Suffolk on the 26th and taking the steamer S. R. Spaulding, it landed at Boston on the 29th and went at once to Lowell. Re-assembling on the 3d of June, it was formally dis- missed from its second period of service.
166
MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
THE ONE HUNDRED DAYS' TERM.
Under a call from the secretary of war carly in July, 1864, the Sixth Regiment again took its place in camp to prepare for active service, this time for a period of 100 days. The rendezvous was at Readville, and as the companies gathered they were mustered in, Company K on the 14th being the first, and Company E on the 19th the last. The field and staff were mustered on the 17th, and the term of service dated from the 20th, when the command left for Washington. The roster of field and staff officers was much the same as in 1862, the changes in staff being as follows :-
Assistant surgeon, William Bass; quartermaster, William E. Farrar; sergeant major, Samuel W. Grimes; quartermaster sergeant, William H. Spalding; commissary sergeant, Oxford R. Blood; hospital steward, Henry S. Woods, all of Lowell.
Company A, Boston-Captain, Joseph M. Coombs; first lieutenant, Moses Briggs; second lieutenant, George A. Chipman.
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.