USA > Massachusetts > Massachusetts in the war, 1861-1865 Pt. 1 > Part 18
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The strategic movements of the Army of the Potomac being re- sumed, the Seventh marched on the 15th of September to Sulphur Springs and next day to Stone House Mountain, near the Rapidan, where line of battle was formed, though no engagement ensued, the Second and Sixth Corps encamping in that vicinity for the rest of the month. With the 1st of October came directions for distributing the division along the railroad from Rappahannock Station to Bris- toe's, and the Seventh started on the march that night, reaching Bealton next day and on the 3d going to Bristoe's, where it re- mained for ten days. The brigade marched to Catlett's Station on the 13th to cover the passage of the Union army, which was having a strategic race with the Confederates for the Washington defenses, rejoined the Sixth Corps when it came along, and returned nearly to the point from which it set out in the morning. Next day it marched to Centerville, moved a few miles on the 15th to the Chantilly battle-field and formed line of battle, facing the Confed- erates for some days in constant anticipation of an engagement.
General Lee not caring to risk battle began a retrograde move- ment and the Union army followed, the Seventh marching on the 19th to Gainesville and the day after to the vicinity of Warrenton, changing camp on the 22d to the ground occupied before setting out on the movement. On the 7th of November the Fifth and Sixth Corps advanced against a force of the enemy strongly intrenched at Rappahannock Station, and on reaching the scene of action the regiment was detached from its own brigade and operated with Shaler's (the First), being exposed to a severe artillery fire, but not otherwise engaged and suffering no loss. The works and nearly all their defenders being captured by the notable charge of General Russell's Brigade and other troops, the Seventh crossed the Rappa- hannock next day, occupying the works on the south bank of the river, most of the regiment going on picket till the afternoon of the 9th, when it rejoined the brigade at Kelly's Ford. On the 12th it again marched up to the Station, crossed to the south side, ad- vanced to near Brandy Station and went into camp.
The Mine Run expedition began on Thanksgiving day, the 26th, when the regiment marched to the Rapidan, crossing it near mid-
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
night at Jacobs Mills and bivouacking near by. No movement was made by the Seventh during the following day beyond forming line of battle late in the afternoon, as the Sixth Corps, which fol- lowed the Third under General French, was delayed by the latter taking a course which brought it into collision with the enemy, re- sulting in a sharp fight. About midnight General Sedgwick was directed to take the advance, and after a hard night's march through the wilderness reached Robertson's Tavern the following morning. Waiting there during the day and the ensuing night in a driving storm, the division was attached to the Second Corps and moved to the extreme left and front in readiness for the con- templated attack on the Confederate position. Resting in the woods over night on the way, the regiment at daybreak was placed in the front line of the column of assault, the orders being to at- tack at 8 o'clock. But the weather had become bitterly cold, the enemy's position appeared impregnable, and the signal was not given. The lines kept their position all through the day, while the skirmishers maintained a lively fire, and at night the rapid move- ment back to the camps at Brandy Station began. The Rapidan was crossed at Culpeper Ford on the 2d of December and the fol- lowing day the regiment pitched its tents on the ground occupied previous to the expedition.
This camp, with the ordinary routine of duties, was occupied dur- ing the winter. Late in February, 1864, the Sixth Corps was ordered to support a cavalry demonstration to the southwestward, and on the 27th the regiment marched 15 miles through Culpeper to near Jamestown, and the next day advanced across Robertson's river, where it remained in readiness for action till night of March 1, through a driving storm of rain and snow. The cavalry having returned, the infantry force recrossed the river, marched a mile and made such a bivouac as was possible with the storm still continuing, returning to camp next day, a march of 22 miles and one of the most exhausting in the history of the organization. Previous to the opening of the spring campaign the five corps of the Army of the Potomac were consolidated into three, the necessary changes mak- ing Eustis's the Fourth Brigade of the Second (Getty's) Division.
Camp was broken at Brandy Station during the night of the 3d of May, and very early next morning the regiment joined in the southward march of the army, crossing the Rapidan early in the
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THIE SEVENTHI REGIMENT.
afternoon and bivouacking for the night a few miles beyond. Next day the battle of the Wilderness opened, and Getty's division being detached from its corps was sent to the Union left to operate on the Plank road, near the Brock road, under direction of General IIan- cock. The signal for an advance was given about 4 o'clock and the regiment was heavily engaged till dark, winning some ground and sleeping on the field. The fighting was renewed next morning, continuing with varying result till afternoon, the Seventh during the two days losing 120, 15 being killed and many fatally wounded.
During the succeeding night the brigade was ordered to rejoin its corps at the right, which had been severely handled by Early's Con- federate Division, but owing to the difficult nature of the country did not reach its destination till next morning. No further attack being offered, the Seventh joined with other troops in fortifying the position, but soon after dark began the movement to the rear and left which ended next afternoon at Spottsylvania.
On reaching the latter place the advance of the Sixth Corps was at once thrown into line to assist a portion of the Fifth Corps which had already become engaged with the enemy, and at dusk a charge was made by Eustis's Brigade with other troops, routing the enemy and holding the captured position. The Seventh met a Georgia regiment which broke before the attack, leaving its colors, color guard and 32 men in the hands of the Seventh, the latter losing one killed, four wounded and two taken prisoners who were recaptured while on their way to Richmond. During the two following days the regiment was busy intrenching, with skirmish firing and sharp- shooting constantly taking place, by which General Sedgwick, com- manding the corps, lost his life on the 9th. First Lieutenant Henry W. Nichols of Fall River died of wounds on the 12th. About this time a transfer removed General Eustis from the brigade, thence- forth commanded by Colonel Edwards of the Thirty-seventh.
The regiment went on picket the 11th, remaining for two days, thus escaping the severe trial which came to the rest of the brigade at the " Angle " on the 12th. Being relieved on the 13th and re- joining the brigade, it rested till the following night, when soon after midnight it began a movement through the forest to the left, finally going into position beyond the Fifth Corps, in which vicinity it re- mained for three days. At night of the 17th the corps moved back to the Landrum House and on the morning of the 18th joined in
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
an attack on the Confederate works. It was a hopeless undertak_ ing and was easily repulsed, the Seventh losing six wounded.
An immediate return was made to the left, where the regiment remained on duty till the withdrawal of Grant's army for another southward movement on the 21st. The North Anna river was reached and crossed on the 24th, and the men were at once set to work constructing rifle-pits, going on picket the next day beyond the railroad at Noel's Station, and on the 26th being advanced to the front near Little river. The regiment assisted in covering the withdrawal of the Union army on the 27th; which being accom- plished it marched after the main body, reaching Hanover Court House by casy stages on the 20th and building more rifle-pits. On the 31st the Seventh were again sent on picket, and in that capacity covered the transfer of the Sixth Corps from the right of the army to the left,-it being ordered to Cold Harbor, to which place it made a forced march on the 1st of June.
Arriving there during the afternoon, the regiment almost imme- diately took part in a demonstration in favor of the Vermont Bri- gade of the same division, which was in danger of being flanked, the loss to the Seventh being one killed and a few wounded. In the subsequent operations of the brigade at Cold Harbor the regi- ment had its arduous share, being engaged in the trenches night and day with occasional respites, losing men wounded almost daily by the picket firing. At night of the 12th the movement toward the James river began, the regiment marching 25 miles and cross- ing the Chickahominy during the next 24 hours. Two days later bivouac was reached on the bank of the James, when the term of service of the Seventh Regiment having expired it turned its steps toward Massachusetts.
The recruits and re-enlisted veterans were formed into a detach- ment and assigned to the Thirty-seventh Regiment, with which they were soon consolidated, while the remainder embarked on the trans- port steamer Keyport at Wilson's Landing on the 16th. From Wash- ington on the following day train was taken to New York, where a day was passed, thence continuing to Taunton where an enthusias- tic greeting awaited the veterans at their arrival on the 20th. The men were at onee furloughed till the 4th of July, when the regiment reassembled, took part in the celebration of the day, and on the 5th was formally mustered out.
THE EIGHTH REGIMENT.
T HE Eighth Regiment of Militia was one of the four to re- spond to the first call upon Massachusetts after the opening of hostilities at Fort Sumter, and like its associates, it did faithful and valuable service. Colonel Munroe, whose head-quar- ters were at Lynn, received notification that the services of his command would be required at about the same time as the com- manding officers of the other regiments, and like them he was ready for the summons.
The several companies were directed to report at once at Boston, and to Companies B, C and II, all of Marblehead, is due the credit of being the first troops to reach the state capital in response to the call. They arrived soon after 8 o'clock on the morning of April 16, 1861, and through the storm which was then raging marched to Faneuil Hall, cheered enthusiastically by the people who lined the streets. The regiment consisting of but eight com- panies, two others were attached to it before it left the state on the afternoon of the 18th-J and K, the latter joining the command at Springfield en route to Washington. Company J was a Zouave organization, belonging to the Seventh Regiment of Militia, while Company K of Pittsfield was drawn from the Tenth Regiment. As thus constituted, the Eighth numbered 705, and was officered as follows :-
Colonel, Timothy Munroe; lieutenant colonel, Edward W. Hincks, both of Lynn; major, Andrew Elwell of Gloucester; surgeon, Bow- man B. Breed; assistant surgeon, Warren Tapley, both of Lynn; chap- lain, Gilbert Haven of Malden; adjutant, George Creasy of Newbury- port; quartermaster, E. Alfred Ingalls; paymaster, Roland G. Usher, both of Lynn; sergeant major, John Goodwin, Jr., of Marblehead: quartermaster sergeant, Horace E. Munroe of Lynn; drum major, Samuel Roads of Marblehead.
Company A, Cushing Guards-Captain, Albert W. Bartlett; first
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
lieutenant, George Barker; second lieutenant, Gamaliel Hodges; third lieutenant, Nathan W. Collins, all of Newburyport; fourth lienten- ant, Edward L. Noyes of Lawrence.
Company B, Lafayette Guard of Marblehead -Captain, Richard Phillips; first lieutenant, Abial S. Roads, Jr .; second lieutenant, Will- iam S. Roads; third lientenant, William Cash.
Company C, Sutton Light Infantry of Marblehead-Captain, Knott V. Martin; first lientenant, Lorenzo F. Linnell; second lieutenant, John H. Haskell.
Company D, Lynn-Captain, George T. Newhall; first lientenant, Thomas II. Berry; second lieutenant, Elbridge Z. Saunderson; third lieutenant, Charles M. Merritt.
Company E, Beverly-Captain, Francis E. Porter; first lieutenant, John W. Raymond; second lieutenant, Eleazer Giles; third lieuten- ant, Albert Wallis; fourth lieutenant, Moses S. Herrick.
Company F, City Guards of Lynn-Captain, James Hudson, Jr .; first lieutenant, Edward A. Chandler ; second lientenant, Henry Stone; third lieutenant, Matthias N. Snow.
Company G, American Guard of Gloucester- Captain, Addison Center; first lieutenant, David W. Low; second lieutenant, Edward A. Story; third lieutenant, Harry Clark.
Company H, Glover Light Guard of Marblehead - Captain, Fran- cis Boardman ; first lieutenant, Thomas Russell; third lieutenant, Nicholas Bowden; fourth lieutenant, Joseph S. Caswell.
Company J, Salem-Captain, Arthur F. Devereux; first lieutenant, George F. Austin; second lientenant, Ethan A. P. Brewster; third lieutenant, George D. Putnam.
Company K, Allen Guard of Pittsfield-Captain, Henry S. Briggs; first lieutenant, Henry H. Richardson ; second lieutenant, Robert Bache.
The regiment marched to the State House on the 18th and re- ceived its colors, being addressed by Governor Andrew and by Gen- eral Butler, who as the connnander of the Massachusetts brigade was to accompany it to the front. Taking cars that afternoon and going by way of Worcester and Springfield, the Eighth reached New York the following morning, where it was enthusiastically greeted. On reaching Philadelphia that evening the news of the attack on the Sixth in Baltimore was received. After consultation, among others with Samuel M. Felton, president of the Philadelphia. and Baltimore railroad, who was a Massachusetts man, General Butler decided upon the route by way of Perryville and Annapolis. Mr. Felton and his associate officers made all the preparations pos- sible under the circumstances, coaling the ferry-boat Maryland at Annapolis and making her ready for the transportation of the regiment.
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THIE EIGHTH REGIMENT.
General Butler started with the Eighth at 3 o'clock on the after- noon of the 20th, and three hours later reached Perryville, going at once aboard the Maryland. Annapolis was reached next morning, the ferry-boat with its valiant freight anchoring near the United States frigate Constitution, then in use as the school ship for the Naval Academy at that place. Two companies of the Eighth were placed on board the frigate to aid in her defense if an attempt should be made to capture her, and as soon as she could be floated she sailed for a more secure anchorage at New York. Company K was sent to Fort McHenry, near Baltimore, where it served for some weeks. The remainder of the regiment were kept on board the ferry-boat for two days without water and with only the most miserable food, but were finally landed and at once set about the repair of the railroad from Annapolis to the Junction, which had been destroyed. After the mechanics of the regiment had repaired the road-bed, cars and engines, the Eighth, accompanied by the Seventh New York, marched on the 24th to the Junction, 22 miles, and two days later reached Wash- ington, General Butler remaining at Annapolis in command of that then important post.
The men of the Eighth having worn out their uniforms in the re- pair of the railroad and their other duties, were supplied with others by command of the President, and on the 30th, with the exception of Lieutenant Herrick, who had been accidently wounded, were mustered into the national service. Remaining at Washington till the 15th of May, the regiment was then ordered to Relay House, a few miles from Baltimore, to guard the railroad, when Colonel Munroe, who was 60 years of age, resigned on account of sickness, being succeeded by Lieutenant Colonel Edward W. Hincks; Major Elwell was promoted to lieutenant colonel and Ben: Perley Poore of Newburyport was made major. The command remained at Relay House till the last of July, receiving in the mean time a new flag, made by the ladies of Lynn. On the 29th orders were issued to report at Boston, where the regiment was mustered out on the 1st of August, having received the thanks of the national House of Representatives "for the energy and patriotism displayed by them in surmounting obstacles upon sea and land, which traitors had interposed to impede their progress to the defense of the na- tional capital."
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THIE WAR.
THE NINE-MONTIIS' TERM.
Under the call of August 4, 1862, for 19,090 men from Massa- chusetts for nine months' service, the Eighth, as well as the other militia regiments of the state, volunteered to save the Common- wealth from the necessity of a draft. It reported to Camp Lander in Wenham to be recruited to the maximum, and as the companies filled they were mustered-A, G and I on the 15th of September, D, E and F on the 19th, three more on the 1st of October, but H, made up from Springfield and Boston, was not completed till the 30th of the latter month. Orders to report to General Foster in North Carolina were received on the 7th of November, on which day most of the field and staff officers were mustered. Some names of those who had gone out a year before re-appeared in the roster, though many changes had occurred. The new list follows :-
Colonel, Frederick J. Coffin of Newburyport ; lieutenant colonel, James Hudson. Jr., of Lynn; major, Israel W. Wallis; surgeon, Charles Haddock, both of Beverly ; assistant surgeon, Jolin L. Robinson of Wenham ; chaplain, John C. Kimball of Beverly; adjutant, Benjamin F. Peach, Jr., of Marblehead ; quartermaster, Ephraim A. Ingalls; sergeant major, William A. Frazer, both of Lynn ; quartermaster ser- geant, Joseph A. Ingalls of Swampscott ; commissary sergeant, John B. Seward of Newburyport ; hospital steward, Horace R. Lovett of Beverly.
Company A, Newburyport-Captain, Stephen D. Gardiner ; first lieutenant, Joseph L. Johnson ; second lieutenant. Charles P. Cutter.
Company B, Marblehead-Captain, Richard Phillips ; first lieuten- ant, Benjamin L. Mitchell; second lieutenant, Stuart F. McClearn.
Company C. Marblehead-Captain, Samuel C. Graves ; first lieuten- ant, Lorenzo F. Liunell ; second lieutenant, Samuel Roads:
Company D, Lynn-Captain and first lieutenant same as 1861; second lieutenant, William H. Merritt.
Company E, Beverly-Captain and second lieutenant same as 1861; first lieutenant, Hugh J. Munsey.
Company F, Lynn-Captain, Henry Stone; first lieutenant, Matthias N. Snow; second lieutenant, George Watts.
Company G, Gloucester-Captain, David W. Low; first lieutenant, Edward L. Rowe; second lieutenant, Samuel Fears.
Company HI-Captain, George R. Davis ; first lier.tenant, William J. Landen, both of Springfield ; second lieutenant, Christopher J. Plaisted of Boston.
Company I, Lynn - Captain, Thomas Hebert ; first lieutenant, Charles B. Saunderson; second lieutenant, Jeremiah C. Bacheller.
Company K, Danvers-Captain, Albert G. Allen; first lieutenant, Edwin Bailey; second lieutenant, Benjamin E. Newhall.
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THE EIGHTH REGIMENT.
Preparations for departure were completed and the command left camp on the 25th of November, going to Boston where it embarked on the steamer Mississippi and sailed that evening for its destina- tion. Morehead City was reached on the 30th, the regiment de- barked and proceeded by rail to Newbern, arriving there late in the evening and being assigned to the Second Brigade of General Fos- ter's Division, the other regiments of which were the Twenty-fourth and Forty-fourth Massachusetts, Fifth Rhode Island and Tenth Connecticut. The brigade was commanded by Colonel T. G. Steven- son of the Twenty-fourth. The Eighth camped on the Fair Grounds, in tents vacated by the Tenth, where they remained for two months. Early in December Companies A and E were detached from the regiment for duty at Roanoke Island, Captain Porter having com- mand of the post, and only rejoined the main body in time to return to Massachusetts at the expiration of the term of service.
The regiment was detached from the brigade on the 9th of De- cember for garrison duty in the defenses of Newbern, the other troops of the command being about to take part in the expedition against Goldsboro, in support of the operations of the Army of the Potomac at Fredericksburg. This position was held till the 28th, when the regiment was attached to the First Brigade, Second Divis- ion, under General Heckman, then preparing for an expedition to South Carolina. Much to the mortification of all concerned, it was ' found that the Eighth, like the Third Massachusetts, were armed with a weapon so unreliable (the Austrian rifle) as to be condemned by. the inspecting officer. The regiment was therefore, with the Third Massachusetts, the One Hundred and Thirty-second and One Hundred and Fifty-eighth New York, formed into a brigade under command of Colonel James Jourdan of thelatter regiment, remaining at Newbern and being known as the Second Brigade, Fifth Division. The camp was soon after changed to the vicinity of Fort Totten. two companies being assigned to duty in the fort.
Companies B and F were detailed on the 7th of February, 1863, to reinforce the two companies at Roanoke Island. The latter had on the 1st set out by steamer up Carrituck Sound for the purpose of destroying Confederate salt works and operating against guerril- las in the vicinity, but getting ice-bound were compelled to remain five days with but one day's rations, but accomplished their object and returned to the Island on the 6th with a loss of only two
F
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THIE W.AR.
wounded. In a few days Company B was sent to reinforce the gar- rison at Elizabeth City, having subsequently numerous skirmishes with guerrilla bands, but losing only one man wounded.
The four companies at Newbern took part on the 16th of March in an expedition toward Trenton, returning the next day, and on the 20th Colonel Coffin took command of the brigade. On the 8th of April the regiment took part in General Spinola's attempt to re- inforce General Foster at Washington, N. C., getting as far as Blount's creek and finding the enemy strongly posted. In the skir- mishing the Eighth lost one man wounded, after which the expedi- tion returned to camp, arriving at Newbern on the. 12th. Company B rejoined the regiment on the 16th, Elizabeth City having been abandoned by the Union forces, and on the same day the command formed part of a reconnoitering force under General Prince, being absent from camp six days, feeling the enemy's outposts and captur- ing a number of prisoners.
Thenceforth the work of the regiment was of a routine character. On the 18th of May it changed its camp a short distance, naming the new location Camp Coffin in honor of its colonel, but a week later was ordered to Fort Thompson, five miles distant on the Neuse river,-a dismantled work which it was intended to reconstruct, but that purpose was abandoned and on the 12th of June the regiment returned to Newbern and passed the remainder of its time at Camp Jourdan. On the 24th the two companies at Fort Totten were re- lieved and reported to Colonel Coffin, the regiment on the same day embarking on the transports Highlander and Alliance, by which Fortress Monroe was reached three days later. On the 28th the command was ordered to Boston for muster-out, but before prepara- tions for departure could be completed the operations of General Lee's army threatening Baltimore caused the diversion of the regi- ment to that city.
Reaching there on the 1st of July, and reporting to General Schenck, commanding the Middle Department, the Eighth were as- signed to the Second Provisional Brigade, commanded by General E. B. Tyler, taking up their quarters at Fort Bradford near the out- skirts of the city. On the 6th the regiment was transferred to the brigade of General H. S. Briggs, and next day took cars to Sandy Hook, Md., whence it made a night march in a storm to Maryland Hights. Shortly before daylight the Eighth took possession of Fort
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TIIE EIGHTHI REGIMENT.
Duncan and hoisted the Flag of the Union, remaining there till the 12th, during which time the three companies from Roanoke Island rejoined the main body. That night the brigade marched to join the Army of the Potomac, then confronting the Confederates in front of Williamsport, making 25 miles in 16 hours, and on reach- ing Funkstown was assigned to the Second Division, First Corps. For two weeks the regiment marched with the Union army in the southward progress of the strategic struggle which ensued, reaching the Rappahannock river, where General Meade was directed to take up a strong position. During this campaigning the Eigh th, though not engaged in battle, suffered much from the heat, the shortness of rations and their insufficient equipment for the service.
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