USA > Massachusetts > Massachusetts in the war, 1861-1865 Pt. 1 > Part 19
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The orders to return to Massachusetts for muster-out were re- peated on the 26th, and the regiment at once set out for home, reaching Boston on the 29th, and was mustered out August 7.
THE ONE HUNDRED DAYS' TERM.
One year later the Eighth Regiment was again called upon to serve the national government, this time for 100 days ; the com- panies were promptly filled and mustered at different dates from the 13th to the 21st of July, 1864, the field officers not being mustered till the 26th. Some of the nine-months' companies did not appear in the regiment as then organized, their places being filled by others from Hampden and Berkshire counties. The roster of officers :-
Colonel, Benjamin F. Peach, Jr., of Marblehead; lieutenant colonel, Christopher 'T. Hanley of Boston; major, David W. Low of Glouces- ter; surgeon, John L. Robinson of Wenham ; assistant surgeon, Ebenezer Hunt of Danvers ; chaplain, John S. Sewell of Wenham; adjutant, Abram H. Berry of Lynn ; quartermaster, Joseph A. Ingalls of Swampscott; sergeant major, William N. Tyler of Melrose; quarter- master sergeant, William F. Sinclair of Marblehead; commissary ser- geant, Francis Locke, Jr., of Gloucester; hospital steward, Eleazer R. Burbank of Lowell ; principal musician, John H. Knight of Marblehead.
Company A, Springfield-Captain, Lewis A. Tifft; first lieutenant, Gideon Wells ; second lieutenant, Chauncey Hickox.
Company B, Adams-Captain, Henry M. Lyons; first lieutenant, Eugene B. Richardson; second lieutenant,. Frederick W. Champney.
Company C, Marblehead-Captain and second lieutenant same as 1862; first lieutenant, William Goodwin, 3d.
Company D, Lynn-Captain, William H. Merritt ; first lieutenant, George E. Palmer; second lieutenant, William H. Keene.
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
Company E, South Reading-Captain, Samuel F. Littlefield ; first lieutenant, Jason H. Knight; second lieutenant, James A. Burditt.
Company F, Lynn-Captain and first lieutenant same as 1862 ; second lieutenant, Josiah F. Kimball.
Company G, Gloucester-Captain, Edward L. Rowe; first lieutenant, George L. Fears; second lieutenant, Isaac N. Story.
Company H, Springfield-Captain, William J. Landen; first lieu- tenant, Charles L. Wood; second lieutenant, John Thayer.
Company I, Boston-Captain, Henry S. Shelton; first lieutenant, Thomas J. Hanley; second lieutenant, Andrew C. McKenna.
Company K, Pittsfield-Captain, Lafayette Butler; first lieutenant, William D. Reed, second lieutenant, James Kittle.
At 1 o'clock of the day that the organization of the regiment was completed it was ordered to leave Camp Meigs at Readville, where it had rendezvoused, and at once proceeded Washingtonward. It went no further than Baltimore, however, where it reported to General Lew Wallace, in command of the Middle Department, and was assigned by him to the Third Separate Brigade, Eighth Corps, General II. II. Lockwood commanding. The Eighth went into camp temporarily at Mankin's Woods, and on the 31st of July were with the other troops in the vicinity reviewed by General Wallace. On the 12th of August Company B was detailed for duty at the hospitals and Companies A and K for provost guard duty in Baltimore; while on the following day Companies D, E, G and H under Major Low reported for duty at Camp Bradford, near Baltimore, the draft rendezvous for Maryland and Delaware,-these details being to re- lieve troops of the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Ohio. Lieutenant Colonel Hanley was detailed upon a military commission.
Three days later the rest of the regiment was ordered to guard the line of the Northern Central railroad, relieving the One Hun- dred and Ninety-third Pennsylvania. Head-quarters were estab- lished at Cockeysville, some 15 miles north of Baltimore, where Company C remained, while F and I were sent to stations five and ten miles further north. This arrangement continued till the 25th of September, when the companies on the railroad were ordered to Camp Bradford and Colonel Peach took command of the draft rendezvous. This position he held till the 28th of October, when the Baltimore companies rejoined the regiment in preparation for the return to Massachusetts which was made soon. after, and on the 10th of November the Eighth Regiment was for the third time mustered out of the United States service.
THE NINTH REGIMENT.
T IIE Ninth Regiment was among the first formed for three years' service and was composed exclusively of men of Irish birth. It gathered at Camp Wightman on Long Island in Boston Harbor, early in May, 1861, and on the 11th of June most of the officers and men were mustered into the government service though recruits were added subsequently up to the time of depart- ure for the front. The original roster follows :-
Colonel, Thomas Cass ; lieutenant colonel, Cromwell G. Rowell, both of Boston ; major, Robert Peard of Milford ; surgeon, Peter Pineo of Boston; assistant surgeons, Patrick A. O'Connell of Boston and Stephen W. Drew of Woburn; chaplain, Thomas Scully; adjutant, George W. Perkins ; quartermaster, John Moran ; sergeant major, William Strachan ; quartermaster sergeant, Thomas Mooney, all of Boston ; commissary sergeant, Patrick W. Black of Portland, Me .; hospital steward, Reed B. Granger ; leader of band, Michael O'Con- nor, both of Boston.
Company A, Columbian Volunteers of Boston-Captain, James E. Gallagher ; first lieutenant, Michael Scanlan ; second lieutenant, Michael F. O'Hara.
Company B, Otis Guard of Boston-Captain, Christopher Plunkett: first lieutenant, Patrick 'T. Hanley; second lieutenant, Patrick Walsh.
Company C, Douglas Guard of Boston-Captain, William Madigan; first lieutenant, John W. Mahan ; second lieutenant, Edward Mc- Sweeney.
Company D, Meagher Guard-Captain, Patrick R. Gniney ; first lieutenant, William W. Doherty, both of Roxbury; second lieutenant, John II. Rafferty of Somerville.
Company E, Cass Light Guard of Boston-Captain, John R. Teague: first lieutenant, Michael H. McNamara; second lieutenant, Timothy F. Lee.
Company F, Fitzgerald Guards of Salem-Captain, Edward Fitz- gerald ; first lieutenant, Timothy O'Leary; second lieutenant, Philip E. Redmond.
Company G, Wolfe Tone Gnards-Captain, John Carey of Marlboro; first lieutenant, John M. Tobin ; second lieutenant, Archibald Simp- son, both of Boston.
MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
Company II, Davis Guards of Milford-Captain, Jeremiah O'Neil ; first lientenant, Thomas K. Roach; second lieutenant, Timothy Burke.
Company 1, Mcclellan Rifles of Boston-Captam, James E. Mc- Cafferty; first lieutenant, John H. Walsh ; second lieutenant, Richard P. Nugent.
Company K, Stoughton Irish Guards-Captain, George W. Dutton, first lieutenant, James F. McGunagle, both of Stoughton ; second lieutenant, John C. Willey of East Cambridge.
It was at first intended to designate this regiment as the Thir- teenth, but the method of numbering being changed it became the Ninth. On the 24th of June it was transported to Boston, where it was received by an enthusiastic procession of the Irish citizens and marched to the State House, where it was reviewed by Gover- nor Andrew and his staff, the governor presenting the state colors, after which a deputation representing the Irish citizens of Boston presented the national colors and a beautiful Irish flag. The follow- ing day the regiment, having been recruited to the maximum, was ordered to Washington, sailed on the Ben De Ford, and arrived there on the 29th, going into camp on Ewart's Farm, about a mile from the city. Here the regiment was quartered till after the battle of Bull Run, when in anticipation of a Confederate attack on Wash- ington it was marched across the Potomac and took a position on Arlington Hights where it immediately set about the construction of a fortification known as Fort Cass, in honor of the colonel. In this position the Ninth remained, enjoying marked good health, till the following spring, during which time, as they were armed with the Springfield smooth-bore musket, they were drilled with especial reference to double-quick and other rapid movements with a view to fighting at close quarters.
In the organization by brigades made by General MeClellan August 4, the Ninth were made a part of General W. T. Sherman's brigade, the other members of the command being the Fourteenth Massachusetts, Forty-first (DeKalb) New York and Fourth Michi- gan Regiments, with a battery of artillery and a company of cav- alry, both from the United States Army. This arrangement was only temporary, however, for on the 15th of October the Ninth be- came part of Morell's Brigade, Porter's Division, Army of the Poto- mac, the other regiments of the brigade being the Fourth New York, Thirty-third Pennsylvania and Fourth Michigan. Generals Martin- dale and Butterfield commanded the other brigades of the division,
191
THIE NINTHI REGIMENT.
and the cavalry and artillery were attached to the division and not to the brigades. A few men were wounded on picket during the fall and winter, and numerous changes occurred in the roster of officers. Lieutenant Colonel Rowell resigned October 23, Major Peard being promoted to fill the vacancy and Captain Guiney becom- ing major. The latter was in turn promoted to lieutenant colonel on the death from disease of Peard, which occurred January 27 following, and Captain Hanley was advanced to the majority.
In the organization of the Army of the Potomac for the Penin- sular campaign of 1862 the Ninth Regiment formed a part of the Second Brigade, First Division, Third Corps. General Morell com- manded the brigade, General Fitz-John Porter the division and General Heintzelman the corps, the regiments associated with the Ninth in the brigade being the Fourteenth New York, Sixty- second Pennsylvania and Fourth Michigan. Late in March, 1862, the regiment with its division was transported to Fortress Monroe, and encamped near the village of Hampton, taking part soon after in a reconnaissance in the direction of Yorktown. It shared in the operations against the latter place which began on the 4th of April, though its part in the siege was not an active one. After the evacu- ation of that stronghold General Porter's division was taken up the York river to West Point. Landing there on the 6th of May, it marched across country to the right bank of the Chickahominy river where it went into camp near Gaines Mills. During this time the Fifth Army Corps, commanded by General Porter, was organ- ized, of which General Morell's brigade became a part ; it still re- mained the Second Brigade, First Division, but General Morell took . command of the division and the brigade was for a short time under the command of General Butterfield, by whom it was taken into the action at Hanover Court House, on the 27th of May.
During the latter part of this engagement the Ninth Massachu- setts made a heroic charge over very difficult ground, pursuing the retreating enemy for a long distance; although under heavy fire for a portion of the time the loss of the command was light, being but one killed, 11 wounded, and one missing. The regiment then re- turned to its camp, where it remained until the 26th of June, when with the rest of the brigade, now commanded by General Charles Griffin, it moved to Mechanicsville and was slightly engaged in the action there. It returned to its camp at Gaines Mills in time for
192
MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
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the severe battle of the following day. It was at first posted on the creek near the mill, under especial orders to hold the enemy in check and prevent their crossing at that point. This was done, but a crossing being effected higher up stream the position was flanked and the regiment was compelled to fall back. Again it made a heroic stand and although forced back somewhat fought valiantly until relieved by other troops. The stubborn nature of its resist- ance is sufficiently attested by its losses, which during the series of engagements reached 29 killed, 152 wounded and 16 missing. Among the killed were Captains Madigan, Carey, O'Neil and Mc- Cafferty, First Lieutenant Richard B. Nugent, and Second Lieuten- ant Francis O'Dowd of Boston-while, saddest loss of all for the regiment, its gallant commander, Colonel Cass, received wounds from which he died on the 12th of July.
The command crossed the Chickahominy during the night follow- ing, and next day with the rest of the army began the movement toward the James river. It was not again in action until the final battle of the campaign, at Malvern Hill on the 1st of July. At that time its division sustained and repulsed some of the most de- termined attacks by the Confederates, the front of the division being heavily covered by artillery, with the Ninth Regiment in support of Captain Edwards's battery of regulars. At the critical point of the conflict, when the guns were in danger of capture, the regiment ad- vanced and engaged the enemy, holding them in check and finally repulsing their attack after the endangered guns had been with- drawn. Again the loss of the Ninth was severe, 11 being killed, 147 wounded and 22 missing. Among the slain were First Lieu- tenants Edward MeSweeney and John HI. Rafferty. During the night the entire army was withdrawn to Harrison's Landing, where it remained some six weeks. About this time Griffin's Brigade was strengthened by the addition of the Thirty-second Massachusetts.
The experience of the Ninth during the remainder of the year, while frequently arduous and trying, was, happily for the command, comparatively free from severe fighting. Beginning on the 14th of August, they marched down the Peninsula to Fortress Monroe, embarked from Newport News on the 20th, and landed at Acquia Creek the next day. Going to Fredericksburg by rail, the regiment halted there for a few days, marching up the Rappahannock to War- renton Junction, and thence to the vicinity of Manassas, where it
.
193
THIE NINTII REGIMENT.
remained during the second battle of Bull's Run ; but the brigade was not actively engaged and the loss of the regiment was but five wounded. After the battle the Ninth took position near Chain Bridge, but presently returned to the old camp which they had left six months before to enter upon the campaign. The regiment re- mained there until the 12th of September, when it set out on the march for the Antietam, and was present at the battle a few days later, but was in reserve throughout. It took part in the subse- qnent movements of its corps, until the close of the Fredericksburg campaign under General Burnside as commander of the Army of the Potomac. In that battle it took no very active part, having one man killed and 27 missing. Up to this time numerous changes in commanders had taken place ; General Butterfield had succeeded General Porter, in charge of the Fifth Corps; General Griffin had been promoted to the command of the First Division ; and Colonel Sweitzer of the Sixty-second was in command of the brigade ; Licu- tenant Colonel Guiney had meantime been commissioned colonel of the Ninth ; Major Hanley and Captain Dutton had each been ad- vanced a step, to lieutenant colonel and major respectively.
After the battle of Fredericksburg the regiment returned to its camp near Falmouth, where with the exception of a reconnaissance on the 30th of December, (when it marched 54 miles to Kelly's Ford and back in 21 hours,) it remained in winter quarters until the Chancellorsville campaign. Its good fortune, so far as engagements and casualties were concerned, continued during the year 1863. At Chancellorsville it was only engaged in skirmishing and lost but nine wounded. After that battle it returned again to the old camp where it remained quietly till the beginning of the movement cul- minating at Gettysburg. Upon that historic field the regiment was sent upon picket at the extreme Union left and in the duties of that position and skirmishing it was engaged during the battle, suffer- ing a loss of but one killed and three wounded. During the rest of the year the regiment shared in the various movements of the Army of the Potomac-the pursuit of Lee to Williamsport, the dis- appointment there at the escape of the Confederate army into Vir- ginia, and the various strategie movements back and forth between the Rapidan and the defenses of Washington, the brilliant engage- ment at Rappahannock Station, and the Mine Run campaign. All of these episodes, however wearisome they may have been, so far
194
MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
as the regiment was concerned proved bloodless, except at Mine Run, where the loss was but two wounded. That campaign ended, the regiment returned to Bealton and went into winter quarters.
Two officers of the Ninth died from disease during the year - First Lieutenant Mooney on the 17th of March and Second Lieuten- ant Philip E. Redmond September 17. During the autumn and early winter the serious losses which the regiment had sustained earlier in its history were partially repaired by the arrival of 488 recruits and conscripts, making the nominal strength of the com- mand 769 at the close of the year 1863.
The winter round of duties was a severe one. In addition to guarding the railroad and running a line of pickets to Freeman's Ford on the Rappahannock, the regiment had also to guard against the activity of Mosby's rangers, who kept the Union outposts con- tinually on the alert. An attack was made by them on the brigade head-quarters on the night of January 13, 1864, but it was repulsed by a company of the Ninth under command of Captain O'Leary, and there were numerous attacks upon the railroad and bridges in the vicinity. Under these circumstances there were but 25 re- enlistments in the regiment during the winter. The reorganization of the Army of the Potomac for the spring campaign brought no change to Sweitzer's Brigade, it was still composed of the same regiments, and the brigade and division commanders were the same, General Warren being in command of the corps.
The camp at Bealton was broken on the 30th of April, the regi- ment crossing the Rappahannock next day and halting near Brandy Station till the 3d of May, when the active movement of the cam- paign began. The night of the 4th brought the Fifth Corps to Wilderness Tavern, and in that vicinity breastworks were thrown up the following morning in anticipation of an attack. It was not per- mitted the Ninth Regiment, however, to use the works which the men had constructed, for after their completion the brigade was ordered to advance beyond them and attack the Confederate position. This was bravely done and a fierce conflict took place in a small opening in front of the enemy's intrenchments where a section of artillery formed the center of a long continued struggle. Neither side succeeded in driving the other from the plain and the fight raged back and forth across it for a considerable time until General Griffin directed his troops to retire to their works. In this contest
195
THE NINTHI REGIMENT.
the Ninth lost 27 killed and a large number wounded ; among the slain being Captains William A. Phelan and James W. McNamara, First Lieutenants Archibald Simpson and Nicholas C. Flaherty and Second Lieutenant Charles B. McGinnisken. Two others were killed during the following day but the regiment was not actively engaged. Colonel Guiney was wounded in the face on the 5th, and the com- mand of the regiment devolved upon Lieutenant Colonel Hanley.
During the night of the 7th the brigade marched toward Spott- sylvania Court House and next day in the action at Laurel Hill the regiment had another baptism of fire, losing 10 killed, two others being added to the fatal list the following day, including Second Lieutenant James O'Niel. Again in the action of the 12th, the regi- ment shared in the futile charge upon the Confederate position, leaving 12 more of its bravest dead in front of the hostile works. A proportionate number were wounded, but in none of these engage- ments is it possible, owing to the incomplete reports, to give the exact number-suffice it to say that during the campaign the regi- ment had 56 killed and 202 were reported wounded, many of the latter fatally.
From this time, although not heavily engaged, the Ninth shared in all the experiences of its corps, marching and skirmishing inces- santly ; now blundering through the dark forests at night in a futile effort to pierce the Confederate right near the Po river, moving thence to the North Anna, and later to Bethesda Church, maneuver- ing in that vicinity while the deadly operations to the left in front of Cold Harbor were going on. During this time the loss to the regiment was three killed and a few wounded.
On the 10th of June the original term of enlistment of the regi- ment expired, its recruits and veterans were transferred to the Thirty-second Massachusetts Regiment of the same brigade, and on the following day the Ninth Regiment, its work faithfully and heroically done, embarked at White House Landing on the Pamun- key river for Washington. Thence cars were taken for Boston, where the regiment arrived on the 15th, meeting an enthusiastic re- ception, and on the 21st, on Boston Common, the organization was formally mustered out of service. In the number of officers who gave their lives for their country-18-the Ninth Regiment was exceeded by no other from Massachusetts, and bnt three others lost an equal number.
THE TENTH REGIMENT.
T HE Tenth Regiment was raised in the four western counties, under the permission granted to Massachusetts, May 15, 1861. by Secretary of War Cameron to raise six regiments for three years' service. Its rendezvous was at Hampden Park, Springfield, and it was largely composed of the companies of the Tenth Regi- ment, state militia, reorganized for active service. The various companies, already organized and proficient in drill, though not filled to the quota required by the national government, gathered at the camp on the 14th and 15th of June, two companies-one from Coleraine and one recruited on Hampden Park by Oliver Edwards of Springfield-being broken up to fill the ten selected to constitute the regiment. The command was soon ready for the muster, which was made June 21, 1861, by Captain Marshall of the United States Army, the roster of officers being as follows :-
Colonel, Henry S. Briggs of Pittsfield; lieutenant colonel. Jefford M. Decker of Lawrence; major, William R. Marsh; surgeon, C. N. Chamberlain, both of Northampton; assistant surgeon, William Hol- brook of Palmer; chaplain, Frederick A. Barton; adjutant, Oliver Edwards, both of Springfield; quartermaster, John W. Howland of North Adams ; sergeant major, Edward K. Wilcox of Springfield ; quartermaster sergeant, Elihu B. Whittlesey of Pittsfield; hospital steward, Charles C. Wells of Northampton: leader of band, William D. Hodge of North Adams; principal musician, John L. Gaffney of Chicopee.
Company A, Great Barrington-Captain, Ralph O. Ives; first lieu- tenant, James L. Bacon; second lieutenant, Henry L. Wilcox.
Company B, Johnson Grays of Adams-Captain, Elisha Smart; first lieutenant, Samuel C. Traver; second lieutenant, Lewis W. Goddard. Company C, Northampton-Captain, Joseph B. Parsons ; first lieu- tenant, James H. Wetherell; second lieutenant, Flavel Shurtleff.
Company D, Pollock Guard of Pittsfield-Captain, Thomas W. Clapp; first lieutenant, Charles Wheeler; second lieutenant, Dwight Hubbard.
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TIIE TENTII REGIMENT.
Company E-Captain, Fred Barton ; first lieutenant, Byron Porter, both of Westfield; second lieutenant, Wallace A. Putnam of Danvers.
Company F, Springfield City Guard-Captain, Hosea C. Lombard; first lieutenant, Hiram A. Keith ; second lieutenant, George W. Bigelow.
Company G, Greenfield Guards-Captain, Edwin E. Day; first lieu- tenant, George Pierce; second lieutenant, L. M. Remington.
Company H, Shelburne Falls-Captain, Ozro Miller; first lieuten- ant, Chandler J. Woodward; second lieutenant, Benjamin F. Leland.
Company I-Captain, John H. Clifford of Holyoke; first lieutenant, Joseph K. Newell of Springfield; second lieutenant, Joseph H. Ben- nett of West Springfield.
Company K, Westfield-Captain, Lucius B. Walkley; first lieuten- ant, David M. Chase; second lieutenant, Edwin T. Johnson.
The command was reviewed by Governor Andrew and staff on the 10th of July, and five days later was presented with state and national colors of unusual magnificence by the ladies of Springfield, the wife of General James Barnes making the presentation. Next day the regiment took cars for Medford, where in Camp Adams on the Mystic river it found very agreeable quarters, and perfecting itself in drill and discipline, remained till the 25th. On that day, after a farewell address by ex-Governor Briggs, father of Colonel Briggs, cars were taken to Boston, and a few hours later the Tenth, occupying the steamers S. R. Spaulding and Ben De Ford, set sail for Washington.
The national capital was reached on the 28th, and the debarkation took place at the navy-yard, where the men remained till the follow- ing day, when they marched to a temporary camp near Meridian Hill, which they occupied till the 6th of August. On that day, marching out some four miles from the city on the Seventh Street road, they joined General Darius N. Couch's Brigade of Buell's Division composed of the Seventh Massachusetts, Second Rhode Island and Thirty-sixth New York Regiments. In a day or two the camp was moved to a more favorable location near the residence of Francis P. Blair, being known as Brightwood.
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