USA > Massachusetts > Massachusetts in the war, 1861-1865 Pt. 1 > Part 42
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The camp at Stevensburg was broken at night of the 3d of May, 1864, and the southward march began. The Rapidan was crossed and the old battle-field of Chancellorsville was reached on the after- noon of the 4th. Thence to Todd's Tavern the regiment moved as flankers, - a very difficult position owing to the nature of the ground. The following day General Hancock was called back to the assistance of the other corps, which had encountered Lee's army in the Wilderness, and in the formation of his command near the Brock road General Barlow's division was placed at the left of the line. As the fighting progressed the division became sharply en- gaged, Smyth's Brigade doing valiant service and driving back the enemy's right, though at heavy loss. That of the Twenty-eighth was 16 killed, 67 wounded and 15 missing,-the casualties includ- ing Captains James A. McIntire of Lynn killed and Charles P. Smith of Northampton mortally wounded. In the remainder of the battle of the Wilderness, in the movement to Spottsylvania and the engagement on the Po river, including almost constant skirmish- ing and fighting up to the 11th, the regiment had its full share, losing during that time seven killed, 23 wounded and four missing.
During the night of the 11th the corps marched to the left and massed in an open field for an assault next morning on the left center of the enemy's lines, near " The Angle," Barlow's Division having the center of attack, Smyth's Brigade being in the second line. At daylight the charge was ordered, and the column swept into the Confederate works, making one of the most brilliant and successful charges of the war. But it was not a bloodless victory,
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for the Twenty-eighth alone lost ten killed, 40 wounded and one missing, and the charging lines being much broken and disorgan- ized by the onset were replaced by other troops which carried on the stubborn fight which ensued all through that day and the suc- ceeding night. From that time till the 17th the regiment was skir- mishing, marching or intrenching almost continuously, in the efforts to find a vulnerable point in the Confederate lines. During the night of the 17th the corps was again massed for assault near the scene of the former exploit, and the charge was made at daylight of the 18th, but the result was very different. The enemy's first line was penetrated, but there the success ended, and the assailants were forced to withdraw with serious loss. The Twenty-eighth held on to what they had gained till noon, under an enfilading fire, when they fell baek, having lost 11 killed and 29 wounded. Major Lawler and Captain James Magner of St. Peter, Minn., were among the dead, and Captain William F. Cochrane of West Roxbury died of his wounds two days later-all of whom were among the most valued officers of the organization.
The movement of the Second Corps from Spottsylvania toward the south began during the night of the 20th, and on the 24th the North Anna river was crossed, the regiment remaining under arms in an open field for two days, the first under an intense heat and the next in a severe storm. The river was recrossed on the 26th, an all-night march followed, with little rest till noon of the 28th, when the command bivouacked beside the Pamunkey river. In the skirmishing which followed in that vicinity it lost one killed and two or three wounded. On the 1st of June, as the main bodies of the two armies confronted each other at Cold Harbor, General Han- cock was ordered to march to the extreme left of the Union army and prolong the lines in that direction, and after a very trying march the indicated position was occupied and intrenched. On the morning of the 3d the regiment joined in the general attack, being in the second line. A salient was struck and captured, with some prisoners, but could not be held owing to the terrible fire from the main line beyond and the determined attempts made for its re- capture. The Union troops were forced out, taking such shelter as the ground afforded and later in the day retiring to their intrench- ments. The loss to the Twenty-eighth-more deeply felt from the fact that owing to their position they were unable to take any active.
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THIE TWENTY-EIGIITHI REGIMENT.
part in the battle-was ten killed, 46 wounded and one missing. A sad loss for the command was that of Colonel Byrnes, who died of his wounds nine days later at Washington. First Lieutenant James B. West of Chelsea was also fatally wounded, dying the next day.
The regiment remained in the works before Cold Harbor, con- fronting the enemy but without further loss, till the movement across the James was decided upon, and the march began during the 12th of June. Late in the afternoon of the 13th the corps had reached the river at Wilcox's Landing; the following day it crossed by transports, and during the forenoon of the 25th began the march toward Petersburg, though owing to some blinder no rations had been furnished. On the afternoon of the 16th Barlow's Division made an attack on the intrenchments in its front, supported by other troops, and gained some ground. In this assault Colonel Kelly, commanding the Irish Brigade, was killed, and the loss of the Twenty-eighth was three killed, 14 wounded and two missing. In the attacks of the two following days the regiment was in sup- port, neither actively engaged nor suffering loss.
On the 20th it was transferred from the Second to the First Bri- gade of the division, General Nelson A. Miles being the new com- mander, and the day following took part in the movement of the Second Corps to the left, crossing the Jerusalem Plank road and threatening the Weldon Railroad. On the march the regiment was deployed as flankers, and on the 22d as skirmishers did much to check the success of Mahone's Division, which had penetrated be- tween the Second and Sixth Corps and attacked Barlow's Division on the flank and rear. For its steadfastness on this occasion the regiment received the thanks of brigade and division commanders. Its loss was 11, of whom one was killed. . From this time, for more than a month it took part in no engagement, being on picket and performing fatigue duty.
At evening of the 26th of July, under command of Captain James Fleming of Boston (soon after commissioned major), the regiment left camp, crossed the Appomattox and James rivers, and the following morning reached Deep Bottom, the movement being made by the Second Corps and Sheridan's cavalry in the hope of finding the enemy's lines in that quarter insecurely held. Soon after daylight the Twenty-eighth were deployed as skirmishers, en- countering the enemy, and getting upon their flank drove them from
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a line of intrenchments, capturing some prisoners and four cannon. During the rest of the day the regiment was on the picket line, and on the 28th, falling back to the Newmarket road, assisted in building intrenchments. Its loss on the expedition was two killed and two wounded. The column returned to the south side of the Appomattox on the night of the 29th, and after stopping in support of the Ninth Corps during the day, reached its former camp at evening of the 30th.
Another movement to the north side of the James by way of Deep Bottom began on the 12th of August, when the regiment marched to City Point, embarked on transports the following day, and on the morning of the 14th landed at Deep Bottom. It ahnost immediately joined in a demonstration against the Confederates, losing four killed and 11 wounded. On the 16th the brigade moved with a calvary force by the Charles City road, the Twenty-eighth being deployed as skirmishers and soon coming in conflict with the foc, losing two killed, 16 wounded and 22 missing in the stubborn con- test which ensued, the Confederates forcing back the Union lines. Among the killed on the 14th was First Lieutenant Patrick Nolan of Boston. The column being unable to effect its purpose, at dusk of the 20th began its return to the works before Petersburg, the old camps being reoccupied the following morning.
With but a single day's rest the regiment was again sent to meet the enemy, moving to the left at Reams Station, deployed as skir- mishers, as usual, but without encountering the enemy, and next day on pieket. It was stationed along the railroad during the 24th, but returned to the Station to bivouac and next day took part in the fierce fight which resulted in defeat to the Union arms, though Miles's Brigade won much credit and the Twenty-eighth were among the last to leave the intrenehments when retreat was finally decided on, having lost one killed, seven wounded and 25 missing, and re- ceiving the thanks of General Miles for their gallantry. The en- gagement, however, demonstrated that the troops had been too much exhausted by the long campaign of the spring and summer for further efficient offensive operations, and from that time till the coming of winter there was little more than the routine of picket duty, camp service, and the details of life in the trenches.
The regiment completed three years in the United States service on the 13th of December, when the original members who had not re-enlisted, numbering but two officers and 21 enlisted men, left
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THIE TWENTY-EIGHTII REGIMENT.
for Boston under command of Lieutenant Colonel Cartwright, to be mustered out. The recruits and re-enlisted men were consolidated into a battalion of five companies, which retained the regimental number, its officers consisting of Major James Fleming, Surgeon Peter E. Hubon, five captains and as many first lieutenants. Major Fleming was soon advanced to the rank of lieutenant colonel. Nothing important in the history of the battalion occurred till the opening of the spring campaign, when the corps was commanded by General Humphreys, the division by General Miles and the First Brigade by Colonel George W. Scott.
The first conflict of the campaign occurred on the 25th of March, 1865. Following the capture and recapture of Fort Stedman that morning, the Second Corps, including the Twenty-eighth Battalion, advanced to the front lines and after a pause of some hours moved out to reconnoiter the works in their front. The battalion reached an advanced position which it held till night, under a heavy fire, re- pulsing two counter advances by the enemy. The ammunition of the command was exhausted long before it was relieved; but it pluckily held its ground at the loss of seven killed and 69 wounded out of the less than 200 taken into action. Four of the officers were wounded, including Lieutenant Colonel Fleming. First Lieu- tenant Thomas J. Parker, transferred from the Thirty-second Mas- sachusetts, was mortally wounded, dying April 21.
Again on the 29th the battalion was under arms and moved with the corps to the left, crossing Ilatchers Run and feeling its way in search of the enemy till evening of the 1st of April, when orders were received for Miles's Division to report to General Sheridan on the White Oak road. Reaching there early next morning, the com- mand had but a few hours' rest when it was ordered back by the road, and on reaching the Confederate fortifications found them de- serted. The division then moved toward Sutherland Station on the Southside railroad, near which the Confederate General Heth had halted and hastily intrenched to offer battle. General Miles at- tacked impetuously, but it was not till the third assault that he suc- ceeded in dislodging the enemy. In this engagement-its last-the battalion lost six wounded of the 20 taken into action, the rest of the command being absent on detail.
The end was near. For six days the remnant of what had once been a full regiment followed with its corps the retreating Confeder-
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ates, skirmishing with their rear guard and at Farmville on the 7th developing almost a battle ; finally on the 9th learning the glad tidings of the surrender of Lee's army and the practical close of the war. The battalion was ordered to Burkesville, where it re- mained three weeks, thence going by way of Richmond and Fred- cricksburg to Alexandria, which was reached on the 15th of May. Eight days later came the great review in Washington, in which it participated ; then followed a season of inaction till the 25th of June, when orders for the immediate muster out of the command were received. That interesting event took place on the 30th, and very soon afterward passage was taken for Massachusetts, Read- ville being reached on the 5th of July, where a few days later the men were paid and discharged.
THE TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT.
T HE Twenty-ninth Regiment was formally organized December 13, 1861, when the commissions of its field and staff officers bore date, but most of its companies had been for months in the national service. Seven of them were among the first troops raised in the Commonwealth for three years' service, but as their ranks were filled these companies were from the 10th to the 22d of May forwarded to Fortress Monroe, where four were assigned to the Third Regiment and the others to the Fourth,-those organizations having been hastily sent forward with much less than the strength required by the United States regulations. At the expiration of the three-months' term of the militia regiments, these companies were by direction of General Butler organized into a battalion, and served thus until near the close of the year the addition of three companies completed the organization, which became thenceforth the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts Regiment. The following is the original roster of officers,-the dates of muster of the companies into the United States service being given, with the officers com- missioned at that time :---
Colonel, Ebenezer W. Pierce of Freetown ; lieutenant colonel, Joseph H. Barnes of Boston; major, Charles Chipman of Sandwich; surgeon, Orlando Brown of Wrentham; assistant surgeon, George B. Cogswell of Easton; chaplain, Henry E. Hempstead of Watertown; adjutant, John B. Collingwood of Plymouth; quartermaster, Joshua Norton, 3d, of Bridgewater; sergeant major, Henry S. Braden; quar- termaster sergeant, William W. Davis, both of Boston; commissary sergeant, John B. Pizer of Taunton; hospital steward, John Hardy of Boston; principal musician, George E. Crocker of Sandwich.
Company A, " Wightman Rifles " of Boston-Captain, Thomas William Clarke; first lieutenant, Joshua Norton, 3d (afterward quar- termaster); second lieutenant, John F. White of Milton (succeeded July 31 by George II. Taylor of Cambridge); mustered May 21, 1861.
Company B --- Captain, Jonas K. Tyler; first lieutenant, Samuel A. Bent, second lieutenant, Thomas H. Adams, all of Boston; mustered
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May 14. (The captain and first lieutenant resigned July 18 and were succeeded respectively by Israel N. Wilson of Billerica and Ezra Rip- ley of Cambridge.)
Company C-Captain, Lebbeus Leach; first lientenant, Nathan D. Whitman; second lieutenant, Elisha S. Holbrook (died August 20, 1861), all of East Bridgewater; mustered May 22.
Company D, "Sandwich Gnards"-Captain, Charles Chipman (afterward major); first lieutenant, Charles Brady; second lieutenant, Henry A. Kern; mustered May 22.
Company E, " Plymouth Rock Guards" of Plymouth-Captain, Samuel H. Doten; first lieutenant, John B. Collingwood; second lieu- tenant, Thomas A. Mayo; mustered May 22.
Company F-Captain, Willard D. Tripp of Taunton; first lieuten- ant, John A. Sayles of Somerset; second lieutenant, Thomas HI. Hus- band of Taunton; mustered December 30.
Company G-Captain, Charles T. Richardson of Pawtucket, R. I .; first lieutenant, Freeman A. Taber of New Bedford; second lieuten- ant, Charles D. Browne of Boston; mustered December 31.
Company H -- Captain, Henry R. Sibley; first lieutenant, Daniel W. Lee, both of Charlestown; second lieutenant, William R. Corlew of Somerville; mustered January 13, 1862.
Company I, "Union Guard" of Lynn -Captain, William D. Chamberlain; first lieutenant, Abram A. Oliver; second lieutenant, John Edward Smith; mustered May 14, 1861.
Company K, "Greenough Guards " of Boston-Captain. Joseph H. Barnes (later lieutenant colonel); first lieutenant, James H. Osgood, Jr .; second lieutenant, William T. Keen; mustered May 22.
On the return of the Third and Fourth Regiments to Massachu- setts, General .Butler directed Captain Barnes to take command of the battalion, which was officially known as the First Battalion of Massachusetts Volunteers. The command was for some time em- ployed in garrison and guard duty in and about the various Union works near Fortress Monroe, and a part of the force was posted across the creek from Hampton Village when on the night of August 7 it was burned by the Confederates, the little Federal force holding the bridge across the stream and by a well-directed musket fire frustrating several attempts of the enemy to cross. A few days later Captain Barnes with five companies was ordered to Newport News, where the remainder of the battalion's existence was spent, and where the Twenty-ninth Regiment was organized. General John W. Phelps commanded the post at Newport News through most of the service of the battalion, being succeded by General Mansfield in November, under whom the regiment was engaged in the same line of duties which had occupied the battalion. The as-
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THE TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT.
signment of Colonel Pierce (who had been a brigadier general in the Massachusetts militia before receiving his commission) to the command of the regiment was in some respects an unfortunate one. During the winter he was court-martialed, sentenced to dismissal from the service, and General Mansfield approved the finding of the court; but it was disapproved by General Wool, who had suc- ceeded General Butler as commander of the department, and the colonel was restored to his command.
A sad accident occurred on the 11th of February, 1862, when two members of the regiment were killed and several wounded by the bursting of a Sawyer gun, which was being fired for the gratifica- tion of spectators. The land battery at Camp Butler was manned by members of the Twenty-ninth, and during the fight between the Merrimac and the Union fleet in the harbor the five heavy guns took an active though an ineffective part. At the same time, during the second day's engagement on the water, a land attack was threatened, and the regiment was called to arms, but the hostile column retired without the firing of a shot. With this exception the usual routine of camp duty prevailed till the 9th of May, when the men were awakened at midnight to pack their knapsacks and start for Fortress Monroe next morning. That point was reached soon after sundown, when the Twenty-ninth at once went on board transports and landed at Ocean View after a sail of an hour. Then followed a march until midnight, which was resumed next morning, and soon after noon of the 11th Norfolk was reached.
But the Merrimac had been blown up and the place deserted by the Confederate army ; so at night the regiment retired some two miles to an abandoned camp known as " Camp Harrison," where it remained till the 14th, when it again marched to Norfolk, crossed the ferry into Portsmouth and went into camp at the United States Marine Hospital. There it was engaged till the 20th in patrol and provost duty, changing then to the Gosport Navy Yard, where another week was passed. Again the camp was shifted to a point just outside the Confederate earth-works, the command remaining there until the 4th of June, when a heavy forced march was made to the village of Suffolk, more than 25 miles distant, where Colonel Wyman of the Sixteenth Massachusetts was in command.
Only a short stop was made there. On the afternoon of the 6th the regiment took cars for Portsmouth, passing the night in the
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
depot and next morning taking steamer for White House Landing, the supply depot for the Army of the Potomac. Camping near the landing, the command marched to the front next morning and was assigned to General Meagher's Brigade of Richardson's Division, Second Corps, General Sumner commanding. This was the famous "Irish Brigade," composed of the Sixty-ninth, Sixty-third and Eighty-eighth New York, but it gave a hearty welcome to the Twenty-ninth, which was essentially an American regiment. The camp was established on the battle-field of Fair Oaks, just in front of the little group of trees which gave the name to the conflict.
The first encounter with the enemy came on the afternoon of the. 15th, during a violent thunder storm, when the Confederates made a dash upon the picket line, composed of Companies C and E, driv- ing them back temporarily and killing two; but the fire of the Union batteries speedily obliged the enemy to retreat. Late in the afternoon of the 27th Meagher's Brigade, with French's of the same division, was sent to the right to assist Porter's Corps, which was hard pressed at Gaines Mill. They were just in time to cover the retreat of the Union soldiers, and the firm front presented by the two brigades checked the pursuing Confederates, who fell back and reformed their line, but when the little Federal force advanced in line of battle the Confederates retired before them and most of the night was passed with the two forces in close proximity. The loss of the regiment was slight, but it included Lieutenant Thomas A. Mayo, who was struck and killed by a cannon ball.
Before morning the Twenty-ninth were withdrawn, and apart from skirmishing and picket duty had no further share in the fight- ing till the engagement at Savage's Station, after MeClellan's re- treat had begun, when their well-directed volleys gave check to the advance of the enemy at one point. In the battle of White Oak Swamp, on the 30th of June, they rendered valiant service in the support of Pettit's Battery, the fire of which did much to hold the enemy at bay and prevent his crossing the creek which separated the two armies. About the commencement of the action Colonel Pierce was wounded, losing his right arm, and the command of the regiment devolved upon Lieutenant Colonel Barnes. As the day closed, the brigade, with that of General French, was ordered to support General Sumner at Charles City Cross Roads, whose troops were hard pressed, and going on a run arrived there just in time to
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THE TWENTY-NINTHI REGIMENT.
take the places of the retiring Federals and check the advance of the foe ; after which the march toward Malvern Hill was taken up, and just before daylight that strong point was reached.
Early next morning the brigade was moved to the front and placed in support of some Union batteries, but presently changed position to the extreme right of Mcclellan's line, being posted be- hind a range of hills, where it remained till late in the afternoon. At that time the. brigade was hurried to the Federal left, where severe fighting had been going on, the regiment being detached and ordered to the assistance of a small brigade of regulars under Lieu- tenant Colonel Buchanan in support of some batteries. There it remained through the night, withdrawing with carly light and re- joining its own brigade at Harrison's Landing, where it was highly complimented by General Meagher. Its loss thus far had been six killed and 19 wounded, some of the latter mortally. Several of those wounded at White Oak Swamp had to be left behind, and Assistant Surgeon Cogswell who remained to care for them fell into the hands of the Confederates, rejoining his command on the 19th of July.
The regiment was detailed on outpost duty near Malvern Hill on the 4th of Angust, returning to Haxall's Landing on the 15th and the following day beginning the march to Yorktown where it went into camp on the 20th. Two days later Sumner's Corps was ordered to Newport News, where the Twenty-ninth encamped amid familiar scenes. The brigade went aboard the steamer Commodore on the 24th, debarking at Acquia Creek Landing and going by rail to Fredericksburg, where it bivouacked on the 27th, but on the follow- ing day went by steamer Louisiana to Alexandria, marching thence some ten miles up the river to Camp California on Arlington Hights. Sumner's Corps marched on the 30th to the support of General Pope, who was falling back from Manassas, reaching Centerville about noon of the next day and forming line of battle facing the enemy, who during the 1st of September pressed upon the Federal skirmishers. The rest of the army having retired to the Washing- ton defenses, Sumner began to fall back during the afternoon, but it was not till late at night that the Twenty-ninth began to retire, and the following morning, when a mile or two west of Fairfax Court House, they deployed as skirmishers to cover the Federal rear, in which position they received an attack by the hostile cavalry soon after, but repelled it without loss.
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
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