USA > Massachusetts > Massachusetts in the war, 1861-1865 Pt. 1 > Part 6
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
Let him lead to whom the people have assigned the authority and the power. One great duty of absorbing, royal patriotism, which is the public duty of the occasion, demands us all to follow. Placed in no situation where it becomes me to discuss his policy, I do not stop even to consider it. The only question that I can entertain is what to do, and when that question is answered, the other is what next to do, in the sphere of activity where it is given to me to stand ; for by deeds, and not by words, are this people to accomplish their salvation. Let ours be the duty in this great emergency to furnish, in unstinted measure, the men and the money required of us for the common defense. Let Massachusetts ideas and Massachusetts principles go forth, with the industrious, sturdy sons of the Commonwealth to propagate and in- tensify, in every camp and upon every battle-field, that love of equal liberty, and those rights of universal humanity, which are the basis of our institutions ; but let none of us who remain at home presume to direct the pilot or to seize the helm. To the civil head of the national state, to the military head of the national army, our fidelity, our confidence, our constant, devoted, unwavering support, rendered in the spirit of intelligent freemen, of large-minded citizens, con- scious of the difficulties of government, the responsibilities of power, the perils of distrust and division, are due without measure and with- out reservation.
Numerous laws and resolves relative to war measures were passed during the session of the Legislature ; but they were mostly in fur- therance of measures already taken. Among other acts, towns were given authority to appropriate money in aid of the families of volunteers, the governor was authorized to arrange for the relief of sick and wounded soldiers, to take them to their homes, and for the treatment of such as could be accommodated at the state hospitals- all at the expense of the Commonwealth. The treasurer was in- structed to receive and distribute the money sent home by soldiers, which was also exempted from attachment; the governor was em- powered to build iron-clads for the defense of the coast; and the action of the Maryland Legislature in regard to those members of the Sixth Regiment wounded in Baltimore and the families of those killed was properly acknowledged.
The winter and spring passed, after the departure of General Butler's expedition, with very little activity so far as enlistments were concerned. It was a period of waiting, anticipation, trial and preparation. The general government had magnificent armies in the field waiting for the opening of the campaign, and it was fondly anticipated that the troops already raised would be able to effect the speedy close of the rebellion.
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ALMOST A PANIC AT WASHIINGTON.
Early in April, 1862, the recruiting offices throughout the loyal states, which had passed under the direct control of the war de- partment, were closed. Colonel Hannibal Day of the United States Army was at that time in charge of the recruiting service in Mas- sachusetts. The governor had previously applied for permission to increase the battalion then in Fort Warren to a full regiment, to be known as the Thirty-second ; but authority to raise even the four additional companies for that purpose could not then be obtained. Permission was, however, granted during April to raise some 750 recruits to replace the losses of the Massachusetts regiments of Burnside's North Carolina expedition.
On the 14th of May an inquiry was received from the war depart- ment as to the ability of the state to raise four additional regiments at short notice, but no order to proceed was then received. What- ever might have been in contemplation, other action was precipi- tated by the disaster to General Banks's command in the Shenandoah valley and what was known as " the Banks scare " in Washington. It was in consequence of this mishap that on the 25th Governor Andrew received this telegram from the secretary of war: "Send all the troops forward that you can, immediately. Banks is completely routed. The enemy are, in large force, advancing on Harper's Ferry." This dispatch was followed the same day by another of even more startling import : "Intelligence from various quarters leaves no doubt that the enemy, in great force, are advanc- ing on Washington. You will please organize and forward im- mediately all the volunteer and militia force in your state."
Orders were at once issued for the assembling of all the state militia on Boston Common, and within 48 hours 4,000 soldiers were there ready and anxious to set out for the front. But by that time the scare had somewhat abated. General Banks had with much skill extricated his command from its peril and again faced the enemy, so that the order for the militia was countermanded and the men returned to their homes. The battalion from Fort Warren, however, six companies under Lieutenant Colonel Parker, was sent to the front and permission was given to recruit it to a full regi- ment,-the Thirty-second. About this time some companies of cadets and heavy artillery were raised for duty in the forts on the coast, and on the 28th of May two new regiments, the Thirty-third and Thirty-fourth, were authorized. The former encamped at
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MASSACHUSETTS IN TIIE WAR.
Lynnfield and the latter at Camp Wool on the fair-grounds at Worcester.
Recruiting for these regiments was proceeding, not very rapidly, when the country was electrified by the retreat of General Mc- Clellan with the Army of the Potomac from before Richmond and the call on the 4th of July for 300,000 men to serve for three years or during the war. Governor Andrew issued his order on the 7th for 15,000 volunteers as the quota of Massachusetts under this call. To expedite the raising of these troops, a new method was adopted by which each city and town was called upon for its proper propor- tion of the whole number. The result was a new impetus in the matter of enlistments, the local officials putting forth every exertion to meet the demands made upon them. There was one drawback, however,-that it induced great competition among citizens for com- missions in the new regiments, and many such were necessarily granted. In not a few instances it would have been much better could the governor have followed out his original purpose to pro- mote brave and worthy soldiers already in the field. In addition to completing those already in process of formation, it was decided to organize seven new regiments, to be numbered from the Thirty-fifth to the Forty-first inclusive. For a short time the recruits from the five western counties assembled at Worcester, and those from the rest of the state at Lynnfield; but about the first of August Camp Briggs was established at Pittsfield, where the Thirty-seventh Regi- ment, drawn from the western portion of the state, was organized.
Within two months from the day that Governor Andrew issued his call the nine regiments had been filled and mustered ; eight of them had left the state for active service, and in addition over 4,000 recruits for the old regiments in the field had been sent forward. The Thirty-third regiment went first on the 11th of August, the Thirty- fourth followed the next day. the companies to complete the Thirty- second went on the 20th, and the Thirty-fifth Regiment on the 22d ; the Thirty-eighth was but two days later and the Thirty-sixth followed within a week ; three other regiments, the Thirty-ninth, Thirty-seventh and Fortieth, went on the 6th, 7th, and 8th of Sep- tember respectively. All of these organizations reported at Wash- ington ; the Forty-first Regiment (afterward the Third Cavalry), being destined for Louisiana, did not leave the state until the 4th of November, when it reported to General Banks at New York and
49
TIIE CALL FOR NINE-MONTHS' TROOPS.
sailed thence for New Orleans. In the mean time two batteries of light artillery, the Ninth and Tenth, had been organized and sent forward to Washington.
While this stupendous task of enlisting 15,000 men for a long period of service was being prosecuted with great energy-in ad- dition to the demands in behalf of the organizations in the field, nearly all of which were engaged in active and destructive cam- paigning-a second and even more startling call came from Wash- ington on the 4th of August, when the President called for 300,000 additional men to serve for nine months and to be raised by draft. Of this number Massachusetts was asked to furnish 19,090. Yet so great was the energy put forth by the state and local officials that, notwithstanding numerous perplexing delays, the Massachu- setts quota was raised by voluntary enlistment. In addition to difficulties in the matter of muster and transportation for the nine- months' troops which produced many delays and annoyances, the governor was seriously embarrassed by his failure to obtain credit on the quota of the state for the thousands of Massachusetts seamen who had already gone into the United States Navy. This was a difficulty experienced in common with other New England states and one which added heavily to the burden of those trying days.
The nine-months' regiments were organized on the plan of the Massachusetts Militia, the line officers being elected by the com- panies when filled, the field officers being in turn chosen by the ballots of the company officers. The five militia regiments which had responded at the first call in 1861 were at that time about going into camp for the annual muster ; their ranks were recruited, new companies being formed in some instances, and they were sent forward as part of the quota. In addition 12 new regiments, from the Forty-second to the Fifty-third inclusive, were organized. So earnestly was the matter of recruiting carried forward that on the 23d of August the governor issued an order recommending that throughout the Commonwealth, and especially in the cities and larger towns, business should be suspended during the afternoons of the coming week, and that the time and influence of every citizen be given to encouraging enlistments ; by the example of his own enrollment, if within the prescribed limits of age and health, and, if not, by stimulating the patriotism of his neighbors. This course was generally pursued and in a few days Governor Andrew tele-
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
graphed to the secretary of war that nothing was being done afternoons in Massachusetts except recruiting.
In addition to the 17 regiments, one battery of light artillery, the Eleventh, was enlisted for nine months; this ended the work of 1862 as far as the sending out of new organizations was concerned. As practically all the work of sending forward the 27 regiments, 7000 recruits to the old organizations and a number of artillery and infantry companies had been crowded into the last half of the year, the Commonwealth might well congratulate itself upon what it had accomplished. Illustrative of other demands requiring attention during this time, it may be stated that following the battle of Manas- sas, 41 first-class surgeons and nine car-loads of hospital stores were sent from the state within 24 hours after intelligence was received that they were needed at the front.
Before the completion of the various regiments and companies above designated, the attention of the people was again drawn to political matters. The Republican state convention met at Worces- ter on the 10th of September. It renominated Governor Andrew with all his associates on the state ticket of the previous year ex- cept the lieutenant governor. Mr. Nesmith declining to be again a candidate, Joel Hayden of Williamsburg was nominated for the second place on the ticket. After some discussion a committee on resolutions was appointed who reported five distinct declarations : That Massachusetts would support the national government in the prosecution of the war; that slavery ought to be exterminated ; complimenting the Massachusetts soldiers and expressing sympathy for those who had fallen ; pledging support to the President ; com- plimenting Senators Sumner and Wilson and favoring the re-election of the former by the incoming Legislature ; also strongly indorsing the state administration. These were adopted, but there was not entire unanimity, especially regarding the reference to Senator Sumner. What to do with the institution of slavery was still the unsolved problem and one concerning which good and loyal men held widely diverse views.
The Democratic party as such did not hold a convention, but the Democrats generally joined with the conservative and dissatisfied Republicans in " the People's Convention," which met at Faneuil Hall on the 7th of October. This gathering nominated Brigadier General Charles Devens, Jr., for governor, Thomas F. Plunkett of
51
THE PEOPLE'S SECOND VERDICT.
Pittsfield lieutenant governor, and Henry W. Paine of Cambridge for attorney general. For the rest of the state ticket it indorsed the Republican nominees. It also nominated candidates for Con- gress in several of the districts, one or two of whom, as will be seen elsewhere, were elected. The resolutions adopted declared for a vigorous prosecution of the war, and especially indorsed General MeClellan. A potent factor in the convention seems to have been an apprehension that Governor Andrew, at a recent meeting of the loyal governors at Altoona, Pa., had advised the removal of General McClellan from his command. This impression was subsequently removed, it having arisen entirely from a misunderstanding. Gen- eral Devens, a brave and talented soldier and an honorable and high-minded gentleman, proved a strong opposition candidate; but the election showed a substantial majority for Governor Andrew, his vote being 75,835, that for Devens 52,587, with 1,733 scattering. The Legislature chosen also re-elected Charles Sumner to the United States Senate, thus practically indorsing his strong and fearless stand as an opponent of the institution of slavery.
CHAPTER VI.
THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION-RAISING COLORED REGIMENTS IN THE STATE - ORGANIZING THE BLACKS AT THE SOUTH - GENERALS ANDREWS AND WILD AND COLONEL HIGGINSON - GENERAL SAXTON AS MILITARY GOVERNOR-EDUCATING THE FREEDMEN.
P RESIDENT LINCOLN issued his proclamation of freedom to the slave on the 22d of September, 1862, to take effect on the first of January following. On the 2d of January, 1863, Governor Andrew in an order announced the event, directing that on the following day a salute of 100 guns be fired on Boston common. Previous to this, authority had been given the President in express terms by an act of Congress to employ persons of African descent and to organize and use them in such manner as he might deem best for the public welfare in the suppression of the rebellion. Before the month closed an order was issued by the secretary of war which read as follows :-
That Governor Andrew of Massachusetts is authorized, until further orders, to raise such number of companies of volunteer artillery for duty in the forts of Massachusetts and elsewhere, and such corps of infantry for the volunteer military service as he may find convenient; such volunteers to be enlisted for three years or until sooner dis- charged, and may include persons of African descent, organized into separate corps.
In respect to the proposed colored organizations, it was also stipulated by the secretary of war that they should be officered by white men, and the governor found it impossible for a long time to secure such modification of this requirement as to permit of the commissioning of competent colored men who had won distinction as enlisted men in actual service ..
Thus far in the war the colored man had been the great problem- the innocent cause of uncertainty and dissatisfaction. The destiny of his race had been involved, yet he had only been able to assist in strengthening the hands of those who sought to hold his kind in
53
THE FIRST BLACK REGIMENT.
bondage ; the thousands of strong and earnest blacks at the North who would gladly have poured out their life blood to advance the deliverance of their people had thus far been able merely to wait and hope for the hour when their services would be accepted. Thus far not an organization of colored volunteers had been formed, though an effort to recruit a regiment in Rhode Island had been made. In this respect, as in so many others, it remained for Mas- sachusetts, under the direction of its vigorous governor, to lead. The latter had by no means been idle during this time in respect to the interests of the black man ; he had urged and agitated, not only in behalf of residents of his own state, but as well with regard to the condition of the race at the South. He had urged in behalf of the latter that the escaping slaves and those made free by the opera- tions of war should remain at the South, where they were already acclimated, and enter the military service of the United States ; their organization in this way would supplement and support the emancipation proclamation, while they were not only better adapted to live in a climate to which they were accustomed than at the North, but would be able to perform many duties which unacclimated soldiers could only do at terrible cost of life and health. In other matters pertaining to the welfare of the negro at the South, not only the governor but many of the philanthropic citizens of the state were deeply interested, as we shall see later in the chapter.
The first authority to recruit for a colored regiment was given on the 7th of February, 1863, by the governor, and on the 14th of May the regiment, which was designated the Fifty-fourth, was filled to the requirement. In all the proceedings connected with this under- taking the state officers proceeded with the utmost care. Not only was the governor extremely anxious that this regiment should prove a success for the sake of demonstrating the desirability of the in- novation which he liad so earnestly advocated, but he had also to meet a world of prejudice and disparagement, even in those circles where it would have been least looked for. Many good and patriotic people had a great reluctance to see the colored man in any way brought actively into the struggle for the preservation of the nation. They felt and argued that in doing this the government was losing sight of the prime object-the restoration of the national authority in the seceded states -- and diverting the war to the secondary object of an anti-slavery crusade. And this feeling, it is only just to say,
54
MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
while stronger and more general within the democratic party, was not by any means confined to it; it even entered the ranks of the volunteer soldiery to some extent, and many a brave and worthy soldier protested earnestly against being made to serve as an agent in an abolition crusade, while numerous desertions which occurred about this time may be truthfully credited to this cause.
It is scarcely necessary to comment at length upon this feature of the times. It was a transition era, and many of the actors in the great drama little realized the importance of the scenes in which they were taking part. They failed to comprehend that, the rebellion being built upon the corner-stone of slavery, the structure would soonest and most surely fall if that corner-stone were demolished. Nor on the other hand, did those who most strenuously maintained the inferiority of the negro comprehend that in making him an agent for the deliverance of his race, not only would the arm of the national government be strengthened, but as well an important step be taken in the uplifting of the whole colored race. These facts such clear-sighted men as Governor Andrew then saw, as the whole world admits them now, and it was that these prejudices might be dispelled as the experiment was wrought out, that the governor ex- ercised great care in the organization of the regiment.
The first and most important matter was the selection of proper officers, for if the ordinary volunteer regiment, made up of educated, self-reliant men, was strong or mediocre according to the military genius of its officers, how much the more would this be true of the blacks. After careful deliberation, therefore, the position of colonel of the Fifty-fourth was offered to Captain Robert G. Shaw of the Second Massachusetts Volunteers, an exceptionally able officer, a graduate of Harvard college, a young man of high social standing, representing as he did one of the prominent families of the state, and a firm believer in the cause of the colored soldier. Captain Norwood P. Hallowell of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment was selected for lieutentant colonel from similar considerations, and the line officers were gleaned from a long list of available candi- dates. The membership of the regiment was made up of men from all parts of the Union, who learning that Massachusetts was to put a regiment in the field hastened to enter it; among them were two sons of Frederick Douglass, the colored orator, and when on the 28th of May the command passed through Boston to embark for
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TIIE COLORED MAN AS A SOLDIER.
the front, receiving a notable ovation from the citizens and thou- sands of visitors, the father of these young men was among the spectators who bade the organization Godspeed. Deep must have been the emotions of this famous man, who had so long and so carnestly pleaded for his people, as he beheld his sons going forth with arms in their hands to assist in striking the final blows in the great cause of emancipation.
The record of this regiment is fully given in its proper place- suffice it to say that within three months it formed the front line in a desperate assault on Fort Wagner in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, and settled then and there the question of the colored man in actual contest. No troops in the world could have fought more bravely than did the Massachusetts Fifty-fourth Regiment, in that hopeless night struggle. Colonel Shaw, at the head of his regiment, was shot through the heart on the parapet of the fort, and falling inside the inclosure his body was buried by the Confederates in a common trench with his dead followers. Thus died, at the carly age of 25 years, as pure-minded a patriot and as brave a warrior as ever drew sword in the cause of liberty.
Before the completion of the Fifty-fourth it was evident that a single organization could not receive all who were anxious to enlist, and a second regiment was decided upon. Lieutenant Colonel Hal- lowell was therefore detailed to attend to the organization of the Fifty-fifth, and became its colonel. In less than a month after the · departure of the Fifty-fourth the Fifty-fifth followed, leaving Boston on the 21st of June. It served in the Department of the South, with its companion regiment, and much of the time in the same brigade. Its record was not less worthy than that of the Fifty- fourth, though fortunately it was not called to so severe a test as the assault on Wagner. In addition to these two regiments of infantry volunteers, a regiment of colored cavalry was raised during the winter and spring of 1863-4, which left for the front early in May, 1864, under command of Colonel Henry S. Russell, being designated the Fifth Massachusetts Cavalry.
It has been said that the colored regiments from Massachusetts did faithfully all the duties coming to them as soldiers, and it should be added that for more than a year these duties were performed while the men were smarting under the sense of a most painful in- justice. During all of this time the government had refused to pay
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MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.
theenlisted men of these regiments or their chaplains-colored pas- tors who had been elected and appointed by Governor Andrew- more than the $10 a month paid to colored laborers in the employ of the government, though it was clear to any intelligent comprehen- sion that they had been enlisted under precisely the same authority and conditions as governed the enlistment of white soldiers, who were then being paid $13 a month for privates and corresponding amounts for the non-commissioned grades. With wonderful de- votion the members of the two regiments, as often as this sum was offered them, refused to accept anything less than the soldiers' pay to which they believed themselves entitled-and this though in many cases their families were suffering sadly for the long deferred money. Even when at the special session of 1863 the Legislature of Massachusetts appropriated money to make up the difference, that the soldiers might have the means of assisting their families, and the governor sent one of his assistant adjutant generals to South Carolina to make the payments, the heroic negroes refused to re- ceive the amount, insisting that the general government, for whose preservation they were fighting, should itself render them justice.
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