Massachusetts in the war, 1861-1865 Pt. 1, Part 8

Author: Bowen, James Lorenzo
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Springfield, C. W. Bryan & co.
Number of Pages: 1032

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Before dismissing the matter of the draft, it should be noted that

INJUSTICE TO TIIE BATTERIES.

while the echoes of the incipient riot were dying away, on the 18th of July, Governor Andrew telegraphed to the secretary of war for permission to enlist the conscripted men of Massachusetts, in order that they might receive the state bounty, and also from a feeling that the men would go forth with better heart if they could stand beside their comrades in the field as volunteers; but the permission was not given, though the request was repeated a few days later.

Another matter which caused much discussion between the state and general governments was in relation to the organization of the Massachusetts light batteries. From the 31st of July, 1861, to the 11th of March, 1864, 15 light batteries were mustered in for three years' service, in addition to one for three months, one for six months and one for nine months. Yet all of these were sent for- ward and served out their terms as single companies, a regimental organization being denied them, though it was accorded to other states sending a much less number of light artillery companies. In consequence, the captain of a Massachusetts battery, no matter how capable -- and some especially fine artillerists were sent from the state-could hope for no advancement in rank, unless he should obtain it in the way of brevet. This piece of injustice continued during the war, and not even the eloquence and the persistency of an Andrew prevailed to right it.

Earlier in the year 1863 the governor had interceded with both the secretary of war and the President, urging the desirability of an expedition into Texas which should take many of the Massachu- setts troops from Louisiana to a more healthful and as he felt a more promising field of operations. In addition to the Twenty- sixth, Thirtieth, Thirty-first and Forty-first Regiments, with various companies of light artillery and cavalry, in the three-years' service, eight of the Massachusetts nine-months' regiments had been sent to the Department of the Gulf, and all were suffering from the climate and the malarial influences, scarcely one man in ten in some of the commands being free from illness, and the death list being very large. But the purpose of opening the Mississippi had been entered upon, and the term of service of the nine-months' troops ended about the time of the fall of Port Hudson.

Reference has already been made to the fact that during the earlier years of the war no credit was given the state for enlist- ments in the navy. At the beginning of the year 1863 the number

MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.

of Massachusetts men in the navy had reached 13,618, and while the Commonwealth was straining every nerve to meet the require- ments of the successive calls from Washington, this large number of her sons was wholly disregarded in making up the credits to be allowed. Justice came at length, however ; for on the 4th of July, 1864, Congress passed an act allowing credit for naval enlistments up to the 24th of February of that year. The number credited to Massachusetts under this act was 22,360, and during the re- mainder of that year 3,808 others were added to the long list, making the total representation of the state in the United States Navy 26,168.

Early in the winter of 1863-4 an order was issued by the War Department for the encouragement of re-enlistment by the soldiers already in the field whose terms of service were soon to expire. This provided that those having less than a year to serve of the original term might re-enlist for another term of three years and in addition to large state and government bounties should receive a furlough of 30 days. These provisions covered the organizations mustered during 1861, and upward of 6,200 Massachusetts veterans accepted the terms and were credited to the state quota. Several of the regiments returned for the furlough as organizations, ac- companied by their officers, and were received with every demon- stration of appreciation. Of course it need not be said that the soldiers thus secured, though not at the moment increasing the number in actual service, were of the most valuable sort, being inured to war, patriotic and acclimated. Their value was especially appreciated during the later days of the struggle, when the char- acter of many of the recruits sent to the army had sadly deteriorated- a deterioration which Massachusetts did not wholly escape.

During the fall and winter of 1863-4 Governor Andrew decided to raise four regiments of " veterans," to be composed of men who had seen service, and this plan was carried out. They were num- bered from the Fifty-sixth to the Fifty-ninth inclusive. The Fifty- seventh was recruited by Colonel W. F. Bartlett at Worcester, but the other three were organized at the general rendezvous at Readville. The governor desired to offer these troops to General Burnside, who was then reorganizing the Ninth Corps, its destination being kept secret. His suggestion to this effect was not formally acted upon, but when, just before the opening of the spring campaign of 1864.

A BITTER POLITICAL CONTEST.

the regiments were sent forward, they were attached to Burnside's Corps, and in the severe fighting of 1864 were almost annihilated.

During 1863 the efforts of the state officials had been mostly directed to filling the depleted ranks of the regiments and com- panies in the field. The Second Cavalry and Second Heavy Artil- lery Regiments went into service during the year, as did the two colored infantry regiments, while several companies of heavy artillery were organized for service in the forts on the Massachusetts coast ; while the total number mustered for three years during 1863 reached 11,538, making the number furnished by the state up to that time almost 84,000 men under all calls. There were at that time (January 1; 1864) but three camps of rendezvous in the state-that at Worcester, commanded by Colonel Bartlett; Camp Meigs at Readville, under General Peirce of the militia, where the new organizations were forming; and the station on Long Island in Boston Harbor, in charge of General Devens, where recruits for the regiments in the field were gathered preparatory to being forwarded to their destinations.

The political campaign of 1863 was most sharply contested. Hitherto the tone of the democratic party, while critical of the measures taken by the general government, had in Massachusetts been outspoken for a vigorous prosecution of the war. In the dis- cussions of the issues at that time, and in the convention of the democratic party, which met on the 3d of September at Worcester, the tone was changed to a bitter arraignment of the administration, state and national, all opposed to the party in power being invited to join. The speeches were condemnatory of the republican policy, assertive of state rights, declaring for the Constitution of the United States as it stood, and expressing in the resolutions a desire for peace on such terms as would be honorable to the nation. and secure a permanent union of the states. Richard S. Spofford, Jr., of Newburyport was chosen chairman of the convention, and Henry W. Paine of Cambridge was nominated as the candidate for gover- nor, with the following associates for the state ticket: Lieutenant governor, Thomas F. Plunkett of Pittsfield; secretary of state, Frederick O. Prince of Winchester; treasurer, Nathan Clark of Lynn; attorney general, Theodore H. Sweetser of Lowell; auditor, Moses Bates of Plymouth. The nominee for governor was a new man to the party, having never before attended one of its con-

MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.

ventions and having earlier in life been a member of the Whig party.

The republican convention met at Worcester on the 24th of September, with Congressman Thomas D. Eliot of New Bedford as chairman, and with remarkable unanimity of feeling and purpose renominated the entire state ticket then in service. The speeches and the resolutions had but one tone, and pledged the state to an unwavering and unconditional support of the national government, thanked the soldiers and sailors for their heroic service, approved the act of the President in issuing the proclamation of emancipa- tion and the employment of colored soldiers in fighting the battles of the nation, and in words as well as by the action taken gave the most unqualified indorsement to the policy of the governor and his associates.

The campaign which followed was marked by considerable bitter- ness of discussion, but when the election came, on the 8th of November, it showed the confidence of the great majority of the people in the officials both of the state and the nation who had thus far conducted the contest for the preservation of the Union. Gover- nor Andrew was re-elected by the largest majority he had yet re- ceived, his vote being 70,483, that for Mr. Paine 29,207, with 77 scattering-making a majority for Mr. Andrew of 41,199.

While the political canvass was in progress another call for 300,- 000 volunteers to serve for three years was made by the President, and Massachusetts was asked to furnish as her quota 15,126 men. This was a serious demand under the circumstances. Already the active manhood of the state had been heavily drained by the re- peated calls; those who remained had many ties to bind them to home and business. Wages were high and laborers in great de- mand. Up to this time the bounty paid by the state had been but $50 for a three-years' enlistment, and that by the United States was only 8100. This with the high wages prevailing in civil life and the meager pay of the soldier in the field offered no money induce- ment for the taking up of the more dangerous occupation; those who from a high sense of patriotic duty felt called on to make the sacrifice which the country demanded had already done so, and thousands of them had lain down their lives.

It seemed probable under the circumstances that a draft would be necessary for the filling of this new demand ; but that was a resort

TIIE STATE BOUNTY INCREASED.

so distasteful to the people of Massachusetts that the governor was earnestly besought to call a special session of the Legislature that steps might be taken for the filling of the quota by enlistments. He did so, and the law-makers met on the 11th of November, 1863, . the session continuing but a week. The only business transacted was that pertaining to the encouragement of enlistment and an effort to right the wrongs of the colored regiments in regard to their pay, these being the subjects presented by the governor in his message for consideration. He stated that in order to encour- age enlistments, especially of those who had already seen service, the United States was offering a bounty of $402 for those who had served not less than nine months, or $302 for new recruits to go into the regiments already in the field, and he recommended that the state bounty of $50 be increased.

This was done, and the governor was authorized to offer a state bounty of $325 for new recruits or for soldiers of Massachusetts already in the field who should re-enlist, the term in both cases to be three years or during the war. Recruiting except under authority of the governor or the United States government was prohibited, and enticing persons to leave the Commonwealth for the purpose of enlisting in any outside organization was made punishable by heavy penalties. The state had in the early part of the war furnished whole companies, and several of them, for regiments raised in other states, but it was deemed only just that the credit for her sons should now be secured for the Old Bay State herself. At this time, also, was passed the act to make up to the soldiers of the Fifty- fourth and Fifty-fifth Regiments the deficiency between the sum offered them by the general government and the pay given to white soldiers, and paymasters for this purpose were appointed; but as has been stated, the heroic negroes refused the well-intended proffer and insisted upon full justice being done them by the government they were fighting to save.

The new Legislature assembled on the 6th of January, 1864, the Senate electing Jonathan E. Field of Stockbridge president and the House choosing Alexander II. Bullock of Worcester for speaker. The governor's message, which was sent in two days later, showed that the expenses of the year had been nearly 86,700,000, of which over $1,115,000 had been paid in some manner on account of Massachu- setts soldiers, either in bounties, state aid to the families, or other-

CHAPTER VIII.

THE LAST TROOPS RAISED-OUTSIDE ENLISTMENTS-KIND OFFICES OF THE CITIZENS-THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN-CONSTITUTIONAL ABOLITION OF SLAVERY-DEATH OF EDWARD EVERETT-FALL OF RICHMOND-ASSASSI- NATION OF LINCOLN -MILITARY STATISTICS - DEPOSIT OF THE BATTLE FLAGS-THE DRAMA CLOSED.

W T HILE the four Veteran regiments of infantry were being recruited during the winter of 1863-4, the efforts of the state were strongly put forth in other directions. Not only were several thousand recruits sent to strengthen the Massa- chusetts organizations already in the field, but new commands were being continually filled and dispatched to the seat of war. The Fourth and Fifth Regiments of cavalry, the Eleventh, Fourteenth and Sixteenth Batteries of light artillery and the Third Regiment of heavy artillery were all placed in the field during the early spring of 1864. The latter, like the Second, had been composed of com- panies raised from time to time and most of whom had served in the coast defenses of the state.

There was a brief respite in the work of recruiting and organ- ization after these troops were sent, while the terrible struggles of the spring campaign took place. As the campaign developed, it be- came necessary to call all the available soldiers from garrisons and fortifications to active duties at the front, and on the 1st of July the secretary of war called for militia regiments to take charge of the fortifications thus to be vacated. Massachusetts responded with her usual alacrity, and within a month furnished five regiments to serve for 100 days. Four of these-the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Forty- second -were troops that had served under the nine-months' call, reorganized for this occasion, while one regiment-the Sixtieth- was enlisted complete and commanded by Colonel Ansel D. Wass, a capable and experienced officer. A notable incident in connection with the Forty-second Regiment was the fact that Colonel Isaac

CHAPTER VIII.

W HILE the four Veteran regiments of infantry were being recruited during the winter of 1863-4, the efforts of the state were strongly put forth in other directions. Not only were several thousand recruits sent to strengthen the Massa- chusetts organizations already in the field, but new commands were being continually filled and dispatched to the seat of war. The Fourth and Fifth Regiments of cavalry, the Eleventh, Fourteenth and Sixteenth Batteries of light artillery and the Third Regiment of heavy artillery were all placed in the field during the early spring of 1864. The latter, like the Second, had been composed of com- panies raised from time to time and most of whom had served in the coast defenses of the state.

MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.

S. Burrill, who went to Texas as its commander in the winter of 1862 and was taken prisoner there, had just been exchanged in time to again take command of it, joining the regiment soon after its arrival at Washington. In addition to these five regiments, nine companies of infantry were raised for 100-days' duty in the forts on the Massachusetts coast, making a total of 5,461 men. These troops were not credited to the quota of the state, and the consideration to the enlisted men, apart from the ordinary pay of a soldier, was a bounty from the state ranging approximately from 865 to $75, and the fact that while in this service they were exempt from the operations of any possible draft. Thirteen companies of infantry were also raised, earlier in the year, for 90 days' service in the state defenses, receiving about $60 bounty.

During the month of September another regiment of heavy artil- lery-the Fourth-was raised, and left the state under command of Colonel William S. King, and it was followed soon after by two un- attached companies. This completed the recruiting for this arm of the service, though it did not end the drain upon the active man- hood of the state. Another regiment of infantry,-the Sixty-first, recruited for one year's service, as was the Fourth Heavy Artillery,- was slowly filled during the fall and early winter. It left the state by detachments, Charles F. Walcott being. its colonel. During De- cember a battalion of five companies of cavalry, enlisted for one year and known as the Frontier Cavalry, was organized. These companies joined others raised in New York, forming the Twenty- sixth New York Cavalry, and served on the Canadian frontier, where their duty was merely nominal. Three other companies were en- listed from the applicants for places in this battalion, which were after some controversy with the war department added to the Third Massachusetts Cavalry Regiment in the field. The ranks of the Sixty-first Regiment of infantry being finally filled, an order was issued on the 10th of March, 1865, for the enlistment of another regiment, as well as 30 companies to be attached to the old regi- ments in the field,-all of these enlistments being for one year, within which time it was evident the military power of the rebellion must give way. That event, however, came before the Sixty-second Regiment could be organized, and the five companies which had been partially filled were disbanded after the surrender of the Con- federate armies.

Iln

SOME OUTSIDE ENLISTMENTS.

Thus ended the long strain upon the military resources of the Commonwealth. In the case of Massachusetts a great proportion of those sent out to fill her quota were her own sons, either by birth or adoption. Exceptions have already been noted, in the case of those coming to the state to join the two colored regiments formed here, and the California battalion of the Second Cavalry. There were certain other exceptions which should be mentioned. The act of July 4, 1864, which allowed to the state, in common with others, credit for the naval enlistments, also authorized the loyal governors to send recruiting agents into the states in rebellion to gather recruits for the Union armies, such as were obtained in this way to apply to the quotas of the states securing them. Under this authority the governor appointed Colonel Joseph M. Day of Barnstable provost marshal of the state with supervision of the matter of enlistments. Agents were put in the field at Washing- ton, Fortress Monroe, Newbern, Hilton Head and Nashville, and through their exertions 1,257 men were secured for the quota of Massachusetts; but there was just the result that might have been anticipated-the various states crowded agents into all desir- able territory, competition grew sharp and high bids in money and otherwise were made for all who were willing to enter the Union service.

In connection with this subject of enlistments among people resi- dent outside the limits of Massachusetts, there was another transac- tion which was of a questionable nature in some of its relations. During 1864 a Boston firm brought to that city from Belgium and other European countries nearly a thousand men who had been en- gaged to come to this country under contract to enter service ; most of them being enlisted and mustered into Massachusetts regiments. This was a very profitable transaction for the firm, as they received the large bounty then being paid for recruits, while their expense had been only the transportation of the men from Europe; but it came near involving the country in deeper foreign complica- tions, for the charge was made by some of the men that they had been deceived as to the kind of service they were to enter, and the matter was brought before the Washington authorities by the rep- resentatives of their governments in this country. No crooked dealing seems to have been proved in the case, and none of the men were discharged from the service; but the discussion and the dis-

MASSACHUSETTS IN THE WAR.

tortion of the facts which the enemies of the Union cause indulged in made the transaction an unfortunate one These imported foreigners who actually entered the Union armies numbered 907.

Before turning to notice the events of a political and general nature which marked the closing months of the war, it may not be amiss to once more call attention to the constant efforts which were being put forth in all parts of the state and by all classes of citi- zens to ameliorate the hardships resulting from sickness, wounds and death. This work, as has been shown, was taken up at the very beginning of hostilities, and it was never allowed to flag. Whatever could be devised by sympathetic hearts that promised to assist or to cheer the soldier was eagerly carried out by myriad workers in all parts of the Commonwealth. The work of the great institutions like the Sanitary Commission and the Christian Com- mission, which followed the soldier wherever at the behest of duty he was called, and in which the men and women of Massachusetts took no second place, is matter of general record. Not so well known may be some of the less comprehensive movements, which are yet worthy of mention as illustrating the spirit of the times. Especial interest was taken in furnishing "Thanksgiving dinners" to all Massachusetts soldiers who could be reached at that festival day in 1864. It was prophetically felt that this was the last "Thanksgiving" which the soldiers would have to pass away from their homes; and from contributions collected in Boston and vicinity dinners were furnished to the sick and wounded Massachusetts soldiers in the various hospitals at New York, Philadelphia, Balti- more, Annapolis and Point Lookout; for those in camp at Read- ville and Gallop's Island, to the garrisons of the various fortifica- tions in the harbor, and the sailors at the navy-yard in Charlestown, as well as the inmates of all the military institutions in and about Boston. In this manner some $3,000 was expended, and the num- ber of soldiers cheered by the remembrance cannot easily be estimated. In all the good offices of this nature the influence of woman was pre-eminent. Whether in gathering and disbursing the supplies or in attendance at the hospitals, the loyal women of the state were indefatigable. If among the army nurses mention is made of the names of Clara Barton and Anna Lowell (the sister of Colonel Charles R. Lowell, Jr., of the Second Massachusetts Cavalry, who had charge of the Armory Square Hospital at Washing-

MORE PHILANTHROPIC MEASURES.

ton), it is only as representatives of a large class to whose invalu- able labors but a general reference can be made.

As the war progressed and many who had gone forth strong and able-bodied came back crippled or disabled, it became apparent that some provision was required by which such persons could be fur- nished with employment suited to their condition. Accordingly, on the 6th of January, 1865, Governor Andrew issued an order by which such a "Bureau of Military Employment " was made an ad- junct of the surgeon general's office, to which Surgeon General Dale devoted the same attention which had made his execution of all the duties of his position so successful, rendering great benefit to many needy disabled veterans.

In December, 1861, the Women's Auxiliary Association, a branch of the United States Sanitary Commission, had been formed with headquarters at Boston, its field covering the Commonwealth and the three northern New England States. Branches and local societies or associations were established in nearly every town and city, and during the entire period of the war contributions were gathered and forwarded to' the Boston office, thence to be redistributed to the various hospitals and other points of destination. The great work done by the association may be imagined when it is stated that of garments and articles of bedding forwarded from Boston the fig- ures reached over a million pieces, while of stimulants, food, medi- cines, delicacies and the like the amount was proportionate. Over $314,000 in money was received, and this was expended in the pur- chase of such articles as were most needed. It should be noted that the work of all the officers of the association, agents, book- keepers and the like, was performed gratuitously, but in many cases needy women were hired to make the garments for which generous persons had contributed materials, thus rendering a double service.

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Massachusetts in the war, 1861-1865 Pt. 1, Part 8

Author: Bowen, James Lorenzo Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Springfield, C. W. Bryan & co. Number of Pages: 1032

Author: Bowen, James Lorenzo
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Springfield, C. W. Bryan & co.
Number of Pages: 1032