USA > Massachusetts > The old First Massachusetts coast artillery in war and peace > Part 5
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Well may the Ist-42d Regiment feel interest in Edward Simmons' splendid mural painting in the State House, the "Return of the Colors." For on the day of that ceremony, Dec. 22, 1865, color-bearers of both regiments were present ; and both are given place in the picture. The war was over. These symbols of patriotism for which brave men had sac- rificed life were returning to the custody of the Common- wealth who gave them. Was ever Forefathers' day more sacred than that? The "land of the Pilgrim's pride" had now become the "land where" and for which "our fathers died."
CHAPTER V THE FIGHTING FIRST
W. F. Fox, in his "Regimental Losses," published in 1889, includes a chapter entitled "The three hundred fighting regiments," and his list has subsequently become accepted as a semi-official roll-of-honor. Of the more than two thousand regiments on the Union side during the Civil War he found three hundred which lost over one hundred thirty each, killed or died of wounds. While the number of casual- ties might not always indicate fighting ability, or even fight- ing experience, still in the long run the blood-marked trail of killed and wounded does surely lead to where the battle was most severe.
Amongst the three hundred fighting regiments stands the Ist Mass. Vol. Inf., three-year troops, another name for the Coast Artillery. Of our various companies who went out during the three wars in which we have participated, all losses by killed or died of wounds were confined to those in the Civil War. No such casualties occurred in 1814 or in 1898. The 3d Reg. lost 2, the one company in the 4th I, the one company in the 13th 10, the single company in the 4th and 29th 5, the company in the 5th 4, the 42d 4, the 43d 3, or a total of 29. Of the regiments officered by us, the 24th lost 92, and the 44th 10; but it is not fair to reckon these as our casualties. In contrast with the total of 29, the Ist Mass. Vol. Inf. lost 144, besides 643 discharged for disease or wounds. There can be no question but that our companies constituting the Ist Mass. Inf., the three- year regiment, deserve the appellation, "the Fighting First."
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As soon as the regiment found that their services would not be accepted for three months, they set to work prepar- ing for a three-year enlistment. Lt. Col. Burrell and others who could not go for the long term organized themselves into a reserve or "depot" regiment. New companies which had been added in April with a view to entering the three months' service brought the total up to ten; and these all gladly entered into the three-year enlistment. The Chad- wick Light Infantry, named for Hon. Joseph H. Chadwick of Roxbury, a liberal contributor toward the company ex- penses, became 2d Company in the regiment. The Pulaski Guards, newcomers in the regiment, shifted from 9th to 4th place. Members of the Chelsea Light Infantry, a 7th Regi- ment command which had just been disbanded because of the disobedience of its captain, resented the false position in which they were placed ; and hastened in a body, on April 19, to the State House where, with Gov. Andrew himself presiding, they reorganized and forthwith received a charter as the "Chelsea Volunteers." This accomplished, the new unit at once became the 5th Company in the Ist Regiment. While there had been two 7th Companies within a month, both had gone off with other regiments; and the vacant number was now filled by the North End True Blues. The True Blues consisted of caulkers, gravers and riggers from the ship-yards. They had begun their history many years previously as a fire-engine company, and in 1832 had taken up military training. But it was not until April, 1861, that they regularly connected themselves with the militia. A newly organized Brookline company took the 8th place, made vacant by the transfer of the Boston Artillery. The National Guards, newcomers in the regiment but with a history running back to the Mexican war, assumed the 9th number. And the Schouler Guards, named after the popu-
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lar Adjutant General of Massachusetts, became the 10th Company.
Col. Cowdin remained in command, and speedily demon- strated that he was as capable a leader in actual warfare as he had been during the years of peace. One notable and somewhat unusual trait was discovered by his associates- he never, under any circumstances, would permit a drop of alcoholic liquor to pass his lips. George D. Wells, judge of the Boston municipal court, went as Lieutenant Colonel, and soon gained the reputation of excelling even his chief as a tactician. He afterward became colonel of the 34th Mass. Inf., and was killed at Cedar Creek in 1864. Charles P. Chandler of the new 8th Company was chosen Major ; and was destined to die in battle a year later, at Glendale in the White Oak Swamp. The company commanders were : Ist, Ebenezer W. Stone, Jr .; 2d, Abiel G. Chamberlain, afterwards a colonel of colored troops; 3d, Henry A. Snow, commander of the company as far back as 1849; 4th, Clark B. Baldwin, afterwards Lt. Col .; 5th, Sumner Carruth, later Colonel of the 35th Mass. Inf .; 6th, Edward Pearl; 7th, Gardner Walker, who was to succeed Chandler as Major ; 8th, Edward A. Wild, later a Major of the 32d Mass. Inf .; 9th, Alfred W. Adams; and 10th, Charles E. Rand. The 10th was the only company destined to lose its com- mander in action, Capt. Rand being killed at Chancellors- ville, and by a singular fatality, his successor, Capt. Moses H. Warren at Spotsylvania.
In consequence of the regiment's prompt decision, they were able to be mustered in as volunteers on May 25, 1861, -the first three-year organization in the entire United States.
The regiment journeyed by rail from Boston and reached Washington on June 15, the first long-term organization
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to arrive. Passing thru Baltimore they were very cautious, having in mind the experience of their comrades less than two months before. But the city was then actually under complete Federal control.
Blackburn's Ford, the preliminary skirmish of Bull Run, on July 18, 1861, first brought the regiment under fire. Lieut. Albert S. Austin lost his revolver at this time ;- judge of his pleasant surprise when, in 1896, receiving a package from a Confederate veteran, he opened it and discovered the long-missing weapon. This revolver may now be seen in the collection of the A. & H. Art. Co. Part of an army all of whose members were inexperienced, it is greatly to their credit that they were chosen as rear-guard of the re- treating Federals after the main battle of Bull Run, July 21. Perhaps it was because of the reputation gained here that the Ist came to be frequently detailed to the responsible rear- guard position. They served in this capacity during the change of base on the Peninsula, and during the subsequent retreat from that district. They covered the retreat of the army after Fredericksburg. But it is safe to say that they were never more valuable as rear-guard than when at Bull Run they steadily held their place behind the torrent of panic-stricken fugitives and prevented the victors from pressing the pursuit. This transpired during their first bat- tle, when they had been less than three months in the service.
Their gray militia uniforms in which the regiment went to war cost them dearly at Blackburn's Ford and Bull Run. Facing troops similarly attired, Lieut. W. H. B. Smith of the 3d Company called out that he and his men were from Massachusetts, thinking that he was talking to other north- ern soldiers. But his words were greeted with a volley by which the lieutenant lost his life. Later in the action a
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similar explanation by Capt. Carruth of the 5th Company barely prevented a Michigan regiment from firing on the First. Immediately after the battle new blue uniforms were issued.
Three weeks of garrison duty at Fort Albany, Washing- ton, D. C., ensued, when the regiment was drilled in the use of heavy artillery. August 13, they were transferred to Bladensburg on the other side of Washington, where they
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first came under the command, as part of the brigade, of Gen. Hooker. Serving with him in succession as brigade, divi- sion, corps and army commander, they always felt especially devoted to their chief. It is no accident that Capt. Isaac P. Gragg of ours wrote in 1900 a book affectionately tracing the careers and homes of Hooker's ancestors. The same veteran and his comrades bore a leading part in secur- ing the Hooker statue on the State House grounds, dedicated in 1903. In March, 1862, the regiment received their "white diamond" badges, of which they were always so proud, the
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Army of the Potomac then being organized into four corps, and they forming part of the second division (Hooker's) of the third corps.
They were engaged in provost or garrison duty in Mary- land during the winter of '61-'62, and were stationed during most of the time at Budd's Ferry.
From Yorktown to Spotsylvania, during two entire years, the regiment bore the white flag of Massachusetts and had an honorable part in all the battles of the Army of the Potomac, with the exception of South Mountain and An- tietam, which occurred while they were recuperating at Washington. They were heavily engaged at Williamsburg, May 5, 1862, where Hooker won the soubriquet, "Fighting Joe," of which he was never proud. Here also Col. Cowdin earned the brigadier-generalship, which was tentatively awarded him Sept. 26, and of which he was eventually de- prived for political reasons. Col. Cowdin had the misfor- tune to be antagonized by the Republican Governor of Mas- sachusetts, and by the U. S. Senators from the Common- wealth ; the Senate refused to confirm his appointment. The sword carried by Col. Cowdin at Williamsburg is today in the Faneuil Hall armory of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. The regiment lost heavily at Fair Oakes, June 25, and Glendale, June 30, when Major Charles P. Chandler was killed. Again suffering severely at second Bull Run, Aug. 29, and Chantilly, Sept. I, their effective numbers were reduced to less than six hundred. It is a pointed testimony to the high cost of military unprepared- ness that many of the brave men were incapacitated, not by wounds, but by preventable disease. While Gen. George B. McClellan's ability has been a subject of prolonged con- troversy, the general never lacked for loyal and devoted support from the members of the First.
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Yorktown is historic ground. Going by water from Budd's Ferry, the regiment landed upon the same shore which Washington's Continentals had trodden eighty years earlier. Their progress thru the fields of yellow broom was over ground rendered memorable by the Revolutionary heroes. Near the present beautiful National cemetery and in sight of the present charming Yorktown battle-monument stood a Confederate intrenchment which occasioned annoy- ance to McClellan's army. It had withstood two assaults, and was in the way of the army's advance. Lt. Col. Wells offered to take the work; and his offer was accepted. Col. Wells had read American history and knew how "Mad Anthony" Wayne achieved immortality; the appeal now would be to cold steel. About 2 A. M. the 5th, 8th and 10th companies were quietly awakened, the 5th to make the at- tack, and the others to serve as supports. The men formed their line amid the silence of the woods; and, at earliest dawn, heard their commander whisper, "This is McClellan's first order. The honor of Massachusetts is in your keeping. Charge!" Across four hundred yards of miry, uneven ground they advanced in the face of Confederate rifle fire. Arriving at the redoubt, with a shout for old Massachusetts, they fired a single volley; and completed their task with the bayonet. Just ten minutes after Col. Wells' command, the intrenchment was in Union hands. An old lithograph of this action is to be seen in the museum of the Cadet Armory, Boston.
Four members of the 5th Company were here killed. April 26 was the date of the assault; four days later the remains were sent north, and in due time were received with a magnificent demonstration of honor in Chelsea. One of the dead, Private Allen A. Kingsbury of Medfield,
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was specially honored by the publication of a memorial biography.
The battle of Williamsburg was almost a private affair with Hooker's division. Williamsburg, the "cradle of the republic" and birthplace of the American revolution, had once been a proud capital. It is today, and always has been, noted for the warm-hearted hospitality of its citizens. It was there that Washington earned his degree as civil en- gineer, and there he wooed and won his bride. There Patrick Henry thundered forth the brave words, "If that be treason, make the most of it." And there today the two sons of President John Tyler reside, one serving as county judge and the other as president of "William and Mary College." But so early as 1862 the glory had departed, and the shabbiness which accompanies slavery was dominant. There on May 5, 1862, amid the beeches and sycamore trees about Fort Magruder Gen. Joseph E. Johnston halted his retreat and engaged in a rear-guard action. His in- trenchments were shallow; but the pursuing Federal troops were few-only a single division. Hence the fighting was severe. When finally the Ist Regiment marched thru the town and up "Duke of Gloucester" St. in pursuit of the broken Confederate column, they felt that they had fully earned their laurels.
While most of the Union army went up the York river by boat, the Ist Regiment made the journey on land. Altho the country was naturally fertile and the climate of the best, a general seediness and "run down" condition prevailed, so that it was like a desert to the weary, hungry marchers. Finally the Williamsburg road brought the troops to Seven Pines-the spot from whose tree-tops could be seen the spires of Richmond, six miles away. Doubtless everyone has passed thru some experience so terrible that it comes
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back in his moments of nightmare. Seven Pines and Sav- age's Station fill that rôle for veterans of the old Ist. To- day a portion of the battle-field is a National cemetery, a veritable God's acre, sacred to the memory of the dead, melodious with the voice of cat-bird and mocking-bird and the graceful killdeer. There the magnolia grows to per- fection and the luscious fig matures in the summer sunshine. But this district, usually so dry and substantial, is at the edge of the Chickahominy or White Oak Swamp. From May 31 to June 25, 1862, unusually severe rains swelled the Chickahominy and inundated the surrounding country. For- tunately there are islands in the swamp, places of partial refuge, to which our men resorted. McClellan's plan called for a junction with the army of Irvin McDowell about June I, and for a grand assault by the combined forces upon the Confederate Johnston. For reasons which seemed adequate to the authorities in Washington, notwithstanding the seri- ous results for McClellan and his army, McDowell was for- bidden to march south and keep his appointment. While McClellan waited, and while the floods refused to abate, the Army of the Potomac was in a bad way. R. E. Lee, Johnston's successor, attacked nearly every day. Mosquitoes bit, and the result thereof was malaria. Finally the ground was dug over and fought over so constantly that there was time neither to care for the wounded nor bury the dead; and a condition of horror ensued which surpasses all power of description. Men actually had to sleep side by side with their dead comrades,-comrades who had been dead for days. It is very easy to understand why the Peninsular cam- paign developed into a retreat; a month of such fighting was all that flesh and blood could endure. Not even the issue of a whiskey ration, which commenced at this time, could sufficiently blunt the soldiers' senses-altho it did ac-
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complish vast moral damage. So when McClellan became convinced that he would not have McDowell's co-operation, he turned back; he could do nothing else.
It was easier in the north to organize new regiments with their numerous openings for the appointment of officers, and with the enlisted men starting military life on an equality rather than with some as veterans and others as "rookies." Nevertheless this system resulted in depleting the older and more experienced regiments, and cost the government mil- lions of dollars in unnecessary expense. Massachusetts, by contrast with other states, did recruit up her three-year regiments, and endeavored to keep their ranks filled, even tho the later accessions had to be given the privilege of tak- ing discharges with their regiments at the end of less than three years. Sept. 5, 1862, a large number of recruits ar- rived, who had been enlisted by officers of the Ist in Mas- sachusetts, and who brought the companies once more up to one hundred each. About the same time there was an exchange of prisoners, and the men who returned from their unwilling residence in southern cities had many interesting experiences to relate.
After the Peninsular campaign, as regiments became re- duced in size to not more than five hundred men, the gov- ernment decided to economize by dismissing the regimental bands, and substituting brigade bands. The First bade regretful farewell to their musicians; this method of sav- ing money the men regarded as a mistake.
Much of the hard fighting done by the Ist Regiment took place within a very limited area. Fredericksburg, Chan- cellorsville, the Wilderness and Spotsylvania all lie within a few square miles, and all can be visited by automobile within half a day. Moreover a visitor cannot fail to be impressed with the fact that these battle-fields seem to have
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been selected so as to destroy the least possible amount of private property. Outside of the actual city of Fredericks- burg, the country is little better than pine-barren, and con- tains few houses and not even much cultivated land. Since we now know pines to be health-giving, and well-drained sandy soil to be freest from disease germs, we can see how this choice of battle-fields by the Army of the Potomac doubtless saved lives as well as property. The climate too is free from extremes. But the men of 1863 and 1864 did not appreciate these things; all that they had time to notice were the dust and drought and heat and hunger and hard fighting.
At Fredericksburg Gen. A. E. Burnside tried to march directly south toward Richmond, crossing the Rappahannock on pontoon bridges. It was a winter battle-the date was Dec. 13, 1862-with great discomfort and a fair chance that wounded men would freeze to death. Fifer Bardeen tells that one captain, Walker, trembled as he entered the battle- and Capt. Walker was the bravest of the brave. Lee had every advantage of position; the resulting disaster was in- evitable.
About two months after Col. Cowdin's promotion, as the regiment were covering the retreat of the army from Fred- ericksburg, they were introduced to their new colonel. Napoleon B. McLoughlin, in spite of his French-Irish name, was a Vermont Yankee. He had entered the regular army from the New York 7th, and at the time of his appointment to the Colonelcy was a captain in the 6th U. S. Cavalry. He was respected and well liked; but he always suffered from the fact that the men felt him somewhat of an inter- loper. Capt. Baldwin of the 4th Company had become Lt. Col. and by all rules of seniority should have been made Colonel. However Col. McLoughlin held the esteem of his
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men, and made an honorable record. His regular army strictness was beneficial to his new command. On Feb. 9, 1863, two months after the arrival of the new colonel, the regiment was subjected to an extremely rigid inspection ; and was pronounced one of the eleven best disciplined and most efficient regiments of the one hundred fifty constituting the Army of the Potomac.
Chancellorsville, May 2 and 3, 1863, was the next great battle. Gen. J. Hooker crossed the Rappahannock several miles above Fredericksburg and tried to turn Lee's left flank. Hooker unexpectedly came into collision with Stonewall Jackson's troops and instead of hurting Lee, almost suf- fered the humiliation of seeing his own right flank crumpled up. At the most critical moment of the Chancellorsville fight, Hooker was wounded and the army left without a head. When O. O. Howard's IIth corps broke and ran ("started for Germany"), it was only the Ist Regiment and other troops under Dan. Sickles who saved the Union army from destruction. Their promptness in entering the breach in the lines, and their stubborn courage in remaining there hour after hour, were all that checked the on-rushing Con- federates. At Chancellorsville the regiment was for the first time serving under both of its best-loved commanders, Gens. Hooker and Sickles.
On the night following Howard's break, according to common belief amongst the men, it fell to their fate to be the slayers of Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson, one of the severest blows to the Confederate cause during the entire war. The 6th and Ioth Companies were on outpost when a party of Confederate horsemen rode down the Plank Road toward their lines. As a result of the volley then fired, Gen Jack- son fell, the identification being made complete by Sergt. Charles F. Ferguson of the Ioth Company, who was a
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prisoner-of-war for a few minutes, and happened to be close to the mounted officers when the fire was received. Ferguson made his escape in the ensuing confusion. This event was merely an accident of warfare, and entirely un- premeditated. While others claim to have been the agents of Jackson's removal, and altho the Southerners say that their own men fired the fatal shots, still there is no good reason for rejecting the contention of the Ist Regiment,- in fact the evidence seems conclusive that our claim is valid.
The plain shaft which marks the spot where Jackson fell is a painful reminder to men of the Ist. Returning a year later, at the opening of the battle of the Wilderness, May 5 and 6, 1864, they were stationed upon the very ground over which they had fought in '63. And when, during a lull in the fighting, they inspected their surroundings, they found human bones and fragments of clothing sufficient to identify some of their own regimental dead. The bodies of those slain at Chancellorsville had never been buried. No won- der that men shuddered as they saw the "buzzards" soaring over head.
Deep was the discouragement preceding Gettysburg. The failure at Chancellorsville had been due to no fault of the men and left them questioning whether they could ever meet Lee on favorable terms. They were not fond of Meade. Their march thru Maryland and into Pennsylvania was the most trying of the entire war. On June 25, 1863, after fol- lowing the muddy tow-path of the C. & O. Canal all day, only two footmen were able to keep with the mounted of- ficers until night-fall. Stragglers kept coming in during the entire night. Then, at Gettysburg, on the July days of 1863, July 1, 2, and 3, the tide finally turned, and the rebellion began to ebb away.
Historians differ concerning the relative importance of
COL. NATHANIEL WALES Page 86
OUR GETTYSBURG MONUMENT Page 71
FORT MONROE IN 1861 Page 118
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the second and third days at Gettysburg. Gen. Sheridan in 1880, and Gen. Longstreet in 1902, and Capt. J. Long in. his "Sixteenth Decisive Battle of the World," published in 1906, took the ground that the battle was won on the second day, by Sickles and the third corps. Gen. Sickles had been posted on low ground to the north of "Little Round Top." Be- coming convinced that Longstreet was about to attack and crumple up the Union left flank, just as Jackson had crushed the Union right at Chancellorsville, he determined to pre- vent such a disaster by moving his corps forward to the higher ground, running north from the Peach Orchard along the Emmetsburg road. The Ist Mass. Inf., at the "Peter Rogers house," held the most advanced position of the entire army. As a consequence Longstreet had no more than started when he unexpectedly came upon Sickles' men, where he found plenty to keep him busy and was unable to crush anyone. At the day's close the Union regiments were compelled to fall back to Round Top. But meanwhile, by Longstreet's own admission, the Confederate plans had failed entirely and Lee had been defeated. The gallant charge of the Virginians on the third day was only a desper- ate final attempt by a beaten army, before commencing its retreat. Near the Peter Rogers house, in 1886, was erected the regimental monument of the First, a granite "white diamond," bearing the words, "On July 2, 1863, from II A. M. to 6.30 P. M., the First Massachusetts Volunteer In- fantry, Lieut .- Col. Clark B. Baldwin commanding, occupied this spot in support of its skirmish line 800 ft. in advance. The Regiment subsequently took position in the brigade line and was engaged until the close of the action. Casualties : Killed, 18; Died of wounds, 9; Wounded, 80; Prisoners, 15; Total, 122." 'But for Sickles' advanced stand with the third corps on July 2, there would not have been a third day at
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