USA > Massachusetts > Wearing the blue in the Twenty-fifth Mass. volunteer infantry, with Burnside's coast division, 18th army corps, and Army of the James > Part 24
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rear of which we supported a battery. * * * About five o'clock, P. M., orders were received to withdraw the brigade, reaching camp at about nine o'clock,
P. M. * * * The total loss in the brigade in killed, wounded and missing from the 12th to the 16th of May, is six hundred and ninety-three, among whom I regret to say are many prominent and valuable officers, viz .: Briga- dier-General C. A. Heckman, a prisoner; Colonel H. C. Lee, Twenty-seventh Massachusetts, wounded and a prisoner; Colonel Zabriski, Ninth New Jersey, mortally wounded ; Lieutenant-Colonel Bartholomew, Twenty-seventh Massa- chusetts, missing and reported killed (was not killed) ; Lieutenant-Colonel Chambers, Twenty-third Massachusetts, mortally wounded and died at Hamp- ton Hospital from his wounds; Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart, Ninth New Jersey, severely wounded; also many line officers, making a severe loss to the service.
I have the honor to be very respectfully your obedient servant, J. PICKETT, Colonel Twenty-fifth Massachusetts Volunteers, Commanding Brigade.
Captain W. H. ABEL, A. A. G. Second Division Eighteenth Army Corps.
In Colonel Pickett's report, given in part, he speaks in the highest terms of praise regarding the conduct of both officers and men of the brigade, and in the official report of Lienten- ant-Colonel Moulton, commanding the Twenty-fifth Massachu-
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setts, like testimony is borne to the good conduct of both officers and men of the regiment. The Division Commander issued general orders, commending the troops for bravery .*
LIST OF KILLED, WOUNDED AND CAPTURED, OF TWENTY-FIFTH MASSACIU- SETTS VOLUNTEERS IN BATTLE OF DREWRY'S BLUFF, MAY 16TH, 1864.
Killed.
Corporals- W. H. Richards, Company A; W. H. Partridge, Company F; Samuel Thurston and Charles E. Jelly, Company K. Privates -- W. E. Hol- man, Henry Goulding, 2nd, Company A; W. R. Alexander, Company D; Richard H. Daniels, Company E; John D. Grece, Michael Riley, Company G; Joseph K. Rawson, Willard A. Frink, Company H; Roland Pond, Benj. F. Miller, Joseph Eaton, Joseph MI. Grimm, Company K.
Wounded.
First Lieutenant John W. Davis (arm), First Sergeant Charles C. Murdock (arm), Company K. Sergeants-E. A. Moody (neck), Company C; Jeremiah Fisher, Company D : Philip Reischer, Company G; H. Arthur White, Com- pany H; L. S. Wheeler, Company I; Emerson Stone (loss of arm), Company K. Corporals -- John Cottey, Edward B. Houston (hand), Patrick MeDenough, Company E; Walter H. Sawtelle (arm), Company F; F. H. Finchen, Jonathan Warren, George. A. Bixby, Company H; Henry L. Brown, Company K.' Privates-J. S. Coulter (shoulder), F. E. Greenwood (both thighs), Company _1; Robert Cottrell, Jr., Bernard Boyle, Orlando F. Carpenter (hand), Albert E. Littlefield (arm, died), H. H. Gibson, Com- pany B; Henry N. Norcross (hip), Thomas Burphy (leg), Cyrus A. Wells (contusion), Fred Bartlett (hand), Company C: Camille L. Ouimette (died), John MeMannis, John B. Hayden, Jr., Michael Leonard, L. Wesley Upham, John W. Leland, Morton D. Robbins, W. R. Chapman, Horace Lincoln, Gov. W. Newell, Geo. Leach, Company D; Parrick Hannagan, Company E; Sylves- ter Haynes (lung). Marshall E. Warren, Francis II. Morton (arm), Wm. F.
* Headquarters Second Division, Eighteenth Army Corps. In the field, May 1,th, 1864.
General Orders, Į No. 7.
The General Commanding desires to thank the officers and men of this division for their patient emlurange and bravery, during the operations of the last twelve days. A perfect stranger to the division on assuming command of it, his experience with it during the above period, has given him the most perfect confidence and gratification.
By command of Brigadier-General G. WEITZEL.
E. E. GRAVES, Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant-General. Headquarters First Brigade, Second Division, Eighteenth Army Corps. May 17th, 1861.
[OFFICIAL. ]
W. J. ABEL, Acting Adjutant-General.
A
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Adams, Chas. II. Neal, Eugene D. Lacount, Company F; John L. Maier (leg), Joseph Schusser (hand), George Allen (arni), Carl Kochler, H. G. Hattenburg (foot), Company G; Hannibal Whittemore, J. Warren Kendall, Julius A. Green, Company HI; George Baker (died), W. H. Aldrich, J. W. Moore, Hiram V. Moulton, Company I; Otis S. Cutting (face), Geo. H. Pond (leg and arm), Thomas C. Bond (breast and arm), Jacob Shaffer (head), Com- pany K.
Captured.
Company A - Corporal J. Il. Fuller, Privates Benj. C. Green, A. E. Stearns, C. E. Benson. Company B -- Privates Robert Cottrell, Jr., H. H. Gibson, H. T. Bosworth. Company D- Sergeant Jeremiah Fisher. Company E -Ser- geant John Kirk ; Corporals John Cottey, Patrick McDouongh, Alfred Piper, Anderson J. Goodnow; Privates Patrick Conlan, Robert Empey, Patrick Finnegan, William Fernley, Cornelius Farrell, Godfrey Levalley, Patrick Lamb, Timothy MeCarthy, Wm. McDevitt, Deunis O'Neill, David Gardner, Patrick Hannagan. Company F- Privates Win. F. Adams, Chas. H. Neal, Eugene D. Lacount, Geo. P. Cotting, Geo. C. Nichols, Geo. W. Phillips, Cyrus Putnam. Company G-Privates Win. MeIntire, Michael Riley. Com- pany H-Corporal> Geo. A. Bixby, Joseph Ness (leg amputated); Privates Amasa S. Hyde, David A. Lovell, Aaron B. Metcalf, Henry HI. Ware, Charles L. Rice. Company I-First Sergeant J. S. Moulton ; Sergeant Geo. Trask; Privates G. H. Barrett, G. D. Browning, J. S. Bosworth, Silas Flagg, Sumner Frost, J. W. Hunting, C. W. Jennison, Frank Lovely, S. A. Snow. Company K-Sergeants Robert T. Chapman, Emerson Stone ; Corporals Cornelius F. Collins, Augustus Adams; Privates Gardner F. Barnes, Eli E. Clark, Otis D. Cooper, Edward C. Cowles, John Cashan, Stanley W. Edwards, Edmund J. Gibson, Jerome Johnson, Win. Latham, John B. Moulton, Jehu Perry, Audrew Shaw, Clayton Witt.
Summary.
Killed : 16 mon. Wounded: 1 officer, 59 men. Captured : 69 mnen.
Total loss, officers and men, 145.
In our long list of killed, wounded and captured, is seen the name of Henry Goulding 2nd, a private in Company A. A brief notice of this young soldier who was well known, and a general favorite in the regiment, will afford satisfaction to . many old comrades and others who knew him. His death was remarkable from the fact that his comrades who were lying with him upon the ground, did not know he was killed, until, ordered to move forward, he did not rise. Upon exaui-
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REUBEN IL. DP LUCE.
Corp'l J. H. FULLER.
Corp'l HORACE E. BROOK ..
HENRY GOULDING. 20.
Corp'I WALTER H. RICHARD ..
COMPANY A.
Helitype Printing Co., Boston.
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ination, he was found dead, a piece of shell having penetrated his vitals, causing instant death.
The members of the regiment will remember him as a most ingenious mechanic --- a curious artificer and workman in brier- wood and bones, carving out exquisite pipes, finger-rings, watch chains, etc., exhibiting carving of unusual excellence, and a skill that would have enabled him, had he lived, to excel in such mechanism.
He enlisted into the army from principle, and he went as a private, remarking when he enlisted, that he supposed "there must be privates as well as officers in the army." He was a brave, faithful soldier-an honest man, who was a soldier because he believed duty called him to the field. There were many good, brave men dead upon the field of Drewry's bluff, but none more respected in the regiment or loved at home than honest Henry Goulding 2nd.
The attack in the thick fog of that carly morning was so sudden, that the pickets thrown out on the right flank could not reach the main body of troops, but scattered and fled into the woods. In that fog, it was impossible to distin- guish friend from foe at the distance of a very few yards, and a large number of officers and men of our army found them- solves prisoners, when they thought they had found safety among their own comrades.
The Twenty-fifth Massachusetts unflinchingly held its position even after its supports on the right and left had fled or been captured-the Twenty-fifth held its position after the whole line had been crushed and swept back. We need not say that the position was exceedingly critical. The regiment was surrounded, in fact actually captured, and, only for the prompt and decisive action of Colonel Pickett, together with the well understood superior discipline of the officers and men, the entire battalion would have been made prisoners and marched to Richmond. The order of the Colonel to face about and charge the line of rebels approaching the rear, and the
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prompt execution of the order, saved the regiment from the horrors of a rebel prison and made escape possible. Just previous to this, the Colonel ordered Company K, under command of Lieutenant Daly, to move to the right to reconnoi- tre. The men obeyed the order-but never more reluctantly, for the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts, on the right of the Twenty-fifth, had been attacked, and it was reported that the enemy was covering the rear in overwhelming force. Daly and the men of Company K realized the hazardous nature of the errand upon which they were sent. In less than five minutes, they found themselves surrounded by the enemy, -who, fearful of firing into their own men, retained their shots, making the air ring with the cries of "surrender!" "surren- der !" but the men, taught in the school of the Twenty-fifth, did not know the meaning of the term, and returned answer with a volley, and the enemy replied with bullets. In a moment the company scattered : some were killed, a number wounded, seventeen were captured, and the balance escaped to the rear and rejoined the regiment.
Immediately after leaving the regiment, Daly ran back to Pickett and said, "Colonel, they are flanking us!" "Then," said the Colonel, "form your company at right angles with the regiment and hold the line -- we have no orders to leave this position, and must hold it!" Daly proceeded to execute the order, but in a moment ran back again, saying "Colonel, they are in our rear, and have got us flanked!" " Go back," said the Colonel, " deploy your company at right angles and hold them where they are." Company A was then ordered to the right, "to find out who those fellows are in the rear!" As soon as Company A started out, they became nearly sur- rounded. The men saw the on-coming infantry through the fog, and cried out "who are you?" and were answered "the Third Virginia!" Company A found out "who those fellows" were " in the rear." Companies K and A thus received the onslaught of the charging enemy. The Twenty-fifth Massa-
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chusetts might have shared the fate of the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts, had not Company K made its diversion, and had not Company A been wisely pushed to the right, "to find out who those fellows were in the rear."
The Colonel had time to get the regiment well in hand, fix bayonets and charge. The battalion charging, executed a flank, keeping well together, and escaped almost miraculously.
The Twenty-seventh Massachusetts were too busy with the fire in front to notice that their flank was unprotected. In fact it may as well be said that all our brigade were so warmly engaged at the front that little thought was given to the real danger in the rear. The firing became terrific, a contin- uous roll of musketry. In the meantime the enemy cautiously approached the rear, so silently, that it is, no wonder that our wounded attempting to reach the field hospital, suddenly became prisoners and had no warning until they heard the command to " surrender ! "
The enemy first closed in upon the Twenty-seventh Massa- chusetts, which had without aid gallantly repulsed the enemy's assault in front. The officers and men were exhausted and nearly all their ammunition was expended. Then came the volley in their rear, followed by the frantic charge of the rebels, demanding a surrender. Some did surrender, while others opened fire and others clubbed the enemy with their rifles. Captain Sanford, a brave and dashing soldier,
" not only refused to surrender, but drew his sword and laid about him right and left, cutting down some of the enemy before they bayonetted him to death. [E. T. Witherby.]
Finally, the regiment surrendered, the enemy capturing its colors and taking prisoners, Colonel Horace C. Lee and Lieutenant-Colonel Bartholomew, but not until both were so badly wounded that they could neither command or fight. The Twenty-seventh Massachusetts, though unfortunate, need
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.not be ashamed of their gallant defence at Drewry's bluff. The three left companies ran the gauntlet and escaped. A few of other companies cleared themselves from the enemy in that unaccountable manner by which some lucky ones always escape danger.
Extricating his regiment from its entanglements and turning it over to his Lieutenant, Moulton, Colonel Pickett proceeded to the task of reforming the Star Brigade, which he found broken, but not captured ; shattered and considerably demoral- ized, but not conquered.
Upon returning to the lines at Bermuda Hundreds, the Tenth and Eighteenth Corps at once engaged in erecting earthworks of a formidable character, engineered by Gillmore and Weitzel. Details from the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts worked day and night, beside furnishing the required men for picket duty.
The intrenched works extended from the angle on the James river facing the Howlet house and fronting nearly opposite where Dutch Gap canal was afterwards constructed, to the Appomatox river above Broadway landing, and below Port Walthal. These intrenchments and , the formation of the ground in front, especially that part held by the Eighteenth Corps, together with the abatis and other works of defence, made the position impregnable. The enemy proceeded to erect parallel works and evineed a purpose to confine the army of the James within its well chosen lines. Upon several occasions the enemy assaulted our works and were casily repulsed. On the night of May 21st they made a determined attack, during which they charged several times, being defeated with heavy loss. Our gunboats upon cach river flank very much enhanced the strength of the position.
BOTTLED UP.
Butler was abont to strike a blow for the capture of Peters- burg, when, May 27th, he received orders to send the greater
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portion of his effective force to the north side of the James. Butler probably did not quite relish this way of being deprived of his strength, while, as he said, "the necessities of the army of the Potomac have bottled me up at Bermuda Hundreds." Henry Coppee, in his work-"Grant and his Campaigns," improves the phraseology a little by declaring that " General Butler finds his army hermetically sealed in Bermuda Hun- dreds." Recurrence to the instructions from Grant to Butler will elucidate how he became sealed up, and why he did not at first make Petersburg the objective. Acting closely under his instructions, having command of as brave a body of men as ever wore the blue, having as lieutenants, generals who cooperated warmly in every movement made, having no other rivalry than a strife to determine which should make the best record, there can be no claim that the officers and men of the Tenth and Eighteenth Corps did not at all times perform their full duty as good soldiers should. An impartial critic would say that Petersburg should have been the objective point, and an attack should have been made upon that place on the 5th, or at the latest, at early dawn on the 6th of May. Had this been donc, the "Key" of Richmond would have been handed to Grant by Butler, but that this was not done was not the fault of the latter-and with this remark, we leave Butler "bottled up" or " hermetically sealed " at Bermuda Hundreds, while we follow the Eighteenth Corps under Smith to the north of the James river.
On the 27th of May two divisions of the Eighteenth Corps and one division of the Tenth Corps, the First Division com- manded by Brooks, the Second by Martindale, and the Third by Charles Devens, Jr., making a total of a little more than thirteen thousand men for duty, retired a few miles to the rear of the works at Cobb's hill and went into cantonments for a brief rest. Heckman's Star Brigade was in the Second Division and was commanded by Brigadier-General George J. Stannard.
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We cannot better give an account of the movements to cooperate with the Army of the Potomac than is contained in the following extracts from our diary of the dates named : -
"May 27th. The Eighteenth Corps is encamped by divisions, corps headquarters being located at the highest point of land in the vicinity. The appearance of the troops spread out upon the fields below, is very beautiful indeed. This evening I rode over to the Second Division. Made a call upon Colonel Pickett, who is not feeling at all well. He is nearly tired out. We are going north of the James to unite with the Army of the Potomac. I really feel disappointed about this move. I can't go into it with any faith. It knocks my south-side ideas all in the head at one blow. I do hope we are not to try Mcclellan's plan over again. We had enough of that in 1862. But there's no use in grumbling -a wise man is at the head. The country believes in Grant --- the army believes in him, and so we will wait and see how it comes out.
" May 28th. We are getting ready to move -- tents are down, wagons loaded and confusion reigns among the troops. At six and one-half o'clock, P. M., General Smith mounted and the staff followed him to the headquarters of General Butler. The regiments on the march, cheered " Baldy " as he passed them. Smith supped with Butler --- the staff were entertained promiscuously and sumptuously. I took supper with Captain Shaffer. It is a wet, dreary evening. At nine o'clock, my orderly put in an appearance, and I followed him, for he only knew the way, in the total darkness, to Broadway landing, and there the orderly, the horses and myself, found room on board the steamer Matamora which is to convey General Smith and staff to the White House on the Pamunky river.
" May 20th. This morning we steamed down to Bermuda Hun- dreds landing, where we found most of the corps embarked on transports, and at half-past eleven o'clock, A. M., moved down the James river, reaching Fortress Monroe at half-past five o'clock, P. M. We managed to get a good supper at the Hygia, a sort of oasis in the desert, and when we shall get another such supper, if ever, can- not now be foretold. At nine o'clock, P. M., the Matamora steamned off for the York river.
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" May 30th. At half-past five o'clock, A. M., we reached West Point at the head of York river, and found some transports had preceded us in the arrival. One brigade was disembarked to go overland to the White House, and at half-past six o'clock, A. M., the Matamora took the advance up the Pamunky, a very narrow, crooked stream - the land bordering it for miles seeming to be low aud swampy. After passing the low lands, Smith directed a gunboat to take the advance, our boat following close behind. We reached White House at eleven o'clock, A. M., without any incident worthy of note. It is funny enough, but there is no White House here, or is there a house of any other color within sight of the landing. The place where the White House once stood is marked by stacks of chimneys. The country looks desolate. The long railroad bridge formerly crossing at this place, was burned, and soldiers are busy at work rebuilding it for the passage of the brigade marching up from West Point. Other troops are detailed to build wharves, for this place may again become a great depot for army supplies.
" A messenger from General Grant arrived this evening. There are rumors that Lee has retreated south, and that Grant is crossing to the south of the Pamunky. We calculate upon some hard fighting.
" May 31st. A very hot day. The troops are landing rapidly. We are under orders to leave here this afternoon to march to New Castle, a locality upon the Pamunky river some miles above this place.
"Smith and the staff mounted at four o'clock, P. M. I carry nothing but a blanket strapped to the saddle. After passing Tun- stall's station four miles from White House, head of column moved to the right and we passed through a section of the country which has not apparently been heretofore traversed by armies. Here we saw green fields under cultivation and acres of growing clover. farm houses with fences undestroyed and no appearance of the devastation and waste of war. It was pleasant to find one little corner in Vir- ginia looking fresh and prosperous. We must let the enjoyment of this little march by the side of green fields, grow on our hands; we must be like the man who said he always put on spectacles when eating cherries, that they might look all the larger and more tempt-
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ing. The faithful horses will not need spectacles while tethered in the clover fields to-night, neither will the owner, if he happens to be about here, need any glasses to discover the waste and ruin of his сгор.
" Riding along, I came upon the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts taking rest in a grass field by the side of the road. I dismounted and sat down by the side of some of my comrades. I saw Captain O'Neill stretched out on the grass, and I laid down by his side. We spoke of the future, of the probability of a severe battle, and the possibility that we might not meet again -- and then the 'fall in' rang through the fields, and once more the battalions took up the line of march.
" General Smith, after dark, stopped for the night at the house of Mr. Bassett, by whom he was hospitably entertained. The troops are bivouaced in the vicinity of Turner's store. I have placed cavalry guards around most of the houses in the vicinity, not only as a protection to the occupants but also to prevent them from going away to convey information of our whereabouts to the enemy, being careful to tell the people that if they left their houses they would be shot by the guards.
" We are near New Castle ferry, but hear nothing from the Army of the Potomac. Mr. Bassett has a fine residence a little off the road, and he appears to be a well preserved gentleman of the old Virginia school. His daughter, the wife of Colonel Washington, now in the Confederate army, presides over the establishment. Mr. Bassett offers all the hospitality he can, but his cuisine cannot be more than sufficient to provide for his own family, which includes quite a number of old slaves, colored people who have not left his service. Our mess-wagon has not come up, [generally the case when we want it the most] or if it has, cannot be found, so that the staff' officers dependent upon it, must 'grub' as we can. I could get nothing whatever to eat, and laid down under a tree for such sleep as I conld obtain, but hunger prevailed and conquered desire for sleep. I bethought me of my orderly -- arose, went out into the orchard and found the orderly by the side of our horses. It was a happy sight! The orderly was preparing supper for himself. He had a little fire and offered to share his meagre supper with me. 1 ate a ' hard tack' and a slice of salt pork broiled over the fire on the
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end of a stick, and with it, drank a dish of hot coffee without sugar or milk. It was really palatable. With my appetite appeased, I made my bed again under a tree near the house, rolling myself up in the blanket. Some of the staff slept on the piazza of the house, but I thought the grass lawn would be softer than the hard pine.
"June Ist. At six o'clock we mounted and rode to New Castle ferry on the Pamunky. We halted at the house of Mrs. Braxton, upon whose plantation the corps is massed. We can hear guns off to our left, at a distance, but get no reports. Smith is very anxious, and says he don't know what to do or where to go. IIe thinks there must be a mistake in his orders for there seems to be no good reason why we should be here.
" About nine o'clock, A. M., a courier came from the west, riding with all speed, his horse reeking with foam. Ile delivered orders from Grant to Smith, and now we are to march with all possible speed to Cold Harbor. It seems that the order to move to New Castle was a mistake, the blunderhead who transcribed it, wrote . New Castle' instead of ' New Cold Harbor' as Grant had it, and so we have had a useless march of fifteen miles out of our way. General Smith directed me to march with the provost guard con- sisting of two companies of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, in rear of the column, and prevent straggling from the column on the march. Soldiers too fatigued to march, are provided with passes or permits to go to the rear, and are taken into the ambulances. During the day over a thousand stragglers were intercepted by the guards. Heckman's Brigade carried off the palm upon this march, for less than seventeen of the men of that brigade were challenged by the patrols. One of these only, belonged to the Twenty-fifth Massachu- setts, and he a member of Company F, whom I knew very well, was really unable to march, and was furnished a place in the ambulance. I saw or heard of no man of the Ninth New Jersey and only four of the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts, who came to the rear without permits."
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