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 26
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Heckman's noble brigade, almost every man a Hercules, was powerless under the terrible artillery fire from the front and the flanks, and the galling fusilade poured directly into its advancing line.
The position assaulted by Heckman's Brigade was an im- portant point as commanding the road to Gaines' Mill, a route which Grant determined should be opened to allow the onward march to Rielimond. Describing the position in its front, there was first a large opening, then a piece of timber land, beyond this a growth of small trees bordering a line of
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carthworks which had been used by the enemy -beyond thesc works was an open, level space, of about one hundred yards in width, perhaps less, on the opposite side of which was a ravine, through which the brigade moved on its way to assault ; the ravine was fringed by a long narrow knoll, covered with trees, upon the crest of which hundreds of men were killed. and wounded. Crossing this knoll, was the open space of less than one hundred yards in width, upon the opposite side of which, was the enemy, behind works made of earth and logs, the right and left turned so as to enfilade our line, the enemy in these works being about fifteen feet above the second line of works, formerly used by the enemy, and behind which our troops formed as soon as they could get away from the knoll. The works were mounted with guns having a perfect sweep against cur brigade. Major Attwood, who gallantly charged with many of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts over the crest of the knoll, counted nine Confederate battalion flags in our front. It was near this spot that many of our officers and men were wounded and killed, though some fell among the rifle-pits on the left of the knoll and others upon the cart-path, which extended to an angle in the enemy's line of works. Lieutenant-Colonel Moulton and Lieutenant Saul, while charging with a remnant of the regiment over the open space, found themselves where they could not return, and, falling down for safety, were compelled to remain there until dark, when the enemy came out, seizing them and all others who had not escaped previously. .
While Moulton lay prone upon the ground, some of his com- rades about him, proposed to put up a white flag as a token of surrender, but he at once vetoed the suggestion. Supposing that he and his fellows must ultimately fall into the power of the rebels, he considerately placed his sword in the rifte-pit and covered it with earth, so that his sword might not be captured, if he was. It is supposed that the sword was not afterwards discovered by the enemy.
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Soon after dark, a squad of the enemy under a major came out to take in our officers and men who were living. Seeing Moulton, the major said to him -" Yon un's flag is out here and I'm going to get it." He went and returned without it. Moulton asked him why he did not get the flag ? The major said he could not find it.
That was the flag that Casey of Company C saved, and con- veyed to the rear after the battle.
A few hours after the failure of this assault, Meade sent an order to each corps commander to renew the attack without reference to the troops on the right or left. The order was issued from corps headquarters to subordinate commanders, but to what extent it went below brigade headquarters, we have no means of knowing. No man stirred in consequence of this order : the immobile lines pronounced a silent but emphatic verdict against further slaughter.
PERSONAL HEROISM.
There were many instances of personal heroism-one, which we will relate, is worthy a page in the history of brave decds. Sergeant Ball, Company F, of Fitchburg, carried the State colors, a blue silk flag with the State arms on one side. It was presented by ladies in Worcester. While carrying this color, the Sergeant fell wounded and Corporal John E. Lewis of Company K, who was one of the color guard, caught the flag as it fell with the Sergeant. The lines were broken-the flying iron crushed bones like glass, and men and officers seemed to be staggered, when the Corporal, bearing the colors aloft, ran ahead, shouting, " Come on, boys!" He was followed by many of the regi- ment who were upon that part of the line. A number fell, killed or wounded, and Johnny Lewis stood alone far ahead of his comrades. His daring left him without support. In such a storm of bullets no man could live. Men saw him stagger. He took the staff from the socket and planted it in
Corp'l JOHN E. LEWIS.
Corp'l W. O. COLLESTER.
Serg't R. T. CHAPMAN.
CHAUNCEY P. DEMOND.
Corp'l ROWLAND POND.
COMPANY K.
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the ground, as if determined that if he fell, the colors of the Twenty-fifth should not fall, with him. 'Tis but for a moment. He reeled to and fro as if tenacious of life ; he looked toward the enemy ; he looked up, as if imploring God to receive his spirit, and, clutching the colors in his dying throe, fell to the earth enshrouded in the flag he loved and died to save! Upon that banner his manly form reposed sweet in death, while its silken folds were stained with his gallant blood. The flag was considerably in advance of our line, but the brave man to save it was found in David Casey of Company C, who rushed forward, and seizing the standard from the grasp of his dead comrade of Company K, bore it safely to the line still held by the regiment and brigade. The love which young Lewis had for his flag-his last thought in death, reminds us of an incident in the life of Napoleon. After the victory of Lutzen, which Napoleon won with an army of young con- scripts, he was riding over the field of battle strewn with the dead and wounded of the contending armies. As he passed sadly over the gory plains, he came to the dead body of a young Prussian soldier, who, in death, clasped the Prussian flag most tenaciously to his bosom. For a moment, Napoleon gazed upon this dead hero with moistened eye, and, with a voice tremulous with emotion, said -" Brave lad ! brave lad ! you were worthy to have been born a Frenchman. Gentlemen, (turning to his officers) you see a soldier has for his flag a sentiment approaching to idolatry. It is the object of his worship. I wish some of you immediately to render funeral honors to this young man, I regret that I do not know his name, that I might write to his family. Do not separate him from his flag. These folds of silk will be for him an honorable shroud." There were no funeral honors for. Johnny Lewis or his comrade brave men who fell that day! The roaring artillery and the whistling minies were their requiem-both armies guarded the place where they fell, and the carrion . birds hovered over their lifeless, uncovered bodies, seeking
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- opportunity to make a feast. For some time after the assault, the living officers and men of the brigade, held possession of the knoll, sheltering themselves behind the crest, in the ravine, and behind the trees. Others were too far advanced to think of retreating-they simply lay prostrate and still -- the man who moved, even an arm, was remorselessly shot. What can we think of the humanity of an enemy that wilfully shot its wounded foemen ? Thus laid Lieutenant-Colonel Moulton, Lieutenant Saul, Corporal Bugbee and a large- number of soldiers, during the day. At cight o'clock, P. M., a party of . the enemy came out as before stated, and took them all prisoners.
Lieutenant Daly, mortally wounded, was prostrate upon the ground about fifteen paces in front of the line of earthworks to which the brigade had fallen back. This line was that which was occupied by the enemy on the 1st of June, and from which he had been driven by the advance of our army. From this earthwork, the distance was about five hundred yards to the line occupied by the enemy. Corporal O. P. Boss, privates Asahel Aldrich and Wm. E. Battles, of Company F were ensconced in a rifle-pit about half way between the two lines. Hearing a call for the Twenty-fifth Massa- chusetts, they found it came from Daly who begged for water. Boss had water in his canteen, and he crawled out from his hole, until he was able to throw his canteen to within Daly's reach. Finally Boss determined to make an effort to get over our breastworks, and upon making known his deter- mination, (many of our soldiers had been shot down in making the attempt) Aldrich, who was badly wounded and weak from loss of blood, determined to go also, saying he might as well be shot trying to escape, as to die there, though he did not wish to be shot in the back. The Corporal, knowing that Aldrich was too weak ever to reach our lines, and yet seeing his determinate will to make the attempt, told him he would carry him over on his back. The plan was executed,
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and wonderful as it may seem, the star of good luck was in the ascendency, and Boss went hurriedly over the breastwork with Aldrich clinging to his neck. Over safely, Boss reported Daly's condition to General Stannard, and the latter proposed that Daly be taken out by digging a tunnel under the earth- works. This idea was first suggested by General Smith, when informed by the writer that Daly lay wounded just beyond our line. Smith remarked " that so brave a man as Daly must not be left to die without help," and an order to make the effort to save Daly was sent to the front by the writer.
Boss consulted with Privates Willard D. Blanchard and A. F. Bartlett, of Company H, and these men with W. O. Wilder of Company HI and a member of Company E, whose name is forgotten, went to work-three of them excavating the tunnel, while the other two, Boss and Blanchard, crawled over the works, dug a trench to where Daly lay and got him upon a rubber blanket. This was a long piece of work and required great caution, but it was successfully executed, and upon reaching the earthwork, Boss and Blanchard, by digging, soon met Bartlett, Wilder and the Company E man, on the other side. The hole was finally made large enough, and Daly drawn through, in a very exhausted condition. Placed upon a stretcher, he was conveyed to the field hospital.
Some days after, four soldiers of the regiment volunteered for the duty, and conveyed the lieutenant on a stretcher to the White House. He was afterwards removed to Washington, where he died June 23rd.
After the severity of the struggle was over, and officers and men clung close to the earth to avoid the fast-flying bullets of the enemy, Martindale, the Division Commander, who had been communing with himself and a cigar, ensconced behind a large tree, suddenly possessed himself of wakefulness sufficient to discover that the Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania. Volunteers were very much demoralized. Seeing Colonel Pickett upon the ground not far away, he asked him if he would go over to the 41
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Fifty-fifth Regiment and see if he could " straighten them out." Wounded, the Colonel saw well enough what ought to be done, but, unable to move, he answered -" If I had two legs, General, I would go;" "Are you wounded?" queried the General ; "I rather think I am!" he answered, and so the men of the Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania were left to straighten themselves out as best they could.
At early dawn of the 3rd, General Smith fixed his head- quarters upon a little hillock covered with trees about a quarter of a mile in the left rear of the position to be assaulted, and within the musketry fire of the enemy. There he and his staff remained during the day and until the afternoon, when the battle was mostly over. There was no shelter whatever, and the General would not allow even one of his orderlies to secure himself behind a friendly tree. During the day, several per- sons were killed on that hillock. The General was very much troubled because of men who straggled from the front -- men who sought the rear to avoid the hostile bullet and to add to the danger of their comrades. General Smith was as much the hater of stragglers as was the Grecian king when he said at the fabled siege of Troy-
" Whosoever shall be found * Skulking from the fray Shall be the feast of birds of prey and dogs!"
We are pretty certain that some of these stragglers of June 3rd would be surprised to know how very nearly they became food for worms, if not a feast for " birds of prey and dogs." In the discharge of our official duty, and under positive orders, we had the rope tightened about the necks of two stragglers, who in a moment would have been non est inventus to their regiments, if the General had not relented. The number of stragglers from the corps was comparatively small, and yet it was too large.
BRIG. GEN'L. CORNELIUS G. ATTWOOD.
Heliotype Printing Co. Boston.
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It was while at this spot that Colonel Pickett was brought out wounded in the hip, and was conducted to our little knoll, where General Smith congratulated him upon his ability to be brought out at all, and upon the bravery of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts and Heckman's Brigade. Colonel Pickett was taken to the field hospital, evidently suffering great pain from his severe wound. In his retirement, the regiment suffered the loss of a brave and discreet leader in whom it had entire confidence. Before the Colonel came, we saw Major Attwood approaching from the front. He was holding up his arm which was lifeless from a severe wound-his face was pale with pain and exhaus- tion. We aided him to our little knoll, and listened for a moment to the names of comrades killed or wounded so far as he knew-and then he insisted upon going back, declining even to wait for a surgeon to dress his arm. We expostulated, but he said Pickett was alone, for Moulton had gone down (supposed killed) and he would not desert the Colonel in this emergency, and so he went back. An hour or two after Pickett was taken to the rear, Attwood again came out, and by this time his arm had become so painful, he was willing to retire to the hospital, but it was only by the use of some adjectives on our part, that he would consent to sit by the side of the driver and ride to the hospital, a mile and a half to the rear- he thought he could walk, that others worse off might ride. Wounded officers were not always so thoughtful of the needs of others, and many, after receiving one wound, were not anxious to expose themselves to a second, or to death.
This was the last day of service the young Major performed with his regiment, for, on being taken to the hospital at Washington, D. C., far away from the responsibility and excitement of the battle-field, the ravages which chronic diarrhea had been making upon his system for many months showed their effects, and, coupled with his wound, soon reduced his health to a very precarious state. A leave of absence to go home was granted him, and for some two months he was
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confined to his house, his family fearing his days were nuni- bered. Ile himself, feeling that there was little prospect of returning to the regiment, and especially desiring not to stand in the way of any officer's promotion, resigned upon surgeon's certificate of disability, and was honorably discharged August 18th, 1864, having entered the service in April, 1861.
As illustrating the friendship existing among the officers of the regiment, we insert the following :-
" Worcester, September 19th, 1864.
Major C. G. ATTWOOD, Boston.
My Dear Major :- Your kind letter is received and read with much satisfaction. The sentiments therein expressed are much more than 1 deserve, yet it is very gratifying indeed to know that the harmony that has always existed between us still remains, and that you are charitable enough to overlook my imperfections, for with all my faults-and they are many -I can truly say I never designedly caused you an unpleasant feeling or thought, my only aim being to do my duty acceptably, and at the same time retain the good will, if possible, of the officers with whom I was associated in the just, and, I hope, soon to be successful cause of our beloved country.
It is needless for me to say, that I regret your loss, for I have counselled with you both officially and otherwise, with profit to myself and to the regiment, and I shall miss you greatly in many ways. You have performed your duty with fidelity, filling the respective positions of Captain and Major with ability, credit to yourself and honor to the service.
Whenever you have been left in command, I have placed the utmost couf- dence in your judgment and good management of affairs, feeling assured that the discipline, efficiency and reputation of the good old regiment would be well sustained under your administration, and I have never been disappointed.
Furthermore, the prompt and willing assistance rendered me on all occasions, the courtesy, respect and always kind treatment received from you, will be held in grateful remembrance to the end of my existence.
True, our official connection is dissolved; you have returned to the peaceful pursuits of civil life, yet I shall always reflect with pleasure upon the many social and happy hours we have passed, thankful to the Supreme Ruler for carrying us safely through the perils and dangers we have faced together, and shall consider and look upon you as one of the few we meet on the troubled stream of life, a true, tried and faithful friend. No longer a soldier, still the same cordial, genial companion as ever.
May health and success attend you, and that every blessing may be showered upon you that will contribute to your prosperity, contentment and happiness, is the most fervent wish of
Your old comrade in arms and sincere friend,
J. PICKETT, Colonel Twenty-fifth Massachusetts Infantry.
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Major Attwood was afterwards brevetted Lieutenant-Colonel " for gallant and meritorious service. during the war." His health gradually improved, and, settling down to business in Boston, he has remained there to this time. He was appointed Deputy Collector of the port of Boston soon after the war, which position he held for about five years, resigning to accept the office of Secretary of the Board of Trade, and, if our judgment is not at fault, other and more important positions will yet await his acceptance.
In 1876 he was appointed Inspector-General of Massachu- setts, with the rank of Brigadier-General, and, during his occupancy of that position, covering a period of more than three years, the entire State militia was several times carefully inspected by him, the poor and surplus companies disbanded, and the troops organized into a force, universally acknowledged to be the finest and most efficient in the country.
Early in the day, learning where the wounded of the Twenty- fifth Massachusetts were being brought out, the writer asked General Smith's permission to go there to their succor, " Yes, go, of course, and aid the poor fellows as much as you can." Stern in requiring strict obedience to orders, terrible in his anger if officers or men failed to do their duty or cravenly shirked it, he was yet as tender as a young girl in his feelings, with a heart full of sympathy for all who suffered. His deepest feelings were stirred up when he knew that Heckman's Brigade was doomed for the sacrifice, and when the anticipated result came, his heart was full of sorrow for the loss of brave officers and men killed and wounded.
We found the place where the wounded were being brought out by the stretcher-bearers. Lying in a long row, side by side upon the ground, were our comrades of the Twenty-fifth Massa- chusetts, including a number of Company K, among them, Sergeant Luke T. Drury, Corporal Myron W. Davis, Privates Chauncey P. Demond, A. P. Davis, Isaac Creed (three wounds) and many others. Of the terribly wounded, left on the field, was Private Edward P. Rockwood of Company II, wounded in
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seven places, viz. : face, chin, shoulder, ribs (broken), calf of leg, instep and second toe (which was amputated by the Con- federate surgeon). The rebels intended to leave Rockwood on the field, thinking it was not worth the trouble to try to save his life, but his captured comrades put him into a blanket and carried him to an ambulance bound for Richmond, and Rock- wood lived, in spite of his many wounds and the neglect of the Confederates, and was paroled during the succeeding autumn. Doing the best we could with the means at hand, to aid the wounded of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts who had been brought out, we moved further into the woods, when we were met by a stretcher borne carefully along, and upon it, pale and ghastly, was Captain Thomas O'Neill. The death mark was upon his brow, as we clasped hands there under the trees, the stretcher-bearers having placed the Captain upon the ground, and taken a position a little to the rear. During our conversation, he bade us tell his mother "that I die for my country," and then, wishing to have all carthily matters settled, he made to us his nuncupative will, which finished, we bade cach other farewell, and never again did we see brave. Tom O'Neill ! He died at five o'clock the next morning.
We are indebted to a warm personal friend of Captain O'Neill's, resident in Worcester, for many interesting facts relating to the life of the Captain, and to his ancestral history.
Captain Thomas O'Neill was born in Worcester, [Mass.] August 17th, 1835, He was descended from the noblest and most martial family of the Irish race, the " O'Neills."
His uncle Arthur, served under Nelson and was killed at the battle of Trafalgar. Another unele, James, was killed on the retreat under Sir John Moore. His father, Charles O'Neill, was born in Dundalk, South County, Ireland, in June, 1793. He served in the Peninsula campaign and took part in the famed battle of Waterloo, under Wellington, where
CAPT. THOMAS O'NEILL.
Heliotype Printing Co. Boston.
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he was wounded. Charles O'Neill emigrated to Canada in 1830, and soon after came to the United States, settling in Worcester, where he died June 16th, 1852.
Thomas, possessing all the military ardor of his family, united, when a mere boy, with the "Jackson Guards," an Irish military company of Worcester, remaining in that organ- ization until its disbandment by Governor Gardner, January 9th, 1855.
In 1861, the Emmet Guards of Worcester received a charter from the State, and Thomas O'Neill attached himself to that organization, and was elected Third Lieutenant. He followed that company into the war, as we have already stated.
Captain " Tom," as we always called him, had two charac- ters-one like that of a gentle woman, mild, genial, affable and modest, with a voice so modulated that he often spoke as softly as a young child -- another character, one that was necessary to get through the world with, one necessary to give him command over those committed to his charge- brave, dashing, undaunted, with a voice that would roar like a lion, and eyes that would flash fire against opposition. He possessed unusual strength, and was thoroughly trained in the pugilistic art.
After the death of Captain O'Neill, on the morning of June 4th, his body was embalmed and sont home for interment. HIis funeral took place June 13th, and was attended by the city government of Worcester, the Irish societies, and an immense concourse of people. Escort duty was performed by the State Guard. At St. John's church, an address was delivered by Rev. P. T. O'Reilly. At the cemetery, the obsequies were conducted by Rev. John J. Power.
The personal appearance of Captain O'Neill was command- ing. In stature, he was about five feet ten inches : had jet black hair, black eyes, a light and muscular frame; his look, bearing and military carriage, reminding one of the historic soldiers -- of the famous O'Neills of Erin's green isle.
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Among the ancients, those who died in the bloom of youth were regarded as the special favorites of the gods. The Athenian Tyrtæsus, whose pen vied with the sharpness of his sword, most beautifully celebrates the death of the youthful upon the field of glory : --
"The youth-the hero youth who dies in blooming years, In man's regret he lives and woman's tears ; More beautiful in death, and lovelier far For having perished in the front of war."
After Captain O'Neill was taken to the field hospital, he and Lieutenant McConville were provided with a small tent together. Surgeon Rice called to see them and as he ap- proached O'Neill, the latter grasped his hand and asked -- "Doctor, have I got a fatal wound ?" " Yes," replied the surgeon, "I fear your wound is mortal." Just then, the Color Sergeant, McHugh of Company E, came in, and, drawing the National colors from his breast, exclaimed- " Captain, I brought off the flag; here it is!" Captain O'Neill grasped the flag, staining it with his blood, and said : --
" Doctor, I am willing to die for that dear old flag, and I only wish I had two lives to give my country !"
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