Wearing the blue in the Twenty-fifth Mass. volunteer infantry, with Burnside's coast division, 18th army corps, and Army of the James, Part 27

Author: Denny, Joseph Waldo, 1825 or 1826-
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Worcester, Putnam & Davis
Number of Pages: 1196


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 27


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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During the battle, the staff became broken, and in order to save the flag, Sergeant McHugh tore the silk from what was left of the staff and placing it in his breast, buttoning his coat over it, bore it safely from the field. Learning that his brave Captain was near the gates of death, he went to the rear to announce to him that the flag was safe. We never think of these incidents connected with the last hours of Captain Tom O'Neill, and the thoughtfulness of Sergeant MeHugh, without giving a kindly thought to the brave men of Company E whom Captain Tom commanded, and who in his hands, were like clay in the hands of the potter.


B'vt. Maj. HENRY MOCONVILLE, Adjutant.


Capt. CHAS. B. KENDALL .. Adjutant.


Major E. A. HARKNESS, Maj. SIst M. V. M. Adjutant 25th Ma-s. Vol ..


Lieut. HENRY MATHEWS.


Major CHAS. H. DAVIS


ADJUTANT'S GROUP.


WEARING THE BLUE. 329


Near Captain O'Neill upon, that field of blood, lay his personal friend, Lieutenant Henry McConville, Adjutant of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts. He was wounded in the head, and there was a death-like expression in his face. We washed the blood from his wound- he asked with an anxious look, if it was a fatal wound ? He was told that there was only a chance for his life: " Well," said he, "if there's only one chance, I'll take that !" But his pluck did not avail him ; he died some days after in Washington, lamented by all who knew his sweetness of disposition and manly character. Lieu- tenant McConville, by education, acquired endowments, and many natural gifts, was capable of adorning any position he might fill. He was a most genial companion-and the life of every circle in which he moved. He was proficient in the art of music and possessed a gift of oratory which would fit him for a leader among the people. Had he lived, a brilliant future must have opened before him.


Among other officers wounded, not already mentioned, were Captain Chas. H. Foss of Company F, wounded severely in the thigh ; Captain Win. Emery of Company B ; Lieutenant Henry Mathews, Company G, mortally wounded; Lieutenant Chas. II. Pelton, Company B, mortally wounded ; Lieutenant James C. Woodworth, Company I. (in the arm) ; Lieutenant Merritt B. Bessey, Company A (shoulder). [Lieutenant Bessey was sure of a wound when there was any fighting. This was so much expected as a matter of luck, that when our officers met after an action, the usual question was, "Where is Bessey wounded this time ? "] Lieutenant George Burr, Company A (head) ; Lieutenant Messer of Company C and Lieutenant Johnson of Company B; Lieutenant James Graham of Com- pany F was instantly killed and left on the field. Graham was a resident of Fitchburg and a young officer of more than ordi- Hary merit.


Apropos to the death of Graham is an incident worth relat- ing. On the night preceding the battle, the Lieutenant went to


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TWENTY-FIFTHI MASSACHUSETTS.


the rear in charge of a squad of men, to obtain rations or ammunition. During his absence, he visited headquarters, and upon returning, said to Captain Foss -- " Captain, we have a job on hand for to-morrow morning," adding, that he overheard a conversation among officers of the staff. H


heard them say "that near by, the rebels had some strong works, which we are to assault in the morning." The Captain answered, -" Very well, Jim, we shall undoubtedly be there!" The Lieutenant mused for a moment, and then said, " Captain, I am inclined to think that one or both of us will go up to-mor- row morning, and if anything happens to me, I want you to take care of me, and if you are hurt and I am not, I will take care of you." His Captain answered -" Yes, Jim, I will see to that. If you are hurt I will look out for you, if I'm alive." The morning, came, and both officers were in their places, working up through shot and shell to within charging distance of the enemy's position to be assaulted. " Forward ! double- quick, charge!" and on went the regiment into the jaws of death. Foss fell with a shot through his thigh, saying to Lieutenant Graham-" Go on, Jim, I have got one of them !" Graham replied --- " I will tell Captain Tucker that he is in command " the dis" ion." The regiment was in close column by division, Foss commanding the second division of the column. Graham immediately leapod over a low breastwork, and in doing so, was shot dead. oss, severely wounded, could not help his fallen Lieutenant, and Graham, stiffening in death could not succor his wounded Captain. The brave Lieu- tenant had crossed over the river and laid there with the dead, and when the time for burial came, he could not be recognized by his late comrades who sought for him where he fell. Gra- ham, in speaking as he did the night before the battle, evinced no feeling of fear. He was brave and fearless, but he had information of an impending struggle-he realized the danger, perhaps had a presentiment of wounds or death. He had never previously spoken in that manner, but it is possible he never


Lieut. LEVI LAWRENCE.


Lieut. J. HENRY RICHARDSON.


apt. CHAs. II. Foss. ,


Lieut JAMES GRAILAM.


Lieut. CHAS. E. Urtox.


COMPANY F.


Heliotype Printing Co., Bastu4.


.


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WEARING THE BLUE.


before knew as well previous to the action, what the movement was to be and how much danger attended it. It was not unusual. particularly among the officers, to anticipate wounds and death, and we think it is true, that most of the officers had confided to some comrade such little details as they wished attended to in case of mishap.


The sad day of Cold Harbor resulted in a serious loss to the Twenty-fifth Regiment in the large death list of many gallant non-commissioned officers and men. Among the many, we can only notice a few. Sergeant Orlando Hodgkins of Company D, a brave young soldier, modest and retiring in his dispo- sition, who had served during the three months' service in the Worcester Light Infantry with the Sixth Massachusetts, was killed early in the action, and his body was never recov- ered. Sergeant Wm. J. Bond of Company K, an earnest, true man, was instantly killed, and though diligent search was made at the time of the truce, his body could not be identified on the field. Private Albert S. Hurd of Company H, an only son, patriotic and zealous, who entered the service because he believed it his duty, gave up his life on the bloody field, and was buried where he fell.


Corporal George W. Brewer of Company D, a beloved son, a favorite with his early associates, and esteemed by all for the purity of his character, went cheerfully to the service of his country, and in that service was always prompt in his daties. Such a soldier, we need not say, had the confidence of his officers and the love of his comrades. Corporal Brewer fell mortally wounded, and soon expiring, was buried on the field. In the pretty cemetery of his native town, (Boylston) kind friends have erected a tablet to his memory, and, as the first spring flowers, year after year, blossom with fragrance, loving hands fashion them in wreaths upon the marble that perpetuates the memory of the brave Corporal of Company D.


"Our children and our children's children, will read with moistened eyes, the story of the rebellion ; and with wonder and admiration


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TWENTY-FIFTH. MASSACHUSETTS.


dwell upon the sublime sacrifice, and deeds of heroism, and martyr- endurance of that peace-loving host, who, to save their country, periled their lives. Though dead they will speak ; -- a voice that never dies. No length of years ; no life of ease; nor wealth, nor station, could have given such interest or value to their lives, as this one offering upon the altar of liberty.


"Weep for your loved ones slain, but let your grief be mingled with joy that they died in such a cause, and that their works do follow them." [Rev. Merrill Richardson.]


At the field hospital, Surgeon Rice of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts, had the principal care of amputations, and was unremitting in his attentions to all.


Soon after the battle was over, we rode down to the field hospital located on the slopes of some deep ravines, and where, among others, the wounded of. the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts lay suffering. Human power could do no more than was done to make them comfortable. We will not attempt to describe the sombre picture of suffering we there saw-the distress which oppressed us as we looked upon the mangled forms, and into the haggard, smoke-begrimmed faces of brave men, beloved companions, comrades in arms-some of whose faces we knew would soon be rigid in death. Death ! Yes, welcome death which has lost its sting-welcome that death, bringing victory over misery, and removing these mangled bodies from the scenes of horror about us: welcome death with whatever future it brings, for nothing can be worse than the misery following the battle. Is it strange that amid such scenes, the face of the youthful soldier wrinkles, and the hair of the strong man becomes prematurely grey ? Here, amid the wounded and the dying, we were so far in the rear that the incessant roll of musketry was not annoying, and yet we were so near the front, that many times the zip, zip of the flying minies, and oftener, the heavier discharge of artillery, was heard mingling its echoes with the moaning of the distressed. During one of the days succeeding the battle, one man was


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HARRISON T. BOSWORTH.


PERRY C. ALEXANDER.


Lieut. CHAs. H. PELTON


ELI G. BALL.


CHARLES A. ROGERS.


COMPANY B.


Heliotype Printing Co., Boaten.


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WEARING THE BLUE.


killed at this field hospital by concussion of a shell, after he had suffered amputation.


"I looked into the officers' hospital tent on the morning of June 4th. Daly lay on the outside nearest the edge. He was suffering acutely, and told me of the terrible pain, which was all too violent as he tossed in his agony. Colonel Pickett just below him, was sitting half upright. Foss and Emery lay near, while further on, I remember Pelton, lying on his side, very quiet ; they said he could not live, and it was true, for he died soon after." [E. T. Witherby.]


But we draw the veil and hide the wounds we saw upon that hill-side: we draw the veil and conceal the mangled forms there outstretched : we draw the veil that shuts our vision from the gasping brave men, who, from that gory slope, went into the shades of the unending where they rest forever, beyond the din of battle, and the horrid things of war.


LIST OF KILLED WOUNDED AND CAPTURED OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH MASSA- CHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS AT BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR, VA., JUNE 3RD, 1864.


Killed. Captain Thomas O'Neill, Company E. Second-Lieutenant James Graham, Company F.


Sergeants -- Charles S. Watkins, Company B; Orlando Hodgkins, Company D); Wm. J. Bond, Company K.


Corporals- Willis Whipple, Company B; George W. Brewer, Company D; D. W. Barnes, Company F; Moritz Grumbacher, Company G; Gustave Kluge, Company G; Frederic Kohule, Company G; W. J. Holt, Company I; Francis I .. Moore, Company I; John E. Lewis, Company K.


COMPANY A.


Privates- F. B. Brock, Ira Lindsley, Sidney J. Atkinson.


COMPANY B.


Privates - Eli G. Ball, Alphonso Comee, Allen C. Price, Samuel W. Smith, Charles W. Childs.


COMPANY C.


Privates-James Chaffee, J " . Chaffee, W. H. Hutchinson, Geo. F. Merriam, Michael Fitzpatrick, Lyman Keyes, Augustus J. Leland, Samuel Learned, Lewis Wright.


COMPANY D.


Privates - Wm. R. Chapman, Wm. O. Smith, N. S. Bartlett.


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TWENTY-FIFTH MASSACHUSETTS.


COMPANY E.


Privates-D. O'Connell, Michael McMahon, Patrick Cuddy, Thomas O'Boyle, Daniel Cannavan,


COMPANY F.


Privates-Lyman Moulton, G. W. Gould, Francis J. Barrett.


COMPANY G.


Private Samuel Gleason.


COMPANY H.


Privates-Frank J. Perry, Albert S. Hurd, John S. Powers, James D). Adams, W. E. Bryant, Jr., Charles F. Fisher, Lyman N. Parker.


COMPANY I. Privates-George H. Barnes, John S. Chase.


COMPANY K.


Private Charles W. Handley.


Wounded.


Colonel Josiah Pickett (hip, severe).


Major Cornelius G. Attwood (arm, severe).


Captain Charles H. Foss (thigh, severe), Company F.


Captain William Emery, (shoulder), Company B.


First-Lieutenant Henry MeConville, Adjutant, (mortally).


First-Lieutenant William Daly ( mortally), Company E.


First-Lieutenant M. B. Bessey (shoulder), Company A.


First-Lieutenant John W. Davis (chest), Company C.


First-Lieutenant Henry Mathews (mortally), Company G.


Second-Lieutenant Charles H. Pelton (mortally), Company B.


Second-Lieutenant Geo. A. Johnson (severe), Company G.


Second-Lieutenant James C. Woodworth (hand, severe), Company H.


Second-Lieutenant George Burr (head), Company A. COMPANY A.


First-Sergeant Sam'l H. Putnam (head) ; Sergeant Frank Wright (side) ; Corporals-G. F. Stearns (hip); L. J. Ehvell (shoulder); Privates-L. W. Stone (severe) ; A. D. Whitcomb (head); J. Madden (groin); Augustus Stone (arm, amputated).


COMPANY B.


Sergeant C. E. Buffington (arm) ; Corporals-C. Fanning (body); Geo. A. Brown (arm); Privates-O. C. Taft (shoulder); Patrick Powers (slight) ; Michael Keating (hand); C. A. Fisher (hand); C. A. Lewis (knee) ; George Clere (hand) : Leander Wood (shoulder); James Burns (abdomen, mortally) ; Orlando F. Carpenter (arm, amputated) ; J. Cahill (shoulder and leg) ; Llew- ellyn Mowrey (forehead, severe) ; G. E. Fletcher (arm and thigh); Patrick Boyle (thigh); E. M. Wheelock (hand); J., M. Fletcher (arm).


COMPANY C.


Corporals- A. J. Huse (died); W. J. Stone (died) ; J. Ryan (head) ; J. M. Logan (leg); Privates-C. Allen (ankle); T. Burphy (shoulder) ; J.


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WEARING THE BLUE.


Brown (leg) ; T. Hamilton (head); W. Chaffee (hip) ; Andrew Anone (side) ; J. II. Whitney (thigh); A. K. Bucklin (foot); F. Bartlett (leg and arm) ; C. Gibbs (mortally); N. S. Dickinson (mortally); Samuel Healey (mortally) ; J. H. Peard (thigh).


COMPANY D.


Sergeant A. M. Austin (hand) ; Corporals-E. D. Goodell (ankle); C. A. McGaffes (Jeg); Privates -- Benj. F. R. Alden (side); Peter Rice (severe) ; C. E. Mofrit (leg): H. A. Browning (lung, died June 17th, 1864); B. B. Bartlett (groin); W. M. Park, (side) ; J. E. Bassett (leg) ; L. W. Burr (hand) ; G. F. Bartlett (neck) ; J. D. Pierce (shoulder) ; W. H. Webber (severe).


COMPANY E.


Sergeants-J. McHannon (hip) ; P. McHugh (hip) ; Corporals - James Mitchel (leg); J. O'Connor (arm and hand); N. Mooney (arm fractured); Privates-John Jameson (hand); Thomas McQuade (abdomen); Pat. Hanna- gan 2nd (knee); Terrence Henrity (face and shoulder) ; John McCarthy (arm) ; Dan'l Kirby (ankle) ; Nicholas Nugent (leg) ; Win. H. Kenney (thigh, died June 3rd, 1864); Mable Nickett (face); J. H. MeLaughlin (hand) ; John Lyon (foot); Peter Kenney (hand); Hugh Jameson (hip); Ross McCann (groin, severe).


COMPANY F.


First-Sergeant Charles Hall (mortally); Sergeant J. Calvin Spaulding (side) ; Corporals - C. A. Miller (shoulder) ; John A. Spaulding (neck); Privates-J. ' F. Garduer (head); Artemas W. Ellenwood (leg, amputated) ; Asahel Aldrich (shoulder, mortally) ; John L. Brown (hand); George W. Kinsman (severe) ; Daniel Lynch ; Wallace W. Butterfield (knee); Thomas McMorrow (hand).


COMPANY G.


Sergeant Phillip Reischer (side) ; Corporal Frank F. Knapp (thigh) ; Privates -- Charles Warren (thigh) ; Leander Fay (arın, amputated) ; Fred'k Apple (thigh); Tred'k Way (arm, amputated).


COMPANY H.


Corporal J. D. Hill (leg) ; Privates- E. P. Rockwood (seven wounds and prisoner) ; Edw. P. Lawrence (leg); Geo. W. Stone (hand and head); Hannibal Whittomore (thigh) ; Geo. M. Eveleth (slight) ; Edward R. Lawrence (slight) ; Chas. W. Adams (breast) ; Henry S. Johnson (car); Wilfred Plant (arm) ; Walter S. Clemmence (foot) ; W. H. Bullard (mortally).


COMPANY I.


Corporal Leander Hathaway (arm); ' Privates-Martin Burgess (side); A. W. Fiske (side) ; Geo. A. Gleason (thigh) ; Hosea A. Bosworth (thigh) ; F. M. Potter (leg) ; Marcus H. Ward (breast).


COMPANY K.


Sergeant Luke T. Drury (knee, severe) ; Corporal Henry L. Brown (head) ; Privates -- Otis Clemence (hand) ; Sam'l A. Clark ( foot) ; Chauncy P. Demond (leg, severe) ; James W. Goodnow ; Isaac Creed (arm and hand) ; Augustus E. Davis (arm); Leroy S. Currier (arm) ; Reuben Humes (leg) ; Chester Green- wood (head) ; Henry H. Bellows (hand) ; M. W. Davis (hand).


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TWENTY-FIFTH MASSACHUSETTS.


Captured.


Lieutenant-Colonel Orson Moulton.


Second-Lieutenant Thomas Saul.


COMPANY A.


Corporal Walter S. Bugbee; Privates - Horace W. Driden ; Charles O'Neill.


COMPANY B.


First-Sergeant Paran C. H. Belcher ; Privates - H. W. Horton; H. C. Dunton.


COMPANY C.


Private John F. Hastings.


COMPANY D. Private Otis H. Knight.


COMPANY E.


Privates- Rob't Carson ; John Burke; Peter Brady. COMPANY G.


Privates - Wm. Jones ; Patrick Hogan; Luke Burgen ; Joseph Schusser. COMPANY H.


Privates -- E. P. Rockwood (with many wounds) ; Samnel T. Hall ; Walter HI. Hayden ; Stephen B. Kemp.


COMPANY I.


Corporal Walter Lamb; Privates - Francis Barnes ; Geo. W. Blood; David B. Day.


COMPANY K.


Private J. W. Goodnow.


Summary. Wounded. Captured.


Killed.


2 officers, 51 meni. 13 officers, 126 men. 2 officers, 26 men.


Total loss .. 220.


This gave the regiment a total loss of two hundred and twenty, out of three hundred reported for duty on that morning.


Captain Tucker, who was in command, Lieutenants Davis, Tew and Stratton were the only officers of the Twenty-fifth Massachusettts engaged with the regiment, who came out of the battle uninjured. Captain F. E. Goodwin, returned from detached service to duty, and, as senior officer present, assumed 'command June 4th, on which day the regiment had sixty-two men present for duty.


The losses of the other Massachusetts regiments of the Star Brigade, were: -


:


.


337


WEARING THE BLUE.


Twenty-third Massachusetts Volunteers, killed, three; wound- ed, forty-six ; captured, five. Total, fifty-four.


Twenty-seventh Massachusetts Volunteers, killed, thirteen ; wounded, fifty-eight ; captured, seven. Total, seventy-cight.


The loss of the brigade in killed, wounded and missing, was three hundred and forty-seven.


The number engaged was less than six hundred.


Major William A. Walker, a much respected officer, who was in command of the Twenty-seventh Massachusetts, was instantly killed. Captain Edward K. Wilcox of the same regi- ment, serving upon the staff of General Martindale, shared the same fate. Captain Wilcox was a popular officer, and his death was sincerely mourned by all who knew him. Lieu- tenant Morse of the same regiment was also killed.


The loss of the Eighteenth Corps in killed, wounded and missing, was, in round numbers, three thousand. The total loss, including that of the Eighteenth Corps, which is not usually included in other accounts, was sixteen thousand one hundred and fifty-three, of which number probably over three thousand were prisoners. The loss of the enemy was not over one thousand three hundred.


During our narrative of the work of the 3rd of June, we have had occasion to speak of many brave men, killed and wounded. We would not be doing our full duty, if we failed to speak of the misfortune that befell Lieutenant-Colonel Moulton. It was his last day of service in the regiment- as much as if he had been killed, it saw his last service for the government during the war. Of an ardent temperament, those who knew him in ante-bellum days were not surprised that he was one of the first to enlist for the service. A man with his pronounced sentiments and a natural love for military life, could not long remain away from the place where his country's standard needed defenders.


Discharged from the three months' campaign, he united with others, as we have seen, in raising the companies of the


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TWENTY-FIFTH MASSACHUSETTS.


Twenty-fifth Regiment. His company was composed largely of young men, the best of the County of Worcester, and while he was with them, they had confidence in his leadership and honored him and the cause, by their best service.


During most of the remaining period of the war, Lieutenant- Colonel Moulton remained a prisoner in the hands of the enemy. He was one of the officers placed under the fire of the Union batteries bombarding Charleston. Some time after the war, he was appointed to a position in the Boston Custom House, afterwards promoted to be a weigher, and at present is the deputy surveyor of the port.


It was not until the afternoon of June 7th, that the enemy would give us permission to bury our dead under protection of a flag of truce. The truce for that purpose was of two hours' duration, quite too short to allow the object to be fully aecom- plished, but, short as it was, there was really comfort in having two hours of quiet -- two hours when not a gun was fired, and during which time, those not engaged with the burial parties on our side, mounted the earthworks, and peered into the rebel lines, while the Confederates mounted their works and looked at us. Each side looked at the other.


A view of the field of battle strewn with the dead in all sorts of positions as they fell, is not calculated to have a good effect upon the minds of soldiers : indeed, with the accompany- ing effluvia, is actually pernicious, particularly to the morale of an army. Every soldier of experience, well knows what the battle-field must be after a deadly engagement, but, bringing all his common sense and philosophy into play, the actual sight presses hurtfully upon him. He must be more than a man, if. seeing his dead and distorted comrades before him upon a field he cannot occupy, he is not induced to believe, and next to say, that his comrades were unnecessarily sacrificed: from this there is but a single step to the belief that the commanding general has fearfully blundered or his immediate officers made mistakes, and thus, it may be from chimerical causes superin-


,


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WEARING THE BLUE.


duced by the sights before him, he loses confidence in his officers and next, in himself.


The day after the engagement was comparatively quiet, but on the second and third days (5th and 6th June) there was constant firing. Charges were made on both sides at several points upon the line, and repulsed, while the ambulances were seen in all directions conveying the wounded to the rear. Grant made efforts for a mutual agreement to cease firing until the dead could be buried, but the Confederate authori- ties refused and therefore the dead remained where they fell, and the sunch from their decaying bodies became horrible. During the forenoon of the 7th June, the booming of the cannon and firing of musketry was heard incessantly all along the line, but, soon after noon of that day Grant succeeded in obtaining & truce to bury the dead, as we have stated.


The 8th of June was a very hot day which added very much to the severity of duty in the rifle-pits. A large number of men were sun-truck. At night the military bands of both armies played, the Union bands sending out the patriotic strains of " The Star Spangled Banner " and " Yankee Doodle," while the rebels responded with "The Bonnie Blue Flag" and " Dixie."


The reesit of the action on the 3rd of June determined Grant to make a bold flank movement to the James river, and in this determination he not only followed the example of McClella :: in 1862, but made a movement, which, in the opinion of many officers was the proper thing to have done before the Army of the Potomac moved from its cantoments on the Rappahannock. It has been said, and with much of truth, that if Grant had made the James river or some point south of it, the base for operations, instead of proceeding through the Wilderness, Spottsylvania and Cold Harbor, half a hundred thousand men, and more, would have been saved to the country -an army of men larger than the effective fore? that Lee pushed against us in Virginia.


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TWENTY-FIFTH MASSACHUSETTS.


It required moral courage to push the Army of the Potomac into the gory fields of battle, from the Rapidan to the Chicka- hominy : it required more moral courage to initiate the flank . movement to the James, and make it successful. Grant as a rule, was opposed to manœuvring an army: he believed in hard blows, or, as he called it, continuous hammering. But the steel-pointed drill will sometimes crumble and break by constant hammering against the flinty rock, and so the great Hammerer, after Cold Harbor, found his steel-hardened sol- diers in no condition of mind or body, to do any more pounding against a line of defenses pronounced impregnable. After Cold Harbor, the Lieutenant-General looked more favorably upon manœuvres, and at once arranged what turned out to be the best prepared system of army manceu- vring ever displayed upon the chess-board of war.


1


CHAPTER XVII.


ATTACK ON PETERSBURG -- FLANK MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY-


THE SIEGE OF PETERSBURG-MINE EXPLOSION-A TRUCE.


WHILE the Army of the Potomac is on its flank march to the James river, and the Eighteenth Corps with the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts is well out of the meshes of Cold Harbor, we will return to But- ler's command between the James and Appomatox rivers.


On the 10th of June, Butler sent Gillmore with a part of the Tenth Corps, and a force of cavalry under Kautz, to attempt the capture of Petersburg, a town of considerable importance (particularly as affecting the safety of Richmond,) . located on the southorly side of the Appomatox and about ten miles above its juncture with the James. Petersburg was also a railroad centre, the road from Richmond to North Carolina and further south, passing through it. It was also the terminus of the Southside road to Lynchburg, and of the City Point railway, and the railroad to Norfolk.




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