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1
1
LIBRARY
OF.AGRICULTU
·
Class 973.744
Number
JIR Cop. 2.
Accession
26070
MARY P. THOMPSON LIBRARY Loaned by Lucien P. Thompson.
FRANK L. SANDERS, Stationer & Bookbinder, 1 Depot Street, CONCORD, N. H.
٢
This space is lovingly set apart and dedicated to the memory of my beloved wife, Finette .1. who for nine years, and till near the time of her decease, cheerfully and faithfully assisted and encouraged me while sick and working on this history. A. W. B.
HISTORY
OF THE
TWELFTH REGIMENT
NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEERS
IN THE
WAR OF THE REBELLION
BY CAPT. A. W. BARTLETT Historian Twelfth Regiment Association.
CONCORD, N. II. : IRA C. EVANS. PRINTER, 12 SCHOOL STREET. 1897.
٠١٠٠٣٠١١٠ 1.87
TO THE BRAVE BOYS OF THE
TWELFTH BOTH THE LIVING AND THE DEAD Efis Volume is RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR.
PREFACE.
In giving this history to the public, the author has the satisfaction of knowing that with all its errors and imperfections he has tried to be both truthful and impartial.
He knows also, from experience, that to write what is readable is one thing, but quite another to write that which is reliable ; and that when truth . and justice are allowed, as they always should be, to guide and dictate, the task of the historian is difficult and laborious.
It is hoped, therefore, that those who see much to criticise and little to praise, as doubtless many will, may exercise sufficient charity to believe, that if the work has been but poorly or partially done. it is because the weight was too heavy for the power, and not from any want of purpose or lack of effort. Believing, moreover, that merit and not rank nor riches deserves our praise, and that he who fought with the musket was just as good as he who commanded with the sword, it was decided at the outset that in this history. at least, if no where else, they should in every respect, so far as possible, stand upon the same level.
For this reason we have refused costly steel engravings of some who could afford it, because there were many others equally meritorious who could not afford it : hence governors, generals, and colonels, appear on the following pages dressed in a pictorial garb of the same cast, style, and finish, as the corporal and private. If there was " favoritism" in the army, as we cannot deny, it was because officers were unworthy of their trust, and is only an additional reason why none of it should be allowed in the history of any regiment, that justice at last may be done to the rank and file.
The biographical sketches, though necessarily brief. will be found to embody the most important data in the family and war record, and are, so far as possible, arranged with the portrait engravings, that the reader bas the soldier and his record before him, so that he can scan the one and read the other at the same time.
We have endeavored, as far as possible, to obtain the picture of every member of the regiment, and if many do not appear in this work it is because of no fault of the author. In his efforts to do full justice to his fellow-comrades, he has ofttimes been discouraged at the magnitude of the undertaking, and the careful research necessary to a faithful execu- tion of this trust. He sincerely regrets that ill health, coupled with other embarrassing conditions, has in a great measure crippled his best efforts and long delayed the publication of this book.
The author, in conclusion, wishes especially to express his most sincere thanks and gratefully acknowledged obligations to the committee, and especially to Capt. E. F. Gordon, with whose special assistance he has been aided in bringing this volume to its final close. He also extends his kindest thanks to all those who have in any way helped him in his work.
A. W. BARTLETT.
CHAPTER INDEX.
CHAPTER I.
Enlistment of the different companies, page 7; controversy between Governor Berry and Colonel Whipple, 9; Colonel Whipple's address, 13; first man killed, 15; Potter appointed colonel, 15; state aid, allotment, etc., 17; bounties, 19; verdant volunteers, 19; Camp Belknap, 20.
CHAPTER II. FROM CONCORD TO FALMOUTH.
Cooper's volunteer refreshment saloon, page 24; strange death of Darius Robinson, 25; royal banquet at Washington with greasy coffee, 26; Arlington Heights, Camp Chase, 27; change of muskets, 28; en route to Knoxville by rail, 29; camp stories, 31; on sacred soil, 32; march southward, 33; Star- vation Hollow, 33; sheepish business, 34; camp near Falmouth, 35; Mcclellan removed, Burnside appointed, 35; thanksgiving address, 37.
CHAPTER III. FREDERICKSBURG.
General Burnside assumes command of the army, page 38; move on Fredericksburg, 39; first shelling, 41; perilous passage through the city, 43; incidents of the great battle, 44; flap jacks and honey, 46; Companies C and F's narrow escape, 49.
CHAPTER IV. MUD MARCH AND WINTER AT FALMOUTH.
Foreign intervention talked of, page 53; visit of John P. Hale, 53; mnd march, 54; Hooker succeeds Burnside, 56; desertions, 57; president's proclamation of pardon, 58; Governor Berry's letter, 60; Bowman's address, 61; the Twelfth appear in new suits, 61; Abraham Lincoln visits Army of the Potomac, 62; grand review, 62; Twelfth complimented by the president, 62; Colonel Potter pre- sented with horse, saddle, and bridle, 62; Colonel Potter's short and touching speech, 63.
CHAPTER V. CHANCELLORSVILLE.
Forecast of the battle, page 64; fighting Joe Hooker, 65; intense enthusiasm, 65; the initiatory move- ment, 66; General Hooker's famous congratulatory circular, 67; price of clothing marked down, 68; Captain Durgin's sermon, 70; Chancellor honse, 70; puzzling movement of the enemy, 71; the flank movement of General Jackson, 72; the Eleventh Corps swept from its position, 73; Com- panies F and G extricated from peril, 73; Hazel grove, 74; General Sickles' peril, 75: midnight charge, 75: Chancellor house or Fairview, 76; the order of battle, 77; "Forward Twelfth," 80; battle rages, 82; General Hooker wounded, 87.
CHAPTER VI. CHANCELLORSVILLE -Concluded.
Last words of General Whipple, page 91 ; back to the old camp, 92; Chaplain Ambrose reported killed, 93; Jackson's death, 94; Chaplain Ambrose arrives in camp, 94; petition to Governor Berry, 94; Col- onel Hall's letter, 96; official reports of the battle, 97; General Sickles' testimony, 104; Chancellor estate, 101; Jackson monument, 107; afterthoughts of Chancellorsville, 108.
Chapter Index.
CHAPTER VII.
THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN.
March to Hartwood church, page 113: Gum Springs, 115; tow path march, 116; General Hooker super- ceded hy General Meade, 118: Twelfth in line of battle near Emmitsburg road, 120; battle opened, 121 ; remarks of General Sickles, 122; Wright's and Barksdale's brigade crowding hard, 124; Twelfth New Hampshire open fire, 124; hurled into the vortex of battle, 125; but a remnant left, 126; Colonel Bachelder's remarks concerning the Twelfth New Hampshire. 127; Pickett's charge, 132; Lee's retreat, 138; Meade's mistake, 139; Lincoln disappointed, 139; Captain Musgrove's report of Wapping Heights, 141; Lee's army at bay at Wapping Heights, 141; Twelfth engaged at Wapping Heights, Twelfth on to Washington, 142: only a remnant, 143; sixty-nine guns in stack, 143; a midnight attack, 144.
CHAPTER VIII. POINT LOOKOUT.
Voyage to Point Lookout, page 146; bon-fire of old clothes, 146; terrible perseentions and exodus of the "gray backs," 146: thousands slain by flank movement, 146: "dirty dozen " wash up, 146; guarding prisoners, 147: " Galvanized Yanks," 148; unique church organization, 150; excommunicated, 151; joined by the Fifth, 151 ; substitutes, 152; tribute to the "subs." 153; "sub" killed, 154; incorrigible "subs," 155; Second, Fifth, and Twelfth enjoy thanksgiving dinner, 157; "subs" and "rebs " con- tinue to arrive, 157; raid into Virginia, 158; home to vote, 159; famous battle with snowballs, 161 ; inspection hy General Butler, 161; contraband camp, 164; affecting incident, 165: Father Wil- Jonghby. 166.
CHAPTER IX. FROM POINT LOOKOUT TO DRURY'S BLUFF.
Facing the enemy again, page 169; rendezvons at Williamsburg, 169; the Twelfth joins the Eighteenth Army Corps, 169; execution of two deserters, 170; up the James river, 171; Army of the James on transports, 172; City Point and Bermuda Hundred, 172; Butler holds the key, 173; facing Peters- Inirg, 175; heavy skirmishing, 176; General Butler misled, 176; toward Lempster Hill, 177; on to Richmond, 178: Relay House, 179; Jull before the storm, 181.
CHAPTER X. DRURY'S BLUFF AND PORT WALTHALL.
Telegraph wire, page 182; rebel charge, 183; Heckman captured, 184; Colonel Barker's letters on Drury's Bluff, 185; army fall back, 185; Lieutenant Clark's diagram, 186; Butler criticized and exonerated, 188; opinion of varions generals, 190; Port Walthall, 195.
CHAPTER XI. COLD HARBOR.
On board transports, page 198; incidents of the voyage, 199; White House landing. 199; exhausting march to Cold Harbor, 200; at Cold Harbor, 201 ; charge bayonet, 202; terrible slaughter, 203; Lieu- tenant Clark's diagram of field, 204: description of battle by George E. Place, 206; after scenes, 208: field covered by our dead, 209; drawing off the wounded, 212; removing and burying dead, 213; skillful sharpshooter, 214; comments of Lieutenant-Colonel Murray, 215; interesting incident, 215: back to the White House landing, 216; loaded with lead, 216; at Petersburg again, 217.
CHAPTER XII. SIEGE OF PETERSBURG.
Skirmishing towards Petersburg, page 220; enemy's shells, 221 ; charge on the rebel works, 222; drum- mer boy's last message, 222; Chaplain Ambrose wounded, 224; Petersburg express, 224; continuous firing, 225; National Fast Day commemorated with billets instead of pulpits, 225; Colonel Stead- man breathes his last, 225; swapping minies, 226; explosion at City Point, 226; " Who would n't be a soldier, " 227; Chaplain Ambrose's death, 229; the " mine," 229; the failure, 231 ; comments, 234.
CHAPTER XIII.
BERMUDA FRONT AND CHAPIN'S FARM OR THE LAST WINTER IN "DIXIE."
Depleted ranks, page 236: friendly relations, 237: winter quarters, 238; " delusive dream "-march, 239; cross the river, 2414 Lientenant-Colonel Barker, 242; send Twelfth at once, 243; shotted salutes, 244 ; amusing incident, 245; national election, 246 ; attack on picket line, 248; many captured, 248; escape of Sergeant Bachelor and Thompson, 252; assigned to Twenty-fourth Army Corps, 253; Chapin's Farm, 254: Dutch Gap. 255; General Butler relieved, 256; Colonel Potter goes on staff of General Giblion, 257; flattering order, 259: Joseph Sharp the deserter, 262; Confederacy crumbling, 263; transparent Confederacy, 264; rebel attack on Fort Steadman, 265; repulse, 265.
Chapter Index.
CHAPTER XIV.
CAPTURE AND OCCUPATION OF RICHMOND.
" If it takes all summer," page 267: assault ordered on enemy's works, 268; no enemy but clear route to Richmond, 269; "on to Richmond " is the cry, 270: royal welcome by colored citizens, 271; city burning, 270; president's visit, 272; prisoners liberated, 273; Union army jubilant, 273; lengthy comments on evacuation and occupation. 274-289; Libby prison, 291; Nero, 292; joyful news, Lee's army surrenders, 293.
CHAPTER AV. MANCHESTER AND DANVILLE.
Terrible news - Lincoln assassinated, page 294; Captain Bedee present, 295; correspondence between General Ilardie, Secretary of War, and Captain Bedee, 298; the Twelfth moves to Danville, Va., 300; Colonel Barker, by general order, assumes command of Post, 301; administering the oaths and feeding the people, 304; widespread destitution, 306: welcome order from secretary of war for muster out, 308: testimonial to Twelfth New Hampshire Regiment by the citizens, 312; on board steamer for home, 313: in the cradle of liberty at the "hub," 315; on to New Hampshire, 315; the Granite State welcomes home her veteran soldiers, 315; from Nashua to Concord a continual ova- tion, 315: last casualty in the regiment, 316; General Devens' enlogistic letter, 317; Camp Gilmore, 318: Colonel Barker's farewell address, 319; paid off, 319.
CHAPTER XVI. MISCELLANEOUS.
Dedication of monument, page 321 ; dedicatory poem, 323; dedicatory address, 325; presentation address, 330; reunions, 331 ; Woodbury Sanborn's memorial stone, 337: presentiments and visions, 340; the " boys," 354: rank and file, 359; heroism and terrorism, 364; the light of experience, 368; "Old Tom," 369; a box from home, 370: drum corps, 371 ; history of the colors, 374; signal service, 380; the Union volunteer, 387; chances and changes of war, 389.
CHAPTER XVII. EXPERIENCES, ANECDOTES, AND INCIDENTS.
Loading up. page 391; how he was mustered in, 393; the awkward squad, 324: his last inspection, 395; "Halt," 396; slightly previous, 397; set him up in the boot and shoe business, 397; adding insult to injury, 397: chickens for breakfast, 398; the peddler -a spy, 399; who stole the colonel's beans? 399; a narrow escape or fifty miles' tramp within the enemy's lines, 400; the bitter with the sweet, 400: "Camp Corporal," 401; "tail end tu," 402; good eaters but poor fighters, 403; rabbits and bloodhounds, 401; a new general, 404; long roll, 404; incidents of Fredericksburg, 405; a frightful leap, 400; too big for his clothes, 406; cold water joke, 407: influence of the moon. 407; ineidents of Chancellorsville, 408, 400; Shakespeare on the battle-line, 410; wanted more jnice, 411; " No, I thank you," 411; " this is military, " 412: a sharp reminder, 412: good pluck, 413; the grumbler, 414 ; distance across the river, 414; "a pound of pluck is worth a ton of luck," 415; the cherry picker, 415; incident at Gettysburg, 416; diplomatic, 416; what he was there for, 417; doughnuts, 417; April fool pies, 418; Point Lookout, 418: pointed answer, 419: snow ball battle, 420: her prayer answered, 420: the shaver shaved, 421; how todoit. 422; "what are yon dodging at." 422; South Carolina versus Massachusetts, 423; Christian patriotism, 423; didn't catch it, 424; " little too close," 425; almost a prisoner, 425; appearances are deceitful, 426: "a slight clip" of dry wit, 427: "two horses and a nigger," 428; "another can of strawberries," 428: picked up the wrong chap, 428; his ordnance return, 429; a timely protest, 429; "got my bait with me," 429; " two balls and a ramrod," 430; foraging between the lines, 430; "a right-eyed squint," 431; duty and danger, 432; the death of poor Clipper, 433; sig- nal confab with General Butler, 433; "What's in a name?" 434; one shot was enough, 435; braver to send than receive, 436; that stump, 437; how he saved his money and his life, 438; all the same, 439; in rebel prisons, 440; the history of a five-cent piece, 40; what he had come for. 41; why it wouldn't draw, 42; a story of the picket line, 43; a soldier's prayer, 445: didn't wait for another, 445: concluded to try him, 443; saved his head, 447; his last game of cards, 447; how he got out of it, 447; General Weitzel to Dr. Fowler, 450; still patriotic, 450; they troubled his dreams, 450: "three hundred dollars and a cow," 451; quicker lost than found, 454; Abraham Lincoln's greatness, 454; married her "just the same," 455; whiskey, 457; "Boney," 458; "couldn't play with knapsacks on," 459; Libby, and how we got out of it, 460.
CHAPTER XVIII. PORTRAITS AND SKETCHES.
Field and staff, pages 476-484; Company A, 485-508; Company B, 508-541; Company C. 541-569; Company D, 569-600; Company E, 600-622.
Chapter Index.
CHAPTER XIX. PORTRAITS AND SKETCHES - Continued.
Company F, 622-650: Company G, 650-676; Company HI. 676-696; Company J, 696-717; Company K, 717-739 ; sketches of Winsor P. Huntress, George H. Fowler, and Woodbury Sanborn, 740; unknown, 742.
CHAPTER XX. CONCLUSION.
Roll of Honor, 743-745; list of wounded by companies and battles, 746; comparative table of loss in New Hampshire regiments, 747; table of greatest loss by any New Hampshire regiment in its two largest battles, 748: "New Hampshire Mountaineers," 749: addenda and errata. 750: abbreviations, 751, 752; roster, following page 753.
ILLUSTRATIONS.
FRONTISPIECE.
The Chancellor House
Opposite page 107
A Johnny Reb .
147
The Twelfth Regiment Monument at Gettysburg
..
66 322
Woodbury Sanborn Memorial Stone
16
337
Regimental Colors
6 374
The Cobb Hill Signal Tower
381
Portraits of Field and Staff
Pages 476, 483
Portraits by Companies
66 487-739
Portraits of Huntress, Fowler, and Sanborn
Page 741
Portraits of unknown
742
INTRODUCTION.
"THE terrible storm which was to test the permanency of our republican form of government, and show to the world how deeply rooted is the tree of liberty in its native soil, had. after often repeated, but long unheeded warnings, broke in all its force and fury upon us ; and the final struggle for supremacy between freedom and slavery, no longer to be put off by concession or compromise, had at last come.
The Union forces of the West had swept every thing before them from Missouri's northern border to Nashville, Tennessee, while the main army around Washington, after its valuable lesson at Bull Run, had so increased in numbers and improved in discipline that it only seemed necessary for the "Young Napoleon "-as Mcclellan was then called by some of his admirers-to give the command and Richmond was ours.
So confident was the public mind of the North, that when the next " on to Richmond " was sounded at the head of the great, grand army of the Potomac, already impatient to be led forward, that it would march swiftly into the Confederate capital and to final victory, that Henry Wil- son stated upon the floor of the Senate chamber that he believed the rebellion was virtually suppressed, and orders were issued from the War Department that no more volunteers would be received, as the troops already enrolled were sufficient to overcome all armed resistance to the legal authority of the Government.
But another sad lesson of disastrous experience for the Nation had yet to be learned.
To capture the rebel capital and defend our own, at the same time, was a greater task for the military power in the field than had been antic- ipated ; and the want of more troops soon demanded serious attention in the defeat of Mcclellan upon the peninsula, and the retreat of what remained of his once powerful army to the cover of our gun-boats at Harrison's Landing.
It was now evident that the "irrepressible conflict," so long feared, had indeed commenced ; and that the end could only be reached through years of, hitherto, uncounted sacrifice.
2
History of the Twelfth Regiment
The first great mistake of the Government. in refusing to accept of more volunteers, instead of making the stupendous preparation so wisely advised by Stephen A. Douglas by allowing the recruiting offices to remain open, and mobilizing the voluntary accessions to the army, as rapidly as possible. was now only too apparent.
With fifty thousand fresh troops to have reinforced Mcclellan in front of Richmond, or to have taken the place of those withheld from him for the protection of Washington, nearly three years of carnage and desolation would probably have been averted.
But recruits and not regrets were now demanded by the exigency of the hour, and from the undiscouraged and still more determined patriots of the loyal states, upon every breeze from mountain-side, hill-top and valley, from the cities of the East and the prairies of the West. from the office, the work-shop. and the farm. came the ready, hearty, and enthusi- astic response to the President's proclamation :
" We are coming. Father Abraham, three hundred thousand more."
Close following this call and led by the indomitable Jackson came the advance of Lee's victorious legions in his first great raid into the North, defeating in detail the disconnected fragments of Pope's Army, and finally driving it back inside the fortifications of Washington.
It was the midnight hour of the Nation's trial and conflict, and the sen- tinels, on her watch-towers of freedom, looked vainly into the surround- ing darkness for a single sign of coming day.
Although the situation was critical and the demand urgent, relief was coming from the Atlantic to the Pacific; and trembling fear at once changed to rugged resolution when, from the ready supply, it was no longer doubtful to the administration at Washington, that the loyal North intended to stand by and support their chosen leader .- whose great mind and heart thought and beat only for his country,-and that the patriotism of the people was again aronsed and equal to any emergency.
It was at this time and under this call. which Congress had authorized President Lincoln to make, for the immediate enlistment of three hundred thousand more troops to serve for three years or the war, while rebel bay- onets again threatened the National Capitol. and when England and France were almost ready to announce their recognition of the Southern Confederacy, that the Twelfth regiment of New Hampshire volunteers was raised and organized.
It was, indeed, a call for help in the hour of the Nation's most direful need ; and those who answered it. coming as they did from the best class of American citizenship, had everything but personal honor to lose, and nothing but a soldier's grave to gain.
Those who enlisted under this call came from the great. middle-class body of the people which in every country constitutes the grand, reserve power of a nation.
3
New Hampshire Volunteers.
They belonged, largely, to the more reliable, self-dependent and con- servative element of society ; who, having more to lose, hesitate longer to act, and carefully count the cost before they engage in any under- taking that is to hazard the well being and future happiness of those dependent upon them for counsel. comfort, and support.
Again it may be truly said, that the volunteers of '62, who enlisted before the large town bounties were offered, had, as a rule, not only more to sacrifice, but much less to encourage them, than those who enlisted at a much earler or later period of the war.
Though no more. perhaps, to be praised or honored than they who went forth in defence of their country at her first call for assistance, yet they enlisted with no foolish belief that sixty or ninety days would end the conflict ; but entered the lists "for three years or the war." when it was evident that two or three years longer, instead of as many months from the beginning, were necessary for the Government to crush out, if it ever could, a rebellion so great and powerful that its armies had been successful on almost every important battlefield, and which then, as never before, threatened our political existence.
The first call of April 15, 1861, for seventy-five thousand men to serve for only three months, while congress by the same proclamation was not convened until nearly three months later, shows how little even Lincoln himself, with all his constitutional advisers, understood either the purpose or the power of the seceeding states : and those who so quickly and nobly responded to that call, sharing in the general belief that there was "more scare than bear " in the threatening attitude of the South, and that the war would begin and end in South Carolina, rushed with light hearts, as well as swift feet and ready hands, to the rescue.
And this was true, only in a less degree. of those who enlisted under subsequent calls, but before Gen. McClellan led his marshalled legions of the North against the Sevastopol of the Rebellion.
But when, a few months later, congress authorized the raising and equipping of half a million more men as necessary to reinforce our armies in the field, while MeClellan lay supinely on the bank of the James. pro- tected from capture only by the good service of our iron-clad gun-boats and monitors, and Pope, with "headquarters in the saddle," was fighting night and day to keep the rebel general Jackson from marching his troops down Pennsylvania Avenue, there was a far different shading to the picture, and " war's grim-visaged front" appeared in all its horrors, as a present, actual, and tangible reality.
It is not claimed. however, that every one who enlisted at this or any other time during the war was a hero, a patriot, or even a man, in the true and honorable sense of the word ; for the future conduct of many was proof, conclusive, that a soldier's grave was one of the few safe places they never expected or intended to fill, unless it should be dug in Canada or elsewhere, many miles from, or many years after the war.
4
History of the Twelfth Regiment.
But it is claimed, and the author of the following poor tribute to their memory does here affirm (inconsiderate fools, stay-at-home cowards, and contemptible copper-heads to the contrary notwithstanding), that a great majority of all the Union volunteers, under whatever call or from what- ever section they enlisted, did so actuated by high, honorable, and patri- otic motives, differing, of course, in quality and degree, according to per- sons, times and circumstances.
CHAPTER I.
The Twelfth Regiment has a history of more than general interest, even from its very beginning as a military organization.
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