USA > New Hampshire > A history of the Eleventh New Hampshire Regiment, Volunteer Infantry in the rebellion war, 1861-1865, pt 1 > Part 2
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ELEVENTH NEW HAMPSHIRE.
COMPANY G.
Company G was recruited in the month of August, 1862, and from the following named places : Haverhill, thirty-one men; Bath, twenty-three; Lisbon, twelve ; Landaff, nine; Monroe, eight; Benton, four ; Orford, four ; Lyman, two ; Piermont. Bethlehem, and Lancaster, one each. Enrolling officers-A. E. Hutchins, twenty- seven ; J. W. Sampson, twenty-six; G. C. Pingree. twenty; J. LeRoy Bell, nine; J. A. Moore, eight ; J. Whitcher, five; E. C. Knight, one. George E. Pin- gree, of Lisbon, was captain : Arthur E. Hutchins, of Bath, Ist lieutenant ; J. LeRoy Bell, of Haverhill, 2d lieutenant-all commissioned September 4. The men enlisted as follows : August II, five; August 12, two ; August 13, six; August 14, eighteen ; August 15, thirty-three ; August 16, three: August IS, eight ; August 20, three ; August 21, four ; August 22. thirteen ; August 29, one. The age of the oldest man in the com- pany was forty-four years ; the youngest was eighteen ;-- the average age of the men in the company was twenty-five and five eighths years. Of this company, eighty-nine men were mustered into the U. S. service September 2, two on September 3, one on September 4, two on September 6, and two on September 9. Com- pany G numbered 99, officers and men.
COMPANY H.
This company was recruited as follows : From Enfield, forty men; Lyme, twenty-five ; Canaan, fifteen ; Dor- chester, six ; Hanover, tive; Orford, three; Orange. three ; Claremont, one ; and Norwich, Vt., one. These men enlisted,-on August 6, three men ; August 7, one ; August 8, one ; August 9, seven ; August II, six ; August
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ORGANIZATION.
. 12, thirty-eight ; August 13, four ; August 14, eight ; August 15, eight; August 16, four ; August IS, two ; August 19, one; August 20, one; August 21, five ; August 22, six ; August 23, one; August 26, three. Enrolling officers-C. G. Morgan, twenty-eight; O. N. Dimick, thirty; G. W. Murray, nineteen ; A. M. Bryant, eleven ; J. O. Dewey, five; R. U. Underhill, four ; B. G. Corser, one. September 2d, 1862, ninety- two men of this company were mustered into the U. S. service, and six on September 9. Converse G. Morgan, of Enfield, was captain ; Orlando W. Dimick, of Lyme, Ist lieutenant ; Allen H. George, of Canaan, 2d lieuten- ant. The age of the oldest man in this company was forty-six years ; the youngest man was eighteen ;- the average age of the men in the company was twenty-seven years. There were 102 officers and men in Company H.
COMPANY I.
The men of this company were enlisted,-From Candia, forty-three men ; Chester, twelve; Exeter, eleven ; Ken- sington, nine; Newton, five ; Hampton Falls, five ; East Kingston, five ; Brentwood, two; North Hampton, South Hampton. Concord, Acworth. Hampton, New London, Sandown, Epping. and Derry. one each. These men enlisted as follows : August 6, one man ; August 8, one ; August 9. one; August II, three; August 12, one ; August 13, ten ; August 14, sixteen ; August 15, twenty- seven ; August 16, four ; August 18, nine ; August 19. three ; August 20, four ; August 21, ten ; August 22, two ; August 26, one ; August 27, one ; August 28, one ; August 30, one ; September 4, one. Sixty-nine of these men were mustered into the service of the United States on September 2, 1862. twelve on September 3, ten on September 6, and seven on September 9. Enrolling officers-W. R. Patten, forty-four ; J. Underhill, fifteen ;
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ELEVENTH NEW HAMPSHIRE.
M. M. Collins, eleven ; A. B. Currier, eight ; F. L. Blake, six; J. M. Dow, three; J. M. Brown, three ; D. Crowell, two; J. C. Currier, A. W. Messer, S. M. Carr, H. C. Bacon, R. Peaslee, G. B. Johnson, one each. William R. Patten, of Candia, was commissioned as captain ; John K. Cilley, of Exeter, as Ist lieutenant ; J. Charles Currier, of Derry, as 2d lieutenant. The age of the oldest man in this company was forty-four years : the youngest was seventeen ;- the average age of the men of the company was twenty-five years. One hun- dred and one officers and men were in the company.
COMPANY K.
Company K was largely enlisted under the following stirring call :
$165 BOUNTY PAID UNTIL THE 18TH OF THIS MONTH.
The undersigned, having received authority from the Adjutant- General to recruit a full company under the call for 300,000 volunteers, have opened an office at
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EXCHANGE HALL.
Freemen of old Strafford, once more your country calls upon you ! Quick! be ready ! Now is a good time to show your patriotism by willingly enlisting in your country's behalf, for should you omit this opportunity, you must be drafted, lose your bounty, and show your want of patriotism. Can you be indifferent to this call? Shall the embalmed ashes of the sainted martyrs of American liberty be pro- . faned with the unhallowed footsteps of the enemies of our country? Shall the laurelled tombs of the departed heroes of our country be touched with sacrilegious hands? The genius of the Revolution forbids it; the mandates of Jehovah protest against it. Come forth, then, without fear, and with manly hearts.
" Let our noble motto be, God, the country, liberty." EACH VOLUNTEER WILL RECEIVE,
cash in hand, on being mustered into the service of the United States. a bounty of $25, a premium of $2, one month's pay ($13) in advance.
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ORGANIZATION.
At the expiration of his term of enlistment or honorable discharge from the service, he will receive a further bounty of $75 ; in event of his death, the same will be paid to his family. The State of New Hamp- shire will pay a bounty of $50 to each volunteer upon being mustered into the service. In addition, the city of Dover will pay to each of its volunteers the sum of $75. Aid will also be furnished to the families and dependents of volunteers, to an amount not exceeding $12 per month. Pay and rations to commence at date of enlistment.'
NAT. LOW, JR., B. FRANK RACKLEY, Recruiting Officers.
Dover, N. H., August 7, 1862.
Under this inspiring call the company was soon enlisted from the following city and towns : Dover, sixty- eight men ; Durham, eight; Madbury, four ; Somers- worth, four ; Farmington, Milton, and Sutton, two men each ; Barrington, Springfield, and Wakefield, one man each. These men enlisted as follows : August 7, four men ; August 8. three ; August 9, five ; August 11, eight ; August 12, three ; August 13, seven ; August 14, fourteen ; August 15, ten ; August 16, three ; August 18, seven ; Aug- ust 19, two ; August 20, five ; August 21, thirteen ; August 22, four ; September 5, two. Eighty-seven men were mus- tered into the service September 2, 1862, and three on September 3. Nat. Low, Jr., of Dover, was captain ; Benjamin F. Rackley, of Dover, Ist lieutenant ; Henry W. Twombly, of Dover, 2d lieutenant. The oldest man in the company was forty-four ; the youngest man was seventeen ;- the average age of the men of the company was twenty-four and one third years. Enrolling officers. were,-Nat. Low, Jr .. seventy ; T. H. Green. ten ; H. T. Wiswell, five; L. M. Gilman, four; H. K. Little, two; W. A. Nason and A. Tredick, one each. There were ninety-five officers and men in the company.
Captain Charles Holmes, Seventeenth U. S. Infantry. was mustering officer for the entire regiment.
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ELEVENTH NEW HAMPSHIRE.
The following is the order under which the Eleventh N. H. Regiment proceeded to the front :
HEAD-QUARTERS NEW HAMPSHIRE MILITIA,
CONCORD, Sept. 5, 1862.
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 11. 5 TO WALTER HARRIMAN, ESQ.,
Colonel Commanding Eleventh Regiment N. H. Volunteers :
SIR : You will proceed with the regiment under your command to Washington, D. C., on Thursday. the 11th inst., at 7 o'clock a. m., and report to the commanding general.
By order of the Governor,
ANTHONY COLBY, Adj't-Gen'l.
THE REGIMENT LEAVES FOR THE FRONT.
Wednesday, September 10, the camp was visited by thousands from different parts of the state, who had come to bid the boys good-bye once more. Early Thursday morning, September 11, 1862, the regi- ment broke camp: tents were struck, baggage packed and forwarded to the station, and the regimental line was formed. In the midst of the hurry of departure, Lieut. Joseph B. Clark, of Co. C, introduced his intended bride to Col. Harriman, and under the fragrant pines, on that beautiful morning, the happy couple were by him united . in marriage.
At 9 a. m. the regiment took up its line of march, crossed the river, and, amidst the assembled thousands accompanying its departure with sorrowful hearts, marched down Main street to the station to the cheering strains of " Marching Along " from the regimental band, boarded the cars, and were soon rolling on to the seat of war,-via Nashua, Worcester, Stonington, Jersey City, Philadelphia, and Baltimore to Washington. Composed
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LEAVING FOR THE FRONT.
of some of the very best men New Hampshire contained, the regiment made a fine appearance, and was greeted everywhere on its way to Washington-save in Balti- more-in the most enthusiastic manner, and with the kindest wishes. With "the tallest men on the right" the regiment made a splendid appearance as it passed through the streets of Stonington to take the boat for New York. and "What a fine looking regiment !" was heard on all sides. As the regiment neared the steamer, bystanders said, "Oh, my God, what tall men! Say, any more such men left where you came from?" " Yes," said one of the tallest, who stood six feet four inches in his stockings, "plenty of them. We're only infants compared with some of 'em." The regiment was landed at Jersey City, where it was supplied with ammunition for the first time.
Early the next morning, after having partaken of a good breakfast furnished by the kind people of that city, we left, in the midst of a pouring rain, for Philadelphia. All through New Jersey the reception of the regiment was very enthusiastic, especially at Camden and Bur- lington, where the people seemed to turn out en masse. Philadelphia was reached in the early evening, and an excellent supper was had at the Cooper saloon, where so many thousands of soldiers were fed by the kind- hearted men and women of that city. Shortly afterwards the men marched through densely crowded streets to the western station, whence, packed into " cattle cars." they departed at seven o'clock the next morning. At Wil- mington, Delaware, but little attention was paid the regi- ment. From here to Baltimore the railroad was under a strong guard, and the regiment reached the latter place just at dusk, receiving a right royal welcome from the ladies, who, with other Union people, furnished an excel- lent supper. The regiment then marched to the station .-
r
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ELEVENTH NEW HAMPSHIRE.
passing along the street where the Sixth Massachusetts had its severe fighting, -- the regiment singing " Old John Brown," though the streets were lined with sour, cross- looking people, and not a cheer escaped their lips. The next morning. Sunday, at seven o'clock, the regiment arrived in Washington. and partook of what was called a breakfast in a place denominated as the Soldiers' Retreat. Our boys have not, and never will, forget the place, nor the rations.
Col. Harriman reported to Gen. Casey, and the regi- ment went into camp on East Capitol Hill. where it re- mained two days ; then was ordered to Camp Chase, near Arlington Heights. where it was brigaded with the Twenty- first Connecticut and Thirty-seventh Massachusetts regi- ments, General Paul commanding. The next day it had for its brigade commander General Briggs, and the Seventh Rhode Island and the One Hundred and Twenty- third New York regiments were added to the brigade. Two weeks were spent in drill, inspections, and reviews. Here the regiment began to learn that war was not boys' play. Big guns and bayonets bristled on every side : the men were under strict surveillance, and prepared themselves for the art of fighting.
A well known New Hampshire man, residing in Wash- ington, said of the Eleventh Regiment, on its arrival in that city, September 14, 1862. .. The soldiers of this reg- · iment are large, sturdy men. worthy in every way to be followers of the Ninth. which was so highly commended on its arrival at Washington. The Eleventh Regiment arrived in this city on Sunday morning at seven o'clock, in good condition and in the highest spirits. Their pas- sage all the way to Baltimore was an ovation. and their reception in Philadelphia generous and noble beyond description. The Eleventh Regiment is brigaded under the command of General Briggs, son of the late ex-Gov-
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I.V CAMP AT WASHINGTON.
ernor Briggs, of Massachusetts. It has the right of the brigade, which is the first in Casey's new division. On Saturday last, the Eleventh was provided with eighty-five thousand rounds of ammunition. The regiment is held in high estimation, and has a prospect of immediate ser- vice. The Manchester band, which accompanied the Tenth, serenaded Captain Clark, because of his marriage just before he left home."
On the 20th, the division to which the brigade was attached, having about 15.000 troops in line, was reviewed by General Casey, commanding the division. The Eleventh had the right of the brigade in the review. This was the routine during the stay here : Reveillé for roll-call at 5 : 30 a. m., breakfast at 6: 30, guard mount- ing at 8, officer and company drill and battalion drill from 9 to II, dinner at 12 m., company drill at 2 p. m., roll-call at +, dress-parade at 5, supper at 6, tattoo at 8, taps at 9, all lights extinguished.
September 23 the men of the regiment had their march- ing powers put to the test for the first time. A battalion drill was had from 8 till 10: 30 a. m. ; they then marched two miles and participated in a division review ; and an- other march to Long bridge and back to camp again-a march of nine miles en route and six in review, making fifteen in all, under a hot. scorching sun. A great many men fell out, but were soon all in camp again. The boys said they only wished the officers who rode horses had to " hoof it" as they did. The march wouldn't have been so long if that had been the case.
Just at this time, President Lincoln's preparatory emancipation proclamation was issued, and was heart- ily approved by the men of the Eleventh Regiment. as well as by the large number of troops about them. A sutler made himself obnoxious by denouncing the president for what he had done, and threats were 2
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ELEVENTH NEW HAMPSHIRE.
made to "clean him out," but, being forewarned, he picked up his goods and left. During our stay at this place a great many visits were exchanged by the men with friends in other regiments, and many friends from home were seen. Communication with friends at home was uninterrupted, and many of the good things of life were to be had. so that camp life was quite endurable : but all this was to be changed for the stern realities of war, in which the men were soon to participate.
Early Monday morning, September 29, the regiment was ordered to be ready to march at II a. m., with two days' cooked rations. Then " there was hurrying to and fro." The cooks were busy, the sick and the lame attended the surgeon's call. Tents and knapsacks were to be left in camp, and the great wonder was, " Where are we going?" In the hurry and confusion one man cut off two fingers on one hand, but the men as a whole welcomed the order to march. This, however, was countermanded, and the regiment lay on its arms until 7 a. m. the next day, when it marched back into Wash- ington, and halted near the station of the Baltimore & Ohio road, where it remained until seven the next morn- ing. when, boarding a train. it was carried back nine miles to the Relay House, and reached Frederick City, Md., early the next morning.
The people on this route we found to be pretty loyal as a whole, but very ignorant. At one place the women wanted to know where the regiment was from, and when told, one said, "Whar is that ar place?" and the boys said, "New Hampshire is an island in the Atlantic ocean."
The next morning the regiment left for Sandy Hook. where it arrived about noon. This place was close by Harper's Ferry, then of so much interest because of John Brown's raid, which ended his life but hastened
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ON THE MARCH.
the war. Large numbers of the men of the regiment availed themselves of the opportunity to pay Harper's Ferry a visit, and often while waiting here the men indulged in singing "Old John Brown," and the band played .. Yankee Doodle." Here the writer of this, with some others, took breakfast one morning with a loyal family residing near our camp. The lady said that on the retreat of the rebel army into Virginia from Antietam. Stonewall Jackson and some of his officers ate supper at her house, and they talked boldly and defiantly. "But," said the old lady. "it appeared as how the Lord was toppermost of the devil yet; that the devil seceded in Bible times, and had now, through the South." Among the few books lying on the table in her little sitting-room was " Uncle Tom's Cabin." This lady was a native of Harper's Ferry.
Monday, October 6, the regiment marched three miles up to Pleasant Valley to join Burnside's forces. The valley was rightly named. for it was a beautiful location, and its inhabitants were loyal, out of one hundred and thirty voters in its borders only sixteen being " secesh." Here Colonel Harriman reported to General Burnside, and the following day moved up the valley one mile, where the regiment was brigaded with the Twenty-first and Thirty-fifth Massachusetts, Fifty-first New York, and Fifty-first Pennsylvania regiments. The brigade · was the Second Brigade. Second Division. Ninth Army Corps. General Edward Ferrero commanded the bri- gade, General S. D. Sturgis, the division, and Major- General A. E. Burnside, the corps. In this brigade, division, and corps the Eleventh Regiment remained as long as it was in the service. Here the regiment and brigade performed daily the routine of drill. inspection, and, at times. review .- fitting the men for the fearful task before them, work which would surely come sooner or
--
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ELEVENTH NEW HAMPSHIRE.
later. The camp was full of rumors. Where the army was to march, and when, no one knew. but orders came to be ready to march at a moment's notice, to leave all surplus baggage behind, to sleep with " one eye open." and await results.
Such was the life, varied with orders for details of various kinds of camp duty. Chaplain Stratton improved the time in telling the boys their besetting sins and entreating them to forsake them. He talked from some text on the Sabbath, held a Bible-class meeting once a week, held street prayer-meetings, gave an invocation on dress-parade, and endeavored at all times to do his duty faithfully to the thousand souls that were committed to his spiritual charge. Besides this, it was his duty to look after the mail for the regiment ; and very busy was he when a large mail arrived, until it was assorted and delivered.
But cold weather was coming on. Heavy rains drenched the camp, high winds howled through the com- pany streets, and often ice was formed about the little shelter tents. Many were ill, and many were blue ; and although the winds were fearful and the heavens looked threatening, the men hailed with delight the order, which came on Saturday, October 25, to be ready to march the following morning. Although few believed anything else than that the order would be counter- manded, still the almost certainty that a move would soon be made revived the spirits of the men wonder- fully. A terrific storm came on, which continued until the morning of the 27th. At noon of that day the order came, " Be ready to march in twenty minutes !" and in half an hour the army was in motion. The regiment passed down the valley, struck the Potomac at Weaver- ton. thence down the river through Knoxville to Berlin. where it crossed the river on a pontoon bridge, thence
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ON THE MARCH.
three miles to near Lovettsville, and camped once more on the " sacred soil of Virginia." McClellan was march- ing along the eastern base of the Blue Ridge, with Lee alongside but beyond the mountains, and moving also towards Richmond. Though cold and windy, the regi- ment slept that night without tents.
On the 30th the march was resumed during the after- noon, and after going five miles the regiment bivouacked in an open field, the roads in all directions thundering with supply-trains and long lines of artillery. At day- break the next morning the regiment again took up the line of march, and went into camp one mile below Wheat- land, having marched twelve miles. Here the regiment remained until Sunday morning, November 2, when the order came, " Have your command in readiness to march in thirty minutes !" It was a delightful day, but the regi- ment marched to the thunders of artillery shelling the rebels from their hiding-places in the forests and ravines about us. Twelve miles was made, and the men bivouacked that night near the little hamlet of Union. The march was resumed the next afternoon, and when one mile on its way the regiment received its first order to " Halt and load !" There was another bivouac that night in an open field, and a high, cold, piercing wind. The next day a march of four miles was made, and the camp for the night was at Upperville, near .. Snicker's Gap." The next day six miles was tramped over, and a bivouac was made near Piedmont station. Twelve miles was made the next day, and a halt for the night, near Orlean.
Snow commenced falling the next day, November 7, at nine in the morning, and continued until 4 p. m., accompanied with a driving wind, cold and bitter. At 3:30 p. m., the regiment commenced its march again. and just after dark went down into a sharp, dark ravine,
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ELEVENTH NEW HAMPSHIRE.
very rocky, and the mud ankle deep, in which the bri- gade was ordered to halt, as it was found that the order of some superior officer, who was either drunk, insane, or incompetent-most likely the latter-had taken it on the wrong road. "About face !" came the order, and two miles and a half was made to the rear. Upon one of the bleakest, coldest places to be found, the regiment halted in the face of a terribly searching wind for an hour ; then marched still another mile to the rear, when a most welcome order was given. "Take the forest to the right !" came the word, and in an incredibly short space of time the woods were aglow with innumerable camp-fires. It was now near midnight, but, brushing away the snow. a very comfortable bivouac was made around the fires.
The next morning the regiment was on the march early, but. when two miles had been covered, halted, and stacked arms in an open field. The air was full of rumors. Battery after battery, with ammunition trains, thundered by on the run. The order. ". Take arms !" came quickly, and the boys went up the hill on the double- quick, just in time to find that a skirmish had taken place, and that General Pleasanton had fed his horses in a field of corn occupied by General Stuart, of the rebel cavalry, the night previous. Marching several miles more. the regiment went into camp near Jeffersonville. in Culpeper county. Here the regiment was, for the first time, informed that General MeClellan had been superseded by General Burnside. by the following order :
WASHINGTON, November 5. 1862.
By direction of the President of the United States, it is ordered that Major-General Mcclellan be relieved from the command of the Army of the Potomac, and that Major-General Burnside take command of that army. By order of the Secretary of War,
E. D. TOWNSEND. Assistant Adjutant-General.
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WALTER HARRIMAN.
BIOGRAPHIC SKETCHES.
GEN. WALTER HARRIMAN.
Walter Harriman was the son of Benjamin and Hannah (Flanders) Harriman, and was born in Warner, N. H., April 7, 1817. He was the third son of a family of eight brothers and two sisters. His father was one of the most prominent men of the town, and his farm was one of the best. Here the son labored, attending the district school in winter. In the autumn of 1834 he attended Hopkinton academy, and in 1835 and 1836 he attended a select school in Henniker: this ended his school- days.
He taught his first school in Warner, in the winter of 1834-'35, and in 1836-'37 he taught in Braintree, Mass. ; in 1838 he served as a clerk in a store in Henniker, and in 1839 he opened a tuition school in Westfield, N. J., and afterwards in Irvington, same state. Then he re- turned to his home in Warner. He commenced the study of theology at Westfield, and at the age of twenty- three years began his labors as a Universalist min- ister in his native town. He afterwards had pastorates at Harvard and Shirley, Mass., and in various places in New Hampshire. In 1849 he withdrew from theology, and entered the political field. He was elected a repre- sentative from Warner in 1849 and 1850. In I851 he engaged in trade in his native town, and in 1853 he was elected state treasurer. In April, 1856, he was appointed by President Pierce one of a board of three to classify and appraise the Indian lands in Kansas. In 1859 he was again elected a representative from Warner, and was a state senator in 1859 and IS60.
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