USA > New Hampshire > A history of the Second regiment, New Hampshire volunteer infantry, in the war of the rebellion > Part 13
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SECOND NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Your comrades of those heroic Divisions which are forever inseparable from the names of Hooker and Kearney, will always cherish their recollection of the glorious service in which you have been associated; nor will they cease to look with solicitude to the day, which all hope will not be distant, when you will return to the Third Army Corps with renovated ranks and undi- minished ardor, eager to share with us the honors of new and eventful campaigns.
By command of
D. E. SICKLES, Brigadier-General.
O. H. HART, A. A. General. [Signed]
Official : H. D. F. YOUNG, Capt. and Aide-de-Camp.
February 26. The regiment marched to Stoneman's Switch ; thence by a very slow, but sure, private train (mostly flat cars) to Belle Plain, the railroad terminus on the Potomac. In an immense pile of express matter stacked up on the wharf some of the men found boxes sent them from home, which had been held up there for weeks from the inability of the express agent to procure trans- portation to the front. In spite of the agent's protests against such informal proceedings, several men marched on board the steamer "Sylvan Grove " with their belated boxes on their shoulders.
Feb. 27. Disembarked at Washington, and marched to the depot barracks, or " Soldiers' Rest."
Feb. 28. Mustered for pay, and in the afternoon took cars for Baltimore.
March 1. Arrived at Philadelphia in the morning, and had dinner at the Soldiers' Refreshment Saloon. Arrived in New York in the afternoon, and were quartered at the Park Barracks, near the City Hall.
March 2. The men were engaged in "seeing the sights ;" some of them so industriously that they missed the steamer " C. Vander- bilt," on which the regiment embarked in the afternoon.
The next morning ( March 3) the boat was at the pier in Provi- dence. "Hurrah for old New England !" The Sons of New Hampshire in Boston duplicated their former reception, and in historic old Faneuil Hall the men sat down-or rather, stood up- to a feast which furnished a strange contrast to their accustomed bill of fare.
But when the regiment arrived in its own state, then the deluge. At nine o'clock in the evening the train bearing the regiment rolled into the depot at Manchester. A tumultuous, swaying crowd of thousands rent the air with their cheers, above which could be
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THE IT'ELCOME HOME.
heard the roar of an artillery salute. They formed in column, and under an imposing escort of local dignitaries and organizations the Second's triumphal march began. The culmination was at Smyth's Hall, in the body of which, upon long tables, was spread the most tempting collation Manchester wealth and hospitality could supply, with a swarm of Manches- ter's fairest daughters as table attendants. But the main point of attraction for the soldiers was the gallery, packed with ladies, most of whom had been waiting there for many long, weary hours-the friends, mothers, and sisters of the men ; and sweetest of all, the happy face of "the girl I left behind me." But amid all the 11 joyousness there were some whose eyes were swimming with tears as they joined in the greetings to those who had been comrades of their own loved ones who would never come back. The venerable Mayor of the city, Capt. Harrison De F. Young, Co. F. Theodore T. Abbott, wel- Entered the service as Second Lieutenant of Co. F; promoted to First Lieutenant and Captain. He was for a long time on staff duty as ordnance officer of the Second Division, Third Corps, and also of the corps. Resides in Lancaster. comed the regiment in a feeling and appropriate speech, which was responded to by Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey. After "rations," Hon. Frederick Smyth was introduced as toast- master, and short speeches by members of the regiment and by citizens filled the time until a late hour.
The next day was a gala day in Concord, and the reception was upon a magnificent scale, consisting of a grand procession, dinner at the hotels, and speeches of welcome. General Wool was there to give eclat to the occasion. The headquarters of the regiment
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I
2
4 3
5
7
8
6
In Company G Street at Budd's Ferry. A Group of "Peterborough Boys."
From a Tintype in the possession of Elmer J. Starkey.
I-GILMAN T. GOULD. Appointed corporal June 20, 1863: sergeant, Sept. 1, 1863; re-enlisted; wounded at Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864; appointed first sergeant July 1, 1864; first lieutenant Co. F, Feb. 5, 1865. Died at Chelsea, Mass., March 15, 1876.
2-ALBERT J. FARNSWORTH. Promoted corporal Oct. 1, 1862; sergeant, Sept. 1, 1863.
3-JOHN REAGAN. Born in England. A corporal. Captured at White Oak Swamp, June 30, 1862; paroled Sept. 13, 1862. Has been an inmate of the National Home at Togus, Maine. Last known address, Fall River, Mass.
4-JAMES E. SAUNDERS. [See portrait and sketch elsewhere. ]
5-ALEXANDER LYLE. THE bonnie Scotch lad, killed at Williamsburg. [See page 73.]
6-ELMER J. STARKEY. Original second corporal. Wounded at Bull Run, Aug. 29, 1862, and discharged on account of wounds Jan. 24, 1863. Present P. O. address, Chesham. Starkey was a member of a detachment which, after the rebel evacuation, was sent across from Budd's Ferry on the little steamer "Stepping Stones." They had just set fire to some fish houses which had been used by the rebels for storehouses, when rebel cavalry dashed in and drove the party on board the boat. In the rush one man (now remembered as being named Currier) was left behind. To escape capture he finally took to the water, and performed the astonishing feat of swimming the river to the Maryland shore.
7-DANIEL W. GOULD. Wounded at Williamsburg, May 5, 1862, and discharged on account of wounds Nov. 28, 1862. Now resides in Chelsea, Mass.
8-JOHN J. MOORE. Promoted corporal Sept. 1, 1862. [See portrait later.]
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THE SEVENTEENTH CONSOLIDATED.
were established at Concord, where seven companies were stationed in camp at the fair grounds on the east side of the river. Compa- nies D, E and K were stationed at Fort Constitution. There was a general granting of furloughs to the men, but this was largely a mere matter of form, as they were permitted to go and come about as they pleased, regardless of furloughs. As then constituted, the Second Regiment had but little of the stuff from which deserters are made. Many of the men visited Canada, the harbor of refuge for sneaks and runaways ; but on the summons to assemble, pre- paratory to returning to the seat of war, hastened back, once more to take their places in the ranks.
Following the promotion of Colonel Marston to Brigadier- General, Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey, Major Carr and Captain Sayles were at this time promoted to fill consequent vacancies.
A number of volunteer recruits were received by the regiment during its stay in New Hampshire, but the main addition to its strength came from the Seventeenth Regiment, which had been in course of organization at Concord. The officers of the Seventeenth were discharged, and the privates, under a nine months' enlistment, incorporated into the ranks of the Second. This arrangement was not entirely to the liking of the men of the Seventeenth. In fact, they placarded their camp with the motto, " The Seventeenth or nothing !" which gave the Second men the opportunity to observe that there was n't much choice. They were, however, a fine body of men, and fought like veterans at Gettysburg. The number transferred was ninety-four ; of whom seven were killed or died of wounds, five died of disease, five deserted, eleven were discharged for disability, and sixty-six discharged by expiration of term of service.
Monday, May 25th, the regiment, having been assembled at Concord, started again for the front ; by rail to Allyn's Point, where it took the old freight steamer " City of Norwich," for New York.
May 26. Arrived at Jersey City at seven this morning, and took cars for Philadelphia, where we had dinner at the Soldiers' Refreshment Saloon. Arrived in Baltimore about midnight, where supper was furnished by the Union Aid Association.
May 27. Arrived in Washington this morning, and were quartered at the Soldiers' Rest.
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SECOND NEW HAMPSHIRE.
May 28. The regi- ment, under orders, started for Camp Chase, on Arlington Heights, but before reaching Long Bridge the desti- nation was changed to Capitol Hill. Pitched A tents in a level field about one mile east of the capitol. Not a tree or bush for shelter.
May 29. Began to drill two hours daily. General Martindale, in command of the defen- ces of Washington, paid the camp a visit.
May 31. Regiment was inspected, in the Abbott A. Forbush, Co. G. forenoon, by an officer Enlisted from Peterborough, his native town. He is now a member of the New Hampshire colony in Washington D. C. of General Casey's staff. As it was very hot and dusty, he went through with his business as rapidly as possible, very much to the satisfaction of the men. The quartermaster was directed to draw straw enough to bed the tents. Two of the boys who saw " Old Gil." in the city yesterday asked him what was to be done with us, and he said that within eight days we would be with our old division in the Army of the Potomac.
June 1. The Second Brigade of the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps crossed the river this evening, and the Second and Four- teenth New Hampshire and Thirty-fourth Massachusetts are the only regiments now remaining on this side.
June 2. The boys have been having fun over a February mail which was sent up and distributed to the regiment today. It has been lying in Washington ever since the regiment went home.
I59
CAMP ON CAPITOL HILL.
June 3. Gen. Marston visited camp, and the boys gave him the best they had, including unlimited cheers and a grand sere- nade by six pieces of the band-all that could be mustered.
June 6. The musicians (drummers and fifers) got into a snarl at dress par- ade, and then made a big jabber over it. As a reward-of-merit they were perched on barrels in front of camp, and for one hour entertained a delighted audience with a concert of " choice selections."
Corpl. Adoniram J. Sawyer, Co. H.
June 7. Inspection of arms in the forenoon. A Enlisted from Hopkinton, and was wounded at Wil- liamsburg. Now lives in Newton, where he is in the retail boot and shoe trade, also member of the insur- ance firm of Sawyer & Heath. Has served the town as representative in 1887-8; selectman in 1893-4; and moderator several years. Was postmaster under Pres- ident Harrison. city missionary, with two ladies, held religious ser- vice in camp, and supplied the men with hymn books and tracts. About a dozen belated men arrived from New Hampshire.
June 8. The colonel, major and adjutant set their horses loose to graze about camp, and the animals are now put down as desert- ers. Forty rounds of cartridges per man were distributed this morning. The balls are called "musket shells"-an explosive bullet-and woe to the Johnny that stops one !
June 9. A Dutchman is in the guard house for thrashing a boy he accused of stealing his horse. The paymaster showed up, and left two months' pay with the men-to May I.
June 11. The regiment broke camp this forenoon, and started to rejoin the Army of the Potomac-to Acquia Creek on steamer "Hugh Jenkins," thence by rail to Stoneman's Station, where it
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arrived about dark and went into bivouac for the night. The surrounding country presents a scene of utter desolation, the army having broken camp and moved off in the direction of Warrenton.
June 12. The Second were off about sunrise, and marched to Hartwood Church, about ten miles, reaching there at noon. The rest of the Third Corps left here yesterday, and is somewhere on ahead. Notwithstanding last night's rain, the roads were very dusty, and the march fatiguing. We ran across a number of the old brigade boys, who were mighty glad to see the Second again.
June 13. At half-past four this morning we fell into column with the Excelsior brigade, which came up from guarding one of the Rappahannock fords, and marched with them to join the rest of the division at Rappahannock Station-about twenty-five miles. Regimental orders against straggling were read in the morning-a rather queer docu- ment, to the effect that if more than three men were absent from any company, its officers would be subject to court mar- tial. But many could not keep up, especially the Seventeenth men, as the march was very severe. The Second is hard up for grub, and anxiously looking for the supply train. We find we are not to join our old brig- ade, but are assigned to the Third Brigade of the same Lieut. William Montgomery, Co. H. division, consisting of the Fifth Severely wounded at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, while first sergeant of Company H, and promoted to second lieutenant. He resides at Contoocook. to Eighth New Jersey and One Hundred and Fifteenth Pennsyl- vania.
June 14. Three regiments of the brigade were on picket through the day. The division was under orders to be ready to march at a moment's notice, and got away at about a quarter to ten in the evening.
A NIGHT STAMPEDE. 161
This night march from Rappahannock Station to Warrenton Junction is memorable for one of the most ridiculous stampedes on record, when the bulk of Joe. Hooker's old fighting division was routed by one runaway team. The troops marched upon the railroad, while the wagons and artillery followed the turnpike, which in its general course was parallel with the railroad, crossing and re-crossing it at various points. At one of these crossings a team got into a flurry and bolted into the column not far from the head of the Second Regiment. The men in the immediate vicinity at once gave it the right of way, and the bolt swept in both directions like the tumble of a row of bricks. The plod- t ding men could hear the coming storm from afar off, and when, peering through Sergt. Lorenzo P. Adley, Co. F. the gloom, they saw every- Was from Milan. Promoted to first lieutenant Twenty-second U. S. C. T., February 15, 1864- He was killed in a railroad accident at Ottumwa, Iowa, October 12, 1878. body stampeding for the bush, they no longer stood upon the order of their own going, but went. The average momentary impression probably was that the rebels had set a car running wild down the track to break up the procession. Officers, from mere force of habit, shouted " Halt ! halt !" at the top of their voices, at the same time their legs were carrying them along as fast as any of the men. The ditches were filled with sprawling men, while those who escaped that trap met their fate on stumps and other obstructions to rapid travel in the dark. The panic subsided as rapidly as it arose, and after a short time spent in gathering and sorting the debris and taking a general account of stock, the column was again pushing on for Warrenton.
June 15. Reached Warrenton Junction at seven o'clock this .
II
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SECOND NEW HAMPSHIRE.
morning, where we rested until two o'clock in the afternoon, when the march was resumed to Manassas Junction, where we arrived about midnight. The heat was awful, the dust suffo- cating, and many men were sunstruck. Most of the Seventeenth men gave out on this afternoon's march.
June 16. Drew three days' rations, to last until Friday night, the 19th. At midnight the Second and the One Hundred and Fif- teenth Pennsylvania went on picket about two miles out on the Centreville road.
June 17. The Second came off picket at nine this morning and marched to Blackburn's Ford to await Clarence A. Brackett, Co. E. the arrival of the rest of Brackett enlisted from Antrim as a musician in Company E, and was subsequently transferred to Company C. He had a chronic disagreement with his officers, which became so hot that he " dis- charged himself" after a year's service. He en- tered the Seventeenth Vermont and made a good record, being appointed corporal, then sergeant, and wounded and captured. He lives in Antrim. the corps. The Fifth Corps passed us there, and in the afternoon we went on, camping about a mile be- yond Centreville, on the Warrenton pike. Colonel Bailey had a fine horse presented to him by the officers of the regiment.
June 18. One of the New England Cavalry was in camp today, who said the regiment was badly smashed yesterday, and many of its men captured. At night a very strong picket guard was detailed from the division.
June 19. The division marched to Gum Springs, about eleven miles on the Leesburg road.
June 20. Lay all day at Gum Springs. Two days' rations issued. Reports that the corps is surrounded by the enemy ; also that one of General Birney's aides and two orderlies have been captured by guerrillas.
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UP INTO MARYLAND.
June 21. Heavy artillery firing heard in the direction of Aldie, and in the afternoon the corps was under arms and posted for battle, but the rebels did not give us a call.
June 22. It is reported that several guerrillas picked up by our men are to be hanged. The gambling craze broke out, and many " sweat- boards" were in full blast on the outskirts of the camp until Col. Bailey suppressed them.
June 23. A number of men detailed to guard wagon trains. Had a dress parade at six o'clock. Among other rations today we got the much needed one of soap.
Quartermaster Francis W. Perkins.
Was from Concord, and mustered as a ser- geant in Company B. The first quartermaster- sergeant, and promoted to quartermaster Aug. 21, 1861. Appointed Captain and A. Q. M. June 9. 1862. He served on brigade and divis- ion staffs, and was chief of water transportation in the Department of the Gulf, with rank of lieutenant-colonel. After the war he settled in New Orleans, and was murdered in his office March 6, 1871.
June 24. Went through the useless ceremony of drilling from 2 to 4 p. m., and then, with two other regiments, the Second marched out about three miles on the Leesburg road. Threw out pickets and a heavy patrol on the road, when the regi- ment formed in hollow square and slept on its arms.
June 25. The entire corps marched in the forenoon, crossing the Potomac on pontoons at Edwards Ferry. Our division marched up the towpath of the Ohio and Chesapeake canal in the direction of Point of Rocks.
The official report of General A. A. Humphreys, commanding the division, speaks as follows of this day's march : "At 10 a. m. the division marched to Edwards Ferry, through Fairfarm and Franklinville, and crossing the Potomac on the pontoon bridge about 5 p. m., marched on the towpath of the canal to the mouth of the Monocacy, reaching that point about midnight, after a march
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of about 25 miles, that portion on the towpath being rendered very fatiguing and exhausting by a heavy rain that set in at nightfall. The whole command, officers and men, were more exhausted by this march than by that of the 14th and 15th."
This " towpath march," unprecedented in some of the circum- stances attending it, ruined for the time being General Humphreys' popularity with the men of the division. This was doubtless unjust, as the difficulties of the march could hardly have been anticipated, and when they were appreciated it was so late that the only course was to go ahead, regardless of consequences. Night came on, dark and rainy, and the men jogged along the narrow pathway, which soon took on a treacherous coat of slimy mud. The frequent splashings, sputterings, and volleys of "cuss words" which told of a "man overboard," were the only cheerful feature of the occasion. The men grumbled at being trailed along that treacherous " hog- back," while a good turnpike, though inaccessible to them, lay just the other side of the canal. No halt, no rest, but they plodded along, hour after hour, hoping to reach a lock or a bridge by which they might get out of the trap ; but no such avenue of escape opened up. One by one, squad by squad, the exhausted Alvin R. Smith, Co. C. Resides in New Boston. men sank upon the ground and refused to go farther, until the little cut-offs of land on the river side were covered with stragglers. Commanders of regiments were left without the colors, and almost without men, and when General Humphreys arrived at his goal he had hardly enough of his division with him to form a headquarters guard. In
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THE EVE OF GETTYSBURG.
the morning a stream of men poured from the towpath across the Monocacy acqueduct, and it was late in the forenoon before the division was assembled and the march resumed.
June 26. The corps marched to the vicinity of Point of Rocks, going into bivouac on Catoctin mountain. There were plenty of rails for fires, and the men had a good time drying them- selves
June 27. Marched to a point near Middleton, passing through Jefferson village. South Mountain, where the battle was fought last fall, was in sight all day.
Charles H. Hayes, Co. B.
June 28. Passed through Middleton, Frederick City and Born in Concord, brought up in Concord, enlisted from Concord, returned to Concord, and is still in Concord. A Concord boy. Walkerville, camping about two miles from the latter place. While marching through Frederick we got a glimpse of General Marston, and the cheers the boys gave him told him how strong a hold he has upon them. We are getting into God's country, now, where there are loyal people, and where American flags and cheers for the Union are the rule, and not the exception.
June 29. Made an early start, and marched to Taneytown, within five miles of the Pennsylvania line. General Sickles joined the corps and was given a hearty welcome as he rode down the marching column.
June 30. Regiment mustered for pay in the forenoon, and at three o'clock p. m. marched to Monocacy bridge, about five miles. Passed a squad of a dozen rebel prisoners who, while out foraging, were gobbled up by some of the Eleventh Corps.
July 1. Marched to Emmitsburg in the forenoon and went into camp near the city.
CHAPTER XI.
JULY 2 TO JULY 4, 1863 .- THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG-NIGHT MARCH FROM EMMITSBURG-SECOND REGIMENT REPORTS TO GEN. GRAHAM-IN SUPPORT OF AMES' BATTERY-HORRIBLE DEATH OF CORPORAL BIGNALL-JOHN A. BARKER'S EXPERIENCE-THE MUR- DEROUS FIGHT AT SHERFEY'S PEACH ORCHARD-ADVANCE OF MCLAW'S DIVISION-COUNTER CHARGE BY THE SECOND REGIMENT -THE REGIMENT'S SURPASSING DISCIPLINE-IT CHANGES FRONT, FIGHTING AND RETREATING-ITS LAST STAND, AS TOLD BY COL. BAILEY-RECAPITULATION OF REGIMENTAL LOSS-RESCUE OF THE WOUNDED-COMPANY B'S FIGHT AT THE WENTZ HOUSE, AS TOLD BY PRIVATE HOLDEN-COL. BAILEY'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
T HE fight of the First and Eleventh Corps
on the Ist of July, in which the accom- plished Reynolds lost his life, led to the rapid concentration of the army for a great and decisive battle at Gettysburg. Leaving one brigade and a battery from each of his two divisions to cover the position at Emmitsburg, Sickles, without waiting for specific orders from Meade, marched at two p. m. on the Ist with the remainder of the Third Corps to Gettysburg, a distance of twelve miles. The regiments of Burling's brigade went very com- fortably into camp near Emmitsburg, having plenty of straw to bed their shelter tents During the evening orders were issued to the regimental commanders to be prepared for an early march in the morning, although at that time Colonel Burling had received no definite instructions in regard to moving. But at 1.30 on the morning of July 2 he received orders directly from General Meade to immediately rejoin the corps at Gettysburg. The night being very dark, and the brigade considerably scattered by its disposition to cover various roads, it was between three and four o'clock before
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NIGHT MARCH TO GETTYSBURG.
the command was assembled. Without breakfasting, the Second formed column with the brigade and started for Gettysburg.
At the end of each hour a halt of about ten minutes was made for rest, the sunrise halt being somewhat longer, to enable the men to cook a hasty cup of coffee. It was a weird night march. Dark clouds were scudding across the sky, which let loose an occasional quick, sharp shower upon the hurrying troops. The consciousness of impending battle had by some subtle influence taken possession of the minds of the men. During one of the early morning halts
there was heard, away to the north, the indistinct sounds of a slow fire of artillery.
It was about half-past seven o'clock when the column came into the more open country in the immediate vicinity of Gettysburg. As it approached the now famous Sherfey's peach orchard, where the road ascends the southern elbow or termination of Seminary Ridge, a line of Union skirmishers in the fields to the left, evidently very much awake, indicated the imme- diate presence of the enemy and Aaron Goodwin, Co. B. that the brigade was nearing its Wounded at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, and died of wounds August 17. He was from Salem, where his only surviving rel- ative, a sister-Mrs. Adeline Ayer-still lives and keeps his memory green. destination. An occasional shot was heard, well out, and the sup- ports, posted by the road, gave Burling's men the assurance that there were plenty of rebels "right over there." It was seen that the skirmish line was retiring from the more advanced positions, and presently, the brigade having passed, it was extended across the road to the rear of the column. It is now known that soon after this time Hood's division of the Confederate army lay across that highway, and Burling's brigade had escaped by only a narrow margin what would have been a most unexpected encounter.
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