USA > New Hampshire > A history of the Second regiment, New Hampshire volunteer infantry, in the war of the rebellion > Part 8
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On the 3d of June Grover's brigade marched to Fair Oaks and joined the rest of the division, at once relieving the Excelsiors at the incomplete works from which Casey had been driven-the Second Regiment taking position immediately to the left of the redoubt on the Williamsburg road. The country was still flooded, large areas being transformed into shallow ponds, and the trenches were half filled with water Many of the dead were still unburied, as were Casey's artillery horses, which lumbered the ground to the rear of the redoubt, and the stench was terrible. All night the
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FAIR OAKS.
brigade remained under arms amid these cheerless surroundings. There were piles of cordwood close at hand, but the orders were strict against building fires. The best and only use that could be made of it that night was in the construction of cobwork seats upon which the men could roost out of the mud. Grover took extraordinary precautions that his brigade should not be caught napping, and was continually trudging through the mud from one end of his line to the other to see that everybody was awake and on the alert. The pickets were doing considerable shooting out at the front, and it was assumed that the rebels were liable to burst in, as they had on Casey, at almost any moment.
On the afternoon of the day following its arrival the brigade was relieved and went into camp a short distance to the rear. Within a day or two the surround- ings were made somewhat more endurable by the cremation of the horses and the burial of the dead soldiers ; the latter duty being generally performed in the sim- plest manner, by merely piling dirt upon the bodies as they lay. But it was not unusual as long as the army remained here, to find unburied bodies in the less fre- quented parts of the patches of felled timber.
Miss Harriet P. Dame.
From a portrait taken in the field. A portrait of later date, with biographical sketch, will be found elsewhere.
The position of Hooker's division was astride the Williamsburg road, connecting upon the right with Sumner, and on the left with Kearney. It did not take long to thoroughly intrench the position, and the digging was merely a pastime in comparison with what had been done at Yorktown. The works commenced by Casey were completed, and another redoubt was built, to the right of the Williamsburg road. In front of this intrenched line open ground
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1-Lookout Tree. Richmond can be seen from this tree.
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2-A Woman's Grave.
*
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J
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8
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9-Hospital Wagon lost by the Second Rhode Island at Bull Run, and abandoned by the rebels at battle of Fair Oaks.
ROAD
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_ Graves, mostly of rebel sol- diers killed at battle of Fair Oaks.
The position of the Second Regiment's camp is shown in the lower right-hand corner.
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Frank At the a NSER
Gen. Hooker's Position at Fair Oaks.
Reduced fac simile of Sketch by Serst. James E, Saunders,
SECOND NEW HAMPSHIRE.
5-Redoubt No. 3, or Ft. Hooker. 6-Well. 7-Redoubt No. 4. 8-Rifle Pits.
Low Bushes
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WILLIAMSBURG
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3-Oat Field. 4-Felled Timber.
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PICKET FIGHTING.
extended for a distance of several hundred yards; then a dense swampy chapparel, with felled trees in places, backed by an irregular line of woods. A famous and conspicuous landmark in this part of the field was the lookout tree, standing solitary and alone at the outer edge of the field, from which the spires of Rich- mond could be seen.
The picket line was maintained in the bush, generally advanced about a hundred yards from its edge. Two brigades were constantly on duty, in the trenches and on picket, the brigades alternating so as to give each a rest in camp every third day. But the brigade nominally off duty was liable to be turned out and double-quicked to the front at any hour of the night or day. In fact, every man in the division was on a constant strain, which, aided by the unhealthy surroundings, swelled the sick list very rapidly.
About the middle of June the brigade was reinforced by the Sixteenth Massachusetts, which came up from Fort Monroe with full ranks and new clothes. It was composed of excellent material, and had a chance to show its metal very soon after its arrival. On the 18th, having been ordered to make a reconnoissance to the front, Grover sent the Sixteenth forward. They went in with all the headlong dash of new troops determined to make a record, ran over the rebel pickets and tumbled the picket reserves out of the woods into the open fields beyond, where the main line of rebel works brought them up with a round turn. They lost fifty-nine men, and the fact that of these seventeen were killed shows the short range at which the fighting was carried on in the dense brush.
On the 23d of June, late in the afternoon, Hooker advanced his picket line, comprising five companies of the Second and a few Massachusetts companies-the Second being upon the left and connecting with Kearney's pickets. There had been but very little seen of the rebel pickets during the day, and the exact location of their line was very uncertain. But with orders to find and drive it as far as possible, Hooker's men crawled forward under cover of the bushes. So stealthy was the advance that the two lines were almost intermingled before they discovered each other. The writer and his left-hand neighbor, Jesse E. Dewey, had the fortune to open the racket. A startled face suddenly topped a big bush from
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SECOND NEW HAMPSHIRE.
which they were greedily sweeping big handfuls of blueberries, and three shots were fired within as many seconds by men who could almost have knocked each other over with a club, with the grand result of nobody hurt; but Johnny was galloping to the rear, leaving his accouterments piled up at the foot of a big tree against which he had evidently been leaning and dreaming. Dewey's share of the spoils was a knapsack and a bottle of "bitters ;" the writer's, a cartridge box with Johnny Reb.'s initials neatly tooled on the outside.
There was a wild fusilade for a few moments, and the assailants pushed forward with but slight opposition until they had advanced nearly half a mile from the starting point, when signs began to multiply that it was about time to stop. While the right of the line was still in the bush, the left of the Frank E. Howe, Co. G. Second came out into the In the advance of pickets in front of Fair Oaks, June 23, 1862, he started in with the line, but never came back. His fate was a mystery until rebel records became accessible which showed he was wounded and captured and died July 1. He was from Peterborough. end of an open field extend- ing a long distance to the front. The line was halted to straighten up and take bearings, and the left files, in the open field, closed in on the right to the cover of the bushes. It was evident that for some reason Kearney's pickets had not advanced, and that the left of Hooker's line was "in the air," a half-mile from any supports.
While these dispositions were in progress, two of the rebel pickets came into the field from the rear, making for their lines at a dog trot. Some of the Second rose from their concealment and
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ADVANCE OF PICKETS.
called to them to "come in ;" to which they paid no heed, but side by side, with guns at a "right-shoulder-shift," kept doggedly on their course. They were fired upon, and both men fell, one dead, the other badly wounded. The wounded man got upon his feet again, came in slowly and painfully, and was sent to the rear with Simmons, of Company I, to assist him. The acquaintance of these two men was strangely renewed several years after the war, when Simmons, travelling upon a railway train in Georgia, was accosted by a supposed stranger : "Your name is Simmons, and you was in the Second New Hampshire." Simmons pleaded guilty. "Well, do you remember helping a wounded Johnny to the rear at Fair Oaks? I was the man." 'The ex-Johnny was effusive in his demonstrations -- of delight at the meeting. He brought up and introduced all his friends in the car, and nothing would do but Simmons must stop off and be his guest for an indefinite period. He was a prosperous planter, and Simmons spent several days with him and was treated like a prince. The incident well illustrates how little personal animosity there was between the men who stood up in the war, man fashion, and tried to kill each other.
Corpl. Herman Shedd, Co. G.
So far the Second had had Killed at battle of Oak Grove, June 25, 1862. Was from Peterborough. The Grand Army Post at Greenville, which is named for him, contributes the above portrait. it all their own way; but now the rebels took their turn. A sharp fire was opened upon the left from the woods directly across the field. Probably forty or fifty of the Second men were in position to reply, and had hardly got fairly to work when the rebel yell was heard upon the right, close at hand, and a rebel battle flag, soaring above the bushes like a bird of evil omen, told what was coming. The Second at once decided that if the rebels were going
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SECOND NEW HAMPSHIRE.
to make such a fuss over it they could have that little bit of swamp and blueberry bushes. That ominous gap at the left was also troubling them with a suspicion that the enemy might have discov- ered it and thrust in a force to cut off the retreat. But they got back safely to the edge of the brush, and there found Col. Cowdin with several companies of the First Massachusetts, upon which they rallied. " Let 'em come on now," exclaimed the fiery old colonel ; " there won't half as many go back as come out." . A man was sent up the lookout tree, who, though the target of sharpshooters, maintained his position until he had counted and reported five rebel flags at the front. But the rebels contented themselves with reestablishing their picket line.
In this little affair there were only four or five casualties in the Second, of which one was fatal.
Frank E. Howe, who disappeared with no definite information as to his fate, is now known to have been wounded and captured, and to have died July Ist.
The affair of the 23d was but the prelude to a bloodier one two days later, when an advance in force was made over the same ground, under orders from McClellan to Heintzelman to drive the enemy's pickets from the woods in his front in order to gain command of the cleared fields still further in advance. The brunt of this fight-known Horace A. Lamprey, Co. B. as the battle of Oak Grove-was Wounded at battle of Oak Grove, June 25, 1862, and died the following day on the hospital boat "St. Mark." He was from Concord. borne by Grover's and Sickles' brigades, although the entire corps, with one brigade of Keyes' and a part of Sumner's, were more or less engaged. Early in the forenoon Hooker's division was under arms, and leaving a portion of the New Jersey brigade in the intrenchments, the remainder of the division marched down across the fields to attack the enemy.
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BATTLE OF OAK GROVE.
Grover's brigade was upon the left of the Williamsburg road, and its line of advance was directly over the ground covered by the Second's pickets on the 23d. Halting at the edge of the thicket, the First and Eleventh Massachusetts deployed skirmishers and went in to wake up the enemy-the First being upon the right, with the Second as support.
The First disappeared in the bush, and hardly a minute had elapsed when there was a rattle of musketry and the wounded came streaming back. Among these was an officer, who had caught a bullet in his mouth. He attempted to tell General Hooker something, but his face was so badly lacerated that his words were utterly Burleigh K. Jones, Co. B. unintelligible ; but his manner and Wounded at battle of Oak Grove, June 25, 1862, and died of wounds on hospital boat "St. Mark," Hampton Roads, Va., July 1, 1862. He was from Hopkinton. gestures told plainer than words that the First was in a tight place. That they were having close work was indicated by the prisoners they were sending back. Among these was a jaunty rebel lieutenant, who, as he passed General Hooker, gave a military salute, which was promptly and politely returned.
It was evident that the rebels were in considerable force and did not propose to be rushed back without a fight, as they had on the 23d. Cowdin called for reinforcements, and four companies of the Second were sent forward, under Major Stevens, toward the left of the First. Soon after, Colonel Marston led his four right companies forward to position on the right of the First ; and the two remaining companies were directed by General Grover to join Major Stevens' detachment. The First had been gradually closing on its centre, to strengthen its line and fill the places of the killed and wounded, until, skirmishers and all, it was in a somewhat irregular and disjointed regimental line, and the detachments from the Second came up very opportunely to fill gaps upon either flank.
The heart of the fight, it was apparent, was directly on the front
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SECOND NEW HAMPSHIRE.
of the First, and at the request of Major Chandler of that regiment, Major Stevens deployed Company B of the Second in front of the First as skirmishers, and the line again advanced. In all its proud history that company never showed to better advantage than on this occasion. Pushing forward with surpassing intrepidity, the rapid and accurate fire of its breechloaders soon cleared the front of a particularly annoying nest of sharpshooters who had been desperately contesting the First's advance. But in doing this work it suffered severely, seven- teen out of its forty-two men being killed or wounded-nearly one-half of the regimental loss (38) on that day. Sergeant Thomas B. Leaver and Corporal George H. Damon were killed, and Privates Horace A. Lamprey, Patrick H. Henaghan, Burleigh K. Jones and Nelson S. Swett were mortally wounded. The only mortal casualties in the regiment, besides these, were George Miles, of Company A, 1 and Herman Shedd, of Company G, killed, and John Brown, of Company I, mortally wounded.
Sergt. Thomas B. Leaver, Co. B. Killed at battle of Oak Grove, July 25, 1852. He was from Concord.
There was an affecting scene at the regimental hospital, within the intrenchments, when the bodies of Leaver and Damon, who fell almost at the same instant, were carried back. Harriet Dame was there, ministering to the wounded. In a moment of leisure she went to the two stark bodies, and lifting the edge of the blankets with which they were covered, saw the faces of the two boys who, from old acquaintance, were perhaps closer to her heart than any others in the regiment. "My God !" she gasped, " It is Tom. Leaver !" She had been a neighbor of the Leavers, in Concord, and had known Tom. from boyhood. With her own hands she
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INCIDENTS OF OAK GROVE.
tenderly prepared the bodies for burial, and saw them laid in the ground at the foot of an oak tree near the hospital.
The rebel pickets and their heavy reserves were now driven rapidly back, until the limits of the previous advance were reached, when a halt was called, the lines straightened, and connections established. Major Stevens' detachment of the Second found itself again facing that open field, at no point more than two hundred yards in width ; and it was understood that the position was this time to be held at all hazards. They were hardly in position when a rebel regiment was seen to enter the field far to the right, crossing it by the flank at the double-quick. It disappeared in the bush toward the Williamsburg road, and at once ran upon a terri- George Miles, Co. A. ble snag in the shape of the Killed at battle of Oak Grove, June 25, 1862 .. He was from Fitzwilliam. Seventh New Jersey. One crashing and unexpected volley delivered in their very faces settled the whole business, and as the demoralized fragments went back in helter-skelter flight, the Second opened a cross fire which dropped many the Jerseys had spared. This was the last serious attempt made by the rebels to recover their picket line.
The fight now became one of sharpshooters, and was lively enough to satisfy anybody. In front of Major Stevens' detachment the field was narrow, and the men dragged in logs and anything else that would stop a bullet, and piled up a rude breastwork which doubtless saved many casualties. A lone chimney midway of the field was taken possession of by riflemen from the Second, who crawled out through the grass to that advanced and dangerous position. Rebels, wearing broad white bands upon their arms, came out with stretchers and picked up their wounded, unmolested,
7
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at the same time bullets were spinning in every direction. The most annoying rebel sharpshooters were those perched in the branches of high trees, generally some distance back from their lines ; and it was in tumbling two of these, after he had himself been shot through the left hand, that Sergeant-Major Norton R. Moore showed his great nerve and superior marksmanship. Major Stevens had one of his shoulder straps clipped by a rebel bullet, and there were many almost equally narrow escapes, but not many men wounded.
Night came on-a very dark one, too-but the riflemen , kept popping away, now shooting at the flash of the enemy's guns. Pickets were thrown for- ward a little distance into - the field, and a ticklish position is was, between the two lines of fire. The troops who had won the ground were relieved dur- Patrick H. Henaghan, Co. B. ing the night, mainly by Wounded at battle of Oak Grove, June 25, 1862, by a rifle ball piercing his forehead, and died the same day. He was from Newmarket. troops from Couch's division. The left wing of the Second was relieved about half-past eleven-two hours after Colonel Marston and the right wing had retired to the works. While the left wing was being relieved, and just as the two lines were doubled up at the breastwork, the opposite wood was suddenly lit up with a blaze of musketry, such as could have come only from a solid battle line. The rebels were clearly in force and wide awake, and hearing the unusual movement on their front, had fired in anticipation of an attack. On such an invitation, the double line of Yankees faced to the front, and together poured in one stunning, deafening volley. It was the Second's "Good night !" to
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THE SKULKERS.
the rebels, and apparently a very impressive one, as there were no more volleys from the rebel side of the field; but instead, there were unmistakable indications of a panic, the commands of officers rallying and steadying their men being mingled with the shrieks and cries of the wounded. One touch of that buzz saw was all the enemy wanted.
The Second, again united, rested until morn- ing in the works. But the morning light revealed an exasperating condition of affairs at the front. The farther edge of the field was blue with masses of troops, which it was soon discovered were simply stragglers who had sneaked back from the advanced lines during the night. It looked very much as if the position which it had cost five hundred men, killed Corpl. George H. Damon, Co. B. and wounded, to secure, Killed at battle of Oak Grove, June 25, 1862. He enlisted from Fisherville (now Penacook). had been absolutely aban- doned in the night. Officers of high rank were included in these cowardly backsliders. One (a lieutenant-colonel with an elaborately braided uniform), was within a hundred feet of Casey's redoubt, snugly curled up under some wheeled vehicle. Out stalked Dave. Steele, and seizing the skulker by the feet, unceremoniously dragged him forth. The officer planted himself upon the dignity of his rank, but when Dave. met him with a list of his own official titles, past, present, and future, military, civic, and mythical, ending with an ominous flourish of his long arms and a thunderous order to " Git !" the skedaddler sneaked off amid the jeers of the men who
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SECOND NEW HAMPSHIRE.
lined the works. As soon as the situation was understood, several companies were deployed well in advance of the intrenchments, which no one passed, coming in, unless he could show good reason. A hundred men were also detailed from the Second to go out and cut down some trees by the Williamsburg road ; but before noon the regiment returned to its camp.
COL. MARSTON'S OFFICIAL REPORT OF BATTLE OF OAK GROVE.
HDQRS. SECOND NEW HAMPSHIRE VOLUNTEERS, Camp near Fair Oaks, L'a., Fune, 1862.
In compliance with orders from the brigadier-general commanding the brigade I marched my regiment at 7 o'clock on the morning of the 25th instant to the front of the redoubt at Fair Oaks. At 8.30 o'clock, agreeably to further orders, I sent four companies, under command of Major Stevens, to support the left of the First Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers, who had a few moments previously advanced into the fallen timber in front toward the enemy's lines. At fifteen minutes before 9 o'clock I advanced with four companies from the right wing of my regiment to the right wing of the First Massachusetts, which had now become engaged with the skirmishers of the enemy. Advancing through the fallen timber and into a swamp covered with a dense growth of bushes I came upon four companies of the First Massachusetts and formed upon their right.
The fire to the left and in front was now quite severe, and the shots of the enemy fell thickly in our ranks. Sending messengers to the front and left I soon ascertained the position of the remainder of the First Massachusetts, and then, with the detachment from my own regiment and the four companies of the First Massachusetts before mentioned, quickly advanced and formed a connection with their right. Major Stevens formed his detachment on the left of the First Massachusetts, and at the request of Major Chandler deployed Company B, armed with Sharp's rifles, as skirmishers in front of that regiment.
The whole line then rapidly advanced through the fallen timber and underbrush and over the swampy ground on the right, the enemy retiring, but all the while keeping up a sharp fire in front and from the timber on the left, which was returned with spirit and good effect along the whole line. As we approached the margin of the wood the enemy was seen in considerable force flying in confusion across the open field in front. Several well-directed volleys were fired into the retreating foe before he could cross the open ground into the woods beyond. Officers and men were anxious to follow the retreating enemy, but the general commanding the brigade ordered that no farther advance be made, but to hold the line we then occupied at all hazards.
I should have mentioned that soon after I advanced with four companies from the right of my regiment the two remaining companies were ordered to join on the left and be detached under Major Stevens, which they did. The line thus formed on the margin of the wood we occupied during the remainder of the day, being continually annoyed by the sharpshooters of the enemy, stationed in the woods to the left of our line. A portion of Company B was deployed as skirmishers, and did good execution upon the enemy lurking in the woods in that vicinity.
During the afternoon we were much annoyed by the fire of some pieces of our own artillery to the right of us, many shots from which fell very near us and some in our own ranks. Toward night the enemy brought down some pieces of artillery immediately in front of our line, but concealed from view by a narrow belt of bushes beyond the open ground, but the fire being directed to the right, we did not suffer therefrom. About 9.30 o'clock the four companies from my right wing were relieved and marched back to the redoubt at Fair Oaks, and about 11.30 o'clock the six companies on the left of the First Massachusetts were also relieved, and just as they were about to march back to the redoubt the enemy came out into the open field in front and there forming in line fired one volley without much effect, which being returned by a fire
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OFFICIAL REPORT.
along our whole line was not repeated. Major Stevens then marched his detachment back to the redoubt, where my regiment remained in the trenches until 8 o'clock the next morning, when we were relieved, and the regiment marched into camp.
I should have remarked that after fighting all day and standing in the trenches the following night about 100 men were detailed from my regiment at 5 o'clock in the morning to fell timber on the Williamsburg road until 8 o'clock a. m.
During the operations of the 25th the detachment under Major Stevens was handled judiciously and effectively by that officer. It is but simple justice to the regiment to say that all the officers and the men, with but very few exceptions, acquitted themselves admirably. They were confident, brave, and obedient to orders.
Adjutant Lawrence is deserving of commendation, not only for his activity and efficiency on the 25th instant, but also for the promptness with which he performs all his duties; also Sergeant-Major Moore, a brave man and a good soldier. He brought down 2 rebel sharpshooters from the trees where they were concealed and was himself severely wounded in the hand. I wish particularly to call attention to Surgeon Merrow. I believe there is no one in the medical corps who performs his duties more faithfully or more skillfully than this officer. Where almost every man performed his part well and according to the best of his ability it might be considered invidious to mention particular cases of gallantry and good conduct, which otherwise I should be glad to do.
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