History of the Twelfth regiment, New Hampshire volunteers in the war of the rebellion, Part 4

Author: Bartlett, Asa W., 1839-
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Concord, N.H. : I. C. Evans
Number of Pages: 878


USA > New Hampshire > History of the Twelfth regiment, New Hampshire volunteers in the war of the rebellion > Part 4


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" Distance did quickly intervene, To close the last. sad, parting scene."


More than a quarter of a century has passed since that sad. parting day, yet in how many hearts is its memory sacredly treasured, still. For the loved one that went, but never returned, the vacant chair around the family board long filled its accustomed place, - and who can say, that in spirit, he did not occupy it ?


The regiment left the camp-ground at seven o'clock, and marching down Main street by platoons, at regular distance, formed a column reaching nearly the whole distance between " Free Bridge " road to the old Elm House opposite the depot ; making an imposing appearance, and eliciting complimentary remarks from the hundreds of spectators who filled the sidewalks and windows, cheering and waving their handkerchiefs as it passed. It should here be recorded, that ten hundred abler and nobler looking men never marched, as volunteer defenders of their country's flag, through the streets of Concord or any other New England city. They were, indeed, as afterward called, the stalwart and sturdy " New Hamp- shire Mountaineers."


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History of the Twelfth Regiment


It was but an hour later when the train, as already described, left the depot.


Greeted with cheers at every station, to which the boys as often responded, the train reached Nashua about ten o'clock, where it received a hearty greeting from the large concourse of citizens assembled at the depot and awaiting its arrival. Many of the young ladies presented to the " boys in blue " beautiful bouquets, in some of which, slyly hidden among the flowers, was a verse or motto with the name of the fair donor. Quite a number of letters afterward sent from the " camp of the 12th N. H. Vols." were addressed to the same persons whose names were found in these floral offerings, resulting, as said, in another meeting and better acquaint- ance when the soldier got his first furlough home. and a life co-partnership after the war.


One of these bouquets, received by Sergeant Osgood, of Company C. was presented by Miss E. N. Ladd, said to have been a sister of L. C. Ladd, of the Sixth Massachusetts Regiment, who was killed by the mob, in the streets of Baltimore, on the memorable 19th of April, 1861, and contained the following verse :


" Go then brave soldier, go fight for the right. And drive Secession far out of thy sight ; And when thou returnest, then shalt thou see, That fighting for country is honor to thee."


It was here also, by the procurement of Colonel Marsh or his friends, that several barrels of apples were put upon the train, just before starting, as a free, fruit lunch for the regiment between there and Worcester. After a stop but little longer than necessary to make the change of roads, the train, now in charge of Superintendent Bentley of the Nashua and Wor- cester railroad, proceeded toward Worcester, where an unexpected but very enjoyable reception awaited it.


As soon as the cars could be emptied, the men were formed in line and marched by companies to the city common, where they found eleven long tables spread beneath the cooling shade trees and loaded with a bountiful collation, furnished by the patriotic and liberal-hearted citizens of that city, and which was as liberally disposed of as bestowed.


After giving three hearty cheers, as a unanimous vote of thanks to the citizens of Worcester for their sumptuous repast, the return march was made to the depot, where at two o'clock the " all aboard " warning was given, and the train, now under the directorship of Julius Webb, moved on amid the cheers of the assembled thousands, which were answered back with a will from the platforms and windows of the twenty-one cars, all filled with the Twelfth family and their baggage.


The word family, as here used, is not altogether a misnomer ; for prob- ably no regiment from New England, certainly none from the State, had


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New Hampshire Volunteers.


so many of blood and marriage relationship to each other in its ranks as the Twelfth New Hampshire.


The regiment arrived at Allyn's Point about dark, and were soon embarked on board of the beautiful steamer " City of New York," which was waiting at the wharf to run a special trip, taking no other passengers. An evening ride of refreshing coolness on the Sound. after the heat and dusty journey of the day, was a most welcome change that none failed to appreciate : and it was not until after the second watch that many sought their first slumber on board a steamboat.


The gorgeously fitted up and brightly lighted cabins and other compart- ments were a novel and attractive sight to them, and seemed more like a floating palace of Arabian Nights celebrity, than a modernized specimen of the genius of Robert Fulton. They had paddled their own canoes on ยทยท the beautiful lake in the highlands," on or near the shores of which many of them had been born and had grown up, and were no strangers to the marvelous handiwork of nature in all her display of grandeur and beauty. But of the great works of science and art they knew little beyond what they had heard and read. Their whole trip to Washington, therefore, was like a panorama of new and interesting scenes.


Before daybreak a thousand gas-lights are seen dimly shining through the thick mist, upon the starboard side, by those on guard over their sleep- ing comrades and the piles of baggage, and they learn that they are passing by the water-front of the great metropolis of New York; and soon, while the eastern sky is being tinted by the touch of coming day, the boat swings slowly up to the pier, and company after company, filing across the gang-plank, form a column on the wharf, and march to the music of " Yankee Doodle." up the streets of Jersey City to the depot. Here, for want of ready transportation, the regiment remained until nearly nine o'clock before starting for Philadelphia.


As soon as the citizens were up. a circular survey of that part of the city was quickly made by the boys in search of something better than could be found in their haversacks and canteens. And. notwithstanding it was Sunday morning, eating saloons and bakeries, as well as hotels, found it paid well that day to keep an open house for a few hours before church service.


Just as the men were getting on board the train that was to bear them onward, Governor Berry, on his way home from Washington, made his appearance, and was greeted with cries for Whipple, instead of cheers for himself.


The reception of the regiment at Philadelphia, where it arrived between three and four o'clock in the afternoon, was an ovation that will never be forgotten while memory's record can be read by the latest sur- vivor.


Nearly every regiment that passed through this city for the front. during the war, had reasons for remembering it gratefully as the " city


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History of the Twelfth Regiment


of brotherly love," in deed, as well as name. But now it was joy, as well as love, that prompted the citizens to extend so warm and friendly a welcome.


A few weeks before they had been threatened by an attack of General Lee's army, which had called out the whole force of their state militia and many volunteers, to protect Harrisburg and their own city : and the arrival of fresh troops, under the new call, hastening forward to drive the invading forces back and save their city from further danger, called forth new and still stronger demonstrations of gratitude and kindness.


Tired and dusty, hungry and thirsty, the cars are hardly empty before the soldier passengers find themselves amid " fountains of water and mountains of food." And such an after-meeting, Sunday dinner as followed, never before was eaten by any band of Ne v England soldiers, at home or abroad, from the days of Miles Standish down to that very hour.


Church services had just closed, and by the time the regiment was ready to bid a reluctant farewell to " Cooper's Volunteers' Refreshment Saloon," and its savory dishes, the surrounding square and streets were filled with men, women, and children, all anxiously intent on doing some act of kindness, or showing some mark of respect. Ladies, richly dressed, not content with waving handkerchiefs and sweet smiles, pressed forward, many of them, to grasp the soldier's hand, express their sym- pathy and gratitude, and bid him be of good cheer and stout heart in their country's holy cause ; while men and boys would insist on carrying his knapsack, and urgently inquire if there was anything they could do or get for him before leaving the city. Thus for more than a mile, from one depot to the other, it was a march of which their own returning citizen- soldiers, fresh from the fields of South Mountain and Antietam, might have well felt proud.


Just as the sun goes down, cheers and shouts go up from the regiment for the grand old city of Philadelphia, and her noble hearted citizens, of whom five times as many answer back with responding cheers, com- mingled with exclamations of "God bless you": "There can be no city without a country"; ". When you come back we will treat you better," etc., etc., until the train moves out and onward toward different scenes and sounds. Wilmington is soon reached and passed, not, however, without demonstrations of good will and gladness from the citizens, and midnight finds the regiment at Havre De Grace. Here, while waiting to be ferried across the Susquehanna, and some of the boys of Company F were singing songs of that now distant home of which some of the rest. perhaps, were dreaming, they were suddenly saluted with a volley of sticks and stones, smashing in one of the car windows, and scattering the sash and glass in all directions.


So sudden and violent was the attack, that it was thought at first to be the skirmish fire of another rebel mob, like that which attacked the Sixth


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New Hampshire Volunteers.


Massachusetts in Baltimore; but a ready reconnoisance in force found no enemy in sight. It was the first hostile demonstration ; and although weak as it was cowardly, was strong enough to convince one soldier at least, who was hit on the head with a stone or club, that he was no longer in the " city of brotherly love."


By 4 o'clock the next morning the regiment was marching across the city of Baltimore to the Washington depot. And though all was quiet, and the spirit of rebellion no where manifest, none failed to be reminded, that he was marching on the same streets that less than a year and a half before were stained with the blood of New Hampshire's sons, pressing forward to the rescue of the capital .*


Here the regiment remained for twelve long and weary hours, waiting for transportation to Washington : and not knowing how soon it would be furnished, the men had but little chance to look over the "Monu- mental City," where a short time before treason rioted, and the assassina- tion of Lincoln on his way to the national capital, was an oath-bound plot of her aristocratic sons.


At last cattle-car passage was secured and the scats all taken; and with one or two baggage cars, to take the place of Pullmans for the officers, the regiment was again upon the rail, bouncing and jostling along toward the great capital city of which all had heard, but few had ever seen.


Thus far good luck and good cheer had made the journey pleasant. but soon a sad event occurred that cast a dark shadow of sorrow upon Company I, and left a feeling of sadness in the mind of every member of the command. While waiting at Mount Clair station, a few miles from Baltimore, for another train, also loaded with soldiers, to pass. three or four sharp pistol shots were heard, and the little puffs of smoke showed that they came from the passing train. These shots came from the windows and platforms of the cars, and were fired, as supposed, merely in fun as a salute ; but the effect was none the less fatal, for Darius Robinson, of Company I. who was standing with several others in the side door of one of the cars, was struck by one of the balls and fell dead upon the floor. A telegram was sent ahead to the Relay House to stop the train and arrest the man who fired the shots, and when the Twelfth reached there Lieut. Henry Ashbey of the Eighty-fourth New York Volunteers, was under guard awaiting its arrival. He was taken on board and put into the same car where Robinson was shot. He was as pale, almost, as the face of the dead man that he had been arrested for killing, and the body of whom lay before him. He protested his innocence, even of any carelessness, and his story that he discharged his revolver from one of the windows of his car, pointing upwards, and that the fatal shot must have been fired by another man, was probably true ; for it was found at his trial the next day in Washington, that the


* Luther C. Ladd, killed in the Sixth Massachusetts, was a native of New Hampshire.


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History of the Twelfth Regiment


bullet taken from the body of Robinson was too large to fit the prisoner's revolver, and he was released.


This was the second death in the regiment, both in Company I, and both the result, probably, of criminal carelessness. But many believed that the fatal ball in this case, was purposely directed. as the man who was seen to shoot from the platform was dressed in citizen's clothes, and was thought to be a southern sympathizer, pretending to fire a salute by swinging his revolver round in a circle, but intending to kill by firing, as he did, when it came down so as to do its work of death.


The night ride to Washington, if ride it could be called, and the unex- pected reception there were both so individually impressive, that. like the sad event just written, they are very vivid in memory yet, and demand a brief record here.


The night was very warm, and crowded into the cattle cars so close, that it was easy to faint but impossible to fall, suffering humanity could not long withstand the pressure ; and, making a life-saving virtue of a mili- tary necessity, the butts of the muskets were quickly turned into battering- rams. and soon there was ample ventilation and a good chance to breathe, if not to rest.


The next morning the train, looked as if it had just run a gauntlet of rebel batteries, or been last loaded with eight or ten mules, and a swarm of bees in each car.


Tired, sleepy, and hungry, another thousand or more of the sturdy sons of the Granite State are at last within the contour of Uncle Sam's exclusive jurisdiction, and looking for the first time upon the dome of the national capitol, as it loomed up in sombre silence to catch the first rays of the rising sun.


They expected something like their reception at the " Quaker City" : but alas, how grievously disappointed !


Not a welcome word nor a greeting cheer was heard ; and the miserable apology for breakfast, and the filthy place in which it was served was an insult to the soldier and a disgrace to the Government. But for the capitol and a few other government buildings. no one would imagine the beautiful city of to-day to be the same as that of thirty years ago.


It was then not only " a city of magnificent distances," but was so filled up with " niggers, pigs. and shoulder straps," to say nothing about bucket- slopped streets and tumble-down shanties, that the greater the distance the more pleasing the view.


Colonel Potter was now ordered by General Wadsworth, in command at Washington, to report with his regiment to General Casey on Arlington Heights ; and it was with no feelings of regret that the line was again formed and marched across Long bridge for better grounds and a purer atmosphere.


This march of only seven miles, strange as it may seem, was one of the hardest the regiment ever made.


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New Hampshire Volunteers.


The day was exceedingly warm, and the men in the worst possible condition to make it.


Take, as an illustration, a green colt from the pasture, and send him off four or five hundred miles on the railroad. with little chance to rest or eat for thirty-six hours ; then put the heaviest kind of a work harness upon him, and force him to draw what would be a great load for a veteran truck horse for seven or eight miles. half the way up hill, during the hottest hours of a very hot day, and the reader will get the best idea that can be given why this march from the capitol building to Arlington Heights was one not soon to be forgotten by those who made it.


Many a tramp of three or four times the distance through the heat and dust. or the mud and rain, of Virginia. was afterwards made with much less hardship and suffering. Some of the men, being immediately put on guard and exposed to a heavy shower while still wet with the perspiration of the march, contracted colds from which they never recovered. And thus soon did sickness and disease from hardship and exposure - more destructive, though less feared in war than the weapons of the enemy - begin their work of decimation in the strong and stalwart ranks of the Twelfth.


The encampment on Arlington Heights -called " Camp Chase." after one of New Hampshire's most honored sons, then secretary of the treasury - was pleasantly located on General Lee's estate, overlooking Georgetown and Washington. Little could the patriotic father, the brave and honored " Light Horse Harry " of the Revolution, have thought or dreamed that the beautiful estate upon which he spent his last years would in the next generation become the camping ground of troops, raised to save the same flag for which he fought from the traitorous grasp of his own son. It is now occupied as a national cemetery, where General Sheridan and over sixteen thousand more of the Nation's brave defenders rest in


" Their silent tents of green."


In compliance with orders above referred to, Colonel Potter, upon reach- ing the Heights, reported to General Casey commanding a division of the Reserve Army Corps, defences of Washington, and by special order from his headquarters, dated October 1, 1862, was temporarily assigned to a provisional brigade of the One Hundred and Forty-seventh New York. One Hundred and Fifty-seventh New York, and the Twenty-first Con- necticut Volunteer regiments, then under the command of Colonel Dexter B. Wright.


The second day, after pitching tents and before fairly rested from their march, the men received their first lesson, so thoroughly learned by future experience. of changing base by moving their camp a short distance across the road. But this was the first and last time that the men had to supply the want of mule teams, by carrying in their arms and upon their shoulders


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History of the Twelfth Regiment


all the regimental baggage and camp equipage that is usually hauled on the baggage wagons. On the 6th, by virtue of a special order of the day before, from General Wright, another change of base was made, and the regiment moved about three miles to near Fort Corcoran (now called Fort Meigs), where it joined General Whipple's division of the Third Army Corps, as an independent command.


It was here that the boys found rare sport in trying to break in a lot of mules that were as green in knowing what to do as their instructors were in knowing how to teach them. And of all the incongruous mixtures of army life there was nothing that could compare in the fun, fuss, and fight of persistent efforts and Indicrous results, with a few New England Yankees and a lot of unbroken mules. In lofty tumbling, neck-back riding, balking, bucking, and kicking. they could discount Dan Rice and his trained ponies, whether inside the ring or out. Some of the men, who had enlisted as teamsters concluded, after a short but sad experience, that they had rather take their chances with a rebel than with a mule bat- tery, and willingly exchanged the whip for a musket.


In the brief time the regiment remained at Fort Corcoran but little of historic interest occurred, except the exchanging of the old French mus- kets, brought from Concord, and previously captured on the blockade- running steamer " Bermuda." for Springfield muskets and rifles; the latter being given to the right and left companies. C and F.


To effect this, the march to the city and back, and two or three hours waiting in the arsenal yard under a meridian sun that sent the mercury up to ninety or more in the shade, was a sharp reminder of the march made a few days before and almost as tiresome.


After exchanging muskets the regiment was marched up to Pennsylvania avenue, ranks broken, and the men allowed to rest and refresh themselves, each to his liking, for an hour or two before returning to camp. Just as the order to break ranks was obeyed with a glad clap for a short respite from military bonds, a regiment much resembling the Twelfth comes marching down the avenue and as it approaches nearer is found to be the Thirteenth New Hampshire Volunteers, and is greeted with a cheer which is heartily returned. It seemed good to see another regiment fresh from the old granite hills. But Colonel Potter was not so well pleased when he learned that the muskets they carried were the very ones he had picked out and ordered shipped to Concord for his own regiment, but not arriving there until after his departure, had been turned over to the Thirteenth Regiment instead of being forwarded to his own command, as they should have been. When the long roll was beat for the men to rally in line for the return march, one of the musicians did not respond. It seems that he had caught the transfer spirit exhibited by the musket- bearer, and had exchanged his flute for a walking stick, preferring to be a counterfeit gentleman at large, than an honest man and true soldier in the service of his country.


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New Hampshire Volunteers.


A day or two after exchanging muskets. Prescott Y. Howland, of Com- pany D. had his right hand and one or two fingers of his left blown off by the accidental discharge of his gun, and was discharged a few days later, being the first man dropped from the company rolls.


Arlington Heights being the great rendezvous camp of nearly all the troops from the East. preparatory to taking the field. it was thought neces- sary in order to give the finishing touch, that everything should be strictly " according to Casey." whose tactics had been adopted at the beginning of the war : and hence the author himself, Brig. Gen. Silas Casey of the regular army, had been put in command.


Here. therefore, company and battalion drills were the order of the day ; and the officers of the line were kept busy studying and practicing positions, formations, and evolutions, that they might not appear quite so green and awkward as they felt. White gloves and red tape. in regular West Point style, had to be worn and measured by officers and men. and everything, perpendicular or horizontal, as straight as a line.


This strictness of discipline, though seemingly frivolous and non- essential, was more or less necessary to trim off and smooth down the rough friction points of individual independence that belongs to a free citizen, and makes him a smooth running part of the great military machine known as an army, where the gate and the brake are both under the absolute control of one man.


To show the reader of future years that the few days' stop at Arlington Heights were not idle ones. but diligently preparatory to the coming strife, we will give the regular order of the day as officially promulgated from headquarters :


Reveille at 5 a. m. (roll-call immediately following) : breakfast call, 6 : surgeon's call. 6.45 : squad drill. 7 to 8: guard mount, 8; officers' drill. 8.30 to 9.30 : battalion drill. 9.30 to 10.30 ; first sergeant's call. II : dinner call. 12 ; inspection of quarters, I p. m. ; company drill, 2.30 to 4 ; dress parade-first call. 5.10. second call. 5.30 ; supper. 6 : school of instruction ( for officers) . 7.30 : tattoo. 9 ; taps. 9.30.


On Sundays there was company inspection at 8.30 a. m. : church call, II ; in addition to the regular camp calls, except for police and fatigue duty and drills.


But drill and discipline of this kind, however much needed, could no longer be given. for the call from the field was more urgent. And so by three o'clock on the morning of the 17th of October, the regiment had obeved the order of the night before to be ready to move at that hour in heavy marching order and three days' rations ; and in the dim light of an hour later it was on the march for Washington, where at 10 o'clock it took the cars for Knoxville. Md.


The train was made up mostly of baggage and stock cars, some of the latter being thickly carpeted with manure ; and the men, in leaving, as in entering the capital city, were strongly reminded of the cruel necessities of war.


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History of the Twelfth Regiment


But experience had taught them a good lesson which they did not fail to make both practicable and profitable on this as on the former occasion, and good vent holes for bad air were soon made through the sides and tops of the cars.


The regiment passed en route through the towns of Bladensburg (famous as the old dueling ground of the chivalrous congress members of former days, and for the battle that cost us the national capitol in the war of 1812), Bellsville, White Oak Bottom, Annapolis Junction, nearly to the Relay House, where it branched off onto the Baltimore & Ohio railroad and proceeded slowly and cautiously - often stopping to hear from our pickets stationed along the road that all was right ahead- through Avola. Elliot's Mills, Woodstock, Sykesville, Mount Airy. Monoxa. Point of Rocks, and Berlin, to Knoxville.




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