ae eons UNIVERSITY | LIBRARY BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND GIVEN IN I89I BY Lo WILLIAMS SAGE Cornell Univers Libra E513.7 1sthe9 He” iat il 4 030 907 LL MOURNING VICTORY FROM THE MELVIN MEMORIAL HISTORY OF THE FIRST REGIMENT OF HEAVY ARTILLERY MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS FoRMERLY THE FouRTEENTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY 1861—1865 By ALFRED SEELYE ROE, A. B. AUTHOR OF HISTORIES OF THE EIGHTH NEW YORK ARTILLERY THE TENTH, TWENTY-FOURTH AND THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENTS MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS and CHARLES NUTT, A. B. AUTHOR OF THE PUFFER GENEALOGY, BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL WORKS g PuBLISHED BY THE REGIMENTAL ASSOCIATION 1917 A 73/68 COMMONWEALTH PRESS PRINTERS WORCESTER & BOSTON IN MEMORY OF OUR COMRADES MUSTERED OUT Contents ANNOUNCEMENT OF HISTORY COMMITTEE . PREFACE BY CHARLES NuTT CHAPTER I. Company A ee Ipswich—Organization and first olficers—Life at Ft. Warren—Changes in officers—Casualties and promotions. CHAPTER II Company B of ‘Methtieh Raising the company—Serenadiag David Nevins— Adopting a boy—From fort to fort—First losses by death —Saving the flag—The splintered flag-staff—Bugler under fire— Charles H. Tenney—Jerry Bradley’ s drum and bugle—Lieut. Hall’s story of Spottsylvania—Dame’s account of battle at Poplar Spring Church—W. C. Cuseck—Tracy’s prison life. CuHaptTer III Company C, Mechanics Phalanx of Tann—Organization sad cies inal officers—Daniel Pratt’s visit—Sent to Harper’s Ferry—The Gettysburg campaign—Erecting Ft. Duncan—On detached service under Maj. Rolfe—Incidents at Ft. Duncan—Return to Boston— Letter to Musician Chard. CuapTer IV Company D, Essex Cadets ei Silem—Diebending: the orizinal Co, D . —Recruiting the Salem company—In Washington—Farnham’s account—Stories of the freshet—Incidents of the first battle—Three lucky Rebels—At the siege of Petersburg—Enlistment expires. Carter V Company E, Mechanic Grays af Aineshury—The War meting =A musics send-off—Toss of coin to decide on a lieutenant—The first eath Cuarter VI ante Company F, Scott Grays of iegurthee=-Recauiting, drilling wud visiting—In ‘the forts—Built a theatre—In the grand review—Capt. Kimball’s letters—Following the scout—Four wagons captured— Kimball’s death and funeral—In Memoriam by Knowles. CuarTer VII . Company G, Mugford Guards: of ‘Marbtchead— Raised by Cape. Day—Generous aid and support—Capt. Day’s speech—Various visitations—A warm ovation—Off for the front—Presents from the company—Recruiting. Carter VIII... Company H, Andover Light Infantry—Public necting Raising the company—Generous gifts and aids—Departure from home— Changes in officers—On detached service at Maryland Heights— A skirmish. CuarTeR IX alae . Company I, Putnam Guards of Danvers—Naming the company— Character of the men—Changes in officers—A fire in camp—Service at Winchester—In Rebel Prison—Drawing lots to be hanged— Hanson’s Report—Guarding the rear—Maj. Rolfe’s report. Vv PAGE 1-2 2-5 7-11 12-20 21-31 31-39 40-41 42-53 54-56 57-59 60-66 CHAPTER X ante Borin At cetaNen einem ae ah, iain edealho co Company K, City Guards of Lawrence—The beginning of the company—Officers and men—Uniforms given and taken away—At Spottsylvania—Death of Enoch Frye—In memoriam—Funeral of Capt. Davis—Comrade’s story of Spottsylvania. CHAPTER XT Sout Soy ho oie a etn we ARR, oS ce: a a Company L, recruited at Ipswich and Cambridge in Feb., 1862— Sent to the front—In memoriam—Lieut. Hall’s account of Fairfax Court House—The captured surgeons—Tribute to Col. Greene—At Spottsylvania—Making record time. CHAPTER XII . ie HE gs Bt x of - ok Company M, the Lander Guards—Recruiting the company—Orig- inal officers—Trip to Washington—Some notable recruits—Drills at Ft. Albany—Preparations for battle—Promotions. CHAPTER XIII tof iin Gm Saty eg dee, sake Go mae 5 Organization of the 14th Mass. Infantry—Battalion drill—Com- pany joins Mozart Regiment—Quarters at Ft. Warren-—First ex- periences in camp—Commissary department—Mustered into ser- vice—Staff officers—Lieutenants without jobs—‘‘John Brown's Body" sung—Fletcher Webster Regiment starts—Burial of the bean—Uniforms and outfits—Departure from Fort Warren—Trip to New York—Welcome in Philadelphia—Drenched in Washington. CuaPTER XIV. 5. Str Bed : ae ; Camp Kalorama—In General King’s Brigade—Stationed at Fort Albany—Assigned to other forts—Brigade formation—Review by President. Lincoln—Defending Washington—Fort Jackson de- scribed—Mail facilities—A Rebel sergeant captured—F alse alarm— Senator Wilson’s regiment—Preparation for winter—Trying the pickets—Visit of Gov. Andrew—News of Ball’s Bluff defeat—Dis- tinguished visitors—Thanksgiving Day—Barracks dedicated— Prayer meetings—Temperance society—Library—Small pox alarm —Visiting Washington. CuarPTeR XV... . . id, 1a Bl oh New Year 1862 in camp—The regiment becomes heavy artillery— Barracks completed—Scouting party—Virginia mud—F ort Runyon described—A soldier’s wedding in camp—Recruiting ordered— Artillery drills—Coming of recruits—Sunday in camp—Spring in Virginia—Summer of 1862—Health of the regiment—Beating a slave—Food and rations. CuaPTer XVI. A Seis eS Scie Cue, Se Preparing for departure—In action at Cloud’s Mills for the first time—Union surgeons captured—Capturing Union guns—Dr. Dutton’s hospital—Detachment sent to Harper's Ferry under Rolfe —lIllness in camp—Changes in officers—Tannatt in command— on cepomandedocolding from Lieut. Col. Wright—" Joe and ob’ order. CuaPTER XVII apy iy aes l= ey Fel aaee He Tyee 3g Battle of Spottsylvania—The fatal May 19th—Gardner’s account of the battle—The skirmish line—Lewis’s account—Whipple's account —Stevens’s account—Farnham's account—Confederate reports— Richmond Examiner’s report—Col. Venable’s story—Gen. Ram- seur’s report—Morgan’s account—Summary—Crane’s account— Events of May 20-22. VI 67-70 71-75 76-79 80-98 99-121 « 122-137 . 138-149 . 150-161 CuapTER XVIII. . . . ., Sn ee hee ani es oe Aare ROLL AZ Battle of North Anna River—The march—Battle of Totopotomy Creek—Battle of Cold Harbor—Cutler’s diary—A truce—The march to Petersburg. CuapteR XIX .. . » . « . 173-183 Assaults on Petersburg—Sawyer’s account—Morgan’s account— Charge of the ist Maine Heavy Artillery—J. P. Bradley’s story— Cutler’s account—Whipple’s account—Dearborn’s account—Forti- fying in front of the city—Another historic day. CHAPTER XX Ss Be iy. oe poh pdke - oe ee we ee 184-188 Siege of Petersburg—The losses of the regiment—Spirit of the south —At the end of three years’ enlistment-sStarting homeward— Under way—Return home. CHAPTER XXI ee . 189-199 Back to the trenches—Battle of Strawberry Plain—Comment by “Typo"—Explosion of the mine—Fort blown up—Battle of Deep Bottom—Rebel deserters—Col. Craig killed—At Petersburg siege again—Battle at Poplar Grove Church—Work on the forts—Battle of Boydton Road—Col. Shatswell’s report—A Rebel account— Stealing the pickets—Resting in November—Thanksgiving Day. CuapTeR XXII 2... ww wee ee ee eee 200-209 Moving again—Raid on the Weldon railroad—In winter camp— Execution of Dixon, deserter—A quiet period—Col. Wyatt—More Rebel deserters—Battle of Hatcher’s Run—Military roads—Battle at Duncan’s Run—Capturing Rebel works at Vaughan Road— Battle at Burgess Mill—Leverett Bradley’s account. CuaPteR XXIII. 1. 1. ww eee ee es 210-216 Petersburg occupied—Pursuit of Lee—Engagements at White Oak Road, Five Forks, Jettersville—Farmville and Sailor’s Creek— After the surrender—Leverett Bradley's comment—Another story o a pursuit of Lee—March for hard-tack—Assassination of incoln. CHAPTER XXIV fe tg » oe. . 217-220 Off for Richmond—The Grand Review—Consolidating companies —Proposed consolidation of regiment with another—Mustered out— Journey home. CHAPTER XXV_. BAIRD Wl ts Nal oh buh soe whl i Sho ies fe22 1225 Maj. Rolfe’s detachment—Recovering the guns—Building maga- zines and barracks—March to Frederick, Md.—In the artillery re- serves—A long march—A fatal accident—Commendation of officers. CuaPTER XXVI. . .. Be ele Cae hw ce a 226-252 P. H. O’Connell’s life in prison and thrilling escapes—At Belle Isle— Start for Andersonville—Jumped from train—Held up by Rebel soldier—Pursued by men and dogs, caught—Taken to Columbia— Back in jail—Nursed by Donahoe—Another escape—Sheltered by slaves—Other negroes assist—Bloodhounds on the trail—Thrown in jail again—Return to Columbia Jail—Escapes again—Taken again to Charleston—Slipped away and hid—Caught in six hours— An incident of Wirz—Tortured at Columbia—Removed to Charles- ton—Climbed fence, failed to get away—Removing the handcuffs— Out of jail once more—Escape with Banty—Hidden in forest—Re- freshed in slave cabin—Narrow escape from capture—Hidden under leaves—Swimming a stream—Aid from Union whites—In a skirmish —Toes frozen—Taken to Gen. Mahar, Knoxville. Vil CuarteR XXVIE. 2 ww ee ee 253-261 Lucius A. Wilder’s life in Rebel prisons—Capture—Burying the dead—Kindly treatment—Wrote letters home Buying a home— Wretched food—Selling a bone—Raiders hanged—In the brewery business—Prisoners dying fast—Best dressed man—Taken to Florence—Cheering the flag. Cuarrer XXVIII. ww ee ee 263-265 Tables of regimental losses by deaths in action, from wounds, in prison and from disease—The battle roll—General engagements in which the regiment took part—Other statistics—The flags. CaapteR XXIX . 2 1 ww ee eee ee ee + 266-290 War stories and reminiscences—Headquarters, grand review— Spofford’s narrow escape—Discipline in the ee lotte—Carrying the colors, June 16, 1864—Capturing Rebel whiskey—The Johnnies took the food—Suffered for his country— Annie Etherage—Hard cider for medicine—The army pest—Four- horse load of oysters—Forgot to muster Companies L and M—Lee’s breakfast—Stoning the bridge guards—Just missed a badge of honor—Weight reduced to fifty pounds—Meetings with Lincoln— Chasing stray hogs—Shooting ramrods—Blames himself for an attack—Arrival of recruits—For straggling ahead—Rescue of Mar- cus M. Pool—His last letter—Foraging for pork and beans—Peril- ous volunteer service—Appointed Private No. 92—Eating raw corn —Those leather stocks—‘‘ Rally "Round the Flag, Boys”—Wor- sley’s dog—Tribute to Gardner Tufts—Wanted to fight more—Fun in the Hare House—‘‘No Use to the Old Woman’’—Selling his turkey—Altering the uniforms—Tom Martin and the pig—Forts after the war—‘‘Holy Joe’s’’ bath—A bushel of rats—Saved his life’’—David—The piazza collapsed—‘‘Return to your Yankee Homes’’—After forty-eight years. : CHAPTER KXX 2 2 4 wo H 8 we lee eo 8 Se « & 1 291-301 The regimental association—First meeting—Speakers and guests at reunions—Col. Shatswell’s devotion—Col. Tannatt’s tribute— Jerry Bradley and the two Burrows—Other comrades as speakers— In memory of Col. Greene—In memoriam—Daughter and grand- daughter of the regiment—Officers—Summer reunions—Winter re- unions. CuaPTER XXXI . . . ww wee eee we ee 802-306 ‘First trip to the battlefields, by S. B. Dearborn (1888)—Welcome in Petersburg—Scene at Ft. Steadman—Visit in Bina eee at Spottsylvania—Recalling old times—Stopping at Bloody Angle— Reception in Washington—Credit to John Ww Hart. CuaPTER XXXII. . 2... we ee ee eee 807-309 Second southern trip of regiment—Seeing Norfolk—At Petersburg and Richmond—Welcomed in Fredericksburg—Viewing Harris Farm—Seeing Washington—Newport News and Hampton, Va. CuHaPTER XXXIII. www a eee ee ee . 310-314 Monument at Spottsylvania—Choosing the site on Harris Farm— The Red Book—A memorable event—Journey to the dedication— The exercises—A Confederate speech—Description of monument— Visits to Norfolk, Fortress Monroe and other places. CuarTteR XXXIV. ww ww wwe 318-317 The Melvin memorial—Dedication June 16, 1909—The memorial volume—Diary of Samuel Melvin—Illustrations—Description of memorial—The exercises—Mr. Melvin’s address—Other speakers. VUL CuapTeR XXXV.. . . . « 318-327 Tablet at Essex Institute, dedicated Oct. 4, 1912—Exercises in the armory—Saluting President Taft—Comrade Norcross’s welcome— Faithful to duty—Col. Bradley’s address—The Harris letter— Presented to Essex Institute—Introducing President Taft—Address of the president—Roses for Mr. Taft—The unveiling—Survivors present—The inscription. CmarTteR XXXVI. . ww eee ew ew ee. 828-329 Memorial flag in Old South Church—Presented by Col. J. Payson Bradley in honor of the regiment, February, 1917—Inscription— Sermon—Alan Seeger’s sentiment—Meaning of the gift—A fitting memorial. CaapteR XXXVII . . . . . eee eee ee 330-499 Roster of the regiment—Alfred S. Roe. Ix Portraits and Illustrations Andrews, Capt. E. A. Annan, Lt. F., Atherton, S. A., Atkinson, Maj. B. C., Ayer, Geo. H., Bacheller, J. P., Bamford, C. W., Barker, Rev. S., Bartlett,.M. M., Bates, C E., Beverly Soldiers Monument, Blackler, L. N., Blaney, Lt. N. R., Bradley, Col. J. P Bradley, Capt. L., Bradley, Lt. L., Jr., Breed, J. W., Brown, Lt. G. T., Brown, H. J. B., Brickett, G. W., Burnham, J. G,, Burlingame, G. G., Burrill, Frank A., Burrows, Cc; Buswell, Lt. J. E., Buxton, Maj. Seth S., Caldwell, Lt. L. P., Carroll, Lt. C., Carroll, Lt. H., Carter, Lt. A. O., Chandler, Maj. E. A., Chapin, Lt. F. B., Chard, J. H., Clark, Capt. John Clark, Lester B., Clement, Capt. M. W., Comey, M., Corps Badge, Croak, W. Cummong Sy ree P.; Cuseck, Cuseck, W. Cs, Cushing, W. A., Cutler, Dr. E. R., Dalton, Capt. H. Tey Dalton, Gen. S., Dame, A. L., Dana, Dr. D., Davis, Capt. A. A., Davis, Maj. F., David, Day, Capt. B., XIV, XXIV, XXXII XXV XI XXV XXI XVIII XV (2) XXX Dearborn, S. B., Dow, Lt. J. M., Downing, C. H., Draper, Maj. A. G., Dutton, Dr. S. L., Earp, Capt. E., Eastman, J. H., Emery, Sergt., Essex Institute Tablet, Evans, Dan, Farnham, Lt. O. L., Felch, Lt. D. M., Follansbee, Capt. G. S., Ft. Richardson, Ft. Tillinghast Foss, J. F., Fowler, Lt. H. P., Frost, S. C., Frye, Geo., Gardner, H. P., Gardner, Jos. W., Gibson, G. S., Giles, J. F., Glass, Lt. W. Glover, Lt. J. Gorton, Lt. S. Graham, Lt. Granger, J. H., Greene, Col. Guilford, Lt. Gwinn, W. H. Hall, Lt. J. L., Hanson, Lt. J. B., Hanson, Lt. J. W., Harris House, Hart, J. W., Hart, Lt. W. H., Hawkins, H. M., Hayes, Maj. C. H., Heath, Capt. C. S., Henderson, C. H., Henderson, E. I., Henderson, Lt. R., Hervey, Lt. S. C., Hill, Col. H. E., Hill, Nathe, Hobbs, Lt. E., Holt, Maj. H., Holt, Lewis G., Holt, Lt. N., Hoppin, Lt. H. P., C. H., Capt. A. A. Hosmer, Co. A Lieut. M. B. SHartuck, Co. A Capt. B. Day, Co. G VII Capt. W. F. Martins, Co. I Capt. JoHN CiarK, Co. 1 Capt. C. S. Heat, Co. B VUI Captain Kimball's Letters 49 May 19, 1864. My dear wife: I am here in the woods near Spottsylvania. We were under fire yesterday on the right. The balls came over our heads with a rush- ing sound. I marched over dead men with half-buried arms and legs stuck out! Wounded men were brought through our lines. It’s an awful sight, but we are getting used toit. Weare all packed and I expect to fight in the course of an hour. I have seen Rebels this time without doubt. Kiss Josie and re- member me as one that loves you better than life. Troops are coming in by thousands. I do hope we shall give them hell this afternoon. The artillery will open in a short time. I must stop. We are going to march. God bless and protect you and love. Your own, J. W. Kimball. P. S. You better send for my clothing. My love to father and mother, Burbank and all others that think of me. The niggers have run away out. My nigger Bill don’t like the sound of the shot and shell. Beardsley’s, Sanderson’s, Caldwell’s and Blaney’s niggers have run away off with everything—but what they stand in. We don’t live very high. Hardtack three times a day. Kimball. Coat (afterwards spelled Cold) HarzBor, Gains MILLS, VA., JUNE 4, 1864. My dear wife: I am alive and well and here in the woods on picket with the Rebel lines within 200 yards of me and sharpshooters blazing on us continually, with our artillery throwing shot over my head, with now and then a charge of infantry; men with stretchers bringing out wounded men; dead ones lying around. This is awful. I have seen with my own eyes sights that made my blood chill. But enough. Corp. Thornton was wounded last night. The Rebs attacked in the dark. I have five men missing. The whole strength of my com- pany is now only 110 and I am one-third larger than any other company, the regiment now numbering 1,045 and it may be 200 less by night. This is war and a relentless one. Lead is our coin and we take whatever we want in the way—chickens, hogs, geese, etc. Very few guards on houses I see. : Keep up a good heart and hope for the best. Kiss dear Josie for me and the same for yourself. I do wish I could receive a line from 50 First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment you, but it is no use. I have one of your old ones in my pocket; I sit down and read it every little while until it is most worn out. Your own, J. W. Kimball. P.S. Our communication is now open to the White House and we shall now live better. Gains Mitts, Va., 8 miles from Richmond, June 6, 1864. My own dear wife: What a Sunday morning here in the woods on picket, away from my regiment. I was ordered to stay here until relieved. My left line of picket touches the 164th N. Y.; my right the 69th N. Y., and 57th Penn. My regiment moved yesterday and where they are gone is more than I know. . . Last night about nine the Rebs advanced three lines of battle within a few yards of our rifle pits and opened on us with small arms and several batteries and our men opened with one grand crash of small arms and artillery that made the ground tremble and kept it up an hour or more. We could hear Rebel officers swearing at their men for not coming up, but it was no use, they had to fall back. I heard one of the Corcoran legion call out to them: “Johnny, if you have not got enough, come back! you sons of guns.” “Come out here you damned Yanks,’’ they answered. They make a night attack every single night and I have stopped here three nights. Firing over us with shell all day, they keep their sharpshooters at work, but we are not a bit behind them. ; We have to keep covered very close and so do they. I have not got the slightest scratch yet, but life here is very un- certain. . . Good-bye. God bless you and dear Josie. Your own, J. W. KimBaLt. June 8, 1864. Near Gains Hill, 7 miles from Richmond. My dear wife: _I was relieved from picket after being five days out and exposed night and day to those cursed Rebels and am now lying down on my back writing to you to let you know that the devil always looks after his own children, and I am well and have not been struck by any of the Rebel bullets. We now lie close to the Rebel lines, within 100 yards, but there is a truce and both sides are burying their dead, so the men come out and shake hands. It is A. P. Hill’s Corps in front of us, of North Carolina troops. They are a fine set of men and say to us that they are sick of the war and are willing to have this thing settled any Captain Kimball's Letters 51 way—only give them peace. They want to trade tobacco for fresh beef or paper. They say we ought to be friends and we should be, if it were not for their officers. They tell us they shall be relieved by a Virginia regiment this afternoon and that they will fire on us every chance. At my standpoint everything looks favorable for the Union arms. The Rebels fight well and doggedly, but they are getting discouraged. Our losses are large, but reinforcements are coming up every day to replace the killed and wounded. is But the fighting is not over by a long sight. Many a poor fellow has got to die on both sides before the cursed Rebellion is over and how men at the North can talk or do as those copperheads do, I don’t see. I wish I could receive a line from you. I see no papers, letters, or anything but woods and Rebels. I write you often, for I suppose you feel anxious to know where Iam. Kiss poor Josie. Remember I love you both dearly and hope we shall meet again and enjoy ourselves in this world. Good-bye. God bless you. J. W. Kimball. Capt. Kimball was killed at Petersburg, June 22. His death was a great loss to the company. He was an overseer in the Atlantic Mills, Lawrence, before the war and was one of those who raised the company and justly regarded as one of its best and bravest officers. His body was disinterred and taken home in October. The funeral was in charge of the City Government of Lawrence and the Free Masons. The City Hall was densely packed. Rev. George P. Wilson, the city missionary, who was active during the war in sending supplies and tending the wounded, delivered the funeral address, in the course of which he said: Co. F, led by the brave officer we have met to honor to-day, has never faltered or wavered, but commencing with that terrible engagement at Spottsylvania, where they first met the enemy and established the proud reputation for bravery, the commanding general was pleased to give them; from that bloody field all through the subsequent battles of that terrible two months of fighting until the army were across the James and closely besieging Petersburg and Richmond, where they are to-day, they have maintained their reputation. The history of the war has furnished no better record of bravery and self-sacrifice than of him whose coffin we surround to-day. He never required his men to go where he was not willing to lead— marching, fighting, suffering with them. Four days before he was killed he was in charge of a skirmish line—other troops not coming 52 First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment up to support him as he expected, he was obliged to fall back. Three of his men lay wounded around him, unable to move. He was unwilling to leave the boys to the tender mercies of the Rebels and took each one separately on his back and carried them over that plain of death to the breastworks. . . While just in the act of firing upon the enemy four days later, the fatal bullet from a Rebel sharpshooter found its way to his brain. Resolutions adopted by the Masonic lodges declared: It is a satisfaction to know that he lived long enough to achieve an un- dying reputation for bravery and heroism and to leave behind him a name worthy to be inscribed among the martyrs in defense of liberty. . . Remembering always his abundant charity; his genial and kindly disposition; his great heart in which the wants of a friend always held precedence of self, and where rivalry with others existed only in generosity of action and thought; remember- ing him as one who without ambition for personal distinction took up arms for the sake of the common good; who without profession of superabundant patriotism was willing to surrender the comforts of a happy home and die, if need be, in his country’s cause; who, while enjoying the rank and position of a captain, wore his sword as a badge of his office, and fell with his face to the foe in the very front of battle with a more effective weapon* of the private soldier in his hand; as one gentle and unassuming, yet brave and resolute— who died, endeared to every man of his command, beloved by all his subordinates and respected by every superior in rank. Corporal George F. Knowles, May 21, 1894, writes: Co. F was a good company and had good men who were willing to do and die for the dear old flag. I shall never forget the eloquent words of Gov. Andrew on the night we left Fort Warren. George W. Parsons, my chum in the last year, was killed in October. I returned from picket that day and was told that he had been wounded and gone to the hospital, but I did not find him there. I searched the field and failed to find him. He is among the great army of unknown dead. He had married while home on his fur- lough after re-enlisting. At Deep Bottom, Col. Shatswell dismounted and led us in a skirmish under heavy fire. He did look brave and noble. He was so tall that I could see him above the heads of the men and I never felt so proud of a man as I did of him. He was a good officer and he stuck by us through thick and thin. Every drop of his blood was loyal. One hot dusty day he sent me into my tent to get rested. He always had an eye out for the welfare of his men. *Captain Kimball and Bugler Bradley carried Spencer carbines that they had picked up on the battlefield—the only weapons of the kind in the regiment— seven-shooters, breech-loading, and required special ammunition. George F. Knowles’s Letter 53 I saw Washburn, the first man killed, as he lay on the ground soon after he was shot. Before the fight he said he would as lief die as not, only for his mother, whom he knew would feel badly. Charlie Irish, full of fun, just back from a furlough, was killed by a piece of shell during the last days of the war, as he lay behind a fence near me. Sergt. D. W. Howe, Co. F, in 1914 wrote: I was captured June 22 in front of Petersburg with 29 others of my company and taken to Richmond; thence to Belle Isle, and south by way of Lynchburg over the mountain to Danville, to Augusta and Savannah, Ga., where one of the boys died. We arrived at Andersonville July 11th at four P. M., and were all assigned to the 108th mess, composed of 270 men, divided into three companies of one of which I was given charge. Sergt. Howard of a Pennsylvania regiment was chief of the mess until Aug. 24, when I succeeded him. In the mess were the following of Co. F.: Sergt. Howe, Corp. Bird, Private Claflin, Tower, Osborne, Nute, Good- rich (ist), Goodrich (2d), Smith, McKown, Dudley, Decker, Watton, Johnson, Hale, Conway (1st), Conway (2d), Emery, Judd, French, Perry, Phipps, Vining, Davis, Comey, White, McGrath, Saunders, McGregor, Fletcher. The following died: Moses E. Smith at Savannah; G. J. Good- rich, Sept. 25; Claflin, Aug. 1; Tower, Oct. 12; McKown, Oct. 21; Dudley, Hale, Oct. 18; Perry, Sept. 21; Emery, Aug. 13; Fletcher; all at Andersonville. I take the names from a diary I tried to keep while on the front and in prison. Throughout the war the company performed its duties cheer- fully, efficiently and faithfully and stood second to none, whether on guard duty or in battle, in camp or in field. CHAPTER VII Company G, Mugford Guards of Marblehead Compiled mainly from records of Horace G. Usher sent to Governor Andrew, asking to be enrolled in the serv- ice for five years, unless sooner discharged, under the name of Mugford Guards. The company had been raised by Captain Benjamin Day. They were called together April 30 and after examination all were pronounced physically fit by Dr. Samuel L. Young. The company organized May 2, 1861—Capt. Benjamin Day, First Lieutenants C. P. Noyes and B.F. Martins, Second Lieutenants J. H. Burnham and R. Burridge, Jr. Lt. Col. Perkins had charge of the election. Two days later the officers qualified and received their commissions, muskets for the company, fife and drum, and they were assured that in a few days the company would go to the front with the Eighth Regiment. Uniform coats were presented to the men by William B. Browne, on behalf of the school teachers of Marblehead, and caps were given by the Mugford Fire Association. It was announced that the town had appropriated $400 for pantaloons and underclothing, and Capt. Day announced that Boston friends had contributed $500 for the company funds. The next day 79 dippers from Harris Silon and 80 soldiers’ books from N. Broughton were received. The first parade, May 13, led by the Marblehead band, was notable for the presentation of a sword and equipment to Capt. Day at a halt in front of the town hall, and an eloquent address by Rev. Mr. Calthrop. Capt. Day’s reply was spirited and bril- liant. “Sir,” he said, “you have proved true friends in the hour of need and in return I now swear before God and man that this sword shall not rest in its sheath until treason in all its forms has been subdued, the flag of the Confederacy trailed in the dust, and the glorious old flag of our nation again waves over a united and happy people. . . And now in behalf of my officers and men I return my sincere thanks to the citizens of Marblehead, Boston and Salem for their many acts of kindness towards the Mugford Guards. Rest assured, gentlemen, we appreciate your labors in our behalf A PETITION dated April 16, 1861, signed by 79 men, was Organizing and Training Co. G 55 and will so conduct ourselves, both as citizens and soldiers, as not to disgrace the name of the glorious old hero who fell upon the deck of the schooner Franklin while fighting for religious and constitu- tional liberty.” After the parade and meeting, a collation was given to the boys by Joseph Martin at his residence. After a march to Lynn, May 16, the company was entertained at the armory there by the Light Infantry, and next day the com- pany marched to Salem, thence to Danvers. Another gift, $100 from ten citizens of Marblehead, for immediate needs of the company, was received May 29. About this time notice was received that the company was to form part of the 9th Regiment. The Putnam Guards of Danvers were entertained in the town hall. Owing to bad weather the visitors remained over night and in the morning were escorted part of the way home by the Mug- fords, after which they returned to the engine house to take part in a flag-raising, at which Capt. Day made another rousing speech. On the following Sunday the company attended church and the Episcopal rector, Rev. Mr. Chase, presented each man with a prayer book, and in the evening heard a sermon by Rev. Mr. Calthrop. The Mugford Guards received a warm ovation on the day of their departure, marching through the principal streets of Marble- head, escorted by the Fire Association and led by the band, they were addressed by William B. Browne at Workhouse Rocks. Capt. Day made a suitable response and then, restive as so many race- horses, the boys left for Boston, arriving at noon, proceeding to Boston Common, and thence to Fort Warren, where they arrived about six o’clock, June 24. Nine belated members of the company and recruits arrived June 29, three more July 9, and nine more came July 11, and were sworn. Others came later. The guards left the fort on the steamer Argo for Boston and entrained, leaving for New York at midnight with their regiment. On August 20, Co. G was assigned to the artillery with Cos. B, F and H, under Major Wright, the other companies being assigned to the infantry under Lt. Col. Oliver. The company was sent to Ft. Runyon August 31 and at the same time Co. H relieved a New York company at Ft. Jackson. Samuel I. Goodwin died suddenly at Ft. Albany, the first of the company to die,Sept. 5. Fever and ague attacked the company and on Nov. 10 seven men were discharged for disability. 56 First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment Presents to enlisted men, and to officers as well, when they were promoted, gave the men a chance to express appreciation for favorites. When Lieut. Joel F. Stone resigned, he was given a testimonial valued at $60, on May 17, 1862. Company F relieved Co. G in Fort Runyon, Dec. 8, 1861, and the boys were glad of the change. Capt. Day was ordered home on recruiting duty, Dec. 14th, and with him went Nathaniel V. Rogers as clerk and Richard Watts, discharged for disability. Nine more recruits came Dec. 25 and ten the next day with Capt. Day. CHAPTER VII Company H, Andover Light Infantry Civil War. The first meeting was held at Frye village on April 18th for the purpose of raising a company, John Dove presiding, and in the town hall two days later there was another meeting at which Francis Coggswell presided and in which many of the leading citizens took part. Stirring resolutions ex- pressed the unanimous public sentiment, and eloquent speeches aroused patriotism to a high pitch. An executive committee of five was instructed to raise a company and funds to support the government. This committee consisted of the most substantial citizens of the town; Francis Coggswell, chairman, Peter Smith, John Dove, William Chickering, Amos Abbott, Joseph Holt, Wil- liam P. Foster, Nathan Frye, Jedediah Burtt, Stephen D. Abbott, Willard Pike, Isaac O. Blunt, James Shaw, George Foster, William Jenkins, Calvin E. Stowe, Moses Foster, Jr., Benjamin F. Ward- well, John Aiken, Benjamin Boynton, William Abbott, Nathan Shattuck, John Abbott, James Bailey and Warren F. Draper. At a meeting on April 22, the citizens subscribed liberally, the firm of Smith, Dove & Co. heading the list of contributions with $3,000. On May 4, the subscriptions amounted to $9,144.25. The company was promptly recruited and on April 30 elected the following officers: Captain, Horace Holt; lieutenants, George W. W. Dove, Charles H. Poor, Moses W. Clement and Orrin L. Farnham. Drilling began at once under the instruction of Captain Samuel C. Oliver of Salem, who was afterward lieutenant colonel of the 14th Regiment. At a town meeting May 6, uniforms and the sum of $17 each were appropriated for each of the new company; also a rubber blanket and other articles, remitting poll taxes and also providing eight dollars a month for the family of each married soldier and fifty cents a day for each day’s drill before mustering. A Committee of National Defense was chosen, William Chickering, chairman. The ladies of the town began in April’ to provide clothing for the company and on May 11 had ready a complete outfit, including A NDOVER took prompt action at the beginning of the 58 First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment shirts, underclothing, stockings, handkerchiefs, hats, repair kits, bandages, etc. Professor Calvin E. Stowe preached to a congregation of which the Andover Light Infantry was a part, May 19. Various flag- raisings were attended. At the Theological Seminary flag-raising, June 4, the Banner Song by Harriet Beecher Stowe, written for the occasion, was first sung. Another notable flag-raising was that at the Mansion House, June 6th. At the time of departure for mustering, the Andover Light Infantry was well drilled and equipped. Captains Fellows and Holt had charge of the drilling during the last weeks in Andover. After the bounties were paid in the morning, lunch was served in the town hall by the ladies of the town, a farewell address made by Francis Coggswell, and the company escorted to the station by the Ellsworth Guards of Phillips Academy and the Havelock Greys of the Theological Seminary in the presence of practically the entire population of the town. When the number of lieutenants was reduced, Mr. Farnham became third sergeant and Mr. Dove was not mustered in. Charles H. Poor received the first lieutenant’s commission, Moses W. Clement, second lieutenant’s. Company H was detached and sent to garrison Fort Richardson March 22, 1862. When Gen. French evacuated Maryland Heights, July 1, 1863, the company was detailed to remain in charge of some heavy guns left behind to cover the retreat and protect the shipment of stores and ordnance on the canal. But no enemy appeared, and at ten- thirty when all the troops and boats were out of range of the guns, Major Horace Holt, who was in command, ordered the guns spiked and as soon as this was done, the company set out for Frederick City, Md. When seven miles out from Sandy Hook, the company was joined by a company of engineers under Capt. Pengaskill and a small train of wagons. At five next day all arrived safely at Frederick City, much fatigued by the long march. The stay with the regiment was brief. On July 6, Company H was ordered back to Maryland Heights and the company entrained in open cars on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Four iron-clad cars were attached for defense, each armed with a light fieldpiece without gun carriage, slung by ropes from the top of the car and served through portholes. The train was in charge of Lieut. Meigs, Co. H on Detached Service 59 U.S. A., and had orders to run as far as Harper’s Ferry to learn the condition of the roads and telegraph wires. The start was made at eight a.m., July 7, arriving at Sandy Hook, Md., at 3 p.M. Brig. Gen. John R. Kenley, with the Maryland brigade, was just coming in from Frederick City and he ordered Company H to proceed to Harper’s Ferry bridge to cover the advance of his brigade past the bridge and up the heights. The enemy was strongly posted on the Harper’s Ferry side of the bridge behind the railroad and old brick walls and when the brigade arrived opened musketry fire. Lieut. Carter and twenty men were deployed to skirmish along the Maryland bank under cover, and Lieut. Meigs opened fire with a twelve-pound howitzer, but as he could not bring his cars up to get the range, he let Major Holt have two six-pound brass pieces, which were taken from the cars by Lieut. Guilford and two gun detachments, and rigged on logs in the road in the space of ten minutes. Each trunnion rested on a log, using a plank for a quoin. Firing began, and the Rebels soon had to quit their shelter and get out of range. The skirmish continued until night. Seven- teen men of the Maryland brigade were wounded, but Company H escaped without a scratch. At this juncture the 8th N. Y. Artillery arrived, bringing orders for H to return to the battalion, but before the march could begin, Brig. Gen. Nagler, who had just arrived and assumed command of the forces at Maryland Heights, ordered all the troops there to remain, and the next morning Company H was sent to the Naval Battery to occupy its old quarters and to put into position the guns that it had spiked at the time of evacuation. But on the tenth, Gen. Nagler ordered Company H to march with Brig. Gen. Kenley’s brigade, then under orders to report at Boonsboro, Md., and to join the battalion. Attached to the 8th Maryland Regiment, under Col. Denison, Company H marched, July 11, about seven miles beyond Boons- boro, halted and began to throw up breastworks. An attack was expected. At five o’clock that day, Major Rolfe rode into camp and the company joined his battalion, which was then attached to the reserve artillery of the Army of the Potomac in camp near the Boonsboro Pike. CHAPTER IX Company I, Putnam Guards of Danvers to fever heat and the war meeting held in the town hall the same evening that the news was received was the largest gathering with perhaps one exception ever known in the town. Arthur A. Putnam, afterward captain of the guards, pre- sided. After some stirring speaking, Nehemiah P. Fuller, afterward captain of Co. C, 17th Regiment and later Major in the 2d Heavy Artillery, offered to enlist and his example was speedily followed. But later, when the roll was signed, Reuel B. Pray had the honor to sign first, so there are two good claims to the distinction of being the first to volunteer. A few days later George W. Kenney, Charles H. Adams, Jr., and others offered to enlist, if Arthur A. Putnam would. Promptly Putnam accepted, turning his law office into a recruiting station. In a week fifty were enrolled, nearly all from the Plains village, several from Wenham and a few from Boxford, men of good character and fine physique. Only one man was rejected by the surgeon. The company was quartered in the Grammar School house on Maple Street, then unfinished. Benjamin E. Newhall was drill- master. Major Alfred A. Abbott of Peabody had charge of the election of officers. The company elected Captain Arthur A. Putnam, Lieutenants Benjamin E. Newhall, Charles H.Adams, Jr., William J. Roome and George W. Kenney and, excepting Newhall, they were commissioned on May 1. The declination of Newhall resulted in the promotion of the other lieutenants in order and Elbridge W. Guilford became fourth lieutenant. Lieut. Kenney was not mustered but served through the war and was captain of the 17th Infantry. The names of sergeants and corporals and of the privates may be found in the muster roll in this work. Muskets were not to be had until May 7, when cases containing 72 arrived. In those days uniforms were not uniform. Each company designed its own. The Danvers boys decided upon light blue trousers and jackets, while the officers chose Rebel gray. The caps of the men were gray. The material was furnished by the - SHE news from Fort Sumter roused the town of Danvers Putnam Guards of Danvers 61 townspeople and the uniforms made by the patriotic women in Gothic Hall. Major Foster of the Salem Cadets was drill master for several weeks and Berry’s pasture was used for training grounds. The company marched at various times to Wenham, Topsfield, Boxford, Middleton, South Danvers, Salem and Marblehead and wherever they went they were cheered and offered the kindest hospitality. In Marblehead where the company spent two days and one night, Capt. Benjamin Day’s company entertained them, aided, it may be said, by the whole town. In those days John E. Tiney of Wenham was drummer. Though anxious to go to the front his age prevented enlistment. The name Putnam Guards was chosen in honor of Miss Catherine Putnam, then 84 years of age, a resident of Peterborough, N. H., whose father was born in Danvers and descended from the famous old Danvers family, to which ‘‘Old Put” and General Rufus Put- nam, as well as many other distinguished men belonged. She gave a flag of heavy silk, richly corded and tasseled, on a staff of burn- ished oak, surmounted by an eagle and inscribed on a silver plate “Presented to the Putnam Guards of Danvers, Mass., by Miss Catherine Putnam, Daughter of a Son of Danvers. Our Birth- right is Freedom and God is Our Trust, May, 1861.’" The ceremony of presentation was memorable. The meeting was held in the Square in Plains Village in the presence of a great throng. Na- thaniel Hills, principal of the high school presided and John D. Philbrook, superintendent of schools, delivered the address. Capt. Putnam made suitable response. At the same time a copy of the New Testament was given to each man of the company by Rev. A. P. Putnam of Roxbury. Rev. J. W. Putnam and Allen Putnam of Roxbury also spoke. Since the war the flag has been in custody of John G. Weeden. The guards and the infantry companies attended church together from time to time. Of the character of the men and their conduct while waiting for orders to muster in, Capt. Putnam, in a pamphlet published in 1887, reprinting articles from the Danvers Mirror in July, 1887, says: } Speaking for the company concerning which the writer knows best whereof he affirms there was not a member of it who was not of respectable education and had not enlisted apparently from a principle of devotion to the cause of civil freedom and the Union of the states. We charge our memory to no purpose in an endeavor 62 First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment to recall an instance of anything approaching a disturbance of the peace on the part of any member of the company—unless an in- cident hereinafter noted is to be excepted—from the time of its organization to the day it finally left the town and state for more serious service. . . From the beginning there was struggle to hold the company together. Not that it wanted to disband—not a single member of it lamented his enlistment. It was all along with the majority a bitter question of bread and butter. Near half of the members were married, had families and no means of support, save in the toil of their hands. The incident to which the captain refers was the disciplining of a selectman for a reported expression of his opinion that the sooner the boys of the company went to work the better. Levi Howard and others of the guard, armed with twenty feet of stout rope, sought out the selectman, but checked their purpose upon his denial of disloyal sentiments. But that outbreak silenced all the Copper- heads. The Putnam Guards were finally assigned to the 14th Regiment, as Co. I. On the day of departure, Monday, June 24, a large gathering at the station cheered the company and bade it Godspeed, and some came along to Boston. In appearance, movement and tactics, this company compared favorably with any other of the ten that assembled together that day for the first time on Boston Common. Capt. Putnam and Lieut. Adams resigned at Fort Albany in 1861. Lieut. Wardwell was promoted and transferred; Sergt. Hanson was made second lieutenant; Second Lieut. Roome advanced to first lieutenant. i Corporal Thomas Turney, while on guard duty at Fort Runyon, Nov. 2, 1861, was a victim of the carelessness of another man, whose name was never known. Killed by a ball from a musket accidentally discharged, Turney died at the post of duty, at the hands, not of the enemy but of a heedless friend. He was a favorite in the company and his death caused deep sorrow. At the expense of his comrades the body was sent to his home in Wenham. Co. I was relieved, Dec. 15, 1861, at Fort Runyon by Co. C. William F. Martins of Co. E was commissioned captain of I, succeeding Capt. Wardwell, Nov. 17, 1862. With three other companies, Co. I was then at Maryland Heights, detached from the rest of the regiment. Co. I occupied what was known as the 30-pdr. rifled battery at the very summit, overlooking Harper’s Ferry and the valley of the Potomac River. Co. I in the Battle of Winchester 63 In May, 1863, there was a narrow escape from destruction of the battery by fire. Capt. Martins, his wife and other officers were away for the day on a carriage ride to the battlefield of Antietam. During the day a brush fire started from ashes of the pipe of a New York soldier and spread rapidly. Every man available was called to fight the fire which raged furiously in the dry grass and bushes. Tents were struck and placed on the magazine and further protection provided with layers of heavy tarpaulins. The captain returned at the height of the excitement. Major Rolfe had sent the women and children to a safe place in the Naval Battery. It was after dark when the fire was subdued and a rain early in the night completed the work of extinguishing the fire. A tent was burned but otherwise there was no loss. The company was ordered to Winchester June 9, 1863, and left Harper’s Ferry next day by railroad proceeding to Martinsburg, Va., joining the command of Gen. Milroy at Winchester June 11, and was assigned to take charge of Fort Jackson the same night. The Battle of Winchester began Saturday, June 13, and the com- pany was engaged all day Saturday and until Sunday night. Gen. Milroy decided on Sunday night that he could not hold the position and ordered a retreat. Co. I was detailed to cover the evacuation and, after a certain time, to destroy the ammunition in the magazines with water, and spike the guns. Capt. Martins obeyed orders and at daylight Monday morning reached a valley near the railroad where our forces were engaged with a division of General Rodes of Ewell’s command. ‘After a short but brisk fight,”’ writes Capt. Martins, ‘for an hour, for want of artillery we were obliged to surrender.”’ The troops were taken back to Winchester, preparatory to the march to Richmond. We marched from Winchester to Staunton, where we took cars to Richmond. After a march through the streets for exhibition, we were quartered at “Hotel Libby.” On arriving at this place and after being searched, nothing of value was taken from us except what money they could find. We were as- signed quarters in a room below the one occupied by Col. Stuart, whose raid through Alabama and Georgia ended finally in his capture at Rome, Ga., by Gen. Forrest. I will not give you a detailed account of our experience in that place. It would make my paper too long. We lived till July 5, when I was called upon to pass through a scene that I don’t want to witness or take part in again. An order was read to us at roll call that the captains only should fall in to be 64 First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment taken to a room downstairs. There were at that time 72 captains in prison. You can form no conception as to the feelings and sur- mises as to the cause of our being taken from our comrades. We were not long held in suspense, however. This was the Monday after the Gettysburg fight. The Sunday previous news had reached Richmond that Lee had been successful in that fight, that Meade’s army had been terribly cut up, 40,000 prisoners captured and Meade with the remnant of his army rushing on to Philadelphia, followed by Lee with the prospect of capturing that place. . On the reception of this news in Richmond an old desire was revived on the part of the Rebs to retaliate for the hanging of two spies by Gen. Burnside when in command of the Department of Ohio. . . . The Confederate authorities came into the room and we were formed in a square. The adjutant read an order that two captains were to be selected to be hanged in retaliation, as above stated. Capt. Sawyer of the 1st N. J. Cavalry, and Capt. Flynn of Col. Stuart’s regiment from Indiana were the two names drawn. I will not attempt to describe the feelings of the officers engaged intheaffair. . . The twoofficers were taken from us and placed in close confinement. The order was not executed. I think if the order had not been read so early it would not have been at all, as the news came in later contradicting all that had been received prior. Things went along as usual after the event narrated, sometimes half-starved, insulted by unofficials, threatened and fired at by guards, I lived through it, till about the middle of March, 1864, when I was paroled. I was enabled by giving a gold watch to the famous “ Dick” Turner to get my name on the list of prisoners to be paroled next. It must be understood in this connection that the cartel had not been carried out, but Gen. Butler, then commissioner of prisons, who oe Gen. Old, the Rebel commissioner, still effected a kind of parole. On arriving at Washington I was granted, as was customary, a twenty-day leave of absence and at its expiration reported to Camp Parole, Annapolis, Md., and on May 1 I received orders (being then regularly exchanged) to report to the regiment, which I did on the thirteenth. Up to that time Co. I was the only company in the regiment that had seen any field fighting. They did well, . . . acompany that its officers felt proud to command. The company received the official thanks of Gen. Milroy in command, and Brig. Gen. Elliot, brigade commander. On the nineteenth Capt. Martins left the company for other service. The following account is from the report of Lieut. J. B. Hanson, Co. I, commanding after the capture of Capt. Martins; dated at t Hoppin, Co. I Ligut. H. Carroiz, Co. B. Lizut. H. P. Lizut. E. Hospss, Co. D Capt. E. Earp, Co. K R. HENDERSON, Co. G Ligut. N. Hott, Co. I Ligzut. F. W. Stowe, Co. F Capt. S. Lancmaip, Co. F Ix Capt. E. F. Sporrorp, Co. G Capt. R. S. LITTLEFIELD, Co. L Serot. J. W. Hart, Co. L Ligut. D. M. Fetcu,Co.M ~~ Lieut. W. C. Grass, Co. C —_ Lrzut. Epw. Grauam, Co. K Lieut. A. SMART, Co. E Capt. W. G. THompson, Co. E _ Ligut. S. Gorton, Co. K x Account of Lieut. J. B. Hanson 65 Maryland Heights, June 23, 1863. After describing the march and arrival at Winchester, he says: The company was assigned to garrison the principal fortifications there, known as the Flag Fort, Capt. Martins being under the orders of Capt. W. Angelo Powell, engineer-in-chief. The arma- ment consisted of four 20-pdr. rifled cannon and two 24-pdr. brass howitzers of which Company I at once took charge. Friday, June 12, Capt. Martins was ordered to report to Brig. Gen. Elliot. Saturday, June 13, early in the morning the enemy appeared between the Front Royal Road and the Strasbourg Road, and an engagement took place between them and our forces, lasting the greater part of the day. A part of the time the enemy was in sight of the fort, distant about 5,000 yards, and some seventy shells were fired at them from the fort with the effect, according to the state- ment of Capt. Powell, of dismounting two of the enemy’s pieces and throwing his infantry into disorder. During Saturday night, the thirteenth, General Milroy disposed his main force around the fortifications and at daybreak of Sunday, June 14, took up his old quarters in the Flag Fort. During Sunday the enemy gradually encircled the town and fortifications, skirmish- ing going on all the time. Company I took a more active part in the engagement than before, shelling the enemy in his rifle pits and other places of concealment all day. In the afternoon Lieut. Hanson with two detachments in charge of a 24-pdr. howitzer took part in a skirmish and reconnai- sance in the open plain below the fort, the party, which also included a regiment of infantry and a squadron of cavalry being under the command of Col. Ely of the 18th Regt. Conn. Vols. The result of this reconnaisance was the killing of one Rebel captain, the wound- ing of several and capturing of eleven prisoners. About 5 p.m. the 14th, the enemy, having gained the rear of Gen. Milroy, opened his batteries upon the fortifications and a heavy cannonading, which lasted two hours and a half, followed. The enemy made one assault upon Fort Flag, which was repelled. At 1 a.m., June 15, Gen. Milroy ordered a retreat. By this order Company I remained last in the fort to spike the guns after the others had left. This was successfully done. All the company property, all the knapsacks and luggage were necessarily abandoned and supposed to have fallen into the hands of the enemy. Co. I marched in the rear of the column directly behind the 6th Md. Regt. About four miles from Winchester they were attacked by a strong force of the enemy. Gen. Milroy with the head of the column pushed his way through. Co. I with the 6th Md. Regt. found themselves cut off from the rest, but under the able direction of the field officer of the 6th Md. Regt., made their way to Harper's Ferry by a very severe march, avoiding the towns of Berryville, 66 First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment Smithfield and Charlestown, taking country roads and striking through the woods until they came to the Shenandoah, ten miles above the ferry. In the march Capt. Martins and 44 enlisted men fell behind and have not since been heard from. In Sunday’s fight, Private James F. Hodgdon was severely wounded by the premature discharge of a cannon and left in the hospital at Winchester. In the fight at daybreak, Monday, June 14, Private Timothy Sheehan was wounded by a piece of shell in the forehead. Private James Drysdale is reported to have been wounded by a musketball at the same time. Major Rolfe reported: Nearly all of Co. I except those who were taken prisoners (captain and 44 men) arrived at Maryland Heights on the sixteenth and seventeenth of June in an exhausted and desti- tute condition. Some of the men arrived back, via Harrisburg, Pa., near the last of the month. Lieut. Hoppin and Lieut. Holt arrived on the sixteenth, and as fast as the men came in, got them together and supplied their wants. . . Co. I was in the Battle of Win- chester, gaining much praise for their good conduct and artillery skill, being ordered by Gen. Milroy to remain and spike the guns left by his command. Capt. Martins and forty men are exchanged and again on duty. Another record states that 36 men of Co. I, captured at Win- chester, reported to their company, Oct. 14, from Parole Camp, Annapolis, Md. For further account of this company on detached service, see the account of Major Rolfe’s Battalion and the sketch of Co. H with which Co. I was associated much of the time. CHAPTER X Company K, City Guards of Lawrence a company in the Light Infantry Armory, but he left the task to Frank A. Rolfe when called to form the Methuen Company. The City Guards of Lawrence, composed of the best and most popular young men of the city, became Co. K, twin and rival of Co. F, the Scott Grays. The city presented fine uniforms to both companies. Among other gifts were the testa- ments presented in the Baptist Church, June 2, at the Sunday service; and at a meeting in the armory, a sword and accoutrements to Lieut. Preston, by Miss Annie Hayes in behalf of the ladies of the city. At the same time Private George P. Cumming was given a revolver and Private Gilman P. Foss a purse of money. Rev. Mr. Lane and George P. Wilson, both of whom were active in aiding the company in its formative period, were speakers on this occasion. As already described in the sketch of Co. F, the march to the railroad station on the day of departure was marked by intense feeling and much cheering. The mayor, aldermen and councilmen attended the companies in a body. The officers mustered into service with the company, July 5, were: Captain Frank A. Rolfe, First Lieutenant William Preston, Second Lieutenant Albert A. Davis. H. Alonzo Stoddard, elected third lieutenant, was mustered as a private, became a sergeant July 6, 1861, and was killed, May 19, 1864. Frank Davis, the fourth lieutenant, was not mustered, but afterward became cap- tain of another company and finally major of the regiment. A pleasant event May 15, 1862, was the presentation of a watch worth $50 to Corporal Carleton E. Merrill, who had had the supervision of men employed in the quartermaster’s camp. In May, 1862, the company was in a state of great indignation when it was learned the handsome uniforms that had been pre- sented to the company by the city when it entered the service, had been given to a new company. The uniforms were left behind when the company came to the front, in order to save them for use after the war. When the City Guards were organized they A S early as April 19 Capt. Leverett Bradley was recruiting 68 First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment had decided to buy cheap gray flannel uniforms and they were highly delighted when the city presented to both companies F and K substantial cloth uniforms. After the companies had been at Fort Warren a few weeks they were supplied with the regulation shoddy by the government and decided to lay away the fine raiment for future dress parades. It seemed like an Indian gift to the boys at the front when these uniforms were appropriated for the use of the Lawrence Light Infantry and Warren Light Guards, new companies. The end of October was greatly saddened by the death on the twenty-ninth of Enoch O. Frye of Andover. He had been felling trees for the new barracks and was crushed by a falling tree, killing him instantly. The company voted to send his body home and on the evening of the thirtieth, the company, led by the band, marched to the hospital, where after prayer by Chaplain Barker, the body was taken and started on its last journey. At Long Bridge the procession halted; the escort fired three rounds over the coffin, and the wagon proceeded in charge of Capt. Rolfe and was soon lost to sight in the gloom of night. On the return to camp the band played a quickstep. Thus early did we learn that the funeral march and the quickstep of action follow each other with almost appalling nearness. Co. K left Long Bridge Apr. 19, 1863, for Ft. Albany. During the winter a gymnasium, built under the direction of George A. Davis of Co. K, a gymnast and teacher of gymnastics, afforded a place of relaxation for the men and built up the muscles of many who followed the instructions and did the exercises. Co. K went to Ft. Tillinghast Mar. 16, 1864. In competition with twenty-four others Sergt. Frank Annan of this company came out first and won his promotion to second lieutenant. In May, 1864, a gold watch and chain was presented to H. A. Stoddard by his comrades in appreciation of his soldierly, gentle- manly and impartial conduct as orderly sergeant. In the same month he was killed in battle. A vivid account of May 19, 1864, written by a member of the company, furnishes some sidelights on the history of the company and regiment. On the west side of the road was a knoll upon which stood an old building, evidently a blacksmith shop (this building is devoted by Co. K in the Battle of May roth 69 various writers to all the purposes for which farm buildings and out- buildings can be used). We left the road before reaching the shop, marching around the knoll, forming in line on its west side. Here we were told that a heavy wagon train was coming in our direction and the enemy was in hot pursuit of it and that in all probability we would have our first experience in battle. We moved to the top of the hill behind the shop and found two pieces of artillery there. Soon after four we moved around the shop and charged into the little strip of wood which lay at the foot of the hill. A fearful silence reigned; not a sound save the chirp of birds and rustling of leaves as the cool breeze moved them gently. Here the writer devotes a paragraph to the emotions of a man going into battle for the first time. As we formed, the Lawrence Company was in the center, Methuen and Andover on either side. Thus we marched down the hill. The fight had begun and soon came the news of the death of Eleazer Washburn, Co. F. He had enlisted July 5, 1861, and re-enlisted Nov. 6, 1863, full of life and strength and all aglow with patriotism. Before we were halfway down the hill our skirmish line was engaged quite sharply and as we entered the edge of the wood, we received a volley from the Rebels in our immediate front. We had been marching elbow to elbow, arms at shoulder, ason parade. Ina moment all was changed. Exhortations from officers to stand firm; we stood for a short time; then the retreat to cover of the two guns. Again the men rushed madly forward with a cheer to the woods and through the swamp, and again and again, until 6 Pp. M. when we received support and were ordered to the rear to reform our regi- ment, which was scattered through the division sent to our relief. The brave Rolfe, major of the Merrimac Valley Battalion, was among the first to fall—coming to the ground from his horse, com- pletely riddled with bullets. Lieut. Ed. Graham of K, a quiet, retiring man, beloved by all, a fine officer, fell mortally wounded. Long may his memory be preserved in his home by the sea. The gallant and patriotic H. A. Stoddard, whose heart was as noble and brave, wounded and dying he said: ‘‘ Tell my father where and how I died, that is all.’’ But the message never reached the father, for its bearer, John Connors, was killed at Petersburg, June 16. Robert Atkinson, whose disposition and soul were like those of a child, mild and quiet, passed to eternity in a moment during the fight. Robert Crosby, a religious student, met the same fate as his friend Atkinson. Alden Magoon, brave and careless, expected to die in the first battle and he did. 70 First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment Cornelius Hall, happy and large-hearted, met a fearful death; wounded in several places, he survived only a few hours. ; Stewart Smith, another who predicted that he would not survive the first fight, was a man of honor and reliability. ; Frank La Bounty, firm in his ideas of right and wrong, died for principle. : Stephen Murphy, who went firmly and quietly into the battle, knew his duty and performed it faithfully. Frank Rafferty, a mere boy, was faithful unto death. Alfred A. Holt, hardly 18 years old, met his fate like a veteran. . C. Lyman, a staid man of 38, steady, able, honorable. All these died on the field of battle amid the shouts of the living, the groans of the wounded and the hiss of bullets. Three days afterward died Joseph E. Batchelder; five days after, George W. Merrow, a friend and favorite of the whole company, brave and generous. L. P. Littlefield, a remarkably straightforward man, passed away at Fredericksburg, May 27; Joseph Williamson at Philadelphia, May 29; Roswell E. Morse at Fairfax Seminary, July 9, quiet, honorable, his short life was blameless. The following died at home: John Bradley at Salem, June 20; W. G. Stevens, at Abington, June 25; W. W. Wallace at Ashburnham, July 26. Among the prisoners, the following died in Andersonville: Asa Rowe, Aug. 10, 1864; George Handy, Aug. 29; E. K. Holt, Sept. 13; Nat Brinley, Sept. 16; Samuel Melvin, Sept. 20. The foregoing was quoted, though slightly condensed and is substantially as written. I have not found the name of the writer. The record of wounded and deaths in the service are given in the roster. No such intimate account of comrades lost after the first battle could now be compiled as that preserved above. The funeral of Capt. Davis in Lawrence was held in the City Hall in charge of the Masonic lodges of the city. Though captain of Co. A when killed, he had been our first lieutenant. Resolutions of Tuscan Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of which he was a member, describe him as cut off in the midst of his usefulness, ‘‘a brave officer, a loyal citizen, a tender husband, a devoted and affectionate brother.” From time to time there came to the front parcels and boxes from friends at home, filled with food, clothing and other articles, and they were gratefully received. CHAPTER XI Company L HIS company was not: entirely of Essex County. It was recruited at Ipswich and Cambridge and, like some of the other companies had many Middlesex county men. Eben A. Andrews of Ipswich, afterward captain, and James L. Hall of Roxbury, afterward lieutenant, were the prime movers. The men at Ipswich, some forty in number, had enlisted originally for a light battery, but the purpose of those in charge had failed. About thirty more men from Lowell joined the company and formed the nucleus of Company L. In February, 1862, the Lowell and Ipswich volunteers were sent to Camp Cameron in Cambridge and a number of them were mustered on Feb. 20, others four days later. James L. Hall was commissioned lieutenant Feb. 28th, but Capt. Andrews was not mustered in until March 19. During the latter part of February and through March recruiting continued and the newly enlisted men were mustered into the U. S. service as fast as they came. At the same time that Co. L was being organized and drilled, Co. M was being formed in Lynn and these two companies were added to the 14th Heavy Artillery Regiment, after its designation had been changed, and under artillery regulations it was required to have twelve companies, instead of ten. Together the two companies went to the front, after their complement of men had been recruited, reported at Fort Albany to the commanding officer, March 22, 1862, and were sent to Ft. Runyon. The original organization of the company was as follows: Captain, Eben A. Andrews of Ipswich; first lieutenants, James L. Hall of Roxbury, and Joseph C. Smith of Salem; second lieutenants, Charles H. Shepard of South Reading, now Wakefield, and Benja- min B. G. Stone of Belmont. The other and subsequent officers will be found in the roster. Charles W. Bamford, regt. com. serg., writes: On our arrival at Fort Albany we were at once started on the business of learning to be soldiers; squad drills, lessons in the school of the soldier, instruction in the use of the rifle until we had to learn it as a soldier should. When we had become reasonably proficient 72 First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment in handling the small arms, we began our work on the big guns in the forts. And from that time we may date our services as a com- pany of Heavy Artillery. Co. L came with 150 men and took its full share in the service and fighting of the regiment to the end of the war. It relieved Co. C at Long Bridge May 17, 1863. During the winter of 1863-4 the company was stationed in Fort Woodbury. January 1, 1864, it received twenty recruits. The company left Fort Woodbury May 15, 1864, to join the rest of the regiment on the march to Alexandria, embarking on the steamer John Brooks. Six more recruits joined the company at Fort Hayes near Peters- burg. Stanley B. Dearborn writes, referring to May 19: Each company had its losses, and sad indeed was the slaughter of those we had lived and bunked with for many months. Under that withering fire on the knoll fell Sergt. Jimmy Noyes, whose rifle glistened like silver, and Corp. Tuttle, who was the last man I talked with before the charge; he referred to the loved ones at home, his aunt who had reared him when left an orphan. He had a tall, manly figure and was among the first to fall. (Some years after the war I succeeded in locating Corp. Tuttle’s aunt, then living in Littleton, and transmitted the conversation had with the comrade a half-hour previous to his death. She was deeply touched when she learned that his last thoughts were of the one who had cared for him from childhood.) Then Parker, Sheahan and Kelly of Quincy, all young men, seemed to go down together, and Parle, a recruit, with his revolver in his belt, armed for any contingency. These were all killed, and Corporals Boynton and Burnham, Privates York, Byron, Dickinson, Myrtle, Bryant and Robinson, mortally wounded. Lieut. Spofford was the first officer in the company to be hit. I remember his shout and how he leaned on his sword for support. Anton Tapp helped him off the field. Sergt. Eastman lost a leg. Capt. Andrews on the right was reported wounded.. Privates Blaisdell, Willis, Tarr, Willard, Hill, Holbrook, Haskell, Jewett, Porter, Doyle, Duffy, Davis and Dunlavy were among the wounded. Private Dodge was shot through both legs and J. Frank Giles, sergeant major of the regiment, was hit. Privates O’Connor and Cross fell into the enemy’s hands, doomed to die at Florence and Andersonville, and Rand captured but afterward paroled. Sam Burnham, badly wounded, died in the enemy’s lines. Comrades near Charles York reported him wounded three times before giving up. Elijah Towne, missing, later reported captured. Otis Chase, formerly company cook, was captured June 1, and died in Andersonville prison. I hailed him to follow us as we were flanked. He had gone his limit, however, and was compelled to surrender. From Stanley B. Dearborn’s Diary 73 During the fighting from June 16 to 22, we lost in addition to Sergt. Clark, who was carrying the national colors (ours being the color company), Lieut. Hall and Lieut. Littlefield, who were wounded, Corp. Frothingham and James McQuillan, mortally wounded. Hugh McMahon, Corp. Whipple, Sergt. Colcord, Dudley, Hodgkinson, Bragdon, George F. Colcord, Bailey and Cutler were among the wounded. On the eighteenth, Corp. Joseph Wheeler was killed and Corp. Batchelder mortally wounded; Sergt. Ayer was wounded. Con Canty lost an arm. On the twenty-second, a shell landed among us, while fighting Mahone’s troops, and smashed Corp. Worsley’s musket, the splinters from which struck Private Basley who eventually died from the wounds in the Portsmouth Grove Hospital in Rhode Island. The shell failed to explode and was thrown out of the works by Sergt. Bamford. Privates Cash, Willan and Conlin were captured and the regiment lost heavily in prisoners. Privates Algeo and Coney were captured by Mosby’s guerillas in May; the former died at Andersonville Prison, and Algeo was reported left by the roadside with a charge of buckshot put into him. He succeeded finally, however, in reaching his home in Quincy, where he died in 1865. These men were in the detail with H. S. Pingree, Co. F. Seven other members of the company who died in the hospitals are noted in the Roster. Alexander Flanders was wounded on Oct. 2, and Sergt. James A. Pierce on Oct. 27. Dennis Day and Michael Carey were captured on the Weldon railroad raid in December, 64, and both died in prison. At the 20th regimental reunion at Salem Willows, Aug. 9, 1880, 23 members of this company were present and an association was organized with Stanley B. Dearborn as president. Lieut. James L. Hall, Co. L, wrote from Kingston, Mass., Oct. 14, 1903: Speaking of the affair at Fairfax C. H., the red souvenir book states that the two guns of the 12th N. Y. Battery were halted by Col. Greene and placed in position on the road. Asa matter of fact, the stampede from Manassas broke onto the regiment as our column was ascending the hill about half a mile west of the village of Fair- fax C. H. Our men sprang out of the road and let them pass, as they had no means of stopping them, the horsemen, wagons, field guns, ambulances, etc., which were fleeing in terror, and which only a blockade of the road could stop. . I had, by orders of the colonel, parked my train of 26 army wagons, 2 hospital wagons, ambulances, etc., in a field at the cross- roads near the village, and, having time to take in the situation before the route reached me, I blocked the road with army wagons and brought the whole of the terror-stricken crowd to a standstill. 74 First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment I then ordered the section of the battery, which was without a com- missioned officer, to counter-march to the position taken by our regiment on the hill, where one gun was placed in position on each of the two nearly parallel roads across which our regiment had deployed. Lieut. Follansbee, who had been detailed to command the wagon train guard, rendered valuable assistance in this matter. He went back east of Fairfax and secured and brought up four caissons loaded with ammunition which we had met on our march, a short distance east of that village. These caissons were a part of the same battery to which the field guns belonged and, too, were without a commissioned officer in command. Towards evening of that day I again rode up to the regimental headquarters on the hill and told Col. Greene that I did not think the position of the train a safe one to remain in over night, and suggested bringing it up to the regiment and blocking the roads with the wagons. The colonel refused to approve my suggestion and I had started to return to the wagon train when he called after me saying: MO acanieabet do as you think best about the train.”’ I im- mediately ordered the train hitched up, took it to the top of the hill and disposed of the wagons by blocking the two roads in front and rear of the regiment. The morning following this event, one of our men who had been wounded on the picket line by a straggler during the night, was brought in, and it was decided to take him to the village and there establish a hospital, as we expected an attack by the enemy. Surgeon Dana and Asst. Surgeon Mason started for the purpose with a two-horse hospital wagon, an ambulance containing the wounded man, and I sent along an army wagon to be filled with forage for the train horses. Dr. Mason was mounted on a fine black stallion, confiscated by the government from the Robert E. Lee estate at Arlington, which he had purchased at a government sale. The hospital wagon con- tained among other medical stores, 100 bottles of liquor. This out- fit when it neared the village, and while in plain sight from our position on the hill, was surrounded by Confederate Cavalry and captured. The cavalry, a brigade or more, was commanded by Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. A son of Gen. Robert E. Lee was in this com- mand and recovered the black stallion that Dr. Mason rode, which had been raised at his home, Arlington House. As surgeons were not held as prisoners by either army at this time, our two surgeons returned on foot, in due time. Dr. Dana bore a letter to Col. Greene from Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, who was his classmate at West Point, and his brother officer in the Mexican and Florida wars, in which the general expressed a desire to be remem- bered to Mrs. Greene and added, in substance, that the horses cap- tured were the finest he had had the pleasure of capturing, and that Lieut. James L. Hall's Account 75 he very much regretted that the wagon train had not remained in its original position near the village, in which event he should have captured the whole of it; but that the change of location of the train not only saved it but the disposition of the wagons rendered the position of the regiment safe from attack by hiscommand. This letter Col. Greene read to all who were present at headquarters and then addressing me, gave me credit for saving the train. No wonder we all loved Col. William B. Greene. How many commanders, think you, would not have taken the credit to himself under like circumstances? It was a terrible loss to our regiment when Col. Greene was obliged, by ill health, to leave it. Regarding the action at Spottsylvania, May 19, 1864: just previous to this engagement the regiment in column of divisions (two companies front) lay at ease awaiting orders. Company L was the left flank company of the first division. Maj. Rolfe com- manded the battalion of which this division was a part. When picket firing began in our right front, Col. Tannatt ordered this first division, double-quick, to the point in the woods whence the sound of musketry came. These two companies, as they reached the woods, received a heavy volley in their faces from a large body of troops massed at this point, notwithstanding which they sprang into the woods and stampeded the enemy. Under a heavy fire the enemy retreated some distance, and we following, descended into a small valley, crossed a little stream and mounted another rise where both lines held their positions, firing rapidly as possible. While we were in this position, Maj. Rolfe rode to where I was, in command of Co. L (Capt. Andrews having been previously wounded), and said: ‘Lieutenant, for God’s sake hold this position.’’ Some time later, I again heard Maj. Rolfe’s voice behind me, and as I could not hear his command because of the noise of the muskets, I stepped to his side to receive his command. His order was: “For God’s sake get your men out of here.”” As I turned to leave him, Maj. Rolfe was shot dead from his horse; the last words he spoke were those just quoted. At this time Co. L was nearly surrounded by the enemy; bullets were coming from front, left and left rear, the company being sta- tioned on the extreme left of the firing line. It was necessary to shout in the ear of each individual man to get the company started to the rear, and as soon as we started to retreat towards the right and rear, the Confederates were after us, and, if we didn’t make record time in that race, it was because our breath was too much exhausted by previous activity. Two officers of the company had been wounded, Capt. Andrews and Lieut. Spofford; several enlisted men killed; many wounded and a few captured. The companies didn’t get together again as a regiment until the next day. 7 CHAPTER XII Company M, The Lander Guards plete the organization of the 14th, when it became an artillery regiment. Edward A. Chandler, afterward captain, recruited Company M at Lynn. Edwin F. Spofford, afterward captain, who furnished most of the material for this company history, joined him Feb. 21, 1862, and took charge of the government property at the station. The recruits were housed in barracks on old Bowling Alley, Monroe St. It was a sort of democratic assembly (writes Spofford) with no one particularly in control during the captain’s absence, but mat- ters went along very smoothly, as most of the recruits were there for a purpose and were not to be driven from it by the usual attractions or allurements. A few of the men had a strong desire for practical joking, which led to a little scrapping and a few bloody noses, but that was merely a result of lack of occupation. Meals were taken at Nathan Moore's, Railroad Ave., and every man got three good square meals a day. Company M was named the Lander Guards in honor of Brig. Gen. Frederick W. Lander of Lynn, who died from wounds and exposure on the field of battle. The first to enlist was Spofford himself. He had been with the Lawrence Light Infantry in the Sixth Regiment for three months under Lincoln’s first call and afterward with the 19th Mass. Regt. at Pooleville, Md., for a short time. Enlistments followed rapidly, not only from Lynn but from nearly every town in Essex county, especially from Haverhill and Lawrence, and from Boston, Wey- mouth, Quincy and towns in that section. The company was organized with these officers: Captain Edward A. Chandler of Lynn, who had been first lieutenant of F, in 8th Mass. Infantry, three months in 1861; senior first lieutenant, Caleb Saunders, who had been a private in Co. I, 6th Mass.; junior first lieutenant, Abile S. Rhodes; senior second lieutenant, Daniel M. Felch, who had been in the Mexican War under Gen. Cushing; junior second lieutenant, Benjamin C. Harrod. For further record of the company officers, see the roster. On L and M were raised early in 1862 to com- Organizing the Lander Guards 77 Charles Carroll was finally placed in charge of the barracks, and was assisted by Hart, Pratt, Earp and Bickford. Uniforms were drawn and the quota completed about the middle of March. Together with Co. L the Lander Guards started for the front Friday, March 21, and took cars for Boston, marched across that city to the Boston & Albany station, where they entrained for New York. In the morning after six hours’ rest in a large building on Cortland Street, they crossed the Hudson on the Jersey City Ferry to take the train for Washington, where they arrived Sun- day Morning, March 23, tired and hungry, but anxious to proceed to the headquarters of the regiment. The two companies formed in column of twos and marched from the railroad station up Penn- sylvania Avenue to the White House, where they were reviewed by President Lincoln; thence down the Avenue over Long Bridge. At Fort Jackson, the first fort reached, we found Co. D and received friendly greetings from the boys of Salem company. When we reached Fort Albany the regiment was mustering for re- ligious service, of which Col. Greene, in the absence of the chaplain, was in charge. The sermon was prefaced by a sharp rebuke to the color company (K) for tardiness and kindly greetings to the new arrivals. Cos. L and M were afterward assigned to log barracks under the hill, formerly occupied by companies now in their tents or detailed to other forts, but a few days later they were also moved to tents on the Leesburg road, the highway to the front. Then began the work of drilling and camp routine, transforming the new recruits into soldiers. The first death in Co. M was the drowning of Michael Harty, who fell into the deep well within the intrenchments of Fort Albany. Thereafter the history of the company is part of the regimental history. Among the gifts received from time to time were 50 bed sacks from the ladies of ward 6, Lawrence, and the boys in turn gave these to the Sanitary Commission for the sick and wounded. Capt. Spofford’s account shows: Total membership of the com- pany, 206; killed or died of wounds received in battle, 28; died of wounds in southern prisons, 13. Capt. Spofford furnishes much interesting data. Pardon a little personal pride (he writes) if I claim as my credit the general excellence of the company’s snap and vim in their march and carriage as soldiers. No captain in the regiment had a finer company than M. 78 First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment What tedious hours were spent with some of those older recruits— John Rollins with his cowhide boots, with his earnest desire to prescribe old home remedies for the ailing men; Steve Holmes, more horseman than soldier; Isaac Perkins, quiet, nice old farmer, always clean but a little moderate; Charles Dwinnell; Timothy Goodwin; good men and true, who, if they had had the opportunity to show their nerve in battle would have proved themselves no whit behind their younger comrades. I usually got the cream to drill and in- struct. Then we had some others who did not like to dress up with a gun. Our artificer, Samuel Gardner, who was all hell on good clothes, but who proved his worth on the field of battle, and so with others; Charles H. Downing, later a sergeant, who was never absent from duty a day during his term of enlistment, always ready, but of course had something to say quite often; John Keenan, who could always find something to warm a fellow’s ‘‘innards’’; Pat Hughes, who could never get enough ‘‘banes”’; John Regan, always ready for a fight; George Rice, our old cook; J. Warren Johnson, the dog fancier; Tom Full, always preaching. Then there was another class, true representatives of the whole. Shall we ever forget Robert J. Mansfield, the Christian soldier; Samuel H. Boody, earnest, tireless; Uriah H. King, clean, faithful; Reuben Head—and so many more that we all remember? While lying at Fort Albany we had company drills under com- pany officers; battalion drills by the post officers and we all remem- ber Maj. Washburn, promoted from quartermaster, who formed his evolutions and when he got the battalion all mixed up, would dis- miss the drill with, ‘‘ Parade’s dismissed,’’ and the company officers got back to company quarters in right smart order. Then we would have guard mount and regimental drills with Col. Greene in com- mand; then a march out into the country up to Fort Barnard or Fairfax Seminary to a review by some high official. Details of outpost guard duty came along in the summer of 1862 to Bailey’s Cross Road, Hunter’s Chapel and Fort Buffalo at Fall’s Church, and Co. M was well represented in those details and always creditably reported during its tour of duty. Many incidents of exciting nature occurred from Mosby's Guerillas, but we were never caught napping; and one night a two-horse wagon was cap- tured, driver and all, and forwarded to Washington as a result of the alertness of a member of Co. M. On the fourth of July, 1862, at a picnic ground called Little Arling- ton, a row got in progress and a hurried call was sent to Fort Albany; Col. Greene detailed Co. M to move out and suppress the same. The place was nearly a wreck when we got there, but order was soon restored and the place razed. Soon after this affair we began to have rumors of our regiment being placed at the front; and in August, 1862, it was ordered to the front under Gen. Pope; Co. M being in command of Lieut. Rhodes. Account by Capt. Spofford 79 As we approached Chantilly woods, we could hear heavy firing and as we were about to clear the woods, a section of artillery, galloping down the road, broke the formation of the regiment, which soon rallied and moved forward into line of battle to receive whatever might come to us in proper form. In the formation of the regiment, I think Co. M was first in column, for when I came into the road after the artillery had passed, Col. Greene sat his horse in the middle of the road alone, as far as I could see, and officers of companies were rallying their men from hillsides and woods, forming in line of battle. Many curious ideas then prevailed, one gallant officer of Co. M, well protected by a large tree, getting a stone to whet his sword; other officers removing their shoulder straps, and many non- coms removing chevrons in imitation, as a safeguard against a distinctive mark. Then volunteers were called for as advanced picket. From Co. M, Burrill and myself went out a hundred yards in front of the line; but we were soon called in, and a regular line of picket guard was established around our position. During the changes in officers due to promotions, the company testified its appreciation of Orderly Sergeant Carroll, who was made second lieutenant, by presenting him a sword and equip- ments; and of Sergt. Hart, who was promoted, by a gift of money, sword, belt, shoulder straps. Spofford was made orderly sergeant and in the fall his wife and little boy joined him. ‘‘Many of the boys patronized her cooking.”’ At the time of expiration of the term of enlistment of the original companies, Cos. L and M were in doubt for some time as to whether they would be mustered out with the rest. Governor Andrew decided that the men of the two supplementary companies must all serve out their full three years of enlistment. H. J. B. Brown in his diary comments feelingly on the disappointment of many of the men on “seeing our comrades leaving for their homes to meet their loved ones, while we must continue in the terrible con- flict which had so depleted our ranks as to make us feel that life was in the balance, not realizing that during the eight months to serve many others of our number would be laid low.” CHAPTER XIII* Forming the Regiment and Journey to the Front Commonwealth—few residents of the northeast division of Massachusetts fail to employ this hoary adjustive as a term of endearment, in referring to the county in which they or their ancestors were born, or in which they had lived for any considerable length of time. With a long and tortuous coastline, fragrant with memories of sea-faring people, for more than two centuries, Essex County has ever been early and earnest in determined effort that all the rights and privileges of humanity should be maintained. In pursuit of this principle, the Flower of Essex fell at Bloody Brook in King Philip’s War and Essex men disputed at North Bridge the passage of British troops months before the latter were halted at Concord or Lexington. Under the first call of President Lincoln for troops, few, if any, were earlier in Boston than those who hastened in from Marblehead ; three Essex County companies were in the 5th Regiment, two were with the 6th in Baltimore, where Essex blood was shed, and the 8th Regiment, save for a single company, was of Essex throughout. The response to the call for six regiments of men for three years’ service did not include any from this county though her cities and towns were represented, more or less, in the several organizations which, from the 1st to the 11th, exclusive of the three months’ men, filled the demand of the government. There was no trouble in any part of the commonwealth in securing men, the great question was that of placing them in active service. Indeed on Long Island in Boston harbor, there were several skeleton regiments rapidly approaching their needed numbers, when the taking from two of these sufficient men to fill the 9th M. V. M. to the maximum, wiped out of existence the embryonic 13th and 14th Regiments. It was not till the seventeenth of June, 1861, that ten more regiments of infantry were called for and the numbers assigned were from twelve to twenty-one, inclusive. Then came into being the first Essex County regiment, enlisted for a term of three years, with every company from Old Essex. *Mr. Roe’s work begins here. fe Ok Essex,’’ one of the three original counties of the Lieut. J. H. Grover, Co. F LigutT. C. CARROLL, Co. H Lizut. N. R. BLANey, Co. F Ligut. G. T. Brown, Co. H. Ligut. J. B. Hanson, Co.I Lieut. J. C. Smitu, Co. F Ligur. E. W. GUILForRD, Co. H Capt. J. W. Kimpatt, Co. F -‘ Ligut. G. F. KExty, Co. B. XI Ligut. H. M. McIntire, Co. E Capr. A, A. Davis, Co. C Lizut. CALEB SAUNDERS, Co. M Lizut. H. MAGEE, 7 P. Cuseck, Co. B Serct. H. E. Hitt, Co. B Lieut. G. F. Perkins, Co.D Capt. E. A. ANDREWs, Co.L Capt. W. Preston, Co. K XII Raising the Fourteenth Regiment 81 A full infantry regiment in the days of the Civil War consisted of ten companies, 101 men each, so that with the addition of fifteen field and staff officers, the complete organization comprised 1,025 men. Regiments were raised in a variety of ways; sometimes an officer was commissioned colonel and given almost complete liberty to secure the necessary number of men, as in the case of the Fletcher Webster Regiment, the 12th; at other times some militia body formed the nucleus of the new regiment and in this way came the 10th Mass. Infantry Volunteers from the old, ante-war, 10th M. V. M.,and the 13th Volunteers had as a basis the 4th Battalion of Rifles. Possibly a still larger number of regiments came from the union of companies which, having been raised and officered in the several cities and towns, nearest a given point of rendezvous, were there organized into regiments, and this method was the one under which the 14th Mass. Infantry came into being. The departure of Massachusetts Militia for the endangered por- tions of the country did not end the spirit of enlistment which had impelled men at the start to pay considerable sums of money for places made vacant for various reasons by original holders. The commonwealth, the entire country, was a seething chaldron of patriotic fervor, and every militia armory, not to mention nearly every place of public resort, became a center for war talk and enlist- ment. Though the city of Lawrence was one of the youngest in the municipal divisions of Essex County, none other led her in enlist- ment enthusiasm, and as early as April 19, ’61, we read that Capt. Leverett Bradley ‘‘is raising a new company at the Lawrence Light Infantry Armory’’; on the twenty-second, Capt. Samuel Langmaid is also announced as raising a company “‘ which meets in city hall for drill three times a week’’; Capt. Sullivan’s company also meets in city hall, for tri-weekly drills; on May 6 we read, ‘‘Capt. Rolfe’s new company organized at Lawrence Light Infantry Armory last night.” Nothing in all these preliminaries went beyond the company formation. It was not till early in June that orders were received for companies to be in readiness to go into camp immediately. While there may have been an impression that these several com- panies would constitute, eventually,a regiment, there was no author- ity for such supposition. How little the methods of organization and equipment were understood is evident, when we learn that each company proceeded to secure tailors, who provided for these 82 First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment uniforms quite as varied in colors as are the hues of the rainbow, and when the regiment finally made its appearance in the nation’s capital, it was with ten companies, no two of which were dressed alike. As might be expected, the general government, into whose service the men were mustered, took upon itself the clothing and feeding of the troops and thus brought about a much needed uni- formity. Records exist of the meetings of the captains of several companies as on May 10, when at the Franklin House, Lawrence, the organizations of Lawrence, Haverhill, Marblehead, Andover, North Andover and Methuen were thus represented, though there was little for them to do other than to compare notes, prognosticate and adjourn. During these days there were many rumors of appointments to positions as field officers and on the twenty-second the Lawrence Brass Band was said to have volunteered to go with the problematic regiment. In these days there are found references to a mythical 14th Regiment which, with the 13th, was to be a part of the Irish Brigade, and of a Col. Rice of said 14th, and the name of eventual Lieut. Col. S. C. Oliver is mentioned as the probable recipient of honors under Col. Thomas Cass of the 9th Regiment, then approach- ing completion. The Lawrence Journal for May 31, '61, reports a battalion drill at Elmvale Park, North Andover, on the preceding day, at which seven companies were present, the three from Lawrence and those from Methuen, Andover, North Andover and Haverhill, only three of them, however, were armed, though all save Capt. Bradley's of Methuen were uniformed. Under the command of Col. Decker they were put through a lively drill, the same ending so that the men started for their respective towns at about 7 Pp. M., Capt. Bradley marching his company through Lawrence on his way to Methuen. The place of meeting was about two and one-half miles from Law- rence and the entire distance was thronged by men, women and children, anxious to witness the drill, the first that most of them had ever seen. Brass-band music was furnished at the expense of L. D. Sargent and L. P. Wright who was later the first major of the forthcoming regiment. Each one of the companies was furnished a collation on reaching home. The following companies, commanded by Captains Hobbs of Ipswich, Bradley of Methuen, Draper of Lynn, How of Haverhill, Sargent of Amesbury, Langmaid of Lawrence, Day of Marblehead, From Home to Fort Warren 83 Holt of Andover, Putnam of Danvers and Rolfe of Lawrence are ordered to report to Brig. Gen. Andrews for duty at Fort Warren on Monday, June 24. The companies were lettered in the order placed above. From the foregoing enumeration the company of Capt. William O. Sullivan, Jr., is missed; its absence was owing to some misunder- standing with the governor; anxious to reach the seat of hostilities and the opportunity offering, the captain and his company left Lawrence on the twenty-fourth for New York and Yonkers-on-the- Hudson, to become Co. K of the 40th New York, better known to fame as the Mozart Regiment, in which Massachusetts had four companies: B from Newburyport, G from Milford, H from West Cambridge, now Arlington, and K from Lawrence; Capt. Sullivan of K is carried on the N. Y. rolls as O'Sullivan; it is interesting also that two other companies were from Pennsylvania. All made excellent records during the war; Capt. Sullivan was killed at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. Gov. Andrew’s course in this matter received much criticism. Reaching Boston, there was an assemblage of all the companies on the Common, the first time that they had been together. After the formation of regimental line, the men were permitted to break ranks and to take a bit of needed rest. On reforming the line, it was found that Ipswich had 72 men, Haverhill 84, while each one of the other eight companies had 79. One of the men thus gathered remarked that the lower end of Old Essex was well represented, that the men were from all walks of life, rich and poor, farmer and mechanic, that nearly all were young and sturdy, having fine faces, beaming with intelligence, products of the common schools, ‘‘and I felt proud of my associates from that moment.” The march to the wharf came near being an ovation, Bostonians leaving their places of business to cheer the men and it seemed that a large part of the home friends had followed to the city. It is 5.30 p.m. of the twenty-fourth when the steamer, Nellie Baker, having on board these ten Essex County companies, moves away from Long Wharf to bear its burden to Fort Warren, where the boys are given a most cordial greeting by the members of the 12th Regiment, the formation of which had begun a very few days before that of the companies now arriving, though its formal accept- ance by the government bears date of June 14, '61. As they had received no intimation of the coming of the new regiment the sur- prise was great, though none the less cordial. 84 First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment The company baggage did not accompany the men and no ar- rangement had been made to feed the new arrivals, so right here began the growling, ever so characteristic of the soldier. “We have no objection to being killed in battle, but we didn’t enlist to be starved to death, etc.’ After all it might have been much worse, since by the officers of the fort a blanket each was provided for the men and at 9.30 in the evening a supper was served, consisting of dry bread and a dipper of coffee. After this repast came the very first experience of the new sol- diers in real camp life. Few if any had ever slept upon the floor before and if any had tried such a couch at home, there had been a carpet and other intervening material between the body and the board. Now the process is to wrap the blanket about the person and then to lie down upon the stone paving of the casemates, using a bit of cordwood as a pillow, by no means conducive to pleasant dreams; but hunger made the supper palatable and weariness ren- dered sleep possible, though far from comfortable. Then what an awakening came to them in the morning of the twenty-fifth! Some of the untried soldiers had been fortunate enough to secure quarters with friends in the 12th Regiment and were not included in this night of trial, but when the morning dawned, the rareness of a day in June never occurred to any of them who had “‘snored upon the flint,”’ but there was a stiffness in many joints that only active and vigorous exercise could remove. The first breakfast in camp was scarcely more agreeable than the first supper, indeed it proved to be a repetition, thus giving the late accessions to the U. S. service a rather unpleasant impres- sion of the government’s culinary department. It was not till 5 o’clock in the afternoon that the next meal was served, consisting largely of beef soup and it was pronounced first-class. In the evening came a concert by the band of the 12th Regiment, greatly enjoyed. During the day there had been company drills, not over long, and the first day in camp was not wanting in a degree of enjoy- ment. Wednesday, the twenty-sixth, was much like its predecessor both in food, service and occupation; the company growler was on hand early and often and, perhaps for the first time in his life, he was ready, through contrast, to rate the home-table at its proper value. Others viewed the rough fare as a sort of breaking-in, a hardening process and were certain that they would be the better for it. The The Regiment at Fort Warren 85 excellent service that the 12th men were receiving at the hands of their Boston caterers did not make our usage any more agreeable, many thinking that these new companies should fare the same. As yet the regiment was only an assemblage of companies, though rumor had it that the Rev. Wm. B. Greene, West Pointer, turned minister, was to be colonel and Samuel C. Oliver of Salem, lieut. col., both possibilities being well received by the men; several names were mentioned in connection with the position of major. With the coming of the twenty-seventh there was a decided improvement in the food problem; we were having beef, potatoes, onions, bread, coffee and tea; three men detailed from each company to serve as cooks and though the camp-stoves had not yet arrived, we were making out so well that there was a decided lessening of complaints. To add to the satisfaction of at least a fraction of these military tyros, Joe Farmer of Co. K, with a squad of men, went outside the fort and secured from the shore a goodly quantity of clams which were soon mingled with other ingredients into a most toothsome chowder, the regimental larder having all that was necessary to supplement the industry of the clam-diggers; this effort of the jovial Joe and his fellows was more than appreciated by all those who had the good fortune to get a bite. Owing to the absence of general control of these several com- panies, drill was not at first instituted by general orders, each com- pany captain using his own discretion, the result being an easy period for the men whose natural vigor is exhibited in the kicking of footballs and other diversions, there being so little of real, systematic drill that the men found the breaking-in really easier than they had expected; as a consequence they voted Fort Warren a very pleasant stopping place on their way further south. By the twenty-eighth (Friday) such progress had been made in adapting the fort to its new occupants that the cookroom was sup- plied with great boilers, having an aggregate capacity of more than two hundred gallons, their placing and the building of necessary chimneys, being the work of mechanics drawn directly from the ranks of the new regiment. It would be difficult to name a vocation or calling that had not at least a single representative among these enlisted men, some occupations having scores of skilled workmen. The quantities of raw material required for the feeding of these more than eight hundred men astonished the boys who are used 86 First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment only to mother’s cooking. It was a sight to see 500 lbs. of fresh beef, three barrels of potatoes, one barrel of crackers and other items to match, all for the nourishment of the 14th in one meal, and, when a salt-meat dinner was in progress, it was equally strange to see two barrels of salt beef, one of salt pork and three of potatoes, all on the way to the regimental maw; when rice was cooked, a whole barrel was used and with it went ten pounds of sugar for each company; of coffee, fifty pounds for a meal and, when tea was served, seven and a half pounds were required. The newly organized stomach of the 14th Regiment is surely capacious. June ends with Sunday, but the companies do some drilling; write letters; in the late afternoon have dress parade, and those who wish go over to the 12th Regi- ment for divine service. For nearly every man in the regiment it is his first experience of a Sunday in service and in camp. July began with the companies still unmustered, yet continuing their rounds of duty in Fort Warren. Possibly some of the un- pleasant features of the first week in July had been avoided had the field officers been appointed earlier, and by their presence had held steadying hands over the somewhat go-as-you-please condition of the several companies. Besides, these companies had been organized by the members on the old militia plan of four lieutenants each, hence it soon became evident that some men with shoulder-straps would have to step down or out. Though regular camp duties continued and some progress was made in drill, it was not until the muster-in of the regiment on Fri- day, the fifth of July, that the 14th Massachusetts Infantry can be said to take form and shape, though even then one full company was lacking; Company D, Haverhill’s representation, having been disbanded, its members going into other companies of the 14th or into other regiments, quite a number having been captivated by the dash and ardor along with the excellent appointments of their neighbor, the 12th or the Fletcher Webster Regiment. The office of mustering-in was filled on this occasion by Capt. T. J. C. Amory of the regular army, later colonel of the 17th Mass. Infantry, which he commanded when he died October 8, 1864, at Beaufort, N. C., a brevet brig. gen. The ceremony of mustering-in is an impressive one; before the administration of the oath, the rules and regulations by which the officers and men are to be governed are distinctly read so that they may be heard by all and to these all are supposed to yield assent; The Regiment Mustered in 87 then with upraised right hands, and uncovered heads, the men solemnly swear allegiance and obedience to the United States and to defend her against all foes and opposers whatsoever. Thencefor- ward they are in the service of the national government and amen- able to all the laws governing the troops in its employ. General satisfaction was felt by the rank and file at the governor’s selection for the command of the regiment, Col. Wm. B. Greene having acquired already, in more than one line of work, a wide reputation; while he did not complete the prescribed course at West Point, on account of ill health, he had seen actual service in the Indian Wars of Florida and he was recognized as a capable, honor- able and reliable officer. Lieut. Col. Samuel C. Oliver practically from the time of his leaving Harvard College, before graduation, had been in some way connected with the militia, ason of Henry K. Oliver, the famous organist and composer who wrote the tune, “Federal Street,’ in 1861, and treasurer of the Commonwealth, the officer had far more than a local reputation. The selection of Levi P. Wright, a railroad man of Lawrence, also gave general satis- faction, particularly among the soldiers from that bustling city. The muster-in of the 14th was an event of supreme moment to many and a large company of friends gathered to witness the cere- mony, among whom were about three hundred from Methuen alone. At the last moment, a very few declined to take the oath and left the camp, but of these even, the larger part found their way into the service before the war was ended. Quite likely, had Col. Greene been able to impress his personality upon the regiment a longer time before the swearing-in, there would have been even less of those going to their homes or to the ranks of the 12th. Very early in the annals of the regiment, men are found singing the praises of their colonel because of his fairness, sensibility and unwillingness that his men should be over-drilled, at any rate at the beginning of their service. The vacant place was taken by another Company D, made up of men from Salem, Beverly, Peabody and nearby towns. In the general tumble, to which so many superfluous lieutenants were subjected, it is very interesting to note the number of those who, rather than leave the regiment, accepted places in the ranks and bided their time till they were duly promoted. Of these faithful men, Frank Davis of Co. K rose to the rank of bvt. maj.; Robert Henderson, Co. F, Elbridge Guilford, Co. A, and O. L. Farnham, Co. H, all eventually received commissions; Luther Silloway and 88 First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment Abram Kimball, both of Co. B, served as privates; Elijah Willard, Co. C, and H. A. Stoddard, Co. K, began as sergeants; L. R. Batch- elder, Co. F, and R. Burrage, Co. G, became wagoners; Lieut. Follansbee, Co. F, absent ill, came back to the regiment in Septem- ber and was mustered as second lieutenant of Co. B. Of course there was more or less chaffing among the several companies as to the number of their several members who, at the last moment, failed to take the oath. After being mustered into the United States service, the soldiers thought they discovered an improvement in the food and service, so that they voted Uncle Sam a better purveyor than Gov. Andrew. Visitors from the several localities represented were regular features of each day, particularly Sunday, as much a day of calling as of rest, especially in military circles, and these friends as a rule brought food enough for themselves and for those visited, since the regular rations will do for those working hard enough to appreciate them, but they were hardly appetizing to others. Monday, the eighth of July, was noteworthy, for on that date appeared the following schedule of a day’s routine in Fort Warren for the new regiment: Reveille, sunrise Regimental drill, 2 Pp. m. Breakfast, 7 A. M. Dress parade, 5 P. M. Guard mount, 8 A. M. Supper, 6 P. M. Company drill, 9 to 12 Tattoo, sundown Dinner call, 12 noon Taps, 10 Pp. M. Col. Greene was not over-rigorous in enforcing all the drill exac- tions as laid out in the scheme, he was known to have dress parade in the morning and then break into companies for drill; he did not consider parades and drills of so much importance as some officers did, and in disagreeable weather he was not disposed to call the men out at all. Though it had not been yet announced, the probability of our major being Levi Parker Wright, of Lawrence, was generally ap- proved. This day was also signalized by the reception of the weapons that the 12th Regiment had been using, the latter getting Enfield rifles instead. In formative days there is very little variation as time advances, and officers who demand and exact the utmost compliance with regular drill and other functions of camp life are likely to secure the best equipped soldiers, but beginners, as a rule, are not disposed to regard such exactions with any considerable amount of favor. First Singing of ‘‘ John Brown's Body" 89 Discipline, so irksome to men free-born, becomes at last a part of military life and its disagreeable features are lost in the advantages acquired, as all very soon recognize. On the eighteenth of July, there came a large number of school- teachers from Lawrence, and Capt. Langmaid of Co. F was given a watch and chain as a token of esteem. It was on the eighteenth also, that the regiment did escort duty to the landing for the 12th Regiment as that body embarked for a trip to Boston where it was reviewed by the governor, and where its march through the streets was a continued ovation, most of its men being Bostonians, and the climax was capped when a beautiful silk flag was presented by the ladies of Boston, through Edward Everett, whose eloquence was never happier than when thus giving the national flag to men who were to carry it in the face of danger. On the return of the 12th to the fort, the new regiment did the polite act again in escorting the holidaymakers to their quarters. The event of the day, in this trip of our neighbors to Boston, at the time, occasioned only passing remark. It was the very first singing of “John Brown’s Body”’ in the streets of Boston by an organized body of soldiers. Through a combination of circum- stances the adapting of certain lines of doggerel to the music of an old religious revival melody by members of the Boston Tigers (2d Battalion of Infantry), then doing guard duty in Fort Warren, had resulted in the production of a very striking and singable song. As the Tigers returned to their home, they were succeeded by the 12th Regiment. Some of the Tigers were members of the new organiza- tion and the song was immediately taken up by Webster's Regi- ment and every one could sing it to edification. It had been sung at or at the end of dress parade and constantly in camp, but to-day the song broke loose in Boston; it was really the day of its birth and less than a week later, as the regiment passed through the streets of New York and sang their newly made song, it was received with an enthusiasm which surprised the singers themselves. The song was born, not made and no other melody of the war began. to equal its popularity. Friday, the nineteenth, is noteworthy as the date on which the city government of Lawrence came down in a body and, coming across in the steamer Acorn, landing at 5 o'clock P. M., in time to witness the dress parade of both regiments and to hear the music rendered by the brass band, attached to the 12th, this being accounted one of the very best in Boston. 90 First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment We learned to-day that the place of the Haverhill company which went out has been accorded to Captain Seth S. Buxton and his men who have been in barracks on Winter Island, Salem, and that they will soon report for duty here in the fort. The order thus placing Captain Buxton and his company bears date of July 19 and is duly signed by Adjutant General Wm. Schouler. On Monday, the 22d, came news of the disastrous battle of Bull Run and whatever lingering hopes some people had possessed that the war might be avoided were by the doings of the twenty-first of July dismissed at once and for all. Both North and South were at a white heat of patriotism and rage, and men who were drilling applied themselves all the more zealously that they might be in readiness for the tests sure to await them. The very next day, or the 23d, the Fletcher Webster Regiment left the fort for the last time; the day had come for it to leave the scene of its formation drill and muster and again the Essex County boys do the courteous thing in seeing their friends to the landing and to sweeten their departure by the most enthusiastic of cheers. Among the departing men are many who had come to the fort with us, but for one reason or another had been won over to the ranks of the 12th and many a parting on this day was final. Not a few of the men recalled with zest the brilliant appearance of Colonel Fletcher Webster, who in form, bearing and uniform was all that the most exacting could desire. On reaching Boston they are speedily entrained and by way of Fall River and Long Island Sound are on their way to New York, to Washington, to the 2d Bull Run where their brave colonel lost his life, to Antietam, to Gettysburg and to an exalted place on the scroll of fame. Scarcely three weeks had elapsed since the companies came to the fort but, American-like, the men were already becoming restive and anxious for the next move on the chessboard of prep- aration. For lack of weightier matters, the men resorted to pranks to while away the hours and relieve the dread tedium of monotony. Who ever forgot the mock solemnity which accom- panied the burial of the bean? It has already been stated in these pages that the consistency of camp bean-soup was not that of porridge and it having been stated that some persevering fellow had succeeded in finding the very original bean which had been the source of all the soup thus far furnished, it was determined to bury the object with proper ceremonies. To the tap of the drum, The Burial of the Bean 91 with reversed arms, the burial party moved off, having the victim properly prepared for burial. As the procession passed the colonel's tent, he was roused by the noise and thrust his head out of his curtain and asked what the music, etc., meant. On learning the mission of the march, that it was to bury the only bean in the pot, he ejaculated, ‘‘Well—I think it’s about time that we were rid of that bean,” and retired, shaking with laughter, to his quarters. Arriving at the destination, the bean was placed in the prepared hole, but if any prayers were said they were silent ones, though everlasting peace was craved for what had proved to be so little liked by real bean-eaters. In these days, too, many a man did extra duty for swimming the passage of water separating the fort from Gallup’s Island and for bluffing his way to the city just for the sake of a lark. If in these days any man failed to become an accomplished pugilist, it was not through any lack of practice in the manly art of self-defense. Thus did July wear away, every day cramming these learners with facts to be remembered and imbuing them with habits that they must make a part of their being. Their not over long stay at the fort was nearing its end, and if the soldier had been curious to learn the story of the island and the fort he would have found that this bit of terra firma, at the very entrance to Boston Harbor, is thirty-five acres in extent, that it is six miles direct and seven by channel from Boston, that it was acquired by the national government purchase from private parties in 1825 and that Fort Warren was begun in 1833 under the direction of General Sylvanus Thayer, becoming the recognized key to the harbor. He would have ascertained that, with characteristic indifference, the govern- ment had not taken care either to arm or garrison the fort until prompted to do so by the Commonwealth. He must have observed that the walls of the fort were constructed of hammered granite and that they present a formidable appearance on entering or leav- ing the harbor, that the main work is surrounded by a moat fifty feet wide; there are three hundred mounted guns, seventy of which could turn their fire to any point in the channel. Six acres are inclosed by the walls of the fort and five of them constitute the parade ground. As yet the advantages of Fort Warren as a retired and quiet abode for political and rebellious prisoners had not been recognized nor required, but subsequent occupants, long after the twelfth 92 First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment and the fourteenth, became familiar with the faces, forms and language of Mason and Slidell of the steamer Trent fame or notoriety; here were brought for retention the hundreds of Con- federate prisoners whom Burnside’s men captured at Roanoke Island; many an officer of distinguished rank from below Mason and Dixon's Line sampled the hospitality of what they were wont to call the Yankee Bastille and among the last and most famous of its involuntary occupants was Alexander H. Stephens, vice- president of the Southern Confederacy. August began as July ended, each day presenting its routine of rations, camp policing and drill along with the entertaining of visi- tors and the writing of letters to friends at home. Also in these days the men were supplied with what is known as the soldier’s outfit, supposed to consist of cap, blouse, pantaloons, shirt, stockings (these latter two items in duplicate) and shoes; then came the mili- tary part of the equipment, first of all, the gun, then the cross- belt, roundabout, cartridge box, one for caps, a woolen and a rubber blanket, canteen, knapsack, haversack, cup or dipper, knife, fork, spoon, tin plate, etc., and with this glittering array went, for the private in the ranks, the magnificent pay of eleven dollars a month, not as much as the majority of these men had received for a single week of factory or shop service. But it was not for money-compen- sation that these and so many thousands of other young men had left their homes to imperil their lives. That little characteristic, innate in most people, known as love of country, was the prompting motive which drew the best of masculine, youthful America from the best homes in the world to the hardships and perils of camp, march and field. After this, variety in uniform ended, all being clad in national blue. Wednesday, August 7, was the date of departure from Fort Warren and the beginning of a wider experience in army life. Asa preface to this move came a general order from the office of Adjut. Gen. Schouler, August 6, directing Col. Greene to proceed with his command to the Department of the Shenandoah and, on arriving at Harper’s Ferry, to report to the officer in command of the de- partment. A companion order to the foregoing was one from Quartermaster Gen. John H. Reed, of the Commonwealth, announc- ing the securing of transportation by way of the Boston and Provi- dence route, via Stonington and the Sound to New York. Early in the morning of the seventh, the steamers Argo, May Queen and Embarking for Washington 93 Huron proceeded to Fort Warren to transport the regiment and its belongings to the city, but on arriving no sign of intended departure was evident. Quartermaster Washburn had already sent the prin- cipal items of baggage and they were safely stowed on cars in Bos- ton. The Hon. James Ritchie of the Executive Council had been busy since Monday, paying off the men for their services before muster-in, and it is a noteworthy fact that from this aggregation of more than 1,000 men only thirty were unable to sign their names to the payroll; few, if any, regiments in the entire army could have done better. It was after 8 p.m. before the steamers, having the regiment a- board, started away from the wharf. It appears that the colonel was unwilling to leave until he had received orders direct from the state house; on the arrival of these the fort was left behind. It was not till 9.45 in the evening that the men landed in Boston and formed at once on Broad Street for the march to the Providence station. In spite of the rain which had fallen all day, there were many friends and relatives waiting the arrival of the boats and to give the coming and going soldiers a cheerful send-off. It was intimated that the lateness of arrival and the consequent lack of martial display in Boston was not distasteful to some of the officers, since the muskets borne by the men were neither orna- mental nor useful; the expectation of becoming residuary legatees of the Enfield rifles of the 12th Regiment had not materialized, and the 14th was still carrying the archaic Springfield muskets. Boston papers accused the men of wilfully misusing the weapons, even claiming that they had been instigated thereto by the officers and, as a result, the armament was hardly creditable to the Common- wealth or the regiment. However, the Providence station was soon reached where twenty- one cars awaited the men who, accompanied by friends, had talked as rapidly as possible in this farewell interview; five box cars were necessary for the baggage of officers and men including two days’ cooked rations, packed in ice in empty whiskey barrels and an equal amount uncooked. It was 12.15 o'clock in the morning of the eighth that the train moved out, accompanied by the cheers of those friends who had remained and the vociferous singing of “John Brown’s Body” which they had learned to sing with the men of the 12th. Our regiment was the ninth of the three years’ men to leave the state and the tremendous enthusiasm which had featured the de- 94 First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment parture of earlier organizations could hardly be expected to be at fever heat all the time; besides the three months’ men were coming home and there is a limit even to the stock of hurrahs. Commenting on the departure of the regiment the Boston Journal said: “‘No better material for soldiers has entered into the composition of any of the regiments from Massachusetts, but by certain parties the men are accused of lack of discipline.” Apparently the night journey was uneventful, most of the men being tired enough to enjoy the sleep which the cars now rendered possible. The New York Tribune, however, picked up this incident which is worth telling. On a bridge over the Charles River some twelve miles out of Boston, the train stopped, indeed it did a deal of stopping to accommodate its special schedule to that of the regular traffic. It was while waiting here that James Stevens of Co. F, a Lawrence man, with others jumped off the train, a thing some one is sure to do whenever and wherever a train stops long enough. While disporting themselves, the sound of the whistle meaning “All aboard,"’ was heard, but, before all of the men could obey, another train was upon them on the vacant track; Stevens could not cross in front of the train; he could not remain on the edge of the track, through lack of room, nor could he reach the other end of the bridge in time to escape the oncoming train; his only chance was the very uncertain one of jumping clear of the bridge and into the stream. The drop was said to be forty feet and the depth of the water seventeen. There were jagged rocks on either side, but luck was with him and he escaped with only a thorough drenching, but before he could climb up the embankment, his train had gone. However, he was a live Yankee and no such little thing as this could phase him; he proceeded at once to Mansfield, where he took an accommodation train for New York and was at the Park Barracks four hours ahead of his comrades who had stayed on the train. It was not till midnight of the eighth that New York was reached and board and lodging were found at the Park barracks, at or near the city hall. The men of the 14th had not as yet acquired the habit of acquiescing with all the orders given by those in authority. Some ran the guard and spent the time in roaming about the city, not appearing with those in camp or barracks till the forenoon of the ninth. Of course, these live Yankees, so far from home, could not get through the day without some sort of adventure. It hap- pened in a saloon near the Astor House where a dozen men of the The Stay in New York City 95 14th, according to their story, not at all obtrusive, through one of their number, called for drinks for the party. To their astonish- ment, there came from the bar-tender the words, ‘‘We don’t sell liquor to drunken soldiers.”