I . ^» .-*• *-N o V* . <■ • • * -** ry - ° W* v «fc * A ' G o j •" ** *1 o " V rS* A^ * iA 5» A, "^V, * ^ 'Mm: ^ & o > ^ •1 O : ^ ,< ^ O '>^ WILLIAM r. BARTLETT, Hillf. - Gi ii. mi. I Hvt. Mni. ■ Gfii. U.8. Vols. THE Fifty-Seventh Regiment MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS WAR OF THE REBELLION. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. BY {/ Captain JOHN ANDERSON, U.S. Army. Boston, Mass. : E. B. Stillings & Co., Printers, 55 Sudbury Street. 1896. TO THOSE BRAVE OFFICERS AND ENLISTED MEN OK THE FIFTY-SEVENTH MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN DEFENCE OF OUR COUNTRY THROUGH THE BLOODY STRUGGLE OF '61 TO '65 THIS WORK IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR PREFACE. To many, no doubt, it appears easy to write a regimental history, but experience proves it to be a task most difficult to accomplish. For nearly two years we have worked earnestly and faithfully to complete this task for the Fifty-Seventh Massachu- setts in the great War of the Rebellion. We have met with many affectionate encouragements, but we have also met with very many positive discouragements, chiefly in the matter of obtaining information in relation to those men who had been left by official records as ' ' missing in action." The story we would tell of them will remain untold until the veil which hides our mortal vision is removed and the great scroll kept by the recording angel unrolled to those who are mustered into that grand army beyond the river. There is a sad pathos covering the word "unknown," yet it speaks in tones of silent eloquence which will ever echo a tender inquiry that can never be answered save in imagination ; yet such names come to sanctify our memory, as their lives were given to our country, though their deeds go unrecorded. We wish to express our appreciation of the warm sympathy that has been given us by the widow of our beloved commander. Her modesl words have been an inspiration as we have labored on this work from day t<> day. It lias not been our purpose to trace each individual history, — that would have been impossible; but we have been careful to write only what is warranted by facts and official records, and we hope our comrades will find pleasure in the reading, though no doubt they will be reminded of many things not mentioned that should have been noticed, and many that might have been better written; but the story of the Fifty- Seventh is told t<> the best of our ability, and we give it to the leader, indulging the hope that it may, in some measure, lead to a higher reverence for our American institutions, and a greater love for our Hag and common, reunited country. If these objects are attained we shall feel that we have not written in vain, but have been amply repaid for our labor; and trust these pages will carry some lingering influence, however small, which will reach down to coming ages and live after the vet- erans of tile Civil War have all passed away and been laid to real ■ My all their Country's wishes bless'd ! " I'm A.UTH0R. ! 111 Bivoi \< . Bklchebtown, Mass., .tun.- :uli. 1896 NTRODUCTORY. At a reunion of the old Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts Infan- try, which was held in the city of Worcester, Mass., June 19th, 1894, the subject of a regimental history was favorably considered by all present and the matter placed in the hands of a committee as follows : — Capt. John Anderson, U.S. Army. Lieut. George E. Priest of Watertown, Mass. Brevet-Capt. Charles II. Pinkham of Worcester, Mass. Chaplain A. II. Dashiell, D.D., of Lakewood, N.J. Comrade J. Brainerd Hall of Worcester, Mass. The committee gave the preparation of the history into the hands of Capt. John Anderson, who accepted the task as a matter of love and duty, that the record of this regiment may be known to the generations that follow us. In attempting to write a correct history of the Fifty-Seventh Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers in the great War of the Rebellion, we fully realize the importance of the work before us and of the difficulty presented at each step in obtaining accurate data of all the thrilling events in which the old Fifty-Seventh was engaged. Special care will be observed that nothing is written which is not absolutely true, although different persons may see the same, but from different standpoints their narrations may differ and yet all be correct. In whatever effort we may put forth we are con- stantly reminded of our inability to do the subject justice ; and re- gret that some one who is better able to wield " the pen of a ready writer " has not undertaken it ; but, the burden having been placed upon us by our comrades, we shall endeavor to employ the little INTRODUCTORY, talent we have towards a faithful and loyal performance of this duty. After a lapse of thirty years it is extremely difficult to call t<> mind much that should be written and placed upon the pages of history of thai gallant old regiment in whose record every member has reason for feeling :i just pride. Many noble and brave deeds will never come to light ; they fill numberless '• unknown " graves, the unwritten history being much more than will be found written upon these pages. The true history lias been indelibly stamped upon bloody fields of battle, which are inscribed in our country's history, never to be erased. While a Large majority of the actors in these tragic Bcenes have marched on to that silent, unseen land, t'roiii whence their voices cannot he heard, the remaining minority tenderly cling to the sacred memories of the long past and feel that something should lie recorded that can be handed down to the advancing line- of posterity as a valuable Lesson in patriotism ever to lie remembered. This history appears among the Last of regimental histories in mil State, and it is hoped may find an honored place among those already written, its gallant record entitling it to such a place far above any ability we posse-- to place it there by the eloquence of OUr pen. In the preparation of this work we have to acknowledge our greal indebtedness to Kev. A. LI. Dashiell, D.D., formerly Chap- lain of the regiment, and Comrade .1. Brainerd Hall of Worcester, Ma--. , formerly a member of Company B, both of whom have taken a great interest in il and have presented us with considerable manuscript prepared by themselves with great care, and which has been of great Bervice i" us. Al-o many letters written at thetime the e\ .hi- were t ranspii ing. < >ther comrades have contributed from the -tore of their mem- ories, such in d< its ae came under their personal observation ; but INTRODUCTORY. IX apparently from a feeling of delicacy to speak of their own deeds, many have refrained from speaking of themselves, thereby depriv- ing us of much matter that would, no doubt, be of interest to the reader. The lack of it is not the fault of the historian, who has labored hard to make this the history of the whole regiment and not of a part. It is our earnest endeavor to give place and do justice to every one, without regard to rank, who served with honor in the regiment. We beg the indulgence of our pride in connection with an organization whose gallantly stands upon the pages of the nation's history as sustaining one of the heaviest losses in killed and wounded of any regiment in the service of the country during the, War of the Rebellion, although its length of active service was but little over one year. We also feel proud in the record of our gal- lant Colonel (afterwards General) William F. Bartlett, who never failed to lead his command and whose many wounds were evidence of his heroism. The confidence inspired by his example was al- ways felt along the whole line, as his clarion voice rang out, above the din of battle, kl Forward Fifty-Seventh." Even if he could not have been heard, we knew his command was always "For- ward," often preceded by " Fix Bayonets " or " Double Quick." The prompt execution of his commands he fully relied upon, and never in vain. War in defence of one's country calls out all that is grand and noble in a man's character or exposes those mean traits of selfishness and cowardice which often lie hidden from public view. Men become heroes without realizing it and find, upon trial, those qualities which they never before dreamed of possessing. It often requires some such emergency to thoroughly arouse those dormant faculties and guide them with judgment and discre- tion. In the course of our war, of which we are writing, there were thousands of such men and boys ; they were found in nearly X INTRODUCTORT. every organization. We love and reverence the institutions of our country. In its history we are proud. By the names of patriots who have died tor it we arc honored, and in its Sag we behold the >tairy emblem of our nationality under which we claim protection for ourselves, our homes and our families. When this is assailed, it calls out, not the brutal nature, but tin' highest and noblest <|iialities of the citizen in defence of what he believes to be right ami just, and he is willing to undergo suffering and privation, to face danger ami even to risk his life in such a cause, witharealiz- ing sense that, with the destruction of an organic form of govern- ment, based upon just laws and institutions for the protection, welfare and happiness of the people, the intellectual, moral and religious conditions of society suffer in like proportion. To the law-abiding citizen, therefore, the country is the very foundation upon which he builds all he hopes for in this life, both for himself and children. In defending it, he is defending his own individual interests ami leaving an inheritance of far more value than wealth. The pages of this work are submitted to our comrades whose friendship we have found true in the past and feel safe to rely upon in the future. To those, if any there may lie. who feel inclined to criticize, we have only to ask — •• Why did you not undertake it yourself?" The field has been open for many years. That the work mighl be done better there is no doubt, but that it is done :it all should be :i matter to !»• treated with charitable indulgence. Whatever faults are found to exist we have tried to push them over, so thai tiny may lean towards l « virtue's side." No malice has entered into the composition, but a feeling in- spired b\ "fraternity, loyalty and charity." That it may be re- ed in the same spiril is the earnesl wish and prayer of the author. J. A. till BlVOl \< . I '.i i I in i; n.u \. MA88., \|;n l-i . ' CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Organization — Camp Life at Worcester — Roster of Officers. CHAPTER II. Off for the War — Incidents ex route and on the March. CHAPTER III. Battle of the Wilderness — Crossing the Rapidan and Move- ments OF THE ABMY OF THE POTOMAC. CHAPTER IV. The Wilderness (Continued) — Letters and Incidents — List of Casualties — Movements of the Army of Northern Virginia. CHAPTER V. spottsylvaxia court house — position of the opposing armies by Corps. CHAPTER VI. Movement to the North Anna River — Crossing and Battle. CHAPTER VII. March to Cold Harbor to interpose between Lee and Richmond — Battle of Cold Harbor — Crossing of James River. CHAPTER VIII. March upon Petersburg — Description of Confederate Fortifica- tions — Battle ok 17th of June, 1864 — List of Casualties. CHAPTER IX. Petersburg Mine (Crater) —Orders for the Assault — Report of Court of Inquiry— Papers from Col. T. W. Clarke and Gen. J. W. Barnes — Comments on the Battle. XII CONTENTS. CHAPTER X. Weldon Railroad — Strength of the opposing Armies — Another MOVEMENT l'> TURN GENERA] Lee'S RIGHT FLANK— LlST OF CaS- i ULTIES. CHAPTER XI. Poplar Grove Church — Life in the Trenches — Condition of the i wo Armies. CHATTER XII. Hatcher's Run — Position SlND Strength of ihk two Aminos. CHAPTER XIII. Battle oi Fort Stedman — Location of Forts — Reports and Cor- RESPONDENCE — LlST OF CASUALTIES. CHAPTER XIV. Bearing mh End Capture of Petersburg — Surrendeb <>k the \nn •>! Northern VmGiNiA — Incidents and Narratives — Transfeb oi iiii Ninth Army Corps to Tennallytown. CHAPTER XV. Coming Home Grand Review of the Army ok the Potomac — Dissoli pion "i hie Ninth Army Corps- Losses during the War. CHAPTER XVI. Home Muster oui oi the "> 7 1 1 1 — Statistical Record of Prisoners \m> Prison Losses of Federals ind Confederates during the War CHAPTER XVII. Regimen iai Rei nions. ne half mile south of the Boston & Albany Railroad and near the Norwich Railroad, about one and a half miles from the city of Worcester. The camp was beautifully located on high, rolling ground where there was ample space for drills and parades, and desig- nated as '« Camp John E. Wool." The first company to complete its complement and go into camp was Company A, commanded by Capt. John W. Sanderson, the other officers being 1st Lieut. Samuel M. Bowman and I'd Lieut. Edwin 1. Coe. It was mustered into the service of the United States Jan. 4th, 1864. Several other companies soon tilled up their ranks and were mustered in the following order — B, II. E, 1». L. L ('• and K. the last named being iims- tered April • '>. with only on.- officer. The recruiting continued until April 17th. when the regimenl gradually attained its full strength. The Roster of Commissioned Officers al that time stood as follows: — FIELD AND STAFF. Col. William F. Bartletl of Boston. I. inn. -Col. Edward P. Hollister of Pittsfleld. Maj. James W. <'u^hiiiL. v of Roxbury. Surgeon Whitman v. White of Stockbridge. isst. Surgeon Charles I'.. Heath of Monterey. ( haplain Alfred II. Dashiell, Jr , of Stockbridge. 1st Lieut. George E. Priesl [Quartermaster of Watertown. i>i Lieut. George E. Barton Acting Adjutant of Worcester. Company a. Capt. John W. Sanderson of Westborough. i>i Lieut. Samuel m. Bowman <>r Clinton. 2d Lieut. Edwin I. <'<><■ of Worcester. ORGANIZATION . •' Company B Capt. Joseph W. Gird of Worcester. 1st Lieut. E. Dexter Cheney of Worcester. 2d Lieut. George S. Greene of Springfield. Company C. Capt Charles D Hollis of Lynn. 1st Lieut. George E. Barton of Worcester. 2d Lieut Charles H. Royce of Pittsfield. Company D. Capt. Edson T. Dresser of Stockbridge. 1st Lieut. Edward S. Dewey of Greenfield 2d Lieut. James Peacock of Worcester. Company E. Capt George H. Howe of Monson. 1st Lieut. John H. Cook of Northampton. 2d Lieut. John Anderson of Holland. Company F. Capt. Levi Lawrence of Fitchburg. 1st Lieut. Charles Barker of Fitchburg. 2d Lieut. Alfred Hitchcock of Fitchburg. Company G. Capt. James Doherty of Boston. 1st Lieut. Henry C. Ward of Worcester. •2d Lieut. Henry B Fiske of Springfield. Company H. (apt. Julius M. Tucker of Worcester. 1st Lieut. John L. Goodwin of Worcester. 2d Lieut. James W Kennay of Boston. Company I. Capt. Albert Prescott of Charlestown. 1st Lieut. Albert W. Cook of Milford. 2d Lieut. John Reade of Milford Company K. , No Captain designated 1st Lieut. Edwin Kimball, who declined commission and never served with the regiment. 2d Lieut James M. Childs of Worcester. WFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. NON-( < >M. MISSIONED STAFF. Sergt.-Maj. Albert M. Mordockof West Boylston. Commissary Sergt. David F. Lawry of Worcester. Q.-.M Sergl James A. Robbing of Watertown. Hospital Steward Henry (J. Prout of Great Barrington. Company K was the last company to be mustered into the United States service and was to be armed with the Spencer repeating rifle and employed as sharpshooters. It had no captain in command prior to leaving the State, hut was temporarily under command of 1st Lieut. John H. Cook of Co. E. with 2d 1 ieut •I. M. Childs. Tla- rifles could not be obtained at that time, hence Lieu- tenant Cook was left behind to obtain them, but was unable to secure them in time to reach the regiment until June 17th. In the meantime the company was armed with the old Springfield rifle. These were busy and exciting times never to be forgotten. The various officers detailed to recruit the companies reported for duty with their squads of recruits. The companies tilled their complement and were ready to he mustered in. and the work of converting the raw material into well drilled and disciplined soldiers began. The city of Worcester then, as in the days of i 776. as it' always has been and is DO w, was intensely loyal, and senl some of ber bes1 and OODlesI sous into the ranks as recruits and always ""' k :I dee P toteresl in the welfare of ihe regiment. The ladies frequently visited the cam,, bringing dainty edibles to help nil u1 the army rations, the private soldier receiving such attentions more particularly than the officer. Wherever the army blue was seen, either on the streets or in private houses, it was respected. A. a matter of course, it followed that weal] became very much attached to the city. The attachment became so strong that many, yes, ver y " ,:| ". V of the " boys" wenl ttle escapades after nightfall] crossing the guard line withoul permission, and report, which was ,:,ll .v believed, ha, I it. that they »,,„ ,, 8ome friend8j ,„. Perhaps, Bweethearts. It was even rumored thai some of the >"""-" offlcera indulged in such prank., hut. as uone of the, ORGANIZATION. were caught, there seemed to be a lack of evidence sufficient to make history. However that may be, we have all grown older and gray since those times and, as a matter of duty which youth owes to age, have repented of these follies, although we feel that there were some extenuating circumstances when we remember the veteran " Blue Beard," who was usually left in command when the day's exercises were over. To ask permission of him to visit the city was like " bearding the lion in his den." Leaving his presence with the invariable refusal, one's disappointment found some comfort in the thought that he would make quick work with the rebel hosts if he should ever be turned loose in their midst while in such a savage disposition. It was also an assurance that he would do all the fighting for the whole regiment. This gave a feeling of security which was carried along to the front. If any reached the city after that they were well cared for and returned to camp in safety before morning, and, in spite of all, made brave soldiers when the shock of battle came. With all the pleasant memories we cherish of Worcester it is not strange that we still turn towards it as the most fitting place for the regimental reunions. The barracks were temporary buildings erected of rough pine, with no limit as to ventilation ; no beds. The men slept by twos and threes, or in any other way most convenient for them, upon hard board platforms, which grew harder and harder through the cold winter nights. When aching bones ou one side called for a change of position all had to turn together. This, to many, was the first taste of soldier life, but it was one of incomparable luxury to that which was in store. Men were detailed for cooks, often without any previous knowledge of this art, and no one seemed to know how to econo- mize the government ration, but, at that time, the necessity for it was not as apparent as it became later. The quartermaster's department was established, under the direction of Lieut. George E. Priest, with the arrival of the first detachment of recruits, and commenced the issue of clothing and rations. Any one who ever filled the position of quartermaster knows that it is one not only requiring ability but more patience 8 i li 1Y--I \ I.N 111 REGIMENT MASS VOLUNTEERS. than was ever credited to Job of olden times, yet the quarter- master of the Fifty-Seventh had sufficient to sustain him through all his trials and was always found pleasant, affable, and tireless in his efforts to make every one comfortable with the limited means at his disposal. Be it said of him that he persevered even unto the end and then found his reward, not in worldly goods, bu1 in the sincere love of all his comrades. The duty roster was not very arduous. Reveille soon after daylight, when every man had to form in line and answer as his name was called, then hunks and bedding had to be put in order. This was followed by the breakfast call. Soon after that came sick call and then cleaning up the quarters and grounds and cutting wood for the day. Next was guard mounting; a certain number of men being detailed from each company in proportion to the number reported for duty, when the several details would be formed on the parade ground by the sergeant-major and reported to the adjutant who verified the number of men and assigned the different non-commissioned officers to their places with the guard. A lieutenant was detailed for officer of the guard, whose duty was to inspect it carefully and then march it to the guardhouse where it was divided into three reliefs, with one non-commissioned officer, usually a corporal, to each. The old guard was then relieved and marched off to their quarters. The guard remained on duty twenty-four hours, each relief standing post two hours. which gave them two hours on duty and four off, night-time in- cluded. The officer of the guard was held responsible for the proper instruction of his sentinel^ and had to visit them while on posl to Bee thai they were properly performing their duty. This officer ha the parade. The flag presentation was an impromptu affair ami wholly unexpected. It had been reserved for some future occasion, bul the day being so bright, it was decided, a- the regimenl was seen marching in. to present the flag then and there. No speeches had been prepared on either side; the affair ng wholly informal was all the more appreciated. Miss Lincoln was tall, with rather a Blender figure. Stepping grace- fully forward from :i group of Ladies and gentlemen, among whom was her father, -he passed the flag into the hands of Colonel ORGANIZATION. 11 Bartlett with a few words that could not be heard in the line. As she did so, the flag gently unfolded and gracefully floated out upon the evening breeze and was received by the regiment with hearty cheers. Miss Lincoln says of the affair that she cannot remember just what she said at the time, but that she presented the flag in the name of the ladies of Worcester, and that she was no more embarrassed than Colonel Bartlett. She is pleased to add: "I was very proud of being allowed to do so much for the old Fifty- Seventh ; the honor to me was very great." We often find an inspiring eloquence in deeds more enduring than in words. It was so here. There seemed to be something in the occasion that stirred the hearts of all who stood in that long line of army blue, and a new charm was added to that dear old flag. Even the smiles of nature seemed in harmony to add a higher sense of duty towards it and a greater love for it. The oath of enlistment encircles one with a solemn obligation to serve his country " honestly and faithfully." This ceremony seemed to consecrate that obligation and raise it into a purer atmosphere of devotion to the flag, to follow it manfully and bravely, to uphold it in the fierce conflict of battle and even to die for it. It appeared not only as the emblem of our common country, but as another link binding us to friends who took such a deep interest in the welfare of those who were going forth to do battle for the preservation and honor of the nation, and another tie binding our hearts to the fair ladies and loyal city of Worcester. If Miss Lincoln felt it an honor to present the flag, the regiment appreciated the honor it received at her hands and defended it upon many bloody fields. On Thursday, April 14th, the regiment was honored by a visit from His Excellency, Gov. John A. Andrew, accompanied by his Staff. The line was formed at eleven o'clock a.m., and after going through various evolutions and passing in review, it formed in a hollow square, when the State and National flags were pre- sented by His Excellency who made an eloquent and patriotic address, which is given here in full, as well worthy the space accorded it : — 12 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS "Colonel Bartlett, Massachusetts commits today to the hands of the Fifty-Seventh Regiment of Infantry Volunteers, the flag of the United States and the State colors of the Common- wealth, to be borne hereafter by your command, on those fields where you shall conduct them, to carry on the struggle for the maintenance of government and the perpetuation of the rightsand liberties of the people. From the rich and rural heart of Massa- chusetts, whence have marched already many of her sons during the present war, she is now to send a new battalion, numbering in its ranks many of her most precious and hopeful sons, as she has already surrendered others to her country. ■• We commit these sacred emblems to your hands with a confidence never surpassed, for you and many of your command are veteran soldiers. Many of your regiment have already faced the foe, as you, on many fields, have done. We address you confidently — soldiers of tried valor and large experience are before us. " It is an interesting period which calls you. Mr. Commander, tor the third time to draw your sword. Three years, more than one-third the time occupied by our fathers in the old Revolutionary War. have passed in our battle with the unhallowed and unjust revolt. The consequences to mankind, the mark which is made in history by the struggle of right with unparalleled wrong, will itself never find a parallel in achievements of the past. It was for independence our fathers fought ; we for liberty and civiliza- tion. 14 You will join an army of three years' experience, composed of tried and veteran troop-, who on many fields have proved their tenacity mid Strength Of intellect :ind body. ••When we consider the va-t resources of the nation, the numbers of soldiers of whom tin' army is composed, and the capacity of the officers by whom they are led. we feel that they can challenge Comparison with any in the world. And von. Mi. Commander, have the satisfaction of knowing that they are to be Combined and led by an officer whose successes have run current wilh the fortunes Of the war. and iii \ lew of whose illustrious ser- vices already given, we may cherish the fond and pious hope and aspirations that God will, ere long, granl us the victory. ORGANIZATION'. 13 " I commit these banners to yon as a citizen of Massachusetts and as a personal friend, an officer firm and loyal, a citizen faith- ful and patriotic, a friend in whom there is no guile, with a satis- faction no words can express, and whatever fate may be before you, I know that neither on the white stripes of the one flag nor the white field of the other will there ever fall the slightest dishonor." After receiving the colors Colonel Bartlett responded as follows : — " Your Excellency, I hope, sir, we shall do the flag more credit in action than we do ourselves in speech." Then turning to the regiment he spoke in a clear voice aud with an impassioned utterance that inspired ever} T heart, carefully and slowly measur- ing every sentence, as follows : — " My men, this flag which is the standard of our own Massa- chusetts, and this which we have been taught to look upon as the sacred emblem of our nation, has today been formally entrusted to our keeping, to carry and defend, by the Governor of our State. Can I say to him for you that you will try to do honor to this trust ; that you will carry it and defend it whenever and wher- ever duty calls ; that you will never desert, disown or disgrace it ; that you will swear by it, pray for it, live for it, aud, if need be, die for it ; and that you will devote yourselves to its service until it shall be feared and respected throughout the recreant South as it is loved and cherished by the loyal North? " Ever since that flag was insulted by traitors in Charleston Harbor it has had a warmer place in the heart of every loyal man. When her high-toned orators threatened the South's rebellion and secession, we endured a great deal of personal insult and abuse, calmly and silently, but when, viper-like, she turned and fired upon the flag which had shielded and protected her, she struck a blow which blood alone can atone for. She made a blot upon the page of our national history, which we are in arms today to wipe out. As it went slowly and sullenly down on those battered walls, it went up like magic on every hill-top and tower, on every steeple and staff throughout the North, and nearer and dearer to us than anything else on earth and reverenced next to our religion, is that old flag still. 14 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS VOLUNTEERS. "There are those at the South who, still true to their coun- try, are waiting silently and patiently till they see the gleam of its folds again, a token of the return of good government, the over- throw of despotism and rebellion ; and there are those, too, who wait hopefully, prayerfully for its coming, for they know that now and hereafter wherever that flag floats all men are free." The address was received with hearty applause. Sunday, April 10th, the regiment was marched into the city and attended church at the Old South where Rev. E. A. Walker preached an interesting and patriotic sermon. All now felt that the time was drawing near when the pleas- ant relations and social attachments with the people of Worcester must be severed and the regiment take the field. The efficient quartermaster had supplied the necessary camp equipage for held service and each soldier had the following arti- cles issued to him. which he was required to carry on his person, viz. : — 1 great COat. 1 tin cup. 1 fatigue coat. l knife and fork. 'i pairs flannel drawers. 1 spoon. 2 flannel shirts. 1 tin plate. - pairs stockings. l rubber blanket. 1 pair shoes. l haversack. 1 blanket. 1 canteen. 1 kii:i|iv:ick. These articles when packed upon a man's hack, together with his rifle and equipments, made considerable of a load. A smallman looked all knapsack, with his legs hanging -outside to steer by. Sunday. April 17th, was the last day in Camp John E. Wool. Every one was getting ready and, though busy, snatching a lew momenta for hurried chal with the friends they were to leave behind. CHAPTER II. OFF FOR THE WAR. JITH the budding flowers and opening spring of 1864, the long-expected orders came for the regiment to take the field. The quiet, happy scenes of peace were to be suddenly transformed into those of bloody strife. Tender words were exchanged be- tween sweethearts, relatives and friends who had made camp life so delightful during the past winter. Many were the fond, anxious looks and sad farewells that followed the line of blue on that lovely April day, as the regiment marched out of Camp Wool and embarked on a special train on the Norwich and Worcester Railroad, and many were the beating hearts in blue whose affections were left behind. Strong links that bind one to home and friends also inspire him to a higher sense of duty, for he realizes that they confide in his honor and bravery to do his duty and he feels that he has accepted a sacred obligation, which he cannot betray without sacrificing all his honor and manhood, which, to a true man, are dearer than life itself. The train left at two p.m., April 18th, 1864, having on board nine hundred and twenty-eight men. At Norwich the regiment was loaded on a government transport and landed at Jersey City the next morning. After remaining upon the dock until about noon, it was again loaded upon cars for Philadelphia. All knew our destination was Annapolis, but from there one could only conjecture what disposition was to be made of us. The regiment arrived at Philadelphia in the evening and was hospitably Entertained by the citizens at Cooper Refreshment Ik FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Rooms. Never will the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts and other regiments forget the bountiful feast which was provided for the hungry men arriving j„ that city on their way to the seat of war. It was a noble exhibition of Philadelphia loyalty and patriotism shining down through the long years from 1776. The record of this beneficence will be held in everlasting remembrance. During the war those volunteer women and men furnished food to more than one million of soldiers, lodging to forty thousand, while twenty thousand had theii wounds dressed and cared for by at- tendants in the adjoiuing hospital. No doubt this has been mentioned in every regimental history of Massachusetts troops that marched through Philadelphia during the war. If not, it deserves a place there. Too frequent mention cannot be made of such lofty acts of patriotism which show that loyal heart- live not alone in the armies but with the people who sustau them. The history of the Cooper Refreshment Rooms would til' volumes. They were established early in the war from a littl incidenl hardly worth mentioning. The wife of a poor mechanic who lived uear the landing that was the terminus of the Camden and Amboy Railroad in that city, went *ut one morning with her coffee pot and cup and gave hot coffee to about a dozen soldiers. Thi> was the beginning which led to the building of such a mag- nificent system of relief, which will always be remembered by every soldier thai passed through the city of "Brotherly hove" during the War of the Rebellion. The work was quickly taken up and carried on by other loyal women in Philadelphia who immediately formed themselves into a committee for the genera] distribution of coffee to passing Union soldiers, whether going to or returning from the seat of war - Tu e men were not long in coming to the assistance of the ladies. Ai liisi refreshments were collected and served under the trees in fronl <>( a cooper's shop on Otsego Street, near Washing- '"" A.ve. The patriotic .Mr. William Cooper, the owner of the shop, Boon saw what was needed and immediately gave the use of ll|s large Bhop for this purpose. The building was at once cleared and the firsl regimenl wasted under its roof May 27th CtA.0. *n OFF FOR THE WAR. 17 1861. A banner was stretched across the street bearing the fol- lowing words in large letters : cooper's shop volunteer refreshment saloon FREE. The demand became so great that other rooms near by had to be opened and eventually a temporary hospital was attached and the best of medical attention given where it was needed. One may reasonably hope for pardon in digressing a little from the main subject to speak of an institution which accom- plished so much good. While recording deeds of valor upon the battlefield, we cannot forget the good, self-sacrificing work of the noble women of our land, who not only administered food and clothing, but were found at the front in the hospitals, nursing the sick and wounded, and giving hope and encouragement to the dying. The touch of their hands was like a soft, healing balm after the work of the surgeon's knife and saw. Their purity of character was always above reproach; even the harshest voice became softened and the roughest nature spellbound in their presence. They came like ministering angels, always shedding a glow of sunlight. They took the place of our mothers and sis- ters, — God bless them. Their influence for good permeated through all grades and conditions and he was none the less a brave soldier who carried the love of a pure woman buttoned beneath his coat of blue. After the entertainment the regiment was marched across the city and took cars of all descriptions and reached Baltimore on Wednesday, April 20th ; there receiving for the first time, their taste of army fare, the historic hard tack and salt meat. The ride from Baltimore to Annapolis was very comfortable and pleas- ant. The latter-named place was reached in the afternoon and. after a march of about two miles, camp was made in a ploughed field where the men received their first experience in sleeping on the ground. 18 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. The next morning steps were taken to put the camp in proper order. A detail was made of about twenty men for "police" purposes. Policing in the army does not mean exactly the same as in civil life. It is not for the purpose of preserving order and arresting the disorderly, but for the purpose of cleaning up the camp. The officer in charge was directed to report to the officer of the day when the work was completed. The detail worked faithfully nnd removed everything objectionable to health and cleanliness, when the report was made to the officer of the day that the work was completed. After the latter had made an inspection he disapproved the report in a very positive manner and directed the whole camp to be swept with brooms. Accord- ingly work w:is resinned and this newly-ploughed field was care- fully swept during a high wind. The sanitary improvements that were thereby made have not been discovered to this day The Ninth Army Corps, under Maj.-Gen. Ambrose E. Burn- side, was at Annapolis, reorganizing after its previous severe cam- paign in East Tennessee. The Fifty-Seventh .Massachusetts was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division of this Corps. Two days were spenl in preparation for the march of the whole corps to the scat of war. Everyone then saw that the destination was the Army of the Pol ac. Five days' rations were issued and camp was broken Saturday morning, April 23d. The regimenl was firsl formed into column of companies, ranks opened, knapsacks unslung and company commanders were ordered to make a thor- ough inspection and permit the men to carry nothing Inn their arms and equipments, live days' rations in their haversacks; a change of underclothing, on,' blanket, one overcoal ami a pair of shoes iii the knapsacks, a tin cup, knife, fork ami spoon. Provi- sion had been made and considerable extra clothing had Keen packed in boxes and stored at Annapolis, in charge of the quarter- master there, t<» be forwarded when it was required, yet there was Mill a BUrplUB. In complying with this order many of the knapsack- were found Deatly packed with precious little keepsakes and other treasures, esteemed of more value by their owners than any article Of Clothing. It -eellled like highway loUiel'Y to throw thelll ollt, lillt OFF FOR THE WAR. 19 they had to go. Most of them were picked up and slyly put back into the knapsack again. It seemed like sacrilege to leave such things scattered upon the ground. The line of march was then taken up for Virginia by way of Washington. The day was extremely hot and the knapsacks weighed like lead, growing heavier and heavier with each weary step. As human endurance reached the limit, the conclusion was forced upon them that some portion of their load would have to be discarded. It was so hot it seemed as if it never could get cool again, besides we were marching South — of what use would a blanket ever be to them again? hence the blanket was first to be left by the roadside ; that helped a little, but some left the over- coat, also, while others discarded everything save the musket and equipments. Those who had seen previous service were excep- tions. The road was strewn for miles with knapsacks, overcoats and blankets. A number of Jewish traders from Annapolis followed the command with wagons and reaped quite a harvest for their future trade. Fifteen miles were made the first day. Considering the ex- treme heat, and that it was the first march, this was considered excellent. The corps went into camp by brigades in some green fields along by a winding stream. Coffee was soon made and preparations completed for the night. Those who were without blankets or overcoats found the night rather uncomfortable. The camp of the Fifty-Seventh was very near the centre. Looking up and down the little stream, the camp fires could be seen burning brightly. As the night wore on the dimly, flickering lights showed the watchful sentinels silently walking past and, no doubt, reflect- ing upon the fast fading glamour of soldier life as the stern reali- ties were appearing. How changed everything seemed. Sunday morning, April 24th, with the first dawn of day, reveille sounded through the sleeping camp and soon the dying embers were fanned into new life for hot coffee. There was no sound of the ' k church-going bells," no quiet Sabbath morn, but the martial strains of the fife and drum reminded us that we were "marching as to war." Tents were struck at five o'clock a.m., and the whole command was soon on the march proceeding towards 20 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Washington. The distance made this day was twenty miles, going into camp late at night in a driving rain storm. The next morning, April 25th, the third day of the march, the line was not formed until about seven o'clock a.m. and the march resumed. A halt for dinner was made in the vicinity of Washington where the unfinished dome of the Capitol could be seen. After dinner the march was again taken up and proceeded through the city of Washington. The Ninth Corps passed before President Lincoln in review, and every man was enabled to get a good look at him. The President received the review from the balcony of Willard's Hotel, accompanied by General Burnside and Hon. Francis Wayland, formerly a resident of Worcester, but at that time Lieutenant-Governor of Connecticut. The troops marched past in column of companies at full distance and presented a fine appearance by their regular cadenced step and well preserved company front. Both Houses of Congress adjourned to witness the review. Crossing the long bridge immediately after, the regimenl stood, for the Brst time, on the blood-stained soil of Virginia, where for the next year it was to consecrate the soil witl| much of ,,„.-„. 0WD best blood. It was well that coming events were not foreshadowed. It always seems besl that our future is unknown to us. The regimenl went into camp not far beyond the river, near some old abandoned works that had previously been used in defence of the Capital, where it remained until the following Wednesday. Wednesday, April 27th, tour days' rations were issued and forty rounds of ammunition per man. Camp was broken, the march resumed and a distance of nearly twenty miles made. The day was excessively warm, many of the men were footsore and ,,,;. m arcb Beemed to drag heavier than any previous one. One man, Private Horace Clark, Company B, received a severe sun- 9troke , from the effects of which he died and was buried by the roadside with military honors, the chaplain officiating. This was tne firsl death in the Fifty-Seventh. The regimenl went into ,,„„,, for the Qighl near Fairfax CoUTl House. .Mareh was again OFF FOR THE WAR. 21 resumed at eight o'clock a.m. the next day, through Centreville. This small village was deserted and nearly destroyed by the ravages of war. But few buildings were standing and those were badly battered. A halt was made for dinner on the old Bull Run battlefield, going into camp at sundown at Bristow Station. The march was again taken up the next morning, Friday, the 29th, proceeding through Warreuton, making camp near there, and continuing the next day to the Rappahannock river, where the regiment went into camp to the south of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad and became merged into the grand Army of the Potomac ; although the Ninth Corps remained as an independent command under General Burnside until May 24th. The next day the regiment moved into the camp vacated by the 20th Maine, which regiment had moved on towards Brandy Station. The whole army was astir making preparations for the grand campaign about to open. The 20th Maine had occupied a very pretty camp during the previous winter, on the heights bordering the east bank of the river, by the railroad bridge. This had been made quite comfortable. Temporary shelter was made of logs, the interstices between being filled with small stones and mud, a fireplace in each, with a chimney built of stone and mud, or two barrels, one fitted on top of the other. The roofs were made of shelter tents. Pieces of packing boxes were laid upon the ground for flooring ; in some cases covered with an old rug or piece of carpeting. Temporary bunks had been constructed of pieces of packing boxes or barrel staves and pliable poles. These huts seemed palatial compared to sleeping under shelter tents on the ground and spoke well for the good taste and enterprise of the 20th Maine. Much time and labor had been expended in the construction of this camp and everything showed neatness and order. The huts of the enlisted men were equally as good as those of the officers. Each company formed a street, the huts in two lines facing each other, the officers' huts on another line and at right angles with the line of company streets ; at the farther end of the streets were the company kitchens. The situation was delightful, overlooking an extensive landscape stretching for miles away into Culpepper county. •>■> FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT mass. VOLUNTEERS. Picket stations were occupied on the opposite side of the river. The writer remembers his first tour of picket duty in the A liny of the Potomac. The night was dark, cold and rainy, with mud galore. After standing in the rain and mud all night without any sleep, it seemed good to get under shelter the next morning to sleep and get dry. It was not long, however, before the adju- tant appeared with an order for the regular muster rolls and "Company .Monthly Report." There was no further rest. The rolls and report had to be made out at once. This was the first muster in the field and seemed to those unacquainted with the routine of official business in the army as wholly superfluous. We all knew we were there and how we felt. The colonel had our morning report and he also knew who were present. What difference could it make at the War Department? Why torment ns in this way? It was extremely difficult to get the necessary data to make out the papers correctly, yet they must be sent in by a certain hour. It was a day of painful toil and anxiety. After the work had been completed and viewed with a degree of satisfaction, a heavy wind came up, accompanied by rain, which Carried away the frail roof of the lint and nearly ruined the papers upon which so much time had been expended and patience lost. There was no time to repair damage, so they had to lie sent in as they were and remain today among the archives of the War Department, in the record of which there is no feeling Of pride, hut it was the hest that could be done under such adverse circnin- stanci 3. Before reaching this point an order had been issued detailing Capt. George II. Howe of < pany E on the Brigade Staff as Acting A--dstant I nspector-( ieiieral, which left the company under command of Lieut. John Anderson. Firsl Lieut. George I'.. Barton had also been detailed in charge of the Ambulance Corps of the First Division, bul was relieved after the hat tie of (old Harbor and rejoined tin- regimeut, and expressed greal pleasure on returning. lie said In' wanted ••to be with the boys, to rejoice when they rejoice, and weep when they weep," bul his disposition not being of the '» weeping" kind, he was always found l< rejoicing." CHAPTER III. THE WILDERNESS. IN approaching the subject of this great battle we are mindful of the fact that it has been written over and over again from official standpoints, in which the grand movements of army corps and divisions are por- trayed, and where tactical movements are reviewed by the military critic. It will be our effort to write from the other end, or from the ranks of the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts, as seen by one who was there. This is a mat- ter, perhaps, of small general interest to the public, but of great personal moment to each individual soldier who faced the storm of that terrible battle with the Fifty-Seventh. The Ninth Corps, to which the regiment belonged, acting in concert with the grand old Army of the Potomac, it becomes necessaiy to turn to the movements and conditions of this army in order to show the history of the Fifty-Seventh in this, its first engagement as an organization. There were no points of special advantage in the Wilderness, except those covered by the roads leading through it, the posses- sion of which became one of the principal objects of contention. This was called "the Wilderness" because it was one in fact as well as in name, in all that the word implies, being a wild tract of desolate country lying south of the Rapidan river in Orange and Spottsylvania Counties, Virginia, about fifteen miles in length from east to west and about ten in width. Of all places on earth for battle it would be hard to select one more gloomy and desolate, or one presenting so many obsta- cles to the formation of battle lines. The deep jungles and dark ravines of this almost impenetrable forest rendered rapid and 24 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. strategical formations and movements impossible, the ground being considerably broken and thickly covered with a growth of dwarf pines, scrub oak, brambles, thorns and briars, so inter- woven thai one experienced the utmost difficulty in getting through and could see bu1 a short distance in any direction. It did not possess one cheerful feature and seemed the last place in the world for the habitation of man ; yet in this dark forest was to be fought one of the grandest and most sanguinary battles of modern times. From this brief description one can readily see that large armies would meet with great difficulty in moving with unbroken lines and anything like order or regularity. Three main roads lead through the Wilderness, the Orange plank road and the Orange turnpike, running from the west, a Little north of east, a few miles apart and nearly parallel, and the Germanna plank road, running in a southeasterly direction from Germanna Ford on the Rapidan river, and intersecting the two former at nearly right angles, the two points of intersection being aboul two miles apart and in the very heart of the Wilderness. The Germanna plank road is continued south by what was known as the Brock road, while further to the south, and nearly parallel ,,, tae Germanna plank. ranthe'Catharpin road, the last mentioned passing only through the southern border of the Wilderness, which was a more open country. The points of intersection of the Germanna plank road with the Orange pike and Orange plank poada became of greal value to both the federals and ( onfederates and where the fiercest struggles took place. This section was familiar to the Confederates hut almost en- tirely unknown to the Federals. It was like groping in the dark to them. F r iii,. ranks it i- impossible for one to know die plans of the commanding general or the disposition of the several organi- zations composing the army, save the one to which iie belongs. He marches, whither he does no1 know, or whether then- is to be reneral engagement or only a little skirmishing with movements to g ft i n position. The situation is all a speculation with him. He trudges along with his blankel roll, muskel and forty rounds THE -WILDERNESS. 25 of ammunition. He thinks and hopes and never loses an oppor- tunity to brew his coffee when a halt is made long enough. There was one thing that every soldier in the Army of the Potomac knew beyond a doubt ; it had been learned by long experience that whenever a movement was made towards the enemy he could be found and always ready to fight with a skill and bravery that were the admiration of the world. This was the greatest obsta- cle to contend with and was the real cause of prolonging the war. It is our purpose, however, to write only the part per- formed by the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts, but in describing it, we find it hard to separate the regiment from the army to which it belonged. While the genial warmth of spring was thawing the icy shackles of winter and Nature's sunny smiles winning into new life the green leaves and budding flowers, emblems of peace and beauty, two large armies were facing each other, in full martial array, from opposite banks of the river Rapid an in Virginia, pre- paring for a scene quite out of harmony with nature's loveliness, that of bloody, fratricidal war, one of death and widespread desolation. The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia for the purpose of destroying the Federal government, and the Federal Army of the Potomac for the purpose of saving it; the former numbering something over sixty thousand. Reports from the records of the War Department at Washington show it to have been 61,953, in the aggregate of all arms of the service present for duty, with 224 guns. It held strongly intrenched positions south of the river, located as follows: the left (Longstreet) at Gordonsville, the center (A. P. Hill) at Orange Court House, the right (Ewell) resting on the river near Raccoon Ford, the force along the river being more for the purpose of observation, the main force being posted in echelon towards Orange Court House, and back to the vicinity of Gordonsville, where Longstreet had twelve thousand men, and was ready to move in any direction as circum- stances might require. An advance by the Federals in any direction could be anticipated and promptly met by the Con- federates. 2<> FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. The Army of the Potomac, though under the immediate com- mand of Genera] Meade, was virtually under the orders and in- structions of General Grant who had his headquarters with it. It was composed of three corps, — posted on the north bank of the Rapidan and Rappahannock, a few miles above their continence, — the Second, Fifth and Sixth, commanded by Generals Hancock, Warren and Sedgwick, together with the cavalry, under General Sheridan and the Ninth Corps under General Burnside, who com- manded it at that time independently of General Meade. The total effective force armed and equipped, present for duty April 30, 1864, was 119,869, with 310 guns. This includes all arms of the service, Provost Guard, Reserve Artillery, En- gineers and Ninth Army Corps, but this whole force was not taken into the battle. The Fourth Division of the Ninth Corps (colored), numbering 3,0'.)5 men, was detailed to guard the wagon trains. The cavalry, about twelve thousand, could not operate in the Wilderness, hence only a small portion of it was employed in protecting the left flank, while the artillery experienced still greater difficulty in obtaining position and only a few batteries were employed. This would reduce the Federal force actually engaged to less than one hundred thousand. Neither artillery nor infantry Could be handled to advantage in such a place, hence. it was almost wholly an infantry light. The mistake generally made by Confederate writers is that the Federal strength is always esti- mated in the aggregate, while their own is placed at the actual [lumber presenl for duty hearing arms. The preponderence of numbers was in favor of the Federals, hut not in Buch gr.at pro- portion as ha- hem represented, and this advantage was con- siderably neutralized in such a thicket as the Wilderness, where the Federals were the attacking party in a region unknown to them, while the Confederates were acting upon the defensive in a region well known to them, and, holding interior lines, they were able to inert the Federals with equal force at every point. Under all the circumstances the advantage of numbers became neutralized in such a tangled thicket as the \Y ildei ne-.-. When line- are broken in BUCh a place the troops are forced to fall hack in con- siderable confusion and disorder, which the attacking party is THE WILDERNESS. 27 unable to take advantage of by advancing quickly, as it is not able to preserve an unbroken front and is, therefore, often thrown into an almost equal confusion. Both sides are obliged to halt and re-form, the advantage gained being only a few yards in advance and a few prisoners, and this gained at a great sacrifice of life. The two armies were in fine condition, both as to drill and discipline, and each confident in its own strength and the ability of the distinguished officers who commanded, with that experience and morale which could never suffer another Bull Run. They had faced each other in deadly strife for nearly three years and might be said to know each other. Upon these two armies hung the hopes and fears of both the North and South ; the destruction of either carried with it more than a simple victory : it carried either the successful establishment of the Southern Confederacy, with a complete destruction of our Republic, or the overthrow of slavery and the death of the Confederacy. The whole civilized world looked on with more than ordinary interest as each side gathered all its strength for what promised to be a final and desperate struggle, which was to decide the fate of the nation and demonstrate whether or not a republican form of government, by the people, possessed patriotism and strength enough to save itself from over- throw by internal strife. Every reader of history is familiar with the plan of the cam- paign as formulated by the two distinguished generals who com- manded the opposing forces ; the object of General Grant being to turn General Lee's right flank, defeat his army by placing the Army of the Potomac between it and Richmond, the fall of which place would eventually follow the successful accomplishment of such a scheme, the Ninth Corps to be held in reserve, along the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, until the success of this move- ment became well assured, and to check any counter- move that the Confederate commander might undertake towards the vicinity of Washington. The plan of General Lee was to remain on the defensive offensive within his strong intrenchments, with the general features of the country in his favor, and to fall upon the Federals while on the march, by consolidating his forces and throwing 28 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. them rapidly forward upon some point where the Federals could be taken by surprise and at a disadvantage, breaking their line of march and' cutting their force in twain, then defeating each in succession. It has been stated on good authority that General Lee had means of ascertaining the plans and movements of General Grant, even before their attempted execution, and was thereby enabled to anticipate him at all points. There seems to be Q0 doubt that Genera] Grant, who had heretofore met with almost uninterrupted success, greatly under-estimated the ability of General Lee and the spirit of the troops under his command, and commenced the campaign with more confidence, as later experi- ence showed, than the circumstances justified. Of all the plans fcna l had been considered in previous campaigns and tried by McClellan, Burnside, Hooker and Pope, only two were deemed practical — one the overland, direct upon Richmond, the other by water, ascending the dames river from Fortress Monroe. Each possessed advantages and disadvantages; both had been tried with disastrous results; one failed, a. was claimed, from lack oi proper support, and the other from lack of concert of action and generalship. Plans look beautiful on paper and in theory, but mosl of thru,, a- experience has demonstrated, are difficult to practice. However, General Granl selected the overland and this i 8 bow the trouble commenced. The Army of the Potomac was too large and unwieldy to move in single column, hence it had to move in two, and by corps. In this movement it became necessary for one column to pass directly through the Wilderness, while the other was to move nearly parallel to it j->st south of the Wilderness towards Chan- cellorsville, and within supporting distance, on the two roads heretofore described, the Germanna plank and the Catharpin. The long anticipated order was finally issued and as it will give the „„,,..,. a m ore intelligeni understanding of the events that fol- lowed, it is copied verbatim, as follows: — the wilderness. 29 Headquarters Army of the Potomac, May 2d, 1864. ORDERS. 1. The Array will move on Wednesday the 4th May, 1864. 2. On the day previous, Tuesday, 3d May, Major-General Sheridan, commanding Cavalry Corps, will move Gregg's Cavalry Division to the vicinity of Richardsville. It will be accompanied by one-half of the canvas ponton train, the engineer troops, which will repair the road to Ely's Ford as far as practicable without exposing their work to the observation of the enemy. Guards will be placed in all the occupied houses on or in the vicinity of the route of the cavalry and in advance toward the Rapidan, so as to prevent any communication with the enemy by the inhabitants. The same precaution will be taken at the same time in front of the First and Third Cavalry Divisions and wherever it may be considered necessary. At two o'clock a.m. on the 4th May, Gregg's Division will move to Ely's Ford, cross the Rapidan as soon as the cauvas ponton bridge is laid, if the river is not fordable, and as soon as the infantry of the Second Corps is up, will move to the vicinity of Piney Branch Church, or ip that section, throwing reconnoissances well out on the Pamunkey road towards Spottsylvania Court House, Hamilton's Crossiug and Fredericksburg. The roads past Piney Branch Church, Tod's tavern, etc., will be kept clear for the passage of the infantry the following day. The cavalry division will remain in this position to cover the passage of the army trains, and will move with them and cover their left flank. At midnight on the 3d May, the Third Cavalry Division, with one-half the canvas ponton bridge train, which will join it after dark, will move to Germanna Ford, taking the plank road, and cross the Rapidan as soon as the bridge is laid, if the river is not fordable, and hold the crossing until the infantry of the Fifth Corps is up; it will then move to Parker's store on the Orange Court House plank road or that vicinity, sending out strong reconnoissances on the Orange plank and pike roads, and the Catharpin and Pamunkey roads, until they feel the enemy, and at least as far as Robertson's tavern, the Hope Church, and Ormond's or Robinson's. All intelligence concerning the enemy will be communicated with promptitude to headquarters and to the corps and division commanders of the nearest infantry troops. 3. Major-General Warren, commanding Fifth Corps, will send two divisions at midnight of the 3d inst., by way of Stevensburg and the plank road to the crossing of Germanua Ford. So much bridge train as may be necessary to bridge the Rapidan at Germanna Ford, with such artillery as may be required, will accompany these divisions, which will be followed by the remainder of the corps at such hour that the 30 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. column Avill cross the Rapidan -without delay. Such disposition of the troops and artillery as may be found necessary to cover the bridge will be made by the corps commander, who, after crossing, will move to the vicinity of the Old Wilderness tavern, on the Orange Court House pike. The corps will move the following day past the head of Catharpin Run, crossing the Orange Court House plank road at Parker's store. 4. Major-General Sedgwick, commanding the Sixth Corps, will move at four a.m. on the 4th inst., by way of Stevensburg and the Germanna plank road to Germanna Ford, following the Fifth Corps, and after crossing the Kapidan will bivouac on the heights beyond The canvas ponton train will be taken up as soon as the troops of the Sixth Corps have crossed, and will follow immediately in rear of the troops of that corps. So much of the bridge train of the Sixth Corps as may be necessary to bridge the Rapidan at Culpepper Mine Ford will proceed to Richards- ville in nar of the reserve artillery, and as soon as it is ascertained that the reserve artillery are crossing, it will move to Culpepper Mine Ford. where the bridge will he established. The engineers of this bridge train will at once open a road from Culpepper Mine Ford direct to Richardsville. .">. Major-General Hancock, commanding Second Corps, will send two divisions, with so much of the bridge train as may be necessary to bridge the Rapidan at Ely's Ford, and such artillery as may he required, at midnight id' the 3d inst. to Ely's Ford. The remainder of the Corps will follow at such hour thai the column will cross the Kapidan without delay. The canvas ponton train a1 this ford will be taken up a- soon as the troops of this corps have passed, and will move with it at the head of the trains thai accompany the troops. The wooden ponton bridge will remain. The Sec. .ml ( !orp8 will enter the Stevensburg and Richards- ville road at Madden's, in order thai the route from Stevensburg to the plank road may In- \'vvr for the Fifth and Sixth Corp- After cross- ing the Rapidan the Second Corps win move id the \iciuity of Chandler's or < Ihancellorsville. 6. ll Is expected I hat I he ad \ a nee dl \ isions of the Fifth and Second Corps, with the wooden ponton trains, will be at the designated poinl of crossing m>t later than Bis \.m. of the iih inst. 7. The reserve artillerj will move at three a.m. of the 4th inst., and follow the Second Corps, passing Mountain Kun at ROSS'S Mills, or Hamilton's Crossing al Ely's Ford, take the road to Chancellorsvllle, and halt for the night at Hunting < reek. 8. Great care will be taken by the corps commanders that the roads are promptly repaired i>\ the pioneers wherever needed, not only for the temporary wants of the division or corps to which the pioneers THE WILDERNESS. 31 belong, but for the passage of the troops and trains that follow on the same route. 9. During the movement on the 4th and following days, the com- manders of the Fifth and Sixth Corps will occupy the roads on the right flank to cover the passage of their corps, and will keep their flankers well out in that direction. The commander of the Second Corps and reserve artillery will in a similar manner look out for the left flank. Wherever practicable, double columns will be used to shorten the columns. Corps commanders will keep in communication and connection with each other, and co- operate wherever necessary. Their picket lines will be connected. They Mill keep the Commanding General constantly advised of their progress and of everything important that occurs, and will send staff officers to acquaint him with the location of their headquarters. During the move- ment of the 4th inst. headquarters will be on the route of the Fifth and Sixth Corps. It will be established at night between those corps and the Germanna plank road. 10. The infantry troops will take with them fifty rounds of ammuni- tion upon the person, three (3) days' full rations in the haversacks, three (3) days' bread and small rations in the knapsacks, and three (3) days' beef on the hoof. Each corps will take with it one-half of its intrenching tools, one hospital wagon and one medium wagon for each brigade; one-half of the ambulance trains aud the light spring wagon, and pack animals allowed at the 'various headquarters. No other trains or means of trans- portation than those just specified will accompany the corps, except such wagons as maybe necessary for the forage for immediate use for five (5) days. The artillery will have with them the ammunition of the caissons only. 1 1 . The subsistence and other trains loaded with the amount of rations, forage, infantry and artillery ammunition, etc., heretofore ordered, the surplus wooden pontons of the different corps, etc. will be assembled under the direction of the chief quartermaster of the army in the vicinity of Richardsville, with a view to crossing the Rapidan by bridges at Ely's Ford and Culpepper Mine Ford. 12. A detail of one thousand or twelve hundred men will be made from each corps as guard for its subsistence and other trains. This de- tail will be composed of entire regiments as far as practicable. No other guards whatever for regimental, brigade, division or corps wagons will be allowed. Each detail will be under command of an officer selected for that purpose, and the whole will be commanded by the senior officer of the three. This guard will be so disposed as to protect the trains on the march and in park. The trains are likewise protected by cavalry on the flank and rear. 32 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEEK8. 13. Major-General Sheridan, commanding the cavalry corps, will direcl the First Cavalry Division to call in its pickets and patrols on the righl on the morning of the 4th inst. and hold itself ready to move and cover the trains of the army. It will picket and watch the fords of the Rapidan from Rapidan Station to Germanna Ford. On the morning of the 5th, the First Cavalry Division will cross the Rapidan at Germanna Ford and cover the right flank of the trains while crossing the Rapidan and during their movement in rear of the army. The signal stations on Cedar. Poney and Stoney Mountains will be maintained as long as practicable. 14. The wooden ponton train at Germanna and Ely's Fords will remain for the passage of General Bnrnside's army. That at Culpepper Mine Ford will be taken up under the direction of the chief engineer as soon as the trains have crossed, and will move with the train of its corps. By command of M I.JOR-GENERAL Ml W>1.. (Signed) s. Williams, Assistant Adjutant-Generat. The foregoing order would appear complete in all its details, yet it does uot include the Ninth Corps and the part it was to take in the movements of the grand army. General Grant in his memoirs says: " Burnside, with the Ninth Corps, was left hack nt Warrentown, guarding the railroad from Bull Run forward, to preserve control of il in case our crossing the Rapidan should he | on g delayed He was instructed, however, to advance at once ,.n receiving notice that the army had crossed and a despatch was Ben 1 t,, him a little after 1 P.M., giving the information that our army had been successful." The movement commenced at midnight of the 3d of .May, 1864. The camps were broken up ami the Army of the Potomac moved out. with all the panoply of war, upon one of the grandest and tnosl bloody campaigns recorded upon the pages of history. The righl column, which had t<> pass through the Wilderness, wafl composed <>!' the Fifth and Sixth Corps, and crossed the Rapidan river at Germanna Ford aboul ten miles below Raccoon Ford, where the right of General Lee's army rested. The left column was composed of the Second Corp- and crossed at Ely's THE WILDERNESS. 33 Ford, about six miles below Germanua Ford, the Ninth Corps being left, as heretofore explained. It was also to guard the two fords and the supply trains, which had to be moved with the army, besides keeping the lines of communication open. All day of the 4th the army moved forward, and the two columns crossed the river without opposition, and preceded by a large cavalry force, marched rapidly on the great flanking move- ment ; the right taking the Germanua plank road into the Wilder- ness and the left taking the more Southern road towards Chancellorsville ; at which poiut there was a road leading to the old Wilderness tavern towards which the right was marching, the latter on the side towards the enemy and therefore expecting to encounter him first. The bivouac was made for the night near the old Wilderness tavern in the hidden depths of the tangled forest. The cavalry had been kept well out during the day to watch for any hostile force that might approach, but however watchful and zealous they might have been, they failed to discover the strong force that was approaching under the Confederate General Ewell, and also directed upon the same point, viz. : Old Wilderness tavern. The advance of the two opposing armies encamped for the night within three miles of each other, neither being aware of the near approach of the other. That evening General Meade commanding the Army of the Potomac issued an order for the movements of the following day- In the meantime, General Lee had discovered the plan of General Grant and was concentrating his forces as rapidly as possible to strike a decisive blow upon the right column before it should emerge from the dense Wilderness and where it could be attacked to advantage. Ewell's advance was already in close proximity to the Federal troops with A. P. Hill's Corps at no great distance, though not connected. In compliance with General Meade's order, the Army of the Potomac commenced to move at five a.m on the 5th of May and very soon came in contact with the two Confederate Corps above mentioned, when the battle known as the Wilderness commenced in earnest and raged almost incessantly throughout the day, the Fifth Corps sustaining the first shock and gallantly maintaining its ground until the Sixth could be brought into posi- 34 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. tion and later the Second Corps; the close of the day showing- heavy losses to both sides with no decided advantage to either; but that night plans were formulated for bringing up all the avail- able force on both sides for a renewal of the struggle on a grander scale. Turning again to the Ninth Corps, to which the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts belonged, and which was left back at the Rappa- hannock, it was placed in motion on the 4th and hurried forward cm a forced march to "join the dreadful revelry." The Fifty-Seventh moved from the comfortable camp of the 20th Maine on the heights above the river and at daybreak, May 4th, with forty rounds of ammunition and three days' rations, commenced the march in the direction of Brandy Station. The very name had a kind of inspiration to a tired, thirsty soldier, but, after reaching there, it was discovered that the brandy was all gone ami the " boys " were in the condition of Mother Hubbard's dog when •• the cupboard was bare." Although the distance marched was only aboul six miles :i halt was made until five p.m. when it was again resumed towards the Rapidan. Darkness soon came ami the regimenl plodded on through the sticky mud. By some blunder it became separated and the right wing took the wrong road. The mistake was not discovered until about midnight, when :i tedious counter-march had to he made which consumed the balance of the night. Daylight found the two wings re-nnited at a poinl not far from where the inarch had Commenced the night before. The men were well nigh exhausted and not in the best of humor. They had marched through the mud all night without accomplishing anything. Had it not been for the moral safe- guard thrown around them by the Articles of War no doubl some would have thoughl swear, l>ut this was one of the contingencies the Articles of War provided for and became the means of saving the moral-, of many a foot-weary soldier. After making coffee the route was continued towards Ger- maima ford on the Rapidan. The river was crossed at that point on a w Icn ponton bridge. The First Division moved to the heights beyond and covered the crossing for the remainder of the corps; remaining there until two a.m. Friday, May 6th. THE WILDERNESS. 35 Throughout the entire day of the 5th the sound of battle came to us from the "Wilderness. It spoke in no tremulous or uncertain voice, but in one steady roar like Niagara, with occasional brief lulls like moaning wind gathering strength for a heavier blast. It told in language that could not be misunderstood of the desperate conflict that was raging, but it did not reveal the part held in store for the Fifty-Seventh the following day. It was hot, but the regiment gained a good rest, while all thought of the coming morrow. As night came on and twilight deepened into darkness, the distant sounds gradually died away. All felt that it was not yet over, only the calm which precedes the storm. At two o'clock a.m., the morning of the 6th, the regiment was again on the march ; this time into the Wilderness, passing through burning woods, until it reached the Wilderness plank road about six a.m. The sound of battle could be heard coming from the point towards which we were marching. Wounded men were being brought out, giving evidence of the sanguinary conflict which was raging. The Ninth Corps, General Burnside, was ordered to take position between the Second and Fifth and to connect with them on the right and left. Many writers disagree as to the time it became engaged. We were in no position of knowing at what time it was brought into action, but the division to which the Fifty-Seventh belonged, Stevenson's first division, became en- gaged about eight a.m., on the 6th. Orders had been issued for a general attack along the whole line at five a.m., on the 6th. The divisions of General Wilcox and General Potter of the Ninth Corps were to close the gap between the right of the Second and left of the Fifth Corps, and make an attack in the direction of Parker's Store. Stevenson's division was left in reserve at the Old Wilderness tavern. The attack began punctually at five a.m. by the Second, Fifth and Sixth Corps, but the Ninth had not gained position at that time. Upon the extreme right the Sixth Corps assaulted the entrenched lines of the enemy, Ewell, but was repulsed with heavy loss. The Fifth Corps, Warren, met with no better success, while the Second Corps, Hancock, strengthened by one division 3*1 KITTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. of the Fifth Corps under General Wadsworth, made a furious assault on the Confederate Corps under General Hill, in posi- tion, carrying everything before it and driving the enemy hack about three-quarters of a niile beyond the Brock road. The Con- federate right had been completely broken and was falling back in confusion when Longstreet arrived upon the scene of action with about twelve thousand fresh troops that had been brought up from Gordonsville. This saved the Confederate right from com- plete overthrow. The flight of Hill's troops was arrested and the combined force of Hill and Longstreet made a counter-charge ui)on the troops under General Hancock and drove them back in turn. The gap upon the right of the Second Corps had not been closed by the Ninth and there was great danger from the exposure of this flank. General Hancock was also apprehensive from the threatened danger on his left and had left one division there to protect it. This division did not go forward on the charge but held the extreme left of the whole army. The troops that had advanced through the woods were thrown into considerable dis- order from the great difficulty they met with in advancing through the tangled underbrush. Regiments and brigades became inex- tricably mixed, so that they were in no condition to meet the im- petuous charge of Longstreet. . At this juncture Stevenson's division of the Ninth Corps was brought up from the Old Wilder- ness tavern, moving by the Germanna plank to the Brock road. It filed off into the woods to the right, formed line and advanced quickly along the Orange Courl House plank road, near its inter- section with the Brock road, ami \ eiy soon came in contact with the victorious troops under Hill and Longstreet. The impetus of the two forces thus suddenly brought together was terrific. The advance was checked, but the slaughter was a ething fearful. The loss of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts was two hundred and fifty-two killed, wounded and missing in about one hour's time. Of the latter mosl of them were cither killed or bo disabled as to be unable to make their escape. Again the advancing tide rolled resistlessly forward, sweeping away the Fifty-Seventh and break- ing down every barrier until our own line of earthworks was reached oear the Brock road, which presented a formidable ob- THE WILDERNESS. 37 stacle to their further advance. The contest continued at this point until nearly midday when it gradually died away, but only for the time being. This was the first experience of the Fifty-Seventh in battle. It was a veritable "baptism of fire" by immersion, wiiich it sustained most valiantly and made for itself a record which it maintained throughout the war, one that the surviving members can point to with a feeliug of pride. Everything was in such a confused state at the time that it would have been hard to give a correct account of it even then, and is still harder at this late day. The regiment had been as- sailed from the flank as well as the front, and in falling back the colors had been seen so near the enemy, and then lost to sight, that it was believed they had been captured ; but at this critical point, Lieutenant-Colonel Chandler, who commanded the regiment, Colonel Bartlett having been wounded, ordered the men who were near the colors to lie down and conceal them. They had hardly obeyed this order when the enemy charged down the plank road near them, and, for a time, they were surrounded, but in the general confusion they were evidently overlooked. Capt. Henry C. Ward, Lieut. Charles H. Royce and about forty enlisted men remained with them, and finally brought them out in safety. This act of marked gallantry is worthy of special mention. Sergeant Karpeles has since received a Medal of Honor, by act of Congress, for distinguished gallantry. Their escape was due to their own gallantry and the dense thicket which partially concealed them. The few men who were there would have been a mere handful, if discovered, in the midst of the hundreds who surrounded them. Sergeant Karpeles is now a resident of Washington, D.C., and for some years held a position in the Post Office Department. Several letters have been addressed to us in relation to this mat- ter, which have been written from memory, and while they do not agree in all the minor details, which would be a remarkable co- incidence if they did, after the lapse of thirty years, yet they agree as to the main facts in the case, as all those who were with the regiment at the time well remember. Sergeant Karpeles, speak- 38 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. ing of the affair from his recollection, in a letter to Chaplain Dashiell, under date of July 25th, 1894, says: " In the battle of the Wilderness, May (>th, 1864, as you are aware, our right wing commenced to break and through that brought about a general stampede. When it reached our regiment Lieutenant-Colonel Chandler inquired of me: 'Color Sergeant, what's the trouble?' I mounted a stump which had been broken b} r a shell and replied : ' Colonel, the rebs are around us.' .... As I was the only color-bearer left on the field with colors, we rallied about forty men of our regiment and were subsequently reinforced by men from other regiments and kept up the fight " Sergeant Karpeles retained a memorandum list of the names of the men who were with the colors at the time, as follows : Lieutenant-Colonel Chandler, Lieutenant Ward, Lieutenant Royce, Color- Sergeant Karpeles, Sergeants Defoe and McFarland. Privates Howard, .Mills. Willard, Southey, Rumsey, Dailey, Harrington, Lowell, Newton, Sanderson, Brewnzen, Shalor, Towers, Wilson, Bertrand, Barker, Lappel, Hastings, Duggal, Pike, Langdon, Derby, Curley, Penland, Grandon, Streeter, Rollins. Elbert, Gould, Pipson and St. Antoine. He does not give the full names of these men and is not sure that they are all spelled correctly. Capt. Henry C. Ward, V. S. Army, formerly a Lieutenant in the Fifty-Seventh al the Wilderness, writes, under date of Oct. .">. 1894, his recollection of the affair as follows: "] directed him (the color sergeant) to conceal the colors, as we were surrounded by the enemy, front, flank and rear .... We then worked our way oul the besl we could towards ourownlines. We reached the road in rear and found our brigade and regiment. I reported to Lieutenant-Colonel ('handler thai I had the colors and, as he had reported them lost to the brigade commander, he immediately reported after our arrival, the safety of them. There was much more aboul thai matter thai I have forgotten." No one seems to remember how Colonel Chandler losl sighl of the colors and, supposing they had been lost, so reported to the brigade coi ander. Sergt. E. I>. McFarland has contributed his recollection of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts in the Wilder- HENRY C. WARD, Capt. 57th Mass., now Capt. U.S. Army. THE WILDERNESS. 39 uess as follows : "The Fifty-Seventh Regiment started for the front on the morning of the 6th of May, about three o'clock in the morning. We were ou the road and halted for breakfast about sunrise near the Wilderness Run. I should say we reached the battlefield about nine o'clock. We turned down the plank road, went some distance and filed into an old cart road into the woods where we faced the enemy. We left our knapsacks on the ground. Colonel Bartlett came up and asked for a drink of water from my canteen, then turned around and ordered the advance, was struck by a ball on the side of the head almost the same instant and was taken to the rear. I think all the companies were present except Company K, which was on detached duty under Captain Prescott. I think Company H was the color company. We advanced under a very heavy fire of musketry until within ten feet, I should say, of the rebel breastworks, composed of rails, fence, brush and trees, when the line on the plank road was broken, and the rebels left their works in front of us and went up the plank road. As soon as it was discovered that the line was broken, we received orders to fall back. This was immediately done. In falling back our colors got caught in the brush. I heard Colonel Chandler say : ' For God's sake, boys, don't for- sake your colors.' I, in company with others, stopped by them until they were released from the brush and rolled on the staff. By that time all our regiment was out of sight except the dead and wounded that lay on the ground. Colonel Chandler gave the order to lie down with them. While we were lying on the ground we could see the rebels going up the plank road. One came into the brush where we were. Colonel Chandler pointed his revolver at him and told him to surrender. He threw down his gun, and lay down beside us and we brought him in a prisoner. After lying there for a while, expecting to go to Richmond as prisoners, we saw some men that were lost from their regiment, the 45th Pennsylvania. They joined us and we started to find our way out. We crawled on our bauds and knees a long distance, I don't know how far, but it was a number of hours before we reached our lines. I remember at last of finding ourselves near the road we went over in the morning and came back up that road .... I remember 40 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. seeing the sun almost down when we reached our regiment. We then went to work to build breastworks in the road, using our bayonets for picks and tin plates for shovels .... This is my version of the battle of the Wilderness, as remembered at this late day." The smoke of battle was so dense, the brush so thick and the disorder so great that we could not all see the same. We (the writer) were in the second company from the left and marched forward with the guide on the colors, but, at the time mentioned in this narrative, they suddenly disappeared and were not seen again until they were brought iu late that day to the regiment. This was probably the time, as Sergeant McFarland says, when they were being extricated from the brush. It was generally believed that they had been captured and there was great rejoicing when they were restored. Colors are as important to a regiment as the head to a man, or war paint to an Indian. Digressing a little now from the subject, we wish to say, for the information of those not familiar with military affairs, that colore aii' very important to every organization in war, and around them cluster the pride and affections of every soldier. The commanding general has colors that follow him wherever he •_M.rs and indicate his presence. Each corps, division and brigade has a distinctive standard which marks the presence of the officer in command. This facilitates the matter of finding him without trouble in time of action when it is necessary for orders to reach him. Bach regiment also has a stand of colors Dear which the Colonel, "i' other officer in command, can always he found. To one familiar with military matters these colors serve as a regular directory. The colors of a regiment were carried by a sergeant specially designated on account of steadiness in marching and bravery. There were also seven color corporals who marched with ill.- colors. These eight men were posted on the left of the r'ejht centre company when in line ami conformed to all its movements. This would ;ilu:ivs bring the colors very near the centre of the regiment. Returning again to the Wilderness, it was in this charge that General Wadsworth, commanding the fourth Division of the THE WILDERNESS. 41 Fifth Corps, was killed, while heroically endeavoring to rally the troops that were being driven back in such confusion that, for a time, the scene was one of appalling disorder. The sound of his voice rose in clear commanding tones above the crash and roar of battle, as he attempted to resist the deadly torrent that was sweeping resistlessly forward. His eye caught sight of the flag of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts far in advance floating proudly and defiantly amid the sulphurous smoke in face of the rapidly advancing foe. He called upon all who wore the blue uniform to rally around that standard and hold the ground until reinforce- ments could be brought up. The colors were soon lost to sight amid the confusion. It was a critical moment. Our line was practically broken, held only by fragments of organizations rallied by their officers, without any cohesion, but the on-rushing tide was checked until fresh troops could be brought up to fill the gaps. The dead and wounded which thickly strewed the ground attested the destructiveness of the storm. The writer begs to step from the ranks of the Fifty-Seventh for a brief mention of one of America's noblest sons, who gave his life in defense of his country, Brig. -Gen. James S. Wads- worth. There have been men in the world like the first Napoleon, possessing powers of personal attraction that few could resist. General Wadsworth seemed to possess this exalted power to an eminent degree, even to drawing men around him who had never seen or scarcely heard of him before, holding them almost in the jaws of death and impressing them with his own lofty spirit of loyalty which rose above all fear of danger. He fell, shot through the head, and his body fell into the hands of the enemy. It is not enough to say of such a man that " He fell while gallantly fighting at the head of his troops." His was one of those grand and noble characters that lead to deeds of valor and self-sacrifice, regardless of everything except an honorable devotion to duty in the cause of his country. His example was an incentive to those who saw him, and heard his voice saying, " Steady, boys, stand firm and we will soon whip them." If " the blood of martyrs is the seed of the church," the blood of such men consecrates the corner-stone of our country, and is never shed in vain. His is a 1- FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. name to live in history as long as histoi'} 7 is read, — " One of those immortal names that were not born to die." Yet there were hundreds of others, noble and brave men, less conspicuous and therefore not mentioned, except in the long list of killed, who gave up their lives upon this bloody field and passed silently beyond the Wilderness forever. Our Hag, endeared by the memory of such names, and made sacred by their blood, becomes enshrined in the hearts of all loyal citizens, — the emblem of our beloved country ; insult it, he who dares. The Fifth and Sixth Corps made repeated assaults upon the right and met with heavy loss, but the heaviest fighting was on the left, which was held b} 7 the Second Corps and part of the Ninth. The order " Forward" would be given and the line would move forward through the brush and brambles, where no enemy could be seen, until, suddenly rising from the ground, he would -end forth a deadly volley crashing through the ranks and crack- ling through the thick chapparal, leaving gaps that were quickly closed, ami again the line moved on. An occasional counter- attack would he made by the "Johnnies," as they were termed, and all through the gloomy Wilderness, throughout the long 6th day of May, a day that seemed to have no end, it was one seething, crackling cauldron of all that a Dante might have conceived of the worsl condition of a veritable hell, with nearly two hundred thousand men struggling like infuriated demons. The roar of battle, like the deafening, clashing roar of continuous thunder, rolled along the lines, rising and falling as they swayed backward or pressed forward in the gigantic struggle which covered a . 1 i - 1 .- 1 1 1 < ■ > ■ of five miles in length, occasionally sinking to a low rumble, while lines were being readjusted, only to break forth with a more terrific crash as :i lYesli charge was made. One in the ranks could not tell how the battle was going, as the heavy smoke of burning powder and the burning leaves and brush made it almosl as dark as eight, and only judged from the direction of the advancing or receding roar of the steel crested billows as they swepl forward to be dashed againsl the solid fronl presented by the enemy, or were thrown back by a counter-charge; each showing a heavy addition t<> the large number of killed and wounded ; the THE WILDERNESS. 43 latter pleading with pathetic desperation for a helping hand to remove them from this horrible field of death. Their voices could seldom be heard, but their pale faces and outstretched arms could be seen pleading in language deeper than the pathos of words for that help which could not be given. Each new charge was made over their bleeding, prostrate forms, in many cases both the blue and the gray lying side by side in a common brotherhood of suffering humanity, which softened all feelings of enmity that might ever have existed between them. Whichever way one turned these appalling sights met the eye. There was no getting away from them, one glimpse of which was enough to send a thrill of horror throughout the whole Christian world. When opportunity offered a canteen would be passed to the lips of a fallen comrade, and even to a wounded "Johnnie " the same kindly favor would be extended, though it might have been by the same hand that prostrated him. We stand with bowed head and feel- ings of silent awe and reverence in the presence of one who lies dead before us, but where thousands lie scattered upon the battle- field with all the shocking mutilations of the human form, the natural feelings of sympathy become stupefied and we are unable to comprehend all the surrounding horrors, and shrink from a serious contemplation of them ; yet the fact remains that every wound and every death goes beyond the present suffering, causing bitter tears of sorrow and misery in distant homes, leaving fatherless children, mourning widows, bereaved parents and desolate hearthstones to fill the measure and echo the glories of war. There is something grand and inspiring in battle which no pen can describe, yet it leaves a train of misery and sorrow which is also indescribable. If one were to try to portray the battle of the Wilderness briefly, he might truthfully say that it was the worst and most destructive tempest known in perdition by " the oldest inhabitant." A temporary work of dry logs and earth had been thrown up along the Brock road, which had caught fire. The thick smoke and hot flames blew directly in the faces of our men, forcing them to fall back a short distance. Under this screen the 44 IT1TY-SEYEXTH REGIMENT MASS. YOUXTEERS. enemy rushed forward, carried the works and planted their colors beyond, but they were met with a murderous fire and driven back again to their former position with heavy loss. To add greater horror to the conflict the fire spread from the log breastworks among the dry leaves and thick underbrush, burning to death about two hundred who were unable to erawl out. It is impossible to follow all the movements in the Wilder- ness or portray correctly all the desperate charges that were made on both sides. It was a succession of them, with few and short intermissions, from daylight until dark. It was an experi- ence to everyone present that will live in his memory* while memory lasts. The experience of one was about the same of all. There was no opportunity for strategy or grand tactical com- binations. It was simply brute force dashing against brute force, where countrymen met countrymen with equal courage in a cause which each held dear and believed to be right. We belieye then, and believe now. that our cause was a noble and righteous one. It has been recorded in history that by its success our country was saved from destruction and the shackles stricken from mil- lions of human beings that had been held in bondage, bought and sold as slaves. The ranks never failed to move forward when ordered. There was no weakening, even though the men real- ized the terrible ordeal before them. There was a fixed determi- nation to "do or die," ye1 nourishing the hope that the end was near, that the last charge had been made and the angel of peace would soon spread her healing wings over the bloody strife and still the angry waves of fratricidal war. Every man fell a just pride in the brave deeds of his own regiment and loved to feel thai he had a share in them, and in years after he loves to tell thai he was with the gallant Fifty- Seventh in the battle of the Wilderness. The dark shadows of nighl at last fell upon the awt'nl scene of carnage and the tur il of battle gradually died away, leaving only the watchful, warning shots along the confronting lines of picket-. Both sides were well nigh exhausted, but still defiantly confronting each other upon nearly the same ground as when the battle bad commenced two days before. The tired men dropped THE WILDERNESS. 45 upon the ground for rest and sleep, the living and dead lying side by side. It was a long, gloomy night. Even the partial uncon- sciousness of sleep could not dispel the surrounding scenes of horror. With momentary wakefulness came the wondering thought of what the morrow would bring forth ; if the light of coming day would witness a renewal of the struggle. It seemed that nothing more of horror could be added. The mind could not comprehend the hundredth part of what had already transpired, simply what each had seen personally became matter of contemplation. A feeling of thankfulness came to those who had been spared, yet the thoughts could not but dwell with lingering sorrow upon the less fortunate comrades of those who had marched side by side over many a weary mile and stood shoulder to shoulder in the shock of battle ; who had often shared their blankets of a chilly night and talked of the loved friends, the distant home and the dearly anticipated return when the war would be over. Solacing thoughts that came in the phantasm of dreams never to be realized by many. The glories of war were lost in its sickening sights. The gay parade, with the old-time flag gracefully floating in the even- ing breeze, the nodding plumes, gaudy uniforms with brightly polished buttons, which were the admiration of the fair sex, the inspiring notes of the military band and all the pomp and glamour of war that shone so beautifully as the regiment marched out from their home camp for embarkation, had lost their charms for him, although his aching heart still clung tenderly to the pathetic notes of " The girl I left behind me." Now it had become a life of real danger, hardships, deprivations and suffering. He looked for the bright side, which he knew could only come with return- ing peace. He tried in vain to understand why all this misery and human suffering should be. As the night grows more chill, he snuggles nearer his sleeping comrade and pulls the blanket more closely around him, occasionally opening his eyes to look for the old familiar stars which are hidden by the thick smoke of battle that still hangs over the dense forest, then, closing them again, he tries to sleep as he listens to the random shots and hears the whiz of the bullet on its mission of death as it goes h; FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT .MASS. VOLUNTEERS. crackling through the slender branches of the trees. These mes- sengers tell him that the enemy is still there " on mischief bent," but he feels secure in the answering fire of our own sentinels who keep vigil while others sleep. Such is night upon a battlefield. As the early dawn of morning came to shed its faint rays of light through the gloomy ravines, the prostrate forms quietly arose, musket in hand, and once more stood in line, sullenly facing the foe and again ready to act in obedience to orders. Many did not arise, but silently remained in that peaceful sleep that knows no wakening until the swelling strains of the one universal reveille shall awaken all earthly sleepers, not to bloody scenes of war, but to an eternal peace beyond the conflicts of this mortal life. It was soon discovered that the enemy still held his position in force, but neither side showed any disposition to assume the offensive ; both were strongly posted behind earthworks, and an attack from either would have resulted in disaster to the one making it. The deadly struggle of the previous two days had left both combatants in poor condition to renew the conflict. Small groups soon gathered around the camp-fires to cook their coffee, which, with the historical hard tack, made their frugal break last. A reeonnoissauce in force of the enemy's position, showed how futile it would prove to make another front attack upon his strongly intrenched position. Then the inquiry arose along the ranks as to who had gained the victory. The man who was there had no knowledge of anything beyond his personal observations. He knew that the position of the contending forces had nut materially changed, lie saw his company and regimenl badly shattered, and the dead, both in blue and gray, lying around. The question was passed along up to higher authority without receiving any satisfactory answer and remains unanswered to this day. It was th0U ghl that the New York Ihrahl would deride it and let us know all about what we had been doing. It finally came to us. after a few days of patient waiting, but tailed to give the desired answer. It had been costly to both, and both >ide> claimed the \idoiy; ,,n the part of General l.ee that he had temporarily interrupted the march of General Granl and inflicted THE WILDERNESS. 47 a heavy loss upon the Army of the Potomac, but he had not defeated it ; on the part of General Grant that he still held pos- session of the roads leading out of the Wilderness to the South and East, by which he could resume the march in the great flank- ing movement, which had been his original plan of campaign, and he had also inflicted a proportionate loss upon the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, but had failed to defeat it. Both had fought with bravery and desperation, the Federals, in the majority of cases, making the attack upon an enemy unseen until after receiving the shock of his fire ; while the Confederate attacks were not made until the Federal lines had become more clearly defined. Authorities do not agree as to the loss, although the differ- ence is not very great. Badeau gives the Federal loss, aggregate, 15,467. General Humphreys in the "Army of the Potomac" gives it as 15,387. Fox says the aggregate Federal loss was 17,666. Regimental reports make it 17,337. What would appear as most reliable is that given in the Rebellion Records and published by the War Department. It should therefore be accepted as official, viz. : — Killed. 143 officers. 2,103 enlisted men. Wounded. 569 officers. 11,468 enlisted men. Missing. 138 officers. 3,245 enlisted men. Which makes an aggregate Federal loss of 17,666 ; 14,283 killed aud wounded. Of the missing many were never again heard from and probably suffered death from the fire which spread among the wounded, or perished by the slower torture of sickness and starvation in rebel prisons. No correct report could be obtained of the Confederate loss. A tabular statement published in "The Medical and Surgical History of the War," which is generally accepted as being nearly correct, gives it as follows : 2,000 killed, 6,000 wounded, and 3,400 missing, making an aggregate of 11,400. The foregoing is for the two days, May 5th and 6th, 1864. The loss of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts was as follows : 2 officers killed, 7 wounded, 46 enlisted men killed, 154 wounded, 48 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. 43 missing, making the aggregate 252. This does not include one officer rendered hors de combat by sunstroke. Company K of the regiment, under Captain Prescott, was detailed to guard wagon trains, and did not, therefore, become engaged. There were also detachments from the several com- panies detailed on cattle guard under Lieutenant Hitchcock, and not in the engagement. There are no means of ascertaining the actual number of men the regiment took into action. It lacked considerable of being its full strength. JOHN ANDERSON, Capt. U.S. Army. Historian 57th Mass. CHAPTER IV THE WILDERNESS. {Continued.) ^N a private letter, written by General Bartlett who com- manded the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts at that time, dated Rappahannock Station, Va., May 3d, 1864, he speaks of the coming battle and the regiment in the •^ f » » following language: ; ' We move tomorrow with the Grand Army of the Potomac .... My regiment is in no condition to take into action, but I must do the best I can. It will be a long and hard fight. God, I hope, will give us the victory. The chances, I think, are even. Grant, I fear, does not appreciate Lee's ability, nor the quality of his army. Let us hope for the best .... Give me twenty days and I could make a splendid regiment of this, but man proposes and God disposes." In .saying that the regiment was "in no condition to take into action " his meaning is understood by the writer, who on former occasions heard him express the opinion that more bat- talion drills were necessary in order that the several companies might be able to work more in harmony and attain a higher proficiency in tactical movements. The weather during the winter at Camp Wool was so inclement as to afford very few opportunities for battalion movements. When it was not cold and the ground covered with snow, it was too wet for drill ; even as late as two days before leaving the State the snow had to be swept from the ground in order for parade and inspection. Every opportunity was taken advantage of for both company and battalion drills. Some of the companies were organized so late that very few opportunities offered. It was not a lack of confidence in the men, 50 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. as shown by extracts taken from his diary of date May 6th, 1S64, after the engagement of that day, as follows: "Move at three a.m. to the front. It will be a bloody day .... Went into action about eight, thick woods, men behaved well. I was struck in the head about eleven, carried to rear, sent to the hospital in rear, lay there among the wounded and dying until night when there was a falling back and I was put in an ambulance .... Knocked about all night. I slept a good deal. Morning laid under some trees near the road to Chancellorsville. Afternoon persuaded to go in ambulance to Rappahannock, thence to Washington, with rest of the wounded. Went to Ely's Ford, stayed there until two a.m., only heard of five of rny officers being wounded .... Colonel Chandler behaved splendidly. General Hancock ordered me to charge over a regiment lying in front of us that would not move. We did it in perfect line. Hancock said ' Glorious.' " This confirms the statement heretofore made by us in regard to the hour the regiment went into action. General Bartlett said " about eight." As others remember, it was nearer seven, there being very little difference between "about seven" and "about eight." The whole division was engaged at that time We well remember, alter having been in action what seemed to us an interminable length of time, of looking at our watch and it was not then nine a.m., and we concluded that Joshua of old had returned to this terrestrial sphere and was again cheeking the sun in its course in older to give Lee time to bring up the balance of the Confederacy. If he could have employed the trumpets on the rebel earthworks thai we were charging, with the same effect that he did upon the walls of Jericho, it would have been of great ser- vice to us. Evidently the spirit of Joshua was not with us thai day. I quote a Tew more extracts from General Bartlett's diary as follow-,: '■Sunday. 8th, amhulanee moved to ( haneellorsville, baiting there at hair past nine, a.m., moved to Pine Grove Church. Park wagons here. I don't know what they propose t<» do with u-. My idea is, Granl is getting mixed "The loss in my regimenl Is great, nearly two hundred killed and wounded. / am satisfied with tJieir conduct. THE WILDERNESS. 51 " May 9th, moved into Fredericksburg this morning at sun- rise, in a brick house here. Lived in ambulance three days and nights, long enough .... I am pretty weak. My head is not bad, stump painful. A week or two will set me right again .... Very long, long day. Sleep on the floor without any cover, not cold." Again May 10th, General Bartlett records in his diary : " Long miserable day. Hear that Sedgwick is killed. I would rather that any other officer in the army were gone than he. His body has come .... Awful amount of suffering here. Very little attendance. No supplies." The wounding of General Bartlett left the regiment in charge of Lieutenant- Colonel Chandler, a gallant man and one whom everyone loved. We will have occasion to speak of him later. General Bartlett had previously lost one leg, April 24th, 1862, while a Captain in the 20th Mass., "but later went out as Colonel of the 49th Mass. While in command of that regiment, in the assault upon Port Hudson, he received two more wounds, one shattering the bones of the wrist and the other striking the right ankle and passing through the sole of the boot. Subse- quently he took command of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts, and was wearing a cork leg when he lead it into the Wilderness. The name of General Bartlett has been justly eulogized by poets and authors; nothing more can be added, save to say that all who knew him in the field, officers and enlisted men alike, felt that it was deserving ; they felt a personal pride in these eulogies and were proud to say that they served under his command. We have heard it remarked by some who " did not get there" that he placed his men in danger for the sake of his own ambition ; to gain glory and promotion. This charge is refuted by the fact that he never took his command into battle without orders from higher authority, and then did not send them in, as many a commanding officer did during the war, but led them in person, doing his whole duty fearlessly, and setting an example worthy of emulation to many higher in command who often brought disaster by uot leading their commands, more disastrous than any which might result from the course pursued by General Bartlett. The fact that 52 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS those who followed him loved him, speaks in higher praise than words. When the commanding officer leads his men he can rest assured they will follow even into the very jaws of death. The following letter was written by His Excellency, Governor Andrew of Massachusetts, under date of May 6th, 18G4, urging his appoint- ment as Brigadier-General as follows : " You will note that this is tlic second time Colonel Bartlett has marched from Massachusetts at the head of a regiment since losing his leg in the battle on the Peninsula. Besides peculiar courage and self possession in action, he is a young man of fine powers, conspicuous for general mental capacity and of superior culture. He is a graduate of Harvard College. I have the honor now to request and to express my fervent wish that he may receive at once that commission so well deserved by an intrepidity and a merit so eminent." He was accordingly commissioned a Brigadier-General of Volunteers to date from June 20th, 1864. There weir many, both officers and enlisted men, who dis- tinguished themselves in this engagement and sealed with their own blood the eulogies they so much deserve. To mention all would fill a space beyond the contemplated limit of this book, yet duty commands that some of the more conspicuous should be noted, even at the risk of being tedious. When brave men give their lives for their country, loyal citizens should not be impatient in reading of them. Capt. Josepb W. Girdwas killed by being shot through the head. J. Brainerd Hall, who was a non-commissioned officer in the company commanded l>y Captain Gird, and who saw him when he fell, speaks of him as follows: "The father of Captain Gird was a graduate of West Point and was stationed at Fori Jackson, La., where he was subsequently elected professor of mathematics al the Louisiana State College. Captain Gird was horn in Jackson, I. a.. October, 1839. <>n the death of his father, bis mother came to Worcester. Mass.. where her son was educated and fitted for college, he having graduated at the Worcester High School and at one time was connected with the Worcester Trans- cript. When the 25th \l». was being recruited, he was study- ing law. lie at once enlisted us a member of Company F of that THE WILDERNESS. 53 regiment, from which he was discharged Aug. 26th, 1862, by reason of promotion to 1st Lieutenant in the 36th Mass., being again discharged May 19th, 1863. When the call came in Octo- ber, 1863, for more men, Lieutenant Gird was one of the first to respond to the call and again enter the service. He was almost immediately commissioned a 2d Lieutenant in the Fifty- Seventh Eegimeut, the commission being dated Nov. 3d, 1863. He was promoted Captain Dec. 31st, 1863. At the battle of the Wilderness, when the order was given to advance from the reserve line, where the Fifty-Seventh had been lying on their arms. Captain Gird stepped to the front of his company and addressed them. He cautioned them about being hasty, advised them to keep cool, not to get excited, to be careful and not break the line, not to fire until the command was given and then to fire low. As he turned from addressing his men, and before he had an oppor- tunity to give a single command, he was shot in the head and was seen to throw up his hands and fall backwards." Captain Gird was married while the Fifty- Seventh was in camp at Worcester. His mother and a daughter are still living, but his wife died some years ago. Samuel Souther, 1st Sergeant of Company B, also fell in this engagement. Mr. Souther was a graduate of Dartmouth College and Bangor Theological Seminary and, for a time, was pastor of the Congregational Church at Belfast, Maine. Previous to his enlistment he was Chaplain of the Penal and Charitable Institu- tions of Worcester. He had also served in the General Court and was much respected and loved. He was among the missing at the Wilderness, and whether he died on the battlefield or in the prison pens of the South could never be ascertained, as he was never heard from after the engagement. Mr. Souther was a man of high personal character and a de- voted Christian, of strong religious convictions which he consist- ently maintained, and never allowed anything to interfere with his religious duties. He believed it to be his Christian duty to enlist in the army for the defense of his country, and sealed his devo- tion to it by his blood. He was a noble, honorable, true-hearted man. 54 FIFTY-SEVENTH KKGIMKNT MASS. VOLUXTEEISS. As the years have rolled past since the close of the war, vague and sensational rumors have at times appeared in print re- porting thai he had been seen and recognized in distant countries with a life as strange and wonderful as that of the "Wandering Jew." Yearning hearts have reached out with the faint hope that possibly he might return again, but they have only clutched at the shadows of disappointed hope. His fate cannot be known until the veil is lifted from mortal eyes and the darkness which shrouds our earthly vision removed. Then it will be known that Sergeant Souther died as he had lived, a true man. IN MEMORY OF REV. SAMUEL SOUTHER WHO FELL IN THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS May 6th, 1864. lie laid his civic honors down. Ami girded for the fight, Careless of place or high renown. Bu1 zealous for the right. The Battle of the Wilderness, ' T\\ as there lie. fighting, fell; And still is there his resting-place, But the spot there's none to tell. He asked nol sword or shoulder- knot His sacrifice to -race ; He chose the common soldier's lot, Within the ranks his place. < ine ih'ini h of drill, then to the front . The peer of \ eterans i here ; < )ne iie.nl h, and I hen t he fiery brunt Of battle, his to bear. No sepulture by mortal hands Was his ; no chiselled Stone In honor of his memorj stands. He sleeps with God alone. Of all the throng of martyred ones, Nciue purer fell than he ; Ah, happy country, when thy sons Like Souther die for thee. CHARLES E. STEVENS. Another name, though DOl One of high rank, but one w hieli IS entitled to a place in this book, as it is written high upon the roll of honor in the service of his country, Charles F. Everett, of r pany l>. a lad of bul eighteen, a fair-haired, blue-eyed boy, with a face as BOfl and smooth as :i girl's. He left the Worcester High School to enter the ranks of the Fifl v-Se\ cut li. Being a SAMUEL SOUTHER, 1st Serg-t. Co. B, 57th Mass. Dr. WILLIAM T. SOUTHER, Son of Samuel Souther. 1st Sergt. Co. B, 57th Mass. J. H. CASEY, Co. C, 57th Mass. C F. PADDOCK, Co. B. 57th Mass. THE WILDERNESS. 55 bright young fellow, with good education, he was soon detailed as clerk in the Quartermaster's Department and in that capacity it was not his duty to carry a musket ; but as the sound of battle reached him back at the wagon train, and he knew his regiment was engaged, he felt that he must be there too. Taking a musket and ammunition he started to the front, nothing daunted by the dead and wounded which he saw on every side upon his way. He entered the dark thicket of the bloody field never to come out alive ; supposed to have been killed. General Bartlett met him as he was going in and ordered him back to his place with the wagons. He turned in that direction, but did not go there. No court-martial tried him for disobedience of orders, as the great Advocate, we believe, pleaded his cause to the higher court above. " Captain Anderson : May (3, 1864, after having gone into position in the Wilderness, Charles F. Everett from my own town, Avhom I had known almost from his birth and who had enlisted as a musician in Fifty-Seventh Massachu- setts, being only, as I remember, some sixteen years of age, came to me while in line, after we had changed position, some distance to the left from our original first position, and asked me to supply him with a musket and ammunition, which I positively refused to do, as he was a non-combatant. Knowing his whole family intimately and deeming the position hazardous in the extreme, I remonstrated with him very strongly and tried to have him change his mind, but he left me, saying he would have a gun " anyway," and would go on the skirmish line. Shortly after he returned with a musket and pocket filled with cartridges, saying: " I am going, Warren, and no thanks to you." I again tried to stop him, speaking to him of his mother and sisters. It was of no avail, he went. Shortly after the color sergeant, Robert C. Horrigan, of our regiment, was granted permission by the colonel of our regiment to visit the line in front of us, when the firing commenced in earnest. As he had seen young Everett with me, I asked him to try and bring him back or get him back some way, as he was a favorite of mine. He shortly returned himself and immediately resumed his position in line, saying as he passed me, "I will tell you of your boy later," which he did after our lines were driven back, saying he left him lying at the foot of a tree wounded severely in right hip, that he was unable to bring him away and that he was sorry he was unable to do so, as I seemed to care so much for him. The next day, at 56 FIFTV-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. my request, Horrigau tried to locate him and bring him in if found, but -was unable to do so. I have always believed he was one of the un- known dead in that fearful fight and Loss on that day of the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts. W. 1?. GALUCIA, Late Captain Co. E 56th Mass." Lieut. James M. Childs was also reported missing, aud as be was never afterwards heard from, it was supposed that he was killed in battle. Of this officer very little is known to us. He enlisted in Company 1> of the regiment, Jan. 4th, 1*64, was made 1st Sergeant and promoted to 2d Lieutenant April 9th. He was of a quiet, retiring disposition, painstaking in all matters of duty and gave promise of making an excellent officer. "Killed in the Wilderness" is as eloquent an eulogy as could be said of anyone. Those who were there know what it expresses. Besides those who were killed many subsequently died from the effects of wounds. Among them is the name of Private Charles H. Leonard of Company H. His remains were sent to bis borne, Rutland, Mass., for burial, arriving there May 28th. The Worcester Spy, of May 30th, 1864, speaks of him as follows: " Private Leonard, in response to his country's call, left home and enlisted in Company U, Fifty-Seventh Regiment, in December last, where he served with constant and devoted attention as a student soldier while in camp during the winter. He was a good soldier, cheerful companion, a true patriot and an unflinching hero. He fell with a mortal wound in the battle of the Wilderness, but survived the shoek until removed to Washington. Hon. .1. W. Bigelow of Rutland went for the body, which rests in his native town." Henry ('. Maloney, of Company l>. died from the effects of wounds received in the battle of the Wilderness. His death occurred <>H. 6th, L864, at the age of 18. He had previ- ously been transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps and was on duty at Troy, N.V. at the time of his death. The remains were sent to his home, Leicester, .Mass., his native town, and buried with military honors in Pine Grove Cemetery. He was al die time id' his enlistment a member of the Military Academy of Leicester. THE WILDERNESS. 57 Another victim of the Wilderness, of which honorable mention can be made, Antonio Phillips of Company D. The Worcester Spy of Jan. 12, 1865, speaks of him as follows: "Intelligence has been received by the return of Doctor Gould of Fitchburg, who arrived home from Andersonville, Ga., December 26th, of the death of Antonio Phillips of Oxford, by starvation in the rebel prison at that place, on the 15th of September, 1864. Mr. Phillips originally entered the service in Company D, of the 15th Mass. Regiment, from which he was discharged on account of injuries received in the service. He afterwards enlisted with the 51st Regiment and served with it during its nine months of service. On the organization of the Fifty-Seventh Regiment, he enlisted again and was captured the 7th of May last. During a consider- able part of his different terms of service, he was emplo} 7 ed as an assistant in hospital, a work for which he was particularly adapted, and many a good soldier in the three regiments will read with pain the announcement of the unfortunate end of one who administered so faithfully and so cheerfully to their wants while under his care." Space will not permit of special mention of all the wounded. One deserving of mention is that of Corpl. J. Brainerd Hall of Company B, to whom we have acknowledged indebtedness for much information contained in this book ; his love for the old regiment having led him to gather and preserve items of interest, which are of great value. Corporal Hall was shot directly through the body, the wound being considered mortal. Although" never entirely recovering from the effects of it, yet he has managed to live up to present date. His preservation w r as due to excellent nursing and good grit. His experience at the time was quite interesting and well worth the little space it will occupy here, as described in his own language. He was placed in an ambulance about one hour after being wounded and in a few hours was three times in the hands of the rebels before reaching the hospital. He was wounded on the left of the line. After arriving at the hospital he was kindly cared for by the surgeon in attendance, for which he expresses thanks to Colonel Bartlett. Also received much aid and comfort 58 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. from the Christian Commission. The night after the battle (May 6th) the hospital had to be abandoned by reason of the near approach of the enemy. All the wounded that were able to be moved in army wagons were carried to the rear. "About fifty of us were so badly wounded that it was believed it would be safer to remain than to be transported with the conveniences at hand. The shells from the rebel batteries fell around us all that night. The assistant surgeon of the 59th Regiment (I think) and Antonio Phillips (hereto referred to) volunteered to remain with us. Early the next morning Lieutenant, subsequently Capt. ( reorge E. Barton, who was at that time attached to the ambulance corps, knowing of our perilous condition, came to the rescue with a small squad of cavalry. He arrived just in time and all were taken off in time to avoid capture by the rebel advance with two exceptions. Doctor Gould and Antonio Phillips, who stopped to pick up something that had heen left by a wounded comrade and were gobbled up. Lieutenanl Barton joined the remainder of the ambulance train and after a ride extending from Saturday, May 7th. to .Monday morning. May 9th, arrived at Fredericksburg. Here every ehurcli in the city was a hospital and every one was full, while all round outside lay wounded men ready to take the places of those who were dying within or being removed to Washington, Alexandria and Baltimore, via Belle Plain. Every public building was full, while in the smaller houses were wounded men who had personal friends or relatives in the Christian or Sanitary Com- mission, or friends who had been passed from Washington for thai purpose, and were being kindly eared for. The Large agri- cultural warehouses were also full of soldiers, placed in rows. upon mudd\ and bloody blankets, while nurses were going up and down between the rows with pails of ice water. •■ For the first few days at Fredericks burg it was almost im- possible to obtain bandages. The women, with a few exceptions, Were hitter rebels and WOUld do all they COUld to prevent us from Boding or buying a single piece of cloth. The bandage with which my own wound was hound up was pari of the white skirt belonging to an elderly lady who broughl roses into the Southern Methodisl Episcopal Church where I was Lying, a .Mrs. McCabe. THE WILDERNESS. 59 Seeing the need of a bandage, she loosed her skirt, cut it into strips, and handed it to my father, who proceeded to dress my own and other soldiers' wounds." Corporal Hall further states in a recent letter, as follows : " I was wounded, went back nearly to the Brock road, loaded into an ambulance, taken half way to the Chancellorsville house, cap- tured and recaptured twice and taken to the Fifth Corps Hospital near the Wilderness Run, all before nine o'clock a.m. After I had been placed in the field hospital and cared for by Doctor White, the sun was shiniug on my face on the right side and a piece of tent was fixed up by a member of the Christiau Commis- sion. In the afternoon that same piece of tent was changed by Doctor Gould to the opposite side. I go thus into details to show that all of this could not have transpired if we did not get up to the junction of the Orange plank and Brock roads until nearly noon. It may be said that it was a long time from the start that morning until the regiment was engaged, and it was. The sun rose that morning at two minutes of five and was two hours high even at seven o'clock." Special mention is made as to the time the Fifty-Seventh became engaged on the 6th of May, it being claimed that the divi- sion to which the Fifty-Seventh belonged became engaged early in the morning. In our opinion, it was about 8 a.m. At what time the balance of the Ninth Corps went into position we do not know. Capt. C. D. Hollis, of the Fifty-Seventh, who was badly wounded on the 6th, thinks the regiment went into action about nine a.m. The adventures of the Captain, after having been wounded, were rather thrilling and unpleasant. After hav- ing been carried from the field he was taken to the Sixth Corps Hos- pital where he was without care or attention, except that given him by his servant, until two o'clock of the 7th, when Surgeon Jewett, of the 14th Connecticut, dressed his wound, which was considered fatal. By this time it had become very sore and painful and he was faint from loss of blood. In this condition he was placed in an ambulance and taken over the rough road towards Germauna Ford and then brought back again and sent to Fredericksburg, 60 FIFTY SEVENTH KEGEUENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. from which place he was sent, with others who were badly wounded, towards Belle Plain en mute to a northern hospital. Captain Lawrence and Lieutenant Barker also of the Fift} T -8eveuth were among the number. Soon after dark they were suddenly attacked by a detachment of Mosby's guerillas. Lieutenant Bond of the 20th Massachusetts was mortally wounded and died on the 14th. During the time they were in the hands of the guerillas they were treated 'as the Captain says, " brutally in the extreme, calling us by all the foul names they coitld call to mind, at the same time punching us in the head with their revolvers and robbing us of what valuables they could rind. They took my watch but I saved my pocket-book by secreting it under my back. I could see them as they were rifling the pockets of those around me. I told the one who Fobbed me that he ought to be ashamed to treat wounded and helpless men in such a way, but, placing his revolver against my head, he called me saying : ' You come here and burn our houses and turn us out of home,' this being emphasized with lan- guage that was more forcible than eloquent." It was not known that any officers were in the party, as Captain Hollis represented that they were all privates. ('apt. Charles Barker, who was 1st Lieutenant of Company F, Fifty-Seventh, in the Wilderness, gives the following account of his experience in this battle and subsequently falling into the hands of the enemy, which will be found of great interest. We well remember seeing him fall as he was wounded, and admired the quiel bravery he displayed at the time. He says: •• I was wounded May 6, 18(54. The left of Company II and right of the next company. I do not remember which one. fell back and went pasl me. I stepped into line with the regiment and ordered them back. They were nearly back in line again when I fell, wounded through the thigh. Captain Lawrence came to me and tied my handkerchief around my leg, as the wound was bleeding freely. I tried to gel back with the help of a musket, bul the leg would not go, so I sal down and 'hitched' back a Bhorl distance when Captain Lawrence, who had just been wounded through the neck, and someone else, I do not remember who, came to my help and succeeded In getting me back until we met the Stretcher bear- THE WILDERNESS. 61 ers who carried us to the ambulance, which took us to the field hospital where we remained until about midnight, when the sur- geon gave orders to move all who could be moved as quickly and quietly as possible, as the ' rebs ' were preparing to shell the hospital, to all appearances ; so we started and travelled until morning, when we came to a plantation where we were cared for and rested part of the day, when we were again started for Rap- pahannock Station, but were met by a band of ' loyal farm- ers.' We fell back in rear of the army. In the afternoon we started with a long train for Fredericksburg, where we arrived on the 9th, remaining until eleven that night ; we started for Belle Plain en route for Washington. About one a.m. of the 12th, we were stopped by the Mosby gang who fired into us, overhauled and ordered us out of the wagons in terms more impressive than elegant or refined. I did not obey. I was sitting on the bottom of the wagon between Captain Hollis and a lieutenant of the 51st New York, who were lying down when they, the guerrillas, presented pistols and demanded watches and money. I hid mine in the straw and told them I had nothing for them. Someone gave them a watch, which partially pacified them, and, as they were in a great hurry, they took the horses and left us in the mud where we remained until the supply train returned from Freder- icksburg, which we had met as it was going there the day before. They took us to Belle Plain where we took the boat for Washing- ton and arrived about midnight of the 12th, being six days from the day I was wounded." The Confederate cavalry, under Colonel Mosby, or as they were termed by us, ' k guerrillas/' was a sort of independent, irreg- ular organization of men who mostly inhabited that section of Virginia where the operations of both armies were principally confined. They were dressed in a variety of uniforms, or moie generally, none at all, and might be seen in the day cultivating their fields while at night they would hang upon the rear and flanks of our marching army. In this way they were enabled to obtain information concerning the movements of the Federal army, which was promptly communicated to the Confederate leader. It was a force hard to find, except in such cases as men- 62 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. tioned by Captain Hollis. Many were the stragglers who fell into their hands never to be heard from again. However, it rendered some service to our army by preventing straggling to a great ex- tent, but when one fell out from sheer exhaustion, there was very little hope for him. These men should not be classed with that gallant Army of Northern Virginia, under Gen. Robert E. Lee. Men who engage in honorable warfare and stand squarely up in battle are men who respect prisoners of war, especially those who are disabled by honorable wounds. It is only the brutal coward, who has not the courage to face the storm of battle, who will abuse a wounded prisoner. Following will be found a list of the Fifty-Seventh who were killed in the battle of the Wilderness on the 6th da}' of May, 1864: — Capt. Joseph W. Gird. Lieut. James M. Childs — died of wounds. ENLISTED MEN KILLED. William II. Wilson > Sergt. Co. A Thomas Farrell, Pvt. Co. ] Daniel McDonald, Pvt. ' 1 Joseph Longdt, " Michael < iillin. " ' ' George M. Hammond » Patrick Murphy, " ' i Robert McCoy, •• Michael Shaugtraessy, 11 ' Michael O'Connor " Silas X. Carter. 11 i Lorenzo White, ■• 1 lanici O'Conner, " ' John P. Maynard, l'vt. Co. Samuel Souther, 1st Sergl Co. B Reported missing Ma\ 6, not Heretofore reported missing. heard from since.) Lew [S Moore. Pvt. Co. B Henry M. Fales, Corp. Co. ( Nicholas Finn, " Co. C John E. Tuthill, " " John Zimmerman, '< ' James J. Willard, Pvt. " Joseph Wow land, " 1 Charles IP Waitc. Frank Bird, " ' William Day, " •• Lester Tyler, Corp. Co. 1> William s. Bourne, •• •• Henry a < lolling, Pvt. 1 Elisha C. l >a\ enport . " •• i lharles Jones, '• I William Flanagan, •• •• Joshua Hal haw ay, Corp. Co. E Frank Lashua, '• •• G( orge M. Ai«lcn, Pvt. ' < reorge E. Reed. •• Se> a Brow n, •' ' Herberl W. Bond, Sergl Co. I Thomas Benroy, " 1 Charles E SToung, < lorp. " Charles Burr, ■■ < William M. Caldwell. Pvt " John < iorbetl . •« ' Albert S. Ewing, •• •■ THE WILDERNESS. 63 John Handley, Lewis Richardson, Eugene Smith, William G. Olds, Elmer J. Hardy, Joseph Fortin, Michael Stanley, Pvt. Co. H Michael Shelly, Corp. Co. I Pvt. " Otis E. Wheeler, David Parker, Albert W. Dow, Jeremiah W. Marsh, Sterling A. Hopkins Pvt. Co. I Co. K The following named men were wounded at the Wilder- ness : Col. Wm. F. Bartlett. Capt. Levi Lawrence. Capt. Charles D. Hollis. 1st Lieut. John L. Goodwin. 1st Lieut. Edward S. Dewey. 1st Lieut. Charles Barker. ENLISTED MEN. Gusta Beltran, Hiram K. Ballon, Patrick Birmingham, John Davis, John Fregean, James Howarth, Anthony Hey ton, George Lawson, Asa M. Ray, Henry A. Sawtelle, John Teague, Patrick Crowe, Josiah B. Hall, John Midgley, Warren E. Brewer, Amasa Bryant, Francis W. Bullard, William H. Clark, Michael Fleming, John A. Hart, J. W. C. Heintzleman, Charles A. Kirkup, Edwin H. Smith, Timothy G. Sullivan, Peter Ward, Warren W. Sawyer, Pvt. Co. A Corp. Co. B Pvt. Charles F. Kellogg, George Billings, Patrick Gallen, Thomas Rutledge, James Ackley, Cornelius Harley, Joseph Honte, Gustavus S. Holden, Charles A. Knight, William Kyle, Michael Kelley, David Lavoute, John Murphy, Jacob Meatte, James Norway, John Ryan, Gilbert Sandy, Edward Saucj r , Thomas Shehan, John Daley, Albert F. Ellis, Peter Labombard, Joseph N. Shailor, George Pecardet, John Crosby, Patrick Gilmore, 1st Sergt. Co Corp. Pvt. . C Serst. Co. D 64 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. John Clark, Sergt. Co. D Theodore B. Kendall. Corp. " Robert F. McCnrdy, " " James Hodge, Pvt. tl John Curley, " " Martin E. Finkle, " " George N. Hudson, " " Martin Kelly, " " Thomas Long, " " Alfred .McDonald, Henry C. Maloney, " " John O'Sullivan, " " Henry C. Scriber, " " James Vocell, " lt Ensign A. Oaks. " " Horace H. Paine, 1st Sergt. Co. E Frank 1). Fuller, Corp. " Alexander Mc< !oy, " " Cephas B. Pasco, Pvt. " Samuel S. Smith, " " Asa D. Burleigh, " lt I reorge N. I !heeney, " " Edwin Cudworth, " " Nalmni Bryant , " " Patrick McXamee, " " Marl in Karrigan, " " .lames Bartlett, 1st Sergt. Co. F William S. Dunn, Corp. " Aaron Wilkins, Pvt. " Charles W. Babbitt, A.ugustin Bourdon, " ti I'.ilw in A. Flagg, " " ■ Henry Fuller, " James \i , Frosl . " Alfred E. Gore, Albion M <■ I nt ire " " .lohn McDowell, " " Michal O'Donnell, " " Edmund Fine, " Michael Harris, William Skye, " " 1 1 < - 1 1 1 - \ \ . Wilkins. " " < reorge l.dams, i>t Sergt. < !o, G Thomas » ;. .Ionian, William Worthy, Corp. Co. G Daniel Sullivan, Pvt. " Victor Rosette, " " Charles O. Adams, " " William M. Drake, " " Cornelius J. Dailey, " " Charles W. Frelick, William H. Flagg, Garrett Fitzgerald, ,l " Timothy H. Lewis, " " James Lowe, " " Michael Melvin, " " John Morrissey, " " Lewis Mountain, " tl Horace Danyon, t; lt Lorenzo Fletcher, " " Masial Mallet, " " Oscar B. Phelps, " Cyrus R. Ramsdell, " " Timothy Shehan. " " Francis E. Cooley, " " Patrick W. Fox, Sergt. Co. H William C. Park, 1st " Charles S. Chase, " " Charles II. Pinkham, Corp. " Otis D. Ainsworth, Pvt. Joseph II. Binney, " " ( leoriic A. Brown, " Henry A. F. Iloyt. George T. Lincoln. " " Samuel M. Lovering, " " ( harles II Leonard, " " James A . Marshall, " " Charles sharp. " ti Warren H, Stockwell, " " Charles B. Wilson, John S. Williams, i reorge H. Wood, " Fierce Culliton, Corp. Co. I John Brown, Pvt. " Peter \ , Burrow s, " " TImothj Curtin, " l tennis I loliins, •• " Patrick ( lulliton, " " THE WILDERNESS. John Crowe, John G. Daniels, John Houlihan, Sylvester Myers, Louis Reno, Fvt. Co. I Daniel Sullivan, George W. Wilcox, Orrin E. Writer, William Woodville, Albert C. Wheeler, 65 Pvt. Co. I Co. K Many of the wounded died soon after the engagement, others lingered a while to die of their wounds later, others died in Con- federate prisons, while others became crippled for life. The following is a list of the missing, many of whom died, as supposed, upon the battlefield, others in Confederate prisons, while others were never again heard from. If their remains found sepulture, it was in unknown graves : — George W. Maynard, Pvt. Co. A William Maynard, " " Charles H. Rugg, " " (Captured and died at Danville Prison, leg amputated.) James B. Freeman, Sergt. Co. B Henry J. Fuller, Corp. " William Bates, Pvt. William Bobbins, " Charles F. Knox, Sergt (Killed. Was seen by tenant Royce lying upon the field shot through the forehead.) Wilber F. Ward, Corp. Co. D Charles F Everett, Mus. " Stewart M. G. Fullerton, Pvt. " James Hodge, Pvt. u Saybrook Lee, " " (Died in hands of enemy.) John O'Neil, Pvt. Co. D John Brown, " Co. E (Die:l October 12th, at Ander- sonville.) Co. C Lieu- Austin K. Gould, Pvt. Co. F George C. McMaster, Charles Ryan, David Keilty, Abraham Luchay, William T. Peabody, (Died Sept. 2d, 1864, at Ander- sonville, Ga.) James Richards, Pvt. Co. Augustus T. Co veil, " Co. (Died of wounds at Annapolis, Mel., Sept. 7th, 1864.) John B. Covell, Pvt. Co. Luther C. Hawkins, " ' John White, " ' John W. Crowley, " Co. George W. Emerson, " " (Died at Andersonville. Aug. 27th, 1864.) Frank Short, Pvt. Co. H John H. Richards, " Co. I G 11 The above lists were prepared with great care from reports on file in the Adjutant-General's Office, State of Massachusetts. While they may not be strictly accurate in all the details, yet 66 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. they are as correct as can be made at this late clay. The reports from which they were taken were made by the regimental com- manders while in the field and without having access to official records. There are absolutely no monthly reports of the Fifty- Seventh on file. The special reports of casualties that were sent in were taken largely from memory, which accounts for many names that are, doubtless, spelled incorrectly, and others that may have been omitted entirely, still the errors, if any, are few, and it is thought better to publish the lists in their entirety rather than to omit them altogether. The regiment passed rapidly from one commanding officer to another as one after another fell in battle. It was the same with company commanders and 1st Sergeants. Marching or fighting nearly every day, sometimes both, for months, gave but few opportunities for mnking out reports. The one object, which was paramount to everything else, was to do one's duty in battle, and. after that, to try and take care of one's self with what few facilities the conditions of war afforded. An order would come calling for reports, which were always regarded as "red tape"; no one wanted to be bothered. The great struggle in which the army was engaged absorbed everything else. Regimental commanders would call upon company commanders for reports of their companies, then a scene something like the following would take place: Company Commander — "Sergeanl Blazes, O, Sergeant Blazes — where's thai Sergeant?" (Voice from the rifle pit) : "Out washing his shirt, sir." " Well, you go and find him and tell him I want to see liim immediately." Half an hour later the much needed 1st Sergeanl is -ecu approaching. "Come, Sergeant, hurry up, I'm waiting for you." " Had to wait for my shirt to dry. sir. l»e fore 1 could put il on." "Hang your shirt, look at this! Now. you see, the d I's to pay: they want a report of my company, -end me no blanks to make i1 on and I have do records to go by. How do they expect a fellow is going to fight all the time and report. tOO? I Suppose when one gets killed he IS expected to send bach an official report, so he can be officially killed." (Message from regimental commander): "The colonel says he is waiting for that report and must have it at once." "Well, THE WILDERNESS. 67 Sergeant, get your roll and let's see what we can do." " I have no roll, sir, — that was with Sergeant Bowers who was killed in the charge last evening." " Then make a list of all the names present." " I have that, sir." " Now let's see who were killed yesterday evening — who in the fight of the 12th. Now, then, we had so many when the campaign opened and we have lost so many — so many killed, and so many wounded, and so many left. That makes it as near as I can get at it. Now, if you can find a piece of paper somewhere, I will put it down, sign it, and get it in at once. I hope this will satisfy them, and will be the last report I will ever be called upon to make." Alas, it was with many ! It was fortunate if the paper could be found, often a paper collar would have to supply the deficiency. These reports were consolidated by the regimental commander and forwarded, thus, for the time being, relieving his anxiety. The baggage of the Fifty-Seventh, together with official records and retained rolls, were shipped from White House Land- ing around to City Point, on an old barge, the " General Mc- Clellan." It was not a seaworthy craft, and sank before reaching its destination, and went to the bottom of the James river. Everything was destroyed that could be of service in making out reports. Under such circumstances, it is a credit to the regiment that any were made out at all. The importance of such matters was not valued as highly theu as now. These lists were submitted with the following letter : — Headquarters Fifty-Seyextii Massachusetts, Before Petersburg, Va., Feb. 6, 1865. Gexeral : I have the honor to forward herewith a " nominal list of casualties " of this command for the year ending Dec. 31, 1864. I am, sir, Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, To J. M. TUCKER, "William Schouler, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Adjutant-General, Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts Infantry. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 68 FIFTY-SEVENTB REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. The "nominal" lists do not compare accurately with the "tabular list of casualties in the Fifty-Seventh" in the adjutant- general's report (State of Massachusetts) submitted Dec. 31, 1864. The latter reports 1 officer killed and 7 wounded, 46 enlisted men killed, 154 wounded and 43 missing, making a total of 251 officers and men killed, wounded and missing. While the former gives 1 officer killed, 7 wounded, 48 enlisted men killed, 151 wounded and 42 missing, making a total of 249 killed, wounded and missing, — a discrepancy of two, which is accounted for by the two following names, viz. : David Parker, Private Co. I, reported killed May 6th, 1864, and George Bukardy, Private Co. C, wounded May 6th, 1864. This will make the numbers correspond with the adjutant-general's report, but making 49 enlisted men killed and 152 wounded. The foregoing list of names is imperfect, rendered so by not being able to find some on the rolls. It is "nominally" correct; we have no means of making it accurately so. The discrepancies are accounted for by later reports, which place many of those formerly reported " missing," as " killed " ; as they were never afterwards heard from, there is no doubt but they were killed : 2d Lieut. .lames M. Childs and Sergt. Samuel Souther are two such. Many others could be added, as will be observed b} 7 reading the remarks in the list of " missing." Many of the wounded died soon after the battle, and many of the missing died in Confederate prisons. Very few ever returned to duty again. Whether the battle of the Wilderness is considered a victory or defeat, the Fifty-Seventh loyally contributed two hundred and fifty-two officers and men to the I'nion cause. Looking at it in the light of after years, we incline to the Opinion, thai our loss mighl have been less. It is a well known fad, as experience has clearly demonstrated, that men under lire for the first time, as many of the Kilty-Seventh were, expose themselves more than necessary, and despise any shelter that mighl afford temporary protection. Their idea was to stand squarely up in line and " face the music." After a lew experi- ences like the Wilderness, men do not feel it a disgrace to take THE WILDERNESS. G9 advantage of anything that will protect them from the fire of the enemy, providing this can be clone by keeping in their proper place in the ranks. The Science of War, as taught at the present day in the regular army, specially prescribes that in moving to the attack, advantage shall be taken of all obstacles and inequali- ties of ground until the final rush is made upon the enemy, and men are drilled to carefully observe it. By experience men also become better acquainted with each other and comrades know whom to rely upon when the shock of battle comes. They know who will stand and are much less liable to be thrown into a con- dition of panic, which so often proved disastrous and came near doing so in this case. Chaplain Dashiell, who was upon the field, writes about it as follows: "I well remember the rout, as the men streamed D3 7 in panic, some of them breaking their guns to render them useless in the hands of the rebels. Nothing could stop them until they came to the cross roads where a piece of artillery was planted, when they rallied behind it. Colonel Leasure, of the 100th Pennsylvania, began to place them in line. Before long the rebel yell was heard and the colonel on the gun cried, ' Advance, first line ! ' when a volley succeeding the discharge of the artillery made the rebels ' skedaddle ' in turn." As the Stretcher Corps of the division had not yet been organized, the chaplain, with the band and drum corps, followed up the line of battle to minister to the wounded and to remove such as they could to a place of safety. Colonel Bartlett went into the fight on foot and was soon brought out by several of the men, with the blood streaming from his forehead and utterly exhausted. Although Company K was temporarily on detached duty with the baggage train, yet eleven of the company were in the engage- ment. Of that number three were killed, one wounded and one missing. The few batteries that succeeded in getting into position rendered excellent service, but it was only at short range and with grape and canister to repel charges. CHAPTER V. SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 'OST of the day of the 7th of May, immediately follow- ing the battle of the Wilderness, was spent by both armies keeping up a light musketry fire, removing such wounded as could be reached, gathering in stragglers and those .that had been separated from their com- mands in the confusion of the day before, and making preparations for a renewal of the conflict. Where the blow was to fall next no one could conjecture, but all knew that the struggle was to be continued somewhere. Although the Federal commander had been checkmated in the execution of his plans for the flanking movement, yet he had not abandoned them, and determined to again move by his left flank and make another effort to reach the Confederate right and rear at Spottsyl- vania Court House. It was a great undertaking to withdraw such a vast army from a place so difficult for maneuvering ; especially before such a commander as General Lee, who was always watch- ful of the movements of his adversary. He divined the plans of General Grant to move again upon his right flank, and clearly foresaw that the key to the situation was to be found in the pos- session of Spottsylvania Court House. This, on account of the roads that radiated from there in all directions, more than any special advantage arising from the natural position of the place. There were, in fact, two plans open for him : one to await in his position in the Wilderness until the Army of the Potomac should commence its movement, then fall upon its rear, defeat it, if possible, cut off its communication with Washington and even threaten the city itself ; but in this case he would cut loose from 72 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. his own communications with Richmond, and the two armies would virtually be changing position with each other. This seemed too hazardous an undertaking. In this event, the Federal commander, if not defeated in battle, could easily have made good his communications with General Butler at Bermuda Hundred and. as he subsequently did, establish his base of supplies there; besides, whenever the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia had cut loose from its base to move north of the Potomac, as at Antietam and Gettysburg, it had met with disaster. It must, even at that time, have appeared to General Lee that the resources of the South were nearly exhausted, and that b3 T a constant attrition with the Army of the Potomac, the Army of Northern Virginia would soon become worn out. A man like Napoleon the First, who always stood ready to stake his all to either win or lose all, would probably have chosen this course, but General Lee, with all his courage and skill as a commander, was also cautious. By prolonging the war, even by constant fighting, there was a strong and ever-abiding hope that eitherFrance or Great Britain would interfere in behalf of the Confederacy. The safest plan to him, therefore, seemed to be to fall back to Spottsylvania Court House and make himself strong there, behind earthworks, and await the arrival of his adversary. This he decided to do when the Army of the Potomac commenced the movement out of tin- Wilderness to gain Spottsylvania Court House. The Army of Northern Virginia commenced to move toward the same point. reaching it Brsl and throwing up strong defensive works at once. In pursuance of General Grant's original plan, the Army of the Potomac was quietly withdrawn after dark of the 7th. leaving the unburied dead in their silent sleep, tenting in the gloomy jungles and dark hollows of this horrible Golgotha, their mortal remains to become food for vultures; both the blue and the gray resting aide by side in an eternal peace, death Leaving further Strife for those who had been Spared, while they were at rest. Il seemed good to gel OUl from under thai dark shadow of stifling powder smoke into the fresb air and God's pure sunlight. The two long days of darkness and horrors through which we had pa jsed seemed a lifetime. SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 73 By morning of the 8th the entire Army of the Potomac was well out of the Wilderness and once more on the march. The Fifty-Seventh, now under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Chandler, passed through the scene of the bloody battle of Chan- cellorsville, which had been fought in May, 1863. The regiment was halted here for some little time, waiting for the wagon trains to pass. While resting upon this historic battlefield the long train of ambulances and wagons passed, bearing the wounded from the Wilderness to Fredericksburg, en route to hospitals at Washington and further north. The roads had been badly cut by the numerous trains of heavy wagons that had previously passed over them. The wounds were now two days old and far more sore and painful than when first received ; every motion, every jolting turn of the wheel, sent pain through the mutilated forms. It does seem at such a time as if the wheels would never miss a stone, stump or other object to increase the bodily anguish and discomforts of such a ride. No pen can portray the patient sufferings of those self-sacrificing men. Such wounds as had received attention were only hastily dressed, while others were waiting attention. The heat of the scorching mid-day sun added increased suffering from the fevered wounds. Details were made from each company to administer such comfort or relief as could be devised, but the facilities to do with were few. Water was brought in canteens for them to drink and to cool their burning wounds. Those who had undergarments, that they were not wearing at the time, cheerfully contributed them for bandages, and all that could be was done to alleviate their sufferings. Many were shockingly mangled and many died on the way. Their condition in no way reflected upon the medical corps of the army. The surgeous were men of skill and experi- ence who worked night and day in the faithful performance of their duty, and were more tender in their care than those surgeons who never heard the sound of battle. The work of caring properly for such a large number of wounded was more than they could properly attend to upon the battlefield. The Fifty- Seventh was very fortunate in having the services of Dr. Whitman V. White, surgeon of the regiment, a man who <4 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT .MASS. VOLUNTEERS. combined surgical skill with a kind, sympathetic heart. More than one who survived felt indebted to him for their lives. He was indefatigable in his labors. The surrounding scenes were anything but cheerful ; ghastly skulls were scattered over the ground which seemed to speak, through the sunken, eyeless sockets, of the vain glories of war. There were shallow pits, or trenches, in which the greater number of those who had been killed in that terrible battle had been thrown, and a little covering of earth hastily thrown over them, which had been partly washed away by the snows and rains of the previous winter. Their whitened skeletons, partly covered by faded and tattered uniforms, were seen protruding above the ground, mixed and intermingled in all conceivable shapes. It was a picture far different from the one presented when proudly marching to the evening parade under the inspiration of martial music. Such sights and scenes must soon be forgotten in the great game of war, as one after another they pass in quick succession. The man in the ranks must try and forget and march blindly on to face new dangers and even death on other fields, until the fatal bullet finds him also, for. after all, what is he but a small pawn upon the hoard, although hi; values his life just as dearly as those in high command, who stand upon the pinnacle of fame, while their names are traced in song and story through ages to come, and monuments of costly beauty are erected in testimony of their bravery and glorious deeds. He, too, has friends in S e distant home, may be a fond mother who Loves him just as tenderly, prays for him just as fervently and longs just as anxiously lor the return of her noble hoy as though he were the commander-in-chief of the army. It lakes more courage, more patriotism and greater sacrifices to make a good private soldier than it does to make a brigadier -general, and theirs is the greater honor. Generals cannot win battles without the aid of private soldiers. Both armies were now moving on nearly parallel roads towards Spoltsylvania Court House, the distance being alioul the same by either,— the Confederates marching by their righl flank, and the Federals by their left. The Confederate (Jcneral Longstreet having been wounded in the Wilderness, his corps was com- SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 75 manded by General Anderson, who led the advance, preceded by Stuart's cavalry. On account of the fire in the woods he was unable to bivouac and therefore pushed directly through to the Court House and at once began throwing up breastworks. Gen- eral Warren commanding the Fifth Corps of the Army of the Potomac led the Federal left, but his march was obstructed by fallen trees and Confederate cavalry, so by the time he reached the vicinity of Spottsylvania Court House, Sunday morning, May 8th, he ran up against strong Confederate earthworks, constructed in a commanding position on a wooded ridge just to the east and north of the court house. The second division of the Fifth Corps, commanded by Gen. John C. Robinson, advanced to the attack, but was met by a heavy cannonade and a sweeping fire of musketry, which drove it back in confusion, and at one time threatened serious disaster, had it not been for the presence of General Warren, who held the men in check until they could be rallied. General Griffin's division met with a somewhat similar experience, but upon the arrival of the other two divisions, under Generals Crawford and Cutler, the Confederates were driven back. Finding that he was not strong enough to make another attack, as the Confederate troops were fast arriving from the Wilderness and intrenching, General Warren also commenced to intrench. Upon the arrival of the Sixth Corps, under General Sedgwick, which was late in the day, the latter took command and made another attack upon the Confederate works, which like- wise proved unsuccessful. By this time nearly all of the Confed- erate army had arrived and taken up a strong position. The Second and Ninth Corps, under Generals Hancock and Burnside, had been left back near the Wilderness to guard against any possible attack in rear, but on the morning of the 9th General Hancock arrived and took position on the right of the line, on high ground overlooking the river Po, which is a stream too deep for fording and about fifty feet wide. The Ninth Corps came up, and moved towards the left of the line, advanced by the Freder- icksburg road directly in front and east of the Court House, driving the Confederate line back across the river Ny, a small stream with heavily wooded banks, of no great consequence. 76 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. The Federal line, as thus established, from right to left, ran as follows: By Corps, Second, Fifth, Sixth and Ninth, the latter being on the extreme left. The Confederate army was posted from left to right in the following order: Longstreet's corps {now Anderson's), Ewell and Hill, their line lacing in a general direction north and east, following high ridges and heavy wood. In order to obtain all the advantages to be derived from the natural conformation of the ground, it had to be posted, first running from the river Po northeast, then east, then almost due north, forming an angle with the apex pointing a little east of north, then inclining to the southeast and finally almost due south, the two wings of this army being thrown well back, while the angle extended to the north about half a mile and seemed to Haunt a saucy defiance in the face of the Federals. It was thus occupied on account of the high and commanding ground for the position of batteries and was said to be the key to the whole position. Ewell's Corps formed a line from the west face of this angle around the apex and part of the east face. A division under General Gordon was held in reserve and occupied an intrenched line across the base of the angle, from the east to the west face. This was the interior line which added strength to the naturally strong position. All advantageous points were secured and held by the Confederates. This angle afterwards became known as the " bloody angle." It see I to challenge attack, and the challenge was accepted. The ground in front of the Confederate works was heavily wooded on their right, while the two faces of the angle were mostly open in front and on the west, and open on their extreme left, which rested <>n the Po. The reader must constantly bear in mind that, as the two armies faced each other, what was the Confederate left was the Federal right and vice versa. The !Mh of .May WES mostly passed in heavy skirmishing. getting artillery into position and readjusting the lines. General Sedgwick, commanding the Sixth Corps, was killed by a Confed- erate sharpshooter in the morning while inspecting his line of intrenchments. In his death the Sixth Corps sustained a heavy SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 77 loss. He was regarded as one of the ablest corps commanders in the service. He possessed the confidence of his men who loved him and swore by him. He seemed to have a feeling of sym- pathy for them, spared them unnecessary hardships and always shared their clangers. A man of undaunted courage and sound judgment. He was succeeded in command of the Sixth Corps by General Wright. The division to which the Fifty- Seventh belonged (Stevenson's) did not come up until nearly noon, when they were thrown across to the south bank of the river Ny. The Confederate sharpshooters were active throughout the day and were of great annoyance to the Federals in securing posi- tion. They were also busy strengthening their intrenched posi- tion, slashing timber in front of their works on the right, and rendering them more secure by constructing abatis. On the 10th the Confederates extended their left to the west bank of the river Po, in order to cover the Shady Grove road, and their right to the river Po at Snell's bridge below the Court House, the river at this point running nearly east and west, but where the left of their line rested it ran very nearly north and south. The Confederate works had been constructed with great engineering skill, and artillery placed in such a position that all approaches to them could be immediately brought under a front and flank fire. General Johnson's division of Ewell's Corps held the ad- vanced position in the angle referred to ; the eastern face, as before stated, being heavily wooded, but more open on the west. General Humphreys, Chief of Staff, at that time, of the Army of the Potomac, says: "Late at night (9th May) orders were issued from the headquarters of the ' Army of the Potomac ' for the operations of the next day. General Hancock was to endeavor to ascertain the position and force of the enemy in his front and the location of his left flank, and hold his corps ready to advance against the enemy ; the Sixth Corps to feel in like manner for the enemy's intrenchments in his front, General Mott to hold his division ready to move to General Burnside upon hear- 78 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEER:- ing heavy firing in that direction." In compliance with this order, General Hancock made a demonstration upon the enemy's left early on the morning of the 10th, with the intention of forcing a passage across the Po and attacking there, but the enemy was found too strong for such an undertaking, and later in the day General Meade ordered General Hancock to transfer all but one division of his corps to the position held by General War- ren for assaulting the enemy's position there ; the remaining division to keep up a threatening attitude toward the Confederate left. The Third and Fourth Divisions of the Fifth Corps had charged the works there, but had been repulsed. With the a nival of the Second Corps the attack was renewed. Two gal- lant and desperate charges were made. The Federals struggled on in the face of a perfect tempest of lead and iron, sustaining both a front and flank fire of musketry and artillery, in some places gaining the enemy's works, where a hand-to-hand fight took place with clubbed muskets. The Federals were repulsed in both at- tacks with fearful loss. Later in the day two brigades of the Sixth Corps, under com- mand of the brave General (then Colonel) Emory Upton, an officer of the regular army, moved forward under a heavy artil- lery fire in another attack. This was directed upon the west lace of the angle heretofore referred to. The charging column was formed in four lines and at a given signal rushed forward in face of a withering fire of musketry and artillery, breaking through the abatis, planting their colors upon the enemy's works, captur- ing nearly a thousand prisoners and several stands of colors. Desperate efforts were made by the enemy to retake this position. It was held by incessant lighting until after dark, when General I pton, from lack of support, was obliged to retire, bringing the prisoners out with him, and the place was again occupied by the Confederates. General Mutt's division of the Second Corps, which was t<> have supported the gallant Upton, was at too great a distance t.» reach the scene of action in time, hence the position had to he abandoned, if there is any one thing that is thoroughly disheartening to a soldier, it is to Bee works, that have been car- ried at such a sacrifice of Life, abandoned just because theydonol SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 79 receive the proper support when most needed, and they see the advantages gained thrown away because certain important condi- tions, necessary to securing the fruits of their dearly bought vic- tory, had not beeu properly provided for. Not understanding the complicated movements of the various organizations, composing a large command, they naturally think that they have been forgotten or neglected. On the 10th a reconnoissance was made upon the Court House by the First Division of the Ninth Corps, to which the Fifty-Seventh belonged, under command of Brig. -Gen. Thomas G. Stevenson, who was killed in the action. General Stevenson was a young man from Boston, who entered the service at the age of twenty-five, as colonel of the 24th Massachusetts, and was made brigadier-general of volunteers Dec. 26th, 1862. He was esteemed very highly by all who knew him as possessing those brave and sterling qualities which can be relied upon in the performance of duty. He was regarded very highly by the Corps Commander, General Burnside, who spoke of him, saying: "Upon all occa- sions he proved himself a brave and efficient soldier." The reconnoissance was pushed close up to the enemy's works on the Fredericksburg road and a position taken there and intrenched. In that affair we were in command of the regimental skirmish line of the Fifty-Seventh. It was advanced across a descending opening in front of a piece of heavy wood in full view of the Confederate works, to an old fence, at the foot of which there were strips of wild hedgerows, small brush and briars, the Confederate skirmish line falling back and keeping up a constant fire as our line advanced. From the position we finally gained a good view could be had of the enemy's works upon an open ridge of hills beyond. General Stevenson was present and directed the movement in person, fearless of all danger. General Humphreys in " The Virginia Campaign of 1864 and '65," says : " On the 11th (May) the Ninth Corps was ordered to withdraw to the north side of the Ny, take up a position with its left on the main road (Fredericksburg) near the Harris House, its right connecting with Mott's division near the Brown House, but before the order could be carried out, General Burnside was or- 80 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. dered to recross the Ny and reoccupy his position near the Court House, which was done without any serious opposition. Corps commanders were directed to ascertain the least force sufficient to hold their positions securely, and the number of troops that would be available for offensive movements, and what additional works, if any, were necessary to reduce the holding force to a minimum. They were also directed to keep their skirmishers pressed well up against the enemy, and ascertain what changes, if any, had been made by them in their works or troops. The object of these instructions was to ascertain where a concentrated attack could best be made." The day of May 11th was mostly spent in preparation for a renewal of the battle. Reconnoiterings and skirmishes were con- tinued, but no general engagement took place. The enemy seemed to anticipate each move, and always with a force to meet it. Their army was certainly handled with admirable skill. In the afternoon (11th) General Grant sent the following despatch to General Meade, dated 3 p.m. : " Move three divisions of the Second Corps by rear of the Fifth and Sixth Corps, under cover of night, so as to join the Ninth Corps in a vigorous assault on the enemy at four o'clock a.m. tomorrow. I will send one or two staff officers over tonight to stay with Burnside and impress him with the importance of a prompt and vigorous attack. War- ren and Wright should hold their corps as close to the enemy as possible to take advantage of any diversion caused by this attack. and to break in if the opportunity presents itself. There is but little doubt, iii my mind, that the assault last evening would have proved entirely successful if it had commenced at an earlier hour and had heeii heartily entered into by Mott's division and the Ninth ( iorps." The assault here referred to was that made by the two brigades under < General Qpton. The afternoon of the L lth was rainy, which continued through the eight. The Fifty-Seventh rested upon their arms without shelter of any kind, the ground was wet and the men's clothing alsOj with no opportunity of getting Avx ; Bleep was impossible, not even the Luxury of two rails to rest upOD could be found, ALFRED O. HITCHCOCK, Capt. 57th Mass., Bvt. Maj. U.S. Vols. SPOTTSYI.VAXIA COURT HOUSE. 81 so the men had to either remain standing or lie upon the wet ground. The position of the Brown House had been selected as the base from which the assault was to be made, and it was to be directed upon the apex of the salient angle (" bloody angle ") . The McCool House, which was just inside the Confederate works, was taken as a guide to advance by. There was a strip of open ground between this point and the Brown House. All this ground had been carefully examined by the different corps commanders and a conference had with General Meade in regard to details. General Hancock was directed to move three divisions of his corps at dark (May 1 1th) , in the vicinity of the Brown House, and charge the Confederate lines at four o'clock the next morning, while General Warren (Fifth Corps) was ordered to hold the position vacated by General Hancock (Second Corps). General Wright (Sixth Corps) was ordered to hold two of his divisions in readiness to move wherever their services might be required. General Burnside (Ninth Corps) was ordered to support Hancock and attack on east face of the angle. It was after midnight before the troops were in position. In consequence of the thick fog early in the morning, General Hancock was not able to make the assault until about 4.80, when he made one of the most gallant charges of the whole war. The men moved forward in compact masses through the abatis, sweeping over the enemy's works like a tornado, capturing General Johnson with nearly the whole of his division, about three thousand prisoners, over twenty pieces of artillery and several stands of colors. The Confederates fought desperately and for a time it was a hand-to-hand combat. Most of the Confederates killed were with the bayonet. It has been said that this charge was a surprise, but the Confederate General Johnson, who held the works where the charge was made, says that it was not a surprise, but that the massing of the Federal troops, preparatory to the charge, was observed by him. The charging column pushed on for some distance until checked by an interior line, held by Gordon's division, which was too strono- to be carried. oZ FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. The works thus captured b}*- the Second Corps were held, and the Sixth Corps sent to the support of the Second. The Confederates concentrated all their available force and made repeated and determined charges to recapture them, but each resulted in failure; and thus the fightiDg continued with unabated fury until long into the night, in the midst of a drench- ing rain. The Ninth Corps, General Burnside, held the left of the line and operated upon the east face of the salient, with the Second Division (Potter's) on the right, the First (Stevenson's) in the centre and the Third (Wilcox's) on the extreme left. The First Division was temporarily commanded by Colonel Leasure after the death of General Stevenson. The Second Division gallantly charged the enemy's in- trenched line early on the morning of the 12th, capturing a number of prisoners and two cannon ; but in consequence of a severe enfilading fire which was brought to bear upon them from another strongly intrenched position held by the enemy, the} 7 were unable to hold the captured intrenchments and were subsequently driven out with the loss of the two captured cannon. The other two divisions made repeated attacks, but were unable to carry the main line of the enemy's works. Finally, after desperate fighting, the Second Division succeeded in making connection with Hancock's Corps on their right, thereby closing a dangerous gap between the left of the Second and right of the Ninth Corps. General Wilcox's (Third) Division math' a gallant charge upon the left, getting close up to the enemy's works, but mel with a murderpus lire of artillery and musketry and was eventually driven back with heavy loss. This charge, though unsuccessful in breaking the enemy's line, had the effecl of checking a move- ment which lif was making to attack the Federal left dank. The Ninth Corps continued the attacks along their front during the day and succeeded in holding an advanced position close to the enemy and throwing up intrenchments, which largely contributed towards rendering tin' ( Sonfederate position untenable. The vantage ground gained was at n Bevere loss. General Burnside reported it as 2,454 killed and wounded and 590 SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 83 missing, between the 8th and 12th, one-half of which he says was on the 12th. The Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts lost on the 12th, 3 officers wounded, 13 enlisted men killed, 52 wounded and 4 missing, making an aggregate loss of 72, which stands in evidence that our regiment was also " fighting it out on that line " with a deter- mination of remaining " all summer" if necessary. The engagement was during a heavy rain. It is not our purpose to follow the different movements of the several army corps and divisions of the army in all their details. We would be glad to tell the story of other organizations than the Fifty-Seventh, whose gallant charges have been written in history much better than we can do it here ; of personal heroism which led men to face death in defense of our country, and we would love to portray to the reader the grandly sublime, as well as the terribly shocking, scenes of the battlefield, which held the fate of so many thousands trembling in the balance between life and death, but the glory of one, and the dark shadows of the other, can never be presented in their true colors to those who have never seen and faced the reality. The Ninth Corps was acting in concert with the Army of the Potomac, although at that time not a part of it, and the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts belonging to the Ninth Corps, it is diffi- cult to describe the operations of the regiment without briefly describing those of the whole army. It would be like losing the touch of elbow when marching in line ; hence, a brief mention has been made of matters of general interest with which the regiment was associated. The story of one has been written and rewritten, while that of the other lives only in memory which time is fast defacing. The total loss for this one day (12th May) was : killed and wounded, 6,020; missing, 800 — total, 6,820. The Confederate loss is estimated at between nine thousand and ten thousand killed, wounded and missing. Their loss was considerably greater in prisoners than that of the Federals. The advantage can therefore be claimed by the Federal side, which had not only gained ground, pushing the Confederate army back, but capturing and holding the strongest position in their line. 84 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. After repeated assaults to regain their works in the angle, each attempt resulting in bloody failure, General Lee finally with- drew his army to an interior and shorter line of intrenchments, which were made too strong for direct assault. Notwithstanding the great loss sustained by the Army of the Potomac, yet the progress that had been made, and the present situation, gave bright hopes to sustain future operations. There seemed to be a feeling of greater confidence in the ranks than when the army emerged from the "Wilderness. The commanding general (Meade) issued a congratulatory order to the army, recounting the events of the preceding eight daj's since the beginning of the campaign: "Eight clays and nights almost without intermission against a foe in positions naturally strong and rendered doubly so by intrenchments," telling them that the work was not } r et over. "We shall soon receive reinforcements which the foe cannot expect. Let us determine to continue vigorously the work so well begun; and, under God's blessing, in a short time the object of our labors will he accomplished." The fruition of this accomplishment was not. however, as near as one might be led to expect. A few incidents connected with the Fifty-Seventh are worthy of special mention. During the severe struggle of the 12th. at the angle, the regiment had been advancing through the thick brush and drenching rain, driving the "Johnnies" back, when a halt was made very near their line and the men ordered to lie down and continue the firing. There was a heavy musketry lire from both sides. The enemy was endeavoring to form line for a COUnter-attack ; their words of command could he heard very dis- tinctly, cautioning their men about moving forward and sustaining an unbroken line, and to lire low. -lust as the command "Forward" was given. Colonel Chandler, who commanded the Fifty- Seventh, commanded " Attention. Fifty-Seventh; fix bayonets, forward, double quick, charge!" The regiment, led by the gallanl colonel, moved forward with a rush and cheer which somewhat disconcerted the Contemplated Charge Of Hie enemy. who made different arrangements and fell hack, followed by our line, for a considerable distance, (letting too far in advance SPOTTSYLVAXIA COURT HOUSE. 85 another halt was made and the men again ordered to lie down. By this time the Confederate batteries had us located within range and were dropping the shells uncomfortably close amongst us, which were being replied to by the batteries from our own side. We knew where these shells were going, and they were music to our ears as they went whirring and shrieking over our heads ; but those Confederate shells were the most provoking things one can imagine, as they came with a "whir" and a "swish" through the branches of the trees, and plunging into the ground, when each one would hug the earth very closely and wait for the ex- plosion, which would take place in a few seconds, making a deep hole in the ground and throwing the earth all over us. There was just that much uncertainty in them as to cause a lack of confidence in their efficacy. It took some a long time to explode and many failed entirely : the men who were nearest fearing to raise their heads because they might explode at any time. This lot of Con- federate powder was poor and showed that dishonest con- tractors were not all on our side. Those that exploded would sometimes make a hole large enough for temporary shelter for men lying down. At another time, in the midst of the battle and while the regiment was lying behind breastworks, with the dead and wounded lying between the lines, exposed to a drenching rain, Captain Doherty of Company G saw a wounded Confederate lying in a hollow a few yards from the breastworks, unable to move, with a shattered thigh, while the pouring torrent threatened to drown him. He shouted to his men " Who will go and rescue that man?" The enemy's sharpshooters were picking off every one who showed his head, and not a man moved. Then Captain Doherty said, "I never ask a man to do what I would not do myself," and, leaping over the works, he brought in the wounded man who afterwards died in our hospital. The enemy was endeavoring to turn our flank, which at one time appeared in great danger. It therefore became necessary to remove our wounded from the hospital in great haste, and all who were able were sent away in army wagons and ambulances, but about sixty were so badly hurt that it was impossible to remove 86 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. them, so that volunteers were called for to remain and care for them. The surgeon and chaplain and a few nurses were left with one day's rations and a single case of instruments, while all the rest moved off. In a short time a company of Confederate cavalry rode up and finding that there was nothing to take and that we were only doing the humane work of caring for the wounded, some of whom were their own men, they departed in a little while. Chaplain Dashiell writes: " We were cheered D3 7 the - hurrahs' of the reinforcements coming up who restored the lines and relieved us from our exposed condition." Chaplain Dashiell relates another interesting incident which occurred here : " A soldier from Massachusetts with his shoulder blown oil, was slowly passing away, in great torture; and occasionally the chaplain would administer a dose of morphine and whiskey to alleviate his sufferings. He was always greeted with a loving look as he approached him. At last he said : 1 Chaplain, I have nothing but this valuable seal ring; take it and buy whiskey and morphine for the wounded boys.' ' No,' said the chaplain, k this ring will go home to your father; Uncle Sam i> able to buy all that the wounded boys need.' Afterwards a letter was received from the sisters of the dead boy. saying that they had taken their brother's place and were working the farm for their father to let their brother go to the war, and they were content that their brother, who might have died ingloriously at home, had given his life for his country." The chaplain does not give the name of this soldier. hiirimj this engagement, Co. K of the regiment supported the 7th .Maine Battery, which was continuously under fire. The following is a list of the killed, wounded ami missing in the en- gagemenl of .May 1 2th, viz : Patrick Dillon. I laniel Maghnie, 1 >.-u i'l 1 I ( lonnors, Mosee Rivod, l.ru i- Brotgers, ( reorge J. < Iroshier KII.l.l CD. I'M < ... A. Peter Monney, l-'.men 1. Ric< Pvt. Co. (' " ■' Henry S. May, Sergt. Co. I) ■' " Ambrose E. Morgan, Pvt. '• ' ' Co. c. John Cahill, Edward M. Derby, 11 Co. Co. K Ei I war ,1 Ross, i'\ 1. Co. I. SPOTTSYLYANIA COURT HOUSE. 87 WOUNDED MAY 12th. Captain John W. Sanderson. 1st Lient. Henry C. Ward. 2d Lient. Henrv B. Fioine\\ hat contracted after the engagement of the 12th. The time had come when he seemed to realize that an attack from him would prove disastrous and utterly ruinous, and that the only course left for him was in an obstinate defence, hoping that in time the hammer tnighl break instead of the anvil. The lines were ao close i" each other that a general move on either side would soon he detected liy the other. Every man who SPOTTSYLYANIA COURT HOUSE. 89 was rash enough to expose himself was sure to draw the fire of the enemy's sharpshooters, who were posted in trees and concealed by the foliage, frequently changing their positions, as the smoke of their rifles would indicate their whereabouts. These men were usually posted at a considerable distance in rear and armed with long range rifles, provided with telescope sights. They fired with great accuracy. Orders were issued on the 17th for a combined attack by the Second, Sixth and Ninth Corps, the attack to be made from the works captured on the 12th, the Fifth Corps to act in support of the movement and open fire with all its artillery. The concentration commenced after dark the 17th, and by day- light of the 18th the troops were in position and advanced to the attack under the fire of thirty pieces of artillery, which swept the approaches to the rebel lines. Under a heavy fire of musketry the force bravely pushed on and made several attempts to gain the enemy's works, but were unsuccessful and finally the attack was ordered discontinued. Our loss was greater than that of the enemy, as they did not advance from their intrenchments. In this engagement the Fifty-Seventh and Fifty-Ninth Massachusetts, together with the 4th and 10th U.S. Infantry (Regulars) , were pushed out to reconnoiter the Confederate position, and suffered considerable loss, that of the Fifty-Seventh being three enlisted men killed and fifteen wounded. Afterwards the Ninth Corps made a demonstration upon the enemy's left which also proved fruitless. Chaplain Dashiel describes this affair as follows: " I stood on the hill where Roemer's battery had been intrenched and where General Burnside had his headquarters, and which the rebel batteries soon discovered and made so hot that they were obliged to remove, one of the staff having been severely wounded. But, while our batteries were playing the infantry dashed across the intervening space to find an impervious obstruction from the rebel abatis and nothing was gained." Private Truman Squires of Co. B, killed May 17th. The following are the names of the killed and wounded in the engagement of May 18th, viz. : — 90 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Henry E. Cobleigh, Joseph White, Antonio Joan, Waldo Sherwin, Peter Busier, John Newton, John Neylon, ( lharles A Bates, Stephen F. Bush, Hen j. Cok.y. Charles F. Pike, KILLED. l'vt. Co. 1) George H. Stowe, Corp. Co. H Pvt. Co. K WOUNDED. Sergt. Co. B Asa Thompson, Pvt. Co. E Pvt. Co. C Frederick Sonlie, Michael Bowen, Isaac Bowen, Co. Corp. Co. Pvt. G H » " James P. Brooks, Sergt. Co. K » Co. D Lowell Daniels. Pvt. ' " " (Mortally wounded. Died " Co. E same daj ••) Ad incident is related of Waldo Sherwin of Company C, Fifty-Seventh, who during this engagement, having seemed an advanced position and sheltering himself behind a tree, annoyed the rebel artillerists. Concentrating his fire upon one piece of artillery, he drove the Confederates from it several times and was only driven from his work by a severe wound in his right arm, received from a sharpshooter who contrived to Hank him. It became evident now that no front attack would succeed, and preparations were again made for " swinging around the circle." During the nighl of the 18th the Ninth Corps was moved to the left of the Sixth and both were pushed up as near the enemy's works as possible without making an attack. The Ninth ( 'orps made lecoiinoissanees on the 20th in the direction of Smith's and Stannard's mills on the Ny and l'o. Everything was in readiness for a general move by tin' left Sank on the 19th, but General Lee evidently discovered or anticipated it, and assuming that the Federal righl wing must necessarily become weakened by such a move, sent General Ewell's Corps to attack it. This posi- tion was held by the Fifth Corps (Warren). Genera] Ewell, after makings detour of several miles, came upon the Federal troops unawares and made a vigorous attack with a force of about six thousand men, but was defeated with a loss of about nine hundred killed, wounded and prisoners. The only effect this attack had, was to delay the movemenl by the flank for another day. SPOTTSYLVANIA COURT HOUSE. 91 Iii this engagement the Fourth Division of the Ninth Corps, composed of colored troops, rendered excellent service in pro- tecting the wagon trains, which, at one time, were in considerable danger. This was the first experience of many of the enlisted men of the colored division under fire. The dead were buried upon the field and all the sick and wounded sent to Fredericksburg and from there to Northern hospitals. The Army of the Potomac was reinforced by several thousand veteran troops, while General Lee's army was also rein- forced by the troops under General Breckenridge, who had just defeated Siegel in the Shenandoah valley, and by Pickett's Divi- sion from the vicinity of Petersburg, which could be spared after General Butler had been carefully " bottled" at Bermuda Hun- dred. These reinforcements reached the Confederate army in time to participate in the engagement which took place at the North Anna river, May 24th. The great "flanking" or "turning" movement was again resumed on the 21st of May. The bloody battle of Spottsylvania Court House had finally closed. The Fifty-Seventh, with the rest of the army, left their footprints stamped in blood, thus sealiug their devotion to duty and love of country. The following letter, giving an account of events which have already been referred to, will, no doubt, add interest to what has already been mentioned. It was written by Captain, then Lieutenant, George E. Barton, of the Fifty-Seventh, and kindly furnished with other papers by Mr. J. Brainerd Hall, formerly of Company B : — Headquarters First Division, Ambulance Corps, Ninth Army Corps, Near Fredericksburg, Va., May 19th, 1864. Deai: .... We have had some fearful fighting, have lost a great many men in killed, wounded and missing. The Fifty-Seventh is used up. We only muster 270 fighting men in line of battle .... Our corps, the Ninth, moved this morning; where to I do not know, but I shall be with them tonight. My ambulance train has been convey- ing wounded men of our division, the First, to Fredericksburg for the last three days. All the houses there are used for hospitals. The amount 92 I [FTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. of suffering endured there in one day is incalculable. How I pity the noble fellows ! for they bear their wounds without a grumble. On our first day's tight at the Wilderness, when I asked the boys about their wounds, they all seemed cheerful. They asked about Colonel Bartlett, inquiring if be was badly wounded, and when I told them "slightly wounded." they seemed very well satisfied. Our lieutenant- colonel (Chandler) has won for himself the respect and love of the whole regiment by his cool and daring behavior in the various fights in which we have already been engaged. He seems to bear a charmed life. The Fifty-Seventh stands very high and will do so until not a man is left .... The citizens of Worcester, in their anxiety for the welfare of the soldiers from that city and county, sent Messrs. Absirus and J. Stewart Brown to Washington and the front (May, 1864 ), for the purpose of rendering aid and comfort, especially to the sick and wounded. Two better men could hardly have been selected, of warm, genial dispositions and sympathetic natures. The following letter was written by them and published in the Worcester Spy of May 30th, 1864, a copy of which was retained and kindly furnished by Mr. J. Brainerd Hall. Washington, D.C., May 26th, L864 Dear ... . : Over one thousand badly wounded soldiers bave been taken oil' from boats today, and among them are a tew Massachusetts boys. The Steamer State of Maine has 403, Columbus 277, Wawasei L79, Young America 200, making an aggregate of 1,051). The last-named boat, after reaching here, was ordered to proceed to Alexandria and then- unload. Some of the buys bearing this order, murmured considerably and ll<>w, but it was attacked by Hill's Corps, the attack only being made for the purpose of ascertaining what force was Opposed to him and was easily repulsed with but little loss to either side. The advance of the Second Corps, followed by the Fifth, being well underway towards North Anna river, the sixth and Ninth abandoned their works that nighl (.May -'1st), and proceeded bj the route heretofore specified also towards the North Anna. Hill's Corps nio\ed at the same time, and. having a shorter line to march by, gained the objective point first. NORTH ANNA RIVER. 97 That General Lee was advised of the movements of the Army of the Potomac will appear from the following telegram sent by him to the Confederate Secretary of War. This has been copied from Gen. A. A. Humphreys' "Virginia Campaign of '64 and '65 " and reads as follows : Spottsylvania Court House, 8.40 a.m., May 21st, 1864. Hon. J. A. Seddon, Secretary of War : The enemy is apparently again changing his base. Three (3) gun- boats came up to Port Royal two days since. This morning an infantry force appeared at Guinea's. His cavalry advance at Downer's Bridge on Bowling Green road. He is apparently placing the Mattapony between us, and will probably open communication with Port Royal. I am ex- tending on the telegraph road and will regulate my movements by the information .... of his route. I fear will secure him from attack until he crosses the Pamunky. R. E. Lee. General Humphreys makes the following note: "This tele- gram was in cipher. The part apparently confidential is omitted in the translation. The last sentence should probably read ' I fear it will secure him ' etc., . . . . — A. A. H." The whole Army of the Potomac was again on the march, following a general line by the Richmond and Fredericksburg railroad and directed on three fords of the North Anna, viz. : Jericho, Oxford and Chesterfield (Taylor's Bridge). General Lee's army was posted on the right bank opposite and was again strongly intrenched. The North Anna is a stream of considerable importance, having a rapid, eddying current, and difficult to ford at any time ; the bottom is very rocky, with high, precipitous banks which were heavily wooded. The Second Corps was to cross at Chesterfield Bridge, the Fifth at Jericho, four miles above, where it crossed with but little opposition on the morning of the 23d, when it was immediately attacked by two divisions of A. P. Hill's corps, which gained considerable temporary advantage, but were eventually repulsed with the loss of several hundred prisoners. 98 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. The crossing of the Second Corps was vigorously opposed from a redan battery on the north bank of the river in front of the bridge. This was charged and carried by General Birney's division, after which the whole corps crossed by the bridge on the morning of the 24th. The Sixth Corps crossed the river that morning and joined the Fifth. The two wings of the army were now safely across the river and confronting the enemy, but they were not connected. It was intended that the Ninth Corps should cross at Oxford and make this connection. The Confederate army was posted with its centre well forward, near the river, and the two wings thrown back. It is mentioned as being " wedge shaped," with the point of the wedge opposite Oxford, where the Ninth Corps was to cross. On the afternoon of May 24th, 1864, the First Division of the Ninth Corps, under command of General Crittenden, ap- proached the river at Quarles' Mill, about one and a half miles above Oxford. The First Brigade, to which the Fifty-Seventh belonged, led the way in wading the river. The water was so deep in places that the men had to throw their cartridge boxes across their shoulders to keep the ammunition from getting wet. It was slow work floundering over the slippery rocks and through the whirling eddies, but the crossing was made without opposi- tion. A skirmish line was immediately thrown forward on the opposite bank of the river. The brigade was halted for about five minutes to allow the men who had removed their shoes in undiiig the river to put them on again, and the others to empty the water from their shoes and wring out their stockings. All were soaking wet up to their armpits, and in this condition the line was formed and moved forward before the other brigades had ellecled a crossing. The 35th Massachusetts was deployed as skirmishers and preceded the advance through a heavy wood. followed by the 56th, 57th and 59th Massachusetts, and the Itli and Huh U.S. Infantry. The enemy's skirmish line was soon encountered and driven in. After proceeding about one-half or three-fourths of a mile in this way, the line emerged from the thiek woods, and lipOD a high, semicircular shaped ridge of hills, about eight hundred yards beyond, a Confederate battery NORTH ANNA RIVER. 99 could be seen, well protected by earthworks and strongly sup- ported by infantry. The brigade commander was full of fight and was desirous of taking hold at once, before the other troops could come up, and then he would not have to make a division of the anticipated glory. Yet he thought he needed a little more strengthening. He therefore called upon an officer of the Fifty- Seventh, who was the only officer at the time with his company, to return with all possible haste to General Crittenden, command- ing the division, with the following verbal message: "Give my compliments to General Crittenden and tell him that there is a rebel battery in my front ; ask him to please send me three regi- ments immediately, one on my right, one on my left and the other in rear for support, and I will charge and capture it." The bearer of the message was not a staff officer, was wholly unknown to General Crittenden and knew not where to find him, yet he followed the direction as near as he could back to the ford, and by good fortune, went directly to him and delivered the message. The General looked somewhat surprised that this singular request had not come through one of the brigade staff, and at first seemed a little suspicious ; but after a few questions and becoming satisfied with the identity of the officer, he directed him to return immediately with this verbal reply, which, in sub- stance, is correct, and in words as near as can be remembered : " Go back to General immediately. Give him my com- pliments and tell him I have not the regiments to spare. The division is not across the river yet. Tell him my orders are not to charge." As the messenger turned around and started to return, General Crittenden called him back and modified the order about as follows : ' ' Tell General not to charge unless he sees a sure thing where he can capture a battery not well sup- ported ; to use the utmost caution. Tell him that I have informa- tion that seems reliable, that the enemy is posted in force in his front, and if he charges I am afraid it will be a failure and result in bringing on a serious engagement which we are in no condition to meet now, as a large part of my division is still on the other side of the river with the rest of the corps ; tell him to use the utmost caution." 100 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. In returning with this answer the bearer took a course further to the right, which, when he reached the open in front of the wood, brought him on higher ground from where he could get a better view of the position of the enemy than from where the brigade was formed. From there he could see other batteries in position, with a strong line of infantry intrenchments, while over and beyond could be seen clouds of dust which indicated that a large force was hastening towards the threatened point of attack ; while down to the left he saw the brigade drawn out in front of the wood, its commander making ready for the charge without waiting an answer to the request for reinforcements, without knowing whether they were coming or not, or what was in front or behind him. He hastened to the brigade and endeavored to deliver General Crittenden's orders, but in the excited state of mind in which he found the commanding officer, it is doubtful if he heard, or if he did, that he understood one word or cared a " continental." It has long been a matter of mental debate whether, at this late day, the truth in regard to this affair should be told or not ; whether, as long as there is no remedy for it now, it should not be smoothed over and made to appear in a favorable light ; but justice to the memory of those brave men who fell upon that bloody field and our own sense of duty, prompts us to tell the truth as we saw it. The black lowering clouds Avhich had gathered and were fast approaching from the west indicated that a heavy shower was about to fall. On the return a well-known officer was met, being carried oul by some men, hors-de-combat from chronic sunstroke, although it w:is cloudy at the time. His frantic gesticulations disclosed bis eagerness to grapple with the Confederate army Bin- gle handed, bul the unfortunate sunstroke had prostrated him; only for this the war would have been closed that very day. The condition of affairs did Dot give promise, to those who realized the situation, of a very great victory. The men had been re- quired to remove their knapsacks and all other impedimenta to their rapid progress across the open space thai intervened between the line and the objective battery. The General was inspired NORTH ANNA RIVER. 101 with that artificial courage known throughout the army as ' ' Dutch courage," the quantity of which seemed to be sufficient to sustain him through this or any other trying ordeal, but the quality was not of the enduring kind. A diminutive officer of his staff had evidently become inspired with the same enthusiasm and was standing boldly out to the front with a small-sized Smith & Wes- son revolver in his right hand, firing wildly towards the rebel battery, about eight hundred yards distant. It has never been learned what damage he did ; at all events, the battery did not surrender. The brigade was finally launched out like a thunder- bolt from the dark, threatening clouds from which the rain was just beginning to descend. The General led in person. His courage had just the right poise and there was no knowing how long it would stay or when it would be there again. He must, therefore, make the most of its present condition. What was true of Tarn O'Shanter a hundred years ago seemed equally true in this case : " Inspiring bold John Barleycorn ! What clangers thou canst make us scorn ! Wi' tippenny we fear nae evil, Wi' usquebae we'll face the devil ! " After proceeding a short distance all semblance of a line became lost. It was just a wild tumultuous rush where the more reckless were far to the front and the cautious ones scattered along back, but still coming on. Many of the Confederate soldiers stood upon their breastworks and called out in a tantalizing man- ner, — " Come on, Yank, come on to Richmond." A tall, cadav- erous looking officer of the Ninth Corps staff was also in the procession. Placing his hat upon the point of his sword he held it above his head and danced around in evident glee. A rebel sharpshooter playfully sent a bullet through the hat, but gener- ously spared the officer for a future occasion. On went the furious charge until the guns of the battery became visible. Musketry fire was opened upon the assailants and men began to fall. The Fifty-Seventh colors went down as the color ser- geant was hit, but they quickly came up and the brave Karpeles again went forward with them, although badly wounded. Colonel 102 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Chandler endeavored to take the colors from him and send him back, but he clung to them and continued far in the advance, until, weakened from loss of blood, he was obliged to pass them into other hands and fall to the rear. We had almost reached the silent batteries, when suddenly every gun flashed out a shower of grape and canister which shook the very ground and swept every- thing in front. Beneath the clouds of rising smoke the Confeder- ate infantry could be seen rapidly advancing and closing in from the right and left. The gallant charge went no farther, but turned into a complete rout. A further advance meant simply to rush into the jaws of death or a surrender. The only hope lay in a hasty retreat. Colonel Chandler fell mortally wounded. Cap- tain Prescott, Sergt. E. D. McFarland and one or two others endeavored to raise and carry him from the field, but it was too late. Raising one hand, he quietly motioned them to put him down, saying: " You can do nothing for me, save yourselves if you can." He fell into the hands of the enemy. Colonel Harris of the 12th Mississippi communicated the fact that he survived some hours a iter the battle. He generously cared for him and sent tidings of his death, together with his watch, money, diary and a photograph of a young lady to our lines, under a flag of truce, to be forwarded to his bereaved mother. Incidents like this were of such rare occurrence during the bitter strife that one may well pause to notice it. If the South had possessed more such men, their cause would not have been stained with the records of Fort Pillow and Andersonville. Such noble characters do honor even to a bad cause. But, resuming the narrative, the charge that had been made with so little regard to military order, now became a confused and demoralized Bight. The Genera] gave no order and math' no attempt to rally. Such an effort would have been utterly futile, even it' be had been in a disposition to undertake it. Every man became bis own general, while the receding tide scattered and disappeared in the wood from which the charge bad been made. \b-n were falling al every step, We well remember one brave young boy of eighteen years, William Anthony of Leicester, a member of Company E, who fell never to rise again. The o O £ H NORTH ANNA RIVER. 103 scattered brigade fled with due haste, back to the river at a point below where it had previously crossed. By this time it was getting dark and the rain was pouring in torrents. Looking down into the deep, black waters in rear and the charging enemy in front, presented rather a gloomy appearance to a defeated, demoralized body of men without head or guidance. Several officers attempted to make a rally upon the river's bank, but it was of no use. Following the General up the river, as they had followed him in the charge, the remainder of the division was found. Having effected a crossing, and hearing the heavy firing in front, they had thrown up a hasty defence of logs and branches, behind which the badly beaten First Brigade was glad to take refuge and help to check the advancing charge of the enemy. The night was intensely dark and rainy, yet men worked hard constructing defensive works from fallen timber, while the whizzing shots continued to rattle through the branches of the trees ; and thus ended the battle of North Anna, in which the Fifty-Seventh regiment lost Lieutenant-Colonel Chandler and nine enlisted men killed, Lieut. Charles H. Royce and twelve enlisted men wounded and thirteen enlisted men missing, making a total loss of two officers and thirty-four enlisted men. Of the missing, many were killed or subsequently died in Confederate prisons. The names are here given below : — KILLED. Thomas Burke, Pvt. Co. B Henry L. Park, Corp. Co. H Amos P. Newton, " " Patrick H. Manville, Pvt. Thomas Curley, " Co. U Thomas Conway, " Co. I William H. Anthony, " Co. E David Sancomb, ll " Richard Mulstead, " Co. G ENLISTED MEN WOUNDED. Julius Dougall, Pvt. Co. D Thomas Conners, Pvt. Co. H Jacob Kirby, " " Phineas L. Holbrook, " " Joseph E. Lapoint. " Co. E Thomas J. Tourtellott, " " Joseph Horton, " Co. G Leopold Karpeles, Col.-Sergt. Co. I (Died June 2d, 1864, at Joseph W. Barnes, Pvt. Co. K Washington, D.C.) Henry L. Gill, " Ira B. Bullard, Corp. Co. H Wesley F. Hayward, " " (Died May 24th, 1864) 104 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. ENLISTED MEN MISSINd. I). Landon, Pvt. Co. A Edwin R. Reed, Pvt. Co. D William Mooher, " " (Supposed to have been killed.) Daniel O'Connor, " " Michael McCarty, Pvt. Co E Antonio Phillips, lI Co. B John A. Paine, " Co. H (Died at Andersonville, (Died Sept. 15th, 1864, at July 27th, 1864.) Andersonville, Ga.) Lyman Bryant, Pvt. Co. D Edward A. Walton, Pvt. Co. H (Died in Andersonville, (Died at Andersonville, July 27th, 1864.) Aug. 10th, 1864.) John E. Hinton, Pvt. Co. D Amasa R. Bullock, Pvt. Co. I Egbert S. Jacquins, " " Herbert 0. Smith, " Co. K (Died in Andersonville, (Died of wounds, May 24th, 1864.) Aug. 15th, 1864.) The description given of this engagement is a correct one, as witnessed by those who were present, and is not imaginary. Nothing whatever was accomplished, except a needless slaughter, which had a disheartening effect upon the men ; the humiliation of defeat and the complete loss of all confidence in the brigade commander who was wholly responsible, a loss which was never regained through the course of future events. When men are called upon to make such sacrifices they do not like to feel that they are entirely thrown away through a blind, temporary courage of an incompetent leader. Yet this was not an exceptional case ; there were many such during the war which historians have treated with too much charity. Looking at the affair in the light of after years, it presents no new features. The result was as apparent before as after the charge ; the nearer the brigade approached, the plainer could be seen the frowning batteries, the strong breastworks and the large force we were attacking. The fact was, a decimated brigade, wholly unsupported ami poorly commanded, was assailing the enemy with batteries in position, supported by a strongly in- trenched Line of infantry. It did, however, develop noble traits in the character of those men who obeyed orders without a mur- mur and went forward in this desperate charge with a patriotic devotion to duty. Such men, intelligently commanded, could be relied upon in any emergency. Their deeds are none the less * £t* 0«S CHARLES LYON CHANDLER. LIEUT. COLONEL 57TH MASS. NORTH ANNA RIVER. 105 worthy on account of disaster than they would have been through the plaudits of victory. A letter written by Chaplain Dashiell to Miss Andrew soon after this engagement, reads as follows: "About noon we re- ceived the order to move and I rode with the Colonel at the head of the column. A mile or two of marching brought us to the North Anna, which we were to wade. It was a shallow stream, filled with large stones and some deep holes. He rode over safely. Two other horsemen got beyond their depth and soon I came over dry shod. We had some pleasantry about the passage and I was pleased to find him in such a fine flow of spirits. He had picked up a belt containing a revolver and bayonet, which had been lost by some luckless soldier, and taking the revolver, he jokingly offered the bayonet to some of the boys then passing. We passed up the bank and on the level above he formed the regiment in line of battle and pushed on at the head of his men. Soon the roar of battle quickened our preparations for the wounded and they began to come in after a few moments, and rumors came of the Colonel's wound and then of his abandonment on the field .... " The color sergeant (Karpeles) was shot when our regiment was overborne by the masses of the rebels, and went to the rear only when Colonel Chandler insisted upon it. There was a rumor that night in the hospital that the corporal who had the colors having been killed, the Colonel seized them and was killed in con- sequence. There was no ground for the rumor, but the poor fellow was inconsolable. All night long he charged himself with the death of his 'dear colonel,' because he had left the field. Colonel Chandler has left a record in the hearts of his regi- ment and upon the pages of his country's history, which might gratify the ambition of any man." Lieut. -Col. Charles L. Chandler was the eldest son of T. P. Chandler, Assistant Treasurer of the United States, at Bos- ton. When the war broke out he enlisted in the 1st Massachu- setts, at the age of twenty-one. He was mustered into the United States service as 2d lieutenant of Company A, May 25th, 18(51, promoted to 1st lieutenant in the same regiment, March 21st, 106 FIFTY-SEYEXTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. 1862, and with that regiment, participated in the battle of Bull Run and Blackburn's Ford, serving throughout the Peninsula Campaign with distinguished bravery. Aug. 6th, 1862, he was again mustered into the service as captain in the 34th Massachu- setts. April 20th, 1864, he became lieutenant-colonel of the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts, vice Edward P. Hollister who had previously resigned. His whole military career was marked by a fine sense of houor and loyal devotion to duty. Rarely has any man of his age acquitted himself so nobly, winning praise from his superiors and the love and respect of all who knew him. His private character stood without a blemish, aud his example, in all respects, is well worthy of emulation. In a private letter written by General Bartlett, under date of June 14th, 1864, while absent in Washington, wounded, he speaks of the regiment and Colonel Chandler as follows : "I heard from the regiment today. It has a good reputation throughout the corps. All speak of Colonel Chandler's splendid bravery and coolness." The conduct of the regiment in this battle was noticed by a correspondent at the time, who says : "We were at first under greal apprehension that the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts, a new regiment, on the left of the 100th Pennsylvania, would give back, and if they did, Ave were lost. Colonel Leasure assumed control of them and I heard him say ' they fought like lions.' It wns well they did, for all on their left gave way, and, if our line gave way, the fate of the day would have been against us." With all due respect to this correspondent and the gallant Colonel Leasure, the author of these pages, who was present throughout the whole engagement in command of a company of the Fifty-Seventh, and in a position to know something about who its commander was, fails to remember any such "control" or to observe where " the fate of the day " was al all in our favor. The engagement relleeted credit upon the troops engaged without distinction of regiments, but it was distressing to think thai nothing had been accomplished. The condition of affairs at the river did not give promise of any successful movement upon the enemy. The heavy rain had NORTH ANNA RIVER. 107 caused the water to rise until it was impossible to again ford it. The only way of securing the safety of our wounded was by ferry- ing them across the stream on hastily constructed rafts, with momentary expectations of another attack from the enemy with a force which would have completely overwhelmed us. If General Lee had known the true condition of affairs at this point, on the south bank of the river, there is little doubt but he would have made the attack. With the two wings of the Federal army so widely separated, succor could not have been obtained in time to avert a still greater disaster than the one already experienced. All through that dark, rainy night tireless men were working the rafts to and fro across the fast swelling stream. By morning of the next day all the wounded were over and in a place of safety. Many had passed to a place of eternal safety beyond the silent river, and the battle of North Anna river was closed. There are many names that deserve special mention. Many who were captured died as martyrs to the cause they had espoused in the prison pen of Andersonville. Corp. Ira B. Bullard of Sutton, a member of Company H, and who belonged to the color guard, was badly wounded and subsequently died in Mount Pleasant General Hospital, Washing- ton, D.C. He was a young man of excellent character, and pos- sessed the confidence and esteem of his superior officers. The following letter in relation to him will, no doubt, be read with interest by his friends and former comrades. Headquarters Co. C, Fifty-Seventh. In the field near Pegram's Farm, Va. Oct. 23d, 1864. Dear .... In reply to your inquiries about Ira B. Bullard, I will state that he was wounded in action May 24th, at the battle of North Anna river, and afterwards died of wounds in hospital at Washington. I took him from the field in one of my ambulances. I was attached to the ambulance train at that time .... I had quite a long talk yesterday with Lieu- tenant-Colonel Tucker about Ira. The Colonel, you know, formerly com- manded Co. H. He said that Ira proved himself to be an excellent soldier, both cool and plucky in a fight and always faithful when on duty. The Colonel, in speaking of his conduct in the battle of the Wilderness, 108 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. relates a circumstance illustrative of his coolness under Are. His rifle having become so foul that he was unable to discharge it, he quietly took his wrench from his cartridge box, unscrewed the cone upon which the caps are placed, took his primer and cleaned it out, then screwed it on again and blazed away; all this under a heavy Are of musketry from the "Johnnies." I have just been talking with the color sergeant. He says of Corporal Bullard : li He was the best corporal I had on the color guard, always in his place close to the colors. He fell fighting by the old flag, but gained the rear without assistance." A day or two before the fight at North Anna River, Corporal Bullard was quite sick and away from the regiment about half a day, but this did not suit him at all. He joined the color guard and went in with the regiment. Many men would have taken advantage of their sickness to remain in rear, but this was not his style. He made the remark to the color sergeant, when he joined the guard : " If I were only well I could do my duty, but I want to be with the regiment, wherever that is." (Signed) GEORGE E. BARTON. The Worcester Spy of Jan. 31st, 1865, notices the death of Edward A. Walton of Company H, Fifty-Seventh, who was reported among the missing in the battle of North Anna and pays the following tribute to his memory: "Another victim of cruel treatment .... Edward Alonzo Walton, Company H, Fifty-Seventh Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers. He was captured on the 25th of May last* and taken to Richmond, then to Andersonville in Georgia, where he remained three long, dreary months, in which lie suffered the utmost exposure and privations, which he bore with great patience in hopes of being released or exchanged by his government; but finding himself, with all the rest, abandoned to his Bad fate, with no other hope but starvation ami death the most cruel, he gave up in despair and resigned himself l«> his late, when on or about the 10th of August, 1861, lie died of cruel neglect, exposure and starvation. He was born in West Boylston, Oct. 2d, 1835, and was the sou of Gilderoy and Dolly Walton. He lias left a fond wife and child who, with his grief-stricken parents and brothers, mourn his sad and painful deal h." On the 21th of May, 1864, the Ninth Army Corps was in- corporated into the Army of the Potomac and remained m part of •8hould be 84th.— J. A. NORTH ANNA RIVER. 109 it until the close of the war. This change was made at the sug- gestion of General Burnside who was willing to waive all consid- eration of rank and place himself under the command of General Meade. By this arrangement the Army of the Potomac became an unit and its movements made with fewer complications than had previously existed, where virtually two independent commands were awkwardly endeavoring to work in harmony with- out any real cohesion. The morning of the 25th found the two armies face to face, but no engagement took place save the constant firing along the line of pickets. The division (Crittenden's) was thrown forward, in connection with the Fifth Corps, under command of General Warren, to within a few hundred yards of the Confederate in- trenchments, in order to develop their strength and position. They were found well intrenched on high ground with a large force entirely too strong for attack with that under General Warren. In fact the advantage would have been more in favor of the Confederates had they made an attack upon the Federal force demonstrating against them, as they were in a position where concentration could have been quickly made, while the Federal force was so widely scattered that it could not have been brought together without crossing the river twice and having a much greater distance to march. Colonel Venable and Colonel Taylor of General Lee's staff state that an offensive move at this time was seriously contemplated by General Lee " had his army been of even reasonable proportion with that of his adversary." Surely the "proportion" against him was not unreasonable at this particular point where everything seemed in his favor and to invite an aggressive move upon his part. The chances were that he could, by rapid concentration, have thrown his whole force upon the right wing of the Federal army and either defeated or inflicted a great loss upon it before the left could have been brought up. More particularly would such a move seem imperative when, as has been stated, he was anticipating a demonstration upon his left flank. This part of the Confederate line was held by Hill's corps and Pickett's division that had recently joined from the vicinity 110 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. of Petersburg, after the failure of the movement made by General Butler on the James river. The position held by the Army of the Potomac was wholly untenable. The dead were buried upon the field, ponton bridges were laid across the river, and for the third time in the history of this campaign, arrangements were being made for the great flank and turning movement. On the 26th the regiment crossed to the north side without molestation and again took up the line of march by the left flank in another effort to interpose between General Lee and Richmond. The regiment at this time lost the services of their fighting major, not by death, but by resignation. He turned from the bloody path of war to the quiet shades of peace, " beating his sword into a plowshare." Capt. Julius M. Tucker, commanding Company H, being the senior officer present, took command of the regiment and was subsequently promoted to the grade of major and mustered as such on the 14th of June following, later to the grade of lieutenant-colonel. The army had lost, according to the report of the medical director, from the 21st to the 20th of May, 2,100 in wounded. A tabular statement shows that between the 23d and 27th of May, the loss was: 223 killed, 1,400 wounded, and 290 missing. Soon after the death of General Stevenson, General Critten- den arrived and was assigned to the command of the First Division of the Ninth Army Corps and retained it until after the battle of Cold Harbor. CHAPTER VII. COLD HARBOR. N the night of the 26th, the Ninth Corps was with- drawn from the south bank of the North Anna river, recrossing on ponton bridges covered with brush, without being discovered by the enemy. The pon- tons were immediately taken up and the march commenced towards the Pamunky river, about thirty-two miles distant. The infantry was preceded by two divi- sions of Sheridan's cavalry, followed by part of the Sixth Corps, towards Hanover Town. The Sixth and Second Corps were ordered to cross the Pamunky four miles above Hanover Town, and the Fifth, followed by the Ninth Corps, was to cross at that place. The regiment was now under command of Capt. J. M. Tucker. The march was continuous, day and night, via Shady Grove, until the river was reached and a crossing made about midnight of the 28th. The Pamunky is a narrow, sluggish stream, formed by the North and South Anna rivers and several creeks. Its banks are heavily wooded and generally low and swampy. The smaller streams have low, marshy banks. There were many roads that seemed to wind around in all directions, but none, except the Rich- mond stage road, were good, and that was only good in comparison. The march was a tiresome one, as the roads were muddy from the recent heavy rains. Some of them were found considerably below the surface of the ground. Through swamps, across creeks and over muddy roads, the march was continued until the regiment reached the vicinity of Hawes' shop on the morning of the 29th, at which place the Ninth Corps was held in reserve, while the Second, Fifth and Sixth were ordered to make reconnoissance 112 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. in force ; the Second in the direction of Richmond (to the south) ; the Fifth on the Shady Grove road and the Sixth towards Hanover Court House. The Sixth Corps met with onlj 7 small bodies of the enemy's cavalry, the Fifth crossed Totopotomy creek, on the Shady Grove Church road, and encountered only the Confederate pickets and vidette posts, which made no resistance but promptly fell back ; but the Second Corps (Hancock's) found the enemy strongly posted in his front on the south bank of the Totopotomy creek, where it is crossed by the direct road to Richmond. The Confederate force at this point was composed of the two corps of Early and Hill, with the force under General Breckenridge. The Confederate commander had discovered the withdrawal of the Army of the Potomac early on the morning of the 27th, and had moved, with great promptness, to again interpose between it and Richmond. Having the interior line to march by, the distance was not so great ; hence, he was able to anticipate his adversary and once more plant himself squarely in front to resist a further advance, also time to intrench and get his batteries into position ; in fact, with everything in readiness, so that it became plain that another desperate battle would have to be fought at this point, with no greater promise of success than the previous ones had presented, or the flank movement continued until a more favora- ble position could be gained. The former alternative was decided upon and arrangements made accordingly. The whole of the Second Corps was brought into position and sharp skirmishing soon followed. The Eighteenth Corps, numbering about thirteen thousand men, under command of Maj.-Gen. W. F. Smith, had been ordered from General Butler's command to join the Army of the Potomac at Cold Harbor. This was a fine body of men, composed largely of veteran regiments. The corps came by transports around by York river and landed :it the White House May 80th, from which point it was ordered to march to New (old Harbor, but through some mistake, the order was given to march to New Castle on the Pamunky. This blunder caused the Eighteenth Corps to march about fifteen miles out of their way, which delayed their arrival upon the field of action until late on the afternOOU of June 1st, later than had been anticipated. COLD HARBOR. 113 Preparations were made and orders issued for the movements of the 30th. All the infantry was directed to move up close to the enemy. The Sixth Corps was to move early in the morning and form on the right of the Second, the Ninth Corps to form on the left of the Second and the Fifth Corps to move along the Shady Grove Church road to the Mechanicsville Pike in the vicin- ity of Bethesda Church. Batteries were placed in position in front of the Second Corps, the Ninth moved as directed and crossed the Totopotomy after some heavy skirmishing, the Fifth moved forward but met with considerable opposition. They found the enemy, Early's corps, strongly intrenched on the Mechanicsville Pike three-quarters of a mile south of the Shady Grove Church road. One brigade of Crawford's division soon became hotly engaged, was charged by Rode's division of Early's corps and driven back to the Shady Grove Church road where, by the aid of a well posted battery, it held the ground until the remainder of that division and the Fourth Division of the Fifth Corps could be brought up. The enemy made a vigorous attack, but was repulsed with heavy loss. Colonel Willis of the 12th Georgia, who com- manded a Confederate brigade, was killed. Also Colonel Jewell, 13th Virginia, and Lieutenant-Colonel Watkins, 52d Virginia, of the Confederate army. The Second Corps was ordered to attack that evening to re- lieve the pressure upon the Fifth Corps. General Brooke's brigade of Barlow's division made a splendid charge and carried the ad- vanced line of Confederate rifle pits, but General Meade ordered the attack to cease at that point. The Confederates were also reinforced June 1st by a division from North Carolina and their army was strongly posted and intrenched in front of the Chicka- hominy river. The key to the situation was Cold Harbor, a place of no importance, except from the many roads leading from it towards Richmond. With this in possession of the Confederates, the Army of the Potomac was effectually blocked from a further advance. Longstreet's corps covered the crossing of the Chicka- hominy from behind Cold Harbor, occupying intrenchments in a heavy wood from which he could guard all approaches to it. May 31st was spent in manoeuvering, placing the different corps in posi- 114 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. tion and heavy skirmishing along the whole line. The Confederate position was found to be too strong for a direct assault, and as the enemy held possession of Cold Harbor with cavalry only, under Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, General Sheridan was ordered to charge and drive him out, which he accomplished with but little loss. An infantry division under command of General Hoke came to the support of Fitzhugh Lee. The movements of both armies were now directed towards that point, and General Sheri- dan was ordered to hold it " at all hazards " until an infantry force could be brought up. This he succeeded in doing. The Confederate lines were also readjusted and Longstreet brought around to Early's right in anticipation of a general attack, and to checkmate the movement of the Sixth Corps from the Federal right towards the left. On the morning of June 1st General Kershaw attacked Sheri- dan at Cold Harbor with two brigades of infantry, but was finally repulsed. The Sixth Corps soon arrived and rendered the posi- tion secure. The Eighteenth Corps, coming up later in the day, was ordered to take position on the right of the Sixth, to hold the road running from Cold Harbor to Bethesda Church and to join with the Sixth Corps in making the attack. The enemy was strongly intrenched and in large force in a heavy wood, about twelve hundred yards distant from the position of the Sixth and Eighteenth Corps, the intervening ground was mostly open, and in order to reach him, the lines had to move forward across this open space, exposed to a destructive fire of musketry and artil- lery. The charge was made in splendid order and the first line of intrenchments carried, tint the second was found too strong for assault, hence the two corps remained in the captured works, reconstructing them to meet any counter-attack from the enemy. The engagement was brief hut, bloody, the total loss being over two thousand killed and wounded, one regiment alone, Second Connecticut Artillery, losing ■"»•"» killed, L87 wounded and 146 missing. The enemy also lost heavily, mostly in prisoners. The Second Corps had been ordered i<> take position on the left of the sixth iii order to do so it had to march a considerable distance around, over ami across a network of roads wholly unknown, COLD HARBOR. 115 running in all directions, through a night of extreme darkness and a day of excessive heat. Much delay and trouble was caused in getting the artillery through such a country ; in consequence, the corps did not reach position until early on the morning of the 2d. The different corps were not in position to make an attack that day, but preparations were made and orders issued for a general attack along the whole line at half past four on the morning of June 3d. In the withdrawal of the Ninth Corps from the trenches to the new position assigned, the skirmish line was attacked by a Confederate division and lost a number of prisoners. The same division gained the rear of the Fifth Corps skirmish line and captured a number of them. The final disposition, as made for the assault, which was ordered for the morning of the 3d, was as follows : The Ninth Corps, holding the extreme right, was to guard that flank and support the Fifth in the attack ; following the Ninth from right to left the corps were arranged as follows : Fifth, Eighteeuth, Sixth and Second, while two divisions of cavalry were to hold the lower crossings of the Chickahomiuy and two divisions to operate on the right flank. The line as thus formed was nearly six miles in length ; that part held by the Ninth Corps being extended to cover so much ground, was hardly more than a heavy skirmish line and could scarcely hope for success in charging over breast- works defended by a strong force of infantry and artillery. On the morning of the 3d, as the first ray of light appeared above the eastern horizon, the men were on their feet and lines were being formed for another desperate grapple with the Con- federate Army of Northern Virginia. The spirit which had heretofore animated our troops did not seem as buoyant this morning as usual. The strength of the enemy's line had been tested by slight taps along its whole length and not a weak spot had been found. For every thump it had received it had given a blow in return. While there was a loyal obedience of orders and an unflinching devotion to duty, yet all seemed to feel that there was desperate work in front of them, that the slaughter would be great and the result, at best, was 116 FIFTY-SEVENTH REC.IMEXT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. doubtful. The stubborn facts as presented held out no promise calculated to raise their confidence. It was not that the spirit of the grand old Army of the Potomac was broken, but they were men of reason and knew what was before them. When the orders came to move the line swept forward and struck the Confederate intrenchments as an ocean billow lashed by the storm dashes against the rocky coast, only to be broken and rolled back by the torrent of shot and shell, grape and canister, that poured full in their faces. The action was of short duration. The receding line bore no marks of disgrace, but carried back to the pages of history a record which will forever stand a monument to American valor. The Second Corps upon the left gained considerable advantage at first, dislodging the enemy from his position in the first line of trenches, capturing several hundred prisoners, one or two stands of colors and three guns. The latter were immediately turned upon the enemy. This victory was only temporary. The second line failed to come up and this division of the Second Corps (Barlow's) was soon dislodged in turn by the enemy who quickl}- made a counter-charge, after having been heavily rein- forced. General Gibbon's division of the Second Corps advanced at the same time with Barlow's, but encountered an almost im- passable swamp in front, which separated them. However, they succeeded, after much difficulty and some delay, in floundering through and advanced under a terrific fire close to the enemy's works, but were unable to hold possession of them. The gallant Colonel McMahon even mounted the rebel parapet and planted the colors of his regiment upon it, but almost instantly fell, mortally wounded. The slaughter at this point was simply murderous. The Sixth and Eighteenth Corps fared no better and gained no more. Tiny did all that brave men could do, more even than could have been reasons My expected under the circumstances. They succeeded in holding an advanced position much nearer the enemy, which they held and intrenched. The Fifth Corps w;is extended in such a thin line that it was entirely hopeless to attempt anything beyond holding its own line intact . COLD HARBOR. 117 Two divisions of the Ninth Corps (Potter's and Wilcox's) moved forward on the right and took the rifle pits occupied by the troops under General Early and established themselves near his main line. The whole corps was to charge at one o'clock upon the main works. It was expected by that time our batteries would be able to silence those of the enemy that held a raking, enfilading fire upon our lines. It was found that our guns could not be placed in a position to do this, hence the order was countermanded just as the line of skirmishers was moving forward to the attack. Soon after this Eaily made an attack upon the Ninth Corps but was repulsed. General Burnside, assisted by one division of the Fifth Corps (Griffin's), made an attack upon Early and drove him some distance beyond the Shady Grove Church road. The Confederates under General Gordon made an attack upon the Fifth Corps but were repulsed. The Ninth Corps lost in killed and wounded about eight hundred, while the Fifth lost only about half that number. In General Early's report of this affair he is quoted as hav- ing said: u There were repeated attacks ou Rode's and Heth's fronts on the third, those on Cook's brigade of Heth's division being especially heavy, but all of them were repulsed It was necessary that Heth's division should join its corps on the right, as my flank, in this position, was very much exposed. I withdrew at the close of the day to the line previously occupied, and next morning Heth moved to the right." Any further attempts to assault the Confederate lines would have resulted in additional disaster. The loss to the Federal army in this engagement amounted to about eight thousand killed and wounded, about four-fifths of which fell upon the Second, Sixth and Eighteenth Corps, the other two, Fifth and Ninth, not being so heavily engaged, did not lose so many. The Confed- erate loss was not nearly as great. It was estimated at less than one thousand. After such an important engagement one naturally asks after the result, to know what has been accomplished at such an im- mense cost, and the object of it. The latter question has been answered heretofore, viz. : to turn Lee's right flank and cut him off 118 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. from Richmond. This was far from being accomplished, but the Federal army held the position of Cold Harbor, from which it could proceed b} ? any of the roads diverging from there, except those occupied by General Lee. Those were effectually closed against us, unless we trod them as prisoners of war, which we were not disposed to do. The base of supplies had been changed from Fredericks- burg to the White House at the head of navigation on the York river. A brief description of this battle, with the effect it had upon the Confederate army, is given by Gen. Fitzhugh Lee in his life of Gen. R. E. Lee. He says: " There has been no instance of such destructive firing, attended with such small loss to the men who were shooting from stationary lines Death and destruction everywhere enveloped charging columns, and direct and cross fires tore them to pieces In front of the Con- federate defenses the scene was heartrending. The ground was strewn with the dead, dying and wounded Federals In an incredibly short time twelve thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven of their number had dropped from their ranks. Who knew how many would fail to answer roll call after another at- tack?" The same author further states: "After the battle of Cold Harbor, Lee had such confidence in his ability to keep ( i rant from getting closer to Richmond, that he detached Lreck- enridge to meet Hunter, who having defeated the small Confed- erate force in the valley, under W. E. Jones, was advancing via Staunton mid Lynchburg. On the loth he sent Early with the Sir I Corps (Kwell's), eight thousand muskets and twenty-lour pieces of artillery, to join him." It bas been stated so often and believed by many, some even who presume to write history, that after the defeat and slaughter of the early morning of the 3d, General Granl ordered another assaull along the whole line, that this order was transmitted down through the different corps commanders to the rank and file, but that the men remained silent and motionless and would not move in obedience to this order. This is a slander upon that gallant old Ai'inv Of the Potomac whose record was second tO none COLD HARBOR. 1 19 that ever trod the North American continent. For over three long bloody years that army had passed through battles and cam- paigns under different leaders, had suffered disaster and defeat through no fault of its own. Its path could be traced by bleach- ing bones and nameless graves all the way from the Susquehanna to the banks of the James. Standing under the glory of such a record, it is not reasonable to suppose that they would tarnish it by a refusal to obey orders, neither is it reasonable to suppose that by a concert of understanding, without previous conference, the whole army should act as one man in such an important mat- ter. We were in command of a company in the First Brigade, First Division of the Ninth Corps, and were present in this en- gagement from the beginning to the end, and for days and months afterwards, yet we had no knowledge of any such order having been issued. Had it been, it would have been obeyed, even if the last man had fallen in its execution. There is no record to show that such an order was ever issued. Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys, author of the valuable work entitled "The Virginia Campaign of 1864 and 1865," and to whom I am greatly indebted for much information and data, makes no mention of such an order. As he was Chief of Staff of the Army of the Potomac at the time, he was certainly in a position to know and would, beyond question, have published it, had it been so. There may be some good grounds for stating that General Grant seriously contemplated issuing such an order, but was prevailed upon by his corps com- manders, in whom he had implicit confidence, to withhold it. In speaking of this affair in his memoirs, General Grant says : " Hancock gave the opinion that, in his front, the enemy was too strong to make any further assault promise success. Wright thought he could obtain the lines of the enemy, but it would require the co-operation of Hancock's and Smith's Corps. Smith thought a lodgment possible, but was not sanguiue. Burnside thought something could be done in his front, but War- ren differed. I concluded, therefore, to make no more assaults and a little after twelve, directed, in the following letter, that all offensive action should cease : " — 120 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864. 12.30 p.m. Major-General Meade, Commanding Army of the Potomac. The opinion of corps commanders not being sanguine of success in case an assault is ordered, you may direct a suspension of further ad- vance at present. Hold our most advanced positions and strengthen them. Whilst on the defensive our line may be contracted from the right, if practicable. Reconnoissances should be made in front of every corps and advances made to advantageous positions by regular approaches. To aid the expedition of General Hunter it is necessary to detain all the enemy now with Lee until the former gets well on his way to Lynch- burg. To do this effectually it will be better to keep the enemy out of the intrenchments of Richmond than to have them go back there. Wright and Hancock should be ready for assault in case the enemy should break through General Smith's lines and all should be ready to resist an assault. The two lines were crowded close together and the firing con- tinuous on both sides. The Federal army was badly bruised and bleeding. The men could look across at the strong, invulnerable lines of Confederate intrenchments. They could see their own dead and wounded comrades stretched upon the ground between the two opposing lines, exposed to the burning heat of a Southern sun, and it must be said, they felt no disposition to renew the charge, where not only reason, but bitter experience, told them it would only result in adding more victims to the ghastly array before them ; yet the men began to think more seriously and ask the • juestion where all this would end. While they were willing to take chances, yet the bravest would like to see some in their favor. The chances of another charge presented none. The blue line of the Fifty-Seventh .Massachusetts had been growing shorter and shorter. Looking at the tine body of men, 928, that had inarched out of the city of Worcester on that bright . V | nil day, less than two months before, and looking at it now wiili barely men enough to make two companies, and companies reduced 1<> mere squads, formed pictures that stood in sad con- trast. The retrospective could be traced in mournful lines through the gloomy Wilderness and over every battlefield down to Cold Harbor. Scarcely a day hut men had fallen from the ranks under COLD HARBOR. 121 the dark shadow of death, to struggle against sickness and starva- tion or to drag mangled forms through the coming days of their human existence. It required no imagination to portray all this ; only listen to the sergeant calling the roll and it told the story in language that could not be disputed. What was in store for us next? When would the long desired end come, and what had we gained ? Only to the last question could one formulate an answer, and that was anything but satisfactory. We had gained no glorious victory, neither had we suffered a disastrous defeat. The situation seemed much the same as in the beginning, save that the regiment had faded away with greater rapidity than it had been recruited, and there, squarely before us, stood the Confederate army of Northern Virginia, with its indomitable leader, Gen. R. E. Lee, still at its head and confronting us as defiantly as on the first day in the Wilderness. The night after the battle we were detailed for picket duty and had to move out in front of our own works, under such cover as could be found, or none at all. Every man who could sought the friendly side of some protecting tree, and from such positions continued to fire at the opposing pickets throughout the night. There was no cessation, no rest. The picket lines were not more than fifty yards apart. A change of position was extremely hazardous. Under such circumstances it does not take a man long to improvise some kind of shelter, even if he has to dig a hole in the ground with fingers that never delved in mother earth before. One Confederate posted behind a tree directly in front seemed to feel particularly ugly and annoying, and kept busy all the time loading and firing from behind it. Finally, as he reached around to fire, the crack of a rifle was heard a few feet from our left and he fell to the ground never to rise again. Some evidently thought he was " playing possum " in order to get a better shot at a new victim ; hence, he became a target for a score or more of Federal muskets. When our line advanced the next morning he was found riddled with more than a hundred bullets. After the first shot it little recked to him, poor fellow, whether it were a hundred or a million. He had passed beyond 122 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. being an enemy, and one could not help thinking that he, too, had loved ones in some Southern home, who were anxiously hoping and praying for his safe return, — perhaps little ones saying " God bless papa " in their evening prayers. Oh ! cruel, relentless war, that transforms men made after the image of a merciful God into fiends incarnate, revelling in the gory dance of death. Both sides claimed to be engaged in a righteous cause and fervently prayed for aid and protection from Him who pronounced " Peace on earth, good will toward men." Could one straggling ray of Christian light have penetrated the darkness of this diabolical scene, it would seem that the stormy cloud of war would have been lifted. But if all the prayers had been answered, the condi- tion of affairs would have become still more complicated. More unreasonable they seemed than those offered by the Greeks and Trojans at the siege of Troy, for those possessed the consistency of petitioning different gods, who were more or less interested on one side or the other, or whose special care it was to keep vigil over some favored one. It was fully demonstrated here that " Man's inhumanity to man makes countless millions mourn." During the night, under cover of darkness, men stealthily crawled over the breastworks, out among the dead and dying, to bring in some wounded comrade to a place of safety. In this way most of the wounded were brought in, but many fell themselves in the perilous undertaking. On the morning of the 3d, the Fifty-Seventh supported a battery (Wright's Nth Massachusetts Light, we think), which was posted in a commanding position, and rendered effective service in repelling a charge of the enemy. One reckless young fellow of the Fifty-Seventh was curious to watch the artillery fire which was going on between this battery and one of the enemy's, which was posted in the woods about half :i mile distant. For the purpose of better observation he Muted himself upon a rotten stump and was evidently greatly interested in the artillery duel. He was several times cautioned that he was in a dangerous place and advised not to expose him- self needlessly, but to lie down with the others. lie hoastingly remarked that the shot had not been made that COUld hit him. COLD HARBOR. 123 Just that instant a solid shot struck the stump, smashing it in pieces and letting the fellow to the ground so suddenly that for some seconds he believed he had actually been hit. While lying behind the works in front of the enemy, an inci- dent occurred characteristic of the brave Captain Doherty. A man of his company had been slightly wounded and started to the rear, another man started out to assist him. Calling the latter back, Captain Doherty took him over in front of the line of breastworks, where both were exposed to the fire of the enemy, and gave him a little drill in the manual of arms, then facing him about, he marched him back again ; the Captain in the meantime having received two or three bullet holes through his clothing. The casualties in the Fifty-Seventh were not as great in this engagement as in the previous ones, for the reason that the regiment did not have as many men to lose and was not so heavily engaged. The following is a list of casualties : one officer, Lieut. George S. Greene, and six enlisted men wounded and two missing, viz. : — WOUNDED. Patrick Flynn, Pvt. Co. A Benjamin F. Williams, Corp. Co. D Martin Maker, " " Peter J. Mambert, Pvt. " A. J. Trnssell, " " William Skaftoe, 1st Sergt. Co. K MISSING. Ckarles S. Morse, Pvt. Co. K (Died of wounds Nov. 30, 1864.) Vernon Smitk, Pvt. Co. K (Died Marck 9, 1865, at Andersonville.) The casualties in the Confederate army during this engage- ment are not given, but are reported very small. According to the tabular statement of the "Medical aud Surgical History of the War," for a period covering from the 1st to the 12th of June, during which time the only important engagement was Cold Harbor, the killed and wounded were fifteen hundred, missing, five hundred. General Grant's opinion of this battle can well be expressed by a remark that he is reported to have made after the close of the war, that it was the only battle he had ever fought that he would not have fought again under the circumstances. The 124 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. fact was, that General Lee held a stronger defensive position than in any of the other battles. The swamps, woods, rivers, hills and creeks all worked to his advantage ; or it might be said that he possessed the military ability of knowing how to take advantage of them all. The farther he was forced back the stronger he became by reason of being nearer his base of supplies, with shorter lines of communication and fewer outposts to guard. As all these outlying detachments were drawn in, they joined the main army. In the one month's campaign the Army of the Potomac had suffered a loss of nearly (if not quite) forty thousand men. Whether the results obtained had been sufficient to justify such a sacrifice is a matter which military critics will never agree upon. It is easier to criticise a movement after it has been made and the results known, than before. However critics may criticise, one thing is evident, that there would be fewer of them if they had been in the front line of the Arm} 7 of the Potomac from the Rapidan to the James. The next day (June 4th) active operations were not resumed beyond an incessant skirmish firing along the whole line, in which every human figure that appeared in sight of the enemy became a target for a hundred muskets. On the 6th the enemy made one or two feeble assaults for the purpose of ascertaining the strength and position of the Federal army, but with no serious purpose of :in attack. About midnight of the 6th a heavy charge was made upon the position of the Ninth Corps, which was repulsed, and thus the two armies remained in nearly the same relative positions until the 12th. The scene between the two lines was perfectly sickening, even to men accustomed to the horrors of the battle- Held. The dcnd remained unburied and were scattered thickly Over tin- ground, while most of those who had been wounded, and not removed by their comrades at the great risk of their own lives, had been wantonly killed by Confederate sharpshooters or had died from exposure and lack of care and comfort of any kind. Their bodies had turned Mack and putrid and were swollen beyond recognition. Added to this the carcasses of dead horses and mules were scattered through the woods and swamps. The weather was extremely warm ; the malaria arising from the COLD HARBOR. 125 swamps and the odor from the fast decomposing bodies were almost unendurable, and were already causing considerable sick- ness. It soon became evident that the army could not remain long in its present position, the line between the living and the dead was narrowing day by day. On the evening of the 5th General Grant proposed a cessation of hostilities for the purpose of burying the dead, but the proposition was not agreed to until the afternoon of the 7th, when a truce from six to eight in the evening was agreed upon, and the dead were buried where they fell. Very few of the wounded were found living. The truce was not wholly respected on the right of the line opposite the Ninth Corps where intermittent, desultory firing continued to such an extent as to render it unsafe to risk exposure. Fitzhugh Lee admits that their men were " hungry and mad." The latter may be a good qualification to possess in actual battle, but hardly commendable at such a time. Badeau says a correspondence was carried on between General Grant and General Lee for a suspension of hostilities for the purpose of burying the dead and removing the wounded, which lasted forty-eight hours, General Grant appealing in the name of humanity for the relief of the suffering wounded of both sides, but that General Lee was slow in accepting any such proposition. Badeau further says: "The Ninth Corps had really made more progress than any other portion of the army, and Burnside's dispositions for a further advance were all arranged. He had suggested to Wilson on his right to move from the opposite side of the Totopotomy and attack the enemy in rear, and his own orders to advance were already given, when the command to suspend further operations arrived. Wilson, however, had turned the enemy's left and taken a number of prisoners before he became aware of the change of orders. Early in the afternoon the rebels opened a furious fusilade on the right of Burnside, under cover of which they attempted to haul off their batteries by means of prolonges, but were prevented by Potter's fire. During the night they withdrew from Burnside's front, leaving their dead unburied and some of their wounded on the field." 126 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Both the Federals and Confederates continued to 1 strengthen their defenses, the latter keeping close vigil upon the movements of the former, anticipating just what actually did take place, another move by the left flank, at the inception of which Lee hoped to be able to strike a heavy blow upon the Army of the Potomac, taking it at a disadvantage, as it moved out of the trenches. General Grant, in the meantime, seemed to have a better understanding of his adversary, and while making all arrangements for the anticipated flank movement, did not conceive that it could be done without his (Lee's) knowledge, but had made every disposition not to be surprised himself and to guard against all such attacks as Lee might contemplate. To move an army of this size by the flank, through such a difficult country, in face of an enemy flushed with what he conceived to be a great victor}', was a task requiring the highest military talent, but General Grant possessed it to an admirable degree, and accom- plished it successfully, as the following pages will show. On the 11th of June, General Meade issued the following order, which is copied verbatim in order that the reader may be able to arrive at a better understanding of the events that followed. Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, June 11, 1864. ORDERS. The following movements are ordered : — 1. At dark on the evening of the 12th instant, Brigadier-General Wilson will move the brigade of cavalry, picketing the Chickahorainy across the swamp at Long Bridge, or that vicinity, and out on the Long Bridge road towards the crossing of White Oak Swamp and toward the Charles Citj Central and Newmarket roads. The brigade will move promptly and clear the road for the Fifth Corps. The pickets at the crossings of the ( 'hickahoininy will remain until relieved by infantry pickets. 2. During Saturday, the Nth instant, Major-General Warren will mo\ e i he two di\ Isions of his corps, now held in resen e, t«> Moody's. i>y w a\ of Parsley's mill and Prospecl Church, etc.. so as to avoid the obser- vation of the enemy. At dark on the evening of the 12th instant he will move his whole corps to Long Bridge by the shortesl route across the Chickahominj . and mo^ e on i he road to White I >ak Swamp Bridge (called Long Bridge road and hold thai road, looking towards the crossing of COLD HARBOR. 127 White Oak Swamp and Charles City Central and Newmarket roads, during the passage of the army towards the James river. He will follow the Second Corps towards Charles City Court House. General Warren will picket the crossings of the Chickahominy on his flank while moving to Long Bridge, relieving the cavalry pickets. 3. Major-General W. F. Smith, Eighteenth Corps, will withdraw as soon after dark as practicable, on the evening of the 12th instant and move by way of Parsley's mill, Prospect Church, Hopeville Church, Tunstall's Station to White House, where he will embark and proceed to Bermuda Hundred. Upon reaching Tunstall's Station his artillery and trains will join the main trains of the army. 4. Major-General Bnrnside, Ninth Corps, will withdraw as soon after dark as practicable on the evening of the 12th instant, and move by way of Allen's mill (or by roads avoiding Smith's route), then north of the south fork of the Matadequin to Burtin's, then past Hughes', Watt's, Clapton's, Turner's Store, etc., to Tunstall's Station, or by any adjoining route, avoiding Smith's, that may be found at Tunstall's Station. At Tunstall's Station the corps of General Smith has precedence. When it has cleared the way, General Burnside will move to Jones' Bridge, taking care not to interfere with routes of other corps, past Baltimore crossroads and Emman's Church. Where the routes of the Sixth and Ninth Corps unite, about three miles from Jones' Bridge, the corps that reaches the point first will have precedence. After crossing at Jones' Bridge, Major-General Burnside will take the route passing east of Charles City Court House by Vandorn's, Clapton's and Tyler's mill. 5. Major-General Wright, Sixth Corps, will withdraw as soon after dark as practicable on the evening of the 12th instant, to the in- trenched line in his rear, from Allen's Pond to Elder's Swamp, and in conjunction with the Second Corps hold that line until the roads for the Second and Sixth Corps are well cleared by the Fifth Corps, Avhen the two corps will withdraw. General Wright will move by way of Cool Arbor, Taylor's, J. P. Parsley's, Widow Vias', Good's and Hopkins' mill to Moody's, and thence by way of Emman's Church to Jones' Bridge, preceding or following the Ninth Corps, as already indicated, when the routes unite. After crossing the Chickahominy, Gene-ral Wright will take the route to Charles City Court House by Vandorn's. 6. Major-General Hancock, Second Corps, will withdraw as soon after dark as practicable, on the evening of the 12th instant, to the in- trenched line in his rear from Allen's Pond to Elder's Swamp, and hold that line in conjunction with the Sixth Corps until the roads for the Second and Sixth Corps are well cleared, when he will move by routes in his rear to the Despatch Station road, avoiding the roads of the Sixth Corps, and by Despatch Station, and the shortest route to Long Bridge. 128 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. He will look out for the crossings of the Chickahominy on his flanks ■while passing. After crossing the Chickahominy, General Hancock will move towards Charles City Court House by way of Saint Mary's church, Walker's, etc. 7. Brigadier-General Ferrero will move his division at dark on the evening of the 12th instant, to the trains of the army near White House or Cumberland, and cover them during the movement. 8. The trains will move to the Window Shades and cross the Chickahominy in that vicinity. They will take such routes as will not interfere with the movements of the troops. 9. The brigade of cavalry on the right will withdraw at the same time as the Sixth and Second Corps and close in on the rear of the army and cover it and the trains during the movement. 10. Corps commanders will see that every precaution is taken to insure the rapid execution of this movement, and that troops move promptly and quickly on the march. 11. Headquarters during the movement "will be at Pollard's or Cedar Grove, near Long Bridge, and until established there, will be on the route of the Sixth Corps as far as Eminan's Church. 12. Eight canvas and eight wooden pontons will accompany the Fifth Corps to Long Bridge. The engineers will establish bridges at Jones' bridge with the re- maining eighl canvas pontons and the wooden pontons of the Sixth Corps. The wooden pontons of the Second Corps will accompany the main I rain of the army. 13. The pickets of the several corps will be withdrawn at the same hour from the line of intrenchnients before daylight of the 13th instant, and will follow the routes of their respective corps. 14. The corps will take with them on the march merely those light headquarters wagons, ammunition wagons, ambulances, etc., specified for the march across the Rapidan. All others will be sent at once to the main train of 1 he army. 1.1. The depot at White House will be continued for the present with its permanent garrison, but all supplies, etc., for this army will be moved to the .lames river. Leaving .Mi, (inn rations subsistence and .">n,oilil rations of forage in addition to the supplies for the garrison. On the arrival of Major-General Sheridan and Hunter, the post at While House will be broken up and transferred to Yorktown, from which place the commanding officer will report his arrival to these headquarters. By command of Majok-Gbneral MEADE. S. Williams, Assistant Adjutant'Gi n< ral. COLD HARBOR. 129 It will be seen by this order that if General Lee felt strong enough to cope with General Grant, after sparing over eight thousand muskets and twenty-four pieces of artillery, the latter felt strong enough not only to cope with him, after sending the Eighteenth Corps, over ten thousand men, away from the army by transport around to Bermuda Hundred, but to resume the flank movement through the swamps of the Chickahominy, and to cross rivers in the very teeth of the Coufederate army that was inspired with so much confidence, and to accomplish it successfully. The move- ments, as directed, would seem somewhat complicated with such a large army, with its immense wagon trains and all the belongings necessary for a well-equipped army marching through the enemy's country. Everything has to move in regular order and with exactness, or friction will arise which will not only retard the movement but oftentimes endanger the safety of the whole army. This was a case where no friction arose and the order was exe- cuted with the precision of clockwork. Before leaving Cold Harbor General Crittenden, who com- manded the division to which the Fifty-Seventh belonged, was re- lieved, at his own request, and the command fell upon Brig.- Gen. James H. Ledlie, who had previously commanded the First Brigade of the division. Subsequent events proved that this assignment was an unfortunate one, not only for the divi- sion, but the regiment. The army commenced to move after dark of the 12th. The pickets of the several corps were kept out until daylight the next morning, in order to conceal the movement as much as possible from the enemy, but he discovered it early on the morning of the 13th and immediately took measures to meet it. The Fifth Corps, after having been withdrawn from its posi- tion in line, was thrown about a mile in advance towards what was known as Riddell's Shop, from whence three roads led to Rich- mond. The object of this was to deceive General Lee by giving him the impression that an attack was to be made from that point. It had the desired effect, and while he was making preparations to meet it, the rest of the army was on the march towards James river. General Warren held this position covering the crossings 9 130 FIFTY-SEVENTH KEGEVIENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. of the Ckickahominy and the bridge over White Oak Swamp and occupying the attention of the Confederates until the army was well under way toward the designated point, when he withdrew and followed in rear of the Second Corps, leaving Lee in doubt as to where the next blow would be struck, but knowing that Richmond was the ultimate object, and having the arc of a smaller circle to march over, he was able to anticipate it from any point. The Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts marched with the Ninth Corps by way of Tunstall's Station, Baltimore Cross Roads and Olive Church, encamping for the night near the crossing of the Chickahominy. The regiment crossed the river on ponton bridges early on the morning of the 14th, and after a most fatiguing march, through an extremely hot day, reached Charles City Court House just above Wilcox's Landing on the James river, and immediately threw up works to defend the crossing at that place. As these movements were required to be made in great haste, the marches were necessarily long and exhaustive, being from twenty-five to thirty-five miles. For the previous six weeks it had been literally fighting by day and marching by night, with very little time for sleep or refreshment. Officers had not been able to obtain a change of clothing, as there could be no delay for the regimental wagons to come up. They were so covered and begrimed with dust aud dirt that they would have been disgusted and ashamed of themselves in any other place or position, yet they wore this evidence of hard service, as a dis- tinctive mark of honor earned in the field in defense of their country. Going to war possesses a romantic charm before experience has been gained, but when it comes to hard marching and fighting, with only the coarsest food to eat, ami standing guard nil night, perhaps through a drenching rain, with blistered Int. tired Limbs and aching bones, where it is a crime, punishable w ith de:itli, to full asleep ; then to Bgh1 or march all the next day, rather tarnishes the glamour of war and makes it more realistic ; l>ut this is what these men did dav after day. A night of unin- terrupted rest, with the ground for :i lied, was considered :i luxury. It' the ground were wet and muddy, two horizontal rails to lie upon made the possessor of (hem feel wealthy. The James COLD HARBOR. 131 river at the point of crossing was seven hundred yards in width. The ponton bridge was commenced under the charge of Major Duane, of the Engineer Corps, the afternoon of the 14th and finished about midnight of the same clay. The current was strong with the ebb tide, which had a rise and fall of about four feet. In mid-river the bridge had to be stayed by anchoring to vessels above and below. The army began to cross at once, the Ninth Corps in advance, preceded by the artillery and wagon trains, followed by the Fifth and Sixth Corps. All that night the dark moving line could be seen stretching across the river. Lights were displayed at intervals to facilitate the movement. The pontons made of canvas were very unsteady under the pressure of such a moving weight, and would tip and sway as the weight became lighter or heavier at certain points, so that it was difficult to march without staggering. The resounding tramp of marching men and the rumble of heavy wheels continued until about mid- night of the 16th, when the whole army was safely across to the south bank of the river at Fort Powhattan. The Fifty- Seventh immediateby took up the march for Petersburg, marching to the distant sound of artillery, that grew louder and more distinct as mile after mile was left behind, and keeping step to the familiar tune, "We'll hang Jeff Davis to a sour-apple tree," which was sung both in the spirit and letter. Everyone knew that more hard work was ahead, but none imagined that it was to be one long strain of ten tedious months. To tell the oft-repeated story of those months of battle and siege, in which the Fifty-Seventh gallantly sustained the reputation it had so dearly won, bore its share of wounds and death, and finally contributed its share towards winning the laurels of victory, will form the subject of future chapters. ■ ■£» K 1 1 -?■/ isf Ol i Ji ^1 ^H K ALBERT DOTY, 1st Lieut. 57th Mass., Bvt. Capt. U.S. Vols. JOHN W. SANDERSON, Capt. 57th Mass. EDWIN I. COE, I/ieut. (acting- Adjt.' 57th Mass. CHAPTER VIII. PETERSBURG. T will be remembered that in transferring the Army of m the Potomac from the vicinity of Cold Harbor to the south bank of the James river, the Eighteenth Corps was sent by transports down the York river around by Fortress Monroe and up the James. This corps began to arrive at Bermuda Hundred the evening of June 14th, and by the morning of the 15th was ready to commence operations upon the defenses of Petersburg. A division of cavalry under General Kautz, and General Hincks' division of colored troops, were assigned to General Smith's command. The cavalry and colored division were the first to arrive in front of the Confederate works. General Hincks' division (colored) attacked the enemy's outpost at Bailey's farm, making a most gallant charge, capturing a number of prisoners and one piece of artillery. Most of this day was spent in reconnoitering the enemy's position. About sundown General Smith made a spirited attack upon the enemy's intrenchments, northeast of Petersburg, and carried the line for about two and a half miles, capturing several hundred prisoners and fifteen pieces of artillery. He considered the enemy too strong in his front for another attack, and preferred to retain possession of what he had already won rather than to risk losing it by another attack. General Hancock came up with the Second Corps soon after dark, and re- lieved the men of the Eighteenth Corps. It was believed then by General Smith that the whole of Lee's army was in front of him, or within striking distance. The facts, as revealed later, show that he had only one brigade, commanded by General Wise, with some dismounted cavalry and artillery, opposed to him ; in all, h'ss 134 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. than four thousand men. If he had assaulted them, with his whole force, Petersburg must have fallen ; and instead of the long siege, our guns would soon have been thundering before the gates of Richmond. Fitzhugh Lee says that General Lee was slow to believe that Petersburg was seriously threatened, believing all the time that the attempted approach to Richmond would be made from the north bank of the James. He had discovered the with- drawal of the Army of the Potomac from Cold Harbor on the morning of the 13th. For the first time during the campaign he was in doubt, but upon the earnest appeal of General Beauregard, he commenced to transfer his army to the south bank of the James at Drury's Bluff, and by the evening of the 15th the Con- federate Army of Northern Virginia commenced to arrive and take position within the intrenchments that encircled Petersburg on the north and east. These works had been constructed under the direction of General Beauregard several months before, and were built with the superior engineering skill for which that officer was noted. They had strong batteries connected with infantry intrenchments, the approaches to which were protected by ditches, abatis and chevaux de /rise. To those not familiar with the two last mentioned, we may be indulged in a brief digression to explain them and their uses. Abatis is a defense made of felled trees laid parallel, with the tops pointing outward, the leaves stripped, branches trimmed and pointed in the direction from which approach is to be resisted. Often large branches are cut and pointed and then set in the ground so thickly that a man could not pass between without one or more being removed. In a heavily wooded country, as most of Virginia was at that time, convenient trees were usually found in abundance. Chevaux de frisc are constructed of a beam of wood through which rows of pointed roils about six feet in length are driven, the rods being about four or five inches apart. There are four rows of these rods passing through opposite luces of this beam in directions alternately at right angles to each other, the beams being about ti ii feet in Length and secured so as not to be easily removed. Often both the abatis and chevaux de friae would be used in front of a deep, wide moat or ditch, behind which would be bas- PETERSBURG. 135 tioned earthworks and rifle pits, constructed in such a manner that any approach by a hostile force could be met with a raking front and flank fire of musketry and artillery. In case an assail- ing force could live to reach these obstructions, it required time to remove them for the passage of troops, who then had to cross the ditch and climb the face of the parapets before the enemy could be reached ; all this time the latter would be pouring a deadly fire upon the assailants at a distance of only a few yards. This is what it meant to charge the enemy in position. This was what the Army of the Potomac was doing all the way down from the Wilderness, and this was what had to be done in front of the trenches around Petersburg, while the enemy remained behind them. From this brief description it does not seem difficult for one, wholly unacquainted with the science of war, to understand the great advantage possessed by the army which always stood on the defensive, over the assailant. This should satisfactorily explain why a greater force was needed to make an attack than to resist one, and why the Federal loss was always so much heavier than the Confederate. The latter could lose only a small proportion while the attack was being made, which if successfid resulted in a capture of prisoners and terminated all wounding or killing, or if not a surrender, then a hasty retreat within some other comparative place of security to continue the resistance. Let the peacefully disposed reader, sitting by his fireside, imagine himself obliged to advance through and over such ob- stacles in face of a gallant enemy, with loaded muskets and cannon pointed upon him ; yet, dear reader, that was what was required of the soldiers of the Union during four years of bloody war. That is what made ten thousand times ten thousand graves and thousands upon thousands maimed and disabled veterans, who think it no dishonor that their names help to swell the pension roll. Had the situation been reversed, the Confederate arnry, with all its boasted valor, could not have accomplished more. We mean no reflection upon their valor, that is conceded, but we do claim that it required some, on the part of the Federal soldier, to make such attacks as we have described, even if our numbers were greater. 136 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Returning again to the Ninth Corps and the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts which we left on the loth, commencing the march from where it crossed the James river to Petersburg. The Third Division ("Wilcox) moved in advance, followed by the First and Second. Wilcox's division arrived in front of the enemy's works a little before noon of the 16th and took position for assaulting, with the First Division in support. As we marched forward we passed the colored troops of General Hincks' division near the scene of the previous clay's encounter. They were singing and having a regular jubilee over the guns they had captured. About the middle of the afternoon the entire corps was up and in posi- tion on the left of the Second Corps, awaiting orders for the attack. The Fifth Corps, under General Warren, crossed the river, following the Ninth, and on the 16th, was ordered to push forward by division towards Petersburg. It arrived earty on the 17th. At the same time that the Federal troops were arriving and taking position, the Confederates were doing the same. The Confederate intrenchments ran from the Appomattox river east for a mile to the Crty Point Railroad, thence out three miles to the Norfolk Railroad, then west four miles to a point a mile wesl of the Weldon Railroad, then again north two miles to the Appomattox river ( Humphreys' '• Virginia Campaign of 1864 and 1865 "), making ten miles of intrenchments. On the morning of the 16th General Hancock was placed in command of all the Federal troops that had come up, and com- menced reconnoitering in his front. One brigade made a spirited attack upon an isolated redoubt and carried it. During the day General Meade arrived and ordered General Hancock to attack at six o'clock in the evening with the Second Corps, supported by two brigades of the Eighteenth on the right and two of the Ninth on the left. This proved a success and the enemy was driven hack along the whole line. The two brigades on the left (Ninth Corps brigades) captured two redans with several pieces of artillery and a Dumber of prisoners. During the night of the 16th orders were issued for an attack upon the enemy's intrench- ments early the m-xt morning. The Second Division of the Ninth Corps was selected t ake the assault and was supported PETERSBURG. 137 by the First Division (Ledlie). General Potter, Second Division, was ordered to move forward without firing a shot and to carry the works at the point of the bayonet. This was done in the most splendid manner. The troops swept forward and over the enemy's parapets, finding them asleep with their arms in their hands. Four guns, five colors, six hundred prisoners and fifteen hundred stands of small arms were captured, besides a line of works on a commanding ridge. The division pushed forward until encountering a new intrenched position stronger than the first from which the enemy could not be dislodged. The First Division did not get up to participate in this encounter, on account of being delayed in getting through a deep ravine which was filled with slashed timber. In the course of the day the Third Division made an attack upon this line, but was repulsed. During all these operations the Fifty- Seventh had not been actively engaged, the brigade to which it belonged having been employed in support of the troops of the Second Division ; but its turn was soon to come when it was to have its full share of work. The Fifty-Seventh now occupied a deep ravine about three hundred yards in front of the enemy's works. The First Division, with Colonel Christ's brigade of the Third Division, received orders to charge from this ravine upon the works where the Third Division had been repulsed earlier in the day. The men crept up to the edge of the ravine facing the Confederate intrenchments and laid prone upon the ground awaiting the order to charge, remaining in this position about an hour. The intervening space was open, with a field of growing corn about ten inches high. Looking across the field of green the enemy's works could be seen. He was evidently anticipating an attack and kept playing upon our line with artillery, ricochet firing with solid shot. Rico- chet is where the artillery is fired with a small charge at a small angle of elevation. The projectile soon strikes the ground and con- tinues in a straight line, rebounding every few yards until its force is spent. It is very destructive as it passes, with each rebound rising but little above the level of the ground. It cannot be used to advantage except in an open country where there are no objects to cause a deflection. In this case it was across a level cornfield. 138 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. After the second rebound the direction of the projectile can be obtained, which gives one an opportunity of dodging them, if he is quick enough. We were kept dodging most of the time. While lying in this position a mail was brought up and passed around. The men who had received letters took the risk of reading them, while those who received none kept watch for the ricochet shots. Presently one was seen coming, under full headway, directly towards us. As we rolled over we called "Look out" to Lieutenant Barton who was but a few feet from us. He had barely time to turn over when the shot struck near his feet, smashing a musket belonging to Sergeaut McFarland, and then taking another rebound, passed on. It came so close to Lieutenant Barton as to take away one of the sleeves of his coat and to cause a slight contusion of the arm, sufficient, however, if he had been so disposed, to give him an excuse for leaving the field ; but Lieutenant Barton was made of better metal and remained at his post in command of his company. The division commander was safe from all such projectiles unless they had dropped vertically from the skies. Presently the order came to charge. Every officer stepped to the front and led the men forward. It was a gallant charge. The line swept impetuously forward across the open space, in the face of a murderous fire of musketry and artillery, never hesitating, but leaping the Confederate parapets, took them at the point of the bayonet. We were soon in pos- session of that part of their works, but they formed in an angle at the left where there was a redoubt with a battery, from which point they maintained a spirited fight until charged by the Fifty- Seventh, when part escaped and others surrendered. Over a hundred prisoners, a stand of colors and several pieces of artillery were captured. The enemy fell back to another line in close proximity, from which he kept up a continuous fire of musketry and artillery, subsequently bringing their guns into position, from where they had a severe enfilading fire upon our lino. As a protection againsl this, transverse earthworks had to be thrown up under a most destructive lire Maj. .1. M. Tucker. \\h<> had just been promoted from captain, and was in command of the Fifty-Seventh Regiment, was just in the act of giving us instruc- PETERSB UBG . 139 tions about these works, when he was struck in the face by a musket ball and fell at our feet, the shot passing entirely through. As he was lying upon the ground unconscious, we supposed he was either killed or mortally wounded. He was sent out. The enemy's fire rapidly increased, while that of our own decreased, as the ammunition was giving out. Cartridge boxes were cut from the dead who were lying upon the field and their ammunition used until that, too, was expended. As our fire slackened, the enemy charged back upon us, and being out of ammunition, we were obliged to fall back to the ravine from whence the charge was made. The fighting of the 17th of June was mostly done by the Ninth Corps, and most of the advantage gained in front of Peters- burg was by this corps, whose lines were pushed closer to the enemy than any of the others. In this engagement the First Division was supported on the left by one division of the Fifth Corps, as well as the brigade of Colonel Christ. The charge was made about nine o'clock p.m., June 17th. There was nearly a full moon and the sky was cloud- less, so that it was nearly as light as day. Our division (First Division of the Ninth Army Corps) was commanded by the gallant Col. J. P. Gould of the 59th Massachusetts. No braver officer ever drew sword ; one who never said to his command " go" but " come," and he always led in person, finally sealing his devotion to his country with his life, as later, Aug. 22d, 1864, he died from the effects of wounds received in battle. No feeble words of ours can pay a sufficiently high tribute to his memory. He died in defense of his country and left a name honored and be- loved by friends and comrades. This encomium, truthfully and simply expressed, contains as much of eloquence as might be conveyed by flowery rhetoric. To command a division was unusual for a colonel. Such commands were exercised by a brigadier or major-general. It would seem more strange in this case where a brigadier-general was present who had commanded the division for nearly three weeks and was still on duty with it, but the fact was that the regular division commander was in no condition to exercise 140 l'IKTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. command of anything at that time. The supply of artificial cour- age which he had taken carried him beyond the proper counter- poise and rendered him hors-de-combat, in which condition he remained in the ravine, from where his division had charged under command of Colonel Gould. Judging from the noise he made, one might think he was locked in a deadly struggle with the whole Confederate army. The lesson he learned at the battle of North Anna river taught him not to risk himself in another engagement trusting to "Dutch courage." The language employed in describing this officer may appear severe, but the facts in the case, as known to others who saw him, fully justify it and more too. It is not written with any feeling of malice, for we have no personal grievance. We only feel that in writing a history it is our duty to write the truth, and such has been our steady purpose. The truth in this matter has been told with all the charity it can bear. An officer of high standing, and one of strict integrity, who was serving upon his staff at the time of which Ave are writing, speaks of him as follows: " He was a good soul, but a very weak man, and no more fit to command a division than half the privates under him. The day we charged the lines of Confederate works in front of Petersburg (June 17th, L864), he laid in the little ravine behind the line all during the charge, too much under the influence of liquor to know what was going on. He staid in a bomb-proof in the Union lines during the operations attending the crater disaster." Such was the officer under whom the Fifty-Seventh had to serve for some time, to be pushed, not led, into battle. Resuming the narrative. Late on the night of the 1 7th < Jeneral Meade ordered an assault upon the enemy's works at four o'clock a.m. of the 18th, by the Second, Fifth and Ninth Corps. The troops moved forward promptly al the designated hour, a large proportion of the fighting again falling upon the Ninth. As the advance was made the enemy hastily abandoned the intrenchments that had been captured, the previous night, by the First Division of the Ninth Corps, Leaving their dead and many of their wounded to fall into OUT hands. At the angle where the battery was located, <>!' which previous mention has been made, the trenches PETERSBURG. 141 were found filled with Confederate dead, while the surrounding ground was thickly covered with them. Looking back at the cornfield over which the charges had been made the previous day, it was found thickly strewn with the Federal dead, while the field of corn, which so recently had shown a peaceful husbandry, was now trampled into the bloody ground. Everything showed how desperate the engagement had been. Many dead Confederates were lying across each other in the same position in which they had fallen. The enemy had fallen back to a new position near the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad. It now became our ob- ject to dislodge them from this. Their intrenchments were so constructed that when driven from one position they had another not far away into which they could get and still continue the fighting. The advance was now formed by corps from right to left in the following order : Second, Ninth and Fifth. Second Corps found itself nearer the enemy's works than the Fifth or Ninth. The two latter had to move forward nearly a mile through brush and timber and deep ravines. This rendered the contemplated simultaneous attack somewhat difficult of execution. General Meade finally fixed the hour for attack at twelve o'clock, noon (June 18th). At this time the Second Corps made two assaults, but was each time repulsed. In the meantime the Ninth and Fifth were engaged in driving the enemy out of a deep railroad cut of the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad. This took con- siderable time ; passing beyond, the ground to be crossed was exposed to the enemy's artillery. An assault was ordered in the afternoon with the whole available force. The Ninth Corps formed for the attack with the Third Division (Wilcox) in front, followed by the Second Division (Potter's) with the First Divi- sion in support. The assault was gallantly made, the enemy being driven through the woods and beyond the railroad cut, the possession of which was held by the Ninth Corps. This brought the two opposing lines nearer together here than at any other point. The Second Corps was again repulsed with considerable loss. The Fifth Corps also failed, though not through any fault of the brave officers and men who composed it. So far as com- 142 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. parison goes one organization fought as well as another, the Ninth Corps, however, being the only one that succeeded in gain- ing any permanent advantage. It was not found advisable to attempt auy further assaults. The whole of Lee's army was now in front and strongly intrenched, and it became evident that Peters- burg could not be carried by direct attack. To continue around the circle any further by the flank would be only moving further awajr from the base of supplies, which had been transferred to City Point on the James river, just in rear of the Federal lines, where supplies of all kinds could be brought up the river by transports, without fear of molestation. A further movement to the left would have been a continual grinding, as it had been for the previous six weeks, against strongly fortified works, bravely and skilfully defended ; hence, at the close of the day of June 18th, 1864, each corps remained in place where the lull of battle had found them, and commenced a long siege that was finally to ter- minate in the defeat and surrender of the Confederate army. Attention was now given to burying the dead. All the wounded had been removed as the advance was made. The Confederate wounded who fell into our hands had really nothing to regret, for they were better cared for by us than they possibly could have been had they not been captured, as the Confederate facilities for taking care of the wounded were beginning to get limited. Jn passing back over the cornfield, one of the first bodies to attract our attention was that of Sergt. John J. Cooley of Company A. Fifty-Seventh; a good soldier, a gallant man and a genial comrade. As his uncollined remains were placed in the shallow grave that had been dug for him in the cornfield, we thought of the time, but a few days before, when he was perform- in- the same sad duty for others. As he laid them carefully and tenderly away, he bad some kindly word of affection lor each. with one remark that we remember so well, kt I wonder who will do this for me?" Little did he then think that those words would he remembered for long years after, by one who helped perform that duty and whose duty it now is to pay a loving t ribute to his memory. The air was soil and balmy and laden with the sweet fragrance of the magnolia. All nature seemed wreathed in PETERSBURG. 143 lovely, peaceful smiles ; but the devastating path of war had left a picture which stood in horrid contrast. The dead were buried without form or ceremony, with no shroud save their own honored blue uniform and no farewell salute save the sullen roar of distant artillery. The loss to the Fifty-Seventh in this battle was very severe. It had been so depleted by previous losses that it only had one hundred and eighty men for duty before the engagement. This out of the nine hundred and twenty-eight with which the regiment had left Worcester, only a little over two months before. They had been left upon battlefields from the Wilderness down. The number of killed alone, including officers, was eighty-four, being nearly ten per cent of the one hundred and eighty it took into the battle of Petersburg June 17th. One officer, Lieut. Edwin I. Coe, and ten enlisted men were killed ; Captain Tucker, Captain Lawrence, Captain Doherty, Lieutenant Ward and twenty-six enlisted men wounded, with three enlisted men missing, making a total loss of forty-four. The followina; are the names of the enlisted men killed : — John J. Cooley, Sergt. Co. A Eli A. Elleck, Pvt. Co. H Silas N. Cook, Pvt. 11 Hiram Stre^ter, "• CI Cornelius Murphy, " " John Waters, " Co. I Heury Bills, " Co. D S. A. Byam, " Co. K Joseph J. Starr, it Co. G L. W. Rawson, " If WOUNDED. Adolphus Porter, Pvt. Co. A Charles A.Trowbridge, Serg t. Co. G Daniel V. Adams, " Co. B Horace S. Pike, Pvt. " John Bradley, " " David Charlesworth, "• " Charles L. Brigham, " " Edward J. Fogarty, " Co. H A. S. Gerry, (t " Henry M. Ide, Serg t. Co. I George F. Hood, " " (Afterwards 1st Lieutenant) Henry C. Hay den, It " James Bonner, Pvt. Co. I John Leary, a ( ( William G. Elkins, " (( Martin Wait, It Co. C Charles Sedell, " " Henry G. Desautell, Corp. Co. E John B. Rogers, " Co. K John Southey, Pvt. Co. F (Died of wounds July 20. 1864) Ozro A. Brigham, " " William Prentiss, Jr., Pvt. Co. K J. W. Farnsworth, " " (Died of wounds June 18, 18G4) (Lost a le g) Edward M. Schneider, Pvt. Co. K Darby O'Brien, " i i (Died of wounds June 19, 1SG4) Patrick McCarthy, " " 144 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. MISSING. Louis Blanc-hard, Pvt. Co. C. Eleazer C. Drake, Pvt. Co. E. (Died at Andersonville June 30, 1864) Martin Ryan, Pvt. Co. F. This left the regiment with only one hundred and forty-one men present for duty. Lieut. Edwin I. Coe was born in Medway, Mass., March 2d, 1845, and was nineteen years of age when commissioned a 2d Lieutenant in the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts. His father was a minister of the Unitarian Church, but had to give up the ministry on account of poor health. He moved to Worcester in 1849, where young Coe was brought up and educated in the public schools. During the early part of the war he was anxious to serve under his country's flag in the army and enlisted in the olst Massachusetts at the age of eighteen, and was mustered out at the expiration of his term of service with an honorable record. Upon the organization of the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts he was appointed 2d Lieutenant to date from Dec. 31st, 1863, and was assigned to Company A. He was acting regimental adjutant at the time he was killed. He was a young man of excellent character, fond of the military service, zealous and ambitious in the faithful performance of duty, loved and esteemed by all who knew him. He carried a high sense of honor from civil to mili- tary life, and would, without doubt, have gaiued a higher rank, had his life been spared. There was one remarkable coincidence in his case. In the battle of Spottsylvania Court House, May 12th, he was struck by a spent musket ball and was seen to throw up both hands and fall. The line passed on to the charge and we reported him to Colonel Chandler as having been killed, supposing that such was the case; but in a few moments he rejoined the regiment, saying thai he had only been stunned for a few seconds; after recovering and finding that he was not badly hurt, lie followed up to participate in the rest of the engagement. Just before the charge at Petersburg, June 17th, in speaking to ns of the coming battle, he said that he had a very singular and vivid dream the night before, in which he portrayed the events of the Coming battle and said, while he was not a believer in dreams, PETERSBURG 145 yet that had come to him with such realistic force that he knew it to be a premonition. He could not be shaken in the belief that he was to be killed that night. He said, to convince us that he knew it, that he would be hit in the same place as by the spent ball at Spottsylvania. He went forward with the regiment fully convinced that he would be killed. His premonition proved correct. The line had not advanced far before he fell, the ball striking him in the same place the other did. His brother, who belonged to the 11th U.S. Infantry, also in the Army of the Potomac, came the next day and took charge of his remains, which were buried upon the field near where he fell. After the close of the war, they were disinterred and placed in the National Cemetery near there. The intrepid Captain Doherty was there. When the line charged he was leading his men with his usual enthusiasm. It was not very long before he was struck and one hand badly mangled. Coming up to us and shaking the mangled hand in our face, with the blood streaming and one finger dangling by a shred of mutilated flesh, he said he wanted to have us see what "the d d rebels had done." When advised to go back to the hospital he replied, " Do you think I am going to desert the boys now? no sir, not until we get that battery," and he kept his word. Captain Tucker had been promoted to major only a few days before. His wound was peculiarly painful, cutting away part of his tongue and jaw, depriving him at first of the power of speech, but from which he partially recovered, returning to the regiment later with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Captain Lawrence, who had just recovered from a wound in the neck, received at the battle of the Wilderness, and had just returned to the regiment, was wounded in the leg. General Burnside paid a very high compliment to the attacking force in this engagement. One incident of pathetic interest connected with this battle, is that of a noble, heroic young lad of seventeen years, Private Edward M. Schneider of Company K. His father was Rev. Benja- min Schneider, D.D., a missionary in Antab, Turkey. The story of his death has been told before, but as it belougs to the regi- 10 146 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. ment it is entitled to a place here, and can be better told in the language of Chaplain A. II. Dashiell, who was with him in his last hours. In a letter to young Schneider's sister, who was in this country at the time, the chaplain writes : — Hospital, First Division, Ninth Army Corps, Near Petersburg, Va. My Dear Mrs. Dwight : I promised when I wrote briefly announcing Edward's death to give you the particulars as soon as I could find time for the purpose. Now, after burying those who were mortally wounded (thirty-eight) and sending ofl'to Washington six hundred more, I take time to perform this sacred duty. It seems from what I can learn that Edward, when the order to charge was given, pushed on in advance of the company, determined to be the first to mount the enemy's works ; and, when within a few paces of them and ten feet ahead of his company, he fell, shot through the abdomen. As soon as he was brought to the hospital he sent for me and I did what I could for his comfort, though he and hundreds of others were obliged to lie on the ground, as thick as autumnal leaves. The next day when I could learn more accurately the nature of the wounds, I discovered that they were mortal, and when pressed by him to know what I thought, my tears revealed to him the truth. 1 thought of that sister who with tears had commended him to me, and that noble father far away. I could not restrain them. Soon Doctor White, Surgeon of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts, and Mr Westwood came up and con- firmed my opinion, and he expressed his hearty acquiescence in the will of God. The captain of his company came up, and when asked what message he should bear back to his companions, said : " Tell them to stand by the clear old flag," with a touching tenderness in his tone. When told that he had but a few hours to live he looked up at me with a -mile, and repeated the verse of the song, which is sung by the soldiers : — Soon with angels I'll be marching, Willi blight laurels on my brow ; I have for my country fallen, Who will care for sister now? In the original lines it is "mother." You understand th« change. I pul iiiin in charge of m\ servant, as other duties called me away, In the e\eiiiny he sent, for me: indeed, poor fellow, I could not go near him without his calling to me. 1 was all he had to Cling to of home and friends excepting those be made a1 the time. 1 sat down beside him in a Slbly lent, whither he had been removed, and he gave me these mes- sages to you, first, he desired me to assure bis father and you that lie died happy in the Lord, in the fulness of hope to which I can bear PETERSBURG. 147 testimony. His face shone like an angel's ; God had been disciplining him and preparing him for glory, as I have remarked, for weeks past, as we have passed through these terrible scenes of battle and suffering. He said that he had done his duty to his country and felt happy in that too. He then adverted to you and to A , told me his relation to her, the tenderness of his fraternal attachment to her .... * and this message to his brothers : " Stand by the clear old flag and cling to the cross of Christ." .... Before dawn I was up getting the wounded into wagons and ambulances to be removed to City Point and he sent me a message to come to him. I was so engaged that I could not go at the moment. I said "presently." In a few moments I went and he was gone. I stood and wept. After breakfast I took my burying party and prepared graves for many besides him, but I could not bury him in a trench with the rest, so I dug his grave beside a tree about a rod from the public road and nailed a board, on which Mr. Westwood inscribed: "Ed. M., son of Rev. Doctor Schneider of Antab, Turkey, of Company K, Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts Regiment of Infantry," and having closed the grave, I left him to await the great summons which is to awaken us all. He greatly impressed all who came near him with the sweetness of his spirit, and the calm bravery with which he met death. I forgot to say that when he requested me to publish a notice of his death, he wished me to understand that it was not to give notoriety to his name but to acquaint his numerous friends of his death .... Your brother in Christ, A. H. DASHIELL, Jr., Chaplain, 57th Mass. The war correspondent (Carleton) of the Boston Journal, after learning the facts in Schneider's case from the chaplain, wrote the following beautiful tribute to his memory : — " On the march from Annapolis, though but seventeen years old and unaccustomed to hardships, Schneider kept his place in the ranks, not once falling out, from the waters of the Chesapeake to the Rapidan. He was slightly wounded at the battle of North Anna and was sent to the hospital, but when badgered by one of his comrades as to the slightness of the wound, he returned to the front at Cold Harbor, though the flesh wound was unhealed and painful. While preparing for the charge on the enemy's works, with the purpose of removing any suspicion of his courage, * The omission refers to the disposition of his effects.— J. A. 148 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. he said, ' I mean to be the first to mount the enemy's breast- works.' The charge was made, how grandly they moved through the woods, how swiftly they swept up to the line of rebel works, like an ocean billow upon a breakwater, rolling over and engulf- ing all. The brave boy determined to make good his words. With eager step he led the advance, breaking out from the line. He was almost near enough to feel the hot flash of the rebel musketry in his face, near enough to be covered with the sul- phurous cloud from the cannon, when he fell shot through the body " On the 17th of June, eighty-nine years ago, the sires of freedom gave their lives on Bunker Hill for God and their native land. Not less worthy of remembrance are those who fell in front of Petersburg on this memorable day. His dying words, ' Stand by the dear old flag and cling to the cross of Christ,' em- blems of all we hold dear on earth and in heaven, will live as long as the flag shall wave and the cross of Christ is known." Only a private soldier, but, oh, how grand and noble ! Did ever armored knight or plumed warrior win a clearer title to the laurel crown ? The poor boy gave his young life so full of hope and promise to his beloved country. Others there were, yes, hundreds and thousands, who fell just as bravely and nobly in the front rank, and their lives passed out amid the din and roar of battle with no parting valedictory to immortalize their names, but they left an imperishable record which coming generations will honor, and love the flag and country more, when they realize what sacrifices have been made for them. Such blood given to such a cause is never shed in vain, it is woven into the very fabric of our government. As long as our manhood lives, so long will the memory of such men remain the life and hope and strength of American patriotism. Letters carelessly written from the front at such a time have become of more value since, as transmitting the thoughts and feelings of the army during those times. A Letter written by Cap- tain Barton to his friends in Worcester gives a verycorreel picture of the battle scene of the l 7th of June : — petersburg. 149 In Line of Battle near Petersburg, Va., June 20th, 1864. Dear I know you must feel anxious about me, for in my last letter of the 17th, I told you that we were " going in" to make a charge. The order came about four o'clock in the afternoon that the First Division of the Ninth Corps was to charge upon the enemy's breastworks at sundown. The Second Division had already made one charge and was driven back with a heavy loss and now the First Division has to try it. The chances were certainly very dubious. The general who now commands our divi- sion sent word by one of his start' officers that he depended upon his old first brigade, our brigade. We laid down upon our arms in a ravine for nearly two hours, so that we had plenty of time to think of our chances for coming out all right. About eight o'clock the order came for us to advance to the level ground beyond the ravine and then to lie down and wait for the order ''Forward." It was a trying moment; watches and other valuables were handed to one who was not going in. I handed him my watch scarcely expecting to see it again. The shot and shell were flying around us in good style, for the " rebs " had a good range upon us, but as we were lying clown only few were wounded. Now comes a little personal matter. I laid with my company just in a hollow exposed to a raking fire of artillery and musketry. As I was looking out for my men, cautioning them to lie low, I overheard someone say "Look out." I glanced to the left and saw a solid shot coming directly towards me. I had just time enough to whirl over on my left side, when it struck just in the place where I was lying, grazing my right arm and tearing my coat sleeve almost entirely off", smashing a musket belonging to Sergeant McFarland and covering my 1st sergeant with sand. Two or three of our officers came running to me, thinking I was either killed or badly wounded. I was advised by the commanding officer, Captain Tucker, to go to the rear, which of course I declined to do when I found it was only a slight contusion. In about ten minutes the order " Attention ! " came, then " Forward, double-quick ! " and through such a fire of grape and canister, solid shot, railroad iron, minies and I do not know what all. With a regular Yankee yell we went through it and upon the rebel intrenchments ; then it was "blaze away." The rebs were staggered, the movement was too rapid and impetuous. It was amusing to see some of our boys grab a reb, " hustle" him over the rifle pits and take him to the rear as a prisoner. They did not seem at all loath to be taken, but many of them rushed into our lines of their own free will. We held the works until our ammunition gave out and then were obliged to fall back. We lost in that charge ten enlisted men killed, twenty-six wounded and three missing .... We are to have an inspection this morning, so I cannot stop to write more. General Burnside said he ex- pected we would be repulsed, as he thought the position too strong to be carried by infantry. 150 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Preparations were now made for a regular siege. Heavy guns and mortars were brought up, placed in position and com- menced dropping shells into the enemy's works, some into Petersburg. With our close proximity the city could have been destroyed, but Lee's army, and not this, was the objective upon which the blows were to fall. Both armies now went to work to strengthen their positions. Intrenchments were dug. These con- sisted of redoubts, connected by lines of infantry parapets, in front of which were ditches, abatis and other obstacles to protect the works from a sortie by the enemy. "While this was going on a constant firing was kept up by both sides along the picket line and the artillery on the main line. A brief description of the line of intrenchments may not be out of place. First, a trench would be dug about three feet deep and from six to eight in width. The earth thus removed was thrown toward the front, the inner face being supported by hori- zontal logs, which prevented the embankment from falling back again into the trench. After the embankment had been raised in this way about five or six feet, sacks were filled with sand and placed upon the top until it had reached the required elevation, high enough to protect a man standing in rear ; the line of parapets thus constructed, running in broken lines, forming projecting angles at irregular intervals, with the apices pointing towards the enemy, in which artillery was placed in such a way as to bring both a front and flank fire upon any charging column. The ditch, abatis and chevaux de frise in front have heretofore been described. Often loopholes were left between the rows of sand- bags, at convenient intervals, for the purpose of observation. No musketry firing was permitted from the main line of works, as it would not only be a Avaste of ammunition, but would endanger the safety of our <>wu pickets in front. Interior works were also constructed in which were placed mortar guns. These were short cannon, with a very large bore and firing heavy shells. They were placed in position at an elevated angle of about forty-five degrees. During the darkness of nighl the mortar firing became rather interesting. A heavy boom could lie heard from the Confederate side, when almost PETERSBURG. 151 instantly the burning fuse, attached to the projectile, could be seen rapidly ascending like a very red star, describing a curved line until reaching its greatest altitude, then commencing to fall. As the propelling force became expended it would fall to the ground in a nearly vertical line. They would explode with great force soon after falling. These could be easily dodged at night by watching the direction taken, as shown by the burning fuse, but in the day the fuse could not be seen, hence they often proved destructive. Answering shots went from our own side. Watch- ing their course through the sky they could be seen to drop inside the enemy's works, and soon after their explosion could be heard. Parallel and transverse works were constructed and passage- ways left which could be opened and closed to permit the picket details to go out or in. The pickets were posted about two or three hundred yards in front of the main line, and had to be posted and relieved after dark each night. An attempt to post them during the clay would probably result in the killing of every man. The pickets had little holes dug in the ground, just about large enough to hold two or three men. Upon the approach of daylight everyone had to keep concealed ; any exposure would almost surely result in getting hit. These holes were at convenient distances from each other; once in, after daylight, and the men had to remain there until after dark. As the sun approached the meridian these holes became intensely hot, but there was nothing to do but bear it. The pickets along the lines kept up a constant firing. Little loopholes were arranged through which they could fire and at the same time observe what was going on in front. The men remaining back in the trenches could protect themselves from the sun by stretching pieces of shelter tents from the breastworks over the trench. The officers were just behind the men ; several of them would join together and have a hole dug in the ground, about two or three feet deep, and twelve or fourteen wide, the top covered with logs, and over these the earth from the excavation would be thrown. These proved a partial protection from the enemy's mortars, but were excessively hot during the clay, so that tent flies were erected 152 FIFTY-SEVENTH RElilMKXT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. outside. Day after clay the sinews of war closed tighter aud stronger around the doomed Confederacy. Our own works were made strong in order that they could be held by a reduced force, so that large bodies could be spared to operate towards the enemy's flank and, if possible, sever his communications with the South and thereby cut off one great source by which he obtained his supplies. On the 21st the right of the Ninth Corps was extended to cover the positions held by the Second and Sixth and to connect with the left of the Eighteenth Corps. The Second and Sixth proceeded to operate towards the Weldon Railroad. In the mean- time, the Fourth Division (colored) of the Ninth Corps joined from detached duty guarding the wagon trains, and took its place in the trenches. The arrival of colored troops in their front seemed to provoke the Confederates to increased anger, which they manifested by constant and persistent firing along that portion of the line which they occupied, it being heavier and more malicious here than at any other point. Every day, during this long siege, could be called one of battle, as there was not a day when it was safe for a head to appear where the enemy could see it, or a day without casualties. It is not our purpose to follow the movements of all the different corps and divisions of the army during this period, only those in which the Fifty-Seventh partici- pated. Duty in the trenches was anything but pleasant, and no one, but those who went through it, can realize the trying ordeal which those men endured who were on the picket line. The pickets were relieved every twenty-four hours, so that the same men were not there all the time. The details were so arranged that each man's turn would come about every four or five days. Posted at night, the men took their canteens full of water, and rations to carry them through the day. ( >uce then 1 , sick or well, they could only gel bach after dark. The constant crack of the rifle, the whiz of the sharpshooters' Indict and the deep booming mortars rendered everything very unsafe that came near the front. Reference has been made to the sinking of the barge, General McClellan, en route from Yorktown to City Point, with officers 1 baggage, company and regimental records, etc. The PETERSBURG. 153 loss of the records was not regretted so much at the time as the loss of the clothing. There was much inconvenience resulting from this and the officers had to get along the best they could until the arrival of a new supply from home. The loss of the records proved a never-ending source of complications when muster rolls had to be made out, and is now a great obstacle to contend with in writing a complete history. The regiment continued to occupy the trenches that had been captured from the enemy June 17th and 18th, no serious engagement taking place up to July 30th. During this time many of the officers and men who had been away on account of sickness or wounds, having recovered, returned to duty ; but the number who were killed and those who were taken away by wounds or sickness, kept the regiment gradually growing smaller and smaller. The number returning did not make good the losses. During the interval between June 17th and July 30th, the regi- ment lost one officer killed and five wounded. The Second and Sixth Corps now commenced operations to gain possession of the Weld on Railroad, but were attacked by the Confederates and repulsed, with a loss of about two thousand men, four guns and several stands of colors, subsequently ad- vancing and regaining the position from which they had been driven, and intrenching about a mile and a half from the railroad. The two armies now remained in their relative positions for several weeks. From the very beginning of the campaign the tide of battle had rolled steadily towards the left and continued so, with few exceptions, to the end. Many incidents of that long and bloody siege will ever be remembered. The Fifty-Seventh con- tinued to give and take. There was no cessation ; night and day the dogs of war continued to bark. The old and familiar saying that " barking dogs never bite " was not true in this case. Extracts from private letters written home from the regiment at that time will, no doubt, prove of interest to many of our readers, as they express the situation and feelings of our men better than anything else. One written July 3d, signed " G.F.S.," speaks of the programme for the coming National holiday (July 4th) in the following humorous style: "We are lying just 154 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. before Petersburg. Tomorrow is Jul} 7 4th I guess there will be some length}' orations delivered here by the speakers of the times. Mr. ' Parrot,' Mr. ' Mortar,' Mr. ' Columbiad ' and several gentlemen from Springfield will address the multitude. Their arguments are very weighty and will undoubtedly make a great impression upon Confederate minds. Mr. Grant of Illinois will be president of the ceremonies and his ability to preserve o-ood order is well known. He will, however, be assisted by strong bodies of police under command of Generals Meade, Burnside, Hancock, Smith and Butler. In the evening there will be a grand display of fireworks, such as was never before witnessed. The committee, of which Abraham Lincoln is chairman, has arranged everything so as to make it one of the grandest affairs of the age. We are all confident that no pains will be spared on the part of Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Grant to make it pass off in a satisfactory manner." A letter written the day after the 4th of July, signed '* G. E. B." gives a very good description of our situation. " After all we passed a very quiet 4th, with just enough firing to make it seem natural. The sharpshooters kept up a continuous tire, which made it almost dangerous to be safe. There seems to be very little going on at present in front of us. The pickets are regularly relieved every night The process of relieving pickets is this : the new pickets are ordered to report to the brigade officer of the day, at the right and rear of the brigade line, about eight o'clock in the evening, the detail consisting of two lieutenants and one hundred men from our brigade. After having reported to the officer of the day he sees that they are properly divided into two divisions of fifty men each and places a lieutenant in charge of each division, then gives his instructions. The old officer of the day and we start for the picket line. By this time it is almost pitch darkness and we go stumbling along through the woods until we reach the outer edge, where an open field lias to be crossed before we can reach Our Old pickets who are waiting anxiously to be relieved, for they have been out all day ill a broiling sun, to say nothing of all the night before. A heavy fog has settled upon the Held, which renders it almost impossible PETERSBURG. 155 for the "Johnnies" to see us distinctly, nevertheless the bullets sing around our heads very unpleasantly. Having crossed the field we find ourselves just under the brow of a hill. Here we form into line and the officer of the picket gives the men their orders. The line must be held at all hazards, there being no retreat. No man is to discharge his rifle unless he sees some- thing to fire at. The pickets then deploy from the right and left and take possession of the pits, which are just large enough to hold two men. The men from the old picket then creep carefully out, take the ' double quick' down the hill, every man for him- self. ' Zip,' ' zip ' go the bullets after them, but what in the day- time would be sure death, at night is uncertain." July 19 th 1st Lieut. E. Dexter Cheney was shot through the head by a Confederate sharpshooter, and almost instantly killed. Several of us had arranged to get up early that morning and go out to witness the firing of the mortar guns. When the time came we had to look out for getting the breakfast, while the others were either too lazy or had lost their inclination, hence he started off alone. In about ten minutes a man came running back with the information that he had been killed. Several of us ran to him as quickly as possible and found him lying upon the ground with the brains and blood oozing from the wound through the head. Nothing could be done for him and he expired in a few moments. His remains were embalmed and sent to his home in AVorcester, Mass., where his parents resided, and he was buried from the Salem Street Congregational Church, July 28th. Lieutenant Cheney first enlisted in Company F of the 51st Massachusetts in the autumn of 1862, and was appointed a sergeant in the same company. He served in that regiment with honor until discharged by reason of expiration of term of service. Very soon thereafter he was recommended to His Excellency, Governor Andrew, for a commission, and was appointed a first lieutenant in the Fifty-Seventh, at the age of twenty-one, Dec. 31st, 1863. He was a young man of high personal character and greatly esteemed, of a quiet, thoughtful disposition and one who always acted from conscientious motives without regard to whether they were in popular favor or not ; strictly 156 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. temperate, kind and considerate of others, a zealous officer, and loyal in his devotion to friends. He was one of those who could always be relied upon and whose worth grew from clay to clay in the estimation of those with whom he was associated. His death was deeply lamented by the whole regiment. After having remained in the front line for a long time the regiment was withdrawn (about July 20th) from this arduous duty and placed in the second line, about one half mile in rear of the first. The besieging force being formed in two lines, there was not as much clanger from the sharpshooters in the second line, but more from the mortar firing. Many were killed and wounded by fragments from the bursting ten-inch shells which frequently dropped into the trenches. July 20th, a shell fired from a Confederate mortar exploded in the trenches occupied by the Fifty-Seventh, creating con- siderable havoc. 1st Sergt. Charles L. De Fose (afterwards 2d lieutenant) and Corp. Samuel Airman of Company C were wounded. The latter was struck by a piece of shell about the size of a man's hand, making a ghastly wound in his face and badly lacerating his left arm. The Confederates seemed to be unusually active and continued sending their shells into our lines with but few intermissions. The regiment did not remain long in the second line, but soon returned to the front and took up the work of holding the advanced works and picket duty again. The breech-loading magazine rifles had been received, with which Company K was armed and placed under command of 1st Lieut. John II. Cook. July 22d Lieutenant Cook worked his way over the parapets, and partly concealed by large trees, gained a position from which he could get a good range upon the enemy, for the purpose of testing the new repeating rifle, which at thai time was quite a novelty and looked upon with considerable confidence. In stepping from behind a tree to fire he became exposed to a Confederate sharpshooter, whose unerring aim sent a bullel into his body, penetrating his left side. It was afterwards extracted near the spine. This wound was considered of such a serious character thai faint hopes were entertained of his recovery. He JOHN H. COOK, 1st Lieut. 57th Mass., Bvt. Maj. U S. Vols. PETERSBURG 157 was taken to the hospital where, for days, he hovered between life and death, but through the skilful treatment of Surgeon Whitman V. White, good nursing and an indomitable will, united with a strong, healthy constitution, he recovered sufficiently to be removed to Washington, where he was joined by his mother and taken to his home in Massachusetts, where he survived for many years, but subsequently died from complications arising from the effects of his wound. About this time 1st Lieut. John L. Goodwin, who had been absent on account of a wound received in the battle of the Wilderness, returned and took command of his company ; but in less than forty-eight hours after joining, received another through the foot, breaking several of the smaller bones and disabling him from further duty as an infantry man. He was discharged Nov. 29th, 1864. Prior to his discharge he had been pro- moted to the grade of captain to date July 31st, 1864, but was not mustered as such, on account of a War Department order that no officer should be mustered while absent from his command, and he was not able to return to it. The constant firing and shelling between the lines increased the number of casualties. 1st Sergt. E. D. McFarland was shot through both wrists. Within six daj T s two officers were killed and six wounded. The sufferings from heat and exposure endured by the men in the trenches and on the picket line, from the 17th of June to the 30th of July, can never be described. The hospital records give only a faint idea of them. Sleeping in holes dug in the ground, exposed to the hot rays of the sun at one time and rains at another, produced considerable sickness. We have passed the sick list with hardly a mention, our space having been devoted to those killed and wounded. Many died from sickness and suffered as much as those who were wounded. There was a feeling of pride against going to the hospital, except with a wound, hence many sick ones remained in the trenches and suffered day after day before giving up. The facilities for keeping clean were very meagre. Under such circumstances it is not surprising that many became infested 158 ITFTY-SEYENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. with a loathsome insect, which occupied a considerable portion of each day to get rid of. Every morning, before it became hot, men could be seen in the trenches with some portion of their clothing off, turned inside out, and carefully hunting along the seams, with all their thoughts concentrated upon their new enemy, which was named in honor of the Confederates, " gray backs," because while their bite was not quite so fatal, yet they were about as annoying. Many who had been reared in the luxury of refined homes counted it no dishonor to battle with this new adversary, as long as it was in the service of their country. It was a pictur- esque sight and became the source of much fun and many jokes. The matter was looked upon philosophically. There was very little complaining or grumbling ; any disposition to do this was put to shame by some cheerful minded comrade who would ask a would-be growler how he would like to exchange for Andersonville. The very sound of that name would put the worst among them to shame and cause all their sufferings to pale into insignificance and eventually appear as blessings in comparison. There was not an army in the field better cared for than the Army of the Potomac. The rations were good in quality and ample in quantity. Fresh vegetables were issued twice a week and everything possible was done for the health and comfort of the men, and they realized it. But there is really no soft, up- holstered side to real war. The silken drapery that lends to it a distant charm is never found in fact, and exists only in romantic fancy. Besides what our government did for the soldiers there were those two noble institutions, supported by the generous and loyal people of the North, the Christian and Sanitary Commissions. The good which they accomplished was incalculable. No honor- able soldier ever turned to them with vain pleading. Their out- stretched arms relieved every wanl and every pain as far as human strength could do. There were tender-hearted nurses, ladies of refinement, Who were found in all the hospitals to do a woman's pari ; the Sisters of Charity Hitting here and there among the wounded and Buffering: women whose characters were so pure and PETERSBURG. 159 spotless that not a shadow of suspicion could enter even the thoughts of brave and honorable men. Such influences extended through every regiment and company in the army. It seemed as if the soldiers' friends from home were there to administer to them ; it showed them that they were not forgotten, it showed that there was a great reservoir of loyalty behind from which they could draw. It helped all those who needed it and encouraged all others. As we pass along before the picture of life in the trenches, we suddenly come to points of more than usual interest — one which we will look at but momentarily, the 24th of July, 1864. There was a small "bomb-proof," about twenty feet behind the trenches, occupied by the regiment. It was about twelve feet square and just high enough for a short man to stand erect inside. It being rather of a hot hole in which to spend the day, a small arbor was built just outside and covered with branches and old canvas as a protection from the sun. Several officers occupied this together, sitting under the arbor during the day. The location was just to the left of one of our batteries, at which the Con- federates were throwing ten-inch mortar shells, as a return com- pliment for what they were receiving. We were sitting on an empty cracker box under the arbor, while near us were Captain Galucia of the 56th Massachusetts, who was brigade officer of the day, and Lieutenants Barton and Royce lying upon a blanket spread upon the ground, all chatting and reading a batch of papers that had just been received, when Lieutenant Bowman joined us from the hospital. Presently he said that Lieutenant Cook, who was in the hospital badly wounded and not expected to live, was very anxious to see us. We jumped up and started at once. As we went out Lieutenant Bowman took our seat on the cracker box and commenced writing a letter to a young lady to whom, it was said, he was engaged. We had proceeded but a short distance when a loud explosion was heard. Turning quickly around we saw a cloud of smoke and dust arising from our " bomb-proof." Upon returning it was found in ruins. All the officers whom we had left there, together with Acting Sergeant- Major Doty, were in the debris and all more or less injured. As 160 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. there had been many rumors of mining and countermining, we were at first under the impression that the enemy had undertaken to blow up the fort, and missing his engineering calculations, had taken our "bomb-proof" instead. It was soon discovered, how- ever, that the destruction had been caused by a mortar shell in- tended for the battery and which had fallen into the little arbor in the midst of the group of officers. There was no warning sound ; the destroying messenger fell swiftly and silently into their midst and exploded directly in front of Lieutenant Bowman, inflicting wounds which caused his death, after some hours of intense suffering ; one leg and thigh had been broken and badly mutilated, besides other injuries. Capt. Warren B. Galucia was wounded in both feet; Lieut. Charles H. Royce had his left leg badly burnt and filled with small particles of powder and sand ; Lieutenant Barton and Sergeant-Major Doty were only slightly bruised. The remains of Lieutenant Bowman were embalmed and sent to his home, Clinton, Mass. The funeral services were held in the Unitarian Church Aug. 5th, 1864, and he was buried with military honors. Lieut. Samuel M. Bowman had formerly served as a member of Company A, 5 1st Massachusetts, and came to the Fifty-Seventh with a good military record, which he maintained. He was considered an excellent and trustworthy officer, one who was greatly respected as a comrade and friend. His name will ever be honored with others who died for their country. July 23d Colonel Bartlett came back, as Brigadier-General, and was assigned to the command of our brigade, First Brigade of the Firsl Division of the Ninth Army Corps. Every our, from the officers down to the privates, seemed glad to see him back; all fell that they now had a permanent commander upon whom the}' could rely and who would take an interest in them; one who would go with them in battle. They also fell proud thai he had won the star while in command of the Fifty-Seventh, although the brigade had been in excellent hands while under the command of Colonel Gould, yet he was not looked upon as its permanent commander. PETERSBURG . 161 If General Bartlett had taken the division there is little doubt that it would have given as much satisfaction to it, as did his command of the brigade. During his absence he had lost the music of the singing bullet, but soon learned it again. We quote a few extracts from a private letter written by him the day he joined : — " There are now six Massachusetts regiments and one Pennsylvania in the brigade, not numbering more than thirteen hundred men altogether, present for duty. If the regi- ments were filled up it would be one of the largest and best brigades in the army .... The brigade is in two lines of breastworks one hundred yards apart, in front of the enemy's works and within two hundred yards in some places. Brigade headquarters are two hundred and fifty yards in rear of the brigade. Division headquarters two hundred yards in rear of brigade (headquarters) .... The headquarters have to be protected by a stockade of logs against bullets, which are con- stantly coming through here. Four officers of the Fifty-Seventh have been hit since I got here — one killed, three very badly wounded, in the second line. Our stockade does not protect us against shells which fall in front and rear of us ... . The bullets patter like rain at times against the outside of this stockade .... It is a continual rattle of musketry, sometimes swelling into a roar along the line, and varied with the artillery and mortars .... People of the North who are enjoying themselves and thinking of nothing but making money, little appreciate what this brave army is enduring every clay and hour for them, and how much more cheerful and hopeful they are than people at home. I wish some of them would come here and spend a week, even back at my headquarters. They would not care to go down to the lines where the men are day and night fighting for their safety. I came over this morning and assumed command. Tomorrow I must go down and examine the lines, which is, of course, dangerous .... I shall not go there any oftener than necessary, but it is my duty to visit them occasionally. To give you an idea of the firing that is going on constantly, I will count the shots in the next minute. It is more quiet than usual tonight. Eighty-one and one heavy mortar shell, which burst in the air 11 162 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. between here and second line, but sounded as if it were in the next tent. I have a good band at headquarters and it plays at intervals through the day and eveniug, protected by a stockade. The k rebs ' have the benefit of it as much as I do, but I can't help it ; they favor us with a band sometimes. ' Zip, prrrr ' goes another bullet .... Bullets flying very lively tonight." General Bartlett writes the next day, July 24th: "■ . . . . I got back safely from the lines. Just before I went there a captain of the 56th and two lieutenants of the Fifty-Seventh were badly wounded by a shell which fell and exploded where they were sitting. Lieutenant Bowman of the Fifty-Seventh cannot live. This makes six officers of the Fifty-Seventh who have been killed or badly wounded since I have been here. It is too bad. The firing has not ceased since I wrote you last ; nor, indeed, since I got within sound of it. The bullets are singing around my tent as usual. ' Spat ' — there goes one into a tree, making the bark fly." Orders were received on the 2f>th for an inspection and review the following day. The regiment was moved back to the second line and the work of cleaning muskets and brushing up clothing commenced. The facilities for doing with were very few, and the few hard to get, yet everyone did the best he could, and at 2 o'clock p.m. the brigade was formed in line and passed in review before General Ledlie, General Bartlett commanding. The review took place some distance in rear of the line, beyond the reach of the enemy's lire. General Bartlett remarked of it, "Did not make a very good appearance; officers, even of old regiments, ignorant." <)n the L'lst of .Inly, Napoleon B. McLaughlin was appointed colonel of the Fit' ty-Sevent li Massachusetts to succeed General Bartlett, bul did not join to take command until some time after. The regiment was commanded by ('apt. (afterwards Maj.) Allieit Prescotl from June L7th to July 80th. During all this time the Bring was kepi up continually, the same as described l»y Genera] Bartlett, except that it was worse and far more de- structive in the front line <>f rifle pits than hack at brigade head- quarters, the casualties in the regiment being two officers killed JOHN L. GOODWIN, Capt. 57th Mass. PETERSBURG. 163 and four wounded : Lieutenant Bowman and Lieutenant Cheney killed, Lieutenants Goodwin, Cook, Royce and Kennay wounded. Five enlisted men killed and eighteen wounded. This from the one hundred and thirty left after the assault of June 17th, as follows : — Daniel Flynn, Pvt. Co. A. (killed July 8th, 1864). George R. Hubbard, Pvt. Co. B (killed July 26th, 1864). Darby O'Brien, Pvt. Co. F (killed July 5th, 1864, on picket). Abner A. Leland, Pvt. Co. G (killed June 22d, 1864). E. C. Rice, Pvt. Co. K (killed June 22d, 1864). John T. Palmer, Calvin L. Brigham, Myron D. Green, Daniel Hooley, Charles L. De Fose, Samuel Allinan, AH. Place, William Brown, Edward D. Geer, James G. Anderson, (ENLISTED MEN). B George A. Robinson, Pvt. Co. H Amos Sprague, " " E. D. McFarland, Sergt. Co. I John Gover, Pvt. " C Michael Dwyer, " " William McDaniels, " " Charles L Daniels, " Co. K Pvt. " Milo West, " Co. H (Died of wounds Aug. 4th, 1864) WOUNDED Corp. Co. Pvt. Sergt. Co. Corp. Captain Prescott, iu the meantime, had been promoted to the rank of Major, to date from June loth, 1864, in place of J. M. Tucker, who had been promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and Sergeant Albert Doty had been promoted to 1st lieutenant and appointed regimental adjutant. The regiment now numbered less than one hundred men present for duty, with but five officers, Major Prescott, Lieuten- ants Barton, Doty, Reade and Anderson. While many found fault with General McClellan for inac- tivity, they now commenced to clamor that General Grant was too active. Especially did the Confederates think so, for they were allowed no repose. Blows fell upon them, first from one point and then another, all of which were skilfully parried. At the same time the steady and persistent pressure that was brought to bear upon them began to dampen the enthusiasm with which they had commenced the opening operations of the war. The day of their brilliant victories had passed, and from all points 164 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. well commanded and well disciplined armies were gradually clos- ing around the heart and life of the Confederacy. Their supplies were now growing short and their armies growing weaker, while the Federal supplies seemed inexhaustible and the armies never in finer condition. The hope of foreign interference looked less promising. They could not reasonably look for success except through a political division of the North. General Grant was impatient of delay. Since the move- ment towards the Weldon railroad had not realized the success he had anticipated, he abandoned, for the time being, further movements by the left flank and commenced to make plans for a geueral and determined assault upon the enemy's works along the whole line ; but was deterred from this, awaiting the result of a coiqi de main, which was in preparation in front of the Ninth Corps. It is probably well that he was ; for, while the latter resulted in disaster to a single corps, the former would most undoubtedly have resulted in a worse disaster to the whole army. In looking across the narrow space that separated the two armies, upon the enemy's works, it could be plainly seen that they were too stroug to be carried by direct assault. If they had been con- sidered so at Cold Harbor, the conditions had in no wise been changed, except the works were much stronger and defended with a greater force of artillery. Men may he as brave as the bronze statues of illustrious w;irriors mighl lead one to suppose ; yet they are made of mortal flesh and blood, which, when riddled with bullets, renders their bravery of little practical value. If a direct assault was desired, a line opportunity was Subsequently presented, which was not turned to advantage. Everyone knew that some enterprise was being conceived; the ail- was full of it and men in the trenches discussed it. Even the forebodings of an approaching storm were wafted across to the enemy, -however, that was hardly strange, as it had come to he all Btorm to him. There were rumors of mines and countermines. Willi one in Course <>l construction within the lines of our own corps, it is remarkable thai everyone possessing Yankee inquisitiveness did PETERSBURG. 165 not find out all about it. The enemy could not be expected to find it out as he was in such ill temper over the colored troops that were facing him in the Ninth Corps, that he never allowed hostilities m that direction to lag for a moment, and was not in- clined to accept any civilities from that part of the line. It was different along that portion occupied by the other corps, and occa- sional lulls would take place along the picket lines, when papers would be exchanged and coffee traded for tobacco, but we never witnessed anything of that kind in front of the Ninth Corps. We had no apologies to make for the presence of colored troops and no favors to ask. A demonstration was made on the 26th (July) with the Second Corps under General Hancock and the cavalry under General Sheridan, to the north bank of the James, crossing by ponton bridges at Deep Bottom. The cavalry was to operate against Richmond, and if successful, was to be supported by the Second Corps at Chapin's Bluff. In case this movement did not meet with success in an attack, it might be the means of causing the withdrawal of a considerable Confederate force in front of our troops investing Petersburg. All night of the 26th a long train of empty wagons was moved towards the right. The heavy ramble could be heard by the enemy who construed it into a contemplated attack in force upon their left flank. The ruse worked successfully. The infantry and cavalry crossing, as above stated, made a display of force, the cavalry having a light engagement, capturing a battery of four twenty-pounder Parrott guns and some prisoners ; but upon further advance, the enemy was found intrenched in strong force. The Confederate lines in front of Petersburg had been considerably reduced to meet this threatened attack. On the 29th a large portion of the Confeder- ate army had taken position on the north bank of the James in the vicinity of Chapin's Bluff. The Second Corps then rapidly countermarched and was ordered to take position in rear and to support the Ninth Corps in an assault upon Petersburg, which was to follow the explosion of a mine that had been prepared in their front. Everything, up to this poiut, had worked admirably and the commanding general had every reason to anticipate a brilliant victory. 166 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Before passing to the next chapter, we will pause to note once more the tremendous loss which the Army of the Potomac had sustained since the beginning of the campaign. I quote from "The Virginia Campaign of 1864 and 1865," by General Humphreys, Chief of Staff, A. P. : " From May 4th to June 19th, including the Eighteenth Corps at Cold Harbor and Petersburg, the total killed were 8,802; wounded, 40,518; miss- ing, 9,544; total killed, wounded and missing, 58,864. Deduct- ing the killed, wounded and missing of the Eighteenth Corps (2,700), we have for the Army of the Potomac, 50,164 killed, wounded and missing. To these must be added the casualties of Sheridan on the Trevylian expedition, and of Wilson on his raid ; that is, )->40 killed and wounded, and over 1,400 missing. The losses of the infantry corps before Petersburg, from the 20th to the 30th of June, were not less than one thousand killed and wounded and two thousand missing ; making a total of the Army of the Potomac to that date of 61,400, and of killed and wounded nearly 50,000." Such were the appalling facts that stared us in the face when the Ninth Corps of that grand old army w;is again called upon to make still heavier sacrifices and face new but foreseen dangers, in what all knew would prove a desperate and bloody affair. ALBERT PRESCOTT, Maj. 57th Mass. CHAPTER IX. PETERSBURG MINE. jE now approach one of the most tragic and saddest chapters in our whole history. We approach it as an ant might survey a mountain. It has been written in histoiy and told in story in so many different ways that to try and harmonize all the narra- tives that have been given of it, would be like standing upon the summit of ancient Babel, hoping to bring harmony out of the confusion of tongues. We beg, however, the reader's indulgence while describing it in our own way, as we saw it. We were there. We are not going to say that the Fifty- Seventh did any better than any other organization, only that the regiment performed its duty and did not come out with dishonor. It has been our aim to avoid comparison, which will govern in this case. The historical facts leading to this battle are briefly described. It has been previously stated that the opposing lines opposite the Ninth Corps were drawn nearer together than upon any other portion. In some places the interval separating them was less than two hundred yards. The position of the Ninth Corps, there- fore, appeared to present more advantages for a direct assault than any other. Opposite the centre of the Ninth Corps, occu- pied by General Potter's division, where the lines ran very close together, the enemy had constructed a redan battery in a commanding position, which had been very active and annoying. In rear of this battery was a crest or ridge of small hills, where Confederate infantry was intrenched and other batteries in posi- tion. Lieutenant-Colonel Pleasants of the 48th Pennsylvania 168 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. conceived the idea of running a mine from the Ninth Corps intrenchments, to terminate in a chamber under the fort, which was to be blown up with powder. This plan was submitted to General Potter, who carried it to General Burnside. The latter, after looking it over carefully, fully approved of it and laid it before General Meade for his consideration, who, after much hesitation, gave it his approval, but did not express great confidence in it and never gave it his hearty support. However, under the feeble sanction he did give, work was commenced, under direction of Colonel Pleasants, on the 2oth of June. No mining tools were furnished and the work had to be prosecuted with ordinary picks and shovels. A main gallery had to be dug a distance of about five hundred feet. The earth thus removed Avas carried out by the soldiers employed, in cracker boxes, and covered over with brush, to shield it from the observation of the enemy. The farther end of this gallery terminated in a chamber directly under the fort, from which two lateral galleries extended to the right and left, one thirty-seven and the other thirty-eight feet in length. The work was completed on the 27th of July, and eight thousand pounds of powder placed in the magazines under the fort. Four of these magazines were constructed in the lateral galleries, about equal distance from each other, and connected with small troughs filled with powder. Three lines of fuses were laid ami everything was in readiness on the evening of July 28th. The fort towards which these operations were directed, was a strong, bastioned work, known as Elliott's salient, and occupied by General Elliott's brigade of Confederate troops; the L8th and part of the 23d South Carolina regiments being in the main works. This mining had not escaped the notice of the ever vigilanl enemy. Genera] Beauregard being then in command of thai parf of the enemy's trenches, had at fust directed countermining, hut this was subse- quently abandoned, as he was probably in some doubl as to the threatened point. However, he const liicted interior trenches and redoubts in such a way that in case the Federals should make a lodgmenl within the lort, a direct and enfilading lire of infantry and artillery could he broughl to bear upon them, which proved to lie the case. .Mention is made of this for the reason that the PETERSBURG MINE. 169 prevailing opinion was that after having gained the crater, there remained no opposing Confederate force near at hand, and that it took some time before they could bring any to bear upon the advancing column of attack. This was true only for the few moments which it took for the enemy to recover from his surprise. When everything was ready for the assault, the abatis and other obstructions in front of our own intrenchments were removed, allow- ing only a sufficient space for the passage of the charging column. At this time there arose an embarrassing question between the Ninth Corps commander, General Bnrnside, and the commander of the Army of the Potomac, General Meade, as to the execution of the plans for the coming assault. The most important arrangements that General Bnrnside had taken much time and pains to perfect were set aside, and others substituted in place, of which the latter did not approve. The change was made so late that sufficient time could not be given to provide for their proper execution.* It would appear from past as well as present events that there was a lack of cordial harmony existing between the commander of the Army of the Potomac and the commander of the Ninth Corps. There had been an apparent friction between them from the very beginning of the campaign, which became more manifest at the time of which we are writing. Such feelings often have a marked influence upon important military movements, at a critical moment when unity and harmony of action are essential and absolutely necessary to insure success. To what extent this influence was felt in the present case one can only judge by the result. Any unfriendly or indifferent feeling of a commander towards one of his lieutenants is sure to appear in some form, and make its influence felt all down through the different grades, until it reaches the private soldier, who almost invariably shares the feelings of those nearest in touch with him. It is not within our province to discuss this question in a work like this. Mention is only made of it as showing that men in the ranks were sometimes made the unfortunate victims of the petty spites and jealousies of *ln the report submitted bj General Meade he positively denied having inter- fered in any way with General Burnside's plans for tactical formations, except to disapprove of putting the colored division in front. — J. A. 170 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOI.l"XTEEKs those in high command. Whether the plaus as finally substituted were better or worse than the original, one thing was certain, General Bnrnside was obliged to accept them. The\ T could not have been more poorly executed. To give a better understanding of the situation, we quote from the " History of the Ninth Army Corps," by Augustus Woodbury, the original plans of General Bnrnside, and also the modified ones by General Meade. As submitted by General Bnrnside: "My plan would be to explode the mine just before daylight in the morning, or about five o'clock in the afternoon, mass the two brigades of the colored division in rear of my first line, in columns of division, ' double columns closed in mass,' the head of each brigade resting on the front line, and as soon as the explosion has taken place, move them forward with instructions for the divisions to take half distance. As soon as the leading regiments of the two brigades pass through the gap in the enemy's line, the leading regiment of the right brigade should come into line perpendicular to the enemy's line, by the right companies on the right into line wheel, the left companies on the right into line, and proceed at once down the line of the enemy's works as rapidly as possible; and the leading regiment of the left brigade to execute the reverse movement to the left, moving up to the enemy's line. The remainder of the columns to move directly towards the crest as rapidly as possible, diverging in such a way as to enable them to deploy into columns of regiments, the right column making, as nearly as possible, for Cemetery Hill. These columns to be followed by the other divisions of this corps as soon as they can be thrown in. This would involve the necessity of relieving these divisions by other troops before the movement, and of holding columns of other troops in readiness to take our place on the crest in case we gained it and swepl down it. It would, in my opinion, be advis- able, if we succeed in gaining the crest, to throw the colored division right into the town. There is a necessity of co-operation, ,-it leasl in the way of artillery, of the troops on our right and left. Of the extent of this you will necessarily be the judge." The tactical movements required by the foregoing plans would look very pretty upon an open field in a sham battle, but PETERSBURG MINE. 171 their execution over broken ground, cut up by deep trenches and with an intricate network of other obstructions, carefully prepared for just such an occasion, would have been extremely difficult, even had all the officers in charge been present to conduct opera- tions in person; as many of them were not, the plans would undoubtedly have fallen through under the most favorable circum- stances ; such was the opinion of General Meade. As far as the plans contemplated putting the colored division in the lead, they seemed quite reasonable. This division had suffered less than any of the others. It had been drilled for this special occasion, the men were full of confidence and anxious to demonstrate the fact tbat the} 7 were equally as brave and capable for such an undertaking as their white comrades ; besides, they were commanded by as brave a body of officers as stood in the army. All were ambitious to wipe out the long standing prejudice which existed against the race. All the white divisions were greatly exhausted by constant marching and fighting from the beginning of the campaign, while the colored division was com- paratively fresh. As the time for assault approached, General Meade began to look upon it with more favor and to anticipate important results. After discussing the matter with General Grant and General Burnside, he issued the following order on the 29th : — 1. As soon as dark, Major-General Burnside, commanding Ninth Corps, will withdraw his two brigades under General White,* occupy- ing the intrenchments between the plank and Norfolk roads, and bring them to his front. Care will be taken not to interfere with the troops of the Eighteenth Corps moving into their position in rear of the Ninth Corps. General Burnside will form his troops for assaulting the enemy's works at daylight of the 30th, prepare his parapets and abatis for the passage of the columns, and have the pioneers equipped for work in opening passages for artillery, destroying the enemy's abatis, etc., and the inti'enching tools distributed for effecting lodgments, etc. 2. Major-General Warren, commanding Fifth Corps, will reduce the number of his troops holding the intrenchments of his front to the minimum, and concentrate all his available force on his right and hold them prepared to support the assault of Major-General Burnside The preparations in respect to pioneers, intrenching tools, etc., enjoined upon the Ninth Corps, will also be made by the Fifth Corps. *Ferrero's division, colored. — J. A. 172 FIFTY-SEVENTH KKGJMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. 3. As soon as it is dark Major-General Orel, commanding Eighteenth Corps, will relieve his troops in the trenches by General Mott's division of the Second Corps, and form his corps in rear of the Ninth Corps, and be prepared to support the assault of Major-General Burnside. 4. Every preparation will be made for moving forward the field artillery of each corps. 5. At dark Major-General Hancock, commanding the Second Corps, will move from Deep Bottom to the rear of the intrenchments now held by the Eighteenth Corps, resume the command of Mott's division and be prepared at daylight to follow up the assaulting and supporting column, or for such other operation as may be found necessary. 6. Major-General Sheridan, commanding Cavalry Corps, will pro- ceed at dark from the vicinity of Deep Bottom to Lee's Mill, and at day- light will move with his whole corps, including Wilson's division, against the enemy's troops, defending Petersburg on their right, by the roads leading from the southward and westward. 7. Major Duane, acting Chief Engineer, will have the ponton trains parked at convenient points in the rear, prepared to move. He will see that supplies of sand bags, gabions, fascines, etc., are in depot, near the lines, ready for use. He will detail engineer officers for each corps. 8. At half past three in the morning of the 30th, Major-General Burnside will spring his mine, and his assaulting columns will immediately move rapidly upon the breach, seize the crest in rear, and effect a lodgment there. He will be followed by Major-General Orel, who will support him on the right, directing Ins movement to the crest indicated, and by Major-General Warren, who will support him on the left. Upon the explosion of the mine the artillery of all kinds in battery will open upon those points of the enemy's works whose fire covers the ground over which our columns must move, care being taken to avoid impeding the progress of our troops. Special instructions respecting the direction of the iir<' will be issued through the Chief of Artillery. 9. Corps Commanders will report to the Commanding General when their preparations are complete, and will advise him of every step in the progress of the operation and of everything important that occurs. 10. Promptitude, rapidity of execution and cordial co-operation are essential to success, and the Commanding General is confident that this indication of his expectations will insure the heart] efforts of the commanders and t roups. 11. Headquarters during the operation will heat the headquarters of 1 he Ninl h ( lorps. By command of MAJOE GENERAL MEADE. Signed S. Williams, Assistant Adjutant-Gen< ral. PETERSBURG MINE. 173 This is silent upon the order for the tactical formation of the Ninth Corps, the details of which were left to General Burnside, with the restrictions that we have noted, viz. : That the colored division be excluded from leading the assault, and the tactical movements to the right and left not to be undertaken. General Meade being emphatic upon one point, namely: To "lose no time after passing through the crater in seizing the crest beyond, known as Cemetery Hill." To the eye of a military expert this was the real key to the situation. Experience of coming events demonstrated the sound judgment of General Meade in repeating the order : " Lose no time in making formations, but rush for the crest." The apprehension that by so doing would expose the assaulting column to attack from flank and rear were provided for by instructions that the divisions to follow, would bear to the right and left. The detailed instructions given by General Meade to General Burnside were verbal, and approved by General Grant. We were of the opinion then, and we are of the same opinion now, that had the plans of General Burnside or those of General Meade been faithfully executed with promptness, either would have resulted in success. The plans of the latter were simpler, more easy of execution and less liable of complication, while those of the former depended upon everything working in mechanical order, like the works of a clock ; any failure of a part would have thrown the whole machinery out of gear, and would have consumed more time in their execution. In either case time was the most essential feature, the very " essence of success." In his testimony before the committee on the conduct of the war, General Meade said: "The only objection I intended to make to his plan was to the use of the colored troops in advance." It is believed in this that he meant the general plan and not the minor details to which reference has been made. Another objec- tion made by General Meade, as he says, to putting the colored troops in advance was, " if it should prove a failure it would then be said, and very properly, that we were shoving those people ahead to get killed because we did not care anything about them, but that cannot be said if we put white troops in front." There is no doubt but that at that time, even in the light of preceding 174 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS events, there was a lingering doubt in the minds of both General Grant and General Meade as to the reliability of colored troops in an affair involving such important issues. After a protracted consultation with General Meade, General Burnside finally, July 29th, sent for his three commanders of the white divisions and gave them detailed instructions, verbally, for the coming movements ; he then allowed them to draw lots to determine which division should lead in making the assault. The lot fell to our own, the First Division. It has been said, and truthfully, too, that this was unfortunate, the reflection not bear- ing upon the character of the men composing the division, but the peculiar eccentricities, heretofore described, of its commander. It certainly seems that by this time these should have been known by one higher in authority, and with this knowledge his own sound judgment should have dictated a different course than that of consigning the most important part, of this most important affair, to the hands of the least competent of all the division com- manders in the whole army. Based upon his understanding of General Meade's verbal instructions, General Burnside, on the 29th, issued the following order governing the movements of the Ninth Corps : — 1. Tin- mine will be exploded tomorrow morning at half past three, by Colonel Pleasants 2. General Ledlie will, immediately upon the explosion of the mine, move his division forward, as directed by verbal orders, and if possible, crown the crest at the point known as Cemetery Hill, occupying, if possible, the cemetery. .".. General Wilcox will move his division forward as soon as possible after General Ledlie has passed through the first line of the enemy's works, bearing oil' to the left, so a- to effectually protect the hit Sank of General Ledlie's column, and make a lodgment, if possible, .mi the Jerusalem plank road to the left of General Ledlie's division. I. General Potter will move his division forward to the righl of General Ledlie's division, and will, as near as possible, protect the r'iL r hi ihmk of General Ledlie from any attack on thai quarter, and establish a line on the cresl of :t ravine, which seems to run from the cresl of Cemetery Hill nearlj at righl angles to the enemy's main line directly in our front . PETERSBURG MINE. 175 5. General Ferrero will move his division immediately after General Wilcox's until he reaches our present advanced line, where he will remain until the ground in his front is entirely cleared by the other three divi- sions, when he will move forward over the same ground that General Ledlie moved over, will pass through our line, and if possible move down and occupy the village to the right. This order appears plain enough, yet the frequent repetition of the words " if possible " had a tendency to weaken it. Such important orders should admit of no " ifs," but be 2iositive all the way through. It would have had greater force if he had added, that division and brigade commanders should accompany their commands in person, and be held strictly responsible for the prompt and faithful execution of the order. A timid commander is always sure to take advantage of any implied doubt as to the possibility of executing it, where great danger is involved. Late in the evening of the 29th the orders were received at the front by regimental and company commanders of the First Division, directing them to get ready to move, at a moment's notice, and that this division was to be the leading one in making the assault upon the enemy's works in our front. The order was given under cover of secrecy, that it should be withheld from the enlisted men ; however, this was impossible, as they had received an inkling of it before, and the order to get ready to move revealed to them just about as much as the officers knew, as no detailed plan of operations had been given to company commanders. Never shall we forget that night of waiting. All the officers of the regiment who were present with it, assembled at headquarters to discuss the matter. The dark shades of night surrounding us seemed but the forebodings of a darker shadow with the approaching light of coming day. In this group of officers were Major Prescott, Lieutenants Barton, Doty, Reade and Anderson. While looking into the trenches only about ninety men were present to answer another call to duty out of what, but three months before, was a splendid regiment. As the night wore on we were joined by Captain Dresser who had been absent from the regiment as Acting Ordnance Officer. Learning that we were again going into action, he had asked to be relieved from a posi- 17G FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS VOLUNTEERS. tion that offered him security from danger, in order to join his company in the coming battle. In the promotion of Captain Prescott to major, he had been passed over in rank, yet that mat- tered not to him. He was willing and anxious to perform his duty, even under one who had formerly been his junior in rank. The hours wore on with little or no sleep. Lieutenant Barton was the Mark Tapley of the party, with an unlimited supply of funny stories suitable for all occasions, while with frequent, deep- drawn sighs, Major Prescott would ask : " I wonder where we will all be at this time tomorrow night? " and then add, " If it were not for thinking of my family, who are dependent upon me, I could be as light hearted as the rest of you." We were all glad when the order finally came. The regiment quietly drew out of the trenches and marched off to the place appointed for making the assault, where the men were ordered to lie down and remain silent. The division formed in column with the Second Brigade in front, closely followed by the First, to which the Fifty-Seventh belonged. The doomed fort could be dimly seen through the darkness, about one hundred yards in front. Its garrison rested in fancied security from the hated "Yanks," little dreaming that just beneath them was a mine of eight thousand pounds of powder to which the lighted match was soon to be applied. We waited long and anxiously, watching for the curtain to rise which was to disclose one of the grandest tragedies of the war, — waited with beating hearts and bated breath, and yet no sign of the expected eruption. The moments seemed long and the waiting tedious, eyes weary with watching gradually closed in sleep, while the gray light of early dawn came silently creeping up from the eastern horizon. Suddenly there came a heavy ramble that made the ground tremble, followed by a deep boom; quickly jumping to our feet we saw a black moun- tain of earth and smoke rising, carrying cannon, caissons, camp equipage and human bodies in one confused mass, about two hundred feel in the air, where it poised for a second, and as it settled back, looked as if it would bury the troops which were formed for the charge. PETERSBURG MINE. 177 The spectacle was one of appalling grandeur. As the echoes died away upon the morning air, all the heavy guns along the line, mortars and field pieces, opened a terrific fire upon the enemy's batteries in order to silence them. The heavy roar of artillery shook the ground for miles around. For some minutes the leading division stood in motionless silence, awaiting orders from its chief to advance. He was not present to give directions, but in a secure place in rear. Finally General Bartlett stepped to the front and commanded, " First Brigade, forward," and a few minutes before five, the brigade moved forward with General Bartlett leading. As we approached the Second Brigade that was also put in march by its commander, Colonel Marshall, the two went rapidly forward into the crater formed by the explosion of the mine, becoming intermingled so that from that time it became impossible to separate them. The First Division had been ordered to push directly through the crater to the crest about five hundred yards beyond. Upon reaching the scene of the explosion the picture presented was one of death and confused destruction, which for the moment, seemed to paralyze our own men. There were mangled, human bodies scattered among the ruins; men partly buried, some with heads sticking out, still alive, and plead- ing to be extricated from their painful positions, arms and legs were seen protruding and wriggling in silent appeal for the release of the buried bodies to which they belonged. About two hundred and fifty men of Pegram's battery were scattered through the wreck. The place where this frowning fort once stood was now converted into a huge crater about one hundred and sixty feet long, sixty wide and about twenty-five deep, and looked like the mouth of a volcano, with the cloud of smoke and dust hanging- over it. For the time being the instincts of humanity were the first consideration, and another delay was made while the unfortunate victims were being rescued from living graves. During the ad- vance only scattering infantry fire was directed upon the attack- ing force, which did little, if any, execution. The sudden shock of this explosion had the effect of striking the enemy Avith fear and astonishment. They knew not what other explosions were to 12 178 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. follow this. As our troops poured into the'crater, they could be seen running from their front line of intrenchments rapidly to the rear. For several hundred yards to our right we could see their strong works almost deserted. We were not in a position to observe the condition of affairs to the left, but this was, most assuredly, the supreme moment for prompt and resolute action. If, for at least an hour after we reached the crater, a front attack had been made upon the main line of Confederate intrenchments, it would have met with very little opposition. The First Division was wasting precious time when it should have been moving forward ; not only this, but it blocked the movements of the other divisions, which were following with great difficulty. The obstructions in front of our line of intrench- ments had not been removed, except a narrow space just sufficient to allow the attacking force to file through, and none in front of the enemy's works, except those destroyed by the explosion of the mine. Each brigade, as it approached, crowded with the First Division into the already over-crowded crater. After considera- ble delay, the First Division was pushed to the farthermost side towards the crest, which it had been ordered to seize ; but by this time the enemy had recovered from his surprise, and was gathering his forces to resist an advance from the crater in any direction. Their men were returning to the trenches, ami heavy guns, with mortars, were being brought to bear upon the crowded Federal troops in the crater. The musketry fire, which at first was scattering, was constantly increasing, witli deadly effect. The crest in our front was now occupied by a strong force, while the batteries stationed there were delivering a raking lire. Leaving barely enough men to hold their intrenchments, all others, with all the artillery they could use, were concentrated upon the small space into which the Ninth Corps had become huddled. It was a veritable ,L leaden rain and iron hail." Our own troops were so crowded thai only those who stood in front could use their arms to advantage. Brigade commanders were vainly struggling to gel their commands oul of the crater, where they could exercise some control over them, bul all semblance of organization had become lost and men bad to be taken out in groups by their PETERSBURG MINE. 179 officers, who endeavored to effect a formation outside. In a few instances this was done under a heavy fire, and the brigades, composed of fractions of different regiments, went forward only to encounter the advancing troops of the enemy and were driven back in disorder. By this time every attempt made by the First Division to advance was met by a withering fire which caused the men to again seek shelter. The fact was that neither officers or men knew what was expected of them. The prime cause of all rested with the commanding general of the First Division, who, instead of going forward with his command, was in a bomb-proof fifty yards in rear of the point from which the charge was made, and had not intrusted either of his brigade commanders with the control of the division, or given them proper instructions. The division was simply there, a mass of brave men without orders and without a head. It had been wound up like an automatic machine, set in motion, launched through the deadly breach and left to run down without any hand to guide it. If the order which General Meade had reiterated with so much emphasis, viz : "To rush at once for the crest," been strictly carried out, it would have cleared the way for the troops that followed and prevented all confusion. Nothing could be accomplished until the First Division had performed its part ; without that, all movements that were made to the right or left exposed their flanks to attack. Every officer from colonel down to second lieutenant was giving orders of some kind, most of them being contradictory. Some frantically com- manded "forward," others "halt and intrench," while others were desperately screaming "give way to the right" (or left). It was a typical Bedlam. Our gallant brigade commander, General Bartlett, had his artificial leg crushed early in the engage- ment and was now lying back in the crater as helpless as the buried Confederates around him. It was entirely useless to attempt to push this disorganized force against the enemy's lines and batteries. The greater the number the greater the disadvantage. 180 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. The Third Division (General Wilcox's) followed the First ; the leading brigade became engulfed in the crater, but the second moved to the left and gained possession of some portion of the enemy's intrenchments. The Second Division (General Potter's) moved forward by the flank, and when in the vicinity of the mine General Griffin's brigade formed line and bore off to the right, supported by the brigade of Colonel Bliss, capturing about two hundred yards of rifle pits and advancing be} 7 ond in the direction of the crest. The advantage gained was only temporal}'. It was difficult to make headway against the intricate works. Ob- stacles of all kinds were encountered — pointed stakes, traverses, covered wa} T s and ditches, which were bravely defended at every step. The time had passed when anything could be gained except by the most desperate fighting. About two hours after the first assault was made, the Fourth Division (colored) was sent in with orders to "rush for the crest." Its commander, instead of having it ready to move, had it crowded in the cohered way leading to the advanced line, and it was about eight o'clock before it could file out. It went forward with great impetuosity, but a large part of it crowded into the crater, where it only added to the confusion. Their officers worked heroically to lead them off to the right and partially succeeded. The First Brigade, under Colonel Sigfried, made a most gallant attack. The 43d U.S. Colored Troops attacked the intrenchments, capturing about two hundred prisoners, a stand of colors and recapturing a stand of National colors that had been lost by a white regiment. The Second Brigade (colored), under Colonel Thomas, was considera- bly broken in getting through, and only fragments of it were led to the attack, which, after suffering a heavy loss, were driven back and eventually took refuge in the crater, which seemed like a mighty whirlpool, whose suction drew in and engulfed all who came near it. although there was no music of sirens to entice them there t<> meet their doom, or council of Circe to guide them beyond. We have now all of the Ninth Corps in and around the cra- ter, then the Eighteenth was ordered in. After desperate work two brigades BUCCeeded in gaining the intrenchments to the right, but PETERSBURG MINE. 181 were unable to hold them and were finally driven out and back to our own lines. After considerable time had been wasted by the First Division, orders fiualty came for them to push forward to the crest, but by that time the enemy was there in force, with troops forming to the right, left aud front for the attack. Every attempt to move forward to the crest was repulsed and the troops driven back again to the crater. Major Prescott made an attempt to collect the regiment and move forward in obedience to orders, but was killed while leading. Captain Dresser took his place, but was killed almost immediately after. Captain Howe, being a staff officer of the brigade, made a gallant attempt to lead it in a charge on the crest. Mounting the extreme outer ridge of the crater in face of the enemy, who was now advancing in force, he waved his sword for the brigade to follow, but fell back almost instantly, shot through the heart. This charge by the enemy was repulsed by the First Division, which now ceased further attempts to advance and instead of being the assailants became the defendants. Charge succeeded charge until the enemy effected a lodgment within a few feet of our men who still held the ruined fort, so near we could almost reach each other with the bayonet. We had no semblance of an organization. Whites and blacks were squeezed so tightly together that there was hardly standing room. Even many of those killed were held in a standing position until jostled to the ground. The dead were being trodden upon and the wounded trampled to death. No pen can accurately portray the awful horrors of that scene of carnage. The mind gets bewildered in making the attempt. " Cannon to right of them, Cannon to left of tliem, Cannon behind them, Volley'd and thunder'd." It was one seething cauldron of struggling, dying men. Shells were falling and exploding in our midst, making frightful havoc, while the driving storm of musketry at close range was simply murderous. Some struggled desperately to find a place of 182 FIFTY-SEVENTH KEGIMEXT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. security, others vainly endeavored to free themselves so they could use their muskets in making some show of resistance. About the time Howe fell, Lieutenants Barton and Anderson were wounded. We still clung to the hope that the tide of battle would turn in our favor. We could not believe that we had been entirely abandoned in this dark pit, in this mouth of an infernal Golgotha, to continue such a hopeless struggle alone. We could not give up the hope but that this terrible pressure would soon be relieved by that large force we saw massed for our support as we moved forward early in the morning. Could it be possible that fifty thousand brave men were to remain idle witnesses to this brutal slaughter? It seemed hard to believe what but a short time before had given such bright promise of success was fast sinking behind such a black cloud of horrible disaster. For at least an hour after the division entered the crater, it was believed by those who were in a position where they could see, that one gallant and determined assault from our main lines of intrenchments upon those of the enemy would have carried everything ; as their force was still weakened by the absence of the troops that had been sent north of the James. The attention of all that remained was directed upon the Ninth Corps in the crater. If a direct assault had ever been contemplated, this presented a better opportunity than had ever existed before or ever would again. How often we turned and looked anxiously towards our lines only to be disappointed. Towards noon the Confederate troops that had been sent to the north bank of the James to meet the threatened attack heretofore referred to, were beginning to ap- proach ami forming to deliver the final, terrible blow that shut nut the lasl ray of hope. We were left in the shambles for the slaughter thai was steadily increasing. About this time General Meade directed a suspension of hostilities and the withdrawal of the troops to our own lines « whenever" the order said, ,l it could be done w ith security." It was easy to suspend hostilities, hut it was not easy to withdraw the troops from the crater to our own lines, as the enemy had placed guns and infantry in position, which continued PETERSBURG MIXE. 183 a raking, enfilading fire across the intervening space over which the retiring force would have to pass. It seemed almost sure death to undertake it. As the fire of the Federal batteries slackened under the order to suspend hostilities, that of the Confederates continued with increased fury. The crater, and the space separating it from our lines, became the focus upon which all the fire, that could be brought to bear, was concentrated. Soon after noon General Burnside sent an order to withdraw to our own lines. We saw General Bartlett sitting upon some old logs that had formerly been used in the construction of the fort, who said further resistance was useless, that it meant simply murder, and gave instructions that such as wished to take the risk of getting back could do so, as he should be forced to sur- render. Not fancying the idea of accepting the hospitalities of a Confederate prison with a shattered arm, we took the risk and succeeded in getting out. It is unnecessary to say that we moved with the greatest alacrity and were not long in crossing this interval. The ground was being ploughed up with shot and shell while a perfect tornado of musket balls swept across with deadly effect. It was passing under a cloud of smoke and " pillar of fire," the ground was strewn with the dead and dying over which we had to leap. Others were attempting to make their way out, and men were falling at every step. Soon after we left the surrender was made and the curtain fell upon a tragedy of blunders, summed up thus : The conception was excellent in every respect, but when it came to the execution, that was intrusted to the commander of the Army of the Potomac, who intrusted it to the commander of the Ninth Corps, he, in turn, to division commanders, and the latter passed it on to brigade commanders without adequate instructions, the authority weakening as it descended. The farther one went to the rear the more rank was to be found and more gaudy uniforms ; moving back as far as Washington, officers could be found arrayed like " Solomon in all his glory." There were the brave ones who were always ready to tell just how things should be done. There must have been some fearful old struggles in the city of Washington during the war 1H4 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. that overshadowed all that the Army of the Potomac could have done. The privations and sufferings f those who had only hotel food to eat, champagne to drink and soft beds to sleep on, must have been terrible. We heard of one valiant brigadier-general who before leaving his beloved State, formulated plans for " crushing the rebellion." He led an impetuous charge on Willard's Hotel, carried it by storm and planted his colors on the battlements, where he kept them proudly and defiantly floating until the last shot of the war had been fired. This was indeed a post of great danger, for the projectiles that float around licensed hotels cause " many brave boys to fall." No congressional vote of thanks or other reward, save a poor brevet, did this brave officer receive, while others skulked off to the front just to be shot. It is the general impression among those not familiar with battle formations that the generals always lead and do the bulk of fight- ing, the same as the ancient Greeks and Trojans. If the forma- tions of modern times could be reversed there would be fewer battles and fewer casualties. The general directions to govern the crater engagement were sent by staff officers from the general commanding, whose head- quarters were in a shady grove about a mile in rear, where he could see nothing personally of what was going on, but depended for information upon reports that were brought to him. General Grant subsequently stated that he went to the front as early as six o'clock and then observed that the opportunity of -.lining a success had passed. At thai time and for more than an hour after, there is little doubt but the troops could have been withdrawn with small loss had the attempt been made. Before the final surrender the enemy had approached ami delivered his fire at such close range upon the mass of crowded men as to burn with powder smoke those who stood in front. The left wing of the regiment, with the color guard and colors, sur- rendered. The night not only broughl darkness, but such sorrow and gloom as had never been felt before. We had seen the regiment very nearly annihilated and had lost friends we dearly loved. In the loss of the colors OUT pride had been humiliated, yet we felt a PETERSBURG MINE. 185 consciousness that the brave men who were with the Fifty-Seventh that day had clone all, under the circumstances, that brave men could do. Looking back at it over the pages of history, we are unable to see anything on the part of the regiment that we are not proud to place on record ; not one skulked or ran away, but all stood up manfully and faced death in obedience to orders and in the discharge of duty. They would have charged the crest in the first instance had any officer in authority been there to lead them or give the necessary orders. The responsibility of failure did not rest with those who participated in the engagement, either white or black, but those who were charged with the management. Men who freely give their lives can do no more. The Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts lost in this engagement three officers killed, two wounded and one missing. The killed were Maj. Albert Prescott, Capts. George H. Howe and E. T. Dresser. Lieuts. George E. Barton and John Anderson wounded and Lieut. John Keade missing. Forty-five (45) enlisted men killed, wounded and missing, viz. : — Dwight D. Allen, 1st Sergt. Co. H. Henry Day, Pvt. Co. C. WOUNDED. George W. Foster, Pvt., Co. A. Thomas Mara, " " Adam Petty, " " William J. Roper, l ' " Charles F. Paddock, " Co. B. Charles T. Randall, " Daniel O'Keefe, " Co. D. Benjamin O'Brien, " lt James G. Powers " Co. C (died of wounds Aug. 2d, lS6i). Rufus G. Farnsworth, Sergt. Co. F. George F. Sabine, Pvt. Co. F. Dennis Donavan, " Co. G. Charles Wright, " Co. I. Michael Cadigan, " Co. K (died of wounds Aug. Cth. 1864). Albert W. Howe, " " (died of wounds July 30th, 1864). Charles A. Lewis, " " 186 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. MISSING. George H. Parks, Sergt. Co. A (died at Annapolis, Md., Sept. 19th, 1864). Lavell F. Hull, Pvt. Co. A (died at Danville, Va., Nov. 20th, 1864, prisoner of war) . H. A. Wilson, Sergt. Co. A (taken prisoner). Hosea Warren, Pvt. Co. A (died at Danville, Va., Oct. 1st, 1864, rebel prison) . Martin Kiel}', Pvt. Co. B (died at Danville, Va., Jan. 6th, 1865, rebel prison). Jerry Sullivan, Pvt. Co. B (prisoner of war). Edward Terrell, " " " Hynes Wilson, " Co. C (died at Danville, Va., Dec. 17th, 1864, prisoner of war). Michael Powers, Pvt Co. C (died at Danville, Va., Nov. 21st, 1864). James U. Cobleigh, Pvt. Co. D (died of wounds July 30th, 1864) Batt Finn, Pvt. Co. E. Thomas Hughes, " " Thomas N. Welch, " " Edwin Collins, " " Michael Miles, " Co. F. Frank Lalley, " Co. G. David B. Curtis, " " Augustus Champney, Pvt. Co. G (died from Avounds at Richmond, Va., Aug. 6th, 1864). William C. Park, Sergt. Co. H (died Jan. 31st, 1865, at Danville, Va.) William Connelly, Sergt. Co. H. Daniel A Leonard, Pvt. Co. H (died Sept. 9th, 1864, at Danville, Va.) Andrew Murry, Pvt. Co. II. John Ryan, Pvt. Co. II. William F Howard, Pvt. Co. I (died Feb. 23d, 1866, at Danville, Va.) F. ML Harrington, Pvt. Co. K. Stephen EL Phelps, Pvt. Co. K (died at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 26th, L864 . Benjamin A. Shear, Pvt. ( '<>. K. Of the twenty-seven that were officially reported as missing-. many were killed who could not be scon in the confnsion of battle, therefore their names were placed on the list of missing. PETERSBURG MINE. 187 until later it was ascertained that they were either killed or died of wounds The total loss reported by General Meade was 4,400 killed, wounded and missing. A tabular statement submitted by the medical department places it at 419 killed, 1,679 wounded and 1,910 missing. All but about one hundred belonged to the Ninth Corps. The Confederate loss was not much over one thousand. The proportion of officers killed and wounded was unusually large. The Fifty-Seventh lost six out of seven officers, and forty-five out of ninety-one enlisted men, leaving only forty-six enlisted men in the regiment, commanded by Lieut. Albert Doty. The description here given aud the opinions expressed are based upon personal knowledge. The affair was too indelibly impressed upon the minds of all who were there ever to be forgotten. As we always like to look upon both sides of such important matters, we beg to quote a very vivid description given by Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, nephew of Gen R. E. Lee, in a book which he has recently written. This gives the Confederate view of it : — "Lee heard what had been done at six a.m. and promptly took steps to retake the position and sent a staff officer for troops to do it, and took a commanding position about five hundred yards in rear of the crater. Beauregard was already there and soon Mahone, with two brigades, Weiseger's and Wright's, arrived and formed in a ravine in rear of the crater. The Virginia brigade had formed for the attack and the Georgia troops were in the act of forming, when suddenly Lieut. -Col. John A. Bross, of the 31st U.S. Colored Troops, sprang upon the crest of the crater, waving a flag and calling for his men to follow him. General Weiseger, commanding the Virginia brigade, saw him, and thinking his position would be assailed determined to move first and appealed, he says, to Captain Girardy, of Mahone's staff, to give the order, for he had been directed by Mahone to wait until he or Girardy ordered him forward. The order was given and the lines were captured by a most gallant charge. The crater remained crammed with human beings, living and dead, into which huge missiles from mortars were bursting. The Georgia brigade advanced aud attempted to dislodge the 188 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS Union troops in the lines south of the crater, but failed. Later the Alabama brigade came up, when a general assault by these and other troops on the lines upon either side of the crater was made, and everywhere successfully. Just then a white handker- chief ou the end of a ramrod was projected above the crater in token of the surrender of the men there. Altogether it was a horrible affair; and what promised, Grant said, to be the most successful assault of the campaign, terminated in disaster, a dis- aster in which the Federals lost four thousand men .... Fifty thousand troops were ready to support it but proper debouches had not been prepared." Gen. R. E. Lee, in writing of it, said: ''I sent General Mahone with two brigades of Hill's Corps, who charged into them handsomely, recapturing the intrenchments and guns, twelve stands of colors, seventy-three officers, including General Bartlett, his staff, three colonels and eight hundred and fifty enlisted men.* There were upward of five hundred of his dead unburied in the trenches, among them many officers and blacks." General Bartlett writes in a private letter of his experience : •• We rushed across the open field. I got up to the enemy's works about as soon as anyone, got into the crater, took the first and second lines of the enemy, held them until after one. when we were driven back by repeated charges. I fought them for an hour after they held the whole line, excepting the crater where we were, their Hag within seven feet of ours across the works. They threw bayonets and bottles on us, and we returned, for we got out of ammunition. At last to save further slaughter, there being no hope of our being rescued, we gave it up. The crater during thai day I Bhall never forget. A shell knocked down a boulder of clay on my wood leg and crushed it to pieces, killing the man next me. I surrendered to General Mahone." It was a day of intense heat. The unburied dead lay be- tween the lines exposed to the hoi rays of the sun until the second day after the battle, when they were buried upon the Held under a flag of ii uce. The body of Captain Howe was the only one recovered. That was brought out before the surrender and taken to the City •Should in- nineteen hundred and ten. J, a. PETERSBURG MINE. 189 Point hospital where it was embalmed and forwarded to his rela- tives in Monson, Mass., for burial. The burial service was con- ducted by the Masonic fraternity, of which he was a member. The funeral was to have been held in the Methodist Church to which he belonged, but the assembled multitude was so great that not one-tenth of them could gain admission, hence the ceremony was held in the open air. It was a beautiful Sunday in August. The people for miles around the country came flocking in to pay their last tribute of respect to his memory, as his remains were placed at rest surrounded by the peaceful hills of his native town. Captain Howe was born in Monson. We knew him well and intimately from early life. We had been boys together and grew up together and were always staunch friends. We clung to him as to an older brother and knew his worth as no one else. No man ever put on the uniform of a soldier with a loftier sense of duty than he. His whole heart and soul were in the cause of his country. He was educated in the academy at Wilbraham, Mass., and when the war broke out was a young man holding a lucrative position as teacher in one of the educational institutions in Can- ada. Although in a foreign country he was enthusiastic and loyal to his native land. Resigning his position there he came home to Monson and enlisted, at the age of twenty-three, in Company G of the 46th Massachusetts, and was elected 1st Lieutenant. After having been mustered out by reason of expiration of his term of service he again offered his services and was appointed 2d Lieutenant in the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts, Nov. 2d, 1863, and went to Palmer, where he helped to fill the quota of that town and several others, helping to raise a Company, E, which was mustered in as the fourth company to com- plete its complement, Jan. 25th, 1864, and was appointed its captain. Soon after taking the field in Virginia he was appointed assistant inspector-general on the staff of the brigade comman- der, which position he held at the time he was killed. He was regarded as very capable and efficient. He believed that duty came before everything else, and while he was always rigid in the strict compliance of orders, he was just as rigid in exacting it of others who were under him. He sealed his devotion to the cause 190 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. of his country with his life. No higher testimony of his worth can be offered. It tills the measure of all eloquence in eulogy to say of him that he died for his country and flag upon the field of battle with his face to the foe. Captain Edsou T. Dresser, who was also killed in this engagement, was a native of Stockbridge, Mass. He left college early in the war to answer the call of his country for the services of her patriotic sons. At the age of twenty-three he enlisted in Company F, of the 49th Massachusetts, was elected 1st Lieutenant and participated with that regiment, under command of our own Colonel, the gallant Bartlett, in the campaign and several engage- ments around Port Hudson. He was mustered out with the regi- ment at the expiration of his time. He again offered his services and was appointed captain of Company D, Fifty-Seventh Massa- chusetts, to date from Jan. 25th, 1864. Chaplain Dashiell, who was personally acquainted with him, pays this just tribute to his memory: "No officer in the regiment was more respected and beloved than Capt. Edson T. Dresser of Stockbridge. Leaving college to enlist in the service of his country, he exhibited every quality which promised to raise him to command had his life been spared. But all too soon he yielded it as a precious gift to his country." The green hills of old Berkshire sent many noble and gallant men into the army in defense of the Union. Such names as Edson T. Dresser will keep the memory of their loyalty green upon the pages of history. As the Plains of Abraham are rendered immortal by such names as Wolfe and Montgomery, so will such names as Dresser stand, in endearing memory, among the everlasting hills of loyal Berkshire. Another name that stands with the honored dead of the Fifty-Seventh is that of Maj. Albert Prescott. He joined the regiment March 2d, 1864, as captain of Company 1. having seen honorable service prioi t<> that time. His military record was as follows: ls1 Sergeanl Company K, 5th Massachusetts Y.M. (three months) , April 19th to July 81st, L861. lie again entered the service as 1st Sergeant of Company B, 86th .Massachusetts, July 80th, 1862, and was promoted to captain of the same EDSON T. DRESSER, Capt 57th Mass. GEO. H. HOWE, Capt. 57th Mass. LEVI LAWRENCE, Capt. 57th Mass. JOSEPH W. GIRD, Capt 5 7th Mass. PETERSBURG MINE 191 company Aug. 28th, 1862, resigning April 20th, 1863, and remaining out of service until appointed captain in the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts. He was a man of genial disposition, generous hearted and a true friend. We had not known him in private life, but his character as a soldier was upright and honorable. He fell with his sword drawn in defense of his country and died under the folds of the tattered flag which he had bravely followed, and thus closed the pages of his earthly life. Of the enlisted men who were captured, very few survived the sufferings and privations of prison life. A very touching inci- dent is related of two who were taken prisoners at the crater and confined in the Confederate prison at Danville, Va. Sergt. George H. Parks of Company A was sick when he went into the engagement. After having been captured, and thus deprived of proper medical attendance, his condition became worse. A Con- federate prison was not conducive to the good health of even the strongest constitution, but to a man going there sick, the chances of ever getting out alive were very poor He lingered day after day, clinging to the fond hope that possibly he might be exchanged and his life saved. Anxiously and patiently he waited and eagerly caught at every rumor of exchange as " a drowning man grasps at a straw," but it was only repeated disappointment. His condition grew worse from day to day. Finally a list of names came for exchange, and every man listened with breathless interest as it was read. How anxiously did poor Parks listen in hopes of hearing his own name, but the list was completed, the paper folded and his name was not called. Turning sadly away, it seemed as if the last ray of hope had disappeared and he was to be left to a lingering death. Those whose names had been called were happy in anticipation of getting into " God's country " once more (wherever our flag floated was called by prisoners '* God's country ") , of seeing friends and home and of getting away from suffering and starvation. A comrade, Francis M. Harrington by name, private of Company K, Fifty-Seventh, who was captured at the same time with Parks, was made happy by hearing his own name called from the list for exchange, but witnessing Parks' 192 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. bitter disappointment and knowing that it was sure death for him to remain longer in prison, with heroic self-sacrifice, stepped aside and gave way to Parks, and the latter was exchanged in his place. But the sad story we tell of him can be told of hundreds of others. He never lived to reach that home he had so longed for, but died Sept. 19th, 1864, soon after reaching Annapolis, Md. Prison life had killed him. Harrington remained in prison for some time longer, and when finally exchanged was completely broken in health. This incident was not related to us by Harrington, who is too modest to speak in praise of himself, but was learned through others who vouch for its truth. Such inci- dents as these were rare indeed. No one, but those who have suffered as prisoners of war, can know what an unselfish sacrifice Harrington made. With liberty, life, home and friends within his grasp, he gave them all to save the life of his comrade. Deeds of valor upon the battle- field can be painted in glowing colors, but what painter's brush can portray the valor of the man who gives all his long cherished hopes to another, while he remains to suffer exposure, disease and slow starvation ! Such heroes have lived and passed silently away, with no record of their brave deeds save that the influence of such lives is never lost in the community where they dwell in humble security. Chaplain Dashiell, in writing of this battle, says: "The regiment had nothing to regret, except that their splendid courage and great sacrifice failed to accomplish anything worthy of t he cause, owing to the bungling and incapacity of the division com- mander. Indeed, the wretched leadership of these commanders made the fatal day memorable for the useless waste of life. The rebels on this, as on a former occasion at Cold Harbor, showed their inhumanity in denying a Hag of truce for the purpose of rescuing the wounded lying between the lines; and it was not until .Monday, two days following, that it was allowed, when the burying party could scarcely distinguish a black man from a white one. and many of the wounded had died from want of attention." PETERSBURG MINE. 193 A letter was received by the chaplain from Danville, where our men were carried as prisoners, giving a deplorable account of their condition. Men were robbed of their clothing and were suffering for the want of it. A supply was sent by Colonel Tufts, the Massachusetts State Agent, through the Exchange Bureau at Richmond, which never reached them. Information was received that Sergt. Dwight D. Allen of Company H was mortally wounded and died in the hands of the enemy. Sergeant Allen was a brave soldier and one who was greatly beloved and respected by both officers and enlisted men. He is spoken of as "genial, kind and faithful in all his inter- course with the regiment." In a private letter from General Bartlett soon after his capture, he said : "It was impossible to withdraw without sacri- ficing all the men, so I held on as long as possible in hope of reinforcements. The negroes were crowded in the same pit with us when they retreated in such confusion, and we have been treated worse on account of being taken with them." We have heretofore spoken of the intense hatred caused by the Government of the United States employing colored men as soldiers. It seemed to add increased poison to the sting of death to be shot by a negro. The Confederates considered such an act as violating all rules of warfare and the sacred rights of humanity. To such a high pitch did this feeling rise that Jefferson Davis, President of the Southern Confederacy, referring to President Lincoln's proclamation abolishing slavery and authorizing the employment of negroes in the armed forces of the United States, in his third annual message to the Confederate Congress, made use of the following language: "Our own detestation of those who have attempted the most execrable measures recorded in the history of guilty man is tempered by profound contempt for the impotent rage which it discloses. So far as regards the action of this government on such criminals as may attempt its execution, I confine myself to informing you that I shall, unless in your wisdom you deem some other course more expedient, deliver to the several State authorities all commissioned officers of the United States that may hereafter be captured by our forces in 13 194 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. any of the States embraced in the proclamation, that they be dealt with in accordance with the laws of those States providing for the punishment of criminals engaged in exciting servile insurrection. The enlisted soldiers I shall continue to treat as unwilling instruments in the commission of these crimes and shall direct their discharge and return to their homes on the proper and usual parole." The effect of this measure upon the Confederate Congress was to cause it to pass a resolution, by both houses, defining a law, then in force, in relation to servile insurrection, the penalty of which was death, and declaring all officers in command of colored troops guilty of the violation of it, and when captured, they were to suffer the full penalty which it provided. While this resolution does not pertain directly to the history of the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts, yet it concerned the officers of the Fifty- Seventh as well as all other officers captured at the crater where colored troops were engaged, and shows that they were treated with more severity and greater indignity, as prisoners, on that account. This resolution is such an extraordinary piece of legis- lation and published in so few histories of the war, 1 have consid- ered it a matter in which all surviving members of the Fifty-Seventh will feel an interest. Resolved, By the Congress of the Confederate States of America, in response to the message of the President, transmitted to Congress a1 the commencement of the present session: First, That in the opinion of Congress, the commissioned officers of the enemy oughl not to be deliv- ered to the authorities of the respectives States, as suggested in the said message, bu1 all captives taken by the Confederate force- ought to be dealt with and disposed of by the Confederate government. 1S1 cond, That in the judgment of Congress , l lie proclamations of the President of the United stales, dated respectively Sept. 22d, 1862, and Jan. 1st, 1868, and other measures of the government of the United state- and of Its authorities, commanders and forces designed or tending to emancipate slaves In the < lonfederate States, or to abduct such slaves, or to incite them to insurrection, or to employ negroes in war against the Confederate states, or to overthrow the institution of African slavery, and bring on a servile war in these state-, would. If successful, produce atrocious consequences, and they are inconsistent with the spirit of those usages which. In modern warfare, prevail among civilized PETERSBURG JUNE. 195 nations; they may, therefore, be properly and lawfully repressed by retaliation. Third, That in every case wherein, during the present war, any violation of the laws or usages of war among civilized nations shall be or has been done or perpetrated by those acting under the authority of the government of the United States, on the persons or property of the citizens of the Confederate States, or of those under the protection or in the laud or naval service of the Confederate States, or of any State of the Confederacy, the President of the Confederate States is hereby authorized to cause full and ample retaliation to be made for every such violation, in such manner and to such extent as he may think proper. Fourth, That every white person, being a commissioned officer, or acting as such, who, during the present war, shall command negroes or mulattoes in arms against the Confederate States, or who shall arm, train, organize or prepare negroes or mulattoes for military service against the Confederate States, or who s"hall voluntarily aid negroes or mulattoes in any military enterprise, attack or conflict in such service, shall be deemed as inciting servile insurrection, and shall, if captured, be put to death, or be otherwise punished at the discretion of the court. Fifth, Every person, being a commissioned officer, or acting as such, in the service of the euemy, who shall, during the present war, excite, attempt to excite, or cause to be excited, a servile insurrection, or who shall incite or cause to be incited, a slave to rebel, shall, if cap- tured, be put to death, or otherwise punished at the discretion of the court. Sixth, Every person charged with an offense punishable under the preceding resolutions shall, during the present war, be tried before the military court attached to the army or corps, by the troops of which he shall have been captured, or by such other military court as the President may direct, and in such manner and under such regulations as the President shall prescribe : and after conviction the President may commute the punishment in such manner and on such terms as he may deem proper These resolutions were of the most surprising character. Under their provisions almost any Federal officer engaged in battle where colored troops were employed, could easily be con- victed and made liable to the penalties for which they provided. Colored soldiers and their white officers who had heretofore been captured by the Confederates had, in more than one instance, been wantonly murdered. It required more than ordinary courage to command colored troops under the provisions of these resolu- 196 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. tions- and in the face of the atrocities that had already been committed upon them. They were not only exposed to the dangers of battle, but were treated to every indignity, if captured, and even then stood in greater danger of death than in actual battle; yet the officers who led the colored troops through the crater did so without flinching and behaved in the most gallant manner, as did also the men who followed them. There were many conspicuous incidents of gallantry that day that were passed unobserved. As the Fifty- Seventh claims a share in the history of the crater of which it is not ashamed, we beg to pause before pro- ceeding to the next chapter to note the views and conclusions that were arrived at by a Court of Inquiry, which was ordered by the President to examine into, report upon the facts and circum- stances and fix the responsibility for the failure. The court was convened at City Point and spent considerable time in taking testimony, much of which was conflicting. After careful delibera- tion the court rendered the following decision fixing the responsi- bility : — I. Major-General A. E. Burnside, United States Volunteers, he having failed to obey the orders of the commanding general. 1st. In not giving such formation to his assaulting column as to insure a reasonable prospect of success. I'd. In not preparing his parapet> and abatis lor the passage of the column^ of assault 3d. Iii 1101 employing engineer officers, who reported to him, to lead tli*- assaulting columns with working parties, and not causing to be provided proper materials necessary for crowning the crest, when the assaulting column should arrive there. Uli. In neglecting to execute Major-General Meade's orders re- specting the prompt advance of General Ledlie's fcr >s from the crater ,,, the crest; or, in default of accomplishing that, not causing those troops to fall back and give place to other troops more willing and equal to the task, instead of delaying until the opportunity passed away, thus affording time for the enemy to recover from his surprise, concentrate his fire and bring his troops to operate against the Dnion troops assem- bled uselessly In the crater. Notwithstanding the failure to comply with orders, and to applj proper military principles, ascribed to General Burnside, the Court Is satisfied he believed thai the measures taken by him would Insure success. PETERSBURG MINE. 197 II Brigadier-General J. H. Ledlie, United States Volunteers, he having failed to push forward his division promptly according to orders, and thereby blocking up the avenue which was designed for the passage of troops ordered to follow and support him in the assault. It is in evidence that no commander reported to General Burnside that his troops could not be got forward, which the Court regards as a neglect of duty on the part of General Ledlie, inasmuch as a timely report of the misbehavior might have enabled General Burnside, commanding the assault, to have made other arrangements for prosecuting it before it became too late. Instead of being with his division during this difficulty in the crater, and by his personal efforts endeavoring to lead his troops forward, he was most of the time in a bomb-proof, ten rods in the rear of the main line of the Ninth Corps works, where it was impossible for him to see anything of the movements of troops that were going on. III. Brigadier-General Edward Ferrero, United States Volunteers. 1st. For not having all his troops found ready for the attack at the prescribed time. 2d. In not going forward with them to the attack. 3d. Being in a bomb-proof habitually where he could not see the operations of his troops, showing by his own order, issued while there, that he did not know the position of two brigades of his division, or whether they had taken Cemetery Hill or not. 4th. Colonel Z. R. Bliss, Seventh Rhode Island Volunteers, com- manding First Brigade, Second Division, Ninth Corps. In this, that he remained behind with the only regiment of his brigade which did not go forward according to the orders, and occupied a position where he could not properly command a brigade which formed a portion of an assaulting column, and where he could not see what was going on. 5th. Brigadier-General O. B. Wilcox, United States Volunteers. The Court is not satisfied that General Wilcox's division made efforts commen- surate with the occasion to carry out General Burnside's order to advance to Cemetery Hill, and they think that more energy might have been exer- cised by Brigadier-General Wilcox to cause his troops to go forward to that point. Without intending to convey the impression that there was any disinclination on the part of the commanders of the supports to heartily co-operate in the attack on the 30th of July, the Court express their opinion that explicit orders should have been given, assigning one officer to the command of all the troops intended to engage in the assault when the commanding general was not present in person to witness the operations. After reading the last few lines one would naturally ask why the " commanding general was not present in person to witness 198 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. the operations " ? This is a question beyond our province and which we cannot answer, except to say that it was trusted to another. In the paragraph censuring General Ledlie is found an im- plication that the men of the First Division misbehaved and could not be made to go forward. They appear to have been held responsible for the failure of their commander to be with them, and for not obeying orders, the existence of which the} 7 were in entire ignorance. It has been previously explained that the orders were not communicated to the men of the division, and they did not know what was expected of them until the confusion became too great and the opposition, in both front and flank, too strong to reasonably hope for success. This was confirmed later bj T those who were present at the time, including General Bartlett, and the Confederate commanders themselves, who wore not given to saying much in favor of Federal troops. It was like putting a company or regiment on drill and expecting them to go through all the evolutions correctly without a drill master or a word of command. The First Division of the Ninth Corps, being unfortunate in its commander, had to suffer all the odium which justly should have fallen upon him; even General Grant shared in this feeling and gives expression to it in his Memoirs. In speaking of the mine affair and the Ninth Corps on page 313, Vol. 2, he says: " Burnside seemed to have paid no attention whatever to the in- structions and left all the obstructions in his own front for his troops to get over the best way they could. The four divisions of liis corps were commanded by Generals Potter. Wilcox, Ledlie ami Ferrero. The last was a colored division, and Burnside selected it to make the assault; .Meade interfered with this. Burnside then took Ledlie's division, a worse selection than the first could have been. In fact Potter and Wilcox wert' the only division commanders Burnside had who were equal to the occasion. Ledlie, besides being inefficient, proved also to possess disqualifi- cations le>s common among soldiers." It seems singular thai it should take General Grant all this time to find oul what had already been known, by the rank- and PETERSBURG MINE. 199 file of the First Division, for some time. The affair at North Anna river, heretofore mentioned, fully demonstrated that, yet soon after this General Ledlie was promoted from the command of a brigade to that of a division. Were the men to protest and decline further service under him ? Such an act would have been mutiny. They continued, like good soldiers, in the performance of their duty. It was not the fault of those brave men who went through the deadly breach into the crater that their general, and others, were in a secure bomb-proof far in rear, and it was not their fault that the heights of Cemetery Hill were not carried ; al- though we admit that they could have been if those whose duty it was to be present in command had been there in person to lead without delay ; but after this, and when all regimental and brigade organizations were broken and mixed, it was just as im- possible to accomplish this with the troops in the crater as it would have been to roll back the ocean's tide or check the onward course of a tornado. The charge of the six hundred at Balaklava did not lead through a darker valley of death. Every order that was received by the Fifty-Seventh, from proper authority, was executed as far as human strength and superior bravery could do. We have only to point to the gallant efforts of such men as Prescott, Dresser and Howe of the Fifty-Seventh, each of whom fell in a vain but desperate attempt to lead the charge upon Cemetery Hill, and fell beyond the mouth of the crater. With three officers killed, two wounded and one missing, making a total battle loss of six out of seven officers belonging to the Fifty- Seventh, can anyone discover any dishonor worthy of reproach or "misbehavior" resting upon the regiment whose history we are laboring to record honestly and faithfully, even if it did belonu to a poorly commanded division? We claim that a greater credit is due them, that the} 7 fought and bled and died in obedience to duty under command of one in whom they had no confidence. Whatever opinion General Grant may have had of the commander of the First Division, it remains a matter which will stand upon the pages of history, that from the beginning of the campaign down to the time of which he was writing, the First Division of the Ninth Corps had par- 200 FIFTY-SEVENTH KEGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. ticipated in every engagement of the campaign. Its blood bad been poured out as freely as water and stained every battle- field from the Wilderness to Petersburg. With the living memory of such names as Stevenson and Gonld and Chandler and Gird and Southey before us, we feel that we have nothing to blush for and no apologies to make. Standing with such regiments as the 4th and 10th Regulars, the former General Grant's own regiment, the 21st, 35th, 56th and 59th Massachusetts, we cannot feel ashamed of the company we were in. With the record of thirty officers and three hundred and eighty-five enlisted men killed and wounded from the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts alone, its sur- viving members are willing to stand upon the pages of history and let posterity be their judge. A greater loss cannot be shown by any regiment in the Army of the Potomac for the same length of time. Repeatedly thrown against embattled walls until its shattered and bleeding ranks had been almost annihilated, it still stood ready to perform its duty, when thai duty was made plain. As to why it did not go forward on this fatal day it can be said that there was very little of it left to go forward. It had been steadily and bravely going forward and onward beyond the dark river. Call the roll over unknown graves, call it from battlefield, hospital and prison pen, and the answer will tell how it went forward. Whatever ignominy may attach, whatever historians may write, or critics say. the old Fifty-Seventh will ever cherish the memory of the crater and never fear to tell the story, even though it is one of disaster and defeat. A short time after this affair General Ledlie resigned and retired to the peaceful shades of private life, for which he was specially adapted. It is not surprising that General Grant should feel a deep chagrin over the miserable failure thai had been made. The friends of General Burnside reasonably claimed, thai as the Court of Enquiry was composed of officers serving in the Army of the Potomac under I iciieral .Meade, the result of their deliberations was more or less biased. It was well known that General .Meade had not from the lirst much confidence in the enterprise and did not. therefore, enter heartily into it. The Congressional "Com- mittee on the Conduct of the War," after examining carefully PETERSBURG MINE. 201 into all the facts and circumstances, did not arrive at the same conclusions in fixing the responsibility as did the Court of Inquiry. The following extracts are copied from the committee's report as rendered several months after the affair and published in Con- gressional records : — Your committee cannot, from all the testimony, avoid the conclu- sion that the first and great cause of the disaster was the change made on the afternoon preceding the attack, in the arrangement of General Burnside to place the division of colored troops in the advance. The reasons assigned by General Burnside for not taking one of his divisions of white troops for that purpose are fully justified by the result of the attack .... The conduct of the colored troops when they were put in action would seem to fully justify the confidence that General Burnside reposed in them, and General Grant himself, in his testimony, expresses his belief that if they had been placed in the advance as General Burnside desired, the result would have been difl'erent .... It will be seen from the testimony, that when the order to withdraw was given by General Meade, against the representations made by General Burnside, orders were also given by General Meade for offensive operations to cease on the right and left of General Burnside's position, and General Ord's troops were at the same time withdrawn from the front, where they had been placed in support of the Ninth Corps. The enemy were thus left entirely free to make such dispositions as they chose against the force of General Burnside within their lines .... Your committee desires to say, that in the statement of facts and conclusions which they present in their report, they wish to be distinctly understood as in no degree cen- suring the conduct of the troops engaged in this assault. While they confidently believe that the selection of the division of colored troops by General Burnside to lead the assault was, under the circumstances, the best that could have been made, they do not intend thereby to have it inferred that the white troops of the Ninth Corps are behind any troops in the service in those qualities which have placed our volunteer troops before the world as equal, if not superior, to any known to modern war- fare. The services performed by the Ninth Corps on many a well-fought battlefield, not only in this campaign, but in others, have been such as to prove that they are second to none in the service. Your committee believe that any other troops exposed to the same influences, under the same circumstances, and for the same length of time, would have been similarly att'ected. No one, upon careful consideration of all the circum- stances, can be surprised that those influences should have produced the effects they did on them. In conclusion your committee must say that, in their opinion, the cause of the disastrous assault of the 30th of July last, is mainly at- 202 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. tribntable to the fact that the plans and suggestions of the general who had devoted his attention for so long a time to the subject, who had carried out to a successful completion the project of mining the enemy's works, and who had carefully selected and drilled his troops for the purpose of securing whatever advantages might be attainable from the explosion of the mine, should have been so entirely disregarded by a general who had evinced no faith in the successful prosecution of that work, had aided it by no countenance or open approval and had assumed the entire direction and control only when it was completed and the time had come for reaping any advantages that might be derived from it. This report was made, after the dust had settled around the crater, by a body of congressmen of whom Senator Wade of Ohio was chairman ; gentlemen who were interested only in the welfare of the country and wholly unbiased. Their report, therefore, would seem to have greater weight than that of the Court of Inquiry. They found no "misbehavior" on the part of the troops employed. Some time after having closed the chapter on the crater, we were handed a paper by Col. Thomas W. Clarke of Boston, for- merly assistant adjutant-general of one of the brigades engaged in the crater. The notes from which Colonel Clarke prepared his manuscript were made, he tells .us, in the spring of L865 as a basis upon which Colonel Marshall made his application for a Court of Inquiry. Colonel Clarke was certainly in a position to know what the orders were from the division commander. The great point which he makes, and it is a most important one, is that Genera] Ledlie gave positive orders thai the First Division should not go forward beyond the crater. This is in direct contradiction to the order of General .Meade to General Burnside; while paragraph two of ( leneial Burnside's order to his division commanders says : " Gen- era] Ledlie will, immediately upon the explosion of the mine, move his division forward as directed by verba] orders and it' possible, crown the cresl at the point known as Cemetery Hill, occupying, if possible, the cemetery." It would appear thai this oiiler is too plain to be misunderstood. Colonel Clarke's detailed PETERSBURG MINE. 203 account of what took place after the explosion was that seen by him. " NOTES ON THE TRAGEDY OF THE CRATER. "The writer of this was acting assistant adjutant-general for Colonel, afterwards Bvt. Brig. -Gen. E. G. .Marshall, at the assault of the mine, and adds the following statements to the accounts given of this affair. These statements are not intended to impugn the accuracy of observation or the recollection of other writers, but to supplement them by the observation and recollec- tion of another. No two men observe alike, and the standpoint of observation often affects its perspective. " Colonel Marshall was a captain in the regular army, and was retired soon after the war.- He died some years since. General McLaughlen, another regular captain, was retired as major, and died in January, 1887. Colonel Marshall made some prepara- tion for an investigation of the affair of the mine by a Court of Inquiry to be summoned at his request, but probably made no formal application for it, having somehow ascertained it would not be granted. He was never satisfied with the story told of this affair. It is a part of the supplement which he would have added, which his adjutant now writes, stating, however, hardly more than those facts which are within his own personal knowl- edge. " Colonel Marshall had been wounded on June 17th, and had reported for duty late in July. He had commanded the Second Brigade, First Division, Ninth Army Corps, only a few days before the 30th of July, 1864. He did not then know even his own line well and had worked himself and his staff very hard and danger- ously to educate himself in this regard. General Bartlett had also recently returned to his brigade, and was new to his position, his troops, his grade and his responsibilities. He had but one leg and it pained him to ride or walk. On the afternoon of July 29th, about four o'clock, Marshall went to division headquarters, and later, a little before dark, summoned his adjutant-general to report to him at or near the fourteen-gun battery, afterwards known as Fort Morton. Ledlie, Bartlett, Marshall and some staff 204 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. officers were present. A plan of the movement was explained at that interview to Bartlett and Marshall, and was subsequently explained by Marshall to his battalion commanders and to his staff. From this place Marshall, his adjutant-general and per- haps one or two other officers, went to the salient selected as the place of formation, and hastily, after sundown, examined the ground. The adjutant-general then returned to brigade head- quarters to give the necessary preparatory orders, and to summon the battalion commanders to brigade headquarters. Marshall returned about 8 p.m., met his battalion commanders, communi- cated his instructions, and about eleven o'clock the troops were relieved and marched to the salient of formation. " The plan as given by General Ledlie to Bartlett and Mar- shall, and as given by Marshall to his battalion commanders, was to this effect, and it was on this plan that Marshall and Bartlett worked. The Second Brigade was to be formed in column of battalion front. (It made three lines of about four hundred men each.) On the explosion of the mine it was to move forward and occupy the enemy's works on the right of the crater, skirting its edge, but not going into it. The First Brigade was to follow with about the same front and occupy the works on the left of the crater, not going intoit. When the lodgment had been made, it was to be secured and connected with our lines by our engineer regiment, 35th Massachusetts. The Second Division was then to extend this lodgment still more to the right, the Third Division was to extend it to the left in the enemy's works by a front attack, and the colored division was then to pass through the crater and assault the hill in the rear. Marshall's distinct in- structions were thai the security of the lodgment was the prime duly of the First Division and the hill was a subordinate object; and General Ledlie's instructions, as beard, conveyed no other meaning to me. or. as will appear later, to General Bartlett or Adjutant Warren. "The drill and habits of the First Division, accustomed to line attacks and not to regimental column manoeuvres, were not adapted to the plan of formation designed for the colored division, with its proposed tactical conversions to right and left after the PETERSBURG MINE. 205 works were reached, but the ultimate effect of the manoeuvres was to be the same. The flanks were to be cleared before the attack on the hill. Marshall was explicit that his brigade was to confine its attention to seizing and holding as great a length of line on the right of the crater as possible, and that the work beyond, to the enemy's rear, was to be done by other troops. His phrase about it was this : ' AVhen we have secured the lodgment, Ferrero will take the negroes through the crater, which we shall have left clear for them, and see what they can do beyond.' Marshall's brigade consisted of the Provisional 2d Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, the 3d Maryland Battalion, a small veteran organization of prime quality, well led, the 179th New York Battalion, six companies of a uew and incomplete regiment, greatly depleted by the campaign, and the 14th New York Heavy Artillery. Marshall's arrangement of the column for the assault assigned the Pennsyl- vania regiment to lead, Marshall himself in charge, the 3d Maryland and 179th New York battalions were to follow, under command of Lieut. -Col. G. P. Robinson of the 3d Maryland, an experienced and competent soldier. The 14th New York Artillery formed the third line. This regiment was new, had been badly treated in the campaign, and was then commanded by Captain Jones, an officer of fiery zeal, but of ho great experience at that time. Colonel Marshall detailed his adjutant-general to lead this third line. The first line of Bartlett's brigade, consisting of the Fifty-Seventh and 29th Massachusetts, led by Major Prescott of the Fifty-Seventh, was deployed in line in rear of Marshall. The rest of Bartlett's brigade stood by the flank in a covered way in rear of the salient of formation. It consisted of the 21st, 56th and 59th Massachusetts, and the 100th Pennsylvania. "The 29th Massachusetts comprised about a hundred and twenty-five muskets in the hands of three-years veterans. The 21st was somewhat more numerous, and its personnel had served within a few months of three years. The 56th, 57th * and 59th Massachusetts had from 200 to 300 men each. They were new regiments composed mainly of re-enlisted nine months' troops. The 100th Pennsylvania had about 500 men present under arms. It was a veteran regiment which had been filled *The Fifty-Seventh had only 91.— J. A. 206 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. while on furlough, and about half the men present were recruits. Bartlett had about 1800 men under arms. These figures are only proximate. " The troops were of better than average quality, and the battalion and company commanders had almost all seen a year's service, or more, in the field, in positions of officers or sergeants. The order in which these troops stood in the covered way is not known. Colonel Gould commanded the 59th ; Colonel "Weld the 56th ; Captain Tripp the 29th ; Colonel Barnes being officer of the day; Captain Clarke commanded the 21st a part of the day, perhaps not at the very first. The commander of the 100th is not remembered. It had suffered frequent losses of regimental com- manders in that fatal three months' campaign before the mine affair. " The time between the explosion of the mine and Marshall's advance was not taken. It may be estimated from a contempo- raneous occurrence as follows : Colonel Marshall had sent for the writer from his place with the third line, and had announced that the explosion had been delayed and was to come off right away. Marshall was leaning with his left arm on the parapet as he made this communication. The writer was half facing him with his right arm on the parapet, and was rising to turn away from Marshall to go to his line, when there was a tremor, the enemy's fort rose slowly, then more rapidly in the air. There flashed* out a lily-shaped fountain of dark red and yellow lire, with brown spots and streaks in it, in shape like an old ring jet of water, called the "lily," in the Boston Frog Pond fountain. While it was in the air the adjutant-general turned half back and said, 'Colonel, was anything ever so beautiful as that?* Marshall's words were almost simultaneously spoken: 'Gentlemen, take command of your lines. 2d Pennsylvania, rise up. Forward, March: By the right Hank ; inarch. Over the parapet, and swinu, up your left.' Similar commands were given to the second line by Colonel Robinson, alter .Marshall's line had moved. The third line Started tip and forward before the second had cleared the works. It was checked and halted a moment or so till the second had cleared the works. This check, CO,U8ed '"I " tOO rapid i' two brigades. The brigade commanded by (initial Bartletl Of .Massachusetts, whose reputation is well known, was composed of the following Massachusetts regiments, viz. : 21st, 29th, 35th, ."><',th, .07th and 59th, also the 100th Pennsyl- vania. Tin' 21s1 was :m old regiment, fought in Burnside's earliesl campaign in North Carolina, and had followed the General's fortunes from the first. The 29th contained the oldest three veins' companies from New England, the oldest perhaps in the country. They were :it the battle of Big Bethel, had served PETERSBURG MINE. 215 six months iu the Irish Brigade under McClellan, was one of the only two regiments in the whole army present at both the sieges of Richmond and Vicksburg. The 35th fought its first battle at South Mountain and Antietam, where it lost heavily, and had served constantly in the Ninth Corps since that time. The 56th, 57th and 59th were Veteran Regiments, raised as such in the winter of 1864, under the personal supervision and care of Governor Andrew, and were officered by veterans. The writer is not familiar with the early history of the 100th Pennsylvania, but can say that it was an old regiment, and one of the very best fighting regiments in the army. The records of these regi- ments will more than sustain these statements. The other brigade of the division was composed of a less number of regiments, with whose history the writer is not entirely familiar, but knows of no reason why it should not compare favorably with the best ; one at least, the 3d Maryland, was an old regiment and a good one." This authority is beyond question. The statements made by these two officers are based upon personal knowledge, and not hearsay, and therefore entitled to consideration. Yet we follow with another authority upon the same, that of Lieut. -Col. W. H. Powell of the 11th U.S. Infantry, who, at that time, was an officer on General Ledlie's staff. I quote extracts from an article published by him in the fourth volume of " Battles and Leaders of the Civil War " : " After falling back into the crater a partial formation was made by General Bartlett and Colonel Marshall with some of their troops, but owing to the precipitous walls the men could find no footing except by facing inward, digging their heels into the earth, and throwing their backs against the side of the crater, or squatting in a half sitting, half standing posture, and some of the men were shot even there by the fire from the enemy in the traverses. " It was at this juncture that Colonel Marshall requested me to go to General Ledlie and explain the condition of affairs, which he knew that I had seen and knew perfectly well. This I did immediately Passing to the Union lines under this storm 216 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. of canister, I found General Lecllie and a part of his staff ensconced in a protected angle of the works. I gave him Colonel Marshall's message, explained to him the situation, and Colonel Marshall's reasons for not moving forward. General Ledlie then directed me to return at once and say to Colonel Marshall and General Bartlett that it was General Burnside's order that they should move forward immediately. This message was delivered ; but the tiring on the crater now was incessant and it was as heavy a lire of canister as was ever poured continuously upon a single objective point. " It was :is utterly impracticable to re-form a brigade in that crater as it would be to marshal bees into line after upsetting the hive, and equally as impracticable to re-form outside of the crater, under the severe fire in front and rear, as it would be to held di'ess parade in front of a charging enemy. Here, then, was the second point of advantage lost, by the fact that there was no person present to change the programme to meet the circum- stances. •• Bad a prompt attack of the troops to the right and left of the ciatcr been made as soon as the leading brigade had passed into the crater, or even fifteen minutes afterward, clearing the trenches and diverting the fire of -the enemy, success would have been inevitable, and particularly would this have been the ease on the left of the crater, as the small fort immediately in front of the Fifth Corps was almost, if not entirely, abandoned for a while after the explosion of the mine, the men running away from it as if they feared that it was to l»e blown up also. "Whether General Ledlie informed General Burnside of the condition of affairs as reported by me, I do not know ; but I think it likely, as it was Q01 long after 1 had returned to the crater that a brigade of the Second Division (Potter's) under the command of Brig-( ren. S. (i. ( rriffin, advanced its skirmishers and followed them immediately, directing its course to the right of the crater. General Griffin's line, however, overlapped the crater on the left, where two or three of his regiments sought shelter in the crater. Those 0E the right passed over the trenches, hut Owing t<» the peculiar character of the enemy's works, which were not single. PETERSBURG MINE. 217 but complex, and involuted and filled with pits, traverses and bomb-proofs, forming a labyrinth as difficult of passage as the crater itself, the brigade was broken up, and meeting the severe fire of canister, also fell back into the crater, which was then full to suffocation. Every organization melted away as soon as it entered this hole in the ground, into a mass of human beings clinging by toes and heels to the almost perpendicular sides. If a man was shot on the crest he fell and rolled to the bottom of the pit Orders were, however, being constantly sent to the three division commanders of the white troops to push the men forward as fast as could be done, and this was, in substance, about all the orders that were received by them during the day up to the time of the order for the withdrawal. "When General Wilcox came with the Third Division to support the First, he found the latter and three regiments of his own, together with the regiments of Potter's Second Division, which had gone in on the right, so completely filling up the crater that no more troops could be got in there, and he therefore ordered an attack with the remainder of his division on the works of the enemy to the left of the crater. This attack was successful, so far as to carry the intrenchments for about one hundred and fifty yards ; but they -were held only for a short time. Previous to this last movement, I had again left the crater and gone to General Ledlie, and had urged him to try to have something done on the right and left of the crater, saying that every man who got into the trenches to the right or left of it used them as a means of escape to the crater, and the enemy was re-occupying them as fast as our men left. All the satisfaction I received was an order to go back and tell the brigade commanders to get their men out and press forward to Cemetery Hill. This talk and these orders coming from a commander sitting in a bomb-proof inside the Union lines, was disgusting. I returned again to the crater and delivered the orders, which I knew beforehand could not possibly be obeyed ; and I told General Ledlie so before I left him. Upon my return to the crater I devoted my attention to the movements of the enemy, who was evidently making dis- positions for an assault. 218 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. "About two hours after the explosion of the miue (seven o'clock), and after I had returned to the crater for the third time, Gen. Edward Ferrero, commanding the colored division of the Ninth Corps, received an order to advance his division, ' pass the white troops which had halted, and move on to carry the crest of Cemetery Hill at all hazards.' " It can readily be seen that where those in high authority aud supposed to know, differ so widely as to what the orders really were, or their understanding of them, those who were in the ranks could not be supposed to interpret or understand them, and could not execute conflicting orders. In such a case and under such conditions, confusion is the inevitable result. Where the respon- sibility rests for this serious misunderstanding we are unable to say. Descriptions given by different writers and from different standpoints cannot all be alike, as all could not see the same. We have written the details as we saw them with the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts and will let the writing stand as our story. The description given of the movements of brigades ami divisions has been compiled from copies of orders and reports and the careful study of authentic history. For one man to see all that was done by all the brigades and divisions that day would he impossible. We will not undertake the task of saying what orders were actually issued further than we have done already. The reader will find no difficulty in arriving at the conclusion, from the copies of orders we have quoted, that it was in the final plan, as adopted by Generals Meade and Burnside, that the First Division of the Ninth Corps was to advance directly through the crater to the heights of Cemetery Hill beyond. The valiant general commanding the First Division was charged with the execution of this plan, but became tangled in a greater confusion than the troops he commanded, in a safe bomb-proof in rear of our lines, where he was heroically struggling with some invisible enemy, who was evidently as difficull to manage as il would have been to marshal Colonel Powell's bees into line after he had upsel the hive. If his troops were •• w it hout PETERSBURG MINE. 219 a responsible bead," he could truthfully say that he was in the same unfortunate situation. After receiving the letters heretofore quoted, we wrote to Gen. J. H. Barnes, stating the matter to him and asking his opinion as to the apparent confliction of orders. General Barnes was at the time lieutenant-colonel and commanded the 29th Massachusetts in this engagement, and was one of the two field officers of the First Brigade who came out of the crater. His statement is very clear and concise and seems to confirm the explanation that we have given, viz.: "That the confusion of orders originated in the confused condition of the division commanders." One thing appears evident; that is, that the officers and men who went into the crater with the First Division did not receive orders to move beyond and seize the crest known as Cemetery Hill until it was too late to execute them. This was confirmed by General Bartlett, as will appear in a letter which we append from W. H. Osborne, the able historian of the 29th Massachusetts. This appears to be the truth of history, as it has not appeared before and clears the men of the First Division of the Ninth Corps from the odium that has been passed upon them by such writers as Swinton, who never took the trouble to carefully study the subject from behind the scenes, a self-constituted critic of matters which he did not understand and apparently took no pains to obtain correct and reliable information. We quote General Barnes and W. H. Osborne as follows : — East Boston, Feb. 7th, 1895. Capt. John Anderson, U.S. Army. My Dear' Captain : I am in receipt of yours of January 30th, and note your reference to the orders of General Meade and General Burnside, which indicate that it was the intention that the First Division should continue to advance after reaching the crater. Snch being the case, an error was somewhere made in transmitting the order. My statements as to the orders received from the brigade commander on the afternoon preceding the battle stand for what they are worth. I cannot undertake to explain the matter, and prefer not to hazard any conjecture or criti- cism. You inform me that Colonel Clarke confirms my statement by saying that brigade commanders received orders "not to move beyond 220 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. the crater." This is certainly strong confirmation. Observe that I stated that regimental commanders received such orders. Clarke, if I understood you correctly, goes further and says that brigade commanders received the orders. If I am not mistaken, Clarke was at the time adjutant-general on the staff of Colonel Marshall, commanding the Second Brigade. If so, this testimony is invaluable. Plainly, an error was made somewhere. I do not question that an attempt was made to advance the division som< Hun. after it reached the erater, when the con- dition of affairs was badly mixed. If I am correct in saying that regi- mental commanders had understood that they were not to advance, it was a difficult matter to altei things in the confusion that existed in the crater. Now, regarding Colonel Powell's statement and General Ledlie's order to advance, communicated through Powell, it is my impression, in which I may he wrong, that Powell went back and reported the con- dition of affairs, and was then directed to advance the division, this being the first lime that the division had been ordered to advance. If I am right, Powell didn'1 report that his division would not or could not advance leading to the inference that it had been previously ordered to do so. He went hack to explain the situation and stated the impossi- hilitv of any advance, and this was after troops, other than our division, occupied the crater. Then he received the order to advance our division Look carefully at the order which you quote as given to Powell, and see it" there is not some indication in it that the division had nol previously received orders to advance. If Powell meant to refer to his division solely, then, of course,.! am wrong as far as the Powell inci- dent is concerned, The historian of my regiment, the 29th, says (p. 316) : •' The other divisions, with the exception of the Fourth, followed, but they did noi advance beyond the lines of the First Division. Remaining in the crater, they added to the confusion, and Anally rendered any movement impossible." since von wrote me 1 have obtained from the historian of the 29th Massachusetts Regimenl a paper of greal value in connection with the matter at issue, which I take the liberty of enclosing herewith. By referring to pages 315 and 316 of the 29th's history, you will at once perceive from the enclosed document thai General Bartletl fully con- firms iin statement that we were "not to advance" after reaching tin' crater .... Boston. Feb. 2, L895. < ..n. Joseph ii. B irnes. Dear sir: The statemenl of a field officer of General Ledlie's Division, Ninth Corps, referred to on page 816 of the history of the 29th Regimenl of Massachusetts Volunteers, and quoted entire on pages 315 PETERSBURG MINE. 221 and 316 of that work, was referred to Gen. William F. Bartlett, who commanded the first brigade of that division at the time of the battle, for his inspection, and opinion touching its accuracy. After retaining the manuscript for several weeks, he returned it to me, with a letter, in Avhich he stated that he concurred in all the material statements con- tained in it, especially as to the plan of the movement and the orders given to the various brigade commanders. I am yours respectfully, W. H. OSBORNE, Historian of the 29th Mass. Regt. We have entered more fully into the details of this engage- ment than we otherwise would, for the reason that so much odium for the unfortunate failure has been cast upon the gallant men of the First Division, by which great injustice has been done them. It is our purpose to publish only the truth, which, we believe, will fully vindicate them from the aspersions that even many his- torians have been blindly led to cast upon them, even by implica- tion that their conduct was cowardly and dishonorable, which is the reverse of the actual truth. One fact seems settled beyond question, viz. : that General Meade's orders to General Burnside, and the latter's orders to his division commanders, were for the First Division to move beyond the crater and seize the crest known as Cemetery Hill. Whether it were possible to execute the order, or not, will always remain a question of speculation, but that the men of the First Division were guilty of "misbehavior" or would not go forward in obedience to orders, we emphatically deny. Early in the action we personally heard division and brigade staff officers communi- cating orders to " halt," later, and when it became impossible to advance, orders were heard to move " forward." Colonel Loring of General Burnside's staff reported during the engagement that Ledlie's division was in the crater, but " could not be got forward." He did not say that they refused to go forward, and did not say why they "could not be got forward." This was about an hour after the explosion of the mine. General Meade evidently did not understand the confused condition of affairs at that time existing in the mine, for he at once ordered General Burnside to " push with all his force to the 222 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. crest." The confusion then was so great, and the obstacles that were presented so absolutely insurmountable, that it was wholly impossible to have obeyed the order, even if every man had been a General Grant, a General Meade, an Agamemnon or Achilles. General Grant says in his " Personal Memoirs " : " Ledlie's division marched into the crater immediately on the explosion, but most of them stopped there in the absence of an} 7 one to give directions, their commander having found some safe retreat to get into before they started." Generals Grant, Meade and Burnside all agree that the orders were for the First Division to push forward beyond the crater and seize Cemetery Hill. In reviewing the reports, made subsequent to the affair, as published in "Rebellion Records," we find that every division commander acted upon this basis. Re- ports of brigade commanders of the First Division are silent upon this point, but assume that they had accomplished their purpose in carrying the position of the crater. As General Ledlie, the commander of the First Division, has been severely censured for not carrying out his orders, it is only fair to hear what he had to say. In his report published in " Rebellion Records," he says (after describing the formations for the charge) : lt I then gave instructions to my brigade com- manders to the effect Hint when the order for the charge was given the column should move through the breach to be made by the mine and then to press forward and occupy the hill beyond, when the 35th were to be set at work throwing up intrenchments. At daylight everything was ready. The mine was sprung at 4.45 a.m., and the fortifications in my front were utterly demolished. As soon as the debris, consequent upon the explosion, had fallen to the ground, I gave the order for the charge and my brigades mounted our breastworks and pushed forward gallantly over the slope leading to the enemy's line, taking possession of the demol- ished fori and occupying about one hundred yards of the enemy's rifle pits to the left (our right of it ) , capturing one stand of colors and about fifty prisoners. The division was here halted to re- form and hastily constructed traverses to shield the men from a terrible and incessant think lire, which at the same time afforded PETERSBURG MINE. 223 our sharpshooters an excellent opportunity for picking off can- noneers from a battery that enfiladed the position and poured a destructive fire of canister and shrapnel into my line. At this time the enemy was holding the same line of iutrenchments with my own troops, starting from the point where the right of my division rested and extending thence to the left (our right) . It was impossible for my line to advance from this position as no troops had come up on my right to dislodge the enemy, and had I moved my line forward the enemy would, merely by filing to the right in the same trench, have occupied my position and poured a deadly tire into my rear. I reported this fact to one of the corps staff officers and soon after received peremptory orders to move my troops forward. I immediately gave the necessary orders, and the brigade commanders had barely got their men into proper position for a charge when the colored troops came run- ning into the crater, and filing through passed into the rifle pits to the left (our right) of the fort, where my troops now formed for the charge. " The colored troops then made a feeble attempt at a charge, but before they accomplished anything the enemy made a fierce attack and they retreated precipitately into the rifle pits, breaking my line and crowding the pits to such an extent that it was impossible to re-form my line. " The enemy, seeing the advantage gained by this attack, shortly afterwards made another, fiercer and more determined than the first, and owing to the crowded condition of the troops, a panic was created among the colored regiments and they broke and fled in disorder to the rear, pressing back with them a large portion of my line. Those remaining in the pits were then captured . . . ." It will be seen from this report that he had at some time understood that his order was to go forward to the crest. Com- menting upon it, through the light of personal observation, we are free to say that after passing through the crater with much difficulty, the lines had become considerably broken and it was necessary to halt and re-form them before advancing upon Ceme- tery Hill. However, that could have been accomplished before 224 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. the enemy could have recovered from his surprise. As for exposing the flanks, where the enemy might gain our rear, that had already been provided for by the following divisions swinging to the right and left, which they could not do until the First Division had moved forward beyond the crater, so as not to be in the way. The fact was, the enemy was not there in force strong enough to make any flank attack and very little firing came from the flanks for some time, a time sufficient to have executed all the movements for the security of both flanks and rear. General Ledlie's orders were imperative and left him no discretion. He should therefore have been present in person, clothed in his right mind, re-formed his lines at once and charged the crest beyond, though it had cost him every man in the division ; leaving the part to be performed by others to those to whom the task had been assigned, instead of faltering for fear the}' would not do it. As General Ledlie was not present with his division, his report is based upon those made to him, what others saw and not he, and therefore loses most of its value as a reliable document. Wo only give it that his version of the affair may be considered for what it is deemed worth. In General Burnside's report he says: "At about G.30 a.m. orders were again sent to the division commanders not to halt at the works, but to advance at once to the crest without waiting for mutual support." In tin' general plan of attack the Ninth Corps was to be supported by the Fifth and Eighteenth, the latter to follow the Ninth when the way was clear, while the Fifth was to consolidate on their right, to the left of the Ninth Corps, and advance upon the enemy's main line in case it should he weakened to meet the assaull of tin' Ninth. During the operations the Fifth Corps made no attempt to advance, its commander reporting that the rebel works in his front were still held by a strong force. He docs not say upon what information this report was hased. Those who were in the crater and in position where they could Bee, have stated that the Confederate front line for some distance to the right and left was for a time almost entirely abandoned. G. W. TOURTELLOT, Sergeant Co. H, 57th Mass. PETERSBURG MINE. 225 These statements have since been confirmed by Confederate reports. An advance along the whole line, at this time, to the right and left of the crater, could probably have been made as easily as it was the following April. At least a demonstration by the troops which were held in reserve would have relieved the terrible pressure which was bearing with deadly effect upon the Ninth Corps in the crater; we mean a direct assault upon the enemy's intrenched line and not by way of the crater. This would have given the troops of the Ninth Corps an opportunity for re-forming and moving forward to Cemetery Hill. One brigade of the Eighteenth Corps did get in when it became too late to accomplish anything, but as General Meade reported, was carried back by the "disorganized Fourth Division of the Ninth Corps." In the report above referred to (see "Rebellion Records ") General Meade adds : "It will be seen to be the con- current testimony of all parties that the failure of success was in a great measure due to the injudicious advance of the colored division into the overcrowded crater and adjacent parts of the enemy's line, and to the confusion produced by their retiring a disordered and disorganized mass after attempting an assault." On the 24th of July, six days preceding this affair, General Meade called upon his chief engineer (Major Uuane) for his opinion as to the expediency of an assault after the explosion of the mine. The latter replied (same date) : " I have the honor to state that the line of the enemy's works in front of General Burnside is not situated on the crest of the ridge separating us from Petersburg ; that the enemy have undoubtedly occupied this ridge as a second line. Should General Burnside succeed in exploding his mine he would probably be able to take the enemy's first line, which is about one hundred yards in advance of his approach. Beyond this I do not think he could advance until the works in front of the Fifth Corps are carried, as the Ninth Corps columns would be taken in Hank by a heavy artillery fire from works in front of the centre of the Fifth Corps and in front by fire from the works on the crest near the Cemetery Hill. I do not believe that the works in front of the Fifth Corps can be 15 226 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. carried until our lines can be extended to the left, so as to envelop the enemy's line." The Court of Inquiry which was ordered to inquire into the cause of failure severely censured the Ninth Corps Commander (General Burnside) and every division commander of the Ninth Corps, except General Potter, but was entirely silent upon the inaction of the commander of the Fifth Corps. While General Burnside requested an investigation of the matter, he objected to the court, as constituted, and addressed a letter to that effect to the Secretary of War, in which he said : "Whilst I have the greatest respect for the officers composing the court ordered by Special Orders War Department, No. 258, to examine into the affair of the 30th instant (ultimo) I beg to submit that it should be composed of officers who do not belong to this army. Whilst I am most willing and feel it my due to have the fullest investigation, I should not, under the circum- stances, demand one, nor seek to press the mutter to an issue in any degree adverse to the general commanding the Army of the Potomac. I am ready to await the verdict of time. But, if an investigation is to be had, I feel that I have a right to ask that it be made by officers not in this army, and not selected by General Meade. All of the officers constituting the court held command in the supporting columns which were not brought into action that day. Tin' judge advocate is a member of General Meade's staff. Genera] Meade has also preferred charges against me upon which I desire to be tried. As the court convenes on Monday, the 8th instant. I respectfully request an answer may be returned as soon as possible." Tins request was not granted, and the court, as originally con- stituted, was convened. Its findings have not been full}' justified by the verdict of time, or the Congressional Committee. Our gallant brigade commander, Genera] Bartlett, received qo censure, and as he alwavs spoke in the highest praise of the conduct of the brigade, we are unable to see any truth or justice in the slurs and criticisms that have been cast upon the men of the First Division of the Ninth Corps. With all that has been said to their discredit, not a single incident of cowardice has ever been cited, PETERSBURG MINE. 227 and no one has ventured to say what, under the circumstances, for which they were not responsible, they should have done. General Barnes, who succeeded General Bartlett in command of the brigade, after the latter had been captured, speaks in praise of Capt. George H. Howe, of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts, who "was killed while standing on the enemy's works and en- couraging the men." CHAPTER X. WELDON RAILROAD. CCORDING to the Returns of the Army of the Po- tomac on the 20th of Jul} 7 , 1864 (prior to the crater engagement), its effective force of infantry, enlisted men present for duty equipped, was 37,984; its effective force of cavalry, 10,280. The effective force of infantry of the Army of the James on the 31st of July was 24,009 ; of its cavalry 1,880. "The effective force of the Army of Northern Virginia on the 10th of July (Confederate), was 39,295; of its cavalry, 8,436. The Sixth Corps of the Army of the Potomac and the Second Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia were detached and not included in these returns. Johnson's and Hoke's divisions are included in the streugth of the Army of Northern Virginia." The above is taken from "The Virginia Campaign of 1864 and 1865," by Gen. A. A. Humphreys, page 265. After the disastrous affair at the crater, the remnant of the regiment, numbering less than fifty men for duty, under command of Lieut. Albert Doty, resumed the old routine in the trenches and was assigned to the Third Brigade of the First Division, commanded by General White. Col. Joseph H. Barnes of the 29th Massachusetts was assigned to the command of the brigade. The men felt a satisfaction in knowing that the division com- mander was an officer of acknowledged ability and one upon whom they could reby, while Colonel Barnes was a gallant officer who had been conspicuous for his bravery upon many former occasions, a man of tireless energy and dash, in every respect a fine soldier. General Burnside was granted leave of absence August 13th, and immediately took his departure from the army, much to the 230 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. regret of all the officers and men under his command, who held him in great esteem and affection. His kind consideration of them, during all the trying scenes through which the Ninth Corps had passed, had won for him the enduring affection of all. Know- ing that he felt more deeply than anyone else the mortification of the dark crater disaster, the men felt that he, as well as they, bad been made the victim of a combination of unfortunate circum- stances, and their hearts clung to him all the stronger. There never was a time when his name would arouse more enthusiasm in the Ninth Corps than when he was taking leave of it. Men in the ranks may be entirely ignorant of the plans and purposes of those in high command, but they are not slow, and seldom err, to perceive where the responsibility rests for failure or success. This was not an exceptional instance, and their judgment did not fix the entire responsibility of this failure upon General Burnside. He was succeeded by Gen. John G. Parke. General Ledlie's leave-taking was not so much to be regretted. It rather seemed that he was a little out of place as a general, though he would doubtless have proved a success in running a hotel. His removal from command was a heavy loss to the enemy. The brigade was given no time for rest or recuperation. One day it would be in the rifle pits at the front, and the next doing fatigue duty in rear, and constantly exposed to the fire of the enemy, both day and night, losing one man, Private AVesley D. Goddard of Co. F, mortally wounded (died Aug. 18th, 1864), and four men wounded, viz. : Privates Patrick Delaney and William Neville of Co. A, George W. Kinney, Co. 1. and Henry H. Perry of Co. K (died of wounds April 9th, 1865). During the night of August 14 th, the Ninth Corps was re- lieved by the Eighteenth and marched off to the left, where it relieved the Fifth Corps, while the latter moved towards the Weldon Railroad. Here the regiment, with the rest of the brig- ade, was placed on the skirmish line, in an exposed position, without defensive works of any kind. On the l'.Uh it was moved still farther to the left, in order to connect with the Fifth Corps. While on the march through a drenching rainstorm, it was furiously attacked by the enemy, who approached from a piece of WELDOX RAILROAD. 231 woods and assailed the right flank. For a time our troops were staggered and a serious disaster was threatened. The attack was made by the Confederate troops under Gen. A. P. Hill, Mahone's division being directed upon the command of General Wilcox. The fighting at this point was very spirited, but our troops suc- ceeded in holding the lines against repeated charges ; the Fifty-Seventh again lost heavily. The regiment went into action with forty-five enlisted men under command of 1st Lieut. Albert Doty and lost one enlisted man killed, Private Uriah Barrett of Co. A, and Corp. George W. Willard of Co. H, who died of wounds Sept. 18th, 1864, making the loss two killed, seven wounded and seven missing as follows : — WOUNDED. A. Beclreaux, Pvt. Co. A Edmund Pine, Pvt. Co. F Daniel Flynn, " " Dennis Lee, " Co. G Henry C. Flagg, Sergt. Co. B (Died of wounds Sept. 7th, 1864.) Charles A. Bates, Pvt. Co D Guilford P. Heath, Pvt. Co. K MISSING. Joseph E. Sweetser, Pvt. Co. A Merwin Rowe, Pvt. Co. C (Died of wounds Oct. 30th, 1864, Charles Rathburue, " Co. D at Salisbury, N.C.) John Shea, " " Charles E. Culver, Pvt. Co. B Joseph H. Beckwith, " Co. I Joseph Benois, " Co. C Making a total of sixteen. The regiment had now become reduced to one officer and less than one-third of a company. The timely arrival of the Ninth Corps saved the Fifth from defeat. The corps captured about two hundred prisoners and a stand of colors, held and strengthened the line which had been captured and which, after that, became a part of the main line of Federal works on the left. The Ninth Corps was now posted, with the division of General Wilcox on the right, from the Fifth Corps on the Weldon Railroad to the left of the Second Corps on the Jerusalem plank road, and remained in this position until the 21st, when the enemy resumed the attack with great vigor, repeatedly charging our line of breastworks, in order to regain possession of that part of the Weldon Railroad, which had been captured by our troops, but each charge was repulsed with great 232 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. loss to the assailants. The Federal loss was also considerable,, amounting to about three thousand in killed, wounded and missing. The Fifth Corps lost heavily in missing. The great object of contention was now the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad, running nearly due south from Petersburg, and which was one of the main arteries of supply for the Confederate troops in and around Petersburg. With this in possession of the Federals, they had only the South Side Railroad, running in a southwesterly direction and connecting with the Richmond and Danville Railroad at Burke's Station, which was also the junction of the railroad from Richmond to Lynchburg, due west from Petersburg. The South Side road would be their main source of supply, although they held undisputed possession of the railroad from Petersburg to Richmond. The possession of the small portion of the Weldon Railroad held by the Federal troops would not prevent the Confederates from using it, as a Hue of supply, up to a point where freight could be hauled by wagons to Petersburg. The object of the Federal commander was to gain possession of, or destroy,. about ten or twelve miles more of it, to the south, as far as Rowanty Creek. This would necessitate the hauling of Confederate supplies around by Dinwiddie Court House and Boyd to n plank road to Petersburg, thus rendering the Weldon Railroad of little practical use as a source of supply to the Confederate army. The Federal movement to gain this object was anticipated by the Confederates, who, fully realizing its importance, took steps to prevent it, General Lee sending most of A. P. Hill's corps, with one brigade of Longstreet's and two divisions of General Wade Hampton's cavalry, to gain possession of the disputed road. These movements brought on the engagement at Ream's Station, a point on the above mentioned road, just north Of Rowanty Creek. The Second Corps had been moved around to the left iii the vicinity of Ream's Station, where it was attacked On the 25th by the troops under Gen. A. P. Hill, who gained a decided advantage, the loss of the Second Corps being nearly twenty-five hundred, with the loss of several stands of colors. A.s the Fifty-Seventh did not actively participate in this engage- WELDON RAILROAD. 233 ment we will not attempt a description of it. The heavy losses which had fallen upon the First Division of the Ninth Corps had so reduced it as to make a reorganization of the corps necessary. In Woodbury's "History of the Ninth Army Corps" he speaks of the First Division as follows : "They had borne an honorable part in every action since the opening of the campaign, and had left on every battlefield the evidences of their heroic self-sacrifice. It now became necessary to merge the troops of the First Divi- sion with those of the Second and Third. The troops were divided, but the name was retained. General White was relieved and General Wilcox placed in command of the First Division and General Potter in command of the Second, as thus compacted." In this consolidation and transfer (Sept. 1st, 1864), the 29th, 57th and 59th Massachusetts, 3d Maryland, 100th Pennsylvania and 14th New York Heavy Artillery composed the Third Brigade, First Division of the Ninth Army Corps. On the 25th of August the regiment was moved about half a mile to the right and constructed a strong line of earthworks, where it remained doing picket duty until September 29th. Dur- ing this time some of the officers and men who had been absent, sick and wounded returned to the regiment for duty, so that it numbered about sixty men. On September 3d, Lieut-Col. J. M. Tucker, though not having entirely recovered from the wound he received on the 17th of June, joined and took command of the regiment. On the 14th of September, N. B. McLaughlen was mustered into the United States service as colonel of the Fifty-Seventh, per special orders from the War Department, with rank from Dec. 17th, 1862. He immediately assumed command of the brigade by virtue of seniority of his commission. Colonel McLaughlen at this time held a commission as captain in the Fourth Regular Cavalry. He had previously held the position of colonel of the old 1st Massachusetts Infantry, and was an officer of wide ex- perience, brave and cool in action, firm in discipline, efficient in command and ambitious to win the glittering star, but, as it only came by brevet, it never shone in full radiance upon his shoulders. Before closing the chapter on the Weldon Railroad, we take pleasure in publishing a portion of a very interesting article from 234 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. the pen of Whitman V. White, M.D., published in the January (1895) number of the magazine entitled "Blue and Gray." Doctor White was surgeon of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts at the time. I omit the part relating to other regiments. " The division was under the command of Brigadier-General White and the brigade was under the command of Colonel Barnes. The command reached an open field just in season to check a well-meant flank movement of the enemy " In all my service with the Army of the Potomac as medical officer at division headquarters, I was really under fire but a few times. This was one of the occasions, consequently the events of that day were burned into my soul and can never be forgotten. If I had time to write the history of the regiment of which I was commissioned surgeon by Governor Andrew of Massachusetts (Fifty-Seventh), of its almost complete annihilation in the battles from the Wilderness to the Weldon Railroad, every man of which was my personal friend, one could appreciate the sentiment which prompted me, on the afternoon of the 18th of August, to go and see the few that were left in the trenches on the right of the line in front of Petersburg.* Our casualties embraced the killing or wounding of every field and line officer except two. The regiment was in command of a 1st lieutenant, the line quiet and the evening balmy. Gen. Julius White was temporarily in command of the division, which was three miles from where I had located the division hospital. The General invited me to remain with him until morning, and supplied me with a blanket on which 1 hud down upon the veranda of the house which was occupied by the officers. At three a.m. I was awakened by the long roll. An aide from corps head- quarters brought an order for the division to move immediately for the Weldon Railroad, about eight miles distant, to the support of :i division of the Fifth Corps that had Keen attacked the day before and repulsed. Instead of going hack to the hospital I sent my orderly to order the ambulance train and medical staff to follow on. As the skeleton of my regiment passed the place where General White and I were standing, a young private said tome: 'Doctor, I have no musket; may I go to the rear?' I •I'lii- relates to the cniter, .Inly . '."t li. — J. A. WELDON RAILROAD. 235 said to him : ' Go with us, my boy, we will take care of you.' On the march I saw him trudging along. The morning was bright and clear. We followed an aide from the Fifth Corps and an occasional shot in the distance told us that we were Hearing the Confederate lines. I was riding with General White and his staff as we entered a cornfield, not one of us suspecting that we were near the line of action, when from a piece of wood, which skirted the field, we received a volley of musketry on our right flank. The worn-out little private who had asked to go to the rear when we started, lay dead with a bullet hole through his forehead. When I saw his lifeless form, as he lay between the rows of corn, I reproached myself for not allowing him to go to the rear. " In a moment a line of battle was formed. We were isolated. From the firing which then became general along the whole line, General White learned the direction of the Fifth Corps line of battle. Captain Snow of his staff said he would try and find the left of Warren's line. I immediately took possession of a house under the hill and established a field hospital. An aide from the Second Brigade staff reported to me, saying he was not well and asked to remain with me at the field hospital. He was constitu- tionally a coward and could not help it; otherwise he was a magnificent fellow, a social chum of Captain Snow. As soon as the ambulances reported they were sent in the direction of the firing, returning shortly filled with the wounded, some of whom had lain on the ground all night. It was not long before word was brought me that Captain Snow was badly wounded, and he was removed to the division hospital far in our rear. The Captain had found Warren's left, and when returning, went through a terrific fire. He lay on his horse's neck and rode fast and furious, but, in this position, a bullet entered the top of his shoulder, and passing downward and outward, cut the spinal cord below his arms, thus paralyzing him, with the exception of his arms. When the lieutenant, to whom I have referred, pushed aside the tent fly and saw his bosom companion lying there helpless, his emotions overcame him, and he turned quickly and looked out of the tent. Observing this, the dying soldier said : ' Never mind, lieutenant, this is the fortune of war. I have been in twenty-four battles 236 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. and thought I should live to get home, but I have met the fate of a soldier.' .... "The house and the yard where I had established the temporary field hospital were soon filled with wounded from the Fifth Corps, our division and some Confederates I made no distinction among the wounded so far as personal com- fort was concerned, but attended to operations for our own men first, if there were no immediate necessity of doing otherwise. Among the Confederates wounded was an Irishman with a broad brogue. His right limb was shattered below the knee, he had a wound through the thigh and a flesh wound in the abdominal wall. This Irishman, I think, was from a Louisiana regiment. He was made comfortable while he waited for me to amputate his leg. As he lay upon an improvised bed, I went to him and said : ' Pat. I didn't expect to find you fighting against the old green flag.' His reply was : ' Shure, they made me think it was for the old green flag I was fighting. I have been in the South for eleven years.' I told him we were going to do for him just as we did for our own men and his leg must come off. He said he knew it and wanted the job done. In a playful way I said to him: 'You will not be able to march with a wooden leg, but you can ride a horse, so if you get well, you can join the cavalry.' Hi* reply was: 'A divil a step will I go.' I asked him if the Confederates did not owe hini pay. He said, ' Yes, eleven months." 'You'll go back for that?' I questioned. 'Not much,' was the reply; ' it would take a month's pay to get a good dinner in Richmond. You might as well have the laves off the bushes.' " Among the wounded of the Fifth Corps that made an attack on the 1 8th was Lieutenant McKibbin, of Genera] Hay's staff. When I came t<> him, as an expression of his gratitude he took a stud from his shirt bosom, on which was marked his initials and regiment, and asked me to keep it as;i token from him. About noon the rain came down in torrents. There were no loads or fences :i> landmarks, and getting aboutf, excepl on foot or horse- hack, was difficult. The scenes we parsed through that day. the discomforts of the situation and the continual loss of 30 man\, men and officers, have left their lasting impression." CHAPTER XI. POPLAR GROVE CHURCH. 'LL quiet along the Appomattox," was the condition of affairs during most of the month of September, 18G4. The regiment took its place in the trenches and did not engage in active operations until near the end of the mouth, and the men were allowed a little rest. This, however, was only "the calm that precedes the storm." General Grant was again form- ulating his plans for further " hammering," and his attention was still directed towards the Confederate right flank. His aim was now, not only to secure a firmer grasp of the foothold gained on the Weldon Railroad, but to extend the left flank further to the west to gain possession of the South Side Railroad heretofore mentioned This successfully accomplished would leave the Confederates in possession of only one railroad, that running north to Richmond. It was known that the Confederates would not relinquish the South Side road without the most desperate fighting ; that every step of the way would be stubbornly disputed. On the 28th of September, the First and Second Divisions of the Ninth Corps were massed in preparation for the contem- plated advance, and on the 30th the movement commenced. It was a continuation of the old story, "swinging around to the left," to crush the Confederate right. The Ninth Corps was to co-operate with the Fifth, the first objective point being to gain possession of the intersection of two wagon roads of considerable importance, known as the Poplar Spring and Squirrel Level roads. This was at Peeble's farm, about two miles beyond and to the west of the Weldon Railroad. From there the movement was to be further continued toward the Boydton road and the South Side Railroad ; pushed, in fact, as far as possible. The enemy was strongly posted on a ridge of hills near Peeble's farm. General 238 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Griffin's division of the Fifth Corps made a gallant charge over six hundred yards of open ground, carrying the enemy's position and capturing one gun and a small number of prisoners. The enemy retired to another intrenched position about half a mile in rear of the first. The Ninth Corps moved up promptly to the support of the Fifth. The two divisions, First and Second, moved through the Pegram farm towards the Boydton road. The Second Brigade of the Second Division moved forward to the attack, but was met by a superior force, which broke the line between the two corps (Fifth and Ninth), throwing it into considerable con- fusion. This disaster fell mostly upon the Second Division of the Ninth Corps, General Potter's. The First Division, General AVilcox, moved promptly forward in support and aided General Potter in establishing his line again. The First Division of the Fifth Corps was hurried up to this point, made an attack and succeeded in checking the further advance of the enemy. Night coming on terminated the engagement for that day (Sept. 30th, 1864) and the Ninth Corps proceeded to occupy the captured works at Peeble's farm, its right connecting with the left of the Fifth. The position thus gained was at once intrenched. This carried our intrenched lines about three miles beyond the Weldon Railroad. In describing the movements of the several brigades ami divisions of the Ninth Corps, the reader must constantly bear in mind that the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts, at this time, belonged to the Third Brigade of the First Division, General Wilcox. The casualties on the Federal side in this affair amounted to something over two thousand, of which over half were prisoners. The loss of the Confederates is unknown. The Fifty-Seventh again came in for its share and lost one man killed, with seven wounded, as follows : — KILLED. Lyman Broad, Pvt. Co. A WOUNDED. Franklin W. Card, Sergt. Co. D Carlos A. Parker, Pvt. Co. G Patrick Flynn, Pvt. " George H. Wellman, " Co. II John Hennessey, " •'<>. F. John F. Wellman, " " Frederick W. Parks, " " POPLAR GROVE CHURCH. 239 While these demonstrations were being made the enemy was strengthening his works and had extended his right as far as Hatcher's Run beyond and to the west of the Boydton plank road, and was in position to check any move that might be made against the South Side road. The Ninth Corps remained in position until October 2d, when, in connection with the Second Corps, it made a reconnois- sance towards the Boydton road, where the enemy was found in force, strongly intrenched, and no attack was made. Nothing of importance took place between the two armies from this time to October 8th. The Federal commander was, in the meantime, waiting for a favorable time and opportunity for striking a decisive blow, while the Confederate commander was making dispositions to successfully parry it. The morale of the Army of the Potomac at this time was not what it had been at the beginning of the campaign. The flower of the old army had been gradually diminishing and the numbers made partially good by drafted men and "bounty-jumpers," men who would shirk every dangerous duty and would not go into battle unless driven. It was the complaint of most of the corps and division commanders that these men could not be relied upon. They could not take the same risks with them that they would with tried veterans. Yet there were enough of the old soldiers present to hold these men in line, even if they were of very little use there. Such men seldom fall in battle; their fighting is mostly done at home after the battle is over; war takes the best and bravest. If the men whose bones were resting beneath the blood-stained soil of Virginia could have been again marshalled in line, just those alone who had fallen in this campaign, the Con- federate right would soon have been shattered. Whether the results obtained fully compensated for all this slaughter, will always remain a disputed question. October 8th, the Fifty-Seventh was again brought into action under command of the brave Major Doherty, who had just joined again for duty, having been absent on account of a severe wound received at Petersburg on the 17th of June. The following report of this affair, copied from the Report of the Adjutant-General, 240 FIFTY-SEVENTH KEGIMEXT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. State of Massachusetts, for the year 1864, gives a very brief and concise account of the part performed by the regiment : — "The First Division, Ninth Army Corps, being ordered to make a reconnoissance in force, moved from its camp in a direction to the left of the Pegram House.* Arriving at the picket line, the Fifty- Seventh, under command of Major James Doherty, was deployed as skirmishers, covering the front of the Third Brigade. An advance of half a mile brought in view the cavalry videttes of the enemy, posted in the edge of the woods, in rear of a deserted line of works. The line continued its advance, driving the pickets through the timber and across a field into a forest beyond, at which time the left of the Fifty-Seventh became detached from the skirmishers of the First Brigade of the First Division, in consequence of that brigade having obliqued to the left. Whereupon the enemy, perceiving his advantage, at once threw a strong force against the exposed flank, necessitating a change of front, which was executed in an orderly manner, despite the rapid and destructive tire from the advancing line. A new position was taken up some three hundred yards in rear of the old, one wing of the regiment occupying a farm house and its outbuildings, and the other resting in the edge of the timber. This position was maintained until night, when orders were re- ceived to return to camp." The casualties of this affair were : — KILLED. George Jameson, Pvt. Co. — George W. Shaw, Pvt. Co. — WOUNDED. Harris C. Warren, Pvt. Co. I? Romanzo Stevens, Pvt Co I Benjamin L. Leonard, •• " William K. .Moore, •« •« William II. Prouty, Corp. Co. C George Gavin, '• " John Love, Pvl " Frank II. Lowell. Corp. Co. K Alf red M. Allen, Corp. Co. G Edwin Pratt, " William McDaniels, Pvt. Co. I John Adams, Pvt. The total loss of the First Division in this affair was three killed and thirteen wounded, all bul two being in the Fifty-Seventh. • i in- u;in situated ,,,.,,, Batcher's itun between the \ aughn and squirrel Level roads J, \. POPLAR GROVE CHURCH. 241 The troops now went to work to strengthen the position they had gained along the Weldon Railroad and beyond, to within three miles of the South Side Railroad and about one-half from the Boydton plank road. Beyond this, and along Hatcher's Run, the enemy had constructed strong fortifications, which were defended by a heavy force. Frequent reconnoissances were made in that direction, but the position and strength of the enemy were found too strong for direct assault, hence General Grant deter- mined to bring a sufficient force to attack the enemy here, with the ultimate object of gaining possession of the South Side Rail- road. This would have been the crowning event with which to close the summer's campaign, and would have rendered the position of the Confederate army in Petersburg untenable for any length of time, resulting, most likely, to their withdrawal within the defences of Richmond. In pursuance of this plan the Federal commander gave orders for a combined movement by the Second, Fifth and Ninth Corps, with several batteries of light artillery and General Gregg's division of cavalry. The movement commenced October 27th. The Ninth Corps occupied the extreme left of the line. The Second Corps was to move around its left with the division of cavalry still farther to the left. General Grant's instructions to General Meade were as follows: "Make your preparations to march out at an early hour on the 27th to gain possession of the South Side Railroad, to hold it, and fortify back to your present left. In commencing your advance, move in three columns, exactly as proposed by yourself in our conversation of last evening, and with the same force you proposed to take. Parke (Ninth Corps), who starts out nearest to the enemy, should be instructed that, if he finds the enemy intrenched, and their works well manned, he is not to attack, but confront him and be prepared to advance promptly when he finds that by the movement of the other two columns to the right and rear of them, they begin to give way." The Ninth Corps moved down the Squirrel Level road, the First Division in advance, with the hope of surprising the enemy in his intrenchments near Hatcher's Run. It was thought that 16 242 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. they were not yet complete and not strongly manned. The Fifth Corps was to follow up the movement in support of the Ninth. If the latter met with success, the Fifth was to move to its left to operate upon the enemy's right, but, in case of failure, the Ninth Corps was to hold the enemy in check, while the Fifth was to cross Hatcher's Run, and endeavor to turn the enemy's right at Burgess Mill on the Boydton plank road. The Second Corps marched by the Vaughn road, forded Hatcher's Run, and captured some guns and a few prisoners. It is not our design, neither will space permit our giving a detailed description of all these move- ments ; suffice it to say that everything worked in harmony, but the movement commenced before daylight and the morning was dark and rainy, the troops had to move over narrow cross-roads, through dense woods, where felled timber and other obstacles retarded the advance. The Ninth and Fifth Corps drove in the enemy's pickets and continued a heavy skirmishing. The Second Corps attacked further to the left, captured several guns and prisoners. Its movements, being necessarily slow, gave the enemy time to concentrate a large force to meet it. Becoming separated, in the heavy woods and swamps, from the Fifth Corps, the enemy made an attack upon its right and even gained the rear of tlu' light, capturing some guns, but, by a skillful movement, the front was changed and after considerable hard fighting, the enemy was repulsed with the loss of several guns, prisoners and colors. The fighting fell mostly upon the Second Corps, which showed that its old spirit was not yet extinct in spite of drafted nun and ik bounty- jumpers." Its loss in killed, wounded and missing was about sixteen hundred. That of the Fifth was less than three hundred. The loss of the Ninth was small. The Fifty-Seventh lost but one man, Corp. William Worthy, Co. G, wounded. The loss of the enemy is not known, but supposed to he fully equal t<> ours. The position of the enemy was found everywhere too strong to be carried by assault. Even if driven from one line of in- treiielnnents. it would he at a heavy loss, and then he had others directly in rear into which he could fall hack. The thickly wooded country rendered it easy to construct defensive works in POPLAR GROVE CHURCH. 243 a very short time. The nearest point reached to the South Side Railroad was about six miles, every rod of which would have to be gained by repeated charges over strougly defended lines of breastworks. The good judgment and discretion of the Federal commander prevailed and further offensive movements, in that direction, suspended. The morning of the 28th found the two armies occupying relatively the same positions. The Federal troops were finally withdrawn to our former lines. The several engagements described in this chapter have all been given under the head of Poplar Grove Church. They are mentioned in the Adjutant-General's Report of Massachusetts, 1864, as "-Poplar Grove Church, Va., September 30th; Poplar Grove Church 2d, October 8th, and Poplar Grove Church 3d, October 28th." The above includes Pegram's farm, etc. This closed active operations as far as the Fifty-Seventh was concerned, and early in December the regiment moved back to the trenches in front of Petersburg, and commenced building v^/ winter quarters near the ground over which it had charged on the night of the 17th of June. This gave assurance of a winter of comparative rest and the men went to work with hearty good will, erecting huts of rough, unhewn logs, the interstices being filled with mud. Bunks were constructed inside, of green branches, barrel staves or cracker boxes. Chimneys were built on the out- side, of alternate layers of sticks and clay, the tops were often crowned with old barrels. The roofs were covered with old canvas or pieces of shelter tents. Many were constructed quite ingeniously, with floors of old scraps of boards or boxes. These huts were generally made to hold four men or more and were quite comfortable ; in fact, they were looked upon as palatial, after the long exposure to heat and cold and storms, with no sheltering roofs or other protection, save a small piece of canvas, about three feet by five to a man, and not always that. Tables and chairs were improvised, pictures from illustrated papers and photographs of friends were pasted upon the inner walls, so as to present quite a cheerful and artistic appearance. These huts were constructed just in rear of the line of intrenchments, which had to be constantly guarded night and day, besides the usual 244 EIKTY-SKVENTIl REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS picket duty. Very little comfort could be derived from this. It was the same old routine of groups of three or four men iu a hole, with only such temporary shelter from the winter's storms as could be improvised from a blanket or small piece of canvas. As winter approached there was less firing along the line of pickets ; both sides suffered equally from this annoyance, which gave no advantage to either, and often some of the opposing pickets would meet for an exchange of papers or coffee, for tobacco. This practice was not approved by the officers, as it tended to make men less careful in their guard duty. All such meetings were stealthily made when the eye of an officer was closed, or busy elsewhere. However, they never failed to read a paper obtained in this way. This was more objectionable to the Confederates than to the Federals. As the former met his Yankee foe, he found him comfortably dressed and well fed, besides inspired with unshaken confidence in the final success of the Union cause, while he looked upon himself as thinly clad and poorly fed. It has been stated that in a secret session of the Confederate Congress about this time, the condition of the Confederacy, as to subsistence, was found to be : — "That there was not meat enough in the Southern Confed- eracy for the armies it had in the field. "That there was not in Virginia either meat or bread enough for the armies within her limits. "That the supply of bread for those armies to be obtained from other places depended absolutely upon keeping open the railroad connections of the South. "That the meat must be obtained from abroad through a seaport. "That the transportation was not now adequate, from what- ever cause, to meet the necessary demands of the service. "That the supply of fresh meat to General Lee's army was precarious, and if the army fell back from Richmond and Peters- burg, that there was every probability that it would cease altogether." Confederate prisoners who were captured were lacking in Bufficienl clothing, and what they did have was generally ragged POPLAR GROVE CHURCH. 245 and worn threadbare, while the food found in their haversacks was of the coarsest kind and very meagre. They had a half-starved appearance and their first and most pressing need was for some- thing to eat, next, something comfortable to wear. All this went to confirm the foregoing statement and to prove that it was no exaggeration. The Confederate prisoner knew all this because he was made to feel it. He knew, even as a prisoner of war, his condition would be greatly improved in every respect, and finally he reasoned that the Confederate cause was fast approaching low-water mark, growing weaker month by month, and that its complete overthrow was but a question of time, he had done his full duty and all he could do. The glamour of war as it had appeared in the early days of 1861 was losing its charm ; its once dazzling beauty was fast fading, while the boasted glory of " one Southerner licking a dozen Yankees " remained in doubtful and still greater distant perspective; it had not been realized. The long-hoped-for intervention of France and England looked more doubtful than ever. Reasoning thus, very many of the Confed- erates, especially the conscripts, deserted the sinking Confederate Ship of State and came into our lines. As the old year 1864 passed out it saw the hopes of one side growing brighter, while those of the other were sinking into impenetrable gloom. Yet if the curtain could have been lifted and the future revealed to them in all its truth, it would have disclosed this gloom as the darkness preceding the dawn of a brighter day, even to the South, than she had known in all her past history ; but now they could sing the following lines, familiar to them, in both the spirit and the letter : — " I am dying, Egypt, dying, Ebbs the crimson life-tide fast, And the dark Plutonian shadows Gather on the evening blast." During the remainder of the year the Fifty-Seventh suffered only one more casualty, that of Private Cornelius J. Doherty, Co. G, who was wounded December 7th on the picket line, and thus closed the eventful year of 1864. We have not been able and have not tried to give the casual- ties caused by sickness, only those of battle. CHAPTER XII. HATCHER'S RUN. HE beginning of the year 1865 found the Ninth Corps occupying the extreme right of the line of the Army of the Potomac, reaching from the Appomattox river in a southerly direction, a distance of about seven miles, with the division of General Wilcox on the right. The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia was strongly posted in its intrenchments, with Longstreet's corps on the extreme left, from the Appomattox to White Oak Swamp north of the James, General Gordon's from the Appomattox, facing the Ninth Corps, to Fort Gregg, and A. P. Hill's corps from Fort Gregg to Hatcher's Run on the extreme Confederate right, cover- ing a distance of thirty-seven miles, from White Oak Swamp on their left, to the Claiborne Road Crossing of Hatcher's Run on their right. To guard this long distance they had an effective infantry force, including officers, of 53,764, as shown by their return of Dec. 20th, 1864.. This would make about 1,451 infantry to each mile to be defended ; but, in addition to this, they had a strong force of cavalry, three divisions under command of Gen. Wade Hampton, to operate on their flanks, besides artillery in position along the whole length of the line. Their works were as strong as the nature of the ground and engineering skill could make them, with batteries in position to cover every foot of ground leading to their approach ; besides this, their lines were interior and much shorter than the Federal line of approach, and so constructed that concentration could quickly be made upon any threatened point. We have not the figures showing the strength of the Army of the Potomac at that time, but it was not far from seventy thousand infantry in the trenches, equipped 248 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS for duty. The figures showing the Confederate strength do not include the troops in and around Richmond or their outlying detachments, neither do the others include the Federal Arm}' of the James, or outlying detachments. It is impossible to give anything but an approximate estimate of the strength of the two armies, as detachments were being constantly sent away for duty elsewhere and returning. Confederate morning reports of Feb. 20th, 1865, show an effective force of all arms of the service, equipped and in the trenches around Petersburg, of about 55,500 men. The strength of the Arm} 7 of the Potomac eight days later, viz. : Feb. 28th, 1865, according to morning reports of that date, was 87 .26* total present for duty, the proportion in favor of the Federals being just about 87 to 55. The sick, extra duty men and outlying detachments would probably range in just about the same ratio. These figures are compiled from " The Virginia Campaign of 1864 and 1.S65," by Gen. A. A. Humphreys. During the winter the enemy's intrenchments in the vicinity of Hatcher's Run were vei'y much strengthened and heavy guns placed in position. It was found that the South Side Railroad, upon which Lee's army depended for most of its supplies, was not able to furnish the necessary transportation, hence the Con- federates utilized the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad as far as Hicksford, just below where the road had been destroyed by our troops, and from that point transported them by wagon train around to Petersburg. Although it was in the middle of a very cold and severe winter, yet the Federal commander issued orders for the movement of troops to intercept this line of transportation. On the 5th of February, Ceneral Cregg, with one division of cavalry, was ordered to move via Ream's Station to Dinwiddie Court House for this purpose. General Warren with the Fifth Corp'- ami General Humphreys with two divisions of the Second Corps were Ordered to support this movement by taking position at a point where the Vaughn road crosses Hatcher's Ran, beyond the Confederate right, the fifth Corps at a point about half way between the first named (Matcher's Run ) and Dinwiddie Court House. This movement was further supported by the Third hatcher's run. 249 Division of the Ninth Corps under General Hartranft. A pro- visional brigade was formed consisting of the 3d Maryland, 57th Massachusetts, with some other regiments, and placed under command of Colonel Robinson, 3d Maryland Battalion, to co-operate in this movement, and make a strong flank attack upon the enemy's right and their fortifications on Hatcher's Run. The movement of General Gregg was only partially successful. He captured a few wagons and prisoners on the Boyd ton plank road, found it was but little used, and set out upon his return to Malone's bridge on Rowanty creek. The infantry made a reconnoissance of the enemy's position on the 6th and found him strongly posted within his iutreuch- ments. Towards night the enemy made an attack upon our troops but was repulsed. The Confederate General Pegram was killed. Some spirited fighting took place on the 7th. The Federal loss during the engagement was about fifteen hundred, which fell mostly upon the Fifth Corps. The Confederate loss was supposed to be about the same. The advantage was in favor of the Federals who were now enabled to extend their line of intrenchments to the Vaughn road crossing of Hatcher's Run. This position was permanently held and the military railroad which ran from City Point along in rear of the line held by the Army of the Potomac extended to that point. The Fifth Corps was now massed in rear of the left. The Fifty-Seventh was not brought into this engagement but returned to its former position on the 10th. The weather was intensely cold and the troops suffered severely on the expedition. Soon after this many of the officers of the Ninth Corps were given brevet appointments for gallant and meritorious services in battle. Col. Napoleon B. McLaughlen of the Fifty-Seventh, was appointed brigadier-general by brevet, 1st Lieutenants Albert Doty and Henry M. Ide, captaius by brevet. 44 & ^4 ty$Q CHAPTER XIII. FORT STEDMAN. HIS battle has been written and re-written so many times, in so man}? different ways, and so much better than we can expect to do it here, that it would seem hardly worth the while for us to attempt it, except as it is a part of the history which we are trying to write. It has been freely commented upon until there is virtually nothing more of general interest that can be brought out. Some writers, in attempting to show what their own organizations did, have written to the prejudice of others, or omitted mention of them entirely. The statement should be made, from the beginning, that all the troops engaged in this battle did well and performed their duty bravely. Our duty in the present ease is to tell the story of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts, which we shall endeavor to do truthfully, without undue praise, or prejudice to any other regiment. The Fifty-Seventh was there, actively engaged. It behaved well and sustained a percentage of loss in killed and wounded, nearly, if not quite, equal to any other organization. The Confederate attack upon Fort Stedman March 25th, 1865, was a brilliant coup-de-main, somewhat similar to that of the Federals at the explosion of the mine on the 30th of July, and, like that, resulted in failure and disaster to the assailants, though made with great spirit and gallantry. Before entering into a description of this affair, a few words seem necessary by way of explanation. The situation of the two opposing armies, as described in the previous chapter, had not materially changed. The Army of the Potomac was feeling secure in the occupation of the intrenched 252 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. lines around Petersburg, while the commanding general was laying plans and making preparations for an earl} 7 move, and a final and decisive effort to turn the enemy's right flank, which, it was believed, would decide the long pending issue. On the 24th of March, General Grant issued orders for another general movement to the left. This was to take place on the 9th. In the meantime General Lee anticipated his adver- sary, by making a bold stroke to break the Federal lines towards the right, so as to enable him to capture the Federal supplies, get in rear of the Army of the Potomac, cut loose from Petersburg and eventually join the Confederate army under General Johnston in North Carolina. The Ninth Corps of the Army of the Potomac held the extreme right of the line, from the Appomattox river to Fort Howard, occupying a line, the front of which was over seven miles. The corps was posted with the First Division on the right, the Second on the left, while the Third, under command of Gen- eral Hartranft, occupied commanding positions in rear as reserve. The colored division had been previously, November, 1864, transferred to the Army of the James under General Butler. The First Division, General Wilcox, was disposed as follows : the Second Brigade, Colonel Ely, on the right, its right resting on the river and extending nearly to Battery No. 9 ; the Third Brigade, Bvt. Brig. -Gen. N. B. McLaughlen commanding, from this point to Fort Haskell, and the First Brigade, Col. Samuel Marriman commanding, continued the line to Fort Meikle; the First Divi- sion covering a distance something over three miles. It is not essential that we give the disposition of the several brigades of the other two divisions, as the positions held by them were not assailed. Commencing on the right, the Federals had batteries in posi- tion, numbered in numerical order, towards the Left, and protected on the side towards the enemy with an embankmenl of earth, but left open in rear, while bastioned works, called forts, were con- structed in commanding positions along the line. Thus we had Fori McGilvery on the right, then Fort Stedman a mile to the left, and Fori Haskell about half a mile still further to the left. Fori Stedman could hardly be called a bastioned work. It had FORT STEDMAX. 253 formed part of the Confederate defenses which had been captured from them in the assaults made the previous June, had been hastily remodelled, and was at the time of which we are writing, garrisoned by eight companies of the 14th New York Heavy Artil- lery under command of Maj. George M. Randall; the 19th New York Light Battery, four # twelve-pounders, with some Coehorn mortars, along that portion of the line manned by the 1st Con- necticut Heavy Artillery. Fort Stedman formed a salient not more than one hundred and fifty yards from the Confederate intrenchments, so near that the necessary work for keeping it in repair or strengthening it could only be done under cover of dark- ness. Anything of the kind during the day would draw the fire of the enemy. It covered over half an acre of ground and was connected with the rest of the line by infantry parapets and pro- tected in front by abatis. Its projection was such that if any portion of the line to the right or left should be carried by the enemy, a flank and rear fire could be brought to bear upon it, and it could also bring a front and flank fire upon an enemy charging in front. The object of the enemy was to break through the Federal line to the right, and then take Fort Stedman in reverse and clear a sufficient space to the right and left of it to permit the passage of the remainder of their army. In speaking of the line, it must be remembered that it was not one straight line, but a general one composed of straight and curved lines. Many of the batteries, although on the general line, were to the rear of its general conformation, so that a fire from them could be brought to bear upon other portions of our own line. Proceeding towards the left from Fort McGilvery, we find Batteries Nos. 8 and 9. Just to the right of Fort Stedman, and but a few yards distant, was Battery No. 10, while to the left of it, and between Fort Haskell, were Batteries Nos. 11 and 12, all defended by light batteries, and mounting Coehorn mortars, with a thin line of infantry in- trenchments. The Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts occupied a posi- tion just to the right and rear of Fort Stedman and Battery No. 10. The latter was occupied by one section of the 14th Massa- chusetts Battery. 254 ITFTY-SEYEXTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS Previous to this time an order had been issued by the com- manding general allowing deserters to come into our lines, bring- ing their arms with them, and offering to purchase the same. Under the provisions of this order deserters were coming over and surrendering to the number of over fifty per day. They were first examined by the officer on the picket line and then sent to the rear. The enemy saw in this a favorable opportunity of gaining possession of our picket line without causing a general alarm, from whence he could stealthily advance, under cover of darkness, and surprise the troops in our main works. He there- fore concentrated a large force for this perilous undertaking, which was placed under command of Gen. John B. Gordon, one of the ablest and most daring of the Confederate generals. The assaulting column was composed of his own corps, formerly Kwell's, with part of Longstreet's and A. P. Hill's corps, num- bering in all about ten thousand men, with a still larger force massed behind, which was to support the movement and advance as soon as a sufficient space had been cleared to admit of their passage. About four o'clock on the morning of March 25th the move- ment commenced. The storming party was preceded by a large number of men who were taken to be deserters. They came in such large numbers that the officer of the guard was unable to send them to the rear, so that they were retained on the picket line. These pretended deserters soon overpowered our pickets and thus gained possession of about half a mile of our picket line. They were immediately followed by a body of picked men and the latter by the main force, under General Gordon, in three columns. One was to push directly to the rear and seize the batteries beyond, while the other two were to move to our right and left. The enemy's left column soon gained Battery No. 10, taking it completely by surprise. No alarm up to this time had been sounded, and only one gun was Bred from the battery. The blow then fell upon the Fifty-Seventh .Massachusetts, which was driven hack with heavy loss in killed and wounded and a large number captured. The morning was so dark that friend could scarcely be distinguished from foe, save by the lighl of the FORT STEDMAN. 255 flashing guns. The opening made by the capture of Battery No. 10 now admitted the main force of the assaulting column, part of which turned to the right and part to the left, and pro- ceeded in the execution of their plan of driving our troops from the trenches. The guns from Battery No. 10 were turned upon Fort Stedman and an attack was also made upon it from the rear. After a stubborn resistance this also fell into the hands of the enemy ; some of its defenders escaping through the covered way to Fort Haskell and some were taken prisoners. Battery No. 11 soon shared the same fate. The troops fought gallantly, but nothing could check the impetuous charge of this large body of desperate, brave men, until Fort Haskell was reached. By this time the Federal troops had recovered from the first shock and from their surprise, and were bringing other troops forward, not only to oppose the further advance of the Confederates, but to make a counter-attack. It was a moment of great danger, when time again became an important factor, and was improved by the Federals The left Confederate column faced to the left and moved rapidly up the line towards our right. After the Fifty-Seventh had been driven back, it next encountered the 2d Michigan, which was thrown into the same confusion, and the enemy pushed on to Battery No. 9. Here they met with a strong resistance, while the guns of Fort McGilvery were pouring a destructive fire upon them. The First Brigade, Colonel Ely, formed a line perpendicular to the trenches, facing the charging enemy, and in connection with Batteries 5 and 9 and Fort McGilvery, repulsed the assatdt upon Battery 9, thus effectually checking a further advance towards our right. The greater part of the Third Brigade had also formed a perpendicular line at Fort Haskell, facing Fort Stedman. As the Fifty-Seventh was forced back it took direction towards the crest in rear overlooking Fort Stedman, moving back without confusion, and making four stauds behind small detached works that had been abandoned, against a largely superior force, and fighting desperately, losing seven officers and eighty-two enlisted men. As thev were flanked out of one position they fell 256 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. back to another, until they made a final stand behind an old abandoned rebel fort known as Dunn House Battery, near the Prince George Court House road. Their stubborn resistance while falling back, temporarily held the rebel column in check, which was pressing forward to the rear of our lines and threatening our detached batteries, thus giving General Hartranft time to concen- trate the Third Division, and Colonel Tidball, in charge of the artillery, to bring up batteries and place them in position at the threatened point. This opposed an insurmountable barrier to the further advance of the enemy upon the rear of our works and the supplies that were stored at Meade's Station on the military railroad. The Confederate troops had now been effectually checked on all sides. General Hartranft, having been early apprised of what was taking place, and the alarming condition of affairs, promptly concentrated his division on the elevated ground in rear of Fort Stedman, and advanced upon the enemy, connecting with the Third Brigade on the left and, with the exception of a small space on his right, forming a complete cordon of bristling steel around the Confederate troops that had broken through our lines, and extinguishing their last hope of success. There only re- mained the intervening space over which they had first made the assault, and our artillery had a cross fire upon that, making a retreat perilous, while batteries were pouring a concentrated lire upon them as they gathered in and around Fort Stedman. The Confederate position was something like that of the Federals in the crater on the 30th of July previous. They were now vigorously attacked from the three sides. 1 latteries Nos. 10 and 1 1 were soon recovered by the 29th and 59th .Massachusetts, 14th New York Heavy Artillery, with some Pennsylvania (mops and the3d Maryland, while General Hartranft was charged with the duty of recapturing Fori Stedman. As our troops pushed forward, the enemy, stubbornly contesting every foot of ground, fell back to Fort Stedman. The Fifty-Seventh was deployed as skirmishers in front of part of the Third Division and moved forward. 'Hie enemy's skirmishers were soon en- countered and driven back. Several charges were made and KORT STEDMAN. 257 finally the fort was carried at the point of the bayonet and a hand-to-hand struggle followed, which soon resulted in such of the enemy who could and dared to take the risk, making their escape, while the others laid down their arms and surrendered. All the ground that had been lost was now recaptured, and the Confederates, after about four hours of gallant fighting, counted their loss as 1,949 prisoners, with an unknown loss (reported by Fitzhugh Lee at about one thousand) of killed and wounded. General Humphreys estimates their aggregate loss in this day's operations as nearly four thousand. They also left in our hands a large number of small arms and nine stands of colors, a loss they could poorly afford, falling, as it did, upon the very flower of that brave army, which was fast being crowded into ' ' the last ditch." The Federal loss was not nearly so great. It fell most heavily upon the Ninth Corps, which bad 494 killed and wounded and 523 taken prisoners, a total of 1,017. The Second Corps, taking advantage of the Confederate disaster at Stedman, attempted an assault upon the enemy's line further to the left, in hopes of finding it weakened by troops that had been sent to support General Gordon. This counter-attack failed to carry the main line, which was still held in force bj' the corps of General Hill, but after severe fighting, the intrenched picket line was carried and held permanently, although the enemy made several desperate attempts to recapture it, but were driven back each time with severe loss. The Second Corps lost a total of 690 men. The Sixth Corps also captured the enemy's intrenched picket line, inflicting a considerable loss and sustaining one in return of about 400. The total loss of the Army of the Potomac for this day was something like 2,100, that of the Confederates about 4,000. This includes their loss at Stedman. Returning again to the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts at Fort Stedman. The men of this regiment were among the first to enter the recaptured works, and it was the sergeant-major of the Fifty-Seventh, afterwards Lieutenant Pinkham, who captured the flag of the 57th North Carolina Confederate regiment, which made the honors easy for the flag lost by the Fifty- Seventh Massachu- 17 258 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. setts in the crater. The sergeant who carried the colors of the 57th North Carolina was found lying near them, having been killed in their defense, and, as he no doubt honestly believed, manfully battling in defence of his country. Lieutenant-Colonel Tucker, commanding the regiment, was absent at the time as Division Officer of the Day, hence the com- mand fell upon the fighting Major Doherty, who was mortally wounded in the engagement and survived only one day. More can be said of his bravery than pen can accurately portray. He was rather brusque in appearance and often emphatic in speech, yet he had a heart as warm and true and brave as ever beat in human breast. He was always spoken of as the " brave Doherty," and Avas one who never knew fear, or was ever known to falter or flinch in the face of danger. Upon the battlefield he was like a raging lion. Military in all his bearing, we well remember him in the uniform coat, which he always wore closely buttoned around him in battle. It had been pierced with several bullets, while he seemed to bear a charmed life, and had escaped injury up to the first charge in front of Petersburg, June 17th, mentioned in a previous chapter, where one hand was badly mangled by a canister shot. He was an erratic sort of a man of whom nearly every one who knew him had some amusing stoiy to tell. He was capital stock to draw on, because almost incredible stories could be told of him, which were absolutely true. Chaplain Dashiell gives a brief account of the circumstances attending his death: " Major .lames Doherty was brought into the hospital mortally wounded. The chaplain told him his condition and asked him what he should write to his wile. He replied. 'Tell the poor Little thing that I die like a man.' He lingered in greal paitl several hours, telling the chaplain who pressed upon him the gracious offer of salvation through Christ, that lie could not insult the Saviour by offering him the ' dregs of his life.' " Doherty was the ideal of soldierly courage. A brother officer who served with him in the 1st Massachusetts, said that at Gettysburg he commanded a part of the skirmish line, which was trying to impede the advance of tin' rebels, when his men began to fall back in Bpite of all his efforts to hold them to their FORT STEDMAN. 259 work. Furious and exhausted, he was overheard saying: " O God, do help us to whip these d d rebels." In a charge his flaming sword was always in the van, and his voice could be heard above the din of battle cheering his men to the conflict. He was affectionately touched by the tender care and solicitude of the chaplain, and as he breathed his last, pathetically exclaimed, "God bless you, Chaplain." We cannot look into the future and perceive all the mysteri- ous wonders that "eye hath not seen nor ear heard," andean conceive but little through an indwelling faith that it is "a land that is fairer than this " ; and when we read of the woman who was made whole only by touching the hem of His garment, we must believe that somehow and in some way the inspiration which spoke the words, " I cannot insult the Saviour by offering him the dregs of my life," touched the hem of that invisible garment of mercy and pardon, and that our brave comrade who won the soldiers' love and "died like a man" in defence of his country, also won a merciful Saviour's love and a title clear to an immortal life. Sergt. William F. Oakes writes of his being with Major Doherty when he was wounded, and his thrilling experience in that memorable battle. Writing of what took place in the camp of the Fifty-Seventh, he says .... "I turned around for a moment and saw Major Doherty lying on his back. I went to him and asked if he were wounded. Looking up, he replied that he had received his death-wound. Lieutenant Hitchcock and I carried him to his tent and laid him on his bed and I loosened his belt. He asked me to take what things he had about him and give them to his wife. I had just taken his watch and money and put them in my pocket when the ' rebs ', having driven our men back, came into the Major's tent and said to me, ' Surrender, you Yan- kee, or we will blow you through.' Seeing a dozen rifles pointed at my head, I surrendered. I had a heavy ring on nry finger which they soon discovered and tried to wrench off, but, as my hand had become considerably swollen, they were unable to do so. One took out his knife for the purpose of cutting it off, when a rebel colonel came into the tent and caused them to desist, and sent me 2 GO FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. to the Confederate Hue, under charge of a sergeant, as a prisoner. "We met several squads of Confederate soldiers who would have robbed me, only for the protection I received from the sergeant. It seemed almost a miracle that we reached their lines alive, as the shells from our own side were falling and bursting all around us. I met General McLaughlen, who was also a prisoner, in Petersburg, and thinking Major Doherty's watch and money would be safer with him than me, I gave them to him. Just before leaving the Major in his tent, he asked me to tell his wife that he died like a hero, and to tell the men that he died fighting like a soldier." Col. Thomas "William 'Clarke relates the following of Major James Doherty : " He had served in the 1st Massachusetts and had distinguished himself for that kind of courage and ability in the management of men, which makes a man successful as a line officer of volunteers. He had also worn the red flannel shirt and bed-ticking trousers and straw hat of Walker's Filibusters in Nicaraugua, and rendered himself so noticeable there that he had impressed himself upon Doctor Whelpley, surveyor-general under "Walker, who told me one or two anecdotes about him. Although Doherty had been only a private soldier, he was a captain in the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts when the battle of the Wilder- ness took place and where the regiment suffered severely, marching out the next morning with considerably reduced ranks. A surgeon rode up to see the regiment on the march, and noticing Doherty marching along very cheerfully, said to him: ' Captain Doherty, Wilcox, of your company, died last night in the hospital, of his wounds, and I was able to have him buried in the yard of the house we used as a hospital, and had a piece of board stuck up at the head of the grave, on which the name of his company and regiment were marked, so that his body can lie recovered if desir- able.' This of course was intended to make a Li'ood impression upon the men and show that they were not entirely deserted and thrown away, hut DoheMy turned on the doctor and said: 'Are you quite sure of what you say. Doctor?' ' Certainly,' said the doctor, l quite sure.' ' Are you sure il was Wilcox?' -Certainly, Captain Doherty, don't you suppose I know Wilcox, often as he FORT STEDMAX. 261 has been up to sick call in the morning?' ' Well, Doctor,' said Doherty, ' it's all right if you say so.' Turning to his company, he said : 'Wilcox, turn in your gun and equipments to the 1st sergeant, go back to the hospital and crawl into that grave. What in do you suppose I'm made of that you, a dead man, dare to march around in the ranks of this company? Don't you hear the doctor say you are officially dead? Get out of here." 1st Lieut. Albert M. Murdock was also killed in this engage- ment. He was a promising young man of but nineteen years, of excellent attainments, both in his personal character and bearing as a soldier, qualities that endeared him to both officers and men, winning their confidence and esteem. He had just reached that stage of life when all the hopes and aspirations seem so full of promise. He was the only son of Cyrus M. Murdock of West Boylston, a southern boy by birth, having been born in Arkansas, where his father resided for twenty years. He was sent north to school about three or four 3-ears before the outbreak of the war, and was for some time a member of the Highland Military Academy in the city of Worcester, Mass. At the very beginning of the war. though a schoolboy of only sixteen, he was ambitious to serve his country as a soldier, but was then too young. Upon the organization of the Fifty-Seventh, he obtained permission from his father and enlisted at the age of eighteen, Jan. 11th, L864, and was soon after appointed sergeant-major, a position for which he was well qualified and which he filled with honor to him- self and credit to the service. He was severely wounded in the battle of the Wilderness and thereby disabled from active duty for several months. Upon his recovery he returned to the regi- ment and was appointed 1st lieutenant, to date from Oct. 17th, 1864, and was in command of his company at Fort Stedman. As he saw the color sergeant fall, he seized the standard and while bearing it aloft, and cheering his men forward, fell with a mortal wound and soon expired. " Take care of the flag," were his last words, as he handed it to a brother officer who stood near him. This flag was stained with his own life's blood and torn by hostile shot. Chaplain Dashiell took a clipping from it, which be still retains and prizes very highly. 2 62 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Thousands of such noble young lives were given in defence of our country. Such heroic deaths were the sacrifices made that our country might live. Their memory is cherished as one of those priceless treasures which make our country's flag so dear to those who helped in defending it. May those brave words, " Take care of the flag," be passed down from generation to generation, from sire to son, to inspire the hearts of all who are yet to live to enjoy the blessings of our reunited country, and live in peace beneath the protecting folds of the dear old flag. The remains of Lieutenant Murdock were conve} T ed to his home in "West Boylston, Mass., and buried with military honors. The State Guards from Worcester, under command of Captain Phillips, were in attendance, also several members of the Fifty- Seventh regiment. The Fifty-Seventh lost in the battle Lieut. Albert 31. Murdock, killed, and Maj. James Doherty mortally wounded; Lieuts. Edward F. Potter and James Peacock wounded, the latter severely. The following is a list of enlisted men killed, wounded and missing : — Frederick S. Cheney, Corp. Co. C Edwin Cudworth, l'vt. Co. E Ozro A. Brigham, •' " Frederick W. Parks. James Leslie, l'vt. Cu. F Co. G WOUNDED. John S. Mill-. Corp. Co. A Gusta Beltran, l'vt. James Walsh. " " Caleb s. Austin, " Co. B Warren E, Brewer, " " ( 'harlcs 15. (ira\ es. " " Charles I. Defose, 1st Sergt. Co. C .1: is Norway, i'\ I , " ( reorge n Sears, •■ Co. D II. II. Paine, Lsl Sergt. Co. E W. II. Duncan, I'm. Charles E. Barnard, lsl Sergt. Co. F \'mi! m Nicker son, Corp. " James Carey, l'vt. ( !o. F Alfred E. Gore, Patrick Portland, George Adams, lsl Scr^t George M. Wakeman, P\ t. George 11. Wellman, Thomas .1. Tourtellott, " Edward P. Taft, \V. R. William John A. Miller, Henry II. Perrj , Sanborn I >. II < >w e, Smith .1. Lee, I. a fa\ el te St Lckney, Co. G Co. II lsl Sergl Co. I ( !orp. ( 'o. K Pvl. FORT STED.MAX. 263 Col. N. B. McLaugMen. 1st Lieut. Alexander Bedreaux, Pvt. Co. A Augustus Clangnin, " " Patrick Delaney, u " Patrick Dokerty, u " William J. Roper " " Harris C. Warren, " Co. B Patrick Gallen, Corp. Co. C Anson J. Bishop, Pvt. " Gustavus S. Hold en, " William Kyle, it " John Murphy, it " Jacob Meatte, " ti George Willis, " Martin McMahou, Mus'n Co. D Patrick Flynn, Pvt. Peter J. Mambert, ; ' John O'Sullivan, " Alexander McCoy, Corp. Co. E James Sullivan, Mus'n Otis C. Xorcross, Pvt. c< John Casey, Pvt. Co. F John Coughlin, " " George R. Edgecomb , " " Edward Pine, " lt Michael McGown, " " Capt. Henry C. Ward Thomas Sturgis. Henry E. Hutchins, Sergt. Co. G John Smith, Corp. " Charles Hamlin, " " Charles H. Barton, Pvt. " William E. Cleveland, " Humphrey Connor, "■ "• Lewis Mountain, " " George A Monroe, " ( (scar B. Phelps, " " Frederick P Hutchins," Co. H James H. Raymond, " " Joseph L. Cummings, " Loren S. Holmes, Mus'n Co. I William Maguire, Pvt. " Warren W. Wheeler, " " John Snow, " " William Shaftoe, Sergt. Co. K William F. Oakes, Frank H. Lowell, Corp. " George T. Pickett, Frank Allcott, Pvt. Samuel H.Holyoke, " " Alonzo R. Mason, " " William Pike, The regiment went into the engagement with 11 officers and 206 men, and lost 7 officers and 82 enlisted men, being nearly 6-4 per cent of officers and nearly 41 of enlisted men. In killed and wounded 32 -4-10 per cent of officers, and 15 5-10 per cent enlisted men. As we said of the crater, so we say of Fort Stedman. The assailants did all that brave men could do to win success, but the difficulties they had to contend with were absolutely insurmount- able. They made repeated assaults upon Fort Haskell only to be repulsed. Every attempt to advance and gain a permanent foothold in our works beyond, and to the right and left of the captured fort, resulted in failure. Finally General Gordon, the 264 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS Confederate commander, attempted to rally and re-form bis troops in rear of Fort Stedman, where his columns had been united as they were driven back, but it was not yet light, the Federal troops were pressing him from three sides, with the bat- teries dropping shells into their midst like falling stars. Under these conditions it was impossible to restore order. Every moment the confusion became greater on their side and less upon our own. Several attempts were made to take Fort Haskell in reverse, as Fort Stedman had been taken. This might possibly have succeeded early in the engagement, but in the darkness, to accomplish anything through the intricate entanglements of our works, was impossible. What they needed most was daylight and a pocket guide for each man. General McLaughlen, commanding the Third Brigade of the First Division, entered Fort Stedman and commenced to give orders to the Confederate troops, thinking they were men of his own command. He discovered his mistake only when he was taken prisoner. The Fifty-Seventh had to move out of their camp rather unceremoniously and were not given time to pack their effects, in consequence of which both officers and men lost nearly everything they had except the clothing they. wore. This must have been a grand treat for the ragged, half- starved Confederates who had not partaken of a good, square meal for a long time; and then they ought to have felt happy in n good comfortable suit of Yankee clothing, only they were not allowed to enjoy it in peace. After the action, and during the day. the enemy asked for a Hag of truce for the purpose of removing their dead and wounded who were lying between the lines. This was promptly -ranted along thai portion of the line where the engagement had taken place. During this time many of our officers met those from the other side and extended them every courtesy which they could properly. Captain Cooke relates an incident of meeting General Ransom of the Confederate army and giving him a gold ring which had been taken from a dead Confederate officer, the General thanking him in behalf of the dead officer's family who were FORT STEDMAN. 265 known to him. There was no taunting the enemy with his defeat or vain boasting over it. In placing the record of the battle upon the pages of the his- tory of the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts we realize that it is not complete without the stories and personal experiences related by others. It cannot be expected that all will be the same, any more than that every twinkling star in the firmament is like every other star, but all are well authenticated and full of interest, and told as they saw it. If we have omitted to mention all other organizations, it is not because we claim all the credit of that victory, as we only claim our share ; nor is it because others are not so justly entitled to honorable mention, but because we are writing only the history of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts. We take pleasure in submitting to the reader what others have said, together with copies of official reports made at the time, and since published by the United States War Department in "Rebellion Records" ; copies of which have been kindly furnished us by Maj. George B. Davis, U.S. Army, to whom we wish to return our thanks. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee (a near relative of Gen. R. E. Lee) writes the Confederate story as follows : — " General Lee determined to make one more effort, by a bold stroke, to break the chains forged to confine him. Grant had so exhausted his left* that he thought to break through his works near the Appomattox below the east of Petersburg, and hence determined to assault Fort Stedman two miles from the city, where the opposing lines were one hundred and fifty yards and the respective pickets fifty yards apart. General Gordon, an officer always crammed with courage and fond of enterprise, was selected to make the attack with his corps, formerly Early's, and parts of Longstreet's and Hill's and a detachment of cavalry. His object was to capture the fort, thrust the storming party through the gap and seize three forts on the high ground beyond and the lines on the right and left of it, under the impression that the forts were open at the gorge. But there were no such forts. The redoubts that had a commanding fire on Fort Stedman were in the main line in the rear and, in fact, were a line of intrencli- *It is presumed Lee meant to say Grant's right. — J. A. 206 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. ments. At about half past four on the morning of March 2"»th, Gordon made his daring sortie, broke through the trench guards, overpowered the garrison and captured Fort Stedman, or Hare's Hill, and two adjacent batteries, but after a most gallant struggle, was forced to retire, losing 1,949 prisoners and 1,000 killed and wounded, but bringing back 560 prisoners and Brigadier-Geueral McLaughlen." Col. Thomas W. Clarke, who was adjutant-general of the Third Brigade at the battle of Fort Stedman, and in a position to know much about the engagement, has kindly contributed the fol- lowing statement, which is clear and concise, and adds much to the history of the engagement. We have omitted some portions of his paper where reference is made to positions shown on certain maps, as we have not the maps alluded to, but from the expla- nations heretofore given, it will not be difficult to trace out the most important positions and the general features of the ground : — "On the night of the 24th and 25th of March, 1865, Gen. N. B. McLaughlen's Third Brigade was constituted and posted as follows : . . . . The Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts held the line from Battery 9 to Battery 10. It was mostly level ground, rising considerably near Fort Stedman, and was very much exposed to the fire of Confederate sharpshooters. The road in rear of the breastworks was on higher ground than the works. The Fifty- Seventh had about one hundred and seventy-five men, and was well commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Tucker and Captain Doherty who held a major's commission but was not mustered. The 14th New York Artillery, about five hundred strong, was partly in Fori Stedman and Battery 10, and partly in Fort Haskell. Battery 1 1 was a pan coupe redan, with a bomb-proof barrack across its gorge, and was garrisoned by the 29th Massachusetts who also extended along the curtain to Battery 12. It had about 1 2."> muskets and was well led and officered. The writer was a captain in this regiment, and had been commissioned colonel, but was not mustered. Ma j . Charles T. Richardson commanded the battalion, and several of the officers were on staff duty. The 1 1 >< > 1 1 i Penn- sylvania, about live hundred strong, commanded by Lieutenant- Colonel Pentecost, a singularly brave and skilful officer of the FORT STEDMAN. "267 highest personal character, was between Battery 12 and Fort Haskell, and the 3d Maryland Battalion, about two hundred strong, was on the left of Fort Haskell and connected with Harri- man's First Brigade. The 59th Massachusetts, under Major Gould, was in an old line of works, in the rear of the main Hue, near Battery 13. There were field-pieces in Forts S ted man and Haskell, mortars in Battery 10 and Coehorns in Battery 12. The troops who served these were not under the brigade commander, but were controlled by Colonel Tidball, commanding Artillery Brigade, Ninth Army Corps. "The position in front of this brigade had been carefully reconnoitered and was considered fully defensible on both sides, except between Fort Stedman aud Colquitt's salient. There McLaughlen believed a break could be made in the enemy's lines, and had submitted a plan for an attack at that point early in the year. Encouragement enough had been given to him to cause him to train a body of axemen for the pioneer service necessary. All the regiments were obliged to furnish their own fuel, and great quantities of timber were required for the repair of breast- works. Instead of occasional details for this work, each regi- ment selected several expert axemen and kept them constantly at work in the woods preparing timber and fuel, which was brought in weekly by the wagons. Several enlisted men and at least one officer had been across into Colquitt's salient and were well qualified to serve as guides in case of an attack. These axe- men were to have formed the axemen for the proposed assault. The difficulty of the position was such that it was thought necessary to have constantly on the picket line from Fort Sted- man to Fort Haskell an officer, with the authority of an officer of the day, in that part of the line, and such an officer was regu- larly detailed from the officer of the day roster, and called captain of the picket. Standing orders required the troops to be under arms half an hour before daybreak, and a staff officer visited the main line every night after twelve o'clock and again rode around about daylight to see that due vigilance was exercised. All this was done without fuss or ostentation. The General participated in this work of inspection. The general calls for reveille, 268 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT Mass. VOLUNTEERS. retreat and tattoo were played by the brigade baud near head- quarters, aud were taken up from theuce by the field music iu the lines. " No person can truly say he ever saw any officer of the brigade staff gambling, and any kind of card playing by them or at headquarters was so unusual that at this time uo officer of McLaughleu's brigade can be found who remembers a single game of cards there. In fact, card playing and gambling were rare all through the brigade. The whiskey purchases by officers were made on written orders, which were required to be examined and approved by the battalion commanders and by the General before delivery of the whiskey ; and a list of the orders approved was sent daily to the commissary, who was required to confine his sales to officers named in the list. Sutlers or purveyors were not allowed to keep or sell drink. A register of officers and their whiskey purchases was kept at brigade headquarters, that a proper check might be given to those who indulged too freely. The General was particularly abstemious and respected abstinence in others; yet in the three or four months before the 25th of March, no whiskey order had been refused approval, and only three or four officers had been warned or cautioned. General Grant's order, inviting Confederate deserters to bring over their arms, had caused McLaughlen considerable uneasiness, and he had applied for liberty to suspend it on his front, but without success. " At about three o'clock in the morning of March 25th, Lieut. Henry C. Joslyn, 29th Massachusetts, captain of the picket, scut a message to brigade headquarters, saying that an unusual number of deserters were coming over with arms, and he asked for instructions. The General was at once aroused, horses were ordered to he saddled, orderlies were senl to every regimenl directing them to be gol under arms quietly and at once, and the 59th was ordered to move promptly to brigade head- quarters. Lieutenant .loslyn's messenger was sent hack with instruction-- to detain the deserters for half an hour and then send them in under a small guard. It was expected that by that time the 59th would be in position near Fort Stedman to receive them. FORT STEDMAN. 269 In addition to this, word was sent to Colonel Harriman on our left that he had better get under arms, and, if he could, get a regiment loose from his lines to support us. A messenger was also sent to General Hartranft, commanding the reserve division of Pennsylvania troops beyond the railroad, to ask him to get under arms and move to our support, as we dreaded an attack. Lieutenant Joslyn reported that he had sent to Major Richardson in Battery 1 1 , and Major Randall at Fort Stedman, asking them to get under arms, and Major Richardson had reported that there were signs in his front of an impending attack, and had been assured that he should have all the aid in our power. " Before all these messages had been sent off, the General and his aide, Lieutenant Sturges of the Fifty-Seventh Massachu- setts, went over to meet the 59th and to lead them direct to Fort Stedman, instead of by way of brigade headquarters. Just before he set out flashes of musketry began to appear on the lines. After ordering the tents struck and baggage packed on wagons, the staff officers mounted and rode out towards the lines. The conduct of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts was concealed from us hy a ridge in the rear of Fort Stedman, but that of the 29th and 100th could well be seen. The 29th held to Battery 11. They were attacked on all sides, driven out, retook it, fought from both sides of the parapet, captured prisoners and three or , more flags, and did not finally lose the place until about seven o'clock. They succeeded in sending their flags and prisoners to headquarters. Among them was one represented to be an artillery colonel. The 100th Pennsylvania swung back its right and retired slowly, desperately fighting, till it was formed on a line nearly perpendicular to the works. They captured and sent .in prisoners and two flags in this contest. The 3d Maryland • moved up to Fort Haskell. The 59th assisted in the recapture of Battery 11, but were badly treated, and fell back, principally, I am informed, on the outside of the breastworks to Fort Haskell. " General McLaughlen's statement was that he went into Fort Stedman and found promiscuous fighting in the fort. He saw some men driven out over the walls, and went up to a consider- 270 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. able party and gave orders to man the parapets. They obeyed him to some extent, till some one of them asked who he was, and on his reply, ' General McLaughlen, commanding this brigade,' he and his aide were seized and disarmed. Major Randall was then in the fort and was spoken to by the General. Some of the 14th Artillery from Fort Stedman fell back to near brigade head- quarters, and re-formed there, parallel to our works, taking advantage of some old works in that neighborhood. The report of the work of the Fifty-Seventh was that they fell back, skir- mishing, towards Harrison's creek and the old line of works. They lost heavily in killed and wounded, including Major Doherty in command, but had few prisoners taken. "Colonel Harriman had promptly disengaged a regiment and moved it to his right, thus making the infantry defense on the side of Fort Haskell reasonably secure. The artillery in the batteries in our rear had opened, and were doing good service. The ground between brigade headquarters and Forts Haskell and Stedman was quite heavily wooded with large trees, but was free of underbrush, and the morning was foggy. The fight had now been going on about two hours, and it was shortly before six o'clock. Fighting was still going on around Battery 11. The Fort Stedman detachment of the 14th New York Artillery was on the right of brigade headquarters and had been somewhat engaged in their new position. A long gap was open between them and the right of the 100th Pennsylvania, occupied only by the brigade pioneers, about forty men, under Sergeant Randolph of the 100th Pennsylvania, and by the mounted officers and orderlies of the staff, but along this gap was a line of detached earthworks of considerable length and of somewhat formidable appearance. About half <>f the brigade band and the headquarters' clerks had obtained arms and were aligned with the pioneers. A long gap existed between the left of the 100th Pennsylvania and Fort Haskell. Hut neither of these gaps was an eighth of a mile ami they were covered on the side of Fort Baskell by the 8d Maryland, and on the other side by Ilarrimau's regiment in echelon on the Hunks of the LOOtfa lVnnsyl vania . FORT STEDMAN. 271 " Shortly before six o'clock Captain Shorkley, of General Hartranft's staff, rode up to say that a regiment, detached by him, was at hand, and to inquire where it should be put. General McLaughlen's capture had just been officially reported, and there was no time to search for his successor, Colonel Robinson. It was therefore determined to push direct for Fort Stedman and Battery 1 1 . But it was uncertain how much room there was in which to deploy and move. Captain Shorkley was asked to wait a moment, and an officer then rode down the road leading to Fort Stedman. He had not gone more than two hundred yards before he met Confederate skirmishers, one of whom fired on him at short range, cutting the hat cord on his hat. Turning his horse he said to the man, who was reloading within speaking distance, * If you were my man, I'd give you ten days in guardhouse for missiug an easy shot like that,' and galloped back. The only available men for use just here were the pioneers, who got this order : ' Sergeant Randolph, the head of General Gordon's divi- sion is coming up that road. Deploy your pioneers as skirmishers and whip it.' 'I am to whip a division with pioneers, sir?' ' Certainly. You shall be relieved with a line of battle in ten minutes. Make lots of racket.' The pioneers were thrown in with great enthusiasm and noise, and under their cover the 208th Pennsylvania of Hartranft's division was moved out and arrayed in deployed line, facing the lost works. Every mounted officer and orderly present, sixteen in all, then fell in line behind them, and they slowly moved down, under a heavy fire, about half way to the objective point, where they were halted and laid down be- hind an old line of rifle pits. Not a mounted man escaped being- hit in this movement, though half of them came off with injuries only to horses and clothes. During this advance the firing was very heavy at Fort Haskell and in its neighborhood. The 100th Pennsylvania advanced at the same time, and Colouel Robinson brought up the 3d Maryland from its position, in echelon, and assumed command of all the troops in this part of the field. The loss of the 208th Pennsylvania was about half the loss of Hart- ranft's division that day, and was suffered mostly in this ad- vance. It was not thought prudent to go clear on to the lost 272 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. lines at that moment, as Hartranft was not up within supporting distance. From this time to the final charge very little fighting was done in this part of the field. Over four hundred prisoners and six or seven flags had been taken up to this time bj? troops of the Second Brigade and forwarded from brigade to corps head- quarters, as communication with the division was interrupted by the interposed column of Confederates. Li From this time, about half past six, till shortly before eight, the situation in this part of the field w r as much like this : the left consisted of detachments of the 14th New York Artillery, 29th and 59th Massachusetts. Next these were the 3d Maryland and 100th Pennsylvania as organizations. Next was the 208th Penn- sylvania, and next them the Fort Stedman detachment of the 14th New York Artillery. A line of Confederate skirmishers extended from near Battery 12 towards Stedman, and the works in the rear were full of Confederate troops. Hartranft was advancing with two brigades, his left near the road leading to the right from Fort Stedman, and his line deployed parallel to the general direction of the line of works between McGilvery and Stedman. On Hartranft's right was the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts, zealous to regain their lost works, and to avenge their lost major. " Colonel Tidball of the Artillery Brigade had not been idle, but had sent us a six-gun brass battery to brigade headquarters, where it was advantageously posted in rear of the interval be- tween the 208th and the right detachment of the 14th New York Artillery. The officer in command was a little astonished to And himself on outpost duty, and to be told that we intended to charge without reserves, but consoled himself by remarking: *I shall give them a curious time with canister before these guns are taken, even if your infantry fails in its charge.' As these guns were going iii position a little before eight, an aide from General Hartranft came with his compliments to say to the commanding • .nicer Third Brigade, that he would charge in Qve minutes, and would be pleased to have the Third Brigade co-operate. Colonel Robinson at once replied: 'Give my compliments to General Hartranft, and Bay I am charging cow,' immediately giving the order to rise up and charge. The concave line just described then WILLIAM SHAFTOE, 1st Serg-t. Co. K, 57th Mass. FORT STEDMAN. 273 charged, converging on the works, the right aiming at Fort Sted- man, the left to sweep up the line, and the centre directed on Battery 11. The Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts swept up to their own works, and every gap of escape was promptly closed, except on the right of Battery 10 to a point about half way to Battery 9. The tumult of Hartranft's charge was heard while Robinson's line was advancing, and the rear rank of Robinson's troops was promptly faced about from Battery 10 to Battery 12. We had charged past the right flank of the enemy and were in the rear of his right wing. One flag was taken in this charge by a sergeant of the 208th Pennsylvania. A line of Confederates now appeared directing themselves on Fort Stedman and Battery 11, and coming on at great speed, and shouts of ' Halt,' ' Surrender,' ' Down with your arms,' rose all along the line. For an instant it seemed as if we must fire on them, they came on so steadily, but presently their guns began to be cast upon the ground, the line turned to the left, and the order, ' Strip off your belts,' was complied with, and about 800 enlisted men and over 40 officers were prisoners of war. " The fortune of war so ruled that the First Division, which made the assault at the mine, and the Third Brigade, which under- went the assault at Fort Stedman, were to a great extent identical. ' ' Let us apply the maxim ' a man is known by the company he keeps ' to these men. Occasions for special acts of gallantry must occur in an army, mostly when the men who do them are with, and supported by, their associates. Four hundred and seventy-four officers and men were selected for decoration with medals of honor out of the two millions who served in the war. Ten of these were in the regiments of McLaughlen's brigade ; yet all the organizations of that brigade never had on their rolls over seven thousand men. They got, in other words, six times their share of medals for gallantry. The 100 Pennsylvania won four per cent of these honors awarded to troops from that State. The Massachusetts troops of this brigade earned five medals out of the twenty-one which Massachusetts got, and two of the others were won by two other regiments of Ledlie's division. The 3d Mary- is 274 KIKTY-SEYKXTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. land won half of the Maryland medals ; yet Ledlie's division has been stated, in what purports to be history, to have been the worst in the army .... " The war is ended, many of the men who survived it sleep be- neath the green earth of many a country graveyard, and mere justice to their children requires that the record of those two desperate mornings* should be completed by a comrade who was in a position to observe, aud who was required to see and know, free from the actual stress of bodily fighting, the connections and combinations of all parts of our own contesting troops, and to comprehend this combination and further it. Were Marshall or McLaughlen alive they would be allowed to tell their own story, except so far as they asked for aid. Failing that, their adjutant tells his general's story, as he believes the general would tell it, and as his own remembrance of observed facts requires." Bvt. Capt. Charles H. Pinkham, who was sergeant-major of tin- Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts at the battle of Fort Stedman, and whose gallantry was mentioned by the division, brigade and regimental commanders, has contributed his personal recollections of the battle. This will be interesting to every comrade who was there, as it is a modest voice from the Fifty-Seventh. Captain Pinkham is now an honored citizen of the city of AVorcestcr. Mass. Worcester, Mass.. Jan. I5tb, L895. Captain John Anderson, U.S. Army. \fy Dear Captain: In accordance with your request, I am pleased id submit herewith my personal recollections of the battle of Fort stc the left, a- well as all those made in our front for the purpose of a«i\ ancing t he lines. in the early part of 1865, orders bad been issued allowing deserters from the rebel army to come within our lines, bringing their arm- ami equipments, The wisdo f Buch an order, as appeared in the light >>f •| be crater and Stedman.— J. A. KORT STEDMAN. 275 events which followed, may well be questioned and lead to the opinion that, from a military standpoint, it was a mistake. On the morning of March 25th, 1865, the regiment was in camp to the right and rear of Fort Stedman, near the Prince George Court House road, covering the earthworks, or trenches, at this point. As it was not practicable for troops to remain constantly in the trenches, on account of the peculiar conformation of the ground at this place, and the water and mud that had settled there, the men of the regiment not on guard duty, were permitted to sleep in their tents just behind the in- trenched lines. In fact it was not deemed absolutely necessary for them to remain in the trenches, as there was a trench guard and a line of picket posts in front. I was sergeant-major of the Fifty-Seventh and tented with Adjutant Doty, Avho was absent on leave at the time, and Lieutenant A. O. Hitchcock was acting in his place. We were awakeued about three or four o'clock that morning by hearing unusual firing on the picket line. I immediately got up and reported the matter to Lieutenant-Colonel Tucker and Major Doherty, and the regiment was immediately turned out under arms and formed line. Companies G and K were deployed as skirmishers in our camp, moved forward and were most of them taken prisoners. Even at that time the "Johnnies" were inside our lines and in Fort Stedman, having captured several of our picket posts under the well-played ruse of being- deserters from the rebel army. They came in such large numbers as to be able to capture and overpower our pickets in that immediate vicinity. If the order permitting them to come in and bring their arms had not been issued, the battle of Fort Stedman would, probably, never have taken place, and General Gordon would never have made an attack here. The Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts was without support, either on the right or left, and as it was taken in flank by an overwhelming force, the only course was to fall back, which was quickly done. It was either a hasty retreat or the surrender of the whole regiment. Colonel Tucker being division officer of the clay and attending to his duties elsewhere, Major Doherty took command. As we were falling back, he said to me, " Sergeant-Major, where in h — 1 are the colors? " I replied that the color sergeant who was on furlough had left them in my tent. He then ordered me to return and get them. I went, in obedience to his orders, although it looked like a forlorn hope, but the colors must be saved at any cost. Having lost one stand of colors in the crater, we could poorly afford to lcse another here. As I returned, the enemy was in possession of our camp, but, under cover of darkness, I gained the tent, seized the colors, and you may be sure I did not wait to hold conversation with them, but for the time being was a professional "sprinter." I ran the gauntlet and, save being half frightened to death by the bullets whizzing around 276 FIKTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. my ears, reached the regiment in safety and turned the colors over to Sergeant Chase of Company H. History has told the story of the charge and well do those who were there remember the gallant conduct of Lieutenant Murdoch, Avho seized the flag from the color sergeant, and urging his men forward, was shot through the body, falling with the colors in his hand and dying almost immediately after. After the battle was over and we had regained our rami) once more, we found what was left nearly destroyed by the grape and canister from our own batteries on the hill in rear. The ground was strewn with the dead and dying "Johnnies," as the Confederates were familiarly called, who had so bravely fought us. While our loss had been heavy, theirs had been much heavier. The final result of the battle was that we won back all the positions from which we had been driven, besides a large number of prisoners and small arms, together with several battle-flags. The Fifty-Seventh Massa- chusetts, by a " singular poetic justice," captured the battle-flag of the 57th North Carolina (rebel). Soon after the Stedman affair we were ordered into the main line of works near Battery 11 and Fort Stedman. It was while we were in this position that orders were issued for the 29th, 57th and 5'Jth Massachusetts regiments to form a forlorn hope and charge the enemy in front of Fort Stedman. In order to accomplish this successfully it was necessary that the three lines of abatis in front of the enemy's lines should be cut away. One officer and forty men from the brigade were called upon to volunteer as axemen. Lieutenant James H. Marshall of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts volunteered to lead them. The time fixed was three o'clock in the morning. The axemen took posi- tion in front of the works and waited the order to advance. The three regiments had made preparations, each believing that few would escape being killed in such a foolhardy attempt to break the enemy's almost impregnable line. Most of the men gave the chaplain or quartermaster such valuables as they had on their persons to be sent home to their friends or relatives in case they should fail to return, but no man in the regiment thought of doing anything but his duty, and that was to obey orders faithfully, even if it cost him his life, lint the charge was never made, the order having been wisely countermanded. No movement was made on either side until the final attack from our left the day before the evacuation of Petersburg, when our troops repeatedly charged the enemy's lines. How well do we all remember the night before the evacuation, when the enemy opened all his batteries upon us, which were responded to by all the batteries on the Federal side, and for hours the heavens wen- a blaze of light from the burning fuse of hundreds of shrieking, bursting shells, it was a grand exhibition of the elements of war. Undercover of this demonstration, the enemy evacuated Peters- burg, and at the flrsl break Of day, our pickets found that instead of FORT STEDMAN. 277 facing an army with which we had struggled for months, we were only- facing a line of vacant trenches. They had, after weary months of hard pounding, been at last flanked out from the left and we entered upon the closing chapter of that grand tragedy which had occupied the attention of the whole world for four long, bloody years. Fraternally yours, CHARLES H. PINKHAM, Late 2d Lieutenant Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts Volunteers, Brevet- Captain U.S. V. Chaplain Dashiell relates a sad incident of a young sergeant by the name of Wesley R. Williams of Company I, who had passed through every engagement with the regiment unhurt. Now, when the war seemed so near a close, with bright anticipa- tions of an early return to home and friends, he had a leg shattered in the engagement at Fort Stedman and was obliged to have it amputated. After Major Doherty fell, the regiment was commanded by Capt. A. W. Cooke. Capt. Henry C. Ward, formerly of the Fifty-Seventh Massa- chusetts, now a captain in the 16th Infantry, U S. Army, has written a paper giving an account of his capture on the picket line and his subsequent experience as a prisoner of war, which is well entitled to space in this history, together with the recent correspondence connected with the return of his sword : — The Night Attack on Fort Stedman, March 25th, 1SG5. On the 24th of March, 1865, I was detailed as brigade officer of the day, of the Third Brigade, First Division, Ninth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, and was in charge of the brigade pickets in front of Petersburg, Va., covering a line of more than a mile and a half. On account of the weakening of the Ninth Corps some days pre- vious, to reinforce the army on our left for a contemplated movement at that point, the brigade picket lines and the troops in the immediate front of Petersburg had been considerably reduced in numbers. This the Confederate commander had observed, and this was the occasion of the attack on Fort Stedman. The picket lines of the two armies were scarcely seventy-five yards apart, while the main lines were from 250 to 300 yards apart at this point. The main works of defense and the fortifications of the Con- 278 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. federates were protected by strong lines of abatis and chevaux-de-frise and other obstructions well known in warfare. The pickets being so close together, the reliefs were placed after dusk. For some time there had been continued tiring on the picket lines at night, by both parties, to prevent repairs on their works caused by the artillery firing dining the day. At night many deserters also came in from the enemy, bringing their arms, equipments, etc. Upon my reporting to Brigadier-General McLaughlen, commanding the Third Brigade, for orders on the night of March 2-ith, 1865, he in- formed me that he had received orders to have all firing in his front at night stopped unless an attack was made, and directed me to attend to the matter; and as I was leaving him he called me back and remarked, that if I procured any rebel newspapers during the night, to send them to his headquarters in the morning. After dusk I stopped all firing on the lines. The night was unusually quiet. In passing down the lines I walked into a rebel picket and upon realizing my mistake, I begged his pardon and fled, without being fired upon. This was not an unusual occurrence, on account of the lines being zigzag and so close together. About three o'clock a.m., I heard some desultory shots almost di- rectly in front of Fort Stedman. and I proceeded there as rapidly as possi- ble. The picket informed me that something unusual was going on and that he felt just died in firing. 1 noticed an unusual noise in our front and crawled beyond our lines to investigate and reconnoiter, and saw that a corps of pioneers were removing the obstructions in front of the works of the enemy, and that troops were forming for attack, some of the men ha\ ing a white band on the arm to distinguish them in the dark. Upon making this discovery, I immediately crawled back into our lines and directed the firing of the pickets on the entire line and sent messengers to the commanding officer of the troops in Fort Stedman in my rear, that an attack was being made All at once a thin line of battle made its appearance in our front joined by the pickets of the enemy. I was knocked dow ii by a (dub or musket in the hands of a Confederate soldier. and taken by the guard to General Gordon, commanding the troop- of the enemy. I gave him my rank and duties of that night and declined to reply to questions in regard to Federal troops. At this time the main line of Confederates had not gone forward ; the guns from Fort Stedman had opened with one or two volleys, then ceased. Tlie Confederate Officers near me wen- iii-iu-' their men forward, telling them that t he first line of works had been captured, also a general officer. This was spread down the lines and the nun sprang out of the works across the lines. At this time the firing was general on both sides. At break of daj General McLaughlen and several others were broughl In as prisoners of war. The General told me that upon hearing the firing he jumped up, hastily dressing, and hurried Into the works, FORT STEDMAN. 279 about one hundred yards from his quarters — that he observed iu the darkness a line of battle firing to the rear, and directed them to lire to their front, and proceeded to put the troops into position. At this juncture it was discovered that he was a Federal officer, and was immediately captured. It seems that he had been commanding rebel troops that had gotten iuto our line of -works. About seven o'clock a.m., some four hundred officers and men of our forces had been captured, and -we were marched off to the military prison in Petersburg. About eleven o'clock a.m., General Robert E. Lee arrived at the prison accompanied by an orderly, and I had some con- versation with him. I could get no information from our guards as to the result of the battle, but at four o'clock p.m. we were marched to the depot to embark for Richmond. Va. "We proceeded some Ave miles out of the city on the old railroad track in full view of our batteries, some two miles away. As soon as they discovered us, they opened tire on us. thinking Ave were the enemy, and thereby causing more alarm to our guards than to ourselves, for we then knew that our troops had been successful and that they held the entire line. We were loaded on passenger and freight cars and arrived at Richmond in the morning and marched through the streets to Libby Prison. A rather funny incident occurred a day or two after my arrival in the prison. The names of the captured officers were published in the Daily Dispatch and my name caught the eye of a friend, the wife of a tobacco merchant living iu the city. The next morning she called at the prison, accompanied by her servant, bearing a tray of lunch for me and a quilt. She was not allowed to see me, or to send up the food, and from my window I saw her, and my lunch, depart from the prison. Our food was not plentiful. It consisted of much bone, thinly covered with strips of very dark, tough meat. Some of the prisoners declared the meat to be the carcasses of the mules abandoned by the armies of the Peninsula. The officers decided to call for an interview with the commandant of the prison, Major Turner. He came and we showed him the beef and told him our story of hunger and suspicion of mule meat. He stated in reply that "the quality of rations furnished us was the same as that given the guard who guarded our prison, but that we did not have the quantity, as we were doing nothing, and did not require so much, and that it was necessary to economize." We replied that if what he stated was true we had nothing more to say. On April 2d, 1865 (Sunday), all the prisoners in Libby prison were marched to Rocketts to embark for the Federal lines. The city was being evacuated, supplies for the army were being destroyed and the Con- federate army north of the James river was being hurriedly transferred to the front of Petersburg. We could hear the guns of the army there 280 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. very distinctly and we were satisfied that the war was being closed. The president of the Confederacy and his cabinet were also leaving the city, but they did not take the same direction that the prisoners of war did. We marched to the wharf singing patriotic songs, and as Ave passed down the river and by the Confederate gunboats, they were blown up. The view of the city, the explosion of war material, the property being destroyed by fire, etc., were grand. We were landed within some miles of the Federal pickets on the James river and proceeded to the head- quarters of the general commanding the troops and notified him that the city of Richmond was being evacuated. This was before daylight on the morning of April 3d, and at daylight these troops advanced and passed into the city without much opposition. We prisoners were all placed on Federal boats and taken down the river and within five days thereafter I had reported for duty with my regiment. After the war I Avas in command of Libby Prison and Major Dick Turner, the adjutant of the prison, and others who had been his assistants there when I was a prisoner, were now my prisoners. I afterward took Dick Turner's parole and released him. My sword, which was surrendered to the Confederate commander, General Gordon, when I was captured, was presented to me by the young ladies of Worcester, Massachusetts. My name and the date of presentation were engraved on the scabbard. After the election of the Democratic candidate (Cleveland) in November, 1892, and during the jollification in the South over a Democratic victory, my sword was re- turned to me and I received it on Christmas Day, 1892, nearly twenty- nine years after its capture. Cleveland, Rowan County, N.C. Nov. 26th, 1892. Captain H. C. Ward. Dear Sir : < »n the 26th of March, 18(55, I captured from an officer in front of Petersburg, Va., a sword. There is engraved on the upper band of the scabbard the following: "Presented to Lieutenant H. C. Ward, Company G, Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts Volunteer Veterans, by his friends. Worcester, March 28th, 18(>4." I have always intended to keep it as a memorial of the late contest, in which bravery was pitted againsl bravery, and noble men on both side- scaled with their blood their devotion to their country and in defense of their solemn convic- tions of duty. But as we have convincing proofs, as evidenced by the late election, that sectional bitterness is almost obliterated, and the fact thai Ave are brothers of one common country, purpose and high destiny, knowing no North, South, Fast or West, breaks upon our minds. I have concluded to return the sword to its proper owner, if to be found. Brave men of the •• Blue and the (J ray" have long since bridged the bloody KOKT STEDMAN. 281 cliasm aud grasped hands in loving forgetfulness of the past; why is it that all others do not do the same and let us have a real union of hands and hearts as well as of country? I will send by express as soon as I can get your address. Yours respectfully, (Signed) PHIL. ALEXANDER. To which Captain Ward replies as follows : — Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 3d, 1892. Major Phil. Alexander. My Dear Major : I have your letter of the 26th ultimo, directed to H. C. Ward and forwarded to me by the postmaster of Worcester, Mass. At the battle of Fort Stedman before Petersburg, Va., about 3.30 a.m., I was captured while brigade officer of the day, and in command of the pickets on the lines of the Third Brigade, First Division of the Ninth Corps, Army of the Potomac. If my memory is correct, I was taken to General Gordon commanding the Confederate troops making the attack. I bad the sword referred to at the time of my capture, it having been presented to me by friends of mine. I was very glad to learn the where- abouts of the sword and also proud to hear that it has been in such brave and gallant hands. I most heartily endorse the sentiments expressed in your patriotic letter. Very sincerely yours, (Signed) HENRY C. WARD, Captain U.S. Army. On duty with Governor of Tennessee, in connection with National Guard. After having received the sword, Captain Ward made acknowledgment in the following words : — Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 26th, 1892. Major Phil. Alexander. My Dear Major: I received the sword yesterday and I wish to thank you for your kindness in the matter and the patriotic sentiments expressed in your very kind letter. I have many friends among those brave old soldiers who were in the Confederate army during the war. Long ago I believe all animosities were buried between the wearers of the " Blue and the Gray." I am very sincerely yours, HENRY C. WARD. 282 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Maysfield, Texas, May 4th, 1893. Captain Ward. Dear Sir : Your favor of recent date in reference to the sword and its history, was received after being detained for some time by reason of being raissent. I heartily "wish that an opportunity may present itself that we may meet at some time and talk over our past experience as soldiers when we were deadly enemies (not personally), but now friends. endeavoring to build up our common country so as to make it the grandest and greatest the sun ever shone upon. Well, as to the details of the night attack upon Fort Stedman. in front of Petersburg, Ya.. I, perhaps, will not be able to give much Infor- mation. Subordinate officers knew but very little as to general plans of attack. Knowing, as General Lee must have known, the utter hopelessness of our situation, I have never understood why the attack was made only two or three days before our evacuation of our whole line. The day before there was a detail of picked men taken from our brigade which was immediately in front of Fort Stedman, and ordered to report for duty under the command of Colonel H. C. Jones (now of Charlotte. N.C.). Other troops were massed on the front and by four o*clock a.m., of March 26th, the whole line was put in motion. Colonel Jones' line of skirmishers cut the two lines of chevaux-de-frise and other obstructions, and captured the fort in gallant style. So complete was the surprise that very little resistance could be made. The main line, preceded by Colonel Jones, advanced several hundred yards beyond the fort after day- light, where the whole, or at least a large number, of Grant's batteries were brought to position, and poured forth such a fusilade of shot and -hell thai we retreated to the fort. There and then I had the most un- comfortable experience of the war. I have had some close calls before, but, had never felt as if my time were up. Now I began to think vero finis venerat. It seemed that a shell burst in our midsl every second. I happened to he near General Gordon when he issued orders to retreat to our own works and made up in\ mind not to wait for the regular channel of communication, through stall' officers, but •'called on feel bo save the body," and fchej responded quite lively, you may rest assured. I've often thought that none but an old soldier could fully experi- ence h"\\ -weet the calm, (pnet sense of security that crept over and took possession of the mind when, under such circumstances, he could sud- denly fall into a ditch or some other hole. He could then sit back and ruminate over the sentiments Virgil makes Tityrus say to Melibseus, I), us nobis hoec otia fecit. I forgot to say thai it was near daylight, and as I was passing up our line, about half way between our respective lines of defense, I came on the scene of your capture. You had already been disarmed and the "Johnnie Reb" who had rou In charge was iust on the FOKT STEDMAN. 283 point of passing to the rear with you, -when he handed me your sword. Separated as we are by nearly thirty years from that eventful morning, the words that passed and some of the circumstances that took place at the time have passed into the ocean of forgetfulness. Some ten or twelve days from the time of the attack, after a series of marches and countermarches, fighting and retreating, the rank and tile of the Confederate veterans, begrimed with dirt and grease, and emaciated from hunger and loss of sleep, succumbed to superior force. Never did a truer or braver people surrender. The glory of their brilliant achievements, their invincible courage and daring bravery, are enshrined in the hearts of our old men and women, our young men and maidens. It will need no monuments of brass or tablets of marble to perpetuate their memory, because it will be handed down to succeeding generations as a precious heirloom, to be recounted around the firesides and family altars of their homes. General Gordon in his farewell address to his command said : " The cause for which we fought is lost, but the principle is immortal . . . . " Believe me, as ever, Yours truly, PHIL. ALEXANDER. Gen. R. E. Lee had but little to say about the battle and treated the matter as one of no great importance. Reporting upon it to the Confederate Secretary of War, John C. Brecken- ridge, under date of March 25th, 1865, he says: "At daylight this morning General Gordon assaulted and carried enemy's works at Hare's Hill (called Fort Stedman by the Federals) , captured nine pieces of artillery, eight mortars, between five and six hun- dred prisoners, among them one brigadier-general and a number of officers of lower grade. Enemy's lines were swept away for distance of four hundred or five hundred yards to right and left, and two efforts made to recover captured works were handsomely repulsed ; but it was found that the inclosed works in rear, com- manding enemy's main line, could only be taken at great sacrifice, and troops were withdrawn to original position. It being im- practicable to bring off captured guns, owing to nature of ground, they were disabled and left. Our loss reported is not heavy. Among wounded is Brigadier-General Terry, flesh wound, and Brig. -Gen. Phil. Cook, in arm. All the troops engaged, includ- ing two brigades under Brigadier-General Ransom, behaved most handsomely. The conduct of the sharpshooters of Gordon's corps. •284 KIl TY-SEVENTH KEGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS who led the assault, deserves the highest commendation. This afternoon there was skirmishing on the right between the picket lines, with varied success. At dark enemy held considerable por- tion of the line furthest in advance of our main works." Ma j. -Gen. John B. Parke, commanding the Ninth Corps, submitted a report to the commander of the Army of the Potomac which we quote in part. The report is dated April 20th, 1865 : — I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my command in the action of March 25th ultimo. The line held by this corps extended from the Appomattox on the right, with pickets stretching some three miles down the river, to Fort Howard on the left, a distance of about seven miles. The line was occupied by the First Division, Brevet Major-General 0. B. Wilcox commanding, extending from the Appomattox to Fort Meikel, and the Second Division, Brevet Major-General R. B. Potter commanding, extending from Fort Meikel to Fort Howai-d. The Third Division, Brigadier-General J. F. Hartranft commanding, was held in reserve, its right regiment being posted near the Dunn House Battery, and its left regiment between Forts Hays and Howard. The intrenchments held by Wilcox's division and Potter's First Brigade, were very nearly as placed when the positions were originally gained by our troops, under lire, and in so close proximity to the enemy that the work was necessarily very defective. This was especially the case with Fort Stedman, where our lines crossed the Prince George Court House road. This is a small work without bastions, with Battery No. 10 Immediately adjoining, the battery open in the rear, and the ground in rear of the fort nearly as high as its parapet. The opposing lines are here about one hundred and fifty yards apart, the picket lines about fifty yards. This portion of the line was held by the Third Brigade, First Division, Brevet Brigadier-General N. B. McLaughlen commanding. About 4.30 o'clock on the morning of March 25th, last, the enemy assaulted this front with Gordon's Corps, reinforced by Bushrod Johnson's division. At 1 a.m. the picket line had been visited by the captain of the picket, who found the men on the alert and discovered no sinus of movement by the enemy. Taking advantage of the order allowing deserters to bring their arms with them, the enemy sent forward squads of pretended deserters, who, by this ruse, gained possession of several of the picket posts. They were closely followed by a Strong Storming party of picked men, this by three heavy columns. The picket line was overpowered after one discharge of their pieces. The trench guard, though stoutly resist- ing, was unable to withstand the rush of numbers, and the mainline was broken between Batteries 9 and in, near No. 10. FORT STEDMAN. 285 The enemy turned to the right and left hand, the right column soon gaining Battery 10, which is open in the rear, thus acquiring great advantage for an assault on Fort Stedmau. The garrison of Fort Stedman, consisting of a battalion of the 14th New York Heavy Artillery, under Major Randall, made a spirited resistance, but being attacked in front, flank and rear, was overpowered and most of it captured. The artillery in the fort, consisting of four light 12's, discharged a dozen rounds of canister before being taken. These guns, as well as those in Battery 10, were at once turned upon us. The enemy then pushed gradually along the lines toward Fort Haskell, driving out the troops holding Batteries 11 and 12, neither of which are inclosed works. It was still quite dark, which circumstance greatly augmented the diffi- culty of formation to check the progress of the enemy, it being almost impossible to distinguish between friend and foe, and made the use of artillery upon them impracticable at any distance. At the first alarm General McLaughlen sent members of his staff to the various positions on his front, and himself proceeded to Fort Haskell, thence along the line to Stedman. He found that our troops had been driven from Battery 11. He directed Mortar Battery 12 to open on it, and sent for the 59th Massachusetts, and on its arrival recaptured Battery 11 by a bayonet charge. He then proceeded to Fort Stedman and was there taken prisoner. As soon as it became evident at my headquarters that the enemy were attacking, I despatched aides-de-camp to communicate with Generals Wilcox and McLaughlen, ordered General Hartranft to concentrate his right brigade and reinforce General Wilcox, and ordered General Tidball, chief of artillery, to place his reserve batteries in position on the hills in rear of the point attacked. On receiving a report from General Wilcox and from members of my own staff, of the state of afl'airs, I ordered up General Hartranft's other brigade, informed General Wilcox that he would be reinforced by the Third Division, and directed him to at once reoccupy the works taken. General Hartranft concentrated his division with commendable promptitude, his left regiment having to move a distance of live miles, he, in the meantime, promptly and gallantly attacking with a regiment of his right brigade, the 200th Pennsylvania, assisted by detachments from McLaughlen's and Ely's brigades, of Wilcox's division, checking the enemy's skirmishers who were ad- vancing towards Meade's Station, and driving them back to the line of works. The column of the enemy which turned to the left hand, after entering our line, proceeded along the trenches in the direction of Battery No. 9, taking the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts in flank and rear, and driving them from the trenches. The left of the 2d Michigan, the left regiment of Ely's brigade, of Wilcox's division, was also somewhat broken, but the regiment promptly rallied and fought the enemy over the 286 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS VOLUNTEERS. traverses so stoutly that time was gained to bring up reinforcemeuts from the right of the brigade and form a strong line perpendicular to the intrenchments, with right resting near Battery 9. This line of troops, assisted by the artillery from Xo. 9, No. 5 and McGilvery. repulsed, with loss, a heavy assault on Battery 9, and stopped all farther advance of the enemy in that direction. The picket line was held up to a point to the left of Battery 9 throughout the engagement. The rebel column which moved from Fort Stedman toward Fort Haskell met with no better success. It gained temporary possession of Mortar Batteries 11 and 12, but the garrisons of those works, the 29th Massachusetts and 100th Pennsylvania, quickly rallied on the left, and formed, in conjunction with troops withdrawn from his left by Colonel Harriman, commanding First Brigade, Wilcox's division, a line perpen- dicular to the intrenchments, connecting on their right with Hartranft's troops and Avith left resting near Fort Haskell, checking all farther progress of the enemy, and slowly driving him back. He made several desperate assaults on Fort Haskell, but was bloodily repulsed. At 7.:'>n a.m. the position of affairs was this: we had regained Batteries 11 and 12 and had drawn a cordon of troops around Fort Stedman and Battery in. forcing the masses of the enemy back into those works where they were exposed to, and suffered greatly from, a concentrated tire from all the artillery in position bearing on those points and the reserve batteries . RUGGl I 8 Assistant Adjutant- Gi m r/ the. P<>(i>ntn the spot. <>n our left the enemy proceeded through the trenches, driving before them the 29th Massachusetts, B small regiment, which made the best CHARLES H. PINKHAM, 2d Lieut. 57th Mass., Bvt. Capt. U.S. Vols. FORT STEDMAN. 289 resistance it could, over its traverses and works, being attacked in front, rtank and rear. From Battery No. 11 they proceeded toward Battery No. 12 in the same manner, killing, wounding and capturing a part of the 100th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers. In this attack Colonel Pentecost, commanding 100th Pennsylvania, was mortally wounded A part of this regiment was deployed as skirmishers in the rear, and a part went into Fort Haskell. Brevet Colonel Robinson took a part of the 3d Maryland from a portion of his line on the left of Haskell and deployed it on the left of the skirmish line of the 100th Pennsylvania. Soon afterward Colonel Robinson, by my direction, assumed command of the Third Brigade. Hartranft's line advanced rapidly, enveloping the rear of the works. The 17th Michigan, on the extreme right, dashed forward and gained the trenches lately occupied by the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts, but now held by the enemy, capturing prisoners on that side. The retreat of the enemy was soon cut off by the troops of this division gaining the rear of the main body along the parapet of the works, and a large number of prisoners and some colors were captured by the troops of both divisions. One thousand and five prisoners, besides some of the wounded, fell into the hands of my own command, also seven stand of the enemy's colors, together with one of our own flagstaffs recaptured. It was found on regaining our works that the enemy, while they held possession of them, were not able to carry off or effect any damage on our artillery, which they temporarily held and partially used against Battery No. 9 and Fort Haskell. They carried one Coehorn mortar over the parapet, but it Avas regained, and not the least damage was inflicted on any of the guns or gun carriages. No colors or guns were lost by us. The following are the names of the captors of enemy's colors in this Division : . . . . Sergeant Major C. H. Pinkham, Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts Volunteers I also forward herewith the reports of the commanders of the Second and Third Brigades, and respectfully call attention to the recom- mendations for gallantry therein contained. Of my own staff, all of whom were active throughout the engagement, I would honorably men- tion Captain L C. Brackett, Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts Volunteers, for gallantry in assisting in the charge of the Third Division I am, very respectfully, O. B. WILCOX, Colonel P. M. Lydig, Brevet Major-General Commanding. Assistant Adjutant-General, Ninth Aravj Corps. N. B. I also append the report of Brevet Brigadier-General N. B. McLaughlen, which, as seen from the date, was received subsequent to the writing of the above report. . O. B. WILCOX. Brevet Major-General Commanding. 19 290 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Following this we cop} T in full the report of Bvt. Brig. -Gen. N. B. McLaughlen, Colonel Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts Volun- teers, who commanded the Third Brigade, First Division of the Ninth Corps, until taken prisoner as heretofore related, made while a paroled prisoner of war : — Parole Camp. Annapolis, Md., April 4th, 1S65. Major : I have the honor to report the part taken by me in the fight at Fort Stedman, March 25th. until captured, which occurred just before daylight. On hearing the noise of the attack that morning I awoke my staff' and dispatched them to various parts of the line to get the troops under arms, and proceeded myself to Fort Haskell, garrisoned by a battalion of the 14th New York Heavy Artillery, whom I found on the alert and ready to resist an attack. I then turned down the line to the right, passing the 100th Pennsylvania Volunteers, who were already in their works, and Battery 12, finding everything right, and reached the mortar battery No. 11, in which were no guns, and which was occupied by the 29th Massachusetts Veteran Volunteers. Here I found Major Richardson of that regiment, who told me that the battery was in the enemy's hands. and that his command had just been driven from it. I at once sent orders to the 59th Massachusetts Veteran Volunteers, the only regiment of my brigade not in the line, of works, to report to me at double quick, and to Battery 12 to turn their mortars on Battery 11, which was clone, three shots being fired. On the arrival of the 59th, I put them into the work with fixed bayonets and recaptured it at once. Supposing that I had restored the only break in the liue, I crossed the parapet into Fort Stedman on the right, and meeting some men coming over the curtains, whom in the darkness I supposed to be a part of the picket, I estab- lished them inside the work, giving directions with regard to position and firing, all of which were instantly obeyed. In a few minutes I saw a man crossing the parapet, whose uniform, in the dawning light, I recognized to be the enemy's, and I halted him, asking his regiment. This called attention to myself and the next moment 1 was surrounded by the rebels, whom I had supposed to be my men. and sent to the rear, where 1 found General Cordon, to whom I delivered my sword, and was sent by him to Petersburg. While standing by General Gordon four brigades moved forward toward our works, their commanders reporting to him. While there, Captain Swords of the First Division stall' was brought up, having been captured in Fort Stedman, where lie had been directed in search of me, ami also Lieutenant Sturgls of my statr whom I hail sent to the left and ordered to report to me at Fort Stedman. From Petersburg] was senl by rail the same day to Libby Prison, at FOKT STEDMAN. 291 Richmond, Va , and remained there until the afternoou of April 2d, when I, with the other officers confined there, was paroled and sent to this place, via Fortress Monroe, where we arrived this morning. There were sixteen officers of niy brigade captured besides myself, and about 480 enlisted men, all of whom were paroled. I have not the slightest fault to find with any of the troops of my command. All were vigilant and on the alert, both officers and men, and all was done that lay within the bounds of possibility. The enemy, aware of the recent order allowing deserters to bring in their arms, approached my picket line under that disguise, in small squads, and thus surprised the pickets, capturing them without any alarm being given. I would say further, that I have personal knowledge that there were three divisions massed to break my brigade line, those of Johnson and Gordon making the attack, and the third being held in reserve, with cavalry and batteries in support. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, N. B. McLAUGHLEN, Brevet Brigadier-General, U.S. V., Commanding 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 9th Army Corps. To Brevet-Major William V. Richards, A.A.G. 1st Div., 9th Army Corps, Before Petersburg, Va. Col. Gilbert P. Robinson, Third Maryland Volunteers, was assigned to the command of the brigade after General McLaughlen had been taken prisoner, and made the following report which we give in part : — Headquarters Third Brigade, First Division, Ninth Army Corps, March 28th, 1865. Sir: About 3.30 a.m., March 25th, the enemy advanced in several columns upon the cluster of artillery positions known as Fort Stedman, Batteries 10, 11 and 12. The garrisons of these portions of the line were alarmed by the officers and men of the picket and trench guard, and were immediately in line prepared for attack. The enemy's skirmishers, ad- vancing with clubbed muskets and with their bayonets, broke the picket line in front of Fort Stedman and advanced to the abatis. The 14th New York Artillery and the 29th Massachusetts Volunteers, the garrisons of Stedman, 10 and 11, were under arms and made a stout resistance. At about 4 a.m. General McLaughlen proceeded to the lines, sending one aide to the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts to order them into line, another to the left of the brigade to see that they were on the alert and prepared for action, and taking another with him. Shortly after the General left, a messenger from Battery 11, closely followed by one from Fort Stedman, communicated the facts of the case to brigade headquarters, and the 59th 292 FII TY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Massachusetts was directed to attack at Battery 11 with vigor and carry it at the point of the bayonet if captured, and reinforce the works if not. The Fifty-Seventh was directed to advance similarly on Fort Stedmau. After about an hour's desperate fighting, in which the works were carried back and forth several times, the troops were compelled to retire, part in the direction of Fort Haskell, and part toward the railroad. The 100th Pennsylvania had meantime been deployed at right angles with their line of works, covered with a line of skirmishers, but being unable to stem the torrent, divided, three companies going to the old line of works in the rear of their camp, and the remainder to Fort Haskell. A skirmish line of the 3d Maryland Battalion had meantime been thrown out, well supported, and upon this portions of the brigade were rallied, and this line prevented the result the enemy evidently had in view, of taking Fort Haskell in reverse. The Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts had meantime been forced back to the ridge near Battery Dunn, but there made head against the enemy. Before six o'clock the 208th Pennsylvania, which had been sent to our assistance from the Third Division, was put in near brigade headquarters and advanced to the old line of works in rear of the camp of the 100th Pennsylvania Volunteers, and shortly after other reinforcements came from the direction of Meade's Station. The Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts deployed as skirmishers, ad- vanced, covering this line, and by a succession of brilliant skirmish charges recovered the slope on which their camp had stood and the crest above it overlooking Fort Stedmau. At this time (about 8.30 a.m.), it was noticed that the frequent slight advantages we had been gaining since the artillery positions were carried had discouraged the enemy, and that even a dash of ;i skirmish line would break a partially formed line of battle, and it was resolved to make a determined effort to recover the works. At this time I received notice from General Ilartrant't that he was advancing and would carry the works in fifteen minutes, but catching sight of the approaching line, seeing the demoralized condition of the enemy, and fearful that a large amount of prisoners mighl be lost by longer delay, it was determined to dash on the enemy at once, and the troops collected at the left, consisting of the Largest pan id' the 8d .Maryland Battalion, the 100th Pennsylvania, fragments of the 29th ami B9th Massachusetts, the Fort Haskell battalion of the New York Artillery and what was left, of the Fori Stedman battalion, charged up the line and along the works, carrying the trenches and batteries as far as Fort Stedman, into which almost Immediately, from a direction about perpen- dicular to the line of our charge, came a portion of the Third Division. By 9 i.m. i lie li C works was in our possession again, with all its artillery. From the time of tic- Brsl assault until the close, the artillery at Fori Haskell was piled with vigor, and was \er\ effective, and the FORT STEDMAN. 293 -well directed infantry fire and the noble courage of the men, in and around the fort, baffled every attempt to assault it. Battery 12 (First Connecticut Heavy Artillery) kept up an effective Are during the early part of the engagement, and the gun detachments kept well at the front after being driven out, and went up in the charge which gave us the line anew, at once reoccupying the battery and serving the mortars. . . . The service will mourn the loss of Lieutenant-Colonel J. H. Pente- cost, 100th Pennsylvania, whose cool, good conduct first checked the current of overwhelming disaster, and of Captain James Doherty, Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts, commissioned and acting as major of that regiment, whose determined courage and excellent disposition greatly delayed the advance of the enemy toward the railroad. Both of these officers (since dead) should be brevettecl for their gallantry this day. I have the honor to mention the following officers and enlisted men for praise for deeds set against their names, and to reiterate the eulogiums of their regimental commanders. Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts Volunteers. Sergeant-Major C. H. Pinkham, captured battle-flag of 57th North Carolina and saved his own colors by seizing them from the staff while the enemy were in the camp. First Sergeant George Adams, Company G, wounded for the fifteenth time. First Sergeant Charles S. Chase, Company H, general good con- duct, and Sergeant John O'Donnell, Company A. Sergeant William F. Oakes, Company K (acting officer), for saving Captain Doherty when wounded, and First Sergeant William Magner, Company B. Sergeant Wesley R. Williams, Company I (wounded), general bravery, and Corporal F. S. Cheney, Company C (killed). General McLaughlen was captured about 4.30 a.m., but I was not notified of the fact till about 6 a.m., when I assumed command of the brigade. I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, GILBERT P. ROBINSON, Brevet Colonel, United States Volunteers. Major William V. Richards, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, First Division. 294 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Lieut. -Col. J. M. Tucker, commanding the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts, submitted the following report of the regiment in this affair : — Camp of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts Vol. Inf., Before Petersburg, Va., March 27th, 1865. ( 'aptain ; I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of ray command in the engagement with the enemy of the 25th : — At the sound of unusually heavy musketry the command formed line of battle near its camp, about 4 a.m. Escaped pickets reported the enemy in heavy force in possession of the line of works in our front, and Companies G and K were deployed forward as skirmishers, the regiment advancing to the attack, the enemy advancing simultaneously and in the darkuess effecting the capture of a portion of right wing of skirmish line. Information having been received of the lodgment made by the enemy in Fort Stedman, the skirmishers were withdrawn, and the regi- ment moved to the rear of the fort with intention of attempting its recapture by assault; but the appearance of the enemy on both Hanks forced a retirement, which was conducted in good order. The enemy's advance was checked by the regiment in four positions, successively taken up while in line of retreat, but from all of which it was compelled to retire by repeated demonstration on its flanks. The crest overlooking the plain now presented the best possible defensive position, and the battery at its summit, the possession of Which was evidently the enemy's object, and which would have given him an incalculable advantage, was entirely without support. The regi- ment accordingly took up position in its rear; subsequently was de- ployed as skirmishers to cover advance of portion of Third Division. Ninth Army Corps, and moved forward, the enemy's skirmishers precipi- tately withdrawing. Successive charges were made to recover the camp of the regiment, the third of which was rewarded by most complete success, tin 1 enemy lleeimc in helpless disorganization or surrendering a> prisoners of war. The numerical and nominal casualty lists have already been for- warded you, imt the irreparable loss to the regiment and the service in the death of Captain .lames Doherty, acting Held officer, and under whose Immediate supervision the operations of the regimenl were mainly con- ducted, deserves more particular mention in this report. Hy most conspicuous bravery invariably displayed, by tlie complete subordination of bis every regard for his personal safety in action, to his efforts to secure victory, by his remarkable executive ability and tactical skill, he had long since achieved a reputation as a mosl reliable, brilliant and in- valuable officer, ami in consideration of the pre-eminent display of these FORT STEDMAN. 295 qualities on the 25th, and of the large contribution to the gratifying result made by his efforts, I earnestly recommend that promotion by brevet or otherwise be awarded his name. First Lieutenant Albert M. Murdock, killed with the colors of the regiment in his hands, which he had grasped to lead a charge, deserves especial mention for gallantry. To every officer of the command present in the action I know that honorable mention for distinguished services is due, but as they are a unit co-operated in the execution of the movements resulting so successfully so to them collectively do I confer my obligations. The following enlisted men were observed as conducting themselves bravely and performing specific acts of gallantry, enumerated below, viz. : — Sergeant-Major Charles H. Pinkham, captured battle flag of Fifty- Seventh North Caroliua (rebel) ; saved colors of his regiment from cap- ture, seizing them from a tent after the enemy had entered the regi- mental camp. First Sergeant George Adams, Company G, conspicuous bravery on skirmish line, receiving his fifteenth wound, continuing with regiment after being wounded. First Sergeant Charles S. Chase, Company H, acting color sergeant, general good conduct. Sergeant John O'Donnell, Company A, rallying and encouraging his men ; had participated in every engagement with his company and regiment since its entry into service. Sergeant William F. Oakes, Company K (missing in action and acting lieutenant), gallantry while in command of portion of skirmish line ; carried Captain Doherty to rear ; resisted attempt of enemy to kill him (Doherty) after being taken prisoner. First Sergeant William Magner, Company B, general bravery. Sergeant Wesley R. Williams, Company I (wounded), general bravery. Corporal Frederick S. Cheney, Company C (killed), color corporal, general bravery. I am, Captain, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, J. M. TUCKER, Lieutenant- Colonel Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Commanding Begiment. Captain Thomas W. Clarke, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Third Brigade, First Division, Ninth Army Corps. 296 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. These reports give as good description of this engagement, in brief, as an} 7 that has been made in history. One of the most reliable of American historians, Lossiug, falls into great error in saying (Page 537, Vol. III., "History of the Civil War") that upon the charge of the enem} T , "the gnns, abandoned without a struggle, were immediately turned upon our redoubts near, known as Batteries Nine, Ten and Eleven, and the connecting line of in- trenchments, compelling their instant vacation." The descriptions of this battle, given by eye-witnesses, and official reports, do not justify the statement that "guns were abandoned without a struggle." In every place a heroic struggle was made until the overwhelming force of the assailants gained either the Hank or rear of a position, which was then only abandoned to gain a more advantageous ground upon which to make a more effective resist- ance. We think the same author makes another error on the same p:i Lie, where he says, speaking of the first onslaught : " That was the moment when Lee's army might have passed through and crowned the hill in the rear witli their guns and men. It did not and the golden moment was lost forever. The troops were not ordered forward, or failed to respond." This is a mere matter of opinion which does not appear based upon good grounds. We admit that it could have been dom.' if the Federal troops had remained passive, but they did not. Though surprised at first, they quickly recovered from it. Other troops following those that had already charged, could not have helped matters in the least, even if they had reached our lints with unbroken ranks, which would have been almost an im- possibility, under the severe cross lire from our guns to the right and left of those on the hill in rear. Even if General Gordon's infantry had gained this hill, it would have been beyond all reason to suppose that their artillery could have been brought forward through our works, ami over all the obstructions that stood in the way. Under the heavy tire which they would have to pass, not a battery horse could have lived to cross the space between the lines. Our ground was so broken up into trenches, batteries, redoubts, covered ways, etc., that infantry soon losl al] formation FORT 9TEDMAN. 297 and were unable to move forward in anything like order. Had General Gordon succeeded in capturing the hill referred to, he would have been without adequate defences and artillery, and he would not have been able to hold it long with the whole Federal army concentrating upon him ; and, instead of surrendering a part, he would eventually have been forced to surrender his whole force. Neither was there any lack of " promptness " on either side ; both acted with the greatest celerity. It must be remembered that it was very dark, and confusion, to those not acquaiuted with the intricacies of our defence, was inevitable. The most that General Lee had hoped for was that General Gordon might possibly gain and hold an advantage until daylight, when he could move his whole army through the breach, move south and join the army under General Johnston. He was fully aware that General Grant was making preparations for a grand move, with a largely superior force, which would render his position around Petersburg untenable. His army had already been stretched out to protect his right from the attacks that were constantly falling upon it, until it could stand no further stretching without breaking ; and again his source of supplies was being cut off and it was evident that he must soon abandon his position. This was his dernier resort and with its failure faded the last ray of hope which he might have entertained. Looking at the affair from a military standpoint, we must say that it was a brilliant feat of arms upon the part of the Con- federates. Their troops were ably commanded and gallantly led. They did all that it was possible for brave men to do, even if they did suffer defeat. It was simply an impossibility, under the conditions that existed, for them to succeed. We fail to see where any mistakes were made on either side. No student of military science can point out anything that was left undone that could by any possibility have been done. Critics only show their ignorance of the situation, and military matters in general, when they attempt it. "When criticism falls upon the Confederate leader, we have only to saj T , "Put yourself in his place.'* In him there was neither lack of courage or generalship. 298 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. General Parke, who commanded all the troops engaged, very justly gave General Hartranft great praise "for the skill and gallantry displayed in handling his troops," while General Meade issued an order congratulating General Parke for his success and praising the firm bearing of the troops. In General Grant's report of the engagement of Fort Sted- man, he says: "At 4.15 a.m. the enemy assaulted our centre in front of Fort Stedman, which they carried after a stubborn resistance on the part of the garrison. The division * temporarily lost possession of one enclosed work and a battery, but holding the rest of its line steadily, at first was entirely occupied in repel- ling the repeated attacks of the enemy on other points, and finally assuming the offensive, with the help of the Third Division, Ninth Corps, pressed the enemy and recaptured the works they had lost at 8.30 a.m., without the loss of a gun or color." This fails to confirm Lossing's statement, heretofore referred to, that " The assailants met no resistance." At the time of this engagement, President Lincoln was visiting General Grant at his headquarters at City Point, where he passed the night and arrived on the lines in time to witness the last charge of the Federal troops from the crest near the Dunn House Battery. ' Referring to the First Division of the Ninth Corps. — .1. A. *j£~- * Mfe <»" ^ A. W. COOKE, Capt. 57th Mass. CHAPTER XIV. NEARIXG THE END. IRECTLY after the battle of Fort Stedman, Lieut. - Col. J. M. Tucker was granted a short leave of absence and the regiment was commanded by Capt. A. W. Cooke, until the morning of April 3d, when the latter was detailed on the staff of Col. James Bintliff , commanding Third Brigade of the First Division as Assistant Provost Marshal. Capt. George E. Barton succeeded Captain Cooke in command. The battle of Fort Stedman was one of those spasmodic efforts which often precede the final dissolution, yet the Con- federate Army of Northern Virginia was destined to die hard. Every indication now pointed to an early evacuation of Peters- burg, but where the enemy would go, or what he would do, no one could conjecture. Knowing that there was plenty of fight still left in him, all felt that the result would not be reached without another severe struggle, but few dreamed that the much desired end was so near. Although the Fifty- Seventh partici- pated in the general operations which terminated in the final surrender, Fort Stedman was their last battle. General Grant still persevered in his original plan of turning the right flank of the enemy. It was hoped that by swinging the army far enough around to the left, the Confederates would not be able to dig trenches fast enough to keep pace with it, and some point must eventually be reached where they would be forced out. Their main line was too strong to admit of a direct assault. It had been strengthened and protected by every device known to engineering skill, and even torpedoes placed beneath the surface of the ground in front, over which an attacking column 300 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. would have to pass. Three lines of abatis and chevaux-de-frise and deep, broad ditches to cross before the parapets could be scaled, rendered their works so strong that a small force could hold them against many times their number. What was true of their line was also true of ours, with this difference, that we were the assailants, but, as it required comparatively few men to hold the intrenched lines, General Grant was enabled to take a large force to operate on Lee's right. The order which had been issued for the movements to commence on the 29th, had not been changed, and the entire Army of the Potomac was ordered to be ready to move at a moment's notice. All the surplus baggage and stores were sent to the depot at City Point for storage and every preparation made for the coming campaign. The order in detail was issued March 27th. The march commenced on the 29th with General Sheridan in com- mand of all the cavalry, who was ordered to move at an early hour across Hatcher's Run, through Dinwiddie Court House, to gain the right and rear of the Confederate army, with the secondary object of striking the South Side Railroad. General Sheridan was closely followed by the Fifth Corps and about one- half the army of the James, with the Second Corps in support, while the Sixth and Ninth Corps, the latter on the right, were extended so as to hold the lines in front of Petersburg. The left of the Ninth Corps was extended to Fort Davis. General Lee anticipated the movement towards his right, and, most probably, understood it about as well as if lie had seen the order. He reasoned from a military standpoint that good generalship would dictate this course to General Grant. The latter never gave up the idea of a direct assault and had the object iu view of compelling Lee to so weaken his line in front of Pet( rsburg to meet the force that was massing on his right that the Sixth and Ninth Corps would be able to make a successful assaull in connection therewith. We do not propose to follow this iii detail, as it has been repeatedly told in Btory and tonus one of the grandesl chapters in American history It led to the battle of Five Porks, and a few days later to the final surrender at Appomattox. There is one NEARING THE END. 301 point, however, of general interest, which has so often been brought into question, that we beg the patient indulgence of the reader while we pause to consider it. That is the one in regard to the actual strength of the opposing armies. It has never been claimed otherwise than that the Confederates were outnumbered, but not in such great proportion as their writers are fond of asserting. The truth of history has credited them with all the valor they can justly claim, without endeavoring to exaggerate it beyond the bounds of reason. The morning report of the Army of the Potomac at the opening of the campaign, March 31st, 1865, shows its effective strength present for duty, viz. : 3,064 officers and 68,956 enlisted men of infantry, 147 officers and 5,705 enlisted men of artillery, with 243 guns, while the Army of the James, acting in conjunc- tion with the Army of the Potomac, numbered 1,258 officers and 32,009 enlisted men of infantry, 86 officers and 2,991 enlisted men of artillery, with 126 guns. To this force should be added 611 officers and 13,209 enlisted men of cavalry, making a grand total of all three arms of the service, of 5,166 officers and 122,870 enlisted men, with 369 guns; but of this force nearly 20,000 belonging to the army of the James, did not participate in the final battles and assault, but remained in position upon the James river and guarded the depot of supplies at City Point. The latest Confederate report, found among the archives now in possession of the War Department, is dated Feb. 20th, 1865, which gives the effective strength of General Lee's army, " armed and equipped and present for duty," as follows: 2,762 officers and 36,404 enlisted men of infantry, 504 officers and 7,143 enlisted men of cavalry, 313 officers and 5,531 enlisted men of artillery. To this should be added Rosser's cavalry division, about 1,500 men, the garrison of Richmond 2,700, and Wise's brigade with the garrison of Petersburg, about 2,000 men. There were other outlying detachments not embraced in this report, all of which would make General Lee's effective force, which he could bring into the field, not less than 58,000 officers and men. 302 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. According to Confederate Inspection Reports made from Feb. 24th to March 1st, 1865, the Army of Northern Virginia had an effective force, present for field duty, of 3,005 officers and 43,052 enlisted men. This also fails to give the report of troops in the department of Richmond, Rosser's Cavalry Division and other detachments that properly belonged to the Army of Northern Virginia, which, if added, would make the Confederate effective strength not far from the figures we have given. The number of guns which they had in position was apparently larger in propor- tion to the strength of their army than that of the Federals. The estimated strength of the Confederate army which we have given is doubtless too small. It is no small undertaking, that of attempting to dig out 58,000 men from their strongholds, brave and desperate men, skilfully commanded, who are resolved to fight to the bitter end. Those who think this task can be accomplished with a force equally as large, brave and well led, have never been where they could see it tried. While the movement was being made to the left, the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts continued to hold their position to the left of Fort Stedman. Frequent demonstrations were made by both sides, generally with some loss. About 10.30 the night of the 29th, the enemy commenced to throw up signal rockets and opened fire along the whole front of the First Division of the Ninth Corps. The artillery fire in front of the First Brigade was concentrated on Fort Morton, that in front of the Third Brigade on Fort Stedman. At the same time the enemy poured an infantry fire upon our lines from their main works and advanced a line of battle as far as the skirmish pits in front of the left of the Third Brigade, near the Norfolk Rail- road bridge. Our pickets made a stubborn resistance, but were temporarily driven back. The further advance of the enemy was Checked by the fire from our main works and subsequent]}' the picket line was restored. The artillery fire ceased in about an hour and an assault was apprehended, but was not made. This had no effect upon any portion of our main line and did not silence any of our guns. General Wilcox said : " It was the HEARING THE END. 303 heaviest firing of all arms combined I have ever known from the enemy on this line. Great credit is due the troops for their steadiness." The attack was repulsed, but our loss was nine killed, forty wounded and two missing, all from the First Divi- sion. The Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts lost four men wounded, names unknown. This demonstration was doubtless made as a kind of speculation to ascertain about what force General Grant had left to hold the trenches, and whether the conditions were favorable for another assault upon our lines, with the alluring prize of our base of supplies at City Point. It resulted in their disappointment, and their hungry cravings had to be endured a while longer. Officers in charge of our signal stations reported unusual activity within the enemy's lines. Heavy fire of mortar guns was indulged in, at intervals, during the day and night, fre- quently accompanied by the familiar whirring, swishing Whitworth shell ; the latter travelled with greater rapidity, nearer the ground, and were more destructive. Oue passed directly through the tent of Capt. A. W. Cooke. Orders were issued for the exercise of extreme vigilance, to guard against another surprise like Stedman. The troops were ordered to turn out and stand under arms an hour before dark in the evening and an hour before day in the morning; while the trench guard was doubled. This, with the long line to be defended, gave the men but little rest. They had been actively engaged and under fire nearly evei'y day for the previous ten months, and the unusual strain of the few days following Sted- man had wellnigh exhausted them ; and then the uncertain expectancy of what was coming was wearing on the nerves. The order for the movements of the Army of the Potomac was issued by General Meade under date of March 27th, 1865. That portion which relates to the Ninth Corps is given below : — Fourth. The commanding officer of the Ninth Corps will hold his present line until notified of the abandonment of the Sixth Corps line by that corps, when he will take up the return from Fort Davis to his left .... Thirteenth. Major -General Parke will assume command of the line of works from Fort Cummings to the Appomattox, including the 304 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. defences of City Point and the troops now garrisoning that post and line of works. He will keep np a threatening attitude with the force at his disposal, and in case he should discover any weakness on the part of the enemy, he will attack at once, and with his whole force if necessary .... The orders relating to General Sheridan's cavalry and the Army of the James were issued separately by General Grant. All surplus wagon trains, artillery and other impedimenta which could not be taken on the march with the troops, were left in rear of the Ninth Corps and at City Point, so that the march could be made with as little incumbrance as possible. All division, brigade and regimental commanders of the Ninth Corps were instructed to make every provision to have their commands in thorough condition for field operations by five o'clock on the morning of the 29th, and to be in complete readiness to move at a moment's notice. It was believed that the enemy was weakening his force in front of Petersburg to meet the troops which were massing on his right; an assault was therefore ordered by the Sixth and Ninth Corps to take place at four o'clock on the morning of the 31st. The Second and Third Divisions of the Ninth Corps were concen- trated in rear of Fort Sedgwick for this purpose, while the First Division on the right was to make a feint in front of Fort Stedman, and if the conditions warranted, the feint to be converted into a real attack ; a detail of picked men was made from the brigade to form a party of axemen for the purpose of cutting away the abatis and removing other obstructions in front of the enemy's parapets to give room for an assaulting column. Lieut. James H. Marshall, of the Fifty- Seventh, volunteered to lead them. The assaulting column, composed of the 29th, 57th and 59th Massachusetts, was to move forward as soon as the axemen had cleared the way. Such a hazardous undertaking was accompanied with very little hope for the axemen and none to spare for the assaulting force. The probabilities were thai none of the former would have escaped alive. As there were three lines of abatis to cul away, consider- able time would necessarily have been consumed in doing it, GEORGE E. WHITE, Member of 54th Congress from Illinois. Co. I. 57th Mass. HEARING THE END. 305 during which they would have beeu exposed to the fire of the enemy in the trenches at short range, with no protection whatever. The night was dark and rainy and the artillery firing heavy along the whole line. Men became tired and nervous from the long tedious waiting. Moments seemed hours ; the suspense was painful. The signal for the charge was to be the firing of two guns from Division Headquarters. This was eagerly listened for, but was not heard. Daylight dawned and it was learned, much to the relief of all who were to participate, that the order had been suspended. It was ascertained that the enemy still held their works in front of the Ninth Corps in force, and that the movement upon bis right had not been sufficiently developed to insure much hope of success. A deserter from our side, preferring to fly to ills he knew not of rather than bear those he already had, gave the enemy full in- formation of the contemplated assault, so they were prepared for it. Soon after daylight the next morning a voice from the Con- federate trenches called out : " Well, Yank, why didn't you come over and cut away the abatis last night? " Statements have beeu made that this threatened assault was only a feint to deceive the enemy, and that special care was taken that he should find it out, and it would thus be the means of re- taining a greater force in our front than would otherwise be sent to confront the troops operating upon the rebel right flank. Others claim that it was no ruse, but intended for a bona-fide attack. Whichever way it was there is just as much credit due the brave Marshall for volunteering. After careful search of the records on file in the War Depart- ment, we could find nothing that would indicate the affair to be a ruse. The Ninth Corps had been ordered to attack, but the details of it were left to General Parke. The order was never countermanded, but somewhat modified. To show that it was no ruse we quote the following extract from a despatch sent by General Grant at 8.30 p.m. of the 30th, addressed to General Meade : — You may notify Parke and Wright that they need not assault in the morning. They should, of course, watch their fronts and go in if the 20 306 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. enemy strips to so in on our left, but the idea of a general attack by them is suspended. I have pretty much made up my mind on the course to pursue, and will inform you in the morning -what it is ... . (Signed) U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant- General. On the first of April the order for the assault was given as follows : — Headquarters Ninth Army Corps, April 1st, 1865. Division Commanders : In accordance with instructions from the Major-General commanding the Army, the following orders are issued. An assault upon the enemy's works in front of Fort Sedgwick will be made at 4 a.m. tomorrow, by the Second and Third Divisions and the First Brigade of the First Division. 1. Brigadier-General Hartranft, commanding Third Division, will mass his division in rear of the line between Fort Sedgwick and Fort Rice by three a.m. 2. Major-General Potter, commanding Second Division, will with- draw his division from the line and mass it in rear and to the left of Fort Sedgwick and on the left of the Third Division at the same time. 3. Major-General Wilcox, commanding First Division, will with- draw his First Brigade, Colonel Harriman commanding, from the line and mass it on the right of the Third Division at the same time. 4. Major-General Wilcox and Major-General Potter will leave their picket lines out and garrisons in the forts. 5. At 4 a.m. the entire picket line will advance, endeavoring to hold all ground gained, and the assaulting columns will charge. Strong pioneer parties, provided with spades and axes, will be arranged by the commanders of divisions. till a country, a flag, an army, a government; then to horse! A circular will be scut to each of your officers designating the time and place of assembly. Hold yourselves in instant readiness, and bring all true men with you from this command who will go, and let us who struck the last blow, as an organized part of the Army of Northern Virginia, strike the flrsl with that victorious army which, by the bless- Ings "t" Miir gracious God, will yet come to redeem her hallowed soil. (Signed) THOMAS T. MUMFORD, Brigadier-General, Commanding Division. This fighting brigadier has somehow disappeared from the Moody fields of war and our history lias been robbed of his NEARING THE END. 319 further exploits. Many of us would be glad to know if he performed those terrible things which he had solemnly sworn to do. If a copy of this order had been sent to General Grant no doubt he would have surrendered the Army of the Potomac through fear of the dire wrath of General Mum ford, and the whole army would have brought up in Andersonville. There were, however, some points of truth in what he said: "There are more men at home today belonging to the Army of North- ern Virginia than were surrendered at Appomattox." This would make General Grant's estimate of Lee's army at the beginning of the campaign, viz. : seventy thousand, nearer cor- rect than we have given it. Again he claims : " You have never been surrendered. Cutting your way out of the enemy's lines before the surrender was determined, you, together with a major- ity of the cavalry, are free to follow your country's flag." This confirms what we have heretofore said and is further confirmed by a dispatch sent to Mrs. Jefferson Davis, dated " Greensborough, April 12th, 1865," signed by Burton N. Harrison, who appears to have been some kind of private secretary to Jefferson Davis in his flight, in which he says : " The infantry was dispersed all over the country ; the men had thrown away their arms and were going home to take care of themselves. The cavalry seems to have taken to their heels." .... This, no doubt, was what General Mumford did on the principle that •' He who fights and runs away Will live to fight another clay." We never have learned what effect this order had, but it must have been something like that which shortly after animated " the President of the Southern Confederacy," who, while making zealous efforts to escape in a new style of uniform, demanded to know if " your government made war upon women and chil- dren." When the General (Mumford) spoke of the outrages committed by the Federal soldiery, "burned homesteads," etc., he was probably in ignorance of the fact that the fires from the torch applied by themselves upon the evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond, and which threatened to destroy the homes they 320 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS bad abandoned, were extinguished by the Yankee and colored soldiers and that their own families, at that very time, were being protected by them, and that same grand old Army of the Potomac would have fought just as bravely for their protection as would this valiant General ; though they would not have made quite so much noise and fuss about it. We never heard, but presume, the oath of allegiance to the United States soon " tempered the wind to this shorn lamb," and that his warfare is not going on now except with " the world, the flesh and the devil." While stationed here the division hospital, with Doctor W. V. White of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts, who was chief medi- cal officer of the division, and Chaplain Dashiell, who was con- nected with the hospital, were ordered to Burksville Junction to take charge of the captured Confederate hospital. The chaplain says : " Nothing evidenced the extremity to which the eneni}' had been reduced as the condition of the men in this hospital. Their bloody clothes had been cut off the wounded and they were lying on their cots, in a nude state, with scarcely a shirt to cover them." The chaplain, furnished with shirts and drawers by the Sanitary Commission, passed through the wards to supply their needs. Spying out the destitute ones, he came across an adjutant- general, badly wounded, who asked him what the Yankees pro- posed to do with them. "O," said the chaplain, "• we will take good care of yon." " Well," said he, " I hope they will suffer me to go anywhere, even to an uninhabited island, rather than abide with the d d Yankees." The chaplain said : "All right." Afterwards, when the chaplain returned with a stock of Clothing, he meekly asked for garments to rover his nakedness. He did not remind him that they were made by the Yankee women lest he might fear contamination. There were very lew such cases as this among the men who had done the fighting. This was a rare exception and should l>e regarded only as a little bravado, knowing that being wounded, he was beyond the pale of resentment and could, therefore, indulge his temper without fear of responsibility. .Most of those who had "borne the heat and burden of 1 he day" were heartily glad it was over. — we of the Union army CHARLES H. BARNES, Co. F, 57th Mass. NEARING THE END. 321 equally so with the defeated Confederate. We had seeu all the fighting we wanted, and were glad of the prospect which now seemed near realization of laying aside the implements of war and walking again in the paths of peace. Yet the men of the Army of the Potomac would rather have braved more and gone farther than to surrender the life of our National Gov- ernment, which would have gone with the success of the Confederacy. To attempt an eulogy of the bravery of the Confederate soldier is wholly unnecessary. That has become a matter too deeply stamped upon the pages of history ever to be blotted out. Their gallant deeds stand for America, and as Americans we treasure them. Whatever we deny to them only shadows our own record that much. If we had not been battling against a brave and spirited people, the war would not have lasted one year; neither would it if the Northern soldiers had been pos- sessed of no valor, as was generally believed at the South, but in this case the result would have been different. With the fall of Petersburg, Richmond was quickly evac- uated. Preparations had been going on for some time with this in view ; although Mr. Davis continued to issue assuring mes- sages to the people and the army, yet he and his tottering gov- ernment were packing up to leave. Mr. Davis (April 4th) assured the people that Richmond had been abandoned only tem- porarily, as a military necessity, in order to relieve the army of the arduous duty of defending it. Relieved of this responsibility, they could devote more attention to the defeat of their enemies. Victory was predicted. In evacuating Richmond, the Confeder- ates set fire to public property and war material, that could not be removed, to prevent its falling into our hands. This fire, kindled in the midst of a thickly populated city, soon spread to private property. Most of the business part of Main street and many fine residences were destroyed. During the interval between the evacuation by the Confederates and its occupation by the Fed- erals, the city was at the mercy of a mob of their own people, who were engaged in sacking and plundering. In a report subsequently made by the Confederate General J. B. Kershaw, 21 322 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. he mentions that he detailed two battalions to suppress the mob before leaving, thus showing that the work of "looting" commenced while the city was still in Confederate hands. The Federal troops, under General Weitzel, soon took possession and restored order. The Federal soldiery extinguished the flames and gave protection to both property and peaceable citizens. The inhabitants were found almost destitute of food, and rations were at once issued to all who were needy. In face of all the "inhuman atrocities " the " Yankees " were accused of committing, by Mr. Davis and others, their leaders, we find the actual facts were that the hated Yankees saved the city from destruction after it had been fired by their own people, protecting their homes and families and actually feeding them. Can a more generous treatment of a captured belligerent city be shown in history? The victorious Yankees even went further than this, and restored the city to their own civil officers, when they were ready to assume the obligations and take the oath of allegiance to the government from which they had revolted. General Weitzel reported the capture in Richmond of five hundred pieces of cannon and five thousand muskets in one lot. These were in addition to those with their army in the field, show- ing that they were well supplied with artillery and ammunition. In the midst of all this rejoicing over the glorious victory, and while the utmost good feeling prevailed among a majority of the Confederate rank and file, the sad intelligence was received of the assassination of President Lincoln. It was a terrible shock to the whole army, from the General-in-Chief down to the private soldier. By his patriotic devotion to the cause of our country, the great interest he took in the welfare of the army, ami that honesl sympathy lie always manifested for the sick and wounded. endeared him alike to officers and men. There was no name that could arouse such enthusiasm as that of Abraham Lincoln. No Chief magistrate Of a nation ever possessed so wholly the love of the loyal people :is he. All the rejoicing was instantly turned to deepest i ik >u in i Qg , :uid. tor a time, it was viewed as a blow Struck by a treacherous enemy in the interest of a cause they had NEARIXG THE END. . 323 lost in battle. This caused, at first, a feeling of rage that could only be satisfied by revenge upon the leaders and those who were supposed to be instrumental in committing the dastardly deed. Had any of the Confederates expressed pleasure in it they would, most probably, have been made to suffer. The Confederate prisoners expressed a general regret and indignation towards the brutal assassins, and were anxious to disavow any responsibility for their army in the horrible affair. If there were any who did not feel so they were wise enough to give no expression to it. The Confederate soldier who fought under Lee did all he could in manly battle, and when that battle ended he was the last one to resort to such dastardly means as assassination. General Meade issued an order which calmed the excitement, and our army continued to treat the Confederate prisoners and people with the same kindness and generosity. Future events demonstrated the fact that the blow, terrible as it was, fell heavier upon the people of the South than of the North. As President Lincoln had conducted the war to a successful close, possessing the full confidence of all the loyal people, he stood in a position where he could do more toward reuniting the country and restoring harmony than any other mau. His true character was stamped in his own language, "With charfty for all and malice towards none." In his death the South lost her best friend at the time she needed him most. The assassin did the South a greater injury than an} T other man could have done during the long course of the war. This event caused the transfer of the Ninth Army Corps to Washington, where they were placed on special duty, to surround the city with a cordon of troops, through which no one could pass without written authority. The order for the corps to move was received by General Parke, April 19th. The march for City Point commenced at daylight on the morning of the 25th and its con- nection with the Army of the Potomac ceased. City Point was reached the same day and the Fifty-Seventh Regiment, with the whole Ninth Corps, was placed upon transports and proceeded down the James river and up the now peaceful waters of the Potomac to Washington. 324 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. The one short year that had elapsed, since the corps had passed in review before the President, had been one of the most eventful in American histor} 7 . Those who returned could feel a just pride in a duty faithfully performed and a share in the honor of victory. Now " all quiet along the Potomac " had become an established fact. The troops marched in review before General "Wilcox and were then placed on duty on the Maryland side near Tennallytown. Mr. Pollard, in " The Lost Cause," does not attribute the downfall of the Confederacy to a superiority of numbers, but to the "thorough demoralization of the armies and people of the Confederacy." We quote as follows: — " There must be some explanation for this flat conclusion of the war. It is easily found. Such a condition could only take place in a thorough demoralization of the armies and people of the Confederacy. There must have been a general decay of public spirit, a general rottenness of public affairs, when a great war was thus terminated and a contest was abandoned so short of positive defeat, and so far from the historical necessity of subjugation. "There has been a very superficial, and, to some people, a very pleasant way of accounting for the downfall of the Southern Confederacy, by simply ascribing it to the great superiority of the North in numbers and resources. This argument has had a great career in the newspapers and in small publications ; and the vulgar mind is easily imposed upon by the statistical parallel, and the arithmetical statement, inclined as it is to limit its compre- hension of great historical problems to mere material views of the question. We shall give this argument the benefit of all it con- tains, ami state it in its full force. Thus, it is correctly said that official reports in Washington show that there were called into the Federal service from the Northern States 2,656,553 men* during tin; war, ami that this number is quite one-third as many :is all the white men. women and children of the Southern States. "Again the figures in the War Department at "Washington -how that on the 1st of May, 1 serve were the first to be mustered out and sent home, those having the longest to serve were retained until it was fully assured that the French would move out of Mexico. We were now where we could assert the principles of the •• Monroe Doctrine " in the most positive and emphatic manner. The Emperor, Napoleon Third, had taken advantage of our Civil War to attempl the establishment of an empire upon our COMING HOME. 331 southern border, and was now invited by Uncle Sam to pack up and leave. Napoleon promptly accepted the invitation. The people of the United States were not anxious to become involved in a foreign war, yet they were never in a better condi- tion to meet it ; they felt the indignity they had been made to suffer at a time when they could not help it. Now they were in a con- dition to resent it. Until this matter became settled, the Fifty- Seventh Regiment was among the number to be retained in the service. General Parke was assigned to the command of the District of Alexandria. General Bartlett returned and on the 19th of June was assigned to the command of the First Division, Ninth Corps, and at once instituted a more thorough course of drill and discipline, which, in anticipation of an early discharge, had become lax. General Bartlett says of it : "I found the command in rather a slack state of discipline, no attention paid to guard duty or drill. It is natural to feel, now that the war for which they enlisted is over, that there is no further need of discipline, and that the strict per- formance of guard duty any longer is needless." That was just the way they did feel and they were anxious to get home and back into civil life again. On the 26th of May an order was issued consolidating the 59th with the 57th Massachusetts, the two organizations to retain the name of the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts. Officers rendered supernumerary by the consolidation were to be mustered out of the service. This was not accomplished until the 20th day of June, although the consolidation was to take effect upon the 1st day of June. Capt. A. O. Hitchcock, of the Fifty-Seventh, was assigned to duty on the staff of Maj.-Gen. Nelson A. Miles, who com- manded at Fortress Monx-oe, where the ex-President of the South- ern Confederacy was confined and in a very unhappy frame of mind . The duties at Tennallytown were not arduous, and there were many pleasant incidents, which officers and men now recall with pleasure ; but the military restraint seemed harder than ever to bear. Men lost their interest in drill and did not take kindly 332 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. to discipline. There were many violations of army regulations, which, under different circumstances, might have brought punish- ment upon the offender, but which were now overlooked. What could be said to those men who had subjected them- selves to discipline and braved everything until the war had closed and they could almost see home? Even General Bartlett con- fessed that he did not find the charm that used to fascinate, and felt that the object and aim of discipline had gone. Being in poor health, on account of his many wounds and sufferings of prison life, he soon accepted a leave of absence and severed his con- nection with the army. Regiment after regiment took its departure for home and the old Ninth Corps was fast melting away, like the winter's frost and snow, under the bright smiles of sunny peace. The date of final disbandment was July 27th. The First Division was the last to be mustered out. General Wilcox issued his last order and bade his officers and soldiers an affectionate farewell. After briefly recounting the history of the division, he spoke of the " various regiments which had left the bones of their dead to whiten battlefields in seven different States. Your families and fellow citizens will welcome your return in peace and victory. You will carry about you in civil life, a sense of your own worth ; and self respect will characterize those who have done and deserved so well of their country." On the 30th of July, the Fifty-Seventh received orders to return to Massachusetts for final muster-out. Upon arriving at Jersey City, the regiment was met by a delegation of the New England Association, and was invited to parade through the city of New York. Chaplain 1 )ashiell describes the reception given to the regi- ment in the following words: — ''The Sons of .Massachusetts thronged the barracks at the battery, and. as tin- regimenl marched up Broadway with its tattered Hag and scarred veterans, they received an ovation from the crowd winch thronged the streets, which will never be for- gotten. COMING HOME. 333 ' ' At the New England rooms they were received with a salvo of artillery, and waving of flags and cheers which made the welkin ring. Reaching Union Square the rank and file were regaled with a bountiful collation and the officers were entertained at the rooms of the Union League Club. Countermarching down Broadway, they were reviewed at the Astor House by Major-General Hooker and staff, and on their arrival at the battery, found a sumptuous dinner provided with all the fruits and delicacies of the season, which was keenly relished by the men who had known little but salt pork and hard tack for many long months. " After dinner I. C. Carter, in behalf of the Sons of Massa- chusetts, welcomed the soldiers on their return from victory, to which General McLaughlen fittingly replied. Our old corps com- mander, General Burnside, appeared at the barracks afterwards and was enthusiastically greeted by his old men." There were many flattering notices of the Fifty-Seventh in the papers of New York and New England. The Worcester Palladium of August 2d, 1865, makes the following mention : — Dispatches from Washington inform us that the Fifty-Seventh Regiment, Massachusetts Volunteers, left Washington on Sunday after- noon for home. This regiment was one of four " veteran" regiments, so called, which were recruited during the winter of 1864. The regiment was recruited in Worcester County and the counties west of Worcester, and left the State on the 18th of April. It now returns with the 59th incorporated in its ranks. Partners in sutteriug and glory together, they went into the battle of the Wilderness on the 6th clay of May, and in fourteen battles and skirmishes they have fought in the same brigade line, shoulder to shoulder, and now they come back one single band. In twelve months' service the Fifty-Seventh regiment alone had 11 officers and 91 enlisted men killed, and 22 officers and 391 enlisted men wounded, besides 100 missing in battle, many of whom languished and died in southern prisons .... The terrible marching and fighting which brought the army before Petersburg, reduced the regiment to scarcely one hundred men, with which it entered the charge of July 30th. On this disastrous clay all of its commissioned officers of the field and line, except Lieutenant Doty, who had been promoted a few clays before, were killed or wounded. Major Prescott, commanding, and Captains Howe and Dresser were killed, and only this lieutenant and twenty-five enlisted men escaped unharmed. 334 FIETY-SEVEXTH REGIMEXT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Thus, in three months, nine hundred men had been put hors-dc- combat, and it seemed as if the career of the regiment had been run. Soon, however, the convalescents began to return and the ranks were filled up with battered and scarred veterans, and the regiment was enabled to give a good account of itself in the successive engagements. On the 25th of March, in the rebel assault upon Fort Stedman, the disaster of the 30th of July was terribly avenged. It so happened that the rebels were met and repulsed, with great slaughter, by the very troops upon which they inflicted such fearful loss the day of the, mine. The Palladium was somewhat in error in regard to the losses of the Fifty- Seventh during the year of actual field service. According to the Adjutant-General's Report, State of Massachu- setts, for 1864, it lost 7 officers killed, 23 wounded and 1 missing, 92 enlisted men killed, 330 wounded and 101 missing, from May 7th to Dec. 31st, 1864, eight months. The loss of Fort Stedman was 2 officers killed, 2 wounded and 2 missing, 5 enlisted men killed, 27 wounded and 40 missing. The total number of officers killed should have been 9 instead of 7, and wounded 22 instead of 23, and none missing. It having been subsequently ascertained that Lieutenant Childs who was reported missing at the "Wilderness was killed, and Lieutenant Bowman, mortally wounded before Petersburg, died in a few hours. The same remark as to Major Doherty at Stedman. If we add the casualties at Stedman with the four who were subsequently wounded, we have a battle record for the Fifty- Seventh of 11 officers killed, 24 wounded and 3 missing, 97 enlisted men killed, 361 wounded and 141 missing. Total battle loss, 35 officers and 599 enlisted men, out of a little over 900 with which the regiment took the field in April, 1864. The num- ber reported killed is too small and the missing too large, as. in the Wilderness, North Anna river and the mine affair, many were reported missing, who, it was subsequently learned, had been killed. Of the original line officers who left the State with the regimenl in April, L864, all but three were killed or wounded. The casualties we have given do not cover those who died from disease <>r wounds, after having been discharged from the service. COMING HOME. 335 In the history of regimental losses of all the regiments in the service during the whole period of the war, carefully compiled by Col. William F. Fox, U.S. Volunteers, from official records in the War Department, we find the 2d Wisconsin Infantry heads the list with the heaviest loss of any regiment on the Federal side in killed or mortally wounded, being 238 out of 1,203 men enrolled or 19.7. The second regiment in the list is the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery, with a loss of 423 killed or mortally wounded, out of a total number enrolled of 2,202, being 19.2 per cent. The Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts is credited with the third position, having lost 201 killed or mortally wounded, out of a total number enrolled of 1,052, being 19.1 per cent. These figures are nearer correct than those given by the State Adjutant- General, as the latter report was made from "nominal " lists of casualties, by regimental commanders, before it was known whether men reported as missing were killed or taken prisoners ; and such records appear never to have been corrected, except at Washington where Colonel Fox obtained his figures. We have referred to engagements where these reports were erroneous, viz. : Wilderness, North Anna river, Petersburg, July 30th and Fort Stedman. Glancing again at the figures given by Colonel Fox we find that the losses cover the whole time these regiments were in the service. The Second Wisconsin entered the service in 1861 and was in the first battle of Bull Run, and the loss 19.7 per cent which they sustained covered a period of three years. The loss of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts of 19.1 covered a period of less than one year. We find some errors in Colonel Fox's figures in relation to the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts. He gives only ten officers killed, while to our personal knowledge there were eleven, as follows : Colonel Chandler, Majors Prescott and Doherty, Captains Gird, Howe and Dresser, Lieutenants Bowman, Cheney, Murdock, Coe and Childs (11). The latter was reported missing at the Wilderness, but was never heard from again, hence it is beyond question that he was killed. The Adjutant-General's Report of 336 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Massachusetts carries this remark opposite his name, "Died of wounds received in the Wilderness." This would make the number killed, or died of wounds, in the Fifty-Seventh Massa- chusetts, 202 instead of 201, and increase the percent to 19.2, plus, the same as the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery. The latter regiment was longer in the service than the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts, but the first two years it served in the defences around Washington, and joined the Army of the Potomac with the opening of the campaign of 1864. Their percentage, therefore, of battle loss, would be just the same as the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts for the same length of time. We have searched all the records available, and are unable to find any regiment that suffered a heavier loss, in killed, for the same length of time, than the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts, and only one that exceeded it during the whole period of the war. The regiment, therefore, holds second place with the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery, although Colonel Fox gives us the third place. Again, Colonel Fox gives the number of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts, who were taken into the battle of the Wilderness, as 545. These figures appear to be correct, as Company K was not in the engagement. Besides there were other detachments for cattle guard, etc., so that the regiment had only about one- half its strength present for duty, but lost, Fox says, 94 killed or mortally wounded ; it should be 95, or 17.4, in this one battle. In addition to the number lost in battle the Fifty-Seventh, as shown by Fox, lost 86 men who died from disease or in Con- federate prisons, making the total number of deaths 288, being 27.4 per cent. The total number of men enrolled in the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts was 1,052, bat when the regiment left the State for the seat of war about 100 were left behind as being physically unlit foT duty, subsequently most of them were discharged and never saw any service outside of Massachusetts, except that of drawing pay, bounty and, later, a pension. Some few of these nun joined later, lnit the regiment took the field with only a little over nine hundred men. This would make the percentage RODNEY D. LOOMIS, Co. H, 57th Mass. COMING HOME. 337 of loss greater ; however, other regiments may have suffered from the same cause in like proportion. We quote Fox further. He gives the loss of the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts as 716 killed, wounded and died in Con- federate prisons. This would give the total battle loss of 68 per cent, and that is also counting those who did not go, but whose names stood against the regiment. This is the record which the old Fifty-Seventh brought back to the State. It tells the story in grander eloquence than we can find language to portray. Can those who understand the strong tie of comradeship that binds us, wonder that we love to cherish and preserve it, or that we feel proud of it? Shakespeare says, "He jests at scars that never felt a wound." Statistical records are extx*emely difficult to get exactly cor- rect, but we believe those given by Colonel Fox are as nearly so as can be, having been taken from the records of the War Department. We wish to pause here to acknowledge our indebtedness to him for his excellent book entitled " Regimental Losses," from which we have taken the liberty of copying. In a previous chapter we explained the difficulties of making correct returns from the field, experienced by regimental and company commanders. The importance of this was not under- stood then as well as it has been since, particularly with us at the present time, when we want to get at the facts. Most of the lists of casualties for the Fifty- Seventh were marked " nominal," which meant that the one who made them believed they were approximately correct, or as near as he could get them, and was glad to get them off his hands, hoping that would be the last of them. Confederate reports were in still greater doubt. We do not venture the use of many of them as being correct. A tabular report made by Gen. J. B. Fry, Assistant Provost-Marshal Gen- eral, in 1865-66, gives the Confederate loss of 74,524, who were killed or died of wounds, and 59,297 from disease, total 133,821. 22 338 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. These figures were compiled by General Fry from Confed- erate muster rolls, on file in the bureau of Confederate Archives in "Washington. General Fry says these rolls are incomplete, as nearly all those of Alabama troops were missing, which, if in- cluded, would make their mortality list much greater. There seems to have been less care taken to make Confed- erate reports accurate than in case of our own. There was a general disposition to underestimate their strength in the field and also to depreciate their battle losses. To count the complete mortality loss of the State of Alabama would swell the aggregate Confederate loss of killed, mortally wounded, and died from disease incident to the war, to fully 150,000. That of the Union side, as shown by the figures compiled by Colonel Fox, amounted to 110,070 men killed in battle, while 2-49,458 more died from disease, accidents, Confederate prisons, etc., making a total mortality loss of 359,528. Add this to what we have taken for the Confederate loss and we have 509,528 men who gave their lives during the four years of bloody war. One stands appalled in contemplation of such an immense sacrifice of human life, which is without parallel in modern his- tory. It is hard to realize the magnitude of this great war; the greatest and bloodiest of the century. "The charge of the gallant Six Hundred," at Balaklava, which has been immortalized throughout the whole Christian world by the pen of Tennyson, sustained a loss of 113 killed and 134 wounded; a total of 247 out of C>73, a percentage of 36.4 in the "Valley of Death." There were numerous charges on both ilif Federal and Confederate sides, where the loss was nearly twice as great. The 1st Minnesota at Gettysburg lost 215 killed and wounded, out of 262 engaged, 82 per cent. General Pickett's gallanl charge upon the Union lines at Gettysburg curried a loss fully equalling "the gallant Six Hundred." Colonel Fry has given a tabulated statement of deaths from all causes in the Union Army during the war. As this is of great interest to all who participated, I have copied it below in full, after which we will not burden our readers with sta- tistics : — COMING HOME. 339 DEATHS PROM ALL CAUSES. Cause. Officers. Enlisted men. Aggregate. Killed, or died of wounds. 6,365 103,705 110,070 Died of disease, 2,712 197,008 199,720 In Confederate prisons, 83 24,783 24,866 Accidents, 142 3,972 4,114 Drowning, 106 4,838 4,944 Sunstrokes, 5 308 313 Murdered, 37 483 520 Killed after capture, 14 90 1(14 Suicide. 26 365 391 Military executions, 267 267 Executed by the enemy. 4 60 64 Causes known, but unclassified, 62 1,972 2,034 Cause not stated, 28 12,093 12,121 Aggregate, 9,584 349,944 359,528 Colonel Fox makes a foot-note to the above table in relation to those who died in Confederate prisons, in which he says : — "In addition to this number, there were 5,290 who died while prisoners, and who are included in the other items of this classification. The total number of Union soldiers who died, while in the hands of the enemy, according to this official report, was 30,156. The causes of their deaths are classified as follows : from disease, 24,866 ; wounds, 2,072 ; sunstroke, 20 ; accidents, 7; drowning, 7; killed after capture, 104; executed by the enemy, 64 ; causes known but not classified, 319 ; cause not stated, 2,697 ; total, 30,156. But owing to the imperfect records kept at some of the Confederate prisons, the deaths are not all included in the foregoing statement. The mortality of Union prisoners, as shown by graves, has been estimated at 36,401, being nearly 29 per cent of the total number of Federal prisoners captured during the war. This statistical record does not complete the measure of all the horrors that follow in the path of war. It does not tell of the mutilated forms and broken health that can never be restored, neither does it count the mourning widows and orphans. 340 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Looking into the far distant future, we hear the question asked, " What was all this for?" May the answer be found in a prosperous and united country, which we hope will endure as long as the brave deeds of noble, patriotic men stand upon record, and show to the world that a government of the people and by the people is as enduring as the strongest and most aristocratic monarchy. Not one loyal heart in all this broad land but felt truly thankful when the war was over. Those who had shared its fortunes and faced each other upon bloody fields of battle, never want to see another, unless it be in defense of those principles that are dearer to every true man than life itself. How well we remember the thrill of joy that all felt in the very thought of "the war is over." It had come so suddenly that men could hardly realize it. They had no revenge to satisfy, no plunder to gain, no hardships to impose and no bitterness to carry from the field of strife, but all hearts beat with inexpres- sible joy and gladness in anticipation of an early return to home and friends. The "Johnnies" were no longer our enemies, but our brothers and fellow citizens. They had made a glorious fight until further resistance was hopeless, then manfully surrendered, laid down their arms, and those who had endured the dangers and hardships of battle became again loyal to our flag and country. We will always honor and respect them for their brave deeds. With the force they still had in the field a guerilla warfare could have been carried on for some time longer; which, although inflicting considerable loss upon the country, would have fallen more heavily upon their own section. The hopes indulged in by Great Britain and other foreign powers, that, with the close of the war, other dire calamities would follow to destroy our repub- lican form of government, were not realized. It bad been prophesied that when our large armies would be disbanded and freed from the restraints of military rules and dis- cipline, it would produce a state of lawlessness, crime and anarchy, which would finally lead some popular and ambitious genera] to place himself again at their head, overthrow our COMING HOME. 341 republican form of government and plant an empire upon its ruins. But as the echoes of war died away beyond the southern hills, this vast body of citizen soldiery became absorbed in the new life of the nation. The receding tide of war was taken up by the gently heaving billows and lost in the boundless ocean of peace. Those who had fought the battles of the republic through the storms and perils of war again became obedient to civil law and ever ready to uphold it. Statistics show that there have been fewer violations of it by them thau those of the same class who stayed at home. That the Confederate soldier should still cherish the memory of those long, eventful years of battle and suffering is quite natural. Like us, they too feel a comradeship endeared by a thousand ties and sealed by the blood of their brothers. They have much in which to glory, their record shines as brightly in defeat as it would have done in victory, except that it bore the blemish of a bad cause. TAP JAMES SULLIVAN, Musician Co. E, 57th Mass. CHAPTER XVI. HOME. "'Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home." N the second day of August, I860, the regiment em- barked for New York on a steamer of the Providence line en route for Readville, where it arrived the next day, and was formally mustered out of the United States service on the 9 th day of August, 1865, and thus ended their duties as soldiers of the Republic. After their final discharge the officers met at a banquet at the United States Hotel in Boston, then followed a final handshaking and separation to distant homes and various pursuits in civil life. With the welcome dawn of peace the nation seemed to spring from a new birth into a more healthy and vigorous life. At first the political agitations that followed in the train of war seemed to threaten new and serious dangers. It is not within our province to enter into a discussion of them. This was felt more severely in the South, where the ravages of war had fallen with a heavy hand. We should remember that our conditions were entirely different. The Federal soldier came back to scenes of thrift and prosperity, with back pay and bounty for his services, and pensions, where disabled. The Confederate soldiers returned to a desolate home, or none at all, and where there was no prosperity. All their social and political relations had been over.turned as a result of the war, and they had to commence in ways that were new and strange to them. Their former slaves had become citizens and were free to do as they pleased. For the first few years it was a serious question with them how to get bread to feed themselves and their families. 3U FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. It is not strauge, after such a gigantic struggle, iu which their laud had been torn as by the thunderbolts of heaven, that it took some time to bring order out of this chaos. Passions that had named through the fiery tempest of war could not be extin- guished in a moment. The storm had passed, but dark clouds still lingered above the Southern horizon, though the sighing gale grew fainter day by day, only when fanned into brief life by the political agitations which followed. After going down under the crash of battle, the "Lost Cause" still lived in the memory of the Southern people until lost in the growing light of prosperity which sprang from the ruins. But few had means to work with and seemed to lack the adaptability of employing what they had, to advantage. While the people of the North felt a sympathy for them, they realized that their unfortunate condition was the result of their own actions. The masses were the sufferers. Most of their leaders, who had been directly responsible, took to the life-boats when the wreck became plainly inevitable ; only one of these was swamped. Our glorious old Ship of State had outridden many dark storms that threatened to drive her upon the breakers. This was the severest strain which she had ever encountered ; her sails and rigging were torn and splintered, but she emerged with the timbers stronger than when the keel was laid by our revolu- tionary sires. On Forefathers' Day, Dec. 22d, 1865, several of the regi- ments of .Massachusetts Volunteers united in an imposing parade and ceremony, upon the occasion of returning the flags which had been intrusted to them bythe State and which they had carried as they marched ou1 to war. Many were riddled by shot and shell, bul not a star had been blotted from the field of azure blue. The 57th and 59th appeared in line with ten officers and fifty men to transfer their two standards hack to the custody of the State. Their tattered condition spoke, in greater eloquence than can be expressed bythe power of language, of the sublime devotion of those men who gave their lives to their country, and the heroic sacrifices that were made that the country might live. With the close of hostilities the prison pens of the South were thrown open and delivered of their prey. Those who had waited home. 345 long and patiently while singing through the dark hours " Cheer up, comrades, they will come," now realized that the time had actually come when " Beneath the starry flag we shall breathe the air again Of the freeland in our own beloved home." Among those released from Andersonville was Dr. A. K. Gould, who was taken prisoner while caring for the wounded upon the battlefield of the Wilderness. We give a few extracts from his description of prison life, written for " Fitchburg in the War " : " Well do I remember when I arrived in sight of this terrible place, on the 29th of May, 1864, and of my first interview with the rebel officer in charge of it, Capt. Henry Wurtz, a most sav- age looking man, who was as brutal as his looks would seem to indicate. He offered us all the abuse he was capable of and then marched us into prison. It was no uncommon thing for this brute to strip the prisoners of their clothiug and everything of value about them before sending them inside the stockade. The stockade in which we were confined was made by setting logs upright in the ground as closely as they could be driven, standing above the ground about fourteen feet and enclosing about nineteen acres of land, about half as wide as it was long. Running through, or across the lot, was a brook about four feet wide and generally two or three inches deep, thus giving us water to use, but of the filthiest character, on account of there being, just above us, a camp of three thousand rebels, and as many more negroes (serv- ing as guard over us), all of whose filth and refuse was emptied into the brook and swept down to us. In addition to this the land on either side of the brook, to the extent of six acres, was a complete swamp. A portion of this was used by the thirty thousand prisoners, more or less, for sink purposes, and its effect upon the water can better be imagined than described. " When I entered the prison, May 29th, 1864, the number of prisoners was about nine thousand, which was gradually increased to thirty-two thousand on the first of July. Their condition was enough to make one sick on first entering the place, but it was nothing in comparison to what I experienced afterwards. To see 346 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS VOLUNTEERS. my fellow-men suffering for want of food and clothing as I did ; to see them stretching out their bony hands for the merest morsel to eat ; to hear their piteous inquiries : ' Shall we ever go home ? ' to see how they died, poor fellows, wasting away little by little, exposed to the scorching rays of a Georgia sun,— this was euough to break the hardest heart. " It may be interesting to know how we lived. We dug- holes, or burrows, in the ground, thus forming a little shelter for us. Once a day we had our rations brought in, which consisted of one half pint of corn-cob meal, coarsely ground, or its equiva- lent in beans or rice, sometimes bacon, and all these of the poor- est quality. One of the most dreadful things in this dreadful place was the dead-line. This was a furrow turned up about twenty feet from the stockade all around, and was called the < dead-line.' If a man dared to step over this line or cross it by mistake, he was at once shot by the guard without a word being said. " It was sickening to see the dead as they lay in the prison pen. It was the custom to carry them out every morning, the prisoners being hired to do this, their pay being an extra ration and a chance to bring in an armful of wood when they returned. These inducements were so great that sometimes one squad would steal a dead body from another in order to get a chance to go out and get wood and more to eat, Others were detailed for this purpose, and they, also, got extra rations, and when the guard came for any such purpose, how eager the men were to gel a chance to go, and how savagely they were treated when refused. So many of these bar- barities crowd themselves upon my mind that I hardly know where to stop. Some of the prisoners thought they might escape if they gol out, but the bloodhounds were too much for them. A pack was kept for the purpose of hunting all such, and very savage they were, too, so that few escaped them who ever tried. << I found in the prison several men from Fitchburg and vicinity. William T. Peabody, Company F, Fifty-Seventh, was Captured with nie and remained witli mi 1 until he died. Sept. 1st, L864, poor fellow, literally starved to death; no disease about 347 him, but reduced to a living skeleton, as was the case with thousands there. " There is one scene I shall always remember and that was the hanging of six of our comrades. Their crime was raiding upon and murder of their fellow prisoners. Their plan was to fall upon any of us that they thought they could plunder. They would steal clothing or anything else which they could bargain to the ' rebs.' The rebel authorities allowed the prisoners to try them and hang them, glad even to have some of us killed off in that way. "Another feature of this place was the 'stocks.' I have never suffered in them but have often seen my comrades tortured by them. The pain was excruciating in the extreme. The men were put into a hellish machine that would stretch all their mus- cles and cords could bear, and, with their faces turned up to the scorching sun, they were left from twenty-four to forty-eight hours. This was the most barbarous act of all, and this to men already completely emaciated by sickness. I have seen men taken from the stocks only to expire in a few minutes. All this was done by authority of the officers in charge. . . . " We were taken from this place to the city of Charleston, Sept. 14th, 1864, where we were kept under fire of our batteries for three weeks, but fared much better than elsewhere, being fed and cared for by the Sisters of Charity. From Charleston we were taken to another prison pen, a second Andersonville, called Flor- ence. Here the same usages, the same fare and treatment were dealt out to us, but there was one new phase presented to us, which was the compulsory movement to make our men enlist in their service. This was done by extra starvation. ... I was finally released Dec. 15th, 1864, having been in prison seven months and two days." Much that was written by Doctor Gould has been told by others who were unfortunate enough to be prisoners of war at Andersonville. We know the Confederate resources were greatly reduced, but not to such an extent, especially in Georgia, as to justify starvation. The cruelties our men were made to endure in Ander- 348 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. sonville, and the iudignities offered, can find no palliating circum- stance under any conditions. With no shelter, save the holes they could dig in the ground, without sufficient allowance of fuel, iu a wooded country, to cook what little food they were allowed, without proper attention to the sick, and forced to use stagnant water that was polluted almost like a sewer, and with scarcely any clothing or bedding, makes it seem a wonder that any were strong enough to survive. The position of a prisoner of war is not a pleasant one at any time, but brave men scorn to inflict punishment that cannot be meted out in open, honorable warfare. It is a fact that those who saw the least fighting were most cruel in the treatment of prisoners. The further our men were taken from the scene of conflict the harder became their lot. Confederate prisoners iu our hands were furnished with shel- ter and sufficient clothing to prevent suffering, but were not furnished the full allowance of food that was issued to our troops in the field, for the reason that their lives were inactive, save when trying to escape, and they did not need so much, yet it was sufficient for any ordinary man and wholesome in quality. To eat it all, one would be more likely to fall victim to dyspepsia than to suffer from the pangs of hunger. Colonel Fox says that during the whole course of the war 220,000 Confederate soldiers fell into our hands as prisoners of war, and out of this number 26,436 died from wounds or disease while prisoners in our hands, being a mortality of 12 per cent. L26,940 Qnion soldiers fell into Confederate hands, of whom 22,756 died of wounds or disease iu Confederate prisons, a mor- tality of 17. 8 per cent. The above figures were taken from - Regimental Losses in the Civil War," by Col. William F. Fox, page 50, and purport to have been taken from official records in the War Department. Our attention was Called to them as being erroneous, and we ma de further researches for reliable information. A foot noti- on page 50, above referred to, after referring to "imperfect records," says : "The mortality of Qnion prisoners, as shown by the graves, has been estimated at 36,401." This shows that Colonel F'>x considered his estimate too small. 349 The editor of The National Tribune of Washington, D.C., made a careful and extensive research through the records of the War Department ; we wrote requesting him to furnish us with the result of it, and in reply received the following : — Office of The National Tribune, Washington, D.C., June 13, 1896. Respectfully returned. The number of U.S. troops captured dur- ing the War of the Rebellion was 221,008, of whom 16,431 were paroled. The number of Confederates captured was 476,169, of whom 248,599 were paroled. The large number paroled is accounted for from the troops captured at Vicksburg, and those incident to the final surrender. The records of Southern prisons, in possession of the government, are very incomplete. The death registers have not been secured from Americus, Atlanta and Augusta, Ga , Camp Ford at Tyler, Texas, Camp Oglethorpe at Macon, Ga., Charleston, S.C., Lynchburg, Va., Marietta and Savannah, Ga., Mobile and Montgomery, Ala., and Shreveport, La. Only partial records were obtained from these import- ant prisons: Cahaba, Ala., Camp Asylum, Columbia and Florence, S.C., Millen, Ga., and Salisbury, N.C. The incompleteness of the interment record is set forth in a report of the Quartermaster-General U.S.A., in 1869, where he says: "It is well known that at many places, as, for instance, at Salisbury, N.C., and Florence, S.C., the bodies were buried in trenches, often two, three, sometimes even four deep ; so that the accurate number of bodies interred at these places cannot be determined." The facts warrant the belief that the actual number of deaths of Union troops in the prison pens of the South very greatly exceeds the number shown by the records, which is 29,498. From the known number that died at Andersonville, over 13,000, and at Salisbury about 12,000, and the partially known number that died at other prisons, we are safe to estimate the deaths in prison pens of, approximating, 70,000 Union soldiers, and we believe this estimate is under, rather than over, the actual deaths. The records of the United States are very complete as to the number of deaths of Confederate prisoners, which show a total of 26,774. (Signed) THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, Washington, D.C. Per W. It will be noticed that there is a wide difference between this and the result reached by Colonel Fox, though both are supposed to have been taken from the same source, but at different dates. 350 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. If we accept the figures given by The National Tribune we find, after deducting the 16,431 who were paroled, that there were actually 205,177 Union soldiers held as prisoners of war in the South, of which number 70,000 died from various causes, being a mortality of over thirty-four per cent. Again, deducting the number of Confederate prisoners paroled, 248,599, and we find that there were actually confined in Northern prisons, 227,570 Confederate soldiers, of whom 26,774 died from various causes, being a mortality of less than twelve per cent. It will be seen that there is a wide difference between the statistics given by Colonel Fox and The National Tribune Colonel Fox virtually admits an error by stating in a foot-note, "The mortality of Union prisoners, as shown by the graves, has been estimated at 36,401." It is a fact, well known to those who were in Confederate prisons, that their records of deaths and burials were very imperfect, and that often two or more would be buried in the same grave, or trench, and no record made of it. When we consider the large number reported as " missing in action," and from that take the number who were nevermore heard from, we conclude that they either died upon the field of battle, or in Confederate prisons. Note such cases in the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts, that have been repeatedly mentioned ; names of men whose records we have not been able to complete from lack of information, and look at the remarks in the roster for confirmation of this conclusion. The Fifty-Seventh is no ex- ception, in this respect, to other regiments that suffered heavy battle losses. Some time after the close of the war, 1870 and 1*71, we were in the regular service and on duty as quartermaster in Columbia, South Carolina. It was reported to us that on the opposite side of the river, where there had been a Confederate prison camp, there were many unknown graves of Union soldiers. We investigated the matter and found such to l>e the fact. Little mounds were found through the fields and thickets, which upon being opened, were found to contain the hones of Union soldiers. In no case could the name or regiment be found, but their 351 identity as Union soldiers was shown by the military buttons and the partially decayed uniforms, which still clung to them, and in which they were buried ; this badge of honor, that clothed them in their graves, being their only monument. We caused quite a number of these remains to be disinterred and buried in the National Cemetery at Florence. There is no doubt but many more were scattered through the country that were never found. Many perished in the swamps in their endeavor to escape ; the savage bloodhounds that were sent in pursuit were not messengers of peace or angels of mercy. We think Colonel Fox took only the known number of deaths in Confederate prisons, as recorded, and made no allowance for imperfect Confederate records, while The National Tribune took, as a basis of calculation, the whole number of those who were knoiun to have fallen into Confederate hands, retained as prisoners of war and never again heard from, the reasonable conclusion being that they died while prisoners of war. In view of these facts we incline to the opinion that the figures given by The National Tribune are nearer correct than those by Colonel Fox. The consideration of this subject brings us to refer again to the extravagant figures given by Pollard in "The Lost Cause," quoted on page 325 of this work, who claims that the Confeder- ates had only 174,223 men under arms, while the official records in the War Department show that the number of Confederates captured by our troops was 476,169, or nearly half a million, and this is not taking into account the large number known to have thrown away their arms and returned to their homes, without the formality of a surrender and parole. While we had such a large number of Confederate prisoners some one was back in Dixie doing "powerful" fighting. Who was it? Could it have been that gallant force of women and children under Jefferson Davis that was found on the 10th of May, 1865, in the "last ditch" near Irwinsville, Ga? The greatest percentage of prison mortality was at Ander- sonville, where the suffering seemed to be inflicted with a wanton- ness that was a disgrace to civilization. Even Confederate humanity, when shorn of its malice, protested against it. 352 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Upon the occasion of General Winder being relieved from duty in Richmond and ordered to Andersonville, the Richmond Examiner said: "Thank God that Richmond is at last rid of old Winder, but God have mercy upon those to whom he has been sent." It would appear that the Examiner considered that there was no other source of mercy, in the Confederacy, for our men who were suffering as prisoners of war. The Confederate authorities reported Andersonville as a "healthy locality, plenty of pure good water, a running stream, and, if possible, shade trees, and in the immediate neighborhood of grist and saw mills." They also claim that the food issued to the prisoners there was the same in quantity and quality as that issued to their own soldiers who were the guard, that the cause of those who suffered from insufficiency of food was because they traded it for whiskey and tobacco, and that one great cause of the unusual mortality was that the prisoners themselves " mani- fested a most abominable disregard of all sanitary regulations." They also alleged that our government was wholly indifferent to the sufferings of its own men who were prisoners of war, and re- fused to enter into negotiations for exchange. Such statements, at one time, gained considerable credence among the prisoners who were not acquainted with the circumstances. In the first place, the Confederates demanded an equal exchange of all pris- oners, man for man, and officer for officer of like grade, all the surplus held by our government to be released on parole. It had been the practice of the Confederate government to declare paroled prisoners exchanged where none had been given up from their prison pens. This was notably the case with those who surrendered to General Grant at Vicksburg, nearly all of whom were found again in the Confederate army before having been properly exchanged. Such breaches of faith had taught the Fed- eral authorities a lesson. The Confederates finally modified their request so far as to ask for an equal exchange man for man, but even this nave them an immense advantage, as fully seventy-five per eeni of their men would return in good physical condition, to again take the field at once, while not ten per cent of our men returning from Andersonville would be able to take the field for W. H. WHIPPLE, Co. K, 57th Mass. 353 weeks, or perhaps mouths, and not more than one-half of them were ever able to return to duty. The question of exchange is beyoud our province. The war is over and we have no desire to rake up the horrors of it anew or to tear open the wounds that time has healed. It should be the duty of those who battled for our country to treasure only those feelings of charity and fraternity, which permit us to remember the gall of bitterness as only the dregs of cruel war, aud some- thing we cannot think of with pleasure, and would, therefore, gladly forget. We fought for the restoration of our Union, and to bring these people back into it again. After having accomplished this at a great sacrifice, let us not taunt them with their defeat or the wrongs they committed at a time when the bitter passions of war rose to such a high pitch. In order to carry on a war there must of necessity be a bitter feeliug coupled with a firm belief in the justice of the cause. Without this there could be no war. The Federal soldier can rejoice in the great victory won and can afford to bury all feelings of animosity in eternal oblivion. The Confederate soldier, too, has reason to rejoice in a reunited country and can feel a just pride in his gallant record upon many a bloody field. But his deeds were those of an American and as such we are proud to see them written upon the pages of Ameri- can history. There are a few yet who still love to cherish a sentiment for the " Lost Cause," as it forms a sort of romantic halo around the memories of the past. If the prize for which they so gallantly contended were offered them now, without a single sacrifice, we believe they would spurn it with contempt and stand up manfully and loyally for the old flag. It is natural for them, as well as for us, to treasure the memory of past associations which will ever remain dear to them. Hav- ing deprived them of their cause we do not seek to rob them of the memories which cluster around their gallant achievements. On many occasions the two have met since the war in a feeling of fraternity and friendship. We can sit down and talk over our old battles together with no feeling of animosity. 23 CHAPTER XVII. REGIMENTAL REUNIONS. Still one in life and one in death. One in the hope of rest above : One in onr joy, our trust, our faith, One in each other's faithful love." ^^§^ our long association, it is not strange that some unpleasant incidents arose to disturb the har- mony of our relations, where injustice was done and erroneous judgments made. Such was but the natural result of the bringing together of so mauy men from different sections, with different dispositions, under new and strange conditions, and where the majority bad not known each other before. The Fifty-Seventh was no different in this respect from other regiments ; but all this has long since been buried with the dead past and we find no pleasure in calling it again to mind. We wish to treasure only that which was good and right and which contributed to the welfare of our common cause, forgetting all else. Ties that are formed at times when the souls of men are stirred from their very depths, and the swaying passions are driven impetuously forward, through the breakers, in a struggle of life and death, are stronger and more enduring than those formed under the ordinary conditions of social life. After the close of the war, and comrades had become widely separated, as the stirring scenes of the past presented themselves to our minds, these ties became stronger and it was felt that something should be done to keep alive those memories which we had learned to prize so dearly. With this object in view the idea was conceived of forming an organization to be known as " The 356 lll'TY-SKVKM II REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Fifty-Seventh Regimental Association," which was to meet at some convenient place once each } T ear to renew onr old relations of fraternity and to keep alive that feeling of comradeship that had sprung from past associations in camp and field. On the 6th of May, 1867, about sixty of the members of the old regiment met at the Bay State House in Worcester, and organ- ized "The Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts Regimental Association." Gen. William F. Bartlett was elected President, with one non- commissioned officer from each company as Vice-Presidents. Lieut. George E. Priest was elected Secretary and Lieut. Charles H. Pinkham, Treasurer. A committee was appointed to formulate and report a preamble, which was adopted, expressing the object of the Association, as follows: "To perpetuate the memory of the regiment, and to bring the members together for social reunion, and to benefit each other by sympathy, influence and pecuniary aid, when needed." An assessment of one dollar each year was voted upon all members which was to be the basis of a fund for the benefit of the members of the Association, those unable to pay to he admitted free. By-laws were adopted, after which the meeting adjourned. The Second Annual Reunion was held m the city of Worces- ter, .May 6th, 1*68, when Bvt.-Maj. II. L. Swords was elected President . The following resolutions were adopted, and ordered printed, on the deaths of Lieut. -Col. J. M. Tucker and ('apt. John L. Goodwin: — Whereas, since our Last reunion, our heavenly Father has seen lit to call t<> their final reward, our comrades Col. .1. M. Tucker ami Capt. John L.Goodwin; therefore be it Resolved, Thai we sustain an irreparable loss in the death of these tried brothers who marched with us. fonghl with us ami were wounded severely while connected u it h us. Resolved, That, in this affliction we are consoled by the fad that they are removed Forever from the danger of wounds and their sufferings ha\ e ceased. Resolved, Thai we remember with pleasure their bravery, ability ami -cut lemanly conduct . REGIMENTAL REUNIONS. 357 Eesolved, That we otter our heartfelt sympathy to the father who ■was made proud by the gallantry of his sou and the widow who cheer- fully gave her husband to the cause of her country. The Third Annual Reunion was held in Worcester, Ma}- 6th, 1869. Capt. Charles D. Hollis was elected President About thirty of the members were present who partook of a dinner at the Lincoln House. After renewing old associations and remi- niscences of camp and field life, the Association adjourned. The Fourth Annual Reunion was held in Lincoln Hall, Worcester, on the 6th day of May, 1870. Capt Charles D. Hollis was re-elected President. Dinner was again served at the Lincoln House, and after a pleasant intercourse the Association adjourned. The Fifth Annual Reunion was held at the Lincoln House, May 6th, 1871. Dinner was served as usual, after which some time was spent in recounting old scenes of field and camp. Capt. Charles D. Hollis was again re-elected President by acclamation. The Sixth Annual Reunion was held in Lincoln Hall, Worcester, May 6th, 1872. Capt. George E. Barton was elected President. Letters were read from Generals Burnside and Bartlett expressing their sympathies with the objects of the reunions and regrets that previous engagements would not permit of their being present. A generous sum was subscribed to aid in the erection of a memorial tablet over the grave of the late Gov. John A. Andrew, at Hingham. After partaking of an excellent dinner, some time was devoted to social reunion and renewal of the old ties of friendship. The Seventh Annual Reunion was held in Lincoln Hall, Worcester, May 6th, 187o. At the business meeting, Bvt.-Maj. John H. Cook was elected President. Many letters were read from absent members who were unable, from various causes, to be present. Measures were adopted for pleasure at future re- unions and to awaken a greater interest in the welfare and per- petuity of the Association. The deaths of Commissary Sergeant David F. Lawry and George R. Edgecomb were reported, and resolutions adopted as follows : — 358 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. YnU'NTEERS. Whereas, We have, on this day of our reunion, received the sad intelligence of the deaths of our comrades David F. La-wry and George R. Edgecomb; therefore, be it Resolved, That we, as an association, and as comrades, while testi- fying our regard for our late comrades, both as brothers and soldiers, do tender our heartfelt sympathy to their bereaved families, feeling assured that what is their loss will be our comrades' gain. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to the families of the deceased. It was decided to hold the next annual reunion as a picnic party at Lake Quinsigamond, on the 30th of July, in commemo- ration of the battle at the explosion of the mine before Peters- burg, Va. The Eighth Annual Reunion was accordingly held upon the shores of the beautiful Lake Quinsigamond, near Worcester, July 30th, 1874. Bvt.-Maj. John H. Cook was re-elected Presi- dent. The attendance was larger than at any former reunion. The dinner at the Quinsigamond House reminded the comrades of what they had been accustomed to in the field, and was regarded as a success in that direction, and probably helped to bring back old associations when the commissary department was not in good working order. After partaking of rations a social meeting was held in a grove near the house. Addresses were delivered by Captains Cook and Priest, and a very appropriate little poem read by Dr. Heath. After singing " Aulcl Lang Syne," the comrades returned to Worcester by the narrow gauge railroad, where, after handshakings, they separated. The Ninth Annual Reunion was held in the city of Fitch- bur-, July 30th, 1875, by invitation of members of Company F. < aptain Lawrence received the comrades in behalf of the company n, a very appropriate address of welcome, which was eloquently responded to by Bvt.-Maj. John II. Cook. The welcome al Fitch- burg wasa cordial one and the generous hospitality extended the visiting comrades was one greatly appreciated and long to be remembered. No town or city in Massachusetts excelled Fitchburg in unswerving loyalty and devotion to the Union during the wai if i REGIMENTAL REUNIONS. 359 This reunion will long be remembered as one of the most pleasant in the history of the regiment. The whole city seemed to catch the spirit of fraternity which these men had met to perpetuate. Upon this occasion Chaplain Dashiell delivered a very elo- quent and touching address upon "Our Dead and Their Claims upon Us." He very ably followed the regiment through the various battles in which it participated and paid a fitting tribute to those brave and loyal men who answered their country's call and laid down their lives in its defence, mentioning the names of Chandler, Doherty, Howe, Dresser, Cheney, Bowman, Prescott, Murdock, Coe and several of the enlisted men. Among other things, he spoke of the important duty that would devolve upon the historian of the Fifty-Seventh Massa- chusetts, in preserving the record of that gallant old regiment and the valiant deeds of those who made it. We, the historian, feel the importance of such a task which we know all are anticipating, yet to do the subject justice, requires a pen wielded with more than human power and eloquence. Not one, from the highest officer down to the private soldier, who sacrificed his life upon the altar of his country, but merits a volume larger than this, which is only a small exponent of what is due them. The memory of their deeds is immortal. The following resolution was adopted : — Whereas, The names of Comrades James H. Holland, James Welch, John E. Grout and Luther C. Hawkins have been stricken from the muster roll on earth, and added to our larger one above; Resolved, That we remember with pleasure their good record, that we regret their transfer and sympathize with their mourning relatives. Bvt.-Maj. John H. Cook was again re-elected President. A vote of thanks was extended to the members of Company F for their hospitality and to Chaplain Dashiell for his able address. It was voted to hold the next reunion in Boston. After singing " Auld Lang Syne" the members dispersed. The Tenth Annual Reunion was held in the city of Boston, July 30th, 1876. Upon this occasion a deviation was made from the ordinary course and the steam yacht Emily was chartered to 360 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. sail down the harbor and around the lovely little islands which stud it like jewels in a crown. A business meeting- was held on the downward trip, in which Capt. George E. Priest was elected President for the ensuing year. Resolutions of regret were adopted that the illness of General Bartlett prevented his being present and for the deaths during tin- previous year of Frank Wellman and Cephas Pasco. After cruising along Nantasket beach, a stop was made at Long Island, where dinner was served at the hotel. Upon the return trip a stop was made at Fort Warren to leave Colonel Randol, U.S. Army, who was a guest of the Association. Boston was reached just after dark. The comrades joined hands in an unbroken circle, and after singing Burns' immortal " Auld Lang S3 T iit-. "' adjourned, to meet again in Worcester, July 30th, 1*77. The Eleventh Annual Reunion was held in Worcester as per previous adjournment, .Inly 30th, 1877. The attendance was unusually large and matters of interest considered, the greatest of which was that of the death of General Bartlett. As we have already noticed the eulogies that were pronounced in honor of his memory, we will not repeat them. The following resolutions were adopted : — Whereas, God, in His providence, lias removed from us our old commander and friend, (Jen. William Francis Bartlett. we. the surviving members of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts Volunteers, in reunion assembled, do therefore, "Resolve, That the approbation that attaches to his name is war- ranted bj a character ami career not less brilliant than the patriotism that Inspired it: that as a soldier his name stands synonymous with pure patriotism, loyalty to duty ami dignified and unflinching bravery, and as a man he possessed the qualities that made an estimable citizen ami a Sincere and esteemed friend. A* < solvi (I , Thai whatever of honor associates itself with the record of the Fifty-Seventh Regiment, was in n<> small part the inspiration of bis character ami example, and we claim a jusl pride in recording the I :ot t hat he » ;is our commander. Resolved, Thai we mourn his loss with profound and abiding grief, and cherlsb bis me ry with fond esteem ami deep affection; and. reluctantly Intruding the circle of domestic grief, we delicately Put tenderly extend our -\mpath\ to wife, children and parents, and REGIMENTAL REUNIONS. 361 ask that the tears of his old soldiers may mingle with theirs upon his grave. Eesolved, That a copy of these resolutions be forwarded to his family and to his parents, and that they be entered upon the records of the Association. Bvt.-Maj. John H. Cook then spoke upon the resolutions and delivered a lengthy address in eulogy of General Bartlett, speaking in eloquent language of the love and honor which the surviving comrades bore their old commander, and gave a brief sketch of his life and military service, of his great magnanimity towards those who had been in arms against our country, and showing the examples of his life and spotless character to be worthy of emulation, saying: "Such men can never die. The grave may swallow up that which we know of form and feature. but behind will remain forces and tendencies which they set in motion, which will forever grow and multiply. For every tear that falls on graves like his, some good is born, some virtue grows to walk the earth and bless it with its presence. Though dead, he speaks, and future generations are his audiences." Chaplain A. H. Dashiell also paid a very beautiful tribute to his memory, and spoke of the great love he bore for him as a personal friend. H. F. Chandler of Lawrence was elected President for the ensuing year, after which the company broke up with the familiar strains of " Auld Lang S} T ne." The Twelfth Annual Reunion was held at Westboro, July 30th, 1878. The business meeting was held in the rooms of the Westboro Reform Club. Bvt.-Maj. John H. Cook was again elected President. Letters were read from absent members re- gretting their inability to be present. A letter was read from J. Brainerd Hall announcing the death of Capt. George E. Barton, which took place in the city of Worcester, Wednesday, May 29th, 1878, and communicating to the Association the resolutions adopted by the members in Worcester of the 51st and 57th regi- ments at a meeting held by them to take action in reference to his death and funeral, and recommending that they be entered upon the records, which recommendation was adopted. The resolu- tions were as follows : — 302 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Whereas, We, the members of the 51st and 57th regiments of Massachusetts Volunteers, have heard of the final muster-out of our old comrade and friend George E. Barton, late Sergeaut-Major of the 51st and Captain of the 57th ; therefore be it Resolved, That we, his associates in the camp, on the march, in the field and the hospital, cherish his memory as an aflectiouate comrade in arms, a brave soldier, loyal to his country and comrades and of unflinch- ing bravery in the hour of danger. Resolved, That we tender our heartfelt sympathy to his bereaved family, to his aged mother, who has been the silent author of so many kind acts to the soldiers in her boy's command, and to his brothers, who have, in every sense of the word, been the soldiers' true friends. Resolved, That we send a floral tribute to be placed upon the casket, that we attend the funeral in a body, and that a copy of these resolutions be sent to his family. Dinner was served at the Westboro House. The place of meeting for the following year was left to the officers of the Association. The Thirteenth Annual Reunion was again held at Fitchburg, July 30th, 1879. Maj. E. P. Gould was elected President for the ensuing year. After the business meeting letters were read from absent members. Resolutions were again adopted by the Association in relation to the death of Captain Barton. Bvt.-Maj. John II. Cook then paid the following tribute to his memory: — " I cannot let this occasion pass without expressing in my poor way my feelings in regard to these resolutions and the deceased comrade to whom they refer. My association with the regimenl was so short and disjointed, that I could not well, from i nit my own recollections, weave the thread of his life into a con- nected historical recital. It is not my purpose to relate the story of his life, but to briefly speak of him as a comrade and a warm personal friend. The period of my military association with him was short, covering only the winter at Camp Wool, together with the time intervening between the battle of June 1 7th, 1864, and the J 1 st of thi' following month. •• During the winter at Camp Wool he was one of my most intimate associates, and during my brief service in the field he was my bunkmate, and the nearest and dearesl of all my com- REGIMENTAL REUNIONS. 363 rades. To say that I loved him would but poorly express the emotions of my heart. I loved him dearly, and rather as a brother than as a comrade. I can recall no army comrade who shared my confidence and love to a larger extent than did he, and I believe it was all reciprocated by him. Nor did this attach- ment end with the ending of our military association, but con- tinued till his death. "Asa comrade I remember him as a brave soldier and a kind and generous companion ; as a friend he was constant and affectionate. His native qualities were of that character which go to make a noble manhood. His presence, even in the darkest hours, was always a ray of sunlight. However dark the situation, whatever clouds obscured the sky, in sickness or in health, he was always the same bright sunny self. ' ' I desire to speak of one quality he possessed to an extraor- dinary degree. I allude to the amiability of his character. He was of the most loving temperament. Who of you ever knew him to be in an angry mood? Presuming on our intimate friend- ship, I have often chided him, even to harshness, for some real or fancied error I thought was his, but even when a sense of jus- tice might have prompted him into angry retort, he would, with a joke and cheery laugh, pass it off as unworthy of resentment. He was a person of whom it might be said that to know him was to love him. " Another noble quality in him was frankness; and I might almost say that this characteristic was so prominent as to be his besetting sin. Hypocrisy found no abiding place in him. His life was an open book to be read by all who chose to read. Whatever his actions or conduct, he never shut them from the light of day. To deny that his life had errors, would be to deny his humanity and our right to fellowship with him. But whatever they may have been, over them all I draw a mantle of charity. "Far be it from me to sit in judgment over him or you. Ringing down through nearly nineteen centuries, I hear that command ' Judge not lest ye be judged,' and I say my life's too short, my time too scarce and I'm too wicked to sit in judgment on my fellow-men. But that he and you had and have virtues, I ,i(',l FIFTY-SEA F.NTII REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. shall pause to note, content that God knows the chaff and wheat, and that His tender mercy in the time to come, will winnow out the golden grains for the eternal husbandry of heaven. Farewell, sweet, gentle spirit; you were not perfect till death made you so; you had your share, no more, of human errors, but death has freed thee. You will never meet us here again, but a green and loving memory shall ever mark thy presence with us. Never more will ' Auld Lang Syne ' be sung, but there will come to us a note of sadness in its strains, for the voice of our chorister, who, joining hands, led off with the melody of a happy heart, is hushed forever. " And now, one more word to you, my comrades. Let us not in the hour of sadness forget thai it has its admonitions also. I little thought two years ago, when in Worcester, I bade our comrade good by, I next should see his straightened form coffined for the grave. Who was there then among us who had apparently greater hopes for a long and happy life? But another star has fallen and he is gone. Another chair is vacant at our board never to be filled. Today we commence another year whose closing is beyond mortal ken. What events are confined within its borders we cannot tell. In the ordering of nature, we, too, shall pass along down to that shore that men call death and cross over to the other side. Being ever mindful that as we push this anniversary day forward into the future our members will decrease, let us resolve, that as our little circle narrows down, through the memories of those that have gone before, we will grow in fraternal love and fellowship each for one another." The Fourteenth Annual Reunion was held at the Bay State House, in the city of Worcester, June 17th. L880. About thirty- five members were present. At the business meeting F. M. Barrington of Northboro was chosen President, and the following resolutions adopted in relation to comrades who had died during the previous year : — i;< soh-i d . Thai we have heard with sorrow of the deaths during the pasl year of Comrades Walter R. Poster of Worcester, of Company II. David N. Ohapin of Westboro, of Company B, George Wellman of New York City, of Company n, Michael O'Donnell of Fitchburg, of Company F and .lames n Raymond of Worcester, all of the Fifty-Seventh. REGIMENTAL REUNIONS. 365 Resolved, That in these men we found brave soldiers, tried cora- rades and good citizens, and we sincerely mourn their departure from us. Resolved, That these resolutions be entered upon the records of the Association, and copies sent to the families of the deceased. Letters were read from absent members and, after the usual proceedings, the Association adjourned. The Fifteenth Annual Reunion was held at the Bay State House in Worcester. June 17th, 1881. In the absence of the President, J. Brainerd Hall was chosen President pro /<■,,(. The usual number were present. After an informal meeting the Association marched to Rural Cemetery and decorated the graves of deceased comrades. Subsequently at a business meeting the following resolution was adopted : — Eesolced, That the Association has heard with unfeigned sorrow of the deaths during the past year of Lieut. Henry M. Ide and Comrade William A. Moore, and here record a high estimate of their services as soldiers, and tender our sincere sympathy to bereaved friends. At the business meeting, after dinner, F. M. Harrington of Northboro was re-elected President. The time and place of the next meeting was left to the officers. The Sixteenth Annual Reunion was held in Grand Army Hall, Worcester, June 17th, 1882, and was well attended. The secretary announced the following deaths in the Association during the year: John Teague, July 1st, 1881, and Warren Grimes of Salem, about May 18th, 1882. Resolutions of respect to their memory were adopted. F. M. Harrington was again re-elected President. The Seventeenth Annual Reunion was held at the United States Hotel, Worcester, June 17th, 1883. About seventy-tivf members of the two organizations (57th and 59th) were present. The time was pleasantly spent in reminiscences of army life and personal incidents both serious and ludicrous. The deaths during the previous year were reported of Lieut. James Peacock of Worcester, Comrades Amasa B. Bemis of 366 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VoLCNTEERS. Springfield and Augustus J. Trussell. Resolutious iu houor of their memory were adopted. A roll of houor of those who enlisted from the Uuiversalist Sunday school of Worcester was exhibited by Comrade Charles Goodwin, brother of John L. Goodwiu, who is an honorary mem- ber of the Association, containing the following names of those of the Sunday school who enlisted in the Fifty-Seventh and gave their lives for their country, viz. : Captr. John L. Goodwin, Sergt. William E. Park, Corp. Henry L. Park, Walter R. Foster and Charles E. Young. A poem, composed for the occasion by Dr. Heath of Lee, was read by him. Bvt.-Maj. John H. Cook of Boston was elected President. After voting to hold the next reunion in Worcester the Association adjourned. The Eighteenth Annual Reunion was held in Temperance Hall, Worcester, June 17th, 1884. The reunion was attended by a number of distinguished individuals, both civic and military. The President, Bvt.-Maj. John H. Cook, called the attention of com- rades to the necessity of making a greater effort to bring out a larger attendance and all were called upon to report, as far as known, the addresses of the surviving members of the Association and more especially to report the death of any member, in order that a record of it could be made. It was hoped that in this way a roster could be made which would be approximately correct. During the previous winter a circular had been sent to each member asking him to send to the Secretary the name and address of each known comrade. The circular did not receive the attention it merited and but few replies were made. More was accom- plished through an extended correspondence with various G.A.R. Posts, officers of towns and large personal correspondence. This involved extra expense and funds for the purpose were subscribed. Captain Priest made great efforts, and, to a certain extent, was successful. An adoption of by-laws was recommended for the direction of the Association, as a relief to the officers, and to prevent the unwarranted and injudicious use of the name of the Association. Events often occur requiring prompl action, the death of members, etc. Major Cook Bpoke with much feeling of the tragic death of REGIMENTAL REUNIONS. 367 Captain Lawrence, who was lost on the City of Columbus, and Brevet-Major Hitchcock gave a brief sketch of his life. Resolu- tions were adopted in honor of his memory, also three others whose deaths had been reported, viz. : Capt. John W. Sanderson, Amos A. Dodge and Asa D. Burleigh, the latter from the effects of a wound received in the battle of the Wilderness. He was a brave soldier of Company E, a genial companion and an upright man. Flowers were contributed for the tables from the grounds of Hon. Stephen Salisbury, in memory of the late Capt. George E. Barton. There was also a large basket of flowers in memory of deceased comrades who went from the Uuiversalist Sunday school. After dinner a committee was appointed to visit the graves of the deceased members who are buried in Worcester and these flowers were placed upon them. Dr. W. Y. White of New York then delivered an address on the " Surgeon's Report of Incidents on the March from Alexan- dria to Burke's Station, Ya.," relating incidents and giving sta- tistics of battle losses. He spoke of the courage required of men who were ordered from duty in the rear to the front while the regi- ment was in front of Petersburg. "Between the 17th and 30th of June it was considered almost a sentence of death to be sent to the front, but not a single man of the Fifty-Seventh ever faltered." The following poem, composed by Dr. Charles E. Heath, was then read by him : — May we all remember that time's footsteps fly Swiftly ; the years quickly roll Far into the past, and back as a scroll They fade away as a vision of the night That vanishes ere the coming of light : For ere the bright sun makes the glimmer of dawn. All the bright visions of dreamland are gone. Then let us be doing as onward we're whirled, By the swift rolling years, alouir in the world : May we remember, and take earnest heed, To set lots of fun and our share of feed. :.}.;* hTKTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOIA NTKl'.liS. Tbeu came an address, " The Day We Celebrate,'" by ('apt. Frederick Cochrane of the 59th, in which he vividly described the preparations for and the charge of the First Brigade. A com- mittee was appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws, to be reported at the next reunion. Capt. Frederick Cochrane was unanimously elected President for the ensuing year, and finally this, one of the most interesting reunions since the organization was established, closed by all joining in singing " Marching through Georgia." The Nineteenth Annual Reunion was held in Temperance Hall, Worcester, .June 17th, 1885. Bvt.-Maj. John H. Cook, in behalf of the committee that had been appointed to draft constitution and by-laws, reported the following : — PREAMBLE. To preserve the associations, attachments and memories of our army life; to guard with jealous pride and care the honor ami glory of our regiment; to strengthen and perpetuate the fraternal tits that hind us together; to assist. a> we may he able, such of our comrades as are in need ; and to the end that we may keep in the minds of later generations the sacrifices made to establish and perpetuate the principles for which we fought, we. the surviving members of the 57th and 59th Regiments Massachusetts Volunteers, both for ourselves and in tender and loving memory of our deceased comrades, do unite ourselves in a common organization and establish the following rules for our guidance and government : — ('( INSTITUTION. Article I. NAME. This organization shall be known as the .">7tli and 59th Regiments \ ssociation. Article ii. MEMBERS. Every person formerly a member, in whatever capacity, of the 57th ami :.'.uh Regiments Massachusetts Volunteers, shall be eligible to mem- bership ami entitled to all rights and privileges, subject only to such rules a-- may be hereafter adopted. Honorary membership may be allowed, bm only on a two-thirds vote '"' all members preBenl at a regular meeting; bul no person JOSEPH W. HILL, Corp. Co. K, 57th Mass. REGIMENTAL REUNIONS. 369 granted an honorary membership shall be allowed to vote on any matter coming before the business meetings of the Association, nor shall they be permitted to hold any of the offices enumerated in the succeeding article. Article III. officers. The officers of the Association shall be as follows: a President, four Vice-Presidents, Quartermaster, Adjutant, Sergeant-Major and Finance Committee of three; and these officers, in a corporate capacity, shall constitute and be known as the " Board of Administration." Article IV. OFFICERS, HOW SELECTED. The President, Vice-Presidents, Quartermaster, Sergeant-Major and Finance Committee, shall be chosen by ballot at the annual meeting Of the Association, and the Adjutant shall be appointed by the President. Article V. DUTIES OF OFFICERS. President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Asso- ciation and enforce its rules. He shall approve all bills before payment, but only after the same have been audited and properly certified by the Finance Committee. Vice-Presidents. Either of the Vice-Presidents may act as President in the absence of that officer, but if neither of them are present the Association may elect a President pro tempore. Quartermaster. It shall be the duty of the Quartermaster to take charge of the funds of the Association, and his honor as a man and a soldier shall be a sufficient bond for his faithful performance of duty. He shall receive all moneys from whatever source and shall disburse the same, but only on vouchers properly certified to have been audited by the Finance Committee and approved by the President. He shall keep, in a book provided for that purpose, an itemized record of all moneys received and disbursed, and shall make report of the same at each annual meeting of the Association. On the election of his successor in office, he shall turn over to him all books and papers in his possession belong- ing to the Association. Adjutant. The Adjutant shall have charge of the correspondence of the Association, and be at times subject to the direction of the Presi- dent. He shall keep, in a book provided for that purpose, the names and post-office addresses of all members of the Association, which list he shall keep as full and correct as possible. He shall beep, in a book provided for that purpose, a copy of all communications forwarded, and 24 370 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. a file book in which shall be preserved all communications received, and upon the appointment of his successor in office, shall turn over to him all books and papers in his possession belonging to the Association. Sergeant-Major. The Sergeant-Major shall have charge of the rec- ords of the Association. He shall be present at each business meeting, and carefully record all its transactions. He shall keep a book provided for that purpose, in "which shall be carefully and legibly written the con- stitution and rules of the Association, and to "which such rules, as may be subsequently adopted, shall be added. He shall also keep a book pro- vided for that purpose, iu which shall be carefully "written a record of the transactions of each meeting, the same to be read, corrected, ac- cepted and approved at the next subsequent meeting, and on the election of his successor in office, shall turn over to him all books and papers in his possession belonging to the Association. Finance < 'ommittee. It shall be the duty of the Finance Committee to levy and collect all assessments made upon members and turn the -anie into the hands of the Quartermaster. It shall also audit all bills, before the same are approved by the President or paid. Board of Administration. The Board of Administration shall have general charge of the business affairs of the Association and three of its members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The President shall be chairman and the Adjutant secretary of the board. It may determine the time and place of the annual meetings (when the same shall not have been specified by the Association) and may provide such entertainments as may be necessary or desirable on such occasions. It shall have power to take official notice of the death or misfortune of any comrade, and is authorized to act for the Association in such emer- gency according to its judgment, but nothing herein contained shall be construed as allowing it to commit the Association, or use its name in any business or political enterprise. Article VI. meetings. The meetings of the Association shall be held annually. Article VII. constitutional amendmen is. This constitution shall not be altered or amended, excepl i>\ a two- thirds vote of all presenl al a regular meeting, and shall nol be acted on .it any regular meeting unless a written notice, specifying the proposed amendment, has been given al i tie regular meeting immediately preceding. The report of the committee was accepted and the foregoing constitution adopted. REGIMENTAL REUNIONS. 371 Frank W. Bullard was elected President for the ensuing year. Comrade E. P. Gould delivered an address on "The Battle of the Wilderness." The Association then adjourned to meet again in Worcester, June 17th, 1886. The record does not show that any deaths were reported. The Twentieth Annual Reunion was held in Worcester, June 17th, 1886. Bvt.-Maj. John H. Cook presented a design for a regimental badge and submitted a sample which was adopted. It consists of a black aud blue enamel knapsack, with gold trimmings, the number of the regiment in the centre and a Ninth Army Corps badge attached to a red ribbon, the color of the First Division of the corps. H. F. Chandler of Lawrence was chosen President. The deaths of comrades Isaac A. Woodcock of Worcester and Charles Timon of Brooklyn, N.Y., both of the Fifty-Seventh, were reported, and the following resolution was adopted : — Whereas, It has pleased our Heavenly Father to remove from our ranks below into the grand army above, our comrades Charles Timon and Isaac A. Woodcock, Besolved, That we recognize them as faithful soldiers, true to their country, and that we extend to the families of the deceased our sym- pathy in their hour of bereavement. After voting to hold the next reunion on the battlefield of Petersburg, Va., the Association adjourned. The Twenty-first Annual Reunion was held at the Albemarle Hotel, Petersburg, Va., May 6th, 1887. At the business meeting Bvt.-Capt. Charles H. Pinkham of Worcester was re-elected President. This reunion was a new departure from any of the previous ones. It had been arranged for an excursion to the old battle- fields of Virginia. The excursion was not confined to the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts alone, but the other regiments from this State that participated in the battles in Virginia were invited to join. The party was made up of about one hundred veterans. Proceeding first to Petersburg, they visited places made historical by their association with the long siege and bloody battles fought 372 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLl NTKIIIS. in that vicinity. The battlefields of Cold Harbor, Spottsylvauia Court House, Wilderness, Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville were visited, as well as Libby Prison and points of interest around Richmond. The party returned by way of Washington, Baltimore and Fortress Monroe, making short stops at each place. The National Cemetery at Arlington was one of the places visited. At Fortress Monroe, Col. John C. Tidball, U.S. Army, the officer in command, extended every courtesy to the visitors. The itinerary covered several days and was enjoyed by all, not only as one of pleasure, but as a means of bringing together, in friendly relations, those who fought on opposite sides. Space will not permit a detailed account, although the significant features of it would make an interesting volume, the most remarkable being the reception and cordial greeting given to the " Yankees " by the " Johnnie Rebs." Those who had once been deadly enemies, met again face to face upon the old historic battle-grounds, and recounted incidents and adventures with a genuine feeling of fraternal love, not by descendants, but by those who had been actual participants, and struggled, through fields of blood, for the mastery. Seldom in the world's history has such a scene been wit- nessed. When the two armies were grappling in a death struggle along down between Washington and Richmond, could the veil that hides the future have been removed and this picture presented to view, there would have been a sudden transformation from ghastly battlefields to the pleasanl paths of peace. We briefly notice a few incidents. One of the Petersburg papers of May 3d, L887, publishes the following in its columns : ''Once again is Petersburg captured by a northern host. This lime, however, she opposes no resistance, but surrenders unconditionally tO • OUl friends, the enemy.' The .Massachusetts veterans, who arrived Inst evening, came in light marching order, hut we shall be much surprised, if when they come to leave, they will uol find themselves weighted down with chains: the chains of fraternal friendship; each link of which is forged nut of the REGIMENTAL REUNIONS. 373 warm regard that the honest ' Reb ' feels for the honest ' Yank.' We bid our Massachusetts friends most hearty welcome to the old Cockade City." The Union Veterans were met at the railroad depot by the Petersburg Artillery, the Petersburg Grays and a number of Confederate veterans. A salute of twenty-four guns was fired in honor of the visitors, who were then escorted by the military, not to Libby or Belle Isle, but to the Albermarle Hotel, where a sumptuous repast was awaiting them, viands that would have made the hungry Confederate mouths water in that memorable winter of 1865. Upon arriving at the hotel, an address of welcome was deliv- ered by Gen. Stith Boiling, which is not only worthy a place in this history, but the loyal sentiment expressed is as worthy of lasting memory as any ever uttered by a patriotic American. He spoke briefly as follows : — " Major Cook and visitors from Massachusetts: On behalf of the ex-Confederate soldiers of Petersburg, and as citizens of a common country, I am glad to greet your presence, veterans of the Union army, and welcome you to our midst, with assurances of admiration for the value of the arms you bore, and the sincerity with which we respect and bear honest allegiance to a restored Union. The scenes of strife which you come to renew, remind us of the sad } T et glorious history which is the heritage of the Blue and the Gray. The camp-fires burn no more ; opposing flags are there no longer to define the lines of hostile armies. The flag of the Union and of our fathers is the flag of all, forever to wave over the laud of the free and the home of the brave. ' ' Proud as are the memories which honorably belong to either side of the unhappy struggle, the heroism and courage of the American citizen, all are now blended in one common history of a reconciled people under one flag of an indissoluble Union. As brother Americans, proud of the growth, prosperity and prowess of the American nation and true to its hopes and to its destiny, we greet and welcome you to Petersburg." Major Cook responded as follows: "General Boiling, and - Johnnies,' and citizens of Petersburg : While we did not come 374 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. here to make speeches, but rather to see sad scenes made holy by the blood of comrades, I would be poor, indeed, in language if I did not find words to express the gratitude we feel for this kind and hospitable reception. We came here twenty-three years ago and met with a warm reception from shot and shell, and now it looks as if you would kill us with your kindness. I know I but echo the feelings of every one when I say we feel deeply gratified for this flattery and kind reception." At the conclusion of Major Cook's remarks, three rousing cheers were given for the Bostonians, who returned the compli- ment by three hearty cheers for the "Johnnies." How often do we see the familiar quotation from Milton demonstrated : — " Peace bath her victories, No less renowned than war." The remembrance of this trip to Petersburg will ever be remembered with pleasure by the recipients of generous South- ern hospitality. The morning following the arrival in Petersburg, :i visit was made to the old trenches and lines of fortifications, now partially levelled, and in some places overgrown by tree-. in others under cultivated fields, or smiling with flowers that shed a fragrance speaking of peace and good-will. The gal- lant General Mahone, of Confederate fame, accompanied the parly. At the crater, made memorable by the disastrous battle of July 30th, 1864, he made an address descriptive of it as seen from the Confederate side; lie was present and took an active part . He said : — " 1 :it once estimated that you must have at leasl three thou- sand men there. I was coming up with two brigades of aboul one thousand. At first I took it that yon were coming across the heights of Petersburg, and it appeared that if yon ,liil it was the end of this unpleasantness, for we could not have gotten away. 1 felt we were < gone up.' We could not have got- ten Off a piece of artillery, and the infantry could only have scampered back. Yes, 1 was much concerned, for I thoughl wc were 'gone up.' 1 dared not leave this hill, for 1 was sure you would pick me off. After a time, your lines moved forward REGIMENTAL REUNIONS. 375 irregularly. I then had the Virginia brigade in line, and they advanced. " The Georgia brigade was also in position. We met and went forward ' pell mell ' and broke the lines at the crater. The Georgia brigade tried to take about fifty feet of the lines which you held on the left, but could not. Later on, an Alabama brig- ade took that line. After that came the white flag from the pit of the crater and we took one thousaud and one Federal prisoners. Among them was Gen. William F. Bartlett, who went into the war as Colonel of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts Regiment, and after the war engaged in the iron business in Richmond, Ya. " Later on came the flag of truce, and then both sides came on the ground between the two lines and buried the dead. During this flag of truce word came to me from a surgeon of some Yankee regiment, that he would send me a bottle of whiskey if I would like it. Of course, I said ' Yes,' and the doctor went back. Whether he was too slow or the time of truce expired, I do not know. I did not get that whiskey. I have not seen the doctor since, but some of your men owe me that bottle of whiskey." Dr. Whitman V. White, the former surgeon of the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts, was present and acknowledged that he was the one who met General Mahone and promised him the bot- tle of whiskey, but said that the flag of truce was too quick for him. The record does not show whether the doctor ever fulfilled his promise. He soon left with General Mahone and dined with him. The others were also banqueted at the General's residence. The party also received a cordial welcome and were hospita- bly entertained by the citizens and ex-Confederate soldiers at Spottsylvania Court House and Fredericksburg. The veterans finally returned to Boston with a warm feeling for the Southern soldier and a high appreciation of Southern hospi- tality which they would like to reciprocate in the same fraternal spirit. As we strove for victory over them in the hour of battle, so would we now strive to equal, or, if possible, excel them in hospitality and brotherly love. The Twenty-Second Annual Reunion of the Fifty-Seventh was held in Temperance Hall, Worcester, June 18th, J 888. At the business meeting Bvt.-Capt. Charles H. Piukham of the Fifty- 376 FIFTY-SKVKXTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS Seventh was again re-elected President. Bvt.-Maj. John H. Cook presented the sons of Gen. William F. Bartlett, who were admitted to honorary membership, also Charles Billiard. Two resolutions were offered to be acted upon at the next annual reunion. Letters were read from absent members. A report was made by the badge committee. After dinner several short speeches were made with pleasant references to the Virginia trip of the previous year. The Association adjourned to meet again in the city of Worcester at the call of the committee. The Twenty-Third Annual Reunion of the Fifty-Seventh was held in Temperance Hall, Worcester, June 26th, 1889. An amendment to the constitution, which was offered by Bvt.-Maj. John H. Cook at the reunion of 1SS8, changing the name from the '"' 57th and 59th" to the " Fifty-Seventh Regimental Associa- tion," was adopted. The two regiments were consolidated a short time before the close of the war, hence the Association was of short dura- tion and not as closely allied as the comradeship of the Fifty- Seventh. The attendance of the 59th members had been falling off year by } 7 ear, and they seemed to lack that esprit de corps which always distinguished those of the Fifty-Seventh. This gave occasion for the adoption of the amendment to the constitution. The 59th lost its identity as an organization at the time of consolidation. A resolution was also adopted providing thai all members of the 59th Massachusetts would be welcomed cordially at all future reunions. Upon the election of officers Rev. A. II. Dashiell was chosen President for the ensuing year. Many letters were read from absent members. The Twenty-Fourth Annual Reunion was held in Sons of Veterans Hall, Worcester, June 1 7th, 1890. The usual reports of deaths and oilier matters of interesl to the Association were ma le and received proper consideration. Nothing of unusual interest took place. The affair was a pleasant renewal of old associations, reminiscences, etc. Comrade E. D. McFarland was chosen President. The Twenty-Fifth Annual Reunion was held in Fitchburg, .Mass., June 17th, 1891. Letters were read in relation to a joint REGIMENTAL REUNIONS. 377 reunion of the four veteran regiments, 56th, 57th, 58th and 59th. After a discussion of the matter it was referred to a com- mittee appointed for that purpose. Resolutions of sympathy were adopted for Chaplain A. H. Dashiell in domestic affliction. An excellent dinner was provided by the ladies of E. V. Sumner Relief Corps. Fitchburg hospitality was extended with the liberality for which that city is justly noted, and the veterans were received with a most cordial welcome. After dinner inter- esting addresses were delivered by General Kimball and others. E D. McFarland was re-elected President. The Twenty-Sixth Annual Reunion was held in Sons of Veterans Hall, Worcester, Mass., June 17th, 1892. At the business meeting the committee appointed to act upon the matter of a joint reunion of the four veteran regiments, reported that nothing had been accomplished toward this end. The following named Sons of Veterans were admitted to honorary membership, viz. : W. D. Thompson", Frank Hare, J. Elmer Hall and the son of Comrade Barnes. Letters were read from absent members and regrets expressed at the serious illness reported of Bvt.-Maj. John H. Cook. Brief addresses were delivered by Gen. A. B. R. Sprague, General Pickett, Maj. E. T. Raymond and others. Comrade Barnes read a description of the battle before Petersburg, Va., June 17th, 1864, and vt Homeward Bound." Dr. A. O. Hitchcock of Fitchburg was elected President. After short and amusing stories and vocal music, the Association adjourned to meet again at the call of the officers. The Twenty- Seventh Annual Reunion was held in Fitchburg, Mass., June 17th, 1893. The death of Bvt.-Maj. John H. Cook was reported. Lieut. George E. Priest read a very touching and tender tribute to his memory. No death of any member of the Association ever sank deeper into the hearts of the comrades than this. None more deeply mourned and none whose loss would have fallen heavier upon the Association. From its organization, he had taken a great interest in the annual re- unions and labored indefatigably to make them interesting and attractive, and to preserve a feeling of harmony among the mem- bers. It was largely due to his personal efforts that the excur- 378 FIFTY -SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. sion to the battlefields of Virginia was made successfully. Res- olutions expressive of sympathy were adopted and sent to his bereaved and heartstricken widow, who wrote the following brief acknowledgment: "I should be lacking in gratitude, should I fail to thank you for the beautiful tribute sent my beloved husband and your comrade. Let these few words express my deepest appreciation of the kindness." The death was also reported of Bvt.-Capt. James H. Marshall and the following resolution adopted : — Resolved, That in the death of Comrade Marshall, the Association has lost one of its most cherished and valuable members. Serving through all the battles of the war, he was conspicuous for his courage and gallantry. After his return to civil life, he completed his college course which he had intermitted for the purpose of going to the war. He maintained a highly honorable career, being private secretary to Senator Dawes, and died in Washington, D.C. Addresses were made by Chaplain Dashiell, Surgeon W. V. White, Comrade Pinkham and others, eulogistic of Major Cook and Captain Marshall. The deaths of other comrades were reported which will be noticed in a following chapter. George W. Marsh, son of Jeremiah Marsh who was killed in the battle of the Wilderness, was elected an honorary member of the Association. The usual routine of business was transacted and Comrade W. H. Whipple was elected President. Dinner was served by E. V. Sumner Corps of the W.K.C.. the Indies of which graced the occasion by their presence, and lent a new charm to the happy reunion. They received the hearty and unanimous thanks of the Association. An adjournment was taken at 3.15 cm. to meet again at the call of the officers. The Twenty-Eighth Annual Reunion of the Association was | M . |,1 in Sons of Veterans Hall. Worcester, June I'.'th. L894. At this reunion Comrade J. Brainerd Hall appeared with the National flag, that was presented to the regiment by the Ladies of Worcester, upon its departure for the field in April. 1864. At the business meeting it was voted to make all sons of veterans of the regimenl honorary membere. Comrade Priesl announced that a college in North Carolina had conferred the honorary degree of D.D. Upon Chaplain A. II. Dashiell. The latter was tendered Lhe congratulations of Hie Association by a rising vote. A com- REGIMENTAL REUNIONS. 379 mittee on resolutions for the dead was appointed which submitted the following : — The Association having heard the report of the death of our com- rades who have passed away since our last annual reunion, and having entered their names on the roll of our honored dead, do likewise express our sorrow that the comrades will no longer enjoy their fellowship in our reunions, and that their places in their homes are made vacant. Resolved, That the sympathy of the Association be conveyed to their several families and circle of friends with assurances of our sense of their loss to them and to us. Chaplain Dashiell, who had been engaged in preparing a history of the regiment, read what he had written and stated the many difficulties he had encountered in preparing the work, such as ill health and the distance which he lived from the State ; and asked that he might be relieved from a further prosecution of the work, offering to contribute what he had already written and to assist, as far as he was able, anyone who should undertake it. His request was approved, and a committee was appointed con- sisting of Capt. John Anderson, Bvt.-Capt. C. H. Pinkham, Chaplain A. H. Dashiell, Lieut. George E. Priest and Comrade J. Brainerd Hall. The committee placed the work in the hands of Capt. John Anderson, who accepted the duty under the conditions of an act of the Massachusetts Legislature to encourage the writ- ing of regimental histories. After dinner the comrades enjoyed recalling old times and associations, stories and short speeches. Comrade W. H. Whipple was re-elected President. The Twenty-Ninth Annual Reunion of the Fifty-Seventh Regimental Association was held at Lake Quinsigamond, Worces- ter, Mass., June 17th, 1895. There was a very good attendance, many coming from con- siderable distance, and the reunion was made of unusual interest and pleasure, and all felt that the time passed too quickly. Again the occasion was graced by the presence of many Indies, wives and daughters of comrades, and also sons of comrades. The following deaths were reported, viz. : Comrades E. A. Bartlett, C. Harley and A. S. Allen, and the following resolution adopted in respect to their memory : — 380 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS Resolved, That we record our sense of their loss to their families and their comrades, and desire to convey our sympathy to their friends and our sincere prayers that they may be comforted and sustained in their bereavement. Remarks were made by Surgeon White, Comrade J. B. Hall and others, in regard to publishing the history of the regiment. All present seemed deeply interested in the progress of the work and anxious for its publication at an early day. We reported progress, which was received with satisfaction. After a dinner of baked clams, several stirring and patriotic addresses were made ; one of eloquence by Hon. A. S. Roe of Worcester, and one of impressive interest by the retiring Presi- dent, W. H. Whipple, in which he spoke with great warmth of past scenes, and paid an appropriate tribute to the memory of our departed comrades ; those who have fallen in battle and others who have died since the close of the war. His words reached the hearts of all his hearers. Captain Dashiell also touched a chord in harmony with the sentiment of the occasion. (apt. John Anderson of the U.S. Army was chosen Presi- dent for the ensuing year and it was voted to hold the nexl annual reunion in Worcester, -June 17th, 1896. „' CHAPTER XVIII. IN MEMORIAM. " How sleep the brave who sink to rest By all their country's wishes blest? When spring, with dewy Angers cold, Returns to deck their hallowed mold, She there shall di'ess a sweeter sod Than fancy's feet have ever trod. By fairy hands their knell is rung, By forms unseen their dirge is sung; There honor comes, a pilgrim gray, To bless the turf that wraps their clay. And freedom shall awhile repair To dwell a weeping hermit there." INCE the final muster-out and disbandment of the regiment many of our comrades have received their discharge from the cares and duties of this life aud have marched ou to join the great majority. The sad, sweet notes of the bugle sounding taps frequently tell us that the light of another life has disappeared from mortal vision, and that we, too, are marching silently and swiftly on towards the bivouac of the dead. Among the first that were laid to rest was Lieut. -Col. J. M. Tucker, who died on the 22d of June, 1866, in Boston, Mass. Colonel Tucker's record was an honorable one. He first enlisted as a private in the 25th Massachusetts aud served as such until the 16th of September, 1861, when he was discharged and com- missioned 2d lieutenant in the 36th Massachusetts, from which regiment he resigned on account of ill health, on the 29th of July, 1863. The struggle still continued and when the call came 382 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. hi the autumn of 1863 for more troops, youug Tucker again responded and raised a company of one hundred young men in the city of Worcester, of which he was commissioned captain, and mustered into the United States service as the third company of the regiment, taking the letter H. He was promoted to major .lime 14th, and lieutenant-colonel June loth, 1864. After the close of the war he was appointed colonel by brevet for gallant and meritorious conduct in action. He never fully recovered from the severe wound received in the battle of Petersburg, June 17th, 1864, which greatly impaired his articulation. After having been mustered out with his regiment, he was appointed inspector in the Boston Custom House, which position he filled with fidelity and honor. He contracted a severe cold while in the discharge of his duties inspecting the cargo of a steamship in East Boston, which resulted in his death in the 26th year of his age. His funeral was conducted with military honors and attended by a large number of his former comrades and friends. C'apt. John L. Goodwin died Nov. 22d, 1867, in the 27th year of his age, from the effects of wounds received and disease contracted in the service of his country. We have heretofore made brief mention of Captain Good- win's honorable and gallant service. He first enlisted in 1861 in the 25th Massachusetts and served about two years. He took a deep interest in the organization of the Fifty-Seventh and assisted Colonel Tucker in raising Company H, and was commissioned 1st Lieutenant to date from Jan. 6th, 1864, subsequently promoted to captain, but never mustered as such, owing to the fact that he was absent from the regiment wounded. He was wounded in the Wilderness and again in front of Petersburg. Previous to the war he was connected with the Sunday school of the Universalist church in Worcester, and is borne on the roll of honor as one of the many young men of his class who responded t<> their country's call in the hour of greatest danger, and laid down their lives in its defense. The funeral was held in the 1 " nivcrsalist church and was attended by a Large Dumber of relatives, friends, old army com- IX MEMORIAM. 383 racks and the Masonic fraternity, of which he was a member, also Post No. 10, Grand Army of the Republic. The services were conducted by Rev. Mr. Bowles, after which the procession was formed and marched to Hope Cemetery, where the remains were placed at rest. His name added another to the long list which will always stand in honor of Worcester's patriotic sons. His was the great privilege of seeing the war close with the Union army victorious, and to welcome the return of his surviv- ing comrades, who were soon called upon to mourn his untimely death. Respected and loved by those who will always cherish a tender recollection of his memory, he has crossed the dark and silent river to his eternal home beyond. In pausing to mention those of the Fifty-Seventh who have died since the war, we are overwhelmed with meritorious names of men who deserve more than we can say of them. In the great battle strife for the preservation of the Union there wei-e many brave deeds never noticed, many a heroic name around which we could entwine the laurel wreath of immortal song and poetry and yet fail to do them justice ; but comparatively few were observed. The private soldier deserved as much credit as the officer, but was less likely to be noticed. The enlisted men were remarkable for their submission to discipline, their spirit of loyalty, the fearlessness manifested upon the field of battle, a faithful performance of duty and the spirit of self-sacrifice, by which thousands laid down their lives for the sake of their country. While such men have lived and died and passed apparently unnoticed, yet their brave and noble deeds helped to save the nation's life, and, as time rolls on, generations yet unborn will live to honor their memory. With the lack of knowledge of many things and many names worthy of mention, and with the lack of time and space, we are obliged to omit much that would honor and adorn these pages. We have the name of James H. Holland, formerly a private of Company B, Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts, who died Feb. 11th, 384 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. 1875, after long months of suffering from wounds and disease incident to his army life. His broken health blighted all his prospects in this life and he could only patiently wait the inevi- table result. There is one name of all those who belonged to the Fifty- Seventh, that stands one of the most prominent among the noble sons of Massachusetts, and which deserves a mention beyond the power of language : that of Bvt.-Maj.-Gen. William F. Bartlett. This work would lack much of completion without it. In previous chapters we have made brief mention of his career ; it now only remains to speak, not only of his death, but his departure from this to that higher and nobler life beyond. On the 17th of December, 1876, after bidding an affectionate farewell to his family and nearest friends around him, he passed peacefully away to "that bourne from whence no traveler returns." Eulogies were written in honor of his memory in nearly all the papers in the State, eulogies full of eloquence and pathos ; but as his life was so closely associated with that of the Fifty- Seventh, we will only quote extracts from a loving tribute to his memory by one of our comrades, Bvt.-Maj. John II. Cook, who has since passed on to join his beloved commander. Knowing Major Cook quite intimately for years, we know that every won! and sentence he Uttered came from a true and devoted heart. He said at the reunion of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts. July 31st, 1 .s 7 7 : "The results of his various wounds, taken in con- junction with the exposures of camp and the hardships of prison life, were too plainly visible, tor it was painfully evident that it would not be long before his life would he as truly offered, a sacrifice upon the altar of his country, as if he had laid it down amid the smoke and turmoil of battle. •■ After his return from Europe up to the period of his death, his time was spent with his family in Pittslield. He had long realized that he could not stem the tide of failing health, and thai. SOOner or later, he. who had faced death amid the roar of cannon and the smoke of battle, would he called upon, sur- rounded by the peaceful and happy scenes of his domestic life. IN MEMORIAM. 385 to lay down his sword in reverent submission to the one event of all be could not conquer. " Loving lips have told me of bis last illness and death, how, amid the surroundings of his happy home, removed from all the va- ried excitements that accompanied his intrepid character and lent their inspiration to his heroic achievements, he, with a heroism before which all his exhibitions of the past faded into nothingness, met the last great enemy and in submission bowed, ' Thy will, not mine, be done.' He had faced death before, but now he was to meet it face to face knowing that he should be conquered. Calmly as one who journeys to a distant land, he made his preparations, forgetting nothing, with kind and loving words to those about him. To wife, cherished of his heart, counsels to enable her to courageously meet the event and obligations so soon to be imposed upon her, to children about to be made father- less, wisdom that seemed borrowed from beyond that bourne he soon would pass, to friends and all, words of cheer and com- fort that carried with them impulses to higher aspirations and nobler purposes. " At last, as the solemn bells of Sunday morning tolled out their summons in the name of Him through whom he had seen the light of a simple Christian faith and life weave the certainty of a higher and better life beyond the grave, and surrounded by every association of love and tenderness that made life dear, he whis- pered his last farewell and closed his eyes in that sleep whose waking is beyond mortal vision. Thus, in the simple faith of Him whose disciple he was, who taught the lesson of an immortal life, his earthly life was ended. " It may be well for me, on this occasion, to speak of his feel- ings towards his old regiments and to recur to our past reunions as related by him. He had a warm affection for all his old regi- ments. In a letter to Governor Andrew, written at the time of his promotion, he says : < It is with feelings of sadness that I leave the command of a Massachusetts regiment. I have served with one so long that I feel that my history, reputation and inter- 386 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. est could not survive 1113' separation from one or another of our noble regiments.' .... " I have been told by one who mourns his loss, as we cannot, what his feelings were towards the Fifty-Seventh Regiment, and it is my delight to tell the story as I heard it from lips that seemed to fear lest they fail to make the impress of his earnestness on my mind. ... He was always proud of the Fifty-Seventh, and his love for it abided with him until his death. During his last illness, and especially when the time of dissolution seemed im- minent, he often said he feared he would die with his true feelings unknown to us. . . . " As we lowered him to his last resting place, there stood over that open grave at least two who will ever recall a happy con- sciousness as they remember that they performed these last sad offices. As the setting sun of that brief December day settled behind the mountains that would forever be his guard of honor, we turned away and left him alone with God. I returned home, but, somehow, my heart lingered behind me in the cemetery where we had left him. 1 thought I stood again uncovered beside his grave and a mournful, but sweet sadness came over me. I mourned that in the early dawn of a manhood full of golden promises he should be called away, and my sadness was sweetened by the reflection that he had done his work so well. Along down the line of coming years I had beheld higher honors and greater renown awaiting him. I had seen him surrounded by circumstances and possibilities for future usefulness, and I felt that it was sad, indeed, that he should die so soon, and yet, though his years were few, they were full, rounded and complete. .... The record of his life is safe. Time cannot dim its glory or the heat of party strife detract from its merit, for it has passed beyond mortal power to change and is left a golden heritage in Hi,' hearts of all who knew him. The lessons of his life are many, and they will he productive of future good, seen and 1111- seen, noted and unnoted. In him the cardinal virtues of the ancients, thrown into bold relief by the reflected light of his char- acter, found prominenl expression. IN MEMORIAM. 387 " The summers will come and go and we shall meet, but our festival will only know him in happy memories. ' On fame's eternal camping ground ' he has spread his silent tent and awaits our comiug. I know that somewhere in the ages ahead we shall meet him again. When the great Commander shall have sum- moned ns all, we shall meet in a grander reunion. I am not one who sees nothing but destruction in the destroyer's steps ; I have budded my faith on an eternal foundation, and I echo in my heart the language of my most loved poet : — ' Alas for him who never sees The stars shine through the cypress trees, Who, hopeless, lays his dead away, Nor looks to see the breaking day Across the mournful marbles play : Who hath not learned in hours of faith. The truth to flesh and sense unknown. That life is ever lord of death, And love can never lose its own ; For love will dream and faith will trust (Since He who knows our need is just) That somehow, somewhere, meet we must.' "Farewell, old commander and comrade; bright hope and happy dream. Amid the green hills of your adopted Berkshire, where nature loves to tabernacle, may you sleep the sleep of the just and true in your grave. You had your share of human im- perfections, but death has forever freed thee, and thou art no longer trammelled. Upon thy grave we plant the sweetest flow- ers of all the fields. Thy memory shall grow with us, and in the soil that covers thee renew its blossoms and fragrance perennially. "Farewell, old commander, soldier of war and soldier of peace, conqueror of battles and the hearts of men. Never more shall we look upon thy face, but we will wear thy memory in our hearts ; marble and bronze in counterfeit presentment of what we know so well, may wear thy name and face with its endurance, but it will never feel the throbs of affectionate remembrance that possess our hearts. Farewell, dear friend, tried and true. Soldier of love and soldier of faith, vour battles are ended and 388 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. your victory is won. You have fought the good fight, you have finished your course, and you have kept the faith." General Bartlett was a companion of the Massachusetts Commandery of the Military Order, Loyal Legion, United States. At a meeting of this Commandery, held in Boston, Wednesday, Feb. 7th, 1877, resolutions were unanimously adopted paying a tribute of respect to his memory. We quote only the last few words, as follows: "The life of our deceased companion was so full of promise, as well as of performance, that our grati- tude for what he did, and for the influence of his example, is mingled with deep regret for our loss of what might have been his future. With proud and tender recollection, we record our testi- mony to our belief, that he was one of the noblest of the soldiers and citizens whom Massachusetts has numbered among her sons." One of his Pittsfield friends fittingly expressed the feelings of his old comrades in the following lines : — "For the sake of his geutleness, For the sake of his manliness, For the sake of the Wilderness, Where his blood stained the lea. For the sake of his duties done. For the sake of the fame he won. For the sake of the days to come, Green may his memory be." The personal character of General Bartlett was noble and pure. His life was one of exalted honor and romantic heroism, and in his death there was something grandly sublime and sadly beautiful. He was a communicant of Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church in Pittsfield. At the close of the funeral service in the church the following hymn from the Kpiscopal Hymnal was sung. This had been previously selected by him : — " ( » Paradise, ( I Paradise, Who doth u"t crave for rest? Who dot!) not seek the happy land Where they that loved arc blest, IN MEMOMAM. 389 Where loyal hearts and true Stand ever in the light, All raptured through and through In God's most holy sight? Lord Jesus, King of Paradise, Oh, keep us in Thy love, And guide us to that happy land Of perfect rest above : Where loyal hearts and true. Stand ever in the light, All raptured through and through In God's most holy sight." Among the many loving and beautiful tributes paid to his memory was the following poem written bj T John Greeuleaf Whittier : — " Oh. well may Essex sit forlorn Beside her sea-blown shore : Her well beloved, her noblest born Is hers in life no more ! If early from the mother's side Her favored child went forth, Her pride so amply justified Is in a hero's birth. No lapse of years can render less Her memory's sacred claim : No fountain of forgetfuluess Can wet the lips of fame. A grief alike to wound and heal, A thought to soothe and pain, The sad, sweet pride that mothers feel To her must still remain : Good men and true she has not lacked, And brave men yet shall be : The perfect floAver the crowning fact, Of all her years was he ! As Galahad pure, as Merlin sage, What worthier knight was found To grace in Arthur's golden age The fabled Table Round? 390 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. A voice, the battle's trumpet note, To welcome and restore ; A hand, that all unwilling smote, To heal and build once more ! A soul of fire, a tender heart Too warm for hate, he knew The generous victor's graceful part, To sheathe the sword he drew. The more than Sidney of our day, Above the sin and wrong Of civil strife, he heard alway The angels' Advent song ! When earth, as if on evil dreams, Looks back upon her wars, And the white light of Christ outstreams From the red disk of Mars, His fame who led the stormy van Of battle well may cease, But never that which crowns the man Whose victory was Peace. .Mourn, Essex, on thy sea-blown shore. Thy beautiful and brave, Whose failing hand the olive bore, Whose dying lips forgave ! Let aiie lament the youthful chief. And tender eyes be dim ; The tears are more of joy than grief Thai fall tor one like him." (apt. George E. Barton of Worcester died May 29th, L878, after a brief illness. His death was a painful surprise to all his friends. Captain Barton was the youngest son of Judge Ira M. Barton, a highly esteemed family of Worcester and one that did much for the Union cause during the war. His next elder brother, E. M. Barton, was connected with the l.S. Sanitary Commission and attached to the headquarters of the Fifth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. Worcester boys who were in that army have reason to remember him for his many act- of kindness towards them while in hospital sick or wounded. IN MEMORIAM. 391 Captain Barton was thirty-six years and eleven months old at the time of his death. His military record was one crowned with honor. He threw his whole heart and soul into the cause of his country. He first entered the service as a private in the 51st Massachusetts, and was subsequently made sergeant-major. With the expiration of his service he was discharged and again volunteered in the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts, and was appointed 2d lieutenant, promoted to 1st lieutenant and captain. He went with the Fifty-Seventh to the field as acting adjutant, and was soon appointed assistant quartermaster of the Ambulance Corps, but was subsequently relieved, at his own request, and joined the regiment in front of Petersburg and participated in all the engagements that followed. He was twice wounded and finally had the distinguished honor of commanding the regiment when it entered Petersburg. Captain Barton was a great favorite in the army and will long be remembered for his genial, sunny disposition ; always happy himself, he had a faculty of imparting his cheerful disposition to others. No hardships or dangers could change him ; however dark the cloud, his vision seemed to discover the bright sunbeams behind it, always ready to do a kind act for another or to share his only blanket with him. On the march or in the camp he was always the same, never " growling " or complaining, but quick to discern a bright spot where there was one ; if there was none, he would make it. His funeral was attended by the few surviving members of his old regiments, the 51st and 57th, who were in the vicinity of Worcester, Post 10, Grand Army of the Republic, under Com- mander James K. Churchill, and the Worcester Continentals, under Col. W. S. B. Hopkins. The procession was a very im- posing one. As it passed through the city to Rural Cemetery the streets were crowded with people. The services at the cemetery were conducted by Rev. Henry L. Jones, D.D., Pastor of Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church of Wilkesbarre, Penn. There were many beautiful floral offerings. He was buried in the army blouse of a private soldier, while on his breast was a gold badge of the G.A.R., which had been presented to him as 392 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. being the most popular comrade of Post 10. The ceremony at the grave was very impressive, while amid the silence of the gathering twilight of early summer our friend and comrade was laid to rest where he is " tenting tonight " on the camping grounds of eternal peace. Captain Barton was a loyal and devoted member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and left the sum of five hundred dollars to the George H. Ward (Worcester) Post No. 10. Sergeant Walter R. Foster of Company H died in Worcester, Oct. 23d, 1879. The funeral services were held at the First Universalist Church and the burial ceremony conducted by Post 10, Grand Army of the Republic. Sergeant Foster first entered the service when but eighteen } 7 ears of age, and remained with the Fifty-Seventh until its muster out, at the close of the war, after which he was employed as Assistant Ticket Agent, at the old Foster Street Railroad Station, Worcester. He was a very quiet, unassuming man, but had a large, warm heart and made friends wherever he was known. As a soldier he was brave, reliable and trustworthy. His record was an honorable one. His life was one well worthy of emulation. A few verses were written for the Worcestei Gazette, signed " C. A. K. P." We have taken the liberty of copying the last verse. In Memoriam. mm LATE WALTER R. FOSTER. No life is brief whose passing years Bring blessings to a human soul, No work is vain thai is nobly 'lone. No race is shorl thai wins the goal; Ami thej who. in temptation's hour, Battle \\ i 1 1 1 passion's surging tide, May gain fresh courage from the thoughl Thai ' such as he have lived and died.'" IX MEMORIAM. 393 Corp. David N. Chapin of Company B passed from this to a higher life on the 5th of November, 1879. He was a brave soldier, one who was faithful to his country during the dark days of the war, true to his friends and a devoted Christian. He was buried with Masonic honors. A guard of honor, composed of sur- viving comrades of the Fifty-Seventh, escorted the remains to their final resting place, there to await the grand reveille of eternal day. At the reunion which was held in 1874 the death of Albert Doty, formerly 1st lieutenant and adjutant of the Fifty-Seventh, was reported. In the early part of the war he was a student at Williams College, but promptly responded to the call of his country, and enlisted in a regiment from the State of New York, and made an honorable record. Having been discharged, bj r reason of expiration of service, he again enlisted in the Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts, and soon after taking the field, was pro- moted to 1st lieutenant and appointed regimental adjutant, which position he was well qualified to fill ; subsequently he was appointed captain by brevet for gallantry in action while serving with the Fifty-Seventh. He was conspicuous for gallantry and was regardless of personal safety, even to the extent of reckless- ness, yet, like all others, he was obliged to surrender to the one great enemy who has been marching on, victorious over mortality, since the creation, and will continue to gather his victims as long as time shall last ; Shakespeare says : — " Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once." Captain Doty commanded the regiment, for some time after the battle of the Petersburg mine, and was the only officer on duty with it. We make no attempt to record deaths in chronological order, from the fact that many have died at a distance and their deaths reported without date, which it has been impossible to obtain. Capt. John W. Sanderson died Jan. 13th, 1884, at Colfax, Iowa, aged fifty-six years. Captain Sanderson first entered the service as 1st lieutenant in the 51st Massachusetts in 18G2, 394 FIFTY-SEVENTH KEGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. and served with it until the expiration of his term of service. Upon the organization of the Fifty-Seventh regiment he was appointed 2d lieutenant from date of Oct. 21st, 1863, and authorized to raise a company for that regiment. He opened an office and recruited in Worcester, being the first to complete the organization of a company, which was lettered A, of which he was commissioned captain, to date from Dec. 26th, 1863, and was the senior of that grade in the regiment. He was a man of high personal character, untiring energy and an excellent officer, well trained in the duties pertaining to his position, and one who took a great pride in his profession. He was severely wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, and so disabled as to render him physically disqualified for further service in the field, on which account he was discharged for disability, Nov. 10th, 1864. After the close of the war he went west, and engaged in business pur- suits, which separated him from a personal participation in the regimental reunions. He left a record which his living comrades are proud to honor. Another name on the list of deaths, which we cannot pass unnoticed, is that of Capt. Levi Lawrence of Fitchburg, who en- tered the service of the United States as 1st lieutenant in the 25th Massachusetts, Oct. 12th, 1861, and served as such until July 21st, 1862. Upon the organization of the Fifty-Seventh .Massa- chusetts he raised a company in and around Fitchburg, which was called the Fitchburg company, and was mustered Feb. 11th, L864, taking the letter F. He was severely wounded in the battle of the Wilderness, from the effects of which he never sufficiently recovered to be able to return to duty, and was discharged for disability Sept. Mth, L864. Captain Lawrence was a man of gentle disposition and sterling worth, cool and brave in the hour of danger, and thoroughly conscientious in the discharge of every duty. After leaving the service he located in Fitchburg, where he remained until L876, when he moved to his old homestead, Ashliv, Mas-,. He always took a deep interest in the Fifty- Seventh Regimental Association and all old comrades who had seen honorable service in the army. His was one of those up- IN MEMORIAM. 395 right lives that never go out, without leaving a lingering twilight to consecrate its memory. One would think that such a life would end as quietly as it had lived, but such was not the case. After facing the driving storm and turmoil of battle, he was destined to meet a tragic death through shipwreck. Failing- health, caused by the hardships and exposures incident to his army life, compelled him to seek a milder climate. For this purpose he sailed from Boston, January, 1884, on the ill-fated steamer, City of Columbus, intending to visit Florida, and return the following spring, and to visit some of the old battlefields of the South. After leaving Boston a dreadful storm arose. The night was dark and cold ; the wind drove the ship upon the rocks off Gay's Head and it became a total wreck. Captain Lawrence was among the drowned. The stormy billows were his funeral escort to the shores of eternal rest and peace. His memory is honored by citizens as an upright man ; by his old comrades in arms as a man with a heart as kind as it was brave and true. Gen. Napoleon B. McLaughlen, who became colonel of the Fifty- Seventh after the promotion of Colonel Bartlett to brigadier- general, died at Middletown, N.Y., Jau. 27th, 1887, at about the age of sixty- four years. He was an old soldier, having first entered the regular army, by enlistment, as a private in Troop F, of the old Second Dragoons, May 20th, 1850. He was appointed 2d lieutenant in the 1st Cavalry in March, 1861, and pro- moted 1st lieutenant, 4th Cavalry, the following May. In October, 1862, he was appointed colonel of the 1st Massachusetts Infantry, succeeding Col. Robert Cowdin, and colonel of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts, July 21, 1864, returning to the State in command of the same. He commanded the brigade, composed mostly of Massachusetts troops, known in the Army of the Potomac as " McLaughlen's brigade." He was appointed a brigadier-general of volunteers, by brevet, for gallant and distin- guished service at. Poplar Grove Church, Va., and in the regular army by brevet for gallant and meritorious service, as follows : Major, May 3d, 1863, at Chancellorsville, Va. ; lieutenant- colonel, July 2d, 1863, at Gettysburg, Pa. ; colonel and brigadier- 396 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. general at Fort Stedman, Va., March 25th, 18(35. After having been mustered out of the volunteer service, Aug. 10th, 18G5, he returned to his regiment in the regular army, 4th Cavalry, where he had, in the meantime, been promoted to captain. He was promoted to major of the 10th Cavalry May 17th, 1876, and was placed on the retired list, upon his own application, after thirty years of continuous service, June 26th, 1882. As a soldier, General McLaughlen was a man of undaunted courage, mature judgment and conscientious in the performance of duty. During the last few years of his life he was a great sufferer from the effects of hardships and exposures in the field. Dr. Charles E. Heath, formerly assistant surgeon of the Fifty-Seventh, died at his home in Lee, Mass., Oct, 5th, 1887. His "death fell with a peculiar sadness upon his old comrades, who were accustomed to look forward to his kindly greeting at each annual reunion, which he seemed to enjoy so much. The hearty grasp of his honest hand had been loosened here, only to be again outstretched for a comrade's greeting, as we meet him in the dawn of a brighter future. He took a zealous interest in the associa- tion of the old regiment, and was honored and respected by his comrades who felt the genial warmth of his friendship. Their sympathies clothed him with their affections. None who ever wore the uniform possessed a greater love for the old Hag, or abiding loyalty to the country, than he. His manner was quiet and unassuming, with a generous heart, as sensitive and tender as that of a child. His many acts of kindness will long be remem- bered by those who were the recipients of his attentions. The Valley Gleaner of Lee, in the issue of Oct. 5th, 1887, says of him : — "A host of friends in Lee and throughout Berkshire County, will learn with sincere sorrow of the death of Dr. Charles E. Heath, which occurred about live o'clock this morning. Although he had been suffering for a Ion- time, the end came ?ery suddenly. Major Cook, of the Boston Custom House, was severely wounded in the war. and always believed that nothing but the doctor's skill and untiring devotion saved his life. When he heard of the doctor's illness, a few days ago. Ih- started im- IX MEMO R I AM. 397 mediately and was soon at his bedside. The meeting was most affecting and Major Cook did not leave until all hope and con- sciousness were gone Dr. Heath was a man of upright character, warm hearted, generous nature and genial manner, and he enjoyed the respect of all who knew him. In public and in private, and both as a physician and friend, he will be sadly missed." The tears of friends will keep his memory green, while the qualities of heart and mind that made them have, undoubtedly, won for him a higher reward in that other life, than fell to his lot iu this. Austin K. Gould, of whom former mention has been made, who was a prisoner of war at Andersonville, died at his home in Worcester, Mass., Friday, Sept. Sth, 1893, and was buried the following Monday, in Amherst, Mass. Comrade J. Brainerd Hall paid a deserving tribute to his memory in an address delivered before the Massachusetts Association of Union Ex- Prisoners of War, from which we have been kindly permitted to make use of the following extract : — Iu 1861 Doctor Austin K. Gould was a practisiug physician in Fitch- burg, Mass. Iu 1SG2 he enlisted as a private soldier and joined Company B, 53d Massachusetts Infantry. He was at once assigned to duty in regimental hospital, and very soon after that regiment reached New Orleans, was placed in charge of one of the division hospitals of the Nineteenth Corps, at Baton Rouge, remaining there until the early fall of 1863, when he came north Avith the 53d, its term of service having expired. On the last day of 1863 Doctor Gould again enlisted as a private, and immediately joined Company F, Fifty-Seveuth Massachusetts Infantry. He was not allowed to remain with his company, but was at once called to the hospital, where he remained until about April 18th, 1861, when he was detailed and assigned to duty in general hospital service. When the campaign of 1864 began he was attached to the ambulance train of the Ninth Army Corps, crossing the Rapidan May Sth. On the morning of May 6th .... our lines were driven back (Wilderness) and night found fifty men at the Second Corps Hospital between the lines. They were so badly wounded that no one would take the responsibility of moving them in army wagons. I shall never forget the order that came from one of the senior medical officers: " Come, doctor, pick up your traps; if any of those fellows are alive by morning they will be 398 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. no good to the Johnnies." Doctor Gould answered : " These men can be saved; I shall remain, and, if necessary, go to prison and die with them. It is not humane to leave them alone." He remained, and every one of u> were brought out the next afternoon. During the next thirty-six hours we were captured and recaptured many times. On the third occa- sion of our capture Doctor Gould was separated from us. He, however, denied that he was a surgeon and kept Avith his comrades, going with them to Andersonville He was loved and respected by every Union soldier who was ever blest with a personal acquaintance with him. His heart was so big that it recognized every defender of the flag as a brother, and that it was his duty to care for him the best he could, without money and without price Of all the sad deaths we have been called upon to record during the progress of this work, one of the saddest was that of Bvt.-Maj. John H. Cook, who died Aug. 19th, 1893. We have made brief mention, on a former page, of his services and the severe and painful wound he received July 21st, 1864, the bullet passing directly through his body. For days he hovered between life and death, and finally, much to the surprise of everyone, survived and lived for many years. He was born in Northamp- ton in 1841. In the early part of 1861 he enlisted in the 10th Massachusetts, and was in the celebrated Peninsula campaign under General McClellan. After the battle of Fair Oaks he was taken sick with typhoid fever, contracted in the swamps of the Chickahominy, in consequence of which he was discharged for dis- ability, on the 17th of July, 1862. Having recovered from his sickness, he again entered the service and helped to raise and organize Company E of the Fifty-Seventh, of which company he was commissioned 1st lieutenant. The nature of his wound was so serious that he was never aide to return again to field duty, and was discharged for disability Dec. 27th, 1864, after which he engaged in the drug business in Boston, until appointed a clerk in the Custom House, afterwards storekeeper, head storekeeper, and finally as auditor, tilling every position faithfully and efficiently. Be represented Ward Eighteen of Boston in the Massachusetts Legislature, in b s 7.">, is7f> and 1*77. lie was a member of Post li.".. Grand Army of the Republic, and was Department [nspec- IN MEMORIAM. 399 tor on the staff of Myron P. Walker, his old tentmate in the 10th Massachusetts. For many years Major Cook held the position of president of our Fifty- Seventh Regimental Association, and always took a deep interest in all that concerned it and each individual member of it. He was one of the first in helping to organize, and it might be said of him that he was the very life and soul of it, never missing the annual reunions, except when prevented by sickness. His love for the old regiment was true and enduring to the very last. Captain Priest writes : "At mj' last call, on the afternoon of the last day of his life, he knew the end was near and his thoughts were of you, men of the Fifty- Seventh, for he asked me to do whatever related to the attendance of the Fifty-Seventh at the funeral, and to see that Chaplain Dashiell was present to take part in the services. He wanted us with him to the last." After the close of the war he was appointed captain and major by brevet by the Hon. Secretary of War. Major Cook's personal character was one of unsullied truth and honor ; nothing could swerve him from the upright course which he pursued. He was deserving of friends and he had them; their name was legion, and he was always true to them. His friendship could be relied upon, whether in a high or low position. To the poor and needy he was especially kind and sympathetic. No worthy person ever appealed to him in vain His heart was warm and large, " with malice towards none and charity for all." Thus he lived and thus he died, in full faith that there is a higher and better life beyond this, to which he carried his love of country, comrades and friends. In his death the Fifty-Seventh lost what our comrades, who have gone before, have gained. He was of a happy, uncomplaining disposition, and when his affairs did not go just to suit him, patiently waited. He was happy in his domestic relations and in the possession of a quiet little home, where he spent most of his time after the duties of the day were over. It is impossible to pause to notice all the worthy and honora- ble names of comrades of the Fifty-Seventh, who have given 400 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. their lives for the sake of the country. They have passed on iu such rapid succession that the lingering light of their mortal lives seems blended in one harmonious whole, where special mention of each deserving case is absolutely impossible. As the months pass and years roll on, we are called upon to mourn the loss of some friend and comrade, whose unwritten eulogy will silently speak through the ages that are to come. Among the names that demand special attention is still another honored one, which shines from the modest security of a lingering, suffering, unpre- tentious life, whose pure and spotless soul cast off the painful deformity of mutilated mortality on the 18th day of June, 1887, and ascended to that higher life of immortality. The name of Lieut. Charles E. Barnard will live in the affections of his comrades while their memory lasts. Such names and characters beautify any book, and such gentle, loving dispositions iufuse a new life of noble sentiment wherever their influence is felt. As a soldier Lieutenant Barnard was brave, honorable and conscientious in the faithful discharge of his duty, and was loved and respected by his comrades in arms. The same qualities that endeared him to them followed him from the army to civil life, where he made friends of all with whom he came in contact. He first entered the army by enlistment as a private soldier, in Company E, loth Massachusetts. At the battle of Antietam, Sept. 17th, 1862, he received a gunshot wound through the body ; the ball entered between the breasts and passed out near the spine. He was discharged Nov. 24th, 1862, on account of dis- ability arising from this wound, but recovered sutliciently to be able again to enter the service, and enlisted the second time, February, 1*64, in Company F of the Fifty-Seventh Regiment, and was made 1st sergeant. He was with the regiment through the terrible battles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, North Anna, and all the engagements in front of Petersburg to the attack on Fort Stedman, March 25th, L865, when he was again severely wounded, this time through the neck and arm. The ball entered the top of the left shoulder and split in its course downward, one piece passing out of the old Antietam wound, while the Other lodged lower and on the right side of the body, IN MEMORIAM. 401 where it remained. On the 12th of June, 1865, he was commis- sioned 2d lieutenant and discharged with the regiment July 30th, 18C5. He became an invalid as a result of his wounds, and for much of the time was unable to leave his bed. The fragment of the ball which had lodged in his body caused him much pain, and sores to form. It finally appeared to lodge in the right hip, which caused the cords of the right leg to contract so much that the right knee was drawn up so as to rest against the abdomen and breast ; it being so much drawn up that he could rest his chin on his knee. The wounds in the back and shoulder caused paralysis of the left arm, also a disease of the spine. During all the years that he survived the war he was a patient sufferer and was never heard to murmur or complain. Although a cripple, and unable to per- form manual labor of any kind, he was of a cheerful disposition and possessed, to an eminent degree, the cardinal virtue of charity. Many acts of kindness, which he supposed no one knew, were subsequently traced to him, often depriving himself that he might be able to lighten the burden of some unfortunate comrade, to whom his heart always turned with feelings of sympathy. Such a life sheds a lustre that does not vanish with death, but leaves a fragrant incense which death cannot kill. Since the final muster-out of the regiment comrades have be- come dispersed and scattered throughout the country, so that it is absolutely impossible to keep a complete and correct record of them, although strenuous efforts have been made in that direction by the officers of the regimental association, as they have met from } T ear to year. The whereabouts of many cannot be ascer- tained ; many, no doubt, have died whose names have not been reported. We append a list, which, though it may not be correct in every particular, yet is as near as anyone can make it, of com- rades who have died and passed from the shadows of this mortal to the light of the unseen and immortal life, beyond the dark river. Whether their graves are marked by sculptured stone, tablets of bronze, or only the faded flowers placed there by loving hands of surviving comrades with each Memorial Day, yet, what is better still, the principles for which they battled will continue 2G 402 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. to live and brighten the pages of American history. This is the grandest and most enduring monument, and pays a higher tribute to their memory than the most eloquent encomium that can be written. These principles will continue to grow stronger and stronger, into the very web and woof of our united country, to endure through ages to come, an inspiration to loyal hearts and a beacon light to all people who are struggling for the rights of freedom and the elevation of the human race. Their memory is honored, and these principles espoused even by those who bravely battled on the other side. We pass on to other names : Lieut. James Peacock, reported at reunion of 1883, who was severely wounded in the battle of Fort Stedman, and was a great sufferer for several years after the close of the war, until death relieved him of his sufferings. Also, Lieut. Henry M. Ide, whose death was reported at the annual re- union of the regiment in 1881. Lieutenant Ide was promoted from the grade of sergeant. From the non-commissioned staff officers the name of Commissary Sergeant David F. Lawry was reported at the reunion in 1*73, who died in East Hampton, Conn. Also Principal Musician Jesse S. Scott, who died in Leices- ter, Mass., September, l« l J2. Musician Scott left an honorable record for faithful performance of duty. He first enlisted in Company B, 3d Battalion Massachusetts Rifles, May 19th, 1861, and was discharged the following August. Enlisted again in the bund of the 21st Massachusetts, Aug. 21st, 1861, and was dis- charged Aug. 11th, 1862. Enlisted in Company B, Fifty-Sev- enth Massachusetts, in December, 1863, and was discharged May 26th, 1*65. * The following is a list of deaths by companies, given as they were reported at reunions. Where no date follows the name, it is unknown : — Company A.— Corp. Albert S. Allen, reported in L896; Ebenezer A. Bartlett, 1894 \ Warren Grimes (69th), reported in 1881 ; Augustus j. Trussell, reported 1888; John Teague, July 1st, 1881; James Walsh, reported L876; Russell R. Seaver, April 28d, 1803: Henry IN MEMORIAM. 10.', C. Flint (59th), date unknown; Ebenezer L. Wilson (59th), date unknown; Charles F. Dudley, date unknown. Company B.— Corp. Ezra C. Bemis, reported 1874; Musician Eugene Smith, reported 1893; David N. Chapin, Nov. 5th, 1879: George S. Ballou, unknown; Warren E. Brewer, 1871; John Bradley, Dec. 23d, 1871; Albert Brigham, July 10th, 1887; William H. Clark, Jan. 2d, 1890; John Donahue, March 15th, 1867; Sergt. Willis A. Forbes, reported in 1895; James H. Holland, reported in 1875; Patrick Lyons, March 1st, 1892; William A. Moore, March 5th, 1881; Royal S. Fierce, May 31st, 1871; Hugh Waters, Aug. 6th, 1884; Edward Lowell, date unknown; Edwin H. Smith, date unknown; Benjamin L. Leonard, at Soldiers' Home, Chelsea, Jan. 17th, 1896 Company C. — Corp. Amos A. Dodge (59th), reported 1884; James Ackley, reported 1893; John Neylon, reported 1891; Charles E. Spooner (59th), Oct. 31st, 1893; Walter B. Welton, Dec. 15th, 1891 ; Cornelius Harley, reported 1895. Company D.— Sergt. Franklin W. Card, reported 1891; Sergt. Myron Goodell, reported 1891; Corp. George F. Lareby, date unknown; Musician Morris Welch, reported 1891 ; James Piatt, November, 1889; J. Bradbury, date unknown; E. C. Jordan, date unknown. Company E.— William R. Barrows, date unknown; Frank Blair, date unknown; Asa D. Burleigh, reported in 1884 as having died from the effects of wounds received in the battle of the Wilderness ; Thomas Hughes, Martin Karrigan, Cephas B. Pasco, 1876; George W. Pasco, date unknown; Charles H. Parker, reported in 1881, and Asa Thompson. Company F. —Patrick Brannon, Feb. 21st, 1890; George R. Edgecomb, died in Fitchburg, May 2d, 1873; Austin K. Gould, Sept. 8th, 1893; Edward Hanrahan, reported in 1890; John Hennessey, reported in 1894; Stephen H. Nourse, May Kith, 1890; Edgar F. Sawyer, May 14th, 1894; John Sullivan, reported 1894; Henry A. Wilkius, re- ported 1894; Corp. Aaron Wilkins, Aug. 5th, 1887; Michael O'Donuell, reported May 15th, 1879; Charles W. Babbitt, Sept. 10th, 1886; Charles F. Blood, Dec. 27th, 1887 Company G. — Dennis Donovan, reported 1894; William H. Flagg, Jan. 1st, 1871; Frederick E. Goff, Aug. 10th, 1895; Luther C. Hawkins, reported 1875; John Morrisey, March 17th, 1892: Melvin Ewell, reported in 1891. Company H. — Sergt. Walter R. Foster, Oct. 23d, 1879 ; Thomas Conners, July loth, 1867; John E. Grout, reported 1875; Charles N. Hair, 404 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Oct. 19th, 1890; James H. Baymond, May 23d, 1879; Amos Sprague, Jan. 20th, L890; Dennis Sbeern, reported in 1891; John Ryan, .March 18th, 1867; Charles Timon, reported in 1886; George H. Wellman, March. 1880; John F. Wellman, reported 1876; Isaac A. Woodcock, Feb. 16th, 1886; Thomas E. Gurney, Jan. 17th, 1892. Company I. — Corp. Charles E. Moore, reported in 1892; James B. Foster, date unknown; Hush King (59th Mass.), reported Nov. 10th, 1893: Harvey W. Gould, date unknown: Edward Carroll, date unknown; John Crow at Boonville, Mo., Aug. 1, 1879. Company K. — Amasa B. Bemis, reported 1883; Isaac G. Maynard, re- ported Aug. 8th, 1893; Eugene J. Holyoke, Sept. nth, 1873; Samuel H. Holyoke, date unknown; Henry L. Gill, Oct 3d, 1894. The following names have been reported at reunions without date or company, viz. : D. Shumway and E. E. Jordan. They cannot be found on the Adjutant-General's Report, and it is believed they are intended for men who have names somewhat similar, but the similarity is not sufficiently close to justify the changing of them. The complete record of reunions up to 1885 are very im- perfect, in very many cases omitting the report of deaths. There can, therefore, be no doubt but many more comrades have died than are reported on the foregoing lists; men who were brave and faithful soldiers and whose honorable records merit the highesl praise, but what we have already said of others applies to all such. A reunited, prosperous and peaceful country stands as an enduring monument to their memory. CHAPTER XIX. STRAGGLERS. HERE never was an army in the world, on a long and forced march, without some stragglers, and never a book written where stray thoughts and items of interest did not knock for admission after the doors had been closed. We are no exception to the general rule. We have had numerous little incidents related to us which we are compelled to overlook in order not to exhaust the reader's patience. We want to make this work as complete as we can without doing so. We are telling our story, not alone to those who were participants in the scenes we have labored to portray, but that those who follow us in the grand drama of life may read of what their sires did and be able to more fully understand and appreciate, not only what they accomplished, but the great sacrifices they made, for the preservation of our beloved country and the extinction of human slavery. Appre- ciating all this at its full value, we believe, as we pass on into the silence of the unseen future life, our record will staud in honor with them, that they will zealously guard it, and be willing to brave anything and do all in their power for the protection, preservation and perpetuation of those principles which were established through so much suffering and at such an immense cost of human lives and property ; to them we leave the blessed heri- tage of a free, prosperous and united country, in the full enjoy- ment of that peace which " passeth all understanding." We can only express the hope that it will never require another war to save it from threatened danger, yet its destruction or the debasement of our American institutions would be a greater calamity than any war that ever cursed the face of the earth. 406 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Three principles enter into the life of every true and noble man: religion, country and home. The three are inseparable; one taken away and the others lose their value and significance. In defence of them a man should, if necessary, be willing to risk his life, for death would be preferable to life without them. They embrace all the imagination can conceive of the virtues and purity of the human race, of their education, elevation and refinement and all we hope for in the future as well as in this life. We cannot close these pages without paying a well-deserved tribute to the loyal women of our fair land, for their faithful devotion to the cause for which we were battling ; for their loving encouragement and tender nursing. Their tears fell like the refreshing dew of heaven, to comfort and bless through the dark hours, and build a new hope as a silver lining to stormy clouds. Had it not been for their influence the war would not have termi- nated in such a glorious victory. As knights of old bore the image of some fair lady to battle, so did soldiers carry the love and prayers of mothers, sisters, wives and sweethearts through the perils of four long years of bloody war, as an inspiration to a higher sense of duty, a safeguard for the preservation of individual honor and a support through all the trying ordeals. Few, very few indeed, who buttoned on the army blue and buckled on the armor that did not feel that he was also girded about by the exalting influence of some noble woman ; their deeds of loving kindness, tearful sympathy ami silent prayers followed us always. even to the end. No monument stands to mark their patriotic devotion to the cause of country, yet we believe that it stands recorded upon the pages of that great book kept l»y the recording angel " unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known and from whom no secrets are hid." [f the soldiers Of Hie Union could justly rejoice in the triumph of our cause and the victory won. yet the Confederate soldier, who suffered defeat, Bhared in the victory. He. too. returned to enjoy the Mc-sings of :i united country, to rest in security under the protection of just and beneficent laws and to be again clothed with all the rights of citizenship claimed by the victor, to clasp hands across the graves of tens of thousands of comrades, who STRAGGLERS. 407 had fallen on both sides, in conscientious devotion to what both believed to be a duty. When men seal their convictions by their life's blood, we cannot doubt their sincerity. Over thirty years have passed on their course since the last tragic event sounded the requiem of war, each in succession vindicating our cause ; not through its triumph, but through its supreme justice and righteousness ; and acknowledged by all the civilized nations of the world, who are made to respect our flag and our national honor, as they never would had a dissolution of the Union been the verdict. When we reflect what the consequences would have been with the triumph of the Confederate cause, we shudder in con- templation of all the endless evils that would have befallen both the North and the South. Unfortunate victims of one dissolution they would have fallen helplessly into others, until the federation of States would have had no more strength than a rope of sand, and would have been absorbed by some ambitious power and again brought under a foreign monarchy ; the fruits of the revolution of 1776 and the rich heritage left by our sires would have been sold for far less than a mess of pottage. As time " heals all wounds save those of love," so has it healed the ghastly wounds of war and hidden the ugly scars under the folds of the same dear flag. We have seen the storm pass, and trust that the rainbow which follows is promise of a permanent peace, loyalty, fraternit}' and prosperity. Among the many incidents related around the campfires, one of surpassing bravery has been told us, which is vouched for on good authority. During the engagement known as the Weldon Railroad, while the Fifty-Seventh was under command of 1st Lieutenant Doty, it was posted in an exposed position and un- supported. 1st Sergt. Edward F. Potter of Company K was posted as a marker on the left of the regiment, but before the line could be established a terrible assault was made b} 7 the enemy and the regiment driven back, but the sergeant remained at his post amidst a shower of leaden bullets. The right general guide was killed. The general commanding the division rode up and exclaimed to the regimental commander, " What in h — 1 is that d d fool doiuo- out there? Who in ■408 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. is he?" To which the regimental commander replied, "That, sir, is my left general guide, posted by your order, which he obeys." The general then said, " Doesn't the darned fool know enough to come in?" The reply was: " That man always obeys orders and will stand there until shot, unless relieved by proper authority." " Well, relieve him mighty quick," said the general. The next morning an order came from the general for the sergeant to report to him in person. He reported as directed, bat with many misgivings as to what it all meant, whether it foreboded good or evil for him. He finally stood trembling in presence of the general, who proceeded to take the chevrons denoting the rank of sergeant from his arms, but in place of them he sent him back to the regiment wearing the straps of a com- missioned officer, which he wore with honor until the regiment was mustered out of the service. At the close of the war several of the officers of the Fifty- Seventh received brevet appointments for gallantry displayed in action, which is shown in the roster. Doctor Whitman V. White, formerly surgeon of the Fifty- Seventh, has very kindly contributed the following narrative description of the first steps taken to organize the regiment, which will be read with much interest : — Dear ('attain Anderson: Your letter, asking for my narrative to add to the history of the Fifty-Seventh Regiment, lias been received. I have long felt it my duty to put on record the story of the noble and heroic deeds of so many of thai brave regiment, who were wounded, killed and made prisoners, under my personal observation. It is to perpetuate what others did and Suffered, rather than to relate any part that I took in organizing and preparing the regimenl for the field, or my service with them, thai 1 give the following narrative: — My connection with the regimenl was either accidental <>r providen- tial, ami came about, in this way. In 1859, 1 was surgeon of the Massa- chusetts militia. After this I left the State and took up my residence in New York City, in 1861, l was surgeon of the i:th New Fork Volun- teer-, inn resigned in January, 1862, and entered the regular service as an A. A. surgeon, in February, 1862, I was ordered on duty at Fori Columbus, New York Harbor, and remained there on duty until Novem- ber, 1868. At Department Headquarters of the East, New Fork city. I STRAGGLERS. 409 met Surgeon-General Dale of Massachusetts, who said, " If you will accept the surgeoncy of one of your own State's regiments, I am authorized by Governor Andrew to tender it to you." I have no doubt that this was suggested from the fact that my name was on the roll of the medical officers of the Massachusetts State militia. The General said to me, " You should not allow the war to go over without going into service with your own State troops." I accepted the offer, and in three days was requested by wire to report at his office in Boston to meet Colonel Bartlett. I can never forget the interview. The Colonel on his crutches, the larger part of one limb gone, his shattered arm resting in a wooden case, that had been beautifully embellished by some loving hand. I expressed my surprise that one who had been wounded so many times, would consent to go to the field again. He said he thought he was able to do so. I replied that it was not a question of ability, but one of further sacrifice on his part. This was the commencement of the formation of a regiment, which, by official recognition, is known as the fourth in the War Department. Of all the regiments from all the States, hoth North and South, it lost in battle the greatest number of men in the shortest time. There is an error in placing us fourth; we should have had the third if not the second place. The manner in which we lost our men, places us as one of the most gallant regiments ever in the service. I was immediately commissioned surgeon and mustered into the service of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts Infantry, and ordered to report for duty at Camp Wool, Worcester. There I found only one company partially organized, and that the camp was the rendezvous for the last quota of men which the State was called upon to furnish. In January, from the men who were sent to the camp unassigned, I selected the best for our regiment. The colonel ordered me to visit the western part of the State in the interests of the regiment, and gave me permission to offer Capt. Edson Dresser, whom I suggested, a commission, if he would bring with him a certain number of men. Edson Dresser was at this time a member of the junior class of Williams College. By request he called upon me at my home, and we made our plans in order to comply with Colonel Bartlett's offer. Our town had already filled two calls, but this, the third call, was not filled until Captain Dresser and I made an appeal to those who were suitable to go. In less than two weeks Captain Dresser reported to the camp with his men, whose names were: John Crosby, Henry and George .May, William and Charles Rathborn, James Vocell, Jacob Kirby, Charles Jones, George Schatt'er, N. Peepoon, Henry, Frank and Wilbur Bills, Alouzo Collins and John O'Neil. Captain Dresser and most of the non-commis- sioned officers of his company, were from Stockbridge or its vicinity, consequently it was knowu as the company from Stockbridge, as was the 410 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. custom in regard to other companies of the regiment. The officers ami nucleus of Company F came from Fitchburg. and this company was known as the Fitchburg company. Captain Gird, who was studying divinity, and many of his men, came from Andover, so that this was known as the Andover company. Captain Hollis was from Lynn. We induced the colonel to give our minister, the Rev. A. H Dashiell, the commission of chaplain. I also appointed Charles E Heath an assistant surgeon. The weeks of January and February were spent in organizing and recruiting the regiment for the field We were known as the Fifty-Seventh Veteran Volunteers, and with one or two exceptions, there was no officer commissioned who had not been in the field. In 1862, while in the regular service, I had met the 1st Massachusetts, which was a two-years' regiment. Among the officers of this gallant regiment I had made the acquaintance of Lieutenant Doherty, who had won an enviable reputation for his coolness and gallantry at the battle of Gettysburg, ami Colonel Bartlett gave me permission to otter him a commission as captain. Among the incidents which occurred during the formation of this regiment, which I recall to mind at this moment, was the enlistment of George White. While making my rounds in camp one afternoon, an elderly man, accompanied by a woman and a boy, evidently husband, wife ami child, came in. I saw that the woman was weeping, and so went to her and said, " My good woman, what is the matter?" She answered, " Our boy wants to go to the war." The father said. >l I am too old to go myself, but I have given my boy permission to go." The mother then continued, '• I wanted to see the men that he is going with, ami see sonic officer and tell him what a good boy George has always been, and I want thai they should look after him."' I immediately replied that the hoy was a little undersized and quite young, but that he had a good face, and 1 would have him enlisted and detailed as my orderly. This was done. Afterwards, when we were in the field, he took care of my horse, and was, in short, my factotum. In all the vicissitudes of the marches and battles to Petersburg, Oeor^e was not only of great service to me per- sonally, but also assisted in caring for the wounded at the Held hospital. In August, lie was smitten with typhus or camp fever. While he was in this condition, an order came from corps headquarters to send e\ cry sick man to the rear, as there was a prospect, of an engagement, and all the ac- commodations at the hospital Were needed for the wounded. I was so strongly attached to George, he had been so faithful, that I had a shelter tent put up just outside 1 1 1 \ ow n for him. A rubber blanket placed on i he ground and covered with straw was the Improvised lied made for him. \ man, acting as uurse, was detailed to look after him. in the delirium which so often accompanies this fever, the patienl would crawl out of the tent on his hand- and knee-. The Durse would pull him back, and STRAGGLERS 411 sit on the ground beside him until he fell asleep. He made a good recovery, aud served faithfully until the end of the Avar. I can say of him as his mother said, that " he was a good boy." May I also add now that he is a multi-millionaire and a member of Congress. There was another incident which illustrates so forcibly the efl'ect of kindness that I must repeat it here. During a Sunday morning in- spection, while going into every nook and corner, with the officer of the day aud the commandant, in the guardhouse I found a young boy with a log of wood chained to his ankle. He had been a prisoner for several days, and had been obliged to do police duty about camp, sweeping and sawing wood, such as is done by the prisoners. From his appear- ance, I thought that his punishment was too severe, and so I turned to the officer of the day, and said, " I want this log of wood taken off and the boy sent to his quarters under guard." I was told that he had been very bad and deserved his punishment, as he had, on one or two occasions, attempted to desert. My suggestion in regard to the boy was carried out. On the next Sunday inspection of the guardhouse, I was told by the officer of the clay that the prisoner I had ordered released had deserted. The captain of the company said that he would bring him back to camp, if it cost him a thousand dollars. Upon inspection, two weeks subsequently, I found the boy in the guardhouse, handcuffed, and shackles upon his legs. He was not allowed to leave the place, and was obliged to sleep on the floor, with nothing but a blanket under him aud a single blanket over him. I immediately ordered him to the hospital. In the absence of Colonel Bartlett, Major Cushing was in command. He seut for me to report to him, and when I arrived said, " I learn that yon have ordered this boy Clark to the hospi- tal, but I shall not send him unless you will be responsible for his safe keeping." "You will send him," I replied, "and as I do not keep this camp, you cannot hold me responsible, but if he is not sent immediately, I will prefer charges against you." In the afternoon I visited the hospi- tal to see if the boy were there. I found him in the centre of the ward, on a lied, with a sentinel posted at the foot. Not seeing his clothing on a chair, as was customary, I inquired of the orderly where it was. and was informed that Major Cushing had ordered him to lock the clothing up. I sent the guard away, and told the orderly to bring Clark's clothes and put them on the chair beside him, just as was clone for all inmates of the hospital. I then sat down beside him, and taking his hand said, " James, you have had a hard time." I had learned that his father and mother had thought him incorrigible, and had therefore placed him in a reformatory at Westborough, from where he had enlisted. The super- intendent of the reform school said he was glad to get rid of the worst boy he had. I sent for a bowl of mutton broth, and sitting beside him while he ate it, said, tl I know that you have had a hard time, and have 412 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. been neglected and punished and often imposed upon, but I am going to be your friend if you "will only do right, and if you have any complaints to make, come to me and I will help you." As he looked up at me with a pleasant, trusting expression, I felt sure that my efforts had not been in vain, and that I had made an impression upon this little villain. He soon recovered from his typhoid condition, went back to his company, and was not again seen in the guardhouse while we were in the State. When Ave were in Annapolis, he Avas Avith us, and marched from Annapolis to the battle of the Wilderness, Avhere he was in the thickest of the fight. On the 12th of May, at the battle of Spottsylvania, our army Avas devastated, and among the Avounded Avas this boy. He came to me, and I found that the ball had passed through the top of his shoulder, carrying aAvay the middle portion of the collar bone, and mak- ing its exit at the top of the shoulder blade. With his eye bright with satisfaction he said to me, " Doctor, I have stood all the marches, am) the battle of the Wilderness, and this is the first time that I have been to the rear." I said, " I kneAv there Avas something good in you, and you have shoAvn it, for you have acted nobly. You have your wound, but it is not a serious one. It is a Avound that you will be proud to go home and show to those Avho thought you Avere Avorthless, and you Avill carry it as a mark of heroism and patriotism through your Avhole life." WHITMAN V. WHITE, Late Surgeon Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts Volunteers. Before closing Ave desire to mention the great difficulty that we have experienced in obtaining a roster, corrected to date. This difficulty has been greatly augmented by the consolidation of the 59th Massachusetts with the Fifty-Se\ r enth, just prior to the final muster-out. This added about fifteen officers and nearly four hundred and fifty enlisted men, whose previous records are unknown to us, save that the 59th was brigaded with the Fifty- Seventh and was known to be a good regiment. It had passed through the same campaign with the Fifty-Seventh, bul did not sustain so heavy a battle loss. As has been shown mi previous pages, the attempt to form the regimental associations and hold the reunions of both regiments as one, did not meet with success, hence uc know comparatively little of those who formerly belonged to the 59th since their muster out of the Bervice; furthermore, \\c arc unable to supply this lack of information and are forced to Stand only upon such records of the 59th as are on tile ill the office of the Adjutant-General, State of Massachusetts. STRAGGLERS. 413 In our researches through that office we are indebted to the courtesy of Col. Wm. C. Capelle, Assistant Adjutant-General, and Capt. Warren B. Galucia, who was formerly a gallant officer in the 56th Massachusetts. To our old comrades of the Fifty-Seventh, who are anxiously looking for a history of the old regiment, one that they can read with pleasure, and with pride hand down to their children, we have only to say that we may not have met your fullest expecta- tions, yet we have labored faithfully and earnestly to portray the thrilling events with which you were associated, and have con- stantly aimed at the truth. If we have failed in this it has not been intentional. We have endeavored to place the Fifty-Seventh truthfully upon history, alongside of other gallant regiments whose records are an honor to the old Commonwealth that sent them forth to battle for the life of the general govern- ment. If injustice has been done in any case, it, also, has been unintentional, as we have been actuated only by those hallowed sentiments of fraternity, charity and loyalty, to which every true soldier, who wore the Federal blue, is solemnly pledged. As year by year we continue to gather in reunion upon the shores of time, we sadly note one comrade after another borne out upon the receding tide of life into the great and silent ocean of eternity, and thus, as our circle narrows, we grasp more firmly the hands that yet remain, and while waiting the summons that will soon come to us all, our hearts join with a deeper pathos in the sweet melody of auld lang syne, for " We've stood on many a battlefield, In firm unbroken line ; And faced the foe and scorned to yield, In days of auld lang syne. And, though those clays are with the past, On history's page they shine ; We builded well, a work to last, In days of auld lang syne. We'll stand together now, as then, Linked in a three-fold tie ; We're comrades now, as well as when We dared to do or die. 414 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT Mass. VOLUNTEERS. Fraternity our watchword now And charity our aim, We mustered then, we muster now By loyalty's bright flame. And, as the days go passing by, And weaker grows our line, We'll keep together till we die, For days of auld lang syne. And, when we muster where the days Of endless glories shine, A brighter glory then will blaze Round days of auld lang syne." Xote. — The above poem is published by special permission of the author, Comrade James Beals, formerly of G.A.R. Post 68, Department of Massachusetts, to whom we wish to return our grateful acknowledgments. In submitting the roster to our comrades, we feel it a duty, which we owe to ourselves, to call attention to the great labor we have expended in our efforts to make it correct and complete to date. This work has been greater than all the rest of the history. The following correspondence only partially explains the matter. We have obtained all the information on file in the office of the Adjutant-General of the Commonwealth of [Massachusetts, and have corresponded extensively with individual officers and men. Adjt.-Gen. H. 0. Moore, Grand Army of the Republic, Depart- ment of Massachusetts, also, in a circular addressed to all G.A.R. posts within the limits of his Department, asked for information that might be of assistance to us, for which courtesy we desire to express our sincere thanks. That we have succeeded in most cases gives some satisfac- tion ; but that we have not accomplished the full purpose is a source of regret. Very many of the enlisted men had seen honor- able service in the army prior to their enlistment in the Fit'ty- St'vcntli, but we have been unable to obtain such records, with few exceptions. The many obstacles, which have stood in the way of a per- fect roster, have delayed the publication of the History several months. As presented now it is as complete and correct as we STRAGGLERS. 415 are able to make it. In the spelling of names we have been gov- erned by the way the men have signed them upon the rolls. In case of professional deserters, of which the Fifty- Seventh had its share, their names, no doubt, were assumed. We glance down the long list, and hear the familiar names through the faintly lingering echo of taps, and see the flickering lights go out in rapid succession, as one comrade after another sinks to rest under the protecting folds of the flag he loved so well, while the remaining fragments of that once proud line of blue, known as the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts Volunteers, stand in the deepening twilight of mortal life, holding themselves in readiness to surrender to that one enemy before whom, sooner or later, we must all bow, yet with an imperishable hope that this will but open the way to a more glorious and enduring vic- tory, the trophies of which will be an immortal life of rest and peace. We have gathered records of the past in the dim light which reveals but little of the magnitude of our great struggle to save the nation's life ; our work is only a fading wreath to the memory of brave men whose deeds of valor will leave a lingering influence upon the people of our country through ages yet to come. In preparing the roster of officers we wish to express our indebtedness to Col. T. W. Higginson for much information gleaned from his valuable work, " Massachusetts in the Army and Navy During the War of 1861-65," and to Hon. W. M. Olin, Secretary of the Commonwealth, for his devoted friendship, patient and zealous efforts in assisting us to obtain information, and to many others whose names are not mentioned, we wish to express our appreciation for the encouragement they have given in various ways. May the good they have done live after them. 416 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. [COPY.] Belchertown, Mass., Jan. 2d, 189G. The Adjutant-General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, Mass. Sir : I respectfully beg to submit that in preparing a Roster of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, corrected to date, as required by a recent act of the General Court, I have, through your courtesy, completed the same, as far as the records of your office enable me to do, but many records are still left incomplete for lack of informa- tion from the .War Department. These were to have been asked for. from time to time, by you. Several have already been received, but most of them are still lacking, To enable me to anticipate the probable time that I can publish the history of the Fifty-Seventh Regiment, I have the honor to request to be informed when, in your opinion, the information which I lack can be obtained from the War Department. This will greatly oblige, Very respectfully, your obedient servant, John Anderson, Captain U.S. Army, Historian Fifty- Seventh Massachusetts Volunteers. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, | Adjutant-General's Office, - Boston, Jan. 4th. 1896. j Capt. John Anderson, U.S.A., . Belchertown, Mass. Captain: Replying to your communication of the 2d instant, you are informed that, owing to the orders and instructions of the Honorable Secretary of War, Colonel Ainsworth, in charge of the record division of the War Department, dec-lines to furnish to the States any informa- tion which may be made the basis of a claim against the general government, for the completion of State records, or for historical purposes. Therefore, until we can. in some way, overcome the objection, you must be patient. I am sorry that your work should be interrupted, but the Large Dumber of applications for the service records of men of your regiment, led the Record Office to surmise thai the requirement was for the completion of records. It will take a little time to get hack the routine which for the present is restricted. Very respectfully, Wm. C. Capelle, Assistant Adjutant-Gt n< ral. stragglers. 417 [copy] Belchertown, Mass., Jan. 6th, 1896. The Adjutant-General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, Mass. Sir ; I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of the 4th inst., in relation to the subject of incomplete records of men of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts Volunteers, and wish to express my thanks for your kindness and courtesy in the matter. I fear the object which I have in view is not understood, and therefore beg to submit, for the information of the War Department, that I am not interested in any way, or doing anything, with a view of establishing a basis for making claims against the government. My only object in endeavoring to obtain information, is for historical purposes. I recognize the necessity of all officers protecting the government against fraudulent claims, and I do not ask anything that is not considered proper for me to publish in history, and it does not appear to me that information which would lead to a correct record of men who served the government during the war, could be the means of evil results now. It is not within my province to question or criticise the acts of the War Department. I simply seek to place myself on record that my true purpose may be known; when understood, I trust my honorable motives will meet with approval, and such facilities furnished as will enable me to make a correct roster. If, after this, I am advised that the decision of the War Department is the ultimatum which will not be reconsidered, then I will submit the history in its present condition, and trust that, under the circumstances, which are beyond my control, it will be accepted as the best I can possibly do, and the fact recognized that it contains all available information. If not accepted, I fear the history of the Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts Begiment will never be written . I would like such advice as will definitely guide me in the matter, and as a voucher for records that are now shown as incomplete. I submit the whole subject to your discretion and good judgment, and will cheerfully abide by the same. With great respect, your obedient servant, JOHN ANDERSON, Captain U.S. Army, Historian Fifty-Seventh Massachusetts Volunteers. 27 418 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Adjutant-General's Office, Boston, Jau. 8th, 1896. Capt. John Anderson, U.S.A.. Belchertown, Mass. Dear Captain : In reply to your communication of the 6th instant, you are informed that the matter is one affecting the States directly. You are not known to the War Department in this. It is the decision of the War Department, made last April, that they will not furnish evidence to complete the records of the States, or for historical purpose, or as the basis for claims, and it affects the State Historian. If we should refer your communication to the War Department, it would further clinch the purpose of the government and result in still further obstacle to us. Your honor or the good faith of this office is not questioned ; it is the rule of the Secretary of War which is being enforced. We fear we may have recourse to Congress for relief. It does not affect Massachusetts alone, but all the States having incomplete records. Very respectfully, WM. C. CAPELLE, Assistant Adjutant-General. ROSTER FIFTY-SEVENTH MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. The residence as given in the Roster does not in every case indicate Uial residence, but the town or city to which the enlistment was credited. The date of muster into the United States service is given instead of date enlistment, as the former was more easily obtained, less liable to error and ows date of acceptance into the United States Volunteer Army. OFFICERS. ILLIAM F. BARTLETT, Colonel, residence, Boston. Born at Haverhill, Mass., June 6, 1840 Private 4th Battalion, Mass. Vol. Infantry, April 14, 1861 ; Captain 20th Mass. Infantry, July 10, 1861 ; wounded and lost a leg, April 24, 1862, in action before Yorktowu, Va ; mustered out Nov. 12, 1862; Colonel 49th Mass. Infantry, Nov. 19, 1862 (wounded in attack on Port Hudson, La.) ; mustered out, by expiration of service, Sept. 1, 1863; Colonel 57th Mass. Infantry, Aug. 17, 1863 (wounded in battle of Wilderness, Va.) ; Brigadier-General of Volunteers, June 27, 1864 ; Brevet Major-General of Volunteers, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services during the war — General Orders 148, Oct. 14, 1865, and General Orders 65 of June 22, 1867; mustered out Oct. 18, 1866. Died at Pittsfleld, Mass., Dec. 17, 1876. A.POLEON B. McLAUGHLEN, Colonel. Born in Vermont, Dec. 8, 1823. Military record in volunteer service : Colonel 1st Mass. Infantry, Oct. 1, 1862; honorably mustered out May 28, 1864; Colonel 57th Mass. Infantry, Sept. 14, 1864; Brigadier-General by brevet, Sept. 30, 1864, for gallant and distinguished services at Poplar Grove Church, Va. ; mustered out cf volunteer service Aug. 10, 1865. Record in regular army : Private, Corporal and Sergeant Co. F, 2d Dragoons and General Mounted Service, May 27. 1850, to April 28, 1859; 2d Lieutenant 1st. Cavalry, March 27, 1861; 1st Lieutenant 4th Cavalry. May 3, 1861; Captain 4th Cavalry, July 17, 1862 ; Major 10th Cavalry, May 17, 1876 ; Major by lire vet. May :'.. 1863, for gallant and meritorious services in battle of Chancellors ville, Va. ; Lieutenant-Colonel by brevet, July 2, 1863, for gallant and meritorious services in the battle of Gettysburg, Pa.; Colonel by brevet, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services during the assault on Fort Stedman, Va. ; Brigadier-General by brevet, March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services in the held during the war ; retired from active service at his own request June 26, 1882. Died at Middletown, N.Y., Jan. 27, 1887. 420 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MA88. VOLUNTEERS. EDWARD P. HOLLISTER, Lieutenant-Colonel, age 27; residence Pitts- field: appointed Dec. 21, 186.'.. Private 7th N.y7 Militia, April 26, 1861 : mustered out June 3, 1861; Captain 31st Mass. Infantry, Nov 20, 1861; Lieutenant-Colonel 57th Mass. Infantry, Dec. 21, 1862; mustered Feb. 15, 1864, resigned April 16, 1864. Recent address, 528 Delaware Ave., Buffalo, N.Y ^ CHARLES L. CHANDLER, Lieutenant-Colonel, residence, Brookline. 2d Lieutenant 1st Mass. Infantry, May 25, 1861; 1st Lieutenant, March 21, 1862; Captain 34th Mass. Infantry, Aug. 6, 1862; Lieutenant-Colonel 40th Mass. Infantry, Jan. 24, 1864, not mustered; Lieutenant-Colonel 57th Mass. Infantry, April 20, 1864; killed in battle of North Anna River, Va., May 24, 1864. JULIUS M. TUCKER. Lieutenant-Colonel, age 23; residence, Worcester; appointed June 15, 1864. Enlisted as private in Co. A, 25th Mass., Sept. 16, 1861, discharged for promotion; 2d Lieutenant 36th Mass., Aug. 8, 1862, resigned July 29, 1863; 1st Lieutenant 57th Mass., Jan. 1, 1864; Captain, Jan. 6, 1864; Major, June 14, 1864; Lieutenant - Colonel, .June 15.1864; Brevet-Colonel U.S. Volunteers. March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services — General Orders (',;,. A.G.O., June 27, 1867 : mustered out, by expiration of service, July 30, 1865. Died in Boston, June 22, 1866. JAMES W. CUSHING. Major, age 3s : residence, Roxbury. . 1st Lieutenant 31st Mass. Infantry. Feb. 20, 1862; Major 57th Mass., Jan. 27, L864; resigned May 26, 1864. Record and address since, unknown. ALBERT PRESCOTT. Major, age 34; residence, Charlestown. 1st Sergeant Co. K, M.V.M. (three months), April 19 to July 31, 1861; 1st Sergeant Co. B, 36th Mass., July 30, 1862; Captain Co. B, 36th Mass., Aug. 28, 1862; resigned April 29, L863; Captain 57th Mass., March 2, 1864; Major 5711) .Mass., June 15, 1864; killed in battle (crater, Va.) July 30, 1864. JAMES DOHERTY, Major, residence, Boston. Sergeanl 1st Mass. Infantry, May 23, 1861; 2d Lieutenant. Sept. 9, L862; resigned Jan. 27, L864; Captain 57th Mass., March 17. 1864; Major. July 31, 1864, not mustered; Brevel Lieutenant-Colonel is. Volunteers, March 25, L865, for gal- lantry in the battle of Fori Stedman, Va -General Orders No. L33, An--. '22. 1865. Died March 26, 1865, of wounds received in the battle of Fort Steadman, Va. EZRA P. GOULD, Major, residence, Cambridge. Private 24th Mass. In- fantry. Oct. 18, L861; 2d Lieutenant 55th Mass. Iufantrv. Oct. 15. L863; (.[plain 59th Mass. [nfantry, Jan. 22, L864; Major. Aug. 20, L864; transferred to 57th Mass. [nfantry, June 1. 1865;. mustered out, by ex- piration of service, July 30, L865. Presenl residence. Philadelphia, Penn. WHITMAN V. WHITE, Surgeon, age 28 ; residence, Stockbridge. Surgeon with rank of Major, 27th N V. [nfantry, Sept. 11, [861; resigned Dec 31, [861. Major and Surgeon 57th Mass. [nfantry, Dec. 5, [868; mustered out, expiration of service. July 80, [865. Present address, No. I I I Last 85th St., New York City. ROSTER — OFFICERS. 421 CHARLES E. HEATH, Assistant-Surgeon (rank of 1st Lieutenant), .age 32; residence, Monterey. Appointed Jan. 13, 1864. Discharged Nov. 22, 1864, per order War Department, A.G.O., Washington, Jan. 28, 1865. Died at Lee, Mass., Oct. 5, 1887. CHARLES O. CARPENTER, Assistant-Surgeon (rank of 1st Lieutenant), age 2G; residence, Holyoke. Appointed May 6, 1864; discharged for disability Jan. 30, 1865; Previous service, as Assistant-Surgeon U.S. Navy; appointed July 30, 1861; resigned .May 27, 1863. Service on board the Ottawa in South Atlantic Squadron. At present date, prac- ticing physician in Holyoke, Mass. DAVID S. CLARK, Assistant-Surgeon (rank of 1st Lieutenant) ; residence, Derry, N.H. Appointed in 59th Mass., March 20, 1865; transferred to 57th Mass. by consolidation; mustered out, by expiration of service, July 30, 1865. Residence since, unknown. MICHAEL F. GARVIN, Assistant-Surgeon (rank of 1st Lieutenant), age 23: residence, Boston. Appointed May 5, 1865; mustered out, by expira- tion of service, July 30, 1865. Residence since, unknown. ALFRED H. DASHIELL, Jr., Chaplain, age 40; residence, Stockbridge. Appointed April 14, 1861; mustered out, by expiration of service, July 30, 1865. Present residence, Lakewood, N.J. Degree of Doctor of Divinity conferred by Rutherford College, North Carolina, June 15, 1891. JOHN W. SANDERSON, Captain, age 32; residence, Westboro. Private 51st Mass. Sept. 25, 1862; 1st Lieutenant, Oct. 2, 1862; mustered out July 27, 1863; 2d Lieutenant 57th Mass. Infantry, Oct. 21, 1S63 ; Captain, Dec. 26, 1863. Discharged for disability (on account of wounds) Nov. 10, 1864, per Special Orders 395, War Department, Nov. 10, 1864. Died at Colfax, Iowa, Jan. 13, 1884. JOSEPH W. GIRD, Captain, age 24, residence, Worcester. Private 25th Mass. Infantry, Oct. 4, 1861; 1st Lieutenant 36th Mass. Infantry, Aug. 11, 1862; resigned May 19, 1863; 2d Lieutenant 57th Mass. Infantry, Nov. 3, 1863; Captain, Dec. 31, 1863; killed in battle of Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. GEORGE H. HOWE, Captain. Born in Monson, Mass., 1840. Enlisted from Monson in Co. G, 46th Mass., and appointed 1st Lieutenant Oct. 15. 1862: mustered out, by expiration of service, July 29, 1863; 2d Lieutenant 57th Mass. Infantry, Nov. 2, 1863; Captain, Jan. 25, 1864; killed in battle before Petersburg, Va. (crater), July 30, 1864, while acting Inspector-General, First Brigade, First Division, Ninth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. EDSON T. DRESSER. Captain, residence, Stockbridge. 1st Lieutenant 49th Mass. Infantry, Sept. 20, 1862; mustered out, by expiration of service, Sept. 1, 1863; Captain 57th Mass. Infantry, Jan. 25, 1864. Killed in battle before Petersburg, Va. (crater), July 30, 1864. LEVI LAWRENCE, Captain: residence, Fitchburg. 1st Lieutenant 25th Mass., Oct. 12, 1861; resigned July 21, 1862. Captain 57th Mass., Feb. 11, 1864; discharged for disability (wounds received in battle), Sept. 19, 1864. Drowned at sea by wreck of steamship City of Columbus of the Savannah Line, off Gay's Head, Mass., Jan. 18, 1884. 422 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. CHARLES D. HOLLIS, Captain, age 39; residence, Lynn. Enlisted in the 46th Mass. Infantry, Aug. 19, 1862; mustered out, by expiration of service, July 29, 1863; 2d Lieutenant 57th Mass. Infantry* Oct. 13, 1863; 1st Lieutenant, Feb. 11, 1864; Captain, April 9, 1864; discharged for disability ("wounds received in battle), Oct. 13, 1864. Present residence, Lynn. Mass. FREDERICK COCHRANE, Captain, age 26 ; residence, Met linen. 2d Lieu- tenant 50th Mass Infantry. Sept. 19, 1862; mistered out Aug. 24, 1863; 2d Lieutenant 59th Mass. Infantry. Sept. 11, 1863; Captain, April 20, 1864; transferred to 57th Mass. Infantry, by consolidation of the 57th and 59th, .lune 1, 1865: mustered out, by expiration of service, July 30, 1865. Address, June 30, 1895, Soldiers' Home, Chelsea, Mass. ALBERT W. COOKE, Captain; residence, Milford. Born at Shelburne Falls, Mass.. Sept. 18, 1843. Enlisted in Co. B, 25th Mass.. from Milford, Sept. 6, 1861; promoted Corporal the same day; Sergeant, April 15, 1862; 1st Sergeant, Sept. 19, 1862; discharged in December, 1863, to accept commission; 2d Lieutenant 57th Mass. Infantry. Jan. 7, 1864; Ls1 Lieutenant,, March 4, 1864; Captain, June 15, 1864. On stall' of Third Brigade, First Division, Ninth Corps. Army of the Potomac, as Provosl Marshal, in April, 1865; Acting Assistant Adjutant-General of the Brigade in May, 1865; mustered out, by expiration of service, July 30, 1865. Residence at present date (Jan. 31, 1896), No. 16 Appleton St., Maiden, Mass. Business address, 31 State St., Boston. Mass. HENRY L. SWORDS, Captain, age 22: residence, Charlestown. Private 36th Mass. Infantry, July 26, 1862; 2d Lieutenant 59th Mas-. Infantry. Oct. 6, 1863; Is1 Lieutenant, Jan. 6, 1864; Captain. June 17. 1861: transferred to the 57th Mass. infantry, by consolidation of the 57th and 59th. June l, 1865; mustered out, by expiration of service. July 80, 1865 ; appointed Major U.S. -Volunteers by brevet for gallanl and meritorious conduct before Petersburg, Va., to date from April 2. 1865, per Genera] Orders No. 65, War Department, A. <;.<>.. June l'2, 1867. Recent address, Treasury Department, Washington, D.C. JOSEPH W. GELRAY. Captain, age 27 ; residence, Lowell. Born in Eng- land. Record in volunteer service: Private and Corporal Co. A and Sergeant Co. II, 2d Mass Infantry, May 25. 1861, to Dec. 24, L862; 2d Lieutenant 2d Mass. Infantry. Dec. 25. 1862; 1st Lieutenant, Nov. 1, L863, honorably mustered ou1 duly 24, L864. Captain 57th Mass. Infantry, July 25, 1864; honorablj mustered <>ui Nov. 14, L864. Major •iih Mass. Heavy Artillery, Dec. 7, 1864; honorably mustered out June 17. 1865 Appointed in Regular Army as Captain I ."» 1 ! i IS. Infantry, July 28, L866. Retired from active service Dec 15, 1870, on account of disability, loss of righl arm ff wound in line id' duly. Appointed Lieutenant-Colonel I S. Arm\ bj brevet, for gallant and meritorious services in t he battle of Gettysburg, to date from March 2. 1867, General Orders No 89, War Department, A.G.O., Sept. 26, L867. Presenl address, care War Department, Washington, DC JOHN L. GOODWIN. Captain. . -me 23; residence, Worcester. Mustered as Private Co. \. '.'5111 Mass., Sept. 11, 1861 ; discharged Jan. 6, 1864, to accepl commission 1st Lieutenanl 57th Mas-. Infantry, Jan. 6, 1864; Captain, July 81, 1864; not mustered on accounl of absent, wounded; ROSTER — OFFICERS. 423 discharged (as 1st Lieutenant) for disability from wounds received in line of duty. Died in Worcester, Mass., Nov. 22, 1867. HENRY C. WARD, Captain, age 21 ; residence, Worcester. Private and Sergeant-Major 15th Mass. Infantry, July 31, 1861, to April 9, 1863; 2d Lieutenant, April 9, 1863; resigned Sept. 4, 1863; 1st Lieutenant 57th Mass Infantry, March 9, 1861; Captain, July 31, 1864; honorably mustered out, by expiration of service, July 30, 1865; appointed in the regular army as 2d Lieutenant 11th U.S. Infantry, Feb. 23, 1866, 1st Lieutenant same clay; transferred to 16th U.S. Infantry, April 14, 1869; regimental Quartermaster, March 1, 1875, to Feb. 8, 1880; Captain by brevet U.S. Army, to date from March 2, 1867, for gallant and merito- rious services during the war and in action at Fort Stedman, Va., March 24, 1865 — General Orders 33, April 9, 1869. Military adviser on staff of governor of Tennessee from 1892 to (in that capacity at present date) Jan. 31, 1896. Address, care of Adjutant-General, Nashville, Tenn. HENRY M. CROSS, Captain, age 22; residence, Newburyport. Private 48th Mass. Infantry, Sept. 16, 1862; mustered out Sept. 3, 1863; Private and Sergeant-Major 59th Mass. Iufantry, Nov. 1, 1863; 2d Lieutenant, Nov. 24, 1863; 1st Lieutenant, April 26, 1864; Captain, Aug. 20, 1864; transferred to 57th Mass. Infantry by consolidation of 57th and 59th, June 1, 1865; mustered out, by expiration of service, July 30, 1865. Recent address, Newburyport, Mass. JOHN FOLEY, Captain. 2d Lieutenant 59th Mass. Infantry, Dec. 16, 1863; 1st Lieutenant, June 21,1864; Captain, Sept 10, 1864; mustered out to date July 30, 1865 — Special Order 245, War Department, A.G.O , dated Oct. 20, 1887, to amend his record so as to make him Captain in the 59th Mass., Sept. 10, 1864. No date of transfer to the 57th. Recent address, 173 Fifth St., Brooklyn, N.Y. GEORGE E. BARTON, Captain, age 24; residence, Worcester. Corporal Co. C, 51st Mass. Infantry, mustered in, Sept. 25, 1862; Sergeant-Major, Nov. 4, 1862; mustered out, by expiration of service, July 27, 1863; 2d Lieutenant 57th Mass. Infantry, Jan. 6, 1864; 1st Lieutenant, April 9, 1864; Captain, Sept. 20, 1864;* mustered out July 26, 1865. Died in Worcester, Mass., May 29, 1878. L. CURTIS BRACKETT, Captain, age 23; residence, Boston. Sergeant- Major 28th Mass. Infantry, Oct. 12, 1861; 2d Lieutenant, April 4,^1862; 1st Lieutenant, Sept. 24, 1862; Captain, May 12, 1863 (declined com- mission); transferred to 57th Mass. Infantry, Nov. 9, 1864; Captain, Dec 14, 1864; Major of Volunteers by brevet for conspicuous gallantry in the attack on Fort Stedman and Petersburg, Va., to date from April 2, 1865 — General Orders 65, War Department, Adjutant-General's Office, June 22, 1867. Record since discharge, unknown. CHARLES BARKER, Captain, residence, Fitchburg. Lieutenant in the Fitchburg Guards at breaking out of the war. Appointed 1st Lieutenant 21st Mass. Infantry, Aug. 21, 1861; resigned, on account of ill health, June 16, 1862; 1st Lieutenant 57th Mass. Infantry, Feb. 18, 1864; Captain, Nov. 11, 1864 (not mustered). Discharged as 1st Lieutenant, Dec. 17, 1864, for disability, result of wound received in battle of Wilderness, Va., May 6, 1864. Present residence, Leominster, Mass. 424 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. ALFRED O. HITCHCOCK. Captain, age 23 ; residence, Fitchburg. Enlisted as Private Co. A, 53d Mass. Infantry (9 months), Dec. 9, 1862 (wounded at Fort Hudson) ; mustered out, by expiration of service, Sept. 2, 1863; 2d Lieutenant .'.7th Mass. Infantry, Oct. 17, 1863; 1st Lieutenant, Oct. 2L 1864: Captain, Nov. 11, 1864; mustered May 19, 1865; served as aide-de-camp on the staff of Major-General Nelson A. Miles at Fortress Munroe, Va., from May 26, 1865, to April, 1866, also as Provost Marshal, Military District of Fortress Munroe: honorably mustered out April 19, 1866; appointed Major U.S. Volunteers by brevet for meritorious and gallant services in the field, to date from March 13, 1865 — General Order- 65, War Department. June 22, 1867. At present date (Jan. 31, 1896), practicing physician in Fitchburg, Mass. ALBERT PINDER, Captain, age 33; residence, Lowell. 2d Lieutenant 6th Mass. Infantry, Aug. 31, 1862; mustered out June 3, 1863; 2d Lieutenant 59th Mass. Infantry, March 30, 1864; 1st Lieutenant, July 31, 1864; Captain, March 25, 1865; transferred to 57th Mass Infantry, by con- solidation of 57th and 59th, June 1, 1865: mustered out, by expiration of service, July 30, 1865. Recent address, Lowell, Mass. BENJAMIN F. CHESLEY, Captain, age 23 ; residence, Haverhill. 2d Lieu- tenant 17th Mass. Infantry, Aug. "21, 1861; resigned Dee. 27, L861; 1st Lieutenant 59th .Mass. Infantry, March 3, L864; Captain, March 25, 1865; transferred to 57th Mass. Infantry, by consolidation of 57th and 59th, June 1. 1865; appointed Captain by brevet to date from March 25, 1865, for gallantry at Fort Stedman, Va. — General Orders 133, Aug. 22, 1865, and June 22, 1867, War Department, Adjutant-General's Office; mustered out, by expiration of service, Aug. 8, 1865. Record since. unknown. GEORGE E. PRIEST, ist Lieutenant, age 21 : residence, Walertown. En- listed as Private. 53d Mass. Infantry. Nov. 6, 1862; 1st Lieutenant. Nov. 15, 1862; mustered out, by expiration of service, Sepl 2, 1863; 1st Lieu- tenant and regimental Quartermaster 57th Mass. infantry, Nov. 5, 1863; mustered out, by expiration of service. July 30, 1865. Acting Briirade Quartermaster on staff of General McLaughlen, Third Brigade, First Division, Ninth Army Corps, from Oct., 1864, to July 30, 1865. At pres- ent date, Treasurer of the Watertown Savings Lank and Chairman Board of Trustees, Public Library of Watertown, Mass. Residence (to date), Walertown. Mass. Samuel M. bowman, ist Lieutenant, residence, Worcester. Enlisted in Co. A, 51sl Mass. [nfantrj nine months); mustered as Sergeant, Sept. 25, 1862; discharged, by expiration of service, July. 1863; 1st Lieutenant 57th Mass. Infantry, Dec. 26, 1863; killed in trenches from of Peters- burg, Va., July 25, L864. E. DEXTER CHENEY, ist Lieutenant, age 2 I . residence. Worcester. Fn- • listed as Sergeanl Co. F, 61sl Mass. Infantry, Oct. 14, 1862; mustered out, by expiration of service. July 27, L868; 2d Lieutenant 57th Mass. Infantry, ))>■!-. 81, 1868; Lsl Lieutenant. Jan. l'.t. 1864; killed while on duty with his regimenl in the trenches in front of Petersburg, Va., July l'.t, 1864. ROSTER — OFFICERS. 425 JOHN H COOK, ist Lieutenant, age 22; residence, Northampton. Enlisted as Private Co. C, 10th Mass. Infantry, June 21, 1861 ; discharged for dis- ability July 17, 1862; 2d Lieutenant 57th Mass. Infantry, Nov. 27, 1863; 1st Lieutenant, Feb. 10, 1861; discharged Dec 27, 1864, "disability result- ing from gunshot wound through the body while on duty with his regi- ment, serving in the trenches in front of Petersburg, Va. : Captain and Major U.S. Volunteers by brevet, to date from March 13, 1865, for gal- lant and meritorious conduct in the campaign before Petersburg, Va. — General Order 91, War Department, A.G.O.TOct. 9, 1867. Served twenty- five years in the Boston Custom House, and was Auditor from 1890 until day of his death: Department Inspector G. A. R. Mass. and Commander Kinsley Post 113, G.A R. Served in the General Court of Massachusetts in 1875, 1876 and 1877. Died at his home in Roxbury, Mass., Aug. 19, 1893. EDWARD S. DEWEY, ist Lieutenant, age 20; residence, Montague. Cor- poral Co. G, 10th Mass. Infantry, June 21, 1861; discharged Jan. 17, 1864 (for promotion) : 2d Lieutenant 57th Mass. Infantry, Jan. 18, 1861; 1st Lieutenant, March 2, 1864; discharged for disability Sept. 20, 1864. Present address, Custom House, Boston, Mass. ALBERT DOTY, ist Lieutenant, age 23. Enlisted from Hancock, Mass., and mustered as Private in Co. I, 57th Mass., March 10, 1864; 1st Lieuten- ant, July 14, 1864 ; Captain U.S. Volunteers by brevet, Aug. 18, 1864, per General Orders No 15, War Department, Feb. 6, 1865, for gallant ser- vices in the operations on the Weldon Railroad, Va. ; mustered out, by expiration of service, July 30, 1865. Previous service as adjutant of a volunteer regiment of infantry from New York, of which Ave have no record. Death reported at the regimental reunion in 1874, date unknown. CHARLES H. ROYCE, ist Lieutenant, age 20: residence, Monticello, N.Y. Enlisted from Pittsfleld, Mass., as Private in Co. G, 37th Mass Infantry, and mustered Aug. 30, 1862 ; discharged to accept commission April 8, 1864; 2d Lieutenant 57th Mass. Infantry, Jan. 28, 1864; 1st Lieutenant, Oct. 7, 1864; mustered out May 26, 1865. Appointed Captain, by brevet, U.S. Volunteers for gallant and meritorious services at the battle of North Anna River, Va., to date from March 13, 1865, and Major U S. Volunteers by brevet, as of same date, for gallant and meritorious ser- vices before Petersburg, Va., General Orders, War Department, Oct. 9, 1867. United States Consul at Prague. Bohemia, from 1868 to 1873. Present residence, Monticello, N.Y. JAMES W. KENNAY, ist Lieutenant, age 27 ; residence, Boston. Enlisted and mustered as Private in Co. C, 13th Mass. Infantry, July 16, 1861; Sergeant, Nov. 1, 1862: discharged (date unknown); enlisted in 57th Mass. Infantry Jan. 4, 1864; 2d Lieutenant, April 9, 1864; 1st Lieutenant, Oct. 7, 1864 (not mustered) ; discharged for disability Dec. 27, 1864, as 2d Lieutenant. Record and address since, unknown. ALBERT M. MURDOCK, ist Lieutenant, age 19; residence, Worcester. Enlisted and mustered as Private in Co. H, 57th Mass. Infantry, Jan 11, 1864; Senreant-Major same date: 1st Lieutenant, Oct. 7, 1864; killed in battle of Fort Stedman, Va., March 25, 1865. 426 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. HENRY M. IDE, ist Lieutenant, age 33; residence, Worcester. Sergeant Co. 15. 3d Battalion Riflemen: mustered in April 19, 1861; mustered out May 3, 1861; Corporal Co. A, 25th Mass. Infantry: mustered in Sept. 14, 1861 ; discharged for disability June 10, 1863; Private Co. H, 57th .Mass Infantry: mustered in Jan. 11,1864; wounded June 17. 1864; 1st Lieutenant. Oct. 7, 1864; mustered out, expiration of service, July 30, 1865. Death reported, no date, at reunion in 1881. JAMES H. MARSHALL, ist Lieutenant, aire 21; residence Pittsfleld. Mustered as 1st Sergeant Co. I. 57th Mass. Infantry. March 10, 1864; ls1 Lieutenant, Oct. 7. 1864; Captain U.S. Volunteers, by brevet, for gallant and meritorious service in the battles before Richmond, Va., to date from .March 29, 1865, per General Order 65, June 22, 1867; mustered out, by expiration of service, July 30, 1865. Died at Wash- ington, D.C., Dec. 10, 1892. Clerk for Senate Committee on Indian Affairs EDWARD F. POTTER, ist Lieutenant, age 22: residence, Greenfield. Enlisted and mustered as Private Co. G, 10th Mass. Infantry. .June 21, L861; discharged for disability June 1, 1863: enlisted in 7,7th Mass. Infantry, date unknown: 1st Lieutenant, Oct. 7, 1864; mustered out, by expiration of service. July 30, 1865; since, postmaster at Gardner, Mass. Present address, Gardner (or West Gardner), Mass. JAMES GIBSON, ist Lieutenant, age 27 ; residence, Boston; 2d Lieutenant 13th Mass Infantry. April 1, 1863; 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant 59th Mass. Infantry. Nov 19, 1863; Captain, Dec. 10, 1863; resigned Feb. 15, 1864; Private' and Sergeant-Major 59th Mass. Infantry. Feb. 29, 1864; mustered March 12, 1864; 1-t Lieutenant, Oct. 7. 1864; transferred to 57th Mass. Infantry. June 1, 1865; mustered out, by expiration of ser- vice, Jul] 30, L865. Record and address since, unknown. THOMAS STURGIS, ist Lieutenant, age 18; residence, New York: 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant, 60th Mas-. Infantry. Aug 1, L864; mustered ,,ui \o\ 30, 1864; ls1 Lieutenant :,7th Mass. Infantry, Jan. 27, L865; re- signed June 26, L865. Record and residence since, unknown. WILLIAM A. BEARCE. ist Lieutenant, age 39; residence, Chelsea; 2d Lieutenant 59th Mass. Infantry, Oct. 7. 1864; commission cancelled : Lsl Lieutenant 59th Mass Infantry, March 25, 1865; transferred to 57th Mass [nf an try, June I, L865; mustered out. expiration of service, July 30, L865 Record of service prior to Oct. 7, L864, unknown. Record and residence since discharged, unknown. CHARLES L. DARLING, ist Lieutenant, age 27; residence, Boston. En- Listed as Private in Co. <;. 59th Mass. [nf . March I. L864 ; '^\ Lieutenant. Oct. 7. L864; commission cancelled: ist Lieutenant, March 25, 1865; transferred to 57th Mass. Infantry, June i. 1865; mustered out, by expiration of service, July 80, L865. Residence, recenl date. Beverly, Mass. COBURN S. SMITH, ist Lieutenant, age 21 ; residence, Billerica. 1st Lieu- tenant 69th Mass Infantry. March 25, L865; transferred to 57th Mass. Infantry. June l. 1865; mustered out . 1 1 1 1 > 80, 1865, expiration of service. Record of service prior to March 25, L865, unknown. Record and resi- dence sine mustered out, unknown. ROSTER — OFFICERS. 427 BENJAMIN R. SYMONDS, ist Lieutenant, age 21 ; residence, South Danvers. 1st Lieutenant 59th Mass Infantry, March 25, 1865; transferred to 57th Mass. Infantry, June 1, 1865; mustered out, by expiration of service, July 30, 1865. Record of service prior to March 25, 1865, unknown. Record and residence since muster out, unknown. SAMUEL CURRIER, ist Lieutenant, age 31; residence, Natick. Enlisted in the 13th Mass. Infantry, July 16, 1861 ; wounded at the battle of Antietam Sept. 17, 1862: discharged, disability, date unknown; enlisted in Co. D, 59th Mass. Infantry, Jan 1, 1864; mustered as Sergeant Feb. 9, 1865; transferred to 57th Mass. Infantry as Sergeant Co. D, June 1, 1865. 1st Lieutenant, June 12, 1865: mustered June 26, 1865; mustered out, by expiration of service, July 30, 1865. Present residence, Natick, Mass. GEORGE ADAMS, ist Lieutenant, age 25; residence, Boston. Mustered in as 1st Sergeant Co. G, 57th Mass. Infantry. March 10, 1864: 1st Lieu- tenant, June 12, 1865: mustered June 26, 1865; mustered out, by expira- tion of service, July 30, 1*65. Record of service prior to March 10, 1864, unknown. Record and residence since mustered out, unknown. CHARLES F. LEE, 2d Lieutenant, age 22; residence, Templeton. Enlisted and mustered as Corporal Co. A, 18th Mass. Infantry, Aug. 24, 1861; discharged Oct. 2, 1862, for disability, result of wounds received in action Aug. 30, 1862 *; 2d Lieutenant 57th Mass. Infantry, Oct. 21, 1863; discharged, disability, May 17, 1864; 2d Lieutenant 55th Mass. Infantry, Dec. 10, 1864; 1st Lieutenant. June 23, 1865; mustered out, by expira- tion of service, Aug. 29, 1865; Captain U.S. Volunteers by brevet, to date from March 13, 1865, per General Order, War Department, A G.O., Oct. 14. 1868. Record and residence since muster out, unknown. EDWIN I. COE. 2d Lieutenant, age 19; residence, Worcester. Enlisted and mustered as Corporal Co. F, 51st Mass. Infantry, nine months, Oct. 14, 1862; mustered out, by expiration of service, July 27, 1863; 2d Lieutenant 57th Mass. Infantry, Dec. 31, 1863; killed in battle before Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864. Acting Adjutant at time of death. JOHN ANDERSON. 2d Lieutenant, residence, Holland. Born at Monson, Mass., 1841; enlisted from Lansing-, Mich , Jan. 5, 1863, in Co. E, 1st Michigan Sharpshooters ; discharged to accept commission, Feb. 9, 1864. Mustered as 2d Lieutenant 57th Mass. Infantry, Feb. 10, 1864 ; discharged, disability, wound received in action, Jan. 21, 1865 ; 2d Lieutenant, 20th Veteran Reserve Corps, March 25. 1865, mustered out June 30, 1866; 1st Lieutenant and Captain by brevet to date from March 13, 1865, for gallant and meritorious services in the battles before Petersburg, Va. — General Orders 67, War Department, A.G.O., July 16, 1867. Service in the regular army as follows: 2d Lieuten- ant 25th U.S. Infantry, Aug. 10, 1867; transferred to 18th U.S. Infantry, April 26, 1869; 1st Lieutenant, Oct. 17, 1878; Captain, June 21, 1890. Retired from active service June 6, 1894, on account of disability in line of duty (Section 1251, Revised Statutes U.S ). Residence since, Belchertown, Mass. *The above record considered correct, but not altogether official. — J. A. 428 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. HENRY B FISKE, 2d Lieutenant, residence, Springfield. Appointed Feb. 11, 1864; 1st Lieutenant, Oct. 7, 1864: declined commission : discharged, as 2d Lieutenant, for disability, Sept. 5. 1864. Record of service prior to Feb. 11, 1864, unknown. Residence reported, recent date, 129 Daven- port St., Cleveland, Ohio. JOHN READE, 2d Lieutenant, residence, Milford. 1st Lieutenant, 48th Mass Infantry, nine months, Nov. 15, 1862; resigned. .March 1. 1863; 2d Lieutenant 57th Mass. Infantry, March 2, 1864 (prisoner of war July 30, 1864, to 1865); mustered out May 15, 1865; 1st Lieutenant and Captain, by brevet, to date from March 1,5, 1865. for faithful services during the campaigns of 1864 and 1865 — General Order 45. War Depart- ment, A.G.O., April 24. 1869. Served in the General Court of Massa- chusetts 1879, 1880 and 1881, in the Senate (Mass.) 1891 and 1892. Residence, present date, 187 Main St., Charlesto-wn, Mass. GEORGE S. GREEN, 2d Lieutenant, age 30: residence, Springfield, Enlisted and mustered into the U S. service as Corporal Co. F, 10th Mass. infantry, June 21, 1861; re-enlisted Dec. 21, 1863; discharged as 1st Serjeant, Feb. 8, 1864; 2d Lieutenant 57th Mass. Infantry. March 1. 1864 : discharged, disability, Oct. 5, 1864: Major by brevet, t<> date from March 13, 1865, per General Order 67, War Department, A.G.O., July 16, 1867. liesideuce, recent date, Aurora, 111. JAMES M. CHILDS.id Lieutenant, age 36; residence, Worcester. Mustered into the U.S. sen ice as 1st Sergeant Co. B, 57th Mass. Infantry, Jan. 4, L864; 2d Lieutenant. April 9, L864; killed in the battle of the Wilder- ness, Va., May 6, 1864 Record of service prior to that in the 57th unknown. JAMES PEACOCK, 2d Lieutenant, aire 24 : residence, Worcester. Mustered into the U.S. service as Private Co. D, 15th Mass. Infantry. July 12. 1861; discharged for disability. Nov. 22. 1862; 1st Sergeant Co. B, 57th .Mass. Infantry, Jan. 4, 1864; 2d Lieutenant, April 9, 1864; discharged, Ma\ 25, 1865, on account of wounds received in battle of Fort Stednian. Va., March 25, 1865. Died at Worcester. Mass., date unknown. Re- ported at regimental reunion of 1883 CHARLES H. PINKHAM, 2d Lieutenant, age 20; residence. Worcester. Mustered as Corporal Co. II. 57th. Jan. 11, 1864; Sergeant-Major, Jan. 1, L865; 2d Lieutenant, June 12, 1865; mustered out, by expiration of ser- vice, July 30, 1865; 1st Lieutenant and Captain by brevet, to date from March 13, 1865, •' for gallant and meritorious conduct while in front of Petersburg in 1864, and more especially tor gallantry on the 25th of March, 1865, he, at thai time, capturing the colors of the 57th North Carolina Volunteers of Gordon's rebel brigade*." Awarded a medal of honor for the same service, and iii saving the colors of his own regi- ment from capture. Present residence, Worcester, Mass. PATRICK gilmore, 2d Lieutenant, age 14; residence, West Springfield. lsi Sergeant Co. D, 57th Mass. infantry, Jan. 25, L864; 2d Lieutenant, June 12, 1865; mustered out, by expiration of service, Julj 80, 1865. Record of service prior to Jan. 25, 1864, unknown. Record and residence since muster oul , unknovi q. •The words embraced In quotation :irc from QeneraJ orders No. 67, War Department, Adjut.'int-i.'iM mi's Office, dated July 16, 1867. J.A, ROSTER — OFFICERS. 429 CHARLES E. BARNARD, 2d Lieutenant, age 23; residence, Worcester. Enlisted and mustered into service in Co. E, 15th Mass. Infantry, July 30, 1861 ; discharged for disability, wounds received in action, Nov. 24, 1862; 1st Sergeant Co. F, 57th Mass. Infantry, Feb. 18, 1864; 2d Lieutenant, June 12, I860 ; mustered out, by expiration of service, July 30, 1865. Died at Worcester, Mass., June 18, 1887. Cause of death, wounds received in action. CHARLES L. DEFOSE, 2d Lieutenant, residence, Worcester. Enlisted and mustered into the U.S. service in Co. D, 15th Mass. Infantry, July 12, 1861 ; discharged for disability, no date given. Enlisted and mustered as Sergeant Co. C, 57th Mass. Infantry, — 1864 ; 2d Lieutenant, June 12, 1865; mustered out, by expiratiou of service, July 30, 1865. Resi- dence, recent date, Worcester, Mass. CHARLES F. SHERMAN. 2d Lieutenant, age 29; residence, Salem. En- listed and mustered in 59th Mass. Infantry, Jan. 5, 1864; transferred to Co. B, 57th Mass. Infantry, as 1st Sergeant, June 1, 1865; 2d Lieutenant 57th, June 12, 1865; mustered out, by expiratiou of service, July 30, 1865. Record of service prior to Jan. 5, 1864, unknown. Latest resi- dence known, 21 Perkins St., Charlestown, Mass. WILLIAM S. SARGENT, 2d Lieutenant, age 21 ; residence, Boston. Enlisted and mustered in 59th Mass. Iufantry, April 2, 1864; transferred as 1st Sergeant to Co B, 57th Mass Infantry, June 1, 1865; 2d Lieutenant, June 12, 1865; mustered out, by expiration of service, July 30, 186.3. Record of service prior to April 2, 1865, unknown. Recent address, U.S. Sub. Treasury, Boston, Mass. HENRY F. FLETCHER, 2d Lieutenant, age 22; residence, Westford. En- listed in 59th Mass. Infantry ; transferred to 57th Mass. Infantry. June 1, 1865; 2d Lieutenant, June 12, 1865; mustered out, by expiration of service, July 30, 1865. Service, if any, prior to enlistment in 59th regiment, unknown. Record and residence since muster out, unknown. CHARLES H. SARGENT, 2d Lieutenant, age 27; residence, Stow. Mus- tered in 59th Mass. Infantry, Jan. 5, 1864; transferred as Sergeant to Co. B, 57th Mass. Infantry, June 1, 1865; 2d Lieutenant, June 12, 1865; mustered out, by expiration of service, July 30, 1865. Becord of service, if any, prior to January 5, 1865, unknown. Record and residence since muster out, unknown. NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF. SAMUEL BAXTER, Sergeant-Major, age 35 ; residence, Boston. Mustered Feb. 4, 1864: discharged, by expiration of service, July 30, 1865; trans- ferred from 59th, June 1, 1865. Present address unknown. JAMES A. ROBBINS, Quartermaster-Sergeant, age 22; residence, Water- town. Mustered Feb. 18, 1864, as Private Co. E; discharged as Quartermaster-Sergeant, expiration of service, July 30, 1865. Recent address, Chicago, 111. 430 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUN TEERS. WM. H. H. ALDRIDGE, Commissary Sergeant, aye 21 ; residence, Melrose. Mustered Feb. 20, 1864 : discharged, by expiration of service, July 30, 186">; transferred from 59th June 1, 1865. Present address, unknown. DAVID F. LAWRY, Commissary Sergeant, age 26; residence, "Worcester. Mustered Jan. 11, 1864; discharged as supernumerary, May 26, 1865. Death reported at reunion of 1873. HENRY G. PROUT, Hospital Steward, age 18; residence, Great Barrington. Mustered Jan. 25, 1864, Co. D, 57th; discharged, by expiration of service, July 30, 1865. Present address, unknown. CHARLES FOSTER, Principal Musician, age 28; residence, Waltham. Mustered Feb 4, 1864; transferred from 59th, per paragraph 43, Special Order 254, "War Department, May 25, 1865 ; discharged, by ex- piration of service, August 10, 1865. WM. R. NICHOLS. Principal Musician, age 43; residence, Reading. Mus- tered Jan. 14, 1864; discharged, by expiration of service, July 3o, 1865; transferred from 59th, June 1, 1865 Death reported, date unknown. JESSE S. SCOTT, Principal Musician, age 22 ; residence, Leicester. Mus- tered Jan. 4. 1864; discharged as supernumerary, May 26, 1865; previous service, enlisted in Co. B, 3d Battalion Mass. Rifles, May 19, 1861 ; discharged Aug. 13, 1861. Musician, Band 21st Mass., enlisted August 23, 1861; discharged Aug. 11. 1862; enlisted as Musician Co. B, 57th, December. 1863. Died in Leicester, Mass., Sept. 28, 1892. KNLISTKl) MEN. COMPANY A. Nelson, Dexter C, 1st Sergt. : age L9, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. a< supernumerary June 16, '65; pros, address, Soldiers' Rome, Chel- sea, Mass. O'Donnell. John. 1st Sergt. : age 23, res. Milford, mustered Jan. 4, '64 : dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address, Soldiers' Home, Chelsea, Mass. Wilson, William H.. lsi Sergt. : age L'o, res. Shrewsbury, mustered Jan. 4, '64; killed at Wilderness, \'a . May 6, '64; veteran LSth Mass. inf. Cooley, John J., Sergt.: age 86, res. Milford, mustered Jan. 4, '64; killed at Petersburg, Va., June 1 7, '64 . Druitt, William, Sergt.: age 25, res. Southbridge, mustered April 6,'64; dis. ex. of service July 80, '65; record ami address since, unknown. Hopkinson, Lowell H.. Sergt.: age 27, res. Grov eland, mustered Dec. 5, '68 ; dis. ex. of service July 80, '66; Hans, from 59th June 1. V.,". : recent address, ( lp>\ eland, MaSS. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 431 Parks, George H., Sergt. : age 19, res. Winchendon, mustered Jan. 4, '64; died at Annapolis, Md., Sept. 19, '64. Wilson, Hugh A., Sergt.: age 18, res. Shrewsbury, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. order War Dept. July 20, '65; recent address, Great Bend, Barton County, Kansas. Allen, Albert S., Corp. : age 36, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. order War Dept. June 24, '65. ; death reported in '95. Berry, William W., Corp. : age 20, res. Beverly, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. ex. of service, absent, July 30, '65; since unknown. Crampsey, John, Corp. : age 18, res. Beverly, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. order War Dept. June 20, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; recent address, Beverly, Mass. Gorman, John, Corp. : age 18, res. Salem, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. order War Dept. June 20, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; recent address, Boston, Mass. Hayes, James, Corp. : age 26, res. Charlestowu, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. ex. of service June 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Kelliher, John, Corp. : age 29, res. Marlborough, mustered Dec. 5, '63 ; dis. disa- bility June 29, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Mills, John S., Corp. : age 22, res. Rutland, mustered Jan. 4, '64 ; died at Annap- olis, Md., April 15, '65, of wounds received in action. Perkins, Walter G., Corp. : age 22, res. Reading, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address un- known. Walker, William R., Corp. : age 22, res. Douglas, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. disa- bility March 1, '65; record and address since, unknown. Darling. William H., Mus. : age 18, res. Clinton, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. order War Dept., Aug. 8, '65; deserted from camp near Tennallytown. D.C., June 30, '65; voluntarily reported to company commander at Readville, Mass., Aug. 3, '65, and discharged to date Aug. 8, '65: record and address since, unknown. Sweeney, James, Mus. : age 16, res. Roxbury, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address un- known. Aldrich, William A. : age 20, res. Upton, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. disability Feb. 15, '65 ; address previous to '94, Westboro, Mass. Alexander, Isaac : age 26, res. Ware, mustered Jan. 4, '64; deserted Feb. 1, '64; record and address since, unknown. Ballou, Hiram K. : age 38, res. Sutton, mustered Jan. 4. '64; transferred to V.R.C. Jan. 29, '65; dis. Nov. 20, '65; record and address since, iinknown. 432 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Bartlett, Ebenezer A. : age 46, res. Shrewsbury, mustered Jan. 4, 'G4 ; (lis. order War Dept. Aug. 10, '05; died April 4, '9*4. Barrett, Thomas : age 21, res. Fitchburg, mustered Jan. 4, '64 ; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; record aud address since, unknown. Bassett, Uriah: age 18, res. Holden, mustered Jan. 4, '64; killed at Weldon R.R., Va., Aug. 19, '64. Beals, Isaiah, age 31, res. Westborough, mustei'ed Dec. 5, '63 ; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; present address unknown. Bedreaux. Alexander: age 24, res. Brookfield, mustered Jan. 4, '64; wounded May 12 and Aug. 19, '64; pris. of war Mar. 25, '65: dis. June 8, '65, per S.O. No. 77, A.G.O., '65, as Budrow ; present address unknown. Beltran, Gusta : age 18, res. Shrewsbury, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. order War Dept. July 17, '65 ; record and address since, unknown. Benon, George: age 21, res. Cambridge, mustered Feb. 25, '64: dis. ex. of ser- vice, absent wounded, July 30, '65: no later record. Bennett. Nathan C. : age 24, res. Marlborough, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; record and address since, unknown. Bessey, Seth : a^e 39, res. Reading, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. ex. of service July 30, 'G5; traus. from 59th June 1, '65; record and address since, unknown. Birmingham, Patrick : age 27, res. Milford, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice Jul} r 30, '65; record and address since, unknown. Boyle, George : age .'57, res. Boston, mustered Feb. 25, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; must, out on Independent M.O. Roll as of Co. G. 59th, May 15, '65; correel name .lames ('. Boyle (War Dept. Records): Sever served in 57th; no other in formal ion. Bragg. Andrew: age 19, res. Maiden, mustered Dec. .">, '63; dis. ex. of service July .'In. '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; present address unknown. Brown, Edwin C. : age 1M, res. Chaiiestown. mustered Dec..". '63; dis. order War Dept. July 18, '6.".: trans, from 59th June 1, '65; present address unknown. Broad. Lyman : aire 28, res. Sterling, mustered Jan. I. '64; killed at Peebles Farm. Va., Sept. 30, '64. Bryan, John B. : age 23, re-. Auburn, mustered Jan. I, '64 ; deserted Feb. l,'64; no ot her record know n. Burnham, Otis : age 18, re-. Beverly, mustered Die •">. '•'>:'>; dis. e\. of service July 80, '65; trans, from 59th June I, '65; recent address, Beverly, Mass. Callihan. Robert: age 22, res. Milford. mustered Jan. I. '64; died at Anderson- \ ill.-. Ga., July L8, '64. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 433 Casey, Matthew: age 35, res. Brookline, mustered Feb. 25, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 59th as absent, missing, May 4, '64. "War Dept. records show that this man died in Aug., 1864,'while a prisoner of war, at Andersonville, Ga. ; reported as transrtoCo. B, 57th, June 1, '65. Cater, Silas N. : age 18, res. "Worcester, mustered Jan. 4, '64; killed at Wilder- ness, Va., May 6, '64. Chase, John R. : age 18, res. Salem, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. order "War Dept. Aug. 10, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Clanguin, Augustus: age 39, res. Cheshire, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; record and address since, unknown. Coderre, Louis C. E : age 21, res. Ashburnham, mustered Jan. 4, '64; deserted Apr. 1, '64; no record of bounty, address unknown. Collins, James : age 30, res. South Reading, mustered Dec. 5, '63 ; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; recent address, Stone- ham, Mass. Cook, Silas N. : age 29, res. Warren, mustered Jan. 4, '64 ; killed at Petersburg, Va., June 17, '64. Coombs. Thomas W. : age 42, res. South Reading, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; ti'ans. from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Copeland. John : age 23, res. "Westborough, .mustered April 6, '64 : died at Andersonville, Ga., Oct. 19, '64; no. of grave 11,174. Davis, John: age 21, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. disability May 16, '65; recent address, Worcester, Mass. Delaski, Albert: age 21, res. Lynn, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Delaney, Michael: age 25, res. Fitchburg, mustered Jan. 4, '64; deserted Feb. 21. '64: no other record. Delaney, Patrick : age 45, res. Milford, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; record and address since, unknown. Delano. Reuben: age 23, res. Westborough, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. ex. of service, absent, July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th as absent, July 30, '65 ; final record appears as that of a deserter from Co. A, 59th; no later in- formation. (War Dept.) Dickey, Charles H. : age 28, res. Lowell, mustered Dec. 5, '63; ex. of service absent, July 30, '65; trans, from 59th, as absent, June 1, '65; died at Mason Gen. Hosp., Boston, Mass., as of Co. A, 59th, May 21, '64 (War Dept. Records). Dillon, Patrick: age 45, res Milford, mustered Jan. 4, '64; killed at Spottsyl- vania, Va., May 12, '64. Dodge, Daniel D. : age 28, res. Stoneham, mustered Feb. 26, '64: dis. ex. of service, absent, July 30, '65 ; no later information. Doherty. Patrick: age 18, res. Milford, mustered Aug. 26, '64; dis. order War Dept. June 16, '65; pres. address unknown. 28 434 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Dolan, William H. : age 21, res. Sterling, mustered Jan. 4, '64 ; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65 ; pres. address, North Leominster, Mass. Doyle, Owen: age 34, res. Milford, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. disability May 13, '65; pres. address unknown. Dudley, Charles F. : age 25, res. Pittsfleld, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. July 12, '65, on account of wounds received in action, veteran companies D and C, 4'Jth Mass; recent address, Pittsfleld, Mass. Dudley, Lyman: age 21, res. Pittsfleld, mustered Aug. 18, '64; dis. order War Dept., June 16, '65; pres. res. Pittsfleld. Duffey, Patrick: age 22, res. Boston, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. ex. of service, absent, July 30, '65 ; no later record. Ellard, John: age 25, res. Milford, mustered Jan. 4, '64; deserted June 2, '64; no later record. Flamsburg, Stephen: age 21, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 4, '64: deserted Sept. 15, '64; no later record. Flint, Henry C. : age 43, res. North Reading, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65: died, date unknown. Flynn, Patrick: age 26, res. Milford, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent, July 30, '65; no later record. Flynn. Daniel : age 24, res. Milford, mustered Jan. 4. '64: killed at Petersburg, Va., June 17, '64. Foster, Albert C. : age 18, res. Rutland, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, 'Go-, pres. address, 1624 South 33d St., Omaha, Neb. Foster, George W. : age 20, res. Rutland, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65 ; pres. address, Warren, Mass. Fregean, John : age 22, res. Ashburnham, mustered Jan. 4, 'CI ; died at Alexan- dria, Va., May 30, '64, from wounds received in action. Geaghan. John: age 44, res. Milford, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent, .July 30, '65; no later record. Gearetin, Louis: a^e 19, res. Boston, mustered Feb. 23, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; deserted July 29, '64, as of Co. G, 59th, from McClellau Gen. Hospital, Phila., l'eim., no record of return. Gendron, John: age 18, res. Shrewsbury, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. disability July 26, '64 : pres. address unknown. Gerry, Thomas L. : aire 41, res. Sterling, mustered Jan. I, '64 : dis. order War Dept. July 6, '65; [ires, address. Sterling, Mass. Gillin, Michael: age 83, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 4, '64; killed at Wilder- ness, Va., May 6, '6 I . Gleason, Charles f. age 29, res. Shrewsbury, mustered Jan. 4, '64; died at Philadelphia, Pa., July 24, '64. Gloucester, Thomas: age 19, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. t, '64; deserted while on CurlOUgh A.Ug. I. '6! (record War Dept.); no later information. ROSTER — EXUSTED MEN. 435 Goette, Peter: age 18, res. Shrewsbury, mustered Jan. 4, '64; deserted Sept. 14, '64 (record confirmed by War Dept.) ; nothing of later date. Green, Henry H. : age 29, res. Stoneham, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, 'Go; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Griffin, John: age 37, res. Milford, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. disability, Oct. 15, '64; pres. address, Milford, Mass. Grimes, Warren : age 21, res. Beverly, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; death reported in '81. Grush, Charles H. : age 18, res. Beverly, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. disability May 10, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Hartwell, Hiram: age 28, res. Boston, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. disability May 25, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Helms, Carlos A. : age 36, res. Cambridge, mustered March 4, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent, July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pris. of war since July 30, '64. Investigation at War Dept. fails to elicit further information; never joined the 57th; no record of return after close of the war. Heveron, Patrick: age 26, res. Lanesborough, mustered April 6, '64; died in hospital at Washington, D.C., June 1, '64. Heyton, Anthony: age 26, res. Sterling, mustered Jan. 4, '64; trans, to V.R.C. Feb. 15, '65 ; dis. by order of War Dept. Aug. 3, '65 ; recent address, East Princeton, Mass. Higgins, Timothy : age 33, res. Clinton, mustered Jan. 4, '64 ; trans, to V.R.C. ; dis. by order War Dept. Feb. 25, '65; recent address, Boylston, Mass. Hill, George B. : age 18, res. Lynn, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Hodge, John : age 36, res. Dedham, mustered Feb. 20, '64; died at Petersburg, Va., July 30, '64; never joined the 57th by transfer from 59th. Howarth, James: age 32, res. Grafton, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. disability Jan. 17, '64 (disability resulting from wounds rec'd in action) ; pres. address, Webster, Mass. Hull, Lavell F. : age 27, res. Westfleld, mustered Jan. 4, '64 ; died at Danville, Va., Nov. 207 '64 (died of starvation) ; Vet. of Co. E, 27th Mass. Jameson, William H. : age 21, res. Wayland, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. order War Dept. June 20, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; remote address, Wayland, Mass. Jordan, John: age 24, res. Milford, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. order War Dept. June 14, '65; recent address, Revere House, Boston, Mass. Joseph, Doriet F. : age 26, res. Maiden, mustered Dec. 5, '63; dis. ex. of ser- vice, absent, July 30, '65; deserted Aug. 11, '64; no record of return; never joined 57th by transfer from 59th. Joslin, Philemon C. : age 38, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. disa- bility Oct. 15, '64; pres. address unknown. 436 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Kelly. Thomas: age 40, res. Westfield, mustered Jan. 4, '64: killed at Wilder- ness, Va., May 6, '64. Landon, Dennis: age 22, res. Adams, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Lang, Lewis: age 19, res. Roxbury, mustered Dec. 5, '63: dis. ex. of service July 30, '65: trans, from 59th June 1, '65; recent address, Reading, Mass. Lawson. George: age 29, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 4, '64; deserted May 6, '64 ; the above is shown by records in Adjutant-General's office, Boston, but as that was the day the 57th lost so heavily in the Wilderness, this man may have been killed or taken prisoner: no later information. Lee, William S. : age 19; res. Salem, mustered Dec. 5, '63; .dis. order War Dept., Aug. 10, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; recent address, Worces- ter, Ma; pres. address unknown. Flagg, Henry C, Sergt. : age 21, res. Westborough, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. supernumerary June 13, '65; pres. address, Lindley, Mo. Forbes, Willis A., Sergt. : age 18, res. Westborough, mustered Jan. 4, '64 ; (lis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; death reported at regt'l reunion of '95. Freeman, James B., Sergt. : age 30, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 4, '64 ; miss- ing May 6, '64 ; no later information ; probably killed in battle of Wilder- ness. Joan, Antonio, Sergt. : age 18, res. Westborough, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address, Medfield, Mass. McCarty, Daniel, Sergt. : age 22, res. Westborough, mustered April 6, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; recent address, Soldiers' Home, Togus, Me. 440 FI1TY-SEVKNTII REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Wetherby. Harlan F., Sergt. : age 18, res. Westborough, mustered Jan. 4, '64; (lis. ex. of service July 30, '65; latest address, Grove City, Pa. Simons. Daniel J., Sergt.: age 27, res. Wilbraham, mustered Jan. 4, '64: dis. disability, May 9, '64, by order of General Auger; pres. address, Win- sted, Conn. Bemis, Ezra C. Corp. : age 38, res. Xorthborongh. mustered Jan. 4. '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; death reported in 1874. Callan. Andrew, Corp. : age 41, res. West Cambridge, mustered Jan. 5, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Chapin, David N., Corp. : age 25, res. Westborough, mustered Jan. 4, '64: dis. .July 7, '64, order General Auger; died Nov. 5, '79. Crowe, Patrick, Corp.: age 23, res. Westborough, mustered Jan. 4. '64: dis. ex. of service July 30, "GH; pres. address unknown. Dayton, Benjamin F.. Corp. : res. Auburn, mustered Jan. 11, '64: dis. disability Dec. 27, '64: pres. address unknown. Fred, John, Corp. : age 29, res. Charlestown, mustered Jan. 5, '64: dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Fuller. J. Henry, Corp. : age 21, res. "Worcester, mustered Jan. 4. '64 ; missing May • ',, '64: probably killed: letters from War Dept. dated Feb. 1, '78 and June 4, '94, give no later information. Hall, Josiah B., Corp.: age 21, res. Holland, mustered Jan. 4, '64: trans, to Co. A. lUli V.R.C.,Sept. 2.",. '64: dis. as Serfft. for disability Jan. 21. '65 (wound received in action): pres. address, Worcester, Mass. Howard. Daniel H.. Corp.: age 22. res. N. Brooklield, mustered .Tan. 5. '64; dis. ex. <>f service, absent wounded, .Inly 30, '<:"> : no later information. Jackson, Henry M.. Corp. : age 21, res. X. Bridgewater, mustered .Ian. 5, '64 ; dis. disability June '■'■■ '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Midgely, John, Corp.: age 34, res. Worcester, mustered .Ian. 4, '64; dis. dis- ability Oct. :'.o, '65; pres. address, Cherry Valley, Mass. Parmer, John T., Corp. : age 18, res. Northborough, mustered Jan. 1. '64 ; di- es. : died March 15, '67. Elliott, Albert L. s. : age L8, res. Beverly, mustered Jan. :., '64: dis. ex. ..r ser- \ ice, absenl sick, July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June l. '65; no later informal ion. Fleming. Michael: age L8, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. I. '0 1 : dis. ex. of ser- vice, wounded, July 30, '65; pres. address. Worcester, Mass. Fozzman. August : age 84, res. Maiden, mustered .Ian. 5, 'o.i : dis. ex. <>r service . 1 1 1 1 \ 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address. Soldiers' Home, ( 'llelsea. Ma88. Gerry, Albert S. : age 27, res. Millbury, mustered Jan. I, Y,| : dis. ex. of service Julj 80, '65; pres. address, Millbury, Mass., or Soldiers' Home. Togus, Me. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 443 Goodnow Hiram M : age 21, res. Hubbardston, mustered Jan. 4, '64- rejected and discharged recruit June 29, '64 ; pres. address unknown. J Gordon, William: age 22, res. Cambridge, mustered Jan. 5, '64; dis. ex of ser- vice July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown GraV£ at me^,^,^.?^S h ^: m " Stered Ja "- »• ' 64 i ** °* -unds, Green Myron p.: age 18 res. Westborough, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. order War Dept. May 11, '65; pres. address, Golden Gate, Cal. Halpin T, 1 H a on h ° ( 1 ° m r : ^ 35; pres. address unknown. Sawyer. Josiah: age 44, res. Oxford, mustered Jan. 4, '64 ; rejected recruit and dis. June 29, '64; since reported dead, date unknown. Sawyer. Warren W. : age 18, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 4. '64; dis. disa- bility Dec. 21, '64; pres. address unknown. Sheffield, John A.: age 24, res. Northbridge, mustered Jan. 11. '64; dis. order War Dept. Aug. 10, '65; pres. address unknown. Smith. Alpheus M. : age 45. res. Sutton, mustered Jan. 4. '64 : dis. disability July 16, '64, orders General Dix; recent address, North Leominster. Mass. Smith, Edwin H. : age 36, res. Oxford, mustered Jan. 1, '64; trans, to V.R.C. and dis. from Co. 15,21th Regt., Aug. 2, '65 ; reported dead, date unknown. Squires, Truman: age 18, res. Pelham, mastered Jan. I, '64; killed at Spott- sylvania, Va., May ir, '64. Swan. James S. :*age II, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. I. '64; deserted Feb. 24, 64; no later Informal Ion. Sullivan, Jeremiah : age 21,fres. Marlborough, mustered April 2, '64; dis. ex. of service July 80, '65; trans, from .".nth June l. '65; pres. address unknown Sullivan, Jerry; age II. res. Westfleld, mustered Jan. I, '64; missing July 80, '64; letter from War Dept., Washington, May 5, '95, gives no furl her Information. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 447 Sullivan, Timothy G. : age 18, res. Westborough, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. order War Dept. May 11, '65; pres. address, Washington St., Worcester, Mass. Terrill, Edward: age 45, res. Grafton, mustered Jan. 4, '64: missing July 30, '64 ; no later information ; probably killed in battle. Thompson, Robert : age 27, res. Charlestown, mustered Jan. 5, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Thurston, George: age 20, res. Holden, mustered Jau. 4, '64; died of wounds, at Washington, D.C., June 3, '64. Tobey, John G. : age 29, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. disability Oct. 15, '64. Special Order 220, A.G.O. ; appointed Acting Assistant Paymaster U.S.N. ; honorably must, out April 19, '66; pres. address, 88 State St., Boston, Mass. Wallingford, Mark F. : age 21, res. Lowell, mustered Sept. 14, '64; dis. ex of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Wallace, Patrick: age 22, res. Milford, mustered Jan. 11, '64; died at Auder- sonville, Ga., July 16, '64. Warren, Harris C. ; age 18, res. Westborough, mustered Jan. 4, '64: dis. order War Dept. May 24, '65; pres. address, Westboro, Mass. Ward, Peter: age 25, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 4, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent wounded, July 30, '65 ; no later information. Waters, Hugh: age 29, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 4, '64; rejected recruit and dis. June 29, '64; died Aug. 6, '84. Wilkins, Archibald: age 25, res. Brighton, mustered Jan. 5, '64: dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown Wilson, George: age 27, res. Charlestown, mustered Jan. 5, '64: dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. COMPANY C. Howard, Charles, Sergt. : age 23, res. Greenfield, mustered Feb. 18, '64 deserted April 1, '64; pres. address unknown. Kellog, Charles F., Sergt: age 38, res. Amherst, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis ex. of service, absent sick, July 30, '65 ; no other record ; present address Springfield, Mass. Knox, Charles F., Sergt. : age 25, res. West Springfield, mustered Feb. 18, '64 died of w'ds, at Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64. This man was seen by Lieut. C. H. Royce, 57th, May 6, '64, lying upon the battlefield of the Wilderness with a bullet hole in the forehead, and was, no doubt, in- stantly killed. Lovejoy, Michael, Sergt. : age 27, res. Sheffield, mustered Feb. 18, '64; deserted May 10, '65; no later information; possibly died in rebel prison. 448 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Miller, Joseph, Sergt. : age 27, res. South Hadley, mustered Feb. 18, '64; died at Andersonville, Ga., Aug. 31, '64. Adams, Benjamin. Corp. : age 18, res. Beverly, mustered Jan. 14, '64; dis. disa- bility July 25, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; recent address, Vine- land", New Jersey. Allman Samuel, Corp. : age 23, res. Greenfield, mustered Feb. 18, "64: dis. disa- bility March 13, '65; present address unknown. Billings. George, Corp.: age 22, res. Chicopee, mustered Feb. 18, '64; trans, to V.R.C. ; no date of transfer or discharge. Cheney Frederick S., Corp.: age 18, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. IS, '64; killed at Petersburg, Va., March 25, '65, Fort Stedman. Dodge, Amos A., Corp. : ase 34, res. Beverly, mustered Jan. 5, '64; dis. order War Dept. Au-. 10, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; death reported in '84. Gallen. Patrick, Corp. : ase 30, res. Milford, mustered Feb. 18, *64 : dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; recent address, Grafton, Mass. Holland, John B., Corp. : age 29, res. Holyoke, mustered Feb. 18, '64 ; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Pierce. Stephen, Corp.: age 21, res. Beverly, mustered Jan. 14, '64: (lis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; address was ropsfleld, Mass., at present unknown. Place. Alonzo H., Corp.: age 23, res. Greenfield, mustered Feb. 18, 64 ; dis. order War Dept. May 18, '65; pres. address unknown. Sanderson, Henry R., Corp. : age 21, res. Whatcly, mustered Feb. 18, '64; .lis. disability Dec. 3, '64 ; pres. address unknown. Smith, Thomas. Corp. : age 28, res. Methuen. mustered Jan. 11. '64 : dis. ex. 6f service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Bryant. Eleazer, Mus. : age 17, res. Springfield, mustered Feb. 18, '64 ; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; recenl address, Springfield, Mass. Graves. Edward O.. Mus.: age 44, res. llingham. mustered Jan. 11. '64; dis. disability June 22, '65. Hayward. Robert, Mus. : age 16, res. Fall River, mustered Jan. 1 1, '64 : dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June l, '65; pres. address on- known. Ackiey. James : age 32, res. Leicester, mustered Feb. 18, *64 ; dis. ex. of sen ice July 30, '"''5; death reported at reunion of '9:'.. Bartrand, Joseph : age 18, res. Hinsdale, mustered April 6. V,| ] dis. ex. of ser- viee absent BiCK, July 30, '''••"-: no later information. Benois, Joseph: age 19, res. Hinsdale, mustered *.pril 6, '64; dis. ex. of service, absenl wounded, July 30, '65; no later in formal ion. Bertrand, Moses : age 24, res Hinsdale, mustered April 6, '64; dis. ex of ser- vice July 80, '66; pres. address unknown. ENLISTED MEN. 449 Bird, Frank: age 18, res. Spencer, mustered Feb. IS, '64; killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64. Bishop, Anson J. : aire 19, res. Gill, mastered April 6, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Blanchard, Louis: age 26, res. Spencer, mustered April 6, '64; dis. to date from Jan. 3, '65, to complete his military record, under provisions of Act of Congress approved April 5, '84; pres. address unknown. Booter, Anson: age 39, res. Bernardston, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Boyden, William : age 36, res. Adams, mustered Jan. 6, '65; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown; name should be spelled as signed on rolls, Bryden. Brazean. Antoine : age 26, res. Hatfield, mustered April 6, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; res. should be Hinsdale; pres. address unknown. Brotgers, Lewis : age 23, res. Hinsdale, mustered April 6, '64; killed at Spott- sylvania, Va., May 12, '64; res. should be Hatfield. Brown, William: age 26, res. Spencer, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice, absent sick, July 30, '65; no later information. Buckley, Jeremiah : age 35, res. Lowell, mustered Jan. 14, '64 ; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Bugard, John : age 42, res. Westhampton, mustered Feb. 18, '64 ; deserted March 30, '64; pres. address unknown. Bullis, Jabez : age 38, res. Gill, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30. '65; pres. address unknown. Burno, Charles: age 28, res. Easthampton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; deserted April 29, '64; bounty jumper: no later record. Busher, Peter: age 22, res. Easthampton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; transferred to V.R.C. March 10, '65; no other record. Butler. William W. : age 44, res. Southampton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. disability Feb. 9, '65; pres. address unknown. Cain. John: age 21, res. Wrentham, mustered Nov. 22, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th Jan. 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Casey, John H. : age 18, res. Lee, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. disability Feb. 7, '65; pres. address, Lee, Mass. Cate, Lyman, D. : age 21, res. Framingham. mustered Jan. 14, '64; dis. ex of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Collins, James : age 23, res. Sutton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, July 30, '65 ; no later information. Conway, Edward: age 34, res. Worcester, mustered April 6, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Croshier, George J. : age 18, res. Chicopee, mustered April 6, '64 ; killed at Spottsylvauia, Va., May 12, '64. Daley, John: age 35, res. Shrewsbury, mustered April 6, '64; dis. disability Jan. 9, '65; died in Shrewsbury, Mass., Oct. 30, '95. 450 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Day, Charles W. : age 36, res. Hinsdale, mustered Feb. 18, '64 ; deserted Feb. 28, '64 ; address unknown. Day, Henry: age 21, res. Palmer, mustered Feb. 18, '64; killed at Petersburg, Va., July 30, '64. Dearborn, John A. : age 21, res. Marlborough, mustered Jan. 14, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59tbJuue 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Deargenon, Joseph: age 29, res. Hinsdale, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. order War Dept. Aug. 10, '65; pres. address unknown. Dietrick. Christopher: age 30, res. Springfield, mustered Feb. 18, "«''4: dis. ex. (if service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown Dorr, Adam : age 34, res. Springfield, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Dyer, John: age 31, res. Tewksbury, mustered Jan. 5, '64: dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Edwards, Rodney: age 44, res. South Reading, mustered Jan. 14, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, 1865; pres. address unknown. Ellis, Albert F. : age 18, res. Worcester, mustered April 6, '64; dis. order War Dept. July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Farris, Daniel P. : age 44, res. Uxbridge, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. order War Dept. Aug. 15, '65; pres. address unknown. Faulkner, Patrick P. : age 21, res. Charlestown, mustered Jan. 14, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address un- known. Finn, Nicholas: age 34, res. Wtsdield, mustered Feb. 18, 'CI ; killed at Wilder- ness, 7a., May 6, '64. Fitzgerald. Patrick: aye 21, res. Grot on, mustered Nov. 14, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June l,'6o; pres. address unknown. Flaviel. Robert: age 19, res. Ware mastered Feb. L8, '64 : deserted March L6, '6 I : iki di her record. Fosgate, Oliver: aye 43, res. Westborough. mustered Feb. 18, '6 1 ; dis. ex. of service absent, July 30, '65; no later information . Frink. Charles F. : age 20, res. Sheffield, mustered Feb. L8, '64; deserted Feb. 18, '64 : no later informal Ion. Gallant, Neill : age 21, res. Charlestown, mustered Jan. 5, 'CI: dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 69th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Gay, George H. : age 28, res. Natick, mustered Jan. I I, '64 ; dis. disability, June 22, '65; trans, from ">'.Mli June 1, '65; recent address. Natick. Mass. Gillon, James : age 21, res. Charlestown. mustered Jan. 14, '6 I: dis. ex. of ser- vice Jul} 80, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pre-, address unknown. Glazier, Danforth : age 18, res. West hamplon, mustered Feb. L8, '64; died at- Petersburg, Va., June 12, '65. Gokey, Joseph: age l':'.. res. Greenfield, mustered Feb. is, ci: descried April 20, '64 : bounty jumper; no later Information. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 451 Goodhue. Amos: age 31, res. Rowley, mustered Jan. 5, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown Gray, James: age 29, res. Springfield, mustered Feb. IS, '61; deserted April 20, '61 ; bounty jumper ; no later information. Gray, Otis W. : age 18, res. Lawrence, mustered Jan. 5, '61; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Haas, Frederick: age 32, res. Charlestowu, mustered Jan. 11, '61; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Harley, Cornelius: age 12, res. Springfield, mustered Feb. IS, '61; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; death reported at reunion of '95. Hartwell, Lawrence : age 21, res. Groton, mustered Nov. 14, '61; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; present address unknown. Hastings, Russell: age 31, res. Hinsdale, mustered Feb. 18, '61; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, July 30, '65 ; no later information. Henderson, Samuel: age 26, res. Georgetown, mustered Jan 11, '61; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Holden, Gustavas S. : age 18, res. Holden, mustered Feb. IS, '61; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address, Holden, Mass. Holden, Henry: age 25, res. Charlestown, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Honte, Joseph : age 19, res. Adams, mustered Feb. 18, '61 ; deserted July 23, '64. Charge of desertion removed by Act of Congress and certificate of discharge furnished to date from July 23, '64; pres. address unknown. Huckins, Randall: age 28, res. Groton, mustered Jan. 14, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Hughes, John: age 42, res. Gt. Barrington, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Jones, Frank: age 33, res. Marlborough, mustered Jan. 14, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Kelly, Michael: age 18, res. Worcester, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; recent address Worcester, Mass. Kinnerny, George: age 28, res. Warren, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. King, Victor: age 26, res. Webster, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. disability July 27, '64; pres. address unknown. King, George : age 20, res. Somerville, mustered Jan. 14, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Knight, Charles A. : age 25, res. Westhampton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; trans, to V.R.C. Jan. 10, '65; dis. from Co. A, 14th V.R.C., July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Kyle, William: age 26, res. Easthampton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 : pres. address unknown. Labombard, Peter: age 34, res. Hinsdale, mustered April 6, '64; killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64. 452 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS Lappelle, Cassimer : age 26, res. Spencer, mustered April 6, '64; absent sick; dis. Feb. 1, '65 (L.W.D. Nov. 17, '94) ; pres. address unknown. Lavonte. David: age 19, res. Spencer, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. order War Dept. June 23, '65; pres. address unknown. Lee, William: age 33, res. Springfield, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. order War Dept. Aug. 10, '65; late address, 13 South Irving Street, Worcester, Mass. Leroy, Frank B. : age 18, res. Lancaster, mustered Feb. 18, '64 ; dis. order War Dept. June 22, '65; pres. address unknown. Love, John: age 35, res. Spencer, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. disability May 24, '65; record from dis. papers; recent address, Spencer, Mass. McAlpin, Moses E. : age 27, res. Roxbury, mustered Jan. 14, '64: dis. order War Dept. Aug. 10, '65: trans, from 59th June 1, '65; Veteran Co. I, 8th Mass. (nine mouths) ; present address unknown. McKinney, Michael : age 40, res. Mendon, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. order War Dept. Aug. 10, '65; pres. address unknown. Meatte, Jacob : age 44, res. Hinsdale, mustered Feb. is, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Monney, Peter : age 44, res. Pittsfleld, mustered Feb. 18, '64; killed at Spott- sylvania, Va.7 May 12, '64. Morrisey, James: age 40, res. Lawrence, mustered Jan. 14. '64: dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pics, address unknown. Murphy. John: aye 21, res. Milford, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service .July .'in, '65; pres. address unknown. Nerny, Francis : age 19, res. Waltham, mustered Jan. 14, '64 ; dis. ex. of service ■Inly 30, '•;;> : trans, from 59th June 1. '65; pres. address unknown. Newton, John: aye 28, res. Millbury, mustered April 6, '6 1 ; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Neylon, John: age II. res. Auburn, mustered Feb. IS, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; death reported at reunion of '91. Norway, James : aye 19, res. Hinsdale, mustered Feb. 18, '64: dis. ex. of service, absent sick, .luly 30, '65 : QO later information. O'Donnel, Patrick: aye 35, res. Milford. mustered Feb. is. '64; dis disability Dec L3, '64 ; pres. address unknown. Osgood. George W. : age 39, res. Char lestown, mustered Feb. 4, '64; dis. order War Dept. Ann. 8, '66; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address im know II. Pecardet. George: aye 32, res. Pittsfleld, mustered April 6, '64; dis. disability March 29, '^'>~> : pres. address unknown. Pell, William : age 30, res. Westfleld, mustered Feb. 18, '64; deserted March 19, '64 ; no later record. Poisson. Simon: age 89, res. Ware. stered \'r\>. is, 'i;| : deserted March 16, '6 1 : no later record. Powers, James Q. : age I s . res. ( 'hicopec. mustered Feb. 18, ''',1 : died of w omuls at Petersburg, Va., Aug. 2, '64. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 453 Powers, Michael: age 40, res. Springfield, mustered Feb. 18, '(34; died at Dan- ville, Va., Nov. 21, '64. Powers, Michael: age 25, res. Charlestown, mustered Jan. 5, '04; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Prouty, William H. : age 23, res. Springfield, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65. Records show desertion from Co. A, 10th Mass., May 31, '62; deserted from 57th Oct. 30, '64; rejoined from desertion April 23, '65, and mustered out with Company; pres. address unknown. Reynolds, Edward W. : age 27, res. Concord, mustered Jan. 14, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; recent address, Car- lisle, Mass. Rice, Emery L. : age 18, res. Northampton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, '64. Rowland, Joseph: age 18, res. Deerfield, mustered Feb. 18, '64; killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64. Rowe, Merwin : age 21, res. Hinsdale, mustered April 6, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Rutlege, Thomas: age 27, res. Milford, mustered Feb. 18, '64; died of wounds at Arlington, Va., June 9, '64. Ryan, John: age 25, res. Milford, mustered Feb. IS. '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Ryan, Michael : age 35, res. Charlestown, mustered Jan. 14, '64 ; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Sandy, Gilbert: age 19, res. Easthampton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. order War Dept. Aug. 7, '65; pres. address unknown. Saucy, Edward: age 18, res. Adams, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. order War Dept., Aug. 7, '65; pres. address unknown. Shailor, Joseph N. : age 45, res. Springfield, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. June 10, '65, per G.O. 77, War Dept. of '65; pres. address unknown. Shehan, Thomas: age 22, res. Greenfield, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Sherwin, Waldo: age 34, res. Springfield, mustered Feb. 18, '64; killed at Spottsylvania,"Va., May 18, '64." Spooner, Chas. E. : age 21. res. Natick, mustered Jan. 14, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; died Oct. 31, '93. Sykes, Edwin: age 29, res. Lancaster, mustered Feb. 18, '64; deserted July 1, '64; possibly prisoner of war; no later information. Syncyr, Joseph A. : age 33, res. Hinsdale, mustered April 6, '64; dis. disability Jan. 11, '65; pres. address unknown. Taylor, Peter: age 22, res. Plainfield, mustered Feb. 18, '64; rejected recruit and dis. June 29, '64; pres. address unknown. Thurbur, Edward: age 23, res. Framingham, mustered Jan. 14, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; no later information. Tilton, James F. : age 35, res. Concord, mustered Jan. 14, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. 454 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Wait. Martin: age 29, res. Buckland, mustered Feb. IS, '04; dis. disability Dec. 29', '64; pres. address unknown. Walch, Patrick D. : age 20, res. Milford, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Walker, Gilbert L. : age 18, res. Adams, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '05 ; pres. address, North Adams, Mass. Walker, John F. : age 22, res. Springfield, mustered Feb. 18, '64; deserted Feb. 18, '04: no later record. Walsh. John: age 27, res. Boston, mustered Jan. 14. '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Welton. Walter B. : age 38, res. Springfield, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. May 29, '65; died Dec. 15, '91. White. Elbridge : age 27, res. Natick, mustered Jan. 14, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent, July .".0, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; no later information. White. George: age 21, res. Needham, mustered Feb. 18, '64; deserted March 6. '64 : no record of bounty ; no later information. Wilcox. Charles H. : ajje 18, res. New Marlboro, mustered April 0, '04; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Wilcox, Henry L. : age 42, res. New Marlboro, mustered Feb. 18, '64 ; dis. order War Dept. A.ug. 9, '65; pres. address unknown. Willis, George : age 38, res. Bolton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service, July 30. '05; pres. address unknown. Wilson, Hynes : age 24, res. Northampton, mustered Feb. 18, '04; died at Danville, Va., Dec. 17, "04. Winters, James: age 21, res. Sheffield, mustered Feb. 18, '64; deserted April 2, 'i',i : no Later record. Zimmerman, John: age 41, res. Deer field, mustered Feb. 18, '64; killed at Wilderness. Va.. May 6, '64. COMPANY I). Williams, Charles, l-i Sergt. : age 19, res. New Marlboro, mustered Feb. L8, •64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; Vet. Co. E, 49th Mass.: pres. address unknou n. Card, Franklin W., Sergt.: age 20, res. Wllllamstown, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. ex. of service Julj SO, '65 : death reported at reunion of '91. Crosby, John, Sergl : age 25, res. Stockbridge, mustered Jan. 25, '64; died of wounds a1 Fredericksburg, Va., May L2, '64. Donnelly, John, Sergt.: age 30, res. Springfield, mustered Jan. 25, '64; died at Beverly, N.J., Sepl , 30, '64. Goodell, Myron. Sergl . : age '-'I . res. Lanesborough, mustered Jan. 2.".. 'CI; dis. order War Dept. June 13, '<>•">: Vet. Co. B, I'.'ih Mas-.: death reported al i , union of 189] , ENLISTED MEN. 455 Kelley, John H., Sergt. : age 32, res. Roxbury, mustered Feb. 9 '64; clis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. May, Henry S., Sergt. : age 44, res. Stockbridge, mustered Jan. 25, '64; killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, '64. Stanton, John, Sergt. : age 22, res. Lawrence, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Sweetser, James E., Sergt.: age 33, res. Sterling, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Davis, William P., Corp. : age 44, res. Cambridge, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. order War Dept. Aug. 10, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; late address, North Reading, Mass. Gallipaux, Joseph, Corp. : age 21, res. Pittsfleld, mustered Jan. 25, '64; clis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Hodge. George H., Corp. : age 23, res. Pittsfleld, mustered Jan. 25, '64; died of wounds at Arlington, Va., June 5, '64. Kendall, Theodore B., Corp.: age 20, res. Springfield, mustered Jan. 25, '64; trans, to V.R.C., March — , '65 ; no later record. Lareby. George F., Corp.: age 19, res. Williamstown, mustered Jan. 25, '64; clis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; death reported with date unknown. McCurdy, Robert F., Corp.: age 24, res. Alford, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. order War Dept. June 13, '65 ; pres. address, Great Barrington, Mass. Stone, Charles E., Corp.: age 26, res. Charlestown, mustered Feb. 9, '64; trans, to V.R.C. ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Tyler, Lester, Corp.: age 44, res. Pittsfleld, mustered Jan. 25, '64; killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64. Ward, Wilbur F., Corp.: age 18, res. Adams, mustered Jan. 25, '64: missing May ('», '64 ; probably killed in Wilderness, or prisoner of war. Williams, Benjamin F., Corp. : age 18, res. New Marlboro, mustered Feb. 18, '64: dis. order War Dept. May 25, '65; pres. address unknown. Boyden, Franklin, Mus. : age 18, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 25, '64; War Dept. reports show that he died Dec. 17, '64, while a prisoner of Avar. Byrne, Jonathan J., Mus.: age 21, res. Egremont, mustered Jan. 25, '64; de- serted Feb. 17, '64; no later information. Everett, Chas. F.. Mus.: age 18, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 25, '64; wounded and died upon the battlefield of Wilderness, May 6, '64. McMahon, Martin, Mus.: age 18, res. Worcester, mustered Aug. 29, '64; clis. order War Dept. June 16, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Welch, Morris, Mus. : age 18, res. Oxford, mustered Jan. 25, '64; clis. ex. of service July 30, '65; death reported at reunion of 1891. Alconbright. Daniel : age 25, res. Williamstown, mustered Feb. 18, '64; deserted March 20, '64; no later information. Alconbright, George F. : age 29, res. Williamstown, mustered Feb. 18, '64; de- serted March 20, '64; no later information. Alexander, George W. : age 44, res. Monterey, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. June 29, '64, without pay or other allowances, by order of Gen. Dix. 456 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Allen, Albert : age 23, res. Adams, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, July 30, '65 ; no later information. Allen, Harrison B. : age 18, res. Charlton, mustered Jan. 25, 'G4 ; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Ambrose, Robert: age 44, res. Roxbury, mustered Jan. 14, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 50th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Avery, Peter: age 44, res. Pittsfleld, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; V"et. Co. I, 49th Mass; pres. address unknown. Bancroft, George : age 19, res. Reading, mustered Feb. 9, '64 : dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th .June 1, '65; recent address, Woburn, Mass. Barron, William : age 21, res. Brookfield, mustered Feb. 9, '64 ; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres address unknown. Bassett, Joseph: age 28, res. Pittsfleld, mustered Feb. 18, '64 ; deserted March 15, '(',4; no later information. Bates, Charles A. : age is, res. Worcester, mustered Feb. 18, '64: (lis. disability March is. '65; pres. address, 203 Chandler St., Worcester, Mass. Bills, Charles W. : age 18, res. Gt. Barrington, mustered Jan. 25, '64: dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Bills, Henry: age 30, res. Gt. Barrington, mustered Jan. 25, '64; killed at Petersburg, Ya., June 17, '64. Bills, Wilbur H. : age 23, res. Gt. Barrington, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Blanchard, James H. : age 27. res. Watertown, mustered Feb. 9, '6 1 : dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Bradbury, Jacob: age 41, res. Essex, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. disability June 25, '<»•">: wounded June 17, '64 ; death reported, date unknown; trans, from 59th June 1, '65. Brook. Cornelius : age 21, res. Gloucester, mustered Feb. 9, '64 : dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Bryant. Lyman : age 21, res. Hinsdale mustered Feb. 18, '61 ; died at Anderson - ville, (la., July 27. '64. Birmingham, Frank: aire .'17, res. Huston, mustered Feb. 9, '61: dis. ex. of service Julj 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1,'65; pres. address unknown. Burroughs, Nelson: age 20, res. Westborougli, mustered Feb. 18, '64; died at Worcester, Mass., April :;, '64. Bush, Stephen F. : age IS. res. Hinsdale, mustered Jan. 25, '64; trans, to V. K.i. and uon. dis. from 8th Co. 2d Ban. Aug. :», '<''•">: pres. address unknown. Carey, Lockwood : age 45, res. (it. Barrington, mustered Jan. 2."', '64; -cut to Readville, Mas-., for discharge before taking the field: pres. address unknown. Clark, John: age 29, res. Pittsfleld, mustered Jan. L'.".. '64; 1st Lieut.. Mil U.8.C.T., H. a , June 17, '65; must, out as 1st Lieut.. Feb. 10, '66; pres. address unknot a. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 457 Cobleigh Henry E.: age 21, res. Williamstown, mustered Feb. 18, '64- killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 18, '64. ' Cobleigh James U. : age 18, res. Williamstown. mustered Feb. 18, '64 • died July 30, 64 ; Surg. Gen.'s report says died in rebel prison. Collins, Henry A.: age 39, res. Lee, mustered Jan. 25, '64; killed at Wilder- ness, Va., May 6, '64. wuaei Coster, Matthew P : age 21, res. Gloucester, mustered Feb. 9, '64- dis ex of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Cowden James : age 22, res. Oxford, mustered Jan. 25, '64: dis. disability July 13, i>4; pres. address unknown. Curley, John : age 37, res. Mendon, mustered Feb. 18, '64 ; dis. order War Dent June 6, '65; pres. address unknown. Curley, Thomas: age 44, res. Upton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; killed at North Anna River, May 24, '64. Dawley, Delbert S. : age 22, res. Williamstown, mustered Feb. 18 '64- dis order War Dept. June 19, '65; pres. address unknown. Dougall, Julius : age 18, res. Hinsdale, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Finkle, Martin E. : age 22, res. Sheffield, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. order War Dept. June 2, '65, for disability; pres. address unknown. Flynn, Patrick: age 30, res. Milford, mustered Jau. 25, '64; dis. order War Dept. June 12, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Fullerton, Stewart M. G. : age 29, res. Egremont, mustered Jan. 25, '64; sup- posed dead, prisoner May 6, '64 ; reported death confirmed by War Dept under date of Sept. 27, '95. Gilligan, Matthew: age 35, res. Milford, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Gill, William: age 26, res. Boston, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, July 30, '65 ; no later information; trans, from 59th June 1, '65. Gregory, Charles C. : age 39, res. Saudisfleld, mustered Feb. IS, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, July 30, 'C,r> ; no later information. Green, George E. : age 44, res. Dorchester, mustered Feb. 9, '64 ; dis. ex. of ser- vice, absent sick, July 30, '65 ; no later information ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65. Haines, Charles H. : age 24, res. Charlestown, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, July 30, '65; no later information; trans, from 59th June 1, '65. Harvey, Charles: age 20, res. West Stockbridge. mustered Feb. 18, '64; clis. order War Dept. June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Haskell, David, Jr.- a.?e 27, res. Otis, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. order War Dept. June 13, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Hawes. Edward : age 18, res. Leicester, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dishonorable dis. June 29, '64, with loss of all pay and allowances, by order of Gen. Dix; pres. address unknown. l.-.x FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Hayes. John : age 44, res. Salem, mustered Feb. 9, '64: dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 50th June 1. '65; pres. address unknown. Henry. Thomas: age 27, res. Lenox, mustered Jan. 25, '64: deserted Jan. 29, '64; no later information. Hulitt, Orrin : age 41, res. Lee, mustered Jan. 25, '04; dis. disability, no date; pres. address, Lee, Mass. Hinton, John E. : age 45, res. Sheffield, mustered Feb. 18, T,4 : dis. disability April is. '<;:, : pres. address unknown. Hodge. James: age 18, res. Adams, mustered Jan. 25, '64: supposed dead; prisoner May 6, '64; no later information. Hudson, George N. : age 19, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 25, '64: dis. ex. of service July :!0, '65; recent address, Westboro, Mass. Jacquins. Egbert S. : age 29, res. Lee, mustered Jan. 25, '64; died at Anderson- ville. Ga., Aug. 15, '64. Jordan. Charles A. : age 26, res. Millbury, mustered Jan. 25, '64; deserted April 17. '64; bounty jumper ; no later information. Jordan. Erastus C. : age 44, res. Millbury, mustered Jan. 2.">, '64; rejected re- cruit and discharged June 13, '64, disability; death reported, date un- known. Kelly, Martin: age 38, res. Adams, mustered Jan. 25, '64; deserted, no date recorded. Kirby. Jacob : age 42, res. Gt. Bar ring ton, mustered Jan. 25, '64 ; dis. disability .March — , '65; pres. address unknown. Knight, Isaac S. : age 1"), res. Dunstable, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. disability June 10, '65; trans, from 59th June 1. '65; pres. address unknown. Lamont. Daniel: age 34, res. West Stockbridge. mustered Jan. 25, '01; died Philadelphia, l'a.: no date recorded. Larkins, James : age 25, res. Lenox, mustered Jan. 25, '64 ; deserted Jan. 29, '64 : no later information. Lebounty. John ; age 19, res. Dorchester, mustered Feb. 9, '64 : dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '66; trans, from 59th June 1. '65; pres. address unknown. Lee. Saybrook : age 39, res. Lenox, mustered Feb. 18, '64; died in hands of enemy : no date recorded. Llewellyn. Patrick: age 18, res. Lynn, mustered Feb. 9, '64 ; dis ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1. '65; pres. address unknown. Long. Thomas : age 12, res. Northampton, mustered Jan. 25, '64; trans, to V.R.C. Jan. 19, '65. Maloney, Henry C. : age L8, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 25, '64; died of wounds : no dale recorded. Maloney. William: age 28, res. Gt. Barrington, mustered Jan. 28, '64; died Sept. L8, '64. Mambert. Peter J.: age 38, ns. N. Marlboro, mustered Feb 18, '64; dis. order War Dept, June 19, '66. Marshall. Charles, jr. : age 80, res. Gloucester, mustered Feb. 9, '64 : i\\<. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; trans, fr 591 h June i . '65; pres. address unknown. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 459 McDonald, Alfred: age 34, res. Lee, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. order War Dept. July 19, '65; pres. address unknown. Merrill, John H. : age 34, res. Lee, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. disability Oct. 15, '64; pres. address unknown. Messer, John A. : age 38, res. Reading, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. order War Dept. June 19, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Mooney, John: age 19, res. Charlestown, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Morgan. Ambrose E. : age 20, res. Washington, mustered Jan. 25, '64; killed at Spottsylvauia, Va., May 12, '64. Morrissey, Daniel: age 25, res. Lenox, mustered Jan. 25, '64; deserted Jan. 29, '64 : no later information. Morse, Newton: age 31, res. Natick, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Moynahan, Thomas: age 41, res. Wayland, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, July 30, '65 ; no later information. Oakes, Ensign A. : age 18, res. Williamstown, mustered Feb. 18, '64; died of wounds at Fredericksburg, Va. ; no date recorded. O'Connor, Timothy: age 22, res. Cambridge, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. O'Donahue, John: age 31, res. Lynn, mustered Feb. 6, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65: trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. O'Keefe, Daniel: age 18, res. Milford, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. disability Feb. 20, '65 ; pres. address unknown. O'Neil, John: age 43, res. Stockbridge, mustered Feb. 18, '64; wounded, supposed dead, May 6, '64. Records of War. Dept. show that he died upon the battlefield of the Wilderness. May 6, '64. O'Sullivan, John : age 43, res. Becket, mustered Jan. 25, '64 ; dis. ex. of seiwice July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Parker, Warren C. : age 19, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Patterson, Henry: age 44, res. Sandisfield, mustered Jan. 25, '64; died at Petersburg, Va^, July 14, '64. Pearl. William N. : aye 26, res. Otis, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65: pres. address. Otis. Ma^. Peck, Thomas J. : age 21, res. Cambridge, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. order War Dept. Aug. 8, 'iio: trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Perkins, Henry S. : age 24, res. Newburyport, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, 'C>5 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Piatt, James: age 44, res. Millbury, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65: death reported November, L889. Radcliffe, George E. : aire 40, res. Chelmsford, mustered Feb. 9, '64 ; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, July 30, '65: trans, from 59th June 1. '65; no later information. 460 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Rathburn, William H. : age 27, res. Stockbridge, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. ex. of Bervice July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Reagan, John : age 44, res. Boston, mustered Feb. 9, '04; dis. order War Dept. '65; pres. address unknown. Reardon Timothy: age 27, res. Cambridge, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, ; 65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Reed Bradley: age 44, res. Charlestown, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Reed. Edwin R. : a, '65; death reported, date unknown. Benroy, Thomas; age 26, res. Cunrmington, mustered Jan. L'.">, '64; killed at Wilderness, Va., .May 6, '64. Blair, Frank: age It, res. Leominster, mustered Jan. '_'.".. '64; dis. disability Feb. 27, '65; death reported, dale unknown. Blauvelt. William H. ; age L8, res. Springfield, mustered Jan. 25, '6 I ; dis. order War Dept. June 21, '65; recent address, Cliff St., Worcester, Mass. Brean, Peter: age 18, res. Buekland, mustered Jan. 25, '64; trans, to V.R.C. March 15, '65; 16th Co., 2d Batt. ; hon. dis. Sept. 7. '65; pres. address unknown. Brown, John : age 18, res. Whately, mustered Jan. 25, '64; died at Anderson- \ille. (la.. Oct. 12, '64. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 463 Brown, Seva : age 33, res. Palmer, mustered Jan. 25, '64; killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64. Brudean, Alfred: age 24, res. Leicester, mustered Jan. 25, 'G4 ; deserted Feb. 2, '64; no later information. Bryant, Nahum : age 36, res. Springfield, mustered Jan. 25, '64 ; trans, to V.R.C. April 25, '65, 112 Co., 2d Batt. ; hon. dis. as Corp. Aug. 23, '65; pres. address, Springfield, Mass. Bryan, Michael : age 30, res. Springfield, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Burleigh, Asa D. : age 29, res. Worthington, mustered Jan. 25, '64; trans, to V.R.C, Sept. 30, '64, Co. I, 10th Regt. ; hon. clis. July 26, '65; death re- ported at reunion of '84 on account of wounds received in battle. Burr, Charles: age 42, res. Millbury, mustered Feb. 18, '64; killed at Wilder- ness, Va., May 6, '64. Cahill, John: age 21, res. Northampton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; killed at Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, '64. Carpenter, Andrew N. : age 28, res. Monson, mustered Jan. 25, '64; deserted April 16, '64; bounty jumper; no other record and no address. Cheeney, George N. : age 22, res. Northbridge, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. order War Dept., May 25, '65; wounded June 17, '64; pres. address unknown. Cheeney, George W. : age 19, res. Topsfield, mustered Jan. 14, '64; dis. order War Dept. Aug. 8, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Coburn. Joseph : age 22, res. Leominster, mustered Jan. 25, '64 ; deserted Feb. 18, '64; no other record and no address. Coleman, John M. : age 44, res. Newburyport, mustered Jan. 14, '64; dis. disa- bility July 28, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Collins, Thomas : age 44, res. Leominster, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. disability June 29, '64; pres. address unknown. Corbett, John: age 42, res. New Braintree, mustered Jan. 25, '64; killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64. Cudworth, Edwin: age 20, res. Oxford, mustered Jan. 25, '64; killed at Peters- burg, Va., March 25, '65. Demarets, Alexander: age 21, res. West Springfield, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. disability May 2, '65; dis. as Oliver De Merrett; pres. address unknown. Demon, Henry: age 22, res. Springfield, mustered Jan. 25, '64; deserted Feb. 20, '64; Rouses Point Canadian; no other record and no address. Dennis, William : age 35, res. Cambridge, mustered Feb. 4, '64; dis. disability Aug. 21, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; trans, to 21st V.R.C. and clis. Aug. 21, '65. Dorman, Anson A. : age 34, res. Palmer, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65 ; pres. address, Belchertown, Mass. Dorr, Daniel L. : age 39, res. Sterling, mustered Jan. 25, '64 : dis. disability June 29, '64; pres. address unknown. 464 FIFTY-SEVENTH KEGIMEXT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Drake, Eleazer C. : age 44, res. Monson, mustered Jan. 25, '64: died at Ander- sonville, Ga., June 30, '64. Duncan, Walter H. : age 20, res. Palmer, mustered Jan. 25, 'G4 ; dis. order War Dept. Aug. 9, 'G4 ; pi'es. address, Indian Orchard. Mass. Duren. Charles C. : age 21, res. Groton, mustered Feb. 4, '64 ; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; no later information. Durgin, Thomas: age 19, res. Salem, mustered Feb. 4, '64; dis. ex. of service, July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Elliott, George: aire 19, res. Buckland, mustered Feb. 25, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Farrell. Thomas: age 24, res. Springfield, mustered Jan. 25, '64; killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64. Finn, Bartholomew: age 22, res. Hatfield, mustered Jan. 25, '64; missing July 30, '64 ; supposed to have been killed in battle. Ford, Alden, Jr.: age 32, res. Charlestown, mustered Feb. 1, '64: dis. order War Dept. June 13, '65; trans, from 59th June 1. '65; pres. address un- known. Foster, Alonzo T. : age 35, res. Charlestown, mustered Feb. 4, '64: dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1. '65 ; pres. address unknown. Foster, Edward: aire 35, res. Boston, mustered Feb. 4, '64; dis. order War Dept. June 7, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Gokey, Benjamin: age 18, res. Palmer, mustered Jan. 25, '61 ; dis. ex. of ser- vice, absent wounded, July 30, '65; no later information. Gosler, Oliver: age 19. res. Leicester, mustered Feb. IS, '64: missing May 24, '64; no other record ; deserted: this from personal memory. Gray, John: age '■>-, res. Northampton, mustered Jan. 25, '64; deserted Feb. 2, ill : no address and no other record. Halloran, James O. : age 24. res. Northampton, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. disability Oct. 29, '64; pres. address unknown. Haley, Jeremiah : age 25, res. Marlboro, mustered April 21, '64 : dis. order War Dept . June 20, '65 : trans, from 59th June 1. '65; pre-, address unknown. Hammond, George M. : age 22, res. Palmer, mustered Feb. 18, '64; killed at battle of Wilderness, Va., Maj 6, '64. Hapgood, Henry H. : age ii, res. Marlboro, mustered Feb. I, '64; dis. ex. of service July 80, '65; trans, from 59th June 1. '65; pres. address unknown. Hastings. William O. : age 35, res. Leominster, mustered Jan. 25, '64 ; killed at Petersburg, Va.., Aug. 5, '6 1 . Hazen, Ralph: age 10, res. Easthampton, mustered Jan. 25, '64 : dis. order War Dept. June 12, '65; pres. address unknown. Howe, Stephen A. : age 22, res. Marlboro, mustered Feb. I. '64 \ dis. ex. of ser- vice July 80, '65 ; trans, from 59th June I, '65; pres address, Marlboro, .Mass Howath, William : age 33, res. Sonicrvillc. mustered Feb. I- '6 I : 'lis. ex. of Ber- \ 'ice July 80, '65; trans, from 59th June I, '65; pres. address unknown. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 465 Hughes, Thomas: age 35, res. Monson, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65 ; died (reported drowned) at Three Rivers, Mass. ; date unknown. Jackson, James: age 18, res. Palmer, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Johnson, Henry : age 35, res. Charlestowu, mustered Feb. 4, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 50th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Jones, Eben : age 44, res. Palmer, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. disability; no date; no later information. Karrigan, Martin: age 34, res. Ware, mustered Feb. 8, '64; trans, to V.R.C.; dis. July 25, '65; death reported without date. Kenfield, Henry M. : age 30, res. Belchertown ; mustered Jan. 25, '64; trans, to V.R.C. ; 14th Co., 2d Batt. ; hon. dis. Nov. 23, '65. La Bastions, Joseph : age 26, res. Easthampton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; deserted March 29, '64 ; Rouses Point Canadian looking for bounty ; no other record. Lane, George P. : age 35, res. Cambridge, mustered Feb. 4, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Lapoint, Joseph E. : age 22, res. Easthampton, mustered Jan. 25, '64 ; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Laraby, Peter: age 19, res. Leominster, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice, absent sick, July 30, '65 ; no later information. Loker, Loren : age 45, res. Princeton, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Long, James: age 20, res. Concord, mustered Feb. 4, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Longdt, Joseph: age 19, res. Wendell, mustered Jan. 25, '64; killed at Wilder- ness, Va., May 6,. '64. Lovett, John M. : age 3S, res. Somerville, mustered Feb. 4, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Mahan, Thomas: age 33, res. Princeton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. order War Dept. June 28, '65; pres. address unknown. Manly, William H. : age 23, res. Springfield, mustered Jan. 25, '64 ; rlis. disa- bility June 21, '64; did not go with the regt. to the held; pres. address unknown. Martins, Newell B. : age 18, res. Stoneham, mustered Feb. 4, '64 ; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. McCarty, Michael: age 35, res. New Braintree, mustered Jan. 25, '64; missing May 24, '64; probably killed; no later information. McClellan, Alexander: age 30, res. Palmer, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dishon. dis. Sept. 15, '65, by sentence Gen. Court Martial; pres. address unknown. McCoy, Robert : age 35, res Springfield, mustered Jan. 25, '64 ; killed at Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64. McNamara, John: age 42, res. Cummington, mustered Jan. 25, '64; trans, to V.R.C, 14th regt., Sept. 10, '64; dis. July 31, '65, ex. of service; pres. address unknown. 30 466 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. McNamee, Patrick: age 32, res. Easthampton, mustered Feb. 18, '(54; trans, to V.R.C. K, 11th regt.. dis. Aug. 8, '65; pres. address, Easthampton. Mass. Norcross, Otis C. : age 27, res. Opton, mustered Jan. L'.">. '64 ; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pros, address unknown. Murdock, Charles H. : age 30, res. Palmer, mustered Jan. 2f>, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; Vet. 21st Mass.: wounded in battle of Chantilly; address. Three Rivers, Mass. Murphy, William : age 23, res. Salem, mustered Feb. 4. '64 ; dis. ex. of service July 30 '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Nash, Henry H. : age 37, res. Boston, mustered Feb. 4, . '04; dis. order War Dept. May 18, '65; death reported in '81. Pasco, Cephas B. : age 27, res. Palmer, mustered Jan. 25, '<;( ; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; death reported in 76. Pasco, George W. : age 19, res. rainier, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice, absent sick, July 30, '65; no later information. Pease. John P.: age 31, res. Natick, mustered Feb. I. '64; dis. disability June 12, '65; trans, from 59th June 1. '65; pres. address, Portland, Me. Peckham, Henry M. : aye 28, res. Boston, mustered Feb. i, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1. '(!.">: pres. address unknown. Peckham, Samuel H. : age 30, res. Charlestown, mustered Feb. 1. '64; trans. from 59th June 1. '65; reported as having died while prisoner of war at Danville. Va. : no later information. Pike, Charles F. : age 23, res. Worcester, mustered Feb. 18, '64; trans, to 4th Co., 2d Batt., V.R.C. ; dis. as Corp., Sept. 6, '65; pres. address unknown. Proctor. Alfred: aye 39, res. Boston, mustered Feb. 4, '64; dis. order War Dept. June '_'. '65; trans, from 59th June 1. '65; pies, address unknown. Ring, Benjamin- age 15, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. disability June 29, '64; did not go to the fronl with regt.; pres. address unknown. Roberts, Thomas H. : age 23, its. Berkley, mustered Feb. I . '6 1 ; dis. ex. of ser- \ie Navy; on the Niagara as first-class musician from June 29, '60, to June 20, '62; pres. address unknown. Roster. James J.: age 31, re-. Cambridge, mustered April 21, '64; dis. order War Dept. June L2, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '66; pre-, address un- knou n. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 467 Russell. Loren: age 24, res. Springfield, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. disability June 29, '64; pres. address unknown. Ruth, Richard A. : age 18, res. Roxbury, mustered Feb. 4, '64; dis. order Gen. Dix, June 13, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Ryan. James B. : age 21, res. West Springfield, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. disa- bility June 29, '64; pres. address unknown. Rockwood, George C. : mustered Jan. 14, '64; dis. July 30, '65, as absent sick; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; no later information. Sawyer, Thomas G. : age 18, res. Stow, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. order War Dept. June 2, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Sharp, Edward: age 19, res. Woburn, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. order War Dept. June 2, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Shea, James: age 22, res. Hatfield, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, July 30, '65 ; no later information. Short, John ; age 27, res. Orange, mustered Jan. 25, '64; died of wounds at Arlington, Va., July 28, '64. Smith, Samuel S. : age 40, res. Leominster, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, "65: former address, Leominster. Mass. St Dennis. Alfred : age 20, res. Buckiaud, mustered Jan. 25, '64 ; dis. ex. of ser- vice, absent sick, July 30, '65; no later information. St. Onge, Charles: age 22, res. Ashlield, mustered Jan. 25, '64; deserted April 25, '64: Canadian bounty jumper: no later information. Sullivan, Cornelius: age 30. res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 25, '64; deserted April 17, '64; Rouses Point bounty jumper; no later information. Sweeney, Morgan: age 21. res. Salem, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. order War Dept. June 7, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Teague. Charles C. : age 26, res. Cambridge, mustered Feb. 4, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1. '65; recent address, Salem, Mass. Thompson, Asa: age 34, res. Palmer, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. disability May 18. '()5: death reported, no date. Timothy, Thomas : age 44, res. Northampton, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. disa- bility March 1, '65; pres. address, Northampton. Mass. Tollman, David H. : age 29, res. Ware, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. disability June 13, '65; pres. address unknown. Turner, Charles M. : age 18, res. Springfield, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. disa- bility June 29, '64; pres. address unknown. Turner, Richard S. ; age 40, res. Springfield, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. order War Dept. Feb. 12, '65; pres. address unknown. Walsh, Matthias: age 27,' res. Lynn, mustered Feb. 4, '61; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; recent address, Lynn, Mass. Welch, Thomas N. : age 18, res. Leominster, mustered Jan. 25, '64; missing July 30, '64: prisoner of war. Wetherby, Warren S. : age 30, res. Springfield, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, July 30, '65 ; no later information. 468 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. White, Lorenzo : age 23, res. Palmer, mustered Jan. 25, '04 ; killed at Wilder- ness. 7a., May 6, '64. Winch, Joseph B. : age 24, res. Buekland, mustered Jan. 25, 'G4 ; dis. order War Dept. Aug. 15, '65; recent address, Leicester, Mass. Young. Joseph: age 29, res. Orange, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dishonorably dis. Feb. 9, '65; cause unknown; record and address since unknown. COMPANY F. Bartlett. James F., 1st Sergt. : age 24, res. Fitchbiirg, mastered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address, Fitchburg, Ma-s. Bigelow, Calvin A., 1st Sergt.: age 21, res. Bolton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. as supernumerary June 13, '65 ; pres. address, Fitchburg. Mass. Davis. Oscar D., 1st Sergt.: age 30, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; deserted June 12, '64; no later information. Clark, Caleb, Sergt.: age 18, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service .luly 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Farnsworth. Rufus G., Sergt.: age 23, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. order War Dept. June 28, '65; pres. address. Fitchburg, Mass. Hastings, John M., Sergt. : age 37, res. Bolton, mustered Feb. is. '64; missing May 13, '64; no later information. Lang. Thomas, Sergt.: age 21, res. Dorchester, mustered Feb. 20. '64; dis. order War Dept. Aug. L0, v,:> ; trans, from 59th June l, '65; pres. address unknown. Richards. John, Sergt. : age 2'.'. res. Newbury, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from f>:>tli June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Vickery. Charles W., Ser^t. : age 18, res. Hancock, mustered April 6, "61 ; dis. ex. of service, .July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Burke, John, Corp.: age 36, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service, July, 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Davis. Freeman, Corp. : age 21, res. Bolton, mustered Feb. L8, '64; killed in battle of Wilderness May 6, '64. Dunn. William S., Corp.: age 23, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. Is. '64; dis. disability Nov. 80, '64; pres. address. Marlboro. Mass. Farrill, Martin, Corp.: age 24, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. IS, '64; dis ex. of service July 80, '65; pres. address. Fitchburg, Mass. Southwick, Francis, Corp.: age 21, res. Bolton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. order War Dept. June 10, '65; pres. address unknown. Flynn, James F., Mus. : aL r e 18, res. Roxbury, mustered Feb 20, '64; dis. ex. 01 service July 80, '65; trans, from 69th June 1, '65; recent address. Roxbury, Mass. Hall, Rodney, Mus.: age 18, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. is, '64; dis. order War Dept. Aug. 10, '65; pres. address unknown. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 469 Wetherbee, Warren S., Mus. : age 18, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address, Fitchburg, Mass. Allen, Horace B. : age 19, res. Wendell, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. order "War Dept. Aug. 10, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Babbitt, Charles W. : age 30, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. order General Auger, Jan. 27, '65; death reported Sept. 10, '86. Bachant, Joseph: age 18, res. Worcester, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Baker, John : age 22, res. Sutton, mustered Feb. 18, '64, deserted April 16, '64; bounty jumper; no later record. Barnes, Charles H. : age 27, res. Gardner, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. order War Dept. July 7, '65; pres. address, Furnace, Worcester County, Mass. Barnes, Willard F. : age 25, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; pres. address, Standish, Me. Bartlett, George A. : age 18, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64 ; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address, Concord, Mass. Barry, Edward: age 21, res. Dorchester, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. order War Dept. July 10, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Barry, Michael: age 40, res. Lawrence, mustered Feb. 20, '64; died in rebel prison; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; notice of death received War Dept. June 19, '65. Beckwith. Herbert D. : age 21, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; died at Petersburg, Va., Jan. 18, '65. Benson, William G. : age 34, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, July 30, '65 ; no later information ; pres. residence, Fitchburg, Mass. Blood, Charles F. : age 21, res. Burlington, mustered Feb. 13, '65; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; enlisted for one year ; death reported Dec. 27, '87. Bourdon, Augustine: age 18, res. Windsor, mustered April 6, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address, 311 Adams St., Boston, Mass. Brannon, Patrick: age 42, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; death reported Feb. 21, '90; name recorded at War Dept as Brannon, but he signed rolls as Brennan. Brennan, Gerold : age 32, res. Stoughton, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Brennan, Patrick: age 21, res. Dorchester, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Brigham, Ozro A.: age 39, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; killed at Fort Stedman, Va., March 25, '65. Brown, Robert: age 22, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Bruce, John: age 34, res. Burlington, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. 470 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Byron. John: age 18, res. Boston, mustered Feb. 20, 'G4 ; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; traus. from 50th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Carey, James: age 19, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18. '64 ; dis. order War Dept. June 26, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Carey, Michael: age 25, res. Milford, mustered Feb. IS, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; recent address, Medway, Mass. Casey, John : age 26, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address, Fitchburg, Mass. Changyon, Joseph: age 21, res. Fitchburg, mustered Fell. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Changyon. Levi: age 22, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. IS, '64; deserted March 13, '64; since unknown. Changyon, William : (res. and age unknown) mustered April 6, '64 ; dis. Nov. 14, '64, by order War Dept. ; since unknown. Classon, Henry: age 38, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice, July 30, '65; pres. address, Fitchburg. .Mass. Clancy, Peter: age 18, res. Newburyport, mustered Feb. 20, '64: dis. order War Dept. June 7, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Clarage, William : age 40, res. Lynn, mustered Feb. 20, Y,| ; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65: traus. from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Costello, Thomas T. : age 28, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. IX, '64; dis. ex. of service .July 30, '65; address, Fitchburg, Mass. Coughlin, John : age 43, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; pres. address, Fitchburg. Mass. Crawford, John S. : age 22, res. Sutton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; deserted April 17. '64; bounty jumper ; do later record. Daley, Charles: age 33, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64 : dis. e\. of ser- vice, absent, wounded, July 30, '65; no later information. Day, David S. : age 25, res. Lowell, mustered Feb. 20, '64 ; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; (Corporal) trans, from 59th June 1, '65: recent address, 120 Bartlett St., Charlestown, Mass. Delany, John : age 31, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. order War Dept. May 30, '65; pres. address, Fitchburg, Mas-. Derx, Conrad N. : age 18, res. Charlestown, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June l. '66; pres. address unknown. Derby, Edward M. : age :'.i», res. Fitchburg, mastered Feb. is, '64; killed at Spottsj h ania, \'a.. Maj 12, '64. Dolan, Timothy: age 26, res. Fitchburg, mustered I'd'. 18, 'I'd : dis. e\. of ser- vice July 30, '•'••">; address prior to '90, Clinton. Mass; since unknown. Edgecomb, George R. : age 35, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service Julj 80, '65; death reported In Fitchburg. May 2, '7.".. Ellis, Alfred G. : age 20, res. Charlestown, mustered Feb. 20, '64 ; dis. ex. of ser- vice Jul) 80, '65 ; trans, from 59th June L, '65; pres. address unknown. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 471 Fabyan, Joseph: age 42, res. Weston, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Flagg, Edwin A. : age 18, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. disability May 25, '65; died at Fitzwilliam, N.H., of blood poison, caused by wound in the hip received in battle of Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, '64'; date of death April, '96. Flanders, Wallace W. : age 23, res. Salisbury, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Frost, James M. : age 18, res. Washington, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. order War Dept. July 3, '65; pres. address unknown. Fuller, Henry: age 28, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. order War Dept. May 25, '65; pres. address unknown. Farnsworth, Joseph W. : age 19, res. Fitchburg, mustered April 16, '64; dis. June 2, '65, order War Dept. ; pres. address, 403 Crescent St., Waltham, Mass. Flaherty. Bartery : age , res. — ■ — -, enlisted in 59th Mass. Feb. 15, '64; trans, to 57th June 1, '65 ; must, out by ex. of service July 30, '65 ; since unknown. Gaul, John: age 27, res. Brookfield, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent wounded, July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; no later information. Gardner, Horace O. : age 19, res. Hancock, mustered April 6, '04 ; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Gerran, Ezra: age 24, res. Yarmouth, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Gibbons, Daniel: age 19, res. Ashby, mustered Feb. 9, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Goddard, Wesley D.: age 39, res. Royalston, mustered Feb. 18, '64; died at Petersburg, Va., Aug. 18, '64; mortally wounded by the explosion of a shell from a Confederate battery while on duty in the trenches in front of Petersburg, Va. Gove, Alfred E. : age 19, res. Milford, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65 ; wounded May 6, '64, and March 25, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Gould, Austin K. : age 18, res. Bolton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. order War Dept. June 17, '65 ; pris. of war at Andersonville, Ga. ; died Sept. 8, '93. Hanrahan, Edward: age 40, res. Bolton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65 ; death reported in '90. Harrington, Clement A.: age 18, res. Koxbury, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. order War Dept. Aug. 8, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 : pres. address unknown. Harris, Michael: age 34, res. Longmeadow, mustered Feb. 18, '64; died of wounds at Fredricksburg, Va., May 12, '64. Harris, Thomas W. : age 26, res. Cambridge, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; address previous to '90, Woburn, Mass. ; since unknown. Hennessey, John: age 37, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65 ; death reported at reunion of '94. 472 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Henry, George A.: age 21, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; trans, to Co. K, 22d V.R.C., Sept. 2, '64: dis. Aug. 9, '65: pres. address, 15 Austin St., Carnbriclgeport, Mass. ; has been carried on record in War Dept., as John A. Henry, but mistake recently corrected. (L.W.D., Nov. 14. '92.) Hosea, Robert : age 19, res. Leominster, mustered Feb. 20, 'G4 ; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address 127 Chelsea St., East Boston, Mass. Hoyt, John E. : age 21, res. Somerville, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65: pres. address unknown. Humphrey. Thomas: age 19, res. North Bridgewater, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Huntress, William H. : age 23, res. Haverhill, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; since must, out unknown. Keene, Granville H. : age 36, res. Lowell, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; recent address. Water- town, Mass. Keilty, Daniel: age 40, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; missing May 6, '64; no later information; probably killed or prisoner of war at Wilder- ness. Larew, Isaac J. : age 35, res. Cambridge, mustered Feb. 20, '64 ; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '^5; pres. address unknown. Lawless, John: age 36, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Luchay, Abraham: age 21, res. Spencer, mustered April 6, '64; missing May 6, '64; no later information; probably killed in Wilderness, or prisoner <»l" war. Lund, John T. : age 19, res. Winrhendon, mustered Feb. 20, '64 ; dis. ex. of ser- \ ire July 30, '65 : trans, from 59th June 1. '65; since dis. unknown. Maynard, John P. : age 38, res. Dudley, mustered Feb. 18, '64; killed at Wilder- ness, Va., May 6, '64. McCarthy, Patrick: age 29, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. IS, '64; died at Washington, D.C., July 5, '64. McCorkell, William : age 18, res. Dorchester, mustered Feb. 20, '64 ; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; trans, from 69th June l, '65; pres. res. Stoughton, McDowell. John : age 20, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64 ; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 80, '65 ; pres. address, Fitchburg, Mass. McGonn, Michael: age 39, res. Palmer, mustered Aug. 18, '64 : dis. order War Dept. June 15, '•',.".; res. F.astliainpton. Mass. Mclntire, Albion: age i*. res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '61: trans, to Co. B, llth \ lit '.. Ma\ 6, '65; dis. Aug. 8, '65; recent address, Worcester, Mas- McMaster, George C. : age 34, res. Bturbridge, mustered April 6, '64 ; missing May 6, '64; do later Information; probably killed or prisoner of war in Wilderness. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 473 McSherry. John : age 33, res. Shelburne, mustered April 6, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Miles. Michael: age 40, res. Fitchburg, mustered April 6, '64; missing July 30, '64; no later information; probably killed or prisoner of war in Wilderness. Murray. Timothy : age 30, res. Charlestown, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Nickerson, Albert M. : age 21, res. Sheffield, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. order War Dept. June 28, '65; pro. to Corp. ; pres. address unknown. Norwood, George : age 39, res. Bernardston, mustered Dec. 20, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Nourse. Stephen H. : age 36, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; death reported May 16, '90. O'Brien, Darby: age 21, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; Petersburg, Va., killed on picket duty July 5, '64. O'Donnell, Michael: age 30, res. Bolton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. order War Dept. June 10, '65 ; death reported May 15, '79. Parks, Frederick W. : age 19, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; died at Petersburg, Va., March 25, '65; killed in battle of Fort Stedman, Va. Peabody, William T. : age 44, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; died at Andersonville, Ga., Sept. 2, '64. Pine, Edmund : age 26, res. Westfield, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; pres. address unknown. Ploof, Louis F. : age 18, res. Easthampton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; deserted March 29, '64; record in civil life unknown. Portland, Patrick: age 31, res. Fitchburg, mustered April 6, '64; dis. disability July 13, '65 ; pres. address, 122 Salem St., Boston, Mass. Putney, Burrill : age 35, res. South Danvers, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; former address, Woburn, Mass. Raymond, Oren T. : age 18, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; killed in battle of Wilderness May 6, '64. Raymond, Peter: age 21, res. Greenfield, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; since dis. unknown. Richards. James: age 19, res. Lee, mustered Feb. 18, '64; missing May 6, '64; killed in battle of Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64. Roche, Redmond: age 31, res. Dudley, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice, absent sick, July 30, '65; no later information. Ryan, Charles: age 18, res. Adams, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65. Ryan, Martin: age 29, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; missing June 17, '64 ; no later information : probably killed in battle or prisoner of war. Sabin, George F. : age 20, res. Bolton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; trans, to Co. B, 19th V.R.C., Jan. 28, '65; dis. as Sergt. Aug. 30, '65; pres. address, Fitchburg, Mass. 474 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Sawyer, Edgar F. : age 26, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; death reported May 14. '94. Seward, Garland S. : age 43, res. Dennis, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 1-50, '65; trans, from 59th June 1, 'H5: pres. address unknown. Sherman, Edwin P. : age 30, res. Adams, mustered April 6, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65: pres. address unknown. Sheahen, Redmond: age 21, res. Bolton, mustered Feb. 18, '64; deserted April 23, '64: obtained bounty and deserted; since unknown. Simmons, Wesley T. : age 18, res. Washington, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; pres. address unknown. Skye. William: age 29, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; died at Wash- ington, D.C.. June 6, '64. Smith, Herman J. : age 27, res. Sandwich, mustered Feb. 20, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 : trans, from 59th June 1, '65; pres. address unknown. Southey. John: age 22, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice, absent wounded, .Inly 30, '65; no later information. Stevens. Alden W. ; age 21, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '61: trans, to V.RC, Aug. 26, '64; dis from 59th Co. (Sergt.) Aug. 23, '65; recent address, Soldiers' Home, Togus. Me. Sterner. Matthew: age 24, res. Easthampton, mustered Feb. 18, '61: dis. disa- bility Aug. 25, '64; record since dis. unknown: address unknown. Stock. Henry : age 22, res. Hancock, mustered April 6, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; record and res. since discharge unknown. Sullivan. John: age 29, res. Worcester, mustered Feb. is, v, I ; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65: death reported, no date. Sweet, Daniel J. : age 18, res. Williamstown, mustered Feb. 18, '64: dis. order War Dept. Oct.:'., '64: by order Of the President; pardoned for desertion Turner. William A. : age 26, res. Belmont, mustered Feb. 20, '64 ; dis. ex. of ser- vice .July 30, '65: trans, from 59th June 1. '65: pres. address unknown. Twiss, James P.: age 31, res. Longmeadow, mustered Feb. 18, '64; died at Washington, D.C., Aug. 2, '64. Wade, Charles H. ; age 18, res. Boston, mustered Feb. 20, ^4; dis. ex. of ser- vice July 30, '65 ; trans, from 59th June I, '65; pres. address unknown. Watts. George : age 23, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. is. '64; died at Citj Point, Va.. Jul] 22, '64. Wilkins, Aaron: age 42, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; trans, to 38th Co., 2d Bat'n, V.R.C. ; pro. Corp., dis. April 7. '65; death reported Aug. 5, '87. Wilkins, Henry A : age 18, res. Fitchburg, mustered Feb. 18, '64; trans, to Co. r Ben Ice, as absent sick, no later Information. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 477 Curtis, David B. : age 18, res. Douglas, mustered March 10, '64 ; dis. July 30, '65, by ex. of service, as absent sick, no later information. Dailey, Cornelius J. : age 35, res. Orange, mustered March 10, '64; dis. July 30, '65, by ex. of service, recent address, Brushton, N.Y. Damon, George B. : age 19, res. Leominster, mustered March 10, '64; deserted April 23, '64; no record of bounty; recent address, Leominster, Mass. Danyon, Horace : age 21, res. Pittsfleld, mustered March 10, '64 ; died in Wash- ington, D.C., July 18, '64. Davenport. Elisha C. : age 21, res. Worcester, mustered March 10, '64; killed in battle of the Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64. Day, William : age 19, res. Sprinafleld. mustered March 10, '64; killed in battle of the Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64. (In Co. C.) Donovan, Dennis: age 19, res. Fitchburg, mustered March 10, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65, as absent sick, death reported at regimental reunion of '94. Drake, William M. : age 23, res. Westfield, mustered March 10, '64; dis. June 17, '65 ; by order War Dept. ; record and address since, unknown. Ewell, Isaiah A. : age 19, res. Marshfleld, mustei'ed March 10, '64; dis. for dis- ability, Co. K, Dec. 2S, '64; pres. address, Marshfleld, Mass. Ewell, Melvin : age 26, res. Marshfleld, mustered March 10, '64; trans. toV.R.C. and dis. from 23d Co., 2d Batt., Aug. 12, '65; no date of trans.; death reported in 1891. Fessenden, Thomas : age 18, res. Cambridge, mustered March 4, '64 ; dis. July 30. '65, by ex. of service; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; record and address since, unknown. Fitzgerald. Garrett: age 21, res. Springfield, mustered April 6, '64; dis. May 23, '65, for disability; pres. address, 175 Bridge St., Salem, Mass. Fitts, Lyman B. : age 26, res. Marshfleld, mustered March 10, '64; dis. July 30, '65 (from Co. K), by ex. of service; record and address since, unknown. Flagg, William H. : age 29, res. Springfield, mustered March 10, '64; dis. for disability June 7, '65; death reported Jan. 1, '71. Flanagan, William : age 19, res. Springfield, mustered March 10, '64; killed in battle of Wilderness May 6, '64. Fleming, John: age 30, res. Worcester, mustered March 10, '64; dis. by order War Dept., July 3, '65 ; record aud address since, unknown. Fletcher, Lorenzo: age 19, res. Northboro, mustered March 10, '64; died in Washington, D.C., May 10, '64. Fogerty. Andrew: age 39, res. Somerville, mustered March 4, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, by ex. of service; record and address since, unknown. Foss, Charles H. : age 39, res. Woburn, mustered March 4, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, by ex. of service; recent address, Woburn, Mass. Frelick, Charles W. : age 19, res. Worcester, mustered March 10, '64 ; died from wounds received in battle, in Washington, D.C., June 27, '64. 478 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Fuller. Moses F. : aire 28, res. Sherborn, mustered March 4, '04; trans, from 59th June 1. "65; dis. ex. of service July 30, '05; lecord and address since, unknown. Gaskell, John N. : age 37, res. Douglas, mustered March 10, '64; killed in battle of Cold Harbor, Va., June 1, 'G4. Goff, Frederick E. : age 18, res. Westfteld, mustered March 10, '04; dis. July 30, '65, by ex. of service; death reported at Westfleld, Mass., Aug. 10, '95. Gubbins, Michael: age 21, res. Littleton, mustered March 4, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '05, by ex. of service; record and address since, unknown, Hadley, Cyrus: age 40, res. Leominster, mustered March 10, '64: deserted Feb. 1, '65, from Dale Gen. Hosp., Worcester, Mass.; no later record. Ham, John : age 21, res. Boston, mustered April 6, '64; deserted April 23, '64; bounty juniper; no later record. Harvey, John F. : age 22. res. Medlield, mustered March 4. '61: trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, as absent sick; no later information. Hawkins, Luther C. : age 42. res. Dudley, mustered March 10, '64; dis. for disability June 19. '65; death reported in '75. Hayes, James: age 24, res. Abington, mustered March 1. '0 1 : trans, from 59th June 1. '65; dis. July 30, '65, by ex. of service; record and address since, unknown. Hillard, Joseph H. : age 1(». res. Rockport, mustered March I, '04 i trans, from 59th June 1. '65 ; dis. for disability June 10, '65 ; record and address since, unknown. Hood. Thomas R. P.: age 2!), res. South Reading, mustered March I. '64; trans, from 59th June I, '65; dis. by ex of service July 30, '65; record and address since, unknown. Horton. Joseph : age 25, res. Chicopee, mustered March 10, '64; died June 2, '64, in Washington, D.C, cause unknown. Hyde. William: age L8, res. Somerville, mustered March 4, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, by ex. Of service; record and address since, unknown. Hume. Robert: age L8, res. Cambridge, mustered March I, '64; trans, from 59th June i. "65; dis. July 30, '65, by reason of ex. of service; record and address since, unknown. Kehoe. Mark: age 35, res. Dedham, mustered March 1. '64; trans, from 59th June i. '65; dis. ex. of service, as absent sick, Juh 30, '65; no later informal ion. Kennedy, Patrick: age 27. res. Abington, mustered March I. '64; trans, from .v.uii June I, '65; dis. July 20, '65, for disability; record and address since, unknown. Kimball, Herman: age 21, res. Cambridge, mustered March I, '64; trans, from b June i '65; dis. .iui\ 30, '65, ex. of service; record and address since, unkiiow n. Laley, Frank: au< 28, res. Hinsdale, mustered March lo. '64; dis. June i, '65, order War Dept. pris. of war) ; record and address unknown. ENLISTED MEN. 479 Lashua, Frank: age 21, res. Hinsdale, mustered March 10, '64; killed May 6, '64, in battle of the Wilderness. Lee, Dennis: age 44, res. Springfield, mustered March 10, '04; died of wounds received in action Sept. 7, '64, in Washington, D.C. Leland, Abner A.: age 44, res. Douglas, mustered March 10, 'G4 ; died in Petersburg, Va., June 22, '64; cause unknown; probably of wounds re- ceived in action. Leslie, James: age 28, res. Hinsdale, mustered March 10, '64; died March 25, '65, at Petersburg, Va., of wounds received in battle. Lewis, Timothy H. : age 18, res. Fitchburg, mustered March 10, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; recent address, Westport, N.H. Leyden, Daniel: age 24, res. Abington, mustered March 4, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; record and address since, unknown. Longfellow, Theodore: age 24, res. Somerset, mustered March 4, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service ; record and address since, unknown. Lord, Alvin : age 22, res. Cambridge, mustered March 4, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; record and address since, unknown. Lowe, James : age 34, res. Hinsdale, mustered April 6, '64; clis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; record and address since, unknown. Mallet, Masial : age 20, res. West Brookfleld, mustered March 10, '64; died May 20, '64, at Washington, D.C. McCarthy, Dennis : age 33, res. Abington, mustered Feb. 24, '64 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; clis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; record and address since, unknown. Melvin, Michael: age 19, res. Northampton, mustered March 10, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service, as absent sick; no later information. Miller, Wallace T. : age 22, res. Abington, mustered March 10, '64; dis. (cause not stated) Jan. 25, '65, in Co. K; present address, Rev. W. T. Miller, Springfield, Mass. Monahan, Daniel: age 35, res. Worcester, mustered March 10, '64; deserted April 3, '64; no record of bounty; no other information. Monroe, George A. : age 20, res. Grafton, mustered March 10, '64 ; dis. June 21, '65, order War Dept. ; record and address since, unknown. Morrissey, John : age 25, res. Uxbridge, mustered April 6, '64; dis. May 22, '65, order War Dept. ; died March 17, '92. Morrissey. Martin : age 43, res. Billerica, mustered Feb. 4, '61 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; dis. May 22, '(^5, order War Dept. ; record and address since, unknown. Moulton, N. Austin: age 41, res. Worcester, mustered March 10, '64; clis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; recent address, Brimfield, Mass. Mountain, Lewis: age 22, res. Douglas, mustered March 10, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service ; recent address, Douglas, Mass. 480 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Mulstead, Richard: age 40, res. Southboro, mustered March 10, '64: killed .May 24, '64, in battle of North Anna River, Va. Needham, James N. : age 28, res. New Braintree, mustered March 10, 'G4 : (lis. July 30, '65, ex. of service in Co. K; recent address. New Braintree, Ma's-. Nettleton. Joseph S. : age 21, res. Stoneham, mustered March 4, 'G4 : trans, from 59th June 1, '05; dis. July 28, '65, by order War Dept.; record ami ad- dress since, unknown. O'Connor, Daniel F. : age 18, res. Cambridge, mustered March 4, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65, and dis. July 30, '65, as absent wounded ; no later information. Parker, Carlos A. : age 26, res. Springfield, mustered March 10, '64; dis. July 12, '65, by order War Dept. as supernumerary (dis. as corporal) ; record and address since, unknown. Parker, Roswell : age 42, res. Greenfield, mustered March 4. '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; record and address since, unknown. Patterson. James W. ; age 19, res. Worcester, mustered April 6, '64; dis. Aug. 8, '65, by order War Dept.; record and address since, unknown. Phelps, Oscar B. : age 23, res. Leominster, mustered March 10, '64 : dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service, record and address since, unknown. Pike. Horace S. ; age 18, res. Leicester, mustered March 10, '64; dis. as Sergt. June 21, '65, by Order No. 77 War Dept., A.G.O., 1865, as supernumerary, by reason of consolidation; recent address, No. 12 Townseud St., Worcester, Mass. Pulsifer, George S. ; age 24, res. Cambridge, mustered March 4, '64 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. for disability June 9, '65, by order War Dept.; record and address since, unknown. Putnam. Rufus E. ; age 18, res. Pittsfield, mustered March 10, '64 ; trans, to Co. II. 9th V.R.C., Jan. 21, '65; dis. July 21, '65: record and address since. unknown. Ramsdell, Cyrus R. : age 18, res. Wilbraham, mustered March 10, '64 : died in Washington, D.C., Oct. 17. '64, from wounds received in battle. Reed, George E. : age 19, res. West Stockbridge, mustered March in. '64; killed in battle of Wilderness, Va., May 6, '61. Richmond, Jason H. : age 19, res. Holyoke, mustered March L0, '64 | dis. July 80, '65, ex. of service; record and address since, unknown. Robinson, Francis A. : age 22, res. Dorchester, mustered March 4, '64; trans. from 59th June L,'65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; record and ad- dress since, unknown. Roe, Patrick M. : age 23, res. Sharon, mustered March I. '64 ; trans, from 59th June ]. '65; dis. for disability July 11, '65: record and addreS8 since, un- known. Rosette, Victor: imr :':',. res. South Hadlev, mustered March 10, '64; died in Washington, D.C , Maj 16, '64, cause unknown. Rumney. Edwin E. : age 21, res. Springfield, mastered March 10, '64; dis. as Sergt. .1 nl \ 80, '65, ex. of service; record and address since, unknown. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 481 Sargent, Simon B. : age 34, res. Worcester, mustered March 10, '64; dis. Aug. 8, '65, by order War Dept. ; pres. address, 215 Pleasant St., Worcester, Mass. Seuce, Lewis: age 21, res. Gloucester, mustered March 4, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; record and address since, unknown. Shehan, Timothy : age 24, res. Springfield, mustered April 6, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; record and address since, unknown. Smith, Frank : age 19, res. Springfield, mustered March 10, '64; deserted April 23, '64; bounty jumper; no later information. Smith, Thomas : age 43, res. Boston, mustered March 4, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. Aug. 10, '65, order War Dept. ; record and address since, unknown. Soulie, Frederick: age 31, res. Northampton, mustered April 6, '64; trans, to Co. D, 19th V.R.C.; dis. as Sergt. July 31, '65, ex. of service; record and address since, unknown. Stackpole, Charles A. : age 31, res. Boston, mustered March 4, '64; trans, from 59th Mass. June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; record and resi- dence since, unknown. Starr, Joseph J.: age 34, res. Westfield, mustered March 10, '64; died of wounds received in battle at Petersburg, Va., June 17, '64. Stevens, Charles: age 21, res. Haverhill, mustered March 4, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; record and address since, unknown. Stevens, James H. : age 19, res. Cambridge, mustered March 4, '64 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; record and address since, unknown. Sullivan, Daniel: age 24, res. Worcester, mustered March 10, '64; dis. as Corp. May 25, '65, order War Dept. ; present address, Fitcnburg, Mass. Sullivan, George : age 19, res. Worcester, mustered March 10, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; pres. address, Worcester, Mass. Taft, Alfred C. : age 21; res. Worcester, mustered March 10, '64; deserted April 25, '64, and enlisted for three years under the name of George Jennings, May 14, '64, in Co. B, 11th Conn. Vols.; deserted from this regt. in front of Petersburg, Va., July 5, '64; surrendered to Provost Marshal at Worcester, Mass., March 28, '65, as of Co. G, 57th, dis. with Co., ex. of service, July 30, '65; received bounty for enlistment in 57th, but no record to show what the State of Conn, paid him; this record of desertion is from War Dept. in Washington ; no additional informa- tion as to how he served his country, and no record of his career after discharge. Thompson, Andrew C. : age 18, res. Pittsfielcl, mustered April 6, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; record and address since, unknown. Tierney, Francis : age 38, res. Cambridge, mustered March 4, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; di . July 30, '65, ex. of service; record and address since, unknown. Towner, John E. : age 22, res. Boston, mustered April 6, '64 ; deserted April 29, '64; Vet. of Co. G, 1st 111. Vols.; record and address since desertion unknown ; bounty jumper. 31 482 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Waite, Charles H. : age 19, res. Charlton, mustered March 10, '64; killed in battle of Wilderness, May 6, '64. Wakefield, Wendell P.: age 25, res. Reading, mustered March 4, "64; trans, from 59th June 1. '65; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; record and address since, unknown. Wallwork, John B. : age 19, res. Chelsea, mustered July 20, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; record and address since, unknown. Welch, Patrick : age 28, res. Dedham, mustered March 4, '64 ; trans, from 59th June 1,' 65; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; record and address since, unknown. Welch, John: age 20, res. Hingham, mustered May 16, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; record and address since, unknown. White, Albert : age 20, res. Grafton, mustered March 10, '64 ; deserted April 17, '64; bounty jumper ; no later record. White, Goss : age 28, res. Worcester, mustered March 10, '64 ; dis. June 16, '65, order War Dept. ; record and address since, unknown. White, John : age 22, res. Brookline, mustered April 6, '64; dis. ex. of service ■Inly 30, '65; record and address since, unknown. White, John : a.i>e 23, res. Winchcndon, mustered Feb. 20, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dishonorably dis to date from May 24, '65. per Special Order No 161. War Dept. A. G.O., dated Aug. 26, '65; held in confinement in Philadelphia County Jail, Pa., by the civil authorities ; charge unknown, linal disposition of the case unknown; record and address since, unknown. Wilcox, George H. : age 18, res. Pittsfleld, mustered March 10, '64: dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; record and address since, unknown. Willard. James J. : age 19; res. Worcester, mustered March 10, '64: killed in battle of Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64. Wing, Joseph : age 31, res. Springfield, mustered April 6, '64; deserted April 23, 'i',| ; no later information. Woodman, Horace F. : age 18, res. Newbury, mustered March I, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; record and address since, unknown. COMPANY II. Allen, Dwight D., 1st Sergt. : aire 26, res. Worcester, mustered .Ian. 11, '64; killed .Inly 80, '64, in battle of Crater, or Mine Kxplosion, in front of Petersburg, Va. Chase, Charles S., 1st Sergt.: age 22, res. Worcester, mustered .Ian. 11, '64; dis. ex. of Bervice Julj 30, '65 : record and residence since, unknown. Park. William c, ls1 Sergt.: age 18, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. LI, '64; died Jan. 81, '65, while a prisoner of war at Danville, Va. Bond, Herbert W.. Sergt.: age 18, res. WestborOUgh, mustered .Ian. 11, '64; killed in battle of Wilderness, Va., May 6, - 64. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 483 Connolly, William, Sergt. : age 21, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; residence soon after, No. 9 Grafton St., Worcester, Mass. Fox, Patrick W., Sergt. : age 21, res. Athol, mustered Jan. 11, '64; trans, to 58th Co. V.R.C., dis. Aug. 24, '65; residence and record since, unknown. Sargent, Charles A., Sergt. : age 21, res. West Cambridge, mustered March 12, '64; trans, to 57th June 1, '65; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; record and residence since, unknown. Stone, Henry D., Sergt. : age 19, res. Waltham, mustered March 12, '64; trans, to 57th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; residence after dis., 409 Atlantic Ave., Boston, Mass. Tourtelott, George W., Sergt. : age 19, res. Sutton, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service ; residence, Kansas City, Mo. Ames, Jacob, Corp. : age 40, res. Woburn, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; residence after dis., Woburn, Mass. Bullard, Ira B., Corp. : age 26, res. Sutton, mustered Jan. 11, '64; died May 24, '64, at Fredericksburg, Va., of wounds received in action. Carr, Joshua W., Corp.: age 18, res. Marlborough, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; residence since, Marlborough, Mass. Connell, Terrence O., Corp. : age 30, res. Cambridge, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. for disability from Moore Gen. Hosp., Philadelphia, Penn., Aug. 29, '65; residence and address since, unknown. Foster, Walter R., Corp. : age 18, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. July 30, '65, as Sergt., ex. of service; died in Worcester, Oct. 23, '79. Garrison, Henry, Corp. : age 25, res. Brookline, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; residence and address since, unknown. Howe, Willard P., Corp. : age 39, res. Bedford, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; dis. Aug. 5, '65, order War Dept. ; record and res- idence siuce, unknown. Park, Henry L , Corp. : age 19, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; killed in battle of North Anna River, Va., May 24, '64. Patch, George E., Corp. : age 20, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; trans, to Co. K, 10th regt. V.R.C., March 25, '65; dis. order War Dept Sept. 14, '65; residence, Chandler St., Worcester, Mass. Perkins, Uriah, Corp.: age 27, res. Woburn, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; latest address reported, 21 School St., North Woburn, Mass. White, Joseph, Corp.: age 21, res. West Boylston, mustered March 10, '64; killed May 18, '64, in battle of Spottsylvauia Court House, Va. Wilson, Charles H., Corp. : age 18, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. May 26, '65, order War Dept.; record and residence since, unknown. Willard, George W., Corp. : age 34, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; died of wounds received in battle Sept. 18, '64. 484 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Young. Charles E., Corp.: age 18, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; killed in battle of Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64. Kelly, Michael, Mus. : age 18, res. Cambridge, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; record and resi- dence since, unknown. Spencer, David F., Mus.: age 30, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; residence soon after, 12 Washington Sq., Worcester, Mass. Ainsworth. Otis D. : age 22, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. May 18, '65, order War Dept.; record and residence since, unknown. Aldridge, George E. : age 23, res. Hopkinton, mustered March 12. '64; trans. from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; residence, Upton, Mass. Anderson, James G. : age 18, res. Leominster, mustered Jan. 11, '64: dis. July 30, "65, ex. of service; recent address, Boston, Mass. Arnold, Nathan S. : age 26, res. Sutton, mustered Jan. 11, '64: dis. July 1. '64, order of Gen. Dix. Atkinson, Charles O. : age 24, res. Lynn, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. Aug. 10, 'C)3^ order War Dept.; record and resi- dence since, unknown. Bailey, Rasson : age 20, res. Sherborn, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. ex. of service to date from July 30, '65, absenl wounded; no later information. Barrett, John : age 28, res. Boston, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; latesl residence known. Worcester, Mas-.. Binney. Joseph H. : age 18, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '61; dis. Aug. 10, '65. order War Dept.; now practicing physician at Fullerton, Nance ( 'oiinty, Nebraska. Bowen. Isaac: age 33, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11. '(',( ; dis. July 30, '65, e\ of service; record and address since, unknown. Bowen. Michael: age 21, res New Braintree, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. May 9, '65, order War Dept.; record and residence since, unknown. Boyd, John : age 21, res Brookline, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June i. '65; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; record and .residence since, unknown. Brown. George A. : age 18, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '6 I: dis. May 22, '65, order War Dept.: pres. residence, Salem St., Worcester, Mas-. Brown. John S : age 32, res. Atlml. mustered Jan. 11. '64; dis. July 1. '64, order of Gen. Dix; pres. residence, Atlioi. Mass. Bullard. John L. : Bge I". res. Holliston, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1. '65; missing May 12, '64; no later information. Burredge, George w. ; age 18, res. Worcester, mustered Jan; LI, '64; dis. ex. of service Julj 80, '65; record and residence since, unknown. Caldwell. William M. : age 28, res Fitchburg, mustered Jan. 11. '64; killed in battle of Wilderness, Maj 6, '64. ENLISTED MEN. 485 Clarke, Hcrace, Jr. : age 35, res. Palmer, mustered Jan. 23, '64; died April 29, '64, from sunstroke, while on the march with the regiment in Virginia. Coleman, Richard, Jr. : age 22, res. Charlestown, mustered March 12, '64 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '05; dis. Aug. 10, '65, order War Dept.; residence since, unknown. Connors, Thomas : age 30, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service, as absent; died July 15, '67. Cummings. Joseph L. : age 38, res. Spencer, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. Aug. 8, '65, by order War Dept.; residence since, unknown. Doane, Amos L. : age 44, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. June 9, '65, order War Dept. ; present residence, 146 Beacon St., Worcester, Mass. Donavan, Jeremiah : age 1'.'. res. Stoneham, mustered April 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, 'C>5; dis. July 30, '65, order War Dept.; residence since, unknown. Ellick, Eli A. : age 18, res. Leominster, mustered Jan. 11, '64; filled in battle front of Petersburg, Va., June 17, '64. Emerson. George W. : age 33, res. Millbury, mustered Jan. 11, '64; died Aug. 27, '64, at Andersonville, Ga. (prisoner of war). Evans, Joshua : age 30, res. Oxford, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. May 12, '65, order War Dept. ; residence since, unknown. Ewing, Albert S. : age 26. res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; killed in battle of Wilderness", Va., May 6, '64. Fitts, Charles A. : age 18, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; died May 12, '64, of wounds received in battle of Spottsylvania Court House, Va. Fitzgerald, John: age 34, res. Dudley, mustered Oct. 31, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; residence since, unknown. Fogerty. Edward J. : age 20, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; present address, Vine St., Worcester, Mass. Fox, James: age 19, res. Cambridge, mustered March 4, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; residence since, uukuown. Gates, Daniel C. : age 45, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. July 6, '65, order War Dept. ; residence since, 90 Portland St., Worcester, Mass. Geer, Edward D. : age 21, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service ; residence since, unknown. Gleason, Charles W. : age 23, res. Leicester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; no date of dis. or later information. Graves, Stephen W. : age 21, res. Cambridge, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; residence since, unknown. Grout, John E. : age 33, res. Spencer, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. July 1, '64, order of General Dix; death reported in 1875. Guillette, Hyacintha : age 21, res. Chelsea, mustered March 12, '64 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. to date from July 30, '65, absent wounded; no later information. 486 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGEtfEXT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Gurney, Thomas E. : age 2f, res. Newburyport, mustered March 12, '64 ; trans, from 5i)th June 1, 'G5 ; must, out with Company July 30, '65; death reported Jan. 17, ''J2. Hair. Charles N. : age 32, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. Aug. 25, v,4, for promotion; 1st Lieut. 4th Mass. II. A.. Aug. 12. '64; lion. must. out June 17, '65; died Oct. 19, '90. Handley. John: age 18, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11. V,4 ; killed May 6, '64, in battle of Wilderness, Va. Hastings. Barney: age 19, res. Boston, mustered March 12, '64: trans, from 59th June 1. '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Holbrook, Phineas L. : age 27, res. Leicester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65, absent wounded; late residence, Cherry Valley, Mass. Horton. James B. : age 28, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64: dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; residence since, unknown. Hoyt. Henry A. F. : age 10. res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64: dis. ex. of service July 30, '65, absent wounded; pres. address. Rev. Henry A. F. Hoyt. "Hospital of the P.E. Church. Philadelphia, Pa. Hutchins. Fred. P. : age 43, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. Aug. 10, '65, order War Dept. ; pres. address, Putnam, Conn. Johnson. James T. : age 19, res. Sutton, mustered Jan. 11, '64; died June L6, '64, in Washington, D.C. Johnson. Joseph J. : age 18, res. Sutton, mustered Jan. 11. '64: died May 12. "ill, of wounds received in battle of Spottsylvania Court House, Va. Jordan. Martin L. : age 18, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64: died in Washington, D.C, July 18, '64: cause unknown. Kendall. William P.: age 31. res. Woburn, mustered March 12. '64; trans. from 59th June l. '65; dis. .Inly 3D, '65, ex. of service: recent address Woburn, Mass. Kilpatrick. Joseph: age 21. res. Woburn. mustered March 12. '61 ; trans, from 59th June 1. '65; dis. to date July 30, '65, absent sick. Ladaux, Isaac: age 21, res. Worcester, mustered .Ian. 11, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service: residence since, unknown. Leonard, Charles H : age 22, res. Groton, mustered Jan. LI, '64; died May 6, '64, of wound- received in battle of the Wilderness, Va. Leonard, Daniel A. i age 19, res. Rutland, mustered Jan. 11. '64; died Sept. 9, •64, al Danville, Va. i prisoner of war . Lincoln, George T. : age 23, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. to date July 30, '65, absent wounded ; do later Information. Little. John : age 21, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. , inly 30, '65, ex. of service; residence since, unknown. Loomis, Rodney D : age 31, res. Mlllbury, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. Sepl . L2, 65, disability ; pres. address, Mlllbury, Mass. Lord. Henry T. : age 33, res. Woburn, mustered March 12. '64; trans, from 59th June I, '65; dis. July 80, '65, ex. of service; veteran of Co. G, 5th M;i-.s. 9 months I : residence since dis.. unknown. ENLISTED 3IEX. 487 Lovering. Samuel M. : age 40, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '6-1; killed in battle of Wilderness, May 6, '64. Manville, Patrick H. : age 18, res. Leicester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; killed May 24, '64, at battle of North Anna River, Va. Marshall, James A.: age 25, res. Worcester, mustered Jan 11, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; pres. address, North Leominster, Mass. Mathews, Eli: age 34, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; residence since, unknown. McCormick, Michael: age 21, res. Cambridge, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. to date from July 30, '65, ex. of service, as absent wounded. Merriam, Henry: age 30, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. June 17, 'G5, order War Dept. ; record and residence since, unknown. Merriam, Horace: age 21, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. Sept. 30, '64, on surgeou's certificate of disability ; pres. address, No. 51 Stevens St., New Haven, Conn. Mills, Isaac M. : age 26, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. Aug. 8, '65, order War Dept.; address soon after, Southbridge St., Worcester, Mass. Mourin, Michael : age 21, res. Cambridge, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; residence since, un- known. • Murry, Andrew: age 21, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; must, out July 30, '65 ; absent as prisoner of war since July 30, '64 ; no discbarge ever- given : no later information from War Dept. ; at present unknown. Nichols, Nathaniel: age 33, res. North Reading, mustered March 12, '64; trans. from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service, absent sick; no later information. Paine, John A. : age 38, res. Sutton, mustered Jan. 11, '64; died Sept. 15, '64, Avhile prisoner of war, at Andersouville, Ga. Parker, Marshall: age 27, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. Feb. 21, '65, order War Dept. ; residence since, unknown. Pickens, John: aa;e 38, res. Stonebam, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1^ '65 ; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65 ; since unknown. Pierce, John, Jr. : age 28, res Hopkinton, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, M35 ; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; residence since, un- known. Puffer, Jonathan: age 39, res. Holliston. mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. June 17, '65. order War Dept.; Vet. Co. K, 43d Mass. ; residence since discharge, unkuown. Raymond, James H. : age 45, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. Aug. 10, '6.5. order War Dept. ; death reported May 23, '79. Reed, Thomas R. : age 33, res. Springfield, mustered Jan. 25, '64; dis. July 30, '65. ex. of service; residence since, unknown. Ricker. Albert M. : age 21, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; pres. residence, Boston Highlands, Boston, Mass. 488 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Richardson, Lewis: age 18, res. Leominster, mustered Jan. 11, '64; killed May 6, '64, in battle of Wilderness, Va. Rice, William H. : age 34, res. Oxford, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. May 25, '65, order War Dept. ; pres. address, Worcester, Mass. Richards, William E. : age 19, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; died in Worcester, Mass., March 16, '6H. Robinson. George A. : age IS, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. July 5, '65, order War Dept.; recent address, Meriden, Conn. Rollins, Stephen H. : age 18, res. Spencer, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. Sept. 12, '64, on surgeon's certificate of disability; residence since, unknown. Ryan, John: age 18, res. Worcester, mustered Jan 11, '64; dis. June 29, '65, order War Dept. ; death reported March 18, '67. Savage. Henry G. : age 18, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; trans, to Co. I, 2d V.R.C., Feb. 14. '65: dis. order War Dept., July 22, '65; pres. res- idence, 127 Indiana St., Chicago, 111. Sharp, Charles: age 25, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; trans, to 38th, Co. ('. 2d Battalion, Y.R.C., March 4, '65; dis. Aug. 11, '65, order War Dept ; residence since, unknown. Shamboo. Christopher, age 18, res. Grafton, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. ex. of service, July 30, '65, absent wounded; no later information. Shamboo, Edward: age 21, res. Grafton, mustered Jan. 11, '64: dis. July 30, 165, ex. of service; pres. address, Wilkinsonville, Mass. Sheern, Dennis: age 18, res. Millbury, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. May 15, '65, order War Dept.; death reported in 1891. Short, Frank: age 24, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '61 ; dis. July 30. '65, ex. of service, absent sick ; no Later information. Skinner. James M. : age 34, res. Dorchester, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1. '65; dis. July 22, '6."), order War Dept. : since unknown. Smith, Eugene : age is, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, 'ill; killed May 6. '64, in bailie of the Wilderness, Va. Sprague, Amos: age 24, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, 'til: dis. July .".<>, '65, ex. of .service: \eler;iu of Co. 1). 15th .Mass., from July 12. '61, to April 15, '62: death reported Jan. 20. '90, Stetson, James M. : age 21, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '61: died of wounds received in battle. May 31, '64. Stockwell. Warren H. : age IS. res. Millbury, mustered Jan. 11, V.I: dis. July 30, '65, ex, <>r service; res. since, unknown. Streeter Hiram: age 88, its. Leicester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; killed June 17, '64, in batl le before Petersburg, Va. Sullivan. Michael: age 81, res. W:i\ bind, mustered March 12. '61; trans, from 59th June I. '65; dis. June 21. '65, disability: since unknown. Taft. Edward P.: age 19, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. n. '64; dis. May 24, '65, order of War Dept. ; pres. address, 17 Austin St., Worcester. Mass. Temple. Andrew A. : age 19. res. Ilopkiulon. mustered March 12, '64; trans. from "''Mb June I, '66; dis. ex. of service, July 80, '65; since unknown. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 489 Timon, Charles: age 21, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; death reported in '86. Tourtelott, Thomas J.: age 25, res. Millbury, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. disability Aug. 3, '65; pres. address, Millbury, Mass. Wakeman, George M. : age 21, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service, absent wounded; no later information. Walton, Edward A. : age 28, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; died Aug. 10, '64, while a prisoner of war at Andersonville, Ga. Watkins, Henry A.: age 26, res. Hopkinton, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Webb, Joseph C. : age 32, res. Grafton, mustered Jan. 11, '64; died Aug. 18, '64, in Philadelphia, Pa., cause unknown. Wellman, Charles W. : age 37, res. Woburn, mustered March 12, '64 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; recent address, Montville, Mass. Wellman, George H. : age 19, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. as corporal to date from July 30, '65, ex. of service, absent Avounded ; no later information. Wellman, John F. : age 18, res. Worcester, mustered Jau. 11, '64; dis. June 16, '65, disability; death reported in '76. Welch, Thomas: age 32, res. Cambridge, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65: dis. to date from July 30, '65, ex. of service, absent pi'isoner ; no later information. Whittier, William T. : age 18, res. Haverhill, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; recent address, Haverhill, Mass. Wilson, Charles B. : age 32, res. Stoneham, mustered March 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Williams, John S. : age 23, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. to date from July 30, '65, ex. of service, absent sick; no later information. Woodcock, Isaac A : age 21, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. June 2, '65, order War Dept. ; pres. address, No. 20 Clarkson St., Worcester, Mass. Wood, George H. : age 24, res. Worcester, mustered Jan. 11, '64; dis. June 9, '65, disability; recent address, Cambridge St., Worcester, Mass. COMPANY I. McFarland, Edwin D., 1st Sergt. : age 31, res. Worcester, mustered March 10, '64; trans. Feb. 17, '65, on account of wounds, to V.R.C.; dis. order War Dept. June 19, '65 ; pres. residence, 117 Thomas St., Worcester, Mass. Tyler, Titus, 1st Sergt. : age 27, res. Springfield, mustered March 10, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; pres. address unknown. Breed, William J ., Sergt.: age 18, res. Lynn, mustered April 2, '64; trans. from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; recent address, Northampton, Mass. 490 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Holmes. Thomas F., Sergt.: age 19, res. Charlestown, mustered Jan. 5, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. .July 30, '65, ex. of service; recent address, Watertown, Mass. Karpeles, Leopold. Color Sergt. : age 23, res. Springfield, enlisted in Co. A, 46th Mass. Inf., August, '62, Corporal of the Color Guard; dis. ex. of service, July 29, '63; must, as Sergt. Co I, 57th Mass. Inf., March 10, '64 : dis. disability May 7, '65. Received medal of honor, April 30, '70, for gallantry in battle of Wilderness, Va. ; received testimonials from Colonel, Lieut. -Colonel and Major of 46th Mass. for soldierly bearing and conspicuous bravery while in that regt. Pres. residence, 1609 7th St., V \\\. Washington, D.C. Ober. George K., Sergt.: age 20, res. Southampton, mustered March 10, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; pres. residence, Bakerstield. Kern County, Cal. O'Donnell, James. Sergt.: age 25. res. Marlborough, mustered April 2, '64: nans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; pres. address, Medway, Mass. Burke, Hugh, Corp.: age 26, res. Marlborough, mustered April 2. "64; trans. from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65; ex. of service; since unknown. Brennan, John W., Corp. : age 27, res. Harvard, mustered April 2, '64 : trans. from 59th June 1, 'Go7 dis. June 13, '65, by order War Dept.; since unknown. Cullitin, Pierce, Corp. : age 34, res. Shelburne, mustered March 10, '64; dis. Dec. 26, '64, for disability; pres. residence, Chautauqua, X Y. Chambers, James K., Corp. : age 18, res. Hancock, mustered March 10. '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; pres. address unknown. Gallup. Henry C. Corp. : age 24, res. Dalton. mustered March 10, '64 ; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; receul address, Dalton. Mass. Green, George A., Corp. : age 43, res. Ware, mustered March 10, '64 ; dis. Aug. 4. '6.">. order War Dcpt.: pres. residence unknown. Gould, Harvey W.. Corp. : age 18, res. North Brookfield, mustered April 6, '64 ; dis. May 22, '65, order War Dept.: death reported, date unknown. Moore, Charles E., Corp.: age 24, res. Lee, mustered March L0, '64; trans, to V.l! ( '. : no date of trans, or dis : death reported in '92. Nason, Edward A., Corp.: age 23, res. Georgetown, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th .June L, '65; dis. July 22, '65, order War Dept.: since unknown. Olds. William G.. Corp.: age 2"',. res. West Stockbridge, mustered March 10, •i; i: died of wounds received in battle May 8, '64 battle of Wilder- ness). Whiten, Henry, Corp.: age 19, res. Ware, mustered March 10, '64; trans, to V.R.C., date and dis. unknown: no later Information. Holmes. Loren S., Mus. : age 41, res. Washington, mustered April 6, '64; dis. July 30, '<'••">. ex. of service; erroneouslj reported as having died in Phila- delphia in '64 ; residence since discharge, unknown. Jones, Robert M.. Mus.: age 18, res. Holliston, mustered April l\ '64; trans. ,m 69th June i. '65; dis, Ma] •.".». '65, order War Dept.; recent address, i Itchburg, Mass ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 491 Lacount, Emerson B.. Mns. : age 15, res. Leicester, mustered March 6, '64; tl&trans. to V.R.C. April 15, '65; dis. July 21, '65, order War Dept. ; since unknown. Agnew, Henry: age 23, res. Harvard, mustered April 6, '64; deserted April 17, '64; bounty jumper; not heard from since (supposed to be an assumed name). Archibald, William D. : age 24. res. Chelsea, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Beckwith, Joseph H. : age 24, res. Pittsfield, mustered March 10, '64; reported missing in action Aug. 19, '64; no later information. Bolton, Henry : age 26, res. Worcester, mustered March 10, '64 ; deserted March, '64; no record of bounty and no later information. Bonner, James : age 22, res. South Hadley. mustered March 10, '64 ; dis. June 3, '65, order War Dept. ; residence since, unknown. Breman, Luke : age 24, res. North Marlboro, mustered March 10, '64; deserted March, 1864; no record of bounty and no later information. Briell, Albert E. : age 20, res. Southampton, mustered March 10, '64; dis. Dec. 17, '64, for disability; since unknown. Brown, John : age 29, res. Springfield, mustered March 10, '64 ; dis. May 20, '65, for disability; since unknown. Bullock. Amasa R. : age 19, res. Adams, mustered March 10, '64; reported missing in action May 24, '64 ; probably killed or taken prisoner in battle of North Anna River. Baker, Daniel : age 18, res. Pittsfield, mustered April 6, '64 ; killed in battle of the Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64. Bowe. George D. : age 18, res. Pittsfield, mustered April 6, '64 ; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of seiwice; since unknown. Burrows, Peter A.: aire 44. res. West Stockbridge, mustered March 10, '64; reported missing in action May 6, '64 ; probably killed or taken prisoner in battle of the Wilderness. Carroll, Edward: age 44, res. North Marlboro, mustered March 10, '64; trans. to Co. H, V.R C, Dec. 7, '64; dis. July 26, '6^, order War Dept.; death reported, date not known. Carney, Thomas: age 42, res. Danvers, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Cardwell, William : age 40, res. Cambridge, mustered April 2, '64 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. absent sick, to date from July 30, '65; no later information. Chapman, Ralph: age 42, res. Hancock, mustered March 10, '64: dis. Aug. 8, '65, order War Dept. : residence since, unknown. Church, Horace: age 18, res. Richmond, mustered March 10, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30, '65 ; no later information. Clark, James : age 25, res. Millbury, mustered April 6, '64 ; deserted with bounty April 17, '64; not heard from since. Clayton, George: age 30, res. Beverly, mustered April 2, '64: trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date from July 30, '65; no later information. 492 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Clifford, John H. : age 19, res. Brookline, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, 'Go, ex. of service; since unknown. Connor, Cornelius: age 18, res. Brighton, mustered April 2, '64 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Collins. Dennis: age 19, res. Washington, mustered March 10, '64; trans, to Y.ll.C. (no date) and deserted from 2d Co., 2d Batt., July 27, '65. Reported in letter from Company Commander on file in office of A.G., Boston. Record and residence since, unknown. Calvert, William H. M. : age 19, res. ; mustered April 2, '64: trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service: since unknown. Connelly, John: age 41, res. Conway, mastered April 6, '64; dis. Sept. 3, '65, order War Dept. ; since unknown. Conway. Thomas: age 35, res. Springfield, mustered March 10, '64; killed May 24, '64, in battle of North Anna River, Va. Crowe, John : age 21, res. Westboro, mustered April 6, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service (erroneously reported as having died while prisoner of war at Andersonville, Ga.) ; died at Boonville, Mo., Aug. 1, 1879. Crowley, John W. : age 30, res. Holliston, mustered March 10, '64: (lis. July 30, '65, in Co. II; res. since, unknown. Culliton, Patrick: age 29, res. Sterling, mustered April 6, '64 ; dis. ex. of ser- vice, absent sick, to date from July 30, '65; no later information. Curtin. Timothy: age 23, res. No. Marlboro, mustered March 10, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; pres. address, Monterey, Berkshire County, Mass. trans, from HOW 11. Dacy, Jeremiah: age 21, res. Tyngsboro, mustered April 12, '61 59th June I, '^^>: dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service: since link Daniels, John G. ; age 43, res. Chicopee, mustered March 10, '64; trans, to V.R.C. Sept. 30, '64: no record of dis. and no later information. Denio, Joseph : age 19, res. Gill, mustered March 10, '64 ; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30, '65; no later information. Dooley, Thomas : age 19, res. Middlefleld, mustered March 10, '64; died, July 24, '64, cause of deatli unknown. Dwyer, Michael: age 19, res. Maiden, mustered March 10, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service ; pres. address. Hill city. Pennington County, So. Dakota. Elkins. William G. 2d ; aire 21, res. Southampton, mustered March 10, '64 : dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date. Inly 30, '65; no later Information. Ellis, James W. : age 21, res. Gill, mustered April 12,'64; trans, from 59th June I, '65; dis. Jul\ 30, '65, ex. of service: since unknown. Elliott. Sumner: age 18, res. W rent ham. mustered April 12, '64; trans, from 59th June l. '65; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30, '65; ao later Information. Fisher, Andrew C. : age 21, res. Mauley, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th Jane L, '65; dis. Julj 30, '65, ex. of service ; since unknown. Fisher. Francis M. : age 21, res. Mauley, mustered April 2, *64; trans, from 59th June L,'65; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30, '66; no later Information. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 493 Fortin, Joseph : age 19, res. Hinsdale, mustered April 6, '64; killed May 6, '64, in battle of Wilderness, Va. Foster, James B. : age 29, res. Palmer, mustered March 10, 'G4 ; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service in Co. E. ; death reported, date unknown. French, Albert V. : age 23, res. Ware, mustered March 10, '64; dis. June 2, '65, order War Dept. ; residence since, unknown. Gavin, George : age 33, res. Adams, mustered Aug. 1, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service ; record and address siuce, unknown. Goodwin, Cyrus T. : age 34, res. Newburyport, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Gover, John: age 18, res. Millbury, mustered March 10, '64; dis. Jan. 21, '65, for disability; since unknown. Haley. Martin: age 37, res. Northampton, mustered March 10, '64; died at Beverly, N.J., Oct. 10, '64. Hardy, Elmer J. : age 20, res. Easthampton, mustered March 10, '64; died May 7, '64, of wounds received in battle of Wilderness, Va., May 6, '64. Hardy, Marshall G. : age 22-, res. Southampton, mustered March 10, '64; dis. to date July 8, '64, order War Dept. ; residence since, unknown. Hayward, William A. : age 36, res. Roxbury, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65 ; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service ; since unknown. Horton. Winslow T. : age 19, res. Gloucester, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Houlihan. John: age 45, res. Chicopee, mustered March 10. '64; died at Annapolis, Mel'., March 21, '65: cause of death unknown. Howard, William F. : age 19, res. Ware, mustered March 10, '64; died Feb. 23, '65, while pris. of war at Danville, Va. Hunt. Ephraim W. : age 21, res. Marlboro, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65, and dis. ex. of service, absent wounded, to date July 30, '65 ; no later information. Hunt, Alva A. : age 20, res. Pittsfield, mustered April 6, '64; dis. May 16, '65, on account of disability ; pres. address, Pittsfield, Mass. Jameson. George: age 33, res. West Stockbridge, mustered Aug. 1, '64; killed Oct. 8, '64, in front of Petersburg, Va. Jenne. William L. : age 22, res. Lenox, mustered March 10, '64; dis. June 9, '65, order War Dept., as William L. Jennie; pres. address, Lenox, Mass. Jones, Charles : age 41, res. Stockbridge, mustered March 10, '64; killed May 6, '64, in battle of Wilderness, Va., in Co. D. Kinney. George W. : age 37, res. Uxbridge, mustered March 10, '64 ; died Sept. 29, '64, at Beverly, N. J. ; cause of death unknown. King, Hugh: age 33, res. Cambridge, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; death reported Nov. 10, '93. 494 FIFTY-SEVENTH KEGIMEXT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. King. John: age 21, res Hadley, mustered March 10, '64; deserted March 18, '64 : no record of bounty ; no later information. Lado. Leander: age 42, res. Cambridge, mustered Feb. 20, '64: trans, from 59th June 1. '65, as "missing in action May 12, '64": no later information. Probably killed or taken prisoner in battle of Spottsylvania Court House, Va. Laha, John : aye 31, res. Cambridge, mustered April 2, 'C4; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. ex. of service July 30, '65; since unknown. Lahan. Michael : age 21, res. Lawrence, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Lallay. Michael: age 21, res. Milford. mustered March 10, '64; dis. Tan. 21, '65, by order War Dept. ; late residence, Westboro, Mass. Lavanthal, Lewis : age 38, res. Westford, mustered Aug. 6, '64 ; trans, from 59th June 1. '65; dis. July 19, '65, on account of disability; since unknown. Lawrence, William: age 25, res. Boston, mustered April 2. '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30, '65; no later information. Legrave. Adolphus : age 18, res. Gill, mustered March 10, '64 ; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30, '65; no later information. Loud. William H. : age 24, res. Savoy, mustered March 10, '64; died Aug. 1. '64. at Philadelphia, Pa. ; cause of death unknown. Macken. Michael : age 21, res. Charlestown, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June 1. '65: dis. Aug. 8, '65, by ordei War Dept. ; since unknown. Maguire, William : aire 19; res. Ware, mustered March 10, '64; dis. July 30, '65, by order War Dept.; recent address. Westboro, .Mass. Mayo. Frank: age 28, res. Fitchburg, mustered March 10, '61: deserted March 16, '64; no record of bounty and no later in formation. McDaniels. William: age 19, res. Lanesboro, mustered Sept. 6, '64; dis. Dec. 23, '64, on account of disability ; Vet. Co. I, 49th Mass.: pres. address, Lanesboro. Mas-.. McGlinley, John : aye 41, res. Shelburne, mustered March L0, '64; dis. July 30, '(;.".. by order of War Dept.: no later Information. McMan. Thomas S. : aye 35, res. Marlboro, mustered April 22. '•'>!: trans, from 59th Jane 1. '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. McRam. Francis : age 32, res. Stonehain. mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th Jane l. '65: dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30, '66; no later information. Masters. John: aye , res. , mastered Feb. 20, '64; trans, from 59th June 1. '64; dis. ex. of service, absent wounded, to date July 30, '65; no Inter information. Miller. Alfred B. : aye 18, res. Wales, mustered March 10, '64 ; dis. June 11, '65, by order War Dept.; since unknown. Moore. William K.: aye 22, res. Worcester, mu-uercd April (I. '64; died of wounds received in battle, at Beverly, N.J.. Nov. 22, '64. Moran, Francis: age 88, res, Cambridge, mustered Jan. 12, '64; trans, from 59th June 1. '65; dis. July 80, '66, e\. ■ >! service; since unknown. ENLISTED MEN. 495 Myers, Sylvester: age 42, res. Northampton, mustered March 10, '64; dis. for disability Dec. 27, '64; residence since, unknown. Noble, Cyrus H. : age 19, res. Ware, mustered March 10, '64; dis. ex. of ser- vice, absent sick, to date July 30, '65; no later information. O'Neill, Patrick: age 18, res. Lynn, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65: dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30, '65; no later information. Palmer, William H. : age 18, res. Methuen, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Perro, Joseph: age 23, res. Whately, mustered Feb. 20, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Pepoon. Newton B. : age 18, res. Stockbridge, mustered March 10, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; residence since, unknown. Powers, Andrew: age 21, res. Adams, mustered March 10, '64; dis. for disa- bility Nov. 28, '64; residence since, Passaic, N.J. Rathburne, Charles: age 37, res. Stockbridge, mustered March 10, '64; died in Co. D; date of death and cause unknown. Rene, Joseph: age 22, res. Cambridge, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. ex. of service, absent wounded, to date July 30, '65; no later information. Reno, Louis: age 19, res. Hinsdale, mustered April 6, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30, '65 ; no later information. Reubeo, Joseph: age 22, res. Boston, mustered Feb. 20, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, 'Go, dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30, '65; no later information. Rodgers, Mial A.: age 25, res. Newbury, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30, '65; no later information. Rodgers, Timothy W. : age 21, res. Newbury, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Ross, Edward: age 26, res. Granby, mustered April 6, '64; killed May 12, '64, in battle ofSpottsylvania Court House, Va. Russ, Charles D. : age 28, res. Weymouth, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; recent address, Haver- hill, Mass. Russell, James S. H. : age 26, res. Lynn, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; recent address, Lynn, Mass. Ryerson. Roswell G. : age 21, res. Greenwich, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Sancomb, David : age 18, res. Gill, mustered March 10, '64; killed May 24, '64, in battle of North Anna River, Va. Sanguinette, John B. : age 24, res. Blackstone, mustered Feb. 20, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30. '65 ; uo later information. 496 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Sanborn, William M. : age 18, res. Charlestown, mustered April 2, '64; trans. from 59th June 1, 'Go; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Schafer, George J. : age 42, res. Stockbridge, mustered March 10, '64 ; dis. for disability May 23. '65; since unknown. Sedell. Charles: age 32, res. Northampton, mustered March 10, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; pres. address, Northampton, Mass. Simmons, Ensign J.: age 21, res. Washington, mustered March 10, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; pres. address, Windsor, Berkshire Co., Mass. Shaw, George W. : age 44, res. Great Barrington, mustered April 6, '64; killed Oct. 8, '64, during siege of Petersburg, Va. Shelly. Michael: age 18, res. Great Barrington, mustered March 10, '64; killed May 6, '64, in battle of Wilderness, Va. Snow, John: age 31, res. Millbury, mustered March 10, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; recent address, 29 Siegel St., Worcester, Mass. St. Antoine, Gilbert : age 28, res. Shelburne, mustered March 10, '64 ; killed May 18, '64, in battle at Spottsylvania Court House, Va. Stanley, Michael: age 22, res. Middlefleld, mustered March 10, '64; killed May 6, '64, in battle of Wilderness, Va. Stedman, James S. : age 22, res. Lee, mustered March 10, '64; killed in battle of Wilderness, Va , May 6, '64. Stevens, Romanzo : age 21, res. Richmond, mustered March 10, "64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; pres. address, West Stockbridge, Mass. Sullivan, Daniel: age 24, res. Worcester, mustered March 10, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30, '65; recent address, Fitchburg, Mass. Sullivan, William: age 21, res. Stoneha.m, mustered April 2. '64; trans, from .'.'.Mil Jane I, '65; dis. ex. <>f service, absent sick, to date July 30, '65; no later information. Thomas, Charles: age 26, res. Brookline, mastered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June 1. '65; (lis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date .Inly 30, '65 : no later information. Thornton, Patrick: age 28, ivs. Pittsfleld, mustered March In. '64; died May 18, t,i, of wounds received in battle. Trask, Isaac P. : age 18, res. Taunton, mastered April 2. 'ill : Iran-, from 59th June I. '•'>•">: dis. ex. of service, July 30. '65; residence since, unknown. Walker, Benjamin: aire 18, res. Cambridge, mustered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th June i. '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; residence since, unknou n. Waters, John: age 23, res. Middlefleld, mustered March 10, '64; killed in battle before Petersburg, Va., June 17. '64. Webster, Silas D. : age 20, res. Richmond, mustered March In, 'i;| : dis. May 11, '65, order War Dept., cause unknown; no later information. Welch. Nathaniel: aire 88, ces. Pembroke, mastered April 2, '64; trans, from 59th J • I. '65; dis. July 80, '65, ex. of service; recent address, Kxeter, N II ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 497 Wheeler. Otis E. : age 22, res. Windsor, mustered April 6, '64; killed May 6, '64, in battle of Wilderness, Va. White, George E. : age 18, res. Millbury, mustered March 10, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; pres. address, No. 6 North Lake St., Chicago, Ill- Head of the extensive hard wood lumber firm of George E. White & Co., Chicago, 111. Director of Chicago National Bank. Has served as alder- man in Chicago, and State Senator in Illinois. Has exerted a large influence throughout the State, and elected a member of the 54th Con- gress from Illinois, by a large plurality. Wheeler, Warren W. : age 37, res. Holliston, mustered March 10, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; recent address, West Medway, Mass. Wilcox, George W. : age 24, res. Great Barrington, mustered March 10, '64 ; died June 11, '64, of wounds received in battle. Williams, Wesley R. : age 21, res. Lee, mustered March 10, '64 ; dis. Oct. 30, '65> at Boston, Mass., on Surgeon's certificate of disability, amputation of right leg caused by wounds received in battle; dis. as IstSergt.; pres. address, Mount Vernon, Skagit County, Washington. Williams, George W. : age 44, res. Boston, mustered Feb. 20, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. ex. of service, absent sick; no later infor- mation. Woodville, William: age 27, res. Springfield, mustered March 10, '64; clis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Wright, Charles : age 40, res. Adams, mustered March 10, '64; dis. May 30, '65, for disability; since unknown. Writer, Orion E. : age 20, res. Hadley, mustered March 10, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Young, Daniel N. : age 20, res. Dalton, mustered March 10, '64; dis. May 29, '65, order War Dept., cause unknown ; no later information. COMPANY K. Kelly, Theodore L., 1st Sergt. : age 30, res. Boston, mustered April 6, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; recent address, 614 East Fifth St., South Boston, Mass. Shaftoe, William, 1st Sergt. : age 40, res. West Springfield, mustered April 6, '64; dis. June 13, '65, order War Dept. ; pres. address, Fall River, Mass. Brigham, George H., Sergt. : age 18, res. Marlborough, mustered April 6, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; pres. address, Marlborough, Mass. Calvey, George B., Sergt. : age 34, res. Cambridge, mustered Jan. 7, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. McEver, Hugh, Sergt.: age 30, res. Boston, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Oakes, William F., Sersjt. : age 19, res. Bernardstou, mustered April 6, '64; taken prisoner at Fort Stedman, March 25, '65; dis. at Annapolis, Md., June 2, '65; per General Order 77, War Dept., A.G.O. '65; pres. address, Fitchburg, Mass.; veteran of previous service; organization unknown. 32 498 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Hill, Joseph W. Corp. : age 26, res. Marlborough, mustered April 6, '64; dis. Jul}- 30, '65, ex. of service; recent address, Charlestown, Mass. Lowell, Frank H., Corp. : age 20, res. Marlborough, mustered April 6, '64 : dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; recent address, Bangor, Maine. O'Callaghari, Timothy, Corp. : age 20, res. Marlborough, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th June I, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Pickett, George T., Corp. : age 30, res. Boston, mustered April 6. '64; dis. June 13, '65, order War Dept. ; pies, address, 17 Otis St., Boston, Mass. ; veteran 49th Mass. Pratt, Edwin, Corp. : age 19, res. Marlborough, mustered April 6, '64 ; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Richardson, Charles E., Corp. : age 10, res. Woburn, mustered April 21, '04; trans, from 50th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; recent address, Woburn, Mass. Smith. George H., Corp.: age 18, res. Boston, mustered April 21. '64; trans. from 59th June 1, '65; (lis. July 30, '65, ex. of service. Wyman, Arthur B., Corp. : age 19, res. Woburn, mustered April 21, '<;t ; trans, from 50th June 1, '65; dis. July 15, '65, order War Dept.; cause unknown; no later information. Buxton, Marcus M., Mus. : age 18, res. Woburn, mustered April 21, '64; trans. from 50th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; recent address, Chicago, 111. Harley, Thomas, Mus.: age Is, res. Dedham. mustered April 21. '64; traus. from 50th June 1, '65; reported as having deserted May 23, 'til ; no later information. Possibly killed or taken prisoner Adams, John : age 36, res. Oakham, mustered April 6, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Allcott. Frank : age 18, res. Newton, mustered April 6, '64; < lis. June 19, '65, order War Dept. ; cause unknown ; no later information. Allen, Henry: age 18, res. Ludlow, mustered April <<. '64; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30, '65 ; no later in format ion. Andrews. William: age 21. res. Millhury, mustered April 6, '64; dis. ex. of service, absenl wounded, to date July 30, '65; no later information. Antoine, Louis: age 2:;. res. Brookline, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th June 1. 'C5; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30, '(',5 : no later in format ion. Armstrong, James : age 30, res Charlton, mustered April r., '64 : deserted with the bounty, April L7, '64; do later information. Barnes, Joseph W. : age 25, res. Marlborough, mustered April 6, '64; dis. Aug. 8, '65, order of War Dept.; pres. address, Marlborough, Mass.; veteran h Mass.; cause of discharge unknown. Beggs. Charles: age 18, res, Woburn. mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th June l. '65; di>. JuU 30, '66, ex. of service; since unknown. Bemis, Amasa B. : age 35, res. Chester, mustered April 6, '64; dis. July 80, ex. of sen Ice ; death reported in '83. 4 ENLISTED MEN. 499 Benton, George W. : age 43, res. Springfield, mustered April 6, '(54; died May 12, '64, of wounds received in battle. Bigelow, Theodore S. : age 37, res. Boston, mustered April 6, '64; dis. June 5, '65, order War Uept. ; cause unknown; no later information. Boise, Daniel : age 32, res. Southbridge, mustered April 6, '64 ; obtained- the bounty and deserted April 17, '64; no later record. Bowers, Edwin F. : age 26, res. Stoneham, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30, '65; no later information. Bradley, John S. : age 35, res. Roxbury, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, 'i'>r> • dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Brooks, James P. : age 26, res. Boston, mustered April 6, '64 ; died at Alexandria, Va., July 14, '64; cause of death unknown. Bushnell, Levi B. : age 36, res. Hinsdale, mustered April 6, '64 ; deserted April 20, '64; bounty jumper : no other record. Byam, Salathial A. : age 38, res. Boston, mustered April 6, '64; killed June 17, '64, in battle before Petersburg, Va. Cadagan, Michael: age 19, res. Worcester, mustered April 6, '64; died at Washington, D.C.. Aug 6, '64, of wounds received in battle. Carleton, Hubbard: age 34, res. Shelburne, mustered April 6, '64 ; died June 1, '64; cause unknown. Chapman. Henry C. : age 21, res. Hancock, mustered Sept. 10, '64; dis. June 16, '65, order of War Dept. ; cause unknown; no later information. Coley, Michael: age 29, res. Roxbury, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65^ dis. July 15, '65, order War Dept.; cause unknown; no later information. Daniels, Charles L. : age 19, res. Pittsfield, mustered April 6, '64; died July 29, '64; cause and place unknown. Daniels, Lowell: age 18, res. Pittsfield, mustered April 6, '64; killed May 18, '64, in battle of Spottsylvania Court House, Va. Dean, Samuel: age 44, res. Woburn, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; clis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Doolittle, William H. : age 22, res. Windsor, mustered April 6, '64; clis. June 6, '65, order War Dept.; recent address, Northfield, Mass.; cause of dis- charge unknown. Dow, Albert W. : age 19, res. Springfield, mustered April 6, '64; killed May 6, '64, in battle of Wilderness. Downing, Robert E. : age 18, res. Egremont, mustered April 25, '64 ; trans, from 59th June 1, v 65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Dunbar, Thomas F. : age 37, res. Southborough, mustered April 6, '64 ; dis. July 18, '64, disability; since unknown. Eaton, John, Jr.,: age 34, res. Marlborough, mustered April 6, '64; died May 30, '64 ; cause and place unknown. 500 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Ennis, William : age 27, res. Boston, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; clis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30, '65 ; no later information. Exley, Edward W. : age 18, res. Marlborough, mustered April 6, '64 ; dis. July 30, '(!5, ex. of service; since unknown. Fairfield, John H. : age 40, res. Windsor, mustered Feb. 29, '04 ; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Foley. Michael: age 25, res. Boston, mustered April 21, ''54; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Gallagher, Thomas: age 18, res. Boston, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59tn June 1,'65; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30, '65 : no later information. Gildea, Charles M. : age 18, res. Newton, mustered April G, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Gill, Henry L. : age 26, res. Holyoke, mustered April 6, '64; trans, to Co. I, 2d V.R.C. ; dis. July 22, '65, order of War Dept. ; record and address since. unknown. Gouch, Edwin J. : age 44, res. Pittsfield, mustered Sept. 1, '64; dis. Aug. 8, '65, order War Dept. ; cause unknown ; no later information. Goulding, Henry C. : age 34, res. Northborough. mustered April 6, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service, as absent on detached service; pres. address, No. 2020 State St. Chicago, 111. Gregory, Henry A. : age 34, res. Chicopee, mustered April 6, '64; dis. Nov. 27. '64, disability; since unknown. Gregre, Phillip: age 25, res. Marlborough, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Hart. David A. : age 19, res. Adams, mustered April 6, '64; died July 14, '65, at Philadelphia; cause unknown. Harrington, Francis M. : aire 20, res. Boylston, mustered April 6, '64; dis. July 20, '65, order War Dept.; pres. address, Northborough, Mass. (Veteran 53d Mass.) Harris. John J.: age 19, res. Charleston n. mustered April 21. '64 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Hayward, Wesley F. : age 19, res. Chicopee, mustered April 6, '64 ; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Heath. Gilford P.: age 21, res. Northborough, mustered April »',. '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; pres. address, Northborough, Mass. Veteran 51s1 Mass. I Hayward, Elijah B. : aire 42, res. Chicopee, mustered April 6, "f',4 : dis. May 18, >;;<. order War Dept.; since unknown. Holyoke, Eugene J. : age 2l\ res. Marlborough, mustered April 6, '64; dis. Muy 27. '»,."), disability ; death reported, date unknown. Holyoke. Samuel H. : age 39, res. Marlborough, mustered March 31, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; death since reported, date unknown. Hopkins, Sterling A: age 36, res. Boston, mustered April 6, '64; mortally wounded and died a] Wilderness battlefield May 6, '64. Howe, Albert W : age 19, res. Marlborough, mustered April 6, 64; mortally wounded and died upon battlefield a1 the Mine Explosion, or "Crater," ,lul\ 80, '64. ROSTER — ENLISTED MEN. 501 Howe, Sanborn O. : age 18, res. Marlborough, mustered April G, '6-4; dis. ex. of service, absent wounded, to date July 30, '65; no later information; pres. address, Hudson, Mass. Hurley, Michael: age 19, i - es. Fitchburg, mustered Jan. 14, T>j ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Hyzer, Henry J.: age 18, res. Brookline, mustered April 21, '64; traus. from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Kimball, Oliver S. : age 30, res. Adams, mustered April 6, '64 ; died June 25, '64, in Co. D ; cause and place not known. Laberman, Charles: age 19, res. Hinsdale, mustered March 31, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30, '65 ; no later information. Laclere, Zotique : aee 19, res. Stoneham, mustered April 21, '64 ; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. disability, June 7, '65, order War Dept. ; cause unknown ; no later information. Lambert, Charles: age 21, res. North Reading, mustered April 21, '64; trans. from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Lee, Smith J. : age 20, res. Grafton, mustered April 8, '64 ; dis. Sept. 16, '65, order War Dept. ; pres. address, Marlborough, Mass. Lewis, Charles A.: age 18, res. Roxbury, mustered April 6, '64; dis. Feb. 17, '65, disability; since unknown. Loud, Charles Q. : age 21, res. Westborough, mustered March 23, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; pres. address, Northborough, Mass. Lovely, Frank: age 19, res. Marlborough, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Lynch, Hugh F. : age 18, res. Stoneham, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Mahan, Dallas P.: age 19, res. Marlborough, mustered April 6, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; pres. address, 99 Grafton St., Worcester, Mass. Mahan, Roger: age 21, res. West Roxbury, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Marsh, Jeremiah W. : age 32, res. Westborough, mustered April 6, '64; died May 6, '64, on battlefield of Wilderness, Va., of wounds received in battle. Mason, Alonzo R. : age 40, res. Springfield, mustered April 6, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Maynard, Isaac G. : age 42, res. Marlborough, mustered in April 6, '64; dis. March 18, '65, disability: died Aug. 8, '93. McCarthy, Callaghan : age 25, res. Marlborough, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. McOsker, Owen : age 40, res. Lowell, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65. ex. of service; since unknown. Merriam, Francis J. : age 26, res. Chelsea, mustered April 21. CI ; trans, from 59th June 1, "65 : dis. July 7, '65, disability; since unknown. Merritt, John: age 21, res. Woburn, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Miller. Andrew J. : age 22, res. Boston, mustered April 6, '64; dis. Aug. 10, '65, order War Dept. ; since unknown. 502 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT .MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Miller. John A.. Jr.: aye L8, res. Boston, mustered April 6, '64; (lis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Mitchell. Charles : age 21. res. Springfield, mustered April 6, '64; dis. ex. of service, absent sick, to date July 30, '65; no later information. Mitchell, John F. : age 18, res. Grafton, mustered April 6. '64; trans, to Co. E, 21th V.R.C ; dis. July 24. v,.i. order War Dept. ; pres. address, Grafton, Mass. Morse, Charles S. : age oTJ. res. Boston, mustered March 21, '64; died Nov. 30, 'ill : cause and place of death unknown. Nolan, Maurice H. : age 27. res. Marlborough, mustered April 6, '<14 : dis. June 12. '65, order War Dept.: recenl address, San Diego. California. Ordway, William D. : age 21. res. Marlborough, mustered April 6, '65; dis. .May 22. '65, order War Dept.: pres. address, Hudson. Mass. Page. Robert A. : age 28, res. Boston, mustered April 6, '64 ; dis. Aug. 10. '65, order War Dept. : cause unknown; no later information. Parsons. George C. : age .".'.». res. Worcester, mustered Sept. 1. '64; dis. June Mi. '65, in Co. D, order War Dipt. ; cause unknown ; no later information. Perry, Henry H. : age 10. res. Marlborough, mustered April (1. '64; died April 9, '65, of wounds received in battle. Phelps, Stephen H. : age 19, res. Marlborough, mustered April 0, "64; died Aug. 26, '64, while prisoner of Avar at, Andersonville, Ga. (Starvation and exposure.) Pike, William: age 39, res. Gill, mustered April 6, '64 ; dis. Jul\ 30, '65, ex. of sen ice i veteran 4th Vermont) ; residence since dis., unknown. Pond. Erastus W. : age 22. res. Marlborough, mustered April 6, '64; dis. July :;n. '65, ex. of service: since unknown. Prentiss. William. Jr. : age 20. res. Holyoke, mustered March 24. '64: died June June 18, '64, of wounds received in battle. Pindee. John: age 21. res. South Hadlcy. mustered April 21. "ill: trans, from 59th June l. '65; dis. ex. of service, absent wounded, to date July 30, '65 ; no later information. Rand, Ebenezer : age 42. res. Stow, mustered Aug. 20, '64; trans, from 5!)th June 1. '65; dis. July ::<>. '<',;,. ex. of service : since unknown. Rawson. Lester W. : age 28, res. Greal Barrington, mustered April 6, '64; killed June 17. '64, in battle before Petersburg, Va. Rice. Edwin C. : age IK. res. Marlborough, mustered April . '64; obtained bounty and deserted \prii 17, '64; uo other information. ROSTER— ENLISTED MEN. 503 Rogers, John B. : age 30, res. Newton, mustered April 6, '64; died July 26, '(It. of wounds received iu battle. Sargent. Henry: age 28, res. Northborough, mustered April 6, '64; dis. June 21, '65, order of War Dept. ; pres. address, Northborough, Mass. Schneider, Edward M. : age 18, res. Boston, mustered April 6, '64; died June 19. '64, of wounds received in battle. Sinclair, Henry C. : age 30, res. Shelburne, mustered April 6, '64; deserted April lit. '64; bounty jumper; no other record known. Smith, Herbert O. : age 26, Westborough, mustered April 6, '64; died May 24, '65, effects of wounds received in battle. Smith, John: aye 20, res. Windsor, mustered April 6, '64; dis. (from Co. G) July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Smith, Vernon: age 25, res. Boston, mustered April 11, '64; died March 9, '65, while prisoner of war at Anclersonville, Ga. Spear, Benjamin A. : age 25, res. Boston, mustered April 6, '64; dis. June 9. '65, order War Dept. ; cause unknown ; no later information. Stevens, Ira W. : age 19, res. .Marlborough, mustered April 6, '64; dis. June 6, '65, order War Dept. ; cause unknown; no later information. Stickney, Lafayette : age 19, res. Marlborough, mustered April 6, '64; dis. June 22, '65, order War Dept. ; pres. address, Marlborough, Mass. Stowe, George H. : age 19, res. Marlborough, mustered April 6, '64; killed May 18, '64, in battle near Spottsylvania Court House, Va. Strong, Franklin F. : age 18, res. Marlborough, mustered April 6, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; pres. address, Marlborough, Mass. Thaley, Dominick : age 33, res. Roxbury, mustered April 21, '64, trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Thomas, John : age 32, res. Lawrence, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65, as " absent, prisoner of war, since May 24, '64," never joined 57th, but must, out and dropped from the rolls with the final muster out of the regiment July 30, '65, ex. of service; no later information. Tulley, James: age 24, res. Georgetown, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service; since unknown. Walcott, Thomas W. : age 23, res. Marlborough, mustered April 6, '64; dis. July 30, '65, ex. of service ; pres. address, Marlborough, Mass. Wells, William: age 22, res. Boston, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th June 1, '65; dis. ex. of service, absent prisoner, to date July 30, '65; no later information. West, Milo: age 21, res. Windsor, mustered April 6, '64; died Aug. 4, '64, of wounds received in battle. Wheeler, Albert C. : age 21, res. Windsor, mustered April 6, '64; dis. April 14, '65, order War Dept. ; cause unknown; no later information. Whipple, William H. : age 18, res. Boylston, mustered April 6, '64; dis. May 29, 'G5, order War Dept., on account of injuries received while serving with his regiment in the trenches front of Petersburg, Va., July 20, '64; pres. address, 87 Thurston St., Somerville, Mass. Williams, Daniel: age 26, res. Adams, mustered April 6, '64; deserted April 17, '64; bounty jumper; latest record. 504 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Woodruff. John: age 26, res. Southampton, mustered April C. '64: dis. June 27. '6.3, disability from wounds received in battle, loss of left leg. pres. address unknown. Wyman. George D. : age IS, res. Woburn, mustered April 21, '64; trans, from 59th Juue 1, '65 ; dis. July 30. '65, ex. of service : recent address, Woburn. Mass. UNASSIGNED RECRUITS. Berry. Charles R. : age 43, res. Tyngsborough, mustered April 21. "65; trans. from 59th, absent sick. June 1, '65, date of dis. unknown: no later information; probably never joined the 57th. Clark. Benjamin F. : age 27, res. Orange, mustered April 21. '64: deserted May 1. '64: bounty jumper : no other information (name probably assumed ! ; never joined the 57th. Crosby. John : age 32: res. Marlborough, mustered April 2. '64; trans, from 59th, absent paroled prisoner, June 1. '65; no later information: no record of having joined the 57th. Kittridge. John F. : age 19, res. Beverly, mustered Dee. 5, '63; trans, from 59th June 1. '65: without remark, no later information: probably never joined the 57th. Leonard. Frank H. : age 22. res. "Wellfleet. mustered Jan. 14. '64; trans, from 59th June 1. '<;.-> ; without remark, no later information ; probably never joined the 57th. McDermott. William: age 21, res. Cambridge, mustered April 21. '64; trans. from 59th June 1. '65, but never joined 57th: appointed 2d Lieut, in 51th M:i>s. April I. '65; promoted 1st Lieut. July 17. '•;.">; must, out Aug. 20, '65; record and address since, unknown. Sears. Barnabas: age 43. res. Adams, mustered A.ug. 1. '64; dis. as rejected recruit. Aug. 20. '64: no other information ; never joined the 57th. Our thanks are hereby extended to E. B. Stiflings for the unselfish inter- est he ha- shown in the publication of this work, and for his patient, untiring labor. jgr INDEX The figures refer to the number of the page. Regiments are indexed under the name of the States to which the}' belom Adams, 1st Sergt. Co. G (1st Lieut.). 293, 295. Alexander, Phil., correspondence of, 2S1, 282. Allen, A. S., death of, 379, 380. Allen, Dwight D., Sergt. Co. H, 193. Airman, Corp. Samuel, Co. C, 156. Anderson, Lieut. John (Capt. U.S.A.), 22, 163, 175, 182, 379, 380; letter of, 416, 417. Anderson, Confederate Gen.. 75, 7f>. Andrew, Gov. John A., 3, 9, 10, 11; letter of, 52; 155, 215, 234, 357, 385, 409. Andersonville, 317, 319, 345, 347 ; Con- fed, report of, 352. Anthony, William, 102. Association, New England, 332, 333. Association, 57th Mass. Regimental, 356, et seq. Barker, 38. Barker, Lieut. Charles (Capt.), 60. Barlow, Brig.-Gen., 113, 116. Barnard. Lieut. Charles E., death of, 400, 401. Badeau, 47 ; Fed. loss in Wilderness, 125. Barnes, Comrade, 377. Barnes, Col. J. H., 29th Mass. (Bvt. B.G.), 206, 211 ; letter of, 219 et seq. ; 227, 229, 234. Barrett, Uriah, Co. H, 231. Bartlett. E. A., death of, 379, 380 Bartlett, Col. (Gen.) W. F., 1, 4, 9, 10, 12, 37, 39, 49, 50, 51, 57, 69, 106, 160; letter of, 161, 2: 177, 179, 183, letter of 188 ; do, 193, 198, 203, 204, 205,208, 209,210, 211, et seq. ; 219, 220, 221, 226, 227; quoted, 331, 332, 356, 357, 375, 376; resolutions on death of, 360, 361; death of, 384; eulogies, life of, 384; et seq., 409. Barton, Capt. G. E., 22, 58; letter of, 91; do 107, 108; do 149, 159, 160, 163, 175, 176, 182, 299, 310, 357; resolutions on death of, 362, et seq. ; eulogy and funeral of, 390, et seq. Barton. Judge Ira M., 390. Bemis, Amasa B., death of, 365. Beals, James, poem of, 413, 414. Beauregard, Coufed. Gen., 134, 1G8, 187. Bertrand, 38. Bigelow, Hon. J. W., 56. Bids, Wilbur. 409. Bintliff, Col. James, Cornds;. 3d Brig- ade, 299, 311. Birney, Gen., 98. Bliss,' Col. Comdg. 1st Brigade, 180, 197. Boiling, Gen. Stith, Address of, 373. Bond, Lieut. 20th Mass., 60 Boston Journal, quoted, 329, 330. Bowles, Rev., 383. Bowman, Lieut., Samuel, 4, 93, 159, 160, 162, 163, 334. 335, 359. Brackett, Capt. L. C, 289. Breckenrida;e, Confe'd. Gen., 91, 112, 118, 283. Brewnzen, 38. Brooke, Brig.-Gen., 113. Bross, Lieut.-Col. John A., 187. Brown, Absirus, letter of, 92. Brown, J. Stewart, letter of, 92. Bukardv, George, Pvt. Co. C, 68. Bullard, Charles, 376. Bullard, Frank W., 371. Bullard, Corp. Ira B., 107, 108. Burch, Capt. 3d Maryland, 287. Burleigh, Asa D., 3U7. Burnside, Maj.-Geu. Ambrose (9th A.C.), 18, 20, 21, 26, 32, 35, 75. 77, 79, 80. 81, 82, 89, 109, 117, 119, 125, 127, 145, 149, 168, 169; plans of, 170; 171, 172, 173, 174; Order of, 174, 175; 183, 196, 197, 198,200,201, 202, 214, 216, 218, 219, 221, 222. 224. 225; letter of, 226; 229, 230, 329, 333, 357. Butler, Gen. B. F., 72, 91, 112, 252. Capelle, Col. William C, Asst. Adjt.- Gen., 413; letters of, 416, 418. Canada, 2, 189. Carter, I. C, 333. 506 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Carleton, correspondent Boston Jour- nal, letter of, 1 17. Chandler, II. !•'.. 361, 371. Chandler, Lieut. -Col.. 57th Mass., 37, 18. 39, 50, 51, 84, 92, 102, 10:5. 105, inc. 200, 335, 359. Chapin, David V. Co. B, 364, 393. Chase, Sergl . Co. II. 276, 293, 29;. Charity, Sisters of, 158, 159, 347. Cheney. 1st Lieut. E. D.. 155, 163, 335, 359 Cheney. Corp. F. S.. Co. C, 293, 295. Childs, Lieut. J. M.. 6, 56, 68, 334, 335. Christ. Col. Comdg. Brig., 137. 139. Church, Poplar Grove, battle of, 241, s< q Churchill, James K., 391. Cochran, Capt. Frederick, 368. Lieut. K. I.. 4, 143, 144, 335, 359. Clark. Capt. 2 1st Mass., 206, 210. Clark. Pvt. Horace, 20. Clarke. Col. Thomas W , 202, 212,219; narrative of Maj. Doherty, 260; ac- count of Stedman, 266, 295. Club, Union League of N.Y., 333. Cold Harbor, Battle of, 110, et seq. Commission, christian, 58,59,94, 158. Commission, Sanitary. 58, 94, 158. Committee, Congressional, Report of, 200, 201, 202." Connecticut, 1st Regt., II. A., 253, 287, 293, 2d Artillery, 114. Congress, Confed. report of, 244. Collins, Alon/.o. 409. Constitution. 57th .Mass. Regtl. As- sociation, 368, ' / seq. Cook, Lieut. Bvt. Major) J. II , 6, 156, 159, L63, 357, 358, 359, 361; in memory of Capt. Ban on. 362, et seq. : report of By-laws, 368, 371, 373, 376, 377; eulogy of Gen. Bartlett, 384, et seq; on death of Gen. Bart- lett, 398, 399. Cook, Gen. Phil., Confed., brigade of, 117, 283. Cooke, Capt. A. \\\. 264, 299, 303. ( looper, William, 16. Cooley, Bergl . John J., 1 12. Coppee, Henry A. M.. quoted, 213. ( lowdin, Col. Robl ., 395. ( !rater, Batl le of, 167, ■ t seq. \ notes on, i,\ ( ilarke, 203, 1 1 s< ■/. i rawford, < len . 75, 1 18. Crittenden, Gen., 98, 99, 100, 109, 1 10, 129. Crosby, John, 109. Curley, Pvt., 38. Cushing, Major, 410. Cutler. Gen., 75. Daley, Pvt., . Dashiell, Chaplain A. II., 38, 69, 36; letter of, 105; 146; letter of, 147; 190; letter of. 192: account of death of Maj Doherty. 258; 261, 277: quoted, 220; quoted. 314; quoted, 332; 359, 361, 376, 377. 37s. 379, 380, 410. Dana. Asst. Sec. of War, dispatch of, 316. Davis, Maj. George B.. U.S. Army, 265. Davis, Jefferson, 193: address of, 317; 319, 321, 322. 327. 331 ; in last ditch, 351. Dale. Surg.-Gen., of Muss.. 109. Deaths, list of by Companies. 402, et seq. Det'ose, 1st Sergt. (2d Lieut.) Charles L., 38, l.">6. Delaney, Pvt., Patrick, Co. A. 230. Derby, Pvt., 38. Dewey. 1st Lieut. E. S , 93, Dodge, Amos A., death of, 367. Doherty. Pvt. Cornelius, Co. G, 245. Doherty, Capt. (Major) James, B5, 123. 145, 239. 21o, 258, 259, 260, 262, 266, 270, 275, 277, 293, 294, 295, 334, 335, 359, I 1". Doty, Sergt. (1st Lieut.. Bvt. Capl ), 159, 160, 163, 175, 187,229,231, 24',), 27^. 333; death of, 393, 407. Dresser, Capt. E. T., 177.. 181, 190, 199, 333, 335, 359, 109. Duane, Major, Engineer Corps. LSI, ! 72 ; report of, 227). Duggal, Pvt., 38. Early, Confederate Gen., 1 12, 113, 114, 117, 118, 265. Edgecomb, George R., resolutions on death of, 357. Elbert, Pvt., 38. Elliott, Gen. commanding Confederate Brigade, 168. Ellis, Ubert C, 92. Ely, Col., commanding Brigade, 27.2. 255, 2s:,. 288, 309. Everett, Charles F., 64, 55. Ewell, Gen. R. s . Confederate Gen., 25, 38, 76, 90, 96, l 18, 254. Examiner, Richmond, quoted, 352. Express, Petersburg, 31 1. Fitch, 1 lharles, 92. 507 Fitchburg in the War, quoted, 345, Fitchburg. 358. Flags, return of, 344. Foster, Walter R., resolutions on death of, 364 ; 3G6 ; eulogy of, 392 ; in memoriam of, 392. Ferrero, Brig.-Gen., 128, 175, lit?. 198, 205, 210, 218 Fox, Col. W. F., Fed. loss in Wilder- ness, 47: regimental losses, 335, 336, 337; prison statistics, 348, 349. 351. Fry, Gen. J. B., report of, 337, 338; tabular statement of losses. 339. Galucia, Capt. W. B , 56th Mass., 56, 159, 160, 413. Georgia, Brigade of, J 87. Gibbon, GenT, 116, 307, 316. Gird. Capt. J. W r ., 52, 53, 200, 410. Girardy, Capt. (Confederate), 187. Goddard, Fvt. Wesley D., Co. A, mor- tally Avounded, 230*. Goodwin, Charles, 366. Goodwin, 1st Lieut. (Capt.) Charles L., 157, 163 ; resolutions on death of, 356, 366; eulogy of, 282, 283. Gordon, Gen. John B., 76, 81, 117, 247. 254, 263, 265, 266, 271. 275. 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 290, 291, 297. Gould, Austin K., 57, 58, 59; descrip- tion of Andersonville, 345, et seq. ; eulogy of, 397, 398. Gould, Major, E. P., 267, 362, 371. Gould, Major, J. P. (59th Mass.), 139, 140, 160, 200, 206. Gould, Pvt., 38. Grandou, Pvt., 38. Grant, Geu. U. S , 26, 27, 28, 32, 33, 46, 47, 49, 50, 71, 72, 80, 118, 119, 123, 125, 126, 129, 163, 164, 171, 173, 184; memoirs of, 198; 199, 200, 201, 222, 237, 241, 252, 298, 298, 299, 300, 302, 304; despatch of, 308; 309, 313, 314, 319, 352. Great Britain, 2, 340. Greene, Lieut. G. S., 123. Gresg, Brig.-Gen., 241, 248, 249. Griffin, Col , 180, 216. Grimes, Warren, resolutions on death of, 365. Grout, John E., resolutions on death of, 359. Hall, J. Brainerd, 52, 57, 59, 91, 92, 361, 365, 378, 380; tribute to Austin K. Gould, 397, 398. Hall, J. Elmer, 377. Hancock, Gen. W. S. (Second Corps), 26, 33. 35. 36, 50. 7:,, 7s. si. 82, 96, 119, 120. 127, 128, 1.".:'., 136, 165, 172. Hare, Frank, 37 7. Harriman, Col. Samuel. 252. 267, 269, 270, 286, 306. Harrinsi'tou, Pvt. Francis M., 191, 192, 365. Harrington, Pvt ., 38. Harley, C., death of, 379, 380. Harris. Col. 12th Miss.. 102. Harrison, Burton N., 319. Hastings, Pvt., 38. Hatcher's Run, battle of, 247, et seq. Ilartranft, Brig.-Gen., 249, 252, 256, 269. 271, 272, 273. 284. 285, 286, 288, 289, 292, 298, 306. Hawkins, Luther C, resolutions on death of, 359. Heath, Asst. Surg., 366, poem by, 367 ; death and eulogy of, 396, 410. Heth, Confederate Gen., 117. Higginson, Col. T. W., 415. Hill, Confederate Gen. A. P., 25. 36. 76, 96, 97, 109, 112, 188, 231, 232, 2 17. 254. 257, 265. Hi neks, Gen. comd'g colored troops, 133, 136. History, Medical and Surgical : Con- federate loss in battle of Wilderness, 47, 123. Hitchcock, Capt. A. O. (Bvt. Major), 48, 259, 275, 331, 367, 377. Hoke, Confederate Geu., 114. Holland, James H., resolutions on death of, 359, 383, 384. Hollis, Capt. C. D., 59, 60, 61, 62, 357, 410. Hollister, Lt.-Col. E. P., 9, 10, 106. Hooker, Maj.-Gen., 333. Hopkins, Col. W. S. B., 391. Howard, Pvt., 38. Howe, Capt. George H., 22, 181, 182, 188, 189, 199, 227, 333, 335, 359. Horrigan, Robert C, 55. Humphreys, Brig.-Gen. : Fed. loss in Wilderness, 47, 77, 79, 97, 119, 136, 166 : report of strength of opposing armies, 229; quoted, 248; (coindg. div. iu Second Corps), 257. Hunter, Gen., 118, 120, 128. Huts, description of, 243. Ide, 1st Lieut. H. M. (Bvt. Capt.) 249; resolutions on death of, 365, 402. Infantry, U.S. Regular, 4th and 10th regiments of, 89, 98, 200. 508 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT MASS. VOLUNTEERS. Inquiry, Court of, report of, 196, 197, 200, 201, 202, 203, 225. Intrenchments, Federal, description of, front of Petersburg, 150, 151. Jameson, Pvt. George, 240. Jewell, Col. 13th Virginia, 113. Jewett, Surgeon, 59. Johnson, Coufed. Gen., 77, 81, 284, 290. Johnston, Confed. Gen., 252, 293, 317. Jones, Capt., 14th NY. II. A., 205. Jones, Charles, 409. Jones, Col. H. C. (Confed.), 282. Jones, Rev. Henry L., 391. Jones, W. E. (Confed.) 118. Jordan, E. E., 404. Joslyn, Lieut. Henry C, 2G8, 269. Karpeles, Ser^t. Leopold, 37, 38, 101, 105. Kautz, Gen., 133. Kennay, Lieut., 1G3. KershaAv, Confed. Gen., 114, 321. Killed (battle of Wilderness), 62, 63. Kimball, Gen., 377. Kinney, Pvt. George W., Co. I, 230. Kir by, Jacob, 409. Langdon, Pvt., 38. Lappell, Pvt., 38. Lawrence, Capt. Levi, 60, 145, 55s ; death of, 367; eulogy of, 394, 395. Lawry, David F., resolutions, death of, 358; 402. Leasure, Colonel 100th Penn., 69, 82, lor,. Ledlie, Gen. J. U.. L29, 137, 162, 174, 197, 19.s, 200, 2i)2, 20:;. 204, 209, 211, 212, 213, 211. 216, 217, 220, 221; report of, 222, 22:',; 221, 230, 27 1. Lee, Fitzhugh, Confed. Gen., ill, 118, 125, 134 : report of mine, L87; 257; account of Fori Stedman, 265. Lee, Ccn. R. E . 27. 28, 32, 33, 16, 49, :,o. 62, 71. 72, 73, si, 88, 90, '.'1, 95, 96; telegram of. '.17-. 107, 109. no, 1 17, 1 18, I2r i lie Civil War," 215; 218, 220. I'rie-i . Lieui . i ,, org< I'... 7. 356, 858, 166, 377, 378, 379; of John II. ( ook, .".9'.'. Prescott, capt. Major") Allien. 89, 18, 102, 162, 163, 17... 176, L81, 190, 191, 199, 205, 333, I Prison, Libby, 290, 317. Prvor, Roger A., 313. Randall, Lieut., 4th U.S. Inf., 208, 211: Mai. George M., comely. 14th N.Y. II. A., 253, 269, 270, 2s."., 287. Randol, Col., 360. Randolph, Sergt., 100th Penn.. 270, 271. RaDsom, Confederate Gin.. 264, 283, 288. Rathborn, Charles, 409. Rathborn, William, 409. Raymond, .lames H., resolutions, death of, 364. Raymond, Maj. E. T , 377. Reade, Lieut. Bvt. Capt.) John, 163, 177.. Rebellion Records, casualties in Wil- derness, 47; 222; quoted, 225. Refreshment Rooms, Cooper. 15, 16, 17. Republic, Grand Army of, Post 10 ; 391, 392; Lost No. 113, 398. Resolutions Confederate Congress, 194. 195. Reunions. Regimental, 355, et seq. Richards. Maj. William V.. 291, 293. Richardson, Maj. Charles T., 29th Mass.. 266, 269, 290. Ricochet lire, description of, 137. Robinson, Gen. John C, 75. Robinson, Col. G. P.. 3d Maryland, 205 212. 271, 272. 27:;. 289, 291 ; report of, 292: 311. Lode. Confederate Gen., 1 13, 1 17. Roemer, Major, comdg. Led. Battery, 288. Rollins, Pvt., 38. Rosser, < 'on fed. ( ':iv.. 302. Roster of officers, 1,5,6; 419, et seq : enlisted men. 430, 1 1 .-' •/. Hover, Lieut . i r.\ t . Major !, I lharles 11., 37, 38, I"-. 159, L60, 163. Rumsey, l'\ I ., 38. Salisbury, Hon. Stephen. 367. Sanderson, Capt. John \\\. I ; death of, 367 ; eulogy, 393, 394. Schaffer, George, 109. Schneider, Re\ . Benjamin, L45. Schneider. Pvt. Edward M., L45, 14C. 1 17. SCOtt, .lesve s.. 402. Seddon, Hon. J. A . 97. Sedgwick, Gen., 26, 7.'.. 76. Shaler, Pvt., 88. Shan. l'\ i. George W.. 240. 511 Sheridan, Gen., 20, 114, 128, 165, 166, 172, 800, 304. Sherwin, Waldo, 90. Shorkley, Capt., 271. Shumway, D., 404. Sigfried, Col., 180. Siea;el, Gen., 91. Smith, Gen., 112, 119, 120, 127, 133. Smith, Lieut. Green, 207, 209. Snow, Capt., 235. Souther, 1st Sergt., Co. B, 53, .'.4, 200. Soutliey, Pvt., 38. Spottsylvania Court House, battle of, 71-04. Sprague, Gen. A. B. R., 377. Spy, "Worcester, 56, 57, 108. Squares, Pvt. Truman, 89. St. Autoine, Pvt. 38. Stedman, Fort, Battle of, 251-298. Stevens, Charles E., poem, 54. Stevenson, Gen., commanding- 1st Brig , 1st Div., 9th AC, 35, 36, 79, 82, 110, 200. Stragglers, 405-419. Streeter, Pvt., 38. Stuart, Confecl. Gen., 75. Sturgis, Lieut. Thomas, 57, 269, 290. Sumner, E. V., Corps, W.R.C., 87s. Swords, Capt. (Bvt.-Major), 287, 290, 356. Taylor, Col., 109. Teasjue, John, resolutions, death of, 365. Tennyson, Charge of the Light Brig- ade, 338. Terry, Confed. Gen., 283. Thomas, Col., 180. Thompson, W. D., 377. Tidball, Col., 225, 267, 272, 285, 872. Timon, Charles, resolutions, death of, 371. Towers, Pvt , 38. Tribune, The National of Washington, prison statistics, 349, 350, 351. Tripp, Capt., 29th Mass., 206. Trussell, Augustus J., death of, 366. Tucker, Lieut.-Col. J. M., 67, 107, 110, 111, 138. 145, 149, 163, 233, 258, 266, 275; report of , 294; 299, 329; reso- lutions, death of, 356 ; eulogy of, 381, 382. Tufts, Col., Mass. State Agent, 193. Turner, Maj. Dick (Confed".), 279, 280. Upton, Gen., 78, 80. Union dead at Columbia, S.C., 350, 351. Venable, Col. (Confed.), 109. Valley Gleaner, of Lee, quoted, 396, 397. Vocell, James, 409. Wade, U.S. Senator, 202. Wadsworth, Gen., 36, 40, 41. Walker, Lt.-Col., 52d Va., 118. Walker, Rev. E. A., 14. Walters, Sergt. Jack, 208. Walton, Edward A., 108. Walton, Gilderoy and Dollv, 108. Ward, Capt. H. C, 37, 38, 93; account of Port Stedman, 277. 280; letters of, 281, 282. Warren, Adjt., 204. Warren. Geii. G. K., 20, S:^ 75, 78, 80, 81, 90, 96, 109, 119, 126, 127, 129, 136, 171, 172, 235, 248. Wayland, Francis, 20. Weiseger, Gen. (Confed.), 187. Weitzel, Gen., 322. Welch, James, resolutions, death of, 359. Weld, Col., 56th Mass., 206. Weldon Railroad, Battle of, 228-237 ; casualties of, 231. Wellman, Frank, 360. Wellman, George, 364. Westwood, 146," 147. Whipple, W. H., 378, 379, 380. White, Gen., commanding Brig, and Div., 9th A.C., 171,229, 233, 234, 235. White, George, 410. White, Surg. W. V., 59, 73, 146; let- ter of, 234; 320, 367, 375, 378; letter on organization, 408, et seq. Whittier. John Greenleaf, poem by, 389, 390. Wilcox, Gen., commanding 3d Div., 9th AC, 35, 82, 117,141,174, 180, 197, 198, 217, 231, 233, 238, 247, 252, 284, 285; report of Fort Stedman, 287, 288, 289; 302, 306, 309, 311, 324, 329, 332. Wilderness, Battle of, 23-69. Willard, Pvt. George W., 38, 231. Williams, Weslev R., 277, 298, 295. Willis, Col., 12th Georgia, 113. Wilson, Gen. J. H., 125, 126, 172. Wilson, Pvt., 38. Winder, Gen. (Confed.), 352. Wisconsin, 2d Regt. of los>, 335. Wise, Gen. (Confed.), 133. Woodbury, Augustus, Historian 9th A.C., 170; quoted, 288. 512 FIFTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT Mass. VOLUNTEERS. Woodcock, Isaac A., resolutions, death of, 371. Wool. Camp John E., 4, 14. 15, 49,409. Worthy. Corp. William, 242. Wounded, Wilderness, 63, G4. Wright, Gen. (6th A.C.), 77, 80, 81, 119, 120, 127. Wright, Gen. (Confed.), 187. Wurtz, Capt. (Confed. at Anderson- ville), 34."). Young, Charles E., 366. Youngmau, John C, A.A.-G., 9th A.C., 306. ERRATA Line 13, page 143 : The paragraph should read as follows : "The number of killed alone, including otlicers, was eighty-four, I icing nearly ten per cent. Of the one hundred and eighty it took into the battle of Petersburg, June 17th, one officer, Lieut. Edwin I. Coe, and ten enlisted men were killed." Page 162 : McLaughlin should be spelled McLaughlen. Page 200 : Southey should be Souther. RD - 13 0. -2> & .: v v -^ •. A o w ° . » * » ' • °- A • ■■ >«*. ** « - * 1 ' * « (D *°-v * ^ ^0< % 6.S id- o "l^ £> «* ■if? -* 3 V. „*i ^> LIBRARY BINDING S^AUGUSTINE ^ "V ^^% FLA.