OFS WEG, NORIO sei Ce i ae FL SENET EVI Tye SEES qieagetir eS A MM senate ca cs aan ‘we HISTORY ee a Oe OF THE TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT . MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS 4 IN THE 1 { WAR FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE UNION ‘ 1861-1865 WITH : j STATISTICS OF THE WAR AND OF REBEL PRISONS } BY CHARLES F. WALCOTT . CAPTAIN IN THE REGIMENT; COLONEL SIXTY-FIRST rkarwenr MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS ; BREVET BRIGADIER-GENERAL U. 8. VOLUNTEERS ; MEMBER OF THE MILITARY HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MASSACHUSETTS BOSTON inl Bo HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY E New York: 11 East Seventeenth Street Che Vivergide Press, Cambridge 1882 shad By CE Copyright, 1882, JARLES F. WaLcort. 4 pir Wa The Riverside Press, Cambridge : Print ed by H. 0. Houghton & Company: 7 "sO ‘ - THE CENTENNIAL OF THE AMERICAN FLAG. Thou hast not always been, as here to-day, so comfortably ensovereigned. In other scenes than these have I observed thee, Flag, Not quite so trim and whole, in folds of stainless silk ; But I have seen thee to tatters torn, upon thy splintered staff, Or clutched to some young color-bearer’s breast, with desperate hands, Savagely struggled for, for life and death fought over long, *Mid cannons’ thunder-crash, and many a curse and groan and yell, and rifle volleys cracking sharp, And moving masses as wild demons surging — and lives as nothing risked, For thy mere remnant, grimed with dirt and smoke, and sopped in blood ; For sake of that, my Beauty, and that thou might’st dally as now, secure up there Many a good man have I seen go under, Warr Wuirman. AS7S8S4ii PREFACE. AT the first annual reunion of the survivors of the regi- ment at Worcester, February 8, 1866, I was urged by many comrades to prepare a history of its service. While a member of the regiment, from its organization until the 25th of April, 1863, I had kept a full diary, and collected the official reports of battles and casualties in action. As these would give me a start, I thought that I could find time to do the work, and at once set about its preparation. During the summer of 1866, circulars were freely distributed among the members of the regiment and families of deceased comrades, calling for facts which they deemed of interest, and the principal portion of this history was compiled and written in the years 1866 and 1867. With an intense feeling of loyalty to the glorious old regiment and of tender regard for the memory of our dead comrades, I devoted to this labor of love every hour during those years which I could spare from the demands of a labori- ous profession. But there were stil] many gaps to be filled, and the Roster was entirely wanting. I became dissatisfied with the result, and found it not very difficult to persuade myself to put my record upon the shelf, in the hope that it would at some future time be my privilege to codperate with other comrades in producing a better monument to our heroes. As the years passed on it became more and more evident that the materials which I had accumulated must be used by me if vi PREFACE. by any one ; and finally, at the reunion of 1879, I promised an early completion and publication of the history. The revision which I had supposed would be the work of months only, has to my great regret occupied years, — more than a year of the delay being caused by the difficulty of making a roster of the regiment worth publication. I had expected to use the Roster published by the Commonwealth in 1870, in the “ Record of the Massachusetts Volunteers,” but found that part of it re- lating to the enlisted men so frequently and wonderfully incor- rect, that I have dared to take hardly anything from it with- out verification. In this task of correction I have examined personally all the monthly regimental returns, and indeed every roll, report, and return relating to the regiment on the files of the office of the adjutant-general, from whom and his assistants I have received all possible aid in the work. Even now I do not claim that the Roster is perfect, but the errors cannot be very numerous, and it is certainly by far the best that exists at the present time. Lest I should be understood as accusing the. adjutant-general, under whose direction the record published by the State was prepared, of carelessness in so important a matter, I ought to say that most of its mistakes and omissions exist also in the muster-out rolls from which it was made up. Many of our comrades have died since their muster out of service, by reason of wounds and disease suf- fered or incurred while in the regiment; but in my record of casualties I have confined myself to deaths in the service. This is the history of a fighting regiment, and I shall par- ticularly regret any errors which may be found to exist in the record of casualties in action. It is hardly possible that there are many such errors, as in addition to the official reports, I have had full lists of casualties from the hospital records of Surgeons Cutter and Oliver, also from acting Sergeant-Major Harrison C. Cheney, for the summer campaign of 1864, and - i 4 - i } t ' i i i é t i 5 PREFACE. vii from Captain William H. Sawyer, the last commander of the 21st battalion, for its final service, besides receiving valuable wntorevtiog on this subject from many others. To Captain Sawyer I am also indebted for official documents and facts of interest in connection with the latest service of the reén- listed men. mint I ceased to be connected with the regiment, I have derived information not only from sources indicated above, but from the carefully-collated statements and diaries of sev- eral officers and men, to whom I have, as far as possible, given credit in the text or notes from time to time. I am also indebted to Major-General John G. Parke, Chief of Engineers, for a full set of the war maps published by the government ; to the late Major-General Burnside, for copies of official reports obtained from the War Department ; and to the late Governor Bullock, for copies of his eloquent ad- Sreatge to the regiment on its departure from the State in 1861, end return on the reénlistment furlough, in 1864. The history of the 21st in rebel prisons, contained in the twenty-second chapter, is one of the most interesting and val- uable parts of the book, consisting principally of the full orison diar rive ; : I ary of Private George A. Hitchcock, and extracts from diaries and i a a narration a . » ar arré of incidents of their prison life al s . Gethings, First-Sergeant Marcus ‘ > oe Graton, and Privates Wilbur A. by Sergeant-Major P. Frank M. Collis, Corporal Alvin S, Potter and John E. Short. The maps, plans, a ar nd ns ; ps, plans, ¢ general statements of campaigns, stre ; or b trength of opposing armies, losses, ete., have been carefully orepar 3 al i prepared from the best attainable sources, and may be relied . a ss : = For opinions Incidentally expressed as to commanding officers and campaigns, I am alone responsible : i the account of the battle of Antietam, it is stated on the 201st page of the book that our brigade, after the passage of viii PREFACE. Antietam Creek, took position in a ravine on the right of the road. ‘This statement should be limited to the old regiments of the brigade (21st Massachusetts, 51st New York, and 51st Pennsylvania) 5 the 35th Massachusetts, on crossing, were pushed up the hill directly in front of the bridge, and led the division in the advance against Hill’s troops late in the after- noon. I sincerely thank my comrades for the sacred trust which they have committed to me in the preparation of this his- tory, as well as for the patience with which they and the fam- ilies of our loved and honored dead have waited so long for its publication, and am fully conscious how meagre and inade- quate it will seem to many of them. CHARLES F. WALCOTT. CamBripe@E, June 20, 1882. lg amt le TEN Gi on a CONTENTS. a CHAPTER I. JuLy, 1861 —Janvary 5, 1862. ORGANIZA‘ ANIZA r . he i ps TION OF a Regiment. — Departure From WorcEsTER a — Service 1x Maryan > a eae eee D J LAND. — PREPARATIONS F on Seascale REPARATIONS FOR THE BURNSIDE 1 CHAPTER II. JANUARY 6 — Fepruary 5, 1862 Departure ARTURE OF THE BurNsipE E os F THE Burnsipe Expeprrion. — Harre Troors anp Vxssets In Pamt S ie perio perdi encie 8 N PamMLico Sounp, — TING © IsLaAND A UND. — Movine on Roanoke c 20 CHAPTER III. FrBRUARY 7-1] 8, 1862. Barre or RoANoK LE ANOKE ISLAND. — T 8 TER T ey 9 KE I LAND. On THE Is LAND AFTER HE BATTLE 2 CHAPTER Ivy. Fepruary — A PRIL, 1862 es rroM ROANOKE Istann, — Typ Barr N /AMP AR -WRERN . * : Lh OF Nowa ie uP NEAR NEwWBERN. — Dearu or Miss Carriz E, 0 ‘ : 59 : i. CUTTER . . CHAPTER VY. Ap 26 PRIL 15-22, 1862. r Tur B 7 y aN 3 aaeee or CAMDEN (or Soury Mitts). — Ux

a mu . “ 7 ” 9TH Corps DeTaAcnED FROM THE ARMY OF THE Poromac. — ANNI- VERSARY OF THE BatTLe or NEwWBERN. — TRANSFER OF THE 9TH ‘ Corrs To Tur DerarrMeEnt oF THE On10. — SERVICE IN KENTUCKY. w ov a CHAPTER XIV. SEPTEMBER 12 —DEcEMBER 27, 1863. 2 . . . . . 493 INDEX. an cine Aan REE GS seen md Sa CONTENTS. xiii PORTRAITS, MAPS, AND PLANS. Portrait or Genprat Rexyo . é é : Frontispiece. Firip OF OPERATION IN NortH CAROLINA . ; : ; ; : 21 Roanoxe Istanp AND SURROUNDINGS ‘ . : . : 30 Cuarce on THE Barrery AT Roanoke IsLaAnD ‘4 . i 45 Fietp or Oppratrions in VirGinta (SUMMER OF 1862) 132 Last Fieutr at tHe Seconp Batrie or MANASSAS 2 ee GrenERAL McoCLeian’s MaryLtaAnpD CAMPAIGN é 7 ‘ 185 Porrrait or GENERAL Burnsipe ; B . . Opposite 228 Surrounprnes or KNOXVILLE . i : i ‘ ; ; i . 273 Union anp Reset Lines AT PETERSBURG . * ; ‘ 351 RETREAT OF THE REBEL Army FROM RICHMOND AND PETERSBURG .« 374 SketcuH oF ANDERSONVILLE PRISON . » i : é ‘ 387 Teeter 3ATTLES IN WHICH THE TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT MASS- VOLS. WAS ACTIVELY ENGAGED WITH THE ENEMY, AND ITS LOSSES THEREIN. | / | | cx [eel Sk | gE | 2 of |ee/ eis Name and Date of Action. 4 3 b=] 3 Fs i es. | #2 | 8 | 83 s8clse| & | 83 s3] 55 3 FS Zag] Me o | we | | Roanoke Island, Feb. 8, 1862 Se WR 700 13 44 Newbern, March 14, 1862 aor paras Sy 2% 35 ° Osman, April i9).1869 6684, eee a | 4 11 I Manassas (2d), Aug. 29 and 30,1862 . . . . | 425 7 hantiity, Berth cihem Ae Ve a oe OO 38 76 26 South Mountain, Sept. 14, 1862 tea ng ea ee 5 Antietam, [Tors Ak g Ae IE A Site ee ene ae Ea 150 10 35 | Fredericksburg, Dec. 13,1862. . . . 1. | 200 13 52 I pampeign in KE, Tenn., Oct., Nov., Dee., 1863 | | attles of Blue Springs, Oct. 10. | Le Campbell’s Staticn, Novy. 16. | 200 . 4s aes Siege of Knoxville, Nov. 17—Dee. 4. J Wilderness, May 6, 1864 aaa seit 3 7 8 Spottsylvania, May 10, 12, 18, 1864 ; ; * 5 32 Z Shady Grove Road, May 31, June l, 1864. . * § é Bethesda Church (Cold Harbor), June 2, 1864 * 13 21 13 Petersburg, assault of June 16,1864. . * 2 2 Petersburg, assault of June 17, 1864 . * 4 25 2 Battle of the Mine, July 30,1864. . . . . * ee te 3 Siege of Petersburg, June 18 to Aug. 18, 1864 nd 3 14 Weldon R. R., Aug. 19,1864 . . . 75 3 4 Poplar Spring Church, Sept. 30, 1864 75 4 | 10 11 } NR: AOC E CRUE EES ee Me og 152 | 408 69 * The above estimates of the fighting strength of the regiment from time to time were made with care, and are substantially accurate. The figures given are based on actual count or offl- cial returns, Two of the companies were absent at Antietam, having been detailed asa guard over prisoners taken at South Mountain. ’ ; The regiment carried 209 muskets into the battle of the Wilderness. The number constantly ‘ diminished during the campaign, but I have not been able to obtain another definite statement of the actual fighting force of the regiment until the 20th of June, on which date it numbered 110 muskets, and reached its lowest figures on the 81st of August, when it numbered but 59 muskets for duty. The Roster, and regimental return for the 31st of August, 1964, printed in full in this book, page 355, will show what became of the men, and account for the non-combatants. An irreparable loss to the regiment, which does not appear in the above table, was suffered in f { ; October, 1862, by the transfer of 59 of our best fighting men to the regular cavalry and artillery. F 5 — Ep. { —— ED nie Tea acter RCE 3 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT, MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. Oh, blow for the hero a trumpet, Let him lift up his head in the morn ; A glory of glories is battle, It is well for the world he was born. Let him joy in the sound of the trumpet, And sun in the world’s proud smile; But what had become of the hero, Except for the ‘‘rank and file?” H. H., The Rank and File. CHAPTER I. JuLy, 1861 — January 5, 1862. ORGANIZATION OF THE REGIMENT. — DEPARTURE FROM WORCESTER. — SERVICE IN MARYLAND. — PREPARATIONS FOR THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION, Tue Agricultural Fair Grounds at Worcester were desig- nated as the place of rendezvous, and the regiment was or- ganized there during the months of July and August, 1861. Augustus Morse, of Leominster, a major-general in the state militia, was assigned to the command of the amp, which was named ‘*Camp Lincoln,” in honor of ex-Governor Levi Lin- coln. The most noted day in the infancy of the regiment was July 19, when our companies, A from Templeton, D from Fitchburg, and G from Ashburnham, marched into camp together; and the 21st then began to look like a sue- cess. The first report of the strength of the regiment was made July 26th, on which date seven companies were in camp, numbering, in the aggregate, 512 officers and men. On the 1 2 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, 2d of August, the regiment suffered a loss of nearly 100 men, by the transfer of its original Company B to the 15th regi- ment; the loss, however, was made good within twenty-four hours by the arrival of companies from Boston and Spring- field, which were soon afterwards consolidated into one com- pany, and given the letter B. As men wishing to enlist were plenty, we had no difficulty in filling up the companies with picked men; and early in August the regiment paraded with a full front of brave, patriotic, intelligent, and muscular men. On the 16th of August, the greater part of the men in camp were mustered into the United States service for ** three years, or during the war,” by Captain Goodhue, of the 11th United States infantry ; and for a few hours were called “« Uncle Sam’s Babies,” by some of the men who had refused to be mustered on their failing to obtain any assur- ance that the officers under whom they had enlisted would be commissioned and mustered as such. ‘The hangers-back, however, soon came to terms, and were all mustered in within a day or two. General Morse was made colonel of the reg- iment; and the field, staff, and line officers generally were commissioned and mustered into the United States service, on the 21st of August, in the grades in which they had been acting. As a rule, these first officers of the regiment were worthy of their commissions, but the colonel was a very unfortunate selection, in a military point of view. Though of a kindly dis- position, he was of a lazy habit, entirely destitute of soldierly enthusiasm or spirit, wonderfully ignorant of military drill and manceuvres, and a wretched disciplinarian. Some of our companies (D and G particularly) had come into camp in very good drill; the officers and men generally had stuck closely to the camp, and done their best to learn what they could of a soldier’s duty; and the regiment, now a month old, though sadly lacking in battalion drill, had begun to feel its strength and to be a little restive to take its stand with our brothers in the field. rye a eee son 4 f 5 ‘ i é f § | 1861, CEREMONIES ON DEPARTURE, 3 Anticipating sudden orders to move, Colonel Morse, in the kindness of his heart, scattered the regiment to the winds for a couple of days, on the 19th of August, by giving fur- loughs to everybody who said that they wanted to bid good- by to their families. August 21st the state paymaster arrived and paid us from the time of enlistment to our muster into the United States service. I have not been able to find a complete recerd of the birth- places of the members of the regiment as it left the State. soe a tli Company Descriptive Rolls (made August “Vth, under great disadvantages in some of the companies, Owing to the absence of the men on furlough), in an aggre- gate of 829 enlisted men who appear on them, give, native born, 618; birth-place unknown to officer making the record, dh 3; foreign born, 144 (of whom 87 were born in Ireland, 23 in England, 23 in the British North American Provinces, 6 in Scotland, 3 in France, and 2 in Germany). On the morning of Friday, August 23d, marching orders were issued, tents were struck, and the make-shift, crooked- barreled guns with which we had been drilling, were ex- changed for guns just a trifle better, being old smooth-bore muskets, altered from flint-locks; those issued to D and G, the flank companies, as if in mockery of their powers, hav- ing been newly sighted up to 900 yards. ; The ceremonies immediately preceding our departure were impressive and stirring. The regiment being formed in close column of divisions, the Rev. Merrill Richardson, of Worces- ter, offered up a fervent prayer; and Hon. Alexander H. Bullock, in behalf of the ladies of Worcester, presented to the regiment a beautiful silk United St ’ a t ‘ as : 7 Ik U nited States regimental flag, and ade us the following stirring speech : «Cc TE se, Orricrre of Coronet Morsk, Orricers, anp Souprers or THE TWENTY- i‘ er" e a 1. “ First: I have been requested by the patriotic ladies of Worcester to present from their hands these regimental colors. Summoned to the field sooner than you or we had expected, in the haste of your eho pitas. 4 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, departure it is only fit that I should detain you long enough to com- mit to your keeping this proof of the interest which the city of your first encampment cherishes in your welfare, and of the devotion of her heart of hearts to the cause which your arms defend. You will receive it with the assurance that from our firesides and domestic altars patriotism, piety, the aspirations of all that is fair, and the codperation of all that is manly, will follow you to the field. You march amid grand and solemn events. Our government, our capital, the flag of our renown, our unity, our existence, is in peril. The fountains of the great deep are broken up; we are in civil war. But let no one suppose, therefore, that our heritage is passing away. The tides of history are not to be turned back. ‘Though rebellion, blaz- ing rebellion, rear its banner from the capes of Virginia, round the gulf, and midway up the valley, the people are making a life strug- gle for their national unity, and they can and they will preserve it. We are not to lose our national identity. We shall still continue to date from George Washington, and his achievements and his glory. We are not yet transferring the dust of two generations of free and united America to its grave, and closing the annals. ‘The bell of time is indeed striking an epoch, but we do not believe that it is opening before us another, which is unknown and undiscernible. There is a thread of Providence, of history, of civilization, which connects the America that is past to the America that is to come. American con- stitutional government is a conviction, an idea, a principle that is imperishable, for it rests on the hearts of its people. It may for a time be obstructed, but it cannot be broken or destroyed; and from momentary disaster or dishonor it will rise with redoubled majesty for its more certain vindication. The loyalty of the Border is even now arraying itself with the North and the West for the great peril. The land of Clay and of Webster is already beginning to vibrate with the same note of defiance and preparation. The bugles of Kentucky and of Massachusetts will soon be sounded together in the field. Mr. CommManper, Men or FRANKLIN, AND BERKSHIRE, AND HaMPpEN, AND Worcester, —I invoke you to contemplate the posi- tion of the proud Commonwealth you represent. Such has been her response to the crisis which is upon us, that everywhere the unsub- stantial cloud has been lifted from her name, and she has risen as by enchantment to the applause of states. The muse of history has with a new title assigned the Nineteenth of April, among the holy days of her calendar, The genius of her people reopened the highway to ‘a 1861, MR. BULLOCK’S ADDRESS. 5 the capital. The gallantry of her sons will ever be repeated at the gates of Baltimore, never again to be closed, because our dead speak trumpet-tongued to the ear and the heart of the nation. Massachu- setts in her age is retreading the pathways of her youth. As it was in the beginning, so now again her men are found at every disposa- ble post of service and danger under the government ; and wherever that flag shall be unfurled there they will be found to-day and hence- forth till this war shall terminate. Look on them and behold them as they have taken their place in the procession of events. They made halt at Annapolis, proud and sullen in her desolation, awoke old Tronsides from its sleep and danger, and planted their batteries in the face of delusion and secession. They pitched their tents among the oaks of Fortress Monroe, and offered the greeting of the Star Span gled Banner to the hospitality of Virginia. Z They ‘tail up their abode In the chill and damp of McHenry, and welcomed Baltimore back to her nationality. They seized and held the gateway to the Ohio, and exchanged the challenge of their sentinels with the Northwest. They emervce — a . . . nerged from the blood-stained ravines of Manassas, and no wounds were fi air backs . re found upon their backs nor any tarnish upon their arms. Such you have beheld them, And now you go forth to take the place of some of them, and to codperate with others. Wherever you shall go in this sublime service, —to Harper’s Ferry, or Baltimore, or Fock ress Monroe, or Washington, on this or the. other side of the upper or lower Potomac, to the drill of camp life, or where the “ bloody sign of battle is hung out,” — there you will find that your brothers and poi have gone before, or are already on the ground to ore you will find your own dear old Massachuse guardian angel care, only beseeching you in 5 et you, — there tts promising you her S) ie a OOH ee your life, and if need be your death 10n0r s hi Me: pie z ’ is historic symbol. Let these colors be now unfurled. We swe: : wear by them. In the presence of each other before men and angels n and angels, we re » aftwas a . r and angels, renew our allegiance to The Flag of Our Union. Let others besto i J ‘ stow their e ; 4 ir complacent gaze upon only half a flag Vv 1] © > ars: Te Th vith a few lost stars; we desire to breathe our last sigh under these azure folds, with not a star or a stripe erased. Let traitors do battle s of the palmetto floating over iti lif sonant sound of the rattle-snake is worth all of life to you to march only under the old national en sign, and to die, if so it please Providence, amid the cadence of the national anthem. Men of the Twenty-first, the banner is yours. Rev- erence it in the hour of security ; honor it in the clustering battle ! as they may, with the bayonet leave them, and in fellowship with the re 6 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, And it is the prayer of your friends, from whose hands the gift has come to you, that Almighty God will preserve your lives, and restore you to Massachusetts and to those you love! RESPONSE BY COLONEL MORSE. Colonel Morse, on receiving the flag, responded as follows : “ CoLoneL BuLLocK AND Lapies OF WORCESTER: It is with the gravest emotions that I now thank you, one and all, for this noble gift you have this day presented. We shall ever cherish it as a token of your love for us, and ever remember you as our noblest and dear- est friends. We shall ever hold up this standard as an emblem of your affection, and protect it with all the strength of our arms, and not a man of us will ever turn his back upon it. This flag which we have loved and nurtured, which has protected us on land and sea, and will ever protect us, God willing, all the days of our lives, shall be the herald of our charge upon the traitors, and be held up to inspire us to fight the battles of our country, in defence of its glorious institu- tions. And never shall it return to you till it floats on land and sea, in every section of our once united confederacy of States. But, ladies, it is not to me, but the officers and soldiers of the Twenty-first regi- ment, to whom you have presented this precious token. Again I thank you, in behalf of the men under my command, and take leave of you with the assurance that you will never hear of any of us de- serting or dishonoring this flag.” Ranks were broken for a last half hour with mothers, wives, sisters, and the other dear ones that bound our hearts to home ; then the regiment was re-formed, and marched proudly through the city in column of sections to the Norwich depot. Leaving Worcester about five o’clock in the afternoon, we were received with much enthusiasm and kindness as we passed through the different towns, took the boat at Norwich, and reached Jersey City early in the morning of the 24th. Before leaving Worcester, the men were allowed to fill their haversacks with hard bread, but as a general rule preferred to take the chance of getting something better on the road, par- ticularly as it was understood that an ample supply of sand- wiches, made by the kind ladies of Worcester, were to be car- ried in bulk; but a thousand big fellows with healthy appetites NM a ees gg OLGA SAA REL LCE IVES LOL A NIGEL ENG LIPO OE TELE 1861. ARRIVAL IN PHILADELPHIA AND BALTIMORE. T will eat a good many sandwiches; and most of the regiment were quite hungry when we reached Jersey City, and still more hungry when we took the cars for Philadelphia about noon, having breakfasted on one sandwich and a cup of coffee. All along the road we were greeted with cheers, waving hand- kerchiefs, and frequent bouquets of flowers. At half-past eight in the evening we arrived at Philadelphia, where we were received with hearty kindness, and welcomed to a splen- did supper at the Cooper Shop Saloon. The ladies and gentle- men who waited on us seemed to take real pleasure in seeing the men eat, and we all did eat without reserve. None of us will ever forget the whole-hearted generous kindness with which we were received in Philadelphia. Supper over, we returned to the cars, and remained in them at a halt for some four hours, the tediousness of the delay being however a good deal relieved by the crowds of women who aubrtitanaed the cars *‘ bidding good-by to the soldiers ;” and some of the officers ad can answer for one captain, at any rate) had their atten- tion fully occupied in trying to diminish the amount of fire- water which the men so inclined were imbibing and stowing away for future use. ‘Two members of Company Hy:Pr rates nei ete ot ovarian cb lege ici who were badly hurt ving car, were le t in hospital at Philadelphia.! We parted front our kind friends after midnight, and reached Havre-de-Grace at about five o’clock on the morning of Sun- day, the 25th. Here, the report spread throsaly ai regi- ment that a message had come from Baltimore that we oe have to fight our way through the city, and as ball cartridges were served out to us for the first time we thought that it wal probably true. We arrived in Baltimore pais in the fore- noon, and filed quietly from the ears into the aan Though we had not been at all alarmed at the prospect of having @ chance to deal with a Baltimore mob, we, of course, were Very glad to be received in a peaceful if not friendly manner. No- body appeared to have us on their minds for either good or 1 Both King and Marsh w i i gs Mars ere discharged from " of their ee sche the service by reason injuries, December 31, 1861. — Ep 7 abies 8 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, ill. Colonel Morse went to report to General Dix, in com- mand at Baltimore, for orders; and we waited hour after hour in the hot sun for his return; at last he came and informed us that we were to stay in Baltimore ; the remainder of our carefully husbanded Massachusetts sandwiches were issued to the men, who were all hungry, and some of them (those who had put no bard tack in their haversacks at Worcester) even faint from want of food, having had nothing to eat since their supper in Philadelphia. Formed in a long marching square with a platoon front, having the field and staff inside (a rather absurd, though bellicose looking formation, invented I believe by Colonel Morse), we left the railroad station at half- past three in the afternoon, and with fixed bayonets and loaded guns marched through the crowded streets of the city to Patterson Park, receiving neither welcome nor insult on the way. We found the park an unpleasant dusty place, and Colonel Morse kept marching us round and round until we were nearly ready to drop; at last he gave the welcome order to halt, and we at once set about measuring out the camp and pitching our tents; tents pitched after a fashion, the weary men lay down in the dust, and slept without waiting for supper. Our camp in Patterson Park was named Camp Lincoln, in honor of the President. On the 26th, the colonel impressed upon the regiment the fact that we were now in the enemy’s country, and the neces- sity of constant vigilance against attack. To make it certain in case of a night attack that we should have an understood signal for prompt turning out, he gave us the word * Boston” as an alarm cry, to be used only in a case of real necessity. As a natural result, the silence of midnight was broken by the ery « Boston ;” then a gun was fired; the sentinels all yelled « Boston,” and so did the men generally as they tumbled out of their tents to form line, with the long roll beating vigor- ously. It wasn’t a scary alarm, and when the colonel found that most of the men were laughing in the ranks he sent the regiment back to quarters. The colonel suspected Captain 6 wom BN cecilia ee nem met geet nt eee saitaneremnadi Loca anlar Acai nneial 1861. NIGHT ALARM AT THE JUNCTION. 9 Rogers of starting the alarm, but could not prove it ; whoever did it had reason to be proud of his success. We remained in camp in Patterson Park for three days ; but the only other noteworthy occurrence that I recall there was a dress-parade one afternoon in a rain, at which the colonel commanded un- der an umbrella. August 29th. The regiment having received orders to re- port at Annapolis by rail, we struck tents and marched to the railroad station in the afternoon. The only insulting remark that I heard as we passed through the city was, ** They ’ll make d—d poor manure for our land!” Just after leaving Baltimore, Private Frank B. Marey, of Company F, while attempting to climb through a window to the top of the car, fell under the wheels and lost an arm. We stopped at Annapolis Junction at ten o’clock at night, and the men slept in the cars and about the station. On the morning of the 80th six companies went on to Annapolis to garrison the Naval School buildings, and four were left to occupy the June- tion, picket the Annapolis and Elkridge Railroad, and per- vent contraband goods from passing from Baltimore to Vir- ginia. Captain Walker, of Company G, was in command at the Junction, as the senior officer of the four companies left there; and Colonel Morse commanded the post of Annapolis. The 21st relieved a poorly drilled Pennsylvania regiment, who were very sorry to have to go, as the officers wd that whiskey was plenty, and the pretty girls and inhabitants generally had been very friendly to them ; but Massachusetts men would find things very different. The ramp at the Junction had a first-class alarm on the night of the 30th. As in Baltimore, it occurred about midnight : a sentinel in the woods to the south of the camp fired his gun at an imaginary man whom he “‘saw creeping towards him.’ The men were somewhat nervous from being in a new place, and on account of the stories told them by the Pennsylvanians of the enmity of the people against Massachusetts men, and the alarm spread rapidly from one sentinel to another; all of them seemed to be firing as fast as possible in all directions, and ee 10 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September, as the battalion fell hurriedly into line bullets were hissing about, and things had rather a serious look. Fortunately, the sentinels had only a few rounds in their boxes, and the affair This was the last entirely causeless alarm which ever occurred in the 21st, during its term of service. Early in September, our lieutenant-colonel, Albert C. Maggi, an Italian by birth, reported for duty with the regi- ment, and was assigned by Colonel Morse to the command ati was soon over. Annapolis Junction, and of the four companies which were kept on picket duty along the Annapolis and Elkridge Rail- road and about the Junction. He was a well educated, enthu- siastic soldier, and had served with honor under the great Garibaldi in South America and Europe. He at once an- nounced his intention to make the 21st a regiment of regu- lars, and entered in earnest on the work : his headquarters were made a school of soldiery for the officers, and not unfre- quently an enlisted man, whose gun was found dirty or whose appearance had not been soldierly at inspection or parade, might be seen marching in a circle under guard, with his knapsack more or less filled with bricks. The lieutenant-colonel never treated Colonel Morse with even that outward show of respect which the good of the ser- vice requires that an officer inferior in rank should at least publicly show to his superior; exact in military detail, quick, outspoken, and determined, it was evident from the first that he and the colonel would not be comrades in the service long. I have always remembered one of his letters to the colonel, which before sending he read at one of our officers’ meetings at the Junction. He*was displeased at being assigned to a command of only four companies, as being below his rank ; and soon after his arrival sent a letter to the colonel request- ing as a matter of right that he be ordered to Annapolis, and the major sent to the Junction; this request the colonel de- clined to accede to, in a letter full of complimentary allusions to the lieutenant-colonel’s military qualifications for the charge of so important a post as the Junction. Maggi’s answer was siemens tint e at 1861. SHOOTING OF CORPORAL HAYDEN. 11 in substance as follows: “I have just received your paternal The Bible says that language was given to man to express his thoughts, but a philosopher has said that it was given to him to lie his thoughts. In your case I think the philosopher was right, but your letter was very paternal !” The four companies along the railroad and at the Junction were relieved by four of our other companies, and called in to Annapolis on Monday, September 16th ; and, as long as the regiment remained in Maryland, the companies were detailed in turn for this duty. September 17th, the regiment was mustered in over again on account of informality in the previous musters. At about ten o'clock in the evening of Wednesday, September 18th, a terri- ble affair occurred in the Academy grounds at Annapolis. A corporal of the guard, Josiah W. Hayden, of Company K, was shot through the body by a sentinel, also belonging to Com- pany K, whom the corporal had posted a few minutes before over one of the headquarter buildings, and died next morning. As the corporal was passing the sentry’s beat he was ordered to halt and give the countersign; he was but a few feet away, the moon was shining brightly, and he knew that he was recognized: halting for a moment he refused to give the countersign, telling the sentinel that being on an interior post he had no right to require it ; then, as he turned to move on the fatal shot was fired. Corporal Hayden was one of the finest fellows and best loved men in the regiment, and his comrades, as they gathered rapidly about the place, would probably have killed the sentinel upon the spot if he had not been at once covered by the guard. Charges were filed, and the sentinel was brought to trial; but, owing to his extreme youth (being only in his sixteenth year), and the fact that never having been properly instructed in his duty he thought that he had a right to shoot as he did, the court acquitted him, and he soon returned to duty, He afterwards did gal- lant service in the regiment, and slowly and patiently won his way to the respect of men who long looked upon him with letter refusing my request to be ordered to Annapolis. 12 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. October, hatred or horror. After this sad affair, the interior sentinels at Post Naval School, a place as safe as Boston Common, were not posted with loaded guns. September 22d, Private Lyman C. Gibbs, of Company C, was killed by a locomotive, while on duty near Annapolis Junction. On the evening of Monday, September 30th, First Lieuten- ant Charles K. Stoddard, commanding a picket station near Annapolis Junction, was shot through the abdomen by one of his pickets, and died at midnight. Lieutenant Stoddard was an open-hearted, genial man, and had not an enemy in the regiment. The sentinel who fired the shot, Henry C. Wester, of Company F, a Dane by birth, told the following story be- fore the court of inquiry, which was fully confirmed by Cor- poral Ed. E. Monroe, who was making the rounds with Lieu- tenant Stoddard when he was shot: ‘*I ordered him to halt four times before I fired; he made no answer, and did not stop ; when I first halted him he was twenty or thirty feet off, the last time he was nearly at the point of my bayonet; he had on an overcoat buttoned up to the chin, and I did not know him, but thought he was a secessionist, and was afraid of my life. I fired and he fell, his coat flew open and I saw who it was. I fell down beside him and took his hand and said, ‘ Why didn’t you answer.’ I’ should not have killed him if I had known him; he was my best friend. I thought I was doing my duty and no more.” To Assistant-Surgeon Warren, whom Lieutenant-Colonel Maggi sent at once to the spot, the lieutenant said: *“ Tell the colonel that I exonerate the man from all blame; give my love to all the officers-of the regiment and to my folks.” The following order was issued : — HEADQUARTERS 21st Rear. Mass. Vots., Posr Navat ACADEMY, ANNAPOLIS, October 1, 1861. SpecrAL Recrmenrat Orper No. 32. The colonel commanding, having heard the statement of Private Heury C. Wester, of Company F, relative to the death of First Lieu- 2 me grange f | ; ‘ { ; 7 3 ; 1861. SHERMAN EXPEDITION. 18 tenant Charles K. Stoddard of Company F, and also the statement of Corporal Edward E. Monroe, said statements being corroborated by Lieutenant Stoddard before his death, and having duly considered the same, and having taken the advice of the several captains of the regiment, does, in accordance therewith, direct that said Private Henry C. Wester be exonerated from all blame, and that he be commended for having faithfully performed his duty. By order of Coronet Morse, Turron E, Hatt, Adjutant. Thursday, October 11th. We received our first pay from the United States, being to August 31st. The regiment did a good deal of tiresome fatigue duty in loading stores for the Sherman Expedition, destined for a de- Scent upon the South Carolina co Annapolis during the month of October, and sailed on Mon- day, the 21st. Most of us felt very much vexed at not form- Ing a portion of it, particularly to believe that we ast, which rendezvoused at as we had very good reason had originally been selected as one of the reo > Q . 4 “nediti egiments for the expedition, but had had our place filled, at kort the last moment, by that very gallant regiment, the 7 1 ie oh . "5 . Yth New York (Highlanders). Governor Hicks, then goy- ar . « * whe : , ; ernor of Maryland, on the request of prominent residents in the vicinity, made a personal application to General Dix, department commander, and the War Department, that we . . / " might be retained at Annapolis and the Junction on account of the exemplary conduct of the men. resented by our colonel and the governor as_ better adapted to conciliatory purposes than fjeht; ‘Kes pelea latory purposes than fighting, and also as being af- lected with the small-pox, although we had at the time but One case of that disease j deere ; Ca — pba > in the regiment. Sensible men, Sf g : ‘ : — are generally entirely willing to ait tor orders and not beg for a ehanc ; 2 chance , ~ were becoming galled ag a ance te: ghey a ne = ea g i elng kept so long on a tiresome outine of duty, and much preferred taking a hand in the Conciliation of the fiery St; = ‘aroli inni i: i le ; Y State of South Carolina, to winning 1e golde inions ; sific “orgs en °P of the people of Annapolis by our pacific ehavior. | yer ‘ avlor owever, we had an assurance from Governor Besides, we were rep- a ns rd 14 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. October, Andrew that we should go on the Burnside Expedition, for which preparations were already being made. We soon fell into disfavor with our friend Governor Hicks. One of his slaves had been seen to be passed by the guard into the Academy grounds, and the governor came in person to get him. Receiving no assistance from Captain Walker, the officer of the day, the governor complained to Colonel Morse, who at once summoned the captains to his headquar- ters: the colonel, after commenting severely on our base in- gratitude to the governor, if we ran off one of his negroes after his kindness in saving us from the “red hot shells” of Fort Sumter, ordered the officer of the day to have the build- ings searched until the fugitive was found. Captain Walker, however, met the emergency like a man; saying that he did not come South to hunt slaves, he tore off his sash, threw it on the floor, and told the colonel to detail another officer for that sort of duty. Every captain was in turn detailed for the and each followed Captain Walker’s example in refus- duty, The angry governor said that he would ing to undertake it. go to General Dix, and if necessary to Washington, for re- dress, and left us, with the warm assurance that we should be sorry for that day’s work. Meanwhile, the innocent cause of this pleasing little episode was hidden in a chimney of one of the buildings, and escaped as soon as it was dark, in a boat which some of the men kindly stole for, him in the town. Although, first and last, we ran a good many negroes out of Maryland, we had more fun out of this case than any other. October 24th. We heard the exaggerated first reports of the battle of Ball’s Bluff, and of the fearful slaughter in our brother Worcester County regiment, the 15th Massachusetts. The rebels were reported to have killed hundreds of them with long-range rifles, while they themselves were beyond the reach of the smooth-bores carried by the 15th, and to have massacred most of the rest of them with bowie knives on the precipitous river bank, or while trying to swim the river. AS we were armed with smooth-bores of the poorest description, the men began to complain bitterly because out i Pe ramets RC get a ct ciuates Tikal ead aineainalae 1861, 7TS VISIT OF GOVERNOR ANDREW. 15 ess pO ae not arm us as well as the rebels. It ne oe * - city that ten thousand rebels had nga He gti pe were marching on Annapolis. Fear- sale : at jot el voi twenty rounds of ball car- ¢ re issue ‘ rari throughout the night as ae ne ne oh ep pe lat ct oe : act ata moment's notice. In the mA sate as found to be entirely groundless. ih dened ace i Ps eg companies on picket duty along rg cau e Lecen Junction were relieved by four anies at Anna val polis. The day was lovely, and the ieving fore r r ner — mH moved gayly down the railroad with drums ia play : , Le I ‘ying all glad to escape from the restraints of dull < 1apolis, — cc ss . ei et perhaps the company doomed to at the Junction under C , i's rigid i i and exact instructi ‘ Oslousl Maggie sigit oaueeae ek ee : ” ‘i enforced by bricks in the knapsack, S Iavorite mode of maki E tl aking 5 j Sn a ly aking the men see the error of their ok urning out with U t >, ney J on coats, or unbl ctober 31s Ay 5 te 3: st. The 51st New York, a regiment destined stand beside the 21st on many f 7 steamer. : November 8 Y F er 38d. The 25tl : 25th Massachu . from Baltimore. : = November 1£ r : October 31st eer = were paid by the United States to es a » and received news of the apture of Beaufort and +t Rov s Q en > »eautor Q ort Royal, by the Sherman Expedition ; it s 1 as if ; it seemed as i the rebelli re inni @ rebellion was beginning to feel the he: i i atc > heavy weight of the Sunday, November 17th. Gover taries Cameron, Sew: nor Andrew, and Secre- ard, and W i ? ‘ ells, visite anal passed along the line of the 21s ‘8, visited Annapolis, and a ne “lst, with uncovered heads. The thing that pleased us most in connecti ith tl f AP MIG Y IPE C stion with the governors as his mise th: ; i the best Engl sh Enf ope should soon be supplied with setts | ae nfield rifles, which the State of Massachu- 8 had sent an agent abroad rey Wa wah a ie road to purchase. é wo Thanksgiving Days , 1: Thursday November 21st thet. c > = Ss © v , and the Maryland day, Thursday, dirty guns, unpolished brasses, un- acked shoes. a bloody field, arrived by arrived by steamer ‘ 16 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. December, November 28th ; and celebrated both, the Massachusetts one mainly by feasting on the contents of the numerous boxes from home, and the Maryland one mainly by welcoming Rev. George 8. Ball, our new chaplain, who made an address to the men at Annapolis. November 30th. The regiment received orders to report at Washington, but the order was countermanded before night. December 5th. We were informed at dress-parade that Enfield rifles were on the way from Massachusetts for us, and the regiment received the news with hearty cheers. About this time matters came to a crisis between Colonel Morse and Lieutenant-Colonel Maggi. A citizen induced Colonel Morse to give him a permit to take a large quantity of powder and shot from the Junction into lower Maryland for ‘sporting purposes 5 ” but, on its arrival within his reach, the lieutenant-colonel seized it and refused to recognize the colonel’s pass. Colonel Morse then obtained an order from General Dix, Department Commander, to allow the ammuni- tion to pass beyond our lines, but the lieutenant-colonel ut- terly refused to honor it, and returned it with an indorsement to the effect that the order must have been issued on false representations, and that he would never be a party to fur- nishing the enemy with powder and shot to kill his men; whereupon Lieutenant-Colonel Maggi was promptly relieved from duty and placed in close arrest to await trial by court- martial. December 13th. Part of the 24th Massachusetts arrived at Annapolis, for the Burnside Expedition. December 16th. We received the very welcome news to- day that we certainly were going on the Burnside Expedition, which caused the wildest enthusiasm in the regiment. duty were relieved by a detachment from a Pennsylvania regiment, and returned to Annapolis: the ten companies of the regiment were now together again for the first time since August 29th. Although we were proud of our long and im- pressive front of stalwart men and of our opportunity for ac- December 18th. The four companies of the 21st on picket — i SR RIT Tt LT TRI IEE NN a eC WE LL ALI LL OODLE aetna re 1861. SELECTED FOR THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. 17 nee re uma: of us had very pleasant memories of our y experience in Maryland, in which chickens and other luxuries had not been uncommon; and we had found many kind and attentive friends among the country people, had now and then made merry at a ica . d a hegro prayer- i i fli: gro pray er meeting, or taken part in some other convivial or novel occasion. Take it all together, however, we heartily welcomed the new departure. : December 19th. General Burnside had a grand review of K ge troops at Annapolis, —ten or twelve thousand men. ded deeds semartsble Snadinee set nena ‘adiness and accuracy. There never was a regiment where a larger proportion of the men were more anxious to appear at their best, for it was our first review, and we were no longer to be used for “conciliatory ” purposes, but were going on the Burnside Expedition. December 20th. We were subjected to a long and tire- some inspection in the selection of the brigades of Burnside’s Division, but were well repaid for our pains by the high wsdl done us, being the first regiment which the gallant vad eran General Jesse L. Reno, selected for his islets: +t 2d ; I that selection were involved the most ey ae of our military service, and very many pleasant associations hal- lowed by his death: never forgetful of the want + ican Ben ov igen ants of his com- ; always setting a high example in his honest sol- dierly nobility of speech and action and ; soon learned to love and respect him for wie Pye en ie character no less than we confided in his rallibaaes ae peers! cool, cautious, and slow till the moment came t fe peice and hard, and then with his men, inepiainen ‘ o strike quic g them with his own magnetic irresistible dari ; agnetic irresistible daring. A man without fear and with- ~~ i004 I sn may we be ever proud of the fact that ey tena the right flank regiment of Reno’s old brigade, meee 8 1e was not only content with but proud of us » 2 “iy : ery sede va ei oc — ns nfield rifles arrived from Massachu- » and were al once issued to the regiment, in exchange for our > smooth-bores ; Enfield rifles for the eight 18 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. December, battalion companies, and Harper’s Ferry rifles with sabre bayonets for the flank companies ; the latter a splendid weapon, the formér of a good kind but of poor quality, hastily and carelessly made, with many badly tempered cones and weak mainsprings; and for a time, until we discovered how well they would shoot, we almost wished for our old crooked barreled smooth-bores again. We now turned our attention assiduously to drill, and January 1st had our first practice with ball cartridges, firing twenty-five rounds a man. Since it had become certain that we were destined for more active service, energetic and persistent efforts had been made in the regiment for Lieutenant-Colonel Maggi’s release from arrest and restoration to his command ; petitions to that end, signed by the line officers with hardly an exception, were sent to Governor Andrew, the Massachusetts Senators in Washington, and the Secretary of War. These efforts were successful; the flimsy charges against him were quashed, and the day before we were embarked for the Burnside Expedi- tion he was returned to duty. Company A was called on to mourn a serious loss, in the last days of our stay at Annapolis, in the death of Corporal Sereno Sawyer, who died in the regimental hospital Decem- ber 31st, of typhus fever. Surgeon Cutter, in announcing his death to his father, in a letter written on that day, said of him: “He was a model of patience, quietness, and cheerful- ness during his entire illness. He was a good specimen of a Christian man, The loss in Mr. Sawyer’s decease is not con- fined to his parents, relations, and friends in the town of his birth and residence. The company of which he was a mem- ber, and the regiment to which he belonged, have experienced a serious bereavement, for in faithfulness in duty, in kindness, in truth and in honor, he was a soldier worthy of imitation.” The only other deaths by disease since leaving Massachu- setts, which I find in Dr. Cutter’s journal are: of typhoid fever, private Edward L. Howe, of Company K, November 17; private James Bryson, of Company H, November 26; and i private Sylvester H. Adams, of Company H, December 81: Jo it nt met aoe np a eat RRR anon ANN REALE ALLL PCN ALLOA T III Ae 1861. LAST DAY AT ANNAPOLIS. 19 of small-pox, Corporal Andrew M. Brock, of Company D, December 2; and Corporal William McLeon, of Company F, December 9: Private Lyman Converse, of Company H, also died of disease January 8th. About thirty of our men, whose physical disability unfitted them for severe service, had been weeded out and discharged ; and leaving scarcely an enlisted man on our rolls behind at Annapolis, the regiment was going to take the chances of war in good drill and robust and vigorous strength. Sunday, January 5, 1862, was to be our last day in Annap- olis, as orders had been issued for our embarkation for we knew not where early in the morning of the 6th; consider- able liberty was therefore allowed to the men in circulating about the city, and many a canteen among the drinking ones was filled with a parting gift of vile and potent spirit. 20 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. January, \ CHAPTER II. JANUARY 6 — FreBRUARY 5, 1862. DEPARTURE OF THE BURNSIDE EXPEDITION. — HATTERAS INLET. — TROOPS AND VESSELS IN PAMLICO SOUND. — MOVING ON ROANOKE ISLAND. JANUARY 6, 1862. The regiment formed line at nine o’clock A. M., ready to embark, and Colonel Morse bade us good-by (for he was to remain at Annapolis in command of the post), telling us if we got into a fight to stay till we ‘ lost some men.” As we could not be put on board ship until afternoon, ranks were broken again, and many of the men took a final ramble about Annapolis (and a final drink). At two o’clock Pp. M. the whole regiment, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Maggi, went on board the large steamer «‘ Northerner,” and entered on rather a tumultuous afternoon and evening, as somewhere from twenty to fifty men of fine fighting instincts, well developed by the glass which inebriates, made things howl to the best of their ability ; but the live- liest of the boys were soon got in hand, canteens were emptied overboard, and no very serious disturbances occurred. January 7th. The “ Northerner ” still lay at anchor close off the Naval School Grounds, which looked very pleasantly from our crowded decks. During the day Colonel Morse came on board to pay us a visit; he was no longer our commander, and was not received with any special demonstrations of honor or regard ; he evi- dently felt a little ashamed to have his regiment go without him on a service of unknown perils, carrying with them the i 4 ir b I i : ; £ . 1862. DEPARTURE FROM ANNAPOLIS. 21 beautiful flag presented by the ladies of Worcester, which was plainly not destined to be either his martial cloak or shroud. Sa pass ri colonel had left us, General Reno came on ; and loo ked us over. We were much pleased to learn rom him that he should go on the ‘ Northerner” with us. {crear FIELD OF OPERATIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA. A sad affair occurred on the vessel to-d fellow lost an eye by the thrust of Z On the morning of January somewhere, we hoped not f ay, in which a poor a sabre bayonet. 9th, we got under way for ar by sea, as our overloaded old vess i : a i el, with more than a thousand men on board, originally built for lake navigation, had been laid up quietly rotting for ~Seeid 22 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. January, some years before she was bought by the government for a transport. We steamed down Chesapeake Bay during the day, but stopped at night on account of a heavy fog which did not clear up until the next day at noon, when we again got under way> and with several other vessels of our fleet came to anchor off Fortress Monroe just at sunset, close to the great frigates ‘‘ Minnesota,” ‘* Cumberland,” and “ Congress.” The future victims of the “ Merrimac,” majestic in beauty and strength, were no more ignorant of their future fate than was the 21st, although it was now reported that sealed orders would be given the expedition at Fort Monroe, to be opened and an- nounced as soon as we proceeded to sea. At about eleven o’clock on the following night (the 11th of January), the blowing of steam-whistles and every imagin- able complication of arrangement of signal lanterns gave in- dications of a movement, and in an hour the whole expedi- tion was under way and running out to sea. It was officially announced to us in the morning that we were bound for Hat- teras Inlet, a passage into Pamlico Sound through the nar- row spit of land which forms Cape Hatteras. We moved down the Virginia and North Carolina coast, rounded Cape Hatteras in a gale of wind, and late in the afternoon of Sun- day, the 12th, arrived off the light-house near the Inlet. ‘The old “ Northerner” was wallowing in the heavy sea, and her course had become very erratic, one minute heading to the sea, and the next rolling in the trough. Most of the officers and men were too sea-sick to care much what happened ; but General Reno went into the pilot-house himself, and, finding Captain Masson (the master of the ship) so drunk as to be entirely incapable of handling the vessel, put the mate in command of her. As the captain refused to recognize the general's authority, I had the great pleasure, as officer of the day, of arresting the miserable fellow and putting him in close confinement. Finding that it was hardly possible to run into the Inlet through the terrible surf that night, the ship was ordered back under shelter of the land; and as she 1862. IN HATTERAS INLET. 23 was being turned round, parted her starboard hog brace (a heavy timber frame which helps to support the weight of the boilers and engines): if the brace on the port side had gone also, the tale of the 21st would have been a short one; but the “ Northerner ” came round without further accident, and was run back a few miles and anchored in a sheltered posi- fon. There was no panic, as most of the men were too sea- sick to be frightened at anything, and Colonel Maggi, on being notified of the extent of the danger, distracted the at- tention of the inquisitive by singing the “ Marseillaise ” with a splendid voice, at the stern of the vessel. During the night of the 12th and 13th, privates Otis L. Sweet, of Company A, and Joseph Lebarnes, of Company H, died of typhoid fever on the ‘ Northerner,” and their bodies, encased in canvas, with a 32-pound shot at the feet, were buried in the sea, with simple but impressive cere- monies. O é i st n the 13th the sea had quieted down somewhat, and ni y the afternoon the “ Northerner” ran into Hatteras niet thr > nar dye the narrow, crooked, and dangerous passage mong the breakers, arriving at the place of rendezvous among the very first of the fleet. ae came to anchor a mile or so off forts Hatteras and ark, which the rebels had built to command the Inlet, and e ‘ e. ‘ . . E i which the frigate ‘* Minnesota,” lying beyond the reach of their guns, had pounded into surrender some four months be- fore. General Butler also won some | and cutting off the retreat of the garrisons, capturing about seven hundred men. The rebels taken in these forts were carried to New York, and made to serve as c aurels by landing troops tise £ tl a buncombe adver- eee NOG superiority of the North; for being a peculiarly small-sized, squalid, and sickly looking lot, they were paraded from Annapolis to New York, in charge of a guard composed of the largest and most soldierly looking men that could be picked out, to which the 21st had contrib- uted several handsome six-footers, The forts were small, water-flooded, insignificant looking earth-works, and we felt 24 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. a li the news of the capture of those rebel strongholds. January, ttle ashamed of the interest with which we had received January 14th. Raining and blowing hard, and the vessels in the Inlet were dragging their anchors and colliding with each other. General Burnside went the rounds of the fleet, and was greeted with hearty cheers. The commodore signaled the vessels outside to come into the Inlet. January 15th. A stormy and disastrous day. Colonel Allen of the 9th New Jersey, and his surgeon, Dr. Weller, left their transport (the “Ann E, Thompson ”), which was still outside the Inlet, and came inside in a row boat, to report to General Burnside for orders ; in attempting to return, the boat was swamped in the breakers, and the colonel and sur- geon drowned close before our eyes. The steam gun-boat ‘ Zouave,” lying next the “ North- erner,” drifted upon an anchor, and staving a hole in her bot- tom became a total loss. January 16th. The “ Northerner” dragged her anchors and ran aground; the weather stormy and thick. January 17th, 18th, and 19th. The “ Northerner” remained fast aground, and the weather continued foul and stormy. During these days the men were taken off the vessel twice to lessen her draught, in the hope of getting her out of the sand, which was banking up around her ; but, as there were then no steam-tugs in the fleet, no power sufficient to move her could be obtained. January 20th. The sun shone for the first time since we had been off Hatteras. We heard to-day of the loss of one of our transports (the “ Pocahontas ’”), about twenty-five miles up the coast: she was loaded with horses, of which a few were saved. January 21st. A stormy day. The “ Northerner ” floated off of her own accord, but immediately drifted aground again. January 22d. Still stormy. The old “ Northerner” floated again, and then drifted down upon two large schooners, get- ting her upper works badly stove by the jib-boom of one of ” them, and being roughly thumped as she settled in between 1862. IN HATTERAS INLET. 25 them. As we were dragging our anchors past them, and a tic shore was not more than fifty yards to leeward, ei: Maggi, as a matter of necessity, had a cable from the ‘* Northerner made fast to one of the schooners, which, hav- — anchors down was holding well, and thereby saved i Sota Sede As our men were making the cable aroha ¢ y monstrance was made against the act by the Oe me i ge of the schooner’s deck, coupled with the in- ion that it was the harbor-master’s vessel, who was n’t a man who would stand such nonsense. Pretty soon his maj- esty, the harbor-master himself, came out of his eabin with = bp and ran forward to cut our cable; but before he got 1e came to a realizi é 5 3 3 Seer omens within cutting dist ati a — nea Ry g ance the colonel proposed to fire; and con- edu eee a rages did some very loud talking, Oe I S} . ully to Colonel Maggi’s Italian nativity, elling him that he had frequently seen him with a hand- organ and monkey in the streets of New York. A guard with loaded guns was posted, with orders to do all the i ing necessary to protect the cable, and it became a recog- nized permanent institution. January, 23d. The storm continued so bad as to cut off communication between the vessels of the fleet Tt as a dis- heartening time ; almost every vessel in the fleet of pests wi ar fg he ee , srw of water, or aground, or both, and had her flag noistec Beth mics ; ait. union down as a signal of distress, erally understood that we were bound u pee es a assault the intrenched post of Roanoke Inland pa reap depot of rebel supplies, which was worth wee eit taking, and the benefit of the extreme etaiaitl g 1 pal: our destination had all been lost by our nee ri eh We rig delay after our destination had Mii tied ik a Swash,” “ “ai between the Inlet and the Sound ‘cesta ‘i Bs lich several of the transports (the ortherner” 1M particular) were of too great draught to V . Wat] enture to try to cross except during a run of high tides and i i i] } i HW i } i 26 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. January, quiet sea ; so that if the expedition ever got together, it was still a matter of chance when we should move forward. Worst of all was the poor food furnished the men, which was fast becoming almost disgusting: the meat ration consisted en- tirely of pork, which had been boiled and put in barrels before leaving Annapolis, and had now become sour and mouldy ; we were also now on a short allowance of brackish, condensed water. But inspections were frequent and rigid, the men were clean and healthy, and the officers were daily receiving valuable information as to their duties from General Reno, and instruction at the officers’ school, presided over by Colonel Maggi with never-flagging energy and enthusiasm. January 24th. Raining and blowing hard. The heavy rain was a blessing, as we caught plenty of water in barrels. The splendid steamer “ City of New York,” loaded with am- munition, arms, and tents, ran on the rocks in trying to enter the Inlet, and became a total wreck; it was sad to see the crew clinging for hours to her rigging, as the seas broke high over the vessel. But later in the day, as the sea went down, some of the light draught steamers in the fleet went to their rescue and appeared to save them all. Late in the afternoon, to reduce the “ Northerner’s”’ draught, the regiment was packed into a small stern-wheel steamer and a schooner, and kept there all night, while repeated but vain efforts were made to force the great steamer over the Swash — or **squash,” as Colonel Maggi called it. January 25th. In the morning we returned to the * North- erner.” The long storm seemed at last to be really over, and we enjoyed the cessation of its discomforts and perils. In the afternoon we were all takew off the “ Northerner” again, and she was drawn a little farther on to the bar. Sunday, January 26th. A beautiful day. We left the “ Northerner” again at half-past two in the morning ; but efforts to move her were still fruitless. About noon, how- ever, we were the happiest men in the fleet, for the old «“ Northerner” went handsomely over the Swash, amid the ringing cheers of the men and triumphant music from our band. sachusetts, and 10th Connecticut reo; York, 51st P infantry. G. Parke, was composed of the 4th necticut, and 89th New York 10on of the 5th Rhode Is] 1862, MOVING ON ROANOKE ISLAND. 27 J anuary 27th. The gun-boats practiced shooting, and we enjoyed the novel experience of hearing the different sounds made by the various missiles: the balls from the great smooth- bores puffed like locomotives, while the projectiles from the rifled guns whirred like partridges, and occasionally a Whit- worth bolt gave a dismal shriek, From January 28th to February 3d. We lay hopelessly and wearily at anchor; the tiresome monotony, however, be- ing most happily relieved: January 31st by the arrival of our first mail from home. February 4th. We are to move to-morrow morning! Or- ders fr i 8 Irom re , are r i General Burnside are read, announcing that we are abou ¢ r a: 5 : : it to land, and forbidding us from molesting the peaceful inhabitants, burning But there is show itself w thing Tee food fur: fences, or injuring other private property. a feeling among the men, which will be apt to hen the time comes, that, if they happen on any- uly good to eat, they ought to have it, after the vile nished them on the « Northerner ; ” and much sincere regret has been expr ‘1 1 pressed during the long hard month since we left Annapolis, that the Maryl sacred. ‘ Our expedition (the Coast Division of the Army of the Potomac), now about to move, commanded by Brigadier- General Ambrose E. Burnside, consisted of haa sci thou- ape men, organized in three brigades, as follows: . . rg ere « “4 G. Roster, was composed of tt oor etter General Joh p the 234, 24th, 25th, 27th Mas- and poultry was held so Siments of infantry. Brigadier-General Jesse L. Massachusetts, 51st New ennsylvania, and 9th New Jersey regiments of ry Ld Lhe 2d brigade, commanded by Reno, was composed of the 21st The 8d brigade, commanded Panne § anded by Brigadier-General John Rhode Island, 8th Con- _Tegiments of infantry, a battal- and infantry, and the 9th New York February. 28 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. regiment of infantry (Hawkins’ Zouaves). There was also an organization called the marine artillery, not attached to either of the brigades. These troops and their baggage and supplies were trans- ported in forty-five unarmed vessels. In addition to these was what was called the army division of the fleet, consist- ing of fourteen armed vessels, carrying in all forty-seven guns, under command of Commander Samuel F. Hazard; one of which vessels, the steamer “ Picket,” carrying four guns, was used by General Burnside as his flag-ship. Besides these vessels was the navy division of twenty light- draught gunboats, carrying in all fifty-five heavy guns, under the command of Flag Officer Louis M. Goldsborough, whose flagship was the “ Philadelphia.” Wednesday, February 5th. The fleet formed early in the morning, the gun-boats in advance, and the transports in three divisions behind them. At about nine o’clock A. M. our eighty vessels started up Pamlico Sound, and with every flag flying, moving in precise order and with well dressed lines, formed one of the grandest and most imposing spectacles of the war. Forty rounds of ball cartridges a man were now served out, the guns earefully overhauled, and the officers’ swords touched up on the grindstone. We came to anchor at five o’clock in the afternoon, just below and in plain sight of Roanoke Island, and within a few miles of the main land; and, when night set in, saw the rebel signal-fires flashing on the hills far inland. February 6th. We lay in a thick fog all day, and neither saw, did, nor heard anything. 1 The 53d New York regiment (the D’Epineuil Zouaves) had started with 8 from Annapolis, but being in a badly demoralized condition, had been sent back to Fortress Monroe, Our 6th New Hampshire and 11th Connecticut regiments were left on shore near Hatteras Inlet, and remained there until after the capture of Roanoke Island. — Ep. LAL LRA AL LE LIE LO ILL OE ee shea 1862, BATTLE OF ROANOKE ISLAND. 29 CHAPTER III. FEBRUARY 7-18, 1862. BATTLE OF ROANOKE Is v NOKE ISLAND. — ON THE ISLAND AFTER THE BATTLE. Ab HE Ni get under way ae sa oes At Tk Oa ae signal to forward, faliseredt b itary a the gun-boats moved rapidly of the rebel fleet of re when g ny We soon came in sight Commodore Lynch, lvi am gun-boats, under command of yneh, lying between our advance and a long line of : obstrue «ae ps neyo consisting of rows of driven piles and Surgeons and chapla} ghastly comrade from D and G past peplain bees nae . ast us to the rear: ¢ SER a é le rear ;.and , van all, now and then we got a shot fr of Own regiments, in the rear. eg ee slowly and steadily driving Sie ‘his ‘time D and. G were ir ant; pr eae taro. antagonists in upon the bat- cheers, morally, ably did us some good, for a time, the undivided Our tur é n came at last. We had Woods, and tl abe ‘ ae oD See had been driven in upon the battery. went to the extreme front, and ordered the regim giment up to charge f : ge. As my comp: the font through an interval between ms eae to ’ a W onder that there was i 0 he} « as notl i i indi ict ng in their appearance to indicate 4 — which I mention specially, as its almost worked out of the TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. February, 34 loss was more severe — Captain Foster and sixteen men had fallen; but there they stood, apparently as strong as ever, the firm and even line eagerly watching for On their left stood General Reno and Colonel t the colonel’s side, Adjutant Stearns, with his fresh, beautiful face lit up by the excitement of his novel ex- As Stearns was saying a word or two to me as I 1 instant was on his feet again, around his forehead, which was «A man never gets every man in rebel heads. Maggi, and, a perience. passed by, he fell, but in ar and tying his handkerchief now covered with blood, called out gayly, hit twice in the same fight — does he, captain?” Just as the last word left his mouth, cloth flew from the collar of his overcoat, and he fell again with a slight bullet wound across the back of his neck. As the fresh companies moved rapidly n ground to within two hundred yards to the front over the ope re greeted with a heavy but ill di- of the battery, they we rected fire of musketry and artillery. The regiment now d started for the battery ation as Reno gave the order to charge. firing one more volley, turned poured came rapidly into line of battle, an with a shout of exult The rebel garrison and reserves, and fled before our strong unwavering line, and we into the battery, captured the rebel. fle State color — borne by gallant Corpora Company A —on the parapet. Our color-sergeant, with out United States flag, had fallen into a deep pit full of water; and, before he could extricate himself, the United States flag of the 51st New York — three compan! entered the battery next after the 21st — floated on the pat- apet beside our Massachusetts flag. in plain sight upon the parapet, the and the last running rebel well out of York (Hawkins’ Zouaves) came running duroy road by the flank, and, with Zou,” swarmed into the battery, for were capturing it. The only bayonet charge on fighting oke was made by the 21st, supported by the res at Roan the prigade, none of which, however, was 12 ig, and planted our i | Ethan Blodgett, of 7 ies of which regiment — Then, with our two flags 7 fort full of our men, © sight, the 9th New | up the narrow cor a great shout of * Zous all the world as if they F rebels | t of sight except 1862, i BATTLE OF ROANOKE ISLAND. 35 three ¢ i pi ic nega of the 51st New York; and great was our ei oe — in the Boston papers, a month or so ra A a a 2 colonel of the Zou Zous had had the reid laaber put himself on exhibition there as the hero of Ae seis charge at Roanoke Island e captur atter io ~~ ae (the key to the whole rebel position) oa via ay thirty-five yards wide, built on an island P, directly across the road. The three fine brass g ormur armamer were mot tec I mobr Ins f ¥ iw its arms: t y 1 = b . 5 n ere I mn he consisted of a twent asure, and y-four-pounder howitzer i pounder field-gun, and a twely or feltden te ae ta gun, a twelve-pounder field-gun tastily examined i i nit ) ed the srior ¢ ate le interior and armament of the ’ a 1 1 « . M . « . 7 g particular interest upon the bodies of the rebel dead — Lieut ; 7 es ~ Lieu enant Selden, C. §S bie es, of the 46th Virginia, and half oS —wh ay i 7 10 were lying amongst the othing, and e : a dozen private soldiers, itter of knapsack er of knapsacks, muskets, quipments W ith wl 1 e gre un 1 was strewn > 1 ch th and ha few minutes the jubil unt c Were j i re in hot pursuit of the ene vance, moving 5 ; : pene Shae y ia Immediately behind the battery. the last shots fired * <. he ee ee ment had turned aa eS aed alae ~~ re - thick woods, and i P = atte 4 bay across the. rau in ; Seer. a ce is ne minutes made a noisy but wild pa get rd xt de @ ¢ elivered by Company E; the ith d and five wounded, the esis field, and Colonel Shaw, the comr y abandoned the i . i ‘ i Nandge Pp a without further resistance andant of the entire post, i made s Be al : : unco : | the rebel troops and defenses nditional surrender of =] As it was now discovered th fror : : n the island : aloe ag . boats, the 21st hastened to the sl th ‘oops, to bag our o: ' 1e shore, wi which ae Cite our game, and, firing over several ‘boats 1 o ° , ‘ them to rete Agia time for the main land pe pelled return. As the b ; and, COME : ullets fro r ; 8 fi : ifles struck the water bey om our long range Enfield ‘Yond the boats, it was comical to > c (y + See how soor re: f 1 every rebel in them displayed a handkerchief, and eager Union troops my, the 21st still in the ad- a , t the rebels were escaping asisaescomcir ee eee eee scare 36 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. February, or something white, as the boats turned to come back.! Mov- ing on rapidly a mile or two we came to the main rebel camp, which was now in full possession of our troops, and assisted in disarming the rebels. Most of them were tall, lank fellows, with blankets and pieces of carpet instead of overcoats. ‘The man who. shot Howard, of Company G, the night before, was with them, still carrying the wounded man’s Harper’s Ferry rifle, and, to the honor of Howard’s comrades, received no ill treatment or indignity. We found the rebels very willing to admit the fighting capacity of the Yankees, and very complimentary to the unrelenting obstinacy of the regulars in gray overcoats who would n’t be driven away from their right flank2 We felt and knew that we deserved the compliment, for Colonel Maggi’s prediction that he would make the 2ist a regiment of regulars had come true, and we had proved it that day. In the attack upon the battery, General Reno and the 21st had been the nerve and backbone of our army, the unflinching, steady force which bad driven the enemy out of the key of his position and compelled his entire surrender. We do not disparage the rest of the army. Other gallant regiments were on the field, and bravely met the enemy earlier in the day than we, but their attack upon the battery had hen our brigade took the front, and General Reno, ceased Ww any other officer beyond comparison as a fighting officer with upon the field, personally led the 21st in the advance; and during the rest of the fight, on our part of the field, the fire which our own troops in the rear in some cases continued to deliver was far more annoying to us than it possibly could have been to the enemy. The gallant 23d and 27th Massa- usetts regiments, of the Ist brigade, who fought in the amp on our right, drove back the rebel force which was ad- e 2ist was the gallant ho had been severely ch sw 1 In one of the boats brought back by the fire of th captain of the Richmond Blues, w wounded near the battery, and died next day. — Ep. 2 The 2ist was the only regiment engaged at the battery who w coats similar to the old regular army overcoat, and entirely different in ‘appeat ance from the sky-blue coats worn by our other troops. — Ep. QO. Jennings Wise, ore gray over- 1862, BATTLE OF ROANOKE ISLAND. 3T vanced ; on the ’ tied by our ch enemy's left; and, when the battery was car- me mea had cut the line of rebel retreat towards ee ma or ew reget shore of the island; built with a & inlanc¢ : arr: g nls un ‘trangements to ferr hy A der cover of which they had made feated in orga: dts 1el1r men over to the main land, if de- action; but the at distineuishi ; = Sie: distinguishing and honored charge "lage y Roanoke Island was the bayonet ing to thet, e battery while its brave garrison were stand re " guns, and the , 3 deny to the 21st ; glory of that no man can fairly To % return t¢ Wooden eal a the rebel camp. We found spacious new Sary supplies, - and other buildings, and plenty of commis- able hospital tl 1@ wounded were at once housed in a comfort- « > a ya" snugly owns 3 " three thousand rebel prisoners were packed away, and pl: on ee the Weary a placed under close guard ; and before night able quarters. , iia taking their ease in warm and PRO se: & novel mi isles all the rations that they wanted. It was ¢ ) e “ ‘ . a had been Mags time : /erowds of merry darkies, who for ght to the island | : 6. ts, were singing, dancin : if the rebels to work on the : » Ge F; ait ae 8taphiec accounts of tl 8; and waiting on our men, or giving 1e rebel boastings before the fight. Our men lso h; f ad a good d i eal . with the ica of fun in unearthing 0 . ng), which ] - : : > and playin renin. vee knives (some of them ana Which, when they f ‘ att roe Resides their muskets, and thr 5 oun nat they m . : °wn into the wells, under the b ust surrender, they had a eo ae arth, arracks, or buried in the 6 Th or ere h bels, as the negroes told us h — a ad cut many a fine caper “it . of awe-struck darkies, but a 1e Wisc € wisdom of the rule, that a to i Tegular we; put his whole reli; " weapon of his arm of the service pepe: “poe % ’ e allowe 0 Carry no r . other, for while almost every rebel at Roanoke Isl and . Carried a bowi i : > wie ried ti « knife, we never saw th ll any subsequent battle om gene she number of prisoners w © Island was 2,677, fifty of Wi . tae their knives before an fight had shown t ler should be made ho fell into our hands at Roan- whom were wounded ; in addi- ABIL: 38 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. February, tion to these prisoners, nearly if not quite an equal number of men escaped from the island in boats, or concealed them- selves on it, after the battle and before we bagged them. Colonel Anderson and a large part of his regiment (59th Virginia) are known to have escaped in boats. Colonel Henry M. Shaw, of the 8th North Carolina Volun- teers, the rebel commandant,! said, when he surrendered the rebel post and forces, ‘‘I give up my sword and surrender to you five thousand men.” The rebel organizations which took part in the fight were the 59th Virginia regiment (2d regi- ment Wise Legion), commanded by Colonel Frank Anderson ; two battalions of the 46th Virginia regiment (1st regiment Wise Legion), one being of two companies under command of Captain O. J. Wise, the other of four companies under Major Fry; the 2d North Carolina regiment, the 8th North Carolina regiment, commanded by Colonel Shaw; a battalion of two companies of the 17th North Carolina regiment, com- manded by Major Hill (the rest of the 17th having been captured in the forts at Hatteras Inlet during the previous summer) ; and the 31st North Carolina regiment, commanded by Colonel Jordan. All these troops were engaged in the fight at and around the battery in the swamp, except the battalion of the 17th regiment, which garrisoned Fort Bar- tow. A reinforcement of five hundred men of the North Carolina State Guards, under Colonel Green, landed too late to take part in the action; and, being unable to get away, as their boats had been taken by the rebels flying from the bat- tle-field, surrendered without firing a shot. The battery in the swamp was garrisoned by three hundred men; the other troops were advanced on the flanks, and posted in reserve. The rebel loss in killed and wounded in the fight does not seem to have been officially reported, owing to their disorgan- ized and scattered condition after the battle. The fullest list of their casualties that I have beéh able to obtain was pub- 1 The noted rebel fire-eater, Henry A. Wise, was the regular commander of the post of Roanoke Island, but fortunately for him was absent sick on the day of the fight. — Ep. Sa ae 1862, CASUALTIES IN THE TWENTY-FIRST. 39 lished in the “ Richmond Despatch ” of February 26, 1862, and Contained the names of sixteen killed and thirty-nine wounded. The total casualties in the battle on the Union. side were orty-one killed and one hundred and eighty-one wounded. them loss in our (2d) brigade was, by General Reno’s io ‘al report, sixteen killed and sixty four wounded. The 8s of the 21st was fifty-seven, of whom thirteen were killed on the Spot, or soon died of their wounds, and forty-four other- Wise wounded. KILLED AND WOUNDED IN THE 21ST MASSACHUSETTS VOL- UNTEERS IN THE BATTLE OF ROANOKE ISLAND, FEBRU- ARY 7TH AND 81H, 1862: — z ~ommissioned Officers. ‘Wounded: Captain Theodore S. Ster, commanding Company D, was struck i é ag g pany D, was struck in the leg by a as Sse are a shin splintered the bone; and, al- his val Pad — ng earepunaicssig and endurance he saved ; putation, it has cost him long years of suffer- Ng, and still causes him much pain and inconvenience. First leutenant Frazer A. Stearns, acting adjutant, received bullet Wounds across the forehead and back of the neck, neither of them serious. ENLISTED MEN. Company A. Wounded: First Sergeant Fred. M. Sander- 80n, thumb and forefinger; privates Reuben Weeks, thigh; Chas. W, Cobleigh, arm. 3h Sanderson’s thumb was badly split open by a musket ball. © moved to the rear holding it up and saying gayly, “ First lood, boys!” Weeks’s thigh was so badly shattered that he 1393 eared, from his consequent disability, October 18, MemPeny B. Killed and died of wounds: Corporal Edward eDonald ; privates Joseph Hannan and Samuel Ross. Wounded: Privates James Cane, thigh; Patrick J. Dixon, ne Severe; John Sheehey, in leg; John Somerville, through © chest by a canister shot. Hannan was struck in the throat by a musket ball and 40 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. February, d. Ross was wonnded in the upper arm and shoulder by a musket ball, and died in the army hospital on the island February 147th. McDonald, shot through the groin, was sent home on furlough and died of his wound after linger- ing until September 6th. Somerville’s case was for some time looked upon as hope- less. A canister shot, of more than an inch in diameter, struck him in the upper part of the chest and passed through to his back, where it hung in the skin; but a good constitution and cheerful courage brought him through successfully. Company C. Killed and died of wounds: Corporal George W. Henry, and privates Samuel D. Sargent, Patrick Leonard, and George P. Manning. Wounded: Privates Elixe Bulley, breast ; Edward Ely, Wm. Frost, thigh ; John H. Gorton, hand; Thomas Hurst, hand; Joseph Mead, leg ; Louis H. Sammis, shoulder. Henry and Sargent were instantly killed. Leonard’s leg was amputated, and he died March 27th. Manning’s wound was in the shoulder; he died February 16th.. Bulley was badly wounded in the breast by a canister shot, and was dis- charged in consequence December 10th following. Frost returned to duty, only to die of typhoid fever on the “ North- erner,” March 11th, while the regiment was en route to New- bern. Hurst returned to duty, and was killed at the battle of Newbern March 14th. Company D. Killed and died of wounds: Privates Harrison W. Battles, Wm. Hodgman and George H. Mathews. Wounded: Privates Alvarando Bigelow, Nat. C. Dean, side; John Delaney, Owen Elmer, thigh and side; Chas. E. Fay, leg; Amos N. Gleason, shoulder; Chas. T. Green, leg; Geo. H. Hardy, leg; Elias Kempton, Jr.,3 James Montgom- ery; thigh and side; Erastus F. Wait; James D. Whitney, leg ; wagoner, Addison March, face. Battles and Hodgman died on the field. Mathews was shot through the chest, and died February 21st. Bigelow was afterwards killed at Chantilly. ©Green’s wound left a stiff knee, on account of which he was discharged July 26th fol- instantly kille 1862, Y CASUALTIES IN THE TWENTY-FIRST. 41 lowin g. Mo as di i : ntgomery was discharged for disability resulting rom hi i ao oe as November 14th following. William Hodg- Casiiabi ean csetep killed in battle in the regiment. ment rei edd his excellent history of the 25th regi- eee diet cg the following touching account of an Soldier dyin fr re et wy the hospital: “TI saw a patriot Minti att ee reson in the breast (Mathews of the 21st periac. — ; e was a young man of prepossessing ap- ii: a. ce Sig than ordinary intelligence. As the camp bed, and taking his brow, I took a place by his little AOR a rhe ing him by the hand, expressed my sympa- that wae ih eff e of his duty performed and of the crown With a tte 48 his coming. He looked up into my face must die rede 76 expression, saying, ‘I am conscious I Company E "Weeds Pe 0 ee ee in the leg. : ounded: Corporal Christopher A. Curtis, Com ‘ . i pany G. Died of Pa and George D. Wank + cig Chauncey Hecgiais Wounded : Privates Henry H ; : . Ho ips ; Peicaleld, thigh; Seth H. Pa, oa a eis ia was eniages in the shoulder by a bullet, and died of aN Meri on the 21st of February. Whitcomb was also it "i in the shoulder by a bullet, and died of tl 6 1e Wound ae was the first man wounded in battle in the regi- “oa Pn was one of the skirmishers to establish the picket ‘ay E prey of the 7th, soon after we landed. Moving hace : =i woods, he suddenly found himself face to the . basey els who had been concealed in*the brush; tidus Qf ag as soon as discovered, and shooting Howard ati os ip made him a cripple for life; his gun (a ae iat rifle), which the rebels, favored by the dark- Meg — re off with them, did service against Previously bes 0 pi next day, for which, however, it had armed with ee by showing the enemy that we were apons much superior to theirs. Fiore eg plage hy TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. February, 42 Company H. Wounded: Corporal Fred. Tyas, knee; pri- vate Francis Smith, wrist. Tyas received a gunshot wound in the knee, and was discharged for the resulting disability on the 12th of April following. Smith fully recovered from his wound and was afterwards killed at Cold Harbor. Company I. Wounded: Private John H. Lake, not serious. Company K. Died of wounds: Private Geo. S. Booth, shot through the face, and died of the wound March 26th follow- ing. Wounded: Private Chas. H. Wilson, hand. A few others were slightly wounded and soon returned to duty. On the 7th, soon after we left the “ Northerner,” one of our men died on her who is worthy something more than a passing mention. His true name was Charles Plummer Tidd. He had been a trusted comrade of John Brown in Kansas and Virginia, and was one of the four men who evaded the thou- sands of armed foes who blockaded every outlet of escape from the scene of that grand historic precursor of the war at Har- er’s Ferry. He dropped his surname Tidd, and called himself Charles Plummer, to aid in escaping detection, Following that staunch abolitionist, Dr. Cutter, our surgeon, who was as - a father to him, he brought his fierce enthusiasm for freedom into the 21st, and was made first sergeant of Company K. He was too marked a man to escape Colonel Maggi’s vigilant eye, and was selected to command a band of sixty scouts, organized by the colonel while on the “ Northerner,” whose duty it would be to scour the country around us after we were on hostile ground : every man of the sixty was a good shot, fearless and strong, and Tidd was the strongest and bravest of them all. Shortly befSre we landed he was prostrated with inflammation of the bowels (enteritis), but could not reconcile himself to being left behind without a chance to fire a shot under the flag (perhaps at Governor Wise himself, commander of the rebel forees on the island), to avenge the death of his old leader and his own sufferings from hunger and cold during the terrible month when hunted like a wolf he painfully worked his way along the mountains of Maryland and Pennsylvania 1 862, HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE. 48 a — Harper’s Ferry. Forced to remain in bed when ao entered the boats, every cannon shot excited and poate itn mind beyond his shattered powers of physical ree -_ he died just. after we had landed, more from sl “ . strain of his deep and bitter disappointment than Sa i isease. His ayes were closed by his true and loving diet i ’ Carrie E. Cutter, the Florence Nightingale of the ribeye ~ elicate and accomplished daughter of our surgeon, “eo “ owed her father and the regiment to nurse our sick, neha po nap: so soon! shared the grave of her noble and s ‘peter gang? (not an eye-witness), in his interesting book, ‘smegge ide and the 9th Army Corps,” p. 43, has been misled ” a the following rather fancy picture of the charge aot mci New York upon the battery : “Generals Foster ee ar sie observing from their position in front that the oe was somewhat embarrassed by General Reno’s ap- Ne eR — his right flank, ordered the 9th New York to Hh . mes almost at the same time the enemy was taken es 11s ront and flank, the Zouaves rushed forward with ne Lane ge cry of ‘Zou! Zou!’ their red caps filling the Par ge oone scene. They mounted the parapet, and edna the garrison. The two victorious columns met in Miser phi a work, and congratulated each other on the i apa t.” As we were hidden by at least half a mile osha eat and underbrush from their view, Generals Fos- ie arke could not have seen us, or known that we had = a a the enemy’s flank, or what we were doing, until At . within a few yards of the battery, so as to bring ities ine with the narrow cleared vista along the road from i 88 The rebel fire on us as we charged was musketry, ein piers then too much on their flank for them to bring paca illery to bear on us, leaving those powerful and well- sooty: ve free to sweep their front. The ‘ embarrass- ae pee lich the generals of the 1st and 8d brigades noticed a Ing the rebels run out of the battery as we ran in. moving on the battery from the front up that narrow 44 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. February, corduroy road through an impassible morass had necessarily to move by the flank ; the Zouaves had a quarter of a mile to travel, and if such a charge as related had been made on a live battery, the bloody.result would have stamped the order to do it as one of the wildest and wickedest of the war. The 9th New York were subsequently the heroes of terribly bloody charges at Camden and Antietam, and would have responded nobly if ordered to pile the narrow road at Roanoke Island with their dead; but luckily for them the battery was in friendly hands when they made their charge. The reported loss of the Zouaves was one man killed in the whole engage- ment. The following extract from the narrative published at the time in the New York “ Commercial Advertiser,” written by their correspondent with the army, certainly does full justice to the gallant 9th New York. After describing the flight of the rebels, and the entry of the 21st and 51st into the bat- tery, the writer says: ‘“ Hawkins’ Zouaves next came dashing over the ditch and up the side to find the work in possession of their friends. It was but a question of distance who should arrive first, for undoubtedly the Zouaves would have stormed the battery at the point of the bayonet had the work not been evacuated,” The following extracts from the official report of Colonel Ferrero, commanding the 51st New York, are interesting as showing what was going on in our rear at the time we charged the battery: “. . , Finding it impossible to en- gage the enemy on account of the 21st Massachusetts regi- » I ordered the men to lie down in order e enemy, finding that they were outflanked, commenced to retreat, when the order was given by General Reno to charge. The right wing charged under command of Lieutenant-Colone] Potter, while I led the left wing Having advanced a few paces in front of the 9th New 1 Right companies of the 51st New York were landed, two companies serving on the gun-boats. Of the eight companies in the action at the time of the charge, left, while § 1862, HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUR. 45 Jersey and the 9th New York (Hawkins’ Zouaves), I found their fire was directed into our ranks. I halted my men, and ordered the signal for ce i ing down the main road, followed by the 9th New York, crossed the moat, and halted inside the fort.” General Reno, in 'S official report, says of our attack and Charge ; “ - . » Ipro- Ceeded at the head of the 21st Massachu- Setts Volunteers to- y's Tight. We were soon Se www OO lotly eng: d b overed with: ewantpn oe . i i at ns, 3 Sw we we IM PEN- without stopping, I om meee > . \F GY w kept moving my flank ow we YC ETRABLE towards the left, but, Wing to the depth of Water and dense un- erbrush, we could make only slow prog: regs, Finally, after the lapse of about two hours, We succeeded N turning their right. then Ordered a charge, which was Most gallantly executed by the 21st M York, and 9th New Jersey. . Which lasted about four hours, Gener gallant] é y attacked them in the front 1n the act of turning their left, when assachusetts, 51st New aan During the engagement, al Foster’s brigade most » and General Parke was my brigade charged and - «++ Lieutenant-Colonel Maggi’s regi- panies under Lieutenant-Colonel Potter were coming into line on our ve companies under Colonel Ferrero r emained in our rear, — Ep. oe Mitsumi: 46 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. February, ment (21st Massachusetts) captured the flag of the fort, and raised the first colors.” One of the best pieces of contemporary evidence as to who captured the battery is, I think, contained in a plan of the battle in the “ Rebellion Record” (vol. iv., Does., p. 108), published in New York, of which I here give a substantial copy, the only change of consequence which I have made in it being to put the three companies of the 51st New York on our left, instead of on our right, as represented in the plan. I have, perhaps, been more particular in my account of this battle than its importance justifies, not only because it was our first fight, but also because some of our gallant prother regiments, fearing that the war would end before there was legitimate glory enough to go round, made claim to some of our honors. General Burhside’s official report of the battle gives no particulars of what was done by the different regiments. The following extraet contains all of special interest : — Heapquarters DEPARTMENT OF NorTH CAROLINA. Roanoke Isuanp, February 10, 1862. To Masor-GENERAL Grorce B. McCLerran, CoMMANDING UNITED Srares ARMY, WASHINGTON. : General: I have the honor to report that a combined attack upon this island was commenced on the morning of the seventh by the naval and military forces of this expedition, which has resulted in the capture of six forts, forty guns, over two thousand prisoners, and upward of three thousand small arms. Among the prisoners are Colonel Shaw, commander of the island, and O. Jennings Wise, com- mander of the Wise Legion. ‘The latter was mortally wounded, and has since died. ‘The whole work was finished on the afternoon of the 8th instant, after a hard day’s fighting, by a prilliant charge in the centre of the island, and arapid pursuit of the enemy to the north end of the island, resulting in the capture of the prisoners mentioned above: We have had no time to count them, but the number is esti- mated at near three thousand. Our men fought bravely, and have endured most manfully the hardships incident to fighting through swamps and dense thickets. 186 . 2. HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE. 47 ery high tribute paid to the gallantry of the regiment in the on, by Lieutenant Frank Reno (aide to his brother the General) , and honors to Captain Foster by hi ‘ > is broth 4ppear in the following letter : — ! aap HEapQuartTers 21st Reet. Mass. Vots., Came Burnsipr, Dept. N. C. ae Roanoke Istanp, February 10, 1862. APTAIN THEoporr S. Foster. De ne Pape Captain : The day before the battle of the 8th instant, the a ee Lieutenant Frank Reno, told me that he would present Ned co) the company of the Second Brigade who would fight most i ni The day after the battle in which our regiment comported aba rc) gallantly he gave the flag to me, saying, “ Give it to the any which has fought the best in your regiment.” ut i ag at a meeting of the officers of the 21st regiment, presided nie le ' ne decided that the flag be given to you alone, as a oken of the great coolness, t intelli ich gy ss, bravery, and intelligence w y Shera on the 8th instant. en ae OF AEE EDN mer . may inscribe on the flag these words: “The Officers of the delat Massachusetts Volunteers to the brave Captain 'T. $ » of Company D.” Iam your sincere friend, A. C. Maga, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding. Captain Fo e go OW 1tc burg bs st sr presented the fla to the t n of Fi i - t ] y ding the following letter with it —_ To hey Camp gee) Es Roanoke Istanp, March 4, 1862. Sea Pee arene of the Fitchburg Library Committee: Enclosed ihibiaren " i : nes 4 ap ML it, which has been imac. a ‘és 1e officers of the 21st Regiment Massachusetts "toa . ; va se been my honest endeavor to faithfully serve bide, Pai n its ag, I have tried to win, not glory for myself, maya own which I have the honor to represent. Therefore I my duty to present the flag to the town of Fitchburg, to be pre . » F ro aay in the Public Library, as a memento of the gallant services Mpany D, 21st Regiment, February 8, 1862. Very t y truly yours, Turopore §. Foster, Captain Company D, 21st Regiment Mass. Vols. TI . i ; Isl 1¢ Regimental Official Report of the battle of Roanoke and was as follows: — 48 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMET. February, | HeapquarTers 21st Reqiment Mass. VOLS. Roanoke Isvanp, N. C., February 9, 1862. To BriGgADIER-GENERAL RENO. General: On Friday the 7th inst., at 5 Pp. M., my regiment disem- barked. I formed the line rapidly and in good order. ‘Then Gen- eral Parke came, in your name, and asked from my regiment a com- pany of skirmishers in order to go in advance to explore the road, which from the place of disembarkation was crossing the woods to- wards our right side. I gave him Company D, ninety men strong; commanded by Captain T. S. Foster. Afterwards you came and gave me orders to go to the cross-road and take possession of all that ground, placing my pickets for the night in order to cover the main body. I did so, placing a section of artillery at the cross-road, supported by Company C, and throwing right and left from, water to water two other companies in small pickets covered by sentries at a distance of fifteen paces each, and placing the rest of the regiment at the entrance of the woods as support. I had already detailed two sections as a scouting party, who would have relieved each other dur- ing the night, in order to explore the ground in front of the pickets, and advance as far as possible without giving the alarm, in order to discover the position of the enemy. But at that time you, General, and General Foster came, and gave me the order to change the posi- tion, concentrating them on the road, and call them to the front. I did so ; six companies were in front with two pieces of artillery with a prolongation of pickets in the two roads which open through the woods at an angle of about sixty degrees. The other four companies with the other three pieces of artillery were to the rear, precisely at the other cross-road, which lay four hundred yards behind the first. Those companies had -pickets right and left, but with orders to do no firing to the front, and in case of an attack to act as support. We stood all night without fires; it rained all the time; none of the men slept, and every half hour I made the companies fall in in the greatest silence. All officers and men of the regiment without exception comported themselves with remarkable patience and endurance dur- ing twelve hours of darkness and rain. Not a word of grumbling, not an expression of weariness. At half-past six @ small scouting party, which I sent out a little beyond my pickets, returned. I then permitted my men to light fires in order to dry themselves as much me possible. At seven o’clock A. M. an aide of General Foster came and ordered me to allow the Ist brigade to pass through my line of 1862, HONOR TO WHOM HONOR IS DUE. 49 i : Saas _ The brigade came half an hour later, headed by the general Seu, In the following order: 25th, 27th, and 23d Massachusetts ; Oth hia * battalion Rhode Island, and 10th Connecticut ; and immediately u ‘ me arrival we followed them, obeying your order to defile wi ni se and water to the rear and to the left of the 25th ; pane bein = ting, I took the two flank companies, D and G, fas eles arper’s Ferry rifles and sabre bayonets, and after hav- the PPD Sy of the position of the battery of the enemy, and by they ae shots of their guns of the extension of the ground which coms Seep aweep on our left (their right), I ordered the two com- by file, wr § oe a nis swamp and commanded them to open fire tO Senate sa anes ee ee left. ‘I forbid those two companies mi a ie tion anc re only when perfectly sure of their OR tes soon in front the infantry of the enemy which sup- besa 4. bl flank of the battery. It was then that the fire be- nian -_ y hot, and I nat many men put hors de combat ; itiet ska Fi cach wr Captain f. S. Foster was shot by a be: hours peek atin = xr kept firing for more than At this ue ae ' e ront and left at the same time. Dailiés joiner : having changed their position, two of my com- talion ara 7 ine, and in a few minutes all the rest of the bat- eeriemmge na by my order, guided by Major Clark. At the edge of ne Rae face = of me, was an exposed ground of one hun- and commanded the clears Prelcgey ir gp pega: RAY tematic ye? oad covered by a small iBtaitdas & . uring that march we suffered for four or five very thick fire, and lost fifteen men. The battery was al- Teady flank i ed. You came and said to me, “ Ch i 5 arge and take it;” arose and did so. : ae dlst New Y afterw me the I p At our left flank were three companies of the ork. Our State color was the first on the battery ; i si the flag of the 51st; then immediately after our vege al flag. One of our men found on the battery a rebel flag with ee Aut vincere aut mori.” After a few minutes of joy A se te in line the regiment in the road behind the batten of tay 4 you we proceeded towards Camp Jordan. Company E hey — ‘which was in front, found the enemy retreating ; Pee ra ed and fired, Wat weep soon repulsed with the loss of three at Some wounded. They sent a flag of truce and surrendered. m glad to say that I never saw any better behavior by any Soldi ers, young or elas I do not believe it was possible on such CA ee TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. February, 50 g d) ds of water can be so calle i tinued swamp and pon Hes ‘ gle cond the brilliant and gallant conduct of all my com that any d. If I should mention the names of those officers who have dis- mand. d be obliged to send you all from the a pO ae as pete one of them deserve — sei ea Captain T. S. Foster, and Lieutenant F. A. a Ee pall “Mer aa because they fought more bravely, but ane ona egg te of circumstances been Sper to pyro sels = : neg ition than any others: the las petit aes stg ee was iia side from the — ess, d : Both have been wounded, the first as I have op eae “ the left leg, the second slightly in the right oe may pon :baliat s And ‘dans I would call your attention to the nar: vegas ne ees rgeons Cutter and Warren, and of the Chaplain, w : oshemsignts ; a troops through the fight to bear back the er speed He Ry All our wounded were conveyed to the hospital fi so ea immediately buried. I send you annexed a list of a till Tos resste I have the honor to be, your obedient subordi- killed an . A. C. Mage, ae Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding 21st Mass. Vols. The following: proclamation of thanks was issued by the 2 P d nt j | I tk . . . S recoonl ed resident, n which Ae glory of our charge was rece gr Zi . and held up for emulation, ~— Wasurneron, February 15, 1862. i vy, returns The President, commander in chief of the army eis Tease thanks to Brigadier-General Burnside and es pepe as co ci ie tai ating iets hn Bo their gallant ; d navel forces under their respective commands, and : i anoke Island. - hievements in the capture of Fort Henry and at Ro ac ; acknowledge and While it will be no ordinary pleasure for him ee at ne soem din a becoming manner the valor of the 2 tthe aol ee his duty to pay fitting honor to the memory 0 harge at A ‘The charge at Roanoke Island, like the itd pry dead, ing, proves that the close grapple and sharp 5 ee Nh en, war ie He soldiers must always put rebels and See Sd aoe hievements of the navy show that the flag o a ait ape le in proud glory around the world by our ete ae 4 angina over every rebel city and stronghold, an will soon 45 and union, in every land and upon every sea. By order of the President, Epwin M. Sranrov, Secretary of War. Gipron Wettxs, Secretary of Navy. On request of the legislature, national salutes were fired in Massachusetts, under the following order of the governor : — Heapguarrers, Boston, February 17, 1862, GenrraL OrpER No. 2. anoke Island, at Fort Henry, and at Fort Donelson; in recognition of the skillful generalship, the coolness, devotedness, and valor of the Officers and men by whom those fields were won; in commemoration of the heroic dead to whom the count: ry owes all that a grateful peo- ple can tepay to the brave who have fallen in their country’s cause ; and in celebration of events which, in giving hope and confidence to Our future, have given Opportunity to five regiments of Massachusetts to illustrate the sturdy valor of her s ons, and also planted the white ide of the American flag, on the sland ; —it is ordered that a na- tional salute be fired, at Boston, Bunker Hill, Concord, and Lexino- ton, on Wednesday, February 19th instant, at twelve o’clock , By order of His Excellency, Joun A. ANDREw, Governor and Commander in. Chief. Wm. Scuouter, Adjutant-General. On the 18th of February 4nd a salute of one hundred by order of the mayor, in honor of the victories, Several rebel flags fell into the hands of our troops in the Surrender at Roanoke Island, but the 21st make the undis- Puted claim of being the only regiment that captured a flag tn fight. Colonel Maggi was allowed to send th Setts ; ~“ts ; and forwarded it to Gover 8 official report and the followin all the bells in Boston were rung, guns was fired on the Common e flag to Massachu- nor Andrew with a copy of g letter of transmittal: — / “ite i» 52 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. February, EW: To nis ExcELLENCY Governor ANDR i fficial report of the bat- to submit a copy of my o é : ra ae i tiadh and will only add that General Reno nee fs ss oA the long, steady fire, and gallant charge of my command, by warde i the P mitting me to send you the only secession flag yet bar on é < Ww Ww when w battery. i ‘i j and the one which we took when we stormed the ba island, y . C. Maaet. Your obedient servant, A.C On the receipt of the flag, the governor issued the follow- ing order : — CoMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. Heapquarrers, Boston, March 1, 1862. GENERAL ORDER No. 38. i i ilitia of the Commonwealth has Jer in chief of the militia o 06 The earn 2ist Regiment of Massachusetts Sipe sen per ene Jlonel Albert C. Maggi commanding, a flag of t e * 7 Sidi ” captured by that regiment on the redoubt peer a sig aia tivin charge led by Colonel Maggi, at Roanoke Island, ant ani johth day of February. 2 “a ii codived from the 24th Regiment, Colonel : os = S a site commanding, the regimental colors of the : “i aya as i i endered, as one of th $ h Carolina “ State troops, acre or . gee to Colonel Stevenson’s regiment, which bore a gatla : or ris day. : i fortunes and trials of the day 4 Ne ea vies received from the 23d Massachusetts Meare he oo i i lors of anothe Curtz anding, the regimental co Se ties wea field. ‘These worthy sons : t, secured by the 23d on the same ; a dca I avcho soldiers of Massachusetts, in the hour kien arts p of rly bought, offer to her these trophies. They sha pene: ee of their fortitude, their fidelity, and their ae inane in d if,as they behold them, the eyes of their coun i ese 0 me with tears, remembering the hardships, ragga i ee ses by which they were won, their hearts meee rf Loe a a % the precious, memories of that heroism and va Se ae ps aly illustrated, in the very van of battle, the perpetully prou ons } : , in the Republic. ander in chief in congratulating and thanking, in ee ee we) M husetts, the 21st, 23d, and the 24t ¢ the people of Massachusetts, 4 isn Ben, name 0 soins with these regiments, in equal honor, Arte ; me haart 7 ie Edwin Upton, and the 27th, commanded by manded by onel Horace ©: ane: 1862, BATTLE OF ROANOKE ISLAND. 53 Sharing alike the hardships and the fortunes of the engagement, all of these noble re giments participated in the honors of the victory, and by constant endurance, prompt obedience, and unflinching fortitude, under the fire of the en emy, exhibited the best qualities of citizen sol- diers, These flags (with the consent of the Honorable House of Repre- Sentatives) will be conspicuously displayed in the hall of the House, and will there remain in the care of the quartermaster-general, until further orders. The adjutant-general will cause a copy of this order to be transmitted to the commanders of each of the regiments and batteries of artil lery now at the seat of war from this Commonwealth. By order of His Excellency, Joun A. ANprew, Governor and Commander in Chief, Witt Scnourer, Adjutant-General. Thereupon it was unanimously resolved by the House of ©presentatives, that the rebel flag 8 “ be displayed during the Present session in the hall of th e House, as memorials of the heroic valor a nd energy of the men of the Massachusetts 21st, 234, 24th, 25th, and 27th regiments.” Hon. A. H. Bullock, Speaker of the House, in advocating the P Passage of the resolution, said of the 21st, that “led in their impetuous char ge bya soldier of Garibaldi, they had Plucked one of these trophies of vietory from the very crest of battle,” The following letter, written in lead pencil, was found in a rebel fort which was bombarded on the 7th (Fort Bar- ow) Fang Roanoke Isianp, February 7, 1862. Dear Sir: The enemy are in sight of our battery, and have al- Teady twenty-three steamers and twenty-six transports moored this Side of the marshes. We are all ready for them, and expect to give them a §0od thrashing, and send them home to their work. The en- 8agement will certainly be a long and desperate one, but our cause is 890d. Gog being, as ~' I firmly believe, on our side, will give us the ctory. . With much respect, your obedient servant, SERGEANT W. E. VauGan, Commander Gun No. 5, Pig Point Battery. To Jouy R. Haraway. a SPs ais tail Ag 54 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. February, 1 land forces, made no 1 Shaw, commander of the rebe f SoM I have been able to find ; Commodore Lynch, obese their fleet, made the following official report : — OFFICIAL REPORT OF COMMODORE LYNCH, ©. 8. N. Frac-sure Sea Birp, orr Roanoke IsLAND, February 7, 1862. Srr: Ihave the honor to report that the enemy, at ten A. mabe day, with twenty-two heavy steamers and one tug, pore ei rarer upon this squadron and the battery at Pork Point. ‘ is n ear force was overwhelming, we commenced the action at ong ae ; as our shells fell short, while his burst over and around us nth I think, to the superior quality of his powder), we were even u a’ compelled to shorten the distance. The fight lasted continuously from ten A. M. to half-past five P. m., throughout which the soldiers = .M. in the battery sustained their position with a gallantry which won in r warmest approbation. The fire was terrific; and at times the ou é battery would be enveloped in the sand and dust thrown pia! i and shell. And yet their casualties were only one man : me a three wounded. The earth-work, however, was very muc cu ue I mention the battery, because in all probability this communication will reach you before intelligence will he received from: the mae priate official source. The enemy approached in ten aber rear one having the schooner transports in tow. The advance, Ww a was the attacking division, again subdivided, and one portion — us and the other the battery. Repeatedly in the course of t > 4 I feared that our little squadron of seven vessels would be ut ed demolished, but a gracious Providence preserved us. Master-co ‘ . ich manding Hoall, of the “ Forrest,” received a wound in the head whi is pronounced serious, if not mortal. J yet trust that this promising oung officer, who so bravely fought his ship, will be cate e sae a Midshipmen Camm of the « Ellis,” and of the “ Curlew, ch lost an arm, which with three others slightly wounded, Mpmie is: a of our personal casualties I am sorry to say that the “ Cur- se oa largest steamer, was sunk, and the “ Forrest,” one of the aie ‘i s, disabled. We have received other injuries from shot and be nt comparatively of light character, and could, with the excep- aged e “Forrest,” renew the action to-morrow, if we only had am- tion The loss in the Union navy was three killed and eleven wounded. — Ep. 1 e 10 1862, 56 munition, J have not a pound of powder nor a loaded shell remain- ing, and few of the other vessels are better off. During the latter part of the engagement, when our ammunition was nearly exhausted, T sent to the upper battery for a supply, but ten charges were all that Could be Spared, and those were expended at dark, as the enemy were withdrawing from the contest, In all probability the contest will be my, having landed a force below the t to divert its fire. I have decided, & wreck of the “ Curlew,” to proceed direct with the squadron to Elizabeth City, and send express to Nor- folk for ammunition. Should it arrive in ti In the defense ; if not, will there make a fin: g the guns from th the hands of the enemy. his commanding officers. ] your obedient W. F. Lynon, Flag-Officer.1 omplimentary mention of all I am very respectfully, The “ Richmond Examiner ” published the following bitter comment on the part taken in the fight by the batt Six Companies of the 46th Virginia ; — ', Pap alion of he Roanoke affair is perfectly incomprehensible. ers are tilled with extravagant laudations of our valor; reece and Rome offer 1 fated by companies, The news- the annals 10 parallel. Whole regiments were de- and we yielded only to death. Surrendered “ with no blood on their bayonets ; ichmond Blues, two killed and five wounded ne killed and two wounded ; the other four two killed and eleven wounded. Comment is army had better surrender at once, T am sir, ete., AN Orricer. We passed nearly a month on the island very pleasantly. The rebels were soon out of our way, bei and released after signing a parole not to take up against the United States, nor give any information "especting arly exchanged. Though the Water was in the Sound and enjoyed it 1 : ae The Union fleet left Roanoke Island in pursuit on February 9th, and de- °Yed the rebel squadron at Elizabeth Qj dore Succe ty, on the 10th. The rebel Commo- eded in blowing up and burning four of his vessels. — Ep, Our men finally ”” and what is the loss r 3 McCulloch Rangers, companies lost in all needless. The whole for it will eventually come to it. our forces until regul quite cold, we swam 56 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. February, very much ; the guard duty was not severe, drills were sharp and lively, and rations plenty; besides, there was a never- failing occupation in reading rebel letters, of which we found immense quantities, some full of fierce malignity, and some telling sad tales of the helpless and suffering ones at home. February 24th. We received the welcome news of the capture of Forts Donnelson and Henry in the West; and Fort Reno (the late rebel Fort Bartow) fired a national salute in honor of our victories. The subordination and discipline of the regiment was put to a pretty severe test about the middle of the month. Asa large rebel force were supposed to be gathering on the main land, near by us, we were under or- ders to be ready to move at an hour’s notice. Colonel Maggi, determined to be always ready, required the companies to pa- rade at reveille roll-call with blankets rolled and knapsacks packed, ready for inspection. It was too much like breaking camp every day, to be agreeable to the men, and the time al- lowed was very short to get ready for one of Colonel Maggi’s rigid inspections, After the order had been in force a few days, the gallant but hot-blooded captain of one of the com- panies, refusing to submit longer to such “ Italian tyranny,” on the ground that the order was not issued by authority of the general commanding, turned out his company without knapsacks ; the disobedience being promptly reported by the officer of the day, the captain was at once put under arrest ; but the company, standing by their late commander, now re- fused to obey the order of his successor to parade as directed. Maggi made short work with them : the other nine companies were instantly ordered into line, and the adjutant carried the colonel’s compliments to the stubborn company with the mes- sage that the regiment would fire on them as mutineers un- less they paraded as directed within ten minutes. It came hard for the boys to back down ; but the battalion indignant at the mutiny looked stern and ready for business; and the company, much to the delight of their comrades, were in line as ordered within the prescribed limit. The incident was a revelation to the regiment of their own subordination, and 1862. RESIGNATION OF LIEUT.-COLONEL MAGGI. 57 made them feel more than ever before that their discipline and strength were self sustaining. Colonel Maggi remained with the regiment only long fnough to see the offending captain dismissed by sentence of ourt-martial, resigning his commission February 27th. Major Clark at once took command of the regiment, and was pro- Moted to the lieutenant-coloneley. : We saw -Colonel Maggi leave with regret. We admired him for his coolness and wisdom in handling the regiment under fire, He had always been watchful for the health and comfort of his command ; and the rigid discipline on duty Which he had established had in effect fulfilled his prediction when he took command, that he would “ make the 21st a reg- Iment of regulars.” General Reno, in forwarding his resignation, sent him the following letter : — Heapquarrters SEeconp Brigapr, L Camp Burnsipe, February 28, 1862. IEUTENANT-CoLoneL A. G. Maca. Colonel: J regret exceedingly that circumstances should have compelled you to resign your position as commander of the 21st €giment Massachusetts Volunteers. Having myself been a witness = vin gallant conduct in the recent battle of Roanoke, I was much 2 Ages that you should wish to relinquish the command of such a ees cromci one too that you had devoted so much time and #08 Jn. yone oonvisine+ihgeaee- Onin tage te of aay Scio the oe date a at any service to thine » still I cannot deny your earnest request, and, however at ant, I will recommend the general commanding to accept your ra snation. With many thanks for your past valuable services, and Y Warmest wishes for your future success and happiness, I have the Onor to remain your sincere friend and well-wisher. Yours truly, J. L. Reno, Brigadier-General Commanding 2d Brigade. The commanders of the Union fleet and army issued a joint Proclamation to the people of North Carolina, on the 18th of F ebruary, which is of interest only as showing the national vie Ww of the war at that time. Enough of it is given to show 58 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. February, its spirit: “ The mission of our joint expedition s re “ be vade any of your rights, but to assert the authori y° on United States, and to close with you the desolating = brought upon your State by comparatively a few bad weg j the midst of you. ... We invite you in the gees Constitution, and in that of virtuous loyalty and civi izatl ps to separate yourselves at once from their malign canara return to your allegiance, and not compel us to resort fur s to the force under our control. . .. No apprehension oo be entertained that the demands of humanity or i ie be disregarded. The Government asks only that its aut et y may be recognized, and, we repeat, in no manner or way mi it desire to interfere with your laws piaacgtcsteigge es ei lished, your institutions of any kind icing your property rt, your usages in any respect. . ait is bk. aR that the Union proclamation was circulated to any great extent outside our gees ren T. Clark, the rebel governor of the State, on the 22d " = D- ruary issued a war-cry to his people, the spirit of which is shown by the following extracts : — North Carolinians! Our country needs your aid for its protection i i i atening by an ad- and defense against an invading foe . . . now thre g by vance to deprive us of liberty, property, and all that we pe heath a self-governing and free people. We must resist him at a Pech and by every means in our power. He wages a war for roid . Lae tion, — a war forced upon us in wrong and prosecuted = posi and in a spirit of vengeful wickedness without a paralle 6208 tory of warfare among civilized nations. . . . I call upon ai the and patriotic men of our State to volunteer from the mountains to sea. And so, thank God, the good work was destined to go on until we were ready to interfere with their laws and institu- tions ! ‘ive Weeks before, 1862, 59 CHAPTER IV. #EBRUARY — APRIL, 1862. DEPARTURE FROM ROANOKE ISLAND. — THE BATTLE OF NEWBERN. — IN CAMP NEAR NEWBERN. — DEATH OF MISS CARRIE E. CUTTER. ae ON the 26th of February, 186 2, orders were issued to put teen days’ rations on the transports and hold ourselves in ‘Teadiness to reémbark ; and on the 4th of March the regi- ’ Ment returned to the “‘ Northerner” again. The old craft was 8ayly decorated with flags and streamers for the occasion. er ner, hung across her upper saloon, bore the words, eleome to the brave 21st ;” and we received a very warm Welcome from all hands on board her. We remained until Teh 11th, lying at anchor just off the island, and then ran down Pamlico Sound, coming to anchor off Hatteras Inlet — dark, Moving on at seven o’clock on the morning of © 12th, the imposing fleet, of which the « Northerner ” now ormed a part, steamed across Pamlico Sound and into the Mouth of ; Soon after we got under way, a a was read, announcing that we were making an waar’ movement which would tend to demoralize the MY and aid in the operations against Richmond, and as We MMtered the Neuse we were officially informed that New- P= Was our destination. _ Our fleet was composed of nearl ats which had left Hatteras i UN~bo y all the transports and Inlet for Roanoke Island vith and pushed up the broad and glassy river, ‘3 phe te transports in two parallel lines, and the gun-boats on i ‘nks and in the advance. It was a majestic spectacle, _r to be forgotten. The weather was pleasant, and the TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. February, 60 ransports were full of life hin re cy saseed of olete fate in that mighty a we ee, nded its well-ordered lines as far as the ee aler dies running some forty-five miles up ag nee hor at deck: off the mouth of Slocum’s “pre BE eek below the city of Newbern. Some of our g sixtee n adave Y Y W fix g e y ‘ d met i < ] but we ha Vv Vv in bh avl 1 ance were no boats a , Ww pk . g fe along the Ww ooded comme) osition and seen no signs of li e ith n e) he great river. ae —* ge ‘tienda took position for the night they became gay 8 -boa shrew a few | ith brilliant signal lanterns. The gun nse e oa 26 j he woods near us, apparently for th be ; mae ik ebel signal-fires shone inland, and t 1e mM : ee fed ao sd to the beauty and inspiration of the scene. hay so gman ta -efreshing sleep, awoke on We turned in early, and, after a refreshing i ning, whi wre : segs abel: oat seemed to Si ese He an 4 what. . = aq knew tate of mind as we landed in small oa — i ens hrouch the mud to the shore. As th he ol | waded thro little enthusiasm was displayed in = é . e q ee sc of the first regiments which landed mai a “a “parle ag i they floundered through the deep a we pee aS land. Their cheers, however, nt aMvanct 4 planted their flags on the lanc be hei at fel, self) pather flat, and they soon stacke “ As | awe bh it the disembarkation of the rest 0 ee ae aod noon when the army took up the od sole a | a with three days’ rations of hard oe iy oo sjaversacks, and sixty rounds of ammunitl Pt ee kets. te ie ; sercetes j hich we 7T Me cid el old city of peaesaies Fo ia ri ait § ‘ding (a place of about six thousan Tron et the confluence of the rivers Neuse a being ala 2 i ge \ was attached to its occupation as ae _ ee uy: ya movement into the interior ° em dee on 3 *s communications between Virgin! ayer) Galt en ne main line ef intrenchments soe pe 4 ‘at a land attack was situated abou | oh a. defense 98 ch was to bring forth no man : 1862, BATTLE OF NEWBERN. 61 below the city, was well placed, and of the most formidable character, consisting of heavy earth-works about two miles in length, mounting forty-six pieces of artillery ; the right rest- ing on a deep morass, and the left terminating on the west bank of the river Neuse in a powerful fort (Fort Thompson), Mounting thirteen very heavy guns. There were also sey- eral batteries along the river, which was further obstructed Y piles, sunken vessels, and torpedoes. The rebel works and men, under the command of The Wndn army moving to attack, commanded by Burnside, consisted of thirteen regiments of inf. PIZe, Y of six boat-howitzers, thitenng men. The Union b fol Yrs Sea chet brigade, commanded by General Foster : 23d, 24th, and 27th Massachusetts, and 10th Connecticut re General antry and a numbering in all not over nine rigades and regiments were as giments. commanded by General Reno: 21st Mas- Setts) 51st New Y. ersey regiments, Third brigade, 5th Rhoce Isl c ; ‘°ond ‘brigade, sac ork, 51st Pennsylvania, and 9th New commanded by General Parke : 4th and and, and 8th and 11th Connecticut regiments, BATTLE OF NEWBERN. As Colonel Clark’s official report gives in such full detail € incidents of our “-~ch to the battle-field and the part taken Y the regiment in.) ¢), battle, I give it entire, as being of morg 8eneral interes the 7 #8 account of my own experiences, it half TEADQUARTERS 217 Reer. Mass. Vors. eneral 1 Camp RENO, near Newser, N.C., March 16, 1862, Carr, Epwarp M. Neat, Ass’t Aps’r-Gen, 2p Brigape. Q “ptain: About nine o’clock on the morning of the 13th inst., the 21st Massachusetts Volunteers, seven hundred and forty-three ; Strong, landed at the mouth of Slocu m’s Creek, and by order of Gen- 8 through the pine woods along toward Newbern. Coming out No advanced about two mile th bank of the river Neuse 4g 1] is 13 62 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. March, upon a large open field, the regiment stacked arms to await the ar rival of the general with the rest of the brigade. Company G, un- der Lieutenant Taylor, formed the advance guard, and discovered @ short distance into the woods, beyond the cleared space, a large num- ne ber of wooden barracks which had been vacated about two hours be- fore by rebel cavalry whose equanimity had been disturbed by shells from the gun-boats. An advance of some four miles brought the reg- iment to Croatan, where we found a very extensive earth-work run- ning at right angles to the highway. One thousand rebel infantry . had just deserted it. The colors of the 21st were placed without opposition upon the parapet and heartily cheered by offica’ts and men. Near this work a halt of an hour was made for dinner, curing which the pioneers tore up the track of the railroad connecting Ne by with Beaufort. From this point the regiment was ordered te nus forward upon the railroad track, and Company D, under Lieu eet Barker, was sent forward as advance guard. About a mile ad vance brought the regiment to a place where the highway eros® 1 railroad, and a half a mile to the right of the latter, the § ee . . : i . (Neuse, a Ueserted earth-wotk was discovered by Lieut nant pnd, Jaide-de-camp to the general. Company H, under Capijain with the colors, was detached from the regiment, and uuuer charge of General Reno, visited the work, and, waving the Star-Spangled banner bearing the honorable inscription, “ Roanoke, February 8th, 1862,” and the spotless white colors of Massachusetts with the noble motto “ Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem,” gave three hearty cheers and hastily rejoined the advancing regiment. Proceeding along the railroad about a mile farther, the advance guard came upon a building containing several tents, a comphee set of artillery har- nesses, and a few boxes of ammunition fayrd * and twelve-pounder guns. Lieutenant Barker with Adjutant -se n,"S then made a yecon- noisance to the right of the railroad ané en 4 an extensive encamp- t ment, also recently evacuated by rebS tate cy: Here were ‘arge quantities of clothing, commissary atta Sal stores, over which a guard was placed. One mile farther on the regiment bivouacked for the night, throwing out a picket guard of two companies on the front and left, the right being guarded by the 24th Massachusetts Volun- teers, and the rear by the 51st New York Volunteers. The rain, which commenced to fall about ten o’clock of the 13th instant, contin- ued in showers through the night, and on the morning of the 14th mist and fog enveloped everything. Notwithstanding every pre we Raa ak Beo ine } cade ee “ 18 62, BATTLE OF NEWBERN. 63 ti hag part of both officers and men, very many of the rifles were pe — unserviceable by the moisture. In some the pewder vrei Kak ty) se and in many of the Enfield rifled muskets the ie es pi : oe: immovable from the swelling of the stock. It Sepacied oo" “oe weapon that the friction of the wood along Pas iy ho the rammer is relied upon to keep it in place, St ” daiagne ne that the rammer should be well secured gig esata is dry and sufficiently loose for service when wet. et Saat r Y evidence of discipline and courage on the part of thats be - more ag: fifty of them went into the battle with only hbo - . eae with, and it was very hard to hear them in the ecco e k it, while standing helpless in their places, beg their tte 7 me a muskets, and to see them eagerly gia ~ : their comrades as fast as they fell beneath the * Daeanlpaciaey om the enemy’s earth-works. Private Sheehan of Com- killa C PS ag to secure the musket of a man whom he saw ae Spe , and when asked by Major Rice why he did not ah gun o one who had been shot in his. own company, replied me was, like his own, good for nothing. hea, Pra iec A. M. General Reno ordered his brigade for- Te i thi ne lusetts in the van. The advance guard con- Ai aio mg , and was led by Corporal Stratton,! who deserves alma me 6 coolness and intrepidity in pushing on through 13th atte ic 165 and along the track of the railroad, both on the ieaca co eon every moment exposed to be fired upon by a "ie aac > ‘ jjutant Stearns directed the movement of the first tog the te ss advance guard in the most admirable manner dur- til © march from the place of landing to the battle-field, As 10wn that the defenses of the enemy were thrown across the high wa : : \y to the right of the railroad, the regiment proceeded cautio throy Bees ; usly After aay woods on the left of the railroad and parallel with it. aa ‘ ancing about half a mile, a locomotive was seen ¢ 'e road, and General , j left eg ‘ Reno at once ordered us to file to the i ag lvance into the forest, which was no longer a level, open . 20d; but the ground was broken into hills separated hey a ' : trees, ad the timber was of oak, whitewood, and other deciduoys Foster ee the ws description. The Ist brigade, under General » having a : emy, and . . dvanced upon the highway, came first upon the en- © battle was now raging fiercely upon our right and along 1 Corporal Stratton was killed at the battle of Antietam. — Ep. oming ~ abtgaapienes March, ad. The d several 64 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. e of earth-works from the river to the railro d firing of more than thirty cannon an driven down upon us by the wind, and, min- fog, so completely shut out the light of day y longed for), that it was impossible to derive any information respecting the position of the rebels, except where it was indicated by the noise of battle. Our skirmishers now reported that we were opposite the right flank of a battery resting at this point on a deep cut in the railroad, and upon several buildings and brick walls in Woods’ brick-yard, which was across the road from our posi- tion, a few hundred yards distant. The regiment was at once ordered to form line of battle facing the railroad, and Company C, under Captain J. M. Richardson, was sent forward to reconnoitre. As rap- idly as the difficult nature of the ground would allow, the other com- panies formed on the right by file into line, and as soon as the remain- ing companies of the right wing were ready, I moved forward with the colors to the support of Company C, who were already engaging the rebel riflemen in the trenches upon the opposite side of the deep cut in the railroad. At the moment of their arrival at the cut, the y-two-pounder pivot the whole lin smoke from the rapi thousand muskets was gling with the dense (never more anxious] enemy were busily engaged in mounting two thirt nd in receiving ammunition from the Newbern with reinforcements. At the first volley from Company C, the enemy in great astonishment tled from the road and the trench to a ravine in the rear of the brick- yard. General Reno now ordered the color-bearer, Sergeant Bates, to plant the flag upon the roof of a building within the enemy’s in- trenchments. He immediately rushed forward several rods in advance of his company, and amid a perfect shower of minie balls clambered to the roof and waved the Star-Spangled banner presented to the regi- ment by the ladies of Worcester. At this moment the noblest of us all, my brave, efficient, faithful adjutant, First Lieutenant F. A. Stearns, of Company I, fell mortally wounded, the first among the twenty-five patriotic volunteers of the 21st who laid down their lives for their country at the battle of Newbern. As he was cheering on the men to charge upon the enemy across the railroad, he was struck by a ball from an English rifle fired from a redan at the right and e central breastwork on which we were advancing, The fatal missile entered his left side, and passing through his lungs, went out just below the collar-bone in the right breast. Corporal Welch, of Company C, noticing his fall, returned and remained with him guns to command the railroad, a ears which had just arrived from rear of th BATTLE OF NEWBERN. 65 duri; : auc seen : He lived about two hours and a half, though " little a ome rom si loss of blood, and died without a struggle i, aa. te , eneral Reno with companies ©, A, B, and i Be Pa ashed across the railroad, up the steep bank, nie aan, e trench on the top into the brick-yard. Here we Giese ate our destructive cross-fire from the enemy on both The a oad, and lost twenty-one men in a very few minutes. Bitihee ny. a ew we flanked the enemy’s works, en tekttn up the rest of the brigade; j cyan tremendous fire of musketry and i sac extending 2 sales unseen, and which were thirteen in number. | ene the railroad more than a mile into the forest. The . 2 aged now obliged to devote his attention to the enemy in fron rigade, ordered the left wing of the 21st, under the com- Mand of j i Major Rice, not to cross the railroad, but to continue firing 5 _ Upon th: i i ? rebel infantry in the first two redans with whom they were alread, ee ge ll consisted of the 36th and 16th North Car- lantly ef a A 4 were on best armed and fought the most gal- ined - enemy’ forces. Their position was almost defontet _ 6 as their left flank, resting on the railroad, was ‘a seh ley kept up an incessant fire for three hours, until s oe si was exhausted and the remainder of the rebel forces ao a hand ond of their works lying between the river ieee cae . pe! seston, been ordered into the brick-yard and left ing it Ribs ay and the four companies above named, and find- bcincice ore weg * 9 there without being cut to pieces, I was lies coon 0 charge upon Captain Brem’s battery of flying Secwss ae Asa Cages eee anything to oa: ed sustained in reaching thi i ss "pi preg my handful of men, about two. ean Le 7 SRS right resting on the breastworks of the enemy, and ie Peale i zt ge of the first piece. Three sighs cf at ing en, and the other gunners showin siness, I gave the command “charge bayonets,” an Went in to the fi ing i Ms € first gun. Reaching it, I had the pleasure of mounting Ve w m rm lens 4 ere at this time also subjected i tak jected to an annoying, but iv Posted in an were protected by the rebel works), ban a ee a d ; t of the intrenchments, who could not be made to sale Pe , ei § our fla, el line, — shouts, or messengers, that our men had carried that part of the Wavin reb, 5 66 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. upon the firs £ s surren Y a . It h fi ct of tl e New ber n gun dered to the é nkees {i ] 1 . ix- ounder (dl ass fle. -piece, manufactured at Chicopee, Mass., was as : i 2 ¥ brought f : L U 5 I am happy to ac 1 has presi nt i gi e at the . h G eral Burnside a e ed it to the regim nt, and th that en have unanimously resolved to present it to the pects rebel College, to be kept as an enduring and “pre “a 7 sista her members of the ment to Adjutant Stearns and the othe ine heeds ot were slain at Newbern. Leaving this in the — cott and Private John Dunn, of Company ’ oS places. Soo ted to load and turn it upon the enemy, ot cetinid ‘5 cases gun, some three hundred gee “7 cs bere is ti i f rebel infantry, ee ane vorrei aaat in the rear, wien we en- niaisate nna sity that we were so few and received no pens te betes and advanced upon us. The 35th and 37th sae re: ‘liek regiments, supported by the 7th North Caroline, a ovine in splendid style, with their guns on their iH : oe and halted. Most fortunately, or rather spelen oa a nr remained undecided for a minute or two, and then he hondimaiore ment which saved us from destruction. Instead of givi oer which was res ponded to in a speech: scarcely inferior in length, ne 2d regiment of cavalry, in the course of which ug terms on the matchless gallantry of his troops, tinéics g such as to throw the deeds of the Greeks and tae “he the shade; according to him the whole corps was ready "thy si _ needful, to the last man. I need not add that this speech Tea eived with tumultuous applause. “ Gentlemen,” concluded the ca a rising from his seat, “let us make Newbern a sec- ne mar before the walls oe which the enemy must perish !” hin, mpierage. on all sides. “ Yes, Newbern shall be a second pol! General Branch then rose and made anoth and ‘ . Stated that his guest, Colonel Estyjn len defende se the colonel of tl a dilated in glowi their prowess bein er speech, had with ten thousand d i p and Francs | Sebastopol against all the combined forces of England The noise increased. Colonel Spreil was again on SS, and said that with ten thousand of his own brave fellows he 76 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. March, would haye taken Sebastopol in fourteen days, and not have left one stone upon another. I was now called upon to make a speech in reply. “My friends,” said I, “ how would you go to work if General Branch, with ten thousand of his best men, undertook the defense of Sebastopol, and Colonel Spreil, with ten thousand of his cavalry, attacked it? What would be the result?” They stared with as- tonishment at these words, and I sat down curious to see how they would solve theirown problem. Another subject was then broached, _ but I soon perceived that I had lost their favor. At last the general rose to depart, and we returned to Newbern with our small staff. On the following day I visited the cavalry encampment to inspect the two regiments there. I found them a fine body of men, but as regarded their weapons, there was much room for improvement; a great portion of the troopers were armed with heavy carbines with bayonets, in addition to a sword and revolver. When on horseback, fully accoutred, one of these men had the appearance of a movable arsenal; probably the colonel did not deem himself safe unless his men were thus armed to the teeth. The horses, too, were in a very bad condition; while the manceuvring was indifferent, and the men seemed to have no idea of sword exercise, each man using his weapon as best suited his own notions. So I returned to Raleigh, anything but satisfied with the result of my inspection. As Colonel Estvan witnessed the rebel flight,-I will add another extract from his book (page 257) : — ‘On my return to Richmond I delivered my despatches, but was soon summoned back to Raleigh. On my arrival there, I was in- formed that General Burnside had already collected his fleet, with the apparent intention of attacking Newbern. I started accordingly at once for General Branch’s camp to see what steps he had taken for the defense of the place. At Goldsborough the most extraordi- nary rumors were in circulation. Thus General Burnside was said to have attacked Beaufort, and, as had been reported after the surrender of Roanoke Island, had put the garrison to the sword, after a valiant defense. As I proceeded on my way, I found the exeitement had increased. At Kingston I left the railway, and procured horses, and rode on as fast as I could, accompanied only by an aide-de.camp. As I approached Newbern, the distant roar of cannon became more and more distinct. Suddenly a number of horsemen galloped past me in full flight, and amongst them I fancied I could discern the gal- | 4 i 1862, REBEL FLIGHT. 17 ant colonel with whom I had dined not long ago. He gave mea be nod and passed on. ... Newbern I found looking bad ie oi General Branch had secured a railway carriage for himself, aa age off inland. Troops without their officers passed me in les. ny ir; throwing away their arms, rushed across the bridge. rate en wonderful stories of the feats performed by their re- like a regiments. According to their account they had all fought us heibatey devils, but the force of the enemy not being less than an 2 red thousand men, they had no chance against them. The 8 General Branch had run away and all discipline was at an end. a - Inside (in Newbern) all was confusion. The inhabitants en- ‘avored to save themselves and their chattels, and every kind of vehi 7 ‘ nae - serviceable for such a purpose was eagerly laid hold of. In aln did eis did we endeavor to persuade the scared citizens that General B urnsj ‘ ispositi ‘. side was an honorable enemy, a man of humane disposition, and a : ge - Sn there was no reason for this precipitate flight ; it was all in n. "am vie as we had carried the line of intrenchments the hese: ed from the batteries along the river, and the gun- ae ‘on the 1st brigade started in pursuit ; but the rebels a si the four miles to the city with light heels, and when Mace reached the bridge across the Trent they found it a ie ' flame, and saw the black smoke rolling up in several Hic tis the fine old city of Newbern itself, where the hen ad been crazy enough to fire it. Some of our troops ec Soon ferried over by the aid of the gun-boats, the fires ar put out, and the houses, emptied of their white inhabit- ae were protected from the roving bands of happy plun- T § negroes who filled the streets. the - 21st were left in charge of the battle-field, and collected The Pee field artillery, and war material captured in the fight. oo. ' a presented a revolting picture of the horrid work of es * Inside the rebel works’ the dead bodies of men were ly- which ho the dead and wounded artiller Sins ad been struck by the fire of our four companies when Tite: 3 entered the works, and before we charged along the yoke, pitied the horses more than the dead rebels, because the ©asts were not willing participants in the fight: next to y horses, many of a 1 , i 78 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. March, the long lines of our mangled uncomplaining men who lay in the field hospitals made out of the buildings in the brick- yard, I think the saddest sight I saw was some rebel officer’s splendid gray charger, both of whose fore-legs had been car- ried away at the knees by a cannon ball, standing immovable and silent upon the stumps, —a sickening monument to man’s barbarity. General Burnside issued the following congratulatory ad- dress to the troops : — Heapquarters DEPARTMENT or NortH CAROLINA. Newsern, March 15, 1862. GENERAL OrpeERs No. 17. The general commanding congratulates his troops on their brilliant and hard-won victory of the 14th. Their courage, their patience, their endurance of fatigue, exposure, and toil, cannot be too highly praised. After a tedious march, dragging their howitzers by hand through swamps and thickets, after a sleepless night passed in a drenching rain, they met the enemy in his chosen position, found him protected by strong earth-works, mounting many and heavy guns, and in an open field themselves, THEY CONQUERED. With such soldiers advance is victory. The general commanding directs with peculiar pride, as a well deserved tribute to valor in this second victory of the expedition, that each regiment engaged shall in- scribe on its banner the memorable name, ‘* NEWBERN.” By command of Brigadier-General A. E. Burnstpe. Lewis Ricumonp, Adjutant-General. The Secretary of War sent to General Burnside the follow- ing recognition of the honors won in the battle, — quoted in General Order No. 23 : — The report of the late brilliant successes of the United States forces under your command at Newbern has afforded the highest satis- faction to the President, to this Department, and to the whole nation, and thanks for distinguished services are again tendered to you, and the officers and soldiers under your command. General Burnside was promoted to Major-General of Vol- unteers, a day or two after the battle ; and General Reno and the other brigadiers were also promoted to the same grade shortly afterwards. (1862, RESOLVES OF MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE. 19 On the receipt of the news of the victory of Newbern, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted by the Legis- lature of Massachusetts : — Resolved, That the thanks of the people of Massachusetts are due, pod through the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, are gratefully tendered to the officers and soldiers pt the 21st, 23d, 24th, 25th, and 27th regiments of Massachusetts Volunteers for their heroic deeds at the battle and victory of New- bern, In the hands of these men the honor of Massachusetts will always be safe. Resolved, That we deplore the irreparable loss of Lieutenant-Col- onel Henry Merritt and Adjutant Stearns, and the gallant men, their ©ompanions in arms, who on the field of that victory laid down their lives to save the life of the nation. The people of Massachusetts Will imitate their virtues. In all our hearts their memories will ever be cherished. These resolutions were originally offered in the Senate by the Hon. John C. Dodge, of Middlesex, who said in support of them that he could speak from personal acquaintance of Only one of the noble men commemorated by the resolutions, . ‘azar A. Stearns. He then spoke of the self-sacrificing spirit With which Adjutant Stearns entered the army, and of his exalted courage in the bayonet charges of Roanoke and New- bern, concluding his eulogy as follows: ‘“* He was a man of Singular nobility of character. Noble in daily life, in purpose, ria aspiration, He has fallen in the morning of life with all ife 8 brightest hopes opening before him. Loving hearts were Waiting for him at his home, but the doors of that home were to open for him again only to receive his lifeless remains. OW, as we are speaking, the last offices of affection are being Performed. Kindred and friends with hearts well-nigh broken are following him to the grave. May God console them in their great sorrow, for no earthly consolation is adequate ! ” ey eloquent speeches were delivered in the Senate and i while these resolutions were pending. I will give that oo Yr, Goddard, of Barre, delivered in the House, who said, Some preliminary remarks : — 80 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. March, Those who have preceded me have spoken of the officers whose names appear in these Resolves. I would speak of the men. I re gret that I had not the honor of a personal acquaintance with the brave and lamented Merritt and Stearns ; but, sir, I did know many of the gallant men of the 25th and 21st regiments, many of whom, though numbered among the “undistinguished dead,” now fill the soldier’s honored grave, having met the foe bravely, quailed not in the hour of battle, but nobly yielded up their lives wpon the altar of their country’s good. In that gallant 21st regiment, which, at the memorable battle of Roanoke (as you, sir, on a former occasion, 0 beautifully expressed it), “ plucked one of these trophies of victory (the rebel flags hanging in the Hall) from the very crest of battle,” and which, at the later, no less brilliant engagement .at Newbern, literally covered itself with glory, in that regiment is one company from the town where I reside (Company K), and which I, to-day, have the honor to represent on this floor ; and of that company, four brave fellows met their death in the impetuous charge upon the enemy in the face of his deadly fire (privates James O, Fessenden, Patrick Martin, Joseph E. Stone, and James H. Sullivan). Who, sir, would not covet the honor with which the memory of even the “ undistinguished dead ” of Roanoke aud Newhern will be handed down to the latest posterity? Why, sir, when we who fill these seats to-day shall have passed from the stage of action, no matter to what heights of civil honor we may have been elevated by our fellow-citizens, — I say when we are forgotten, our children will delight to revere the memories of those who thus nobly fell in their country’s defense, and praise them for the enjoyment of the blessings of free government which they, by the sacrifice of their lives, did so much to perpetuate and transmit. PRESENTATION OF THE GUN TO AMHERST COLLEGE. The brass rebel cannon, belonging to the battery captured by the regiment, and presented to it by General Burnside as a monument to the memory of Adjutant Stearns,! was sent in charge of our gallant wounded comrade, Captain John D. Fra- zer, to the Chicopee Foundry, where it was beautifully pol- ished, and the following inscription, which tells its own story, engraved upon it 1 By Special Order No. 52. See ante, p. 69. 5p acer Seaenmetenancaeme inners a ' - ia . 1862. GUN PRESENTED TO AMHERST COLLEGE. 81 Dulce et decorum est pro patria mort. iar So belonged to a battery of flying artillery which was Vilbas ya bayonet charge of the 21st Regiment Massachusetts ore eers, under Lieutenant-Colonel W. S. Clark, at the battle of stint d North Carolina, March 14, 1862. It is the piece first Shea oo o that day, and was presented to the regiment by Major- this ig - E. Burnside, who so successfully directed the attack on diel onghold of the rebels. The officers of the 21st, with the ap- Saba ng their gallant brigadier-general, J. L. Reno, have unani- aad resolved to place it in the keeping of the Trustees of Amherst PO te many of whose members were on the bloody field, as an en- anon oe to the memory of their lamented brothers, who fell ravely fighting for liberty and union. NAMES OF THE SLAIN. a tny Lieutenant Frazar A. Stearns, Acting-Adjutant. He was ie sais man, a true Christian, and a model soldier, — faithful, act- nae elligent, and brave among the bravest. His comrades in arms Faas i forget his many virtues nor cease to mourn his loss. fears Corporal George E. Sayles, Corporal Charles L. Wood- m= '; Corporal Mitchell W. Paul. eat Austin Barton, Patrick Cushing, James A. Fessenden, ite x urst, Edward Lacore, James C. Parker, William H. Wil- Sekai pes Collins, Louis Dana, William Flint, William H. jal atrick Martin, Charles H. Sinclair, Joseph E. Stone, es H. Sullivan, Henry Shepard, John N. Smith, Lucius C. Hale2 ON a formal presentation of the gun to the college took shat on the 14th of April, in the college grounds, before a a concourse of students and citizens, —Captain Frazer de- ns a the gun in behalf of the regiment, with the follow- et A dierly words of presentation : “Tn behalf of the 21st it Nig T now present this cannon, with its inscription upon rte lasting monument to the memory of those whose names asa.) hoping that you will ever preserve it in commemo- of the virtues and patriotism of the dead.” 1 Color Corporal William H. Brackett did not die of his wound until subse- quent] t 7 : Spas Patek presentation of the gun. His name should now be added to those 6 82 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. March, Rev. Dr. Vaile made the address in behalf of the trustees of the college, in response to Captain Frazer. His eloquent address contained the following passages: “ Bear to your comrades in arms our most heartfelt acknowledgments for this loud-speaking trophy of victory now intrusted to our care, and assure them that it shall be preserved to be transmitted to all coming generations of the sons of Amherst College, as a mon- ument of the heroism of those who have gone before them, and of the precious blood that has been spilled in suppressing this mad rebellion. . . . It will be sacredly preserved among the archives of this college as a monument to the heroism of the 21st Massachusetts.” [sergeant Chauncey B. Irish, of Company F, while on a mit to Newbern with two or three comrades, the day after the battle, was taken aside by a negro whom he met in the street and told by him that the Bank of Newbern, in the hasty flight from the city, had hidden a large quantity of gold coin in an old tomb. The negro said that he was the only witness to the act, and wanted some soldiers to help get possession of the treasure. Sergeant Irish and his guide went to the tomb, and found the gold, — apparently many thousand dollars in amount, — but, to the terrible disappointment and disgust of the poor negro, the sergeant posted his comrades on guard over the gold, while he notified the provost-marshal of the city, who at once took possession of the money. On the 19th of March the regiment was moved from the battle-field to a filthy rebel camp, which had been left with the tents standing in a sandy plain about a mile from New- bern. The camp had formerly been occupied by the 19th North Carolina regiment, and was named Camp Burgwyn, after their colonel. We gave it a better name, “ Camp An- drew,” and cleaned it up; but it was an unhealthy place, and, in a few weeks, we lost more men from typhoid fever than we had so far lost by the bullets of the enemy. March 24th. Miss Carrie R, Cutter, the Florence Night- ingale of the 21st, died of spotted fever on board the steamer « Northerner,” in Newbern harbor, aged nineteen years and 1862, DEATH OF MISS CUTTER. 83 Meat months. Miss Cutter, an intellectual, refined, and del- a ‘ Woman, the daughter of our surgeon, had embarked on 1e Northerner” with us at Annapolis, and had accompanied e regiment since that time. A blessing to the regiment, she — bravely and patiently endured the discomforts of the "al ed steamer, — a thousand times greater to her, the only “man on board, than to any of us, and with constant, unre- aoe devotion had added her gentle, womanly care to her at ler's wise and faithful energy in helping and nursing our Sick and wounded men. naiper body was carried to Roanoke Island and buried by witige. e of that of her admired friend, Sergeant Charles Plum- a idd, the heroic companion of John Brown, whose eyes © had closed so sadly during the battle of Roanoke Island. March 31st. Second Lieutenant Charles Coolidge, of Com- tid E, a good officer and estimable man, died of typhoid er, after a short sickness. = aan 3d. ' The War Department, infatuated by the recent Mace victories in the East and West (Fort Henry, Roanoke ies ort Donelson, Pea Ridge, and Newbern), com- "oa = terrible blunder of discontinuing the entire volun- this epee. service, by General Orders No. 33, issued on ae ay; and for more than two months, while the Union ea were melting like wax before the fire, there was no "Ing process in operation. . srt 9th. I told him that the colonel could not have known that 8 w: was under sentence of general ¢ Heap ourt-martial, and promptly in pate Pes to limbo; but he complained to the colonel, and that ‘ail my protest was released again. I then told him it secs lough as he knew very well the colonel had no more Steir y to release him than I had, as long as he was allowed thine ftp rd to escape punishment, I would treat him the I aoe the other men, and if he behaved well would:do what « Oapt to get him pardoned. To which John made answer : et ain W +l am no hypocrite; I know my duty, and tiiene. fair words ; you've done your best to let me rot in “i ioe I give you fair warning that I will take your life at his 4 rst fight, or the first good chance I get.” J laughed iis ireat, but being satisfied that he meant business gave 2 @ file-closer, who would see fair play; but there was no need of ree: . . . Mi: ‘ entire] precaution. John and his vicious intent had passed acy Y out of my mind, when they were recalled to me at : attle of Roanoke Island, as I happened to pass him with- . €ach, and felt a strong hand laid upon my shoulder, and : 1@ words, * God bless you, captain,” in John’s voice. eafter he never failed in respect and affection. There ever M : . Was a better man in active fighting service than he; 7 \ 98 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. April, and I not only felt with all the company that in him we had lost a pillar of strength, but personally sincerely mourned his death. Company C. Died of wounds: Privates William W. Dane and Edward E. Parker. Wounded: Corporal Henry Cain, thigh ; private George H. Cotton, elbow. Parker was shot in the shoulder, and died of the wound on the 6th of June, in Hygia Hospital, Fort Monroe ; Dane, a lad only sixteen years of age, was shot in the forehead, and soon died of the wound. Company G. Killed: Private Juba F. Pickering. Wounded: Corporal Harrison C. Cheney, left arm ; privates Joseph B. Brown, thigh badly crippled; George L. Cheney, foot ; Thomas Gilmartin, left ankle ; George G. Hadley, thigh badly crippled. Private Orrison Parkhurst, reported missing, fell out from ex- haustion before the fight, and getting on board one of the last transports to leave Elizabeth City, rejoined us in a short time at Newbern. Pickering was a good man, and an excellent and faithful soldier ; he was a resident of Blackstone, and left a widow and two children. He was struck in the forehead by a bullet and instantly killed. When struck he was in the act of bit. ing his cartridge to load, and was found after the battle with the end of the cartridge still between his lips. ‘ Company H. Wounded: Private Charles Phelps, face. The battle of Camden showed the rebels that their hold upon Norfolk was simply at General Burnside’s pleasure, and undoubtedly was the principal reason why they abandoned it as a military position early in May, and allowed it to pass into the hands of the Union forces, The * Norfolk Day Book” of April 21st (two days after the fight) gives the following account of the battle ;— On Saturday afternoon, about two o’clock, eight companies of the 3d Georgia regiment, under command of Colonel Wright, attacked the enemy in an open field about two miles below South Mills. The enemy’s force was estimated at from 3,500 to 4,000 men ; but not- withstanding the great odds in point of numbers against us, we suc Severe and Mand 6 in hig rep til 1869, REBEL ACCOUNTS. 99 ceeded in keeping the enemy at bay for a number of hours. Finally, Owing to the fact that our am nmunition had been exhausted, we were Compelled to fall back to South Mills, and from South Mills to the Halfway House, where we are now awaiting reinforcements. Our informant could not tell us the exact number of killed and wounded, but Says it was at first estimated to be about one hundred. Since then, the number has very much decreased, and, from last accounts, Our loss, it is thought, will not exceed fifty. The enemy’s loss is Tepresented as being very heavy, and is put down at from 800 to +900. The account of the great havoc made among the Unionists by our artillery pieces is confirmed by our informant. REBEL OFFICIAL REPORT. The only rebel official report of any of our North Carolina battles that I have been able to find is a report of the battle of Camden (or South Mills, as called by the rebels), made by Major-General Huger, commanding the Department of Nor- folk. It ig published in “ Confederate Official Reports of Bat- tles,” 1862, p. 415. I give the following extracts from it, Which are of interest, as showing the rebel force engaged in the action, and their admitted defeat. Heapquarters DEPARTMENT oF Norrork. Y, Norrork, Va., April 28, 1862, Grnrray, R. E. Ler, Commanpine, reve. General : J have received, through Brigadier-General Blanchard, “ommanding 3d brigade, the reports of Colonel A. R. Wright, Col- Snel Ferebee commanding the drafted North Carolina militia, and ‘eutenant D. A. French, who succeeded to the command of the “tery after the death of its gallant captain, McComas, Tward these reports to you at once, but there are some < Cles and omissions in them which I desire first to h and wil] therefore try to make a brief statement from to vive you and the War Department inform well-fought action... . All the forces under the com- f Colonel Wright were the 3d Regiment Georgia Volunteers : ring about 600 muskets for duty) ; some drafted militia, under ‘Olone] Ferebee, of North Carolina (Colonel Ferebee omits to state ort how many he had on duty) ; MeComas’s battery of ar- “ty, — eleven rifled pieces, and three bronze six-pounders ; and one I would liscrepan- ave corrected, these reports, ation concerning this 100 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. April, company of cavalry, — Captain Gillette’s Southampton Company. On Friday, the 18th, I had ordered forward the 32d North Carolina regiment (Colonel Brabbles) and the Ist Louisiana regiment (Col- onel Vincent’s), but they did not arrive until after the battle. After an uninteresting detailed description of the move- ments and posting of the rebel forces, prior to the appearance of General Reno’s column, General Huger describes the action as follows : — The smoke from the burning buildings and fences was rolled to- wards the enemy, thus masking the position. At fifteen minutes be- fore twelve o’clock, the front of a heavy column of the enemy was seen passing through the smoke, and Captain McComas opened a de- structive fire on them, which checked their advance for half an hour, when they again approached, under the fire of a twelve-pounder, but soon retired entirely out of sight, in considerable confusion. Up to three o’clock, thrice had the heavy columns of the enemy been beaten back by the heavy fire of Captain McComas’s artillery, and our only casualties one man woundéd and one wheel injured? At fifteen min- utes after three Pp. M. the enemy again advanced, and deployed two regiments to their right, — our left. Three regiments, after advanc- ing towards us, were driven back by the well-directed fire of Captain McComas’s artillery, and Captains Nesbitt’s and Musgrove’s compa- nies. Captain McWhirter’s fire also caused the Zouaves on our right to retire; and this attack ceased by twenty-five minutes before four.’ Our loss up to this time was very slight, while that of the enemy was _ very severe, as we could plainly see them fall, and they had raised the hospital flag on a building in rear of their line. ‘They soon ad- vanced again, two regiments ? skirting the woods on our left, and ap- proached near enough to engage the skirmishers. One company from the right was moved over, and Colonel Read ordered to send one company from the reserve. The enemy deployed in the open field, and bore down rapidly, but the heavy fire of musketry caused them to waver, and they fled back to the fence. Three regiments 1 Up to this time, the rebels had repulsed nobody, as General Reno had merely been getting his men into position, — Ep, 2 All this refers to the repulse of the 9th New York, who lost sixty-nine men in their unsuccessful charge, — Ep, 8 21st Massachusetts and 51st Pennsylvania, See Reno’s report, ante, p. 86. — Ep. 1862, BATTLE OF CAMDEN. 101 and a field-piece were in the centre, and the 9th New York regi- “pe on the right. The fire was now brisk from one end of the line © the other, and the enemy were held in check, when, just at this Moment, Captain McComas was killed by a minie ball, and his men, Who, for four hours had fought with most indomitable courage, be- came panic-stricken, and left the field, taking their pieces with them. Colonel Wright succeeded in rallying them and getting two pieces and a few men in position, and the enemy had advanced so close that ©anister was fired on them with effect, and they again fell back. T * &mmunition in the limber Porary enemy he boxes was exhausted, and during the tem- absence of Colonel Wright the artillery left the field. The en 5S a charge upon our line, but the steady fire at close dis- hie ¢ olonel, Wright estimates it at fifty yards) caused them to dived confusion, and they fell back. Taking advantage of their eae: on, Colonel Wright now fell back in good order to intrench- ; on Joy’s Creek, about two miles in his rear, and called in Wea grein Read’s and Major Lee’s commands, and there ae 3 ee who, it appears, were so badly injured that they ‘at ye: vance, but, at about eight P. M. began to retreat to their . t this time I am informed that several companies of the 82d N : A Sia th d North Carolina regiment Joined Colonel Wright, who, during © night, retired from this position to the N. W. Lock. " The loss of the 3d Georgia regiment is given as 6 killed, Wounded, and 3 prisoners. No statement is made of the ] : Ss suffered by the artillery and other troops, except inci- dental mention of the death of Captain McComas, command- hd the artillery. General Huger’s report concludes as fol- WE ¢ckig, All th i Wasa © command engaged behaved in the most gallant manner, a g firmly against overwhelming odds, until ordered to fall back “ Cur intrenchments. They maintained their position over five urs. haa? ° ‘ a and killed and disabled more of the enemy than we had in ae- Very respectfully, your obedien Ben. Huecer, Major. Soon after noon of April 22d the 21st was back in its camp near Newbern, and had no Ww fought its last ficht in North Carolina, although its servi . Hf ce there was by no means ended. 1 ye ‘ : ie The italics of this astounding st © loss, see note to General Reno’ t servant, General Commanding. atement of the Union loss are mine. For the 8 report, ante,— Ep, TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. CHAPTER VI. Aprin 24 — Juty 5, 1862. IN CAMP NEAR NEWBERN. — RELIEF OF THE 2D MARYLAND REGI- MENT. — LAST DAYS IN NORTH CAROLINA. — LIEUTENANT RICHARD- SON’S POETICAL NARRATIVE OF THE SERVICE OF THE REGIMENT. On the evening of April 24, we heard the growling of the heavy guns which had opened on Fort Macon, in Beau- fort harbor, forty miles off to the southward, and which had been besieged by General Parke’s (our old 3d) brigade for about a month. The fort surrendered on the 26th of April. Fort Macon, one of the old government forts, was a strong casemated work, mounting sixty-seven guns, and by its capt- ure the control of Beaufort harbor, which had been fre- quented by blockade runners, passed into Union hands. Gen eral Burnside was reported to have said, on receiving the news of the surrender of the fort, “ The original plan of op- erations in North Carolina is now completed.” The Burnside Expedition had indeed done all that its or- ders called for; but much more had been hoped for from it, in the possibility that, if the North Carolina people had proved to be less rebellious, our force might have been found to be sufficient to penetrate far into the interior, and, cutting the great lines of rebel communication, aid in the capture of Richmond and destruction of the grand army of the rebels. - On the 25th of April the commands of our brigadiers were expanded into divisions, Our brigade now became the 2d brigade of Reno’s Division, and consisted of the 21st Massa- chusetts, 51st New York, 51s¢ Pennsylvania, and 11th Con- necticut regiments, under the command of Colonel Edward Ferrero of the 51st New York, 1862, RELIEF OF THE SECOND MARYLAND. 103 The rebels had concentrated a force supposed to consist of about 15,000 men at a safe distance in front of Newbern, and Cur daily routine of drilling, swimming, killing snakes, and listening to the song of the mocking-birds was enlivened now and then by the news of a skirmish between detachments of the splendid 84 New York cavalry (which was constantly Scouring the country in our front), and the rebel cavalry, al- Ways resulting in favor of our troops, and also by an occa- Slonal scout of our own. On the 7th of May the regiment received twenty-three recruits from Massachusetts, the last that we got for a long time, RELIEF OF THE SECOND MARYLAND REGIMENT. On the 14th of May the 2d Maryland regiment, belong- & to our Ist brigade, passed through our camp going to- Wards Pellocksville, in a drenching rain, as part of an expe- ition consisting of four regiments of infantry and a part of the 3d New York cavalry. The object of the expedition was Said to be to cut off some sixteen hundred rebel cavalry who Were quartered about twenty miles away in the direction of trenton. The Marylanders were making a detour to gain the rebel rear, while the other troops advanced to the front. he rebels, however, became aware of the movement, and Made a sharp but unsuccessful attack upon the advanced cay- in alry of the main body, which thereupon, finding that they Were not going to catch the rebels napping, returned at once to Newbern, leaving the 2d Maryland to their fate. This very gallant regiment, belonging to General Reno’s 1st brig- ade, had been borrowed for the expedition by the general Sommanding the 1st division, during General Reno’s tem- Porary absence, and the first news that he had of the predic- @ment they were in was brought by the brave Captain Mor- Ts, of his staff, who had accom panied the regiment, and who, cluding the rebels by a detour of fifty miles on the night of the 16th and 17th, brought in word that the 2d were across Qch of the river Trent, in a region destitute of food, with 104 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. May, the whole rebel force between them and Newbern, and must soon be starved into surrender. General Reno got the news about three o’clock A. M., and indignant at the shameful abandonment of the regiment, without losing a moment came to our camp and ordered out the 21st as a relieving force. Waiting for nothing, the 21st, accompanied by General Reno, took up the march at four o'clock, followed by a wagon full of bread, beef, and coffee, About daylight a detachment of the superb 8d New York cavalry joined us and took the ad- vance. It was raining heavily, and a rapid march of eleven miles through the deep sticky mud had well-nigh exhausted the breakfastless 21st, when the welcome news was brought back to us that the rebel force was in retreat and the Mary- landers marching towards us. The 21st at once set to work to cook food and prepare coffee, and by the time the wearied, half-famished Marylanders made their appearance, had a bountiful hot breakfast ready for them, to which they did ample justice. The 2d Maryland never forgot the promptness with which the 21st had marched to their relief, and the good breakfast we gave them. Their commander voiced the gratitude of his men in the following order ; — Heapquarters 2p Maryann REGIMENT, Orrosite Newsern, N. C., May 18, 1862. We, the officers and men of the 2d Maryland regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel J. Eugene Duryée, do tender our most sincere thanks for the most kind and well-timed hospitality displayed by our comrades in arms, the officers and men of the 21st Massachusetts Volunteers, under the command of Lieutenant-Colo- nel William S. Clark, in supplying us on the 17th day of May, 1862, with an abundance of rations and hot coffee, when we were weary, foot-sore,-and almost exhausted by a wet and tedious march of over fifty miles. We beg to assure them that such kindness dis- played at such a time will be ever remembered by us with the most unceasing gratitude, and should it happen that we can ever repay it it will be the most happy event in our lives, 1862, FIGHTING THE SUTLER. 105 Henceforth let the 21st Massachusetts and the 2d Maryland regi- ments be brothers. J. Evarnr Doryfr, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding, In behalf of the regiment. FIGHTING THE SUTLER. May 24th. The sutler succeeded in bringing ‘the vengeance of the boys upon his head by inducing the paymaster to col- lect the debts due or claimed by him to be due from the men by retaining the amounts from their pay, without having first given either the men or company commanders any in- formation as to his purpose. The innovation was very dis- tasteful to the men, and many of them refused to receive their pay. In the evening the boys, having rigged up some flying artillery” of logs mounted on wheels, galloped sud- denly into position around the sutler’s tent, and opened a leavy fire upon it with brick-bats. The officers were not very quick to interfere, and the sutler, after heavy loss, sur- rendered his point. One of the most interesting events which occurred in May Was the arrival of three hundred Union prisoners of war at Newbern, on the 25th, in exchange for rebels captured at °anoke Island, It was very pleasant to see some of the fruits of our victory. The prisoners had bone rings to sell, but our boys soon flooded the market with a forged article. May 27th. We received the very gratifying news that our Colonel Morse had been discharged from the army by order of the Secretary of War. ittle of Special interest oceurred during the remainder of Our Stay in North Carolina. n the 20th of June there was a grand review of all the Ope in Newhern end vicinity on the occasion of the pres- entation of a magnificent sword which had been voted to €neral Burnside by the Legislature of Rhode Island. int, 2tmy had been preparing for some time for a march Nto f 106 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT, July, States, and intercept their retreat when driven from Rich- mond, and thus our movements were largely dependent on the success of General McClellan’s operations in Virginia. About the end of June reports began to arrive of great vic- tories for the Union arms in front of Richmond, and every one looked for an early termination of the war. On the 30th of June orders were issued for our immediate movement by land into the interior of the State. On the 1st of July we received orders to move on the following day; but as we were ordered to put our baggage at once on a schooner, it was evi- dent that things had taken a new turn. The only thing that was somewhere by water. Most of us thought that we were going to attack the over three months, we had accumulated a great many camp comforts, such as mattresses, tables, chairs, Dutch ovens, ete., and wagon load after wagon load left our camp without mak- ing any apparent impression. The schooner assigned to the 21st’s baggage began to fill up, when General Ferrero, on his attention being attracted to our proceedings, ordered a close inspection and vigorous throwing overboard of every- thing but strictly military baggage, — and chairs, mattresses, tables, and Dutch ovens went into the river. Both sides were right. It was our duty to look out for our own com- fort as far as possible, and the general’s daty not to allow mbarrassed by transporting unneces- sary articles. On the 2d of July we left the camp, which had become almost a home to us, for an unknown destination, and, as we formed line for the march, crowds of negroes sehold goods which we had been enjoy- i of our companies went on and two upon the schooner * Far- rington.” We were towed 1862, LEAVING NEWBERN. 107 raging near Richmond ; and though we were proud that the 21st was the only Massachusetts regiment among the 7,000 men who were going to those fields of fame, we could not Part from North Carolina without regret, and had hoped to See Something of the interior of the country. Our service there had been romantic and honorable, and sixty of our com- radeg slept in her soil. Although Generals Burnside and Reno were. going with us, take it all together we felt rather homesick in our crowded quarters that night. On the 3d we Were towed down the river by the steamer * Farren,” and arrived on the old ground at Hatteras about five P.M. Soon after anchoring we were informed that a message had been Sent from Fortress Monroe, via the Dismal Swamp Canal @nd Roanoke Island, that Richmond had fallen, and we were Not needed there. McClellan had allowed the rebels to turn tis right, and swinging his left into Richmond had captured the city and routed the rebel army. We were, therefore, to return to Newbern, and strike at once with our whole force into the interior to cut the lines of rebel retreat. We had a happy and lively night. Our anchors were raised, and we Were taken in tow early the next morning, and when, after Some little doubt as to what direction we were heading for, We finally reéntered the Neuse, we cheered again and again f -*°r the good news which had lasted over night. We arrived off Newbern just at sunset, while the forts and gun-boats Were firing a Fourth of J uly national salute. Here we re- Ceived the sad news that instead of a victory McClellan had Suffered a crushing defeat, and been driven away from Rich- "ond. This last information came through rebel sources, and Was not fully credited, but the definite good news of the “ening - before: had “bane shown to be entirely unfounded. he whole matter being shrouded in mystery and doubt, our destination was equally uncertain, and we were kept on board the Schooner that night. The next morning we left the trans- Ports about ten o'clock and returned to the place of our old “amp, — finding it bare and Stripped. As it did not seem Probable that we should remain there long enough to make it 108 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. July, worth while to fit it up again, we made no effort to restore its former comforts. In the afternoon we received orders to reémbark on the schooners in the morning and proceed to Virginia. Reliable information had now been received of the result of the fighting in Virginia, and we learned with sorrow that the gallant and sturdy Army of the Potomac had been forced to withdraw from the immediate siege of Richmond, and now occupied a new position at Harrison’s Landing on the James River, eighteen miles below the city.) This really last night in North Carolina was an unsettled one in the bivouacs of the dozen regiments who had been em- barked and disembarked and were about to reémbark. There was very little sleeping done; great camp-fires were burning in the noisy camps, and the men of the different regiments were fraternizing around them, singing songs, and talking over North Carolina reminiscences and Virginia chances and expectations, By the kindness of Lieutenant Richardson (our regimental poet), Iam enabled to close my narrative of our campaign in North Carolina with this poem, which is inserted (nearly entire) on the request of several of our comrades, 1 The losses in the memorable “Seven days’ fight,” as it is commonly called, which raged during th (June 26th to July 1), leadership, that, whethe loss was smaller than t illustrate a fortunate peculiarity of General McClellan’ t his army fought on the advance or retreat, as a rule ie hat of the enemy. ‘The official returns of casualties in these battles give the rebel loss as killed 2,820, wounded 14,011, missing 752; while the Union loss was, killed 1,582, wounded 7,709, missing 5,978. : Lee (having by a skillfyl feint on Washington, scared the President into di- verting McDowell’s Corps from a position securing McClellan’s exposed flank (the right), had fully expected to destroy the Army of the Potomac; and his official report (published in Reb. Rec., vol. 9), is full of admissions and proofs of the wisdom of McClellan’s Seneralship and the obstinate courage of the Army of the Potomac. This was the last serious ficht; ¢ and General Lee, on the adopti of is forced change of base from the York to the James River Tin ou And LIEUTENANT RICHARDSON’S POEM. 109 POEM BY LIEUTENANT WILLIAM &E, RICHARDSON, (Last of the 33d Massachusetts Volunteers, but until the Summer of 1862 a member of the *Lst,) delivered at or ur Reunion at Wi orcester, February 8, 1867. The sun of August bri ght was shining, gayly waved the banners high, usic’s cadence swelling echoed to the cloudless sky, arched forth from old Camp Lincoln, nestled in the Bay State’s e legion she had summoned, of a nation’s strength a part, yy aloft those silken banners told of Nation, told of State, nd ma 4 New one waved among them, woman’s gift, their fitting mate. lee Ton cheer reéchoed loudly, tear on tear coursed down each — cheek ; °man’s eye with moistened sweetness told the thoughts tongue dared not speak ! An “mid Prayers and farewells spoken, just as sunset closed the day, Southwara, where our strength was needed, steamed the iron-horse W his way. hile each Stassy bank was crowded, and each breeze came wafted With i. Vith the echoes and the cheering of a smiling waving throng: Ti the twinkling stars shone brightly, and the pale moon’s silver ray Sted where the bones of Uncas watch the Thames’ ocean bay. €N across the girded waters, past Long Island’s billowy strand, Safely through the Hell-gate maelstrom, on New Jersey’s shore we Stand, Re gired and worn, yet anxious ever, onward o’er historic XWward, Ouward pushed the legion, headed fy gering ‘neath the smile of beauty, fair- soil, r the distant goal. Burlington, whose daughters Wreatheg our weary ones with comforts, rare, T thankful hearts reéchoed ach one with memory’s name, and with peaches ripe and With one grateful glad acclaim, Pencil wrote down Burlington's fair 110 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Night closed ’round, yet blessings never stayed their hand nor closed D> the door; Philadelphia, open-hearted, proved their brothers’ love once more: Tables crowded down with treasures, such as hungry men would crave, These unstinted without measure to our Union soldiers gave. Why on Massachusetts soldiers are these loving bounties piled ? There I asked these words of woman, and her generous tongue re- plied : Bunker Hill is not forgotten, nor is Plymouth’s pilgrim shore, And one other word she whispered, and in tears said, Baltimore. Blessings rest on Philadelphia, open hand and open door, And her bounty without measure we ll remember evermore. Onward to a sister city, yet a sister but in name ; Bay State blood had stained her pavements, and had wreathed around her shame. . ‘a . . ’ ioh . Yet, with “ Yankee Doodle” sounding, and our nation’s banner high, Firm and proud we trod those pavements where was heard the martyr’s cry, : On her grassy hill o’erlooking Ches’peake’s broad and noble bay, While beneath us clung the city, and before McHenry lay. : Gazing on its ancient ramparts memory joined with history’s lore, And, on fancy’s wings returning, we could see the time ouce more When the gallant Key, a prisoner, stretched his patriot eyes to view If the starry banner floated o’er McHenry’s dauntless crew; And that hoped-for sight inspiring from his pen this treasure drew: “°T is the Star-Spangled Banner ; oh, long may it wave O’er the land of the free : and the home of the brave.” Soon the orders came for marching, and we left the grassy park ; No one knew our destination, all could guess, yet all was dark. Who'll forget that night of travel, tedious, crowded, dark, and cool, Switching part off at the Junction, and the rest at Naval School. How fond memory paints the picture which that naval school re- Months of ease and festive pleasure in those well-remembered halls: And the walls did not restrain us; bliss beyond for us did wait; Boarding at the widow Walch’s, or smiling at Brace Brewer's gate. Up and down on Picket duty, where the Elkridge Railroad — Nightly passing o’er each Cross-road, daily overhauling man ; From that lower water station to the switch at Savington, LIEUTENANT RICHA RDSON’S POEM. 111 by the jolly miller’s reached the noted Passing ) getting milk of Anderson, Till we Junction, where our Magei had com- pson’s Q. M. fare. ny a rich court-martial case, colonel’s son, his Harry, he must still retain his place : Was his duty, as our colonel, still to keep his pet lambs there ; ot if duty called (he told us), his brave heart our toils should Share, And our th by S : ‘ ; ay Within our camp, Commanding, came on one of lordly mien ; artial was that chieftain’s bearing, where that bandit hat was seen, Victory long had been denied us, and our fl 7; shame, 1 : si I €ach voice once more reéchoed 4g was drooped with ' head, each inch a soldier, Maggi in command once n .. + tongue as sharp and Cutting as the sabre whicl Ith him Clark, of classic Amherst, leading a. at Sumter’s summons to a thr gray hair streaming, stood as » 4s his chief adviser, bore the lancet side marched our brave chaplain, e atching wy ball. ame A, with Hawkes as ca too ; nore, 1 he wore, S our second chief, eatened land’s relief. Surgeon on the line; and quinine, ager, earnest for us all, ith the dying soldier, or blessing rebg with musket 'y with hig arren First C ptain, backed by Brooks and Davis Wed close by B with Walcott, with Wells W. £N came On the tallest captain, Rich ~8rlow and the little Kelton, every inc “Seip led on D, whose rifles were our onest Barker, too, with Heyw illard, a true blue. ardson commanding (, h a soldier he! flank protecting guns ; ard, led on Fitchburg’s noble sons. 112 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Then came E with Pelham Bradford, Whittemore and Hovey there; F, with Rogers and La Forest; G was under Taylor’s care. Rice with H, and Frazer with him; I in Richardson’s command ; Stearns his second, while friend Shumway had the signal duty larned. Last to name of brave commanders, moving on the unknown way, Washburn, Parkhurst, Williams also, close the list with gallant K. Who shall paint our embarkation as we left the naval post, And on board the waiting steamer headed for the Southern coast ? Some confused and some confusion, as the “ Northerner” we gain, Some, unchecked by patriot spirit, gave another spirit rein. Onward sped the fleet, and onward, till it passed those granite walls, Where Monroe’s grim iron shadow o’er the rebel landmark falls. Southward still our cotirse was passing, by the headlands of that State, Last to leave our glorious Union, last to pass the traitor’s gate. Here we plunged through angry billows, howling winds, and mount- ain waves, Sad with ocean’s desolation and the fear of watery graves, Till beneath the cliff at anchor, where the breakers chilled our sight, Who'll forget the dreary picture of that dark tempestuous night ? PASSAGE OF HATTERAS INLET. All night the ocean wave was lashed By stormy Neptune’s foaming flail ; All night the threatening storm-king rode Triumphant on the whistling gale. Each heart at moments Northward turned, And thought of loved ones far behind; While slowly dragged the tedious hours And fiercer howled the raging wind. At length along the waking East We caught day’s red’ning welcome streak, And saw our banner floating still In triumph from our topmast peak. Another hour, and we had passed Through danger’s dark and yawning den, And loud and long repeated cheers Burst from the hearts of thankful men. LIEUTENANT RICHARDSON’S POEM. 118 Weeks here passed, weeks of discomfort, shipwrecks, storms, and dismal wails, For the storm-king rode triumphant on the fury of the gales. €ath here spread with icy finger his dark pall around our braves : Here Le Barnes and Sweet were buried ’neath the Inlet’s dismal waves ; Here, too, Houghton died, forbidden e’en to taste of victory’s smile, sai in lone repose there sleeping, guards the beach of that lone isle. et, though nature seemed to darken, and the elements conspire, 4 the dauntless breast of Burnside glowed undimmed the patriot fire. Glad the morning lent her splendor, beaming hope’s inspiring star, When mid Hail Columbia’s measures we passed the Swash’s sandy i Li epee Northward, onward on our mission, headed for the rebel isle, Steamed the gallant fleet of Burnside, led by his inspiring smile. t length we saw the rebel banner, saw the flouting flag of sin, And bee booming guns of Goldsborough shook the ocean with their in, a Signal from the flag-ship streaming told to each impatient one at the moment now was dawning, the eventful hour had come. BATTLE OF ROANOKE ISLAND. With deaf’ning cheers the boats push off, All eager for the fight ; The Twenty-first are promised now A chance to strike for right. The shell are bursting in the air, The booming cannon roar, And Goldsborough’s proclamations fly From every ten-inch bore. The colonel, major, privates, all Crowd in the waiting barge ; There are the captains with their men, And colonel’s little George. The surgeons with their litters go, And instruments strung o’er; 8 114 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Pray God they ’Il have no use for them Upon the bristling shore. They land upon the hostile beach, Beneath the “ Picket’s” guns; Ten thousand Massachusetts hearts Pray for their valiant sons. A night of cold and drizzling rain, — Up to their knees in mire; Yet nature’s obstacles do but Those noble men inspire. With morning’s dawn they onward move, In battle’s firm array ; Each heart a moment Northward turns, And silently they pray. Perchance for home, perchance for friends, Perchance for loved ones dear ; Perchance adown the flushing cheek There steals a brave man’s tear. The combat opens, —“ Steady, men, Strike for your homes and right!” These Northern mudsills, long despised, Shall teach you they can fight. Our brave men fall: “Close up the ranks!” The order is obeyed, The wounded men are carried-off, — The rest are not dismayed. Down goes brave Foster in the fight, *Mid mud and watery fen ; “Fear not!” we hear our colonel call ; “I will command your men!” Before us stands a yawning hell, That belches iron hail; LIEUTENANT RICHARDSON’S POEM. Shall Massachusetts Twenty-first, Before that monster quail ? “No!” comes the answer from each heart ; Each rifle shot says no. They onward spring, each anxious for A grapple with the foe. “ Prepare to charge!” ’T is Reno’s voice ; Each bayonet is hung ; “ And let a thousand steel breastpins On yonder fort be flung !” Up come the gallant men of D, Now fiercer, one and all; Each lip compressed would seem to say, Avenge our captain’s fall! Another falls, and Hodgman’s name Is numbered with the slain 3 Now Battles falls, yet on they move, And charge the fort again. Onward comes C, and Henry falls, And Sargent by his side ; Their names belong to history now, In Freedom’s cause they died. Brave Hannan falls, and Irish blood Baptizes Roanoke’s sands, His comrades launch a deadly fire With their death-dealing hands, ‘ They fall at right, they fall at left, Yet onward press our men, ’T is fearful odds they Struggle with In this deep miry fen, They run! Oh, hear the shouts ascend As B and G rush in; 115 116 1 Captain Bradford’s company (E) led the chase and fired the last shots in ithe battle. The surrender was made through First Lieutenant Hovey, of that ¢ J pany. — ED. TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. See Maggi seize the floating sheet, The blazon flag of sin! They cheer, yet onward run the foe, And onward chase our bands, Until a flag of truce is placed In Captain Bradford’s hands.* One word we hear our general speak, ’T is “ Unconditional !” that word, And Wise’s legions stack their guns Before “ Abe Lincoln’s horde.” Once more the Stars and Stripes float o’er Each point of Roanoke’s lands, The stolen guns once more are in Their rightful owners’ hands. Then shout, and let your echoes ring Along Atlantic’s shore, Till rebels and their flags pollute Columbia’s land no more. Then cheer till Massachusetts wakes With victory on her brow ; She little dreams the Twenty-first, That ’s been unknown till now, Has struck a chord whose echoing ring Shall thrill the Union’s heart ; Then honest Andrew’s voice shall say, “T knew them from the start. “They came from where the Fifteenth came, They fought where glory led, Besides, I knew a fighting man Was fighting at their head.” f ii LIEUTENANT RICHARDSON’S POEM. 117 Then let each voice again repeat, Each voice another cheer, But let each eye for those who fell Drop one remembering tear. As proud a title to their names As tongue of man e’er spoke Will ever cling to our true men Who fell at Roanoke. Here u H pon this sandy island changes many did we share ; ? ay bene have stayed our leader parted with his comrades there. So the hour when Maggi left us, — yet ’t was sadder far for him : ay by him this valiant legion tasted glory’s goblet’s brim ; ae yet would drink in deeper, they would drain the nectar own; Ww : hile they trod the path he taught them, Maggi spurned a glorious H crown. Whit too, Parson Parkhurst vanished, ne’er was seen by us again, Me beside him Williams traveled; Rogers flanked the parting twain. too, Washburn smiled and parted; he, while passion seized on him, da cause he loved to honor by a moment’s thoughtless whim ; made of Hovey captain, and gave Davis one more bar, them a rank commanding in the coming strife of war. » too, since Rice was major, wore another glittering one: irst ]j ; St lieutenants made from seconds basked in promotion’s noonday sun, Here, Staine Yet it Giving Frazer. Se : Nig here were made lieutenants ; Sanderson and Bemis tried, c Ch With, Clark, and Wheeler sported a long rapier by their side ; ytd Coolidge, too, and Aldrich wore the ensign of command, & proof that merit here led promotion hand in hand. F om the battle-field were gathered, from the spot they fell and Th died, © bodies of our fallen comrades, and they sleep now side by side. 118 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. LIEUTENANT RICHARDSON’S POEM. Death our ranks was daily thinning, our wounded fast were passing Step after step advanced with measured tread, o’er Step after step we nearer gain the foe; From their beds of pain and anguish to another happier shore. Our brave men fall, ee Here with brave Monteuil buried Manning sleeps in deathless Across the railroad track by Reno led, fame, We nailed our banner to the brick-yard shed, From an hero race descending, worthy of their race and name. And proudly formed, inside the rebel den, Here, too, Norcross, here, too, Mathews, here, too, Leonard suf- Rushed down their works, — two hundred noble men. fered, died, — Before our charge the foe in terror runs, In our regimental garden sleep those lost ones side by side. Till Clark in triumph straddles one their guns: PE ON eh ee ee? Wee oT aes ae When, lo! from yonder wood the mists arise, In peace sieep on ye martyrs slain, And thrice a thousand rebels greet our eyes. In freedom’s noble cause ye fell ; Appalling sight, —no succor comes to aid ; There is a land where angels dwell, Their muskets glitter in the forest’s shade; Where friendships join brave hearts again. In vain John Dunn and Walcott seek to throw The cannon Clark had straddled, on the foe. Too late, too late, ’t is death to longer stay ; As they rushed in, so must they rush away ; THE BATTLE OF NEWBERN. A month here passed upon the island when the summons came once more, And o’er the parapet, through ditch and fen, And our fleet steamed down the water, headed for the Neuse’s They change position, those two hundred men ! shore. Yet short the triumph that the rebels won ; Leftward the balance of our men come on, And backward fly they to their waiting shade, Appalled at sight of so much Yankee blade ; The morning dawns along the Neuse’s shore, In arms it finds the Twenty-first once more ; Its ranks now lessened by its numbers slain, In Union’s cause it sought the field again. No sun in splendor lent its welcome ray, A misty vapor hid the god of day ; Its curtain lifted not in air again Till victory’s banner lit the gory plain. In solid phalanx through the woody glen We seek to find those North Carolina men, Who, hid in brick-yards, pits, and muddy banks, Hurled hissing iron on our steady ranks ; Along our line their deadly missiles fall ; A sheet of fire springs from a living wall. The cannon’s thunder and the rifle’s crack In vain assail the freemen’s onward track. From yonder fort which flanks the traitors’ line, Westward for miles the glittering muskets shine. Yet in the face of all, by Reno led, While Frazer, with a soldier’s noble vim, Brings in as prisoners those who captured him. The field is won, but as our shouts arise, One weltering form attracts our saddened eyes ; Each comrade weeping as his eye discerns The senseless corpse of our loved Frazar Stearns. Not more to him than all who nobly fell, Heroic hearts who served their country well ; To each a nation’s willing hands shall raise A shaft, to tell their noble sacrifice ; And their proud State in times not distant far Shall send her garnerers to the field of war, And bear those ashes home she loved to trust, To blend for aye with her historic dust. . . . . . . 4 ‘ é 1 20 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. The battle o’er, we view those scenes anew ’ And wondering, gaze on what brave men can do; For had the rebels in the conflict fought As freemen fighting for their country ought, Sad were the hour we met them in the fight, And sadder still the morning's gory sight. The fight was o’er, and on our banner shone A second name, to tell of victory won. My task is o’er with your first victory won. The Isle of Roanoke heard your signal gun ; But ere the bloody strife was o’er, Upon its folds thy banner bore A list of names of bright renown Were fit to deck a conqueror’s crown, Attest it, Newbern ; in thy woody deep New England’s heroes, crowned with laurel, sleep. On Camden’s field, — that long and dreary night, — The march, the rain, the bivouac, the fight, And all those fields now rich with sacred dust Have felt the footsteps of the Twenty-first. Bull Run reéchoed with thy battle call ; And dread Chantilly saw thy brave men fall ; Antietam’s bloody field recalls that strife When dark South Mountain drank brave Reno’s life. The heights of Fredericksburg recall that scene Of death and carnage o’er her hills so green, Till in the West Kentucky needed thee To check the waning of her loyalty: And round our banner firm and free, Clung the true men of Tennessee. They welcomed on the Bay State banner there, With glad acclaim, that thrilled their mountain air, Till Knoxville’s siege evinced the Burnside sway, And Longstreet stole discomfited away. Once more the East recalled thee to her ways, To join the comrades of thine earlier days ; Once more with them on war’s sad path to go, To end the strife with one tremendous blow. LIEUTENANT RICHARDSON’S POEM. 121 Our leader armed and plumed with fate’s decree, To wrest the sceptre from the traitor Lee. He stood as freedom’s noble, grand bequest, Victorious Grant, the Conqueror of the West. “Then shook the hills with thunder riven, Then rushed the steeds to battle driven,” As through that wilderness of strife Contending armies fought for life. It was their last great effort made, "T was hope’s forlorn defeated raid. Lessening their numbers day by day, Closer our armies pressed that way ; North, East, and West, with threatening show Our forces closing round the foe, While on each Southern breeze would come The distant roll of Sherman’s drum. Though baffled oft, yet not dismayed with doubt, Upon that line our general fought it out, Till Richmond felt the genius of his power, And foul rebellion’s bloody reign was o’er. Thy work was done ; — thy last grand march was home; Thy banners rest beneath the State’s proud dome; And all assembled here to-night Recall the past,— the march, the fight, Our missing loved ones: memory aye will dwell On those our comrades who in battle fell ; Our brothers lost ; we miss them here; accounted for each one, ey sleep the sleep that wakes no more; their work on earth is done, ; Oh keep the cause for which they died, — your country, freedom right; Embalm their memories year by year as thus you do to-night ; int ‘tis their monument we build on this our festive day ; 'S our reunion with the lost, ’t is our memorial lay. As brothers we must man those walls to storm whose breach they died. g is on the ramparts now; see it victorious ride. ch one pledge himself anew, and say this task is mine, yon land we form once more our regimental line. Our fig Let eq Ti in 122 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. July, CHAPTER VII. JuLY 6— Aveusr 16, 1862. LEAVING NORTH CAROLINA. — ARRIVAL AT NEWPORT NEWS. — NEW- PORT NEWS TO FREDERICKSBURG. — FREDERICKSBURG TO THE RAP- IDAN. — GENERAL POPE’S ARMY OF VIRGINIA. We left our last camp in North Carolina at sunrise on be 6th of July, 1862, and reémbarked on the schooners “ Scout and ‘* Farrington: ” dropping down the Neuse, we anchored near Hatteras at midnight. On the 7th we found that our old enemy, the Swash, was still there, and worse than ever, for even our schooners made several vain attempts to get over it; finally, the men were all taken off them, going on board General Reno’s boat, the “ Highland Light,” and they were got over at two o'clock Pp. M.; at half-past three we passed through the Inlet, and were towed out to sea. After a pleasant trip in beautiful weather, we came to an- chor off Fortress Monroe, at two o’clock in the afternoon of the 8th, among a crowd of vessels loaded with troops. We remained at anchor off the fortress until late in the afternoon of the 9th, when we ran up to Newport News, and landed. As we approached the pier where we landed, wé passed close to the sunken wreck of the sloop of war ** Cum- berland,” lying in water fifty feet deep, with her masts stand- ing out, as she had sunk on the 9th of March, the coffin of two hundred of her men, with her flag at the gaff, fighting until her guns were under water in her ever glorious conflict with the iron-clad “ Merrimac.” It was just six months before t0 a day that we had first seen the majestic war-ship at Fortres§ Monroe, on our arrival from Annapolis. Then she was simply mighty and grand; now her shattered wreck was a sublime 1862, AT NEWPORT NEWS. 123 monument to the most desperate and devoted heroism of the War. The glory of that fight should not be left to written and ral tradition only; a massive and imperishable monument Should tower high above the water where she sank, in com- Memoration of the noble sacrifice there offered up for country and liberty, and to teach future generations the difference in nor between a weak and puny defense like that of Fort Sumter, by Major Anderson, and the never-surrender defiant eroism of Lieutenant Morris, the commander of the Cum- berlang.” “Ho! brave hearts that went down in the seas, Ye are at rest in the troubled stream. Ho! brave land! with hearts like these, Thy flag, that is rent in twain, Shall be one again, And without a seam.” H. W. Loneretrow. Passing the first night in Newport News in some dirty tracks, on the 10th of July we pitched our tents with the rest of the army from North Carolina, on a broad plateau With a heavy wood in the rear, admirably adapted for camp- ing Purposes ; and remained there throughout the month, Without anything occurring of special interest. As we fell in With other officers and troops in our visits to Fort Monroe and elsewhere, we were much pleased to find in what high Tegard General Burnside’s men were held by their brother Soldiers in Virginia. uring the month, our force grew into an army of thirteen thousand hardy well-drilled veterans, by the arrival of Gen- *ral Parke’g troops from North Carolina, and General Stevens 4nd his gallant men from South Carolina; and we felt that We haq become a power in the centre of grand operations. n the 22d of July we were organized as the 9th Army GaP in three divisions, under the command respectively of €nerals Reno, Parke, and Stevens, the whole under com- Mand of General Burnside. Our duties at Newport News 124 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, consisted only of drilling and target shooting, with many a splendid swim in the sparkling water of Chesapeake Bay, in off-duty hours; and we were well fed, healthy, and happy. So far, the troops under General Burnside’s command had known nothing of the accursed jealousy towards brother sol- diers which was rampant in Virginia; like a happy family, a spirit of mutual confidence and concord had prevailed among them, and generally a gratifying cordiality, and even affection existed between officers and men; all owing to the magnani- mous and open-hearted spirit with which our general had ad- ministered his command. We were soon to see, and to feel some of the bitter fruits of nearness to Washington and army jealousy ; of hot heads, fitted for action only in subordinate positions, taken into confidential counsel in high places ; end- ing in bombastical orders, and bombastical commanders, and support in time of need grudgingly given to fellow-soldiers in the same great cause, or traitorously withheld. In it all, the old 9th Corps never forgot its early patriotic unity, never hesitated a moment to give their brother soldiers a whole-— hearted strong support, and never failed to stand by the com- mander of the army, whoever he might be. On the 1st of August, we received orders to cook three days’ rations, and be ready to move in the morning. August 2d. The corps went on board ship, the 21st em- barking on the steamers “ Nantasket ” and “ Highland Light,” in the middle of the afternoon. We remained close by the pier until nightfall, when we ran down to Fort Monroe. While lying off Newport News, a drunken private in my company; named George Warriner, created some excitement by re- peatedly jumping overboard and trying to swim ashore; as he enjoyed it, and the other men also enjoyed the fun of res- cuing him, he was allowed to serve as a school of instruction in the art of handling a drowning man to his heart’s content: his rescue was perhaps unfortunate, as he afterwards deserted _ in the face of the enemy. We left Fort Monroe before daylight on the morning of the 3d of August, and running up the Potomac River, anchored 1862, NEWPORT NEWS TO FREDERICKSBURG. 125 off Mathias Point at dark. During the evening the men were full of fun, and an occasional song or psalm was sung after taps: Tim. D of Company B, who was providentially Sifted in the use of language tending to make a row, tried in Vain to disturb the equanimity of Company A, who were the champion psalm-singers that evening, by calling out, so that all on board could hear him: “* Company A can sing their Psalms, but by T never saw more than eight of them on the battle-field.” Tim. was disappointed in the effect of his Temark, for Company A, as they could well afford to do, Merely laughed with the rest of us at the barefaced and gro- tesque malignity with which he had libeled the fair name and fame of that gallant company. Leaving our anchorage at daylight on the 4th, we reached the dock at Acquia Creek at half-past ten A. M., and at once Song on board the cars, ran up to within about a mile of the city of Fredericksburg by rail and went into camp, where we Temained until the 12th of August, the 9th Corps relieving ““neral King’s Division of McDowell’s Corps that had pre- Viously been stationed near Fredericksburg. On the 5th of August we were paid for May and June. This day we were also gratified by seeing in the newspapers the President’s call for three hundred thousand more volunteers. The city of Fredericksburg was at this time under a strict embargo upon intercourse with the outside world. The citi- Zens had abused the privilege of free ingress and egress, and of bringing in clothing and provisions, which had been at first ®ecorded them, by carrying information and supplies within the rebe] lines. The Union general commanding, determined to break their rebellious spirit if possible, thereupon gave no- tice that after a certain day no man or thing should be allowed © go into or out of the city until the citizens elected a city Sovernment, the members of which would take an oath of ale “Slance to the United States. The citizens remained defiant, 4nd the embargo went on; it had been on for several days whe on the 6th of August, I with some difficulty obtained Pass to go to the Adams’ xpress office in the city to look for 126 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, a missing express package from home. Once inside the beau- tiful and aristocratic old city, finding that my express package had been confiscated because it contained a bottle of brandy (for which barbarous outrage on the part of the provost mar- shal I never forgave him), I spent the afternoon walking about the streets, and ended up with a supper of pork and hard bread at the principal hotel. Milk and fresh meat had become only memories ; but the bitter spirits of the citizens were sup- ported by assurances of speedy rebel relief, and they remained firm in their disloyalty ; only very old men, and sad scowling women dressed in black, were to be seen in the gloomy, silent city, and it was a relief to return to the life and vigor of our camp. As I personally admired the obstinacy with which the old men and women were standing by sons, brothers, and hus- bands in the rebel army, I was pleased afterwards to hear that this somewhat barbarous attempt to force the profession of a sham loyalty was an utter failure. August 12. General Reno’s (second) Division of the 9th Corps, consisting of the 21st Massachusetts, 51st New York, 51st Pennsylvania, 48th Pennsylvania, 2d Maryland, and 6th New Hampshire regiments of infantry, and two batteries, left the vicinity of Fredericksburg to report to General Pope on the Rapidan ; to-be speedily followed by our first division ut- der General Stevens, consisting of six regiments of infantry (79th and 46th New York, 28th Massachusetts, 8th Michi- gan, 50th, and 100th Pennsylvania), and Benjamin’s battery (E, Second Artillery).! We made our start, happy and en- thusiastic, at seven o'clock Pp. M., with knapsacks lightly packed, and without tents or other baggage. There was # glorious full moon; we had more confidence in General Ren? as a fighting man than in any other officer in the whole army; and knowing nothing about General Pope except what we saW in the newspapers of his exploits in the West, we were evel glad that we were going to make a campaign under him. W@ 1 General Burnside and our 3q Division did not take part in the campaign der General Pope, but remained at Fredericksburg until the 4th of September when they proceeded to Washington, —Ep, I RE WAS 1862, FREDERICKSBURG TO THE RAPIDAN. 127 needed all our life and enthusiasm to carry us through that ras Soon after starting the road became narrow and full Ps Oles, and blocked by wagons ; and still we stood waiting the road, or stumbled sleepily and wearily on at a snail’s Pace till] daylight came again. At last, at four o’clock A. M. h, along halt was ordered, and this ridiculous march, we had elbowed a wagon train all night and made @n advance of less than eight miles in nine hours, was over. © resumed our march at eight o’clock and marched till noon, When we rested till half-past two ; then, resuming our march, sg traversed a beautiful country, coming in sight of the Blue foo late in the afternoon, and at seven o’clock bivouacked te the night in a dry open field fragrant with mint and pen- oe At the end of our twenty-four hours we found that PE ei made the respectable day’s march of twenty-five miles, Were then about five miles from Bealton, a station on the "ange and Alexandria Railroad. August 14th. After a breakfast on little or nothing, we Spine on to Bealton, arriving there at half-past nine; here "eye Were issued, and we rested till two o’clock, when we obi the cars and arrived at Culpeper Court House at four ty ock that afternoon. At Bealton we had first heard of and oe over General Banks’s “ splendid victory ” over Jack- is at Cedar (or Slaughter) Mountain on the 9th instant; ies We came to the conclusion that it was a dreadful kind of fu” when on our arrival at Culpeper we found the houses ane of wounded Union troops, and heard the unreserved ad- ran Siongs of the troops engaged that General Banks’s gallant nat unaided in the desperate battle, had been driven back $ 1 frightful loss. We marched through the village with our Ne band in full play, all glorying in our splendid drill and yet unbroken strength, and went into bivouac two or three — to the south of Culpeper Court House, and about the Cine distance to the eastward of the late battle-field, which it had now abandoned before the powerful army under Nia Pope’s immediate command which had gathered in hea pont. Being without tents, we did not fail to notice @ YY rain which poured upon us during the night. 128 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, August 15th. We moved forward at three o’clock in the afternoon, and crossing Cedar Run, after a march of about six miles, went into bivouac near the Rapidan, in front of Clark’s Mountain, and some two miles from Raccoon Ford,— a place famous in our Revolutionary history as the ford by which the French army under the Marquis de Lafayette, retreating be- fore the forces of Lord Cornwallis, crossed the Rapidan and effected a junction with reinforcements under General Wayne. We now considered ourselves as part of General Pope’s army, —the “Army of Virginia,”— and as government rations were short, and General Pope’s order instructing the men to live off the enemy’s country was construed by his troops gen- erally as legalizing private pillage, our men were no exception to the rule, and probably had their full share of chickens, sheep, and green corn; for example, out of a flock of sheep captured by the brigade, my company had thirteen for their share. Those few days of legalized rapine did more to demor- alize and weaken the army than an average unsuccessful cam- paign. Bombastic orders from headquarters, full of self-glori- fication and military blasphemy, as Jomini calls that sort of stuff, were read at our dress parades; and with Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Longstreet in our front, we soon began to wish that we had somebody besides General Pope at our head. General Reno, indignant at the plundering which was ruining the discipline of the army, finally gave notice that the first man in his command who stole even an ear of green corn should be shot; but by that time the surrounding country had been pretty thoroughly cleaned out and plenty of rations had come up. : On the night of the 16th the rebels were busy with their signal-lights on almost every hill in sight across the Rapidan- They seemed to be only aping our signal corps, but sabseqiaay events tended to show that they were attending to business 1862. GENERAL POPE’S ASSUMPTION OF COMMAND. 129 Wasuincton, Monpay, July 14, 1862. ry 0 THE OrFicers anp SoLprers or THE ARMY OF VIRGINIA. h: lave assumed comm “arning your where paring you for Which y and of this army. I have spent two weeks in abouts, your condition, and your wants; in pre- active operations, and in placing you in positions from : ou can act promptly and to the purpose. the Rey come to you from the West, where we have always seen acks of our enemies — from an army whose business it has been € adversary, and to beat him when found, whose policy has ck and not defense. One instance has the enemy been able to place our western a defensive attitude. I presume that I have been called irsue the same system, and to lead you against the enemy. Purpose to do so, and that speedily. aM sure you long for an Opportunity to win the distinction you of achieving; that opportunity I shall endeavor to give been atta In but armies in here to pe tis my whiegnnti, T desire you to dismiss from your minds certain phrases &m sorry to find much in vogue amongst you. Nea constantly of taking strong positions and holding them ; of retreat, and of bases of supplies. Let us diseard such ideas. fro he Strongest position a soldier should desire to occupy is one ™ which he can most easily advance against the enemy. Siig US study the probable lines of retreat of our opponents, and and ere Own to take care of themselves. Let us look before us and os behind. Success and glory are in the advance. Disaster ame lurk in the rear. Se US act on this understanding, and it is safe to predict th aa Shall be inscribed with many a glorious deed, and th will be dear to your countrymen forever, Joun Pore, Major-General] Commanding. at your at your Site Seneral was, however, destined soon to have to look } By Special assignment of the President of the United States, I Rnd him for a line of retreat 3; and fortunate it was for us their own. es sap the Country that he was not taken unawares, and that, in General Pope, on his assumption of command in Virginia ig of his bluster, he was willing when the time came, to issued the following address to his army, the braggart tone of ae the backs of his men on the mighty force which was which is in sad contrast with the results of the short and mut “ring in our front. A strong cavalry expedition sent derous campaign on which he was about to enter: — 9 130 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, POPE’S RETREAT. 131 across the Rapidan on the 16th of August, which captured an important despatch from General Lee to General Stuart, and a gallant reconnoisance by our 2d Maryland regiment, on the night of the 17th, disclosed not only General Lee’s determi- nation to make short and decisive work with General Pope and his army, but also that a rebel force amply sufficient to crush us, masked by the hills across the river, was rapidly CHAPTER VIII. moving into position for an advance. Avaust 18 — SrpremBerR 1, 1862. POpp’. Bs RETREAT. — SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS, AND RETREAT TO CENTREVILLE. a. AvGusr 18th. On the Rapidan. All the early part of the b., was spent by General Pope’s army in a muster, ordered < the Secretary of War, to ascertain exactly how many men t stk required to fill all the regiments to the maximum. Our zz ae band, which had delighted us so often, was mustered » and immediately started for home. gears, noon, it was evident that something was in the gost long trains of wagons, which had just brought up im- . ch8e Supplies of rations and ammunition, were moving rap- idly we to the rear; and, as the afternoon wore away, we saw eat terpre entert army Was o Ags the r Piles of rations burning. Up to that time, we had in- ted everything into meaning an advance, for we had not ained an idea that our braggart commander, with an of at least a hundred thousand men (as we Supposed ), n the point of a retreat. Soon as it grew dark, our troops began to move towards to ®ar; and about nine o’clock it was officially announced U8 that General Pope’s army was falling back about twenty “8, to get behind the line of the Rappahannock, for stra- ting reasons ; that General Reno’s command would act as a de ouard to the army in the movement; and that our brig- a were to have the honor of serving as the infantry rear- ‘ard. As it was considered certain that we should be en- eeged by the enemy’s cavalry as soon as it became light “Ugh to disclose the movement which our army was mak- 132 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, ing, the officers were cautioned as to the proper formation of the men in such an event. To show us the need of the great- est caution in our movements, we were further informed that two divisions of the enemy were massed at Raccoon Ford, a couple of miles on our left, and within half a mile of which we had to pass ; but, whether the rebels were there with the FREDERICKSBURG ™ SKETCH MAP OF FIELD OF OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. SUMMER OF 1862. intention of crossing to attack us, or simply as a precaution against a possible advance by our army, was of course all com jecture. As we lay on the ground that long night, watching the rebel signal-lights and anxiously waiting for the order t move, we wondered whether it was possible that our vaunted advance was to end before it had begun, in a disgraceful re treat, or whether we were really making a strategical mov — = ian a ali POPE’S RETREAT. 1338 nha We talked over our chances on the march, and imag- pire - Rica esr General Pope had acted in the style hans : Yy our old commander, Colonel Maggi, that In going abahat nat enemy’s country it was the best policy “to leave Mia ng ut the erying eyes ;” the rebels regarded him as a a naa and we knew that, as being his troops, we would w. ve no favors in the event of getting into a tight place.) pate also sorry to see, by the fires along the line of re- ai : lat the Union stragglers were burning buildings, At aks ae One o’clock on the morning of the 19th, we com- rg ie to move, carrying on the person five days’ rations and he rounds of ammunition. The moon, which rose ting he si was obscured by thick clouds, and, soon get- ‘ “wig nes wrong road, we were obliged to return, and take Sane start, actually getting away a little after three o'clock. Psp ae beginning to grow light when we came upon a among i eC of ey privat standing silent as statues, ete ’ trees, and learned that we were passing the dan- es . point near Raccoon F ord ; but the rebels there were dishes. unconscious of their opportunity, and we passed un- : ed. We marched slowly on, without any incident of until noon, when we reached Mountain Creek, a eh ary of the Rappahannock, and took our first rest, after March of nineteen miles without a straggler; it was a splen- ni two hours’ rest under fine shade trees, with a chance to a . bath in the beautiful shaded werehen, Moving on, we in a the Rappahannock River at Kelly’s Ford at four o’clock . © afternoon, having made a march of twenty-three miles, Perfect order and without much fatigue. A detail from 1 Siment was at once set at work throwing up a breast- Angin te government, by an order issued from their adjutant-general’ » 1862, declared General Pope and all comm Clos d to be outlaws, pot subject to exchange if ¢ for the ufinement as hostages to be hung © purpos iation. e Order Purposes of retaliation. General di 8 Office, issioned officers under his aptured, but to be kept in from time to time, as occasion required, * ral Lee notified our government of this n the 2d of August, by a letter in which he declared that “ Major-General a : : ih j that nd his officers are in a position which they have chosen for themselves — wed of robbers and murderers, and not that of public enemies entitled, if eapt- » to be treated as prisoners of war,” — Pp, 134 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, work to protect some artillery, which was posted to command the passage of the river, and we bivouacked for the night close by the ford, every man sleeping with his gun by his side. Our entire army was now in position behind the Rap- pahannock, covering a front of some seven miles, with its left at Kelly’s Ford and its right extending some three miles above Rappahannock Station. STRENGTH AND POSITION OF THE REBEL ARMY ON THE RAPIDAN. So far General Pope had made a real strategic movement behind the line of the Rappahannock, and General Lee, who had been proceeding a little too leisurely in putting his plans for the destruction of our army into execution, had been fairly deceived. The rebel army, from whose clutch our army of forty thousand men had just escaped, numbered about sixty- five thousand men of all arms, commanded by General Lee in person. Its grand divisions were led by Generals T. J- (Stonewall) Jackson and Longstreet ; the dashing Stuart rode at the head of its then unrivaled cavalry, and it was accom- panied by exceedingly powerful trains of field artillery. It was probably the best led, best equipped, fiercest army that the rebels ever put in the field, red hot to utterly overwhelm and destroy our outlawed commander and the “ Army of Vir- ginia.” Longstreet’s Corps of thirty thousand men was pre- paring to cross the river at Raccoon Ford, well on our left flank. Stonewall Jackson, commanding the rebel left wing with his own corps of twenty thousand men, Anderson’s Divi ion of seven thousand men, and Colonel S. D. Lee’s battalion of light artillery, were to cross at Summerville’s Ford, about two miles above Longstreet’s place of crossing ; and Stuart with all the cavalry was to gain our rear, passing the river at Morton’s Ford, three miles below Raccoon Ford (on Long: street’s right). The cloud of batteries which accompanied the rebel infantry, manned by four thousand men, included the famous Washington Artillery battalion, with which we wer destined to become somewhat familiar. The rebel attack was “S62, ON THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 185 *Ppointed for the 18th of August, and on the morning of that *y Longstreet’s batteries were standing with horses harnessed and his troops in momentary expectation of orders to ad- Vance ; but fortunately for us the rebel eavalry did not get ‘nto position until the night of the 18th, and owing to ex- haustion of their horses by a long forced march, were not in °endition for a movement on the 19th. Lee, in strange igno- ance of the meaning of the movements of our army on the i th, Says in an order issued to General Stuart early in the morning of the 19th: “ The last reports from the signal sta- re 8 yesterday evening were that the enemy was breaking up 'S principal encampments and moving in the direction of Cul- Peper Court House ;” and published a general order to his “rnny, directing the attack to commence on the 20th at dawn = aay. He did not realize that our army, instead of manceu- at In his front, was eluding his grasp, until late in the after- crew Of the 19th, when in another order to Stuart he says: to ac fnemy, as far as I can discover, is retreating on the road = by octicksburg. I propose to start the troops at the rising th "© moon (about one o’clock A. M.). It is so late now that °Y could not get off before. If you can get information of *oute of the enemy you will endeavor to cut him off ; oth- bags make for Kelly’s Ford over the Rappahannock.” ! 1 his was the first and the last time that General Pope made * point on General Lee. ae will now return to our army which we left on the night 16 19th of August safe for the time behind the line of the *ppahannock, Kelly’s Ford, August 20th. The rebel cavalry made their ne pearance at daylight, but the day passed quietly in our front rj il nearly sunset, when they drove In our ‘pickets across the Ver, but retired in turn on recelving a couple of shots from Cur artillery, August 21st, A detachment of rebel cavalry drove in our a 1 * Vol See Lee’s, Jackson’s, Longstreet’s, and Stuart’s official reports, printed in Stat 'X. Rebel. Record ; also Pope's report, vol. v. Rebel. Record, and tabular “Ment of rebel forces in Gordon’s Army of Virginia, p. 489.— Ep. 136 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, pickets again just before daylight, shot one of our men at the ford, and escaped unharmed, carrying with them considerable forage from some large stacks of grain only a few hundred yards from the river. Lying beneath us across the ford was a field about a mile wide, open except for scattered bunches of bushes, with thick woods on the farther side. Our cavalry and some rebel infantry kept up a steady slow skirmish fight in the field nearly all the morning; it was a very interesting spectacle, though rather a hellish game of hide-and-seek, to see our cavalry (who behaved very handsomely) hunting up the concealed rebels and driving them from bush to bush, and finally, though now and then catching a Tartar, forcing them back to the line of the woods. About noon, our General Stevens, with a brigade of infantry and a considerable body of cavalry, crossed the ford to make a reconnoissance in force. General Stevens’s men attacked the enemy in the woods with great spirit, and drove them for some two miles, returning without having suffered serious loss, although the firing was at times quite sharp. During the day we have heard heavy artillery firing on our right a few miles up the river, and it Seems evident that we are on the eve of a great battle, as all immense rebel force is reported all along the Union front. We were soaked by a heavy rain during the night. August 22d. Leaving Kelly’s Ford at six o’clock A. M+ we marched up the river toward the sound of artillery firings which ceased after about an hour; continuing on, we reached Rappahannock Station on the Orange and Alexandria Rail road, six miles above Kelly’s Ford, at eight o’clock. We found that to be the point of the artillery fire of that morning and the day before, between Union and rebel batteries sepa- rated by the river. We saw a good many dead horses lying about ; and found that several casualties had been suffered by our men, as we took a position in support of our artillery, a0 ticipating an attack by the rebels. It was reported that the rebels were crossing the river on our right, and at five o'clock in the afternoon our corps marched a mile and a half to ou? right in one of the most deluging rain storms that I ever sa = 862, ON THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 137 itty to engage the forces of the enemy that had crossed ‘agg ver, but found nobody to fight, and bivouacked, soaked 1e skin, August 23d, At daybreak the rebels shelled out Rappa- nock Station, and our forces there burned a large amount ao ee stores and moved up the river; it is considered’ ety n — we shall fight to-day, as it is reported that a large thay of the enemy crossed the river last night at Sulphur ni — about ten miles in a direct line above us. It rained ia until nine o'clock, when the sun came out, and the mie became oppressively hot ; we fired, cleaned, and re- rey our guns, and the whole army, except Sigel’s Corps, — — somewhere on the right, moved cautiously forward, eae in advance. We halted at noon, after moving ‘tebe ee miles, and resumed our march at three o’clock, mov- the eat and wellin hand. It was now currently reported that Bic: = who had crossed the river were hemmed in between on ee orps and our part of the army, and that it was uncer- before — they were retreating before us towards Sigel, or Ana igel towards us. We got another heavy thunder- the re adhe plenty of lightning, at four o'clock, during which aig "igade halted alongside an ammunition train. The ne- Qs river of an ammunition wagon in close proximity to the i Was killed, and two of his mules knocked down, by a bun) € of, lightning. As the unfortunate man was very thor- 8 ly killed, he was buried in about ten minutes after he se Struck, We heard some desultory firing on our right = sb the close of the afternoon, but nobody seemed to care ms " ting about it, and we halted, as we supposed for the night, eg O'clock, and were trying to make ourselves comfortable, mags We wore ‘yousail up and moved on over a wretched, ‘el - road, blocked with wagons. No rations had been main, to the men since the 18th, and many of them were act- on] y Suffering from hunger. We had been told that we were x = Solng a couple of miles to get plenty of hard bread ; but xa *S too good news to be true, and we halted again at eight ock ag hungry as ever. At half-past ten we were roused ha of 138 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, again, and stumbled in the pitchy darkness for two miles across the rough country fields; just before midnight we were halted, and the welcome order to send a detail for hard bread was given to the captains. Ten boxes were supposed to have been issued to the regiment,—one for each company $ but either there were only eight boxes, or some of the com- panies looked out for No. 1 so well as to get a double share, and two companies got none ; however, they were too hungry to let pride stand in the way, and by begging from their more fortunate companions soon had an equal share with the rest. We remained here for the rest of the night. Sunday, August 24th. Taking up the line of march at six o’clock in the morning, we moved on about three miles up the river, and halted. Cattle were killed, and a liberal ration of fresh meat issued ; there was plenty of green corn in the fields about us, and we had a regular feast. Towards noon, heavy artillery firing opened in our front, apparently two or three miles off; and we at once moved slowly forward. Everything warned us to expect a fight, as there was a lively musketry and artillery fire going on to our left and in front; shells were bursting a mile or two ahead of us, and now and then we passed a squad of rebel prisoners, or the sad spectacle of @ dripping ambulance. About four o’clock we came upon our batteries, near Sulphur Springs, shelling the woods across the river, and the 21st were ordered to relieve one of the regi- ments in support. As we moved forward, half a dozen rebel shells came over in quick succession, and the regiment to be relieved, who were on the point of slinging their knapsack, ‘changed position ” so rapidly that they left most of theif knapsacks for us. We were badly off for clothing and to bacco, and those well-filled knapsacks were like a godsend t? the 21st. The scene was novel and exciting: a few hundred yards on our right, the bridge by which the rebels had crossed the river was burning; our sharpshooters along the river, and the guns we were supporting, were firing rapidly at the rebel artillery, which, posted in an unsheltered position just across the river, Was soon silenced, and several handsome brass guns nen ie " Pape ee ns Pn ree Sa ON THE RAPPAHANNOCK. 189 = entirely deserted. The river, swollen by the heavy rains, ee protection, and the deserted rebel guns re- thine 1 ane for General Lee’s future operations, Every- baie ee become quiet and peaceful, and we thoroughly to “a i 1e beautiful afternoon ; besides, we were delighted ce = hat Sigel had captured fifteen hundred rebels, whom Pally had driven into his hands.! About sunset we on, mixed in with an artillery train, and made very Slow aa ° Progress ; at eleven o’clock we went into and eventually Na a vile bog full of flitting * Will’-o’-the-wisps ” and nce 3 and then were rewarded by coming upon a broad © covered with bivouac fires, and our corps wagon-train, .. agon among the rest. We soon had some glorious Rlstoe joa, and before we turned in enjoyed our first coffee M aving Kelly’s Ford. Se August 25th. The day was beautiful, and a ti bie andscape was spread before us, but what interested oats gas the cloud of dust three or four miles away across ‘kina river, steadily moving towards our right. We at the t in a northerly direction at eight o'clock, and arrived ities — of Warrenton, after a march of some seven miles, & dena 1e middle of the forenoon. On the way, We came on * whee lying in the road, said to have just been shot by We 1. ee party 3 and some of our men buried him. aig. i ~ in a pine grove near the town, and, on the prom- a resh beef, immediately set to work gathering fuel to the ae dinner, but no sooner had the men scattered than aot Was re-formed, and we were moved a mile or go to- ling os the river, and remained under arms, as part of a long battle, till the close of the afternoon, in apparent ex- Pectation of an attack. ackson was said to have crossed the river with thirty thou- thae it sven the story _ currently reported at the time. The facts were hannock sete - gh a ne pes ye ie =e the Rae g ad seen), The river rose during the ni : tn and destroyed the bridge, but the rebels rebuilt it on Saturday, and re €d over it with trifling loss. — Ep, ch 140 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, sand men, about five miles above us, and to be marching across our right flank. General Pope evidently supposed that Jackson meant an attack, and was waiting in position, while the great rebel leader, bound on a terrible expedition for us, , was putting four miles an hour betwéen his force and ours. At half-past five Pp. M. we turned our backs on the swiftly- moving rebels, and started for Warrenton Junction, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. The road in several places was very bad, and the night dark ; and when we halted at midnight, after a march of eighteen miles, our poor, weary men threw themselves upon the ground, scarcely moving from the places where they had stood in line. August 26th. At seven A. M. we moved on about a mile beyond Warrenton Junction, and went into bivouac. A large force was massed in the vicinity of the Junction, but nothing seemed to be going on. August 27th. At six A.M. we started ona rapid mareh towards Warrenton again, but after moving about three miles our orders were countermanded, and we returned to the June- tion ; something was evidently wrong, batteries were going off on the full run, and General Pope rode by us looking warm and excited. The rebels that we had seen moving north were at work ; and soon we all learned that Jackson’s Corps was in our rear, that during the night he had broken up the railroad and bridges to within five miles of Warrenton Junction, to retard pursuit, and was moving on Manassas Junction, with its immense reserve supplies of ammunition, rations, and clothing. With very little respect for the strat- egy of our commander, we moved on slowly, and after a day’ march of twenty miles, halted at sunset in the village of Greenwich. Late in the afternoon we had heard rapid firing a few miles off on our right; and the pleasing news was circulated through our camps that night, that Jackson was caught at last, out whole force being now between his corps and Lee’s main army. 1 The first sharp collision with Jackson’s forces occurred on the afternoon of 186 2. MOVEMENT TO MANASSAS JUNCTION. 141 1 Ausust 28th. We made an early start and moved toward anassas : i =e — ts rebels had fallen back during the night, and hage'ed igs now going round that Jackson was surely within Piss unless he surrendered would be cut to pieces haa Se hours. We approached Manassas June- whisk : renee by the noonday sun and almost stifled by dust, of deci ankle deep in the road. On our arrival a sad scene ie pei met our eyes: vast quantities of army supplies only ce of railroad cars were smouldering in ruin; the els ‘Inj eeming feature noticeable was half a dozen dead reb- With ane around the ruins of a car which had been loaded sick. ap seaitiheye We passed on, and halted soon after noon, a ene of General Pope and his strategy, which he had na astically told us was going to turn the tide of war in in Peep mee five P. M. we moved on towards Bull Run, which . & ore sunset, as we marched along high ground on Miles a several old earth-works, saw clouds of dust a few hn to the westward, slowly approaching each other, ety fn n, as it began to grow dark, the flashes of sharp artil- “Aer ng on both sides. This panorama is said to prove that hone a headed Jackson off from his retreat ; We earnestly the rR such is the case, and wonder if we shall be in at bate Gao 1." We went into bivouac in the dark, and received rations of meat. Bul August 29th. We started at daylight, and, crossing Miva un Creek, marched through Centreville, towards the of firing. As we struggled on towards the battle-field, t Vee koh s near Bristoe Station, on the railroad, about ten mil els yy. 2NCtion. ~Hooker’s Division of Heintz equal hay: of Jackson’s forces. The forces three pis fo loss in the engagement was also very nearly equal, being about or t ed killed and wounded on each side. Ewell’s troops fell back a mile 1 °, but at night-fall still maintained a stubborn front. — Ep. teen action, at eusieet on the 28th, was q fierce and bloody engagement be- Corps, ante Jackson's forees and a part of King’s Division of McDowell's back fae “ach panty maintained its ground in the fight, but King’s Division fell Neay: "Ing the night, towards Manassas Junction. The loss on each side was Wounge ttl and amounted in all to not less than fifteen hundred killed and €d. In this engagement the rebel General Ewell lost a leg, — Ep. es northeast of War- , elman’s Corps came up with Ew- engaged on each side were about Sn ee 142 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, over a dusty road, in the broiling sun, several hundred paroled Union prisoners passed by us to the rear, encouraging us with “Go in, boys, and get your heads knocked off ;” “ We’re going home;” “ We’ve got a furlough from Jeff. Davis;” * You'll be well treated if you surrender,” and much more of the same sort. These fellows gave Jackson an opportunity to show a sharp point in strategy: they had been captured @ day or two before in some of the fighting near Manassas June tion, had been well fed, and in every way kindly treated, and just as our army was beginning its attack were paroled and turned loose to demoralize our men by accounts of theif kind treatment by the rebels, and also to relieve Jackson from being hampered by several hundred prisoners. Just before we reached the field it was announced that Jackson had e& caped. This bad news was soon contradicted by the report that he and his thirty thousand! men had been headed off, and were again bagged. A little after noon we unslung out knapsacks, piled them in a long line in a thick wood, and leaving a guard over them climbed a steep hill, and soon found ourselves in an advanced position in about the centre of out army, on a ridge commanding a wide view of the battle-field. On our left was a plain about a mile wide, and then hills and woods. In our front was an open rolling country for a couple of miles. On our right, at the base of the ridge on which W® were in position, was a field of a few hundred yards in width, and then came thick woods. As we came up a rapid fire of musketry was rattling in the woods on our right, and a thi? line of light blue smoke was floating just over the tree-tops? the firing soon ceased, and scattered Union troops came oul ‘ Jackson’s Corps was composed of af least sixty-four regiments of infant"! (as casualties in action were reported by him in that number), besides sevel™ batteries. It was commonly spoken of in our army as numbering thirty thou sand men. : Its true strength, however, when it was detached from Lee’s malt army to strike for our rear was about twenty thousand. It had been weaken® by Josses in battle on the 27th and 28th of August ; but early on the morning of the 29th was reinforced by Stuart, with all his cavalry and horse artillery, by noon of the 29th Jackson’s communications with Lee, being fully reést# lished, his corps had become simply the left wing of an army more than sixtf thousand strong. — Ep. ie a Be | a “i 7 1869, SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 143 of the woods ; been bagged. then our brig artillery on ¢ Pennsylvania now we began to realize that Jackson had not For about an hour nothing more was attempted ; ade took position in support of twenty pieces of he ridge close by, and our first brigade (48th AOR iv : Maryland, and 6th New Hampshire regi- “ties he ‘aken to enter the shades of the woods in our wine e W quiet as death. General Pope’s staff officers were an meet the men, with “ Porter is in their rear, you ‘Il Bot om i ~ a minute ! i Fight sharp, boys, and you ’ve Under ss The brigade soon disappeared in the woods, “a PetCo sc command of General Reno, to assault aldtintes mre with some of General Hooker's men. Long dite aca Presi expectation followed, then a few scattered il i : en a long rolling volley in which every man ens © have taken his own time to aim after the order to heavily tt we knew by the sound that it came from the Eensarts Charged rebel smooth-bores; then our rifles came noble Mbit es) shouts, yells, and musketry followed. Our God nf YS are coming back broken and shattered ; and good Pay pk few of them are left! Another hour passes, and eneral Kearney’s Division, and our first (General si Division renew the assault. There is the same talk and taco, as before ; the death silence is broken as before, teh ae as before, twenty thousand men are victorious over = Sand, and our brother soldiers retreat from the woods. < upon them came the rebels, their three lines mingled Nak ae confusion of rapid pursuit. Now was our turn, and expect ma! pieces of artillery poured upon the rebels an un- to for €d volley of shell and canister; their officers try in vain rey ce them for a charge upon the guns which hurl a continu- bi the a of death upon them, and the helpless reeling mass, t turn shattered and beaten, disappear in the woods. Sonne artillery continued to keep up a slow fire upon the ‘ but otherwise the fighting in our immediate front had Steve Cea, into +h About half an hour before sunset we are ordered Bade pe: it does not seem possible, but our little bri- ne are moving towards the woods ; the same false 144 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, stories about Porter which had beguiled our brothers are re- peated to us, but we feel that they are false, and mechanically, without enthusiasm, we move forward. We were within fifty yards of the edge of the slaughter-place, when General Reno ordered a halt, and dictated a hurried message for one of his staff to carry to General Pope, protesting against this reckless sacrifice of an unsupported brigade ; but before the officer had gone a dozen steps recalled him and went himself. The sun was just going down as he returned and withdrew the brigade: the protest of the true little soldier had changed the hopeless plan of the reckless braggart who commanded the army, and we thanked God that General Reno stood between us and General Pope. We withdrew about one hundred yards, to rest on our arms for the night. It had got to be quite dark, when we saw sad but instructive panorama. Some little distance to our left, a battery of six pieces had been left in position on rising ground, quite close to the woods, with a regiment of infantry : in support of it; the flashes of a few guns on the edge of the woods showed that the rebels had attacked the Union pickets} the flashes grew thicker, our pickets were driven in, and the artillery opened: the rebel force kept crawling up in the grass, firing rapidly, as shown by the long streaks of fire from their guns, the artillery meanwhile belching forth its canister several yards too high. The artillerymen were soon killed of driven from their guns ; and the regiment in support moved forward, poured in a splendid volley, and advancing rapidly drove the rebels back to the woods. We were rejoicing at the success of our troops, when we saw a hundred flashes upo their left flank, and the edge of the woods was again lined with fire: for a few moments, everything was in confusions then the firing ceased, and an unmistakable rebel yell showed that the battery was lost. Our men now had had nothing t? eat for twenty-four hours, except a half ration of meat issued the night before : fortunately for us, close by was camped General Sigel’s miscellaneous train, composed of all sorts of wagons, many of which were drawn by oxen. Sigel had more 1869. SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 145 Wagons than all ®verything Stant nuisar obstructing Vehicles, y the rest of the army together ; he picked up he saw on wheels as he marched, and was a con- ice and injury to the efficiency of our army by or entirely blocking the road with his countless > ag 1s Wagons, however, had enabled him to bring iy Supply of rations, and his commissary was now the ‘ai ny . who had anything to eat on hand, Sigel could not his at to give consent, and General Reno, determined that Men should not suffer further for want of food, took the “sponsibility of taking a ration for our brigade from »In spite of the wild wrath of the commissary and ts of Sigel’s vengeance. front i” had incautiously built some small fires on the ve aa were cooking the first coffee which they had had a Ripe days, when a small rebel scouting party crept from like rina ‘ round our left flank, and sent their bullets buzzing fel] nti Male our fires ; the men sprang for their guns and mre ine without confusion, but the rebels, favored by the i 8, had escaped. We got along without fires at the front of a Sut of the night. Poor maimed fellows crawled out Woods, and told-us that the rebels were retreating, and able "ibe ss men went in amongst almost those unmention- tempor, aes and brought out many a poor sufferer to the “se in hospitals, or placing them tenderly by the generous ae © rear gave them new life by a draught of coffee,1 stil] ‘urday, August 30th. The morning opened calm and >and we had high hopes for the fortunes of the com; » for we were lly under the delusi pHs St net ' generally elusion that the rebels the ri Treating, and that Sumner’s and Franklin’s corps from .-Tmy of the Potomac were within Supporting distance. 8 aig Where light our first glances were turned to the hill-side fifty 1, the battery had been lost ; the guns were gone, and Y Podies in blue uniforms were lying round the spot. About Severa] ts) day 1 G F 29¢h €nera] Pope’s official report gives the loss in our arm, a y to the night of the as a 5 Not less than eight thousand men, killed and wounded. Jackson’s loss, ang oes by the rebel official reports Up to the same time, was between four © thousand in killed and wounded. — Ep, 10 146 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, eight o'clock a column of twelve regiments went into the woods in our front, and found no enemy ; a single regiment (the 14th New York — “ Brooklyn Zouayes””), which made a reconnoissance at ten o’clock, a mile on our left, were not s0 fortunate : conspicuous by their red pantaloons, they entered the woods in line of battle and disappeared ; in a few minutes we heard the same long rebel volley with which yesterday’s experience had made us familiar, and the fragments of the 14th came out of the woods. Our troops were now moving in a continuous stream to the left, and about noon our brigade found themselves the only infantry to be seen on the right. A heavy artillery fire was now opened upon the front of out position by a mass of rebel artillery posted along Stony Ridge about a mile and a half distant; and for an hour most of us hugged mother earth, while shot and shell hurtled over us. The firing ceased, and the rebels tried an unsuccessful ruse‘ two regiments with Union colors and blue uniforms ! strolled leisurely out of the woods toward the steep hill on which Captain Durell’s battery was in position, a few yards in out — front. General Reno, having a moral certainty that they were rebels, ordered the captain to let them have a shot; and Cap- tain Durell, with some repugnance against firing on blue unl forms and the Stars and Stripes, burst a case shot amongst them. The rascals started for the battery with a wild yell, and the rebel artillery again opened fiercely. Durell’s me? sprang to their work, and, firing without sponging their piece in a few minutes shattered and routed their treacherous a8 sailants, though a few of them came up to the very base of the hill. The afternoon was well advanced when the battle opened again with great fierceness on the Union left. Streams o stragglers were soon going from the front, and mixed with spectators from Washington blackened the hills in our rea" The rebel infantry began to threaten us again, though they 1 A large part of Jackson's troops had exchanged their dirty and ragged cloth- ing for new Union uniforms, thousands upon thousands of suits of which they had captured at Manassas Junction, — Ep. 186 2. SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 147 hans cies making a mere feint in aid of the grand move- Sk sities Union left. Finding that they were enveloping Positions ' an Reno retired our brigade to a commanding etna mi ew hundred yards in the rear. Encouraged by his coolly i - he sat fearless and calm upon his horse, the men wilted about under a really terrible fire of artillery, and liste = perfect order to their new position. A disastrous tage now raging on the left; we saw the rebel flags Desies 8 as rapidly as if there was no enemy resisting their Ach yt their masses were swarming over our batteries and ies a5 1e guns on our troops, and their shells were pouring atid a Pe ee lying in reserve on the plain between us army can t. The word now passed round that Lee’s main stil] oe ore up, and that we must be overpowered. We forcement » for it would soon be night, and the lagging rein- tino. hi must come up before morning; but our hearts + ian. re regiments in reserve abandoned the field without bien ing resistance, not even having deployed from mass camryin e. It was now sadly evident that the rebels were mie bars oe before them, and that almost nothing dastaaas a ace them. The enemy had disappeared from our wi ea a front, and we were beginning to wonder whether in the ; estined to leave this frightful field without joining hey i. death struggle, when just before sunset General Mattia denly ordered the brigade to move to the left at the ana Pip I can conscientiously say that the regiment teat Tigade responded to the order with hearty enthusiasm the oe determination to show the Army of Virginia how Mea ‘ad learned to fight in North Carolina, hy $ the field by the flank, shot, shell, and pie Tained around us from badly served rebe We a x Were soon covered by the hill on which w Ur reven As we hurried ces of railroad ! artillery, but er e€ were to take ge; the 21st losing in the passage of about half a mil ’ a — four men, — Privates Daniel Buckley, Jeremiah Har- "an on, Albert Knight, and John K. Parker, of Company F, Ve ore all struck by the same piece of railroad iron AS 8 as . fame to the hill, General McDowell, known to us all by 148 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, his peculiar white hat, came up. to General Reno and shook hands ; the last Union troops withdrew from our front, and we moved into position on the crest of the hill, drowning the rebel yells with cheers for ten thousand men. The white- haired General Milroy, who stood alone on the crest as we came up, was frantic with joy as he welcomed us; and, as we dressed our lines, rode along our front, shouting like a crazy LAST FIGHT AT SECOND MANASSAS, BY RENO’S OLD BRIGADE AND GRA- HAM'S BATTERY, 7 TO9 P.M., AUGUST 30, 1862. man. The rebels waited to re-form their disordered lines be fore essaying an attack, which gave General Reno time to ge up a battery, and us an opportunity to observe the situation. We covered the crossing of the Centreville Pike over Young § Branch, and held a magnificent position for defense: the brr gade was formed on a curved ridge,! refusing the flanks a lit tle ; on the left was the 51st New York, with their left rest ? The Henry House Hill. Cate small stream,! the banks of which were fringed is eice bushes; the 21st Massachusetts was in the centre, brea st Pennsylvania on the right. General Reno posted Stine i of smooth-bores, double shotted with canister, on haste vith the infantry, and in the short intervals between ies ae In our front was an open space of a few hun- hina fe 8 of gently sloping ground ending in a grove. Be- dina Se eens mass of artillery and wagons were trying ‘tps 8 the bridge over Young’s Branch, blocking the road as Iibhiine could see, and not a soldier that we saw or knew of in or teens stood in line of battle, or in reserve. Close ee "ie under the shelter of the hill, a temporary hospital ovienist established, and all around us the ground was thickly bined oo wounded men. The mere fact that that thin un- and f. = ine of fifteen hundred men waited there so steady Seale ci for the assault of the rebel masses which were rs hin glamor front, was an act of heroism seldom paralleled ‘% Gen ; MP re Reno, having first informed the irrepressi- thitias etsy Milroy that he must not interfere further in the the A ig of the brigade, walked along the line, ordering Position to lie down and keep perfect silence, and then took laa ip in the centre, We had not long to wait: the sun confus te 1t was beginning to grow dark, when we heard a ee Aue hum, and the rush of many feet in our front ; stand “ib the order, and every man was on his feet; the open ay . our front was now alive with the rebel masses, and iio Reno gave the welcome order, “ Give them about ten nies, 8, boys, Fire Pri Ay simultaneous volley rolled from in- and a, and artillery, and then it was every man for himself, cali ey made quick work: our cartridges were of such small se re that no ramming was required, and the men had hardly we well warmed up before the firing was stopped. Nothing and Standing on the field in front of us, and a chorus of groans ha curses, and the lying cries, “You ’re firing on your own ees filled the air. Captain W. , Graham, the officer in Mand of our battery (of the 1gt United States Artillery), x A i ’, Running into Young’s Branch, which is a tributary of Bull Run. 150 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, who had entreated General Reno to post his guns in rear of the infantry, for he would rather die than lose them, and he knew that the brigade would not.stand a moment, had had a revelation on the fighting capacity of volunteers, and delighted at our and his success, was not merely willing, but anxious, to see the thing out on line with the rest of us. For half an hour we were unmolested, and the quiet was unbroken except by the cries of the poor mutilated fellows who lay along our front, when a force of the enemy, who, concealed by the thick brush, had crawled along the banks of the creek on our left, struck the 51st New York on the flank with startling sudden- ness, and rolled them up with the loss of eighty-five men in 4 few seconds. The 21st made a rapid change of front to face the enemy in his new position, and added their fire to that of the indomitable 51st, who were now fighting most gallantly. Two pieces of the artillery were brought to the left, and the enemy was as fatally repulsed as before, and our line reéstab- lished. Except feeling us in a harmless way with artillery; and reconnoitring us with a skirmish line, whom we gav@ good reason to remember that we were still there, the rebel attack was over. About nine o’clock General Reno passed along the line, and told us that we were to abandon our posi- tion, and that our lives depended upon the secrecy of the movement. The artillery was run off by hand, piece by piece; and, leaving our surgeons behind to care for the wounded, the regiments followed in succession from the rights file by file, re-forming across Young’s Branch. The p00 wounded fellows who covered the ground behind us had borne their sufferings without complaint; but when the artil lery and the 51st Pennsylvania had gone, and they knew that they were to be left to their fate, they besought us not to abandon them, or cursed us for doing so. With sad hear! that we were powerless to aid them, we left the horrid, hop® less field. As soon as the brigade had crossed the bridge and re-formed, we took up the march for Centreville, along a road obstrue by overturned and abandoned wagons. Our withdrawal ha 1 ~ 862. SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. 151 not been noticed by the enemy, and we were not molested on Our march. ese — had fought its first pitched battle in Virginia, js ay hurled back the rebels with a stinging blow, when dances erce enthusiasm of their last great charge they were bie 0 seize the fruits of their victory ; but for Reno and wu en fifty pieces of artillery and the rear of a defeated Y were at their mercy. thin gto reception by Union troops, however, seemed any- ‘acmaas ut honor to the brave. Some two miles from the bat- eo. Pg came upon General Franklin’s Corps of the Army the = Site eo numbering about 8,000 men, resting along ‘eine - They were the nearest to the field of the rein- hia ents we had so earnestly longed for during the fright- hee — of the last two days. Our reception by them ‘bees rive reminder of the arrogance, jealousy, and hatred mc len was the curse of the Union armies in Virginia, ices ng laughter, ridicule in various forms, and sneering “ti wid about the new road to Richmond, greeted. us con- — y as we passed them ; and some of the more frank Sat them in plain English expressed their delight at the Sia be Pope and his army. To these men (and there of 4 Plenty more of the same sort) the 15,000 Union victims ~ 1€ second Manassas were but as dust in their joy at the Wwnfall of the braggart rival of the great soldier of the x dpiegeeee Disgusted and sick at heart, we continued our a march along the five miles of obstructed road to Centre- aa where we arrived in a drizzling rain about midnight ; rite our hungry and wearied men, after they had looted an Y wagon loaded with sugar, laid down to rest upon the Sround without blankets. ere August 31, was a wretched, rainy day. We found it ‘ng to eat when we arose from our cheerless bivouac, and henge for fires. A great Many carriages arrived at Cen- he re during the morning, filled with disappointed visitors, ra ad driven out from Washington on the report that a ®at victory had been won by our troops. Instead of rebel Se Ore ale a ig eee 152 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, prisoners they saw long trains of ambulances loaded with those of our wounded who had been so fortunate as to be brought from the field, — brave men indignant at what they believed to have been the wanton sacrifice of their comrades by the jealousy of rival commanders, —and thousands of cow- ardly stragglers searching for their regiments. About noon we got some rations, and had a good meal. In the afternoon large piles of unclaimed knapsacks, belong- ing to some of the victims of the last few days, were taken from their place of storage at Centreville, and abandoned to the first takers. The 21st, always prompt in helping them- selves, got a full supply of clothes and knapsacks to replace those which they had piled on the right of the late battle field, and had no opportunity to get when double-quicked to the left. The casualties in the 21st in the late battle had been very few. The chance of hitting a line of men lying down with artillery a mile or more distant is very small; and in the elos- ing fight the rebels relied very little on musketry fire, but attempted to rush over us by the weight of furious charges. In addition to those already named, Corporal John Quinn of Company B was wounded in the arm; in Company ©, Cor- poral Ferdinand S. Rogers, who had been wounded in the chest in the battle of Newbern, received a bad wound in the leg ; and in Company K Private Patrick Sheridan was wounded in the hand. The great loss we mourned was Surgeon Cut ter, who as acting division surgeon had gone into the woods with General Reno and our first brigade on the 29th, As one of the regiments broke, Dr. Cutter, in trying to rally it, had been seen to fall, and was left upon the field. A real fighting abolitionist of the John Brown type, loving the regiment to which his daughter had given her life, honest outspoken, somewhat rough now and then in his way of ex- pressing what we thought extreme opinions, yet always true to his duty as surgeon and soldier, we felt that we had lost our distinctive Massachusetts man. How happy we all were to see him walk into our camp at Alexandria a few days af- 186 : a, CASUALTIES. 153 oe as well as ever, and hear his story. He was struck “haa Mi ate of his waist-belt by a musket ball, and fell sense- Pete might be expected from such a blow in the pit of the ete a. When he tried to rise, a rebel made for him with Patt ad The doctor said, “ Don’t touch me; I am a ii ae : D—n you, you’ve got a sword in your hand bilaudar the rebel. An officer coming up, the doctor and lett : his green sash, and was adjudged a non-combatant, talked 41 ree to do as he pleased within the rebel lines. He Benes Won e kind of abolitionism nearly all night at aed : il’s headquarters, where he was a favored guest. enjoyed ie felt strong enough to laugh at his philippics, or lees 30 the argument as something new. On Saturday Th dat © doctor saw the rebels mass their men to charge our iis ty and made them acknowledge afterwards that we our bri more than they could stand. No prisoners from : Pa e had come in, and the doctor, feeling sure that we ae work, delivered encomiums upon Reno’s old brigade, Ces 1 rebels got ill-natured over it and would allow him 5. no more, arti sturdy assistant surgeon, Dr. James Oliver, who in his regime With us endeared himself to every true soldier in the Unde nt, was left on the field in charge of the wounded .. °F the hill on which we made our stand. Charles E, “Neve of Company F, then a hospital nurse, and Edwin pa of Company A, trusted themselves to the mercy of turned. eelerss in the same noble work. When they re- thee to us they gave an interesting account of their long hime om night among the wounded, — not a rebel showing as until next morning. Eight hundred of their dead and ing Pe who fell by our fire, lay upon the slope of the hill, eta leir companions were not inclined to increase the num- and ae” waiting till daylight, they pounded it with artillery, ss ten, after raking it thoroughly with musketry, moved a "Mish line over it, and took Possession. 18) Sc * eee official reports were made in our division as part of the 154 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, Army of Virginia,! probably because our connection with it was regarded by General Reno as rather that of temporary service with it than as constituting a part of the organiza- tion. Besides, our true and modest hero, with no thought but that of aiding the Union cause, had, with instant obedience to orders and all the fiery determination of his nature, led his loved troops to be slaughtered in detail under the miserable method adopted by the commander of the army at Manassas,” but had no heart to mingle in the blatant rant, bluster, lying claims, and bitter personal recriminations, in the cloud of which the short-lived Army of Virginia passed into history. With a total force of 7,0003 men in the two divisions con- stituting his corps, when we left the line of the Rapidan om the night of August 18th, without including the cruel losses in our brigade, of which no official report whatever seems 0 have been made, Reno’s command lost 3,031 officers and me? in this disastrous campaign. The number of unwounded pris oners included in this list of casualties cannot be ascertained but as Reno’s men never lost their cohesion, pride, or dis- cipline, and no organized part of the corps was captured, the number of unwounded prisoners must have been far less than the number of the killed and wounded not included i? the above enumeration.® 1 General Pope says in his Official Report that no report of any description was received from General Reno’s Corps. — Ep. ? General Reno talked freely on the night of the 29th to some of the officers of his old brigade in condemnation of the style of fighting which had so far been adopted, and which he felt sure would not be continued. I have always reme™ bered one expression that he used, “ We’ve got a ton to lift, and have beet trying to do it one at a time.” — Ep. 3 Pope’s Official Report. , \ * Gordon's Army of Virginia, p.484. These figures include the loss (exclusive of our brigade) at the battle of Chantilly September Ist. General Gordon's book is in error in his enumeration of the regiments that formed our two divisions under Reno in this campaign. In our division (the 2d) he adds to our Ist brig" ade the 9th New Hampshire, and to the 2d brigade the 35th Massachusetts, ys gallant new regiments, which did not join us until the reorganization of the 9 Corps in Washington i1 September, 1862. — Ep. 5 At Chantilly the 21st alone lost nearly 150 officers and men, only a seventh of whom were unwounded prisoners, — fp, i 862. OFFICIAL REPORTS. 155 ; General Pope in his official report says of General Reno nd the services of the corps : — Mn ba athes: myself too highly of the zealous, gallant, and STi em ane in which General Reno deported himself from the fader 4 the end of the operations. tee Reno’s Corps? was also of the a igs its position on our right céntre late in the afternoon With con . ), and thrown into action on our left, where it behaved hin BE Das gallantry. se About eight o’clock at night, there- reg baa written instructions to the commanders of corps to with- each se yes! towards Centreville, and stated to them what route as ae pursue, and where they should take post. General Reno army { Tucted with his whole corps? to cover the movement of the Y towards Centreville; the withdrawal was made slowly, quietly, and in 0. ° a enemy. od order, no pursuit whatever having been attempted by the wi The writt at eight o’el report left th lows $ en instructions referred to by General Pope as sent ock, and a copy of which he annexes to his official » are interesting as showing the only troops that had not € field at dark. This final order, given in full, is as fol- ~~ Aug Ke: “gust 30, 1862, 8 P.M. [To be opened and read by Generals arnhey and Hooker. ] NERAL: Retire to Centreville to-night with your command. ig go by the way of Sudley’s Ford.?, General Reno com- 6 the rear guard on the turnpike by which the balance of the Y will fall back. Upon your arrival at Centreville, you will as- It p Man arm 10 “ ‘ a tg! brigade was the only part of our corps in position on the field at this time. 2 Thess wey’s Ford (over Bull Run) was more than two miles distant on our right: Bull R "oops had not been engaged since sunset, at about which time they waded wre ay at or near Poplar Ford, shown on the diagram, and the nearest of them etwee east a mile and a half distant ashamed right, with heavy woods intervening Our ma theme 568 4 Some of Sigel’s troops claim to have been in reserve in rine ya of Young’s Branch, but the claim seems to be entirely false ; even Co... °Y Were not near enough to do us any good. Gibbon’s brigade of the time — also claim to have been in position in support of us for a part of the ante a we knew nothing of them. The first troops that our brigade saw OF Men, wh er the retirement of McDowell and his troops at sunset were Franklin’s » Whom we met as I have already described. — Ep. 156 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, semble your command on the north side of that town. Early in the morning proper positions will be assigned you. By command of Masor-Grnerat Pope. Gro. D. Rueewes, Colonel and Chief of Staff. General HrIntTzELMAN. General Philip Kearney, commanding the 1st Division of the 3d (Heintzelman’s) Corps, in his official report made at Centreville on the 31st of August, alludes to our fight on the left in connection with the services rendered by Graham’s bats tery, which belonged to his division, as follows, — the first paragraph seeming to show that Captain Graham was justi- fied from recent experience in asking to be posted in rear of infantry : — Captain Graham, First United States Artillery, put at General Sigel’s disposition (on the 29th of August), as repeatedly drove the ‘enemy back into the woods as the giving way of that infantry left the front unobstructed. His practice was beautifully correct, and proved irresistible. On the 30th Captain Graham, not being required on the right, was sent to the extreme left, and rendered important service with General Reno, firing until late in the night. General R. H. Milroy, commanding Independent Brigade, 1st Army Corps (Sigel’s), in his official report to General St gel, dated September 12, 1862, after a description of the gal- lant but unsuccessful fighting of the troops who were last engaged before the final battle made by our brigade, says *— But one of General Burnside’s veteran brigades coming up soon after dark with a battery again dashed back the tide of armed treaso™ and sent such a tempest of shot, shell, and leaden death into the dark forest after the rebels that they did not again renew the attack. - °° I left the field in possession of our gallant boys about eight o’clock p. M., and in company with Lieutenants Este and Niles started back in the darkness, and was greatly surprised upon coming to the plac® where I expected to find my brigade with thousands of other troops to find none. I kept on nearly half a mile farther in painful, bewil dering doubt and uncertainty. I found you, general, and first lear? 186 2. OFFICIAL REPORTS. 157 from airce. ou with agonizing surprise, that our whole army had been or- to retreat back across Bull Run to Centreville. W. ’ ‘ Pia ig s “ History” (page 112) describes this fight as ee eet Reno and the Ninth Corps were again conspicuous for sess EB and fought with determined valor. Colonel Ferrero’s aia be Paap of the 51st Pennsylvania, the 21st Massachusetts, ie the a New York regiments, did especially good service in sav- hill. to < wing of the army from utter defeat. It was posted on a battery a rear of the left of our line, and with the aid of Graham's The ce ucceeded in checking the triumphant advance of the enemy, emy made three successive charges upon this position, and was ndsomely repulsed, till becoming convinced that further at- would be ineffectual, he drew off in disorder. Th the fol of the battle Centre 1 talies tempts lowing extract from General Lee’s official report » describing the rebel advance against the Union and left, the concluding portion, which I have put in » evidently refers to our fight : — Shia: General Longstreet, anticipating the order for a general ad- aks pow threw his whole command against the Fedéral centre and 004’s two brigades, followed by Evans, led the attack. R. H. A three 1s Division came gallantly to the support of Hood, while the nie ga os ander Wilcox moved forward on his left, and those of and the Se his right. Re Jones advanced on the extreme right, Carnags ; ole line swept steadily on, driving the enemy with great put ci ‘ om each successive position until ten P. M., when darkness the en wi to the battle and the pursuit, During the latter part of the ne gement, General Wilcox with his own brigade was ordered to It, where the resistance of the enemy was most obstinate, and ren- dered A Hicient assistance to the troops engaged on that part of the line? “ig General Wilcox is a better witness than General Lee on {4estion as to how much we were driven in this last fight, I will .; ‘ ‘ll give that portion of his official report which relates to Official reports from which the + Ore’ CS abies Rebellion Record, vol. v.; also i 2 Sress Th above extracts are given may be found in n Executive D sion, 37th (House of Representatives), — Ep, vemment St, 90 Rea © italics are mine. — Ep. 158 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September; it. It will be noticed that the general makes no claim of hav- ing defeated us. It was now late—sundown. My men crossed the little stream near which the fight was then still raging, passed through the woods skirting it, and then changed direction to the left, so as to occupy the same line that our troops were then occupying. They were thet thrown into the woods, and cautioned to be careful not to fire upot our own men, who were then engaged. My men entered wheré Wright’s brigade had been engaged, and near where General Toombs had been engaged. ‘This was the first time that my men had heet engaged in close musketry fight on the right of the turnpike. The fighting here was soon over, but the musketry fire was of the heaviest kind while it lasted. The firing continued till after dark for more than a half hour, and then gradually ceased. The artillery continued to fire after the musketry had ceased, but by half-past eight o'clock it had all ceased. My brigade bivouacked at this point of the field, which was the most advanced point reached by our infantry, and nea the hill where Bee and Bartow fell (the Henry House Hill) on the 21st of July, 1861,—the first battle of Manassas.1 To return to the position of our army at Centreville. On the morning of Monday, September Ist, the army of Virginia, under General Pope, still remained at Centreville and having been reinforced by the army corps of General Franklin and the corps of General Sumner, was still a mighty army of sixty-three thousand men, four thousand of whom however, had been sent to Fairfax Station, some eight miles distant.2, Our commanding general's opinion of the efficienY of his army may be judged by his report’ to General Halleck dated Centreville, September Ist, 8.50 A. M., of which I giv? the concluding portion : — 1 Rebel Official Reports in Moore’s Rebellion Record, vol. ix. * So stated in General Pope’s official report. General Pope estimates the strength of our army on the field of Manassas at 50,000 men. Our army 0? Sep" tember Ist, adding our reinforcements, without allowing for losses in the act battles, should have numbered 85,600 men ; of the 22,600 missing men, probably about 15,000 had been killed or wounded, and the balance were prisoners of waty stragglers, and skulkers. — Ep, 8 Embodied in Pope’s Official Report. — Ep, 1869, THE ARMY AT CENTREVILLE. 159 : You have har high feelin Thes Ing, Regi es ~ an idea of the demoralization among officers of si > otomac army, arising in all instances from personal § 10 relation to changes of commander in chief and others. © men are mere tools or id huss hear very disastrous results. You Ped es sea ar Py as you alone can stop it. Its source is be- Berous, 1. » thoug its effects are very perceptible, and very dan- Put them to endeavoring to do all I can, and will most assuredly sive jee i they shall fight or run away. My advice to you that in Non ee as I know you will not misunderstand it) is, ree Nidiacae fe) any satisfactory results, you draw back this army to ee erm oe in front of Washington, and set to work in that Misia: ‘ ‘0 reorganize and rearrange it. You may avoid great military aan 50. I do not consider the matter except in a purely Action de. i and it is bad enough and great enough to make some every ASO spe Where there is no heart in their leaders, and dian” eo ey to hang back, much cannot be expected from the oe rae : ring forward cavalry horses to me under strong escort. adly, worse than I can tell you. Joun Pore, Major-General. The bereq Casual Mor oo divsions of R. H. Anderson and D. H. Hill, the lat- on the _ however, although within supporting distance thé o. rst, did not actually form a Junction with Lee until “Stee of September at Chantilly.” Notwithstanding the in his y of numbers of the two armies, General Po Ra Credit as a soldier, as was also his retre Pidan, in spite of his blatant bluster, army under General. Lee, close along our front, num- about sixty-five thousand men, without deducting their ‘ at Manassas; but their losses in action had been an made good by the arrival from the South of the pe, greatly at from the had no thought of 4 T See ‘ea Arm ed battle Killeg eneral Lee’s Official Report, Moore’s Rebellion Record, vol. ix., and Gor- re a ?, Hy : F ‘ LY —— p. ob ay official report gives the losses in his army in at Manassas (exclusive of casualties suffered by hi ‘ , his caval 090 » And 6,154 wounded, being about half the loss pare dae at: “The Longstreet and Jackson (including Jackson’s loss at Chantilly), give ts ged. wounded, 7,563 ; missing, 81, See Jackson’s and Longstreet’s re- , ebellion Record, vol. ix. Gordon’s table of rebel casualties in the cam- lp. P A gn €nding with Chantilly shows a rebel loss of 9,849 men. — Ep ’ : . 160 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September, risking another general engagement between the united and fiercely enthusiastic army under General Lee and the sullen and angry troops, over a large part of which he evidently felt that his command was merely nominal. A bloody page of history, however, was still to be written before our retreat to the capital was secured. THE BATTLE OF CHANTILLY. CHAPTER IX. SEPTEMBER 1, 2, 1862. THE { BA TTLE OF CHANTILLY, — RETREAT TO THE DEFENSES OF WASH- INGTON. As soon as ‘ tai ni 81st A Sy: General Lee ascertained, on the morning of the synieca ~~ that our army had retreated to Centreville, he eae Eo wf rigade of infantry across Bull Run to occupy right ei and in his front, and ordered Jackson to turn our ‘se awe interpose his corps between us and the de- Priced : ashington. Jackson at once set about the work, Ford So ae et 8 cavalry, he crossed Bull Run at Sudley eireuiton, meee five miles from Centreville, and taking a Dike e by country roads, struck the Little River turn- ‘Ri % road which joins the Centreville turnpike near Fairfax : : about eight miles east of Centreville, halting his of the oe well on our right flank. During the afternoon ready St, the rest of Lee’s army was moved to Sudley Ford, ae © follow Jackson next day. Of this grand movement i. at pe —_ ao nothing until noon of Septem- St, Delne cC ave On our deat without sufficient cavalry to cover the country " Monday morning, September Ist, the 21st, with the Sde, moved abont ® mile to what we supposed saa to bea maar camp, in a pleasant spot, and every one busied think se make his quarters comfortable. How little did we ae. 1at before night the rebels would wreak a bloody ven- °@ on us for that evening’s work at Manassas! About Noo " “We were notified of our detail for grand guard or outpost u brig Per hir 162 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September, duty, which order in a few minutes was followed by another to pack up and be ready to move at a moment’s notice; and about two o’clock the brigade marched towards Fairfax Court House and Alexandria, following our 1st (General Stevens's) division. After marching a couple of miles we heard firing at some distance on the left of the road, but did not attach much importance to it as having anything to do with us, until we were soon turned off from the turnpike, and taking an old cart path to the left, approached closer and closer to the fi ing ; then the men began to look over their guns and calculate the chances for another fight. About half-past four we were halted on rising open ground, near a large farm-house, and saw men skirmishing along the edge of some woods half a mile in our front, into which two twenty-pounder Parrotts in pos! tion near us were firing slowly. About five o'clock the 51st New York moved forward and entered the woods in line of battle, quarter of a mile to the right of where the akira were at work. A few minutes after the 51st had disappeare from sight we were ordered up. Coming to the edgé of the woods we entered them in line of battle at about the same point as the 51st. Just what orders the two regiments “I under is uncertain. General Reno, though upon the groum was sick and off duty, and in our brigade, at least, indecisio" and uncertainty seemed to rule the hour. -The orders gia to the 51st were claimed by their commanding officer to hav been to march a short distance into the woods and wait fot further orders. The orders given to the 21st were to a effect that the 51st had gone in to find the enemy, and a we were to follow them as a support. As we entered ¢ ; woods heavy thunder-clouds obscured the sky and it becsil very dark; as the 51st were in front of us, we were paral larly cautioned against firing if we came upon troops, ni the same reason we deployed no skirmishers in our front. ; either entered the woods to the left of the line of the 1st _ obliqued so much to the left on our march as soon to be + tirely uncovered by them and to pass by without nota them. As we moved forward through the dense dark woe" 1 862. THE BATTLE OF CHANTILLY. 1638 a tremendous badly broken Stil] Moved on, thunder-storm burst upon us, and our line was up by fallen trees and other obstacles, but we es Passing a shelter of rails we saw a dozen men ng under them to get out of the rain; they were rebels, ut we took it for granted that it was all right, for the 51st » and passed them by. Ina few minutes we came a body of troops in front of us, in dark uniform, *pproached until portions of the regiment were within ards of them, when we halted and began to dress » Which was badly broken, some companies having tached by long intervals from the rest by the obstacles the march. avy rain and darkness made it impossible for us to about these men in our front, and half a mile into and entirely alone and unsupported we felt nerv- anxious. More than one man said, ** Those are but from what we knew of the situation the chance Our rig} © be otherwise. A few scattered shots came in on Pesan? bes which our answer was, “ Cease firing; we ’re ing ink Then, while most of our poor fellows were stand- ate 1 their guns at the shoulder, one of the deadliest vol- tis on i fired rolled upon us from our right and front. In regin, “den anguish and despair of the moment the whole “etn seemed to be lying bleeding on the ground, indeed, every man who had stood in the more open spaces of id fall: yet there still was a 21st, and a 21st that * some standing still in line, some from behind the » We opened fire on our brutal enemy ; but in the drench- ‘ain it being almost impossible to load a gun without wet- ting wae the powder, the guns on both sides soon became unser- ‘Ceable lone] Cl Moved slo tenant.c, €en de Seemed ¢ » and, except a shot now and then, the firing ceased. ark now ordered the regiment to retire, and they wly from the woods, the enemy not pursuing. Lieu- XPon 4 lonel Rice, and First Lieutenant Bemis lay dead hip sh, te ground, and First Lieutenant Clark with them, his attered by a bullet. Captain Frazer, mortally wounded, 164 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September, 4 i was carried out with us. Nearly a hundred of our men, dead q and wounded, lay there with their officers.! Meanwhile a bloody battle had been fought on the Unio left. The heroic General Stevens, commanding our first divis ion, had been killed while leading a desperate charge upo? A. P. Hill’s rebel division, falling with the colors of his old regiment (the 79th New York) in his hand; and his gallant troops, after routing Branch’s brigade, been withdrawn, out of ammunition, to the vicinity of the farm-house near which we had first halted. The only other Union troops now on the field were Birney’s brigade of Kearney’s Division, who had just come up, accompanied by General Kearney himself, and Randolph’s battery. Birney’s men were firing sharply in 4? advanced position on the left of Stevens’s Division on the ful ther side of a large corn-field, and about a quarter of a mile from the place where we came out of the woods, their line the twilight being indicated only by the flashes of their mus kets. General Kearney, in command of the field, in fierce haste was looking for our brigade to throw it in upon Birney right ; and, unfortunately for us, riding upon the shattet 21st just as it emerged from the woods, gave us a peremptory order to move into that position. ' We tried to steal a few minutes to get the wet charges out ° our guns, but the general, in hot and angry impatience, wou brook no delay, and under his sneers, threats, and curses; 7° again moved forward. The tain had now ceased, but the sky was still heavily overcast, and it was so dark that at few yards’ distance it was impossible to tell friend from foe, pecially now that many of the rebels were wearing Unios 1 It appears by the rebel official reports that the 2lst ran agai (Stonewall) Division (then commanded by General Starke), and Ewell’s f (then commanded by General Lawton, as Ewell had lost a leg at Manas The rebels that we passed crouching under the rails belonged to Hays’ brig which took a panic as we advanced, leaving our front clear for a march 0, ia rebel second line where we were received by the 13th, 25th, and 31st virg® regiments of Early’s brigade ; both of the last-named brigades belonging Ewell’s Division. During the fight the whole of the Stonewall Division pi causeless panic and went to the rear,— See reports of Early and others; Bs ix. Rebellion Record, more fully given hereafter. — Ep. 1862, THE BATTLE OF CHANTILLY. 165 Uniforms tight stil] Hin moved to the edge of the corn-field, with our > Berber tapes: the woods, and halted to advance a line of half a 8 = to be caught again, as we had been had te ‘988 ta if we could help it. Our company G Cer gallo ag eployed to our right and front, when an offi- to the roan up from the rear, and ordered a rapid advance turn a fect point, saying that General Kearney would forward ot “sg us if we hesitated longer. We moved slowly Upon a . en immediately a dropping fire was opened ing te Pen pc 1e corn in our front, and our skirmishers com- advanci, ' 1e right reported that a body of the enemy was ng from the woods upon our right flank. We came toa h alt. ; flank ..” and threw back our right company to cover that ; at : : Nn OM front, ae Same time opening a skirmishing fire to the if aa ee Kearney now rode up again in person, and, in he dig Pi : more emphatic manner than before, stated that dered meg sliove that there were any rebels near us, and or- fficer ang orward. We had the proof in two prisoners (an tenant Wal private of the 49th Georgia regiment!), Lieu- Beneral, gy ONG, % our brigade staff, 2 took these men to the Corn, "Gate ying : If you don’t believe there are rebels in the Sen. Pies, two prisoners from the 49th Georgia, just taken Oners,” 4p . Fiereely erying out, * you and your pris- the atick © general, entirely alone, spurred his horse through y mud of the corn-field, past the left of the regiment. Welve ed te moving in the murky twilight, and when ten or turn, hey 8 from our line saw his horse suddenly rear and the “aR alt a dozen muskets flash around him. So died a md and dashing soldier, General Philip Kearney. Against °y 8 death was quickly followed by a rush of rebels Cur front and flank. For a few moments there was Wateh ae Beene 4 Officer wag taken by our skirmish line ; Ward a, Ompany E (afterwards killed at the bat 1d brought him in just after he had fired, — pp ugh the brigade staff was tee Shting for the ied de that ni Bagg: on the field, the 21st did gamma en riga might. The 51st New York, however, lost thir- ra. en in Sageg, sla, woods, The Bist Pennsylvania do not seem to have been en- the private by Sergeant Gard- tle of the Mine), who ran for- 166 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September, no firing, and the brave enemies, standing face to face, de manded the surrender of each other in language rather forei ble than polite. Very much of the credit for the coolness now shown by most of our line —at least, on the left where I was stationed — is due to the steadfast and intelligent bravery of Captain Ira J. Kelton, and the men under his command (our noble Company D). The rebels stood within a dozet feet of our men ; the guns on both sides came down toa level. and Kelton in a prompt ringing voice gave the order to fires the response from his men was instantaneous and effective, and every gun that would go off along our line joined in. Thougl the enemy surged back a little as they received the deadly volley, it was but for a moment, and then came their retut? fire, and Kelton and many a brave comrade fell never to fight again. Then, as the rebels charged through our line in over” powering mass, men snatched the guns from each other’ hands, and for the first, and so far as I know the last, time our experience wounds in. fight were given with the bayone} All was now confusion, and it seemed as if the fight must go on till ended by death or surrender, with mortal enemies mingle together; but, strange to say, the fighting now ceased almost entirely ; it was so dark that one could not tell whether the man next him was a friend or foe, and nobody was willing ” say who or what he was; soon both parties, scarcely know" ing how it happened, found themselves drawing apart aga!” and falling back towards their original position, leaving the corn-field neutral ground. As we reached the fence at our edge of the corn-field we were delighted to find our ool with their plucky guard; and what there was left of the 21s was soon formed upon them. a We found that large reinforcements of Union troops Be now come up, but neither side cared to force any more nig fighting, and the battle of Chantilly was over. Hard ah fortune of the 21st had been in it, the battle was a decid . in the 1 Companies D and G, favored by their position, had not been engaged ¥ woods, and went into the second fight with full ranks and their guns i? order. — Ev. 1 862, CASUALTIES AT CHANTILLY. 167 thee? for the Union arms: the rebels had entirely failed in ay Bigee sg upon the Union right, and the safety of the eae artillery, and supplies at Centreville, was assured. We te sy our arms, in a cold, dreary bivouac, and many of atts “ Searched for our wounded in the corn-field, now de- night i the enemy, and aided the surgeons. Soon after mid- » the baggage and artillery having passed, the troops at y followed them. The 21st left the most destructive of their experience at two o’clock on the morning of the "hag after a march of six miles to Fairfax Court House, miles a ae for an hour or two, moved on ten or twelve reread urt ter to the vicinity of Alexandria, and went into cold « ge oo the afternoon, The night following was quite bask _ without tents, and many of the men without oe — the 21st, Weary, sullen, cold, and unhappy, passed mfortable night. tal ee Chantilly were left in a temporary hospi- Runiecn Fo in charge of our kind and skillful Assistant fier Phiaes W. Hastings, and fell into the hands of the died + i Ithough a smaller number than usual of the wounded atk: leir injuri¢e, the men were so much run down by the 1ad ize of t ope’s retreat, that scarcely any of those who bas ape ices: performed had sufficient strength to rally Mf ees e effects of the operation. Besides, sad to say, except ee : trifle in our hospital knapsack, there was no chloro- a ’ — the amputations had to be performed without it. tin oe laplain, Rev. George S. Ball, remained with Dr. Has- i . and rendered invaluable assistance to our wounded by aaa ars self-denying care, and his successful efforts for a ions removal to Union hospitals: one of the best of Ne “Ins and men, he has his reward in the gratitude of our § and dead. n this short but savage battle, the regiment suffered the es loss which it ever experienced in action; losing in Finn Issioned officers, killed and died of wounds 6, other- listeg wounded 1, prisoners (not wounded) 8; and in en- men, killed and died of wounds 32, otherwise wounded hea 168 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September, 75, prisoners (not wounded) 23. Total killed, wounded, and prisoners, 140.1 As follows : — COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. Field and Staff. Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph P. Rice killed ; Major George P. Hawkes, prisoner. Line Officers. Killed and died of wounds: Captain John D. Frazer, commanding Company H ; Captain Iva J. Kelton, commanding Company D; 1st Lieutenant Henry A. Beck- with ; Ist Lieutenant Fred. A. Bemis; 2d Lieutenant Wil liam B. Hill. Wounded: 1st Lieutenant William H. Clark, in thigh severely, and prisoner. Prisoners (not wounded): 1st Lieu- tenant and Acting Adjutant Wells Willard, and 2d Lieuten ant George’ C. Parker. Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph P. Rice, of Ashburnham, was shot through the body by a musket ball and died at once He was shot in the woods when in the act of advancing from our line towards the enemy to satisfy himself beyond questio? whether they were friends or foes. He was forty-one yea! of age at the time of his death. When the war broke out, hé was colonel of the 9th regiment of militia, and was very much disappointed that he was unable to get his regiment a& cepted for service; but when he found that he could not serve as colonel, willingly accepted a captain’s commission !” the 21st, and was assigned to Company H ; he was commis” sioned major of the regiment, February 28th, and lieutenant colonel, May 16,1862. Asadrill-master he had few superiors in the service. Of inflexible determination and iron will, 2° man ever saw him show a sign of fear; he never was guilty of an unjust, mean, or unkind act to superior or inferior; and by his death the regiment lost a tower of strength and manlt- ness. Major Hawkes, and acting Adjutant Willard, were take? 1 In addition to the above loss, about twenty other men were missing after be action, a few of whom deserted and never returned to the regiment, but mort the missing men came into camp in a few days. — Ep. noes. CASUALTIES AT CHANTILLY. 169 titi while reconnoitring the position of the enemy in < oornsadid ; they were well treated by the rebels, and very Nn released on parole, although not exchanged for several months, oe John D. Frazer, a veteran of the Mexican War, was Ribas ed in the leg by an explosive musket ball, when the full A Opened fire upon us in the woods. The leg was fear- 78 Be lattered, and amputation was performed next day; he of bi, an 24th of September, being too weak from the loss birth : to rally from the operation. He was a Virginian by Pg — had resided in Holyoke, Mass., for about three years Pathie 1€ war. Although he loved his native State, his sym- the 1 vere entirely with the government, and he entered aa oo with eagerness as first lieutenant of Company H, tain oe captain of the company on the promotion of Cap- Reni brain He was a man of wonderfully calm, collected ta, as his well-known exploit at the battle of Newbern ia mae beanie: fainting from a sharp wound in the elbow, he sks "eiteeae prisoner when our four companies were driven from the Sore and placed under a guard of three men ; but when PR ap: e turned against the enemy, by the aid of his revolver, of me 1 being worn under his overcoat had escaped the notice three Py es — not only effected his own escape, but made all of th ° his guards prisoners. He was selected by the officers the : *egiment to present to Amherst College in our behalf es ct given to us as a monument to the memory of Ad- ite Stearns after the battle of Newbern, and was indeed a 'y representative of the regiment on that occasion. Captain Ira J. Kelton, of Holden, received his mortal wound ~ his twenty-fifth birthday; he was struck in the thigh by a Usket ball, in the fight in the corn-field ; amputation was ya tormed, but he died on the 19th of September. His body a S brought home to Holden and honored by a public funeral. ‘ptain Kelton was a man of considerable intellectual culture; quiet and reserved temperament, he made no show or pro- fegsj he ns, but was universally honored and respected in the regi- n ¢ as a just and perfect disciplinarian, and a man of never- 170 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September, failing, calm, determined courage. He showed himself ex- actly in the last military act of his life; the guns of an enemy in overpowering force almost touched his breast; he must have known that his order to fire would serve as a signal to foe as well as friend, and probably be his own death-warrant. It was a hard test to put a man to; but if we who knew him best had been asked in advance what Captain Kelton would do under such circumstances, we should all have answered without hesitation that he would do exactly as he did. First Lieutenant Henry A. Beckwith (of Company D), of Fitchburg, was shot through the liver at the same time that his captain (Kelton) fell, and died the next day in the hands of the rebels. He was an excellent officer, cordial, manly; brave, and true. He entered the service as an enlisted mat, became second lieutenant March 3d, and first lieutenant Jun@ 19, 1862. He had expected to be commissioned as a lieuten* ant in Company D on the organization of the regiment, and was bitterly disappointed at not receiving the position. O® muster into the service he was appointed first sergeant of the company, and by energetic, manly efficiency obtained his much-desired promotion as a right and not asa favor. First Sergeant (acting lieufenant) Stephen McCabe, who was lying close by him in the field hospital where he died, tells me thal Beckwith had not supposed his wound to-be a mortal one, bub received the information from the surgeon that he could not live with cheerful composure, and died utterly without feat His body was carried home to Fitchburg and honored by # public funeral. First Lieutenant Fred. A. Bemis (of Company ©), of Spe?” cer, was killed by the unexpected volley in the woods. He was a brave, determined officer, and of an open, genial disp sition. When the company was formed he had confidently expected to be commissioned as second lieutenant ; failing to receive the commission, he entered the service willingly 22 cheerfully as an enlisted man, was at once appointed first 8° geant of the company, and doing his duty simply for duty § sake, was commissioned second lieutenant February 28th, 4” first lieutenant July 28, 1862. — CASUALTIES AT CHANTILLY. 171 Second Lieutenant William B. Hill (of Company K), of Gardner, was killed in the fight in the corn-field. He entered the Service as an enlisted man in Company A, and as Sergeant Hill of that company was probably better known throughout the regiment as a thoroughly devout Christian and man of Perfect fidelity and integrity than any other enlisted man. He was wounded across the abdomen by a musket ball at the attle of Newbern; was promoted to second lieutenant and @ssigned to Company K, July 22,1862. Pure in his manhood, and a fearless patriot soldier, he gave his life willingly to his co . . : . A ; tpt sf leaving a large circle of relatives and friends to mourn NS loss wrt Lieutenant William H. Clark (of Company JD), of ts eNeamaere was very severely, and as was long supposed mor- th Y wounded in the lower part of the body in the fight in © woods, and fell into the hands of the rebels ; he never fully Tecovered : bi sy vered from his wound, but was promoted to captain in the regiment October 30th, and returned to duty December fol- ving ; he was subsequently mortally wounded in the battle of the Mine, July 30, 1864. oa non Lieutenant George C. Parker (of Company D) was - €0 prisoner in the corn-field, while staying by his mortally Unded captain (Kelton). Lieutenant Parker was Captain elton’s constant protector and nurse on the field and in the 'spital ; he was exchanged and returned to duty some months afterwards, ENLISTED MEN. Company A. Killed and died of wounds: Sergeant Au- ustus Upton, and Privates George W. Bradish and Edward G Pp €rrish, — three of Templeton’s best soldiers. Wounded: Yivate Edson N. Ray, arm. P. risoners: Private Chas. W. Cobleigh ; Drummer Herbert "ras Sergeant Upton was shot through the bowels, and ‘ed on the 8th of September. Bradish and Gerrish were Killea on the spot. Company B. Killed: Privates James Bell and Carlos H. 172 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September, Goodrich. Wounded: First Sergeant (acting second lieuten- ant) Stephen McCabe, badly in the legs; Corporals George N. Fletcher, thigh, and Maurice Farrell; Privates William Cohen; Patrick Finton, arm; Patrick Maloney, leg ; Patrick Meehan; Henry M. Smith, arm. Prisoners (not wounded): Privates James Cane and Mau- rice J. O’Connor. James Bell, a warm-hearted, chivalrous Irishman, and 4 man of superb physical development, was struck by a musket ball in the head, in the fight in the woods, and on our retreat was left as dead, Lieutenant Clark, who lay near him, sub sequently told me that just as the rebels occupied the ground on our retirement, Bell recovered his consciousness, and seeing himself surrounded by his enemies dashed amongst them with his bayonet, fighting till he died. He left a widow and chil- dren in Leicester, Mass. Goodrich was a delicate, consumptive lad, but true as steel in struggling to keep on duty. Sickness had prevented him from engaging in any battle up to this time: unable to keep with us through the hardships of Pope’s retreat, he had re joined his company the very morning of September Ist, and when we moved for the fatal field his most earnest desire wa% that his strength might last until we reached the enemy, and then, having been in one fight, he would be willing to be di charged for his physical disability. He was killed in the figh* in the woods. Acting Lieutenant McCabe was badly wounded in both legs in the fight in the corn-field. Just as the two lines wel@ mingling together, I heard him call my name ; he was but # few yards distant and I hastened to him. I found him sway” ing to and fro, supporting his immense frame by his long sword, which he had stuck into the ground. He had bee? shot through one leg near the thigh, and finding that bis strength was going fast, from the rapid loss of blood, supposed that he was dying. I said: « Mac, you shall be carried off the field.” “No,” said he, “I’m a dead man any how, and want to die where I am; I only called you to bid you good 1 862. CASUALTIES AT CHANTILLY. 173 by, Shot Was and give you back your sword.”! As he spoke, a random Struck him in the other leg, and he fell ina heap. He aR ro near dying from loss of blood, but was carried to the Seon in time to save his life, Sila, circumstances under which O’Connor was taken pris- ees) are, perhaps, worthy of mention. As we were slowly ‘ia ing through the deep mud of the corn-field towards the ein ae which we had advanced, a gun flashed in my face, x Connor fell, erying out, “ O God, I’m a dead man.” sith ha almost touching each other at the time, and turning erga s the quarter from which the gun was fired, I saw a man Soe a hill of corn in the act of loading his piece ; my pistol io hag in my hand, and I fired at him with a feeling of "ait satisfaction in being able to avenge O’Connor’s death. tain ed Satisfaction was materially diminished, when I ascer- des 7 Soon afterwards that O’Connor was entirely unhurt, “ee casted of the device by which he had escaped further Siting: made prisoner by the enemy, he was released on Parole and deserted, ‘te c. Killed and died of wounds: First Sergeant Don = A. Colburn and Privates Francis Bullard, Patrick Pa and Job S. Booth. Wounded: Corporals Ste- ie L. Robbins, in legs; Henry S. Edgerton, shoulder ; lis rick W, Fox, foot ; Privates Silas C. Bullard, leg ; Wil- “pag H. H. Carter, shoulder ; George H. Cotton, hand and Meg Joseph Fitzgerald, leg; Dennis Fogerty, legs; William a rath, forehead; Martin D. Leach, legs; Albert Saun- ra abdomen ; Thomas Spence, leg; Asa J. Warren, legs ; ea H. Wheeler. Prisoners (not wounded) : Corporal Al- rt Patterson and Private Barney McNulty. Sergeant Colburn was wounded in the thigh, arm, and neck, nd did not die until November 11th. . the spot, Bullard died of his wound September 4th. Booth, recruit for the 17th Massachusetts regiment, had been sent = the wrong station, and was Serving as a volunteer in the “Ist; he died of his wound September 16th. Cotton received * McCabe was carrying a sword which I had lent him, — Ep. Dougherty was killed 174 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September; bayonet wounds in the hand and side, and though taken pris oner, fought himself away. Dennis Fogerty’s Irish readiness saved his life: as he lay on the ground wounded and help- less, a rebel drew back his bayonet to thrust, saying: “ Take that, you Yankee.” ‘I’m not a Yankee, but an Irish- man,” said Fogerty. The rebel thereupon vented his passion in curses, and passed on. Company D. Killed: Corporal Charles M. Whitney, and Privates Calvin E. Tolman, Alvarando Bigelow, Harry Mareb, John D. Newell, and George Willis. Wounded: Corporal Frank W. Weeks, severely ; Privates Edward Donahue, leg; William R. Graves, severely ; Elias Kempton, hand; Hat rington W. Saunders, abdomen. Prisoners (not wounded)‘ First Sergeant Ira B. Goodrich, Sergeant Israel Cummings and Privates John Delaney, Edward A. Howe, Ansel H. Lamb, and Jonathan Williams. In addition to this loss, Company D lost all their commis sioned officers: Captain Kelton and First Lieutenant Beek with being mortally wounded, and Second Lieutenant Georg? C. Parker taken prisoner. This frightful loss of officers and men was suffered in th? hand-to-hand death-struggle in the corn-field, in which the 2 ble fellows met their overwhelming enemy breast to breast, and fell in line of battle. Company E. Killed and died of wounds: Privates Jame* E. Burke, Edward Goodwin, and Charles A. Hosme! Wounded : Sergeant William L. Fox, arm; Corporal Lem uel M. Wheeler, face; Privates: Willard A. Bowers, leg: Rufus Converse, body ; Lyman Downes, abdomen ; Mortimet T. Hale, leg ; Louis Moultie, thigh ; Edward Sheehy, Edward Tyrrell, knee. Prisoners (not wounded): Privates James Ae Cooper, William H. Stewart, and Ira ‘Thompson. Burke was killed on the spot. Goodwin and Hosmer 800” died of their wounds. Sergeant Plunkett, afterwards the armless hero of Frede! icksburg, had a pair of strong arms at Chantilly. After be were out of the woods he went back to bring out his wound 1862, CASUALTIES AT CHANTILLY. 175 frien . . . Ben a going in without his musket; as he moved usly along, he surprised a rebel picket standing behind a tree Vv 2, :. 1 > vrenched his gun awa ys and brought him out, but ares not get at Moultie. Patricl any. 5: Killed and mortally wounded : Corporal ing ee Privates Fred. Lewis and Marcus Lover- i Ounded: Privates Jeremiah Clifford, Andrew McCue, e Ren utated 5 Horatio McGinnis, arm amputated ; John obie, arm amputated, Prisoner i ate Sis ae wounded): Privates Charles W. Mellney - “Sig and Lovering were killed on the spot; Sullivan died "8 Wounds in a few days, Oise ag G. Killed: Private George F. Robbins. Wounded: ase Salmon P, Blanchard, leg; Orange S. Cook, leg ; ge L, Cheney, thigh ; Charles R. Crafts; James Hare, George W. Lawrence, leg ; Henry C. Perkins, leg ; na (not wounded): Privates Alonzo Littlefield, *4\. Holden, and Frank B. Whitmore. Whitmore was Ma a] Pa eee Rite on by remaining on the field to take care of his Nded friend, Cook. Robbins was killed facing the rebel arge j : : hi Se In the corn-field, just after crying out to the ms men hear C ‘* Boys, for God’s sake, stand firm |” s. Ci ae H. Killed and died of wounds : Corporal Fred. om pee and Private George W. Scott. Wounded : Cor- , 4 Charles H. Murdock, hip and bowels ; Privates Henry i Ouglass, Fred. S. Fairbanks, finger ; Charles H. Green- re knee ; ‘Thomas Shea, arm; William H. Simpson thigh ; “us W. Tolman, side; y and ites . “lSoners (not wounded) : Privates Phi io, Pala é vilo N, atrick ‘gerald, William H. White. 9. Deni ae Cott was killed on the x ca pot. Nuch beloved in the company, 0 ti the Wound October 4th. ate Wounds, Corporal Russell, a man was shot in the neck and died Alvin White received five sepa- 176 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September; Company I. Killed and died of wounds: Sergeants Justin S. Cressey and Evelyn A. Garlick; Corporals Phineas ¥ Knight and John H. Lake; Privates John R. Claflin, Henry H. McIntosh, and John Wells. Wounded: Corporal Samuel G. Donavan, and Privates Richard Bissett, Patrick Brabstod; John B. Cortour, Hiram Crocker, Allan W. Hale, Georg? Lemley, and Samuel P. Whipple. Cressey, Knight, Claflin, McIntosh, and Wells, were killed on the spot. Sergeant Garlick died of his wounds Septembet 5th, and Corporal Lake October 4th. This sad list of casual- ties in Company I was principally suffered in the woods. _ Company K. Died of wounds: Private Elbridge G. Clif ford, died October 10th. Wounded: Sergeant George F. Lawrence, hip and finger ; Corporal Erastus B. RichardsoM Musician Emory G. Wetherbee, and Privates Harrison D. Bliss, James Clancey ; William A. Henry, shoulder ; Willia™ Jerome, arm; Horace D. Lindsay, hand; John R. Tooley, and Harding Witt, arm. ‘ There are no official reports of the battle on the Union side by any officer who was prominently engaged in it, except 4 General Birney, of the part taken by his troops at the end ® the fight. It is interesting to know that the comparatively harmles* movement of the 51st New York into the woods, followed bf the disastrous advance of the 21st, made a panic in Jackson § Stonewall Division, and seems to have paralyzed the entire rebel left wing in the fight. General Starke, commanding the division, seems to have made no report; but Brigadlé™ General Early, who then commanded a brigade in Ewell’s Dr vision, but subsequently came into command of the divisio® and made the official report of its operations, says of Cha? tilly, — . . » After we had been in position for some time, General Starkes who was commanding Jackson’s Division, came to me, and represent that the enemy were approaching on his left, in considerable fore® fs _ that there was an interval on his left, between his left flank and 1 Rebel. Record, vol. ix. Official Report of Ewell’s Division. — Ep. im 1869. REBEL REPORTS. 177 turnpike, {ested rection eral Star his line being in the form of an arc of a circle, and he re- me to move my brigade so as to occupy this interval, in the A which he represented the enemy to be moving. As Gen- which ng hey very urgent, representing his condition to be critical, thine aaa was, if the information he received was true, I deter- Owing to mit Pad brigade to his left, which was but a short distance, ine, “ees me of the line; and gave the order accordingly to this sn Yibi aii + » putting myself upon the leading flank. During Woods wens is re a very considerable musketry fire ; but as the Could see Y thick, and it was raining very hard at the time, I es but a very short distance, and took it for granted that the roce ‘ ’ pian: Proceeded from the troops in front of me. On reaching the oe mates: General Starke wished me to occupy, I found that three Not folhaeie auc the 13th, 25th, and 31st Virginia regiments, had icutena © rest of the brigade, and I immediately sent my aide, nt Early, to see what was the cause of it. He found those with the enemy in their front, Hays’s brigade, ong, of the 6th Louisiana regiment, having fallen » and passed through these regiments, followed by as my orders were being carried out. This affair Ments on * ae by me from the flank on which I was, and the regi- Officers, ye in it were very properly detained by the commanding founa ‘, immediately marched back the rest of the brigade, and tat the enemy had been successfully repulsed by my t regim hree * ents, It is + - into which it due to Hays’s brigade to state that the confusion Comma, a was thrown was caused by an attempt of the officer in Were on » Colonel Strong, to change its position when the f a bri vancing, and that his want of sufficient skill in the co 1 : : front Sade caused him to get it confused, so that it cou] "epi mn a 5'Ments engaged Colonel] Str Under ene my mmand ; d present >and it had, therefore, to fall back. The 8th Lodiaas Aa 5S > Commanded by Major Lewis, fell b i Test of the bri foom ; lay Ment er order than the 2 und ‘ : » General Jackson’s Divis- h er General Starke, having been withdrawn a short time after a 90 Ve-nag ‘ai 0 m ffair, and moved i and ed a , to the rear. Hays’s brigade Wn thus covered the same front that had been covered by Jack- ‘Vision and a brigade, with, however, a contracted line. bell SN , 178 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Septembet Stonewall Jackson’s report of the operations of his comma in this campaign contains the following account of the ere of Chantilly,! or as he calls it at Ox Hill, making no menti® of the exploits of his old division in the fight : — It being ascertained next morning (August 3lst) that the re army had retreated in the direction of Centreville, I was ordere na the commanding general to turn that position. Crossing wee re at Sudley Ford, thence pursuing a country road until we rea Little River turnpike, which we followed in the direction of Fai a Court House until the troops halted for the night. Early next a ing, September Ist, we moved forward, and late in the evening; “a reaching Ox Hill, came in contact with the enemy, who were Conti tion on our right and front covering his line of retreat from “aan ville to Fairfax Court House. Our line of battle was formed: al eral Hill’s Division on the right; Ewell’s Division, General La a commanding, in the centre, and Jackson’s Division, General a commanding, on the left, —all on the right of the turnpike ees fs tillery was posted on an eminence to the left of the road. TT ‘a gades of Branch and Field, Colonel Brockenbrough pommel a latter, were sent forward to feel and engage the enemy. A co king drenching thunder-shower swept over the field at this time, ial y directly into the faces of our troops. These two brigades va of engaged the enemy, but so severe was the fire in front and — Branch’s brigade as to produce in it some disorder and ec int? The brigades of Gregg, Thomas, and Pender were then ee the fight. Soon a portion of Ewell’s Division became engaged. conflict now raged with great fury, the enemy obstinately a Ste perately contesting the ground until their generals, Kearney ie fro vens, fell in front of Thomas’s brigade, after which they retire rel the field. By the following morning the Federal army had Fi disappeared from our view, and it soon ‘appeared by a rR had General Stuart, that it had passed Fairfax Court House, ane - moved in the direction of Washington city. this This grim puritanical soldier concludes his report of e 4 : A : ith th campaign, so glorious to him and his accursed cause, wit d Me ]os8 1 The official reports of Ewell’s and Jackson’s divisions show a ree killed and wounded of 481 (prisoners not given). ‘The very incomplet ye on the Union side give a loss of 708 in killed, wounded, and missing: wo . iver tu name Chantilly is taken from the name of a post-office on the Little phi pike near which the battle occurred. — Ep. der from! oF 18 62. ““ STONEWALL JACKSON'S WAY.” 179 following par agraph, which might 1 been taken from one of Olives a graph, which might have been taken fr mwell’s reports to the Parliament : — For these are q great and signal victories our sincere and humble thanks ue unto Almighty God. We should in all things acknowledge of Him who reigns in heaven and rules among the armies In view of the arduous labors and great privations the © called to endure, and the isolated and perilous position the command occupied, while engaged with greatly superior TS of the enemy, we can but express the grateful conviction of ind, that God was with us, and gave to us the victory, and 's holy name be the praise ! The followin ackson’s Way ss Way, Numbe Our m Unto h g piece of rebel poetry, entitled “ Stonewall ” founded more or less on incidents in this cam- se : A a ‘ A » Seems to me worthy of publication in this connection : — “STONEWALL JACKSON’S WAY.” Come, stack arms, men! pile on the r: Stir up the camp-fire bright ; No matter if the canteen fails, We’ll make a roaring night. Here Shenandoah brawls along, There burly Blue Ridge echoes strong, To swell the brigade’s rousing song Of “ Stonewall Jackson’s way.” ails, We see him now,— the old slouched hat Cocked o’er his eye askew ; The shrewd, dry smile, the speech so p So calm, so blunt, so true. The “ Blue-Light Elder” knows em well: Says he, “that’s Banks, he’s fond of shell ; Lord save his soul! we’]] give him ae That’s “ Stonewall Jackson’s Way.” at, well, Silence! ground arms! kneel all! Old Blue Light’s going to pray. Strangle the fool that dare’s to scoff! Attention! it’s his way. caps off! TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Appealing from his native sod In forma pauperis to God: “ Lay bare thine arm; stretch forth thy rod! Amen.” ‘That’s “Stonewall’s way.” He’s in the saddle now. Fall in! Steady! the whole brigade! Hitl’s at the ford, cut off; we’ll win His way out, ball and blade! What matter if our shoes are worn? What matter if our feet are torn? “ Quickstep! we’re with him before dawn,” That’s “ Stonewall Jackson’s way.” The sun’s bright lances rout the mists Of morning, and by George! Here’s Longstreet struggling in the lists, Hemmed in an ugly gorge. Pope and his Yankees, whipped before ; “ Bay’nets and grape!” hear Stonewall roar ; “Charge, Stuart! pay off Ashby’s score!” Is “Stonewall Jackson’s way.” Ah! maiden, wait and watch and yearn For news of Stonewall’s band! Ah! widow, read with eyes that burn That ring upon thy hand. Ah! wife, sew on, pray on, hope on, Thy life shall not be all forlorn. The foe had better ne’er been born That gets in Stonewall’s way. The frightful losses sustained in General Pope’s campaigh by no means rest upon his head alone; he had been held ° the Rappahannock by General Halleck, commander in clue f to await reinforcements, while the rebels were moving t? % right, and been led to believe that McClellan’s men were eo ing from Washington in sufficient force to make his re4 September, WANTED, A MAN. 181 at disaster.! Besides, his army generally had lit- © In his generalship, or in that of his most trusted - I, ar had no real cohesion as an army ; and, what and bie hearted obedience, wounded pride, jealousy, efficient aid eprived him and the fighting men with him of splendid a and support. Above all, General Lee and his and ¢ ffeoti tf were determined to teach the North by a bloody would te - esson that General Pope’s way of campaigning ertness a failure, and taking full advantage of general in- sia. ae discord on the Union side, “ went for him” with ‘ralleled vigor and ferocity. The ‘ “ae : Aka Peat. stirring piece of poetry, calling for a leader, feeling ahs one of our newspapers at the time, expresses the army and nation (at least so far as General Pope is Concer . a‘, ned), disappointed and angry at the disgraceful and ] : Ody failures of the campaign : — WANTED, A MAN. BY EDMUND ©. STEDMAN. SEPTEMBER, 1862. Back from the trebly crimson’d field Terrible words are thunder-tost ; Full of the wrath that will not yield, Full of revenge for battles lost ! Hark to their echo as it crost The Capitol, making faces wan : “End this murderous holocaust : Abraham Lincoln, give us a man! “Give us a man of God’s own mold Born to marshal his fellow-men - E > One whose fame is not bought and sold ; At the stroke of a politician’s pen; as fon tclegtam from Halleck of August 21st, given in P inforg Ws: « Dispute every inch of ground an es, you. Forty-eight hours more and Pie itd an inch if you can help it,” tion, ey Alexandria, to the effect that 3 would be sent forward at the rat ope’s report, concluded d fight like the devil till we can re- we can make you strong enough. A despatch was also received August 182 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September) Give us the man of thousands ten, Fit to do as well as to plan; Give us a rallying cry, and then, Abraham Lincoln, give us a man! “No leader to shirk the boasting foe, And to march and countermarch our brave, Till they fade like ghosts in the marshes low, And swamp grass covers each nameless grave ; Nor another, whose fatal banners wave, Aye, in disaster’s shameful van ; Nor another, to bluster, and lie, and rave ;— Abraham Lincoln, give us a man! “Hearts are mourning in the North, While the sister rivers seek the main, Red with our life-blood flowing forth, — Who shall gather it up again? Though we march to the battle plain Firmly as when the strife began, Shall all our offering be in vain? Abraham Lincoln, give us a man! “Js there never one in all the land, One on whose might the Cause may lean ? Are all the common men so grand, And all the titled ones so mean? What if your failure may have been In trying to make good bread from bran, — From worthless metal a weapon keen ? Abraham Lincoln, find us a man! “Oh, we will follow him to the death, Where the foeman’s fiercest columns are! Oh, we will use our latest breath, Cheering for every sacred star ! His to marshal us nigh and far, Ours to battle, as patriots can When a hero leads the holy war! Abraham Lincoln, give us a man!” 1869, COMMAND OF @ENERAL McCLELLAN. 183 TI eas ‘© army came under the command of General McClellan “S 1t passed ies Within the outer intrenchments in front of Wash- 5t0n ; and Ger al * : ae er neral Pope was relieved from duty in Virginia Signed to the command of the Department of the North- Ww est, September Tth. TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September; CHAPTER X. SEPTEMBER 7-22, 1862. The flag of our country is floating on high; We'll stand by that flag till we conquer or die: McClellan ’s our leader, he’s gallant and strong, We ’ll gird on our armor and be marching along. Marching Along. CAMPAIGN IN MARYLAND UNDER McCLELLAN.— BATTLE OF souTH MOUNTAIN AND DEATH OF GENERAL RENO, — BATTLE OF ANTIE- TAM. THE main body of the’rebel army did not advance beyond Chantilly, although their cavalry and horse artillery followed our retreating troops up to the immediate vicinity of the fort’ fications of Alexandria. On the 3d of September, General Lee turned his back upon Alexandria, and put his army ™ motion up the Potomac for Leesburg. By the 7th of Sep tember, the rebel army had been thrown across the Potom? into Maryland, by a ford near Leesburg, and was threatening Washington and Baltimore from the North and West. Meat while the Army of Virginia, had been merged in the Army of the Potomac, and the whole was being rapidly reorganized, and put into condition to renew offensive operations under General McClellan. The President, on July 1st, had called for three hundred thousand more volunteers; and recruits and new regiments were added to the battered veteran organizations. Some ° the new regiments were laboring under the delusion that thet® were enough old troops to do the fighting, and that the new levies had been recruited for garrison duty, but most of them found before long that there was fighting enough to 8° 1862, McCLELLAN'S CAMPAIGN IN MARYLAND. 185 ae The reorganized Ninth Corps was put under com- Nand of General Reno, and consisted of four divisions, com- manded respectively by Generals Willcox, Sturgis, Rodman, and Cox, our division (the 2d) being commanded by Gen- eral Samuel D. Sturgis; the 4th Division, commanded by sano Mt, Ai Zr ert AW SKETCH MAP OF McCLELLAN’S MARYLAND CAMPAIGN. General Jacob D. Cox, had formed a part of the West Vir- 1 ye Sinia army, and was generally known as the “ Kanawha Division.” 1 Var One interesting fact connected with the 4th Division was that the 23d Ohio Unteers, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel R. B. Hayes (President formed a portion of it. The 4th Division waged war on the Pope prin- » Plundering the country unmercifully, the President’s regiment being fully ad as the rest in this respect. General Reno took Lieutenant-Colonel Hayes te though justly to task, in the presence of his men, for their piratical con- wy ortly before the battle of South Mountain ; and some scribbler in a com- of pein published in the Boston Journal some years ago writes that a member fro 23d Ohio murdered General Reno in that battle to prevent the general Court-martialing his lieutenant-colonel for allowing such misconduct. I Nee sig : thar Not say to any one familiar with the circumstances of General Reno’s death he was not so killed. — Ep. As b, Seve 186 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September, Our brigade (the 2d) was strengthened by the addition of anew Massachusetts regiment (the gallant 35th); and the 21st received forty-five excellent new recruits, the first since the twenty-three men who had arrived May 7th at Newbern, and the last for an indefinite period. In the new movement against the invading rebels the 1st and 9th Corps formed 4 grand division under General Burnside. September 4th. At seven o’clock Pp. M. the 21st left their camp outside of Alexandria, and marching through that city, and across the Potomac over Long Bridge, passed through the city of Washington, about daylight of the 5th, and went into bivouac in a pleasant grove at the north end of the citys after a march of fifteen miles. A wagon full of letters was soon unloaded in our camp which were read with more that ordinary eagerness, as it was the first mail which we had re- ceived for a round month. On the 7th of September we re ceived orders to move into Maryland ; and, starting about the middle of the forenoon, marched about ten miles over a fine road, and halted early in the afternoon, in the pleasant tow? of Leesboro’. There was a good deal of straggling on the march, and plundering of orchards and chickens by some of our corps, the “ Kanawha Division” setting a very bad eX ample in that direction. September 8th. We remained at Leesboro’, and made out muster and pay rolls. All sorts of rumors of the rebel inv@ sion were flying about ; but the army was stronger in nul bers than ever before, more united in feeling, and content with McClellan’s leadership seemed to feel entirely confident that we could easily drive the enemy across the Potomac. September 9th. We started at six A. M., and marching about twelve miles reached Brookville at noon, and went into bivouac, September 10th. We remained in our pleasant quarter at Brookville. The rebel advance was said to be retiring b& fore us, and the new men were interested in hearing that thé enemy was getting himself into a trap; but “ bagging” and “ trapping ” were not popular expressions among the veteral® 1862, MCCLELLAN’S CAMPAIGN IN MARYLAND. 187 : September 11th. We started at seven A. M., and after a rah march of eighteen miles, through a rich and fertile wane halted in a lovely spot near Newmarket at five He ock. Heavy showers fell at intervals during the day, but Was the first rain for several days and was not unwelcome, September 12th. Starting at seven A. M., we crossed the oe and Ohio Railroad, and after a slow march crossed high stone bridge over the beautiful little river Monocacy, 93 went into bivouac in sight of Frederick City, about sun- athe We had heard artillery firing ahead during the after- °on, and were stirred by the news that our advance had had : Sharp skirmish with the rebel cavalry in the streets of ewig. and had driven them from the city. We were now the € most beautiful region in Maryland; and, cheered by Whig un welcome which we received from many of the in- foll itants (in spite of the shameful pillaging by our camp- Owers and stragglers), felt for the first time like a deliv- aes army. I shall always remember a dear old lady, who “ame out of a house that we passed that day, and waving a fig over her head promised us victory in the impending con- ct, September 18th. Stories about the large force of rebels holding the line of South Mountain, some twelve or fifteen ag in our front, were floating around the camps in the morn- ng. Soon after noon we received marching orders, and Passed through the main street of the beautiful old town of rederick : the warmth of our reception by the Union people c the town exceeded anything in our previous experience ; © street and houses were filled with women waving flags ®nd handkerchiefs, and their earnestly uttered blessings upon °ur arms were made doubly effective by the mingled sound of the distant artillery. On our passage through the town, th Witnessed General McClellan’s enthusiastic reception : as - ‘ppeared, the people gave themselves up to the wildest ms Monstrations of joy ; and a dense crowd, mainly composed va Women, breaking through all restraint blocked the street °und him, laughing and crying in hysterical excitement as SL ies tliat Se lt 188 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September, they tried to get closer and closer to the delivering leader. Our gallant brigadier could n’t let us part without at least @ salute in honor of our reception ; so the brigade was halted in the street, and the regiments faced to the front; but, be- fore arms were presented, General Reno, displeased at the block of the marching column, gave him an emphatic order to right face his men, and attend to business. After a march of about ten miles we went into bivouac near Middleton, close under the South Mountain range. During this short march we saw a terrible example of the discipline then enforced in the rebel army: two corpses in ragged gray uniforms were hanging on a tree beside the road, and we were told by citi- zens that they were two of Jackson’s men, whom he had or- dered to be hung for stealing. Although the rebel army (ragged and half-fed) had just passed over the road by whieh we were moving, the ripe apples were left hanging untouched on the trees that lined the road; but, in sad contrast with rebel discipline, the straggling plunderers from our well pro vided delivering army left few apples, chickens, or young pigs behind them on the march. THE BATTLE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN, FOUGHT SEPTEMBER 145 1862. September 14th. About nine o’clock artillery firing opened, three or four miles away on the mountain ; and at noon Gel eral McClellan, with a brilliant staff, rode past us to the front. At two o’clock we were ordered up the mountain take a hand in the fight, which was said to be fiercely col tested; and at once moved forward. Soon leaving the turn pike, as we began to ascend the thousand feet of elevatio? that we had to climb, we diverged to the left and continued our march up the mountain by the “ Old Sharpsburg Road, running through Fox’s Gap. General Hooker’s Corps we? now engaged a mile or two away on our right, arid troops the 9th Corps were fighting sharply in our front. It was pas? the middle of the afternoon as our brigade approached the summit, and were halted in the road close upon the fighting 1862. BATTLE OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN. 189 lines, for the rebels were still making a desperate resistance. A little drummer boy of the 17th Michigan, with a shattered Pag as he was carried past us down the road, caring nothing ang wounds, called out: “ The 17th is doing bully!” The . '»& new regiment but three weeks from home, were indeed doing bully in an assault upon the intrenched rebel right flank ; and, in a grand charge, soon carried the summit and annihilated the last rebel fighting line in their front. After the glorious charge of the Michiganders, a few harmless shots Were fired at us from a rebel battery in position on an emi- rte a mile to our right, but the infantry fighting in our “ont had entirely ceased. Our brigade was now moved out - the line of the rebel artillery fire, and massed, just off the : ad in an open space below the summit, where we remained "ntil the close of the afternoon, the rest of the division being blag within supporting distance. There was a cleared place “W rods wide, on the summit of the pass, bordered by thick Woods. Just at sunset, the 35th Massachusetts were ordered to feel the woods in front,2 while the three old regiments of : e brigade were formed in the cleared space, the two 51sts n the right flank and front, and the 21st in a second line. ‘ As we moved up the road, we passed over the thick-lying ry ‘dies of the rebels, who had been so unfortunate as to sting ‘ © muscular heroes of the 17th Michigan into madness for “venge, These rebels (covering the rebel right flank) had ; - posted in the road, which was sunk several feet below © surface of the adjoining ground ; an excellent cover, but Nally a death-trap, when the stalwart Westerners leaped °wn amongst them. th qd : The 17th lost 27 killed and 114 wounded in their charge, — Ep. tai General Ferrero (our brigade commander) had no right to assign a new reg- me to this duty, The brave 35th would have stood their ground in line of me ®, as they did three days afterwards at Antietam, when, swept by musketry haye miladed by artillery, their dead and wounded lay in rows and heaps ; —or i Charged an enemy as they did at Fredericksburg ; but it was not only ab- “i ut an outrage, on their first field, with their want of drill and utter fighting dut Perience, to charge them with the responsible and extremely delicate military Y Which was imposed upon them at South Mountain. — Ep. 190 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September; The 35th went a little way into the woods, were not dis- turbed, and coming out, reported that there was no enemy in our front. It was now fast growing dark, and General Reno went to the front to establish outposts for the night — when, with the most startling suddenness, a line of flashes ran along the edge of the woods from which the 35th had just emerged, and the rebel bullets hissed through our ranks. Longstreet’ men had come to retake the summit !1 The veterans of the brigade behaved with wonderful coolness, and throwing them- selves upon the ground, remained in their positions; and now came a succession of fierce rebel charges, but they all met @ bloody repulse at the hands of the two 51sts. The 21st being in the second line, could not fire, and simply hugged the ground, while the rebel bullets hissed over us, except now and then when some poor fellow stopped one with his body. After their final repulse, the rebels kept up a slow fire till tel o’clock, when fighting ceased, and pickets were posted by thé hostile forces in the most amicable manner. DEATH OF GENERAL RENO. At the commencement of the attack, our true and loved commander, General Jesse L. Reno, the soldier without sp% or blemish, fell mortally wounded by a musket shot in the breast, and died in about an hour. We were the right flank regiment of his old brigade, and there was not a man in the 21st who did not love him; he had always stood with his me? in battle, in a position to know the varying chances of the fight, and every man felt sure that his life would not be uw necessarily sacrificed when Reno was in command. The longs hard month on the ‘ Northerner ” had established confidential relations between General Reno and the regiment, such 4% have rarely existed between a general and his men; he ha daily shown his interest in the promotion of our comfort, and an eagerness to add to our military education and efficiency? 1 The rebels who made this night attack were two brigades of General JB: Hood’s Division: one called the ‘Texas Brigade, the other the Third Brigade ~ Ep. 1862, DEATH OF GENERAL RENO. 191 and when we first met the enemy under him showed that he relied on us as we did on him. General Reno was born in Virginia, but early in life removed to Pennsylvania; graduat- ing from West Point in 1846, he at once took part in the fexican War as a second lieutenant in a battery: breveted first lieutenant and captain for gallantry at Cerro Gordo and Chapultepee, on his return home he was engaged in honor- able and important army service until the rebellion broke out. July 1, 1860, he was commissioned captain in the regular army ; brigadier-general of volunteers, November 12, 1861, and major-general, April 26, 1862. He was thirty-seven Years of age at the time of his death. Woodbury, in his his- tory of the corps (p. 181), gives the following true description of his person and character : — Th person, General Reno was of middle stature, stout, well-knit, 4nd compact in frame. His forehead was high and broad, his face Wore a genial expression, his eye beamed upon his friends with rare and quick intelligence, or, kindled in the excitement of conflict, flashed one in brave defiance of the foe. He had a magnetic kind of enthu- Slasm, and, when leading on his men, he seemed to inspire his follow- er Pate AS ; : “8, and make them irresistible in action. A dauntless soldier, whose ike we rarely see, The loss of the 21st in the battle of South Mountain, was Slight, being but five enlisted men wounded, as follows: Cor- hen Arthur H. Smith, of Company C; Privates Hugh Gal- ’gher and William Julian, of Company E ; Private William “llis, of Company K; and a Private of Company F, whose Name I have not preserved. Smith and Ellis were discharged in Consequence of the disability resulting from their wounds. We passed the rest of the night lying on our arms, on the ®rest of the mountain, with no firing between the pickets ; the Night was very chilly, and our limbs were quite stiff before Morning: I had an interesting conversation with a wounded Tebel officer during the night. About midnight I heard a Call for help, and going to the spot saw some one moving rap- idly away from a man lying on the ground. The prostrate Man told me that he was Lieutenant-Colonel James, of the fog Ooeae . 192 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September; - 15th South Carolina, that he was shot through the body when our men made the last assault, and had pretended to be dead, hoping that he should feel able to try to escape before morn- ing, but found himself growing weaker, and knew that he should die. He said that he had called for help, because @ prowling rascal had turned him over and taken his watch. As he was getting very cold, I covered him with a blanket, and gave him a drink of whiskey. AsI sat by him he told me that when his regiment was ordered to cross the Potomaes the colonel had refused to go, saying that the regiment had enlisted to defend the South and not to invade the North, but that he had sprung to the front, and telling the colonel that he was a coward, had called on the men to follow him, but had led them to their death, as he believed himself to be the only surviving officer of the regiment. The brave fellow died before morning.!| When day dawned, it was found that the rebel pickets had been withdrawn, and that their army had retreated. We found an interestingly horrible battle-field around us, on which the rebel dead were lying more thickly; though in narrow spaces, than we had ever seen before, and 1 I entered the name and story of this gallant officer in my diary on the follow” ing day, but it is possible that I mistook the name he gave me. I have search the imperfect lists of rebel casualties that I have been able to get at, without find ing his name. The rebel General D. H. Hill, who was left by General Lee © hold the South Mountain passes in our front, and whose division was reinfo from Longstreet’s Corps towards the close of the afternoon, in his official report of the battle, says of Drayton’s brigade (of McLaws’s Division, Longstreet® Corps), which was posted on the flank assaulted by the 17th Michigan: + *” “ Drayton and his men were soon beaten, and went streaming to the rear.” Drayton’s brigade was composed of the 15th South Carolina and the 50th er 51st Georgia regiments. In General Longstreet’s official report of the casualtie suffered by his corps in the Maryland campaign (South Mountain being the 7 engagement in which the brigade is named by him as haying taken part), he gives the loss of this brigade as follows: Killed, 11 officers and 71 enlisted mens wounded, 16 officers, and 264 enlisted men; missing, 3 officers and 176 enlis men. — Longstreet’s Report, 9th vol. Rebel. Record. a It appears by General Toombs’s report of the battle of Antietam, that he oe the 50th Georgia at the bridge carried by our brigade. He speaks of the re ment as then numbering “seareely one hundred muskets,” and says that thet loss was unimportant in that battle. I find no mention of the 15th South Caro- lina at Antietam. — Ep. i 862. AFTER THE BATTLE. 193 hate were full of their wounded. In an outbuilding of a & house belonging to a man named Wise (the only house Sy e aol was a savage spectacle, in the bodies of two pa a we nion and rebel soldier, who seemed to have killed Pa ia - in @ hand-to-hand fight. Just after daylight, a ica, els came in and gave themselves up; and one of their ice ng parties, not aware of the rebel retreat, came close ai our regiment (which was now posted in the front line a Naot of the road) before they noticed our uniforms, the | Be turned and ran. Sergeant Lewis, of Company F, the jad a small picket on the road, ordered them to halt. As ed rs ran the faster at the challenge, Lewis took a flying Pi fifty yards distance, and brought down the non-commis- "ay officer in charge of the party ; before the poor fellow’s aa ouched the ground, the half dozen survivors threw down ‘a muskets and held up their hands. This was an interest- Pel eye to our boys, as they had on their backs knapsacks which Ist Mass. painted on them, being some of those aan by had left piled at Manassas. These men were South Whe, ens and were bound not to give their cause away. dias asked how their army was off for food, their spokesman vag ia promptly: “« We have plenty of regular rations ; ” Diecek a stout Sergeant Lewis, exercising a victor’s privilege, edtine their haversacks, one after the other, and found their Of o contents to consist of less than a dozen dirty little balls ay meal, covered with the ashes in which they had been a the rebels hung their heads at the exposure of their . y fare. I was interested at overhearing one of these Sy say, in answer to the question, why the inc &@gainst the Union: ** We always liked et but hated your government.” Nast > which evidently came from the man’s heart, was a good c ration of the foundation of lies on which the rebellion €d, for the southern leaders had always said that the 8 : uth liked the government well enough, but hated their alli- °€ with the northern people. bout the middle of the forenoon 13 y Were in rebel- your people well z thought that the re- » troops began to pass by 194 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September; us to the front, and we were gratified and surprised to see the regulars going between us and the enemy.’ As a regular reg ~ iment was passing, one of the 21st thought out in a pretty loud voice: “I don’t see any difference in looks between reg” ulars and volunteers.”” Whereupon an important looking reg ular sergeant held up his burnished musket to show its perfect cleanness, and said: “* Here ’s where the difference comes in H : “ Yes,’ said the 21st man; ‘‘ we use ours to fight with.’ This was considered the best hit on South Mountain, by out boys, particularly when we took position between the regulars and rebels again as usual, before the next fighting occurred. The burial of a portion of the rebel dead was peculiar enough to call for special mention. ‘Some Ohio troops had been de- tailed to bury them, but not relishing the task, and finding the ground hard to dig, soon removed the covering of a deeP well connected with Wise’s house on the summit, and light ened their toil by throwing a few bodies into the well. Mr Wise soon discovered what they were about, and had it stopped ; and then the Ohioans went away, leaving their work unfinished. Poor Mr. Wise, anxious to get rid of the bodie® finally made an agreement with General Burnside to bury them for a dollar apiece. As long as his well had been ale ready spoiled, he concluded to realize on the rest of its capae ity, and put in fifty-eight more rebel bodies, which filled 16 @ the surface of the ground? ; September 15th. At noon we moved down the mountalys and marching some five miles towards Sharpsburg, went inte bivouac in a beautiful spot, about a mile from Antieta® Creek ; a little artillery fire was going on, and a shell now and then flew over us, but did us no harm. Captain Hovey 1 The regular infantry were few in numbers, and, as a rule, were husbands carefully in reserve; no doubt wisely ; but the volunteers generally want see them put in a little more, — Ep. 2 This account of the burial of the rebels was given by Mr. Wise hi few weeks after the act, to a gentleman connected with the Sanitary Comm who noticed that the well had been filled up, and asked him how a man’s came to be projecting through the sunken earth, with which it had been sa! —Ep. mself, a issio™ hand ae a 186 2. SURRENDER OF HARPER’S FERRY. 195 h: re ae back from South Mountain to Frederick City, with ihe cco as a guard to rebel prisoners, and the dtinatys me was now left with only one hundred and fifty eka aul men for duty. We were pained and disgusted to ins et ken, that the garrison at Harper's Ferry, num- ee Ros ver eleven thousand men, had surrendered to the great general, Stonewall Jackson, although we did not get the an of its imbecile defense and dastardly surrender some days afterwards. General Lee the ge ’ Septe to ero, i fearful of risking a general engagement with ‘trison at Harper’s Ferry in his rear, had on the 10th of pata started Jackson and his corps from Frederick City mi ory oreicdoons al nr See eent the ph 4 Keo : mediately afterwards nleaisaas ns 0 cLaws, Anderson, and Walker, to as- shhh enses of the place and hold relieving forces at bay. ain oes s Corps, meanwhile, moved across the South Mount- Hil, ath Boonsboro, within supporting distance of D. H. + ‘sion and Stuart’s cavalry, who were left to hold the aSse a P B 8 through the mountain between Frederick City and 8a 00 , 1 | tt r 8 - be ibe 0, whic l1wea acked and ca ried in th fight. Un tu lately, Ja ckson’s task proved to be an easy one for him 0 ac | ble, Complish. The town of Harper’s Ferry was indefensi- ate commanded by surrounding heights. Maryland idee ae on the Pleasant Valley side (northeast of the town), 1e key to the position. The defense of Maryland ens S—a position admirably adapted for defense — was in- ted to Colonel Thomas H. Ford (82d Ohio Volunteers) @n in # . ths efficient and cowardly (or traitorous) officer, with four Lous: ‘ A “sand men, while the remaind er iat thonsan of the garrison, some ten Unde d men, was in and about the town of Harper’s Ferry, Satara the command of the Incapable Colonel D. S. Miles. Vested ay, the 13th, Jackson’s Corps and Walker's Division in- ba “3 the town closely on the south and west, and the divis- Heig} a McLaws and Anderson took possession of Maryland The : S, meeting with no resistance worthy of the name. Sarrison of fourteen thousand men was now substantially 196 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Septembers on an equality of position with their thirty-odd thousand " leaguering foes; but Jackson must make quick work, for oil Army of the Potomac was pressing forward, and ony hi Corps, under General Franklin, supported by Couch’s ee ion, were close to Crampton’s Pass (ten miles south of t passes carried by General Burnside’s command), leading ve Pleasant Valley near Harper’s Ferry. On Sunday, the 14 a General Franklin carried Crampton’s Pass, — beating bagi portion of McLaws’s and Anderson’s divisions, —and on ye night of the 14th was in Pleasant Valley, within three a a half miles of the abandoned Maryland Heights, and wit ’ six miles of Harper’s Ferry. Jackson’s and Walker’s roe on the same day, had attacked Harper’s Ferry, and been e pulsed by troops under the command of the gallant Gene ie Julius White, who unfortunately was subordinate to Oo Miles. McLaws and Anderson now had General Frank ‘i to look out for; and on the night of the 14th, two ho Union cavalry at Harper’s Ferry, under the brave Colonel a vis of the 12th Illinois Cavalry, rode out without any di : culty and reached Greencastle, Pa., the next mornings Nee ing an ammunition train of General Longstreet’s, cone Bp over fifty wagons, on the way. On the 15th, at eight fe) al in the morning, while General Franklin was moving to ys pi the enemy, the garrison at Harper’s Ferry surrem “a Franklin was brought to a stand. Jackson, thanks ae me petency and cowardice in the Union ranks, had carrie al Lee’s orders to the letter, —saving the rebel army from be it crushed in detail, and enabling its great commander to fig . rer the bloody battle of Antietam on northern soil before he passed the Potomac! Leaving General A. P. Hill’s Divi to receive the surrender of the Union troops at ioe Ferry, and secure the captured arms and _ stores, a - reached the vicinity of Sharpsburg with the two other soil ions of his corps on the morning of the 16th, joining Lon} i e street’s Corps and D, H. Hill’s Division, posted behind 7 kill 1 The Union loss in these humiliating operations at Harper’s Ferry Wa 80; wounded, 120; prisoners, 11,583. — Ep, ’ rhe 5th 1862, tam Creek, BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. 197 McLaws’s, Anderson’s, and Walker's divisions rejoined Lee on the morning of the 17th. General A. P. Hiv 8 Division arrived on the battle-field of Antietam at half- Past two P. mM. on the 17th, as Burnside’s men had good rea- Son to know. ne aft Part in the engagement. General Franklin’s Corps, remaining too long ar Crampton’s Gap, did not reach the battle-field until “rnoon of the 17th, and took a comparatively unimportant - To return to the doings of the 21st, Whom we left in bivouac near Antietam Creek on*the evening of September 15th. kep how At Mg guns, afternoon to the im Creek eral eptember 16th. The morning was lovely ; but we were © nervous and anxious by the enemy’s round shot, which and then skipped and rolled over the field where we were. ‘mes the artillery fire was quite heavy between the oppos- but by noon everything was quiet again. In the we were moved some two miles to'the left and front, mediate vicinity of the stone bridge over Antietam » on the Rohrersville and Sharpsburg road, which Gen- Burnside was ordered to hold himself in readiness to carry a assault, and which General McClellan says, in his report of ri i campaign, “ was strongly covered by riflemen protected by fle-pits, stone fences, etc., and enfiladed by artillery.” As We halted for the night, a rebel battery posted on the heights &Crogs did “ained on during the night. BATTLE OF ANTIETAM, FOUGHT SEPTEMBER 17, 1862. Atd aybreak on the 17th of September our army, a front of about four miles, was in position as follows : — a The 9th Corps (of 13,819 men) was posted on the left, on © east side of Antietam Creek; the 1st Corps (of 14,856 > and 12th Corps (of 10,126 men), on the Union right, hb, uPied an advanced position across the Antietam, supported Y the 2q Corps (of 18,813 men) on our side of the creek; Corps (of 12,930 men), with a mass of reserve artil- ike °ccupied a somewhat retired position on our side of the covering Antietam Creek, in our front, was in plain sight, but Not molest us. We slept on our arms, and were heavily | ; i : , f 198 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September; creek, in the Union centre; the 6th Corps (General Frank- lin’s) had not then come up; it numbered 12,300 men, and when it arrived on the field (soon after noon) reinforced the right of the army. The Union cavalry (between four and five thousand strong) was in reserve, and played an unimportant part in the coming battle. General Sumner commanded the Union right wing, General Burnside the left wing, and General Porter the reserves in the centre. General Lee’s army was in a well-chosen position, covering the Shepherdstown ford of the Potomac River. Its left, unde? Jackson, rested near the river; D. H. Hill’s Division held the centre, and Longstreet’s Corps the right. General Stuart, with the cavalry and horse artillery, guarded the rebel left. Me Laws’s, Anderson’s, and Walker’s divisions arrived on the field from Harper’s Ferry soon after fighting commenced, and reil forced the rebel left and centre. A. P. Hill’s Division, arriv: ing during the afternoon, reinforced the rebel right. It % difficult to ascertain the strength of the rebel army which took part in the battle. Lee, in his official report, says that owiN$ to the enormous number of men unfit for duty, stragglers and skulkers, in his army, “ this great battle was fought bY less than forty thousand men on our side.” This statement can hardly be true, as it is certain that the numerical strength of his entire army was about the same as that of the Army ® the Potomac, and it is in the highest degree improbable that it was reduced as largely as he states from the causes named. The strength of his army on the field in the battle is given Pollard’s (rebel) “ History of the War,” vol. 2, page 137, % having been forty-five thousand men during the first half the day, and for the remainder of the battle seventy thous” men, which is probably nearly correct. September 17th. A cloudy morning. Soon after daylight the battle commenced with great fury on our right, but the! was no firing of consequence on our front until about eight o'clock, when the batteries began to fire. About nine o'clock just_as we had received a large mail from home, the regiment 18 62. BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. 199 = OPN es: to support Durell’s battery, posted on a neighbor- As “ aid in covering an assault about to be made upon the te y Crook’s brigade of our 4th Division, and at once the tie in rear of the battery, and about half way up hes on which it was posted. A good many shot and shell iat a tard us during the following two hours, but we were so ick = tered as to be able to read our home letters, without kek anger of getting our heads knocked off. We suffered eg in this position, but there was one escape which seems edu of mention. The color-guard were grouped close to- Tae while one of them was reading aloud from a news- sky * when a shell descended into their midst as if from the a a itself in the ground and exploded, blowing colors iais a in all directions : we supposed that none of the they a escaped without injury, but to our great delight a p Hie themselves up one after the other, entirely un- ee out noon our brigade was “moved forward and put a ast in advance of our artillery, and close to the bridge: part e here ina corn field on the crest of a small hill for Sas tin an hour, during which time we were subjected to re — shelling by the enemy, and lost two or three men. Site phe veteran regiments of the brigade (21st Massachu- ws ni me New York, and 51st Pennsylvania) moved down a r? ridge to carry it by assault, After the repeated fail- eas lich had occurred the enterprise was regarded as a des- ‘pel One, The first attack by Crook’s brigade had been Bulla Sed with heavy loss; and, subsequently, @ succession of and nt assaults had been made, in vain, by the 2d Maryland oe New Hampshire. oe bridge was very narrow, being only wide enough for he men to pass abreast, and the creek was supposed to be hi Nha apa On our side of the creek, at the foot of the Sher land from which we descended for the assault, open, 1 As : . fanty ® matter of fact the creek to our right of the bridge was fordable by in- Y, and much of the delay and loss in carrying the bridge would have been Voideg ifo Water, __ er st bon properly posted on the depth of the D. 200 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September, undulating fields stretched on both sides of ‘the road: the other bank presented a steep hill-side, rising precipitously from the water on the left of the road (as we faced), and on the right cut into by a wooded ravine : the rebel bank to the left of the road was also covered with thick woods near the water: On the hill-side, a few yards above the bridge, there was ® heavy stone wall running parallel with the stream, and in the woods and at the turns of the road as it wound up the hill were rifle-pits, and breastworks of rails and stones, all mak- ing an excellent cover for the rebel riflemen defending the passage! Take it altogether, it was an exceedingly difficult place to carry by assault, and the five hundred poor fellow’ dead or cruelly wounded, who lay in front of it served 4 powerful remonstrants against the. practicability of the a — tempt. The artillery opened with canister to cover our ad- vance, as the three regiments moved down upon the bridg® with steady ranks, and, taking position close along the strea™s commenced a rapid fire by file upon the rebel cover. Thé first position taken by the 21st was to the left of the road, and on the left of the 51st Pennsylvania, who were directly in front of the bridge with the 51st New York on their righ The bank opposite the 21st was covered from the water’s edg® with a thicket of brush and trees, presenting a mass of foliag® impenetrable to the eye: after firing from twenty to thirlY rounds into the wall of shining leaves, into which six piec® of artillery were at the same time pouring canister over out heads, doubtless helping to keep the enemy quiet, but se! ously wounding two of our men, the 21st were moved across ‘ the road to the right of the 51st New York, who were at the same time drawn in a little closer to the 51st Pennsylvam™ This passage, of not more than five hundred yards, was made by the flank on the double-quick through a withering fire from the rebel sharp-shooters, secure in their entrenchmen™ 1 It appears by the rebel official reports that the rebel force posted to covet the passage of the stream consisted of the 2d, 20th, and 50th Georgia regiments ° infantry, two full batteries of artillery, and a few South Carolina Sharpshoote"® the whole under the command of Brigadier-General Robert Toombs. — ED. 186 62. BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. 201 eyes dotted the field around us with little puffs of dust as tie a bullets entered the ground ; and the pierced bodies whan et wt twenty of our little band marked the path by vrrag we aad made it. On reaching our new position, we as be with the two 5ists in a desultory sharp-shooting song 1e rebels showed their heads, for ten or fifteen min- the ote. the enemy comparatively quiet. Then came Ba hg a to charge ; the response was worthy Reno's old bri- (the 3 te color-bearers started on the run for the bridge tai = of the 5ists side by side, and a hundred yards eet e bridge than ours), and the three regiments with a Re 7 1out crowded towards the narrow passage ; but before i i of the two 51sts had touched the long disputed ‘ay « 1€ panic stricken rebels left their cover and fled, all soe . devoted leader of their nearest regiment, who ran Phi the edge of the bank, and with a ery of defiance aii Sword in the faces of our men for a moment, and a a pierced by a dozen bullets.1_ The bridge was won at tide, the veterans of Reno's old brigade are entitled un- ean oned to the honor of its capture. The two 51sts imme- hii in ane over the bridge without further opposition, in the 6 21st, who had nearly exhausted their ammunition as leavy fusilade upon the peaceful foliage Opposite our ‘ PE Were were halted for a few minutes to allow the men ti ect cartridges from the boxes of our dead and wounded ; via Wwe passed over the bridge which several thousand of our Sy Cinfantry and artillery) were now hurrying to cross. _ ©" over the bridge the brigade, now joined by the 35th “ssachusetts,2 took position in a ravine on the right of the oad, which the rebels soon began to enfilade with artillery lm. Geont® heroic officer was Lieutenant-Colonel Holmes, commanding the 2d cial 81a regiment. Well might General Toombs say of him, as he did in his offi- "sport, “ Lieutenant-Colonel Holmes, who commanded the Second Georgia ol : tan, ters, fell near the close of his heroic defense of the passage of the Antie- a 4 +. io . © armi, And it is due to him to say that, in my judgment, he has not left im the 2 8 Of the republic a truer or braver soldier.’ — Ep, The 35th came u d . : p and passed the bridge while the 21 earching for *tridges after the rebel retreat. — Ep, . Deedes te , 202 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September, posted on high land on our right : a fragment of the first shell that I noticed pass down the ravine struck in the head and instantly killed the gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Bell of the 51st Pennsylvania, a worthy companion in arms and com” mand to its loved and distinguished commander Colonel Hat- tranft. The enemy, still firm and defiant in our front, maintained a strong line of battle behind the crest of the hill near the bridge, and but a few hundred yards away ; and by theif sharp fire succeeded in preventing our artillery from getting into effective position on the rebel side of the creek, and most of it soon returned across the bridge. For a couple of hour$ after the capture of the bridge, no movement of importance? occurred upon our front, except that our troops were being formed for an advance, and A. P. Hill’s Division were coming up from Harper’s Ferry upon our left. Severe fighting had now ceased upon the right of our army, and the shattered reg” iments of the Ist, 2d, and 12th corps, after a. loss of nearly ten thousand men, were resting on their arms in about the same position from which they had advanced in the morning It was three o’clock when all the infantry of the 9th Corp§ were arrayed upon the rebel side of the Antietam, and beg@” a further advance upon the enemy. Then the 1st Divisio? (under General Willcox), supported by Crook’s brigade of thé 4th Division, pressed forward on the Sharpsburg road and gained the outskirts of the town, while the 3d Division (under General Rodman) handsomely carried the heights to the left of the town ; but their triumphant advance at last ended a check, and bloody repulse. The Union pressure upon the rebel left had now ceased, and Lee was free to hurry dow? strong reinforcements to restore the battle on his right, a0 the fresh troops of A. P. Hill’s Division of Jackson’s Corp’ appearing on Rodman’s left, began a fierce attack, As oUt comrades were driven back by the rebel masses, towards the close of the afternoon, our division (the 2d), which, since the passage of the bridge, had been held in reserve, was ordere forward, and held the enemy at arms length from the precious, 1g $2. BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. 208 bloox ‘ lood-bought bridge. Our brigade moved forward with alac- ae and enthusiasm, although with the exception of the 35th the Pea who had not been engaged in the assault upon Sie nidge, and still had full boxes, we were very short of the psig —and gallantly took position on the heights to bride - Sharpsburg, about a thousand yards in front of the te 8®, lacing A. BP, Hill’s advancing veterans. The brigade 2 dagt bere behind a Virginia rail-fence, with the 35th on the noth ae the 21st, and the two 51sts on the left. A rebel ecllay. of six guns on our right, played upon us with a mis- shel] ous collection of missiles, varying between canister, Hur. Pleces of railroad iron, and scraps of all kinds, while S infantry, halting in their advance behind a rail-fence ar to ours, on the edge of a large corn-field about two ards in our front, opened a hot fire of musketry. » On our right, with their full ranks, suffered terribly, antly maintained their position. It was now nearly » and the rebels felt that they must make quick work if Would retake the bridge that night ; their officers seized a bi nome and jumped over the fence, urging their men a Ow, but in vain ; the fire from our front was too deadly oie to be willing to face it in @ more exposed position. nis nately for us, they knew nothing of our short supply of “08 Unition ; and, without any further efforts to charge, con- €d themselves with keeping up a heavy fire upon us, fla hat with the infantry in our front and the artillery on our nk, shot and shell were plenty around us; but the 21st, with ‘eae thin line, lying down in single rank (though our noble “a true Lieutenant Holbrook died there with some of our oh enlisted men), suffered small loss compared with a new tak Ment, whose officers and men were not so well skilled in ia, all the care of themselves which the proper perform- © of their duty would permit. °on after sunset, although the men had husbanded their "Unition with great care, the regiment ceased firing, a8 4 after man came down to his last round, which he retained In h: “3 his gun, The troops on our left had retired when their Simi] hund &m Ma Ciena Ro a Be ha i Uae ae cpge! 204 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September) ammunition was expended, and been replaced by a fresh reg- iment; but our brigade commander, on being notified that we had only the charge in our guns, had sent back orders for U8 to hold our ground till after dark, with cartridges or without, and the men with courageous patience awaited the result. It had begun to grow dark, when the fresh regiment which had come up on our left, having used up their ammunition, ?& tired to the rear. We now received orders to remain where we were until actually assaulted, and then to fall back to the vicinity of the bridge. The men lay still as death, expecting that the enemy would advance every moment, and meaning at any rate to give him one handsome volley at close range before retiring. The time passed slowly away as the darknes$ gathered ; and the enemy became as quiet as ourselves. It was now too dark to see whether any of our troops still 1@ mained on our right, but we felt sure that none were there as we had heard nothing from them for over half an hout but any doubt that might have existed on this. point was sud- denly and violently dispelled by the flashes of fifty musket whose rebel proprietors had crawled unnoticed close upon UF right flank. We then knew that the 21st were the last troop left on that advanced line, and, without returning the fit® protected by the darkness, made good time to the high land just above the bridge, the enemy making no pursuit. Thet® we were furnished with an unlimited supply of ammunitio® which the men received with almost as much pleasure as they did the cooked rations and drink of whiskey which we als0 found waiting for us. We had lost about twenty men in ae last position, making our loss in killed and wounded for th? day, forty-five; a full third of the number which we had take! into the battle. We passed a cold night, as we dozed and slept in line of battle, entirely uninterrupted by the ene™)? and without any other excitement than was occasioned by the burning of a few houses in Sharpsburg (half a mile away our right) about midnight, and a report towards morning that the rebels had retreated across the Potomac, and that of pontons had gone to the front. At daylight, as with sti . - - BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. 205 b : ; ni as and limbs we reformed our line, we were disappointed h nd the enemy still clinging closely to our front, and to ear the picket firing run along the lines of the opposing ar- ma a constant expectation of an order to renew the at- theits 1é time wore slowly away until nine o’clock, when the Pit vat was ordered to the extreme left, as an outpost ‘not apes ine: wn.” It seemed to us as if the 21st were indeed fort ought to the death, as we moved into our position some = rods in advance of our nearest troops. Our line, mainly the “i Woods, extended from Antietam Creek to the crest of first hill, and was about three hundred yards in length. abi thnk was covered with stones, out of which the men Nts rie a breastwork. Each man had a pile of cartridges i. ose to his hand, and though that well-tried line of he- edly oe but an hundred men, they would most assur- a a. given a good account of themselves if attacked. Cenk nee right of our position we had a good view of the an occupied by the rebels in the fight of the evening $5 the te saw them carry several of their dead and wounded oUt ay ire In uncertain waiting the day passed away with- with x4 ung of importance transpiring. The rebel line, which, S eet a exception of a battery here and there, had seemed aay eserted during the morning, in the afternoon showed ea rate and we saw several regiments moving about. With P y neither side was unwilling to have night draw near relig = a renewal of the battle. Just before dark we were the Sd by some regulars and sent back to the other side of “a Pincers: where we bivouacked in an orchard, and after hay Supper on meat, brought up by our quartermaster, al- a Y cooked, and a liberal ration of whiskey, had a long, re- Shing sleep. th, Ptember 19th. We formed line soon after daylight, and bon rested on our arms, waiting for orders. It was soon re- ted that the rebels had retreated, but we were incredulous. Up e: seven o’clock we crossed the bridge again, and moved >a line of battle over the hill, where our 3d Division had "Sed and been driven back two days before; the ground Mies, 206 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Septembery was thickly strewn with the bodies of the Union dead, which had already begun to decompose; among them the bodies of the 9th New York (Hawkins’s Zouaves), in their bright uni- forms, were sadly conspicuous.! Lee’s army had indeed es caped, having crossed the river during the night, with all its serviceable artillery, wagons, and supplies. Our division noW moved towards the Antietam ford of the Potomac, the 21st serving as advance guard. We found the few houses along our route filled with the rebel wounded, and after marching between three and four miles, came to the junction of Antie- tam Creek with the Potomac, and saw the enemy’s outpost on the high bank of the river opposite. We fired a few shot at them and they disappeared. As soon as the division came up, we went into bivouac. The 21st had lost forty-five officers and men in killed and wounded in the battle of Antietam ; a heavy loss, considering the fact that it took less than one hundred and fifty office! and men into the action. CASUALTIES SUFFERED BY THE 21sT IN THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM. Killed, and died of their wounds. Commissioned officer 1 killed; enlisted men, 9 (of whom 7 died on the field): Otherwise wounded: Commissioned officers, 3; enlisted me” 82; as follows: — COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. Killed : 2d Lieutenant Henry C. Holbrook. Wounded: 1st Lieutenant Charles H. Parker, in both legs; 2d Lieutenant — George W. Gibson, leg ; and Charles Goss, thigh. Lieutenant Holbrook, of Barre, was instantly killed by . piece of shell on the hill above the bridge. Kind and eo but firm in the performance of his duty, he was one of ¢ 1 The 9th New York behaved with the greatest gallantry in this their first a gagement of any Importance since leaving North Carolina. They carried & ail battery in a heroic charge; and though the guns were soon retaken by overwhe ing numbers of the enemy, they were not Jost until 250 men of the 9th had falleps of whom 95 were killed; and this out of a total of about 500 men. — ED- su ho Thoma 1862, CASUALTIES AT ANTIETAM. 207 — aie and best of men. Entering the service as a the — © was at once put on duty as a clerk and helper in oa a department, and subsequently was promoted to ana Ssary sergeant. He was commissioned 2d lieutenant, st B out on duty as such in the dangerous and trying times seach at retreat, One of his feet had been injured in his Plain a that walking was painful to him, but he never com- e : of it or lagged behind on that account. Although he SWsasyy upon the battle-field from a position of comparative AMA 1e was of stuff that did not require a veteran’s expe- fais) © to give him coolness in battle: courageous as he was ful, he fought and died without a thought of fear. hence Parker, of Ashburnham, was wounded by a aR — in the attack upon the bridge. He was in com- aa ¥6 his company in the battle, and after he was wounded RE 5. to stand, sat down behind his men and still re- “us command until too faint from the loss of blood. ENLISTED MEN. Company A. Wounded : Sergeant Jonas R. Davis, breast, p utusion ; Privates Seth F. Hale, foot; J. Albert Osgood, a 3 George R. Severance, arm. ©mpany B. Wounded: Color Corporal Thomas Stephens, arm, (Companies B and F went back to Frederick City, as a ard to rebel prisoners taken at South Mountain and were tin the battle of Antietam, but Stephens being in the color Suard remained with the regiment. ) Company C. Wounded: Privates William H. Earle, foot; 8 Farrell, leg; Frank H. Southwick, leg. Company D. Killed: Privates William §. Boynton and Mos §. Eastman. Wounded: Privates Dennis Delaney, lec. : eo. Mi Samuel W. Flint; William M. Stewart, head; and reston Warren, head. y Company E. Killed: Corporal Henry K. Buss and Pri- at ety George T. Bigelow. Wounded: Color Corporal Frank- "2 Sargent, abdomen ; Corporal Charles E. Maquillan; and Privates Horatio N. Barrows, both arms; Albert L. Brock hand; Patrick Burke, leg ; Daniel Coombs ; Waterman Pet nery, arm ; James A. Wilson, leg. Wilson returned to duty and was killed in our next battles Fredericksburg. Company F. Wounded: Private Charles R. Renner, head. Company G. Killed: Corporal James S. Stratton and Pr vate Daniel Daley. Wounded: Sergeant (Acting 2d Liew tenant) George M. Munroe, knee and arm: Privates Charles R. Crafts; William Pratt, foot; Eugene A. Puffer, leg; Lar ther E. Stewart, face. : Corporal Stratton was mentioned in Colonel Clark’s official report of the battle of Newbern for his ‘intrepidity as an ade vance guard. Sergeant Munroe took command of the com pany when Lieutenant Parker was disabled. Lieutenant Parker was first wounded in the arm, but refused to leave the field, and was soon wounded again severely in the knee. Company H. Wounded: Sergeant John Kelt, knee; Pr vate James H. Willard. Company I. Killed: Private Charles Leonard. Wounded! Sergeant Edwin R. Wood, head. Company K. Died of wounds, 1st Sergeant George W: Davis, wounded in both legs, died September 26th ; Private Charles S. Brigham, died of his wounds September 27th. Wounded: Privates William Harrington, shoulder ; Georg? H. Holman, side; Edward A. Jackson, hand. Holman and Jackson were discharged for disability result ing from their wounds: they and Brigham had joined the regiment since September 1st. Harrington was subsequently killed at the battle of the “ Mine.” One of the saddest death that I ever saw in battle was that of Lieutenant Andrew Fowler, the gallant and beloved adjutant of the 51st New York. When the 21st were going into position on the "8 ' of the 51st, in the assault upon the bridge, Colonel Potter ” the 51st, familiar with the new ground which we were 1? on eupy, and from which his regiment had just been draw? 7 more in front of the bridge, sent Adjutant Fowler to our "8" 208 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Septembery CASUALTIES AT ANTIETAM. 209 Men sik ‘ent to suggest the best position for us to take. He delivered 1s Messag he ue ring on returning to his regiment was shot in the T fou eae. ‘pparently dead 3 but after the rebels had fled bly ‘aie e was still alive and conscious ; suffering terri- ’ tried with pitiable earnestness to give me some last Mesgzy . . . 2 ure but died without being able to make himself under- TOTA ti CASUALTIES IN THE UNION AND REBEL ARMIES AT BE BATTLES OF SOUTH MOUNTAIN AND ANTIETAM. G , : Meo eg McClellan’s official report gives the casualties in “rmy at the battle of South Mountain as 443 killed, 1,806 Wou ee . nded (no missing or prisoners) ; and at Antietam as 2,010 kille . ed, 9,416 wounded, and 1,043 missing. Total Union loss In ig two battles 14,794. lang ‘" rebel official table of General Lee’s losses in the Mary- $i “Bi ob which makes no separation of the losses suffered up 19 battles, gives their killed as 1,567, wounded 8,724. killea | el losses in Maryland fights by their reports 10,291 and wounded, with no report of prisoners and missing. he ; ; sen rebel loss in prisoners was at the lowest estimate 5,000 - baie many of their missing men must have been killed, ‘des burying about 500 of their dead at Antiet eft Uunbur} Ran ean on that field alone about 3,000 of their dead who elt iried by our troops. See Official Reports “ Rebelli “cord,” vol. y. p. 465, and vol. ix. p. 583. ape 8 : ‘s “ptember 20th. The regiment remained in bivouac near the Mouth of the Antietam. The great event of the day was ap tease. of wetting down General Ferrero’s star: his wo. as brigadier-general had been announced to us Hina battle-field of Antietam; and to-day he furnished the Ce with a handsome ration of ve i : - *° drink his headihe ry good whiskey in which di “©ptember 21st. The following orders, from corps and IVisj rt Coy, on headquarters, lamenting General Reno’s death, and am, they “Ogratulati i P ulating us on carrying the bridge, were read at dress- avade, 14 210 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Septembets Heapquarters 9TH ARMY CoRPS- Mourn or AntrETAM, September 20, 1862 GENERAL ORDER No. 17. The commanding general announces to the corps the loss of theit late leader, Major-General Jesse L. Reno. By the death of this dis tinguished officer the country loses one of its most devoted patriot and the army one of its most thorough soldiers. On the long list ® battles in which General Reno has fought for his country’s service his name always appears with the brightest lustre ; and he has ® met a soldier’s death while gallantly leading his men at the battle of South Mountain. ; For his high character and the kindly qualities of his heart in P™ vate life, as well as for his military genius and personal daring as 4 ow 186 z PR OCLAMATION OF EMANCIPATION. 211 p ri ys wnanve our just share of credit in the official re- tion in the iene and corps commanders, for our participa- ey POTS Ine assault upon the bridge. General Fer- Movement Se commander, with strange ignorance of the report dilut of the different regiments of his brigade, in his the assaulti oe Oat glory by adding the 85th Massachusetts to Mander ag regiments ; while General Cox, the corps com- the iy ra S us of our dearly-bought fame by naming only the fire, ‘ sts as having done the glorious deed.2_ As I for en ye, Ime saw these reports in the “ Rebellion Record” : ars after the war, my blood boiled with indignation and 'Sgus : ae Stan t at the ignorant indifference of these officers to the vation in hist soldier, his loss will be deplored by all who knew him, and the com cia oi tan hihi manding general desires to add the tribute of a friend to the publi¢ Y these three siaiinanne (th ae i ~ rs ee at ne two Olsts and the 21st), an mourning for the death of one of the country’s best defenders. alone, in this f B d of Mas- te: sli . ’ 1s famous passage at arms. It was some y scons rete 5 Piped ee B = consolation to find that the wa correspondent of the on “Journal,” a close eye-witness of the battle of Antie- tam i ‘ Heapquarters 2p Division 9TH ARMY Corrs: Siva. ne his report published in that newspaper at the time Ss ’ the 1e whole glory of the deed to the three regiments; and AnTIETAM, September 20, 1862. “ Ji Ournal ” j : . ™ nal” in an editorial shortly afterwards, in combat- GENERAL ORDER No. 11. 4 The general commanding the division avails himself of this Jull ‘ ing the roar of battle to return his thanks to the officers and troops f Not attack “ais their handsome behavior in the battles of South Mountain and Ante ck with the reckless bravery often shown by the rebels, g, tam Bridge, and to say to them that he has been assured by Gener . 8; Says that the heroism of the assault upon the bridge by Burnside that General McClellan considers the carrying of the pridg? ig * ae three regiments was unsurpassed, either on the rebel as having saved the day. While therefore we have reason to 4 Mion side, in the annals of the war. ie proud of our successes, we should remember that they were achiev! be > Very interesting fact associated with the battle of Anti through the loss of many of our brave comrades, among whom a t ™ is its connection with the proclamation of tosses — the gallant and distinguished Major-General Jesse L. Reno, who I, the Slaves, issued by the President § i GaP this division so often to victory. He was a classmate and Dose wut Pesident Lincoln’s own words, as Ri ember 22, 186% friend of the general commanding, a man of the highest integrity» ® 1x Months in the White House,” — given in Carpenter's one who loved his country beyond all earthly things, and shrank fro It h no danger in defending it. His last words were, “I can be 10 long baq ad got to be mid-summer, 1862, Things had gone on from . ‘ srite : t - with my men; let them know that T will still be with them 10 spirit the ee until I felt that we had reached the end of our rope on His spirit was with them indeed, and led them across Ant of operations we were pursuing; that we had about played 1 Bridge, thus serving the army, even after death. th Unfortunatel iiaeatel official By order of B wey € 21 y no official report wa d of y RIGADIER-GENERAL STURGIS, d 2, Of the part taken by the regiment in the Coola Sete the omen Wm. C. i ; illery- : : e Hey C. Rowo..x, Captain and Chief of Artillery Y in tj, <7! Burnside’s and General McClellan’s reports follow the corps report tl 1€ somewhat prevalent idea that the Union troops did LEP ENE CETL AOE EAI CN OE CLE ttm waar ¢ 212 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Septembe™ our last card, and must change our tactics or lose the game. determined upon the emancipation policy; and, without consulting with or the knowledge of the cabinet, prepared the original draft of the proclamation, and, after much anxious thought, called a cabinet meeting on the subject. This was the last of July or the first part of the month of August. This cabinet meeting took place, I think, upor a Saturday. Nothing was offered that I had not already fully anti pated and settled in my mind, until Secretary Seward spoke. He said in substance: “Mr. President, I approve of the proclamation, bat I question the expediency of its issue at this juncture. The depres sion of the public mind, consequent upon our repeated reverses, is great that I fear the effect of so important a step. It may be view as the last measure of an exhausted government—a cry for help} the government stretching forth its hands to Ethiopia, instead of Etbr opia stretching forth her hands to the government.” His idea W that it would be considered our last shriek on the retreat. dom of the view of the Secretary of State struck me with great fore I put the draft of the proclamation aside, waiting for a victory Well, the next news we had was of Pope’s disaster at Bull Rum Things looked darker than ever. Finally came the week of the b#” tle of Antietam. I determined to wait no. longer. I MADE a 80k was priv EMN Vow BEFORE Gop, THAT IF GENERAL LEE a BACK FROM MARYLAND, I WOULD CROWN THE RESULT BY DECLARATION OF FREEDOM TO THE SLAVES. J now . The wis IN PLEASANT VALLEY. CHAPTER XI. SEPTEMBER 23 — NovEMBER 8, 1862. REO RGANIy ZA TION OF THE ARMY AFTER THE BATTLE OF ANTIETAM, Shés cL MOvarL ARA BARTON. — ADVANCE UNDER McCLELLAN: HIS RE- FROM COMMAND. Wr rein Until, abou drilled a i tomae; th and went Since leavi Part in th treat, Herat In camp near the mouth of Antietam Creek 8 e first of October, during which period we e, and performed easy picket duty along the Po- en we marched some six miles into Pleasant Valley, into camp about five miles from Harper’s Ferry, a with tents, and slept under shelter for the first dime ng Fredericksburg, on the 12th of August, to take © campaign which resulted in Pope’s disastrous re- One ite of the great incidents of our stay in Pleasant Valley S th © review of the army by President Lincoln, on the 3d Ctober é 5 pace » when most of us saw the good President for the of first Mittocs after the battle of Antietam, numbers of town com- &nd er ce: the army, bringing plenty of kind messages them wiki in the .way of food. There was one thing about invariay we were much dissatisfied with, namely, that they Sry w “4 bs the new regiments. We could get along ban ap without the goodies, but we could not see the jus- SPR the favoritism. Our true friend, Miss Clara Barton, i. rc a 21st woman to the backbone, was now perma- Rovers eoclaeed with the regiment, and, with two four-mule wagons, which by her untiring efforts she kept well 214 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. October: supplied with delicacies in the way of food and articles of clothing, was a ministering angel to our sick. General Stut- gis kindly ordered a detail from the regiment of drivers and assistants about her wagons. And this true, noble womals never sparing herself or failing in her devotion to our suffer ing men, always maintained her womanly dignity, and won the lasting respect and love of our officers and men. Quite a little flutter was oceasioned in the army, in Pleas ant Valley, by a daring raid made by the dashing rebel Gem eral Stuart, with 2,000 cavalry, entirely around us, betwee? dawn of October 10th and the forenoon of the 12th, when he escaped across the Potomac again, with insignificant 105% Beyond the destruction of a large quantity of arms, ammun tion, clothing, and some railroad buildings at Chambersburg and securing a quantity of horses, no great harm was don® The exploit, however, demonstrated the necessity of immedi: ately remedying the weakness of the Union cavalry, whit had made the raid possible. Towards the close of October, having got back several of our detailed men, sick and wounded, the 21st had begu? " look a little like its old self again, with some three hundred men for duty, when it suffered a loss of fifty-nine muse and spirited men, who, tired of “ hoofing it” as infantry» under an order of the War Department allowing the transfets enlisted in the regular cavalry and artillery. They were ge erally men of the dare-devil stripe, and, though they were : grand addition to the regular army, were a sad loss to #? 21st. We spent a round month in Pleasant Valley ; what with constant drills, inspections, and reviews, the § enforcement of order and discipline, and a full supply of cloth ing and necessary outfits, under the grand organizing gent of McClellan, the new Army of the Potomac was welded int? a proud and homogeneous force of gallant fighting men, ready and fit to face in battle the case-hardened veterans under Gen eral Lee. 1862, . ADVANCE OF THE ARMY. 215 THE Ap VANCE INTO VIRGINIA UNDER GENERAL McCLELLAN. HIS REMOVAL FROM COMMAND. Thin pte of October 27, 1862, —a beautiful day, — we? ‘Sc vB i Pleasant Valley, and crossing the Potomac of ar, ig ridge at Berlin, moved into Virginia, as part Aw Fam rea 25,000 strong, to seek the enemy, the bulk of a aneyy was then lying some thirty miles away, near sigan = ang the Shenandoah Valley. Marching a mile or oe irginia side of the Potomac, we bivouacked near the pea e. The night Was 80 cold as to freeze the water in Somme — but though without tents we had good fires, and ne incomfortable. Reb ae Ai 28th. We remained where we were, while the Nena army were moving into position. The tents came pitched a regular camp. October 9 f and m er 29th. The regiment formed line at three P. M., archi : tis rching due south about five miles, went into bivouac tout tents, October 30th. : We formed line at day-break , With the division f y-break, and marched tap throust our or five miles, to the vicinity of Vestal’s Cate was ‘g 2 the Blue Ridge, and went into camp. Unusual a. : a in posting pickets and advanced guards, and US into x ent that General McClellan was either throwing of the » “% Shenandoah Valley, or guarding against a passage ia | els through the gap. Our army showed a glorious th vied 2 In the open country near us ; seemed to be perfectly awaited’ and was in admirable discipline and spirits; and we “a the result with confidence in our great leader and the Y, Such as we had never felt in Virginia before. ct . . : the ober 31st. We remained in camp near the gap; and regiment was mustered for pay. We were turned out by 1 Sing Re Lith N New _ battle . ork i ‘ ‘ Tegiments, » 51st Pennsylvania, 35th Massachusetts, and 11th New Hampshire ow Seer (a new regiment) had been added to our brigade of Antietam, and it now consisted of the 21st Massachusetts, 518t Wag a General Willcox now commanded the 9h C 1a tad m , orps. Our division (24) ~Ep, manded by General Sturgis, and our brigade (2d) by General Ferrero. . "9 1869 : ° 216 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. November; . REMOVAL OF GENERAL McCLELLAN. 217 a night alarm, and ordered to be in readiness to support the = first snow of the season came on about night-fall, and pickets in case of attack, but nothing came of it. Rough fell to cause us to pass a very uncomfortable night, November 1st. We remained quietly in camp near Vestal’s i aa, as we were without tents. Gap. hal eho 7th. The day was cold and uncomfortable. At November 2d. We left camp at ten A. M. and marebed past one in the afternoon we moved on through the little with the division twelve miles, to the vicinity of Snicker’s a town of Orleans ; and our brigade, taking the wrong Gap, in the Blue Ridge, which was said to have been strongly ‘c, Some time after night-fall found itself stopped by the fortified by the enemy, and which, it was rumored, we would Nihon Fork of the Rapahannock River, without a bridge. The be ordered to assault on the next day. Our tents not being hi eapeg Was very cold, and the men, many of whom were up, we went into bivouac for the night without them. A am 8 Pig gloves or mittens, suffered great discomfort. After fierce November gale came on about midnight, and blew - ed a cold and weary half hour, we retraced our steps, through and through us, causing us to pass a very cold an Ee about midnight went into bivouac in a heavy wood, uncomfortable night. %. tere, with splendid camp-fires, the remainder of the night November 83d. Instead of moving on the gap as we had ay Passed as comfortably as the first part of it had been full expected, we started south about noon, and after a very slow discomforts march of only seven miles, halted at seven o’clock and went ois vember 8th. An event of vast importance to the army into bivouac without tents. t] Country had occurred during the night, in the receipt of November 4th. Rumors were floating round that the rebel ag following order brough ‘al : : en, ash; ght by a special messenger from army was coming through Ashby’s Gap, some six miles t0 the Shington :— south of us, to fight. We moved at nine o'clock, and arrive Bs a Wasurneron, November 5, 1862. off the gap about noon. We found General McClellan ” that Sapte: of the President of the United States, it is ordered person on the ground, and the army in position in imposing 7 Army gate fe McClellan be relieved from the command of the strength, but no signs of the enemy. } command Be otomac, and that Major-General Burnside take the November 5th. We moved towards Manassas Gap early hat army... oer sepa oe oe SECRETARY Or War, the forenoon. It was a splendid day, and the whole face hee et Oe the country seemed to be covered by the dark, moving masse a The removal of General McClellan was made at an unfor- of our immense army, lighted up by their gleaming muskets t nate time, and under circumstances which boded d After a march of about ten miles, we arrived off Manassé8 ns the Country; it was the work of General Halleck ‘Gos Gap early in the afternoon ; artillery fire was going on in 7 f Chief, McClellan’s bitter and malignant pees ia whose gap, for our men were occupying one end of it and the rebe : tips at that time, the President was apparentl és t as cla the other. Ammunition was inspected, and the regiment 24 the hands of the potter. McClellan had rte ; i be: field officers were given to understand that Lee’s army igi % ork in building up an irresistible army out of the disjointed placed in a position where it must fight us on our own chose? «rans and raw levies, with which he had driven the vohele ground, and that General McClellan wished our men to real — of Maryland. He had realized that it was me imperative ize that they were about to fight the great battle of the wat Pit that he owed to his country and his arm “6 pb an November 6th. Leaving Manassas Gap we marched te” da Powering force, with sufficient or Beast cohesion and miles, to near the town of Orleans, and went into bivouae "lL to fight battle after battle, bi becomiall so dis- 218 ‘TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. November; jointed and broken as to make a fresh start necessary after every engagement, before he pitted his men again against those led by his great antagonist. At that stage of the wat there was no sense or decency in running desperate risks with the army and nation: the proper way for loyal citizen sol- diers to meet powerful and arrogant rebels is to do it with # well organized force sufficiently large to crush, and rejecting no element essential to health, efficiency, and comfort. Neither had the time then come, when (apart from any question 4 to the generalship or brutality of that style of warfare) the waning resources of the rebels made it comparatively safe fot the great and wealthy North to roll its hosts (even though as mighty as those mustered in 1864) blindly against strong positions held by rebel veterans, regarding the chance of kill ing one rebel as a full equivalent for the loss of five of ou own men. These later complaints against McClellan for bis slowness and overcaution were much of a piece with the dis satisfaction in the same quarters at his unwillingness in the spring of 1862, to carry the rebel earth-works at Yorktown by the expensive process of assault. The government, infatuat by a few victories of comparatively trifling importance, stop recruiting on the 8d of April, by General Orders No. 33) thereby justifying McClellan’s belief that the North had raised its last man, and that he must husband his army with unceasing care for the bloody and mighty task before it. The men of the Army of the Potomac trusted and loved McClellan, as they always will, because in spite of the 00?” stant worrying suggestions, and sometimes almost fatal inte? ference with his plans by the President, and the daily sneers of General Halleck at his overcaution, he was a soldier £00 great and true to be driven into movements which as ¢0% mander of the principal army of the nation he did not @P” prove; and we felt assured, when he did launch us against the enemy, that all the controllable chances of war wer & our favor. General Halleck and the President, by this moval, not only brought a great military movement to naught but trifled with dangerous materials. Take it all togethe" 186 2. REMOVAL OF GENERAL McCLELLAN. 4nd claimin believe shes’ to know only my own feelings on the subject, I Abs . the general sentiment of the army would have sus- Patriot i sb with enthusiasm and to the death, if he, as a the mR aa for his country’s good, had refused to recognize attle nh or his removal until after the probably impending tis “ae “ been fought. At the time of McClellan's removal, ities 2 army well in hand, in excellent condition to fight Weatiaa’ attle, and in actual contact with the enemy on the Was shee right flank : Longstreet with the rebel right wing aac mediately in our front, with the bulk of his forces near Lay some twenty miles away from our centre; while Blue mbt most of the rebel left wing still west of the wing ids ge, and at a much greater distance from their right Peet f, an we were. McClellan himself believed the pros- to esters for a brilliant victory for our army ; and (not comina ni TcClellan’s friends) Major-General Pleasanton, in but si n of our cavalry, then in the advance, with his pickets X miles from Culpeper Court House, though personally not fr z tiara to McClellan, says in his report to the Committee Onduet of the War:! — GENERAL PLEASANTON’S REPORT. Another at Warr Vided ; Opportunity for success was offered when the army was enton, in the fall of 1862. The rebel force was then di- tens: Longstreet and A. P. Hill, with their corps, being at Cul- iat ue Stonewall Jackson and D. H. Hill were in the Shenan- ee alley, at Front Royal. By crushing Longstreet at Culpeper, Rict, ™y would cripple that of the rebels, and would cut it off from dis > Culpeper should have been occupied. It was at this nnd at General Burnside assumed command of the army, and un- nately decided to march on Fredericksburg. "sia “On to Richmond” civilian strategists, and a few Y officers, too hot headed to trust with the control of the Natian? ‘ . 25a 8 life, or malignant enemies to McClellan, attempted ‘ Justify his removal by alleging a cowardly hesitation 00 his *t to push and destroy the enemy after the battle of Antie- 1 Report of Committee on Conduct of the War, Supplement, Part 2.— ED. 220 TWEN TY-FI RST REGIMENT. November; tam, or suggested that “ at least,” in the President’s words, he ought to ‘try to beat him (General Lee) to Richmond, 0? the inside track.”1 As most of these people knew nothing of the demoralized condition of our army when McClellan took it, or the disjointing that Lee gave it at Antietam, or its need of cavalry, clothing, and military equipment, and con sidered that a new regiment after a few days drill under 1” experienced officers was fit to put into battle against veteran perhaps it is not worth while to consider this matter further but I cannot resist making a comparison of McClellan’s mov ments after Antietam, with those of General Meade aftet Gettysburg, which was certainly a more destructive battle the enemy than Antietam was.? The battle of Antietam wa fought September 17th. Lee, resting on the Potomac, crossed it secretly on the night of the 18th; and on the 7th of No vember our army, fitted by McClellan’s untiring efforts fight any troops in the world, after having for some days of- fered the enemy battle, was, it would seem, in a good positio™s and in sufficient strength to cripple or crush him. The last fighting at Gettysburg was on July 3d, 1863; the enemy was allowed to escape across the Potomac, under oF cumstances far more favorable to his destruction than aftef Antietam, as after Gettysburg he marched fifty miles to reach the river through a hostile country, and did not cross the river until July 14th. General Meade’s army reached Culpeper about the middle of September; Lee’s army being then south of the Rapidan: in October an abortive campaig! was commenced, the result of which was that Lee forced our army back to Centreville, without any fighting of consequen Next came the fiasco at Mine Run, about the first of Dece™ ber, when, after our army came in front of the strong rebe position, it was deemed wise to go to the right about without attacking: and no other general movement was made by si 1 President’s Letter to McClellan of October 18, 1862. — Ep. 2 The rebel loss at Gettysburg out of an army of about 70,000 men is given s Strait’s compilation from the official records as killed 3,500, wounded 14,500, missing 13,621. — Ep. ay ee reer ene wae 1862, 9 REMOVAL OF GENERAL McCLELLAN. 221 wie 0 Virginia until the campaign which opened in the thou is in May, 1864, All this inaction occurred, al- simon, 1t was known that Longstreet’s Corps (about 20,000 from = was detached from Lee’s army to fight in Tennessee ti tee: first of September, 1863, until the spring of 1864, vie — the terms of enlistment of many of the veteran fatal ; toops expired early in the summer of 1864. The eat Rs ee from Washington had ceased 5 and the involy a 1ad at last begun to realize that “ On to Richmond arm : nothing less than the destruction of that wonderful e 7 ’ Americans, with no new regiments in it, which, half- ing as half-clothed, with patient endurance and unquestion- all Pras. upon its adored leader, fighting as it believed for im made life worth living, stood firmly at bay in almost Pregnable positions, and seized every opportunity offered to crush Pe unguarded centre, flank, or rear by fierce and overpow- Ng attack, : The Union “Ivilized warf tion of new tions, Vice) ce Skeleto Ment Ment Office army was probably the only army in modern are, which, as a rule, was recruited by the addi- regiments, instead of filling up the old organiza- Promotion to the higher grades (the life of the ser- ased in the old regiments, as they became reduced to ns, and consequently the esprit du corps in the regi- was weakened rather than increased by every engage- » and the invaluable blood-bought experience of gallant glori TS was thrown away, with all the generous rivalries and bia: ©us memories which clustered around the old flags. Mas- tis ‘setts was fully as bad as any other State in this respect, SMa ah of the most energetic efforts of Governor Andrew to “athe it. The writer, acting for a short time as the govern- hs Ew. secretary, will never forget the pleasure with the he heard Governor Andrew, in 1864, pitch into a se 2 man, who offered a company from his town for a new Teg- ®nt if the governor would commission officers for it whom en insisted on, but who were without military experi- ana The selectman, not attempting to answer the govern- Vigorous arguments, simply brought them all to naught 222 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Novemberyas by the assurance that not a man could be raised in his town for an old regiment. New regiments were better than noné at all, and quotas must be filled, and the governor finally had to yield, ending the conversation with the following bitter commentary, warmly uttered : “ Julius Caesar himself couldnt raise a company for an old regiment in Massachusetts, as long as there is a shoemaker left to make a captain of.” Late ™ the war, some of the old regiments were attempted to be fillee with bounty-jumpers, and Germans who could not speak Eng lish, but the good of the service was by no means promot thereby. The glorious old 2d Massachusetts Infantry was one of the victims to this last-named style of recruiting ; while on this subject, I can’t forbear quoting the followiné extract from their regimental record, in Mass. Adjt.-Gen-$ Report for 1864, p. 217: — 5 During the year, about 875 men (if some of them can be called men) have been recruited in Boston, Mass., for this regiment. Out of this number, 340 have joined for duty, the remainder having de serted en route. Out of this number of 840, 112 have deserted from the regiment. These men never intended to go as far as they di but probably found no opportunity to desert until they reached thé regiment ; and when men will desert from the picket-line to the enemy, as many of them have done, no discipline or restriction of camp will hold them. It needs no suggestion as to the propriety ¢ practicability of filling a quota with such men ; it is fortunate for the regiment that such men did not join us, or did not remain with 0% for such men will not, do not, intend to fight or do their duty, | the sooner they are separated from those that intend to remain and become soldiers, the better. These desertions have been confined & tirely to recruits, a majority of them Dutchmen, though many of them were Americans and New York city ruffians. 1862. BURNSIDE ASSUMES COMMAND OF THE ARMY, 223 CHAPTER XII: NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 1862. “¢ The Cabinet thought little Mac was too slow, In his onward to Richmond pursuit of the foe, So in little Mac's shoes they put Burnside, to show How like seven-league boots he would speedily go.”’ Doggerel of the Time. GENERAL BURNSIDE ASSUMES COMMAND OF THE ARMY.— ON TO RICH- MOND, via FREDERICKSBURG. —IN CAMP OPPOSITE THE CITY. — BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. Our loved and magnanimous General Burnside had not Sought but had shunned the vast responsibility imposed upon him as commander of the Army of the Potomac. He had ac- cepted the position only when ordered to do so, and because he felt that it would have been disloyal and unfriendly to the Sovernment to have refused to obey the order. The great body of the army, warmly and enthusiastically devoted to General McClellan, was disgusted and shocked at the injus- tice and absurdity of his removal at the time it was made, and Many of the most prominent officers in it never could bring themselves to render hearty obedience to or cheerfully codp- €rate with his successor in command. After our short respite the army was to be torn and cursed again by internal feuds and jealousies, and by interference from Washington. _ General Burnside, with good reason, felt that he was placed M command to study out and follow the wishes and sugges- tions of the President in the selection of the route to Rich- Mond,! 7 A long letter containing the President’s suggestions of a campaign, which in Substance was to be a race with Lee for Richmond, was placed in General Burn- Side’s hands with the order assigning him to command. — Ep. . 224 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. November All the advantages of position gained by McClellan against our true objective point (Lee’s army) were thrown away? and, after a week’s delay near Warrenton, the fatal movement on Fredericksburg was commenced, in substantial accordan? with a plan of campaign mapped out by the President and General Halleck, the commander in chief. General McClellan’s farewell to the army was expressed in the following order : — HEeApQuarTERS ARMY OF THE PoTOMAC. Camp near Recrorrown, Va., November 7, 1862: Orricers AND Sotprers or tae Army or THE Poromac: A® order of the President devolves upon Major-General Burnside the command of this army. In parting with you I cannot express the love and gratitude I bear to you. As an army, you have grow? ? under my care. In you I have never found doubt or coldness. The battles you have fought under my command will proudly live in om nation’s history. The glory you have achieved — our mutual perils and fatigues—the graves of our comrades, fallen in battle and by disease — the broken forms of those whom wounds and sickness hav? disabled — the strongest associations which can exist among mel! unite us still by an indissoluble tie. We shall ever be comrades '” supporting the Constitution of our country and the nationality of its people. Grorece B. McCLettan, Major-General U. S, Army: General Burnside, on his assumption of command, issued the following manly order : — Heapauarters ARMY or THE PoromMAsc Warrenton, Va., November 9, 1862+ GENERAL ORDER No. 1, In accordance with General’ Order No. 182, issued by the i dent of the United States, I hereby assume command of the Army ° the Potomac. Patriotism and the exercise of my évery energy in the direction of this army, aided by the full and hearty codperation of its officers ®” men, will, I hope, under the blessing of God, insure its success. Having been a sharer of the privations and a witness of the bee ery of the old Army of the Potomac in the Maryland campaign Or fully identified in their feelings of respect and esteem for General 1862, THE MOVEMENT TO FREDERICKSBURG. 225 Clellan, entertained through a long and most friendly association with him, I feel that it is not as a stranger that I assume this command. To the Ninth Corps, so long and intimately associated with me, I heed say nothing; our histories are identical. : With diffidence for myself, but with a proud confidence in the un- Swerving loyalty and determination of the gallant army now intrusted to my care, [ accept its control with the steadfast assurance that the just cause must prevail. A. E. Burnsipe, Major-General Commanding. To return to the 21st, whom we left with the brigade in the Woods near Orleans. November 8th. We left our comfortable bivouac at half-past ten in the morning, crossed the north ford of the Rappahan- nock, and marched some six or eight miles to the town of Jef- ferson, where our brigade went into camp in the village, in Company with a battery. November 9th. We remained in camp, doing nothing ex- Cept to advance a strong line of pickets towards the south. November 10th. About the middle of the forenoon we re- Ceived sudden orders to fall in, to the music of our artillery as it opened upon a reconnoitring party of the enemy’s infantry which had come to within a mile of our front, and which promptly retired as we took position near the artillery. Some of our cavalry, who had been reconnoitring towards Culpeper (twelve miles away), soon came up with a few prisoners from Longstreet’s command. November 11th. Just before noon the rebels appeared in apparent force in the same place in our front as yesterday : this time they brought a battery with them. Our brigade of five regiments made a fine show as it took position in echelon ; and after the interchange of a few harmless shots by the bat- teries, the main force of the rebels withdrew from sight, but Posted a strong line of pickets in our immediate front. Our brigade was now regarded by our commander as in a very Perilous position, being separated by some four miles from the rest of our army, which was now behind the Rappahannock, and it was evident that we had attracted Longstreet’s atten- 15 226 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. November, tion. It was reported, I don’t know with what truth, that in the change of commanders and hurried movements of troops, the position of our brigade had not been thought of, and that the artillery firing on two successive days was all that called attention to our isolated position. It is certain that a staff- officer from general headquarters came out to us in the after- noon of the 11th, and said that he had come out to see who was firing, and that until our guns were heard nobody had remembered that any of our troops were at Jefferson. We were passing rather a nervous night, when at midnight we T@ ceived the welcome order to put our baggage on the wagons and prepare to move in perfect silence; our pickets were cau tiously drawn in, and at half-past three in the morning W® moved away ; and, fording the Rappahannock near the War renton Sulphur Springs at daylight on the 12th, went int? camp within a few rods of the place of our bivouac on the night of August 24th during Pope’s retreat. We passed the rest of the day lolling about, and somewhat saddened and dis- pirited by the noticeable sullen and discontented feeling of the army around us over McClellan’s removal. November 13th. Early in the afternoon the rebels drove in our advance pickets across the river on the Jefferson road, bagging two mounted officers of the 35th Massachusetts, who happened to be taking dinner in a house near the picket line*. a battery on the hill near us threw a few shells at them, and the rebels retired, carrying their prisoners with them. November 14th. We remained quietly in camp, with noth- ing of interest transpiring. November 15th. About eight o’clock A. M. we moved dow? the river. Although the enemy’s pickets were in plain sight across the river, the division was moved very carelessly, lea¥” ing the wagon train behind near the ford. The rebel cavalry made a dash for the train, but were unable to cross the fo under the fire of two companies of Rhode Island troops who had just come in from picket duty. The enemy then opene a rapid fire of artillery upon the wagons, and created quite @ panic among the mules and wagoners. Some of our artillery 1862. GEN. RENO’S SWORD SENT TO MRS. RENO. 227 was sent back, and the 21st with some other troops were double-quicked to the scene of action. A lively artillery duel Occurred between the rebel guns and ours, lasting about half an hour, the infantry remaining in a sheltered position near our artillery and escaping without loss. As soon as the wag- ons were out of danger we resumed our march, and after mak- ing some ten or twelve miles went into bivouac early in the afternoon. The following letter, which tells its own story, was sent to Mrs. Reno, widow of our beloved general, accompanying a su- perb sword which had been ordered several months before by the regiment as a present from them to him:— HeapquarTers 21st MassacHuserts VOLUNTEERS. Rappawannock, Va., November 15, 1862. Mrs. Mary C. Reno. Dear Madam: On last May Day the officers of the 21st Massa- chusetts Volunteers assembled in my headquarters in Camp Andrew, hear Newbern, N. C., to deliberate upon the most suitable manner of manifesting their affection and esteem for General J. L. Reno. The intimate connection which had existed between him and the 21st since New Year's had just been dissolved by his well-deserved pro- motion to the command of a division. He had been our first briga- dier, and we an honored portion of his first brigade. Guided by his intelligence and inspired by his courage and energy, we had fought and won at Roanoke Island, Newbern, and Camden. - We had known no defeat. At his command we had boldly penetrated almost impas- Sable swamps in search of the enemy, had undergone incredible fatigue and privation, and charged successfully upon fortifications bristling with bayonets and cannon. We had also seen him expose himself cheerfully to danger and hardship. We had experienced his paternal Care in the enjoyment of every possible comfort in seasons of repose, and we had felt his tender and sympathizing love as he walked among the sick and wounded in the hospitals, gladdening every heart with his smiling face, and his few well-chosen words, and especially as With tearful eyes he conversed with us of our brave comrades who had fallen in battle. It was unanimously resolved to raise the sum of five hundred dol- lars for the purchase of a sword, to be the testimouial of our feelings omg fala tn RA eagle encore 2 fa i gy pre arate san startet in aceaenmmumeen ek et Oe 228 “TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. November; towards our gallant leader, and to grant to every person belonging t0 the regiment the privilege of contributing to the fund. Before the completion of the sword by the celebrated Massachusetts manufactur- ers, the Ames Company of Chicopee, General Burnside’s forces werd ordered to Virginia, and thence to Maryland, so that no opportunity occurred for the presentation, At South Mountain General Reno commanded the 9th Army Corps with distinguished ability and sue cess; but alas! at the very moment of victory, as he rode triumph- antly to the summit, for the possession of which he had striven 8° desperately during the entire day, he received his mortal wound. The death of such an officer at any time would be a source of incal- culable grief to his personal friends, and of deep regret to the army and the country; but never could his loss have been more distressing than in the gloomy period through which we are now passing: His hopeful, resolute, indomitable spirit; his promptness of decision and action; his perfect faithfulness and reliability ; his disinterestednes* and devoted patriotism, combined with his superior militaty educ® tion and varied experience, rendered his services of inestimable values not only to General Burnside, who loved him as a brother, but to the government, which he so valiantly labored to sustain. And now; Madam, in behalf of every officer and soldier of the 21st, permit me to tender to yourself and family our most sincere and cordial symp thy on this occasion of terrible bereavement and overwhelming 8° row. May the infinite Father ever have you in his holy keeping: Accept the accompanying sword as am enduring and appropriate souvenir of the worth of your lamented husband; and may your no- ble sons, Lewis, Conrad, and Jesse, as often as they look upon it; be reminded of the manly virtues and heroic conduct of their father, and proudly resolve to emulate his glorious example. With great consid- eration I have the honor to be, Madam, : Your obedient servant, W. S. Crarx, Colonel 21st Mass. Vols. November 16th. We moved on at nine o'clock in the mor ing, and after a march of ten miles went into camp early ” the afternoon, at a point on the Orange and Alexandria Rail- road, about three miles from Warrenton Junction. The rebels had captured a couple of supply trains for our army just before we left the vicinity of Warrenton, and we h been for several days on short rations of hard bread, and now 1862, THE MOVEMENT TO FREDERICKSBURG. 229 the supply had substantially given out altogether. The men had got into the very bad habit of calling out, “ hard tack !” whenever a general officer came in sight, and whenever it would be difficult to identify the one that made the outery. On this particular night there was a good deal of such calling Out in the camps, the 21st men doing their full share. It had got to be a serious nuisance; and I still vividly remember the pleasure with which I detected a man for whom I had been lying in wait for half an hour, as he stuck his head out of his tent after taps and yelled hard tack ; and, best of all, on ex- ainining his haversack, found that he was the one man in the tent who had plenty of bread. The breaker of tired men’s sleep had to stand on a barrel for the remainder of the night ; and all occasion for “ blarting”’ hard tack was removed by the arrival of a timely supply on the next day. November 17th. We did not leave camp until one o’clock P. M., when we resumed our march, and taking a route across the country made from eight to ten miles before we halted for the night in a rain. It was a raw night, the tents had not come up, and there was no fuel handy except fences, on which the men raided heavily in spite of some resistance offered by the provost guard. The officers considered the raid on the fences reasonable under the circumstances, and made no effort to prevent it, although it was the first instance of the destruc- tion of any private property except growing trees that I had noticed since the army left Pleasant Valley. November 18th. Forming line in the dark about six o’clock A. M., we moved on at seven, and making a march of thirteen miles halted at one o'clock on the very spot (seven miles from Falmouth) where we stopped to rest on the morning of Au- gust 13th, when on the march to join General Pope. November 19th. We left camp at seven A, M., and moving slowly along in a drizzling rain passed through Falmouth about noon, and went into camp in support of a battery, about two o'clock, close to the river opposite Fredericksburg. Our entire grand division (the 2d and 9th corps), under General Sumner, numbering about twenty-five thousand men, with es vente hihi ya beat i 230 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. November; sixty pieces of artillery, were now opposite the city, which was then occupied by a small force of the enemy. The 21st re- mained in camp on the river bank .opposite the lower part of the city ; one or two other regiments remained in sight on our right and left, but the principal part of the corps went into camp from one to two miles in our rear. Before sunset hun- dreds of the rebels and our men lined the banks of the rivet in our front, and indulged in spicy repartee and generally good-natured defiance across the narrow river which divided us (about two hundred yards wide). . The favorite battles in the rebel allusions were the two Bull Runs. When our men asked them how they liked South Mountain and Antietam, the reply was, “'Too many Yankees in Maryland to the acre.” The men good-naturedly matched the different regiments to fight each other in the supposed ap- proaching battle ; some 21st man in behalf of the regiment, describing it, however, as the 201st Rhode Island, promptly accepting a challenge from the 14th Georgia. An Irishma? on the rebel bank inquired whether there was an Irishma? among the Yankees ; a Company B man promptly answering in the affirmative, the rebel said that he had never thought t0 see an Irishman fighting against liberty. After the two had indulged rather indiscriminately in strong expressions of hos tility, the rebel Irishman said a few words in native Irish, and then wound up by holding up his canteen, and saying ih Eng lish : “Jeff Davis gives me my whiskey, but Abe Lincol? gives you nothing but water.” Our Irishman said that when the other struck into Irish, he told him that there were only a few troops in the town, and that he was going to desert. The head of Sumner’s Division had reached Falmouth 0? the afternoon of the 17th; and a battery had at once opened on it from the heights on the rebel side, but was silenced in ® few minutes by one of Sumner’s batteries. Sumner was a0% jous to cross at once, and occupy the town and adjoining heights on the rebel side, but was prevented by orders from General Burnside, who did not think it advisable to occupy Fredericksburg until his communications were established. 1862, OPPOSITE FREDERICKSBURG. 231 The object of abandoning our advantageous position against Lee’s army, and marching on Fredericksburg to fight them a month later under circumstances of position about as unfavor- able for us and favorable for them as can well be imagined, is a mystery which for the purposes of this history there is no occasion for considering further; and I shall have nothing further to say about it, except that the reasons commonly given for making the movement, and when it was made for not occupying the fatal heights behind the town before the rebels arrived in force, have never seemed to me at all satis- factory. ‘November 20th. A rainy day: a few rebel soldiers were to be seen about the town, but the men on both sides were kept away from the river's bank, and there was no more chaffing. During the day a battery of twenty-pounder Par- rott guns on some high land on our left fired at railroad trains attempting to come into the city from the south; and ingress or egress by rail from the city in the daytime was stopped. November 21st. A stormy, unpleasant day; the deeply rutted roads are rapidly becoming impassable for wagons and artillery, and everybody is beginning to ask, — What next ? Although. substantially our entire army had now got into position in front of Fredericksburg, unfortunately Lee’s army were also in full occupation of the heights behind the town, and were beginning to throw up earth-works. General Pat- rick, provost-marshal of our army, was sent across the river this morning under a flag of truce, bearing the following de- mand for the surrender of the city: — 1 The fact that the pontons had not come up is the principal reason alleged for not throwing over a sufficient force to occupy the coveted heights, but (to say Nothing of the fords above the town) sufficient superstructures to answer the temporary purpose could have been built in a few hours on the ruins of the two bridges across the river. The bridges had been destroyed by burning only, and the stone piers on which one of them had been built were in apparent good con- dition. — Ep. TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. November, Heapquarters, Army 6F PoTomMAc, November 21, 1862. To tHe Mayor ano Common Councit or FREDERICKSBURG. Gentlemen: Under cover of the houses of your city, shots have been fired upon the troops of my command; your mills and manu- facturers are furnishing provisions and the material for clothing for armed bodies in rebellion against the Government of the United States, and your railroads and other means of transportation are moving supplies to the depots of such troops. This condition of things must terminate, and, by direction of Gen eral Burnside, I accordingly demand the surrender of the city into my hands, as the representative of the United States, at or before five o’clock this afternoon. Failing an affirmative reply to this demand by the hour indicated, sixteen hours will be permitted to elapse for removal from the city of women and children, the sick, wounded, and aged, etc., which period having expired I shall proceed to shell the town. Upon obtaining possession of the city every necessary means will be taken to preserve order and secure the protective operation of the laws and policy of the United States Government. Your obedient servant, E. V. Sumner, Brevet Major-Gen, U.S. A., Commanding Right Grand Division. The rebels put General Patrick into the guard-house, and kept him there for several hours on the pretense that a long time was required to get at the officer commanding the army, as the civil authorities could have but little discretion in the premises. Finally, at night-fall, a reply was returned, com- plaining of the short time allowed for the removal of nol combatants, and stating that the military authorities would resist the occupation of the town by the Union forces. November 22d. A pleasant day; the rebels have made considerable additions to their field-works during the night, and the smoke of their camp-fires indicates a large force 0? the wooded heights behind the town. It is generally sup" posed that our guns will open on the city to-morrow. November 23d. Not only was there no truth in the report that our guns were to open on the city to-day, but the rebels 1862, OPPOSITE FREDERICKSBURG. 233 Without interference from our artillery, were allowed to work On their forts like beavers, in broad daylight, although within Tange of our guns. November 24th. A pleasant day. A good deal of banter- ing took place between our men and the rebels across the viver. Their men are still at work fortifying the heights. It is reported that the 9th Corps will be thrown over the river to-morrow, and although it is said that one hundred and sixty guns will cover dur crossing, we dread the attack upon the rebel earth-works which have grown up under our eyes and guns, November 25th. We felt much relieved at nothing being done in the way of crossing; and are now firmly convinced that our general has no idea of attacking in front, but when he moves will flank the rebel position. November 26th. The rebels now have seventy-one guns in their earth-works opposite our position, and although we have an uneasy feeling as to our future movements we cannot be- lieve that we are going to be thrown against them. November 27th. Thanksgiving Day at home, but in name Only to us. Our newspapers show that the * loyal North” is crying out for no more dilly-dallying with the rebels, and I, for one, feel pretty sure that we shall be jammed in at a dis- advantage. November 28th. We receive notice that we are to be re- lieved and moved to the rear in the morning, which suits me, at least, much better than a move in the other direction. November 29th. Having been relieved by the 2d Michi- gan, we left the river at daylight, and marching about a mile and a half to the rear, went into camp with the rest of the brigade. As soon as our tents were pitched, the officers of the 21st received an invitation to an entertainment by the officers of the 51st New York, in honor of our return to the brigade; and many of us went over to their camp, where we found a Spread set out in a large hospital tent. After a little while, ne of their officers said they regretted exceedingly that the Supply of spiritus frumenti was very short in their camp, but 234 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. November, their chaplain had brought a little liquor purporting to be whiskey from Washington the day before, and it must be fin- ished in our honor. The box of a dozen bottles was brought in, and, on the claim that we had been cut off from the good things of this world during our ten days at the river, our hos pitable hosts insisted with great warmth, that. the 21st officer should drink the whole of it, as it was every drop they had, and there was not enough for all. We did not, however, co?” cur in that view, particularly as there were*one or two total abstainers among us. The stuff was a mixture of apple-jack and whiskey, which our friends had mixed for the expres purpose of laying us out, but as we did not suspect the trick at first we joined them in drinking the peculiar tasting liquo™ When that was finished, it suddenly occurred to another 5lst officer that he had forgotten to mention that he had another box, which was promptly produced. The intention of the gallant 51st now becoming manifest, the 21st, in spite of the remonstrances and reproaches of our comrades, began to with- draw ; and, failing to stop the secession, an indignant a” stalwart officer of the 51st wrenched the front pole from pos!” tion, and the great tent fell upon those that remained. This festive meeting occurred at high noon, and the noise made of the occasion had drawn a good many enlisted men about the tent, so that the affair was quite a public scandal ; and the next day all the participating officers were summoned to brig- ade headquarters for reprimand. As it was evident that the 5ist had played us a shabby trick, and that their chapl!? was ithe prime mover in the game, the general (formerly colo- nel of the 51st) reprimanded him severely, in that he, “® man of God, had degraded his cloth and disgraced his callings and threatened him with a court-martial. Somewhat ove™ come at first by the severity of the attack upon him, the chap- lain humbly admitted the justice of the rebuke, but ended with the following panegyric on his regiment, which sequre him a full pardon: “ General, I know it wasn’t just rights but the 51st laid them out /??1 1 The first chaplain of the 51st New York, the Rev. O. N. Benton, was one of 1869, OPPOSITE FREDERICKSBURG. 235 Out of sight out of mind, was true of the rebels and their forts as of many other things, and in the drills, inspections, and other details of camp life, we soon ceased to concern our- Selves much about the probable future movements of the army. December 1st. We were paid to November 1st. December 4th. Our beloved chaplain, Rev. George S. Ball, having resigned his commission, left for home.. In the thirteen months that he had been with us he had shared with the regiment every peril and hardship which it had been called On to face and endure, and had won the lasting respect and love of every man in it, of whatever creed. Never losing sight of his duty as a Christian clergyman, he had been far more than a mere chaplain to us. Ardently pa- triotic, always hopeful, manly, and courageous, he exerted a Strong and lasting influence in keeping up the tone of the reg- iment in its soldierly as well as its moral duties. As our post- master, no watter at what inconvenience to himself, the mail was never left to take care of itself when by his energy it Could be forced to come or go. To our sick and wounded he had been, with unfailing devotion, a brave, tender, and skill- ful nurse. An honor and grace to his calling and the service, it was a sad day in the regiment when he left us. December 5th. A severe snow-storm occurred, and cleared up with very cold weather, which occasioned much discomfort to the men, as their shoes were generally in very unservice- able condition. It continued exceedingly cold through the 6th and Tth; and the bad condition of the shoes in the brigade was shown by the refusal of several men detailed for guard duty in the the noblest of men. He was killed at the battle of Newbern on the line of bat- tle, while listening to the last message of a dying man, The second one, the hero of the text, claimed as his particular distinction, that he filled his glass fuller of brandy than any other clergyman in New York when he took a drink. It was the joke of the brigade at Antietam, that on the morning of the fight, when @ Tound shot skipped over the field near him, he exclaimed, as he started for @ Safer place, “Why, bless me, I’ve no business here ; I took medicine this morn- ing!” —Ep. 236 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. “Decembers 51st New York to go on guard in the crusted snow on a count of their want of suitable shoes. Their colonel sent the™ up to the brigade guard-house in irons for their disobedien¢?} but their shoes were so shamefully bad that I, as officer of the day, considering their refusal justifiable, at once released them. December 9th. The snow has melted and the roads see™ almost impassable on account of the deep, sticky mud. Sixty rounds of ball cartridges a man were issued to-day. December 10th. A careful inspection of arms and amml- nition was made to-day ; a movement was evidently taking place throughout the army towards the river bank, below and in front of the town; and we knew that the great battle which had hung over us for a month would open on the mor row, when at evening, about a hundred men were detailed from the 21st to help throw a ponton bridge over the rive? and build a corduroy road below the town. Now that w were evidently in for it, we gave little or no thought as where or how we were going to meet the enemy, but hoped and believed that their position was to be turned, and that they were not to have the fun of shooting at us from their i trenchments. December 11th. We were all wakened at half-past five in the morning by the reports of two very heavy guns, fit about a minute apart, on the rebel side of the river. It wa cold and cheerless enough as we turned out of our tents int the raw air and darkness. solidified by a heavy chilling fog: Nothing else attracted our attention especially until half- past six o'clock, when fire from 147 of our guns, which had been put in position on the heights along the river, was ope® upon the city and rebel works, with an unintermitted thu” dering bellow entirely novel in our experience, which, althoug? occasionally swelling or decreasing a little, continued without ceasing until noon, and, with short intervals, till nearly sunset. We left camp with the brigade at half-past eight o’cloe 1 These guns were fired to give notice to the rebel army that our men wore preparing to cross the river opposite the city. — Ep. 1862, BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 237 (the 21st, in the absence of our working detail, numbering for duty, all told, 183 officers and men), and marching past the Phillips House (General Burnside’s headquarters for the bat- tle), were halted on the broad plateau between it and the Tlver, across which some New York volunteer engineers were Vainly endeavoring to throw a ponton bridge in the face of a deadly musketry fire from rebel sharp-shooters in cellars, rifle- pits, and log-houses along the opposite bank, whom our ar- tillery with all its fury could not dislodge. The day was now pleasant and clear; the infernal bellow of the artillery drowned all other sounds; and knowing little of what was Soing on in front of us, except as an officer from the front passed by now and then, we made the best of the irksome de- lay. About ten o’clock occurred:a more determined effort to lay the bridge in our front than had been made since daylight, but it failed like the others, though covered by the terrific roar (for the shot seemed to do no harm) of the enormous mass of beleaguering guns. About noon, officers of the brigade staff who went to the river bank (about half a mile in our front), On their return reported that the bridge-builders had entirely Stopped operations, as the rebels lining the other bank firing through loop-holed walls were so well covered that they could not be quieted by musketry, and our artillery could not be Sufficiently depressed to pound their cover to pieces. While We were waiting there, lying on the ground, an officer (Cap- tain Augustus Morse), formerly our colonel, rode up to the 21st. Since his dismissal from the service as colonel, by Gen- eral Dix’s favor he had been made a captain and commissary of subsistence. Coming up to the regiment he inquired for One officer after another, but found none of them very cordial in their greeting ; finally, after a good look at the rebel works, he richly earned a second dismissal by saying to the men, just before he rode away, “ You’re going over the river to fight those forts, and I guess you'll get whipped.” The miserable Old fellow touched a tender spot, for there was not a little Smothered, and even open indignation among officers and men that we were (as many of us believed) unnecessarily to be thrown against those formidable intrenchments. sete! PT nln AE ts en ANE ae aE ssn ali: hia aii cake deinen 238 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. December Towards the close of the afternoon, General Burnside ” cided to force a crossing by charging in the ponton boats. General Ferrero (our brigadier), who had gone to the rive bank a short time previously, came back with his horse on the dead run, and, in breathless haste, explaining that on his re quest our brigade had the honor of furnishing the men for the work, called for the 51st New York and 21st Massachusot™ Quick as words could fly came the orders, “ Attention 21st Attention 51st!” and the two regiments started on the doa quick for the river. But we had half a mile to travel, an before we reached the spot the work had been done. The colonel of the 7th Michigan, claiming the right to the honor of the charge for the troops at the river bank, had called of his regiment, who enthusiastically followed him into the boats, and gallantly supported by the 19th and 20th Mascocleita had crossed the river under a deadly fire, and when we arrive on the scene were in full possession of the opposite bank. We now looked down upon the half-finished bridge, which T mained as it was before daylight that morning ; and half * dozen dead men still lying along it presented a pitiful spect” cle. At five o’clock we were ordered back to our camp ict the night, and hastened home, glad to have the uncertalaa of the night intervene between us and the intrenched rebels: As soon, however, as we had reached camp, we received ei order to cross into Fredericksburg, and at once moved abot half a mile in the dark towards the river, when the order was countermanded and we returned to our tents. The progres in the day had not been favorable ; the only possible chane? of a successful assault upon the rebel position in our front a by making it a surprise, and the long delay in laying t : bridges opposite the city had given General Lee full opportt nity to call in his detached forces and prepare for attack ® the threatened points; and forty hours were yet to elapse pe fore we were to be dashed against his works. General Fran " th 1 The river bank in our front was beld by two small rebel regiments, the re Mississippi and 8th Florida. The sth Florida lost 87, and the 17th Missis® i) 116, in killed, wounded, and missing, — Ep. 1862, BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 239 lin had laid three bridges about a mile below the town (on Our left) without serious resistance, and had them ready for his grand division (of forty-seven thousand men) to cross by eleven o’clock in the forenoon, but had been ordered not to Move his troops until our bridges were also ready. Within ’n hour after the other bank was carried our three bridges Were completed, but it was then too late in the day to do any- thing more than throw over enough troops to make the bridges Safe, The two immense armies now about to meet were probably the largest that had joined battle in Virginia since the war Commenced. Lee’s army, under his immediate command, with Jackson in charge of the right wing and Longstreet of the left, posted in a position of his own selection, long prepared and of great natural strength, numbered ninety thousand men. Of our army, 125,000 strong, 110,000 effective men, °rganized in three grand divisions, were about to attack the Mtrenched rebels. The left grand division, under General Franklin (46,892 officers and men for duty), was posted about ® mile below the town, and consisted of the Ist and 6th corps. The centre division, under General Hooker (39,984 strong), Was composed of the 3d and 5th corps; and the right divis- ‘on, under General Sumner (22,736 strong), posted directly °Pposite the city, was composed of the 2d and 9th corps, December 12th. The night had passed without any inci- dent of interest; and, after a good sleep and breakfast, the brigade left camp at eight o’clock, in a fog (the 21st number- ing 190 muskets for duty), and, marching down to the river ver the hill by the Lacy House, crossed the Rappahannock by the same bridge which had been laid in our front the day before, without interference from the enemy’s artillery, as our Movement was concealed by the fog. Once over, we spent the entire day in line along the river bank, while the re- Mainder of the attacking force was crossing the bridges. The fog cleared away about ten o’clock, and our guns on the Stafford Heights occasionally opened sharply upon the Tebel works on Marye’s Hill, as the rebel artillery shelled our "rte (HE ’ ? | - i 1 i] ‘ae CANE P On ee } | | aa | i il i} | i Hl } | ; | “ft | i i t } iy ; 4 i i I i | a i i if i} } i qi } | | | i in’ ei a i ae | i i Ph} i i | a | | { | Hert ie i iy it 4 i A} i te iit . | i it ara | ve | | i | | | \ i if | } | | Hi | q q } a ei i | i) iW | Wy mi | i} 1 i} ‘3 ve NARI EU PE i) a q | i hi iit i | ; Bee eae | | if | | t | | \ } te ie By) ; i i | mi | i H Wie! jy) | ia hs | He et alee a } ‘| a ‘| i Vi i \' | } i | | +4 1 + | { | a 5 *) | a | F. } } if 7 Le | iB | i) ie | P tis iv i. , a i ‘ | ; ‘ t 4 ee ; | ; } nt i | Hi ' Hi j ‘mig ii w i a ,) : i i ai | ; a " 1 ih i | a! 4 i i hai i f te ' Hat ts, i i Pi t ir om i } ma) , 1 re i} i } t I Hi t | at i i | f i t - “ ki i. @ 1S # i | j ; ai =e 240 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. December troops moving towards the bridges, or felt for the bridges themselves, which fortunately were concealed from their vieW by the houses of the city. ee While we were waiting here under the river bank, a litt affair occurred which, by contrast, was very creditable to “a cavalry. A brigade of infantry came marching gayly over “a hill by the Lacy House, with a full band playing “ Bully ‘i You,” when a rebel battery on the high land opposite Be mouth dropped a percussion shell into the midst of the a and promptly followed it up with two or three more w a took effect among the troops. The defiant music instan 7 ceased, and band and infantry broke ranks and ran for she ter amidst cries of derision from our men. ‘The ground was hardly clear of the infantry, when a squadron or two of a lar cavalry were seen coming over the hill at a slow tre Three shells were instantly dropped into their ranks ; but, stead of increasing their pace, the command came down toa walk, and moved on towards the bridge in perfect order, - though shell after shell exploded amongst them. The contras was a magnificent one for the cavalry ; and we were soon pre to learn that several of our 21st men who had enlisted in the cavalry were serving in those absolutely steady ranks. We slept along the river bank near the bridge, without fires and hada cold night of it, with no occurrence of interest. December 13th. Another foggy morning, but it ee away as before, about ten o’clock, at which time our briga f was ordered to support a line of skirmishers thrown out 10 K of the city and hold our ground. We moved at once tot ; extreme westerly part of the city, and took position ina pe running parallel to the rebel position. The J1st, unfortuna in their miserable gray overcoats, were compelled to take them off and store them in one of the houses, for fear of being 7 taken for rebels by our artillery men, as it was reported tha the 20th Massachusetts, owing to their gray overcoats, ha been fired into as being rebels on the afternoon of the rossi i Some troops belonging to the 2d Corps, immediately on a right, soon advanced from the town ‘over the open plat 1862, BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 241 against the impregnable rebel position on Marye’s Hill, some fifteen hundred to two thousand yards to our front, under a terrific fire from the sixteen well-served guns of the Washing- ton Artillery. The brave fellows pushed on till lost to our View, leaving behind them a sickening trail of gallant, hand- Some men, reduced to mere bundles of rags and mutilated flesh, or with mangled bodies writhing in agony upon the ground. Their assault was desperate, but in vain, and they soon came Streaming back, followed by some of the rebel infantry. It Was now about noon, and the 21st, together with the rest of the brigade, were drawn outside the town to charge the yell- Ing rebels and those fatal heights. As we took position for the charge the rebel infantry fell back on their works, and their artillery opened on us; before we had dressed our line the head of tall Warren Webster, of Company I, flew from his shoulders, and while the horrid red fountain was still spouting from the neck, our well-ordered line was sweeping forward on the double-quick, under the best directed artillery fire that we had ever suffered or seen, and soon came within range of can- ister and the deadly fire of well-covered infantry. But our blood was up, and the men, looking only to the front, went Pluckily on through that hell of countless projectiles which Shrieked, burst, and hissed through the air, or tore the ground around us. Our colors fell again and again, but never halted ©n that charge. Plunkett! sprang to raise the Stars and Stripes as they fell with the mortally stricken Collins ;2 while Wheeler ? was loosening the dying grasp of Barr* from the Staff of the white flag of Massachusetts; and Olney ® soon Seized the national banner, now wet with the blood of the Mangled and armless Plunkett. I wonder, even now, how we Could have escaped with the loss of only one third of the num- ber that we took into the fight. Coming to a halt within two hundred yards.of the rebel in- 1 Sergeant Thomas Plunkett, of Company E. 2 Color-Sergeant Joseph H. Collins, of Company A. 3 Color Corporal Richard Wheeler, of Company I. 4 Color Corporal Elbridge C. Barr, of Company C. 5 Bradley R. Olney, of Company H. 16 242 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. December fantry, our line opened fire, —for up to this time we had not fired a shot;—and making no further attempt to advance, we passed the rest of the afternoon lying flat upon the ground, firing slowly, whenever a covered rebel showed his head : we had good reason to husband our sixty rounds of ammunition, for our single weak line audaciously confronted the strong rebel left, with half a mile of open plain between us and the city, which furnished no cover for a supporting force. We were so close under the hill that it was only by luck that . guns in the rebel works on its crest (from fifty to one hundre feet above us), could be now and then depressed sufficiently to hit us; but the sharp-shooters with the guns were always firing, and could command us perfectly. Right in our front, at the foot of the hill, was an intrenched line of infantry, * half-way up the hill were rifle-pits curiously made of gabions fastened to its steep face, filled with sharp-shooters. After our boys had got to feel entirely at home, they realized fully that their only hope was in unceasing vigilance, and, watching like eats, held their fire for rebel heads, . The rebels also were < long in finding out that they fared better not to show a mal ; ‘ t and their fire, though much heavier than ours, was more # random. Our nearness to the enemy was our safety. The 21st were also fortunate in being somewhat sheltered by @ lit tle roll in the land.? After we had been in position for an hour or two, three reinforcing regiments appeared coming from the city to the 1 This advanced line of rebel infantry was formed four deep. The rebel wre eral, J. B. Kershaw, who was in command of it after General Cobb recelve mortal wound, probably from the fire of our brigade, in his official report e be Record, vol. x., Document 118), mentions the four deep formation, and says ° men who composed the line and their fire: ‘‘ As an evidence of the coolness s the command, I may mention here that, notwithstanding their fire was the mo a rapid and continuous I have ever witnessed, not a man was, injured by the fire his comrades.” — Ep, seed 2 Colonel Walton, commanding the Washington Artillery, as will be _ by hereafter in his official report, speaks of a portion of our brigade being covere the a “crest of an elevated piece of ground.” General Longstreet, commanding ee rebel left wing, speaks of “a slight descent in the ground,” as furnishing 4 f° oti at this point. See Walton’s and Longstreet’s reports, Rebel. Record, vol. X+ 88-134. — Ep. 1862, BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 248 front; the regiment coming up immediately behind us (the 163d New York), a new regiment, were badly broken by the fire of the rebel artillery, and, while we in aid and pity Were wasting many a precious cartridge in a random fire to keep the enemy from taking time to aim, halted a few hun- dred yards in our rear, and, to our horror and disgust, opened & crazy fire at the rebels through us. Under the frantic Curses of our men, a gallant officer of the 163d brought about ® hundred of them up to our line, and the rest soon ceased to trouble us by going back the way they had come. Fortu- nately, we were not further reinforced on our part of the line during the afternoon, although unsuccessful assaults were made by other troops, both on our right and left. About the mid- dle of the afternoon our long and patient watching was re- warded by an opportunity to nearly exhaust our supply of Cartridges, in taking advantage of the only fair chance which we had at the enemy during the day. It was when a rebel brigade came down the hill to relieve their troops in the in- trenchments and rifle-pits. We had a beautiful chance at them, and improved it with a will, breaking up and scattering them for a time; but the plucky fellows finally got to their desired cover. About sunset, General Hooker’s troops made an attack on Cur right, but were speedily driven back, with the loss of 1,700 men. As soon as it was dark enough to allow the move- ment of the artillery to be made without being noticed by the rebels, a full battery was brought up and posted just on the right of the 21st, and managed to fire one volley of canister by battery, into the rebels on Marye’s Hill; but the enemy Concentrated a perfectly hellish fire of musketry upon it, and the guns were promptly abandoned. Captain Phillips’s 5th Massachusetts Battery had now taken position about a thou- Sand yards in our rear, and was pitching shells at intervals of about two minutes into the rebel position in our front. As the swift, circling lines of fire, made by the burning fuses, Curved close over our heads, we at first would have preferred to have him turn his guns some other way, but the fuses were 244 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. December beautifully timed, no accident occurred, and as we were out of ammunition, we were soon glad to have somebody stirring the rebels up. After dark some other troops came up and re- lieved us, and we went back to the city, got our overcoats, and returning to the position near the bridge which we had left in the morning, had a liberal ration of whiskey and our supper, and passed an undisturbed night.) We found the streets of the city blocked up by artillery and ammunition wagons, and many of the troops, who were supposed to be held in readiness to support the advanced line, scattered about in the houses pillaging, and evidently not to be relied on for united work. It has always seemed to me that General Lees caution, and belief that we would renew the attack, saved our army from a disaster that night, appalling to think of. Just before we left the front, on the rumor that the rebels wet charging our right flank, the men began to double in from the ‘right in an alarming way, and some to start for the rear; be fore any general panic, however, had taken place, the alarm was found to be groundless. There was no general officer in actual tangible command of the front line, and no such feeling 1 Colonel Walton, commanding the Washington Artillery Battalion, posted in the redoubts on Marye’s Hill, in his official report, gives on the whole & be fair account of our attack upon that position, as follows: “ At half-past wt o’clock, rp. M. the enemy was observed in force moving down upon our pare through the streets of the town. Everything being in readiness, fire was imm ’ diately opened from all my batteries, at once halting and breaking his first ® ji vance” (these troops were from the 2d Corps). “Again they emerged, in greate force, and, apparently with much steadiness. Gaining the crest of an eleva a piece of ground in our front, he opened upon our position a galling fire of “a ketry, and of artillery from the hills beyond, The brigade of General cone front of my batteries, then opened fire, and the battle became general all mee our line. At two p. m. a portion of General Ransom’s Division (supporting pe umn) moved steadily across the plateau in my rear; halting but an instant he the crest of the hill, they delivered a volley, then plunged with a cheer into ¢ road below and in front of us, already occupied by Cobb’s troops. shooters of the enemy, under cover of a crest in front, and the slope of the kept up a galling fire upon our works, causing many of my gallant men t0 a ; killed and wounded, at their posts.” ‘The troops and “ sharp-shooters us ee cot to as having made this second charge and maintained their position at the rf of Marye’s Hill, cannot possibly have been any other troops than our brig® Colonel Walton’s report is published in Rebel. Record, vol. x., Doe. 134. — ED. 1862, BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 245 of unity among the different organizations as to make con- certed action possible. Yet, when we saw the mixed up state of things in the city, it was plain that the main reliance to re- Sist a sudden assault was the front line. Stonewall Jackson, Who was always inclined to be bloody, is said to have proposed to General Lee to bombard the city that evening with every gun that could be brought to bear upon it, to break up and demoralize the troops there, and then allow him (Jackson), with his corps, the men stripped naked to the waist, to avoid the danger of mistaking friend for foe, using only the bayonet, to make bloody work with our advanced line and the troops in the city. Although there is no use in imagining evils from which we were spared, I, for one, shall always feel grateful that General Lee, in the belief that we would renew the at- tack, refused to permit Jackson to grapple, that night, with our mighty, but discouraged, mixed up, and disjointed army. December 14th. Before daylight on the morning of the 14th, it was reported that the 9th Corps, to be led by General Burnside in person, were going to assault Marye’s Hill ina Column of regiments, that day, ** to show the rest of the army how to fight,” and that our division would have the * honor of the advance.” I heard of the plan from such a source that I could not doubt that the movement was contemplated, and was pleased Indeed to see the day wear on and the sun set, without our Making the attack. How near an escape we really had is shown by the following extract from General Burnside’s evi- dence before the Congressional Committee on Conduct of the War, who visited the army immediately after the battle, and Who made the report from which I have taken this extract, on the 23d of December, 1862 : — 1 The statement in the text of Jackson’s proposed night attack, was currently Yeported from rebel sources soon after the battle. His official report states that © prepared to make a night attack, but became satisfied that it would be impra- dent, and abandoned it. A rebel newspaper anecdote of Jackson on that night Says, that, at a council of war held by General Lee, Jackson slept throughout the Conference, and on being waked up and asked for his opinion, said curtly : “ Drive tov into the river!” See Jackson’s Report, Rebel. Record, vol. x. p. 923 and vol. 4. p. 9,—Ep. il a a 246 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. December, That night (of December 18th and 14th) I went all over the field on our right; in fact, I was with the officers and men until daylight. I found the feeling to be rather against an attack ; in fact, it was de cidedly against it. I returned to my headquarters, and after conversation with General Sumner, told him that I wanted him to order the 9th Army Corps which I originally commanded, to form the next morning a column of attack by regiments (it consisted of some eighteen old regiments and some new ones), and desired the column to make a direct attack upon the enemy’s works. I thought by these regiments arriving quickly up after each other, they would be able to carry the stone wall and the batteries in front, forcing the enemy into their next line, and by going in with them, they would not be able to fire upon us 1 any great extent. I left General Sumner with that understanding, and directed him to give the order. The order was given, and thé column of attack was formed. The next morning, just before the column was to have started, General Sumner came to me and said: “General, I hope you will desist from this attack; I do not know of a general officer who 4p proves of it, and I think it will prove disastrous to the army.” Ad vice of that kind from General Sumner, who has always been in favor of an advance whenever it was possible, caused me to hesitate. I kept the column of attack formed, and sent over for the divisio® and corps commanders, and consulted with them. They unanimously voted against the attack. I then went over to see the other officers of the command on the other side, and found that the same opinion prevailed among them. I sent for General Franklin, who was then on the left, and he was exactly of the same opinion. This caused m@ to decide that I ought not to make the attack I had contemplated; and besides, inasmuch as the President of the United States had told me not to be in a hurry in making this attack, that he would give me all the support he could, but he did not want the Army of the Poto mac destroyed, I felt that I could not take the responsibility of orde! ing the attack, notwithstanding my own belief at the time that the works of the enemy could be carried. . . . During the day of the 14th no fighting occurred on oUF front except a slow constant fire between the enemy and out advanced line of battle, still lying on the ground without cover, in the position which we had occupied the previous day: 1862. BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 247 About eight o’clock in the evening, we, with the brigade, were ordered back to relieve the advanced line, with instruc- tions to hold our ground at all hazards. We hunted about for spades to make a breastwork, but could find none; the 51st Pennsylvania were more fortunate, and got two or three. As we reached the western edge of the city, we met the troops whom we had been sent out to relieve (regulars), returning, Without having waited for the arrival of the relief, — a most Uunsoldierly proceeding; but the poor fellows had suffered a heavy loss, as they had lain flat on their faces all day in the Open field, to be picked off like pigeons by the rebel sharp- Shooters, and their soldierly ambition was evidently at a very low ebb. The night was exceedingly dark, and it was a difficult and dangerous matter to reéstablish the line. The brigade moved on by the flank, guided by rebel camp-fires, until we seemed Tight upon them; then, in line of battle, with skirmishers de- Ployed to the front, we stumbled over the bodies of the dead for a few rods, and came to a halt as our skirmishers were challenged by the rebel pickets; a few harmless shots were exchanged between our skirmishers and the pickets, as we set- tled into position and found ourselves on almost the exact line Sained by the brigade on the previous day, though the posi- tions of the regiments were changed, the 21st then being on the extreme left, and now being the last regiment but one on the right. We_had scarcely taken position before the rebels felt our line, but immediately fell back to their works as we Opened fire. After this, the cold night dragged wearily away Without any more firing. Our anticipations for the coming day were anything but agreeable, whether we were to have ‘the honor” of leading a desperate column of attack, or sim- ply to furnish a helpless mark for the rebel sharp-shooters to Practice at, The rebels were busily at work throwing up ad- ditional rifle-pits ; and we, finding that the 51st Pennsylvania Would hardly be able to finish the elaborate parapet whieh they were constructing, so as to give us a second chance at their spades, before daylight, set to work upon a ghastly Tam- 248 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. December, part, made of bodies of the dead, ammunition boxes, and the various debris of the battle-field which we could find in the dark, and dug earth with bayonets and dippers, to give the outside a solid and respectable appearance. Just before day- light we got a spade from the 51st, which did good service a8 it was passed rapidly along the companies. It had grown quite light, and we saw the famous, massive stone wall under Marye’s Hill, a hundred yards in our front, before the left of the 21st got a chance at the spade; but as the rebels were still at work upon their rifle-pits, they allowed us to work on till it was almost broad daylight, when a single shot was fired from their lines, apparently as a signal for us to stop, and we lay down snugly behind our cover and ate our hard-tack iM comparative safety. Our little parapet, although it did not average more than fifteen inches in height, and was very thin in spots, served to conceal us if we lay flat enough, and turned out to be a fair protection against musketry. And so, through- out that long day we lay hugging the ground, wondering how long it would be before we were like the horrid relies of hu- manity which lay thickly strewn around us, among which numerous pigs were rooting, to get the bread in the haver- sacks. Our orders were not to return the fire of the enemys but to save our ammunition to resist a charge, and we had nothing to do but to wait patiently for whatever might tur? up. There was some fun and joking along the line, but everything tending to provoke the enemy was discouraged, for all we wanted was to be let alone; and when now and then some one of our dare-devils would jump to his feet and drop suddenly, to avoid the rebel fire, he was called a fool for his bravado; and even the somewhat innocent amusement of putting caps on ramrods and moving them about on the edg@ of the parapet, which was resorted to early in the day, was soon stopped. The artillery on Marye’s Hill fired a good many shells at 08 during the day, but did not succeed in cutting their fuses short enough to do us any harm, except in case of one shell, 4 piece of which inflicted a severe wound on the arm of Private 1862, BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 249 Harrington W. Saunders, of Company D. Early in the after- noon the rebels opened a very heavy musketry and artillery fire upon us, hoping apparently that we would be fools enough to seamper back towards the town, and give them a fair shot at us, as some pickets on our right two hundred yards nearer the town had done a little while before. Some very heavy Suns across the river on our extreme right now opened on the enemy, and appeared to enfilade the stone wall and lower line of earth-works, and certainly exercised a very quieting influ- ence. When it at last grew dark we threw our pickets for- ward, but soon had them in again with the news that the €nemy were close upon us crawling up to our line on their hands and knees; the sheet of flame that ran along the front of the brigade, however, seemed to satisfy them that we meant to stay, and they promptly retired. About midnight we were Ordered to move silently to the rear. With limbs stiffened by the cramping posture in which we had lain so long, and chilled through by the rough cold wind of that stormy night, We marched back into the town, and at two o’clock on the Morning of December 16th recrossed the ponton bridge, and returned to our camp. _ The hopeless battle of Fredericksburg was over, and the Victorious rebels were again in undisputed possession of its blood-soaked plain and the shattered town, but the 21st, now veterans of eight general engagements during the year, had Stood true and firm through those four days of doubt, danger, Pillage, and death; and pride in the heroism of the regiment 18 the only pleasant memory of its survivors connected with Cur last battle in 1862. The following extract from the regimental official report (made by Colonel Clark, on the 16th of December) describes ur charge, and the gallantry of our color-bearers : — The 2d brigade was now ordered to the front, and, formed in double line of battle, most gallantly and steadily moved across the Plain, swept by the destructive fire of the enemy. When about sixty rods from the city, the Color-Sergeant Collins, of Company A, W#S Shot and fell to the ground; Sergeant Plunkett, of Company E, 250 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. December; instantly seized the colors, and carried them proudly forward to the farthest point reached by our troops during the battle. When the regiment had commenced the delivery of its fire about forty rods from the position of the rebel infantry, a shell was thrown with fatal accuracy at the colors, which were again brought to the ground wet with the life-blood of the brave Plunkett, both of whose arms were carried away. Color Corporal Olney, of Company H, immediately raised the glorious flag, and defiantly bore it through the remainder of the day. Color Corporal Barr, of Company C, who carried the State Colors, was also shot, and his post of honor and danger quickly taken by Color Corporal Wheeler, of Company I; Color Corporal Miller was also wounded. The casualties suffered by the 21st in the battle of Fred- ericksburg (in addition to five missing men who afterwards turned up all right) were sixty-six ; of whom thirteen were killed, or soon died of their wounds, fifty-two were otherwise wounded, and one was taken prisoner ; as follows : — Company A. Died of wounds: Color-Sergeant Joseph H.- Collins, wounded in the knee, and died of the wound January 8, 1863. Wounded: Color Corporal James A. Miller, legs Corporal John A. Merritt, shoulder ; Privates Madison Colby, leg; James A. Carruth, face; Roswell L. Doane, groin; Uriah Merritt; De Witt C. Ray; John Thiebault, hand; Lemuel Whitney. Sergeant Collins carried our United States regimental colors, and was the first of our color-bearers to fall. Doane’s life was probably saved by his watch, which was struck and shattered by a bullet which glanced from it into his groin. Company B. Killed, and died of wounds: Sergeant Peter Bryan, killed by a shell; Privates Lorenzo L. Hawkins killed by a musket ball, and William B. Patterson, killed by a shell; Private Patrick Finton, shot through the body by @ musket ball, and died a few days afterwards. The only in- juries not mortal in Company B were contusions by pieces of shell, suffered by Color Corporal Thomas Stevens and Cor- poral Harvey Bellamy. Patrick Finton had just recovered from a wound in the arm received at the battle of Chantilly. 1 At this time Sergeant Plunkett’s wounds were supposed to be mortal. — ED- 1862, CASUALTIES. 251 Company ©. Killed: Color Corporal Elbridge C. Barr. Wounded: Corporal L. H. Sammis, neck ; Privates Charles H. Sperry, thigh and head ; George L. Brackett, and Giles W. Young, shoulder. Corporal Barr carried our Massachusetts flag, and fell at about the same time that Sergeant Collins, who carried our United States flag, was mortally wounded. Company D. Wounded: Sergeant (acting 1st Sergeant) Azro B. Jaquith, leg ; Sergeant Simon May, hand ; Privates Charles F, Montjoy, knee ; William J. Ricketts, hip; Gilbert Roth, hip ; Harrington W. Saunders, arm; Henry A. War- ren, leg, Sergeant May was killed in the fight on the Weldon Rail- Toad, August 19, 1864. Company E. Killed, and died of wounds: Private Eben. Ww. Richards, killed; Corporal James A. Wilson, wounded in the abdomen, and died of the wound December 15th. Wounded: Sergeant Thomas Plunkett, lost both arms, and Wounded in the chest; Corporal Henry White, shoulder ; Privates Thomas E. Barker, arm; Horace Converse, arm ; Joseph Daly, arm; Hugh Gallagher, hand; George A. Gro- ver, hand and ankle; James Kennedy, arm; Luther W. Thomas, hand; John W. Warren, arm. Sergeant Thomas Plunkett lost both arms, and received a Severe wound in the breast by the explosion of a shell, while bearing the United States regimental flag. His recovery was % great surprise and joy to his comrades, for it was at first taken for granted that his wounds were mortal. Corporal Henry White was wounded in the shoulder, and supposed that the wound was caused by a piece of shell which he picked Up; but a month afterwards the surgeon of the hospital found and cut out a musket ball in his side, a foot below the point Where it had entered his shoulder. Company F. Wounded: Sergeant Charles H. Frye, leg ; Privates George H. Childs, foot ; Michael T. Conner, hand ; dward Mountain, shoulder ; Nathan P. Rice, face. Company G. Killed: Private George E. Page. Wounded: eat natin ane ala TT ae 252 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. December, Corporal Jonas W. Dwinnell, lost right arm ; Privates Peter Archambean, face; Jona. H. Sanders, severely. Page, a noble, brave fellow, was killed by a shot from the 163d New York. _ Company H. Died of wounds: Private Frederick Carey, wounded in the leg, and died of the wound December 18th. Wounded: 1st Sergeant George H. Bean, hip; Corporal Michael Thornton, lungs; Privates Lewis R, Haskell, legs; John P. Jones, leg. Prisoner: Corporal Daniel E. Barker. Carey was shot in the leg by a musket ball at the point of our furthest advance ; his friend Sergeant Koster helped him to his feet ; Carey then insisted on being taken to the colonel to inform him why he was obliged to leave the field, before he would allow his comrades to take him to the rear. Corporal Barker, becoming separated from the regiment, went to sleep in a house, and did not wake up until the tow? had been abandoned to the enemy. Company I. Killed: Privates Proten Henrie and Warren Webster. Wounded: Sergeant Albert H. Northrup, heads Privates Andrew J. Atwood, arm; Charles S. Babcock, legs Ransom Burr, hand; George E. Gorman, groin; Thomas Sexton, hand. Henrie was shot in the breast by a musket ball at the point of furthest advance ; he waved his hand to those around him (myself among the number) as a farewell, saying in his im- perfect English: “I die. Good-by.” Webster was the first of our men to be killed: he was struck in the head by a shell as we weré moving out of the town to form for the charg® and instantly killed, Company K. Killed: Private Patrick Fryer. Wounded: Sergeant George L. Caldwell; Private Michael Flynn, shoul- der. The most prominent officer in our corps who fell in the bat- tle of the 13th was the heroic and accomplished Sidney Wil lard, major commanding the 35th Massachusetts. The 35th started in the charge on our left; and, as the line moved for ward, my eye fell with admiration on Major Willard’s grand 1862. BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. 253 figure, in front of his colors, leading his men, with his long glittering sword raised high in the air. As I looked he fell, Pierced through the groin with a mortal wound. A noble man indeed, and a glorious and inspiring actor in the bloody drama of that day ! The entire loss in our army in the battle was 12,321 in killed, wounded, missing, and prisoners ; of whom 1,339 were killed on the spot, 9,060 wounded, and 1,922 missing and prisoners. A large proportion of the missing were mere strag- glers and skulkers. The rebel loss, as given in their official reports, was 5,309 in killed, wounded, and missing. The official reports show that Considerably more than two thirds of the entire rebel loss was suffered in repulsing the attack made by Franklin’s men on their right, as on that part of the field most of the fighting Was done outside their intrenchments; while on the Union Side more than two thirds of the entire loss was suffered by the troops who assaulted the fortifications of the rebel left (on Marye’s hill and vicinity). December 17th. A large detail from the regiments of our brigade was sent over the river under a flag of truce, to bury Our dead, who, stripped of their clothing by our brutal foe, now whitened the front of the rebel intrenchments,! Our burial party were well treated by the enemy, and even a little assisted by their rebel guard, in the sad and weary task, As our poor fellows had been paid off so recently, many of them had large sums of money upon their persons when killed, and the 21st men on the detail found plenty of rebels flush with greenbacks, anxious to buy their gray overcoats. It was bad enough for the Massachusetts regiments to carry white flags, but far worse to clothe the earlier ones in rebel colored Overcoats; and several of our men were wise enough to give “aid and comfort” to the enemy by selling them old gray 1 We can’t help regarding it as brutal to strip the clothing from the bodies of the dead, but if we had been dressed in the scanty and ragged attire of the rebels T have no doubt that we should have done as they did in this respect. — ED- 254 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. December; overcoats for more than enough to buy new regulation blue ones. December 18th. A dozen or twenty of our prisoners at Chantilly returned, and reported for duty. On the 19th of December, General Ferrero issued the fol- lowing congratulatory address to the brigade : — Herapquarters 2p Brigape, 2p Division, 9rH Army Cor: Near Fartmoutu, Va., December 19, 1862. To the soldiers of the second brigade, the general commanding eX- tends his congratulations and thanks for their gallant conduct and faithful services while under his command. The patience, steadiness, and courage displayed in desperate battles and wearisome marches, exhibit a spirit that never can fail, a deteT- mination that will in the end triumph over all foes. The hardships endured, the difficulties overcome, the perils faced by this our valiant brigade, will live in history. Long after you, the heroes, shall have gone down to the grave, your career will be pointed to by those wh? © follow you, with admiration and praise, and a grateful country will bless ancestors that could endure such toils, that could perform such noble deeds, and so cheerfully sacrifice all that is dear on earth for the sake of their country and their sacred cause. To the new troops who fought so nobly on the 13th, on their first battle-field, thanks aré especially due; they have every way proved themselves worthy stand side by side with the veterans of the second brigade. That i? the coming campaign of 1863, we may all stand by each other 48 faithfully as heretofore, that we may fight as bravely and successfully for our loved country, and that God’s blessing may always rest 0? you and your exertions, is the earnest prayer of your General, E. Ferrero, Brig. Genl. Comd. 2d Brig. 2d Div. 9th A. CG The following piece of poetry, published in one of the New York papers at the time, seems to me a fitting conclusion to my narrative of this bloody and disastrous battle, — both a being a pretty good account of the battle, and as showing the common ‘feeling at the time. BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG. FREDERICKSBURG. BY W. F. We DECEMBER 17, 1862. Eighteen hundred and sixty-two, That is the number of wounded men Who, if the telegraph’s tale be true, Reached Washington city but yester e’en. And it is but a handful, the telegrams add, To those who are coming by boats and by cars ; Weary and wounded, dying and sad, Covered — but only in front — with scars. Some are wounded by minie shot, Others are torn by the hissing shell As it burst upon them, as fierce and as hot As a demon spawned in a traitor’s hell. Some are pierced by the sharp bayonet, Others are crushed by the horse’s hoof ; Or fell neath the shower of iron which met Them as hail beats down on an open roof. Shall I tell what they did to meet this fate? Why was this living death their doom ? Why did they fall to this piteous state ’Neath the rifle’s crack and the cannon’s boom ? Orders arrived, and the river they crossed ; Built the bridge in the enemy’s face ; No matter how many were shot and lost, And floated — sad corpses — away from the place. Orders they heard, and they scaled the height, Climbing right “ into the jaws of death; ” Each man grasping his rifle-piece tight, Scarcely pausing to draw his breath. TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. December, Sudden flashed on them a sheet of flame From hidden fence and from ambuscade ; A moment more — (they say this is fame) A thousand dead men on the grass were laid. Fifteen thousand in wounded and killed, At least, is “ our loss,” the newspapers say. This loss to our army must surely be filled Against another great battle day. “Our loss!” Whose loss? Let demagogues say That the Cabinet, President, all are in wrong: What do the widows and orphans pray ? What is the burden of their sad song? ’Tis their loss! But the tears in their weeping eyes Hide Cabinet, President, Generals, — all ; And they only can see a cold form that lies On the hill-side slope, by that fatal wall. They cannot discriminate men or means, — They only demand that this blundering cease. In their frenzied grief they would end such scenes, Though that end be — even with traitors — peace. Ts thy face from thy people turned, O God ? Is thy arm for the Nation no longer strong ? We cry from our homes — the dead cry from the sod — How long, O our righteous God! how long ? AFTER THE BATTLE. CHAPTER XIII. DECEMBER 22, 1862— Aveust 138, 1863. OPPOSITE FREDERICKSBURG AFTER THE BATTLE.— THE “ MUD CAM- PAIGN.”? — GENERAL HOOKER IN COMMAND OF THE ARMY.— THE NINTH CORPS DETACHED FROM THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, — ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF NEWBERN.— TRANSFER OF THE NINTH CORPS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO. — SERVICE IN KENTUCKY. December 22, 1862. The 21st were detailed for twenty- four hours’ picket duty along the river, and had a cold, uncom- fortable time.. There was no firing, and officers and men on each side showed themselves freely along the banks. December 23d. General Sumner reviewed the corps; and the tired 21st, just off picket, had to turn out with the rest, ut their military enthusiasm on that occasion was at rather & low ebb. December 24th. The 21st had another cold twenty-four hours’ tour of picket duty along the river. One interesting feature of it was in hearing and seeing the merry revelry with Which the rebels celebrated the advent of Christmas ; there Was a great firing of guns among them, and lots of glorious “amp-fires. Quite a number of Union troops, on invitation of the rebels, crossed the river on Christmas Eve, by the rocky ford just above Falmouth, and helped them celebrate. A few €Venings afterwards some fifty rebels returned the visit, com- ing over at the same place, and were made prisoners by order of the Officer of the Day, who on making his rounds came “pon them, smoking and joking around the fires with our Pickets, However, a soon as it was known at headquarters 17 258 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Januarys that the rebels were returning a visit by invitation, they weré sent back to their side of the river, and stringent orders against having any talk or intercourse between the men of the two armies were issued and enforced.! The regiment 1 turned to camp from picket at ten o’clock A. M. of the 25th, and at noon were ordered out to escort Sergeant Plunkett and several others of our wounded from the field hospitals to the railroad station, en route for Acquia Creek and Washingto™ There was no grumbling at this duty, tired or not tired, and standing at present arms, as the gallant sufferers were carried along our front to the cars, there was many a warm good-by and uttered prayer for their recovery. December 29th. Rumors of another grand move are flying about ; and during the day orders were received at regimental headquarters to issue sixty rounds of ammunition to the me”s and be ready to, march at seven A. M. next day, with three days’ cooked rations in haversacks. Late in the evening the order was countermanded? December 81st. The regimental official report of casualties suffered during the year gives one hundred and thirty-one deaths from all causes in the 21st, during the year 1862. 1863. January 6th. The 9th Army Corps was reviewed by General Burnside. The day was cold and wet, and the review was rather a tame affair. January 7th. The 21st took another turn at picket along the river. January 16th. We received orders to be ready to move early to-morrow morning, with three days’ rations in have? sacks, and sixty rounds of ammunition on the person. January 17th. The day passed without any incident of im terest, and no movement of troops. January 18th. No movement yet, but an order from head- 1 These mutual rebel and Union visits were common talk among the troops along the river, and actually took place. — Ep. 2 The movement contemplated at this time was for a grand cavalry raid, SUP” ported by infantry, in the rebel rear, which was abandoned under orders from the President, to make no general movement without his approval. Woodbury § Ninth Corps, P- 238.— Ep. 1863, - THE MUD CAMPAIGN. 259 quarters of the army is read on dress-parade, announcing that we are about to meet the enemy once more.” It is said that General Burnside is bound to give or take a tremen- dous thrashing this time, and the army is very uneasy. January 19th. Nothing done. THE MUD CAMPAIGN, | J anuary 20th. General Franklin’s and General Hooker's troops are passing up the river. It is fully understood that they are to be thrown over the river at Banks’s Ford, five miles above Fredericksburg, to turn the rebel left, and that We are to be sent over at the same place as before to attack the enemy in front. During the day we received general or- ders to be ready to move to-morrow, and at ten o’clock P. M. Were notified that reveille would be at three o’clock, and that We must be in line at four. A fierce winter storm had now Set in, and the rain streamed down unceasingly through the night. A division of General Hooker’s men, who were biv- Cuacking in the mud close by us, had a very uncomfortable night, as they were without shelter. Assuming that General Burnside had favored the 9th Corps by leaving them in their tents, they commented with great freedom on that assumed fact, and also proposed and gave “three more groans for Gen- eral A. E. Burnside,” at frequent intervals during the night. We would gladly have changed places with them, as we were destined to storm the terrible works on Marye’s Hill, while it Was expected that they would get a chance at Lee’s men on ® fair field, and considered that we would have to pay dearly for a comparatively comfortable night. January 2ist. The bugle sounded reveille at three o’clock A. M., but the order to move was immediately countermanded. At eight A. M. the regiinent was ordered on picket along the Tiver, and at once moved down in the rain to the river near the Lacy House. As we were allowed to make the Lacy Ouse headquarters, both for officers and men not on post, We ad an agreeable day; but the sixty or seventy thousand men Who were bivouacking along the river without tents or shelter 260 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. January; were having a very hard time of it; the sticky soil of the clayey roads and fields, where it had been traveled over, had become a bed of mud knee deep; horses could do nothing, and men by the hundred during the day were vainly trying to drag pontons and guns to the place for crossing. January 22d. ‘The weather still continued to be cold and rainy. The rebels across the river were fully aware of what was going on, and called out to us that the sooner our people came over the better it would suit them. The rebel pickets in our front set up on the other bank of the river a large placard made of boards, bearing the inscrip- tion, ‘ Burnside is stuck in the mud!” and called across the river that they would build bridges for us anywhere we liked, if we would agree to cross over them when built. At ten A.M. we were relieved by the 2d Maryland, and marched back to camp. The grand movement had evidently failed past 7 demption ; many wagons and pieces of artillery were standmg stuck in the tenacious mud, and the great question evidently was no longer how to get men and guns forward, but how bad get them back. During the day orders were issued for the troops to return to their camps; and the men, muddy, tired, and pale, for the next twenty-four hours were slowly plodding back to their old quarters, many of them in a frame of min which satisfied me that it was well for the honor of our army that they had not met the enemy. Immediately after taps on the 23d, some hundreds of gal- lant but unruly fellows belonging to the three old regiments of the brigade, charged the sutler at division headquarters, tore down his tent and destroyed his establishment, —the gua at headquarters not appearing on the scene until the misclie had been done. The sutler (an ex-cavalry officer) made ® very gallant fight with his revolver in defense of his property» inflicting severe wounds on four of the mob, one of whom was a 2ist man. The firing made the men bloodthirsty, and they certainly would have killed the sutler on the spot if he had not concealed himself, aided by the darkness of the night The reason for this apparently entirely groundless outrage was 1863, THE MUD CAMPAIGN. 261 rather peculiar. Half a dozen enlisted men were playing Cards in one of the tents that afternoon, when one of them, a member of the 51st New York, made a bet that he could get * canteen of whiskey at this sutler’s; the bet was taken, as it was strictly against orders to sell whiskey to enlisted men. The man took his canteen and started, but as soon as he was oe of sight pinned a pair of officer’s shoulder-straps upon his louse, and got the whiskey. Taking off the straps, he re- turned with his whiskey. The thirsty patriots in the tent thought that the millennium had come, when an enlisted man could get all the liquor that he wanted ; and, having promptly €mptied the canteen, sent a couple of their number for a fresh Supply. These men were not only roughly refused the de- a ges liquor, but given the lie and ignominiously ejected ee the sutler’s tent. Number one kept quiet as to his de- os e, and the festive party in the tent at once set to work to Si stingn a force to punish the sutler for his favoritism in sell- ; § to one enlisted man that which he refused with contumely © sell to another. Soon after the last abortive movement of the army, in which ede: mud had asserted its high prerogative, General Burn- . €, impressed with the feeling that the course of many of the 'ghest officers in the army of the Potomac was insubordinate and destructive to its discipline and unity, tried a heroic rem- edy. He issued, subject to the approval of the President, Gen- ral Order No. 8, dismissing one grand division commander tom the service, relieving another from duty with the army, and dismissing or relieving seven other prominent officers ; and then demanded either that the order be approved, or that his wn resignation be accepted. The President refused to ap- Prove the order, and also refused to accept General Burnside’s resignation, but relieved him from duty with the Army of the otomac, and appointed General Hooker to the command in is stead. On the 26th of January General Hooker assumed command Mg the army, and General Burnside bade us good-by in the fol- Owing parting order : — ee See eee ee oe z = 262 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. January; Heapquarters ARMY OF THE PoToMAC, Camp NEAR Fatmourn, January 26, 1863- GENERAL ORDER No. 9. By direction of the President of the United States, the command- ing general this day transfers the command of the army to Major- General Joseph Hooker. The short time that he has directed your movements has not been fruitful of victory, nor of any considerable advancement of our line; but it has again demonstrated an amount of courage, patience, and energy, that under more favorable circum stances would have accomplished great results. Continue to exercise these virtues, be true in your devotion to your country and to the principles you have sworn to maintain. Give to the brave and skillful general who has long been identified with your organization, and who is now to command you, your full and cordial support and codper® tion, and you will succeed. Your general, in taking an affectionate leave of the army, from which he separates with so much regret, may be pardoned if he bids an especial farewell to his long and tried a& sociates of the 9th Corps. His prayersare that God may be with you and grant you continual success until the rebellion is crushed. By command of Masgor-GrenerRaL BURNSIDE. Lewis Ricumonp, Assistant Adjutant-General. January 28th. The 21st were again on picket along thé river. It snowed all day, and the rebels seemed to be having a good time in rolling large snow-balls and in snow-ball fights January 29th. There is a foot of snow on the ground, and wood for fuel has become so scarce as to occasion serious dis comfort. The supply has been very short for some weeks, and the men have dug up every stump near the camp. February 6th. Orders were issued to be and remain ready to move, with three days’ rations in haversacks. February 9th. Reveille at four A. M., and soon after day- light, leaving the army of the Potomac with light hearts, we took the cars for Acquia Creek, and arriving there about noo? went on board the steamboat “ Louisiana.” February 10th. We started at five o’clock A. M., and after a splendid trip reached Fortress Monroe early on the morning of February 11th. From there we immediately went on 1 Newport News, and went into camp at eleven A. M., ina hard tific at a haa ree 1863, BRIGADE BALL. 2638 rain, the 9th Corps now being under the command of Major- General William F. (Baldy) Smith. We were camped near the old place, which we had enjoyed so much during our stay In the previous summer; and although we had a great deal of rain and snow during the six weeks that we remained there, it was still a beautiful place for a camp, and our line of new tents, a mile and a half long, made a very impressive show. : February 25th. Everything having got thoroughly to tights, we were reviewed to-day by General Dix and our corps Commander. The corps seemed to have entered on a new life Since it left the jealousies and chilling influences of the Army of the ‘Potomac, and we had a splendid and enthusiastic re- vlew. March 14th. Anniversary of the battle of Newbern. In memory of the anniversary a generous ration of whiskey was issued to the men, and the officers of the brigade gave a grand ball on board a roomy steamboat lying at the pier, elegantly decorated for the occasion, at which all the noted military and naval officers in the vicinity were present. As a ball, it Was not a success, as there were only eighteen ladies to two hundred gentlemen ; but the supper was very good, and wine ‘nd punch were plenty. The pleasure of the occasion was Somewhat interfered with by noisy, long-winded speeches, made by a clique of officers (not of the 21st), in which, with fulsome, mutual admiration, they lauded each other to the Skies. A certain major-general in the corps, more distin- Suished by his drunkenness on this occasion than by his mili- tary merit, made a good deal of a poor kind of sport for his Subordinates, by making a maudlin apology for having made Some disloyal remarks in relation to the action of the govern- Ment in arming negroes. A second lieutenant in the 11th New Hampshire forced the apology out of him. The general twisted and turned and browbeat, in vain, for his antagonist was U0- : relenting, and would accept nothing short of a full retraction and apology. The general concluded his speech of apology With the following sentiment, to which he had already give Utterance several times during the evening: ‘And, gentle- Ve Me i f i uae 0 264 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. March, men, I also believe that a man has a right to get drunk just when he pleases; so let ’s take a good, square drink, and let her rip by LY : March 19th. Our 1st Division are going on board ship a heavy snow-storm. Rumors are floating round that we are going west. : March 20th. The weather is still stormy, and the 1st Dr vision still leaving for somewhere.! March 21st. Major-General John G. Parke assumed com mand of the 9th Corps. The 2d and 8d divisions received orders to hold themselves in readiness to go on board trans ports, March 25th. We received orders to embark to-morrow morning. March 26th. We went on board the steamer “ Kenné- beck” at eleven o’clock A. M., and at two P.M. started for Baltimore, touching at Fort Monroe. At Fort Monroe the men greeted the fancy garrison soldiers, who came to the pier to stare at us, with such derisive remarks upon their pretty appearance and military service (the only engagement 1 which was ignominious “ Big Bethel”), that they soon disap peared. March 27th. After a very pleasant run we arrived in Bal- timore at two Pp. M., and remained at the wharf and about the streets until half-past three o’clock in the morning of the 28th, when we took cars on the Northern Central Railroad for the West. The 2d Maryland, fast friends of the 21st, had preceded us through the city; and, in memory of the Pollocksville breakfast on the previous 17th of May, had left orders with the keepers of several refreshment saloons to be on the wateh for the 21st, and inform them that the contents of their s* loons were at their disposal, with all bills paid. The restate rant keepers were on hand on our arrival; and, as it was ® 1 Our Ist Division, under General Getty, was sent to Suffolk, on the Nanse mond River, about twenty miles southwest of Norfolk, and was never returned to the corps: — Ep. 1863, JOURNEY TO THE WEST. 265 Special occasion for the 21st, the commanding officer allowed Cur men to accept the proffered hospitality to a very liberal extent ; and thereby that long, cold, disagreeable night, dur- Ing which our headquarters were in the street near the depot, 48 we waited for our train, was rendered much more comfort- able to our men than it otherwise would have been. The “ Baltimore American” of the 28th contained the fol- lowing pleasant mention of the 21st : — _The passage of a portion of the 9th Corps through the city last Night gave occasion to a compliment to the ‘ American,” which it would be affectation not to say was very highly prized. The 21st Massachusetts regiment was halted in front of our office, and at the call of its officers gave three hearty cheers for the loyal Press of Baltimore. Praise from the old 21st is praise indeed. We Place the incident among our happiest remembrances. March 28th. The old brigade (21st and two 5ists) left altimore in one train, at half-past three A. M., and moving slowly along, reached York, in Pennsylvania, about noon, where we were furnished with an ample supply of coffee by the inhabitants. Continuing on, we passed through Harris- urg and Mifflin, and arrived at Altoona, where supper was Ziven us about midnight. We passed over the Alleghanies, brilliant with moonlit snow, before morning, and got to Pitts- burg at half-past ten A. M. of the 29th. At Pittsburg we Were given a reception in a public hall, had speeches made to Us, and were furnished with an excellent collation about noon ; after which we lay around the depot until nine o’clock P. M., waiting for transportation. At nine o’clock, having been fur- nished by kind citizens with plenty of hot coffee before start- Ing, we left Pittsburg on the Steubenville, Ohio, and Indiana ailroad. March 30th. We stopped for breakfast at Coshocton, hio, and were received with the greatest kindness by the People, being waited upon at breakfast by buxom black-eyed young ladies; keeping on, we reached Columbus, the capital of the State, at half-past two in the afternoon. 266 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. March, RECEPTION AT COLUMBUS, OHIO. — MURDEROUS ATTACK UPON OUR MEN. At Columbus we were kindly received by the people, and furnished with bread and coffee; but a most unfortunate, oF rather murderous, affair soon occurred. Our men had been allowed a good deal of liberty in the towns through which we had passed, and everybody had seemed glad to see them in the streets. Several of them strolled away from the railroad station to see the capitol buildings and other sights, when # provost-guard on duty in the city, detailed from the 115th Ohio, a new regiment, without any notice having been given to the officers of the brigade that our men must be kept in the station, with arrogant and unnecessary force set to work to drive them back with the bayonet. Being met with good natured bantering, the cowardly recruits opened fire with bullets and buckshot upon our unarmed men, killing private Samuel Wright of Company I, and a private in the 51st Pent sylvania, besides wounding several others. This inhuma? outrage might have provoked a fearful revenge, if the officers of the brigade had not exerted themselves to the utmost to calm the excitement of the men, and keeping them from their guns forced them on board the cars and hurried them out of town ; for many of the men of those three veteran regiments besought their officers with prayers and tears to let them have at least one shot at their mean and cowardly assailants. In my own military experience, I do not recall an occasion whe! I felt so much regret that our imperative duty as Union sol diers forbade us to show our Western comrades at Columbus that we held them in the hollow of our hands. So far as J know, no official notice was ever taken of this sad and dis gusting outrage, March 81st. We reached Cincinnati at two o'clock A. M+ and remained in the cars until daylight, when we marched t? the market-house and had a good breakfast and a warn hearted welcome from the people; and, best of all, gave 1% and received a hearty welcome from, General Burnside, who 1868. SERVICE IN KENTUCKY. 267 now commanded the Department of the Ohio, with headquar- ters at Cincinnati. At noon we crossed the Ohio River into Kentucky ; and taking cars on the Kentucky Central Rail- road at seven o’clock Pp. M., reached the attractive town of Paris (seventy miles south of Cincinnati) before daylight of the Ist of April. Early in the morning we marched through the town to the Fair Grounds, and went into camp. Rather to ©ur surprise, there seemed to be not only no feeling of hostility towards us on the part of the people, but the majority of the inhabitants were evidently very glad to see us. In the af- ternoon the brigade received orders to be ready to move at a Moment’s notice, but remained at Paris until the 3d of April, when, starting at eight A. M., we made a splendid march of twenty-two miles through a lovely country to Mount Sterling, reaching our destination before dark. Going into bivouac Close to the town, a few of our men, who were detailed for Picket duty, had a speedy opportunity to show the inhabitants of the good little Union place that they could be depended Upon. Soon after dark the cavalry videttes came in on the run with an unknown number of the enemy in pursuit, but the pickets stood firm and repulsed the guerrillas without diffi- culty. The next morning the brigade went into camp in a Pleasant grove about a mile to the south of the town. It was the same place where some Union cavalry had been camped When captured by the rebel Clarke a week before, for the town had been subject to frequent raids; but Mount Sterling had changed hands for the last time, and soon settled down into ® justifiable confidence in the courage and ability of its de- fenders, The days passed pleasantly away, without any occurrence Cut of the usual course, except that now and then we had Tumors of guerrillas in the vicinity, until the night of the 18th and 14th of April, when the 21st and 51st New York, caving camp at midnight, made a flying march of sixteen Miles to the little town of Sharpsburg, in the hope of captur- Ng a force of guerrillas who had taken possession of the place. surrounded the place before daylight, but when we cme 268 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. April, to beat the bush found that our game had flown. The com- manding officer of the expedition, a Frenchman by birth (not an officer of the 21st), conducted himself with great arrogancé and want of common sense towards the people: ordering the seizure of horses and other property without proper inquity into the antecedents of their owners, allowing the men to raid upon suspected rebel sympathizers, and forcing several Union men and women as well as rebels to take an iron-clad oath of allegiance and loyalty. I felt heartily ashamed of being con nected with the affair, particularly with the disregard of the humane principle that allegiance and protection go together We left the town towards the close of the afternoon, accom- panied by several of the citizens whom we had rendered home less by forcing them to make public declaration of their union- ism, and had thereby made them a mark for the vengeance of the guerrillas, to whose mercy we were abandoning them. We got back to our camp at Mount Sterling at nine o'clock; making the march of thirty-two miles in about twenty hours. April 17th. Up to this date the whole brigade had beet encamped in the vicinity of Mount Sterling, but to-day all the troops, except the 21st and a detachment of Kentucky cavalry were withdrawn; and the 21st with regret moved from the beautiful open grove where they had been encamped, with its trees in full foliage and its thick turf of bright luxuriant grass, to the court-house in the centre of the town, — a larg? brick building standing in an open elevated position. Thé regiment was treated very kindly by the inhabitants ; and @ strong mutual feeling of respect and affection grew up be- tween our men and the citizens. It has been well said that the 21st gained one of its greatest victories during those three pleasant inactive months at Mount Sterling ; for they taught a people, many of whom had been born into a bitter prejudice against “* Yankees,” to regard Massachusetts troops with con fidence, respect, and love.! Twice, when it had been ordered away, it was retained on petitions to the commanding general 1 Woodbury’s Ninth Army Corps, p. 263. Adjt-General’s Report (Mass.) £F 1863, — Narrative of 21st Mass, — Ep. 1863, ' SERVICE IN KENTUCKY. 269 Signed by the inhabitants unanimously. Few incidents of im- portance occurred during the stay of the regiment in Ken- tucky, About the end of April several of the officers who found themselves with merely nominal commands, and, with nO prospect of the regiment’s being filled up, debarred from all chance of promotion, were discharged on their resignation.1 The ‘Boston Journal” of May, 1863, contained the follow- Ng notice of their retirement, which I give in full, although mentioned personally in it, because it seems to me to contain 80 excellent a comment on the wasteful folly of reinforcing the army by the addition of new regiments instead of keeping Up the old ones: — THE MASSACHUSETTS TWENTY-FIRST. We learn with regret that on account of the avowal of the War “partment, in recent orders, of the intention of the government not ‘o fill up regiments so far reduced in numbers as the 21st Massachu- Setts, several of the best officers of that veteran regiment have ten- ao their resignations, and are now on their way home. Among €m are Colonel W. 8. Clark of Amberst, and Captains C. F. Wal- Cott of Boston, and W. T. Harlow of Spencer, gentlemen who have har officers from the commencement, and to whose fortitude and gal- ntry, on half a score of the most famous battle-fields of the war, the °mmonwealth is, in so large a measure, indebted for the glorious ecord of the 21st. We should be glad to think that the government no longer needs © services of such officers. The retirement of an officer, with a Merely nominal command, from the pay and emoluments of an honor- able Position, after the government has announced its determination Not to fill up the depleted ranks of his regiment, cannot be attributed to any improper motive, nor is it to be wondered at. In France, Englana, and even in the rebel States, old regiments are not allowed to die out in this manner. We have not learned the art of war if we ° not keep the ranks of the veteran regiments full. Experienced D th 4 T think that I can fairly say that my own command was a nominal one at th, ume I had been an acting field officer since the battle of Chantilly, but on te *eturn of absent officers resumed command of my old company at Mount Ster- c “ld the company, with a captain, 1st and 2d lieutenants and full list of 20n- °Mmissioned officers, then numbering but six privates present for duty. — -: ang aS EK. ? NS ‘| i i H i} i / fd | i / } Bhi i et i Bee a F i} 1 Hana 1 Aen BH tl | a | Bete f BR eT | | ‘ | ea 1 © aed i | | | heat Bi | gna i as a, te } Hh i if | Vad a RP | ie Pade hi { | f i , | { i j ij re ‘i f i " LT ail wally 4 h eS 270 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Summer of officers should have something more than a nominal command. The men who have the fall of leaders and comrades to avenge should have their arms strong for the work. Let us have volunteers, 0 conscripts, and let the first use that is made of them be to fill up the old regiments; in no other way can the steady bravery of our army be maintained. We hope to see these officers soon in the service again, in positions worthy of their merits. On the 28th and 29th of April, the guerrilla leader, Peter Everett, threatened Mount Sterling with, several hundred men, but came no nearer than Owensville, some twenty miles away to the eastward. On the 13th of June, about fifty of our cavalry, reconnoitring towards Owensville, were ambus- caded by some of Everett’s guerrillas, and fled back to the town. They came into Mount Sterling on the run, with “4 thousand guerrillas” close behind them, advancing on the town, and “If you don’t surrender they ’Il take no prisoners: The people were fearfully excited; as they had been undef Union care so long, they dreaded the rebel raiders more that ever before, and their prayers and blessings went with the sturdy 21st as they marched out to cover the town. The guerrillas, however, had no idea of having a real fight, and, a8 the regiment moved forward, their advance, which had show? itself on the hills about a mile east of the town, disappeared During the following night the 8th and 9th Michigan cavalry arrived with a battery, and, under command of Colonel De Courey, went in pursuit of the rebels. After a chase of fifty miles, Colonel De Courey’s command came up with the e™ emy and scattered them, killing and wounding a number, and taking a good many prisoners. In the early part of July, the rebel General John H. Mor gan started from Tennessee on his famous raid through Ken- tucky into Indiana and Ohio. July 6th the 21st, with real regret, bade good-by to their kind friends in Mount Sterling and made a forced march of thirty-three miles to the beautiful city of Lexington, which was threatened by the enemy. The day was oppressively hot, and the men, heavily loaded and out of tune for marching, were much exhausted by the mareb. abee. SERVICE IN KENTUCKY. 271 Reaching Lexington at midnight, the regiment went into “amp near Fort Clay. The frightened farmers poured into the city from the surrounding country with their stock and negroes, but the rebel raiders passed by without giving fur- ther trouble to the place. On the 16th of J uly the regiment changed their camp to & beautiful grove adjoining the Lexington cemetery, where Nearly a month passed pleasantly away, without any occur- Fence of an exciting nature, except that on the 28th of July they slept on their arms near Fort Clay, on the rumor of an “xpected rebel attack, and on the 30th of July were hastily ordered by rail to Paris, on the report that the rebels had at- tacked the place, but after getting on board the cars the re- Port was found to be false, and the order countermanded. : August 12th. The 21st, leaving Lexington by rail at five © clock P. M., after a run in the cars to Nicholasville, twenty eg to the south, marched about five miles, and went into ; Vouae at ten o'clock, near Camp Nelson, a noted Union “pot of supplies, on the Kentucky River. oe 13th. The regiment marched into Camp Nelson, 2 encamped in an oak grove. General Burnside and staff “me to see their dress-parade in the evening. The men never sales better, and welcomed their beloved general with hearty sri The regiment remained in this beautiful and healthy ce, doing fatigue, picket, and general guard duty, until )©Ptember 12th, when they took up the line of march for East octmessee, as part of the Ist brigade, 2d Division, 9th Army rps, composed of the 21st Massachusetts, 48th Pennsyl- Gi ay and 2d Maryland regiments, commanded by Colonel J. - Sigfried of the 48th. 1863, DELIVERANCE OF EAST TENNESSEE. 273 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September, Se s As before stated, the 21st left Camp Nelson for East Ten- “ssee on September 12th. Starting at ten o'clock in the CHAPTER XIV. Rogersy//e SEPTEMBER 12— DECEMBER 27, 1863. THE DELIVERANCE OF EAST TENNESSEE.— MARCH TO KNOXVILLE. — BATTLES OF BLUE SPRINGS AND CAMPBELL’S STATION. — SIEGE oF KNOXVILLE. — VETERAN REENLISTMENT OF THE REGIMENT. In the early part of June, 1863, General Burnside had beeD on the point of moving, to expel the enemy from the sorely oppressed region of East Tennessee, but just as his army was about to march, orders were received from Washington to T inforce General Grant’s army (then engaged in the sieg® © Vicksburg) with eight thousand men. The whole 9th Corps (with the exception of the 21st and two other regiments) were at once forwarded to his support, and did memorable service in holding General Johnson’s relieving army at bay, and 1 pursuing it, after the surrender of the place. Early in Aw gust the 9th Corps was returned to General Burnside, badly used up by the hardships of their campaign in Mississippi. Meanwhile, General Burnside had been gathering an army for the deliverance of East Tennessee, and to cut and occupy the main line of communication between the rebel armies ° the east and west. The 23d Army Corps, together with new troops raised in Kentucky, and gallant East Tennessee ref- ugees, faithful unto death, were moving for the ‘great works when the 9th Corps returned to Kentucky, and joined the de- livering army, who were “bearing the old flag back to Ten nessee. General Burnside’s entire army was composed of about eighteen thousand men, and on the 16th of August entered Morning, the first day’s march was only about eight miles, to actively upon the prosecution of the campaign. Camp Dick Robinson. Just as the regiment was going into 18 SKETCH MAP OF SURROUNDINGS OF KNOXVILLE (reduced from the official maps of the War Department). SE TITLES OPE suber ort ae! 274 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September, bivouac, they were drenched by a terrific thunder-storm, a companied by hail as large as peach stones." Sunday, September 13th. Moved on at six A. M., and marching through Laneaster, reached the vicinity of Crab Orchard, and went into bivouac,—a day’s march of eighteem miles. September 14th. Started at six o’clock A. M,, passed through the town of Crab Orchard, and camped in the woods with the 2d brigade, —a day’s march of only four miles. September 15th. Remained in camp; the regiments were paraded and a rigid inspection was made. September 16th. Moved on at eight o’clock A. M., over 4 very bad, hilly road, along which were strewn the wrecks of many broken wagons, and went into bivouac at five o'clock, after a day’s march of only eleven miles. September 17th. Started at six o’clock A. M., and soot. met two thousand rebel prisoners, who had been captured at Cumberland Gap, going north; and tired, lean, and dirty looking fellows they were, compared with the fresh, healthy, and bappy 21st. A hard day’s march of eighteen miles was made through a wild, rugged, and desolate region, including an exhausting climb over Wildcat Mountain. September 18th. Taking the road again at six A. M., the regiment climbed a long, steep hill, and then marching by @ comparatively level road, halted for the day at eleven o'clock A. M., after a march of only ten miles. September 19th. Started at six o’clock A. M., and mareh- ing over a good road, passed through the town of Londom and went into camp at three o’clock,— a day’s march of fit- teen miles. September 20th. The march was resumed at six o'clock A. M.; the regiment passed through the village of Barbout® ville, and marching to the Cumberland River, went into biv- ouac, after a day’s march of about fifteen miles. 1 The particulars of the march to Knoxville are mainly taken from the lips of Captain Charles W. Davis, who commanded the regiment on the march, 40 from the diary of First Lieutenant Ira B. Goodrich. — Ep. 1863, DELIVERANCE OF EAST TENNESSEE. 275 September 21st. Starting at seven o’clock A. M., the regi- ment marched along the Cumberland River for fourteen miles, forded it at Cumberland Ford, and went into bivouac at four peas on a beautiful level plain surrounded by lofty mount- ins, September 22d. The regiment started at seven o'clock A. i: marched over a very rough, steep, and dusty road, through Cumberland Gap, and went into bivouac at sunset in a charm- Ng spot, after a day’s march of fifteen miles, during which “hey had for the first time entered the State of Tennessee. September 23d. Moving on over a hilly road, the regiment Went into bivouae in the town of Tazewell, — a day’s march of thirteen miles, ; September 24th. Starting at the customary hour of seven en regiment marched ten miles to the Clinch River, ed it, and at noon went into bivouac on the farther side ; © afternoon was well spent in swimming and washing Clothes, September 25th. The regiment started at six o’clock A. M., ana marched rapidly to the foot of the Clinch Mountain Tange; then came a hard climb to the summit, and on the other side an easy descent for the men, but an almost impos- Sible task to get the wagons down the steep rocky slope ; how- ®ver, the men prevented them from tipping over, and held them back, by means of ropes, and after much severe labor Sot them safely to the bottom. At sunset the regiment forded the broad Holston River, and went into bivouac, having made ® day’s march of about a dozen miles. September 26th. Starting at seven o’clock A. M., the regi- ment passed through Morristown, and resting for dinner at the noble Panther Spring, went into bivouac at Mossy Creek, after a day’s march of twenty miles. : September 27th. The march was resumed at six o’clock A. M., and passing through the town of Newmarket, the regi- Ment halted for the night near Strawberry Plains, making a 4y’s march of seventeen miles, September 28th. The regiment moved on at six o'clock M 276 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. October, A. M., and after a march of twelve miles went into camp half a mile from the city of Knoxville, glad that their hard mareh of over two hundred miles was finished; although the tough, contented 21st had stood it nobly and enjoyed its strange and romantic scenery. They had been marched in the most judi- cious manner, and scarcely a man had applied to the surgeon for a seat in an ambulance. , The regiment remained quietly in camp near Knoxville unt Sunday, October 4th, when they were ordered to take part an attack upon a large force of rebels from Virginia, who yr threatening the left flank of General Burnside’s army and } communications with Cumberland Gap. Receiving marching orders at nine o’clock A. M., the regiment marched at once is the station of the East Tennessee and Virginia Railroad, which was now in running order as far as Bull’s Gap, some fifty miles easterly from Knoxville, and started by ye Reaching Morristown at dark, they found the place crowde with refugees who had been driven from their homes by the rebel marauders. The same evening they ran on to Bull's Gap and went into bivouace. ai October 5th. The regiment moved forward with the ; vision at eight o’clock A. M., and after a march of about fot miles went into bivouac at Blue Lick Creek, to wait for the rest of the army to come up. é he October 7th. As the tents had been left at Knoxville, t men were soaked by a cold heavy rain which lasted nearly # day. BATTLE OF BLUE SPRINGS. ‘ The troops (9th Corps, Willcox’s Division, Hoskins’s er gade, and Shackleford’s cavalry) were not ready to move af J the morning of October 10th, when General Burnside alvene against the enemy with the entire command, the cavalry t# ‘, ing the lead. After a march of about five miles the enemy advance was encountered at the little village of Blue Spring® ‘ an 1 The railroad leading southwest from Knoxville is the East Tennessee © Georgia Railroad, while that running northeast is the East Tennessee a ginia Railroad. The map near the head of this chapter is in error in this © — Eb. Vit- 1863, DELIVERANCE OF EAST TENNESSEE. 277 and a brisk skirmish commenced, the rebels retiring slowly to * strip of woods across the road, where they maintained a firm front. No attempt was made to force the enemy until past the middle of the afternoon, in order to give time for Colonel Foster, who had been sent around by a circuitous route with a brigade of cavalry, to gain their rear and cut off their re- treat. Meanwhile our skirmishers occupied the attention of the enemy, the 21st being posted in support of the 2d Mary- land battery, which was in position on an eminence command- ing the woods in which the rebels lay. It being supposed that Colonel Foster's cavalry had got in the rebel rear, at five o’clock General Ferrero’s (first) Division charged the enemy with great spirit, and driving them from their cover, forced them back upon some field-works which they had erected dur- ‘ng the day; but it had now become too dark for further op- erations, and fighting ceased for the day. The loss on the Union side had been about ninety in killed and wounded ; the rebels probably suffered less, as they had been covered by the Woods during most of the engagement. As soon as day broke a Was discovered that the enemy had retreated during the night, and our army at once started in pursuit, with the cav- alry under General Shackleford in advance. Abandoned Wagons and dead horses scattered along the road, and now and then wounded rebels, left in the houses by the.wayside for Want of transportation, showed that the enemy was making a hasty flight. Our men pressed forward with great rapidity, So as to be within striking distance when the rebels came upon Colonel Foster’s command, and nothing less was looked for than the capture of the entire rebel force ; but after hanging ©n the rebel rear during a very severe forced march of over twenty miles to Rheatown, it was discovered that Foster’s Men had not been able to reach their assigned position, and Our infantry abandoned the pursuit. General Shackleford, ‘Owever, chased the enemy back into Virginia, with his cav- any. One hundred and fifty of the enemy were made prison- ‘in this hot pursuit, and about the same number of them killea and wounded. The 2ist suffered no loss during these °Perations. 278 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. October, Resting on October 12th, the regiment on the 18th marched seventeen miles towards Knoxville, and on the 14th made a further march of twenty miles in the same direction. October 15th. A march of nine miles brought the regiment back to Morristown, where they took the cars to Knoxville, arriving at their former camp at five o’clock P. M. The regiment remained quietly in camp at Knoxville until October 22d, when at two o’clock P. M. orders were received to be ready to move in an hour and a half. A fearful danger ° was now threatening East Tennessee. General Longstreet with twenty thousand men, the flower of the Army of North- ern Virginia, was approaching Knoxville, determined to drive out the Union forces and crush past resurrection the loyalty of its impoverished and long-suffering people. The 2ist left camp at eight o'clock P. M. of October 22d, and went by, rail to Loudon, on the Tennessee River, thirty miles southwest from Knoxville, where they arrived at mid- night, and lay down on the ground to sleep, but were soot awaked by a heavy rain which set in soon after midnight and continued all that day and the following night, causing much discomfort, as the men were without tents or shelter of any kind. Stirring events were evidently at hand, as a large force of the enemy had attacked our troops at Philadelphia (eight miles south of Loudon) on the 20th, and driven them back to Loudon, with the loss of six pieces of artillery, several wagons and some hundreds of prisoners. October 24th. ‘The day was clear and cold. The tents arrived from Knoxville on the wagons, and the regiment went into camp in the woods on the north side of the river, opp” site Loudon, where they remained until the 28th with no oc- currence of interest, ; On the 28th of October the 21st, with the brigade, broke. camp at six A. M., and marched to the ponton bridge lal across the Tennessee River at Loudon. The Union troops were crossing to the northerly side, and as soon as they were over the bridge, it was cut away at the southerly end and allowe 1863. ‘DELIVERANCE OF EAST TENNESSEE. 279 to swing down the river. The 21st and the other regiments of the brigade were detailed to the duty of taking up the planks and ponton boats, and loading them upon the cars for Knoxville ;/ it was a severe task, as everything had to be car- ried a quarter of a mile to the railroad. At night the regi- ment moved back a mile from the river and bivouacked. One Interesting incident occurred before our troops left the south bank of the Tennessee. A locomotive and train of cars, loaded with ammunition, which had been captured from the rebels, Were run into the river. The train leaped from the abutment of the broken railroad bridge at full speed, and taking a plunge of fifty feet, hissed into the water like lightning, in a cloud of Smoke and steam, and wholly disappeared. On the morning of October 29th, the brigade marched some five miles to the vicinity of Lenoir’s Station, twenty-three miles from Knoxville, and were gratified to find General Burn- Side there in person. The 1st Division of the 9th Corps were encamped close by ; and under the impression that the troops Were going into winter-quarters, all hands set busily to work making comfortable log-houses; but General Longstreet was yet to be heard from. The regiment remained at this point (ear Lenoir’s) until November 14th, with few incidents of interest ; much of the weather was rainy, cold, and bluster- ing ; the first snow of the season fell on the 9th of November. ‘stant Camp Nelson, in Kentucky, was the base of supplies for the army, and although rations were not yet particularly short, the quartermaster’s department was very poorly sup- Plied, and a round twenty of the 21st, without shoes, had to over their feet with pieces of raw hide. November 11th. The regiment crossed the Holston to Cover the laying of a ponton bridge, returning to camp in the ®vening, On the night of the 12th, our pickets across the "lver were fired on by the enemy. ade bridge, on reaching Knoxville, was thrown across the Holston River, and tery _General Sanders’s cavalry to cross to the south side and maintain com- irene with the town. On the 14th and 15th of November, with severe and Retina d fighting, General Sanders’s cavalry beat back Longstreet’s eavalty and Seis, ed infantry under Generals Forrest and Wheeler, who had been salad © the heights on the south bank of the Holston, opposite Knoxville. — Ev. 02 nena nrencry niet perme yeaa 3 280 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. November; At four o’clock on the morning of November 14th, orders were received to be ready to move at a moment’s notice $ and at noon the regiment broke camp, and moving out with the division half a mile on the Loudon road, halted in line of bat tle. Longstreet was coming at last, and had thrown his ad- vance across the Tennessee six miles west of Loudon. Our gallant General Sanders, with the cavalry, was south of the Holston fighting the rebel cavalry ; while General Julius Whit with a division of the 23d Corps, supported by the 1st Divisio? of the 9th Corps, stood face to face with Longstreet’s veterans. The 1st Division of the 9th Corps was commanded by General Ferrero; the 2d Division (to which the 21st belonged) Min commanded by Colonel Hartranft. The 21st remained in line of battle with the division until three o’clock on the morning of the 15th, when, in the blackest possible darkness, and through the stickiest possible mud, they struggled with the division towards Loudon, to be within closer supporting dis- tance of the 1st Division in the approaching fight. At day- light the division halted on the north bank of the Tennessee opposite Loudon, and the exhausted 21st were deployed % skirmishers, relieving the skirmishers of the 1st Division, who ” were interchanging a spiteful but harmless fire at long range with the rebels. The 1st Division now fell back towards Le noir’s, the 2d Division remaining opposite Loudon. An occ” sional shot from the enemy came over as the day passed slowly away, but no casualties were suffered in the 21st. Mea” while, Longstreet’s infantry was pushing past our right, t get between the Union army and Knoxville; and as the day wore on our wagons and artillery started on their desperate strug’ gle through the mud towards Knoxville, and about four o’cloe in the afternoon the 21st moved slowly to Lenoir’s. BATTLE OF CAMPBELL’s STATION: FOUGHT NOVEMBER 16, 1863. At Lenoir’s, two days’ rations of bread were issued to wi men, and the march towards Knoxville was resumed at seve o’clock in the evening. Halting now and then to let the at 1863, BATTLE OF CAMPBELL’S STATION. 281 tillery keep ahead, the regiment spent that long, dark night floundering wearily through the mud, as they worked their Way slowly towards Knoxville. At daylight on the 16th they reached Campbell’s Station, thirteen miles from Knoxville, formed line and stacked arms. After a halt just long enough to enable the most expeditious of the men to warm themselves with a hasty cup of coffee, Colonel Hartranft moved the di- Vision out on the Kingston road and deployed them across it, With a small force of cavalry in advance. Colonel Hartranft Was just in time: Longstreet’s infantry were hastening up the road, in the vain hope that they would reach the Loudon road in time to cut Burnside’s line of retreat to Knoxville. As the head of the rebel column appeared, it was attacked and checked by the cavalry, and broken and thrown back by the sharp fire of our infantry. A skirmishing fight now set In, during which Colonel Hartranft held the enemy in check Until the rest of our army, artillery and wagons, had passed the threatened point, and then retired his troops, regiment by Tegiment, in perfect order, to a low ridge about half a mile ° In the rear, where General Burnside had posted the artillery, &nd decided to receive the rebel onset. The Union troops Upon the field numbered scarcely six thousand men, and were outnumbered by the enemy more than two to one. Ferrero’s Division was on the right, White’s (of the 23d Corps) in the Centre, and Hartranft’s on the left. The rebels promptly accepted the gage of battle, and at Noon opened their attack by a furious charge upon the Union Night. The Union infantry received them steadily, but soon fel] back, step by step, to the shelter of the batteries ; then the well-served guns of Benjamin, Roemer, Buckley, Get- tings, and Henshaw, belched forth a withering fire upon them, and they retreated to the cover of the timber, from which they had advanced. So far the rebels had fought without the “SSistance of artillery. Now putting three batteries into posi- tion, they opened with them on the Union line, and man@u- Yred to turn our left. Meanwhile the trains had got a good Start on the road to Knoxville; and, not to hazard too much i ae || | 4 A cll age a a hi See a 282 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. November; on the chances of a second attack upon that line, General Burnside retired his little army, which moved with beautiful steadiness under a heavy fire from the rebel batteries, to # commanding position, a thousand yards to the rear. The enemy recognizing the fact that our centre was too strongly posted to be forced, was now massing his troops to crush the Union left, held by Hartranft’s Division. This movement was fortunately anticipated by General Burnside, and out light artillery massed on the left to meet it. Between four and five o’clock P.M. a fierce rebel assault was made up0? our left, as anticipated and provided against. The result, after a grand and bloody struggle, was the same as that of the assault upon our right at noon; and the attacking force, com pelled to charge over open ground as before, staggered, re coiled, and retreated, under a fire of musketry and artillery: too hot for flesh and blood to endure. . Longstreet had now had enough, and, admitting the futil- ity of further attempts that day to break the Union line, about five o’clock withdrew his troops beyond the range Mi our guns, and left General Burnside free to resume his retreat to the fortifications of Knoxville. Apart from the admirable manceuvring of the infantry, the battle on the Union side he been principally waged by the artillery in beating the rushing rebel assaults with grape and canister, and the Union loss was very small, The 21st, though on the line of battle all days and under both infantry and artillery fire, had the rare 8° fortune to escape with the loss of but two men slightly wounded. The entire Union loss was but twenty-six killeds one hundred and sixty-six wounded, and fifty-seven missing* I have been able to find no official report of the rebel 10ss®? but they must have been very severe, as their well-led vete™ ans, whose feet had seldom gone back, were repeatedly be pulsed by a withering, concentrated fire from masses of artil- Jery at short range. An estimate, which seems moderate under all the circumstances, in the ‘Rebellion Record,” vol. ¥% Doe. 13, gives the rebel loss as about one thousand in killed and wounded. 1863, BATTLE OF CAMPBELL’S STATION. 288 The battle of Campbell’s Station is rated in Woodbury’s History as the decisive battle of the campaign, in that its suc- cessful result saved the line of retreat of General Burnside’s army, and gave the few precious hours, absolutely necessary to insure the occupancy and further fortification of Knox- Ville. It was also a wonderful battle for the precision and beauty with which the troops on both sides were handled, and the many different movements executed. As stated in the «Rebellion Record” (Doc. 18, of vol. viii., before re- ferred to) :— - . . A consideration of the whole movement will show with what admirable precision each regiment and brigade came into line of bat- tle. Indeed, the evolutions on the field at Campbell's Station have Seldom been excelled in beauty and skill. In coming into position, 48 well as in the succeeding manceuvres, the commands on both sides, Union as well as rebel, exhibited a degree of discipline which at once betrayed the veterans of many a battle-field. Our troops bere found &n enemy not unworthy of their steel, in the army of Longstreet. Tusignificant as the present fight may appear in comparison with oth- €rs of this war, it certainly will rank among those in which real gen- €ralship was displayed. Every motion, every evolution, was made With the precision and regularity of the pieces on a chess-board. As goon as it grew dark, the Union army resumed its re- treat to Knoxville, unmolested by the enemy. It was the third successive night’s march for the 21st, and, although the distance to march was only about thirteen miles, so great was the exhaustion of the men, the night so dark, and the road so Muddy, that it was not until daylight of the 17th that the regiment reached Knoxville. Captain O. M. Poe, Chief Engineer of the Army of the hio, had been sent forward from Campbell’s Station to se- “€ct lines of defense around Knoxville, and to have everything ne readiness to put the troops in position as they should ar- "lve; and the points to be occupied by the different organiza- Nate were designated without delay as they came up. Al ee there was a lack of intrenching tools, the men at once to work with a will to throw up redoubts and rifle-pits, 284 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. November; and by the morning of the 18th, although much still remained to be done, the city was strongly fortified. In the mean times our forage trains were bringing in corn and hay from the south side of the Holston River, and supplies had been acct’ mulated which would suffice for two or three weeks’ econom: ical consumption. On the night of the 17th, as described in The Siege of Knoxville, Doe. 19, ‘* Rebellion Record,” vol. viii., “* the immense basin formed by the surrounding hills 18 alive with animal life. Our vast trains, cattle, herds, hog* and horses, cover the valleys and hill-sides in inconceivable numbers.” With gallant men in good spirits, posted in strong and well fortified positions (with plenty of artillery and a re sonable supply of provisions), to be beaten before Knoxville could fall into rebel hands, on the morning of the 18th Long’ street had a desperate task before him.! The city of Knoxville, a place of about five thousand inhab- itants, lies on the: north bank of the Holston River, and ¥ mostly built on a table-land, nearly a mile square and about one hundred and fifty feet above the river. To the south, the heights across the river were strongly fortified, but the tow” was not invested on that side by the enemy. On the north- east the town is bounded by a small creek, known as First Creek. East of this creek are elevations known as Tempe ance Hill and Mayberry’s Hill. On the northwest the table land descends into a broad valley. On the southwest the oa is bounded by a creek known as Second Creek, and beyon this creek is College Hill, and farther to the southwest . high ridge, on which was the bastion work, afterwards called Fort Sanders. To strong fortifications on all these hills 2 other elevations occupied by veteran artillery was added # continuous line of rifle-pits. Ferrero’s (1st) Division of the 9th Corps, resting its left o the Holston River, extended to the point where the East Te? 1 Where my sources of information are not otherwise stated, I am principal indebted to the diaries of Lieutenant-Colonel Hawkes, Captain Davis, se ants Goodrich and Hitchcock, and Sergeant White of the 21st, also t ae bury’s History, for my narrative of this campaign and the siege of Knoxv! Ep. 1863, DELIVERANCE OF EAST TENNESSEE. 285 Nessee and Georgia Railroad crossed Second Creek. Har- tranft’s (2d) Division of the 9th Corps (to which the 21st be- longed), connecting with Ferrero’s right, extended from Sec- Ond to First Creek, holding the entire northerly front of the city. White’s and Haskell’s divisions of the 23d Corps occu- Pied the ground between Hartranft’s right and the Holston River, on the northeast side of the city. The artillery on the heights south of the river was supported by a brigade of the 23d Corps. The cavalry generally remained on the east and South sides of the town during the siege, but from time to time did service as infantry, in support of threatened points in the line! The precious time required for strengthening the defenses of Knoxville had been largely gained by the brave resistance Which the rapidly advancing rebels had met from General Sanders’s cavalry, and the sacrifice of the life of that gallant and brilliant young officer. On the 17th of November, having withdrawn his command during the previous night from its position south of the Hol- Ston, General Sanders had thrown his men some distance down the Clinton and Loudon roads west of the town, and soon ®came sharply engaged with the enemy, and checked their advance through the day, but during the following night fell ack to within a mile of the defenses of the city. Early on the morning of the 18th, McLaws’s rebel Division made a fu- lous attack upon Sanders’s men, and by weight of numbers forced back the Union left to the cover of General Ferrero’s Suns, the Union centre and right, however, still holding their Stound. Towards evening the rebels renewed the attack in »verwhelming force, and drove our troops within the defenses, ut not until the brave Union commander had fallen in the Midst of the hottest fighting, close in front of the earth-work, afterwards named Fort Sanders in honor of his memory. lp A ; deg The foregoing description of Knoxville and statement of the positions of its ‘i “nders is largely taken from an article by Major Burrage, of the 36th Massa- Usetts regiment, published in The Atlantic Monthly for July, 1866. Ep. i nee OR RE one een eg EP or enc 286 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. November General William P. Sanders was a native of Kentucky, and was but twenty-eight years of age at the time of his death. General Burnside subsequently issued the following order in recognition of his worth : — Heapaquarters Army oF THE OHIO: In tHe Fierp, November 24, 1863. GenerAL Fretp Orpers No. 31. i The commanding general has the sad duty of announcing 0 sae! army the death of one of the bravest of their number, — Brigadie! General W. P. Sanders. A life rendered illustrious by a long record of gallantry and de- votion to his country has closed while in the heroic and unflinching performance of duty. id Distinguished always for his self-possession and daring in the fie j and in his private life eminent for his genial and unselfish nature an the sterling qualities of his character, he has left, both as a man ap a soldier, an untarnished name. In memory of the honored dead, the fort, in front of which bh ceived his fatal wound will be known hereafter as Fort Sanders. By command of Masor-GreneRAL BurNSIDE. Lewis Ricumonp, Assistant Adjutant-General. e re The siege of Knoxville is graphically described in the sol dierly diary of Lieutenant-Colonel George P. Hawkes, com mander of the 21st during the siege, —and I here give } verbatim : — COLONEL HAWKES'S DIARY OF THE SIEGE OF KNOXVILLE: First day of Siege, Tuesday, November 17th. Arrived at Knoxville at daylight. Took position on hill on the west side of the town “a battery. The regiment went to work at eight P. M. on two TT p pits; worked nearly all night. Mail arrived; no letters from how! General Longstreet’s force appeared in front. h. Second day of Siege, Wednesday, November 18th. Very foggy i the morning. Fighting on our left. ‘The enemy advanced nearly D front of us, about sun-down. Heavy skirmish firing. Very pleas@ in the afternoon. 3 4 Third day of Siege, Thursday, November 19th. Ordered t0 be ae rifle-pits with the regiment, Division “ Officer of the Day”? V ae he all the pickets of our division. Heavy firing in the afternoom by * 1863, SIEGE OF KNOXVILLE. 287 artillery. Went out with the new detail of pickets at eight Pp. m. Excitement. Fourth day of Siege, Friday, November 20th. Went out with Pickets at four A.M. Remained on picket line till eight a. mu. Picket firing all day. Had turkey for dinner. Got shelled in the evening. Houses burned in North Knoxville. Fifth day of Siege, Saturday, November 21st. Rainy day; nothing doing. ur batteries fired a few guns. All communication cut off. Captain Clark officer of picket guard to-day. Sixth day of Siege, Sunday, November 22d. Very pleasant. Lieu- tenant Goss on picket to-day. No firing in the morning ; firing in the evening. No excitement. Seventh day of Siege, Monday, November 23d. Very pleasant Court-martial at nine A. M., of which I am president, for the trial of Lieutenant , 2d Regiment Maryland Volunteers. No firing dur- ing the day. _ Lieutenant Howe on picket. Our pickets were driven in this evening by the rebels, who have taken our line of rifle-pits ; So that their sharp-shooters would be able by daylight to pick off our men in the city. Quite an exciting time. Eighth day of Siege, Tuesday, November 24th. Lieutenant Hitch- Cock, of our brigade staff, came to my quarters about four a. M., with Orders for me to report at brigade headquarters immediately, hinting that there was work for me todo. I went and received orders to take the 21st Massachusetts Volunteers, Major Richardson command- Ng, and the 48th Pennsylvania Volunteers, Major Gillmore command- ing, at daylight, and charge on the enemy, and retake the ground taken from us last evening. I told the colonel commanding brigade that I would do as well as I could. I took my little brigade, and Marched by flank to the left of the enemy. Everything was ready at 4ylight. The order was given ‘‘ Forward,” and the two regiments Went through. The fire was quite hot, but the boys did not falter. ® retook the rifle-pits, driving out the Palmetto Sharp-shooters, a Sallant regiment from South Carolina, taking some prisoners. ‘The Ist lost ten men; the 48th lost more. The colonel commanding 1e 2d brigade said to me that the work was well done. = x — day of Siege, Wednesday, November 25th. Very pleasant. iiss ‘sturbance last night. Court-martial met at nine a. m., for the aes of Lieutenant , of the 2d Maryland Volunteers. Ordered Seas ifle-pits at three p, M.; an attack expected. Had everything Y to give the “Johnnies” a warm reception. Dwight Ripley, th | lf Sa as! ee 288 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. November, of Company K, killed in front of my headquarters by a sharp-shoote! ttack. sie yer day of Siege, Thursday, November 26th. Tn 6 home. Court-martial in morning and afternoon. Quiet daring and night. see Maven day of Siege, Friday, November 27th. Frosty rae very pleasant. Court-martial ordered for the trial of Major ail of the 2d Maryland Volunteers, for cowardice at the bat id Campbell’s Station. No excitement to-day. Ordered into a trenches at night ; everything looks like busy work before ™ hours. ; Pwelfth day of Siege, Saturday, November 28th. Courtsmarti at nine A. M.; trial of Major adjourned till twelve a ye Men all ordered into the trenches at twor.m. Everything 10 ike an attack. Everybody awake at eleven P. M. phere day of Siege, Sunday, November 29th. Had a ee less night. The attack expected for several days was made ee morning, at daylight, on Fort Sanders, on our left, under comm id of Brigadier General Ed. Ferrero. It was made in earnest, pe! a famous “ Barksdale Brigade,” composed of Mississippi troops 5 a made a furious charge in several lines, but they got something rr wt their programme, — a severe and awful defeat. We were all ere receive them ; we had old telegraph wire stretched all around in ‘ee of the fort, from tree to tree, about six or eight inches from break up their lines. It worked according to our wishes, an 3 their men were tumbling over the wires, our grape and canister he thrown among them, making sad havoc. But they kept on, eV ti the ditch around the fort, filled the ditch, climbed up the pire and planted three rebel flags on the top; but no sooner were me rf that position, before they were pulled down, and 200 of the mr al to the rear as prisoners. While in the ditch, our guns cow a reach them, and the commander of the battery (Lieutenant rie sa took the shells in his hand, cut the fuse to two seconds, andy) Zz a ing them with his cigar, rolled them by hand down the bank 5 per would explode at the bottom, doing terrible execution. The en pe seeing the operation of their charge on the Yankees, gave med! called themselves whipped. We lost eight killed and five ee’ took the fort, besides thirty men captured outside of the fort. ere 1863, COLONEL HAWKES’S DIARY. 289 300 prisoners unhurt, and killed and wounded 1,100 more, — making it a costly job for the rebels. T went to the field this forenoon, and I never saw so many dead Tebels on the same space. General Burnside sent a flag of truce to General Longstreet, offering to give up the bodies of the killed, which General Longstreet accepted, and hostilities ceased until five p. M.3 during this time the hostile armies met each other on friendly terms ; my 21st Massachusetts boys met some of the ‘ Palmetto Sharp-shoot- ers,’ when they caught a pig together, and killed and divided equally. As soon as the signal-gun was fired at five p. m. for hostilities to recommence, the pickets commenced firing, and we were again watch- ing each other’s movements closely. So goes a soldier's life. Court- Martial in the afternoon for the trial of Major of the Second Maryland Volunteers.” ' The figures here given by Colonel Hawkes appear to be correct by a com- Parison with all other trustworthy reports that have I been able to find. The “Dormous disproportion between the losses of the respective combatants is one of the memorable features of this fight. The only battle in our history to compare With it in that respect is the battle of New Orleans, fought between the Ameri- cans and British January 8, 1815, in which the victorious Americans, fighting be- hind a breastwork, suffered a loss of only seven killed and six wounded, while the British admit a loss of 2,000 in killed and wounded, besides losing about 500 Prisoners, — Ep, 2 Fort tif Sanders, about a mile from the town, wasthe most advanced Union for- ifie ‘tion on the southwest side. Under cover of the ridge on which it was built, Ongstreet was able to place the assaulting column in position for the desperate Charge within eighty yards of the fort. The armament of Fort Sanders consisted Of four twenty-pound Parrotts, four light twelve-pounders, and two three-inch 8uns, served by the men of Benjamin’s and Buckley’s batteries. It was garri- Soned by the 79th New York, with four companies of the 17th Michigan in sup- Port, and reinforced by five companies of the 29th Massachusetts, two companies sod 20th Michigan, and a brigade belonging to the 23d Corps. The assaulting ®%el force is given in Pollard’s (rebel) History, Third Year of the War, pp. 161, 2, as follows :— “The force which was to attempt an enterprise which ranks with the most fa- Ous charges in military history should be mentioned in detail, t It consisted of tree bri aaa gades of McLaws’s Division ; shat of General Wolford, — the 16th, 18th, Gen Ssth Georgia regiments, and Cobb’s and Phillips’s Georgia Legions ; ‘that of Neh ang ‘Humphrey, — the 13th, 17th, 21st, 894, and 23d Mississippi regiments ; Ptaihy brigade composed of General Anderson’s and Bryant’s brigades, embracing, th ng others, the Palmetto State Guard, the 15th South Carolina regiment, and ® Sst, 53d, and 59th Georgia regiments.” iltaneously with the assault upon Fort Sanders, a brigade of the enemy ed the Union works on the heights south of the river, and after gaining @ advantage at first, were handsomely repulsed with heavy loss. 19 Simy Ssanlt Slight 290 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Decembers Fourteenth day of Siege, Monday, November 30th. Very plea® ant; cold; all quiet through last night; nothing going on. Court martial ; trial of Major S , Second Maryland Volunteers. An at tack expected to-night ; men all ordered into the rifle-pits. News from General Grant at Chattanooga. Fifteenth day of Siege, Tuesday, December Ist. Very pleasant. Court-martial; verdict rendered in Major Ss case. Lieutenant Goss appointed acting quartermaster. Begin to feel the effects © the siege, as we have nothing for rations but meal (cobs and all), 2 a small quantity of fresh pork. Sixteenth day of Siege, Wednesday, December 2d. No attack last night. Final session of the court-martial in the case of Major Se An attack expected to-morrow morning. All the men to be awake and in the trenches all night. Hear that General Sherman is 00 the way from Chattanooga for our relief. Seventeenth day of Siege, Thursday, December 3d. Very plea. ant; no attack. ‘The rebels were preparing to leave instead of risk ing another attack. Went to the fort on Temperance Hill, and with a field-glass saw a column of rebels leaving for the northeast ; ou? bate teries kept firing on them. Eighteenth day of Siege, Friday, December 4th. Very pleasant The rebels still leaving. General Sherman reported at Loudo® Siege raised, after having been shut up in Knoxville for eightee days, during which period we had received at no time more than half and sometimes only quarter, rations. : f Longstreet’s army was now in full retreat, and on the 5th 5 December General Burnside received the following messi a The following instructions were issued by General Longstreet to General M Laws, a few hours previous to the assault. — Rebel. Record, vol. viii., D. 16% “ Heapquarters, November 29 1863: “ GENERAL: Please impress your officers and men with the importance of m ing a rush when they once start to take such a position as that occupied by enemy yesterday. If the troops, once started, rush forward till the point § ried, the loss will be trifling; whereas, if they hesitate, the enemy gets cou or, being behind a comparatively sheltered position, will fight the harder. cout” sides, if the assaulting party once loses courage and falters, he will not find 4 age, probably, to make a renewed effort. The men should be cautioned wal they start at such a work, and told what they are to do, and the importance great safety of doing it with a rush. “« Very respectfully, « Major-General McLaws.” — Ep. J. Lon@stTREET, Lieutenant-Gen 1863, CASUALTIES. 291 rom General Sherman, who had been marching to relieve the mM ie of mney ita, sent from Marysville, fifteen miles south ca noxville: I am here, and can bring twenty-five thou- Mi ye into Knoxville to-morrow ; but Longstreet having shi eated I feel disposed to stop, for a stern chase is a long a But I will do all that is possible. Without you specify a you want troops, I will let mine rest to-morrow and ride to see you. Send my aide, Captain Audenried, out with =i letters to-night. We are all hearty but tired. Accept hes He pe pane at your successful defense and your patient wees casualties in the 21st during the siege of Knoxville, as a “y me by our surgeon, Dr. Cutter, were as follows, + of them having been suffered on the 24th of November, he recapture of the rifle-pits: — RR islge and. died of wounds, four. Sergeant Israel Cum- eka a, pons D, shot through the thigh November 29th, ar led of the wound December 2d. Private Richard R. Ske, Company E, wounded November 24th, died November Private Ai O. Dyer, Company G, wounded November : Private Dwight killed peccanmmadlem “ee through the head and instantly Wounded, eleven. First Lieutenant and Adjutant Edwin : Lewis, wrist, slight. Company B. Serjeant Alonzo J. Wetherby, shoulder. Zompany C, Corporal Henry Cain, hand, slight. i sd E, Corporal Francis Burpee, leg, slight ; Pri- dward Tyrrell, wrist and side, severe. Company F. Privates James 8. W. Gee, thigh, severe; 9 Phipps, hand, slight. ei i H. Corporal Alvin E. Humiston, shoulder, se- ms 3 Private Fred. S. Fairbanks, hand, slight. : Hira I. Privates: Ransom Bailey, arm, contusion, 3 Jerry Kelly, ankle, contusion, slight. O “i n the 5th of December, General Burnside issued the fol- ti ‘ng congratulatory order to his army : — i i i a " ' i | | 1] ene | } ke BPG aa i at | Bal ae i} i | , ie ie | a i? j ea / le ay ie VER 292 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. December; Heapquarters Army OF THE OHIO- In tHe Frexp, December 5, 1863. The commanding general congratulates the troops on the raising of the siege. With unsurpassed fortitude and patient watchfulness they have sustained the wearing duties of the defense, and with unyielding cout age they have repulsed the most desperate assaults. P The Army of the Ohio has nobly guarded the loyal region it re deemed from its oppressors, and rendered the heroic defense of Kno* _ ville memorable in the annals of the war. Strengthened by the experiences and the successes of the past, they now, with the powerful support of the gallant army which has come to their relief, and with undoubting faith in the divine protectio™s enter with the brightest prospects upon the closing scenes of a most brilliant campaign. By command of Masor-GENERAL BuRNSIDE. Lewis Ricumonp, A. A. On the 7th of December, President Lincoln issued the fol- lowing proclamation, in recognition of the great importance? which was attached to the defeat of Longstreet and delivel” ance of East Tennessee :-— “Reliable information having been received that the insu! gent force is retreating from East Tennessee, under circum stances rendering it probable that the Union forces canbe hereafter be dislodged from that important position, and e& teeming this to be of high national consequence, I recomme” that all loyal people do, on receipt of this information, assem ble at their places of worship, and render special homage an gratitude to Almighty God for this great advancement of the national cause.” : The Congress of the United States passed, and the Pr dent, on the 28th day of January, 1864, approved, a resolutio’s «That the thanks of Congress be, and they hereby ar ig sented to Major-General Ambrose E. Burnside, and throug him to the officers and men who have fought under his con mand, for their gallantry, good conduct and soldierly endut ” ance. 1863, RETREAT OF LONGSTREET’S ARMY. 293 ~ es ne reception in Boston, in January, 1864, given to the Pie “ _ of the 2d Massachusetts infantry, General its nside, who was present as an honored guest, in a speech 1ich he made on that occasion, told the following anecdote of Fort Sanders, which I cut from the “ Boston Journal” at the time : — stp may not be amiss for me to relate an anecdote that occurred at wae four or five days after the attack on Fort Sanders. A ide ae soldier of the 21st regiment brought to my quarters fins Preah in the morning a rebel soldier whom he had captured hw e picket force directly opposite him. He reported to me per- r ct ea oie ph eh brought in a specimen of a rebel soldier. at the i His intelligence was far bieeine prin y t ‘sad tal fs aoe ne Tanks of the southern army. I b i nag rhpraciates ra the icaka ae wf ecame interested in his narrative of telliows, ion of affairs at the front, and I felt that I would get an in- dlink: riche to a question that I proposed to ask him on a subject m seer ed me very much, — why General Longstreet did not make 196, thas attac after the first assault on Fort Sanders. It seemed to nach it was necessary to make the attack, and that speedily, be- icteaie, must have known at the time that reinforcements were then hei rr us. I asked this young rebel why their general had not Oise, nother attack. “Well,” said he, . General, I will tell you: Sisal en just swear that they are never going into that slaughter-pen » and when they won’t go the ball won’t roll.” Smee Longstreet retreated slowly up the north bank of marr olston River towards Virginia ; evidently hoping that a ram taste might be made. General Sherman, leaving the ios rmy Corps under General Granger to reinforce the gar- pes of Knoxville, returned with the rest of his forces to the < y under the immediate command of General Grant; and are of. the forces at Knoxville (including the 21st) fol- stat Aes enemy as far out as Rutledge (thirty miles north- oi Knoxville), but found him so strongly posted and in him pg force that it was not thought advisable to attack ee he only other casualty suffered by the 21st during the Paign was in the loss of Ransom Bailey, of Company 1 294 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. December, who was taken prisoner by the enemy at Blain’s Cross-roads on the 28d of December; and died in Andersonville Prisom August 23, 1864. Longstreet did not withdraw from East Tennessee until the following spring ; and caused considera ble annoyance to our troops at Knoxville and other points 12 East Tennessee during the winter, by constantly threatening to make inroads upon our lines, and cutting off our supplies, but did no further material injury. To close the record of the 2ist for the year 1863, from De cember 4th, when we left them at Knoxville, I will give 7¢” batim, the entries in the interesting and accurate diary of Ser- geant Henry White, of Boylston, Mass., a gallant member of Company E, from whom I have received much valuable a sistance in the preparation of this history : — DIARY OF SERGEANT HENRY WHITE. Saturday, December 5th. A cloudy day. The rebels drew in their pickets last night, and this morning theyare gone. At eight A. M. the brigade started out on a reconnoissance, and was gone all day ; marched ten miles, saw about fifty prisoners coming in * good many brought in to-day. At night went on picket; found # very different duty from what it had been. ' Sunday, December 6th. On picket; instead of watching for % rebel to shoot at and being shot at, I could lie in the sun and enjoy the warmth in safety. I took a stroll over the rebel works ; they had got up some strong intrenchments ; broken and burnt guns bec strewed around the ground. I noticed hides of cattle cut up t0 mak shoes, and saw one pair of shoes made up; they must be hard up ® shoes. Relieved at sundown. Monday, December 7th. Weather pleasant. At six A. ™ bar? ordered to be ready to march at seven, with blankets and tents: — eight the whole 9th Corps took the road to Morristown ; turned int? the Tazewell road, and marched thirteen miles after the flying 7? els, and camped. A freezing cold night. Tuesday, December 8th. .A cloudy, cold morning. At m. were on the road ; marched six miles, and camped just as it to rain; passed rebel camps continually. Wednesday, December 9th, A pleasant day ; not cold em eleven ** bega” ough be: 1863, SERGEANT WHITE'S DIARY. 295 freeze, last night. At eight A.M. were on the road; at two P. M. Stopped for dinner; the men straggled a good deal to-day, and we are all tired out, — only half rations of bread and severe marching. After dinner went across the road and camped in sight of Rutledge, the county seat. I have to-day seen soldiers scrambling after corn in the ear, as though it was the greatest of luxuries. We parch it ; Officers eat it as well as the privates. Well, it’s all for the Union, and we are driving the rebels to the wall, thank God. The brag that they.made, that they had got Mr. Burnside and his pet corps in & bag, is now out of the other corner of the mouth. To-night we had eight ounces of flour per man, served out. I made some bread, and when it was baked was forced to the conclusion that it was pud- ding, No frost to-night to notice. t Thursday, December 10th. A cloudy morning, and sharp appe- lites. No orders to move, so I went out and helped kill a sheep. Foraging has been going on extensively to-day. A pleasant night. F riday, December 11th. A cloudy day ; no move at noon. I ex- Pect we are trying to get a force ahead of the rebels, who are re- Ported nine miles from us, forty thousand in number. Ground some Corn and wheat to lengthen our rations, in a coffee-mill. Full stom- achs to-day. : Saturday, December 12th. A pleasant day ; wrote a letter ready © send home the first chance. Sunday, December 13th. Weather cloudy, with some rain. One Year ago to-day I was wounded at Fredericksburg, but I have been able to plague the rebels some since. Monday, December 14th. A cold, cloudy day, with some rain. A Slorious time to-day. We at last have got a mail; I got five letters it three papers. . . « Tuesday, December 15th. Weather pleasant. At eleven A. M. Struck tents and formed in*line of battle across the valley in which . are encamped. ‘The rebels reported coming back reinforced, with ae. at their head. Cavalry men say their advance is seven miles sais our men fighting them ; so it seems this game of chess is oe played out yet. At eight in the evening, just as I had fixed up a as bed of weeds, and tucked up for the night, fall in was the or- hag 3 packed up and began a retrograde march, were on the road till ‘a O'clock, and made only six miles. Bivouacked in a corn-field ; © up before day, with feet aching with the cold. Wednesday, December 16th. A cold, raw day; I had am eat of pa eta Ret i pe meen degen a = i ae en Pipi Es mil Ge g = - orn cx 296 TWENTKFIRST REGIMENT. December parched corn for breakfast ; cooked my eight ounces of flour for the rest of the day. Retreated six miles and got dinner ; formed line again in rear of the cavalry. Lay here all night, which proved rainy: To-night had full rations of bread dealt out, which makes me think a fight is expected to-morrow. Thursday, December 17th. A cloudy morning. We have made a breastwork of rail fence; the cavalry still in advance, something I have never before seen; they are Wolford’s men, of high reputation in these parts. At noon the cavalry had all retired to the rear of oF line, leaving us in the front. Lay in line of battle all night, whieh was very windy and cold; got no sleep; rail fence disappeared with rapidity. The expected midnight attack did not come off. Friday, December 18th. So cold to-day that the ground kept freezing all day. At noon went out skirmishing ; found the enemy two miles in front, but should judge not in much force. Hada skit- mishing run with them for two hours, nobody hurt on our side. At ~ dark went back and camped in the woods, where we were sheltered from the cold wind; another cold night. Burnside has been relieved by General Foster; we are all sorry at the change. A report ¥ going the rounds that the 9th Corps is ordered to Washington ; may it prove true, is the wish of all of us. Saturday, December 19th. A clear, cold day; fixing up camP a nice warm place in the woods. 1 Sunday, December 20th. Weather cloudy and cold. Regiment@ inspection. Things quiet on our front. ‘This is the first Sunday ° have been at rest for six weeks, and half the regiment is on pia now. Another one of our company has succumbed to the. rigors a the campaign, and gone helpless to the hospital, Newton Wellman "t West Boylston ; he got up of a cold morning and had lost the use ° his legs. Monday, December 21st. A pleasant Gay ; washed all my clothes Perhaps the reader of this will say: that’s a great item to write down; but if you had no change for three weeks, and lay around 4 much in the mud as I did, you would have thought it quite an events Letters from home, one from wife, and one from brother John. Tuesday, December 22d. Weather pleasant; wrote to bro George: , Wednesday, December 23d. A cold, rough morning; looks like snow. At eight A. m. were in line; the brigade advanced five al but found no enemy. Two deserters came in, and one negro; he ha ip ther 1863. GENERAL BURNSIDE'’S FAREWELL ORDER. 297 an officer’s horse and equipments, in good order ; they report the reb- els gone to Morristown; started last night. Got back to camp at dark, There is quite an excitement in camp about reénlisting. Thursday, December 24th. A keen, cold morning, but pleasant. The order concerning reénlisting was read to the regiment to-day, and with the sound of rebel cannon booming in our ears on our right, forty men held up hands to reénlist. I wish the whole regiment Would go in. Friday, December 25th. A cloudy day, but warm; reénlisting is all the talk, and gains in popularity. Captain Valentine was ap- Pointed recruiting officer, and after dark hung up the Stars and Stripes ©n a pine-tree branch, and before ten o’clock eighty men had their names down. I wrote mine, and went to bed feeling happy. FROM COLONEL HAWKES’S DIARY. Saturday, December 26th. Rainy, men reénlisting fast ; no bread; had two ears of corn issued to each man as day’s rations. Division Supply train captured by guerrillas, with all our coffee, hard bread, and sugar. : Sunday, December 27th. Two ears of corn a man, issued as ra- tions to-day ; the men ground it in coffee-mills. Notice was for- warded from regimental headquarters, that two thirds of the 21st had Te€nlisted for three years more, the first regiment in the 9th Corps that has done so ! GENERAL BURNSIDE’S FAREWELL ORDER. Meanwhile General Foster had been assigned to the com- Mand of the Department of the Ohio; and, on the 11th of ecember, General Burnside formally transferred the com- Mand to his successor. General Burnside’s farewell order, dated at Knoxville, December 11th, was as follows :— In obedience to orders from the War Department, the commanding Seneral this day resigns to Major-General John G. Foster the com- mand of the Army of the Ohio. On severing the tie which has re him to this. gallant army, he cannot express his deep personal celing at parting from men brought near to him by their mutual ex en in the eventful scenes of the past campaign, and who have ays, regardless of every privation and every danger, cheerfully 298 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Decembet+ and faithfully performed their duty. Associated with many of their number from the earliest days of the war, he takes leave of this armys not only as soldiers to whose heroism many a victorious battle-field bears witness, but as well-tried friends, who in the darkest hours have never failed him. With the sincerest regret he leaves the Depart- ment without the opportunity of personally bidding them farewell. To the citizen soldiers of East Tennessee, who proved their loyalty in the trenches of Knoxville, he tenders his warmest thanks. With the highest confidence in the patriotism and skill of the distinguished officer who succeeds him, with whom he has been long and intimately connected in the field, and who will be welcomed as their leader by those who served with him in the memorable campaign in North Car- olina, and by all, as one identified with some of the most brilliant events of the war, he transfers to him the command, assured that under his guidance the bright record of the Army of the Ohio will never grow dim. VETERAN REENLISTMENT. CHAPTER XV. JANUARY 6 — Frepruary 1, 1864. We have heard the rebel yell, We have heard the Union shout, We have weighed the matter very well, And mean to fight it out ; In the flush of perfect triumph, And the gloom of utter rout, We have sworn on many a bloody field, — We mean to fight it out! C. G. HALPIN. VETERAN REENLISTMENT FURLOUGH. — MARCH FROM EAST TENNES- SEE TO CAMP NELSON, KENTUCKY.— RECEPTION AT WORCESTER. ‘ ON the 6th of January, 1864, the reénlisted veterans of the 21st received orders from General Foster, commanding the Department of the Ohio, to march to Camp Nelson, Ken- tucky ; and, on the completion there, or at Cincinnati, of the necessary muster-rolls, to report in Massachusetts for the thirty days reénlistment furlough. ‘ On the 7th of January the 251 reénlisted men of the 21st started at two o’clock Pp. M. from Blain’s Cross Roads (twenty miles northeast from Knoxville), having in charge about two hundred rebel prisoners to be left at Camp Nelson. he non-reénlisted men (only thirty-six in number) were temporarily transferred to the 85th Massachusetts. Many of the men were without shoes worthy of the name, and their clothing generally was in very poor condition, but 1 5 in Semper: much other valuable information about the service of the regiment €ntucky and Tennessee, I am mainly indebted to the full and interests di “ Ma of Lieutenant Ira B. Goodrich for the incidents of the return march from 41n’s Cross Roads to Camp Nelson. — Ep, 300 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. January they moved with light hearts over the rough frozen road to- wards the north and home. J At half-past four, after a march of six miles, the regiment went into bivouac for the night. A light sleet was falling, which changed to a snow-storm during the night, and the supply of rations was very short, but rail fence was plenty: and happy men talked the night away around their camp fires. January 8th. Started at seven A. M. The day was 5? cold that the frost did not leave the men’s hair and whiskers during the day, and the road was slippery from ice and snow: Just at evening, Walker’s Ford, on the Clinch River, wa reached, after a hard march of twenty miles. A ferry-boat was obtained, and the passage of the stream comfortably made; except by the first boat-load, who got aground and had to — | wade several rods in the icy stream. The regiment biv- ouacked for the night about a mile from the river. January 9th. A bright day but very cold; started at eight A. M., marched through the town of Tazewell, ‘Tennessee, to Powell’s River. A march of sixteen miles. January 10th. Sunday. The sun rose clear, and the day was beautiful; the regiment moved on at seven A. M., passed Powell’s River, and went on to high land, where a magnificent view of the Cumberland Mountains and gap opened befor? them; they reached the gap before noon, and were disap” pointed in not receiving rations there, of which they were now destitute ; moving on over the Three Log Mountains, they bivouacked on the Second Mountain, eight miles from the g@P* A march of fifteen miles. Here they found a supply trl? bound for the gap, and from it drew two days’ full rations of sugar, coffee, and hard bread, the first full rations of thos? articles they had drawn for nearly four months. The se” ers were as jubilant as the 21st at receiving a good supply ° food, for of course they had experienced the same scarcity 4 our men. January 11th. Waited all the morning for the wagons come up; the half-starved mules had a hard time in getting 3 to 1864, MARCH TO CAMP NELSON. 301 them over the mountains. While waiting, the gallant 8th Michigan passed by, being also on the way north. The 21st Moved on at half-past twelve P. M., finished up the Three Log Mountains, crossed the Cumberland Ford, and bivouacked. A march of seven miles. The wagons did not come up at night. January 12th. The regiment waited until one Pp. M. for the wagons to come up, when they started, and after a march of about nine miles halted for the night. At the halting Place they came upon another supply train, and drew two days’ rations. . January 13th. Started at half-past six A. M.; entered Bar- boursyville, Ky., at half-past ten, and, after an hour’s half, Marched eleven miles further on, and bivouacked. A march of seventeen miles. January 14th. Started at seven A. M., and reached Lon- don, Ky., at two o’clock in the afternoon. Here many of the men bought new boots and shoes, giving their old ones to the rebel prisoners ; however dilapidated, they were thank- fully received by the poor fellows, many of whdm were ina truly pitiable condition as regarded clothing. At four Pp, M. “rived at Camp Pitman, and halted. A day’s march of eighteen miles. Here the regiment drew four days’ rations. January 15th. Started at half-past six A. M. It rained 8nd snowed by turns, all day, and the traveling was very bad 3 Crossed Big Rock Castle River, on a ferry-boat at noon ; halted at three p. M. near Big Hill, and went into bivouac in the deep snow. A march of fifteen miles. January 16th. Started at eight o’clock, and spent the — day in crossing Big Hill: it was the hardest climb of ’e march, — a distance of fourteen miles. cg aneaty 17th. Sunday. The weather was stormy, and it et heavily at intervals through the day. The regiment arted at six A. M.; and, after losing the road and marching weg os all points of the compass on muddy cross-roads, struck -. © excellent hard roads, and moving on at a slashing pace ade a day’s march of twenty miles. 5 January 18th. A rainy day. At six o’clock A. M- the regi- 802 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Januarys ment left the cheerless bivouac, where they had been soaked all night by the cold rain. Camp Nelson was twenty-seven miles distant, but the boys were determined to make it that day, and said go ahead until they reached it at six Pp. M. Here they were kindly received by their former comrade, and ever — true friend Colonel T. E. Hall, in charge of the Post, who opened a large building for their accommodation, and made them as comfortable as possible. This was perhaps the most satisfactory march ever made by the regiment ; they were leaving the raw corn and destitu- tion of East Tennessee for the flesh-pots and romance of homes and there was no grumbling over the hardships on the way: The men seemed to step off a little more freely than ever be- fore ; and, if they had not been compelled to wait for thelt worn-out mules, the march would probably have been a Wo = derfully rapid one, taking its length and the condition of the roads into consideration. January 19th. The regiment remained at Camp Nelso™ Clothing and rations were issued to the men. January 20th. At half-past eight A. M. the regiment left Camp Nelson in wagons furnished by the kindness of Colonel Hall; and taking the cars at Nicholasville, arrived at Cov ington, Ky., a little before midnight, and went into barracks The regiment remained here until the 29th inst., while the multitudinous papers required on reénlistment were being completed, and the men paid. They are indebted to the superintendent of the Soldiers’ Home for facilities kindly fur nished in aid of their work, and for a collation to the officers and men. ; Friday, January 29th. The 21st left their barracks a Covington at two p. M., and crossing the river by ferry 1° the cars at Cincinnati for Worcester. Traveling night @” day, via Columbus, Cleveland, Buffalo, Albany, and Spring” field, the regiment reached Worcester at eight o’clock the evening of Sunday, January 31st. At Pittsfield, Springfiel ’ and other places, they were warmly welcomed by crowds sembled at the depots, and by smiles, handkerchiefs, in and cheers, all along the route; as when they went to 1864, RECEPTION AT WORCESTER. 803 field in August 1861. At Worcester their reception was en- thusiastic: an artillery salute was fired; the mayor and a Committee of citizens were in waiting, and the regiment was escorted to the City Hall, to await a more formal reception On the next day. RECEPTION OF THE 21ST REGIMENT (VETERANS) AT WORCES- TER ; ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1864. __ The escort for the regiment was under the command of Colonel Josiah Pickett of the 25th regiment. The line was formed in front of the City Hall at ten o’clock. The firing of acannon on the Common announced the starting of the Procession : heartily cheered by the immense crowd, they marched through the principal streets of the city to Mechanics’ Hall, where the formal reception was to take place. The Order of the procession was as follows : — City Marshal and Aides. Worcester Cornet Band (thirteen pieces). Members of the 25th Regiment, under command of Captain A. D Foster. ‘ Drum Corps of the 57th Regiment. 57th Regiment, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Hollister. Worcester State Guard Drum Corps. Worcester State Guard, Captain Phillips Commanding. . Past Officers of the 21st Regiment. Highland Cadets, Captain Leland. Chief and Assistant-Engineers of the Fire Department. Washington Engine Company No. 1. Rapid Engine Company No. 2. Niagara Engine Company No. 3. Yankee Engine Company No. 5. Hook and Ladder Companies Nos. 1 and 2. Ocean, City, and Eagle Hose Companies. Steamers “ Gov. Lincoln” and “ Colonel Davis.” Mayor and Members of the Municipal Government. ‘Together with past officers of the City, and distinguished Citizens. Twenty-First Massacnuserts ReGment. 304 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. February; Colonel William S. Clark, late commander of the regiment, rode beside Colonel Hawkes, at the head of the 21st. Ser- geant Plunkett walked beside the colors which he had lost his arms while carrying at the battle of Fredericksburg, and attracted much attention. Many stores and dwellings along the route were handsomely decorated. The regiment reached the hall at half-past eleve? o'clock, and, entering, found the galleries crowded with a brill- jiant assemblage of ladies, and a generous collation spread. As soon as justice had been done to the heavily loaded tables, Mayor Lincoln, in a few well-chosen words, cordially welcomed the regiment in the name of the people of Woreces ter, and concluded by presenting Colonel Clark, who had bee™ sent by the governor, as his representative, to receive and welcome the regiment in the name of the Commonwealth. I regret exceedingly that I have not been able to obtain a verbatim report of the very eloquent and touching address of Colonel Clark. He sketched the hardships and suffering which the regiment had undergone in their severe marches by hunger, by disease, and by battle, most of which he had shared with them; thanked the citizens of Worcester for the splendid reception which had been given to the regiment, a” welcomed the veterans home. Colonel Hawkes then respond as follows : — After the eloquence of our late colonel, it is with reluctance that I attempt to speak. But allow me, in behalf of officers and soldiers to offer you our grateful thanks. ‘Twenty-nine months ago we left your beantiful city, and took our stand with our brothers in the field. What we have done, and how we have done it, is not for me to 84): I will only say, we have tried to do our duty. We have passé through many severe campaigns, but the most severe was th short of supplies for several weeks, we lived upon half and quartet rations, with no coffee or sugar at all. When the call came to ™ reénlist, we had had, for twenty-four hours, but two ears of ¢ and yet the soldiers did not complain; all hardships were cheerfully. These are the men I am proud to command. 287 men, 251 gave their names for reénlistment, and the Twenty!” e lasts ors borne Out of 1864, RECEPTION AT WORCESTER. 805 ae had the honor to make the first report to the corps commander, i — a regimental furlough. Now, give us Worcester County ee a to fill up our ranks to a thousand, and we will be in at ast charge that is to finish up the rebellion. s When Colonel Hawkes had concluded, Mayor Lincoln an- Ounced that the Hon. Alexander H. Bullock (since Gov- mT of the Commonwealth) was present, to acknowledge 19 reception by the State of the original flag of the 21st. rt. Bullock then paid a noble tribute to the services of the regiment and the memory of their dead in the followin Sration ;— 8 shes AND MEN oF THE TWENTY-FIRST, AND enw act eer, the 23d day of August, 1861, one of the oy ag an a dh ag of our skies, when the sun was descending be- ae ee of these western hills, the 21st regiment was drawn ee a ; a yonder camp-ground to receive its regimental colors as Pats e gee of the vast assemblage which had convened ies ag ai and farewell. More than a thousand mean, freshly Hestre 1omes in Worcester and Hampden and Franklin and baikiy a , stood expectant for the last word of our fraternal sym- and the bugle-note of their departure. The ceremony was uic . x ckly over, they filed through our streets, and were lost to our ght until to-day. B ‘ r * et in the interval we have heard from them: Massachusetts has rd fy Wiss from them; the world has heard from them; on the tedious . 7 48e, on the long marches, amid the silent watches and camp fires ’ In the b ie ir on the picket, in many a skirmish, in nine pitched ita pre Rewhern, Camden, Bull Run 2d, Chantilly, South as ma a ntietam, Fredericksburg, Knoxville,— wherever the flag Wise . tiem, wherever the enemy of their country could be found, ee libeen God has opened the portals of glory to welcome the soldier “rty. And now, fellow-citizens, follow these men from their Camp ir r 1 Worces i vf onal oak - Mary cester to Annapolis, to North Carolina, back to Virginia, Where p Never q where 1 land, to Tennessee, through four States in rebellion, every- atient, enduring, triumphant, never despairing of their countess ishonoring their State, never losing their flag, all and every- he same, at the morning drum-beat, in the shock of battle, in € funer; : 1eral procession to the bed of a:comrade’s rest, —remember that 20 306 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. February; all but twenty-four have reénlisted to see the end of the war i end of its cause, and tell me if they do not make their history 0 Bie march and carry it with them, if their reward is not in all ings vill and if their praise shall not be known and heard on earth . : pe” merge in the revetlle of the resurrection. And now they : es a But of all whomI had the honor to address two years an aaa a only one fourth part are here. In the history of the wars 0 "4 Kee we read of the decimation of armies. This war, between pre ail same race and of the same national fraternity, tells: a°sa oe nf than that. Of those who went forth from Worcester wes ongen the Twenty-first, ten officers have passed to their a8 : —— a and sixty enlisted men have while in service transferre : ae the roster of another life. Three hundred men have fallen a a which proved not to be mortal. Forty men have been es ool oners, — only forty, for these men prefer not to be captured. foe those disabled, discharged, worn out, then add the gallant pres " - the tale of the Twenty-first is completed. But not wee phi, said those who sleep in death, Ye blessed men of enviable lot! p> of heaven shall keep ever verdant the turf that covers your e i irge guined dust! Earth has no higher honor, music no tenderer ye freedom no loftier hallelujah, than those which accompany ga to immortality. Of the officers to whose fate I referred, Ad) : + all the Stearns fell at Newbern; Lieutenant Holbrook at Antietam; al others, save one killed by accident, and one who died by a Lieutenant-Colonel Rice, Captain Frazer, Captain Kelton, me ‘aa Bemis, Lieutenant Hill, Lieutenant Beckwith, were killed all slaughter of Chantilly, where, almost without any general err at all, the Union boys of the ranks saved the capital from t f the enemy. e , pons ae is not more lastingly embalmed in the han the regiment than in the heart of all patriotism and all aye ae in the afternoon of the twentieth of July, 1861, when the i ie ings of the first Bull Run vibrated over the wires through t aa bd of Massachusetts, Clark and Stearns, the one a professor we other a student in the college at Auherst, joined their a me united their oaths over the disaster, and within six hours ; ge to the the keys of their doors on the outside, and gave themse * for bi ploody fortunes of the Union. The living 1s here to pine is youl self, I speak only for the dead. Stearns was 1n the dew 0 ‘ nature in the enthusiasm of the love of God, of his country, of human and Your ears to-day from the galleries of the sky, ver the heavens that YOU HAV Proof is wanted ; but one other proof remains. sittered, blood-stained flag! [Mr. fj 1864, RECEPTION AT WORCESTER. 807 He fell at Newbern, in the victory of your arms. No purer spirit has been added to the sublime oblation of war. In kindness, in Justice to his father, my friend, and in tender respect for his own heroic sacrifice on the altar to which we all may come at last, I offer him the ineffectual tribute of my farewell: — Blest youth! regardful of thy doom, Aerial hands shall build thy tomb, With shadowy trophies crowned : Whilst Honor, bathed in tears, shall rove, To sigh thy name through every grove, And call her heroes’ round. Lieutenant-Colonel Rice is well remembered in this County of Worcester. He was, I believe, an honorable mechanic in the town of Ashburnham. He long commanded as colonel our old ninth regi- Ment of the volunteer militia, and was one of those representative military men who served in time of peace to keep up the organization nd preparation for the time of war. And when the war-blast came, Without pride of rank, without hesitation, counting the cost, and knowing the venture, he stepped forth from his peaceful pursuits, and gave up his life that his country might live. Men of the Twenty-first! On the day in August, 1861, already alluded to, in behalf of the women who now fill these galleries, I anded to you your colors. I then said to you: “ Reverence this flag in the hour of security, and honor it in the clustering battle.” tave men, you promised to do it, and you have kept your pledge. The thunders of Roanoke and Newbern, the horrors of Chantilly and redericksburg, the blazing glories of Antietam and Knoxville, the Soil of four States stained by your blood, the evidence of Burnside 8nd Reno and Maggi and Clark and Hawkes, the spirits of the un- Sheeted dead you have left in rude graves behind you, whispering in your own presence €re, this color-bearer before me (Sergeant Plunkett) whose plucky Soul still marches on, custodian of the flag, these streets, this hall, ‘rowded to h all onor and bless the present and to revere the departed, » all bear a testimony as conspicuous and enduring as if lettered E KEPT YOUR PLEDGE. No further It is your own dear, Bullock here unfurled the flag which ouse.] Brave men of the Twenty- 4s conducted you through the storm ® had brought from the State H "st, behold your flag! It h 308 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. February; and fire and smoke and blood of battle ; cheer it now, that’ it has left you and taken its place in history. Look upon it, ye men and women of Worcester; behold it riddled with ball and bullet in seve? memorable conflicts, beginning with Roanoke and ending with Antie- tam; then, look again, and behold the ghastly rents made by the shell at Fredericksburg, and see the stripes of red and white merged in crimson by the blood of the fallen brave! Look upon it ye who gave it, and strew the paths of these brave boys with the beauty and fragrance of flowers! Look upon it, ye men of Worcester, who have done but little and could have done more, and ye who have done much and could do no more; look upon it, according to your coD- science, with satisfaction, or with repentance, and resolve that hence forth the life of the republic shall engross our hearts, our fortunes, and, if need be, our blood and our lives. Look upon it, Colonel Pick- ett and men of the Twenty-fifth [Colonel Pickett and many of thé Twenty-fifth were present], and behold what reward awaits you whe? - the residue of your great reénlistment shall come home and be T ceived in this heart of Massachusetts, Look upon it, ye men of the Fifty-seventh [the Fifty-seventh, then enlisting under Colonel Bartlett were also present], and behold what exalted honor is in store for those who go forth for Union and Liberty and Humanity. i And now, Mr. Mayor, Men of the Twenty-first, and Fellow-citl* zens, let us not forget our destiny and our dependence. For the ap proaching end, and for the result, already apparent, which shall thril the heart of humanity to the end of time, not unto ourselves, but unt? Thee, God of our fathers, shall be all the praise, forever and for more! The public welcome was now over, and the members of the regiment hastened to their widely scattered homes, to enjoy their thirty days’ reénlistment furlough. evel’ 1864. REORGANIZATION UNDER GENERAL GRANT. 809 | - CHAPTER XVI. Marcu 18 — May 19, 1864. fie sar: Grant: The Nation’s appreciation of what you have done, and its reli- bia are you for what there remains to do in the existing great struggle, are now the cua ae this commission, constituting you Lieutenant-General in the Army of pate ite States. With this high honor devolves upon you also a corresponding re- nsibility. As the country herein trusts you, so, under God, it will sustain you. I Need scarcely to add that, wi y , with what I have spoken for the Nation, goes m Personal concurrence. fed ee P. . RESIDENT LINCOLN, on presenting General Grant’s Commission, March 9, 1864. GENE a ri RAL GRANT APPOINTED TO THE COMMAND OF THE ARMIES OF . 1E UNITED STATES.— SUMMER CAMPAIGN OF 1864,— BATTLES OF HE WILDERNESS AND SPOTTSYLVANIA. ; ALTHOUGH the reénlistment furlough was for only thirty ays from February 1, 1864, the regiment was not ordered ®way from Massachusetts until March 18th, on which date they left Worcester for Annapolis. Arriving in Philadelphia on the evening of the 19th, they again, as two and a half years before, found an excellent sup- Fai and a kind welcome at the Cooper Shop Refreshment m8 on, where, from the beginning to the end of the war, the sol- diers passing through Philadelphia never failed to find love and good cheer. The unselfish devotion of the ladies and gen- tlemen who sustained it is one of the imperishable aici of the war in the hearts of the soldiers of the Union he Reaching Baltimore at eight o’clock A. M. of the 20th the oe received an excellent breakfast at the soniall of the : nion Relief Association; and continuing on, arrived amongst 1e familiar scenes of Annapolis, at four staal p.m. They ms at first quartered in barracks at the parole camp, but on € 22d of the month went into tents. The old regiments of | ipunpeteeacegwes: Sek ieeee SOREN GE one it 310 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. April, the corps which had been left in East Tennessee were sent east, and joined the troops at Annapolis early in April. Dur- ing the preceding winter and early spring of 1864, a deter- mined effort was made to increase the different armies of the Union to overwhelming strength, for the great final campaigns against the rebel armies of the east and west which still held the field, as defiant and nearly as strong as ever, but with no resources now behind them from which to restore the never- ceasing, pitiless losses and waste of war. The 9th Corps was reorganized at Annapolis into an army of twenty-five thou- sand men, only about a third of whom were included in the veteran organizations of the corps, the increase from seven or eight thousand to twenty-five thousand men having been substantially accomplished by the: favorite northern method of adding new regiments and batteries. Some five or six thousand of the raw troops added to the corps were negroes, organized into a division by themselves (the 4th), under command of General Ferrero, and were the first colored troops who served in the Army of the Potomac. General Grant had received the commission of lieutenant general on the 9th of March, and on the 12th was assigned to the command of the armies of the United States. The nation had at last a leader of its armies whose drafts for the last ma? and horse that he thought necessary to pit against the rebel forces were always duly honored. Leaving the armies of the west in charge of General Sher- man, General Grant, making his headquarters with the Army of the Potomac, with grim and never-failing determination set at the bloody work of destroying or crippling the Army of Northern Virginia, under General R. E. Lee, the grand army of the rebellion. ° There was to be little of the romance or strategy of wat in the horribly bloody work of that summer’s campaign in Vil- ginia 5 Lee’s army (whatever advantage of position it might hold) was to be constantly attacked, in the hope of crippling if not destroying it. I shall attempt little or no criticism upon the conduct of the campaign. War is a brutal business at the 1864. REORGANIZATION UNDER GENERAL GRANT. 311 best, and it is enough now that our great leader was success- ful in the end. : General Grant explained his views and disarmed criticism In the following sentences in his official report at the close of = war, which I give here by way of preface and explana- 10n ; — From an early period in the rebellion I had been impressed with the idea that active and continuous operations of all the troops that Could be brought into the field, regardless of season and weather, were hecessary to a speedy termination of the war. The resources of the enemy and his numerical strength were far inferior to ours; but as an offset to this, we had a vast territory, with a population hostile to the government, to garrison, and long lines of river and railroad com- munications to protect, to enable us to supply the operating armies. Sia! Pay, in the east and west acted independently and without aun 4 ike a balky team, no two ever pulling together, enabling the for © use to great advantage his interior lines of communication iar: vetie: troops from east to west, reinforcing the army most innate y pressed, and to furlough large numbers, during seasons of Pee vity on our part, to go to their homes and do the work of pro- Ucing, for the support of their armies. It was a question whether Our numerical strength and resources were not more than balanced by these disadvantages and the enemy’s superior position. h From the first, I was firm in the conviction that no peace could be ad that would be stable and conducive to the happiness of the peo- ple, both north and south, until the military power of the rebellion Was entirely broken. I therefore determined, first, to use the greatest number of troops tare against the armed force of the enemy, preventing him . using the same force at different seasons against first one and 1en another of our armies, and the possibility of repose for refitting 5 producing necessary supplies for carrying on resistance. Second, “4 hammer continuously against the armed force of the enemy and Mey non ae xa oon 2! in no other way, there should Of cine g q we mission with the loyal section Ns common country to the Constitution and laws of the land. pel peek ltempeng teers been Soi : cepti Pansat: Whether they might have er in conception and execution is for the people, who mourn 312 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. April, the loss of friends fallen, and who have to pay the pecuniary cost, to say. All I can say is, that what I have done has been done consci- entiously, to the best of my ability, and in what I conceived to be for the best interests of the whole country. .. . The 9th Corps, under General Burnside, was destined to take part in the summer campaign of 1864, in immediate con- nection and codperation with the Army of the Potomac, but constituted a distinct army until the 24th of May, when it was incorporated with the Army of the Potomac. In the reorganization of the 9th Corps, the 21st was a signed to the 2d brigade of the 1st Division. The brigade was commanded by Colonel Daniel Leasure, of the 100th Penn- sylvania regiment; the division by the chivalrous General Thomas G. Stevenson, formerly colonel of the 24th Massachu- setts regiment. The 2d Division was commanded by General Robert B. Pot ter (formerly colonel of the 51st New York regiment), one of the most gallant fighting men in the whole army ; and the 3d Division by General O. B. Willcox. On the 23d of April the 21st left Annapolis with the corp® and taking up the line of march for Washington, on the 25th of April marched through the city, passing in review before their loved and honored commander, General Burnside, and President Lincoln. Passing over Long Bridge, the corps went into camp near Alexandria. On the 27th of April they marched to Fairfax Court House, —a day’s march of sixtee™ miles. Taking the road at eight o’clock A. M. of April 28th, the regiment marched to Bristoe Station on the Orange 2” Alexandria Railroad, —a day’s march of twenty miles. On the 29th, marching on about twelve miles, they went into biv ouac three miles south of Warrenton Junction, and on the 30th moved on a couple of miles to the vicinity of BealtoP Station, where they remained until Wednesday, May 4th. May 4th. Starting at seven o’clock A. M., the regim made a march of some seventeen miles to the vicinity ° Brandy Station. Lee’s army of seventy thousand fire-toe pered veterans were lying in a strong position behind the ent 1864, BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. 313 Rapidan, their right resting near Raccoon Ford, and their left 1n the vicinity of Gordonsville, watching warily for the Union advance.! On the afternoon of May 4th, the 21st received the blood-stirring news that the Army of the Potomac was ®cross the Rapidan, and that the 9th Corps was ordered to follow with all dispatch. Moving at midnight on the 3d of May, General Grant had turned Lee’s right flank, and by a Tapid advance towards Gordonsville, intended to place his mighty army — numbering with the 9th Corps about. one hundred and forty thousand men — between Lee’s army and Richmond. After crossing the Rapidan, General Grant’s line of march lay through the region known as the Wilderness, a densely- Wooded district, thick with stiff scrubby trees and almost im- Penetrable underbrush, with few openings, and intersected only by narrow wood roads, where artillery was useless. The Sreat rebel leader, without a moment’s hesitation, skillfully and boldly threw his army across the Union front, and on the Morning of May 5th, forced upon General Grant, in the poogry thickets of the Wilderness, one of the most horrid and loody battles in the history of war. The 21st with the corps, Moving south from Brandy Station on the morning of the 5th of May, crossed the Rapidan late that evening at Germanna B ord, and bivouacked. ‘The hellish evenly balanced fight had ‘c Lee’s army was organized in three corps of infantry, the 1st, 2d, and 3d, un- SA ti. respectively of Lieutenant-Generals Longstreet, Ewell, and Hill, ea a cavalry corps of 8,727 men, under the long unrivaled Stewart (soon to : Pe his fate at the hands of glorious Phil. Sheridan), and an artillery corps of a 4 men. Its full strength does not appear by the rebel official returns now on ei! the War Department at Washington, the return nearest to the 5th of May, ‘tn » being one of April 20th, which omits Longstreet’s Corps (the 1st), which a then recently arrived from the West. Omitting Longstreet’s powerful corps, at 8 army, by his own — on the 20th of April, numbered 53,984 men for Pon: Pin official returns Army of Northern Virginia, published in Taylor’s " ears with General Lee (Confederate), p- 176.— Ep. we — estimating the reliable fighting strength of the two armies at the opening a aa it ought not to be forgotten that the enlistments of many of the an nion troops expired in the summer of 1864; that the large Union regi- the les a rule, were green ones, and that the whole 4th Division (colored) of Corps remained in the rear with the wagons. — Ep. 814 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Mays ceased for the day, but the leaders on each side were planning a renewal of the death-struggle with the first light of the morning, Lee still hoping to hurl the Union army back across the Rapidan, and Grant to utterly destroy the army of his antagonist. General Grant, in his official report, says of this march of the 9th Corps to reinforce the army of the Potomac : — General Burnside, with the 9th Corps, was, at the time the Army of the Potomac moved, left with the bulk of his corps at the crossing of the Rappahannock River and Alexandria Railroad, holding the roads back to Bull Run, with instructions not to move until he received 10 tice that a crossing of the Rapidan was secured, but to move promptly as soon as such notice was received. This crossing he was apprised of on the afternoon of the 4th. By six o'clock of the morning of the 6th, he was leading his corps into action near the Wilderness taver™ some of his troops having marched a distance of over thirty miles crossing both the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers. Considering that a large proportion, probably two thirds of his command, was co™ posed of new troops, unaccustomed to marches and carrying the ace coutrements of a soldier, this was a remarkable march. On the 6th of May the 21st were stirring before daylights and with their division started forward through the thickly — matted woods towards the blood-soaked ground four or five miles away, where the battle was already raging again with savage fury. Only two hundred and nine men carried muskets in the ranks of the 21st that morning, — the whole fighting force of the glorious old regiment. Before following the 21st into action, it will be well to sketch the position of the co” tending armies as the regiment came up to the line of battles General Grant had ordered a general attack to be made ab five o’clock on the morning of the 6th; but General Lee ” ticipated him by a sharp demonstration against the Union right, where General Sedgwick’s (6th) Corps was posted, af fifteen minutes before five o'clock, which was doubtless tended to distract attention from the Union left, where o intended to deliver his main attack as soon as Longstreet ® Corps, which had not yet reached the front, came up. At five sna BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. 315 clock portions of Hancock’s (2d) and Warren’s (5th) Corps Opened a successful attack upon the rebel right, and with sharp fighting had by seven o’clock driven the rebels back for a mile and a half with heavy loss, when Hancock halted his men to rearrange his line. Meanwhile, Sedgwick’s Corps and a por- tion of the 5th Corps were carrying on a bloody but indecisive Combat on the Union right. This was the state of affairs . When Stevenson’s (1st) Division of the 9th Corps reported to General Hancock on the field about eight o’clock in the morn- ig. The division was divided, the 2d brigade (21st Massa- Chusetts and 100th Pennsylvania) being placed on the extreme tiki ng the 2d Corps, while the 1st brigade, composed of new edeapee (the 56th, 57th, 58th, and 59th Massachusetts reg- HY Pap took position on the extreme right of General Han- th 8 troops. Potter’s (2d) and Willeox’s (3d) divisions of : © 9th Corps fought gallantly during the day in the Union entre,l To return to the part taken by the 21st in the battle. hide nine o’clock Hancock resumed the attack ; but the ad- hee of Longstreet’s Corps had arrived on the field, and un Cugh the attack was made with great spirit and heavy ny no advantage was gained over the enemy. ‘This attack ‘S made by General Hancock’s right, and although our first "igade suffered severely, particularly the 57th Massachusetts (Colonel Bartlett’s regiment), the 21st, not being actively en- erent, suffered no loss. After a lull of some hours, about a ©n, Longstreet’s troops, having all got into position, burst Hancock’s advanced line ina terrible charge, and swept ‘a ack in disorder to the original line from which it had ad- ee at five o’clock that morning; then the rebel advance “8 stayed by the loss of their great and impetuous leader, . Sart: Longstreet, who fell with a severe wound. General ©@ In person now took the immediate direction of the rebel iM 'ght ; but the day was far spent before he got things in hand, 1 r The 4th Division (colored) were detached from the corps to guard bridges, ads Uniti] » And wagon trains, and were not engaged in any fighting of consequence the battle of the Mine, July 30th. — Ep, 316 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Mays to renew the attack; and when, about four o’clock, he %& saulted General Hancock’s line which was covered with ® breastwork of logs, although the rebels entered the line of the intrenchments, they were soon driven out, with sever? loss, and the battle on the Union left was over. In the disorder and confusion at about the time of the fall of Longstreet, the 21st, together with the 100th Pennsylv® nia, were called on for a brilliant and daring charge ; form at a right angle with General Hancock’s line, the little brigade’ in a beautiful, steady charge, swept the whole front of his p® sition, beating away a brigade of the enemy, and affording an opportunity for General Hancock to rally his broken troops: After having cleared General Hancock’s front, the brigade took position on the right of his line, and did gallant service in the final repulse of the rebels on the Union left. Dr. J ames Oliver, the fighting surgeon of the 21st, from his long and gallant experience one of the very best judges of what goo fighting is, and who, as we all know, wastes no words in mere compliments, who was an eye-witness of the charge of the aist and 100th, writes me as follows in relation to it: — The part the regiment took in the battle of the Wilderness I think was particularly heroic and deserving of something more than @ et? ing comment. Knowing, as I do, that nearly all the artillery of th Army of the Potomac was parked close in the rear of the 2d Corp® I am confident that the brilliant charge of the 21st and 100th Pen? sylvania, after Hancock’s line was broken (for both lines held. by 2d Corps were broken and the men routed), not only saved out be : lery, but prevented our army from being cut in two and suffering fearful disaster. I think that during my whole service I neve? ba so brilliant a charge by so few men with such glorious results: ; two great armies seemed poised for a moment, and our little he rushed up, and turned the tide in our favor. The rebels, wh? the made a lodgment in the works of the 2d Corps, were driven out, lines were restored, and were never retaken by the enemy. About dark the rebels made an attack upon the right wit of the Union army, and forced part of it back in a good of confusion, but did not attempt to follow up their succes tie 1864, BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. 317 On the seventh of May both armies held their ground, and Neither showed any disposition to renew the attack. The loss Suffered by the Union army in this savage, bushwhacking bat- tle, was terrific, — numbering no less than 37,737 men; of Whom 5,597 were killed, 21,463 wounded, and 10,677 miss- ing. The rebel loss numbered 11,400 men, — killed, wounded, and missing.! It was the last battle in which General Lee as- Sumed the offensive on any grand scale. CASUALTIES SUFFERED BY THE 21ST MASSACHUSETTS IN THE BATTLE OF THE WILDERNESS. , The casualties suffered by the regiment in the battle were : Killed and died of wounds, three ; otherwise wounded, seven ; Prisoners, eight. Total, eighteen ; as follows: — COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. Wounded: Captain George C. Parker, face, flesh wound ; a. Lieutenants George E. Davis, lost finger of left hand; ©orge H. Bean, head, slight; Felix McDermott, wrist, Slight. ENLISTED MEN. Sergeant-Major P. Frank Gethings, prisoner. Company A. Private Asa F. V. B. Piper, struck in abdo- men, and died on the field; Sergeant J. Albert Osgood, and Tivate Wilbur A. Potter, prisoners. Company B. Private William Cohen, wounded in hand. : Company C. Private James Lackey, wounded in knee, died of the wound June 1, 1864; Privates Edward Ely, Wounded in arm; Francis E. Clark, prisoner, aj Company D, (Drummer) Charles E. Goodrich, prisoner ; led in rebel prison at Florence, S. ©., October 10, 1864. Company E. Corporal Francis Burpee, wounded in face, Slight, : Company G. Privates Herbert Joslin, struck in head and 1 Bs 3 onda, et? figures of losses are given in Strait’s Compilation from the official rec- a 318 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. May; instantly killed; Waldo Dwinnell, prisoner, died in rebel prison at Andersonville, about September 1, 1864. Company H. 1st Sergeant Marcus M. Collis, and Sergeant James H. Damon, prisoners. The ball that struck Captain Parker, ranged down and lodged in his neck ; he did not leave the field until the rebels were driven away. Osgood and Potter were taken prisoners, while helping their dying comrade Piper. Gethings was captured while trying to get to the skirmish line, which was concealed by the thicket and smoke of burl- ing woods. Collis and Damon were both on the skirmish line, which was separated from the regiment by the thick and tangled brush. ‘They were sent back, one after the other, to find the exact position of the regiment, and successively captured by a party of rebels concealed in the thicket. All the prisone! ‘ were sent to Andersonville. General Grant decided on the 7th of May to make a new attempt to place the Army of the Potomac between Lees army and Richmond by moving past the rebel right flank Spottsylvania Court House, about fifteen miles southeast of the battle-field of the Wilderness; and soon after night-fal the army commenced to move. The rebels became aware % the movement,! and the two armies gave defiant cheers and yells, as they moved to other fields no less deadly than that horrible drawn battle in the blood-soaked tangled thickets of the Wilderness, 1 The rebel movement to Spottsylvania, in advance of the Union forces, to a certain extent accidental. Grant’s immense wagon trains had to be got “a of the way before night, and were withdrawn from the field during the afterno? of the 7th. General Lee, seeing that the army was moving, but being in — whether to Fredericksburg or Spottsylvania, ordered Longstreet’s Corps pit commanded by General Anderson, to be drawn out of its position in line of ba¥ tle, and camped ready to move to Spottsylvania in the morning. Anderson, P being able to find a good place to bivouac (the woods being on fire), besa” ee march that night about ten o’clock; and the rebels again planted thems! ai across the path of the Union army. Swinton’s Army of the Potomac, P — Eb. 1864, BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA. 319 The movement of the army from the Wilderness towards on Court House commenced on the night of the = ns May ; the 5th Corps started first at about nine o’clock rs le evening, and the 9th Corps brought up the rear. The * = got away with the division at one o’clock on the morning ne 1e 8th, and, passing by the battle-field of Chancellorsville, ‘vouacked near Fredericksburg early in the forenoon. Re- Suming the march early on the 9th, they reached the little aed Ny about noon, and immediately intrenched themselves, mile and a half from Spottsylvania Court House. The a army was now in position facing Spottsylvania, but ©1r intrepid enemy had planted himself squarely across their ea and the second great flanking movement was brought asc Hancock's (2d) Corps was on the Union right ; ig rom the right came Warren’s (5th) Corps; then the prety orps, which in the morning was Sedgwick’s, but before aaa that great soldier was killed by a rebel sharp-shooter, 'S corps passed to General Wright ; the 9th Corps under Mae formed the left of the army. The advance of the on orps, after successful skirmishing with the rebel cavalry, reached a point two miles north of Spottsylvania Court ees early in the forenoon of the 8th; but, as the Union he 4 ee to oceupy the coveted position, the same enemy 1ad barred their march in the Wilderness met and re- e sed them with a deadly fire. Part of the 6th Corps havy- mae Joined Warren in the afternoon, a brigade of that corps Nee a division of the 5th attacked late in the day, but the - els had come to Spottsylvania Court House to stay, and “es hight found them in-full possession of an impregnable 5 ® On the morning of the 9th, the 8d Division of the 9th °rps (under General Willcox), after a brisk skirmish, had Seized the bridge over the Ny at Pee ®ricksburg and Seldetey veinin is a waar Tae Beye tion a tion of th as ' ad, and maintained their posi- quarter of a mile beyond the river. This was the situa- . affairs when our 1st Division joined the 3d, at noon of ‘ 9th of May. All was quiet when the 21st came up, but w sharp-shooting fire was opened between the skirmish 820 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Mays lines early in the afternoon, and lasted until night-fall ; with this exception, the afternoon was passed in quiet. May 10th. The rebel sharp-shooters were active in front of the 9th Corps, and at half-past eight o’clock A. M. inflicted an irreparable loss upon the 1st Division, in the death of Gen eral Thomas G. Stevenson, their beloved commander, who was struck in the head and instantly killed. A sagacious, cool, and dauntless soldier, he was an inspiring leader of men, and a gentleman of the noblest stamp. On the right of the 9th Corps more than 6,000 men 0 2d, 5th, and 6th corps fell during the day in repeated vain at- tempts to carry an intrenched position of the enemy ; and late in the afternoon the 9th Corps made a determined but fruit: less attack upon the works in their front, in which the 218 suffered a loss of ten enlisted men, whose names will appe@" at the close of the account of the fighting at Spottsylvania- The 11th passed away without a renewal of the combal but at evening the troops began to take position to assault the right of the rebel centre with the first light of the coming day. The 21st were moved to the right in a heavy storm, but were soon ordered back to the position from they had been withdrawn. During the 11th, Major-General Thomas L. Chittenden, * gallant officer of distinguished service in. the western army took command of the 1st Division of the 9th Corps, in place of the loved and lamented General Stevenson. At half-past four o’clock on the morning of the rath the f the troops of the 2d Corps made a glorious opening of the battl@ 4 by carrying the salient of the right centre of the rebel liné by storm, and after a short but savage hand-to-hand fight oT the captured works, took twenty pieces of artillery and abou 3,000 prisoners. Pushing on in some disorder after the flying enemy, the Union troops came upon a second line of wort were repulsed by the rebel reserves, and driven back on et captured line. Determined to recapture the lost position, th rebels pressed with such fierceness upon Hancock’s ™ the 6th Corps, who had come to his assistance at six © en and ‘clocks BATTLE OF SPOTTSYLVANIA. 821 Sy relieve the pressure upon them the 5th Corps on the ioc rr the 9th Corps on the left at eight o’clock made a "ie, but unsuccessful assault upon the rebel works in their Ry “7 The musketry fire which was kept up by our troops bly ~ eevee salient, “ the death angle,” was unquestiona- ie ~ leaviest of the war, and the deluge of balls by which in ae els were held back will ever be noted in the history kitea., The whole forest within range of the Union fire was - a, and great trees actually cut down by bullets. Our Cops held the captured salient, and early in the afternoon cs repeated assaults, the 9th Corps drove the rebels in their ont from a portion of their first line. a night, soaked in a deluge of rain, the 21st, with the Bes er re themselves within a few yards of the for- Io e works of the enemy, and a slow, never-ending fire ot “4, a up throughout the night and late into the morning 12th) 3th. The carnage during this dreadful day (the nate he frightful, the Union loss being more than 8,000 roe the 9th Corps, Colonel Griffin of the 6th New i san lire, and Colonel Hartranft of the 51st Pennsylvania, dies, mand of brigades, won promotion by their gallant and Det sigeagp services upon the bloody field. The loss of the ieee n the battle of the 12th was in killed and mortall inded, four; otherwise wounded, twenty-four. Their ers ’ppear a eke at the end of the account of the fighting at Spottsyl- During the week succeeding the battle of May 12th = ant, reluctant to leave the rebels in possession. of thei und, made various movements of corps from flank to flank, ’ General Searchin n in vain for a weak : : Rheron Ze or unguarded spot at which to he enemy’s line. : Pere there were frequent skirmishes and a good deal eral es! firing id sr week, there was no further pent Snes) ack upon the rebel line until May 18th, when another lt was made by about half the Union army, including the 1, oes t and 2d _ of the 9th Corps, but accomplished 822 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. May no results, and the assault was abandoned early in the day: Convinced at last of the hopelessness of attempting further to force the rebel lines at Spottsylvania, General Grant T solved to turn the position by again moving past the rebel right to the line of the North Anna River, near where it 18 crossed by the railroad from Richmond to Fredericksbuté twenty miles to the southeast of Spottsylvania Court Houses and directly between Lee’s army and Richmond. In the preparations which were made for this movement, the Dist, about sunset on the 19th of May, were moved to the extrem? left of the Union line, and threw up earth-works. Genet Lee, becoming aware of the intended movement, retarded its execution by a bold attack made by Ewell’s Corps upo? the Union right, which, although it was handsomely repulsed, dee layed the contemplated movement till the night of the 20th, when at midnight, Hancock, leading off with the 2d CorP® started for the new line on a circuitous route ; and on ; same night Longstreet’s Corps headed south, to again plar itself across the Union front. In the horridly bloody fighting at Spottsylvania, from the 8th to the 21st of May, the Union army had suffered “ity of 26,441 men, of whom 4,177 were killed, 19,687 wound ; and 2,577 missing. The rebel army during the same tim lost 9,000 men in killed, wounded, and missing.? The 21st, in the fighting near Spottsylvania Court ar on May 10, 12, and 18, 1864, suffered a loss of thirty? men, of whom five were killed, or died of their wounds, © ty-two were otherwise wounded, and two taken prisone!™ follows : — COMMISSIONED OFFICER. t Wounded (May 12th): 1st Lieutenant Felix MeDermo™ flesh wound in temple. : tne obiel™ 1 These figures of losses are taken from Straight’s Compilation from records. — Ep. Son, Micha, CASUALTIES AT SPOTTSYLVANIA. ENLISTED MEN. ee A. Wounded (May 10th): Private Eleazer S. a itney, arm; (May 12th): Sergeants Seth F. Hale, leg; ldney S. Heywood, leg ; Private Samuel B. Adams, hand. 5 Company B. Wounded (May 10th): Private Samuel ea hand ; (May 12th): Privates John H. McCarthy, left Tm; Patrick Meehan, head ; James G. Wright, arm. Raber sea C. Killed (May 18th): Private Myron E. Stow- - Wounded (May 12th): 1st Sergeant Henry H. Has- ca: leg ; Corporal Charles H. Sperry, face and side; Pri- Sieg Wm. Glasgow, abdomen ; David Smith, hand. Pris- t: Private Thomas Farrell. ene who was detailed for service in the hospital de- ae ment of the regiment, was struck in the head by a three- a Solid shot while sitting in the headquarters tent. i ompany D. Wounded (May 10th): Private John G. ha him es (May 12th): Sergeant Charles C. Crosby, joy, Ke a Henry S. Abbott, thigh; Charles F. Mont- gpoomPany i, Wounded (May 10th): Privates Joshua G. L ppard, foot; Lucian Webster, leg; (May 12th): Private ©onard T. Hosmer, arm. Pompany F, Wounded (May 10th): Private Samuel T —o body ; (May 12th): Private Pierre F, Douer ne 'soner (May 10th): Sergeant Charles C. Muzzey. > 5 Pompany G. Killed (May 12th): Private Henry E night. Died of wounds: Sergeant Charles H. Puffer “a ; Beant Puffer lost a leg in the battle, and died of his tonsil "ie few days, Otherwise wounded: Corporal Charles G Wrence, arm; Privates Henry H. Martindal pee fury C. Perkins, arm. e, shoulder ; Pompey Smee ey 12th): Private Josiah Glea- Wounded: Corporal William H. White ankle : Pa el Austin, arm. ’ 3 Ni = G 2 ch leason was a company cook, and was shot by a vabel arp. . ; Tp-shooter while coming up to the line with a kettle of i i | : } | 4 1 824 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. May; coffee for the men; the coffee kettle was hit and pierced at the same time. Company I. Wounded (May 10th): Sergeant Charles S. Babeock, hand ; Privates Lewis P. Atwood ; George F. Whee- lock, leg; (May 12th): Privates Patrick Brabston ; Thomas Magovern, head. Company K. Died of wounds (May 12th): Private Law son Barnes, head; died of the wound May 15th. MOVEMENTS OF THE ARMY. CHAPTER XVII. May 20 — June 18, 1864. MOVE hee OF THE ARMY. —FIGHTING ON THE LINE OF THE NORTH aN a — ja BATTLES AT COLD HARBOR. — TRANSFER OF THE ARMY OSS THE JAMES RIVER TO THE SOUTH OF RICHMOND. — AS- SAULT Pa ars OF JUNE 16TH AND 17TH UPON THE REBEL WORKS IN NT OF PETERSBURG. Pam the main body of the Union army was fighting at sai a gene General Sheridan was doing effective and gal- ie ork with the cavalry. On the morning of May 9th, he ‘Ss Berra: ona raid against the enemy’s lines of communica- = hs Richmond, during which he. destroyed several miles heae road and large quantities of military stores. Repeatedly M. e the rebel cavalry, in an obstinate fight on the 11th of Bay e killed their renowned leader, General J. E. B. Stuart 3 xy a after leading his dashing horsemen up to the main line ie 1e defenses of Richmond, finally rejoined the Army of the rt tear 4: on the 25th of May. Simultaneously with the pas- “Se of the Rapidan by General Grant's army, General B. F rey started with thirty thousand men from RS u ' the — River, to attack Richmond from the south, and a ee me of May occupied City Point and Bermuda Hundred. bitca e of May he destroyed @ portion of the railroad be- in etersburg and Richmond, and after some sharp fight- made a general advance on Richmond on the 12th of i 3 meeting with some success until the 16th of May, his ‘erie rm that day was badly beaten at Drewry’s Bluff by the thon; = under General Beauregard, and with a loss of our thousand men retreated to Bermuda Hundred (be- 326 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. May; tween the James and Appomattox rivers). As General But- ler’s army at Bermuda Hundred was shut up in a position easily defensible but difficult to operate from, General Grant on the 22d of May, ordered General William F. Smith, with the principal part of Butler’s forces, to join the Army of the Potomac. As before stated, in making the second great attempt 0 throw the Union army between the rebel army and Richmond. General Hancock’s Corps started for the line of the North Anna during the night of the 20th and Zist of May. Within an hour after the 2d Corps had begun the movement, Long street’s Corps had started, on a better and more direct route, to frustrate General Grant’s plan. On the morning of the 21st the 5th Corps followed the 2d; and Lee at once sent Ewell’s Corps after Longstreet’s. The 9th Corps left Spott- sylvania during the afternoon of the 21st, and the 6th Corps followed during the night. Hill’s (rebel) Corps made an at tack upon the 6th Corps after the 9th Corps had moved, but was easily repulsed, and at once followed Longstreet’s a? Ewell’s Corps. The 21st, moving with the army over the beautiful a tile region lying between Spottsylvania and the North bivouacked near Bowling Green on the 22d. On the 23d, the regiment moved on at 7.30 o'clock and late in the afternoon went into bivouae close to Ox Fores on the North Anna River. The 5th and 6th Corps struck the river at Jericho Ford, about two miles on the right of the oh Corps; and the 2d Corps near the railroad bridge, a mile and a half to the left of Ox Ford. The old enemy of the Army of the Potomac was again their front, and still between them and Richmond, oceupyi9S a strong position between the North and South Anna rivers: The 5th Corps crossed at once, at Jericho Ford, to the south- ern side of the river, and towards the close of the afternoo? repulsed a sharp rebel attack. A short time before sunset th? 2d Corps cleared the way for the next morning’s work by cA nd fer Annas A. Ms jn 18 64. ALONG THE NORTH ANNA. 327 a the North Anna, and which covered the Chesterfield Py 1way) Bridge, a mile above the railroad bridge. iy on Early in the morning, the rebel position across sai is opposite the 2d Corps having been abandoned, the mai ye to the south side of the river, and at the same sale oh th Corps crossed at Jericho Ford on the Union Pi - Joined the 5th Corps. The centre of the rebel aia ne on the southern side of the river near Ox Ford, mys — right and left flanks thrown back, the right resting nieces Tanover Marshes, and the left on Little River, a tri- an mera with the apex at Ox Ford. No crossing be ae at Ox Ford, as it was considered to be impractica- Sada 9th Corps was divided : Willcox’s (8d) Division sbecce : near the ford, while Potter’s (2d) Division was sent Cist) riishens the 2d Corps, on the Union left, and Crittenden’s Nistsanac dd about the middle of the afternoon, was sent to eran e 5th and 6th corps, on the Union right. The Bg es of the Zlat during the 24th of May were as fol- ida : aa ten o’clock A. M. the 21st went on to a thickly béahs ree and in the North Anna, near Ox Ford, as a support llc an th Michigan regiment. The river at this point was a de allow, and swift. At a bugle signal, the 17th and thai'e ere to ford the river and assault the rebel works on ice bank. Probably fortunately for them the bugle was never came, and about the middle of the afternoon the © returned to the north bank, and moving about a mile Bi the 44 ‘iver crossed at Quarles’s Ford with the 1st Division ? ard rain, ina : and passed the night lying on E : — of the rebel works. There tae tire te pee volagigen day, but the 21st were not actively engaged, and Ik bi loss. ae # ; i now painfully evident that the ae strongest position yet held by then gic Wings ao wee impregnable centre thrust between the two durin e Union army; and the more it was reconnoitred & the next two days, the worse it looked. General | G rying an intrenched position held by the enemy on the north “ant therefore determined to withdraw his army across the Bs 328 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. May; North Anna, and make still another attempt to turn Lee’s right flank, by crossing the Pamunkey River (which is formed by the junction of the North and South Anna rivers) at Hanover Town, some twenty miles to the southeast of Lee’s position. May 25th. By orders from General Grant, the 9th Corps were to-day incorporated with the Army of the Potomac, hav- ing up to this time formed a nominally separate army. The regiment remained on the skirmish line during the day, but suffered no loss. May 26th. The 21st recrossed the North Anna, and re mained near the ford. In the diary of Sergeant Henry White of Company E, I find the following rather ludicrous incident minuted as having occurred on the 26th : — Some hungry rebels shot a beef on our side of the river, and 9% there was no shooting in that vicinity, thought that we had no pick ets there, and five of them stripped and swam the river; our pickets pounced out of the woods, and marched them ‘to headquarters naked, much to their chagrin. The withdrawal of the army from the line of the North Anna commenced at night-fall of the 26th, and was made wit great quiet and secrecy. The 21st remained to guard the fo until eleven o’clock A. M. of the 27th, when they followed the troops moving to the south, and did not go into bivouac until nearly midnight. The losses suffered by the Union army, in the fightin the line of the North Anna, numbered 1,973, of whom 2 were killed, 1,460 wounded, and 290 missing. The rebel 108 does not seem to have been reported, but was probably about the same as the Union loss. The regiment continued to move slowly with the a southerly direction, without any incidents of intere the 28th and following night. At half-past three 0 the morning of the 29th, the almost utterly exhaust crossed the Pamunkey River at Hanover Town, an halting for breakfast, moved on about two miles an corps 12 st during *clock 0” ed me? d aftet a took g te > 864. BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR. 329 PRs line. In the movement from the line of the North sig . : 1e Union army had been compelled to take a circuit- “es 6 ae ea Lee’s army, moving on a direct line, had but mei 1e distance to march, and now stood ready for battle, sy the Pamunkey and Chickahominy rivers. hese 28th of May, the Union and rebel cavalry had ene, a@ savage battle near Tolopatomoy Creek, an affluent of Nitiye amunkey, which ended in the defeat of the rebels; and the 29th strong reconnoissances were made along the whole Bibi front, to develop the position of the rebel army, which as found to be strongly intrenched, and covered by marshy 8tound behind Tolopatomoy Creek. Ress a 30th of May the regiment moved forward with the Sacaee crossed the creek, the rebel skirmishers retiring as th pr advanced. At dark the men intrenched themselves wie was known as the Shady Grove Road. The Union i Eset 2 within ten miles of Richmond ; but the posi- deuce y the rebel army was so strong that General Grant cca Ris to make a direct attempt to force it, but to at- hin tars passage of the Chickahominy by extending towards hast the 81st of May and Ist of June, the 21st, remaining in ficht on on the Shady Grove road, engaged ina sharp picket ue with the enemy, in which, on the 31st, Privates George fe > ander, of Company K, was killed, and Thomas A. Doherty lst ompany D, was wounded in the leg and neck ; and, on the “s/ of June, Corporal John D. Reynolds, of Company A, and Sates J. Warren Clark, of Company K, were killed, and °rporal William J. Ricketts and Private Nat. C. De f ©mpany D, were wounded: Corporal Ricketts i > a ; “ and Deane in the hand. ee — movement of the Union army was directed on Cold 84 or, a name given to a locality where several roads con- rt from which circumstance it derives all its importance. on a battle of Gaines’s Mill (the first of the seven fought a o — from the vicinity of Richmond), une 27, » Occurred on this ground ; but, in the a qj i) i i Hy 1? j fit ‘i Te ae aT hie rh | 830 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. June, dreadful battle soon to take place, Lee fought in McClellan’s and Grant in Lee’s position at the battle of Gaines’s Mill. Bethesda Church, near which the 21st were destined to be next engaged, is about three miles in a northerly direction from Cold Harbor. Sheridan’s cavalry took possession of Cold Harbor after sharp fight on the 81st of May; and on the 1st of June, Gen eral William F. Smith’s command from General Butler's army and the 6th Corps secured its possession by a gallant fight, in which the Union loss was upwards of two thousand men. To meet the Union movement to the Chickahominy by way of Cold Harbor, General Lee withdrew Longstreet’s Corps from his left, and posted it on his right in a strong position behind Cold Harbor. BATTLE OF BETHESDA CHURCH, FOUGHT JUNE 2, 1864. On the 2d of June, General Smith’s command of sixteen thousand men, together with the 6th and 2d corps were a position at Cold Harbor, and constituted the left of the Unio? army ; the 9th Corps was on the right of the army, and the 5th Corps on the left of the 9th. During the afternoon of the 2d, the 5th and 9th corps were ordered to move towards the left, to close up the army. While General Burnside wa withdrawing the 9th Corps, the enemy, detecting the move" ment, made a fierce charge, in heavy force, upon the 21st, who were bringing up the rear of the 5th and 9th corps. The determined and skillful courage with which the 21st met and checked the advance of the rebels cannot be praised to0 highly, nor its results upon the fortunes of the 9th and 5th corps over-estimated. The heroism of the regiment, as they fell slowly back fighting fiercely and effectively, gave time for the two corps to prepare for and repulse the rebel assault. 1 864, CASUALTIES AT COLD HARBOR. 331 C + ASUALTIES SUFFERED IN THE 21ST IN THE BATTLE OF BETHESDA CHURCH (BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR). we : this desperate engagement, which is known as the battle ethesda Church, in the vicinity of which it occurred, the St suffered a loss of 47 men; 13 of whom were killed or mortally wounded ; otherwise wounded 21, and 13 others Prisoners ; as follows : — COMMISSIONED OFFICER. D Wounded: 1st Lieutenant (and Acting Adjt.) Felix Me- ermott, leg. ENLISTED MEN. we mPany A. Died of wounds: Corporal Charles S$. Wilder, unded, and died of his wounds in a short time in the hands of OF the rebels. Wounded: Private Jeduthan W. Ames, leg Sait prisoner), Prisoners: Corporal James A. Miller and vate George A. Hitchcock. wetiteheock and Miller, and the other unwounded prisoners, i ec to Andersonville Prison, and a. subsequent part of ustory is enriched by a very complete diary of Hi — 8 prison life. ‘ supe e wre pany B. Died of wounds: Private Daniel Pine wnded in thigh and ankle, and John Quinn, wounded in a shoulder. Pine fell into the hands of the rebels, and died ve his wounds at Richmond, June 21st. Quinn died of his inne in a few weeks in the 5th Corps field hospital near etersburg, Wounded: Private Wells Aldrich, abdomen Py; lsoners . S : Sergeant George O. Emerson ahs Atty g and Private James ree ee Emerson died in Andersonville Prison, October 8, Com ‘ibd: pany ©. Killed: Corporal Ferdi : Wounded: Privates Martin D. Leach (and pri ollar. _ , S. Gun he ; Barney Oakes, head ; Prisoner: Corporal Alvin Company D. Wounded : Sergeant George Ward, arm. se th eed ag array ameencerenene shea onion a pty crepe at Senate ornare = 5 aa een ns iitcigiinibniatiaiteiia Ee a) I FR ee oe : cae = a a z 5 ~ 332 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. June, Company E. Killed, and died of wounds: Private John Eppler, killed ; Private Leonard T. Hosmer, shot in the hip, and died of the wound June 22d. Wounded : Corporal Franklin Sargent, head ; Privates Joseph Daley, hip ; Luther W. Thomas, shoulder. Company F. Killed: Sergeant Louis Duprey. Wounded: Sergeant (and Acting Sergeant-Major) Hiram W. Batehel- der, arm; Privates George L. Burbank, thigh ; Michael Toughey, hand; William H. Ford, leg; George H. French; hip; Albert Knight, hand. Prisoner: Private John K. Parker. Company G. Killed, and died of wounds: Private Henty Thomas, killed ; Private John Fearing, thigh fractured, and died of the wound August 8d. Wounded: Corporal Erastus McIntosh, leg; Private Luther E. Stewart, foot. Prisoner * Private George A. Corey. The wound in Stewart’s foot made amputation necessary? which was performed a second time, and has caused him ex treme suffering. K Company H. Killed, and died of wounds: Private Francis Smith, killed; Corporal Augustus M. Jones, wounded 1 the thigh, and died of the wound July 1st. Wounded: Se geant John S. Koster, lost right arm. Prisoner : Corporal Daniel E. Barker. CompanyI. Killed: Private George W. J arvis. Wounded Sergeant Abner R. Mott, neck ; Private Samuel P. Whipp!’ leg. Company K. Killed: Sergeant Marcus A. Emmons. Priso™ ers: Privates Prentice J. Banks, Thomas B. Dyer, Germa? Lagara, Thomas Marshall, William L. Orcutt. The battle was fought in a heavy rain-storm ; an as the enemy had been repulsed, the 21st bivouacked on the wet ground, near Bethesda Chureh. The Union army we now formed, beginning with the left, in the following ont 24 Corps, 6th Corps, Smith’s command, oth Corps; d, as goon Corps. le General Grant ordered a general assault along the who a 864, BATTLE OF COLD HARBOR. 333 se a aacgr by the Union army at daylight on the 3d of wine ‘. ith the first light of dawn the Union artillery Od ad oe and at half-past four o’clock the troops of the ian a corps and General Smith’s command moved for- uae e assault lasted but a few minutes, and met with a ies 4 and disastrous repulse. The 5th Corps made no at- . a to advance. The 9th Corps did not get into position petra simultaneously with the troops on the left, but soon at a eir repulse the 2d and 8d divisions of the 9th Corps di — division being held in reserve) attacked the rebel coe Producing no impression, although suffering a loss of nih . hey cuse> men in killed and wounded. General Grant RR the bloody results of this short battle as decisive a . Retro, further in the overland route to Richmond, = / n renching his army along the rebel front, determined Place it on the James River south of Richmond. In his Official re ort I . ‘ ; at Cold Beau ities the following account of the fighting Me re Ist day of June an attack was made at five P. M. by the eine wis 4 and the troops under General Smith, the other corps eralved adm readiness to advance on the receipt of orders. This a in our carrying and holding the enemy’s first line of works Si in ¢ : : front of the right of the Sixth Corps and in front of General ® } i ms During the attack the enemy made repeated assaults on Siteiah the corps now engaged in the main attack, but were re- pate with heavy loss in every instance. That night he made sev- BRD se: to regain what he had lost in the day, but failed. The 34. Ge ely in getting troops into position for an attack on the the he the 3d of June We again assaulted the enemy’s works, in lnas Bi driving him from his position. In this attempt our Was the roth 43 aa of the enemy, I have reason to believe, the Raga oe was the only general attack made from - ac an to the James which did not inflict on the enemy losses sayin phos for our own losses, J would not be understood as or te xd all previous attacks resulted in victories to our arms» complished as much as I had hoped from them; but they in- icted u pon the enemy severe ] ; osses, whic in the end, to he Complete overthrow of the rebellion ne 2 PA RR NEE A REE ARE mg re Re ee ee 334 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Tunes The official reports of the losses suffered by the Union army in the fighting at Cold Harbor show a total loss of 14,984 men, of whom 1,905 were killed, 10,570 wounded, and 2,456 missing; while the total rebel loss was 1,200 killed an wounded, and 500 missing. While remaining near Cold Harbor until the necessary rangements were completed to transfer the army to the south side of Richmond, General Crittenden, at his own requests was relieved from command of the 1st Division of the 9th Corps, and was succeeded in the command by Brigadier-Gen eral James H. Ledlie. The two intrenched armies remaine watching each other, and no further fighting of consequence? occurred on that ground. The movement of the Army of the Potomac from Cold Harbor commenced at dark on the evening of June 12th, tbe Qist taking up the line of march at half-past seven P- M Marching all night in a southeasterly direction, they reached Tunstall’s Station, on the Richmond and York River Railroad, a distance of about eighteen miles, at daylight on the 18th Here, fortunately for the comfort of the men, blocked by the wagon trains of the army, troops got a few hours’ welcome rest by the ways noon they moved on again, and, with short halts, co their march until midnight, when they went into bivouac neat Jones’s Bridge, on the Chickahominy. Starting again early on the morning ment continued their march until eigh they halted at Charles City, on the James River, marched in two days between fifty and sixty miles. The march of the army to the James was covered from the enemy’s observation by a skillful feint on Richmond ™ de through White Oak Swamp by the 5th Corps and a divisio? of cavalry under General Warren. - On arriving at the James River some little delay was in passing it owing to the non-arrival of the ponton bridge 2 and for this reason the 9th Corps were compelled to v4 d weatl rest of twenty-four hours, —a grateful thing to the and the weaty ide. ntinued of the 14th, the ree" t o'clock P. M., wher having 186 a 4. ASSAULT ON PETERSBURG. 335 ys: but an unfortunate interruption to the so far rapid eo ment by which General Grant had hoped to capture Pe ni before the arrival of Lee’s army. : ae on the 15th of June, a bright moonlight night, ne te (with the corps) crossed the James River on a pon- ee : -_ and moved on with a halt of only an hour until Pat five in the afternoon of the 16th, when they took a nin line of battle with the left wing of the Union uti in a wood near Petersburg, and just in time to partici- Hoe. In a susceestitl assault upon the rebel line in front of the oe Hill,” which occurred at six o’clock, and in which ae ebels were driven from their rifle-pits to the cover of Set Rap formidable works. During this engagement the Spin si under a heavy fire of artillery, and suffered a loss ry? men, all of whom were struck by the same missile, ty og solid shot, as follows : — “i eae ri nlp seruie J. Dunn, killed ; Charles "4 » mortally wounded, and died in a ays ; Sergeant i ohn W. Wallace, wounded in the oo On thea K. Private Henry M. Sherman, wounded in the se distressing forced march of about thirty miles from A of crossing the James River had caused large num- folie o the men to fall out, who did not come up until the ‘i os day, and the 21st presented avery attenuated line Eo _ engagement, Wallace, Dunn, and Blackmer constitut- ona > sons force of enlisted men present for duty in Com- Ps fighting on the 16th was done wholly by the 2d rete on the right, close to the Appomattox River, and the a orps on their left. During the night of the 16th, orders — issued for the 2d and 9th corps to renew the attack a “ on the morning of the 17th; and, under cover of the oth " so troops . General Potter’s Division (2d Division, ps) were formed ready for the assault within a hun- d e,e ie aoe of the rebel position. With the first light of day d Division struck the enemy and swept his line for a Pe Sn a Ae een ee = Sareea ih i! | [ } ah | { Setar nse Pee er ee ee ee ee pace ese lS la tr ne 336 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. June, mile in the most spirited and gallant manner, but support- ing troops failed to come up at the critical moment, and when they did come it was too late to do anything more than hold what had been gained, leaving the rebels in a strong posi- tion close to the captured line. About noon the 3d Division, under General Willcox, made a vigorous attack upon the reb- els, but failed to carry their works, although our men ad- vanced with great spirit and suffered severe loss. At six o'clock Pp. M., the 1st Division, under General Ledlie (to which the 21st belonged), were ordered in, and responded heroically to the order. Charging fearlessly over the bodies of a thousand of their comrades of the 2d and 3d divisions; who had fallen in the two previous attacks, they carried and occupied the rebel line in their front. The rebels, while daylight lasted, made a continuous, de- termined attack to regain the lost position, but our men easily repulsed their vain assaults. After dark a steady, rapid fire was exchanged with the enemy, until at last our ammunition was entirely exhausted. Repeated requests were sent for more, but none was fut nished. As the Union fire ceased, the rebels gathered for another charge. Without power to prevent their approach our men heard them rushing to the assault, and soon saw them swarming upon the works ; then, without means of ef- fective resistance, the unsupported, wearied troops of the 1st Division fell back in confusion to the position from which they had advanced, and the line so gallantly carried was abatr doned to the enemy. In this attack by the Ist Division, the 21st took a most important and dangerous part. While the ~ rest of the division charged directly to the front, the Jittle regiment, numbering between 130 and 140 muskets, charged obliquely to the right and front, and were thereby isolated and exposed to a raking fire. The principal fighting in front of Petersburg on this day was done by the 2d and 9th corps who suffered a total loss of about 4,000 men. 18 64, CASUALTIES IN THE ASSAULT. Los S SUFFERED BY THE 21ST IN THE ASSAULT OF JUNE 17TH ON THE LINES OF PETERSBURG. age 21st suffered a loss of thirty-one officers and men in action, of whom four were killed or mortally wounded, tw i i Speke were otherwise wounded, and two (not wounded) “en prisoners, as follows : — COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. a sce and wounane : Major Henry H. Richardson, wounded ©) A ay Captain Charles Goss (commanding Company oa Killed ; Captain Edward E. Howe (commanding Com- mi H, contusion of arm. . Rat so Goss, of Sterling, was struck in the head by a bul- it fare «ges early in the charge. peal (and.p oe) 3 Barney Oakes, head. SEE paar none Ne 1 *noveadiooe 338 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. June, Company D. Wounded: Private Emmons M. Parkhurst, arm. Company E. Died of wounds: Private Ira Thompson, wounded in the thigh, and died of the wound July 31st. Wounded: Sergeant Christopher A. Curtis, body ; Private Edwin M. Mitchell, shoulder. Company F. Wounded : Sergeants Leonard F. Alexander? leg, slight ; Charles J. Fox, leg; Privates James F. Bellows; leg ; Patrick Fluddy, hand ; Owen Hammell, hand ; Edward Mountain, leg ; Henry C. Wester, hand. Company G. Killed: Private Patrick Fay. Wounded: First Sergeant Lorenzo H. Gilbert, thigh. First Sergeant Gilbert had been in command of Company G since the crossing of the Rapidan. Sick, and in constantly — failing health, he had repeatedly refused to go to the hospital. His wound was long supposed to be mortal, but by good nurs ing, aided by his indomitable courage, he was at last restore to his home in Ashburnham, though crippled for life. Company H. Wounded: Private Frederick 8. Fairbanks: hand, slight. Company I. Wounded: Sergeant Charles L. Burton, necks Privates Charles L. Atwood, face ; Xavier Jordan, foot. Pris oner: Private William H. Tyler. Company K. Wounded: Corporals Charles A. Smith, leg! - Thomas Winn, arm (and prisoner) ; Private Michael Fly»™ shoulder. A general assault was ordered to be made at four o’clock oF the morning of the 18th, but when the skirmish line m0¥ up to the rebel works which had been carried and lost the daY before, it was found that they were abandoned by the enemy? who had now withdrawn entirely from his original line of trenchments, and occupied a carefully selected line about # mile nearer the city, which was the line that he held through out the long siege of Petersburg. This change in the stal? of affairs required new dispositions to be made of the troop and the general assault was deferred until afternoon. whet made, although it was repulsed at every point with heavy, y 1088 7 1864, ASSAULT OF JUNE EIGHTEENTH. 339 ae eter in the immediate vicinity of the rebel works, ‘a mai . Appomattox River to the Norfolk and Peters- PAR Ss rer ) on substantially the same line that they held Suacaaed of the siege. The result of this attack convinced erm rant that it was in vain to hope to carry Petersburg in - and that it was necessary to reduce it by the slow ph em ting : siege. The Union troops were therefore at once reba rk in the erection of a systematic line of intrench- hia » lacing those of the enemy, and varying from one hun- ‘ and fifty to five hundred yards in distance from the mai ebel line, = ey pe Spee by the Union army in the assaults upon 18th “) ines in front of Petersburg from the 15th to the of June, numbered, by the official reports, 10,590 men, of whom 1,298 ue A 1 , ere killed, 7,474 ded ps The rebel loss is not Lidiag ee ee TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. CHAPTER XVIII. June 19 —Juty 30, 1864. SIEGE OF PETERSBURG. — GENERAL EARLY’S RAID ON WASHING" THE TON. —- BATTLE OF THE MINE. June 19, 1864. General Grant's beleaguering armies in front of Petersburg and Richmond now extended from DeeP Bottom, on the north side of the James River, about twelve miles below Richmond, across Bermuda Hundred, and from the Appomattox River to the Norfolk and Petersburg Rail- road; in all, a front of about ten miles. The Army of the James was under the immediate command of General B. F. Butler, and held the north bank of the James and Bermud@ Hundred; the Army of the Potomac, under General Mead® held the rest of the Union line, more immediately in front of Petersburg. Although Petersburg is twenty-two miles south of Rich mond, its occupation was regarded by General Lee as abs” lutely essential to the safety of the western and southern com munications of the rebel capital. On the 16th of June, the Army of the James had a from Bermuda Hundred and occupied a position on road between Richmond and Petersburg, but on the were driven back to the works covering Bermuda Hundreds In a few days after the commencement of the siege of P eter™ burg, both the Union and rebel fronts were covered with for the raik tifications so formidable that they could be held by compary’ tively few troops, and both commanders were able to cut 0s? powerful columns for operations elsewhere, — General Grav active operations being principally directed against the dvanced ; {7th wer SIEGE OF PETERSBURG. 341 do : Asny ee and Danville railroads, on which the rebel The 4th rd ern Virginia depended for its supplies. Vinal oe ats of the 9th Corps (colored), under General reported ane so far had been kept with the wagon trains, Were an aa uty with the corps about the 20th of June, and they ePik ling but a welcome addition to the front on which ha a es: Tn front of the other corps, as a rule, there but o . pet bsien.: and the hostile picket lines, frequently but the a tae apart, exposed themselves with impunity ; isdisact dels would never allow the negroes, or the troops im- Seas NB Arnage with them, to rest in peace, and on the deadly ps! y the 9th Corps there was a constant, distressing, which ’ Pb fire of musketry and artillery kept up, by Wounded fags last, a great many men were killed and Corps, wi x2 the end of July, the 21st, with the 9th etery Hill: wa =m position holding the line in front of Cem- three da ot wt their wearisome duty was alternated with line; Pb e advanced line and three days in the second the sea 8 ae second line was only two hundred yards from two positi works, there was no great difference between the OW the es me in point of danger from the enemy’s fire ; but fit —e line the men were able to get some shade, while iis nt line they were compelled to hug the parched and oni igo and were scorched and withered by the blazin teenage Aa ot 70k 4 i poor fellow who did not e w. On ne hundred ti ten sadam ea the 21st mustered Fourteen men w : ere lost by the 21st in ki = ' this distressing period (from J vis Pr tts Ollows : — 1 to July 29th), June 23d. Cor ; poral Geo Wounded in the body. _ Hardy, of Company D, June 27th. Ser ; geant Leon: F, shot in the head and killed, ard F. Alexander, of Company June 28th. Privat Wounded in the leg. aa Somerville, of Company B, July 1st. Private Wounded in the head. Joseph G. Hart, of Company H, 342 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. July, July 8d. 1st Lieutenant Jonas R. Davis, wounded in the hand. July 5th. Sergeant (and Acting Sergeant-Major) Sidney S. Heywood, of Company A, wounded in the abdomen. July 10th. Private Charles H. Morse, of Company F, wounded in the thigh. July 14th. Private Waldo Vinton, of Company H, wounded in the side. July 15th. Private De Witt C. Ray, of Company A, shot in the head and killed. July 20th. 1st Lieutenant George H. Bean, wounded in the foot. July 23d. Sergeant Edwin T. Brown, of Company ©; struck in thigh by a piece of shell and killed. July 24th. Private Lyman F. Thurston, of Company Gs wounded in the leg. ; July 27th. Private L. J. N. Hurie, of Company C, wounded in the head. July 29th. Corporal James M. Stone, of Company &; wounded in the thigh. On the morning of June 19th, Private Newton Wellman; of Company E, was found dead, having died during the nights probably from heart disease. The next engagement in which the 21st took part was the sad and discouraging battle of the Mine, on the 80th of July; but, before proceeding to that, it will be well to state what the rest of the army had been doing since June 18th. Dut — ing this time nothing of great importance had been done by the rest of the army in front of Petersburg, although thé Union lines had been extended to across the Jerusalem Plank Road, about a mile to the left of the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad, and two divisions of cavalry had raided upon the rebel communications, temporarily destroying several miles ° the Weldon and Southside railroads. Meanwhile General Lee, secure in his strong intrenchmen® — in front of Petersburg, had made a startling movement upo? Washington by a detached army of four brigades of cavalty 18 64, EARLY’S RAID ON WASHINGTON. 343 ee ogc infantry, all under the command of General Valley = ra: _Marching rapidly down the Shenandoah eB ae: a Se before Martinsburg on the 3d of July. ineaica ar » who was in command of our forces there, re- Wat. across the Potomac at Shepardstown, and General Pep iM in comanans at Harper's Ferry, drew his troops across ontaak to Maryland Heights. The way was now fairly Prades “ox the rebels; and, moving rapidly, they reached ainieg igi hy on the 7th of July, threatening both Balti- Pits ine . ashington, Fortunately, General Grant had not had pe it napping, and learning of the rebel movement, raga ng 1ed the 6th Corps from the Army of the Potomac which h ry capital, and followed it up with the 19th Corps, General Hees arrived in Hampton Roads from New Orleans. Sead al Ricketts’s Division of the 6th Corps was the first to €, and was carried in transports to Baltimore. General Wall: ‘ ace, pushing out promptly from Baltimore with Ricketts’s Veterans dred da Monocacy River. ’ and a heterogeneous force, composed largely of hun- ys men, met Early’s troops on the 8th of July at the Although General Wallace’ r b g era allace’s troops were adly beaten in the engagement, and driven back ei Balti- hip: the stand that they made delayed the enemy for nearly et pe saved Washington, as it enabled General Wright, ae 1e two other divisions of the 6th Corps and the ad- best of the 19th Corps, to reach the defenses of Washington dita the rebels. After forcing the passage of the Monoceacy, Hayy pushed on for Washington, reaching Rockville (four- er miles from Washington) on the evening of July 10th, hea " his troops bivouacked for the night. About noon of a th the rebel force was in front of the fortifications cov- S 3 Washington on the north side, but they were too late, : eneral Wright’s veterans were now manning the works. = 12th a heavy skirmish took place in front of the forts, a i the rebels were worsted, and started on their retreat irae oo. during the following night. a8 riage ae ee Sy Early moved down the valley again, raiding into Pennsylvania on the 80th of July burned the in 344 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. July; town of Chambersburg.! General Early’s activity, howevets soon secured the destruction of his army, for the 6th and 19th corps were retained in front of Washington as part of an army to operate against him under the command of General Sheridan, the most brilliant and hard-hitting of all the Union generals, and before the end of October Early’s army existed only in history. THE BATTLE OF THE MINE, FOUGHT JULY 80, 1864. Opposite the salient in the Union line occupied by the 9th Corps, and but one hundred and fifty yards distant from it, was a strong rebel six-gun battery, situated about four hun- dred yards below the crest of Cemetery Hill. If the crest could be carried, Petersburg would be at the mercy of the Union army. Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Pleasants (an exper enced and skillful mining engineer), of the 48th Pennsylvania a regiment composed largely of miners, on the 25th of June commenced with his men to run a mine beneath the rebel fort. Colonel Pleasants and his men, working with great earnestness, perseverance, and secrecy, by the 23d day of July had constructed a main gallery a little over five hundred feet in length, ending directly beneath the centre of the rebel forts with two lateral galleries at the further end, each about forty feet in length; eighteen thousand cubic feet of earth, excavated in the construction of the mine, was carried out in eracket boxes, spread around in the rear of our line, and covered witb bushes to conceal it from the sight of the enemy. On the 27th of July eight thousand pounds of gunpowder were placed in the mine under the doomed battery; and, during that night and the day of the 28th, the fuses were laid and the mine tamped. Meanwhile the attention of the rebels wa diverted, and more than half their army drawn away from the defenses of Petersburg, by a movement upon Richmond ndences p- 67, says that Chambersburg was burned in retaliation for outrages cornmittet by General Hunter in the Shenandoah Valley, and that he gave the place # option to pay $100,000 in gold or $500,000 in greenbacks, or be burned. — Ep. 1 General Early, in his Memoir of the last Year of the War for Indepeé to le; the light 1864, BATTLE OF THE MINE. 345 uae pas. side of the J ames, made by a force consisting of ian iain s and two divisions of Sheridan’s cavalry, under betaine van of General Hancock. Hancock crossed his men 26th, lan er bridge at Deep Bottom, on the night of the ben wir orders to proceed rapidly to Chapin’s Bluff, where ‘tan fe on bridges were thrown across the river, and pre- ees Ren rs from being sent to the north side of the Suda as : e Sheridan and his cavalry were to operate to- ett eau Hancock, however, found his way barred thldabs 1, by a line of works behind Bailey’s Creek too for- irate ian: by assault, and by the 28th the rebel force brie i was so strong as to reduce the expeditionary army wa: : y defensive attitude. On the night of the 29th then Poi oree was secretly withdrawn from the north side ti eee a and returned to the lines in front of Petersburg, othe a aae in the assault to be made in front of the 9th Order dive ben following morning. General Meade’s battle fans eae ed General Burnside to spring the mine at half- eaultin - the morning of the 30th, and moving his as- rahe A umns rapidly through the breach to effect a lodg- Obines , er crest of Cemetery Hill in its rear; the 18th right i “ er General Ord, was to support the assault on the is ri “ the 5th Corps under General Warren on the left ; iw Snake ear: General Hancock, was to take position to J ollow up the assaulting and supporting columns ; ener: s A : ‘ eral Sheridan, with the entire cay Nove ag after th : alry of the ar ainst the rebel right below Petersburg, Tea edna e explosion all the guns alon i o i : g the line ont points in the enemy's line that conmennal i und over which our troops were to move The aan artil- ee: to be ready to move, and ponton trains prepared. Bite nd programme for a deadly blow! General Ledlie’s a pee: Ist), to which the 2ist belonged, was selected ui ’ itt ine 1e << to be made by the 9th Corps, and at half- Prt - get morning of the 30th began its formation for ed ; : d > Ranged Past three o’clock the fuses were 3 and, awed into the silence of death, every eye itt the 346 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. July, leading division was turned to the outline of the doomed fort, just discernible in the gray of the morning, and every heart beat with feverish anxiety for the dreadful signal for the as- sault. Waiting in terrible suspense, the slowly moving min- utes grew into an hour, and still there was no explosion: the fuses had gone out. Day was now beginning to dawn, and the sharp-shooters along the rebel line began to pick off ex posed men. Lieutenant Jacob Douty and Sergeant Henry Rees, of the 48th Pennsylvania, volunteering for the duty, at a quarter past four o’clock entered the gloomy gallery to reat range and relight the fuses. At sixteen minutes before five o’clock the explosion occurred: with a dull heavy roar and an earthquake shock, the rebel fort — earth, cannon, and garrison — was blown two hundred feet into the air, and a yawning chasm marked the spot where it had stood. As the heavy cloud of black smoke and dust floated away, the Union artil- lery opened fiercely, and Ledlie’s leading brigade straggled slowly forward. The rebel force in the immediate vicinity for a time stood paralyzed, or fled back in terror from thet works. Ob, for an hour of General Reno, then! The hug? crater where the rebel fort had stood (a chasm two hundred feet long, fifty wide, and twenty-five deep), in half an hou? was filled with a hopelessly disordered mass of our men. The rebels were recovering from their shock: shells soon began # drop among the helpless troops in the crater, and strugglin8 attempts to advance against the crest in the rear were met by a hot fire from artillery in front and flank, and from infantty posted in a ravine to the right. The 21st, which at the com mencement of the attack were posted in the third or fourl! line, in company with the 8d Maryland regiment, worked thel? way to the farthest line occupied, but it was then too late The advance of the other divisions of the corps merely nade to the helpless mass which blocked the way, and furnish more food for rebel powder; although Generals Potter, Hats tranft, and Griffin did all that brave men and good soldien’ could to turn the fortunes of the day ; and although Ferret colored division moved forward from our lines with such sp"? 18§ 4, BATTLE OF THE MINE.— CASUALTIES. 847 tl P sn General Grant! believed that their charge would have een a j i a success if made at the outset before the enemy had re- ered from his surprise. founded, had vani Confusion only became worse con- and at half-past nine o’clock the last ray of hope Pes eve sp and the demoralized helpless mass of blacks eines . were ordered to retire from the horrid slaughter- hide it was more dangerous to retreat over the ground Saphire 1e rebel and Union lines, swept by the concentrated body a preg than to stay where they were, and the main sficrnnein ue remained in the crater until early in the jointed fae: nen, under the hot pressure of the enemy, the dis- abielbee ey made a pell-mell retreat with heavy loss to the sib biaeie i Union intrenchments, and this miserable affair, in the Oth, a ae called it, was over. The entire loss suffered hundred scan Saring the battle was three thousand eight 428 were lq wentyreighs (8,828) officers and men, of whom 1,789 missi pie have been killed, 1,661 wounded, and of the rete “* ost of the missing surrendered at the time fin ace - In addition to this loss the 18th and 2d corps about 1,200 men, Or ae Pe eee ae me: OR fron medintale after this battle General Ledlie was relieved 1e command of what was left of the 1st Division of the 9th Co " rps, and the gallant General Julius White appoi ‘ts command in his stead. sppointer Loss OF THE 21ST IN KILLED, WOUNDED, AND PRISONERS. AT THE BATTLE OF “THE MINE,” JULY 30, 1864 ; " Th this battle the 21st suffered a loss of twenty-four officers and m é 4 f en; of whom seven were killed or mortally wounded, urteen ot] i 1erwise wounded : Tollowa +s » and three taken prisoners ; as COMMISSIONED OFFICERS Be, of wounds: Captain William H. Clark (command- 1e regiment), wounded in the shoulder and spine, and 1 G eneral Grant’s evidence before Committee on Conduct of the War. — Ep. 848 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. July; died of his wounds August 16th. Wounded : 1st Lieutenants George E. Davis (Adjutant), arm ; Henry S$. Hitchcock, side; Jonas R. Davis, neck ; Robert B. Chamberlain, head. Captain Clark, while gallantly leading the regiment into action, received his mortal wound close to the edge of the crater ; his body was paralyzed below the shoulders from in- jury to the spinal cord, but he lived to be taken to his home in Pittsfield, where he died August 16th. He was an officer of strong character and even courage, and had previously bee? very severely wounded in the body at the battle of Chantilly: ENLISTED MEN. Company A. Wounded: Private August Dabers, head. Company B. Wounded : Corporal James Caldwell, side. Prisoner, Corporal George V. Barker. Company C. Prisoner: Private Joseph Mead. Mead died in the rebel prison at Danville, Virginia, January 15, 1865. Company E. Killed: First Sergeant Horace Gardnet Wounded: Private Lucian Webster, leg. Sergeant Gardne™ noted from the earliest days of the regiment as one of its most gallant soldiers, was struck by a bullet in the breast, pub his hand to the wound, and uttering the single word “ Wiie,” fell dead.} Company F. Killed and mortally wounded : Private, Charles H. Morse, killed ; Sergeant Charles R. Rennets wounded in the leg, and died of the wound August 2d. Prisoner: Joseph Tirrell. Tirrell was confined in the priso? at Danville, Virginia, but obtained his release by a pretende’ enlistment in the rebel army, from which he soon made bis escape and rejoined the regiment. Company G. Died of wounds : Private Frank Lumazetts wounded in the shoulder and breast; left on th taken by the rebels to Danville Prison, where he died wounds August 12th, Wounded: Sergeant (Acting Serge Major) Harrison C, Cheney, face. Lumazette remaine P the crater after the regiment had been ordered back to 0 1 Reported by his comrade, Sergeant Henry White. — Ep. nt- jn de 1864, CASUALTIES. 349 lines ; and ; as the rebel t i heist gun s entered it, shot two of them before C ss ia Paria i, Killed : Corporal Fred. S. Fairbanks. Wound- Niel ripe tr William H. Simpson, lost an arm; Privates Sam- - trish, shoulder ; Benjamin J. Watson, head and arm. © ‘ é sic tte I. Wounded: Private Jean B. Cortour, lost an C a Se ompany K. Killed: Corporal Wm. Harrington. Wounded: rT © 2 ~ Brigham W. Barnes, lost an arm ; Sergeant Erastus + Kichardson, sun-stroke. Byes Pens proportion of prisoners from the 21st shows how hate A stuck together in this discouraging fight, in which On pe A ov: suffered by the 9th Corps was in prisoners. a a ce ro) August, under a flag of truce, from six to eleven ace ¥ M., details from the white and colored regiments of st ite were engaged in the ghastly duty of burying the the crater. The bodies, owing to the intense heat, Were in ; wen tee — in a horrid condition, and all rejoiced when the dreadful was over and picket firing recommenced. 1 Reported by Corporal Barker, who was with him. — Ep. ee a DR Ee 5 ———— a N aa Ee Mea eet CME v i 4 ol obo Le . : fl Bi hg ; ) a pera ae TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. CHAPTER XIX. Avaust 1, 1864— MArcH 24, 1865. E NON-REENLISTED MEN OF THE 218T— THE VETERANS IN THE FIELD TAKE PART IN THE BATTLE ON THE WELDON RAILROAD OF AUGUST 19, 1864, — BATTLE OF poPpLa® URCH, SEPTEMBER 30TH, AND DEATH OF CAPTAIN sAMP E 2IsT BATTALION WITH THE 36TH R’s RUN, 0070 RDER THE RETURN HOME OF TH SPRING CH SON. — CONSOLIDATION OF TH MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. — BATTLE OF HATCHE BER 27, 1864.— THE LAST WINTER OF THE REBELLION. — 0 FOR A GENERAL ADVANCE OF THE ARMIES IN VIRGINIA. Arter the battle of the Mine, the regiment returned 7 hie the wearisome and perilous duty in the trenches, on W they had been engaged before the battle. August 8th. Corporal Richard B. Loomis, of Company Bs was wounded severely in the side by a musket ball. August 12th. First Sergeant William H. Morrow, of Com pany K, was wounded in the breast by a piece of shell. August 13th. Sergeant Albert Patterson, of Compa was wounded in the thigh. On the 13th of August, Ge Burnside, the esteemed and loved commander of the 9th Oot turned the command of the corps over to General Parkes a retired from further active service during the war. On the 18th of August, the men who had not and most of the officers, were ordered home for muster 04 Leaving City Point by steamer for Washington on the i“ they arrived in Boston on the 22d, and were finally muster! out of service at Worcester on the 30th of August. their journey home, Private William Phipps, of F, was mortally injured by a railroad collision at Conn., dying of his injuries September 3d. 1864, BATTLE ON THE WELDON RAILROAD. 351 Captai wii lags pv W. Davis, Orange S. Sampson, and Ed- Nb egiarn parenting Lieutenants Jonas R. Davis, Felix tenes deans nse < i liam H. Sawyer, were selected to remain sis sialon A ie men and recruits, who (present bik mei A eo ered in the aggregate 261 officers and men, iaevaa ut about seventy-five muskets, all told, for duty 8. By orders from division headquarters on the Sth of August, the dna era n volunteers 24 hi rsne of the ity Massachusetts - vt consolidated into attalion of three Le Panies, designated ae letters H, I, 244) K; and on the the 1 of September, off non-commissioned cers, rendered su- Pernumerary by this “onsolidation uh: ease aoe were honora- Y discharged. Cap- Sai Sampson com- ie na the battalion, wink aptain Davis, the dein officer, was on the ned service, hay- Shal Of tie ae FRONT OF PETERSBURG (from the official maps). The el wore se ealgteg Corps for several months. Soldier Ca bee : “ eld, under the command of that ever true a wien - ain “oer emi were moving toa desperate battle, ay that a added new glory to their old flag, on the very et tas : eir non-reénlisted comrades bade them good-by On the aes towards home, Yen, which h rie ugust the 5th Corps, under General War- ad been in position in the works next on the left weldon RR, i cece gto nent ll 852 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. August, of the 9th Corps, marched to cut the Weldon Railroad, one of the chief lines of rebel communication with the South, ly- ing but three miles away from the Union left; and the 9th Corps moved to hold the vacated position of the 5th, and sup- port it in its dangerous enterprise. The advance of the 5th Corps, without serious opposition, had established itself on the railroad at Six Mile Station by eight o’clock on the morning of the 18th; and, leaving Griffin’s Division to hold the point seized, General Warren, with his two other divisions (Ayres’s and Crawford’s), moved about a mile up the railroad towards Petersburg, when they were brought toa halt by the rebels in a firm line of battle. Early in the afternoon, when Gen- eral Warren attempted to resume the advance, the enemy at- tacked him sharply, and routed part of his command, inflicting a loss of a thousand men in killed, wounded, and prisoners: Warren, still remaining in possession of the railroad, at once set to work to intrench his position. The possession of this line of southern communication was regarded by General Lee as of so great importance, that he determined at all hazards to dislodge the Union force.t During the night of the 18th and morning of the 19th, Lee strengthened the rebel force ip front of Warren by powerful reinforcements ; and as it was evident that Warren’s men would need assistance, the threé white divisions of the 9th Corps (those of White, Potter, and Willcox) were ordered to reinforce him. ‘ The little 21st, still a hard hitter in battle, preserved its independence as a battalion in the 1st brigade, 1st Divisioms® the 9th Corps. The brigade was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel J. H. Barnes, of the 29th Massachusetts, and the dr vision by General Julius White. When White’s and Potter § 1 General Lee, from the time of first reaching Petersburg, never expected oe able to long hold the Weldon Railroad; and, four days after his ar he se? a warning to the Richmond authorities to prepare to supply his army byt 1d ville line alone. The reply was that they hoped he would do all he could t0 “a the Weldon road. To this he answered that of course he would do all he ree to hold it, but that he had little faith in his ability to do so. of Confederate authorities to make any provisions in accordance with tion was probably the cause of the desperate assaults he made to dislod ren. Swinton’s Army of the Potomac, p. 538. after : a fatiouing . 4 tiguing march, and the steadiness and re ag that their decimated rs re, and while hoping th the Ten’, » a A “n’s Corps. — Ep. ind took position on the line of battle with War- 1864, CASUALTIES. 353 divisi of he chive eee vee junction with the 5th Corps about four mooie 7 : pint of the 19th, Warren’s troops were in etani Prscltebs 1e rebels had turned their right flank, and tin ain _ their line, having already captured twen- nin benitg: all Ral pube gs White’s and Potter’s divisions, ap Bi: es _ » less than two thousand men, coming up Pie a ri 9 time, met the victorious rebels in the most 2 Si baa. Living them back in confusion, with the loss prisoners and a color.! i . OSS SUFFERED BY THE 21sT IN THE BATTLE ON THE WELDON RAILROAD, AUGUST 19, 1864. In thi ; waa Rel ate the 21st suffered a loss of three enlisted Killea. — re and men wounded, as follows: — : : Sergeant Si : ‘ Calvin waa ant Simon May, of Company D ; and Privates nrg ,» of Company B, and Hugh Marphy, of Com- Wounded : : First Li ‘ Veli ? tivates Tho ieutenant Felix McDermott, in thigh ; mas E. Barker, of C mer : : 3 ompany E, both arms; Al- on Damon and Gilbert L. Jewett, of Company I. panes as W ound i Ww Ww =n pr 1soner st b- ed in the shoulder 3 J i l e ett as te Ix y ju ently to being wounded. i General W . A Ve hite i : tis divisi issued the following complimentary order to 19th - on for the part taken by it in the battle of Auoust ee 5 Heapquarters Ist Divisroy, 9ru Army Corps Buicx’s Staion, Va., August 23, 1864, Gry “NERAL Orpers, No. 43. The ae general commandin i division hi j ns desires to express to the troops of this 'p S$ great satisfaction with their conduct on tl le 19th instant. o the attack, gallantry which they are worthy of the highest commendation. He ee unis prevented their accomplishing ey will shortly be filled, feels confident €neral Willecox’s Division of th rebels made their attack he snip: x " Spirit and alacrity with which they moved forward ward t ‘splayed under fire, 1 G © 9th Corps had reached the ground before 23 Vani ii Vas ih i Rises | ia 4 854 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. ; : +n its that this division, whether large or small, will continue to retai t high reputation. ; ee By command of BrIGADIBR-GENERAL Waite. ©. J. Mirzs, Captain and A. A. G. Having saved the Union hold upon the Weldon Bail the troops of the 9th Corps were posted on the rig Ae a 5th Corps, and all hands at once set vigorously to Loge 7 cure and strengthen the position occupied. On = ye August, the enemy made a sharp and desperate a — a" 7 the front and left flank of the troops posted pal ° a road. After playing for te hour ri Deecad ao ll i i of artillery, they assaulte ee amt the sicouilion forces were hingeqnel a back with the loss of five hundred prisoners. The 2 2 ; Pe posted to the right of the troops actually engaged, suffer er loss.) The beleaguering Union line had now been satis nently extended across the Weldon Railroad. In vee: 8 a contests for its possession, the Union forces had — oo of five thousand men in killed, wounded, and prisoness ae rebel losses were severe, but I have found no definite esti umber. ar the engagement on the 21st of August, a — on of the enemy remained for geet ee - a nae an pw’ ilroad in the Union rear. On the alte of the a emi Hancock, with the 2d Corps and Gregg’s ia cavalry, occupied Ream’s Station on the Weldon ee s je four miles south of the Union line across it. While ie in thoroughly destroying the railroad near Ream’s aaa Hancock’s command, on the 25th of August, were “ ee into their intrenchments at the station, and then, on the 1 One of the writer’s rather ghastly an ear a : ck ride during the Winter following this fighting, ; vane grene of August, 1864. Coming ona lonely, — ae in the woods, I found the skeletons of about thirty rebels, sti heat i nants of their uniforms, and with their rusty muskets by their eae nape the abatis and lying close along the front of the work, just poy h fatten in their attack. I always recall this weird tableau in connectio Weldon Railroad. — En, Moved a lieving t In the o] of the ranks, 4 commi é' other duty with th €nlisted men; pres Wounded, 80 office tached in the duced by Men whos ber of a “nd the 4th (colored) Division bee. 21st the 1864. STRENGTH oF TWENTY-FIRST BATTALION. 855 day, beaten out of their assault ; dred me works by a gallant and bloody rebel the Union troops suffering a loss of twenty-four hun- and wounded, but making no definite re- General Willcox’s 8d Division of the 9th to Hancock’s support. The 1st and 2d under arms ready to move, but did not Saved by night-fall, General Hancock a new line in the rear of his lost works, withdrew during the night. August six recruits reported for duty with On the 27th of August the 21st battalion mile or two to the right, with the 1st Division, re- he colored division of the corps which had been left d lines. The ba leave their position. established himself on and the rebel forces On the 25th of the 21s¢ battalion. thea roan monthly return for August, 1864, made near Railroad, September 6th, signed by Captain O. commander of the battalion, and by W. H. Saw- » Acting adjutant, gives the following record of the strength the battalion on the 31st of August : Present for duty in ssioned officers and 59 enlisted men: on e battalion, 1 commissioned officer and 9 ent, sick, 6 enlisted men; absent, sick and rs and men; absent, with leave, 1 duty (as provost-guard, nurses in hospitals, teamsters ambulance, artillery, and quartermaster’s departments), Commissioned officer and 79 enlisted men, On the 2d of September the 1st Division, } its terrible losses in battle, and the return home of e term of enlistment had expired, down to the num- good-sized regiment, was broken up and its skele- ' ions divided between the old 2d and 3d divis- * The old 2d Division retained its number ; Willeox’s old Division became the 1st Division of the reorganized corps, ame the 3d Division. | The brigade (Colonel Curtin’s) of 8), and remained in the earth- ; on de- having been re- Was assigned to the 1st 2d Division (Gen. Potter’ i i f | nhl 356 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September, works on the Union line, without being called on for any specially severe duty, until nearly the end of September. BATTLE OF POPLAR SPRING CHURCH, FOUGHT SEPTEMBER 80, 1864. On the 25th of September, leaving camp with the division at an hout’s notice, the 21st moved a mile or two to the right and rear, and laid out a regular camp there on the following day. The new camp was abandoned with a great noise (made by orders) on the 28th, and the division moved into the woods, near what was known as the Gurley House. It was supposed that these movements were made to deceive the enemy, but only the general commanding knew how and why. A farther prolongation of our lines to the left had been de- termined on; the 1st and 2d divisions of the 9th Corps were ordered to codperate with the 5th Corps in the movement, and - on the morning of September 30th they marched across the Weldon Railroad and some two miles beyond it to Poplar Spring Church. About noon part of the 5th Corps attacked the enemy, who were found intrenched on Peeble’s Farm and on the Squirrel Level road near the church, and captured two earth-works and a line of rifle-pits, the enemy retiring t0 an intrenched line about half a mile in the rear of his former line. In the afternoon, the two divisions of the 9th Corps were moved beyond the left of the 5th Corps to the vicinity of the Pegram House, to develop the enemy’s position. A larg? gap between the two corps, and a good road from Petersburg: enabled the enemy to strike the 2d Division of the 9th Corps suddenly on the right and rear, and drive them from the fiel in disorder, with the loss of more than a thousand prisonel® The remains of the 2d Division, however, rallied on the det Division, which came up in support, and General Griffin § Division of the 5th Corps coming promptly forward, attack and stopped the advancing foe just at night-fall. During the 1 Frequently called Poplar Grove Church, but the official map of the Wat ti partment gives the name as Poplar Spring Church. — Ep. 1864, BATTLE OF POPLAR SPRING CHURCH. 857 d: Seah we ve divisions of the 9th Corps suffered the loss of a ie ve cg ae a result of the day’s work was a per- nsion of the Union li int ¢ miles beyond the Weldon Railroad. ph § a eens PR ig 0s seventy-five muskets into the battle of Pop- pao oer, nt and, fighting with great determination sid 2 y, suffered a loss of twenty-fi i : ye y-five officers » namely: killed, four; wounded, ten; ie ccs ; ne nays Paras : 8, eleven; as pee aye amg S. Sampson, commanding the bat 3 Privates Rufus H. Cart ar . j i Dee teas arter, Charles F, Montjoy, and a : Sergeant Charles S. Babcock, ankle ; Corporals td oti leg ; Charles Furrow, lost right arm ; John oe egg Privates Henry Campbell, lost right hand ; aa y “ Peg hand and abdomen; Hiram Wewsiiiil = ; L. J. N. Hurie, leg; John E. Short, shoulder case P sit ; Jule Jacquot, side (and prisoner) a pistes Bie eg Charles L. Burton and Charles Mil 3 Corporal Albert Knight ; Privates Mi ; Hl ib : chael Austi at- Fg Burns, William H. Ramsdell, Alonzo White, Pies % saci Nathaniel F. Knox (died in rebel ptison at Salis. ury in November, 1864), William Glasgow, and Mi ad Gleason. ne Captain Sampson, one of the bravest and most reliable offi cers who served in the regiment from first to last, was killed ’ a 111e while endeavoring to rally the m i ‘ the division on Sila that the 1 elie ome had struck — true soldier and gentleman, ita seth ok a a bse: commanding the 85th Massachusetts mae in ay igagement, in correcting an error in the report of ae ci raenteeiee af Massachusetts for 1864, relative to the Nappies of Captain Sampson’s death, =i akes the follow- a i wie ee of the 21st and Captain Sampson, in etter published in the adjutant-general’s report for 1865: — O n the 19th of August, 1864, the Twenty-first Massachusetts bat- 358 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. September, talion was severely engaged with the enemy near the any road, being a part of the first brigade, First Division, ga hai I do not know the losses. Iwas on the division staff at papa : and present at the action; but I have no notes of it. Captain Samp: s not killed then. Z Thea the division moved to the right, and the 21st and 35th, ee ing been assigned to Colonel Curtin’s brigade, 2d aah imatans me by side through the month of September. I met ig tee = a almost daily. September 25th, division withdrew from ore While we were moving about in the rear, before the 30th, vita ; official copies of General Grant’s order, that an officer who ~ a in the service three years continuously might claim a — 7 pe Captain Sampson told us he meant to be amps” w 7 a present move was completed and all was again quiet. a ‘2 a over to the 35th several times the day we were ag gd u a House, and entertained us with an account of a 760 0 apr 7 which he said he had Jaid out. He always added, “ When t . “a is completed.” With this prospect before him, he took the “o Re into the action at Poplar Spring Church. After the first ee pi 21st were brought to a halt on the same ground (a basin-li 4 a pression open at the left) with the 35th ; the latter in HRs bg foreigners, unable to comprehend English words, except a et a tactics-book ;2 the former cool veterans that hardly needed a wo 2 indicate what they should do. Captain Sampson hee a in front of the position he wished his men to take, and the las re saw of him he was quietly dressing his line quite up to the a a the basin. A few moments later the rebels were on both our flan * and we had to withdraw, 21st, 35th, and all. Captain Sampson pS 7 killed then, at or very near the place where I last saw eH nal body was recovered and buried on the brigade drill-ground, which it was afterwards removed — whether to the 9th at the Peeble’s House, or to Massachusetts, I do not aueitie” near the Pegram House was named for him, Fort Sampson, . se On the 2d of October the 2d and 9th corps oye: “a to the enemy’s main line of intrenchments to which he ha illed on the 1 The Adjt.-Gen’s. Report for 1864 stated that Capt. S. was killed th of August. — Ep. xe Our old veteran 35th had during the month been overloaded wit substitutes. — Ep. Seb oe mee Sampson is shown on the sketch near the head of the chapter. h about 400 1864, CONSOLIDATION WITH 86TH REGT. 359 tired, near the Pegram House. The corps suffered a small loss during this movement, but no casualties were suffered in the 21st, October 4th. The colored division moved up and joined the corps, and did good service in throwing up a power- ful line of intrenchments. The battle of Poplar Spring Church was the last engage- ment in which the faithful remnant of the 21st faced the en- emy as a separate organization.. The reénlisted veterans of the regiment numbered but 258 men; and, when the original term of the regiment expired, the reénlisted men and recruits were so much reduced in numbers that the organization was ordered to be broken up. Fortunately, however, for the glory of the regiment, it was destined, on the 19th of August and 30th of September, to add two more battles to the long list upon its flag, and fight itself still nearer to an heroic death, before the axe fell. Three recruits were received early in October ; but the largest number present for duty in the bat- talion, after the 30th of September, were 2 commissioned offi- cers and 81 enlisted men, with an aggregate (present and ab- sent) of 195 officers and men. Late in October the relies of the brave band were ordered to be consolidated with the 36th Massachusetts Volunteers, and became Companies H, I, and K, of that regiment; on the muster out of the 36th on the 8th of June, 1865, the 21st men were turned over to the 56th Massachusetts regiment, and were mustered out of service as part of the last-named regiment on the 12th of July, 1865. On the last monthly return of the 21st Battalion Massa- chusetts Volunteers! (for October, 1864), signed by William H. Sawyer, 1st Lieutenant commanding the battalion, and by Abner R. Mott, 2d Lieutenant, acting adjutant, is the follow- ing indorsement : — We received an order from the War Department a few days ago for the 21st Battalion Massachusetts Volunteers to be consolidated with the 36th Massachusetts Volunteers, to be called 36th Massachu- Setts Volunteers. The papers for consolidation are being made out, 1 Sent to the Adjt.-Gen. of Massachusetts, — Ep. Ba i | Ht } ! Op mk ae EE a E 360 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. October, and probably this is the last report we will have the honor of trans- mitting to your office of the 21st Massachusetts Volunteers. W. H. Sawyer, Ist Lieut. Comdg. 21st Bat. Mass. Vols. The order for the consolidation was as follows : — War Department, ApsuTant-GENERAL’S OFFICE. Wasuineton, October 21, 1864. SprciaL Orvers No. 358. (Exrract) 30. Upon the receipt of this Order by the command- ing general of the 9th Army Corps, the 36th Massachusetts Volun- teers will be consolidated into seven companies, and the three com- panies now composing the 21st Massachusetts battalion will be per- manently transferred thereto, to complete the regiment, the consol- idated force to bear the designation of the 36th Massachusetts Volun- teers... + By order of the SecreTary oF War. E. D. Townsenp, Assistant Adjutant-General. Before settling down to winter-quarters, General Grant re- solved to make another vigorous effort to capture Petersburg: His plan was to turn the rebel right, and seize the Southside Railroad, upon which Lee’s army mainly depended for their supplies. The Union left now rested at a point about two miles west of the Weldon Railroad, and about five miles from the nearest point of the Southside Railroad. On the 27th of October, the three corps of the Army of the Potomac, leaving only a sufficient number of men to hold the fortified line ™ front of Petersburg,! moved on the rebel right. To distract attention, General Butler’s army at the same time made @ demonstration against Richmond, on the north side of the James. The 5th and 9th corps struck the rebel right, intrenched on Hatcher’s Run, at nine o’clock on the morning of October 27th ; while Hancock, with the 2d Corps, crossing Hatcher ® Run some distance to the south of the other corps, was mare” ing to the rear of the rebel right to strike the Southside Rail- oad. The 5th and 9th corps were speedily brought to # 1 The 6th Corps had not yet returned from the Shenandoah Valley; and the Army of the Potomac consisted of the 2d, 5th, and 9th corps. — Ep. 1864. LAST WINTER AND SPRING OF REBELLION. 861 stand by the intrenched force of the enemy in their front, and Hancock’s force was consequently halted. General Lee there- upon assumed the offensive, and throwing a heavy force be- tween the 5th and 2d corps, through the customary gap left on such occasions, about four o’clock in the afternoon made a desperate attack on General Hancock’s right and rear. The 2d Corps, however, after a stampede of the troops posted on their right flank, gallantly charged and repulsed the enemy but the suecess was not followed up. General Teacbicks troops were withdrawn from their perilous position early in the night, and on the morning of the 28th the whole force re- turned to the lines before Petersburg, closely followed by the enemy. An inglorious end for the last great turning move- ment of the season !1 In this attack, the 21st men, then in the 36th, were de- ployed as skirmishers, and exchanged some long range shots with the enemy, but suffered no loss. The loss in the entire 9th Corps was eight killed, one hundred and twenty-seven wounded, and fourteen missing. The 36th remained in camp at Pegram Farm until Novem- ber 29th, when they were moved to the right, doing garrison duty in Fort Rice, and picket duty on its front during the winter. Early in December, the 8d Division of the 9th Corps (col- ored) was detached from the Army of the Potomac and moved over to Bermuda Hundred; their places being well filled by new Pennsylvania regiments. Six of these new reg- iments were organized as the 3d Division of the corps al the command of that gallant and distinguished ofleid Gen- eral John F. Hartranft. The return of the 6th Corps fall of soldierly pride, from their victorious campaign in the Alana doah Valley, in the beginning of the winter, Operated as a re- ' The official reports show the entire Union loss in this movement to have been 1,892 (killed, 156, wounded, 1,047, missing, 699), while the rebel loss is re- roe as about 1,000, in killed, wounded, and missing. The fact that the Army of the Potomac was defeated with so small a list of casualties is instructive, as ge that the time had come when the grand old army needed a long rest rom great offensive operations. — Ep, 362 . TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. March, storing leaven, and put new life and spirit into the battered army. Except the extension of the Union left to Hatcher's Run early in February, with a loss of about two thousand men, in which the 5th Corps furnished most of the casualties, and the 6th Corps carried off the honors, nothing of any spe- cial importance occurred during the winter in front of Peters- burg and Richmond, although Fort Fisher, below Wilming- ton, on the Cape Fear River, was captured by a combined at- tack of the navy and a detachment from the armies of the Potomac and James, on the 15th of January. The rebellion was on its last legs: Sherman had made his glorious march across Georgia from Atlanta to the sea ; Thomas had destroyed the rebel army of the west in front of Nashville; and Lee’s ill-fed and wretchedly clothed veterans were deserting at the rate of a hundred a day. By the Ist of February, Sherman’s — whole army was in motion from Savannah, to march through the Carolinas and join Grant’s army in front of Petersburg: On the 23d of March, Sherman reached Goldsboro’”, N. C., one hundred and fifty miles from: Petersburg, after sharp en- gagements with the rebel army commanded by General John- ston, at Averysboro’ on the 16th, and at Bentonville on the 19th of March. Fortunately for the honor of the armies of the east, Sherman was compelled to reorganize and refit his army at Goldsboro’, and before he was ready to move, the old, historic Army of the Potomac, had gloriously fulfilled its mission and bagged its rightful game. General Grant's great anxiety in February and March was lest the beleaguered cities of Petersburg and Richmond should prove too easy a prey, by the discovery some morning that the enemy had retreated the night before, and that the armies of Lee and Johnston, combined at some point in the interiors would necessitate another summer's work of blood and de- struction to make an end of the rebellion. Sheridan, with his indomitable cavalry, had remained in the Shenandoah Valleys and on the 27th of February, with a superb column of tem thousand horsemen, started on a new raid, with a view to se ering all the remaining communications of Lee’s army: an 1865. ORDER FOR THE LAST GRAND ADVANCE. 3638 then intending to strike southward and join Sherman. Break- ry ee and riding over the small rebel force opposed sai e pressed down on Lynchburg, but fortunately before e reached the James River, it became so swollen by heavy rains that his pontons would not reach across it, and he was thrown upon the resources of his great military genius to do the best thing for us and the worst for the rebels. ‘Thor- oughly destroying the James River Canal and all the bridges and railroads that he could reach, he swept round to the ie of Richmond, reached the White House on the York River on the 19th of March, and after resting and refitting his com- mand, joined the Army of the Potomac in fr n h t of P on the 27th of March. ront ‘of < cheranang THE ORDER FOR THE LAST GRAND ADVANCE OF THE UNION ARMIES IN VIRGINIA. On the 24th of March, General Grant issued the following rd f g neré i i p al mo ement of the armies 0 erati g£ 584 ri ast fe) * er tora ene Vv In age Richmond Pace s Ciry Point, Va., March 24, 1864. ENERAL: On the 29th inst., the armies operating against Rich- mond will be moved by our left for the double purpose of turnit the enemy out of his present position around Petersburg, and to ‘es Sure the success of the cavalry under General Sheridan, which ill Start at the same time, in its effort to reach and destroy the S bie Side and Danville railroads. Two corps of the Army of th . : tomac will be moved at first in two columns, taking the two 4 ee crossing Hatcher’s Run, nearest where the present line held ra ; Strikes that stream, both moving toward Dinwiddie Court i 3 The cavalry under General Sheridan, joined by the divi pny under General Davies, will move at the same time b the W. reid Toad and the Jerusalem plank-road, turning west pie san lala be- fore crossing the Nottoway, and west with the whole column before reaching Stony Creek. General Sheridan will then move independ- ently, under other instructions, which will be given him. All dis- Mounted cavalry belonging to the Army of the bates ee the dis- mounted cavalry from the middle military division, not ‘required for Suarding property belonging to their arm of service, will report to 364 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. March, Brigadier-General Benham, to be added to the defenses of City Point. Major-General Parke will be left in command of all the army left for holding the lines about Petersburg and City Point, sub- ject, of course, to orders from the commander of the Army of the Potomac. The 9th Army Qorps will be left intact to hold the pres- ent line of works so long as the whole line now occupied by us is held. If, however, the troops to the left of the 9th Corps are with- drawn, then the left of the corps may be thrown back so as to occupy the position held by the army prior to the capture of the Weldon road. All troops to the left of the 9th Corps will be held in readi- ness to move at the shortest notice by such route as may be desig- nated when the order is given. General Ord will detach three divisions, two white and one col- ored, or so much of them as he can, and hold his present lines, aud march for the present left of the Army of the Potomac. In the absence of further orders, or until further orders are given, the white divisions will follow the left column of the Army of the Potomac, and the colored division the right column. During the movement Major-General Weitzel will be left in command of all the forces remaining behind from the Army of the James. The movement of troops from the Army of the James will com- mence on the night of the 27th inst. General Ord will leave behind the minimum number of cavalry necessary for picket duty, in the absence of the main army. A cavalry expedition from General Ord’s command will also be started from Suffolk, to leave there on Satur- day, the 1st of April, under Colonel Sumner, for the purpose of cut- ting the railroad about Hicksford. This, if accomplished, will have to be a surprise, and therefore from three to five hundred men will be sufficient. They should, however, be supported by all the in- fantry that can be spared from Norfolk and Portsmouth, as far out as to where the cavalry crosses the Blackwater. The crossing should probably be at Franklin. Should Colonel Sumner succeed in reaching the Weldon road, he will be instructed to do all the dam- age possible to the triangle of roads between Hicksford, Weldon, and Gaston. The railroad bridge at Weldon being fitted up for the pas: sage of carriages, it might be practicable to destroy any accumula tion of supplies the enemy may have collected south of the Roanoke- All the troops will move with four days’ rations in haversacks, @? eight days’ in wagons. To avoid as much hauling as possible, give the Army of the James the same number of days’ supp! and to y with 1865. ORDER FOR THE LAST GRAND ADVANCE. 3665 ie pe tow ci Potomac, General Ord will direct his commissary Barc a gui er to have sufficient supplies delivered at the ter- bi “ 0 7 road to fill up in passing. Sixty rounds of ammunition wi — _— in wagons, and as much grain as the transpor- ; : will carry, after taking the specified amount of other upplies. The densely wooded country in which the army has to gh making the use of much artillery impracticable, the amount aken with the army will be reduced to six or eight guns to each di Vision, at the option of the army commanders. eed All necessary preparations for carrying these directions into oper- ation may be commenced at once. The reserves of the 9th Cor should be massed as much as possible. While I would not ane order an unconditional attack on the enemy’s line by them ‘ia should be ready, and should make the attack if the enem nh his line in their front, without waiting for orders. In jie the carry the line, then the whole of the 9th Corps could loli rn 8o “ to join or codperate with the balance of the army. To a payed mice the 9th Corps will have rations issued to them, same : - alance of the army. General Weitzel will keep vigilant bie upon his front, and if found at all practicable to break dinsaghi = rt nes he will do so. A success north of the James should bakiiuc od ap with great promptness. An attack will not be feas- unless it is found that the enemy has detached largely. In th Cone it may be regarded as evident that the enemy are rel ing n° their local reserves principally for the defense of Richmond ge arations may be made for abandoning all the line soil ; él James, except inclosed works — only to be abandoned, how igre: a a is made in the lines of the enemy. ~~ y these instructions a large part of i i i Richmond is left behind. The seaman on dae a Only chance, strip their lines to the merest Shlain in a a ve not being taken of it whilst they hurl pe — oving column, and return. It cannot be impressed t pe 1 upon commanders of troops left in the tenuis SEER ie wae pie without taking advantage of it. The very fact ‘ot deadly A a out to attack, if he does so, might be regarded as almost a yieine ee a weakening of his lines. I would have eps ar. a enjoime te Corps commanders that, in case of an a a: , Pee . O8e not attacked are not to wait for orders § Ollicer of the army to which they belong, but 366 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. March, and notify the commander of their the part of division In like that they will move promptly, action. I would also enjoin the same action on commanders when other parts of their corps are engaged. manner I would urge the importance of following up a repulse of the enemy. U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General. Major-Generals Mzapn, OrD, and SHERIDAN. 1865, 65. REBEL ATTACK UPON FORT STEADMAN. 3867 CHAPTER “XxX. Marcon 25 — Apri 3, 1865. REBEL ATTACK UPON FORT STEADMAN, MARCH 25, 1865.— THE GRAND MOVEMENT TO TH . E REBEL RIGHT. — . ‘ FALL OF RICHMON “ TERSBURG. — RETREAT OF LEE’S ARMY OND AND PE- coe — armies were preparing for the grand diester uh sha 2 ed by General Grant’s order of March 24th, @ sudden and es nat ee chapter, Lee resolved to strike Uae Bac ten blow, hoping by breaking through the vlaeh dee Bhs panne pairs Pace ae execution of the i * . e well knew w: bose: ae big ue santo The cate la hes Fort Rice), held ne india of 7 te bd wid half to the right of Visi 1 rigade of the 2 bri i bap 9th Corps, near the right of the seta: more than mee between the opposing earth-works was not edwin in a yards. General Gordon’s (2d) Corps of the Ville Pewee: Virginia was selected as the storming wohd total force pete: deci: powerful division in support a men. Ab : a ws than 15,000, and not more than 20 000 squads rip ‘ mage on the morning of March 25th Pe sings re els strolled quietly into our lines under the ge dea cing deserters, and overpowered the Union pickets Pee sg: nout resistance. The rebel column of attack, which saa se rawn out noiselessl y from thejr workin allll oi. the Union line af a-tonch, aed en en Steadman, and Batteries 10, he a and occupied Fort The Union line, howe : 2, upon its flanks. : ver, was now thoroughly awake. The ae pay er eee ee ear Samay vps ‘ ir Mga Sa EP tae PR ee 868 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. March, garrisons of Fort McGilvery, three quarters of a mile to the right of Fort Steadman, and Fort Haskell, a quarter of a mile to its left, and Captain Jones’s 11th Massachusetts Battery, in Fort Friend, on an eminence a third of a mile to the rear of Fort Steadman, stood firm as rocks, and opened a wither- ing fire upon Gordon’s troops, which not only drove them into the shelter of Fort Steadman but frightened back their supporting column. Before eight o’clock General Hartranft’s 8d Division of the Ninth Corps, in a brilliant charge, recap- tured Fort Steadman, and made prisoners of a large part of the storming column, who preferred surrender to braving the perils of retreat across the narrow space between the lines swept by the fire of the artillery in the adjacent works. The Union loss in this affair was about 1,000 in killed, wounded, and missing, while the rebel casualties aggregated about 4,500 men, of whom 1,949, including 71 officers, were made pris- oners, and 2,500 killed and wounded. To crown the rebel reverses for the day, the 6th and 2d corps, to the left of the 9th, made a counter-attack, carrying and holding the enemy’s strongly intrenched picket line in their front, thereby gaining ground which was of great value in the subsequent assaults, besides capturing nearly a thousand prisoners, and killing and wounding a far greater number of the enemy than their own loss of about 1,100 men. General Hartranft, for the skill and gallantry with which he handled and led his troops in this affair, was highly complimented in the army, and breveted major-general. General Meade, on the 27th of March, issued a congratulatory order upon the promptness of General Parke in meeting the emergency, “ the firm bearing of the troops of the 9th Corps in the adjacent positions to the line held by the enemy, and the conspicuous gallantry of the 3d Division, together with the energy and skill displayed by General Hartranft.” The grand move ment against the rebel right flank, fixed as fate, was neither delayed nor advanced by Lee’s desperate attempt against the Union line, and, as previously ordered, the movement com menced on the 29th of March, glorious Phil. Sheridan with 1865. GRAND MOVEMENT TO THE REBEL RIGHT. 3869 le hs rg tone It is interesting to note, in the Pete veep ss y General Grant to Sheridan on the fi 1, a making a raid upon the communications of e’s army, Sheridan was either to return to the Army of er i otomac or go south and join Sherman’s army. The con- cluding paragraph of this order is as follows : — Mbaeg having accomplished the destruction of the two railroads (the anville and Southside roads), which are now the only avenues of su 4 pply to Lee’s army, you may return to this army, selecting your Toa d further south, or y ‘4 i 2 ou may go on into North i Fe joi a 1 Carolina and join Be: ortunately for the Army of the Potomac, however, we were to lose the sagacious, indefatigable, and hard-hitting Sher- idan ; and, on the 29th, tl i , the Lieutenant-General hi following communication : — on ee gi ol i ry like ending the matter, if it is possible“to do so, be- ick te g bac ke I do not want you therefore to cut loose and go enemy’s roads at present. In the morning push around the en i ou ca and et on to his Tr h rear. We act to- emy if x u n g t 1 ig t te te Ww ill Cc’ gether as one army here until it is seen W wi hat can be done ith the Lee’s army, now numbering for duty about i ss 6,000 cavalry, was in desperate pin ong Gagan, re made a gallant effort to beat back the ita = umn. Leaving Longstreet’s Corps, about 13,000 stron . guard the lines of Richmond, and six or welt tl id ree to hold the nine miles of intrenchments in front ot Pa urg, he hurried with the rest of his army to guard hi iin aced right. The elements favored him, for en He ; | Fe are ps: of the 30th of March the Union pt ne a ton to strike, it rained in torrents from the ni Hg: 29th Ber the morning of the 81st ; the swampy noel in ehich ea aes army was operating was flooded, and although the sea ie antry a work through the mire, the roads were 7 aie 02 e for cavalry, even though commanded by fell fiereel U sed es Ce ee during Se i y upon the oth Corps, the left of the Union infan- 370 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. March, try, on the morning of the 31st, easily, breaking up Ayres’s and Crawford’s divisions; and, when finally checked and re- pulsed by the aid of the 2d Corps, turned upon Sheridan and his cavalry, who had got possession of Five Forks (so called because five roads meet there) in the rebel right and rear. General Grant, in his official report, gives the following ac- count of the way in which Sheridan proved himself equal to the crisis : — Here General Sheridan displayed great generalship. Instead of retreating with his whole command on the main army, to tell the story of superior forces encountered, he deployed his cavalry on foot, leav- ing only mounted men enough to take charge of the horses. This compelled the enemy to deploy over a vast extent of woods and broken country, and made his progress slow. At this juncture he dispatched to me what had taken place, and that he was dropping back slowly on Dinwiddie Court House. Gen- eral McKenzie’s cavalry and one division of the 5th Corps were im- mediately ordered to his assistance. Soon after, receiving a report from General Meade that Humphreys could hold our position on the Boydton road, and that the other two divisions of the 5th Corps could go to Sheridan, they were so ordered at once. On the morning of the 1st of April, General Sheridan, reinforced by General Warren, drove the enemy back on Five Forks, where, late in the evening, he assaulted and carried his strongly fortified position, capturing all his artillery and between 5,000 and 6,000 prisoners. General Grant now felt extremely anxious lest the rebels should withdraw entirely from the lines of Petersburg and Richmond ; and, throwing their whole force on Sheridan, not only crush him but open a way for retreat. To guard against this, troops from the 2d Corps were sent to reinforce Sheridany -and the whole enormous mass of guns in the Union lines at Petersburg played upon the rebel defenses in their front throughout the night of April 1st. Even the gun-boats in the rivers took part in this last terrific cannonade of the wat Meanwhile the 9th Corps on the right, and the 6th Corps with troops of the 24th and 25th corps on the left, were being massed to assault the lines of Petersburg at daylight on Sunday, 1865. FALL OF PETERSBURG AND RICHMOND. 871 April 2d. With the first blush of day the assaulting columns sprung to their work, and swept over the weakly manned rebel ng ey with glorious enthusiasm. Then two divisions of ya _ > carried the rebel intrenched line west of Hatch- me n; but a short strong line close around Petersburg ul held the Union army at bay. Longstreet still held his corps north of the James; and, about ten o’clock on the morning of the 2d, reinforced the garrison of Petersburg suf- ficiently to enable Lee ina sharp sally to recapture the rebel Fort Mahone in front of Fort Sedgwick, and press so hard Rn the victors of the early morning, that the headquarters rigade, which had been ordered up from City Point for their peo were thrown in, and by a spirited charge forced the Pet feng This si the last offensive blow struck by the pieedial reve Virginia while covering Petersburg and amen a At eleven o’clock A. M., Jeff. Davis, then at- a et service in one of the Richmond churches, re- rel rie owing telegram: “ My lines are broken in three * a parte: must be evacuated this evening. Robert has ee rae s only hope now was to hold on till night, and ae , ntly withdrawing his army, retreat up the north x of the Appomattox. ne in the night the defenders of Petersburg began to — ems from their works and crossed the Appomat- 3 then, marching to a point midway between Petersb — Richmond, where they were joined by the troops wl had — a Bermuda Hundred front and the cae Pike hd 7 of Richmond, the rebel army, still thirty thousand stron eaded westward. Pushing their march vigorously duri “ hight, when morning dawned Lee’s army was eas from Petersburg. It was still a gallant army, ready to fight and starve as long as their great commander so willed, and to a mam con : x fident in their leader's ability to save them yet, or at least by ing, Vim. them with Johnston’s army, to force advantageous erms of peace for the Confederacy With the first glimmer of daylight on the $d of April, the 372 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. April, Union troops moved on Petersburg and entered it without a shot being fired. So also fell the proud and beautiful city of Richmond. At the latter city the rebel rear-guard, just be- fore daylight of the 3d of April, blew up the iron-clads in the James and the bridges across the river; at the same time, setting fire to the government warehouses full of tobacco, the spreading flames destroyed the whole business section of the city. Richmond and Petersburg were nothing now, for Lee’s army, the objective point of the Union force, was rapidly moving to the west. LEE’S RETREAT AND SURRENDER. CHAPTER XXI. Aprin 4— Jury 12, 1865. THE dee ce AND SURRENDER OF LEE’S ARMY OF NORTHERN VIR- sien ain OF THE REBELLION. — TRANSFER OF THE 218T VET- ANS TO THE 56TH MASS. VOLS. — MUSTER OUT OF SERVICE. aa Lee determined to abandon Petersburg and Rich- Hae ee satel to forward supplies to Amelia Court ma bg orty miles to the west of Richmond. Reaching haven cae the 4th of April, with a starving army, Lee iheueaaes anguish that the precious rations had by a stupid ara 1 sent to Richmond and destroyed in the confla- Pind - was thus compelled to wait at Amelia Court sates until the night of April 5th, to enable his foragers to . ee ie supply of food, the impetuous Sheridan, far ra nce 0 the rest of our army, cut his line of retreat, by wore: J etersville, on the Danville road, seven miles south- bo Hs Amelia Court House. Sheridan occupied Jetersville se e afternoon of the 4th with his cavalry and the 5th ~orps, in all about eighteen thousand men ¢ intrenched his army across the rebel path, and immediately noon of the 5th he was joined by General foe wih oe — 6th corps. Lee’s army was still at Ameli tad been operating with his cavalry Against’ any attempt to escape by that flank. On the night a, and Sheridan well to the left, watching of April 5th and 6th, Lee, with Withdrew his army fro : ier ris y from Amelia Ville great secrecy and address, : tag » and moved past the Union cae oie’ hope was to win in pd to Farm- irty-five m : y-live miles to the west), and, crossing the Appo- .t. ee eee e J the ae 874 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. mattox at that point, escape into the mountains beyond Lynchburg. Early on the morning of the 6th of April, the Army of the Potomac moved from Jetersville to Amelia, to give battle to the enemy, and discovered that Lee had escaped. Without delay the Union army started in pursuit. Sheridan with his cavalry, of course led in the hot chase, and taking a route to strike the rebel left flank, was supported by the 6th Corps while General Meade, with the 2d and 5th corps, pressed RETREAT &*?¢ REBELARMY FROM RICHMOND a*° PETERSBURG APRIL2#T0 9'P 1865. SOMILES. hard after the retreating enemy. Sheridan, early in the af ternoon, struck the rebel wagon train near Deatonsville (about seven miles due west of Amelia), escorted by cavalry and Ewell’s Corps of infantry; the finest troops left in Lees army. Instantly attacking the train, to hold back the escort, Sheridan, with the principal part of his force, pressed fiercely along their flank until he found their weak spot near Sailors Creek ;1 then, fighting his way across the rebel line of retreat with his cavalry alone, he captured sixteen pieces of artillery and many prisoners, and destroyed four hundred wagons Sheridan had, however, caught a lion, for Ewell’s whole Corps was following behind the wagons; yet, knowing that he one depend on the gallant 6th Corps to come up if he could hol the rebels back a little while, he boldly charged that veteran infantry with a brigade of cavalry, and brought it to @ eget : n 1 Sailor’s Creek is a small stream emptying into the Appomattox, about t miles east of Farmville. — Ep. 1865, LEE’S RETREAT AND SURRENDER. 875 Scarcely had this been done, when the head of the 6th Corps came in sight, and soon were engaging the slowly retreating enemy in front, while the cavalry maintained their position on the rebel flank and rear. The environed rebels, though weak and gaunt with hunger, still made a gallant\and desper- ate fight ; and more than once with their deadly fire brought to a halt and broke the veterans of the 6th Corps; but they were fighting fate ; and close upon sunset, broken by a simul- taneous assault by the infantry and cavalry in front, flank and rear, Ewell’s seven thousand men threw down the anh which had so often, during the last four years, made havoc in the Union ranks, and, with their gallant chief, surrendered to the victorious Sheridan. During this day (April 6th) also occurred one of the most heroic engagements of the war, in whe the head of Lee’s column received a fatal check at High ein high the Appomattox), some five miles east of Heap : General Ord, with the Army of the James, hay- ad es 1ed Burkesville (some fifteen miles southeast of 2 mville), advanced towards Farmville on the morning of 1e 6th, sending in advance two regiments of infantry and a Squadron of the 4th Massachusetts cavalry, to destroy High Bridge, on which Lee depended to secure his retreat. The detachment was commanded by Brevet Brigadier-General Theodore Read ; the squadron of cavalry numbering, all told but eighty men, was led by Francis Washburn the her ts Colonel of the regiment (4th Massachusetts savas ). Ab a noon, the detachment reached the bridge, and toma ae i ie of Lee’s column moving to cross it. The infantry hu baal but Washburn with his cavalry attacked Lee’s ‘a ts a held it back until his small force was over : : pe himself fell with a mortal wound. hoe In this attack, General Read was also killed. General Grant states in his official report that the dela coduuonadl to bps Lee by this attack was sufficient to pe General rd to get up the rest of his troops, and prevent the rebel ae from continuing its retreat that day. The Southside ailroad crossed the Appomattox River on bridges both at 376 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. April, Farmville and at High Bridge, and there was also a highway bridge at each place, As the river is not fordable, it was a matter of great importance to Lee, not only to use the bridges himself but to destroy them afterwards, to delay pursuit. He completed the crossing of his army at High Bridge during the night of the 6th and 7th, but it was nearly dawn when his forces were over and the rear-guard fired the bridges ; but they were too late, for Barlow’s Division of the 2d Corps was near enough to save the highway bridge, beat off the rebel rear-guard, and cross the river, followed by the rest of the corps. The 6th Corps and a division of cavalry, supported by General Ord’s command, were ordered to cross the river at Farmville, while the never-flagging Sheridan and his cavalry, supported by the 5th Corps, moved to Prince Edward’s Court House, about five miles south of Farmville. Brought to bay by two divisions of the 2d Corps, Lee at once intrenched him- self in a strong position, covering the road to Lynchburg, about five miles north of Farmville. The position was too formidable to assault in front, and was so well extended that an attempt to flank it met with a bloody repulse. The bridges having been burned at Farmville, although Crook’s Division of cavalry succeeded in wading the river, the infantry were unable to get across it until night. General Crook, on crossing with his cavalry, attacked a well-defended rebel wagon train north of the river, but after a sharp skir- mish was beaten off. Except the mishap of losing High Bridge in the morning, Lee’s weak and starving men had made a glorious day of it, and night found them maintaining a bold front against the advance of their pursuers. General Grant, now feeling that date, 1865. LEE’S RETREAT AND SURRENDER. 3877 b . 8 Pl asking of you the surrender of that portion of the Confed- ate States army known as the Army of Northern Virginia. Bre ee U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General. , The rebel chief, desperate as if he and his army were fight- ng with halters around their necks, writing a tricky reply put a long night’s march between his army and its penrtaiiat before his answer i Q r was delivered to Grant on the morni the 8th. It was as follows: — ee Be 5 April 7, 1865. scrsiee. oe ve received your note of this date. Though not ee Ac is eres you express on the hopelessness of further pepe), e part of the Army of Northern Virginia, I recipro- your desire to avoid useless effusion of blood, and therefore, be- fore 8 ring rms you will offer on con y ide Ing our proposition, ask the te condition of its surrender. R. E. Ler, General. Lieutenant-General U. S. Granr. he en forces were now left some distance behind, and ple a ag on a vigorous pursuit: General Meade with iris 2 9 6th corps followed north of the Appomattox ; eridan with all the cavalry, followed by Ord’s pile: mand and the 5th Corps, pushed straight for Appomattox Station, on the Southside road, a point five miles south of 0 Appomattox Court House. Grant accompanied Meade’s column, havi i , having sent the following r ’ ‘ sites 4 eply to Lee’s communica- April 8, 1865. 1 reply to mine of same Genera: Your note of last evening, ir . oe . id asking the condition on which I wil] accept the su der of rrender WWicainans i Ripe my of Northern Virginia, is just received Say that peace being my i great desire, tl i iti would insist upon, namely : re is bat one ae April 7, 1865. Shall be disqualified for Fag ne Prag and officers surrendered GrnerAL: The result of the last week must convince you of the ment of the United States & Up arms again against the Govern- hopelessness of further resistance on the part of the Army of North- you, or will designate tage properly exchanged. I will meet ern Virginia in this struggle. I feel that it is so, and regard it as MY the same pecieet aie nas © meet any officers you may name for duty to shift from myself the responsibility of any further effusion © : Y point agreeable to you, for the purpose of Lee’s chance of escape was hopeless, late in the day sent him | In reply, I would the following communication from Farmville: — ce 378 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. April, arranging definitely the terms upon which the surrender of the army of Northern Virginia will be received. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. General R. E. Ler. During the day of the 8th, General Meade’s advance had considerable fighting with the rebel rear-guard, but was un- able to bring on’a general engagement. Late in the evening Sheridan with the cavalry reached Appomattox Station, after a day’s march of more than thirty miles. Lee’s- army had just arrived, and four trains of cars loaded with provisions for the starving rebels were just approaching from the West. Sheridan captured the trains, and hurling the rebel advance back on Appomattox Court House, planted his cavalry squarely across Lee’s path of retreat, knowing that Ord’s in- fantry would join him in the morning, and the Army of the Potomac be ready to strike the rebel rear. Lee, planning a desperate assault upon Sheridan’s lines with the first break of day, as his last chance of escape, during the night sent the following letter to his magnanimous antagonist : — April 8, 1865. Genera: I received at a late hour your note of to-day. In mine of yesterday I did not intend to propose the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, but to ask the terms of your proposition. To be frank, I do not think the emergency has arisen to call for the sur- render of this army; but as the restoration of peace should be the sole object of all, I desired to know whether your proposals would lead to that end. I cannot, therefore, meet you with a view to sur- render the Army of Northern Virginia; but as far as your proposal may affect the Confederate States forces under my command, and tend to the restoration of peace, I should be pleased to meet you at ten A. M. to-morrow, on the old stage road to Richmond, between the picket lines of the two armies. R. E. Lez, General. Lieutenant-General U. §. Grant. General Grant sent the following reply, on the morning of ged in the 9th, but before Lee received it his army was enga its last death struggle with Sheridan. 1865. LEE’S RETREAT AND SURRENDER. 879 5 i te April 9, 1865. teenie A ‘ r = of yesterday is received. I have no author- Pa rm? 1e subject of peace ; the meeting proposed for A. M. to- pee pa 4 no good. I will state, however, General, that I am PP ip “ or peace with yourself, and the whole North enter- pire ame feeling. The terms upon which peace can be had are Pei RHE By the South laying down their arms they will nosy a most desirable event, save thousands of human lives, and hun reds of millions of property not yet destroyed. Seriously hop- ing that all our difficulties may be settled without the loss oi : other life, I subscribe myself, etc., He General R. E. Len. U. 8, Grant, Lisutenant-General, wee orders to his troops to cut their way through at all Vewiee 6 with all that was left of the Army of Northern Meas . eight or nine thousand men with arms, followed by aa 1ousands of gaunt famished wretches too weak to de tat a with desperate fury upon the. Union cav- re aie , fighting dismounted, fell back slowly, making a + oe ance, to gain time for Ord’s infantry to come up. a object was gained; as the infantry moved into position se opeoee fire, the rebels gave back, and Sheridan, deter- : ned to bring the thing to w speedy end, ordering his men . mount, dashed into position on the enemy’s left flank at as he was about to charge on the confused mass of the rel els, the bearer of a white flag advanced from thei li with a request for a suspension of hostilities pendj oe pre tions for a surrender. Although Sheridan ae Bair 7 ed for them about five minutes, or until show alil ie their arms and asked for mercy, hostilities were in- ome bis and Generals Grant and Lee, meeting in a me fe ose by, before two o’clock in the afternoon of the 9th greed on terms of surrender, set forth in the f f Correspondence, as follows : — hate Appomarrox Court House, VA. April 9, 1865. Gener : : ; of the ee — with the substance of my letter to you » * propose to receive the surrender of the Army of 880 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. April, Northern Virginia on the following terms, to wit: Rolls of all the officers and men to be made in duplicate, one copy to be given to an officer to be designated by me, the other to be retained by such offi- cer or officers as you may designate. The officers to give their — vidual paroles not to take up arms against the Government of the United States until properly exchanged ; and each company or regi- mental commander sign a like parole for the men of their commands. The arms, artillery, and public property to be parked and stacked, and turned over to the officers appointed by me to receive them. This will not embrace the side-arms of the officers nor their private horses or baggage. This done, each officer and man will be allowed to return to his home, not to be disturbed by United States authority so long as they observe their paroles and the laws in force where they may reside U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General. General R. E. Ler. Heapquarrers Army or NoRTHERN VIRGINIA, April 9, 1865. GeneRAL: I received your letter of this date containing the terms of the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia as proposed by you. As they are substantially the same as those expressed in your letter of the 8th inst. they are accepted. I will proceed to designate i ions i ffect. the proper officers to carry the stipulations into e iy : R. E. Ler, General. Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT. During the afternoon, the surrender was announced to both armies, and the men at once mingled together without enmity, both sides agreeing that they had had fighting enough. 77 Union troops were generous victors, for they vied with eac other in supplying food to their starved and attenuated oppo nents. No pickets were posted that night, and the two “7 slept side by side in mutual confidence, with none to moles or make them afraid. About twenty-six thousand men sut- rendered with the rebel Army of Northern Virginia, of whom but about eight thousand presented themselves with arms 10 their hands: of the eighteen thousand unarmed men, a who had lived for nearly a week mainly on roots and pee had dropped their guns from weakness, but many had dou it less hidden them before the surrender. The rebels were P 1865. ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN. 381 roled, and scattered to their homes; and the Army of the Potomae, having accomplished its mission, returned to the vicinity of Burkesville, and soon marched to Washington and were mustered out, The army was shocked and horrified on the 16th of April by the announcement of the murder of the President in the following order: — HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, April 16, 1865. GENERAL OrpeErs No. 15. The major-general commanding announces to the army that official intelligence has been re- ceived of the death, by assassination, of the Pres- ident of the United States. The President died at 7.22 on the morning of the 15th inst. By this army this announcement will be re- ceived with profound sorrow, and deep horror and indignation. The President, by the active interest he ever took in the welfare of this army, and by his presence in frequent visits, especially during the recent operations, had par- ticularly endeared himself to both officers and soldiers, all of whom regarded him as a generous friend. An honest man, a noble patriot, and sagacious statesman has fallen! No greater loss, at this particular moment, could have befallen our coun- try. Whilst we bow with submission to the unfathomable and inscrutable decrees of Divine Providence, let us earnestly pray that God, in His infinite mercy, will so order that this terrible calamity shall not interfere with the prosperity and happiness of our beloved country ! Grorer G. Means, Major-General Commanding. TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Oh, slow to smite and swift to spare, Gentle and merciful and just ! Who, in the fear of God, didst bear The sword of power —a nation’s trust. In sorrow by thy bier we stand, Amid the awe that hushes all, And speak the anguish of a land That shook with horror at thy fall. W. C. Bryant. Well may we thank God for American civilization that the horrid deed provoked no vengeance upon our recent antago- nists, now unarmed and helpless. The surrender of Lee’s army was the signal for the col- the ruins of the Confederacy, and the other rebel lapse of d without any further fighting of conse- armies surrendere quence. General Grant’s official report of the campaigns since he took general command, concludes as follows : — It has been my fortune to see the armies of both the west and the east fight battles, and from what I have seen I know there is no difference in their fighting qualities. All that it was possible for men to do in battle they have done. The western armies commenced their battles in the Mississippi Valley, and received the final surren- der of the remnant of the principal army opposed to them in North Carolina. The armies of the east commenced their battles on the river from which the Army of the Potomac derived its name, and received the final surrender of their old antagonist at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. The splendid achievements of each have nationalized our victories, removed all sectional jealousies (of which we have unfortunately experienced too much), and the curse of crim- ination and recrimination that might have followed had either see tion failed in its duty. All have a proud record, and all sections ca? well congratulate themselves and each other for having done theit full share in restoring the supremacy of law over every foot of tert tory belonging to the United States. Let them hope for perpett® peace and harmony with that enemy whose manhood, however mis- taken the cause, drew forth such herculean deeds of valor. 1865. CASUALTIES AMONG THE TWENTY-FIRST, 883 To return to the 21st men, consolidated with the 36th Massachusetts. The regiment remained during the winter and until April, in the lines in front of Petersburg, Fy garrison duty at Fort Rice and picket duty in its front. They were not engaged in the memorable assault on the 2d of April but kept their own front and skirmished with the enemy oi the picket line, with a loss of one man killed and four wounded, one of the latter being a 21st man, Private Frank Gravlin, of Company K, who was shot through the body by a musket ball. Colonel Thaddeus L. Barker, commanding the de wrote me as follows as to this casualty: ‘ One of the 21st men was severely wounded on the 2d of April, while trying to check the stampede of a line in our front.” Only one other 21st man was wounded during the winter and he had a hand badly injured by the bursting of his pi while on picket exchanging shots with the enemy. I regret that I have been unable to learn his name. The regiment followed up the Union army in the last great campaign, ar- riving at Farmville on April 9th, the day of the wurvenbec During the month it marched back through Petersburg to City Point, where it took the steamer ‘ Vidette’? for Alex- Per and remained near Fort Lyons, in front of Alexan- on the 28th of April until mustered out on the 8th of The last casualty among the veterans of the 21st was th death of Private James Dolligan, of Compan F, aa a killed in his tent April 30, 1865, by the fire of 7 ci coal em were discharging their pleces with murderous care- cue muster out of the 36th the reénlisted veterans of the st were again transferred to the i 4 ns Volunteers, and finally were sonauatal ogres tony service with that regiment on the 12th day of July, 6 — mainly to the persistent efforts of our ever faithful aptain W. H. Sawyer, a corporal detailed from the 21st Men was allowed to carry the old flag presented to the regi- 384 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. April, ment by the ladies of Worcester beside the colors of the 36th. The 21st men also retained the flag while in the 56th, and on their final muster out it was returned to the custody of the patriotic ladies who presented it. On the 2d of June the following congratulatory address was issued to the Union armies : — War DerartMentT, ADJUTANT GeNERAL’s OFFICE, Wasuine Ton, D. C., June 2, 1865. GeneraL Orvers No. 108. Soldiers of the Armies of the United States: By your patriotic devotion to your country in the hour of danger and alarm, and by your magnificent fighting, bravery, and endurance, you have main- tained the supremacy of the Union and the Constitution, overthrown all armed opposition to the enforcement of the laws and of the proc- lamations forever abolishing slavery, — the cause and pretext of the rebellion, — and opened the way to the rightful authorities to restore order and inaugurate peace on a permanent and enduring basis on every foot of American soil. Your marches, sieges, and battles, in distance, duration, resolution, and brilliancy of results, dim the lustre of the world’s past military achievements, and will be the patriot’s precedent in defense of liberty and right in all time to come. In obedience to your country’s call you left your homes and fam- ilies and volunteered in its defense. Victory has crowned your valor and secured the purpose of your patriotic hearts; and with the gratitude of your countrymen and the highest honors a great and free nation can accord, you will soon be permitted to return to your homes and families, conscious of having discharged the highest duty of American citizens. To achieve the glorious triumphs and secure to yourselves, your fellow-countrymen, and posterity the blessings of free institutions, tens of thousands of your gallant comrades have fallen and sealed the priceless legacy with their lives. The graves of these a grateful nation bedews with tears, honors their memories, and will ever cher ish and support their stricken families. (Signed) U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General- THE TWENTY-FIRST IN REBEL PRISONS. 885 CHAPTER XXII. THE 21st In REBEL PRISONS. L eae THE 21ST CONFINED IN REBEL PRISONS. — DE- aear antlers ogee PRISON, AND STATISTICS AS TO NUM- Gaon crear THERE AND DEATHS. — PRISON NARRATIVES OF ‘ » MARCUS M. COLLIS, P. FRANK GETH{NGS, ALVIN 8. GRATO cele JOHN E. SHORT, AND GEORGE A. HITCHCOCK. — RESPON- FOR NON-EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS. In recordi i cording the experiences and sufferings of our comrades 2 vin a infamous rebel prison pens during the summer wai: following winter, I have added nothing to the ee ie ae manly statements of the men themselves, given 2 y them soon after their release, or as recorded by them 7 pi oe day in their prison diaries, n reading and considering these accounts I irongly impressed by the fact that these men ere cond . a on their sufferings from hunger, heat and veald Wt ts other horrid and disgusting outrages of which the mie sacle 4 Our tough “a gallant comrades (with ‘ ¢ bummer among them) never yj a but, making the best of iets help epee her : ney could ; and nearly all survived the barbarous and in- ryeon treatment which caused the death of many thousands Pe ae companions. I say nothing of the few prisoners from @ regiment who were captured early in the war, as they Were paroled immediatel y after capt : known, were not subjected to cruel beeline d, so far as 1s The following is believed to be a correct list of the members of ¢ ; . he 21st who ai imprisoned at Andersonville, Salisbury, THE TWENTY-FIRST IN REBEL PRISONS. 387 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. I have compiled it mainly from in- Major P. F. Gethings 5 A. Hitchcock, of Com- d Private John E. 386 Florence, and Danville. formation furnished me by Sergeant- Privates Wilbur A. Potter and George pany A; Corporal Vincent Barker an Short, of Company B ; Corporal Alvin 8. Graton, of Company C; and Ist Sergeant Marcus of Company H, pris- oners at the places above name relative to them has also been © rebel prison records, of the adjutant-general of Massachusetts. M. Collis, d. Some valuable information btained from the published and also from the records in the office ISONS AT ANDERSON- MEMBERS OF THE 21sT IN REBEL PR AND SALISBURY, DANVILLE, FLORENCE, MILLEN, i THOSE WHO DIED IN PRISON. bert Osgood, captured in the 6, 1864; Corporal James A. f Bethesda Church, June 2, VILLE, WITH DATE OF DEATH 0. Company A. Sergeant J. Al battle of the Wilderness, May Miller, captured in the battle o 1864; Private Wilbur A. Potter, captured in the battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864; Private George A. Hitchcock, cap- tured in the battle of Bethesda Church, June 2, 1864. 3 orge O. Emerson, captured in Company B. Sergeant Ge the battle of Bethesda Church, June 2, 1864, — died at Ander- 64: number of grave, 10,5425 sonville Prison October 8, 18 Sergeant Thomas Stevens, captured near Petersburg, June 17, 1864; Sergeant Charles Miller, captured in the battle of Pop- lar Spring Church, September 30, 1864 ; Corporal George V. Barker, captured in the battle of the Mine, July 30, 18643 Private James Cane, captured in the battle of Bethesda Church, June 2, 1864; Private Nathaniel F. Knox, captured in the battle of Poplar Spring Church, September 30, 1864, ovember 1, 1864; Private died at Salisbury Prison about N John E. Short, captured in the battle of Poplar Spring Church, September 30, 1864. Company C. Corporal Alvin S. Graton, captured battle of Bethesda Church, June 2, 1864; Private Fra the Wilderness, May 6, Clark, captured in the battle of Private Thomas Farrell, captured in the battle of Spottsy NM wAe) wor her ea) sesaeqahy LIH *V ZOuoaD x F a@ LOdS GHL NO gdayu HOLANS V JO A IINIS “OVA WPA skay MA, Moers vad i dV 1! SV 'N3d NOSIud SATIIANOSYSONV SUAALINNIOA SLLASAHOYSS VK INDWIE WKIDAY 181% ‘Vv ANVAWOO ao ‘uQ00HO. “v98! ‘3NOP NI Gay in the neis 18645 lva- 388 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. nia, May 10, 1864; Private Joseph Mead, captured in the battle of the Mine, July 30, 1864, — died at Danville Prison, January 15, 1865; Private William Glasgow, captured in the battle of Poplar Spring Church, September 380, 1864 ; Private Timothy Lanckton, captured in battle near Petersburg, June 17, 1864. Company D. Drummer Charles E. Goodrich, captured in the battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864, — died in prison at Florence, October 10, 1864. Company F. Sergeant Charles C. Muzzey, captured in the battle of Spottsylvania, May 10, 1864; Corporal Albert Knight, captured at Poplar Spring Church, September 30, 1864; Private Owen Fallon, place of capture not reported ; Private Joseph Tirrell, captured in the battle of the Mine, July 30, 1864. Company G. Private George A. Corey, captured in the battle of Bethesda Church, June 2, 1864; Private Waldo Dwinnell, captured in the battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864,— died at Andersonville Prison about September BR 1864; Private Frank Lumazette, severely wounded and ecapt- ured in the battle of the Mine, July 30, 1864, — died in prison at Danville, August 12, 1864. Company H. First Sergeant Marcus M. Collis, in the battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864 ; Sergeant James H. Damon, captured in the battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864; Corporal Daniel E. Barker, captured in the battle of Bethesda Church, June 2, 1864; Private Michael Austin, captured in the battle of Poplar Spring Church, September 30, 1864; Private Patrick Burns, captured in the battle of Poplar Spring Church, September 30, 1864; Private Wm. H. Ramsdell, captured in the battle of Poplar Spring Chureh, September 30, 1864; Private Alonzo, White, captured in the battle of Poplar Spring Church, September 30, 1864. Company I. Sergeant Charles L. Burton, captured in the battle of Poplar Spring Church, September 30, 1864; Private Ransom Bailey, captured near Blain’s Cross Roads, East Ten- nessee, December 23, 1863, — died at Andersonville Prison captured THE TWENTY-FIRST IN REBEL PRISONS. 889 August 23, 1864: number of grave, 6,624; Private Gilbert L. Jewett, captured in battle on the Weldon Railroad, August 19; 1864; Private Thomas Magovern, captured in the battle of Poplar Spring Church, September 30, 1864; Private Wm. H. Tyler, captured in battle near Petersburg, June 17, 1864. Company K. Corporal Thomas Winn, captured in battle near Petersburg, June 17, 1864; Private Prentice J. Banks; captured in the battle of Bethesda Church, June 2, 1864; Private Thomas B. Dyer, captured in the battle of Bethesda Church, June 2, 1864; Private Michael Gleason, captured in the battle of Poplar Spring Church, September 30, 1864; Private German Lagara, captured in the battle of Bethesda peg June 2, 1864; Private Thomas Marshall, captured in 7 battle of Bethesda Church, June 2, 1864; Private Wm. ms — captured in the battle of Bethesda Church, June 2, ; Total number of those confined in prisons above named, orty-four ; number of those who died in prison, seven. ae who were taken prisoners up to and including Juns ’ , were sent to Andersonville Prison; those taken sub- sequently were sent to the prisons at Danville and Salisbur About half of them were paroled and exchanged in Dessau 1864, and the rest about the 1st of March, 1865. After a brief general description of the Andersonville prison pen, so infamous in history for its foul and brutal Nit I shall simply compile the accounts given by our gallant a rades, concluding with the full and intensel Be tir va ber diary of George A. Hitchcock. ‘ ae ndersonville before the war was an insienifie: station on the Southwestern Railsoad,. in te Georgia, about sixty miles south of Macon. The bea pen there was constructed in the winter of 1863-64 pe the first Union prisoners to occupy it were 860 men tal from the crowded rebel prisons in Richmond, who arrived at Anderson- ville on the 15th of February, 1864, Tt was in no way noted until the late spring and summer of 1864, when it became packed with prisoners from Grant’s and Sherman’s armies, 390 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. The prison was an inclosure of some twenty-seven acres in extent,! surrounded by a double line of stockade made of pine logs set upright in the ground as close together as possible. The logs of the original (inner) stockade were of a uniform length of thirty-four feet, of which one half was above the ground. The second line of stockade, 120 feet distant from the first line, was but twelve feet high above the ground. Sentry-boxes were placed on top of the exterior and interior lines of stockade, as on the wall of a prison yard. The inclos- ure was a parallelogram in shape, with a fort at each angle. To lessen the danger of tunneling, and keep the prisoners away from dangerous proximity to the stockade, a “ dead- line” was marked out twenty feet inside the interior stockade. To cross or touch the dead-line was death. At first it was a mere furrow turned up by a plow, but after a time it was plainly designated by a line of rails nailed upon stakes driven in the ground, standing about five feet high. The inclosed space had originally been thickly covered with trees, but with the exception of a single large pine, every one of them had been cut down, and the unsheltered prisoners were fully ex- posed to the blazing southern sun. A small brook, about four feet wide and a few inches deep, ran through the inclosure and supplied the prisoners with water 5 but it was soon made dis- gustingly foul by the filth thrown into it from a large rebel camp just above the stockade, and the nasty condition of the swampy land adjoining it inside the stockade. There were a few wells made by the prisoners inside the stockade, from which some of them obtained water; but the men who dug them kept them for their own use, and they did not furnish enough water to afford any general relief. The want of water was substantially removed on the 80th of August (just as the accursed prison was about to be emptied of most of its tortured inmates), by the breaking out of a noble permanent spring of 1 The inclosure was originally but about nineteen acres in extent, and was el- larged to twenty-seven acres in the latter part of June. It was surrounded by ® single line of stockade until August, when an outside line was added, and in Sep- tember a third line was erected. — Ep. THE TWENTY-FIRST IN REBEL PRISONS. 891 cool water inside the stockade. Some six acres of the land adjoining the brook was a complete swamp ; and owing to its use by thirty thousand men as a privy, soon became inexpress- ibly nasty, sickening, and pestilential.} _ The numbers confined in the stockade varied greatly, at different times. By the official rebel records it appears that 1,600 men were received there during the month of February, 1864 (the first month of its occupancy). In March the num- ber increased to 4,603; at the end of April the total number of prisoners on hand was 9,577 ; at the end of May, 18,454 ; at the end of June, 26,367; at the end of July, 31,678 ; at the end of August, 31,693. The largest number in the prison on any one day was on the 8th of August, when 33,114 men were confined there; and the largest number of deaths on any day was 127, on the 23d of August. The deaths among the prisoners in August, from a total of 1,742 in July (still giv- ing the figures of the official prison record), reached the ap- palling number of 2,992; and even the brutal rebel authori- ties came to the conclusion that the continuance of such hor- rors would be too shocking to the sense of the civilized world; and decided to remove most of the prisoners from the reeking, fetid, and plague-stricken hell. During the month of September, most of the prisoners were taken to Millen, Ga. ; from which place, threatened by Sher- man’s march, they were soon removed again to Florence, S. C. At the end of September, Andersonville Prison contained but 2,700 inmates; at the end of October but 1,560; and subse- quently, being used mainly as a hospital station to the end of the war, in April, 1865, never contained more than about 5,000 prisoners. The original prison journal and hospital records of Ander- sonville Prison are now in possession of the United States Government, and show that 45,613 men were confined there : The prison was early in the season supplied with what the rebels called a privy, made by boxing in the sides of the lower portion of the prook for a few feet, and putting up a covering of boards; but it was of insignificant dimensions, and entirely inadequate for the designed puvesen and soon disappeared, the boards being used by the prisoners for fuel or shelter, a tk 392 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. in all, and that of this number 12,912 men died in the stock- ade and hospital. .The place of interment was laid out as a national cemetery after the war, by Colonel Moore, of the United States Quartermaster’s Department; and, in his offi- cial report to the quartermaster-general, Colonel Moore states that a stake placed at the head of 12,461 of the graves, bear- ing a number corresponding with a similarly numbered name upon the prison record, enabled him to identify them fully ; there being but 451 graves upon whose tablets he was com- pelled to place the sad inscription, —‘“ Unknown U. 8. Sol- dier.” } The whole number of escapes from the prison, during its existence as such, was 328.? i Of the other prisons in which members of the 21st were confined, the. one at Salisbury, N. C., was also a stockade, in- closing about thirteen acres, and containing several buildings. That at Florence, S. C., was also a stockade, patterned after Andersonville, and was a horrid prison pen. The prison at Danville, Va., was a large building, formerly used as a tobacco warehouse. The first man belonging to the 21st who is known to have been confined in Andersonville Prison was Ransom Bailey, of Company I. He was taken prisoner at Blain’s Cross Roads, East Tennessee, December 23, 1863, and died of scurvy at Andersonville, August 23, 1864. The next delegation from the 21st to enter Andersonville were the eight men taken prisoners in the battle of the Wil- derness, who reached the prison on the 23d of May. After 1 From a table published in the American Almanac for 1882, it appears that the whole number of Union troops who died while prisoners of war was 29,725, and of Confederate troops, 26,774. — Ep. : 2 Of the dozen or more books relative to Andersonville Prison which I have read, those which seem to me best worth perusal are, Narrative of Andersonville, Based on Evidence Produced at the Trial of Henry Wirz, the Jailer, by Ambrose Spencer, published in 1866; and The Southern Side of Andersonville Prison, by R. R. Stevenson, M. D., chief surgeon of prison hospitals at Andersonville; the last-named book being especially interesting, from the fact that the author, uD- able to impeach his own records, makes so ghastly a failure in attempting to jus- tify or explain away the horrid atrocities which they disclose. — Ep. THE TWENTY-FIRST IN REBEL PRISONS. 398 that, the men taken up to and including the 17th of June, were sent to Andersonville; those taken subsequently were sent to Salisbury and Danville, as before stated. WILBUR A. POTTER’S NARRATIVE. Private Wilbur A. Potter, of Company A, sent me, through Captain Charles W. Davis, immediately after the war, his Andersonville diary, and the following brief and modest ac- count of his experiences after his capture : — By your wish I will write a brief record, from the time Osgood and I were captured up to the time we arrived at your? headquarters at Annapolis, Md. We were captured on the 6th day of May, 1864; on the 7th, we were marched with other prisoners to Orange Court House, and were quartered in a field until the 9th, when we were marched to Gordons- ville; and, taking the cars from there to Lynchburg, were guarded in a ravine until the 13th, when we were removed to Danville, Va., and quartered in a tobacco warehouse until the 18th. We were trav- eling from Danville to Andersonville (or Damascus as the rebels called it) from the 18th until the 23d of May. We were in the stock- ade at Andersonville up to the 12th of September, when we were re- moved to Florence, S. C., where we were quartered in a field until the 2d of October, and then marched to a stockade the rebels had been building. I was there until the 9th of December, when I was paroled. We did not leave, however, until the 12th. We were left outside, without tents or shelter of any kind; and the second night out it was very cold, with a strong northeast wind, and so much hail and rain that our fires were put out. The rebels would not allow us to go after brush or other wood to rekindle them, and we were obliged to endure the wind, cold, and rain, without either shelter or fires. In consequence of this, over ten men in our party of about one hundred and fifty died that night (chilled to death). Upon the even- ing of the 12th we were transported to Charleston, S, C., and at one P. M. were taken to our own flag-of-truce boat. We lay there until the 16th, waiting for more men from Florence ; then we started for ; 1 Our Captain, C. W. Davis, was in command of the barracks for the recep- tion of returned prisoners at Annapolis, and the references in Potter’s letter are to him. — Ep. 894 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Annapolis, Md., arriving there on the 19th. There, allow me to say 1 met with such kindness at your hands as I shall never forget, and for which I shall always feel beholden to you. And many others, good men and true, also received that kind attention which only a gentleman can grant. Please to accept my thanks for the same, as I don’t know that I ever did thank you in words before. From the prison diary of this modest hero I make the fol- lowing extracts : — 1864, July 5th. The 21st men made an oven, and baked their first batch of bread in it to-day. September 23d. Commenced our well (which the rebs afterwards filled up on account of tunneling). ; October 13th. Commenced a mud-house for winter. (Finished it October 18th.) No rations but meal on Thanksgiving Day. INCIDENTS GIVEN BY FIRST SERGEANT MARCUS M. COLLIS. 1st Sergeant Marcus M. Collis, of Company H, also taken at the Wilderness, in his prison diary, which he kindly fur- nished me, gives a very interesting account of the execution of the six raiders who were hung at Andersonville by the pris- onets on the 11th of July. The Union army was not wholly composed of patriots. Some of the greatest villains that cursed the earth (particularly towards the end of the war) were in its ranks, and several of them were of course taken prisoners with the rest. Many of these scoundrels added to the horrors of Andersonville by roaming about in gangs at night among the helpless prisoners, robbing them of the little wretched all on which their lives depended, and even murder- ing them at will. In order to stop the practice, the rebel authorities gave the prisoners permission to eatch, try, and hang any raider guilty of murder. Several of the raiders, having been caught, were tried by a court-martial, composed of Union officers (prisoners at Macon) ; and six of them, haying been found guilty of murder, were hung July 11th, by a committee of the prisoners, on a gallows erected in the inclosure at Andersonville. THE TWENTY-FIRST IN REBEL PRISONS. 895 The last dying speech of one of the six is given verbatim in Sergeant Collis’s diary, as follows. [The murderer ad- dressed himself to a friend who stood in the crowd near the gallows] : — Bill, by God it is tough to die in this way, but I deserve it, I have been a wicked devil. Here, take my watch; this is mine, I got it honestly ; if you ever live to get home, give it to my mother or sis- ter; tell them I died in prison, but for God’s sake, don’t tell them how I died. Sergeant Collis also gives the following interesting inci- dents, which are told in his own language, and exactly as they appear in his diary : — ; Prison at Florence, Tuesday, November 8th. Presidential elec- tion. The rebs said that we could have a vote on Lincoln and pros- pect of war, and McClellan and peace. Stump speakers went at it, most of them being radical Lincoln men; and about three o’clock in the afternoon the rebs brought in two bags of beans (black and white) and a ballot-box. Every man could vote. At five the polls were closed and votes counted. The black beans (for Lincoln) came out ahead four to one, much to the surprise of the rebs. Prison at Florence, Sunday, December 25th. Christmas Day. A rebel clergyman camé in and preached to us: he said our present condition was a punishment from God for our wickedness. Our fel- lows told him to go to hell, and left him. Sergeant Collis and Sergeant Damon were not paroled for exchange until February 26, 1865, and were probably the last of the Andersonville and Florence prisoners to be paroled. Collis, while a prisoner, was promoted to 2d lieutenant in the 36th Massachusetts (November 13, 1864), to which the 21st reénlisted men had been transferred ; and was subsequently commissioned 1st lieutenant in the 56th Massachusetts. NARRATIVE OF SERGEANT-MAJOR P. F. GETHINGS. Sergeant-Major P. Frank Gethings, who was captured in the battle of the Wilderness, on the 6th of May, gave me the following incidents of his captivity. His account of Ander- Sonville seems particularly valuable, as he was detailed while there to assist in distributing the vidleaih ws 396 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. -After our capture, those of us who were taken at the Wilderness (Sergeants Collis, Damon, and Osgood, Privates Potter, Goodrich, Dwinnell, Clark, and myself) were sent to Danville, Va., and confined for a few days in prison No. 6, a tobacco warehouse. We were very decently treated at Danville, although we had no soap, and not much water for washing, and the prison was full of vermin; but a very fair ration of corn-bread was given us. After about a week at Dan- ville, thirteen hundred of us were packed into cars, and sent on by rail to Andersonville, being four or five days on the journey. As we passed through Thomaston, N. C., some ladies threw bouquets into the cars, and tried to give us some biscuits, but a dirty and sav- age rebel sentinel on our car would not allow it. In going from Charlotte to Columbia, in the night, this sentinel accidentally fell from the car, when we were going at the rate of fifteen miles an hour, and was heard of no more. It was generally understood among the prisoners that he was somewhat assisted in falling off by a New Hampshire boot. A small boy cheered for the Union at Thomaston. We received many kind looks, and no insults that I noticed from the people in North Carolina ; but in South Carolina we found nothing but hatred and bitter taunts, from the negroes as well as the whites. At Augusta, where we stopped to change cars, the women gave the prisoners bread where the guards would permit it. We reached Andersonville on the 23d of May, and were the first prisoners from the Wilderness. As we entered the stockade, it was hard to tell whether we were going amongst negroes or white men: they were almost naked, and blackened by dirt and pine smoke. We were there from May 234d to the middle of September, when we were taken to Florence, S.C. When we reached Andersonville, there were supposed to be only about ten thousand men in the stockade, but there were soon three times that number. No man can state the disgusting horrors of the nasty sickening place too strongly. Half @ dozen acres in the centre of the inclosure next the brook were swamp, with rising ground on each side. There were no tents, but many of the men made themselves mud-houses, or lived in holes in the ground: The whole place was alive with vermin ; and we hardly had a chance to lie down; no cooking utensils were furnished us; nothing but water-pails were given us, three to each ninety men. No soap was issued, but traders (bounty-jumpers and deserters) who played ia with the rebels had it to sell. Fuel was very scarce, although after the eight acres were added in June (all dry land), we had for a time THE TWENTY-FIRST IN REBEL PRISONS. 397 plenty of wood. Our rations were generally about a quart of meal, cob and corn ground together, or half a loaf of corn bread, about twelve ounces; sometimes we got only quarter of a loaf. There was no regular rule about issuing rations: sometimes none were issued for two days. For meat we received four ounces of bacon; then, about three ounces of beef (bone and all), but sometimes by good luck (coming out of somebody else’s share), five or six ounces. When no meat was issued we received molasses, and sometimes we got rice and meal (half and half) boiled together. We also received a small ration of salt. A man taken sick was sure to die, unless he had a comrade to help him. To go to the hospital meant death. Bailey died in August, of scurvy, chronic diarrhoea, and starvation. Dwinnell also died at Andersonville, about the first of September, of chronic diarrhoea and malarial. fever : he was a splendid fellow, about twenty-one years old. He was a recruit, and the Wilderness was his first fight. He was always full of courage and pluck, and said that he had rather die than give a parole to go out and work for.the rebel government.t The 21st men were as united in prison as in the field, and took care of each other, as is proved by the fact that but three of them died (Bailey, Dwinnell, and Emerson), out of twenty-seven confined in Andersonville ; and not one of them went out to work on parole ; and none of them signed the petition to the President pray- ing for parole, which was promoted by the rebels, and our boys thought it best not to do anything that our enemies desired done. On the 14th of September, Gethings was transferred with several of the 21st men to the stockade at Florence, S. C. Of the latter place he says : — Here on the whole we had a better chance, for although the rations were less than at Andersonville (meat never being issued), we had plenty of water, and a reasonable supply of weed Goodrich died here, in October, of chronic diarrhea, fever, and starvation. He was only about eighteen years of age, and of a courageous and happy disposition ; during his sickness he often spoke of home, but didn’t lose his courage until the very last. Gethings was exchanged about the middle of December. 1 Prisoners who would work for the rebel government as shoemakers, etc., were taken out of the stockade on parole, and allowed double rations. — Ep. 398 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. George A. Hitehcock, of Company A, a fellow-prisoner with Goodrich at Andersonville, writes of him as follows: — The youngest of that family of soldiers, Charlie Goodrich, of Com- pany D, gave up his life with no friend near him. Very often have I thought of him in these later times as I remember his pleasant, cheerful face, amid. so many downcast, despairing ones; what pleas- ure is always associated with his name. Herein we may all find a lesson in this life’s struggle. How little costs a cheerful demeanor, yet how much good it does to fellow-men. NARRATIVE OF CORPORAL ALVIN S. GRATON. Corporal Alvin S. Graton, of Company ©, was another tough, gallant member of the 21st, who was made prisoner on the 2d of June. Corporal Graton sent me the following in- teresting sketch of his prison life, in a letter written early in 1866 : — . . . L was taken prisoner at Cold Harbor, June 2, 1864, on the skirmish line, with the rest of the regiment who started for Rich- _ mond with Grant, but got there before he did. We were at once taken to Richmond, which was but six miles from the place where we were captured. They took us to Libby Prison, and stripped us of all “government property” (including our money). While in Richmond, where we remained for a few days, we received a piece of corn bread two or three inches square, for a day’s rations. ‘Then they started us for Georgia, packing us into box-cars, seveuty men toacar. We were eight days and seven nights in the cars, and sev- eral of the men on the train died during the journey. Andersonville (Camp Sumter) wound up our tour. When we arrived there wé were placed inside the stockade, without any shelter or protection from heat, cold, or rain. When we got inside, we found some of our boys who had been taken at the Wilderness and Spottsylvania Court House. Three came in afterwards, who were captured at Petersburg: There were twenty-seven of us in all: Sergeant-Major Gethings; Os- good, Miller, Hitchcock, and Potter, of Company A; Stevens, Emer son, and Cane, of B; Clark, Farrell, and Graton, of C; Goodrich, of D; Muzzey and Fallon, of F; Corey and Dwinnell, of G; Collis, Da- mon, and Barker, of H; Bailey and Tyler, of 1; Winn, Dyer, Banks, Lagara, Orcutt, and Marshall, of K. Though the mortality among Et AES ROLE EL AIA THE TWENTY-FIRST IN REBEL PRISONS. 899 the prisoners was terrible, averaging nearly an hundred a day, only two of the 21st men died at that place! Bailey died from scurvy, caused by the diet and long imprisonment. Dwinnell, we think, must have died, as he was taken out to the hospital, as.they called it, about the time we were separated and sent to different prisons. About the 1st of September, Farrell, Barker, and myself, were sent to Millen and Savannah, where Farrell and I were paroled the 20th of Novem- ber. The rest of the boys were sent to Florence, and I have not heard from all of them since. NARRATIVE OF JOHN E. SHORT. Private John E. Short, of Company B, captured in the bat- tle of Poplar Spring Church, September 30, 1864 (the last fight of the 21st), was a prisoner at Salisbury, and has sent me the following graphic and touching account of his experi- ence ; — Iwas captured on the 30th day of September, 1864, and released on the 2d of March, 1865. The only others of the 21st whom I noticed as prisoners besides myself were Miller, Glasgow, Knox, Austin, and Gleason. There were others taken, but those whom I have named went in the same batch with me. We first went to Petersburg, where we were stripped of almost everything. They took away my boots, and gave me a pair of old pointed shoes in exchange. Next we were taken to Richmond, to Libby Prison, where we stayed one day and night, aud then started south to Salisbury, N. C. On reaching Salisbury, they put us ina large stockade made of logs, I should think about twenty feet high, Inclosing a factory building and some small houses; and divided us up into lots of a hundred each, without reference to reciments. The factory building was full of prisoners when we got than and the small houses were occupied by commissioned officers. There were also a few Sibley tents (three tents to each hundred men), but rather than try to crowd into them, we dug holes in the ground to live in. For the first four or five days after we got there, they gave us each half a loaf of white bread for a day’s rations, and nothing else. After that time, our entire day’s ration was one pint of meal (cobs and corn ground together). We cooked the meal as best we could; for fuel 1 Emerson did not die till a month after Graton left Andersonville. — Ep. 400 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. we were allowed to go out ey si 8 in a pages paar of us made cakes of the meal and ba ce em wos igo a had cups boiled it. No salt was given us. ; 0 = argc the meal, except the bread for the first few days. Ryidigmnimg thing of any kind; and I saw none among any 0 - ves vi ae but the supply was very short. ese Se ee hicg get it was by lowering a tin dipper, fastened to a string, Cates I don’t know how many wells there were in all, but rhe ee water at two or three o’clock in the morning, on reais We which were always waiting their turn to get a Kg i ak op no chance to wash clothes. I wore & cotton s “ce Peace ae months, without washing, and so with the rest. ea Satie: ways to be seen lying about, although an ox-cart was pagestgee. the sometimes twice a day for the ne pion oe ahah werk; have often seen men fighting fo Be is Weaakalvis Day, we made a break to pores i. idea was to get to Newbern, which we supposed to be abou oat rom miles away. A man they called “ Major,” one os se os oes ifi he night before. men, planned the attack, and notified the men t nn tas Tt uard about noon, captured several*o guns, Eaiie aiken a4 Gans All the prisoners started, and a anes eel us got out, myself among the number. ‘Two field-pieces w eer a on rete even with the top of the stockade, ae 2 he ies oners with canister ; and the guards mounted the ern cael firing in upon them. I have no idea how many were Killed, have been a great many. Those of us ‘as got outside were driven back. rede hey . er we were met by the outside guard of iho eos wa) * 2 wa ; they pitied us, and did n’t want to sho g° rae There was meen rumor that a hundred and fifty vd bys hae oners got away, but I don’t know whether there was wd ance I never heard anything of the “ Major ” afterwards. e vide put into the stockade, I saw nothing of our men but Knox. as lel with a soldier from Ohio named Johnson. I saw hege Se he died, about two months after we went there. _ He a eile ens the Sibley tents, and was very weak from peepee 2 a ea He said that he knew he should never get out, but - i i well. At the time he died, I was too sick myself to be : ine. — ED: 1 Newbern is one hundred and eighty miles from Salisbury in a bee i GEORGE A. HITCHCOCK'S DIARY. 401 My shoes were all gone in October, my feet, which were very badly fr the feet of many others. I children with pain, and I tied some old rags around ozen during the winter, as were saw men with frozen feet, crying like as the black flesh was dropping from the bones. The scenes in the pen were about the same every day. Many men lost their teeth from scurvy. There was nothing but misery, sickness, and death. We all left Salisbury on the 1st of March, and, going to Wilmington in the cars, were paroled there. GEORGE A. HITCHCOCK’s DIARY OF HIS LIFE IN SOUTHERN PRISONS. Private George A. Hitchcock, of Com oner in the battle of Bethesda Church, fined at Andersonville, Millen, preserving an almost perfect da At the tenth reunion of o burg, September 15, pany A, taken pris- June 2, 1864, con- and Florence, succeeded in ily diary of his prison life. ur regimental association at Fitch- 1876, Comrade Hitchcock read an ex- tremely interesting paper on the prison life of the 21st at Andersonville, in which he gave several extracts from his diary. Having allowed me to examine the precious record, I found it so intensely interesting in making Andersonville a living reality, that on my urgent request he has consented to its publication, and I here give it substa ntially entire, com- mencing with Thursday, June 16th, the day of his arrival at Andersonville. Comrade Hitchcock, immediately after his release, extended his diary by inserting a few genera I descriptions, but the record of his daily experiences is exactly as he made. it From day to day. Thursday, June 16th. Reached the gates of the Andersonville stockade soon after noon, where we were taken in charge by Cap- tain Wirz, a grizzly, dirty-looking Dutchman. His head was cov- ered with long, wiry gray hair, surmounted by a gray military cap, much too small for him. hat could be seen of it above a thick and tangled beard), wrinkled and scowling, presented a very wolfish appearance, and, as he rode from one part of our line to an- Other on his > cursing continually, and now and then strik- His face (w 402 THE TWENTY-FIRST IN REBEL PRISONS. GEORGE A, HITCHCOCK’S DIARY. 403 mond, where he was confined at Belle I i early in the spring was brought down Haag porch scurvy, and complains of i pa of the cold nights, ing a prisoner, he appeared to be the incarnation of evil,—the devil in human form. As we stand on the outside of the stockade, on the rising slope near the headquarters of Captain Wirz, waiting for our names to be enrolled, our eyes take in a view of the inside of the “hell upon earth” we are about to enter. We saw within the stockade of mass- ive pine logs, hewn so as to fit closely together, a dense, black mass of seething, moving humanity, not unlike the appearance of a mam- moth ant-hill just broken open, covering the whole space inclosed, except a swampy valley in the centre, through which flowed a slug- gish stream. Over the whole hung a cloud of black smoke from thousands of little fires, where rations were being cooked. Hung along the top of the stockade on the outside were sentry-boxes some He is troubled with f I or he has worn out all his Db? a pair of ragged cotton drawers compose his 8) | Vv . § on y co ering. i f. . li k as a necro’s. s hard o H s face, b ac. § ’s i y i vi ; ; 5 ae ‘ 1 recognizable. He directed nes isdeer-ts : eant Osgood, Pott — e 21st. A sorry looking set of fellows oe lated, though prisoners only six weeks hee coat — The day w: sed i ig the accounts of the horrors which see Hibs a vs 4 m to be our inevitable a ne James Mille adly out of spirits, each of us hoping that our friends waa sr er hear how e ar i e we lie down on our ed of Www e situat d As li : j ” cautioned to freeze : We returned to our squatting place ’ clay, we are five rods apart, in which stood the merciless home-guards, Georgians and Alabamians, whose narrow, ignorant minds knew a Union sol- dier only as a hated mud-sill, to be treated worse than their slaves. As soon as the enrollment is completed, we pass through the heavy- timbered double gate, and are shut out from the world. As we pass along through the dense crowd of fellow-prisoners who are looking for familiar faces, we see squalor and filth every- where. The pitch-pine smoke has given even the clearest complexion an Afric hue, and we are assured that this will be our own fate in a week or two. As we move along we find that the crowd which pressed against us near the gates does not decrease. Anxious to se cure a good clear spot where we may sit down, I break away from our crowd, but do not find my desired haven. 1 am told that I had better sit down where I can find a chance, for if I wait until dark I may not find even room to stretch out. I accept the advice and « squat,” while Jim Miller goes to hunt up the 21st boys who were lost at the Wilderness and Spottsylvania. The first familiar face I saw was Bailey, of Company I, and at last the mystery of his fate was solved. He had been missing since the 23d of last December, when on our widely-deployed skirmish line, advancing through tan- gled underbrush and dense thickets near Blain’s Cross Roads, East Tennessee ; while passing through one of these thickets, Bailey, ™Y right guide, was missing, and not seen again. He tells a story of hardship which makes the heart ache, Being swooped up by two guerrillas in the dense thicket, he was hurried forward on a lonely path over mountains, and, evading our outposts was made to march ninety miles to Bristol, from thence to Rich- to our rati = enaeiaag ey ur ration bags ; so we fasten them to our y eep. At ten o’clock, however, we awake from a doze and fi ai i nd the rain falling. We sit up till morning drenched to the skin. Thus . ends o e " June 17th. ur first day at Andersonville. We found tl ; . iree men from SI ; herman’s ¢ Just come in, and one has a woolen blanket ea : ss gether, and, after looking several hour shelter, 7 ind ¢ sides, We have gone in to- a secure sticks, and set u us get under, but find that we can only lie on a r 5 l . eon : for the space Is too limited to allow us to lie on our backs. There are DOW over 20,000 prisoners here, and the art of the c: i i 8 at camp is well-nigh unendurable. We are assured, h — ” shall get accustomed to that after a few ig G xi ad a — every day, many from scurvy. At a ie , rice and sow-belly ; the rice is hz ‘ aa pint of it at that. ™ : — Ps -” _ stench in every June 18th. Our 8 uad was called to the gate and divi As ‘q ided. several of a. of our number could not be found, the Dutcl . iat we would not have any rations until th _ —— roduc Py j i . nt oe It seemed like hunting for a needle ; es: is pie ur stomachs craved, and each man made an ca Se etbeess pera earn energetic search until Weare formed into the ei i : ghty-third d Each detachment is divided into three ieuen (1 ae Sergeants call the roll of the detachments me be: ae: —. 6 rning- nion F : : ergeant is assigned to each Squad, and. i come in, goes with a detail from the a their rations. These are the only ca ued ond Ce brought i F mp regulations. The rations ar peraee py * the latter part of afternoon. The view of 404 THE TWENTY-FIRST IN REBEL PRISONS. the country outside is a dreary monotony of pine forest, circling ound us half a mile away. The centre of the camp is an impassa- ble swamp, where all the refuse matter of 25,000 men is thrown and deposited. It has become a mass of corruption, living with worms, and would alone be reason enough for the dreadful mortality which increases every day. Several prisoners from Sigel’s West Virginia Army came in to-day, many of them wounded, whose wounds have not yet been dressed. Thirty-six prisoners, while out under guard getting wood, escaped by overpowering the guard, driving them along with them. Our rations to-day were corn-bread, two inches square, and sow-belly. June 19th. Very hot. Heavy shower in the afternoon. A lot of prisoners from Sherman’s and Butler’s army came in. Miller and Dyer sick with the diarrhea. Found Walter Lamb, of the 25th Massachusetts, who was taken prisoner June 3d at Cold Harbor. Two men were shot by a sentry who fired at another prisoner, who had got over the “ dead-line,” a little rail running around the entire stockade about twenty feet inside from it, over which if a man passes or reaches he becomes the mark of the two or three sentries nearest him. This rule is over diligently carried out, andit is very danger- It is rumored that Grant has got into lled about two rods from us last night by ar ous to approach the line. Petersburg. A man was ki falling into a well. June 20th. Very hot till afternoon, when rain began and con- tinued incessantly for several hours. Dyer is better, and I am troub- Jed with the same disorder which he has had. I begin to wonder if I ever shall see home again. June 21st. Warm as ever, Another man was shot on the dead-line. to-day, but their places were more than ma Sherman’s army. June 22d. Very hot. Rations of a pint of sow-belly. Hear the tantalizing report 0 to begin July Ist. June 23d. Very hot. A lot of prisoners from Grant’s army came in, taken at Petersburg. A great display of eggs, cucumbers, biscuits squashes, po tatoes, beans, and parsnips is seen, torturing the poor fel- lows who are dying by scores each day for want of these same lux They are brought in by the rebel guard. There was the usual d fists weve freely with the usual shower in the afternoon. Over one hundred men died de good by prisoners from of meal and a small piece f an exchange of prisoners, uries. number of free fights in camp, where clubs, razors, 40 used. hr riitiae eee ee ae ee ¢ aa ies a Aaa eee = GEORGE A. HITCHCOCK’S DIARY. 405 June 24th. Very warm. Drew rations of mush and sow-belly ane sans sebag meal and salt to-day. We do not venture from esi he s ct the middle part of the day, when the torrid Pe ga Red — of raw,meal and meat, but no " e wash at the creek to-day, though ne ae ae a increasing, and it presents a scene like a second Babel an fot June 26th. Prisoners from General Steele’s divi came i washed my pants in the creek, I am feeling quite sisal fia “ai ; thoea, which makes me desponding. This is the Sabbath; but “3 ad like our quiet peaceful New England Sabbaths. Poor siareed page almost every nationality ; many without a spark of principle, bount jumpers, New York “ dead rabbits,” Baltimore “ shiateainall the sick and dying all around, make this a scene of horror which will be ever it rhs evil if I am allowed to see the end of all this. But ne ne silver lining, and I can trust a good God has aa: er Two prisoners were brought in who tunneled out ten ys ago an traveled over a hundred miles, living on sweet pota- toes from plantations along their route. The blood-hounds ov 2 kk pin gE the Florida line, so they have returned to prison life poe " i : : — y pure air. Several shots were fired at men on the dead- June 28th. Hot. Heavy shower in the evening. Six hund prisoners from Grant’s army, taken near Petersburg a ime 7 them we found the familiar faces of Winn, ietonh snd ‘Tol a the 21st. Thirty Indian sharp-shooters from Nortl Maa pie: also. I learn that my brother Henry is with the ior a acting adjutant. inn June 29th. A soldier from Ohi : : ithi ache Er ie etwas —_ pee within Rations to-night ¢wo quarts of meal. It has been ae on oe a laws in camp have formed a league, styling themselves “ the raiders vs and for the past two days matters have conse to at ible state: Two men murdered, one thrown intoa deep well a ae the head and plundered, generally new nadie onal have money, watches, or aed valuables. The rebel enthoslilil have allowed the septs oe a police organization of several hundred men, who re armed with clubs and are hunting up the desperadoes. The after- 406 THE TWENTY-FIRST IN REBEL PRISONS. noon has been one of great excitement, as twenty or thirty of the raiders have already been secured and sent out. June 30th. Passed a sleepless night, for the police and raiders have kept up a continual fight, and this morning the camp is in the wildest excitement. The ringleader has not been found, but several of the raiders have been found buried under blankets with valuables to escape detection. At three in the afternoon, the ringleader was found under a pile of blankets and pine boughs. It was difficult to get him outside of the stockade unharmed. The rebels sent him im- mediately back to the tender mercies of his fellow-prisoners. Hardly had the gates closed upon him, as his trembling form reappeared, when the outraged prisoners fell upon and literally tore him to pieces: his carcase was carried out an unrecognizable mass. We feel that the ring is effectually broken up, although we are told that the rest are to be pardoned; but, if they are returned here, there will be no par- don for them. July 1st. At noon an opening was made through the stockade into the new addition; and during the afternoon fifty detachments, or over thirteen thousand men, moved into it, ours among the number. We have now twenty-five acres inclosed, but the camp appears just as crowded as ever. Jim Miller and I found a 34th Massachusetts man (Levi Shepard) who had a rubber blanket, so we three go in together: my woolen now serves for a shelter from the sun and rain, and Shep.’s rubber for the ground, so we are in more tolerable condition. ‘There was some order planned in the arrangement of detachments into streets, but our alloted ground was much too small, so we are in as great a jum- ble as ever. July 2d. Very hot. Found an old tent-mate of the 36th Massa- chusetts, who was taken near White House Landing, when on his way to his regiment on the 30th of May. Water is very difficult to get, and of poor and filthy quality. We drew two rations, owing to # misunderstanding on the part of the rebels. On account of the low state of our morals we did not return the extra ration. July 8d. Very hot. Roll was called throughout the cam detachment lost their rations on account of the absence of half @ en; so our extra rations of yesterday were very opportune. ” dozen ™ At July Ath. Very hot.. We didn’t celebrate the “ glorious by feasting, but roasted half of our pint of meal for breakfast, p- Our made GEORGE A. HITCHCOCK’S DIARY. 407 pg 09 other half for dinner, and had raw pork for supper pr sre ments were reorganized, and ours is now the 63d. In ps fats wage pirmasine in the evening, our thirty thousand filled g ith songs of * John : Banner,” “ Down with the Seana ‘ vd restr “sy j . -» cheers for Vicksburg and mie eine rae year ago, and groans for Hog Winder and utch Captain. Il of which were gi i given with an unctio did not fail to reach the ears of those for whom they were ne re July Sth. Very hot, but a jine breeze blows up from the sind ‘A death from cholera last night is reported. Rumors of the fal of Richmond on the 2d. afore mi “age Very hot. More prisoners came in to-day. The camp i P i : u of rumors of an exchange to begin to-morrow. Succeeded in getting an axe for a few moments and cut up some wood j va 7th, Very hot. Several “ wood riots” and knock-downs oc- ee: The quartermaster has issued axes to each detachment ereby stopping the letting of axes at fifty and seventy-five cents a hour, which the blood-suckers have been practicing, July 8th. Very warm. Several hundred prisoners from Grant’s pee and James Island came in, which made unusual commotion out si One poor fellow of our squad died of diarrhoea during the night. A large prayer-meeting was held near us, to which man poor fellow delighted. to crawl: every moment of the time was t Ke : up in prayer, which went up from earnest hearts. te July 9th. Very hot, with a shower in the afternoon Anotl man of our squad died to-day. A large number of prisoners f; pe Hunter’s West Virginia Army came in: they report a lot ‘ he: oners from the 2d Corps on their way to this place. W aa ici . ashed shirt July 10th. Very hot, with showers around us. More pri came in. The monotony of camp was broken by the rude ob eral camp-police with two or three prisoners, with et Ik ol od faces shaved on one side, and a card attached to their baci ; ad Bp e de s beari the word “ Thief.” They were greeted with brick-bats and cud, els as they passed along through the noisy, unsympathetic crowd : oe i f pies 4 day of excitement. Seven hundred prisoners : ame in. After noon a scaffold was brought into camp, aud erected near the south gate. At three the rebel camps Salerro pbbeptesttr ls p at different points around camp, #nd the bat- a . EE ws eee ms 408 THE TWENTY-FIRST IN REBEL PRISONS. teries were all manned. At four o’clock six of the condemned raiders were brought in under a strong guard of Union prisoners. After they had ascended the scaffold, a Catholic priest attended to their spiritual wants individually : meal-bags were tied over their heads and the ropes adjusted, while every living soul inside and outside the stockade was looking on in silence. Ata given signal the six dropped off: five went struggling into eternity, while the rope of the sixth broke, and falling to the earth he gave a bound and was away like a frightened deer, over tents, and smashing in shanties ; in his race of despair he reached the swamp, and after floundering about a few moments was re-taken. After begging most piteously for his life, he was taken up to the scaffold, and the second time launched off, this time into eternity. One man was from Rhode Island, one from New York, one from New Jersey, one from Pennsylvania, and two were sailors. ‘There is now a feeling of greater security than there has been for a long time, but may I never witness another scene like that ! July 12th. Showers around us have cooled the air and it is quite comfortable. Six hundred prisoners from Grant’s army came in to- day, among them Allen from Baldwinsville, of the 36th Massachu- setts. I bathed in the muddy creek in the evening. Prayer-meet- ings every pleasant evening, and very largely attended. : July 13th, Very warm, but cloudy. An extra ration of rice was dealt out to all in camp. ‘Two men were shot on the dead-line, and a third was fired at. ‘There are now one hundred and ten full detach- ments of two hundred and seventy men each, in camp, besides the crowded hospitals outside. July 14th. Warm in the forenoon, but cloudy in the afternoon. Several were shot on the dead-line during the day. ‘The sergeants were ordered to appear at the gate, where they received the pleasing information that grape and canister would be fired into camp without further notice, if large crowds should collect or any unusual commo- tion occur. There was a general review of the camp guard outside, and a salute of two guns fired. The authorities evidently fear an Up- rising in camp. July 15th. A few cripples and “ bummers ” from Sherman's army came in. The rebels are suspicious that large tunnels are in progress» and are hunting for them near the dead-line. A petition has been made up to seud to our government, praying for a speedy release of all here. Death is doing his share of the work faithfully. GEORGE A. HITCHCOCK’S DIARY. 409 ny nae ge tunnels have been discovered, one of them run- —s : le es of the stockade, and would probably have re: 4 5 cess, had the place not been betrayed by a fellow of ne 7th Maine, who for the extra mess of pottage sold his brethren. Jim Miller has gone in wi ae g in with Osgood, so Shep. and I have the tent to July 17th. Very chilly last night, but warm to-day. Th Maine fellow was hunted down by the police and put to - t ohn which his head was shaved, and with “ traitor ” on his a te Hin most unmercifully beaten by the justly indignant soles "Ral ese of molasses in place of meat. z 2 eae yo July 18th. A man was shot near the dead-line by the accident discharge of a sentry’s musket, and killed. Prisoners who pay to-day report Montgomery, Ala., burnt by a Union raiding wisn July 19th. Very hot. Hog Winder has allowed ix eaen ve 0) to W ashington to present the petition for parole or exchange, the By to be appointed by a committee of twenty men inside the wnihale The Union raiding party is said to be steering for this place July 20th. The rebels seem to be thoroughly alarmed N g are throwing up fortifications all around cam nd Raw militia i ee hurried in on the cars. Two prisoners were discovered pati soa f=] the outside end of at 1 ‘ 7 sail. a tunnel and fired at; several others had already July 21st. Sergeant Webster was deposed, Mumford succeedi him in charge of the detachment. The Johnnies are very acti ir = side: trains have been running all day and night. yi oe aa taken near Atlanta came in. Another ration of molasses i scall meat, —a very poor substitute for those troubled with Sinead 7 July 22d. Three hundred prisoners from Grant’s “as wr: F captured June 29th. Several tunnels partly dug at pr! ae a sentry fired at a man near the dead-line, but wiiiail pe mre July 23d. Cloudy and comfortable. Rations of ¢ ' bread belly, and salt. “ Raiding” has been going or so rps but the police are on the alert. & on, and ‘seve July 24th, Last night was ver . i increases the ‘giatdiiny. Rations see — waits wae July 25th. Last night was the coldest of the salen I could not sleep much, but laid awake listening to the coughs ee groans from all directions. I have canker in my throat, whieh is painful. More tunnels were found. Rations of rice, but no salt to go with it. Wa- 410 THE TWENTY-FIRST IN REBEL PRISONS. ter-melons, apples, eggs, doughnuts, berry pies, biscuit, etc., for sale in camp, but no one has any money. Cloudy and rain. I have taken cold, and my throat is quite sore. Rations of raw meal and sow- belly. July 27th. Four hundred men from Grant and Sherman came in to-day. One was shot soon after coming in, while reaching under the dead-line for clear water, — probably not knowing the rules; his brains were blown into the water. I traded my ration of pork for cayenne pepper and used it for my throat, which is filling up with canker and very painful. July 28th. Hot; shower in afternoon. I have great difficulty in talking and eating from the filling up in my throat. Seventeen hun- dred prisoners from Sherman came in, during which the rebels fired a solid shot a few feet over our heads, which struck in the marsh out- side; it caused a big scare and dispersed the crowd in quick time. The fort around headquarters is nearly completed. July 29th. Very hot. The usual shower in the afternoon. A line of white flags has been stationed through camp, marking the limit beyond which no crowd must collect. The rebels hardly dare put their threat into execution without modifying it! —— and —— went outside to work on their parole of honor. Two men of the 11th Massachusetts died near me. July 30th. Very hot. Our rebel sergeant has called for shoemak- ers, and has sent in his name. The coarse, uncooked corn-meal has brought on the diarrhea again. July 31st. Very hot. The rebels have been felling trees all about camp to serve as a blockade. More rumors of exchange and parole. J have been suffering from a severe headache and fever turn. August Ist. Very hot; rain last night. I was sick all night, but feel better this morning. A preacher from outside held services in camp, and read the exchange report in a newspaper. Ambulances have been taking out sick all the afternoon. August 2d. Very hot. Heavy thunder-shower in the afternoon, which flooded us all, soaking everything. I am quite sick, — very weak from cough and diarrhoea. A lot of prisoners came in, who re- port that they were taken at Macon while en route for this place to relieve us. . The sick have been going out all day. August 3d. Very hot. The moving the sick to the outside has been going on all day, causing much talk and rumor as to the why and wherefore. GEORGE A, HITCHCOCK’S DIARY. 411 August 4th. Very hot. No sick were taken out; neither roll- call nor sick-call took place. One of our squad died near me this noon. Prayer-meeting was held near me in the evening. August 5th. Very hot. All the sick of the first eight detach- ments were taken out. Prisoners from Sherman ional I was taken with a severe headache at night. We are continuall rie mented and tantalized with the sight of peaches, apples atin and soda-water offered for sale at fabulous prices. ! / = August 6th. Very warm. The dread monotony of our miserable life is broken only by the hundreds of rumors of exchange, causing renewed disappointment to the believing. A man was killed on the dead-line, and another shot at in the evening. August 7th. Very warm. Several convalescents came in from the hospitals, and report an awful condition of affairs there. I am feeling better, except an irritating cough. Prisoners from Sherman came in. August 8th. A row of sheds inside camp at the west end are being built for the sick. Rain all the afternoon. 4 August 9th. Very warm. The heaviest thunder shower of the season occurred in the afternoon, which flooded camp and undermined the stockade in several places so that it fell over, causing wild ex- citement among the authorities outside. All the guard were called by the long roll, the batteries all manned and turned on us poor fel- lows, who were greatly amused by their alarm. Four hundred pris- oners from Sherman came in. Poor old Boyer, a German ried Ohio, died near me, All day yesterday and last night he lay, almost within arm’s-length of me, moaning and crying for vidner viel every draught seemed to throw him into spasms; and when “a died we all felt relieved that rebel hate could do no more to him. In the evening I went over and had a good talk of old times with Walter Lamb. August 10th. Heavy shower in the afternoon. The rebels worked all day very lively on the stockade. Drew half rations of bread raw beans, and fresh meat, but no wood. I feel well to-day. but mighty hungry. The wet weather causes rapidly-increasing ‘mor tality. August 11th. Very warm; rain in the afternoon. The rancid bacon, flinty corn-bread, and beans that are not all beans, make ‘us dainty. The beans come to us cooked up with all sorts of chaff, dirt, and bean-bugs, but it all fills up, and we ought to be grateful. 412 THE TWENTY-FIRST IN REBEL PRISONS. Prisoners came in from Sherman. The old stockade is all up, and the negroes are at work erecting another one twenty rods outside, so that tunneling will have to be dispensed with. August 12th. Rations of pread (half-cooked), rice (quarter cooked), meat (slightly warmed). More prisoners from Sherman to-day. August 13th. Very hot and clear. Beautiful moonlight evening. We have two new neighbors from Iowa, who have stretched their blankets with ours. They were taken in the rear of Johnson’s army, while raiding. They were robbed of a large amount of money, and of watches and clothing. The bank of the creek has been boarded up, so that we are able to dip for water without making it muddy. Shower in the evening; our rations better to-night. August 14th. Prisoners from Sherman to-day report Atlanta taken by our forces. August 15th. Very hot. Headache at night. ations smaller than ever. August 16th. Very hot, with shower in the evening. ‘Two years ago to-day I sold myself to Uncle Sam to help “ put down the rebel- lion.” This day finds the tables turned, and the accursed rebellion trying to put me down. It remains to be seen whether all this whole- sale persecution of the helpless will avail to establish a new and hon- ored government at the south. August 17th. Very hot, which makes my head ache constantly. I found a book on temperance, which I have been reading, — the first I have seen, except my little testament, since my capture. August 18th. Very hot. A new rebel sergeant called our roll, who finds it difficult to read writing, and in his haste does not get answers to many of the names. The rations of the supposed ab- sentees are consequently cut off. I am down sick with diarrhea and headache. More prisoners from Sherman come in. August 22d. To-night finds me better able to write. I feel that T have been very near to death’s door. The weather has continued hot as ever, and my diarrhoea, which took the form of dysentery, made me nearly helpless. Then my head ached till I thought L should become crazy. I thought of the regiment as the 19th of August came round, when I suppose they were to be mustered out. My spirits went down to zero as I thought of the prospect of MY old comrades compared with my own. Oh, that the old pale horse . GEORGE A. HITCHCOCK’S DIARY. 413 would not stare me in the face so hard and so constantly. Yes- terday I felt that my pluck had nearly vanished, and it seemed as if the only hold on life which I had was in the comfort derived from the precious words which I read, “ My son, despise not thou the © chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him, for whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth.” ... Shep. has been ne kind, and I feel thankful that my prayers have been answered 4 I am really better. The mortality on these cold, wet nights is pre rible. A large prayer-meeting was held on the flat in the evenin Rations of corn-bread, beans, and molasses. “4 August 23d. Very hot all day and night; mosquitoes very troub- lesome. Baker, of the 34th Massachusetts, of our mess, and another member of the 34th, died to-night, near by. Prisoners from Kil- patrick came in. August 24th. Very hot. I am feeling much stronger. Shep. went outside to the dead-house with a dead body. When he re- sete after a stay of some ten minutes, he seemed greatly refreshed. not - a . . Bhd . er man close by us died to-night. Some commissioned offi- cers, disguised as privates, were taken out and sent away. August 25th. Very hot. Rations of raw beans and beef. A few prisoners came in. ; August 26th. This roasting hot weather does much toward driv- ing men to idiocy. Many a poor fellow has been sun-struck, and gone up. This is what drives the humanity out of us. Retions of bread (a morsel), sow-belly (a bit), molasses (plenty), salt (a ticle). Funeral services were held over a dead donimadis I ia tent, which seemed civilized. Bees August 27th. Very warm, but a good breeze which keeps the dust stirring. Rebs report heavy fighting at Petersburg on the 2 when Grant was defeated. August 28th. ‘Macon Telegraph ” gives notice of a general ex- change; but thanks that I am beyond believing pase now till the Stars and Stripes are between me and this hell on onvilih August 29th. Prisoners from Sherman yesterday and wall August 30th, Warmand clear. Last night i cold and uncom- fortable. Providence opened a new spring during the heavy shower of a day or two since, washing away a lange Mik of dirt near the dead-line. There has ever since been a large stream of pure cold water flowing out, which supplies a large part of the camp- The man is a fool who doubts a kind and benevolent Providence after such a manifestation. 414 THE TWENTY-FIRST IN REBEL PRISONS. August 31st. Very warm and cloudy. A third stockade is being erected outside the others for the more sure protection of the pris- oners. September Ist. Drew microscopic rations of beef, bread, ham, beans, and salt ; some detachments had rice in place of bread. September 2d. Last two nights have been uncomfortably cold. I have been a prisoner three months. How dreary the prospect ahead. September 3d. Cloudy, with northeast wind. A crowd of con- valescents came in from outside, and a lot of sick went out. In the afternoon there was a great stir in camp on account of the arrival of a mail from the north. Lagara, the Frenchman, of Company K, received a letter from his wife, and the generous soul has been reading it to us greedy ones who receive none. Sherman is reported to have got in the rear of Hood. September 4th. Mild. I read a letter written from Templeton, Mass., to Wilbur Potter, in which I learn that Colonel Hawkes has resigned and gone home; also that has become a Christian. This was all¢ but no one but those in our situation can realize the pleasure of hearing even this and seeing a letter from home. Clark, of our squad, died to-night, and Dwinnell, of Company G, went out to the hospital, and 1 presume we shall never see him again, as his strength is all gone, and he is very badly emaciated. September 5th. Very hot. Drew rations of rice and molasses, bread and pork, which we found to be a mistake, as squad three lost theirs, so most of our boys gave up their extra. September 6th. The whole camp is wild with excitement over the prospect of exchange, for the first eighteen detachments are now under marching orders. Nobody understands it, but there is a uni- versal uplifting of heads by those who had already shut out hope. September 7th. Very hot. Ten detachments were taken out. Ten more ordered to be in readiness. Drew a pint of meal, and pork. Holshoult, of the 34th Massachusetts, of our squad, died to- night. September 8th. Cloudy. Mosquitoes troublesome. Several de- tachments left during the night, and a large number to-day. Rations of raw meal and beans. September 9th. All the sick have been moved into the sheds at the west end. Prisoners from Sherman came in, and many went away Rations of bread and meal, but no salt. at night. GEORGE A. HITCHCOCK’S DIARY. 415 September 10th. Rourke, of our squad, died to-night, and I was detailed to carry him out to the dead-house. ‘his is the first time I have been outside these horrid gates since I came in three months ago ; and ‘tho’ outside less than three minutes, I caught a breath of fresh air which gave me a new lease of life. Rations of rice, meal, and molasses, and no salt. Several detachments went out at night ail in the morning. Forty detachments have now gone, and ol 1 k quite deserted; though there are over twenty hitmen still wig f September 11th. There is a beautiful harvest moon shinin do upon us. I wonder if dear friends at home are looking at it tab wad thinking of me. ‘Ten detachments left to-night. Nearly all the 21: t boys have left, Miller among the number. How homesick it ae a fellow feel to see all his friends leaving him in a place like this. : September 12th. Graton stopped with us last night. Eighteen detachments go to-day. 3 September 13th. A large number of “ flankers” from our squad got out last night with those who went away, so that our rations ase larger in consequence. Go it, boys, while you can. To-night we re- aera orders to be in readiness to start in the morning. me September 14th. Very hot. The train which left last night col- lided with a freight train six miles away, by which eight of the cars were smashed, killing and wounding about sixty “ Northern Mud- sills.” All of the uninjured on that train were sent back into cam and none left to-day. i " September 15th. Days hot and nights cold. 1,100 sick sent aw to-day. 2,000 of Sherman’s men ordered to be ready to leave o ‘4 special exchange, for which reason we do not get our rations till ‘a ; in the night. -A heavy shower in the afternoon. oo oo 16th. Hot. at wars Shepard and his crowd left us. It did me good to see him go, though my heart sank to feel that I must always be left behind. November 16th. Sweet potatoes were issued again. Another 422 THE TWENTY-FIRST IN REBEL PRISONS. train of sick arrived from Andersonville. Our sick did not get away, and all returned inside the stockade to-day. November 17th. Drew rotten sweet potatoes and a small piece of meat. Wood is very scarce in camp, for no squads are allowed to go out. November 18th. A new sergeant, who could not read very well, called our roll, and did not get through so that we could draw our rations, till after dark; so we starve on three spoonfuls of rice all day. Shepard’s lot of sick went away this time, and the surgeons are examining in camp for another load. November 19th. Storm came on at night. Another change of sergeants, which caused another day’s starvation on a mouthful of beef. Another train-load of sick went away at dark. November 20th. More sick were examined and passed out. At midnight the cry went around: “Fall in Ist and 2d divisions,” and they packed up and went away. November 21st. Stormed all day. At one o’clock at night we took possession of a fine shanty, abandoned by second division fel- lows, of which we enjoyed the occupancy until night, when we were ordered to pack up, and start off in the rain. Rumors are rife among the prisoners that Sherman has something to do with it, and our suspicions are confirmed when we reach the depot and see train after train pass down towards Savannah, loaded with all kinds of household goods, men with their families, and negroes of all ages, while numberless teams of all descriptions are depositing their freight alongside the railroad. We, meanwhile, stand in a terrible, freezing biting wind for hours, waiting for transportation, until at last, more dead than alive, chilled to the heart, we got on the cars (sixty in a, car). November 22d, At four o’clock in the morning we glided away through the pine forests towards Savannah, over one of the smoothest railroads I ever was on. Arriving at Savannah at sunset, we passed through the beautiful city and left the cars at dark. The weather was biting cold, no quarters or fuel were furnished us, and having had no rations for two days, most of us are too weak to move about and keep our blood stirring. A remaining spark of Yankee ingenuity suggested rather @ novel mode of keeping warm. ‘Two or three men would sit down on the ground, locking and interlacing each other in their arms and legs, while others would pack on and against them until there would be a solid stack of humanity of twenty, more oF assualt al acai li ais lal oT GEORGE A. HITCHCOCK’S DIARY. 423 less. But in spite of every effort to keep warm, several of our poor, thin-blooded fellows froze to death on that terrible night, in which ice formed a quarter of an inch thick ; and when the vig morning we found that we had passed the night within stone’s throw of a large lumber-yard, with all facilities for being made comfortable, we heart ily cursed our captors. November 23d. During the day we drew two day’s rations of hard- tack, and a little thick syrup; a little wood was brought in, and we hugged the smoking fires. Ks 5 November 24th. Milder than yesterday. Beef and salt were issued to us. Citizens have been bringing in food and clothes all day, but I am not smart enough to get any. A lot of prisoners went south on the Florida road; the sick were also taken away, and the rest of us were allowed to get wood from the lumber-yard, with which we keep more comfortable at night. November 25th. Clear. The kind-hearted people of Savannah continued to bring in food and clothing all day. I got some rice, which kept me till the rations of hard-tack and molasses came at dark. A train came along at nine in the evening, and we were hur- ried on board the cars. A rebel officer told us we were going to Charleston to be exchanged. November 26th. After riding all night we find ourselves at sun- rise approaching Charleston, cross the broad Cooper and Ashley riv- ers, and reach the city. Our cars stand in the streets all the fore- noon, while many spectators come to see the Andersonville pack. In the afternoon we are run about five miles out of the city, and change cars, our only exchange at Charleston. Moving northward we rede until ten o’clock, when we left the cars at Florence, one hundred miles from Charleston. November 27th. Having spent the night in bivouac by the side of the railroad, in the morning our names are taken and we are sent inside another stockade, which we find crowded with old prisoners from Andersonville. Laird and I spread our blankets together, and at night drew a ration of meal and flour, which, by the aid of a few chips, we made a supper of ; and though our hopes had been checked by this termination of “the exchange,” still the change of air and scene has stimulated us somewhat, and we do not feel ready to say die yet. November 28th. After a cheerless, sleepless night 0” the cold, damp ground, I got a breakfast of flour paste, and found all the old =, = ham el aM hah tg in Pistia. and swampy, and the rat sick from each thousand are being paroled each day. federate scrip; and mended my clothes, 494 THE TWENTY-FIRST IN REBEL PRISONS. comrades of the 21st — Miller, Middy, and all—well. This camp is crowded fully as badly as Andersonville was; the location is damp i , ions poorer and smaller than ever. The November 29th. I bought some straw with a borrowed $5 con- which are in a miserable con- dition: the sleeves of my blouse and shirt are almost entirely gone, showing some skeleton arms ; the backs of both garments are as thin as gauze, while my pants are worn from the knees down, entirely away, and my cap is two simple pieces of cloth sewed together. I was detailed to go out for wood. Ration of a pint and a half of flour and a splinter of green gum-wood. More prisoners came from Millen. November 30th. Had the chills last night and lost my sleep. Jim Miller was admitted to the hospital. Bathed in the creek. Ra- tions of a pint and a half of meal, with beans and salt. December Ist. All the prisoners were moved to one side of the creek, and then the entire camp made to move back to the other side as they passed across the little bridge. A lot again, being counted 5? —turncoats — were sent back into camp by of “galvanized Yank the rebels for fear they would escape to our army. December 2d. Six months a prisoner. I traded away a dollar and a half “ Confed.” for a meal of sweet potatoes. December 3d. Roll-call and wood rations were omitted “on ac- count of the return of a large number of paroled sick,” though we don’t see the relation of cause and effect. I traded a map of the seat of war for a mess of sweet potatoes. Rations of a pint of meal and half a pint of “ grits.” December 4th. The prisoners were again transferred back and forth in order to get a correct count. I copied a map of the States of North and South Carolina, which for unexplained reasons has be- come a favorite occupation among certain prisoners. ations of a pint of rice. A sick man was shot dead on the dead-line. December 5th. Frosty night, but beautiful to-day. I drew a ra- tion of a pint and a half of meal, but no wood to cook it with. December 6th. Foggy in the morning; clear and cold at night T heard preaching from a clergyman from Florence. Went out for wood. Rations of meal and grits and half a dozen spoonfuls of mo- lasses. Dece mber 7th. Chilly wind and ‘some rain. Two hundred pris- oners from Sherman came in, captured near Milledgeville. sib is i sea i i il i as aa acs GEORGE A. HITCHCOCK’S DIARY. 425 December 8th. Very chilly and cloudy. I am not prepared to understand my situation yet, so unexpectedly has it come upon me. To the morning the remaining four thousand in camp were called out into the dead-line and examined. Laird and I were near the last end of one of the lines. As the rebel surgeon came along, glancing at one and another, speaking to perhaps one out of a dimes he pasted me by, — an incident which did not attract my attention ‘wh as I had no idea I was worth noticing any how. But he turns and look back at me, and then steps back, asks my condition, examines me more closely, thumps me (and my heart thumps back), asks the name of my regiment, State, time of expiration of term of service, and then turning away, says abruptly, “ You may go.” No words will iat strike me as those did; asking him to repeat them —not fully un- derstanding —I bounded out of the stockade as if I had been shot out. Hardly was I out and looking about me, when I saw Laird fol- lowing me. Too overjoyed to think of anything else, we clasped each other’s hands and cried like babies. Found and signed our pa- role papers, after which we were sent out on a large level field, with a number of others, without much guard, all day and night. Rations of meal and sweet potatoes. i December 9th. Cloudy and cold. Suffered severely, as the small fires could not afford us, bloodless creatures, much warmth, and we were nearly blinded with the smoke. At night our names were called, each of us drew a loaf of wheat bread, and before it was dark all of us (one thousand in all) were on board a long train of ricket broken cars. Pain in all my joints, cold and shaking. blind pr as a bat in the daylight, after being pulled into a ter I laid down s wonder if death were not then really creeping over me. December 10th. After an all-night ride, with some sleep, reached Charleston at eight o’clock in the morning, and left the pie in the lower part of the city near the mouth of the Ashley River The day was cold and cloudy, and a dense mist hung over the reel We were kept a large part of the day on a wharf, waiting for the fog to clear away, exposed to the piercing winter’s wind eat blew in from over the harbor. By the middle of the afternoon the mist had lifted, and! at four P. M. we were transferred to a small steamer and sailed down the harbor. Passing the many points of interest which, under ordinary circumstances, would have commanded the closest attention " she haisg: snore Comrade Hitcheock’s narrative is taken from his address delivered at our tenth regimental reunion, : = nasi in db hie ak a tl 496 THE TWENTY-FIRST IN REBEL PRISONS. EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS. 497 of all, at this time all eyes were peering with intensest gaze out into the thick haze which hung over the harbor. What were all those keletons trying to fathom? I well remember a look hy upon the face of a rebel guard who stood for he well understood what they ame in view, and EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS. There has been a good deal of misunderstanding about the position of the national and rebel governments, on the subject of the exchange of prisoners, during the sad nine months in 1863 and 1864, when exchange was suspended, and I will con- clude my chapter on the rebel prisons with é few words of explanation. In December, 1863, our government proposed to exchange prisoners on the simple basis of officer for officer, and man pa man. The rebel authorities assented to the proposal as far as white troops were concerned, but negotiations came to noth- ing by reason of their refusal to recognize the captured negro poor, shivering s of interest and sympat watching them in their eager gaze, were seeking for. At last old, ragged Fort Sumter ¢ er its ruined, battered walls, all eyes for a mo- Then the boat’s speed slack- the gaze of the prisoners, enly took in the Le a ae ae NE be a i Ri naa ali Lat de ana as we passed close und ment turned toward that historic pile. ened, and it swung slowly around so that who were confined on the stern of the vessel, sudd sight before them. There, high before us, only a few yards away, lay the majestic steamer “ City of New York,” from whose topmast waved the grand old Stars and Stripes. The scene which followed Men shouted and cheered, laughed like idiots, beggars description. and cried like babies. Men stood with eyes riveted on that flag as if others danced or grasped each other, and all acted like great enthusiasm or of peculiar excitement my mind invariably goes back to en elsewhere. the sight of that dreaming ; madmen. In times of which have occurred since then, that one scene as surpassing anything I have ever se After an imprisonmeut of more than six months, aded with the familiar boxes and barrels of provisions, our handsome, warm uniforms, ladies of the Sani- the sight of women, from which we had Andersonville, was not the cene), all these have left an vessel lo officers in their clean, tary Commission (by the way, been debarred all the time we were in least attractive feature of the glorious s impress that no returned prisoner can forget. Transferred and exchanged! the fulfillment of ferred.” I desire here to offer this tribute to the first familiar face which reeted me in the land of freedom. The kind-hearted, popular, and efficient commander of the barracks at Annapolis, where all released prisoners were first received, Captain Davis, of the 2ist, stands in grateful remembrance for his kindly interest and attention when it ost sorely needed. This testimony will be echoed by every one from the terrible “hopes long de- s was m of my fellow-comrades who landed at Annapolis prison pels of the South. ee troops and their officers as prisoners of war subject to ex- change. Thereupon the whole matter was allowed to rest until the 10th of August, 1864, when the rebels accepted the Union terms, and a slow exchange of prisoners soon com- menced. It is a sorry thing indeed to find a recompense in, but, An- dersonville, and the other prison hells full of tortured, starv- ing, heat-wilted or frozen victims had their uses in the war It is a good thing for an army when men dread to be token prisoners more than to face the horrors of such battle-fields as the summer of 1864 furnished so lavishly in Virginia. It = often so much safer to cling to cover, and sontinins shai to run out from an untenable position under fire, that it is well to have the temptation lessened by a lively dread of the con- sequences of capture. I have heard more than one of the very best and bravest of our comrades say that fear of being sent to Andersonville had a very bracing influence on keep- ing them up to their work in those dreadful, never-ending days of bloody attrition against earth-works when it seemed so often as if every real fighting man (and the army was by no means wholly composed of such men) must die before the end was reached. The paroled prisoners who were 8° happy at the 2d Manassas, over their “furlough from Jeff Davis,” while we were going in to get our * heads knocked off,” showed he saw bia ils i a 498 THE TWENTY-FIRST IN REBEL PRISONS. Peer ane Seve ee “ many a man an easy way to escape more fighting. If the rebel authorities, without regard to the action of our govern- ment, had paroled every prisoner on the spot, as Burnside did at Roanoke Island, they would not only have saved their cause from the foulest blot which makes it infamous, but also have thereby strengthened themselves in a military point of view. ROSTER AND RECORD OF THE TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT INFANTRY MASSA- CHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS. 1861 — 1865. 1 ‘ 3 a ny Pensive on her dead gazing I heard the Mother of All, Desperate on the torn bodies, on the forms covering the battle-fields gazing (As the last gun ceased, but the scent of the powder-smoke linger’d), As’she call’d to her earth with mournful voice while she stalk’d, Absorb them well, O my earth, she cried; I charge you lose not my sons, lose not an atom, Exhale me them centuries hence, breathe me their breath, let not an atom be lost. Watt Wuirman. THE date of muster into the United States service of the enlisted men who were original members of the regiment is uniformly given as August 23, 1861 (the day on which the . regiment left Massachusetts for the field). After an average ’ service of about a month after enlistment, the men were for- mally mustered in at different dates, commencing with Au- gust 16th, but I have not found it possible to fix the exact individual dates, as muster-in-rolls were not made at the times of muster. August 23d is the date which is generally given on the rolls made from time to time during the service of the regiment. pi sill pian 430 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. _ ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Name and Rank. Age. Residence, or Place credited to. Commissioned Officers. Colonels. Augustus Morse . William S. Clark Lieut.-Colonels. Albert C. Maggi - Joseph P. Rice - George P. Hawkes - Majors. Theodore S. Foster . 38 36 Henry H. Richardson . Surgeons. Calvin Cutter . James Oliver. . . 36 53 29 Assist.-Surgeons. Orin Warren - Joseph W- Hastings John W: Mitchell . Edgar L. Cart a8 George S. Ball John F. Severance - 28 27 + | 23 44 | Leominster. 36 | Amherst. 37 | New Bedford.| Sept. 2, ’61. 41 | Ashburnham. Templeton. Fitchburg. Pittsfield. Warren. Athol. Warren. Avon, Me. H. Upton. ecket. S. Service, in last Grade. Aug. 21, ’61. May 16, 62. May 16, ’62. Dec. 18, ’62. W. Newbury. | Sept. 12, ’61. Pittsfield, N. May 17, ’62. Dee. 18, ’62. Aug. 21, ’61. May 26, ’64. June 9, 62. July 16, ’63. Nov. 11, 61. June 21, ’64. Muster into U. | Remarks. Termination of Service. henna cre esine Discharged, May 15, 62. Major, Aug. 19, 7°61; Lieut.-Col., Feb. 28, 62; resigned, April 22, '63. Resigned, Feb. 27, 62; Col. 33d Inf. Capt., Aug. 21, 61; Ma- jor, Feb. 28, 762; killed, Sept. 1, ’62, in battle of Chantilly. Capt., Aug. 21, '61; Ma- jor, Sept. 2, 62; re- signed for disability, July 3, ’64; Brevet Brig.-Gen. Vols. Capt., Aug. 21, °61; commissioned Lieut.- Col., Sept. 2, °62, but not*mustered for disa- bility from wounds ; discharged for disa- bility, Dee. 17, 62. Capt., Aug. 21, 761; commissioned Lieut.- Col., July 16, ’64, but declined promotion; expiration of service, Aug. 30, 64. Resigned, May 17, ’64. Assist.-Surg., July 31, 62; expiration of ser- vice, Aug. 30, 645 Surgeon 61st Inf. June 23, 62; Surgeon 33d Inf. May 15, °63; Surgeon 33d Inf. Sept. 8, 63; Surgeon 4th . 8. Col. Vols. - Aug. 30, 64, expiration of service. Resigned, Dec. 3, 62. Commissioned, June 16, 64; declined commis” sion, served without pay toend of term of regiment and battal- ion. pe emai Sx OMIT. mst caanitnlasikiite aa ha ea lhl a si rire tii ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 431 ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Name and Rank. Age. Mepis aotines to. Captains. Charles F. Walcott . 25 | Boston. James M. Richardson . | 35 | Hubbardston. Pelham Bradford 34 | West Boyl- ston. B. Frank Rogers 24 | Worcester. Addison A. Walker. .| 43 | Ashburnham. Thomas S. Washburn . | 32 | Worcester. John D. Frazer . 34 | Holyoke. Sclomon Hovey, Jr. 25 | Boston. Charles W. Davis . 35 | Templeton. Ira J. Kelton. . « 24 | Holden. | Samuel A. Taylor . 84 | Ashburnham. Woodbury Whittemore | 33 | Lancaster. William T. Harlow 33 | Spencer. Frederick M. Sanderson) 21 | Phillipston. Muster into U. 8. Service, in last Grade. Remarks. Termination of Service. Aug. 21, 61. Aug. 21, ’61. Aug. 21, ’61. Aug. 21, ’61. Aug. 21, ’61. Aug. 21, ’61. Feb. 28, ’62. March 8, 62. March 8, ’62. May 17, ’62. May 28, ’62. July 27, °62. July 29, 62. Sept. 2, 62. Resigned, April 25, ’63; Capt. 12th Unat, Co. Inf.; Col. 61st Inf.; Bvt. Brig.-Gen. Vols. Resigned, July 25, ’62; Capt. 44th Inf. Resigned, July 26, ’62. Resigned, March 2, 62; Capt. 33d Inf. Resigned, May 13, ’62. Dismissed, Mch. 2, ’62. 1st Lieut., Aug. 21, ’61; died, Sept. 24, ’62, of wounds in battle of Chantilly. Ist Lieut., Aug. 21, 61; commissioned Major, July 16, ’64, and Lieut.-Col. to date, July 2, "64; but not mustered in either grade, there being no vacancy; expiration of service, Aug. 29, 64; Capt. 7th Regt. " 7s S. Vet. Vols. st Lieut., Aug. 21, 61; Bvt. tar Liew Col., and Col. of Vols. ; with regiment to the end, and transferred ast 36th Inf. 2d Lieut., Aug. 21, 61; Ist Lieut, "Feb. 38° 62; died, Sept. 19, 62, of wounds in bat- tle of Chantilly. 2d Lieut., Aug. 21, ’61; Ist Lieut., Jan. 24, 62; resigned, Jan. 18, °63. | 2d Lieut., Aug. 21, 61; Ist Lieut., Mch. 3, '625 resigned, Oct. 29, 62. 1st Lieut., Aug. 21, ’61; resigned, April 25, 63; commissioned Major 57th Inf. Ist Serg. Co. A., Aug. “93, "61; 2d Lieut., Meh. 3, 62; Ist Lieut., July 21, °62; resigned, April 25, ’63. i a ene fll 2 & B # & | ¥ e ie eS aR Se EE I + =, TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 483 ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. eee aerate a BA et . . anata ties a - RO STER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Residence, or Muster into U. Place credited 8. Service, in) d Rank. Age. ee to. last Grade. Remarks. Termination of Service. George C. Hill Sept. 25, ’62. 26 | Shirley. Thomas Francis - 98 | Palmer. Sept. 26, 62. William H. Clark Pittsfield. Oct. 30, °62. Harrison Aldrich - - aie Dec. 18, 762. te Asahel Wheeler - Ashburnham. | Jan. 14, 63. William H. Valentine - George C. Parker Worcester. April 26, George T. Barker . . Boston. Orange S- Sampson. | 80 Huntington. Alfred F. Walcott - 22 | Salem. Worcester. March 6, ’63. | Se Sergt. Co. D, Aug. 23, 61; 1st Serg., Mch. 3, 62; Qd Lieut., July 21, °62; 1st Lieut., July 28, '62; resigned, April 25, °63. ist Sergt. Co. H, Aug. 23, °61; Ist Lieut., May 18, '62; resigned, March 5, ’63. 1st Sergt. Co. I, Aug. 93, ’61; Ist Lieut., March 15, 62; died, August 16, 64, of wounds in battle of the Mine. Sergt. Co. K, Aug. 23, 61; Ist Sergt., Feb. 8, 762; 2d Lieut., Mch. 8, 762; Ist Lieut., July 18, 62; resigned, Apl. 25,.’63. Sergt. Co. G, Aug. 23, 613 2d Lieut., Jan. 24, 62; Ist Lieut., May 28, 62; resigned, April. 25, 63; Capt. 61st Inf. rgt.-Major, Aug. 21, 161; 2d Lieut., Jan. 1, 762; Ast Lieut., June 19, 62; resigned, Aug. 17, ’64. 163. | Private Co. F, Aug. 23, 61; Qr.-Mast.-Sergt., June 6, 762; 2d Lieut, June 20, °62; 1st Lieut., Sept. 2, 7625 expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64. Sergeant Co. B, 98, 761; Ist Lieut., Oct. 2, 762; expiration of service, 30, ’64; Capt. April 26, °63. | Sergt- Co. I, Aug. 23, Pa : 761; 1st Sergt., July 92, '62; 2d Lieut., September 2, 762; 1st Lieut., Oct. 30, 625 killed, Sept. 30; 64, in battle bre Poplar Spring Chureh. Private Co. B, Dee 26, Name and Rank. Edward E. Howe Charles Goss . Edwin R. Lewis . William H. Sawyer 1st Lieutenants. George F. Thompson . Wells Willard Charles Barker . -. + Charles K. Stoddard Alonzo P. Davis. Frazar A. Stearns - Matthew M. Parkhurst Theron E. Hall . 26 39 22 43 21 27 39 Residence, or io credited Worcester. Sterling. Tisbury. New Salem. Worcester. Springfield. Fitchburg. Upton. Ashburnham. Amherst. Barre. Holden, Muster into U. 8. Service, in last Grade. April 26, ’63. April 26, 63. June 18, ’64. Oct. 12, "64. - 21, 61. - 21, 61. - 21, 61. 21, 61. . 21, °61. me Sept. 18, ’61. Remarks. Termination of Service. 61; Sergt.-Maj., Jan. 1, ’62; 2d Lieut., June 20, 62; Ist Lieut., Oct. 1, °62; expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64. Sergt. Co. I, Aug. 23, 61; Ist Sergt., Mch. 15, °62; 2d Lieut., July 22,’62; 1st Lieut., Sept. 26, ’62; expira- tion of service, Oct. 10, '64. Sergt. Co. E, Aug. 23, 61; Ist Sergt., Mch. 8, '62; 2d Lieut., July 22, 62; 1st Lieut., Sept. 25, 62; killed, June 17, 1864, in bat- tle in front of Peters- burg, Va. Private Co. A, Sept. 3, 62; Sergt.-Maj., Dec. 122, '62; Ist Lieut., a 7 63; expira- ion of service ‘ 30, "64. i 0 ergt. Co. K, Aug. 23 61; Ist Berge Oct. 26, 7625 Ist Lieut., April 26, °63; with regiment to the end, and transferred 36th Inf. et. Regimental Quartermas- ter; promoted Capt. and Com. Sub. U. S. Vols., Sept. 10, ’62; Bvt. Maj. and Lieut.- Col., March 18, '65; mustered out of U. S. service, June 16, ’66. Oct. 1, °62, Capt. 34th Inf. Resigned, June 16, '62, Killed by sentinel, Sept. 30,’ 61, at Annapolis Junction, Md. Resigned, Jan. 16, ’62. Adjutant}, killed March 14, ’62, in the battle of Newbern- Resigned, March 3, ’62. ted Capt. A. Q. PD. 8. Vols., July (ee 28 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Residence, or Muster into U. Remarks. Termination of Age.| Place credited S. Service, in Service. Name and Rank. to. last Grade. 22, °62; Lieut.-Col., Bvt. Col. Oct. 16, 61. | 2d Lieut, Aug. 21, 61; resigned, June 16, 62. John Brooks, Jr. « Templeton. March 3, ’62. | 2d Lieut., ~~ 21, °61; resigned, July 18,’62. Fitchburg. March 8, *62. | 2d Lieut., ‘Aug. 21, 761; resigned, July 18, 62; Capt. 4th Heavy Art. June 19,62. | Ist Sergt. Co. D, Aug: 93, "61; 2d Lieut., March 3, °62; died September 2, 62, of wounds in battle of Chantilly. July 28, 62. | 1st Sergt. Co. C, Aug: 23, °61; 2d Lieut., Feb. 28, 62; killed in the battle of Chantilly, Sept. 1, ’62. Sept. 2, ’62. Corp. Co. O, Aug. 23, 61; Sergt.; 2d Lieut., July 29, 62; dis- missed, June 5, 63. Sept. 6, 62. | Sergt Co. G, Aug. 23, 61; 1st Sergt.; 2d Lieut., May 28, 162; resigned, Mch. 2, 63. Oct. 2, '62. Private Co. A, Aug. 23, 61; Q. M. Sergt. 5 Regimental - Quarter- master ; expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64- Dec. 18, 62. | Sergt- Co. B, Aug. 23, 61; 2d Lieut., Sept- 2, '62; resigned, May 14, ’63. Jan. 15, ’63. | Corp. Co. D, Aug. 23, 61; Ist Sergt., July 23, °62; 2d Lieut-, Sept. 2, 623 expira- tion of service, Aug- 30, 64. March 3, 63. | Corp. Co. G; Aug. 28, 61; Sergt-, and Ist Sergt-; 2d Lieut., Sept. 6, '625 A. D. C- U. §. V., March 16, 645; expiration of ser- vice, Nov. 1, 64 ence -| 23 | Hardwick. March 8, ’63. | Sergt. Co. K, Aug: 23, 61; Ist Sergt-j, ad Lieut., Sept. 26; 625 expiration of service, Aug. 30, 64. Samuel O. Laforest - Boston. Eben T. Hayward Henry A. Beckwith Fitchburg. Frederick A. Bemis - Spencer. George W. Gibson. - Quincy. Charles H. Parker. -| 23 Ashburnham. Benjamin F. Fuller. - 39 | Templeton. Asa E. Hayward. . -| 36 Springfield. Ira B. Goodrich. . .| 21 | Fitchburg. George M. Munroe . .| 30 | Boston. George F. Lawr ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 435 ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Y aneee Residence, or Muster into U. Se nm , s. Termination of Name and Rank. Age.| Placecredited| 8. Service, in to. last Grade. iaahians Henry S. Hitchcock . Templeton. April 26, 63. | Sergt. Co. A, Aug 29, sd Ist Sergt.; ad poten See Ht i ; , George E. Davis . . Ashburnham. | April 26, 63. et ey, Corp Co. G. Aug. 23, ’61; Sergt. and Ist Sergt.; Sergt.- Maj., Sept. 8, ’63; ex- : : f pee: of service, 4 : ug. 30, 64. orge H. Bean. . . — April 26, °63. Setar, Co. if Aug. 23 e. 61; Ast Sergt.; ex- ee ng of service, ica ug. 30, ’64. cDermott . . Auburn. April 26, ’63. herete. Co. F, Aug. 23, 61; with regiment to end, and transferred to 386th Inf.; dis- charged for disability : from wounds, Nov. 28, obert B. Chamberlain. Richmond. May 15, ’63. Pt Co. I, Aug. 23 rp., Co. I, ug. 2d 61; Sergt. and Ist Sergt.; expiration of oT Ce ; onas R.Davis . . - Templeton. | June 6, ’63. orn. mH ag = i . ’ y. oe 61; Sergt. and Ist Sergt.; with the reg- iment to the end, and Jae + pag to 36th ulius Whitney. . . Fitchburg. June 18, '64. Resulisted Sergt., C . » Co. D, Aug. 23, 61; Ist Sergt., Sept. 2, 085 Xpiration of vi Abner R. Mott . . - Oct. 12, * Aug. 30, ’64. a + 12,64. | Reénlisted. Private, Co. I, Aug. 23, 61; Corp., Sergt., and 1st Sergt; 2d Lieut., Sept. 7, 64; with the regiment to the end, and_ trans- ferred to 36th Inf. Reénlisted. Private, Co. K, Aug. 23, 61; Corp-, Sergt., and Ist Sergt; 2d Lieut., Sept- 7, "645 with regiment to the end, and transferred to 36th Inf., in which Marcus M. Collis. . - heen oo ee, Cn. June 17, °65. .| Reénlisted. Corp.) _ Co- H, Aug: 23,"61; Serg. and Ist Sergt; William H. Morrow co ete eee ee Comarca: ee a ee Se > Tain Sea eaald ALLRED yee I ge TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMEN T — Continued. ——_— Name and Rank. eo Qd Lieutenants. James W. Hopkins . Solomon C. Shumway - Joel W. Fletcher John B. Williams Charles Coolidge William E. Richardson. William B. Hill. - Henry C. Holbrook John Kelt . Joseph H. Whitney Edwin F. Field . Stephen McCabe John Fy Lewis Benton Phelps Charles L. Goodale . Age. Residence, or Place credited to. —$—$—$ Springfield. Belchertown. Leominster. Barre. Sterling: Boston. Gardner. Barre. _ Holyoke. Boston. Boston. 24 | Barre. 33 | Amherst. Ashburnham. Templeton. Muster into U. S. Service, in last Grade. eee July 22, '62. July 27, ’62. Oct. 30, "62. Jan. 12, ’63 Oct. 1, ’62. Nov. 1, 64. Nov. 1, ’64. ht Dec. 18, °62. Remarks. Termination of Service. Ba cl pc ate Lieut. in 36th Inf., Nov. 13, 64, but not mustered, being then a prisoner of war; made ist Lieut. in 56th Inf. Resigned, Dec. 81, *62. Resigned, M 68 Resigned, May 12,” Resigned, M ist Sergt., Co. E, A 23, 61; died, March 380, ’62. | Private, in Co. C, Aug. 23, 61; Com. Sergt.; promoted to Ist Lieut. in 33d Inf. June 20, 762. Sergt., in Co. A, Aug. 23, 61, and Ist Sergt.; killed, Sept. 1, 62, in the battle of Chantilly. Private, in Co. K, Aug. 28, 61; Q. M. Sergt.; killed, Sept. 17, ’62, in the battle of Antie- tam. Sept. 18, ’62. Private, in Co. H, Oct. 24, 61; Corporal and Sergt.3 dismissed, Aug. 19, 63. Sergt., in Co. G, Aug. 23, 761; Sergt.-Major, July 21, 62; Te signed, Feb. 23, °63. resigned, May 8 63. in’ Co. B, Sergt., in Co. Aug er 23, °61; Ist gt. transferred to Co. resigned, March 63. Co. K, Aug. 23, 61 Corporal, Sergt-) a 1st Sergt.; transferre to 36th Inf. Reénlisted. Co. H, Ai Corporal an transferred to Private, in Sergt., in Co. E, Aug: 23, °61, and Ist Sergt.5 3 5 2, Reénlisted. Private, in ; aioe ict ins 2 3 Seo aan ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 437 ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Residence, or Name and Rank. Age. to. Charles S. Babcock. «| 25 | Leyden. Non-Commissioned Staff. Sergeants-Major. Davis, George E. Ashburnham. Gethings, P. Frank. Barre. Lewis, EdwinR. - Tisbury. Valentine, Wm. H. Worcester. Walcott, Alfred F.. - Salem. Whitney, Joseph H.- Ashburnham. Q. M. Sergts. Fuller, Benjamin F. Templeton. Holbrook, Henry C. Barre. Morgan, Enoch C. . Warren. Parker, George C. - Worcester. Royce, Harrison A. Newton. Com. Sergts. Chapin, Charles L. . Place eredited Muster into U. 8. Service, in last Grade. Nov. 29, ’64. Original Mus- tér into U.S. Service. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug, 23, ’61. Sept. 3, ’62. Aug. 21, ’61. Dec. 26, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. ‘July 24, *62. Aug. 23, '61. Aug. 28, °61. Aug. 23, ’61. Remarks. Termination of Service. Reénlisted. Private, in Co. I, March 12, '62; Corp., and Sergeant; eae to 36th nf. 1st Lieut., April 26, 63. See roster of commis- sioned officers. Reénlisted. | Promoted from Co. K, March 7, 64; discharged while prisoner of war, Sept. 24, 64, as supernu- merary. 1st Lieut., April 26, 63. See roster of commis- sioned officers, as Capt. 2d Lieut., Jan. 1, *62. See roster of commis- sioned officers, as Capt. 2d Lieut., June 20, 62. See va of commis- sioned officers, as Capt. 2d Lieut., Oct. 30, 62. See roster of commis- sioned officers. 1st Lieut., Oct. 2, 62. See roster of commis- sioned officers. 2d Lieut., July 27, 62; killed in battle of An- tietam, Sept. 17, 62. See roster of commis- sioned officers. Promoted from Private, in Co. E, Nov. 1, 7633 expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64- 2d Lieut., June 20, °62- See roster of commis- sioned officersjas Capt- Promoted to 1st Lieut. 22d Inf., Nov. 28, "61; Bvt. Major Vols. Reinlisted. Promoted from Private, In Co. E, Nov. 1, 62; dis- ES Ee RE a —— SRR EL TEA SERIE Se ck gia eee ati a ae TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. pee Ae Name and Rank. Residence, or Place credited to. Morse, Harrison A. Richardson, Wm. E. Hospital Stewards. Davis, Frank G. Green, James 8. Simmons, Chas. E.. + Principal Musicians. Cook, John L. Douglass, Henry F. Laws, Samuel N. - - McNamara, Daniel. Band. Waters, Reuben K. Leader. 2 Johnson, Warren B. Leader. Berger, Frederick H. C. Berger, Lewis J. Bryden, Thomas A. Clark, Courtland A. . Corbin, Mareus M. . Dunbar, Lewis s. Leominster. Boston. Original muster into U. 8. Ser- vice. ——————— Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Palmer. Fitchburg. Worcester. Worcester. Amherst. Gardner. Boston. 33 | Webster. 46 | Webster. 25 | Webster. 22 | Webster. 20 | Webster. 19 | Webster. 25 | Webster. Aug. 23, 761. 24 | Royalston. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, 61. Reénlisted. Remarks. Termination of Service. eer ane ae enna charged, Sept- 24, ’64, as supernumerary. Discharged, June 2, 62, for disability. 24 Lieut., March 31, 62. See roster of commis sioned officers. Promoted from Private, in Co. Ae discharged, Sept- 24, 164, as supernumerary Discharged for disabil- ity. Promoted from Private, in Co. F; expiration of service, Aug. 30, 64. Promoted from Co. G; discharged for disabil- ity. Reénlisted. Promoted from Co. Hy. dis- charged, Sept- 24, 64, as supernumerary. Promoted from Co. G3 discharged for disa- bility, July 27, ’62. Reénlisted. Promoted Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61 Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. | Aug: 11, from Co. B; dis- charged, Sept- 24, 64, as supernumerary- March 5, 762, for disa- bility. Aug. 11, ’62, order War Dept. \ Aug. 11, '62, order War Dept. ine eh 762, order War Dept. 762, order War Dept- Aug. 23, '61. | Died of disease, May 125 62. Ang. 23, °61. | Aug. 11, "62, order War Dept. (ae eee ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 439 ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Name and Rank. 2 Emerson, HiramP. «| Fuller, Francis L. . Garner, Joseph S. . Gould, Franklin . Hathaway, Dexter B.. Hervey, William F. Hetherington, John, Jr. Holt, Carlos : Hooton, Isaac T. Howe, Henry M. Judd, Jacob E. Nichols, Wm. H. Rich, George - Robbins, Wm. H. Scott, Jesse S. Wade, Oliver P. Residence, or aig credited 0. Muster into U. 8. Service. Remarks. Termination of Service. Waters, Loring D. . Company A. 1st Sergeants. Cutting, J. Prescott Davis, Jonas R. . Hill, Wm. B. Hitchcock, Henry S. - Lewis, John F. « | Webster. Warwick. Royalston. Webster. Grafton. 3 | Oxford. Webster. Webster. Webster. Gardner. Webster. Holden. Phillipston. Lancaster. Leicester. Webster. Webster. Templeton. Templeton. Gardner. Templeton. Templeton. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, '61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. . 23, “61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. | Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 11, ’62, order War Dept. Aug. 11, 62, order War Dept. Aug. 11, '62, order War Dept. Aug. 11, ’62, order War Dept. Aug. 11, 62, order War Dept. Aug. 11, ’62, order War Dept. Aug. 11, ’62, order War Dept. June 7, 162, for disabil- ity. Aug. 11, '62, order War Dept. Aug. 11, ’62, order War Dept. Aug 11, ’62, order War Dept. Aug. 11, 62, order War Dept. Aug. 11, '62, order War Dept. Aug. 11, 62, order War Dept. Aug. 11, 62, order War Dept. March 30, ’62, for disa- bility. Aug. 11, ’62, order War Dept. Nov. 14, ’62, for disa- bility. 1st Lieut., June 6, 63. See roster of commis- sioned officers. 2d Lieut., July 22, "62; killed, Sept. 1, ’62, in the battle of Chantilly. See roster of commis-~ sioned officers. See roster sioned officers. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 441 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. — Continued. eS ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. -—— ——— Remarks. Termination of Residence, or Service. Name and Rank. Age.| Place credited to. Remarks. Termination of Service. Muster into U. Residence, or S. Service. Place credited to. Muster into U. Name and Rank. Age. S. Service. Se Marshall, Henry K. el i Sanderson, Fred. M. Templeton. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, *61. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, 64. Oct. 12, '63, transferred to V. R. C. March 26, 63, for disa- bility. March 26, ’63, for disa- bility; reénlisted, Dee. 8, 63, and transferred to 36th Inf., while risoner of war. died, April 22, ’62. Killed, June 1, ’64, in battle of Cold Harbor; 7 from Co. Died, Dee. 31, ’61. Feb. 17, 63, for disabil- ity. Reénlisted. Died of wounds in battle of Cold Harbor, June 2, Aug. 28, 61. | 2d Lieut., March 3, ’62. See roster of commis- sioned officers.as Capt. Aug. 23, 61. Reénlisted. Discharged, as supernumerary, Sept. 24, "64. Phillipston. Mellen, Wm. H. Templeton. Wallace, John W. - Gardner. Templeton. Merritt, John A. Miller, James A. Templeton. Aug. 23, ’61. Sergeants. Collins, Joseph H. - Died, Jan. 3, 63, of wounds received at the battle of Freder- icksburg, while carry- ing the colors. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. March 26, 63, for disa- bility. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64- —. of service, ug. 30, 64. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Moore, Otis P. Aug. 23, 61. hate | Templeton. Reynolds, John D. . Webster. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Phillipston. Fuller, Pliny F. - Templeton. Aug. 23, ’61. Green, John F. - Aug. 23, ’61. Templeton. Sawyer, Sereno « Templeton. Stone, E. Wyman j Wilder, Chas. 8. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, '61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Hale, Seth F. Athol. Worcester. Aug. 23, 61. Heywood, Sidney 8. Royalston. May 10, ’63, for disabil- al 64. Morse, Levi Templeton. ity. Reénlisted. Discharged, supernumerary, Sept. 24, 64, while prisoner of war. Mus- tered out, May 26, ’65. Musicians. Gould, Samuel N. - Osgood, J. Albert - Templeton. Aug. 23, 61. | Expiration of service, Aug. 30, 64. March 15, ’63, for disa- bility. Phillipston. Aug. 23, ’61. Leland, Herbert . Templeton. Peckham, Francis M. - Smith, Levi N. - Upton, Augustus. Wiley, Daniel D. Corporals. Blodgett, Ethan . Carter, George Chamberlin, Moses A. Chase, Ambrose Pp. - 29 28 24 24 25 Petersham. Templeton. Templeton. Templeton. Phillipston. Athol. Worcester. Templeton. Athol. Hill, Samuel A- - Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 28, ’61. Expiration of service, Sept. 14, 64. Sept. 1, 62, for disabil- Ist Lieut., 36th Died, Sept. 8, 62, of wounds at the battle of Chantilly. Nov. 20, 61, by promo- tion to Capt. and Com. Sub. U.S. Vols.; Bvt Maj. Vols., Aug: 1, 64; Bvt. Lt.-Col., Col., and Brig.-Gen. Vols., March 13, ’65. Sent. 29, '62, for disa- bility. Dec. 7, '62, for disabil- ity. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf.; Sergt- in Co- A, 66th Inf. ce Dec. 3, ’62, for disabil- ity. inh Oct: 81, 62, for disabil- ity. ee Ge emer a Wagoner. Bryant, Mandell Privates. Adams, Samuel B. . Allen, Henry N. Ames, Jeduthan Ww. Ayers, Branch F. Barber, Albert C. Blackmer, Charles A. . Blackmer, William A. Blodgett, William 5 a Templeton. Templeton. Templeton. Worcester. Templeton. Warwick. Templeton. Templeton. Orange. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Ang. 23, ’61 Feb. 26, '63, for disa- bility. Reénlisted. Transferred | to 36th and 56th Inf. - | Discharged for disabil- ity. March 26, 64.) Transferred 1 26, °64.) to 36th Inf. . Aug. 23, 61. | July 11, ’62, for disa- Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. bility; reénlisted, Dee. 18, 63, and discharged for disability, Sept- 22, 64. Reported deserter, Aug: Aug. 23, ’61. July 11, Aug. 23, 61. |Ex iration bility. * of service, ug: 30, 64. TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Name and Rank. Residence, or to. Age. Place credited Muster into U. S. Service. Remarks. Termination of Service. Bradish, George W. Carruth, James A. . Chittenden, Collins W- Clapp, Joseph W. - Cobleigh, Charles W. - Colby, Madison. - + Cole, Freeman Cook, George E. Cromwell, Henry Cummings, Charles H. Cummings, Joel D. Cummings, Jonathan B. Cutting, Charles H. Dabers, August - Doane, Roswell L. . Dunn, Charles J. Flint, William Fuller, Benj. F. . Gerrish, Edward Gould, Marcus Phillipston. Templeton. Gardner. Templeton. Millbury. Mendon. Warwick. Worcester. Templeton. Phillipston. Athol. Templeton. Templeton. Phillipston. Templeton. Templeton. Templeton. Orange- Dudley. Templeton. Royalston. Athol. Oxford. Hall, Samuel P. - Winchendon. Winchendon. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 62. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 1, ’62. Aug. 23, ’61. March 19, ’64. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, 61. Jan. 21, 64. Aug. 23, ’61. Jan. 2, 64. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Jan. 21, ’64. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Killed, Sept. 1, ’62, in the battle of Chan- tilly. Resnlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Mar. 11,63, for disabil- ity. Oct: 17, 62, for disabil- ity. Sen, 21, 63, for disabil- ity. Discharged for disabil- ity. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64. Feb. 13, '64, for disabil- ity. Reported deserter, Apr. 12, 64. Dee. 6, °62, for disabil- ity; reénlisted, Dec. 30, '63; transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, °64. Nov. 10, ’62, for disabil- ity. Oct: 13, °62, for disabil- ity. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. April 1, 763, for disabil- ity. Killed, June 16, ’64, in battle before Peters- burg. Killed, March 14, ’62, in the battle of Newbern. Q. M. Sergt. See roster of commissioned offi- cers, as 1st Lieut. Killed, Sept. 1, 762, in the battle of Chan- tilly. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. ‘ Jan. 10, °63, for disabil- ity. Killed by accident at Alexandria, Va. Aug. 23, ’61. Jan. 2, '62, for disabil- ity. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 445 ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Name and Rank. Age. Residence, or to. Place credited Muster into U. 8. Service. Remarks. Termination of Service. Hill, Andrew J. - Hitchcock, George A. . Houghton, Augustus E. Jennison, George W. - Johnson, William H. . Kenney, Owen .- Lamson, George H. Lewis, Edwin R. Mann, Reuben . - Marrar, William .- Mason, Lyman D.. .- Mayo, Converse « Merritt, Uriah Morrow, James .- Morse, Joseph E. Mullins, John Orcutt, Ansel Parker, James C. - Pelkey, Charles A. - Phelps, Charles C. « Pierce, Harrison S. - Piper, Asa F. V. B. Potter, Wilbur A. Athol. Ashby. Templeton. Athol. Athol. Templeton. Tisbury. Templeton. Templeton. Warwick. Orange. Templeton. Phillipston. Worcester. Blackstone. Athol. Athol. Dana. Athol. Templeton. Templeton. Templeton. Winchendon. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 14, ’62. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, "61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, '61. Aug. 23, ’61. Sept. 3, 62. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Feb. 15, °64. Died, Mar. 3,’62, at Roa- noke Island, N. C. Reénlisted. Transferred to 86th Inf., while a prisoner of war, and discharged Jan. 26, 65, on expiration of service. Transferred to 7th Bat- tery, July 18, ’62. June 26, ’62, for disa- bility. Died, March 15, 62, of wounds in battle of Newbern. Transferred to U. 8S. Cav., Oct. 23, '62. Jan. 31, 63, for disabil- ity. Sergt.-Major, Dec. 22, 62. See roster of commissioned officers, as Captain. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Transferred to U. S. Cav., Oct. 23, '62. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, 64. Dec. 7, ’62, for disabil- ity. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, '64. Transferred to 36th and Aug. 23, ’61. March 16, ’64.) Aug. 23, ’61. | Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61- 56th Inf. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Deserted, April 23, ’64. Transferred to V. R. C-, June 25, *62. Died, March 15, ’62, of wounds in the battle of Newbern. é Nov. 29, ’62, for disabil-. ity. Rednlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Expiration of service, . 80, 764. 6, 64, in f the Wil- derness- Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf., while a prisoner of war. TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Name and Rank. oe ence Rand, John E. Ray, De Witt C. Ray, Edson N. . Reed, Edwin R. . Ripley, Neri F. . Rogers, Samuel N. . Sawtell, George H. Severance, George R. . Shepardson, Willard A. Smith, Waldo T. Spear, David H. Stevens, Lewis . Stone, Oliver - Sweet, Otis L. Taft, Charles E. Thayer, F.C. L. W- Thayer, George L. . Thiebault, John . Ward, John D. . Weeks, Erastus . Weeks, Reuben . Whitney, Eleazer S. Whitney, Lemuel - Company B. 1st Sergeants. Barker, George T. - Age. Residence, or to. Place credited Muster into U. 8. Service. Remarks. Termination of Service. Athol. Gardner. Gardner. Orange. Athol. Sutton. Templeton. Athol. Athol. Annapolis, Ma. Templeton. Dana. Southbridge. Templeton. Athol. Ashburnham Templeton. Templeton. Orange. New Salem. New Salem. Templeton. Ashburnham. | Aug. 14, ’62. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Oct. 12, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. March 31, 64. . | July 20, ’64. Aug. 23, '61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, '61. Jan. 22, 63, for disabil- ity. Killed, July 15, ’64, in siege of Petersburg. Feb. 5, ’63, for disabil- ity. bility. Dec. 22, ’62, for disabil- ity. Transferred to Signal Corps, Oct. 12, ’63. May 30, ’62, for disabil- ity. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, 64. Transferred to U. S. Cav., Oct. 25, ’62. Jan. 19, ’63, for disabil- ity. July 21, °62, for disabil- ity. Dec. 6, 62, for disabil- ity. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64. Died, Jan. 13, ’62, at Hatteras Inlet, N. C. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Oct. 30, ‘62, for disabil- ity. Feb. 25, ’63, for disabil- ity. Jan. 22, °63, for disabil- ity. Oct? 31, 62, for disabil- ity. Oct: 18, °62, for disabil- ity. Reénlisted. Discharged for disability from wounds received in battle of Spottsyl- vania, May 10, ’64. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64. Ast Lieut., Oct. 2, '62- See roster of commls- officers, as Captain. March 26, ’63, for disa- ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 445 ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Name and Rank. Brison, Richard .* . McCabe, Stephen Wetherby, Alonzo J. . Sergeants. Bryan, Peter . Emerson, George O. Frizzell, Charles O. Hayward, Asa E. Miller, Charles . Stephens, Thomas . Towne, George A. . Corporals. Barker, George V- . Bartis, Dennis Bellamy, Harvey - Brackett, William H. Caldwell, James, Jr., . Cohen, William . Farrell, Maurice Fletcher, George N. 20 19 19 19 19 21 20 Age. Residence, or to. Place credited 8. Service. Muster into U. | Remarks. Termination of Service. Boston. Boston. Southwick. Boston. Stafford, Ct. Springfield. Boston. Bernardston. Wolcotville, Conn. Wilbraham. Boston. Clinton. Holyoke, Stafford, Ct. Bernardston. Northampton. Aug. 23, Aug. 23, Aug. 23, Aug. 23, Aug. 23, Aug. 23, Aug. 23, Aug. 23, Aug. 23, Aug. 23, Aug. 23, Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’6L. Aug. 23, ’61. Reénlisted. Discharged, Sept. 24, 64, as super- numerary. 2d Lieut., Jan. 12, 63. See roster of commis- sioned officers. Reénlisted. Discharged, Sept. 24, ’64, as super- numerary. Killed, Dec. 13, °62, in the battle of Fred- ericksburg- Reénlisted. Died in Andersonville Prison, Oct. 8, 64. Oct. 23, 62, for disabil- ity. 2d Lieut., Sept. 2, '62. See roster of commis- sioned officers, as 1st Lieut. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. while a prisoner of war. Reénlisted. Discharged, Sept. 24, 64, as su- pernumerary, while prisoner of war; mus- tered out, Jan. 14, "65. Sept. 14, 63, transferred to V. R. C. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. while a prisoner of war. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64. Died, May 16, 62 of ied, ads) received in ttle of Newbern. =e "q Transferred to 36th Inf. Reinlisted. Transferred to.36th and 6th Inf. Aug. 23, 61. March 20, ’63, for disa- bility. Aug. 23, "61. | Dec: 2%, "62, for disabil- ity. Cae erence TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Name and Rank. | Goodwin, John .- Hill, Albert A. McDonald, Edward Stewart, John Walker, George H. Musician. McNamara, Daniel Wagoner. Preston, Charles L. Privates. Aldrich, Wells Barry, James Bell, James Brown, Henry P. Buck, Chas. M. . Burgess, Amasa, Jr. Burgess, Sidney B. Cane, James - Conley, Bernard Conners, Michael Cooper, Charles H.. Cushing, Patrick Danahy, Timothy : Decker, William H. Delaney, John | Age.| Residence, or Place credited to. Chicopee. W. Troy, N.Y. Somerville. | Springfield. Chicopee. Worcester. Southwick. Boston. Leicester. Bostor. Middlefield. Boston. Boston. N. Canaan, N. H. Boston. Holyoke. Suffield, Ct. Holyoke. Monson. Webster. Muster into U. Huntington. 8. Service. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, '61. Feb. 19, ’64. Aug. 23, ’61. Feb. 18, ’64. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Dec. 1, 63. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61 Aug. 23, ’61. Remarks. Termination of Service. 7s ipsiege rata al Aug. 23, 61. | June 27, °62, for disabil- ity. Aug. 23, ’61. | Died, April 13, ’62, at Newbern, N. C Aug. 23, ’61. | Died, Sept. 6, 762, of wounds received in the battle of Roanoke Island. Aug. 23, ’61. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Feb. 4, '63, for disabil- ity; transferred to Co. F, March 1, ’62. Reénlisted. Principal musician, Sept. 1, 64; discharged as super- numerary, Sept. 24, 64. Expiration of service, Aug® 30, 64. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Transferred to 86th and 56th Inf. Killed, Sept. 1, 62, in the battle of Chantilly. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Died, March 27, ’62. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Transferred to 86th and 56th Inf. Discharged, Feb. 22, 65, as prisoner of war. Aug. 23, 61. | Sept. 25, °62, for disa- bility. Aug. 23, ’61. Reinlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Dec. 12, 762, for disa- bility. Aug. 23, ’61. Killed, March 14, ’62, in the battle of New- bern. Aug. 30, 64. Aug. 23, 61. Died, Nov. 19, ’62. Aug. 23, ’61. Reénlisted. Reported as deserter, June 9, "64 Expiration of service, ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 447 ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Name and Rank. Age. Residence, or Place credited to. Muster into U. 8. Service. Remarks. Termination of Service. Dickson, Patrick J. Dunn, John . . Fairbanks, Benj. L. Finton, Patrick . Fuller, Calvin Gallagher, Daniel Gleason, Henry B. . Goodnow, Samuel E. . Goodrich, Carlos H. Grow, George W. . Hannan, Joseph Harvey, William . Hawkins, Lorenzo L. . Haworth, James Hennebry, Walter . Hoben, Anthony Hoolihan, Michael . Hubbard, George Hughes, James - Hutchinson, Merrill Kennedy, Michael - Kenney, Thomas Knox, Henry A. Knox, Nat. F. . - Mahar, Dennis . - Clinton. Springfield. Springfield. Milford. Southwick. | Longmeadow. Manchester, Ct. Sterling. Stafford, Ct. Hawley. Southbridge. New Salem. Hatfield. Springfield. Boston. Springfield. Clinton. Worcester. Springfield. Lynn. Chicopee. Boston. Longmeadow. Longmeadow. Clinton. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 16, °64. Aug. 23, ’61, Aug. 28, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. March 8, ’64. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, *61. Aug. 23, '61. March 11, ’64. Aug. 23, '61. Reénlisted. Transferred to 86th and 56th Inf. Died, May 1, 762, of wounds received in the battle of Camden. Sept. 22, ’62, for disabil- ity ; transferred to Co. F, March 1, ’62. Died, December, ’62, of wounds received in battle of Fredericks- burg. Reénlisted. Killed, Aug. 19, ’64, in battle on Weldon R. R. Transferred to U. S. Cay., Oct. 25, '62. Transferred to 10th Ct. Inf., May 1, ’62. Nov. 2, 62, for disabil- ity. Killed, Sept. 1, '62, in the battle of Chantilly. Expiration of service, May 18, ’65. Killed, Feb. 8, °62, in the battle of Roanoke Island. Reported deserter, Jan. 6, ’62. Killed, Dec. 13, 62, in battle of Fredericks- _ burg. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, '64. Died, Aug. 15, 64. Deserted, Aug. 22, '62. Transferred to U. 5+ Cav., Oct. 25, "62. Sept. 14, '61, for disa- bility. Oct. 5, ’62, for disabil- ity. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Transferred to 36th and 6th Inf. Prec oy Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Feb. 23, 64. Aug. 23, 61. Died, in Salisbury rebel prison, Nov. 64. Jan. 16, ’63, for disabil- ity. OAT QE GARSON TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. . ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 449 se) — Continued. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continue cc hds Ce itweebiee Maiuuet —/Conlaiad. Residence, or : t ; A Muster into U. | Remarks. Termination © Buin Name and Rank. Age. i credited) “§. gervice. Service. Name and Rank. Age. Placeetatte a ee into U. | Remarks. Termination of ; to. » Service. Service. api cree Mahoney, John. - - 20 Springfield. Aug. 23, ’61. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64- wounds received in Maloney, Patrick . -| 28 Clinton. Aug. 23, ’61. Transat ee v.R. C., battle st Roswies Dt: ay 3. : le, Ct atte. | Chi bate Manning, Daniel « - | 24 Chicopee. Aug. 23, ’61. Mare 26, 63, for disa- Searle, Charles F Chicopee. Aug. 28, Expiration rg ility. : Sheel re ‘ ug. 80; 164. McCarthy, John H. «| 19 Boston. Aug. 23, ’61. | Expiration of service, cng hanna : Greenfield. Aug. 23, Jan. 27, 63, for disabil- Aug. 30, 64. Sheridan, Martin . .| 22 | Springfield. | Aug. 23 nse R . .| 80 | Palmer. Aug. 23, ’61. Transferred to V- R. C. “4 Deserted, Aug. 22, ’62. McEwen, James Sr as May 10, ’63- ’ Short, John E. . . - Boston. March 9, Transferred . 36th bee McRobie, John . - -| 82 Clinton. Aug. 23, 61. Nov. 14, ’62, for disabil- 56th Inf., while a pris- ity; transferred to Co. : 4 i oner of war. ® March 1, 62. Smith, Henry M. . . Worcester. Aug. 23, Transferred to U. S. i . . 4 22] Cli ° Aug. 23, 61. | Expiration of service. : y , Cav., Oct. 25, 762. Mehan, Patrick Clinton. ug. 29, y Hn 30, °64. ’ Smith, John N.. . - Wolcotville, | Aug. . | Died, April 3 62, of Mixter, George 3, CRE Re Springfield. Aug. 23, 61. Reénlisted. Killed, June Ct. wounds received in 17, ’64, in battle be- is - the battle of Newbern. fore Petersburg. Smith, Samuel . . .| 23 | Worcester. Aug. . | April 15, °63, for disa~ Morris, William. . -| 22 | Boston. Aug. 28, 61. | Reénlisted. Reported de- | s ; bility. 2a pban ; serter, March 4, ’64. Somerville, John « -| Springfield. | Aug. 2 . | Expiration of service, _, ,} 90 | Brimfield. | Aug. 28,61. | Dec. 5, "62, for disabil- . ee ae Nelson, Edward rimfie ug. 28, ane e Sparks, Richard W. - W, Sufield Aug. Expira Hoa ye ee t. ton, Albert. . .| 18 Greenfield. Aug. 23, 61. | Reénlisted. Transferred a ‘Aug. 30, '64. — fies to 36th and 56th Inf. 1 Spry; Samuel. « Boston. March 14, ’64. isp. ite to 36th and O'Connor, Maurice J. - 20 | Boston. Aug. 23, 61. Deserted, Oct. 15, "62. és 56th Inf. Oliver, Wm. P. H.. .| 40 | Boston. Aug. 93) 61. Deserted, Nov. 20, 61. i Sullivan, Jerry - + - Holyoke. Aug, 23, 61. | Reported deserter, July O'Riley, Patrick. + | 27 Monson. Aug. 23, 61. Deserted, Sept. 15, 63. 1 ‘ 12, °63. Patterson, Wm. B.. .| 19 | Boston. ‘Aug. 23, ’61. | Killed, Dec. 13, °62, in Toughey, Michael . . Holyoke. Aug. 23, 61. | Expiration of service, the battle of Freder- . s ’ Aug. 30, ’64. scvabule: Tracy, John. . + + Clinton. Aug. 23, 61. | Died, Jan. 31, °65, at Paul, Lyman. . - -| 19 Chicopee. Aug. 23, ’61. | Oct. 31, 62, for disabil- ea Walcott, Alfred F.. sehen Dec. 28.61 Pivalegg a ao i Seigct . xt.-Major, Jan. 1, ange sage ge odor = a oe a oi ity. : Pearce, George L. . -| 24 Hubbardston.| Aug. 23, "61. Died, April 13, ’62, at p 62. See roster of com- Newbern, N. C., in PY missioned officers, as Captain. March 19, ’63, f Soi Siig eae Co. F. % “4 Pearson, Thowiaa. ~. | 88 Boston. ‘Aug. 23, 61. | Dec. 23, ig disabil- W ard, James. 4s 5 Boston. . 28, 61. ity, in Jo. F. Warriner, George . - Springfi 3.) : Pine, Daniel . . . .| 18 | Springfield- | Aug. 23, G1. | Died, June 21, "64, while i dsr neta... spaneacld. - 23, \61. | Deserted, Aug. 22, 762, sbatomin y war in 4 - 23, ’61. | Transferred to U. 8S. ‘ ‘ ichmon aa : ioe aes i Cav., Oct. 25, ’62. Puffer, Thomas. «5 .| 33 Hatfield. Aug. 23, ’61. March 13, 63, for disa- Welch, John e Springfield. g- 23, 61. Expiralios Prag bility. : Tv Aug. 30, 64. Quann, Thomas. . «| 22 Somerville. | Aug. 23, ’61. se ering if —s : Wright, JamesG. - . Boston. March 12, ’64.| Tran 5 on Seth aa ug: ; trans- 56th Inf. ferred to Co. F, Mareh Company C. : h Inf ‘si 1, 762. tae Ist Sergeants. Quinn John. +: Clinton. Aug. 23, 61. | Reénlisted. Die une, Bemis, F ae a . i 64, of wounds received thle, Besdqeiek. A ° Spencer. Aug. 23, ’61. | 2d Lieut., Feb. 28, 62; ‘ in battle of Cold Har- killed in the battle of bor. Chantilly, Sept- 1, 62. Rice, EdwinC. + - * 19 | Wendell. Aug. 23, 61. | Transferred to U. &. , See roster of commis- Cav., Oct. 25, 162. fj sioned officers, as Ist Rice, Samuel B.- + * 42 | Brookfield. | Aug. 23, "61. | May 8, '62, for disabil- ‘ Colburn, Lemuel A. Quincey. pied, Nov. 11, 62, of ity. 2 37 | Boston. Aug. 23, ’61. Died, Feb. 17, '62 of Ba wounds in battle of f Chantilly. Ross, mail Ye SB 29 {SS ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 451 TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. NTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. g Muster into U. | Remarks. Termination of "Place credit Name and Rank. Age| Place credited to. 8. Service. Service. ROSTER OF TWE Residence, or Muster into U. | Remarks. 1 i rap. mi a er ges of Name and Rank. ‘esas Place credited to. Worcester. Aug. 23, ’61. | Dec. 7, '62, for disabil- ity. Reénlisted. Ki Aug. 23, ’61. Transferred from Co. K; 2 "64, in filed, Jone reénlisted ; discharged Sammis, L. H. - Deerfield. } “7 Cold Harbor. as supernumerary, : P . 23, 61. | March 16, ’63, for disa ith bility. ‘ cscedninmten Brimfield. g- 23, 61. Dee: 2 62, for disabil ? - eu 24, gs on 61. | Reénlisted. Transferre Southwick, Frank H Leices ed e ster. . 23, 61 March 6, °63 i : , 63, for disa- to 36th Inf. bility. Jan. 19, ’63, for disabil- ity. i | Robbins, Stephen L. Gibson, George W- - | 20 Quincy. Aug. 23, 61, | 2d Lieut., July 29, *62. See roster of commis~ sioned officers, as 1st Rogers, Ferdinand S. . Sturbridge. | Aug. 23, 61 Haskins, Henry H. Worcester. Aug. 23, Patterson, Albert Spence, Thomas . Worcester. . 23, 61. Reénlisted. Discharged, as supernumerary, Sept. 24, 64. Reénlisted. Killed, July 93, ’64, on the lines before Petersburg. Aug. 23, ’61. Reinlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Aug. 23, ’61. | May 7, °62, for disabil- ity Reénlisted. Discharged, Septi 24, "64, as su- pernumerary- Aug. 23, '61. Reénlisted. Transferred to 86th and 56th Inf. Arch e reher, Luther . Worcester. Aug. 23, ’61. | Reported as deserter. Aug. 23, 61. Reénlisted. Transferred Bat ates, John W. . Holden. Aug..23, ’61. | March 29, °62, for disa- to 36th and 56th Inf. Pe Aug. 23, ’61- Reénlisted. pois i to 36th and 56th Inf. i Booth, Job 8. ‘ i bility. Reanlisted. ‘Transferred ' Salisbury. | July 28, 62. | Died, Sept. 16, °62, of wounds regeived i the battle of Chan. Sergeants. Brackett, George L. Musician. Adams, Joseph P. . Sturbridge. Aug. 23, 61. Reénlisted. Transferred W. Brookfield. to 36th and 56th Inf. . 23, '61. W. Brookfield.| Aug. 23, 61. 2 agen org rater ante Brown, Edwin T. Wagoner. Barr, William H. 4 am Reénlisted. Transferred Spencer. Aug. 23, ’61. to 36th and 56th Inf. Collier, Nathan E. 8. - Chesterfield. Privates. Adams, Henry F. Aldrich, Wm. A. Cranney, Timothy - Spencer. Transferred to U. 8S. Cav., Oct. 25, 62. May 7, ’62, for disabil- ity. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Sturbridge. Aug. 23, ’61. Spencer. Crosby, John W. - Upton. Lynch, Peter - Worcester. Miller, Robert Spencer. Pittsfield. Sperry, Charles H.. Wright, Edward L. Corporals. Barr, Elbridge C. Cain, Henry - Dodge, Curtis H. Graton, Alvin S- Henry, George W.- Spencer. Spencer. Athol. Paxton. Spencer. Northampton. | Aug- 23, 61. Sturbridge. Sturbridge. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, 761. Aug. 23, ’61- Aug. 23, 61. to 36th and 56th Inf. Killed, Dec. 13, ’62, in the battle of Freder- icksburg, while car- rying the State flag. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, 64. Jan. 29, 63, for disabil- ity. March 24, 63, for disa- , 763, for disa- Aug. 23, '61. Aug. 11, ’62. Aug. 23, '61. sequentl. 57th Inf. and V. R. C. Prisoner of war on eX~ piration of term; dis- charged, Jan. 20, '65- Killed, Feb. 8, ‘62, in the battle of Roanoke Island. Buck, Carlos C. . Bullard, Francis . Bullard, Silas C. Bulley, Elixe . Carter, William . Carter, Wm. H. H. Clafiey, Hubert . Clark, Francis E. Clark, Otis W. - Clark, Thomas W. Brookfield. Worcester. Worcester. Spencer. Worcester. Worcester. Brookfield. Colrain. | Colrain. | Worcester, Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. 61. 61. 61. 61. 61. 61. 61. 61. Feb. 18, 64. Aug. 23, ‘61. tilly. sg, 61, for disabil- Died, Sept. 4, ’62, of wounds received in _ battle of Chantilly. F > 14, °63, for disabil _ ity. Dec. 10, *62, for disabil- ity. Dec. 30, 62, for disabil- ity. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, *64. April 22, 63, for disa- bility: Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. SS RENT PL a I — 452 ROSTER O FE TWENTY-FIRST TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. REGIMENT — Continued. aig) he PN ] Name and Ravk. Residence, or Place credited to. Muster into U. 8. Service. Remarks. Termination of Service. Cleary, Michael B.. Conway, John P. Cotton, George H. . Dana, Louis - Dane, Wm. W.- - Davis, John - - Dougherty, Patrick Earle, William ra Ely, Edward. + + Farrell, Thomas - Finneran, John . Fitzgerald, Joseph - Fogerty, Dennis Frost, William - - Gallagher, Timothy Gibbs, Lyman C. Glasgow, William . Gorton, John H. Gould, Samuel D. . Holmes, Louis Howard, Henry M. Howes, Alden B. Hurie, L. J. N- - Hurst, Thomas - Lackey, James - 20 | Worcester. 38 | Westhampton. 18 | Spencer. 18 | Spencer. 18 | Millbury. 19 | Worcester. 96 | Millbury. 20 | Malden. Deerfield. 18 | Northampton. Aug. 23, 61. | Re Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, "61. Aug. 23, 61. | K Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, 61. Oct. 14, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, "61. ‘ | 19 | .| 18 | Worcester. Worcester. . | 94 | Worcester. 39 | Worcester. 20 | Worcester. | 18 | New Salem. 29 | Worcester. 26 | Worcester. 20 | Worcester. 20 | Colrain. 41 | Spencer. 24 | Spencer. 32 | Leicester. 35 | Leicester. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, *61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, "61. 18 | Northampton.| Aug. 23, 61. Feb. 6, 64. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, “61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Dec. 2, ported deserter, Aug: 62. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, "64. Transferred to U. 8. Cav., Oct. 23, 62. Killed, March 14, 762, in the battle of New- bern. ied, April 19, °62, in the battle of Camden. Died, April 17, *62, on steamer Northerner. Killed, Sept. 1, 62, in the battle of Chan- tilly. 62, for disabil- ity. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Reénlisted. ‘Transferred to 36th Inf., while a prisoner of war. Reénlisted- ‘Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Nov. 22, 762, for disa- bility. Dec. 29, 62, for disabil- ity. Died, March 11, ’62, on steamer Northerner. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, 64. Killed by cars at An- napolis Junction, Sept. 92, ’61. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th Inf., while a prisoner of war. Transferred to U. 8. A-y Oct. 25, °62- Feb. 21, 62, for disabil- ity. Transferred to 48th N. Y. Vols., Oct. 15, ’61. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Killed, March 14, 62, in the battle of New- bern. Reénlisted. Died, June 453 Name and Rank. Lanckton, Timothy Laughna, Terrence . Leach, Martin D. Leonard, Patrick Lombard, William . Macomber, Wm. H. Mahar, Dennis Manning, George P. Marble, Sam. H. Marsh, Hiram . - McGrath, William . McNulty, Barney - Mead, Joseph Morgan, Samuel Oakes, Barney O’Brien, James 8S. - Parker, Edward E. . Pollard, Abel - Quilty, James Richardson, Wm. E. Rogers, Albert Sargent, Sam. D. - Saunders, Albert Sawyer, Henry By 27 42 20 25 26 35 31 38 | 22 44 19 .| 36 39 41 31 18 Age. Residence, or Place credited to. Muster into U. 8. Service. Termination of Service. Remarks. Worcester. Hubbardston. Brookfield. Athol. Worcester. Sturbridge. Southbridge. Goshen. Southbridge. Spencer. Leicester. Leicester. Spencer. Worcester. Worcester. Southbridge. Brimfield. Sterling. Worcester. Boston. Worcester. Spencer. Southbridge. Sterling. March 9, ’64. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, °61. | Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 4 28, ’61. March 9, ’64. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Jan. 5, 64. Aug. 23, *61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Jan. 4, '64- _— | Died, March 27, 62, of | Dec. 6, '62, for disabil- | Died, June 6, *62, of 1, °64, of wounds re- ceived in the battle of the Wilderness. Transferred to 36th and a 56th Inf. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, *64. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. wounds received in battle of Roanoke Isl- and. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64. ity. Transferred to U. 8, Cav., Oct. 23, 62. Died, Feb. 16, 162, of wounds received in battle of Roanoke Isl- and. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. 1862, for disability. Transferred to U. 8S. Cav., Oct. 23, 62. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Reénlisted. Died in reb- el prison at Danville, ; Jan. 15, 65. Feb. 28, ’62, for disabil- ity. Transferred to 86th and 56th Inf. 1862, for disability. wounds received in the battle of Camden. Transferred to 36th Inf. Transferred to U- Cav., Oct. 23, "62. Com. Sergt. See roster of commissioned offi- cers, as 2d Lieut- Nov. 23, '62, for disabil- ity. Killed, Feb. 8, 762, in the battle of Roanoke Island. Feb. 28, "63, for disabil- ity. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. ROSTER OF TWENTY _FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Name and Rank. pee Scott, Wm. W. - Sharp, George W. . Smith, Alfred Smith, David Stebbins, Albion L. Stebbins, Wm. H, - Stowell, Myron E. . Tyler, Eli, Jr. Vail, Jeffrey - Warren, Asa J- - Webster, Matthew - Welch, Edward. . Wheeler, John H. . White, William. - Williston, Wm. I. . Woodward, Reuben F. Young, Giles W. Young, Richard . Company D. Ast Sergeants. Beckwith, Henry A. Goodrich, Ira B. Hill, George C.. Whitney, Julius Residence, or Age.| Place credited to. Muster into U. 8. Service. 87 Worcester. 25 | Pittsfield. 19 | Worcester. 21 | Worcester. 21 | Deerfield. 21 | Deerfield. 22 | Deerfield. 20 | Worcester. 25 | Worcester. 81 | Spencer. 24 | Southbridge. 21 | Spencer. 21 | Wrentham. _— —_— 18 | Worcester. 36 | Spencer. Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Shirley. Fitchburg. W.Brookfield.| Aug. 23, 61. Aug: 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. July 28, °62. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Sept. 12, ’61. Aug. 23, "61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, 61. Remarks. Termination of Service. i April 25, 62, for disa- bility. Transferred to U. 8. Cav., Oct. 25, 762. May 7, ’62, for disabil- ity. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, 64. May 8, 62, for disabil- ity. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64- Reénlisted. Killed, May 18, 64, in the battle of Spotsylvania. June 9, °62, for disabil- ity. Oct: 1, °62, for disabil- ity. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64- Expiration of service, Aug. 80, ’64. 1862, for disability. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. 21 | New Bedford.| Aug- 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61 Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Dec. 19, 62, for disabil- ity. Reported as a deserter. Killed, Mareh 14, 62, in the battle of New- bern. Sept. 10, °62, for disa- bility. March 2, ’63, for disa- bility. Reported as deserter. 2d Lieut , March 3, °62; died of wounds in bat- tle of Chantilly (as 1st Lieut ), Sept- 2, 62. 94 Lieut., Sept. 2, 762. See roster of commis- sioned officers, as 1st Lieut. 2d Lieut., June 21, 62. See roster of commis- sioned officers, as Cap- tain. Reénlisted. 1st Lieut., June 18, 64. See ros- ter of commissioned officers. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 455 ’ ROSTER OF ‘TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Name and Rank. Be a epee Sergeants. Crosby, Charles C. Cummings, Israel . Goodrich, George E. . Jaquith, Azro B. May, Simon Skinner, Orrin E. - Ward, George + - Corporals. Atherton, Galen P. Brock, Andrew M. « Fay, Charles E. « Goodfellow, David W. Hardy, George H. - Jaquith, Asa S. - Ricketts, Wm. J- Smith, George S. Stewart, Wm. M. Weeks, Frank W. - Wheelock, Samuel . Whitcomb, George A. Whitney, Charles M.. Whitney, James D. Musicians. Goodrich, Chas. E.. to. Waltham. Fitchburg- Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Brookfield. Harvard. Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Harvard. Fitchburg. Wales. Lunenburg. Fitchburg. Northfield. Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Grafton. 18 | Fitchburg. Se a nea aaa eae aaa ama Residence, or Age.| Place credited ie eet Muster into U. Remarks. Termination of 8. Service. Service. cee eet e te Aug. 23, 61. Retnlisted. Discharged, as supernumerary, Sept. 24, ‘64. Aug. 23, ’61. | Died, Dec. 2, 63, of wounds, in siege of Knoxville, Nov. 29, 63. Aug. 23, '61. | Aug. 5, 762, 2d Lieut. 34th Inf.; Capt. Aug. 23, 61. | April 28, '63, for disa- bility. Aug. 23, ’61. Reénlisted. Killed, Aug. 19, 64, in battle on Weldon R. R. Aug. 23, ’61. Reénlisted. Discharged as supernumerary, Sept. 24, "64. Aug. 23, ’61. Reénlisted. Discharged, as supernumerary, Sept. 24, "64. Aug. 23, 61. | Feb. 14, ’63, for disa- bility. 93, 61. | Died, Dee. 2, 61, at An- napolis. Aug. 23, 61. | Feb. 12, 63, for disa- bility. Aug. 23, ’61. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64. 23, 61. | Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Aug. 23, ’61. | March 18, ’63, for disa- bility. Aug. 23, 61. | Expiration of service, 3 Aug. 30, 64. Aug. 28, 61. | Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Aug. 23, 61. | Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Aug. 23, 61. | Feb. 20, ’63, for disa- bility. : . 23, 61. | May 9, 62, for disabil- ity. Reinlisted. Transferred F to 26th and oe, Aug. 23, 61. | Killed, ept. 1, "62, in 8, = "battle of Chan- tilly. , inlisted. Transferred Ang. 23, ’61, | Retnsseh and 56th Inf. Reénlisted. Died in reb- el prison at Florence, Aug. 23, ’61- TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIME NT — Continued. Name and Rank. Age. Residence, or Place credited to. Lamb, Lysander L. Whitcomb, Chas. A. Wagoner. March, Addison . Privates. Abbott, Henry 8. Adams, Ephraim Aldrich, Frank W. . Bailey, Alonzo A. . Barker, Horace R. . Battles, Harrison W. - Bigelow, Alvarando Bigelow, Frank W. Boynton, Wm. S. . Bronson, James . Brooks, Benj. V. Carter, Rufus H. Childs, George H. Davis, Chas. T.- Deane, Nat. C. . Delany, Dennis - Delany, John. Delehanty, Jas. F. - Doherty, Thos. A. « aa ae Oe Ch 2 terse ee Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Charlton. Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Westmore- land, N. H. Wolcott, Vt. Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Greenfield. Bangor, Me. Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Templeton. Worcester. Muster into U. 8. Service. Remarks. Termination of Service. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 27, ’61. Sept. 12, ’61. Aug. 28, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Nov. 19, ’61, for disa- bility. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, 64. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64. May 15, ’63, for disa- bility. Feb. 27, '63, for disabil- ity. Died, April 20, ’62, at ~ Newbern. Killed, Feb. 8, ’62, in the battle of Roanoke Island. Killed, Sept. 1, 62, in the battle of Chan- tilly. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Killed, Sept. 17, 62, in the battle of Antie- tam. Died, March 18, ’62, at Newbern. Jan. 2, 63, for disabil- ity; transferred from 25th Inf. July 14, 62. Reénlisted. Killed, Sep- 30, ’64, in the battle of Poplar Sp. Church. Reénlisted. Transferred to 86th and 56th Inf.; transferred to Co. F, Feb. 25, ’62. Transferred to V. R. C., Jan. 8, 64. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, 64. Expiration of service, ‘Aug. 30, 64. Feb. 6, 63, for disabil* ity. Reported deserter, April 23, °63. ; Expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64. a ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 457 ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Name and Rank. Residence, or to. Age.| Place credited Muster into U. 8. Service. Remarks. Termination of Service. Donahue, Edward . Eastman, Amos §.. Elmer, Owen .. Fiske, Dwight G. Flint, Samuel W. Gleason, Amos N.. ./ 22 Graves, Wm. R. Green, Chas. T... Grout, Chas. M. Haskell, Henry . Hastings, Lorenzo T. . Hodgman, Wm. . Horton, Chas. L. Houghton, Fred. W. Howe, Edward A. . Ingerson, Wm. W. . Kempton, Elias, Jr. Lamb, Ansel H. . Lynaugh, John . March, Harry Marsh, Alphonso Marsh, Tim. S. . Marshall, Jos. T. Mathews, George H. . Montgomery, James Montjoy, Chas. F. . Shirley. Ashby. Shirley. Greenfield. Fitchburg. Lunenbdarg. Lunenburg. Fitchburg. Northfield. Winchendon. Deerfield. Shirley. Southbridge. Fitchburg. Grafton. Harvard. Fitchburg. Hartford, Ct. Canada. Charlton. Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Fitchburg. Winchendon. Harvard. Fitchburg. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, '61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. } Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, 61. | Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. March 18, 64. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. Aug. Aug. | Aug. 23, '61. | Aug. 23, ’61. Sept. 21, °63, for disa- bility. | Killed, Sept..17, ’62, in the battle of Antietam. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, 64. Dec. 30, '62, for disabil- ity. | April 22, 63, for disa- bility. July 26, '62, for disabil- ity. Dec. 12, '62, for disabil- ity. July 29, °62, for disabil- ity. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64. Killed, Feb. 8, ‘62, at the battle of Roanoke Island. Reénlisted. Transferred to 386th and 56th Inf. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Expiration of service, Aug. 30; 64. Sept. 13, ’62, for dis- ability. Oct. 3, 62, for disability. Transferred to V. R. C., » 1863. Reported deserter, Sept. 14, ’62. Killed, Sept. 1, ’62, in battle of Chantilly. July 15, 63, for prom. 2d Lieut. 55th Inf. Expiration of service, July 22, "64. . Sept. 23, '62, for disa- bility. Aug. Died, Feb. 21, ’62, of wounds received in battle of Roanoke Island. Aug. 28, 61. | Nov. 14, °62, for disa- bility. Aug. 23, ’61. Reénlisted. Killed, Sept. 30, °64, in battle of Poplar Spring Church. ee! TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Name and Rank. Age Residence, or to. Place credited Muster into U. 8. Service. Remarks. Termination of Service. Mullett, Henry B. - Muzzey, Jas. M. Nelson, Henry O. Newell, John D. Osborne, Prescott E. Owen, Benjamin Paine, Wm. J. Parkhurst, Emmons M. Patch, J. Henry - Pratt, Lewis G. - Prentice, Henry . Roth, Gilbert . Rugg, Daniel W. Safford, Frank Saunders, Harrington Ww; Stearns, Albert C. Swift, John Tolman, Calvin E. . Wait, Erastus F. Warner, John G. Warren, Henry A. . , Warren, Preston Warren, Thomas Willis, George Williams, Jonathan Wood, Charles . hake Toe eee Oakham. Worcester. Wales. Greenfield. Leominster. Sutton. 18 | Fitchburg. 25 | Fitchburg. 19 | Shutesbury. 24 | Grafton. 22 | Wales. 32 | Fitchburg. 28 | Burlington, Vt. 20 | Shirley. 21 | Worcester. 23 | Fitchburg. 20 | Fitchburg. 24 | Deerfield. 27 | Harvard. 19 | Fitchburg. 88 | Fitchburg. 21 | Fitchburg. 17 | Stow. 39 | Wales. 20 | Sunderland. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Westminster. | Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61- Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61- Aug. 23, ’61 Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Reported deserter, Sept. 14, 762. Feb. 12, 63, for disabil- ity. Sept. 20, '62, for disabil- ity. Killed, Sept. 1, ’62, in battle of Chantilly. Nov. 14, ’62, for disa- bility. Sept. 17, ’63, order War Dept. Transferred from Co. F, Feb. 25, 62; expira- tion of service, Aug. 30, 64. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Transferred to U. 8. Cav., Oct. 25, 62. Nov. 20, 62, for disa- bility. Oct. 12, °61, for disabil- ity. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64. Dec. 30, ’62, for disa- bility. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, 64 Reénlisted. Transferred to 86th and 56th Inf. Aug. 2, 62, for disabil- ity. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Killed, Sept. 1, 62, in battle of Chantilly. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64. Retnlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. May 13, ’63, for disa- bility. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64. 3 Killed, Sept. 1, ’62, 10 the battle of Chan- tilly. ; Sept. 15, ’63, for disa- bility. Prisoner at Strawberry Plains, E. Tenn-, Jan- amare SS SR ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 459 ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. ———— sles se maha AI A OR sia fabe a Name and Rank. Residence, or to. Age.| Place credited | Muster into U. | Remarks. Termination of 8. Service. Service. Wright, Walter S. . Company E. 1st Sergeants. Coolidge, Charles Field, Edwin F. . Gardner, Horace Goss, Charles Sergeants. Curtis, Christopher A. Fox, William L. Plunkett, Thomas . Sargent, Thomas E. White, Henry White, John D.. Corporals. Brigham, Augustus. Burpee, Francis . Buss, Henry K. .« Chase, J. Nelson Cooper, James A. Glazier, Chas. H. . Maquillan, Chas. E. Moore, Francis L. Sargent, Franklin . Fitchburg. Sterling. Lancaster. Boston. Sterling. Lancaster. W. Boylston. Boylston. W. Boylston. Boylston. Sterling. Sterling. W. Boylston. Barre. Boylston. Worcester, | Warwick. W. Boylston. W. Boylston. 19, 64; supposed ead. Aug. 23, ’61. Dec. 3, *62, for disabil- ity. | Aug. 23, 61. | 2d Lieut., March 3, °62; | died March 30, °62. Aug. 23, 61. | 2d Lieut., Dec. 18, 62. Aug. 23, ’61. Reénlisted. Killed, July 30, ’64, in battle of | the Mine. Aug. 23, ’61. | 2d Lieut, July 22, ’62; killed, June 17, "64 (as Capt.), in battle before Petersburg. Aug. 23, ’61. | Reénlisted. Sept. 24,'64, as supernumerary- Aug. 23, 61. | Reénlisted. Sept. 24,’64, as supernumerary: Aug. 23, ’61. | Lost both arms, while carrying regimental U. S. flag in the bat- tle of Fredericksburg; discharged, March 9, 64. Aug. 23, 61. | Reénlisted. Sept. 24, 64, as supernumerary. Aug. 23, ’61. | Reénlisted. Sept. 24, 64, as supernumerary Aug. 23, ’61, | Transferred to U.S. A, Oct. 23, 62. Aug. 23, 61. | Sept 21, "62, for disa- | bility. Aug. 8, ’62. | Expiration of seryicts Aug. 30, 64. Aug. 23, ’61. | Killed, Sept. 17, | the battle of | tam. Aug. 98, ’61. ; Sept. 13, “61, for disa- bility. Fe Aug. 23, ’61. | Nov. 10, 63; for) eae bility. Aug. 23, *61. | March’ 14, "6% for'disa- sae df U. S ’ erre’ . . Aug. 23, "61. bh ci Oct. 30, 62. +¢1. | Died at Falmouth, Va. Aug. 23, "61 ‘Ang. 20, 62. ed W. Boylston. 61. Reénlisted. Transferred Aug. 23, "6! | fo d6th and 56th Inf. Ag Pore eam: ae TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Name and Rank. Residence, or Place credited to. Muster into U. 8. Service. Remarks. Termination of Service. Wilson, George W. Wilson, James A. . Musicians. Burgess, George E. Miles, Samuel L. Wagoner. Vose, Chas. E. Privates. Adams, Franklin Ayers, Cyrus Barker, Thomas E. Barrows, Horatio N. aiid oe Bigelow, George T. Bowers, Willard A. Brigham, Henry F. Brock, Albert L. Brown, Justin Bullard, Aug. H. Burke, James E. Burke, Patrick. . Carter, John - Chapin, Chas. L. Clapp; Horace Clinton, John L. Collins, John - Converse, Horace Converse, Rufus Princeton. Worcester. Marlborough. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Marlborough. Leominster. Templeton. Princeton. | Bolton. Leicester. Holden. Bolton. Boylston. Holden. Worcester. Worcester. | Lancaster. | Clinton. Dana. Warren. Webster. Worcester. Fitchburg. Wales. Wales. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, "61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. July 19, 61, Aug. 24, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Dec. 16, 63. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Reénlisted. Died at Cleveland, O., Feb. 21, 64. Died, Dec. 15, ’62, of wounds in battle of Fredericksburg: Transferred to U. S. Cay., Oct. 23, '62. Sept. 14, 61, for disa- bility. March 15, ’63, for disa- bility. Dec. 7, 61, for disabil- ity. May 10, ’62, for disa- bility. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. March 6, ’63, for disa- bility. Killed, Sept. 17, °62, in the battle of Antie- tam. March 24, 63, for disa- bility. Expiration of service, Aug. 30, ’64. March 4, ’63, for disabil- ity. Oct? 3, '62, for disabil- ity. March 14, 763, for disa- bility. Killed, Sept.1,’62, in the battle of Chantilly. Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Died, Feb. 17, ‘64, at Camp Nelson, Ky. Com. Sergt-, Nov- i, 62. Transferred to U. S. Ay Oct. 23, 762. ; Jan. 22, 63, for disabil- ity. Reported deserter, Mar. 97, 63. Reinlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Aug. 23, *61. Jan. 16, °63, for disabi - ity. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 461 ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Name and Rank, Coombs, Daniel . Daley, Joseph Davenport, Allen Davis, Henry A. Defoe, Paul Downes, Lyman Eppler, John . Faweett, Benj. C. Fiske, Richard R. Freeman, John Gallagher, Hugh Goodwin, Edward . Griggs, Joseph C. Grover, George A. . Hale, Mortimer T. . - . Hall, Augustus M. Hall, William P. Hartney, Patrick Hastings, Albert S. Haven, Charles R. . Henry, Alvin P- Hobbs, Amos Horan, John H. Hosmer, Chas. A. ; Hosmer, Dennis ———— | Age.| Residence, or Place credited to. Muster into U. 8. Service. Remarks. Termination of Service. Ware. W. Boylston. Holden. Sterling. Worcester. Greenfield. | Greenfield. Boylston. | Blackstone. Erving. W. Boylston. Marlborough. Warren. Hingham. Holden. Clinton. Worcester. Greenfield. Boylston. Bolton. Worcester. Stafford Springs, Ct. Ww. Boylston. | Natick. { Holden. 61. 61. 61. 63. 61. 61. 61. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. 5 Aug, 2: Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Feb. 26, ’62- Aug. 23, 61. Sept. 18, ’62, for disabil- ity. to 36th and 56th Inf. April 6, ’62, for disabil- ity. Died, April 17, ’64. Reported deserter, Aug. 10, *62. Transferred to U. S. Cay., Oct. 23, ’62. Reénlisted. Killed, June 2, ’64, in battle of Cold Harbor. | Oct. 17, 762, for disabil- ity. Died, Nov. 27, °63, of wounds received in siege ‘of Knoxville, Nov. 24. Aug. 30, ’64, expiration of service. March 12, ’63, for disa- bility. Died, Oct. 80, "62, of wounds received in the battle of Chantilly. Aug. 30, °64, expiration of service. March 18, 63, for disa- bility; enlisted in Navy, Oct. 21, 63. Dee. 11, ’62, for disabil- ity. Sept. 27, 62, for disabil- ity. June 11, °63, for disabil- ity. Transferred to U. S. Avy Oct. 23, °62. 4 | Nov.-1, 762, for disabil- ity ; -reénlisted Dee. 4, 63; died, April 12, 64. Reénlist to 36th and 5 n Sept. 14, "61, for disa- ity. ae Aug. 30, "64, expiration of service. | Died, April 6, "62. Died of wounds received Sept. 1, 62, in the battle of Chantilly. Dec. 7, °61, for disabil- sd kee ee Reénlisted. Transferred. cauanaiabaiaatemmmmmaaan Sears nt cee ae Cantianed, Residence, or Muster into U. Remarks. Termination of Name and Rank. Age. ‘Leia credited) og tues Sanytia. O. i Vorces 6L. énlisted. Transferred Atwood, Lewis B. . 26 | Worcester. Nov. 6, ’61 a or a i 3,61. | Died, Aug. 23, ” in — nad ac este = abe ae 2 prison at Ander- sonville. 26 Bassett, Orin . 47 | Dalton. | Aug. 23, ’61. han, 1, "Ob ‘ a : ; 6 itts yr, 28 Reénlisted. Transferre Bedford, Samuel 26 | Pittsfield. Aug. 23, ’61. be ny ag _ in i 69 : bility y 41 | Pittsfield. Aug. 11, '62. | Jan., 63, for disa Sede iy se 22 | Wilbraham. | Aug. 23, 61. r,s 26, ’63, for disabil- 1 . Buzzell, Reuben A. — | Worcester. Aug. 23, ’61. May 8, '62, for disabil- : ity. i i ti 28, * d 1 6, 62, at Chamberlain, Henry F.; 18 | Richmond. Aug. 23, ’61. ee — x! o. 5 i g Aug. 23, ’61. | Killed, Sept 62, in Claflin, John R. . 20 | Lee. Aug. 23, on : ar Chanthiy: f J orces .f 61. 63, order War Clapp, W. Warren . 34 | Worcester. Nov. 6, ’61 O Dedt # Cooper, John -| 21 | New aS Aug. 23, ’61. | For disability. : non, N. Y. 32 é hy 64, iration Cortour, Jean B. 32 | Adams. Aug. 23, ’61. a” aN —e Costello, William 24 | Pittsfield. Aug. 23, ’61. grt 2, 68, for disa- 1 ve Crocker, Hiram . 34 | Lebanon _ | Aug. 23, ’61. | For disability. a ss Transferred to U. S. Damon, Albert F. . 19 | Williamsburg. Aug. 23, ’61. fo rcin Oat. 98, 65: Damon, Almeron 19 | Williamsburg.| Feb. 27, *64. Transferred to 36th and 0 ittsfi 4 ter. Davidson, John H.. 29 | Pittsfield. Aug. 23, 61. | | Reported desert : Davis, Erasmus ©. . 24 | Greenwich. Aug. 23, ’61. | Died, May & 62, Beau vis, Frank Aug. 23, ’61. | Reénlisted. Promoted epee cree os ecm fig Hospital Steward. Dudley, Sidney 29 | Pittsfield. Aug. 23, ’61. | For disability. Ellis, Chester A. 18 | Wendell. rn 5, 62. [Died a 3B, 62, New- | Jern s J Farrelly, John 40 | Pittsfield. Aug. 23, ’61. | | San. 10, ’62, for disabil- : : y: . . Gorman, Geo. E. 22 | Winchendon. | July 30, ’62. Hee, 21, '63, for disabil- Ty ee Graves, James L. 29 | Holland. Aug. 23, ’61. | Jan. 14, ’62, for disabil- ; ity. 20 | Gill. Aug. 23, ’61. | Reported deserter. pe eae A 22 i Aug. 23° °6 scharged for disabil- Hale, Francis D. 22 | Bernardston. Aug. 23, 61. | i a 24, 61. En- listed again March 8, 762. 21 | Bernardston. | March 3, ’62. | Drowned, Aug. 24, ’62, ieee : : Acquia Creek, Va. ; dston. | M 62. | Oct. 18, 762, for disabil- Hale, Henry W. 18.| Bernardston arch 3, 762 ae , 62, fo Hale, Hoyt 95 | Petersham. Aug. 7, 62. | Died, Sept. 11, ’62. ) a SR ITT EIN PIL IAI nei ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Name and Rank. Hale, James W. Hardman, Aaron Hazard, Alfred M. . Henrie, Proten Hinkley, Edwin A. Houghton, Geo. A. Jacquot, Jules Jarvis, George W. . Jennings, Chas. A. . Jewett, Gilbert L. . Jordan, Xavier . Kelley, Jeremiah Knight, Justin Lacore, Edward A. Laurey, David L. Lemley, George . Leonard, Chas. Leonard, Warren Lombard, Robert R. Lyndon, James . Magenot, Belthayer Magovern, Thomas McEvoy, Thomas McIntosh, Henry H. Age. eS ieee into U. Remarks. Termination of to. 5. Service. Service. 19 | Bernardston. Aug. 23, ’61. | Died, April 11, ’62, New bern, N. C. _— Transferred to U. 8. A., i Oct. 23, °62. 21 | Pittsfield. Aug. 9, ’62. | Died, June 22, ’64, W: ashing gton, D: Cc. 32 | Adams. Aug. 23, ’61. | Killed, Dec. 13, 62, in the battle of "Freder- icksburg. 18 | Lanesborough.| Aug. 23, 61. | Transferred to U. 8. A. Oct. 7 62. 17 | Leominster. | Aug. 23, 61. | Died, Jan 25, ’62, on steamer Northerner. 22 | Adams. Aug. 23, ’61. | Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. 3 while prisoner of war. 23 | Pittsfield. Aug. 9, 62. | Killed, June 2, ’64, in the battle of Cold aig 18 | Adams. Aug. 23, 61. | March 5, ’63, for disa- bility. 24 | Deerfield. Feb. 9, 64. Transferred to 36th Inf. while prisoner of war. 33 | Boston. Oct. 14, 62. | Aug. 30, ’64, expiration of service. 23 | Pittsfield. Aug. 23, ’61. | Reénlisted. Transferred to 86th and 56th Inf. 83 | Enfield. Aug. 23, ’61. | Transferred to V.R. C Noy. 30, ’63. 20 | Bernardston. | Aug. 23, ’61. | Killed, March 14, 62, in the battle of New- bern. 19 | Worcester. Aug. 26, ’61. | Discharged for disabil- ity. 20 | Lee. Aug. 23, 61. | Reénlisted. Transferred | to 86th and 56th Inf. 18 | Deerfield. Aug. 23, ’61. | Killed, Se pt. 17, 762, in the battle of Antie- tam. 83 | Deerfield. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 30, °64, expiration E of service. 22 | Pittsfield. Aug. 9, 62. | March 20, '63, for disa- . bility. 19 | Whately. Feb. 26, 64. | Transferred to 36th and 3 56th Inf. 19 | Ashfield. July 14, 64, Killed, Sept. 30, ’64, in the ‘vate of Poplar Spring Chure 21 | Shirley. Feb. 3, 64, reeked to 36th and 5 66th Inf. while pris- 29 | W Se Wasetorroa 2 orcester. 61. eénlisted. Iransferre Aug. 9, 7% er 36th and 56th Inf. 27 | Pittsfield. il 20, ’62. | Killed, Sept. 1, '62, in on April the battle of Chan- tilly. 31 i THE TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Residence, or Muster into U. | Remarks. Termination of Webster, Warren - ‘Welch, Farrell . - me Chatham, N. fee 2 Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Name and Rank. Age. Sie credited) {Sarviobé Bivins: ; 0. Par RSIS Merrill, Chas. W. | 18 | New Lebanon,| Aug. 23, ’61. | Aug. 80, ’64, expiration 1 of service. ye Messinger, John | 22 | Pittsfield. Aug. 23, ’61. | May 6, 62, for. disabil- | ity. : Metcalf, Joseph . | 35 | Spencer. Aug. 23, ’61. ee 30, ’62, for disa- vility. tape Miller, Stephen . . 42 | Winchendon. | July 24, 62. | Aug. 30, ’64, expiration | of service. Morton, Orson E. . «| 29 | Deerfield. March 12, ’62. ay ier Et P I r gh . | 19 | Pittsfield. Aug. 23, 61. | Reénlisted. Killed, Aug. Murphy, Hugh 19 Pittsfie Aug. 23, “7 "64, in rah iB Weldon R. R. Nolan, John. . . .| 23 | Pittsfield. Aug. 23, ’61. | 1863, for disability. Owens, Alanson K. | 18 | Leominster. | Aug. 23, ’61. i 1, 62, for disabil- ity. Peck, Simeon . 35 | Deerfield. March 14, '62.| Nov. 24, 62, for disabil- ity. i Phillips, Moses B. . 22 | Gill. Aug. 23, ’61. | July 12, ’62, for disabil- | ity. Potter, George E. | 96 | Pittsfield. | Aug. 25, ’62. | Transferred to V. R. C. Reed, Thomas E. | 89 | Pittstield. Aug. 21, ’62. | Aug. 30, ’64, expiration | of service. Reynolds, John . | 18 | Adams. Aug. 23, 61. | Reported deserter. tuss enry . | 18 | Pittsfield. Aug. 23, 61. | Transferred sto U. S. Russell, Henry | ittsfi Aug. 23, Cav Oct, 28, °62., Russell, Saml. P. 23 | Pittsfield. Aug. 23, ’61. | Aug. 30, ’64, expiration | of service. clas Scolly, Augustus | 18 Pittsfield. Aug. 7, 62. 7 15, ’63, for disabil- | ity. ° Sexton, Thomas 18 | Williamsburg.| Aug. 23, ’61. Transferred to Vv. R..C. Spencer, Lucien W. 21 | Worcester. Aug. 28, ’61. | Aug. 30, ’64, expiration | of service. 4 Stearns, Hiram B. . 18 Deerfield. March 10, ’62. a oy aM #R.C., | Sept. 30, 63. Stevens, Jerome L. | 18 | Winchendon. | July 80, 62, | Aug. 30, 64, expiration \ | of service. ; Stone, Melville C. . 20 | Worcester. Aug. 23, ’61. Apa 16, °63, for disa- bility. Swift, Howard K. . 31 | Richmond. Feb. 15, 64. | Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Thew, Josephus. . 21 | Adams. Aug. 23, ’61. | Reported deserter, Sept. | 14, '62. Hee Thomas, James . 25 | Becket. Aug. 23, ’61. | May 8, ’62, for disabil- | ity. ler, William H. . 18 | Richmond. Aug. 23, ’61. | Reénlisted. Transferred sda raahe to 36th and 56th Inf. | while prisoner of war. Volk, Abraham . | 34 | Pittsfield. Aug. 21, 62. | Feb. 4, ’63, for disabil- a ity. Waite, James L. a | Whately. March 12, ’62.| Reported deserter. Killed, Dec. 13, °62, in the battle of Freder- icksburg. Transferred to U. S. Cav., Oct. 23, ’62. eae eens eee Te I sea ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 483 ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Name and Rank. | Place eredited| Muster into U. | Remarks. Termination of 8. Service. Service. Wells, John Wheelock, Geo. F. . Whipple, Samuel P. Wilcox, Solomon . Worthington, George . Wright, Samuel . Wyatt, Stephen H. Company K, 1st Sergeants. Aldrich, Harrison Davis, George W. . Haskins, Henry H. Lawrence, Geo. F. . Morrow, Wm. H. Phelps, Benton Plummer, Charles . Sawyer, Wm. H. Tansey, Peter J. Young, Morgan. . Residence, or Age.| to. - | 22 | Worcester. 25 Leominster. 28 | Pittsfield. | 26 | Dalton. 8 | Adams. 25 | Pittsfield. 18 | Greenwich. 20 | Williamsville, ef 27 | Barre. 21 | Dana. | 21 | Hardwick, | 19 | Barre. | | 22 | Barre. 27 | Wisconsin. 23 | New Salem. | | 21 | Barre. / 40 | Athol. Aug. 23, ’61. | Killed, Sept. 1, 62, in the battle of Chan- tilly. Aug. 30, ’64, expiration of service. Reénlisted. Transferred to 86th and 56th Inf. Dee. 2, ’61, for disabil- ity. Aug. 23, ’61. | Reported deserter. Aug. 23, 61. | Murdered, at Columbus, Ohio, March 30, ’63 Transferred from Co. H, March 1, '62; expira- tion of service, Aug. 80, 64. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 28, 61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, 61. | 2d Lieut., March 3, ’62. | See roster of commis- | Sioned officers, as Cap- | tain. Aug. 23, 61. | Died, Sept. 26, ’62, of | wounds in battle of | Antietam. Aug. 23, ’61. | Reénlisted. Discharged, | as supernumerary, | Sept. 24, ’64, in Co. Bis vars Aug. 23, '61. | 2d_Lieut., Sept. 26, 62. | See roster of commis- sioned officers, as Ist Lieut. Reénlisted. 2d Lieut., Sept. 7,’64; Ist Lieut. 36th Inf, Reénlisted. * 2d Lieut., Nov. 1, ’64. Trans- | _ ferred to 36th Inf. 61. | His true name was Charles Plummer Tidd; a lieutenant of John Brown at Har- per’s Ferry. Died on steamer Northerner, Feb. 7, ’62- Ist Lieut., April 26, '63. See roster of commis- sioned officers, as Cap- er aT f a Aug. 23, '61. | Reénlisted. Transferre Ang. 23, 768 to 36th Inf. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, Aug. 23, ’61. | Aug. 23, 61. | Aug. 30, ’64, expiration of service. ————— , 484 THE TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT, 485 ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Residence, or : Snatt * | “ on | Muster into U. | Remarks Termination of ; Residence, or q | . Name and Rank. Age. og credited a Batvina. Service. : Name and Rank. | Age. Place credited aes: Remarks. pcatenee of ; Sergeants. Wagoner. | 6 8 righ W. .!| 24!) Hardwick. Aug. 23, ’61. | Reénlisted. Discharged “her ls See y a ’ i ‘ Barnes, Brigham | 8. <9, for disability, Dec. 16, Parker, Rawson . | 384 | Barre. Aug. 23, ’61. ye Png expiration H 64. | : : Caldwell, Geo. L. . .| 22 | Oakham. Aug. 23, ’61. “> bg tel bos at Privates. | j aap Uap ae Aldri rin. . .| 23! Petersham. | Aug. 23, 61. | March 10, ’64, for disa- Emmons, Marcus A. .| 21 | Hardwick. Aug. 23, ’61. teénlisted. saa ing drich, Calvin | etersham ug. 29, bility, , 64, for disa | ip Bie ese battle, 6 ; Aldrich, Whitman A. .| 19 | Prescott. | Aug. 23, ’61. | Aug. 20, ’62, for disa- Cold Harbor. | | bility. a Gethings, P. Frank . | 20 | Barre. Aug. 23, ’61. sag ange i asi Allen, Wm. H. . . .| 18 | Petersham., | Aug. 9, ’62. | Dec. 5, 63, for disabil- sehr yale | ity. ; Richardson, Erastus B.| 34 | Barre. Aug. 28, 61. Aug. 30, ’64, expiration Banks, Prentice J. . .| 23 | Alstead, N.H.| Aug. 23, °61. | Reénlisted. Transferred - ' ON aan Ss Aah | to 36th Inf.; died Feb, Rider, Alfred A. - | 26 | Worcester. Aug. 23, ’61. car. 3 30, 64, expiration / | 11, 6B. Ee aes S eel eh Ok | ick. | Aug. 23, ’61. | Reénlisted. Transfer- Todd David E. . | 24 | Deerfield, Aug. 23, ’61. | Died, June 15, 62, New- Barnes, Augustus 4) Hardwick | Aug. 23, 61 ego rg and 56th / bern, N. C. ) | Inf. Corporals. Barnes, Calvin C. -| 87 | Petersham. | Aug. 9, 62. | mie } 30, a expiration i 4 Sei | | of service. Billings, Wm. H. | 19 | Dana, Ang. 28, ’61. sa Pag te: Barnes, Lawson . . .| 22 | Hardwick. Feb. 25, 64. | Died, May 15, 64, of t , | m é he red eg gat nfexcad i wounds in battle of 4 Bliss, Harrison D. | 23 | New Salem. | Aug. 23, 61. Reénlisted. oe — Spottsylvania. - ; to 36th and 56th Inf. Bliss, Albert A. . . .| 21] New Salem. | Aug. 23, 61. | Died, Jan. 30, ’64, at Caswell, Chas. M. . .| 21 | Fitchburg. Aug. 23, 61. | June 19, '62, for disabil- Cleveland, Ohio. Ae fs Booth, Geo. S. . . .| 18 | Adams. Aug. 23, 61. | Died, March 26, ’62, of Clancey, James. . .| 19 | Worcester. Aug. 23, ’61. | Reénlisted. Transferred jooth, Geo. 8 ree bias Pe prs in battle’ of oe to 36th and 56th Inf. Roanoke leland. | . © 7 C 169 : : Cleveland, Wm. H. «| 21 | Hardwick. | Aug. 23, 61. | Died, Aug. 29, 762. Boyd, Cheney . ‘. .| 29 | Spencer. | Aug. 23, 61. | Jan. 13, °63, for disabil- Harrington, William .| 41 | Lunenburg. Aug. 23, ’61. Reénlisted. Killed, July ‘ ity. 30, °64, in battle of Brigham, Chas. S. . .| 18 | Erving. | Aug. 1, ’62. | Died, Sept. 27, °62, of | _the Mine. fe | wounds in battle of Hayden, Josiah W. .| 18 | New Salem. | Aug. 23, ’61. | Killed by sentinel, at Katebaue: ’ eee Ma., Bee Brown, Daniel R. . .| 22 Petersham. | Aug. 9, 62. | March 20, °63, for disa- | 9,761. BBs bility. Nye, Edwin - . . .| 25 | Barre. Aug. 23, ’61. } my 14, ’63, for disabil- Burr, George . . . .| 23 Brookfield. Aug. 23, 61. | Jan. 20, 63, for disabil- . ity. f ins ' | _ ity. Rider, Wm. D. . . .} 95 | Barre. Aug. 23, ‘61. | May 8, ’62, for disabil- Campbell,Henry . .| 18 | Ashfield. June 29, '64. | Transferred to 36th Inf. , Oy.) Piatt Ze 4 Carney, Patrick . . .| 24 | Barre. - 23, °61. | Dee., '62, for disability. Smith, Chas. A. . .| 24) Barre. Aug. 23, ’61. | eee Clark, J. Warren . 20 | Petersham. Aug. 12, °62. | Killed, Tune 1, 64, qn | _| to 86th and 56 . | ? " Stone, J: Madison . .| 99 | Dana. Aug. 23, 61. | Reénlisted. Transferred agg, boo. Cold Har sy 36th Inf., and V. R. 4 Clifford, Elbridge G. .| 29 | Hatfield. Aug. 28, ’61. | Died,’ Oct. 10, 762, = F | lacie ’ } ‘ in battle o: Warner, Gilman E. .| 22 | Hardwick. Aug. 23, 61. | Died, Sept. 23, °63, at | | Crenadiiie / Camp Nelson, Ky. Conant, Henry E. | 19 | Barre. | Aug. 23, 61. | Rednlisted. Transferred Winn, Thomas - - -| 19 | Worcester. Aug. 23, ‘61. | Reénlisted. Transferred | to 36th and 56th Inf. ; to 36th and 56th Inf. Converse, Chas. E.. .| 18 | Ware. Aug. 23, ’61. | May 8, ’62, fo. «uil- Witt, Harding - + -| 20 | Dana. Aug. 28, ’61. | Reénlisted. Transferred ’ rf 5 to 36th and 56th Inf. Cook, George O.. . «| 27 | Petersham. | Aug. 12, ’62, | March 20, '63, for disa- we | | bility. Musicians. Crockett, Benj. M. . .| 43 | Petersb -. 7, 162. | Feb. 26, '63, for disabil- Parker, Isaac C. - 26 | Rutland. Aug. 23,61. | Discharged for disabil- re erenam. Aug. 7, "62. a or? rib ‘i ity. 5a Cummings, Daniel W. | 22 | Paxton. Aug. 23, °61- Died, Aug. 20, 162. Wetherbee, Emory G. . | 15 | Marlborough. Aug. 23, ’61. i 24, °62, for disabil- Déan; Teniah <2” ~ .| 19 | Barro, Feb, 29, ’64. Transferred to 86th and ; | ity. 56th Inf. | ‘ . t pili bee es oe PS & te ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 487 | 486 THE TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. { ; t ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. } as ; a ar TS ———_—_ a WEN — —_____ : | a Peay. teen i | i | Residence, or Ree ; | Residencs, or a ‘nati A H Name and Rank. lee} Place credited gr tg tench meer ae ys Urs of Name and Rank, Age. a credited egy yh semeaetiae oa A : = et Dyer, Thos. B. . . «| 19 | Westborough.| Aug. 23, ’61. | Reénlisted. Transferred | Jordan, Erastus C. . -| 40 | bt al Aug. 23, ‘61. we 8, ’62, for disabil- Pat to 86th and 56th Inf. : i Hee whe Eddy, Franklin A. . .| 28 Royalston. Aug. 23, ’61. April 20, “63, ot a teu | Judkins, Oliver P. . .| 19 | Rutland. Aug. 23, ’61. te Pate | | bility. | 2 | to 36th and 56th Inf. : Edwards, Lyman D. .| 30 | Petersham. Aug. 7,62. |March 10, ’64, for disa- Kenney, John . . .| 18 Canada. Aug. 23, ’61. aa for disabil- t bility. ity. { Bilis AsO. he 36:0 ot OR LPatatitaiy: Aug. 7, 62. | Aug. 40, '64, expiration ; Lagara, German. . .| 32) Petersham. Aug. 23, ’61. peste Mas pris- 7 oner 0 var. ges Lander, Geo. M. . -| 18 | Greenfield. Aug. 23, ’61. | Reénlisted. Killed, May | Ellis, Wm.. *. . . «| 20 | Worcester. Aug. 23,’ Jec. 29, 62, isabil- : , Wm. orcester Aug. 23, 61. ee 62, for disabil 31, 64, in battle near Fellows, Henry M. . .| 21 | Litchfield, Ct.| Aug. 23, 61. | Reps inns x Cold Harbor, Va. hiner | ae Aug. 23, ’61 me deserter, May Lindsey, Horace D.. .) 20 | Dana. Aug. 23, 61. | Aug. 30, ’64, expiration Fessenden, JamesO. .| 22 | Barre. Aug. 23. '61. | Killed, Mare 62.1 : | of service. Les! Segre | rr nel Beige ee ie, o ; Lippitt, Job + «| 21 | Petersham. Aug. 7, 62. | Discharged for disabil- Flynn, Michael .| 22 | Adams. Aug. 23, ’61. | Reénlisted. Tr. erre | ity. Cee basa yy | ng--23, '61 eae tin eee Marshall, Thomas . ./| 19 | Boston. Aug. 23, 61. | Reénlisted. Transferred Fryer, Patrick . . .| 18 | Barre. March 29, ’62.| Killed, Dec. 13, ’62, in to 36th and reer Inf. b battle of Fr icks- as prisoner of war. — | ee eee Martin, Patrick . . .| 18 | Barre. Aug. 23, 61. | Killed, March 14, °62, in Gates, OliverC.. . .| 19 Petersham. Aug. 7, 62. | Aug. 30, ’64, expiration 3 7 battle of Newbern. of service. Mattimore, Patrick. .| 22 | Worcester. Aug. 23, 61. | any 30, 64, expiration Gleason, Geo. H. . .| 30 | Barre. Aug. 23, ’61. | Reénlisted. Transferred | of service. ; , y 1 ay south “to 36th and 56th Inf. Maynard, Geo. S. . .| 18 | Hubbardston.| Aug. 23, ’61. | Me 14, '63, for disa- Gleason, Michael . .| 19 | Enfield. July 1, ’64, 'ransfer 36 | ility. ‘ae ae “Hi ae | ee ee Moore, RufusD.. . .| 28 | Hubbardston.| Aug. 23, °61. | Aug. 5, '62, for disabil- Hadlock yL. .| 18 | Charlemont. . 23,’ ay 8, 65 isabil- ede adlock, Harvey L Charlemont. | Aug. 23, ’61. gor A 62, for disabil Noonan, Daniel W. «| 18 | Petersham. Aug. 23, ’61. | Reénlisted. Transferred ey a rt st 3a 8 ? oe ee i . 1 | | to 36thand 56th Inf. > senabe wi ote Pe AiO a 5 Senta, ete Nourse, Tim. W.. . «| 22 | Barre. Aug. 23, ’61. | Jan. 14, ’68, for disabil- Harper, Henry M. . .| 17 | Worcester. ¥, 23, ? énlisted. ‘Trans | _ ity. yt e pease Re hs T- gens ion mig Orcutt, Wm. L. . . «| 21 | Adams. Aug. 23, ’61. | Discharged, on expira- Hennessey, Michael .| 21 | Hatfield. Aug. 23, ’61. | Transferred to U. S. A., ? | | ba yp mney as pris- | Oct. 25, °62. : ; ee octet | er of war, a Sa Henry,Wm. A. . . .| 28 | Worcester. Aug. 23, ’61. March 3,63, for disa- Pease, Benj. F. . . -| 43 | Hardwick. Aug. 23, ’61._| May 8, ‘62, for disabil- F | ; bility. : eas wae 8 Mill, Clarke eu, 1 81, | Hardwick. Aug. 23, ’61. Reported deserter, Sept. Porter, George H. . «| 18 | Charlemont. | Aug. 23, 61. | Died, Nov. 13, ’63, Camp / 11, ’63. : poe . _ Chase, oO. Hockman, Matthias .| 90 Ashland. Aug. 29, 62. | Aug. 30, ’64, expiration Powers, Nicholas . «| 21 | Worcester. Aug. 23, 61. | Nov. 1, ’62, for disabil- Pe py : oa | ity. : Holbrook, Henry C. .| 20 | Barre. Aug. 23, ’61. Q. i; Moe killed, Ripley, Dwight . . «| 30 | Petersham. Aug. 7, 62. | Killed, Nov. 25, '63, in siege of Knoxville. Sept. 17, 62, in th . : He... battle of “Anietetans, non Sheridan, Patrick . .| 25 | Cambridge. | Aug. 23,’61. | Jan. 4, ’63, for disabil- 2d Lieut. F ity. Holman, Geo.H. . .| 18} Petersham. | Aug. 12, ’62. Tass il, 63, for disa- Sherman, Henry M.. 18 | Hardwick. | Aug. 23, '61, Retnlistel. ae bility. ; a *, 0 86th and 96th *nt. Holman, Solomon 0. «| 44 | Petersham. | Aug. 12, °62. | March’ 14, °63, for disa- Sibley, Sidney - - -/ 18 | Barre. | Aug. 18, °62. | May 23, °64, for disabil- bility. sted ys isabi Howe, Edwin L.. - - 7 Sone Aug. 23, ’61. Died, Nov. 17, 61. Smith, George . - -/ 18 | a | Aug. 23, '61. | Discharged for disabil- Hunting, Daniel A.. | 2 ubbardston. | Aug. 23, 61, | Oct. 21, 62, for disabil- Smith, Geo. W ch 48 | Boston: | vue. 98. 61. | ae 8, 62, for disabil- Ae 5 «We ie ‘ . g. 23, - | May Jackson, Edward A. | 18 | Petersham. Aug. 1, 62. | Discharged for disabil- F | rogali Transferr : He Be ripe PbS toa in Smith, John A. . . «| 38 | Hubbardston, | Aug. 23, '61, Pees ait béth ig aa i attle of Antietam. ‘has. E 90 | 99 ry, 30, 64, expirati Jerome, Wm.. . . «| 19 New Brain- Aug. 23, '61. | Transferred to U. 8. A., Southland, Chas. E.,Jr.| 20 ) Athol. Aug. 23, 61. i oe expiration | tree. Oct. 23, 62. peat Ear a ee 488 THE TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Name and Rank. | Age. Residence, or Place credited to. | | Muster into U. | Remarks. Termination of 8. Service, Service. Stiles, Edwin B. . Stone, Henry O. Stone, Joseph E. . . Stowe, Chas. E.. . .| Stowell, Frank L. . Sullivan, Jas. H. Thresher, Oramel F. Tooley, John R. . Tooley, Josiah Tucker, Frank E. Twitchell, David M. Twitchell, Henry G. M. Walcott, Harvey Warner, Jas. W. . . Whitcomb, Geo. D. Wilson, Chas. H. . . Wilson, Geo. E. . . Woods, Henry Woodward, Daniel H.. Wright, John S. . , Wyman, Hiram A. . Young, Geo. W. . . Young, Samuel. . . Unassigned Recruits.’ Privates. Banan, Peter. . - 1 Not found on the com- pany rolls in office of Ad- jutant-General of Massa- chusetts. 18 19 18 18 43 20 19 21 18 | 18 21 38 22 19 18 21 Jamaica, Vt. Boston. Barre. Barre. Hubbardston. Petersham. Westborough. Hardwick. Barre. Barre. Westminster. Petersham. Charlestown. Alma, Il. Petersham. Barre. Lowell. Barre. Greenfield. Hardwick. Petersham. Petersham. Dana. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. 23; °61. 28, ’61. 23, 61 23, 61. 23, 61 23, 61. 23, ’61. 12, 62. 93, ’61. 23,61. Jan. 1, 64. Aug. 23, 61. Aug. 7, 762. 3,61, 3, 61. | Transferred to U.S. Cav., | Aug. 24, '62 | Transferred to U. 8. | Cav., Oct. 23, 62: | Killed, March 14, ’62, | _ in battle of Newbern. | Jan. 26, ’63, for disabil- ity. | Died, Jan. 9, ’68, at Alexandria, Va. Killed, March 14, ’62, in the battle of New- bern. Died, May 26, ’62. Reénlisted. Died, Feb. 14, ’64. Died, April 4, ’62. Aug. 30, ’64, expiration of service. Reénlisted. Transferred to 86th Inf. and V. R. oN Reénlisted. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Transferred to U. S. A., Oct. 25, 762. Transferred to U. 8. Cav., Oct. 23, ’6 Aug. 23, 61. | Oct. 2, '63, for disabil- March 10, ’64. Aug. Aug. 18, ’62. 7, 762. April 1, ’62. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. Aug. 23, ’61. April 4, ’64. ity. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. July 8, ’63, for disabil- ity. | Died, Sept. 15, ’63, at Camp Nelson, Ky. Feb. 15, 63, for disabil- ity. Aug. 30, ’64, expiration of service. Oct. 6, 62, for disabil- ity. Transferred to U. 8. Cav., Oct. 23, 762. Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. pists * ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. 489 ROSTER OF TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT — Continued. Residence, or Muster into.U. | Remarks. Termination of Name and Rank. Age. b eral credited) & Servicn. Bervice. al | ats Bates, Edwin . | 36 | Chesterfield. | June 28, ’64. | Transferred to 36th Inf. Boardman, Chas. 21 | Shrewsbury. | April 16, ’64. | No record. Boyd, John . . «| 80 | Amherst. | July 13, ’64. | No record. Boynton, Chas. H. . | 18 | Lunenburg. June 27, ’64. ae to 36th and ¥ | 6th Inf. Brenon, Martin . . | 26 | Boston. Dee. 15, °63. | No record. Burroughs, Warren H. | 35 | Northfield. | March 8, ’62. No record. Chadieux, Joseph 44 | Enfield. | July 6, 64. Transferred to 36th Inf. Conner, Michael . 19 | Worcester. Aug. 2, ’62. No record. De Turb, Martin 20 | Sterling. | July 27, ’64. | Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Dillon, James. . . 21 | Duxbury. | April 20, ’64. | No record. Doherty, James . 34 | Cambridge. | April 4, 62. | No record. Dunton, Sumner. . 30 | Ashfield. | July 7, 64 rransf rred to 36th Inf. Duprize, Robert . 32 | Boxford. | April 11, ’64. | Transferred to 36th and } / 56th Inf. Felton, Edgar L. 19 Leicester. June 30, 64. hier gl ig to 86th and | 6th Inf. Felton, Isaac . . 24 | Pembroke. May 6, ’64. | No record. Fields, 8. G. A. . - | 82 | Greenfield. / May 27, '62. | No record. Flanders, Moses L.. .| 24 | Amherst. July 13, 64. | Transferred to 36th Inf. Flynn, James. . 18 ) Warren. April 29, 64. Transferred to 36th Inf. Flynn, Morris 19 | Ashfield. June 29, ’64. | No record. Galloway, John . 25 | Boston. March 26, ’64.) No record. Feds Harris, Wm. B. . 86 | Fitchburg. Sept. 1, 62. | by 27, ’63, for disabil- j ity. Harthan, Chas. H. . 18 | Princeton. Feb. 1, ’64. vo og hospital, Feb. 29, '64. vey, John 20 | Duxbury. | April 20, ’64. | Transferred to 36th Inf. Hereind, Frederick . 21 | Bolveks. | June 30, 64. | No record. Kendall, Henry C. . 18 | Azhherst. July 20, '64. Trpasterred to 86th and i 56th Inf. Kenf, William 34 | Pembroke. May 6, 64. | Tresaiens to 386th and 56th Inf. Lamarsh, Wm.J. . .| 18 | Ashfield. | July 12, 64. ergy to 86th and | | 56th Inf. Mann, Benj. . . . 29 | Pittsfield. Sept. 11, 62. | No record. Mason, George H. 44 | Northfield. Aug. 12, ’64, ra er to 86th and 56th Inf. McKona, James. . .| 23 | Enfield. Tune 29, 64. | No record. Newton, Solomon . .| 43 | Windsor. March 25, ’64.! Transferred to 86th Inf. Nichols, George H. . 26 | Colrain. March 25, 64.) Transferred to 86th and ; | 56th Inf. Orr, Alexander . . — | Springfield. Aug. 20, '62. | No record. Parsons, Wm. . .- 24 | Shrewsbury. | April 16, 64. | No record. Remillard, Joseph 18 | Ashfield. July 13, 64. | Transferred to 36th Inf, Riley, Chas... =» 20 | Amherst. July 7,64. | Transferred to 36th Inf. Roach, Chas. . . 22 | Raynham. Dec. 28, 63. | No record. Rocote, Joseph 19 | Amherst. July 12, 64. | No record. i Smith, George . 28 | Ashfield. June 29, 64. | Transferred to 36th and 56th Inf. Spinney, George. . .| 21 | Boston. April 13, 64. No record. Walker, John. . .| 26 | Worcester. March 11, ’64.; No Hecord. galt Williams, Stephen S. .| 21 | Worcester. Aug. 2, 62. | Feb. 22, ’63, for disabil- | ity. | ee RECAPITULATION. Total number on the rolls of the regiment, including un- assigned recruits, band, and all non-combatants : — Commissioned officers... . . + + « » Wipbighen. tient sce ek ok bk wi nee ee ee CASUALTIES IN THE SERVICE. Killed and died of wounds in battle: — Commissioned officers .< . 10s es 80% SLR SOD 8°. CPt eng we eee oath ee Died of disease, in rebel prisons, etc. : — Commissioned officers: sc ..ies ai eck ee WTAE CS RR eae ret iene. RDA Discharged for disability : — Commissioned oficers 2.6. 6 SRN MMMM INI TN 45:8: Map a oe saison WE rae Deserted (enlisted men) . . . .. 1... Transferred to the regular army in October, 1862 (en- listed men) . , 88 1,137 1% 141 2 91 353 1,225 245 eo Or ~ DEATHS IN THE UNION AND REBEL ARMIES IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION. I HAVE been requested by several comrades to give the losses suffered in the two armies during the war, and have made strenuous efforts to furnish a correct statement. Sup- posing that the records of the War Department, sixteen years after the war, would furnish the desired information, I wrote to the adjutant-general of the army, asking for the figures ; much to my surprise, I received the answer, that “ ¢¢ is ¢mpos- sible at this time to furnish even an approximate statement of casualties in either the Union or Confederate armies.” The most complete table of the Union loss published by the gov- ernment that I find is one prepared by the surgeon-general of the army in 1870 (published in ‘* Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion.” Part First, Introduc- tion, pp. Xxxvil—xli.) ; and which is based on an actual count of the deaths in the service as they appear in the incomplete official returns of casualties ; as follows ;: — DEATHS IN THE UNION ARMY, AS REPORTED BY THE SUR- GEON-GENERAL IN 1870. “army: | “Vols, | roope et atid dies Killed in battle . - - + + ++ ++ ~~ | 1,855 | 41,369] 1,514 | 44,238 Died of wounds and injuries . 1,174 | 46,971 | 1,760 | 49,205 Died by suicide, homicide, and execution Q7 442 57 526 Died of disease - +... 3,009 | 153,995 | 29,212 186,216 Died from unknown causes 159 | 23,188 837 | 24,184 | Total deaths in service in the Union army . 5,724 | 265,265 | 33,380 | 304,369 , SL TTT i t 492 DEATHS IN THE UNION AND REBEL ARMIES. ) Strait’s Compilation from the official records (published in 1879) gives: Union troops killed, 59,860 ; wounded, 280,040 ; missing, 184,791. Rebel troops killed, 51,425; wounded, 227,871; missing, 384,281. The column of missing includes the armies surrendered. The following table of rebel casualties in battle is published . in vol. vii. “Southern Hist. Soc. Papers,” p. 288, as suffered ) INDEX. in the war of ’61-"65 : — Killed, 53,773 ; wounded, 194,026 ; prisoners, 202,283. The “ American Almanac” for 1882 gives Union troops As a rule, the names of members of the regiment do not appear in the Index. They are quite killed in battle as 61,362. fully accounted for in the Roster ; and the dated and headed pages of the book furnish an easy 4 iy 2 s : means of reference to learn particulars of casualties, etc. The exact number of deaths in either army will never be A ‘ known. It is safe, however, to say that of the 304,369 Union Alarm, in camp at Patterson Park, 8 ; rison’s ep eH ge ee dead, r rted by tl a ] ak : I at Annapolis Junetion, 9. by Gen. McCle wag nie Maitre reor- I sandals ge 5 Seen aip. Set nese! tee aa alan Dos ste ae Andersonville Prison (see Rebel Pris- ganized under Gen. Grant, 310. 60,000 were killed outright in battle; and that nearly an equal ons), sketch of by George A. Hitch- See also Battles and Campaigns. s number received mortal wounds. cock, 387 ; description of, and statis- Army of Virginia, under Gen. Pope, tics of prisoners and deaths in, 389- 128-183; pillage by, 128. See also 392, 402, 403; Providence Spring, Battles and Campaigns. ~ 413; its sole redeeming feature, 427. Andrew (Governor John A.), visits | Bailey (Ransom), his death at Ander- the regiment at Annapolis, 15; his sonville Prison, 388-399, 402. plain talk to a selectman on commis- | Ball (Chaplain, George, S.), joins the sions to inexperienced officers, 221. regiment, 16; at Roanoke, 50; at Annapolis, our service at and near in Camden, 92; at Chantilly, 167; re- 1861, 9-20; in spring of 1864, 309. signs his commission, 235.; his strong , Antietam, battle of, 197-212; the old influence over the regiment, 235, brigade carries the bridge, 199-201, | Ball’s Bluff, battle of, 14. a 211; casualties of 2lst in, 207; Baltimore, arrival in from Worcester . strength of the hostile armies, 197, in 1861, 7; leave for Annapolis, 9; 198 ; Union and rebel casualties, 209 ; night in on going to the West, 265. Proclamation of Emancipation is- | “ Baltimore American,” newspaper, sued as a result of, 211; sketch map complimentary mention of 2ist in, of the campaign, 185. 265. Appomattox Court House, Lee’s last | Barr (Color Corporal Elbridge C.), battle near, and surrender, 378, 380. killed while carrying the State flag 7 Army of the James, advance on Rich- at Fredericksburg, 241, 259, 251. mond by, 325; joins in pursuit of Barton, Miss Clara, her care of our Lee’s army, 375. sick, 213, 214. Army of Northern Virginia, sketch | Bates (Color-Sergt.), a& Newbern, 64. map of line of retreat of, 374; re. | Battles in which the 21st was actively treat and surrender of, 371-380; its engaged, table of, with strength of final strength, 369, 371, 379, 380, regiment and losses, in Introduction. See also Batiles and Campaigns. Battles (see also separate headings of f Army of the Potomac, retreat to Har- battles) : Roanoke Island, 29 ; Cam- be! 494 INDEX. den (or South Mills), 85; Cedar Mountain, 127 ; Bristoe Station, 140, n.; Manassas 2d, 140, 141; Chan- tilly (or Ox Hill), 161 ; South Moun- tain, 188; Antietam, 197; Fred- ericksburg, 236 ; Blue Springs, 276; Campbell’s Station, 280; Siege of Knoxville, 284; Fort Sanders, 288; Wilderness, 313 ; Spottsylvania, 319 ; North Anna, 325; Tolopatomoy Creek, 329; Cold Harbor, 329; Petersburg, June 16, 17, 18, 1864, 535; of the Monocacy, 343; The Mine, 340; Weldon R. R., 351; Ream’s Station, 354; Poplar Spring Church, 356; Hatcher’s Run, 360, 362; Fort Steadman, 367; Five Forks, 370; Sailor’s Creek, 374; High Bridge, 375 ; Appomattox, 379. Beckwith (Lieut. H. A.), death of, 170. Bell (James), death of, 172. Bemis (Lieut. F. A.), death of, 170. Benjamin (Lieut. 8. N.), at Fort San- ders, 288, 289, n. Bethesda Church, battle of, 330. See Cold Harbor. Birney’s brigade at Chantilly, 164. Blodgett (Corp. Ethan), plants our flag on the battery at Roanake, 34. Blue Springs, battle of, 276, 277. Bullock (Hon. A. H), address to the regiment on departure from Worces- ter, 3; at re€nlistment reception, 305. Bull Run, 2d battle of. See Manassas. Burnside, Gen. Ambrose E, Expedi- tion to North Carolina, 20; strength of his command, 27; leaves North Carolina for Virginia, 122; love of his men for, 124; put in command of the Army of the Potomac, 217; por- trait of, opposite 223 ; his advance on Richmond via Fredericksburg, 293 ; his order on assuming command, 224; issues General Order No. 8, 261 ; relieved from duty in Va., 261 ; his campaign in East Tennessee and defense of Knoxville, 272-297; an- ecdote about attack on Fort San- ders, 293 ; his campaign in Virginia under Gen. Grant, 312-350; retires from active service, 350; indebted to for official reports, see Preface. Butler (Gen. B. F.), captures Forts Hatteras and Clark, 23; movement on Richmond by, 325, 326. Camden (or South Mills), battle. of, 85-102; Union and rebel casualties in, 88, 99, 101; casualties in 2lst, 96; rebel accounts of, 98-101. Campaigns in which the regiment took part: Burnside Expedition to North Carolina, 20-122; strength of op- posing forces, 27, 28, 29, 38, 61, 73, 74, 85, 86, 99, 103; in Army of Vir- ginia (Pope’s Retreat), 126-183; strength of opposing forces, 134, 142, 158, 159, 164, 176, 178; McClellan’s campaign in Maryland and Virgin- ia, 1841-222; strength of opposing forces, 195-198, 201, 202, 215; Burn- side’s Fredericksburg campaign, 223- 261; strength of opposing forces, 239; deliverance of East Tennessee, 272-298 ; campaign of 1864, under Grant, 309-361; strength of opposing forces, 313, and n.; final campaign in Virginia, 362-380. Campbell’s Station, battle of, 280-283 ; losses in, 282. Cannon presented to the.regiment at battle of Newbern, 69 ; placed in cus- tody of Amherst College and cere- monies on its reception, 80-82. Carey (Frederick), mortally wounded at Fredericksburg, 252. Casualties in 2lst during its service (see different battles); tables in In- troduction and at end of the Roster ; general table of deaths, ete., in the Union and rebel armies during the war at the end of the Roster. Cedar (or Slaughter’s) Mountain, bat- tle of, 127. Chantilly, battle of, 161-183; casual- ties of 21st in, 167; rebel forces en- pe INDEX, 495 gaged and reports of the battle, 164, n., 176-179; losses in, 178, n. Cheney (Sergt. H. C.), indebted to for facts. See Preface. Clark (Capt. W. H.), death of, 347, 348. Clark (Col. W.8.), his official report of battle of Newbern, 61; of battle of Camden, 89 ; mention of, 269. Cold Harbor, battle of, 329-334 ; casual- ties suffered in the 21st, 331; losses of the Union and rebel armies at, 334. Collapse of the Confederacy, 382. Collins (Color-Sergt. Jos. H.), mortally wounded while carrying the colors at Fredericksburg, 241, 249. Collis (Ist Sergt. Marcus M.), his narra- tive of life in rebel prisons, 394. Colored troops in Army of Potomac, 810, 341, 347, 361. Columbus, Ohio, Murderous attack on the brigade at, 266. Consolidation of 21st Battalion with 36th Mass. Regt., 359; with 56th Mass. Regt., 383. Coolidge (2d Lieut. Chas.), death of, 83. Cooper Shop Saloon, supper at in 1861, 7; in 1864, 399. Crittenden (Gen. Thos. L.), in com- mand ef Ist Div., 9th Corps, 320. Cumberland (sloop-of-war) sunk by the Merrimac, 22, 123. Cutter (Surgeon Calvin E.), at Roan- oke Island, 50; at Newbern, 68 ; his experience with the rebels at the sec- ond Manassas, 152, 153; indebted to for information. See Preface. Cutter (Miss Carrie E.), the Florence Nightingale of the 21st, 43 ; death of, 82, 83. Danville Prison. See Rebel Prisons, Davis (Capt. Chas. W.), account of mareh to Knoxville, 274, n.; remains with 2Ist Bat., 3851; in charge of prisoners’ barracks at Annapolis, 393, 394, 426. Davis (Hosp. Steward F. G.), at New- bern, 68. Davis (Jeff.), leaves Richmond, 371. Davis (Ist Lieut. Jonas R.), remains with 21st Bat., 351. Death angle at Spottsylvania, 321. Deaths in 21st during its service (see tables in Introduction and at end of the Roster) ; in rebel prisons, 389 ; general table of deaths in the Union and rebel armies during the war, at end of Roster; of prisoners of war, 392,n.. See also separate battles and Rebel Prisons. Departure of regiment from Worcester, 3-6. Discipline in 21st, 56; in Pope’s army, 128; in Jackson’s Corps, 188. Dodge (Hon. J. C.), eulogy on Adjt. Stearns, 79. Drewry’s Bluff, battle at, 325. Dunn (John), death of, 96. Durell’s battery at second Manassas, 146; at Antietam, 199. Dwinnell (Waldo), his death in Ander- sonville Prison, 388, 389, 414, Early’s raid on Washington, 342-344. East Tennessee, deliverance of, 272- 298. Emancipation Proclamation, issued as a result of victory at Antietam, 211, Emerson (Sergt. Geo. O.), his death in Andersonville Prison, 386, 397. End of the Rebellion, 382. Estvan (Col.), his account of defenses and defenders of Newbern, 74-77. Exchange of prisoners, responsibility for non-exchange, 427. | Ferrero (Gen. Edward), promoted, 209 ; thanks the brigade after Fredericks- burg, 254; his glorious defense of Fort Sanders, 288, 289 n., 2905 his division at the battle of the Mine, 346. : Fifty-first N. Y. Regt. arrive at An- napolis, 15 ; brigaded with the 21st, 27; at Roanoke Island, 44; loss of at second Manassas, 150 ; at battle of 496 INDEX. Chantilly, 165, n.; death of their ad- jutant at battle of Antietam, 208; entertain the officers of the 21st in front of Fredericksburg, 233; their chaplains, 234, n. Fifty-first Penn. Regt., brigaded with the 21st, 27 ; at Camden, 85, 87; at second Manassas, 148 ; at Antietam, 199. Fifty-sixth Mass. Regt., 21st reénlisted men transferred to from 36th, 359, 383. Five Forks, battle of, 370. Flag presented to the regiment by la- dies of Worcester, 3 ; finally returned to their custody, 383, 384; rebel flag captured by regiment in battle of Roanoke Island, 46, 49, 51, 52; flag presented to Capt. T. S. Foster, 47. Florence, rebel prison at. See Rebel Prisons. Fogerty (Dennis), his escape at- Chan- tilly, 174. Fort Sanders, battle of, 288-290; com- pared with battle of New Orleans, 289, n.; anecdote by Gen. Burnside in relation to, 293. Fort Steadman, battle of and strength and losses of opposing forces, 367, 368. Foster (Gen. John G.), in command of brigade, 27; in East Tennessee, 297. Foster (Capt. T. §.), wounded at Roanoke Island, 39; flag given to for bravery, 47. Fowler (Adjt. A. L.), death of, 208. Franklin’s Corps greet the victors in the last fight at second Manassas, 151. Frazer (Capt. J. D.), exploit of at New- bern, 67 ; address on delivery of gun to Amherst College, 81; death of, 169. Fredericksburg, camp near in summer of 1862, 125; attempt to force alle- giance, 125 ; leave to join Gen. Pope’s army of Va., 126; movement on in fall of 1862, 223 ; arrive in front of the city, 229; chaffing between the two armies, 230; reasons for moving on, 231; Union demand for surren- der of the city, 232; battle of, 236- 256; casualties suffered by 21st in, 250; strength of and casualties in the opposing armies, 239, 253; rebel reports of the battle, 242, n., 244, n., 245, n.; “ Fredericksburg” (poem), 255; after the battle, 257. Gardner (1st Sergt. Horace), exploit at Chantilly, 165; death of, 348. Gethings (Sergt.-Major P. F.), his nar- rative of his rebel prison life, 395. Gettysburg, battle of, rebel loss at, 220, n.; comparison of movements of army after, with movements after Antietam, 220, Gilbert (1st Sergt. L. H.), wounded, 338. Goddard (Mr., of Barre), eulogy on 21st, 79, 80. Goldsborough (Flag-officer Louis Duly commands fleet, 28. Goodnow (S. E.), wounded at New- bern, 70, 72. Goodrich (Carlos H.), death of, 172. Goodrich (Chas. E.), his death in rebel prison at Florence, 388, 397, 398. Goodrich (Lieut. Ira B.), particulars” from his diary, 274, n., 284, n., 299, n. Goss (Capt. Chas.), death of, 837. Graham (Capt. W. M.), service of. his battery at second Manassas, 149, 150, 156. Grant (Gen. U.S.), appointed to com- mand of the armies of the U. S., 809; extracts from his official re- ports, 311, 314, 333, 370,382; his or- der for the last grand advance, 363 ; orders to Sheridan, 369; correspond- ence with Gen. Lee on surrender of army of Northern Virginia, 376- 880; his congratulatory address to the soldiers of the Union armies, 384. Graton (Corp. Alvin S.), his narrative of life in rebel prisons, 398. a id Henry House Hill, scene of the last fight at 2d Manassas, plan, 148. Hicks (Governor), angry at refusal to return a slave, 14. High Bridge, battle of, 375. Hill (Lieut. W. B.), death of, 171. Hitchcock (George A.), his prison diary, 401-426. Hitchcock (Lieut. Henry S.), extracts from his diary, 284, n- Holbrook (Lieut. H.C.), death of, 203, 206. Holmes (Lieut.-Col.), heroic death of, at Antietam, 201. Hooker, Gen., takes command of the Army of the Potomac, 261, Howard (H. H.), first man wounded in battle, 31, 41. Howe (Capt. Edward E.), remains with 2ist Bat., 351. Hudson (Lieut.-Col. J. W.), givés ac- ¥ count of Capt. Sampson’s death, 357. 32 siege of, 284-292 ; casualties in 2lst at, 291; congratulatory orders, etc. 292; return march after reénlistment, 299-302. Koster (Sergt. John §.), wounded at Cold Harbor, 332. Lee (Gen. R. E.), telegram to Jeff. Davis that Richmond is lost, 371; his retreat and surrender, 371-380. Lincoln (President Abraham), issues Proclamation of Emancipation, 211 } reviews the army, 213; his assassina- tion, 381, 382. Losses. See Casualties and Deaths (also different battles). Lumazette (Frank), ab the Mine, 348 ; death in rebel prison, 388. Macon (Fort), siege and surrender of, 102. Maggi (Lieut.-Col. A. C.), joins regi- es kit} pe 3 Fe Te nial Oana eaten a a Ai » ¢ - c INDEX. 497 Griffin (Col. 8. G.), promoted, 321; at | Jackson (Stonewall), strength of his battle of the Mine, 346. force at 2d Manassas, 142, n. ; his capture of Harper’s Ferry, 195; his Harlow (Capt. W. T.),. mention of, proposed night attack at Fredericks- 269. burg, 245, and n. Harper’s Ferry, disgraceful surrender | James (Lieut.-Col.), his story and death, of, 195-197 ; Union loss, 196, n. 191, 192. Hartranft (Col. and Gen. John F.), | James River, transfer of army across, 202, 281, 321, 346, 361, 368. 333, 334. Hastings (Surgeon J. W.), left with | Jefferson (town of), 21st at, 225, 226. wounded at Chantilly, 167. Jones’s (Capt. E. J.), 11th Mass. Bat- Hatcher’s Run, battles of, 360, 361, tery at battle of Fort Steadman, 368. $62. ye . Hatteras, off Cape, 22; in Hatteras In- | Kearney (Gen. Philip), his report of let, 23-27 our fight at 2d Manassas, 156 ; death ee £ hi Hawkes (Col. George P.), diary of siege of, 164, 165. of Knoxville, 286-290, 297; speech | Kelly’s Ford, passage of Rappahannock at reénlistment reception at Worces- at, 133; fighting near, 186, ; i ter, 304. Kelton (Capt. Ira J.), his heroic con- Hayden (Corp. J. W.), death of, 11. duct and death at Chantilly, 166, Hayes (President), as Lieut.-Col. in 169. arts oy command of 23d Ohio Vols. ; rebuked | Kentucky, service in, 267-27 1. by General Reno, 185, n. Knox (Nat. F.), his death in rebel Hazard (Commander S. F.), commands prison, 386, 400. r fleet, 28 Knoxville, march from Kentucky to, Henrie (Proten), his death, 252. 272-276 ; map surroundings of, 273 ; 4 } 498 INDEX. ment : his rigid discipline, 10, 56 ; let- ter to Col. Morse, 11; placed in ar- rest, 16 ; restored tocommand, 18; his report of battle of Roanoke Island, 48; resigns his commission, 56, 57. Manassas (2d battle of), 140-160; last fight in, by Reno’s brigade and Gra- ham’s battery, 147-158; Union and rebel forces and casualties, 140, 141, mn., 142, 145, n., 151, 154, 158, 159, nn.; casualties in 21st, 152; Union and rebel reports, 154-160. Manassas Junction, destruction of Union supplies at, 141. Maps and plans: field of operations in North Carolina, 21 ; Roanoke Island, forts and surroundings, 30; charge on battery at Roanoke Island, 45; field of operations in Virginia, 132 ; last fight at 2d Manassas, 148; Mce- Clellan’s Maryland campaign, 185 ; surroundings of Knoxville, 273; sketch of the Union and rebel lines in front of Petersburg, 351; retreat of Lee’s army from Richmond and Petersburg, 374; Andersonville Prison Pen, 887. March, from Camp Nelson to Knox- ville, 272-276; return march, 299- 802 ; to the battle-field of the Wilder- ness, 314. Maryland (2d regiment), relief of, 103 ; their gratitude, 104, 264. Maryland, service in, in 1861, 9-20 ; in 1862, 184-214, Mathews (Geo. H.), death of, 41, McCabe (acting Lieut. S.), conduct at Chantilly, 172. McClellan, Gen. Geo. B., in the seven days’ fight, 108, n.; reorganizes the army after Pope’s retreat, 184-217 ; his ‘reception at Frederick, 187; his campaign in Maryland in Septem. ber, 1862, 184-214; Proclamation of Emancipation a result of his victories, 211, 212; reorganizes army after An- tietam, 214; advance of his army from Pleasant Valley in October, 1862, 215; his removal from com- mand, 217; confidence of the army in, 218 ; reason of his unwillingness to assault the rebel works at York- town, 218; absurdity of his removal at a critical time, 217-221; com- parison between movements of his army after the battle of Antietam with those of Gen. Meade’s army after the battle of Gettysburg, 220; his farewell order to the army, 224, McDermott (Lieut. Felix), wounded, 317, 322; remains with 2Ist Bat., 851. Mead (Joseph), his death in rebel prison, 388. Michigan 17th regiment, at South Mountain, 189, with the 21st on the North Anna, 327, Miller (Corp. Jas. A.), at Newbern, 67; at Fredericksburg, 250 ; at Anderson- ville, 402, Milroy (Gen. R. H.), at 2d Manassas, 148 ; his report of our fight, 156. Mine, battle of the, 344-349 ; casualties in, 347-349. Morse, Colonel Augustus, speech at Worcester on receiving the flag pre- sented by the ladies, 6 ; difficulty with Lieut.-Col. Maggi, 10, 16 ; tries to re- turn a fugitive slave, 14; remains at Annapolis, 20; discharged from the army, 105; his call on the regiment at battle of Fredericksburg, 237. Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, service of the regiment at, 267-270. Mud Campaign, at Fredericksburg, 259. Nativity of members of the 21st regi- ment, 3. Newbern, battle of, 59-84 ; casualties in 21st in, 69; strength and losses of the Union and rebel armies at, 61, 68, 73 ; official reportsand Union and rebel accounts of the battle, 61-77 ; congratulatory orders and honors, 78, 79, 80; presentation of gun capt- INDEX. 499 ured at, to the regiment, in memory of Adjt. Stearns, 69; gun given in charge of Amherst College, 80-82; leave Newbern, 106, 108, 122; cele- bration of the anniversary of the bat- tle at Newport News, 263. New Orleans (battle of), losses in, com- pared with those in battle of Fort Sanders, 289, n. Newport News, Va., camp there in July, 1862, 123; in spring of 1863, 263. Ninth Corps, organization of, 123; at Newport News, 124; at Fredericks- burg in summer of 1862, 125; in army of Virginia, 126-183 ; return | to Army of the’ Potomac, 184; trans- fer to Dept. of the Ohio, 262, 264; | return to Virginia, 309 ; reorganized, 310; incorporated with the Army of the Potomac, 328. North Anna River, movement to, 322, 326 ; fighting along, 326-328 ; casual- ties, 328. North Carolina, campaign in, Feb. to July, 1862, 20-122. Old regiments allowed to die out in Union army, and difference in this respect in the rebel army, 221, 269. Oliver (Surgeon James), remains with wounded at 2d Manassas, 153; ac- count of 21st in battle of the Wilder- ness, 316; indebted to for informa. tion., See Preface. Olney (Bradley R.), seizes the flag at Fredericksburg, 241, 250. Overland route to Richmond abandoned by Gen. Grant, 333. Ox-Hill, battle of. See Chantilly. Parke (Gen. John G.), commands brig- ade, 27; reduces Fort Macon, 102; in command of the 9th Corps, 350; in battle of Fort Steadman, 368 ; in- debted to for war maps. See Preface, Parker (Lieut. C. H.), at Antietam, 207. Parker (Lieut. Geo. C.), at Chantilly, 171, at the Wilderness, 318. Parker (J. C.), death of, 70. Peckham (Color-Sergt. F. M.), wound- ed, 337. Petersburg, assaults of June 16,17, and 18, and casualties, 335, 337, 339; casualties in siege of, 341, 342, 356; sketch of Union and rebel lines, 351; assault of April 2, 371 ; capture of, 371. Plummer (Sergt. Chas.). See Tidd. Plunkett (Sergt. Thomas), exploit at Chantilly, 174 ; loses both arms while carrying the colors at Fredericksburg, 241, 250, 251,258; at the reénlist- ment reception, 307, Poetry, “ Centennial of the American Flag,” Introduction; Lieut. Richard- son’s poetical account of the service of the regiment, 109-121 ; sinking of the “ Cumberland,” 123 ; “ Stonewall Jackson’s Way,” 179; “ Wanted, a Man,” 181 ; Fredericksburg, 255; as- sassination of President Lincoln, 382. Pollocksville march, 103, 104, 264, Pope (Gen. John), his “ military blas- phemy,” 128; order on assuming command in Va., 129; Pope’s re- treat, 131-183; declared an outlaw by the rebel government, 133; strength of rebel army in his front, 134; not entirely responsible for bloody failure of his campaign, 180. Poplar Spring Church, battle of, 356- 359 ; casualties in, 357. Potter (Gen, R. B.), 312, 335, 346. Potter (Wilbur A.), narrative of his life in rebel prisons, 393. Prisoners, at Manassas, 142; O’Con- nor at Chantilly, 173 (see Rebel Pris- ons) ; responsibility for non-exchange of, 427. Proclamations, Union and rebel, veal people of N. C., 57, 58 ; of Emancipa- tion, 211; of thanks to the soldiers of the Union armies at the close of the war, 384. 500 INDEX. Raccoon Ford, 128, 132, 133, 134. Ream’s Station, battle of, 354, 355. Rebel Prisons: members of the 21st in | prisons at Andersonville, Salisbury, Florence and Danville, 385-389 ; at | Millen, 420; sketch of Anderson- ville Prison, 387 ; description of pris- | ons, and statistics as to numbers of prisoners, deaths, ete., 389-392 } Nar- ratives of prison life by Wilbur A. Potter, 393, 394; Mareus M. Collis, 394, 395; P. Frank Gethings, 395- 397; Alvin S. Graton, 398; John E. Short, 399-401 ; and diary of George A. Hitchcock, 401-426; deaths of Union and rebel prisoners during the war, 392, n.; hanging the raiders at Andersonville, 394, 395, 405, 408; vote for President at Florence, 395; at Millen, 421 ; deaths of members of the regiment in prison, 397, 398, 399 (and see separate names of pris- Oners) ; non-exchange of prisoners | 427. Recruiting stopped by General Order | 33 ; a terrible blunder, 83, 218 ; favor- | ite northern method Of, 291," Soe: 310. Reénlistment of the regiment, 297; re- énlistment furlough, and reception at Worcester, 299-308, Reno (Gen. Jesse L.), portrait of, front. | Isplece ; becomes our brigadier, 17; at Roanoke Island, 32,45; at New- | bern, 65; at C amden, 86 ; commands etachment of 9th Corps in Army of | Va., 126; commands 9th Corps, 185; a) his death, 185, n., 190, 210; sword given by the regiment to his widow, 297 22i. Return home of the non-reénlisteq men of the 21st, 350. Rice (Lieut. Col. J. P.), death of, 168 ; eulogy on by Hon. A. H. Bullock, 307. Richardson (Major H. H.), wounded, 337. Richardson’s (Lieut. Wm. E.), poet- ical account of the service of the 21st, 109-121, Richmond, capture of, 372. Roanoke Island (battle of), 29; Union and rebel losses, 38, 39; casualties in 21st, 39; Union and rebel official reports and accounts of, 43-55; strength of the two armies, 27, 38; plan of the island and forts, 30; charge on the battery, 45; honors to the 21st and other regiments, 50- 53. Robbins (Geo. F.), his gallant death at Chantilly, 175. Sailor’s Creek, battle of, 374. Salisbury Prison. See Rebel Prisons. Sampson (Capt. O. S.), remains with 2Ist Bat., 351; death of, 357, 358; Fort Sampson, 351. Sanders (Gen. W. P.), death of, 285, 286 ; battle of Fort Sanders, 288, 289, 290. é Sanderson (1st Sergt. F, M.), in battle of Roanoke, 39. Sawyer (Corp. Sereno), death of, 18. | Sawyer (Capt. Wm. H.), remains with 2ist Bat., 351, 383; indebted to for much valuable information. See Preface. Second Massachusetts Regiment re- cruited with trash, 299. Sedgwick (Gen. John), death of, 319, Seven days’ fight, Union and rebel losses in, 108, n. Seventy-ninth New York regiment, 13. Shady Grove road, fighting on and cas- ualties in the 21st, 329, Sheridan (Gen. P. H.), destroys Early’s army, 844; beats Stuart’s Cavalry and kills Stuart, 325 ; occupies Cold Harbor, 330; his grand raid on Lee’s communications, 362; his general- ship at Five Forks, 370; at Sailor’s Creek, 374; at Appomattox, 378, 879. Short (John E.), his narrative of life in rebel prisons, 399. INDEX. South Mills, battle of. See Camden. South Mountain, battle of, 188-194; death of Gen. Reno, 190; casualties in 2lst,191; in rebel army, 192 n.; burial of rebel dead, 194; best hit on, 194. Spaight (Governor Richard D.), his tomb, 83. Spottsylvania, battle of, 8319-324; cas- ualties of 21st, 822 ; casualties of the two armies, 321, 322. Steadman (Fort), rebel attack upon, 367. Stearns (Frazar A., Adjutant), wound- ed at Roanoke Island, 34; death at Newbern, 64, 69 ; captured gun given to the regiment as his monument, | 69; eulogy by Hon. J. C. Dodge, 79; eulogy by Hon. A. H. Bullock, 306. Stevens (Gen. Isaac I.), his command in Army of Va., 126 ; fight at Kelly’s Ford, 136 ; his heroic death at Chan- tilly, 164, Stevenson (Gen. Thos. G.), death of, 320. Stewart (L. E.), wounded at Cold Har- bor, 332. Stoddard (C. K., Lieut.), death of, 12, Stone (Corp. E. Wyman), wounded at Newbern, 70. Stone (Leonard), death of,.70. Stratton. (Corp. J. §.), 63; death of, 208. Strength of opposing forces. See differ- ent battles, Campaigns, and Armies. Stuart (Gen. J. E. B.), death of, 325. Sullivan (J. H.), death of, 73. Sulphué Springs, skirmish near, 226. Surrender, of Harper’s Ferry, 195; of Lee’s army, 379. Sutler (fighting the), at Newbern, 105 ; at Fredericksburg, 260. Thirty-fifth Massachusetts Regiment, joins the brigade, 186; at South Mountain, 189, n.; at Antietam, 203, 501 and Preface ; at Fredericksburg, 252 ; at Poplar Spring Church, 358. Thirty-sixth Massachusetts Regiment, * consolidation of 2lst Bat. with, 359, 360. Tidd (Sergt. Charles Plummer), his- tory and death of, 42, 43. Tolopatomoy Creek, cavalry fight of, 829. Twenty-fifth Massachusetts Regiment arrives at Annapolis, 15; at reénlist- ment reception of 21st, 303, 308. Twenty-first Regiment, organization of, 1-3; leaves Massachusetts for the field, 3-6 ; Baltimore to Annapolis, 9; selected for Burnside Expedition, 16; receives new guns, 17; Annapo- lis to Roanoke Island, 20-28 ; cam- paign in North Carolina, 29-122; campaign in Virginia, in summer of 1862, 122-184; in Maryland and Vir- ginia, under McClellan and Burnside, 184-265 ;'in Kentucky and Tennes- see, 266-298 ; reénlistment furlough and reception at Worcester, 299-308 ; campaigns in Virginia under Gen, Grant in summer and fall of 1864, 309-361 ; return home of the non- reénlisted men, 350 ; consolidated into a ‘battalion, 351; last monthly re- tums, 355, 359; consolidated with 36th Mass, Vols., and 56th Mass. Vols., 359, 360, 383; in the 36th and 56th, 360-384; its last casualties, 383 ; muster-out, 383; retain the old flag in 36th and 56th, and return it to the ladies of Worcester, 383, 384; in rebel prisons, 385-426 ; Roster, 429. Veteran reénlistment of regiment, 297, 299 ; reception at Worcester, 303. Votes for President in rebel prison at Florence, 395; at Millen, 421. Walcott’s (Lieut. A. F.) last warn- ing to Gen. Kearney at Chantilly, 165. Walcott (Capt. Chas. F.), at Newbern, 66, and n. ; resigns, 269. «Walker (Capt. A. A.), refuses to hunt slaves, 14. Warren (Surgeon O.), at Roanoke, 50; at Newbern, 68; left with wounded at Camden, 88, 93. Warrenton (or Sulphur) Springs, fight- ing near on Pope’s retreat, 138; on Burnside’s advance, 226. Washburn (Col. Francis), his heroic self-sacrifice at High Bridge, 375. Weatherby (Sergt. A. J.), at Newbern, 67. Weldon Railroad, fighting on, 351-355 ; casualties of the 21st in the battle of the 19th of August, 1864, 353; un- buried rebels, 354, n. Wheeler (Lieut. Asahel), at Camden, 91. White (Sergt. Henry), diary of, 284, n., 294-297, 328. 502 INDEX. White (Gen. Julius), at Harper's Ferry, 196; commands Ist Division of 9th Corps, 347 ; his complimentary order to the division after battle of Weldon R. R., 853. Wilderness, battle of the, 313-318; strength of opposing armies, 313, and n.; the 2lst in, 316; casualties of 2ist in, 317; casualties in both ar- mies in, 317. Willard (Major Sidney), his heroic death at Fredericksburg, 252. Worcester, ceremonies on departure from, 3; reception at, on reénlist- ment, 303. Zouaves (Hawkins’s), fancy charge at Roanoke Island, 34, 43-45; rash charge at Camden, 87, 88; heroic conduct at Antietam, 206, n. ~~