a^^^^^^j >' ^■'/ ^ y "''^r^ WAYLAND IN THE CIVIL WAR. THE TOWN OF WAYLAND CIVIL WAR OF 1861-1865, AS REPRESENTED IN THE Army and Navy of the American Union. ' O Mother-Land ! this weary life Thy faithfiil children led for thee : Theirs the strong agony of strife By land and stormy sea. And not in vain : now slants the gold Athwart those wild and stormy skies ; From out the blackened waste, behold What happy homes arise ! " PREPARED AND PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE TOWN OF IVA VLAND. WAYLAND. W A Y i^ i\ i\ JL>. / ^ RAND, AVERY, & FRYE, PRINTERS, 3 CoRNHiLL, Boston. To THE HEROIC MEN WHOSE DEEDS ARE HERE RECORDED, WHETHER RETURNING IN THE GLORIES OF VICTORY P'ROM BATTLE-FIELDS, OR LEAVING THEIR BODIES IN HONORED GRAVES ; WHOSE NOBLEST MONUMENT IS Cfje JFvcc Cnstituttons a£ t|jE Countrg bjJjfclj tfjrg fougljt to saiic; AND WHOSE BURIAL-PLACES WILL EVER BE IN THE HEARTS OF A GRATEFUL PEOPLE, AND OF MILLIONS REDEEMED FROM CRUEL BONDAGE, — THIS VOLUME IS INSCRIBED. PREFACE. A FTER some ineffectual attempts to secure the erection of a monument commemorative of the Wayland soldiers who fell in the late war, it occurred to some one that a much better memorial, in many respects, would be obtained by secur- ing the personal narratives of each, and preserving them in suit- able form for transmission to posterity. The suggestion was cordially met and acted on by the town in the choice of a Committee, to whom the whole subject was intrusted. In prosecuting their duties, unexpected delays occurred, which, by permitting a lapse in the memory of some of the soldiers, and the loss of documents (particularly letters from the army) that would have been available at an earlier day, have rendered the results of their efforts less satisfactory than could have been desired. Added to this, the greater willingness of some to com- municate their army-experiences, and the facilities of others to supply information by means of diaries and sketches previously 8 PREFA CE. prepared, may be regarded as reasons for differences in the extent of surface covered, and the value of details embraced, in the several narratives. It should be noticed that the narratives (with two exceptions) are confined to the soldiers who enlisted from Wayland as their residence, and were officially accredited to fill its required quotas. The two exceptional cases were of men who were natives of Wayland. In the movements of such large bodies of men as occurred in this gigantic war, — often by tens, and sometimes by hun- dreds, of thousands, — the doings of a single soldier are often indistinguishable from the mass. His experience is identified with the organization to which he chanced to be attached. Hence it has been found convenient, in tracing a soldier's course (except when on detached service or in extraordinary positions), to make the regiment to which he belonged the general basis on which his experience rests ; affording thus a little freer scope for reference to army-movements. But, as historical complete- ness forms no part of the plan of the book, the reader will look in vain for any comprehensive views of the " great conflict," or for a full description of the campaigns, battles, and move- ments touched upon in the narratives. In arranging the material furnished by men whose experience was frequently coincident, in consequence of their belonging to the same military organizations, considerable effort has been PREFACE. 9 required to counteract the effect of tiresome repetitions. The editorial Hberty, sometimes pretty freely exercised, of curtailing statements in some of the narratives, and their more liberal extension in others, when treating the same occurrence, must be referred to a desire for attaining this object. Complete success, however, was found to lie beyond the power of achievement, without sacrificing too much that is justly due to each soldier. The work is submitted with some degree of confidence that to the soldiers and their friends of the present generation it will prove a not unworthy tribute to the patriotism and valor dis- played in the eventful times of " The War of the Great Rebel- lion," and will pass with increasing value to the hands of their descendants in remote periods of the future. EDMUND H. SEARS, " LAFAYETTE DUDLEY, \ Coiinnittee. JAMES S. DRAPER, Wayland, July 4, 1870. 2 CONTENTS. PAGE. BALCOM, OSCAR PAGE 13 BERRY, CHARLES HENRY 20 BOND, EDWARD PAYSON 27 BRADSHAW, JOHN 33 BRIGHAM, JOHN BAKER 35 BROWN, HEZEKIAH N 4° BRUMMITT, JOHN MOORE 42 BULLARD, JOSEPH OSCAR 44 BUTTERFIELD, WILLIAM HENRY 51 BUTTERFIELD, JOHN CALVIN 57 BUTTERFIELD, CHARLES BENJAMIN 63 CAMPBELL, CHARLES HENRY 76 CARTER, ELBRIDGE AMBROSE 97 CARTER, EDWARD 107 CARTER, WILLIAM WARREN 126 CORLISS, BENJAMIN 13S CORMAN, FERDINAND 136 DAMON, JOSEPH THOMAS .... 144 DAVIS, EDSON CAPEN 148 DAVIS, SUMNER AARON 157 DEAN, CHARLES FRANKLIN 162 DEAN, THOMAS ALFRED 164 DICKEY, GEORGE TAYLOR 16S DRAPER, CURTIS WARREN 170 DRAPER, FRANK WINTHROP iSo DRAPER, JAMES AUSTIN 243 DRAPER, WILLIAM DEXTER 252 DUDLEY, CHARLES 257 FAIRBANKS, FRANK B 258 FARMER, ELIAS WHITFIELD 260 GARFIELD, MARSHALL 262 GARFIELD, WILLIAM HENRY 268 GARLAND, CHARLES WILLIAM 274 11 1 2 CONTENTS. PAGE. GLEASON, DANIEL WEBSTER 276 HARLOW, WILLIAM THOMAS 277 HEARD, SAMUEL HALE MANN 279 HERSEY, WARREN ALVIN 282 HILLS, WILLIAM KINGSTON 289 HOLMES, LUTHER DOW 290 JAMESON, WILLIAM HENRY 292 JESSOP, WILLIAM ALFRED 295 KEMP, GEORGE GILBERT 299 KING, ALBERT FRANKLIN . 302 LOKER, EDWARD ISAAC 30S LOVEJOY, WILLIAM 306 MAY, CHARLES HENRY 3°/ MAY, WILLIAM ARIEL 323 MELLEN, JOHN 32S MOORE, CHARLES WILLIAM 328 MOORE, JOSEPH MARSHALL 329 MOORE, SAMUEL 335 MORSE, JOHN NOYES 341 MOULTON, JAMES EDMUND 3^5 MULLEN, DENNIS 366 PAGE, AMBROSE MIRANDA 3^7 PARKER, WILLIAM LEVI 372 PARMENTER, HENRY DANA 373 RICE, CHARLES HAMMOND 377 RICE, JAMES ALVIN 378 RUSSELL, EDMUND 384 SEARL, JOHN JAMES 3S5 SPOFFORD, GEORGE ANDERSON 394 STONE, EVINSON 405 STONE, JOHN EDMUND 4" SWAN, LEWIS C 412 THURSTON, HIRAM LEONARD 414 WADE, THOMAS FRANCIS 416 WALKER, HENRY OTIS 425 WELLINGTON, ALPHEUS BIGELOW 427 WELLINGTON, WALTER J 441 Soldiers -whose native place is IVayland, but whose service was accredited to other places. LOKER, JAMES DEXTER -■.... 442 MELLEN, JOSHUA 444 NARRATIVES. Oscar Page Balcom. 'HE prevailing enthusiasm for sustaining our gov- ernment and its armies in opposition to the Rebel Confederacy and its hosts in the field led Mr. Bal- com to enter his name, with others, as a volunteer soldier. On the ist of August, 1862, he joined Company I (Capt. Brigham) of the Thirty-ninth Regiment of Infantry. He was the son of Joseph and Mary L. (Sampson) Balcom ; born in Marlborough, Mass., Oct. 31, 1844. His height was five feet, five and a half inches. He was of dark complexion, black hair, blue eyes, and a farmer by occu- pation. Mr. Balcom relates but comparatively few incidents of either field or camp in his experience of nearly three years in the army. The five or six weeks in camp at Lynnfield and Boxford, the departure and trip to Washington, and the encampment on the Note. — The regiments named in this work will be understood as belonging to Massacliu- setts, unless otherwise described ; and all the men whose narratives are included were "volun- teers," except the three declared as drafted. 13 14 OSCAR PAGE BALCOM. heights across the Potomac, though filled with novelties and excitements to him, in common with all beginners in military- service, are now looked back upon as trivial matters. Pools- ville in Maryland was the centre of regimental operations for considerable time in the autumn following ; from which point the Thirty-ninth furnished its quotas of scouts, patrols, and pickets, to operate up and down the river that separated the hostile lines. One Sunday in October, there was a strong expectation of meet- ing the rebels ; and our men were turned out, and marched about three miles, when jokes took the place of fears, as they faced about, and conducted a " masterly retreat " from an absent foe. Winter-quarters, in the usual style of huts covered with shel- ter-tents, were established in a good locality not far from Pools- ville. Here Mr. Balcom, while lifting a heavy timber, received a severe injury, that nearly unfitted him for further service, and which made the remainder of that service at times very trying, and always more or less uncomfortable. It was a case of hernia, for which, after several weeks of surgical care, he was deemed a proper subject for a discharge ; and his papers to that effect were duly prepared and signed. Against this movement his patriotic feelings protested ; and he was allowed to remain a while longer on trial. The regiment remained in winter-quarters until near the middle of April ; when it was ordered to break camp, and pro- ceed to the city of Washington, where it arrived about noon on the 17th following. Mr. Balcom, as well as his comrades, found a three-months' residence here, doing patrol duty chiefly, to afford convenient opportunities for becoming acquainted with the capital of their country and its various attractions.* * It was a significant remark made by him, that " some of the great folks there appeared at times no better than they should be." OSCAR PAGE BALCOM. 1 5 At the news of the battle of Gettysburg the Thirty-ninth received marching-orders, and proceeded by the railroad to Harper's Ferry. In a few days, it joined the Army of the Potomac at Funkstown ; Lee's army being now on the retreat, and ours moving in pursuit. Very soon, all the troops in the vicinity crossed the Potomac, and occupied hostile territory. The Gettysburg fight was a severe test of the strength and skill of both armies. The superior position of the Union troops had enabled them successfully to resist the terrific charges of the rebels ; but the strength and prowess of the latter was a caution to our commanders not to risk another trial without pretty sure footing. So, with careful tramps, our forces moved down on Virginia soil. From the i8th of July to the ist of August, when it reached the Rappahannock, the regiment had- passed successively through Middlebury, Warrenton, Bealton Station, and many other places ; occasionally hearing firing, but encountering none of the enemy. A battle was expected while near Culpeper ; and the men lay on their arms all of one night in hourly anticipation of im- portant developments. Cannonading was constantly heard ; yet actual conflict seemed to be avoided by both parties. At Hay Market, the Thirty-ninth was again kept under arms all night, with no camp-fires, under orders to preserve perfect freedom from noise that might betray their position to the enemy. Nov. 4, while at Kettle Run, eight days' rations were issued; and rapid marching was kept up from day to day until the war- cloud gathered over a spot on the Mine Run, — a small tributary stream on the southerly side of the Rapidan. During the march, the men were several days without rations, and in a barren territory, where foraging was useless. It was the severest trial yet encountered. 1 6 OSCAR PAGE BALCOM. The two great armies were now confronting each other. The Thirty-ninth was put on the skirmish-hne, and had its first experience in exchanging shots with the enemy. Every prepa- ration was in readiness ; but Gen. Meade took the side of prudent valor, and quietly withdrew his army to various points for winter-quarters. Our regiment was marched to Mitchel's Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Here, with abundant rations, though with some hardship on the picket- line, the men passed as comfortable a time as usually falls to soldiers during a long, dreary winter. Spring opened with the prospect of brisk business. Mr. Balcom was not unwilling to exchange the winter-camp for the active campaign, especially as it was planned by, and to be exe- cuted under the eye of, Lieut-Gen. Grant. On entering the Wilderness with the great army, the sounds and sights of battle were abundant on every side, and, by their frequency, soon took away the first fears experienced on enterino^ the fields of dansfer. On the second night, after sustaining a line of battle till quite dark, the men lay on their arms. Our soldier experienced a slight shock, when, on waking the next morning, it was dis- covered that he had selected for a sleeping companion during the darkness one who was pale in the cold repose of death. The Laurel-hill fight occurred two days after. A successful charge here drove the enemy's cavalry and a battery from the hill, and, for the distance of a mile or more, to a line of breast- works, where the rebel infantry proved too strong; and after a severe fight, in which Mr. Balcom, with others near him, narrowly escaped capture, a retreat was ordered. During the next two or three days, the regiment was " off and on " the line of battle, and hourly exposed to either artillery or infantry firing. OSCAR PAGE BALCOM. 1 7 At Spottsylvania Court House it was also exposed, but took part in no actual engagement. On crossing the North Anna River, an engagement for a short time ensued by a furious charge of the rebels. They met their repulse chiefly from the effects of our batteries, that were admirably posted. With no cessation of active duty, either in marching, throw- ing up breastworks, or on the line of battle, the regiment gradu- ally approached the rebel capital ; the actual fighting being chiefly at Bethesda Church and White-oak Swamp. James River was crossed June 16 ; and a position was at once taken in front of Petersburg, where, under constant exposure, breastworks and forts were built by our men, with an occasional sortie of greater or less consequence. One of the principal battles in which Mr. Balcom took part was at the Weldon Railroad, Aug. 18, 1864. The exposure to the rebel fires of both artillery and infantry was terrible. Our ground was maintained until flanked by the enemy, by which many of our men were taken prisoners. The battle was con- tinued for two days ; when our forces were obliged to retire to the woods, after repulsing successfully three or four charges made during the day. At one time during the fighting, our troops might have gained a decided advantage but for unfortu- nately mistaking an advancing column of the foe (many of whom wore uniforms of blue) for our men. They were allowed to approach, and deliver their destructive fire, unmolested ; when, but for the error, they could have been easily demol- ished. Another engagement of the Thirty-ninth, at which he was also present, occurred at Hatcher's Run in the winter of 1864. A line of the enemy's works here was assaulted; and 1 8 OSCAR PAGE BALCOM. after a second effort, which was hotly contested, they were driven from their position. In the spring- of 1865, about the last of March, another severe engagement, in which our soldier participated, took place at Gravelly Run. Our line was charged by the rebels, and over- powered, with the loss of Col. Tremlett and many other officers and men. It was subsequently re-enforced, and charged success- fully on the rebels ; retaking the ground lost in the morn- ing. At the battle of Five Forks, the Thirty-ninth held a post of honor on the centre. This occurred on the first day of April. It was a most complete success, and accomplished with but litUe loss to the Union army. The breaking and capturing of this line of the rebel defences was the closing fight of the war ; and no time was lost in pushing our men on to cut off the only way of retreat from the rebel capital. Although greatly exhausted, they eagerly pressed forward, and, on the 9th of April, had fairly arrested the retreating rebels at Appomattox Court House, whose surrender was indeed a most welcome event to " the boys in blue." The return-march to Washins^ton is reo^arded as one of the hardest of the war, under the spur of competition among the different corps to see who would soonest reach that city. Mr. Balcom was discharged with his comrades, June 2, 1865, at Washington. It was his good fortune to escape the missiles of war entirely during all the imminent exposures. He declares himself fully satisfied with having sustained the duty of a soldier; and would not hesitate for a moment in again discharging similar duties, should his country demand it. He saw during the progress of the war the one great cause of its inception and continuance to be the institution of slavery in the rebel States ; and the OSCAR PAGE BALCOM. 1 9 President's emancipation proclamation he regarded as an im- portant step in quelling the Great Rebellion. Mr. Balcom served as a private until near the close of the war, when he was promoted to the post of a corporal. He was married, May 29, 1866, to Hattie Garfield of Wayland ; and resides at present in Natick, Mass. Charles Henry Berry. 'ROMP TED by a regard for patriotic duty, Mr. Berry became a soldier in the Union army, Sept. 3, 1861 ; joining Company C (Capt. Pratt) of the Twenty-fourth Regiment of Infantry. In person he was five feet five inches tall, with brown hair, light complexion, gray eyes, of slender form, and by occupation a farmer. Very soon after he joined the regiment, he was detailed by Col. Stevenson as his orderly, and as regimental postmaster. These positions he held during the whole service, fulfilling the trusts with entire acceptance. He was thereby exempted from some of the hard service of fatigue-duty, and also from some of the severer trials in action ; though, during the fights, many of the despatches and orders he was required to transmit took him through places of unusual peril. The first destination of the regiment on leaving Massachu- setts was Annapolis, Md. Here it formed a part of Gen. Burn- side's command in the expedition against Roanoke Island and vicinity. The fleet sailed on the 9th of January, 1862 ; and, after four days of very rough weather, Hatteras Inlet was reached. The destructive gale that was experienced before all the vessels reached the sound will ever be remembered for its vio- lence. Several vessels were lost. CHARLES HENRY BERRY. 21 All was in readiness for opening the fight on the 7th of Feb- ruary. A part of the regiment landed on the island; but Mr. Berry and some of the officers, with the remainder of the privates, were on the gunboat " Vedette," that moved up, and, with the other boats, opened fire on the rebel fortifications. Shot and shell from the forts were well and abundantly served ; but none of them struck " The Vedette." After the victory, she proceeded up the sound to Plymouth, which also soon surrendered. Nearly all the fleet sailed on the nth of March for Newbern, N.C. On arriving, two days after, it was found that extensive defensive works had been built a few miles below the city. The next day, a line of battle was formed ; and after about three hours of firing, in which our men spent all their ammunition, a bayonet charge was ordered and carried, but with heavy loss to our troops. While advancing over the abatis, a shot struck the bayonet of Mr. Berry's gun, bending it so as to spoil it, and wrenching the musket from his grasp. The rebels refused to yield until our men were on the parapet. They then set fire to their city, and the bridge leading to it ; but our men followed at once, and ex- tinguished the flames. A few days after, the Twenty-fourth embarked for Washington, N.C, took possession of the place, and returned to Newbern ; but were soon ordered back, and remained until the last of July. During this time, an encounter with a rebel regiment of infantry and cavalry occurred at Tranter's Creek, which lasted nearly an hour: the rebels were defeated, with the loss of their colonel. Near the middle of August, the Twenty-fourth, with some artil- lery, were ordered to Swansborough, thirty miles south of New- bern, to destroy extensive salt-works. These works were defend- ed by a battery, which was captured ; and the works, together with a large quantity of salt, were destroyed. Several unimportant movements were accomplished, until the 2 2 CHARLES HENRY BERRY. regiment found itself on the ist of November at Washington, N.C., in rendezvous, with a considerable force under Gen. Foster. An expedition into the interior was immediately started ; but there was no fighting; for everywhere the rebels fled at the ap- proach of Foster's forces : and, after six days' marching to a point near Tarborough, " we turned our course toward the seashore, and reached Plymouth on the nth of November, embarking thence for Newbern." The regiment started Dec. 12 on the expedition, under Gen. Foster, to destroy the railroad-bridge at Goldsborough. A consid- erable force of the enemy had concentrated at Kinston to oppose his progress. In the action which ensued, our regiment sup- ported Belger's battery, that did good service in routing the ene- my. At Whitehall, also, opposition was met : it was chiefly an artillery-fight across the Neuse River. The Twenty-fourth sup- ported the battery as before. The enemy's shot and shell came so thick here, that Col. Stevenson dismounted, and gave his horse in charge of his orderly to be taken to a safer place. There was but little fighting at Goldsborough. The railroad-bridge across the Neuse was completely destroyed, with other property ; and the march back to Newbern terminated on the 20th of De- cember, the last day of which (over thirty miles) will long be remembered as one of great hardship. The scene now shifts to the State of South Carolina. Our troops were embarked at Moorhead City, and landed at St. He- lena Island, at the mouth of the Edisto River, on the last day of January, 1863; having touched at Beaufort and Hilton Head on the passage. The encampment under shelter-tents continued here until the movement was made to Edisto Island on the 27th of March, where the three months following were spent in build- ing forts. The next destination was for more perilous duty, — in Charles- CHARLES HENRY BERRY. 23 ton harbor. On the loth of July, the Twenty-fourth, with other troops, landed on James's Island. While here, a severe artillery- fight occurred without advantage to either side ; and, on the 1 7th, Col. Stevenson's command was boated over to Morris Island. At this time, great preparations had been made to subjugate the mili- tary defences of the harbor. Admiral Dahlgren's fleet were daily sending their iron compliments to Sumter and the other rebel forts, and the " Swamp Angel " with a tremendous roar was projecting its three-hundred-pound missile over a distance of four miles to rouse the people of Charleston by its terrific explosion at the end of its aerial journey. Fort Wagner, on Morris Island, must be forced from its rebel garrison ; and our regiment was there on the 1 8th to do its part of the work. But it was ordered on the reserve; while Col. Shaw, with his brave regiment of colored troops (Fifty-fourth Massachusetts), took the post of honor, with the sacrifice of his life and many of his command, as they des- perately fought their way even into the trenches of the enemy. Mr Berry was where he could distinctly see this most deter- mined and bloody charge. It was nearly dark when the colored troops were repulsed, and the other columns moved up ; and, when the Twenty-fourth was deployed into line, it was deemed best not to repeat the attempt to take the fort that night. " We occupied the first parallel of the works, and, during the night, were fearfully shelled by the enemy." The next day (Sunday) our dead were buried under a flag of truce, and the attack on the fort was postponed. The stay here was prolonged to nearly three months. Under a hot sun, and with severe labor in building works, our men suf- fered much ; and more than three hundred were at one time on the sick-list. A rebel rifle-pit had been built about three hundred feet in front of the line occupied by the Twenty-fourth ; and, on the 24 CHARLES HENRY BERRY. evening of the 26th of August, orders were given to charge and take it. It was a fearful task ; for there was no protection. But so brisk was the movement, that the rebels had time for only one volley before we rushed upon them and captured nearly the whole. The shovel-men were ordered to work immediately in turning the work for defence, during whicli " the batteries of Wagner and Gregg were playing upon us with terrible power. We were relieved at midnight, having lost many men." A grand assault was planned by Gen. Gilmore for the 7th of September ; but a reconnoissance during the night previous revealed the fact that the enemy had evacuated their forts. On the next day, the regiment had the honor to co-operate with Admiral Dahlgren in an assault on Fort Sumter. In effecting the assault, the regiment with others embarked in boats during the night, and were rowed towards the fort. The navy had taken position, and the battle had commenced, before the arrival of the infantry. The experiment proved unsuccessful; and the heavy metal of the well-served guns in the forts told with disabling effect on our monitors. A retreat was ordered. Our infantry forces were saved from being demolished by retir- ing through another channel under cover of land. After this, the regiment was sent to recruit at St. Augustine, Fla. Although there was considerable skirmishing whenever the " boys " went out to forage, yet the time spent here up to the close of the year was a period of peculiar enjoyment. Early in January, 1864, Mr. Berry, and over four hundred of his comrades, were lionorably discharged for re-enlistment as veterans ; the date of Mr. Berry's paper being Jan. 4. Under a furlough of thirty days, he visited his friends in Wayland and other places ; and, on returning to service, he reported at Wash- ington, and proceeded thence to Gloucester Point, Hampton Roads, where he rejoined his regiment, then on its way up the CHARLES HENRY BERRY. 25 James. It now constituted a part of the Army of the James, under command of Major-Gen. Butler; and was landed at Ber- muda Hundred the 6th of May. On the next day, the Twenty-fourth constituted a part of the force to attack the rebels on the Petersburg and Richmond Rail- road. It was mainly an artillery-fight. At the taking of the rebel works at Drury's Blufif, and their counter-attack two days following, Mr. Berry was present ; and the Twenty-fourth was in the hottest part. In the performance of his duties here, he was greatly exposed, but escaped un- harmed. The enemy now retired from our front: the James was crossed, and a position taken near Deep Bottom, eight or nine miles nearer Richmond. Here the enemy's works were successfully charged. Gen. Meade's army, under personal control of Gen. Grant, had now passed to Petersburg, and commenced its regu- lar siege operations ; and the Twenty-fourth was ordered back to Bermuda Hundred. Previous to its moving into works before Petersburg, it had skirmished heavily and successfully with the enemy at Chester Station, Green Valley, Flussers' Mills, and Deep Run. Auof. 26, the reo^imant was ordered into the works before Petersburg, and took its chance amid the daily exposures of the siege. Near the close of September, orders were received to join a reconnoissance at the Derbytown Road ; and " we became hotly engaged with the enemy, driving them from their works at Cha- pin's Farm." A combined attack of the Army of the James on the rebel works towards Richmond, on the 27th of October, brought the Twenty-fourth into severe conflict, but without great loss. At Four-mile-run Church " we were encamped until the middle 26 CHARLES HENRY BERRY. of December, and had one pretty sharp brush with the rebels at this place." From here the regiment was ordered to Bermuda Hundred, where it remained on garrison - duty until the evacuation of Richmond ; after which, guard-duty at the military prisons of that city fell to its lot until Jan. 20, 1866 ; at which date the members were all discharged, and proceeded at once to their homes. On the 27th, the regiment marched to the front of the State House in Boston, and delivered its colors to the governor, from whom a very flattering address was received. It is pertinent here to remark that the Twenty-fourth obtained the name of " The Ironclad," from its habitual success in re- pelling all assaults to which it was subjected. It took part in twenty different engagements, at all of which Mr. Berry was present on active duty. Of him it can be said, that he was in the service four years and seven months, — a much longer period than any other of the Wayland men. During that time, he was never confined in hospital-quarters for a day. He passed unscathed amid the bullets of the battle-field and the deadly miasms of Southern swamps. He was the son of Brackett and Elizabeth (Carter) Berry ; born at Portsmouth, N.H., Sept. 20, 1839. He was married to Margaret Moore of Wayland a few days subsequent to his first enlistment. His residence at present is at Newton. Edward Payson Bond. fill to man. y^f^^j^'^-R. BOND, a son of Artemas and Emily (Roby) ^ ~ Bond, was born at Wayland the tenth day of March, 1830. From his eariiest childhood, he manifested pe- culiar fondness for horses ; and in after-years made himself fully acquainted with their various habits, wants, and diseases, and the treatment requisite to render that valuable animal most use- The pertinence of this statement will appear in the course of the narrative. The professional prefix of Doctor, frequently attached to his name, and by which he was familiarly known both at home and in the army, was of early origin. His love of horses had tempted a too near proximity to the stamping hoof of one of them ; and a crushed foot was the result, of such severity as to require the surgical attendance of Dr. Kittridge, with a view of amputating a pedal extremity. This seemed so unsuitable to the little fellow, then three years old, that, while the doctor was being sent for, he found a hiding-place so secure, that the surgeon was obliged to retire without a case. Having thus eluded the foe, he exult- ingly came forth, saying, " I told you Dotter Tittridge s'oudn't tut my toe off; " and from that time he received the honorary title of Doctor. ' 27 28 EDWARD PAYSON BOND. On his enlistment, Aug. 22, 1 861, in the Twentieth Regiment of Infantry, Company E (Capt. Schmidtt), Mr. Bond was almost immediately detailed as wagoner; which place he held while he remained a member. This position, while exempting him from some of the hardships of soldier-life, demanded more constant care and attention than is required of a private in the ranks ; and, while increasing the hazard of being " gobbled up " as a prisoner, it gave him better opportunities for observing the army movements around, particularly during engagements. The regiment left the encampment at Readville on the fourth day of September, 1861 ; and was soon assigned to guard and picket duty on the Potomac. In the fulfilment of this trust, nothing unusual or worthy of record happened until the battle of Ball's Bluff, which occurred on the 20th October, 1861. This was a point on the Virginia side of the Potomac River, about thirty- five miles above the city of Washington. A reconnoissance was ordered by Gen. Stone ; and, on finding a considerable force of the rebels, all the troops constituting the Fifteenth and Twenti- eth Regiments on picket in that vicinity were ordered to cross the river, and risk an engagement. The rebels proved the stronger party ; and, late in the afternoon, our men were driven down the bluff. Here comes in one of the most barbarous incidents of the war. Mr. Bond, who, from the Maryland side of the river, was in sight of the contest all day, says, " It was enough to curdle one's blood to see our soldiers chased down the steep bluff to the river's edge, where, laying down their arms and calling for mercy, they were cruelly and constantly fired into by the yelling and merciless foe. Nor was this all. The available boats had been overloaded and sunk ; and such of our men as could swim plunged into the stream, calling out, 'Don't fire! don't fire!' But, alas ! around the heads of these brave men, now unarmed, EDWARD PAYSON BOND. 29 and swimming for dear life, the enemy continued to pour their volleys, till the stream ran red with blood, and was thickly strewn with the floating dead." Mr. Bond aided many to reach the shore, some of whom died from over-exertion. No more fighting was experienced until the regiment was ordered to Yorktown, late in March. But, previous to this date, there was some excitement by the order received about the mid- dle of March to move at once in re-enforcement of Gen. Banks in his efforts to drive the rebels from the Shenandoah Valley. Before an actual junction of forces, however, the order was countermanded. The " Peninsular Campaign " had now been entered upon under direction of the extremely cautious commander Major-Gen. McClellan. The Twentieth Regiment, now constituting a part of the Second Army Corps under Gen. Sumner, landed at Hampton, opposite Fortress Monroe, on the last day of March, and moved upon the enemy, then heavily fortified at Yorktown, of Revolu- tionary memory. On coming into position there, Mr. Bond was thrown from a horse frightened by a bursting shell, and received a severe wound in his shoulder. He still, however, kept to his position for a time ; but the frequent chilly rains, added to the constant damp- ness of the camping-ground (often completely submerged after a heavy shower), obliged him to retire for hospital treatment. Here his injuries were pronounced of such severity as to ren- der his recovery sufficient for service very doubtful at least for months to come ; and he sought thereupon a regular discharge for disability, which he received April 26, 1862. He spent the remainder of the spring and summer months at his home, and, in the autumn, felt himself so far restored to soundness as to enlist in the Forty-fifth Regiment, then recruit- 30 EDWARD PAYSON BOND. ine for a service of nine months. His enlistment bears date Sept. 26, 1862, as a private in Company F, Capt. Daland ; it being understood at the time that he was to occupy the position of wagoner. With the fortunes of that regiment, in all its movements, he was identified from the time of his joining it till near the expi- ration of its term of service ; a witness of its skirmishes and battles, and acting in aid of his comrades so far as his special duties would permit. After the battle of Whitehall, he went to look at a spot where both horses and men lay dead in masses. As he stood by a fence, gazing with horror-struck feelings, especially at seeing a herd of swine actually tearing the flesh from those human bodies, and greedily devouring it, the sharp crack of three or more rifles on the opposite banks of the river told of danger too late to re- treat. The bullets whizzed close by him ; one of them striking the rail on which he was leaning. He did not wait for his rebel friends to reload. During the siege of Washington on the Tar River, in North Carolina, at the request of Col. Codman and Col. Bradley, Mr. Bond left his regiment, and took charge of a wagon-train sent to supply our troops in that city; which was successfully accom- plished. On returning to Newbern, the sickly season having com- menced, Mr. Bond thought it prudent to return home, as no special duties seemed to demand his remaining there. His dis- charge from the Forty-fifth Regiment bears date of June 22, 1863. He had scarcely been at home a week, before his reputation for trustworthiness, and his skill in the general management of teams, procured for him the offer of chief wagoner, and master of forage, for the United-States Christian Commission, — an insti- EDWARD PAYSON BOND. 31 tution whose extensive operations in the army during the war demanded talents of high order in its executive departments. Mr. Bond accepted the responsible trust proffered, and re- mained in that position until the close of the war. To enumerate the many and arduous duties now devolving on him, covering the ground of supplying teams, forage, and local arrangement (keeping him, in times of active engagements be- tween the armies, in constant activity both night and day), would be a voluminous task. His headquarters during the siege of Petersburg and Rich- mond were at City Point ; and from thence his charge extended to all parts of the army. It is sufficient for Mr. Bond's credit to insert here the follow- ing copy of a certificate voluntarily put into his hands at the close of the war : — This is to certify that Mr. Edward P. Bond was in the employ of the United-States Christian Commission, as chief wagon-master, from fitly i, 1864, laitil the surrender of Gen. Lee ; and it gives us great pleasure to state that his services vteritcd the approbation of the Executive Committee. I/is kno'iuledge of and treatment of horses saved much expense, and added greatly to the efficiency of the Commission, in enabling them to transmit the stores to the various points of the army, re- lieving the wants aiid sufferings of many of tJie soldiers. (Signed) GEORGE H. STUART, CJiairman of tlie U.S.C.C. Dated at Pliiladelpfiia, April zo, 1865. In stature, Mr. Bond was five feet eleven and a half inches high, of light complexion, light hair, and blue eyes. At the date of his first enlistment, he was engaged in the business of butch- ering. He was united by marriage with Margaret A. Fairbanks of Concord, Mass., on Nov. — , 1851 ; and had three children, the youngest three years old when he enlisted. He visited Richmond the day after its evacuation by Gen. Lee's army, and speaks of the destitution and wretchedness of 32 EDWARD PAYSON BOND. the inhabitants remaining as extreme ; many being in a state of actual starvation. Twelve or fifteen dollars, rebel currency, was demanded for an ordinary penny-roll of bread before the entrance of our troops ; and other articles of food were priced in proportion. Mr. Bond possessed a very benevolent cast of character ; and many a destitute soldier has occasion to bless his liberality. He is at present a resident of Wayland. John Bradshaw. OHN BRADSHAW was a native of England, bom May I, 1840; being the son of John M. and Bradshaw. He enhsted Oct. 16, 1861, to serve for three years as a private in Company F, Twenty-sixth Regi- ment of Infantry, which left Boston in November, 1 86 1, in the steamer "Constitution," for a South- ed . . ern destmation. Its debarkation on Ship Island (near the mouth of the Mississippi River) took place early in December. On this desert island it remained, without incident of note, during the succeeding four months. The glistening white sand painfully affected the eyes of our sol- dier (they were always weak) ; and the results were so promi- nent as to secure a certificate from authorities, by which he ob- tained a small pension after his discharge. He next moved with his regiment to Fort St. Philip, on the river, seventy miles below New Orleans ; and subsequently to the city of New Orleans, where provost-guard duty was the sole service required. Here heart-disease manifested itself; and he remained in hos- pital-quarters for treatment until Jan. 2, 1863,* when he was dis- charged from the service for disability. * He had also an attack of fever and ague at this lime. 6 :53 34 JOHN BRADSHAW. Judging by the contents of a few letters sent to his friends, he possessed many feehngs of kindly regard, even for those whose unkindly treatment in his earlier years might in other minds have produced coldness. Of his pay, he sent regularly twelve dollars per month to his friends. In November following his discharge, he was married to Lucy Clark of Wayland. Not long after, under the influence of an irrepressible impulse, the hand of self-destruction terminated his mortal life. John Baker Brigham. 'ED by the spirit of the times, Mr. Brigham became a soldier for three years, or during the war, as a private in the Thirty-fifth Infantry Regiment (Company D), July 31, 1862. He was born in Marlborough, Mass., Aug. 11, 1835 ; and was a farmer by occupation. In stature he was five feet seven inches, of light complexion, light hair, and blue eyes. He was united by marriage with Ann Mary Glezen of Weston, May 6, i860; and had one child when he entered the army. Artemas and Mary Brigham were the names of his parents. The details of his military career are coincident with his comrades of the Thirty-fifth until the regiment left Crab Orchard for its Vicksburg campaign. His first fighting ex- perience was at South Mountain. He was one whose natural temperament would not lead him to seek exposures to danger for the sake of a name ; but no sense of abject fear, on the other hand, ever tempted him to shun a post of duty, however perilous. And, on that day, he found the shock of battle less startling than he had anticipated. At Antietam, four days later, during which the noise of can- nonading was preparing unaccustomed ears for bloody-handed duty, Mr. Brigham found no hesitation in standing in his allot- 35 36 JOHN BAKER BRIGHAM. ment on the fields of carnage at the bridge-crossing, and when lying unprotected against the bursting shells and whizzing grape that saluted him and his comrades in their attempted advance on the rebel lines. Through the perils of these two battles he passed unharmed. A season of rest now awaited our troops, who had success- fully compelled the army of the rebel general to retire from the Northern soil to the territory which they claimed for a new con- federacy, and through which our soldiers were soon destined to follow them. Camping at Pleasant Valley is remembered by Mr. Brigham as having many pleasant incidents, with no severe duties, and but very little of variety. The monotony began to be some- what tiresome ; and scarcely a soldier had a sigh of regret, when, late in October, they had orders to cross the Potomac, and move in a southerly direction. The march, however, proved a rough one. With bad roads, unpropitious weather, and insufficient protection, it was very far from an agreeable journey from camp in Pleasant Valley, along the foot of Blue-Ridge Mountains, through a score or more of poor-looking towns, to the north bank of the Rappahannock River, in front of the town of Fredericksburg, in Virginia. The time occupied was twenty-four days. The only disturbance from rebel quarters occurred on passing near Sulphur Springs, when a battery opened suddenly on our columns with some scaring effect, especially among the mules and their drivers on the bag- gage-train. At the severe battle of Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, Mr. Brigham was present, and in his place, faithfully discharging his duties in the awful perils of that day of carnage. The muddy repose during the winter of 1862-63 at Falmouth is remembered by this soldier with feelings of no peculiar in- JOHN BAKER BRIGHAM. 37 terest ; and he was heartily glad of the change that gave him and his comrades the camp at Newport News. The repose found here was truly recuperating. But a soldier's rest is not of long duration. The army moved from here in boats, and landed at Baltimore in April, and then swept over the country in railroad-cars to the State of Kentucky. Mr. Brigham has lively recollections of the good times the boys had when they stopped on their way at several places, and were hospitably entertained with hot coffee and an abundance of relishing food. The tramps in Kentucky, sometimes in trying to overtake, and improve an opportunity to punish, the rebels in arms, and sometimes with no purpose discoverable by a private, are full of incidents of so small value as to be unworthy of mention in his narrative. Mr. Brigham had a hardy constitution, and had thought he could endure safely any exposures to which he might be called ; but like many others in similar conditions, and with similar faith in their physical powers for endurance, he found himself reluctantly forced to succumb to an attack of disease. In this region, the rain seems to delight in leaving its " cloudy urns " in drenching torrents at times, rather than in gentle showers. A prolonged exposure to one of these cold baths brought our soldier low with a typhoid-fever, — so low, said his nurse, " that his life was despaired of for a time ; " and, when the army moved from Crab Orchard, he was compelled by utter prostration to remain behind. After some weeks, and when he had partially recovered, the " chills " laid claim to their portion of the poor victim ; and his stay at Crab Orchard was prolonged to two months. He was then deemed sufficiently restored to be moved to a climate 38 JOHN BAKER BRIGHAM. better suited to his complete recovery from this pecuHar disease. Portsmouth-grove Hospital, in Rhode Island, was selected as well adapted to his case ; but even here the disease proved obstinate in the highest degree, and he was deemed unfit for field-service until the spring campaign of 1864. During this long year of hospital treatment, Mr. Brigham was permitted to visit his family twice on short furloughs. He speaks of his treatment and care as unexceptionably good ; though the confinement was intolerably vexatious, for he wanted to rejoin his fellow-soldiers in active field-duty. In May, 1864, he was permitted to return to his regiment. It had passed through severe ordeals in the Mississippi and Ten- nessee campaigns ; and when he rejoined his comrades at Coal Harbor, after their other conflicts with the enemy during the Wilderness battles, he saw in their warlike visage the stamp of veterans to which his own hospital-whitened face must have presented a striking contrast- From this time to the close of the war, he shared in all the movements, operations, and battles of the regiment. The Thirty-fifth was now attached to the engineer corps, and had many " hard jobs " in road-repairing and bridge-making, in level- ling forests for abatis-work, and constructing other works both offensive and defensive. At the explosion of the mine, July 30, the regiment was early advanced to the crater, and set at work preparing defences. In this affair, the loss was severe in killed and wounded. Two days after the battle, a most disagreeable task fell to their lot ; namely, the burial of the dead. The extreme heat had caused the bodies of the slain to be in a most revolting condition. Mr. Brigham was in the severe fight of the Weldon Railroad ; and again, on the last day of September, at the Poplar-spring Church, where, from the unwieldy character of some two hun- JOHN BAKER BRIG HAM. 39 dred raw German recruits attached to the Thirty-fifth, or from some other cause, over a hundred and fifty of its members fell into the hands of the rebels as prisoners, besides losing a large number in killed and wounded. At the Hatcher's-run fight, Mr. Brigham was chiefly employed in cutting trees for obstruction to the enemy's advance ; which was a work of great exposure. In the month of March, the regiment was stationed in a very exposed position at the front in what was known as " Fort Hell." Severe shelling and sharpshooting were here constantly ex- perienced. Mr. Brigham was engaged in the last fight of the regiment, April 2 ; and, on the next day, marched with flying colors into Petersburg. After the surrender of Gen. Lee's army, but little more was done by the Thirty-fifth except to make its way to Washington by boat from City Point to Alexandria, and thence by march to the capital. By the usual route, and after some stops on the way for re- freshment, the regiment reached Readville, Mass., on the 13th of June, when the men were mustered out of service. Mr. Brigham is thankful to have been a soldier in defence of the Union. He passed through some very pleasant times, and some pretty hard trials ; and is only sorry that sickness deprived him from rendering his full share of service. At present, he resides in Weston, Mass. Hezekiah N. Brown. ^3^HIS soldier was the son of Dwight and Eliza Brown; |i|j, born at Rowe, Mass., Aug. 12, 1840. He was five feet two inches tall, of light com- plexion, light-brown hair, and gray eyes ; a farmer by occupation. He enlisted for nine months as fifer in the Forty- fourth Regiment of Infantry (Company G), on the 15th of August, 1862; and was discharged at the end of his term, — June 18, 1863. The regiment left the State Oct. 22, and, four days after, landed in North Carolina. On the 29th, in company with other troops, it sailed for Washington, N.C. On leaving that place, Nov. 2, the men had their first encounter with armed rebels, which lasted several hours, and until near midnight, with a loss of two killed and eight wounded in the regiment. During the next day, they marched through Hamilton to Plymouth, driving the rebel skir- mishers. On passing through Hamilton, our men were fired on from the windows ; and they, in return, set fire to several houses. The regiment came to Newbern by water, and encoun- tered in its passage a severe storm, that prevented landing for three days. One steamer was dashed to pieces ; and all were very short of rations.* * In a letter to his friends, he says, " We had but two crackers a day for five days. I thought of the comfortable home and the friends I had left. But we are safe here now (at Newbern) ; and I expect to have a good 'riianksgiving dinner. " The rebels are the most dirty, ragged, unhappy looking beings that I ever saw." 40 HEZEKIAH N. BROWN. 4 1 The regiment took part in the battles of Kinston, Whitehall, and Goldsborough, on the 14th, 1 6th, and 17th of December, with the loss of eight killed and thirty wounded. While at Newbcrn, Mr. Brown was taken sick with measles, and did not accompany the troops in their other service in North Carolina. In one of the engagements, he had a narrow escape from a bullet that grazed his head, cutting away the hair in its path. He now resides in the State of Vermont. John Moore Brummitt. S^V^^f4;f# R. BRUMMITT was born at Framlngham, Mass., ~" I bodied " man, a regard for duty forbade him to ^ remain quietly at home when help was so much needed in quelling a rebellion that seemed to be maturing into gigantic proportions. Accordingly, we find his name enlisted, Aug. 3, 1862, as a pri- vate for three years in the Thirty-ninth Regiment of Infantry (Company I). He left his home, his wife (he married Sarah S. Sanders of Marlborough, Dec. 24, 1854), and his child, to submit with sad- ness to the final orders to depart to the seat of war, Sept. 6, 1862. His first encampment on hostile ground was at Arlington Heights, Va. On moving from there, Sept. 14, to Edwards's Ferry, he received a gentle hint of his inability to endure severe hard- ship. The sultry day, the rising dust, the soldier's heavy load, caused him to faint. He found assistance from one of his Way- land friends, and overtook his comrades at their first camp in the evening. While at Edwards's Ferry, he was under the surgeon's care during three weeks. The last two months of his army duty was as a regimental pioneer. JOHN MOORE BRUM MITT. 43 Winter-quarters at Poolesville developed a serious heart-diffi- culty ; and he was conveyed to Washington, D.C., where his case received attention at Stanton Hospital. Ten days was sufficient time to convince the surgeons of his disability for army service ; and he received his discharge Feb. 24, 1863. Mr. Brummitt was of dark complexion, with blue eyes and dark hair. He stood five feet eleven inches high, and was a farmer by occupation. He still resides in Wayland. Joseph Oscar Bullard. OSEPH OSCAR BULLARD became a member of the Union army on the 5th of August, 1862, by enroUing his name as a private in Capt. Rundlett's Company (F), in the Thirty-eighth Regiment of In- fantry. He saw the urgent necessity that some of our citizens on the mihtary roll should heed the call of the President for more troops ; and, with no eye for " military glory," he looked around for those who could best be spared. He saw on the roll some men with wives and children, or with aged parents dependent upon them for support ; and many young men like himself, on whom reposed fewer of the responsi- bilities of home-life. He saw, too, the shameful record that must be read in future if the 3'oung men of his class now quailed be- fore the mandate of duty, and sought inglorious shelter from the danger that lay in its path ; and also the happy greetings of after- time, should the present bear noble testimony to fidelity. His convictions were strong ; and no regrets now mingle with his experiences of the trials of army-life to cause the faintest wish that he had decided otherwise. He was of robust frame, of dark complexion and eyes, with black hair, and was five feet eleven and a half inches tall. His chief business had been agriculture. JOSEPH OSCAR BULLARD. 45 He was the son of Joseph and Harriet Bullard ; born at Way- land, May 20, 1 84 1. Sept. 24, 1862, he left the State with his regiment for the seat of war. Two or three weeks were spent in Maryland before embarking on the boat " Baltic " for Fortress Monroe. Five weeks of most uncomfortable delay occurred here, awaiting orders. The crowded boat became the home of much sickness, and much ill-suppressed discontent among the men ; but relief came, when, on a bright morning (Dec. 4, 1862), the steamer weighed anchor, and proceeded on a southerly course with its companion fleet of fourteen transports. The storm-reputed coast of North Carolina was not passed, however, without a visit from its " king," who, for twenty-four hours, howled destruction at the fleet. Strong men, whose pride of character hitherto forbade them to recognize that foul-mouthed visitor, sea-sickness, succumbed for a time to his enticements, and let him have entire control of their gastric department.* The troops were permitted to land, and rest themselves for two weeks on that snowy-looking bank of sand. Ship Island. Leaving this place Dec. 29, they were landed, on the first day of the new year (1863), at Carrolton, on the Mississippi River, — four or five miles above the city of New Orleans. Here they had an excellent camp, and enjoyed the mild winter of Louisiana to their hearts' content, until March 6 ; when they joined an expedi- tion up the river to Port Hudson, — about a hundred and sixty miles above New Orleans ; the object of this movement being to draw the attention of the rebel forces guarding the river at that place, so that Admiral Farragut's fleet might run by to co- operate with the upper flotilla. This was done with the loss of "The Mississippi" (frigate), which was burned in the attempt. * " All but five vessels of our fleet were scattered ; and some of these- were obliged to put back into port for repairs." — Letter, dated Baton Rouge, Jan. 26. 46 JOSEPH OSCAR BULLA RD. On the loth of March, our troops returned to New Orleans, and encamped at Algiers, — two miles south of that city. Nothing further of importance occurred until April lo, when orders were received to join Gen. Banks's Western Louisiana expedition. Cars were taken to Brashear City, about a hundred miles from New Orleans, in a westerly direction. Crossing Berwick Bay in a boat, the march was begun ; and soon our forces came upon rebel pickets, who fled in haste. After proceeding about thir- teen miles, the enemy was found in force behind strong intrench- ments at a place called Bisland. Their line extended across a level piece of ground lying between two bayous ; so that it was impossible to flank them. Thus the first trial of arms with the rebels was to face them, with the advantage of good breast- works on their side. The first day's fight (April 12) was by the artillery. The next day, our lines were moved up to good rifle-range; and infantry fir- ing began. The Thirty-eighth occupied part of a cane-field ; the canes being a foot or two high, planted on ridges five feet apart, and raised a foot or more. This afforded our men some protection while loading their muskets. The firing continued nearly all day ; our lines being advanced from time to time nearer the rebel fort. In the afternoon, one of the Wayland soldiers (John Mellen) was shot through the heart, and died instantly.* The rebels did not wait for further compliments. They evacu- ated during the night; and we took possession the next morning, capturing a few prisoners that loitered too long.t After the battle, the pursuit of the enemy commenced briskly. Never will those forced marches of from twenty-two to thirty- * " It was a sorrowful loss to his company ; for he was a brave soldier, and a friend to all that knew him." — Letter. t Mr. Bullard was promoted to a corporalship after this engagement. ■JOSEPH OSCAR BULLARD. 47 five miles per day be forgotten ; sometimes knee-deep in mud, or up to the armpits in water, living on four to six "hard-tack " per day, and with no chance to forage. The country was scoured bv guerillas on horseback, who were sure to pick up as prisoners all who strayed beyond our protection, or who chanced to fall in the rear from fatigue.* On the 20th of April, Opelousas was reached. — a distance of three hundred miles. The men were nearly used up with fatigue, and their feet badly blistered. Here a halt was made for two weeks, to recruit, and gather as much cotton as could be secured. The troops left. May 4, for Alexandria, — ninety-seven miles north, on the Red River. This march was accomplished in three days and a half Another fight was expected here ; but the Union gunboats had taken possession before our arrival. After living on the property of Gov. Moore for two weeks, our troops were ordered to Port Hudson. We reached the great river, twelve miles above that place, and crossed over in boats to Bayou Sara ; and the next day brought us, by a hard march in a severe storm, into position with Gen. Banks's other forces, then investinor this stron2:hold of the rebels, commanding^ the Mississippi River, second in importance only to Vicksburg, v/hich was at the same time invested by the Union forces under Gen. Grant. The bluff on which the rebel batteries were erected was from sixty to eighty feet above the surface of the river ; and the batte- ries extended for about two miles on its banks. They were pro- tected by two well-constructed lines of breastworks in irregular shape, conforming to the natural formation of the ground. * " It was amusing, while on this march, to see the white flags raised at every house we passed. The people were all for the Union until our rear-guard was out of sight ; then they were real secesh, and acted the guerilla on any of our men that chanced to fall behind." — Letter. 48 JOSEPH OSCAR BULLARD. The Thirty-eighth held various positions in support of batteries, engineer-corps, &c., till the 27th; when it took part in the gen- eral but ineffectual assault on that day. The ground over which the regiment passed in the assault was covered with fallen trees, forming in some places a strong abatis. " We charged up to a deep ravine, which afforded protection from the terrible fire of grape and canister, which was so fearfully destructive, that, al- though we were within talking-distance of the rebel lines, no further attempt was made to reach them ; and we retreated at nightfall to our old lines." The daily routine of cannonading was again resorted to, with no further attempts to assault until June 14 ; when a grand charge along the whole line constituted the military programme. The Thirty-eighth was now in position on the right centre, — r a point of peculiar exposure, because there was no room in the nature of the ground for defiling. Its line must move over a ridge in the face of infantry and battery fires. The charge was sounded just at daylight. A ravine was eained that formed a natural ditch to their works ; but we could go no farther. The carnage was awful. In fifteen minutes. Company F lost eighteen men out of the thirty-four that went in. " We lay there during the day under a broiling sun. The rebels did not dare to show their heads to us ; and we as care- fully kept ours out of their sight. The darkness of night allowed us to fall back in safety." This assault was on Sunday. A flag of truce was sent out on Monday morning, with a request to remove the wounded that could not be recovered, and to bury the dead. It was refused ; and though repeated twice again on that day, and three times on Tuesday, the request was not granted until Wednesday, when the dead bodies had become very offensive. Previous to this last assault, the regiment had been ordered JOSEPH OSCAR BULLARD. 49 out to Clinton, about twenty-five miles distant, to break up a rebel force that threatened the Union lines in the rear. Owing to the intense heat, this was the severest trial of marching yet found. On the first day, there were about forty men sun-struck within half an hour. After receiving intelligence of the fall of Vicksburg, the sur- render of Port Hudson inevitably followed, July 8, 1863, with its men, and munitions of war. The Thirty-eighth had been here forty-three days, the incidents of some of which will never fade from memory. The greater part of Gen. Banks's army was now ordered to Texas. Our regiment started on the 12th of July, in charge of a baggage-train, for Baton Rouge ; and thence by steamer to Donaldsonville,* sixty miles below, where it camped till July 31 ; and then returned by steamer to Baton Rouge, where it remained for the defence of the place until the close of the year. While stationed here, Mr. Bullard received an injury by a fall from, a horse he was endeavoring to tame, which produced so great a degree of disability for field-service, that he was trans- ferred to the " Veteran Reserve Corps ; " in which branch of ser- vice he remained to the close of the war. Until May, 1864, 1"^^ was stationed in the barracks below New Orleans : at this date he was assigned to Company H, Twentieth Regiment of the Veteran Reserve Corps, then sta- tioned at the rendezvous for rebel prisoners at Point Lookout, Md. Guard-duty over the prisoners was the monotonous and weari- some business which now occupied his time. Under date of Jan. 25, 1865, he writes, " We had here at one time twenty-five thousand prisoners : just now, we have eighteen * " While at Donaldsonville, Dennis Mullen, a soldier from Wayland, was taken prisoner. On being exchanged, he was transferred to the First Louisiana Cavalry," — Letter. 1 50 JOSEPH OSCAR BULLARD. thousand. Of the fourteen hundred sent here three days ago from Fort Fisher, about five hundred were boys from fifteen to eighteen years old, many of whom cried to go home. They were exchanged after keeping them three days. Some prisoners have been here over two years. We find thousands of them who say they were forced into the rebel service ; and many beg of our officers not to exchange them. They work willingly for us, and have now voluntarily built three large forts and about forty hospital-buildings. Very few try to escape. They do not seem to have the kind feelings towards each other that our men manifest. Nearly half of them cannot write their names." One prisoner demands special notice. A person of slender form and officer-like demeanor, a lieutenant of a Virginia bat- tery, was kept for several weeks before it was discovered that un- derneath the male garb was a female form. She had been in the military service of the rebels for four years. She belonged to one of the most respectable families, and apparently from purely patriotic motives disguised her sex, and patiently endured the hardships and braved the dangers of military life. She was believed to be a pure-minded though mistaken woman ; and, when her sex was discovered, was detailed as a nurse in the hospital, the duties of which station were cheerfully and faith- fully done. Mr. Bullard is now a resident of Weston, Mass. William Henry Butterfield. 'ILLIAM HENRY, the eldest son of John C. and Mary (Ward) Butterfield, was born at Way- land, Dec. 25, 1840. He was among the few, who, at the ontbreak of the war, saw an imperative duty resting on the young men of our country to defend its imper- illed integrity by force of arms ; and he resolved to render such service as was in his power. He enlisted as a private soldier in Company H of the Thir- teenth Infantry Regiment on the 17th of July, 1861. Of this company Capt. William L. Clark was commander. In stature, Mr. Butterfield was five feet five and a half inches, with dark complexion, black hair and eyes, and a cordwainer by occupation. He joined the regiment at Fort Independence, Boston har- bor, and, on the 30th of July, proceeded to the seat of war; being assigned to duty in the northern part of Maryland, near the Potomac River. Here, during the pleasant season of the year, the military regime was by no means diiKicult. At the close of the year 1861, Company H, with three others, was stationed at Hancock, and was under expectations of a 52 WILLIAM HENRY BUTTERFIELD. fight with the rebels, who had gathered in large force, and were destroying the railroad in that vicinity. These four companies were entirely inadequate to contend, and a re-enforcement was ordered by Gen. Kelley ; but, before their arrival, the rebels had accomplished their work, and retired. Alarms were sufficiently frequent to keep the " boys in blue " awake ; and they were hungry for a chance to show their cour- age in actual combat. A large part of the winter was spent at Williamsport. From this point, various company-movements occurred in the per- formance of outpost-duty, which gave our soldiers some oppor- tunities for skirmishing lightly with the " gray-backs." * Early in March, offensive movements were started by our forces, under Major-Gen. Banks, on the rebel side of the Potomac ; and the Thirteenth was ordered to the scene of action. Cross- ing the river, it proceeded by way of Martinsburg and Bunker Hill to Winchester, where it joined the main body of Gen. Banks's command on the 1 2th of March. This was a hard march. The roads were in bad condition ; and, being without tents, some of the nights were spent in a very uncomfortable way. But all the fighting about Winchester was done the day before its ar- rival. The rebels had been driven ; and the Thirteenth was ordered to provost-guard-duty in the city. On the 20th it was joined to Gen. Abercrombie's brigade, and marched through Berryville to Aldie, and thence to Centreville and Bull Run. During April, and until the middle of May, the chief duty was to guard the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. The latter part of May, a seemingly useless circuit was per- formed. Starting from Catlett's Station, the regiment reached Aquia Creek on the 25th by way of Fredericksburg and Fal- * The uniform of the rebel soldiers was of a mixed or grayish color ; and that of the Union soldiers, blue. WILLIAM HENRY BUTTERFIELD. 53 mouth ; thence by boat up the Potomac to Alexandria, Va. ; and from this place by rail-cars to near the starting-point. The boys were glad to see so much rebel territory, but protested against making such visits in future with the burden of all their camp-furniture on their backs. Not much occurred in June and July ; and headquarters were chiefly at Front Royal and Manassas Gap. After this time, however, various and sometimes rapid movements were fre- quent ; for the military elements were in a state of unusual per- turbation. Gen. McClellan had failed in the great movement on Richmond ; and the rebels, thus relieved, turned their atten- tion towards Washington. Gen. Pope's command was the interposing Union force ; and under the rebel pressure he was compelled gradually to retire, and concentrate his force. This concentration culminated in the vicinity of Centreville ; and the Thirteenth found itself among the direct opponents of the approaching foe. The exultation of their proud advance was checked by Gen. Pope's victorious battle at Centreville on the 28th of August; but on the renewal of the conflict on the 30th, when the rebel ranks had been strongly re-enforced, the Union army was compelled to retire in defeat. In this second Bull- run battle, as it was called, our soldier sustained his part through the hotly-contested day. As he was about leaving the field, he discovered his friend, Sergeant Bacon of Natick, badly wounded by a ball that had passed nearly through the upper part of his chest. He imme- diately took charge of him, and assisted him to a place of safety. With a pocket-knife he opened the flesh, and extracted the ball, which had lodged in a position to cause great pain.* Having dressed the wound as well as he was able, he took him to what * Mr. Bacon survived, and has the ball now in his possession. He is confident that he owes his life to Mr. Butterfield's kind attentions. 54 WILLIAM HENRY BUTTERFIELD. was called the " Stone House " for shelter during the night. There was a large number of wounded men already there ; and, more than any thing else, their cries were for water to quench their thirst and bathe their wounds. Mr. Butterfield saw it to be his duty to remain, and alleviate the sufferings of these men. All night he employed himself in drawing water, and taking it in canteens to the wounded ; for which he received many a " God bless you ! " Early the next morning, a squad of rebel cavalry passed by the place ; and, concluding to make a call, they found our sol- dier at his duty among the wounded. But, not recognizing the necessity of having Union soldiers cared for in such a humane manner, they summoned Mr. Butterfield to take a " double- quick " march with them. He thus became a prisoner of war. Fortunately for him, the prison atrocities of the rebels had not yet been developed ; and he looked forward to only a few weeks of detention from service, with no extraordinary hard- ships to endure. He was taken first to Haymarket, where he remained under guard four days. He was then paroled, and sent to camp near Columbus, O. This might be considered all well enough, and a happy exemption from field-service ; but our soldier did not regard it in that light. The style of living did not agree with his sense of fitness : so, one favorable night, he, and a comrade named Shattuck, successfully eluded the vigilance of the guard ; pro- cured, in some way, suits of citizens' clothing; and came into the city of Columbus, seeking for employment at their trade. In this they found no difficulty, and soon earned money enough to pay their passage home, with no suspicion of their being at the same time soldiers in Uncle Sam's employ. Their arrival home excited great amazement among their friends. They proceeded at once to the office of Adjutant-Gen. WILLIAM HENRY BUTTERFIELD. 55 Schouler, and stated frankly what they had done, asking his advice. He admired their sagacity and frankness, even if a Httle to the prejudice of good military discipline ; and, on as- surance of their desire and intention to return to service as soon as possible, he bade them go to their homes till notified of their exchange, and then report to him. It was nearly three months before the exchange was effected ; and they were then ordered to Washington, to proceed thence to their regiment. On reaching the capital, the same daring spirit which prompted an elopement from parole-camp seized our soldier again, and suggested a little " extra service " before going to the front. His father and younger brother were also soldiers in the Union army, and were stationed at Offutt's Cross Roads in Mary- land, — about fifteen or twenty miles north of the city. He re- solved to pay them a visit. To do this, he had guards to pass before leaving the city, and before entering their camp, whose countersigns were unknown to him, and whose vigilance he could not expect to elude. But, to a determined spirit like his, the probabilities of an arrest did not outweigh the pleasure of seeing his friends ; nor was the excitement of such an adventure without its allurements. Our soldier does not relate the narrow pathways he trod while stealing a march on some of the watchful sentinels, nor the statements he made to others whom he was obliged to confront at the word " Halt!" and the ominous "click" of the hammer make ready for effective use. It must suffice to say, then, that he reached the camp of the Thirty-ninth in safety ; had the pleasure of seeing his father and brother; and then, by such artful dodges as but few have the ability to carry out success- fully, he returned to Washington, and the next day proceeded. 56 WILLIAM HENRY BUTTERFIELD. according to orders, to Alexandria, where he rejDorted to the authorities at Convalescent Camp * Making acquaintance here with one of the officers, he was invited to become cook at headquarters, and was soon detailed regularly for that position. He fulfilled the duties of this ap- pointment for about four months. He had for some time been troubled by what was supposed to be a liver-difficulty ; and it began to appear that he was un- fitted for further field-service. An examination by the sur- geon of the department resulted in a discharge for disability, signed Feb. 5, 1863. After his return home, he re-enlisted for one hundred days, Aug. 6, 1863; and served his time as patrol in the city of Alexandria, and as picket on the Orange and Alexandria Rail- road, without incident of much note. His final discharge was given Feb. 11, 1864. Mr. Butterfield resides in Wayland, engaged in shoe-manu- facturing. He was married to Mary Hersey of Wayland in 1866. * On reaching Washington, he went to the provost-marshal, and told him just what he had done. The officer was in good humor, and cautioned our soldier against repeating such an offence against military rules. " But," said he, " seeing you have done it so adroitly this time, I will excuse it ; " handing him at the same time a pass to proceed. John Calvin Butterfield. S introductory to the narrative of Mr. Butterfield, there are two points of interest worthy of men- tion, — first, he was the only Wayland soldier who volunteered when beyond the period of life re- quired for military duty ; and, second, his is the only instance among the citizens of the town where the patriotic spirit so pervaded a family as to prompt the father and two sons to voluntary service in the army at the same time. Other men could have been far easier spared from their fami- lies than Mr. Butterfield : but he paused not to debate relative positions and obligations ; he chose, instead, the nobler part of setting an example of patriotic devotion, by enlisting with his second son as a private soldier in Company I (Capt. Brigham), of the Thirty-ninth Regiment of Infantry, Aug. i, 1862. His parents were William and Lavina (Case) Butterfield ; and he was born at Antrim, N.H., on the eighteenth day of April, 1816. He was five feet five and a half inches tall, of light com- plexion, with gray hair and blue eyes. Not the least painful period in the life of a soldier whose ma- tured mind and family relationships lead him carefully to count the cost, and look fairly at the chances of ever seeing his loved 67 58 JOHN CALVIN BUTTERFIELD. ones again, is when the last adieu must be spoken before the uncertain pathway is finally taken. To see the tearfial group of wife and children, and to utter the parting word, makes emotion both manly and heroic. This trial overcome, we pass on with our soldier to the capi- tal of his country ; which was reached on the eighth day of Sep- tember. The next day, the regiment proceeded, under order of Gen. Casey, to Camp Chase, on Arlington Heights. Mr. Butterfield and some others had already found the weight of their well- stuffed knapsacks to be a serious drawback to their comfort on a march, and, with a wise sagacity, chartered a team to relieve them on their first tramp. On their way, they met the return of our defeated forces at the second Bull-run battle. " It was not a very inspiring idea, that we, who now looked so fair in our ' suits of blue,' might soon become war-stained and rough like the veterans who passed us." — Letter. Orders soon came to march into Maryland. Recrossing the Potomac by the chain-bridge, the regiment proceeded in light marching-order to Poolesville, Md., and was assigned to picket- duty chiefly, for the remainder of the month of September, on the Potomac River, that separated the hostile ranks. The first " screwing-up of courage " to meet the foe was one day during the second week of October. Stuart's rebel cav- alry had crossed the Potomac at a point about three miles above Conrad's Ferry ; and the Thirty-ninth was ordered to move up, and intercept their return. At this news there were some pale faces amidst a general and commendable readiness to do marvel- lous deeds of daring ; but the rebels wisely withdrew before our boys could get a sight of them. While Company I was on picket at Muddy Branch, near Sen- eca Falls, the Wayland boys were much gratified by an unex- JOHN CALVIN BUTTERFIELD. 59 pected but brief visit of their townsman, Mr. William Heard. It was long remembered with pleasure. About the ist of November, Col. Davis was intrusted with the command of the brigade ; and Lieut.-Col. Pierson became the regimental commander.* While at Offutt's Cross Roads, Mr. Butterfield was detailed to take care of the sick. Pneumonia had become fearfully preva- lent and fatal. Not less than six of the regiment died of that disease in a week. The gloom resulting from this condition was partially lifted by the reception in camp of citizens Sherman, Kimball, and Fay, who brought as a token of friendly interest from the people of Natick a substantial Thanksgiving dinner for the regiment. While in this vicinity, Mr. Butterfield had the satisfaction of rescuing from drowning his first lieutenant, who, on a " pitchy- dark " night, had stepped from the side of a lock into deep water in a canal ; but his comrade, John Flynn, could not be saved by his exertions. Winter-quarters were fixed near Poolesville, Md. Under date of Feb. 24, 1863, ^^- Butterfield writes, " We have a very pleas- ant camp on a high plain close to the little town of Poolesville. We owe much of our comparatively good health at present to the excellent locality, and no less to the cleanliness enforced by our officers. Every morning, each street must be swept; and occasionally all the tents must be taken down, and thoroughly aired." * In a letter dated at Poolesville, April 6, 1863, Mr. Butterfield writes, " Col. Davis is al- ways kind, accommodating, and pleasant, yet strict in discipline. He has made himself be- loved by all. He has shown by his methods that the best discipline is better attained by love than fear. " He has a tall, commanding figure. " Lieut.-Col. Pierson is the opposite of Col. Davis in many respects." 6o JOHN CALVIN BUTTERFIELD. Extensive plans for mutual improvement were here arranged, chiefly under direction of Chaplain French.* During the winter, Mr. Butterfield was detailed to cook rations for the company. Orders came the middle of April to march for Washington ; and the movement began in the midst of a drenching rain. On arriving at the city, the Thirty-ninth was assigned to the Martindale barracks for quarters, on the north side of the city. The renovation of these barracks^ from their unhealthy sur- roundings and untidy appearance was the first duty ; mingled 'with which, and constituting the reason of this occupancy of the capital, was patrol duty and guard at the public buildings. Opportunities abounded of seeing the dignitaries of the nation and the public, edifices of the place. The regiment was, for the time being, the elite soldiery of the city, with polished arms, bright uniforms, and white gloves. But these halcyon days were soon over. On the 9th of July, orders were received to take cars for Harper's Ferry ; and from there the Maryland Heights were reached. Here the Thirty- ninth was brigaded anew, under Gen. Briggs, with the Eighth, Forty-sixth, and Fifty-first Regiments ; and formed a part of the second division of the First Army Corps. In about a week, the brigade crossed the Potomac on pontoon- bridges at Berlin, and passed by rapid marches to Rappahannock Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. In this march, which ended on the 27th of July, several streams were forded ; and the effects became evident in the person of Mr. Butterfield by rheumatic affections, and, what at this time was more serious, congestion of the lungs. He was taken to the division-hospital. Four days elapsed without improvement in * " Our religious privileges are very favorable ; and we are trying to establish a regimental library." — Letter. JOHN CALVIN BUTTERFIELD. 6 1 his health ; and he was then put on board freight-cars for Wash- ington. It was a long and hard ride for our sick soldier ; and it was hard too, after he arrived weary and faint, to be obliged to wait three hours, until near midnight, before ambulances came to take him and his comrades to hospital. One alleviating cir- cumstance should be mentioned. He had crawled out of the cars, and was reclining, late in the evening, on the sidewalk. A good lady came along, and, seeing his sorry plight, took him into her house near by, gave him a cup of tea, and the use of a lounge until the ambulances came. It will be remembered of her in the language of the Great Teacher, " I was a stranger, and ye took me in." At Emory Hospital our soldier found good treatment, which he so much needed. The bath, the nice cot-bed, and the clean hospital-clothing, made him feel like a new person ; while the repose, the medical attention, and the nursing care, revived his energies, and he soon began to amend. He found here that the matron and the superintendent of wardrobe (Mrs. Freeman and daughter) were Massachusetts women, who were happy to give him their best attentions. Senator Wilson, with whom he was personally acquainted, made him frequent visits. As soon as he was able, Mr. Butterfield was detailed to take charge of the culinary department of the hospital. He occupied this position, with full acceptance, for several months, and until his discharge for disability, which was signed Feb. 1 1, 1864. Wliile in the army, Mr. Butterfield held in great detestation those men at the North, who under cover of a desire for peace, and in other ways, betrayed their sympathies for the rebels. One of his letters from the army has the following : — " He professed to be a good Union man, yet all the while was 62 JOHN CALVIN BUTTERFIELD. abetting and encouraging the rebels. Now that he is caught, I hope he will be punished. Such as he surely deserve it more than they who openly and avowedly are traitors to their country. " Copperheadism at the North is more disastrous in its results than a severe defeat in battle." Mr. Butterfield was married to Mary Ward of Wayland, July 19, 1836; and was the father of eleven children when he enlisted. Charles Benjamin Butterfield. 'HARLES BENJAMIN was the second son of John C. and Mary (Ward) Butterfield. He en- listed as a soldier in the Union army on the same day with his father; viz., Aug. i, 1862. He had just passed his eighteenth year ; and it is to be pre- sumed, that, in common with all young men of his age, the natural desire for novelty, and especially the inspiriting effect of military display, with its promise of glory, had their legitimate effect in drawing him into the ranks. But, on the other hand, it is not to be doubted, that, whatever motives urged him at first, no man would " hold to the grit " through tramp and battle and prison-pen as did this soldier, true as steel to his country, without a genuine patriotic love for that country, and a vital determination to preserve its integrity at whatever hazard of personal interest. In the same company with his father, and passing through the same general experiences with him, until sickness at Rap- pahannock Station removed him from the regiment at the close of July, 1863, it would seem a needless repetition to recount in this what has just been related in his father's narrative. Taking up the story of his army-life from that point, we find, that, for several months subsequent to the Gettysburg fight, the two great armies in Virginia were in constant manoeuvre to gain 03 64 CHARLES BENJAMIN BUTTERFIELD. advantage of each other, without coming to any general battle, though with frequent skirmishing and minor engagements. The Thirty-ninth was exempt from actually meeting the enemy ; but it is believed that no body of men did more tramping in the same period. The twenty-eighth distinct march, after leaving Rappahannock Station, Aug. i, brought the regiment, with the five army corps composing Gen. Meade's command, in front of Gen. Lee's army, strongly posted on the east side of Mine Run. This was on the 28th of November. Every thing foretokened a terrible battle ; and the men were held in suspense in line of battle for two whole days and nights, and until the afternoon of the third day, when Gen. Meade declined the contest, and withdrew his forces. The month of December was spent on the banks of the Rap- pahannock, till near its close ; when a movement was made to the railroad at Mitchel's Station for winter-quarters. For several days, no tents were provided : the weather was cold and stormy, and there was much suffering in consequence. But the boys were lively in the construction of log-Kuts, and, in two weeks, were well fitted up for winter. Several miles of the north bank of the Rapidan River were assigned them for picket-duty ; it being the extreme extension of our army-line in that direction. It was a long and wearisome encampment of nearly five months ; and the movement out of camp at the close of April was heartily welcomed. It was soon rumored that the next campaign would be under Gen. Grant's direction ; and every one knew that he was for solid work, at whatever cost. That work soon began ; and the whole territory in the vicinity of the Rapidan seemed to swarm with masses of armed men, moving in a southerly direction. Having crossed that river, and proceeded several miles, the CHARLES BENJAMIN BUTTERFIELD. 65 front lines of Gen. Lee's army were encountered ; and, on the 5th of May, the rapid firing a short distance in front told of the work of war. In the afternoon of that day was the first regular experience of a battle to the boys of the Thirty-ninth. They were supporting a front line, which was being driven by the foe ; and their turn soon came to take the front, and make a charge on the enemy. It did not prove very successful. The firing was terribly rapid ; but the protection afforded by trees saved the men from severe harm. The regiment was at the front again the next day, but had no engagement. On the following night, a hard march brought our forces to confront the enemy at Laurel Hill. Here, with fixed bayonets, the enemy's cavalry and batteries were driven : but their infantry line proved much too strong for us ; and a retreat in confusion resulted in severe loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners. After two days of rest, the regiment was again ordered to the front, and had a very exposed situation : for six or seven hours, it re- ceived a severe artillery and infantry fire. Spottsylvania was reached on the morning of the 14th, after several hours' marching in the darkness so dense as to render all objects invisible. The fighting was here done by others, al- though our regiment was exposed to shells and bullets. There was from this time to the 23d of May continual move- ment and cross-movement to the left, with much labor in throw- ing up breastworks, of which the Thirty-ninth did its full share. At that date, and on crossing the North Anna River, the enemy was encountered in force. Our line was charged by them ; but, with the aid of a battery, their ranks were completely shattered. A line of works on the river was erected, and occu- pied the next three days ; when a further move to the left brought a renewed conflict with the foe at Bethesda Church on the 29th. The line of battle was formed, and our regiment 66 CHARLES BENJAMIN BUTTEREIELD. detailed as skirmishers. Unable to hold the line, our men were driven back in confusion. Works were thrown up in defence, and occupied the next five days, under some shelling, but no assault. Several minor movements occurred during the following week, of no special consequence, but having the usual accompaniments of shells, bullets, and breastwork-making. On the 1 2th of June the Chickahominy River was reached, and crossed at midnight ; and our column moved up its southern bank to White-oak Swamp, where the enemy was partially en- gaged and driven. Breastworks were built, which were evacuated during the night ; and the march continued to the James, which was crossed the next morning. Soon after arriving in front of Petersburg, the regiment was massed in readiness for a charge on the works near the Norfolk Railroad : but, for some reason, the attack was postponed ; and the men were set to intrenching near the Marshall House. It was an exposed place ; and they had to lie under cover by day, and work at night. Such was the position until June 24, when a movement to the left was made under severe shelling. Here the regiment built heavy works of defence at their quarters, and did their full amount of picket-duty at the front until July 11. It was in these works that Col. Davis lost his life by the ex- plosion of a shell. The Weldon-railroad battle occurred on the i8th of August, in which the Thirty-ninth took a conspicuous part, and was subjected to a most terrific infantry and artillery fire. Our line, however, did not flinch until it was ascertained that the rebels had penetrated its rear. Temporary works were constructed, and held through the night. On the 19th, our line was charged ; and the enemy were handsomely repulsed in front. The infantry-firing had ceased ; CHARLES BENJAMIN BUTTERFIELD. 67 and our soldier was sitting in the trench, enjoying a drink of coffee, and at the same time perusing a letter received from a sister the previous evening. He had just read her kind caution, " Charlie, don't let them take you prisoner," when the bullets came whizzing through the air from the rear. The rebels had found openings on the right and left of our position, and were close upon our regiment. The order from its officers was, " Every one take care of himself" Mr. Butterfield seized his gun, and started for the rear. He had gone but a few rods, when he saw a comrade attacked by two rebels. He thought it a good chance to secure perhaps two prisoners, as well as release his friend. When within a few feet, the rebels called on him to surrender. He returned the com- pliment, at the same time cocking his gun. But one of the rebels was too quick : his piece was levelled and discharged first ; but the only effect on our soldier was from the powder that blackened and scorched his neck. He then levelled, and fired at his foe, but did not stop to see who was killed or wounded. He now started to run away from an approaching squad, but came face to face with another. " That's a fair catch ! " shouted their officer. " Yes," said our soldier, " it is," as he handed them his gun. This squad had captured a dozen or more of our men. Very soon, our soldier's eyes being wide open for chances to better his condition, he was among the missing, and was congratulating himself on a lucky escape, when he came upon a company of about seventy rebels, whose orders for him to halt, seconded by several levelled muskets, made it a matter of expediency to comply. He was now, indeed, a prisoner of war. With others, he was taken about a mile to a prisoners' camp, where he found nineteen of his own company, and about two hundred others of his regiment. The old adage, that " misery 68 CHARLES BENJAMIN BUTTERFIELD. loves company," was here verified. It was certainly an allevia- tion to know that the misfortune of being prisoners was not due to their special fault. In the afternoon and evening, it was rainy. Some of our men had retained their blankets ; and, by sharing these, nearly all were nicely in bivouac ; when the corporal of the guard came round, and, like an inhuman wretch, demanded and obtained every blanket of our men ; and, the next day, every thing but cap, blouse, shirt, and pants, had to be given up. The prisoners were then marched to the city of Petersburg, and placed in a large building. It was now the third day since their capture, and they had taken nothing to eat. Here they received three hard-tack apiece. The next day the prisoners were crowded into freight-cars, and kept standing until three o'clock the next morning, when they were conveyed to Richmond, and put into the notorious Libby Prison ; the equally notorious ruffian, Dick Turner, counting them at the entrance, and giving each a kick or a push, or both, as they entered. A wash-tub of bean-soup was brought in ; and each one helped himself as best he could. There were seventeen hundred prisoners entered the same day ; and they occupied two floors of the building, which was in a most offensive condition. Much to Mr. Butterfield's relief, he remained here but one night. With three hundred others, he was removed to a build- ing across the street, where they were stripped to the skin to be examined for valuables (especially money) that were thought to be secreted. Among other things he had a "housewife," in which he kept some choice photographs of his friends, and other articles. He asked that he might retain it ; and, though refused at first, he afterwards found it on the floor, and kept it. This, with a tin mustard-box, was all, besides the clothing he wore, that CHARLES BENJAMIN BUTTERFIELD. 69 he now possessed. The search being over, the prisoners were taken to Belle Isle, around which flowed the waters of the James. Its area was about five acres. It was entirely destitute of buildings. A guard of old men and boys, who were unfit for field-service, was stationed every twenty feet ; many of whom seemed desirous to catch a prisoner across the " dead-line," that they might have the honor of shooting a "damned Yankee," as the Union soldiers were almost invariably called. A plank reached across a ditch (within the dead-line), over which they passed to get water. One day, as Sergeant French of Com- pany G was crossing, he lost his balance, and fell into the ditch ; and while he was getting out, he was shot dead by a boy four- teen years old. The same boy, the next day, ran his bayonet into the leg of a prisoner named Hardy, for no offence whatever. The prisoners were without shelter for two months ; but, the weather being warm, they did not suffer much, except in storms, and on some of the November nights. The last month of the three that they were here, a lot of old canvas was brought to them to be used for shelter in the best way their ingenuity could devise. Their greatest trial was want of sufficient rations. One- quarter of a pound of coarse corn-bread, and about two ounces of meat, if it could be called by that name, made a day's supply to each man. Mr. Butterfield had several times the single eye of an animal served to him, which hunger forced him to eat. Diarrhoea was a prevailing sickness ; and, towards the close of the time, ten or twelve deaths per day would be the average. One prisoner, a New-Hampshire man, had volunteered to aid the rebels in raising a flagstaff. The patriotism of his fel- low-prisoners could not stand this ; and they gave the man a severe pounding, which cost them, in turn, the absence of rations for three days. 70 ' CHARLES BENJAMIN BUTTERFIELD. At the end of three months, several hundreds were packed into freight-cars, — seventy men in each, so that it was impossi- ble to maintain any other than a standing position, — and started thus for Salisbury, N. C. On reaching Greensborough they were released from their torture, and marched into a field without food or shelter. It was very cold ; and one man was found chilled to death the next morning. Without rations, they were started for the cars the next morning, more dead, and stiff with the cold, than alive. Mr. Butterfield had a thimble, which he swapped with a boy for four small apples ; and these helped allay the gnawings of hunger. Salisbury prison-pen was reached at about five o'clock, p.m. The men had been told that they would have barracks for quar- ters here. Imagine the disappointment, when, on being turned into the yard, they found about four thousand prisoners already there, more than three-fourths of whom were unsheltered, and looking more miserable than themselves! If indignation could have availed, it would have burst in vengeful fury on the guards ; but, being weak and defenceless, nothing could be done but to submit to the rough fortunes of war. Holes were dug in the ground, using hands for shovels, and side-chambers excavated, to make shelter from the freezing cold. Snow and hail, and cold rain-storms, were frequent. A day's rations here was a half-pound of bread per man, with a small piece of meat once in three or four weeks. Rice-soup was served out about as often also as the meat. It was insuf- ficient to support life ; and, day by day, the squads were thinned by deaths. These squads, of one hundred men each, were the basis on which rations were issued ; and the boys soon found devices by which they could draw rations for their dead com- rades by what they termed "flanking" during the count: in other words, some of the first counted in the files would slyly CHARLES BENJAMIN BUTTERFIELD. 71 pass to the rear, and be counted a second time under another name. Our soldier made up his mind to live through it, and to make the best of circumstances. He was well acquainted with the sergeant of the ninth squad (his was the eighth of the fifth division). He found means to appropriate a pair of shoes that had belonged to a dead comrade ; and these he gave to the sergeant, who was bare-footed, on condition of being allowed to fall into his squad after being counted in his own, and thus secure an extra ration. He answered to the name Butterjield in the eighth squad, and May in the ninth. He also secured another extra ration for a dead man, for whom, while sick, he had drawn, by calling his name " R , sick in a tent." This call was continued for several weeks after the man had been buried. Our soldier ate two rations himself, and gave the other to a friend. Mr. Butterfield had the reputation of being the liveliest boy in the yard, and held the title of Colonel among the prisoners. It is not to be supposed that all his tricks are told ; but the fol- lowing will serve as another specimen of getting an extra ration : — The nurses in the hospital-quarters were in the habit of tak- ing the rations of the sick, always when not wanted, and some- times when otherwise they would have been used, and selling them to their fellow-prisoners in the yard for any thing they had to offer in exchange. Having a stick which he used as a cane, our soldier approached one of these bread-sellers, who, on pre- senting a loaf for inspection, received a smart cut across the wrist with the cane. The loaf dropped, and was seized by our " lively boy," who made good his retreat. It was one of the worst features of prison-life that it tended to harden the best sympathies of human nature, and stifle the 72 CHARLES BENJAMIN BUTTERFIELD. moral sense. Men would steal from each other without remorse ; and all new-comers were the special prey to the old residents. One other feature of rebel treatment was to deprive the pris- oners of two and sometimes three days' rations on such public days as Fasts or Thanksgivings, and then try to induce them to enlist in their army, or serve them in some way, with promises of better fare. Catholic priests were especially active on such occasions to induce foreigners (Catholics) to leave the prison ; and they were too often successful. The rebel general Johnston, also, came into the prison-pen, en- deavoring to persuade the men to join the rebel service. The " dead-cart," loaded with bodies, was passing out at the gate ; when our soldier, pointing to it, said to the general, " I'd sooner take my chance on that cart than go with you ! " which brought a hearty cheer from his comrades. Gen. Johnston only replied, " You'll probably have your choice complied with." The weather became so cold, that frozen hands and feet were frequent ; and many were found actually chilled to death. As a partial alleviation, some fragments of old tents were distributed ; and, late in the winter, some large tents made their appearance, much to the relief of the men. To be sick there was to die ; and death was a welcome relief to many a poor fellow. The average number of deaths was about fifty per day. On one day, a hundred and twenty-four were reported as having died within twenty-four hours. The same strictness of guard, and an unfeeling desire to shoot defenceless men, pervaded this place as at Belle Isle. A lively time occurred on one occasion, when the relief-guard was attacked by the prisoners armed with sticks of wood. Twenty or thirty muskets were secured, and used effectively for a short time ; but the disturbance was quelled by a free discharge of rifles from the guard, and of three cannon, which sent grape and canister CHARLES BENJAMIN BUTTERFIELD. 73 among the prisoners. The plan for escape totally failed, with a loss of several prisoners killed, and a large number wounded. Two rebels were killed, and others wounded. It was a pitiful affair, resulting in greater strictness of regulations, and conse- quent discomfort to all the prisoners. But the darkest night must yield to dawn ; and the dawning of the day of release was at hand for these prison-tortured men. On the 2 2d of February, about five thousand of those in the worst condition were ordered into line, and the news communi- cated to them that they were to receive two days' rations, and be paroled. Many of these men were in a most wretched state of destitution, sick and weak, haggard and ghastly. To some, the news of their release was completely overpow- ering : between twenty and thirty dropped dead in the ranks from the excitement. An inexpressible thrill passed through every heart. Our soldier, up to the last, secured his double rations ; and, as he passed out for the last time by Major McGee (the command- ant of the guard), he tauntingly held up his extras, and with bit- terest feelings of indignation gave him his last words of maledic- tion. A day's march of eight miles brought them to bivouac in the woods, where fires were made for the night. Here Charlie Williams, an intimate friend of Mr. Butterfield, gave out, and was left the next morning to perish alone. The march was resumed in a cold rain and hail storm. Mr. Butterfield had nothing on his feet ; and, during the fifteen miles of tramping this day, he left tracks of blood at every step. In their eagerness to get on, the prisoners crossed a railroad-bridge by a plank so narrow, that their guard dared not follow. The bivouac the second night was under chilling circumstances. But the rebel colonel in charge was a humane man. He ordered 74 CHARLES BENJAMIN BUTTERFIELD. the men to take a new picket-fence for fuel, notwithstanding the protest of its rebel owner. On the third day, Greensborough was reached. It was still storming and cold ; and the men were marched to a woods three miles from the city, where rousing fires were kindled, by which they passed the night. Cars were taken the next day ; and, on reaching Raleigh, they had their choice, — to either stop until rations could be procured, or to proceed at once on their way to the Union lines. The desire to be restored to the protection of the stars and stripes prompted an acceptance of the latter. At noon the next day, the glad sight of the old flag greeted them. Our rebel guard cursed the "niggers,"* while the prisoners shouted "hurrahs" to the best of their ability. Their deplorable condition elicited commiseration on every side. A cup of coffee and two hard-tack to each man was all that the prudent advice of the surgeons allowed for the first Union meal, with promise of a regular increase, which was duly performed. After four days at Wilmington, Mr. Butterfield and eight hun- dred others took passage on a steam-transport for Annapolis, where, after three days spent in trying to cross the bar, and a very rough voyage of eight days, a landing was effected. On nearing the pier, a gentleman called for the names of Massachusetts men among the prisoners. No one knew the reason, but supposed some good thing was to happen. When our soldier gave his name, " That's the man I want," said the stranger. It was Mr. E. E. Kelley, a friend of Mr. Butterfield 's father, who had been telegraphed to look out for his arrival. This friend took our soldier to a comfortable home, where he found Miss Freeman,! who was greatly interested in his welfare ; and every thing was done for his comfort. * It was a division of United-States colored troops that they first met. t Named in his father's narrative. CHARLES BENJAMIN BUTTERFIELD. 75 A thorough cleaning-up, with a suit of new clothing and good diet, made such a change as cannot well be imagined. After about three weeks, he returned home for thirty days. In the midst of the excitement of congratulations from friends, he was prostrated by an attack of fever, during several days of which his life was despaired of His furlough was extended; and on his recovery he reported to Surgeon-Gen. Dale at Boston, who sent him to Worcester. He was an inmate of a hospital here for about three months, until he received his discharge, with the exception about to be related. Not recognizing the absolute necessity of remaining here when he was well enough to be elsewhere, and being tired of acting in the capacity of cook, he suddenly disappeared one morning, and made his way home. A day at home sufficed to gratify his wishes in seeing " the folks : " and he returned by the same way he passed out ; viz., over a breach in the enclosing fence ; in which act he was arrested, taken before the surgeon, and com- mitted to the guard-house. It was the first time he had been under military arrest : but he did not care ; for he felt sure that one result of his visit home would be an early discharge. And, true to his expectations, he received an honorable release from further military service the next day, duly signed, and dated July 20, 1865. Thus ended the army-life of this soldier, whose varied experi- ence will mark him as having endured much more than the average for his country's salvation in her years of peril. He was born at Wayland, June 17, 1844; was five feet five inches tall, of dark complexion, black hair and eyes, and by occupation a shoemaker. He was married, Feb. 5, 1868, to Caroline D. Fairbanks of Wayland, and is now a resident of that town. Charles Henry Campbell. URING the earlier stages of the war, there were men whom neither the love of novelty, nor the prospect of large pay, nor yet the desire of military fame, could tempt to leave their business, their quiet homes, and the endearments of family, for the smallest possible period of army-life, with its uncivilized conditions of harsh and cruel ex- perience. And there were men, too, whose sense of duty was so strong, that in view of all that army-life had to offer of peril, of discomfort, and chances of death in its worst forms, they could not be persuaded by friendship, nor hired by money, to remain at home when their country was in danger. To both these classes belonged Charles H. Campbell. He had a " will and a way of his own ; " and that " will " was, first to see that he had a country, in which he and others could enjoy all the sacred rights of freedom as citizens while living, and, dying, bequeath it as the richest inheritance to their chil- dren. And his " way" was, to dally not with circumstances, but go at once to the front, with the patriot's determined ardor to do or die in the conflict for right and justice and good govern- ment against the armed anarchy that madly rushed for their destruction. Loving hearts sought to persuade him to accept a substitute. 76 CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. 77 One friendly hand proffered him a tempting sum of money if he would remain at home, and allow himself to fulfil the duties of a son, on whom the waning life of a widowed mother might lean for comfort and support. " No, no ! " came from his lips, though it agonized his heart to feel that the higher responsibilities to his country demanded such sacrifices at the outset. None who heard the brief statement of his fixed determina- tion, at a public meeting of his fellow-citizens on the 30th of July, 1862, and his simple invitation to others to come forward and enrol their names as volunteers, can ever forget the scene, as he led the way, followed by other young men, to the desk of the recruiting-officer. The hall, so still the moment before, now shook with bursts of prolonged applause. Thus did his soldier- life begin. It should be stated that he provided a substitute, not for his place as a soldier, but to take charge of his large farm, and so far as possible, in the person of a friendly family connection, to occupy his place at the beside of sickness, and in aid of his wife in her arduous duties in a family of four children, the youngest of whom was three years of age. Under such circumstances, he went to his duties in Company D, of the Thirty-fifth Regiment of Infantry, as a private soldier. Mr. Campbell held a prominent place in the feelings of respect among the boys from Wayland (there were thirteen Wayland soldiers in this regiment) ; and they ever found in him a reliable friend to counsel them in difficulty, and to sympathize and comfort them in their hours of sickness and trial. While in camp, and passing city after city en route to the capital, he saw but little to record. He could behold a dismem- bered community of States ; he could see the haughty South- rons banded together at first in secret, and now, by open declaration and act, engaged in destroying the best of govern- 78 CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. ments ; he could observe with care the dark cloud of slavery, on which was based their unhappy designs : but he could scarcely see aught else while the great work was before him of aiding to crush the Rebellion and harmonize the discordant elements. The first week's encampment on hostile soil brought ample experience in company-drill, and no small amount of fatigue- duty in constructing lines of defence. He was not averse to adventure, and volunteered, while at Arlington Heights, to join a scouting-party for the capture of two rebel officers seen lurking in the vicinity. But two days and nights of tramp and vigil failed to secure the prizes sought. Leaving tents, and, in light marching-order, proceeding to join Gen. Burnside's corps in the north of Maryland to expel Gen. Lee's forces, was full of incident, and, in some sense, of pleasure, to our soldier ; for he saw the probability of soon having a chance of striking heavy blows at the Rebellion. After he was fairly in the midst of avowed rebels, he recognized the propriety of making the best of the circumstances for his own comfort and that of his comrades, even if the foe were sometimes the loser. To conquer an enemy implies more, sometimes, than mere strength, or skill of arms. His force may be weakened by cut- ting off supplies of sustenance, no less than by thinning his ranks by well-directed shots. And it was also in accordance with Col. Wild's orders and instructions, that foraging in an enemy's territory, to the extent of all needful demands, would be permitted, while all wanton waste of material would be discoun- tenanced, that our soldier occasionally helped himself, and aided his comrades, in procuring some extra supplies. His first prize, however, called forth no little bantering from his comrades. The rooster taken so slyly one night, and giving promise of such a nice breakfast, proved so refractory in the culinary operations, that the carcass of the aged victim escaped CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. 79 mastication entirely ; and a frugal meal of hard-tack and coffee had to suffice : it was well spiced, however, with jokes. Before reaching South Mountain, the Thirty-fifth was brigaded under Gen. Ferrero. When within about a mile of the enemy, the brigade halted for the night without fires ; but their position was discovered by the enemy, who commenced shelling, but doing no damage that night. The fighting began the next day (Sept. 14). The Thirty-fifth was ordered in late in the afternoon. There was no flinching by any one. Mr. Campbell says, " I experienced none of those peculiar feelings said to be so prevalent on a first fight. I felt perfectly cool and self-reliant." As the first advance was made on the enemy. Col. Wild's orders were reiterated by the line and non-commisioned officers, and finally by every private ; and it is said that the noise thus made frightened the foe from his posi- tion, " under a belief that a whole division was advancing instead of a regiment." During a part of the engagement, the Thirty-fifth was shal- tered behind a stone wall, within good range of a line of the rebels ; and the men delivered their fire with rapidity and success, as shown the next morning by the rebel dead left there. Mr. Campbell fired thirty rounds. The action was continued until late in the evening ; and he got entirely separated from his com- pany in his eagerness to give shot for shot with the foe, aiming at a gun-flash in the evening as the most probable way to render effective service. The day's experience confirmed his theories of personal conduct in action, and gave him assurance that he was not out of place in the ranks as a soldier. Keeping close to the retiring foe on the next day disclosed the fact of their hasty retreat by the number of their wounded left by the wayside uncared for, many of whom had died during the night. 8o CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. The rebel general had resolved not to retire without a more decisive battle ; and he accordingly massed his forces in excel- lent position on the ridges of the right bank of Antietam Creek, — a mountain-stream quite deep in some places, but fordable in others. With this creek between him and the advancing Union army, and the natural advantages well improved by his batteries and troops, he had a reasonable expectation of a successful encounter ; but the fierce trial on the 1 7th proved otherwise, even with one entire corps of our men (Porter's) held in reserve, which, had they been judiciously used, would have placed Lee's entire force in our hands. Ferrero's brigade lay exposed to random shots and some direct shelling until about noon, when they were ordered to cross a bridge, and take and hold a position in front of the rebel right. The left bank of the creek was reached by a gradual descent directly exposed to rebel batteries and infantry posted on the steep bluffs of the opposite bank. Headed by the Fifty-first New- York, our regiment passed down through a cornfield to the bridge. Here, for some reason, the leading regiment halted. An instance of coolness amid danger was seen at this juncture in Lieut. Hudson of Company D * (acting for the day as a staff-officer), who passed between our column and the rebel line to transmit orders to the front, entirely regard- less of the bullets that were striking thickly all around him. The column moved, crossed the bridge, scaled the bluff (some sixty feet high, and very steep), and came into line on the crest. No line of rebel infantry appeared to oppose an advance : but a battery within easy range opened on our men at first with over-reaching shot ; but their next discharge was in exact range, and the destruction was such as to compel a retirement over the crest. Later in the day, our line was ordered to an advance in * This officer was afterwards promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and held command of the regiment during the latter part of the war. CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. 8 1 a south-westerly direction to dislodge a rebel force posted three- fourths of a mile distant behind a stone-wall defence. A position was gained, partly protected by a lane, and fence of rails ; and a brisk fire was opened on the rebels, which was as briskly returned, and continued for two hours or more, until our ammunition was used up (sixty rounds per man) ; when the rebels, perceiving our slackened fire, came out from their defences preparatory to a charge. Our line was now ordered to retire. It was here, that, the regimental color-guard being shot down, Capt. King of Company K bravely sustained the colors, receiv- ing seven or eight bullet-wounds in consequence. In the latter part of the engagement. Company D was under command of Sergeant Gotleib, the commissioned officers being disabled.* During the two battles (14th and 1 7th September), the regiment lost in killed and wounded about one-third of its rank and file, and two-thirds of its officers. In the last engagement, its con- duct was characterized in the report as " magnificent." During the night, and also the next day, the brigade remained on the rebel side of the creek, expecting a renewal of hostilities, but receiving no re-enforcements ; Gen. Ferrero fretting like a caged lion under the suspense. But the rebels withdrew; and our hard-earned advantages were not followed up by the com- mander-in-chief (George B. McClellan), which elicited not a lit- tle indignation from such determined spirits as our soldier. After the rebels had withdrawn, Mr. Campbell took occasion to visit the battle-field. The carnage was awful : on one line there were not less than two hundred dead bodies, that lay in piles as they fell. Camping-ground was now occupied on the east side of the creek, where the army was reviewed by President Lincoln with the chief officers. * Capt. Dolan was absent on leave. H 82 CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. After several days, the army moved a few miles into Pleasant Valley. Here shelter-tents were distributed ; and a " masterly inactivity " prevailed under various pretexts offered by the general commanding.* But the movement finally came ; the Potomac was crossed ; and, over roads in execrable condition from rocks and mud, the great army proceeded southward. The weather was inclement; and not seldom were the men obliged to improvise a bed of rails, or even of stones, to keep their bodies out of water while they tried to sleep. It was a pitiable picture to see some of the boys at night, too tired and footsore to move, waiting for a point of desperation to be reached, when they must either " do or die " with the cold. Foraging here was nearly impracticable ; for the rebels were on either flank in heavy scouting-parties, and closed upon the rear every morning as soon as the march was resumed. A very unexpected and agreeable surprise occurred one morn- ing, after a snow-storm, in the appearance of Mr. William Heard from Wayland (uncle of Mrs. Campbell). He remained only a few hours. After fording the Rappahannock at Waterloo, and reaching the village of Annisville, our soldier, with two or three others, visited a fine-looking house, and asked to purchase something to eat. The lady, with haughty airs, declared her destitution, but finally offered some apples at an exorbitant price. They next visited the huts of her slaves, who furnished a good repast of "johnny-cake," and such other things as they had; for which they refused compensation. Observing the lady's piggery to be well stocked, a little fun and fresh pork was proposed by Mr. * " It is believed, that, could he have heard all that was said of his dilatory course, he would either have resigned, or pushed us into activity, before he was driven to it by his superiors at Washington." — Letter. CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. 83 Campbell for the evening's entertainment ; and the transfer to camp of several good-sized porkers was effected with disturbing only one of the rebel woman's " home-guards," who, on hearing a noise among the hogs, lustily called out, " Wat doin' down dar ? " Mr. Campbell quieted the fears of his comrades by saying, "That is not the voice of an enemy." * The following night, after being snugly quartered, and many of the boys asleep, they were roused up with orders to move " three miles " to Jefferson. A division immediately occupied their ground. By this move they escaped a severe shelling that was opened the next morning on the division named.! At White-sulphur Springs, the encampment on a hill disclosed a wide extent of nearly barren territory, made so by repeated croppings of tobacco. Passing thence, Company D marched in the rear next to the wagon-train ; upon which a brisk shelling was opened from a battery across the river, and at the same time a movement of rebel sharpshooters towards the bridge was ob- served. The company was ordered back to protect the bridge. This movement was in direct range of the shelling: but it was not of long duration ; for our batteries gained a good position ; the firing soon ceased ; the sharpshooters retired ; and " we marched on." * This incident, and the unexpected appearance of some " feathered bipeds " in camp a few days after, drew from our soldier's pen a short poem, of which the following is a sample : — " And rebel fowls are just as sweet As the most loyal turkey-hen ; And Dixie's pigs make as good meat As grunters fed in Northern pen. Then put the porker down to roast ; Be gay, whate'er with morning come : ' Long live the Union ! ' be our toast, ' A speedy peace, a welcome home ! ' " t While at Jefferson, Gen. McClellan was relieved of his command by Gen. Burnside, by orders from headquarters at Washington. 84 CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. While at Sulphur Springs, Adjutant Wales had made ac- quaintance with some ladies at a house near by, and was invited to dine. He took with him also Lieut.-Col. Carruth, and a provost-guard of two. But the rebel ladies displayed their signal ; the signal was answered ; and our officers and their guard took an involuntary march to Richmond as prisoners. Falmouth was reached on the 20th of November. Here a three-weeks' delay occurred, waiting for pontoons on which to cross the river ; while the rebel fortifications grew day by day, portending death in the delayed advance. And, while waiting, unnecessary suffering also was endured in camp from inadequate protection against the early approach of winter. Preparations were completed for an assault on the rebel lines on the nth of December; and that day was ushered in by the thundering of all our artillery, while the pontoons were being laid, on which our army crossed the following day, and massed in readiness for action. A few days previous to this, the Thirty- fifth had been ordered two miles to the left to support a heavy battery ; but, at the time fixed, they crossed with the other troops for the fearful work of Saturday, Dec. 1 3. At ten, A.M., the brigade left the protection of the streets in the city, and deployed into line of battle in the open ground. The order to charge up the hill was given. From the time of this exposure until they had gained the slight protection of a knoll, the angry shot and shell ploughed and plunged with well-directed aim from batteries that crowned the summits in front and to the right ; while a constant rattle of musketry from the intervening rifle-pits sent hissing bullets thickly through the air. Said a comrade to Mr. Campbell as the charge was ordered, " This is a hard place to put a man in." — " Yes," replied Mr. Campbell. " But let us go in like men. If we co7ne out of it, we shall know that we did not flinch from duty ; and, if we die, we shall die like men who love their country T CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. 85 The rush was made. The ranks were thinned. Major Wil- lard fell, mortally wounded. The point of protection was reached : it was a point beyond which but very {^\n passed during the conflict. Here the brigade paused, and expended its ammunition on the rebels in the nearest rifle-pits until relieved after dark.* On the night of the 15th, the regiment again occupied the same position. Rain had fallen ; the ground was trodden into mud; and the air was chilling. Orders to remain quiet in such condition were almost as hard to obey as facing the enemy's bullets, and told on the health of our men ; more than half of whom were on the sick-list for weeks after in consequence. Mr. Campbell's physical system was essentially undermined ; and to this day the effects are painfully felt. Gen. Burnside had withdrawn his troops during the night ; and the Thirty-fifth was the last regiment but one to cross the river. Thus closed this scene of human slaughter, that cast a cloud over the Union prospects, which months could not dispel. Mr. Campbell says, " It was the only time that I ever felt really depressed in the hopes I had cherished for the speedy overthrow of the Rebellion." But, as the causes of the failure developed themselves, he soon regained his elasticity of spirits, and was equally ready for another encounter with the foe. But that was not soon to be. The remainder of the winter was spent at Falmouth, with nothing accomplished by the army to cheer the heart of a patriot soldier. In the midst of this state of things came the news of Presi- dent Lincoln's emancipation proclamation of Jan. i, 1863. Mr. Campbell entered the war with no definite designs to be * During this firing, Mr. Campbell had loaded his musl^et ; and, as he stood with it in front of him, a bullet struck the bayonet, bending it, and throwing the gun forcibly against him. The averted bullet was in the exact range of his head. 86 CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. outwrought with respect to slavery. But, as the schemes of the slave-power were developed more fully, he gradually saw more clearly that not only was the institution (as it was called) the chief cause of the outbreak, but that it constituted the sole object of the South, in building up their new confederacy, to make it the chief " corner-stone ; " and that, with such a disturb- ing element remaining, there could be but little hope of a per- manent peace. Such being his convictions, he hailed with joy the proclama- tion as a necessary and efficient measure in prosecuting the war. . Orders to proceed by cars to Aquia Creek were carried into effect on the 9th of February, 1863; and the Thirty-fifth then embarked on the steamer " Louisiana " for Hampton Roads, and landed at Newport News on the 14th. This proved a most grateful change. The pleasant beach, the abundant provisions, and the prospects of a new campaign in the Department of the Ohio, were exhilarating. Mr. Camp- bell took a trip to his home on a furlough of ten days, every moment of which was enjoyed to the fullest extent ; and his return was accomplished only two hours before the regiment was taken on board " The John Brooks " for Baltimore, en route for the West, — a trip, that, but for the over-crowded box-cars with plank seats, would have been exceedingly pleasant. Hatchets and jack-knives soon made openings in the sides of these cars, through which glimpses of a beautiful and sometimes picturesque country were caught, \vith the cities and villages of the long line traversed between Baltimore and Cincinnati ; while occa- sional halts to partake of the hospitalities of the citizens gave tokens of a hearty friendship in our broad country, that will long be remembered by its defenders. From Cincinnati, the Ninth Corps crossed the Ohio to the CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. 87 borders of Kentucky, over whose fertile soil it was its destiny to tramp during the next three months to defend the loyal citizens from the hordes of rebel raiders that were stealthily roaming for plunder. In discharging this duty, sixteen distinct marches were made by the regiment, some of them unequalled for rapid- ity, and all affording opportunity for an acquaintance with the State and its people. Among the places visited were Covington, Paris, Mt. Sterling, Winchester, Lexington, Nicholasville, Lan- caster, Lowell, Crab Orchard, and Stanford. On the march from Mt. Sterling, our soldier called for re- freshments at the house of a lawyer of rebel sentiments, who declined affording such aid to the Union defenders. Some warm but honest words passed between them. Meanwhile the lady of the mansion had set a table well loaded with substantial food, of which our soldier was invited to partake freely with genuine Kentucky politeness. On another tramp, a " lone " Union woman's house was passed, whose kind offers of entertainment were most acceptable. She had never denied a Union soldier, and had many times secreted them when pursued by the rebels. At Winchester, Mr. Campbell was detailed for service in the regimental hospital. His sympathetic nature, and the tender care he had often bestowed on his suffering comrades, singled him out as a well-qualified nurse, whose duties, faithfully done, would brine to him anxious hours of unrest while others would be reposing, but would bring also the satisfaction of believing, that in saving human beings from suffering, and perhaps lives valuable to the country from a needless sacrifice through neglect, he would be rendering as acceptable a service as could be at- tained in the ranks. He occupied this position until the close of the war. While at Stanford, orders were received to proceed at once to 88 CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. Cincinnati. It was accomplished on the 5th of June. It now appeared that the destination of the corps was Vicksburg, Miss., to aid in the reduction of that important place. Passing by railroad-conveyance through the States of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, over the rich but tiresome prairie levels, the city of Cairo was reached on the 7th. Waiting here a day was improved by inspecting all that the place afforded of interest, — among other things, a huge Columbiad, thirteen feet long, with eleven-inch bore, and weighing, without its carriage, 15,876 pounds. But by far the most thrilling spectacle witnessed by our soldier was that of over four hundred Union refugees (women and children), from infancy of a few days to the bowed form of ninety years, miserably clad and destitute. They had been compelled to flee from their homes by the rebels, who had either impressed the husbands, fathers, and brothers into their service, or driven them to hiding-places in the mountains, or, as in some instances, subjected them to imprisonment and death. It was a most touching scene. " Never," says Mr. Campbell, *' did I feel such a determination to do all in my power to subdue the Rebellion as I then experienced ; and never did I so perceive the value of money to relieve human necessities as when the little I had was freely bestowed on these forlorn sufferers." On board " The Imperial," the regiment steamed down the famed Mississippi. Mr. Campbell, who had a taste for the pic- turesque, found in many of the bluffs, that rose here and there in contrast with the plain intervals, much to interest. But, even to his. skilful eye, the interminable windings of the current, through so many hundreds of miles of similar views, became at last so montonous, that he was thankful to reach the landing-place, a few miles above Vicksburg, on the 14th of June, in the midst of the sights and sounds of the war-besieged city. A fruitless march across Young's Point ; an embarkation CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. 89 on " The Forest Queen," whose many shot-holes through her sides showed the perilous places she had passed ; and a return, under countermanded orders, to the first landing, — made the occupation of June 16. On the following day, the troops re-embarked, and steamed up the Yazoo to Hayne's Bluff, where a landing was effected; and a march began, which terminated at Milldale, in the midst of a flat, swampy, desolate tract of country, where sickness began its work upon our men, who were unaccustomed to the miasms drawn from the lands by the powerful June sun. The regiment soon joined in a movement with the entire corps into the interior; leaving our soldier, with the steward, in care of eight of their comrades seriously sick of malarial fever. Night and day he attended with unwearied watchfulness the wants of these men. Two of them died, and were buried with sadness by Mr. Campbell, assisted by the steward. During twelve days, all the sleep he obtained was while standing leaning against the tent-pole. The return of the regiment, on the 23d of July, brought to the hospital a large number of sick and wounded, ten of whom were assigned to Mr. Campbell's care, day and night, for more than a week. " It is one of the evils of war," says Mr, Campbell, " that, by the constant presence of sufl'ering, the humane feelings of the heart are blunted, and the sufferers become neglected." Such results he frequently saw in the surgeons, who at first were patterns of care and sympathy, but who finally came to look with indifference upon cases of sickness and pain. Such was the case at this point of his experience. He appealed in vain for aid for a man whose fracturedl arm required attention by surgery, and, for the want of which, gangrene set in with fatal result, and under circumstances of aggravated pain from another cause, which surgical care might have mitigated. 90 CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. The second day of August saw all the sick and wounded on board transports for the North. The excessive care and watch- ing of Mr. Campbell had begun to produce their legitimate effects on his health. He was excused from attendance on these transports, and proceeded with his regiment up the river to Cairo, and thence to Cincinnati. The men were all nearly " used up " by the Mississippi cam- paign ; and about one-half were allowed to remain for rest at Covington, while the remainder proceeded once more to duty in Kentucky; marching as guard of a wagon-train to Paris, thence through Lexington, Nicholasville, Lancaster, Crab Orchard, to Mount Vernon. Rockcastle River was forded Oct. 3 ; and the regiment camped near London, where several days were spent waiting for bat- teries. The march was resumed, Oct. 10, through Barboursville, across Cumberland Ford; and on the 14th the Gap was passed. The hills here are fourteen hundred feet high, and rugged in the extreme. Here is the corner boundary of the three great States, — Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. Mr. Campbell climbed to the summit to take a view at once extensive, pictu- resque, and of a wild grandeur; risking his neck in a descent on the southerly side, seldom attempted by man. The adventure satisfied him ; and it is entered on his note-book, " The wild and the sublime must be sought with toil and difficulty." Knoxville was reached on the 19th; and cars were taken for Loudon Bridge to protect the crossing of our troops. " We were without tents ; and for several days, during a cold rain- storm that completely drenchq^ us, we were in a most uncom- fortable condition : add to this, we were reduced to such short rations, that a field of sorghum was almost our only source of sustenance, the succulent stalks of which were eagerly eaten CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. 9 1 by the men. Our labor was also excessive in removing the pontoon-bridge, the planks of which were carried by hand half a mile to reach the cars." — Letter, It became evident now that a rebel force was concentrating, under Longstreet, that could not be opposed successfully at this point ; and our troops began to fall back on Knoxville. It was a movement of great hardship. Skirmishes were not to be avoided. At Campbell's Station, a line was formed to oppose the rebel advance. There was considerable infantry-firing ; and our batteries did good service in keeping the rebel line back until the retreat could be safely made to Knoxville, which was accomplished on the 17th. Active operations now began for the defence of the city. The Thirty-fifth not only built many rifle-pits, but constructed a dam, by which the waters of a " run " were turned to a channel of defence for nearly a half-mile on the borders of the city. The rebel forces closed in upon the city ; and it was in a state of actual siege from Nov. 17 to Dec. 5, with daily skirmishes, sharpshooting, sorties, and shelling ; which, with building defen- sive works, made a busy time. Rations were very scanty ; there was no coffee nor sugar to be had ; and, had it not been for a few boat-loads that were smuggled down the river at night, there would have been great suffering. " The excitement, as the rebels charged our lines on the 29th of November, was intense. Could they have secured Fort Saunders, we should have been prisoners of war ; but failing in their first assault, and finding the garrison to consist of veterans of the Ninth Corps, instead of raw troops as had been represented to them, the men could neither be persuaded nor driven to renew the attack. Thus we were saved." From the 5th of December to the 20th, Gen. Ferrero's men were in motion, without tents, in the vicinity of Strawberry 92 CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. Plains, — fifteen or twenty miles north-west from Knoxville. The weather was intensely cold. The men were barefoot, many of them ; and it was pitiful to see their cringing forms as they limped across the frozen fields to cut wood to keep them from freezing. Cold rain-storms occurred on five of the days and nights. On one of these nights, the best shelter that our soldier could find was the leeward side of a large tree, against which he leaned, and slept in a standing posture, while the rain fell in torrents, and the wind blew a gale. Rations for several days were only half a pint of cob-meal per man. Mr. Campbell, with others, resorted to foraging. With a team he obtained a load of corn and other articles, that came in the right time. He found a sutler who had half a dozen pairs of shoes : these he bought with his own money, and distributed them in camp. He also proved his sympathy for his suffering comrades by lending them all the money he had to spare to supply their necessities. Horses and mules were starving every day. The men were compelled to drag the field-ordnance for want of teams; and during this period, up to Feb. i, alarms were fre- quent of attacks from rebel detachments, resulting in several severe skirmishes. The state of society in Tennessee at this period was most deplorable. Unionists and rebels in the same neighborhood became deadly foes ; and the sharpest atrocities were perpetrated on both sides. As a sample, the following incident may be relied on as truly stated. An elderly lady of Union sentiments had a son, whom she had secreted for some time in expectation of a chance to send him to a place of safety. This came to rebel ears ; and a party of cavalry, dressed in " blue," paid the lady a visit, declaring that they came in her interest, having learned that she wished to send her son to Kentucky. " They were going there, and would gladly take him in charge." She CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. 93 trustingly acceded, providing him with ample rations and fix- tures. He was taken a short distance, tied to a tree, and shot dead in the sight of his agonized mother. At the close of February, orders to return to Cincinnati, and thence to Baltimore, were most cheerfully complied with. On leaving the city, it was surprising to observe the number of carcasses of mules and horses that had perished from cold and starvation. Fields were covered with them, to the extent, in some cases, of two hundred to the acre. The road taken was through Jacksborough ; " the very worst," says Mr. Campbell, " that I ever saw ; so rocky and zigzag, that it seemed impossible for teams to traverse it." Three weeks at Annapolis, Md., served to recuperate and pre- pare our veterans for the duties of another campaign. One of the most agreeable surprises during the war, to Mr. Campbell, was the arrival in camp, at Annapolis, of his wife : her visit of three days, with another friend of the soldiers from Way- land, formed an oasis in his army-life not to be overlooked. On the 23d of April, the Ninth Corps moved for Washington, which was reached in two days; and then passed on into Virginia through Fairfax, Centreville, Manassas, and Warrenton Junction, to Bealton Station, where a few days were spent in camp. The great movement of Gen. Meade's army, under the personal su- pervision of Lieut.-Gen. U. S. Grant, was now at hand, that was to culminate in the closing of the war. Marching-orders were received on the first day of May ; and the regiment took its place in the grand movement three days later by crossing the Rappahannock, and fording the Rapidan on the 5th. Here the regiment was detached, and ordered to guard the division-train ; and the hospital corps (Mr. Camp- bell included) was ordered to the front for service. The fighting had already disabled more men than could be 94 CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. taken good care of. Mr. Campbell says, " There were at least two acres covered with them in this vicinity." The most that could be done for them was to supply water to quench their thirst, and keep their wounds covered from the air. Many must have perished for want of timely attention. Some were found in the woods a week after, still alive, with festering wounds, but too late to save life. The hospital-tents were well up to the fighting-lines ; and bullets came uncomfortably near the wounded men. Under orders received at midnight on the 7th of May, all the wounded were removed to a safer place ; which, by almost superhuman exertions, was accomplished before sunrise. But scarcely had the new quarters been occupied, when, by another order, the disabled men were started for hospitals in Wash- ington. The daily conflicts brought their daily products of wounded men for hospital-treatment. Surgeons were weary in the use of the saw and scalpel ; and nurses lost their vital energies in the constant strain of the required watching and attention. The extreme heat, though favorable to such as had no night- shelter, nevertheless added to the fetor in the air by promoting the stenchful putrefaction of oozing sores and scantily-buried bodies. Such, from day to day, was the experience of the battles of the Wilderness, and thence onward to the rebel capital. Let the details of such sufferings as then and there were seen and felt be revived in imagination (they cannot be properly told) only to show the cost of the sacrifice by which our national integrity was secured. On the 17th of May, the Thirty-fifth was ordered to join the brigade at the front ; and Mr. Campbell, with the usual corps of hospital officials, resumed his old regimental position. It was hard for him to see two of his intimate friends, Ser- CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. 95 geants Holmes and Wright, brought in on the i8th, fatally wounded ; the former nearly cut in two by a shell. The regiment was sharply engaged on the 21st of May. On leaving their works with the division for a night's march, they were unexpectedly charged upon by a force of rebels that nearly surrounded them. It was a perilous time ; but, nothing daunted by the prospect of being taken thus under rebel care, they boldly faced the foe, successfully repulsed him, and captured about seven hundred prisoners. The next severe fight was at "North Anna River, May 24 ; in which the regiment took a prominent part, with some loss. Two days after, the Thirty-fifth was again detached, and con- stituted a pioneer corps, and equipped with the usual intrench- ing tools in addition to their arms as privates. Not less were their exposures now, and their toil was greatly augmented ; but none were found to murmur. The quiet duties of Mr. Campbell were faithfully done by night and day as the grand movement progressed. As a singu- lar freak in the course of a bullet, he mentions the case of a soldier hit in the lower part of the chest in front ; and the ball passed beneath the skin, around his right side, to a position just above his left hip, and was then extracted by the surgeon, — the purple stripe of extravasated blood marking its course. The James River was crossed on a pontoon-bridge of a hun- dred boats, covering a distance of three thousand feet, on the 15th of June, at night; and our regiment pressed on for Peters- burg. Here work awaited the boys all night, on their arrival, in reversing an earthwork taken from the rebels the day pre- vious ; and not only so, but almost every succeeding night was occupied in a similar way. Mr. Campbell was frequently at the front, helping on the work, when not required at his allotted place. 96 CHARLES HENRY CAMPBELL. On the 23d, all regimental hospitals were merged in those of the divisions ; but Mr. Campbell had a preference for duty among his comrades, and was permitted to remain with his regiment for further field-service. Here his time was devoted to the care of the slightly sick and wounded, whose cases would not require a regular surgeon. He had by experience acquired a skill that was well known among his comrades, which prompted them many times to submit them- selves to his care rather than go to the division surgeons for treat- ment. And in this way he continued to minister to the sol- diers' wants through all their trying exposures at the Mine- Explosion, the Weldon- Railroad, the Poplar- Spring- Church, the Hatcher's-Run, and Fort-Sedgwick engagements, as well as all the unnamed times when work at the front as engineers laid them open to the perils of shells and other missiles of de- struction and death. His duties cannot be blazoned forth with the same exciting effect as those of the fighting soldier ; but they were no less necessary in the production of the grand final results of the war. Had he sought promotion, he could have easily obtained it ; for none knew him but to feel a respect for his character and talents. But the choice he made of the humble position of a private reflects more credit on the man than to have recorded him as an aspirant for army preferment. He was the son of Joseph and Mary Campbell ; born in Mercer, Me., Oct. 19, 1823. He was united by marriage with Sarah Heard of Wayland, Oct. 27, 1847. In stature he was five feet eight inches ; of light complexion, brown hair, and blue eyes. His discharge at Alexandria, Va., was dated June 9, 1865. He resides in Wayland at date. Elbridge Ambrose Carter. 'OVE of country may be considered as closely allied to the natural instincts of man. Hence the spon- taneous rush to arms when the war-cloud of 1861 gathered with such threatening aspect. Before the close of a year, hundreds of thousands had volun- tarily left their homes at the North to join the Union armies for the overthrow of the Great Rebel- lion. Great battles had been fought, with heavy losses and frequent repulses ; and still the war-spirit was brood- ing over the whole land, calling for fresh sacrifices on the altar of human freedom. President Lincoln's call for three hundred thousand men to serve for three years, issued July 2, 1862, was followed, Aug. 4, by another for the same number for nine months' service. To these calls the loyal spirit ' of our young men freely and promptly responded. Among them was Mr. Carter, who enlisted as a private in the Fiftieth Regiment of Infantry (Company K), Aug. 18, 1862. He was the son of Elbridge J. and Lucy J. (Dudley) Carter; born in Wayland on the 5th of April, 1842. His stature was five feet eight inches, with light complexion and hair, and blue eyes. He was a shoemaker by occupation. He was united by marriage with Mary Dorman of George- town, Sept. 25, 1862. 97 98 E LB RIDGE AMBROSE CARTER. The regiment was recruiting at Camp Stanton, in Boxford ; which place it left for the South, Nov. 19, by way of New York. It was quartered in that city and on Long Island, await- ing transports, until Dec. 1 1 ; when Company K, with two others, embarked on the steamer " Jersey Blue." This boat was unsea- worthy at the start ; and after encountering a severe storm, dur- ing which she was expected to go down, she went ashore at Hilton Head, S.C. After a detention here of three weeks, the bark " Guerilla " received the troops, and conveyed them to New Orleans : they were landed at Carrol ton on the twenty-first day of January, 1863. Early in February, these three companies took a steamer, and passed up to Baton Rouge. Here, in good tents with floors, and mild weather, the winter was passed very pleasantly. The re- mainder of the regiment soon arrived by other boats, and was attached to the third brigade, first division, of the Nineteenth Army Corps. The duties of camp and picket were duly attend- ed to ; and some opportunities were presented to gain acquaint- ance with citizens, the greater part of whom wei'e rebels, and were sometimes found to be extremely uncourteous to the Yankee soldiers. Preparations were made towards the close of winter to invest Port Hudson, — an important post twenty miles above Baton Rouge. On the 14th of March, the camp was vacated ; and a march brought the troops to the vicinity of the former place. On the first night after their arrival. Admiral Farragut was en- abled to pass the rebel forts with two of his gunboats ; while a third, the ill-fated " Mississippi," was blown up in sight of our regiment. This being accomplished, the Fiftieth returned, amidst a heavy rain, to its camp at Baton Rouge. May 12, it again marched towards Port Hudson, now under investment by Union troops in command of Major-Gen. Banks. E LB RIDGE AMBROSE CARTER. 99 A halt was made several miles south of the place, under orders, to prevent a flank movement of the enemy. Early on the morning of the 26th of May, the regiment was ordered to the front, within range of the enemy's batteries. It was the first time our soldier had been under fire ; and it proved a severe ordeal even to veteran skill and courage. Port Hudson was a strongly-fortified place on a high bluff of the Mississippi. On the land-side, Nature had also made its approaches very difficult by the corrugated surface ; there being a succession of ravines and corresponding ridges for miles around. An advance over these had been made still more diffi- cult by the abatis-work which the diligent axes of the rebels had constructed on every side ; and, most of all, those frowning batteries were ready to pour destruction in all directions. In the face of such destruction, and over such impediments, on one of the hottest days of the season, our troops were ordered to advance. Thoughts of home and friends had a momentary place in our soldier's mind ; but the excitement of the mad rush soon drove them away, together with every sense of fear ; and hopes of a victory nerved every fibre to its utmost exertion. Nearly one-third of a mile had been forced, and the rebel lines were yet thirty rods off, when our advance halted in a deep ravine sheltered from the rebel missiles. It was deemed by officers in command that any further attempt would not only be useless, but would cost a heavy loss of life. Here, under a scorching sun, and without drink or rations, the men re- mained until the darkness of night permitted their retiring with safety. After this. Company K was detailed to support Mack's New- York Battery for about a week. On the 13th of June, the Fiftieth was ordered to the right of our lines ; and, the next day, another general charge was made. lOO ELBRIDGE AMBROSE CARTER. The regiment fell into the line of supports, and so escaped the severest part of the assault. In this engagement, Company K went in with only thirty men, five of whom were killed or wound- ed. This assault proved unavailing also. The term of our men expired on the ist of June; as did also that of one other Massachusetts regiment, which stacked arms, and refused further duty. Gen. Banks, and Gen. Dudley, com- mander of the division, united their efforts to persuade the Fifti- eth to remain for fourteen days longer, promising that Port Hudson would ere then capitulate ; and the boys all concluded to re-enlist for that time. Supporting batteries was the chief duty. The bombardment was diligently kept up until the 9th of July; when the garrison surrendered, with all its armament. There was one church in the place, and about twenty other buildings ; all of which were thoroughly riddled by our shot. Two weeks later, and Mr. Carter was taken severely sick. He remained in hospital-care until the 29th of July, when he was removed to the steamer " Omaha," with the regiment, to proceed up the river on its way home. It was a rare treat to him, though enfeebled by sickness, to be placed on the hurricane-deck of the steamer, and thence look out upon the rich and luxuriant fields that border the great river. Stops were made at Natchez, Vicksburg, Memphis, and Galena. Cairo was reached Aug. 5. The overland route by rail-cars soon made our soldiers feel at home, the contrast in the visage of the people being too great to escape observation ; and the generous hospitality that awaited them at Belle Fontaine, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and other places, spoke the spirit of gratitude instead of hatred. Even the means of conveyance declared the progress of the same spirit, — from the seatless and filthy cattle-cars taken at Cairo, to the splendid equipment that awaited them at Cincinnati. E LB RIDGE AMBROSE CARTER. lOI The sick were particularly looked after by hospitable ladies, and treated to delicacies not seen since their departure from Massachusetts. The route along the shores of Lake Erie, and through the Mohawk Valley, was particularly attractive to Mr. Carter, from the delightful scenery that was presented at every turn. Boston was reached on the nth of August; thus consum- mating the vast circuit of thousands of miles by land and water since the same point was left. The men were paid off and discharged Aug. 24, 1863. RE-ENLISTMENT. Elbridge A. Carter, having completed his term of nine months' military service, again saw the necessity of rendering further aid to his country as a soldier. Lieut.-Gen. Grant was about to enter a decisive campaign ; and it was felt by all parties that his skill and persistence could be trusted, and that the close of the war could not long be delayed. Mr. Carters re-enlistment bears date of Feb. 26, 1864. He entered the Fifty-ninth Infantry Regiment, in Company G, as a sergeant. It was then recruiting at Readville ; which place it left April 26, reaching Washington in two days by railroad, and the next day proceeding to Alexandria, Va. It went into camp for a few days about half a mile from the city. On the 2d of May it broke camp, and proceeded by rail-cars to Rappahannock Station. The next morning, a scene of mili- tary display opened such as this country never saw before. From the hill on which the regiment was stationed, the war- pageant was truly imposing. In every direction, and as far as the eye could reach, there was a moving mass of infantry col- I02 ELBRIDGE AMBROSE CARTER. umns, mingled with batteries and cavalry, and trains of supply- wagons; and soon the Fifty-ninth mingled with the mass whose line was crossing the Rapidan at Germania Ford. On the morning of the 6th of May, it was ordered to the front line of battle. The sight of the dead bodies of those who had fallen the day before was sickening. The trees stood thick in the woods where our line was formed, and the enemy could but seldom be seen : they seemed to be about fifteen rods distant. The musket-firing was incessant, though with but little effect. Our line was held till late in the afternoon, when a sudden advance of the enemy compelled a retreat with considerable confusion. It was intensely hot ; and several were sun-struck during the afternoon. Breastworks were then thrown up for the night. On the night of the iith, the regiment marched to the right under the inspiring music of bands playing national airs. " Had it not been for the grim realities of war so near us," says Mr. Carter, " that quiet march in the still hours of night would have been entrancing." The next day, our column came unawares upon a large body of the enemy; and, in a brisk firing of three minutes, Company G lost fourteen men. Our men hastily retreated a short dis- tance, and threw up breastworks, which were occupied, under shelling more or less every day, until the i8th of May; when a position was taken on the extreme left, and maintained for five days. A march of seven or eight miles on the 23d brought the regiment to the North Anna, which was forded at a depth reach- ing to the breast. The brigade, under Gen. Ledlie, was at once moved forward, driving the scattered lines of rebels for two miles. But Gen. Ledlie was imprudent in this advance ; for " we suddenly found E LB RIDGE AMBROSE CARTER. IO3 ourselves confronting a heavy force of the enemy, that com- pelled an immediate halt. We lay there for half an hour while a drenching shower was passing over us. Meanwhile a flanking detachment of the rebels had nearly reached our rear, when a portion of our line broke, and hastily fled ; the ' John- nies ' * following most uncomfortably near." Mr. Carter started for the river about a mile lower than the point they had previously crossed ; and no time was lost in wad- ing the stream. About forty of the Union soldiers were near the same point of crossing, only seven or eight of whom reached the north bank in safety ; the rebels having reached the river, and commenced firing, before the boys were half across. Some were killed outright ; several were disabled and drowned ; and a few surrendered as prisoners. A general halt was made here for a few days ; when the march- ing recommenced with daily skirmishing, until Cold Harbor was reached on the third day of June. Gen. McClellan's old lines of breastworks had been passed ; and our men had halted late in the afternoon for supper. Here Mr. Carter was the first to discover a body of rebel soldiers just entering those breastworks; and he immediately informed his colonel, who thought at first it must be a mistake : but a vol- ley from their ranks soon afforded convincing proof of the ene- my's presence. A most effective charge was made at once ; the rebels flying in every direction. The regiment remained near the Pamunkey River until the 10th of June, when it marched for the James; crossing on a pontoon-bridge by moonlight on the 15th. The movement was continued towards Petersburg, and a position taken for a general assault on the 17th. * A term applied by our men to rebel soldiers. I04 E LB RIDGE AMBROSE CARTER. Thus closed one of the most important movements on record. None can adequately describe the almost incessant raging of battle-sounds for five weeks, during which the highest military- skill and valor on both sides were called out. It is a sufficient honor to any soldier to have it said that he passed through this fiery ordeal prompt to his duty, and fearless of results. On the 17th, the line of which the Fifty-ninth formed a part, after the front had made two unsuccessful attempts, charged vigorously, and took a rebel line of breastworks. It was made at six o'clock in the afternoon, and constituted one of the most brilliant achievements. Company G lost twelve men. In the works thus taken from the rebels, the regiment remained under constant shelling, laboring during the hours of night to strength- en and improve their defensive character. On the 29th of July, at midnight, our whole division, with others, was massed in covered ways and ravines directly in front of a prominent rebel fort, which most of the boys guessed they would have to storm the next day, but whose fate really lay in far different hands. " At a quarter before five o'clock," relates Mr. Carter, " I over- heard an officer say, ' It is time for the explosion;' which was the first intimation received of a mine to be sprung under the fort. In a few moments, the fort was a mass of ruins sent through the air by the terrific rumbling explosion of some tons of gun- powder, that our troops, guided by engineers, had placed beneath it. Immediately a bombardment was opened from all our bat- teries within range ; and our division advanced to the blown-up fort. It presented a broad and deep chasm : into this a crowd entered for shelter. The rebels, at first frightened, had now opened their batteries in earnest. The crater soon began to be a charnel-house ; yet it was safer there than either to advance or retreat. There was the utmost confusion. Blacks and whites ELBRIDGE AMBROSE CARTER. 105 officers and privates, crowded each other under the scorching sun till near four o'clock, p.m." At that time, a charge from the rebel lines sent our disor- ganized troops back to their lines, amid perils as great as when they advanced. Mr. Carter, with seven comrades, started together on the re- treat. It was perhaps a distance of forty rods, over a field thickly covered with the dead and helpless wounded. Each one was impelled by a regard for safety to exert his ut- most speed. Of these seven men, only two escaped death. The regiment lost about one-fifth of its number during this day of misfortunes. About the middle of August, it was ordered to the left, and on the 1 8th was in line of battle near the Weldon Railroad. This line was repeatedly charged by the rebels, who were re- pulsed with great loss ; but a gap was unfortunately found, by which the rebels gained our rear. Company G was favored by being in a position of less exposure than other parts of the line, that suffered severely in killed, wounded, and prisoners. On the 2ist, the troops were ordered to the rear to discharge and clean their muskets. They were ordered to discharge by regiments and brigades. The noise of this firing convinced the rebel general. Hill, that there was a fight going on at that point : so, in hope of securing a double success, he ordered his corps to charge in front. He bravely advanced his men three times, and was each time repulsed with great loss. The ground was covered with his dead. Nothing but the usual bombardment occurred afterward until the 30th of September, when a slight repulse was experienced near Peeble's Farm by an attack of the rebels ; but the ground was soon regained, and more defensive works built at that point. I06 ELB RIDGE AMBROSE CARTER. Mr. Carter's feet had become much swollen and inflamed for a month or more previous to the 27th of October, and he had been advised repeatedly to go to the hospital for some proper treatment ; but he had no desire to leave the ranks until there was greater necessity than was apparent. The increased pain was sufficient, at the date mentioned, to induce him to retire, as there were also, at the time, febrile syrhp- toms developed in his system generally. He was conveyed to City Point, and there remained under treatment until the sur- render of Gen. Lee's army, and the return of his regiment on its way home. He was conveyed to Washington, and encamped with his comrades at Tennallytown, in Maryland. His final discharge bears date of July 30, 1865. He resides in Wayland ; having been married a second time, to Julia A. Adams of Waltham, Dec. 14, 1867. Mr. Carter speaks in unequivocal terms of approbation of the line and staff" officers of both regiments in which he served, — brave and fearless themselves, yet careful of the lives and comfort of their men so far as duty would permit. Of the Sanitary and Christian Commissions, he saw such ample proofs of their beneficent operations as to warrant a hearty commendation. So far as he could judge of the actual benefits resulting from an observance of the forms of religion in the army, through the chaplains, he cannot give a large amount of credit. He is satisfied that the war, though a terrible thing in some, of its aspects, was, on the whole, not only a necessary evil, but an equally necessary good, settling definitely by its results the certainty that a free people can sustain a free government, even in the midst of all the confusion and peril incident to a civil war; and he feels a deep sense of satisfaction in having been a Union soldier in the war of the Great Rebellion. Edward Carter. DWARD CARTER was a native of Lincoln, Mass., the only son of Amos and Sophia (Child) Carter; born Jan. 21, 1839. His occupation was farming. He was five feet five inches and a quarter tall, of dark complexion and hair, with blue eyes. Although naturally of quiet habits and a re- tiring disposition, yet of strong purpose when once fixed, he was found to be one of reliable service wherever duty pointed the way. While many considerations urged his stay at home, he saw in his country's peril the higher call for his service in her defence : and on the loth of August, 1862, he enrolled his name among the volunteers from Wayland for three years, or during the war ; being attached to Company D of the Thirty-fifth Infantry Regiment. Camp-life, and the marches and trip to Washington, and thence to the hostile soil of Virginia, are now looked back upon as of small account compared with the rougher experiences that suc- ceeded. Yet, with every fibre of life intensified by the new po- sitions into which he was thrown day by day, the memories of these early days of the war are abundantly supplied with inci- dents that will never fade. The Army of the Potomac was then concentrating for the 107 I08 EDWARD CARTER. conflict at the second " Bull Run ; " and, as the wai worn veterans of the Peninsular campaign passed our newly-arrived soldiers in their unstained uniforms, the contrast drew from Mr. Carter the involuntary expression, " They are the hardest-looking set of men I ever saw." The movement to meet the foe in North Maryland was made quite easy by the order " to leave all unnecessary equipage in camp." Thus relieved, and moving in the cool of the day, and dur- ing the cooler hours of night, through a cultivated region where they could easily obtain such additions to their army-rations as they desired, this march was not destitute of enjoyment. The first announcement that the battle had begun, by the heavy firing which greeted their ears on the 1 3th of September, and doing picket-duty that night in sight of the rebel camp-fires, sent a momentary chill across our soldier's enthusiasm. He writes, " But I think the most sickening sensation I ever experi- enced was in seeing the wounded men borne to the rear, and in passing dead bodies as we moved to the front." All feelings of fear, however, were effectually dispersed after actually entering the conflict. The first charge to dislodge a rebel force from a sheltered position was successfully accom- plished, almost without loss ; but, on re-forming the line, several volleys were received that thinned our ranks. Mr. Carter here made acquaintance with a rebel bullet, that grazed his cheek, and drew his first blood. After a half-hour's exposure here, the regi- ment retired to a piece of woods, where there was much confu- sion. Most of the Wayland boys kept together under Lieut. Hudson. Their mutual congratulations at having escaped through the perils of this their first battle-trial mingled with devout gratitude to Heaven, and gave them fresh courage. The night following, they lay on their arms, with much dis- comfort from the severely chilling and damp air, destitute as EDWARD CARTER. IO9 they were of overcoats and blankets. Nor were their discom- forts much mitigated in closely following the enemy the next three days, — sometimes under considerable shelling, and doing picket-duty a portion of every night. And now comes another fierce conflict. Gen. Lee had chosen his ground for a test of arms with the Northern army ; and that army was by no means loath to accept the challenge, even under disadvantages of ground. The roaring batteries began the work at daylight on the morning of the 1 7th of September ; and the battle-cloud was not removed, nor did the shock and crash and thunder cease along the bluffs and ravines of the Antietam, till Night drew her gentle veil over the sad scene of human slaugh- ter made necessary by the rebellious spirit. The first brigade of our division had made two unsuccessful charges to drive the enemy from a bridge on the left, which Gen. Burnside had been ordered to take and hold " at all hazards." Gen. Ferrero's brigade, of which our regiment formed a part, was now ordered to the charge. It proved a success ; and the high hill beyond the bridge was reached. But farther advance was prevented by a vigorous discharge of shot, shell, and grape from the enemy's batteries. An exploding shell literally tore to atoms the body of a comrade (Reed), standing so near Mr. Carter as to sprinkle him with his blood. At about five o'clock, a charge was made to drive a body of rebels gathered in a cornfield, and protected by a wall on the left. A position was secured, par- tially protected by an old fence, which was maintained until our ammunition was exhausted ; when a retreat was ordered. Dur- ing this part of the fight, the firing on both sides was rapid and continuous for more than an hour. Mr. Carter says, " I fired, at first, only when I could see an enemy to aim at ; and after- wards, also, towards whatever point the smoke of rebel guns, or the sight of a rebel flag, indicated the presence of the foe." A no ED IV A RD CA R TER. rebel officer, appearing at one time on horseback, received a dis- charge from our soldier's rifle (as well as from others), and was seen to reel and fall * After falling back over the brow of the bluff, Mr. Carter helped to carry a wounded comrade (Kidder) to the rear ; which being accomplished, he dropped on the ground, exhausted, and slept till the next morning. After this battle, which, with that of South Mountain, had made such havoc with the Thirty-fifth as to leave scarcely a com- missioned officer unharmed, the boys began to feel a " touch of the blues," which gradually yielded to the influence of several weeks of inactivity in the neighborhood of Sharpsburg and Pleasant Valley. At the former place, a visit from Rev. Mr. Topliff of Weston (adjoining their native town) gave much satisfaction to the Wayland boys. The grand review, Oct. 2, by the general officers and President Lincoln, served also to give variety and stimulus to any droop- ing spirits. On the 28th of October began the movement which resulted in the concentration of the whole army in front of Fredericks- burg, Va. This movement of so large an army was a grand sight, as viewed occasionally from some eminence in passing the rough route of Northern Virginia. On the third day's march, Mr. Carter was detailed as ambulance-driver, — a position which he held for about a year. During the artillery-attack near Sulphur Springs, the enemy's shells came uncomfortably near, though he and his team received no detriment ; but the one in front of his was disabled by a shell. * Amid these scenes of deadly conflict, there wefe not wanting incidents bordering on the ludicrous, that brought from the witnesses shouts of laughter even, — as when a soldier who had secured the sobriquet of " Uncle," and was supposed to be not deficient in courage, on receiving a slight scratch from some rebel missile, beat a hasty retreat with all his " might and main ;" and, on attempting to scale a fence, "pitched heels over head," — a feat which he was occasionally reminded of afterwards. EDWARD CARTER. Ill Many of our men had, ere this, learned that it was good policy to construct comfortable quarters, even if obliged to vacate them very soon, as was sometimes the case. Mr. Carter, being of a mechanical turn, immediately began the construction of a log- cabin, ten by twelve feet, for himself and four comrades. This structure, as the writer can testify from personal inspection, was one of the best of its class in the army, and afforded comforta- ble quarters during the winter months.* At the battle of Fredericksburg, on the 12th and 13th Decem- ber, 1862, Mr. Carter's duties required him to stand by his team, in readiness to go for the wounded at a moment's warning ; the ambulance-corps being quartered in a sheltered valley half a mile from the city. But, during all the day of the fight, no order came ; and the drivers could not control their intense desire to see for themselves how the battle was going, by gaining an in- tervening summit. Here, for several hours, at different intervals, Mr. Carter beheld the awful grandeur of the conflict. The ad- vancing masses of our men, cut through by the deadly fires of the enemy, leaving the ground strewn with the dead and wound- ed ; the noise of the battle in its artillery and infantry discharges ; and the shouts of tens of thousands of men rushing to the con- test, amid the clouds of sulphurous smoke, — gave him a picture that is indelibly fixed in his memory. From sunset of that day to the dawn of the next morn- ing, all the ambulance-corps were incessantly employed in re- moving the wounded across the river to a place of safety. It was a night of most arduous toil : and the last load removed by Mr. Carter exposed him to the enemy's shots : for they had the reputation of a willingness to thus murder unarmed and wounded men as well as those in open conflict. Winter-quarters were * "Thanksgiving Day was celebrated here by a dinner of hasty-pudding and molasses." — Letter. 112 EDWARD CARTER. now completed ; Mr. Carter's log-palace receiving additional touches from some implements that arrived from home in the " big black trunk," * for which the boys from Wayland had long been looking. On the 9th of February, 1863, orders were received to pack up, and proceed to Belle Plain. The roads were in the very worst condition for travelling ; the mud being up to the horses' bodies in many places. After a few days' delay, the ambulance- corps were taken on board transports, and conveyed to Newport News. The passage proved a most disagreeable one. Both men and horses were reduced to half-rations ; and the freezing snow-storm on the first day of their arrival was fatal to quite a number of the horses, that had been reduced almost to starvation during the voy- age. The negroes of the adjacent territory were exceeding glad to welcome Union soldiers as their protectors. Mr. Carter speaks of them, in general, as always our trustworthy friends, and, con- sidering their opportunities for intellectual and moral culture, as carrying the balance in their favor for honesty and good be- havior. A box of good things from home was also a marked addition to the general comforts of the place. Camp was vacated March 26 ; and the whole corps (Ninth) proceeded vid Baltimore to Cincinnati. The trip was altogether very agreeable, affording much opportunity to see a large extent of territory, and to receive the ready hospitalities of several * This was a large trunk, which was stuffed with clothing and other needful things for the Wayland men, and was started from home near the close of September, in charge of Mr. Wil- liam Heard. He arrived at Pleasant Valley two days after they had left for Virginia, and suc- ceeded in overtaking them in person ; but the trunk he sent by express to Washington. Here it was found by J. S. Draper, and conveyed to the regiment, on his visit to the army at Falmouth, a few days after the battle of Fredericksburg. The articles it contained, especially under-cloth- ing, proved most acceptable Christmas-presents. EDWARD CARTER. 113 places on the way. At Cincinnati, the force of horses was re- cruited ; many of them having become unfit for rough duty. The series of marches and counter-marches over the territory of Ken- tucky, visiting a score or more of towns, gave a fine chance to see what Mr. Carter thinks the best agricultural district he ever beheld, although not subjected to the improved culture to be found in more Eastern States. About the ist of June, our soldier found himself and com- rades again crossing the Ohio into Cincinnati, on an expedition in aid of the reduction of Vicksburg, then invested by an army under Gen. Grant. At Cincinnati, the boys partook a second time of the free hospitality of the citizens, and then started on their way in cars. The warm greetings of the people here, and in other places in the Western States, will long be remem- bered. At Cairo, the troops were transferred from cars to a steamer, and proceeded down the Mississippi, whose long narrow line on the maps of school-days hardly answered to the actual sight of its broad expanse of muddy waters. The boat frequently stopped for wood ; and our soldier im- proved his opportunities to tread the soil of every State on its borders. After some delay at the first landing, near Vicksburg, steamers were again taken up the Yazoo River to Milldale, Miss. Near the close of June, a movement to the South was begun, and pros- ecuted as far as Jackson, the capital of the State. Mr. Carter's ambulance was frequently loaded with men affected by sunstroke ; and, had it not been for the frequent showers, the sufferings of the men would have been greatly increased by the intense heat. Of the fighting and skirmishing in the reduction of Jackson, Mr. Carter saw but little ; his duties not permitting him to take part therein. 114 EDWARD CARTER. The Western soldiers with whom our men commingled here are described as a rough-looking set, compared with the Massa- chusetts troops. On returning to Milldale, the ambulances were crowded with men, mostly sick of fevers, dysenteries, and sun- stroke. The inhabitants had all forsaken their homes on the line of the march ; and these homes were often desecrated, and some- times entirely destroyed, by our men. At length, after all our forces had embarked down the Yazoo, and the sick also had been cared for as well as circumstances permitted, though their sufferings were greatly increased for want of suitable accommo- dations, our soldier, with the ambulance-corps, also took boat in a homeward direction ; and he, too, was soon taken sick of typhoid-fever. He became unconscious for several days, and, on arriving at Cincinnati, was placed in the hospital at Camp Deni- son. The relief experienced on being transferred to the nice clean cots of the hospital, with its careful nurses, skilful phy- sicians, and proper diet, cannot adequately be described.* At the end of six weeks he had so far recovered as to pro- ceed to his home, under a furlough of thirty days. The few days of home-comforts rapidly sped their course, but found him still unfit for duty ; and he was allowed to report at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Mr. Carter says, " The kind feelings displayed towards me when at home nearly unmanned me ; and I found it harder to return to the army than I did, on first leaving home, to join it." The Thirty-fifth was now at Richmond, Ky. ; where he was ordered to report. He proceeded, without incident of note, as far as Camp Nelson (a distribution-camp), and found a part of * Among other special comforts may be also named the visits of the Sanitary-Commission agents, with their supply of reading, clothing, good advice, &c. ; also of citizens of the vicinity, whose attentions were most welcome. The hospital was about twelve miles north of the city. EDWARD CARTER. II5 the ambulance-corps there ; where he also learned that the regi- ment had moved to Knoxville, Tenn. After remaining there two weeks, an order came for all hands to cross the mountains, and join Gen. Burnside's army. It was a long and tedious drive. On crossing the Cumberland Ridge, the ground was covered with snow and sleet, making the wheel- brakes useless in descending the steep declivities ; and several teams were lost by the drivers losing control of their horses. Early in December he came upon the regiment, then at Straw- berry Plains ; the siege of Knoxville having been raised. Here Mr. Carter again joined the ranks as a private in his old company. During a stay of several days in this vicinity, while out on picket-duty during a severe rain-storm of two days' continuance, Mr. Carter's exposure brought on an attack of fever and chills.* An order was now received for the regiment to report at Cov- ington, and proceed thence to Annapolis. Being unable to march, he, with some others, was sent in cars by way of Chatta- nooga, through Nashville, Louisville, and thence across the Ohio River, through a portion of Indiana, to Cincinnati. This exten- sive ride, together with the return from Cincinnati to Annapolis, made a grand total of about four thousand miles' travel in cars, accomplished by Mr. Carter from the first of January to the first week in April ; when he arrived with his regiment at Annapo- lis, Md. Here, on good camping-ground, under shelter of large tents, and with abundant and excellent rations, the boys had a few weeks of needful repose. As an important addition to their enjoyment, the visits of three or four of their friends from Wayland are remembered with much pleasure. * The kindness of a Mr. Haynes from Maine, at whose house Mr. Carter was cared for during two nights and a day, is gratefully remembered. Il6 EDWARD CARTER. At this place, several new regiments from Massachusetts, and also a division of colored troops, were joined to Gen. Burnside's corps ; and at the close of April the whole body of troops began their movement towards Washington, en route to join the grand and final campaign, resulting in the capture of the secession capital and its defenders. The fording of streams, and other exposures, revived Mr. Car- ter's old acquaintance with fever and chills ; and he was in hos- pital-quarters for three days at Washington, after which he re- joined his regiment at Brandy Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. The march southward was renewed on the fourth day of May. On the second day of the march, the Thirty-fifth was detailed as guard to the wagon-train of the division. Where the Rapidan was forded, it was about a hundred and twenty-five feet wide, and up to the soldiers' waists in depth ; and it was a provoking circumstance, that after the regiment had crossed the stream just before sunset, and the boys were preparing to dry their soaked garments. Company D had orders to recross, and remain on guard. " We had long before learned that grumbling was but poor alleviation in such cases." The next morning, our company occupied a hill in sight of the fight, that had now begun in earnest. Mr. Carter says, " It was the most rapid infantry-firing I ever heard. We occupied that position all day : the stray bullets often paid us visits ; but were harmless, for the most part." Having crossed the river for the third time, the march was continued all night ; and the next day " we were near enough to the fighting-line to receive a few shells, and pretty constant whizzing of bullets over our heads." But the health of Mr. Carter could not endure the repeated river-fordings and night-marches ; and he was allowed the use EDWARD CARTER. II7 of an ambulance for a part of the tramp. On being ordered out by an assistant-surgeon, he fainted, and was left behind. Some hours after, he was picked up, and sent by ambulance to Fredericksburg, where he found quarters in the same church from which he took the wounded at the battle in 1862. Pass- ing Chancellorsville on his way, it was a revolting sight to be- hold the bones of the slain soldiers thickly covering the ground in places where they had remained unburied by the rebel con- querors of that bloody field. A sensible alleviation to the terrible effects of war in this crowd of mangled men at Fredericksburg was found in seeing and experiencing the benevolent aid of the Sanitary-Commission agents, who were busy with all their appliances of comfort. From this place he was sent to Washington via Belle Plain. There was a continual procession of the slightly wounded on foot, and the severely in wagons. At Belle Plain, about nine thousand were waiting transports up the river. An examining-surgeon inspected every one before stepping on board a boat, to see that there was no imposition practised to evade field-service. Arriving at Washington, he was conveyed to Mount-Pleasant Hospital, where every attention was bestowed for his comfort and recovery. After a three-weeks' treatment, he was conveyed to the McClellan Hospital, near Germantown, in Pennsylvania. This was planned and conducted under a most perfect system of appliances. Headquarters occupied the centre of a circle, around which, at regular distances, were arranged the barracks. Iron rails extended through all the regular avenues, on which were trucked each day's supplies to each tent and barrack. During the rebel raid into Maryland and Pennsylvania, about the first of August, 1864, Mr. Carter and three hundred others were ordered from the hospital to garrison a fort near Harrison, Il8 EDWARD CARTER. Penn. The duty was light ; and, it being the season for peaches and melons (a plentiful supply of which by some means came into camp), the change was by no means undesirable. After two weeks (the " scare " being over), these men were or- dered to their several regiments. Mr. Carter reached his com- rades on the 30th of August, — just after the Weldon-railroad fight. It was expected to be renewed the next day ; and, the night after his arrival, he was out on picket in front of the enemy. Nothing of special importance occurred during the following month. Mr. Carter was selected as one of five to go on a scout, to ascertain the position of the enemy, just before the fight at Poplar-spring Church. It was not a very delightful -duty to ap- proach the lines of the foe, not knowing into what trap he and his co-scouters might fall. The task was, however, safely and successfully accomplished. Sept. 30, the Ninth Corps (Burnside's) moved to the support of the Fifth (Warren's), which had taken the enemy's first line of works at Poplar Spring. The advance had proceeded a con- siderable distance, when the skirmishers became hotly engaged, and were driven by the enemy. Our brigade was ordered to support the line. An unfortunate gap had been left between the Fifth and Ninth Corps, into which a large force of the enemy had entered, and gained our rear. Mr. Carter relates, " While I was giving my best attention to the skirmish-line, a few rods in front of us, I heard the cry raised, ' The rebels are in our rear ! ' and, on turning round, I saw that a party of them were close upon us, and that our men were scattering in every direction for safety. Being several rods in advance of the main portion of our line, I, with a few others, saw no chance of escape except to secrete ourselves in a thick swampy clump of bushes." The bullets came most plentifully. It was a moment of fearful peril. EDWARD CARTER. 119 in which the chances of immediate death, prolonged prison-tor- ture, or the small probability of successful secretion, ran through the mind like an electric shock, and demanded immediate deci- sion. He rushed for the swamp. But his movements were ob- served. A rebel lieutenant was soon upon him, demanding not only his surrender, but every thing of value that he had about him was also demanded by his rapacious conqueror. In a short time, he found himself in company with over fifty of his old comrades, four of whom were from his company, together with a large number of the German recruits that had lately joined the regiment, — all now prisoners of war. In view of the well-understood barbarous treatment of their prisoners by the rebels, it was, perhaps, some alleviation that the sufferings in store could be endured under Ihe aid of such mutual sympathy as long-tried comrades knew how to bestow : yet it was hard to leave the protection of the dear old flag ; and there were manly feelings of grief as the boys started late in the evening for Petersburg. Here they were consigned to an old tobacco-house that had been partly demolished by Union shells. Mr. Carter says, " We were forty-eight hours without rations ; and then the supply given out was miserably small in quantity, and poor in quality." Oct. 3, the prisoners were conveyed to Richmond, and quar- tered in the upper story of an old building in Castle Thunder. " Here every one was searched ; and every thing but our haver- sacks was taken from us." * While here, the rations were hard bread, so mouldy, that, when crushed by the teeth, there would be a cloud of mould-dust arise, almost suffocating. * The notorious rebel Turner, of prison-house memory, was the exacting officer on this occasion. Every effort was made by the poor prisoners to secrete their valuables, especially money, which was most greedily sought by the rebel officers. One man near Mr. Carter, hav- ing a greenback of large denomination, put the same as a wad into his capacious mouth, chewing and spitting most vigorously as if his tobacco was of extra quality. He was successful. I20 EDWARD CARTER. The prisoners were next ordered into freight-cars, and forced to crowd them to such a degree, that a standing posture was the only one available. In this style they were conveyed to Danville, and were there turned into a field. After fasting two days, they had for rations half of a pound-loaf of coarse corn- bread each. On the 8th of October, Salisbury Prison was reached. This was the first occupancy of the place by Union prisoners. It had previously been used as a recruiting-camp for the rebels. At this time, there was one large building that had formerly been a factory of some sort, and four others of small dimensions. A plat of ground, containing six acres or more, was enclosed by a fence about seven feet high, outside of which, on a raised platform, the guard was posted at short intervals. A few oak-trees were scattered here and there ; and the enclosure was surrounded also by oaks, the acorns from which helped to eke out the scanty rations. A few feet from the fence a dead- line was marked, across which none of the prisoners could pass without being fired at. Nor were they always safe within that line. One man was shot dead while sitting leaning against a tree, several rods from this line, engaged in reading. The guard were mostly boys from fourteen to eighteen years of age ; and they seemed to desire the credit of having an op- portunity to shoot a Union soldier. Besides the guard, there was also a cannon mounted at each corner of the enclosure. Such was the prisoners' home. No rations were given for the first two days, and then only a half-pound loaf per man. Meat of poor quality was given usually once a month, — about four ounces per man. A kind of soup was made of rice or beans, and served out two or three times per week ; but the rations were irregularly issued. One week after their first entrance, the prisoners were deprived of all sustenance for seventy-two hours ; at the end of which time, EDWARD CARTER. 121 inducements were held out to them to enlist in the ranks of the rebel army, or to go to work at different trades, with promises of good and abundant rations. Many of the foreigners who had been bought into our service by large bounties yielded to the temptation ; but the native-born citizens were trUe to their coun- try in the midst of their sufferings, except in a very few cases where they consented to work for the rebels. The number of prisoners rapidly increased ; and in a few weeks they amounted to over ten thousand. They were divided into squads of a hundred men each, under a sergeant ; and of a thousand men, under a sergeant-major. This arrangement was for the purpose of drawing rations. After a time, by" reason of deaths, the number of men in the squads became reduced, while the same number of rations would be dealt out as before ; giving thus a surplus to each squad. Occasionally, the commissary-department would order a count through the squads ; but Yankee ingenuity would provide for deficiencies by slyly putting some of the men in the way of being counted twice over, and in some cases even three times, when they became adepts in the art of deception to appease their hunger. They had plenty of time to plan their tricks, which were generally successful. Want of shelter during the nights, and in storms, occasioned great suffering. Mr. Carter had in his haversack, when first taken, half a pound of coffee : this he sold to a rebel soldier for a dollar in United-States currency; and, when the cold nights became intolerable, he bought with his dollar one-half of a shelter-tent. He and one of his comrades excavated with their hands, and a stick used as a pick, a hole in the ground large enough for the two to lie down in : this was their bed, over the top of which the tent-piece was stretched as a cover. Other soldiers would thus excavate and construct subterranean cham- 122 EDWARD CARTER. bers, in one of which a poor fellow was buried alive by the fall- insf-in of the orround above him. Toward the close of winter, they were made more comfortable by having bell-tents provided for every forty-two soldiers. This size tent is the "usual accommodation for fifteen men in army regulations. There was just room enough for the forty-two to lie down under the tent by placing their heads all to periphery, while their feet and legs overlapped and intertwined with each other. But as the men were taken sick, and died, the accommo- dations for room became better. Eighteen of the men in Mr. Carter's tent died before he left. It is perhaps superfluous to say, that with frequently unwhole- some rations, added to exposures, sickness was fearfully preva- lent, and at times unusually fatal. Suitable diet and medicines for the sick were wanting ; and far too many of the men hast- ened and perhaps determined the fatality of their sickness by yielding to the spirit of depression and despair. The weather was extremely cold for that climate. Snow fell several inches at different times ; and the trees were often loaded with ice. On one of these cold snaps, there were found, one morning, fourteen men who had perished with the cold. The largest number reported dead in one day, while Mr. Car- ter was there, was a hundred and thirteen. Doubtless some record was kept of these deaths ; but the bodies were thrown carelessly on the dead-cart, and buried in a common trench, with nothing to mark the names of the victims. At one time the prisoners became desperate, and resolved on a bold plan to free themselves. Rations of wood were issued during the coldest weather. The plan was to divide the sticks of wood among the strongest and most active, who were to fall upon the guard, seize their guns, and so gain, if possible, entire possession. This was to be done when the relief-guard passed EDWARD CARTER. 1 23 at a particular place. It was successful to the extent of killing two of the guard, disabling many others, and getting possession of about thirty muskets. But an overpowering force compelled the prisoners to desist with a loss of thirteen killed and many more wounded. The prisoners destroyed the captured muskets, instead of surrendering them as ordered. The penalty for this outbreak was a loss of two days' rations, and the enforcement of greater strictness. Articles of clothing from our government came in season to have saved much suffering ; but the rebels did not distribute any until three days before Mr. Carter was paroled. Among the prisoners was a set of men of the roughest morals, who constituted a sort of secret society for robbing their fellow- prisoners. Rations, and every thing else, were seized upon by these unprincipled men (they were called raiders), and appropri- ated to themselves without remorse. They became so odious at length, that a court was instituted among the prisoners for their arrest, trial, and punishment ; and, on their arrival at An- napolis, ample evidence of the enormity of their crimes upon their fellow-prisoners being produced before a regular military court, they were pronounced guilty, and ordered to be shot. On two of them the sentence was executed. Such are the outline-sketches of the experience of Mr. Carter and his comrades during five months' imprisonment. To fill up the details of each day's trial and suffering that fell to their lot while in usual health, and especially to note the keener ago- nies endured in the weary hours of sickness, is not to be attempt- ed. Imagination can only get faint glimpses of the reality, so sickening and revolting to the true sympathies of a human heart. Yet these prison-tortures were fully known to the rebel au- thorities, who had a special purpose in their infliction, which will 124 EDWARD CARTER. forever stigmatize the conduct of the war, on their part, as bar- barous in the extreme. They were understood, also, by our own government at Washington ; and the question may still be de- bated, whether retaliatory measures would or would not have softened the rigors of that inhumanity, which, almost without exception, characterized the rebel treatment of prisoners. The 2 2d of February, 1865, will long be remembered by Mr. Carter as the day of his release from Salisbury Prison, with about five thousand others. Who can tell the feelings of gratitude experienced by the sol- diers at the announcement of their release } Who can portray the effect, as a thrill, that almost stopped the pulsing of the heart, electrified the haggard forms of these thousands, to whom a new day of hope had suddenly risen from the dark night of despair .? The sudden news proved too much for several, who dropped dead under the excitement. Two days' rations were allowed for the journey to the Union lines. Mr. Carter sagaciously secured double rations, which he was not afraid to show the prison-cemmandant in a taunting manner as he passed him for the last time. The march was a severe one ; and the unusually inclement weather added greatly to the discomfort. Seven or eight miles only were accomplished the first day, at the close of which a bivouac around fires in a woods prepared the men for about fifteen miles the second day, and a still farther distance to reach Greensborough on the third, where the parole-papers were signed. On the second day's march, a bridge was crossed at a dizzy height above the Yadskin River, on the narrow planks on which the rails were laid, and where the rebel guard dared not follow. From Greensborough the prisoners were taken in cars, through Goldsborough, to Wilmington. The first sight of the stars EDWARD CARTER. 125 and stripes awakened inexpressible emotions ; while the com- miserating looks and warm welcome of the Union soldiers " made us weep at times like children at our welcome home." Here their wants were properly cared for ; and in a few days they took passage in steamboats for Annapolis. On their arri- val, they were stripped of every vestige of their tattered, soiled, and vermin-covered prison-clothes ; and the delicious bath and clean new garments made them seem other than themselves. A thirty-days' furlough awaited them. Mr. Carter, upon whom sickness had been gradually stealing, took his way homeward to the dear friends whose anxiety had been borne in a suspense equalled only in painfulness by the actual sufferings of their beloved son and brother. Every thing was done to save his emaciated form from pros- tration ; but typhoid-fever held high sway. He was unconscious of his condition for four weeks; and life trembled in the balance for many days. Yet he recovered gradually. His furlough was extended. He reported at Boston, and was sent to camp at Readville, where he received his discharge-papers, dated June 15, 1865. Mr. Carter was among^ the few who suffered more in the rebel prison than a thousand deaths on the battle-field could inflict ; yet, in view of it all, he is thankful for having been a soldier in the defence of the principles of freedom, justice, and humanity. He was married, Nov. 21, 1868, to Helen Moore of Sudbury, and resides in Wayland, engaged in his accustomed avocation. William Warren Carter. •ERY rarely is it found in the records of an army that one so young as was Mr. Carter * enters an arm of the service which requires so much care of person, horse, and equipments, and such sharpness of lookout, and agility of movement, as does the cavalry. But perhaps a dashing spirit like his could not have brooked the slow movements of a foot-march, nor have been satisfied with any thing less than a caper- ing steed, and a flying pursuit of the vanquished foe, or as speedy a retreat when overpowered. His enlistment bears date at Lowell, on the i8th of Jantiary, 1864. He was the son of Albert F. and Cynthia Carter, born at Wayland, March 18, 1848. In stature he was five feet two inches and a half, with dark complexion, dark hair and eyes, and by occupation a shoemaker. Immediately after enlistment, he went to the Beach-street barracks in Boston ; and was soon transferred to Long Island, in the harbor. Here he found about forty others enlisted also in the cavalry service, who, with sticks and ramrods for sabres, were learning the drill-manual, by the practical exercise of which on the exciting fields of conflict they were hoping to serve the cause of their country, and win laurels of personal renown. * He was sixteen 3'ears and two months old when he enlisted. 126 WILLIAM WARREN CARTER. 1 27 On this bleak island, with weather of unusual severity, under protection of only the little "shelter-tents," much suffering was endured, — especially by such as our soldier-boy, who came from the warm shop of his accustomed avocation. At the end of two weeks, he, with his comrades, gladly received orders to proceed to a Southern destination. On board " The Whirlwind " they found, however, but little alleviation of their troubles. A severe storm of snow, rain, and hail, with a very rough sea, gave most of the passengers a treat of that inelegant concomitant, sea-sickness ; of which our Way- land boy received, as he thinks, an overflowing share. Twice was their boat lodged on sand-bars before arriving at New York, where they were compelled to stop, and change boats ; some of " The Whirlwind's " boiler-flues having collapsed on the passage. Embarking thence, they arrived, without incident of note, at Alexandria, Va., after a voyage (detentions included) of fifteen days from Boston.* The next day, he, with others, was taken by rail-cars to Vienna, Va., — a distance of about twenty miles. This was a place of no particular note ; one house, and an old tavern, constituting its claim for domiciles. Here he was assigned to Company D (Capt. Richards) in the Second Regiment of Cavalry, under command of Col. Lowell. Vienna was made its winter-quarters, from which detachments were daily sent out as scouts and pickets ; leaving, sometimes, but a small part of the regiment in camp. A few days after reaching camp, a drenching rain-storm oc- curred, with a gale so severe as to unroof many of the quarters (Mr. Carter's among them) ; and in this exposure he became so chilled, that a brain-fever was the result. It was a severe trial ; * It is proper to state that Mr. Carter kept no diary, and that his recollection of dates was very imperfect : consequently, many of the incidents of his narrative are recorded without ref- erence to time. He gives them only in their order of succession. 128 WILLIAM WARREN CARTER. but the disease finally yielded to a vigorous constitution, aided by good medical treatment. The old tavern-house constituted hospital-quarters ; and the only cause of complaint that existed was the insufficiency of proper rations for sick persons. At the end of nearly eight weeks of confinement, he recov- ered sufficient strength to visit his home on a furlough of twenty days, where, as usual, the tender care of a mother, and other helping appliances, contributed to his complete restoration; and he started on his return with fresh courage for duty. Some un- fortunate delays, however, were the means of his arrest as a de- serter on his arrival at Havre de Grace, in Maryland ; being then two days behind his time to report. He, with seven others, was taken to Fort Henry, Baltimore, and kept under guard two days ; and thence to Washington, where he received a pass to rejoin his regiment, then on duty at Muddy Branch, Md. Here he was fully equipped ; and, with a fine horse, he entered at once upon active field-service. It was near this place that he first exchanged shots with the rebels, while out on picket-duty. From here, he, with others, formed a detachment to scout in the neighborhood of Monocacy ; which they accomplished with some skirmishing, considerable foraging, and several prisoners. While at Muddy Branch, the regiment was attacked by a supe- rior force of rebel infantry ; and, after a sharp firing of about ten minutes, our men were compelled to retreat, with a loss of sev- eral killed and wounded. Some time in July, 1864, the regiment was started on a brisk move towards Washington ; and when near Rockville, Md., they encountered a heavy force of rebel infantry and cavalry. Smart skirmishing, and at times heavy firing, were kept up till late at night, and during the next day. In the afternoon, a charge was made ; and the rebels were routed. But they received re-en- forcements, and gave a counter-charge so severe, that "we got WILLIAM WARREN CARTER. I 29 badly cut to pieces," and were obliged to retire. Four of Com- pany D were killed. This was a very hot and close engagement. Many of the cavalry-men fought at sabre-distance. Mr. Carter was within seven or eight feet of the foe at times, and relied upon his revolver. For nearly a month from this time, it was continual racing from place to place, encountering the enemy almost every day. The riding was so excessive, that both men and horses became exceedingly galled. Mr. Carter relates, that once, in particular, the ride was so brisk, that, on removing his pants, the skin came with them from the inside of the thighs for nearly the whole distance. He gives the places visited, and the fights and skirmishes, in the following order: — At Brightwood, in Maryland, nearly two days of skirmishing, in which the rebels were effectually scattered. Then the river was forded at Seneca Locks ; and the regiment went in pursuit of Gen. Early's forces in the Shenandoah Valley. They were met first at Hallstown, where, for a part of three days, there was continual skirmishing, and some solid fighting. The rebels re- treated, and made a stand at Charlestown, — the place made famous by the execution of John Brown. Although the enemy were strongly posted behind breastworks, yet our men, under a destructive fire, advanced, and drove them out at the first charge. The enemy was closely followed, with continual skirmishes, to Fisher's Hill, Berryville, and Winchester. At each of these places, they made a stand to oppose our advance ; and the fight- ing was sharp, but decisive. At Fisher's Hill, Mr. Carter's right- hand comrade received a fatal shot, and was by his assistance conveyed to the rear. At Winchester, the rebel lines were well formed ; and the double row of bristling steel seemed an impene- trable barrier to the rushing line of our cavalry. Not a horse could be prevailed on to leap such a line ; and not a man of that I30 WILLIAM WARREN CARTER. line quailed before the thundering and clattering of our cavalry- charo-e. But the pistol-shots of our men made an opening near their centre ; and no time was lost in rushing through, to their complete discomfiture. Subsequent to the battle of Winchester, he had a narrow escape of capture with his own and one other company, who were out on a scouting-expedition. Very unex- pectedly, they found themselves entirely surrounded by a large body of rebel infantry, through whose ranks they cut their way out. At Cedar Creek there was another smart fight, resulting in driving the enemy. With much skirmishing, they were followed to Front Royal, and thence to Luray Valley. When near the former place, a brisk battle was fought, that lasted nearly half an hour. At the court-house of Luray Valley the rebels made also a strong resistance in full force. Here our men had orders to burn and destroy the property of the rebels indiscriminately, which was duly executed. Thence the regiment was ordered to the pursuit of Mosby's guerillas, in Fauquier County. A small scouting-detachment, of which Mr. Carter was one, surrounded and captured seven of these noted desperadoes. They were rough and hard-looking in the extreme. On being brought into camp, these men were summarily disposed of in a manner to chill one's blood ; yet it was deemed by our officers in command the shortest and best if not the only method to prevent the oft-repeated acts of the very same description perpetrated upon our prisoners by these o-uerillas. Four of the men were huno;, and the other three shot, without even the form of a trial. They met their fate with no word of complaint, nor petition for favor. While scouting on one occasion, he, with three others, had taken shelter in an old barn. Suddenly several of Mosby's men WILLIAM WARREN CARTER. I3I appeared, and fired on our boys, killing two of them on the spot. He and his remaining comrade made good their retreat. The regiment was next sent on an expedition to Wainsbor- ough to destroy bridges and otherwise break the line of the Virginia Central Railroad. This having been done in part, they were obliged to encounter a superior force sent from Richmond to drive them back. Breastworks were hastily thrown up ; but resistance was unavailing, and a retreat was inevitable, — not, how- ever, until a general destruction of property had been effected. Our turn of being the pursued party now came, first to Staun- ton, and then to Harrisonburg, attended with daily, and at times hourly, skirmishes. The Shenandoah Valley, down which this retreat was accomplished, was made desolate by destruction in all its forms of burning and demolishing. In falling back gradually, during a week or more, in which our cavalry always covered the rear of the infantry, our soldier-boy had some narrow escapes from capture. Once, as he was posted as vedette, he was nearly surrounded by a squad, but succeeded in evading their purpose by a quick dodge. While at Middletown, on Cedar Creek, the battle was fought in which Gen. Sheridan's famous ride occurred. The regiment was here confronted by a heavy force of Gen. Longstreet, se- curely posted behind a stone wall. " We made," says Mr. Carter, " four distinct charges on that line, and were each time repulsed with great loss." His horse was so badly shot as to be useless. Here the regiment sustained the loss of its brave colonel during the last charge ; and it was then relieved, and sent to arrest the stragglers, who had now become very numerous, our lines having been broken at nearly every point ; and the enemy were sure of a complete victory. But Sheridan was now near at hand. With but one of his staff within hearing, he came furiously down the pike, passing within a short distance of Mr. Carter. He looked 132 WILLIAM WARREN CARTER. determined, but not much excited. Cheers now rent the air from our side, as he rode, regardless of danger, and delivered his or- ders. His lines were formed under a heavy fire ; and, before fif- teen minutes had elapsed, the foe was desperately charged, and with complete success. For two or three months succeeding this engagement, the business consisted mainly in collecting cattle and horses in those places most frequented by guerillas ; and the winter was passed without any general fighting, yet in numerous squabbles with Mosby's men. Early in the spring, the regiment was put upon the move towards Richmond. Our soldier does not remember ail the places through which he passed ; but he does recall the long and rapid rides in long-continued rain-storms, with the mud a foot or more deep, the tearing-up of railroads, and the burning of store-houses and bridges, as they scoured the country of the rebels. A severe fight occurred at a railroad bridge over the South Anna River, to drive the rebels from a fort erected there for its protection. Soon after, the James River was crossed, and the Second Cavalry was attached to Gen. Grant's army at Petersburg. The first severe fighting here was near the South-side Rail- road. The men were dismounted, and led in a charge on the enemy. Here Mr. Carter had a narrow escape from a bullet that grazed his head. Our ground gained by this charge was lost by a counter-charge of the rebels. The next day was the battle of the Five Forks. The regiment here also went in dismounted in the hottest of the fray, and were among the first to enter the rebel forts. Soon after, the news was spread that the rebels were retreating from Petersburg and Richmond. Never were men happier than when this intelligence reached them. All were on the extreme alert to cut off the retreat. WILLIAM WARREN CARTER. 1 33 For four or five days, they were scarcely allowed an hour's time for rest and sleep. Moving on the left flank of the rebel army, they made frequent captures of prisoners, wagon-trains, and cannon. Near Appomattox Court House, a heavy line of battle was formed ; and our regiment was sent out as skirmishers. There was a good deal of firing at first ; but the enemy soon saw that it was useless to contend, and sent out a flag of truce. Great was the rejoicing on the ninth day of April, 1865, when it was known that Lee's army had passed into our hands as prisoners of war. But a damper was suddenly put on the spirits of the Massa- chusetts Second Cavalry when it received orders to join Gen. Sherman's army to aid in capturing that of the rebel general Johnston. But this was accomplished without much hard riding, and without any fighting. The regiment soon returned to Washington, in the neigh- borhood of which it remained until its return to Massachusetts, at the Readville camp, where its members were finally disbanded, Aug. 3, 1865; our cavalry-boy, William Warren Carter, among them. Mr. Carter frankly declares that he considers himself possessed of no remarkable degree of courage ; and though he participat- ed in all the ficrhts and skirmishes named in the above narrative, yet he sometimes fought when he would gladly have escaped, if he could have done so honorably. He also confesses himself to have been very good at foraging in the enemy's country : though he names but one instance for which he really felt much sorrow afterward ; viz., the depriving of an old secesh lady of her only cow for the benefit of himself and his comrades. While near Berryville, he, with six others, went out to forage 134 WILLIAM WARREN CARTER. one night, and, having secured what they desired, were all arrest- ed on their way back by the provost-guard, and taken before their colonel. A little too much confession on the part of some resulted in his conviction as the leader, and he was sentenced to an uncomfortable acquaintance with two rails ; it being the only occasion during the war of his being arrested for unmilitary conduct. His present residence is Wayland. Benjamin Corliss. ENJAMIN CORLISS was the son of Joseph and Eunice Corliss; born at Natick, March 12, 1834. From the first outbreak of the Rebelh'on, his ardent sympathies were aroused in behalf of his country; and in July, 1861, he enrolled his name as a pri- vate in the Thirteenth Infantry Regiment, Com- pany H. He is described as having a light complexion, with blue eyes and dark-brown hair, five feet six inches and a half tall. Mr. Corliss was united by marriage with Ellen O. Whitney of Wayland, July 17, 1853. He left home with enthusiastic hopes of usefulness, and a willing heart to share the fearful experiences of war. But an unlooked-for fate awaited him. He had been with his regiment but about five weeks, when he experienced a very severe attack of hemorrhage of the lungs. He pleaded to remain with his comrades against the wiser decision of his surgeon, by whose order he was compelled to remain while they marched on. He was subsequently removed to his home, where his vital energies slowly wasted till they finally yielded in peaceful death, Nov. 29, 1863. His widow has since been married to Mr. Albert T. Lyon of Wayland. Ferdinand Gorman. ERDINAND GORMAN was a native of Baden, in Germany. He was born Oct. 19, 1830. He emigrated to this country about twelve years pre- vious to the war, ten of which had been spent in Wayland in the occupation of shoemaking. With a wife (Elizabeth Shleicher, to whom he was married June 3, 1845) and three children de- pending on him for support, Mr. Gorman, with his German spirit of love to the " Faderland " transferred to his adopted country, felt it to be his duty to aid in maintaining its integrity by enlisting as a private for three years in the Thirty- eighth Infantry Regiment, Gompany I. He is described as being five feet seven inches tall, of dark complexion, black hair, and gray eyes. Not much of interest is remembered of the camp at Readville, of the trip to Baltimore, nor of the month's sojourn there. As a simple matter-of-fact man, Mr. Gorman had an eye only for his duty as a soldier, and cared but little for surroundings, except when the experience was of a critical nature. The arrival of the regiment at New Orleans on the last day of the year 1862 gave variety to our soldier's army-life. Gamp was formed at Garrollton, about four miles from the city, where the remainder of the winter was spent. FERDINAND CORMAN. I 37 The march to Port Hudson to co-operate with Admiral Far- ragut is recalled as chiefly noteworthy for its rapid movement, but with no encounters of a hostile character. On the 9th of April, the Thirty-eighth took cars for Brashear City, seventy miles west of New Orleans. Thence, crossing a lake in boats, a rapid march in light order was commenced. Two days after, the rebels were encountered at Fort Bisland ; and a battle was the result, which lasted a part of two days. The enemy were driven, and closely followed for several days. The march was continued to Alexandria, on the Red River, where our forces camped and recruited for about a week. From thence, marched through Simmsport, en route for Port Hudson. These movements were rapid, and told heavily on the energies of the men. Port Hudson was in siege by the Union troops ; and, although strongly fortified and well defended, it was resolved to assault these defences. The time was fixed for the 27th of May. It was very warm weather. The assault was a fierce but unsuccessful one. Another similar attempt occurred about the middle of June. The regiment here lost about ninety men, killed, wounded, and missing. The place surrendered July 8, and was occupied by Union troops the next day. The Thirty-eighth, after several unimpor- tant movements, encamped at Baton Rouge. In the Red-river expedition, Mr. Gorman went with his regi- ment in all their severe marches, and was engaged in the fight at Cane River; but the exposures to which he was subjected brought him on the sick-list at Alexandria, and he was com- pelled to yield to an attack of typhoid-fever. He was taken in an ambulance to Simmsport, and thence conveyed by boat to the barracks-hospital in New Orleans. The best of treatment and care was experienced ; and after six 138 FERDINAND CORMAN. weeks he was able to rejoin his regiment, then at Algiers, about the ist of July. On the 20th, all hands were put on board a steamer, and moved down the river for a northern destination. The boat touched at Fortress Monroe, and thence proceeded direct to Washington, D.C, where the troops were landed July 30, and the next day were put on board cars for Harper's Ferry. Active business awaited the Thirty-eighth, which now consti- tuted a part of the force of that energetic and untiring warrior. Gen. Sheridan. The next two months was a period of continu- al excitement. Rapid and continuous marches up and down the Valley of the Shenandoah, with alternating battles and skirmishes, made this part of our soldier's history eventful. The skir- mishes being too numerous to mention, reference is made more especially to the fights, — at Berryville, Sept. 3 ; at Opequan, Sept. 19; at Fisher's Hill, Sept. 22; and at Cedar Creek, Oct. 19. At the first of these there was hard fighting for more than an hour, when the rebels retreated ; and our men lay on their arms on the following night ; but the attack was not renewed. At the next battle, a heavier force was engaged. It was an open fight. The Thirty-eighth was in the front line. As it steadily advanced, the rebels also moved forward to meet it in three lines of battle, opening with a heavy fire of artillery as well as rifles. The Thirty-eighth was on the right of the brigade, and came close upon the enemy. Our single line against their three was too much ; and a retreat was made with great loss. In the mean time, while the battle was raging furiously in front, Sheridan's cavalry had penetrated to the rear of the enemy ; and, at what seemed a critical moment, he appeared in front, ordering a final charge. The order was obeyed amid a terrible fire at first ; but the rebels soon found how matters stood in the rear, FERDINAND CORMAN. 139 and they suddenly fled, leaving many prisoners and guns in our hands. At Fisher's Hill, the rebels were again attacked in their forti- fied and well-chosen position. It was an eminence about two hundred feet high, with pretty steep ascent. Our forces at first advanced by regular lines of breastworks, with much show in front. Gen. Sheridan was fortunate in again reaching the enemy's rear with his cavalry ; and, at the concerted signal for advance, the rebels were forced to retire in confusion, leaving their artil- lery in our possession. Pursuit was made as far south as Har- risonburg, and to Mt. Crawford, — within twenty miles of Staunton. A week's camping at this exposed post induced a return northward ; and, after a march in which there was much de- struction of rebel property by our cavalry-men. Cedar Creek was reached. Here, on the morning of Oct. 19 (our soldier's birthday), the Union forces were suddenly attacked by a large body of the enemy. The Thirty-eighth, being on the extreme left, early received a heavy charge. Cob Macauley, command- ing our brigade, was wounded at the outset, and taken to the rear. The rebels came on with their fiercest yell. Our line was bravely held until they were within three rods, when a retreat was ordered ; but it was too late for many of our brave soldiers, who were flanked, and captured to the number of thirteen hun- dred In all during the day, Mr. Corman among them. Regimental movements are now set aside to trace the fortunes of an unfortunate prisoner of war. He, with others, was immediately taken across the creek to the rebel lines, and remained there till six o'clock, p.m. The fighting had continued through the day ; and, at the hour named above, the rebel forces were completely routed and pur- sued by the Union troops. 140 FERDINAND CORMAN. Mr. Gorman had been without food all day, not having break- fasted before the attack ; and in this condition he was started off on the double-quick, and forced to march that night the distance of thirty-six miles, with but few brief halts. The guard then halted to cook their breakfast ; but not a morsel did the prison- ers get. The march was again resumed, more leisurely, till three o'clock, P.M., when one pint of flour was given to each prisoner, which was soon cooked, and eagerly eaten. A few miles farther, and Staunton was reached, on the Virginia Central Railroad. Three hard-tack were issued here as rations ; and the prisoners were placed in cars for Richmond. On arriving at that city, they were immediately escorted to Libby Prison. This was a large building, three stories high, with grated windows. Mr. Corman was assigned to the upper story : it was all in one room, and with no furniture or straw. The five hundred men who occupied it were obliged to live in an atmosphere poisoned by their breaths, and made fetid by their excrement ; and they were tormented by the loathsome body-lice that swarmed everywhere. Among the inhuman regulations of this den of misery was that which subjected a prisoner to the shots of the guard if his face was seen at a window, either looking out, or attempting to get a breath of pure air. Our soldier, as well as most of the others, had no blanket ; and the hard floor was his only chair, table, and bed. The rations to each, per diem, consisted of a piece of corn- bread about one-half the size of his fist, and half a pint of thin porridge. His confinement here was terminated at the end of fourteen days. From Richmond, Mr. Corman, with several hundred others, was sent in cars to the Salisbury Prison, in the central part of North Carolina. Twenty-four hours' ride brought them to that place at four, p.m., in the midst of a cold rain, about the first of November. The prison consisted of an enclosed field, contain- FERDINAND CORMAN I4I ing some oak-trees, and three or four buildings, one of which was used as a hospital. The outer enclosure was a stockade, guarded by soldiers every hundred feet. A few tents were pitched here and there ; but the great body of the prisoners had no shelter. Here, in the cold storm, the men stood in a shiver- ing condition behind trees, or huddled close to each other ; a few of them around a scanty fire here and there. Mr. Corman had picked up on his way a very ragged old blanket, that served to protect him a little. No rations were allowed the new-comers until the second morning after their arrival ; the excuse being, that there were none to be had. Such exposure was too much for human nature to bear. Mr. Corman was taken sick with what he calls " bone- fever," which was probably a severe attack of rheumatic-fever. In this condition, he was permitted to use a tent with fifteen others ; but no medical attendance was allowed, and no change of rations. He was unable to move for three weeks : his legs and arms were greatly swollen, and the pain was excruciating. A small bottle of some kind of liniment was procured for him, which was used with good effect ; but a strong constitution, and such care as a few of his comrades could render, enabled him to live, and gradually to recover. As the weather grew colder, a scanty supply of wood was allowed ; and some of the men would lie down at night in the ash-pits of extinct fires to secure the little heat remaining. Mr. Corman has seen men shot by the guard for stepping across the dead-line to get a few acorns to appease their hunger. At one time, when but one regiment was stationed there as guard (there were usually two), the prisoners desperately under- took to free themselves by rushing upon the guard, and seizing their muskets. About thirty of these were secured. A large number of the prisoners were reported as killed and wounded 142 FERDINAND CORMAN. during the hour which the fray lasted. " Major Magee, com- manding the guard, ordered us to give up within fifteen min- utes the muskets we had taken, or he would command his men to fire on us. Instead of which, we broke and bent the guns ; and he was humane enough to withhold his order to fire." As a further consequence of this desperate act of the prisoners, no rations were issued for two days ; no fires were allowed; and the men were not permitted to meet together in squads. Sickness and death prevailed to an awful degree. The dead- cart was in constant use. On this the dead were piled like the carcasses of so many hogs, with legs and arms dangling from the sides. Sixty, ninety, and even a hundred and over, were report- ed as i\\Q. per-diem mortality. On the third day of February, 1865, Mr. Gorman was paroled, and sent to Richmond. About a week previous, he received a blouse as his share from a box of government-clothing sent to the prison. He was without shoes ; and his other clothing was sim- ply filthy rags. At Richmond, a further supply was distributed. He was in Richmond about three weeks, and was thence con- veyed to where the welcome sight of the stars and stripes greeted him ; and he was permitted to step beneath their protection on a transport which took him to Annapolis, Md. From this place he came home on a furlough ; at the expi- ration of which he reported, first, at Annapolis ; and was sent thence to Alexandria, Va. ; and from thence, about the first of April, to Fortress Monroe ; his regiment being now on its sec- ond visit to Savannah. After some weeks of delay here, wait- ing for transportation, and also at Hilton Head, he arrived safely at Savannah, and joined his comrades there, about the first of May, in camp outside the city. The war was now over ; and, on the last day of June, the regiment embarked for Boston, which was reached on the 6th, when all hands were paid off and dis- charged. FERDINAND CORMAN. 1 43 Mr. Gorman resides in Wayland ; and although he still suffers in his limbs from the effects of the prison-experience, and thinks that the services and perils and trials of the soldiers generally are not appreciated by those who staid at home, yet he bears no regrets at having faithfully endeavored to do his duty to his adopted country. Joseph Thomas Damon. ^/OSEPH THOMAS DAMON was a native of Way- land; born Jan. 12, 1835. His parents were Sewall and Martha M. (Thomas) Damon. Early after the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency, there were such foretokens of a disturb- ance in the relations of the States as induced a gradu- al preparation, on the part of the North, to meet emer- gencies ; and several vessels were fitted out, some of them at private expense, to watch things on the coast. With a view to make himself useful to his country, Mr. Damon volun- teered his services as a seaman in 1861, Jan. 10.* He passed first to the receiving-ship " Ohio," then at the Charlestown Navy Yard; and was soon after transferred to the ship "North Carolina," in New- York harbor. At that time, the bark " Restless " was nearly fitted out for a cruise along our Southern coast ; and, although not the vessel of his choice, he consented to be mustered in to make her complement of men (eighty-four). She was built with two decks, and carried on her spar-deck four 32-pound rifled- guns, and one heavy pivot-gun. Sixteen men were assigned to each gun, eight of whom were required to handle it in action. * He had had some experience in seamanship before entering his name in the service of the United States. JOSEPH THOMAS DAMON. 1 45 The bark was commanded by Capt. Conroy, an able seaman, who won the esteem of all the crew. Capt. Conroy believed in securing prompt obedience from his crew by the spirit of kindness rather than of roughness and se- verity ; and the only case of punishment was when three of the landsmen attempted to escape on shore. They were put in irons for nine days. Under orders to proceed to Hampton Roads, in Virginia," The Restless " set sail from New York early in February ; and with a stiff though favoring wind, on a rough sea, that point was reached the next day ; and she was immediately ordered thence to Port Royal, S.C. Soon after the surrender of Fort Sumter, " The Restless " was sent to blockade the entrance to the Santee River, — about thirty miles north of Charleston. The mouth of that river en- larges, as it enters the Atlantic, to an extent sufficient to receive the name of Bull's Bay ; outside of which, as is usual in similar places, there is a sand-bar, with one or two favorable places for entrance. In this bay, an island of considerable extent divides the channel into North and South Santee. It was the business of " The Restless " to prevent blockade-runners from passing the inlets in either direction. Capt. Conroy first turned his attention to the reduction of a sand-battery on the island. This was effected speedily by a few hours' shelling, which made the situation of the garrison so un- desirable as to induce an unconditional surrender, Fortunately for Capt. Conroy, there came to his vessel, among others, a very intelligent negro, named Nelson, who was thor- oughly acquainted with the waters of the river and bay, and the coast generally. He was engaged as a pilot, and was retained while the bark remained in those waters, rendering very essen- tial service. 146 JOSEPH THOMAS DAMON. Very soon we took three schooners loaded with corn and rice, bound for Charleston. They were unarmed, and, of course, made no resistance. During our stay, the negroes informed us of the route of a mail-carrier, and bearer of despatches ; and eight of us volun- teered a capture of the " institution," which was a success. Some valuable information fell into the hands of our officers thereby. Extensive salt-works were soon after destroyed in the vicinity by about twenty of our crew. Mr. Damon was here detailed as acting commissary-sergeant, and remained in that position until the end of the cruise. During the summer, " The Restless " made two trips to Port Royal, and, while at her station, secured a large number of prizes (considering her size) of coastwise vessels running in and out ; but by far the most valuable of these were captured on the 24th and 27th of October, 1862. The mornings at this season were unusually foggy ; and a vessel under guidance of a skilful pilot might elude the most careful vigilance. Such was the case on the morning of the 24th. The British steamer " Scotia " had neared the inlet unperceived ; but to her misfortune and our good luck, instead of finding the proper channel, she had grounded heavily on a sand-bar, and in that position was discovered and secured. Three days after, her sister-boat, " The Anglia," not knowing the fate of " The Scotia," ran in successfully by the bars under cover of fog, but was discovered in season for " The Restless " to intercept her gaining the point by the island. Our guns brought her to without difficulty. These two English boats were fitted out at Nassau with full cargoes of ammunition and arms ; with clothing, coffee, liquors, and other valuable articles. They were finally taken to Boston and sold, and the prize-money distributed. Mr. Damon complains, that, for unexplained causes, JOSEPH THOMAS DAMON. 1 47 these rich prizes never yielded their due proportion to the com- mon seaman and other subordinate members of the crew. In February, 1863, "The Restless" was found to be so much in need of repairs, that she was ordered to Charlestown Navy Yard. During her stay in Southern waters, she had captured nine- teen vessels of various magnitude and importance that were engaged in contraband commerce. While at the Navy Yard, Mr. Damon, with thirteen others, was detailed to remain in charge of her. He had been suffer- ing for several months from a severe rupture, and placed him- self in the Marine Hospital for treatment. His case was found more difficult than at first supposed ; and he was compelled to remain for five months, when his condition was deemed inade- quate for the service, and he received a discharge for disability. In stature he was five feet five inches, with light complexion, brown hair, and blue eyes. His marriage with Ella M. Evans of Waltham occurred Jan. 28, 1869, He still resides in Wayland, engaged in the express-business. Edson Capen Davis. 'HE record of this soldier extends over the full period (three years) for which he enlisted ; during which time he was constantly with his regiment. By natu- ral temperament, he was quick and prompt in action : and these qualities, so desirable for a soldier, won for him the high esteem of his comrades and officers ; one of whom (Surgeon Parker) reports him as "a most excellent soldier, true to his duty wherever placed." He was born Jan. lo, 1835, at Walpole, Mass. His marriage with Elmira Hawes of Wayland occurred July 29, i860; by whom he had one child, an infant at the time of his enlistment. Mr. Davis was of dark complexion, hair, and eyes; six feet two inches tall ; and was a shoemaker by occupation. The Thirteenth Regiment of Infantry was then recruiting at Fort Independence, in Boston harbor. On the 19th of July, he joined Company H of this regiment ; and, in about two weeks after, he departed with his comrades for the seat of war. Outpost-duty was immediately assigned on the Upper Poto- mac, in Maryland, where marching from point to point in expec- tation of meeting the enemy constituted the chief business. Though attended often with considerable hardship, yet Mr. Da- vis found sources of enjoyment in the novel scenes that these 148 EDS ON CAP EN DAVIS. 1 49 movements permitted him to observe. An occasional crossing- over to the rebel side of the river to capture prisoners, or secure rebel stores, gave variety to the autumn campaign. Winter-quarters were established at Williamsport, Md., near the Potomac, and about sixty miles from Washington ; but the soldiers were by no means confined to headquarters during the winter months. In December, Company H, with three others, was moved to Hancock, thirty-five miles up the river, to watch the rebel movements in that vicinity. Nothing of much impor- tance occurred : picket-firing and slight skirmishing with small parties served to break the monotony. On one occasion. Com- pany H had a lively time to escape capture by a superior force. About the first of March, winter-quarters were broken up by an order from Gen. Banks to cross the river, and proceed, vid Martinsburg, Va., to re-enforce his division at Winchester. This was by no means a march to be enjoyed. Being without tents for more than a week, the men were obliged, at times, to bivouac (shelter in houses and old buildings not being found enough for all) ; and, to add to the unpleasant feelings, it was found that no re-enforcement was needed, and that this march of a hundred and forty miles was a useless affair. For about three weeks in April, the regiment was stationed as guard on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. Early in May, marching-orders were again received. The movement was south, over the enemy's country to Fredericks- burg, Va. ; thence northward again to Manassas. These move- ments were without incident of noteworthy importance. Very rough roads among the Blue-ridge Hills made rapid marching impossible. Hard bread and coffee constituted the entire rations for much of the time. The vicinity of Manassas, Va., may be taken as the central station of the regiment, with other troops, for the months of June 150 EDSON CAPEN DAVIS. and July; from whence movements in various directions diverged sometimes for thirty or forty miles, as the counter-movements of the enemy seemed to require. One year of our soldier's army-life had now been passed with- out being called upon to meet the severe ordeal of a regular fight. During this year, the Union army had met with severe losses and signal repulses in their encounters with the enemy, — at the first Bull-run fight, and before Richmond, — while nothing of importance had been gained on our part except lessons from sad experience ; and Mr. Davis, by no means alone in his feel- ings, had his doubts about the skill of some in command of our forces. The time of battle-trial was now near. Two days before it occurred, the regiment moved from Thoroughfare Gap to the vicinity of the gathering armies at Manassas Junction, in Virginia. Early in the morning of July 30, the Thirteenth was ordered into line of battle, taking position as a reserve on the right. In the afternoon they were ordered to support the left wing, then waver- ing from the severe fire of the enemy. While here, awaiting results, it was discovered that the rebels had executed a flank movement ; and our line in front retreated hastily to the rear, and left the line of supports to take the front of battle. Says Mr. Davis, " We supported this line without flinching for near half an hour, under a heavy fire of cannon and musketry, doing our best in returning the shots, and then were ordered to re- treat. It was a severe trial to the pluck of our men." During that half-hour, the regiment had nineteen men killed, and more than a hundred wounded. The next day, our forces reached Centreville. During August, the regiment was moving up and down the Potomac on patrol-duty. Another battle was at hand. Gen. Lee's forces had invaded the north of Maryland. Their partial EDSON CAP EN DAVIS. 151 repulse at South Mountain induced another trial, on more favor- able ground, at Antietam. The march to the scene of this battle was begun on the 1 3th of September. On the day before the general engagement, the regiment was ordered to the line of battle under severe shelling. During the night, the men lay on their arms; and the next morning (Sept. 17), at six o'clock, the line was advanced, under artillery and musketry fire, to a some- what sheltered position ; when the rebel fire was returned briskly, and kept up for two hours. Our brigade gradually fell back, the Thirteenth being the last to retire. During at least three hours, our regiment was under fire of the enemy ; and fifteen of its number were killed, and a hundred and twenty wounded. After the battle, for more than a month, the Thirteenth was encamped near Sharpsburg, with scarcely any movement ; and, late in October, it began a rapid and painful march to the next bloody encounter with the rebel army, — at Fredericksburg. To relate the incidents of this march would be only to reiterate the soldier's usual experience of exposure to storms without sufiicient shelter ; with little else but hard-tack and coffee for food, except now and then a treat from a foraging party. At the battle of Fredericksburg, the Thirteenth formed a part of the corps on the extreme left. On the day before the general engagement, they crossed the river, and were ordered in front of the line as skirmishers. Mr. Davis relates the part he took as follows : " We drove the skirmish-line of the enemy over a large plain to the woods, and secured a sheltered position in a road front of them, where we remained over night. " Early the next morning, the firing began as our main col- umns were steadily moved up. Our skirmish-line was advanced to a position where it was much exposed ; and we halted, and laid close to the ground, with bullets striking all around us, till our main line had advanced beyond us. We were then sent 152 EDSON CAP EN DAVIS. half a mile to the rear for a supply of ammunition, and, on our return, found that our troops had fallen back, and the heaviest firing was over." Though much exposed a part of the time during this bloody assault, the Thirteenth lost but slightly. One writes, " By what miracle our men escaped, no one can tell." The months of January, February, March, and April, subse- quent, were spent in camp near Fletcher's Chapel, — twelve miles from the last scene of action ; the only movement being to the United-States ford, on the Rappahannock, about the middle of January, amidst a heavy rain-storm, with the mud so deep as to make it impossible to move artillery or heavy baggage-trains. In this interval, commanders had again changed ; the chief now being the famous Gen. Hooker, styled " fighting Joe " by the *' boys in blue." High hopes were entertained, that, under such a leader, no more defeats were to be experienced. Alas ! how soon to be dispelled by the disasters of Chancellorsville ! On the last days of April, the regiment was moved again to confront the enemy. Occupying an exposed position, the men were vigorously shelled by the rebels till they found shelter in a ditch by the roadside. The next day they were moved to a new position, and con- structed a temporary breastwork, using bayonets instead of shovels. From this, while the batUe was fiercely raging in other quarters, they were ordered to make a reconnoissance, which was done with some loss of men. But the battle of Chancellorsville was now decided against the Union army. Our regiment had not been called to the most exposed part ; and the river was re- crossed to Falmouth. About the middle of June, it was believed that the rebel army was concentrating for another raid upon Northern soil ; and ED SON CAP EN DAVIS. I 53 the army was put in motion accordingly. By a series of marches in the hottest days of the season, some of which were unprece- dented for their celerity, our regiment, with its compeers, found themselves encountering the rebel pickets near Gettysburg, Penn., on the last day of June. Our soldier's statements of the share he took in this battle, where not less than six thousand were killed during the three days of conflict, are briefly as follows : " Early on the morning of July I, we moved forward, and, ere long, heard the roar of the cannon that ushered in the battle. We marched rapidly to the scene of action, and soon came under fire of the enemy. Our brigade was ordered forward by regiments, but at too great dis- tances to be of much support to each other. Ours, commanded by Col. Leonard till he was wounded, stood its ground for more than an hour ; when we were ordered to the rear. During that time, we had a sharp encounter with an infantry regiment from North Carolina, and took nearly all of them as prisoners. On calling the roll, nearly two hundred of our men were found missing. The next day, position was t^ken on Cemetery Hill, to support batteries ; and the regiment suffered some from the ene- my's shells. July 3, in the forenoon, we lay in rear of the batteries on Cemetery Hill, but were moved about noon to the support of a line of infantry that was wavering. Late in the day, the joyful news was heard that the enemy was retreating. " No words," says Mr. Davis, " can describe the excitement of those days of terrible conflict, when the cannon's roar min- gled with the incessant rattle of musketry, and the shouts of the charging columns smote the ear with an awful power ; while the rushing of infuriated men, with the ghastly forms of the dead, and the scarcely less revolting sight of the mutilated but still liv- ing ones, made a scene that will remain vivid so long as memory 154 ED SON CAP EN DAVIS. lasts." Mr. Davis escaped with several bullet-holes through his garments. From this time till near the close of November, no great event occurred in which this regiment took part. Marching and coun- termarching over the soil of Maryland and Northern Virginia, until nearly all its routes became familiar, occupied the time. But ap"ain the two armies seem concentratinsf for a new trial of strength and skill in battle ; and this time a small stream known as Mine Run becomes the centre of interest. The regiment, on the 29th of November, was ordered into line of battle, with the expectation of a severe encounter ; but councils of war decided to abandon the position, and leave the whole field to the rebels. The regiment soon went into winter-quarters at Mitchel's Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad. This was the extreme outpost of our army ; and the men were, of course, sub- jected to harder duties in picketing the line than others. Among the pleasant excitements of the winter was a visit from Gen. Grant, then made Lieutenant-General of the army, and a grand review of our forces. The last great campaign of the Eastern Army of the Re- public was now planned by Gen. Grant, to be attended by him in person ; to wit, an advance on the confederate capital, and, in conjunction with the army of Gen. Sherman, to effect a com- plete demolition of the rebel forces. In this gigantic plan of operations, the Thirteenth, now num- bering the closing months of its long service, was to take its allotted part of toil and peril. On the 3d of May, 1864, marching-orders were issued; and the next day, under command of Lieut-Col. Hovey, the regiment crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford in the lightest marching- order possible, which every soldier had learned to interpret as the signal for hard marching, or hot fighting, or both. The biv- ED SON CAP EN DAVIS. I 55 ouac was now to take the place of huts and tents : yet but few complaints were heard ; for the men had confidence in their commander-in-chief. They believed that he was thoroughly in earnest, and would lead them on to victory. The next day, the regiment was ordered to the front, and for several hours in the afternoon was exchanging shots with the enemy, though with but little damage to our men. They laid on their arms that night, and the next day moved to the left, and threw up breastworks. Early in the morning of May 8, after marching nearly all night, an advance on the enemy's line of works was ordered. They were repulsed by the determined charges, and driven sev- eral miles, though not without sharp resistance. About thirty of the regiment were counted among the killed, wounded, and missing by this day's fight. Two days later, having moved still farther to the left, the regi- ment was engaged on the skirmish-line with some loss ; and, two days after this, a general charge of the rebel lines was ordered, in which the Thirteenth sustained its part. When near the North Anna River, a vigorous charge of the enemy was handsomely repulsed. Every day was now one of constant activity, — in marching, fighting, and intrenching. At Bethesda the regiment was hotly engaged, though our loss was small. At Coal Harbor the Thirteenth were mostly on the skirmish-line. "From May 4 to June 6," says the regimental report, "we were under fire every day and night. At the latter date we were held in reserve, and obtained a few days of repose." The regiment was soon moved on to the line before Peters- burg, and, up to date of July 14, was engaged in building breast- works and forts. But its long-looked-for close of three-years' service had now 156 EDS ON CAP EN DAVIS. come ; and while the men gladly received the order to proceed to Washington, and thence to their good old native State of Massachusetts, there was felt also by many of these veteran war- riors a deep regret to leave their companions in arms to com- plete the work of subjugating the forces of that rebellious spirit which had cost the nation such treasures of wealth, and, what was far dearer, such sacrifices of human life. The regiment arrived at Boston July 21, where it met a warm reception and hearty greetings from those, who, for the three long years, had been watching with intense interest their warrior- friends. Mr. Davis's record stands without impeachment; and but very few soldiers can say with him, " I was with my regiment constantly, from first to last." During the last year of his service, he sustained the rank of corporal. Mr. Davis is still a citizen of Wayland. Sumner Aaron Davis. UMNER AARON DAVIS was born at Natick, Mass., Feb. 13, 1839. His enlistment in Company K (Capt. Stone), of the Eleventh Infantry Regiment, occurred May 8, 1861. He was five feet six inches tall, dark complexion, dark hair, black eyes. He bore the name of a true-hearted, brave, and faithful soldier, and, up to the fatal hour, shared all the se- vere trials of the regiment, except when confined in hospitals from the effects of his wounds. The regiment entered the seat of war on the ist of July, in season to be engaged in the first severe battle and disastrous defeat of the war. He writes, " We left Centreville at one o'clock in the morning, and arrived at the battle-field at ten. The last part of the march we moved at double-quick, although the heat was extreme. A great many of our men were sun-struck. We threw away our blankets and haversacks, so that we aovX^ fight ; and we did fight. They had the advantage of masked-batteries and of woods, while we fought in the open field. We had but half as many men as they ; theirs fresh on the ground, and ours fatigued with rapid marching. They were re-enforced when we were nearly used up. We fought four hours : our artillery gave out, and we retreated to Centreville. Our regiment was thirty-one hours on the march 157 158 SUMNER AARON DAVIS. and in the fight ; and, during this time (having thrown away my haversack), I had nothing to eat but a single hard-tack that a comrade gave me. Men were shot down all around me ; and it was an awful sight to see the dead and wounded. I thank God for my spared life." — Letter. In Gen. McClellan's Peninsular campaign, his regiment was in Gen. Hooker's division. At the severe engagement at Wil- liamsburg, the part it took called forth the strong encomium of "gallant in the extreme " from the adjutant-general, and se- cured from the State authorities a new regimental color. In a letter just after this battle, he writes, "You will get the particulars in the papers long before this reaches you : so I need write but little. It was a hard time for us ; but we cleaned them out handsomely. We lost severely, but not so many as they. The day was rainy. We lay on our arms, in the wet, for two nights. They tried one of their games upon us without success. When we were hard upon them in the charge, they cried out, ' Don't fire ; we are your friends ; ' at the same time preparing to fire on us. We gave them a volley, and then rushed on them with bayonets, yelling like bloodhounds. They left like wild- cats." The part which the Eleventh took in the further progress of the campaign, at Fair-oaks, Malvern-hill, and Savage-station battles, is matter of history ; and in all these our soldier bore his part. But he left no written descriptions of these fearful con- flicts. He apologizes to his friends for not writing during these conflicts, by saying in a subsequent letter, " You know what we have been doing, — marching, fatigue-duty, picketing, skirmish- ing, and fighting in regular battles. Besides, we were told, that, until after the expected taking of Richmond, none of our letters would be sent any farther towards home than Washington." Imagination must fill up the details of that terrible campaign. SUMNER AARON DAVIS. 1 59 Scarcely had these war-worn veterans returned to their old camping-grounds around the capital, when the second encounter of the contending hosts at Bull Run called our soldier and his comrades again into battle. Here he received a severe wound that confined him in the hospital for more than six months. He modestly relates the affair in a letter as follows : " The rebs had two batteries posted in the edge of a wood, and sup- ported by a whole division of infantry. Our officers, not know- ing their strength, ordered our brigade to charge, and take the batteries. With fixed bayonets we made the charge ; but they opened such a deadly fire upon us, that we could not gain our point. I received a wound in the leg from a canister-shot : it is not very severe, but as bad as I want it." He was now conveyed to a hospital at Alexandria. All his letters while under surgical care indicate a patient and hopeful spirit. He declined the offer of a discharge ; for he wanted " to see the work through." He seemed satisfied that every thing was done for his comfort, as well as for his recovery. On returning to his regiment on the 17th of March, 1863, he found them " stuck in the mud " at Falmouth, Va. The Army of the Potomac had exchanged commanders once more, and was now under Gen. Hooker. This was a satisfaction to our soldier ; and he writes, " I have confidence in Gen. Hooker ; for I have fought under him times enough to know his qualities. He never has met the enemy without punishing him more severely than he received." In the battle of Chancellorsville, the Eleventh Regiment was called to a deadly encounter on the Plank Road early on the first day of the fight. In the four assaults of the enemy at this point, which were repulsed with such gallant success as to win high praise, our soldier faithfully bore his part, as also on the following day.* * After this battle, he was promoted corporal. l6o SUMNER AARON DAVIS. Entering this trial of arms with the confidence inspired by the former successes of his leader (" Fighting Joe," as he was familiarly termed), how great was his disappointment when forced to admit a defeat on retiring again to the old encampment at Falmouth! — so great, indeed, that he forbore all allusion to it in writing to his friends at home. Nearly two months of inaction succeed the disaster of Chancellorsville ; but the indomitable power of the foe again arouses to action. The free soil of the Keystone State is in- vaded. Home, that sacred word, that stirs to its depths the Saxon heart, — home, with its dearest associations, was calling loudly for defence, when Gen. Lee with his lately victorious hosts tramped the fields of freedom. As with a common, burning inspiration, our forces rapidly move and concentrate. With an almost miraculous energy, and under the disadvantage of a change of leader while on the move,* the culminating point is reached by corps after corps to decide by a great battle the nation's destiny. The ridges that overlook Gettysburg on the north and west were already bristling with rebel bayonets, when on the first day of July, 1863, they were met by the division of the gallant Gen. Reynolds ; and the battle-scene was inaugurated with the dis- couraging event of the death of that officer. The whole of the Eleventh Corps (Gen. Howard's), in which was the Eleventh Regiment, now moved into the fray, which became overpow- eringly severe, compelling our men to retreat, and form on Cemetery Hill. In this fight, though the position held by the Eleventh Regiment was very prominent, Mr. Davis escaped unhurt. July 2 found the two grand armies fully confront- ing each other. Cemetery Hill was held by the soldiers who * Gen. Meade succeeded Gen. Hooker, June 28, in command of the Army of the Potomac. SUMNER AARON DAVIS. l6l fought on the previous day ; while the contest was renewed by the newly-arrived troops on lines farther to the west and north. Though subjected to some severe shelling, it was not until near the close of the day that the Eleventh Corps was called to a hot contest by a charge from the rebels under Gen. Ewell. In this charge the color-bearer of the Eleventh Regiment was shot dead, with numbers of his surrounding comrades, — the effects of a murderous volley from the advancing rebels. It was a moment of fearful trial to the soldier's courage, who should rear and defend the fallen standard. Davis was recognized as one of the bravest. Eyes were turned to him in expectancy : for a moment, he hesitated. He hears the taunting word " Coward " uttered. Turning, he replies, '' Fm not a coward!'' He seizes the flag-staff; raises aloft his country's emblem amid a shout of bravos. He falls ere they have ceased, pierced through the lower part of the chest by the fatal bullet. He is conveyed to a place of greater safety, where his life-blood slowly weeps away ; and the next morning's sun sees only the pale corse of one whose mem- ory should be cherished for his cheerful devotion to his coun- try's cause, and for his fearless service in the battle-scenes in which he was called to bear a part. 21 Charles Franklin Dean. HARLES FRANKLIN was a son of Colburn and Mary Dean; born at Sudbury, April 3, 1844. He was by trade a machinist. In stature he was five feet eight inches, of light complexion, with black hair and eyes. On the first day of August, 1864, he enlisted as a private in the Twenty-ninth Company of Heavy Artillery, then recruiting on Galloupe's Island, in Boston harbor. The company was commanded by Capt. Ken- ney. On the 8th of October following, the company embarked on the steamer " Northern Light " as guard over a thousand men, made up of convalescents, substitutes, and recruits. Having landed these men at Washington, D.C., the company proceeded to City Point, in Virginia, and was attached to the third brigade in the second division of the Ninth Army Corps, and immediately as- signed to duty. Mr. Dean was in three several engagements. At a skirmish with Mosby's men near Culpeper, sixty men and one lieutenant were captured. During eleven months' service, the company was stationed, for longer or shorter periods, at City Point, Fort Stevens, Fort Barnard, Fort C. F. Smith, and Culpeper Court House. CHARLES FRANKLIN DEAN. 163 Mr. Dean was constantly with his company ; and his uninter- rupted good heaUh enabled him fully to sustain his part in the duties assigned. After the close of the war, the company re- turned to camp on Galloupe's Island ; and the men were dis- charged June 29, 1865. After his return, he married Lucy C. Bradshaw of Wayland, and now resides in Dover, N.H. Thomas Alfred Dean. N I MATED by the spirit that swept through the Northern States in opposition to the rebellious spirit of the South, Mr. Dean, with several other young men, came forward as volunteers in the military service on the seventeenth day of Sep- tember, 1862. The Cadet Regiment (Forty-fifth Infantry) was then recruiting at Camp Meigs, Readville, near Boston ; and, by mutual consent. Company F of this regi- ment was selected by Mr. Dean and four of his comrades for enrolment. Mr. Dean speaks of this company as in every respect one of the most desirable ; and of its commander, CajDt. Daland, as a perfect pattern for an officer ; always taking the lead in difficult and dangerous movements, thus inspiring his men with con- fidence and bravery. Camp-life in Massachusetts passed without any incident of note. The severe gale experienced while the regiment was em- barked in Boston harbor was rather a source of enjoyment than otherwise to Mr. Dean, who, unlike the majority of his comrades, had no part in the " stomach rebellion." The swamps and sandhills of North Carolina, with its squalid inhabitants residing in rickety old huts, relieved only by here THOMAS ALFRED DEAN. . 165 and there a second or third rate town, so contrasted with the people and their surroundings in New England as to fully satisfy our soldier with his native hills and home. Of the Goldsborough expedition, under Gen. Foster, Mr. Dean reports it as a hard march, made still harder by coming short of rations during the last half of the route. This, however, was relieved, in part, by the excitements of foraging, which was winked at by the officers as a case of semi-necessity. The rebel general Evans's forces were first encountered in serious numbers at Kinston, — about thirty-five miles from the camp at Newbern. The Atlantic and North-Carolina Railroad here crosses the River Neuse ; to defend the bridge over which, a force of several thousand, with batteries of artillery, were strong- ly posted. After some three or four hours' firing, the rebels were driven effectually by a charge, in which the Forty-fifth took an important part. During the firing in the first part of the en- gagement. Company F was well protected, a part of the time, by a church ; and, in the rapid rush of the final charge, the rebel shots produced but few casualties to our men. In their haste to evacuate the premises, the rebels left their dead and wounded on the spot ; some of whom were horribly crushed and mangled by the wheels of their own artillery as they were hurriedly dragged in the retreat. Such sights of car- nage were terrible to unaccustomed eyes. A brisk artillery-fight occurred at Whitehall, the contending forces being on opposite sides of the river. It was terrific in its roar of guns, screeching, and crashing of shells, and their often fatal results to our men. Gen. Foster's command was now pressed on to Goldsborough, — the junction of the two most important railroads in North Carolina, and where a large amount of stores was deposited, which it was one object of the expedition to destroy. 1 66 THOMAS ALFRED DEAN. The Forty-fifth was the rear-guard, and did not arrive in season to become actively engaged in the battle at Goldsborough ; nor were they in condition to fight effectively, having expended nearly all their ammunition in the previous engagements. On its return to Newbern, the regiment occupied its old camp. For about three months, it was detailed for provost-guard duty in the city. The military orders were strictly enforced. No disturbance occurred among the citizens ; and the chief arrests were made among the negroes, who, perhaps from ignorance, were not unfrequently in the wrong place at the wrong time for their personal comfort and quiet. In April, 1863, Capt. Dalands company, with others, was de- tailed on an expedition up the railroad to reconnoitre, and feel the position of the enemy. At Dover Crossroads the rebels had erected breastworks, and appeared in considerable force, ex- tending along the railroad. After an exchange of volleys. Com- pany F was ordered to deploy into skirmish-line. There was brisk firing for half an hour or more, when the main body of the rebels was effectually routed by a charge from another com- pany of the Forty-fifth, simultaneously with a charge all along the skirmish-line. One man of Company F was killed. The return to Massachusetts in the last of June, 1863, was hailed with a hearty welcome by our soldier ; but the welcome that he and his comrades received by the citizens of Boston was not of the warmest kind. Before landing, they lay for a day and a half at anchor in the harbor, entirely without rations; and the sumptuous entertainment of a barrel of crackers to each company was but a poor token from the people for the nine months of service rendered. The old camp at Readville was occupied for a few days ; when, on the eighth day of July, the boys were formally released from further service under this enlistment. THOMAS ALFRED DEAN. 1 67 Mr. Dean subsequently enlisted for a hundred days, and was chiefly employed in the vicinity of Alexandria, Va., at Manassas Gap, &c., on guard-duty ; during which no encounters with the rebels in force occurred, and nothing otherwise noteworthy transpired. During the entire period of his first enlistment, Mr. Dean was never off duty for a single day from any cause. He was five feet seven inches high, light complexion, with sandy hair and hazel eyes. His birth dates at Framingham, Mass., June 17, 1845; his parentage being Henry W. and Clarissa (Hammond) Dean. At present he resides in Wayland, and is engaged in the manufacture of shoes. George Taylor Dickey. .EORGE TAYLOR DICKEY was a native of Weston, Mass. ; the son of Ira S. and Elizabeth T. Dickey; born Nov. 3, 1825 ; a farmer by oc- cupation. He was married to Rebecca Jane In- gersol of Windham, Me., Jan. 8, 185 1, by whom he had three children ; the youngest being five years old when her father enlisted in the army (June 29, 1 861), in Company F, Thirteenth Regi- ment of Infantry. Dec. 1 1 following, he was taken severely sick with measles (then prevalent in camp), which confined him in hospital-quar- ters until his death, which occurred March 3, 1862. Nothing occurred of special note from the time of his enlist- ment to the event of his sickness. He was with his regiment in its various marches while on patrol-duty in Maryland ; and by his fidelity he secured from his comrades the honorable title of " a good soldier." A few extracts from his letters will show the spirit of the man. When about to march on Harper's Ferry, in expectation of meeting the enemy, he writes to his wife : — *' Keep up good courage ; for we are in a good cause ... I shall try to give a good account of myself while in the army." Again, Sept. 9 : " Don't be anxious about me. You know it is every 168 GEORGE TAYLOR DICKEY. 1 69 one's duty to try to put down this Rebellion. If you had seen as much of it as I have already, you would think it a pleasure to be a Union soldier out here." In common with others in the early part of the war, he thought that one or two fairly-fought battles would decide the whole mat- ter ; and he was anxious to enter the active contest, and almost fretfully lamented the seemingly needless delays. Oct 4, he writes, " You speak of my getting a discharge : I never thought of it; and, furthermore, I do not wish it." In his last letter (Feb. 21), he says, " If I live to get home, I shall say more, perhaps, than some people there will be glad to hear ; for I have not much respect for secesh people at home, and my feelings against them are on the increase." The immediate cause of his death was pneumonia, produced by exposure in being removed from one hospital to another. His remains were sent home, and, after impressive funeral- exercises, were borne to their resting-place in Sudbury; the Home Guard doing escort-duty to the body of Wayland's first victim to the war. The following obituary, printed in a Maryland newspaper, is not without its value in this place : -^ " Mr. Dickey had gained the esteem and respect of all who knew him. As a soldier he had no superior, and few equals ; always prompt to fulfil his duties, and ready to obey any sum- mons. He was a sincere friend, a true man, a stanch patriot. We all mourn his loss. " As a humble representative of the Thirteenth Regiment, I tender the sincere and heartfelt sympathies of its members to the family of the deceased. May he rest in peace ! " George L. Crosby." Curtis Warren Draper. >HIS youthful but vigorous and efficient soldier was the second son of Ira B. and Louisa Draper. He was born at Wayland, Sept. 27, 1846, and enlisted as a private in the Thirty-ninth Infantry Regiment, in Company B, Capt. Graham, Aug. 7, 1862; and consequently had not attained the age of sixteen years * when he became a member of the Union army. Such a case of voluntary service, where none could be de- manded by the authority of law, is worthy of special note, and cannot but command admiration. His complexion was light, with blue eyes and dark hair. He was five feet six inches in height, and a shoemaker by occupa- tion. The conditions into which this regiment was thrown by the fortunes of war during the former and latter half of its existence were so remarkably different, that the soldier who passed through both, sees now, on reviewing the picture, scarcely any thing oc- curring from the time it left Massachusetts, Sept. 6, 1862, till it crossed the Rapidan, May 4, 1864, but a succession of holiday reviews and recreations ; while, from the latter date to the day * He was the youngest of the Wayland soldiers. 170 CURTIS WARREN DRAPER. 171 of disbanding, he beholds the grim and ghastly realities of war depicted in their roughest and deadliest aspect. And though the soldier and his friends know that the former experience was by no means unimportant, nay, that it was indispensably neces- sary, yet he and they have a right to turn with loftier feelings of satisfaction to those feats of daring bravery that mark every mile from the Wilderness to Petersburg, and that consecrate every hour from the first dread encounter to the surrender of Lee's army. It is not to be presumed that he whose name is at the head of this sketch, though sharing in the feelings just expressed, did not, with all the ardor of youthful inexperience, derive much pleasure and instruction at each advancing step from the very first. The trip to Washington ; the first sight of the capital of his country ; the first march into hostile territory as he crossed the dividing river; the territory of Maryland, over which so many marches and counter-marches were performed ; the many fords and passes of the Potomac from Washington to Harper's Ferry, where, on guard, patrol, and picket, he has borne his share of duty by night and by day, in sunshine and in storm ; the many camping-grounds, with their incidents of gravity and gayety, — these all, with their thousands of connecting links of interesting experiences, must be to him pleasant pictures of memory. Add to this the longer marches on Virginia soil, — from cross- ing the Potomac at Berlin in July, 1863, to Mitchell's Station in December; all along under the shadow of Blue-ridge peaks; •through rough gorges of picturesque beauty ; crossing and re- crossing the famed Rappahannock ; treading the historic grounds of our victories and defeats ; marking the little hamlets of dilapi- dated houses dignified by the pompous name of cities ; meeting many a smiling " God bless ye, massa ! " from the despised and 172 CUR TIS WA RREN DRA PER. hopeful Africans, and many a damning curse written on the scowling brows and firm-set lips of the proud Southrons, — ah ! how must all this, and much more, ever stand forth under the sunlight of actual experience, in ineffaceable lines of clearness ! Nor less so the few months of patrol-duty at the capital (from April 17 to July 9, 1863), where the scene was changed from the rustic to the civic ; where the great men of our own and other countries made themselves conspicuous, and wealth, beauty, and power mingled in the panorama of the crowded streets ; and where the machinery of government, sometimes in broken tan- gles, and anon in silvery smoothness, wove the web of our na- tional destiny. There is, however, one exception to the easy experience of the first twenty months of this regiment, — that of their forced marches, and meeting the enemy (though only with skirmishers) on the 28th of November, 1863, at Mine Run, in Virginia. After the Gettysburg battle, in July, no general engagement had taken place between Lee's and Meade's forces. By march- ing and counter-marching, each of these generals had endeav- ored to checkmate the other; and the time seemed now to have come for another trial of battle. Gen. Lee had selected a position on the east side of the stream, and had there fortified himself for an emergency. Meade had ordered a general concentration of his forces. On the 26th of November, while engaged in feasting on a Thanksgiving-dinner sent from home (the sumptuousness of which may be inferred from the fact that our soldier-boy received as his part one leg of a turkey of small dimensions, and one and one-fifth part of an apple), the regiment was ordered to move with three days' rations. With a naturally good appetite, sharp- ened by disappointment in the feast, and made still keener by the bracing wintry air, our soldier had nearly consumed the CURTIS WARREN DRAPER. I 73 three-days' allotment in one, and, ere the short campaign had closed, found himself eager, with some others, to secure the waste kernels of the mules' crib to satisfy his hunger. He re- ports that five or even ten dollars would have been thankfully given in exchange for a single hard-tack. But to return from this incidental digression. They started at eight o'clock, a.m. ; crossed the Rappahannock and the Rapidan, and bivouacked for the night ; moved at half-past six the next morning, and continued their march till midnight, which brought them to the close vicinity of the enemy ; moved into line of battle next morning ; lay in position all day, forming the right of the front line, made up of the First Corps. The enemy's works had an ugly look ; and the distance of nearly half a mile of exposed ground was to be passed in making the assault. Eight o'clock on the morning of the 30th was designated as the hour ; but, ere that trying time came, Gen. Meade had con- cluded that another Fredericksburg day of human slaughter could not be risked. The order was countermanded ; and the Union forces very quietly retired. In maintaining the skir- mish-line, one man of the regiment was shot through the leg ; it being the first blood that had been drawn from the regiment by a rebel missile. During the winter of 1863-4, the regiment established its quarters at Mitchell's Station, — a point on the Orange and Alex- andria Railroad about sixty miles from Washington. This was the extreme front of our army, and of course gave to guard and picket duty a proportionate degree of hardship and danger. But with snug-built quarters, and railroad facilities for supplies, the boys managed to pass a tolerably comfortable winter. Late in April, 1864, the regiment moved from quarters, and occupied tents preparatory to the grand campaign for Rich- mond, now about to open, with its fierce conflicts, its hard 174 CURTIS WARREN DRAPER. marches, and its sure victories, under the personal supervision of Gen. Grant. The 4th of May saw the great army in motion. Early in the morning, the Thirty-ninth crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford, and pressed on into the Wilderness,* where they passed the night in bivouac, in close proximity to the rebel forces. The line of battle was formed the next afternoon ; and, after some skirmishing, an unsuccessful charge was made on the ene- my. The loss in the regiment was slight ; and the men lay on their arms that night. They were relieved for a short time on the 6th, and moved to the rear, where they were soon disturbed by a rebel battery. The following day, breastworks were thrown up ; and the next movement was to Laurel Hill. Early on the 8th, the cavalry of the two armies met at that place ; and the Thirty-ninth, with other troops, was ordered into line of supports. A brilliant charge drove the cavalry and batte- ries of the rebels back to their infantry-lines. The fighting was hard for a time, with severe loss ; and our forces were compelled to retreat in disorder. On the loth, the regiment was again confronting the rebel lines under heavy fire for several hours from the enemy's artille- ry. Capt. Graham was wounded among many others. It was a terribly hard position : ten or twelve of Company B were killed. This action continued from ten, a.m., till five, p.m., when five lines of battle were formed, the Thirty-ninth occupying the front, and the charge was ordered. A rush was made to within three or four rods of the rebel works ; but their fire of batteries and in- fantry was overpowering, and our troops fell back, with great loss, to their breastworks. The rebel artillery kept up their * "The Wilderness" was the name of a post-office in that vicinity. CURTIS WARREN DRAPER. I 75 shelling all night. The following day, on moving to the left, the enemy was encountered ; and, after a brisk fight, between two and three hundred prisoners were secured. On the following night, which was dark in the extreme, a movement was made in silence to Spottsylvania. During the five days that the regiment remained in the vicinity, it occupied different positions, and, though often shelled by the rebel guns, had no actual engagement. Another movement was made on the 2 ist; and, after two days, the North Anna River (a branch of the Pamunkey) was reached and crossed. Here a heavy charge was made by the rebel forces, who were met with such a determined resistance by our troops, that they retreated in disorder. Our soldier says, " It was the sharpest fight, for a short one, that I ever experienced." Breast- works were built ; and though the firing was kept up constantly, and at short range, the regiment lost but few men. During the night of the 26th a flank movement was made, and the enemy's front was encountered at Bethesda Church. The Thirty-ninth was ordered to the skirmish-line; and this position was held for several days, with frequent lively times and much exposure. Here Mr. Draper had several very nar- row escapes from capture. After a series of marches, skirmishes, and breastwork opera- tions, the 12th of June found our forces crossing the Chickahomi- ny River ; and the enemy were again met at White-oak Swamp. There was lively skirmishing ; but a general battle was avoided. Four days after, the James River was crossed in boats ; and, by marching all night, the regiment arrived before Petersburg, tak- ing position in a ravine exposed somewhat to rebel shots. The next day a successful charge was made, and the rebels were driven from their first line of works across the Norfolk Railroad. The position now taken by the Thirty-ninth was of 176 CURTIS WARREN DRAPER. great peril ; and the men were obliged to lie under cover dur- ing the day, and strengthen their works by night. Building forts, and picket-duty, amid the constant exposures to rebel bullets and shells, under a scorching sun and in an arid atmosphere, made the lot of the soldier one of very severe hard- ship ; and this was continued until the Weldon-railroad battle occurred, in which the regiment took a prominent part. "About noon on the i8th of August," says Mr. Draper, "a line was ordered for an advance on the rebel works ; but they did not wait for us. Before we were fairly in line, they advanced with crushing force. The firing was terrific for a short time, and the men of the Thirty-ninth were in a most exposed situa- tion; but they held their ground until a portion of the rebel ,force had gained a position in their rear, and were taking our men by scores on the left as prisoners. Our batteries too, see- ing these rebels in our rear, played their fire upon them, and, in doing this, subjected us to peril. Under these circumstances, the right of our line made a desperate cut for retreat. A few moments after, the Thirty-ninth made a furious charge on some rebel detachments as they were taking our men off in triumph, and successfully effected their release. The ground gained was held during the night; but, under a heavy shelling, the next day it was abandoned, and the Thirty-ninth passed to the rear." At the close of September, the regiment was under orders for a reconnoissance, and was put on to the skirmish-line. Lively firing was kept up for a while, when the line was abandoned. Nothing very important occurred during the months of Octo- ber and November in which the Thirty-ninth took a part. Gar- risoning forts, with an occasional reconnoissance, made up the general programme, with a daily amount of artillery and infantry firing, that, in ordinary times, would be called alarming. Early in December, the regiment marched out on the Jerusa- CURTIS WARREN DRAPER. I 77 lem Plank Road, about eighteen miles, reaching a point on the Weldon Railroad known as Jarrett's Station, where a night was spent in tearing up the rails, and burning the sleepers. On re- turning, they formed the rear-guard, and were much molested by the rebel cavalry, who followed closely, and picked up several of our men as prisoners. Winter-quarters were now constructed on the Plank Road ; and but little beyond the usual routine was effected until the first week in February, when an expedition was formed to dislodge the rebels at Hatcher's Run, — about fifteen miles distant from camp. The regiment held the right on the first line of batde. The first charge was unsuccessful ; but, at the next trial, the rebels were forced to yield, after obstinate fighting. The next day, battle was renewed. The regiment was now detailed as skir- mishers, and drove the rebels from their lines of rifle-pits. An advance of the whole line resulted in a signal defeat. But Gen. Warren resolved to recover the lost ground. He massed his troops the next morning, during one of the coldest of rain- storms, so benumbing that the men could not feel the caps in their pouches. " Our line had not advanced four paces when the firing from the rebel works began in earnest. Our men went in on short rations, which, with the severe cold rain, made their sufferings intense. After a contest nearly all day, the rebels were driven back. A lieutenant-colonel from the rebel lines came into ours near the close of the day, saying he was dis- gusted with the conduct of his men." The close of the winter ^2js, varied by two or three grand reviews ; President Lincoln being one of the most conspicuous visitors. The regiment began the spring campaigns by a movement towards the Boynton Plank Road, where it met the enemy in force, and, after a sharp contest, compelled him to retire. Mov- 178 CURTIS WARREN DRAPER. ing to the left, near Gravel Run, an overpowering force was en- countered. The skirmish-line (Thirty-ninth) tried hard to main- tain its ground, but had to retire with severe loss. In the after- noon, being re-enforced, an attack was made upon the rebel lines, and the lost ground recovered. The fighting was most obsti- nate, however, on both sides. Our soldier thinks it the severest trial to his courage of any in the war. The ground over which the regiment charged was open before the enemy : the advance was made by first discharging a volley, then rushing'with all speed through the smoke for a distance, then lying down to load, then repeating the firing, &c., until the rebels were routed. The most brilliant achievement of the regiment was in con- nection with Gen. Sheridan's cavalry, at a place called the Five Forks. Leaving camp early on the morning of the first day of April, it arrived on the battle-ground at noon, and was placed in the centre of the line, flanked by cavalry. The assault was a most energetic one, and so well carried out, that nearly five miles of the enemy's line fell into our possession, and a large part of the rebel force was captured. Being now under Gen. Sheridan, active movements became the order of the day. The success at Five Forks had left the way open to the north and west of Petersburg and Richmond ; and Gen. Sheridan was quick to improve the advantage. A week of very rapid marches, in which there were several smart skirmisKes, brought the Thirty-ninth, with other forces, near Ap- pomattox Court House on the 9th of April, before Gen. Lee's main army. That army, which ha4 so long kept Gen. Grant's forces at bay before Petersburg, was now in his power so com- pletely, that any more fighting was useless. The grateful news soon spread that the whole army had surrendered. Great was the rejoicing ; though many of the men were nearly exhausted, ragged, and barefooted. CURTIS WARREN DRAPER. 179 On the first day of May, the regiment began its march for Washington ; during the last day of which one of the most terrific thunder-showers occurred, drenching the men to the skin. Many of the boys took such colds by reason of this ex- posure, that they remained long on the sick-list at Washington, instead of returning with their comrades to their homes. The arrival at the barracks in Readville was on the 6th of June, 1865, after nearly three years of service. Thus closes the sketch of a youthful soldier, who can say, what can be said of not one in a thousand, " I was never off from duty a single day." He was in every skirmish and battle in which his regiment participated, twenty-nine of which could be called regular engagements ; and, though fearfully exposed in many of these battles, he was never struck but once by a rebel missile, and then the bullet was so far spent in its force as not to injure him essentially. It is worthy of remark, that, of those who constituted the com- pany of which he was a member at the time of its departure for the war, ov\y five remained to return to camp at Readville at its close. Frank Winthrop Draper. HE following narrative was put into our hands by Mr. Draper, our associate on the Committee, with the request that we revise it with large omissions, so as to bring it within narrower compass. Mr. Draper declined this responsibility on account of the family connection. Appreciating his motives, we have taken the entire responsibility in regard to Capt. Draper s narrative. But, on careful examination, we have deemed it unwise to cut it down, or materially to alter it. It is a connected narrative of marked interest, giving an inside view of army-operations, and showing the very spirit of the war, such as we have rarely met with. We therefore give it nearly entire, believing thereby that it will enrich the volume, and add greatly to its value ; whereas to compress it, or make only selec- tions from it, would break up the connection, or reduce it to such details as would destroy its life, or impair its interest. Edmund H. Sears. Lafayette Dudley. Possessing advantages for observation and for writing, while in the army, which were enjoyed by but few, if any, of his com- rades from Wayland, this soldier improved his first opportuni- 180 FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. i8l ties, after the close of hostilities, in preparing a connected nar- ration of his experiences during the war.* From this narrative copious extracts have been made in the following pages, under the belief that it will afford a better view of many of the aspects of army-life than would otherwise be obtained. It is only to be regretted that all the soldiers were not prompt- ed to prepare similar narratives of their eventful lives. Such papers would descend to their posterity as heirlooms of no common value. The body of the following narrative will be made up entirely of the extracts above referred to, reserving selections from let- ters, and other matter, to be introduced as notes. " The war had been waged more than a year, — a war whose like history had not recorded. On the one side, fanaticism, am- bition, slavery, brought all their appliances to bear to subvert a just and good government: on the other, that government, supported by brave and true men, animated by a sublime convic- tion of the righteousness of their cause, was doing its utmost to overthrow the rebellious power. " It was not unnatural that a young man educated with the idea that patriotism was a virtue of no secondary consideration, and daily receiving lessons in science and morality which must inevitably prepare his mind more truly to appreciate the great principles at stake, should feel a desire to be ' at the front' t * His correspondence while in the army, covering twelve hundred and ninety-six pages, closely written, carefully describing the current events, and illustrated by topographical sketch- es and maps, together with a journal which he kept, enabled him to complete his work with unusual accuracy of detail. t The following extract from a letter written to his father at this time will illustrate the state of his feelings : " My desire is the result of no transitory excitement. I am led on by con- viction of duty, firm and unselfish. I see how you all feel about it. I know that mother is over- whelmed at the thought of my going into this ' horrid war.' But how many mothers have sent 152 FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. " My earliest enthusiasm, however, was dampened by affec- tionate protestations from home. Maternal objections mingling with paternal arguments that the struggle would be short, and that it were far better that with my feeble constitution I should finish my college-course than endanger ray young life by ex- posures and privations in the army, induced an unwilling com- pliance. " The last year of college-life passed wearily. During that time, the Rebellion seemed to have gathered strength ; and the war, instead of passing away like a shadow from the land, as many anticipated, appeared still to be waged with uncommon per- severance. The disastrous campaign of Gen. McClellan on the Peninsula and before Richmond left our splendid army com- pletely dispirited, and wofully depleted ; while the victories of our arms at the West had been achieved only at great cost. In the Valley of the Shenandoah, Gen. Banks had been forced to re- treat before that intrepid rebel officer, Stonewall Jackson ; and, in that retreat, many at the North, particularly in New England, saw and felt the danger of their capital. " Under the spur of this hour of anxiety, which I keenly felt, on the twenty-eighth day of May I wrote my autograph in the roll of those who had determined to be soldiers for ninety days, under command of Col. W. W. Brown of the Providence Lis^ht Infantry. But our anticipations of military renown in this our first campaign were brought to an untimely end, and with no greater loss on my part than that of two days' recitations ; for, before we were fairly equipped for service,. we received orders that the capital was safe, and that our special services were not needed. forth their sons with like feelings ! There are duties which we owe to our country that tran- scend those of home. I do not argue the existence of such : I know it ; I feel it. " And as for college-preferment, I am willing to forego my brightest anticipations in this direction, and give myself wholly to my country ; yes, my life, if need be." FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. 1 83 " The close of my studies at Brown University early in July, 1862, seemed to be an occasion when no objection existed to the carrying-out of my cherished wish : and, on returning home, I at once clearly and pointedly demonstrated my ideas and convic- tions that happiness and contentment at home were out of the question so long as a rebel remained in arms ; that the highest sentiments of patriotism should induce every young man situat- ed as I was to be at the front ; that my convictions of duty were to me sufficient to overcome all objections, especially as those convictions (so I believed) were the result of no transient enthusi- asm, but a feeling, which, if I became a soldier, would support me through any and all trials and privations. And I have since realized how true were my ideas at that time ; and that a soldier, feeling that he is doing his duty, however hard, and who always strives to find ' the silver lining ' to every cloud, will be contented. " Meantime the war-fever ran high, and amounted almost to an epidemic, throughout the country. Young men were every- where volunteering, and old men were cheering them on. The enthusiasm was almost indescribable. War-meetings were held everywhere, and towns vied with each other in filling their quotas. Bounties were offered, and a system thus inaugurated which afterwards produced many evils. " The quota of Wayland for the President's call for three hun- dred thousand men for three years' service, made in July, 1862, was nineteen. Nineteen of the young men of the town were to step forward, and be men, or their native place was to be dis- honored by an enforced conscription. The question needed no discussion. Charles H. Campbell, with a heart brimful of pa- triotism, exhibited a manhood worthy of emulation. Love of country, and the principles which cluster around our republican- ism, overcame his love for aught else ; and, abandoning his dear- est interests at home, he challenged the young men to follow 184 FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. him ; and half a score presented themselves at once amid the cheers of the citizens there assembled. " The evening of the 3d of August, 1862, witnessed the act I shall ever regard as the most honorable of my life. I shall never forget the time. It was the twilight of a beautiful sabbath day. Calmness and sweet peace reigned in Nature. With every thing beautiful around, and with a contented spirit within, I, on that sabbath evening, enrolled myself among the patriotic volun- teers of Wayland. Around that little act cluster memories and associations it is pleasant to recall. I am proud now of the deed as I was then. I felt that my claims to a true manhood had been asserted. " What events and adventures have followed that little but important act, how fully the task assigned has been performed, and how completely the spirit then controlling has since sus- tained me, the following pages will show. " An attempt was made during the week following enlistment to obtain the situation of hospital-steward. Want of success, however, induced me to forego all similar plans for preferment, and, in company with several of the Wayland boys, to join as a private the company of which Mr. John W. Hudson (my former school-teacher) was second lieutenant, and which was to be at- tached to the Thirty-fifth Regiment of Infantry, then forming at Camp Stanton, in Lynnfield. " Life in camp was at first sufficiently novel and busy to pre- vent it from being monotonous. There was squad-drill and company-drill, in which Capt Dolan, in a squeaking voice, be- trayed his ignorance of Casey's tactics. There was guard-duty and fatigue-duty, and many other et ccEteras, that seemed to the incipient soldier of much importance. Then the frequent visits of friends, who came well laden with good things, gave us scarce- ly time to think of our three-years' separation from home. The FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. 185 call from a party of young ladies from our native town, with their kindly tokens, was long remembered. " On Saturday, the i6th of August, the members of Company D were permitted to go home for the last time before leaving the State. That last sabbath at home left long-cherished im- pressions ; and the spirit of the sermon preached by Rev. Charles Sewall, inculcating a childish trust in the overruling Providence ' who doeth all things well,' has often sustained my faltering steps in the midst of uncommon trials and difficulties. " It was hard to say good-by ; harder for my kindred and friends to see me depart, than for me, sustained as I was by a sense of duty, to leave the scenes of home. My father and mother, with words of cheer, bade me go forth ; and not me only, for with me went my eldest brother James : and though the parting was thus doubly trying, yet there were no regrets at our course sufficiently strong to stand as hinderances. Our grand- father too, who years before bade a similar adieu to his friends, and went soldiering in defence of the same principles, bade us God speed, with assurances that it would ' all come out right ; ' and grandmother, dear, tender-hearted grandmother, bestowed on us her tearful benediction. So cheered and sustained, we went from the loved scenes of home. " Expatiation on the duties and responsibilities of a private soldier is, I imagine, unnecessary here. From experience I soon learned, that, generally speaking, a private in the ranks is the most irresponsible creature in existence. His whole duty con- sists in implicit obedience ; and this obedience constitutes disci- pline. If Capt. Dolan says, ' Every tent must have twenty-six men in it,' it is useless, nay criminal, to point out in the most gentlemanly language the inconveniece of making a pig-pen of our cotton-house, or of making pigs of ourselves, who but yester- day were sovereign citizens, endowed with certain inalienable 24 1 86 FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. rights. If Orderly-Sergeant says, ' Draper, you are detailed for guard,' Draper need not protest ; for he will go on guard, nolens volens. Even now, the remembrance of those days of ' breaking in ' awakens a sort of rebellious spirit against a disci- pline that takes from man his highest prerogative. " I remember my first experience on duty as guard ; and it is interesting to me now to recall the sensations of responsibility I felt. How proudly then I walked my beat ! how, with all the dig- nity and stiffness of an ' Old Guard ' of France, did I render the military salute to officers ! And then, at night, how wearily the two hours passed ! And once, when the temptations of ' tired Nature's sweet restorer ' became irresistible, I now confess to a little arrangement made with my neighbor-guard (Ed. Carter) to wake me if necessary, and, after a nap, I would break the risfid law with him in like manner. " On the morning of Friday, Aug. 22, was presented a specta- cle of a lively character in our camp. We were packing up ; and all the skill of a veteran soldier was necessary to stow away in the limited space of our knapsacks all the little tokens of fond af- fection, and the various articles which had been supplied to aid in smoothing the rough way we anticipated, and which were ulti- mately thrown away as useless incumbrances. Indescribable patterns of housewifery, patent water-filters, boxes and phials of medicines, writing-apparatus, books and pictures, besides shirts and socks, coats and pants, and other impedimenta too numerous to mention, — all were crammed unmercifully into the apartments, until the knapsack looked like the fabled frog that tried to be as big as an ox. " The morning was dark and damp. Two or three hours of waiting, with our ponderous knapsacks on our backs, — looking like the picture of the world on the shoulders of old Atlas, — at length culminated in our departure for Boston in the midst of a drenching shower. FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. 187 " Haymarket Square was crowded. Crowds I had seen be- fore ; but there was a strangeness in this that was almost over- powering. The cheers, the shouts of recognition, the ' Good- bys ' and ' God bless yous,' mingling with officers' commands and martial music, made a Babel of influences not before experi- enced. " At the word of Col. Wild, forward we marched in the hot, muggy air, with the weight of rifle and other equipments, and that cruel burden on our backs ; forward through State Street, with ears and eyes filled to surfeit with sights and sounds of commendation (yet not so full that I failed to observe a dear sister on a balcony, and to wave a farewell salute); forward to the State House, where a tiresome half-hour must be endured for the official ceremonies. "It was no wonder that Corporal Marchant, a great overgrown man, should faint under all the pressure. He was a sensible man in becoming insensible and getting a ride. I would have fainted if I could. " Forward again ! Somebody caught my hand : it was my brother C . Some one else saluted me, — my good friend T. W. B . They both accompanied me to the Old-Colony Depot ; and so I said good-by to all I knew, and rolled away from Boston. " I record this march (the most fatiguing to my unaccustomed muscles of any in my recollection) in order to enter a protest against the habit which colonels on horseback have of showing their commands to city crowds, — a practice that so much resem- bles the first entree of a circus into a town. " Fall River was reached late at night; and we took passage in ' The Bay State ' (steamer) for Jersey City, where we arrived at eleven o'clock, a.m., the next day, after a beautiful passage through the Sound. 1 88 FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. " At Philadelphia we were stopped for the first time to receive the hospitality of citizens, whose generous sympathy was shown in actions more than in words during the war. A little incident occurred here illustrating Col. Wild's temperance proclivities. A dram-shop had bountifully supplied our men with bad whiskey. Company K was ordered to summarily abate the nuisance. The mayor, on protesting against such proceedings, received reply from the colonel, .' I and my command are under orders to proceed without delay to Washington ; and, if you attempt to hinder my so doing, I shall be obliged to take you along with me.' " We marched quietly through the streets of Baltimore at an early hour on Sunday morning, with'JDut few to greet us in that semi-rebel city. " At eleven, a.m., while riding on the roof of a cattle-car, I saw for the first time the white dome of our national Capitol, its marble roof glistening in the hot sun, and its magnificent pro- portions standing out in bold relief. It was gratifying to feel that it was still safe and unmolested ; and there was a sort of pride that we were among the armed defenders of our nation's sanc- tuary. " Rather meagre fare was served to us at Washington in the ' Soldiers Retreat,' as it was called. Think of it ! — the national capital feeding its inexperienced soldiers on milkless and sugar- less coffee, stale bread, and*on meat that w^as evidently ' touched ' ! The valiant representatives of the aristocratic State of Massa- chusetts ^r?^»/^/i?^/ — that accomplishment being the so\q perfect attainment, which, as soldiers, they had then acquired. " A tiresome delay was partly improved by a few of us in ob- taining a few cursory views in the great city. We went to the Capitol, and gazed with becoming awe at the huge proportions of that edifice. Peering with Yankee curiosity through the lower FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. 1 89 windows at the mosaic floors and frescoed walls of the interior led some one to remark that ' Uncle Sam must be pretty well off.' " The march through Washington and Georgetown, and be- yond to our camp on Arlington Heights, is not without note- worthiness. The novelty of the imposing parade up the avenue, during which we were repeatedly cautioned by Capt. Dolan to keep our head ' square to the front,' soon wore off after we left the city and commenced our toilsome trudge over the dusty road. The repeated assurance of our officers that ' it is only a little way ' soon lost its charm as an encouragement ; and most of the boys came to the conclusion that soldiering was no fun. I en- dured the march in Boston partly because I was near home, and pride held sway; but here in the Wilderness, hundreds of miles away, and after the severe jolting of a forty-eight hours' ride, the distance seemed inexplicably long, and our destination a ' will-o'-the-wisp.' * I have since found, that, however convenient patriotism is to talk about and grow eloquent upon, soldiers in general do not regard it as a panacea against fatigue. " After much straggling and some emphatic expressions usually considered more expressive than elegant, we lay our dusty, worn- out bodies to rest in a field on the heights somewhere in Vir- ginia. The omission of roll-call that night saved many brave soldiers of the gallant Thirty-fifth from an exhibition of their delinquencies. " Much to our comfort, we soon exchanged our first dusty camp-ground for one more eligible and nearer the city. From this latter position I have often looked with admiring gaze at the city opposite, with its noble buildings, and the tawny Poto- mac between. * In a letter he says, " I make no boast of my exploit ; but, after the experience of the last six days, I entertain no doubt of my ability to stand the service hereafter." 190 FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. " Not the least fortunate incident in my career was my initia- tion as a ' bummer.' "On the 27th of August, I exchanged my occupation as a soldier in the ranks for the more congenial and less irksome position of a hospital-attendant. Thus early did my resolution to ' do and die ' seem to become exhausted ; while I, in turn, de- termined to ' do ' and keep others from ' dying.' " Dr. Lincoln, who stood at the head of affairs medical and surgical, was the most supercilious, cold-hearted, ungenerous kind of a man I have ever met.* Drs. Clark and Munsell, his subordinates, will be always remembered in a different light. As to the others with whom I was associated in the relation of ' bummers,' I have not much to say. They were good fellows in their way, and we generally got on quite well. " Those latter days of August were eventful to the nation. The hostile demonstrations of Gen. Lee bade fair to be seriously disastrous. The sounds of artillery and musketry, as they rolled across the heights from the battle-fields of the second Bull Run, Cedar Mountain, and Chantilly, had a peculiar meaning to us raw recruits ; and, like others of similar experience, we longed for the time to come, when, by being sufficiently drilled, we, too, could ' meet and strike the foe.' " One day a division of Gen. McClellan's army passed our camp, marching rapidly toward the front. It was hard to realize that we ' bandbox soldiers ' could ever become like those veter- ans, — dirty, ragged, and rough ; ' but they would fight' " At sunset, Sept. 6, the Thirty-fifth left camp, and moved to- ward Washington. Col. Wild was ambitious. He had elicited an order from the adjutant-general for his command to join the corps of Burnside at Leesborough, Md., for active duty. Two * After an inefficient management of affairs until February, 1863, Dr, Lincoln resigned, much to the relief of all parties concerned. FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. I9I battalion-drills, and a very limited amount of drilling by compa- ny, had but ill fitted them for the work of old soldiers. But they went ; and they ' Fought like brave men, long and well.' I was ordered to remain behind until the sick could be disposed of, and then, with others, to move on and join the regiment. Every one knew that business of a serious nature was close at hand ; for Lee had outwitted the loyal army south of the Poto- mac, and was advancing rapidly towards that river, with the in- tention of crossing it. Our armies were concentrating in Mary- land. " The time passed wearily until we were ordered to move for the regiment on Tuesday, Sept. 16. I had been severely sick for two days ; and it was somewhat difficult to get limbered up for the march. Indeed, after a mile or two of travel, I was com- pletely exhausted ; and had it not been for a poor dilapidated Rosinante which one Fisher had confiscated for baggage-pur- poses, and which he kindly loaned me, I fear that I should have fallen by the wayside, and have been food for the fowls of the air. As it was, I made a triumphal entry into Washington, mounted upon a war-steed whose every step was painful to me, and probably not less so to him. " The picturesque appearance of a dilapidated soldier on a dilapidated horse elicited hearty applause from the small boys ; but the soldier, at least, was not abashed. " The march through Maryland was delightful. The weather was fine, the roads good, and the scenery attractive. Besides, we continually received the hospitality of loyal citizens, who were lavish of the good things which their fine farms produced. " I cannot forbear to mention the landscape-view from the summit of one of the Blue-ridge peaks. The ascent had been toil- 192 FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. some in the extreme ; and we were wearily dragging our tired bodies up the stony road, when, unexpectedly, we came to a point from which was presented a scene of exceeding beauty. The sun was just setting behind the blue range of the South- mountain ridge ; and between lay a beautiful valley, through which meandered the Monocacy, with highly-cultivated farms on either side. In the distance lay the city of Frederick, with its roofs and spires glistening in the evening sun. The whole scene was highly picturesque, and left an impression not soon to be effaced. "At Monocacy Junction — a point better known as the scene of a decisive battle in 1864 between the forces of Gen. L. Wallace and Gen. Ewell, in which the former was defeated — our party first heard reliable tidings of the battles at South Mountain and Antietam, in which our friends had been engaged. Corporal Stone of the Thirty-fifth, seriously wounded in the arm, we met on his way to Washington. He told us of the hard fighting and frightful carnage. Oh, how we tried to get from his imper- fect account tidings even the most indefinite of the fate of our friends ! No one can know the torture which we all suffered from this man's account, as we stood in silence, eagerly catch- ing every word that came from his lips as he spoke of the casualties, — how Col. Wild had lost an arm ; how Col. Carruth was severely wounded in the neck; how Capt. Niles was killed, and Capt. King was believed to be mortally wounded ; and how not an ofiicer in the whole regiment escaped either wounds or death.* " We pressed on eagerly. At Frederick all the churches were used as hospitals, and were filled. At Middleton and Boonsbor- ough we saw nothing but wounded soldiers. At the latter place, * The day after the battle at South Mountain, it is true, that, at roll-call, no officer appeared. All were either killed, wounded, or absent on leave. FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. 193 a party of rebel soldiers expressed themselves as heartily tired of the war. At the former, I saw several members of Company D, and from them learned positively that all our friends were alive. Who can tell the relief at these tidings ? We shortly after joined our comrades on the Antietam, and, in mutual con- gratulations, felt a joy inexpressible. They hardly seemed like the same men who left camp at Arlington Heights : their battle- soiled uniforms gave them the appearance of veterans. They were proud, and justly proud, of their late deeds ; for they had fought manfully, and in that first battle-trial the Thirty-fifth won a name which it has never since defamed. " On the morning of Oct. 2, our corps was reviewed by Gens. McClellan and Burnside, with President Lincoln. It was a gala- day ; and the exhibition surpassed any thing I had seen at that time.* " Our camp at Antietam was uncomfortable. We had no tents ; and, in shelters made of rails covered with dirt, life was pictu- resque. The change to Pleasant Valley was agreeable, and our experience there happy till late in the season, when the cold * A letter written at this time thus describes the three principal men attending on that oc- casion : — "The President rode a coal-black horse. He wore a black suit ; and, as he passed with un- covered head, it could be seen that the anxiety and toil of a year the most eventful in our histo- ry had left their mark upon ' Honest Abe's' face. He seemed gratified with the spectacle before him. " In the appearance of McClellan I was disappointed. I expected to find a large, dark-eyed, keen-looking man ; but I saw riding just behind the President a young man whose three stars denoted a full major-general, with auburn hair, light mustache and imperial, and an eye neither flashing nor piercing, that seemed gazing only along the ranks to see if all was in good order. He rode a bay horse, and was in full military uniform. " Burnside was mounted on a nervous, bob-tailed cob, riding alongside the President, with whom he kept up a continual conversation. His easy, rather careless air ; his dark, deep-set eye ; and even his dress, — of blouse, and felt hat with brim turned down, — indeed, his whole appearance, — showed me a true, earnest military character. " I wish you could have seen that sight. Ten thousand men drawn up in line, the brilliant array of officers, the inspiring music, the salutes of artillery, — all combined to produce an effect long to be remembered." 25 194 FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. north winds whistled down the slopes of the mountains, much to the discomfort of us dwellers in tents. " The delay in the valley was inexplicable ; and there were many who longed for activity. Rumors were abundant, and served to keep the camp in a fever of excitement. So far as the writer knows, no adequate excuse for the delay has been in- vented to this day, even by the best friends of McClellan.* "At length, on the 28th of October, when the wintry storms were setting in, we began the march to Fredericksburg. Hard marching over, or rather through, a muddy road, and the change- able weather, with insufficient clothing, induced an illness, soon after starting, that threatened serious consequences : but care and good treatment overcame it; and I went 'marching on.' " The next day we were overtaken by a snow-storm ; and at night it became a fearful hurricane, with sleet, snow, and hail. We lay down that night in a miserable plight on the cold ground, thinking of feather-beds and coal-fires. " At Jefferson we had considerable foraging, some sport, and a narrow escape ; the rebels surrounding our camp-ground be- fore the fires were burned down. A rapid march before daylight to Sulphur Springs saved our brigade. " Here we received a brisk shelling from a rebel battery that suddenly appeared posted on a knoll within good range. No damage was done, however ; and the battery was soon forced to retire. " On leaving the place, the rebels attempted to surprise and capture the wagon-train by a sharp artillery-fire of three hours. The Thirty-fifth was ordered to the most important post ; but no infantry engagement took place. Benjamin's Battery opened " ' This does not look like a vigorous prosecution of the war.' ' I cannot help being impatient when I look upon the army covering this valley, and lying idle.' ' I should say to our leader, Work faster, young Napoleon, or your laurels will fade in the bud.' " — Army Letter, Oct. i8. FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. 1 95 upon the rebels with silencing effect.* After this soj^iie, the Thirty-fifth was posted for one night at Lawson's Ford, an out-of- the-way, desolate spot on the Rappahannock, with rebel forces occupying the opposite side. " Supplies were now had in abundance by way of Alexan- dria. At this point, orders were received incident to the transfer of the command of the Army of the Potomac from McClellan to Burnside, the immediate effect of which was a move forward. " On Friday, Nov. 21, we arrived before Fredericksburg in the midst of a rain-storm ; marching through Falmouth, a dilapidated town, to the tune of ' Yankee Doodle.' From the heights north of the river, a fine view of the town of Fredericksburg was pre- sented ; and it was apparent that no rebel forces were there on our arrival. Why the opportunity was not at once seized, and a force lodged there strong enough to defeat the ill-prepared rebel army, is a mystery. There were no pontoons, to be sure ; but the exploits of Gen. Sherman since, while marching through Georgia and Carolina, have shown that rivers may be crossed without boats. " The army went into camp on the hills of Falmouth, built redoubts on the bluffs, and awaited the arrival of pontoons and orders. Supplies via Aquia Creek were abundant, and rumors, also, from every quarter; not the least ridiculous one being, that the present inactivity of the army arose from the fact that Gen. Burnside had opened negotiations with the rebel general (Lee) to quietly close the war. " But this inactivity was destined soon to be broken. The papers of the North demanded, ' Why } ' and the army that daily saw the gathering strength of their enemies across the river, * He writes, " We lost four army-wagons. One lieutenant was mortally wounded ; and there were some smaller casualties. It was a remarkable escape ; for the rebel firing was rapid and good. -The shells flew around in dangerous style." 196 FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. and their batteries and breastworks multiply on the heights be- yond, asked with fearful anxiety, ' Why ? ' " The battle of Fredericksburg will ever constitute a chapter of interest in the history of the war. Perhaps no event has been the source of such varied discussion and partisan sympa- thy. Obloquy is heaped on Burnside by his opponents ; while his friends will ever look upon the disastrous defeat we suffered then as the effect of jealousy, and want of sympathy.* " The scheme of Gen. Burnside for defeating Lee's army, and opening the way to Richmond, was good, — to feign at the most difficult point on the right with the divisions of Hooker and Sumner; while Franklin's division on the left was to engage the enemy there, and turn his right wing. The latter general failed to follow up the advantages early gained in the action ; and so that which should have been a splendid victory was made a ' slaughter-pen ' and a severe repulse. " To return to our regimental movements. On the 4th of December, we were ordered to a post on the extreme left. The movement occurred during a furious storm of snow and rain. The men were destitute of proper clothing, particularly shoes. There was much suffering. It was a sort of Valley-Forge expe- rience of our barefooted soldiers. " Dec. 1 1 occurred the bombardment of the city. The regi- ment was ordered out of camp very early in the morning. Through the chilly fog of that early hour came the reverberat- ing thunder of a signal-gun on the left, answered at once by one on the extreme right ; then all at once, as if touched by magic power, came the thunder of those hundreds of cannon. * " President Lincoln was the only true friend of Burnside among the officials at Washington; and though the general's plan was approved by his three lieutenants, yet, their good will towards their commander being absent, an undoubted effect was thereby produced unfavorable to its success. " The manly uprightness and honest loyalty of Gen. Burnside is clearly seen in his despatch sent to Washington immediately after the battle." — Letter. ^ FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. 1 97 " All clay, in rear of these batteries, stood the massed columns of our army, anxiously awaiting the word ' Forward ! ' " The stubborn resistance of the rebel sharpshooters on the opposite banks jDrevented the laying of the pontoon-boats, which our artillery-fire was intended to cover. Darkness, however, aided what bravery failed to accomplish ; and, before the follow- ing morning, three bridges had been laid, and a large portion of our army had crossed the river. Gen. Ferrero's brigade entered the city about nine, a.m. While our division of the troops was descending the hill near the Lacey House, they were greeted by rebel compliments in the shape of a dozen or more shells, several of which struck and exploded in the column, changing its course perceptibly. " The town was looking badly after its severe pounding of the day previous. Ventilating apertures were numerous in the edi- fices, both public and private. The legitimate owners of the latter had fled ; and they were occupied by the invading Yankees, who took unceremonious possession, and appropriated to their own benefit such articles as suited their fancy or their necessi- ties. Altogether, there was much confusion ; and, had the rebel batteries chosen to have bombarded the city at that time, there is little doubt of the disastrous result, — a panic, a rush for the bridges, a defeat of plans without a battle, and a serious loss of life. " On the afternoon of the 12th, I left the regiment by order of Surgeon Lincoln,* and gloomily returned to camp ; for I longed to share with the boys the perils that they must face on the morrow. * "I must here say without reserve, that, to my picture of Dr. Lincoln's character given you a while since, I must now add one more quality, — dcnonright cmuardice. He has to-day and yesterday remained in camp here, three miles from his place of duty ; and has kept all of us, his subordinates, here too. I stole away yesterday to a hospital near here to aid in caring for the wounded ; but the doctor, finding me absent, remanded me back, with orders not to leave again without his permission." — Army Letter, Dec. 14. 1 98 FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. " The morning of Dec. 1 3 dawned gloomily. A dark gray mist hung over the city and the surrounding camps. Every thing was dull and damp. A significant stillness prevailed. The artillerymen stood by their guns, awaiting the preconcerted signal. At ten o'clock the sun's rays began to drive off the mist, and to unveil the fields between the enemy's works and the city, where was to be the scene of the deadly struggle. The order from our pusillanimous surgeon compelled me to remain in camp ; but thereby I was enabled to have a view of the great fight, that otherwise could not have been my privilege. From the summit of a hill commanding the whole scene, crowned by a heavy battery, I watched the progress of events. The successive advances upon the right and left, line following line as its prede- cessor wavered, broke, and melted before the withering, deadly fire from breastwork and redoubt along the whole front ; the cheers, the flying colors, the bursting shells, the rattling musket- ry, the rebel yells of defiance, — gave most thrilling and painful emotions to the beholder. Eleven, twelve, one o'clock ; and the battle still rages. Charge follows charge, until it seems there is no more strength to expend in the unequal contest. " On the left, the first advances were successful. The clouds of smoke from the two lines are seen gradually to approach until they commingle as one. The rebel line is yielding! Glowing expectations of a glorious victory begin to be realized. The thunder of cannon abates not a minute. But alas ! at three o'clock, the columns of Franklin's division, instead of following up their advantage, are seen to commence a retreat. The day is lost ! But the contest still rages on the right, until darkness gives grateful relief to the tired, exhausted legion, and the day of sad defeat closes gloomily as it dawned. " Sunday was quiet. Anticipations of a renewed fight were disappointed. Our troops on the right held the ground fought FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. 1 99 over on Saturday; while on the left their positions were aban- doned, and the pontoon was recrossed. It was a sad day for the soldiers; and the dispirited feeling throughout the whole army was augmented by a cold, bleak rain during the latter part of the day. " During the night (Sunday), all the troops were withdrawn and the bridges removed. The Thirty-fifth came into camp about two o'clock on Monday morning, having lost seven men killed and forty-six wounded. " During Monday, truce was agreed upon; and parties of our men were detailed to bury the dead. They reported much in- human conduct among the rebels. The bodies of our men had been stripped, and every thing of value appropriated. " The events that immediately followed this defeat were unim- portant. All attempts to reach Richmond were abandoned for a time. Gen. Burnside had been relieved ; and Gen. Hooker's regime commenced. The frequent wintry rain-storms had ren- dered any great movement of the army impossible. ' Stuck in the mud ' was the current phrase among the soldiers, and was re-echoed over the country. The demoralized feeling was great, almost alarmingly great in some quarters.* "Christmas of 1862 will be remembered with interest as the occasion of a visit from my father. He came laden with good things and good wishes ; and his stay of a fortnight in the army was a source of much gratification to the Wayland soldiers and others of his acquaintance. The supply of clothing which he brought was indeed, to many of us, a perfect godsend. " Under Gen. Hooker, a thorough re-organization of the army * " Thanks, my clear , for sending me such letters to strengthen my patriotism, and raise my spirits. I have read them to some of my comrades with good effect. In my opinion, there is no more fruitful source of discouragement and depression in the army than the reception of disheartening letters from home." — Army Letter. 200 FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. took place. The commissary-department gave better supplies ; and the troops began to show evident signs of recuperation, both in outward appearance and in the prevailing spirit. " During the winter, my own duties in the medical depart- ment were not arduous. The monotony of camp was relieved a little by a three-days' visit to Washington, when a tolerably satisfactory though tiresome examination was made of places and things in this ' city of magnificent distances.' " The relief of even a few days from the muddy confines of camp, the privilege of hearing one's heels click musically on a brick pavement, of eating something besides the hard-tack of the soldier's larder, of sleeping on a bed, and of seeing the polished gentility of a city, were all duly appreciated. " On the morning of Feb. 9, at four o'clock, the bugle sound- ed the reveille in our brigade ; and the next hour was busily spent in packing up all the paraphernalia of war preparatory to moving. Rumor had been busy for several days. The inevita- ble three-days' rations had been cooked and issued ; and, in the early dawn of that February morning, we of the Ninth Army Corps bade adieu to the Army of the Potomac, and went away like a maiden aunt, to return again, after a year, with great stories of wonderful adventures.* " Gen. Burnside was too good an officer to remain long inac- tive : so the President had assigned to him the command of the Department of the Ohio, relieving Gen. Wright. " The appointment was accepted on condition that he might take his old troops with him. So we went to Newport News t to re-organize and recruit. * " Farewell, Army of tlie Potomac ! When you have a leader who can gain the confidence, united feeling, and action of his subordinates, then I can promise some success to your unfortu- nate arms. Till then, I shall not pretend to remember my connection with you with any thing like pride." — Army Letlcr, Feb. 12, 1863. t This place was formerly a famous watering-place for the F. F. V.'s. FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. 20I " The voyage down the Potomac and Chesapeake was pleasant in the extreme. Every soldier felt glad at leaving, for a short time even, the muddy dreariness experienced in their winter- quarters. " All soldiers of the Ninth Army Corps will remember the camp at Newport News with gratification. A dry soil, on a level and beautiful field, in a salubrious climate, with abundant rations of excellent quality, and reasonable opportunities for bathing and sailing, characterized our encampment here. " Not to be forgotten, also, is the beautiful outlook over the Hampton Roads, where the still visible wrecks of the ' Congress ' and ' Cumberland ' reminded us of the heroism there displayed in the spring of 1862. The daily market under the two big pines should be recorded, where those who had the greenbacks could procure oysters and milk, apples and pies, with other et ccsteras., which, with boxes of good things sent from home, made this camp the soldier's paradise.* " On the 26th of March, all things were in readiness ; and we left Newport News on the steamer ' John Brooks,' en route for Baltimore ; which city was reached without incident or accident. There cars awaited us for a trip to the West.t " In our ride through Pennsylvania, the discomfort attending * "Yesterday I went to Fortress Monroe, and had a pleasant stroll over Old Point Comfort. , . . Among the objects of interest were the big guns ' Lincoln ' and ' Union.' They are in temporary earthworks outside the fort until a place can be provided for them on the barbette. They are tremendous 'dogs of war.' I saw some of the solid shot that are fired in them : they are as large round as the top of a water-pail. *' The walls of the fort are solid granite masonry, with two tiers of guns. A ditch surrounds the fort, forty feet wide, having also a solid granite border." — Army Letter, Feb. 22, 1863. t On entering active campaigning again, he writes, " We hope to conquer a peace of which we shall never be ashamed, — a peace founded in justice and universal liberty. I have no de- sire to abandon the cause until such a peace is consummated. The ties that bind me to home and kindred are as strong now as ever ; yes, stronger : yet I believe I utter the sentiment of my inmost soul, when I say, that, the circumstances of our country being as they now are, I would not accept a discharge from the army on any account." 202 FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. a standing or lying position in ' box-cars,' on plank seats, was in- creased by a cold snow-storm. The beautiful scenery along the route was hardly appreciated properly. Yet pleasant impres- sions were received of thrifty farms, or beautiful river-scenery, as we were whirled along the Valley of the Juniata, and of pic- turesque, oftentimes majestic and awe-inspiring, views among the mountains. Hot coffee was served to us by the citizens of many towns on the route. At Pittsburg, our reception was remarkably generous. That city was reached early on Sunday morning, after a night of cold and comfortless travel. A breakfast in City Hall of every thing to satisfy and cheer, at which beautiful and refined young ladies performed waiting-duty, left a most favorable im- pression of the hospitality of this city of iron-foundries. " But at Cincinnati, which was reached thirty-six hours later, we found friends of the soldiers indeed. The name of that city will awaken pleasing memories in the mind of every member of our corps. It was midnight when we arrived ; yet, at that unseasonable hour, a sumptuous supper was prepared for us. And so it was with the arrival of every train, at whatever hour, — this patriotic city gave such a welcome to the defenders of their country.* " After our midnight repast, we crossed the Ohio River to the dilapidated town of Covington, where nearly two days were spent awaiting means for transportation. The second night, I was fortunate enough to secure the brick floor of the market- house for my couch, and awoke next morning rather stiff in the joints. " Much beautiful scenery opened to view along the Big Lick- ing River, on our way to Paris, Ky. ; but the contrast in culti- * " After supper, I strolled a little way up one of the streets. Attracted by a crowd of ' boys in blue,' I found a lady, at that late hour of the night, dispensing freely from her basket of good things to the eager and thankful recipients. That lady tms patriotic.'''' — Army Letter. FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. 203 vation was very marked between the north and south side of the Ohio. " After our thousand-miles' ride, our motive-powers were in good order to carry us over the fine roads of Kentucky ; and the march of April 3, of twenty-one miles, from Paris to Mt. Sterling, between ten, a.m., and seven, p.m., was a good test. " The arrival of Major King with new regimental colors, a visit from the paymaster, and the initiation of C. H. Campbell to the band of Hospital Brothers, are incidents to be remembered in connection with Mt. Sterling. " Early on the morning of April 1 7, we left the place for Win- chester, — nineteen miles distant. Here Drs. Clark and Munsell were discharged, and left for home ; and Surgeon Snow, ever to be remembered with respect, took the place of Surgeon Lincoln. " Our march from this place to Lancaster (in which sunny days and rainy days were intimately blended) was begun May 4, and ended three days later. Camping at Lancaster was un- eventful. " May 23 we moved to Crab Orchard, and thence to Stanford. A letter dated at this place states that ' we have never been more pleasantly situated since we visited Kentucky.' * " June 3, our camp was thoroughly aroused by unexpected * About the slaves of Kentucky he writes, " I confess I was hardly prepared to find so much intelligence as was exhibited among the slaves. I saw many who would be taken for pure whites, having regular Caucasian features and blue eyes. I asked one man why he did not learn to read and write. ' Why, massa ! ' said he, ' don't you know dat would be a stick to break our poo' heads wid t ' " The history of one man I ascertained to be as follows : His father was a white planter, his mother an octoroon slave. On the death of his father, he was sold at auction. But he bor- rowed money enough to pay for himself; and, by industry and strict economy (he was a cobbler), he had earned enough to cancel the debt (a thousand dollars), and was now supporting a family of his own. "The slaves universally desire their freedom, though many have somewhat extravagant ideas of such a condition." 204 FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. orders to 'pack up with reduced baggage.' Whispers of a long journey by land and water excited every one to lively anticipa- tions. A twenty-hours' forced march brought us to Nicholas- ville, where cars were taken for Cincinnati. The characteristic hospitality of its citizens was again exemplified ; and we started in the afternoon of June 5 on the cars for Cairo. The trip across the prairies of Indiana and Illinois was monotonous and tire- some, relieved only by the patriotic demonstrations of the Hoosiers. At Vincennes, Ind., and Centralia, 111., we were provided with substantial refreshments by the citizens. " While delayed nearly two days in the dirty city of Cairo, an incident occurred that impressed me, for a time, more than any other durinof the war. It was the si2:ht of a hundred and fifty half-starved, ill-clad refugees from the South, who were on their way to Central Illinois. Never before had I been so fully sensible of the terrible evils and suffering which this cruel war produced ; and never did I so fully resolve to aid in the complete overthrow of the power of the Rebellion. " ' It is the terrestrial Styx, the Acheron of America,' wrote an author concerning ' the Father of Waters.' While it is hardly fair to attribute such characteristics to the great Mississippi, it will be safe, perhaps, to assert, that most travellers who sail along its winding course for the first time are disappointed ; and first impressions of its beauty and majesty are usually unfavorable. " To the soldier who for the first time in his life explored this mighty stream from Cairo to Vicksburg, the impression received was decidedly at variance with his early ideas of its scenery. The monotony was painful even ; and he never felt so tired, or so glad to reach a journey's end, as when he landed at Young's Point. The great stream, ' majestic only in its greatness ' as the Sphinx is majestic, rolled its yellow, murky tide toward the sea, meandering unmercifully. On either bank, the everlasting same- FRANK VVINTHROP DRAPER. 205 ness of Cottonwood and cypress was varied only by an occasional log-hut, until within a few miles of Vicksburg, when extensive plantations showed some signs of civilization. The places marked on the map as towns and county-seats had their coun- terparts on land in insignificant hamlets hardly worthy the name of villages. New Madrid was a place of half a score of unpaint- ed houses, grouped about a queer-looking edifice with a small cupola, which was said to be the court-house. " Helena in Arkansas was found to consist of a single street along the river, with two or three dozen dwellings. But the voyage was not devoid of interest. Our first night was spent on a sand-bar, — one of those institutions with snags and sawyers which make Western river-navigation exquisitely romantic some- times. We were pulled off from our moorings the next morn- ing by a passing steamer. "The Chickasaw Bluffs, above Island No. 10, were the only deviations along the shore worthy of notice. They rose sud- denly from the level sameness ; and their crests constitute admi- rable sites for defensive works, — an advantage the rebels well understood when Fort Pillow was built. " At Memphis, many enjoyed the privilege of going ashore and exploring the town. My visit left vivid recollections of an extensive levee, of large and well-built blocks, a magnificent park with magnolias in full bloom, of dirty streets, and exorbitant prices. " Here all the transports met in rendezvous; and, on the 12th of June, the ten steamers and two gunboats proceeded down the river. " Early on the morning of June 14, we landed at Young's Point, in full view of the victim city. The deep-toned sound of the heavy mortars, and the sharper report of the large rifled ord- nance, came to our ears with peculiar emphasis. At night, we 206 FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. looked upon the novel sights of the bombardment with an inter- est which inexperience in such sights created. The report of the piece, preceded by the flash, the regular curve of the fiery track of the bomb through the air, and its final loud and bright explosion over the city, were watched intently. " Anon the ' Whistling Jack ' (as the rebels called their largest and best-mounted gun) would send back its iron compliments.* " The next day they marched us four miles, — across the point opposite Vicksburg ; our route being along the great canal in- tended to turn the course of the river, but now a dry and useless ditch. The huge old trees on either side were festooned with hanging moss, and, with a luxuriant undergrowth, confirmed our notions of tropical verdure and scenery. " Our corps was to cross the river here, and re-enforce Gen. Grant's left wing ; but, before we had all embarked, the order was countermanded, and we returned to our first landing. "On the 1 6th of June, we re-embarked on the steamer ' Omaha,' packed and crowded like live-stock for the market, not knowing but that our destiny was homeward, until our boat turned her prow into the waters of the Yazoo. At night, after a picturesque ride up ' the river of death,' varied by a drenching thunder-storm in the afternoon, we landed at Haynes's Bluff. With my friend Campbell, the works of the bluff were inspected. We were forcibly impressed by the natural strength of the posi- tion. The huge Columbiads lay in the redoubts, spiked, as the * " We have had one of the most extensive trips, if not the pleasantest, I ever experienced. That I should sail down this great river, set foot in every one of the States between which it courses, — Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, — and, above all, that I should be present at the siege of the rebel Gibraltar, was, I assure you, very far from any thought of mine when I left my quiet home to be a soldier. " Do not give way to anxious regrets that I am entering a campaign in the hot climate of the South. You know my purposes and feelings when I first gave myself to my country ; and where it is best to call me, there I am prepared to go. We are all and always under the care of a benignant Providence, — a truth, the beauty of which I see more clearly each day." — Army Letter. FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. 207 rebels had left them ; and it is wonderful that Gen. Sherman was able to compel a surrender. " Next morning, we marched to Milldale. Plums, blackberries, and mulberries were abundant ; and we lived as comfortably as the hot weather, and its concomitants of flies, gnats, and mosqui- toes, would permit. " Gen. Grant came to camp one day, giving us a view of the greatest chieftain of the age. The booming sounds from Vicks- burg were continuous night and day. Our men were employed in building earthworks some miles in extent, as defences against an advance of the rebel Johnston's army, which was indefinitely postponed by the surrender of the besieged city. "Orders to march were received June 29. It was unspeaka- bly hot. The uninitiated cannot appreciate the fervor of that sun in Mississippi as it shone unmercifully on the dry, sandy road. The very memory makes me feverish. "The Fourth of July, 1863, was a peculiar one in that wilder- ness, and, I venture to say, was celebrated with more enthusiasm in that camp at Oak Ridge than in any other spot where Yan- kees obeyed the prophetic dictates of John Adams. " The exercises commenced in the morning by the arrival from the North of a delegation in the shape of five bushels of letters, containing the first news from home since we left Ken- tucky. Duly appreciated. " Before the reading was fairly over came news of the surren- der of Vicksburg, with its garrison and armament of two hun- dred and eighty-two guns and thirty-one thousand soldiers. The cheerful demonstration of the Ninth Army Corps gave proof that this part of the day's exercises was also, satisfactory. Two hours later, the order to prepare to march with three days' rations was received with less joyful acclamations. " We were now under command of a man whose genius did 2o8 FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. not allow him to spend time in useless exultation over the great conquests he had won. The work was not all done. Gen. Joe Johnston's army was still in the field, unconquered ; and when at five o'clock, that Fourth-of-July afternoon, we entered on the dusty road toward Jackson, we saw the work before us. " Our forces were concentrated. The Ninth and Sixteenth Corps formed the left wing under Gen. Parke ; and two other corps, under Gen. Sherman, constituted the right. We soon learned that the rebel general was not disposed to face us ; and we followed his retreat. " On reaching the Big Black River, a delay of nearly two days occurred, — until a bridge could be built for the passage of the troops. " On the afternoon of the 7th (the hottest day on my record), we moved on. Many of the men fell insensible under the heat. " The counterpart of that heat was felt in the evening, in a cold, drenching thunder-tempest. With garments completely water-soaked, the night was most uncomfortably spent in chills. " In the evening following, we saw the burning dwelling of the arch-traitor, Jeff. Davis. It seemed too bad to burn the presi- dent's homestead, to tear up his carpets for blankets, to steal his books and old letters, and announce to his negroes that they were free by the act of the only true President of the country. Yet some of our Yankee vandals did all this, and found numer- ous and hearty sympathizers. " When that march to Jackson is brought to memory, there is nothins: amidst all its discomforts that is recalled with such painful distinctness as our want of good water. The brooks and runs had become dry ; the ponds were stagnant and slimy ; the wells and cisterns were few, often empty, and sometimes ren- dered unfit for use by the rebels, who did not hesitate to make FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. 209 them distasteful or poisonous. Both men and animals suffered beyond description ; and many of the latter died. " We arrived in sight of the capital of the State on the loth ; and, before night, the lines for investing the place were estab- lished. " The fighting before Jackson partook of the nature of a siege in miniature, with frequent sorties. This state of things contin- ued until the morning of the 17th; when it was discovered that Johnston had eluded our grasp by a sudden retreat. "July 1 8th was a happy day. In addition to the military suc- cesses in our vicinity, we had news of the Union victory at Get- tysburg, and rumors, also, of other important movements favora- ble to the Union cause. " The headquarters of the medical department, to which I had the honor to be attached, were in the house of one Jim Sessions, who was undoubtedly a man of parts, judging by the appoint- ments of his mansion. It was occupied as a hospital for the whole left wing of the army ; and the numerous casualties at the front kept the surgeons continually active. As ward-master of the Ninth Corps, I had the opportunity of witnessing very many interesting surgical operations. " On the morning of the 20th of July, we turned our faces toward Milldale. That morning, I was off duty from a severe attack of dysentery and fever. I was placed in an ambulance for conveyance.* A jolting ride of fifty miles under a scorch- ing sun was so far unfavorable to the abatement of the dis- ease, that, on arriving at Milldale, I was decidedly sick. * " I was taken to an ambulance with three men lying at full-length. They were ordered to ' curl up their legs,' so that I could get in crosswise at their feet. I was too weak and sick to sit up, and could not lie down. To ride thus fifty miles in torture was not agreeable. I bore it as best I could." — Army Letter. 2IO FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. " On the 2d of August I was put on board the steamer ' Tycoon,' with a full cargo of sick and wounded, for a homeward voyage* "*Oh the horrors of that passage up the Mississippi ! To be sick at home on an easy bed, surrounded by comforts, and at- tended by kind friends, is often sufficiently uncomfortable : but, on board a heaving steamboat, to lie in a berth without mattress or bedding ; to be roasted and steamed near the boiler and under the thin deck, heated also by the summer sun ; to breathe the air made fetid by hundreds of breaths and decomposing wounds ; to feel that the doctor attending was heedless of one's sufferings, and cared little whether his patients lived or died ; to be ill sup- plied with medicine and food, — all this rendered sickness on ' The Tycoon' a trying experience. But I lived through that 'middle passage.' I believe the tide of life ran very low sometimes dur- ing that terrible season ; and had it not been for the care of Hospital-Steward Jones, of the Eleventh New-Hampshire Volun- teers, there is good reason to believe I should have accompanied too many of my comrades to the unseen world. " The arrival of the boat at the levee at Cincinnati brought a spontaneous though feeble utterance of thanksgiving to my pallid lips ; and when, a few hours later, they lifted and laid me on a tidy bed in the neat hospital in Covington, the sense of relief and gratitude could not be expressed in poor words. Tears were not unmanly. I should like to write page after page of story in eulogy of the kindness and sympathy experienced here. No reasonable want was left unsatisfied. Medical treatment * " I was put into the topmost bunk of a state-room. The first two days, I had no attention paid me. The surgeon, when he came, gave me whiskey and quinine for my bloody dysentery. I did not long take his doses, but obtained from Steward Jones some brandy and morphine in- stead. I asked the surgeon, one day, what I had better eat. * Eat what you can get,' was his ungracious reply. There was gross mismanagement all the trip. The surgeon of our ward was very negligent, and careless of his patients' interests." — Army Letter. FRANK WINTHROP DRAPER. 211 and proper diet soon began to produce the desired effect ; * and, with the help of sympathetic care from the attendants, the dark- ness of the night began to yield to hopeful tokens of a coming day. " The regiment arrived two days after I reached Cincinnati. I remember the visits of Campbell and Haze, and the deeds of kindness rendered by them. " They soon left for the interior of Kentucky ; and I did not see them again until the following April. On its arrival at Cov- ington, the regiment numbered ninety-nine muskets for duty. " I wish I could properly tell the story of a season which I regard as one of the most pleasant in my history ; but a more skilful pen than mine is required. " One day, as I was listlessly lying on my bed, there came to my side a man whose whole demeanor bespoke the philanthro- pist. In the kindly smile of his face could be read at once the spirit that fulfilled in deeds the divine behest. This gentleman was Thomas G. Odiorne, a wealthy citizen of Cincinnati, who devoted himself to deeds of charity in the hospitals. " I don't know why he took such an interest in me. Perhaps he saw on the card at the head of my cot that I was from his native State ; or it may be that my extreme prostration elicited * A letter subsequently written gives 2.Y'\f.>~^ HIS man, although a resident of Wayland at the time of his enHstment (August, 1862), was not a native of that town. In person he was of medium height, with Hght complexion and hair. By occupation he was a painter. He was about thirty years of age, and married. He joined the Thirty-fifth Infantry Regiment, and served therein as a private, from the time it left for the seat of war until the morning of the battle of Fredericks- burg (Dec. 12, 1862); when he basely flung aside the patriot's devotion to his country, disregarded the soldier's reputation for fidelity and bravery, and chose to enter upon his army-record the reproachful epithet, a deserter. 372 Henry Dana Parmenter. ^ENRY DANA PARMENTER became a sol- dier in the United-States service by enlisting for a term of nine months, Sept. 17, 1862, in the For- ty-fifth Regiment of Infantry, Company F, Capt. Daland. It was known as the " Cadet Regiment," and numbered among its privates, as well as officers, a large proportion drawn from the e/z/e of Boston and vicinity. On the 24th of October, 1862, it received orders to report to Major-Gen. Foster, in North Carolina. On being transferred to the steamer " Mississippi," in Boston harbor, it was there very uncomfortably detained for several days during the prevalence of a severe gale. The good boat outlived the tempest, and safely landed its living treasures at Morehead City, N.C., on the 14th of November following. Mr. Parmenter's impressions of men and things at his first landing on Southern soil may be inferred from the following extracts from one of his letters to his friends : — " We had heard so much at the North about the loyal people of North Carolina, that I expected to witness some demonstra- tions of joy at our arrival ; but I have been disappointed. At Morehead City we saw no whites, save the soldiers doing guard- 3-3 374 HENRY DANA PARMENTER. duty. The town is in a wretched condition : the road from thence to Newbern is through a sandy desert interspersed with swamps ; and most of us thought it hardly worth fighting for. " There are some white famihes at Newbern and the interior who profess loyalty. They get knowledge of our plans, and watch our movements; and, strange to say, the rebel army come straightway into possession of all such knowledge." Concerning the blacks, he writes, " I must say, I have not heard of or known a case of dishonesty in one of them." On the 1 2th of December, the regiment was put upon the march in Gen. Foster's expedition to Goldsborough to destroy the railroad communication between Richmond and the more southern States. The first severe fighting was experienced at Kinston, where the rebels had collected a force of about five thousand men and several batteries to oppose Foster's advance. It is thus described by Mr. Parmenter in a letter: — '* The rebels expected that we should move in the direct route^ and enter the town on the east side ; consequently they had ar- ranged masked batteries and rifle-pits on the way, and had made similar preparations for our reception in that part of the town : but Gen. Foster, after a march of one day, took a circuitous course, which brought us before the town on the south side. The rebels, however, came out here, and chose their ground in front of an almost impassable swamp, through which a narrow causeway led. Their batteries were placed so as to rake this causeway. " Our batteries were duly posted to do effective service ; and the contest began in earnest. In the midst of the artillery-fray, our regiment was ordered to proceed along the causeway a cer- tain distance, and then file to the right. The mud and water was about half-knee-deep, and a thick underbrush made our movement somewhat slow ; while the noise of the cannonade, HENRY DANA PARMENTER. 375 and the shells rushing and crashing over our heads, made our position any thing but pleasant. " We were halted within two rods of a rise of ground covered with shrub-oaks, behind which were posted the rebel infantry. We could hear, but not see them. We began firing by compa- nies through the brush, and then at will, as fast as we could. Our fire was briskly returned. Our favored position exempted us from severe loss during the two hours that we lay here, while bullets and shells were incessantly making ' music on the air ' just above us. We had but eight killed and twenty wounded in our regfiment. " The contest of the day was ended by a charge of the Tenth Connecticut and other regiments. The rebels were routed, leavino: their dead and wounded. We took about five hundred prisoners, and eight pieces of rifled cannon. Before leaving the town, the rebels had set fire to large piles of cotton and grain, which were burning all night." The above engagement was on Sunday, Dec. 14. The next day the regiment resumed its march, and on Tuesday met the enemy again at Whitehall in larger force. This place is on the Neuse River, about midway between Kinston and Goldsbor- ough. Mr. Parmenter writes, — " Our road lay at the foot of some high land, running parallel with the river, between which and the road was a swamp. Be- yond the river the rebels lay in ambush, with a large number of masked batteries. All unexpected, they opened fire upon us with shot, shell, canister, and grape. As soon as possible, our batteries were got into position on the elevated ground at our left ; and, in an almost incredibly short time, forty-three of our guns were in active use. Our regiment was ordered to support a battery. We were placed where our fire could do no good; and we lay during four hours where the shells of our own batteries 376 HENRY DANA PARMENTER. were flying just over our heads, and those of the enemy were burst- ing and striking unmercifully near. I was at one time covered with earth thrown up by an exploding shell that had struck quite near me. The roar was stunning ; but their fire slackened, and was finally silenced. They drew off their forces ; and we re- ceived orders to move on. " At a distance of ten miles from Goldsborough, we bivouacked for the night. The next day we were held in reserve, and only partook of the contest at Goldsborough by hearing the noise of the cannonade." As the regiment was now detailed for provost-guard-duty at Newbern, no further incidents of note occurred in Mr. Parmen- ter's experience. In a letter he notices his chaplain, Rev. A .L. Stone, as follows : " He is beloved by the whole regiment, and is familiar with every man he meets. His services during en- gagements are spoken of as of the highest value to the wounded." Mr. Parmenter is the younger son of Jonathan D. and Lois (Damon) Parmenter; a native of Wayland; born May 19, 1834. His descriptive list shows him to have been five feet seven and a half inches in height, dark complexion, brown hair, and hazel eyes. School-teaching and agriculture were his avocations. He held the position of corporal during his connection with the army. He was mustered out of service with his comrades on the 8th of July, 1863. Charles Hammond Rice. ELATIVE to the naval service rendered by Mr. Rice, no detailed account is accessible. He entered the service Dec. 23, 1862, on board a school-ship in the waters of Charlestown Navy Yard, and resigned in the following April. His second enlistment was Sept. 26, 1863 ; and it is believed, that, for nearly a year, he was faithfully occupied as acting-ensign on board the gunboats " Macedonia" and " Savannah," near Key West. He was of light complexion, and of tall, portly physique. He was a native of Bangor, Me. ; and was united by marriage with Mary L. Ames of Wayland. His present residence is in one of the Western States. 48 377 James Alvin Rice. ^Y his remarkable coolness and intrepidity while in the cavalry service, this soldier won from his com- rades the title of " the bravest boy in the com- pany." Indeed, at times he was so unconscious of danger, that his conduct seemed reckless. He was of slender form ; five feet four inches tall ; of dark complexion, with black eyes and hair. His birth occurred at Natick, Dec. 26, 1841. His first enlistment was in the Eleventh Regiment of Infant- ry, in Company K, May 8, 1861. Weakened by sickness soon after his regiment began its field-service at Washington, he found himself unable to fulfil his duties as a private with com- fort or satisfaction ; and, when ordered forward to meet the ene- my at Manassas, he became entirely prostrated, and was left behind. Medical care did not seem to recruit his energies ; and he applied for a discharge. In this he was seconded by his brother in the same company and by his captain, but without avail. His brother writes, "James is not stout enough to bear the hard service of a soldier ; and I think his only chance for life is to get a discharge." Under repeated disappointments and continued ill health, he took the unsoldier-like course of helping himself by abruptly 378 JAMES ALVIN RICE. 379 leaving the army in August, 1861. In this lie was successful. This act, however, so far as all the facts in connection go to show, was not done under the influence of any unworthy mo- tives. On arriving home, he told his friends that he meant to join the army again as soon as he was able ; and this promise he fulfilled in October following by enlisting in the First Cav- alry Regiment of Maine. Even while unfit for service, he loved to ring out in clear tones the soldier's well-worn ditty, — " A soldier, a soldier, I'm longing to be : The name and the life of a soldier for me ! " And several of his letters came home bearing the couplet as his chosen motto. The cavalry service, with its dashing encounters, its thrilling incidents of scouting, and hairbreadth escapes, was well adapt- ed to his enthusiastic, daring temperament. He was ever ready, and even eager, to go on a scout ; and was always found among the very foremost where intrepidity was required. It is to be regretted, that, while he wrote often to his friends at home, he never describes events in their details ; and so his narrative must be meagre and dry where it should be filled with intense interest. Yet his jaunty expressions seem to delineate forcibly his own heroic spirit, while they mark with graphic brevity the scenes and events in which he bore a part. To say, for instance, of the second Bull-run battle, that " we had a good smart fight, and I am all right," conveys a most emphatic idea of this youthful cavalier. So also of the engage- ment at Cedar Mountain, Aug. 9, 1862 (the first at which he was present), " It was a good fight, and I had my horse shot under me." He was at the battles of South Mountain and Antietam ; also 380 JAMES ALVIN RICE. at Brandy Station, Va., June 9, 1863; at Fredericksburg under Burnside ; and at Gettysburg, — concerning which none of his letters are now found to speak. On the second day of May, 1863, while on a scouting-party near Gordonsville, he, with fourteen others, was taken prisoner, and held at Richmond for several weeks, when he was paroled, and came to Alexandria. He tersely sums up his treatment while in rebel hands by writing, " They stripped me of every thing, and tried to starve me." While on parole he obtained a furlough, and came home. During this visit, he was arrested as a deserter from the Elev- enth Infantry Regiment. After a few days of confinement in the county jail and at Fort Independence, he was carried South in handcuffs, having twice attempted an escape. He desper- ately resolved and declared that he would never be returned to that regiment; and, when in the vicinity of Washington, he gave a stunning blow to his guard, made good his escape, and found his way to his cavalry comrades, who gave him protection until his exchange as a prisoner, which occurred soon after.* Oct. 31 he writes, " We had a hard fight at Freeman's Ford, and came near losino^ our whole res^iment. " Dec. 7. — We fought two hours, and gave them the worst of it. I believe I am the luckiest man that ever lived. " May 15,1 866, near Harrisons Landing, — We have been on the move ever since the 2d, and a number of fights have been the consequence ; but I have had my old luck. I almost believe that a bullet can't hit me. Five of my companions were killed at my side. Yesterday, about three miles from Richmond, we had a good fight that lasted six hours. We got the advantage, and took two pieces of artillery and two hundred prisoners. "' June 3. — We go scouting every day. My company, with * He was exchanged Oct. ii, 1863. JAMES ALVIN RICE. 38 I two others, went towards Culpeper yesterday, and saw about sixty rebels ; and then turned and ran for camp, disgracing the whole army. ''Aug. 20. — A fight is coming soon. I trust in the One that has safely carried me through all the l^attles. ''Aug. 22. — We have had two good fights north of the James. I am the luckiest man living. I go where others don't care to go, yet I have never been hit; but I have had another horse shot under me." After the Weldon-railroad fight, where he was greatly ex- posed and several of his near comrades fell, he again speaks of his fortunate escape from personal harm. On a raid to Richmond at an earlier date, March i, 1864, he writes of one of his hardest-fought battles, " The cavalry went in dismounted to charge a rebel battery, whose well-directed fire of grape and canister compelled a retreat, which the rebels fol- lowed up, capturing many of the men and horses." At a skirmish near Rappahannock Station, the rebels were driven ; and, in following them up, our cavalry-boy gave chase to two of them, and, having the better horse, soon came within a short distance, when he ordered them to halt and surrender, at the same time giving them a threatening flourish with his re- volver, which was- innocent of powder and ball, he having pre- viously discharged all its contents in the fray. Seeing his reso- lute attitude, they concluded to yield to him as conqueror ; and under the fear of his harmless pistol, backed by his daring determination, he brought them triumphantly to camp. By a letter dated Aug. 29, 1864 (but with no mention of local- ity, as was the case with many of his letters), it appears, that, his regiment having in the evening come up with a body of rebel infantry, and his colonel wishing to ascertain their num- ber and position, he volunteered his services as a spy. He 382 JAMES ALV/N RICE. writes, " After I had taken off my boots and stockings, and all my military gear except my revolver, I contrived, by creeping on my hands and knees for about a hundred rods, to pass their pickets unperceived ; and, having secured the needful informa- tion, I came back in the same way. I knew the chances were that I should be shot ; but I would not have it said that Rice was less fearless than any of his comrades. I mean, when I leave the army, to leave a good name behind me, or not leave it alive." But the fates were not always to protect him from harm. In the engagement that ensued, he was wounded twice ; a pistol- shot making a hole through his thigh, and a musket-ball passing through the calf of his leg, and killing his third horse. He was carried to a hospital ; but he could not bear to be away from his company. The wounds that others would call severe, and gladly make the reasons for absence from service, he regarded as too slight to detain him in a hospital. He writes, " My captain came to see me ; and I told him that I could ride very well, and I wanted to go with him ; and, after he had seen the doctors, he took me back with him to the regiment." The next severe engagement at which he was present was at the Boynton Plank Road, Oct. 27, 1864; and this was his last. He received a wound from a Minie-ball that passed completely through the lower part of his chest from side to side, which proved to be fatal. His last communication to his friends at home was dated at Emory Hospital, Washington, D.C., and was written by the hand of an amanuensis. Tt says, — " I am wounded, as you know, by a Minie-ball, that came very near taking my life ; and it is not impossible that it may be the means of my death yet ; but I hope to live to see you again. Give my love to mother, and tell her I shall write as soon as I am able." JAMES ALVIN RICE. 383 He lingered in much pain until Nov. 23, when death came to his relief. In closing this sketch, it is proper to say, that though, in some respects, his impetuous temperament made him appear exter- nally uninviting to refined characters, yet there is reason for believing that at heart there was more real goodness than is possessed by some others of smoother accomplishments. He entertained no malice, — not even toward his enemies. " If I am ever killed in battle," says he in a letter, " don't lay it to the rebel soldiers, but to those who caused the war." It cannot be reasonably believed that any one, after consider- ing the service he rendered with such ardent enthusiasm while a calvary-man, will be willing to speak, except in the mildest terms, of his indiscretion in deserting his post in the Eleventh Regiment of Infantry. Edmund Russell. DMUND RUSSELL, son of Josiah and Nancy Russell, was born at Roxbury, Mass., Aug. 8, 1835. He was married to Nancy T. Campbell of Mercer, Me., Feb. 5, 1859; by whom he had one child, when the defence of his country called him from home. His enlistment in Capt. Graham's company, in the Thirty-ninth Infantry Regiment, occurred Aug. 8, 1862. He was five feet eight inches tall, with light complexion, hair, and eyes ; and was a farmer by occupation. Mr. Russell, soon after his return from the army, removed to a distant home in the West, where he now resides ; and no minute account of his army-experience has been obtained. He was with his regiment while on outpost-duty in Maryland, and until he had the fortune of a broken leg while in winter- quarters at Mitchel's Station, Va. A tree twenty inches in di- ameter, which he had cut down, in its fall made an unexpected rebound, and fastened his leg to the earth, breaking the bones below the knee in two places. This was on the 7th of March, 1863. He was soon removed to Carver Hospital, in Washing- ton. On his sufficient recovery, he was sent to camp at Read- ville, Mass., and detailed as a cook; where he remained until near the close of the war. 384 John James Searl. •-^>»I^?^UDBURY, Mass., was the native place of this sol- 3 dier, who was born March 23, 1835; John H. and Caroline (Belcher) Searl being his parents. The war had hardly commenced, when the Fourth Battalion of Militia went into camp at Fort In- dependence, in Boston harbor; and was recruited to a full regiment (Thirteenth Infantry) in July, 1861. Mr. Searl enlisted, and joined this regiment as a private in Company H. He was a shoemaker by occupation ; stood five feet nine inches ; was of light complexion, dark hair, and blue eyes. He had been married more than a year to Rose Ham- mond of Wayland, and had one child, when he entered the army. On the last day of July, he, with the regiment, left the harbor by boat for the city of Washington, and immediately went on duty in Maryland. There was much stir in doing patrol and picket duties, and several alarms occurred when a brush with the rebels was expected ; but no severe service was encountered up to March i, 1862. At this time, extensive gunboat preparations were being made on the Upper Mississippi in order to open the navigation of that important stream for Union purposes from Cairo to 49 385 386 JOHN JAMES SEARL. New Orleans. To man these boats, nine hundred men were detached from the several infantry regiments already in the field ; and the lot fell upon Mr. Searl to be one of them. His first transfer, Feb. 18, 1862, was to a receiving-ship stationed on the waters of the Mississippi, at Cairo. Here he was drilled in the management of heavy ordnance, and soon became an expert. Cairo was at this time nearly submerged by a sudden rise of twenty-five feet in the waters of the Ohio River. The river-boat " Louisville " being transformed into the gun- boat " Baron De Kalb," * she became the home of our volun- teer so long as she remained afloat, — a period of about sixteen months. She was a boat of two decks, carrying an armament of thirteen guns from nine to thirty-two inch caliber, with a crew of a hundred and eighty men. She was constructed so as to have twenty-eight inches of solid wood on her sides ; and these were covered by iron plates two inches thick. Her propel- ling power was two engines moving a stern paddle-wheel. The guns were arranged on the lower deck, — two at the stern, three at the bows, and four on each broadside. Capt. Paulding was commander. It should be mentioned, also, that among her means of defence, in case of an attempt to board her, was an arrangement of hose, by which the hot water from her boilers could be discharged on an enemy. On entering this boat, Mr. Searl received the appointment of corporal of the marines, and soon after was appointed captain of one of the heavy guns. The navigation of the Mississippi, as well as other rivers in rebel territory, was dangerous at this period from sunken torpedoes and other obstructions deposited for the destruction of the Union vessels: consequently, extreme caution became necessary. * By some annalists this boat is spoken of as " The Louisville," instead of " The De Kalb." JOHN JAMES SEARL. 387 On the 3d of March, the fleet moved down the river to ColumlDus, in Kentucky. This was a very heavily-fortified stronghold of the rebels ; but they were aware of Admiral Foote's extensive gunboat preparations, and resolved to evacuate their forts here, and concentrate their armament at Island No. 10, — a place admirably located to command the river, about fifty miles below Cairo. To this point the admiral now directed his attention. Gen. Pope had also concentrated a heavy land-force of Union troops six or eight miles below the island, and had defeated the rebels at New Madrid. Not only was the island itself thoroughly fortified, but there were several heavy shore- batteries on the opposite banks of the river. On these batteries and forts the heavy ordnance and mortars of Foote's fleet com- menced a tremendous bombardment, and continued it for nearly. a month, without very marked effect. The gun of which Mr. Searl was captain was an eighty-four- pounder, requiring eight men to manage it. In the early part of the firing, by some great carelessness in swabbing, a gun of this caliber, situated near him, burst while ramming home a shell, which also exploded. The concussion prostrated every man on deck. Two were killed outright, and forty were wounded. A fraQ:ment of the shell struck Mr. Searl in the abdomen, opening a hole, so that his intestines protruded. He also received a severe blow in the back by a ramrod, as he believes. It severed his sword-belt, tore his clothing, and created a lameness that continued several weeks. The fracture of the walls of the abdomen, though at first thought to be very severe, if not fatal, gave him far less trouble. Admiral Foote now resolved on an attempt to run his boats past the batteries to gain the lower side of the island. The gunboat " Carondelet " was prepared for the first trial by protect- ing her sides with bundles of hay. A day or two previous, he 388 JOHN JAMES SEARL. had made a successful strategical attack on one of the island batteries, and spiked its guns. On the night of April 5 (which was very dark and rainy), it having been ascertained by some of the officers at what hour the guard of a rebel shore-battery was relieved, and the rebel countersign having been also secured, eight picked men were selected from the fleet to accomplish what seemed a very hazardous feat. It was nothing less than to feign themselves the rebel relief-guard (assuming their dress, &c.), and then to spike the guns of the battery. The latter work was assigned to Mr. Searl. The party started off in a boat, made their landing unperceived, and, a few minutes in advance of the relief-time, proceeded boldly to their work. It was a success. The countersign proved correct. The guard of rebels were duly relieved by their Yankee deceivers. Mr. Searl used his rat-tail files on seven of their heavy guns ; and at a concerted signal the corporal's lantern was extinguished, and all hands made good their escape to the boat. The success was equalled only by the boldness of the strategem. The next night, being cloudy and rainy, favored " The Caron- delet " in running the batteries. She was discovered, however, and fired at, but passed without injury. Another gunboat soon followed. Gen. Pope, under their protection, crossed the river to the Kentucky side ; and the rebels, seeing themselves now fairly cut off" above and below, with Pope's army flanking them, wisely surrendered. The army-stores captured were immense. They were not all saved, however ; for the rebels scuttled four transports laden with provisions before they surrendered. May I, the fleet anchored off Fort Wright, and opened a bom- bardment, which continued for a week. On the loth, eight rebel gunboats (three of which were rams, and iron-clad) came up the river, and attacked the Union boats. It was a brisk affair of two hours, in which their rams seriously injured the gun- JOHN JAMES SEARL. 389 boat " Cincinnati ; " but, in return, their fleet was so essentially damaged, that they were glad to retire. It should be recorded that " The Baron De Kalb " conquered one rebel gunboat, and gave her in charge of a new boat, — " The Cairo," — with a crew of raw hands, who allowed the prize to escape, much to the excitement of the " De Kalb's " crew, who heartily cursed their inexperienced comrades of " The Cairo." All that saved " The Cincinnati " from capture by the rebels was the use of her hot-water hose when the enemy were about to board her. Mr. Searl believes that only two of the rebel boats escaped un- harmed. After several more days of bombardment of Fort Wright, it came to terms of capitulation ; and the flotilla proceeded down the river to Memphis, where it anchored June 5. It was hoped that the surrender of this city would be made without a fight, as no rebel force at first appeared ; but the next day, before the crews had taken breakfast, six rebel boats were seen approach- ing round a bend of the river, and within fifty rods. Cables were cut at once ; and with what steam could be com- manded the boats moved up stream, followed by the rebels. Foote had but five boats here ; three of which, fortunately, were rams. These rams were anchored a mile or more above ; and scarcely had the firing begun when they came down with a fearful rush. The first dash of " The Queen of the West " sent to the bottom the rebel boat " Gen. Price." Almost at the same instant the boilers of one other rebel boat burst, and terribly scalded her crew. The rebel boat " Beauregard " was soon dis- abled ; and the others ran ashore, one of them being fired by her crew. The fight lasted an hour and three minutes, and was conducted throughout with terrific fury. Only one of the Union boats was seriously injured, and that ( " The Lancaster ") was entirely disabled in the first part of the action. It was a 3 go JOHN JAMES SEARL. most exciting scene, and was viewed by the entire mass of the citizens of Memphis, who stood in every available spot, anxiously awaiting the result which determined the fate of their city. It surrendered very quietly after this naval action. A notable instance of female spunk and cool bravery oc- curred when " The Beauregard " was disabled. The wife of the captain of that boat was on board : she was a most inveterate hater of the Northerners, and was determined that the fla^r of her husband's ship should never be struck to the Yankee power. She accordingly took possession of the halyards in person, and refused to haul down the colors, or to permit them to be struck by others. She was warned of serious consequences by Capt. Paulding; but, with curses, she dared his threats. He coolly levelled his pistol at her, and the next instant she fell dead. " The Baron De Kalb " was detailed to guard the city for two months; and the crew were allowed to go on shore by watches of twenty-four hours each to enjoy themselves ad libitum. About the ist of January, 1863, orders were received to join a flotilla under Commodore Porter for the capture of Arkansas Post, about a hundred and fifty miles up the Arkansas River. The naval force arrived before the place Jan. 8. A considera- ble body of infantry was landed, and gradually approached the fortifications.* The gunboats moved into position, and the cannonading began furiously. In fifteen minutes, " The De Kalb " was badly used up : six of her crew were killed, and fifteen wounded. To save her from complete destruction, she was run up close under * It should be mentioned here, that, for some misdemeanor, Mr. Searl was in irons at the commencement of tlie fight, with one day longer to serve out his time of punishment. The captain came to him, proposing a release, saying, " We want your help." — " I think I'd better fulfil my part of the contract," said Mr. Searl dryly. The captain then said, " Searl, I was sorry to punish you ; for you didn't really deserve it. Will you now call it square .'' " He gladly acceded, saying, " I don't like this racket overhead if I am not in it." JOHN JAMES SEARL. 39 1 the guns of the fort, and shelled it vigorously. It was reported after the action that one shell from this boat killed twelve Eng- lish sailors in the fort. After fighting two hours and a half, the place surrendered. A case of "grit" in this fight is not unworthy of notice. A boy seventeen years old, on " The De Kalb," was struck by a cannon-shot, that took off his leg below the knee. As Mr. Searl passed him, he held up the bleeding, shattered stump, saying, " You see what I've got; but I don't care if we only whip 'em." Another case was of a man who had his neck fearfully torn open by a shell fragment. He was told to go below. " No," said he, " not till I have given 'em one shot more." After repairs were completed, " The De Kalb " was sent up White River with " The Mound City " to capture a fort. A rebel pilot was impressed, who rendered his service in guiding the boat up the stream, prompted by a cocked pistol held at his head. During the cannonading, a shot from the fort penetrated the steam-drum of " The Mound City," by which a hundred and thirty of her crew were severely scalded. Many of them leaped into the river to escape their torture, and, while swim- ming, were fired at by sharpshooters, and many of them killed. Fifty- two scalded men were picked up, and taken on board " The De Kalb." To revenge the barbarous conduct of the rebels in shooting defenceless men, the Union crews were all ordered to arm with pistols and cutlasses, effect a landing, and rush upon the fort, showing no quarter to any one. This order was firmly and fully executed. About ninety rebels were killed indiscriminately. " The De Kalb " remained here nearly a week ; in which time the bodies of seventy-two men who had jumped overboard, and were either shot or drowned, were recovered and buried. To aid in the reduction of Vicksburg was our next destina- 392 JOHN JAMES SEARL. tion. With a small flotilla we first went up the Yazoo River, and took possession of the city of Yazoo. This was a dangerous trip, from the torpedoes in the river and the sharpshooters on the banks. The boat " Cairo " was blown up by a torpedo, and sunk. There was no general engagement, except a few minutes with a battery. The city surrendered. Among Gen. Grant's plans for reaching the rear of Vicks- burg was to float his forces in transports through artificial chan- nels made by cutting trees in the bayous, so abundantly found in this region. " The Baron De Kalb " accompanied this expedi- tion. Much of it was slow work : eighteen miles only were accomplished in eighteen days. It was a curious sight, so many vessels steering inland where such things had never been before. The difficulties increased : sharpshooters multiplied on all sides. The plan was abandoned, and a safe return accomplished. The next plan was to run the gantlet of the batteries, and so reach the rear of the city from the southern side. Every thing was ready. Mr. Searl and several of his comrades were now serving some months over their enlisted time ; and, when the order came to move, fifty-three of the men mutinied. A body of the marines was drawn up with loaded revolvers ; and the captain gave the mutineers five minutes to return to duty, or be fired into. At near the expiration of this time, all but three succumbed ; and these finally yielded. " The De Kalb " had been so roughly handled by the enemy, that she was in a leaky condition ; and it was found, on starting, that she had so large an amount of water in her hold, that it was deemed imprudent to put her through : so her crew escaped the danger, but saw the whole transaction. As a punishment for their refractory pranks, twenty-five of the mutineers were landed, and compelled to cut a trench from the river, in an exposed jDOsition, up to a battery, and to work it fifteen days. yOflN JAMES SEARL. 393 Here Mr. Searl was taken sick with fever, and was c^lad to be returned to boat-quarters. " The Baron De Kalb " was again j ordered up the Yazoo ; and, while quietly proceeding on her des- \ tination, she encountered a torpedo, whose explosion completely ! shattered her bows, and she quickly sank. The water was suffi- ciently shoal to allow the men to stand on the hurricane-deck, submerged to their waists. \ Mr. Searl did no more fighting, but remained in surgeon's ] care until the surrender of Vicksburg. j He visited the place rendered famous by a long siege and a i most severe and destructive bombardment ; and, while in the I city, received his discharge. j He was still under medical care when he steamed up the river | on his way home, not without a sense of honest pride that he i had faithfully remained more than his stipulated term in ; efficiently serving his country. ; After his recovery, he again enlisted to serve on the frontier; \ and was sent to Ogdensburg, N.Y., where he remained for six \ months. 1 He now resides in Boston, Mass. ! George Anderson Spofford. gigantic EORGE ANDERSON SPOFFORD partook fully of the spirit of patriotic enthusiasm that was surging across the country during the spring and summer of 1862, when the dangers that of 1862, when the dan; threatened its demolition assumed a form not dreamed of during the first year of the war ; and when the call by the President was issued, in 1862, for more men to enrol their names in defence of the long-cherished principles of freedom, he freely gave himself to the service. His enlistment is dated July 31, 1862 ; and he was mustered into the service as a private in Company D, Thirty-fifth Regi- ment of Infantry, then recruiting at Camp Stanton. The descriptive list shows him to have been five feet four and a half inches tall, with light complexion and hair, and brown eyes, and a shoemaker by occupation. His parents were David and Elizabeth Spofford ; and his birth occurred at Wayland, Sept. 5, 1842. He was an only son, whose departure for the perilous duties of a soldier's life caused emo- tions in the home-circle that none but those in a similar condition can fully know. On the twenty-second day of August, the order for the regi- ment to report at Washington was carried into effect by a rail- 394 GEORGE ANDERSON SPOFFORD. 395 road-ride to Boston, and a tiresome march through the streets of that city, loaded down as each soldier was with scores of arti- cles that proved by this first three-miles' tramp to be comforts of a very burdensome nature. By rail to Providence, by boat to New York, and thence by steam-cars to the capital of their country, gave the soldiers some opportunities to see new sights, and thus keep up an excite- ment, but for which the hearts of some might have sickened with the thoughts of leaving friends and home for the grim realities of war. Washington, with its mighty confusion of moving military forces, with its dirty streets patroled by numerous swine, placed in contrast with its massive and rich public edifices, altogether gave no very favorable impression to our soldier as the seat of that o-overnment he had come to defend. Two weeks of camp-duty on Virginia soil hardly fitted the boys of the Thirty-fifth for field-service in the corps of Gen. Burnside, and attached to the brigade of that active officer. Gen. Ferrero. But such was their lot ; and by a series of easy move- ments, in light marching-order, across the territory of Maryland, our soldier with his comrades found himself within hearing of those terrible sounds of actual battle into which he must soon rush and bear his part. Of this march little need further be said : it had its incidents of novelty and fun. The bivouac on a warm night was quite as enjoyable, perhaps, as a bed at home ; and good appetites gave zest to the soldier's rations, especially when a little foraging added thereto a slice of fresh pork or the leg of a turkey. Arriving at Middletown on the 13th of September, the regi- ment was placed on picket-duty, with orders to exercise ex- treme caution, being near the enemy. The next morning, the smoke of the battle at South Mountain was in view. In the 396 GEORGE ANDERSON SPOFFORD. afternoon, the regiment was moved to the front. Every thing but arms and ammunition was left in the rear. The men were ordered into Hne of battle at about four, p.m. ; which was effected in good order, but with considerable noise. The enemy were concealed, and their first volley disclosed their position. Their bullets whizzed harmless over the regi- ment ; but Gen. Reno, commanding the division, was fatally hit. At the close of the day, the men of the Thirty-fifth had be- come mixed up with other troops, owing to the excitement and their inexperience in field-movements. Lieut. Hudson of Com- pany D rallied part of the company, and said he would lead them. The firing was kept up till late in the evening; when those who wished lay down on the ground for rest and sleep. During this first battle, our soldier says he was much excited by the scenes and occurrences of the conflict, which made an impression on his mind never to be forgotten. This initiatory conflict was soon followed by the terrific con- test of the two great armies at Antietam, which occurred on the 17th of September. "We formed in a cornfield, under fire of the rebels; then moved in column down parallel with the river to a bridge, supporting the Fifty-first New- York Regiment. We were within easy range of the rebels on the high banks the other side of the river. The bridge was crossed at double-quick move- ment ; and then, filing to the right, we rushed up to the crest of the hill. Here we were brought within range of some batteries, that immediately sent a furious discharge of shot and shells into our ranks. At first we lay close to the ground, but soon re- treated over the brow of the ridge." While here, Mr. Spofford was struck by the fragment of a shell, inflicting a flesh-wound in the back and upper part of his leg. Though not very severe, it bled profusely ; and he was told to go to the rear. Assisted by John N. Morse (a Wayland com- GEORGE ANDERSON SPOFFORD. 397 rade), he left the field, and was conducted to a house where his wound was dressed, and was then taken in an ambulance to Spring Hospital. The next day, he was started, with others who were wounded, for the city of Washington. On arriving at Middletown, he met several of his comrades who had been left in camp at Arlington Heights, from whom he received letters from home, always so welcome to the soldier. At Washington, he was assigned to Judiciary-square Hos- pital. With excellent care both by surgeons and nurses, and in the clean hospital habiliments, it was a great relief to the wounded men to leave the field-service for a while, even though the pain of fractured bones and inflamed wounds, with not the best of rations, were partial drawbacks to the comforts of the place. To mitigate the bread-and-molasses fare, a few boxes of good things from home came with appetizing relish. Religionists of different classes, seeking to benefit the soldiers spiritually, cer- tainly gave relief to the tedium of confinement by their meet- ings for prayer and exhortation. After a six-weeks' stay, compelled by muscular weakness in the wounded limb, the time began to move heavily. Any thing was desired for a change. A visit to home on furlough could not be obtained : an im- mediate return to his comrades was not permitted. Then came an order to report to Camp Distribution, at Alexandria. This camp was in striking contrast with that which he had just left. Every thing was in an uncleanly condition, and sleeping-places were wofully infested with vermin. Hard work on a fort was required of the men. Thanksgiving Day was near at hand, and a promised box of " goodies " was daily expected ; when an order was received to join the regiment, then encamped before Fredericksburg, Va. The box of good things never reached its destined owner. 398 GEORGE ANDERSON SPOFFORD. Camp was reached, by way of Aquia Creek and Belle Plain, on the day of General Thanksgiving; and Mr, Spofford was indeed thankful to take again by the hand his comrades, and find them all safe. One thing, however, detracted from the gladness of the occasion. The frowning batteries on St. Mary's and the surrounding heights, on the rebel side of the Rappa- hannock, gave fearful foreboding of battle-trials drawing near. During the few weeks that now passed in ominous inaction, the men were employed in making huts and barracks in all styles of architecture usually found in armies, some of which presented a very pretty and picturesque appearance. The bloody day at length came, preceded, on the nth of December, by a tremendous bombardment. Major Willard was now in command of the regiment. After crossing the pontoon-bridge, the men stacked arms near the river, on the right ; while the enemy's shot and shells whizzed overhead, and occasionally dropped and burst quite near. Mr. Spofford was detailed as guard over the body of Chaplain Ful- ler, whose lifeless form had been recognized.* The regiment was marched through the city to the left, and formed for an advance on the breastworks of the enemy. Here Major Willard received a fatal shot; and the regimental com- mand fell to Capt. Andrews. The advance was ordered, and carried, in the face of artillery and infantry fires at short ranges, to a point where some protection was afforded. It was a most terrible ordeal to pass ; and nothing but a strong sense of duty or of determined bravery enabled our boys to meet the fearful trial. Late in the day, the regiment was relieved by other troops, and retired to the city. At eleven o'clock, p.m., on the next day, it was ordered up on picket. Mr. Spofford was detailed as a * Rev. A. B. Fuller had several personal friends in Wayland, and was well known by the citizens generally. GEORGE ANDERSOX SPOFFORD. 399 vedette. It was a most arduous post ; but at length came the order, in whispers, to retire noiselessly from the exposed posi- tion. The main army had already recrossed the muffled bridges. Thus ended the bloody and ineffectual effort to drive the rebel army from its strongly-fortified position. The dead were buried ; the wounded were cared for. But this was not all the detriment the brave boys in blue received. The last night of picket-duty on the battle-field, where the soil was worked into mud and the air was damp and chilly, brought severe sickness to many. Mr. Spofford was in hospital-quarters during two weeks, prostrated by typhoid-fever. This was no desirable place. Sur- geon Lincoln bore the character of a hard-hearted, careless phy- sician, to whose hands none would resign themselves except in the last extremity. It was fortunate that a drunken fit would occasionally fall to the lot of the chief surgeon, and the care of the sick to his subordinate. Dr. Clark, a man of totally different character. The recovery from this sickness seemed to place Mr. Spofford on a firmer basis of health than he had enjoyed since entering the army. The remainder of the winter of 1862-63, until Feb. 9, was passed in a very quiet manner. At that date, the soldiers of the Ninth Army Corps left the muddy camp at Falmouth without much regret. By railroad, they were taken to Aquia Creek; and from there proceeded, by a very pleasant boat-ride, down the Potomac to Hampton Roads. During the remainder of the winter. Gen. Burnside's corps lay quietly encamped at Newport News. Near the close of March, it embarked for Baltimore, and from thence proceeded by railroad to Cincinnati. The Thirty-fifth arrived in the mid- dle of the night. After a good lunch, the men were taken 400 GEORGE ANDERSON SPOFFORD. across the river on ferry-boats to Covington, where they lay down in the streets, or anywhere else, for a few hours' sleep. Two days after, the regiment was moved on cars to Paris, Ky., where it remained over Sunday. The next day, it performed a very hard march of twenty miles to Mt. Sterling, and en- camped on the outside of the town, where, for two weeks, it remained watching for guerillas that did not venture in sight. About the first of May, march was made through Lancaster to Winchester. No rebel troops were found, except small squads ; and consequently there was no fighting while Gen. Burnside's corps remained in Kentucky. Marching in detach- ments from place to place in a leisurely manner, with encamp- ments for a few days at a time, constituted the chief military duties. While at Stanford, in the southern central part of the State, about the first of June, orders were received to pack up. One day of rapid marching brought the regiment to Nicholasville, where cars were taken for Cincinnati. The destination was un- derstood to be Vicksburg, Miss. Opportunities were now to be presented for seeing portions of the country not dreamed of by the "boys in blue" when in their quiet homes of New England. At Cairo, the regiment embarked on board a steamboat on the waters of the great Mississippi. Memphis, a fine city in Tennessee, was reached in two or three days. It is built mostly of brick, and is located very beautifully on the high banks of the river. The boys were paid off here, and had an oppor- tunity to go on shore to see the place, and spend their money for other fare than army-rations. Two days more steaming down the river brought the troops in sight of Vicksburg. This city was under siege by the land- forces of Gen. Grant, and by gun and mortar boats, that, at the time of Gen. Burnside's arrival, were giving a constant and GEORGE ANDERSON SPOFFORD. 4OI vigorous bombardment. When witnessed at night, it was a splendid sight to observe the sweep of the shells, and their ex- plosion over the fated city. The first landing-place was just above the city, on the oppo- site side of the river. After a useless march of several miles, the troops re-embarked, and steamed up stream about two miles, to the mouth of the Yazoo River, into which they entered, and passed up about ten miles. Here they landed, and proceeded to build breastworks to protect Gen. Grant's besieging land-force from any attempt of rebel troops to assault them in the rear, and thus raise the siege. It was soon ascertained that the city had surrendered to Gen. Grant ; and orders were received to pursue and attack Johnston's army. The extreme heat of the weather, and an inadequate supply of good water, made the marches terribly severe : but the men were generally in good spirits after Grant's victory ; and, under the hope of capturing Johnston's army, they pressed on. The rebels made a stand at Jackson, the capital of Mississippi, and protected themselves by intrenching. Our forces advanced , on their works gradually, throwing up lines of rifie-pits and breastworks, until they quietly retreated one night. For a few days here, there was a good deal of firing on both sides, though no regular " stand-up " fight. The march back to the landing-place on the Yazoo was as hard to endure as the march out. All hands were glad to embark, and make their way towards a more desirable climate than that of the State of Mississippi. Cincinnati was reached about the middle of August. After a few days, Gen. Burnside's command commenced a march through Kentucky, over roads and through many places that were passed in the spring campaign, and then crossed the Cum- berland Mountains into the State of Tennessee. 402 GEORGE ANDERSON SPOFFORD. After a series of movements in close vicinity of rebel forces, but without actual conflict, a trial of arms was found inevitable. It was not a pleasant thought to be in the heart of an enemy's country, and closely followed by a superior force. For several days in succession, the Thirty-fifth was expect- ing a fight, as it heavily retreated, amidst cold storms and over muddy roads, from Loudon to Knoxville, where Gen Burnside made a firm stand with his army. The place was soon sur- rounded by the rebel forces. Brisk fatigue-duty was now the order of the day. The Thirty-fifth worked at first in building a dam across a stream, that its course might be changed to the front of our lines. Skirmishes were not unfrequent, and added to the excitement of the daily cannonading. After the siege was continued for about three weeks, a desperate charge was made by the rebels, much to their loss. A week later, and they retired, greatly to the relief of the besieged troops. During this time, and for a considerable period subsecjuent, rations were very greatly reduced. Some days, a single ear of corn was all that was issued per man. Many of the soldiers had worn out their shoes and stockings in the long marches through Kentucky and Tennessee; and some were obliged to go barefooted, for a time, during extremely cold weather. But general health prevailed ; and, on the retirement of the enemy, the men were in pretty good spirits. After the siege, there was some skirmishing several miles from the city, in which the Thirty-fifth took part. About the middle of March, 1864, Gen. Burnside's troops left the State. It was a time of rejoicing, though a tramp of some hundreds of miles was before them, over bad mountain- roads. On reaching Nicholasville, Ky., they entered the rail-cars, GEORGE ANDERSON SPOFFORD. 403 and were transported to Cincinnati, and thence to Annapolis, Md., which was reached near the first of April. Here a much- needed repose of several weeks awaited them. It seemed quite near home after the long journeys during the past year. Let- ters were frequent ; and visits from some of their friends from home were very gratefully received. At the close of April occurred a grand movement of the corps to Washington, and thence into Virginia. " On to Richmond ! " under Gen. Grant, was now the watch- word. The Thirty-fifth marched on the 4th of May, and forded the River Rapidan the next day. Owing to the smallness of its numbers, it was detailed to guard the division-train ; which duty was performed until the brigade had fought its way to Spottsylvania. At this time. Company D was detailed to guard an ammunition-!rain, and did not rejoin the regiment until the last of June. The Thirty-fifth was then, and had been for about a month, acting as an engineer-corps. At the explosion of the mine under a rebel fort on the 30th of July, the Thirty-fifth was advanced to the crater, and was set at work to make it into shape for a defence to our troops ; which was done with all possible speed. But these operations of the engineers were soon suspended by the rush of men into the cra- ter. Every thing was confusion. The different organizations became completely broken up under the effects of crowding in to seek shelter from the fearful cross-fires of the enemy ; and soon the crater itself was reached by an exact range of shelling. Mr. Spofford left it, and made an excavation for self-defence, in which he remained until all his comrades had retreated back to their old lines. He was supposed, for a time, to have been either killed, or taken prisoner ; but, much to their surprise, he eluded the watch of the rebels, and returned in the edge of the 404 GEORGE ANDERSON SPOFFORD. evening with his spade and musket "all right." The next and last fight in which Mr. Spofford was actively engaged was at the Weldon Railroad. Here the regiment was much exposed ; and, during the action, he was disabled by being struck in the foot by a solid shot that had partly spent its force. It produced a severe contusion and sprains, which kept him from duty about three weeks. At this time he was offered the alternatives of a cor- poralship in the corps of engineers, or to take the position of headquarters' cook. Not wholly recovered from the effects of the- foot-sprain, he chose the latter, and continued at head- quarters during the remainder of the war.' During the whole period of his service, he had no oppor- tunity of visiting his home and friends ; and the close of the conflict was therefore welcomed with peculiar gratitude. With a hearty aversion to the rough scenes of war, he sees, in the great good accomplished, amj^le satisfaction for all the unpleasant appliances and perilous exposures to which his sol- dier-life subjected him. He has since been united by marriage with Maria Giles of Wayland, where he now resides, engaged as a manufacturer of shoes. EviNSON Stone. )^ON. HENRY WILSON of Natick, Mass., a ^ senator in Congress, and then holding the impor- f\ tant position of chairman of the Committee on jl Military Affairs during the war, felt prompted, atiJC^r during the recess of Congress in 1861, to set the J3^^'^ example of raising a regiment by his own personal y(^^\ efforts. The Twenty-second Infantry was the (7>j' result; over whose destinies he presided as com- mander until pressing duties demanded his presence at Wash- ington. On the roll of this regiment Mr. Stone's name is recorded among the very first, under date of Sept. 12, 1861, in Capt. Whorfs Company (G). In stature he was five feet nine inches, with light complexion, gray eyes, and dark hair ; being a car- penter by occupation. Nevinson and Mary Stone were his parents ; and his birth occurred at Northborough, Mass., Dec. 18, 1824. His marriage with Sarah Whiting of Natick was on the 22d of June, 1852; and, when he entered the service, he had three children. Mr. Stone was not of robust constitution ; yet he felt, that, however little might be the aid he could render, it was fully due to his country. From his very complete diary kept during the time he re- 405 406 E VINSON STONE. mained in the army, the incidents composing the following nar- rative are chiefly taken. Carrip-life at Lynnfield passed wearily with him. Nearly all his comrades were many years his juniors ; and, in his own com- pany, a large share were foreigners. In both these respects, his disappointment was the cause of some feelings of discontent, that required time and the active duties of the field fully to overcome. These commenced with the departure of the regiment for a southern destination on the 8th of October. He placed but small value on the parades in Boston, and on the formal ad- dresses by official civilians to soldiers whose fatigues in march- ing required repose rather than to be kept in standing posture for an hour's often useless harangue. The loss of one of his most intimate comrades, William Noyes, who fell overboard, and was drowned, in crossing the river from New York to Jersey City, was an event most painfully felt. At Philadelphia, no previous announcement of the regiment's approach was given ; yet on their entrance a signal-gun was fired, and in fifteen minutes tables were spread, and loaded with refreshments, which were distributed among the men by the ministering hands of ladies chiefly, constituting a most ac- ceptable and long-to-be-remembered reception. The progress towards Washington was of the slowest kind. The train moved so tardily, that often the men would jump out of the cars, and walk. So many needless delays occurred, that at last Col. Wilson instituted an investigation. The chief cause was found to be the " secesh " proclivities of the engineer. A halt was ordered, and the rebel engineer dismissed unceremo- niously. Two men selected from the regiment were put in his place, who, after satisfying themselves that the locomotive was all right, were ordered to take the train to its destination in E VINSON STONE. 407 the shortest time possible. A double-quick jolt was the con- sequence for the rest of the way. Washington was reached Oct. 11; and, two days after, the regiment marched to Hall's Hill, in Virginia, where it spent the winter. Oct. 26, a grand review gave the soldiers an opportunity to see Major-Gen. McClellan and other distinguished men. The 29th was a sad day for the boys, whose affection for Col. Wilson, prompted by his genuine spirit of kindness for them all, had become deeply rooted. On that day he bade them adieu with tearful emotion. His address on the occasion was never for- gotten. Col. Gove succeeded to the command. The first trial of young soldiers on picket, especially if near the enemy, is often attended with some queer feelings of personal danger, and some- times by equally queer results : as when a comrade of Mr. Stone, one dark night, let fly the contents of his rifle at a harm- less fire-bug that would not halt at his command ; he declaring it to be a lighted match in the hand of a rebel, whom he fancied he could distinctly see. Stockade tents were erected, proving very comfortable, but were not always proof against high winds, one of which, on the 24th of February, unroofed twenty-one of these shelters, allowing the torrents of rain to completely deluge the establishments and their tenants. Christmas was a gala-day. The officers' quarters were most beautifully trimmed, and the bands gave their best music to the occasion. The usual routine, with an occasional alarm to test the sol- dier's courage and alacrity, sweetened by letters and an occa- sional box of refreshments from home, constituted the chief experience at Hall's Hill. After the usual number of exciting rumors, that " we are to move to-morrow," orders came ; and on 408 E VINSON STONE. the loth of March, 1862, the regiment broke camp, and marched to Fairfax Court House (a village of about twenty houses), and, two days after, to a camp near Alexandria, which city was en- tered on the 19th in a drenching rain. Here provost-guard duty was performed for two days ; and then the troops embarked on board the steamer " Dan. Webster " for Fortress Monroe. These exposures to cold rains began to affect very seriously Mr. Stone's rheumatic difficulties, which made it hard at times to fulfil a soldiers duty ; and he was not sorry to learn that a warmer region was to be his destination. The troops were landed on the 24th, and marched to Hamp- ton, about six miles. On the 27th, other troops were joined for reconnoitring purposes ; and after a fruitless march of eight miles, in which all the sly places were duly examined with careful eyes, the party returned to camp pretty well tired. On the 5th of April, on the way to Yorktown, the regiment was first under fire, in which one man was killed, and several wounded. The soldiers now found themselves on "ticklish grounds." The rebels had at this time adopted that fiendish method of extirpating their foes by planting the ground pretty thickly with torpedoes; and many a Union soldier met his death-wound, at a moment least suspected, by treading on a fatal spot. Mr, Stone unsuspectingly picked up a piece of cloth one day, but dropped it with a shudder when he found a wire attached, heard a cap-explosion, and saw and heard the hissing fuze within a foot of him. Luckil}'-, the fuze was imperfect, and the torpedo re- mained harmless. He afterwards unearthed the infernal instru- ment with his bayonet. Here, before Norfolk, the men were hard tasked on Gen. McClellan's plan of intrenchments, and every day were under more or less shelling and sharpshooting from the enemy. It was El'/XSON STONE. 409 a month of toil and exposure, that caused much grumbling and sickness. After it was found that the rebels had left, the Twenty-second was the first to enter the town ; and though under strict orders not to forage, yet the boys helped themselves pretty freely, — at the stores especially. While a guard performed its duty strictly in front of a store, there was a rear-guard, established without due authority, whose members took good care to protect their comrades in the interior of the buildinor. O ''May 9. — Went up the river in a steamer, and encamped at West Point, a place of considerable importance at the junction of the Pamunkey and Mattapony Rivers, and connected by rail- road with Richmond. "■May 15. — Marched in a severe rain, with the mud knee- deep, to White-house Landing, where the railroad crosses the Pamunkey River. This was a very hard march. The whole country seemed alive with troops moving in various directions from day to day. The Twenty-second was on the move every day, and, while near Hanover Court House, did some skirmish- ing with the rebels. On the 2 2d, it was within twelve miles of the rebel capital ; and, on the 26th, encamped at Gaines's Mills. ''May 28. — Went on a reconnoissance seven or eight miles towards Richmond. The whole party got badly frightened by a report of two cavalry scouts, who came riding furiously with the cry, ' The whole rebel army are moving down on us ! ' A panic was the result. At the great battle of Fair Oaks, the regiment was within distinct hearing-distance, but did not cross the Chickahominy, being engaged in building and repairing bridges." June 26, at Mechanicsville, the regiment was hotly engaged; but Mr. Stone was now under the hands of the doctor, completely disabled by exposures, and on the next day was 4IO E VINSON STONE. conveyed in an ambulance to White-house Landing, a distance of about fifteen miles. On an alarm a day or two after, the tents were all burned, and all hands hurried on board boats, and taken down the river, and thence to the hospital at York, Penn. ; where they arrived July i. Here Mr. Stone remained under treatment until his discharge for disability, Nov. 2, 1862. The hospital at York he reports as under the strictest mili- tary regime. He saw one invalid shot by the guard for passing the lines. Mr. Stone still resides in Wayland. John Edmund Stone. N the 14th of July, 1864, Mr. Stone became a soldier in the United-States Army of Volunteers by enlisting for a hundred days in Company K (Capt. Wales), of the Forty-second Regiment of Infantry. His service consisted almost entirely of patrol duty in and near Alexandria, Va. ; and, during the period of his soldier-life, no remarkable experiences fell to his lot. He received an honorable discharge, dated at Readville, Mass., Nov. II, 1864. He was five feet nine inches in height, of light complexion and hair, with gray eyes. His occupation was shoemaking. He was a son of John and Sally H. (Kimble) Stone; born at Natick, Mass., April 7, 1832; and resides at present in Way- land. 411 Lewis C. Swan. A R. SWAN belongs to that class of men who choose to be rather reticent concerning their military experience ; and the very few data fur- ^ nished constitute but a very inadequate founda- tion for constructing a narrative covering nearly three years of army-service. He was, without doubt, a good soldier ; true to his duty on all occasions ; and though a remark of his indicates an opinion that the war was largely conducted on principles of personal speculation and base money-getting, yet it is believed that he entered the army with some just views of the issues at stake, and with a wish to render personal aid with a truly loyal spirit. As a companion in camp and on the march, his genial char- acteristics served to cheer many a dreary spot in the experience of his comrades, especially as he related his " sailor yarns " (which he was very fond of doing), some of which demanded the exercise of considerable credulity on the part of his listen- ers for their full belief. But, aside from the sailor's privilege of "stretching," his stock of general information, derived from no inconsiderable amount of travel, was such as to command atten- tion, and to commend him to the respect of even some of the LEWIS C. SIVAN. 413 regimental officers. During the latter part of the war, he was detailed by Lieut.-Col. Hudson as his orderly. The Thirty-fifth Infantry Regiment was the organization (in Company D) to which his army-experience attaches, and in which he is believed to have shared very fully in all its cam- paigns ; but of his personal incidents in camp, on the march, or on the battle-field, but little can be said. The writer saw him a few days after the battle of Fredericks- burg, Dec. 13, 1862; and his bandaged head showed a severe contusion, produced, as he supposed, by the fragment of a gun- stock, set in motion by some rebel projectile. Comrades report him as never deficient in courage ; and he is believed to have been present and to have taken part in all the engagements of his regiment. He reports himself as having never been on the sick-list while in the army; although, from some special debility, he secured a passage by railroad from East Tennessee to Maryland, instead of marching with the regiment over the rough passes of the Cumberland Mountains. Mr. Swan was the son of Sumner and Phebe Swan ; born at Phillipston, Mass., Oct. 3, 1835. In stature he was five feet five inches and a half, with light complexion, auburn hair, and brown eyes. At the time of his enlistment (July 31, 1862), he was en- gaged as a shoemaker ; but he had previously been, to some extent, a sailor. His discharge is dated June 9, 1865; and he now resides in the State of Rhode Island. Hiram Leonard Thurston. f IRAM LEONARD THURSTON was a son of John and Thurston. His native place was Oxford, Me. Sept. 3, 1852, he was married to Dora ColHns, a native of Ireland, by whom he had four children ; the youngest being but ten days old when the hus- band and father joined the army, Aug. i, 1862. His complexion was rather light, with light hair and eyes ; and he was five feet eight inches tall. For some reason, he very seldom wrote to his family ; and the personal in- cidents of his army-life have been scantily supplied. From the few sources of present information, it is but fair to infer that he did not fulfil his duties as a soldier with that enthu- siasm felt by some others. Nothing of special importance occurred from the time his regiment (Thirty-eighth Infantry) left Massachusetts, Sept. 24, 1862, until April 9 of the following year, when he went with his comrades on the Western Louisiana expedition. He was pres- ent at the battle of Bisland, and also at the siege of Port Hudson, and shared in the perils then encountered. But the most trying time to his soldier qualities was at the Red-river expedition, conducted as well as planned by Gen. HIRAM LEONARD THURSTON. 415 Banks. The troops went by boat from Baton Rouge, and landed at Grand Ecore, ten miles below Alexandria. At five, P.M., April 21, the march of forty-five miles to Cane River was begun, which was accomplished at sundown the next day. It was a severe test of the soldier's endurance. A few miles beyond the river, the enemy lay in force. Early the next morning the river was forded, the line of battle formed, and skir- mishers thrown out. Among the latter Mr. Thurston took his place. The advance was made, and a charge ordered ; and sig- nal success was gained. While returning from this expedition, the rebels were again encountered at the Plains of Mansura, where the Thirty-eighth was for several hours under a heavy fire of artillery. Mr. Thurston now became a victim of sickness; and from this time forward, though he moved with the regiment, he was com- pelled to report " on the sick-list." On the 20th of July, the regiment embarked under sealed orders, and proceeded to Hampton Roads. Here orders awaited to report at Washington, D.C. ; and this place was reached July 30, at two, P.M. Mr. Thurston was found to be in so exhausted a condition as to require his immediate conveyance to a hospital. He longed for a return to his friends and his home. In the strong hope that he would be soon able to do so, he refrained from in- forming them of his sickness ; and his wife knew not of it until she received the news of his death, which occurred Aug. 19, 1864.* His emaciated remains were brought home, and interred in the cemetery at Natick. * The disease of which he died was chronic diarrhoea. Thomas Francis Wade. N the past history of the United States, and especially during its conflicts with Great Britain in 1812, there is a just feeling of pride in its naval force, which, though comparatively small, has been illustriously efficient. In suppressing the rebellion of the Southern States in 1 86 1, with their thousands of miles of seacoast and navigable rivers, and hundreds of important ports open to foreign supplies, an efficient navy became at once an important desideratum for the North. Yet an inexperienced cabinet-officer of this department allowed the most important naval post of the country to fall at the outset into rebel hands, with its score of ships and valuable material ; while the rebel plans during the administration that preceded the outbreak had sent to remote quarters many of the most important national vessels. But patriotism pervaded the sea as well as the land when the national flag was dishonored at the South ; and with Rear-Admirals Dupont, Foote, and Farragut, and Commodores Davis, Porter, and other distinguished naval men, there rose up also a host of seamen, from commercial ship-commanders to the boys of the forecastle, ready and eager to defend the stars and stripes, under whose protection they had sailed across oceans and floated in foreign ports. THOMAS FRANCIS WADE. 417 Not the least enthusiastic among these was Capt. T. F. Wade, then navigating in the waters of the Pacific. \\\ response to a pressing invitation, this officer has submitted in his own seaman- Hke style an epitomized statement of his positions and services during the war ; and though wanting in many of the details, that, if furnished, would add still greater brilliancy and interest to his narrative, yet for terseness, and graphic solidity of ex- pression, it can hardly be equalled, and must stand as a stanch and worthy memorial of his patriotic service. "Sandwich Islands, Honolulu, Dec. 20, i860. " I have just arrived from the wreck of my ship, ' The Silver Star.' 'What is the news.?' — 'Lincoln is elected President!' South Carolina has seceded ! War is expected, — Civil War ! ' " ' Well, I have carried the old flag around the world many times ; and Fll fight for it now.' Such were the words I uttered on the above date. ''Jan. 20, 1 86 1. — Arrived at San Francisco, bound home to Wayland. The city all in commotion ; the secesh spirit jubi- lant ; loyal men downcast. ' What next .'* ' every one asks his friend. " Jan. 30. — Homeward bound on the steamer. On one side of the deck a small party of Southerners, sullen and spiteful ; on the other, a band of loyal men singing that glorious old song, 'The Star-spangled Banner; ' and, as it ceases, that small party slinks away in shame. " Arrived in New-York harbor all right. ' What's the news, pilot ."* ' — ' Oh, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana are gone ! ' Sad news for my welcome from a foreign shore. " Home again in Wayland. Not to be forgotten is that beau- tiful spring evening when the old church was crowded and 53 41 8 THOMAS FRANCIS WADE. crammed with our citizens, met to take counsel of each other on the war. We all remember that* " Business called me to Washington ; and, while there, I ac- cepted from the hand of Secretary Wells a commission as acting- lieutenant in the navy (now being deserted by its officers), dated May 8, i86i. " Ordered to report to Commodore Hudson at the Charles- town Navy Yard. I left for Baltimore ; stopped to see my friend Holmes, also a Wayland man, attached to Nims's Battery ; and then pushed on to Boston, and reported for duty. " Had orders to sail immediately for the Gulf Squadron, and report to the commander there. Took passage on the United- States steamer ' South Carolina,' Alden commander. We took in a lot of 1 5-inch mortars, and sailed for the seat of war on the 23d of May. " On the passage we were employed in drilling the men, and getting into fighting-order. " We arrived safe ; landed our mortars at Fort Pickens, which still flew the stars and stripes; while opposite, in the Pensacola Navy Yard, flew the stars and bars, the first rebel flag I ever saw. " Leaving here, I was ordered to report to Commander C. H. Poor, of the United-States steamer ' Brooklyn,' for duty on that ship. I found her anchored off the Pass La Outre, mouth of the Mississippi. Here we lay, watching for blockade-runners, until July. One morning, while we were off shore, the rebel pirate 'Sumter 'came steaming down the river; and we gave chase. Unfortunately, our ship had been out three years; and her speed proved unequal to ' The Sumter's,' which allowed the latter to escape. What mischief she afterwards did we all know. * At the meeting here referred to, Capt. Wade, in a true sailor-like address, added fervor to the enthusiasm of the time by his earnest appeal for the honor of our national flag. He was then far from being an abolitionist, as were many others ; but his cruise up the Mississippi be- came the means of changing his views somewhat touching the matter of slavery. THOMAS FRANCIS WADE. 419 " Nothing further occurred until we were relieved by ' The Richmond,' and ordered to Philadelphia for repairs. Arrived there the early part of September, when my first appointment was revoked, and a commission received to act as a volunteer lieutenant in the navy, — a distinction without a difference. " I accepted an appointment to take command of the United- States bark ' Houghton,' then fitting out at the New- York Navy Yard. But, on finding that her destination was only as a 'shore ship,' I volunteered to go as a watch-ofhcer with Capt. Alden of the United-States steamship ' Richmond,'* at that time at New York for repairs. "Sailed from the harbor in January, 1862. Had a pleasant voyage to Key West ; but, on entering, we ran aground on a dangerous reef. By almost superhuman exertions, we succeeded in getting her off: and I am not vain in saying that I contribut- ed largely toward it; so said my captain. *' At Key West we took in a supply of coal, and started for Ship Island, where we found a squadron being formed to attack New Orleans. Ship after ship comes in ; and finally Admiral Farragut, with old glorious Ben Butler to command the land- forces, completed the armament. " Orders to send down all spare spars, and make all snug for action, being complied with, the whole squadron started for the river. At the mouth of the passes, we found all the mortar- boats assembled, and ready for the bombardment ; the whole naval force amounting to nearly fifty vessels. " Before New Orleans could be reached, we must pass the strong forts Jackson and St. Philip, nearly opposite each other, * " The Richmond " was pierced for twenty-four guns. She carried twenty-four 9-inch guns, whose shot weighed ninety-two pounds ; also an eighty-pound rifled-gun on her fore- castle, and a twenty-four-pound rifled-gun on the poop-deck, with four twenty-four-pound howitzers. Her crew consisted of three hundred and twenty men and officers. 420 THOMAS FRANCIS WADE. on the banks of the river, sixty-five miles below the city. They were well mounted and manned, and aided also by several rebel gunboats, rams, and fire-rafts. A heavy chain-cable across the river, below the forts, made the rebel defences seem almost in- surmountable. " April 1 8, Porter's mortars opened on the forts. It was awful work. About two thousand shells were thrown that day. It con- tinued several days. We got orders from Farragut to run past the forts. At two o'clock, a.m., April 23, the signal was given to start. Gallant Caldwell of Waltham had cut the chain-barrier. There was no noise. All was stern and still on board the ships. Every man was thoughtful. We started ; but my feeble pen can- not do justice to the scene that followed. All the mortar-boats opened anew on the forts. ' The Richmond ' went up next in order to the flagship. " A flash ahead ! They see us ! We are engaged ! Their shots strike us. The splinters fly. Men shriek, as, wounded, they are carried below, their life-blood dripping on the deck like rain on a housetop. Poor Wadleigh, a gallant Christian officer, falls into my arms dead. ' The Richmond's ' guns are all ready. My division (the eight forward guns) open first, and are quickly followed by the others. It is terrific. Seems as if we were in the infernal regions. Fire-rafts come down to make it more infernal by their lurid glare. Still we pass on through the storm, and are safe above the forts. One more link of the Rebellion is broken. " Day breaks ; and who that saw that lovely morning can ever forget the scene of destruction and carnage it displayed } Friends look around to find who are missing; and hands are grasped in thankfulness to God for lives sj^ared. "But 'tis not all over. Here come rebel gunboats, — seven- teen in all, head on. One is steering for ' The Richmond.' Two THOMAS FRANCIS WADE. 42 I hundred men stand on her unprotected decks. '■First division, grape and canister. Let her have it ! ' One minute, and they disappear, mowed down like grass before the scythe. We hear the Qrroans and curses of her crew as she drifts astern. Another comes. The same scene over again. So all took their fate, and were sunk, or disabled. Our gallant admiral greets us, and we salute him. Three thousand gallant tars shout their repeated hurrahs, that echo along the shores. " Hold ! What the dense is this black object vomiting smoke, and looking like a huge mud-turtle coming down the river } 'Tis the iron-clad ram ' Manassas.' On she comes, aiming for 'The Richmond.' She strikes us on the bow, firing her bow-gun at the same time. She glances off, and rushes down the river. A broadside from ' The Mississippi ' strikes her. She vomits flame, and runs ashore a burning wreck. " All our fleet anchor abreast of the quarantine-ground. We count the missing vessels, and find that all have passed the ordeal but four or five gunboats. All have their story to tell. I could fill pages with gallant deeds on board the fleet. " At eight, A.M., pipe to breakfast. We see the old flag gleam- ing in the sun. Women on shore are wringing their hands in despair. Can't stop for them. Must leave them to the army. " ' Cut the wires to New Orleans ! Up anchors, and on for the city!' The shore is lined with jubilant negroes, and their masters frantic with rage and grief. At eight, p.m., we anchor twenty miles from the city. At two, p.m., the next day, ' Prepare for action ! ' ' The Chalmette ' has a battery that opens on us as we pass up. We sweep them from their guns, and they are silenced. " Now comes the city. We round the point, and New Or- leans is before us. But such a scene ! — ships and shipyards, cotton, coal, and buildings, all ablaze for miles along the river ; 422 THOMAS FRANCIS WADE. and a terrific thunder-storm is also raging. It can be expressed only in the words, fearfully, terribly, awfilly sublime ! " New Orleans was ours ! The next day, old glorious ' Ben ' came up with his troops. We buried our dead, gave thanks to God for victory, and passed up the river, destroying rafts and forts, occasionally seeing the ' old flag,' but mostly a scene of consternation. " Baton Rouge is reached. We take possession, and press on for Natchez. It surrenders. We hoist the stars and stripes, and move on for Vicksburg. Here they are ready for us. Never mind : we will try the passage. On the night of July 22, we pass the forts. It was a second Jackson and St. Philip; but we are fighting-men now, and nothing stops our 'sala- mander.' * " We meet the Memphis fleet, and fraternize. A few days after, down comes the rebel iron-clad ' Arkansas.' She runs the gantlet of our fleet, and gets safe to Vicksburg. Down we go after her. And now ' The Richmond' is ordered to New Orleans, and thence to Mobile, where we lay, to blockade for a time ; and thence move to Pensacola, where I was detached to command the United-States steamship ' Arthur,' and ordered to the coast of Texas. Blockaded the Arkansas Pass for some months, and then returned to Pensacola, where I remained as guard-ship until the close of the winter of 1864. " Was then ordered to report at New York ; and from thence, in March, I visited my home. " Leaving Wayland, after a few weeks, under orders to report for special duty to Admiral Lee, I found him, on the ist of May, at New York. " ' Good-morning, admiral ! I have the honor to report.' * A name applied by the seamen to Admiral Farragut. THOMAS FRANCIS WADE. 423 " ' Well, sir, I suppose you know the important duties you are to undertake. You are to clean the river of torpedoes, so that Gen. Butler s fleet can pass up and land his troops.' "'Yes, sir. But admiral, suppose I blow my ship up? I take the order to be imperative.' " ' Nothing to say, sir. On your vigilance depends the safety of the fleet.' "'Yes, sir: I understand^ " I proceeded to find 'The Commodore Jones,' which I was to command. She proved to be a vessel of about eight hundred tons. She had formerly been a Jersey-City ferry-boat, and was now a gunboat, carrying eight guns of 9-inch caliber, and one pivot-gun, with a crew of a hundred and twenty-five men. " Steamed up the James, ahead of the fleet, without accident, and came to anchor at City Point. The troops were landed ; and I was ordered the next day, May 6, to reconnoitre farther up the river. " When near Bermuda Hundred, word was sent me by a negro, that at a certain spot there was a large torpedo, with thirty-two hundred pounds of powder; and the information proved reliable, except the exact spot. Arriving there, no signs of danger were found. "It became necessary to cross the river from side to side to retain position ; and, in so doing, I had reached a point above that designated for the torpedo, when suddenly the ship blew up with a low, dull sound. In a few moments, nothing remained afloat of ' The Commodore Jones ' except a few scattered frag- ments. " I was picked up some forty feet from the fatal spot, and taken on board a vessel, where I received such attention as the case required. " The number of lives lost can never be accurately ascer- 424 THOMAS FRANCIS WADE. tained, as we took on board a draft of men from the army the day before, and the paymaster was lost, with all the ship's pa- pers. The best estimates give eighty-five men, with three officers. " My personal injuries resulted in a lameness of the ankle, that compelled the use of crutches for months. " I was brought home, and, after a year, asked for service, and was ordered to the United-States steamship ' North Carolina ' as executive officer; in which capacity I served until November, 1865, when I was detached for service on board the United-States receiving-ship ' Ohio,' at the Charlestown Navy Yard, where I still remain (January, 1870)." Capt. Wade was born in Boston in 1820. In person he was five feet five inches and a half tall, stout in figure, having a light complexion, dark-brown hair, and blue eyes. He was married to Susan R. Hunt of Sudbury in December, 1853, by whom he had two children. After the death of his first wife, he was united by marriage to Lucy E. Bemis of Wayland, on the 12th of January, i: Henry Otis Walker. ENRY OTIS WALKER, son of James D. and Nancy D. Walker, was born at Wayland, Mass., Aug. 2, 1839. The spirit of patriotism early moved him to lend his influence and aid in subduing what he con- sidered the blackest treason ; and, although his constitutional vigor was not the strongest, he sought a place in the army by enlisting, Dec. 2, 1861, in the Thirty-second Regiment of Infantry, in Company B, Capt. Prescott. His complexion was dark, with dark hair and eyes. He was five feet nine inches and three-fourths high, and by occupation a farmer. During the following winter, the regiment was stationed at Fort Warren, in Boston harbor, where drilling, and guarding rebel prisoners, were its chief duties. Among the prisoners were the notorious Mason and Slidell. He was detailed as company cook during the first two months. In the month of March following, he was much exposed to the bleak, chilling winds, inducing incipient lung-disease ; and he was for a time confined in hospital-quarters. At this time the regiment was gladdened by the receipt of an order to pro- ceed to the seat of war. None received the news more joyfully 54 426 HENRY OTIS WALKER. than he; and great was his disappointment, when, in the midst of his preparations for the trip, he was ordered to report to the hospital-surgeon, where he was informed of his unfitness for active service. With a sad heart he saw his comrades depart for duties and dangers in which he longed to participate. His health still continuing imperfect, he received his regular discharge for disability on the 5th of June, 1 862. But his earnest desire to serve his country was not quelled ; and he again joined the army by enlisting in the Veteran Reserve Corps, Sept. 3, 1864, with the expectation of being sent immediately to the South. But, instead of this, he was ordered to Galloupe's Island, in the same harbor, whose damp and bleak winds had, two years before, produced their disabling effect on his health. And here again his old lung-affection returned, resulting in his renewed discharge, Oct. 13, 1864. He never regained his health sufficiently to engage in other than light labor. His earthly life closed at his fathers residence, Jan. 18, 1866. Alpheus Bigelow Wellington. marked that he HOEVER has become acquainted with the move- ments of the Thirty-second Infantry Regiment, from the time of its leaving the State (only twelve hours after the order was received) to the close of the war, needs no reminder of its character for promptness, bravery, and efficiency; and to any member of that body of men, who has re- ceived from comrade and officer testimonials of fidelity, there cannot attach even the shadow of a doubt is worthy to be called "A faithful soldier, To his country true." And let it be added here, whoever reads the army-life of the soldier whose name is recorded above, as witnessed, not by a retrospective vision, but by his own clear statements, written while on the tented field, the bivouac, the march, and the battle- field, in simple language not designed to meet the public eye, must clearly see that he was enabled to " Forget all feelings save a patriot's yearning ; Resign all passions save for human freedom ; No object see but his imperilled country ; And only look on death as beautiful, So that the sacrifice ascend to heaven, And draw down freedom on her evermore." 428 ALP HE us BIG FLOW WELLINGTON. Under a full conviction that the narrative of Mr. Wellinorton o will be better told, that his character as a patriot soldier and a Christian man will be better illustrated, and a more beautiful memorial of his noble self-sacrifice be presented, by copious ex- tracts from his army-letters to his friends and relatives, than by any other method, they are gratefully received from the hands of those to whom he was personally dear, and presented to the appreciative reader. He was a son of Joseph and Keziah (Haynes) Wellington ; born at Weston, Sept. 7, 1841. He was stout and athletic ; five feet ten inches in stature, with dark hair and complexion, and hazel eyes ; and by occupation a farmer. He enlisted in Company B, Capt. Prescott, in the Thirty- second Regiment of Infantry, on the 28th of November, 1861. The regiment remained at Fort Warren, in Boston harbor, until May 27, 1862. During this period, Mr. Wellington vis- ited his friends twice at their home in Wayland. On arriving at Washington, he writes, under date of May 29, 1862,— " I was never so glad in my life to get out of a place as when I left Fort Warren. I enlisted to help put down the Rebellion ; and I hope to have an opportunity soon to do something towards it. " We came through Baltimore ; but the people did not salute us. I guess they were not very glad to see us. ''■ Alexandria, ]\in& 27. — I like things here better than at the fort. I hope we shall now have a chance to strike one blow for our country. Tell mother not to worry about me. If I am killed, I shall die in a good cause. I am not afraid to die. I am willing to take my chance. '■'■ Harrison s Landing, Va., July 4, 1862. — We are now with McClellan's army. We had marching-orders on Monday ; and, ALPHEUS BIGELOW WELLINGTON. 429 on our arrival here, came near having a fight. McClcllan said to Capt. Prescott, ' You will have a hard time for your first battle.' But the enemy are falling back; and we are following them. " I would not leave the army on any account. I am sorry that and are afraid to let their boys come. Now is the time when the country needs their help. I think every able-bodied man ought to come forward. " It is rumored that has deserted. I would rather be shot than do this. I will try to do my duty as long as I can stand. I hope mother won't worry about me. Tell father I should like to help him about the haying ; but my duty is to fight for my country. I'm not afraid of bullets, and I want to see Richmond before I come home." But his fii^htino^ under Gen. McClellan was over. The reofi- ment left Harrison's Landing Aug. 15, and, by forced marches, reached Newport News on the 19th, embarking here for Ac- quia Creek, and thence moving to join Gen. Pope's army in the defence of Washington. After the second Bull-run fight, on the second day of which the Thirty-second was present, but not engaged, it proceeded vid Washington to the north of Maryland, and was present in Porter's corps during the Antietam fight. '' Minor s Hill, Sept. 5. — We have been for three days sup- porting batteries. We have not yet lost a man ; though the red pants * were all cut to pieces, and we took their place. To-day we are resting. The rebels shelled us yesterday, and drove in our pickets. " I think that men are not fit to live in a country like this who will not fight for it when it is in danger. I don't believe in hir- * Zouaves ; noted for their general bravery. 430 ALP HE us BIG E LOW WELLINGTON. ing men to do their duty, and am glad the government did not buy me. I would not take my discharge if it were freely offered me ; for my country needs me, and I wish to bear my part. '' S/iai^psbicrg, Md., Oct. 2. — What do you think of Foote's plan for making peace .? I believe that peace will come when we have whipped the enemy ; and not before. " I have not been well for several weeks. The doctor advises me to go to a hospital for treatment ; but I prefer staying with the regiment. There is a prospect of our advancing, and I dread being left behind. I have but little strength, and no appetite ; but, if we get a chance at the enemy, I want to be there." The regiment was put in motion on the 30th of October, and passed through Northern Virginia, in a southerly direction, to the Rappahannock River, opposite Fredericksburg. After the fearfully-destructive engagement which called forth the utmost bravery of those troops that were ordered to advance on the rebel works crowning the heights beyond the city, he writes as follows : — " Near Falmouth, Va., Dec. 1 7. — Not dead yet ; though we have had a great battle, and got whipped. I think it the hard- est fight we have had yet. We took Fredericksburg, but could not take the fortifications. We lay two days in the streets of the city. The glorious Thirty-second fulfilled its duty in the face of death to the satisfaction of its superior officers. We came back to our old camp on Monday night, having lost about forty men. ''March 29, 1863. — I should be ashamed to stay at home in times like these. Somebody must die for their country : it may as well be me as another. " I think ' Joe ' will go into Richmond.* It will cost many * Gen. Joseph Hooker (familiarly called "Joe," or "Fighting Joe" ) was now in command of the Army of the Potomac. ALP HE us BIGELOW WELLINGTON. 431 lives ; but the sooner we start, the better. I am ready for the risk. " Gen. Hooker has provided oxen to help draw the batteries through the mud, and pack-mules to carry ammunition on the field of battle. This relieves us of quite a burden. Eighty rounds of cartridge, with canteens, knapsacks, guns, &c., make quite a load to carry. . . . We shall fight soon, and I shall be in it. " Have they drafted yet ? I hope they will take every man from eighteen to forty-five. It is every man's duty to come. Any one that is not willing to fight for his country has no right to live in it. " I captured that rebel flag over in Shepherdstown, Va. ; ford- ing the Potomac to get it* "■ April 22. — One year ago to-day, I was at home on a fur- lough. I wonder if one year from to-day I shall be with you again. We have got some hard fighting to do before affairs can be settled ; but I hope the war will be over before that time. I don't want to leave the service for a day until it is over. '^ April 2%. — I have a moment, and will write to let you know that I am well. We are going to Kelly's Ford, and shall probably be engaged with the enemy to-morrow. You will see it in the papers. If I am one of the lucky ones, I will write often. " Chancellorsville, Va., May 4. — We have been skirmishing with the rebels. It was a hard fight yesterday ; but our corps intrenched themselves, and suffered less than some others. The ' Johnnies ' charged upon us ; but we mowed them down in piles. ... I went out to the front after the fight, and was fired at by a sharpshooter. It was a narrow escape; but, as he missed his mark, there was no harm done. * He had sent home in a letter a small piece of a rebel flag which he had secured ; but he gave no detailed account of its capture. 432 ALPHEUS BIG FLOW WELLINGTON. " I hope they will renew the attack ; for we are now between them and Richmond. They have fought with desperation, — never so hard before. I think we shall capture most of them. I may fall ; but let us hope for the best. I will do my duty, come what may. " May 8. — I did not have time to close my letter before being ordered into line. We advanced into the woods, and drove the rebel line, though at a severe loss to our brigade. " To go back a little, let me say, that, before the battle, we crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford, and pushed on to the Rapidan, which we forded about dark, and then drove the enemy nearly to Fredericksburg. Marched nearly to United- States Ford. The whole army crossed on Saturday. We were in line of battle on the right, and had to take the place of the Eleventh Corps, which broke in confusion. If they had stood their ground, we could have taken the whole army. As it was, we came near losing our whole army. " We staid at the front from Sunday till Wednesday night, and got no sleep for twelve nights. " During the artillery-fight, I was standing on the top of our breastworks, enjoying the sight of our batteries mowing them down, when a sharpshooter in a tree fired at me. The ball passed very close to me. I suppose I am venturesome ; but I could not keep quiet when the 'Johnnies' were coming out of the woods. I was no more frightened than if I were at home." After this battle, the regiment moved by a series of marches to the northward into Maryland, and thence into Pennsylvania. '' Aldie, F<3;., June 25. — Sunday we passed through Middle- bury to picket for the cavalry. We kept at their left to prevent flanking. Our brigade skirmished heavily, and killed quite a large number. The next day, our cavalry became engaged, and we were put upon the double-quick for three miles to support ALPHEUS BIGELOW WELLINGTON. 433 them. They shelled us for some time; but we proved too much for them, and they left." As the rumor came that the foe was actually pressing Northern soil, defiantly expecting a victorious course, even to the invasion of the capital, it sent a thrill of determination through all hearts at the North to defeat the invaders. Soldiers in the field were enthusiastic ; and the different corps vied with each . other in alertness of movement. To what an intense strain the ardent temperament of Mr. Wellington was subjected, no one can tell. He who so longed to strike a heavy blow at the armed force of the Rebellion was once more to prove his professions by action. ^^ Near Gettysburg, Pcmi., July 3. — You have probably read of the terrible battles that have been raging here for the last three days, and, knowing that the Fifth Corps was engaged, must have been anxious to hear of my fate. I am 'all right' after one of the hardest battles of the war. Our regiment lost fearfully. The rebels flanked us, and, opening all their batteries on us, mowed us down like grass. The air was full of shot and shell. Our company came out with but six men. My tent- mates were all wounded. I have been out this evening helping to carry them and others from the field. " July 4. — Perhaps you would like to know how I have spent the nation's birthday. It has rained most of the afternoon ; but we have been engaged in burying our dead. Last night, wliile we were taking them from the field, the rebels fired on us. Our pickets drove them about five hundred yards: so we now hold the field. I went over it this morning; and I assure you it looks hard. I hope never to see such a sight again. The ground was covered with the mingled dead of the two armies. I am spared thus far; but my time may come next. Some must fall. I shall try to do my duty, whatever be the risk. I have but little fear of shells now that I have got used to them. I am all ready to 434 A LP HE us BIG E LOW WELLINGTON. advance, and hope that we may capture Lee's army before he reaches the Potomac. If we succeed in this, I think that the war is virtually ended. " I suppose you have seen fireworks in Boston this evening. •I have seen all I wish to for the past two days. I never saw any to equal them. '' Falling- Waters, ]u\y II. — We are in line of battle, hoping to bring on an engagement. We have made forced marches, barefooted, many of us with short rations, through mud and water. I have been wet through a great many times since this campaign began; and, when you think of how much marching we have done since April 25, you will not wonder that we are about used up." His anticipations of a battle, and of the capture of Lee's army, failed of a realization ; and it may reasonably be asserted that one of his ardor must have suffered sadly under the disappoint- ment : yet his letters breathe no spirit of fault-finding at any seeming delinquency of the men in command. '■'■ Berli7t, Md.,]\Ay 17. — We are waiting to cross the river. The roads are very muddy, on account of the heavy rains. I hope we shall be allowed to rest before another engagement. The battery-horses are so worn out, that they cannot draw the artillery. It seems hard ; but I am not disposed to complain. All I want is to accomplish the end, — not march so much for nothing. " Twenty miles froin Warrenton, July 20. — I see by the pa- pers that there has been difficulty in enforcing the draft in New York. I am surprised at it. No man of any principle would oppose it. Tell , if he is drafted, to come like a man, and help save his country. I would not wait to be drafted. ''Near Middlebicry, Va., July 23. — Four weeks ago to-day, we passed through this place northward. Since then, we have ALPHEUS BIGELOW WELLINGTON. 435 been through Maryland into Pennsylvania, and back again, tlirough Maryland, into Virginia, with our numbers greatly les- sened by hard fighting. My chum, who was wounded at Gettys- burg, has had his leg amputated. I miss him very much. He was dear to me as a brother ; but I must try to be reconciled to his loss. When I meet the enemy again, I shall try to setUe with them for disabling him. " I am no more excited when I go into battle than when I am shooting game at home. I never think of getting hit. I know that this fearlessness will not save me from the bullets. If my country needs my life, it could not be given in a better cause. I came here to help put down the Rebellion ; and, were my time now expired, I would immediately re-enlist." The month of August, and until the middle of September, was spent chiefly in camp at Beverly Ford, Va. ; after which the reo'iment shared in the marches and counter-marches in close O proximity with the rebel army, having an occasional skirmish, and frequently exposed to shelling, until the Mine-run affair. " Centreville, Va., Oct. 1 3. — Have been on the march for seven da3^s and nights. We fall back, and the rebels follow us ; then we advance, and drive them : and so it goes. We have crossed the Rappahannock seven times this week. Cannon are booming around us ; but the rebels will have a gay time trying to take Washington. " We crossed Bull Run about two o'clock this morning. Our company were flankers all day, and we had a hard time. '' Near Auburji, Oct. 25. — I am sorry that mother worries so much about me. Tell her that I will not re -enlist until my three years are up. " I hear the roar of artillery. The rebels are trying to turn our flank again. We camped on the Bull -run battle-field. Saw many skeletons of men that were not buried. It seems 436 ALP HE us BIGELOW WELLINGTON. hard that a fellow can't have a little earth thrown over his body when he falls. But such is war. " Bealton^ Nov. 1 1. — I did not have time to finish my letter before we were ordered to move. Marched to within a mile of the Rappahannock; engaged the enemy, and drove them across the river, taking several prisoners. You thought I sent for an armor, did you ? You misunderstood me. I want a military vest to keep me warm, without any steel in it. I am not afraid of the bullets. ''Liberty, Dec. 4. — We have suffered considerably from the cold. "■Nov. 30. — We were in line of battle for twenty hours, and could have no fires. Twenty thousand men were massed; and I can't understand why we did not attack the enemy there at Mine Run. " Thanksgiving was very cold. We marched most of the night, and on the next day had a skirmish. Sunday we went to the front in line of battle. At four, p.m., ordered to stack knap- sacks, and prepare to charge on the enemy's works. Soon another order came, — to make ourselves comfortable for the night. At one, a.m., we were ordered up, and marched about a mile ; were massed, with orders to charge before daylight. Our batteries opened, and theirs returned the fire. We remained until nine, p.m., and then moved with the train. Marched all night. Slept two hours at six the next morning; then came to this place, where we are now on picket-duty. "Some of the boys are coming to the army because they get large bounties. It seems to me that my weight in gold would not hire me. I would come voluiitarily, if at all." The winter of 1863-64 was passed at the little village of Liberty, near Bealton ; no other regiment being within two miles of its encampment. It was a long period of monotonous duty, from Dec. 3 to April 30 of the following year, when its quietude ALPHEUS BIGELOVV WELLINGTON. 437 was broken by active preparations to meet the foe in the field or at his capital. The enthusiasm of our soldier can be imagined when the word, " On to Richmond!" became the inspiring war-cry, and the movement actually began ; though everyone felt that the glorious results anticipated could not be achieved except by most determined and bloody encounters with the enemy. ''hi the field. May 8, 1864. — We have had desperate fighting for the last three days. I am all right, so far. We are on the road to Richmond this time sure. Do not be anxious for my safety. My trust is in God alone. If I fall, I could not give my life in a better cause. The same God watches over me here as at home. ''In the field. May 11. — I still live, after six days' continuous fighting. We are driving the enemy. I volunteered this morn- ing, and went out on the skirmish-line. The rebels tried to plant a battery; but we advanced within forty yards, and pre- vented them. " P. S. — I will write as often as I can. We shall go forward again in the morning." These were his last written words to his friends.* Their next intelligence concerning him was from one of his comrades, as follows : — " I have a mournful duty to perform; but God has made it necessary. Your brother Alpheus, my own dear friend, was killed yesterday in battle. Our company was on the picket- line, in the advance. We were ordered out about two, a.m. As we moved to the front, he said to me, ' If you come out of this, and I do not, write to my friends : they will be anxious about me.' Some time during the forenoon, he was wounded in the leg. We were driven back to our works. * The fatal wound was received the following day. 438 ALPHEUS BIGELOW WELLINGTON. " After we had fallen back, we noticed that he was suffering from the effects of his wound, and urged him to go to the rear; but he refused, saying, ' I will fight as long as I can stand.' " The fighting was desperate ; and he bore his part nobly. About noon, I again asked him why he did not give up and go to the rear. He replied, '/ am all right. I can do something more' These were his last words. " He had loaded his gun, and was just getting up to fire, when a piece of shell came through the top of the works, and struck him in the left breast, near the heart. He neither spoke nor moved after he fell. " After it was dark, we buried him by the side of a comrade. We could not mark the spot ; for we had not even a piece of qoard with us. There is a cherry-tree near his grave ; and it is just in the line of the breastworks where he fell. " I cannot attempt to offer consolation at such a time ; for words are powerless. I can only say that he fell as a soldier should, with his face to the foe. His comrades will long cherish his memory ; for he was a kind-hearted, generous fellow, greatly beloved by all the boys ; and we miss him very much. He was a brave soldier." Col. Prescott, in a letter sent soon after to the friends of Mr. Wellington, confirms the statements of his comrades, and adds, — " He was buried where he fell, near a place called ' Laurel Hill.' We mourn his loss ; for by his frank, generous disposition, and unshrinking bravery, he gained the esteem and confidence of all with whom he was connected. I assure you that the Thirty- second Regiment never had a better man nor a braver soldier. I offer you my heartfelt sympathy." When this missive was received from the colonel, he, too, had fallen. ALPHEUS BIGELOIV WELLINGTON. 439 Another comrade writes, " He was to me more tlian a friend. No brother could have done more for me. When I lay wounded on the battle-field of Gettysburg, he was the first to come to me, and help carry me away from that dreadful place; and, after he had done what he could for my comfort, he left me to do the same for others. I never saw his face again, nor shall I till I meet him in the spirit-world. I have heard of his death, and that he bravely fought to the last. You may be sure that his comrades will say of him, that he never shrank from duty." At a meeting of the Wayland Soldiers' Relief Society, held on the evening of Aug. 22, 1864, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted : — " Whereas, In the inevitable results of -war, we are painfully called upon to notice the death of another of our brave and patriotic representatives in the army, — Mr. Alpheus B. Wellington : therefore " Resolved, That tve duly appreciate the noble spirit that prompted him to give his services as a soldier in defence of his country V imperilled interests ; that we applaud the untiring and invinci- ble determination to stand firm to his duties to the last ; and, while we deplore his death, we will ei'er hold as precious the memory of his devoted life. " Resolved, That we tender to his relatives our hearty sympathy in their bereavement, and order a copy of these resolves to be transmitted to them by the secretary.''^ It is deemed proper to complete the record of this soldier by appending the fact that three of his brothers also served in the army during the war, though two of them enlisted from and were accredited to other places. The eldest son of this family, Joseph Henry Wellington, was residing at Memphis, Tenn., at the opening of the war. He was a true Union man. At first, he was forcibly impressed into the rebel service; but, at the capture of that city by the Union forces, he gladly embraced the opportunity to join the Northern army. He served, till the close of the war, in the Sixty-sixth Regiment of Indiana Infantry, and was in two severe battles. He was promoted to the post of commissary-sergeant. 440 A LP HE us BIGELOW WELLINGTON. After his release from compulsory rebel service, in a letter to his friends he wrote, " We have the best government in the world; and I hope never to see the day that the Union is dis- solved." Alden D. Wellington, the third son, volunteered in the Union service for a hundred days, July 12, 1864 ; and served in Compa- ny A, Capt. Coombs, of the Sixth Massachusetts Infantry, until his discharge, Oct. 27, 1864. He was promoted to the position of corporal, and was accredited to the town of Waltham. Walter J. Wellington. ^ALTER J. was the fourth son of Joseph and Keziah Wellington. He was born at Wayland, Nov. 28, 1847. The spirit of patriotism that pervaded the family swelled also in his breast, and prompted him to lend his aid in the struggle for union and freedom ; and, when his brother Alden decided to join the army, he also enlisted for the same period and in the same company. But his unmatured physical constitution was found to be inad- equate to the demands of a soldier's rough and exposed life. He soon yielded to sickness, and was unable to render much service. He was five feet seven inches tall ; of light complexion, light hair, and hazel eyes ; and by occupation a farmer. Date of enlistment, July 12, 1864; and of discharge, Oct. 27 following. HI James Dexter Loker. R. LOKER, though not on the quota of Wayland soldiers, is deserving of a place in these me- mentos ; for this was more truly his home than ^ any other locality; Wayland being his native place, the home of his parents and ancestry. ^ He was born Sept. 14, 1827; being the son of Otis and Betsey (Allen) Loker. He was married to Emily Clapp of Wayland, by whom he had two children. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Capt. Graham's company. Thirty-ninth Regiment of Infantry, and was soon after promoted to a sergeant's office. He left with his regiment for the seat of war on the 6th of September following. His energy and reliability soon secured for him the responsi- ble appointment of brigade express-messenger. In the perform- ance of the duties of this position, under severe exposure and long-continued effort, he took a violent cold, resulting in con- gestion of the lungs, and terminating in his death at Poolsville, Md., Dec. 30, 1862. His body was forwarded to his friends in Wayland, where most impressive funeral-exercises were held on Sunday, Jan. 4. His remains repose in the South Burial-Ground. JAMES DEXTER LOKER. 443 His soldierly and humane qualities arc well indicated by the following extracts from letters written soon after his death. Capt. Graham writes, " He was an honorable, high-souled man ; one whom I regret, of all others, to see laid low by the fell de- stroyer. He was beloved and respected by every man in the company; and they will long cherish his memory. His death is a loss to the regiment that cannot be replaced." Another c^- cer writes, " His sudden death has cast a deep gloom over the com- pany ; for we feel that we have lost our best man." His colonel also writes, " His death is a loss to the regiment that cannot be replaced." On the occasion of his death, his company (B) passed the fol- lowing resolutions : — "Whereas, It hath pleased a divine Providence to remove fro7Ji our midst Sergeant J. D. LOKER : be it therefore " Resolved, 7'hat, in losing him, we are deprived of a well-loved member, a true soldier, and an honest, honorable man ; that his life, since he enrolled his name among our country 'j defenders, and came forth to battle for the stars and stripes, has been that of a patriot noble and true ; that, by his decease, 7ve are deprived of a dear and valuable friettd. " That we tender to his widow and family our heartfelt sympathy, and trust that they may find consolation in the fact that he lived the life and died the death of a Christian and patriot, — a noble life, an honorable ilcath." Joshua Mellen. R. MELLEN, though not accredited to Wayland as a soldier, was a native of that town ; the son of Hon. Edward and Sophia (Whitney) Mellen. While in his senior year as a student at Brown University, he joined the Tenth Rhode- Island Volunteers (Company D), and served as a private soldier in the vicinity of Washington, D.C., from May 26, 1862, to Sept. i following. 444 CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD PRIx\CIPAL BATTLES AND ENGAGEMENTS IN WHICH THE WAYLAND SOLDIERS PARTICIPATED. i86i. Battle of Bull Run, Va., July i8, 21. Battle of Ball's Bluff, Va., Oct. 21. 1862. Battle of Roanoke Island, N.C., Feb. 7, 8. Engagement at Newbern, N.C., March 14. Fight at Winchester, Va., March 23. Bombardment of Island No. 10, Mississippi River, 23 days (it surrendered April 7). Bombardment of Fort Wright (or Pillow), Tenn., April 14. Engagement at Yorktown, Va., April 16. Bombardment of Forts Jackson and St. Philip, below New Orleans, La., April 18 (continued si.x days). Passage of the forts by the Union fleet, April 24. Siege of Yorktown, Va. (evacuated May 4). Battle at Williamsburg, Va., May 9. Gunboat -fight off Fort Wright (or Pillow), ISIay 10. Battle of Fair Oaks, Va., May 31 and June i. Battle at Tranter's Creek, N.C., June 5. Gunboat - engagement off Memphis, Tenn., June 6. Naval and military engagement at St. Charles, Ark., June 17. Battle at Savage Station, Va., June 29. Battle at Glendale, Va., June 30. Battle at Malvern Hill, Va., July i. Naval action off Vicksburg, Miss., July 22. Second Battle at Malvern Hill, Va., Aug. 5. Battle of Cedar Mountain, Va., Aug. 9. Fight at Kettle Run (Bristow Station), Va., Aug. 27. Second Battle at Bull Run, Va., Aug. 28, 30. Battle of South Mountain, Md., Sept. 14. Battle of Antietam, Md., Sept. 17. Battle of Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13. Battle at Kinston, N.C., Dec. 14. Battle at Whitehall, N.C., Dec. 16. Battle at Goldsborough, N.C., Dec 17. 1863. Engagement at Arkansas Post, Ark., Jan. 10. Bombardment of Port Hudson, La., March 14. 443 446 CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. Battle at Bisland, La., April 12, 13. Siege of Washington, N.C. (raised April 15). Battle of Chancellorsville, Va., May 2, 3, 4. Assault on Port Hudson, La., May 27. Battle at Beverly Ford (Brandy Station), Va., June 9. Second assault on Port Hudson, La., June 14. Cavalry-fights near Aldie, Va., June 17, 21. Battle of Gettysburg, Penn., July i, 2, 3. Siege of Vicksburg, Miss, (surrendered July 4). Siege of Port Hudson, La. (surrendered July 8). Fight at Hanover Court House, Va., July 6. Fighting before Jackson, Miss, (evacuated July 16). Engagement on James's Island, S.C., July 16. Assault on Fort Wagner (Morris Island), S.C., July 18. Engagement at Front Royal, Va., July 23. Fight on Morris Island, S.C., Aug. 26. Assault on Fort Sumter, S.C., Sept. 8. Engagement at Warrington, Va., Oct. 31. Engagement at Lenoir Station, Tenn., Nov. 16. Siege of Knoxville, Tenn. (from Nov. 17 to Dec. 5). Action at Kelly's Ford, Va., Dec. 14. 1864. Battle at Cane River, La., April 23. Battles of the Wilderness, Va., May 5, 6, 7. Battle of Laurel Hill, Va., May 8. Engagements at Spottsylvania, Va., May 10 to 18. Cavalry-fight near Richmond, Va., May 10. Action at Drury's Bluff (Fort Darling), Va., May 13, 16. Battle at North Anna River, Va., May 23. Engagements near Bethesda Church, Va., May 30 to June 5. Battles at Cold Harbor, Va., June i to 7. Engagement at White-oak Swamp, Va., June 12. Attack on Richmond and Petersburg Railroad, June 16. Assault on rebel works before Petersburg, June 18. Engagement at Rockville, Md., July 10. Cavalry-fight at Winchester, Va., July 20. Batde at Four-mile Creek, Va., July 28. Battle of the Mine (before Petersburg), July 30- Engagements at Deep Bottom, Va., Aug. 14, 16. Battles of the Weldon Railroad (before Peters- burg), Aug. 18, 19, 21. Cavalry-fight at Berryville, Va., Sept. 3. Battle of Opequan, Va., Sept. 19. Engagement at Snake Mountain, Va., Sept. 22. Battle of Fisher's Hill, Va., Sept. 22. Battle at Luray Court House, Va., Sept. 24. Action near Darbytown, Va., Sept. 28. Battle at Chapin's Farm, Va., Sept. 29, 30. Battle of Poplar-spring Church (before Peters- burg), Sept. 30. Engagement at Peebles's Farm (before Peters- burg), Sept. 30. Cavalry-engagement at Thorn's Brook, Va., Oct. 9. Battle of Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 19. General assault on rebel works before Peters- burg, Oct. 27. 1865. Engagement at Dabney's Mills (before Pe- tersburg), Va., Feb. 5. Battles at Hatcher's Run (before Petersburg), Va., Feb. 6, 7. CHRONOLOGICAL RECORD. 447 Action at Waynesborough, Va., March 2. Cavalry-engagement at South Anna River, Va., March 14. Attack on Fort Stedman, and general advance on rebel works before Petersburg, Va., March 25. Engagement at Dinvviddie Court House (be- fore Petersburg), Va., March 29. Battle at Gravelly Run, Va., March 29. Actions at Uoynton Plank-Road, Va., March 29.31- Battle of Five Forks (before Petersburg), Va., April I. Last general assault on the rebel works be- fore Petersburg, Va., April 2. Engagement at Sailor's Creek, Va., April 6. Surrender of rebel army under Gen. Robert E. Lee, at Appomatto.x Court Mouse, April 9. APPENDIX. The following statements of the doings of the town of Wayland and its citi- zens during the war are appended, under the belief that they will be to both soldiers and citizens an acceptable addition to the " Narratives." FIRST WAR-MEETING. The earliest action of the people of Wayland after the outbreak of hostilities at the South- is found in one of the largest meetings ever held in its precincts. It was called, without respect of party, " to consider the state of the country, and to consult upon measures to be taken at the present crisis." The meeting was held April 22, 1861, at the Unitarian church ; and was con- tinued in session for two evenings. It drew forth the most patriotic expressions in addresses from the chief citizens of the town. Committees were chosen to secure the formation of military companies to be drilled and made ready for any emergency. MILITARY COMPANY. On the first day of May following, a company of about eighty minute-men was formed and duly officered. On this occasion there was a large meeting of the citizens ; and a series of resolutions was unanimously passed, expressive of the spirit of the times. Among them was the following : — " We pledge our lives and our property to the cause of that liberty purchased for us by the blood of our heroic ancestors, that we may perpetuate it as the richest legacy which we can bequeath to our children." 57 44'J 450 APPENDIX. SOLDIERS' AID SOCIETY. The ladies of Wayland met early in May, 1861, and organized a society with the above designation, " to manifest sympathy with those who are engaged in the service of our country, and to aid them to the utmost of our power." This society continued active during the war ; holding meetings for work once a month, and at times much oftener. It expended two hundred and fifty-three dollars to purchase materials for work, in addition to those that were received by donation. Among the articles made by this society, and forwarded for the use of the army, chiefly through the agents of the United-States Sanitary Commission, were the folio wins: : — Blankets . . . 14 Shirts .... 109 Bed-quilts . . . 53 Pairs of drawers . • 44 Bed-sacks . . . 88 Pairs of mittens . • 78 Sheets .... 79 Pairs of socks • 235 Pillows . . . . 37 Pairs of slippers . no Pillow-cases . . 30 Dressing-gowns . 2 Handkerchiefs 455 Towels .... • 79 Comfort-bags . . 17 Lint, bandages, linen and cotton pieces, were furnished in unknown quantities ; also blackberry and currant wines, jellies, preserves, and other similar articles, for the sick. In addition to the above list, the following articles were sent from the rooms of the Sanitary Commission in Boston, and made up by the ladies of this society : — 39 pairs drawers. 36 pairs slippers. 30 pairs socks. 93 needle-books. 98 shirts. 50 bed-sacks. SOLDIERS' RELIEF SOCIETY. A society with the above title was early organized by the citizens of Wayland for the following objects : — " To look after and keep up a knowledge of the condition and needs of soldiers enlisting from Wayland, by means of correspondence ; to supply them APPENDIX. 45 1 from time to time with such articles as they require beyond what they receive from the Commissary Department, especially in case of their being sick or wounded ; and to promote the comfort and well-being of their families." Meetings were held once a month, at which letters were read by the corre- sponding secretary as they were received from Wayland soldiers in the various parts of the army. Reading-matter was furnished to the soldiers to some extent ; and also arti- cles of clothing, &c. The society sent an ag'ent (William Heard) to visit the soldiers personally, subsequent to the fight at Antietam, and convey such articles as were needed ; and also another (J. S. Draper), just after the battle at Fredericksburg, for the same purpose, and to look after the welfare of the wounded. Full records of the doings of both these societies were kept, and are pre- served. MASS MEETINGS. Mass meetings of the citizens were frequently held, especially at each succes- sive " call for more troops ;" and great effort was made to fill the quotas promptly. For this purpose, and to prevent the execution of a draft, the sum of $3,696 was raised by individual subscription during the war, a considerable part of which was paid to foreign recruits to induce them to enlist in the Wayland quotas. This entire sum was subsequently refunded to the parties that furnished it, and the debt therefor was assumed by the town. BOUNTY-MONEY. Before the close of the year 1862, the first feelings of enthusiasm to join the army had greatly subsided. The noblest spirits were already doing their duty at the front ; and, to fill the quotas subsequently called for, resort was had to the " bounty system." The total amount for which the town became responsible in its corporate capacity for recruiting-purposes during the war was probably over eighteen thou- sand dollars,* obtained chiefly by loans on the credit of the town ; the total num- ber of men furnished to fill the town's quotas being a hundred and twenty-nine, as nearly as can be ascertained. * The documents and records concerning the war-expenses being in a slightly confused condition, the amount can only be stated approximately. 452 APPENDIX. RECEPTION OF THE SOLDIERS. The Fourth of July, 1S65, was set apart by the citizens of the town for a general reception of its soldiers who had served in the war. It was an occasion of deep interest. Commingling with the happy greetings of the returned veterans were the sad remembrances of those whose lives had been required in the terri- ble struggle. The spirit of gratitude to God pulsed deeply in every heart, that his blessing had made the sacrifices of both the living and the dead effectual for the restoration of peace ; and that our country, purified and ennobled by the severe ordeal of war, was now standing firm in its integrity, bearing aloft the triumphant banner of Freedom. Among the exercises that contributed to the interest of the occasion was the eulogium on the deceased soldiers, by Hon. Edward Mellen ; the address to the veterans present, by Rev. E. H. Sears ; and a poem, reciting^ the events of the war, by R. F. Fuller, Esq. STATE AID. It is not improper to add, that the soldiers of Wayland and their families, with a few exceptions, received such pecuniary aid as the laws of the State authorized. The aggregate of State-aid money paid by the Treasurer of Wayland from 186 1 to March i, 1869, is fifteen thousand six hundred and ninety-eight dollars and ninety-three cents ; nearly all of which has been received by Wayland soldiers. ERRATA. Page 28, fourteenth line. For " 20th," read " 21st " October. P.^ge 83, note. When this was prepa'ed for the press, the reputed authorship of the poem was thought to be 1 founded : but Mr. Campbell disclaims the credit z« ioto. Page 100, thirteenth line. For "9th," read "8th " of July. Page 273, note For "superseded," read "relieved." Page 287. For " Cedar Hill," read " Cedar Creek."