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diff --git a/old/68723-0.txt b/old/68723-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 533d8a2..0000000 --- a/old/68723-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3288 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Memories of the Civil War, by Henry B. -James - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: Memories of the Civil War - -Author: Henry B. James - -Release Date: August 10, 2022 [eBook #68723] - -Language: English - -Produced by: David E. Brown and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team - at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images - generously made available by The Internet Archive) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MEMORIES OF THE CIVIL -WAR *** - - -[Illustration: - - _Fraternally Yours, - Henry B. James._] - - - - - - MEMORIES OF - THE CIVIL WAR. - - BY - HENRY B. JAMES. - Co. B, 32nd Mass. Volunteers. - - [Illustration] - - “To you my comrades whether far or near, - I send this message, let our past revive; - Come, sound reveille to our hearts once more.” - - [Illustration] - - NEW BEDFORD, MASS. - FRANKLIN E. JAMES. - 1898 - - - - - To my Boys, - - _Who delighted in their childhood - to hear their father tell stories of - the war, and at whose desire these - memories have been recalled, this - book is - --DEDICATED._-- - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - CHAP. PAGE. - - I ENLISTMENT 1 - - II TO THE SEAT OF WAR 6 - - III ON THE MARCH 10 - - IV ANTIETAM 14 - - V UNDER ARREST 17 - - VI IN CAMP 21 - - VII FREDERICKSBURG 25 - - VIII CHANCELLORSVILLE 29 - - IX BRANDY STATION & ALDIE 33 - - X GETTYSBURG 38 - - XI MINE RUN 44 - - XII A LETTER FROM THE FRONT 48 - - XIII RE-ENLISTED 52 - - XIV AT HOME AGAIN 55 - - XV IN THE WILDERNESS 59 - - XVI LAUREL HILL 63 - - XVII WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN 69 - - XVIII LEAVES FROM MY DIARY 73 - - XIX COLD HARBOR 79 - - XX NORFOLK RAILROAD 85 - - XXI EXTRACTS FROM MY DIARY 88 - - XXII PETERSBURG 92 - - XXIII PEEBLE’S FARM 97 - - XXIV WELDON RAILROAD 101 - - XXV HATCHER’S RUN 106 - - XXVI ON FURLOUGH 112 - - XXVII WOUNDED 117 - - XXVIII CLOSING SCENES 123 - - XXIX MUSTERED OUT 128 - - [Illustration] - - - - -PREFACE - -[Illustration] - - -I have written this account of my experience in the service of my -country from memory, aided by old diaries, letters, etc., and have -endeavored to be as accurate as possible, in regard to dates and events -of historical importance, but if mistakes occur, it cannot be wondered -at, after such a lapse of time. Some of my diaries were lost upon the -battlefield, and of those that remain, many of the entries were in -pencil and are almost effaced. - -I had no intention when I began writing of making a long story, but -as I went on, memory brought back many a stirring scene, many a weary -march, many a tender thought of comrades who shared them all with me, -and so I have written them down as they came to me. - -My thanks are due my wife for so carefully editing, and my son for -printing my attempt to keep in a permanent form, my recollections of -the War of the Rebellion. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -ENLISTMENT. - - To Arms! To Arms! Our country calls for aid, - Of faithful sons an offering must be made. - From every hamlet in the loyal North, - Her sturdy yeomen in their strength go forth; - Mechanics, merchants, all professions too, - Give up the arts of peace, another to pursue. - - _Edwin Emery._ - - -I have often been asked to narrate my experience in the War of the -Rebellion, and have as often refused, but now after the lapse of thirty -three years since the close of that fearful struggle between brother -men, I feel that perhaps it would be well, for the satisfaction of -those who so earnestly desire it, to “Fight my battles over again.” - -Mine was not an exceptional experience, only that of many a boy of ’61, -but it may partly answer the question so often asked: “What did the -privates do?” - -I have often wondered how it happened that I, born of quaker stock on -my mother’s side (she was descended from the Kemptons, who were among -the first settlers of our quaker city of New Bedford,) should have had -such a natural leaning towards scenes of adventure and conflict. It may -well have been that I inherited it from the paternal side of the house, -for my father’s father, John James, was taken prisoner on board his -ship during the War of 1812, and thrown into an English prison, and I -have often, during my childhood, listened to his tales of warfare and -bloodshed, and longed to be a man that I might fight and avenge the -wrongs inflicted on my devoted country in its earlier days; and how -I wished, as I read of the War of the Revolution, that I might have -lived in those stirring days, and done my part in creating the American -Nation. - -Certainly it did not seem possible that occasion would ever arise when -I should be one of the defenders of that great nation. - -The attack on Fort Sumter, the shot that so stirred the loyal hearts -of the men of the North, awakened in me an ardent desire to enlist -and help avenge the insult to our country’s flag, but my father was so -opposed to the idea that I reluctantly yielded to his authority until -a few months later, during a visit to my brother in Woburn, Mass., I -enlisted November 2nd 1861, just past my twentieth birthday, in Co. -B, 1st Battalion, afterwards the 32nd Mass. Infantry. The company was -raised by George L. Prescott, of Concord, Mass. - -We were mustered into the United States service on November 27th, and -on December 3rd were sent to Fort Warren, Boston harbor, to guard -prisoners of war, among them being the confederate generals Buckner -and Tilghman, Commodore Barron, Colonel Pegram, the confederate -commissioners Mason and Slidell, the mayor and chief of police of -Baltimore, and many others. - -I remember an incident that may be of interest to which I was an -eye-witness: General Buckner was walking on the parapet, under guard, -when a foreign man of war was being saluted in accordance with military -usage; a large 32 lb. gun was belching forth half minute salutes; as he -drew near it, wrapped in deep thought, not seeming to notice what was -taking place the order came to fire just as he was abreast of the gun; -he realized his danger and jumped forward just in time, for the next -instant the gun was discharged, and the prisoner must have felt that it -was indeed a narrow escape. - -Many other interesting incidents connected with these celebrated -prisoners occur to me, but they would make my story too long. - -We were drilled in the art of war during all that winter, and under the -strictest military discipline, the commander of the fort being that -brave old martinet of the regular army, Colonel Justin E. Dimmock. My -brother George also enlisted in the same company as myself and was with -me at Fort Warren, but the hardships and exposures of that long cold -winter and an attack of typhoid fever undermined his health to such an -extent that he was discharged a short time before we left Fort Warren -for the seat of war in the following May. - -The hard and laborious life of the army seemed to agree with me, and -from the day of my enlistment until the time I was wounded, more than -three years later, my health was perfect, which was something to be -thankful for, in the army. - -I did not regret leaving my brother behind me for I felt that one son -was enough for my father to spare for his country’s service; besides -my brother had a wife and child, while I was young, with no mother to -mourn for me, should I fall, and I felt that I could be spared better -than those who had home ties, and that I could face hardships and -dangers better than those who had families depending upon them. In -short it seemed my duty and pleasure to go to the war. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -TO THE SEAT OF WAR. - - They turned from home, from wife and child, - And all that life held sweet, - Into the hell of battle, calm - They walked with steady feet, - Resolved for wounds and pain and death; - In sacrifice complete. - - _Unknown._ - - -On the 25th of May we left Fort Warren for the seat of war. Arriving -at Washington we went into camp Alexander. June 30th our battalion, -now composed of six companies, was ordered to join the army on the -peninsula. Embarking on the transport Hero we arrived at Fortress -Munroe July 2nd. - -We continued on up the James river, landing at what was formerly -President Harrison’s plantation, on July 4th 1862. Now began our -soldier life in earnest, for fighting was then going on; mud was -knee deep and all was confusion. We were assigned to the brigade of -Gen. Charles Griffin, division of Gen. Morell, in Fitz John Porter’s -command, afterwards the Fifth Army Corps. - -We were drawn up in line and given 80 rounds of ammunition. Just then -an officer rode up covered with mud, and said: “Well boys, I will give -you a chance at the rebs; keep cool and fire low!” Off he went, and I -was informed it was Gen. George B. McClellan. - -We moved through a piece of woods, and were opened upon by a battery. -It was getting to be pretty warm, when the order came “Forward -to charge the battery,” but before we could move, the order was -countermanded, and we retreated; this was the end of the Seven Days -Fight. - -We camped upon the banks of the river and staid there six weeks, every -day sickness and death reducing our ranks, for it was a very unhealthy -place. In fact it was the worst place that could be imagined for a -camp, marshy, wet ground, dust and mud alternating; what wonder is it -that our men sickened and died? Here on August 9th Lieut. Nathaniel -French Jr., one of the most promising officers in our regiment died of -malarial fever. - -Through it all my health remained perfect, and I was always ready for -duty. Many of our regiment were here detailed to act as guards over the -quartermaster’s stores on the river bank. - -Soon after our arrival at Harrison’s Landing, President Lincoln visited -and reviewed our army. Our division stood in line from four o’clock in -the afternoon until after nine in the evening, and then a party rode -by in the moonlight, one of whom was said to be the President of the -United States; as he was the only one who wore a stove-pipe hat, we -concluded that it must be a fact, that we had been duly reviewed, and -gladly broke ranks and prepared our suppers. - -On the night of August 1st the enemy ran six pieces of artillery down -on the opposite side of the James river, and about midnight opened -upon our camp, and cold iron rained upon us, ending our slumbers for -that night. We had two tents for the officers, and five for the men, -and solid shot went through them all, but we escaped serious injury, -which seemed rather remarkable. We were more than eager to leave this -sickly camp and life of inaction, but here we had to stay and wait for -marching orders. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -ON THE MARCH. - - And we marched away to join the fray, - Where the work of death was done, - And soon we stood where the battle clouds - Hid the face of the mid-day sun. - - ’Mid the battle’s din our ranks grew thin, - And we dug our comrades’ graves, - By brook and rill, by vale and hill, - And laid away our braves. - - _Benj. Russell Jr._ - - -Marching orders came on August 10th, and we gladly took up our line of -march, passing through Williamsburg, Yorktown and Big Bethel to Newport -News, where we boarded steamer Belvidere for Acquia Creek, thence by -rail to Stafford Courthouse, near Fredericksburg. We were still kept on -the move, and on August 27th we marched out on the Gainesville road, -and formed in line of battle; here we had quite a sharp brush with -the enemy. We were endeavoring to head him off in his march northward, -but were too late, and had to chase him as rapidly as possible. - -[Illustration: March 6, 1865.] - -I shall never forget the long and weary march of the next day, which -happened to be my twenty-first birthday. All that hot, dusty day was -spent in a forced march, and we suffered greatly for water, of which -there was none to be had in that dreary country. Along in the afternoon -I came to a puddle of water covered with green slime, in which partly -lay a dead mule, who had probably died while trying to slake his -thirst. I did not take warning by him, but brushed aside the green scum -and took a drink; it was wet and that was all that could be said of it. - -I dragged myself along until within an hour of sunset, and then I -dropped by the roadside as hundreds had done before me. Our surgeon -came along, and kindly urged me to keep on, saying we were to camp -in a piece of woods about a mile further on; but I was too far gone -to stir then. I rested an hour or so, and then limped into camp; too -weary to get anything to eat or drink, I took off my equipments and -without even unrolling my blanket, dropped upon the ground, and with my -knapsack for a pillow, slept all night the dreamless sleep of a tired -soldier. - -When the boys reached camp, their first thought was to find water; -there was but one well in the vicinity, and that was found under guard -reserved for the headquarters mess. The indignant rank and file drove -off the guard and helped themselves to the water. - -Some of the boys, not knowing of the well, went into the swamp and -dipped up the stagnant water there. No wonder there was a large amount -of sickness after that time. It did not make me sick, but I felt rather -lame when I awoke in the morning. - -Next day, August 29th, we arrived on the old battle ground of Bull Run, -in time to take part in the second battle of Bull Run. Again we had to -fall back, and again we took up the line of march. - -The next day we moved at 3 o’clock A. M. and camped at 11 P. M., -after a march of twenty eight miles. At Chantilla we met the enemy on -September 1st, but after a short engagement again kept on, marching -through Georgetown into the state of Maryland. It was hot weather, and -many of the men fell exhausted by the way; but we must not pause, for -the enemy was still pressing northward and we must get between him and -our own loved homes. - -When we reached the South Mountain battle ground, that fierce conflict -was over and they were burying the dead. I saw the body of General Reno -who was killed in that battle. We had won a victory, but the loss was -very heavy, and we had lost the gallant Reno, a serious blow for our -cause. The idol of his men, they greatly mourned his loss. - - “There was one poor fellow spoke up clear, - How he suffered before he died! - I am dying boys, but I feel no fear, - For I’ve fought by Reno’s side.” - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -ANTIETAM. - - One summer morning a daring band - Of rebels rode into Maryland. - Over the prosperous, peaceful farms, - Sending terror and strange alarms, - The clatter of hoofs, and the clang of arms. - - Fresh from the South, where the hungry pine, - They ate like Pharaoh’s starving kine; - They swept the land like devouring surge, - And left their path to its furthest verge, - Bare as the track of the locust scourge. - - _Unknown._ - - -Harper’s Ferry had fallen, and Lee was gathering his army on the west -bank of Antietam Creek in Maryland. When we reached the east side of -the creek, we caught up to the main army under General McClellan on -the 16th of September, just at sunset. We found the rebels to be well -posted behind the top of the ridge on the other side of the stream. - -The two armies now stood face to face, for McClellan’s army was camped -on the east side of the hills on the west branch of the Antietam. Our -division was soon among them, and busy getting our supper, while we -could see the smoke from the campfires of the opposing forces, where -they too were preparing their evening meal. - -What a beautiful sight it was after nightfall! The thousands of glowing -campfires upon both hillsides made a picture upon my memory that time -will never efface. After our weary march it seemed good to be here in -camp, even though I knew a battle was to be expected the next day. I -remember how peaceful and quiet everything seemed, and the cheerfulness -of the men around me, showed how they enjoyed the welcome rest, and how -little they thought of the conflict before them. - -The 17th of September dawned fair and pleasant, but what a storm of -death took place that day! The battle began at dawn and lasted until -dark. The loss of life was terrible; the loss to the Union army alone -was more than fifteen thousand men. We held the field, but on that -narrow strip of ground between the Potomac river and Antietam Creek lay -many thousands of brave men, while their comrades were so worn out with -their terrible exertions that they could hardly find strength to care -for the wounded or bury the dead. - -Our regiment being on the reserve, supporting a battery, our loss -was not heavy. On the 18th our corps relieved the ninth (Burnside’s) -corps at the lower bridge. On the 19th we expected another battle, -but the enemy had retreated during the night. We pursued them through -Sharpsburg, capturing many prisoners and several pieces of artillery. -We went into camp and excepting a two days raid to Leestown, remained -quiet until October 30th, when we started for Harper’s Ferry and -crossed the river into Virginia once more. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -UNDER ARREST. - - Although the years have long gone by, - And I ought to wear a wig, - I often give a smile or sigh, - To the memory of that pig! - - And how we carried him that day, - Upon that weary tramp, - And thought that we would have a feast, - When once we got to camp. - - But when at last we stopped to rest, - And cooked that little beast, - We never even got a bite, - The general had the feast! - - _L. M. James._ - - -My company was detailed to guard the ammunition train on its way back -into Virginia. Before starting on the march, we had general orders read -to us, forbidding all foraging in Maryland. On the first day’s march -towards Harper’s Ferry, several of the boys, myself included, noticed -a number of small pigs in a field near the road. - -As we had been on very short rations for about a week, it seemed to us -a good chance to have a feast when we went into camp, so over the fence -after the pigs we went. As I raised my gun to fire at a pig, I saw -General Griffin, (who commanded our brigade,) and his staff, passing -along the road on the further side of the wagons. - -I waited until I thought he was beyond the sound of my rifle and then -fired. The bullet passed through the pig, struck a stone, glanced, and -went down the road, passing within a foot of the general’s head, for he -had stopped for a few moments, instead of riding on as I had supposed. - -After I had shot the pig, one of the boys ran up and was using the butt -of his gun to finish him and stop his squealing, when suddenly we were -surrounded by the staff of Gen. Griffin! I made a break for the road, -but found it was of no use, for the general himself stood by the fence, -so back I went and with the rest of the boys was placed under arrest. -Orders were given to march us to camp without rest, and carry the pig -along, which we took turns in doing. It was a long pull, and when I -could march no longer, down I sat. The guard repeated the order. “I am -going to rest,” I said. “Don’t let the general see you,” said the guard. - -I did not rest long, but traveled all day without anything to eat, for -we had left our haversacks and overcoats in the teams, which were now a -long distance ahead. - -At night we went into camp, then had to dress the pig, and it was -cooked for the supper of the general and his staff, and we poor -fellows got nothing. We pitched the general’s tent and were then -turned over to the provost guard. About eight o’clock I went under -guard to the general’s tent to do something he wanted done. “Guard, to -your quarters,” said the general, “This man will not run away!” “No, -general, I will not,” said I, and I quickly performed the duty required -of me and went back to the provost guard. - -At ten o’clock we were all sent under guard to our regimental -headquarters. Our colonel had just rolled himself up in his blanket for -the night and did not care to be disturbed. “Do you know where your -company is?” he demanded: - - “Yes sir” we answered, without any regard for facts. - - “Go to it,” he ordered, and we gladly started, free men once more. - There were one hundred thousand men in the camp, and to find one - small company in the middle of the night was no easy task, but about - daylight we found the teams and our haversacks, got something to eat, - and started off on the march again. So ended the only time in my life - that I was a prisoner, or under arrest. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - -IN CAMP. - - Comrades known in marches many, - Comrades tried in dangers many, - Comrades bound by memories many, - Brothers ever let us be! - - Wounds or sickness may divide us, - Marching orders may divide us, - But whatever fate betide us, - Brothers ever let us be! - - _An old army song._ - - -The Army of the Potomac, on November 10th, 1862, was massed near -Warrington Virginia, where General McClellan was relieved from command -of the army. I shall never forget the grief that was manifested by the -soldiers on the removal of this popular commander. Ever mindful of -the welfare and comfort of his men, he had won a warm place in their -hearts, and enjoyed the respect and esteem that was never accorded any -other commander. - -The following verses were sung in camp and on the march long after he -left us: - - The order came, the die was cast, - McClellan was removed at last, - While far and near o’er hill and dale, - In thrilling notes the accents fell-- - “Come back to us McClellan!” - - The bold, the brave, the fearless men, - When he had passed beyond their ken, - Bowed down their heads their tears to hide, - While still within their hearts they cried-- - “Come back to us McClellan!” - - His chieftains came to say farewell, - And in the evening camp light fell, - The tears they strove in vain to hide, - While from their sorrow’d hearts they cried-- - “Come back to us McClellan!” - - Go to the warriors on the field, - Charging upon the rebel steel, - And while they deal the fatal blow, - Hark to the cry, now high, now low-- - “Come back to us McClellan!” - - Go to the soldier sorely tried, - Go to the sick one’s lone bedside, - Stand by his cot, ere the soldier dies, - And listen to his feeble cries-- - “Come back to us McClellan!” - - Go to the tented camping ground, - Where dirt and dust and mud abound, - And from the restless, slumbering ones, - In murmuring words the entreaty comes-- - “Come back to us McClellan!” - - _Jonas A. Bigelow, U. S. A._ - - -He was succeeded by General Burnside, and after a week of rest, we -started for Falmouth Virginia, and on the 22nd went into camp at -Stoneman’s Switch. Here we remained most of the time all winter, -although we expected every day to be ordered off on the march again for -the unknown “Somewhere.” - -I well remember the hungry Thanksgiving day spent here. We were a -long ways from our base of supplies at Acquia Creek, and all that we -received was brought in wagons for several miles over hard and rough -roads from Belle Plain. - -For a week we lived on hardtack, and the morning of Thanksgiving day, -we received the last of the supplies in our regiment, half a cracker -for each man. This was all we had until afternoon; our officers were -out all the morning hunting in every direction for food, and at last -succeeded in borrowing twenty boxes of hard bread, which was all that -the officers and men had that day. - -How we thought of home that day and the good dinners that we had -enjoyed on former festival days! How little our friends at home would -have enjoyed their feast, could they have known that we were starving! -In the course of the day I happened to see, near the tent where the -officers bought their supplies, (for they did not draw rations like the -rank and file,) a few beans that had been trodden down into the mud. -I carefully picked them out, and perhaps got half a pint altogether, -which I washed and stewed, and with my tentmate, made out our -Thanksgiving dinner. - -This was not the only time I have gone hungry; many a time have I -suffered from hunger from cold, and from heat, but I shall ever -remember that particular time, for it seemed to make me still more -hungry as I thought of former Thanksgiving feasts, and the food I had -wasted. But such are the fortunes of war, and we bore it as we did all -other discomforts, as part of the price that must be paid, that our -flag might again wave over an undivided country. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - -FREDERICKSBURG. - - Of all the terrible sights of war, - The worst and most fearful sight, - Is the stubborn struggle of gallant men - In brave but unequal fight! - The useless charge and the shattered ranks, - And the slaughter and the flight! - - _Edward Willett._ - - -Here we remained for some weeks, building ourselves log shanties, -chopping wood, standing guard, being drilled, inspected, reviewed, and -now and then going over towards the river and watching the confederates -making their works good and strong, against the time when we were ready -to attack them. While we were making ready, they were building and -strengthening works, that would be beyond the power of mortal man to -carry by assault, and yet that was what we were called upon to do, when -at last General Burnside had got his army ready for active service. -He had entirely re-organized the Army of the Potomac, which now -numbered one hundred and twenty thousand men, divided into three grand -divisions, each division consisting of two corps. Everything possible -was done to strengthen our forces, and put us in good condition for -active service; all this was not completed until the 11th of September. - -The town of Fredericksburg is on the south side of the Rappahannock -river, nearly opposite Falmouth. Back of the town is the range of hills -called Marye’s Heights, where Lee’s army was strongly entrenched, when -Gen. Burnside had got ready for business. - -General Lee, with his three hundred cannon, covered the town and river, -and his position was one of the strongest, yet Burnside persisted in -his plan of attack, for on the morning of the 11th of December, at -daybreak, the bugle sounded “Forward!” - -It was a still, cold morning, and we started off in heavy marching -order, our regiment leading, as it was our turn that day. We were in -good spirits, although we knew that we had started out on a desperate -attempt, and were enroute for Fredericksburg, three miles away. We -marched to a point near the river and remained until the next day, when -we crossed the river on pontoon bridges under a heavy fire from the -enemy, with terrible loss of life. - -On the 13th the bloody battle of Fredericksburg was begun, one of the -most disastrous of the war. It was a useless, ill-judged endeavor to -rout Lee’s army from his impregnable position. In this battle more -than thirteen thousand men were lost to the Union army, while the -confederates lost less than half that number. My regiment lost thirty -live men, killed and wounded. Defeated and disheartened, on the morning -of the 16th, our army re-crossed the river and returned to our old camp. - -On the 21st of January, 1863, we started on the “Mud march,” about -four o’clock in the morning. A bitter cold wind was blowing fiercely, -and the air was full of sleet and rain. We marched all day and when we -stopped for the night, made fires and sat around them all night to keep -warm. The next day was warm as summer, but rainy; the mud grew deeper, -as we struggled along, sinking in and being pulled out, taking us all -day to go three miles. The whole country was under water, and you could -not step without sinking above your shoes in mud. When we stopped for -the night we could only lay down in the mud, or sit by the fires we -managed, with much difficulty, to make. - -The next day the water dried up a little, so we pulled down the fences -and used the rails to corduroy the road. We returned to Stoneman’s -Switch, and re-constructed our shanties as well as we could, though we -sadly missed the comforts we had destroyed before starting out, lest, -in our absence, they might fall into the hands of the Johnnies. - -We remained in camp until spring, and before that time arrived. Gen. -Burnside was relieved, and General Hooker took his place. We gladly -heard the order read that relieved him and appointed “Fighting Joe” as -his successor. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - -CHANCELLORSVILLE. - - Ah I see you once more in your camp by the way; - Yes, again do I hear your guns in the fray! - In those tangled old woods you stood there in line, - While the foe was advancing! Ah boys, it was fine! - I remember it still, how they swept o’er the field - With their tiger like yell. They thought we would yield. - You stood like a rock, as all will agree-- - My friends and my comrades of company B. - - _M. B. Duffie._ - - -On April 27th 1863, we again started on our tour through Virginia. -We crossed the Rappahannock at Kelley’s Ford, marched to the Rapidan -river, and went into camp on the south side. A brief rest, and again -on the march, arriving at Chancellorsville, where we waged battle -with the enemy from April 30th to May 5th. Here, on the 2nd of -May, occurred the famous charge of the eighth Pennsylvania cavalry, -numbering but three hundred men under Major Keenan, on Stonewall -Jackson’s leading division, keeping them back for a short time, giving -our generals time to place their guns in position, thus saving our army -from utter defeat. The tragic story is told by the poet Lathrop far -better than I can tell it. - - “Cavalry, charge!” not a man of them shrank, - Their sharp full cheer, from rank to rank, - Rose joyously with a willing breath, - Then forward they sprang, and spurred and clashed, - Shouted the officers, crimson sashed; - Rode well the men, each brave as his fellow, - In their faded coats of the blue and yellow: - And above in the air, with an instinct true, - Like a bird of war, their pennon flew. - - With clank of scabbards and thunder of steeds, - And blades that shine like sunlit reeds, - And strong brown faces bravely pale, - For fear their proud attempt shall fail, - Three hundred Pennsylvanians close, - On twice ten thousand gallant foes! - - Line after line the troopers came, - To the edge of the wood that was ringed with flame; - Rode in and sabred, and shot, and fell; - Nor one came back, of his wounds to tell. - - Line after line, ay, whole platoons, - Struck dead in their saddles, of brave dragoons, - By the maddened horses were onward borne, - And into the vortex flung, trampled and torn; - As Keenan fought with his men, side by side, - So they rode, till there were no more to ride. - - But over them lying there, shattered and mute, - What deep echo rolls? ’Tis a death salute. - From the cannon in place! For heroes, you braved - Your fate not in vain, the army was saved! - - They have ceased. But their glory shall never cease, - Nor their light be quenched in the light of peace. - The rush of their charge is resounding still, - That saved the army at Chancellorsville! - - _George Parsons Lathrop._ - -We were defeated, and obliged to retreat, our brigade being detailed to -cover the retreat of our army back over the river. We formed a line of -battle, and as each division passed, we fell back a little nearer the -river, still keeping our line of battle. Finally we were within half a -mile of the river, where the last of our army were rapidly crossing on -pontoon bridges. General Griffin, our brigade commander, had crossed -the river on some duty assigned him, when he was informed that a large -force of the enemy was rapidly approaching, and his brigade would -inevitably be taken prisoners. - -“If they are, I will be taken with them!” exclaimed our brave -commander, and spurring his horse, he rapidly crossed on the pontoons, -and soon reached us, and marched us quickly to the river, just as -the confederates approached, intent on gobbling us up. We cut the -fastenings of the pontoons, and the bridge swung off down the stream -just in time, and we were all safely landed on the other shore, happy -to know that we had escaped the horrors of a rebel prison, or death at -the hands of the merciless foe. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -BRANDY STATION AND ALDIE. - - Oh, tell me not their lives are lost, - Who to the death-shots yield, - But rather, write beneath their names, - “Promoted on the field!” - - _Unknown._ - - -After the battle of Chancellorsville, the thirty-second Massachusetts -was detailed for guard duty on the railroad to Acquia Creek. We -remained here but a short time however, for northward moved the enemy, -and we on after them; at Brandy station on the 9th of June, we caught -up with them, and had a sharp engagement, but failed to stop the march -into Pennsylvania. Crossing the river towards Culpepper Courthouse, -past Morrisville, on to Manassas, camping on the old battle ground on -the night of the 16th. - -We had a tough march the next day, travelling more than twenty miles; -no water was to be had, and we suffered greatly with the heat and -dust. Our regiment started in the morning with two hundred and thirty -men, and camped that night with one hundred and seven, of which number -I was one, and this was doing better than any other regiment in our -division. Hundreds of men dropped by the roadside, fainting and dying -from exhaustion; four died of sunstroke. We heard indications of battle -all day from the direction of Aldie, and I suppose this forced march -was thought necessary, but I can truly say that I much preferred all -the horrors of the battlefield to these terrible long marches, when it -seemed impossible to keep up. To drop out was to lose sight of your -regiment, and perhaps die uncared for, or be gobbled up by guerrillas, -who were plentiful all through that God forsaken country. - -To be captured by guerrillas was sure death or imprisonment, which to -me seemed worse than death on the field. It was during this march that -I acquired the nickname of “Mosby,” after the noted guerilla Colonel -Mosby, who was then making his dashing raids through that region, -causing his very name to be a terror to all the inhabitants thereof. - -I had picked up from the road where it had been dropped, among other -impedimenta by the rebels we were pursuing, a gray cardigan jacket, -which, being much better than the one I had worn so long, I had put on, -and thrown away the old one. I wore it into the battle of Gettysburg a -few days later, and had several narrow escapes from being shot for a -rebel by our own men, on account of its color. As it was all I had, I -had to wear it, for we could draw no clothing on the march. - -Some little time after the Gettysburg fight, I was on guard at the -colonel’s tent, and he noticed my gray jacket, and enquired why I wore -it, and I told him it was all I had. - - “I’ll see that you have another, my boy,” said the colonel, and soon - after, my captain provided me with a new blouse, which I gladly - donned, discarding the gray one, which had but one fault and that was - its color. I could not discard the nickname however, by which I am - best remembered by some of my old comrades, who will never forget how - I fought the Johnny rebs at Gettysburg, with a confederate’s jacket - on. - -At Aldie occurred the great cavalry fight under Generals Pleasanton, -Gregg and Kilpatrick. What a splendid sight it was! An event even in -our eventful life to see those brave men move in battle line, with -sabres drawn, steady as though on dress parade! Through the enemy’s -line they went, dealing death right and left. Not all of them came -back, but those who did, came with victory perched upon their banners. - -Then on we went, across the state of Maryland, encamping at midnight -July 1st at Hanover, Pennsylvania, after a forced march of sixteen -hours. By this time we were about worn out with so much marching and -fighting, but there was no rest for us yet; for we had hardly dropped -down for the night, when an aid arrived with orders to march directly -to the aid of the First corps, which was fighting the whole rebel army -at Gettysburg. So again we took up our weary line of march, pressing -forward as fast as possible to the aid of our comrades. As we drew near -Gettysburg, word passed down the line that General McClellan was again -in command of the army. - -How we shouted! How we cheered, and we moved on with quickened step, -believing that our beloved general would lead us on to battle, and to -victory! It was a false report, perhaps sent down the line to cheer our -hearts and quicken our lagging feet. It served the purpose, but it was -a sad disappointment, when we learned the truth. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -GETTYSBURG. - - God send us peace! And where for aye the loved and lost recline, - Let fall, O South, your leaves of palm, O North, your sprigs of pine! - But when with every ripened year, we keep the harvest home, - And to the dear Thanksgiving feast our sons and daughters come, - When children’s children throng the board in the old homestead spread, - - And the bent soldier of these wars is seated at the head, - Long, long the lads shall listen to hear the graybeard tell, - Of those who fought at Gettysburg, and stood their ground so well; - “’Twas for the Union and the flag!” the veteran shall say, - “Our grand old army held the ridge, and won that glorious day!” - - _Edmund Clarence Stedman._ - - -We arrived on the field of Gettysburg at nine o’clock A. M., July 2nd, -and without rest were ordered into the front line of battle. Our -brigade consisted of the 9th and 32nd Massachusetts, 4th Michigan, and -62nd Pennsylvania. We had hardly got into line, when the enemy advanced -directly upon us, and for an hour we had it hot and heavy. - -Here our regimental loss was heavy, but we finally repulsed them, -and soon after changed position to a piece of woods bordering on the -wheatfield. Here a line was engaged in the wheatfield, and the ground -was covered with the wounded and dead. We advanced and relieved them, -when the enemy charged us with such overwhelming fury that we were -obliged to fall back. - -Here Colonel Jeffers of the 4th Michigan and a color sergeant of the -same regiment were killed, trying to save their flag, but it was -captured, and a part of the regiment were taken prisoners. - -We could not stand the terrible storm of leaden hail, and were -retreating when our brigade commander halted us and ordered us to face -the charging enemy. It was a fatal act for many of the Thirty-second! -We fought our way back inch by inch, union and confederate men -inextricably mingled; so we fought until we gained the shelter of -the woods. I had lost my regiment, but saw the Pennsylvania Bucktails -fixing bayonets for another charge, so I stepped into their ranks to -charge with them, when I saw my regimental colors, with four of the -color guard near by, so joined them and waited for the boys to rally -under the old flag, when we again advanced into the bloody fray. - -I look back with pride upon the valor shown that day by my brave -comrades; at Little Roundtop, the Wheatfield, in the Loop, many a -brave boy of the 32nd gave up his life, in that terrible struggle. Our -regiment carried into the fight 227 men, and we lost 81 killed and -wounded. My tentmate, Dwight D. Graves, went down severely wounded in -the foot, and another comrade, Calvin P. Lawrence, was left on the -field with a broken leg when we fell back. As the rebs charged over -him, one of them turned to bayonet him, but his lieutenant prevented -him, and asked the wounded man, - - “Where’s your men now?” - - “You just keep on, you’ll find them!” was the reply, as the men - swept over him. Soon they rushed back in full retreat, and our brave - comrade shouted after them, “I say, leftenant, I guess you found - them.” We kept the field, and all that night I spent looking over - the battle ground for wounded comrades, giving to one a drink of - water from my canteen, placing a knapsack under the head of another, - covering another from the chilly air with a blanket picked up on the - field, and doing what I could to relieve their suffering. - -Morning came, and our brigade remained near Little Round Top, receiving -our full share of the storm of iron hail, throughout the artillery -duel of the third day. Then came Pickett’s desperate charge, the final -effort of the enemy, who never got further north than here. Then came -the retreat of the enemy, and our pursuit of them back into Virginia. - -During the battle, my cousin, James A. Shepard, of the 18th -Massachusetts received his death wound, while going to a spring to -fill several canteens for his comrades. I saw him the day before the -battle bright and cheerful. I heard he was wounded, but did not learn -of his death until some days after, when a letter from home gave me the -following account of his death and burial. - -He was shot in the shoulder, severing an artery, and died in a -Philadelphia hospital a few days after the battle, but lived to see his -widowed mother, who was telegraphed for, at his request. - -When she arrived at the hospital, she stood a moment at the door of the -ward where her boy lay on his deathbed, and where the long rows of beds -and their occupants all looked alike to her; she heard his voice at -the further end of the room, saying “Oh mother, mother! here I am come -quick!” and soon the heartbroken mother knelt by his bedside, while he, -happy in her presence, talked of the battle and tried to comfort her. - - “I know I’ve got to die,” he said, “But never mind, mother dear, it - is in a glorious cause, and we whipped the rebels good!” Poor boy, he - was only twenty, yet was willing to die for his country! - -As he grew weaker, he talked of the dear ones at home, and wished he -could have bade them goodbye. - - “Kiss them for me, mother,” he said, “And take me home, and lay me - beside my father, and put some flowers on my grave from the dear old - home garden, that I have so longed to see!” - -His mother remained with him until he died, and through untold -difficulties, she brought his body home, being obliged to smuggle -it part of the way, and now, in the family lot, he lies beside his -father and mother. Two of his brothers also lie buried there, Charles, -who served in the Massachusetts heavy artillery, and George, who was -badly wounded in the head while serving in the navy; he never fully -recovered, and died soon after the war ended. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -MINE RUN. - - We wait for the bugle, the night winds are cold, - The limbs of the soldiers feel jaded and old. - The field of our bivouac is windy and bare, - There is lead in our joints, there is frost in our hair, - The future is veiled, and its fortune unknown, - As we lie with hushed breath till the bugle is blown. - - _Thomas B. Higginson._ - - -We crossed the river near Berlin, keeping east of the Blue Ridge. At -Manassas Gap on July 23rd, we saw some pretty fighting by the Third -Corps, and on the 8th of August, we went into camp at Beverly Ford, -and remained five weeks, enjoying our well earned rest. Here I saw -five deserters shot. Sept. 15th we moved to Culpepper, where I saw a -bounty jumper drummed out of camp, branded with the letter D. Here -we received 180 recruits, and between October 10th and 29th, we were -marching back and forth, to one point and then another, as though our -generals thought we needed exercise. - -November 29th, 1863 found us in line of battle at Mine Run. For three -days and nights we faced the enemy, and awaited the signal to open -the battle. I shall never forget one night, the coldest I ever saw in -Virginia. Mine Run was a little stream of water made formidable by the -rebels, whose works were back of it. The stream was filled with thorny -bushes and brush, now frozen in; when across that, there was a strong -abattis made of sharpened timber, that must be removed before we could -charge the enemy, strongly entrenched behind earthworks. Not much -charging could be done in that situation, and we old soldiers knew the -hopelessness of such an attempt. - -We knew that the order had been given to charge on the enemy’s works at -daybreak. We felt rather gloomy, for we knew that death was certain, if -we made that desperate attempt. For my part, I had faced many dangers, -had been under fire many times, but had never felt, as I did then, that -death stared me in the face. The horrors of that bitter cold night -can never be told. All night long we had to keep in motion to avoid -freezing to death, for no fire could we have, lest we be discovered by -the enemy; more than one poor fellow was frozen to death in the rifle -pits. - -Morning came at last, but we heard no order to charge. All honor to -General Meade, who has been censured for his failure to charge across -Mine Run. With all his bravery, he was too humane to order such a -useless sacrifice of life, though he knew he incurred censure and -probably disgrace, in ordering a retreat instead. Silently we retreated -out of our dangerous situation, and made our way towards Stephensburg. -Hungry and cold as we were, we hurried along, halting now and then just -long enough to build a little fire and boil some coffee, the soldier’s -best friend. - -Towards night it grew warmer, and when the order came to halt for the -night on an open plain, we were too tired to do anything but drop in -our tracks, rolled up in our rubber blankets. When we awoke in the -morning, we found that several inches of snow had fallen during the -night, and covered that vast body of sleeping men as with a white and -fleecy blanket. We soon had fires and a warm breakfast. By ten o’clock -the snow had melted, and we took up our march with renewed courage. - -Our army crossed to the north side of the Rappahannock river, and two -days after found us encamped at Liberty, near Bealton Station, on the -Orange and Alexandria railroad, and here we had a brief respite from -our toils and dangers. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -A LETTER FROM THE FRONT. - - “Halt! Who goes there?” My challenge cry, - It rings along the watchful line, - “Relief!” I hear a voice reply; - “Advance and give the countersign!” - - _Unknown._ - - - Camp at Liberty Va., Dec.--1863. - -You ask me about our daily life, and now, while “All is quiet upon the -Potomac,” I will try to give you some idea of company B’s life in camp. -Reveille is sounded at sunrise; our company falls into line, and the -first sergeant calls the roll. - -Each man then cooks his own breakfast, except when two or three -tentmates agree to take turns. In my case, my tentmate does the -cooking, and I get the wood and water. Our rations when in camp are -generally hardtack, pork, salt, sugar, coffee, beans, potatoes, fresh -meat, etc., but we do not draw all of these things at once; some days -we will draw hardtack and pork, sugar and coffee; on other days, fresh -meat, and potatoes. - -In drawing rations for the regiment, the quartermaster draws up a -requisition for as many rations as there are men in the regiment; they -are sent to regimental headquarters, and divided among the companies. -The first sergeant of each company receives it, and divides it among -the men. - -One day’s rations consists of ten hardtack, half a pound of salt pork, -a few spoonfuls of coffee, and the same of sugar. In drawing fresh -meat, it is cut up into pieces, the orderly calls the roll, beginning -one day at A, and the next at Z, and as each man’s name is called, -he steps up, takes his choice of the meat, and the last is “Hobson’s -choice.” - -After breakfast, surgeon’s call is sounded, and if sick or unfit for -duty, the boys report to him; he gives them pills or quinine, and -reports them either fit for duty, or sick in quarters. His word is -law, and if he understands his calling, he seldom makes mistakes; but -I have known many instances where men have been reported for duty, who -were not fit to be out of their bed. - -Next, the orderly makes the detail for camp guard, police, picket, -etc. At 8 o’clock A. M., camp guard is placed on duty around the camp, -and remains so for twenty-four hours, two hours on post, and four off. -Those detailed for police duty, are placed under a non-commissioned -officer, and set to cleaning up camp. - -The pickets fall in, and after all the details from the various -companies get together, they are marched to the front, and are posted -so that the whole front is guarded, relieving those that have been on -duty. They remain on duty for twenty-four hours, two hours on post, and -four off, except when very near the enemy, in an exposed position, then -they sometimes remain for several days. - -After the pickets go on duty, we who are not detailed for duty, have -about two hours to ourselves, in which to wash and mend our clothes, -clean our rifles and equipments, etc. At 10.30 o’clock we go on -company drill, which lasts an hour, after which, we get our dinner. - -After dinner we have battalion drill, brigade drill, or something else -to keep us busy, and out of mischief. - -Dress parade comes at sunset, tattoo at 9 o’clock, taps at 9.30; all -lights must then be out, and the army is at rest. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -RE-ENLISTED. - - Two years have passed; those gallant men - Have kept the oath that they made then. - On many a field their valor’s shone, - On many a field their bones are strewn; - They’ve bravely fought and still shall fight, - For Union, and the cause of right! - Till rebel hosts shall yield the way, - To Union arms, and Union sway. - - _J. B. C._ - - The die is cast! Come life or death, - My Country! I will faithful be, - Until o’er all thy wide domain, - Shall wave the banner of the free. - - _L. M. J._ - - -It was at Liberty that most of the members of the 32nd Massachusetts -re-enlisted for three years more. I was not the first to re-enlist; I -knew now what a soldier’s life really was. I realized that my father -knew what he was talking about, when he told me that it was no holiday -picnic, and that the men of the South were as brave as those of the -North, and that it would take years instead of months to conquer them, -as so many thought when the war began. I had endured two years of -hardships and dangers, and longed for a peaceful life with those I -loved at home. I knew my dear old father would be grieved, were I to -again enlist. - -I fought it all out alone on picket, that cold long night, went back -to camp, and with fingers almost too stiff with cold to hold the pen, -signed my name to the paper that bound me to the service of my country -for “Three years more, or until the close of the war.” - -Yes, I had made up my mind, that come what would, I would see it out! -My country needed me; dire disaster had overtaken it, dark and gloomy -was the situation, and now more than ever, were needed strong and -willing hands to defend it; and so I would do my duty, and leave the -rest to God. - -And now, looking back over the long years since that day, I can truly -say, I have never regretted my decision. The terrible year that -followed would have been included in my first term of enlistment of -three years, and so I did not serve quite a year longer than I would -have done, if I had not re-enlisted. Many a poor fellow who felt that -three years was enough, and that he could not endure such a life any -longer than that, and consequently did not re-enlist, lost his life in -the battle summer that followed. But none could foresee the future, and -the close of the war looked to us in the field, as a long way ahead. - -So many of the regiment re-enlisted that we were given 30 days -furlough, and allowed to go home as a regiment. We had previously -had re-enforcements from time to time, so that there were 340 who -re-enlisted, and started for home, arriving in Fall River by the New -York boat, on January 17th, 1864. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - -AT HOME AGAIN. - - From every height our banners bright, their flashing folds display! - The trumpet’s tongue is jubilant with stirring notes today. - The cannon and the merry bells join with our vast array, - And sound a welcome home! - - Ye have come from the battlefields of glory and of blood, - Where like a rock ye firmly met rebellion’s rushing flood, - Where o’er the traitors’ reeling ranks triumphantly ye stood, - To find a welcome home. - - _James B. Congdon._ - - -As the day of our arrival was the Sabbath, which we dimly remembered -was kept sacred at the North, the commanding officer telegraphed to -Governor Andrew to know if it would do to take his men through Boston -on the Sabbath day. He quickly received the answer, “Come right along!” -So he issued orders to the men to be as orderly as possible, and not -shock the pious people of the Puritan state, and we took the train to -Boston. - -How astonished the war-worn soldiers were at their reception! Ours was -the first Massachusetts regiment returning with the proud title of -“Veteran,” and the people had turned out _en masse_ to do us honor. We -marched through crowded streets to the State House, where we received -a welcome from the Governor, and a salute was fired in our honor, on -the Common; then to Faneuil Hall, where a most sumptuous dinner was -prepared for us, of which we were invited to partake, by the Mayor of -Boston. - -After dinner, Governor Andrew made an address that will, I think, ever -be remembered by the members of the old 32nd. I cannot remember all he -said, but some of his eloquent words still linger in my memory: - - I cannot, soldiers of the Union Army, by words, in a fitting measure, - repeat your praise. This battle-flag, riddled with shot and torn with - shell, is more eloquent than human voice, more pathetic than song. - This flag tells what you have done, it reveals what you have borne, - and it shall be preserved as long as a thread remains, a memorial of - your valor and patriotism. - - I give you praise from a grateful heart, in behalf of a grateful - people, for all you have suffered, and all you have accomplished; and - while I welcome you to your homes, where the war-worn soldier may - rest a brief while, I do not forget your comrades in arms who have - fallen, fighting for that flag, defending the rights and honor of - our common country. The humblest soldiers who have given their lives - away, will be remembered as long as our country shall preserve its - history. - -As the people gazed on the torn and blackened remnant of the beautiful -silk flag we had borne away with us two years before, it seemed to -tell more eloquently than words could do, of battles won and lost. And -now, after the lapse of thirty-four years, it still, with other battle -flags, is preserved in a glass case in the State House at Boston. If -you should look for it there, it might be difficult to find it among -the many handsome banners hanging there, for it is a mere strip of silk -that seems to be just hanging by a few threads to the staff, a black -and ragged remnant of the beautiful silk flag we took with us to the -front; but we old soldiers are far more proud of it than we were in the -days when it was first presented to us, before it had been consecrated -by the blood of the brave boys who bore it through the storm of battle, -and gave their lives, rather than the flag should be lost to the -regiment. We had a new flag to take back with us, and that also bears -the marks of shot and shell, and is sacredly preserved. - -After the dinner was over, we were dismissed, and I made quick time to -New Bedford, where I received a warm welcome from my father, who was -overjoyed to see me. - -The first night at home, I went to bed in my old room, but could not -sleep, the feather bed was too soft for me; at last I got up, rolled -myself in a blanket, and laid down on the floor, where I slept like a -top. The feather bed was removed next day, and I slept very comfortably -after that on the straw mattress. - -How the happy days flew by, when friends vied with each other in making -my furlough pleasant for me, and doing their best to spoil my appetite -for army rations, with their cakes, pies, and all sorts of good things! - -But all too soon we had to say goodbye. On February 17th we once more -started for the South, arriving at camp Liberty two days later, warmly -welcomed by the comrades we had left there, and proud of the title of -“Veteran,” with all that it implied. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - -IN THE WILDERNESS. - - In that valley down there, where the wild ivies creep, - The night birds stand sentry o’er comrades asleep, - Their graves are now sunken, the headboards decayed, - And the trenches are crumbled, where fought our brigade. - Through rifts in the forest, if your vision is keen, - The breastworks we builded, can dimly be seen. - - _M. B. Duffie._ - - -General Grant now took command of the army, and on April 30th 1864, we -broke camp at Liberty, and began the hardest, most bloody campaign of -the war. Our division gathered near Rappahannock Station; crossed the -river for the fifteenth time, and marched to Brandy Station, marching -almost constantly. We crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford, marched -all the next day, camping at night in the Wilderness, very near the -enemy. May 5th we threw up earthworks, but at noon advanced, leaving -our works to other troops. We were soon heavily engaged, and so began -Bloody May. - -From this time forward, day and night, marching, fighting, digging -earthworks, there was no rest for us. From losses in battle, and from -sickness, our regiment again dwindled down to a company in numbers. - -On May 8th we supported the 5th Massachusetts battery, with some pretty -smart fighting. On the 9th we again went to the front, and threw up -works, behind which we kept pretty close most of the day. Sharpshooters -were plenty in the rebel lines, not far from us. One of my company, -George Erskine, who was near me in the works, sat on a cracker box, and -turned his head to speak to me, thereby exposing himself a little, and -as I was looking at him, I saw a bullet strike the side of his head, go -through it, and strike the ground. He gave one sigh, and fell dead at -my feet. It was the work of a rebel sharpshooter. - -A little later in the day, the orderly sergeant asked-- - - “Who will go out on the skirmish line?” - -The skirmish line was about a third of a mile in front of us, and to -reach it, one had to run the gauntlet, for the enemy had a fair view of -the whole field, and they improved it, you may be sure. - -Several comrades volunteered, and went under a sharp fire. I felt a -little ashamed of myself for not going too, so I said to my chum, - - “If he calls for more, I am going!” - - “I go if you do,” said dear old Dwight, and soon the word came again, - - “Who will volunteer?” - - “I will go for one!” Said I, and Dwight said the same. - -Over the works we went, the minie balls singing and zipping at us as we -made our best time over that open field. We reached the line all right, -and settled down to business. - -After a time I found my ammunition was getting low, and by the time it -was all gone, it was growing dark, so that we could move round with -less danger, for we could not show ourselves without drawing the fire -of the sharpshooters, so at dark I went round among the dead, and took -all the ammunition I could find, and began again where I left off. -We remained within two hundred yards of the enemy’s works all night. -During the night, our officers sent us plenty of ammunition, and -informed us that we were to charge at noon next day, and that we were -to fall into line as they advanced, but for some reason, the expected -charge was delayed. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - -LAUREL HILL. - - Through a vista bright of the years long fled, - By the flag-decked graves of our comrades dead, - By the tints of summer, and the winter’s white, - By the sheen of noon, and the shades of night, - There hangs a scene of the olden days, - With a warp of blue, and a woof of gray. - I will cut the web from out the loom, - And place it today ’mid the May-day bloom. - - * * * * * - - Three times amid the brake they form, - Three times upon the guns they storm, - Three times the army holds its breath, - To see those charges grand of death. - - _S. D. Richardson._ - - -For two or three days we remained on the skirmish line, digging rifle -pits to protect ourselves from the fire of the enemy. These were holes -in the ground deep enough for one or more men to stand in, and if we -showed our heads we were pretty sure to draw their attention, so we -kept out of sight as much as possible. But our greatest peril was from -our own line, a quarter of a mile in the rear of us, for there were -several pieces of artillery continually sending shells and solid shot -over our heads into the enemy’s lines, and some of them were too near -us for comfort and safety, for we were on slightly rising ground in -front of them, and the gunners, to do more execution, depressed their -pieces so much that every now and then a shot or shell would skim by, -or over us, as we hugged the ground. - -We would watch for the flash of the guns, and drop to the ground, so -the shot generally went over us. In the rifle pit with me were two of -my comrades, one of whom had taken off his haversack, and laid it near -by. A shot from our line struck that haversack, and sent it flying in -every direction. - -Comrade Flint was fairly peppered with pieces of tin plate, cup, -knife, fork and spoon, which wounded him severely in several places. -He stood the pain as long as he could, and finally said he was going -back to the lines; we advised him to wait until dark, but the pain was -so great that he could not, and he started on the run across the open -field, back to our main line. Instantly he was a target for the rebel -sharpshooters. We watched him anxiously, and once saw him go down, but -he was up and off in a moment, and reached our lines, where he went -into the hospital. - -He received a wound in the leg, from which he never fully recovered. -The other wounds healed after a while, but left indelible scars. - -Soon after, the firing ceased, and we felt better, when we were no -longer in danger from our own artillery. - -At last, on the morning of the 12th came the order to attack, and our -gallant little brigade commanded by Colonel Prescott, dashed across the -field as far as the foot of Laurel Hill. How our brave boys charged -those works under that heavy shower of grape and canister, none who -survived will ever forget! - -But we could not take the works, and had to fall back, under a galling -fire from their whole line. Oh! What a shower of death came down -upon us! Before we got our colors back to our old position, the 32nd -had lost five color bearers, and one hundred and three, out of one -hundred and ninety men, killed or wounded. A number of the boys of our -company lay killed or wounded upon the field we had charged over, and -the constant firing along the whole line of the enemy’s works, made -it dangerous business going out to bring them in; but several of us -determined to do so, in spite of the risk we incurred. - -Before leaving home we had made a solemn promise to each other, that no -man should be left unburied or uncared for on the field; that we would -risk life and limbs that our wounded should be cared for, and our dead -comrades tenderly laid in the bosom of mother earth. We usually waited -until night before going out after our fallen comrades, but we could -see the poor fellows lying there under the scorching sun, and felt that -some of them would not hold out until night. - -Taking a blanket for a stretcher, four of us started out on the run, -drawing upon us a deadly fire from the enemy. One of our party fell, -wounded in the leg, but the rest managed to take him along in our hasty -retreat. Again and again we made the attempt, succeeding in getting -most of our wounded under cover. - -Night came, and we started out to bury our dead. Many a poor fellow -lying upon his face, did I turn over in my search for my comrades -that night. Suddenly I came upon one of my company, still living, -but mortally wounded. He had been shot through the spine, and could -not be moved, so I made him as comfortable as possible by putting a -blanket under his head, and giving him some water. His sufferings -were terrible, but soon over; he knew his time had come, and gave me -messages for his folks and friends at home. - -I promised him that I would write and let them know how, and when he -died, and that I would see that he was buried. I remained with him -until death released him from his agony, then closed his eyes, and -covered him with his blanket. - -Sadly I left him, and moved on to where I could hear a well known voice -calling for help. It was another of my company badly wounded, but able -to be moved, so I hastily rolled him into a blanket, and we soon had -him within our line. - -Busy all night, when daylight came, we had buried our dead, and -gathered in our wounded, thus fulfilling the compact that was never -broken when it was possible for us to keep it. What a comfort it was -to us, that solemn promise, for, far worse than death, was the thought -of lying exposed and unburied on the battlefield. That night was a -sad one, never to be forgotten by me, when we rolled our comrades up -in their blankets, and laid them in graves that will forever remain -unknown. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XVII. - -THE WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN. - - Yes, it all appears to my mind like a dream, - How we filed out of camp, and forded that stream. - Through the storm we have struggled, by day and by night; - For our flag and our country, we wrought with our might. - On that dangerous post, through the dews and the damp, - We have guarded from ill, our slumbering camp. - - _M. B. D._ - - -From the 12th to the 23rd, our regiment was constantly under fire from -the enemy in front of us, at Spotsylvania Courthouse, and vicinity, -continually changing our location, throwing up earthworks each night -after a weary day’s march, before we could roll ourselves in our -blankets, and take our short night’s rest. - -On the morning of the 23rd, we took up our line of march towards the -North Anna river, crossing it at Jericho Ford, our brigade advancing -at once in line of battle into a piece of woods, where we had a -skirmish with the enemy, who fell back, and we proceeded to fell trees, -and build a line of works. - -Before we had finished them, the enemy in force, under General Hill, -attacked us, and endeavored to drive us out of our works and into the -river. The assault fell mainly upon our division. Our regiment was on -the left of the line of battle, and we did our best to give them a warm -reception. For the first time since the campaign began, we fought in -our works. It was a short, sharp fight, and the enemy was repulsed. - -We remained in our works until morning, when we moved on towards -Hanover Junction, but on May 26th we received orders to retire, which -we did during the night, and once more crossed the North Anna river -at Quarles Ford, and marched almost constantly for twenty-four hours -towards the Pamunky river. - -We next met the enemy near Mechanicsville, on the morning of the 30th -of May. Little did we think then, that in the future years, that day -would be set apart for honoring the memory of the fallen sons of the -nation, our brigade advanced in line of battle through Tolopotomy -Swamp, driving the confederate skirmishers until we came to open fields -near Shady Grove Church, where we found the enemy in force behind -earthworks. - -We could not take them, so kept back as much as we could, out of range, -yet our loss during the day was twenty-two, killed or wounded. I shall -never forget our march through Tolopotomy woods, keeping in line, over -briars and fallen trees and stumps. Our shoes were worn out with twenty -five days of constant marching and fighting, and we were about as bad -off ourselves. But we got there all the same, and staid there until -midnight, when we were relieved by a part of the Ninth Corps, and went -into camp, where we remained on the reserve for two or three days. - -We took this time to do a little much needed washing, for we had no -change of clothing, being in very light marching order. During our long -marches, often, when we came to a stream, have I taken off my shirt, -given it a hasty wash, wrung it out, put it on again, and gone on my -way rejoicing. - -Perhaps the simple record kept in my diary during that “Bloody May,” -as it has been so often called, will give some idea of the life we led -when we were constantly confronting the enemy, with, as we might well -say, a musket in one hand, and a shovel in the other; we could not stop -to rest without first shoveling up earthworks to protect us from the -fire of the ever active enemy. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - -LEAVES FROM MY DIARY. - - That starry banner blazed afar, - The ensign of the free; - The beacon light of millions past, - And millions yet to be. - Thy father loved its shining folds, - He followed where they waved, - Thro’ tangled wood, or frowning height, - As battle’s storm he braved. - - _Mrs. Ralston._ - - - _May 1, 1864._ Was relieved from picket last night, broke camp, - went within one mile of Rappahannock Station. To-day crossed the - Rappahannock river, and marched to Brandy Station. Corporal Tuttle - left for home. - - _May 2._ In camp near Brandy Station; sent letters home. Several of - the boys left us, having exchanged into the navy. - - _May 3._ Broke camp at one o’clock P. M. Camped near Culpepper. - - _May 4._ Broke camp last night at eleven o’clock; marched through - Stephensburg, crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford at eight A. M.; - camped at one P. M., after marching fourteen hours. - - _May 5._ In the Wilderness. Left camp, advanced half a mile, and - threw up breastworks; skirmishing began, and we advanced into the - fight, which was very hot work. Fell back to our works at night. - - _May 6._ Left our line at three A. M. and went to the front; heavy - skirmishing from daylight till dark. There has been some hard - fighting on our left. At dark we went to the rear, then back to the - front, where we stayed until midnight, then returned to our works. - - _May 7._ Was awakened about sunrise by heavy firing all along the - line. Our brigade made a charge over the works; some fighting all day. - - _May 8._ Sunday. We moved to the right at ten P. M. last night. Came - up with the enemy at eight this morning; heavy fighting. We are - driving the enemy. Our regiment supported the Fifth Mass. battery. - Our brigade charged the rebs works, with a loss of three hundred men. - Fighting near Spotsylvania Courthouse. - - _May 9._ Started at ten o’clock last night, and went to the front. - This morning threw up some works, and laid in them all day. No - fighting in front of us, only skirmishing until sunset, then we had - some hard fighting. Volunteered, and went out skirmishing. Erskine, - of my company killed today. We were attacked twice, but the enemy was - repulsed. - - _May 10._ Our regiment supported the First New York battery today. - Fighting began at half past eleven, and lasted until night. John Tidd - and E. B. Hewes of my company wounded. Received a week’s mail; no - letters for me. - - _May 11._ Still supporting the First New York battery. Sent a letter - home written on paper picked up on the battlefield. - - _May 12._ Went out skirmishing at three o’clock this morning. Flint - of my company, badly wounded. Later charged the enemy’s works. - Wellington and Dowd of my company killed. - - _May 13._ Was relieved from skirmish line, and went to the regiment, - then we started for somewhere; stopped in the woods. Lost my knapsack - and everything I had. - - _May 14._ Up in front; staid here all day, but not much fighting. - Within a mile of Spotsylvania. - - _May 15._ In front; no fighting. Formed in line of battle in advance - of our works, expecting to charge the enemy’s works, but did not, for - some reason to me unknown. - - _May 16._ Laid in line of battle all day and night; no fighting. On - guard. - - _May 17._ Laid in line of battle until dark, and then advanced, and - worked all night throwing up works. - - _May 18._ Shelling began early this morning. Laid behind works all - day and night. Received seven letters from home, the first I have had - since we broke camp at Liberty, and they are very welcome. - - _May 19._ Laid behind our works until about sunset, then fighting - began on our right. Packed up and moved to the right. Commenced a - letter to father. - - _May 20._ Laid in line of battle behind our works. Sent letter to - father. - - _May 21._ Laid behind our works until one P. M. Packed up and moved - to the left; camped at eight o’clock P. M. Received letters from home. - - _May 22._ Broke camp at four this morning, but did not start until - ten o’clock. Came up with some of the enemy about two P. M. Stopped - for dinner at four o’clock, then went on picket. - - _May 23._ We started this morning at six o’clock, and crossed the - North Anna river near Hanover Junction. Skirmishing began as soon - as we crossed, at three P. M.; fighting began about an hour before - sunset. Smart fight. - - _May 24._ Threw up some works and laid behind them until five P. M. - Packed up and moved to the right, then front, and threw up some works. - - _May 25._ Started this morning at half past four, and advanced about - two miles, then skirmishing began. Threw up some works. - - _May 26._ Laid behind earthworks until dark, then started, and - marched until eleven P. M., when we stopped for rations. Atwood - wounded today. Two years ago we left Fort Warren for the front. - - _May 27._ Marched all night until half past six this morning, then - stopped for breakfast near Reed’s Church. Stopped there two hours, - then marched until half past five P. M. Marched for twenty-two hours. - - _May 28._ Started this morning at half past five. Crossed the Pamunky - river, and went about a mile; stopped for breakfast, and then threw - up some works. Received letters from home. - - _May 29._ Advanced two miles, rested two or three hours, then - advanced another mile, when skirmishing began. Threw up some works, - and stopped all night. - - _May 30._ Packed up and started at seven this morning; skirmishing - began as soon as we started. Advanced two miles, fighting all the - way. Our regiment charged the enemy, with a loss of thirty men. - - _May 31._ Regiment relieved, and sent to the rear for a brief rest. - Received letters from the dear ones at home. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - -COLD HARBOR. - - Ah me! I see it all again, - The frenzied battle’s formless form, - The reeling field, alive with men, - The thunderous flashes through the storm! - - The rifle’s crack, the hiss, the thud; - The sizz of the on-hurtling shell; - The dying cry; the trickling blood-- - The sights, the sounds we knew too well. - - _Rev. Minot J Savage._ - - -On the 3rd of June, before daylight, we were called up to do our part -in the battle of Cold Harbor. The troops that had relieved us at the -front the day before had been driven from their works, and our division -was called upon to re-take them. - -It was the same along the whole line. We were to charge across an open -field, under a terrible fire from the enemy, strongly entrenched -behind earthworks. Between our line of works and that of the enemy, the -ground was covered with pine trees, felled and fastened across each -other, and in addition, they had posted a battery in a position that -could sweep the entire unsheltered field. We heard afterwards that Lee -had been two weeks getting ready for us. - -It was about half past four on that bright June morning, that we -started on that memorable charge. Never shall I forget the storm of -bullets, grape and canister that was rained upon us. My comrades fell -on my right and left till I thought there would be none left to tell -the tale. Half way across, my shoe became untied, and I knew that I -would lose it unless I tied it up again, so down on one knee I went, -and tied my shoe. - -My comrades saw me drop, and I heard a shout, “Mosby’s hit!” I was up -in an instant, and on with the rest. On we went until we reached the -works, from which we drove the enemy, but they only fell back to their -own line of works, about two hundred yards away. We remained in the -recaptured works, and kept up a constant exchange of fire all day long; -on neither side could a man show his head without being shot at, but -we hindered them as much as we could from using their battery upon us. - -I remember one poor fellow of my company, who had somehow gone to a -part of our line where the enemy had a raking fire right among us. I -noticed him lying there as though asleep, but I well knew that no one -living could sleep in that place, and concluded that he must be dead. I -offered to help his brother bring him in, but he demurred, fearing that -he might share the same fate. We did not know what moment we might have -to leave, and did not want to leave a dead comrade unburied. - -At last four of us started after the body, and succeeded, under a -terrific shower of bullets that drove us back more than once, in -getting him onto a blanket, and each one holding a corner, we made -quick time into the rifle pits. We rolled the poor fellow in the -blanket, and buried him in one of the rifle pits; many a poor fellow -was buried in that way. - -There was a peach orchard between the lines, and when the battle ended -at dark, there was not much left of it but the trunks of the trees. -All day I kept pegging away. When my gun got too foul from constant -firing, I poured in a little water, washed it out, snapped a cap or -two, and I was ready for action again. I was not sorry however, when -nightfall put an end to the conflict, and I could drop down and rest. - -Another charge was ordered before night, all along the line, but the -order was countermanded, thus saving many precious lives. The loss of -our army that day was over thirteen thousand men, our regimental loss -being ten killed, and twenty-one wounded. - -The next morning at daybreak I heard the orderly call my name, and -reported to him immediately, and received the order with others, - - “On the skirmish line!” - -While I stood waiting a few moments for the skirmishers to get -together, I noticed a Johnny Reb walking over to our line; I thought he -wanted to come in, so I shouted to him to come on in; he stopped and -looked at me a moment as though surprised, then turned on his heel, and -walked back from whence he came, taking no notice of my invitation to -come in, and threat to shoot him if he didn’t. I would not have shot -the brave fellow anyway, and I watched him walk deliberately back until -he reached the works, when he leaped over them and ran for the woods -like a deer. We concluded that he was a straggler who had been asleep -somewhere, and did not know of the changed conditions, and thought -his side still held the advanced line; at any rate, he found out the -difference before it was too late. - -Only a few moments elapsed before we were ready for the start, and -away we went, expecting every minute the rebels would rise above their -works, and put an end to us all. But all was quiet in front, so we kept -on until we stood upon their works, and found that during the night the -enemy had left for parts unknown. Upon a cracker box cover they had -left the loving message, - - “Come on, you damned Yanks to Richmond, but you will find it a rough - road to travel, with a Hill, and two Longstreets to go over before - you get there!” - -You can imagine how surprised we were to find the works abandoned that -our leaders had thought it impossible to capture by assault, and how -thankful we were that we had not made the charge that the enemy had -evidently expected, and so had prudently withdrawn, under cover of -darkness. They had succeeded in removing their battery that had so -raked us all day, but the heap of dead horses, a dozen or more, that -lay near the position they had occupied, showed that they had made -several attempts before they accomplished their purpose. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - -THE NORFOLK RAILROAD. - - What wonder if the mouth is grim, - That said so many swift “Goodbyes?” - Life’s common words are idle breath, - Beside those earnest battle cries. - What wonder if the gaze is dim, - And yonder strangely lingers yet? - The eye that has looked straight at death, - His image may not soon forget! - - _Unknown._ - - -On the 12th of June, General Grant changed his plan of operations, and -started us off for the James river. Our corps crossed the Chickahominy -river at Long Bridge, marched southward to the James river, and on the -16th of June, the Army of the Potomac was on the right bank of the -James, preparing for a fresh start in another direction. As we went -up in front of Petersburg on the 18th of June, we were double quicked -across an open field, and made a dash on the Norfolk railroad, where we -made a stand. - -It was in this charge that our beloved colonel, George L. Prescott, -fell mortally wounded, while leading his men. He died the next day, and -the whole brigade mourned his loss; he was a brave soldier, and a good -man; always kind to his men, he treated them like brothers. - -Many a time have I known him to let a sick man have his blanket, and -then bunk in with a private who was lucky enough to have such an -article. More than once has he slept with me, rolled up in the same -blanket, and I always felt that in him I had a true friend. By his -kind and generous words and deeds he had endeared himself to the whole -brigade, and today many an old veteran reveres his memory, even as I do. - -His body was brought home, and buried with his kindred in Sleepy Hollow -cemetery, at Concord, Mass. I have visited his grave since the war, and -as I stood in the pleasant spot where he sleeps so peacefully, I could -but recall the memories of that terrible scene, when he laid his life -on the altar of his country. - -We had hot work all that day; again we charged the enemy, and drove -them into their last line of works. This enabled us to establish our -line on the crest of the hill. Near this place the mine was made that -was exploded on the 30th of July, a little over a month later. - -It was in this charge that a minie ball grazed my check, which soon -swelled so that my comrades hardly recognized me. For a week or more, -my jaw was rather stiff and sore, so that I could not eat hard bread; -this made it rather inconvenient, as I was blessed with a good appetite -and could not get much else but the old reliable “Hard tack” to eat, -but I was not disabled, and did my duty as usual. - -It was about noon, during a lull in the fight, that we saw a large -turkey strut proudly into the centre of a deep ravine, that lay between -us and the enemy’s lines. Instantly every musket in our company was -aimed at that poor turkey gobbler. When the smoke cleared away, we saw -him still undisturbed in his foraging; we stood astonished until one -of us happened to remember that our guns were sighted for 200 yards -distance. He hastily lowered the sight, and spang went the deadly -messenger into the heart of that devoted bird. When the fight was over, -we picked up the fowl, and cooked him for our supper. - -That night we spent in throwing up earthworks with our bayonets and tin -plates, and by morning we had some works from which the enemy could -not drive us, though they made several attempts. Our works were never -advanced beyond this line until Petersburg was taken. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - -EXTRACTS FROM MY DIARY. - - Such is the price with which we bought - A country! And our sons here see - How faithfully the fathers wrought, - For manhood, peace, and liberty. - - And you, ye sons, as here you tread, - And on our graves your tribute lay, - That ye be worthy of such dead, - Forget not till the latest day. - - _M. J. Savage._ - - - _June 1, 1864._ Sunset. Another battle has begun, and brave men are - now falling for their country and their homes. Ah, many a heart will - mourn when they hear of this hour’s history, but may the thought - cheer them, that their dear ones fell like heroes, as they are, in - the holiest cause for which man ever fought. - - _June 2._ Five P. M. Again has the battle begun, and again we hear - the hum of lead and iron, like hail in a storm. Oh, how terrible is - the conflict of arms among men of one nation! - - _June 3._ The battle began early this morning, and now many of my - dear comrades are cold in death. Many others are suffering with pain - from wounds received while facing traitors to their country. - -At six o’clock this morning we charged across a field about a quarter -of a mile; fighting began, and we had it hot and heavy until dark. Our -loss was very heavy, and of my company, Warren P. Locke, and Makepeace -C. Young are killed, and Hazen, Kennison, Robinson, Melvin, Parsons, -Beals, Uffindale, and Fuller are wounded. Oh, may their names be ever -honored by those who love their country! - - _June 4._ Went out skirmishing; relieved at noon, and joined my - company. Started for some place, and went about one mile, then back - we went to the front, and staid all night. - - _June 5._ Laid behind our works until four P. M., then with two other - regiments, we went out on a reconnoissance; skirmishing began soon - after starting, and we fell back to our works, got our rations, and - fooled around all night. - - _June 13._ Started at eight o’clock last night, and marched until - half past four this morning, when we halted near the Chickahominy - river; laid down an hour, then up and going again. Stopped for - breakfast at seven o’clock. Crossed the Chickahominy, and went about - a mile, then halted until dark; then packed up and started for - Charles City courthouse. Stopped at midnight. - - _June 14._ Once more back on the James river. I little thought one - year ago that I should ever return here. But where are my companions - that were with me then? Some are lying beneath Virginia soil, others - are wounded in the hospitals, and others are at home with their - friends; but I am still in my country’s service, fighting for the - Nation that was given to us by our forefathers. - - _June 18._ This day will ever be fresh in my memory, for through the - mercy of God, my life was spared, when death certainly stared me in - the face. While men fell all around me, I was left unharmed. It was a - desperate attempt to carry the enemy’s works; we charged three times - and were repulsed each time, with terrible loss. Our Colonel fell, - fatally wounded, while leading his men in the charge. Major Edmunds - was wounded; William R. Wait was killed, and Wheeler and many others - of my company were wounded. - - _June 19._ Col. Prescott died of his wounds today at 11 A. M. He was - a good and brave man and we deeply feel his loss. - - _July 30._ Before Petersburg. Battle opened all along the line before - sunrise this morning. About as heavy artillery firing as I ever - heard. There is hard fighting on the left and centre of our line. - - _August 18._ On guard last night; packed up at three this morning, - and moved to the left across the Weldon railroad, and tore up the - rails. Heavy fighting all day; was on the skirmish line; Melvin of my - company wounded; was relieved from the skirmish line at 10 o’clock - tonight. - - _August 21._ Sunday; on the Weldon railroad; just got my breakfast - down when the outposts of our line were driven in; we opened fire, - but were driven back to our works, then we advanced, skirmishing all - the way back to our old picket line. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XXII. - -PETERSBURG. - - “And this is what it means, to earn - The title ‘Veteran’ on a coat; - To march through flood and field, or lie - Where rebel rifles sweep the moat; - To serve the guns in rifle pits; - To sleep beneath the silent sky; - To dream of home, and wake to war; - To see a comrade drop and die; - To hear and heed the fearful song - Which whistling minie bullets sing; - To faint and fall, and longing lie, - For one cool draught from rocky spring.” - - _Unknown._ - - -After our line of entrenchments was established, our brigade was -ordered to the rear, and we encamped along the Jerusalem plank road, -where we were held in reserve for special duty. Here we worked day and -night building a large earthen fort, which we named in honor of our -lamented Col. Prescott. Here Major Edmunds was appointed colonel, and -took command of the regiment. - -We remained in reserve about three weeks, during which time we were -called upon to re-enforce the Second and Sixth Corps, on two occasions. -On July 12th we were ordered into the trenches, where we lived in -bomb proofs for five weeks, one of the hardest experiences of my army -life. These bomb proofs were a sort of artificial cavern, which we had -to construct under cover of darkness, for the enemy was continually -sending over to our lines solid shot and hissing shells, and only in -our bomb proofs, (and not always there,) were we out of danger from -them. - -To build a bomb proof we dug a hole in the ground about four feet deep -if the ground was dry, but where our regiment was located it was so -springy that two feet brought us to water so most of ours were partly -above ground; after the hole is dug, the top was roofed over with logs, -and dirt thrown on top of them. A small space was left open towards -our rear for a door to go in and out of, which was sheltered by a log -canopy. Here we had to stay, and hot, uncomfortable, and unhealthy -places they proved to be, and it is no wonder that many of our men were -taken from them to the hospital, sick with malarial fever, from which -some of them never recovered. - -I remember one hot night, my chum and I pitched a tent two or three -steps in the rear of our bomb proof under a pine tree, and there we -went to sleep. Before morning, the active enemy in front began shelling -our line, and we were awakened by the falling of the branches upon our -tent, having been cut off by a passing shot. Soon another shot came and -struck the tree, and my bedfellow made one leap out of the tent into -the bomb proof. The next shot struck the tree still lower, and I too -forsook my bed for the safer, though uncomfortable hole in the ground. - -Sometimes, when the guns in front of us were silent, we would sit on -the bomb proofs in the evening, and watch the shells of the enemy, as -they came over on to some other part of our entrenchments. It was a -beautiful sight, far beyond any fireworks I have ever witnessed, if we -could only forget their deadly errand. - -On the 30th of July occurred the explosion of the Burnside mine, that -we had made by digging a passage to and under one of the rebel forts, -and laying powder enough to destroy it. The plan had been carefully -laid, and an attack contemplated simultaneous with the explosion, which -would carry their line. - -The blowing up of that mine was a horrible affair, and caused much -slaughter, but for some reason, the attack was not a success. The -artillery opened all along our line, on that eventful morning, as a -signal for the beginning of the fight. - -Near our bomb proof was a battery, which was so located that in firing, -it would rake the rebel picket line on our left. The Captain of the -battery knew that the first round would almost annihilate them, and -wanted to give them a chance for their lives, so he wrote a note, -telling them if they would leave their position and come over to us, -they would save their lives; he then called for a volunteer to carry -the note. Instantly a brave boy of our regiment stepped forward. He was -told that it was a dangerous mission, and that he was risking his life, -for he would certainly be shot at. His only reply was, - - “Give me the message, I will go.” - -Holding up the white paper, he deliberately walked across the open -space to the rebel picket line, handed one of them the note, saying, - - “Here you Johnnies, read that!” - -He came back at the same moderate pace and strangely enough, was not -shot at going or coming. All seemed astonished into silence at his -daring, but he was loudly cheered, when he reached our line in safety. - -The warning was in vain; the brave fellows would not desert their post, -neither would they retreat without orders. Again came the order to rake -their line; the order was obeyed, and two-thirds of the poor men were -swept into eternity. - -The captain of the battery was disgusted with such butchery. He could -have fired on an advancing foe without scruple, but to fire on a thin -picket line was too cold blooded for him, and he swore that he would -not fire another shot in that direction, and he kept his word. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XXIII. - -PEEBLE’S FARM. - - “Forward----charge! - Into the smoke and hurling death, - Trampling friend and crushing foe; - Through the cannons’ flaming breath, - Beneath the flag we rushing go.” - - _Unknown._ - - -On the 16th of August we were relieved from the trenches. On the 18th -we made an attack on the Weldon railroad, in order to cut off the -supplies of the rebel forces in front of Petersburg. In this action our -regiment lost thirteen men. The railroad was too strongly guarded for -our attempt to succeed. - -We were called upon frequently to repel attacks from the enemy, and -continually kept busy until the 1st of September, when we were again -ordered to the trenches for a few days. We were soon relieved however, -for our services were required in another direction. - -On the 30th of September the Fifth and Ninth corps made a charge on the -rebel Fort McRea. We formed our line in a piece of woods, bringing the -32nd Massachusetts directly in front of the fort, and the 4th Michigan -on our right. We had to cross an open field, and the enemy’s batteries -opened on us directly, but we went on steadily until we were in range -of the rebel rifles, then we made a dash, and soon reached the fort. - -Our colonel received a wound in the leg, and Col. Welch of the 4th -Michigan fell mortally wounded. The first to mount the parapet was an -officer of our regiment; he jumped the deep ditch in front of the fort, -and swinging his sword above his head, shouted to us to follow him; -he was followed by several officers, who jumped the ditch and rushed -into the fort. We soon followed them, though being encumbered with our -equipments, we could not as easily jump the ditch as the officers. I -jumped into the moat, and shouted to a Johnny Reb to help me up the -slope; he shook his head, so I brought my gun to my shoulder and -threatened to shoot him. He reached out his hand and helped me up the -bank. - -Corporal Lewis Chesbro of my company, instead of climbing the bank, ran -around to the rear of the fort, where he saw a rebel gunner sighting -a piece of artillery towards a portion of our division that had not -reached the works. Chesbro instantly shot the gunner, then tried in -vain to turn the piece around. Seeing me inside the fort, he called for -me to help him. Together we turned it partly round and sighted it at -another of the rebel pieces of artillery, with which they were trying -to escape. - -The shot killed the two lead horses; the driver jumped down and cut the -dead horses clear and managed to save the gun for us to face again the -same day. After we had taken the first line of works, the Ninth corps -passed to the front to take the second line. General Charles S. Griffin -our commander, told us that we had done our duty well, and had done -enough for one day, so we stacked arms and dropped down to rest. - -Just at dusk, an aide came riding swiftly to our line, with the -message that the left of the troops in front of us had broke, and our -assistance was wanted. The order came clear and sharp: - - “Fall in! Take arms! Left face! Forward double quick, march!” - -General Griffin took the lead, shouting, - - “Follow me!” - -Away we went to where the troops had broke, and oh, what confusion! -Shells bursting, men running here and there, every one for himself, and -above all the noise was heard the rebel yell, once heard, never to be -forgotten. - -Our brigade passed through the retreating men, and began firing, to -check if possible, the enemy’s advance. This we did, and drove them -back to their old position. - -Here I saw a sight which in all the confusion and excitement thrilled -me with admiration, something not often seen in action under any -circumstances. The 155th Pennsylvania regiment of our brigade was on -our right, firing by rank, and as cool as if on dress parade, and they -continued so to do until we retired, leaving the recovered position for -the Ninth corps to hold. Griffin’s “Fighting brigade” was composed of -seasoned veterans, and of them all, none were braver or bolder than the -155th Penn. volunteers. - - - - -CHAPTER XXIV. - -WELDON RAILROAD. - - The whizzing shell may burst in fire, - The shrieking bullets fly - The heavens and earth may mingle grief, - The gallant soldier die, - But while a haughty rebel stands, - No peace! For peace is war. - The land that is not worth our death, - Is not worth living for! - - _Unknown._ - - -In October 1864, the re-enlisted men of the Ninth, Eighteenth, and -Twenty-second Mass. Volunteers were transferred to our regiment, and -we once more showed full ranks on parade. By a re-organization of our -division, we were transferred to the Third brigade, now made up of -veteran regiments and called the “Veteran Brigade.” - -As the weather grew colder, we went into winter quarters on the -Jerusalem plank road, and built ourselves good log huts with chimneys, -and proceeded to make ourselves comfortable, hoping we might be allowed -to rest awhile. - -But it was not to be, for on the 6th of December we had to leave our -snug quarters and start off on the march, taking three days rations, -and forty rounds of ammunition. We marched but three miles that day, -and camped for the night by the roadside, not a very pleasant place on -a cold winter’s night. - -Next day, after marching twelve miles, we found ourselves on the bank -of the Nottoway river. We crossed it at midnight, and reached Sussex -courthouse about daylight; stopped for breakfast, and after a short -rest, resumed our march. At three o’clock in the afternoon we reached -the Weldon railroad, about five miles from Jarrett’s Station. - -Here we began tearing up the rails, and destroyed the road for about -fifteen miles. We burned the sleepers, heated the rails in the flame, -and twisted them all out of shape; some we wound around trees, and -rendered them all completely useless. It was a long, hard job, and the -second night found us bivouacked along the wrecked railroad. - -On the 10th we started on our return to the front of Petersburg. -Through snow and slush we marched twenty miles, stopping at night near -Sussex courthouse. On this return march we had to live on the country, -as we had taken but three days’ rations, and were gone six days. Soon -after starting we found three of our boys on the piazza of a house, -with their throats cut. Apple jack was plenty, and they had probably -drank too much and laid down, and were killed during their sleep. - -We were wild with rage, and the murderers would have fared hard, had -they fell into our hands. We buried our murdered comrades, and burned -the house. We received orders to burn all the houses along the route -except one, in which lived a well known Union man. Here I was left with -a file of men as a safe guard until all our forces had passed. When we -left, we received the heartfelt thanks of the women of the household. - -On the 12th we again went into camp on the Jerusalem plank road, half a -mile from our starting point. Here we again built our shanties, which -we were allowed to consider as our homes for some time. The rest was -very welcome, and it gave us time to write to our friends, and receive -letters from home. I will close this chapter with an extract from my -diary. - - _Dec. 18._ The captain left for home on furlough. All the members of - my company who did not re-enlist, were mustered out last month, and - are now at home. How I would have liked to have gone with them! But I - must wait, and hope there is a day coming when I too shall start for - home. - - _Dec. 25._ Christmas day. Letters and a diary from friends at home - are very welcome. I have been very fortunate in receiving letters - from home. The most cheering sound of all to us in camp is the bugle, - “Fall in for the mail!” We promptly answer the summons, and eagerly - listen as the orderly reads the names. Those who receive letters - wander off by themselves to read them, those who receive newspapers - share them with others, and still others gloomily stalk off, and - wonder why the home-folks could not send at least one letter to - cheer us on this dreary holiday. Ah, the time is never wasted, that - is spent in writing to the soldiers at the front, assuring us that - we are not forgotten in the homes to which we may never return. We - cannot get too many letters, to help us fight the battles that must - come before the war is over. - - _Dec. 31._ On guard in a snow storm. One year ago I was on picket - at Liberty, Va. What changes have taken place in one short year! Oh - before the close of the next year, may this war be over, and myself, - with all my brave comrades be at home with our friends. And now the - year is gone with all its sorrow and care, never to return; but the - memories connected with it can never die; they will ever bring to my - mind many sorrows, and but few joys. So many of my dear companions in - arms, who seemed like brothers, have been called to lay down their - lives, but I have been spared in life and limb through the year that - is past. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XXV. - -HATCHER’S RUN. - - We know not what may be our lot, - When future days have crowned us; - There’s One above, whose arm of love, - We hope may e’er surround us. - - Goodbye! We go to meet the foe, - The flag we love floats o’er us; - Its stars are bright, we’ll win the fight, - While treason falls before us. - - _Lilly Lovette._ - - -New Years day 1865 found the 32nd Mass. living in their log huts on the -Jerusalem plank road, one mile in rear of our line of works in front of -Petersburg. Here we worked building and strengthening our works, taking -turns so that the work went steadily on night and day. Thus we lived -until late in the afternoon of Feb. 4th, when we received orders to -move next morning at daybreak. - -We imagined it was to be another railroad raid, and we left our huts -standing, expecting to return to them; but in this we were mistaken. We -started at daylight on the 5th, and marched all day, reaching Nottoway -courthouse about sunset. Here we camped, and pickets were sent out, -but were recalled at midnight, and we again took up our line of march, -arriving early in the morning at a stream called Hatcher’s run, at a -point where it crossed the Vaughn road, and where the Second corps had -fought the rebels the day before, while we were marching to re-enforce -them. - -We were ordered into some rifle pits on the opposite side of the -stream, out of which the enemy had been driven. I will try to describe -my own experience in the battle that took place on February 6th, called -by some historians the battle of Dabney’s Mills, but known to us by the -name of Hatcher’s Run. - -Our regiment was on the extreme right of the Fifth corps, connecting -with the Second corps. About two o’clock in the afternoon, Crawford’s -division advanced from our left across our front and engaged the -enemy. Two hours later the veteran brigade was called upon to fill a -gap in Crawford’s line. - -We were in the rear, listening to the roar of battle, and pitying our -comrades fighting so desperately in front of us, not knowing what -moment our turn would come. General Warren sent an aid to General -Griffin, our brigade commander, with orders to bring us to the front. - -The bugle blew the fall-in call, and away we went into the storm of -death. We marched left in front. When we reached the line engaged and -passed through, the order came, - - “File left! Right face!” - -Bringing us into line of battle. - - “Forward, double quick!” - -On we went, not firing a shot. As our ranks were thinned by the sharp -fire poured upon us, - - “Close to the right!” - -came the order, and we obeyed until we could go no farther, then came -our turn, and we settled down to business. - -The locality of the fight was in a grove of pines, where we could not -see what was going on around us, and unknown to us, a fresh body of -rebel troops drove back our main line of battle, and we were left -alone. Before we fell back we saw a Johnnie Reb give a signal that he -wanted to come into our lines; in he came, and informed us that, - - “You uns will have to get out of this right smart, for they are - putting the whole of Mahone’s division in front and on the flanks - of you uns!” And in a short time I thought the whole rebel army was - there! - -Our little brigade was pushed back, fighting all the way, with heavy -loss. Our regiment lost 74 men in killed, wounded, and missing. The -155th Pennsylvania was on our right, and that too lost heavily. Here -Major Shepard was taken prisoner; the major, orderly of my company and -myself were on the extreme right, and were so busily engaged that we -did not notice that the line was falling back, until it was quite a -distance from us. I informed the major, and when we three started to -run, the rebs were not fifty feet away. - -The major’s scabbard tripped him and he fell; I looked back over my -shoulder and saw a reb on each side of him, and knew he was a prisoner. -This lent wings to my feet, and I expected every moment to feel a hand -on my coat collar jerking me back, but I kept on, and the orderly and -I reached the edge of the woods to find an attempt was being made to -rally, in order to save an ammunition wagon from falling into the hands -of the enemy. - -But the attempt was a failure; it was nearly dark, and some of the new -troops in the second line of battle, seeing us emerge from the woods, -took us to be the Johnnies, and fired into us. At least half a dozen -were killed or wounded by this volley, and this completed the disaster, -for no troops, veteran or not, could be expected to rally when attacked -on all sides, so we kept on until we reached our line of works. - -Here we remained until the 11th, with the enemy’s artillery making it -very uncomfortable for us, then we moved to the rear about two miles, -and camped for the night. Next day our tents and knapsacks came from -our old camp, and we again began building our winter quarters. Here -on the 18th of February as I was building a chimney to my shanty, I -received a sergeant’s warrant dated the 4th, and on the 20th I acted as -sergeant of the guard for the first time. - -On the 22nd we received orders to be ready to move at a moment’s -notice, and that no more furloughs were to be given, and everything -looked as though another fight was at hand, but we remained here until -the opening of the final campaign of the war. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XXVI. - -ON FURLOUGH. - - Home from the battlefield - For a brief rest; - Oh, what emotion fills - The soldier’s breast. - - Leaving his northern home, - Where all is peace, - Back to the battle-plain - ’Till war shall cease. - - _L. M. J._ - - -About the 18th of February I sent in an application for a furlough; I -hardly expected to get it, as all furloughs had been refused, except in -some cases, where an exceptional reason was urged, or strong influence -brought to bear. I felt, after the hard experience of the past year, -and with the prospect of another campaign full as hard, that a brief -furlough was what I needed, so I could but try for one, which I did, -and on Sunday the 26th of the same month, received a furlough for -twenty days. - -We had been paid off the day previous, and it did not take me long -to prepare for the homeward trip. I said goodbye to my comrades and -left for City Point that afternoon. None of the precious time must be -wasted, so I made no stops on my journey home. - -I left City Point on the morning of the 27th, on the steamer Daniel -Webster, arriving at Fortress Munroe at four P. M., and an hour later -left for Baltimore, arriving there at seven o’clock next morning; -immediately left for New York, which place I reached at six o’clock -that evening and took the train for home; traveled all night, and -arrived at New Bedford on the morning of March 1st, where I was warmly -welcomed by my friends. - -Oh how pleasant seemed the dear old quiet city, after the terrible -experience of the year that is past! And how quickly passed the time -away! I paid a visit to my brother, now living in New Hampshire, and -had a very enjoyable time. I spent the remainder of my time at home -with my father, and among my friends, who could hardly do enough to -make the time pass happily away. - -Then too, I found that in the north, a soldier seemed to be considered -of some account, and often strangers as they passed me in the street, -had a pleasant word for the war-worn soldier in his faded suit of army -blue. - -All too soon the time arrived when I must bid my friends goodbye. On -the 16th of March I started for the front once more. I cannot dwell on -the parting with my poor old father who seemed to feel that he would -never see me again. But he was spared to welcome me home after the war -was over, for which I still feel very thankful. It would have been a -sad home-coming had he not been there to welcome me. - -On my arrival in Boston, as I had a few hours to wait, I went to the -State house to take a look at our old battle-flag. What memories were -awakened by that torn and smoky piece of silk, all that was left of -the starry flag that I had followed for two long years. I felt sad at -parting, “It might be for years, and it might be forever,” and it was -not a very cheerful journey back to the front. I reached my regiment -on the 19th of March, and received a warm welcome from the boys of my -company, and especially from my tentmate, Dwight Graves, who prepared a -good supper of fried hardtack and pork in honor of my arrival, and to -which he, at least, did ample justice. - -I presented him with a piece of frosted cake, sent him by a lady -friend, which he considered a rare treat, and persisted in calling -“Wedding cake!” It took me several days to settle down to army life, -and army diet, but the stern discipline and hard service soon brought -back my appetite, and my readiness to do whatever was required of me. - -About eight o’clock in the morning of the 25th, we were ordered to -fall in and move to the right, for the enemy had attacked us in that -quarter; then moved to the left and attacked them; hard fighting -continued all day, without food or rest. This fight was called the -battle of Fort Stedman. - -We returned to camp about midnight, where we remained until the 29th, -when we broke camp early in the morning, and marched until noon. We -stopped two hours for dinner and rest, then started again, and went -until five P. M. Here we had another encounter with the enemy, and -drove them some distance. We then moved to the front, and built works -until midnight, and laid behind them until morning, when we again moved -onward. I little thought as I slung my equipments and started on the -march, that this was to be my last day of active service. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XXVII. - -WOUNDED. - - Upon that southern battle-field, - One well remembered day, - I wore the loyal Union blue, - And he, the rebel gray; - All day in conflict fierce and wild, - Were mingled blue and gray, - And when night came, both he and I, - Among the wounded lay, - - _L. M. J._ - - -Our line of march led us in the direction of the Boydton plank road, -and on the morning of March 30th the 32nd was detailed for the skirmish -line. It was a rainy day, but we soldiers could not stop for the -weather. About two o’clock in the afternoon, we sighted the enemy’s -pickets, and then firing began in earnest. All went well with me -until about three o’clock, when I felt something strike my foot, not -realizing that it was a bullet until I saw the jagged holes where it -went in and out, breaking the bones as it went. - -I stood and considered a moment whether to go to the rear or not, and -finally decided to go back, get the surgeon to dress my wound, and then -return to my company. It was quite a distance back to the rear, and I -had to drop my gun and sit down to rest by the way. As I did so, I saw -my colonel, who stopped and asked me if I was much hurt. - - “Oh no,” I replied, “Only slight, I will soon be back.” - - “I am glad it is no worse,” he replied, and on he went. - -I found the surgeon, had my foot bound up, and started to go back to my -company. - - “Where are you going?” asked the surgeon. - - “Back to my company,” said I. - - “No you’re not! Get on to that stretcher!” was the order, and I was - obliged to obey, though I did not see the need of it; my foot did not - pain me, only felt numb, and I felt a little weak and tired, which - could hardly be wondered at. I was carried to the ambulance and - taken to the field hospital, where I sat and waited for my turn to - come. Meanwhile I saw such horrible wounds, that I can never forget - or describe. It was a hard trial, for I was waiting for my turn to be - operated upon, not knowing whether I would lose my foot or not. - -My turn came at last, and I was given chloroform, and knew nothing more -until I was being carried from the operating table to the hospital -tent, when the rain beating on my face brought back my scattered senses. - -Next morning the wounded were put on board box cars, and sent to City -Point, arriving there late in the afternoon. Here I thought my journey -was at an end, but I was mistaken once more. - -The next morning the surgeon made his rounds at eight o’clock, and all -the badly wounded were given a card, to show that they must be sent on -board the steamer which was to start for Washington in an hour. I was -pleased that I received no card, as it showed that I was not considered -a bad case. At quarter to nine, the assistant surgeon came in. - - “What sergeant, not on board yet?” Said he. - - “No, I’m not going,” I answered. - - “We’ll see about that!” he replied, and out he went. In a moment back - he came with two men, who bundled me onto a stretcher and carried me - on board the steamer just as she was to leave the dock. - -We arrived in Washington on the morning of April 2nd and I was carried -to Armory Square hospital, where I was bathed and put to bed. The lady -nurse, a Miss Dixon of Connecticut, came with an orange and a glass of -lemonade, but I could only shake my head in refusal, for I was in too -much pain to speak. My foot had at last come to its feeling, and for -the next twenty-four hours I suffered the most excruciating agony. I -was given morphine, but it seemed to have no effect for a while. - -The surgeons thought my foot would have to be taken off, but I begged -them not to cripple me for life and they postponed the operation for -a day. At their next visit, they decided the foot could be saved, and -I was very thankful. I suffered a great deal after that, but my foot -greatly improved, until finally on the 19th of April, I was allowed -to get up, and managed to hobble on crutches down to ward I, to visit -sergeant Buker. Was up a few hours, then went to bed very tired and -did not get up next day. - -After that I was up every day, and soon was able to get round very well -on crutches. I saw many sad sights during my stay in this hospital. -Many a poor fellow gave up the weary struggle for life and died; one or -two a day in my ward alone for some time. We were treated very kindly, -and received good care and nursing. - -Many citizens visited the hospitals, and showed much sympathy for -the sick and wounded veterans. There was an old colored woman who -came daily with a big basket of pies, cakes, biscuits, and other good -things, and her coming was always hailed with delight, for to those -who were able to eat what she brought she gave liberally, and to those -who could not, by order of the surgeons receive them, she gave kind -cheering words promising to bring them something they could eat the -next time she came. - -I do not remember her name, only that we all called her “Aunty,” and -that her mistress allowed her to use all the time and material she -desired to make these dainties for the sick men, who daily watched for -her coming, and enjoyed the good things she brought. I can testify -to the fact that she was a good cook, and I shall ever remember her -with gratitude. The lady nurses who cared so tenderly for the sick and -wounded soldiers, will ever be kindly remembered by me. - -Meanwhile stirring events were taking place. Lee’s surrender, which -ended the fighting, and the assassination of President Lincoln occurred -while I lay helpless in the hospital. How I longed to be up and about, -to help finish the work in which I had been so long engaged. - -After the surrender of Lee, and the succeeding events, the army was -massed around Washington, my regiment with the rest, and my tentmate -Graves, and several other comrades came to see me, and it was from them -that I learned what took place after I was wounded. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XXVIII. - -CLOSING SCENES. - - They yield, they turn, they fly the field, - We smite them as they run; - Their arms, their colors are our spoil, - The furious fight is done! - Across the plain we follow far, - And backward push the fray; - Cheer! Cheer! The grand old army - At last has won the day! - - _Stedman._ - - -I can give the further movements of my regiment after I was wounded, -only from what I learned later from my comrades, for to my great -regret, I was not with them to the end. The Fifth corps kept on in -spite of the enemy’s artillery, until they reached around the extreme -right of the confederate line of works in front of Petersburg. Next -day they were relieved by the Second corps, and moved off again to -the left, a little to the west of the Boydton road. Here they were -attacked, and driven back, but again advanced and drove the rebels back. - -Four companies of our regiment were in the line of skirmishers, and -seized the opportunity to get in the rear of the rebel skirmishers, who -were so surprised that they hastily retreated leaving their dinner and -stacked arms, all of which were confiscated by the boys of the 32nd. We -were now on the extreme left of our army and towards night our brigade -was sent out to find, and if possible to re-enforce General Sheridan. -We had all we could attend to in driving the enemy out of our way, and -it was morning before we reached Sheridan. - -That day, April 1st, was fought the battle of Five Forks by the Fifth -corps and the cavalry, all under the command of the dashing and -dauntless Phil Sheridan. It was a complete victory for our side, and we -captured five thousand prisoners. - -Next day, by order of General Sheridan, General Warren was relieved -of the command of the Fifth corps, and our brigade commander, -General Griffin took his place. The colonel of our regiment, James -A. Cunningham was placed in command of a brigade of skirmishers, and -Ambrose Bancroft, captain of our company, (B,) was placed in command of -the 32nd, which was included in Cunningham’s brigade. - -Next day we were deployed to the west, and reaching the South Side -railroad, captured a train of sick and wounded soldiers, took many -other prisoners, and a great quantity of stores and supplies. Here -we learned that General Lee was leaving Petersburg, and retreating -southward, and General Sheridan hastened with his cavalry and the Fifth -corps to cut off his retreat. - -On the 4th of April we seized the only railroad by which Lee could -escape, and on Sunday, the 9th, he made a final attempt to cut his way -through our cavalry’s lines. Our brigade had marched all day and half -the night, and enjoyed about two hours rest, when we were called upon -to re-enforce the cavalry. - -Away we went, the 32nd leading the column, the men gay and bright, and -their guns glistening in the sunshine. At the sight of our coming the -enemy retreated; they had no desire to encounter the “Fighting Fifth” -that day. Soon we received the order “Forward.” We advanced under a -sharp fire from their artillery, and their front line fell back from -our attack. Just then General Lee sent one of his staff with a flag of -truce, and all hostilities ceased. - -We soon heard that General Grant and General Lee were holding a -conference, and at four P. M. the general orders announced that Lee had -surrendered. How profound was our emotion when we realized that the war -was at an end! - -The following day the two armies were mingled together like old -friends. The brave confederates were entirely destitute of rations, -and we shared ours with the half starved men, who had fought so long -and so desperately for a cause that was lost. The next day was the -formal surrender of arms. Our brigade received the surrender, and the -32nd was on the right of the line. Drawn up in line of battle, guns at -shoulder, loaded and capped, eyes front, no cheering, no jeering, only -a sympathetic silence, while the gallant but defeated foe advanced in -front the length of our line, then faced us, stacked arms, laid colors -and equipments on stack, then marched away to make room for another -line, until all had given up their arms. It was a thrilling sight, -never to be forgotten by those who witnessed it. - -After the surrender the regiment was kept busy in various ways, but -at last started for Washington in time to take part in the grand -review, which occurred on the 23rd and 24th of May, 1865. I could -not march with my comrades, but witnessed the parade from a stand -reserved for disabled veterans. In those two days, 150 000 men marched -up Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol, by the White House, out to -Georgetown, and across the Potomac river into Virginia once more. - -What a sight it was! I cannot describe my feelings as I saw those -columns of veterans march by, knowing so well what they had endured, -and what they had accomplished. I was proud to call them comrades. -Nor did I forget the many thousands of brave men who died that their -country might live. I thought sadly of my companions in arms, whose -faces I missed when my regiment passed by; they will never be forgotten -until I too have joined the grand army of the dead. - -[Illustration] - - - - -CHAPTER XXIX. - -MUSTERED OUT. - - They are coming from the wars, - They are bringing home their scars, - They are bringing back the old flag too in glory; - They have battled long and well, - And let after ages tell, - How they won the proudest name in song or story. - - _Eugene H. Munday._ - - -I remained in Armory Square hospital until the 26th of May, when I was -transferred to a place called White Hall, on the Delaware river, about -eighteen miles above Philadelphia. It was formally a seminary, but -had been taken for hospital use. At the time I wished it had always -remained what it was built for, as it was the most lonesome and dreary -place I ever saw. The nearest place was a village called Bristol, two -miles away, and we went there when we could, and those who were able -traveled the country for miles around, just to pass the time away. It -seemed very hard, now that the war was over, and our services no longer -needed, that we could not return to our homes. - -On the 7th of June they began mustering out men of the different -states, and fifty to a hundred men left the hospital for home every -day. Day after day passed, and there still remained all those of my -regiment, six or seven, with no sign of being mustered out. - -On the 3rd day of July we heard of our regiment passing through -Philadelphia on its way home, and then we could content ourselves no -longer. We wanted to be with them when they entered old Massachusetts -again, and to be with our comrades once more before the regiment was -disbanded, and those who had been our companions so long were scattered -far and wide. - -We went to the surgeon in charge, and asked him why we were not -discharged. - - “It takes a long while to get your descriptive lists from the front, - and I intend to have you veterans discharged for wounds received in - action, and you would get a hundred dollars extra,” was his reply. - -But that was no inducement to me to stay there any longer, and I asked -him if I could not be sent to my regiment, and he gave his consent, so -on the 6th of July, in company with one or two others of my regiment, I -bade goodbye to my hospital life, and started for Massachusetts. - -Arriving in Boston on the evening of the 7th, we remained there that -night and the next morning took the steamer for Galloupe’s Island, -where our regiment was quartered. - -Here we remained until the thirteenth, when the regiment was disbanded, -and the boys left for their homes. The 32nd was no more, but their -deeds will never die. - -I went back to Boston to wait for my discharge, made a brief visit -home to spend Sunday and returned to Boston, where on the 18th of July -1865, I received my discharge, and was a free man once more, having -served Uncle Sam for three years, eight months and sixteen days. I was -with my company from the time I enlisted until I was wounded, with the -exception of two furloughs. My wound was healed, though I had to use a -cane for some time longer. - -When I enlisted, my mind was made up to do my duty, whatever the -consequences, and I trust it will not seem like boasting when I say -that I did so every time. When traitors tried to destroy the best -government that ever existed, and dishonor their country’s flag, I felt -if was my duty to enlist and do what I could for my native land, and I -have never been sorry that I did so. - -My health was always good, and I was fortunate in battle, never being -laid off duty until I was wounded, just before the last battle in which -my regiment participated. In thirty-eight battles, I shared the dangers -with my comrades of company B. But where are the 101 men of my company -who left Concord for Fort Warren on that cold morning of December 3rd, -1861? I called the roll of company B in 1865, when there were but eight -men left of the original company. - -Ah, the memories that arise of the brave boys who shared with me the -hardships and dangers of those long years of warfare! Brothers could -not be dearer than those who have shared their last hardtack with -me, helped me off the field when wounded, cheered me on the long and -tiresome march when I was about ready to give up and drop by the -wayside. I think I used to dread the long marches more than I did the -battles, and welcome the sight of a brush with the enemy that would -stop the march for a while. - -We had each to carry a musket, 40 to 80 rounds of ammunition, haversack -with four to six days rations, knapsack, blanket, shelter tent, -together with our canteen and other small articles that we could not do -without, and to carry this on the march from ten to twenty hours at a -time with only a few moments now and then to rest, often seemed more of -a trial to me than the hardest fought battle I was ever in. - -But the hardest trial of all was to have my comrades shot down on my -right and on my left, and have to rush on with the rest in the charge, -or in battle, leaving them behind to suffer and die. - -No words can do justice to that experience, or the feeling of the -battle-worn soldier, when he starts out after the battle is over to -hunt up his comrades that have not answered the rollcall, will never -answer it again, and he digs a hole in the ground with his bayonet and -wrapping a blanket around his dead comrade’s body, lays him to rest in -an unknown grave forevermore. - -And now my story is told; it is a plain, true tale of my experience -in the War of the Rebellion, and may help the future generations to -understand just what their fathers suffered, that their native land -might remain forever, an undivided nation. - -[Illustration] - - - - -TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: - - - Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. - - Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. - - Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized. - - Archaic or variant spelling has been retained. - - The Table of Contents appears at the end of the original book. 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