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THE 

TWENTY-FOURTH 

REGIMENT 

MASSACHUSETTS  VOLUNTEERS 
1861-1866 

''NEW  ENGLAND  GUARD 
REGIMENT" 


BY 

ALFRED  S.  ^OE 

A   VETERAN  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR 


["  The  Twenty-fourth  was  one  of  the  best  regiments  ever  recruited  in 
Massachusetts." — AiuuTANT-fJENKRAL  William  Schoilkr.] 


Regimental  Committee  on  History 

Charles   B.  Amory  -  John  C.    Cook 

George    Hill 


PUBLISHED   BY  THE 

TWENTY-FOURTH  VETERAN  ASSOCIATION 

WORCESTER,   .\L4SS. 

1907 


\\\S\K\" 


thenevTyork     I 
PaBLIC  LIBRARY 

ASTOR,  LEN'5X  AND 
Ti:.D£N  FOUl^DATIONS 
R  1926  L  j 


Cou.vriKht,  I'.Hi-.  liy 

Al.FIiED   S.    KOK 


THE    3LANCHAR0     PRESS 
WORCESTER,    MASS. 


PREFACE. 

For  the  war  to  preserve  the  Union,  Massachusetts  sup- 
plied forty  so-called  "three  years"  regiments.  Of  this 
large  number  onh^  one,  the  Thirtieth,  saw  longer  service 
than  that  of  the  Twenty-fourth.  Whether  recruited  earlier 
or  later,  every  regiment,  except  these  two,  was  at  home 
before  the  end  of  September,  1865,  yet  the  Twenty-fourth 
and  the  Thirtieth  lingered  on  till  January  and  July 
respectively,  1866.  Perhaps  no  regiment  from  the  Bay 
State  w^ent  through  regular  campaigns  in  so  many  states 
as  did  the  one  whose  record  this  volume  embodies.  Save 
for  brief  trips  into  IMaryland  and  Pennsylvania,  as  at 
Antietam  and  Gettysburg,  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  fought 
entirely  in  Virginia;  the  Twenty-fourth,  counting  its 
service  in  Boston  Harbor  and  at  Annapolis,  is  justified  in 
claiming  no  less  than  six  states  as  its  several  theatres  of 
operations,  for,  in  addition  to  Massachusetts  and  Maryland, 
were  the  Burnside  Expedition  to  North  Carolina,  the  long 
siege  of  Charleston  in  South  Carolina,  the  winter's  cam- 
paign in  Florida,  and  the  crowning  trial  with  the  Army  of 
the  James  in  Virginia. 

The  book  itself  is  in  no  sense  a  history  of  the  war, 
seldom  generalizing,  never  moralizing  nor  discussing  what 
might  or  what  ought  to  have  been,  but  always  confining 
itself  to  what  the  officers  and  men  of  this  regiment  saw, 
said,  thought  and,  above  all,  did.  For  many  years  it  had 
been  a  dream  of  the  survivors  of  so  many  years  of  service 
that  their  history  would  be  written,  and  one  of  their  nnmber 
was  long  ago  designated  as  historian,  but  nothing  came  of 
waiting  and  watching  till  in  January,  1906,  INIajor  Charles 
B.  Amory,  John  C.  Cook  and  George  Hill  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  take  the  matter  in  hand,  and  to  them  was 


4  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

given  power  to  act.  After  due  "consideration  and  inter- 
views, they  employed  as  the  writer  of  their  story  one  who 
had  had  some  experience  in  such  work.  Sending  out,  in  the 
month  of  INfarch,  3  906,  circulars  to  all  survivors,  as  far  as  they 
could  be  found,  stating  the  purpose  in  hand  and  requesting 
contributions  of  everything  that  would  add  to  the  interest 
of  the  history,  the  work  began.  -  The  answers  from  recip- 
ients of  the  circular  were  of  the  most  satisfactory  character, 
so  much  so  that  in  preparing  the  story  it  has  been  to  some 
extent  a  question  of  what  must  be  left  out  rather  than  of 
searching  for  material. 

Notwithstanding  the  excellent  character  of  the  officers 
and  men  of  the  regiment,  very  little  had  been  put  out  in 
book  or  pamphlet  form  concerning  it.  The  memorial  volume 
of  General  Thomas  G.  Stevenson,  printed  soon  after  his 
death;  "The  Captured  Scout,"  by  Chaplain  H.  Clay  Trum- 
bull of  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  published  in  1869,  detailing 
the  adventures  of  Henry  H.  Manning,  Company  G,  together 
with  the  privately  printed  sketch  of  his  own  military  career 
by  Major  Chas.  B.  Amory,  originally  of  Company  F,  and 
his  Roster  of  Company  I,  of  Avhich  he  was  subsequently 
Captain,  constitute  the  entire  list  of  such  matter  till  the 
issuing,  late  in  1906,  of  the  proceedings  incident  to  the 
dedication  of  the  Stevenson  bronze  in  the  State  House. 
Such  scarcity  of  duly  credited  matter  was  not  owing  to 
lack  of  incident  and  collection,  but  rather  to  a  widespread 
expectation  that  some  other  one  Avould  undertake  and  go 
ahead  with  the  task. 

The  framework  of  the  history  is  made  from  the  diaries 
and  letters  of  General  Francis  A.  Osborn,  who  had  the 
fortunate  foresight  to  make  regular  records  of  the  daily 
happenings  of  the  several  years  of  his  service.  These  have 
proved  invaluable  in  the  compilation.  Covering  and  orna- 
ment to  this  substantial  skeleton  structure  have  been  found 
in  the  reports  as  made  to  the  proper  authorities  and  are  now 
published  in  the  Official  Records  of  the  War  of  the  Rebel- 


Preface.  5 

lion,  along  with  the  incident  and  anecdote  as  jotted  down 
at  the  time  by  the  active  participants,  and  on  request  were 
forwarded  for  use  in  these  pages.  Especially  valuable  in 
this  connection  were  the  diaries  of  John  M.  Spear,  Jr..  of  D, 
of  George  H.  Howard  and  Jolin  Tliorne  of  G,  and  the 
sketches  of  active  army  life  furnished  by  H.  B.  McLellan  of 
A,  C.  P.  Chase  of  B,  C.  T.  Ford  of  D,  Wm.  E.  Clark,  A.  H. 
Knowles  and  C.  G.  Robinson  of  F,  James  Armstrong  of  I, 
and  E.  B.  Lyon  of  K.' 

The  thorough  drill  and  discipline  to  which  the  regiment  was 
subjected  resulted  in  unusual  demands  upon  it  for  officers 
to  serve  in  a  detached  capacity,  and  for  officers  and  men 
for  promotion  in  other  organizations.  For  the  latter  purpose 
the  Twenty-fourth  lost  no  less  than  ten  commissioned  officers 
and  thirty  enlisted  men,  very  many  of  whom  attained  high 
rank  in  their  new  organizations.  The  quality  of  the  regi- 
ment's personnel  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  the  following 
names,  borne  on  the  list  of  brigadier-generals  from  Massa- 
chusetts, Avere  at  first  on  the  rolls  of  the  Twenty-fourth : 

Thomas      G.     Stevenson,    Colonel;      Brigadier-general, 

December  26,  1862. 
Francis    A.    Osborn,  Colonel;    Brevet  Brigadier-general, 

March  13,  1865. 
Robert  H.    Stevenson,  Lieutenant-colonel;    Brevet    Brig- 
adier-general, March  13,  1865. 
Albert    Ordway,  Lieutenant-colonel;     Brevet    Brigadier- 
general,  March  13,  1865. 
John     F.    Anderson,    Adjutant;     Brevet     Brigadier-gen- 
eral, April  2,  1865. 
J.    Cushing     Edmands,    First     Sergeant     Company      K, 
Colonel  Thirty-second  Massachusetts;  Brevet  Brig- 
adier-general, March   13,  1865. 

Samuel  A.  Green,  Surgeon,  who  ranked  as  Major  during 
his  service,  was  brevetted  Lieutenant-colonel  March  13,  186'), 
an  honor  conferred  on  only  two    other    Bay    State    surgeons. 


()  TWENTY-PX)URTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REiIIMENT. 

jiccording' to  Colonel  T.  W.  Higg'iii.son  in  his  "Massachusetts 
ill  the  Army  and  Navy." 

Tn  addition  to  these  instances  of  preferment  during  the 
war,  it  should  be  stated  that  others  remaining  in  the  State 
military  service  enjoyed  recognition  for  many  a  year. 
Thomas  F.  Edmands,  whom  many  have  called  the  beau 
ideal  of  soldiers,  and  who  came  home  in  1866,  command- 
ing what  was  left  of  the  regiment,  w^as  the  commander  of 
the  First  Corps  of  Cadets  till  within  a  very  few  weeks  of 
his  death  in  Augaist,  1906.  Nathaniel  Wales,  who  was  the 
First  Sergeant  of  Company  G,  gained  the  position  of  Major 
in  the  Thirty-fifth  Massachusetts,  and  the  brevet  rank  of 
Lieutenant-colonel  and  Colonel,  becoming  Brigadier-general 
subsequently  in  the  State  Militia.  Captain  John  N.  Partridge 
in  1868  entered  the  Twenty-third  Regiment,  N.  Y.  N.  G., 
and,  after  successive  promotions,  became  Colonel,  holding 
the  position  some  eight  or  nine  years,  resigning  in  1894 
after  more  than  twenty-five  years  of  service. 

The  rank  and  file  that  followed  such  officers  were  worthy 
of  their  leaders ;  confident  in  them  and  above  all  in  them- 
selves, they  never  lost  a  standard  nor  showed  the  white  fea- 
ther for  an  instant.  They  were  always  ready  for  any  exac- 
tion ;  forlorn  hopes  never  lacked  volunteers,  and  when  they 
fought  side  by  side  with  other  regiments,  the  latter  had  a 
sense  of  security  in  such  proximity.  The  fatalities  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  in  the  field  did  not  reach  the  arbitrary  num- 
ber, one  hundred  and  thirt.v,  established  by  Colonel  Wm.  F. 
Fox,  in  compiling  his  famous  ''Three  Hundred  Fighting 
Regiments,"  an  invaluable  volume,  productive,  however,  of 
more  heart-burn  than  any  other  compilation  of  statistics 
extant.  Yet,  if  the  reader  carefully  follows  the  record  as 
given  by  the  Colonel,  he  may  spare  himself  some  bitter 
reflections,  for  it  is  distinctly  stated  there  that  many  regi- 
ments not  included  in  the  list  may  have  been  better 
fighting  organizations  than  some  of  those  mentioned,  for, 
through  their  careful  handling  or  other  adventitious  circum- 


Preface.  7 

stance,  the  lives  of  the  men  were  spared  to  continue  the 
fif^ht  on  other  occasions.  The  extreme  discipline  , to  which 
the  Twenty-fourth  was  accustomed  was  an  absolute  pre- 
ventive of  panic  or  confusion  of  any  sort,  and  with  an  array 
of  officers  possessing  unusually  cool  heads  and  excellent 
judgment,  and  a  most  faithful  and  effective  medical  staff 
to  repair  the  casualties  of  combat,  there  was  no  needless  loss 
of  life,  hence  the  result,  just  a  little  under  the  aggregate 
assumed  in  the  book  as  the  standard  of  admission  to  the 
thrice  one  hundred,  selected  from  the  more  than  two 
thousand  regiments  in  the  Union  Army  during  the  great 
struggle. 

At  this  period  of  time,  more  than  forty-two  years  beyond 
Appomattox,  the  great  majority  of  those  who  made  the 
splendid  record  of  the  regiment  are  afar  from  earthly 
interests,  but  the  minority  yet  this  side  the  final  camiDing- 
ground,  their  friends  and  families  as  well  as  those  of  the 
many  who  have  ceased  from  this  life,  are  desirous  of  seeing 
in  book  form  the  story  of  the  camps,  marches  and  battles 
of  long  ago.  Fortunately  the  liberal  and  patriotic  policy 
of  the  Commonwealth  renders  this  possible,  even  though  the 
day  be  far  spent  and  the  crossing  is  near.  In  sending  out 
the  result  of  much  comparing  of  notes,  reading  of  letters, 
diaries  and  contemporary  written  and  printed  matter,  the 
compiler  has  had  the  efficient  aid  of  Generals  Osborn  and 
Stevenson,  Majors  Richardson  and  Amory  and  Surgeon 
Green  in  a  supervisory  capacity,  so  that  only  well-proven 
facts  should  find  place  in  the  volume,  and  to  them  for  their 
painstaking  services  thanks  are  hereby  rendered.  Grateful 
acknowledgment  is  also  made  to  all  those  who  by  the 
lending  of  portraits,  views  and  pictures  of  men  and  places 
rendered  the  illustrating  of  the  history  possible.  Among  the 
many  thus  helpful  should  be  mentioned  those  already  assisting 
in  other  ways,  with  Captains  E.  F.  Clark,  James  Thompson, 
Jas.  M.  Barnard,  J.  N.  Partridge,  Robt.  Carruthers.  Wm.  F. 
Wiley,- Lieutenants    P.  E.  Wheeler    and    Geo.    A.    Higgins, 


8  Twenty-fourth  MxVSSAchusetts  Regiment. 

together  with  Miss  Louisa  M.,  daughter  of  Lieutenant- 
colonel  Chas.  H.  Hooper,  and  Adjutant-general  J.  C.  R. 
Foster  of  Tallahassee,  Florida,  son  of  Major  Davis  Foster. 
In  the  same  list  should  be  included  the  names  of  Wm.  H. 
Cundr  of  Gilmore's  Band;  Sewell  S.  Ingraham  and  J.  H. 
Atwood  of  the  regimental  band ;  John  C.  Cook,  long  Secre- 
tary of  the  Veteran  Association ;  E.  H.  Gilford  and  Samuel 
Willis  of  C;  Thos.  Fanning  and  C.  A.  Fitch  of  D;  D.  H. 
Cunningham  and  S.  A.  Edgerly  of  E ;  B.  Pettee  and  F.  H. 
Bullai'd  of  G;  AV.  H.  Austin,  Peter  DeLane,  Wm.  H.  King  and 
E.  M.  Tucker  of  I;  Chas.  E.  Grant  and  A.  J.  Vining  of  K. 
Geo.  W.  Dickinson  of  Worcester  has  kindly  lent  data  pertain- 
ing to  his  father  and  brother;  Mrs.  M.  E.  O'Brien  of  Boston, 
photograph  and  facts  concerning  her  husband,  the  late 
Sheriff  J.  B.  O'Brien;  Miss  Annie  R.  Spear,  portraits  and 
views ;  while  outside  of  the  regiment  and  immediate  friends, 
acknowledgments  are  due  for  favors  to  Captain  Daniel  El- 
dredge  of  the  Third  New  Hampshire  Regiment,  Mr.  James  B. 
Gardner,  Forty-fourth  Massachusetts;  John  Gray,  Twenty- 
third  Massachusetts,  and  Captain  A.  F.  Slate  of  the  Tenth 
Connecticut.  C.  B.  Tillinghast,  S.  A.  Green  and  S.  S.  Green, 
librarians  respectively  of  the  State,  Massachusetts  Historical, 
and  the  Worcester  Public  Libraries,  have  kindly  aided  in 
granting  the  use  of  said  collections,  and  the  uniformh^  kind 
and  courteous  usage  in  the  Adjutant-general's  Department  at 
the  State  House  is  gratefully  remembered. 

ALFRED  S.  ROE. 

Worcester,  ^Massachusetts,  November,  1907. 


ERRATA. 

Page  H;i.     For  stfiUiiLT  "(iuidi',"  read  "^'i(U■tte.■' 

Page  240.     For  A.  .T.  Vamey,  rrnd  A.  .T.  Viiiing. 

Pages  4S7,  4S<(,  4'.y.\.    Fur  Wm.  A.  Coiithoiiy,  rend  Wm.  A.  ('outlKiuy. 


NEW    ENGLAND    GUARD    AND    FORT 
INDEPENDENCE. 

In  1861  the  New  Eng-land  Guard,  a  Boston  military  organ- 
ization, was  nearing  its  half-centui^'  mark.  Organized  in 
1812,  for  almost  fifty  years  it  had  been  one  of  the. best  drilled 
companies  in  the  Commonwealth.  From  the  beginning  its 
personnel  consisted  of  the  very  finest  material  afl:'orded  by  the 
foremost  city  in  New  England,  men  who  were  capable  of 
appreciating  and,  if  need  be,  exemplifying  its  motto,  viz.: 

"our  nation's  honor  the  bond  of  union." 

When  1861  began,  the  Guards,  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Harrison  Ritchie,  constituted  Company  B  of  the  Sec- 
ond Battalion  of  Infantry.  In  those  days  military  spirit  ran 
high,  for  war  between  North  and  South  seemed  imminent. 
Captain  Ritchie  having  resigned  to  accept  a  position  on  the 
staff  of  Governor  John  A.  Andrew,  George  H.  Gordon,  a 
graduate  of  West  Point  and  an  officer  in  the  Mexican  War, 
was  made  his  successor.  March  11  of  the  same  j^ear  the 
Guards  became  Company  A  of  the  Fourth  Battalion  and  a 
new  Company  B  was  raised,  Captain  Gordon  being  promoted 
Major  in  connnand.  Thomas  G.  Stevenson,  who  had  been 
First  Sergeant  in  the  old  company,  was  elected  Captain  of  the 
new  one,  and  Francis  A.  Osborn,  Gordon's  First  Lieutenant', 
succeeded  to  the  connnand  of  t'ompany  A.  By  this  time  the 
fray  had  begun  and  volunteer  regiments  were  forming  or,  at 
any  rate,  were  in  contemplation.  The  Sixth  Regiment  was 
on  its  way  to  Baltimore  when  Major. Gordon,  mindful  of  his 
military  training  received  from  the  government,  on  the  18th  of 


10  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

April  tendered  his  serviees  to  the  (Tovernor  and  at  the  same 
time  resigned  his  command  of  tlie  Fourth  Battalion.  It  is 
claimed  that  this  protfer  of  the  su])seqnent  Colonel  of  the 
Second  Regiment  was  the  very  first  received  by  (Tovernor 
Andrew. 

Toward  the  last  of  April,  it  liecame  apparent  to  the 
authorities  that  Fort  Independence  in  Boston  Harboi-,  then 
guarded  only  liy  an  ordnance  sergeant,  should  not  be  allowed 
to  continue  in  an  unprotected  state.  The  patriotism  of  the 
Fourth  Battalion  was  appealed  to  in  a  recjuest  that  it  should 
garrison  the  fort  without  pay,  l)eing  furnished  rations  ))y  tlie 
State.  The  battalion  promptly  and  cheerfully  assented,  and 
on  the  2r)th  of  April  proceeded  to  the  fort  and  took  charge  of 
it.  As  senior  otficer,  Captain  Stevenson  was  in  command,  and 
on  the  4th  of  May  he  was  unanimously  elected  Ma.jor,  his 
brother,  Robert  H.  Stevenson,  succeeding  to  the  captaincy  of 
Company  B.  This  promotion,  by  no  means  sought  liy  Major 
Stevenson,  was  accepted  with  reluctance,  but  his  associates 
had  sensed,  as  perhaps  he  did  not  himself,  the  preeminent 
military  genius  already  indicated.  How  well  he  continued  the 
excellent  work  begun  by  Captain  (Tordon  was  early  shown  in 
the  proficiency  exhibited  by  his  command  in  all  its  work. 
Nor  did  the  merit  of  R.  H.  Stevenson,  the  youthful  Captain 
of  Company  B,  pass  unrecognized,  for  his  followers  procured  for 
him  an  elegant  sword,  which  they  duly  presented,  but  it  was 
surmised  that  the  gratitude  of  the  officer  was  considerably 
alloyed  by  the  fact  that  he  had  to  make  a  speech  of  acceptance, 
and  while  he  acquitted  himself  with  credit,  as  he  always  did 
everywhere,  his  admiring  friends  were  all  agog  to  hear  what 
he  might  have  to  say,  as  action  rather  than  words  was  known 
to  be  the  Captain's  forte. 

So  far  as  known  the  unrequited  services  of  the  battalion 
in  thus  garrisoning  the  fort  were  unique,  and  really  only  such 
an  organization  as  this  could  afford  to  serve  for  nothing,  get- 
ting only  its  board  in  return.  As  a  visitor  remarked,  "These 
young  men  are  for  the   most  part  the  sons  of  wealthy  mer- 


Xew  Exclaxd  (tuard  and  Fokt  Independence.       11 

chants  in  Boston,  and  on  tliis  account  are  inclined  to  ])e  sensi- 
tive, fearing  that  the  peculiar  service  to  which  they  have  been 
called  will  be  construed  as  an  indication  of  their  desire  to  play 
the  gentleman  soldier  and  an  unwillingness  to  be  called  into 
the  tield,  which  is  far  from  the  case.  ^  -i^  *  These  soldiers  at 
Fort  Independence  are  by  strict  discipline  perfecting  and 
inuring  themselves  in  preparation  for  the  real  hardships  of 
war  and  active  service  into  which  they  ma^'  soon  be  called.'' 
Many  observers  at  the  fort,  during  the  single  month  of  the 
battalion's  stay,  commented  on  the  rare  spirit  of  the  soMiers, 
their  evident  desire  to  acquire  all  that  could  be  given  and  the 
masterly  manner  in  which  they  were  taught  by  those  who  led. 
At  the  same  time  it  would  be  unfair  to  these  patriots, 
many  of  them  still  in  school  or  college,  to  think  that  they  were 
prematurely  old  or  that  they  did  not  have  their  quantum  of 
fun.  This  excellent  story  is  told  of  a  young  Harvard  man.  in 
later  life  to  adorn  the  bench  of  the  U.  8.  Supreme  Court,  and 
whom  his  father  was  to  seek,  after  Antietam,  in  "My  Hunt 
after  the  Captain."  It  appears  that  his  fellows  were  giving 
him  a  butcher-boy  cut  of  his  hair  and  had  clipped  the  locks 
closely  from  one  side  of  his  head  when  some  one  sang  out, 
"Here  comes  the  Doctor."  Whereupon  the  man  with  the 
shears  refused  to  work  further.  The  greeting  of  "  Boy''  and 
his  merry  ' '  Dad ' '  may  be  imagined  by  those  who  have  read  of 
the  Holmeses,  father  and  son.  That  Thomas  G.  Stevenson's 
was  the  master  mind  in  this  preparatory  period  no  one  ever 
questioned  for  a  moment.  Said  a  writer  of  these  days,  "  He 
was  fairly  idolized  by  his  men,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  any  one 
less  peculiarly-  fitted  for  the  position  could  have  maintained  as 
strict  discipline."  So  strict  and  thorough  were  discipline 
and  drill  and  so  loyal  the  spirit  of  the  men  that  out  of  the  one 
hundred  and  sixty-one  who  were  on  duty  at  Fort  Independ- 
ence in  the  spring  of  1861,  before  the  close  of  the  year  one 
hundred  and  sixteen  had  been  commissioned  and  several  had 
enlisted  in  the  ranks.  Out  of  the  entire  number,  as  stated  l)y 
one  of  the  members,  all  but  fifteen  went  into  the  arm}'. 


12  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

From  what  stock  these  soldiers  came  appears  when  it  is 
learned  that  on  the  very  day  that  Captain  George  H.  Gordon 
resigned  one  position  and  offered  himself  for  another,  ]\Iiss 
Hannah  E.  Stevenson,  aunt  of  the  subsequent  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral, Thomas  G.  Stevenson,  in  behalf  of  three  hundred  Boston 
ladies,  called  on  Governor  Andrew  and  expressed  their  will- 
ingness to  go  to  the  front  as  nurses  if  needed.  Miss  Steven- 
son afterwards  went  to  the  front  and  did  good  service  in  the 
hospitals. 

The  stay  at  Fort  Independence,  though  of  infinite  utility, 
was  brief,  for  on  the  25th  day  of  May  the  battalion  was  re- 
lieved and  returned  to  the  city.  At  this  time  comes  the  first 
mention  of  Patrick  S.  Gilmore  in  connection  with  the  men 
before  so  many  of  whom  his  delightful  strains  were  to  sound 
in  coming  months,  since  on  this  day  was  heard  for  the  first 
time  the  "Fourth  Battalion  Quickstep,  "arranged  by  this  prince 
of  musicians  and  to  whose  enlivening  air  these  men  in  the 
future  were  to  march  many  a  mile.  C-omments  by  the  Boston 
press  on  the  appearance  of  the  returning  soldiers  were  of  the 
most  flattering  character.  It  was  generally  asserted  at  the 
time  that  no  other  military  organization  had  made  so  credit- 
able a  display,  and  this  was  less  than  two  years  after  the  visit 
of  Colonel  Ellsworth  and  his  inimitable  Fire  Zouaves  from 
Chicago.  The  men  could  hardly  have  been  accorded  a  more 
enthusiastic  reception  if  they  had  been  returning  victorious 
from  the  field  of  battle.  The  streets  through  which  they 
marched  were  lined  with  a  dense  throng,  which  manifested  the 
utmost  enthusiasm,  applauding  and  cheering  at  every  step. 
To  the  great  credit  of  the  discipline  of  the  men  it  is  recorded 
that  all  this  excitement  did  not  in  the  least  shake  their  steadi- 
ness, nor  cause  any  turning  of  the  heads  from  side  to  side  in 
recognition  of  friends.  The  Common  was  densely  packed  with 
crowds  of  people,  consisting  largely  of  friends  of  the  men 
themselves,  and  here  the  enthusiasm  was  in  no  way  less 
ardent  than  that  accorded  the  battalion  in  the  streets. 

Could  the  thousands  who   applauded   the   return   of  these 


RE(nMKXT    Pko.IECTED.  13 

embryonic  soldiers  have  turned  their  sight  to  the  future  and 
there  beheld  what  was  in  store  for  many  of  these  gallant 
men,  tears  had  blinded  eyes  that  then  rejoiced  at  the  exhibi- 
tion of  manly  excellence.  The  shadow  of  a  hundred  battles 
was  over  that  devoted  band,  yet  neither  man  nor  friend  beheld 
it.  Names  of  combats,  fierce  and  bloody,  as  yet  unknown  to 
fame,  through  the  deeds  of  these  and  others  like  them  will 
"become  household  words  for  a  thousand  years.  That  ideal 
soldier  who  is  the  cynosure  of  all  beholders,  the  leader,  in  so 
short  a  time  will  fall,  star- bedecked,  in  the  battle- whirl  of 
Spottsylvania.  Antietam,  Gettysburg,  Wauhatchie  and  Fort 
Wagner  are  also  there.  In  the  ranks  is  marching  a  col- 
lege boy,  on  leave  of  absence,  who,  often  wounded  in  coming 
years,  will  be  in  the  thick  of  the  fight  at  Ball's  Bluflf,  York- 
town  where  he  loses  a  leg,  at  Port  Hudson,  the  Wilderness, 
at  the  Mine  in  front  of  Petersburg;  always  the  bravest  of  the 
brave,  he  will  come  home  to  a  few  brief  years  of  feebleness 
and  an  early  death.  How  that  great  company  had  shouted 
had  they  foreseen  all  this  as  Wm.  F.  Bartlett  passed!  And  he 
with  characteristic  frankness  said  this  of  his  one  month's 
experience  at  Fort  Independence,  "What  have  I  gained 
during  the  last  month?  I  have  learned  more  military  than 
I  could  have  learned  in  a  year  in  the  Armory  or  from  books. 
*  *  I  value  the  Ivnowledge  acquired  in  the  last  month  more 
highly  than  all  the  Greek  and  Latin  I  have  learned  in  the 
last  year.  *  *  I  look  back  on  the  past  month  as  one  of  the 
pleasantest  and  most  useful  that  I  remember." 

THE   REGIMENT   PROJECTED. 

Amid  such  scenes  and  labors  were  evolved  the  plans  which 
resulted  in  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment,  ^Massachusetts 
Volunteers.  A  significant  name  for  the  birthplace  of  a 
regiment  is  Fort  Independence.  No  sooner  had  the  New 
England  Guard  returned   to    Boston  than    ^Major    Stevenson, 


14  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

the  commander  of  the  battalion,  and  Captain  Osborn  of 
Company  A  called  upon  Governor  Andrew  and  offered  their 
services  as  officers  of  volunteers,  expressing  the  wish  that,  if 
he  thought  them  worthy,  he  would  commission  them  respec- 
tively, as  Colonel  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  one  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts regiments.  Profiting  by  the  experience  of  some  of 
the  organizations  already  effected,  they  explained  to  the 
Governor  the  plan  by  which  they  thought  they  could  raise  a 
regiment  which,  in  point  of  efficiency,  should  be  second  to 
none  that  the  State  might  send  out.  They  represented  that 
there  were  in  the  Fourth  Battalion  from  one  hundred  and 
sixty  to  one  hundred  and  seventy  young  men  of  education, 
intelligence,  ability  and  courage  whom  they  had  known  for  a 
long  time,  and  whose  capacity  they  had  had  a  most  admirable 
opportunity  to  study  through  the  month's  serious  military 
work  at  Fort  Independence.  Thej^  were  certain  that  from  this 
body  of  gallant  young  men,  they  could  pick  out  a  select  list 
of  officers  and  that,  in  this  way,  they  could  form  the  cadre  or 
framework  of  a  regiment,  leaving  the  officers  thus  selected  to 
fill  up  their  respective  companies.  In  this  manner  there 
would  be  secured  a  homogeneous  body  of  officers,  all  trained 
in  the  same  school,  who  would  be  on  the  best  of  terms  with 
each  other  and,  for  this  reason,  would  work  harmoniously 
together  for  a  common  purpose.  Such  a  corps  would  have 
the  further  advantage  of  occupying  a  position  which  from 
the  very  beginning  of  acquaintance  with  their  men  would 
be  one  of  superiority  and  would  not  be  embarrassed  by  any 
previous  relations  of  friendship  or  comradeship :  relations 
which  might  make  the  officer  reluctant  to  assume  the  strict 
attitude  of  command  which  his  duty  required  and  might 
lead  the  man  to  be  impatient  of  the  control  to  which  he  was 
bound  to  submit. 

Governor  Andrew  acknowledged  the  superiority  of  the  plan 
and  said  he  should  be  very  glad  to  commission  the  officers 
at  once  and  give  them  the  authority  asked,  but  he  added  that 


Ki:(;iMEXT  Pho.ipx'ted.  ,  lo 

the  general  g-overnment  was  calling  for  troops,  that  Massa- 
chusetts must  fill  her  quota  with  the  utmost  dispatch,  for 
wliieh  reasons  he  could  not  then  wait  for  a  process  so  slow 
as  the  one  proposed  would  naturally  be.  He  did,  however, 
offer  the  positions  of  Colonel  and  Lieutenant-colonel  in  a  regi- 
ment which  was  nearly  recruited  up  to  the  full  number  re- 
quired by  law,  but  this  was  not  satisfactory  to  the  would-be 
officers.  The  regiment  designated  was  made  up  of  companies 
which  had  been  gathered  together,  one  in  one  town,  another  in 
another,  the  officers  having  been  elected  by  the  men.  It  thus 
stood  in  that  very  relation  which  was  thought  desirable  to 
avoid,  the  officers  already  commissioned  behag,  for  the  most 
part,  persons  who  had  had  no  military  training  and  had 
secured  their  positions,  probably,  from  the  fact  of  their  being 
sons  of  the  leading  men  in  their  respective  towns.  As  a  result 
of  the  interview,  the  Guardsmen  retired,  having  thanked  His 
Excellency  for  giving  them  the  opportunity  to  decline  com- 
missions thus  tendered,  and  professing  their  preference  to 
wait  till  the  time  should  come  when  they  might  be  able  to 
carry  out  the  scheme,  on  which  so  much  time  had  already 
been    spent  and  in  which  they  had  so  much  conlidence. 

Governor  Andrew  took  the  declinations  very  kindly  and 
was  profuse  in  his  expressions  of  good  will  and  his  willing- 
ness to  comply  with  the  wishes  of  his  visitors,  whenever  the 
exigencies  of  the  service  would  warrant.  During  the  fol- 
lowing months  he  received  many  calls  from  these  young  men 
with  ideas;  indeed  one  of  them  said,  "We  haunted  the  State 
House,"  always  finding  a  hearty  welcome  from  the  Governor 
and  from  his  staff'  officers,  especially  from  Colonel  Henry 
Lee.  Jr.,  of  Brookline,  ever  the  truest  of  friends,  who 
entered  into  the  proposed  variation  in  the  forming  of  a  regi- 
ment with  generous  enthusiasm.  Then  came  the  offers  of  two 
more  regiments,  rare  tributes  to  the  worth  of  the  gentlemen 
themselves,  but  still  far  from  realizing  the  ideals  which  they 
had  conceived;  so  again  and  again  they  declined  the  proffers. 


10  Twenty-fourth  jMassachusetts  Regiment. 

Their  friend  of  the  staff,  Colonel  Lee,  recounted  to  them  the 
fable  of  the  man  who,  seeking  a  straight  stick,  went  quite 
through  the  woods  and  was  obliged  to  pick  up  a  crooked  one 
at  last. 

THE  REaiMENT  OUTLINED. 

However,  there  came  a  day  when  Fortune  smiled  upon 
them.  The  Commonwealth  had  filled  her  quota  and  no 
longer  was  in  such  haste  for  troops  that  she  must  scoop  them 
up  by  the  handful  without  regard  to  the  best  system  of  re- 
cruiting, and  had  reached  the  time  when  there  was  no  call  pend- 
ing which  required  haste,  though  it  was  evident  that  more 
troops  would  be  required.  It  was  August  31,  1861,  that 
Governor  Andrew  gave  the  long-sought  authority,  and  com- 
missioned Major  Stevenson  colonel  and  Captain  Osbom 
lieutenant-colonel  of  a  possible  Twenty-fourth  Regiment, 
Massachusetts  Volunteers,  giving  them  full  power  to  select 
their  officers,  to  name  their  positions  and  their  respective 
ranks  among  themselves,  and  agreeing  to  commission  them  as 
they  were  designated.  Though  the  day  was  Saturday,  the  news 
of  the  Governor's  action  spread  like  wildfire,  and  that  night 
the  Armory  was  crowded  with  members  of  the  Guard  seek- 
ing appointments.  Already  many  of  them  had  been  men- 
tally chosen.  Accordingly  they  were  informed  of  the  places 
they  wer.e  expected  to  fill,  and  were  instructed  to  lose  no 
time  in  establishing  recruiting  stations  wherever  they  thought 
they  could  get  the  most  and  the  best  men,  that  the  regiment 
might  be  filled  at  the  earliest  possible  day. 

Monday  about  a  dozen  of  these  officers  scattered  to  the 
different  points  of  the  compass  and  began  recruiting  all  over 
the  State.  It  is  noteworthy  that  after  the  first  two  com- 
missioned officers  and  the  Chaplain,  every  commission  was 
dated  September  2,  thus  rendering  the  question  of  priority 
a  difficult  one  in  ensuing  years.     Also,  while  the  men  will  be 


Sept.  '61. 


Regiment  Outlined. 


17 


drawn  from  all  parts  of  the  Commonwealtli,  almost  every 
officer  is  a  Boston  man.  The  Chaplain  and  the  Quarter- 
master are  from  Gloucester;  no  other  comes  from  any  place 
farther  from  Boston  than  Salem.  Out  of  thirtv'-eight  com- 
missioned officers  twenty-eight  are  drawn  from  the  ranks  of 
the  New  England  Guards.  The  original  roster  of  the  officers 
follows : — 


(The  starred  names  are  tliose  of  former  Xew  England  Guardsmen.) 
Colonel,  *Thomas  G.  Stevexsox,  Boston. 

Lieut.  Colonel,  *Fraxx'is  A.  Osborx,  Boston. 

3Iajor,  *RoBERT  H.  Stevenson,  Boston. 
Surgeon,  Samlel  A.  Green,  Boston. 

Assistant  Surgeon,  *Hall  Curtis,  Boston. 

Chaplain,  W>i.  R.  G.  Meli.en,  Gloucester. 
Adjutant,  *John  F.  Anderson,  Boston. 

Quartermaster,  *\V.m.  V.  Hitchings,  Gloucester, 


Company.    ( 'aptains.  First  Lieutenants. 

A,  *\Vm.  F.  Redding,       James  H.  Turner, 

East  Boston.  Medford. 

B,  George  F.  Austin,         George  W.  Gardner, 

Salem.  Salem. 

C,  *\Villiam  Pratt,  *James  B.  Bell, 

Boston.  Caml)ridge. 

D,  *John  T.  Prince,  Jr.,  *John  X.  Partridge, 

Boji^ton.  Boi^ton. 

E,  *Charles  H.  Hooper,   *Charles  A.  Folsom, 

Boston.  Boston. 

F,  *Robert  F.  Clark,         *Chas.  B.  Amory, 

Boston.  Jamaica  Plain. 

G,  *Edw.  C.  Richardson,  *All)ert  ( Jrdway, 


Boston. 
H,    John  Daland, 

Salem. 
I,  *J.  Lewis  Stackpole, 

Cambridge. 
K,  *J.  Crosby  ^laker, 

Boston. 


Boston. 
Jas.  B.  Nichols, 

Salem. 
James  A.  Perkins, 

Boston. 
*Mason  A.  Rea, 

Boston. 


Second  Lieutenants. 
Horatio  D.  Jarves, 

Boston. 
*I)eming  Jarves,  Jr., 

Boston. 
*Xathaniel  S.  Barstow, 

Boston. 
*Thomas  ^l.  Sweet, 

Boston. 
*Daniel  T.  Sargent, 

Boston. 
*John  C.  Jones,  Jr., 

Jamaica  Plain. 
*James  M.  Barnard, 

Boston. 
Chas.  G.  Ward, 

Boston. 
William  L.  Horton, 

Boston. 
*Thomas  F.  Edmands, 

Boston. 


Any  one  at  all  conversant  with  the  story  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Regiment  will  not  escape  the  interesting  thought,  as  he  reads 
the  foregoing  list,   that  he  who    bore    the    very    last    name 


18 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


."^  -    "^^^^^f^^^^?"  * 


ra  WAITED! 


lor  Co.  It,  Ziih  Hi^iiih 


\'\\l^    liiTi^ 


S)) 


Many  times  reduced. 


WAR-TIME  POSTER. 


Sept.  '61.  Regiment  Outlined.  19 

in  the  array,  viz.,  2d  Lieut.  Thos.  F.  Edmauds,  came  home  in 
command  of  the  regiment.  Every  name  before  his  had  been 
erased  throiig-h  resignation,  expiration  of  service,  or  death. 
While  Scriptural  truth  was  verified  in  that  the  last  had 
become  first,  there  was  also  a  suggestion  of  a  later  theory  as 
to  the  survival  of  the  fittest,  with  no  reflection  whatever  on 
those  who  had  gone  before  him.  Other  thoughts  also  were 
possible,  viz. :  that  these  officers,  with  the  exception  of  five, 
were  all  under  thirty  years  of  age,  so  many  of  them  in  their 
teens  or  early  twenties,  that  they  came  near  reaching  the 
minimum  average  of  such  organizations.  Again,  so  well 
acquainted  were  they  that  the  bickerings  and  dissensions  too 
frequently  characteristic  of  regiments  in  those  days  were 
practically  unknown.  They  constituted  a  happy  family,  each 
one  emulous  of  the  other's  good  and,  in  a  sense,  each  pre- 
ferring one  another.  Those  classmates,  "Bill"  and  "Joe," 
creations  of  Dr.  Holmes's  happy  fancy,  were  not 
freer  with  each  other's  Christian  names  than  were  these 
young  men,  cherishing  a  common  purpose,  intent  on  advanc- 
ing their  country's  cause.  However  exacting  and  punctil- 
ious they  might  be  when  on  duty,  in  their  hours  of  relaxa- 
tion "Tom,"  "Frank,"  "Bob,"  "Will"  and  "Charlie" 
and  other  familiar  appellations  were  far  more  commonly 
heard  than  the  more  stately  terms  to  which  their  stations 
entitled  them.  When  promotions  came  they  invariably  rose 
from  the  ranks  of  the  Twenty-fourth.  In  only  one  or  two 
instances  did  new  men  come  to  the  regiment  with  commissions, 
and  these  were  some  time  after  the  war  ended.  No  dismissal, 
no  court  martial  and  no  dishonorable  act  appear  in  the  long 
record  of  these  young  JMassachusetts  men.  Though  they  had 
no  horoscope,  the  words  of  Private  Miles  O'Reilly,  yet  to  be 
written,  might  fittingly  apply : — 

"Comrades  known  l)y  faith  the  clearest, 
Tried  when  death  was  near  and  nearest, 
Bound  we  are  by  ties  the  dearest, 
Brothers  evermore  to  be." 


20  TWEXTY-FOURTH    MASSACHUSETTS    ReGI.MENT. 

Though  the  officere,  as  indicated,  were  drawn  almost  entire- 
ly from  Boston,  the  enlisted  men  represented  the  widest  range 
possible.  Perhaps  no  regiment,  through  the  entire  four  years 
of  the  war,  drew  its  membership  from  a  wider  territoiy  than 
did  the  Twenty-fourth.  Even  a  casual  scrutiny  of  the  rolls 
will  show  all  of  the  counties  and  a  very  large  part  of  the 
towns  given  as  the  residences  of  the  men.  From  the  start,  the 
character  of  the  officers  gave  the  new  organization  a  high 
standing  in  the  minds  of  the  eligible  young  men  of  the  Com- 
monwealth and,  at  no  time  in  the  ensuing  years,  was  it  ever 
shown  that  their  confidence  was  misplaced.  In  this  year  of 
grace,  1907,  it  is  not  unusual  to  hear  officers  of  other  regi- 
ments associated  wdth  the  Twenty-fourth  in  its  long  service 
remark,  ' '  It  was  a  fine  sight  when  that  regiment  came  out 
on  parade  or  drill ;  I  never  saw  a  nattier  array  of  officers  than 
those  of  the  Twenty-fourth;  they  knew  their  business  and 
every  one  was  a  gentleman." 

Recruiting  stations  were  opened  in  various  places,  but  a 
considerable  part  of  the  enlisting  was  done  through  young 
men  to  whom  was  held  out  the  inducement  of  non-commis- 
sioned positions  in  the  respective  companies,  though  Lieut. 
Amory  of  Company  F  went  down  to  Augusta,  in  the  Pine 
Tree  State,  and  actually  enlisted  a  number  of  men  from  that 
foriner  Massachusetts  territory.  Indeed,  throughout  the  ros- 
ter, it  is  not  unusual  to  find  a  name  whose  o^\^ler  claimed 
Dirigo  as  his  favorite  motto.  The  seaboard  gave  up  its  sons 
in  liberal  numbers,  and  nothing  in  the  sailing,  rowing  or 
fishing  line  ever  lacked  for  help  as  the  years  advanced.  Cape 
Cod  was  well  represented,  and  jewelry-making  Attleboro  sent 
many  ingenious  sons,  while  the  agricultural  portions  of  Wor- 
cester and  the  western  counties  had  an  abiding  interest  in 
the  fortunes  of  the  regiment.  In  addition  to  the  twenty-eight 
commissioned  officers,  there  were  nine  other  New  England 
Guardsmen  who  accepted  non-commissioned  office  in  the 
Tw^enty-fourth,  and  nearly  all  afterAvards  attained  commis- 
sions in  the  regiment  or  were  discharged  for  promotion  in 


Sept.  '61.  Recruiting  and  Readville.  21 

other  organizations.  Some  of  these  sergeants  were  especially 
useful  in  the  recruiting  way,  and  did  much  to  hasten  the 
filling  of  the  ranks.  Nor  was  all  the  good  material  exhausted 
thus,  since  potential  officers  never  wore  a  strap  or  chevron. 
As  private  soldiers  they  did  their  duty,  fought,  suffered  and, 
in  many  cases,  gave  their  lives,  quite  unknown  to  the  public. 
Men  were  here  who  had  left  the  pupil's  desk  for  the  varia- 
tion of  war,  and  Surgeon  Green  delights  in  telling  of  his  tour 
of  duty,  through  the  hospital,  revealing  one  of  his  boys  with  a 
Greek  Testament  in  his  hand  and  on  the  Doctor's  expressing 
surprise,  the  lad  said,  "  Why,  I  was  in  the  Boston  Latin 
School  when  I  enlisted."  Though  the  young  man  did  not 
turn  out  to  be  a  Dick  Steel,  yet  he  did  make  a  good  soldier 
and  'was  one  of  many  such  who  gave  up  their  public  school 
for  that  of  the  army. 

EECRUITING  AND   READVILLE. 

Within  a  few  days  recruits  began  to  arrive.  They  were 
sent  first  to  the  armory  of  the  Fourth  Battalion  in  the  Boyls- 
ton  ^Market  building,  then  standing  on  the  corner  of  Boylston 
and  Washington  Streets,  and  which  was  torn  down  in  1888. 
It  had  been  a  rendezvous  for  troops  from  the  16th  of  April 
preceding,  when  militia,  responding  to  the  veiy  first  call,  were 
assembled  here  after  the  filling  of  Faneuil  Hall.  Here  they 
were  examined  by  the  surgeon,  and  if  passed  as  suitable  men 
for  the  service,  they  were  sent  across  the  street  to  a  bathing 
establishment,  where  they  had  a  warm  bath  and  were  given 
a  uniform  and  a  complete  suit  of  new  underclothing.  Their 
hair  was  cropped  short,  and  they  returned  to  the  armorj' 
already  beginning  to  look  somethiug  like  soldiers. 

The  old  adage  about  everything  being  fair  in  war  applies 
even  to  enlistments,  for  many  a  man,  in  his  anxiet^^  to  get  in, 
told  untruths  as  to  his  age,  those  too  young  evening  up  with 
the  old  men  who  lied  their  ages  down,  and  men  with  defective 
eyes  found  means  of  deceiving  the  examining  officer.     A  cer- 


22  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

tain  private  tells  the  story  of  his  rejection,  several  months 
before,  when  he  essayed  the  First  Regiment,  being  rejected  on 
account  of  his  eyes.  However,  when  the  Twenty-fourth  was 
forming  he  met  Capt.  J.  T.  Prince,  by  whom  he  was  intro- 
duced to  Surgeon  Green.  When  it  came  to  the  eye-test. 
Hospital  Steward  McGreggor  asked  him  to  read  a  sign  across 
the  way  from  Boylston  Hall,  which  he  did  readily,  for  as  he 
said,  "I  knew  all  the  signs  in  that  part  of  the  city  by  heart." 


<5, 


JMASSASOiT,  READVILLE,  JRASS. 
gju  U^Qionj/nn^ _. 


<?■ 


^ 


yrxtUa^y^a// 


m'<?'v"?^^ 


"^f Cggtein  Co.  (Zy 


One- fourth  actual  size. 

ENLISTMENT  CERTIFICATE. 

He  got  in  all  right,  and  put  in  three  years  of  honest  and 
useful  service.  Very  likely  similar  stories  might  be  told  of 
other  men  who  by  devious  ways  secured  the  privilege  of  serv- 
ing their  country. 

Each  night  a  squad  was  sent  to  the  camp,  which  had  been 
established  at  Readville,  in  Norfolk  County,  near  the  Boston 
&  Providence  Railroad,  and  to  which  the  aboriginal  name 
of  "Massasoit"  was  applied.  One  squad  of  four  had  a  last- 
ing impression  made  on  them  through  the  double-quicking 
necessary  to  catch  a  train  late  in  the  afternoon.  No  sooner 
had  they  caught  the  train  than  their  shoes  came  off,  not  to 
be  replaced  till  they  neared  the  camp,  which  they  entered 
with  the  feeling  that  they  were  raw  recruits  in  more  senses 


Sept.  '(il.         Recruiting  and  Readville.  23 

than  one.  Here  the  men  were  distributed  aniono;  the  various 
companies  in  which  they  had  enlisted,  and  an  oi^cer  in  each 
company  began  to  drill  and  to  teach  them  the  duties  of  a 
soldier.  Enlistments  must  have  been  rapid,  for  on  September 
18,  one  of  the  field  officers,  writing  to  his  home,  remarked 
on  the  faithfulness  of  the  officers,  the  respect  and  attention 
of  the  men  with  their  eagerness  to  learn:  "We  have  thus 
far  by  all  means  better  men  than  I  have  seen  in  any  regiment 
that  has  gone  away,  and  a  more  orderly  camp.  Twent>^-five 
new  men  came  yesterday,  and  they  are  even  better,  on  the 
average,  than  those  already  here.  Yesterday  I  made  the  tour 
of  the  cook-houses  of  the  camp  with  ]\Ir.  Pearson,  fonnerly 
of  the  Revere  House,  who  is  employed  by  the  State  to  super- 
intend the  cuisine  of  the  soldiers  and  to  instruct  the  cooks. 
They  were  making  a  beef  soup  for  dinner,  and  in  every  house 
but  one,  it  was  as  good  as  I  should  wish  for  my  own  table;  in 
that  exception,  there  was  too  much  fat."  Surely  little  fault 
could  be  found  where  the  regimen  was  prescribed  by  a 
Revere  House  manager. 

As  the  companies  filled  up  and  the  number  of  men  enlisted 
justified,  the  several  officers  of  each  company  were  mustered 
into  the  service  of  the  United  States.  On  October  2d,  the 
number  of  men  mustered-in  warranting,  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Osborn  was  regularly  mustered  as  the  second  officer  of  the 
regiment.  As  but  few  of  the  enlisted  men  had  ever  had  any 
military  experience,  there  was  an  abundance  of  labor  in  the 
way  of  instruction,  and  the  officers  were  kept  thoroughly  busy 
in  the  work.  In  order  that  the  drill  might  be  uniform. 
Colonel  Stevenson  formed  the  commissioned  officers  into  a 
squad,  which  he  drilled  daily  in  the  manual  and  in  the  com- 
pany movements,  while  Lieut.  Colonel  Osborn  took  the  non- 
commissioned officers  and  did  the  same  with  them. 

When  the  .regiment  had  acquired  men  enough  to  make  it 
possible  to  have  a  battalion  drill  and  the  men  had  become  suf- 
ficiently familiar  with  company  movements  for  that  purpose, 
a  rope  drill  was  instituted ;  that  is,  ten  ropes  were  taken,  one 


24  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

for  each  company,  the  same  being  about  the  length  of  a  com- 
pany front.  The  ends  were  held  by  two  non-commissioned 
officers,  the  other  officers  taking  their  positions  in  line  as  if 
their  companies  were  present.  The  drill  then  took  place,  the 
non-commissioned  officers  continuing  to  hold  the  ropes  and  to 
keep  them  stretched  as  far  as  practicable  in  the  position  which 
a  company  would  have  occupied.  In  this  ingenious  manner, 
both  commissioned  and  non-commissioned  officers  acquired 
the  experience  and  the  practice  they  needed  without  having 


Puncil  sketch  by  Lieut.  J.  M.  ISarnanl,  Co.  G. 

CAMP  MAS.SASOIT,  READVILLE. 

their  attention  distracted  by  the  necessity'  of  correcting  the 
faults  of  their  men  and  without  fatiguing  them  by  standing 
under  arms  while  the  officers  were  receiving  the  necessary 
instructions.  After  a  certain  number  of  drills  of  this  char- 
acter, the  officers  were  found  to  be  so  familiarized  with  their 
duties  that  it  was  thought  safe  to  have  all  the  companies 
come  out  on  the  battalion  line.  The  result  was  very  satis- 
factory. The  men  had  been  thoroughly  exercised  in  company 
movements,  and  the  officers  had  so  well  learned  the  battalion 
movements  that  this  drill,  the  first  one  of  the  whole  regiment 
under  arms,  was  a  remarkably  good  one,  surpassing  all  ex- 
pectations. The  possibilities  of  indifferent  arms  was  early 
shown  in  tests  of  the  Enfield  rifle,  which,  at  first,  was  the 


Nov.  '61.  Fort  Warren.  25 

weapon  plaoed  in  the  regimental  hands.  When,  with  fixed 
bayonet,  the  latter  was  driven  into  the  ground,  and  the  gun 
pulled  over  and  the  bayonet  bent  at  right  angles,  all  con- 
cerned deemed  the  weapon  defective,  and  were  better  satisfied 
when  rifles  of  Springfield  make  were  placed  in  their  hands. 

From  the  outset  strictest  attention  was  paid  to  discipline, 
order  and  cleanliness.  The  first  instructions  that  the  men 
received  on  entering  the  camp  were  that  they  should  always 
salute  an  officer  when  meeting  him,  to  pay  him  respect  at  all 
times,  and  to  be  prompt  in  obejdng  orders.  They  were 
required  every  morning  to  black  their  boots  and  clean  their 
clothing,  so  as  to  present  a  creditable  appearance  on  drill  or 
parade.  They  were  expected  to  wash  their  hands  before  each 
meal  and  required  to  have  a  weekly  wash  of  their  under- 
clothing. While  seemingly  of  minor  importance,  all  these 
items  had  great  influence  in  developing  a  spirit  of  good  order 
and  a  soldierly  bearing,  and  they  laid  the  foundation  for  that 
high  discipline  for  which  the  regiment  was  noted  during  its 
entire  career. 

FORT  WARREN. 

In  the  last  of  August  of  this  year,  an  attack  was  made  upon 
the  rebel  forts  at  Hatteras  Inlet,  on  the  coast  of  North 
Carolina,  by  the  troops  under  the  command  of  General  B.  F. 
Butler.  After  a  brisk  fight  lasting  through  two  days,  they  were 
captured  and  with  them  about  one  thousand  prisoners,  who 
were  sent  North  to  Fort  Warren  in  Boston  Harbor,  where 
they  were  confined  in  the  barracks.  Colonel  Stevenson  was 
ordered  to  send  to  the  fort  four  companies  under  the  com- 
mand of  a  field  officer  to  garrison  it.  For  this  purpose,  Lieut. 
Colonel  Osborn  was  detailed  and  sent  down,  November  -Ith, 
with  Companies  B,  C,  D,  and  I.  At  the  same  time  there  were 
also  confined  in  the  fort  quite  a  number  of  prominent  citizens 
of  the  North  and  South  who  had  been  arrested  for  alleged 
treasonable  acts. 


26  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Among  those  thus  confined  were  Baltimore's  famous  Chief 
of  Police,  Geo.  P.  Kane,  and  Geo.  W.  Brown,  Mayor  of  the 
same  citj^  both  of  whom  had  achieved  considerable  fame  at 
the  breaking'  out  of  the  war.  Among  Northern  men  were  the 
Flanders  brothers  of  Malone,  N.  Y.,  Robert  Elliott  of  Maine, 
William  H.  Winders  of  Philadelphia,  and  many  others. 

The  character  and  quality  of  the  prisoners  made  the  task 
of  caring  for  them  a  somewhat  delicate  one,  so  much  so  that 
some  correspondence  took  place  between  Boston  and  Wash- 
ington as  to  the  men  to  be  selected  as  guards.  Colonel  Har- 
rison Ritchie  of  the  Governor's  Staff  said  the  Twenty-fourth 
was  taken  because  the  officers  were  gentlemen  and  would  give 
the  prisoners  a  good  impression  of  the  Massachusetts  volun- 
teers. Governor  Andrew  wrote  a  highly  flattering  letter  to 
General  Scott,  complimenting  the  officers  exceedingly,  saying 
that  they  were  just  the  men  to  whom  such  an  important  duty 
should  be  confided. 

During  this  period  of  duty  at  the  fort.  Mason  and  Slidell, 
Confederate  emissaries  who  had  been  sent  abroad,  were 
taken  from  the  British  steamer  Trent,  November  8,  while  the 
vessel  was  on  the  high  seas.  The  seizure  was  accomplished 
by  Captain  Charles  Wilkes  of  the  U.  S.  sloop-of-war  San 
Jacinto.  After  a  brief  pause  in  New  York  Harbor,  the  pris- 
oners were  conveyed  to  Fort  Warren,  and  their  stay  there 
makes  one  of  the  most  interesting  incidents  in  the  history  of 
the  fortress.  Some  one  says  of  the  confinement  of  the  noted 
commissioners  that  the  fat  and  jovial  Mason  and  his  lean 
and  dyspeptic  companion  solaced  themselves  by  unnumbered 
rounds  of  poker,  and  swore  and  spat,  and  spat  and  swore,  to 
the  great  and  increasing  amazement  of  their  orthodox  guards- 
men. As  the  world  knows  they  .were  released  by  the  govern- 
ment, and  sent  away  in  a  British  vessel,  January  1,  1862. 

Varying  versions  are  had  of  the  stay  of  the  battalion  in 
the  fort.  To  some  it  was  monotonous  and  uneventful,  the 
abode  itself    black  and  dreary,  so  that  they  were  not  at  all 


Dec.  '61.  Keadville  and  Departure.  27 

sorry  to  receive  orders,  on  the  7th  of  December,  to  leave  the 
fort  and  return  to  the  camp  at  Readville.  Of  course,  the 
work  was  not  what  men  enlisting  for  active  service  expected, 
and  to  the  officers  a  continued  stay  presented  little  promise  of 
promotion.  Then,  too,  the  regiment  was  separated,  and  the 
accommodations  at  the  fort  were  not  what  officers  and  men 
desired.  At  fii*st,  the  expectation  was  that  the  stay  would  be 
for  only  a  fortnight,  or  three  weeks  at  the  outside.  So  well, 
however,  did  they  do  their  work  that  Colonel  Justin  Dim- 
mick,  commanding  the  fort,  would  have  been  glad  to  keep 
them  indefinitely,  but  as  he  was  unwilling  to  have  the  entire 
regiment  there,  such  a  disposition  was  out  of  the  question. 
Fourteen  officers  were  crowded  into  four  rooms,  one  of  which 
was  ased  for  eating  and  three  for  sleeping,  so  that  privacy 
was  out  of  the  question,  and  the  general  clatter  of  conversa- 
tion, jokes,  stories  and  discussions  prevented  concentration  of 
thought  on  the  part  of  any  one.  The  enlisted  men  found  the 
time  not  without  its  diversions,  for  when  did  several  hundred 
men  get  together  withou,t  their  jokers  and  pastimes?  In 
spite  of  their  being  within  a  fort,  those  inclined  to  use  the 
ardent  had  little  difficulty  in  getting  it,  and  one,  a  native  of 
France,  through  his  imbibing,  got  himself  into  trouble  and 
for  punishment  was  locked  up  in  a  casemate  with  only  bread 
and  water  for  food  and  drink.  Of  course  his  sympathetic 
comrades  soon  found  that  they  could  lower  refreshments  to 
him  through  the  chimney,  and  Frenchy  grew  quite  indifferent 
as  to  the  continuance  of  his  relief  from  duty. 


READVILLE  AND  DEPARTURE. 

While  the  battalion  was  thus  disposed  at  Fort  Warren,  the 
remainder  of  the  regiment  was  attending  to  regular  duties  in 
Camp  Massasoit.  Among  the  pleasant  memories  of  this 
period,  none  is  more  vivid  than  the  presentation  to  Colonel 


28 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


Stevenson  of  a  horse  by  his  friends,  the  former  commanders 
of  the  Guards.     December  3d,  1861,  he  was  addressed  in  the 


most  flattering  terms  by  these  gentlemen,  who  extolled  his 
merit  as  a  soldier,  his  worth  as  a  gentleman,  and  begged  him 
to  accept  from  them  as  a  token  of  their  esteem  and  apprecia- 


Dec.  T)1.  Readville  and  Departure.  29 

tion  a  horse*  and  equipments,  the  letter  bearing  the  signa- 
tures of  Samuel  Swett,  Geo.  W.  Lyman,  Charles  G.  Loring, 
William  H.  Gardner,  Richard  Sullivan  Fay,  Alanson  Tuck- 
er, Jr.,  George  Tyler  Bigelow,  Charles  Gordon,  J.  Putnam 
Bradlee,  Joseph  L.  Henshaw  and  Harrison  Ritchie.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  N.  E.  G.  Reserves,  the  sentiments  of  the  letter 
were  unanimously  endorsed;  signed  by  Charles  F.  Hardwick, 
clerk.  Colonel  Stevenson's  reply,  bearing  date  of  December 
4th,  -was  expressed  in  terms  of  gratitude  for  the  confidence 
reposed  in  him  and  for  the  praise  lavished  upon  the  regiment 
in  whose  morale  he,  too,  had  the  sincerest  belief. 

Nor  were  the  men  in  the  ranks  forgotten,  since  it  is  on 
record  that  the  mother  of  the  Colonel  sent  out  to  the  camp 
a  pair  of  mittens  for  each  man,  a  grateful  present  amid  the 
inclement  frosts  and  snows  of  winter. 

The  time  spent  in  the  Readville  camp  was  by  no  means 
lost.  Energetic  officei-s  made  it  tell  in  the  discipline  and  drill 
essential  to  their  success.  Then,  too,  the  men  were  estimating 
their  officers,  the  latter  were  discovering  what  they  had  to 
depend  upon  when  the  trial  of  battle  should  come  and,  best 
of  all^  the  men  were  becoming  acquainted  with  each  other. 
Some  of  the  intimacies  formed  in  those  early  days  lasted  till 
death  ended  them ;  others  are  in  existence  to-day.  ' '  Some  of 
the  recruits  as  they  came  into  camp  were  sized  up  and  rele- 
gated to  different  places  in  our  camp-societs^  As  a  rule  our 
first  impressions  stood  the  test  of  time;  how  we  feared  that 
the  war  would  end  before  we  could  get  a  chance  at  the 
enemy !  How  grotesque  all  this  seems  in  the  light  of  the  fact 
that  we  were  not  mustered  out,  finally,  till  the  20th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1866!" 


*Captain  James'  Thompson  says  that  this  horse  fell  lame  at  Annapolis 
while  his  rider,  Colonel  Stevenson,  was  drilling  the  regiment.  Thus 
incapacitated  for  service,  the  Colonel  gave  him  to  the  then  Quartermaster 
Sergeant  Thompson,  who  passed  him  along  to  Captain  Vaile  of  the 
steamship  Guide.  The  latter  took  him  to  New  York  for  treatment  at  a 
veterinary  hospital,  where  his  record  ends. 


30  Twenty- FOURTH  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

After  fully  three  months'  experience  in  camp  for  a  large 
part  of  the  men.  the  period  of  activity  drew  near.  Though 
the  regiment  had  no  definite  knowledge,  yet  the  rank  and 
file  understood  that  Annapolis  and  the  command  of  General 
Ambrose  E.  Burnside  was  to  be  the  ultimate  disposition  of 
the  regiment.  With  the  characteristic  unrest  of  humanity 
the  world  over,  all  were  anxious  for  a  change,  and  officer  and 
man,  notwithstanding  the  pangs  of  separation  from  home  and 
friends,  were  ready  to  welcome  almost  anything  in  the  way 
of  variation.  The  paymaster  had  visited  the  camp  on  the 
Saturday  preceding-  the  departure,  leaving  many  thousands 
of  dollars  in  the  hands  of  the  volunteers,  and  the  papers  told 
the  story  of  an  early  going  away.  December  the  9th  was  the 
date  set  for  leaving,  and  people  interested  in  the  regiment 
rose  equal  to  the  occasion.  They  were  out  in  force  and  the 
soldiers '  first  real  test  was  coming  when  the  moment  of  separa- 
tion approached. 

' '  So  he  marched  away  to  the  war,  one  day, 

To  the  swayintr  bugle's  song; 
So  staunch  and  true  in  his  suit  of  blue, 

And  sturdy  and  brave  and  strong. 
'Mid  the  marching  feet  and  the  loud  drum  beat, 

And  the  ringing  of  the  cheers, 
There  was  none  to  see  such  an  one  as  she 

Who  could  not  see  for  tears." 

It  was  a  bright,  pleasant  day  in  early  winter,  with  brisk  air 
and  a  light  fall  of  snoM^  Long  train-loads  from  Boston  had  filled 
the  parade-ground  with  visitors.  At  a  little  after  8  a.m.  there 
was  a  dress-parade,  which  afforded  a  deal  of  pleasure  to  the 
beholders.  Then,  after  wheeling  into  column  by  companies, 
guns  were  stacked,  knapsacks  and  equipment  unslung  and 
suspended  upon  the  stacks,  while  the  men  marched  back  to 
their  quarters.  There  a  little  later,  as  if  by  magic,  at  the  tap 
of  drums,  the  tents  fell  at  once,  giving  all  an  idea  of  military 
precision.  At  the  morning  roll-call,  1020  officers  and  men 
responded  or  were  accounted  for,  thus  leaving  with  full  ranks. 


Dec.  '61.  New  York.  31 

In  the  presence  of  the  great  crowd,  assembled  to  see 
the  soldiers  off,  they  march  by  the  right  flank  down  to  the 
cars,  keeping  step  to  the  lively  strains  of  Gilmore's  Band,  of 
whose  presence  eveiy  one  is  justly  proud,  even  if  the  same  did 
cost  the  officere  a  pretty  figure.  One  boy  in  the  regiment,  a 
Springfield  lad,  skulked  into  the  last  car.  that  he  might  there- 
by escape  the  eye  of  his  father  who  had  once  kept  him  out  of 
the  service,  and  he  expected  the  same  parent  was  "laying" 
for  him  again,  but  this  time,  the  slip  was  given  and  the  boy 
became  a  soldier,  only  to  die  of  fever  ere  a  year  had  passed. 
The  handshakes  and  kisses  incident  to  such  departure,  the 
world  over,  Avere  in  evidence,  but  the  inevitable  separation 
came  and,  shortly  after  noon,  the  train  moved  off  en  route 
for  Groton,  near  Stonington,  Conn.,  where  a  transfer  was 
quickly  made  to  the  steamer  Cornelius  Vanderbilt,  which 
speedily  steamed  down  the  Sound  towards  New  York. 


NEW  YORK. 

It  had  been  expected  to  arrive  in  New  York  at  an  early 
hour  and  thus  to  have  ample  time  to  prepare  for  the  march 
through  the  city,  but  a  heavy  fog  deranged  plans  so  that  the 
landing  did  not  come  till  about  12  m.  As  the  Vanderbilt 
made  her  way  along  her  water  route,  after  reaching  the  vicin- 
ity of  the  wharves,  there  were  great  concourses  of  people  to 
applaud  the  soldiers,  and  the  public  institutions  of  New 
York,  located  on  the  many  islands,  also  afforded  an  outlook 
for  a  large  array  of  interested  beholders.  At  the  23d  Street 
wharf,  the  regiment  was  met  by  the  Sons  of  Massachusetts 
resident  in  the  metropolis,  who  had  been  waiting  two 
hours,  and,  headed  by  Dodsworth's  Band,  became  the 
escort  as  the  regiment  proceeded  through  23d  Street 
to  Fifth  Avenue,  down  the  same  to  l-lth  Street,  and 
thence  by   Broadway   to    City   Hall   Park.      Gilmore's   Band 


32  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

led  the  way,  giving  the  vast  assemblage  of  onlookers  a  good 
idea  of  what  real  martial  music  was.  "The  fine  appearance 
of  the  regiment,  the  complete  outfit  of  the  men  and  their 
soldierly  bearing,  elicited  periodical  roars  of  applause."  On 
reaching  their  destination,  the  men  stacked  arms  and  were 
given  a  breakfast,  so  called,  though  really  long  after  dinner 
hours,  while  the  officers  were  taken  by  the  Sons  to  the  Astor 
House  for  their  food  and  to  listen  to  speeches.  To  prevent 
unwarranted  departures  from  the  halting  place,  guards  were 
stationed  over  the  men,  much  to  the  indignation  of  some  of 
them,  who  compared  their  condition  to  that  of  sheep  or  hogs 
at  Brighton.  The  bill  of  fare  accorded  to  the  men  is  pre- 
seiwed  and  it  consisted  of  a  stew,  wherein  the  potatoes  were 
indifferently  cooked,  though  the  coffee  was  fine,  but  hunger 
being  an  excellent  sauce,  the  most  of  the  soldiers  made  a 
hearty  meal.  A  second  repast  under  the  same  auspices  served 
ham,  bread  and  butter,  cheese  and  coffee  and,  "by  working  a 
little  stratagem  we  got  as  much  as  we  could  eat." 

The  parade  was  an  excellent  showing,  though  the  day  was 
warm  for  the  season,  and  the  men,  being  in  heavy  marching 
order,  suffered  from  the  unwonted  ordeal.  Some  of  the  regi- 
ment had  to  remain  on  the  dock  as  guards  over  the  baggage 
left  there,  thus  missing  the  pleasure  of  seeing  New  York  in 
an  enthusiastic  mood,  but  there  was  compensation,  since  they 
were  ministered  to  by  good  women,  who,  as  one  boy  records, 
"brought  mince  pies  which  tasted  good,"  a  somewhat  choicer 
morsel  than  his  comrades  were  getting  at  City  Hall.  "A 
nicely  dressed  lady  comes  along  with  an  Irish  girl,  carrying 
a  basket  of  fruit,  and  she  gives  me  two  apples  and  two 
oranges."  Again  is  the  maxim  verified  that  patient  waiters 
are  no  losers.  At  5  p.m.  the  baggage  guards  were  relieved 
and  went  up  to  eat  with  their  fellows,  proclaiming  the  supper 
excellent. 

The  New  York  Express,  describing  the  reception  tendered 
to   the  regiment   by  the   Sons   of   IMassachusetts   resident  in 


Dec.  '61.  New  York.  33 

New  York,  says,  "At  half -past  three  o'clock,  the  officers  of 
the  Twentv^-foiirth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment  proceeded  from 
the  Park  Barracks  to  the  Astor  House,  where  a  bountiful 
repast  awaited  them.  There  were  present  a  large  number  of 
ladies,  who  gathered  in  the  reception  parlor  of  the  hotel,  and 
were  subsequently  escorted  by  the  "Sons"  to  the  dining 
room,  which  was  handsomely  decorated.  In  front  of  the 
main  table  was  a  banner  with  the  inscription : 

WELCOxME,    SONS    OF    THE    OLD    BAY    STATE. 

TWENTY-FOURTH 

NEW   ENGLAND    GUAED. 


"Lieut.  Colonel  Howe  presided,  and  he  was  supported  on 
his  right  by  General  Reed  and  on  his  left  by  Colonel  Steven- 
son. Among  the  guests  were  Colonel  Ritchie  of  Governor 
Andrew's  Staff;  Rev.  Dr.  S.  H.  Tyng,  Drs.  Green  and  Curtis, 
^surgeons  of  the  regiment;  the  Chaplain,  Rev.  Mr.  Mellen; 
Richard  Warren,  Esq.,  and  General  P.  M.  Wetmore.  There 
was  also  present  a  large  delegation  from  tlie  Sons  of  Connect- 
icut. 

"While  the  people  were  yet  engaged  in  discussing  the 
menu,  the  President  called  them  to  order,  saying  that  the 
early  and  enforced  departure  of  their  guests  would  require 
immediate  attention  to  the  second  part  of  the  programme  and 
requested  all  to  give  their  attention  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Tyng, 
who,  as  a  son  of  ^Massachusetts,  would  wel-come  Colonel 
Stevenson  and  his  regiment  in  an  appropriate  address.  Never 
was  the  famous  clergyman  more  eloquent  than  on  this  occa- 
sion, as  he  paid  a  glowing  tribute  to  the  Commonwealth  and 
her  sons  this  day  on  their  way  to  uphold  the  right. 

"At  this  moment  General  Burnside  entered  the  room  and 
was  received  with  loud  applause  and,  though  evidently  reluc- 
tant to  do  so,  responded  briefly  to  urgent  calls,  saying  that 
he  had  come  there  to  say  nothing,  that  he  was  too  much 
3 


34  TWENTY-P^OURTII    ]\lASSACnUSETTS   REGIMENT. 

occupied  to  think  of  anything  aside  from  business.  The 
soldiers  had  had  a  good  example  set  them  by  the  Commander- 
in-Chief  not  to  speak  now.  but  to  do  their  duty,  and  when 
this  was  done,  he  would  speak  for  them,  no  doubt. 

"In  behalf  of  the  regiment,  Colonel  Stevenson  spoke  brief- 
ly but  significantly,  and  then  came  another  move  in  the  scene 
when  Mr.  Charles  Stetson,  Jr.,  presented  a  handsome  Ameri- 
can flag  to  the  Colonel  in  appropriate  terms,  drawing  from 
the  young  leader  an  appreciative  response.  He  was  obliged 
to  leave  immediately  thereafter  to  join  his  regiment.  The 
occasion  ended  with  remarks  by  Quartermaster  General  Reed 
and  Colonel  Ritchie,  who  lauded  the  action  of  the  Sons  of 
Massachusetts  in  the  day's  doings,  and  proposed  their  health, 
a  sentiment  which  was  duly  honored." 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Osborn,  having  in  hand  the  prepara- 
tions for  departure,  could  not  go  with  his  fellow  officers  and 
did  not  reach  the  hotel  till  the  tables  were  cleared,  and  had 
difficulty  in  finding  anything  in  the  food  line.  Next  came  the 
march  of  the  regiment  to  another  wharf,  where,  divided  into 
right  and  left  wings,  it  was  again  embarked.  Colonel  Steven- 
son, having  the  right  wing,  was  on  the  steamer  Eastern  Queen, 
w^hile  the  Lieutenant  Colonel  with  the  left  took  the  Admiral, 
a  vessel  which  the  men  were  to  know  for  many  a  month  as  the 
"Guide."  Loading  the  baggage  was  so  slow  a  task  that  it 
was  not  till  late  that  officers  and  men  were  ready  for  sleep. 
The  steamers  left  New  York  Harbor  early  in  the  morning, 
Wednesday,  December  11,  headed  for  Annapolis,  Md.  With 
smooth  water,  the  voyage  was  a  delightful  one,  only  a  few  of 
the  men  being  sick.  Down  the  coast  to  the  Chesapeake  and  up 
the  same  to  the  Severn  river  made  a  trip  pleasant  to  the  New 
Englanders,  and  it  was  due  to  end  at  seven  o'clock  in  the 
evening  of  the  12th;  but  there  are  many  things  to  be  reckoned 
with  in  water-ways.  The  Admiral  or  Guide,  with  the  left 
wing  on  board,  after  waiting  some  hours  for  her  consort 
anchored,  four  miles  from   Annapolis,   at   eleven   o'clock   at 


Dec.   '61.  Annapolis  and  Camp  Foster.  35 

night,  and  in  the  morning  of  the  13th  saw  the  Eastern  Queen 
aground,  several  miles  awaj'.  Accordingly  the  men  on  the 
Admiral  were  landed  and  marched  off  to  their  camp,  while 
the  boat  went  back  to  the  relief  of  the  Eastern  Queen.  In 
her  efforts  to  effect  a  release  she  herself  grounded,  and  two 
tugs  had  to  be  summoned  from  Baltimore,  but  even  then  the 
craft  could  not  be  moved,  for  the  gearing  of  the  tn,gs  gave  out, 
and  not  even  throwing  overboard  the  supply  of  coal  suffi- 
ciently lightened  the  vessel.  At  last  the  men  had  to  be  trans- 
ferred to  lighters,  and  so  in  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  the 
14th,  the  right  wing  of  the  regiment  made  its  way  to  the  IJ.  S. 
Naval  Academy,  which  divides  honors,  in  Annapolis,  with  the 
fact  that  said  city  is  the  capital  of  the  State.  Quarters  were 
found  for  the  belated  voyagers  and,  barring  a  bit  of  quarrel- 
ing between  certain  of  the  companies  which  Lieutenant 
Ordway  quickly  settled,  the  men  had  nothing  to  do  but  eat 
their  suppers  and  wait  for  the  morning. 

ANNAPOLIS  AND  CAMP  FOSTER. 

Sunday,  the  15th,  dawned  at  last  and,  after  a  wash  at  the 
town  pump,  and  a  breakfast,  the  right  wing  got  its  belong- 
ings together  and,  following  the  usual  amount  of  backing  and 
filling,  proceeded  to  the  camp  already  established  by  their 
comrades  who  had  gone  before.  This,  known  as  Camp  Foster, 
after  General  John  G.  Foster,  commanding  the  brigade  to 
which  the  Twenty-fourth  was  to  be  attached,  was  located 
about  three  miles  from  the  city,  "in  a  delightful  spot  in  front 
of  a  wood  and  on  rolling  land. ' '  The  camp  was  laid  out  soon 
after  2  p.m.  of  the  13th,  but  when  the  poles  were  sought  for 
the  tents,  it  was  discovered  that  they  were  miles  away  on  the 
Eastern  Queen.  But  Yankees  are  not  easily  phased,  so  before 
making  a  trip  to  Annapolis  for  material,  substitutes  from  the 
neighboring  woods  were  tried  and  found  to  work  admirably. 
"With  pine  boughs  for  caq^eting  the  tents  were  deemed  very 
comfortable.     Crotched  sticks  were  driven  into  the  ground. 


36  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

and  with  longer  ones  crossing  them,  with  fires  beneath  sus- 
pended utensils,  supper  was  prepared  and  the  left  wing  got 
a  lesson  in  r'eal  camp  life,  while  their  other  half  was  yet  lin- 
gering on  the  shoals  of  the  Severn.  Near  by  were  camped  the 
Twenty-third,  Twenty-fifth  and  the  Twenty-seventh  Massa- 
chusetts; the  Tenth  and  Eleventh  Connecticut,  the  D'Epi- 
neuil  Zouaves  (53d),  New  York  and  the  First  Massachusetts 
Cavalry.  On  the  coming  up  of  the  right  wing,  the  regiment 
was  together  again  and  with  the  highest  of  spirits  was  ready 
for  work. 

The  camp  itself  was  on  high  land  overlooking  the  city 
where  in  the  preceding  year  clover  had  been  sown.  The  men 
understood  that  the  camp-ground  and  the  neighboring  woods 
were  the  property  of  a  rebel  who  had  left  his  possessions  for 
a  place  in  the  Confederate  army,  so  they  were  not  at  all  par- 
ticular as  to  economy  in  the  use  of  what  he  had  left.  A  guard 
was  maintained  over  the  spring  whence  came  the  water  for 
drinking  and  cooking;  no  citizens  were  allowed  in  camp  and 
pickets  were  stationed  regularly,  though  no  organized  hos- 
tile force  was  anywhere  near.  As  soon  as  the  regiment  was 
united,  men  went  into  the  woods  with  axes  and  soon  made 
the  trees  disappear  as  they  felled  them  and  cut  them  into 
proper  lengths  for  cook  houses,  stables,  etc.  Laying  them  up 
in  cob-piles,  after  frontier  fashion,  they  stopped  the  crevices 
with  mud  and  thus  made  very  serviceable  quarters.  Each 
company  has  a  log  house  for  a  kitchen  and  the  officers,  one 
forty  feet  long  for  a  stable.  Many  of  the  tents  have  evergreen 
surroundings,  adding  to  their  picturesqueness,  if  not  to  their 
utility.  The  camp  is  laid  out  in  streets  with  great  precision, 
each  company  having  five  Sibley  tents;  no  floors,  the  ground 
being  sufficient ;  each  man  had  a  bed-sack  when  he  left  Read- 
ville,  but  few  brought  them  along,  on  account  of  their  weight. 
Those  who  did  retain  them  went  to  the  woods  and  found 
excellent  filling  in  the  leaves  abounding  there.  Every  tent 
has  a  stove  and,  with  an  abundance  of  wood,  no  one  need 


Dec.  '61. 


Annapolis  and  Camp  Foster. 


37 


suffer  from  the  cold.  While  all  get  enough  to  eat,  since  two 
cooks  are  detailed  from  each  company,  the  boys  think  the 
officers  live  high  and  provide  themselves  with,  all  the  deli- 
cacies of  the  season.     One  careful  chronicler  m  the  ranks  says 


Com.  Sergt.  Wheelyr. 


Sergt.  Maj.  Loring. 
NON-COMMISSIONED  STAFF. 


Q.  M.  .Sergt.  Thiiinpson. 


their  breakfast  was  bread,  cold  meat  and  coft'ee,  without  milk ; 
dinner  practically  the  same  except  that  the  meat  is  warm; 
supper  brings  tea  instead  of  coffee  with  other  items  as  before. 
Mothers'  bovs,  however,  miss  the  cakes  and    goodies    which 


38  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

formerly  they  had  enjoyed.  The  colored  people  of  the  vicini- 
ty try  to  turn  an  honest  penny  by  bringing  in  "snacks," 
which  include  pies,  cakes,  apples,  oysters,  roasted  chickens  at 
twenty-five  cents  each,  and  find  ready  market  as  long  as  there 
is  money  in  sight.  The  sutler  arrived  December  20  with  an 
array  of  wares  calculated  to  wheedle  the  last  cent  from  the 
soldier's  pocket,  and  he  too  often  succeeded.  The  writer, 
however,  was  not  the  only  one  who  strongly  resolved  that  he 
would  not  get  much  of  his,  the  private's  money. 

Notwithstanding  all  the  work  incident  to  the  laying  out  of 
the  camp,  drill  was  had  every  day,  lots  of  it.  The  scheme  for 
the  day  was  as  follows :  roll-call,  6  a.m. ;  breakfast,  6.30 ;  drill,  9 
o'clock,  and  10;  dinner,  12 ;  drill,  2  p.m. ;  parade,  5.30 ;  supper, 
6;  evening  roll-call,  9  o'clock;  taps,  9.15,  with  all  lights  out. 
Considering  its  origin  and  work  heretofore,  much  is  expected 
of  the  regiment  and  in  no  respect  has  the  organization  failed 
thus  far.  Naturally,  the  officers  are  jealous  of  the  reputation 
of  the  Twenty-fourth  and  listen  anxiously  for  any  criticism 
which  may  reflect  upon  them,  but  they  hear  only  the  best  of 
reports  about  it.  As  early  as  the  18th  of  the  month,  the  regi- 
mental band,  under  the  direction  of  Colonel  Stevenson  and 
certain  of  his  staff  officers,  went  down  to  the  city  to  give  a 
serenade  to  Governor  Hicks,  who  had  rendered  conspicuous 
aid  to  the  Union  cause.  Owing  to  pleasant  weather  and  care, 
in  every  respect,  the  men  enjoy  a  high  degree  of  health.  The 
first  death  was  that  of  John  Irwin,  of  Company  I,  who  died 
December  18,  after  a  short  illness  from  congestion  of  the 
lungs.  With  the  usual  escort  his  body  was  taken  to  the  sta- 
tion and,  after  a  volley  over  the  coffin,  it  was  sent  home  to 
Boston,  where  it  was  received  with  militaiy  honors.  Christ- 
mas eve,  a  colored  servant  of  one  of  the  officers  was  accident- 
ally shot  in  Annapolis  with  no  blame,  save  that  of  careless- 
ness, attaching  to  any  one. 

Christmas  in  camp  was  a  favorite  theme  with  the  corre- 
spondent and  artist  in  the  days  of  war.   In  the  Twenty-fourth, 


Jan.  '62.  Annapolis  and  Camp  Foster.  39 

there  were  camp  duties  as  usual,  and  many  of  tlie  boys  had 
boxes  from  home  whose  contents  they  made  go  as  far  as  pos- 
sible among  the  numerous  occupants  of  the  tent.  It  had  to 
be  a  pretty  large  receptacle  to  make  much  of  an  impression 
on  the  more  than  twenty  comrades  who  sometimes  crowded 
the  shelter.  Christmas  puddings,  mince  pies,  pickles,  wine- 
sauce,  and  other  tid-bits  are  recorded,  but  the  general  ver- 
dict was  that  camp  was  not  home  by  any  means.  The  field 
and  staff  officers,  however,  made  the  day  conspicuous  in  their 
annals  by  giving  a  dinner  to  a  large  number  of  distinguished 
guests,  viz. :  General  Ambrose  E.  Burnside,  General  Jesse  L. 
Reno,  commanding  the  Second  Brigade;  Colonel  Scott  and 
Sweitzer  of  ^McClellan's  staff";  Colonel  Lee  of  the  Twenty- 
seventh  IMassachusetts ;  Colonel  Kurtz  of  the  Twenty-third 
and  Capt.  ^Messenger  of  General  Foster's  Staff.  General  Foster 
himself  was  invited,  but  his  necessary  presence  in  Baltimore 
prevented  his  acceptance.  The  bill  of  fare  would  have  satis- 
fied the  veriest  epicure,  and  there  is  little  wonder  that  General 
Burnside  proclaimed  it  the  best  dinner  he  ever  ate  in  camp. 

1862. 

The  year  1862  opens  with  the  regiment's  taking  its  part  in 
a  brigade  drill  under  the  command  of  General  Foster,  who 
put  the  men  through  a  thorough  course,  as  some  of  the  par- 
ticipants said,  and  at  the  same  time  many  were  impressed 
with  the  sight  of  five  thousand  men  acting  under  one  guiding 
mind  and  all  acquiring  the  precision  that  would  serve  them 
well  in  coming  days.  One  careful  writer  puts  down  the 
menu  for  New  Year's  and  says  he  had  four  hard-tacks,  a 
slice  of  cold  meat  and  coft'ee  for  breakfast ;  soft  bread  and  cold 
fresh  beef  for  dinner;  boiled  rice,  molasses,  soft  bread  and 
tea  for  supper;  this  food  with  a  share  from  a  friend's  home- 
box  containing  cake,  mince  pie  and  pudding,  enabled  the 
young  man  to  get  through  the  day  comfortably.  Friends 
also  send  books  and  papers  and  the  chaplain  lends  many  to 


40  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

those  who  wish.  Target  practice  is  popular  and  some  of  the 
soldiers  for  the  first  time  in  their  lives  fire  a  gnn.  The  mark 
is  discreetly  set  up  at  the  foot  of  a  hill,  yet  so  wild  is  some  of 
the  shooting  that  the  officer  in  charge  remarks  that  he  hopes 
no  one  lives  on  the  other  side  of  the  hill.  It  is  recorded  that 
in  this  practice  one  man,  accidentally  or  otherwise,  shot  a  pig 
and  that  he  and  comrades  enjoyed  roast  pork  as  a  consequence. 
"With  such  opportunities,  the  exercise  should  have  been  popu- 
lar. Of  the  stay  in  Annapolis,  some  recall  the  most  impor- 
tant event,  as  the  drumming  out  of  camp  of  a  woman  who  had 
brought  in  twenty-five  cans  of  whiskey;  quite  likely  the  be- 
holders had  varying  emotions.  In  startling  contrast  with  the 
decorum  and  quiet  of  the  ^Massachusetts  regiments  is  the  riot 
in  a  neighboring  body  from  the  Empire  State,  where  the  men 
in  three  companies  rebelled,  seized,  gagged  and  placed  in  the 
guard  house  their  officers,  who  were  rescued  by  the  men  from 
another  regiment  who  came  to  their  help,  all  because  the  men 
had  not  been  paid,  a  fault  for  which  the  officers  were  in  no 
way  responsible. 

January  3d  brought  pay-day  and  many  of  the  men  sent 
the  major  part  of  their  receipts  home  to  those  who  needed  it 
there.  One  man,  who  got  only  $11.26,  sent  ten  dollars  of  the 
amount  to  his  wife  and  child,  and  in  the  accompanying 
letter  remarks  that  many  of  the  men  are  fooling  away  money 
which  should  go  home  to  their  families.  Indeed,  there  is  the 
record  of  several  sneaking  over  the  lines  and  securing  a  quan- 
tity of  liquors,  by  means  of  which  they  and  some  others  fetched 
up  in  the  guard-house,  as  a  rule  the  terminal  of  those  who 
had  much  to  do  with  strong  drink.  ]\Ien  gel  passes  to  the 
city,  and  with  money  burning  in  their  pockets  do  their  best 
to  clean  out  the  stores,  and  several  thousand  men  in  an  old, 
sedate  town  like  Annapolis  came  pretty  near  succeeding, 
though  some  of  the  soldiers  complained  at  the  prevalence  of 
the  Provost  Marshal  and  the  frequency  with  which  they  were 
obliged  to  show  their  passes.  Some  of  the  cheaper  luxuries 
which  the  black  people  bring  to  the  camp,  our  Bay  State  boys 


Jan.  '62.  Annapolis  and  Camp  Foster.  41 

are  learning-  to  like,  and  they  sinof  the  praises  of  hoecake,  the 
size  of  pies,  which  seems  to  fit  their  stomachs  admirably. 

It  was  in  Camp  Foster  that  a  certain  lad  had  his  first 
experience  at  standing  guard,  and  he  remembers  the  day  yet. 
Having  his  instructions,  as  he  thought,  he  paced  his  beat 
most  regularly.  Ere  long  two  officers  approached  and  passed 
him  and,  as  he  had  been  told  to  allow  officers  to  pass,  he  made 
no  objection.  The  officers  came  back  and  still  no  recognition 
on  the  part  of  the  sentinel.  Then  both  of  the  officers  came  up 
to  him  and  asked  what  his  instructions  were.  Being  told  as 
above,  he  was  asked  if  nothing  was  said  about  saluting 
officers  .  "Not  a  word,"  was  the  reply.  Colonel  T.  G.  Steven- 
son, for  he  was  the  leading  one,  his  brother,  the  Major,  the 
other,  took  the  private's  weapon  and  gave  him  his  first  lesson 
in  the  art  of  military  decorum,  a  lesson  whose  refrain  is  still 
ringing  in  the  eats  of  the  soldier. 

By  the  5th  of  the  month  everybody  is  astir  over  the  pros- 
pect of  immediate  departure.  While  all  know  that  they  are 
a  part  of  Burnside's  Expedition,  of  its  ultimate  destination 
not  even  officers  high  in  rank  have  the  slightest 
inkling,  and  some  of  them  in  their  home  letters  made  prophe- 
cies which  proved  to  be  very  far  wide  of  the  mark.  Never 
was  Pope's  aphorism  as  to  Heaven's  hiding  from  all  crea- 
tures, the  book  of  Fate,  better  exemplified  than  in  this  case. 
There  was  a  vast  array  of  vessels,  and  a  large  army  of  men, 
who  were  to  fill  those  same  crafts,  which  are  to  sail  away  some 
day,  somewhere,  but  who  can  tell  where  they  are  to  land  these 
same  warriors?  It  was  on  the  6th,  while  having  a  battalion 
drill,  and  men  were  firing  blank  cartridges,  that  the  orders 
came  to  pack  up  and  march  to  the  city  in  quick  time.  This 
was  at  2  p.m.,  and  at  5  o'clock,  tents  had  been  struck,  baggage 
packed  and  the  regiment  was  in  Annapolis.  In  striking  tents, 
etc.,  everything  was  done  at  the  tap  of  the  drum,  and  the  men 
left  the  ruins  of  cook  and  store  houses  and  stables,  which 
were  burned.  Seven  of  the  companies  went  on  board  the 
Admiral,  now  the  Guide,  at    once,    leaving    the    other    three 


42  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 

companies,  A,  C  and  F,  in  the  dock-yard  waiting.  There 
was  snow  on  the  ground,  the  air  was  icy  and  the  men  were 
suffering  from  the  cold.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Osbom,  who  had 
this  detachment  in  charge,  seized  a  load  of  wood,  which  he 
found  near,  and  had  fires  built  for  the  comfort  and  health 
of  his  men.  Here  all  had  to  wait  till  10.30  p.m.,  when  a 
barge  was  secured  to  take  the  soldiers  aboard  the  Vidette, 
which  was  found  after  a  long,  cold  search  in  the  darkness, 
and  where  all  at  last  were  placed  at  midnight,  and  glad  they 
were  for  the  shelter  afforded.  The  men  are  quartered  in 
better  shape  than  the  officers,  who  are  not  so  well  off  as  those 
who  took  the  Guide.  For  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment,  it 
may  be  safe  to  call  the  beginning  of  the  Burnside  Expedi- 
tion   this  6th  day  of  January,  when  the  ships  were  boarded. 

THE  BURNSIDE  EXPEDITION. 

Even  on  shipboard,  officers  are  still  querying  as  to  where 
they  are  to  go,  and  still  are  guessing  wildly.  As  the  regiment 
is  divided,  the  Guide  and  Vidette  will  have  to  be  considered 
separately.  It  is  one  thing  to  embark  and  quite  another  af- 
fair to  start.  The  Guide  had  more  companies  than  in  the 
trip  from  New  York,  besides  the  band  with  Colonel  Steven- 
son and  Staff.  During  the  next  two  days  the  time  is  given  to 
storing  the  baggage  and  waiting  for  other  organizations.  At 
last  on  the  9th,  at  8  a.m.  the  anchor  was  hoisted  and,  at  a 
given  signal,  in  three  squadrons,  the  vessels  started  down  the 
Chesapeake,  a  magnificent  sight.  The  weather  is  heavy  and, 
on  account  of  the  fog,  the  vessel  came  to  anchor  at  11  o'clock 
that  night.  The  next  day,  or  the  10th,  the  steamer  proceeded 
to  Fortress  Monroe,  where  the  vessels  in  waiting  accorded 
the  new  comers  a  hearty  welcome,  and  at  night  General  Burn- 
side  came  aboard.  The  Vidette  had  towed,  all  the  way  down, 
a  canal  boat  (by  courtesy,  a  "gunboat"),  whose  captain  on 
arriving  at  the  Fortress  declared  his  unwillingness  to  go  any 
further.     He  was  put  in  irons  and    the    crew,  consisting  of 


Jan.   '62.  Burnside  Expedition.  -iS 

four  men,  was  taken  off.  She  was  laden  with  hay  and  grain, 
and,  if  taken  to  her  destination  at  all,  must  be  towed,  having 
no  means  of  propulsion  of  her  own. 

January  6th  the  commanding  officers  on  board  transports 
received  orders  to  the  effect  that  a  guard  should  be  placed 
over  the  water,  and  that  it  should  be  used  for  cooking  and 
drinking  only,  every  one  being  expected  to  use  salt  water  for 
washing  purposes.  A  guard  also  must  be  placed  over  the 
galley  to  enforce  orders  and  to  see  that  the  companies  take 
their  proper  turn  in  cooking.  ' '  A  guard,  under  the  orders  of 
the  captain  of  the  vessel,  shall  be  placed  over  the  magazine." 
No  lights  are  to  be  allowed  between  decks  except  by  special 
order  of  the  commanding  officer  and  the  captain  of  the  ves- 
sel, and  there  shall  be  a  general  police  guard  under  a  commis- 
sioned officer  for  the  preservation  of  order  and  discipline 
aboard.  Commanding  officers  also  received  sealed  orders,  not 
to  be  opened  till  after  leaving  Old  Point  Comfort. 

The  Vidette  was  slow  in  loading,  and  the  Lieutenant-colonel 
of  the  Twenty-fourth  had  mauy  a  weary  hour  in  his  efforts 
to  get  everything  shipshape.  According  to  orders,  issued  on 
the  8th,  the  Vidette  was  to  close  the  line  of  departing  vessels 
in  the  brigade.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Osborn  comments  that 
patience  is  as  necessary  a  virtue  in  a  soldier  as  bravery,  and 
it  is  much  oftener  tried.  "It  is  no  small  job  to  embark 
16,000  men,  and  we  have  met  no  more  obstacles  than  I  ex- 
pected. We  are  now  lying  in  Annapolis  Harbor,  right 
abreast  the  Naval  Academy,  and  are  surrounded  by  steamers 
and  sailing  vessels  belonging  to  the  expedition."  In  gen- 
eral men  and  officers  of  whatever  rank  are  not  averse  to  leav- 
ing the  capital  of  Maryland,  which  they  proclaim  a  tumble- 
down old  place,  very  aristocratic  in  its  way,  having  no  energy, 
enterprise  nor  sig-ns  of  life  save  those  imparted  by  the  sol- 
diers. "One  of  the  shop-keepers  told  me  that  the  army  had 
made  Annapolis,  and  my  only  difficulty  in  believing  him 
arose  from  my  wondering  in  what  a  condition  of  wretched- 


44  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

ness  it  must  have  been  before  'it  was  made.'  "  *  *  "Slavery 
has  brought  its  curse  here  and  the  beautiful  land  is  blighted 
by  its  presence."  The  Vidette  reached  the  fortress  at  1  a.m. 
of  the  11th,  and  took  her  place  in  the  line  of  waiters  for  the 
final  departure.  Colonels  Stevenson  and  Osborn  improved 
the  opportunity  to  inspect  the  grim  old  fortification,  and 
then  the  Lieutenant  Colonel  with  ]Major  Stevenson  and 
Assistant  Surgeon  Curtis  visited  the  frigate  Minnesota,  and 
remained  to  dine. 

At  11  p.m.,  under  sealed  orders,  the  fleet  proceeds  to  sea,  on 
the  lltli  da}^  of  January,  still  wondering  what  chapter  of 
history  is  to  be  written  by  the  men  thus  borne  away  from 
their  homes.  After  the  leaving  of  the  pilot,  it  is  proper  to 
open  and  read  the  orders,  till  now  unknown.  The  officers 
then  learaed  what  all  the  world  has  known  for  the  last  nearly 
forty-five  years,  that  the  destination  is  Hatteras  Inlet,  that  on 
arrival  a  pilot  is  to  be  summoned  and,  on  entering,  the  vessel  is 
to  be  anchored  as  far  from  the  channel  as  possible.  The  versa- 
tile character  of  the  Union  soldiers  appeared  in  the  fact  that 
many  of  those  who  manned  the  vessels  were  enlisted  men  of 
the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment.  It  was  a  motley  array  of  sea- 
going craft  that  sailed  out  between  the  capes  on  that  Jan- 
uary night,  perhaps  till  then  the  most  considerable  armada 
that  America  had  ever  seen.  There  were  more  than  one  hun- 
dred vessels  of  all  descriptions,  including  steam  and  sailing 
crafts,  canal  boats,  ferry  boats,  coasting  schooners  and  some 
passenger  steamers.  Few  of  them  were  in  seaworthy  con- 
dition, yet  they  were  starting  out  to  encounter  the  storms 
of  Hatteras,  the  most  trying  portion  of  the  American  coast. 
Then,  too,  it  was  that  time  of  the  year  when  the  worst  storms 
might  be  expected,  and  they  came.  Many  columns  have  been 
written  descriptive  of  those  trying  hours  between  Capes 
Henry  and  Hatteras,  but  no  description  Avas  ever  able  to  do 
justice  to  the  tribulation  through  which  the  cooped-up  sol- 
diers on  board  those  creaking  vessels  had  to  pass.  How  the 
steamers  were  obliged  to  part  from  the  crafts  in  tow,  how 


Jan.  '62.  Burnside  Expedition.  45 

some  of  the  vessels  put  out  to  sea  for  safety,  and  how  others 
tried  to  ride  out  the  storms  while  at  anchor, — all  this  has  been 
told  many  a  time ;  and  if  officers  and  men  had  concluded  that 
Neptune  himself  had  made  a  hard  and  fast  contract  wnth  the 
Confederacy  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  render  useless  the 
efforts  of  General  Burnside  and  his  followers,  it  would  seem 
that  there  was  reason  in  their  thoughts.  Vessels  were  de- 
stroyed, carg-oes  lost,  collisions  crippled  many  ships,  and  the 
landing  did  not  prove  to  be  the  simple  affair  that  many  had 
pictured  it. 

Among  the  many  incidents  of  the  trip  men  of  Company  B 
recall  with  pride  the  fact  that  when  it  was  proposed  to  cut 
adrift  the  oats-laden  tow  of  the  Guide  and  the  men  on 
board,  hand  over  hand,  along  the  hawser,  had  reached  the 
deck  of  the  transport,  they  volunteered  to  go  back  and  try 
to  keep  her  in  line  during  the  night.  This  they  did,  and  it 
is  said  that  Burnside  gave  them  $25  apiece  for  their  deed; 
they  were  Privates  Bly,  Oldham  and  Perry. 

From  the  13th  to  the  17tli  of  January  there  was  little 
doing  save  trying  to  find  room  for  anchorage,  and  to  supply 
the  men  with  the  necessaries  of  life.  As  one  writer  puts  it, 
"there  are  three  times  as  many  vessels  in  this  harbor  as  ever 
ought  to  be,"  but  the  difficulty  in  getting  heavy  draft  ships 
over  the  "Swash"  delayed  the  massing  in  Pamlico  Sound. 
General  Burnside  was  as  nearly  ubiquitous  as  any  one  at  sea 
could  be.  On  the  little  gunboat,  the  Picket,  the  smallest  in 
the  fleet,  he  was  off'  and  away  constantly  doing  his  best  to 
bring  order  out  of  chaos.  It  was  the  sincere  solicitude  of  the 
Commander,  as  manifested  in  a  thousand  ways  to  help  all  in 
distress,  that  made  "Burnside"  a  name  to  conjure  with 
among  all  those  who  participated  in  this  expedition.  In 
three  days,  the  ships  of  the  navy  were  safely  over  the  Swash, 
but  much  more  time  was  required  to  bring  all  of  the  trans- 
ports into  the  waters  of  Pamlico.  By  the  time  that  the  storm 
finally  broke,  or  the  25th  of  January,  nearly  all  the  vessels 


46  Twenty-fourth  ]\Iassachusetts  Regiment. 

that  had  out-ridden  the  tempest  were  over  the  bar  and  ready 
for  the  real  business  before  them. 

Meanwhile  life  on  the  Guide  might  be  taken  as  a  sample 
of  what  was  passing  on  other  transports,  except  that  men  of 
the  Twenty-fourth  were  possibly  a  little  better  off  than  those 
on  some  other  boats.  General  Burnside  had  chosen  this  as  his 
flag-ship,  and  his  wife  was  here,  as  was  the  General  himself, 
when  not  cruising  around  the  waters  on  his  swift  little  "Pick- 
et." The  prospect  ashore  is  not  attractive,  only  vast  areas 
of  desert  sancl-wastes  with  the  two  small  forts.  Hatteras  and 
Clarke,  captured  by  General  Butler  and  men  in  the  preceding 
August.  Guard-duty  is  kept  up  and,  as  far  as  possible,  the 
formalities  of  camp  life  are  maintained.  Guard-mount  is  at 
9  a.m.  There  are  three  reliefs,  each  of  which  has  two  hours 
on  and  four  off.  Long  tarr^'ing  on  shipboard  does  not  make 
the  men  like  it  any  better,  and  they  are  anxious  to  set  foot 
on  the  earth  even  if  it  be  shifting  sand.  In  spite  of  the 
apparent  desolation  there  are  people  on  the  shore,  and  of 
them,  a  writer  says,  ' '  Queer  folks  in  this  region !  Several 
hundred  are  scattered  along  the  bar,  who  get  their  living  by 
fishing,  gathering  oysters,  wrecking  and  piloting.  Most  of 
them  were  born  here,  never  saw  any  other  locality  and  all 
are  happy.  There  are  women  here  who  never  wore  shoes. 
The  people  seldom  see  money,  indeed  they  have  no  use  for 
it."  For  the  first  time  in  their  lives,  the  men  are  conscious 
of  the  paramount  value  of  fresh  water.  They  are  not  stinted 
on  drinking  water,  but  they  have  to  steal  it  for  washing  if 
they  get  it  at  all.  The  water-guard  is  kept  at  his  station  and 
is  faithful.  After  all,  the  liquid  is  a  distilled  product  and 
is  almost  nauseating  to  many.  The  capacity  of  the  machinery 
of  the  Guide  is  3000  gallons  daily  and  she  has  to  supply  other 
vessels  as  well.  They  are  out  of  range  of  fresh  meat,  and  boys 
who  never  ate  fat  salt  pork  at  home  have  to  eat  it  here  or 
cease  to  be  carnivors.  Hardtack  is  palatable,  though  soft 
bread  is  not  refused  if  General  Burnside 's  cook  hands  out  a 
bit. 


Jan.   '62.  Burnside  Expedition.  47 

The  fact  that  the  Guide  had  to  furnish  water  for  other 
vessels  rendered  the  ship  itself  in  some  respects  an  uncom- 
fortable place  for  those  quartered  there.  The  main  tank  for 
the  reception  of  the  distilled  product  was  in  the  gentlemen's 
cabin,  and  the  steam  incident  to  the  process  so  filled  the  room 
that  it  was  impossible  at  times  to  see  across  the  cabin.  The 
ration  for  each  man  per  day  was  one  quart,  but  this  quantity 
was  increased  occasionally,  through  the  services  of  a  boy 
whose  bunk  was  near  the  tank  and  who,  by  skillfully  using 
his  dipper,  could  fill  canteens  which  were  held  over  the  sides 
of  the  steamer,  to  be  cooled  off  in  the  waters  of  the  sea.  Some 
of  the  men  were  detected  in  stealing  sugar  and  coffee  from 
the  quartermaster's  boat,  which  lay  alongside  the  Guide,  and, 
as  a  penalty,  were  sentenced  to  go  without  coffee  for  two 
weeks ;  but  again  the  boy  with  the  dipper  and  the  boiling  water 
in  the  tank  came  in,  enabling  the  delinquents  to  get  their 
coffee  without  the  services  of  the  cook.  All  readers  may  not 
know  that  schooners  sent  down  from  Fortress  Monroe  laden 
with  fresh  water  had  been  kept  back  by  the  storm. 

The  Vidette  undertook  the  trip  across  the  Swash,  Sunday, 
the  19th,  and  expected  to  go  over  easy,  since  she  drew  half  a 
foot  less  water  than  the  stipulated  eight  feet,  having  thrown 
overboard  a  large  part  of  her  coal,  but  she  was  soon  caught 
like  the  rest  and  lay  there  all  day.  In  the  evening,  with  a 
high  tide,  she  got  oft'  and  was  nearly  over  when  she  grounded 
again.  In  the  morning  another  trial  was  made  and  she  finally 
pulled  through,  anchoring  in  Pamlico  Sound,  Monday  fore- 
noon. The  Guide  was  a  larger  vessel  and  did  not  fare  so  well, 
though  to  lighten  her  she  had  thrown  overboard  all  of  her 
coal,  drawn  the  Avater  from  her  boilers,  and  her  men  had  been 
sent  on  shore.  She  lay  on  the  bar  two  days  and  did  not  reach 
her  consort  till  the  26th.  Had  not  the  enemy  been  stupid  or 
blind,  they  might  have  rendered  their  defenses  at  Roanoke 
during  this  delay  quite  impregnable.  Though  the  wind  was 
not  tempered  to  the  shorn  Union  lamb,  it  seemed  to  blow  no 
good  to  the  Confederate  foe,  for  in  due  time  it  appeared  the 


48  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Eegiment. 

enemy  had  in  no  way  profited  by  the  mishaps  of  the  fleet  off 
Hatteras  and  within. 

Following  the  divergent  experiences  of  the  two  vessels,  it 
should  be  stated  that  the  passengers  of  the  Guide  landed,  Jan. 
21,  and  their  adventures  were  novel  enough  to  merit  a  special 
story.  Naturally  when  the  men  were  off  the  ship  they  im- 
proved the  chance  to  pretty  thoroughly  inspect  the  sand  bar- 
rens and  the  forts  which  had  formed  the  objective  point  of 
Butler  in  August  preceding.  They  found  the  fortifications 
small  affairs,  in  charge  of  a  small  detachment  of  regular  sol- 
diers, but  the  shells  upon  the  beach  were  more  lovely  than  any 
the  men  had  seen  before.  One  admirer  wished  he  might  pick 
up  a  ton  of  them,  but  he  realized  how  impracticable  shell 
gathering  was  to  a  soldier  with  a  knapsack.  Tents  were 
duly  pitched,  but  these  soldiers  were  doomed  to  dampness, 
for,  in  the  night,  they  were  awakened  to  find  themselves  lying 
in  the  water,  which  M^as  constantly  rising,  the  hay  and  grass 
they  had  collected  as  beds  affording  them  no  protection. 
Again  they  were  compelled  to  move  after  erecting  their  tents. 
The  wind  was  blowing  a  gale,  and  getting  tents  up  was  no 
trifling  matter.  The  wind  forced  the  water  still  higher,  so 
that  at  last,  with  water  to  their  knees,  the  men  marched  into 
Fort  Clarke  in  a  half-drowned  condition,  and  found  refuge  in 
an  old  shanty  there. 

It  was  in  these  troublous  days  that,  notwithstanding  strict 
rules  concerning  foraging,  certain  hungry  men,  under  the 
lead  of  their  Orderly  Sergeant,  went  out  after  food  and  suc- 
ceeded in  finding  some  starveling  sheep  which  they  killed 
and  brought  in.  Others  captured  some  geese.  When  Colonel 
Stevenson  heard  of  the  event,  he  hastened  over  to  the  scene 
and  reproached  the  offenders  for  their  violation  of  orders, 
but  his  gravity  was  quite  upset  and  his  censure  rendered 
futile  by  one  of  the  men  saying,  ' '  Colonel  Stevenson,  it  was 
not  wrong  for  us  to  kill  tliis  animal. "  "  How  is  that  ? "  re- 
plied the  officer.  "Why,"  answers  the  wag,  "he  was  so  poor 
we  had  to  kill  him  to  save  his  life."     On  the  27th  there  was 


Jan.  '62.  Burnside  Expedition.  49 

an  inspection  of  the  men  ashore  and  three  of  the  companies, 
under  Captain  Richardson,  were  drilled  as  a  battalion.  The 
subsidence  of  the  water  had  left  in  a  hollow  of  the  sand 
twenty  fish,  which  the  men  readily  caught,  and  thus  had  a  new 
kind  of  food.  On  Sunday,  the  25th,  there  was  a  movement 
toward  the  first  landing-place.  .On  the  28th  .the  band  went 
up  to  escort  the  remoter  companies  down  to  a  union  with  the 
other  men  of  the  Guide,  some  of  whom  had  already  gone  on 
board,  and  this  day,  by  means  of  the  Pilot  Boy,  the  Guide 
received  again  her  complement  of  passengers.  The  remaining 
days  of  January  were  spent  on  shipboard  with  such  drills, 
inspections  and  other  routine  as  the  nature  of  the  case  ad- 
mitted. The  weather  having  moderated,  and  supplies  from 
Fortress  Monroe  having  begun  to  appear,  life  was  more 
endurable. 

During  that  week  on  the  barrens  of  Hatteras  one  of  the 
most  serious  discomforts  arose  from  the  presence  of  sand  in 
whatever  the  men  had  to  eat  or  drink.  Everybody  expects 
to  eat  his  peck  of  dirt  before  he  dies,  but  no  one  thinks  to  get 
it  all  in  one  short  sennight,  but  all  went  on  board  the  Guide 
with  the  thought  that  they  ought  to  be  exempt  from  any  more 
suffering  in  this  direction.  The  cooks,  when  they  made  coffee 
for  the  companies,  would  find  two  or  three  inches  of  sand  in 
the  bottom  of  their  kettles,  blown  there  while  the  water  was 
boiling.  Baked  beans  could  not  be  chewed,  they  were  swal- 
lowed as  the^^  entered  the  mouth,  too  gritty  for  chewing.  Even 
the  much  prized  mutton,  slain  "to  save  its  life,"  proved  to 
be  only  another  method  of  inflicting  sand  on  the  stomachs  of 
the  consumers.  No  one  of  that  battalion  ever  thought  himself 
lacking  in  "sand"  after  that  week  of  Hatteras  experience. 

Possibly  no  better  picture,  in  brief,  of  the  trip  can  be  had 
than  that  given  by  one  of  the  officers  in  a  letter  to  his  home : 
"Sunday,  the  12th,  was  a  pleasant  day  and  we  amused  our- 
selves by  watching  the  barren  shores  of  North  Carolina,  and 
striving  to  discover  some  signs  of  life,  but  without  success. 
Nothing  but  a  view  of  a  waste  of  sand,  relieved    occasionally 


50 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


by  a  background  of  pine  barrens,  with  now  and  then  a  tumble- 
down, deserted  house  or  eattle-shed,  rewarded  our  efforts. 
Towards  night,  the  wind  became  more  fresh  and  the  sea  grew 
rougher.  The  captain  did  not  dare  to  pass  Cape  Hatteras, 
which  is  always  a  dangerous  point  in  the  night,  so  he  came 


NORTH  CAROLIXAS  THEATRE  OF  WAR. 


Jax.  '62.  BuRNSiDE  Expedition.  51 

to  anchor.  At  daylight,  we  got  under  way  again.  In  cross- 
ing Diamond  Shoal,  which  lies  off  Hatteras  Inlet,  the  wind 
blew  a  gale  and  the  sea  was  so  rough  that  I  found  my  berth 
was  my  only  refuge  from  sea-sickness.  At  first  we  thought  it 
blew  so  hard  we  would  not  run  into  the  inlet,  but  by  follow- 
ing a  tug  that  was  placed  there  to  pilot  us,  we  (Vidette) 
reached  in  and  anchored  off  the  fort  at  one  o'clock.  This 
was  Monday,  the  loth.  Other  vessels  arrived  in  rapid  suc- 
cession till  the  little  harbor  was  thoroughly  choked  up.  That 
would  have  done  no  harm  had  there  been  no  wind  and  no  tide. 
but  the  wind  was  a  gale  and  the  tide  a  mill-sluice.  Accord- 
ingly when  the  tide  turned  and  began  to  run  in  with  the  same 
velocity,  all  the  vessels  swung  round  with  it  and  collided  in 
all  directions.  We  were  near  the  steamer  New  York,  nearly 
twice  our  size,  which  at  ever}'  turn  of  the  tide  threshed  against 
us  as  if  to  beat  us  to  pieces,  and  succeeded  in  twisting  its  chain 
cable  so  completely  around  ours  that  it  baffled  all  our  efforts 
to  clear  them  for  two  days,  until  the  weather  moderated.  At 
one  time,  when  the  New  York  was  beating  us  on  one  side,  a 
gunboat  of  about  our  own  size  came  into  us  on  the  other  and 
when  at  last  she  managed  to  haul  away,  another  promptly 
took  her  place  until  we  believed  that  we  were  destined  to  be 
crushed  flat  before  they  were  done  with  us.  *  *  *  * 
"In  the  meantime,  our  water  began  to  run  low,  and  I  was 
obliged  to  put  everybody  on  short  allowance,  which  produced 
much  discomfort  and  some  grumbling  among  the  men ;  quite 
natural  this  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  food  of  the  same 
consisted  chiefly  of  salt  beef,  salt  pork,  hard  bread,  potatoes, 
rice  and  hominy,  all  calculated  to  excite  thirst.  However, 
the  securing  of  distilled  water  from  the  Guide  and  the  getting 
of  some  fresh  beef  from  a  newly  arrived  steamer  did  much 
toward  restoring  good  humor.  The  quarters  for  the  officers 
are  ridiculousl}'  cramped,  so  small  are  they  that  at  the  onset 
no  one  thought  it  possible  to  get  along  in  them,  but  under 
the  prompting  of  necessity  they  have  been  found  passable 
and  even  comfortable.     Before  leaving  the  fortress,  a  goodly 


52  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Kegiment. 

stock  of  provisions  was  laid  in  by  the  officers,  consisting  of 
bread,  butter,  chickens,  eggrs,  pickles,  tea,  etc.,  but  the  hard 
weather  ran  them  down  to  short  commons  with  the  men.  At 
one  time  butter  gave  out,  and  they  were  near  despair  till  the 
timely  arrival  of  a  sutler's  boat  saved  them  from  complete 
collapse.  Subsequent  months  taught  them  how  many  seem- 
ing necessities  could  be  dispensed  with  easily.  *  *  We 
have  been  obliged  to  wash  in  salt  water  all  the  time,  except 
when  we  could  get  from  the  engineer  a  little  fresh,  condensed 
in  the  cocks  of  his  boiler,  and,  as  we  had  no  salt-water  soap, 
we  might  as  well  have  used  sand.  I  should  be  sorry  to  pre- 
sent myself  with  the  hands  I  am  carrying  about  with  me  all 
the  time.  Only  severe  thirst  forces  'us  to  drink  the  distilled 
water.  Chess  and  whist  serve  to  while  away  many  otherwise 
tedious  hours." 

On  the  29th  General  Foster  issued  a  general  order  con- 
taining minute  directions  as  to  the  equipment  and  care  of  the 
row-boats  with  reference  to  landing;  as  to  the  armament  and 
attitudes  of  the  men  themselves;  as  to  the  signals  and  their 
import  and,  finally,  as  to  the  prompt  obedience  every  man 
was  to  render.  The  men  were  to  carry  three  days'  cooked 
rations  and  their  canteens  were  to  be  filled  with  fresh  water. 
On  the  morning  of  February  1,  Companies  A,  C  and  F  on 
board  the  Vidette  reported  present  ten  commissioned  officers 
with  228  non-commissioned  officers  and  men.  One  officer  and 
fifty-four  men  were  absent.  Of  those  reported  present  and 
ready  for  dutj%  twenty-four  were  serving  under  Colonel 
Howard  of  the  IMarine  Artillery  for  the  manning  of  his  boat 
and  Mountain  howitzers. 

Febiiiary  3d  come  orders  from  General  Burnside  to  the 
effect  that  on  landing,  care  must  be  taken  that  loyal  citizens 
are  not  annoyed,  that  their  property  shall  be  protected,  that 
wounded  soldiers  of  the  enemy  and  prisoners  shall  receive 
every  care  and  attention,  and  that  all  the  laws  and  usages  of 
civilized  warfare  shall  be  strictly  obseiwed.  The  fleet  is  lying 
at  anchor  about  thirty  miles  from  Roanoke  Island,  the  object 


Jan.   '62.  Burnside  Expedition.  53 

of  their  first  attack,  and  all  are  anxiously  expecting  the  signal 
for  an  advance.  Only  a  few  days  before  a  schooner,  loaded 
with  wood  and  manned  by  seven  men,  came  down  from  Wash- 
ington, N.  C,  and  gave  herself  up  to  one  of  the  gunboats. 
They  report  arduous  etforts  on  the  part  of  the  people  of  the 
mainland  to  fill  their  military  organization.  One  of  the  men 
had  been  in  the  army  under  Burnside  when  he  was  a  lieu- 
tenant of  artillery.  The  General  recognized  him  and  ap- 
peared to  believe  his  story.  On  the  3d,  a  sailboat  was  dis- 
covered, evidently  trying  to  reconnoitre  the  fleet.  A  gunboat 
started  for  the  stranger,  which  at  once  made  off  in  all  haste, 
but  was  finally  captured. 

February  4th  comes  General  Order  No.  -i  from  General 
Foster,  with  directions  as  to  the  time  of  starting  of  the  fleet, 
viz.,  8  a.m.  of  the  5th,  and  the  vessels  of  the  First  Brigade 
are  to  move  in  line,  the  Guide  to  be  No.  -i,  and  the  Vidette 
seventh  and  last,  a  somewhat  absurd  location  for  a  vidette. 
Extended  directions  are  given  as  to  the  order  of  vessels  after 
reaching  Croatan  Sound,  the  observance  of  signals,  the  an- 
chorage of  vessels  and  the  landing  of  the  men,  the  formation 
after  reaching  land  and  injunctions  against  throwing  away 
any  part  of  arms  or  equipments. 

ROANOKE. 

In  the  earlier  days  of  the  war,  when  Union  victories  were 
none  too  numerous,  the  name  of  this  North  Carolina  island 
was  a  pleasant  sound  to  Northern  ears.  It  had  associations 
with  early  American  history,  for  every  school  boy  knows  that 
on  this  island,  in  1587  was  born  Virginia  Dare,  the  first  child 
of  English  parentage  born  in  America,  but  in  these  troublous 
days  of  February,  '62,  Yankee  boys  were  intent  not  so  much 
on  studying  history  as  in  making  it,  and  the  results  of  their 
two  days'  efforts  became  choice  reading  to  their  friends  at 
home.  They  had  waited  long,  and  with  more  or  less  patience, 
for  the  command  which  should  send  them  against  this  for- 
tified portion  of  the   Confederacy.       Its   importance   to   the 


5-4  Twenty-fourth  ]Massachusetts  Kegiment. 

enemy,  and  thereby  its  value  to  the  Union  cause,  is  well  ex- 
pressed in  the  following  extract  from  John  S.  Wise's  "End 
of  an  Era:" 

The  island  commanded  the  passage  by  water  through 
Hatteras  Inlet  and  Pamlico  Sound  to  Albemarle  and  Curri- 
tuck sounds.  It  was  a  most  important  strategic  point,  for 
a  force  of  Union  troops,  passing  it,  had  at  their  mercy  several 
towTis  upon  the  North  Carolina  coast,  could  cut  off  the  sup- 
plies and  railroad  and  canal  communications  of  Norfolk,  and 
were  in  position  to  attack  that  city  in  rear. 

The  writer  proceeds  to  state  that  his  father,  Henry  A.  Wise, 
former  Governor  of  Virginia,  had  been  assigned  to  the  com- 
mand and  defense  of  the  island.  The  commander  of  the 
department,  embracing  the  island,  was  Benj.  Huger,  a  West 
Pointer  of  many  years  before  (classmate,  1825,  of  Maj.  Robert 
Anderson),  one  whom  Wise  characterizes  as  a  sort  of  barnacle 
on  the  Confederacy,  being  far  more  a  hindrance  than  a  help  in 
the  progress  of  events.  The  Ex-governor  and  General,  Wise, 
had  done  his  best  to  render  the  island  strong  against  the  im- 
pending attack,  but  all  his  efforts  were  unavailing  in  over- 
coming the  indifference  of  the  Richmond  authorities,  Avho 
evidently  took  their  cue  from  the  ancient  Huger.  Through 
his  arduous  labors  and  exposures  incident  to  his  position, 
General  Wise  was,  at  the  time  of  the  attack,  confined  to  his 
bed  at  Nag's  Head,  suffering  from  a  severe  attack  of  pneu- 
monia. No  better  description  of  the  island  itself  can  be 
found  than  that  also  given  by  John  S.  Wise : — 

Roanoke  Island  is  shaped  something  like  an  hour-glass. 
Its  northernmost  half  is  higher  ground  than  its  southernmost, 
and  the  waters  and  wet  marshes  almost  intersect  it  at  its 
middle  part.  The  engineers  who  planned  its  defenses  •  placed 
all  its  fortifications  upon  the  upper  half,  bearing  upon  the 
channel  of  Croatan  Sound  to  the  westward.  Not  a  work  was 
erected  to  prevent  a  debarkation  upon  its  lower  portion.  An 
attacking  force,  landing  there,  was  absolutely  safe  from  the 
water  batteries,  both  while  landing  and  afterwards.  At  the 
narrow  neck  of  land  which  connected  the  upper  and  lower 


Feb.  '62.  Roanoke.  55 

half  of  the  island  was  a  fortification,  not  one  hundred  feet  in 
length  and  only  four  and  a  half  feet  high,  mounting  three 
iield  pieces.  This  captured,  every  other  artillery  defense  of 
the  island  was  at  the  mercy  of  the  enemy,  who  by  that  ma- 
noeuvre were  in  their  rear — so  emphatically  in  their  rear  that 
the  vessels  attacking  the  water  batteries  could  not  fire  after 
the  Union  forces  assaulted  the  redoubt,  for  their  shot  would 
have  fallen  into  the  ranks  of  their  own  troops.  *  *  The 
command  of  the  troops  devolved  upon  Colonel  A.  IM.  Shaw* 
of  the  Eighth  North  Carolina,  althougrh  my  father  continued 
to  give  general  directions  from  his  sick-bed. 

Such  was  the  object  of  attack  and  such  were  the  interests 
at  stake  in  the  movement  now  reaching  a  culminating  moment. 
i\Iany  times  has  the  story  of  Roanoke  been  told  by  officer  and 
man.  No  two  men  saw  the  battle  and  its  incidents  in  just  the 
same  manner.  To  each  description  there  should  be  added  the 
garnishing  of  the  individual,  but  naturally  an  officer  high 
in  command,  writing  for  his  own  men,  would  be  likely  to  set 
the  event  forth  in  proper  light.  This  appears  in  the  recital 
of  Lieutenant-colonel  Osborn  in  a  home  letter  written  soon 
after  the  stirring  days  themselves : 

"On  Wednesday.  February  5,  we  sailed  at  9  a.m.  and  pro- 
ceeded slowly  northward,  the  fleet  in  regular  order,  the  first 
brigade  leading  the  way.  Just  before  sunset  we  anchored. 
At  that  time  Roanoke  Island  could  be  dimly  discerned  on  the 
horizon,  about  ten  miles  distant.  The  next  morning  we  got 
under  Avay  again  and  moved  up  to  within  a  few  miles  of 
Croatan  Sound,  which  lies  between  the  island  and  the  main- 
land, and  anchored  again.  Here  General  Foster  came  with 
orders  for  me  to  leave  one  company  on  board  the  Vidette  and 
to  go  with  the  other  two  on  board  the  Guide  to  join  the  rest  of 
the  regiment  (Company  C  was  left).  After  that  was  done  the 
Vidette  went  on  ahead  two  or  three  miles  with  the  gunboats. 
In  this  position  we  lay  all  night.  Friday  morning,  the  7th, 
the  gunboats  went  into  Croatan  Sound  and  engaged  a  bat- 
teiy  called  Pork  Point  Battery,  or  Fort  Bartow^    At  the  same 

♦Colonel  Shaw  was  killed  February  1st,  '64,  at  Bachelder's  Creek,  X.  C. 


56 


Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Kegiment. 


time  we  received  oi^ders  to  lead  off  the  rest  of  the  fleet,  fol- 
lowing- the  gunboats.  We  accordingly  started,  but  a.s  we  had 
a  schooner  and  a  large  raft  in  tow,  we  could  not  manage  the 
vessel  and  soon  got  aground.  All  efforts  to  get  her  off  being 
unavailing,  we  had  the  mortification  of  seeing  the  entire  fleet 
pass  us  and  go  into  the  sound  and  anchor  at  a  safe  distance 
from  the  battery.  We  lay  in  that  place  all  day  watching  the 
bombardment  through  our  glasses  with  the  utmost  anxiety, 
but  we  were  so  far  off  that  we  could  only  see  the  flash  of  the 
guns  and  the  explosion  of  the  shells,  without  being  able  to 
judge  of  the  damage  inflicted  on  either  side. ' ' 


War  was  a  new  game  to  these  northern  boys,  and  when,  on 
one  of  the  vessels,  they  saw  an  old  man-of-war's  man,  scatter- 
ing sawdust  plentifully  about  the  deck  during  the  bombard- 
ment, anon  adding  a  portion  of  tobacco-laden  saliva  to  the 
ocean,  they  made  bold  to  ask  him  what  he  was  throwing  that 
stuff  around  for.  With  a  contemptuous  glance  at  the  ques- 
tioners and  an  extra  roll  to  his  quid,  he  grunted  out,  "Some 
'er  you  fellers  '11  be  gettin'  yer  bloomin'  heads  lenocked  off  an' 


Feb.  "62.  Koanoke.  57 

we  dou't  wauter  be  slippin'  'round  in  the  blood."  His 
grewsome  reply  satisfied  even  Yankee  curiosity. 

Again,  the  Lieutenant-colonel :  "In  the  afternoon  our 
impatience  became  unbearable,  for  we  could  see  the  troops 
landing  in  boats  covered  by  the  fire  of  our  gunboats.  A  tug- 
boat came  down  to  us  just  then  and  the  Colonel  sent  me  up 
to  the  fleet  to  obtain  means  of  transportation  for  our  regiment 
to  the  shore.  Lieutenant  John  Anderson,  adjutant  of  the 
Twenty-fourth,  though  a  member  of  General  Foster's  staff, 
accompanied  me  to  aid  my  efforts.  This  brought  me  much 
nearer  the  bombardment  and  would  have  given  me  an  excel- 
lent \'iew  of  it,  but  unfortunately  it  had  grown  dark  and 
both  sides  ceased  firing.  We  procured  two  boats  to  go  down 
in  the  morning,  and  Anderson  and  I  slept  on  board  of 
one  of  them.  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  8th,  we  started, 
went  to  the  Guide,  put  seven  companies  on  board  one  of  the 
boats  with  the  Colonel,  while  I  took  the  remaining  two  on  the 
other.  The  Colonel's  boat  being  of  light  draft,  proceeded  up 
through  the  inlet  and  directly  to  the  shore.  My  boat  could 
approach  no  nearer  than  two  miles  to  the  shore,  but  anchored 
and  waited  for  the  other  to  take  us  in. 

"The  regiment,  as  I  will  call  the  Colonel's  portion,  was  met 
at  the  landing  by  an  aide  and  ordered  to  advance  immediately. 
They  marched  on,  hearing  volleys  of  musketry  and  cheering 
before  them  as  they  advanced,  but  before  they  arrived  at  the 
battle-ground,  they  were  ordered  to  halt  and  remain  in 
reserve.  Immediately  they  were  ordered  to  advance  again,  and 
soon  heard  the  cheers  of  our  men,  and  came  in  sight  of  a 
battery  across  the  road  which  had  just  been  taken.  They 
passed  through  this  and  halted  some  distance  beyond.  It  was 
then  supposed  that  there  were  more  batteries  beyond,  and 
General  Foster  ordered  the  Twenty-fourth,  as  the  men  were 
fresh,  to  move  forward  and  take  those  batteries.  They  ad- 
vanced some  three  miles  through  a  thickly  wooded  country, 
expecting  every  moment  to  meet  the  enemy,  especially  as 
there  were  half  a  dozen  places  where  they  might  have  made 


58  Twenty-fourth  IMassachusettr  Regiment. 

a  decided  stand.  But  the  foe  was  thoroughly  frightened  and 
completely  demoralized  and  ran  for  their  lives,  throwing 
away  their  arms,  equipment  and  clothing  as  they  went.  At 
last  the  regiment  began  to  receive  prisoners,  who  came  in  and 
gave  themselves  up,  saying  that  their  regiments  were  entirely 
scattered.  Hearing  that  many  were  escaping  from  the  island 
in  boats,  across  Roanoke  Sound,  the  Colonel  sent  two  com- 
panies down  to  different  parts  of  the  beach  to  head  them  off. 

' '  They  found  a  great  many  boats  at  some  distance  from  the 
shore,  rowing  for  dear  life,  and  brought  them  back  by  firing 
a  few  rifle  shots,  and  secured  150  prisoners.  While  they  were 
away  a  flag  of  truce  met  our  advancing  column,  asking  for  a 
suspension  of  hostilities  for  the  night.  General  Foster  replied 
that  he  would  listen  to  no  terms  but  an  unconditional  sur- 
render, and  a  speedy  one,  and  called  for  me  to  go  to  the  rebel 
camp  and  receive  the  answer.  As  I  was  not  there,  Major 
R.  H.  Stevenson  was  sent  in  my  place.  He  was  absent  a 
long  time,  and  General  Foster  at  last  said  to  Colonel  Steven- 
son, 'He  is  gone  too  long;  move  your  column  forward.' 
When  the  INIajor  returned  announcing  the  surrender.  Colonel 
Stevenson  marched  the  remaining  companies  into  the  rebel 
camp  and  took  possession  of  it,  with  about  two  thousand 
prisoners,  their  arms  and  ammunition.  Although  our  regi- 
ment was  not  under  fire,  it  is  entitled  to  no  less  credit,  for  it 
marched  forsvard  at  least  two  miles  in  advance  of  the  rest  of 
the  army,  expecting  at  every  turn  of  the  road  to  come  upon 
the  rebels  in  full  force,  and  behind  batteries  which  General 
Foster  had  been  told  they  had  built,  and  though  no  such  bat- 
teries existed,  it  does  not  lessen  the  merit  of  our  men  in  going 
to  the  intended  attack. 

"Had  the  rebels  chosen  to  dispute  our  passage  up  the  isl- 
and, they  would  have  been  conquered  ultimately,  it  is  true, 
but  with  a  proper  display  of  courage  and  military  skill,  they 
would  have  caused  us  a  fearful  loss  and  made  us  pay  dearly 
for  our  victory,  crippling  us  completely  for  future  action,  till 
we  could    receive    reinforcements    from    the    North.     But    to 


Feb.  '62.  Roanoke.  59 

return  to  my  own  movements !  The  same  boat  which  took 
the  Colonel  and  his  part  of  the  regiment  to  the  shore  landed 
me  and  mine  aftei'^vards.  The  landing  place  was  very  swampy 
and  we  were  obliged  to  march  about  two  hundred  yards, 
through  mud  and  water,  at  times  up  to  the  knees  before  get- 
ting to  dry  ground.  Just  then  General  Burnside  came  along 
and  told  me  to  take  my  companies  back  to  the  landing  and  get 
boxes  of  ammunition  to  be  carried  to  the  head  of  the  column, 
then  about  two  miles  off.  This  was  a  grievous  disappointment 
to  me,  for  I  could  hear  volleys  of  musketry  and  cheers,  and  I 
thought  that  the  Twenty-fourth  was,  or  soon  would  be  en- 
gaged, and  I  could  not  bear  the  idea  that  the  regiment  should 
get  into  action  in  my  absence.  AYe  were  delayed  two  hours 
before  rebeginning  the  march  and.  in  the  meantime,  the  troops 
had  taken  the  battery  and  gone  forward.  We  marched  slow- 
ly, as  the  boxes  %vere  very  hea^y,  and  we  were  a  long  time  in 
getting  to  the  battery,  which  was  foimd  filled  with  our  troops 
and  the  killed  and  wounded  of  the  enemy.  We  were  told  here 
that  our  regiment  had  pressed  forward  to  take  more  batteries 
Which  were  beyond,  and  we  followed  on,  hearing  of  them  con- 
stantly from  stragglers  on  the  road  and  hoping  to  overtake 
them  at  every  turn.  But  they  were  marching  rapidly,  and 
our  progress  was  necessarily  slow,  so  that  we  never  caught 
them. ' ' 

Aimnunition  carrying  on  that  day  at  Roanoke  will  never 
flee  the  memory  of  those  who  had  a  part  in  it.  One  veteran  of 
E,  after  all  these  days,  says  the  energy  absorbed  in  his  nine 
miles'  carry  he  still  laments.  "Just  think  of  a  box  with  1000 
rounds,  100  pounds  for  two  of  us  to  tote,  suspended  by  our 
gun  straps  and  from  the  guns  themselves,  one  bearer  walking 
before  the  other,  we  trudged  along,  the  load  growing  heavier 
every  step.  Then,  too,  we  let  go  by  us  a  negro  boy  and  his 
cow  which  we  might  have  used  to  bear  the  burden  and  have 
eaten  her  for  supper  had  we  not  been  appalled  by  the  order 
read  off  in  our  hearing  threatening  those  who  even  looked  at 
live  stock  in  the  enemy's  possession,  but  we  got  better  of  that 
after  a  while.    When  we  reached  the  lines  the  rebels  had  sur- 


60  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 

rendered  and  the  cartridges  were  not  needed  after  all.  Private 
Harrison  Currier,  Company  F,  never  over  strong,  was  so 
weakened  by  this  day's  work  that  he  never  recovered  and, 
though  he  kept  about  for  a  time,  when  the  start  for  Newbern 
was  made,  he  was  put  aboard  the  Vidette,  not  to  leave  her 
in  life,  for  when  the  attack  began  on  the  fortifications,  his 
spirit  passed. 

Lieut. -colonel  Osborn  continues:  "Towards  night  we  met 
General  Foster  returning,  who  told  us  that  the  rebels  had 
surrendered  and  that  the  island  is  ours.  This  was  glorious 
news,  and  we  welcomed  it  with  rousing  cheers.  My  party  by 
this  time  had  straggled  badly,  and  when  we  reached  the  camp 
long  after  dark,  I  had  only  a  few  with  me.  Some  came  in 
afterwards,  but  most  got  quarters  on  the  road,  and  came  in 
the  next  day.  We  were  fearfully  tired  from  the  march,  hav- 
ing been  on  shipboard  without  exercise  for  the  five  preceding 
weeks,  and  we  were  not  sustained  by  the  excitement  which 
animated  those  who  expected  to  meet  the  enemy.  Our  men 
were  found  in  possession  of  very  good  wooden  barracks,  built 
by  the  Secesh,  and  making  themselves  as  comfortable  as  pos- 
sible. The  Twenty-fourth  was  on  guard,  as  the  others  had 
been  up  all  the  preceding  night  while  ours  were  on  shipboard. 
Besides  the  prisoners  we  had  taken,  the  Second  Brigade 
under  General  Reno  had  taken  some  shore  batteries  in  the 
rear  and  a  thousand  men,  making,  on  an  accurate  count,  2800 
men,  including  180  commissioned  officers.  This  will  be 
enough  in  an  exchange  to  release  all  that  the  enemy  have 
taken  and  hold  of  our  men,  including  Colonel  William  R. 
Lee,  and  the  other  officers  of  the  Twentieth  Massachusetts 
captured  at  Ball's  Bluff.  Thus  we  have  realized  one  of  our 
dearest  wishes  that  the  Twenty-fourth  might  be  instrumental 
in  releasing  our  own  friends. ' ' 

EEPOKT    OF    COLONEL    STEVENSON    ON    THE    ROANOKE 
ENGAGEMENT. 

The  steamer  Admiral,  with  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment 
on  board,  having  got  aground  on  the  afternoon  of  February 


Feb.  '62.  Roanoke.  61 

7,  the  regiment  was  -not  landed  till  the  morning-  of  the  8th. 
At  7  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  steamers  Union  and  Eagle 
came  alongside  the  Admiral  and  took  the  troops  on  board. 
Two  companies.  A,  Captain  Reeding,  and  E,  Captain  Hooper, 
were  put  on  board  the  Eagle,  under  command  of  Lieutenant- 
colonel  Osborn,  and  seven  companies  on  the  Union  under  com- 
mand of  myself.  Company  C,  Captain  Pratt,  had  been  de- 
tailed for  service  on  the  gunboat  Vidette,  where  it  remained 
during  the  action.  The  Union  landed  the  troops  on  board  at 
the  same  place  the  troops  had  been  landed  the  night  previous, 
and  about  two  miles  below  where  the  action  was  taking  place. 
After  landing  I  was  ordered  by  General  Burnside  to  advance 
as  rapidly  as  possible.  I  accordingly  marched  the  regiment 
forward,  but  unfortunately  arrived  after  the  battery  had  been 
carried.  On  arriving  at  the  captured  fort,  I  reported  to 
General  Foster,  who  ordered  us  to  the  front  to  follow  up  the 
enemy. 

After  marching  some  distance,  we  met  the  Fifty-first 
New  York  and  continued  with  them,  till  we  were  halted  at 
the  sand  hills.  From  this  point  we  were  ordered  forward 
alone  to  take  what  prisoner  we  could,  as  many  were  reported 
to  be  leaving  in  small  boats.  We  were  accompanied  by  Gen- 
eral Foster.  After  marching  about  three  miles  -we  were  met 
by  a  flag  of  truce  from  the  enemy,  proposing  a  suspension  of 
hostilities  till  the  following  morning.  The  reply  was  given  by 
General  Foster,  "Unconditional  surrender,"  and  time  enough 
given  to  return  to  their  camp  and  send  back  an  answer. 
Major  Stevenson*  of  the  Twenty-fourth  was  ordered  to  return 


*After  Major  Stevenson's  interview  with  Colonel  Shaw,  the  command- 
er, he  started  on  his  return,  passing  through  a  company  of  Confederate 
officers  who  were  standing  near  Shaw's  quarters.  ()ne  of  them,  IMajor 
George  Williamson  of  the  8th  N.  C,  asked  Major  S.  to  take  his  horse  to 
ride  back.  This  he  did  and  after  the  formal  surrender,  the  Ccmfederate 
was  looked  up  and  his  steed  returned,  but  the  otticer  said  he  could  not 
keep  him,  under  the  circumstances,  and  requested  ^Nlajor  Stevenson  to 
retain  him,  as  he  was  a  well-bred  animal,  one  of  his  own  rearing  and  lie 
would  like  to  feel  that  he  was  well  treated.  At  first  the  Major  was  un- 
certain as  to  the  propriety  of  his  accepting  such  a  gift  and  l)ore  the  mat- 
ter to  General  Burnside,  who  assured  him  that  as  the  proffer  was,  in  ef- 
fect, made  before  the  surrender,  there  could  be  no  fault  in  his  accepting 
the  gift.  Thus  acquired,  the  horse  was  used  by  the  officer  till  the  end  of 
his  service,  and  when  the  war  was  over,  he  thought  it  would  be  a  proper 
thing  for  him  to  look  up  his  Confederate  friend  and  ofter  the  animal 
back  again.  Through  the  Governor  of  North  Carolina  the  address  of  the 
Major  was  secured  and  the  proffer  made.  Very  soon  there  came  back  a 
letter  from  the  southern  gentleman  indicating  his  gratitude  for  the  generous 


62  TW'ENTY-FOURTH    MaSSxVCHUSETTS   ReGIMENT. 

with  the  flag  and  to  bring  back  the  reply.  After  some  time 
he  returned  with  the  reply  that  they  surrendered.  I  was 
then  ordered  by  General  Foster  to  advance  and  take  posses- 
sion of  their  camp.  On  the  way,  Company  H,  Captain  Da- 
land,  and  Company  B,  Captain  Austin,  were  detached  and 
ordered  to  proceed  along  the  shore  and  to  stop  any  boats  that 
might  be  leaving  with  rebels.  The  remaining  five  companies, 
numbering  about  300  men,  entered  their  camp,  where  Colonel 
Shaw,  commanding,  delivered  up  his  sword  to  General  Foster, 
who  ordered  me  to  take  command.  I  then  ordered  the  pris- 
oners to  be  mustered  and  their  arms  to  be  taken  possession  of. 
All  the  muskets  were  placed  in  the  quartermaster's  building 
and  a  guard  put  over  them.  While  this  was  being  done.  Pri- 
vate Sanborn,  Company  K,  was  wounded  in  the  arm  by  the 
accidental  discharge  of  one  of  the  muskets.  The  officers  were 
allowed  to  retain  their  sidearms  by  order  of  General  Foster. 
The  prisoners  were  then  placed  in  quarters  and  a  large  guard 
placed  over  them. 

Company  B  returned  from  their  scouting,  having  fired 
upon  and  brought  to,  a  boat  containing  ten  rebels,  including 
three  officers.  Company  H  also  returned,  having  captured 
two  boats  containing  nine  men  and  two  officers.  They  also 
brought  in  about  150  prisoners  captured  in  the  woods  and  on 
the  shore.  The  regiment  was  joined  during  the  evening  by 
the  two  companies  under  Lieutenant-colonel  Osborn.  They 
had  been  emploved  in  bringing  ammunition  forward  from  the 
landing.  (R.  R."  Vol.  IX,  p.  94.) 

Such  were  the  impressions  and  observations  of  men  who 
had  the  responsibility  of  command.  It  is  equally  interesting 
to  turn  to  the  words  of  those  who  followed  or  went  as  they 
were  bidden.  Happily  some  of  the  letters  have  also  been  pre- 
served, and  from  those  of  Private  Edgar  B.  Lyon  of  Company 
K,  the  following  passages  are  taken ;  the  first  letter,  addressed 
,to  father  and  mother,  bears  date    February  12 : — 

proposition,  but  saying  tliat  the  war  had  ruined  him  and  he  was  too  poor 
to  maintain  the  liorse,  much  as  he  vahied  him.  He  suggested  that  the 
steed  l>e  sold  and  the  pnjceeds  sent  to  him.  In  his  letter  he  expressed  a 
wisli  that  he  might  i>ublish  Major  Stevenson's  letter  as  a  means  to  sooner 
l)ring  about  the  i)eat'eful  sentiment  which  he  desired  l)etweeii  North  and 
South.  Our  northern  otticer  acted  on  the  suggestion  of  the  southei^n  and 
remitted  to  him  the  sum  resulting  from  the  sale  of  the  horse.  Need  the 
world  wonder  that  the  bloody  chasm  twixt  North  and  South  was  at  last 
healed  when  such  acts  of  kindness  were  possible? 


Feb.  '62.  Roanoke.  63 

I  suppose  you  have  heard  of  our  great  success,  and  are 
anxious  to  hear  from  me.  All  the  men  left  their  knapsacks 
aboard  the  boat  and  my  paper  is  in  my  knapsack,  or  I  should 
tiave  written  you  a  long  letter.  I  borrowed  this  paper  and 
thought  I  would  write  you  a  few  lines,  that  you  might  know 
that  I  am  alive  and  well.  I  haven't  time  to  write  all  the 
particulars,  and  it  would  take  three  or  four  sheets  of  paper. 
We  have  captured  more  prisoners  with  less  fighting  than  any 
engagement  yet.  *  *  *  "When  we  got  within  one  half  mile 
of  the  rebel  camp  we  were  met  by  a  flag  of  truce  asking  for 
terms  of  surrender.  Our  Colonel  Stevenson  would  hear  to 
nothing  but  unconditional  surrender  or  fight,  and  the  rebel 
Colonel  Shaw  wisely  consented  to  the  former.  There  were 
from  2500  to  3000  prisoners,  with  all  their  arms  and  ammuni- 
tion, and  two  large  camps  with  a  large  amount  of  provisions, 
and  the  whole  island  with  all  its  forts,  surrendered  to  the 
Twenty-fourth  ]\Iassaehusetts  Volunteers  without  the  loss  of 
a  single  life  from  our  regiment.  Was  not  that  a  big  thing? 
*  *  *  The  mail  is  expected  to  go  aboard  the  steamer  any 
minute,  so  I  will  close  to  make  sure  that  this  goes  by  the  first 
mail.    From  your  affectionate  son. 

On  Sunday,  February  16th,  Private  Lyon,  filially  inclined, 
again  writes  to  the  folks  at  home,  giving  more  particulars: — 

I  have  just  returned  from  services,  and  as  I  have  no 
better  business,  I  thought  I  could  do  no  better  than  write  to 
you  the  particulars  of  what  the  Burnside  Expedition  has 
done  and  why  we  did  it,  etc.  *  *  *  I  have  got  my  knapsack 
from  the  boat,  so  I  have  paper  enough  to  write  all  about  our 
adventures.  We  are  pleasantly  situated  in  one  of  the  rebel 
camps;  there  are  two  near  each  other,  the  Twenty-third  and 
the  Twenty-fifth  ]Massachusetts  are  in  the  same  camp  with  us. 
There  are  about  fifty  buildings,  in  all,  in  this  camp,  including 
officers'  quarters,  barracks,  stables,  cookhouses,  etc.  The 
other  camp  is  about  as  large  with  800  prisoners  in  it.  We 
have  in  our  camp  3000  prisoners.  There  are  about  200  fam- 
ilies on  the  island,  but  most  of  the  men  folks  are  taken  pris- 
oners; most  of  the  prisoners  are  North  Carolina  men.  There 
is  one  company  of  ]\IcCulloch  Rangers  and  another  of  Rich- 
mond Blues,  that  are  well  uniformed ;  the  others  wear  all  sorts 
of  clothes.  It  doesn't  seem  as  though  they  were  prisoners,  for 
they  are  around  amongst  us  and  we  among  them,  talking  to- 


64  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

gether  and  entering  into  different  kinds  of  amnsements,  such 
as  leap-frog-,  boxing,  wrestling,  etc.,  just  as  though  we  were 
all  one.  They  are  vei';^"  sociable,  and  say  we  are  a  different 
people  from  what  they  thought  we  were.  Thy  had  an  idea 
that  we  were  a  set  of  cut  throats  and  robbers,  and  they  ex- 
pected to  be  treated  very  badly,  but  they  now  say  they  are 
used  better  than  they  were  before  they  were  taken.  They 
have  the  same  fare  that  we  do.  The  Virginia  soldiers  talk 
hard  of  the  North  and  would  go  to  fighting  again  if  exchanged, 
but  the  North  Carolina  men  are  as  contented  as  they  could 
wish.  They  are  now  signing  a  parole,  agreeing  not  to  take  up 
arms  against  the  government  unless  exchanged.  They  are 
glad  that  they  are  going  home  and  a  number  told  me  to-dav 
they  should  not  fight  again.  ]Most  of  the  rebs  were  armed 
to  the  teeth  ^vith  dirks,  revolvers,  everything  else  that  could 
injure  a  person.  Many  of  them  threw  away  these  weapons  or 
buried  them,  but  we  have  found  a  large  quantity  of  them.  I 
found  an  old  dirk,  not  good  for  much,  but  I  keep  it  as  a  rebel 
trophy.  The  rebs  had  been  encamped  here  about  six  months, 
and  they  had  everything  complete  in  the  shape  of  cooking 
utensils,  so  we  boys  got  a  lot  of  spiders,  pans,  plates,  pails, 
etc.  I  think  I  am  getting  fat.  While  the  rebel  provisions 
lasted,  we  lived  on  griddle-cakes  and  flour  bread,  salt  pork, 
boiled  rice  with  plenty  of  sugar. 

Continuing  the  same  letter  on  the  19th,  Private 
Lyon  says : 

"Yesterday  about  noon,  our  regiment  was  ordered 
to  fall  in  to  escort  the  rest  of  the  prisoners 
do-\\Ti  to  the  landing,  to  go  aboard  the  boat.  It 
was  about  four  miles  and  very  hard  Avalkiug.  We  had 
to  Avait  all  the  afternoon  for  the  boat,  so  we  did  not 
get  back  to  camyj  till  about  6  o'clock.  There  was  much  shak- 
ing of  hands  and  many  goodbys  and  'take  care  of  yourself 
between  us  and  the  prisoners,  just  as  if  they  were  another 
Massachusetts  regiment."  Concerning  the  part  taken  by  the 
Twenty-fourth  in  the  battle  the  narrator  says,  "The  place 
where  we  landed  was  all  swampy,  so  we  had  to  walk  in  mud 
and  water  up  to  our  l^nees.  We  were  a  muddy  set  when  we  were 
brought  u])  in  line  on  dry  land.  Our  Colonel  hurried  us  as 
fast  as  he  could,  but  we  had  to  march  through  such  swamps 
that  we  had  to  hold  up  our  cartridge  boxes  to  keep  them  dry. 


Feb.  '62.  Roanoke.  65 

*  *  *  *  Then  we  traveled  on  without  any  rest  till  we 
were  met  by  a  rebel  officer  (Lieutenant-Colonel  Poore,  North 
Carolina)  with  a  flag  of  truce  within  half  a  mile  of  the  rebel 
camp. 

On  the  20th,  describing  other  regiments  in  the  fray,  Private 
Lyon  continues: 

"Our  regiment  had  a  howitzer  that  we  brought  off  the 
boat.  The  men  had  managed  to  draw  it  part  way,  when 
they  came  across  a  mule,  which  the  rebels  had  left 
behind  all  harnessed,  so  our  boys  hitched  it  on.  You 
would  have  laughed  to  see  it.  The  mule  Avas  not  much 
larger  than  the  giin,  and  looked  curious  enough.  The  boys 
have  picked  up  a  lot  of  queer  things  on  the  march.  I  got  an 
old  flintlock  musket,  but  I  could  not  carry  it,  for  I  was  about 
tuckered  out.  The  most  of  our  regiment  have  just  been  doAvn 
swimming,  but  the  water  was  too    cold    and    mudd}^  for    me. 

*  *  *  *  We  had  a  dress-parade  on  the  13th,  and  an  order 
from  General  Burnside  was  read  complimenting  the  officers 
and  men  for  their  coolness  and  bravery  during  the  engage- 
ment. ' ' 

Before  the  result  of  the  fight  was  knoA^oi  at  Fort  Huger,  a 
schooner  from  Elizabeth  City  had  brought  over  to  the  island 
and  landed  near  Wier's  Point  500  men  belonging  to  the  Sec- 
ond A'orth  Carolina  Battalion,  commanded  byLieut.-Col.  Whar- 
ton J.  Green,  and  the  Captain,  learning  of  the  Confederate 
defeat,  departed  without  giving  his  late  passengers  a  chance  to 
go  back  with  him.  Having  no  other  recourse,  the  newcomers 
surrendered  also,  and  Company  D  of  the  Twenty-fourth  was 
sent  with  them  to  get  their  baggage  that  had  been  left  on  the 
shore.  Returning  at  7  p.m.,  the  boys  thouglit  it  rather  hard 
to  have  to  go  on  guard  after  all  their  travels,  but  such  is  the 
variety  of  a  soldier's  life.  It  was  amusing  to  hear  the  officers 
call  out  to  their  respective  commands,  'Fall  in.  Wise  Legion, 
fall  in,  Ben  ]\IcCulloch  Rangers;  fall  in,  Johnson's  Sharp- 
shooters, Hilton  Guards,  Richmond  Blues,'  etc.  The  long, 
heavy  knives  that  many  of  them  had  carried  bore 
the     words     stamped     on      the     blade,      'Yankee      Slayer.' 


66  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Our  men  went  out  foraging  early  and  brought  back 
pigs,  chickens  and  many  other  things.  Each  one  of  the  three 
regiments  has  to  be  on  guard  every  third  day.  We  suffer  from 
the  cold  at  night,  as  our  blankets  ai^e  on  the  boat.  We  wonder 
at  the  way  the  fort  was  built,  for  all  the  guns  are  mounted  to 
repel  attacks  from  an  entirely  different  direction  from  that  in 
which  we  came.  The  rebs  say  they  had  to  furnish  their  own 
clothing,  hence  its  lack  of  uniformity.  They  can't  drill  a 
little  bit.  With  our  fine  discipline,  drill,  uniform  and  band 
we  made  their  eyes  stick  out  a  foot.  In  the  main,  they  were 
very  ignorant  and  had  little  idea  of  what  the  war  was  about." 

Another  particularly  observing  man  in  G  Company  found 
time  to  go  about  the  new  location  and,  behind  the  officers' 
quarters,  he  saw  a  bottle  standing  on  a  window-sill.  Having 
a  mind  to  be  sociable,  he  appropriated  the  flask  and  went 
among  the  Texas  Rangei*s  and,  holding  up  the  bottle,  asked 
them  what  was  in  it.  ''Red  eye"  was  the  immediate  and 
genera!  response.  "Take  it,  drink  and  pass  around,"  is  the 
comment  of  the  generous  Yankee.  It  was  a  good  introduction 
and  what  he  didn't  know  about  those  same  Confeds.  before  he 
had  finished  the  interview  was  not  worth  knowing.  They  said 
they  carried  their  big  cutlasses  or  knives  for  the  purpose  of 
carving  up  Yanks,  "But  you've  got  us,  and  we  cain't,"  is  the 
plaintive  remark.  "We  was  goin'  to  pay  you  'uns  back  for  the 
way  you  cut  up  the  Black  Hoss  Cavalry  at  Bull  Run,  but  when 
the  Blue  Coats  come  in  on  us  we  'uns  had  to  right  smart  git. ' ' 
One  of  the  murderous  weapons,  carried  by  the  rebels,  was 
taken  from  the  body  of  a  dead  foeman,  fully  six  feet  tall, 
belonging  to  the  " ^Mississippi  Wildcats,"  by  A.  J.  Vining,  a 
diminutive  drummer  boy  of  K,  scarely  more  than  five  feet  in 
stature.  He  still  retains  it,  in  his  San  Francisco  home,  as 
a  priceless  war-relic. 

For  the  sake  of  readers  not  members  of  the  Twenty-fourth, 
it  should  be  stated  that  the  Massachusetts  regiments,  viz.,  the 
23d,  24th.  25th  and  27th,  were  all  in  the  First 
Brigade,     and     with     them    was     the     Tenth     Connecticut, 


Feb.   '62.  Eoanoke.  67 

with  "which  organization  the  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
were  specially  intimate ;  the  Second  and  Third  Brig- 
ades had  five  and  six  regiments  respectively.  The 
naval  force  had  twenty  vessels  of  varying  size  all  under  the 
qommand  of  Flag'  Officer  L.  M.  Goldsborough,  and  on  the  7th, 
when  the  attack  began,  he  paraphrased  the  famous  signal  of 
Nelson  with,  ' '  Our  country  expects  every  man  to  do  his  duty. ' ' 
Opposed  to  them  upon  the  water  was  only  an  insignificant 
array  of  seven  tugs  and  river  steamers  by  some  one  dubbed 
"mosquito  fleet,"  under  Commander  Lynch,  but  really  of  so 
little  consequence  that  the  Federal  coimnander  gave  it  very 
little  attention.  The  forces  of  Burnside  are  said  to  have  been 
piloted  to  Hammond's  or  Ashby's  landing  by  a  negro,  and  the 
thousands  of  Union  soldiers  who,  through  water  and  mud, 
waded  in  and  pressed  their  way  up  the  island  towards  the 
enemy's  fortifications  were  filled  with  a  disposition  to  make 
ample  amends  for  the  long  delays  they  had  suffered.  At  the 
cost  of  many  killed  and  wounded  men,  the  island  was  won  and 
the  first  act  in  the  expedition  was  ended. 

Where  so  many  generous  souls  went  out  into  the  infinite 
it  might  be  deemed  unfair  to  make  special  mention  of  indi- 
viduals, but  the  case  of  Lieut. -Col.Vignier  de  Monteil  of  the 
Fifty-third  New  York  or  the  d'Epineuil  Zouaves  should  be 
stated.  His  own  regiment  had  been  sent  back  to  Annapolis 
because  of  the  excessive  draft  of  the  vessel  carrying  it,  but  for 
some  reason  the  officer  found  himself,  as  it  were,  stranded  on 
Hatteras.  He  was  every  inch  a  soldier,  and  when  there  was 
a  fight  in  progress  he  wished  to  have  a  part.  He  asked  the 
privilege  of  serving  in  the  ranks,  and  with  a  carbine  in  hand 
he  advanced  along  with  and  a  little  to  the  right  of  the  Ninth 
or  Hawkins'  Zouaves  of  New  York.  He  had  done  effective 
service  when,  well  "along  in  the  second  day,  whether  by  a 
sharpshooter  or  not,  may  never  be  known,  the  gallant  officer 
fell.  A  brave  and  heroic  life  went  out  when  he  died. 
Among  the  Confederate  dead,  the  loss  of  no  one  man 
gave     rise     to     more     regret     and     remark     than     that     of 


68  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Capt.  0.  Jennings  Wise,  captain  of  the  Rieh.nond  Blues, 
the  crack  company  of  that  city,  and  then  known  as 
Company  A  of  the  Forty-sixth  Virginia.  To  him,  his  older 
brother,  John  S.  Wise  ascribed  qualities  rivaling  those  of  the 
admirable  Crichton,  and,  without  doubt,  he  was  entitled  to  a 
deal  of  praise  for  the  gallant  manner  in  which  he  discharged 
all  the  duties  laid  upon  him.  He  was,  however,  mortally 
wounded  before  he  undertook  the  trip  across  the  sound  to 
Nag's  Head,  and  his  friends  realized  that  war  "ever  plants  its 
fangs  in  the  bravest  and  tenderest  hearts."* 

Nearly  forty  years  after  the  engagement  at  Roanoke  the 
publication  of  "North  Carolina  Troops,  1861-1865,"  enables 
those  who  desire  to  learn  somewhat  the  estimate  of  the  fight 
by  those  who  were  beaten.  That  same  Lieut.-Col.  Wharton  J. 
Green,  who  came  on  the  field  too  late  for  any  considerable  part 
in  the  fray,  in  his  report  to  Col.  H.  INI.  Shaw,  who  was  in  com- 
mand, says  he  landed  on  the  island  at  10  a.m.  of  the  8th,  but 
it  was  12  o'clock  before  he  could  get  under  w^ay.  On  his 
march  towards  the  Union  lines  he  met  many  stragglers  who 
assured  him  that  it  was  all  up,  yet  he  persisted  in  advancing. 
His  men  did  meet  the  Twenty- first  Massachusetts  and  had  a 
brief  tilt,  resulting  in  the  death  of  three  of  his  men  and  the 
wounding  of  five,  and  he  was  ready  to  continue  the  struggle, 
but  was  assured  that  he  would  do  so  at  his  peril.  In  his  story 
of  the  Second  Battalion  the  Lieutenant-Colonel  enlarges  on 
his  admiration  for  General  Burnside.  who  merited  "the  grand 


*In  the  spring  of  '65,  while  the  24th  was  doing  guard  duty  in  Rich- 
mond, a  member  of  Co.  B  was  sitting  in  Capitol  Square,  when  a  man, 
evidently  along  in  years,  came  and  sat  down  by  the  soldier  and  at  once 
began  a  conversation.  He  proved  to  be  Henry  A.  Wise,  ex-governor, 
and  the  father  of  Capt.  O.  Jennings  Wise.  He  spoke  of  liis  personal 
loss  at  Roanoke.  He  was  himself  an  excellent  story-teller  and  was  more 
than  interested  in  the  words  of  the  Yankee  who  conveyed  to  him  the  lan- 
guage of  the  dying  son,  who,  as  he  was  lifted  from  the  boat,  was  said  to 
have  expressed  a  wish  that  he  might  put  his  hand  under  the  Island  and 
have  the  strength  to  turn  it  over  as  he  would  a  flapjack,  thus  like  Samson 
of  old  destroying  ail  his  enemies  in  his  own  death. 


Feb.    '62.  Roanoke.  69 

old  name  of  gentleman."  Before  this  the  Confederate  had 
disclosed  the  queer  weapons  with  which  his  command  was 
armed.  His  men  had  been  promised  Enfield  rifles,  but  these 
went  elsewhere.  However,  the  soldiers  were  "ready  to  take 
the  best  tools  they  could  get  and  there  was  no  grumbling." 
Some  of  them  started  off  with  squirrel  rifles  and  double- 
barreled  shot-gims.  "Fortunately,  our  uncouth  armament 
was  supplemented  by  some  350  old  flintlock  muskets,  which 
Governor  Letcher  of  Virginia  generously  turned  over  to  us 
because  his  folks  would  not  touch  such  tools.  After  being 
percussioned  by  the  government  they  made  very  respectable 
killing  implements,  especially  when  each  double-barreled  man 
carried,  beside,  a  two-foot  carving  knife  of  the  heft  of  a  meat 
axe  in  lieu  of  a  bayonet."  Chroniclers  of  the  Thirty-first 
North  Carolina  Regiment,  in  Vol.  TI  of  the  aforesaid  pub- 
lication, say,  p.  509,  "The  entire  military  force  stationed  on 
the  island  prior  to  and  at  the  time  of  the  engagement  con- 
sisted of  the  Eighth  Regiment,  North  Carolina  State  Troops, 
under  command  of  Col.  H.  M.  Shaw,  a  most  gifted  and  gallant 
officer;  the  Thirty-first  Regiment,  North  Carolina  Volunteers, 
commanded  by  Col.  J.  V.  Jordan,  known  as  a  faithful  officer 
and  a  fine  disciplinarian,  also  three  companies  of  the  Seven- 
teenth Regiment,  North  Carolina  Troops,  under  the  command 
of  IMajor  G.  H.  Hill.  After  manning  the  forts  we  had  only 
about  800  effective  men  for  duty.  *  *  *  The  Confederate 
loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing  was  285.  We  were 
paroled  by  the  enemy.  The  term  of  our  enlistments  expired 
about  September,  1862,  and  about  this  time  we  were  ex- 
changed. ' ' 

In  the  same  work  it  may  be  read  that  the  remainder  of  the 
Seventeenth  Regiment  had  been  captured  in  the  preceding 
August  by  General  Butler,  when  he  made  the  first  raid  on  Hat- 
teras.  Also,  in  another  part  of  the  compilation,  occurs  this 
staitement  concerning  the  Thirty-first:  "From  a  combination 
of  circumstances  that  could  not  be  overcome  at  the  time,  this 
regiment  was  the  worst  armed  that  the  State  sent  to  the  front. 


70  Twenty-fourth  MasSxVchusetts  Regiment. 

The  State  did  not  have  the  arms  to  furnish  and  the  Confede- 
rate States  refused  to  furnish  any  more  arms  to  twelve 
months'  regiments." 

Following  the  battle  the  Union  forces  found  themselves  in 
possession  of  a  large  number  of  prisoners,  and  the  next  ques- 
tion was  what  should  be  done  with  them.  While  a  trip  north 
might  have  been  an  educational  measure  for  many  of  them,  it 
was  deemed  best  to  parole  them  till  an  exchange  could  be 
effected,  and  the  part  borne  by  the  Twenty-fourth  in  this 
arrangemnt  is  told  in  the  report  of  Lieutenant- Colonel  Osborn 
made  to  Capt.  Lewis  Richmond,  A.  A.  General  of  Flag  of 
Truce  and  Exchange  of  Prisoners,  dated  Roanoke  Island, 
Feb.  23,  1862: 

In  obedience  to  an  order  from  General  Foster,  received 
in  the  afternoon  of  Sunday,  Feb.  16,  1862,  I  reported  myself 
to  General  Burnside  for  special  service  at  4  o'clock.  I  was 
furnished  by  him  ^dth  dispatches  for  General  Ben- 
jamin Huger  in  relation  to  an  exchange  of  prisoners 
of  war,  and  directed  to  proceed  with  a  flag  of 
truce  to  Elizabeth  City,  and  place  the  dispatches  in  the  hands 
of  the  first  responsible  Confederate  officer  whom  I  could  find, 
unless  I  could  get  permission  to  proceed  to  Norfolk  and  pre- 
sent them  in  person  and  thereby  gain  time. 

The  tug-boat  Champion  being  placed  at  my  disposal,  I  went 
immediately  on  board,  and  obtaining  a  pilot  from  the  flag- 
ship Philadelphia,  proceeded  to  Elizabeth  City.  I  arrived  at 
the  gunboat  Louisiana  [about  a  mile  from  the  town]  at  2  a.m., 
and,  seeing  Captain  IMurray,  learned  that  he  had  no  means  of 
putting  me  in  communication  with  the  forces  of  the  enemy 
that  night.  At  daybreak,  I  went  in  the  tug  to  the  to^vn  and 
found  it  almost  entirely  deserted,  with  no  troops  to  be  seen. 
Learning  that  the  nearest  commanding  officer  was  Major  Lee 
of  the  Third  Georgia  Volunteers,  whose  headquarters  were 
about  three  miles  distant,  I  procured  a  conveyance  and 
reached  the  place  at  about  9  o'clock.  Major  Lee,  who  was 
absent  at  the  time,  soon  arrived  and  I  asked  to  be  forwarded 
to  Norfolk.  He  replied  that  dispatches  could  be  sent  forward 
immediately,  but  that  it  would  be  necessary  to  obtain  the  per- 
mission of  an  officer  at  some  distance  from  here  before  he  could 
allow  me  to  go  any  farther,  and  intimated  that  it  would  prob- 


Feb.   '62.  Roanoke.  71 

ably  not  be  permitted  at  all.  Finding  that  I  should  lose 
much  time  by  urging-  the  point,  I  gave  him  the  dispatches,  to 
which,  he  assured  me,  I  should  have  an  answer  by  the  next 
morning.  I  then  returned  to  the  Louisiana.  At  4  p.m.  on 
Tuesday,  the  18th,  ^Major  Lee  brought  dispatches  from  Gen- 
eral ILiger  with  the  announcement  that  ]Major  Allston  would 
arrive  from  Norfolk  in  the  morning  to  communicate  with  me 
in  relation  to  the  matter  with  which  I  was  charged.  At  11 
a.m.  the  next  day  I  met  Major  Allston  and  foimd  that  he  had 
no  authority  to  make  any  arrangement  in  addition  to  the 
proposition  of  General  Huger. 

I  then  returned  to  Roanoke  Island  with  the  dispatches 
and  reported  to  General  Burnside  at  5  p.m.  Feb.  19.  On  the 
20th,  I  was  ordered  by  General  Burnside  to  take  charge  of 
the  transports  Guide,  Spaulding,  Cossack.  Geo.  Peabody  and 
New  York  containing  the  prisoners  of  war  captured  on  Roa- 
noke Island,  and  proceed  with  them  to  Elizabeth  City,  and 
deliver  the  prisoners  to  ]\Iajor  Allston,  taking  a  receipt  there- 
for. I  reached  Elizabeth  City  at  6  p.m.,  and  anchored  the 
transports  off  the  town,  went  on  shore  with  the  tug  Cham- 
pion, which  had  accompanied  the  fleet,  and  arranged  with 
Major  Allston  to  commence  the  delivery  of  the  prisoners  at 
7  the  next  morning.  At  the  appointed  time,  the  steamers 
Spaulding  and  the  Geo.  Peabody  were  at  the  wharf,  the 
officers  landed  and  the  rolls  verified  in  my  presence,  then  the 
wounded,  and  afterwards  the  rank  and  file  from  the  other 
transports,  one  company  at  a  time.  This  continued  without 
interruption  until  5  p.m.,  when  all  were  delivered.  Various 
doubts  of  the  rank  of  some  of  the  prisoners  arising  from  a 
difference  in  their  own  statements  and  that  of  the  rolls  were 
made  the  siTbject  of  a  document  signed  by  Major  Allston  and 
myself,  referring  the  matter  to  the  competent  authorities  for 
settlement  by  reference  to  the  records.  Thirty  prisoners, 
whose  names  were  on  the  rolls  could  not  be  found.  *  *  * 
Early  on  Saturday  morning,  I  left  with  the  fleet  for  Roanoke 
Island,  and  on  arriving  gave  you  the  receipt  of  Major  Allston 
with  above  corrections.     (The  corrections  are  omitted  here.) 

Lieutenant-colonel  Osborn  thus  accounted  for  about  2580 
men,  yet  Colonel  Shaw,  the  rebel  commander,  says  his  entire 
force  did  not  exceed  1100.  AVhere  the  prisoners  came  from 
has  ever  been  a  wonder  to  those  who  took  them.     The  great 


72  Twenty-fourth  ^Iassachusetts  Regiment. 

majority  of  the  prisoners  went  away  happy  with  heartj^ 
hand-shakes  and  the  ])est  of  g'ood  wishes,  l)nt  one  observer 
records  an  exception :  ' '  While  the  rebs  were  going  down 
to  the  landing,  one  of  them,  a  mere  boy.  was  carried  on  a 
stretcher,  being  Ijadly  wounded,  and  he  was  damning  the 
Yanks  up  hill  and  do\\'ii.  He  was  .a  professor  of  cuss  words 
too." 

There  was  not  much  variety  in  the  further  stay  of  the 
Union  forces  on  Roanoke.  It  might  be  interesting  to  know 
how  many  brier-wood  pipes  were  fashioned  by  ingenious 
hands,  either  for  friends  at  home  or  for  personal  use. 
Rumors  having  been  started  by  some  of  the  colored  people 
that  treasures  had  been  buried  by  the  residents,  there  fol- 
lowed some  digging  on  the  part  of  the  Yankees,  but  with 
indifferent  success,  in  one  case  the  remains  of  a  deceased 
rebel  being  the  net  returns.  Some  of  the  men  wondered 
at  the  seeming  poverty  of  the  people,  there  being  instances 
where  attempts  to  secure  supplies  from  them  ending  in 
giving  food  and  necessities  to  the  enemy.  One  man  remarked 
on  the  statement  that  there  were  600  families  on  the  island, 
that  he  couldn't  see  where  they  could  be,  for  his  observation 
indicated  very  sparse  settlements.  It  is  claimed  that  only 
one  vote  for  secession  was  cast  on  the  Island.  To  those 
who  recalled  their  history,  there  was  a  charm  in  standing 
where  the  brave  pioneers  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  may  have 
been  and  in  living  over,  in  mind,  the  days  of  early  English 
occupancy.*     There  were  attempts  at  bathing,  but  the  gen- 


*The  years  since  186l*  have  marked  many  changes  in  Roanoke.  The 
population  is  more  than  twice  that  of  the  war  period,  ^lanteo  itseh'  hav- 
ing nearly  1000  people.  Named  for  the  tirst  Indian  baptized  in  the 
Christian  faith,  it  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  Island  about  one  mile  froui 
the  scene  of  the  hardest  part  of  the  fighting.  It  is  the  shire  town  for 
Dare  County,  erected  since  the  war,  and  the  county  includes  the  Island, 
the  bar  of  sand  separating  Roanoke  Sound  from  the  ocean,  and  some 
parts  of  the  mainland  to  the  westward  of  Croatan  Sound.  The  name  of 
the  county  commemorates  that  of  the  first  white  child  of  English  pa- 
rents born  in  America.     In  1896  i^eople  interested  in  historical  matters. 


Feb.   '62.  Eoanoke.  73 

eral  verdict  was  that  the  water  was  not  up  to  the  desired 
temperature  for  that  diversion.  In  the  TAventy-fourth, 
Colonel  Stevenson  would  not  permit  anj^  great  amount  of 
time  to  pass  without  the  inevitable  drill.  To  him  there  was 
nothing  like  occupation  to  keep  men  out  of  mischief,  so 
very  few  days  passed  without  its  drill,  company  and  battal- 
ion, and  usually  a  parade.  The  regiment  had  acquired  an 
enviable  reputation  and  he  did  not  intend  that  it  should  lose 
any  part  of  it. 

Of  course  there  were  constant  rumors  as  to  the  next  move 
from  Roanoke,  and  in  fancy  the  soldiers  were  capturing  all 
of  the  places  on  the  mainland,  but  few  of  the  dreams  mate- 
rialized. However  irksome  the  stay  may  have  been  to  the 
men,  it  must  have  been  infinitely  more  so  to  the  officers  in 
high  command,  whose  military  future  depended  on  the  ac- 
complishment of  the  expedition.  ]\Iore  than  a  month  of 
precious  time  was  lost  in  this  inactivity  with  little  to  relieve 
the  monotony.  Of  course  there  were  letters  from  home,  and 
a  deal  of  time  was  devoted  to  telling  the  dear  ones  there  how 
the  battle  went,  of  the  escapes  and  the  fatalities.  Thousands 
of  letters  came  down  from  northern  homes  to  cheer  the  hearts 
of  the  "Boys  in  Blue,"  and  that  home  army  was  hardly 
conscious  of  the  good  thus  done  to  the  army  at  the  front. 
Days  when  mail  was  expected  were  intervals  of  intensest 
anxiety.  Happy  the  boy  who  got  his  letter,  happier  still 
the  lad  with  more  than  one;  but  who  shall  picture  the  looks 
of  the  man,  when  the  last  name  had  been  called,  and  his  was 
not  heard?  After  these  many  days,  it  is  not  amiss  to  recall 
some  of  those  communications  which  put  fervor  into  the 
heaiis   of   the   recipients.    While   individually   received   and 

dedicate^  a  handsome  monument  on  the  site  of  old  Fort  Raleigh,  near 
the  extreme  northern  end  of  the  Island.  The  same  commemorates  the 
first  English  settlement  as  well  as  the  birth  of  Virginia  Dare.  The 
house  occupied  by  Burnside  is  still  standing,  and  is  to-day  known  as 
Burnside's  Headquarters.  "Where  the  expedition  landed  is  now  the 
dock  of  the  Old  Dominion  Steamship  Company.  (The  writer  is  obliged 
to  B.  G.  Crisp,  Esq.,  of  Manteo,  N.  C,  for  items  of  information.) 


74  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

read  they  were  general  in  their  application.  In  her  letter 
of  February  13th,  the  mother  was  in  the  greatest  anxiety, 
not  having  heard  from  her  son  since  the  battle ;  in  the  second, 
that  of  the  24th,  she  has  heard  that  her  boy  is  safe,  but  the 
motherly  heart  still  refuses  to  be  satisfied: — 

AVith  what  strange  and  mingled  emotions  of  hope  and 
dread  do  I  now  address  yon.  We  have  received  accounts  of 
the  capture  of  Eoanoke  Island,  and  this  glorious  victory  of 
Burnside,  but  this  is  all;  we  have  yet  to  learn  at  what  sacri- 
fice of  precious  lives  this  success  is  purchased.  0  God, 
grant  me  resignation  to  Thy  divine  will.  I  have  prayed  for 
strength  to  yield  implicit  obedience  to  God's  will  and  I  have 
prayed  for  God's  protection  of  you,  my  dear  son,  in  that 
fearful  struggle  of  human  life.  *  *  *  I  thought  I  would 
send  you  a  few  lines  to  assure  you,  if  it  is  necessary,  of  my 
untiring  love  and  interest  in  you,  and  to  tell  you  how  con- 
stantly I  think  of  you  and  pray  for  you.  *  *  *  I  feel, 
this  morning,  comparatively  calm  to  what  I  have  done  and, 
although  I  am  still  very  anxious  to  know  the  details  of  the 
struggle,  yet  I  feel  more  resigned  to  God's  will,  for  I  know 
"that  all  things  work  together  for  good  to  those  who  love 
God.  This  is  the  experience  of  all  God's  children  and  I  have 
ever  found  it  so." — February  13,  1862. 

No  less  than  three  letters  are  before  me  from  you.  On 
Saturday  I  received  yours  of  the  12th,  this  morning  one  from 
you  of  the  10th,  proving  the  irregularity  of  the  mails.  I  can- 
not tell  you  with  hoAV  much  pleasure  and  satisfaction  I 
received  these  pencil-written  sketches,  my  dear  son,  and  I 
appreciate  your  attention  in  writing  at  such  a  time  and  under 
such  circumstances.  If  you  knew  how  anxiously  my  heart 
has  been  beating  for  you,  and  how  often  my  fervent  prayers 
have  been  ofi^ered  for  you,  I  think  you  would  feel  fully  repaid 
for  writing  these  penciled  lines,  more  precious  to  me  than 
many  a  fairer  written  page.  Of  course,  I  felt  relieved  from 
anxiety  about  you  long  before  your  letter  reached  me,  because 
I  had  read  the  accounts  in  the  papers,  which  soon  gave  us 
the  particulars  of  the  taking  of  Roanoke  Island.  *  *  * 
Our  cause  is  marching  on,  and  God  grant  that  our  flag  may 
soon  be  waving  over  every  rebellious  state  and  the  Union  for- 
ever firmly  established.     Alas!  I  tremble  to  think  at  what  a 


Feb.   '62.  Roanoke.  75 

sacrifice  of  precious  lives  this  must  be  effected;  may  God  in 
His  mercy  spare  mine.  Amen.  *  *  *  After  mention- 
ins"  an  entertainment,  the  letter  continues :  I  could  not  go,  for 
it  Avas  about  the  time  I  was  feelino-  so  anxious  about  you,  and 
althouoh  I  was  assured  of  your  safety,  yet  I  could  feel  no 
interest  in  anything  of  the  kind,  and  did  not  wish  to  go  where 
I  should  meet  so  many  people.  *  *  *  God  ever  bless  you, 
my  dear  son. — Feb.  24,  1864. 

February  28th,  Lieut. -Col.  Osborn  records:  "We  were 
going  to  Plymouth  ]\Ionday,  but  that  expedition  was  given  up 
and  we  are  still  here,  much  elated  at  the  glorious  victories  of 
Forts  Henry  and  Donelson  and  the  rout  of  Price's  army." 
March  10th  the  same  officer  narrates  the  incidents  of  a  trip 
made  on  the  Vidette  with  three  companies  of  the  24th,  A,  C 
and  F,  up  the  Scuppernong  River  to  Columbia,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  seizing  some  600  militia,  who,  it  was  understood,  were 
to  be  drafted  and  mustered  there.  He  had  also  with  him 
the  Pilot  Boy,  the  Pickett,  the  Alice  Price,  and  the  Vir- 
ginia, carrying  six  companies  of  the  Sixth  New  Hampshire 
under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Griffin,  and  three  pieces  of  artil- 
lery, under  Colonel  Howard  of  the  Marine  Artillery.  As 
usual,  on  reaching  the  mouth  of  the  river,  it  was  found  that 
the  Vidette  and  the  Virginia  could  not  enter  on  account  of 
their  draft,  so  the  men  were  taken  on  by  the  "Pilot  Boy," 
which,  with  the  Alice  Price,  carried  the  troops  and  went  on 
up  the  stream.  General  Foster,  conunanding,  placed  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Osborn  next  in  command,  and  the  latter  threw 
out  an  advanced  guard  of  twenty  men  under  Lieut.  H.  D. 
Jarves,  and  marched  about  three;-ciuarters  of  a  mile,  where 
they  halted  for  the  General  to  come  up.  Near  this  place  they 
seized  a  stupid  countiyman,  bearing  the  name  of  Brickhouse, 
to  whom  they  administered  the  oath  of  allegiance,  because  of 
his  claiming  to  be  a  Union  man.  He  proved  to  be  a  veritable 
]\Irs.  Malaprop  in  his  use  of  words,  and  stated  that  the  muster- 
ing of  militia  had  been  "contrabanded"  by  the  Governor 
because  he  was  afraid  the  Yankees  would  get  them.     He  said 


76  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Eegiment. 

he  had  been  in  Columbia  that  day  and  there  were  no  troops 
there,  and  he  "resumed"  there  were  none  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. "When  accused  of  a  purpose  to  escape,  he  said  he  had 
no  such  "resign.''  On  the  arrival  of  the  General  it  was 
decided  to  move  forward,  which  was  done  rapidly.  It  was  a 
lovely,  moonlit  night,  perfectly  still  save  for  the  sounds  made 
by  those  marching.  On  reaching  the  town,  it  was  found 
almost  deserted,  except  for  the  blacks.  The  battalion  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  was  quartered  at  the  Court  House,  and  the 
artillery  placed  so  as  to  command  the  streets.  Even  here  was 
found  the  well-nigh  ubiquitous  liquor  shop,  which  the  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel shut  up,  threatening  to  destroy  the  liquor  and 
burn  the  building  if  any  more  business  was  done.  The  night 
passed  quietly,  and  in  the  morning,  after  breaking  open  the 
jail  to  get  at  some  old  arms  stored  there,  and  tearing  down 
the  whipping-post  and  stocks,  all  went  on  board  the  steamers 
again  and  returned  to  the  fleet,  having  had  a  fine  time,  though 
no  special  harm  was  done  the  Confederacy. 

In  the  service  of  the  Episcopal  Church  we  may  read:  "In 
the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death,"  a  truth  early  apparent  to 
the  victors  at  Eoanoke,  and  for  the  reception  of  the  bodies  of 
the  deceased  soldiers  a  burial  place  was  necessary.  Surgeon 
Green  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  alive  to  this  need,  was  prompt 
to  select  and  devote  a  plot  of  land  for  such  purpose.  A  cor- 
respondent of  the  New  York  Tribune,  writing  ]\Iarch  3d,  has, 
in  substance,  the  following:  "A  short  distance  in  the  rear  of 
the  hospital  of  the  First  Brigade,  Surgeon  Green  selected  a 
pretty  grove  of  evergTcen,  and  on  a  pleasant  Sunday,  two 
weeks  ago,  had  it  dedicated  as  Roanoke  Cemetery  with  appro- 
priate religious  ceremonies.  *  *  *  The  services  of  dedi- 
cation were  interesting  and  solemn,  and  comprised  a  brief 
introductory  speech  by  Dr.  Green,  followed  by  Chaplain  Hor- 
ace James  of  the  Twenty-fifth  IMassachusetts,  wdth  appro- 
priate readings  from  the  Scriptures.  Prayer  was  next 
oifered  by  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Clark,  chaplain  of  the  Twenty-third, 
and  Chaplain  ]\Iellen  of  the  Twenty-fourth  followed  with  an 


JMarch  '62.  Newbern.  77 

address,  the  exercise  coiieluding-  with  a  benediction  by  Chap- 
lain Geo.  S.  Ball  of  the  Twenty-first.  During  the  hour  or 
more  thus  devoted,  sacred  music  was  rendered  by  Gilmore's 
famous  band." 

On  the  10th  and  12th  of  ^Nlarch  come  orders  of  a  similar 
nature  to  those  preceding  Roanoke,  in  regard  to  the  moving  of 
the  fleet  and  the  landing.  Once  more  the  regiment  is  em- 
barked upon  the  Vidette  and  the  Guide,  and  the  prows  of  the 
vessels  are  turned  toward  a  new  enterprise.  ]\Iore  than  a 
month  has  been  given  to  Roanoke  Island,  and  now  the  men 
say  "Good-by"  to  their  first  battlefield  and  move  on  to 

NEWBERN. 

This  city,  the  capital  of  Craven  County,  is  situated  at  the 
confluence  of  the  Xeuse  and  Trent  Rivers,  the  former  consti- 
tuting its  eastern  and  the  latter  its  southern  boundary.  It 
derives  its  name  from  the  fact  that  a  colony  of  Swiss,  under  the 
care  of  the  Baron  de  Graft'enreid,  near  the  beginning  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  had  settled  on  the  banks  of  the  Neuse 
and  had  brought  with  them  the  name  of  their  home  capital. 
Settings  more  dissimilar  than  those  of  Berne  on  the  Aar, 
and  New  Berne  on  the  Neuse  could  hardly  be  imagined,  but 
the  name  itself,  by  its  mere  repetition,  may  have  relieved 
some  of  the  early  settlers'  pangs  of  nostalgia.  In  the  provin- 
cial days  Newbern  was  the  capital  of  what  was  to  be  the  Old 
North  State.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion  the  city 
was  next  to  the  largest  seaport  in  the  State,  and  having  a 
population  rising  5,500,  was  an  important  factor  in  the  well- 
being  of  the  Confederacy.  Once  in  the  possession  of  the  Union 
forces.  Newbern  would  be  useful  as  a  base  of  supplies,  and  as 
a  starting  place  of  expeditions  against  other  parts  of  the 
rebellious  South.  Situated  twenty-eight  miles  from  the 
ocean,  it  enjoyed  a  mild  and  equable  temperature  both  sum- 
mer and  winter. 

Sailing  from  Roanoke  on  the  11th,  in  the  forenoon,  the  fleet 
anchored  near    Hatteras    Inlet,  its    station  after    making  its 


78  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

entrance  in  Januai^y.  The  contrast  between  the  weather  then 
and  that  of  March  was  marked,  and  northern  men  were  glad 
to  know  that  water  in  the  vicinity  of  Hatteras  could  be 
smooth.  There  the  army  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  a  mail, 
a  sure  source  of  inspiration  for  the  severe  work  awaiting  it. 
Here,  too,  was  received  the  glorious  tidings  of  the  punishment 
inflicted  on  the  IMerrimack  by  the  little  IMonitor,  making  every 
one  all  the  more  determined  to  do  his  best.  Wednesday,  the 
12th,  the  advance  began,  it  being  about  2  o'clock  when  the 
estuary  of  the  Neuse  was  entered,  there  and  for  several  leagues 
nearly  twelve  miles  wide.  It  was  an  inspiring  sight  for  those 
participating,  however  the  rebel  observers  on  the  land  may  have 
reg|irded  it.  At  intervals  fires  on  the  shore,  sending  up  great 
volumes  of  smoke,  evidently  were  signals  announcing  the 
Union  movement  to  the  Confederates.  At  sundown,  when 
about  eighteen  miles  from  Newbern,  the  fleet  canje  to  anchor, 
waiting  for  the  light  of  another  day.  The  vessels  were  off 
Slocum's  Creek,  where  the  next  day  a  landing  was  to  be 
effected.  A  good  night's  rest  was  excellent  preparation  for 
the  trials  of  the  13th,  which  soon  arrived.  At  8  o'clock 
the  signal  was  set  to  embark  the  men  in  boats  and  row  to  the 
stern  of  some  of  the  light  draft  steamers,  which  were  to  act 
as  tugs  in  getting  the  men  ashore.  When  the  tows  were  all 
arranged,  the  steamers  started  for  the  land,  about  a  mile  and 
a  half  aw^ay.  The  starry  banner  waved  in  the  morning  breeze, 
the  gun  barrels  glistened  in  the  bright  sunlight,  and,  with  the 
cheers  of  the  men,  he  must  have  had  a  stony  heart  who  did 
not  exult  at  having  a  part  in  such  a  magnificent  scene.  Mean- 
while, the  guns  of  the  navy  were  shelling  the  shore,  on  which 
a  landing  was  to  be  made.  When  the  ships  had  gone  as  far  as 
was  practicable,  small  boats  were  cast  off  and  the  men  began  to 
use  their  oars  in  trying  to  reach  the  shore,  and  soon  ran 
aground.  On  General  Foster's  shouting,  "Wade  ashore," 
officers  and  men  leaped  into  the  water,  about  three  feet  deep, 
and  pushed  for  the  shore,  fifty  feet  oft'.  Colonel  Stevenson, 
sword  in  hand  and  near  to  the  regimental  colors,  was  the  first 


M\R.  13,  '62.  NE^YBERN.  79 

to  spring  from  his  boat,  followed  close  by  Lieutenant  Horton, 
and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Osborn  led  the  men  from  his  particu- 
lar craft.  Among-  the  ' '  boys ' '  who  made  the  watery  leap  for 
the  shore  was  Willie  Canning,  the  fourteen-year-old  drum- 
mer boy  of  Company  D,  whom  Lieutenant  Partridge  had  told 
not  to  go  ashore  with  his  company.  Said  his  comrade,  Charles 
T.  Ford,  "After  we  had  gone  about  five  miles  through  the 
rain  and  mud,  some  one  pulled  my  coat-sleeve,  and  in  looking 
around  I  found  Canning  somewhat  out  of  breath,  and  when 
I  asked  why  he  did  not  obey  the  Lieutenant,  he  said  he  did, 
for  he  came  off  with  another  company  and  had  had  a  hard 
time  catching  up.  Once  up  with  us,  he  stayed  up,  and  in  the 
fight  did  as  much  firing  as  any  of  us."  He  died  the  follow- 
ing September  in  "Washington.  The  report  had  spread, 
abroad  that  the  organization  landing  first  should  lead  in  the 
attack,  and  each  regiment,  athirst  for  glory,  was  striving  to 
gain  renown.  The  "Come  on,  men,"  of  their  Colonel  was  a 
prompting  to  the  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth  to  do  their  utmost 
and  there  were  few  laggards  in  the  scurry  for  the  landing. 
The  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth  claim  that  to  them  are  due  the 
honors  of  first  reaching  the  shore  with  their  flag  and  a 
supporting  array  of  soldiers,  though  the  color-bearer  of  the 
Fifty-first  New  York  did  get  his  standard  first  ashore,  but  he 
was  alone. 

"Light  marching  order"  was  the  command,  but  its  execu- 
tion consisted  principally  in  leaving  the  knapsacks  on  the  ves- 
sels, for  each  man  had  forty  rounds  of  ammunition,  two  days' 
rations  in  his  haversack,  his  canteen  filled  with  water,  over- 
coat on  and  blanket  rolled  about  his  neck,  and,  with  gun 
besides,  the  command  seemed  just  a  bit  wide  of  the  mark.  If 
the  exercise  of  landing  were  violent,  the  waist-deep  wading 
through  the  Neuse  was  cooling.  After  allowing  the  water  to 
run  out  of  boots  and  shoes,  lines  were  formed  and,  following 
the  Twenty-fourth  INIassachusetts,  acting  as  skirmishers,  the 
advance  began.  Participants  in  that  march  through  the 
marshy  and  bushy  woods  had  their  eyes  open  to  their  strange 


80  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 

surroundings,  noting  specially  the  lianging"  moss,  so  common 
in  southern  forests,  and  also  the  results  of  the  shelling  the 
shores  had  received  earlier  in  the  day  from  the  navy,  many  a 
pine  tree  having  been  badly  splintered.  About  two  miles 
from  the  landing  some  cavalry  barracks  of  the  enemy  were 
reached,  their  late  occupants  having  left  them  in  a  hurry. 
However,  an  ancient  colored  mammy  appeared,  who  expressed 
her  pleasure  at  seeing  the  Yankees,  and  praying  the  blessing 
of  God  upon  them.  When  asked  how  many  rebels  there  had 
been  and  where  they  were,  she  replied,  "Dar'  was  a  right 
smart  heap  ob'  'em,  but  when  you  uns  trew  dem  rotten  shells 
into  de  woods,  dey  right  smart  git  and  dey's  a  right  smart 
chance  of  a  ways  off  now. ' '  The  screeching  of  a  peacock  strut- 
ting' hard  by  almost  brought  a  fusilade  from  the  men  who 
heard  it,  they  not  knowing  what  could  be  responsible  for  such 
unearthly  yelling. 

Though  the  landing  was  effected  in  the  sunshine,  ere  long 
clouds  gathered  and  rain  soon  commenced  and  continued  dur- 
ing a  large  part  of  the  day.  After  a  considerable  distance, 
a  county  road  was  reached,  where  the  marching  was  easier. 
Soon  a  railroad  (Goldsboro  &  Beaufort)  was  attained,  after 
crossing  which  the  regiment  filed  into  a  field  of  rice  and 
rested  a  half  hour  and  lunch  was  eaten.  On  setting  out 
again  Foster's,  or  the  First  Brigade,  with  the  Twenty- fourth 
in  advance,  took  the  highway,  while  Reno's,  the  Second  Bri- 
gade, followed  the  railroad:  Parke,  with  the  Third  Brigade, 
came  afterwards  as  a  reserve.  Company  E,  Captain  Hooper, 
was  thrown  forward  as  an  advance  guard,  and  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Osborn,  finding  the  marching  with  this  detachment 
agreeable,  remained  with  it  through  the  day.  The  roads, 
under  the  continuous  rain,  were  becoming  very  heavy,  and  the 
soil,  of  a  clayey  nature,  stuck  to  the  marching  feet  most  tena- 
ciously, some  of  the  men  declaring  that  each  step  lifted  a  pos- 
sible brick.  Just  before  reaching  the  railroad  there  was 
passed  a  line  of  earthworks  which  the  enemy  had  deserted 
that  morning.     As  they  were  high  and  strong,  their  desertion 


Mar.  1:3,  '62.  Newbern.  81 

saved  the  Union  forces  a  deal  of  hard  work.  Whatever 
armament  the  enemy  may  have  possessed  had  also  been 
removed.  As  the  officers  in  conunand  had  expected  a  strong 
resistance  hero,  they  felt  much  relieved  at  not  having-  to  force 
them.  Towards  night  the  news  came  that  ]\Ianassas  had  been 
occupied  by  General  McClellan's  men,  and  the  plodding"  lines 
along  the  Neuse  were  greatly  cheered.  There  was  little  of 
incident  during  the  day  save  the  occasional  appearance  of  col- 
ored people,  who  possibly  were  able  to  give  the  leaders  some 
information.  There  had  been  the  halt  for  dinner,  which  was 
taken  from  the  haversacks,  and  one  lucky  Yankee  having 
acquired  a  very  small  pony,  much  to  the  delight  of  his  com- 
rades, proceeded  to  relieve  the  tedium  of  the  march  by  riding 
him,  though  the  combination  was  most  ridiculous. 

At  nightfall,  having  filed  into  the  woods  by  the  roadside, 
arms  were  stacked  and  campfires  built,  two  for  each  company, 
great  care  being  taken  lest  the  forest  catch  fire.  There  had 
been  some  falling  out  on  this  the  first  real  march  of  the  regi- 
ment, a  few  of  the  men  being  unable  to  stand  the  strain,  and 
one  poor  fellow,  going  into  a  spasm,  was  carried  into  an  old 
house  and  the  surgeon  was  summoned  to  his  relief.  Other- 
wise the  men  came  into  their  camp  feeling  that  they  Avere 
nearer  the  enemy  than  in  the  morning,  and  that  the  day  of 
battle  was  at  hand.  The  march  of  about  ten  miles  had  been 
extremely  wearisome,  owing  to  the  heavy  burdens  carried  and 
the  character  of  the  roads,  and  rest,  even  though  it  was  found 
in  the  mud,  Avas  very  grateful.  But  each  regiment  had  to 
send  out  a  picket  line  and,  fresh  or  weary,  the  lot  had  to  fall 
on  some  one.  ' '  It  was  a  miserable  night ; ' '  the  best  that  could 
be  said  of  it  was  that  there  was  no  disturbance  from  without, 
and  such  sleep  as  men  could  get,  imder  the  circumstances, 
they  had.  Some  said  they  slept  little,  if  any,  even  though 
they  wrapped  themselves  up  in  their  blankets.  What  those 
did  who  had  thrown  theirs  away  has  not  been  told.  All  night 
the  rain  fell,  and  the  soldiers  accommodated  themselves  to  the 
situation  according  to  their  dispositions  and  circumstances. 
6 


82  Twenty-fourth  ^Iassaciiusetts  Kegiment. 

All  sorts  of  tribulation  befell  the  l)oys  during  that  wet  night. 
A  pair  of  them  undertook  to  sleep  with  a  rubber  and  woolen 
blanket  under  them,  and  the  same  over,  finding,  as  they 
thought,  a  good  place.  Ere  long  one  of  them  shouts, 
' '  Charlie,  you  have  got  all  the  covering  over  you,  for  I  am  wet 
through  to  the  skin."  "So  am  I,  too,"  was  the  reply,  when 
they  began  to  investigate,  only  to  find  that  they  had  placed 
their  couch  in  the  bed  of  a  stream  by  the  roadside,  and  the 
water  was  actually  running  by  them.  A  ^standup  for  the 
remainder  of  the  night  was  their  portion.  Fortunately,  the 
enemy  was  just  as  uncomfortable  as  the  Union  army,  and  kept 
carefully  aloof  from  the  Yankees  in  bivouac.  The  following 
parody  may  have  been  in  the  minds  of  many,  both  Johnny 
and  Yank,  though  possibly  unexpressed,  as  the  two  armies 
reposed  in  the  mud  and  addressed  themselves  to  sleep : 

"Now  I  laj'  me  down  to  yleep 
In  mud  that's  many  fathoms  deep; 
If  I'm  not  here  when  you  awake, 
Just  hunt  me  up  with  an  oyster  rake." 

Sunrise  came  a  little  after  6  o'clock,  and  the  camp  was 
early  astir.  Whatever  eating  the  men  did  was  done  without 
concert,  each  one  doing  his  best  for  himself.  It  was  not  long 
after  daylight  that  musketry  firing  was  heard  on  the  left,  and 
the  regiment  immediately  fell  into  line  and  started  on,  still 
holding  the  advance.  Though  rain  had  ceased  falling,  there 
was  a  thick  fog  and  roads  were  as  heavy  as  ever.  It  seems 
that  the  camp  had  been  pitched  very  near  the  enemy's  works, 
for  the  advance  guard  had  gone  only  a  short  distance  when 
earthworks  were  discovered  across  the  road  a  few  hundred 
yards  away.  Halting,  officers  and  men  were  sent  forward  to 
reconnoitre,  who  soon  returned,  stating  that  the  fortification 
seemed  to  be  long  and  strong  with  artillery  and  filled  Avith 
infantiy  and  cavalry.  It  appeared  that  here  the  enemy  had 
decided  to  make  the  principal  fight  for  the  continued  posses- 
sion of  the  city.  The  earthwork  extended  from  the  Neuse. 
near  Fort  Thompson,  a  mile  and  a  half  to  a  nominally  impen- 


:\rAR.  13.  '62.  Newbern.  83 

etral)le  swamj)  cxtendino'  southward  in  the  direction  of  More- 
head  City.  There  were  a  battery  of  thirteen  guns  next  the 
river,  several  redoubts,  all  of  them  well  mounted,  three  bat- 
teries of  field  artillery,  and  eight  regiments  of  infantry,  num- 
bering about  8000  troops,  under  the  command  of  General 
Lawrence  O'B.  Branch,  who,  a  graduate  of  Princeton,  had 
been  from  December,  "55,  to  March  3d,  '61,  a  member  of  Con- 
gress. He  was  to  fall  at  Antietam  in  the  following  Septem- 
ber. In  the  river  had  been  placed  a  variety  of  obstructions, 
more  or  less  ingenius,  but  all  of  them  proved  utterly  useless 
so  far  as  stopping  the  progress  of  the  Union  fleet,  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  S.  C.  Rowan,  who  had  succeeded  Flag 
Officer  Goldsborougli,  was  concerned. 

At  General  Foster's  command,  Colonel  Stevenson  led  the 
Twenty-fourth  into  a  field  at  the  right  of  the  road,  and 
formed  line  parallel  to  the  Confederate  breastw^orks  and  in 
the  edge  of  a  wood.  The  Twenty-fifth  ^Massachusetts,  passing 
behind  the  Twenty-fourth,  formed  on  its  right,  with  four 
companies  nearest  the  river  refused  to  protect  the  flank.  This 
position  proving  untenable,  on  account  of  the  nearness  of 
Fort  Thompson  and  the  danger  from  our  own  gunboats.  Col- 
onel Upton  moved  the  Twenty-fifth  to  the  left  of  the  road  and 
the  Twenty-fourth,  thus  leaving  the  latter  on  the  extreme 
right.  As  originally  placed,  the  Twenty-seventh  Massachu- 
setts was  on  the  left  of  the  road  and  supporting  a  battery ;  the 
latter  position  of  the  Twenty-fifth  nnist  have  crowded  the 
Twenty-seventh  somewhat ;  next  towards  the  left  was  the 
Twenty-third  ^Massachusetts  and  then  the  Tenth  Connecticut, 
which  completed  the  First  Brigade :  later  in  the  day  the 
Eleventh  and  the  Eighth  Connecticut  of  the  Third  Brigade 
moved  in  on  either  side  of  the  Twenty-third,  the  latter  retir- 
ing for  lack  of  ammunition.  General  Parke's,  or  the  Third 
Brigade,  formed  on  the  left  of  the  First,  and  Reno's,  or  the 
Second,  held  the  extreme  Union  left.  Opposed  to  these 
troops,  over  behind  the  frowning  breastworks,  in  front  of 
which  was  a  wide  and  deep  ditch,  were  Xortli  Carolina  regi- 


84  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

ments  in  the  following  order,  beginning  at  the  rebel  left  or  at 
the  Eiver  Neuse,  viz.:  27th,  37th,  7th,  35th,  26th  and  33d. 
The  28tli  reached  the  field  just  in  time  to  witness  the  with- 
drawal of  the  Confederates  and  to  assist  in  protecting  the 
rear.  Between  the  35th  and  the  26th,  rebel  writers  mention 
a  battalion  of  militia,  whose  early  giving  way  was  one  of  the 
sources  of  failure  to  hold  the  works.  The  Confederate  bat- 
teries from  their  left  to  right  were  the  guns  of  Fort  Thompson, 
then  Whitford's,  Leecraft's,  Herring's,  Evans's,  all  between 
the  river  and  the  road ;  between  the  road  and  the  railroad 
were  those  of  Latham,  Mayo  and  Brem.  The  artillery  of 
Burnside's  men  was  conspicuous  by  its  absence,  consisting 
only  in  a  few  howitzers  from  the  fleet,  and  even  these  the  boys 
who  had  helped  draw  them  through  the  mud  thought  quite 
too  many. 

Our  concern  is  chiefly  with  the  doings  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Regiment  on  this  day,  and  the  words  of  one  who  was  there 
may  tell  the  story.  Halting  fifty  yards  from  the  open,  with- 
in the  edge  of  the  woods,  and  250  yards  from  the  enemy's 
lines,  there  appeared  to  be  many  obstructions  filling  the  inter- 
val, intended  to  make  the  crossing  as  difficult  as  possible,  con- 
sisting largely  of  fallen  trees.  Company  E  was  sent  forward 
to  ascertain  the  exact  situation  resulting  in  the  locating  of 
certain  Confederate  batteries.  Soon  after  comes  an  order 
from  General  Foster  for  the  regiment  to  advance  to  the  edge 
of  the  woods  and  to  commence  firing.  The  order  was  obeyed 
at  once,  and  on  reaching  the  open  the  men  were  saluted  with 
a  volley  from  the  enemy  which  proved  harmless.  The  reply 
was  immediate,  and  at  last  men  who  had  been  so  anxious 
to  use  their  guns  against  the  foe  were  having  their  opportu- 
nity. The  field  officers  as  well  as  the  line  were  afoot,  and  the 
command  being  to  lie  down  the  firing  was  from  that  position, 
each  man  taking  as  careful  aim  as  possible.  Fortunately,  the 
range  of  the  rebels  was  too  high  and  comparatively  few  of 
their  shots  were  effective.  Not  alone  were  the  missiles  from 
the  infantry,  but  the  artillery  shot  and  shell  were  coming  fast 


IMar.  14.  '62.  Newbekn.  85 

and  furious,  though  the  enemy's  firing  l)y  volleys  gave  the 
Union  troops  chances  to  dodge.  Again,  the  aim  of  the  rebels 
was  so  high  that  they  cut  off  more  trees  than  men.  A  Virginia 
rail  fence  in  the  immediate  front  had  been  taken  down  by  the 
sappers  and  miners,  men  having  been  stationed  at  each  angle, 
and,  on  the  word,  had  lifted  the  whole  section  and  leveled  it. 
At  first  many  of  the  guns  were  not  in  working  order  on 
account  of  the  wetting  received  the  night  before  when  they 
were  in  stack,  and  the  charges  had  to  be  withdrawn  before 
they  were  useful.  When  a  Company  G  boy  got  a  serious 
wound  in  his  shoulder,  he  dropped  his  gun,  but  was  able  to 

shout,  ' '  Give  it  to  the !     Where 's  my  gun  ? "     He 

was  helped  back  a  little  ways  and  the  fight  went  on  without 
him.  Confederate  officers  could  be  seen  trjdng  to  get  their 
men  up  to  the  works  and  to  make  a  more  forceful  fight.  One 
officer  in  his  zeal  even  climbed  upon  the  breastwork  itself, 
and  ran  along  the  same,  as  though  trying  to  show  his  men  the 
absence  of  danger,  but  he  was  soon  picked  off,  a  clear  refuta- 
tion of  his  apparent  illustration.  Another,  who  rode  a  white 
horse,  was  seen  doing  his  best  to  drive  the  men  into  more 
strenuous  action,  and  he,  too,  became  a  special  target  and  so 
went  down,  his  body  being  found  after  the  rout  completely 
riddled  with  bullets.  There  were  lulls  in  the  firing,  and  one 
man  of  Company  D  records  that  he  would  have  fired  more  had 
he  been  able  to  see  anything  to  shoot  at,  so  dense  was 
the  pall  of  smoke.  ' '  I  was  holding  my  fire  when  Lieutenant 
Sweet  of  my  company  came  along  and  wanted  to 
know  why  I  wasn't  firing.  I  told  him  I  didn't  wish 
to  waste  my  ammunition."  "Oh,  blaze  away,"  was  the 
reply.  "You'll  make  a  noise*  if  you  don't  do  anything  else." 
Once  in  the  heat  of  the  fight  a  force  of  what  seemed  to  be 
Union  soldiers  was  seen  entering  the  fort  in  the  rear  of  the 
enemy,  and  our  men  accordingly  ceased  firing  and  rose  to  their 
feet  with  cheers,  only  to  find  that  their  supposed  friends  were 
really  reinforcements,  and  the  shooting  was  at  once  resumed. 
Though  the  action  raged  through  three  long  hours  it  was  only 


86  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

toward  the  last  that  the  enemy  g'ot  the  range  of  the  Federal 
position  sufficiently  to  do  any  considerable  execution.  During 
all  this  time  the  Twenty-fourth  was  endangered  by  an  enfilad- 
ing fire  on  its  right,  coming  from  the  Union  gunboats,  which 
were  pounding  away  at  the  water  battery  near  the  river,  while 
fully  a  mile  to  the  left  the  forces  of  General  Reno  were  fight- 
ing the  rebels  in  front  of  them.  When  the  action  was  hottest, 
word  was  brought  to  Colonel  Stevenson  that  his  brother,  the 
Major,  was  wounded,  but  would  not  leave  the  field.  As  the 
Colonel  left  his  place  in  the  rear  of  the  center  of  the  regiment, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Osborn  succeeded  him.  While  the  Colonel 
was  absent,  and  the  second  officer  began  to  wonder  at  his  stay, 
there  came  a  shout  from  the  men  in  front,  for  evidently  some- 
thing was  happening  down  towards  the  left.  It  was  because 
a  portion  of  the  Twenty-first  jMassachusetts  had  gained  the 
battery  in  their  front  and  were  struggling  for  its  possession 
that  there  came  the  cheering-  from  our  part  of  the  line.  Col- 
onel Stevenson  came  running  up  with  the  order  to  charge  and, 
belter  skelter,  went  the  men  over  the  intervening  space,  under, 
over,  and  through  all  sorts  of  obstacles  till  the  ditch  was 
reached  and  the  breastwork  mounted,  only  to  be  found 
deserted,  for,  firing  a  parting  volley  and  sending-  a  final  round 
of  grape,  the  rebels  had  precipitately  fled.  Some  of  the  men, 
in  their  anxiety  to  keep  out  of  the  water,  on  reaching  the  fosse, 
threw  across  the  trunks  of  trees  and  so  walked  over  dry,  while 
others  made  flying  leaps  and  some  went  into  the  mud  plump, 
whence  they  were  helped  by  their  fellows,  sights  to  behold. 
One  man  who  made  the  leap  complete,  when,  several  days 
later,  he  saw  what  he  had  done,  could  hardly  credit  his  own 
sight,  though  he  ascribed  his  agility  to  the  spur  of  excitement. 
The  Union  flag  soon  replaced  the  rebel  banner,  and  the  fight 
for  the  possession  of  the  city  on  the  other  side  of  the  Trent 
was  over. 

Meanwhile,  the  gunboats,  quite  ignorant  of  the  turn  in  the 
affairs  on  the  shore,  were  still  sending  their  compliments  in 
the  shape  of  iron  missiles,  so  that  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth 


:Mar.  14.  '62.  Xewbern.  87 

were  ordered  to  mount  tlie  parapets  of  Fort  Thompson,  and 
by  the  show  of  fiat's  indicate  the  change  of  possessors.  The 
forces  on  the  river  at  once  discovered  the  situation  and  quiclvly 
substituted  cheers  for  shot  and  shell.  First  Sergeant  Nat. 
"Wales  of  Company  G,  discovering  a  beautiful  horse  tied  to  a 
tree,  proceeded  to  appropriate  him,  but  passed  him  along  to 
the  Colonel,  who  had  been  on  foot  all  day.  The  steed  had 
been  wounded  in  the  neck,  thus  accounting  for  his  having 
been  left.  There  were  still  forts  along  the  river's  side  between 
Thompson  and  the  Trent,  but  these  were  quickly  put  out  of 
business  by  the  gunboats,  a  well-directed  shot  from  one  of 
them  blowing  up  the  magazine  of  one  battery.  Generals  Fos- 
ter and  Burnside  speedily  appeared  on  the  scene,  and  both 
were  profuse  in  their  praise  of  the  men  and  happy  in  the  suc- 
cessful outcome  of  the  day.  Said  the  latter,  "Well,  boys,  I 
gave  you  something  to  do  this  time,  didn  't  I  ? "  To  which 
remark  the  men  responded  with  the  jolliest  of  cheers.  So 
hurriedly  had  the  defenders  of  the  works  departed  they  had 
not  time  to  eat  nor  take  with  them  the  food  which  had  been 
brought  out  to  them.-  All  along  the  line  were  iron  pails  or 
pots  of  stewed  gray  beans  with  pork,  and  there  was  johuny- 
eake  in  plenty.  This  show  of  provisions  was  not  entirely  lost, 
since  many  of  the  victorious  soldiers  had  fought  on  empty 
stomachs  and  were  not  in  the  least  averse  to  sampling  the 
deserted  rations. 

It  was  a  scene  of  desolation  that  the  Union  soldiers  beheld 
as  they  looked  about  the  place  whence  so  recently  had  come  the 
hostile  shot.  It  looked  as  though  every  horse  used  Avith  the 
artillery  had  been  killed,  for  the  number  of  dead  animals  was 
great.  They  were  lying  with  their  harnesses  on,  and,  in 
some  cases,  with  them  off.  Some  were  attached  to  carts,  which 
evidently  were  for  ambulance  purposes.  Knapsacks,  clothing 
of  every  description,  ammunition,  along  with  dead  bodies  of 
the  enemy,  all  attested  the  fury  of  the  battle  and  the  sudden- 
ness of-  the  flight.  A  train  of  cars,  apparently  held  for  an 
emergency,  had  afforded  an  avenue  of  escape  for  many  of  the 


88  Twenty-fourth  ]\Iassachusetts  Regiment. 

retreating-  rebels.  However,  the  city,  the  principal  object  of 
the  battle,  was  still  several  miles  away,  and  the  order  of  Burn- 
side  was  to  leave  a  company  in  Fort  Thompson  and  push  on 
towards  Newbern.  Colonel  Stevenson  complied  by  ordering 
Company  B  into  the  fort  and  the  remainder  of  the  regiment 
started  onward.  Three  miles  farther  the  crossing  of  the 
river  by  the  railroad  was  reached,  and  the  bridge  was  found 
to  be  on  fire  and  flames  were  rising-  from  the  city  itself.  The 
enemy,  in  their  anger  and  despair  over  the  loss  of  their 
defenses,  had  determined  to  give  the  victors  a  taste  of  what 
Napoleon  experienced  at  Moscow. 

Turning  into  a  field  near  the  destroyed  bridge,  the  regiment 
secured  needed  rest.  ]\Ieanwhile,  troops  were  thrown  across 
the  river,  who,  with  the  help  of  the  colored  people,  managed 
to  put  out  the  fire  and  so  save  the  town.  However,  till  this 
most  fortunate  result  was  reached,  there  was  a  vast  pall  of 
smoke  overhanging  the  city,  so  dense  at  times  that  only  the 
steeples  of  the  churches  were  visible.  The  loss  in  the  regiment 
was  ten  killed  and  about  sixty  wounded,  including  Major  Ste- 
venson and  Lieutenants  Nichols  [H],  Sargent  [E],  and  Hor- 
ton  [I],  who  was  acting  Adjutant,  the  latter  seriously.  After 
a  wait  of  about  three  hours  in  the  field  the  men  were  marched 
down  to  the  river,  and,  by  means  of  improvised  ferries,  were 
taken  over  to  the  city,  in  one  of  whose  rebel  camps  the  victors 
found  quarters.  Previously  to  going  over  General  Foster  had 
found  opportunity  to  tell  the  officers  of  the  Twenty-fourth  his 
admiration  for  the  spirit  of  their  men  and  his  opinion  of  the 
battle  itself,  which  he  characterized  as  a  well-fought  field.  It 
is  noteworthy  that  quite  all  of  those  contesting  the  Union 
advance  were  North  Carolina  troops,  with  the  possible  excep- 
tion of  some  of  the  batteries;  a  large  part  of  those  who  thus 
advanced  were  from  the  Bay  State.  How  the  battle  was 
regarded  by  the  North  Carolinians  may  be  seen  in  the  stories 
of  the  several  regiments  engaged.  That  of  the  Thirty-fifth 
North  Carolina  says: 

General  Branch  formed  his  line  of  defense  at  right  angles 


Mar.  14.  '62.  Newberx.  89 

Avith  the  river,  beiiinning  at  Fort  Thompson  on  the  Xeuse,  and 
extending  it  across  the  conntiy  to  near  Briee's  Creek.  His 
troops  consisted  of  seven  regiments,  including  the  militia.  The 
batteries  of  Latliam  and  Brem,  six  guns  each,  supported  this 
line.  About  midway  the  line  was  intersected  by  the  railroad* 
from  Newbern  to  ]\Iorehead  City.  At  this  point  of  intersec- 
tion there  was  a  brickyard.  Burnside  attacked  early  on  the 
morning  of  March  14,  '62.  After  the  battle  had  progressed 
for  some  time  in  a  manner  encouraging  to  the  Confederate 
commander,  the  enemy,  perceiving  the  weakness  of  the  Con- 
fedei-ate  line  at  the  brickyard,  made  a  spirited  attack  at  this 
point.  The  militia  broke  and  fled.  This  demoralized  the 
troops  on  their  left,  and  the  enemy  seizing  the  opportunity 
advanced  through  this  break  in  the  Confederate  lines. 

The  enemy  now  rushed  his  troops  through  the  abandoned 
works,  and  enfilading  the  Confederates  on  either  side,  forced 
them  to  retire,  but  not  Avithout  a  stubborn  resistance  by  the 
men  of  the  Thirty-seventh  [X.  C]  Regiment,  sent  to  replace 
the  fled  militia ;  from  the  Thirty-third  Regiment,  sent  to  the 
support  of  the  Thirty-fifth,  and  from  the  left  wing  of  the 
Twenty-sixth  Regiment,  under  the  command  of  its  gallant 
Major,  Abner  B.  Carmichael,  who  here  lost  his  life.  With 
his  center  pierced  and  the  enemy  now  firing  into  his  lines 
from  the  rear.  General  Branch  ordered  a  retreat  upon  New- 
bern, and,  after  destroying  the  bridge  across  the  river,  and  the 
military  supplies  in  the  city,  continued  his  retreat  upon  Kins- 
ton,  where  reinforcements  Avere  received  and  the  troops  re- 
organized during  this  and  the  subsequent  month. 

In  the  record  of  the  Thirty-third  North  Carolina  niaj^  be 
read  an  interesting  account  as  folloAA's: 

The  men  Avere  spoiling  for  a  fight.  They  Avere  anxious  to 
feel  the  fire  of  the  enemy.  During  the  day  [13th],  the  Fed- 
erals kept  up  a  continuous  shelling,  but  did  A'ery  little  execu- 
tion. Colonel  Campbell  of  the  Seventh  ("West  Point,  1840 ; 
k.  Seven  Pines,  June  1,   '62)  Avas  placed  in  command  of  the 


*In  February,  190;>,  IstSergt.  J.  G.  McCarter  of  the  Twenty-fifth  Mas- 
sachuf^etts,  ridin<j;  from  Newbern  to  Morehead  City,  says:  "We  could  l)ut 
Just  discern  the  line  of  breastworks  where  we  charged  over  and  ended 
that  eA'entful  figlit.  The  siornis  of  forty  years  and  other  natural  causes 
had  almost  obliterated  that  splendid  line  of  works,  fully  seven  feet  high 
Avith  a  wide  deep  ditch." 


90  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 

right  wing,  ffeneral  Buniside,  who  knew  Colonel  Campbell, 
as  they  were  both  oraduates  of  West  Point,  sent  Colonel 
Campbell  the  following  message : 

"Renb,  quit  your  foolishness,  and  come  back  to  the  Union 
army."  Colonel  Campbell  replied:  "Tell  CTcneral  Burnside 
to  go  to  the  devil,  where  he  belongs." 

Colonel  Lee  of  the  Thirty-seventh  was  in  command  of  the 
left  wing',  (ieneral  Branch  exercised  a  general  superintend- 
ence of  the  whole  line,  but  was  in  immediate  command  of  the 
centre  and  the  reserve.  At  daybreak  on  the  14th  the  regiment 
was  up  and  anxious  for  the  fight.  We  had  spent  a  rather 
uncomfortable  night,  as  it  began  to  rain  about  dark  and  con- 
tinued to  rain  slowly  all  night.  Still  there  were  no  com- 
plaints, no  murmurings.  Every  one  seemed  to  be  anxious  to 
do  his  duty  to  his  country  and  to  his  God.  A  little  after 
seven  o'clock  the  l>attle  began.  The  firing  was  brisk  and  con- 
tinuous between  the  river  and  the  railroad,  an.d  gradually  ex- 
tended to  our  right.  *****  Between  the  railroad 
and  the  Weathersby  Road,  at  our  extreme  right,  was  Colonel 
Vance,  Twenty-sixth  North  Carolina,  a  company  of  un- 
attached infantry,  and  two  dismounted  cavalry  companies  of 
the  ^Nineteenth  North  Carolina  [Second  Cavalry].  *  *  * 
The  entire  force  from  the  railroad  to  the  Weathersby  Road, 
a  distance  of  a  mile  and  a  half,  niunbered  less  than  1000  men. 
Some  portions  of  the  line  were  wholly  unguarded.  For  some 
time  Foster  made  little  impression  on  our  left  wing,  but  Reno, 
finding  a  break  in  the  Confederate  line  at  a  brickyard  near  the 
railroad,  immediately  occupied  it,  and,  turning  to  his  right, 
attacked  the  militia  under  Col.  H.  J.  B.  Clark.  The  militia 
fled  ingioriously  from  the  field.  The  Thirty-fifth,  assailed  in 
flank,  very  soon  followed  their  example.  General  Branch  and 
his  staff  tried  hard  to  rally  them,  but  their  utmost  efforts 
proved  unavailing.  Meanwhile,  the  reserve  under  Colonel 
Avery,  was  ordered  to  the  front,  and,  with  the  left  wing  of 
the  Twenty-sixth,  made  a  bold  and  determined  stand.  They 
kept  the  enemy  in  check  in  their  immediate  front  for  more 
than  three  hours.  The  troops  on  our  left,  between  the  rail- 
road and  Fort  Thompson,  had  retreated  before  an  overpower- 
ing force,  and  the  Federals,  pouringr  into  the  gap  thus 
made,  had  advanced  a  considerable  distance  in  our  rear  before 
the  Thirty-third  ceased  firing-.  Indeed,  they  ceased  firing 
only  Avhen  their  ammunition  was  exhausted.  Two  couriers 
dispatched  by  General  Branch  to  Colonel  Avery  had  failed  to 


Mar.  l-t.  "62.  Newbern.  91 

reach  him,  and  the  Thirty-third,  in  maintaining  the  contest 
for  so  king  a  time,  was  simply  obeying  orders. 

From  Confederate  sonrees  it  is  learned  that  their  k)sses 
footed  np  6-1  killed,  80  wounded,  and  335  missing  and  prison- 
ers. From  the  same  sources  the  Federal  losses  are  learned  as 
89  killed,  370  wounded  in  the  three  brigades,  with  2  men 
killed  in  the  batteries  and  8  wounded.  That  the  rebels  fought 
behind  breastworks  is  a  sufficient  reason  for  the  excess  of 
Union  fatalities.  The  book  of  regimental  losses,  by  Wm.  F. 
Fox,  published  long  after  the  war,  gives  the  Union  loss  as  90 
killed,  380  wounded,  and  1  missing.  The  Confederate  loss  he 
makes  64  killed.  101  wounded,  and  413  prisoners.  The 
Twenty-fourth  Eegiment  lost  14  men  killed  or  mortally 
wounded,  and  about  80  were  wounded  more  or  less  seriously. 
Colonel  B.  Estvan,  a  foreign  officer,  who  was  serving  in  the 
Confederate  army,  in  a  story  of  his  observations,  printed  in 
1863,  gives  an  amusing  account  of  his  experience  before  the 
fight  at  Newbern  and  soon  after.  Having  been  sent  by  the 
Richmond  authorities  to  inspect  the  works,  he  went  through 
the  same  under  the  guidance  of  Colonel  S..  B.  Spruill  of  the 
Second  North  Carolina  Cavalry,  reaching  Fort  Thompson 
just  as  the  men  were  going  through  their  drill.  The  officer 
in  command  he  found  not  up  to  his  work,  and  should  the 
Union  fleet  make  its  appearance  he  thought  said  commander 
would  speedily  make  his  headquarters  in  Newbern.  Fort  El- 
lis was  incomplete,  but  the  work  was  carried  on  just  as  if 
there  w^ere  no  danger.  The  commander  here  he  found  to  be 
a  very  easy-going  kind  of  a  man,  smoking  his  pipe  by  his 
fireside,  caring  no  more  about  his  general  and  staff  than  he 
did  about  Burnside  and  the  fleet.  He  was  astonished  at  the 
consistent  precision  of  the  artillery  men  in  not  hitting  the 
mark,  and  he  made  up  his  mind  that  if  Burnside  knew  the 
situation,  he  would  at  once  set  sail'  for  Newbern,  which  he 
could  take  without  the  loss  of  a  single  man.  Then  there  came 
a  dinner  at  which,  with  the  flow  of  wine,  followed  the  inevi- 
table American  speeches,  wherein  the  Confederate  of^cers  vied 


92  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Eegiment. 

Avith  each  other  in  bragging-  about  what  they  and  their  men 
would  do.  Colonel  Spmill  declared  that  Newbern  should 
become  a  second  Sebastopol,  before  whose  walls  the  enemy 
must  perish.  General  Branch  arose  and  made  a  second 
speech,  in  which  he  said  that  Colonel  Estvan  had  successfully 
defended  Sebastapol  with  10,000  men  against  the  combined 
forces  of  England  and  France.  The  redoubtable  Colonel 
Spruill  was  again  on  his  feet  and  declared  that  with  10,000 
of  his  own  brave  fellows  he  would  have  taken  Sebastopol  in 
fourteen  days  and  not  have  left  one  stone  upon  another. 
When  the  visitor  was  called  upon  for  his  speech  he  said :  ' '  My 
friends,  how  would  you  go  to  Avork  if  General  Branch,  with 
10,000  of  his  best  men,  undertook  the  defense  of  Sebastapol, 
and  Colonel  Spruill,  with  10,000  of  his  cavalry,  attacked  it? 
What  would  be  the  result?"  They  stared  with  astonishment 
at  these  words,  and  he  sat  down  curious  to  see  how  they  would 
solve  their  ovtoi  problem.  Another  subject  was  then  broached, 
but  he  soon  perceived  that  he  had  lost  their  favor.  Later  the 
Colonel  was  sent  down  to  North  Carolina,  and  he  arrived  near 
Newbern  to  encounter  the  wreckage  as  it  flowed  away  from 
the  Confederate  disaster.  "Suddenly  a  number  of  horsemen 
galloped  past  me  in  full  flight,  and  among  them  I  fancied  I 
could  discern  the  gallant  Colonel  with  whom  I  had  dined  a 
few  days  ago.  He  gave  a  hurried  nod  and  passed  on.  New- 
bern I  found  looking  bad  enough.  General  Branch  had 
secured  a  railway  carriage  for  himself  and  started  off  inland. 
Troops  without  their  officers  passed  me  in  confusion,  and, 
throwing  away  their  arms,  rushed  across  the  bridge.  They  all 
told  wonderful  stories  of  the  feats  performed  by  their  respec- 
tive regiments.  According  to  their  account  they  all  had  fought 
like  so  many  devils,  but  the  force  of  the  enemy  not  being  less 
than  100,000  men.  they  had  no  chance  against  them.  The 
fact  is  General  Branch  had  run  away  and  all  discipline  was 
at  an  end." 

Battle  Refections.—As,  the  regiment  was  really  under  fire 
first  at  Newbern,  the  impressions  of  the  men  engaged  are  in- 


Mar.  14.  '62.  Newbern.  93 

terestiiig,  and  one  of  the  field  officers  has  given  an  excellent 
outline  of  his  feelings  as  the  fight  progressed.  "I  suppose 
you  will  like  to  know  how  I  felt  during  the  battle.  I  really 
cannot  tell  you.  While  it  was  progressing  I  tried  to  analyze 
my  feelings,  but  could  come  at  no  satisfactory  result.  I  did 
not  feel  any  fear,  tliough  I  was  very  anxious  when  the  firing 
first  began,  for  many  of  the  muskets  had  got  wet  and  world 
not  go  off.  It  seemed  a  matter  of  course  that  I  should  be  hit, 
and  yet  after  every  volley  I  felt  somewhat  surprised  that  no 
ball  had  touched  me.  It  seemed  at  times  almost  impossible 
that  there  should  be  a  body  of  men  opposite  doing  their 
utmost  to  kill  us,  and  then  it  occurred  to  me  what  a  curious 
and  painful  spectacle  it  would  be  for  a  philosopher  and  lover 
of  humanity  that  two  parties  of  men  should  have  met  with 
the  sole  object  of  destroying  each  other.  As  I  was  lying  near 
the  Colonel,  I  asked  him  how  he  felt,  and  I  found  that  his 
state  of  mind  tallied  exactly  with  my  o^^^l.  It  was  such  a 
curious  mixture  that  it  was  sub.ject  to  no  logical  analysis." 

WJiat  a  Private  Thought. — "I  have  been  through  one  battle 
and  came  out  all  right,  but  I  expected  every  minute  would  be 
my  last,  but  as  fortune  would  have  it,  I  was  not  to  be  hit. 
I  tell  you  what  it  is,  the  bullets  and  shells  made  a  good  deal  of 
music  over  our  heads,  but  I  expect  our  Minie-balls  and  shells 
played  the  rogue's  march  for  the  rebels,  for  I  saw  them 
marching  off  at  a  'two-forty'  gait.  I  do  not  believe  but  that  the 
Twenty-fourth  and  Twent\"-fifth  Massachusetts  regiments 
could  hold  that  battery  against  10,000  rebels.  *  *  *  i  am 
first-rate ;  never  felt  better  in  my  whole  life.  The  entire  regi- 
ment is  in  very  good  health,  except  the  wounded  and  some 
half  dozen  sick." 

How  closely  the  folks  at  home  followed  the  doings  at  the 
front  is  seen  in  this  letter,  written  by  the  mother  of  one  of  the 
line  officers,  and  dated  ]\Iarch  20th :  "  I  have  just  received 
yours  of  the  15th  inst.  from  Newbern.  How  grateful  should 
we  all  be,  my  dear  son,  to  our  heavenly  Father  for  His  preser- 
vation of  yours  and  many  other  valuable  lives.  Oh!  I  feel 
that  I  am  not  worthy  of  the  many  blessings  which  I  am  daily 


94  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

receiving  from  the  Lord.  How  earnestly,  anxiously,  con- 
stantly, have  I  prayed  for  your  safety,  and  how  graciously  has 
the  Lord  answered  His  sinful  child.  *  *  *  What  fearful 
scenes  you  have  witnessed !  My  heart  bleeds  for  the  sufferers 
and  for  the  bereaved.  God  be  merciful  to  them,  for  vain  is 
all  human  consolation  at  such  a  time.  We  are  all  anxious  to 
hear  further  particulars  with  regard  to  young  Horton's 
wound,  whom  the  public  accounts  report  as  seriously  and 
dangerously  wounded.  His  poor  mother  and  sister  I  heard 
were  in  deep  distress.  I  also  heard  that  his  father  was  going 
to  send  some  one  on  for  him.  Major  Stevenson's  wound,  they 
say,  is  slight.  I  trust  it  is  so  and  I  am  glad  to  hear  that 
young  Sargent  and  Nichols  are  also  only  slightly  woimded. 

*     *     *     *     got   a  nice   letter   from  you  yesterday, 

in  which  you  enclosed  for  me  a  photograph  of  your  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel, who  I  think  is  ver>^  handsome.  *  *  *  All 
the  family  send  you  bushels  of  love.  God  ever  bless  you  and 
still  preserve  you  from  every  danger,  is  the  unceasing  prayer 
of  your  ever  affectionate  mother." 

For  many  a  long  week  and  month  Newbern  was  to  be  the 
headquarters  of  the  regiment,  and  thence  hundreds  of  letters 
were  sent  to  northern  homes  descriptive  of  the  city,  the  sur- 
rounding country,  expeditions  to  other  points,  and  of  the 
people  to  whom  the  Swiss-named  place  was  home  and  metrop- 
olis. So  far  as  its  white  inhabitants  were  concerned,  it  was 
almost  a  deserted  city  in  which  the  Yankees  landed  on  that 
afternoon  of  IMarch  14tli,  '62.  Scarcely  more  than  two  hun- 
dred of  the  ruling  race  had  dared  to  face  the  invader,  and  so 
hurried  had  been  the  departure  of  the  citizens  that  marks  of 
their  haste  and  fright  were  apparent  everywhere.  From  one 
vehicle,  in  its  driver's  anxiety  to  make  speed,  had  been 
dropped  a  piano,  a  rare  find  to  the  soldier  boys  who  had  eyes 
out  for  spoils.  If,  however,  the  white  masters  were  nearly 
frenzied  in  their  efforts  to  escape  the  Union  army,  not  so 
their  colored  servitors,  to  whom  "Massa  Linkum's"  soldiers 
were  angels  of  delivery,  and  they  hastened  to  express  their 
delight  at  the  situation.  The  Twenty-fourth  marched 
through  the  city  and  made  itself  tolerably  comfortable  in  the 


Mar.  14.  '62.  Newbern.  95 

Fair  Grounds,  on  the  banks  of  the  Neiise,  in  the  camp  of  the 
enemy,  who  had  left  even  their  tents  standing,  filled  with  all 
the  equipment  of  an  army  at  rest.  There  was  quite  a  large 
amount  of  Confederate  clothing  found  among  other  items, 
and  some  of  the  MassachiLsetts  lads,  in  their  muddy  condition, 
thought  a  change  while  they  cleaned  and  dried  their  o^\ti 
suits  would  be  desirable,  and  proceeded  to  get  into  the  uni- 
forms witliout  further  ado.  One  of  the  boys  who  had  made 
this  exchange  was  much  disgusted  after  he  had  turned  in  for 
rest  and  sleep  to  be  notified  by  his  orderly  that  he  was  due  for 
patrol  duty.  No  statement  that  he  was  tired,  that  he  hadn't 
any  clothes  (that  is,  of  the  right  sort),  availed;  he  was  told 
that  he  could  wear  his  overcoat  above  his  rebel  duds,  and  this 
he  did  for  the  entire  night.  Not  even  the  duck  slain  l)y  him 
the  following  raoi'ning  afforded  him  consolation,  for  it  proved 
to  be  so  tough  that  he  had  to  throw  it  away  after  hours  of  vain 
effort  to  boil  it  tender.  He  declared  the  bird  dated  from 
Noah  and  the  Ark. 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  expectations  of  the  soldiery 
as  to  pillage  on  occupying  the  city,  all  speedily  saw  that  noth- 
ing of  the  kind  was  to  be  tolerated.  The  Twenty-fifth  Mas- 
sachusetts was  designated  as  the  guards  of  the  homes,  and 
though  there  may  have  been  isolated  instances  of  thieving, 
these  boys  from  New  England  soon  convinced  the  owners  of 
homes  in  Newbern  that  thej^  had  better  return  and  occupy 
them.  Stories  are  told  of  some  of  the  absurd  pranks  cut  up 
by  occasional  depredators,  of  horses  harnessed  by  negroes  at 
the  command  of  northern  men  and,  before  carts  laden  with 
furniture  from  certain  homes,  driven  to  camp.  Of  course,  the 
property  taken  had  not  in  most  instances  the  least  utility  for 
the  takera,  but  there  was  the  gratification  of  inherent  mischief 
in  disturbing  some  one,  especially  if  the  same  were  a  nominal 
enemy.  Among  the  finds  was  a  history  of  the  United  States, 
on  whose  fly-leaf  a  young  lady  had  written,  evidently  for  the 
edification  of  some  marauding  Yankee,  these  words :  "  If  this 
book  should  into  a  Yankee's  hands  fall,  remember  you  did 


96  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

force  to  flee  from  home  and  friends,  a  peaceful  family,  and 
may  the  memory  forever  haunt  thee."  The  presejit  possessor 
of  the  volume  says  that  no  ghosts  of  the  "peaceful  family" 
have  troubled  him  for  his  part  in  their  dispossession. 

The  15th  proved  to  be  very  wet  and  disagreeable ;  boys 
who  had  clothed  themselves  in  rebel  raiment  were  informed 
that  such  procedure  would  not  be  tolerated,  and  they  must 
return  to  regular  uniforms  even  if  the  same  were  tattered, 
torn  and  muddy.  Rations  were  scarce  on  account  of  the  slow 
approach  of  the  commissary  stores,  and  active  humanity  in  an 
enemy's  country  was  not  likely  to  go  hungry  if  it  were  possi- 
ble to  find  food  therein.  Excessive  hilarity  in  one  of  the 
companies  revealed  the  fact  that  a  barrel  of  whiskey  had  been 
discovered  on  the  wharf,  and  by  some  mysterious  manner 
transported  to  the  camp  and  hidden  away  in  one  of  the  tents, 
and  was  affording  unwonted  delight  to  the  bibulously  in- 
olined.  The  offending  liquid  was  at  once  seized  by  the  officers 
and  turned  over  to  the  medical  department.  Each  soldier 
had  his  own  way  of  securing  it,  but  the  day  after  the  battle 
brought  needed  rest  to  the  officers  and  men. 

Colonel  Stevenson's  Report  on  the  Battle  of  Newbern. 
Camp  Near  Newbern,  March  16,  1862. 

Sir :  I  beg  leave  to  report  that  on  the  morning  of  the  13th 
inst.  my  regiment  was  on  board  the  transports  Guide  and 
Vidette,  which  were  at  anchor  in  the  Neuse  River,  off  the 
mouth  of  Slocum's  Creek.  Early  in  the  morning  I  received 
the  signal  to  prepare  to  land  and,  in  accordance  with  the 
order  of  General  Foster,  tilled  the  boats  belonging  to  my 
transports  with  a  part  of  my  men,  and  fastened  them  to  the 
stern  of  the  steamer  Pilot  Boy,  which  came  alongside  the 
Guide  and  took  the  companies  that  remained  on  her.  There 
was  no  opposition  to  our  landing,  and  as  soon  as  the  men 
reached  the  shore  I  formed  them  in  line  of  battle.  By  order 
of  General  Foster  I  then  advanced  my  regiment  in  rear  of  the 
Massachusetts  Twenty-first  as  far  as  the  railroad,  when  I  took 
the  advance  on  the  county  road,  sending  Company  E  forward 
as  an  advance  guard.     I  pushed  forward  as  rapidly  as  the 


]Mak.   "62.  Newbern.  97 

condition  of  the  road  would  permit  until  nio'litfall,  when,  in 
accordance  with  General  Foster's  orders,  I  filed  my  regiment 
into  the  woods  on  the  rig-ht  of  the  road  and  bivouacked  for 
the  nicht.  The  men  were  somewhat  worn  out  by  their  ex- 
haustinp'  march,  but  made  themselves  as  comfortable  for  the 
nig'ht  as  circumstances  would  permit.  I  sent  forward  Com- 
panies A,  E,  F  and  K  as  a  picket  guard,  and  we  remained 
undisturbed  during  the  night. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  14th  inst.  a  small  party  of  the 
enemy's  cavahy  appeared  within  sight  of  our  picket  and  was 
fired  upon,  whereupon  I  immediately  ordered  my  regim.ent  to 
fall  in.  By  order  of  CTcneral  Foster,  I  then  advanced  up  the 
main  road  with  Company  E  as  an  advance  guard,  until  with- 
in sight  of  the  enemy 's  intrenchments,  and  then  filed  off  to  the 
right  of  the  road,  where  I  formed  my  regiment  in  line  of 
battle  and  advanced  to  within  about  fifty  paces  of  the  edge  of 
the  woods,  where  I  halted  until  my  advance  guard  returned 
from  the  road.  It  was  at  this  time  that  the  enemy  opened 
fire,  wounding  two  of  my  men.  I  immediately  advanced  my 
regiment  out  of  the  woods,  where  I  ordered  them  to  lie  down 
and  to  open  fire.  The  men  behaved  very  well  in  this  position, 
keeping  up  incessant  and  well  directed  fire  on  the  enemy  for 
over  two  hours. 

Owing  to  the  rain  and  wet  to  which  the  guns  had  been  ex- 
posed, many  of  my  men  experienced  great  difficulty  in  firing 
them,  and  in  many  cases  had  to  draw  the  charges  before  the 
gTins  were  of  any  use.  Fort  Thompson,  on  our  right,  which 
I  had  supposed  had  no  guns  on  the  land  side,  opened  on  us 
with  grape  and  canister  from  their  guns  as  soon  as  we  got  into 
position.  We  afterwards  found  that  they  attempted  to  bring 
one  of  their  guns  on  the  water  side  of  the  liattery  to  bear  on 
our  line,  but  failed,  probably  from  want  of  time.  Finally  I 
noticed  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  right  slackened,  as  I  supposed, 
from  the  success  and  advance  of  our  left.  I  immediately 
ordered  my  own  regiment  forward,  and  we  had  advanced  but 
a  short  distance  when  the  enemy  turned,  stopping  only  to  give 
us  one  volley  of  musketry  and  a  round  of  grape.  The  enemy 
retreated  very  precipitately  from  Fort  Thompson  as  we 
entered,  and  I  only  succeeded  in  capturing  six  of  them.  I 
immediately  raised  the  American  flag  on  the  parapet  to  ap- 
prise the  gTinlioats  of  our  position. 

By  order  of  CTeneral  ^^oster,  I  left  one  company  in  th^e  fort, 
selecting  for  that  purpose  Company  B,  and  then  marched  my 


98 


Twenty-fourth  ^Iassachusetts  Regiment. 


IVIar.  '62.  Newbern.  99 

regiment  forward  on  the  county'  road  to  the  raih^oad  and  up 
the  railroad  to  the  Trent  River,  where  I  halted  them  in  a  large 
field  on  the  left.  After  remaining  there  a  short  time  General 
Foster  ordered  my  regiment  to  cross  the  river  in  the  gunboat 
Delaware,  and  other  boats  that  he  was  using  for  that  purpose, 
and  to  take  possession  of  the  rebel  camp  in  the  Fair  Grounds 
outside  of  Newbern.  On  reaching  camp  I  found  my  men 
much  exhausted  by  their  severe  labors  since  they  had  landed, 
but  was  pleased  to  find  that  there  were  comparatively  few 
stragglers. 

It  pains  me  to  close  my  report  by  informing  you  that  my 
regiment  lost  55  men  in  killed  and  wounded  during  the  action, 
a  list  of  whom  I  herewith  transmit. — R.  R.,  Vol.  ix,  p.  217. 

On  the  part  borne  by  the  Twenty-fourth  in  the  battle,  Gen- 
eral Foster  said  this  in  his  report,  dated  March  20th :  "  I  must 
mention  in  my  brigade,  where  all  behaved  bravely,  the 
Twenty-fourth  Regiment  Massachusetts  Volunteers  and  the 
Tenth  Connecticut  Volunteers.  The  former,  under  a  severe 
fire  from  musketry  in  the  front,  and  exposed  to  a  flanking  fire 
of  grape  and  canister  from  Fort  Thompson,  unprotected  by 
the  trees,  behaved  with  marked  coolness  and  steadiness. ' ' 


Casualties  at  Newbern. 

Killed. — Privates  Wm.  Banns,  Cornelius  Hendricks,  Co.  A ; 
John  Thomas,  Co.  C ;  Frank  C.  Brown ;  Samuel  Lines. 
Wm.  Jones,  Co.  F ;  A.  J.  Merritt,  Charles  Riley,  Co.  I ;  James 
Moreland,  Co.  K;  James  Vincent,  Co.  B. 

Wounded. — iMajor  Robert  H.  Stevenson,  Adjutant  Wm.  L. 
Horton ;  Corporal  Charles  Baker,  Privates  John  Patterson, 
J.  H.  Rivers,  S.  E.  Tuttle,  Co.  A;  Sergt.  Chas.  T.  Perkins, 
Privates  John  W.  Bartlett,  Justin  Carver,  Peter  Powers, 
Robert  Risk,  Co.  C :  Privates  H.  A.  DeRibas,  Cyrus  Getchell, 
Robert  T.  Lucas,  Chas.  B.  Saunders,  Ephraim  Walker,  Geo. 
W.  AVatrous,  Co.  D ;  First  Lieut.  Daniel  Sargent,  Sergt.  Wm. 
Arvedson,  Corp.  G.  W.  Townsend,  Co.  E;  Privates  E.  A.  Bil- 
lings, Robert  Clark,  John  Glasset,  Wm.  Lj'on,  John  IMarshall, 
H.  Newbury,  Co.  F ;  Privates  A.  0.  Cobb,  H.  S.  Gilmore,  Geo. 
H.  Lingham,  M.  McDermott,  Co.  G ;  First  Lieut.  Jas.  B.  Nich- 


nv 


100  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

ols,  Co.  TI ;  Privates  A.  Anderson,  Dennis  Fitzgerald,  E.  R. 
Merritt,  Thos.  O'Brien,  John  Shine,  E.  M.  Tucker,  Co.  I; 
Privates  ]\Iichael  Grogan,  John  Hope,  Co.  K ;  Geo.  Melntyre, 
Co.  B. 

The  16th  of  March  was  Sunday,  and  here,  as  elsewhere,  the 
day  was  spent  very  much  as  the  individual  felt  inclined.  The 
churches  of  the  city  were  wanting  in  regular  pastors,  but  there 
w^as  a  goodly  number  of  regimental  chaplains  to  be  counted 
on,  and  men  were  ordered  to  fall  in  and  go  to  meeting,  which 
many  did;  some,  not  encountering  the  aide  who  was  to  escort 
them,  spent  the  time  instead  in  roaming  about  the  streets,  in- 
specting the  appointments  of  the  city  and  drawing  conclusions 
as  to  the  value  of  the  captured  place.  One  lad  remarks  in  his 
letter  home,  "I  enjoyed  it  very  much.  The  streets  are  well 
laid  out  with  rows  of  trees  on  the  sides,  which  are  beginning 
to  leaf  out.  There  are  a  great  many  old  darky  shanties,  and 
some  large  and  handsome  houses,  having  nice  gardens  with 
flowers  all  in  bloom.  I  saw  many  peach  trees  in  full  blos- 
som. ' ' 

During  the  day  the  Lieutenant-Colonel  went  out  vnih 
four  companies  to  meet  a  flag  of  truce  which  was  reported 
coming  in.  Company  B  did  not  remain  a  great  while  in 
Fort  Thompson,  but  was  soon  relieved  and  joined  the 
regiment  on  the  Fair  Groimds.  While  in  the  fort  the 
boys  enjoyed  an  instance  of  excessive  vigilance  on 
the  part  of  Lieutenant  Edmands,  who,  it  was  said, 
was  never  caught  napping.  Startled,  one  day,  by  an 
unusual  noise,  he  came  rushing  out  of  his  quarters,  buckling 
on  his  sword  and  shouting,  "Fall  in.  Company  B,  lively!"  but 
discovering  that  the  noise  came  from  the  destroying  of  the 
rebel  barracks  he  as  quickly  ordered,  "Right  face;  arms 
port !  March ! ' '  and  tlie  laugh  was  on  him.  One  party  appro- 
priated and  sent  home  a  sewing  machine,  a  double  reminder 
to  the  one  receiving,  for  she  might  see  the  careful  friend  as 
well  as  the  bereft  Newbern  home. 

]\Ionday,  the  17th,  w^as  St.  Patrick's  Day,  but  there  was 
little  "Wearing  of  the  Green"  among  the  boys  in  Newbern.  A 


Mar.   '62.  Newbern.  101 

party  from  the  reiiiinent  accompanied  General  Burnside  on 
a  reconnoissance  to  Slocum's  Creek.  The  wounded  from  the 
battle  were  brought  to  town,  among  them  being-  Stevenson, 
Horton,  Sargent  and  Nichols,  the  wounded  officers  of  the 
Twenty-fourth,  who  were  taken  to  headquarters  in  Judge 
Donnell's  house.  To  curious  Yankees,  the  city  still  had  much 
of  interest  and  some  houses  whence  the  occupants  had  fled 
were  inspected  in  quest  of  mementoes.  However  reprehen- 
sible the  practice  might  be,  it  must  be  remembered  that  the 
most  of  the  men  were  really  boys,  and  they  were  in  the 
enemy's  country,  a  fact  which  was  ever  prominent  in  mind. 
A  cavalry  escort  of  the  Confederates,  bearing  a  flag  of  truce 
and  accompanying  several  light  wagons,  came  in  almost  un- 
noticed, and  had  nearly  made  the  circuit  of  the  town  before 
they  were  halted,  when  it  appeared  that  they  had  come  for 
the  purpose  of  burying  the  dead  and  carrying  off  their 
wounded. 

On  "Wednesday,  the  19th,  the  regiment  embarked  for  Wash- 
ington*, N.  C,  on  the  Tar  Eiver.  The  same  was  reached  by 
sailing  do\\^l  the  Neuse  to  Pamlico  Sound,  thence  to  the  north- 
ward, and  so  into  Pamlico  River,  which  soon  receives  the 
waters  of  the  Tar,  on  whose  northern  bank  Washington  is 
located.  The  distance  by  water  is  said  to  be  about  one  hun- 
dred miles.  There  was  ample  opportunity  to  inspect  the 
obstructions  planted  in  the  river  by  the  Confederates,  in  the 
vain  hope  that  they  would  prevent  the  advance  of  the  Union 
fleet.  Colonel  Stevenson  in  his  report,  dated  March  23d, 
says : — 

■  Agreeably  to  orders  received  from  General  Foster,  I  em- 
barked the  Twent^^-fourth  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Volun- 
teers, on  the  19th  inst.,  on  the  steamer  Guide,  and  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  20th,  at  7  o'clock,  got  under  way  for  Washington. 
Followed  the  gunboats  Delaware,  Louisiana  and  Commodore 
Barney.     At  7  o'clock,  same  evening,  came  to  anchor  off  the 


*In  local  parlance  and  among  veterans  of  this  war,  frequently  "Little" 
Washington,  in  distinction  from  the  national  capital. 


102  Twenty-fourth  MASSACHUi=iETTS  Eegiment. 

mouth  of  the  Pamlico  Eiver.  The  next  morning  at  daylight  we 
again  got  nnder  way  and  at  10  o  'clock  arrived  within  about  six 
miles  of  Washington,  when  we  discovered  the  enemy's 
deserted  batteries  without  guns,  two  on  the  south  bank  of 
the  river  and  the  other  on  the  north.  We  also  here  discovered 
a  barricade,  consisting  of  piles  cut  off  about  three  feet  below 
the  surface.  As  I  found,  it  would  be  impossible  to  carry  the 
steamer  Guide  up  to  the  city,  even  if  the  barrier  was  removed, 
on  account  of  her  drawing  too  much  water,  I  went  on  board 
the  steamer  Delaware  and  conferred  with  Captain  Quacken- 
bush,  who  kindly  offered  to  take  two  of  the  companies  up  in 
his  steamer,  and  as  the  Mayor,  who  had  come  down  to  meet 
us,  assured  us  that  there  were  no  troops  in  the  city,  and  as 
all  signs  confirmed  this  statement,  I  placed  Companies  E 
and  G  on  board  the  Delaware  and  steamed  up  to  the  city, 
where  we  found  a  large  number  of  persons  on  the  wharves. 
I  landed  the  two  companies  and  marched  to  the 
Court  House,  where  we  nailed  the  Stars  and  Stripes  to  a  flag- 
pole, which  we  found  in  front  of  the  Court  House.  The  band 
played  national  airs  and  the  men  cheered.  We  then  marched 
through  some  of  the  principal  streets  and  returned  to  the 
boat.  While  in  the  city  not  a  man  left  the  ranks  or  behaved 
other^dse  than  as  if  on  drill. 

I  was  glad  to  notice  considerable  Union  sentiment  expressed 
by  the  inhabitants.  From  quite  a  number  of  houses  we  were 
saluted  by  waving  handkerchiefs,  and  from  one  the  national 
flag,  with  the  motto,  "The  Constitution  and  the  Union, "^as 
displayed. 

A  large  number  of  the  inhabitants  expressed  a  wish  that  a 
sufficient  force  might  be  sent  there  to  protect  them  against  the 
rebels.  On  returning  to  the  steamer  Guide,  we  found  that 
Professor  Mallefert  had  blown  up  the  barrier  so  as  to  make  a 
channel  some  sixty  feet  wide.  At  six  o'clock  same  evening, 
weighed  anchor,  and  started  for  Newbern,  where  we  arrived 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  following  dav  [21st  inst.]. — R.  R., 
Vol.  ix,  p.  269. 

Of  the  time  spent  on  shore  the  boys  had  many  stories  to  tell. 
All  agree  as  to  the  hoisting  of  the  flag  on  a  mast  that  before 
had  floated  a  rebel  banner.  A  sailor  of  the  company  climbed 
the  tree  to  which  the  mast  was  nailed,  and  taking  the  staff 
down  nailed  the  Union    ensign    thereon  and    replaced  it,  all 


:\rAR.  19,  '62.  Wasiiinoton,  X.  C.  103 

accompanied  with  the  utmost  enthusiasm  of  the  troops.  The 
companies  marched  by  platoons  through  some  of  the  principal 
streets  and  were  greeted  Avith  evident  delight  by  some  of  the 
citizens,  particularly  by  one  lady,  a  widow,  who  had  been  per- 
secuted by  the  Confederates  for  her  Union  sentiments.  She 
had  spread  out  on  the  balustrade  in  front  of  her  house  the 
starry  banner  with  the  words,  ''Constitution  and  Union," 
affixed.  The  soldiers,  halting,  gave  her  three  heartv'  cheers. 
It  is  claimed  that  this  exhibition  on  her  part  provoked  a  raid 
later,  in  search  of  the  offending  flag,  but  she  had  wit  enough 
to  elude  the  searchers.  Gilmore's  Band,  as  usual,  was  a  reve- 
lation to  the  native  of  musical  possibilities,  and  the  dulcet 
strains  of  "Dixie"  almost  carried  the  darkies  off  their  feet. 

Every  regiment  had  to  take  its  turn  in  patrolling  the  city, 
and  the  orders  were  to  take  to  headquarters  all  persons  with- 
out passes.  Illustrating  the  straits  to  which  some  of 
the  dwellers  in  the  vicinity  were  reduced,  a  certain 
Corporal  relates  that  leaving  his  squad  on  guard  at 
a  bridge  over  the  Trent,  he  went  spying  out  the 
land.  He  found  the  plantation  of  a  certain  Confederate  doc- 
tor who  had  gone  oft'  with  the  enemy.  His  plantation  was 
practically  deserted,  the  able-bodied  servants  or  slaves  having 
been  carried  off  with  their  o^^mer.  The  Corporal  found  one 
aged  colored  woman,  eighty  or  more  years  old,  with  a  six- 
year-old  pickaninny,  these  being  the  only  occupants  of  the 
estate.  The  older  woman  was  skinning  a  rat  which  the 
younger  was  holding  by  the  tail.  When  asked  what  she  pur- 
posed doing  with  the  animal,  she  replied,  "I'se  gwine  eat 
him.  I  've  had  no  fresh  meat  in  a  long  time,  and  I  must  have 
summat."  The  teuQler-hearted  Yankee  said:  "You  hold  on, 
I'll  get  something  better  than  that  for  you,"  and  at  once 
started  off  for  his  comrades  at  the  bridge,  and,  from  them 
obtaining  a  portion  of  their  rations,  hastened  back  to  the 
starving  negroes.  When  he  reached  the  shanty,  the  negroes 
had  gone  in  and  he,  entering,  poured  his  gifts  upon  an  old 
table  to  the  thankful  words  of  the  old  woman,  who  exclaimed 


10-4  TW'^ENTY-FOURTH   MASSACHUSETTS   REGIMENT. 

a  dozen  times,  "God  bless  you,  Massa."  When  asked  what 
she  had  done  with  the  rat,  she  replied:  "Et  him,"  and  when 
asked  how  she  cooked  it,  said:  "Broil  him  on  de  coal."  The 
corporal  enjoined  her  not  to  eat  any  more  vermin  and  he 
wonld  try  to  see  that  she  was  better  fed. 

Either  the  unwonted  hot  weather,  fresh  meat,  or  the  water 
the  men  were  obliged  to  drink,  had  a  debilitating  effect  upon 
the  regiment  and  serious  illness  followed,  there  being  several 
eases  of  typhoid  fever,  and  dysentery  was  very  common,  so 
much  so  that  at  times  a  large  part  of  the  men  had  to  be  ex- 
cused from  duty.  The  region  was  malarial,  and  many  of 
these  Massachusetts  soldiers  were  taking  into  their  systems 
seeds  of  lifelong  illness,  subjecting  them  at  intervals  to  at- 
tacks of  chills  and  fever  that  only  large  doses  of  quinine  could 
cure.  When  the  surgeons  discovered  the  strengthening  quali- 
ties of  whiskey  and  quinine,  and  administered  the  same  in 
reasonable  potions,  the  men  began  to  g:et  back  to  their  normal 
condition,  but  they  learned  that  fruit-blossoms  and  summer 
temperature  in  the  month  of  ]\Iarch  did  not  necessarily  in- 
duce bodily  vigor.  Of  course,  there  were  many  Union  sol- 
diers in  Newbern.  but  to  some  the.  prevalence  of  military 
funerals  seemed  appalling.  "It  is  a  daily  sight,  that  of  a 
procession  from  the  hospital  to  the  cemetery,  to  the  beat  of  a 
muffled  drum  or  following  the  band,  playing  a  death  march. 
While  getting  used  to  it  we  are  not  reconciled." 

To  show  the  buoyancy  of  the  youthful  mind  it  might  be 
stated  that  the  same  private  who  grew  sad  over  funerals  could 
in  the  very  next  paragraph  of  his  letter  write :  "  I  have  tip- 
top times  here.  We  have  got  our  old  tents  again  for  the  first 
time  since  leaving  Annapolis,  except  the  few  days  ashore  at 
Hatteras.  I  saw  some  strawberry  blossoms  the  other  day,  and 
we  shall  have  strawberries  soon.  Colonel  Stevenson  has  been 
made  a  Brigadier-General,  commanding  the  brigade,  and  Col- 
onel Upton  of  the  Twenty-fifth  has  resigned.  The  contra- 
bands are  plenty  here.  They  all  chew  tobacco  and  smoke — 
men,  women  and    children,  even    little    girls,  chew.     All    the 


Mar.   '62. 


Newbern. 


105 


PfOfil  sketch  by  Lieut.  J.  M.  Barnard,  Co.  G. 

CAMP  LEE,  XEWBERX,  N.  C. 

negroes  we  meet  on  the  street  salute  us  as  we  pass."  The 
camp  bears  the  name  of  Lee,  not  for  the  Confederate  chief- 
tain, but  for  Colonel  Henry  Lee  of  Governor  Andrew's  staff, 
a  firm  friend  of  the  regiment. 

On  Tuesday,  the  25th,  in  obedience  to  an  order  of  General 
Foster,  issued  the  day  before,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Osborn, 
with  six  companies  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  boarded  the  Ptlot 
Boy  at  daybreak,  provided  with  two  days'  cooked  rations,  the 
object  being  to  intercept  and  capture  certain  North  Carolina 
troops  said  to  be  near  the  upper  waters  of  the  Neuse.  The 
objective  point  was  Big  Swift  Creek,  possibly  twenty  miles  up 
the  river.  Colonel  Osborn  was  not  to  penetrate  the  country' 
further  than  seven  miles,  and  he  was  to  use  his  discretion 
about  going  even  this  distance.  The  whereabouts  of  Captain 
Lane's  company  was  specially  desired.  But  the  trip  was 
doomed  to  failure,  for  the  vessel  had  not  proceeded  far  ere  it 
ran  upon  some  water-logged  stumps,  from  which  the  most 
strenuous  efforts  failed  to  dislodge  the  steamer.  However, 
some  natives,  on  their  way  to  Newbern  with  fish,  came  along- 
side and,  being  questioned,  gave  such  information  as 
prompted  the  Colonel  to  call  the  expedition  off.  Accordingly, 
surf -boats  which  had  been  in  tow  were  loaded  with  soldiers 
and  taken  ashore,  the  same  being  repeated  till  the  Pilot  Boy 


106  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

was  sufficiently  lightened  to  float,  when  she  steamed  up  to  a 
wharf  and  landed  the  remainder  of  the  men,  whence  the  entire 
party  marched  back  to  camp,  thus  ending  the  trip.  Though 
the  sun  shone,  the  men  foimd  the  day  rather  cold. 

On  Saturday,  the  29th,  the  i-egiment  went  out  on  a  tour  of 
picket  duty,  going  towards  Batchelder's  Creek,  which  was  to 
last  three  days.  Company  G  was  left  in  camp.  The  regi- 
ment was  divided  into  two  parties  under  the  respective  com- 
mand of  Colonel  Stevenson  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Osborn. 
That  part  led  by  the  Lieutenant-Colonel  met  with  no  adventure 
worthy  of  record,  but  the  Colonel's  detachment  had  a  little 
excitement  as  follows.  It  appears  that  our  forces  were  not 
supplied  with  cavalry  and  that  for  substitutes,  artillery  men 
were  used.  On  this  occasion  some  members  of  the  Third  New 
York  Artillerv^  were  along  in  the  capacity  of  scouts.  Four  of 
the  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth  were  in  advance  of  the  main 
body  and  two  horsemen  were  in  adA'ance  of  them.  This  was 
on  ^Monday,  the  third  day  out.  Suddenly  a  great  shout  was 
heard  in  the  distance,  and  one  of  our  mounted  men  was  seen 
coming  down  the  road  at  a  gallop,  chased  by  some  sixty  of 
the  enemy's  cavalry,  one  of  whom  was  close  beside  the  fleeing 
Yankee  and  cutting  him  with  his  sabre.  The  horse  that  the 
Union  man  was  riding  was  only  an  artillery  beast,  and  so  none 
too  speedy,  hence  the  lighter  mounted  rebel  was  upon  him 
easily.  "Fire!  Fire!  Why  don't  you  fire?"  shouted  the 
Federal,  but  so  close  was  he  to  the  rebel  that  our  men  feared 
to  shoot  lest  they  hit  their  friend.  However,  when  the  Johnny 
was  about  fifty  feet  from  our  four  men,  one  of  them.  Private 
Wm.  Reynolds  of  Company  I,  with  the  cool  remark,  "You've 
gone  about  far  enough,"  drew  a  careful  bead  on  the  reb,  and 
shot  him  through  the  breast,  killing  him  instantly.  The  other 
men  fired  at  the  Confederates  who  were  riding,  and 
wounded  one  of  them,  who  would  have  fallen  from  his  horse 
had  not  his  comrades  supported  him.  Being  thus  checked, 
and  seeing  the  Union  forces  drawn  up  in  line  only  a  little  way 
further,  the    enemy  evidently  thought    discretion    the    better 


IMar.  29.  '62.  Batciielder's  Creek.  107 

part  of  valor  and  Avithclrew.  The  soldier  who  thns  escaped 
had  his  head  somewhat  injured,  but  he  recovered  soon,  a  fact 
not  at  all  creditable  to  the  skill  of  his  assailant  nor  to  the 
sharpness  of  the  latter 's  weapon.  Colonel  Stevenson,  with  two 
companies,  went  ont  some  distance  in  pursuit  of  the  Confed- 
erates, but  did  not  encoimter  them. 

As  to  the  rebel  killed,  his  foemen  dealt  honorably  with  his 
remains.  All  that  was  left  of  him  was  the  form  of  a  fine 
looking  man,  heavily  armed,  and  the  steed  he  had  bestrode  was 
a  noble  one.  All  this,  however,  availed  nothing  in  the  face 
of  death,  and  there  remained  only  the  final  office  possible  for 
him,  and  his  opponents  hollowed  a  shallow  grave  and  laid 
him  therein.  Then  they  placed  at  his  head  a  board,  on  which 
they  wrote,  as  time  and  conveniences  would  permit,  the  words, 
"Killed  by  the  picket  of  the  24th  Reg't.  Mass.  Vols."  How 
many  of  that  burial  party  were  reminded  of  the  "Burial  of 
Sir  John  ]Moore, ' '  which  all  must  have  learned  in  their  recent 
school  days?  Friends  of  the  dead  soldier  came  a  short  time 
afterw^ards  and  removed  his  body  to  permanent  and  better 
sepulture. 

Vei*y  soon  after  the  occupation  of  Newbern,  General  Foster 
was  appointed  Military  Governor,  and  early  in  April  there 
was  a  reorganization  of  the  troops  of  the  department.  The 
forces  which  formerly  had  constituted  three  brigades,  now, 
with  some  additions,  became  as  many  divisions,  with  their 
respective  commanders  acting  major  generals.  Each  division 
had  two  brigades,  and  the  Twenty-fourth,  with  the  Twenty- 
seventh  Massachusetts  and  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  constituted 
the  Second  Brigade  of  the  First  Division  under  General  Fos- 
ter. Col.  Thos.  J.  C.  Amory,*  an  older  brother  of  Lieut.  Chas. 


*Colonel  Amory  was  a  graduate  of  West  Point,  J 851,  and  was  a  cap- 
tain in  the  7th  Infantry  when  the  war  began.  Appointed  to  the  com- 
mand of  the  Seventeenth  Massachusetts,  he  won  the  thorough  regard  of 
his  men  and  soon  placeil  the  organization  on  a  high  level  of  efficiency. 
In  October,  '64,  just  after  he  had  been  brevetted  Brigadier  General,  his 
wife  died  suddenly  from  yellow  fever.  Returning  from  her  funeral,  he 
was  himself  stricken  with  the  dread  disease  and  died  on  the  6th,  deeply 


108  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

B.  Aniory  of  Company  F  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  and  in  com- 
mand of  the  Seventeenth  ^Nfassachusetts,  which  arrived  at 
Newbern  on  the  2d  of  April,  was  placed  over  the  First  Brig- 
ade, while  the  command  of  the  Second  Brigade  devolved 
up'on  Col.  Thos.  G.  Stevenson  of  the  Twenty-fourth.  Truly, 
the  novitiate  of  those  days  in  Fort  Independence  was  bearing 
early  fruit.  Scarcely  more  than  six  months  from  the  muster- 
in  of  the  regiment,  and  its  first  Colonel  is  promoted.  The 
order  of  General  Burnside  bringing  about  this  change  in  the 
arrangement  of  the  regiments  is  dated  April  2,  1862. 

Of  couree,  this  advance  of  the  Colonel  necessitated  other 
stepping  up,  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Osborn  became  acting 
Colonel,  and  INIajor  R.  H.  Stevenson  being  absent,  wounded, 
Capt.  Chas.  H.  Hooper  of  E  Company  became  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  for  the  nonce.  In  these  days  of  change  and  promo- 
tion marked  improvements  were  wrought  in  the  camp,  in 
which,  with  the  tents  belonoing  to  the  regiment  and  with  san- 
itary provisions,  apparently,  never  dreamed  of  by  the  Confed- 
erates, in  the  delightful  spring  weather  of  the  old  North 
State,  these  ^Massachusetts  men  were  making  themselves  as 
comfortable  as  they  could  be  away  from  home.  Yet  there  was 
always  a  sighing  f6r  the  food  from  the  home  table,  and  officers 
even  were  not  exempt  from  wishing  for  a  box  from  home. 
When  one  such  came,  the  motherly  sender  wrote  with  that 
consideration  for  her  son's  friends  so  characteristic  of  the 
truly    generous:    "I  wish   you  to    allow  Bob    Clark,  Johnny 

lamented  by  all  who  knew  him.  inu^trative  of  the  universality  of  en- 
listments in  those  days,  it  should  be  stated  that  at  the  time  of  Colonel 
Amory's  death,  there  were  in  Newbern  two  other  brothers,  William  A., 
a  major,  and  R.  G. ,  a  lieutenant  in  the  2d  Mass.  Heavy  ArtiUery,  Major 
A.  just  escaping  death  from  the  same  ailment.  The  Army  and  Navy 
Journal  of  the  22d  pays  the  deceased  officer  the  highest  tribute  for  his 
manly  and  soldierly  worth.  His  four  children  thus  suddenly  orphaned 
were  sent  to  Boston  to  be  reared  by  his  mother,  who  nobly  discharged 
her  duty.  The  youngest,  a  babe  in  arms  when  the  mother  died,  on  the 
passing  away  of  her  grandmother,  was  taken  by  her  Uncle  Charles  and 
became  a  member  of  his  family  in  New  Orleans,  where  she  eventually 
married. 


Apr.  2,  '62.  Newbern.  109 

Jones  and  young  Thompson  to  participate  in  the  eatables  I 
send.  Perhaps  you  mio-ht  also  offer  some  to  Dr.  Green,  who, 
I  douht  not,  has  been  kind  and  attentive  to  you." 

So  far  as  war  was  concerned  there  was  little  to  disturb,  save 
as  baseless  rumors  of  the  approach  of  vast  rebel  arrays  put 
the  officers  and  men  on  their  guard.  On  the  8th  of  April  the 
paymaster  appeared  and  made  glad  the  hearts  of  the  men  who 
always  were  in  want  of  money.  Two  months'  pay  found  its 
way  into  their  hands,  but,  with  characteristic  thoughtfulness, 
a  large  part  of  it  was  immediately  sent  home.  Seldom  did 
the  soldier  forget  the  dear  ones  there. 

It  was  not  all  play  in  Newbern,  though  contact  with  the 
enemy  was,  for  the  most  part,  confined  to  picket  interviews. 
There  was  the  building  of  a  fort  for  the  better  protection  of 
the  city,  the  rebuilding  of  the  bridge  across  the  Trent,  and 
general  guard  duty  in  and  about  the  city  itself.  To  facilitate 
reaching  the  picket  locality  and,  at  the  same  time,  afford  to 
the  men  a  healthier  camping  place,  under  General  Foster's 
order,  the  Twenty-fourth,  on  the  15th  of  April,  moved  out 
towards  Kinston  between  four  and  five  miles,  and  re-estab- 
lished itself  in  a  heavy  growth  of  hard  pine,  the  tree  which  so 
long  has  been  the  foundation  of  North  Carolina's  wealth.  A 
clearing  had  been  made  in  the  forest,  boards  were  taken  from 
outbuildings  of  a  deserted  plantation  for  use  in  flooring  the 
tents,  young  pines  were  set  out  for  ornament  near  the  tents, 
and  altogether  the  boys  thought  themselves  quite  comfortable. 
For  several  days  the  wind  had  blown  steadily  from  the  East, 
and  the  weather  had  not  the  sununery  feel  of  the  earlier  days 
of  the  month.  When  the  left  wing  came  up  on  the  16th,  the 
heat  had  again  become  excessive,  and  there  was  a  deal  of 
straggling,  and  among  the  laggards  were  two  membei^  of  the 
band  who,  late  in  the  afternoon,  came  marching  in  playing 
"Yankee  Doodle,"  "Wait  for  the  Wagon,"  and  such  popular 
airs,  and  as  their  two  instruments  were  not  over-well  adapted 
to  each  other  the  result  provoked  a  deal  of  merriment  among 
the  listeners.     Some  of  the  colored  people  of  the  vicinity  who 


110  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

were  holding  down  the  old  plantations  began  their  self-help 
scheme  of  living  by  establishing  a  milk  route  in  the  camp,  and 
for  their  own  good  and  comfort,  a  safeguard  was  provided 
for  them.  Three  deserters,  coming  in  on  the  27th,  stated  that 
the  enemy  was  moving  back  from  Kinston. 

On  Sunday,  the  20th,  at  six  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  relig- 
ious services  were  held  in  the  woods,  which  the  poet  has  pro- 
claimed God's  first  temples,  and  were  of  interest  to  all  at- 
tending. Owing  to  reports  of  rebel  activity,  Company  I  was 
sent  to  the  assistance  of  Captain  Eichardson's  men,  who  were 
on  the  outpost,  while  Captain  Prince  with  his  Company  D 
went  out  through  the  woods  opposite  to  reconnoitre.  The 
alarm  proved  to  be  little  more  than  a  provocation  to  exercise 
for  the  men.  That  the  boys  have  eyes  and  are  using  them  is 
evident  in  the  letters  which  they  were  sending  home.  One  of 
them  remarks  on  the  fact  that  slaves,  to  their  masters,  are  no 
better  than  cattle,  and  then  with  the  thought  of  the  baby  he 
had  left  at  home,  the  writer  says :  ' '  Colored  babies  are  pretty, 
though  they  do  not  play  like  ours. ' '  Another  Bay  State  native, 
with  bucolic  proclivities,  describes  the  cotton  field  through 
which  his  picket  duty  lies,  and  his  desire  to  send  home  some 
specimen  bolls,  and  does  find  room  in  his  missive  for  several 
cotton  seeds,  which  he  enjoins  his  brother  to  plant  and  see 
whether  they  will  grow  in  the  North.  Loving  friends  in  the 
far-away  homes  were  sending  frequent  reminders  of  their 
regard  in  the  shape  of  boxes  of  clothing  and  provisions,  luxu- 
ries which  the  regular  commissariat  did  not  supply. 

Lest  the  men  should  become  indolent  through  remaining 
too  long  in  one  place,  orders  were  issued  on  the  25th  for  the 
regiment  to  pack  up  and  to  be  ready  to  move.  As  usual,  the 
orders  were  a  bit  premature,  for,  though  wagons  carried  off 
some  of  the  camp  effects,  the  men  were  obliged  to  spend  the 
night  in  the  camp,  and,  as  their  commander  records,  had  he 
been  less  prompt  in  obeying  orders  the  regiment  might  have 
remained  there  some  time  longer,  a  condition  that  all  would 
have  appreciated  on  account  of  location  and  surroundings.  As 


Apr.  26,  '62.  Newbern.  Ill 

it  was,  the  tramp  to  Newbern  was  taken  in  the  midst  of  rain, 
the  soldiers  savino- :  "  It  always  rains  when  the  Twenty- fourth 
moves,"  and  through  mud  fully  shoe  deep.  At  last  they 
reach  a  large  freight  depot  in  the  city,  and  many  camp  therein 
for  the  night,  wet  through  to  the  skin  and,  though  doing  the 
usual  amount  of  grumbling,  thankful  that  it  is  no  worse. 
Companies  A,  H  and  K  were  left  on  picket  at  the  railroad 
crossing.  "When  the  flood  had  subsided,  tents  were  pitched 
by  some  of  the  companies  on  the  banks  of  the  Neuse  in  the 
Fair  Grounds.  Straw  is  given  out  to  add  to  the  comfort  of 
sleeping,  and  it  is  remarked  that  nothing  so  luxurious  has 
been  had  since  Readville. 

On  this  day,  the  26th,  comes  the  glad  news  of  the  capture 
of  Fort  Macon  and,  thereby,  connection  with  the  open  sea  is 
hastened.  The  siege  was  brief  and  the  Union  killed  was  only 
one  man.  The  27th,  though  Sunday,  was  devoted  to  getting 
the  camp  in  order,  i.  e.,  finding  boards  for  tent-floors,  build- 
ing a  brick  oven  in  which  the  Massachusetts  soldier  was  to 
have  his  favorite  beans  baked,  and  in  doing  a  hundred  things 
essential  to  making  the  camp  shipshape.  To  these  men  from 
the  North  it  seemed  strange  to  pick  ripe  strawberries  in  April, 
the  25th,  and  to  see  winter  rye  as  high  as  the  observer's 
shoulders.  Tuesday,  the  29th,  saw  the  arrival  of  375  Con- 
federate prisoners  taken  at  Fort  Macon,  and  their  safe  incar- 
ceration in  the  local  jail,  which  nmst  have  been  crowded.  The 
next  day  the  regiment  was  mustered  for  pay,  and  was  in- 
spected by  the  Lieutenant-Colonel,  with  Capt.  P.  W.  Hudson 
of  General  Foster's  staff.  Capt.  E.  E.  Potter,  also  of  General 
Foster's  staff,  is  appointed  Colonel  of  a  Union  regiment,  to  be 
raised  in  North  Carolina,  with  headquarters  in  Washington. 

May  day  is  noteworthy  in  that  Captain  Redding,  with  his 
Company  A,  is  ordered  to  "Washington,  N.  C,  as  a  support  to 
Colonel  Potter  in  his  efforts  to  raise  the  loyal  regiment.  The 
detachment  on  the  Pilot  Boy  got  away  at  6  p.m.  May  2d 
came  the  raising  of  a  flagstaff  and  the  hoisting  of  the  Union 
colors,  with  appropriate  music  by  the  band.     May  4th  Cap- 


112  Twenty-fourth  ]Massachusetts  Regiment. 

tain  Reddinc!:  wrote  to  the  Lieiitenant-Colonel,  g'iving  the  par- 
ticulars of  his  arrival  at  Washington,  and  of  the  situation  in 
recruiting  for  the  new  regiment.  His  men  are  quartered  in 
a  warehouse  near  the  river,  a  gunboat  commands  the  principal 
street,  and  pickets  are  posted  all  around  the  city.  No  rebels 
are  in  sight,  quite  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  left  on  the  ap- 
proach of  the  Federals,  and  the  Captain  fears  that  enrollment 
will  not  be  overbrisk.  He  has  very  little  confidence  in  the 
Union  sentiments  of  the  citizens.  The  lady  who  hung  out  the 
Union  flag  when  the  regiment  visited  the  place  has  been 
threatened  by  the  other  people,  and  to  escape  arrest  ascribes 
the  act  to  her  child.  Also  those  who  waved  handkerchiefs 
have  been  menaced  by  the  Secesh. 

In  the  evening  of  May  4th  the  soldiers  in  Newbern  celebrate 
the  recent  capture  of  New  Orleans  by  an  exhibition  of  fire- 
ball throwing,  making  a  brilliant  display.  The  next  day 
came  official  recognition  of  the  New  Orleans  event  in  the 
firing  of  salutes  from  Fort  Totten,  which  is  the  new  fortifica- 
tion reared  by  the  soldiers  under  the  direction  of  Generals 
Burnside  and  Foster.  It  is  a  fine  piece  of  military  engineer- 
ing, located  on  the  western  outskirts  of  the  city,  and  mount- 
ing twenty  guns  and  three  mortars.  The  variability  of  North 
Carolina  Aveather  in  these  days  of  May  was  apparent  in  alter- 
nate rain  and  sunshine  with  some  most  violent  hailstorms, 
which  covered  the  groimd  at  times  with  bits  of  ice  as  large  as 
playing  marbles.  Occasionally  the  rain  defied  even  the  tents, 
and  the  drenched  occupants  could  only  wait  the  abatement  of 
the  storm  for  comfort. 

One  of  the  boys  in  a  letter,  home  vividly  describes 
a  hailstorm  of  this  season  as  follows:  "One  day 
we  had  a  regular  hailstorm ;  it  lasted  about  half  an  hour ; 
first  it  began  to  sprinkle,  then  the  large  drops  came,  then 
hailstones  poured  down  as  big  as  robins'  eggs.  The 
boys  were  out  playing  ball  when  it  commenced  sprinkling, 
and  as  they  thought  it  wasn't  going  to  be  much 
of     a     shower,    they    kept     right     on     playing,   when     all 


^r.\Y  9,  "(i2.  Washington,  N.  C.  113 

of  a  siuUlt'ii  came  the  stones,  and  the  bi)ys  put  for  their  t;nits, 
hoklinii-  onto  tlieir  heads  and  yelling  with  pain.  The  ground 
was  covered  with  the  stones  in  a  few  minutes,  and  at  night 
there  was  a  lMg  i)uddle  of  water  back  of  our  tent  and  there 
was  a  k)t  of  frogs  in  the  water.  They  must  have  rained  down 
in  the  storm,  for  till  then  there  was  not  a  sign  of  a  frog 
around  here.  Queer  weather  here !  One  day  is  cloudy  and 
it  sprinkles.  The  next  will  be  so  hot  that  you  fairly  melt; 
then  comes  the  thunder-storm,  enough  to  take  your  head  off." 

Owing  to  the  illness  of  his  sou,  Sergt.  J.  C.  Edmands  of 
Company  K,  the  regiment  is  having  a  visit  from  the  Hon.  J. 
Wiley  Edmands  of  Boston,  and  he  makes  an  entertaining 
addition  to  the  officers'  mess.  ]\Iay  7th  news  arrives  that 
Yorktown  is  evacuated  by  the  enemy,  and  that  McClellan  is 
in  pursuit ;  also  that  Norfolk  is  given  up  and  the  Merrimac 
burned.  Taking  the  report  as  truth  the  men  build  bonfires, 
and  with  as  much  noise  as  they  can  reasonably  make,  they 
celebrate  the  victory.  The  next  day  the  regiment  is  reviewed 
and  inspected  by  General  Foster,  who  is  so  much  pleased 
with  his  observations  that  he  suggests  Colonel  Osborn's  tak- 
ing his  men  down  to  the  headquarters  of  General  Burnside. 
The  latter  is  exceedingly  pleased  with  the  appearance  of  the 
regiment,  and  declares  that  regulars  could  do  no  better. 
Some  envious  folks  even  call  the  regiment  "  Burnside 's 
Pets."  The  pleasure  of  the  men  was  not  a  little  enhanced 
by  the  fact  that,  among  the  reviewing  officers,  they  descried 
Colonel  Stevenson,  now  their  Brigade  Connnander,  and  to 
whom  so  much  of  their  proficiency  was  due. 

Writing  from  Washington  on  the  9th,  Captain  Redding 
gives  the  incidents  attending  the  shooting  of  two  of  his 
pickets,  members  of  the  North  Carolina  regiment.  One  was 
killed  outright  and  the  other  wounded  so  that  death  followed 
amputation  of  a  leg.  Evidently  the  enemy  was  trying  the 
mettle  of  the  small  party  of  Union  soldiers,  but  the  latter 
were  found  ready.  The  shooting  of  the  pickets  the  Captain 
pronounces  most  brutal  in  that  they  were  beaten  over  the 
8 


114  TWENTY-FOI^RTH    MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

head  by  the  guns  of  the  assailants.  He  thinks  his  force  too 
small  for  the  duty  required  and  craves  more  men.  ]\Iay  11 
the  Captain  announces  the  arrival  of  Companies  C  and  F 
•with  twenty  cavalrymen,  and  his  pleasure  at  the  reinforce- 
ment.    Acting    Lieutenant-Colonel  Hooper    is    in    command. 

Two  bitter  Secessionists,  William  Grist  and  Stanley, 

have  been  arrested,  and  Captain  Redding'  thinks  they  were 
among  those  attacking  the  pickets  two  days  before.  On  the 
same  date  Captain  Hooper  writes  as  to  his  observations  and 
states  that  injustice  had  been  done  Captain  Redding  and  his 
men  by  the  report  that  they  had  taken  refuge  on  the  gun- 
boat  when  a  rebel  attack  seemed  imminent. 

May  13th  Colonel  Osborn  went  across  the  river  with  Gen- 
eral Foster  to  see  the  review  of  the  Third  New  York  Cavalry. 
On  the  15th  pay-day  comes  again,  and  the  Colonel,  in 
the  absence  of  Captain  Hooper,  sends  checks  for  Company  E 
to  Boston  to  the  amount  of  nearly  $1100.  One  private,  out 
of  his  $26,  sends  $22  home.  Of  such  home-loving  material 
was  the  Union  army  made.  Lieutenant  Horton,  acting  Ad- 
jutant, who  was  wounded  at  Newbern,  continues  in  a  preca- 
rious condition,  but  he  has  had  his  arm  operated  on  by  Sur- 
geon Green  and  hopes  are  entertained  for  his  recovery.  His 
father  and  mother  have  visited  him,  and  his  mother  expects 
to  remain  till  he  is  able  to  be  moved.  Despite  their  being  in 
the  enemy's  country,  the  men  are  finding  life  rather  monoto- 
nous and  the  arrival  and  expectation  of  the  mail  is  one  of  the 
chief  reliefs  to  the  tedium.  Edward  Stanly,  the  newly  ap- 
pointed Military  Governor  of  the  State,  arrives  May  26th. 
He  is  to  the  manor  born,  but  his  return  is  not  over-welcome 
to  the  natives.  The  next  day  a  large  party  of  Union  prison- 
ers, who  had  been  held  since  the  Battle  of  Bull  Run,  comes 
into  Newbern  in  exchange  for  Confederates  captured  at 
Roanoke,  so  said,  and  are  marched  aboard  the  Cossack  on 
their  way  north-  They  are  visited  by  many  of  the  Union 
officers,  and  the  band  of  the  Twenty-fourth  gives  them  a  sere- 


]May  '62.  Xewbern.  115 

nade.     It  must  have  seemed  like  heavenly  music  to  their  mel- 
ody-famished ears. 

]\Iay  30  the  fathers  of  Captain  Richardson  and  Lieutenant 
Barnard  of  Company  G  presented  each  man  in  the  company 
with  a  havelock  for  better  protection  against  sunstroke  and, 
there  being  some  left  over,  gave  them  also  to  Companies  K 
and  B.  The  care  of  the  good  women  of  Boston  for  the  wel- 
fare of  the  men  at  the  front  may  be  realized  in  a  letter  from 
the  mother  of  a  captain  to  her  son,  stating  that  she  was  about 
sending  100  pairs  of  socks  for  his  men,  the  donors,  six  in 
number,  representing  some  of  the  oldest  and  most 
famous  names  in  that  great  centre  of  respectability. 
The  month  ends  with  general  dissatisfaction  over  Governor 
Stanly's  closing  of  schools  for  the  colored  people.  He  also 
was  accused  of  returning  negroes  to  former  masters,  and,  in 
general,  being  out  of  keeping  with  his  surroundings.  Though 
at  the  time  of  his  appointment  as  Military  Governor  a  resi- 
dent of  California,  Edward  Stanly  was  a  native  of  Newbern, 
had  been  a  Representative  in  Congress  from  that  State  for  ten 
years,  but  appeared  quite  unable  to  rid  himself  of  the  barna- 
cles of  tradition,  and  some  months  later  the  administration 
at  Washington  was  compelled  to  remove  him.  Since  the 
engagement  on  the  11th  of  March,  when  the  defenses  of  New- 
bern Avere  carried,  there  had  been  very  little  of  a  warlike 
nature  for  the  Twenty-fourth  to  undergo.  There  had  been 
a  show  of  preparation ;  drills,  inspections  and  parades  had 
not  been  neglected ;  guard  and  picket  duty  had  become  famil- 
iar to  all ;  much  of  sickness  had  been  undergone ;  in  a  word, 
the  school  of  the  soldier  had  been  in  session  all  the  time,  but 
of  experience  in  facing  the  enemy  there  had  been  very  little. 
Other  parts  of  the  expedition  had  carried  and  occupied  Beau- 
fort, Fort  Macon,  and  other  places  of  less  importance,  but 
the  paucity  of  Burnside's  outfit  forbade  undertaking  much 
that  he  had  expected  and  would  be  glad  to  do.  The  nation's 
capital  was  so  near  the  seat  of  North  Carolina  war  that  plans 
and  purposes  of    those    in    command  were    easily  thwarted. 


116  TWENTY-FOURTPI    MASSACHUSETTS   REGIMENT. 

With  reports  of  Union  successes  from  New  Orleans,  the  Pe- 
ninsiihi,  the  West,  and,  with  the  general  quiet  about  them,  is 
th(!t'c  any  wonder  that  men  of  oui-  regiment  were  wondering 
if  the  next  pay-day  would  not  find  them  in  Boston?  How 
fortunate  that  heaven  from  all  creatures  hides  the  book  of 
fate.  Many  a  heart  had  grown  sick  of  weary  Avaiting  had 
it  known  the  years  of  service  yet  in  store  for  the  Twenty- 
fourth. 

June,  1862,  opened  on  Sunday  and,  like  good  Christian 
Yankees,  there  was  church  attendance  on  the  part  of  many 
who  went  into  the  city  in  squads,  under  the  direction  of  non- 
commissioned officers.  The  heat  was  intense,  and  j)ossibly 
there  was  some  excuse  for  the  somnolence  of  a  certain  ser- 
geant, subse(|uently  a  captain,  who  fell  so  soundly  asleep 
that  his  comi-ades  left  him  in  his  pew  and  he  was  locked  in, 
thus  necessitating  his  return  to  camp  long  after  the  orthodox 
time,  and  his  chevrons  did  not  prevent  his  receiving  the  pun- 
ishment due  such  an  oft'ense.  He  could  not  have  fared  worse 
in  the  Puritanical  days  of  his  ancestors  when  sleejiing  in  the 
sanctuary  was  almost  an  unpardonable  ott'ense.  The  next 
day,  notwithstanding  the  intense  heat,  there  was  a  <lrill  of 
Ceneral  Stevenson's  brigade,  the  General  being  little  dis- 
posed to  concede  anything  to  the  weather."  On  the  3d  there 
was  a  review  of  Foster's  division  in  the  presence  of  Governor 
Stanly  and  General  Burnside,  and,  as  usual,  the  regiment 
came  in  for  a  deal  of  praise  from  both  Foster  and  Burnside. 
The  constant  drill  to  which  the  men  were  subjected  was  pro- 
ductive of  most  salutary  results  whenever  a  strait  came.  This 
day  the  Pilot  Boy  came  in  from  Washington,  N.  C,  having 
aboard  several  otficers  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  who  stated  that 
the  force  in  Washington  was  not  sufficient  to  repel  an  attack 
of  the  enemy  which  they  thought  impending. 

WASHINGTON,   N.  C. 

At  10  p.m.  of  the  3d  General  Stevenson  ordered  Colonel 
Osborn  to  have  his  regiment  on  board  the  Pilot  Boy  inside  of 


June  'G2.  Newbern.  117 

two  hours,  en  route  for  Washington.  In  an  hour  and  a  half 
the  companies  were  on  the  wharf,  but  the  boat  had  not  ar- 
rived. Just  as  a  severe  shower  began,  the  craft  came  up  and 
three  companies,  with  the  Cok)ne],  went  on  board,  leaving 
the  other  four  (three  companies,  A,  C  and  F,  were  already  at 
Washington)  under  Captain  Maker  to  follow  on  the  Lancer. 
This  day  Colonel  Osborn  had  received  the  following  letter 
from  Ceneral  Foster,  which,  free  from  the  formalism  of  such 
communications  generally,  is  all  the  more  readable : 

]\Iy  dear  Colonel : 

I  wish  merel}^  to  say  that  all  military  movements  connected 
with  the  defense  of  Washington,  N.  C,  or  with  an  attack  on 
the  rebels  in  the  vicinity  of  that  town  will  be  under  your 
command,  inasmuch  as  Colonel  Potter's  commission  is  as  yet 
only  Acting  Colonel,  while  yours  is  that  of  a  real  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  commanding  a  regiment. 

If  you  have  a  nice  little  chance  of  thrashing  those  scoun- 
drels up  there,  do  not  hesitate  to  do  it,  and  when  you  get 
them  on  the  run,  please  remember  to  give  them  unmitigated 
thunder  in  their  rear. 

Colonel  Potter  is  ^lilitary  Governor  of  the  town  and  will 
cordially  act  with  you.  I  have  written  him  by  this  mail  to 
this  effect. 

Keep  Colonel  Stevenson  advised  of  every  movement  by 
every  boat. 

Ever  yours  most  truly. 

J.  G.  Foster. 

There  are  two  excellent  stories  of  the  affairs  of  a  few  fol-' 
lowing  days,  one  the  formal  report  of  Colonel  Osborn  to  bri- 
gade headquarters,  the  other  his  letter  home,  soon  after  the 
events.     For  interest  the  latter,  dated  June  11,  is  preferred: 

We  left  our  camp  all  standing,  the  cooks  left  their  uten- 
sils, except  a  couple  of  kettles  each,  and  the  officers  their 
baggage,  having  time  only  to  throw  the  things  that  were  scat- 
tered about  their  tents  hastily  into  trunks  and  boxes.  The 
commissary  and  the  few  convalescents  were  left  as  a  guard, 
and  everybody  else  marched  with  the  regiment.  Just  as  we 
reached  the  wharf  the  rain  came  down  in  torrents  and  we  got 


118  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

thoroughly  drenched  before  goinji-  on  the  boat.  But  that  we 
are  also  used  to.  We  always  move  in  the  rain.  As  the  Pilot 
Boy,  which  came  up  to  the  wharf,  could  accommodate  only 
three  companies.  I  put  the  other  companies  into  an  empty 
building-  near  by  to  Avait  for  the  other  boat  under  command 
of  Captain  ^laker.  and  went  with  the  three  on  board  the  Pilot 
Boy  myself,  in  order  to  be  with  the  first  arrival.  We  sailed 
early  in  the  morning  and  reached  this  place  [Washington]  at 
6  p.m. 

Colonel  Potter,  the  ^Military  Governor  of  the  town,  told  me 
that  the  enemy's  forces  were  at  Tranter's  Creek,  about  eight 
miles  distant,  probably  meditating  an  attack  upon  the  town, 
as  their  leader,  Colonel  Singietary.  was  a  reckless  man  who 
would  not  be  likely  to  be  restrained  by  prudential  considera- 
tions. He  proposed  that  we  should  march  and  attack  them 
before  they  could  hear  of  the  arrival  of  reinforcements,  and 
give  them  a  lesson  they  should  remember.  I  omitted  to  men- 
tion that  three  pieces  of  artillery  also  came  up  in  the  boat 
under  my  orders.  There  was  also  a  cavalry  company  in 
town.  Having  so  large  a  force  I  determined  to  adopt  Col- 
onel Potter's  idea  and  to  start  as  soon  as  the  other  companies 
should  arrive.  As  I  was  expecting  them  every  minute  I 
hoped  to  get  away  at  daylight  and  was  up  till  half-past  one 
making  my  preparations.  At  3  a.m.  I  found  that  the  com- 
panies had  not  come  and  they  did  not  finally  arrive  till 
6  a.m.  This  delayed  our  departure  and  we  did  not  take  up 
the  line  of  march  till  a  quarter  past  nine.  I  had  eight  com- 
panies of  the  Twenty-fourth,  two,  C  and  D,  having  been  left 
to  guard  the  town,  and  two  pieces  of  artillery.  ]\Iy  eight 
companies  had  430  men,  and  the  two  howitzers  were  manned 
by  twelve  men  each. 

The  weather  was  oppressively  warm,  and  but  for  the  gath- 
ering clouds  which  shielded  us  from  the  sun,  it  would  have 
been  unbearable.  A  short  time  after  we  set  out  it  began  to 
rain,  which  refreshed  us  and  cooled  the  air  somewhat.  We 
hailed  it  as  a  happy  omen,  for  it  had  rained  at  the  battles  of 
Roanoke  and  Xewbern.  We  marched  for  seven  miles  with- 
out any  incident  of  note.  We  were  then  one  mile  from  a 
bridge  over  Tranter's  Creek  on  the  Greenville  road,  the  one 
we  were  pursuing,  and  we  learned  that  the  rebels  had  ren- 
dered it  impassable,  but  that  another  bridge,  upon  another 
road  leading  to  the  right,  could  probably  be  crossed.  This 
was  two  miles  off.     After  consultation  with  Colonel  Potter  I 


June  5,  '62.  Tranter's  Creek.  11  !> 

detennined  to  try  this  bridge  and  turned  otf  to  tlie  i-ight. 
Just  as  we  did  so  our  advance  giiard  saw  a  man  apparently 
endeavoring-  to  get  out  of  the  way,  and  they  gave  chase  and 
l)rought  him  to  me.  He  protested  his  innocence  and  insisted 
that  he  was  out  only  to  hoe  some  potatoes,  but  as  appearances 
were  against  him  I  ordered  him  to  be  taken  along  lest  he 
should  give  information  to  the  enemy.  His  name  was  Howard. 
8oon  we  came  in  sig-ht  of  the  mill  through  which  the  In-idge 
ran.  We  inquired  of  a  woman  at  a  house  near  by  whether 
she  had  seen  troops  in  the  vicinity,  and  she  replied  that  she 
had  not  seen  one  foi-  a  week.  We  afterwards  learned  that 
some  rebel  officers  were  at  that  house  when  we  came  in  sigrht. 
From  the  house  a  road  ran  a  winding  course,  bordered  thickly 
with  trees  and  shrubs,  to  a  point  on  which  was  situated  the 
first  mill.  On  the  right  was  the  mill  pond,  and  on  the  left 
the  spread  of  the  stream,  after  passing  through  the  sluice- 
way. 

Tlie  road  ran  over  the  dam  and  directly  through  these 
three  mills,  which  were  situated  about  thirty  feet  apart.  The 
banks  of  the  stream  were  thickly  wooded  on  each  side.  Our 
advance  passed  along  this  winding  road  to  the  first  mill  and 
then  saw  that  the  enemy  (who,  as  we  heard,  had  been  warned 
of  our  approach  by  a  man  living-  on  the  road)  had  torn  up 
the  f^oor  of  the  third  mill  and  made  it  into  a  barricade,  be- 
hind which  their  advance  was  lying,  not  more  t^ian  thirty 
paces  off.     Our  men  immediately  fired  and  received  a  volley 


P' 


^r 


;'i^"^ 

C-"'^'^' 


P.-ncil  >krt(li  by  Li.-ut.  .1.  Vl.  Barnard,  Co.  G. 

MILL  OVER  TRANTERS  CREEK. 


120  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

in  reply,  which  caused  them  to  fall  1)ack,  and  wounded  Lieut. 
H.  D.  Jarves  severely  in  the    ankle.     I    immediately  ordered 
the  artillery  to  the  front  with    two    companies    to    support 
them.     By  some    misunderstanding    of    my  order    the    whole 
regiment  advanced  into  the  tire  instead  of  what  I  had  ordered 
and,  as  ordering  them  back  would  be  a  hazardous  experiment, 
involving   the  danger    of    creating  a  panic    among  the    men, 
through  their  ignorance  of  my  motive,  I  ordered  all    to    lie 
down  and  keep  close.     One  howitzer  now  commenced  firing 
through  the  mills  at  a  thicket  about  fifty  paces  distant,  where 
we  supposed  the  main    body  of    the    enemy  was    lying.     As 
their  advance  had  retired  after  tiring  we  could  see    no    one, 
and  could  only  judge  by  the  flash  and  the  noise  where  they 
were.     At  first  the    fire  of    the  enemy  was    rapid  and  well 
directed,  and  the  sound  of  the  balls  showed    that   they  were 
well  provided  with  rifles.     For  a  while  the  balls  flew  around 
me  thicker  than  at  Newbern,  and  I  had  many  narrow  escapes. 
Our  fire  was  not  so  heavy  as  theirs  was  in  the  beginning, 
for  from  the  conformation  of  the  ground  I  could  put  only  a 
few  men,  say  sixty  or  seventy,  in  a  position  to  fire,  but  our 
artillery  did    good  service,  besides    making    a    terrible  noise, 
which  always  has  a  powerful  moral  effect.     In  fifteen  min- 
utes the  enemy's  fire  had  slackened  considerably,  and  it  con- 
tinued to  grow  less  and  less,  but  we  could  not  charge,  for  the 
bridge  between  us  was  impassable  except  to  one  man  at  a  time 
cling-iiig  along  the  side,  and  in  order  to  repair  it,  it  was  neces- 
sary to  drive  the    rebels  away  with    our    fire,  since  had    any 
one  attempted  it  while  they  were  there,  he  would  have  met 
with  certain  death,  inasmuch  as  he  would  have  prevented  our 
fire  entirely  while  within  thirfrv^  paces  of  that  of  the  enemy. 
At  last  we  discovered  a  large  number  of  men  in  the  trees  on 
the  opposite  bank  and  gave  them  two  or  three  rounds  of  can- 
ister.    This  cleared  the  trees  thoroughly  and  stopped  the  fire 
altogether.     We  could  then  see  the    enemy  running    a    long 
way  down  the  opposite  bank  of    the    creek    and,  from    their 
appearance,  judged  they  were  in  great  confusion.     We  then 
repaired  the    bridge    sjufKciently  for  foot    passengers,  and  I 
marched  the  infantry  across.    To  make  it  suitable  for  cavalry 
and    artillery    would    have     taken    several     hours,    so     they 
remained  on  our  side.     We  found    three    dead   bodies  of   the 
rebels  and  saw  an    enormous   quantity  of    blood,  from  which 
we  judged  their  loss  must  have  been  very  large.     We  have 
since  learned  that  Colonel  Singletarv,  their  leader,  was  killed 


June  5,  '62.  Tranter's  Creek.  121 

among  the  first  by  a  ritie  l)all  in  his  forehead,  that  their  h)ss 
was  very  larg'e,  and  that  they  fled  in  the  utmost  terror,  not 
stopping  until  they  reached  Tarboro,  more  than  thirty  miles 
distant. 

In  their  fright  they  became  scattered  through  the  woods, 
and  we  learn  from  contraliands  that  they  continue  coming 
into  Tarboro  every  day.  We  accomplished  our  purpose  and 
gave  them  a  lesson  that  they  will  undoubtedly  remember. 
Having  routed  them  and  occupied  their  ground,  and  being 
unable  to  pursue  them  because  the  bridge  was  not  safe  for 
the  passage  of  cavalry,  I  marched  the  regiment  bg-ck  to 
our  position  pi-eparatory  to  returning  home.  As  the  regi- 
ment moved  slowly  back  over  the  temporary  bridge,  I  saw  the 
man,  Howard,  whom  we  had  taken.  On  inquiry,  I  found 
that  the  person  into  whose  charge  he  had  been  given  belonged 
to  a  company  that  was  in  the  heaviest  of  the  fire,  and  that 
he  had  held  fast  to  his  captive  all  the  time,  keeping  him  in 
the  storm  of  bullets,  from  ^which,  however,  he  escaped 
unharmed.  You  can  imagine  his  feelings.  I  do  not  pity  him 
at  all,  for  1  am  sure  he  would  have  given  information  against 
us  if  he  had  not  already  done  so.  Still,  I  should  not. have 
exposed  him  to  so  much  danger  if  he  had  occurred  to  my 
mind,  but  I  never  gave  him  a  thought.  We  were  more  than 
an  hour  placing  the  dead  and  wounded  in  carts,  for  we  had 
six  killed  and  six  wounded  in  the  Twenty-fourth,  and  one 
killed  and  two  wounded  in  the  artillery.  The  fight  began  at 
2.45  p.m.,  and  ended  at  3.30.  At  five  o'clock  we  set  out  for 
town,  getting  there  before  nine,  having  marched  eighteen 
miles  in  the  heat  of  the  day.     I  was  on  horseback  ten  hours. 

My  officers  and  men  behaved  splendidly  and  deserve  great 
praise.  The  hardest  thing  a  soldier  is  called  upon  to  do  is  to 
remain  passive  under  fire,  and  this  a  large  part  of  the  regi- 
ment was  compelled  to  do.  The  artillery  was  very  well  man- 
aged by  Lieut.  Wm.  R.  Avery,  who  showed  himself  a  plucky 
fellow  and  was  complimented  in  ray  report.  I  think  the 
fight  will  have  an  excellent  effect  upon  the  Secesli  and  con- 
vince them  that  some  things  can  be  done  as  well  as  others. 
While  they  thought  us  shaking  with  apprehension  of  an 
attack  from  them,  we  were  in  reality  marching  to  fight  them 
in  their  chosen  position,  and  a  superb  one  for  defense  it  was. 
Notwithstanding  every  advantage  of  ground,  they  were 
routed  utterly.  What  would  be  their  fate  should  they  come 
to  Washington,  where  we  would  have  the  choice  of  position 


122  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 

and  the  help  of  the  g-nnbdats  besides  ?  This  (inestion  will, 
doubtless,  suggest  itself  to  them  and  keep  them  at  a  respect- 
ful distance. 

There  was  one  delightful  feature  connected  with  this 
affair  which  made  it  more  pleasant  than  either  Roanoke  or 
Newbern.  I  mean  that,  after  it  I  returned  to  a  first-rate 
supper  in  an  elegant  house,  and  after  a  bath  went  to  sleep  in 
g  good  bed.  Was  not  that  a  pleasant  conclusion  to  the  day's 
work?  The  privations  and  hardships  of  a  soldier's  life  have, 
at  last,  reduced  me  to  having  my  headquarters  in  a  large  Wo- 
story  house,  situated  on  a  pleasant  street,  running  by  the  side 
of  the  river.  The  only  furniture  I  have  in  my  chamber  is  a 
marble-top  centre  table,  marble-top  bureau  with  toilet  glass, 
black  walnut  rocking-chair,  and  half  a  dozen  chairs  that  do 
not  rock;  bedstead,  large  desk,  at  which  I  am  now  writing; 
lounge  and  marble  mantel  clock.  I  am  compelled  to  take  my 
meals  off  of  china  with  a  gilt  edge,  placed  on  a  mahogany 
table  in  a  large  dining-room.  The  house  contains  only  eight 
rooms  besides  the  kitchen,  which  is  separate,  and  there  are 
five  of  us  crowded  into  it.  Don't  you  feel  a  sentiment  of 
pity  for  me?  If  you  do  not,  perhaps  you  will  when  I  tell 
you  that  we  may  have  to  leave  suddenly  at  any  moment. 

From  the  formal  report  of  Colonel  Osborn  the  following 
additional  items  are  gleaned.  The  enemy  Avas  supposed  to  be 
gathered  between  Washington  and  Pactolus,  a  village  on  the 
Greenville  road,  about  twelve  miles  distant.  The  cavalry 
escort  was  of  the  Third  New  York,  under  the  command  of 
Lieut.  Geo.  F.  Jocknick.  Captain  Nichols  of  the  gunboat 
Picket  was  ordered  to  proceed  up  the  Tar  River  and  to  shell 
the  woods  between  the  river  and  the  road  as  the  troops 
advanced,  and  this  he  did  effectually.  In  the  fight  Company 
A,  Captain  Redding,  was  disposed  on  the  left  of  the  artillery 
under  cover  of  the  logs  and  beams  of  the  mill,  and  Company 
F,  Captain  Clark,  was  ordered  to  advance  to  the  support  of 
the  artillery.  This  was  when  the  whole  regiment  advanced, 
contrary  to  the  Colonel's  expectation..  When  the  advance 
was  made  over  the  relaid  bridge,  all  went  over  except  Com- 
pany K,  Captain  Maker,  which  was  left  to  support  the  artil- 
lery.    The  force  of  the  enemy  supposedly  numbered  450  men 


June  5,  '62.  Tranter's  Creek.  128 

of  the  Forty-fourtli  Xortli  Carolina,  with  seventy  cavalry- 
men. Special  mention  is  made  of  the  services  of  Capt.  R.  F. 
Clark.  Co.  F ;  Capt.  C.  H.  Hooper,  acting  Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel; Lieut.  Albert  Ordway,  acting-  Adjutant;  Capt.  W.  F. 
Redding,  Co.  A;  Lieut.  J.  C.  Jones,  Co.  F;  Capt.  John  Da- 
land  and  Lieut.  Charles  C.  Ward,  Co.  H;  Capt.  E.  C.  Rich- 
ardson and  Lieut.  J.  ]\r.  Barnard,  Co.  G,  all  of  whom  were  in 
the  front  and  bore  well  their  parts.  The  officers  of  compa- 
nies that  did  not  reach  the  firing  line  were  also  deserving  of 
credit  in  their  remaining  passive  while  under  a  fire  which 
they  could  not  return.  Obligations  are  also  acknowledged  to 
Colonel  E.  E.  Potter  of  the  First  North  Carolina  [Union] 
Volunteers,  and  to  Lieut.  J.  M.  Pendleton  of  the  latter 's  statf, 
both  accompanying  the  expedition,  for  valuable  assistance 
and  advice. — R.  R.,  Vol.  ix.  p.  340. 

Confederate  accounts  of  the  affray  are  meagre,  and  in  the 
condensed  history  of  the  Forty-fourth  North  Carolina  only 
these  words  are  found  bearing  on  the  subject:  "Colonel 
George  B.  Singletary  was  killed  in  a  skirmish  with  Federal 
troops  at  Tranter's  Creek  June  5,  1862.  He  was  an  officer  of 
extraordinary  merit,  and  would  have  unquestionably 
attained  high  distinction  but  for  his  premature  death."  He 
was  succeeded  in  the  command  of  the  regiment  by  his 
brother,  Thomas  C.  Singletary.  Reference  is  later  made  to 
the  day  and  event  thus:  "Save  the  skirmish  at  Tranter's 
Creek,  which,  though  otherwise  unimportant,  was  to  the  regi- 
ment most  unfortunate  in  that  its  accomplished  commander 
lost  his  life." 

Enlisted  men  had  eyes  and,  not  having  the  responsibility 
of  the  venture,  possibly  they  used  said  eyes  with  reference  to 
their  surroundings  quite  as  much  as  did  their  officers.  One 
diarist  says  that  Company  A  was  thrown  out  as  skirmishers, 
and  Company  F  as  advanced  guard ;  then  came  the  cavalry, 
and  afterwards  Company  H.  The  weather  was  like  that  of 
dog  days,  not  a  breath  of  air  stirring,  and  a  constant  drizzle 
was  like  a  thick  fog.     While  at  first  much  fatigued,  the  men 


124  T"v\rENTY-F0URTH  JMassachusetts  Eegijvient. 

seemed  to  be  refreshed  as  they  proceeded,  and  though  the 
water  was  sometimes  up  to  the  knees,  the  marching  was  not 
the  worst  ever  seen.  The  farms  on  l)oth  sides  of  the  route 
seemed  to  be  well  tilled,  and  one  observer  declared  he  passed 
through  a  cornfield  two  miles  long,  by  far  the  most  extensive 
he  ever  saw.  The  Marines,  to  whom  was  intrusted  the  artil- 
lery were  not  above  lightening  their  own  labors,  for, 
if  they  saw  an  old  horse  or  mule  in  the  fields, 
they  made  haste  to  capture  the  same  and  in  some  way  attach 
him  to  the  guns  for  draft  purposes.  The_  particular  place  of 
the  fight  was  known  locally  as  Hodge's  Mills.  The  foot  of 
Lieutenant  Jarves,  wounded  in  the  fight,  was  subsequently 
amputated.  All  the  old  vehicles  we  could  scare  up  were 
employed  to  carry  the  dead  and  wounded  home.  The  surgi- 
cal staff  was  on  hand,  and  Dr.  Curtis,  with  Hospital  Steward 
McGregor,  were  in  evidence.  The  regimental  band  also 
made  the  trip  and  were  under  fire,  doing  their  part  in  rescu- 
ing the  wounded.  Leader  Patrick  Gilmore  and  Cornetist 
Arbuckle,  a  veteran  of  the  Crimean  War,  were  up  with  the 
rest  of  the  force.  Owing  to  continuous  rains,  the  return  was 
more  difficult  than  the  advance.  "We  reached  Washington 
at  8.30  p.m.,  tired,  footsore,  wet  and  hungry.  Some  said  the 
distance  was  twenty  miles,  others  said  more.  Some  com- 
plained over  sore  and  swollen  shoulders,  made  so  by  heav>^ 
cartridge  boxes  and  haversacks.  We  got  a  nip  of  whiskey, 
some  hot  coffee  and  hard  bread,  changed  our  clothes,  and  laid 
our  weary  bones  to  rest  on  the  soft  side  of  a  hard  pine 
board."  Another  commentator  says  that  Washington  is 
prettier  than  Newbern,  though  not  so  large,  and  that  the 
building  selected  for  a  hospital  is  one  of  the  finest  in  the 
place,  the  property  of  one  Demill,  who  had  run  away  and  was 
the  very  first  man  in  town  to  hang  out  a  Secesh  flag.  The 
"people  in  the  next  house  are  Union  folks  and  have  been 
right  along." 

The  next  day  brought  needed  rest  to    weary  officers    and 
men,  all  protracting  their  sleep  considerably  beyond  the  reg- 


June  7.  '62.  Washixgtox,  X.  C.  125 

nlar  stai'tiny  hour.  The  Colonel  found  occupation  in  writing- 
his  report,  findinu'  places  for  quarters,  and  in  seeing  the 
wounded  conveyed  aboard  the  Pawtuxet,  which  arrived  that 
day.  Also  coffins  were  made  for  the  dead,  that  their  bodies 
might  be  taken  to  Xewbern  for  burial.  On  Saturday,  the 
7th,  Colonel  Stevenson  came  up  to  visit  his  old  friends  and 
to  cong-ratulate  them  on  their  recent  success,  also  the  sick 
who  had  been  left  in  X'ewbern  came  on  the  same  boat,  the 
Pilot  Boy.  While  a  keen  outlook  is  maintained  and  the 
officers  make  frequent  excursions  in  the  vicinity,  affairs  begrin 
to  take  on  much  of  the  former  Xewbern  tranquillity.  June 
9th  the  picket  takes  a  run  up  the  Tar  Eiver  as  far  as  Pacto- 
lus.  where  a  landing  was  made,  and  "Yankee  Hall"  was 
examined,  the  residence  of  Wm.  Grimes.  Three  shells  were 
thrown  in  the  direction  of  a  rebel  cavalry  camp,  said  to  be 
near. 

The  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth  are  finding  Washington  a 
very  pretty  place,  and  one  fellow  with  a  well-filled  stomach 
thinks  it  not  unlike  Xorth  Bridgewater,  one  of  the  finest  vil- 
lages in  Plymouth  County,  Mass.,  a  decided  compliment. 
The  picket  line  is  not  devoid  of  incident,  and  the  men  have 
difficulty  in  obeying  orders  as  to  the  passing  of  colored  people 
who  are  anxious  to  escape  from  slavery  and,  as  they  can't 
help  thinking;  that  the  war  is  one  of  emancipation  sooner  or 
later,  they  have  conscientious  scruples  about  sending  a 
liberty-longing  African  back  to  bondage,  and  it  is  not  strange 
that  infractions  of  orders  are  occasionally  winked  at.  While 
orders  were  generally  obeyed  in  word,  they  were  sometimes 
broken  in  spirit.  One  party  of  twelve  negroes,  four  of  them 
children,  all  escaped  from  a  Ur.  Myers,  wanted  to  come  in, 
but  were  held  off.  Instructions  from  town  did  not  help  them 
any,  but  the  poor  people  declared  themselves  ready  to  die 
rather  than  go  back.  The  fine  horse  that  one  of  them  rode 
proved  to  be  an  open  sesame,  and  somehow  all  of  them  did 
reach  the  promised  land.  Food  of  a  varied  character  is 
found  by  those  on  picket,  and  the  duty  is  sought  regularly. 


126  TWENTY-F(JURTH    ^lASSACIirSETTS    REGIMENT. 

This  is  only  one  report  out  of  many:  "Had  stewed  chicken, 
honey,  lemonade,  thimbleberries,  milk,  fried  onions,  cakes 
and  pies."  Not  even  the  sight  of  distant  rebels  could  lessen 
the  enjoyment  of  such  fare.  On  the  12th  some  rebel  soldiers 
came  in  and  gave  themselves  up,  saying  that  they  had  been 
discharged  and  that  the  Confederates  were  discharging  all 
men  over  thirty-five  and  under  eighteen. 

(3n  the  13th  Colonel  Stevenson  wrote  a  letter  from  Xewbern 
to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Osborn,  in  which  he  shows  that  promo- 
tion has  not  lessened  his  regard  for  the  regiment,  in  that  he 
writes : 

I  urged  on  Hoffman  the  justice  of  having  Tranter's  Creek 
on  our  colors.  He  put  it  before  General  Foster,  who  savs 
although  it  was  a  very  gallant  att'air,  he  does  not  consider 
there  were  enough  forces  engaged  in  the  fight  to  authorize 
the  name  on  the  color.  He  therefore  issued  the  congratula- 
tory order:  I  shall  try  General  Burnside  on  his  return. 
Every  one  speaks  most  highly  of  the  whole  fight.  *  *  * 
We  are  to  have  a  drill  of  the  first  division  to-morrow  morn- 
ing at  six  and  one-half  o'clock.  I  expect  I  shall  be 
brilliant,  as  I  am  to  sit  up  with  Horatio  [Jarves] 
to-night.  The  railroad  bridge  is  completed  and  a 
locomotive  arrived  in  town  yesterday  from  Beaufort. 
*  «  *  *  j^  jg  fearfully  slow  with  the  Twenty- 
fourth  away.  What  wouldn't  I  give  to  be  back  with  the 
regiment.  Your  argument  that  I  have  never  been  sorry  for 
any  promotion  which  I  have  accepted  does  not  hold  good 
hereafter.  I  had  no  idea  how  much  I  loved  the  officers  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  till  I  was  separated  from  them.  Give  my 
love  to  the  whole  crowd,  and  believe  me. 

Sincerely  your  friend. 

Tom. 

Leaving  Xewbern  so  hurriedly,  as  has  been  stated,  there 
was  no  chance  to  take  along  their  camping  outfit,  hence  it 
was  necessary  to  find  c^uarters  in  all  sorts  of  buildings. 
Freight  and  storehouses,  any  roomy  and  capacious  edifice, 
were  useful  in  entertaining  the  regiment.  The  officers,  as  in 
the  case  of  the  Lieutenant-Colonel,  could  secure  lodging  and 


June  '62. 


Washington.  X.  C. 


12- 


rations  easier  than  the  enlisted  men.  In  thns  making-  space 
for  company  qnarters  one  struetnre  that  had  been  devoted  to 
the  sale  of  elothing'  had  a  notice  up  to  the  effect  that  "Negro 
Goods"  were  kept  up  stairs.  Constructively,  all  the  goods 
left  in  the  store  were  carried  aloft  and  placed  in  the  attic, 
but  it  was  more  than  hinted  that  the  carriers  found  many 
items  which  they  thought  might  conduce  to  their  own  wel- 
fare, and  so  certain  articles  fell  short  of  the  uppermost  room. 
What  the  ])oys  called  "hooking"  went  on  under  the  eyes  of 
the  agent  who  had  the  care  of  the  building.  When  ready, 
the  company  marched  in  and  the  men  said  it  was  an  elegant 
place.  They  lay  on  the  counters  and  on  the  floor.  There 
were  ample  lighting  facilities,  so  the  boys  turned  on  a  full 
head  and  got  all  the  light  thev  needed. 


Pencil  sketch  by  Lieut.  J.  M.  Barnard,  Co.  G. 

PILLORY  AND  STOCKS,  WASHINGTON,  N.  C. 


In  Washington  among  other  quarters  occupied  by  the  sol- 
diers was  the  bank  building,  where,  with  other  plunder,  the 
boys  found  a  lot  of  unsigned  bank  bills.  The  mere  semblance 
of  money  was  enough  to  give  it  interest  in  the  eyes  of  the  dis- 
coverers, but  no  real  use  for  it  was  had  till  one  day  a  coun- 
tryman came  in  with  a  load  of  melons.  The  boys  tried  to 
buy  of  him,  proffering  in  payment  good  United  States  money, 
but  he  declined  that,  asking  for  Confederate  or  North  Caro- 
lina bills.     The  bovs  bethought    themselves  of    the    unsigned 


128  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 

currency  and,  hunting  the  possessor  up,  told  him  to  sign  some 
of  tliem  at  once.  This  he  proceeded  to  do,  and  the  first  bill 
went  out  bearing  the  name  of  Ira  Sprague  as  president.  The 
bills  were  signed  in  short  order  and  passed  out  as  rapidly  as 
the  boys  could  take  them.  The  melon  merchant  was  soon 
bought  out  and  he  retired  to  the  inner  portions  of  Hyde 
County,  rich  in  his  own  estimation  and,  as  the  bills  never 
were  heard  from,  it  is  probable  they  continued  to  circulate 
all  right.  After  all,  they  w^ere  as  reliable  as  those  of  the  Con- 
federate States  of  America. 

Emi)loyment  is  found  for  the  superabundance  of  colored 
population  in  the  city  by  the  organization  of  a  pioneer  corps, 
and  every  morning  a  large  body  of  negroes,  under  the  lead  of 
a  fifer,  march  out  and  work,  presumably  on  the  fortifications, 
till  nightfall.  One  of  their  number  also  carries  a  flag. 
Drills  and  parades  are  not  neglected,  and  on  the  12th  is  read 
the  congratulatory  order  of  General  Foster  over  the  success- 
ful affair  at  Tranter's  Creek.  The  same  evening,  when  the 
colored  pioneers  came  in,  they  were  carrying  a  Fillmore  and 
Donelson  flag,  a  reminder  of  the  political  campaign  of 
1856,  doubtless  stolen  from  some  old  Whig- American  farm 
house.  Also  Companies  H  and  K  that  had  been  up  the  Tar 
on  a  semi-predatory  trip  returned,  having  live  stock  and' 
household  furniture  as  results  of  their  labors.  When  Sun- 
day, the  15th,  arrived,  the  regiment  was  marched  to  church 
to  h^ar  Chaplain  Mellen  preach.  When  forming  for  dress- 
parade  in  the  afternoon,  the  steamer  Massasoit  came  in,  and 
among  her  passengers  was  Governor  Stanly,  who  received  a 
salute  by  the  men  as  he  passed  by.  One  man  writes  in  his 
diary  of  the  Governor:  "An  unusually  plain  man." 
Parades  and  all  military  affairs  where  there  are  music  and 
uniforms,  are  viewed  by  the  colored  people  with  the  utmost 
interest,  and  in  turn  the  soldiers  look  at  them  with  amuse- 
ment as  they  note  the  well-dressed  bodies  and  bare  feet  of 
many  of  the  Africans. 

June  17th  there  was  a  review  of  all  the  forces  in  the  place, 


June  '62.  Washington.  N.  C.  129 

viz..  the  Tweiity-fmirth  ]\rassachusetts ;  Company  I.  Third 
NeAv  York  Cavalry;  two  companies  North  Carolina  Volun- 
teers, Avery's  Battery:  -^Mountain  HoAvitzers  and  INIarines 
from  the  gimboat  Louisiana. 

General  Foster  arriving-  at  noon  also  reviewed  the  array, 
and  at  1  p.m.  Governor  Stanly  addressed  the  people.  Gen- 
eral Foster  and  Colonel  Osborn  rode  out  to  look  up  the  mat- 
ter of  fortifications.  To  hear  the  words  of  the  Governor, 
citizens  of  the  State  came  a  long  distance  in  many  cases,  and 
some  bronght  with  them  handcuffs  and  chains  under  the 
impression  that  the  Governor  would  give  them  permission  to 
take  back  with  them  their  runaway  slaves.  While  the  execu- 
tive was  not  as  advanced  as  many  of  his  listeners  from  the 
North  could  w^sh.hewas  very  far  from  satisfying  the  slavery 
feelings  of  his  Southern  hearers.  The  Pilot  Boy  on  this  day 
brought  up  Surgeon  Green  and  Captain  Pratt  of  Company  C. 
Also  in  the  afternoon  the  steamer  Philadelpjiia  came  in, 
having  on  board  Commodore  S.  C.  Rowan,  every  arrival 
adding  to  the  interest  of  the  city.  General  Foster  went  away 
the  next  day  on  the  Alice  Price,  but  he  had  the  pleasure  of 
another  parade  of  the  regiment,  and  the  boys  were  pleased  at 
his  laughing  outright  when  Gilmore  and  his  worthies  struck 
up  "Dixie."  Before  leaving  he  decided  with  Colonels  Os- 
born and  Potter  upon  sites  for  earthworks  and  blockhouses. 
Nowhere  have  the  men  themselves  had  so  much  amusement 
from  the  native  colored  folks  as  here,  and  very  little  unoccu- 
pied waking  time  is  allowed  to  go  to  waste  when  it  is  possible 
to  keep  a  fiddle  going  and  some  one,  black  or  white,  dancing. 

The  19th  of  June  exhibited  the  varieties  of  weather  for 
which  the  locality  is  famous.  While  the  day  dawned  beauti- 
fully and  the  morning  drill  was  as  usual,  that  of  the  after- 
noon was  interrupted  by  a  freshet,  yet  it  cleared  up  so  that 
the  dress-parade  was  had  per  programme.  Colonel  Osborn 
and  Acting  Adjutant  Ordway,  accompanied  by  a  squadron 
of  cavalry,  crossed  the  river  and  arrested  ^layor  Isaiah  Res- 
pess  at  the  home  of  Colonel  Cavrow  and  brought  him  back 


130  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 

with  them.  Behind  the  mere  statement  there  was  a  bit  of 
diplomacy  that  illustrates  the  political  situation  in  this  part 
of  the  Old  North  State.  It  appears  that  Mr.  Respess  was  the 
father  of  the  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  newly-formed  Union 
North  Carolina  regiment,  hence  he  naturally  fell  under  the 
suspicion  of  the  Confederate  government,  and  by  the  same 
.had  been  arrested  and  carried  to  Richmond  for  trial  on  a 
charge  of  treason.  Pending  the  trial  a  delegation  of  North 
Carolinians  visited  the  rebel  capital  and  demanded  the  liber- 
ation of  the  ]\Iayor.  They  were  requested  to  await  the  issue 
of  the  investigation,  but  this  they  declined  doing  and  under 
the  spur  of  threats  of  his  inflamed  fellow  statesmen,  the 
Mayor  was  allowed  to  go,  subject  to  a  sort  of  ticket-of-leave, 
viz.,  that  he  would  not  visit  Washington.  He  came  as  near 
as  the  conditions  of  his  parole  would  permit,  and  then  word 
was  received  by  the  Federal  authorities  in  the  city  as  to 
where  he  might  be  found.  There  was  no  difficulty  in  finding 
him,  though  there  was  a  show  of  force  in  the  going  after  him, 
and  his  return,  in  the  midst  of  the  cavalry,  gave  a  coloring 
to  the  transaction  that  nominally  freed  him  from  the  imputa- 
tion of  breaking  the  terms  of  his  release. 

While  the  regiment  could  not  witness  the  ceremony,  every 
man  was  interested  in  the  presentation  to  General  Burnside, 
on  the  20th,  in  Newberu,  of  a  magnificent  sword  by  the  State 
of  Rhode  Island.  A  number  of  the  officers  were  present. 
All  the  troops  in  the  city  were  paraded  and  the  gift  was  for- 
mally made  by  Adjutant-General  ]\Iauran  of  Rhode  Island, 
who  eloquently  voiced  the  sentiments  of  the  State  for  what 
its  representative  was  doing  in  the  way  of  restoring  the 
Union.  The  reply  of  General  Burnside  was  apt  and  forci- 
ble, expressing  his  appreciation  of  Little  Rhody's  recognition 
of  his  services,  and  his  words  were  all  the  more  touching, 
since  his  recent  visit  to  the  capital  of  the  nation  must 
have  forewarned  him  of  the  separation  that  would  soon  come 
between  himself  and  the  soldiers  who  had  so  faithfully  fol- 
lowed him  through  the  perils  of  his  famous  expedition. 


June  24,   '62.  Foraging.  131 

The  21st  brought  back  the  officers  who  had  gone 
down  to  the  presentation,  and  also  Colonel  Stevenson,  along 
with  Engineer  H.  C.  Fillebrown,  who  was  to  superintend  the 
construction  of  the  projected  fortifications.  Small  fruits  are 
abundant,  and  cherries,  plums  and  all  sorts  of  berries  not  only 
remind  the  consumers  of  home,  but  they  are  better  health 
restorers  than  any  potion  administered  by  the  medical  staff. 
There  is  little  more  than  regular  drills  and  parades  to  keep 
the  men  active.  Picket  duty  affords  the  most  excitement,  and 
this,  generally,  through  the  desire  of  escaped  colored  people 
to  come  within  the  Union  lines,  where  they  seem  to  think  lies 
salvation,  and  somehow,  in  spite  of  rules  and  instructions,  the 
bondsmen  manage  to  get  in.  The  exhibition  of  scarred 
backs,  some  of  them  showing  the  marks  of  recent  floggings, 
draw  from  some  observers  words  like  these,  "The  marks 
about  her  person  would  disgrace  any  government  that  would 
tolerate  such  deeds  and  provoke  the  Almighty  to  anger.  Her 
arms  and  hands  Avere  partially  crippled  by  cruelty,  and  her 
head  also  bore  testimony  to  her  ill  treatment."  The  coun- 
try about  the  city  is  pretty  well  scoured  for  forage  and  pro- 
visions, and  one  party  gave  considerable  time  to  the  unearth- 
ing of  a  safe  which  ^ivas  said  to  contain  a  deal  of  gold,  but  on 
opening  was  found  to  hold  a  quantity  of  papers  valuable 
only  to  the  owner.  A  foraging  party  on  the  24th  brought 
back  a  large  number  of  hogs,  cattle,  horses,  mules,  poultry, 
and  a  quantity  of  honey.  Little  consideration  in  war  times 
is  given  to  the  local  want  occasioned  by  such  depredations. 
This  same  day  Capain  Jocknick,  who  was  with  the  regiment 
in  its  Tranter's  Creek  expedition,  made  a  reconnoissance  to 
the  bridge  where  the  fight  Avas,  having  been  told  that  the 
enemy  was  renewing  his  activity  in  that  direction.  While 
rebel  pickets  were  found  on  posts,  and  it  was  in  his  power  to 
send  them  on  their  last  journey,  he  contented  himself  with 
observing  that  the  event  of  June  5th  had  had  a  most  salutary 
effect  on  the  Confederates,  and  he  apprehended  no  further 
activitv  from  this  localitv,  at  least  not  in  some  time.     Some 


132  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Eegiment. 

of  the  men  who  aeeompanied  him  fancied  that  the  enemy  had 
arranged  one  of  the  bridges  across  the  stream  as  a  sort  of 
trap,  sure  to  catch  any  unwary  cavalryman  who  should 
undertake  to  cross  it,  having  partially  sawed  off  the  sustain- 
ing timbers. 

Northern  men  cannot  reconcile  the  snuff-dipping  habits  of 
North  Carolina  w^omen  with  their  notions  of  feminine  pro- 
priety, and  no  possession  of  estate  or  personal  comeliness  can 
compensate  for  the  repulsiveness  of  a  brush-ended  stick  pro- 
truding at  an  angle  from  an  otherwise  handsome  mouth.- 
Then,  too,  the  Avomen  are  more  outspoken  in  their  secession 
proclivities  than  the  men ;  perhaps  they  venture  on  woman 's 
well-known  freedom  of  speech,  and  the  city,  though  it  has  a 
well-defined  Union  element,  is  permeated  with  the  spirit 
which  drove  the  South  into  disunion.  Whatever  lacking  in 
cordiality  the  white  people  may  exhibit,  there  is  nothing  of 
the  sort  w4th  the  blacks,  to  whom  every  Yankee  soldier  is  an 
angel  of  light.  Occasional  reminders  of  the  Northern  homes 
come  to  the  boys  in  the  shape  of  specimens  of  needlework, 
and  in  one  of  a  pair  of  slippers  which  w^ere  to  rest  the 
wearer's  weary  feet  when  possible,  w^ere  found  the  follow- 
ing lines : 

"Pray  on  the  field  of  battle, 

God  works  with  those  who  pray; 
His  mighty  arm  can  nerve  you, 

And  make  you  win  the  day." 

The  long-discussed  fortifications  had  their  beginning 
June  25th,  w^hen  the  engineers  commenced  to  lay  out  the 
works.  The  negro  pioneers,  in  their  tree  felling,  had  the 
misfortune  to  kill  one  of  their  number.  The  boxing  and 
burial  of  his  remains  were  hardly  an  interruption  to  their 
labors.  June  28th  brings  orders  for  the  regiment  to  return 
to  Newbern,  and  also  a  battery  of  the  Third  New  York  Light 
Artillery.  The  people,  those  having  Union  sentiments,  hear 
of  the  departure  of  the  regiment  wdth  great  apprehension, 
fearing  that  the  enemy  will  come  in  upon  them  and  wreak 


June  30.  '62.  Xp:wbern.  183 

vengeance  on  their  apparent  liking  for  Federal  rule.  Sun- 
day, the  29th,  began  early,  for  reveille  was  sounded  at 
3  a.m.  and  breakfast  call  came  thirty  minutes  later,  but 
before  the  food  could  be  comfortably  eaten  was  heard  the 
order  to  fall  in.  Later  there  were  waits  that  would  have 
sufficed  for  an  indefinite  number  of  breakfasts,  but  many  of 
the  men  had  hurriedly  thrown  their  coffee  away.  Three 
companies,  under  Captain  Hooper,  boarded  the  Phamix,  and 
the  other  seven  were  to  take  passage  on  the  Curlew,  but 
the  latter  drew  so  much  water  that  fiatboats  had  to  be  used 
in  reaching  her.  The  Quartermaster's  schooner,  the  Zepha- 
niah,  was  taken  in  tow  by  the  Curlew,  and  on  her.  Colonel 
Osborn  took  passage.  Barring  some  stops  on  account  of 
darkness  and  shallow  waters,  the  Curlew  kept  under  way 
till  her  arrival  on  the  30th,  at  1  p.m.  in  Xewbern.  The 
Phoenix  had  already  arrived. 

NEWBERN. 

For  more  than  a  month  the  regiment  had  been  away  and 
the  return  was  somewhat  after  the  order  of  a  home-coming. 
But  it  was  not  a  return  just  for  a  rest  or  a  picnic,  for  orders 
were  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  Twenty-fourth  to  the  effect 
that  it  was  to  be  in  readiness  to  move  on  eight  hours' 
notice.  Absence  had  not  improved  the  condition  of  the 
camp,  left  so  hurriedly  in  the  month  of  May.  for  many  of  the 
tents  had  fallen  down,  their  essentials  had  been  stolen,  and 
the  tents  of  the  officers  were  entirely  wanting.  As  far  as 
possible  the  fallen  coverings  were  set  up  and  something 
like  order  restored,  but  many  of  the  men  found  the  ground 
their  only  resort.  Rumors  are  afloat  as  to  the  destination 
of  the  regiment  and,  in  fancy,  it  is  sent  to  all  parts  of  the 
country,  including  a  trip  to  Raleigh  and  going  as  reinforce- 
ments to  McClellan.  Colonel  Osborn  thinks  the  trip  will 
be  to  Kinston  and  beyond.  This  first  day  in  Xewbern  is 
intensely  hot.  and  the  boys  find  bathing  in  the  Neuse  ex- 
tremely comfortable,  and  they  make  the  most  of  their  return 


134  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

to  familiar  haunts.  General  Burnside  favors  the  camp  with 
his  presence  during  the  afternoon,  and  was  received  with 
the  utmost  enthusiasm. 

The  month  of  July  was  ushered  in,  so  far  as  the  Twenty- 
fourth  was  concerned,  with  orders  to  suspend  all  prepara- 
tions for  departure  and,  of  course,  the  next  thing  was  to 
make  better  arrangements  for  remaining.  Accordingly  the 
tents  were  struck,  the  camp-ground  swept  and  the  tents 
were  pitched  again.  Lieutenant  Sargent,  Company  E,  who 
had  gone  home  on  account  of  his  wound  received  at  New- 
bern,  came  back  this  day,  and  had  with  him  a  large  party  of 
recruits  for  the  regiments  at  Newbern,  including  several  for 
the  Twenty-fourth.  Late  in  the  afternoon  the  regiment  was 
mustered  for  pay.  and  later  still  the  men  had  a  spell  of  that 
almost  universal  horse-play  known  in  those  days  as  tossing 
"niggers"  in  a  blanket.  While  it  was  fun  for  the  tossers, 
and  very  likely  did  not  hurt  the  tossed,  it  was  for  the 
latter  a  period  of  most  intense  fear,  not  to  say  horror.  Of 
course  the  poor  victims  screamed  and  yelled,  but  the  louder 
the  cries,  the  greater  the  fun  for  the  lusty  fellows  at  the 
blanket's  edge,  and  the  higher  Avent  the  contraband. 

Nearly  every  day  brought  an  order  or  a  countermand. 
July  2d  it  was  understood  that  the  regiment  would  return 
to  "Washington,  but  as  boats  were  not  to  be  had,  a  wait 
was  necessary.  The  divisions  of  Parke  and  Reno  are 
ordered  to  the  Potomac  Army,  thus  leaving  Foster's  the 
only  means  of  offense  and  defense  in  the  Old  North  State. 
The  third  day  of  the  month  brings  an  apparently  well 
founded  report  that  Richmond  had  been  captured.  The 
men  were  ready  for  a  celebration,  and  if  high-up  officers 
are  deceived,  there  need  be  no  wonder  that  the  enlisted  men 
should  take  rumors  as  verities  and  act  accordingly.  General 
Burnside  ordered  the  fleet  having  on  board  the  two  divi- 
sions to  anchor,  and  he  himself  returned  to  Newbern. 
Though  the  weather  w^as  worse  than  moist,  the  rank  and  file 
started  in  for   a   proper  observance   of   a   supposed   Union 


July  4.   '62.  Newbern.  135 

victory.  They  made  all  the  noise  they  could  and,  in  the 
night,  brought  in  a  quantity  of  pitch,  rosin  and  other  com- 
Inistibles  and  lighted  great  bonfires,  crowning  all  with 
hanging  Jeff  Davis  in  effigy  and  afterwards  burning  him. 
Too  bad  that  so  much  enthusiasm  should  be  wasted,  for 
soon  the  illusion  was  dispelled.  Burnside  and  his  men 
resumed  their  northern  route  and  the  Twenty-fourth  con- 
cluded that  the  war  was  not  so  nearly  over  as  at  first 
thought. 

Then.  too.  the  weather  was  of  the  chronic  North  Carolina 
kind,  and  as  the  tents  were  really  past  their  days  of  use- 
fulness, mildewed  and  ragged,  admitting  rain  like  cambric, 
and  owing  to  the  expected  short  stay  no  ditches  had  been 
dug  around  the  same,  when  the  storms  descended,  as  they 
Avere  prone  to  do  daily,  the  unfortunate  soldiery  was  in  a 
state  of  body  as  well  as  mind.  Men  were  told  to  make 
themselves  comfortable,  if  they  could,  anywhere,  and  at  last 
Colonel  Osborn  determined,  whatever  the  time  of  his  regi- 
ment's tarrying  in  Newbern,  to  have  the  same  better  quar- 
tered, and  on  the  5th  succeeded  in  getting  the  enlisted  men 
in  proper  shape,  looking  out  for  the  rank  and  file  before  at- 
tending to  the  officers'  comfort,  thus  proving  his  fitness  for 
his  position,  since  the  officer  who  takes  little  care  for  his  men 
can  expect  little  care  or  respect  from  them. 

The  first  Fourth  of  July  for  the  regiment  Avas  not  the 
mo.st  hilarious  ever  seen.  To  begin  with,  rations  were  not 
any  too  numerous ;  the  fare  for  the  men.  as  recorded,  con- 
sisted principally  of  hardtack  with  boiled  fresh  beef, 
washed  down  with  coffee.  Of  course,  no  one  would  starve 
on  such  supplies,  but  they  were  not  calculated  to  waken 
any  great  enthusiasm.  Some  of  the  officers  played  baseball 
and  drill  was  neglected.  Indeed,  there  had  been  very  little 
of  that  since  the  return  to  Newbern.  very  likely  on  account 
of  the  expectation  of  an  immediate  departure.  The  vessels 
in  the  river  were  bedecked  with  all  their  colors,  and  from 
forts  and  batteries  came  the  accustomed  salutes,  so  that,  in 


18G        Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

the  way  of  gunpowder,  the  memories  of  the  Fourth  were 
kept  in  mind.  The  hells  of  the  rebel  city  were  compelled 
by  their  ringing  to  recall  other  days  when  they  and  the 
citizens  were  all  attuned  in  a  common  strain  of  national 
regard.  All  of  the  First  Division,  except  the  Twenty-fourth, 
paraded.  In  the  evening  there  were  more  bonfires,  and 
some  of  the  regiment  were  permitted  to  accept  invitations 
from  the  Twenty-seventh  ^lassachusetts  and  the  Tenth 
Connecticut  to  participate  in  their  respective  celebration. 

A  letter  home  about  this  time  from  one  of  the  younger 
men  contains  an  item  worthy  of  note,  in  that  the  writer 
says  to  his  brother,  "I  wish  you  would  look  through  the 
box  sent  back  by  me  from  Washington  and  see  if  I  inclosed 
a  copy  of  Timothy  Titcomb's  letters.  It  belongs  to  the 
Chaplain,  who  loaned  it  to  me,  and  I  ought  not  to  send 
it  home.  Please  return  it  by  mail!"  What  a  blending  of 
war  and  literature,  and  what  a  comment  on  the  taste  of  a 
private  soldier.  Two  young  fellows  were  reading  in  their 
tent,  when  two  colored  girls  strayed  into  the  camp,  and  tak- 
ing seats  near  them  asked  if  they  had  any  papers  or  maga- 
zines they  would  give  away.  One  of  the  boys  said,  "If  you 
will  read  this  verse  you  can  have  this  book."  "Will 
you  give  me  the  same  chance?"  said  the  other  girl. 
"Of  course."  is  the  reply,  when,  much  to  the 
astonishment  of  the  soldiers,  the  black  girl  took  the  book 
and  read  the  poetry,  after  the  style  of  Hiawatha,  beauti- 
fully. She  got  the  book ;  but  where  did  she  learn  how  to 
read?  It  had  long  been  a  serious  offense  to  teach  the  negroes 
letters.  The  new  Sibley  tents  afford  the  soldiers  a  deal  of 
comfort  and  pleasure,  just  a  little  help  towards  offsetting 
their  disappointment  over  the  contradiction  of  the  Rich- 
mond-McClellan  news,  this  day  received. 

The  heated  season  is  here  and  not  much  outside  work  is 
done  for  several  days ;  120  degrees  in  the  shade  is  one  record 
and  "the  sun  scorches  my  face"  is  a  continuation  of  the  re- 
port.    On  the  7th,  the  new  tents  for  the  officers  went  up. 


July  9,   '62.  Xewbern.  137 

The  next  day  at  dress-parade,  several  officers  as  well  as 
men  were  compelled  to  fall  out  of  ranks  on  account  of  the 
extreme  heat.  This  same  da}^  the  8th,  Companies  B  and 
D.  under  command  of  Captain  Prince,  started  for  Wash- 
ington, and  the  latter 's  first  letter  to  the  Colonel  tells  of 
his  arrival.  Written  on  the  9th,  he  says  that  in  accordance 
with  Special  Order  Number  16,  he  had  proceeded  with  his 
companies  on  board  the  steamer  Eagle  at  Newbern,  and  at 
5.30  p.m.  started,  reaching  Washington,  N.  C.  at  12.30  p.m. 
the  next  day,  having  anchored  for  the  night  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Neuse.  His  men  were  quartered  in  the  wooden 
building  opposite  the  Colonel's  former  headciuarters  which 
the  Captain  and  brother  officers  are  now  accupying.  He 
purposes,  unless  ordered  to  the  contrary,  to  take  upon  him- 
self and  men  all  of  the  guard  and  provost  duty,  thus  allow- 
ing Colonel  Potter  of  the  First  North  Carolina  Union  Regi- 
ment to  drill  his  men.  A  large  Union  flag  is  needed  for 
headcpiarters ;  there  is  no  fresh  beef ;  two  pieces  of  artillery 
are  posted  on  each  road  and  pickets  are  in  place. 

The  9th,  in  the  Newbern  Camp,  was  noteworthy  in  that 
at  dress-parade  an  order  was  read  to  the  effect  that  Gene- 
ral Foster  was  to  command  during  the  absence  of  General 
Burnside,  who  had  accompanied  his  divisions  northward. 
For  a  number  of  subsequent  days  Colonel  Osborn,  Captain 
Richardson  and  several  officers  of  other  regiments  sit  in  a 
court-martial.  Contrasts  are  presented  when  we  are  told 
of  the  prostrating  heat  and,  in  the  same  line,  of  the  fact 
that  ice,  brought  all  the  way  from  Rhode  Island,  may  be 
bought  for  11/^  cents  a  pound.  "A  cool  drink  in  a  hot  day 
is  good."  Fruit  of  the  court-martial  appears  on  the  11th, 
when  one  poor  man  is  sentenced  to  two  months'  hard  labor 
with  ball  and  chain,  in  Fort  Macon,  and  another  receives  a 
punishment  of  hard  labor  in  camp  for  ten  days  and,  at  the 
same  time,  to  wear  a  ten-pound  ornament  of  ball  and  chain. 
Thus  does  the  transgressor  suffer. 

The   11th  of  July  brought  a  brief  respite  from  the   ex- 


138  Twenty-fourth  ]\Iassachusetts  Regiment. 

treme  heat  and  the  men  cut  trees  from  the  harclby  -woods 
to  stick  up  near  the  tents  to  ward  off  some  of  the  sun's 
rays.  Sunday  was  the  13th,  and  with  delightfully  pleasant 
weather  there  were  inspections,  reading  of  the  Articles  of 
War,  and  dress-parade,  at  which  all  of  the  men  w^ere  pleased 
to  see  their  first  Colonel.  Thos.  G.  Stevenson.  July  14tli 
Captain  Prince  reports  from  Washington.  N.  C,  that,  while 
nothing  of  importance  is  happening,  he  and  his  men  are 
finding  something  to  do.  For  instance.  Lieutenants  Sargent 
and  Jones  dug  up  on  the  grounds  of  Widow  Blunt  or 
Blount  a  quantity  of  glass  and  chinaware.  of  which  his 
mess  was  much  in  need,  and  he  supposed,  since  her  son  was 
in  the  rebel  service,  and  she  had  given  her  grounds  for  their 
cavalry,  that  he  might  retain  the  same,  but  Colonel  Potter 
had  ordered  the  return  of  all  of  it.  Four  cannon  had  been 
sent  him,  but,  on  inspection,  they  were  found  to  be  spiked, 
a  fact  which  drew  a  deserved  laugh  at  the  expense  of  Lieu- 
tenant Flagler.  "The  battery  stationed  here  seems  to  be  of 
little  use  and  would  amount  to  very  little  in  case  of  attack. 
The  Secesh  inhabitants  are  cjuite  exultant  over  the  latest 
news  from  Richmond." 

The  17th  of  the  month  was  not  devoid  of  interest,  for,  in 
addition  to  the  departure  of  Colonel  Osborn  for  Washing- 
ton, N.  C,  in  connection  with  a  court-martial,  there  was  a 
deal  of  excitement  over  the  robbing  of  the  sutler's  tent.  It 
appears  that  the  sutler  did  not  return  with  the  regiment 
when  it  left  Washington,  but  remained  there  in  the  store, 
where  he  was  better  placed  than  in  a  tent,  but  learning  that 
pay-day  was  near  he  had  put  in  an  appearance,  with  all  his 
belongings.  During  the  night  his  quarters  were  broken  into 
and  about  all  he  had,  including  the  money  orders  that  the 
men  had  given  him  on  the  paymaster,  were  taken  away.  The 
orders  represented  about  $2000,  a  pretty  considerable  sum 
for  even  a  sutler  to  lose.  Every  conceivable  course  was 
resorted  to  that  he  might  regain  some  of  his  lost  goods,  but 
like   the  "Lost   Bride    of   Netherbv, "  no    trace  was   found. 


July    '62.  Newbern.  139 

Every  company  had  to  strike  tents,  take  up  tent  floors,  open 
knapsacks,  etc..  but  all  to  no  pnrpose.  Then  companies 
■were  formed  in  line  and  each  man  was  asked  how  much  he 
owed  the  sutler,  for.  the  orders  being  lost,  there  was  no 
other  way  for  that  officer  to  find  out  the  standing  of  the  men 
towards  him.  Did  all  tell  the  truth?  To  this  daA%  there 
are  those  who  intimate  that  Ananias  was  not  without  imita- 
tors on  that  occasion. 

At  the  dress-parade  of  that  day  more  punishments  were 
announced,  and  some  of  them  will  bear  recording,  since  they 
may  be  novel  to  certain  readers  of  this  story.  One  victim 
was  sentenced  to  stand  upon  a  barrel,  having  on  his  back  a 
board  bearing  the  word.  "Insubordinate;"  another  had  the 
severer  word,  "Liar;"  a  third  bore  on  his  breast  a  board 
proclaiming  him  a  "Shirk."  and  a  placard  on  his  back  bore 
the  words,  "Threatening  Language."  while  a  poor  little 
drummer  boy  was  compelled  to  wear  a  wooden  overcoat, 
which  was  a  barrel  with  one  head  out  entirely,  and  a  part 
of  the  other  removed  so  that  it  fitted  down  upon  his  shoul- 
ders, leaving  his  arms  and  hands  quite  useless. 

Colonel  Osborn,  who  had  been  away  from  Newbern  two 
daj's,  returned  on  the  19th,  and  in  a  letter  states  that  the 
wife  of  General  Foster  has  arrived  in  the  city.  The  next 
day  came  the  signing  of  pay-rolls,  and  on  the  21st  the  men 
were  paid  to  the  first  of  July.  When  the  regiment  came 
back  from  Washington,  many  small  negroes  followed,  so 
many  indeed  that  almost  all  of  the  officers  and  many  of  the 
enlisted  men  have  servants.  "Saucy,  impertinent  and  mis- 
chievous." writes  one  concerning  these  presumptive  citizens. 
A  twelve-year-old  black  boy.  seeing  a  young  soldier  at  the 
pump,  says:  "Fill  my  pail,  boy."  The  offended  soldier 
shouts:  "I'll  break  your  head  if  you  don't  dry  up."  Thus 
early  is  realized  the  truth  of  the  adage  about  setting  a 
beggar  ahorseback.  As  usual,  pay-day  is  followed  by  con- 
siderable disorder  and  several  non-commissioned  officers  are 
reduced  to  the  ranks  for  too   great  indulgence  in  strong 


140  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

drink.  The  coming  of  ]\Irs.  General  Foster  to  Newborn  is 
hailed  as  a  great  accession  by  the  officers,  to  whom  the  face 
of  a  loyal  Northern  lady  is  refreshing,  and  they  find  her  as 
enthusiastic  and  determined  as  her  husband. 

Friday,  the  25th  of  July,  six  companies  each  from  the 
Seventeenth,  Twenty-fifth  and  Twenty-seventh  Massachusetts 
with  six  companies  of  cavalry  started  out  on  the  Trent 
road  with  a  battery  of  artillery,  and  the  next  morning 
Companies  K  and  E  were  sent  out  to  the  picket  line  to  take 
the  places  of  two  companies  from  the  Twenty-fifth  that  had 
been  withdrawn  for  the  expedition.  Owing  to  cases  of 
firing  upon  Union  troops  from  certain  houses,  they  were 
torn  down  by  the  men  of  the  Twenty-third  Regiment.  The 
section  was  called  Muddy  Lane,  and  three  times  had  it 
offended.  In  the  last  instance  INIichael  A.  Galvin  of  the 
Twenty-third  was  seriously  wounded,  hence  the  action  of 
his  comrades  under  the  direction  of  their  Colonel,  who  was 
Provost-marshal.  The  evening  brought  one  of  the  heaviest 
of  rains,  severe  even  for  this  region  of  thunder  and  light- 
ning. Sunday,  the  27th,  brings  a  record  of  church  attend- 
ance ;  many  of  the  men  going  to  Catholic  service,  where  they 
see  General  Foster,  wife  and  daughter.  General  Stevenson 
and  Colonel  Osborn.  The  day  itself  was  beautiful,  hence 
inspections,  etc.  The  band  discoursed  its  finest  music,  and 
what  could  be  better;  officers  called  on  General  Foster  and 
family,  and  Assistant  Surgeon  Curtis  left  Newbern  this  day 
to  establish  a  hospital  on  Portsmouth  Island. 

Wednesday,  July  30th,  Colonel  Osborn  received  orders  to 
have  his  regiment  ready  with  three  days'  rations,  to  march 
at  4.30  a.m.  Accordingly  the  men  moved  down  to  Foster's 
wharf  at  5  a.m.  of  the  31st  and  went  on  board  the  steamer 
Union,  with  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  and  crossed  over  the 
river,  where  a  halt  was  ordered  till  other  forces  could  come 
up.  There  were,  besides  the  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth  and 
the  Tenth  Connecticut,  th^  Seventeenth  Massachusetts,  three 
companies  of  the  Third  New  York  Cavalry,  one  piece  from 


Aug.  1,  '62.  Raixy  Expedition.  141 

Rodgers'  Battery  and  Morrison's  Battery.  The  men  are  en- 
cumbered Avith  three  days'  rations  and  rubber  blankets. 
While  Avaiting  through  the  long  wet  day,  huts  are  made 
from  rails  and  ponchos,  affording  some  relief  from  the  down- 
pour. General  Stevenson,  in  command,  comes  up  towards 
night  and  commends  the  efforts  of  the  soldiers  to  make  them- 
selves comfortable.  A  rainy  night  is  always  more  uncom- 
fortable than  a  rainy  day,  so  the  men  raid  the  barn  of  an 
adjacent  estate,  which  had  been  left  by  its  rebel  OAvner  in 
care  of  his  overseer,  and  soon  take  all  the  hay  it  contains 
for  their  own  use.  Standing  corn  disappears  for  Union 
horses'  fodder,  and  whatever  there  is  edible  in  the  vicinity 
for  horse  or  man  is  quickly  appropriated.  A  large  fire  near 
the  house  marks  the  officers'  bivouac.  At  the  best,  hoAvever, 
it  is  not  a  comfortable  night. 

It  was  in  this  plight  that  August  found  the  TAventy-fourth 
and  other  organizations.  During  the  night,  company  cooks 
Avere  trying  to  boil  some  beef  for  the  men,  and  to  have  coffee 
ready  against  the  ordered  early  start.  All  this  they  did  so 
far  as  the  rain  Avould  permit.  Of  this  trip,  Colonel  Osborn 
writes:  "At  tAvo  o'clock  Ave  breakfasted  and  intended  to 
march  immediately,  but  it  came  on  to  rain  so  hard  that  it 
made  it  darker  than  I  ever  saAv  it  before,  so  Ave  Avere  obliged, 
perforce,  to  suspend  our  arrangements.  We  got  off,  hoAVCA^er, 
at  four.  The  streams  had  become  swollen  by  the  rain  and 
overfloAved  the  road,  so  that  the  Avater  in  some  places  Avas 
nearly  up  to  the  men's  middle.  Having  gone  about  five 
miles,  Ave  learned  that  a  bridge  had  been  destroj^ed,  Avhich 
Avoiild  oblige  us  to  make  a  long  detour,  and  thus  defeated 
the  object  of  the  expedition.  Under  his  instructions.  Colonel 
Stevenson  could  do  nothing  but  turn  back,  Avhich  he  did, 
and  Ave  returned  to  camp.  In  the  midst  of  all  the  discom- 
forts, the  men  Avere  in  the  best  of  spirits,  laughing  and 
joking  all  the  Avay."  Some  of  the  rank  and  file  Avere  also 
taking  notes,  and  says  one  of  them:  "It  Avas  the  Avettest  and 
the  easiest  march  Ave  have  had.     When  Ave  got  back  to  our 


142  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

starting  point,  we, had  to  halt  to  arrange  for  recrossing  the 
Neuse.  The  old  Wheelbarrow,  not  the  original,  but  the 
Secesher,  came  over  first  in  response  to  our  signals.  She  took 
on  three  companies,  and  then  other  boats  came,  so  that  we 
all  got  over  after  a  while.  Colonel  Osborn  was  with  the  first 
Wheelbarrow  load.  When  the  men  were  all  in  camp,  about 
midnight,  we  were  formed  in  a  hollow  square  and  the 
Colonel  said:  'My  men,  you  have  done  nobly  under  most 
adverse  circumstances.  You  behave  yourselves  well  when 
you  have  plenty  of  work,  and  when  you  have  not,  you  are 
likely  to  get  a  little  unruly.'  We  got  a  ration  of  whiskey 
as  a  result." 

Though  Saturday  was  largely  a  needed  day  of  recupera- 
tion on  account  of  the  exactions  of  Friday,  and  guns  had  to 
be  brightened  up  and  clothes  freed  from  mud,  yet  there 
was  a  dress-parade,  and  more  punishments  for  recusant 
men  of  the  regiment  were  announced,  the  same  being  neces- 
sary to  maintain  the  discipline  in  the  diverse  elements  that 
made  up  the  organization.  Monday,  the  4th  of  August, 
twenty-four  recruits  arrived  on  the  steamer  Albany,  to  re- 
plenish the  reduced  ranks,  some  of  them  relatives  of  men 
already  serving.  Also  Leader  Gilmore  of  the  band  came 
back,  and  it  is  heard  that  regimental  bands  are  to  be  abol- 
ished. The  weather  again  warms  up,  and  on  the  6th  a  sen- 
tinel falls  at  his  post,  overcome  by  the  heat,  and  at  a  dress- 
parade  a  man  falls  in  the  ranks.  Sunday,  the  10th,  not- 
withstanding the  excessive  heat,  men  went  to  church,  those 
who  were  so  inclined  to  the  Catholic,  others  to  hear  their 
own  Chaplain  Mellen.  For  two  or  three  days  preparations 
had  been  making,  such  as  the  coaling  and  otherwise  loading 
of  steamers,  so  that  it  was  evident  to  men  with  eyes  that 
some  move  was  in  contemplation. 

Wednesday,  the  13th,  Companies  E,  F,  G  and  I  went  on 
board  the  steamer  Union,  bound  for  Beaufort,  N.  C,  Cap- 
tain Hooper  in  command.  Reveille  had  been  sounded  at 
3.30  a.m.  and  having  had  breakfast  and  with  one  day's  ra- 


Aug.  13,  '62. 


SwANSBORO  Expedition. 


143 


tions  in  their  haversacks,  in  light  marching  order,  the  men 
went  down  to  the  wharf  escorted  by  the  band.  There  were 
also  with  the  Union,  the  ^Massasoit,  Pilot  Boy,  M.  S.  Allison 
and  the  Ocean  Wave.  Steaming  down  the  river,  across  Pam- 
lico and  into  Core  Sound,  the  Union  anchored  because  the 
Pilot  Boy  had  grounded.  After  a  wait  of  two  hours,  the 
boat  was  pulled  off  and  the  fleet  proceeded  again,  anchoring 
finally    at    nightfall    in    the    Sound.      INfeanwhile,    Colonel 


STKAMEU  "GUIDE." 

Osborn  with  Companies  C,  H  and  K,  along  with  General 
Stevenson  and  staff,  having  left  Newbern  in  the  afternoon, 
was  riding  to  Morehead  City  by  rail.  On  arrival,  the  part}^ 
took  up  quarters  on  the  Guide,  an  old  acquaintance  of  the 
regiment.  Beaufort  and  IMorehead  City  are  located  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Newport  River  and  on  opposite  shores.  The  lat- 
ter place  is  the  terminus  of  the  railroad  from  Newbern,  and 
was  occupied  by  Parke's  Division  of  Burnside's  Expedition 
in  March,  just  after  the  capture  of  Newbern. 

The  purpose  and    incidents    of    the    expedition    are    thus 
summarized  bv  Colonel  Osborn : — 


144  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 

We  remained  at  Beaufort,  or  rather  Morehead  City,  all 
day  Thursday,  taking  in  coal  and  water.  On  Friday  morn- 
ing, the  15th,  Ave  started  early,  a  gunboat  and  fonr  large 
steamers  going  down  Bogue  Sound.  The  water  was  very 
low  and  Ave  frequently  got  aground,  once  or  tA\'ice  lying  an 
hour  or  so  before  getting  off.  General  Stevenson  Avent  doAvn 
the  Sound  in  one  boat,  and  I  in  the  other.  At  one  place 
where  we  Avere  grounded,  I  saAv  on  the  shore  some  beef- 
cattle  and  sheep,  and  sent  a  party  on  shore  to  kill  a  lot,  and 
thus  got  a  plenty  of  fresh  proAnsions.  At  another  place  we 
lay  a  long  time  and  seemed  unable  to  get  off.  At  last  I 
ordered  the  men  to  strip  off  their  clothes  and  jump  OA^er- 
board  to  lighten  the  boat.  As  it  Avas  only  four  feet  deep, 
and  they  had  been  sAvimming  and  Avading  all  day,  they  were 
delighted  to  do  it.  and  soon  the  Avater  Avas  full  of  them.  A 
rope  Avas  fastened  to  the  boat  and  the  end  given  to  them, 
and  shouting,  laughing  and  splashing,  they  pulled  Avith  a 
will.  In  a  A'ery  short  time  the  boat  began  to  move  and  ran 
into  deeper  Avater.  It  Avas  a  very  amusing  sight,  and  was 
just  what  our  men  like.  At  night  we  ran  aground  again 
and  lay  until  next  morning,  AA^hen  Ave  got  off  and  arrived 
safely  at  Swansboro.  The  gunboat  Avas  already  there,  and 
a  Avhite  flag  flying  from  the  highest  building  shoAved  us 
that  there  Avas  no  enemy  in  the  toAvn.  On  going  ashore,  we 
learned  that  some  caA^alry  had  been  there,  but  had  left  on 
seeing  our  boats.  We  searched  the  toAA^n  and  took  aAvay  all 
the  arms  Ave  could  find,  also  appropriated  Avhat  chickens, 
pigs  and  fruit  Ave  needed — in  short  we  made  ourselves  gene- 
rally disagreeable  to  the  inhabitants,  who  Avith  a  remarkable 
unanimity,  "had  ahvays  been  Union  men,  but  had  never 
dared  speak  of  it." 

In  the  course  of  the  day,  the  other  boats  came  up.  A 
young  rebel  Avas  taken  prisoner  by  some  men  who  were  out 
scouting  and  brought  doAvn  to  the  boats.  He  had  the  stupid 
look  so  characteristic  of  the  Secesh,  and  was  dressed  in  gray 
homespun.  As  the  object  of  our  expedition  Avas  to  destroy 
some  saltAvorks,  we  Avent  on  shore  the  next  day,  Sunday, 
the  17th.  AA'ith  about  350  men  and  one  piece  of  artillery,  and 
marched  about  three  miles  doAvn  the  coast.  There  Ave  came 
to  an  extensive  saltAvork  and  proceeded  at  once  to  burn  it, 
much  to  the  disgust  of  the  proprietor,  Avho  looked  on  under 
the  charge  of  a  guard  with  impotent  rage.  We  laid  him 
under  contribution  for  more  chickens  and  eggs,  and,  bor- 


Aug.  20,   '62.  Swansboro  Expedition.  145 

rowing  his  horses  to  draw  our  cannon,  went  on  our  way  re- 
joicing. About  a  mile  and  a  half  further  on,  we  came  to 
another  work,  which  we  also  destroyed.  As  the  owner 
did  not  live  near  it,  his  feelings  and  his  fowl  were 
spared.  We  then  returned  to  the  boats  without  having 
seen  any  of  the  enemy,  but  having,  nevertheless,  achieved 
a  very  important  work.  Salt  is  a  very  necessary  article, 
especially  to  a  people  whose  principal  article  of  food  is 
pork,  which  they  cure  for  winter's  use.  Salt  is  now  very 
scarce  and  is  worth  from  seven  to  eight  dollars  a  bushel, 
so  the  destruction  of  a  manufactory  strikes  a  very  heavy 
blow  at  them.  "We  lay  at  Swansboro  all  day  Monday.  One 
of  our  men,  without  his  arms,  wandering  too  far  out  of  the 
town  and  alone,  met  two  or  three  rebel  horsemen  who  fired 
at  him  and  ran.  A  buckshot  hit  him  in  the  cheek,  but  did 
not  inflict  a  serious  wound.  Tuesday  morning  w'e  started 
for  home  and  reached  camp  without  accident,  Wednesday, 
the  20th. 

The  trip  itself  w^as  a  cheerful  episode  in  the  regimental 
life,  and  all  men  came  back  the  better  for  it.  They  had  seen 
Beaufort,  Morehead  City,  and  Fort  Macon,  which  lies  on  a 
tongue  of  sand  between  the  ocean  and  the  inner  waters  of 
the  Sound  and  really  commands  the  entrance  to  the  same. 
They  had  experienced  a  change  of  diet  and  in  the  extra 
briny  waters  of  the  Sound  had  realized  some  of  the  luxu- 
ries of  bathing,  though  some  of  the  youths  complained  at 
the  prevalence  of  crabs,  which  did  not  hesitate  to  grab  any 
tangible  part  of  Yankee  swimmers.  They  had  foraged  on 
the  enemy,  securing  great  quantities  of  vegetable  and 
animal  food,  finding  the  green  corn  succulent  and  the 
watermelons  superb,  and  though  there  was  some  rain  and 
they  did  have  to  help  extricate  the  steamers  when  aground, 
and  occasionally  w^ait  for  a  high  tide,  there  was  not  a  man 
in  the  seven  companies  who  did  not  vote  the  expedition  a 
first-class  picnic.  From  Morehead  City,  the  way  back  to  New^- 
bern  was  by  rail,  thus  passing  within  sight  of  and  right 
through  the  rebel  fortifications  which  they  had  assailed  in 
the  month  of  March. 
10 


146  Twenty-fourth  ^Iassachusetts  Eegiment. 

During  the  absence  of  the  regiment,  fortj'-nine  recruits 
had  come  down  from  the  North  and  were  waiting  an 
opportunity  to  be  added  to  the  aggregate  of  the  TAventy- 
fonrth.  The  weather  continues  warm  and  the  period  of 
inactivity  is  varied  only  by  drill,  parades,  inspections  and 
the  regular  round  of  camp  life.  At  dress-parade,  on  the 
27th,  the  honorable  discharge  of  Captain  Austin  of  B  Com- 
pany was  announced.  General  Foster  and  daughter  being 
among  the  spectators.  August  30th  was  noteworthy  in 
that  at  2  o'clock  p.m.  Gilmore's  Band,  the  pride  and  pet 
of  the  regiment,  was  mustered  out  of  the  United  States 
service.  After  dress-parade  the  band  marched  through 
every  company  street,  also  to  the  guard-house,  playing 
some  very  lively  tunes.  The  several  companies  gathered  in 
their  respective  streets  as  the  musicians  passed  through,  and 
loudly  cheered  them.  Sunday,  the  last  day  of  the  month, 
was  delightful  in  the  matter  of  weather.  There  were 
review  and  inspection  under  the  eye  of  General  Stevenson 
and  staff,  and  a  muster  for  pay.  At  the  regular  dress- 
parade  the  band  played  for  the  last  time,  the  soldiers  giving 
their  old  friends  the  heartiest  of  cheers.  Of  the  discharge  of 
the  band,  the  Colonel  writes:  "I  think  it  a  great  mistake 
and  that  the  service  will  lose  more  than  the  treasury  will 
gain." 

September  the  1st  saw  the  departure  of  the  band,  and 
North  Carolina  shores  no  longer  would  echo  the  exquisite 
strains  that  for  many  months  had  gladdened  the  ears  of  all 
true  music  lovers.  Union  or  Confederate.  Tuesday,  the 
second  day  of  the  month,  is  the  anniversary  of  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  line  officers  in  far-away  Boston,  and  in  honor 
of  the  event,  Colonel  Osborn  gives  a  reception  in  the  mess- 
tent.  General  Stevenson  called  in  the  forenoon,  as  Avas 
his  custom,  and  the  dropping  in  of  the  other  officers,  whb 
were  not  forgetful  of  the  day  and  its  significance,  made  the 
hours  fly  all  too  swiftly.  It  seems  almost  impossible  that  an 
entire  year  separates  them  from  the  infant  camp  at  Read- 


Sept.  3,  '62.  Washington,  N.  C.       '  147 

ville.  Having  become  pretty  well  acclimated,  the  regiment 
is  enjoj'ing  Newbern,  though  flies  by  day  and  mosquitoes 
by  night  necessitate  constant  vigilance  on  the  part  of  man- 
kind. JNIassachusetts  men  also  find  the  everlasting  flatness 
of  the  country  exceedingly  irksome.  Says  one  commenta- 
tor, "Everything  is  upon  a  dead  level,  and  in  riding  along 
the  roads,  nowhere  do  you  get  a  sight  of  anything  more 
than  the  trees  on  each  side  except  where  a  field  has  been 
cleared  for  corn,  or  at  the  houses,  which  are  thinly  scattered 
along.  *  *  I  long  to  see  a  hill,  and  think  with  regret  of 
the  glorious  old  Blue  Hills  of  Milton,  with  the  thousand 
shades  of  color  and  soft  tints  which  gave  me  so  much 
pleasure  when  at  Readville. " 

During  all  these  days,  the  two  companies  in  "Washing- 
ton, X.  C,  have  been  doing  their  best  to  perform  their 
respective  duties,  and  the  reports  from  Captain  Prince  relate 
the  principal  happenings  there.  Writing  September  3d,  the 
Captain  chronicles  the  arrival,  the  day  before,  of  Colonel 
S.  H.  Mix  of  the  Third  X.  Y.  Cavalry  and  of  his  assuming 
command.  Having  with  him  several  companies  of  his 
regiment,  his  presence  imparts  considerable  encouragement  to 
all  Union  people,  for  seemingly  there  is  trouble  brewing  from 
rebel  sources.  Indeed  there  were  apprehensions  of  an  attack 
the  night  before  Captain  Prince's  letter,  but  the  active  Xew 
York  Colonel  took  the  utmost  precautions  to  prevent  any 
surprise.  Pickets  were  doubled  and  strong  patrols  of  cav- 
alry were  out  on  the  different  roads  as  well  as  on  the 
principal  streets  of  the  town.  However,  the  night  passed 
without  molestation.  Colonel  Mix  has  ordered  all  passes 
stopped  and  no  one  leaves  the  place.  He  proclaims  himself 
responsible  for  the  place  and  says  he  will  not  take  orders 
from  Governor  Stanly  which  allow  known  Secesh  to  come 
and  go  inside  and  outside  of  our  lines. 

On  the  same  date,  viz.,  the  3d,  Captain  Prince  writes  again 
to  the  elfect  that  through  ]\Iayor  Respess  and  Colonel  Car- 
roll, he  learns  tliat  the  enemy  is  certainly  preparing  for  an 


148  Twenty-fourth  IMassachusetts  Regiment. 

attack.  "Colonel"  Carroll,  who  is  a  strong  Union  man  and 
a  former  militia  officer,  whence  his  title,  has  seen  an  order 
written  by  Governor  Clark  to  take  Washington  at  all 
hazards.  "It  was  first  sent  to  Captain  or  Colonel  Rodman, 
owner  of  the  plantation  across  the  river,  who,  not  liking  the 
job,  had  disappeared  and  had  not  been  seen  since.  It  was 
then  given  to  the  officer  who  commands  the  forces  around 
US.  *  *  As  Governor  Clark  goes  out  in  about  ten  days, 
I  suppose  he  wants  to  signalize  his  exit  by  the  capture  of 
this  place."  That  Captain  Prince's  apprehensions  were  not 
nnfonnded  was  evident  on  the  morning  of  the  6th,  when  at 
5  o'clock  the  enemy  dashed  into  the  town  and  carried  con- 
sternation with  him.  Taking  advantage  of  the  dense  fog, 
the  cavalry  captured  the  Union  pickets  and  galloped  into 
the  place.  Hearing  the  firing,  the  officers  rushed  over  to 
the  quarters  of  the  men  and  organized  them  for  defense. 

The  enemy  galloped  down  ]\Iain  Street  in  which  the  bar- 
racks are  located,  and  a  body  of  infantry  which  followed 
surrounded  the  officers'  quarters,  then  vacant,  and  the  bar- 
racks of  the  men  to  prevent  their  egress,  and  take  them 
prisoners.  Fortunately  four  companies  of  our  cavalry,  hav- 
ing two  pieces  of  artillery,  who  had  been  ordered  to  go  on 
an  expedition  at  daylight,  and  who  were  under  anns,  met 
the  force  of  cavalry  and  drove  them  out  of  Main  Street, 
upon  which  the  infantry  withdrew  without  attacking  the  bar- 
racks. Our  men  then  formed,  and  in  turn  attacked  the 
rebels,  who  made  a  stand  toward  the  rear  of  the  town.  The 
gunboat  Louisiana  then  opened  and  smashed  up  the  houses 
pretty  well,  even  if  she  did  not  kill  anybody.  The  little 
gunboat  Picket  also  fired  one  shot,  but  from  some  un- 
explainable  cause,  her  magazine  then  exploded,  killing 
the  captain  and  eighteen  men.  The  fight  continued  in  the 
streets  till  eight  o'clock,  when  the  enemy  retired,  leavine 
their  dead,  but  carrying  off  four  pieces  of  artillery,  which 
unaccountably  had  been  left  without  a  guard.  Some  of  our 
cavalry  pursued  them  nine  miles,  but  did  not  come  up  with 
them.  They  found,  however,  two  ambulances  of  wounded 
wdiich  they  had  left  in  the  road.  The  loss  of  the  Con- 
federates appears  to  be  quite  heavy,  including  a  number  of 


Sept.  '62.  Newbern.  149 

men,  made  prisoners.  When  the  rebels  came  to  the  Union  hos- 
pital they  were  told  what  it  was,  and  they  replied  that  they 
would  respect  it,  but  should  take  the  occupants  prisoners,  and 
placed  a  guard  over  them.  After  the  tide  turned  in  the 
Union  favor,  the  nurses  retorted  upon  the  guards,  told 
them  that  they  were  prisoners,  and  brought  them  in.  Our 
men  fought  very  well,  including  the  loyal  North  Carolina 
Regiment,  of  which  much  had  not  been  expected. 

General  Foster  soon  appeared  on  the  ground  and  on  search- 
ing certain  houses  arms  were  found,  and  the  holders  in  all 
cases  arrested.  Captain  Prince  in  reporting  the  affair  asks 
if  the  entire  regiment  is  not  coming  to  the  help  of  the  place, 
since  the  enemy  will  surely  try  it  again.  He  names  the 
fatally  wounded  as  Corporal  Sylvester  Clark  of  D,  Franklin 
Oldson  and  Edwin  D.  Sprague,  both  of  B,  also  Edward  Car- 
thy  and  James  C.  Littlefield,  each  one  of  the  latter  company. 
On  the  9th.  orders  were  received  to  relieve  Companies  B  and 
D,  at  Washington,  and  on  the  4th  they  returned  and  the 
Twenty-fourth  was  once  more  united,  though  owing  to  the 
condition  of  their  natural  camping  place  they  had  to  wait  till 
the  13th   before  putting  their  tents  along  with  their  fellows. 

September,  '62,  in  the  annals  of  the  Twenty-fourth  is  not 
especially  eventful.  The  affair  in  Washington  represents  all 
the  fighting  that  any  part  of  the  regiment  had.  There  were 
drills,  etc.,  in  the  regular  rounds  and,  doubtless,  each  day 
was  adding  to  the  efficiency  of  the  men,  but  there  was  time 
for  letter  writing,  and  one  officer  remarks  that  the  men  keep 
up  a  tremendous  correspondence,  so  great  that  if  other 
organizations  do  likewise,  the  Post  Office  Department  ought 
to  become  self-supporting.  The  11th  brought  back  to  the 
regiment  ]\Iajor  Stevenson,  who  had  been  away  ever  since 
receiving  his  wound  at  the  capture  of  Newbern.  He  was  most 
heartily  welcomed  back  by  the  men.  The  same  day  brought 
down  from  the  North  Lieut.-colonel  John  Quincy  Adams,  of 
Governor  Andrew's  staff',  and  he  comes  to  inspect  Massachu- 
setts troops,  and  so  to  carry  back  to  the  Bay  State  a  true 
statement  as   to  the  condition  of  her  soldiers  in  the  field. 


150 


Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Eegiment. 


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Oct.   '62.  Newbern.  151 

former  leader.  Still  there  was  a  drop  of  bitter  in  all  these 
sweets  of  victory,  for  General  Jesse  L.  Reno,  the  grand 
division  leader  of  the  Burnside  Expedition,  is  reported  killed 
at  South  ^Mountain,  and  how  much  these  men  loved  him  is 
evident  in  the  tolling  of  bells,  the  reading  of  orders  and  the 
wide  bands  of  crape  which  the  officers  wear. 

The  call  for  additional  troops  in  the  North  is  giving  well- 
drilled  non-commissioned  officers  of  the  Twenty-fourth  an 
opportunity  to  take  commissions  in  the  newly  formed  regi- 
ments, and  very  many  are  discharged  from  the  Twenty- 
fourth  for  this  purpose.  The  men  who  remain  are  sorry  to 
see  the  steady,  reliable  comrades  of  the  campaign  go  away, 
but  they  are  glad  that  the  drill  and  work  hitherto  done  have 
fitted  them  for  these  steps  upward. 

If  all  regimental  stories  were  simply  annals  of  garrison 
life,  it  is  doubtful  if  very  many  of  them  would  be  printed, 
so  little  difference  is  there  in  successive  days.  This  North 
Carolina  experience  was  not  what  the  men  had  in  mind  when 
they  enlisted,  and  when  they  heard  of  the  more  active  war 
of  their  brothers  in  Virginia  and  the  AVest,  they  became 
somewhat  restive,  particularly  when  regular  rations  of  quinine 
and  whiskey  became  necessary  as  a  specific  for  attacks  of  the 
chills,  from  which  no  one  was  exempt,  and  notwitlistanding 
all  precautions,  these  soldiers  were  having  planted  in  their 
systems  seeds  of  malaria,  which  all  the  years  of  their  subse- 
quent living  will  not  eradicate.  As  they  regarded  the  low 
lying  regions,  some  of  them  tried  to  imagine  the  feelings  of 
the  early  Swiss  settlers  as  they,  too,  were  trying  to  become 
acclimated,  and  not  a  few  wondered  how  they  ever  came  to 
name  their  settlement  after  the  capital  of  Switzerland  unless 
it  was  by  the  rule  of  contraries,  for  surely  no  two  localities 
could  be  more  dissimilar  than  mountain-girt  Helvetian  Berne 
and  this  fever-stricken  namesake,  amidst  the  marshes  and 
morasses  of  the  Neuse  and  Trent  Peninsula. 

October  presented  a  wide  divergence  of  weather ;  there  were 
days  delightful   to   remember,  but  they  were   usually  sand- 


152  Twt:nty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Aviched  between  long"  periods  of  rain,  cold,  and  even  flurries 
of  snow.  But  cold  or  warm,  rain  or  shine,  there  were  the  ever 
recurring  I'ounds  of  guard,  police  and  picket  duty.  Weather 
somewhat  interfered  Avith  drills  and  parades,  still  no  one  was 
allowed  to  forget  that  drill  and  discipline  are  really  the 
chief  end  of  a  soldier's  life.  Also  the  work  of  fortifying  Xew- 
bern  Avas  progressing,  regular  details  being  made  for  this 
purpose.  On  the  6th,  the  paymaster  remembered  the 
regiment,  and  there  Avas  an  evening  up  of  clothing 
accounts.  Avherein  some  impro\4dent  felloAvs  found  them- 
selves minus  in  the  matter  of  cash,  they  having  drawn  and 
Avorn  out  their  entire  stipend  -.  others  more  frugal  and  careful 
had  their  difference  given  them  in  good  currency,  Avhich  they 
were  at  liberty  to  send  home  to  their  families.  The  picket 
line  is  so  far  aAvay  that  it  is  reached,  some  parts  of  it,  by 
rail,  thus  relieving  the  men  from  many  mud  marches.  On 
the  8th,  Lieutenant  OrdAvay  Avent  to  Raleigh  under  a  flag  of 
truce.  The  next  day  Company  CI  Avent  off  in  light  marching 
order  on  the  Old  AVheelbarroAV,  tAvelve  or  fifteen  miles  up  the 
Neuse,  to  secure  a  raft,  succeeding  in  part.  Colonel  Osborn 
has  been  for  several  days  too  ill  to  attend  to  his  regular 
duties,  having  succumbed  at  last  to  the  prevailing  sickness 
of  the  region,  and,  to  croAvn  his  misfortunes,  his  eyes  are 
troubling  him.  On  the  16th  and  17th  there  are  Brigade  drills 
under  the  direction  of  General  Stevenson,  the  Brigade  in- 
cluding the  TAventy-Fourth,  Tenth  Connecticut  and  the 
Fifth  Rhode  Island.  The  18th  marks  the  illness  of 
Major  Stevenson,  thus  leaving  the  regiment  Avithout  a  field 
officer  fit  for  duty.  During  the  month,  measures  Avere  taken 
for  the  erecting  of  barracks,  that  the  men  might  be  better 
housed,  and  under  the  impression  that  they  Avould  remain 
in  NeAvbern  the  entire  Avinter. 

Up  to  the  26th  no  event  of  the  month  gave  the  regiment  so 
much  pleasure  as  the  arrival  of  the  Forty-fourth  Massachu- 
setts, one  of  the  nine  months'  regiments  raised  under  the  last 
call   of   the  President.      The   men   reached   the   citv  bA'   rail, 


Oct.  80,  '62.  Tarbor(3  ^NEarch.  153 

having  landed  at  ^Nlorehead  City,  and,  as  the  regiment  also 
had  NeAv  England  Gnards  affiliations,  its  coming  was  most 
happily  greeted  by  the  boys,  so  well  versed  in  the  lay  of  the 
land.  Their  first  ride  in  North  Carolina,  however,  was  not 
altogether  inspiriting,  since  the  cars  were  open  and  the  rain 
fell  copiously,  hence  they  were  well  wet  down  to  begin  with. 
]Many  of  the  officers  were  entertained  by  General  Stevenson 
and  the  remainder  were  cai*ed  for  in  the  camp.  Colonel 
Henry  Lee  of  Governor  Andrew's  staff,  a  brother  of 
the  Colonel  of  the  Forty-fourth,  came  down  with  the 
regiment  and  received  a  most  cordial  greeting  from  his  many 
friends  in  the  Twenty-fourth.  About  this  time,  a  relief  from 
the  monotony  of  camp  life  was  projected  by  the  authorities 
and  the  Tarboro  expedition  was  begTin.  In  his  subsequent 
report,  General  Foster  states  that  his  object  was  the  capture 
of  three  Confederate  regiments  that  had  been  making  them- 
selves obnoxious  in  the  eastern  counties. 

TARBORO  MARCH. 

Concerning  the  trip  Colonel  Osborn  thus  writes,  November 
1st:  "On  Thursday  morning  (October  30),  a  large  expedi- 
tion, including  the  majority  of  the  troops  in  the  department, 
started  from  here  to  be  gone  a  week  or  ten  days.  I  was  not 
strong  enough  to  bear  the  fatigue  and  exposure  of  going 
M'ith  myregiments.so.much  against  my  will,  I  was  left  behind 
in  command  of  the  infantry  under  Colonel  Kurtz  (Twenty- 
third  ^lassachusetts),  who  commands  the  post.  This  is  a 
severe  blow  to  me,  for  the  regiment  has  never  before  gone 
anywhere  without  me.  ^ly  earnest  wish  is  that  they  may  not 
have  a  fight. ' '  For  such  an.  apparently  unsoldierly  wish,  no 
doubt  every  man  in  the  regiment  forgave  the  Colonel,  for 
they,  too,  wished  to  have  their  leader  along  when  there  was 
trouble  brewing.  However,  not  all  of  the  companies  went; 
since  C  and  H  remained  on  duty,  the  other  eight  going  under 
command  of  Captain  Hooper,  since  ]\Iajor  Stevenson  was  also 
too  ill  for  dutv. 


154  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 

The  First  Brigade,  under  Colonel  T.  J.  C.  Amory  (Seven- 
teenth ^Massachusetts),  having  in  charge  the  baggage  train, 
marched  overland,  while  the  Second  under  Colonel  Stevenson 
and  the  Third  under  Colonel  Lee  of  the  Twenty-seventh 
Massachusetts,  went  by  transport  over  the  route,  by  this  time 
quite  familiar  to  many  of  the  campaigners.  The  newly 
arriA^ed  Forty-fourth,  the  Tenth  Connecticut  and  the  Fifth 
Rhode  Island  were  also  along  with  Belger's  Battery  of  six 
guns.  Leaving  Newbern  on  the  30th.  the  boats  reached  Wash- 
ington, N.  C,  the  next  or  Friday  forenoon.  The  encampment 
was  just  outside  of  the  city.  The  night  of  the  31st  was  very 
pleasant  though  cool,  the  moon  shining,  and  fires  were  burn- 
ing all  over  the  field.  It  was  a  beautiful  sight.  The  First 
Brigade  coming  overland  was  expected  that  night,  but  did 
not  arrive  till  Saturday,  the  bridge  over  Swift  Creek  having 
been  burned,  thus  occasioning  a  long  delay  for  repairs,  but 
the  extra  night  in  camp  was  not  irksome.  It  was  during  the 
wait  of  Saturday,  November  1st,  that  Lieutenent  Jas.  M. 
Pendleton,  a  volunteer  aid  on  General  Foster's  staff,  was 
thrown  from  his  horse  and  fatally  injured.  The  expedition 
started  away  from  Washington  at  about  8  a.m.  Sun- 
day, the  Third  Brigade  in  the  lead  with  only  some 
cavalry  and  Marine  Artillery  ahead  of  it.  Only  those 
leading  could  tell  what  the  main  object  of  the  trip 
Avas,  but  the  enemy  was  met  and  driven  back  into 
Tarboro. 

General  Foster  did  not  approve  the  burning  of  houses,  and 
for  that  matter,  that  was  done  by  the  ^Marines,  and  it  is 
claimed  that  they  did  it  in  retaliation  for  the  firing  upon 
them  by  the  citizens  a  while  ago  when  they  were  going  up 
under  a  flag  of  truce.  About  four  miles  out,  the  cavalry 
captured  several  rebel  cavalry  pickets.  When  fifteen  miles 
away,  we  halted  for  rest  and  caution,  having  heard  that  the 
enemy  had  thrown  up  breastworks  near.  The  marching  was 
excellent,  the  roads  being  in  good  condition.  After  a  half- 
hour  halt,  we  advanced  till  near  5  p.m.,  when  our  skirmishers 


Nov.  2,   '62.  Tarboro  ]March.  155 

came  up  with  the  Confederate  pickets  aud  drove  them  in, 
which  began  the  fight.  The  Marine  Artillery  led  off  with  a 
few  rounds  of  shell  and  canister.  Belger's  Battery  went  into 
position  quickly  and  shelled  the  woods  thoroughly.  The 
Tenth  Connecticut  and  two  companies  of  the  Forty-fourth 
advanced  and  drove  the  enemy  across  Little  Creek,  following 
them  through  the  water  above  their  knees.  The  Twenty- 
fourth  was  in  reserve.  The  rebels  fled  from  their  defenses 
and  went  across  a  bridge  at  Rawle's  ]\Iill  and  set  the  bridge 
on  fire.  It  grew  dark  so  fast,  we  couldn't  tell  where  the 
enemy  was.  After  about  an  hour's  firing  the  battery  ceased, 
when  our  regiment  was  ordered  forward.  We  halted  at  the 
first  creek  for  the  Batterj-  to  come  up  and  go  forward  with 
us.  "While  waiting,  the  enemy  complimented  us  with  several 
artillery  attentions,  but  his  aim  was  a  little  too  high,  though 
the  hits  were  heard  among  the  trees. 

After  a  while,  we  went  over  or  through  the  creek,  some  on 
logs,  all  anxious  not  to  get  wet.  On  our  way  we  went  through 
the  ranks  of  our  Connecticut  and  ^Massachusetts  friends,  who 
had  started  first.  The  rebs  had  cut  down  trees  to  obstruct 
our  advance,  but  these  were  speedily  got  out  of  the  way  by 
the  pioneers.  We  encountered  several  wounded  Confederates 
and  three  dead.  The  Forty-fourth  lost  two  killed  and  four 
wounded.  The  Tenth  Connecticut  had  one  killed,  as  did  the 
Marines.  Owing  to  the  darkness,  our  advance  was  very  slow. 
Working  our  way  along  with  many  cautious  halts,  we  finally 
reached  an  open  field  on  one  side  of  the  road,  and  the  breast- 
work which  they  had  just  deserted.  Down  in  the  woods  could 
be  seen  a  fire,  which  turned  out  to  be  the  burning  bridge. 
Company  F  was  sent  down  to  find  out  the  situation.  The 
enemy  was  waiting  for  us  on  the  other  side  of  the  bridge,  and 
had  some  artillery  with  him.  The  F  boys  were  just  going  for 
water  to  put  out  the  fire  when  the  rebels  attacked  with 
musketry  and  artillery,  but  luckily,  as  before,  at  too  ^reat  an 
elevation.  Our  reply  was  of  such  a  character  as  to  make  the 
graycoats  take  to  their  heels.     While  we  were    lying  in    the 


156  Twenty-fourth  jMassachusetts  Regiment. 

road,  Belger's  guns  began  firing  over  us  at  a  great  rate.  It 
was  music  for  the  ears  and  gladness  to  the  eyes,  for  those 
shells  looked  like  great  balls  of  fire.  The  work  seemed  to  be 
effectual,  for  we  heard  no  more  of  the  rebels  during  the  night. 
Company  E  lost  one  man  (H.  T.  Petereon)  killed,  and  A,  one 
wounded. 

The  Ninth  New  Jersey  of  the  Third  Brigade  next  took  the 
advance,  crossed  the  bridge,  and  halted  for  the  night.  We 
turned  into  the  field  here,  where  the  breastworks  were,  and 
wrapping  ourselves  in  our  rubber  blankets  lay  down  for  the 
remainder  of  the  night,  it  now  being  past  midnight.  We 
were  tired  enough  to  sleep  soundly  till  daylight,  in  spite  of 
the  cold  and  dew.  Turning  out  at  5  o'clock,  Monday  morn- 
ing, the  3d,  we  had  coffee  and  resumed  the  march,  the  First 
Brigade  in  the  lead.  Reaching  AA^illiamston  at  noon,  it  was 
found  deserted.  However,  we  halted  there  about  three  hours. 
Certain  companies  marched  right  through  a  nice  house  and 
stacked  arms  in  the  back  door  yard. 

At  4  p.m.  the  march  was  resumed,  and  continued  till  nine 
o'clock,  when  we  camped  in  a  large  corn-field,  getting  mate- 
rial for  a  fire  from  a  rail-fence  which  surrounded  the  field. 
Then  came  coft'ee  and  a  sleep  made  sound  by  the  fatigue  of 
the  day.  Tuesday's  start,  also,  was  early,  for  we  were  off 
soon  after  5  o'clock,  marching  towards  Hamilton.  A  big 
fight  was  expected  at  Rainbow  Banks,  three  miles  this 
side  of  Hamilton,  where  there  was  a  strong  fortification  about 
75  feet  above  the  waters  of  the  Roanoke  River.  The  bluff  is 
almost  perpendicul'ar,  the  river  deep  and  narrow.  The  fort 
could  be  taken  easily  from  the  land,  as  it  was  not  intended 
for  defense  in  that  direction.  Attached  to  it  was  a  breast- 
work about  two  miles  in  length.  Our  forces  were  divided 
into  two  parties,  one  to  take  another  road  and  so  cut  off  the 
retreat  of  the  enemy  in  case  we  should  drive  him,  but  as 
usual  Ij^e  had  run  oft',  destroying  a  bridge  on  his  way,  in 
repairing  which  we  lost  two  hours.  Reaching  Hamilton  at 
3  p.m.  we  halted  outside  the    town    and    employed    our    two 


Nov.  5,   '62.  Tarboro  ^Iarch.  157 

hours'  wait  in  digg'ing  and  roasting  sweet  potatoes.  All  of 
the  troops  were  not  permitted  to  enter  the  town,  but  those 
that  did  plundered  and  burned  some  of  the  best  houses.  It 
seemed  too  bad,  but  such  is  war.  Again  we  started  and  con- 
tinued marching  till  about  9  o'clock  at  night,  when  we 
camped  as  before. 

Wednesday,  the  5th,  was  pleasant,  but  it  clouded  over  dur- 
ing the  da}',  and  in  the  following  night  rain  fell.  Starting  at 
7  a.m.,  we  took  the  road  towards  Tarboro.  At  1  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon  we  halted,  had  a  luncheon,  and  rested  for  two 
hours,  and  then  for  reasons  unknown  to  the  men  the  march 
was  diverted  to  another  road  and  continued  till  11  at  night, 
passing  thus  through  a  strip  of  woods  fully  five  miles  in 
length,  with  hardly  an  opening.  The  soldiers  were  very 
tired,  and  when  they  s^topped  did  not  wait  for  any  fires, 
but  just  wrapped  their  blankets  around  them  and  lay  down, 
sleeping  soundly  in  spite  of  the  rain.  In  the  morning  it  was 
found  that  we  were  about  twelve  miles  from  Tarboro. 

At  six  o'clock  on  Thursday  morning  we  had  turned  about 
and  were  on  the  homeward  way;  the  rain  was  falling  hard, 
making  it  very  bad  for  the  baggage  and  artillery,  and  not 
improving  the  walking.  Some  thought  that  the  trains  heard 
during  the  night  were  the  taking  into  Tarboro  of  large  num- 
bers of  reinforcements  from  Richmond.  The  going  became 
so  bad  that  barrels  of  salt  beef  had  to  be  thrown  off  the 
wagons.  We  got  back  to  Hamilton  at  6  p.m.,  and  very  good 
quarters  were  found  for  the  night.  Some  of  the  companies 
occupied  large  buildings  that  the  rebels  had  used  as 
barracks,  and  the  stoves  were  in  them  just  as  they 
had  been  left.  Starting  good  fires  therein  the  men 
dried  out  wet  garments,  and  finding  a  lot  of  sweet 
potatoes  they  refreshed  the  inner  man  also.  Eain  fell 
and  the  wind  blew  during  the  night,  and  in  the  morning 
the  ground  was  covered  with  snow,  and  it  kept  on  snowing 
almost  all  day  Friday,  the  7th,  but  a  start  was  made  just  the 
same  at  9  o'clock.     It  was  terriblv  bad  marching;  there  was 


158  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Eegiment. 

no  picking  one's  way,  having  to  go  right  through  mud  and 
water,  reaching  "Williamston  at  5  p.m.,  the  regiments  being 
quartered  in  the  houses  and  public  buildings.  Some  found 
themselves  in  rooms  where  there  were  large  fire-places  in 
which  fires  were  built,  and  they  warmed  as  well  as  dried  their 
wearied  bodies  and  clothes.  In  spite  of  the  situation  certain 
soldiers  were  not  too  tired  for  foraging,  and  so  went  out  and 
secured  a  few  of  the  noteworthy  swine  of  the  country,  and 
these  helped  out  considerably,  since  the  men  had  started  off  in 
the  morning  Avith  only  three  hard  tacks  apiece,  rations  having 
run  low.  The  chance  to  fry  fresh  pork  over  the  coals  was 
good  and  it  was  improved. 

Saturday,  the  8th,  Avas  spent  in  Williamston,  and  during 
the  day  the  jail  Avas  burned,  much  to  the  delight  of  the  col- 
ored people,  Avho  declared  it  had  been  a  source  of  great  suffer- 
ing to  them,  and  they  shouted  Avith  joy  as  they  saw  it  go  up 
in  smoke.  More  foraging  followed  during  the  day,  and  there 
was  a  dress-parade  at  night,  another  delight  to  the  novelty- 
loving  African.  Sunday,  the  9th  of  November,  saw  the 
march  resumed,  starting  away  at  7  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
reaching  Jamesville  at  noon  and  halting  for  the  night  about 
2^  miles  from  Plymouth.  The  night  was  cold  and  frosty, 
and  long  lines  of  rail-fence  Avere  used  in  trying  to  keep  off  the 
chills.  Monday  the  regiment  started  out  at  8  a.m.  for  Ply- 
mouth to  go  on  board  the  transports  for  Newbern,  but  the 
boat  was  not  ready,  so  arms  Avere  stacked  just  outside  of  the 
town  and  all  Avaited  till  2  p.m.  Being  of  an  industrious 
nature,  men  dug  sweet  potatoes  and  cooked  and  ate  till  they 
Avere  filled,  and  they  even  made  provision  for  the  future  by 
putting  some  of  them  in  their  haversacks.  It  Avas  four  in  the 
afternoon  Avhen  the  TAventy-fourth  boarded  the  Ocean  Wave 
and  sailed  out  into  a  beautiful  night,  reaching  Newbern  at 
noon  Tuesday,  the  11th,  tired  and  very  glad  to  get  back. 

The  report  of  Col.  Thomas  G.  Stevenson,  commanding  the 
Second  Brigade,  is  as  folloAvs : 


Nov.  '62.  Col.  Stevenson's  Report.  159 

I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  following  as  the  result  of  the 
skirmishes  in  which  my  brigade  Avas  engaged  on  Sunday 
night,  Nov.  2,  1862. 

At  about  dusk,  as  the  advance  guard,  composed  of 
the  Marine  Artillery,  a  company  of  the  Tenth  Con- 
necticut, and  a  portion  of  cavalry,  were  crossing 
Little  Creek,  on  the  road  from  Washington  to  "Wil- 
liamston,  they  were  suddenly  fired  upon  by  the  enemy  from 
the  opposite  side  of  the  creek,  concealed  in  the  w'oods  on  the 
right  of  the  road.  The  cavalry  and  infantry  retired,  the 
Marine  Artillery  opening  fire.  Two  companies  of  the 
Forty-fourth  were  then  ordered  to  deploy  on  the  other  side 
of  the  creek.  In  crossing  the  enemy  opened  a  brisk  fire  on 
them,  which  was  immediately  returned  with  good  effect,  but 
their  ammunition  getting  wet  they  were  ordered  to  retire, 
which  was  done  in  good  order,  with  a  loss  of  one  killed  and 
six  wounded.  In  the  meantime,  Captain  Belger's  battery 
had  taken  position  in  a  corn-field  on  the  left  of  the  road  and 
opened  fire,  the  enemy  returning  with  musketry  and  artillery, 
which  the  well-directed  fire  of  Captain  Belger's  battery  soon 
silenced.  Two  companies  of  the  Forty-fourth  Massachusetts 
were  then  ordered  to  the  front,  but  the  enemy  again  opened 
fire,  killing  one  and  wounding  one.  I  then  ordered  them  to 
fall  back.  Captain  Belger  opened  fire  once  more  on  the 
enemy,  and  in  a  short  time  caused  them  to  retreat. 

The  column  then  moved  forward  slowly,  the  road  being 
blocked  up  by  trees  cut  by  the  retreating  enemy  to  retard  our 
advance,  which  for  two  hours  was  very  slow.  A  breastwork 
was  found  on  our  left  which  had  the  appearance  of  having 
been  hastily  deserted.  The  advance,  composed  of  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Massachusetts,  soon  came  upon  a  bridge  burning  over 
the  creek  by  Rawle's  Mill.  The  Twenty-fourth,  whilst  ex- 
tinguishing the  flames,  were  fired  upon  by  the  enemy  with 
both  musketry  and  artillery,  in  position  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  creek  parallel  with  the  main  road,  the  Twenty-fourth 
losing  one  killed  and  two  wounded.  Captain  Belger  soon  got 
his  battery  in  position,  when  he  opened  fire  and  quickly 
routed  the  enemy. 

Too  much  praise  cannot  be  awarded  Captain  Belger  and 
his  command  for  the  masterly  manner  in  which  his  guns  were 
manoeuvred,  and  for  the  coolness  and  discipline  displayed  by 
all— R.  R.,  Vol.  18,  p.  22. 


160  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing-,  General  Foster  states  in  his 
report  that  the  original  plan  to  capture  three  regiments,  for- 
aging in  that  section,  was  frustrated  by  the  condition  of  the 
roads,  yet  the  effect  of  the  expedition  must  be  salutary  to  the 
department;  that  the  first  encounter  with  the  enemy  was  at 
Little  Creek;  the  second,  where  the  Company  E  man  was 
killed,  was  Eawle's  IMill.  Rainbow  Banks  is  three  miles 
below  Hamilton.  At  the  latter  place  he  had  expected  to  find 
some  iron-clads  in  process  of  construction,  but  was  disap- 
pointed. The  limit  of  the  expedition  was  within  ten  miles  of 
Tarboro,  but  the  wearied  condition  of  the  men,  coupled  with 
the  lack  of  provisions  and  the  evident  reinforcing  of  Tarboro, 
determined  him  to  countermarch.  The  total  loss  was  six 
killed  and  eight  wounded.  The  expedition  was  instrumental 
in  saving  the  town  of  Plymouth  from  capture,  since  the 
enemy  had  been  laying  plans  for  a  surprise.  He  mentions 
particularly  the  bravery  of  Colonel  Stevenson,  commanding 
the  Second  Brigade,  and  closes  his  report  with  the  following 
words : 

"I  recommend  that  Colonel  Stevenson,  for  his  efficient  ser- 
vices on  the  march  and  in  the  affairs  of  Little  Creek  and 
Rawle's  iMill,  as  well  as  previous  services  at  the  battles  of 
Roanoke  and  Newbern,  be  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier 
General,  to  date  from  Nov.  3,  1862." 

NEWBERN. 

Just  as  the  Union  forces  return  to  Newbern  the  enemy  gets 
active,  apparently  mistaking  the  time  of  the  Federal's  stay. 
Had  the  rebels  been  a  little  more  ardent  in  their  movements, 
they  might  have  made  the  Union  people  a  deal  of  trouble. 
As  it  was,  they  kept  things  lively  along  the  picket  line.  On 
the  afternoon  of  the  11th,  Colonel  Kurtz,  hearing  that  the 
rebels  were  attacking,  ordered  the  infantry  under  arms.  At 
nightfall  Col.  T.  J.  C.  Amory  returned,  resumed  command, 
and  made  all  necessary  arrangements  to  meet  any  force  the 
enemy  might  present.     During  the  night  on  the  Neuse  road 


Nov.  '62.  Newbern.  161 

the  Confederates,  appearing,  were  fired  upon  by  the  Monitor. 
In  camp  the  long  roll  was  beaten  and  the  regiment  marched 
lip  to  Fort  Rowan  and  remained  in  line  for  some  time,  but 
finding  nothing  particular  doing,  the  men  marched  back 
again,  and  were  ordered  to  lie  on  their  arms,  ready  to  march 
at  a  moment's  warning.  Thus  the  morning  of  the  12th  found 
them.  Extra  vigilance  was  displayed  in  all  directions.  Gen- 
eral Stevenson  returned  from  the  Tarboro  trip  so  indisposed 
that  he  was  obliged  to  go  to  bed.  His  brother,  the  Major, 
also  continued  ill,  and  Colonel  Osborn  had  not  recovered  to 
the  extent  of  resuming  his  duties. 

On  the  14th,  Lieut.  J.  B.  Nichols  of  Company  H  reports 
from  the  picket-line  that  he  is  still  kept  on  the  qui  vive  by  the 
foe,  who,  though  not  particularly  numerous,  is  exceedingly 
lively.  He  suggests  that  unless  the  enemy  is  driven  off  the 
Trent  road,  the  post  should  be  abandoned  or  strongly  rein- 
forced. He  learns  that  the  attacking  party  of  the  11th  and 
12th  numbered  about  500,  and  that  several  were  wounded, 
this  from  a  prisoner.  In  compliance  with  the  suggestion  of 
the  Lieutenant  the  regiment  is  ordered  out  to  picket  the  rail- 
road near  Batchelder's  Creek.  On  this  day  leave  of  absence 
is  granted  to  Colonel  Osborn,  that  he  may  have  a  chance  to 
visit  home  and  so  regain  his  health.  On  the  next  day,  the 
15th,  as  ordered,  the  regiment  took  a  train  some  nine  miles 
out  to  Batchelder's  Creek  to  join  Company  H,  which  had 
been  there  for  some  time.  There  were  many  alarms  and  con- 
sequent falling  into  line,  but  no  attack  came,  though  two 
companies  were  ordered  to  lie  on  their  arms  all  night,  and 
every  one  was  expected  to  be  ready  to  move  at  a  minute's 
notice.  Nov.  17th,  Lieutenant  Folsom,  Company  E,  led  a 
small  party  on  a  reconnoissance  and  to  place  obstruction  in  the 
road  to  hinder  the  advance  of  the  enemy  should  he  approach. 
Colonel  Osborn  also  started  for  home,  going  by  train  to  More- 
head  City,  thence  by  steamer  Mississippi  northward  and 
home. 

The  remaining  days  of  November  find  the  regiment  on  the 
11 


162  Twenty-fourth  ]\rASSACHusETTS  Eegiment. 

picket-station,  the  men  doino-  their  best  to  make  themselves 
comfortal)le.  They  build  huts  for  cook-houses,  and  when,  on 
the  24th,  the  blankets  that  had  been  left  in  Washin^on  were 
sent  out,  they  had  an  additional  source  of  comfort.  Also,  so 
long  was  their  stay,  stoves  were  brought  out  from  Newbern, 
for  the  weather  was  exceedingly  cold  at  times.  The  27th 
was  the  first  Thanksgiving  in  the  enemy's  country,  and  no 
loyal  New  Englander  permits  that  day  to  pass  without  some 
sort  of  recognition.  While  the  boys  had  sampled  all  the  good 
things  that  the  neighborhood  produced,  taken  usually  without 
a  "by  your  leave,"  yet  they  felt  that  it  would  not  be  Thanks- 
giving without  something  extra.  Morning  rations  were  much 
the  same  as  customary,  and  at  10.30  a.m'.  the  men  were  as- 
sembled for  religious  service,  conducted  by  the  Chaplain. 
"America"  was  the  opening  song,  rendered  with  ardor  by 
these  men  so  far  away  from  the  homes  they  loved,  devoted  to 
the  land  whose  praises  they  sang.  The  Chaplain's  prayer,  when 
he  dwelt  upon  the  homes  represented  by  his  hearers,  made 
many  an  eye  not  wont  to  weep  grow  moist  at  the  thought  of 
firesides  in  the  Northland.  His  text,  "Quit  ye  like  men." 
etc.,  was  an  elocjuent  appeal  to  the  soldiers  to  do  their  whole 
duty  to  the  best  of  their  ability.  At  2.30  p.m.  came  the 
expected  dinner,  cooked  in  Newl^ern  and  brought  directly  to 
the  camp.  There  were  turkeys  and  chickens  cooked  to  a  turn, 
with  plum  padding  in  quantities,  admitting  of  every  man 
eating  his  fill.  While  cranberry  sauce  did  not  garnish  the 
feast,  and  apple,  squash  and  mince  pie  failed  to  appear,  yet 
the  soldiers  felt  as  though  Thanksgiving  day  was  worth 
observing  even  in  Dixie  land. 

Tlie  last  month  of  the  year  finds  the  regiment  still  on  duty  at 
its  picket-station  in  the  vicinity  of  Batchelder's  Creek,  endur- 
ing with  as  much  fortitude  as  possible  the  varying  weather 
of  the  region,  attending  to  the  routine  duties  of  the  place,  and 
looking  forward  expectantly  to  the  next  move.  While  life 
was  not  exactly  monotonous,  it  did  not  have  all  the  variety  of 
an  active  forward  movement.     There  was  an  unusual  varia- 


Dec.  11,  '62.  Goldsboro  Expedition.  163 

tion  ou  the  6th,  when  a  train  from  Newbern  was  approaching 
the  camp ;  it  ran  into  one  loaded  with  wood,  resulting  in  the 
shaking  up  of  many,  while  fortunately  no  one  was  seriously 
hurt,  the  Chaplain  getting  the  most  by  which  to  remember 
the  incident.  The  next  day  the  regiment  was  pleased  to 
receive  as  visitore  General  Stevenson,  his  brother,  the  Major, 
and  their  father  and  mother,  who  had  come  dowai  from  Bos- 
ton to  visit  their  sons  and  now,  by  means  of  a  handcar,  have 
come  out  to  see  the  organizations  in  which  the  family  has  so 
much  interest.  A  review  was  expected  and  announced,  but, 
for  some  reason,  it  failed  to  come  otf.  All  were  astir  early 
on  the  morning  of  the  10th,  since  orders  had  been  received 
for  the  regiment  to  return  to  Camp  Lee,  and  this  was  done 
after  almost  a  month  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  Union  lines. 

But  the  stay  on  the  "old  camp  ground"  was  brief,  since 
orders  came  to  have  knapsacks  packed  ready  for  another 
start.  Breakfast  came  at  5  o'clock  on  the  11th,  and  soon 
afterwards  forty  rounds  of  cartridges.  Three  days'  rations 
were  in  the  haversacks,  rubber  and  woolen  blankets  were  car- 
ried, at  daylight  line  was  formed,  and  the  regiment  marched 
to  the  Trent  road  to  join  the  remainder  of  the  force.  The 
fog  enshrouds  everything  so  thickly  that  one's  own  brother 
could  not  be  recognized  two  files  away.  In  the  rear  of  Fort 
Totten  the  line  is  halted  for  a  couple  of  hours,  and,  during 
this  wait,  it  is  not  out  of  place  to  state  what  is  pending.  His- 
tory will  describe  the  incidents  of  the  ensuing  days  as  the 
Goldsboro  Expedition.  To  several  of  the  nine  months'  regi- 
ments from  ^^Massachusetts  the  impending  days  were  to  form 
the  principal  sources  of  interest  in  their  stories  of  campaign- 
ing. With  them  the  battle  of  Kinston,  the  trip  to  Whitehall, 
and  the  advance  to  Goldsboro  were  items  of  transcendent 
importance.  The  wide  dispersing  of  Burnside's  forces,  never 
large  enough,  had  accounted  for  the  inaction  of  General  Fos- 
ter, who  had  been  left  in  command  on  the  departure  of 
Burnside.  The  coming  of  the  first  of  the  nine  months'  men 
had  enabled  him  to  make  his  demonstration  towards  Tarboro, 


164  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

and  now,  with  the  coming  of  additional  regiments  and  the 
loaning  by  General  Peck  of  Wessells'  brigade,  he  was  war- 
ranted in  relieving  the  tedium  of  garrison  life  by  a  move- 
ment towards  Goldsboro  with  the  hope  and  expectation  of 
being  able  to  destroy  that  railroad  centre,  and  so  seriously 
cripple  the  means  of  forwarding  supplies  to  the  Confederates 
further  north. 

GOLDSBORO   EXPEDITION. 

General  Foster's  forces  comprise  the  brigade  of  General 
H.  W.  Wessells,  which  had  arrived  the  9th  inst,  including 
the  85th,  92d,  96th  New  York,  85th,  101st  and  103d  Pennsylva- 
nia, with  the  brigades  of  Colonels  Amory,  Stevenson  and  Lee. 
In  all  there  were  about  10,000  infantry,  610  cavalry  (3d  New 
York),  forty  guns  included  in  the  3d  New  York  Artillery, 
Belger's  Rhode  Island,  the  23d  and  24th  New  York  batteries. 
In  Colonel  Amory 's  brigade,  the  First,  were  the  17th,  43d, 
23d,  45th  and  51st  Massachusetts  regiments.  Colonel  Steven- 
son had  in  his  Second  Brigade,  as  usual,  the  10th  Connecticut, 
5th  Rhode  Island,  the  8th,  24th  and  the  44th  Massachusetts. 
The  Third  Brigade,  under  Col.  Horace  C.  Lee,  had  the  3d, 
5th,  25th,  27th  and  46th  ^Massachusetts  regiments;  the  9th 
New  Jersey  acted  independently  in  advance  with  the  cavalry. 
Quoting  freely  from  General  Foster's  report,  we  find  that  the 
march  on  the  first  day,  the  11th,  was  along  the  Kinston  road 
about  fourteen  miles,  when,  "finding  the  road  obstructed  by 
felled  trees,  half  a  mile  and  over,  I  bivouacked  for  the  night 
and  had  the  obstruction  removed  during  the  night  by  the 
pioneers. ' ' 

Pushing  on  the  next  morning  at  daylight  my  cavalry 
advance  encountered  the  enemy  about  four  miles  from  our 
bivouac,  and  after  a  sharp  but  brief  skirmish  he  was  routed 
with  some  loss.  The  march  was  somewhat  delayed  through 
the  destruction  of  the  bridge  over  Beaver  Creek.  This  was 
rebuilt  and  the  Fifty-first  ^lassachusetts  was  left  to  hold  it 
and  to  protect  the  intersection  of  the  main  road  and  the  one 


Dec.  14,  '62.  Battle  of  Kinston.  165 

the  forces  Avere  on.  Four  miles  further  on,  the  main  column 
bivouacked  for  the  night.  Saturday,  the  13th,  the  column 
started  again,  leaving  the  Forty-sixth  ^Massachusetts  with 
artillery  at  another  intersection  of  roads,  and  when  South- 
west Creek  is  reached,  the  enemy,  400  strong,  is  found  posted 
on  the  further  side,  with  the  intervening  bridge  destroyed. 
The  stream  was  uufordabie,  was  at  the  foot  of  a  deep  ravine, 
hence  a  battery  was  ordered  up,  and  the  Ninth  New  Jersey, 
under  its  fire,  made  its  way  across  by  swimming,  by  frag- 
ments of  the  bridge  and  by  a  mill-dam,  and  formed  on  the 
opposite  side.  Other  regiments,  including  Wessells'  brigade 
and  the  Twenty-third  ^Massachusetts,  had  succeeded  in  cross- 
ing and  forcing  the  retirement  of  the  foe.  Those  already 
over  the  creek  bivouacked  there  for  the  night.  Other  troops 
had  been  dispatched  along  the  south  side  of  the  creek 
towards  Whitehall,  and  still  others  towards  Kinston. 

Sunday,  the  14th,  the  column  again  advanced,  and  about 
one  mile  from  Kinston  encountered  the  enemy  strongly 
posted.  In  the  attack  which  followed,  the  Twenty-fourth 
Massachusetts  supported  Belger's  Battery,  the  other  regi- 
ments of  the  brigade  moving  forward.  The  Confederates 
were  driven  across  the  Neuse,  setting  fire  to  the  bridge  as  they 
did  so,  but  the  Union  forces  were  so  near  that  they  captured 
about  400  of  them.  Our  forces  succeeded  in  extingiiishing  the 
'fire,  and  the  town  of  Kinston  was  occupied.  The  Confede- 
rate commander,  Gen.  X.  G.  Evans,  retired  about  two  miles 
and  formed  in  line  of  battle.  Under  a  flag  of  truce  he  was 
asked  if  he  desired  to  surrender.  On  his  declination  prepa- 
rations were  made  to  attack,  pending  which  he  withdrew 
still  further,  and  night  coming  on  the  troops  camped  on  the 
field;  besides,  the  object  of  the  expedition  thus  far  had  been 
accomplished.  The  next  morning  we  recrossed  the  river  and 
took  the  Goldsboro  road,  leaving  a  strong  foi-ce  in  Kinston 
with  orders  to  make  a  demonstration  towards  Goldsboro  on 
that  side  of  the  Xeuse.  The  main  column  advanced  to  within 
3^  miles  of  Whitehall,  where  it  encamped  for  the  night. 
Early  on  the  16th,  a  force  of  cavalry  under  3Ia.jor  Garrard, 
with  a  section  of  artillery,  was  sent  forward  to  ^Mount  Olive 
on  the  Wilmington  &  Weldou  Railroad  to  destroy  the  same. 
Passing  Whitehall,  though  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  Xeuse, 
he  was  fired  upon.  He  succeeded  in  destroying  about  one 
mile  of  the  railroad  track.     When  the  column  reached  the 


166 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


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Dec.   '62.  Goldsboro  Expedition.  167 

brigade  supported  the  movement  and,  after  a  severe  encoun- 
ter, reached  the  bridge,  which  was  fired  by  Lieut.  Geo.  W. 
Graham  of  the  Twenty-third  New  York  Battery;  a  number  of 
others  attempting  the  deed  had  lieen  picked  off  by  the  enemy. 
All  the  artillery  force  was  brought  up  to  prevent  the  saving 
of  the  bridge,  and  while  it  was  burning  a  countermarch 
towards  Newbern  was  ordered,  Lee's  brigade  forming  the 
rear  guard.  As  this  move  was  begun,  an  attempt  was  made 
by  the  enemy  to  entrap  and  capture  Lee's  forces  and  ]\Iorri- 
son's  Battery,  but  by  the  vigilance  of  the  General  it  failed. 
With  a  strong  cavalry  rear-guard,  the  return  was  effected 
without  mishap,  carrying  along  the  sick  and  wounded  from 
Kinston  and  Whitehall.  The  casualties  were  4  officers  and 
88  enlisted  men  killed ;  19  officers  and  468  enlisted  men 
wounded,  with  13  captured  or  missing.  The  destruction  of 
the  railroad  bridge  seems  to  have  been  the  principal  end 
attained  by  the  trip  if  we  exclude  the  number,  496,  of  the 
rebels  captured,  and  their  losses  in  the  field,  said  to  have  been 
71  killed  and  268  wounded.  The  defeat  of  Burnside  at  Fred- 
ericksburg had  made  it  possible  for  General  R.  E.  Lee  to  send 
any  number  of  men  to  the  help  of  the  city,  hence  a  return 
was  the  sanest  move  possible— R.  R.,  Vol.  18.  p.  54. 

As  the  report  of  General  Foster  includes  the  major  feat- 
ures of  the  expedition,  only  those  portions  of  General  Steven- 
son's are  given  here  that  were  not  mentioned  in  the  more 
comprehensive  statement  of  the  General  commanding: 

Agreeably  to  orders  from  headquarters,  this  brigade  joined 
the  column  the  morning  of  Dee.  11  on  the  Trent  road,  being 
third  in  position.  Nothing  of  importance  occurred  until  the 
morning  of  the  14th,  Sunday,  when  within  a  few  miles  of 
Kinston  the  advance  was  attacked  by  the  enemy  in  force. 
The  Tenth  Gonnecticut  and  the  Forty-fourth  Massachusetts 
were  ordered  into  position  on  right  of  road  in  support  of 
battery;  the  Fifth  Rhode  Island  and  the  Twenty-fourth  Mas- 
sachusetts on  left  of  road  to  support  Belger's  Battery.  The 
Tenth  Connecticut,  Fifth  Rhode  Island  and  Forty-fourth 
^Massachusetts  were  th?n  ordered  forward  to  the 
advance.     *     *     *     * 

On  the  morninu'  of  Dec.  16  the  enemy  made  another  stand 
at  Whitehall,  occupying  a  strong  position  on  the  other  side 


168 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


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Dec.   '62.  Goldsboro  Expedition.  169 

of  the  river,  havius'  burned  the  bridge.  The  Forty-fourth 
^Massachusetts  and  Tenth  Connecticut  Avere  ordered  into  posi- 
tion on  the  banks  of  the  river,  on  the  left  of  the  road  leading 
to  the  bridge.  Belger's  Battery  was  then  ordered  to  shell  the 
woods,  the  enemy's  sharpshooters  being  so  completely  con- 
cealed that  the  fire  of  our  infantry  had  but  little  effect.  The 
line  of  march  was  then  taken  up  towards  Goldsboro,  the 
Fifth  Rhode  Island  and  a  few  sharpshooters  of  the  Twenty- 
fourth  ^Massachusetts  being  left  behind  to  engage  the  rebel 
sharpshooters  till  the  rear  of  the  column  had  passed.  *  * 
I  cannot  close  this  report  without  referring,  as  I  do  with 
gratitude,  to  the  manner  in  which  Col.  F.  L.  Lee,  command- 
ing the  Forty-fourth  ^lassachusetts :  Lieut.-Col.  R.  Leggett, 
Tenth  Connecticut:  jMajor  R.  H.  Stevenson,  Twenty-fourth 
IMassachusetts :  Captain  Arnold,  Fifth  Rhode  Island,  and 
Captain  Belger  of  the  Rhode  Island  Battery  have  seconded 
all  my  efforts  throughout  the  whole  expedition.  Their 
prompt  and  efficient  action  has  facilitated  every  movement 
which  has  been  undertaken. — ^R.  R.,  Vol.  18.  p.  82. 

So  much  officially,  but  how  did  the  boys  see  the 
trip  and  what  part  did  the  Twenty-fourth  play 
in  the  expedition?  The  men  in  the  ranks  were 
taking  notes.  As  the  troops  were  marching  out  of 
Newbern,  the  parents  of  General  and  Major  Stevenson 
were  seen  watching  the  departure  of  their  sons  and  the  thou- 
sands of  other  men.  Would  it  be  strange  if  they  thought 
more  about  their  two  than  of  the  other  ten  thousand?  The 
roads  are  in  good  condition  for  marching,  and  at  noon  the 
fog  having  cleared  away,  Newbern  is  still  in  sight.  Orders 
against  pillaging  were  issued,  and  the  line,  stretching  out  six 
or  more  miles,  was  cautioned  against  straggling  and  maraud- 
ing. The  line  began  to  camp  late  in  the  evening,  and  as  the 
Twenty-fourth  was  on  tlie  left,  it  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
the  hundreds  of  fires  over  which  the  men  were  making  coffee, 
nearby  rail  fences  affording  the  combustibles.  In  spite  of 
the  orders  against  straggling,  there  were  footsore  men  who 
did  not  reach  the  camp  till  near  midnight.  The  march  is 
resumed  on  the  12th  with  a  speedy  introduction  to  wounded 


170  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Kegiment. 

rebels  who  had  got  in  the  way  of  the  advance  guard.  Here 
and  there  a  small  white  flag  on  the  house  of  a  poor  white 
proclaims  a  non-resistant  there.  On  the  13th  the  boys  see  a 
giiideboard  with  the  words  "26  miles  to  Newbern,  9  to  Kins- 
ton,"  and  they  wonder  if  it  lies  like  those  at  home.  Rations 
are  scarce,  since  the  wagons  have  not  kept  up  and  the  supply 
with  which  they  started  has  disappeared  rapidlj^  When  the 
teams  did  arrive  and  food  was  distributed,  one  of  the  hungry 
men  records  the  eating  of  no  less  than  ten  hardtack  at  one 
trial.  As  prisoners  are  brought  in,  one  is  noted  who  was 
taken  and  paroled  at  Williamston.  According  to  the  rules 
of  war  he  deserved  shooting. 

When  the  Union  forces  entered  Kinston,  they  found  it  a 
rather  pretty  place  with  good  buildings,  though  many  of  the 
people  had  deserted  the  town  through  fear  of  a  bombardment 
and  they  are  now  returning  under  white  flags,  hoping  to 
regain  and  keep  their  own,  especially  if  it  be  under  a  Federal 
guard.  A  prominent  placard  is  seen,  saying,  "U.  Gill  will 
fight  the  Yankees  1000  years."  If  only  a  fourth  of  a  pint 
could  be  so  valorous,  what  could  be  expected  of  a  full  half 
quart?  Poor  fellow,  after  all  these  forty  years  his  millen- 
nium has  hardly  begun.  On  the  16th,  while  supporting  Bel- 
ger's  Battery,  ^lajor  Stevenson  called  for  volunteer  sharp- 
shooters, because  of  the  enemy's  success  in  picking  off  our 
gunners.  The  response  was  ready  and  numerous.  While 
thus  acting  one  of  the  Company  I  men,  having  climbed  over 
a  fence  for  a  better  chance,  was  hit  by  a  bullet  and  he  came 
back  in  a  hurry,  saying,  "Oh,  I'm  shot,"  but  on  investigation 
he  found  that  the  missile  had  only  hit  his  breastplate  and 
glanced  oft',  whereupon  he  resumed  Avork.  Covered  by  these 
sharpshooters  our  forces  were  marching  towards  Goldsboro, 
and  finally  the  detailed  men,  as  directed  by  Lieut.  Edgar 
Clough  in  charge,  double-quicked  out  of  range.  It  was 
when  thus  getting  out  of  harm's  way  that  Corporal  Richard 
Lawless  of  Company  G  was  shot.  Under  the  direction  of 
Adjutant  Ordway,  he  was  carried  to  a   temporary  hospital, 


Dec.  '62.  Goldsboro  Expedition.  171 

and  his  comrades  followed  after  the  regiment.  Some  of  the 
boys  objected  to  the  flying  of  the  colors  of  the  Fifth  Rhode 
Island,  which  had  come  into  the  mel^e,  and  which  drew  the 
fire  of  the  enemy,  resulting  in  the  wounding  of  a  number  of 
their  own  men. 

A  careful  observer  says  of  the  bridge  across  the  Neuse 
near  Goldsboro  that  it  was  a  covered  bridge  100  yards  in 
length,  having  200  yards  of  trestle  approaches.  On  the 
return  our  men  take  a  different  route  from  Kinston  down, 
and  see  certain  fortifications  erected  by  the  enemy,  but  the 
taking  of  another  road  by  our  forces  rendered  them  useless. 
Also,  notwithstanding  the  orders  against  foraging,  the  return 
was  not  without  its  evidence  of  the  possessions  of  the  people 
in  the  shape  of  bacon  and  other  variations  from  the  regular 
commissary  fare.  Confederate  dead,  yet  unburied,  were 
found  on  the  19th.  At  7.30  p.m.  of  the  20th  some  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  were  back  in  Xewbern,  but  stragglers  were 
coming  in  at  all  hours  of  the  night.  All  of  the  men  were 
footsore  and  weary,  the  last  day's  march  having  covered 
more  than  thirty  miles.  All  sorts  of  estimates  exist  as  to  the 
distance  marched  in  the  expedition.  As  the  railroad  line 
extends  over  between  fifty  and  sixty  miles,  the  route  taken 
by  the  army  must  have  covered  considerably  more  than  twice 
that,  though  some  of  the  wearied  soldiers  were  certain  they 
had  sampled  over  200  miles  of  walking. 

Reports  from  Confederate  sources  add  nothing  to  that  of 
General  Foster,  except  as  they  confirm  his, notions  concerning 
the  arrival  of  reinforcements  from  the  North.  As  hitherto, 
the  forces  met  liy  ours  were  almost  entirely  from  North  Car- 
olina. Evidently,  the  enemy  thought  the  Tar  State  should 
be  defended  by  Tarheels,  and  they  were  good  fighters.  Of  the 
incident  where  Lieutenant  Graham  fired  the  Goldsboro 
bridge,  General  G.  W.  Smith  writes  this:  "About  2  o'clock  in 
the  afternoon  one  bold  and  daring  incendiary  succeeded  in 
reaching  the  bridge,  and,  covered  by  the  wire-wall  of  the 
abutment,  lighted  a  flame  which  soon    destroyed   the    super- 


172 


Twenty-fourth  INIassachusetts  Eegiment. 


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Dec.  '63.  Newbern.  173 

NEWBERN. 

On  the  morning  of  the  expedition's  return,  Colonel 
Osborn  reached  Newbern  after  his  leave  of  absence  and 
found  that  his  regiment,  under  ^Nlajor  R.  H.  Stevenson,  was 
in  the  field  and  again  without  him.  In  a  letter  written  this 
day  he  mentions  finding  the  Stevenson  parents,  also  Captain 
Prince  and  Lieutenants  Edmands  and  Barnard,  who  had 
been  unable  to  accompany  their  commands,  and  in  the  fore- 
noon Quartermaster  Sergeant  Thompson  arrived,  covered 
with  dust,  and  saying  that  he  had  left  the  regiment  twenty- 
five  miles  out,  and  that  all  expected  had  been  accomplished. 
"I  hope  to  see  my  regiment  to-morrow  morning,  and  am  very 
impatient  to  meet  the  officers.  I  find  that  the  barracks  for 
the  men  are  completed  and  are  occupied  by  convalescents. 
The  officers'  are  not  yet  completed.  As  there  is,  however, 
only  a  few  days'  work  needed  on  them,  I  hope  to  occupy 
them  before  long." 

Confederate  estimates  of  the  numbers  in  the  expedition 
were  as  wild  as  such  were  wont  to  be.  No  one  placed  them 
less  than  15,000,  and  some  put  them  as  high  as  30,000.  Gov- 
ernor "Zeb"  Vance,  who  commanded  a  regiment  at  Newbern, 
was  at  Goldsboro. 

The  remaining  days  of  December  were  spent  very  quietly, 
the  earliest  of  them  being  devoted  to  rest  and  recuperation, 
needed  after  the  exactions  of  the  events  of  the  lltli-20tli 
interval.  As  General  Stevenson  was  having  new  hospitals 
erected,  he  drew  upon  his  Yankee  soldiers  for  every  man  who 
ever  pushed  a  saw  or  drove  a  nail.  His  ^Massachusetts  boys 
were  equal  to  any  exaction  he  was  likely  to  make  of  them. 
The  weather  is  remarkably  warm  for  the  time  of  the  year, 
and,  except  for  occasional  rains,  is  delightful.  Christmas 
day  passed  wath  little  enough  notice  to  have  pleased  the  most 
austere  Puritan  among  the  ancestors  of  these  sons  of  their 
fathers.  Only  this  record  is  found,  "We  had  an  oyster  stew 
and  a  hardtack  pudding  for  dinner." 


174  Twenty-fourth  IMassachusetts  Regiment. 

On  the  27th,  Colonel  Stevenson  received  notice  of  his 
appointment  as  Brigadier-General,  though  for  the  greater 
part  of  his  stay  in  the  department  he  had  been  performing 
the  duties  of  a  brigade  connnander.  The  Twenty-fourth  is 
now  in  the  Second  Brigade,  First  Division,  Eighteenth  Army 
Corps,  and  its  associates  are  the  Forty-fourth  Massachusetts, 
the  Tenth  Connecticut,  and  the  Fifth  Rhode  Island.  For 
the  Tenth  Connecticut  the  boys  of  the  Twenty-fourth  always 
have  a  warm  place  in  their  hearts.  Of  it  Colonel  Osborn 
writes,  "It  is  a  very  plucky  regiment  *  *  and  did  glo- 
riously in  the  fight  near  Kinston.  *  *  I  have  always  had 
great  confidence  in  them  and  they  appear  to  have  the  same 
in  us,  and  like  to  be  in  the  brigade  with  us.  The  Fifth  Rhode 
Island  is  a  good  regiment,  though  it  has  never  had  an  oppor- 
tunity to  signalize  itself.  The  Twenty-fourth  and  the  Forty- 
fourth  you  know,  so  you  can  form  your  own  opinion  con- 
cerning the  brigade.  With  the  modesty  so  characteristic  of 
soldiers  we  think  it  is  a  crack  one."  General  H.  W.  AVessells, 
who  came  down  from  Suffolk  for  the  Goldsboro  Expedition, 
commands  the  division,  his  jolace  in  his  former  brigade  being 
taken  by  Col.  Lewis  C.  Hunt  of  the  Ninety-second  New  York. 
The  year  1862  went  out  with  the  usual  routine  of  drills, 
inspections  and  reviews. 

1863. 

January  is  not  to  prove  a  memorable  month  in  the  history 
of  our  regiment  except  as  it  marks  the  departure  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  for  regions  farther  south.  The  beginning 
of  the  month  was  simplj^  a  continuation  of  the  last  of  Decem- 
ber. Friday,  the  2d,  there  was  a  brigade  review  by  General 
Wessells,  and  that  officer  proclaimed  it  the  best  he  had  seen  in 
the  army.  The  hard  work  of  the  men  and  officers  in  the 
school  of  the  soldier  was  producing  results.  The  lOth  of  the 
month  is  the  date  of  Chaplain  Mellen's  resignation,  and  the 
next  day  some  one  records,  ' '  The  Chaplain  left  the  regi- 
ment. ' '     The  beginning   of   something  new  is  the   reading  at 


Jan.  '63.  Newbern.  175 

dress-parade,  the  13th,  of  an  order  to  the  effect  that  the 
troops  were  to  be  ready  to  go,  in  heavy  marching  order,  to 
Beaufort,  on  twelve  honrs'  notice,  and  thence  in  transports  to 
some  place  to  them  unknown.  The  17th  brings  an  order  that 
all  regiments  that  went  on  the  Goldsboro  expedition  shall 
have  lettered  npon  their  colors  the  names  of  the  battles, 
Kinston,  Whitehall  and  Goldsboro.  At  noon  of  the  22d  came 
the  expected  orders  to  pack  np  and  be  ready  to  march, 
tliongh  not  in  twelve  hours,  but  in  just  one  hour  and  a  half. 
Naturally,  there  were  expressions  of  indignation  from  officers 
as  well  as  enlisted  men,  l)ut  all  made  the  best  of  the  situation, 
and  boarded  the  train  for  ^loreheacl  City  as  soon  as  possible ; 
and  then  disgust  broke  out  afresh  when  it  was  found  that 
the  cars  would  not  move  till  4.30.  Companies  E  and  K  were 
left  in  camp,  doubtless  to  arrange  for  an  absence  of  consider- 
able duration :  it  proved  to  be  for  aye. 

However,  the  train  did  start  after  a  while,  and  of  the 
following  hours  Colonel  Osborn  writes:  "Though  we  did 
not  start  till  after  four  o'clock  we  ran  so  slowly  and 
stopped  so  often  that  it  was  half  past  eight  before  we 
arrived  at  the  wharf  in  IMorehead  City.  Here  we  expected 
to  find  the  Guide  all  ready  to  take  us  on  board.  I  was 
indignant  to  find  that  she  was  lying  at  anchor  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  from  the  wharf.  I  got  a  boat  and  went  on 
board  and  found  that  the  captain  had  had  no  notice  that 
we  were  coming  that  day,  and  could  not  get  in  to  the  wharf 
in  the  dark,  as  the  tide  was  running  like  a  mill-sluice.  I  was 
thus  obliged  to  march  my  men  back  a  mile  in  the  cold  and 
dark,  wake  up  the  officer  in  command  of  the  post,  and  distrib- 
ute my  companies  about  among  the  various  houses  which 
happened  to  be  vacant  of  everything  but  dirt,  and  which 
were  in  different  stages  of  dilapidation.  This  took  me  till 
2  o'clock  of  the  next  morning,  when  at  last  I  threw  myself 
on  the  bed  of  Capt.  E.  G.  Quincy  of  the  Forty-third  ^Massachu- 
setts,  who  had  been  traveling  around  in  the  sand  with  me  for 
the  last  two  or  three  hours,  and  using  his  utmost  exertions  to 
find  us  quartere." 


176  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

It  was  about  noon  when  the  Gnide  arrived  at  the  dock  and 
the  men  with  their  baggage  began  to  be  stowed  away  therein. 
The  vessel  is  an  old  acquaintance,  and  her  passengers  know 
every  nook  and  cranny  in  her,  but  it  is  pretty  hard  finding 
places  for  550  men  where  only  -150  are  expected  to  find  com- 
fort. When  the  eight  companies  were  on  board,  the  steamer 
drew  out  into  the  stream  and  dropped  anchor.  As  yet  not 
even  the  officers  know  the  destination  of  the  voyage.  The 
26tli  brought  Companies  E  and  K,  which  embarked  on  the 
Hussar,  and  the  fast  friends  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  the  Tenth 
Connecticut.  Also  this  is  the  date  of  a  communication  to  the 
captain  of  the  Guide  from  General  Foster,  commanding  the 
Eighteenth  Army  Corps : 

You  will  immediately  proceed  to  Port  Royal,  S.  C,  keeping 
as  near  as  possible  to  the  rest  of  the  fleet.  In  case  of  an  un- 
avoidable separation,  you  will  proceed  directly  to  the  above 
place. 

During  these  final  days  in  North  Carolina  officers  and  men 
improve  the  opportunity  to  visit  Beaufort,  Fort  Macon,  as 
well  as  Morehead  City.  On  the  27th,  Companies  B  and  C 
were  placed  on  the  schooner  Highlander,  where  also  were 
sent  from  the  Hussar,  E  and  K,  all  under  command  of  Cap- 
tain Hooper.  As  the  Guide  is  taking  on  coal  it  begins  to  look 
like  a  start.  The  next  day,  or  the  28th,  Colonel  Osborn 
receives  official  notification  of  his  appointment  as  Colonel, 
with  whose  duties  he  had  long  been  familiar.  The  afternoon 
of  the  29th  witnessed  the  grand  start  for  new  scenes  and  new 
battles.  So  long  had  the  regiment  been  in  the  Old  North 
State  they  had  actually  grown  to  speak  of  Newbern  as  home, 
and,  even  now,  these  men  on  shipboard  are  reckoning  on  the 
length  of  time  they  are  to  be  away,  and  it  was  many  a  long 
and  weary  month  before  they  gave  up  thinking  that  General 
Foster  would  yet  succeed  in  getting  them  back  to  the  familiar 
haunts  of  the  Trent  and  the  Neuse. 


Jax.  '63.  South  Carolina.  177 

SOUTH    CAROLINA. 

The  30tli  of  January  found  the  vessel  on  seas  rough  enough 
to  cause  many  of  these  men,  reared  by  the  Atlantic,  to  recall 
the  adventures  of  Jonah  and  the  whale.  Noon  of  the  31st 
brings  the  Guide  to  anchor  in  the  harbor  of  Hilton  Head, 
S.  C.  "When  passing  Charleston,  flashes  of  light  were  seen 
and  reports  of  heavy  guns  were  heard.  Subsequently,  it  was 
learned  that  Confederate  iron-clads  had  come  out  and 
attacked  the  blockading  fleet.  Their  harborage  is  in  the 
extreme  southern  part  of  South  Carolina,  and  for  the  present 
any  expectations  that  may  have  been  abroad  as  to  serving 
against  Charleston  are  in  abeyance.  A  movement  so  consid- 
erable as  the  present  must  have  had  some  commensurate 
motive.  This  portion  of  the  Confederacy  had  fallen  into 
Federal  possession,  Nov.  9th,  1861,  the  result  of  the  attack  of 
the  fleet  under  the  command  of  Commodore  Samuel  F.  Du- 
pont,  co-operating  with  land  forces  led  by  General  T.  W. 
Sherman.  Greeley,  in  his  history,  says  that  had  the  victory 
been  followed  by  vigorous  action  against  Savannah  and 
Charleston,  they  might  have  been  taken  then  without  serious 
opposition,  but  General  Sherman  had  no  orders  to  that  effect, 
and,  besides,  was  not  supplied  with  the  necessary  shallow  flat- 
boats  necessary  for  navigating  the  inland  Avaters  of  the  coast. 
The  post  had  proved  of  great  utility  as  a  base  of  supplies, 
and  had  seriously  interfered  W'ith  blockade  running,  which 
had  been  exceedingly  rife.  From  the  time  of  capture  till  the 
period  of  transferral  of  troops  from  North  Carolina,  there 
had  been  little  effort  to  extend  the  field  of  Federal  activities. 

Port  Royal  belonged  to  the  Department  of  the  South  and 
the  smallness  of  the  force  in  that  department  had  prevented 
anything  better  than  statu  quo.  It  had  long  been  felt  by  the 
army  that  an  attack  upon  Charleston  was  overdue,  and  the 
Navy  Department  had  the  same  in  contemplation,  but  it  was 
realized  that  an  adequate  land  force  was  essential  to  assist 
the  attack  and  to  occupy  any  work  that  might  be  taken  by 
12 


178 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


the 
navy. 
For  such 
reasons, 
General  Fos- 
^    ter,  whose  recent 
successes  had  called 
^       attention  to  him  as 
an    officer    of    ability^ 
was  sent  with  a  considerable 
land-force  and  siege  equipage 
to  assist  in  the  campaign.     There 
'^  was,  too,  a  bit  of  propriety  in  his 

being  thus  selected,  in  that  he  was  the 
officer  in  command  at  Moultrie  in  the 
spring  of  '61,  who  transferred  his  men  to 
Sumter,  and  was  one  of  those  who  withstood 
the  assault  on  that  fortress  in  April.  His  devoted 
followers  thought  they  saw  a  chance  for  retribution 
in  his  thus  leading  them.  What  might  have  been  and 
what  they  wished  did  not  take  place,  for  sundry  reasons, 
as  will  appear.  Greeley,  in  "The  American  Conflict,"  says: 
"General  Foster,  commanding  the  Eighteenth  Corps  in 
North  Carolina,  having  been  ordered  to  South  Carolina 
to'  co-operate  with  Commodore  Dupont  in  an  attack  on 
Charleston,  steamed  from  Beaufort,  N.  C,  with  12,000 
excellent  troops,  landing  them  at  Hilton  Head;  whence, 
finding  Dupont  not  yet  ready,  he  ran  up  to  Fortress  Mon- 
roe in  quest  of  siege-guns.  General  Hunter,  to  whom 
the  advent  of  Foster  was  a  complete  surprise,  thereupon 
took  command  of  Foster's  men,  broke   up  his   corps  organ- 


Feb.  '63.  Hilton  Head.  179 

ization,  and  this  exercise  of  authority  being  demurred 
to,  ordered  Foster's  staff  out  of  his  department.  Foster 
thereupon  obtained  authority  from  General  Halleek  to  return 
to  his  own  department,  leaving  his  12,000  men  to  serve  as  a 
reinforcement  to  General  Hunter,  under  whose  auspices,  in 
conjunction  M'ith  Commodore  Dupont,  the  attack  was  now 
to  be  made.  Halleek 's  sending  Foster  into  Hunter's  depart- 
ment without  notice  to  the  latter  has  not  been  explained." 

Port  Royal,  a  large  island  on  the  coast  of  South  Carolina, 
is  about  200  miles  south  of  Newbern,  and  forms  one  of  the 
famous  Sea  Islands  of  the  South  State,  and  has  long  been 
noted  for  its  production  of  Sea  Island  cotton,  the  longest  staple 
known.  Hilton  Head,  at  the  northwest  angle  of  the  island, 
is  a  considerable  place,  just  now  bustling  Avith  the  activity 
incident  to  its  being  headquarters  of  a  large  number  of  Union 
forces.  General  David  Hunter,  familiarly  known  to  some  of 
his  soldiers  as  "Black  Dave."  is  in  command.  Whatever 
his  merits  as  an  officer,  he  is  very  far.  from  being  popular 
with  the  men  who  have  come  down  with  General  Foster. 
General  Henry  ]\I.  Nagiee,  who  commanded  a  division  in  the 
Eighteenth  Corps,  w^as  left  in  command  of  Foster's  forces 
when  the  latter  went  northward,  but  the  latter  had  not  been 
gone  three  hours  before  Hunter  sent  orders  to  Nagiee,  dated, 
however,  two  days  before  General  Foster's  departure,  direct- 
ing Nagiee  to  make  a  return  of  the  forces  under  his  com- 
mand to  the  Department  of  the  South.  Matters  were  de- 
cidedly erossways,  and  so  continued  for  many  a  day,  indeed 
until  General  Nagiee  himself  followed  Foster  towards  the 
north.  But  our  immediate  concern  is  with  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Regiment,  which  is  on  shipboard  waiting  an  oppor- 
tunity to  debark  and  have  a  taste  of  the  shore  which  lies  so 
invitingly  near. 

Until  the  9th  of  February  there  is  little  to  record,  for  life 
on  the  Guide  is  monotony  itself.  On  the  -Ith,  the  schooner 
Highlander,  having  four  companies  of  the  regiment,  came  in 
Avith  all  well  on  board.     The   8th,  first   auniversarv  of    Roa- 


180  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

noke,  singularly  found  the  most  of  the  regiment  on  the  very 
vessel  which  on  that  momentous  clay  bore  them  to  the  North 
Carolina  island.  The  next  day,  9th,  the  steamer  comes  up  to 
the  wharf  and  her  burden  of  Massachusetts  men  is  landed  on 
the  soil  of  South  Carolina,  an  event  that  some  of  these  sol- 
diers had  been  anxious  for.  Brother  Jonathan  ever  had 
hankerings  for  Caroline,  and  less  than  tvvo  years  before  Dr. 
0.  W.  Holmes  had  written:  ^ 

0  Caroline,  Caroline,  child  of  the  sun, 

We  can  never  forget  that  our  hearts  have  been  one ; 

and  it  is  a  forceful  wooing  that  these  swains  will  make,  nor 
will  they  cease  their  efforts  till  those  other  lines  of  the  Auto- 
crat are  realized: 

The  star  flowering  banner  must  never  be  furled, 
For  its  blossoms  of  light  are  the  hope  of  the  world. 

The  landing  is  on  St.  Helena  Island,  opposite  Hilton  Head, 
and  though  the  name  suggests  Napoleon  and  banishment, 
such  is  not  the  thought  of  the  men  so  long  cooped  up  on 
board  the  Guide  and  Highlander.  Shelter-tents  are  in  order 
now  and  parties  of  two,  rather  than  a  squad,  will  occupy 
them.  That  the  place  is  considerably  further  south  is  evi- 
dent in  the  fact  that  oranges  and  bananas  are  found;  rabbits 
are  not  uncommon,  and  the  boys  kill  ducks  with  oyster  shells. 
Near  by  is  a  settlement  of  contrabands,  and  it  is  not  long 
before  trouble  ensues  as  to  the  taking  of  water  from  several 
wells  which,  apparently,  the  colored  folks  have  had  in  use 
hitherto.  The  negroes  objected,  but  of  course  in  such  a  dis- 
pute they  stood  no  chance,  though  the  soldiers  used  only  the 
weapons  provided  by  nature.  They  were  driven  away,  and  in 
the  m^l^e  the  overturning  of  a  stove  set  fire  to  one  of  the 
shanties,  and  all  of  them  went  up  in  flames.  This,  too,  occa- 
sioned trouble  with  headquarters.  By  the  15th  sutficient 
order  had  been  secured  to  warrant  the  resumption  of  dress- 
parades.     The  next  day  General  Stevenson  was  arrested  for 


Feb.  '63.  St.  Helena  Island.  181 

having-  spoken    slightingly  of    negro    troops,  thus    advancing 
Colonel  Osborn  to  the  command  of  the  brigade. 

Februaiy  18th  the  division  of  General  0.  S.  Ferry  went 
on  shipboard  and  then  disembarked,  some  think  it  being  a 
scheme  of  General  Hunter  to  find  out  whether  his  orders 
would  be  obeyed.  On  the  19th  General  Naglee  reviewed  the 
division,  Colonel  Osborn  commanding  Stevenson's  brigade. 
Washington's  birthday  was  memorable  in  camp,  since  on  that 
day  came  the  official  notification  of  Major  R.  H.  Stevenson's 
promotion  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Captain  Charles  H. 
Hooper  to  be  Major.  While  the  regiment  is  on  shore,  it  is 
hardly  on  solid  land,  for  altogether  too  much  of  the  earth  is 
in  the  air.  The  wind,  constantly  blowing,  keeps  the  sand  in 
motion,  and  cleanliness,  such  as  our  men  have  known,  is 
hardly  possible.  Besides,  there  is  the  great  disappointment 
over  the  departure  of  General  Foster  and  the  enforced 
remaining  of  the  men,  who  have  formed  a  deep  attachment 
for  him.  A  summary  of  a  letter  written  by  Colonel  Osborn 
on  the  22d  presents  a  very  good  picture  of  the  situation  from 
the  officers'  viewpoint: 

Before  General  Foster  left  he  issued  an  order  informing 
his  command  that  it  was  entirely  distinct  from  General  Hun- 
ter's, and  placing  it  under  command  of  General  Naglee. 
General  Hunter's  order,  assuming  command,  already  re- 
ferred to  (p.  179),  excited  bitterest  opposition  of  officers  and 
men  of  our  detachment,  and  it  was  denounced  in  unmeasured 
terms.  Our  grounds  for  indignation  were  that  we  should  be 
transferred  from  the  department  of  General  Foster,  whose 
ability  and  energy  all  acknowledge,  whom  we  all  love  and 
respect,  to  that  of  a  man  who  at  the  best  is  just  the  opposite. 
We  resent  what  seems  to  have  been  a  trick  in  effecting  the 
transfer.  Captain  Slaght,  General  Foster's  chief  quarter- 
master, refused  to  turn  over  his  property,  as  ordered  by 
Hunter,  and  was  put  in  arrest  by  him.  In  the  meantime. 
General  Foster's  staff  dispatched,  a  steamer  with  messenger 
to  him,  conveying  an  account  of  this  outrage,  that  he  might 
seek  redress   in  Washington. 

Hunter  then  put  in  motion  all  the  machinery  of  military 


182  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

power  to  mix  up  and  identify  Foster's  command  with  liis 
own,  and  to  hamper  him  as  much  as  possible  in  its  extrication. 
He  refuses  to  allow  us  any  fresh .  meat  and  bread,  though 
claiming  us  as  a  part  of  his  troops.  To  cap  the  climax  of  his 
insolent  assumptions  he  has  ordered  General  Foster's  staff  to 
leave  the  department  on  the  first  boat,  because  they  sent  away 
a  steamer  (their  own)  without  his  knowledge,  and  because 
they  have  used  language  calculated  to  excite  insubordination, 
etc.  We  are  longing  for  General  Foster's  return,  that  an 
end  may  be  put  to  our  misery. 

The  22d  also  brought  back  the  steamer  S.  S.  Spaulding,  hav- 
ing on  board  Adjt.-Gen.  E.  D.  Townsend,  who  evidently  had 
come  to  try  to  settle  the  difficulties  just  then  so  prominent.  It 
is  on  record  that  drill  or  roll-call  was  demanded  of  the  new 
arrivals  every  two  hours.  General  Hunter  expressing  a  pur- 
pose to  know  where  the  men  were  and  what  they  were  doing. 
Feb.  24th  there  was  a  review  by  General  Hunter,  nineteen 
regiments  appearing,  and  Colonel  Osborn  commanding  the 
Twenty-fourth.  The  25th  came  an  order  from  General  Hun- 
ter, revoking  the  one  whereby  the  North  Carolina  troops  w^ere 
mingled  Avith  the  Tenth  Corps,  an  act  which  conferred  a  deal 
of  pleasure  on  all  the  organizations  concerned.  The  27th 
the  regiment  was  mustered  for  pay.  Colonel  Osborn  was 
called  aboard  the  Secor  to  meet  General  Naglee,  who 
informed  him  that  he  Avas  obliged  to  transfer  Osborn 's 
brigade  to  General  Ferris'  Division. 

]March  begins  with  Sunday  and,  as  the  regiment  is  minus 
a  chaplain,  and  as  the  chaplain  of  the  Ninth  New  Jersey  Vol- 
unteers is  to  preach,  the  regiment  listens  to  him  as  he  gives  a 
"red-hot  Presbyterian  sermon."  The  days  are  not  specially 
interesting,  dust  being  the  chief  item  mentioned  in  the  annals 
of  the  times.  On  the  5th,  Captain  Richardson  of  G  and 
Lieutenant  Bell  of  C  return,  both  having  been  absent  on 
leave  for  several  wrecks.  Some  good  friend  at  home  had  sent 
down  to  the  men  of  Company  G  a  pair  of  stockings  for  each 
man,  and  Captain  Richardson  took  a  deal  of  pleasure  in 
being  the  dispenser  of  the  gift.     General  Naglee  is  relieved 


Mar.  '63.  Seabrook  Island.  183 

and  ordered  to  New  York,  his  place  being  taken  by  General 
0.  S.  Ferry,  -who  calls  together  the  commanders  of  brigades 
to  explain  the  situation.  The  6th,  the  regiment  is  subjected 
to  a  most  rigid  inspection  by  officers  of  General  Hunter's 
appointment.  The  result  was  highly  creditable  to  all  con- 
cerned. Each  day  has  its  proper  amount  of  drill,  and  Col- 
onel Osborn  gives  to  the  several  captains  opportunity  to  con- 
duct battalion  drills.  On  the  26th,  all  the  infantry  on  the 
Island  of  St.  Helena  was  reviewed  by  General  Hunter;  Gen- 
eral Stevenson  commanded,  General  Ferry  being  ill.  A 
change  of  base  is  in  contemplation,  and  on  the  28th  the  regi- 
ment went  on  board  the  steamer  United  States,  the  Tenth 
Connecticut  and  the  Fifty-sixth  New  York  having  boarded 
the  Catawba.  Both  steamers  anchored  in  the  stream,  and  the 
men  disposed  themselves  for  sleep  upon  the  decks,  but  two 
schooners  had  been  made  fast  to  the  United  States,  one  of 
them  having  on  board  the  outfit  of  Sutler  Clark  of  the 
Twenty-fourth. 

The  trip  is  not  a  long  one, for,  beginning  at  8  a.m.,  it  is  over 
at  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  the  landing  being  on  Seabrook 
Island,  situated  a  little  to  the  northward  of  St.  Helena,  and, 
so  nearer  Charleston,  which  apparently  is  the  point  towards 
which  the  army  is  headed.  The  other  regiments  are  ashore 
first,  but  the  Twenty-fourth  soon  follows  and  marches  after, 
about  three  miles,  to  a  plantation,  Avhere  camp  is  pitched  for 
the  night.  Picket-posts  are  established,  and  in  the  midst  of  a 
severe  rain  the  remainder  of  the  regiment  tries  to  sleep.  The 
28th,  General  Stevenson  withdrew  all  the  troops,  except  those 
of  the  Twenty-fourth  who  were  on  picket,  back  to  the  cover 
of  the  gunboats.  There  are  indications  of  the  near  presence 
of  the  enemy,  but  he  is  not  near  enough  for  anything  serious. 
The  regiment  is  relieved  on  the  31st  by  the  Fifty-sixth  New 
York,  and  marches  back  to  the  beach  and  prepares  to  locate  a 
camp.  Land  is  cleared  off  by  a  large  fatigue  party,  company 
streets  are  laid  out,  tents  are  pitched,  and  at  last  the  men  lie 
down  to  restful  sleep,  something  they  have  not  had  since 
leaving  St.  Plelena  Island. 


184  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

An  excellent  picture  of  life  during  the  month  of  March  is 
in  existence,  sent  home  by  an  enlisted  man.  Certain  parts 
of  it  are  reproduced  here  for  the  benefit  of  those  who 
remember  those  dusty  days,  but  did  not  then  inscribe  their 
impressions : 

I  think  you  would  like  to  see  the  way  beans  are 
cooked  here.  A  hole  is  dug  in  the  ground  like  a  grave, 
though  not  so  deep,  and  a  fire  is  started  in  the  morning  so  as 
to  have  a  lot  of  hot  coals  by  night.  When  the  beans  have 
been  parboiled  and  put  in  kettles,  the  coals  are  raked  aside 
and  the  kettles  are  placed  in,  the  hot  embers  then  being 
crowded  up  against  and  over  the  pots.  Then  the  space  is 
filled  up  with  earth  to  keep  the  heat  all  in.  There  lies  the 
body  of  Mr.  Bean  till  morning,  when  he  is  taken  up,  thor- 
oughly baked,  and  is  soon  reburied  in  more  or  less  perma- 
nent receptacles.  Friday  morning.  ]March  27tli.  we  were 
turned  out  early,  packed  our  knapsacks,  struck  our 
tents  before  breakfast,  and  went  on  board  the  steamer 
United  States  about  noon.  We  sailed  into  the  North  Edisto 
River  in  the  afternoon,  and  under  the  cover  of  shells  from 
the  Monitor  and  the  gunboats,  effected  a  landing,  No  one 
knew  how  near  the  rebels  might  be.  hence  the  protection  of 
the  vessels.  *  *  After  landing,  we  marched  up  to  where 
the  other  regiments  were,  and  went  into  camp.  We  had  to 
go  out  on  picket,  some  of  us,  and  being  in  heavy  marching 
order  our  knapsacks  were  weighty.  I  should  think  mine 
weighed  fifty  pounds.  Luckily,  the  palmetto  leaves  are  very 
large,  and  we  placed  three  or  four  of  them  on  the  ground 
and  then  laid  a  rubber  and  a  woolen  blanket  on  them. 
After  that  two  of  us  would  pull  another  pair  of  rubber  and 
woolen  coverings  over  us,  and  we  were  in  good  shape  till 
morning.  The  rain  Sunday  was  something  just  awful.  Such 
storms  are  seldom  seen  anywhere.  We  fixed  up  shelters 
with  our  rubber  blankets,  while  others  used  palmetto  leaves. 
All  of  the  companies,  except  E  and  K,  went  out  on  picket. 
While  it  was  raining  hardest,  the  palmetto  leaves  being  very 
plenty  and  large,  from  four  to  six  feet  across,  the  boys  used 
them  as  umbrellas.  It  was  a  comical  sight  to  see  men  stand- 
ing around  each  with  a  big  leaf  on  his  head. 


April   '63.  Seabrook  Island.  185 

April  is  to  prove  another  uneventful  month,  filled,  to  be 
sure,  with  routine  duties  and  many  longings  for  Newbern 
and  association  -with  admired  and  respected  commanders. 
However,  April  came  in  with  something  like  an  April  fool, 
since  at  6  a.m.  the  regiment  was  turned  out  with  the  infor- 
mation that  the  enemy  had  come  in,  a  whole  regiment  of 
them,  and  had  surrounded  a  house  where  the  headquarters 
of  the  picket  had  been  established  the  night  before,  with  the 
evident  expectation  of  making  a  rich  capture,  but  the  game 
was  not  there  and  the  rebels  went  back  perhaps  thinking 
of  the  possibilities  of  All  Fools'  day.  The  regiment  stood 
in  line  about  three  hours,  and  then  was  dismissed,  the  report 
coming  in  that  the  enemy  had  retired.  Of  the  present  loca- 
tion of  the  Twenty-fourth  Colonel  Osborn  writes:  ''We  have 
occupied  this  place  to  prevent  the  rebels  from  throwing  up 
batteries  to  annoy  our  transports  which  will  rendezvous 
here.  The  island  is  on  the  north  side  of  the  North  Edisto 
River,  and  adjoins  John's  Island.  The  harbor  is  a  very 
good  one  and  within  twenty  miles  of  Charleston.  Boats  are 
collecting  here  rapidly,  and  the  long-talked-of  attack  will 
soon  take  place.  We  are  encamped  on  a  point  of  the  island 
close  to  the  river,  under  cover  of  the  gunboats,  and  we  are 
throwing  up  fortifications  and  making  such  preparations  for 
defense  as  will  enable  us  to  withstand  a  much  superior 
force.  Ironclads  and  gunboats  have  been  arriving  here 
constantly  and  they  are  all  now  ready  to  proceed." 

In  these  days  of  delay  there  are  many  exchanges  of  cour- 
tesies between  the  officers  of  the  land  and  naval  forces.  Din- 
ners are  served  which  are  a  cheerful  variation  in  camp 
monotony,  and  the  Glee  Club  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  with  the 
band  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  serenade  the  officers  who  go 
down  to  the  sea  in  ships.  On  the  5th  Heckman's  division 
appeared  off  the  harbor  and  waited  for  a  tide  to  permit  a 
safe  entrance,  getting  in  finally  and  anchoring  about  dark. 
The  division's  stay  is  brief,  for  it  steamed  away  on  the  10th, 
going  back  to  Hilton  Head,  the  attack  on  Charleston  having 


186  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

failed.  The  camp  of  the  Twenty-fourth  is  close  to  the 
water,  and  the  island  is  covered  with  woods,  save  where  a 
plantation  has  been  cleared  near  the  picket-line.  The  abun- 
dant palmetto  excites  attention,  not  on  account  of  beauty, 
though  it  be  the  symbol  of  the  State,  but  because  of  its 
remarkably  large  leaves.  The  thick  woods  abound  in  a 
rank  undergrowth,  and  with  vines  running  and  trailing  in  all 
directions.  "The  prettiest  of  these  that  I  have  seen  is  the 
jessamine.  The  vine  is  red.  with  graceful,  slender  leaves  of 
a  deep  green,  and  a  lovely  yellow  flower,  bell-shaped,  with 
an  exquisite  fragrance.  It  is  very  luxuriant,  completely 
covering  little  shrubs  and  climbing  to  the  tops  of  tall  trees. 
Its  delicate  perfume  fills  the  air  without  oppressing  it,  and 
gives  me  more  pleasure  than  anything  I  have  seen  in  the 
South.  On  St.  Helena  I  had  my  tent  constantly  hung 
with  it." 

April  10th,  lest  they  might  be'  forgotten,  the  enemy  came 
down  to  the  Seabrook  House  and  fired  on  our  pickets  from 
the  windows.  The  next  day,  just  before  light,  shots  were 
heard  and  Captain  Gardner  reported  that  his  outpost  had 
been  attacked  by  a  few  men,  but  they  had  been  repulsed, 
though  Sergeant  Geo.  S.  Peach  of  Company  B  was  badly 
wounded  in  the  thigh,  resulting  in  the  amputation  of  the 
leg  at  the  hip,  and  for  some  time  his  recovery  was  deemed 
unlikely.  Later  in  the  daj^  another  alarm,  this  time  a  false 
one,  resulted  in  the  ordering  out  of  several  companies.  Thus 
were  the  men  saved  from  the  ennui  liable  to  come  to  those 
having  only  routine  work.  On  this  day,  notwithstanding 
its  many  interludes.  Colonel  Osborn  finds  time  to  write  as 
follows : 

The  place  is  pleasant  and  our  residence  here  would  not  be 
disagreeable  but  for  the  vicinity  of  the  enemy  and  the  conse- 
quent necessity  of  being  constantly  on  the  alert,  and  of  hav- 
ing one  regiment  doing  picket  duty.  As  there  are  but  three, 
each  one  is  made  to  do  that  duty  one  third  of  the  time.  My 
regiment  is  now  on  picket,  having  come  up  Thursday,  the 


April  13.  63.  Col.  Osborn 's  Letter.  187 

9th.  and  is  to  remain  till  next  Thursday.  We  see  constantly 
small  bodies  of  the  enemy  hovering  about  our  lines.  The 
other  day  they  fired  about  fifteen  shots  at  our  outposts, 
injuring  no  one.  The  fire  Avas  not  returned,  for  I  have 
given  orders  that  no  man  shall  fire  unless  the  enemy  come 
so  near  as  to  make  it  a  dead  shot.  *  *  This  afternoon 
they  came  so  close  to  our  lines  that  a  dozen  of  my  men  fired 
on  them.  They  think  they  wounded  one,  the  rebels  retiring 
without  loss  of  time. 

It  was  during  this  period  of  picket  duty  that  one  of  those 
amusing  incidents  occurred  that  all  military  organizations 
are  liable  to.  It  was  after  dark  that  a  sentinel  was  con- 
vinced that  he  heard  a  man  cross  his  beat  and  he  challenged 
sharply,  but  without  any  reply.  This  he  did  repeatedly, 
but  did  not  fire  lest  he  might  harm  some  of  his  own  regiment 
then  asleep  in  their  huts.  The  officers  in  charge  roused 
their  men,  and  the  nearby  woods  were  carefully  searched, 
but  without  success.  Again,  a  little  later,  more  men  were 
roused  and  the  search  was  renewed.  At  midnight  the  guard 
was  doubled,  a  decidedly  creepy  sensation  pervading  the 
several  posts.  In  the  morning  the  mystery  was  solved,  for 
the  intruder  was  no  less  an  object  than  an  ass.  Had  he  only 
uttered  a  few  notes  of  the  song  he  is  wont  to  sing  he  might 
have  saved  those  Yankee  soldiers  a  lot  of  trouble. 

April  13th  Colonel  Osborn  writes  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Hoffman,  Asst.  Adjutant-General  on  General  Foster's  staff, 
making  sundry  inquiries  as  follows : 

I  am  very  anxious  to  know  Avhether  we  are  to  go  back  to 
Newbern  or  to 'remain  here.  We  fear  the  latter,  but  still 
have  some  lingering  hopes  of  the  former.  *  *  We  are 
constantly  hearing  from  our  friends  in  Newbern  that  every 
effort  is  making  and  will  continue  to  be  made  to  recall  us. 
and  all  of  us  earnestly  hope  that  they  may  be  successful. 
*  *  This  state  of  suspense  is  intolerable,  and  I  Avould 
rather  know  the  worst  at  once  than  bear  it.  Nearly  all  my 
clothes  and  other  property  are  still  in  Newbern,  unless  they 
have  been  stolen,  Avhich  is  not  unlikely,  also  my  books,  pri- 
vate and  regimental  papers.     I  have  not  been  able   to  make 


188  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

up  my  aeeonnts  for  two  quarters  nor  my  payrolls  for  the 
two  months  ending  Fel).  16th.  I  have  a  lieutenant  and 
about  150  men  there  who  have  not  been  permitted  to  join 
the  regiment.  Many  of  them  are  fit  for  duty,  and  are  very 
much  needed  now  when  we  are  doing  picket  duty  one  third 
of  the  time.  Lieutenant  Edmands  I  absolutely  need,  as  we 
are  very  short  of  officers.  If  their  remaining  in  Newbern 
will  increase  the  chances  of  our  return,  I  will  gladly  con- 
trive to  do  without  them,  but  if  there  is  no  hope  of  such  a 
result,  they  ought  to  be  sent  to  me  immediately. 

To  this  letter  General  Foster  added  this  endorsement : 
"May  5th — It  is  my  earnest  desire  to  have  the  Twenty-fourth 
Massachusetts  Volunteers  ordered  back  to  this  department, 
and  I  have  made  the  most  urgent  appeals  to  have  General 
Stevenson's  brigade,  to  which  this  regiment  belongs, 
ordered  here  at  once  to  resist  the  still  threatened  attacks 
by  General  Hill's  forces  and  to  replace  the  thirteen  regi- 
ments whose  terms  of  service  are  beginning  to  expire." 

In  the  light  of  subsequent  events  it  seems  a  pity  that  so 
much  time  should  have  been  wasted  in  gazing  off  towards 
the  unattainable  land.  Our  men  in  the  South  Carolina 
swamps  M^ere  not  unlike  the  Children  of  Israel,  who  sat 
down  by  the  waters  of  Babylon  and  wept  when  they  remem- 
bered Zion. 

When  the  Aveek's  duty  on  picket  was  up  and  the  regiment 
returned  to  camp,  it  was  to  find  orders  to  break  camp  and 
to  go  aboard  the  steamer  New  England.  Companies  B  and 
C,  which  had  come  down  early  in  the  morning,  had  got  mat- 
ters pretty  well  advanced.  At  3  p.m.  countermanding  orders 
were  received  from  General  Hunter,  and  the  men  came 
ashore  and  once  more  pitched  their  tents,  a  very  good  illus- 
tration of  our  traditional  soldiers  who  marched  up  the  hill 
and  then  marched  down  again.  The  anguish  over  the 
repitching  of  tents  is  somewhat  assuaged  by  the  rumor  that 
the  attack  on  Charleston  is  to  be  renewed,  and  that  there  is 
to  be  something  done  other  than  picket  duty  and  the  fight- 
ing of  furious  sand  flies.     Again  naval  and  military  liospi- 


May    '63.  Seabrook  Island.  189 

talities  are  resumed  and  the  best  is  made  of  the  situation. 
On  the  22d.  in  the  camp  of  the  Ninety-seventh  Pennsylva- 
nia, happened  a  sad  affair,  likely,  however,  wherever  w^his- 
key  abounds.  A  private  soldier,  ugly  drunk,  resisted  the 
attempt  to  arrest  him  by  a  sergeant,  and  by  the  latter  was 
shot  dead.  Of  course,  comrades  were  exasperated,  and  the 
officer,  who  may  have  been  over-hasty,  was  obliged  to  flee  for 
his  own  life.  An  officer  writing  on  the  2-lth  says:  "We 
are  anxious  to  get  back  [to  Xewbern]  and  would  rather 
fight  with  Foster  than  lie  still  under  Hunter.  Yv'e 
used  to  growl  at  some  things  in  Newbern,  but,  after  living 
three  months  in  this  department,  we  consider  the  depart- 
ment of  North  Carolina  a  heaven  of  order,  military  ability 
and  energy." 

April  23  Companies  D,  H,  I  and  F  went  on  a  recon- 
noissance  to  Botany  Bay  Island,  under  the  command  of 
Major  Hooper,  and  on  the  same  day  General  Stevenson  for- 
warded certain  dispatches  of  Commodore  Dupont  under  a 
flag  of  truce.  It  was  on  the  17th  that  the  men  were  paid  for 
four  months,  and,  being  in  a  generous  frame  of  mind,  a  col- 
lection was  taken  up  for  Sergeant  Peach,  who  had  lost  his 
leg.  and  it  resulted  in  about  $500  being  turned  over  to  the 
unfortunate  soldier.  Also,  they  did  a  similar  kindness  for 
James  ]\Iackin  of  Company  H.  who  had  also  lost  a  leg.  The 
sutler  was  in  evidence  after  pay-day.  and  it  was,  possibly,  ow- 
ing to  his  prevalence  with  the  Pennsylvanias  that  the 
private  lost  his  life.  At  any  rate,  money  bums  in 
the  pockets  of  many  of  the  men  till  they  pass  it 
over  to  the  keeping  of  the  regimental  dispenser  of 
extras.  Tobacco,  to  some  a  necessity,  has  the  high  price  of 
a  luxury,  and  the  lowest  rating  is  $2.25  for  two  plugs.  How 
happy  were  the  few  who  had  never  learned  to  use  the  weed! 
Roll-calls  and  drills  continue  frequent  when  in  camp,  the 
former  every  two  hours  save  late  in  the  afternoon,  when 
they  come  every  three  hours.  Thursday,  the  last  day  of  the 
month,  the  regiment  resumes  its  place  on  the  picket-line. 


190  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

The  month  of  May  among  English-speaking  people  in  all 
northern  regions  excites  feelings  of  pleasure  over  the  ap- 
proach of  summer,  but  in  these  South  Carolina  daj's  Yankee 
soldiers  had  the  impression  that  summer  was  already  there. 
Blossoming  flowers,  ripened  berries,  growing  vegetation,  all 
proclaimed  the  Aveather  that  in  Massachusetts  would  be  had 
the  last  of  June  or  in  July.  This  first  day  of  the  month 
reports  are  received  of  the  rebel  attack  on  Washington, 
N.  C,  and  so  familiar  are  all  the  men  with  the  scenes  around 
that  place  they  seem  themselves  to  be  almost  there.  In- 
deed, many  of  them  wish  they  were,  as  they  contrast  the 
activity  there  with  their  own  rounds  of  prosaic  duties.  On 
the  4th  of  May  Colonel  Osborn  writes: 

My  camp  where  I  hold  the  reserve  is  charmingly  situated 
in  the  woods,  about  three  miles  from  the  point  Avhere  the 
regimental  camp  is  pitched.  The  only  drawback  is  a  swamp 
which  lies  right  alongside  of  it,  and  which,  I  fear,  will  prove 
unhealthy.  It  abounds  in  ducks,  which  are  so  numerous  and 
so  tame  that  they  could  be  shot  with  a  pistol  were  firing 
allowed.  Some  of  the  men  have  knocked  them  over  with  a 
stick.  There  are  also  alligators  in  the  swamp  in  any  quan- 
tity and  of  all  sizes,  from  two  to  ten  feet  long.  My  men 
caught  two  yesterday  about  three  feet  long  each.  They  put 
a  slip-noose  on  a  long  pole  and,  watching  their  opportunity, 
passed  it  over  the  heads  of  the  victims  and  pulled  them 
struggling   out. 

General  Foster  has  got  out  of  his  difficulties  and  gained 
great  credit.  He  is  a  man  of  great  energy  and  pluck,  and 
just  the  one  for  the  situation  in  which  he  found  himself. 
The  rebels  sent  him  a  flag  of  truce,  summoning  him  to  sur- 
render. They  had  12,000,  he  1500  men.  He  replied  that  if 
they  wanted  tlie  town,  they  might  come  and  take  it.  After- 
wards they  sent  another  flag,  requiring  him  to  remove  the 
women  and  children,  as  they  intended  to  shell  the  town. 
This  was  rather  cool,  as  the  women  and  children  were  not 
ours,  but  belonged  to  the  men  who  were  fighting  in  the  rebel 
ranks.  Foster's  reply  was  that  if  they  sent  another  flag  he 
would  fire  on  the  bearer.  Afterwards,  when  he  found  that 
he  could  do  nothing  at  AVashington  to  relieve  the  place,  and 


May  '63.  Seabrook  Island.  191 

that  those  on  whom  he  relied  at  Xewbern  for  succor  were 
incompetent  to  render  it,  he  ran  the  blockade  of  the  rebel 
batteries  in  a  steamer  that  was  riddled  with  balls,  whose 
pilot  was  killed,  and  many  of  whose  crew  Avere  wounded. 
The  knowledge  that  he  was  at  liberty  and  in  a  position  to 
use  all  his  resources  seems  to  have  frightened  the  rebels, 
for  they  soon  raised  the  siege  and  went  away,  so  that  the 
forces  that  Foster  sent  up  had  no  fight.  *  *  We  are  con- 
stantly tormented  by  pests  of  the  insect  tribe.  The  worst  is 
the  sand-fly,  which  is  about  as  large  as  a  horse-fly's  head, 
and  whose  sting  is  as  sharp  as  the  prick  of  a  cambric  needle. 
They  swarm  everywhere  and  are  perfectly  unendurable. 
Mosquitoes  are  just  appearing.  They  disturbed  my  last 
night's  repose  seriously.  Flies  are  as  thick  as  in  midsum- 
mer. Snakes  are  very  plenty,  and  every  day  some  are 
killed  and  brought  into  camp. 

May  6th  the  hearts  of  officers  and  men  were  gladdened 
by  the  notice  from  General  Hunter's  headquarters  that  fur- 
loughs would  be  granted  at  the  rate  of  about  three  to  every 
hundred.  Accordingly,  applications  were  forwarded,  but  the 
parties  in  whose  behalf  they  were  sent  found  to  their  grief 
that  there  was  many  a  slip  "  'twixt  cup  and  lip."  Tan- 
talus had  not  more  trouble  in  his  efforts  to  get  a  drink  than 
had  those  soldiers  in  trying  to  reach  their  northern  homes. 
The  possibilities  of  illness  from  his  swamp  proximity  were 
realized  on  the  7th,  when  Colonel  Osborn  had  to  take  to  his 
bed  under  an  attack  of  malaria,  which  maintained  its  evil 
influence  for  many  a  subsequent  month.  At  7  o'clock  of 
that  day  the  regiment  was  relieved  from  picket  and 
returned  to  camp.  On  the  9th,  at  dress-parade,  orders  were 
read  modifying  the  former  rule  as  to  frequency  of  roll-call. 

While  the  weather  is  fine,  the  prevalence  of  reptiles  and 
noxious  insects  makes  these  northern  boys  just  a  little 
apprehensive,  and  one  of  them  tells  of  his  sitting  under  a 
tree  writing  his  regular  letter  home  with  his  ink-bottle  by 
his  side.  Without  looking,  he  reached  down  to  dip  his  pe;i 
in  the   bottle,  and  was   surprised   at  placing   his   hand    on 


192  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

something  cold,  when,  glancing  quickly,  he  saw  a  big  black 
snake  looking  him  in  the  face.  The  result  was  a  suspension 
of  correspondence  while  he  killed  that  reptile.  One  of  the 
boys  went  down  into  a  marsh  and  soon  fell  over  screaming 
loudly.  Friends  rushing  to  learn  what  the  trouble  was 
discovered  that  a  large  snake  had  wound  itself  around  the 
fellow's  legs,  throwing  him  down.  When  killed  and  meas- 
ured, the  serpent  revealed  six  feet  of  slimy  length.  But 
there  are  flowers  as  well.  The  first  magnolia  .blossom,  "as 
large  as  a  plate,"  excites  the  admiration  of  northern  eyes, 
and,  not  satisfied  with  seeing  it  on  the  stem,  some  one  must 
needs  climb  the  tree  to  get  it  for  his  captain.  Of  course,  it 
fell  to  pieces  in  his  hands,  as  fragile  as  the  poppies  of  Burns' 
writ : 

For  pleasures  are  like  poppies  spread, 
You  seize  the  flower,  the  bloom  is  shed. 

May  14th  the  following  order  for  camp  life  and  duties 
obtained:  "Reveille  at  5  a.m.:  breakfast,  5.30;  guard-mount, 
7.30 ;  police  call,  8 ;  dinner,  12 ;  supper.  6  p.m. ;  drill  and 
dress-parade  at  such  times  as  shall  from  time  to  time  be 
designated  on  account  of  the  tide."  General  Hunter  visited 
the  island  on  this  date.  Also,  on  this  same  day.  General 
Foster  wrote  to  Colonel  Osborn  from  Newbern    as  follows: 

My  dear  Colonel: 

I  received  your  kind  letter  and  immediately  took  the 
most  effective  action  in  my  power.  However,  I  have,  in 
fact,  been  constantly  making  the  most  strenuous  efforts  to 
get  the  troops  back  ever  since  the  failure  on  Charleston,  but 
have  signally  failed.  I  fear  my  influence  is  much  weakened 
by  the  row  with  Hunter,  and  that  he  has  proved  too  much, 
backed  by  his  sable  brigade.  But  he  must  look  out  for  his 
laurels,  for  we  are  soon  to  have  colored  troops  here,  too. 
The  fact  that  I  armed  the  negroes  at  Little  Washington 
when  necessary  is  convincing  a  certain  party  that  there  is 
some  moral  excellence  left  in  me.  Hunter's  head  would 
increase  several  degrees  in  its  oscillations  if  he  knew  how 


May  '63.  Seabrook  Island.  193 

near  Ave  are  to  stealing  his  thnnder.  Seriously  speakinc' 
though,  I  failed  in  all  my  applications.  General  Halleck 
■\vonld  not  order  you  back  nor  even  would  he  let  me  go  on 
to  "Washington  to  make  explanations.  I  went  so  far  as  to 
promise,  if  he  would  let  me  have  Stevenson's  brigade  (five 
regiments)  back  again,  to  take  a  most  important  point  on 
the  seacoast  and  hold  it,  a  point  that  could  be  made  of  most 
signal  value.  This  was  refused  like  all  the  others  by  Gen- 
eral Halleck,  but  he  told  me  he  would  like  to  have  me  do  it 
if  I  could  with  my  present  force.  This  whole  thing  annoys 
and  grieves  me  more  than  I  can  express,  both  on  account  of 
the  disappointment  of  the  troops  and  the  idea  that  my 
excess  of  zeal  led  them  into  their  present  position.  How- 
ever, I  hope  you  will  make  the  best  of  it  and  do  your  duty 
in  the  same  gallant  and  devoted  way  that  it  has  always  been 
done  by  you  and  the  Twenty-fourth.  If  there  is  a  chance  at 
any  time  to  get  you  back.  I  shall  seize  it  immediately.  In  the 
meantime,  you  and  your  friends  and  the  friends  of  the  regi- 
ment and  of  the  brigade  can  do  all  that  will  prove  effective. 
Give  my  best  love  to  General  Stevenson,  and  tell  him  that 
my  last  proposition  (to  take  a  certain  point)  came  very 
near  bringing  him  and  his  whole  brigade. 

On  the  17th  it  was  announced  that  General  Ferry  had 
assumed  command  of  the  island.  Two  days  lalfer  Surgeon 
Green  interdicts  drills,  under  the  impression  that  at  present 
they  are  not  conducive  to  the  regimental  health.  But  if 
drills  are  for  the  time  ruled  out,  there  is  an  abundance  of 
fatigue  work,  and  for  defensive  purposes  heavy  timber  is 
cut  from  Seabrook  and  Botany  Bay  Islands.  Here,  too, 
Yankee  ingenuity  appears  when  wheels  from  certain  of  the 
batteries  are  utilized  to  mount  some  of  the  large  and  long 
pine  logs  which  are  cut  and  must  be  transported  to  the  line 
of  proposed  works.  "With  the  butt  end  of  the  tree  on  the 
axle,  and  with  a  long  rope  attached,  the  men  play  firemen 
and  let  themselves  out  with  a  rush,  making  as  much  play 
of  their  work  as  they  can.  The  timber  on  Botany  Bay  is 
very  large,  and  some  of  the  live  oaks  are  immense.  The  pal- 
metto is  hard  to  cut,  affording  a  stringy  or  wire-like  resist- 
13 


194  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

ance.  The  pines  are  from  thirty  to  fifty  feet  long,  and.  are 
as  straight  as  arrows.  Blackberries  are  abundant,  and  the 
thirty  or  more  men  who  go  out  each  day  to  work  among  the 
trees  have  a  pleasant  addition  to  their  hardtack  rations.  A 
wharf  is  also  in  process  of  building,  and  on  this,  too,  New 
England  energy  and  skill  are  expended,  though  some  of  the 
workmen  remark  that  it  is  not  worth  their  while  to  work 
too  hard  on  "thirteen  dollars  a  month." 

It  was  during  these  days  that  Hooker  and  his  Potomac 
Army  were  fighting  at  Chancellorsville  and  news  reached 
our  men,  from  rebel  sources,  when  across  the  Edisto  there 
came  the  cry  from  one  of  the  Confederate  pickets,  "I  say, 
Yank,  did  you  know  that  Fighting  Joe  Hooker  was  raising 
Ned  in  Richmond  and  has  killed  and  taken  prisoners  a  Avhole 
lot  of  we  'uns?"  The  only  pity  was  that  it  did  not  prove  to 
be  true.  A  cheerful  picture  of  affairs  at  Seabrook  is  had 
from  these  words  of  Colonel  Osborn.  written  on  the  2-ith : 
"I  have  no  less  than  five  bouquets  in  my  tent,  all  of  them 
large,  and  one  completely  filling  a  bucket.  They  did  not 
grow  on  this  island,  but  on  Edisto.  where  there  are  some  fine 
deserted  plantations.  We  send  expeditions  there  frequent- 
ly to  get  lumber  and  bricks,  and  the  men  return  laden  with 
flowers  and  blackberries.  They  told  me  that  the  berries  are 
thicker  there  than  they  ever  saw  them  before.  One  squad 
brought  back  eighty  quarts,  picked  in  a  very  short  time. 
This  is  by  no  means  such  a  beautiful  place  as  Edisto.  There 
is  but  one  plantation,  the  rest  of  the  island  consisting  of 
swamp  and  vv^oods.  The  latter  we  are  clearing  away  over  a 
large  surface  for  the  purpose  of  fortifying.  General  Ferry 
has  returned  from  the  north,  and  is  now  in  command  of  the 
two  islands  of  Seabrook  and  Botany  Bay.  General  Steven- 
son has  applied  for  a  leave  of  absence  and  expects  to  get  it." 

Quartermaster  James  Thompson,  who  has  been  on  leave 
of  absence  for  some  time,  sends  a  letter  to  Colonel  Osborn, 
from  which  certain  parts    throw  light    on    the    situation  in 


June  '63.  Seabrook  Island.  195 

which  the  regiment  is  placed.     He  writes  in  Newbern  M&\ 
29th  to  the  following  purport : 

I  left  Port  Eoyal  on  the  2cl  with  a  leave  of  absence  for 
twenty  days,  and  succeeded  in  getting  transportation  on 
the  Spaiilding  the  same  day.  On  arriving  in  Newbern  I 
delivered  my  letters  to  General  Foster.  He  was  pleased  to 
hear  from  the  Twenty-fourth,  and  said  he  would  make  an 
effort  immediately  to  get  us  ordered  back.  He  accordingly 
wrote  to  General  Halleck,  the  Adjutant-General  Secretary 
of  War,  ]\Ir.  Sumner  and  others,  and  sent  me  with  the 
dispatches  to  "Washington,  D.C.  A  letter  which  you  had  writ- 
ten to  Colonel  Hoffman  and  a  letter  from  Hutchings  he  en- 
dorsed on  the  back  and  told  me  that  if  I  could  use  them  to 
advantage,  to  do  so,  and  if  I  had  any  friends  of  influence  in 
the  North,  to  get  them  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  get  us  re- 
turned to  the  Department  of  North  Carolina.  I  went  accord- 
ingly to  Washington  and  presented  my  dispatches ;  among 
them  Avas  a  private  letter  for  General  Halleck  containing  a 
request  from  General  Foster  to  visit  the  capital,  and  asking 
for  General  Stevenson's  brigade.  The  answer  to  this  letter 
was  this:  "General  Foster  will  not  be  permitted  to  leave  his 
department  at  present,  and  no  private  interview  will  grant 
him  the  reinforcements  he  wishes."    ***** 

I  am  now  in  Newbern  and  have  been  here  several  days. 
General  Foster  says  I  had  better  take  everything  down  and 
Colonel  Biggs  will  furnish  me  with  a  large  schooner  on  the 
1st  of  June,  which  is  to  transport  all  of  my  goods  and  chat- 
tels to  Edisto,  but  it  is  to  return  without  reporting  to  any 
quartermaster  in  the  Department  of  the  South.  I  shall 
probably  arrive  about  the  time  this  reaches  you,  perhaps 
before.  I  will  bring  the  horses  and  whatever  men  may  be 
well  enough  to  report  for  duty. 

All  of  the  men,  officers  included,  who  had  started  on  their 
leave  of  absence  and  had  got  as  far  as  Hilton  Head,  had  to 
come  back,  some  new  idea  apparently  being  in  the  mind  of 
the  commanding  General.  All  such  freaks  did  not  improve 
the  estimate  in  which  he  was  held  by  his  soldiery.  The 
monotony  of  outpost  duty  on  the  very  last  day  of  the 
month  was  varied  by  James  Fairbanks  of  Company  G    acci- 


196  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

dentally  shooting  himself  throngh  the  great  toe,  and 
Thomas  Garrity  of  D  shot  himself  so  badly  in  the  foot  that 
amputation  was  necessary.  He,  too.  was  on  outpost,  and 
the  accident  happened  when,  getting  up  from  his  rest,  he 
drew  his  gun  towards  himself  by  the  barrel.  There  was 
just  a  crumb  of  comfort  in  the  thought  that  it  might  have 
been  worse. 

Still  another  month  is  begun  on  Seabrook.  June,  the 
month  of  roses  at  home,  is  much  further  along  in  the  season 
here,  and  roses  were  in  order  long  ago.  The  weather  for  the 
most  part  is  intensely  hot,  and  one  of  the  boys  in  a  letter 
home  says,  "The  sweat  runs  off  from  me  in  streams  as  I 
write,  though  I  am  sitting  in  the  shade."  Colonel  Osborn 
begins  a  letter  on  the  1st  with  reference  to  the  return  of  the 
furloughed  men,  and  further  remarks,  "The  reason  given 
by  General  Hunter  for  detaining  these  men  was  that  he  had 
received  important  dispatches  which  had  caused  him  to 
send  the  Cosmopolitan  to  Fortress  Monroe  with  a  special 
messenger  to  the  government,  whose  return  he  must  await 
before  allowing  the  men  to  go  North.  *  *  i  thought  I 
knew  something  of  the  uncertainty  of  military  events 
before,  but  I  never  saw  such  helpless  bewilderment  as  is 
daily  exhibited  in  this  department.  A  short  time  ago  three 
regiments  were  sent  up  here  to  reinforce  us,  with  a  general 
to  command  the  whole,  but  now  they  are  suddenly  ordered 
away  and  we  are  left  with  three,  as  at  first.  *  *  "We  are 
again  on  picket  and  enjoying  it  very  much.  The  weather  is 
very  good,  though  warm.  I  miss  the  sea  breeze  that  I  have 
in  the  camp.  When  we  first  came  up  here,  we  had  three 
rainy  days,  which  were  a  little  uncomfortable.  There  are 
no  signs  of  the  enemy  except  their  pickets,  a  few  of  which 
we  constantly  see  in  front  of  us.  I  do  not  think  there  is 
any  force  of  them  upon  the  island." 

On  the  -Ith.  the  Ninety-seventh  Pennsylvania  relieved  the 
Twenty-fourth  on  the  picket  line,  and  the  latter  came  down 
to  the  camp  and  had  a  house-cleaning  or  a  thorough  tour  of 


June  '63.  Seabrook  Island.  197 

police  duty.  The  first  dress-parade  for  some  time  signalized 
the  6th,  and  the  day  also  was  memorable  in  that  some  of 
the  men  went  across  the  river  and  appropriated  boards  and 
other  effects  left  by  a  departed  regiment,  with  a  view  of 
making  more  comfortable  their  own  quarters.  By  way  of 
contrast,  the  8th  was  so  cold  that  many  of  the  men  wore 
their  overcoats.  The  same  day  brings  Quartermaster 
Thompson  from  Newbern  and  the  accompanying  impedi- 
menta of  which  he  wrote  recently.  His  coming  with  the 
baggage  was  qnite  a  comfort  to  the  whole  regiment,  though 
it  did  make  things  look  much  less  like  a  return  to  Newbern. 
Not  the  least  item  in  the  list  was  the  coming  back  of  many 
friends  who  had  been  detained  so  long  in  the  hospital  there. 
June  10th  is  noteworthy  on  account  of  soft  bread  rations 
being  given  out,  and  the  late  coming  of  a  mail,  but  with  the 
hunger  for  news  from  home  there  was  granted  the  permis- 
sion to  have  lights  for  forty-five  minutes  later.  Precious 
boon  to  those  lads  whose  sleep  was  all  the  more  refreshing 
with  the  consequent  dreams  of  home  and  loved  ones. 

The  same  boat  which  brings  the  mail  returns  Captains 
Daland  and  Maker,  with  Lieutenants  Partridge  and  Jones, 
from  their  homeward  tour,  and  news  is  brought  of  the 
illness  of  Major  Hooper.  On  the  13th  there  was  a  shower  so 
severe  that  the  men  had  to  go  without  beans,  since  "it 
rained  so  hard  that  it  put  out  the  fire  in  the  bean  holes." 
Of  these  mid-monthly  days  and  the  coming  of  baggage.  Col- 
onel Osborn  remarks.  "We  have  been  shockingly  un- 
comfortable for  months  on  account  of  it.  When  we 
left  Newbern,  I  left  all  my  accounts  unfinished  and  did  not 
take  my  papers  Mith  me,  for  I  expected  to  return  in  a  short 
time  and  did  not  like  to  run  the  risk  of  losing  them.  ^My 
sicloiess  had  already  put  me  behindhand  and  this  unfortunate 
absence  had  greatly  added  to  it,  to  my  intense  annoyance, 
for  the  department  had  several  times  notified  me  to  forward 
my  accounts.  They  must  think  me  very  negligent.  Now, 
however,  I  have  got  to  work  upon  them  and  soon  they  will 


198  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Kegiment. 

be  all  right.  I  have  been  in  a  sorry  plight,  too,  with  my 
clothes,  having  left  practically  everything  except  what  conld 
be  carried  in  a  valise.  While  I  have  censnred  the  men  for 
any  fault  in  their  apparel,  my  own  cap  was  bleached  to  a 
green  and  my  blouse  to  a  dingy  purple." 

The  contrast  between  the  natty  appearance  of  the  officers 
of  the  navy,  with  whom  ours  of  the  Twenty-fourth  are  con- 
stantly thrown  in  contact,  and  the  latter 's  necessary  shabbi- 
ness  is  all  the  more  galling,  but  the  coming  of  the  Quarter- 
master and  the  baggage  relieves  many  a  difficulty.  On  Fri- 
day, the  12th,  there  was  a  review  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut, 
the  Twenty-fourth  and  the  Ninety-seventh  Pennsylvania  by 
General  Stevenson,  accompanied  by  Captain  George  W.  Rod- 
gers  of  the  ironclad  Catskill,  Colonel  Osborn  commanding 
the  brigade.  The  parade-ground  was  the  beach  at  low  tide, 
which  served  very  well.  The  officers  having  received  their 
dress  uniforms,  sashes,  etc.,  their  showing  was  something  like 
that  of  former  days.  An  interesting  item  in  the  return  of 
the  officers  from  their  northern  trip  is  the  bringing  of  a  sum 
of  money  raised  by  the  former  band  leader,  P.  S.  Gilmore, 
to  which  the  father  of  General  Stevenson  has  added  a  con- 
siderable amount,  all  to  be  used  in  the  equipping  of  a  band. 
For  this  purpose,  the  Colonel  details  fourteen  men,  who,  with 
the  newly  purchased  instruments,  practice  assiduously. 

On  the  loth,  Surgeon  Green  comes  up  from  Hilton  Head 
wath  the  news  that  General  Hunter  had  been  relieved  by 
General  Q.  A.  Gillmore,  a  reason  for  many  a  long-drawn  sigh 
of  relief  by  the  men  from  ^Massachusetts,  Connecticut  and 
elsewhere.  Having  had  the  gift  of  a  seine  or  fish-net,  some 
of  the  Yankees  proceed  to  try  it  on  the  16th,  and  with  excel- 
lent results,  so  far  as  numbers  caught,  and  each  man  has  at 
least  one  of  the  tinny  products.  ]\Iullets  are  the  chief  variety 
secured.  New  tents  came  on  the  17th,  Bunker  Hill  Day,  and 
men  from  the  Bay  State  celebrate  by  making  themselves  rnove 
tidy  and  presentable. 

On  the  16th  began  the  sittings  of  a  court  martial,  of  which 


June  '63.  Seabrook  Island.  199 

Colonel  Osborii  is  president,  and  hence  he  is  relieved  of  his 
regimental  duties.  General  (iilhiiore  arrives  in  camp  in  the 
evening  of  the  same  day.  On  the  18th,  with  one  hundred  men 
of  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  General  Stevenson  goes  on  a 
reconnoissance  to  Haulover  Cut.  As  he  returned,  he  w^as  fol- 
lowed by  500  of  the  enemy  and  one  piece  of  artillery,  which 
was  planted  at  the  Seabrook  House,  and  tiring  on  our  pickets 
began.  Our  own  artillery  was  ordered  up  and  with  help 
from  the  gunboats,  the  enemy  was  soon  driven  off.  The  ap- 
pointment of  General  Gillmore  gives  satisfaction  to  officers 
and  men,  and  they  are  expecting  something  in  the  way  of 
activity.  The  weather  is  very  warm  and  were  it  not  for  the 
sea-breezes,  would  be  very  uncomfortable.  Sea-bathing,  also, 
is  delishtful  and  is  Avell  utilized,  even  though  the  fishermen 
with  their  seine  have  caught  a  shark. 

Sunday,  the  21st,  brought  the  paymaster  and  two  months' 
compensation.  Collections  are  made  for  Private  Garrity  of 
D,  who  was  wounded  on  picket,  and  for  the  family  of  Corporal 
Lawless,  killed  on  the  Goldsboro  Expedition.  Generous  men 
are  these  when  they  have  anything  to  give !  Again  the  regi- 
ment goes  out  to  the  picket-line  on  the  25th.  General  Gill 
more  is  much  in  evidence  and  all  of  his  looking  seems  to  be 
towards  Charleston  and  men  are  thinking  that  he  will  soon 
try  his  hand  there.  Further  fortifying  on  the  island  is 
stopped.  From  his  picket-post  Colonel  Osborn  writes  on  the 
29th  his  very  last  from  Seabrook : 

We  are  up  in  the  woods  on  picket,  away  from  the  invigor- 
ating sea-breezes  and  weighed  down  by  that  fearful  lassitude 
which  is  so  characteristic  of  this  climate.  The  slightest  ef- 
fort becomes  a  mighty  task.  I  do  not  wonder  that  the  South- 
erners are  idle,  lazy  and  overbearing.  Such  curses  .as  this 
climate  and  the  Peculiar  Institution  would  deprave  the  angels 
in  two  generations.  Fortunately  we  have  no  heavy  work  in 
the  way  of  marching  to  do  just  now,  for  my  men  would  melt 
away  under  it.  A  large  number  were  made  sick  by  only 
marching  four  miles  the  other  day.  They  take  their  turn  in 
working,  once     in  three  days,  on  the     fortifications,  but  the 


200  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

work  is  going  on  very  slowly  now,  the  engineer  being  satisfied 
with  very  small  day's  labor.  General  Gillmore  seems  to  be 
a  live  man  and  is  making  active  preparations  on  Folly  Island 
to  attack  Morris  Island  and  is  building  batteries,  etc.,  for 
that  purpose.  *  *  if  Charleston  is  captured  I  hope  our 
regiment  will  have  a  hand  in  it.  *  *  It' is  fair  to  suppose 
that  Gillmore  will  not  forget  us  if  he  has  any  work  to  do.  His 
Inspector  General,  who  has  very  thoroughly  inspected  all  the 
troops  in  the  department,  and  to  whom  he  would  naturally 
look  for  information  as  to  the  value  of  the  different  regiments, 
said  the  other  day  of  his  own  accord  that  the  Twenty-fourth 
was  the  best  volunteer  regiment  he  had  ever  seen  and  that 
he  had  never  seen  any  regTilars  that  were  better. 

After  having  been  without  a  chaplain  for  five  months  we 
have  at  length  elected  one  whom  we  have  reason  to  believe 
will  accept  the  appointment  and  I  have  forwarded  his  papers 
to  the  State  House.  He  is  the  Rev.  Geo.  D.  Wildes  of  Salem, 
chaplain  of  the  New  England  Guards,  who  delivered  the  ad- 
dress before  the  semi-centennial  celebration  of  the  corps  last 
fall. 

Unfortunately  the  clergyman  did  not  accept  and  his  name 
appears  on  the  State  House  rolls  under  the  Chaplain  head- 
ing, followed  by  the  word  "Declined." 

Julj'  enters  with  the  regiment  still  on  picket,  from  which 
it  was  relieved  on  the  2d  by  the  Ninety-seventh  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  once  more  returned  to  camp.  Of  the  4th,  the 
National  Day,  little  account  was  made.  Perhaps  it  was  too 
hot;  southern  people  usually  make  Fourth  of  July  noises 
at  Christmas  time ;  they  have  not  ambition  enough  to  observe 
the  day  itself.  However,  there  was  a  salute  at  noon 
by  the  monitors  and  the  light  artillery.  General  Stevenson 
kept  open  house  at  his  quarters  and  the  officers  dropped  in 
to  exchange  greetings  and  to  sip  the  contents  of  a  punch 
bowl,  on  whose  lending  good  Dr.  Holmes  once  wrote : 

I  tell  you,  there  was  generous  warmth  in  good  old  English  cheer; 
I  tell  you,  'twas  a  pleasant  tlniught  to  Ijring  its  symliol  here. 

Besides,  there  was  a  trial  of  musical  skill  among  Drum- 
mers Alden  of  I,  Crowley  of  C  and  Akerman  of  K,  the  prize 


July  8,  'G3.  Toward  Charleston.  201 

being  the  position  of  dnim-sergeant.  The  victory  was  won 
by  the  Company  C  representative.  Sunday,  the  5th,  was  a 
pleasant  day.  with  company  inspections  and  dress  parade. 
Had  the  men  realized  that  it  was  their  last  Sunday  on 
the  island,  possibly  they  might  have  enjoyed  it  more. 
Monday  the  Twenty-fourth,  the  Tenth  Connecticut  and  the 
Fifty-sixth  New  York  had  a  brigade  drill  at  5  p.m. 
by  General  Stevenson.  After  all  had  turned  in  for 
the  night,  there  arrived  an  order  for  the  cooking  of 
four  days'  rations,  as  six  of  the  companies  were  to  depart. 
Later  two  days'  rations  were  distributed  to  each  man.  At  8 
p.m.  the  steamer  ^Mayflower  came  in,  and  at  1  a.m.  of  the  7th 
she  got  under  way  Avith  Companies  A,  B,  D,  G,  H  and  K,  leav- 
ing the  other  four  under  the  command  of  Lieut. -Colonel  Ste- 
venson. Hilton  Head  Avas  reached  at  8  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
and  the  troops  were  ordered  to  disembark  on  St.  Helena 
Island,  which  they  did,  marching  to  their  old  camping-ground, 
meanwhile  the  steamer  taking  on  coal  and  water.  At  3  p.m. 
the  men  went  on  iDoard  again  and  the  vessel  ran  over  to  Hilton 
Head.  Once  more  she  comes  back  to  the  island,  where  the 
men  are  to  pass  the  night.  If  officers  only  knew  what  an  hour 
might  bring  forth,  how  many  false  motions  might  be  saved. 
The  enlisted  men  found  quarters  in  some  houses  and  sheds 
still  standing,  while  the  officers  passed  the  night  in  the  tents 
of  the  9th  ]\Iaine.  which  were  still  pitched,  the  regiment  hav- 
ing gone  to  Folly  Island.  Again  on  shipboard,  the  oMayflower 
with  her  Massachusetts  soldiers  got  oft'  at  1  p.m.  of  the  8th, 
reaching  Stono  Inlet  at  9  o'clock,  but  could  not  get  in,  as  the 
buoys  were  not  lighted  and  no  pilot  came  out.  There  were  six 
or  eight  other  steamers  in  the  same  plight  as  the  ]Mayflower, 
and  all  had  to  stand  oft'  and  on  till  12.30  of  the  9th,  when  our 
vessel  entered,  in  the  midst  of  a  heavy  shower,  which  made 
the  air  so  thick  one  could  scarcely  see  a  boat's  length.  At  5 
o'clock,  General  Ferry,  with  the  brigades  of  Stevenson,  Davis 
and  Montgomery,  steamed  up  the  Stono  River,  preceded  by 
gunboats,    shelling   the   woods,    anchoring  finally    at    James' 


202  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 


5  ST-  -SXtv 


t-^- 


L.  rf-  iil/i^  sluir,t,r.r  -fi- 


July  '63.  Charleston.  203 

Island.  In  leaving'  Seabrook.  the  men  took  only  rubber  blan- 
kets and  shelter  tents.  Their  camp-tents  Avere  left  standing 
with  all  baggage,  commissary  and  qnartermaster  stores.  With 
the  four  companies  there  were  left  a  battery  of  six  guns  and 
about  400  sick  from  all  the  regiments. 

CHARLESTON. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  10th.  the  regiment  was  landed, 
moving  about  one  mile  up  the  island,  bivouacking  along  with 
the  Ninety-seventh  Pennsylvania  and  the  Tenth  Connecticut. 
The  scenery  was  magnificent,  and  all  were  fired  with  the 
thought  of  real  activity.  A  mile  further  on,  certain  of  the 
officers,  from  the  top  of  a  house,  were  able  to  see  Forts  Sum- 
ter, Moultrie  and  Cummiugs'  Point  Battery,  all  of  which  were 
firing.  There  was  every  indication  of  something  doing,  and 
early  in  the  day  came  the  announcement  that  the  batteries  on 
Morris  Island  had  been  captured  and  that  our  forces  had 
crossed  over.  This  same  day  also  brought  the  glad  news  that 
Grant  and  his  men  had  captured  Yicksburg  and  that  the 
advance  of  Lee  and  his  Confederates  had  been  stayed  at  Get- 
tysburg. Surely  the  army  in  front  of  Charleston  had  every 
reason  to  rejoice,  even  if  the  temperature  was  high  and  the 
mosquitoes  abundant. 

General  Gillmore  was  not  an  officer  to  rest  on  his  laurels, 
but  he  pushed  right  forward,  taking  vigorous  measures  to 
invest  Fort  Wagner,  whose  fall  insured  that  of  Sumter  also. 
The  troops  now  are  on  the  very  ground  where  the  army  of 
the  preceding  year  encamped,  previous  to  the  losing  battle 
on  James'  Island.  The  pickets  are  within  range  of  the  guns 
in  Tower  Battery  in  Secessionville,  but  they  are  not  fired  on. 
The  11th  there  was  an  advance  of  about  one  mile  for  the 
purpose  of  making  a  feint  on  Secessionville,  to  prevent  any 
attempt  at  reinforcing  Morris  Island.  Things  are  so  irreg- 
ular that  the  usual  rations  of  coffee  are  not  had,  and  soldiers 
record  their  complaints.  At  6  p.m.  of  the  12th,  the  regiment 
relieves  the  Tenth  Connecticut  on  the  picket-line.  Heavj-  rain, 


204  Twenty-fourth  i\lASSACHusETTS  Kegiment. 

with  lightning-,  added  to  the  variety  on  the  13th,  and  at  5 
p.m.  came  the  Ninety-seventh  Pennsylvania  to  relieve  the  men 
on  picket.  After  dark  the  brigade  moves  back  about  one  mile. 
The  next  day  the  horses  that  had  been  left  at  "Seabrook 
arrived,  and  also  ]\Iajor  Hooper  returned  from  his  leave  of 
absence,  considerably  extended  on  account  of  illness. 

There  is  none  of  the  routine  of  Seabrook  here,  since  con- 
stant vigilance  is  the  rule,  and  on  the  report  that  the  enemy 
is  advancing,  the  regiment  fell  in  and  stood  in  line  an  hour 
and  a  half,  this  in  the  afternoon.  It  was  4.15  the  next  morn- 
ing (16th)  that  the  camp  was  aroused  by  heavy  artillery 
firing  on  the  left,  and  the  orders  were  to  fall  in.  The  rebels 
had  brought  down  a  light  battery  and  attacked  the  gunboat 
Pawnee  in  Stono  River.  Soon  after  getting  in  line  the  first 
shell  burst  over  it.  Our  own  gunboats  and  batteries  reply- 
ing, made  a  cheerful  salute  to  the  morning,  and  the  reply  was 
so  vigorous  that  the  enemy  soon  withdrew.  They  were  not 
followed.  Shells  burst  near  the  hospitals  and  Corporal  Al- 
fred Friend  of  Company  B  was  fatally  wounded,  dying  the 
next  day.  The  Tenth  Connecticut  and  the  Fifty-fourth  Mas- 
sachusetts were  on  picket,  the  former  coming  very  near  being 
captured  and  the  latter,  if  it  had  not  stood  up  well,  would 
have  been  cut  otf.  After  the  dismissal  of  the  line  at  7  o'clock 
the  Twenty-fourth  was  ordered  on  the  picket-line.  The  same 
was  shortened  and  strengthened  and  orders  were  given  that 
no  one  should  sleep  at  night. 

July  17,  1  a.m.,  orders  were  received  to  withdraw  the  out- 
posts quietly,  as  the  island  was  to  be  evacuated  during  the 
night.  Captain  Richardson  on  the  left  was  thus  directed  and 
Colonel  Osborn  started  for  Captain  Redding  on  the  right,  but 
lost  his  way  and  wandered  about  for  some  time.  By  dint 
of  whistling  and  shouting  he  finally  recovered  himself  and 
the  regiment  was  assembled  at  the  causeway,  all  but  four 
men  of  Company  K,  who  could  not  be  found.  IMarching  to 
the  house  where  the  first  bivouac  was  made,  the  regiment 
reported  to  General  Stevenson.    All  of  the  troops  had  crossed 


July  18,  '63.  Fort  Wagner.  205 

over  Cole's  Island  except  Stevenson's  brigade,  and  that  was 
embarking  on  transports.  The  Twenty-fourth  withdrew  to  a 
oridge  near  the  landing.  Avhieh  was  destroyed  after  onr  cross- 
ing, placed  pickets  there  and  acted  as  a  rear  guard.  As  the 
four  men  of  K  Company  had  now  come  in,  the  command  was 
complete,  it  being  about  6  o'clock.  Boarding  the  steamer 
Alice  Price  at  10.30,  a  start  was  made  for  Folly  Island.  Left 
there  at  5  p.m.  for  Lighthouse  Inlet  and  finally  disembarked 
on  ^Morris  Island. 

The  IStli  day  of  July,  Saturday,  is  a  sad  one  in  the  annals 
of  many  a  regiment,  and  St.  Gaudens'  wonderful  memorial  to 
Robert  Gould  Shaw  and  his  men  on  Boston  Common  will 
long  recall  the  deeds  of  ^Massachusetts'  Fiftj'-fourth  in  this 
effort  to  capture  Fort  Wagner.  The  Twenty-fourth  did  not 
reach  the  scene  of  slaughter  on  that  day ;  its  trial  was  to  come 
later,  but  it  was  in  reserve  and  was  ready  to  advance  when- 
ever ordered.  The  part  borne  by  our  regiment  is  best  told  by 
its  Colonel  in  one  of  his  letters  home : 

At  5  p.m.  all  the  troops  were  ordered  to  fall  in  and  to 
advance  to  the  attack  of  Fort  Wagner,  which  we  had  been 
shelling  all  day.  We  formed  and  marched  slowly  up  the 
beach,  our  brigade  being  in  the  rear  as  a  reserve.  Just  after 
dark.  Strong's  brigade  made  an  assault,  but  was  repulsed  with 
heavy  loss.  Putnam's  brigade  then  made  an  attempt,  with 
the  same  result.  All  this  time  the  shells  from  Forts  Wagner 
and  Sumter  were  exploding  all  around  us,  but  fortunately 
no  one  was  hurt.  How  we  escaped  some  loss  is  a  matter  of  the 
greatest  wonder.  When  the  Second  Brigade  fell  back,  ours 
advanced  to  the  breastwork  to  cover  their  retreat.  After  we 
had  been  there  an  hour  or  so,  a  report  was  brought  that  some 
of  our  men  under  Colonel  Putnam  had  gained  a  foothold  in 
the  fort,  and  were  holding  one  bastion  and  only  needed  re- 
inforcements to  capture  the  fort.  The  Twenty-fourth  was 
immediately  ordered  fonvard,  with  the  Third  New  Hamp- 
shire, Ninety-seventh  Pennsylvania  and  Tenth  Connecticut 
following.  I  had  then  about  125  men.  We  got  within  100 
yards  of  the  fort,  when  we  met  an  officer  returning  with  some 
men,  who  said  that  Colonel  Putnam  had  been  killed,  and  that 
Major  Butler,   who   had   succeeded    to    the    command,   had 


206  Twenty-fourth  ]\Iassachusetts  Regiment. 

ordered  a  retreat.  There  was  no  use  in  going  on,  so  General 
Stevenson  ordered  ns  to  fall  back.  The  men  marched  up  and 
back,  stood  in  line  of  battle  and  manoeuvred,  all  the  while 
under  fire,  as  coolly  as  if  upon  drill.  I  afterwards  found  out 
that  the  place  where  Putnam  was,  was  not  the  main  body  of 
the  fort,  but  only  an  outwork,  and  had  we  joined  him  and 
endeavored  to  enter  the  fort  we  should  undoubtedly  have 
been  driven  back  with  great  slaughter.  The  loss  in  the  tight 
is  estimated  at  1200  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  We  re- 
mained at  the  breastworks  all  night,  occasionally  receiving  a 
shell  from  Sumter.  At  daylight  of  the  19th,  we  withdrew 
a  short  distance  behind  an  earthwork,  thrown  up  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  infantry  forces.  There  was  no  firing  from 
either  side,  both  being  engaged  in  collecting  the  wounded  and 
burying  the  dead.  After  dark  we  withdrew  to  the  lower  part 
of  the  island,  being  relieved  by  another  (Howell's)  brigade. 

Firing  re-begins  on  the  20th  from  our  siege-gi\ns  and  moni- 
tors. Fort  Wagner  making  only  feeble  replies.  The  21st 
brought  Lieutenant-Colonel  Stevenson  and  the  companies  that 
had  remained  on  Seabrook  Island,  they  being  much  fatigued 
and  reduced  by  sickness.  The  next  day  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Stevenson,  Lieutenants  Ward  and  Clough,  with  Privates  Geo. 
L.  Gardner  of  Company  E,  and  Wm.  Reynolds  of  Company  I, 
were  designated  to  return  to  ^Massachusetts  to  bring  out  men 
who  had  been  drafted.  Also  the  paymaster  made  his  way  to 
the  camp  and  gladdened  the  hearts  of  the  men  with  two 
months'  pay.  jMean while  the  works  against  the  forts  are 
pushed  steadily  forward.  On  the  23d,  the  men  selected  to 
visit  ^Massachusetts,  except  Lieutenant  Ward,  started,  going 
on  board  the  Arago,  which  stopped  for  them  outside  the  bar. 
Of  the  regiment's  new  location  Colonel  Osborn  says: 

IMorris  Island  is  long  and  narrow,  and  is  held  by  the  Union 
forces  on  the  south  and  by  the  Confederates  on  the  north. 
The  western  side  is  a  marsh,  while  the  eastern  or  seaside  is  a 
succession  of  sand  hills,  thrown  together  in  the  utmost  confu- 
sion, and  looking  like  the  waves  of  the  sea  on  a  magnificent 
scale.  This  strip  is  only  about  half  a  mile  wide,  and  all  the 
troops  have  to  be  encamped  on  these  billows,  so  that  to  look 


July  '63.  IMorris  Island.  207 

at  the  tents  almost  makes  one  seasick.  Next  the  marsh  is  a 
narrow  flat,  then  an  enormous  ridge,  beyond  a  valley  tilled 
with  little  hillocks,  then  a  smaller  ridge,  after  which  the  beach. 
Between  this  mannnoth  ridge  and  the  beach  are  onr  tents. 
]\Iine  is  on  a  little  mound  on  the  edge  of  the  beach,  and  looks 
out  upon  the  harbor  in  full  view  of  the  blockading  fleet  and 
the  ironclads.  The  surf  is  excellent,  and  I  take  an  early  bath, 
for  all  the  troops  stand  to  arms  from  3.30  to  5  a.m.,  between 
which  and  breakfast  there  is  an  hour  unoccupied.  The  sand 
hills  cease  at  our  works  and  the  land  beyond  is  perfectly  flat, 
being  mostly  marsh,  except  a  small  strip  next  the  beach, 
where  we  made  the  attack.  There  are  no  trees,  and  scarcely 
a  bush  on  the  island,  and  we  have  great  trouble  to  get  fuel, 
which  has  to  he  ])rought  from  Folly  Island.  There  is  no 
shade,  and  the  power  of  the  sun  is  terrific.  Under  that  and 
the  heav;^"  work  the  men  are  sickening  rapidly.  I  have  250 
sick  and  275  well.  Think  of  that  for  a  regiment  that  has 
always  been  so  healthy !  The  soil  is  the  finest  of  fi^^e  s-jrid-^. 
and  continually  fills  the  air.  It  covers  everything  and  pene- 
trates everywhere.  We  eat  and  drink  it  in  quantities.  No 
idea  can  be  formed  of  its  annoyance  except  from  experience. 
I  think  this  is  the  meanest  place  I  was  ever  in  without  excep- 
tion, but  we  are  all  gay  and  we  are  bound  for  Charleston. 

On  the  25th  Private  C.  P.  Lufkins  of  Company  C  was 
fatally  injured  in  the  spine  by  a  ball,  which  entered  the 
breastwork,  behind  which  he  was.  He  died  Aug.  1st.  Not- 
withstanding oppressive  heat  and  vexatious  sand  there  are 
inspections  and  dress-parades.  Picket  duty  is  frequent  and, 
as  a  preventive  of  malarial  efifects,  whiskey  is  issued  to  those 
on  duty.  All  of  the  mentioned  besetments  of  the  locality  do 
not  keep  the  sutler  away,  and  on  the  last  day  of  July  he 
appears  and  opens  shop. 

August  finds  the  regiment  still  warring  in  front  of  Wag- 
ner. No  one  complains  of  lack  of  excitement,  for  every  one 
is  learning  what  it  must  be  to  dwell  on  or  near  the  sides  of  a 
volcano.  One  man  declared  that  the  constant  cannonading 
makes  so  much  noise  that  he  cannot  hear  the  orders  read  at 
dress-parade.  The  second  day  brings  back  Lieutenant  Ed- 
mands  from  Newbern  and  with    him    twenty    convalescents, 


208 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


welcome  additions.  Of  the  officers  who  came  up  from  Sea- 
brook  all  are  sick  except  Lieutenant  Wheeler,  and  the  compa- 
nies themselves.  C,  E,  F  and  I,  left  there  July  7  because  they 
were  then  the  largest,  averaging  65  men  each,  are  now  the 
smallest,  as  they  now  number  or  average  only  ten  men  each. 
Large  reinforcements  are  arriving,  the  trenches  are  steadily 


By  kindness  Capt.  Daniel  Eldredge,  3d  N.  II. 


pushed  forward  toward  the  enemy,  and  heavy  guns  and 
mortars  are  carried  to  the  front  and  mounted  every  night. 
On  the  5th  of  the  month  there  were  over  300  sick  in  the 
Twenty-fourth,  and  250  well  enough  for  duty.  Very  early 
in  the  morning  of  the  5th,  Captain  Eedding,  with  Companies 
A  and  G,  was  sent  to  the  front  to  support  an  outpost,  near 
which  Capt.  L.  S.  Payne  of  the  One  Hundredth  New  York 
with  his  boat  party  had  been  captured. 


July  '63.  Morris  Island.  209 

There  is  ahvays  fatigue  duty  and  vigorous  men  are  at  a 
premium.  One  of  them  records  his  helping  unload  cargoes  of 
shells  by  the  thousand,  and  his  labors  in  getting  ten-inch  mor- 
tars ashore.  Owing  to  recent  hard  work  the  regiment  is 
excused  from  turning  out  at  3.30  on  the  morning  of  the  8th, 
and  orders  are  received  that  no  one  should  send  by  letter  or 
otherwise  any  information  which  might  contribute  to  the 
enemy's  knowledge  of  what  was  doing  on  the  Union  side.  In 
the  matter  of  supporting  the  physical  man,  the  scarcity  of 
fuel  is  noted  and  men  take  whatever  they  can  find,  in  one  case 
appropriating  the  hard  pine  used  in  planking  for  one  of  the 
heavy  guns.  Of  couree,  the  theft  was  discovered,  and  what 
was  left  of  the  piece  was  carried  back,  but  the  fagot-takers 
breathed  easier  when  no  further  investigation  was  made. 
The  first  watermelon,  "cool  and  delicious,"  is  recorded  on  the 
8th,  and  most  delightful  sea-bathing  is  some  compensation 
for  excessive  heat. 

Apprehensions  of  an  attack  by  the  Confederates  brought 
the  regiment  under  arms  soon  after  2  o'clock  in  the  morning 
of  the  10th.  The  brigade  marched  to  the  beach  and  lay  a 
short  distance  back  of  the  first  parallel.  Nothing  further 
happening,  all  returned  at  6  a.m.  On  the  17th  the  Union  bat- 
teries and  ironclads  opened  on  Sumter,  which  remained  silent. 
Forts  Wagner  and  Oregg  also  failed  to  reply;  the  only  return 
firing  came  from  the  batteries  on  James'  Island.  During  the 
day  an  old  friend  of  the  ol^cers  in  the  Twenty-fourth  was 
killed.  Captain  George  W.  Eodgers  of  the  Catskill,  who 
with  them  had  exchanged  so  many  civilities  at  Seabrook,  lost 
his  life  through  a  shot  striking  the  top  of  the  pilot  house, 
thereby  loosening  a  bolt  which  struck  the  officer  in  the  head, 
inflicting  a  mortal  wound.  The  flags  on  the  monitors  were  at 
half-mast  during  the  afternoon.* 


*Son,  nephew,  brother  and  cousin  of  distinguished  naval  officers  of  the 

name  of  Kodgers,  besides  being  a  nephew  of  both    Commodores  Perry, 

through  his  mother,  George  Washington  Eodgers  had  a   right  to  hold  a 

prominent  place  in  the  sea  service  of   the  nation,  and  he    deserved    well 

14 


210  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

On  this  same  day  Lieutenaut-Colonel  Stevenson  writes  from 
Boston  to  Colonel  Osborn  as  to  the  trials  he  is  having  in  try- 
ing to  secure  recruits  for  the  regiment :  "  I  am  of  the  opinion 
that  we  shall  not  get  a  single  man  out  of  this  draft,  but  I  pre- 
sume another  one  will  be  ordered.  General  Devens'  orders 
are  to  give  two  hundred  men  to  each  ^Massachusetts  regiment 
in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  first,  and  then  to  fill  up  to  the 
number  specified  on  the  list.  To  do  this  it  will  take  about 
7000  men,  and  there  is  no  telling  what  department  will  be 
filled  up  next.  As  conscripts  do  not  come  in  faster  than 
seventy-five  per  day,  you  see  it  is  going  to  take  a  long  time  to 
fill  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  *  *  I  am  very  anxious  to 
be  relieved  and  ordered  to  rejoin  the  regiment,  so  if  you  will 
do  anything  for  me  in  this  respect  I  shall  be  exceedingly 
obliged." 

The  next  day,  the  18th,  Lieut.  Chas.  G.  Ward,  also  on 
detached  service,  writes  in  a  similar  vein  from  Boston:  "I 
think  it  is  going  to  be  a  long  time  before  the  men  are  assigned 
to  the  Twenty-fourth,  from  what  Mr.  Stevenson  (General  Ste- 
venson's father)  says,  and  I  shall  prefer  returning  to  Morris 
Island,  where  I  know  I  can  be  of  service,  rather  than  serve  the 
State  of  IMassachusetts  by  guarding  conscripts  on  Long 
Island." 

One  day  differed  very  little  from  another  on  ^lorris  Island, 
only  now  and  then  a  larger  gun  than  its  neighbors  is  put  in 
position,  and  then  its  eft'ects  are  watched  as  it  plays  upon  the 
enemy's  works.  On  the  19th,  the  300-pound  Parrott,  over 
which  so  much  muscle  has  been  exercised,  is  got  into  position 
and  great  results  are  expected,  and  one  observer  reports  that 


for  his  own  sake.  The  soul  of  honor,  a  blameless,  Christian  gentleman, 
his  sudden  taking  off  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  cause  he  loved.  His  death 
drew  from  Colonel  Charles  G.  Halpine,  the  "Miles  O'Reilly"  of  the 
press,  the  following  stanza : 

Ah  me !  George  Rodgers  lies 
With  dim  and  dreamless  eyes, 
He  has  airly  won  the  prize 
Of  the  sthriped  and  starry  crown. 


Aug.  26,  '63.        Charge  ox  the  Kifle-pits. 


211 


she  rrade  a  big  breach  in  Sumter,  and  then  during-  the  even- 
ing of  'the  23d  burst  about  18  inches  from  the  muzzle.  On 
the  21st  came  Dr.  Wm.  S.  Tremain  to  take  the  place  of  As- 
sistant-Surgeon Hall  Curtis,  who  had  resigned,  June  18th, 
for  the  surgeoncy  of  the  Thirty-third  Eegiment.  During  these 
days,  of  course,  the  men  are  doing  almost  constant  duty  on 
picket,  in  the  trenches  or  policing  their  camps.  No  one  is 
getting  any  great  amount  of  rest,  and  so  the  davs  of  routine 


lO-IXCH  PARROTT  RIFLE  ( SOO-POUXDER )  BURST  AUG.  23,  '63. 


and  expectancy  passed  till  Aug.  26tli,  when,  at  dinner.  Colonel 
Osborn  was  summoned  to  the  quarters  of  General  Alfred  H. 
Terry,  who  told  the  Colonel  that  he  wished  the  Twenty-fourth 
Regiment  to  drive  the  enemy's  pickets  out  of  certain  rifle-pits 
that  they  occupied  about  seventy-five  yards  in  advance  of  our 
fourth  parallel.  As  for  the  incident  itself,  let  the  command- 
ing officer  speak  for  himself : 

Our    lines    had    been    pushed     forward     towards     Port 
Wagner    by  regular    approaches    until    they    arrived  with- 


212  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

in  seventy-five  yards  of  the  gentle  elevation  sloping 
equally  towards  us  and  the  rebels,  on  the  further 
side  of  which  the  enemy  had  dug  rifle-pits  and 
ensconced  sharpshooters,  who  annoyed  our  troops  and  inter- 
fered with  the  progress  of  the  work.  It  was  necessary  to  dis- 
lodge them  before  proceeding  further,  and  it  was  attempted 
with  artillery  with  no  success,  as  they  were  lying  in  deep 
holes  just  behind  the  crest  of  the  ridge,  which  protected  them 
from  the  shot.  It  was  determined  to  do  it  by  assault.  Gen- 
eral Terry  sent  for  me,  told  me  what  had  been  decided  and 
said  that  my  regiment  was  to  do  it.  He  then  instructed  that 
I  was  to  take  the  regiment  very  secretly  up  to  our  most  ad- 
vanced lines,  and,  at  a  given  signal,  was  to  rush  over  the 
breastworks  and  charge  upon  the  enemj^  with  all  my  men, 
except  seventy-five  (Companies  F  and  K),  who  were  to 
remain  behind  with  two  shovels  each.  I  explained  to  the 
ofticers  the  nature  of  the  work  we  were  to  undertake,  and  told 
them  to  tell  the  men  that  I  should  require  a  fierce,  impetuous 
charge,  which  would  accomplish  the  end  most  surely,  and  with 
the  least  cost  of  life.  We  then  marched  up  and  took  our  posi- 
tions, all  sitting  down,  concealed  behind  the  breastwork. 
When  all  was  ready,  I  saw  a  flag  waving  in  the  rear  which 
was  the  signal  to  charge.  I  cried,  "All  up,"  when  every  man 
stood  up  and  faced  the  enemy.  "Forward,"  and  in  an 
instant  we  were  over  the  works  and  rushing  upon  the  enemy 
at  the  top  of  our  speed,  shouting  like  mad.  They  fired  but 
one  volley,  and  then  those  who  dared  to  take  the  chance  of 
being  fired  at  by  us  leaped  out  of  their  holes  and  ran.  The 
rest  crouched  down  and  surrendered. 

In  the  first  pit  I  looked  into,  which  was  a  large,  deep 
square  hole,  I  saw  eight  men  sitting,  one  of  them  waving 
above  his  head  an  old  red  handkerchief  in  token  of  his  having 
relinquished  all  hostile  intentions.  We  disarmed  them  and 
sent  to  the  rear,  collecting  seventy  in  all,  less  than  twenty 
having  escaped.  As  soon  as  we  had  gained  possession  of  the 
ridge  I  called  up  the  shovels  and  we  commenced  throwing  up 
a  line  of  defense  on  our  side  of  the  crest.  As  Fort  Wagner 
began  to  throw  canister  and  spherical  case  at  us  about  that 
time,  everj^  man  dug  for  his  life  and  a  very  substantial 
earthwork  soon  rose.  For  a  while  our  position  was  a  pretty 
hot  one,  for  besides  Fort  Wagner,  Fort  Gregg  and  the  bat- 
teries on  James'  Island,  all  opened  on  us  and  got  our  range 
with  gi^eat  accuracy.     I  really  cannot  see  how  it  is  possible  for 


Aug.  26,  '63.        Charge  on  the  Rifle-pits.  213 

shot  to  come  so  clo.se  and  do  so  little  damage.  Our  loss,  barring' 
scratches,  was  only  one  officer  and  two  men  killed,  and  four 
men  wounded.  I  expected  to  suffer  much  more  heavily. 
Lieut.  James  A.  Perkins  of  Company  I,  who  was  killed,  was 
a  splendid  fellow,  brave  to  rashness,  and  a  most  excellent 
officer.  He  was  a  favorite  with  all  of  us,  and  his  death  cast 
a  shade  of  S'loom  over  the  exultation  we  felt  at  our  success. 
We  made  the  charge  at  6  p.m.,  and  remained  on  the  ground 
till  midnight,  most  of  the  time  in  a  pouring  rain,  when  we 
were  relieved  by  another  regiment  and  returned  to  camp.  I 
immediately  reported  to  General  Terry,  and  received  the  most 
flattering  compliments  on  the  behavior  of  the  regiment.  He 
said  it  Avas  a  most  brilliant  and  dashing  affair,  and  seemed 
hardly  able  to  say  enough  in  praise  of  it.  *  *  Sumter  is 
a  mass  of  ruins  and  is  occui)ied  by  only  forty  men. 

Another  story  of  the  charge  is  told  in  most  graphic  manner 
by  one  who  appreciatively  sees  the  men  go  in : 

For  some  time  General  Gillmore  has  been  making  all  sorts 
of  attempts  to  get  hold  of-  the  rifle-pits  in  front  of  Wagner, 
and  very  close  to  our  own  batteries.  He  has  cleared  them  out 
several  times  with  artillery,  but  has  never  succeeded  in  hold- 
ing them,  in  consequence  of  the  enemy's  being  so  careless  about 
throwing  grape  and  canister  around.  Well,  yesterday,  the 
brave  and  undaunted  TM'enty-fourth  ^Massachusetts,  the  best 
regiment  here,  and  without  doubt  the  best  in  the  service,  vol- 
unteered to  make  a  charge  of  it.  General  Stevenson,  although 
it  was  not  his  day  in  front,  of  course  felt  a  great  anxiety  that 
his  old  regiment  should  go  through  well  and,  consequently, 
went  to  the  front  to  see  it.  He  gave  us  an  invitation  to  go 
with  him,  so  we  mounted  our  steeds  and  started  for  the  scene 
of  action.  Arriving  at  the  front  we  saw  the  boys  drawn  up 
in  line  behind  our  own  rifle-pits.  I  knew  the  whole  rank 
and  file  of  the  regiment,  and  as  I  saw  them  drawn  up  for  a 
charge  I  could  not  help  feeling  a  little  kind  of  stickling  about 
the  throat,  for  it  was  a  desperate  thing  and  I  knew  that  the 
boys  were  determined  and  would  not  falter  in  their  purpose, 
if  they  were  annihilated.  All  this  time  our  batteries  were 
playing  lively  on  Gregg  and  Wagner.  At  4.30  our  200- 
pounder  on  the  left  exploded,  wounding  four  men.  About 
•4.-15  the  rebels  saw  that  something  was  up,  and  they  opened 
very  lively.     *     *     When    Terry  came    up    and   ordered    the 


214  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


Aug.  '63.  Fort  Wagner.  215 

charge,  I  forgot  all  about  shot,  shell  and  everything  else 
except  the  charge.  The  Twenty-foiirth  forms  behind  the 
trenches,  Colonel  Osborn  waves  his  sword,  and  with  a  hearty 
cheer  our  brave  Massachusetts  boys  start  on  the  double  quick. 
Crack !  crack  I  crack !  quicker  than  thought  go  three  vol- 
leys of  musketry,  away  come  grape  and  canister  from  Wagner 
and  Gregg.  ' '  Steady,  boys,  steady  ! ' '  cries  out  Terry.  Not  a 
stagger,  not  a  line  broken,  but  as  true  as  God'  s  my  judge, 
those  men  go  on  as  steady  as  though  they  were  on  dress- 
parade.  The  smoke  has  cleared  away,  they  are  in  the 
trenches.  Osborn  waves  his  sword  and  with  a  victorious  yell 
they  leap  into  the  rebel  rifle-pits,  while  the  skedaddling 
rebels  are  making  up  the  bank  on  the  double  quick.  Our 
point  is  gained  and  Osborn  holds  the  works.  The  trench- 
guard  is  ordered  up  to  support  him.  Helloa !  What  is  this  ? 
Here  come  twenty-four  rebels  and  a  rebel  lieutenant,  whom 
our  boys  have  brought  out  of  the  ditches  with  them.  I  tell 
you,  if  you  could  have  seen  that  charge,  under  such  a  murder- 
ous fire,  you  would  be  willing  to  be  sent  into  the  other  world 
during  the  excitement,  without  a  murmur.  *  *  Terry  was 
perfectly  delighted  with  the  whole  thing,  and  pronounced  it 
the  most  brilliant  dash  and  the  best  executed  he  ever  saw,  and 
your  humble  servant  felt  as  if  he  wanted  to  shake  hands  with 
everybody  he  met.  I  was  so  delighted  to  see  old  ]\Iassachu- 
setts  go  in  so  nobly!  The  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth  immor- 
talized themselves  in  that  charge  *  *  and  if  you  could 
onl}^  have  seen  it  you  would  have  grown  an  inch  for  being  a 
son  of  the  Old  Bay  State.  On  our  route  down  we  called  in 
to  see  General  Gillmore,  and  I  declare  I  never  saw  a  man  who 
seemed  so  well  pleased  as  he  did.  He  rubbed  his  hands,  and 
said,  "By  Jove,  that  is  splendid.  Just  what  I  wanted,"  etc. 
We  are  now  within  150  yards  of  Wagner. 

HoAv  the  Confederates  regarded  the  affair  is  learned  in  an 
extract  from  a  paper  on  the  siege  read  by  Col.  Charles  S.  01m- 
stead  of  the  Confederate  Army  before  the  Georgia  Historical 
Society  March  3d,  1879 : 

The  line  of  rifle-pits  in  front  of  Wagner  had  been  gallantly 
held  by  our  men  during  the  siege,  and  had  sorely  troubled  the 
besiegers.  On  the  21st  of  August  an  infantry  force  attempted 
the  capture  of  these  pits  without  success.  On  the  afternoon 
of  the  26th,  a  heavy  artillery  fire  was   brought  to   bear   upon 


216  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regimext. 

them  without  dislodging  the  holders,  Init  that  night  a  dashing 
charge  of  the  Twenty-fourth  IMassaehusetts  Regiment  gained 
the  position,  capturing  the  most  of  the  Confederates  who 
held  them,  about  seventy  men.  General  Gillmore's  fifth  and 
last  parallel  was  at  once  established  on  the  ground  thus  won, 
and  before  dawn  on  the  27th,  under  cover  of  the  flying  sap, 
the  trenches  were  pushed  about    100  yards    nearer    the    fort. 

If  the  enemy  were  familiar  with  the  beautiful  lines  of  Robert 
Lowell,  with  which  he  opened  his  famous  "Relief  of  Luck- 
now,"  very  likely  some  of  them  might  be  heard  repeating: 

Oh ,  those  last  days  in  Wagner  Fort ! 

We  knew  they  were  the  last ; 
That  the  enemy's  mines  had  crept  surely  in, 

And  the  end  was  coming  fast. 

The  event  of  the  26th  should  not  be  dismissed  without  some 
reference  to  what  the  men  in  the  ranks  thought  of  it.  how  it 
looked  to  them.     Says  one  of  them : 

After  cleaning  up  this  afternoon  I  had  a  few  minutes  of 
leisure  time,  so  I  went  over  the  bluff  to  see  some  men  in  the 
Sixty-seventh  Ohio.  On  my  way  back  I  met  certain  fellows 
who  wanted  to  know  where  the  regiment  had  gone,  and  when 
I  replied,  "Nowhere,"  they  said,  "Yes,  it  has,  and  has  been 
gone  more  than  a  quarter  of  an  hour."  I  ran  back  to  my 
tent,  put  on  my  equipments,  filled  my  canteen  with  water, 
grabbed  my  rifle  and  started  to  find  the  regiment.  I  found 
them  out  on  the  beach  and  having  twenty  rounds  of  cart- 
ridges given  out.  I  got  ten  rounds  and  a  place  in  the  ranks. 
Lieutenant  Perkins  was  in  command  of  the  company,  and  it 
was  surmised  that  we  were  to  charge  on  Fort  Wagner.  When 
the  signal  was  given  to  advance,  the  waving  of  a  white  hand- 
kerchief, the  guns  that  had  been  firing  on  the  forts  suddenly 
stopped  firing,  and,  in  less  time  than  I  can  write  it,  we  were 
over  the  works,  charging  on  the  rebel  rifle-pits  and  capturing 
the  men  who  occupied  them.  It  was  done  so  quickly  that  the 
enemy  could  fire  but  one  volley,  and  from  Fort  Wagner  there 
came  only  one  round  of  shell.  Then  the  shovels  came  up  and 
our  men  dug  for  dear  life  and  threw  up  a  breastwork  right  on 
the  embankment  the  rebels  had  thrown  up.  All  this  time 
Fort  Wagner  was  firing  grape  and  canister  at  us,  but  we  could 


Aug.  '63.  Fort  ^YAGNER.  217 

see  the  flash  of  their  gvms  and  would  fall  on  onr  faces.     Lieu- 
tenant Perkins  was  killed  after  we  took  the  works. 

I  blistered  my  hands  shovelino'.and  one  man  who  had  along- 
handled  shovel,  in  drawing  back  to  throw  up  a  shovelful,  was 
rather  careless  and  hit  me  on  the  eye  with  such  force  as  to 
knock  me  senseless  for  a  minute.  I  thought  that  I  was  .shot, 
but  I  soon  got  over  it  and  went  to  work.  After  we  had  got  up 
a  good  shelter,  about  six  feet  high,  I  went  to  work  firing  at  the 
batteries  in  Fort  Wagner,  trying  to  keep  them  from  firing  so 
often  on  our  men.  I  didn't  think  to  look  into  the  pits,  but 
kept  firing  at  Wagner.  There  was  a  pit  beyond  the  one 
against  which  I  was  lying.  al)out  twelve  feet  from  me  and 
right  in  my  range.  About  half  an  hour  after,  I  had  begun 
firing,  and  I  was  taking  aim,  when  a  head  popped  up  from  the 
second  pit.  I  thought  it  was  one  of  our  own  men  and  I  spoke 
rather  sharp,  telling  him  to  keep  down,  for  I  Avas  firing  right 
over  where  he  was.  I  fired  and  loaded  again,  when  a  white 
cloth  on  the  end  of  a  stick  appeared  above  the  pit.  I  called 
out,  telling  him  to  come  in,  that  no  one  would  hurt  him.  At 
this  four  rebels  jumped  out  of  that  pit,  and  four  more  out  of 
the  one  nearest  me,  and  came  running  in.  It  rather  startled 
me  to  find  that  I  had  been  lying  so  near  the  enemy  and  not 
know  it.  Soon  I  heard  some  one  groan  in  another  pit,  and 
when  I  called  out  a  voice  said,  ' '  I  wish  you  would  come  and 
bring  me  some  water.''  I  made  sure  that  he  was  alone  and 
that  there  was  no  danger  of  my  being  taken  prisoner,  and 
then  crept  out  to  him  and  gave  him  a  drink.  He  was  badly 
shot  through  the  thigh,  the  ball  passing  out  through  the  groin. 
I  placed  him  in  a  better  position  and  comforted  him  the  best  I 
knew  how.  He  seemed  to  worry  about  his  children  in  ca.se  of 
hi.s  death  as  to  what  would  become  of  them.  I  told  him  that  the 
All-protecting  Power  would  care  for  them.  He  seemed  to 
be  much  affected  and  said  that  he  did  not  expect  me  to  care 
for  him.  I  told  him  that  our  men  would  take  him  out  before 
morning.  Soon  it  began  to  rain  and  we  got  a  good  drenching. 
Then  came  the  relief  and  we  got  back  to  camp  at  about  one 
o  'clock  in  the  morning. 

Private  Bullard  of  Company  G  writes  from  Cleveland, 
Tenn.,  "It  commenced  to  rain  about  dark  and  we  heard  some 
one  moan  outside  the  works,  so  Orderly  Sergeant  White  told 
]^Iichael  ]McGraw  and  myself  to  jump  over  the  works  and  see 


218 


Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Eegiment. 


who  was  hurt  out  in  the  front.  We  fcnind  a  wounded  relx  and 
when  we  brought  him  in  he  said,  "Lay  me  up  close,  boys;"  he 
had  no  use  for  the  bullets  from  his  own  side.  Those  were 
strenuous  moments  when  the  Yankees  reached  the  rifle-pits  of 
the  enemy,  and  the  Johnny  who  did  not  at  once  throw  down 
his  gun  need  expect  little  mercy  at  the  hands  of  the  attacking 
party.  ]\Ien  of  Company  I  relate  how  they  threw  up  John 
Connor's  weapon  as  he  was  aiming  at  a  rebel,  upbraiding  him 
for  his  attempt  on  the  life  of  a  surrendered  man,  ' '  And  sure, ' ' 


UIIDXAXCE  headquarters,  MORRIS  ISLAND. 

says     John,     "wasn't     the    t'ief     aimin'     at     my     Captain 
(Amory)  ?"  who  was  one  of  the  first  to  leap  into  the  pit. 

One  of  the  shoveling  party  has  left  an  excellent  impression 
of  the  fray,  written  at  the  time,  and  from  it  the  following 
lines  are  taken : 


Our  First  Lieutenant,  always  anxious  for  a  fight,  formed 
the  company  out  on  the  beach,  and  as  soon  as  we  were  formed 
he  told  us  what  he  wanted  of  us.  and  added  if  any  man  wanted 
to  step  out,  now  was  his  time.  I  am  sorry  to  say  that  one  man 
stepped  out ;  you  can  have  an  idea  of  the  hazing  the  men  gave 
him  as  he  walked  to  his  tent.  Companies  F  and  K  were 
ordered  to  take  two  shovels  to  each  man,  which  we  received 


Aug.  '63.  Fort  Wagner.  219 

on  reacliing-  the  trenches,  besides  our  guns.  *  *  The  eight 
companies  were  formed  next  to  the  breastwork,  and  the  two 
companies  with  shovels  just  in  the  rear.  Every  man  stood 
with  fixed  bayonet  and  we  did  not  have  long  to  wait  before  the 
signal  was  given.  Avhen  we  charged  right  over  and  into  the 
rifle-pits,  where  the  rebs  were  so  taken  by  surprise  that  they 
yelled  out,  "Don't  shoot:  we  surrender,"  etc.  "While  the 
eight  companies  were  attending  to  the  rebels  we,  the  other 
two  companies,  went  to  digging  to  reverse  the  rebel  works  for 
our  own  protection,  and  never  did  men  shovel  dirt  livelier, 
since  Wagner  had  got  to  work  with  grape  and  canister,  which 
fortunately  passed  over  us,  it  being  difficult  to  depress  the 
guns  to  our  level.  *  *  The  rebels  in  the  pits  were  com- 
posed of  one  company  of  the  Sixty-first  North  Carolina  Regi- 
ment :  their  captain  and  two  or  three  privates  had  escaped. 
We  came  on  them  so  suddenly  that  tliey  had  no  time  to  reload. 
The  rebels  lost  four  killed,  eight  wounded  and  sixtj'-eight 
taken  prisoners.  The  Ifitter  were  escorted  to  the  rear  and 
were  fed  on  hardtack  at  the  Provost  Guard's  headquarters. 
It  was  about  half -past  nine  when  we  got  through  turning  the 
rifle-pits,  and  in  the  meantime  another  regiment  was  trench- 
ing out  to  us,  so  that  when  the  Eighty-fifth  Pennsylvania  came 
out  to  relieve  us,  we  had  a  covered  way  to  pass  to  the  rear  in. 
While  passing  other  regiments  on  our  way  to  camp  we 
received  all  sorts  of  congratulations,  such  as  are  familiar  to 
soldiers. 

In  his  Journal  of  Engineer  Operations  on  ^Morris  Island 
]\Ia.ior  Thos.  B.  Brooks  has  the  following  for  August  26th : 

The  general  commanding  ordered  General  Terry  to  take 
and  hold  the  ridge,  and  placed  the  resources  of  the  command 
at  his  disposal  for  that  purpose.  It  was  accomplished  at 
6.30  p.m.  by  a  brilliant  charge  of  the  Twenty-fourth  ^lassa- 
chusetts  Volunteers,  Col.  Francis  A.  Osborn  commanding, 
supported  by  the  Third  New  Hampshire,  Captain  Randlett 
commanding.  Sixty-seven  prisoners  Avere  captured.  They 
were  afraid  to  retire  on  account  of  their  own  torpedoes,  as 
they  informed  us,  and  had  too  little  time,  even  if  there  had 
been  no  torpedoes.  No  works,  excepting  rude  rifle-pits  in  the 
excellent  natural  cover  afforded  by  the  ridge,  were  found. 
Sand-bags  of  a  superior  quality  had  been  freely  used  for  loop- 
holes and  traverses. 


220  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

The  moment  the  riclge  was  gained  the  work  of  intrenching 
was  begun  under  the  superintendence  of  Capt.  Jos.  Walker 
(of  the  Volunteer  Engineers).  The  fifth  parallel  was  opened 
from  the  sea  to  the  marsh,  a  distance  of  140  yards,  advantage 
being  taken  of  the  enemy's  pits  on  the  left,  and  cover  was 
rapidly  obtained,  under  the  stimulus  of  a  severe  grape  and 
shell  fire  from  Wagner.  The  right  of  the  parallel  is  245  yards 
from  the  fort.  In  this  work  the  Twenty-fourth  proved  them- 
selves as  proficient  in  the  use  of  the  shovel  as  they  had  in  that 
of  the  bayonet  a  few  moments  before.  From  the  right  of  this 
line  an  approach  was  at  once  opened  by  the  flying-  sap.  This 
was  extended  to  the  marsh,  and  later  in  the  night  the  sap  was 
continued  to  the  beach,  within  100  yards  of  the  fort,  by  a  sec- 
ond line  running  near  the  edge  of  the  marsh. 

The  thickly  placed  torpedoes  in  front  of  Wagner  occasion 
the  following  also  from  Major  Brooks:  "The  discovery  of 
these  torpedoes  explains  what  has  been  to  me  one  of  the  great- 
est mysteries  in  the  defense  of  Wagner,  i.  e.,  the  fact  that  no 
material  obstacle  of  any  amount  could  be  discovered  in  front 
of  the  work,  not  even  after  our  two  almost  successful  assaults. 
Torpedoes  were  the  substitutes.'" 

The  works  thrown  up  so  hurriedly  on  the  26tli  formed  the 
foundation  of  the  fifth  and  last  parallel  in  the  approaches  to 
Wagner.  The  remainder  of  the  month  passed  with  nothing 
of  note  so  far  as  our  regiment  was  concerned.  There  was  no 
abatement  of  work.  There  always  was  an  abundance  of  that. 
On  the  27th  there  were  funeral  services  over  the  bodies  of  the 
dead,  and  that  of  Lieutenant  Perkins  was  sent  to  Hilton  Head 
in  care  of  Lieutenant  Sargent  and  four  men,  thence  to  be 
accompanied  to  Boston  by  Sergeant  John  C.  Turner  of  Com- 
pany I.  The  record  for  the  last  day  of  the  month,  like  that 
for  the  first,  was  ' '  Heavy  firing. ' ' 

AVhile  it  may  not  relieve  the  discomforts  of  those  days  it 
will  prove  a  source  of  pleasure  to  know  that  our  enemies  were 
quite  as  uncomfortable  as  ourselves.  In  the  story  of  the 
Sixty-first  North  Carolina,  the  one  whose  men  were  captured 
in  the  rifle-pits,  we  may  read  as  follows : 

Going  from  Savannah  to  James'  Island,  S.  C,  was  about 


Sept.  '63.  Fort  Wagner.  221 

what  I  would  imagine,  with  my  limited  knowledge  of  the  two 
localities,  very  much  the  same  as  dropping  out  of  paradise 
into  hell.  We  found  James'  Island  a  little  Sahara,  having 
plenty  of  wind,  rolling  and  twisting  clouds  of  sand,  millions 
of  black  gnats,  much  greater  pests  than  mosquitoes,  and  a 
very  scanty  supply  of  devilish  poor  beef  that  a  respectable 
Charleston  buzzard  would  not  eat.  We  had  to  sink  holes 
here,  there  and  everywhere  to  get  a  supply  of  tadpole  water — 
at  the  same  time  there  being  a  well  of  good  water  at  Fort 
Pemberton,  which  no  Tar  Heel  was  allowed  to  sample.  *  * 
From  James'  Island  we  went  to  Sullivan's,  date  not  remem- 
bered, but  the  change  w-as  gladly  welcomed  by  all.  We  were 
willing  to  go  anywhere  to  get  away  from  James'  Island. 
While  quartei-ed  on  Sullivan's  Island  our  regiment  did  its 
full  share  of  duty  in  the  defense  of  ]\Iorris  Island.  During  the 
four  years  of  my  experience  in  the  army  I  found  no  place  so 
uninviting  as  Battery  Wagner  on  Morris  Island.  The  bomb- 
proof, the  only  place  of  safety,  cannot  well  be  described,  for 
all  its  dreary  loathsomeness  and  horrors,  and  I  will  not 
attempt  it. 

September  starts  off  not  unlike  the  immediately  preceding 
months.  The  nights  resound  with  heavy  artillery  firing,  the 
batteries  on  Sullivan's  Island  sending  their  compliments  to  the 
Union  camps,  and  the  monitors  offering  iron  greetings  to  Fort 
Sumter,  just  the  regular  order  of  events  in  this  limited  por- 
tion of  the  world.  The  second  day  of  the  month  Colonel 
Osborn  was  Brigade  Field  Oificer  of  the  day.  At  night  Cap- 
tain Redding,  with  Company  A,  and  Captain  Maker,  with 
K  Company,  were  sent  on  a  boat  expedition  with  Major  0.  S. 
Sanford,  Seventh  Connecticut,  in  command.  Captain  Red- 
ding and  men  landed  at  a  wharf  near  the  harbor,  while  Cap- 
tain ]\Iaker  went  out  nearly  to  Sumter,  in  neither  case  meeting 
the  enemy.  It  was  on  this  day  that  the  men  beheld  a  bit  of 
military  discipline  in  the  camp  of  the  Fifty-fifth  ^lassachu- 
setts.  A  culprit,  with  one-half  of  his  head  shaved,  and  bear- 
ing on  his  back  a  board  inscribed  "He  stole  money  from  his 
wounded  friend, ' '  accompanied  by  a  drum  corps,  was  marched 
up  and  down  j\Iorris  Island  and  then  went  over  to  Folly,  a 
proper  ending   for  such  a  wretched    beginning.     All   of    the 


222  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

regiment,  except  A  and  K,  went  on  picket  where  the  Swamp 
Angel  is  mounted.  The  latter  is  a  200-pound  Parrott, 
mounted  after  infinite  labor  and  fated  to  be  one  of  the  notable 
features  of  the  siege.  Its  location  is  the  nearest  point  to 
Charleston  in  our  possession,  yet  the  city  is  not  visible  from  it. 
The  range  and  distance  are  determined  mathematically  and 
with  sufficient  accuracy  to  hit  St.  Michael's  Church  several 
times.     General  Beauregard  protested,  under  a  flag  of  truce, 


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MARSH  BATTERY  OR  SWAMP  ANGEL.  MORRIS  ISLAND. 

against   the   use   of    such   offense,    and    the   British    Consul 
demanded  a  cessation  of  firing  on  her  majesty's  subjects. 

Its  situation  wdth  reference  to  the  camps  of  the  supporting 
troops  is  set  forth  by  one  of  the  note  takers  as  follows :  "  It  is 
in  a  swamp  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  our  left  batteries, 
and  on  the  edge  of  a  creek  running  from  Lighthouse  Inlet 
into  Charleston  Harbor,  and  is  approached  either  by  boats  or 
on  land."  By  the  latter  way  there  are  planks  laid,  tandem, 
on  posts,  and  on  this  w^alk,  single  file,  troops  must  proceed  to 
the  battery.  Many  boats  were  retained  in  this  creek  for  the 
purpose  of  making  expeditions  into  the  harbor.     Late  in  the 


Sept.  7.  '63.  Fort  Wagner.  223 

night  of  the  5th,  such  a  trip  was  started  under  the  command 
of  Major  Sanford  of  the  Seventh  Connecticut  to  attack  Bat- 
tery Gregg  in  the  rear.  Owing  to  the  remissness  of  the  oars- 
men, or  other  reason,  the  men  returned  w^ithout  landing. 
There  were  no  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth  in  the  party.  Com- 
ing back  to  camp  in  the  early  morning  of  the  6th  the  walking 
is  better  than  it  was  going  out,  when,  in  the  misty  darkness, 
a  number  of  the  men  slipped  off  from  the  planks  into  the 
swamp. 

On  this  6th  of  September  the  final  assault  on  Wagner  is 
considered.  All  of  the  colonels  of  regiments  are  called 
together  to  meet  Generals  Gillmore,  Terry  and  Stevenson  at 
9  p.m.,  and  to  receive  instructions.  The  men,  too,  hear 
rumors  of  what  is  afoot,  and  with  the  giving  out  of  twenty 
rounds  they  are  pretty  sure  that  work  is  impending.  As  one 
man  puts  it,  "There  is  a  great  deal  of  talk  in  camp.  Some 
look  pale  and  more  have  a  grave  smile  on  their  faces.  We 
expect  hot  work  before  sunrise  to-morrow  morning."  Gen- 
eral Terry's  instructions  to  the  several  brigades  were  very 
explicit,  and  for  Stevenson's,  reinforced  by  the  Fourth  New 
Hampshire  and  the  Ninth  Elaine,  they  were  to  occupy  the 
trenches  immediately  in  rear  of  the  advance  party.  At  the 
giving  of  the  signal,  viz.,  the  raising  of  a  signal  flag  on  the 
surf  battery  and  on  the  right  of  the  fifth  parallel  and  the 
American  ensign  on  the  Beacon  House,  "the  men  will  spring 
out  on  the  beach,  rush  forward  at  a  double  quick,  pass  between 
Wagner  and  the  sea,  and  extend  themselves  along  the  rear  of 
the  fort  to  the  marsh.  They  will  mount  the  parapet  and  fire 
down  the  parade."  The  troops  are  to  move  to  their  assigned 
positions  before  1.30  a.m.,  having  their  breakfasts  in  their 
haversacks.  When  the  works  are  carried  they  will  be  garri- 
soned by  General  Stevenson's  brigade.  No  men  are  to  be 
allowed  to  leave  the  ranks  on  any  pretext;  even  the  wounded 
must  wait  for  attention  till  the  affair  is  over. 

All  of  the  directions  were  obeyed  to  the  letter.  The  men 
were  called  out  shortly  after  midnight   of   the   7th.     Nearly 


224  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Eegiment. 

15,000  soldiei-s  are  alert  to  accomplish  the  downfall  of  Wag- 
ner, so  long  a  frowning  menace.  There  Avere  men  in  those 
lines  who  recalled  the  verses  of  Bayard  Taylor  in  his  Crimean 
Episode,  when,  before  the  terrible  assault  of  the  Malakoff, 
British  soldiers  sang  Annie  Laurie.  There  were  Marys  and 
Noras  in  far-away  homes  sighing  for  these  men  in  blue  just  as 
devotedly  as  did  those  of  Britain  when,  in  1855,  as  the  poet 
expresses  it : 

The  guardsmen  say, 

AVe  storm  the  fort  tomorrow; 
Sing  while  we  may,  another  day 

Will  bring  enough  of  sorrow. 

But  all  apprehensions  proved  groundless,  for,  before  the 
advance  was  ordered,  there  appeared  a  deserter  who  said  that 
Wagner  was  forsaken.  ^Moving  up  and  over  the  space,  so 
long  fired  over,  it  was  found  that  the  fortress  was  empty,  and 
another  stretch  to  Gregg  revealed  that  also  void  of  defendere. 
Wagner  was  in  a  deplorable  condition.  Our  bombardment 
had  dismounted  the  guns,  smashed  the  gun-carriages,  and  dis- 
lodged the  timbers.  The  stench  that  pervaded  the  ruins  was 
enough  to  stagger  the  visitor.  The  torpedoes  that  were 
planted  over  much  of  the  intervening  space  were  dug  up  by 
the  engineers.  At  daylight  the  regiment  marched  back  to 
camp  and,  during  the  day,  beheld  the  forts  on  James'  and 
Sullivan's  Islands  firing  on  their  former  allies,  Wagner  and 
Gregg. 

The  Confederate  Colonel  Olmstead,  already  referred  to, 
page  215,  remarks  further: 

The  ground  between  Gillmore's  front  and  Wagner  was 
thickly  studded  with  torpedoes :  his  left  flank  was  searched  by 
the  unremitting  fire  from  our  batteries  on  James'  Island.  The 
head  of  the  sap  was  slowly  pushed  forward  under  the  cease- 
less fire  of  howitzers  and  sharpshooters  from  the  entire  front 
of  the  fort,  while  last,  though  not  least,  the  besiegers  had  now 
reached  a  point  where  every  onward  step  compelled  him  to 
dig  through  the  bodies  of  their  dead  who  had  been  buried 
some  weeks   before.     In    the    emergencv    General    Gillmore 


Sept.  7,  '63. 


Fort  Wagner. 


225 


availed  himself  of  his  superior  resources  in  artillery'  to  keep 
down  the  active  resistance  of  Wagner,  and  to  this  end  every 
gun  ashore  and  afloat  Avas  turned  upon  it.  The  final  bom- 
bardment began  at  daybreak  on  the  5th  of  September,  and  for 
forty-two  hours  continued  with  a  severity  and  awful  terror 
beyond  the  power  of  words  to  describe.  That  night,  as  wit- 
nessed from  Fort  Johnson,  where  the  First  Regiment  was  sta- 
tioned, the  scene  was  magnificent  in  the  extreme.  The  lurid 
flashes  of  the  guns,  the  unceasing  roar,  the  shells  of  every 
description    of   tremendous    artillery    that    could   be    tracked 


EXTRAXCE  TO  BOMB-PROOF,  FORT  WAGNER.  SEPT.  7,  '&. 


through  the  air  by  flaming  fuses;  the  mortar  still  rising  in 
stately  curve  and  steady  sweep,  the  Parrott  shell  darting  like 
lightning  in  its  mission  of  death,  the  missiles  from  the  fleet 
booming  along  the  water  and  bursting  in  Wagner  with  cruel 
accuracy,  the  glare  of  calcium  lights  bringing  out  every 
detail  of  our  works  as  in  the  noonday — all  these  filled  the  souls 
of  Confederate  spectators  with  awe  and  found  their  painful 
antithesis  in  the  silence  of  Wagner.     The  end  had  come. 

All  through  the  6th  the  bombardment  continued,  and  that 
evening  the  sap  had   reached  the   counterscarp    of   the  work, 
and  only  the  ditch    and   parapet   separated   the   combatants. 
15 


226  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

The  assault  was  ordered  for  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  of 
the  7th,  but  by  midnight  of  the  6th  the  place  was  evacuated 
by  the  Confederates,  the  whole  force  being  taken  off  the  island 
in  row-boats.  Some  few  of  these  boats  were  intercepted,  but 
the  garrison  as  a  garrison  was  saved.  The  enemy  at  once 
occupied  both  AVagner  and  Gregg,  and  Morris  Island  in  its 
entirety  was  in  their  possession. 

September  8th  General  Terry  issued  a  special  order  to  the 
following  effect,  that  an  attempt  will  be  made  to-night  to 
carry  Fort  Sumter  by  assault.  The  regiments  detailed  for 
this  purpose  are  the  Tenth  Connecticut  and  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Massachusetts,  with  the  Colonel  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
in  command.  Major  Sanford  of  the  Seventh  Connecticut  of 
General  Terry's  staff,  having  carefully  reconnoitered  the 
route,  will  accompany  the  expedition  and  advise  Colonel 
Osborn  as  to  the  proper  direction.  The  men  will  embark  at 
the  bridge  immediately  after  sunset,  and  the  assault  will  be 
made  at  the  earliest  practicable  moment.  One  hundred  addi- 
tional men  are  detailed  as  oarsmen  from  the  Seventh  Connect- 
icut and  One  Hundred  and  Fourth  Pennsylvania.  A  signal 
officer  will  accompany  the  party.  How  the  affair  terminated 
is  best  told  by  Colonel  Osborn  in  his  report  to  headquarters : 

I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  a  boat 
expedition,  planned  to  take  possession  of  Fort  Sumter  by  sur- 
prise and  assault.  In  obedience  to  orders  from  Brig.-Gen.  A. 
H.  Terry,  and  in  conformity  to  verbal  instructions  received 
from  him,  I  took  command  of  the  Tenth  Regiment,  Connecti- 
cut Volunteers,  Major  E.  S.  Greeley  commanding,  and  the 
Twenty-fourth  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  Major 
Chas.  H.  Hooper  commanding,  each  regiment  numbering 
about  300  men,  and  sent  them  to  the  picket  station  near  the 
left  batteries  immediately  after  dusk  on  the  8th  inst.  At  that 
place  Capt.  Chas.  R.  Brayton,  R.  I.  Artillery,  reported  to  me 
with  two  howitzer  launches,  and  Lieut.  J.  A.  Newell,  One 
Hundredth  Regiment,  New  York  Volunteers,  with  a  light  boat, 
to  act  as  guides  to  the  howitzer  launches.  These  boats,  with 
others,  carrying  fifty  men  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  under 
command  of  Capt.  E.  D.  S.  Goodyear,  I  immediately  sent  to 
the  mouth  of  the  creek  to  wait  for  the  arrival  of  the  rest  of  the 


Sept.  8,  '63.  Fort  Sumter.  227 

party.  Captain  Brayton  had  with  him  a  sergeant  and  four 
men  selected  from  the  Tenth  Connecticut  Volunteers,  carrying 
a  bag  of  powder  and  a  quick  match,  for  the  purpose  of  blow- 
ing in  the  gate  of  the  sally-port.  The  rest  of  the  troops  were 
then  embarked  in  the  boats,  an  operation  which  occupied 
nearly  three  hours,  as  but  one  man  could  enter  at  a  time.  The 
tide  was  completely  out,  causing  the  boats  to  ground  frequent- 
ly. At  about  11  p.m.  all  was  in  readiness,  and  the  expedition 
moved  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  Maj.  0.  S.  Sanford, 
Seventh  Connecticut  Volunteers,  whose  assistance  and  advice 
were  invaluable  to  me  during  the  whole  time,  leading,  and  I 
followed  in  the  second. 

Arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  Major  Sanford  directed 
his  course  toward  the  gorge  and  sea  faces  of  the  fort,  and  Cap- 
tain Brayton  on  our  left,  towards  the  sally-port  or  cityward 
face.  On  approaching  the  fort,  he  was  to  send  one  of  his 
howitzer  launches  a  short  distance  towards  Charleston  to  pre- 
vent the  arrival  of  reinforcements  from  there.  The  boats  pro- 
ceeded in  excellent  order  and  in  perfect  silence  until  I  esti- 
mated that  I  was  a  half  mile  from  Fort  Sumter,  which  could 
then  be  seen  distinctly.  At  that  time  I  saw  and  heard  what  I 
supposed  to  be  two  musket-shots  fired  from  a  face  of  the  fort 
most  distant  from  us.  This  I  concluded  to  be  a  signal  of  some 
kind,  perhaps  that  our  approach  had  been  discovered.  I  had 
been  informed  that  the  Navy  contemplated  an  attack  on  the 
same  night,  but  as  the  hour  was  late  I  had  come  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  they  had  relinquished  the  idea.  It  did  not,  there- 
fore, occur  to  me  that  it  was  on  their  account  that  the  shots 
were  fired,  and  I  pushed  on.  It  was  then  12.30  a.m.,  as  well 
as  I  could  judge.  Presently  I  saw  the  flash  of  a  musket  from 
the  parapet  (others  also  report  hearing  the  challenge  of  a  sen- 
try), and  immediately  a  volley  was  fired  from  the  surface  of 
the  water,  coming  evidently  from  boats  lying  apparently  at 
the  angle  of  the  gorge  and  sea  faces.  Signal-lights  and  rockets 
then  appeared  on  the  fort,  answered  from  the  batteries  on 
James'  and  Sullivan's  Island,  which  immediately  opened  on 
the  fort.  Shots  were  distinctly  heard  to  strike  it,  and  one 
shell  from  a  mortar  fell  within  it  and  exploded,  lighting  it  up 
brightly.  The  fire  continued  from  the  boats,  though  not  with 
the  same  vigor  as  at  first,  and  howitzers  were  also  used.  The 
voices  of  officers  giving  commands  were  plainly  heard.  But 
very  little  resistance  was  made  from  the  fort.  A  few  musket- 
shots  were  fired,  some  flashes  might  have  been  grenades,  and 
there  were  one  or  two  explosions  which  seemed  to  be  from  a 


228  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Kegiment. 

field-piece.  I  could  see  no  indications  of  an  attempt  to  land 
on  the  part  of  the  attacking  party.  As  the  Navy  had  antici- 
pated my  attack  I  could  do  nothing  but  return.  At  my 
request,  Major  Sanford  then  took  the  direction  of  Vincent's 
Creek.  Soon  after  we  put  about  the  musketiy  entirely  ceased, 
and  I  judged  that  the  boats  were  retiring.  The  affair  lasted 
for  about  twenty  minutes.  The  batteries  continued  firing  for 
twenty  minutes  afterwards,  and  when  we  had  nearly  reached 
the  landing  in  Vincent's  Creek  the  batteiy  on  James'  Island 
commenced  shelling  the  creek  where  we  had  embarked.  All 
the  troopswere  landed  before  four  o'clock,  and  were  dismissed. 
In  conclusion,  I  desire  again  to  express  my  grateful  sense  of 
Major  Sanford 's  services.  His  experience  in  such  expeditions 
and  his  acquaintance  with  the  position  were  of  inestimable 
aid,  and  had  the  affair  been  carried  to  a  happy  termination, 
its  success  would  have  been  in  a  verj'  great  measure  due  to 
him. 


Subsequent  to  the  foregoing.  Colonel  Osborn  wrote  as  fol- 
lows concerning  his  interview  with  General  Gillmore  and  its 
bearing  on  the  event :  ' '  General  Gillmore  said  that  there  was  a 
difference  of  opinion  between  him  and  the  commander  of  the 
naval  forces  as  to  which  had  the  prior  right  to  make  an 
assault  upon  Fort  Sumter;  that  both  considered  an  assault 
practicable,  and  each  claimed  the  right  of  his  arm  of  the  ser- 
vice to  deliver  it ;  that  they  had  been  in  active  correspondence 
on  the  subject,  but  had  failed  to  come  to  an  agreement ;  that 
the  siege  guns  of  the  army  had  reduced  the  fort  to  its  vulner- 
able condition,  and  that,  consequently,  the  army  should  have 
the  honor  of  attempting  to  capture  it ;  that  to  this  end  he  was 
going  to  send  that  night  a  boat  expedition,  of  which  I  was  to 
have  the  command  against  the  fort;  that  he  would  provide 
boats  equipped  with  good  oarsmen  in  one  of  the  creeks;  that 
I  was  to  make  all  haste  possible  to  anticipate  the  Navy,  who 
were  also  going  to  send  an  expedition  for  the  same  purpose; 
but  that  if  the  Navy  should  succeed  in  making  the  first  assault 
I  was  not  to  take  any  part  in  it  with  them  for  fear  of  compli- 
cations, but  to  return  to  land  immediately  by  a  creek  different 
from  that  through  which  I  had   set  out,  and   that   he  would 


Sept.  8,  '63.  Fort  Sumter.  229 

send  Avith  me  as  a  guide  a  staff  officer  who  was  familiar  with 
the  harbor. 

"These  iastriictions  were  verbal,  but  they  were  explicit  and 
positive  and  they  were  punctually  followed,  notwithstanding 
the  feeling  of  shame  caused  by  being  compelled  to  withhold 
from  the  Na\7'  the  aid  which  it  was  the  natural  impulse  to 
render. 

' '  It  was  a  consolation  to  learn  afterward  that  such  aid  would 
have  been  ineffective  and  would  only  have  involved  the  cap- 
ture of  a  detachment  of  the  Army  as  well  as  of  the  Navy. 
The  engineer  officers  who  had  surveyed  the  fort  through 
their  field  glasses  from  Fort  Wagner  and  had  pronounced  it 
practicable  for  assault,  though  honest  in  their  belief,  were 
mistaken.  Such  an  attempt  should  not  have  been  made. 
Further,  the  open  preparations  of  the  Navy  had  given  alarm 
to  the  enemy,  and  caused  them  to  make  special  arrangements 
for  resistance,  so  that  the  element  of  surprise,  upon  which 
General  Gillmore  had  largely  counted,  was  absolutely  want- 
ing. ' ' 

Again  it  is  interesting  to  see  ourselves  as  others  see  us, 
and  for  this  purpose  reference  is  once  more  had  to  the  paper 
of  Colonel  Olmstead,  wherein  he  says : 

On  the  afternoon  of  Sept.  8th  notice  was  received  by  the 
commanders  of  batteries  within  the  range  of  Sumter  that  a 
boat  attack  would  be  made  upon  that  fortress  during  the 
night,  and  they  were  ordered  at  a  given  signal  to  open  upon 
the  point  where  the  boats  Avere  expected.  The  signals  of  the 
enemy  had  again  been  intercepted,  and  upon  our  side  there 
was  perfect  readiness.  The  garrison  of  Sumter  prepared  to 
meet  the  enemy  upon  the  slope  with  a  shower  of  musketry. 
The  guns  of  our  continuous  batteries  were  carefully  trained 
upon  the  right  spot  before  dark,  and  as  soon  as  night  had  fal- 
len a  Confederate  ironclad  moved  into  position  to  add  the  fire 
of  her  powerful  guns.  Silently  the  night  wore  on :  for  hours 
not  a  sound  broke  its  stillness;  the  men  sat  drowsily  by  the 
guns,  and  the  belief  gained  ground  that  the  proposed  attack 
had  been  abandoned,  when  suddenly  there  was  the  twinkle  of 
a  musket  from  Sumter's,  then  a  rocket  soared  in  the  air,  and 


230 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


the  bellowing'  of  the  great  guns  and  the  explosion  of  shells 
instantaneously  and  startlingly  contrasted  with  the  sleepy 
quiet  of  our  long  hours  of  watching.  The  assault  was  re- 
pulsed with  considerable  loss  to  the  assailants,  but  with  none 
to  the  garrison. 


FORT  SUMTER,  SEPTEMBER,  1863. 

It  is  singular  to  note  from  General  Gillmore's  report  as  an 
evidence  of  a  want  of  harmony  between  the  land  and  naval 
forces,  that  the  two  independent  expeditions  were  organized 
in  this  attack — one  by  Admiral  Dahlgren,  the  other  by  Gen- 
eral Gillmore.  The  report  says:  "The  only  arrangements  for 
concert  of  action  between  the  two  parties  that  were  finally 
made,  were  intended  simply  to  prevent  accident  or  collision 
between  them.  Each  party  was  deemed  in  itself  sufficiently 
strong  for  the  object  in  view."  The  naval  expedition,  con- 
sisting of  some  twenty-five  or  thirty  boats,  came  directly  from 
the  ships,  in  tow  of  steam  tugs,  and,  reaching  Sumter  first, 
at  once  delivered  its  attack.  The  land  forces,  about  490 
strong,  embarked  in  their  boats  in  Vincent's  Creek.  The 
windings  of  the  stream  probably  delayed  them  and  they  had 
not  quite  reached  the  fort  when  the  naval  assault  was  made 
and  repulsed.  All  hope  of  a  surprise  being  at  an  end,  the 
second  force  retired. 


Sept.  15,  '63.  Morris  Isl^wd.  231 

After  the  Sumter  incident  comparative  quiet  prevailed 
Avitli  the  accustomed  routine  of  camp  life.  A  delightful  vari- 
ance, however,  is  had  along  about  the  10th  and  12th,  when, 
through  the  generosity  of  Northern  friends,  ice  is  sent  down 
to  the  regiment,  and  the  unwonted  luxury  of  ice-water,  on 
the  torrid  sands  of  Morris  Island,  is  enjoyed.  Also  there  is 
the  record  of  the  construction  of  an  oven  and  the  consequent 
ration  of  "soft  bread."  On  the  13th  General  Stevenson 
goes  to  Hilton  Head,  on  his  way  homeward,  to  enjoy  a  respite 
of  twenty  days.  "When  the  regiment  went  on  picket,  the  14th, 
Captain  Redding  was  in  command,  the  Colonel  being  detained 
in  camp  by  other  duties.  Captain  Clark  leaves  for  Hilton 
Head  to  accompany  General  Stevenson  to  the  North.  An 
incident  of  the  16th  was  the  racing  of  two  parties  of  colored 
troops,  one  having  on  wheels  a  twenty-pound  Parrott  gun,  the 
other  a  carriage  for  the  same.  For  a  c|uarter  of  a  mile  they 
ran  like  rival  fire  companies.  The  18th  sees  Companies  C,  G 
and  F  on  picket  at  Fort  Gregg,  the  other  companies  in  Wag- 
ner and  the  parallels.  "We  had  'plum  duff'  for  dinner," 
writes  one  careful  observer,  "but  I'd  rather  have  pudding  at 
home. ' '     Hard  boys  to  please,  sometimes,  these  soldier  lads. 

While  the  general  orders  of  General  Gillmore  do  not  par- 
ticularize the  Twenty-fourth,  they  are  in  place  here  as  an 
estimate  of  the  work  done  by  all  the  men  who  warred  against 
the  Charleston  defenses: 

Department  op  the  South,  Headquarters 
IN  THE  Field. 
Morris  Island,  S.  C,  Sept.  15,  1863. 

It  is  with  no  ordinary  feeling  of  gratification  and  pride 
that  the  Brigadier-General  commanding  is  enabled  to  con- 
gratulate this  Army  upon  the  signal  success  which  has 
crowned  the  enterprise  in  which  it  has  been  engaged.  Fort 
Sumter  is  destroyed.  The  scene  where  our  country's  flag 
suffered  its  first  dishonor  you  have  made  the  theatre  of  one 
of  its  proudest  triumphs. 

The  fort  has  been  in  the  possession  of  the  enemy  for  more 
than  two    years,  has   been    his    pride    and    boast,    has    been 


232  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

streno'thened  by  every  appliance  known  to  military  science, 
and  has  defied  the  assaults  of  the  most  powerful  fleet  the 
world  ever  saw.  But  it  has  yielded  to  your  courage  and 
patient  labor.  Its  walls  are  now  crumbled  to  ruins,  its  for- 
midable batteries  are  silenced,  and,  though  a  hostile  flag  still 
floats  over  it,  the  fort  is  a  harmless  and  helpless  wreck. 

Forts  Wagner  and  Gregg — works  rendered  memorable  by 
their  protracted  resistance  and  the  sacrifice  of  life  they  have 
cost — have  also  been  wrested  from  the  enemy  by  your  perse- 
vering courage  and  skill,  and  the  graves  of  your  fallen  com- 
rades rescued  from  desecration  and  contumely. 

You  hold  now  in  undisputed  possession  the  whole  of  Mor- 
ris Island,  and  the  city  and  harbor  of  Charleston  lie  at  the 
mercy  of  your  artillery  from  the  very  spot  where  the  first 
shot  was  fired  at  your  country's  flag  and  the  Rebellion  itself 
was  inaugurated. 

To  you,  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  this  command,  and  to 
the  gallant  Navy  which  has  cooperated  with  you,  are  due  the 
thanks  of  your  commander  and  your  country.  You  were 
called  upon  to  encounter  untold  privations  and  dangers ;  to 
undergo  unremitting  and  exhausting  labors ;  to  sustain  severe 
and  disheartening  reverses.  How  nobly  your  patriotism  and 
zeal  have  responded  to  the  call  the  results  of  the  campaign 
will  show,  and  your  Commanding  General  gratefully  bears 
witness. 

Q.  A.  GILLMORE, 
Brigadier-General  Commanding. 

Official:  Adrian  Terry,  Ass't  Adj't  Gen'l. 

— R.  R.,  Vol.  28,  Part  1,  p.  39. 

While  the  Confederates  are  building  new  fortifications,  and 
the  Union  forces  are  doing  likewise,  the  men  on  Morris  Island 
are  discovering  some  of  the  possibilities  of  their  locality,  and 
find  that  the  marshes  abound  in  sea  fowl,  that  oysters  may  be 
had  for  the  digging  and  a  reminder  of  home  comes  in  the 
shape  of  dried  apples,  whence  is  made  sauce,  though  it  is  not 
exactly  the  season  of  the  year  for  the  latter  viand  in  northern 
realms.  On  the  22d  there  is  a  liberal  display  of  bunting  on 
the  forts  and  at  the  mast-heads  of  the  Navy,  all  on  account  of 
the  reception  by  General  Gillmore  of  a  Major-General's  com- 
mission, and  every  one  agrees  that  the  honor  is  well  earned. 


Sept.  '63.  Morris  Island.  233 

In  recognition  of  the  honor  done  to  the  Commanding-  General, 
there  is  a  review  of  all  the  troops  on  the  island  Sept.  24th. 
The  bands  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  Tenth  Connecticut  and  the 
Third  New  Hampshire  were  united,  and  made  a  most  delight- 
ful combination  as  the  forces  passed  in  review. 

And  thus  the  records  read  down  to  the  end  of  the  month. 
There  is  continuous  building  of  fortifications;  the  rebels  keep 
up  a  fire  on  Wagner  and  Gregg,  though  they  accomplish  very 
little.  Occasionally  the  Union  batteries  reply  and  all  the 
time  there  is  the  endless  alternation  of  camp-duty  and  picket. 
The  Swamp  Angel  has  its  share  of  attention  at  the  hands  of 
the  Twenty-fourth  and,  seemingly,  there  is  not  a  foot  of  the 
island  that  is  not  again  and  again  patrolled  by  the  weary 
feet  of  its  members.  On  the  26th  Lieutenant  Ward  writes 
from  Boston  that  he  learns,  at  the  State  House,  that  promo- 
tion to  second  lieutenancies  is  blocked  because  of  the  numbers 
of  the  regiment  being  below  the  minimum,  thus  showing  the 
inroads  that  disease  and  battle  have  made  upon  the  organiza- 
tion. Sept.  29th  comes  the  order  for  the  regiment  to  proceed 
at  once  to  St.  Augustine,  Florida,  and  there  is  need  enough 
of  the  change,  for,  while  there  are  many  names  on  the  rolls, 
very  few  of  them  are  those  of  men  able  to  respond  to  any  call 
of  duty.  North  Carolina  malaria  and  the  exactions  of  the 
campaign  in  the  South  State  have  done  their  work  till  scarce- 
ly more  than  a  tenth  part  of  the  men  are  reported  as  well.  It 
is  time  that  Christian  charity  should  get  in  a  little  work,  and 
these  fever-wasted,  sun-stricken  men  should  go  away  for  a 
chance  to  recuperate.  On  the  last  day  of  the  month  Colonel 
Osbom  rides  doM'n  to  pay  his  respects  to  General  Gillmore 
along  with  Colonel  Guss  of  the  Ninety-seventh  Pennsylvania, 
who,  with  his  regiment,  goes  to  Fernandina.  Returning, 
tents  are  struck  and  all  preparations  made  to  go  aboard  the 
steamers  Escort  and  INIonohansett.  As  the  men  are  making 
their  preparations  to  depart  they  are  closely  watched  by 
other  soldiers  who  have  to  remain,  ready  to  appropriate  any- 
thing that,  in  the  hurry  of  moving,  may  be  overlooked.  There 
w^as  the  utmost  economy  of  resources  among  those  warriors 


234  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

of  Morris  Island.  Oompany  D  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut  did 
a  comradely  thing  in  preparing  a  cup  of  tea  for  the  departing 
men  of  G  in  the  Twenty-fourth.  Though  the  liquid  drank 
may  not  have  been  that  of  which  the  Bard  of  Scotland  sings, 
yet  it  was  none  the  less  a  cup  of  kindness  taken  "for  auld 
lang  syne."  The  tents  went  down  at  sunset;  soon  after  it 
began  to  rain,  and  September  ends  with  the  survivors  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  all  aboard  and  awaiting  their  departure  for 
the  Land  of  Flowers. 


From  pencil  sketch  by  Lieut.  J,  M.  Barnard,  Co.  G. 

CAMP  OF  24TH  MASSACHUSETTS,   MORRIS  ISLAND. 

When  at  9  a.m.  of  Thursday,  Oct.  1st,  the  regiment  steamed 
away  from  Morris  Island,  called  by  some  ' '  The  Land  of  Sand 
and  Fleas,"  there  were  no  heavy  hearts  at  leaving.  For  New- 
bern,  there  was  with  many  a  genuine  attachment,  but  aver- 
sion would  better  express,  if  the  word  be  strong  enough,  their 
impressions  of  the  stay  in  front  of  Charleston.  They  were 
leaving  with  a  consciousness  of  having  done  their  duty  and 
of  having  borne  a  part  in  the  capturing  of  the  city's  defenses, 
but  barren  and  sand-wastes  are  not  calculated  to  arouse  much 
sentiment  anywhere  or  at  any  time.  The  trip  for  the  day 
ends  at  Hilton  Head  at  3  p.m.  for  the  Monohansett,  and  at 
5  for  the  Escort.  After  getting  express  matter,  and  finding 
that  the  mail  had  gone  to  Morris  Island,  also  taking  on  a  new 
supply  of  coal,  at  8  and  10  o'clock  respectively,  the  transports 


Oct.  3,  '63.  St.  Augustine.  235 

started  again  to  the  southward.  About  noon  of  the  2d,  the 
vessels  made  the  harbor  of  Fernandina,  it  being  impossible 
to  reach  St.  Augustine  at  high  tide.  There,  the  officers  were 
the  guests  of  those  of  the  Eleventh  Maine,  which  had  been 
ordered  to  this  point  for  the  sake  of  health,  and  the  rank  and 
file  also  found  old  friends  who  entertained  them  in  a  way  to 
make  many  hungry  boys  happy.  Of  the  town  itself  there  was 
very  little  approval,  the  name  being  much  prettier  than  the 
place,  but  the  old  Fort  Clinch  and  the  building  of  a  new  forti- 
fication are  especially  noted.  The  third  start  is  made  early 
in  the  morning  of  the  3rd,  and,  with  the  shore  in  sight  all  of 
the  way,  the  trip  was  delightful,  none  the  less  so  for  a  race 
which  the  two  steamers  had,  resulting  in  a  draw.  The  dis- 
tance of  fifty-one  miles  seemed  very  short  to  the  men,  every 
one  of  whom  was  blessing  the  memory  of  Ponce  de  Leon,  if  he 
ever  heard  of  him,  for  his  discovery  of  the  Flowery  State, 
though  these  Yankees  are  not  so  much  in  search  of  perpetual 
youth  as  they  are  seeking  for  a  renewal  of  health  and 
strength.  Arrived  off  the  oldest  settlement  in  America,  a 
pilot  was  taken  on  board,  and,  in  the  afternoon,  the  regiment 
debarked,  and  found  temporary  quarters  in  St.  Francis'  bar- 
racks, really  an  old  monastery,  converted  into  military  use. 
While  the  men  complain  of  crowded  accommodations,  so  much 
so  that  some  prefer  to  bunk  in  the  outer  air,  they  are  none  the 
less  grateful  at  the  change  from  their  recent  stopping  place. 

ST.  AUGUSTINE. 

The  Forty-eighth  New  York,  one  of  the  regiments  that  suf- 
fered so  severely  in  the  18th  of  July  charge  on  Wagner,  is 
here,  having  been  sent  down  some  time  before,  August  2d,  and 
has  been  having  a  most  pleasant  and  profitable  time  among 
the  orange  trees,  but  it  must  now  give  place  to  the  ]\Iassachu- 
setts  men.  However  much  the  New  Yorkers  may  have  re- 
gretted the  necessity,  there  was  nothing  of  displeasure  in  the 
three  rousing  cheers  with  which  they  greeted  the  men  who  were 
to  replace  them.     The  Forty-eighth  ceased  its  duties  as  garri- 


236  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

son  on  the  arrival  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  and,  on  the  6th,  in 
the  steamers  which  brought  the  Yankees,  sailed  away  to 
Beaufort,  S.  C,  reporting  to  General  Rufus  Saxton,  and  some 
of  them  soon  after  were  sent  to  Seabrook  to  perform  duties 
so  long  the  task  of  the  Twenty-fourth.  In  the  evening 
of  this  first  day  in  St.  Augustine,  the  Forty-eighth  Regiment 
gave  a  theatrical  performance  to  the  Twenty-fourth,  a  free 
show,  and  to  these  sand-permeated  men  it  was  one  of  the  times 
of  their  lives.  The  fixtures  of  the  theatre  had  been  brought 
from  Fort  Pulaski,  Georgia,  where  the  Forty-eighth,  months 
before,  had  given  many  hours  to  amateur  dramatics,  in  this 
way  disposing  of  tedious  time,  otherwise  spent  in  idleness. 
Saturday,  the  day  of  landing,  Colonel  Osborn  dines  with  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel D.  W.  Strickland  of  the  Forty-eighth,  and  pre- 
sumably is  informed  by  the  latter  of  some  of  the  peculiarities 
of  the  position  he  is  about  to  occupy.  The  first  Sunday  in 
town  is  marked  by  both  colonels  attending  the  Catholic 
Church.  Monday,  the  5th,  sees  the  Forty-eighth  on  ship- 
board, and  consequent  wider  opportunity  for  their  successors. 
Companies  C,  G  and  I  are  sent  to  Fort  Marion  and  the  other 
seven  find  quarters  in  the  barraclvs. 

With  the  departure  of  the  New  York  regiment  on  the  6th, 
before  noon,  the  Twenty-fourth  was  left  in  sole  possession  of 
the  ancient  city,  thus  by  courtesy,  for  to  men  from  the  North 
it  always  seemed  strange  that  the  South  gave  the  larger  name 
to  places  that  elsewhere  would  hardly  be  fair-sized  villages. 
There  may  have  been  500  people  in  St.  Augustine,  but  the 
greater  part  of  the  men  able  to  bear  arms  were  away  in  the 
Confederate  army,  while  the  U.  S.  government  was  largely 
taking  care  of  their  families  in  the  old  Spanish  town.  There 
were  residents,  however,  who  had  come  down  from  the  North 
before  the  war  and  they  gave  hearty  greetings  to  the  new- 
comers as  they  had  to  their  predecessors,  and  something  like 
society  was  found  in  St.  Augustine,  a  fact  that  was  particu- 
larly agreeable  to  many  of  the  officers  and  men  who  for  a 
year  and  a  half  had  seen  little  of  civilization,  not  to  mention 


Oct.  '63.  St.  Augustine.  237 

home  life.  Some  of  the  features  of  the  place  are  well  set  forth, 
in  a  letter  from  Colonel  Osborn : 

I  shall  live  in  a  house  now  occupied  by  the  late  comman- 
dant of  the  post,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Strickland.  It  is  a  fine 
old  house,  with  great  rooms.  There  is  a  veranda  around  both 
stories,  and  it  is  surrounded  with  trees  and  shrubs.  There  is 
a  banana  tree  in  the  yard  and  flowering  plants.  The  climate 
is  delightful  and  the  place  one  of  the  most  healthful  in  the 
South.  There  is  a  plenty  of  oranges,  limes,  lemons,  bananas 
and  guavas,  and  fresh  vegetables  will  soon  appear  and  last  all 
winter.  There  is  some  society  left  in  the  town  which  is  said 
to  be  quite  agreeable.  It  is  a  quaint  old  place,  one  of  the  old- 
est in  the  United  States.  Every  one  assures  us  that  we  shall 
have  a  delightful  time.  *  *  *  *  There  are  very  few  of  the 
enemy  in  the  neighborhood  and  they  have  given  very  little 
trouble. 

As  to  the  fruit  in  Florida,  the  men  expected  lemons  and 
limes  to  be  sour,  but  they  were  disappointed  to  tind  the 
oranges  having  the  same  characteristic.  When  the  Forty- 
eighth  went  aboard  their  vessels,  the  three  companies  as- 
signed to  Fort  Marion  went  thither  under  command  of  Cap- 
tain Richardson  of  G,  and  proceeded  to  make  themselves  as 
comfortable  as  possible,  pitching  their  tents  upon  the  ram- 
parts, at  least  some  of  them.  Lieutenant  Barnard,  who  has 
been  acting  adjutant,  returns  to  his  company,  G,  and  Lieu- 
tenant Edmands  of  B  Company  takes  his  place.  The  6th 
brought  with  it  the  necessity  of  a  deal  of  police  duty  and  con- 
siderable extra  work  in  making  ready  for  a  stay  in  the  new 
location.  As  the  Forty-eighth  went  away  the  men  were 
greeted  by  the  waving  of  handkerchiefs  by  ladies  who  had 
gathered  to  see  them  off,  and  their  own  cheers  for  the  Massa- 
chusetts men  as  they  passed  the  fort  were  most  heartily  re- 
turned by  the  new  garrison,  and  thus  separate  the  organiza- 
tions, not  to  meet  again  till  in  the  Battle  Summer  of  '64,  when 
they  will  participate  in  the  campaign  waged  in  that  year  by 
the  Army  of  the  James.  Again  a  letter  written  by  the 
Colonel  graphically  describes  the  duties  which  devolved  upon 
him  in  his  new  position : 


238 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


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Oct.  'G3.  Theatre.  239 

and  ]\Iiss  Perit.  who  are  Northern  ladies.  *  *  I  met  there 
Mrs.  Anderson,  who  is  also  a  Northern  lady,  and  is  spoken 
of  very  highly.  (To  these  three  ladies  Lieutenant  James 
M.  Nichols  in  his  history  of  the  Forty-eighth  devotes  a 
paragraph,  in  his  brief  reference  to  the  stay  here,  refer- 
ring to  their  admirable  qualities  of  hand,  heart  and 
head.)  *  *  Though  the  people  are  called  of  Spanish  de- 
scent, they  are  really  ^Minorcans,  or  descendants  of  early  set- 
tlers from  the  Isle  of  ^Minorca  in  the  ^lediterranean  Sea, 

While  the  officers  are  finding  some  semblance  of  their  old 
home-life  among  the  Union-loving  citizens,  the  enlisted  men 
are  living  on  the  fat  of  the  land  and  the  commissary,  their 
troubles  in  the  past  being  more  from  a  lack  of  stomach  sup- 
plies than  from  any  social  wants.  They  chronicle  the  presence 
of  fish,  eggs,  milk,  pies,  cakes,  and  almost  everything  known  to 
the  culinary  art,  while  the  shores  themselves  furnish  an  abun- 
dance of  oysters  which  these  men  from  the  seaside,  many  of 
them,  know  how  to  dig  and  prepare  for  the  table.  "Eight 
bushels,"  says  one  truthful  narrator,  "I  helped  open,  and 
what  a  rich  treat  we  had  for  dinner."  The  theatre  which 
the  New  Yorkers  had  inaugurated,  the  men  from  the  Bay 
State  keep  up,  and  thus  furnish  occupation  and  fun  for  all 
concerned.  On  the  evening  of  the  16th,  there  is  a  record  of 
"Toodles"  being  played,  and  the  comment,  "Singing  and  ro- 
mance under  difficulties."  It  would  be  an  error  to  suppose 
that  the  favorite  occupations  of  the  regiment  were  in  the  least 
neglected.  Drills,  inspections  and  parades  immediately  came 
back  to  all  of  their  pristine  importance.  While  the  men  in 
the  barracks  kept  at  their  former  course,  those  in  the  fort  had 
to  take  in  something  new  in  the  shape  of  heavy  artillery  drill. 
Sergeants  of  the  Forty-eighth  had  been  left  to  coach  the  offi- 
cers, and  they  in  turn  imparted  their  new  acquirements  to 
the  soldiers.  Young  ladies  enliven  the  dress-parades  with 
their  presence,  food  is  abundant,  the  duty  by  no  means  hard, 
the  climate  perfect,  and  some  of  the  men  are  banking  on  the 
possibilities  of  their  staying  out  their  term  of  service  in  the 
charmed  locality.     Their  favorite  hymn  has  become — 


240  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

My  willing  soul  would  stay 

In  such  a  frame  as  this, 
And  sit  and  sing  itself  away, 

To  everlasting  bliss. 

On  the  17th,  Companies  A  and  E,  under  Captain  Redding, 
were  sent  outside  of  the  lines  a  short  distance  to  get  some  cat- 
tle, a  Mr.  Black  accompanying  them.  They  came  back  at 
3  p.m.  with  three  head,  the  remainder  having  escaped  into 
the  woods.  Writing  on  the  26th,  the  Colonel  says  of  the  thea- 
tre, which  the  men  call  the  Olympic :  ' '  We  have  had  three  per- 
formances and,  probably,  shall  continue  them.  The  actors 
are  enlisted  men.  The  drummer  boys  impersonate  the  female 
parts.  It  is  very  amusing  to  see  how  awkwardly  they  set 
about  it  at  first,  and  how  ungainly  their  motions  are.  They 
have  obviously  improved,  however,  and  in  time  will  do  quite 
well."*  The  30th  of  October  brings  the  steamer  Cosmopoli- 
tan with  some  troops  and  a  number  of  sick  with  the  rumor 
that    a    convalescent    hospital    is    to    be    established.       The 


*Few  survivors  of  the  Twenty-fourth  fail  to  dwell  with  pleasure  on  the 
Olympic  Theatre  memories,  and  well  they  may,  for  nowhere  was  the 
versatility  of  the  regiment  better  shown.  The  entire  management  as 
well  as  delineation  was  in  their  hands.  The  stage  was  capacious,  some 
thirty  feet  in  depth,  with  a  proscenium  curtain  thirteen  feet  by  twenty- 
six.  Costumes,  proi^erties,  everything  that  could  be  purchased  of  the 
New  Yorkers  were  secured.  The  drop-curtain  bore  an  enlarged  picture 
of  the  seal  of  the  New  England  Guards,  drawn  by  H.  B.  McLellan  of 
"A,"  and  painted  by  him  along  with  John  Grithth  of  "K"  and  J.  G. 
Duffy  of  "E."  The  walls  were  painted  in  chocolate  and  gold  by  Grif- 
fith and  Duffy,  who  also  depicted,  in  the  center  of  the  panels,  scenes 
from  St.  Augustine  and  vicinity,  sketched  by  McLellan.  A  few  months 
later  Griffith  and  O'Brien,  one  of  the  actors,  were  to  paint  with  their 
own  life  blood  the  soil  of  Virginia  a  deeper  crimson  than  their  brushes 
had  ever  known.  A  renderingof  "To  Paris  and  Back,"  Dec.  24,  intro- 
duced the  following  men :  W.  N.  French  and  McLellan  of  "A,"  S.  O. 
Covell  of  "B,"  G.  W.  LaFavor,  F.  A.  Carney  and  F.  E.  Hall  of  "H" 
(the  latter  playing  a  feminine  part) ,  Jer.  O'Brien  of  "I"  and  A.J. 
Varney  of  "K."  The  season  afforded  a  wide  variety  of  plays,  including 
To  Paris  and  Back  for  Five  Pounds,  The  Bachelor's  Bedroom,  My  Wife's 
Second  Floor,  Bombastes  Furioso,  An  Object  of  Interest,  A  Blighted  Be- 
ing, Aunt  Charlotte's  Maid,  Number  One  Around  the  Corner,  An  Ugly 
Customer,  The  Two  Buzzards,    and  possibly   several   others.      The  regi- 


Oct.  '63. 


St.  Augustine. 


241 


next  and  last  day  of  the  month  is  signiticant  in  the  annals 
of  the  regiment  in  that  its  old  friends  of  the  Tenth  Connecti- 
cut come  down  to  bear  it  company  in  the  pleasant  occupation 
of  regaining  health.  The  latter  goes  into  camp  beyond  the 
fort,  having  been  received  with  an  artillery  salute.  Surgeon 
Green  is  also  on  one  of  the  steamers  with  Lieutenants  Ward 
and  Walker,  and  a  number  of  enlisted  men,  returning  from 


THE  DROP-Cl'RTAIN. 


mental  Glee  Club  was  frequent  in  song,  and  players  from  the  respective 
Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  and  Tenth  Connecticut  Bands  made  up 
the  orchestra.  To  the  players  of  feminine  parts  should  be  added  the 
names  of  S.  O.  Covell  of  B  and  A.  J.  Vining  of  K.  The  costumes  and 
other  outfit,  procured  from  New  York,  cost  about  $500,  an  amount  quite 
equalled  by  the  admissions  taken  at  the  door. 
16 


242  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

furlough.     Paymaster  Porter  is  sighted  and   his   prospective 
benefits  make  him  a  welcome  visitor  to  the  place. 

As  compared  M^ith  life  in  South  Carolina,  the  Italian  motto, 
"Dolce  far  niente,"  might  be  adopted  by  the  regiment  as 
indicative  of  the  course  of  events  in  St.  Augustine.  The  old 
Spanish  town  exemplified  fully  the  procrastinating  spirit  of 
their  favorite  manana  and,  with  their  everlasting  to-morrow 
in  mind,  not  a  few  of  the  men  are  wondering  how  the  male 
portion  of  the  inhabitants  ever  mustered  resolution  enough  to 
enlist.  However,  they  were  absent,  and  as  representatives  of 
the  sterner  sex,  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  Yankees  were 
much  in  evidence.  Some  of  them  enjoyed  much  the  opportu- 
nity to  study  so  old  a  place.  The  coquina  of  which  the  fort 
was  erected  was  also  the  principal  building  material  of  the 
city  itself.  Compressed  sand  and  shells  as  it  was,  it  afforded 
an  easily  worked  and  fine  looking  substance  for  walls,  and 
when  laid  on  the  roads  it  made  them  hard  and  smooth.  The 
fort  completed  by  the  Spaniards  in  1756,  a  hundred  years  in 
building,  passed  into  the  keeping  of  the  English,  who  in  turn 
gave  it  back  to  the  Spaniard.  The  latter  at  last  yielded  to 
the  Americans,  and  all  its  former  appellations,  as  San  Juan, 
San  Angelo  and  St.  Mark,  gave  place  to  that  commemora- 
tive of  General  Francis  Marion,  the  famous  Swamp  Fox  of 
South  Carolina  and  Revolutionary  days.  Every  portion  of  it 
was  thoroughly  ransacked  by  the  Northern  soldiers,  and  not  a 
few  of  them  tasted  the  solitudes  of  its  dungeon,  in  whose 
darkness  they  were  immured  for  offenses  from  which  even 
the  delights  of  Florida  did  not  exempt  them.  Of  this  fortress 
Chaplain  Trumbull  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut  writes  in  the 
following  terms : 


This  fort,  with  its  castellated  battlements,  its  formidable 
bastions,  its  lofty  and  imposing  sally-port,  still  surmounted  by 
the  royal  arms  of  Spain ;  its  portcullis,  moat  and  drawbridge ; 
its  round  and  ornate  coquina  sentry-boxes  at  each  principal 
parapet  angle ;  its  commanding  lookout  tower,  its  stained  and 


Oct.  '63.  St.  Augustine.  243 

moss-grown  massive  walls, — impressed  an  observer  as  a  relic 
of  the  long-gone  past.  Its  frowning  guns  and  its  guard  of 
veteran  soldiers  combined  to  make  it  at  the  time  a  representa- 
tive beleaguered  fortress.  Its  heavy  casements,  its  gloomy 
vaults,  its  dark  passages,  and  its  then  recently-discovered 
dungeon  (where,  according  to  popular  report,  were  found 
skeletons  chained  to  rusty  ring-bolts)  ;  the  dark  tally  list  on 
the  moldering  walls,  speaking  of  weary  prisoners  in  other 
dreary  days, — all  were  calculated  to  awe  or  solemnize  an 
imaginative  mind. 

While  the  Italian  sentiment  indicates  that  idleness  is  sweet, 
it  is  not  to  be  inferred  that  the  Twenty-fourth  was  absolutely 
freed  from  work.  Of  course,  there  were  the  regnilar  duties  of 
camp  life.  They  drilled  and  paraded;  they  w^ere  inspected 
and  they  had  to  keep  their  surroundings  in  the  neatest  of 
-order.  They  went  on  picket  periodically,  but  in  this  duty 
there  was  a  variation  from  their  former  performance  of  the 
task.  Here  they  had  a  wide  range  of  food  to  choose  from, 
and  while  one  portion  of  the  post  kept  his  eye  out  for  possible 
danger  or  approach  of  any  kind,  the  other  might  be  prepar- 
ing a  toothsome  repast  of  sweet  potatoes  and  oysters,  in  which 
the  waters  of  the  region  abound.  A  good  soldier  never  for- 
gets his  stomach,  and  as  tliese  men  were  in  Florida  to  recu- 
perate they  were  doing  their  best  to  accomplish  the  desired 
results. 

Of  the  town  itself  one  of  the  regiments  writes :  ' '  There  are 
only  four  streets  parallel  to  the  principal  one,  and  the  place 
is  only  about  half  as  deep  as  it  is  long.  *  *  The  climate  is 
very  much  like  our  September,  or  perhaps  more  like  our  In- 
dian summer.  Flowers  are  in  full  bloom,  and  the  fruit 
hangs  ripening  on  the  trees.  Early  vegetables  are  peeping 
above  the  ground,  radishes  are  fit  to  eat,  and  lettuce  will  soon 
be  ready  for  the  table.  Green  peas  will  have  their  turn  in 
about  a  month,"  and  yet  with  all  the  fruits  of  Florida  these 
men  from  the  Bay  State  are  sending  North  for  barrels  of 
apples,  confirming  the  statement  that  one  brought  up  to  eat 
apples  never   gets   beyond   hankering   for   them.     When    the 


244 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


good  Massachusetts  frnit  reached  the  southland,  the  owner  of 
apples  had  no  difficulty  in  selling  what  he  did  not  himself 
wish  for  five  cents  apiece  and,  as  a  writer  remarks,  "Some  of 
them  w^ere  small,  too. ' ' 

On  the  very  first  day  of  the  month  Colonel  Osborn  relin- 
quished the  command  of  the  regiment  to  oNIajor  Hooper, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Stevenson  still  being  absent,  and  devoted 
his  time  to  the  duties  of  commandant  of  the  post.  As  the 
Tenth  Connecticut  is  also  in  St.  Augustine,  his  duties  are 
somewhat  like  those  of  the  commander  of  a  brigade.     Gene- 


FOKT  MAKION. 

ral  Gillmore  is  having  a  hospital  erected  in  the  place  for  the 
sake  of  convalescent  officers  and  men  of  the  department  who 
will  be  sent  here  to  hasten  their  recovery.  Until  the  7th 
there  was  nothing  worthy  of  note,  but  on  that  day  Major 
Hooper,  with  250  men,  went  out  on  a  foraging  trip,  support- 
ing a  Mr.  Black.  Their  object  was  cattle,  and  for  the  same  he 
goes  to  his  own  (Black's)  place  on  the  St.  John's  River,  and 
the  men  follow  to  Sampson's  Creek,  twenty  miles  from  the 
town.  The  party  returned  on  the  9th,  bringing  in  twenty- 
five  head,  and  the  appetites  of  hungry  soldiers  are  appeased 
with  dinners  of  real  roast  beef. 

It  was  in  these  days  that  one  of  the  men  discovered  in  one 


Nov.  '63.  St.  Augustine.  245 

of  the  citizens  an  acquaintance  from  his  own  town  "up 
North"  and,  as  a  sequel,  he  had  the  privilege  of  sitting  at  a 
table  for  the  first  time  in  over  two  years.  He  felt  consider- 
ably exalted  thereat,  and  was  quite  delighted  to  find  that  he 
had  not  forgotten  all  of  his  table  manners.  One  impression- 
able fellow  dilates  on  the  beauty  of  the  St.  Augustine  ladies, 
calling  them  the  handsomest  he  ever  saw.  What  a  rating  his 
best  girl  at  home  would  give  him  could  she  know  his  feel- 
ings !  ' '  They  dress  richly  in  spite  of  the  war ;  perhaps  they 
had  their  fine  clothes  before  the  same  began. ' '  Plaza  de  Con- 
stitution is  the  open  space  extending  backward  from  the 
water  and  around  which  are  the  principal  buildings  of  the 
place.  Along  the  whole  water's  edge  there  is  a  great  wall, 
built  of  stone  looking  like  Quincy  granite.  It  was  seven 
years  in  building,  and  cost  $100,000.  It  is  the  favorite  prom- 
enade for  the  city. 

November  12th  the  Masonic  soldiers  in  St.  Augustine  had  a 
lodge-meeting,  and  to  light  the  room  occupied  had  to  go  to 
the  citizens  for  candles,  since  the  supply  of  the  commissary 
was  exhausted.  It  was  on  the  16th  that  Colonel  Osborn 
reviewed  the  regiment  and,  while  the  exercise  was  in  prog- 
ress, there  came  a  variation  when  a  young  bull,  at  large, 
attacked  one  of  the  guidons,  whose  bright  color  seemingly  was 
offensive.  The  boys  were  certain  that  he  was  a  secesh 
animal,  hence  deserving  of  death.  Nov.  17th,  Corporal  John 
Atkinson  of  Company  G  died  in  the  hospital,  having  been  ill 
ever  since  the  arrival  of  the  regiment.  His  remains  were 
given  a  military  burial  the  next  day  outside  of  the  cemetery 
at  the  upper  end  of  the  town.  After  the  interment,  some 
little  girls  appeared  and  covered  the  grave  with  flowers  and 
set  out  rose  and  geranium  slips,  rather  a  pleasing  instance  of 
that  touch  of  nature  which  makes  the  whole  world  kin. 

Decidedly  the  most  interesting  day  in  the  entire  month 
was  the  26th,  the  Thursday  that  friends  in  the  North  were  ob- 
serving as  Thanksgiving  Day.  Of  course  these  far-away  sons 
of  Northern  homes  were  not  to  allow  the  day  to  pass  unob- 


246 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


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Dec.  'G3.  St.  Augustine.  2-1-7 

reniinder  of  home  and  mother.  November  30,  at  dress- 
parade,  there  Avas  read  an  order  by  General  Truman  Seymour 
to  the  effect  that  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  and  the 
Tenth  Connecticut  were  as  good  and  w^ell-drilled  volunteer 
regiments  as  he  had  ever  seen,  an  indication  that  Floridian 
ease  was  not  in  the  least  impairing  the  efficiency  of  the  men. 

The  last  month  of  1863  finds  the  Twenty-fourth  still  enjoy- 
ing the  fruits  and  pastimes  of  Florida.  Until  the  end  of  the 
month,  there  is  little  variance  from  the  preceding  two.  It 
goes  without  saying  that  all  of  the  routine  duties  are  care- 
fully attended  to,  and  that  all  the  pleasure  the  men  can  get 
out  of  their  surroundings  is  had  also.  The  companies  in  the 
fort  plume  themselves  on  becoming  quite  expert  artillerists, 
at  the  same  time  losing  none  of  their  skill  as  infantrymen. 
Owing  to  the  scarcity  of  fuel,  wood-chopping  expeditions  are 
sent  out  several  miles  to  cut  wood ;  the  services  of  prisoners, 
i.e.,  men  doing  extra  duty  as  a  penalty,  are  utilized  for  this 
purpose  under  guard.  Others  not  prisoners  have  to  do  the  same 
at  times.  On  the  10th,  news  reaches  St.  Augustine  of  the 
Union  victories  of  Grant  in  and  around  Chattanooga,  and  a  na- 
tional salute  is  fired  from  the  fort  at  noon.  While  no  time  is 
wasted  thus,  many  a  glance  is  cast  towards  the  water  upon 
w^hich  enter  the  steamers  carrying  the  mail  and  other  com- 
munications from  home.  Complaint  is  common  over  the 
irregularity  of  the  vessels.  Now  and  then  a  cold  snap,  with 
ice  in  evidence,  reminds  the  men  of  what  their  friends  are 
having  in  the  far-away  North.  Officers  complain  because  of 
General  Gillmore's  unwillingness  to  grant  leave  of  absence 
and  wonder  what  the  reason  is. 

By  the  middle  of  December,  talk  of  re-enlistment  becomes 
quite  common,  and  a  movement  is  made  towards  trying  to 
convert  the  regiment  into  one  ^of  heavy  artillery,  and  thus  go 
home  to  recruit  to  the  maximum  number.  Rebel  deserters 
are  common,  and  some  of  them  express  a  willingness  to  enlist 
in  an  organization  to  be  formed  after  the  model  of  that  in 
Washington,  N.  C.     On  the  14th,  Chaplain  Trumbull  of  the 


248  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Tenth  Connecticut,  who  had  been  captured  at  Wagner,  and 
who  had  had  a  particularly  hard  time  with  the  rebels, 
returns.  The  Confederates  tried  hard  to  hang  him  as  a  spy, 
but  even  they  did  not  dare  to  go  that  far.  The  15th,  Colonel 
Osborn  is  interviewed  by  a  party  of  men  who  came  to  the  lines 
asking  the  privilege  of  organizing  to  defend  themselves 
against  guerrillas,  but  as  they  were  unwilling  to  take  the  oath 
of  allegiance,  their  proposition  was  not  regarded  favorably. 
December  17,  the  steamer  Maple  Leaf  came  in,  bringing  not 
only  Major  Porter,  the  paymaster,  but  also  the  Rev.  E.  B. 
Willson  of  Salem,  Mass.,  the  new  Chaplain  for  the  Twenty- 
fourth.  Just  down  from  his  Northern  home,  the  change  to 
the  skies  and  climate  of  Florida  must  have  been  strange  to 
him.  As  there  was  evidence  of  misuse  of  express  matter  sent 
down  on  the  ]\Iaple  Leaf,  the  craft  was  searched  with  a  con- 
sequent arrest  of  several  white  and  colored  employees,  who 
evidently  had  broken  open  packages  intrusted  to  their  care, 
but  for  other  people.  On  the  19th  the  three  companies  at  the 
fort  were  paid  off,  and  many  of  the  men  went  up  to  the  hospi- 
tal of  the  Tenth  Connecticut  to  hear  Chaplain  Trumbull  tell 
his  experiences  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  his  story  being  a 
thrilling  one.  It  was  at  this  time  that  his  many  friends  in 
the  Tenth  presented  him  with  a  sword  and  field  glass.  The 
21st  was  pay-day  at  the  barracks,  and  some  of  the  regiments 
recall  the  day  as  that  on  which  the  cavalcade  of  officers  and 
ladies  came  near  being  stampeded  by  the  approach  of  a  wood- 
team,  the  throwing  from  her  horse  of  a  lady  rider,  and  her 
rescue  by  one  of  the  guard.  In  the  evening  there  was  a  ball 
at  the  Florida  House,  attended  by  the  officers  and  the  North- 
ern people,  who  just  then  were  repairing  to  St.  Augustine 
in  great  numbers. 

The  life  of  the  regiment  on  Christmas  Day  was  almost  a 
repetition  of  that  at  Thanksgiving,  with  the  small  improve- 
ment in  rations  at  dinner,  and  in  the  evening  a  performance 
at  the  Olympic  Theatre,  which  the  soldier  boys  pretty  well 
filled.     Sunday,  the  27th,  marked  the  first  appearance  of  the 


Dec.  30,  '63.       Lieutenant  Walker  Shot.  249 

new  Chaplain,  Mr.  Willson,  in  the  pulpit,  that  of  the  St.  George 
■Episcopal.  ]\Iusic  was  furnished  by  the  Regimental  Glee 
Club,  and  one  of  the  liand  played  the  organ.  The  men  who 
were  present  liked  their  new  officer  very  much,  and  were 
rather  pleased  that  his  position,  so  long  vacant,  was  at  last 
filled.  No  day  in  the  St.  Augustine  stay  made  a  deeper  im- 
pression on  the  regiment  than  the  30tli,  for  on  this  came  the 
attack  on  the  party  that  had  gone  out  to  chop  wood.  As  told 
by  a  participant,  the  story  is  vividly  portrayed : 

It  was  reported  that  Dickison's  cavalry  had  got  this  side 
of  the  St.  John's  River,  and  it  was  thought  possible  that  they 
might  make  a  descent  on  our  wood-choppers  with  the  inten- 
tion of  capturing  them.  As  wood  is  very  scarce  within  our 
lines,  the  choppers,  twenty  in  number,  have  been  cutting 
about  a  mile  outside  the  pickets,  with  a  guard  from  the 
Twenty-fourth  and  the  Tenth  Connecticut  of  thirty  men,  alter- 
nately. Wednesday,  the  30th,  the  choppers  and  escort  were 
proceeding  out,  as  usual,  with  their  advance  guard  thrown 
out,  when,  as  they  neared  the  chopping-place,  a  party  of  the 
enemy  sprang  out  of  the  bushes  behind  the  guard,  and  at  the 
same  moment  another  party  in  front  of  them,  completely  hem- 
ming them  in.  The  choppers  and  the  reserves  were  a  hun- 
dred yards  in  the  rear.  So  sudden  was  the  attack  there  was 
very  little  for  the  men  to  do  but  take  to  the  bushes,  which 
many  of  them  did,  so  escaping  death  or  capture,  for  the  reb- 
els were  shouting,  ' '  Surrender  and  we  won 't  hurt  you. ' '  As 
the  advance  guard,  this  day,  was  furnished  by  the  Connecticut 
regiment,  luck  was  on  the  side  of  the  Twenty-fourth.  One 
man  of  the  Tenth,  Wm.  A.  Burns,  was  killed,  and  twenty-one 
were  captured.  Of  the  Twenty-fourth,  three  men  were  taken 
prisoners,  Bullock  and  Taylor  of  Company  K,  and  E.  R.  West 
of  A,  while  Lieutenant  0.  H.  Walker  of  Company  D  was 
mortally  wounded,  he  being  in  command  of  the  party.  Bul- 
lock and  West  died  the  following  May  in  Andersonville. 

In  a  formal  report,  dated  January  1,  1864,  concerning  the 
skirmish  of  the  30th  ult.,  Colonel  Osborn  says : 

During  the  past  month  it  has  been  necessary  to  send  the 
wood-choppers  about  two  miles  outside  the  lines  to  procure 


250  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Kegiment. 

fire-wood,  the  supply  within  the  lines  having  become  ex- 
hausted. At  first,  having  learned  from  my  scouts  that  there 
were  no  rebel  forces  east  of  the  St.  John's  River,  I  furnished 
them  with  a  guard  of  only  ten  men.  About  three  weeks  ago, 
however,  I  heard  rumors  that  some  cavalry  were  expected  to 
cross  the  river  very  soon  for  conscripts  and  deserters,  and 
I  accordingly  increased  the  guard  to  thirty  men,  requiring  the 
twenty  choppers  to  carry  arms  also,  making  fifty  armed  men, 
which,  after  careful  consideration,  I  deemed  an  ample  force. 
I  constantly  sent  out  scouts  to  ascertain  whether  the  enemy 
had  crossed  the  river,  intending,  if  he  should  come  in  this 
neighborhood,  to  go  out  and  attack  him. 

On  Wednesday  morning,  the  30th  ult.,  one  of  the  scouts 
came  in  and  reported  to  me  that  he  could  find  no  indication  of 
any  cavalry  in  the  vicinity.  On  that  very  morning,  however, 
the  guard,  which  was  moving  cautiously  out  to  its  position, 
with  an  advance  thrown  out,  was  suddenly  attacked  by  a 
party  on  their  right  and  front,  who  had  been  lying  concealed 
in  the  low  palmetto  shrubs  with  which  the  whole  country  is 
covered,  and  which  furnishes  such  perfect  concealment  that  a 
man  might  pass  within  twenty  feet  of  such  a  party  and  never 
suspect  its  presence.  The  guard  halted,  faced  towards  the 
enemy,  and  prepared  to  return  the  fire,  when  they  received 
another  volley  from  a  corresponding  position  on  the  left  of 
the  line  of  march.  This,  unfortunately,  dangerously  wounded 
Lieut.  Oliver  H.  Walker,  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Vol- 
unteers, who  was  in  charge  of  the  party,  which  threw  them 
into  some  confusion.  At  this  moment  a  body  of  cavalry  was 
seen  on  each  flank,,  riding  rapidly  to  get  into  their  rear.  This 
increased  the  disorder  caused  by  the  loss  of  the  officer,  and 
they  commenced  falling  back.  In  doing  this,  having  about 
two  miles  to  go  before  they  reached  the  Outposts,  and  being 
closely  pursued  by  the  cavalry,  they  became  somewhat  scat- 
tered and  lost  twenty-four  men  taken  prisoners.  News  of  this 
affair  having  been  brought  to  me  on  brigade  drill,  in  less  than 
an  hour  after  I  received  the  report  of  the  scout  mentioned 
above,  I  immediately  went  out  with  the  Twenty-fourth  Massa- 
chusetts, but  the  enemy  had  gone.  As  they  had  two  hours  the 
start  of  me  I  did  not  pursue  them.  If  I  had  had  a  company 
of  cavalry,  I  am  confident  I  could  have  overtaken  them,  and 
not  only  have  rescued  my  own  men,  but  could  have  captured 
some  besides,  for  from  their  trail  they  were  mounted  on  small 
horses. 


Jan.  '64.  New  Year's  Day.  251 

I  deeply  regret  to  report  such  an  unsatisfactory  result  of 
this  affair,  but  I  impute  it  all  to  the  unfortunate  circumstance 
of  Lieutenant  Walker's  being  wounded.  Had  he  remained 
unhurt,  I  am  confident  he  would  have  beaten  the  enemy  off, 
for  he  is  a  brave  and  skillful  officer,  and  had  his  men  well  in 
hand  when  he  fell.  I  am  grieved  to  say  that  his  wound  is  con- 
sidered a  verv  serious  one  bv  the  surgeon  in  attendance. — 
R.  R.,  Vol.  28,  Part  1,  page  752. 

Never  was  there  a  better  illustration  of  the  difference  in- 
duced by  the  point  of  view  than  in  the  Federal  and  Confede- 
rate estimate  of  the  above  incident.  To  our  forces  it  was  a 
skirmish;  to  the  rebels,  according  to  General  R.  B.  Thomas, 
commanding  the  district,  a  "brilliant  exploit."  While  the 
rebels  had  seventy  officers  and  men  they  allude  to  the  Union 
soldiers  as  a  "superior  force."  No  word  is  given  to  the  ad- 
vantages arising  from  their  ambuscade,  but  special  mention  is 
made  of  the  bravery  of  the  two  commissioned  officers.  In 
grandiloquent  terms.  General  Thomas  refers  to  the  affair  as 
one  of  regular  recurrence.  The  sword  of  our  lamented  Lieu- 
tenant Walker  was  presented  to  Sergt.  J.  S.  Poer  of  Dicki- 
son's  company  for  "his  gallantry." 

With  a  vivid  recollection  of  the  affair  of  the  30th  no  chop- 
ping party  went  out  on  the  last  day  of  1863,  a  year  which, 
beginning  for  the  regiment  in  the  Old  North  State,  had  given 
the  men  an  extended  taste  of  the  South  State,  and,  later,  had 
seen  them  favorably  placed  in  Florida,  is  ended. 

1864. 

New  Year's  Day  in  St.  Augustine  was  an  institution.  To 
begin  with,  it  was  the  first  anniversary  of  the  Emancipation 
I'roclamation  or  of  its  application,  and  the  colored  population 
made  the  most  of  it ;  nor  was  the  celebration  confined  to  them, 
since  the  regimental  bands  played  the  old  year  out  and  the 
new  one  in.  A  stage  or  platform  had  been  erected  on  the 
plaza  for  the  speakers  and,  at  11  a.m.,  the  colored  people,  sev- 
eral hundred  in  number,  came  marching  up  to  the  stage  by 
twos,  old  and  young,  and  of  both  sexes.     Union  officers  and 


252  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

men  were  also  present  and,  first  in  order,  was  the  reading  of 
the  famous  proclamation ;  the  bands  played,  Judge  Stickney 
presided,  Chaplains  Trumbull  and  Willson  spoke,  and  the  col- 
ored preachers  told  the  people  what  was  expected  of  them. 
The  negro  children  sang  songs,  such  as  "John  Brown's 
Body,"  "The  Year  of  Jubilo,"  etc.  Then  came  an  invitation 
for  the  officers  of  both  regiments,  the  two  bands,  and  other 
people  to  partake  of  a  collation  prepared  in  the  Court  House 
Hall.  The  two  bands  united  in  playing  Hail  Columbia,  and 
then  all  started  for  the  building.  The  negroes  formed  on  the 
plaza,  while  the  officers  and  musicians  devoured  the  food  with- 
in the  hall.  The  soldiers  standing  around  had  infinite  amuse- 
ment in  hearing  the  colored  folks  sing  their  own  peculiar 
melodies.  After  the  bands  had  filled  up  with  food,  they  came 
out  and  again  tuned  their  instruments,  giving  many  national 
airs,  ending  with  "Yankee  Doodle."  Later  came  amusements 
of  their  own  in  the  several  quartei-s  of  the  companies.  Gan- 
der or  stag-dances  were  the  order  of  the  evening,  and  if  the 
music  was  primitive,  the  ' '  light  fantastic ' '  was  energetic,  and 
the  fun  ran  merrily  on  till  a  late  hour,  and  well  it  was  that  it 
should,  for  as  yet  these  men  realize  nothing  of  the  exactions 
of  the  approaching  Battle  Summer  and,  ere  the  year  is  ended, 
many  a  brave  boy  in  blue  who  on  this  New  Year's  night  is  so 
blithe  and  gay,  will  sleep  beneath  the  soil  of  Old  Virginy,  an 
ofi'ering  for  his  country's  need. 

This  month  also  is  to  prove  quite  uneventful  save  as  the  sub- 
ject of  re-enlistment  is  considered.  The  Government  needed 
trained  soldiers,  and  these  men  with  their  experience  gained 
in  actual  service,  were  worth  many  times  their  number  of  raw 
recruits,  hence  the  inducements  ofl:ered:  long  furloughs,  big 
bounties  and  fine  chances  for  promotion ;  it  took  considerable 
determination  to  withstand  the  temptations.  Many  a  man 
who,  in  diary  and  letter,  recorded  his  decision  to  go  home  and 
stay  when  his  time  was  up,  recanted  and  ended  the  delibera- 
tions by  adding  his  name  to  the  list  of  veterans  who  would 
see  the  campaign  through.     One  young  man  wrote  thus  to  his 


Jan.  '64. 


Re-enlistment. 


253 


home,  "I  think  I  have  done  my  duty  to  my  country.  Money 
is  no  object  to  me  with  such  a  hard  life  as  I  have  led  the  past 
two  years.  Therefore,  I  decline  binding  myself  for  another 
three  years,  though  I  have  no  idea  the  war  will  last  that 
length  of  time.  *  *  After  all,  when  the  war  is  over,  I 
think  I  shall  feel  much  better  than  if  I  had  not  enlisted; 
enough  better,  indeed,  to  pay  me  for  all  of  the  suffering  thus 
far."  Yet  this  same  man  later  signed  the  re-enlistment  roll 
with  his  comrades,  and  was  one  of  the  bravest  in  the  terrible 


(23)     BARRACKS,  ST.  AUGUSTIXE. 


campaign  of  1864.  All  sorts  of  motives  promoted  enlist- 
ments. Captain  Amory  of  I  relates  with  great  pleasure  the 
story  of  a  call  he  had  from  Fitzgerald  at  the  very  end  of  the 
excitement,  the  man  asking  how  many  men  in  the  company 
had  signed  the  roll.  On  being  told  that  forty-nine  had  agreed 
to  fight  it  out,  he  again  asked,  "And  is  it  a  fact,  Captain,  that 
if  fifty  sign,  ye  can  go  home  with  them  ? ' '  Being  assured 
that  such  was  the  case,  the  warm-hearted  soldier  said,  "Then 
I'm  goin'  to  put  down  me  name.  I  wasn't  goin'  to  do  it, 
but  I  want  ye  to  have  the  fun  of  a  trip  home  wi'  the  b'ys," 
and  the  name  of  Dennis  is  found  with  the  other  immortals. 


254  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Just  a  little  before  this  time  Colonel  Osborn  had  addressed 
a  letter  to  General  Gillmore  suggesting  the  propriety  of 
organizing  a  regiment  of  loyal  Floridians  for  the  defense  of 
the  State.  He  mentions  the  presence  in  St.  Augustine  of 
refugees  who  would  gladly  embrace  the  opportunity,  and  the 
existence  of  more  still  in  Fernandina  and  Port  Royal.  He 
thinks  the  rebel  cause  is  losing  ground  in  that  part  of  the 
State  held  by  the  Union  forces,  and  that  with  a  regiment 
started,  enlistments  would  be  rapid.  Also,  he  mentions  the 
dissatisfaction  existing  in  the  ranks  of  the  Confederate  sol- 
diers in  Florida,  and  that  the  projected  matter  would  draw 
many  recruits  by  way  of  desertion  from  the  immediate  troops 
of  the  enemy.  He  thinks  that  the  State  is  now  ready  to  listen 
to  reason,  and  with  a  little  management  would  resume  her 
place  in  the  nation. 

To  the  communication  of  Colonel  Osborn,  General  Truman 
Seymour  replies  from  Hilton  Head  Jan.  2,  1864 : 

Colonel :  Your  communication  of  the  20th  ult.  is  just 
received.  I  will  take  the  first  occasion  that  offers  to  repre- 
sent fully  to  the  Major-General  commanding  your  views,  with 
which  my  own  coincide.  The  organization  of  native  Florid- 
ians must  cause  great  disgust  in  and,  if  actively  employed, 
great  inconvenience  to  the  Southern  cause.  From  every 
source  accounts  come  in  of  increasing  distress  among  the 
rebels,  and  this  year,  if  well  improved,  will  doubtless  see  an 
end  to  the  Rebellion. 

An  interesting  entry  for  the  2d  is  that  ice  formed  an  inch 
thick  the  night  before,  a  fall  of  fifty  degrees  in  thirty-six 
hours.  On  the  3d  came  the  paymaster  to  the  barracks,  and 
in  the  forenoon  Lieutenant  Walker,  wounded  Dec.  30th,  died 
at  the  home  of  Mr.  Gardner,  where  he  had  boarded.  The  compa- 
nies in  the  fort  were  paid  the  4th,  and  on  the  5th  there  were 
funeral  services  for  Lieutenant  Walker  at  his  former  boarding 
place.  The  band  escorted  the  body  to  the  Maple  Leaf,  play- 
ing a  dirge  on  the  way.  From  Hilton  Head  the  remains  were 
to  go  directly  to  Massachusetts.     With  others,  the  name  of  the 


Jan.  '64,  Re-enlistment.  255 

Lieutenant  appears  on  a  memorial  tablet  placed  in  Berkeley 
Temple,  Boston,  late  in  1864.  During  these  days,  so  soon 
after  the  December  episode,  extra  guards  accompanied  the 
wood-choppers  on  their  trips  beyond  the  lines.  Jan.  6th 
returned  Lieutenant  Ordway  to  his  company,  CI,  he  having 
been  absent  for  some  time  on  detached  service;  his  men 
greeted  him  with  cheers,  and  at  the  same  time  the  men  of  the 
Tenth  Connecticut  were  shouting  themselves  hoarse  over  the 
coming  back  to  them  of  their  beloved  Lieutenant-Colonel  Leg- 
gett,  with,  as  they  said,  "a  new  leg,"  having  lost  at  Wagner 
the  one  nature  gave. 

Sunday,  the  10th,  General  Gillmore  and  staff  arrived  on 
the  Ben  De  Ford,  or  came  on  the  same  as  far  as  the  bar ;  in  a 
small  boat  the  remainder  of  the  way.  The  General  visited 
the  fort,  and  was  present  at  the  dress-parade  in  the  evening. 
It  was  on  this  day  that  General  Gillmore  addressed  a  letter  to 
Colonel  Osborn,  requesting  him  to  announce  to  his  regiment 
and  the  Tenth  Connecticut  that  all  veteran  volunteers  re- 
enlisting  will  be  sent  home  in  a  body  to  enjoy  their  thirty 
days'  furlough  in  their  own  State.  An  officer  will  be  sent  at 
once  to  muster  them  in  and  a  steamer  will  convey  them  to  New 
York  as  soon  as  their  furloughs  can  be  made  out.  Also  a 
commissioned  officer,  not  to  exceed  one  for  every  fifty  men  who 
re-enlist,  will  be  allowed  to  go  North  with  the  men,  and  will 
have  leave  of  absence  or  orders  issued  to  them  for  that  pur- 
pose. The  foregoing  was  read  at  a  review  on  the  11th,  or  its 
equivalent  was  given  to  the  men  orally  by  General  Gillmore, 
who  went  back  to  Hilton  Head  in  the  afternoon.  The  appear- 
ance of  the  General  in  camp  and  his  representations  had  an 
inspiriting  effect  on  re-enlistments.  The  next  day  at  the  fort 
Lieutenant  Barnard  made  an  address  with  reference  to  the 
subject,  and  Captain  Richardson  introduced  Chaplain  Will- 
son,  who  gave  a  "homespun"  talk,  which  was  very  effective. 
Notices  are  posted  up  to  .the  effect  that  tickets  for  Boston,  via 
Stonington,  are  for  sale,  and  baggage  is  checked  through.  The 
other  reads,  "Ho!  for  New  York  and   Boston,  Massachusetts. 


256  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Fifteen  more  men  wanted  to  fill  up  the  company.  Walk  up 
to  the  Captain's  office  and  settle." 

On  the  23d.  Colonel  Osborn  received  permission  to  organize 
a  regiment  of  Florida  cavalry.  Having  been  informed  of  the 
proximity  of  rebel  cavalry,  the  Colonel  sent  out  Companies  E, 
F  and  K,  one  hundred  men  under  Captain  Maker,  some  fifteen 
miles  into  the  country,  if  possible,  to  intercept  them.  They 
returned  the  next  day,  bringing  a  prisoner,  one  Pacetti, 
brother  of  the  local  barber,  who  was  himself  a  suspect,  and 
later  was  sent  outside  the  lines. 

No  better  ending  to  this  Florida  January  can  be  had  than 
the  following  extract  from  one  of  Colonel  Osborn 's  letters, 
written  on  the  30th: 

I  presume  you  have  sleighing,  skating,  cold  fingers,  blue 
noses,  and  all  the  accompaniments  of  a  Boston  winter,  for  I 
am  told  that  it  is  a  very  severe  one,  so  you  can  hardly  imagine 
the  perfect  beauty  of  a  day  like  this,  when  we  sit  on  the 
piazza  in  the  shade,  after  dinner,  admiring  the  flowers,  and 
asking  ourselves  if  this  can  be  January.  1  will  put  some 
violets  into  this  letter,  for  I  am  told  that  they  will  preserve 
their  fragrance  for  a  long  time.  Also,  some  lovely  yellow  jes- 
samine, which  I  admired  so  much  on  St.  Helena  Island,  if  I 
can  get  them.  They  are  just  beginning  to  blossom,  but  are 
not  very  plenty. 

One  more  month  begun  in  the  old  Spanish  town.  There 
are  calls  and  horseback  rides  for  the  officers  along  with  the 
Northern  ladies  who  are  spending  the  winter  in  the  flowery 
land.  For  the  men,  there  is  the  usual  routine  with  an  occa- 
sional variation,  as  on  the  2d  of  February,  when,  at  7  a.m.,  200 
men  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  under  Captain  Richardson,  are 
sent  out  on  the  Picolata  road  after  cattle.  Crossing  the  river 
on  a  scow,  and  accompanied  by  certain  deserters  as  guides,  the 
march  was  along  roads  abounding,  at  times,  in  water  ' '  as  high 
as  one's  knees,"  at  other  affording  tolerable  footing.  The 
trip  was  not  particularly  eventful,  though  there  were  several 
interviews  with  the  natives  who  were  on  their  way  to  town  to 


Feb.  7,  '64. 


Re-enlistment. 


257 


sell  farm  products,  some  of  which  the  men  took  without  pay- 
ing for,  but  for  Avhich  Lieutenant  Foster  made  up  to  the  peo- 
ple at  the  running-  prices.  A  squad  of  men  accompanied  their 
guide  several  miles  further  than  the  main  party  went,  for  the 
purpose  of  getting-  the  family  and  furniture  of  said  guide. 
The  expedition  camped  with  pickets  thrown  out,  and  with  all 
care  talcen  to  avoid  surprise.  A  man  with  sugar  for  Dicki- 
son's  Cavalry  Avas  apprehended,  and  two  rebel  soldiers,  one 


Etching  by  H.  B.  McLt-llan,  Co.  A. 

ON  PICKET. 

of  them  just  down  from  Virginia  on  a  furlough,  were  also 
taken.  After  getting  together  forty-five  head  of  cattle,  the 
men  started  back,  reaching  town,  tired  but  happy,  entering 
St.  Augustine  whistling  merry  tunes  and  ready  for  supper, 
roll-call  and  rest. 

RE-ENLISTMENT. 

Sunday,  February  7th,  Chaplain  Trumbull  of  the  Tenth 
Connecticut  preached  a  telling  discourse  to  his  men,  and 
among  his  hearers  were  many  from  the  Twenty-fourth,  and 

17 


258  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

the  same  gave  Avonderful  impetus  to  re-enlisting.     The  Chap- 
lain himself  tells  the  story  in  part  as  follows : 

The  text  was:  "Shall  your  brethren  go  to  war  and  shall 
ye  sit  here?"  Numbers  xxxii,  6.  At  first  I  gave  Hebrew 
illustrations  and  situations,  then  came  down  to  the  applica- 
tion as  to  the  going  of  the  regiment  to  the  front  and  doing 
its  part.  It  was  evident  that  the  Bible  parallel  set  before  the 
men  in  this  case  reached  their  hearts.  Officers  and  men  vied 
with  each  other  in  expressions  of  agreement  with  me.  One 
prominent  officer  who  had  been  forward  in  his  complainings 
over  the  contemplated  move,  now  said  that  he  had  felt  this 
way  all  along,  and  was  glad  that  the  Chaplain  was  looking  at 
it  in  the  same  light.  My  Colonel  requested  the  sermon  for 
publication  in  order  that  it  might  be  carefully  read  by  all  the 
regiment.  The  next  day  the  surgeon  in  charge  of  the  conva- 
lescent camp  came  to  me  asking,  "Chaplain,  what  did  you 
preach  about  yesterday!  I  was  kept  up  till  near  midnight 
making  out  discharges  for  officers  who  wanted  to  go  back  to 
their  commands.  When  I  asked  the  reason  they  said  they  had 
been  down  to  church,  and  heard  a  sermon  that  gave  them  a 
different  view  of  their  duty. ' ' 

Some  of  the  enlisted  men  said  grimly,  "The  Chaplain's 
spoiling  for  a  fight,"  but  the  current  was  too  strong  for  any- 
one to  make  head  against  it.  The  sermon,  as  printed  and  dis- 
tributed, was  entitled,  "Desirableness  of  Active  Ser- 
vice." Months  afterwards,  when  campaigning  in  Virginia, 
and  we  were  moving  by  the  right  to  take  our  places  in  the 
trenches  before  Petersburg,  we  were  overtaken  by  a  violent 
thunderstorm,  so  severe  with  its  blinding  flashes  of  lightning 
and  its  torrents  of  rain  that  we  were  compelled  to  halt,  drop 
down  in  the  mud  and  wait  for  daylight.  In  the  morning  as 
I  moved  along  the  wavy  line  of  reclining  soldiers,  I  was 
greeted  good-naturedly  by  a  soldier  with  the  words,  that 
could  be  heard  far  and  near,  "I  suppose,  Chaplain,  this  is 
what  you  would  call  the  desirableness  of  active  service, ' '  then 
he  chuckled  over  the  general  laugh  that  greeted  his  sally. 

As  a  sequel  to  the  Chaplain's  effort  more  than  fifty  men  in 
his  own  regiment  put  their  names  down  at  once.  On  the  8th, 
Colonel  Osborn  chronicles  the  enlistment  of  ten  Floridians  in 
the  regiment  of  cavalry  then  forming.     The  following  day  the 


Feb.  '64.  Re-exlistmext.  259 

news  came  that  Jacksonville  had  been  occupied  in  force,  and 
that  Generals  Gillmore  and  Seymour  were  both  there.  Feb- 
ruary 10,  the  number  of  re-enlistments  for  the  regiment  stood 
at  352.  When  they  were  mustered  the  next  day,  the  list  rose 
to  395.  ^Men  signed  the  papers  one  day  who  the  day  before 
had  declared  they  would  not  under  any  circumstances.  Some 
things  are  contagious.  The  record  for  the  fort  as  preserved 
by  one  who  was  there  is  wonderfully  even,  thus :  Company  C 
had  -47 ;  G,  46 ;  and  I,  47 ;  or  140  from  the  three  companies. 
On  the  12th  the  re-enlisted  men  turned  in  their  guns  and 
equipments,  and  were  allowed  to  act  pretty  much  as  they 
liked.  The  13th  saw  the  departure  of  the  veterans  on  the 
Monohansett,  406  in  number :  and  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  175 
strong,  went  on  board  the  ]\Iary  Burton.  All  of  the  boys  who 
were  not  going  home  were  out  to  see  those  who  were  depart- 
ing, and  the-  townspeople,  also,  were  not  lacking.  Hearty 
cheers  were  exchanged  by  the  men  going  and  those  remain- 
ing. Colonel  Osborn  sent  Company  B  back  for  the  stand  of 
colors,  and  as  they  came  down  the  landing  the  enthusiasm 
was  great.  It  is  this  moment  that  Chaplain  H.  Clay  Trum- 
bull seizes  for  an  illustration  and  certain  eloquent  words 
particularly  applicable  to  the  Massachusetts  men: 

When  the  re-enlisted  veterans  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut  and 
the  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  were  going  North  at  the  same 
time  from  St.  Augustine  ou  their  veteran  furlough,  there 
was  a  lively  scene  at  the  pier  where  lay  the  transports  that 
were  to  take  them  to  Hilton  Head  for  a  new  start  homeward. 
Those  who  were  to  go  were  exchanging  hearty  greetings  with 
those  who  were  to  stay ;  for  even  a  brief  absence  in  war  times 
involved  peculiar  possibilities,  and  was  exceptionally  im- 
pressive. Residents  of  the  old  Spanish  city  were  also  present 
to  bid  good-bye  to  their  friends,  or  to  watch  the  veterans  de- 
part. All  seemed  absorbed  in  each  other's  words  and  ways 
as  they  chatted  merrily  together,  crowding  the  head  of  the 
pier,  when  the  sound  of  drums  and  tifes,  coming  up  the  street, 
called  the  attention  of  all.  Permission  had  been  gi-anted  the 
veterans  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  to  take  with 
them  one  stand  of  their  regimental  colors  on  their  veteran  fur- 


260 


Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 


lough,  and  these  were  now  being  borne  to  the  transport  under 
a  guard  of  honor.  Instantly  every  voice  in  that  crowd  was 
hushed.  Without  orders,  the  soldiers  drew  themselves  into 
line  on  either  side  of  the  pier  and  stood  at  attention  with  bared 
heads  and  reverent  mien  as  the  colors  and  the  guard  moved 
down  the  length  of  the   extended  pier  to  the   waiting  vessel. 


RE-EXLISTMEXT   FrRL<)UGH. 


Every  soldier-heart  was  thrilled  and  eyes  glistened  with  tear- 
ful pride  and  tender  affection  as  the  dear  old  flag  was  before 
them  once  more. 


As  the  vessel  steamed  away  from  the  landing  and  passed 
the  fort,    they  were  greeted  Avith  a  salute  from  the  men  left 


Feb.  '64.  Re-enlistment.  261 

behind.  Soon  the  two  steamers  were  outside  the  bar  and  were 
forcing  their  way  northward  with  their  precious  burden  of 
patriotic  soldiers.  Did  space  permit,  it  would  be  a  pleasure 
to  follow  eveiy  one  of  these  men  to  his  own  home  and  to  re- 
cord the  greetings  there  received,  then  to  accompany  him  back 
to  his  scene  of  duty.  Suffice  it  to  state  that  the  men  landed 
at  Hilton  Head,  there  go  into  camp,  sign  for  their  bounties, 
and  on  the  15th  are  paid ;  they  leave  Hilton  Head  at  about  4 
p.m.  of  the  16th  for  the  North.  On  the  18th  they  encountered 
a  snow-storm  and  sighed  for  the  warmth  of  St.  Augustine; 
reached  New  York  at  8  a.m.  of  the  19th ;  late  in  the  afternoon, 
on  board  the  steamer  Empire  State,  they  took  the  Fall  River 
line  for  Massachusetts,  and  the  20th  found  them  in  Boston. 

Boston  was  ready  to  give  the  veterans  an  appreciative  re- 
ception, and  the  following  from  the  Evening  Transcript  of 
February  20th,  1864,  sets  forth  how  it  was  done : 

Four  hundred  and  fifty  brave  volunteers  of  the  Twenty- 
fourth  (N.  E.  Guards)  Regiment,  who  have  again  enlisted  to 
see  the  end  of  the  war,  and,  accordingly,  have  been  granted  a 
short  respite  from  active  service,  arrived  here  at  9.30  this 
morning  from  New  York  by  the  Old  Colony  and  Fall  River 
Railroad.  One  week  ago  today  the  whole  regiment  was  at  St. 
Augustine,  Florida,  where  those  of  the  command  not  with  the 
returned  detachment  are  still  posted.  These  number  about 
200  men.  Portions  of  all  the  companies  are  comprised  in  the 
body  which  now  comes  home  to  pass  an  honorable  furlough. 
Company  B  has  sent  the  most  men,  fifty-three  in  number; 
Company  I  comes  next  with  fifty-two  patriotic  volunteers. 
The  officers  in  command  of  the  different  companies  are  as  fol- 
lows: A,  Captain  Redding,  commanding  the  detachment;  B, 
Captain  G.  W.  Gardner,  Second  Lieutenant  Williams ;  C,  Cap- 
tain Bell,  Second  Lieutenant  Perkins ;  D,  Captain  Nichols ; 
E,  First  Lieutenant  Sargent;  F,  G  and  H,  no  officers;  I,  Cap- 
tain Amory,  Second  Lieutenant  Wheeler ;  K,  First  Lieutenant 
Rea. 

The  boys  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  as  they  appear  today,  are 
in  the  best  of  spirits  and  trim.  They  had  been  stationed  at 
St.  Augustine  for  the  four  months  previous  to  leaving  that 
place.     (The  Transcript  resume  of  the  service  of  the  regiment 


262  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

is  omitted.)  It  was  natural  that  the  return  of  the  veterans, 
who  had  proved  their  bravery  on  so  many  well-contested  fields, 
should  excite  unwonted  enthusiasm  in  the  community  that 
sent  them  forth,  and  among  the  organizations  which  had  aided 
in  the  formation  of  this  noble  band  of  citizen  soldiers.  The 
Twenty-fourth  was  emphatically  an  off-shoot  of  the  New  Eng- 
land Guards,  and,  therefore,  the  Guards  very  appropriately 
took  a  prominent  part  in  the  reception  today.  The  Forty- 
fourth  (nine  months  men),  springing  from  the  same  paren- 
tage, likewise  pertinently  joined  in  the  festivities.  After  the 
Twenty-fourth  had  breakfasted  at  the  Beach  Street  barracks, 
they  were  received  by  an  escort  consisting  as  follows :  Brigade, 
Germania  and  Gilmore  's  bands ;  Independent  Cadets,  Lieu- 
tenant Colonel  Holmes,  which  turned  out  in  full  numbers; 
South  Boston  State  Guards,  sixty  muskets;  members  of  the 
Forty-fourth  Regiment,  Colonel  "Lee,  about  fifty  in  number; 
New  England  Guards,  150  strong,  in  citizens'  dress,  com- 
manded by  Captain  J.  P.  Bradlee  and  Lieutenants  Howe,  Sal- 
tonstall,  Atkins  and  Hunt  of  the  Forty-fourth,  450  re-enlisted 
men  of  the  Twenty-fourth. 

About  12  m.  the  regiment  and  their  escort  took  up  the  line 
of  march  for  Beach  Street,  and  passed  into  Chauncy,  thence 
to  Essex,  through  Boylston  to  Arlington,  to  Beacon  Street, 
making  a  halt  at  the  State  House  to  receive  Governor  Andrew 
and  other  State  officials;  the  route  was  then  directly  to  Fan- 
euil  Hall  to  partake  of  the  collation  prepared  by  the  city. 
Along  the  route  the  veterans  were  received  as  such  patriotic 
and  self-sacrificing  men  deserved  to  be  received. 

The  Faneuil  Hall  banquet  was  spread  at  the  expense  of  the 
city  and  on  the  initiative  of  Alderman  W.  W.  Clapp,  who  pre- 
sided, and,  after  the  viands  had  been  discussed,  he  welcomed 
the  veterans  to  the  city  and  hall  and  introduced  Governor  An- 
drew, who  said :  "  I  ascend  the  rostrum  to  salute  the  men  of 
the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  with  all  the  honor  that  the  old 
Bay  State  has  paid  or  can  pay  to  her  bravest  and  best.  The 
doors  of  Faneuil  Hall  are  wide  open  to  receive  you  to  the 
grateful  hospitality  of  the  city  of  Boston."  The  Governor 
alluded  to  the  last  time  he  had  received  the  regiment ;  it  was 
in  December,   '61,*  at  Annapolis,  Md.,    together    with    other 

*The  (governor  was  wrong  in  that  his  Annapolis  visit  was  made  Nov. 
17,  '61,  at  which  time  the  Twenty-fourth  was  still  at  Readville. 


Feb.  '64.  Re- enlistment.  263 

Massachusetts  regiments,  in  the  presence  of  the  Secretaries  of 
"War,  Navy,  and  State,  along  with  other  civic  and  military 
ofificers,  recalling  the  praises  they  had  received.  Replying  to 
certain  taunts  made  by  a  certain  United  States  senator  con- 
cerning the  services  of  the  soldiers  in  the  East,  he  continued: 
' '  The  Army  of  the  Potomac  shall  ever  receive  undying  honors 
for  meeting  with  heroic  bravery  the  best  armies  the  rebels 
could  form.  Not  only  has  a  large  portion  of  ^lassachusetts 
soldiers  been  connected  with  the  Potomac  Army,  but  in  every 
army  of  every  department.  She  helped  to  win  North  Caro- 
lina; she  helped  to  win  South  Carolina.  She  helped  to  gain 
Florida,  and  who,  more  than  she,  under  the  leadership  of  Gen- 
eral Butler,  opened  New  Orleans'?  Who  more  than  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Thirty-third,  in  the  recent  miracle  of  Lookout 
Mountain,  under  the  leadership  of  Hooker,  himself  a  son  of 
the  old  Bay  State,  startled  the  rel^el  hosts  with  the  thunder  of 
the  skies.  Who  opened  the  Mississippi — a  question  every 
school  boy  can  answer,  let  alone  statesmen  in  the  halls  of  Con- 
gress— but  one  N.  P.  Banks  and  his  IMassachusetts  boys,  in 
loving  and  friendly  rivalry  with  the  brave  troops  of  the  West 
and  the  Middle  States. ' '  His  Excellency  also  referred  in  most 
complimentary  terms  to  the  services  of  General  Stevenson,  the 
former  commander  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  and  also  the  latter 's 
receiving  into  his  brigade  the  Fifty-fourth  Massachusetts,  a 
colored  regiment.  At  the  conclusion  of  his  address  the  men 
cheered  him  most  heartily.  Then  came  some  words  from 
their  first  Colonel,  General  Stevenson,  and  when  was  there  a 
time  when  his  ' '  boys ' '  did  not  hear  him  with  delight  ?  The 
cheers  that  greeted  him  must  have  been  a  pleasure  to  his  loyal 
heart.  His  father,  the  Hon.  J.  Thomas  Stevenson,  had  in 
many  ways  endeared  himself  to  the  men  of  the  regiment  and, 
when  he  arose,  he,  too,  gained  an  appreciative  reception. 
After  his  remarks  the  men  were  dismissed  to  go  to  their 
respective  homes  for  the  delights  of  a  furlough,  something 
that  only  a  soldier  can  fully  appreciate. 


264  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

JACKSONVILLE. 

In  Florida  there  was  still  the  regimental  organization,  and 
on  Sunday,  the  14tli,  Chaplain  Willson  preached  and  orders 
came  for  the  Twenty-fourth,  except  two  companies,  to  move 
to  Picolata.  Those  left  in  the  city  were  to  garrison  Fort 
Marion.  The  bearer  of  the  orders  from  General  Gillmore  was 
John  Hay,  private  secretary  of  President  Lincoln,  and  the 
subsequent  famous  Secretary  of  State  in  the  cabinets  of  Pres- 
idents McKinley  and  Roosevelt.  Accepting  the  statements  of 
competent  observers  that  Florida  was  ready  for  re-instate- 
ment  in  the  Union,  the  President  had  commissioned  Hay  as 
Major  and  sent  him  down  to  accompany  the  expedition  that 
Gillmore  was  fitting  out  to  exploit  the  State  of  Florida. 
Preparations  to  leave  were  made  at  once,  while  Lieutenant 
Ordway  was  sent  to  Jacksonville  for  confirmation  of  orders. 
The  16th,  the  latter  returned  with  orders  from  General  Sey- 
mour, who  had  l^een  placed  in  command  of  the  district  of 
Florida,  to  proceed  to  Jacksonville  at  once  and  take  command 
of  the  post.  The  18tli  of  February  saw  the  last  of  the  regi- 
ment as  an  organization  in  St.  Augustine,  for  it  sailed  at  day- 
light on  the  General  Hunter,  arriving  at  Jacksonville  at  5 
p.m.  Old  friends  were  found  among  the  officers  of  the  Fifty- 
fifth  IMassachusetts,  some  of  them  former  members  of  the 
Twenty-fourth.  The  officers  and  men  were  glad,  rather  than 
otherwise,  at  the  prospect  of  active  service,  the  long  rest  hav- 
ing quite  restored  their  normal  tone.  The  20th  there  was  no 
difficulty  in  realizing  the  cannonading  in  the  battle  of  Olustee,* 
then  in  progress.  It  proved  to  be  a  Union  defeat,  the  enemy 
calling  the  engagement  "Ocean  Pond."  This  battle,  fought 
forty-four  miles  due  west  of  Jacksonville,  was  the  result  of  the 
rashness  of  General  Seymour,  and  was  undertaken  contrary 
to  the  express  orders  of  General  Gillmore.  The  Fortieth 
Massachusetts  [Colonel  Guy  V.  Henry's]  was  one  of  the  most 
prominent  in  the  engagement,  and    the    Fifty-fourth    IMassa- 


*Colonel  Os))orn,  in  a  letter,  mentions  this  phenomenon  thus :   "As 
much  by  pressure  upon  the  body  as  upon  the  drum  of  the  ear. ' ' 


March  '64. 


Jacksonville. 


265 


chiisetts,  with  the  First  North  Carolina  [both  black],  saved 
the  army  from  total  rout :  at  least  this  is  the  statement  of  Hor- 
ace Greeley.  The  same  author  says  of  Olustee  that  it  was 
Braddock's  defeat  repeated  after  the  lapse  of  a  century. 

As  General  Seymour  was  reported  in  retreat,  followed 
closely  by  the  foe,  it  was  necessary  to  fortify  at  once.  Ac- 
cordingly, every  available  man  was  set  at  work  with  a  shovel. 
The  22d,  General  Seymour  was  reported  as  making  a  stand 


Pencil  sketch  by  Lieut.  J.  M.  Barnard,  Co.  G. 

PARAPET,  FORT  MARIOX,  '63. 

at  Cedar  Creek,  six  miles  distant.  Every  day  brings  rein- 
forcements, and  on  the  25th  appears  General  R.  S.  Foster,  not 
''our"  General  Foster,  the  early  North  Carolina  leader,  but 
one  whom  the  Twenty-fourth  will  follow  on  many  a  field, 
and  with  him  came  General  Adelbert  Ames.  Sunday 
the  Chaplain  preached  in  the  Baptist  Church,  and  on 
the  next  day,  the  29th,  the  Chaplain  accompanied  to  his  grave 
a  negro  soldier,  shot  by  order  of  a  court  martial  for  mutiny. 

In  the  annals  of  the  regiment,  IMarch,  1864,  played  a  very 
small  part.  More  than  one-half  of  the  organization  was  on 
furlough  in  the  North,  and  the  remainder,  doing  garrison 
duty  in  Jacksonville,  was  not  in  the  active  military  life  which 
wins  renown.     There  was  plenty  of  work  and,  while  building 


266  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regimext. 

breastworks  and  keeping  one's  camp  well  policed,  are  emi- 
nently desirable  and  useful,  those  committed  to  such  tasks  are 
never  specially  happy  thereat.  Jacksonville,  where  the  fortunes 
of  war  had  stationed  the  Twenty-fourth,  was  then,  and  is  still, 
the  most  important  place  in  the  peninsula  which  de  Leon 
so  beautifully  named.  Located  at  the  elbow  of  the  St.  John's 
River,  on  the  west  bank,  twenty-five  miles  from  its  mouth,  it 
seems  a  little  strange  that  more  account  of  its  importance  was 
not  made  bv  the  Union  forces  earlier  in  the  war.  It  was  first 
occupied  in  March,  1863,  by  the  First  South  Carolina  Regi- 
ment [colored],  under  the  command  of  Col.  T.  W.  Higginson, 
but,  at  the  direction  of  General  Hunter,  it  was  soon  after 
abandoned  and  burned,  to  the  terrible  discomfiture  of  the 
Union  inhabitants,  who,  by  this  ruthless  act,  were  reduced  to 
severe  suffering.  Feb.  8th,  '64,  it  was  again  occupied  with 
very  little  resistance  by  the  Federal  forces  under  General  Tru- 
man Seymour,  and  it  was  this  move  of  the  latter  officer  that 
brought  the  Twenty-fourth  to  the  place. 

"While  affairs  within  the  city  were  quiet,  nothing  more  doing 
on  the  1st  than  a  review  of  the  troops  by  General  Gillmore, 
those  at  the  intrenchments,  several  miles  out,  were  reminded 
of  the  proximity  of  the  enemy.  Colonel  Henry  led  his  For- 
tieth Massachusetts  (mounted)  out  on  a  reconnoissance,  and 
had  little  difficulty  in  finding  his  foe.  Indeed,  it  was  a  char- 
acteristic of  the  Johnny  Reb  everywhere  to  be  so  near  that 
very  little  searching  was  necessary  to  find  him.  On  the  sec- 
ond day  General  Seymour  ordered  a  commission  to  sit  on 
Tuesdays  and  Saturdays  to  consider  the  excuses  of  officers 
who  had  been  absent  without  leave.  Of  this  commission  Col- 
onel Osborn  was  Chairman  and  ^lajor  Charles  H.  Hooper,  the 
third  member,  was  recorder.  Of  these  early  ]\Iarch  days  Col- 
onel Osborn  writes: 

Military  matters  here  remain  pretty  much  the  same.  The 
enemy  are  about  six  miles  out  and  manifest  no  intention  of 
attacking  us.  We  are  strongly  fortified,  have  an  abundance 
of  men,  and  feel  quite  secure.     In  the  meantime,  I  am  living 


March  '64.  Jacksonville.  267 

very  quietly  in  a  snug  little  house  which  I  have  taken.  It  is 
by  no  means  so  large  and  elegant  as  my  St.  Augustine  resi- 
dence, but  I  like  it  very  well.  It  is  two  stories  high,  with  four 
rooms  on  a  floor  and  a  kitchen  adjoining.  In  front,  each  story 
has  a  piazza,  over  which  the  yellow  jessamine  runs  in  profu- 
sion, covered  with  flowers.  The  street  is  pleasant  and  is 
pretty  wide,  bordered  with  shade  trees.  In  the  yard  are 
oleanders,  crape  myrtles,  flowering  aloes,  and  other  southern 
plants  of  which  I  do  not  know  the  names.  Lieutenant  Ed- 
mands,  Post  Adjutant;  Lieutenant  Sweet,  Provost  Marshal, 
and  Lieutenant  Thompson,  Post  Quartermaster,  live  with  me, 
and  Major  Hooper,  w^ho  lives  in  camp,  joins  our  mess.  We 
find,  as  we  always  do,  a  great  many  friends,  and  rarely  sit 
down  to  table  without  a  guest.  ]My  life  here  is  very  quiet,  and 
I  do  not  find  as  much  business  to  do  as  at  St.  Augustine. 

March  4th  Adjutant  Wm.  L.  Horton,  who  was  so  severely 
wounded  at  Newbern,  came  back,  though  his  stay  was  to  be 
brief,  for  he  resigned  on  the  12th.  March  17th  Captain 
Maker  returned  from  Hilton  Head,  and  the  27th  brought  Gen- 
eral J.  P.  Hatch  to  supersede  General  Seymour,  who  was 
ordered  to  Washington  to  appear  before  the  Congressional 
Committee  on  the  Conduct  of  the  War.  The  next  day  the 
mess  of  Colonel  Osborn  and  fellow  officers  was  broken  up,  and 
the  former  went  to  board  with  ]\Irs.  Zewadski.  General  Gill- 
more  came  in  on  the  Ben  De  Ford.  ]\Iarch  29th,  but  in  the 
night  w^ent  to  Palatka.  In  the  later  days  of  the  month  there 
was  much  speculation  as  to  the  future  disposition  of  the  regi- 
ment. The  re-enlisted  and  furloughed  men  having  been 
ordered  to  report  in  Washington  instead  of  Jacksonville,  nat- 
urally the  query  rose  as  to  the  reasons.  It  was  well  known 
that  Gillmore  did  not  wish  to  lose  the  regiment,  and  so  would 
not  permit  the  same  to  go  in  a  body,  when  the  veterans  went 
away,  but  apparently  his  plans  for  the  retention  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  in  his  department  were  to  be  headed  off. 
Some  thought  and  hoped  that  the  hand  of  Burnside  was  in  the 
ease,  and  that  they  were  again  to*  follow  their  favorite  leader. 
There  were  rumors  and  theories  sufficient  to  occupy  all  of  the 
spare  time  of  officers  and  men,  but  facts  were  exceedingly 
scarce. 


268  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

HOME. 

^Meanwhile,  those  who  were  away  on  furloughs  were  happy 
beyond  the  power  of  pen  to  describe.  Never  had  home  seemed 
half  so  dear  as  when  they  saw  it  through  -eyes  that  had  been 
opetied  wide  in  the  bitter  experience  of  war.  Mother's  cook- 
ing, good  as  it  always  had  been,  now  was  better  still,  and  every 
one  had  a  pleasant  word  for  the  boy  in  blue,  one  who  was 
willing  to  stand  between  the  Government  and  its  assailants. 
Though  his  uniform  had  become  very  common  in  the  North- 
ern world,  yet  to  some  one  every  wearer  was  a  hero,  and  the 
soldier  enjoyed  the  distinction  accorded  him.  As,  however, 
the  day  of  his  departure  neared,  there  began  to  come  a  chok- 
ing sensation  in  his  throat.  Though  he  knew  not  the  exac- 
tions of  the  coming  season,  yet  he  was  certain  that  the  death 
struggle  of  the  Rebellion  was  at  hand,  and  he  must  steel  him- 
self for  his  part  therein.  How  tenderly  he  said  "Good-bye" 
to  father,  mother  and  the  companions  of  earlier  days;  if  a 
father  himself,  with  what  unutterable  longings  he  took  the 
last  glance  at  the  faces  of  wife  and  children,  and  turned  his 
course  southward.  Thus  they  were  gradually  centering  on 
the  appointed  rendezvous,  as  their  terms  of  absence  grew  to 
an  end,  all  the  better  and  stronger  for  the  favors  accorded 
them  by  the  Government.  Of  one  such  returning  brave, 
Chaplain  Trumbull  w^rote : 

As  I  was  returning  from  my  home,  after  a  brief  leave  of 
absence  on  one  occasion,  I  saw  a  young  soldier  waving  a 
kindly  good-bye  to  friends  as  our  train  left  the  station.  He 
was  in  the  seat  just  before  me.  As  the  cars  moved  off  he 
dropped  his  head  on  the  back  of  the  seat  in  front  of  him  and 
sobbed  as  though  his  heart  would  break.  Presently,  he  mas- 
tered his  feelings  and,  straightening  himself  up,  he  sat  with  a 
stern  face  and  fixed  expression  as  a  cold,  immovable  soldier. 
Reaching  forward,  I  touched  him  on  the  shoulder,  and  asked 
tenderly :  ' '  Have  you  been  long  in  the  service,  my  friend  1 ' ' 
"Two  and  a  half  years,"  he  replied,  "and  now  I  have 
enlisted  for  three  years  more.  I've  just  had  my  thirty-  days 
at  home,  and  I  am  going  back  to  my  regiment.     I  can  move 


March  '64.  Washington.  269 

forward  under  fire  without  flinching,  I  can  see  men  di'op  at 
my  side,  wounded  or  dead,  and  not  quiver,  I  can  suffer  all  I 
have  to  in  camp  or  on  the  march  and  not  mind  it,  but  I  can't 
bid  good-bye  to  my  wife  and  children  for  three  years  and  not 
make  a  babv  of  mvself . ' ' 


WASHINGTON. 

From  different  parts  of  Massachusetts  and  from  further 
points,  in  IMaine  even,  the  veterans  of  the  Twenty-fourth  had 
been  repairing  for  several  days  to  the  Beach  Street  barracks 
of  Boston,  whence,  under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Stevenson,  the  southward  route  was  begun  March  22d,  at  5 
p.m.,  via  Fall  Kiver  and  the  steamer  Empire  State,  bound 
for  Xew  York  city,  reaching  the  latter  place  at  8  a.m.  of  the 
23d.  Thence  the  party  crossed  to  Jersey  City  and  took  the 
train  for  Philadelphia,  where  all  had  supper  at  the  Volunteer 
Refreshment  saloon  maintained  by  the  ladies  of  that  patri- 
otic city.  The  food,  consisting  of  bread,  butter,  boiled  meat 
and  coft'ee,  was  highly  appreciated,  and  the  men  were  enthu- 
siastic in  their  approval  of  the  institution.  From  the  City  of 
Brotherly  Love  the  veterans  rode  to  Baltimore  in  baggage  cars 
which  had  been  seated  for  the  transportation  of  troops,  and 
had  an  all-night  ride  to  the  ^Monumental  City,  reaching  the 
same  the  morning  of  the  24th.  ^Marching  through  streets  that 
three  years  before  had  resounded  with  the  attack  on  the  Sixth 
^Massachusetts  Regiment,  they  had  breakfast  at  the  Soldiers' 
Rest,  and  thence  marched  to  the  Washington  station,  leaving 
the  same  at  11  a.m.  Owing  to  many  stops,  the  capital  w^as  not 
reached  till  sunset.  Finding  harborage  in  the  capital  bar- 
racks, they  had  supper  and  a  chance  to  see  a  little  ^of  the  city. 
There  was  a  whole  day  under  the  shadow  of  the  Capi- 
tol, and  on  the  26th  the  line  of  march  was  taken  up  for  the 
Long  Bridge  and  the  Virginia  side  of  the  Potomac,  ending 
at  Convalescent  Camp.  ]March  28th  a  camp  was  staked  out 
about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  from  that  of  the  convalescents,  and 
along  the  railroad  running  from  Washington  towards  !^randy 


270  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Station.  In  the  regular  system  of  camp  life,  subject  to  the 
peculiarities  of  March  weather,  the  month  came  to  an  end 
with  this  part  of  the  Twenty-fourth  taking  distant  views  of 
Washington  and  wondering  what  the  coming  month  would 
bring  forth. 

April  1st  Captain  Redding  of  Company  A  came  to  camp, 
and  twenty-seven  recruits  for  the  regiment  appeared.  On 
the  7th  a  serious  case  of  small  pox  developed,  the  victim 
being  John  W.  Pittsley  of  Company  G,  who  was  immediately 
removed  to  Washington,  while  his  tentmates  were  compelled 
to  move  their  quarters  to  a  nearby  hill,  near  which  their 
rations  were  subsequently  carried.  The  unfortunate  Pittsley 
died  on  the  14th  of  the  month.  Some  of  the  men  found  a 
deal  of  pleasure  and  derived  much  benefit  from  the  ministra- 
tions of  the  Christian  Commission  in  the  Convalescent  Camp, 
hearing  among  others  there  Dr.  E.  N.  Kirk,  the  famous  pas- 
tor of  the  Mt.  Vernon  Church,  Boston,  and  Geo.  H.  Stuart, 
president  of  the  Commission.  The  latter  stated  in  one  of  the 
meetings  that  2500  conversions  had  taken  place  in  that  chapel. 
April  12th  came  a  move  to  Camp  Distribution,  where  all  were 
quartered  in  barracks  and  were  safe  from  the  rain,  which  fell 
profusely.  After  just  one  day's  respite,  the  men  were 
marched  back  to  their  late  camping-ground,  and  again 
pitched  their  tents.  The  15th,  the  ten  companies  are  merged 
into  five,  and  all  march  beyond  Fort  Richardson,  and  again 
encamp.  The  camp  is  in  plain  sight  of  Washington,  and 
Captain  Richardson  is  acting  Major.  Squalls  of  snow  are  not 
infrequent  in  the  mid-April  days,  and  the  men  are  thinking 
it  could  not  be  much  more  wintry  in  old  IMassachusetts. 

Just  beyond  the  middle  of  the  month  the  several  companies 
went  into  Washington  to  receive  their  so-called  ration  money, 
i.  e.,  compensation  for  the  food  they  did  not  eat  while  away 
from  the  regiment.  As  this  was  just  so  much  more  than 
many  of  them  had  expected,  it  was  used  up  pretty  quickly 
by  some,  and  often  in  a  manner  that  got  the  users  into  trouble. 
On   the   21st   Lieutenant-Colonel    Stevenson   puts    the    men 


Apeil  '64.  Washington.  271 

through  a  battalion  drill,  while  football  and  boxing-gloves 
prevent  the  men  rusting  out.  The  boys  had  not  a  little  fun 
at  the  expense  of  one  poor  recruit,  who,  during  the  drill,  was 
so  mixed  that  he  was  found  successively  in  four  different  com- 
panies. That  he  was  on  earth  at  all  must  have  astonished 
him.  Sunday.  April  24th,  camp  was  struck  and  the  men 
marched  to  Alexandria,  accompanied  by  the  Eighth  Elaine, 
reaching  the  ancient  city  at  sunset.  Transports  were  at  once 
boarded  for  some  place ;  rumor  had  it  Fortress  Monroe,  but  it 
was  midnight  before  a  start  was  made.  Owing  to  the  crowded 
state  of  the  decks  and  the  falling  rain,  the  highest  degree  of 
comfort  was  not  attained.  The  fortress  was  reached  at 
3  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  26th,  and  again  the  most  of 
the  men  had  the  privilege  of  reviewing  some  of  the  scenes  of 
the  days,  more  than  two  years  before,  when  here  was  finally 
arranged  the  famous  Burnside  Expedition.  While  the  vessels 
are  lying  at  the  wharf,  his  old  former  associates  were  pleased 
to  recognize  Major  Stackpole,  the  first  Captain  of  Company  I, 
now  on  staff  duty.  Leaving  the  fortress  at  2  p.m.,  the  ships 
steam  up  the  Chesapeake  to  Yorktown,  opposite  which,  at 
Gloucester  Point,  a  landing  is  made  at  4  p.m.,  the  Tenth  Con- 
necticut and  the  Eighth  Maine  debarking  at  the  same  time. 

]Marching  back  from  the  water  some  three  miles,  and  pass- 
ing many  other  camps,  the  veterans  pitched  their  tents  by  the 
side  of  the  Eleventh  ]Maine  some  time  after  dark.  The 
familiar  faces  of  Quartermaster  Thompson  and  Lieutenant 
Ordway  were  seen,  these  officers  announcing  the  approach  of 
the  remainder  of  the  regiment  from  the  South.  There  is  a 
large  assemblage  of  troops  at  this  point,  and  some  big  project 
evidently  is  afoot.  The  27th  it  is  learned  that  the  regiment 
is  once  more  to  be  under  the  command  of  General  Terry,  a 
fact  that  pleases  all.  Drills  begin  at  once  in  all  their  forms, 
and  the  Twenty-fourth  is  announced  as  in  the  Third  Bri- 
gade, First  Division  of  the  Tenth  Army  Corps.  The  last  day 
of  the  month  was  devoted  largely  to  a  review  of  all  the  troops. 
At  first  Generals  Ames  and  Foster  reviewed,  then  General 


272  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Terry  rode  onto  the  field,  and  he  did  his  part;  next  a  salute 
from  the  harbor  announced  the  arrival  of  General  Benjamin 
F.  Butler,  and,  after  his  coming  on  the  gounds,  there  was 
another  review  and  finally  all  passed  in  review,  so  that  it  was 
dark  by  the  time  the  men  reached  their  quarters.  The 
Twenty-fourth  was  mustered  for  pay  at  9  o'clock  in  the  even- 
ing. 

FLORIDA  AND  VIRGINIA. 

Returning  to  that  portion  of  the  regiment  left  in  Jackson- 
ville a  month  ago,  the  same  is  found  doing  its  duty  as  usual. 
Perhaps  the  most  noteworthy  record  for  April  1st  was  the 
blowing  up  of  the  steamer  Maple  Leaf,  a  familiar  craft  to  the 
regiment.  She  was  on  her  way  down  from  Palatka  when  she 
ran  upon  a  torpedo,  seventeen  miles  from  Jacksonville,  and 
was  destroyed.  On  the  4th  it  was  learned  that  the  veterans 
had  gone  to  Washington  instead  of  coming  directly  back  to 
the  organization.  Though  nominally  in  the  enemy's  coun- 
try, life  in  Jacksonville  was  hardly  more  lively  than  that  of 
the  veterans  in  their  Virginia  camp.  It  was  in  these  quiet 
times  that  an  officer  found  time  and  disposition  to  w^ite  some 
pleasant  words  concerning  Chaplain  Willson : 

"He  is  a  man  of  great  intelligence  and  refinement,  genial 
and  agreeable  in  conversation,  with  a  keen  perception  of  the 
ludicrous.  He  has  commended  himself  to  all  of  the  officers, 
and  has  made  his  tent  a  place  of  common  resort.  It  is  very 
delightful  to  me  to  have  such  a  refining  influence  present.  *  * 
His  sermons  are  a  great  treat ;  he  prepares  the  subject,  but 
speaks  extemporaneously,  and  never  fails  to  rivet  one's  atten- 
tion closely  and  to  give  me  food  for  thought. ' ' 

April  11,  word  comes  from  Lieutenant-Colonel  Stevenson 
announcing  his  presence  with  the  veterans  near  Washington, 
and  on  the  13th,  Lieutenant  Sweet  went  out  with  a  flag  of 
truce  to  escort  a  INIiss  Dummett  beyond  the  lines.  The  next 
day  the  regiment  received  pay  from  ]\Iajor  Porter,  the  pay- 
master, and  the    Seventh  New    Hampshire   Regiment   steams 


May  1,  '64.  Florida  and  Virginia.  273 

away  in  the  Cossack.  Troops  come  in  from  Palatka  on  the 
15th,  that  place  having  been  evacuated,  in  compliance  with 
orders  which  Captain  ]\Iaker  had  carried  up  two  or  three  days 
before.  April  16  the  Forty-seventh  and  Forty-eighth  New 
York  departed  for  some  point  further  north,  and  on  the  19th 
came  General  William  Birney  to  command  the  District  of 
Florida.  On  the  22d.  Colonel  Osborn  was  relieved  from  his 
command  of  the  post,  his  regiment  having  been  ordered  north- 
ward. In  the  afternoon  of  the  23d,  the  regimental  baggage 
was  put  on  board  the  steamer  Dictator,  there  being  a  deal  of 
it,  including  as  it  did  the  arms  and  equipments  of  the  absent 
veterans.     The  men  Avent  on  board  after  nightfall. 

Jacksonville  was  left  behind  on  the  2-4th,  the  steamer  run- 
ning down  to  the  mouth  of  the  river,  where  she  anchored  to 
wait  for  the  tide.  The  next  morning  at  8.30,  the  bar  was 
crossed  and  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  departed  from  the 
Land  of  Flowers,  reaching  Hilton  Head  soon  after  dark. 
April  26th  the  regiment  and  its  effects  were  transferred  to 
the  Varuna,  a  propeller  lying  in  the  stream.  While 
awaiting  orders  to  depart,  an  officer  from  General  Gillmore 
came  on  board,  stating  that  he  had  been  informed 
that  the  regiment  was  carrying  off  furniture,  the 
charge  doubtless  arising  from  depredations  made  by 
a  certain  regiment  which  left  Florida  before  the  Twenty- 
fourth  did.  It  is  needless  to  state  that  the  officer  had  his 
labor  for  his  pains;  the  Massachusetts  men  were  not  getting 
furniture  that  way.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  27th,  the  Varu- 
na steamed  out  of  the  precincts  of  Hilton  Head,  and  North 
Carolina  with  all  its  memories  is  soon  to  be  left  behind,  as, 
during  the  28th  and  29th,  the  vessel  ploughs  her  way  north- 
ward. It  was  4.30  p.m.  of  the  30th  that  Fortress  ]\Ionroe  was 
reached  and  Colonel  Osborn  went  ashore  to  report  his  arrival 
to  General  B.  F.  Butler,  by  whom  he  was  ordered  to  Glouces- 
ter Point  to  report  to  General  Terry. 

May  1st,  before    daylight,  the    steamer    started    up    York 
River  and  reached  Gloucester  Point  at  9  a.m.     Colonel  Os- 
18 


274  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

born  at  once  landed  and  reported  to  General  Terry,  after 
which  he  rode  out  to  camp  and  found  himself  in  the  midst  of 
such  a  reception  that  he  felt  almost  like  getting  home.  In 
the  afternoon  the  band  went  down  to  the  landing  and  escorted 
the  arriving  portion  of  the  regiment  up  to  meet  their  fellows, 
both  sides  getting  no  end  of  handshakes  and  the  heartiest 
kind  of  greetings.  Arras  and  equipments  were  given  out,  and 
with  their  old  weapons  in  their  hands  once  raore  one  of  the 
veterans  says,  "It  seems  like  soldiering  again."  This  reunion 
of  the  two  divisions  of  the  Twenty-fourth  was  almost  a  family 
affair;  so  long  had  the  men  camped,  marched  and  fought 
together  that  officers  and  men  alike  welcomed  the  sight  of 
familiar  faces.  But  the  long  separation  involved  a  world  of 
extra  work  for  those  who  were  responsible  for  the  munitions 
and  general  well-being  of  the  organization.  There  were 
musters  and  inspections,  besides  no  end  of  detail,  to  get  the 
men  where  all  could  be  accounted  for.  The  second  day  of  the 
month  produced  one  of  the  most  violent  thunder-storms, 
accompanied  by  hail,  that  even  that  region  ever  Imew.  The 
men  had  just  got  their  shelter  tents  pitched  when  the  storm 
came  up ;  so  violent  was  it  that  the  soldiers  had  to  hold  on  to 
their  tents  to  prevent  their  blowing  away  and,  when  doing 
this,  they  found  the  pelting  of  the  hail  grievous  to  bear.  The 
busy  surroundings  in  which  the  regiment  finds  itself  is  in 
great  contrast  to  its  former  quiet  and,  on  every  hand,  there 
are  indications  of  going  somewhere.  Artillery  is  loaded  upon 
the  steamers  on  the  3d  and  orders  for  departure  are  received. 

BATTLE   SUMMER. 

Not  having  the  gift  of  prescience,  these  men  did  not  know 
the  magnitude  of  the  task  they  were  about  to  essay.  General 
Grant,  like  the  young  Lochinvar,  had  come  out  of  the  West, 
and  like  the  Scotch  knight  he  was  resourceful,  determined 
and  bold.  The  campaign  of  the  Battle  Summer  was  care- 
fully planned,  the  movement  along  the  James  River  being 
only  one  of  the  many  steps  taken  Rebellionward  by  the  sev- 


Battle  Summer.  275 

eral  armies  organized  under  the  careful  eye  of  Grant.  On 
this  very  day,  the  3d  of  ^lay,  while  the  men  of  the  Tenth  and 
Eighteenth  Corps  were  receiving  orders  as  to  their  duties  on 
the  morrow,  their  brothers  on  the  Rapidan  had  forsaken  their 
winter  quarters  and  were  pushing  their  way  towards  the  Wil- 
derness. They  are  to  advance  on  Richmond  from  the  north; 
the  Army  of  the  James,  under  General  Butler,  is  to  make  a 
demonstration  from  the  south.  The  assembling  of  his  forces 
at  Yorktown  and  Gloucester  Point  had  given  to  the  Confede- 
rates the  idea  that  another  effort,  like  that  of  McClellan  in 
1862,  is  to  be  made  up  the  Peninsula.  This  command  of  But- 
ler consisted  of  the  Tenth  and  Eighteenth  Corps,  led  by  Gen- 
erals Q.  A.  Gillmore  and  Wm.  F.  (Baldy)  Smith,  respectively, 
and  a  division  of  cavalry,  coimnanded  by  General  A.  V. 
Kautz. .  The  three  divisions  of  the  Tenth  Corps  were  led  by 
Brigadier-Generals  Terry,  Turner  and  Ames,  while  the  divis- 
ions of  the  Eighteenth  followed  Brooks,  Weitzel  and  Hinks. 
In  the  Tenth  Corps  there  were  684  officers,  16,128  enlisted 
men  of  infantry ;  36  officers  and  1,078  men  of  artillery,  with 
44  guns  and  2  siege  howitzers.  The  Eighteenth  Corps  had 
present  for  duty  653  officers  and  14,325  enlisted  men  of  infan- 
try, with  36  officers  and  987  enlisted  artillerymen,  having  36 
guns.  General  Hinks'  division  consisted  of  colored  troops. 
In  Kautz 's  Cavalry  there  were  97  officers  and  2,808  enlisted 
men,  with  6  guns.  Also,  there  was  a  brigade  of  colored  cav- 
alry, under  the  command  of  Colonel  R.  M.  West,  some  1,800 
strong. 

The  approaching  days  will  familiarize  the  people  of  both 
North  and  South  with  many  names  of  men  and  places  hither- 
to unknown,  but  upon  the  mighty  chessboard  of  war,  on  one 
side  of  which  sits  the  incomparable  player.  Grant,  the 
Twenty-fourth  Regiment,  with  which  is  our  chief  concern,  is 
scarcely  more  than  a  pawn.  Only  that  one  who  takes  a  com- 
prehensive view  of  the  entire  field  can  describe  all  the  plays 
and  checks  in  the  decisive  game,  whose  premonitory  moves 
are  just  beginning.     Whatever  the  peril  or  prowess  of  knight 


276  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

or  bishop  on  other  parts  of  the  board,  we  must  keep  near  our 
own,  whose  trials  and  triumphs  we  are  set  to  chronicle.  May 
4th,  Wednesday,  began  early  in  the  camp  of  the  Twenty- 
fourth,  for  the  moment  of  their  departure  was  at  hand.  The 
reveille  sounded  at  2.30,  and  half  an  hour  later  the  men  were 
taking  a  breakfast  Avhich  cooks  must  have  risen  still  earlier  to 
prepare.  An  hour  afterwards  all  were  in  line  ready  for  the 
start,  but  when  did  armies  ever  move  just  when  expected? 
Arms  were  stacked  and  time  for  rest  was  given  as  the  hours 
wore  on.  With  the  thought  that  active  campaigning  was  at 
hand,  men  went  through  their  effects  to  see  what  could  be 
thrown  away  without  really  impoverishing,  and  thereby  les- 
sen their  burdens  in  the  long  and  heated  marches  they  felt 
were  impending.  As  blankets  and  rubbers  or  ponchos,  with 
duplicated  garments  like  coats,  pants,  boots,  shoes,  and  even 
some  culinary  appliances,  contributed  to  the  heaps  of  cast-off 
and  out  matter,  many  a  man  wished  himself  where  he  could 
realize  on  such  a  mass  of  necessities,  here  to  be  of  no  other  use 
than  to  enhance  the  possessions  of  sundry  white  and  colored 
natives  who  were  ready  to  seize  all  that  was  thrown  away. 
What  was  doing  here  at  this  point  was  in  progress  all  along 
the  Union  line  as  the  men  made  ready  for  the  fray ;  they  were 
literally  stripping  themselves  for  the  contest.  Finally,  the 
welcome  "fall  in"  was  heard,  and  between  1  and  2  p.m., 
along  with  the  One  Hundredth  New  York,  old  friends  of 
North  Carolina  days,  the  regiment  goes  on  board  the  George 
Leary.  The  horses  of  the  field  officers  are  taken  on  board, 
but  those  of  the  staff  have  to  follow  in  a  barge. 

General  Kautz  and  his  cavalrymen  are  already  a  day  away 
on  their  raid,  and  the  Potomac  Army  is  fighting  in  the 
tangled  mazes  of  the  Wilderness,  when  the  transport,  on  the 
5th,  drops  down  the  York  Eiver  and  makes  its  way  up  the 
James.  Sergeant  Carruthers,  of  Company  G,  with  six  men, 
had  been  left  at  the  Point  to  look  after  final  matters. 
The  river  is  filled  with  the  shipping  necessary  for  the  expedi- 
tion, and  those  on  history  bent  are  not  unmindful  that  they 


May  6,  '64.       Bermuda  Hundred.  277 

are  again  in  historic  scenes.  While  the  remnants  of  James- 
town are  not  numerous  nor  conspicuous,  it  is  something  to 
see  where  Captain  John  Smith,  Pocaliontas  and  others  helped 
make  some  of  the  earliest  pages  of  American  history.  Prog- 
ress was  slow,  for  many  of  the  steamers  had  heavy  tows  and 
the  waters  themselves  contained  possibilities  of  mischief. 
Some  thought  they  might  land  at  Harrison's  Landing,  made 
famous  in  the  retreat  of  McClellan  two  years  before,  but  when 
at  6  p.m.  the  vessels  passed  on  without  pausing,  it  was  evi- 
dent that  something  further  was  in  the  eye  of  the  leader. 
Anchors  are  finally  cast  after  dark. 

BERMUDA   HUNDRED. 

Just  at  daylight  of  the  6th  the  George  Leary  moved  up  to 
the  south  bank  of  the  James,  about  one  mile  above  the  mouth 
of  the  Appomattox,  and  at  Bermuda  Hundred*  landed  its  reg- 
iments. General  Hinks,  with  his  division  of  the  Eighteenth 
Corps,  at  the  same  time  was  taking  unopposed  possession  of 
City  Point,  for  so  many  coming  months  to  be  the  base  of  sup- 
plies during  the  siege  of  Petersburg.  While  breakfast  is  the 
first  item  on  the  day's  programme,  there  are  those  who  im- 
prove the  opportunity  for  a  plunge  into  the  waters  of  the 
James,  and  still  others  who  again  reduce  their  baggage  to 
lighter  marching  order.  That  the  march  is  made  in  the 
enemy's  country  is  evident  from  the  cautious  manner  in 
which  the  brigade,  Plaisted's,  advances,  in    the    entire    day 


*Few  if  any  Union  soldiers  ever  spoke  this  peculiar  name  without 
wondering  what  its  origin  could  be.  "Hundreds"  were  divisions  of 
counties,  common  among  the  p]nglish  from  their  earliest  history ;  hence, 
on  the  settlement  of  Virginia  and  Maryland  l:)y  the  Englisli,  what  would 
be  more  reasonable  than  that  the  latter  should  retain  home  forms  and 
names?  This  particular  Hundred,  located  between  the  James  and  Appo- 
mattox, received  its  Bermuda  prefix  doubtless  because  of  the  shipwreck 
on  the  Bermudas  or  Sommer  Islands  of  Sir  George  Yeardley,  one  of  the 
first  settlers  of  Virginia  and  one  of  the  early  governors.  With  the  name 
of  the  scene  of  his  misfortune  fresh  in  mind,  he  gave  it  American  per- 
petuity by  applying  it  here. 


278  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

accomplishing  only  six  miles.  In  the  clay's  march  General 
officers  were  evident,  and  the  boys  of  the  Twenty-fourth  had  a 
chance,  which  they  improved,  of  giving  three  cheers  as  Gen- 
eral Butler  rode  along  the  lines.  The  daj^  had  been  extremely 
hot,  and  thereby  exhausting  to  these  soldiers  after  their  win- 
ter's rest.  Nothing  was  seen  of  the  enemy,  and  only  distant 
indications  of  his  position.  So  near  is  the  camp  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  that  during  the  night  the  sound  of  cars  on  the 
Petersburg  &  Richmond  Railroad,  doubtless  transporting 
troops,  is  plainly  heard.  Bivouac  for  the  night  is  had  in  the 
woods,  the  Tenth  Connecticut  being  detailed  to  throw  up  light 
defenses  in  front. 

The  story  of  May  7th  is  best  told  in  the  official  report  of 
Colonel  Osborn,  the  same  bearing  date  May  8th,  '64 : 

I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  in  accordance  with  orders 
from  division  headquarters,  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts 
Volunteers,  under  my  command,  took  its  position  under  arms 
in  the  Third  Brigade,  Col.  H.  M.  Plaisted,  Eleventh  Maine 
Volunteers,  commanding,  at  8  a.m..  May  7,-  and  shortly  after- 
ward took  up  the  line  of  march  toward  the  railroad  connect- 
ing Petersburg  and  Richmond,  which  was  reached  at  about 
3  p.m.  My  regiment  was  formed  on  a  Avide  and  well-traveled 
road,  parallel  with  the  railroad,  and  separated  from  it  by  a 
narrow  belt  of  brush  and  low  wood  and  a  meadow.  Three 
companies  were  sent  into  this  wood  to  support  a  line  of  skir- 
mishers. They  soon  sent  back  a  report  that  the  skirmishers 
already  occupied  the  railroad,  when,  by  direction  of  Colonel 
Plaisted,  I  sent  my  pioneers  to  destroy  as  much  of  it  as  possi- 
ble. Previous  to  this  the  poles  of  a  telegraph  running  along 
the  road  were  cut  down,  the  wire  removed,  and  the  insulators 
broken.  At  this  time  the  right  wing  was  sent  a  short  distance 
to  the  rear  to  guard  a  cross-road.  There  were  in  that  vicinity 
a  sawmill  and  a  large  quantity  of  lumber,  Avhich  they  burned. 
After  having  occupied  the  main  road  for  about  an  hour  and 
a  half  the  left  wing  was  ordered  by  Colonel  Plaisted  to  rejoin 
the  right,  after  calling  in  the  detached  companies,  which  was 
done.  As  these  companies  left  the  railroad  a  large  force  of 
the  enemy  appeared  upon  a  hill  beyond  and  poured  a  volley 
upon  them,  fortunately  without  effect.  The  pioneers  report 
having  torn  up  about  100  feet  of  rail  before  the  order  to  fall 


May,  '64.  On  Picket.  279 

back,  and  another  line  of  telegraph.  The  bed  of  the  road  was 
very  hard,  and  the  tools  which  they  had  were  of  inferio)-  qual- 
ity; otherwise,  they  would  have  accomplished  more.  They 
inform  me  that  there  was  a  large  number  of  surplus  rails  and 
ties  lying  along  the  road.  Soon  after  the  regiment  became 
reunited  the  brigade  was  dismissed  and  returned  to  camp. 
Only  the  detached  companies  were  exposed  to  a  direct  fire, 
and  I  have  therefore  no  casualties  to  report  in  my  command. 
— R.  R.,  Vol.  36,  Part  2,  p.  84. 

May  8th  is  Sunday,  but  in  active  campaigning  there  is  little 
distinction  in  days.  The  regiment  was  turned  out  at  4  a.m., 
and  later  moved  back,  establishing  the  camp  in  rear  of  a 
breastwork  just  begun,  and  on  which  250  of  the  men  are 
detailed  to  dig,  notwithstanding  the  heat,  which  is  a  reminder 
of  a  northern  mid-summer  day.  At  5  o'clock  the  regiment 
goes  on  picket,  relieving  the  Thirty-ninth  Illinois.  There 
was  loud  cheering  in  the  rear,  which  subsequently  was  found 
to  be  on  account  of  the  reported  victories  of  Grant  over  Lee 
on  the  "Wilderness  route.  The  9th  was  spent  by  the  regi- 
ment on  picket  and,  during  the  day,  large  forces  marched  out 
towards  Petersburg  and  destroyed  about  six  miles  of  the  rail- 
road ;  also  another  force  demonstrated  in  the  direction  of  Fort 
Darling.  The  Thirty-ninth  Illinois  and  the  Eighty-fifth 
Pennsylvania  occupied  a  position  at  Weir  Bottom  Church, 
about  a  mile  in  advance  of  the  line  held  by  the  Twenty-fourth. 
Colonel  Osborn  was  field  officer  of  the  day.  While  the 
Twenty-fourth  is  doing  picket  duty  another  portion  of  the 
division,  including  the  Twenty-third,  Twenty-fifth  and  the 
Twenty-seventh  Massachusetts,  are  winning  the  hotly  con- 
tested field  of  Arrowfield  Church.  IMay  10th  finds  the  regi- 
ment still  on  picket  with  considerable  fighting  near  Weir  Bot- 
tom Church,  the  enemy  attacking  our  forces  under  Colonel 
Joshua  B.  Howell  of  the  Eighty-fifth  Pennsylvania.  Others 
of  Terry's  division  finally  came  to  his  aid  with  hard  fighting 
for  several  hours.  The  rebels  at  last  withdrew  and  sent  in  a 
flag  of  truce  for  the  purpose  of  burying  their  dead  and  cai'ing 
for  the  wounded.     The  request  was  granted,  after  taking  pre- 


280  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

cautions  against  any  subterfuge  on  the  part  of  the  enemy. 
At  5  p.m.  the  regiment  was  relieved  by  the  One  Hundredth 
New  York  and  moved  back  to  its  camp. 

May  11th,  though  the  time  was  spent  in  camp,  there  was 
enough  to  do.  since  there  was  fatigue  work  in  the  way  of 
building  abatis  in  front  of  the  line  of  breastworks  behind 
which  the  camp  was  made.  Also,  there  was  inspection,  that 
the  condition  of  the  men  subsequent  to  their  hot  march,  when 
so  many  items  were  thrown  away,  might  be  ascertained.  Some, 
in  their  desire  to  lessen  their  burdens,  even  threw  out  their 
ammunition,  and  it  is  recorded  that  they  were  charged  up  for 
such  loss  to  the  tune  of  twenty-five  cents  per  round.  Then, 
too,  where  blankets  were  missing,  a  debit  entry  was  made 
against  the  individual.  This  was  the  day  when  some  excite- 
ment was  had  along  the  line  by  the  report  that  a  spy  was 
'inspecting  the  works  with  evident  intent  to  report  his  obser- 
vations to  the  enemy,  but  when  he  had  been  run  down  he 
developed  into  one  of  the  engineers  simply  attending  to  his 
proper  duties.  The  morning  of  the  12th  ch'ew  the  men  from 
their  rest  at  3.30  o'clock,  and  they  marched  into  place  behind 
the  breastworks  and  remained  there  till  breakfast.  A  severe 
rain-storm  did  not  prevent  the  tired  soldiers  getting  needed 
rest.  At  noon  came  orders  to  march  with  two  days'  rations, 
though  "not  expected  to  go  far."  The  object  was  under- 
stood to  be  tlie  support  of  a  cavalry  column  that  was  going 
out  to  cut  the  Richmond  &  Danville  Railroad.  The  boys 
declared  the  direction  was  towards  Richmond,  since  they 
found  a  milestone  which  read  "12  miles  to  Manchester,"  a 
place  just  across  the  James  River  from  Virginia's  capital. 
The  regiment  bivouacked  about  four  miles  from  the  starting 
place,  and  Colonel  Osborn,  being  appointed  general  officer 
of  the  day,  had  to  post  pickets,  after  dark,  in  a  section 
entirely  new  to  him,  hence  a  difficult  task. 

Of  the  13th  General  Butler  says,  "The  enemy  making  a 
stand  at  their  line  of  works,  General  Gillmore  was  sent  to 
endeavor  to  turn  their  right,  while  Smith  attacked  in  front. 


May  14,  '64.  Drewry's  Bluff.    '  281 

Both  movements  were  gallantly  accomplished  after  severe 
fighting.  Meantime,  I  endeavored  to  have  the  Navy  advance 
so  as  to  cover  our  right,  which  rested  near  the  river,  from  the 
fire  of  the  enemy's  fleet.  But  from  the  correspondence  that 
ensued  it  was  obvious  that  we  should  have  no  assistance  from 
the  Navy  above  Trent's  Reach.''  The  last  paragraph  refers 
to  the  fact  that  soundings  had  revealed  the.  disagreeable  truth 
that  the  depth  of  water  would  not  admit  the  passage  of  the 
gunboats.  The  day's  record,  as  told  by  Humphreys,  is  that 
Smith,  with  his  Eighteenth  Corps,  crossed  Proctor's  Creek  to 
within  800  yards  of  the  enemy's  outer  line  of  intrenchments, 
which  were  in  open  ground  and  were  held  by  infantry  and 
artillery.  So  strong  was  the  line  that  General  Smith  reported 
to  General  Butler  that,  if  held  in  force,  it  could  not  be  car- 
ried by  assault.  General  Gillmore  in  the  meantime  had,  as 
directed  by  General  Butler,  moved  to  the  left  to  turn  the  right 
of  the  intrenchments  at  the  head  of  Proctor's  Creek.  The 
enemy  was  in  force  there,  their  right  on  Wooldridge's  Hill,  a 
commanding  position  half  a  mile  west  of  the  railroad.  Terry 
attacked  unsuccessfully,  and  while  preparing  a  second  attack 
the  enemy  abandoned  their  line,  passing  down  towards 
Drewry's  Bluff,  Gillmore  pressing  them  till  dark  and  getting 
a  mile  of  their  works. 

DREWRY'S  BLUFF. 

The  part  borne  by  the  Twenty-fourth  began  early  in  the 
morning,  when,  with  the  intent  of  getting  in  the  rear  of  cer- 
tain works  of  the  enemy,  it  moved  off  to  the  left,  reaching  the 
same  by  a  circuitous  route  of  about  seven  miles  at  4  p.m. 
The  attack  upon  the  rebel  line  in  reverse  was  made  by  the 
Third  New  Hampshire,  and  it  was  most  gallantly  done.  The 
Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  and  the  One  Hundredth  New 
York  were  sent  to  drive  the  enemy  out  of  some  woods  in  front 
of  the  works.  This  was  successfully  accomplished  by  skir- 
mishing. It  was  during  this  movement  that  Lieutenant 
Edgar  Clough  of   Company  F  was   killed  by  a  sharpshooter. 


282  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

An  old  New  England  Guardsman,  he  had  come  out  with  the 
regiment  as  first  sergeant  of  his  company.  Five  men  were 
wounded.  After  dark,  the  men  fell  back  and  spent  the  night 
inside  the  enemy's  works. 

General  Butler  has  very  little  to  offer  as  to  the  14th  in  con- 
nection with  the  drawn-out  engagement  in  front  of  Fort  Dar- 
ling, his  words  being  these :  ' '  General  Smith  drove  the  enemy 
from  the  first  line  of  works,  which  he  occupied. ' '  Humphreys 
is  a  bit  more  extended,  thus:  "Brooks'  division  of  Smith's 
corps  occupied  a  part  of  the  enemy's  intrenchments  on  the 
left  of  the  pike.  Gillmore's  tw^o  divisions.  Turner's  and 
Terry's,  occupied  them  on  Smith's  left.  About  two  and  a 
half  miles  of  the  enemy's  outer  line  of  works  were  thus  held 
by  our  troops.  The  Confederates  occupied  their  second  line, 
the  right  of  Avhich  was  well  refused. ' '  The  day  alternates  in 
rain  and  shine,  but  the  weather  is  not  specially  considered  in 
sight  of  the  fighting  that  the  early  morning  presents.  The 
attack  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps  is  plainly  visible  and  the 
Twenty-fourth  is  ordered  to  its  support,  deploying  on  its  left. 
The  enemy  had  a  strong  line  of  skirmishers  behind  a  Virginia 
fence  and  beyond  a  wide  open  field.  In  this  advance  the  regi- 
ment had  the  Tenth  Connecticut  on  the  left  and  the  One  Hun- 
dredth New  York  on  the  right.  Four  companies,  under  Cap- 
tain Partridge,  were  sent  out  as  skirmishers,  and,  on  the  Cap- 
tain's being  wounded,  he  was  relieved  by  Major  Hooper. 

The  firing  was  so  vigorous  that  ammunition  was  exhausted, 
and  a  new  supply  had  to  be  secured  from  the  reserve.  The 
enemy  was  driven  back,  but  skirmishing  continued  all  day 
and  the  most  of  the  night.  With  a  loss  approaching  thirty 
men  for  the  brigade,  the  regiment  was  relieved  at  11  p.m., 
and  bivouacked  in  the  rear  of  the  position  held  during  the 
day. 

A  general  assault  of  the  Confederate  works  had  been 
ordered  for  the  15th.  but  it  was  abandoned  for  lack  of  dispos- 
able troops  to  form  the  column  of  attack.  During  the  day 
Gillmore  's  skirmishers  were  constantly  employed,  his  artilleiy 


May  10,  '64.         Gen.  Stevenson  Killed.  283 

a  part  of  the  time.  Every  hour  was  adding  to  the  forces 
under  the  Confederate  General  Beauregard,  till  now  he  had 
fully  as  strong  a  force  as  that  of  Butler,  and  a  disposition  to 
attack  is  more  prominent  in  him  than  in  the  Union  leader. 
The  nine  daj's  since  the  landing  at  Bermuda  Hundred  had 
served  to  change  the  relative  situations  of  the  two  armies 
remarkably.  Of  the  condition  a  writer  says:  ''General  But- 
ler could  not  assault  the  Drewry's  Bluff  intrenchments,  he 
could  not  move  to  turn  them,  and  he  could  not  fall  back  to 
his  Bermuda  Hundred  lines,  or  to  a  new  position  on  the  river 
without  abandoning  his  campaign  against  Richmond  with  the 
Army  of  the  James.  In  other  words,  he  was  completely  par- 
alyzed so  far  as  offensive  operations  were  concerned."  Yet 
in  spite  of  all  this  there  were  to  be  precious  lives  lost  in  a  vain 
effort  to  carry  the  works  at  Drewry's  Bluff.  For  our  regi- 
ment it  was  Sunday  in  reality,  since  it  was  a  day  of  rest,  not 
being  called  out.  There  was  picket  firing  all  day  and  shots 
from  an  enemy's  battery  passed  through  the  wood  in  which 
the  men  were  lying,  some  of  them  striking  inconveniently  near, 
but  no  one  was  hit.  Worse  than  any  direct  attention  of  the 
enemy  was  the  confirmation  of  the  enemy's  work  elsewhere, 
\iz.,that  of  the  lOtli  of  ^Mayat  Spottsylvania.  General  Thomas 
G.  Stevenson,  conmianding  the  First  Division  of  the  Ninth 
Army  Corps  under  his  beloved  Burnside,  had  been  killed. 
The  first  Colonel  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  every  man  felt  as 
though  he  had  lost  a  personal  friend.  Killed  by  a  sharp- 
shooter, it  needed  no  statement  of  the  circumstances  for  his 
fast  friends  to  know  that  he  fell  at  the  post  of  duty.  A 
rumor  of  his  death  had  been  received  earlier,  but  it  was  hoped 
that  subsequent  information  would  contradict.  Of  him  the 
kindest,  gi'andest  words  were  expressed  by  all  who  knew  him. 
As  a  man  and  a  soldier  his  record  was  the  brightest,  but  to 
these  soldiers  who  had  seen  him  at  Roanoke  and  at  Newbern, 
who  had  marched  and  fought  with  him.  it  seemed  as  though 
each  one  had  lost  the  dearest  of  brothers.  Had  they  lamented 
in  song,  their  coranach  would  have  been : 


284  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

He  is  gone  on  the  mountain,  he  is  lost  to  the  forest, 

Like  a  summer-dried  fountain,  when  our  need  is  the  sorest. 

Perhaps  had  the  men  known  the  work  of  the  morrow,  that 
Sunday  in  the  woods  had  been  less  happily  spent,  but  some 
one  knew  the  impending  ordeal,  for  in  the  excellent  account 
of  his  experiences,  left  by  John  M.  Spear  of  Company  D,  a 
helper  of  Surgeon  Green,  may  be  read  the  following : 

"On  the  night  of  the  15th  I  lay  down  on  the  floor  by  the 
side  of  Surgeon  Green  and  soon  fell  asleep.  During  the  night, 
and  it  seemed  to  me  it  might  have  been  about  3  o'clock, 
although  I  had  no  way  of  telling  the  time,  I  was  awakened  by 
some  one  touching  me  and  asking  if  I  was  Dr.  Green.  I 
aw^oke  the  doctor,  when  the  person  whispered  something  to 
him  which  I  soon  after  learned  was  a  request  for  him  to  be 
ready  for  the  bloody  work  so  near  at  hand.  Dr.  Green 
directed  me  to  have  all  of  the  hospital  attendants  got  together 
whenever  I  could  find  them.  As  soon  as  it  was  light  enough 
for  me  to  move  about,  I  looked  them  up.  All  through  this 
series  of  battles  I  had  charge  of  Dr.  Green's  case  of  surgical 
instruments.*  So  I  was  always  where  he  was.  After  look- 
ing up  the  attendants,  I  hurriedly  prepared  a  pot  of  coffee, 
for  I  had  learned  by  experience  that  one  of  the  most  impor- 
tant of  a  soldier's  duties  is  to  feed  himself,  and  there  was  no 
time  for  delay.  The  densest  of  dense  fogs  ushered  in  the 
morning,  and  I  had  just  finished  my  coffee  when  the  left,  the 
Tenth  Connecticut,  was  struck  and  stragglers  began  to 
appear.  It  was  a  surprise  to  the  men  to  see  great  bodies  of 
the  enemy  appear  through  the  fog.  As  fast  as  we  could  dress 
the  wounds,  the  men  were  placed  in  ambulances  and  started 
for  the  rear.     Our  men  fall  back  and   leave  us  between   two 


*Surgeon  Green's  "Medical  Knapsack"  was  a  present  to  him  from  the 
distinguished  Dr.  J.  Mason  Warren,  who  had  imported  from  France 
three  sets ;  one,  as  we  know,  was  given  to  our  surgeon,  one  to  Surgeon 
Samuel  Kneeland  of  the  Forty-fifth,  and  the  other  to  Dr.  J.  Franklin 
Dyer,  surgeon  of  the  Nineteenth  Massachusetts.  The  long  service  that 
Surgeon  Green's  case  of  instruments  saw  sufficed  to  use  them  up,  hence 
what  might  be  a  valuable  relic  in  a  military  museum  cannot  now  be  found. 


May  16,  '64.  Drewry's  Bluff.  285 

fires,  but  Ave  stick  to  our  work  even  though  a  rebel  prison  is  in 
sight.  The  last  man  was  in  the  ambulance  when  the  enemy 
was  upon  us,  cutting  the  traces  and  capturing  wagons  and 
men.  By  dint  of  hard  running  and  some  caution,  the  hospi- 
tal force  got  away. .  It  was  a  confused  mass  that  struggled 
back  to  Bermuda  Hundred,  but  I  kept  fast  hold  of  the  sur- 
geon's instruments." 

Under  the  circumstances  it  was  singular  that  Surgeon 
Green  got  away  at  all.  As  he  said  of  himself,  he  expected  to 
be  captured,  but  he  was  determined  to  work  on  his  wounded 
men  up  to  the  very  last  moment,  though  some  of  the  latter 
who  were  able  to  walk  he  told  to  look  out  for  themselves.  The 
enemy  was  in  plain  sight,  firing  with  deadly  intent.  His  sta- 
tion was  near  a  small  building,  a  location  which  a  staff  officer 
told  him  to  vacate  at  once.  His  very  last  act  was  to  pin  the 
name  of  a  dying  man  on  his  knapsack,  that  friend  or  foe  might 
identify  the  body  and  then,  in  his  own  word,  he  "scooted"  all 
alone,  running  through  a  nearby  peach  orchard,  noting  as  he 
ran  the  constant  fall  of  branches  cut  off'  by  the  hostile  bullets. 
Soon  he  came  to  a  brook,  in  whose  partially  dried  bed  he  made 
his  way,  possibly  stooping  for  partial  cover.  The  water  was 
very  low,  from  three  to  six  inches  in  depth,  save  in  the  occa- 
sional holes,  where  he  usu,ally  fell,  getting  repeated  duckings. 
In  this  way  he  kept  going  till  out  of  immediate  danger,  when 
he  stopped,  wrung  out  his  wet  garments,  and  dried  off.  It 
was  about  8  a.m.  when  he  started  from  the  field,  and  it  was 
2  p.m.  when  he  reached  the  regiment  where  he  had  been 
reported  as  a  prisoner  sure.  The  hearfrv'  greeting  accorded 
him  as  he  came  in,  "Here  comes  the  prisoner,"  was  some 
compensation  for  the  labors  and  perils  of  the  day. 

The  facts  concerning  the  16th  of  INIay  and  the  Army  of  the 
James,  as  the  latter  met  the  Confederates,  are  matters  of  his- 
tory. Whatever  the  plans  of  the  Union  forces  in  the  scheme 
of  attacking  the  rebel  lines,  the  enemy  was  earlier  up  and 
saved  General  Butler's  men  the  trouble  of  an  initiative.  The 
foeman's  purpose  of  turning  the  Union  right,  under  General 


286  Twenty-fourth  ■  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Smith,  was  well  carried  out  in  the  dense  fog,  which  was  so 
thick  "that  a  horseman  could  not  be  seen  at  the  distance  of 
fifteen  paces."  The  brunt  of  the  attack  falls  on  Heckman's 
brigade,  and  though  the  latter  does  all  that  men  can  do,  they 
are  completely  enveloped  by  the  enemy,  and  a  large  part  of 
the  same,  including  the  commander  and  his  staff,  are  swept 
off  to  captivity.  Gillmore's  men  are  largely  employed  in 
supporting  those  of  Smith  in  the  fierce  attack  on  the  Union 
right.  With  prodigies  of  valor  on  the  part  of  individuals 
and  organizations,  the  lines  are  gradually  forced  back  till  the 
end  finds  the  Army  of  the  James  behind  the  defenses  of  Ber- 
muda Hundred,  and  the  dream  of  capturing  Richmond  from 
the  South  is  dispelled.  During  all  these  hours  the  Twentj^- 
fourth  was  giving  a  good  account  of  itself.  For  it  the  day 
began  with  the  regiment  in  reserve  on  the  left,  the  brigade  of 
General  Hawley  on  our  right.  At  10  a.m.  we  were  ordered  to 
the  right  to  support  Hawley 's  men,  who  were  hard  pressed. 
As  they,  however,  were  driven  back,  and  both  flanks  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  were  exposed,  it  was  compelled  to  retire  also. 
Continuing  to  fall  back,  closely  pressed  by  the  enemy,  we 
passed  through  a  chaparral  which  badly  broke  the  line. 
Thence  we  mounted  a  hill  without  cover,  where  we  lost 
heavily.  Lieutenants  Ward  and  Rea.  the  former  acting 
Adjutant,  lost  their  lives  and  nearly  twenty  men  were  killed 
and  wounded.  Rallying  on  the  brow  of  the  hill,  the  enemy 
was  driven  back. 

At  this  time  the  regiment  was  afar  from  the  brigade,  hav- 
ing been  separated  in  the  confusion  of  the  flank  movement. 
Colonel  Osborn  saw  General  Gilman  ]\Iarston  [Second  New 
Hampshire  Infantry],  commanding  one  of  the  Eighteenth 
Corps  brigades,  and  reported  to  him  for  orders.  He  directed 
the  Colonel  to  form  on  the  left  of  the  Ninety-sixth  New  York 
on  the  hill,  which  was  done,  the  Colonel  throwing  out  his 
guides  and  making  a  perfect  alignment.  Evidently,  this 
pleased  the  General,  for  he  proceeded  to  put  the  regiment 
through  the  manual  for  a  few  minutes,  not  only  steadying  the 


May  16,  '64.  Drewry's  Bluff.  287 

Twenty-fourth,  but  serving  as  a  fine  object  lesson  to  other 
bodies,  for  the  boys  executed  his  commands  admirably.* 
Varying  stories  of  the  halt  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  are  told 
to  this  day,  but  all  agree  in  saying  that  never  was  the  regi- 
ment steadier  or  its  Colonel  more  determined.  Facing  the 
regiment  to  the  front  he  said,  "Twenty-fourth,  you're  going 
no  further!  Where  is  the  man  who  wants  to  go  to  the  rear? 
I  want  to  see  him ! ' '  Observing  a  nervous  movement  on  the 
part  of  some,  he  exclaimed,  ' '  Keep  in  touch,  men ;  be  steady, 
they  have  only  two  men  to  aim  at,"  referring  to  the  enemy's 
cross  fire.  Long  after,  one  of  the  observers  said  of  the  scene, 
"He  stood  there  at  our  front  as  we. faced  towards  the  advanc- 
ing enemy,  a  revolver  in  his  hand,  the  embodiment  of  resolu- 
tion, and  the  next  moment  it  was  give  and  take  between  us 
and  the  rebs." 


*0f  this  episode,  Captain  E.  C.  Richardson,  then  on  General  Terry's 
staff,  said,  "Seeingtheregiment  in  lineonrisingground,  doubting  whether 
the  position  could  be  maintained,  there  being  practically  no  near  sup- 
port, I  joined  the  regiment,  thinking,  as  I  was  mounted,  I  might  be  of 
service.  The  Twenty-fourth  was  as  steady  as  if  on  Boston  Common,  in 
perfect  control  of  Colonel  Osborn.  The  enemy  in  immediate  front  came 
to  a  halt.  I  rode  forward  to  get  a  better  view,  a  Confederate  officer 
doing  the  same.     I  did  not  learn  anything  and  both  returned." 

Shifting  the  scene  to  Boston,  immediately  after  the  war,  Major  Rich- 
ardson received  a  visit  from  a  cousin  who  had  been  an  officer  in  a  Loui- 
siana regiment.  Chatting  one  day  about  the  war,  they  learned  that  both 
of  them  were  in  this  engagement,  both  on  staff  duty  and  that  they  were 
the  officers  riding  towards  each  other.  The  Confederate  said,  "The  thor- 
ough discipline  of  the  regiment  in  our  front,  the  line  in  such  complete 
control,  actually  going  through  the  manual  as  though  no  enemy  were  in 
sight,  convinced  me  that  there  must  be  a  heavy  support  and  that  a 
continued  advance  should  be  carefully  handled."  Again  were  the  disci- 
pline and  sometimes  tedious  drills  vindicated. 

Lieutenant  Jones  of  Company  F  passing  Fort  Darling,  soon  after  the  war, 
fell  into  conversation  with  a  Confederate  officer  who  had  commanded  the 
very  battery  that  gave  us  the  most  trouble  on  that  fateful  16th  of  May, 
and  he  said  he  had  always  wondered  Avhat  regiment  it  was  that  he  had 
taken  so  many  shots  at.  When  the  Lieutenant  told  him  it  was  the  Twenty- 
fourth  Massachusetts,  he  remarked,  "Well,  they  did  the  best  marching 
under  fire  that  day  that  I  ever  saw." 


May  1G,  'G4.  Drewry's  Bluff.  289 

Remaining  in  this  position  till  Tnrner's  division  had  passed 
to  the  rear,  the  regiment  then  retired  about  a  mile  and 
rejoined  the  brigade.  The  troops  were  moving  slowly  back 
to  the  turn}) ike,  different  regiments  alternating  in  covering 
the  rear.  Then  followed  a  halt  for  some  time,  next  an 
advance  with  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  about  a  mile  to  the 
Halfway  House,  where  line  was  formed  and  a  vigorous  shell- 
ing was  received,  though  without  any  harm  done.  After  an 
hour  of  this,  the  line  again  fell  back  through  the  woods  some 
distance  and  formed  column  in  the  road.  When  all  of  the  col- 
umns had  passed,  the  Twenty-fourth  moved  .slowly  back  to 
the  intrenchments,  reaching  them  at  about  9  p.m.  thoroughly 
exhausted ;  and  well  they  might  be,  for  as  rear  guard  of  the 
retreat,  they  had  by  their  vigilance  prevented  any  surprise 
by  the  enemy,  though  the  latter  followed  closely  and  needed 
constant  watching.  By  making  a  new  road  parallel  with  the 
turnpike,  but  through  the  woods,  the  march  of  the  regiment 
was  not  subjected  to  the  raking  fire  of  artillery  otherwise  had. 
During  the  daj'^  the  hearts  of  our  friends  in  the  Tenth  Con- 
necticut were  made  glad  by  the  arrival  of  tlieir  Adjutant, 
Henry  W.  Camp,  who  had  been  taken  prisoner  on  Morris 
Island  in  July,  and  was  this  day  just  back  from  his  home.  He 
did  not  delay  a  moment  in  reporting  to  his  beloved  regiment, 
though  the  same  was  in  the  hottest  of  the  fight  on  the  left. 
This  is  the  way  he  was  met: 

The  head  of  the  regiment  came  in  view  over  the  crest  of  a 
hill  the  riders  were  ascending.  That  the  Adjutant  was  recog- 
nized, a  wild  shout  of  joy  gave  proof.  As  he  drew  his  horse 
to  the  roadside,  the  regiment  filed  past  and  each  company 
successively  greeted  him  with  hearty  hurrahs  while  he  sat, 
with  cap  in  hand  in  all  his  manly  beauty,  receiving  their  grat- 
ulations.  *  *  Not  alone  Colonel  Otis  gave  him  greeting, 
but  General  Plaisted,  brigade  commander,  hastened  forward 
to  bid  him  welcome,  and  even  General  Terry,  with  all  the 
responsibility  of  the  battle  on  him  in  that  imminent  hour  for 
his  division,  swung  his  hat  in  sympathy  with  the  cheering 
regiment  and  spurred  forward  his  horse  to  take  tlie  returned 
Adjutant  by  the  hand.    *    *    It  was  but  a  few  minutes  before 

19 


290  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Camp  was  conveying  orders  along  the  line  as  naturally  as 
though  he  had  never  been  absent,  while  the  bullets  of  the 
enemy  whistled  past  his  ears. 

Of  these  middle  ]\Iay  days,  among  the  most  memorable  in 
the  history  of  the  regiment,  Colonel  Osbom  has  left  a  record 
in  his  report  to  brigade  headquarters,  dated  May  19,  1864 : 

I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  the  regiment  under  my 
command  marched  with  the  rest  of  Colonel  Plaisted's  brigade 
at  noon  on  Thursday,  May  12,  and  joined  the  rest  of  General 
Terry's  division  at  a  point  on  the  Petersburg  and  Richmond 
turnpike  about  three  miles  distant  from  camp.  It  bivouacked 
at  that  place  for  the  night. 

Friday,  May  13,  it  marched  with  General  Terry's  division 
by  a  circuitous  route,  crossing  the  railroad  at  Clover  Hill 
Junction,  and  at  four  o'clock  came  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy's 
works,  commanding  the  railroad  and  said  to  form  part  of  the 
outworks  of  Fort  Darling.  Here  the  regiment  was  deployed 
to  sui)port  the  Seventh  Connecticut  Volunteers  until  the  cap- 
ture of  the  breastworks,  which  was  speedily  accomplished.  A 
short  time  after  taking  possession  of  them  the  Twenty-fourth 
was  ordered  to  their  front  to  drive  the  enemy  from  a  point  of 
woods  in  which  they  had  established  themselves.  The  One 
Hundredth  New  York  Volunteers  was  on  my  left.  I  deployed 
a  strong  line  of  skirmishers,  and  after  a  short  but  sharp  strug- 
gle, forced  the  enemy  to  retire.  It  then  being  dark,  I  was 
ordered  to  withdraw  the  regiment  and  establish  a  picket-line 
along  the  railroad.  At  10  p.m.  the  regiment  was  relieved  and 
bivouacked  within  the  works. 

Saturday  forenoon.  May  1-4,  marched  with  the  rest  of  the 
troops  to  the  attack  of  the  second  line ;  occupied  a  position  in  a 
field  covered  with  low  pines,  my  left  resting  on  the  railroad. 
In  front  was  open  field  about  600  yards  wide,  on  the  opposite 
side  of  which  were  the  enemy's  skirmishers  in  great  force, 
under  the  shelter  of  a  Virginia  fence.  Being  ordered  to 
deploy  a  strong  line  of  skirmishers,  I  sent  out  four  compa- 
nies ;  after  some  skirmishing  the  line  advanced  rapidly  and 
drove  the  enemy  back  to  their  works.  In  the  course  of  the 
afternoon  I  was  compelled  to  relieve  the  four  companies  and 
to  send  others,  they  having  expended  all  of  their  strength  and 
their  ammunition;  these  companies  also  expended  all  of  their 
ammunition.     I  was  supplied  with  enough  by  Colonel  Plais- 


May  "64.  Col.  Osborn's  Report.  291 

ted  to  furnish  the  regiment  with  sixty  rounds.  Hardly  had 
this  been  issued  to  the  skirmishers  when  the  enemy,  stealing 
cautiously  up  through  a  thick  undergrowth,  made  a  rush  upon 
them,  but  were  repulsed  with  gi*eat  loss.  My  regiment  was 
relieved  at  11  p.m.,  and  bivouacked  in  the  woods  in  rear  of 
our  position. 

Sunday,  May  15,  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  no  opera- 
tions. 

]\Ionday,  ]May  16,  the  fighting  commenced  early  in  the 
morning.  I  was  placed  in  resem'e  for  Colonel  Plaisted's 
brigade,  but  at  about  10  a.m.  was  ordered  to  the  right  to  sup- 
port Hawley's  brigade.  On  moving  to  the  right  found  the 
troops  falling  back  in  confusion,  and  could  see  no  regiments 
of  Hawley's  brigade.  Finding  myself  far  in  advance  of  any 
other  organization,  with  both  flanks  exposed,  and  the  enemy 
advancing  rapidly,  fell  slowly  back  through  the  woods  until  I 
reached  the  brow  of  a  hill  in  front'  of  the  works  captured  on 
Saturday. 

Having  been  separated  from  my  brigade  I  reported  for 
orders  to  Brigadier-General  i\Iarston.  who  was  at  that  point 
with  one  regiment.  He  posted  the  regiment  on  the  left  of  the 
Ninety-sixth  New  York  Volunteers,  where  it  remained  until 
the  whole  of  General  Turner's  division  had  passed  to  the 
rear;  then  rejoined  Colonel  Plaisted's  brigade  and  marched  to 
the  rear,  halting  in  the  field  in  which  we  had  bivouacked  on 
Thursday  night.  An  hour  later  was  ordered  forward  again 
with  the  Tenth  Connecticut  Volunteers  to  the  Halfway  House, 
formed  line  on  the  right  of  the  turnpike,  and  remained  an 
hour — a  portion  of  the  time  under  artillery  fire.  On  being 
withdrawn  from  this  position,  marched  in  the  rear  of  the  col- 
umn back  to  the  intrenchments,  reaching  camp  about  8  p.m. 

I  deeply  regret  to  report  the  loss  of  three  valuable  officers, 
who  were  instantly  killed  by  musket  balls  in  the  head  while  in 
the  discharge  of  their  dnty.  They  were  First  Lieutenant  ]\Iason 
A.  Rea,  Adjutant  Charles  G.  Ward,  and  Second  Lieutenant 
Edgar  Clough.  Captain  John  N.  Partridge  was  also  wounded 
in  the  head,  but  the  wound  is  thought  to  be  slight.  The  other 
casualties  in  my  command  were  four  enlisted  men  killed, 
forty-three  wounded  and  seven  missing. — -R.  R.,  Vol.  36,  Part 
2,  p.  85. 

The  morning  of  the  ITth  of  May  saw  General  Butler's 
forces   behind  their   Bermuda   Hundred   intrenchments,  and 


292  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

General  Beauregard  had  this  to  say  of  the  situation  as  it 
appeared  to  him :  ' '  The  enemy  is  noAV  hemmed  in  by  our  lines, 
which  completely  cover  the  southern  communications  of  the 
capital,  one  of  the  principal  objects  of  our  attack.  The  com- 
plete success  was  lost  by  the  hesitation  of  our  left  wing,  and 
the  premature  halt  of  the  Petersburg  column  before  obstacles, 
in  either  case  sufficient  to  have  deterred  from  the  execution 
of  the  movement  prescribed." 

On  this  day  there  was  some  needed  rest  for  the  tired  sol- 
diers. Late  in  the  evening  the  sound  of  wagons  on  the  turn- 
pike indicated  the  movements  of  wagon  trains  toward  Peters- 
burg, and  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  with  the  Eleventh  Maine, 
was  sent  out  to  support  the  cavalry  in  an  effort  to  intercept 
the  same.  The  result  was  a  shai-p  encounter  with  a  number 
of  casualties,  but  with  nothing  accomplished.  The  Twenty- 
fourth  went  on  picket  with  its  right  touching  James  River, 
whence  was  plainly  seen  the  naval  accompaniment  of  the 
army.  With  alternate  rain  and  shine,  and  with  firing  all 
along  the  front,  the  regiment  remained  on  picket  during  the 
18th,  being  relieved  at  night.  There  were  indications  of  the 
gathering  of  a  heavy  force  of  the  enemy  in  front.  The  19th 
was  spent  in  camp  with  repeated  alarms  calling  out  the  men. 
Earthworks  were  thrown  up  along  the  color-line  as  a  protec- 
tion to  the  men,  forming  quite  a  covered  way.  Picket  firing 
was  almost  constant.  The  gunboats  opened  on  a  battery 
which  the  enemy  was  planting  near  Dr.  Howlett's  house  at 
our  right.  On  this  day  Colonel  Osborn  records  that  the  regi- 
ment has  lost  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing  fifty-seven  offi- 
cers and  men.  "The  loss  of  officers  is  very  disproportionate 
to  that  of  the  men,  for  three  of  the  former  have  been  killed 
and  only  four  of  the  latter.  Poor  Ward  was  killed  instantly 
during  the  retreat  of  Monday,  the  16th;  the  ball  struck  him 
directly  in  the  top  of  the  head.  I  feel  very  sad  at  his  death, 
for  he  was  an  old  friend. ' ' 

The  report  of  General  Plaisted,  on  the  part  performed  by 
his  brigade,  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Darling  or  Drewry's  Bluff, 
from  the  12th  to  the  16th  inclusive,  follows : 


May  '6-1:.  Col.  Plaisted's  Report.  298 

Ou  the  nioriiiny  of  the  12th  inst.  Terry's  division  moved 
out  with  other  troops  of  the  Tenth  Corps  in  the  direction  of 
the  Petersburg  pike,  the  Third  Brigade  having  the  advance 
of  the  division.  The  division  bivouacked  in  the  open  fiekl 
near  Purdue's,  south  of  the  j^ike  and  about  one  mile  from  the 
Halfway  House;  the  Third  Brigade  occupied  the  left  flank 
and  liivouacked  in  line  of  battle,  forming  two  sides  of  a  square 
with  four  companies  in  the  rear  as  a  reserve.  A  strong  picket 
of  200  men  from  each  regiment  was  posted.  Twice  during 
the  night,  the  men  were  called  to  arms  by  picket  firing. 

On  the  morning  of  the  13th,  our  forces  moved  upon  the  road 
to  Chester  Junction  on  the  Petersburg  &  Richmond  Railroad, 
which  point  was  reached  at  8.30  a.m.,  the  Third  Brigade  in 
the  advance.  At  this  point  I  was  ordered  to  cross  the  rail- 
road, take  a  path  through  the  woods  by  a  wide  circuit,  with  a 
view  to  gain  the  right  and  rear  of  the  enemy's  fortifications, 
having  for  guides  a  colored  man  and  a  Mr.  Purdue.  The 
brigade  pushed  forward  with  caution,  the  One  Hundredth 
New  York  in  advance,  with  skirmishers  and  flankers  out,  the 
advance  being  delayed  by  the  skirmishers  and  flankers. 
Owing  to  the  thick  wood,  I  was  ordered  by  General  R.  S.  Fos- 
ter, chief  of  stall',  to  push  forward  without  flankers  and  skir- 
mishers; at  least  they  must  not  delay  the  column.  The  One 
Hundredth  New  York  was  advanced  several  hundred  yards 
from  the  remaining  regiments  of  the  brigade  and  one  com- 
pany from  that  regiment  thrown  forward  a  hundred  yards  or 
more  as  advanced  guard.  Every  bypath  and  thicket  was 
searched  by  three  or  more  mounted  orderlies  and  my  staff 
officers,  and  every  inhabitant  upon  the  way  arrested  and  (|ues- 
tioned.  In  this  manner  the  movement  w^as  executed  without 
a  halt  or  check,  except  those  occasioned  by  the  obstacles  of  the 
way,  defiles,  etc.,  to  the  Chesterfield  road,  about  one  mile  from 
the  enemy's  right  flank,  when  General  Gillmore  and  staff,  with 
a  squadron  of  cavalry,  his  body  guard,  took  the  advance,  cap- 
turinu'  on  the  Chesterfield  road  the  enemy's  mounted  videttes. 
The  (;)ne  Hundredth  New  York  Volunteers  here  was  posted  on 
the  Chesterfield  road  to  block  up  the  way  in  the  direction  of 
the  Court  House,  the  enemy's  cavalry  having  appeared  in  that 
direction.  The  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Volunteers 
then  took  the  advance  to  the  Salem  Church,  a  half  mile  fur- 
ther, where  it  was  posted  to  guard  the  Richmond  road,  while 
our  column  was  passing.  The  Tenth  Connecticut  Volunteers 
then  having  the  lead  advanced  to  within  a  few  hundred  yards 


294  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

of  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  works,  the  skirmishers  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  still  holding  the  advance  and  moving  up  to 
within  a  few  yards  of  the  enemy. 

Hawley's  brigade  was  now  moved  to  the  front  and  placed 
in  line  of  battle,  the  Tenth  being  deployed  on  the  second  line. 
The  Third  New  Hampshire  of  that  brigade  soon  engaged  the 
enemy  upon  the  left,  the  Twenty-fourth  and  One  Hundredth 
were  brought  up,  the  Twenty-fourth  formed  in  rear  of  the 
Third  New  Hampshire,  and  was  ready,  with  fixed  bayonets,  to 
renew  the  charge,  when  the  enemy,  attacked  by  White's 
brigade  in  front,  abandoned  his  fortifications  on  his  right, 
and  our  forces  moved  in  and  took  possession  without  further 
opposition,  the  skirmishers  of  the  Twenty-fourth  under  the 
lamented  Rea  being  the  first  to  enter  the  works. 

The  enemy  holding  the  left  of  his  fortifications  and  a  wood 
intermediate,  the  One  Hundredth  New  York  Volunteers  was 
ordered  to  move  down  across  the  railroad  and  drive  them  out 
of  the  woods,  which  they  did  in  the  most  gallant  manner. 
Having  pressed  through  the  woods  and  advanced  into  the 
open  space,  they  came  under  the  fire  of  a  rebel  battery  of 
three  rifled  pieces  which  ploughed  the  ground  frightfully, 
two  shots  carrying  away  no  less  than  eight  legs.  At  the  same 
time  sharpshooters  in  the  woods  in  front  kept  up  a  most 
annoying  fire.  In  danger  of  being  driven  back,  the  Twenty- 
fourth  was  sent  to  the  support  of  the  One  Hundredth.  The 
Twenty-fourth  advanced  across  the  railroad  into  the  open 
field  to  the  right  of  the  One  Hundredth.  The  two  regiments 
then  advanced  and  drove  the  enemy  back.  In  this  affair  both 
regiments  behaved  splendidly  and  suffered  considerable  loss, 
the  One  Hundredth  New  York  losing  twenty  killed  and 
wounded;  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts,  six,  including 
one  commissioned  officer.  Lieutenant  Clough,  killed  by  a 
sharpshooter.  The  regiments,  holding  their  positions-  until 
dark,  were  ordered  to  fall  back  and  establish  a  strong  line  of 
outposts  for  the  night.  This  having  been  done  on  the  line  of 
the  railroad,  they  were  relieved  at  11  p.m.  by  the  Tenth  Con- 
necticut Volunteers,  and  the  two  regiments,  greatly  fatigued 
and  exhausted,  bivouacked  in  the  rain  at  midnight  behind  the 
captured  fortifications. 

At  daylight  in  the  morning  of  the  14th  troops  in  two  lines 
of  battle,  with  skirmishers,  were  seen  advancing  against  the 
left  of  the  enemy's  fortifications  in  the  plain  below.  Colonel 
Otis,  with  his  Tenth  Connecticut,  was  sent   forward    to    dis- 


May  'G4.  Col.  Platsted's  Report.  295 

cover  their  character.  They  were  soon  discovered  to  be  of 
Turner's  di^nsion  of  the  Tenth  Army  Corps.  The  right  of 
the  enemy's  works  having  been  captured  by  Terry's  division, 
and  his  whole  line  turned,  the  enemy  abandoned  the  left  of 
his  line  in  the  night,  falling  back  to  his  second  line,  and  Tur- 
ner and  Smith  took  possession  without  opposition,  except 
from  skirmishers.  The  entire  tirst  line  of  the  enemy's  forti- 
fications were  thus  secured.  Terry's  division  was  immediate- 
ly put  in  motion  and,  descending  into  the  valley,  formed  a 
junction  with  Turner.  The  Tenth  Corps,  thus  united  with 
the  Eighteenth  Corps  upon  the  right,  advanced  to  the  attack 
of  the  second  line  of  the  enemy's  fortifications.  The  Third 
Brigade  being  upon  the  extreme  left  of  our  lines  was  ordered 
to  advance  and  commence  the  assault,  expecting  to  take  the 
enemy  in  flank  and  rear.  The  One  Hundredth  New  York 
and  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  were  formed  in  first  line, 
Tenth  Connecticut  in  reserve.  Charging  front  forward  on 
my  right  and  advancing,  my  left  flank  skirted  a  thick  wood, 
from  Avliich  the  enemy's  sharpshooters  began  seriously  to 
annoy  my  line.  Colonel  Osborn  was  ordered  to  throw  a  com- 
pany of  skirmishers  into  the  woods.  This  company  was  sup- 
ported by  one  from  the  Tenth  Connecticut.  These  compa- 
nies failing  to  accomplish  the  object  immediately.  Colonel 
Otis  was  ordered  with  six  companies  of  his  regiment  to  clear 
the  woods  of  the  enemy,  and  to  find  out  and  to  report  his 
exact  position  upon  my  left,  supporting  his  skirmishers  wit]i 
the  balance  of  his  regiment.  Colonel  Otis  soon  reported  that 
he  had  skirmished  through  the  woods  on  both  sides  of  the 
railroad  and  discovered  that  the  enemy's  fortifications  ex- 
tended 800  yards  beyond  my  left,  that  the  front  was  flanked 
by  two  strong  redoubts  upon  commanding  ground,  above  which 
were  two  lines  of  rifle-pits.  Reporting  these  facts  to  General 
Terry,  he,  with  Major  Brooks  of  General  Gillmore's  staff, 
reconnoitered  the  position  in  person.  Positions  were  selected 
for  artillery,  and  Langdon's  and  the  First  Connecticut  bat- 
teries were  brought  up  and  put  into  position.  At  the  same 
time,  to  protect  the  gunner  from  the  enemy's  sharpshooters, 
the  skirmishers  of  the  brigade  were  ordered  to  advance  and 
drive  the  enemy  into  his  works.  It  was  now  one  half  past 
two  p.m.,  and  a  battle  of  skirmishers  commenced  along  our 
whole  line,  which  lasted  till  past  eleven  at  night.  Company 
after  company,  from  each  regiment,  was  sent  to  reinforce  the 
skirmish  line,  until    scarcelv  one  was    left    in    reserve.     Uur 


296  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 

skirmishers  took  and  held  a  line  within  200  yards  of  the 
enemy's  fortifications,  repelling-  charge  after  charge,  and 
finally  compelling  the  enemy  to  hide  himself  behind  his  works, 
and  thus  for  the  most  part  during  daylight  keeping  down  his 
fire.  At  half  past  ten  p.m.  was  repulsed  the  heaviest  and 
most  determined  assault  of  the  day.  The  last  reserve  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  and  One  Hundredth  had  come  up.  All  were 
well  in  jiosition  with  replenished  ammunition,  when  a  cloud 
of  rebel  skirmishers  was  discovered  stealing  upon  our  lines. 
They  were  allowed  to  approach  within  thirty  yards,  when  the 
rebel  commander  giving  the  order,  "Rally  by  platoons," 
charged  with  a  yell.  His  "platoons"  were  annihilated  by 
the  close  and  rapid  fire  of  the  One  Hundredth,  Twenty-fourth 
and  Tenth,  delivered  with  deadly  aim  in  the  bright  moonlight. 
There  was  no  more  firing  on  that  line  for  the  night.  The  loss 
of  the  brigade  in  this  combat  of  the  skirmishers  was  six  com- 
missioned officers  and  eighty-four  enlisted  men.  At  11  p.m. 
my  three  regiments  at  the  front  were  relieved  and  bivouacked 
in  the  wood  a  short  distance  in  the  rear. 

Sunday,  the  15th,  was  comparatively  quiet,  the  brigade 
losing  but  one  man  during  the  day,  but  the  impression  seemed 
general  that  a  serious  attack  by  the  enemy  was  impending. 
The  usual  prei^arations  were  made  in  the  Third  Brigade ;  sixty 
rounds  of  cartridges  per  man  and  two  days'  cooked  rations 
were  supplied.  The  teams  which  came  up  at  night  with  camp 
and  garrison  equipage  were  not  unloaded,  but  sent  to  the 
rear.  On  the  morning  of  the  16th  the  brigade  was  under 
arms  at  3.30.  The  attack  commenced  by  picket  firing  on 
the  right,  opposite  our  communications,  at  4.30  a.m.,  and  soon 
after  raged  with  great  violence.  I  was  ordered  by  General 
Terry  to  advance  my  regiments  to  the  open  space  in  front  of 
my  camps,  forming  line  on  the  left  of  the  Second  Brigade. 
The  One  Hundredth  New  York  and  T wen tv^ -fourth  JNIassa- 
chusetts  were  formed  in  line  as  directed;  the  Tenth  was  held 
in  reserve.  The  Eleventh  Maine  had  been  sent  to  the  left  of 
the  railroad  the  night  before  to  occupy  the  works  upon  the 
heights  captured  by  us  on  the  13th. 

Soon  after  these  dispositions  had  been  made,  I  received 
information  from  General  R.  S.  Foster,  chief  of  staff  to  the 
corps  commander,  that  a  charge  was  to  be  made  upon  the 
enemy's  works  by  our  whole  force  from  right  to  left,  which  I 
was  to  be  prepared  for.  The  One  Hundredth  New  York  was 
formed  in  first  line,  the  Twenty-fourth  in  the  second,  and  the 


May  "(J-t.  Col.  Plaisted's  Report.  297 

Tenth  Connecticut  in  reserve.  The  first  line  was  advanced  to 
the  plong"hed  field,  within  about  500  yards  of  the  enemy's 
works.  At  7.45  a.m.,  the  right  of  our  lines  being,  hotly 
engaged,  I  received  an  order  from  General  Terry  to  "push 
forward  a  strong-  chain  of  skirmishers  vigorously  and  impress 
the  enemy,  if  possible,  with  the  idea  that  we  are  about  to 
make  an  attack,  the  other  brigade  commanders  having  the 
same  ordere. "  The  One  Hundredth  New  York  was  imme- 
diately  advanced  across  into  the  open  space  into  the  slashing, 
within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  fortifications,  and 
were  at  once  hotly  engag'ed.  The  Twenty-fourth  was  ad- 
vanced to  the  position  vacated  by  the  One  Hundredth,  and 
the  Tenth  was  similarly  advanced.  In  case  the  charge  was 
ordered,  the  One  Hundredth  was  to  g"o  in  to  the  enemy's 
entrenchments,  followed  by  the  Twenty-fourth,  and  the  Tenth 
would  advance  to  the  slashing  as  a  support. 

Three  assaults  in  force  were  made  upon  the  lines  of  the  sec- 
ond and  third  brigades,  but  were  repulsed  with  great  loss  to 
the  enemy.  The  brigade  held  this  position,  the  front  line 
fighting  constantly  until  9.15  a.m.,  when  I  was  ordered  by 
General  Terry  to  "leave  a  strong  line  of  skirmishers  in  my 
front,  then  fall  back  and  form  my  regiments  in  the  open  field 
back  of  me,  not  letting  the  enemy  see  the  movement."  At 
this  time  six  companies  of  the  One  Hundredth  were  in  the 
slashing  as  skirmishers,  four  companies  at  -the  edge  of  it  as 
support.  Not  being  certain  as  to  the  meaning  of  the  order, 
whether  the  field  in  the  rear  of  my  position,  or  the  field  in 
rear  of  my  camp  was  intended,  I  left  the  Twenty-fourth  and 
moved  with  the  Tenth  through  the  wood  into  the  field  in  rear 
of  my  camp,  supposing  the  right  was  to  be  reinforced,  at  the 
same  time  sending  to  the  General  for  instructions.  I  soon 
received  orders  to  move  the  Twenty-fourth  by  the  right  flank 
into  the  same  field,  keeping  close  with  the  Second  Brigade, 
which  was  executing  the  same  movement.  One  of  my  staff 
was  sent  to  conduct  the  Twenty-fourth.  The  Twenty-fourth 
had  barely  moved  the  length  of  its  line  when  the  enemy 
appeared  in  force,  the  skirmishers  of  the  Second  Brigade 
having  suddenly  retired.  Pressed  by  a  hot  fire.  Colonel 
Osborn  was  compelled  to  fall  back  in  line,  fighting  through 
the  camps  and  through  a  thick  undergrowth,  which,  with  a 
high  fence  he  was  compelled  to  pass,  greatly  disordered  his 
line.  In  this  condition,  the  enemy  following  closely,  poured  a 
most  destructive  fire  into  his  ranks,  killing  two  of  his  commis- 


298  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

sioned  officers  aud  a  number  of  his  enlisted  men.  Under  this 
fire,  Colonel  Osborn  reformed  his  regiment  and  poured  volley 
after  volley  upon  the  advancing  enemy,  driving  him  back  in 
confusion.  At  the  same  time,  the  Tenth  Connecticut  formed 
nearly  at  right  angles  with  the  Twenty-fourth,  on  another 
side  of  the  field,  opened  a  cross  fire  upon  the  rebels,  and  in 
five  minutes  the  whole  square  field  and  wood  were  cleared. 
It  was  here  in  repulsing  the  onset  of  the  enemy  that  the  loss 
of  these  two  regiments  mostly  occurred. 

Having  conducted  the  Tenth  to  the  rear  along  the  left  of 
the  enemy's  fortifications,  captured  by  us  two  days  before, 
and  having  notified  my  division  commander,  I  rejoined  the 
Twenty-fourth  and  One  Hundredth,  which  had  fallen  back 
beyond  the  railroad.  The  Eleventh  had  been  sent  down  the 
turnpike  to  report  to  General  Ames.  By  order  of  General. 
Gillmore,  I  conducted  the  Twenty-fourth  and  One  Hundredth 
across  the  railroad,  along  the  road  to  the  rear  of  a  new  posi- 
tion taken  by  the  General,  to  cover  the  retreat,  and  occupied 
strongly  by  his  artillery.  Here,  joined  by  the  Tenth,  the  bri- 
gade was  moved  into  the  open  field  and  halted,  to  allow  Gen- 
eral Turner's  division  to  pass.  Soon  after  I  was  ordered  by 
General  Butler  to  move  forward  to  the  pike  on  the  double 
quick  and  form  a  junction,  as  I  understood,  with  Smith's 
corps.  About  the  same  time  I  was  ordered  by  General  Terry 
to  remain  where  I  was  until  he  could  get  his  division  together, 
and  then  to  follow  Turner's  division. 

The  brigade  Avas  moved  to  the  pike,  thence  to  the  open 
field  near  to  Purdue's  house,  and  formed  in  line  of  battle. 
After  about  two  hours,  I  was  ordered  with  two  regiments  (the 
Tenth  and  Twenty-fourth)  to  move  to  the  front  again  to 
the  Halfway  House,  and  there  take  a  position  to  cover  the 
retreat.  The  regiments  were  posted,  the  Tenth  on  the  left 
and  the  Twenty-fourth  on  the  right  of  the  road,  and  at 
right  angles  with  it,  supported  on  the  road  by  two  pieces 
of  artillery  and  the  Seventh  New  Hampshire  Volunteers, 
Colonel  Abbott.  The  enemy  having  got  his  pieces  in  position 
opened  on  us  smartly  with  rifled  guns  and  with  splendid 
range.  The  two  pieces  of  artillery  limbered  to  the  rear  in 
the  liveliest  manner  and  were  not  seen  again  for  the  day. 
All  our  forces  having  retired,  dispositions  were  made  to 
retreat.  Six  companies  of  the  Tenth  were  placed  parallel 
with  the  road  in  the  sunken  way.  Four  companies  were 
thrown  to  the  rear   some  200  yards  and  placed  in  position 


May  '64.  Col.  Plaisted's  Report.  299 

to  cover  the  retreat  of  the  six  companies.  Soon  after,  by 
order  of  General  Terry,  the  Seventh  New  Hampshire  and 
the  Twenty-fourth  were  retired,  when  the  enemy  made  his 
appearance  in  front  of  the  Tenth.  ])ut  were  kept  at  a  distance 
by  its  fire,  and  the  Tenth  was  retired  without  losing  a  man, 
except  a  few  slightly  wounded,  including  one  commissioned 
officer. 

Retiring  to  Purdue's,  I  was  directed  by  the  General  to 
move  with  my  brigade  and  the  Thirty-ninth  Illinois 
Volunteers  and  take  post  at  the  junction  leading  from  the 
pike  to  our  intrenchments,  leaving  the  Twenty-fourth  with 
him  to  bring  up  the  r^ar.  The  regiments  were  posted  at 
the  junction,  where  they  remained  till  sunset,  when  all  our 
forces  had  passed  and  the  Tenth  took  the  post  of  rear 
guard,  reaching  camp  about  9  p.m.  The  losses  of  the 
brigade  this  day  amounted  to  seven  commissioned  officers 
and  232  enlisted  men.  the  One  Hundredth  New  York  suffer- 
ing most.  The  regiment  had  the  front  as  skirmishers. 
When  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade  were  moved  to 
the  right,  as  was  supposed,  to  support  it,  the  One  Hun- 
dredth was  left  at  the  front  as  a  strong  line  of  skirmishers 
in  obedience  to  the  following  order : 

Headquarters  1st  Di^asion,  Tenth  Army  Corps, 
In  the  Field,  May  16th,  1864. 
Colonel  Plaisted: 

Leave  a  strong  line  of  skirmishers  in  your  front,  then 
fall  back  and  form  your  regiments  in  the  open  field  back  of 
you. 

Don't  let  the  enemv  see  vour  movement. 

[Signed"]         '  A.  H.  TERRY, 

Brigadier-General  Commanding. 
"Received  at  9.15  a.m." 

The  Tenth  Connecticut  had  barely  reached  the  field  indi- 
cated by  General  Terry,  and  the  Twenty-fourth  moved 
from  its  position,  when  the  skirmish  line  upon  the  right  of 
the  One  Hundredth  giving  way,  the  One  Hundredth  was 
overwhelmed  by  the  enemy  upon  its  front  and  flank,  and  this 
gallant  regiment,  refusing  to  retire  without  orders,  suffered 
the  loss  so  much  to  be  regretted.  Throughout  the  expedi- 
tion, this  regiment  had  the  advance  and,  always  willing  and 
alwaA's  ready,  Avas  the  first  and  foremost  in  the  fight  and  the 


300  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

last  to  leave  the  field.  Upon  every  occasion  uiider  its  gal- 
lant commander,  its  conduct  indeed  was  most  creditable 
to  itself  and  the  great  State  it  represents.  Great  credit  is 
due  to  Colonel  Dandy  and  the  One  Hundredth  Nbav  York 
Volunteers  for  the  admirable  manner  in  which  they  per- 
formed every  duty.  Of  the  Tenth  and  Twenty-fourth,  I 
hardly  need  say  more  than  that  they  maintained  the  splen- 
did reputation  which  they  have  hitherto  borne.  For  steady 
and  soldierly  behavior  under  most  trying  circumstances — 
circumstances,  too,  entirely  new  to  them,  for  never  before 
were  their  backs  turned  to  the  enemj- — they  may  have  been 
equaled  but  not  surpassed.  Under  a  fire  in  which  eighteen 
fell  from  the  left  of  the  Tenth  in  almost  as  many  seconds, 
not  a  soldier  of  the  regiment  spoke  a  word  or  moved  a  heel 
from  the  alignment.  ,  Too  much  credit  cannot  possibly  be 
accorded  to  the  commanding  officers  of  these  regiments. 
Colonels  Otis  and  Osborn,  for  their  coolness  and  self-pos- 
session under  fire,  and  the  skillful  manner  in  which  they 
handled  their  commands. 

The  Eleventh  ]Maine  was  under  my  command  but  a 
small  portion  of  the  time  during  the  expedition.  On  picket 
when  the  expedition  started,  it  was  not  in  the  flank  movement 
of  the  12th  and  13th.  Ordered  up  on  the  13th  it  joined 
Turner's  division  and  did  excellent  service  on  the  right, 
charging  the  enemy  on  the  14th  where  others  had  failed, 
driving  him  inside  of  his  fortifications,  losing  in  this  gallant 
charge  of  skirmishers  fourteen  killed  and  wounded,  including 
one  commissioned  officer  killed.  It  rejoined  its  brigade  on 
the  morning  of  the  15th.  On  the  morning  of  the  16th  it  was 
sent  by  order  of  General  Terry  to  reinforce  General  Ames  on 
the  pike,  who  was  resisting  the  enemy's  advance  from  the 
direction  of  Petersburg.  Its  conduct  throughout  was  reported 
as  being  unexceptionable  in  every  respect.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Spofl'ord  reports  the  loss  of  three  officers  and  forty-seven 
men.  In  his  official  report  he  says:  "It  affords  me  pleasure  to 
say  that  too  much  praise  cannot  be  awarded  to  every  man  of 
my  command  during  the  time  reported,  recruits  as  well  as  vet- 
erans behaving  coolly,  nobly.  If  less  distinguished  in  battle 
than  some  other  regiments,  it  was  from  lack  of  opportunity 
only,  not  of  courage  or  desire.  Many  expressed  a  strong 
wislito  wade  in  while  they  lay  in  line  of  battle  behind  Smith's 
right  while  the  enemy  was  pressing  him  back  on  the  16th." 

The  aggregate  loss  of  the  brigade,  during  four  days'  fight- 


May  'G4.  Drewry's  Bluff.  301 

iug-  and  skirmishing-,  was  402 :  19  commissioned  officers  and 
383  men.  Five  of  the  officers  were  killed :  Lieutenant  Brau- 
non  of  the  Eleventh  ]\Iaine.  Lieutenant  Hoyt  of  the  One 
Hundredth,  and  Lieutenants  Clough,  Eea  and  Adjutant 
Ward  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts,  intelligent  and 
brave  young  men  and  accomplished  officei-s.  whose  early 
deaths  are  indeed  to  be  lamented.  Not  untimely  their  fall, 
for  they  fell  at  the  post  of  duty  in  a  great  cause,  and  long 
will  their  memories  be  cherished  by  a  grateful  posterity.  Xor 
alone  will  these  be  remembered,  but  the  brave  lads,  too,  who 
stood  as  stoutly  for  their  countrj^  and  died  so  gloriously.  Let 
it  be  remembered  as  an  instance  of  the  heroic  spirit  animat- 
ing them  all  that  Private  James  Bean  (Company  I)  of  the 
Twenty-fourth,  who  fell  in  the  retreat  mortally  wounded, 
waved  his  handkerchief  to  his  comrades  and,  calling  tnem 
back,  said :  ' '  Here,  take  my  gun  and  equipments,  carry  them 
away  safely;  never  mind  me.  I  have  but  a  few  moments  to 
live." 

To  Captain  Amory  and  Lieutenants  Sellmar  and  ]\Iason  of 
my  staft"  I  return  unqualified  thanks  for  their  faithful  and 
efficient  service  during  the  four  days'  campaigTi.  Bravely 
and  with  zeal  they  admirably  performed  every  duty  assigned 
them.  Trusting  that  the  conduct  of  the  Tliird  Brigade, 
Terry's  division.  Tenth  Corps,  in  the  late  affair  was  such  as 
to  meet  the  approbation  of  my  division  commander,  I  have 
the  honor  to  be.  Captain,  with  great  respect, 

Your  most  obedient  servant. 
[Signed]  H.  M.  PLAISTED. 

Colonel  Eleventh  ^Nlaine,  Commanding  Third  Brigade. 
First  Division.  Tenth  Army  Corps. 
— R.  R.,  Vol.  51,  Part  1,  Supplement,  p.  1241. 

Casualties  at  Drewry's  Bll^ff,  ]\Iay  14-16,  1864,  in  the 
t^a'enty-fourth. 

Killed:  Adjutant  Charles  G.  Ward,  Second  Lieutenant  Ed- 
gar Clough.  Company  F ;  Corporal  John  Robinson,  Private 
John  Sullivan,  Company  H ;  Privates  James  Bean,  Jeremiah 
O'Brien.  Company  I;  First  Lieutenant  ]\Ia.son  A.  Rea,  Pri- 
vates John  Griffith,  Richard  Orpin,  Jas.  W.  Thurber,  Edward 
S.  West,  Company  K. 

AYounded :    Corporal    Thomas   Lynch.    Privates   Albert   F. 


802  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Barnes,  Wm.  J.  Bowes  and  David  Hendrick,  Company  A; 
Private  Charles  Pittsley,  Company  B ;  Corporals  Edward 
Fay,  Edwin  A.  Moody,  Privates  Fred  E.  Eastland,  Fabian  A. 
Fortier,  Erastus  Howes,  Thos.  D.  Tebbets,  Company  C; 
Private  Barnard  Freeman,  Company  D ;  Sergeant  Geo.  P. 
Small,  Corporal  Stephen  F.  Davis,  Privates  Daniel  Burke, 
John  B.  Carey,  Rich.  Clifford,  John  Collins,  Wm.  Cook,  Pat- 
rick Dugan,  David  Fitzpatrick,  James  Fosberry,  James  Herk, 
John  Sullivan,  Nathaniel  Swett,  Company  E ;  Captain  John 
N.  Partridge,  Privates  Arthur  Kemp,  Dennis  Owens,  Nicho- 
las Wherrity,  Company  F ;  Corporal  John  A.  Robertson,  Pri- 
vates Fred  S.  Cummings,  Michael  McDermott,  Company  G; 
Sergeant  Geo.  W.  Nichols,  Private  Philip  Shope,  Company 
H ;  Privates  Artemas  Adams,  John  Connors,  Eugene  McCar- 
thy, Frank  Todd,  Michael  Whelan,  Company  I. 

BERMUDA  HUNDRED. 

The  20th  of  May  was  marked  with  the  usual  amount  of 
firing  along  the  entire  line,  repeatedly  calling  the  troops  into 
position.  There  were  several  charges  on  our  pickets,  but  all 
were  repulsed.  The  most  interesting  item  of  the  day  was  the 
capture  of  Confederate  General  Wm.  S.  Walker,  who,  in  all 
his  refulgent  uniform,  was  taken  prisoner,  his  horse  having 
been  shot  under  him.  Colonel  Osborn  says :  ' '  He  was  second 
in  rank  and  had  assumed  command,  on  the  wounding  of  Gen- 
eral Evans,  who  had  had  command  of  the  attacking  forces. 
The  presence  of  two  general  officers  so  near  the  line  of  battle 
would  seem  to  indicate  that'  they  thought  they  were  fighting 
our  entire  force  instead  of  merely  the  pickets."  A  Company 
G  man  writes:  "Captain  Richardson  came  riding  to  camp, 
wanting  a  stretcher  for  a  rebel  general  just  captured.  The 
stretcher  was  sent  and  Brigadier-General  Walker  of  South 
Carolina  was  brought  in.  The  brigade  rushed  around  to  get 
a  sight  of  him."  Another  said  of  the  captured  officer:  "He 
was  a  rashly  brave  man.  As  many  as  200  bullets  were  fired 
at  him  as  he  rode  away  in  defiance  of  a  summons  to  surren- 


May  20,  '64.         Gen.  Walker  Captured.  303 

der.  His  horse  fell  dead,  and  he  was  wounded  in  head,  thigh 
and  foot."  His  leg  was  later  amputated.*  Plaisted's  bri- 
gade was  ordered  out  at  5  p.m.,  supposedly  to  support  an 
attack  on  the  pickets  which  they  were  receiving  at  the  hands 
of  the  enemy,  but  it  really  was  to  go  upon  the  picket-line 
itself.  The  Twenty-fourth  relieved  the  Eighty-ninth  New 
York  on  the  extreme  right  and  passed  a  very  quiet  night. 

The  21st  dawned  beautifully,  and  Colonel  Osborn  was 
made  officer  of  the  day  to  relieve  Colonel  Dandy  of  the  One 
Hundredth  New  York,  who  had  been  taken  ill.  The  regi- 
ments were  placed  in  the  following  order  from  the  right : 
Twenty-fourth,  Eleventh  ]\Iaine,  One  Hundredth  New  York, 
and  four  companies  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut.  Nearly  all  of 
the  men  were  covered  by  rifle-pits.  The  enemy  were  watched 
as  they  threw  up  similar  works  not  more  than  200  yards  dis- 
tant.    At    6.30    p.m.,    the    Sixth     Connecticut    relieved     the 


*General  Walker  was  captured  l)y  Company  C  of  the  Sixty-seventh 
Ohio  Regiment,  and  there  was  an  interesting  sequel  to  tlie  event  in  that, 
on  the  24th  day  of  the  following  September,  General  Wm.  F.  Bartlett, 
a  New  England  Guardsman  who  received  commissioji  in  the  Twentieth 
Massacliusetts  and  was  caiatured  at  the  Mine  Explosion,  was  sent  down 
the  James  in  exchange  for  this  same  General  Walker.  The  latter' s 
wounds  were  severe,  and  he  too,  like  Bartlett,  had  lost  a  leg.  In  1884, 
while  visiting  in  St.  Augustine,  Fla. ,  E.  B.  Lyon  of  Dayton,  Ohio,  a  vet- 
eran of  Company  K,  Twenty-fourth,  met  a  General  Walker  who  was 
staying  at  the  same  hotel  with  the  Yankee.  Inquiry  developed  the  fact 
that  he  was  the  subject  of  the  incident  of  more  than  twenty  years  before. 
He  was  an  entertaining  story  teller,  held  no  rancor  over  the  days  of  the 
war,  saying  that  he  had  reached  the  lines  only  the  day  before  from  the 
South  and  while  trying  to  learn  the  situation,  and  venturing  too  far, 
was  summoned  to  surrender ;  when  he  wheeled  about  he  was  hit  three 
times  and  sixteen  bullets  entered  his  horse.  His  intended  attack  of  the 
afternoon  was  necessarily  postponed.  He  still  mourned  the  loss  of  his 
sword,  a  handsome  one,  which  had  become  the  personal  trophy  of  Col. 
Alvin  C.  Voris  of  the  67tli.  His  long  brown  beard  of  '64  had  become 
short  and  gray  in  '84.  He  spoke  in  very  grateful  terms  of  the  kind 
usage  accorded  him  in  the  Union  hospital.  This  incident  of  General 
Walker  forms  tiie  burden  of  Col.  John  J.  Craven's  preface  to  his  story 
of  the  imprisonment  of  Jeff  Davis.  Surgeon  Craven,  by  the  light  of  a 
bonfire,  amputated  General  Walker's  leg. 


^   ^-^   g;?    i,^  J 
W 

PQ 


May  23,  '64.  Rev.  E.  E.  Hale  Calls.  305 

Twenty-fourth,  and  the  Seventh  Connecticut  took  a  position 
further  to  the  left.  No  casualties  happened  along  our  line 
during  the  day.  At  11.30  p.m.  there  was  an  alarm  at  the 
pickets,  with  rapid  firing  all  along  the  front,  the  batteries 
opening,  the  principal  result  being  the  explosion  of  a  rebel 
caisson.  Quiet  followed.  Sunday  was  once  more  a  day  of 
rest,  and  the  22d  was  spent  in  writing  letters  and  resting, 
though  a  party  for  fatigue  duty  at  the  front  was  called  for. 
Both  rebel  and  Federals  were  anxious  to  make  their  respective 
lines  so  strong  that  neither  one  would  be  capable  of  going  any 
further.  It  was  from  observations  of  the  situation  here  that 
General  John  G.  Barnard,  whom  Grant  had  sent  down  to 
report  on  the  condition  of  aifaii^,  used  the  figure  of  speech 
wherein  he  likened  Butler's  position  to  a  bottle,  the  line  of 
works  extending  from  the  James  to  the  Appomattox  being  the 
cork  which  prevented  the  enemy's  getting  in,  but  the  Confed- 
erate w^orks  were  equally  effective  in  keeping  the  Union  forces 
from  getting  out.  The  appositeness  of  the  illustration  drew 
from  General  Grant  the  expression  with  reference  to  Butler's 
being  "bottled  up"  at  Bermuda  Hundred.  In  his  memoirs, 
Grant  to  all  intents  apologizes  for  his  use  of  the  figure. 

May  23d  is  deservdng  of  note,  for  on  this  day  the  Rev.  E. 
E.  Hale  of  Boston  called  on  the  Colonel  and  other  friends. 
Though  Dr.  Hale  had  not  then  acquired  his  world-wide  fame, 
he  was  known  as  a  distinguished  literary  man.  Possibly  his 
"Man  Without  a  Country,"  which  had  appeared  in  the 
December  "Atlantic"  of  1863,  had  not  been  generally  circu- 
lated, yet  it  is  fair  to  suppose  that  a  regiment  which  possessed 
a  private,  who  had  brought  his  Greek  Testament  with  him 
from  the  Boston  Latin  School,  and  professional  man  of  note 
was  by  this  time  conversant  with  the  greatest  and  best  short 
story  ever  written  in  America.  At  any  rate,  the  sight  of  his 
rugged  face  and  the  sound  of  his  resonant  voice  were  a  pleas- 
ure to  not  a  few  of  the  Boston  members  of  the  regiment.  It 
was  on  this  day,  also,  that  General  Terry  addressed  a  letter 
to  Colonel  Osborn  as  to  the  desirableness  of  less  firing  on  the 
20 


306  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

picket-line.  He  directs  that  no  firing  whatever  be  allowed 
unless  absolutely  necessary,  for  the  defense  of  the  line  or  to 
prevent  the  enemy  from  erecting  new  works  too  near  our 
lines.  Late  in  the  evening,  11  o'clock,  came  orders  from 
General  Gillmore,  through  General  Terry,  to  push  forward 
the  picket-line,  as  there  was  a  suspicion  that  the  enemy  was 
retiring.  The  Twenty-fourth  had  gone  out  at  5.30,  and 
whatever  the  opinion  of  the  officers,  there  was  nothing  to  be 
done  except  to  advance.  "AVith  the  whole  regiment,  save 
one  company,  deployed,  and  the  Tenth  Connecticut  being  on 
the  left  in  similar  attitude,  with  the  Seventh  Connecticut  for 
support,  the  line  moved  up  somewhat  after  midnight.  Find- 
ing the  enemy  in  usual  strength,  we  retired  according  to 
orders.  The  firing  continued  nearly  an  hour,  the  rebels  evi- 
dently puzzled  at  our  action,  and  to  find  out  what  it  meant, 
repeated  the  act  towards  us  and  were  themselves  repulsed  in 
turn. " 

Having  thus  felt  of  each  other  and  finding  neither  absent, 
there  was  comparative  quiet  on  picket,  during  the  24th,  and 
the  men  had  time  to  explore  their  surroundings.  One  man 
found  the  first  ripe  strawberries  of  the  season,  and  with  his 
tent-mates  devoured  them  with  relish,  though  without  cream. 
As  an  illustration  of  the  condition,  along  late  in  the  after- 
noon, in  front  of  A  Company,  a  rebel  came  out  and,  holding 
up  a  paper  in  his  hand,  proposed  to  advance  half  way,  appar- 
ently desiring  to  exchange  Confederate  with  or  for  Union 
news.  Lieutenant  Shepard,  however,  had  no  nose  for  news 
at  that  moment  and  ordered  him  back.  Relief  came  at  6  p.m. 
in  the  shape  of  the  Seventy-sixth  Pennsylvania  and  the  Forty- 
eighth  New  York,  .Colonel  Osborn  passing  his  duties  along  to 
Colonel  Strickland  of  the  latter  regiment.  While  the 
25th  was  a  quiet  day,  there  was  work  for  fatigue  par- 
ties which  were  engaged  in  cutting,  pointing  and  placing 
abatis  in  front  of  the  breastworks.  One  party  of  tree  cutters 
claimed  to  have  thus  cut  down  and  captured  a  rebel  sharp- 
shooter who  did  not  discover  himself   till   the   tree  was   top- 


May,  '64.  Bermuda  Hundred.  307 

pling.  He  said  he  was  after  General  Butler  and  him  only, 
being  anxious  to  secure  the  $1000  reward  offered  by  the  Con- 
federates for  his  death  or  capture.  At  noon  the  men  were 
called  into  line  to  hear  an  order  from  General  Grant  to  the 
effect  that  he  had  crossed  the  North  Anna  River  on  his  grand 
jSanking  movement  toward  Richmond. 

May  26th  was  quite  devoid  of  interest,  the  only  item 
recorded  being  that  tents  were  to  be  repitched  and  made  more 
sanitary,  but  rain  prevented.  The  coming  of  Northern 
papers  only  a  day  old  is  very  satisfactory  when  compared 
with  the  long  delays  in  news  getting  in  the  far  Southern 
states.  May  27th,  at  6.30  p.m.,  the  regiment  went  on  picket 
again  with  the  One  Hundredth  New  York  on  the  right,  Col- 
onel Dandy  in  command.  On  this  day  transportation  arrived 
to  convey  the  Eighteenth  Corps  to  join  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  thus  "frustrating  General  Butler's  plan  to  advance 
the  next  day  against  Petersburg."*  The  regiment  came  off 
the  picket-line  at  6  p.m.  The  29th  saw  the  departure  of  the 
Eighteenth  Corps,  and  regimental  headquarters  received 
another  call  from  the  Rev.  E.  E.  Hale,  who  was  about  to 
return  North.  The  Glee  Club  gave  him  a  specimen  of  their 
music.  Much  to  the  regret  of  all  conversant  with  the  fact, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Stevenson  sent  in  his  resignation. 
Fatigue  work  for  the  men  is  still  found  in  strengthening  the 
fortifications. 

Just  to  relieve  the  monotony  on  the  30th,  as  the  regiment 
was  going  on  picket  late  in  the  afternoon,  indeed  before  the 
One  Hundredth  New  York  had  been  relieved,  the  Confed- 
erates opened  a  furious  artillery  fire  on  the  pickets.  On 
reaching  the  rifle-pits  occupied  by  the  pickets,  it  was  found 
that  one  part  of  the  line  had  departed  quite  too  quickly,  leav- 
ing this  portion  of   the  front    entirely  open.     It   was   imme- 

*General  W.  F.  Smith's  words  to  Dr.  E.  E.  Hale,  whose  interest  in 
the  Twenty-fourth  may  have  arisen  in  part  from  his  personal  friend- 
ship for  Chaplain  Willson,  at  whose  installation  he  had  preached.  The 
noisy  night  of  the  23d  formed  the  basis  for  Dr.  Hale's  entertaining  pa- 
per, "My  First  and  Last  Battle." 


308  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Rhgiment. 

diately  re-established  by  our  men  and  quiet  reigned  through 
the  night.  By  this  attack  of  the  enemy  Privates  George  A. 
Slayton  of  Company  I  was  instantly  killed  and  Albert  Taylor 
of  D  was  slightly  wounded.  During  the  last  day  of  the  month, 
while  the  regiment  was  taking  its  dinner,  the  artillery  attack 
of  the  previous  night  was  repeated,  though  in  this  case  with- 
out any  mishap,  the  Union  batteries  replying  vigorously.  At 
6  p.m.  the  Tenth  Connecticut  came  out  and  relieved  the 
Twenty-fourth.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Stevenson  having  received 
an  honorable  discharge,  bade  his  friends  adieu  and  started  for 
home.  The  exactions  of  an  active  campaign  forbade  a  for- 
mal leave-taking  of  the  regiment,  but  all,  officers  and  men 
alike,  conscious  of  the  sorrow  in  his  heart  and  home,  mentally, 
if  not  verbally,  wished  him  a  hearty  Godspeed  and  turned  to 
their  work  of  war  once  more. 

The  situation  between  the  Union  and  rebel  lines  is  very 
nicely  expressed  in  the  words  of  an  observer,  thus :  ' '  The  Con- 
federate works  are  so  strong  it  would  be  folly  for  us  to  attack 
them,  so  our  advance  is  effectually  barred,  while  the  rebels 
are  in  a  similar  position,  for  they  would  only  dash  themselves 
to  pieces  against  our  fortifications.  Besides,  they  cannot  go 
away,  for  they  must  remain  to  watch  us.  So  we  lie  and  glare 
at  each  otlier,  and  do  nothing  but  skirmish  a  little  on  the 
picket-line.  In  all  of  those  encounters  they  have  thus  far 
had  the  worst  of  it,  and  they  are  now  disposed  to  remain 
quiet."  Of  the  resignation  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Stevenson, 
Colonel  Osborn  writes :  ' '  There  is  no  officer  whom  it  would 
pain  me  more  to  lose,  for  besides  the  confidence  I  feel  in  his 
ability  is  the  attachment  I  have  for  him  personally.  He  is 
kind,  generous,  truthful,  and  thoroughly  reliable,  and  endears 
himself  to  everybody.  He  is  very  sorry  to  resign,  but  thinks 
it  is  his  duty  to  his  family  to  do  so."  In  another  letter  the 
Colonel  very  graphically  describes  the  situation  as  to  the 
pickets,  thus: 

They  are  in  the  woods  about  half  a  mile  in  front  of  our 
works  and,  contrary  to  the  usual  practice,  they  have  a  line  of 


May,  '64.  Exchange  of  Courtesies.  309 

rifle-pits  to  lie  in.  These  were  not  built  by  order,  but  were 
thrown  up  by  the  men  in  the  course  of  events  to  protect  them- 
selves against  the  sudden  assaults  of  the  rebel  pickets,  who 
are  very  near.  The  rebels  have  done  the  same  thing,  so  that 
the  two  lines  lie  within  a  hundred  yards  of  each  other.  They 
seem  to  have  come  to  a  tacit  agreement  not  to  fire  at  each 
other,  and  latterly  they  have  been  very  sociable.  Their  men 
have  come  half  way  from  their  lines  to  ours  without  arms, 
waving  papers  and  tobacco,  which  they  wish  to  exchange  for 
our  papers  or  for  coffee.  Many  officers  permit  their  men  to 
meet  them,  to  remain  and  converse,  though  I  never  do,  as  I 
think  the  principle  a  bad  one.  *  *  From  the  conversation 
of  some  of  these  men  we  learn  of  the  presence  of  some  of  our 
old  opponents  in  North  Carolina.  The  Eighth  North  Caro- 
lina, which  we  captured  at  Roanoke  Island,  whose  flag  we  took 
and  sent  to  the  State  House,  where  it  is  now  hanging,  is  about 
in  front  of  our  brigade.  The  Thirty-fifth  North  Carolina, 
which  was  at  Newbern,  and  in  w^hose  tents  we  camped  the 
night  after  the  battle,  are  also  here.  *  *  The  object  of  the 
rebel  firing  [on  the  30th]  was  and  remains  a  mystery.  We 
can  only  account  for  it  on  the  supposition  that  they  were 
going  to  remove  some  of  their  artillery  in  the  night,  and  made 
a  display  of  it  to  cover  the  movement.  Some  of  their  pickets 
called  out  to  ours,  "You  had  better  cover,  Yanks,  we  are 
going  to  open  on  you. ' '  That  was  just  before  the  firing  com- 
menced. I  was  just  called  from  my  writing  to  see  two  desert- 
ers from  the  Thirty-fourth  Virginia,  who  have  come  in  to  my 
men.  They  are  young  fellows  with  full,  fresh  faces,  bearing 
no  signs  of  a  meagre  diet,  good  figures,  and  would  be  good 
looking  if  their  hair  had  been  cut  and  their  clothes  respec- 
table. 

It  was  in  one  of  these  paper  exchanging  incidents  that 
drummer-boy  Vining  of  K  struck  the  enemy  when  he  was  not 
in  a  trading  mood ;  result,  a  badly  scared  boy  and  a  well  per- 
forated drum,  though  the  latter  has  been  a  cherished  relic 
these  forty  years  and  more. 

June  will  not  prove  a  very  exciting  month  in  the  annals  of 
the  Twenty-fourth,  since  it  will  present  little  more  than  a 
repetition  of  picket  duty  and  "turning  out"  to  meet  expected 
attacks  of  the  enemy.  June  1st  the  Confederates  opened 
with  their  batteries  early  in  the  morning  and  repeated  the  act 


310  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

at  11  p.m.,  but  our  guns  did  not  reply.     Of  the  events  of  this 
and  the  next  day  Colonel  Osborn  writes : 

On  Wednesday  night  [the  1st] ,  the  enemy  opened  upon 
us,  but  we,  contrary  to  our  custom,  did  not  reply.  The  only 
thing  which  broke  the  stillness  along  our  lines  was  the  explo- 
sion of  the  enemy's  shells.  I  thought  that  this  would  puzzle 
them,  and  induce  them  to  make  an  attack  in  the  morning  to 
find  out  what  our  reserve  indicated,  and  accordingly  was  not 
surprised  to  hear  a  heavy  musket  fire  all  along  the  picket-line 
at  five  the  next  morning.  The  rebels  attacked  with  much 
vigor  and  pressed  the  pickets  in  front  of  our,  Terry's,  divis- 
ion back  some  distance,  capturing  some  officers  and  men  of 
the  Seventh  Connecticut.  The  change  of  line  on  the  right 
was  an  advantage  to  us  rather  than  an  injury,  so  we  adopted 
the  new  position,  but  on  the  left  we  retook  the  old  one,  as  it 
seemed  necessary,  in  our  turn  capturing  many  of  the  enemy. 
The  regiment  lay  at  the  parapet  all  day.  Having  got  started, 
there  was  heavy  picket-firing  all  day  and  night.  There 
seemed  no  reason  for  it,  but  it  could  not  be  stopped. 

June  3d  the  picket-firing  gradually  ceased  when  daylight 
revealed  the  groundlessness  of  the  apprehension.  A  flag  of 
truce  went  out  under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Plympton  of  the  Third  New  Hampshire,  accompanied  by  Col- 
onel Osborn  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  conveying  the  body  of 
Colonel  Beaugler  of  a  South  Carolina  regiment,  who  had  been 
killed  the  day  before.  In  the  afternoon  there  came  a  similar 
body  from  the  enemy,  bringing  letters  from  the  officers  cap- 
tured on  the  2d.  The  Confederates  were  exceedingly  polite 
and  conversed  freely  with  the  Union  officers.  Both  expressed 
regrets  over  the  noise  of  the  night  before  and  deprecated 
picket-firing.  They  asked  what  was  the  use  of  our  fighting, 
since  the  South  never  could  be  subjugated.  When  Colonel 
Osborn  asked  what  they  meant  by  "subjugated,"  tliey  were 
unable  to  give  any  satisfactory  answer.  Heavy  firing  is  heard 
during  the  day  in  the  direction  of  Richmond,  both  cannonad- 
ing and  musketry.  It  was  a  part  of  the  dread  engagements 
which  made  up  the  terrible  aggregate  of  Cold  Harbor.     The 


June,  '64.       Bermuda  Hundred,  311 

4th  finds  the  regiment  on  picket  with  Major  Hooper  in  com- 
mand of  the  redan  in  front  of  Battery  1.  The  next  day 
Companies  A  and  H  of  the  Twenty-fourth  went  out  to  help 
garrison  Major  Hooper's  station,  and  twice  during  the  day, 
by  General  Butler's  command,  the  batteries  opened  on  the 
rebels,  "to  see  whether  they  were  still  there."  A  Richmond 
Examiner  of  the  4th  brought  into  camp  dilates  on  the 
affair  of  the  3d,  claiming  that  the  Union  forces  lost  6000 
men  and  themselves  500,  a  report  calculated  to  be  believed 
only  by  the  marines.  A  deserter  who  came  in  this  morning 
seemed  to  have  a  pretty  clear  notion  of  things,  for  he  said: 
"They  tell  us  that  Lee  is  beating  Grant  all  the  time,  but 
Grant  keeps  getting  nearer  Richmond.  I  don't  understand 
that." 

Companies  E  and  P  went  on  picket  at  night  the  6th,  and 
tlQ.e  remainder  of  the  regiment  followed  on  the  7th.  This 
was  the  day  in  which  Corporal  H.  H.  Manning  reported  to 
General  Butler  to  undertake  a  personal  scouting  trip  among 
the  enemies.  As  his  friend  and  comrade  wrote :  ' '  He  came  to 
the  picket-line  about  1  p.m.,  bade  us  good-bye,  and  went  out- 
side of  the  lines  as  a  scout."  This  was  the  beginning  of  the 
adventures  which  eventuated  in  the  story  of  the  "Captured 
Scout, ' '  Manning  passing  through  a  series  of  mishaps,  whence 
his  final  escape  appears  wonderful.  June  8th  was  the  day  of 
General  Gillmore's  reconnoissance  toward  Petersburg.  We 
are  told  by  General  Butler  in  his  book  that  he  had  intended 
to  place  the  command  in  the  hands  of  General  E.  W.  Hinks, 
who  was  leading  the  colored  troops  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps, 
but,  at  the  request  of  Gillmore,  the  honor  was  conferred  on 
him.  He  marched  out  and  so  did  General  Kautz  of  the  cav- 
alry division  of  Butler's  forces,  and  the  latter  accomplished 
what  he  started  to  do,  but,  failing  the  co-operation  of  Gill- 
more,  he  and  the  latter  returned  with  nothing  substantial 
accomplished. 

On  this  day  also  Colonel  Osborn  again  records  his  feeling 
concerning   General   Stevenson   and   his  impressions   of    his 


312  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Rhgiment. 

character:  "I  feel  General  Stevenson's  death  very  deeply, 
and  yet  I  think  I  do  not  fully  realize  it.  We  have  been  asso- 
ciated so  long  and  so  intimately,  and  I  have  enjoyed  his 
friendship  so  much,  that  I  cannot  bring-  it  home  to  my  mind 
that  he  is  gone  never  to  be  seen  on  earth.  He  was  a  noble  fel- 
low and  well  deserved  the  praises  that  have  been  lavished 
upon  him.  He  was  straightforward  and  manly,  with  a  ten- 
der heart,  good  principles,  high  moral  courage,  strong  com- 
mon sense,  and  a  superior  judgment.  He  was  devoted  to  his 
duty  and  thoroughly  reliable.  With  no  greater  love  for  the 
profession  of  arms  than  I  have,  yet  he  seemed  to  pursue  it 
with  a  zeal  that  springs  from  a  strong  predilection.  His 
social  qualities  were  remarkable.  I  never  met  a  man  his 
equal  for  making  and  retaining  friends,  and  this  in  all  classes, 
whether  superior  or  subordinate  in  rank,  whether  equal  or 
inferior  in  education  and  social  position.  There  was  no  one 
of  my  friends  for  whom  I  cherished  a  warmer  affection,  or  in 
whom  I  had  a  more  confiding  trust.  For  counsel  or  aid,  I 
would  have  applied  to  him  unhesitatingly,  sure  of  meeting 
the  heartiest  response. ' ' 

In  the  same  connection  the  Colonel  gives  this  verbal  picture 
of  his  camp  life :  ' '  My  tent  has  a  fly  spread  in  front  of  it, 
under  which  there  is  a  table  where  the  field  and  staff  mess, 
where  I  write,  and  where  most  of  the  camp  discussions  are 
conducted.  We  take  tea  at  seven;  after  tliat  the  band  plays 
near  by,  and  the  officers  begin  to  congregate.  Just  before 
dark  the  papers  arrive  and  all  gather  eagerly  around  to  get 
the  latest  news.  Maps  are  brought  out  and  the  locality  of 
the  armies  noted,  while  the  points  of  difference  between  ours 
and  the  rebel  papers  are  commented  on.  By  the  time  we  have 
squeezed  the  papers  dry,  Berry*  appears  with  the  letters  and 
is  assailed  on  all  sides  with,  "Anything  for  me?"  On  the 
9th  there  was  the  usual  exchange  of  noisy  courtesies  between 
the  opposing  forces.     Captain  Partridge    returned   from   his 


*Charles  H.   Berry,  Co.  C,  the  efficient  regimental  postmaster  during 
the  whole  term  of  service.  ♦ 


June  16,  '64.  Weir  Bottom  Church.  313 

leave  of  absence,  and  at  3.30  the  regiment  resumed  the  picket- 
line.  June  10th,  by  order  of  General  Terry,  Colonel  Osbbrn 
was  detailed  to  preside  at  a  court  martial  to  meet  at  General 
Terry's  headquarters  the  next  day. 

Of  these  days  Adjutant  Camp  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut 
writes  in  a  way  to  interest  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth :  ' '  The 
opposing  pickets  have  been  on  the  best  of  terms  for  the  past 
few  days.  On  Monday,  the  13th,  just  before  the  firing  com- 
menced, tlie  rebels  at  the  outposts  warned  our  men,  'Get  into 
cover,  boys,  our  guns  are  going  to  open  right  away ! '  and  yes- 
terday they  called  out  to  the  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Mas- 
sachusetts that  they  had  an  ugly  tempered  officer  as  officer  of 
the  day,  and  very  likely  they  would  be  ordered  to  fire  on  any 
Yankee  whom  they  could  see.  '  But  the  first  time, '  said  they, 
'we'll  fire  high;  after  that  you  must  look  out.'  Good-natured 
fellows,  weren't  they?  Not  such  as  you  would  care  to  kill 
on  general  principles, — only  for  special  reasons."  June 
14th  the  troops  that  had  been  campaigning  under  Grant 
began  crossing  the  James  Eiver,  and  for  several  days  there 
was  a  stream  of  blue  passing  at  right  angles  the  ta\^^ly 
waters  of  the  James.  Repeatedly  the  regiment  is  called  out 
to  man  the  parapets  during  the  night,  which,  with  regular 
picket-duty,  keeps  the  men  from  indolence. 

WEIR  BOTTOM  CHURCH. 

June  16th  produced  some  variation  in  the  regular  routine. 
Early  in  the  morning  it  was  rumored  that  the  enemy  had 
abandoned  their  works  and  that  our  pickets  had  occupied 
them.  Accordingly,  the  regiment  fell  in  and  marched  out  to 
the  works.  At  our  right  was  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  its  right 
resting  on  the  Howlett  House.  On  our  left,  Howell's  and 
Hawley's  brigades  moved  out  beyond,  with  the  Eleventh 
Maine  in  our  rear  at  Weir  Bottom  Church.  General  Ames, 
coming  down  the  line  with  the  Ninth  New  Jersey  and  the 
Twenty-third  ^Massachusetts,  had  orders  to  take  one  of  Gen- 
eral Plaisted  's  regiments  and  move  out  on  our  front,  and  Col- 


314  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

onel  Osborn  was  ordered  to  report  to  him,  but  the  order  was 
countermanded  before  it  could  be  obeyed.  Ames  moved  to 
the  left  with  his  two  regiments  and  went  forward. 
Companies  E,  G  and  I  of  the  Twenty-fourth  were 
sent  out  as  skirmishers.  There  was  some  firing  all 
day,  but  no  indication  of  a  heavy  force.  Mean- 
while, General  Turner  went  to  the  railroad  and  destroyed 
a  mile  and  a  half  of  track.  At  about  5  p.m.  the 
firing  ceased  and  the  troops  returned.  It  was  known  that 
Lee's  army  was  passing  our  front  on  its  way  to  Petersburg,  a 
counter  on  Grant's  passage  of  the  James.  The  skirmishers 
of  the  Twenty-fourth  were  ordered  in  and  then  out  again. 
We  met  the  enemy's  advance  and  engaged  them  and  under 
orders  retired,  which  we  did  as  a  line  of  skirmishers  and 
formed  in  line  back  of  the  Eleventh  Maine,  which  had  thrown 
up  rifle-pits  at  the  church.  The  enemy  attacked  the  forma- 
tion, which  was  our  original  picket-line,  but  without  success. 
The  Twenty-fourth  went  on  picket  at  the  right,  with  the 
Thirty-ninth  Illinois,  Eighty-fifth  Pennsylvania  and  Sixth 
Connecticut,  Colonel  Osborn  being  general  officer  of  the  day. 
There  were  three  regiments  in  reserve,  but  at  midnight  they 
were  ordered  in.  As  directed  by  General  Foster,  chief  of 
staff,  the  picket-line  extended  from  the  Weir  Bottom  Church 
to  a  point  in  fronjt  of  and  to  the  left  of  Battery  No.  6,  "and 
it  must  be  maintained  and  held  by  us  during  the  night  and 
to-morrow,  if  possible." 

That  part  of  the  line  occupied  by  the  left  of  Colonel 
Howell's  and  in  front  of  Colonel  Hawley's  entire  command 
will  be  posted  so  as  to  occupy  the  line  of  the  enemy's  in- 
trenchments  as  they  were  this  morning  or,  in  short,  occupy 
the  old  picket-line  of  the  20th  of  ^lay,  keeping  videttes  well 
to  the  front  along  the  entire  line,  and  more  especially  in  front 
of  Colonel  Hawley's  line  and  the  left  of  Colonel  Howell's. 
All  details  necessary  for  you  during  the  night  to  make  your 
picket-line  secure  will  be  furnished  on  application  to  the 
brigade  commanders,  who  have  been  notified  to  furnish  them 
upon  your  requisition.  The  Seventh  New  Hampshire, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Henderson,  commander,  was  left    by   me 


June  16,  '64.      Gex.  Foster's  Directions.  315 

near  the  picket-line  in  front  of  Colonel  Hawley's  brigade, 
with  instructions  to  take  any  position  he  might  be  assigned 
to  by  yon  or  in  your  absence  by  his  brigade  commander.  The 
firing  on  our  right  is  the  gunboats  and  our  twenty-pound  bat- 
tery trying  to  shell  the  turnpike.  Communicate  direct  to  me 
at  General  Gillmore's  old  headquarters  the  importance  of  any 
fii-ing  or  other  matters  that  may  occur  to  you  on  the  line.  All 
other  troops,  save  those  required  by  you  on  the  picket-line, 
you  will  order  into  the  intrenchments.  Information  this 
moment  received  makes  it  necessary  to  relieve  all  the  pickets 
in  front  of  each  [brigade?]  except  one  regiment.  All  the 
balance  will  be  ordered  into  the  intrenchments.  You  will,  if 
the  regiment  on  the  line  in  front  of  any  brigade  is  exceeding- 
ly small,  see  it  filled  to  what  would  make  an  ordinary  regi- 
ment. The  instructions  just  received  render  it  impossible 
for  you  to  call  on  the  brigade  commanders.  If  you  are 
attacked  in  force,  you  will  hold  your  position  as  long  as  pos- 
sible, and,  if  driven  back,  "\W11  stubbornly  contest  the  ground 
till  driven  within  the  intrenchments. 

At  4.30  the  next  morning  General  Foster  sent  a  note  to  Col- 
onel Osborn  from  Battery  3,  stating  that  he  had  ordered  Col- 
onel Hawley  to  send  a  regiment  to  support  the  picket-line, 
and  had  also  ordered  Colonels  Plaisted  and  Howell  to  each 
send  a  regiment  through  the  sally-port  ready  to  move 
to  the  support  of  the  line.  It  would  appear  that 
there  was  need  enough  of  support,  for  at  daylight 
the  enemy  was  upon  our  lines,  but  without  success. 
At  4  p.m.,  they  came  again  and  forced  back  the 
Sixth  and  Seventh  Connecticut,  the  Eighty-fifth  Penn- 
sylvania and  the  Thirty-ninth  Illinois,  leaving  the  left 
flank  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  which  was  on  the  right  at  Weir 
Bottom  Church,  entirely  exposed.  The  regiment  held  its 
position  admirably  for  over  half  an  hour,  until  the  right  flank 
of  the  Thirty-ninth  Illinois  was  advanced  to  make  a  connec- 
tion. Late  in  the  day  Colonel  Osborn  was  relieved  as  gen- 
eral officer  of  the  day  by  Colonel  Otis  of  the  Tenth  Connecti- 
cut, and  passed  over  to  his  own  regiment,  which  was  relieved 
by  the  Eleventh  Maine  at  10  p.m.  and  returned  to  camp.  A 
realistic  picture  is  drawn  of  the  day  by  a  private  as  follows: 


316  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 

"We  suffered  a  great  deal  for  water,  since  it  was  very  warm 
and  our  faces  were  black  with  powder.  Our  guns  were  so  hot 
they  would  almost  blister  our  hands.  The  rebels  got  artillery 
on  their  left  and  gave  us  a  good  cross  fire.  We  had  to  lie  on 
the  tops  of  our  rifle-pits  and  a  shell  struck  the  one  we  were  on. 
It  knocked  a  splinter  that  was  eight  inches  long  and  four 
inches  Made,  M'hich  hit  me  on  the  hip.  If  I  had  been  stand- 
ing up  at  the  time,  it  would  have  gone  through  me.  Lieuten- 
ant Williams  was  struck  by  a  piece  of  shell.  The  regiment 
next  to  us  fell  back,  but  we  gave  three  cheers  and  told  them 
not  to  give  back  and  they  went  in  again.  About  6  p.m.  the 
Eleventh  Maine  came  charging  up  through  the  woods  and 
helped  us  till  after  dark,  when  they  left  to  go  on  picket.  They 
had  not  got  a  great  ways  when  the  rebs  attacked  us  again  for 
half  an  hour,  when  we  were  relieved  and  marched  to  camp, 
where  I  got  a  good  drink  of  water  the  first  thing,  then  I  had 
some  tea.  I  did  not  feel  like  eating  anything.  I  had  a  good 
wash  all  over  and  changed  my  clothes  and  turned  in,  thankful 
to  God  for  preserving  my  life."  These  boys  from  eastern 
Massachusetts  could  hardly  have  made  more  noise  at  home  in 
celebrating  Bunker  Hill  day  than  they  made  here  on  the 
banks  of  the  James. 

The  work  of  the  Third  Brigade,  First  Division,  Tenth  Army 
Corps,  June  16th,  is  thus  given  in  the  report  of  Colonel  H.  M. 
Plaisted,  commander : 

Three  regiments  of  my  command  participated  in  the  move- 
ment, viz.,  24th  Mass.,  Col.  Osborn ;  10th  Conn.,  Colonel  Otis, 
and  the  11th  Maine,  Major  Hill.  My  orders  were  to  advance 
to  the  line  of  works  abandoned  by  the  enemy  and  there  await 
further  orders.  The  lOtli  Conn,  advanced  rapidly,  and  at 
7.15  a.m.  were  in  possession  of  the  main  line  of  rebel  intrench- 
ments  in  front  of  Ware  Bottom  Church,  and  thence  to  the 
James  River.  Skirmishers  were  advanced  to  the  second  line 
of  rebel  works,  about  700  yards  in  the  rear  of  the  m.ain  line, 
driving  the  enemy's  skirmishers  therefrom.  The  regiment 
had  more  or  less  skirmishing  from  the  start.  It  captured 
thirty-six  prisoners,  including  three  commissioned  officers. 
I  was  directed    by  General  Terry  to    hold    the    last    of    the 


June  16,  '64.        Col.  Plaisted's  Report.  317 

enemy's  fortifications  from  Ware  Bottom  Cliui'ch  to  the  river, 
about  three  quarters  of  a  mile,  with  my  brigade,  while 
HoAvell's  and  Hawley's  Brigades  and  Ames's  Division  on  our 
left  advanced  to  destroy  the  railroad.  Intrenching  tools  were 
sent  for  and  the  pioneers  of  the  Brigade  were  ordered  up. 
A  banquette  was  constructed  on  the  front  of  the  enemy's 
works,  thus  shifting  their  front  and  turning  them  on  the 
enemy.  The  abatis  and  fraise  constructed  by  the  enemy  were 
removed  and  numerous  rifle-pits  and  some  "regTilar  ap- 
proaches" in  rear  of  the  line  [now  our  front]  leveled  off. 
These  approaches  extended  to  the  [enemy's]  rear  to  the  road 
running  parallel  with  the  enemy's  fortifications  and  had  the 
appearance  of  having  been  made  the  night  before. 

The  11th  Maine  was  ■  strongly  intrenched  at  the  Church 
and  free  communications  opened  for  artillery  from  the 
church  to  and  through  the  enemy's  fortification.  The  24th 
Mass.  occupied  the  works  in  front  of  the  church. 
The  10th  Conn,  was  on  the  right  of  the  24th  to  the  James 
Eiver,  strongly  occupying  three  inclosed  works,  two  near 
Hewlett  House  and  one  on  the  road  leading  past  the  Church. 
During  the  afternoon,  while  the  Brigades  at  the  front  were 
warmly  engaged  with  the  enemy,  three  companies  of  the  24th 
and  three  of  the  10th  were  thrown  forward  to  protect  How- 
lett's  right.  Two  companies  of  the  10th  were  posted  on  the 
"parallel  road"  a  mile  beyond  his  flank  in  the  direction  of 
Drewry's  Bluff,  with  scouts  still  farther  advanced.  A  por- 
tion of  the  11th  ]\Iaine  Avas  brought  up  to  the  main  works  to 
supply  the  place  of  these  detachments.  The  two  advanced 
brigades,  after  having  been  engaged  with  the  enemy  the  most 
of  the  day,"  and  in  tearing  up  the  railroad,  were  retired  about 
5  p.m.  through  my  line  to  the  rear,  closely  followed  by  the 
enemy's  skirmishers.  After  skirmishing  with  the  enemy  for 
half  an  hour  I  retired  my  regiments  by  order  of  General  Fos- 
ter, forming  them  in  two  lines  in  the  rear  of  the  11th  Maine 
at  the  church.  The  enemy's  line  of  skirmishers  following 
closely,  advanced  boldly  with  yells  upon  the  new  line  [the  old 
picket  line  of  ]May  20]  held  by  the  11th  and  a  portion  of  How- 
ell's Brigade.  The  enemy  were  met  by  heavy  volleys  and 
driven  back  to  their  fortifications.  There  they  were  rallied 
and  pressed  forward  again  more  cautiously.  Lively  skir- 
mishing was  kept  up  by  the  opposing  lines  until  after  sunset. 

About  sunset  I  was  ordered  by  General  Foster,  command- 
ing division,  to  retake  with  my  brigade  the  enemy's  fortifica- 


318  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

tions  at  the  Hewlett  House  if  practicable,  for  the  purpose  of 
destroying  a  big  gun  [columbiad]  reported  by  deserters  to 
have  been  buried  there  by  the  enemy.  I  reported  to  General 
Foster  that  I  did  not  consider  the  enterprise  practicable  for 
the  following  reasons:  The  only  practicable  approach  to  the 
left  of  the  enemy's  fortifications  was  by  the  road  past  the 
Ware  Bottom  Church,  by  reason  of  the  ravine  extending 
from  the  river  to  the  church.  His  point  at  the  head  of  the 
ravine,  some  250  yards  only  from  the  enemy's  fortifications  in 
front  of  the  church,  was  more  than  800  yards  from  the 
enemy's  left  near  the  Hewlett  House,  to  attack  which  direct- 
ly would  expose  the  attacking  force  to  a  flank  fire  at  short 
range  the  whole  distance.  Hence,  to  carry  the  batteries  at 
the  Howlett  House,  I  would  be  compelled  first  to  carry  the 
enemy's  fortifications  opposite  the  Church,  and  'then  his 
whole  left  to  the  river.  In  front  of  the  church  was  a  h.ea,Yj 
enclosed  work  capable  of  holding  several  companies ;  near  the 
Howlett  house  were  two  similar  enclosed  works,  all  of  which 
were  connected  together  by  a  strong  chain  of  rifle-pits.  That 
the  fortifications  were  well  manned  I  saw  with  my  own  eyes. 
Besides  the  strong  line  of  skirmishers,  a  force  of  not  less  than 
four  rebel  regiments  was  seen  to  move  into  the  intrenchments, 
which  I  would  be  compelled  to  carry.  The  order  to  make  the 
attack  was  countermanded  by  General  Foster  and  the  brigade 
ordered  to  camp. 

The  casualties  during  the  day  in  my  command  were  few. 
A  list  of  them  has  been  sent  in  to  your  headquarters.  More 
than  satisfied  with  the  conduct  of  every  officer  and  soldier  of 
my  command,  without  exception  or  distinction,  still  I  am 
pleased  to  mention  specially  Sergeant  Sayres,  Co.  K,  10th 
Conn.,  who,  with  eight  men,  captured  26  prisoners,  including 
two  commissioned  officers,  in  a  body,  and  with  three  men,  five 
prisoners  with  one  commissioned  officer.  Having  conducted 
his  prisoners  to  the  rear  and  delivered  them  to  the  provost- 
marshal,  he  returned  to  the  front  and  asked  permission  with 
his  three  comrades  to  go  in  and  see  if  he  could  not  get  ' '  a  few 
more  of  'em  before  night."— R.  R.,  Vol.  XL,  Part  1,  p.  689. 

BERMUDA  HUNDRED. 

June  18th  was  a  pleasant  day  and  the  war  proceeded  just 
the  same.  The  James  River  having  been  passed  by  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  the  Sixth  Corps,  or  two  of  its  divisions,  hav- 


June,  '64.  Deep  Bottom.  319 

ing  covered  the  crossing  of  the  river  upon  the  pontoons  were 
ordered  to  man  the  defenses  in  front  of  Bermuda  Hundred. 
At  4  p.m.  the  enemy  attacked  the  pickets  and  again  at  10 
o'clock,  the  regiment  being  ordered  out  both  times.  The  19th 
being  Sunday,  there  was  a  semblance  of  its  recognition  in  that 
Chaplain  Willson  held  a  service  at  the  redan  in  front  of  Bat- 
tery 1,  but  there  was  none  too  much  time  for  religious  meet- 
ings, when  there  were  only  four  hours  intervening  between 
the  regiment's  coming  in  from  the  breastworks  at  2  p.m.  and 
its  going  on  picket  at  6  o'clock.  The  Colonel  mentions  his 
finding  medals  of  honor  in  his  tent  on  his  coming  in  and  his 
distribution  of  the  same.  That  portion  of  the  Tenth  Corps 
that  had  been  out  towards  Petersburg  returned  and  took  the 
place  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  which  moved  off  toward  the  last 
named  city. 

June  19th  troubles  between  Generals  Butler  and  Gillmore 
culminated  in  the  suspension  of  the  latter  from  the  command 
of  the  Tenth  Corps,  and  the  promotion  of  Brigadier-General 
W.  T.  H.  Brooks,  who  had  been  in  command  of  a  division  of 
the  Eighteenth  Corps.  The  same  brigade  and  division  condi- 
tions for  the  Twenty-fourth  continue  as  heretofore.  The 
20th  dawning  in  a  dense  fog,  unusual  vigilance  was  exercised 
with  reference  to  the  enemy,  but  he  apparently  was  doing  the 
same  thing  on  his  side  of  the  line.  At  1  o'clock  p.m.  the 
regiment  came  off  picket,  and  at  5  o'clock,  having  received 
two  days'  rations  and  100  rounds  of  ammunition,  in  light 
marching  order,  with  all  of  Plaisted's  brigade  and  a  part  of 
Howell's,  the  line  of  march  was  taken  to  Jones's  Neck,  some 
three  miles  below  the  camp.  Here,  after  the  arrival  of  pon- 
toon boats,  they  were  boarded,  forty  men  to  the  boat,  and 
propelled  two  miles  away  to 

DEEP  BOTTOM, 

between  Three  and  Four-mile  Creeks,  on  the  other  side  of  the 
James.  The  peculiar  name  of  the  locality  arises,  it  is  said, 
from  the  great  depth  of  the  river  here.     Loads  of  shovels  also 


320  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

were  sent  with  the  men,  and  on  arriving,  at  about  midnight, 
the  shovels  were  taken  and  used  till  daylight  in  constructing 
fortifications.  There  were  a  few  moments  for  rest  before 
8  a.m.,  when  the  regiment  was  ordered  out  to  support  the 
picket  and  had  to  lie  all  day,  21st,  in  the  hot  sun.  Still  the 
boys  might  have  fared  worse,  since  they  had  a  chance  to  sam- 
ple whatever  there  was  of  food  in  the  vicinity.  Mulberries 
they  found  plentiful  and  delicious.  The  ripe  cherries  which 
nearby  trees  afforded  they  pronounced  the  best  possible.  At 
6  p.m.  the  regiment  returned  to  the  river  bank  and  biv- 
ouacked. A  pontoon  bridge  has  been  laid  across  the  river 
and  the  men  enjoy  the  sight  of  troops,  adapting  their  steps  to 
its  swaying  motion. 

The  22d  of  June  affords  a  variety  of  occupations  for  the 
regiment,  though  fatigue  duty  may  be  classed  as  the  principal 
one.  Rabbits  are  run  down  and  the  bathing  advantages  of 
the  river  are  utilized.  Unfortunately,  Austin  Williams,  a 
servant  of  Colonel  Osborn,  while  swimming  in  the  river  is 
drowned,  and  his  body,  though  sought  for  diligently,  is  not 
found  till  later.  The  story  of  the  ' '  pot  of  gold ' '  was  realized 
this  day,  when  a  man  in  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  digging  in 
fort-making,  struck  the  pot  containing,  it  was  said,  $5000. 
Thoughtlessly  shouting  out  his  astonishment  he  was  speedily 
surrounded  by  others  so  eager  to  divide  that  the  share  of  the 
finder  hardly  merited  the  adage,  "Findin's  is  bavin's." 
There  is  plenty  of  work  for  all  of  the  men,  with  reports  of 
heavy  rebel  forces  near,  constant  picket  firing  and,  above  all, 
the  gunboats  are  throwing  shells  in  the  direction  of  the 
enemy.  Observing  soldiers  noted  a  steamer  coming  up  the 
river,  for  which  the  pontoon  bridge  was  separated  that  the 
vessel  might  pass  through.  When  they  heard  the  rumor  that 
President  Lincoln  and  General  Grant  were  on  board,  they 
were  extremely  anxious  to  get  a  view  of  the  Liberator.  It 
was  not  for  the  Tenth  Corps  men  to  see  him,  but  he  did  ride 
along  the  lines  below  Petersburg,  and  also  visited  the  Eight- 
eenth Corps  that  he  might  see  the  negro  soldiers,  by  whom 
he  was  received  with  expressions  akin  to  idolatry. 


June  '64.  Deep  Bottom.  321 

June  23d  was  scarcely  more  than  a  repetition  of  the  clay- 
before,  and  at  night  the  regiment  relieved  the  Eleventh  jNIaine 
on  the  left.  During  the  24th  of  June  the  exchange  of  shots 
between  the  artillery  and  the  enemy  continued  without  any 
apparent  results.  The  regiment  was  directly  interested  in 
the  transferral  of  its  camp  outfit  from  Bermuda  Hundred, 
and  tlie  resumption  of  more  comfortable  camp  life,  while  the 
heart  of  Colonel  Osborn  was  gladdened  by  the  finding  of  his 
mare,  ]\Iadge.  which  had  strayed  oft'  on  the  21st  in  some  man- 


Pencil  sketch  by  Lieut.  J.  M.  Barnard,  Co.  G. 

DEEP  BOTTOM  PONTOON  BRIDGE. 

ner.  Diligent  search  for  her  had  been  made,  but  without  suc- 
cess, till  this  day,  when  she  was  found  in  the  keeping  of 
Quartermaster  Thompson,  he  having  recovered  her  from  the 
possession  of  a  batteryman  who  was  riding  her,  and  she  had 
already  been  branded  with  crossed  cannon,  significant  of  the 
branch  of  the  service  she  was  expected  thereafter  to  serve  in. 
Fortunately  for  the  owner,  the  new  possessor  did  not  attempt 
to  dispute  possession,  but  dismounted  and  gave  up  at  once. 
The  horse  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hooper  strayed  away  at  the 
same  time,  but  of  him  no  trace  was  found.  This  day,  also, 
the  body  of  the  seiwant  of  the  Colonel  came  to  the  surface  of 
the  water,  near  where  it  had  gone  down  on  the  22d.  It  was 
brought  ashore  and  decently  buried. 
21 


322  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Rhgiment. 

During  the  remaining  days  of  June  there  is  little  variation 
in  the  rounds  of  digging  and  picket-duty.  Company  C  goes 
below  Four-mile  Creek  to  construct  fortifications  and,  later, 
Company  A  follows.  The  discovery  of  a  well-filled  ice-house 
on  the  estate  of  a  nearby  citizen  is  a  boon  fully  appreciated 
by  the  soldiers^  who  are  determined  that  none  of  its  precious 
contents  shall  be  wasted.  On  the  last  day  of  the  month  noti- 
fications were  received  of  the  promotions  of  Captain  Richard- 
son to  be  Major,  Lieutenant  Ordway  to  be  Captain,  Second 
Lieutenant  Davis  Foster  to  a  First  Lieutenancy.  Also,  the 
presence  of  Sutler  Clark  in  camp  convinces  all  observers  that 
payday  must  be  near. 

From  that  4th  day  of  ^lay,  when  Butler's  army  steamed 
away  from  Gloucester  Point,  and  Meade's  forces  started 
across  the  Eapidan,  there  had  been  a  period  of  almost  unin- 
terrupted activity.  The  enemy  had  been  harried  as  never 
before.  For  eight  weeks  there  had  been  nearly  incessant 
marching  and  fighting,  involving  the  loss  among  the  Vir- 
ginia Union  troops  of  70,000  men,  fighting  against  great  ad- 
vantages of  position  or  shelter  which  screened  the  enemy 
against  losses  proportionate  to  our  own,  yet  the  spirit  of  the 
soldiers  was  never  higher,  more  determined  than  when  the  first 
of  July  found  them  with  their  lines  extending  from  the  north 
side  of  the  James  to  the  southwest  of  Petersburg.  Uncon- 
sciously they  were  settling  down  to  a  siege  to  end  only  with 
the  capture  of  the  city  and  the  complete  undoing  of  the  Rebel- 
lion. While  the  wild  music  of  war  was  heard  along  the  entire 
line,  during  the  month  of  July  set  engagements  were  less  com- 
mon than  earlier,  that  of  the  Mine,  on  the  30th,  being  the 
most  conspicuous;  there  were  well-earned  intervals  of  rest. 
The  campaign  thus  far  had  been  strenuous  enough  to  satisfy 
the  most  active  and  vigilant  leader.  The  season  was  hot 
and  dry  almost  beyond  precedent.  Till  the  15th  of  July 
there  had  been  no  rain  of  any  consequence  for  forty  days; 
''the  earth  was  so  parched  and  baked  that  any  movement 
raised   a   cloud   of   dust   which   nearly  suffocated   men   and 


July  4,  '64.  Deep  Bottom.  323 

horses,  and  revealed  its  existence,  its  strength  and  its  destina- 
tion to  the  ever-Avatchful  foe."  "While  of  work  there  was  no 
lack,  of  real  fighting  July  brought  very  little  to  the  ranks  of 
the  Twenty-fourth.  Of  the  local  situation  the  following 
notes  from  Colonel  Osborn  are  a  picture:  "We  get  up  pretty 
early  here,  for  sometimes  we  turn  out  under  arms  at  half 
past  three  a.m.,  and  when  we  do  not  we  are  driven  out  of  bed 
by  the  flies,  which  fill  the  tent  and  are  most  devoted  in  their 
attentions.  In  the  dark  they  are  quiet,  but  as  soon  as  the  sun 
begins  to  light  and  warm  the  tent,  they  commence  their  gam- 
bols, then  good-bye  to  sleep." 

The  4th  is  so  quiet  that  very  little  mention  is  made  of 
it  in  regimental  annals.  Company  A  returned  from  its  ser- 
vice below  Four-mile  Creek,  the  camp  was  visited  by  a  whirl- 
wind, and  the  bands,  far  and  near,  tuned  up  in  honor  of  the 
day,  but  otherwise  the  memorable  July  4th  had  no  recogni- 
tion. The  Navy  and  the  batteries  at  Bermuda  Hundred  did 
their  duty  in  firing  national  salutes,  the  latter  shotting  their 
guns,  by  General  Butler's  orders,  but  the  Johnnies  took  no 
notice  of  the  same,  therein  acting  quite  contrary  to  their  cus- 
tom. The  nomination  of  General  Gillmore  to  be  Major- 
General,  long  hung  up  in  the  Senate,  was  about  this  time 
confirmed,  and  the  announcement  gave  much  pleasure  among 
his  friends  in  the  Tenth  Corps.  Butler  having  heard  from  a 
deserter  that  the  enemy  contemplated  attacking  our  lines  in 
the  morning  of  the  5th,  the  men  were  turned  out  at  3.30  a.m., 
but  the  attack  did  not  take  place.  The  location  of  the  regi- 
ment when  in  camp  is  thus  described  by  the  Colonel : 

We  are  encamped  on  a  bluff  about  forty  feet  above  the 
water,  on  a  little  plain  stretching  away  to  our  left  along  the 
bank  of  the  river,  and  bounded  at  some  distance  by  a  thick 
wood.  In  front  of  the  camp  the  plain  dips  into  a  little  val- 
ley, then  undulating  once  or  twice  rises  to  a  hill,  a  little 
higher  than  we  are,  upon  which  are  our  intrenchments.  Be- 
yond, another  little  valley  and  another  rise  to  a  level  table- 
land, bounded  at  a  mile  distant  by  woods.  Our  pickets 
occupy  this  nearer  edge  of  the  table-land,  resting  at  one  point 


324  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Ehgiment. 

at  a  house  prettily  situated,  and  surrounded  by  fine  trees. 
There  is  another  house  on  the  left  where  we  have  cavaliy 
videttes,  at  which  we  found  an  ice-house  filled  with  indiffer- 
ent ice,  which  has  proved  quite  a  luxury.  The  enemy's 
pickets  are  in  the  woods,  about  one  and  a  half  miles  from  the 
camp,  but  they  are  very  quiet.  The  river  is  very  pretty, 
winding  in  tortuous  course  through  the  high  land,  and 
enlivened  by  the  presence  of  two  and  sometimes  three  gun- 
boats and  the  constant  passage  of  tugs  and  schooners.  We 
cross  on  a  pontoon  bridge  just  below.  *  *  Oh,  the  dust! 
It  is  pulverized  so  as  to  be  almost  impalpable,  and  rises  at  a 
breath.  Wherever  it  touches,  it  leaves  a  yellow  stain.  We 
eat,  drink  and  breathe  it  constantly.  Morris  Island  was  bad 
enough,  but  there  the  dust  was  sand,  which  shook  ofi  easily, 
and  even  seemed  to  cleanse  one's  clothes.  St.  Helena  was 
horrible,  but  this  is  far  worse.  It  is  impossible  to  keep  free 
from  it  and  it  deadens  and  almost  destroys  the  sense  of  clean- 
liness. 

Every  journalist  in  the  regiment  recorded  that  on  the  7th 
there  was  a  rain  of  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes,  just  enough  to 
lay  the  dust  for  a  brief  time  and  to  permit  an  unimpeded 
long  breath.  The  8th  saw  the  departure  for  the  North  of 
Chaplain  Willson,  who  had  resigned  on  the  6th.  Thence- 
forth the  regiment  was  to  be  without  the  presence  of  a  spirit- 
ual adviser.  The  Chaplain  had  held  a  high  place  in  the 
regard  of  officers  and  men  and  all  regretted  his  going  away. 
Colonel  Osborn  relates  that  in  one  of  the  Virginia  battles  he 
saw  the  Chaplain  moving  up  towards  the  front  and  asked  him 
where  he  was  going.  ' '  To  the  front, ' '  was  the  reply,  he  sup- 
posing that  was  his  place.  He  was  not  seeking  danger,  but 
he  did  wish  to  be  where  duty  demanded.  July  9th,  a 
memorable  day  to  the  men  who  were  fighting  the  losing 
battle  against  Early  at  Monocaey  for  the  salvation  of 
Washington,  there  was  at  Deep  Bottom  only  the  regular 
order  of  things.  News  arrived  this  day  of  the  sinking  of  the 
Alabama  on  the  preceding  17th  of  June,  and  loyal  hearts  are 
set  aglow  by  the  tidings.  The  longer  the  men  stay  here  the 
more  they  approve  the  judgment  of  the  cavaliers,  who  made 
this  their  habitation,  and,  perhaps,  some  thoughful  Yankee 


July  '64.  Deep  Bottom.  325 

wonders  if  he,  too,  would  now  be  a  rebel  if  his  Pilgrim  ances- 
tors had  really  reached  that  part  of  Virginia  for  which  the 
Mayflower  sailed.  Jamestown  and  Plymouth,  transposed, 
would  have  changed  the  history  of  their  respective  settlers 
and  their  descendants.  The  fields  about  are  covered  with 
grain  in  the  shock  or  standing.  "The  wheat  is  of  very 
fine  quality,  as  it  should  be,  for  it  is  near  Haxall's  mills, 
whose  flour  always  has  been  famous.  It  is  now  ripe  and  the 
rebels  have  been  harvesting  it  as  rapidly  as  possible.  "We 
have  sent  out  expeditions  lately  and  destroyed  as  much  of 
it  as  possible.  It  seems  a  great  pity  to  burn  large  fields 
of  this  beautiful  grain,  but  it  is  necessary  to  prevent  its 
falling  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  for  we  have  not  the 
means  of  bringing  it  away.  For  several  days  the  smoke 
of  vast  fires  has  shrouded  the  heavens  in  all  directions." 

The  Twenty-fourth  and  its  old  friends  of  the  Tenth  Con- 
necticut are  camped  side  by  side  on  the  banks  of  the  James 
on  the  concave  side  of  the  curve,  which  at  Deep  Bottom 
becomes  almost  a  circle.  The  regiment  is  on  picket  every 
third  day,  does  fatigue  duty  the  same,  and  rests  the  third. 
If  men  must  be  away  from  home  in  a  military  capacity,  the 
present  situation  of  the  Twentj^-fourth  leaves  little  to  be 
desired.  A  campfire  incident  of  these  days  is  recalled  where- 
in a  roguish  drummer-boy  noted  the  back  of  Adjutant  Ed- 
mands  as  he  stood  by  the  fire,  also  a  metal  based  cartridge. 
Yielding  to  the  mischievous  impulse,  the  lad  kicked  the  cart- 
ridge into  the  fire  and  immediately  turned  over  feigning  sleep. 
The  explosion  came  soon  and  the  missile  hit  the  Adjutant  on 
the  thumb.  Turning  instantly  and,  taking  in  the  situation  at 
once,  he  leaped  over  the  fire  and,  administering  a  kick  to  the 
pretended  sleeper,  gave  him  a  good  lecture  for  his  prank.  Says 
the  boy  of  long  ago,  ' '  The  kick  hurt,  but  the  lecture  hurt  worse, 
for  I  was  verj'  fond  of  Edmands,  who  lost  his  thumb-nail  on 
account  of  my  nonsense.  I  deeply  repented  of  my  foolish 
act." 

From  July  10th   to   the    15th    inclusive,    little    of    special 


326         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

interest  happened  to  the  regiment  encamped  on  the 
river  banks.  In  that  interval  came  much  desired  rain,  rigid 
inspections,  and  the  story  of  the  narrow  escape  of  the  capital 
from  capture  at  the  hands  of  the  Confederate  General  Early. 
The  cutting  of  the  railroad  and  telegraph  lines  between 
Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  delayed  considerably  communi- 
cations from  the  north.  The  16th  revealed  a  little  rebel 
activity  in  that  a  Confederate  battery  at  the  head  of  Straw- 
berry Plains  opened  on  the  Mendota,  a  gunboat  lying  off 
Four-mile  Creek,  killing  and  wounding  several  thereon  and 
stirring  up  things  at  the  headquarters  of  Gleneral  Foster. 
Captain  Bell  of  C  with  his  company  went  out  on  a  scout 
towards  Malvern  Hill  to  see  if  the  enemy  were  construct- 
ing a  battery  where  they  were  firing  the  day  before.  They 
went  within  one  mile  of  the  hill  and  brought  back  with 
them  the  only  rebel,  they  said,  that  they  had  found,  viz. :  a 
little  sucking  pig.  Also  the  day  was  notable  for  Deep 
Bottom  in  that  Generals  Grant  and  Butler  visited  the  post, 
inspecting  the  works  and  the  picket-line. 

In  his  official  report  of  the  reconnoissance,  Captain  Bell 
says: 

The  command  consisted  of  Company  C,  Twenty-fourth 
Regiment,  Massachusetts  Volunteers.  At  dusk  proceeded  in 
pontoon  boats  to  Curl's  Neck,  bivouacked  at  that  place 
until  12  midnight,  marched  by  the  side  of  the  banks  of  the 
river  about  half  a  mile  beyond  Maiden  Hall  Landing,  thence 
took  the  road  that  crosses  the  plantations  of  Messrs.  Allen 
and  Taylor,  being  nearly  a  direct  road  from  the  river  to 
Mr.  Pickett's  house  near  the  Richmond  road.  At  Pickett's 
house  the  road  turns  to  the  left,  leading  into  the  road  to 
Richmond.  I  had  proceeded  three  miles  in  this  direction 
without  meeting  with  any  opposition  or  seeing  any  force  of 
the  enemy,  when  I  came  upon  the  pickets  of  the  enemy  on 
the  Richmond  road.  My  command  having  become  much 
reduced  in  numbers,  being  compelled  to  station  guards  at 
the  different  cross-roads  on  the  plantations,  all  of  these 
cross-roads  lead  to  some  point  on  the  Richmond  road  to 
the  left.  It  being  near  daylight,  deemed  it  extra  hazardous 
to  proceed  further  in  such  an  open  country  with  such  a 


July  16,  '64.  Capt.  Bell's  Scout.  327 

small  force,  as  the  enemy  could  easily  cut  me  off  in  my 
rear.  I  went  within  half  or  three-quarters  of  a  mile  of 
Malvern  Hill ;  a  thick  woods  covers  the  top  of  the  hill ;  did 
not  see  any  works  of  the  enemy.  The  roads  which  I  passed 
over  were  in  good  condition,  the  country  level,  many  parts 
of  it  under  cultivation,  such  as  wheat  and  corn.  Some  of 
the  wheat  had  been  recently  cut,  I  should  judge  during  the 
night.  Returned  with  command,  arriving  about  6  a.m. — 
R.  R.,  Vol.  40,  Part  3,  p.  311. 

Certain  of  the  officers  of  the  regiment  were  pleased  to 
receive  on  the  17th  a  call  from  Colonel  J.  Cushing  Edmands 
of  the  Thirty-second  Massachusetts,  but  formerly  First 
Sergeant  in  Company  K,  also  a  New  England  Guardsman. 
His  regiment,  continuously  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
Fifth  Army  Corps,  had  seen  all  of  the  service  of  the  ''Flank- 
ing Campaign,"  and  the  former  Company  K  orderly  had 
recently  been  advanced  to  the  command  of  his  regiment. 
With  the  prospect  of  a  longer  stay  in  camp,  the  men  were 
ordered  to  cut  boughs  and  thus  try  to  ward  off  some  of 
the  fierce  rays  of  the  sun.  This  they  did  after  considerable 
perspiring  labor,  and  about  the  time  their  shades  were  up 
came  the  news  that  Colonel  Osborn  had  received  orders 
to  move  the  camp  over  to  the  right  of  the  Eleventh  Maine, 
near  the  Bridge  Head.  The  remarks  of  the  weary  shade- 
makers  were  decidedly  forcible  as  they  commented  on  the 
futility  of  earthly  calculations,  especially  in  army  circles. 
The  day  had  begun  with  a  turn-out  at  3  o'clock,  under  the 
impression,  said  to  have  come  from  General  Grant,  that  the 
enemy  was  to  make  a  concerted  attack.  The  same  hour  for 
repairing  to  the  works  was  observed  on  the  19th,  but  it  was 
equally''  resultless.  A  mist  prevailed  at  that  hour  and  it 
gradually  changed  into  a  rain,  but  this  did  not  prevent  the 
striking  of  tents  and  the  moving  of  the  camp  at  7  a.m. 
When  the  regiment  went  on  picket  at  4.30  p.m.,  the  new 
camp  was  in  order.  The  new  location  seemed  better  than 
the  old  one,  being  more  free  from  dust,  there  being  no  great 
road  near  by.  Of  course  the  inseparable  friends  of  the 
Tenth  Connecticut  moved  at  the  same  time. 


328  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

On  the  21st,  in  advancing  the  picket-linp  200  yards,  a 
few  shots  were  drawn  from  the  enemy,  but,  in  the  main, 
quiet  rei'gned.  The  Eleventh  Maine  went  across  Four-mile 
Creek  to  Strawberry  Plains  on  a  scout.  Colonel  Plaisted 
has  resumed  command  of  the  brigade.  General  Foster  that 
of  the  division,  and  General  Terry  is  at  the  head  of  the 
corps,  General  Brooks,  who  had  been  in  command  since  June 
18th,  having  resigned  his  commission  on  account  of  wounds. 
Twenty  men  of  Company  I,  under  Lieutenant  Williams,  were 
sent  to  the  bluff  below  Four-mile  Creek  to  report  to  the 
commanding  officer.  The  men  who  remained  in  camp  gave 
some  time  to  the  arranging  of  shades  above  their  tents, 
though  there  was  fatigue  duty  for  the  most  of  them  in  the 
construction  of  a  new  road.  The  24th  of  July  impressed 
itself  on  the  memories  of  the  men,  since  on  that  day 
Lieutenant-colonel  Hooper,  in  an  unguarded  moment,  was 
taken  prisoner  by  the  enemy.  As  field  officer  of  the  day 
he  was  making  his  rounds,  attired  in  a  new  uniform,  "as 
handsome  a  figure  on  horseback  as  I  ever  saw,"  says  one 
observer.  The  lines  had  been  somewhat  changed  since  his 
previous  tour  of  duty  in  that  capacity,  and  an  advanced  pick- 
et, on  the  road  leading  towards  the  enemy,  had  been  drawn 
in.  The  officer  of  the  day  whom  he  relieved  had  not  notified 
him  of  the  change,  as  he  should  have  done,  so  Colonel  Hooper 
rode  out  to  inspect  the  picket,  whom  he  expected  to  find  in  the 
former  station,  unconsciously  passing  out  of  our  lines  in  so  do- 
ing. Suddenly  an  officer  and  five  men  of  the  enemy  appeared 
and  compelled  him  to  surrender.  This  was  on  the  Malvern 
Hill  road,  and  though  the  Colonel  fired  several  shots,  so  his 
orderly  reported,  he  was  taken  away  by  the  foe,  a  rich 
prize  to  the  impoverished  rebels.  For  the  men  in  camp, 
there  was  a  dress-parade,  the  very  first  since  leaving  St. 
Augustine,  five  months  before.  All  the  men  were  in  blouses 
and  looked  exceedingly  rusty,  but  the  line  was  steady. 
There  were  many  recruits  in  the  line,  to  whom  the  parade 
was  their  first,  and  many  a  glance  to  both  right  and  left 


July  '64.  ,  Deep  Bottom.  329 

was  necessary  to  see  if  commands  were  properly  executed. 
Changes  in  command  were  frequent  at  this  time,  since  on 
the  23d  Major-general  D.  B.  Birney  assumed  command  of 
the  Tenth  Corps,  thus  sending  Generals  Terry  and  Foster 
back  to  their  former  stations,  and  Colonel  Plaisted  to  his 
regiment. 

On  the  25th,  a  brigade  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps  having 
relieved  the  troops  at  Four-mile  Creek,  those  stationed 
there,  including  Lieutenant  Williams  and  his  men  of  G 
Company,  returned.  The  regiment  went  on  picket.  AVhile 
the  Eleventh  Maine,  on  the  26th,  supported  by  the  Tenth 
Connecticut,  was  skirmishing  through  the  woods  along 
Deep  Run,  the  Twenty-fourth  was  performing  its  duties 
nearer  the  camp.  Efforts  were  made  to  deaden  sound  on  the 
pontoon  bridge  by  the  spreading  of  stable  litter  thereon, 
evidently  preparing  for  the  passage  of  troops.  General 
Sheridan  appeared  at  the  crossing  for  the  purpose  of  a  con- 
ference with  General  Foster.  All  that  night  the  Second 
Corps  and  two  divisions  of  Sheridan's  cavalry  corps 
were  crossing  the  James  Eiver  with  the  intent  of 
attacking  the  enemy's  left,  and  if  the  move  should  prove 
successful,  of  pushing  briskly  forward  to  seize  Richmond 
itself.  In  this  move,  all  of  the  troops  were  ordered  under 
arms  and  the  Twenty-fourth  was  advanced  on  the  27th  to 
meet  the  enemy,  going  thus  up  to  the  Grover  House  and 
supporting  a  section  of  Rockwell's  Battery.  Companies  K, 
A  and  D  were  thrown  out  on  the  picket-line. 

It  was  during  this  day,  July  27th,  that  one  of  the  most 
remarkable  coincidences  in  military  annals  developed.  Let 
the  record  of  an  observer  tell  this  part  of  the  remarkable 
story:  "A  reb  came  in  and  gave  himself  up,  was  taken  to 
the  officer  commanding  the  picket ;  one  of  our  drummers 
recognized  him  and  stepping  up  asked  him  if  he  were  not 
McElhenny  of  Company  F,  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts, 
who  deserted  at  Newbern.  He  said  that  was  his  name  and 
that  he  supposed  his  regiment  was  in  South  Carolina,  and 
that  he  had  been  firing  at  our  boys  all  day.     He  also  said 


330  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Rbchment. 

that  the  enemj^  was  coming  down  from  Richmond  40,000 
strong,  and  that  we  had  better  get  out.  The  officer  said  he 
had  heard  enough  from  him  and  sent  the  fellow  to  General 
Foster."  The  wonder  of  the  foregoing  arises  from  the 
fact  that,  with  more  than  2,000  Union  organizations  then  in 
existence,  this  poor  wretch  should  have  blundered  into  his 
own  regiment  where  alone  his  recognition  was  possible. 
Major  Stowits  of  the  One  Hundredth  New  York,  describing 
the  same  event,  writes:  "While  in  the  wood,  a  deserter  came 
in  from  the  rebel  line  in  front.  He  wore  a  jaunty  cap  with  a 
red  band,  and  was  dressed  miscellaneously,  as  were  the  most 
of  the  enemy  at  that  time.  He  looked  pale  and  much 
excited.  Pie  inquired  what  troops  are  present.  When  told, 
he  said,  'I  am  lost.'  The  regiment  to  which  he  formerly 
belonged  was  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts,  and  his  own 
company  from  which  he  had  deserted  in  North  Carolina  was 
supporting  us,  lying  along  a  rail  fence  in  our  rear.  He  was 
at  once  recognized  by  the  members  of  the  company  from 
which  he  had  deserted.  'How  are  you,  Frank?'  was  the 
salutation.  *  *  *  Had  he  come  in  on  any  other  part 
of  our  line  he  would  have  been  saved."  The  story  in  full 
of  this  remarkable  incident  is  told  in  later  pages. 

At  4  p.m.  the  line  was  withdrawn  and  the  pickets  were 
re-established  on  their  former  posts.  During  the  day 
Sergeant  Wm.  Jelly  of  Company  K  and  Corporal  John 
Minnahan  of  Company  A  were  wounded.  The  next  day, 
the  28th,  at  1  p.m.  another  demonstration  was  made,  the 
Twenty-fourth  advancing  its  picket-line,  and  skirmished  till 
4.30  p.m.,  when,  hy  order  of  General  Foster,  it  was  with- 
drawn. There  was  little  opposition  and  no  loss  to  the 
Twenty-fourth.  Elsewhere  there  was  considerable  fighting, 
Sheridan's  cavalry  encountering  Kershaw's  division  of  the 
Confederates,  driving  it  back  with  considerable  loss,  inislud- 
ing  300  prisoners  and  two  colors.  The  movements  of  these 
two  days  on  the  Union  right  seem  to  have  been  a  part  of 
Grant's  tactics  to  mislead  Lee  as  to  his  real  intentions.  Mott's 
division  of  the  Second  Corps  was  withdrawn  to  allow  the 


July  30,  '64.  Mine  Explosion.  331 

colored  troops  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps  to  move  towards 
Petersburg  for  readiness  at  the  contemplated  explosion  of 
the  Mine.  So  well  did  the  scheme  work,  there  was  rapid 
massing  of  the  Confederates  on  their  left,  but  the  purpose 
having  been  accomplished,  the  Second  Corps  was  withdrawn 
in  the  night  of  the  29th,  leaving  only  the  original  forces 
holding  the  works.  The  Avork  of  the  regiment  on  the  29th 
was  to  dig  rifle-pits  in  front  of  the  camp  of  the  One  Hun- 
dredth New  York. 

July  30th  was  the  day  of  the  famous  Mine  explosion,  when 
at  4.30  a.m.,  the  result  of  months  of  digging  was  realized 
in  the  destruction  of  the  rebel  fort  (Elliott's  or  Pegram's 
salient)  and  the  advance  of  the  Union  forces,  among  them 
General  Wm.  F.  Bartlett,  who  had  received  his  preliminary 
training  at  Fort  Independence  with  so  many  of  the  officers  of 
the  Twenty-fourth.  Here  on  the  banks  of  the  James  there  is 
little  activity,  though  just  before  10  a.m.  the  regiment  is 
ordered  under  arms,  taking  position  in  the  works  at  the  left 
of  the  redan.  After  a  brief  interval  the  men  were  dismissed. 
The  alarm  arose  from  the  enemy's  pushing  forward  some 
skirmishers  under  the  impression  that  we  had  abandoned  our 
works.  This  and  the  day  following  proved  to  be  among  the 
hottest  of  an  exceedingly  hot  summer. 

Again  the  theatre  of  Avar  is  returned  to  Petersburg,  the 
greater  part  of  the  Confederate  forces  having  moved  off  in 
that  direction;  still  their  side  of  the  line  is  by  no  means 
deserted,  as  the  Tenth  Connecticut  learned  later  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  1st  of  August,  when  the  enemy's  pickets 
advanced  Avith  the  customary  yelling,  only  to  be  driven 
back  by  the  ever  Adgilant  men  from  the  State  of  Yankee 
notions.  ''Then  came  the  turn  of  our  boys;  and  the  com- 
plimentary yells,  the  hoots  and  the  cock-crowing  which 
followed  them  as  they  gave  way  and  left  the  ground  must 
have  been  soothing  enough."  In  the  camp  of  the  Twenty- 
fourth,  nothing  took  place  more  important  than  the  fan- 
tastic punishment  of  sundry  men  Avho  had  straggled  on 
their  return  from  picket  the  day  before.    A  private  doing  a 


332  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

stunt  of  marching  with  his  knapsack  filled  with  earth  is 
always  an  edifying  spectacle.  Nor  was  the  2d  any  more 
lively,  its  principal  item  being  the  arrival  of  a  sutler,  who 
evidently  concluded  there  were  sufficient  probabilities  of 
permanency  to  warrant  his  so  doing.  Some  of  the  men 
felt  themselves  under  particular  obligations  to  the  Sanitary 
Commission,  through  whose  kindly  offices  many  of  them 
this  day  had  canned  tomatoes  for  dinner. 

During  these  days  exchange  of  newspapers  was  common, 
though  we  could  not  help  noticing  the  cutting  out,  from  the 
Confederate  sheets,  of  all  references  to  the  Georgia  cam- 
paign, making  it  look  as  though  matters  were  not  going 
their  way  in  that  part  of  the  world.  The  sutler,  to  give  his 
business  a  start,  began  issuing  orders  which  many  of  the 
men  were  quick  to  take  and  as  quickly  turn  into  luxuries, 
and  at  the  prices  charged,  it  did  not  take  long  to  dispose  of 
a  five  or  six  dollar  order,  thus :  cheese,  50  cents  per  pound  ; 
canned  fruit,  80  cents  a  can ;  and  butter  at  60  cents  a 
pound.  In  regimental  annals,  this  was  the  day  of  the  fire, 
when  a  Company  D  man,  in  destroying  some  cartridges,  set 
fire  to  the  shade  leaves  above  his  tent,  the  same  being  almost 
as  inflammable  as  the  powder  itself.  The  fire  swept  through 
the  street  in  short  order,  extending  also  to  Company  K  and 
the  band  quarters.  The  occupants  hardly  had  time  to  get 
out  of  their  tents  before  they  were  consumed.  Some  of  the 
men  who  carried  valuables  about  with  them,  as  watches, 
suffered  considerable  loss.  The  day's  fatigue  was  the 
slashing  of  all  the  forest  growth  as  far  out  as  the  picket- 
line.  As  usual  some  of  the  choppers  were  hurt  by  their  own 
axes. 

The  approaching  execution  of  McElhenny,  the  Company 
F  deserter,  excited  a  deal  of  interest  on  the  7th,  for  it  was 
understood  that  he  was  to  pay  his  forfeit  the  next  day. 
One  observer  wrote :  "I  took  a  walk  over  to  see  him;  he  was 
shackled  and  six  men  stood  guard  over  him.  I  remembered 
his  countenance.  He  appeared  to  be  anxious  and  could  not 
keep  still.     He  tried  to  control  his  feelings  and  to  put  on 


Aug.  14,  '64.  Deep  Bottom  Fight.  333 

an  air  of  bravado.  He  was  a  hardened  man."  August  8th, 
according  to  all  recorders,  was  notable  in  our  history 
principally  for  the  execution  of  McElhenny,  the  deserter. 
As  the  event  is  recounted  at  length  elsewhere,  its  description 
is  omitted  here.  Thence  onward  to  the  12th,  inclusive,  there 
was  little  of  note  in  the  daily  life  of  the  regiment.  Picket 
and  fatigue  followed  each  other ;  recruits  were  coming  in  to 
some  extent,  some  of  them  mustered-out  soldiers  of  old 
regiments,  hence  well-drilled  veterans.  Green  corn  was 
added  to  the  soldier's  cuisine  and  many  of  the  men  thought 
they  might  fare  a  great  deal  worse.  Meanwhile,  the  constant 
pounding  over  towards  Petersburg  told  them  what  Grant 
was  doing  there,  and  Butler  was  working  hard  on  his 
Dutch-Gap  Canal. 

DEEP  BOTTOM  FIGHT. 

More  strenuous  days  were  awaiting  the  Twenty-fourth, 
since  Grant,  acting  on  information  that  Lee  had  seriously 
weakened  his  left  to  reinforce  Early  in  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  had  given  orders  to  General  Hancock,  of  the  Second 
Corps,  w4th  his  own  corps  and  Gregg's  cavalry,  together 
with  the  Tenth  Corps  under  General  Birney,  to  threaten 
Richmond  from  the  north  side  of  the  James.  The  instruc- 
tions to  Hancock  were  similar  to  those  of  the  latter  part  of 
July,  when  he  executed  his  former  movement,  except  as  to 
the  manner  of  crossing  the  river.  Great  care  was  taken  to 
conceal  the  movement  and  to  give  the  impression  that  the 
troops  were  to  be  sent  to  "Washington;  indeed,  among  the 
officers  and  men  of  the  Tenth  Corps,  the  report  was  general 
that  the  capital  or  the  Valley  of  Virginia  was  the  goal  of 
Birney 's  men.  Of  the  regiment  itself,  it  might  be  said  that 
an  impression  of  impending  activity  was  widespread.  While 
there  were  fatigue  parties  and  a  forenoon  drill,  it  was 
understood  that  the  preparing  of  four  days'  rations  was 
ordered,  and  there  was  an  assembling  for  drill  in  the  after- 
noon, but  the  companies  were  dismissed.     Extra  ammuni- 


334         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

tion  was  turned  in,  but  before  the  day  was  done,  men  were 
ordered  to  have  sixty  rounds.  In  view  of  probable  moving 
the  tentmate  of  Henry  Manning  of  Company  G,  who  had 
undertaken  General  Butler's  mission  in  the  preceding  June, 
bundled  up  and  sent  to  his  Warwick  home  the  latter 's 
Bible  and  album.  The  same  tentmate  writes:  ''The  boys  do 
not  seem  inclined  to  turn  in  this  evening.  They  are  sitting 
in  squads,  talking  or  are  running  about  the  camp."  Another 
day  was  to  bring  enough  of  sorrow  to  men  of  the  Tenth 
Army  Corps.  To  crown  all  the  incidents  in  connection  with 
the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment,  this  day  Colonel  Osborn  was 
ordered  to  take  command  of  the  Third  Brigade,  Second  Di- 
vision of  the  Tenth  Corps.  Remembering  that  Lieutenant- 
colonel  Hooper  was  a  prisoner  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
and  that  the  position  of  major  had  not  been  filled,  it  will 
be  seen  that  the  organization  was  decidedly  short-handed 
at  the  beginning  of  a  forward  movement.  The  command  of 
the  regiment  devolved  upon  Captain  Maker  of  Company  K. 
Meanwhile  orders  had  been  received  that  the  regiment  must 
be  ready  to  move  early  in  the  morning  of  the  14th.  A 
graphic  picture  of  how  the  night  of  the  13th  appeared  is 
given  by  the  historian  of  the  Eleventh  Maine  in  the  follow- 
ing words : 

In  the  night,  a  sultry  one,  with  little  air  stirring  any- 
where, none  at  all  in  the  woods,  we  could  hear  the  rumble 
of  artillery  wagons  crossing  the  bridges  from  the  south 
shore,  and  the  trampling  of  a  host  of  cavalry  horses  as 
they  took  the  same  road.  We  could  not  tell  by  what  bridge 
they  were  crossing.  The  sound  was  evidently  deadened  by 
hay  which  had  been  strewn  over  the  bridge,  but  still  the 
dull  roar  of  artillery  wheels  and  the  clattering  of  iron-shod 
hoofs  came  clearly  to  our  ears,  and  then  after  a  time  there 
was  a  continual  screeching  of  boat  whistles,  indicating  that 
a  large  number  of  steamers  were  gathering  along  our  river 
front.  What  it  meant  we  did  not  really  know,  but  it 
seemed  to  many  of  us  as  if  our  dream  of  a  stirring  campaign 
in  the  Shenandoah  Valley  was  to  remain  a  dream.  Still, 
some  sturdily  contended  for  a  time  that  what  we  were  hear- 


Aug.  14,  '64.  Deep  Bottom  Fight.  335 

ing  was  but  the  arrival  of  a  relieving  force.  But  as  the 
artillery  rolled,  the  horses  tramped,  and  the  whistles  blew, 
it  became  plain  to  these  even  that  the  crossing  was  much 
too  large  for  a  mere  relieving  one.  There  could  be  but  one 
other  meaning — for  we  were  alive  to  the  signs  of  the  times — 
and  we  went  to  sleep,  those  who  did  sleep,  with  the  firm 
conviction  that  when  we  awoke,  it  would  be  to  fall  into  line 
to  learn  Avhat  sort  of  soldiers  occupied  the  rebeldom  in  our 
immediate  front.  The  knowledge  would  cost,  that  we  all 
knew;  but  what  has  a  soldier  to  do  with  cost?  Few  if  any 
of  our  soldiers  let  the  prospect  of  a  fight  in  the  morning 
disturb  their  night's  rest.  Judging  by  reason  and  our 
experience,  the  next  morning,  it  is  more  than  probable  that 
the  pickets  of  the  enemy  were  equally  well  informed  of  the 
prospects  of  the  morning,  for  what  we  could  hear  so  plainly 
could  hardly  escape  their  watchful  attention.  They  not 
only  heard  and  judged  rightly,  but  they  passed  the  word 
back  to  their  line  of  battle. 

General  Humphreys  says  of  this  project : 

The  Second  Corps  was  marched  to  City  Point,  and  em- 
barked on  steamers  which  left  City  Point  for  the  lower  pon- 
toon bridge  at  Deep  Bottom  at  ten  o'clock  at  night  of  the 
13th  of  August.  The  cavalry  and  artillery  went  by  land. 
It  was  expected  that  troops  would  have  disembarked,  and 
the  movement  have  begun  by  daylight,  but  the  steamers 
were  not  adapted  to  the  transportation  of  troops,  and,  owing 
to  the  shoal  water,  could  not  run  near  enough  to  the  shore, 
and  the  tide  was  ebbing.  This  caused  delay  and  it  was  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  14th  before  the  corps  had 
disembarked.  The  plan  of  operations  was  for  Mott  (Third 
Division,  Second  Corps)  to  move  on  the  river  road  [New 
Market],  and  drive  the  enemy  into  his  intrenched  line 
behind  Bailey's  Creek,  and  beyond  it  if  practicable. 
General  Barlow  with  the  First  and  Second  Divisions 
[Second  Corps]  was  to  move  to  Mott's  right  and  assault 
the  enemj^'s  lines  near  the  Jennings  House  [in  the  vicinity 
of  Fussell's  Mills],  Gregg  with  his  cavalry  to  cover  the 
right  flank.  General  Barlow  was  to  attack  the  enemy's 
right  near  the  pontoon  bridge  above  the  mouth  of  Bailey's 
Creek,  and  if  successful  was  to  move  up  the  Kingsland, 
Varina  and  Mill  roads,  all  of  which  are  near  the  river  bank. 


836  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Humphreys  further  remarks  that  if  all  of  this  could  have 
been  carried  out,  the  enemy's  intrenchments  would  have 
been  turned  and  we  should  have  had  possession  of  Chapin's 
Bluff,  the  works  of  which,  with  those  of  Drewry's  Bluff, 
were  the  chief  fortifications  guarding  the  river  approach 
to  Richmond.  But  the  number  of  Confederates  sent  to  the 
assistance  of  Early  had  been  overstated,  only  Kershaw's 
division  having  been  withdrawn,  and  its  absence  had  been 
made  good  by  the  arrival  of  reinforcements  from  Lee's 
right.  From  the  foregoing  it  is  readily  seen  that  it  was  no 
surprise  to  the  enemy  when  the  Union  lines  advanced;  on 
the  contrary,  with  their  accustomed  vigilance,  the  Con- 
federates were  up  and  stirring  as  early  as  our  own  soldiers. 
The  14th  of  August  was  Sunday,  as  were  so  many  of  the 
fighting  days  during  the  war.  It  Avas  3  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing when  the  men  were  turned  out  to  get  their  rations  and 
to  take  their  places  in  line.  Every  man  was  in  light  march- 
ing order,  being  stripped  to  the  least  possible  weight  of 
outfit.  Already  those  in  command  had  received  the  order 
from  General  Foster,  "You  will  charge  the  enemy's  line  at 
daybreak."  Let  one  who  was  there,  a  private  in  the  ranks, 
tell  how  the  advance  appeared  to  him: 

Our  company  (I)  was  on  the  left,  and  we  rushed  for- 
ward ;  we  bore  off  to  the  left,  while  the  regiment  had  a  ten- 
dency to  the  right.  There  were  rifle-pits  in  front  of  us,  and 
as  we  neared  one  of  them  a  human  figure  began  to  unfold 
itself  above  its  edge.  Seemingly  it  grew  to  be  the  tallest  man 
I  had  ever  seen.  He  had  been  down  to  load,  but  I  had  the 
drop  on  him.  'Surrender!'  I  yelled  in  my  heaviest  tones,  and 
he  obeyed,  coming  out  of  his  lair.  As  he  did  so,  I  extended 
my  hand,  saying,  'How  are  you,  Johnny?'  and  he  took  it,  say- 
ing, 'How  are  you,  bub  ?'  a  reflection  on  my  stature  that  made 
me  wish  to  shoot  him  then  anyway.  He  was  a  member  of  a 
Georgia  regiment,  and  passed  on  to  the  rear.  Everybody  was 
running  his  best  to  first  reach  the  rebel  works,  just  in  front 
of  us,  and,  as  I  could  see,  the  race  narrowed  to  Tom  Carroll 
and  Sam  Reed,  who  were  neck  and  neck  as  they  cleared  the 
works,  both  being  in  the  air  at  the  same  moment.     One  of 


Aug.  14,  '64.  Deep  Bottom  Fight.  337 

the  most  active  in  this  frenzied  rush  was  Jack  Sweeney,  the 
man  who  interrupted  General  Terry's  speech.  By  his  alert- 
ness, energy  and  prowess  he  had  gathered  in  half  a  dozen 
prisoners,  when  he  was  himself  toppled  over  by  a  shot  in 
his  leg.  Managing  to  balance  himself  on  his  remaining  mem- 
ber, he  took  a  farewell  shot  at  the  rebs  and  crawled  towards 
the  rear,  getting  one  of  the  boys  to  stop  the  flow  of  blood 
by  the  use  of  a  silk  handkerchief  as  a  tourniquet.  On  reach- 
ing the  field  hospital  he  was  told  that  his  leg  would  have 
to  come  off  and  the  surgeon  was  about  to  administer  chlo- 
roform. "No,  sir,"  says  the  brave  fellow,  "just  give  me  a 
drink  of  whiskey  and  I'll  stand  it  with  my  eyes  open."  He 
got  his  drink.  "Now  another,"  says  he,  and,  with  the  two 
drinks  promised  by  his  General,  he  saw  his  own  leg  taken 
off  without  a  flinch  or  murmur. 

This  brilliant  dash  of  the  Twenty-fourth  is  thus  mentioned 
in  the  story  of  the  Eleventh  Maine :  ' '  Then  came  a  lull  in  the 
fighting,  during  which  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  came 
marching  up  in  double  column  and,  reaching  the  skirmish 
line,  took  up  the  double-quick,  sprang  past  us  and,  setting 
up  a  tremendous  cheer,  rushed  on  the  enemy's  intrenchments. 
But  not  alone ;  to  the  right  and  left,  from  the  Tenth  Con- 
necticut and  the  Eleventh  Maine,  sounded  the  charging 
cry  and  the  three  regiments  rushed  on  the  enemy's  line  with 
such  vigor  as  to  break  it  instantly,  and  the  rebels,  surprised 
by  the  unexpected  assault,  fled  to  their  main  works,  leaving 
some  prisoners  in  our  hands.  We  found  stacked  guns  and 
the  remains  of  a  half-eaten  breakfast  behind  the  captured 
works,  showing  that  the  rebels  had  taken  advantage  of  the 
lull  in  the  fighting  to  break  their  fast,  and  that  many  of 
them  were  so  panic-stricken  as  to  leave  everything  behind 
them.  Our  men,  breakfastless,  snatched  at  the  freshly 
cooked  rations  of  bread,  cooked  in  the  peculiar  southern 
style  (in  skillets  covered  with  coals),  and  at  the  strips  of 
fat  bacon,  and,  while  waiting  for  the  arrival  of  their  own 
cooks  with  baked  beans  and  coffee,  satisfied  the  sharp  moni- 
tions of  their  healthy  Yankee  appetites  with  the  captured 
food."  The  sorrow  of  the  never-too- well-fed  enemy,  as 
22 


338  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

he  contemplated  his  breakfast  in  the  hands  and  stomachs 
of  his  foe,  may  better  be  imagined  than  described. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  Tenth  Connecticut  was 
on  the  skirmish-line,  and  the  following  description,  written 
by  their  gallant  Major  Camp,  fits  well  into  the  present 
narrative : 

There  was  a  yell  from  the  rebels  in  front;  a  louder  crash 
of  musketry.  Our  skirmishers  stood  fast,  and  drove  back 
the  advancing  enemy,  but  on  our  left  men  came  pouring 
back  in  panic.  We  helped  their  officers  to  rally  them;  the 
rebels  dare  not  follow  them  up ;  the  line  was  re-established, 
and  the  fight  went  on  as  before.  This  had  lasted  more  than 
an  hour  when  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts,  which  had 
been  held  in  reserve,  came  marching  up  in  double  column; 
they  were  to  charge  through  the  dense  woods  upon  the 
rifle-pits  beyond.  We  had  orders  to  follow  and  support 
them.  They  moved  forward  splendidly,  with  well-closed 
lines  and  steady  step;  they  passed  us  a  few  rods,  and  the 
undergrowth  hid  them  from  sight.  We  came  after  in  line 
of  battle.  Not  very  sleepy  work,  such  an  advance  as  that. 
Two  or  three  minutes  passed ;  the  same  irregular  fire  in 
front,  and  with  a  long  tremendous  cheer,  the  Twenty-fourth 
made  their  rush.  Our  boys  needed  no  orders;  a  shout 
burst  from  every  throat  and  the  whole  line  dashed  on.  But 
instead  of  the  fierce  volleys  we  expected  to  meet,  there,  on 
reaching  open  ground,  was  the  line  of  works  deserted.  The 
yell  and  the  charge  had  been  too  much  for  the  nerves  of 
our  friends  in  gray  and,  almost  without  another  shot,  they 
had  turned  and  made  the  best  of  their  way  to  the  rear.  It 
was  a  strong  position  and  an  attacking  force  might  have 
been  made  to  sufi'er  a  fearful  loss.  The  Twenty-fourth  took 
a  number  of  prisoners — as  contented  and  happy  looking 
set  of  fellows  as  they  marched  off  as  I  ever  saw.  No 
wonder ! 

The  formal  report  of  Captain  Maker  adds  very  little  to 
the  foregoing,  but  as  a  concise  statement  of  the  part  borne 
by  the  regiment  on  the  14th,  it  is  herewith  presetited: 

I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  the  regimental  line  of 
the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  was  formed  at  about  4.30 


Aug.  14,  '64.  Deep  Bottom  Fight.  339 

o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Sunday,  August  14,  1864,  and, 
according  to  orders  from  Brigadier-general  R.  S.  Foster, 
immediately  proceeded  up  the  Deep  Bottom  road  at  double- 
quick  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  halted  and  awaited  fur- 
ther orders.  Soon  after  we  proceeded  a  short  distance  up 
the  road,  filed  into  the  woods  on  the  left,  and  formed  a 
line  of  battle  in  rear  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut  and  the 
First  Maryland  Cavalry  [dismounted],  with  our  right  rest- 
ing on  the  road,  where  we  remained  about  an  hour  and  a 
half.  Orders  were  then  received  from  Brigadier-general 
A.  H.  Terry  to  double  column  and  fix  bayonets.  The  regi- 
ment then  made  a  charge  [according  to  orders  from 
Generals  Terry  and  Foster]  through  the  skirmishers  of 
the  Tenth  Connecticut,  driving  the  enemy  from  their  posi- 
tion, and  occupied  their  breastworks,  capturing  about  fifty 
prisoners,  and  held  the  position  till  about  2  p.m.,  when 
orders  were  received  to  move  by  the  right  flank  in  concert 
with  the  Eleventh  Maine,  which  was  deployed  as  skirmishers 
on  our  right  and  front.  After  moving  a  considerable  dis- 
tance to  the  right,  again  halted,  formed  in  line,  with  our 
right  resting  in  rear  of  the  left  of  the  Eleventh  Maine,  and 
sent  out  two  companies  on  the  skirmish-line  to  fill  the 
vacancy  between  the  Eleventh  and  the  First  Maryland 
Cavalry.  At  3.30  p.m.,  being  exhausted  from  long  sickness, 
I  was  unable  to  remain  with  the  regiment  and  relinquished 
the  command  to  Captain  George  W.  Gardner. 

Our  loss  up  to  this  time  was  two  men  killed,  one  lieu- 
tenant and  fourteen  men  wounded. — ^R.  R.,  Vol.  XLII,  Part 
1,  p.  754. 

Casualties  at  Deep  Bottom,  Virginia,  August  14,  1864,  in 
the  Twenty-fourth :  Killed — Pvt.  John  R.  Oldham,  Company 
B;  Pvt.  Patrick  A.  Mullen,  Company  H.  Wounded — Pvts. 
Robert  Bond,  Cornelius  Callahan,  Company  A;  Corp.  Wm. 
H.  Bent,  Pvt.  "Wm.  Wyman,  Company  C;  Pvt.  Philip  T. 
Greeley,  Company  D;  Pvts.  John  Heafy,  Michael  Lyons, 
Henry  Newberry,  Company  F;  Pvts.  Patrick  Coyne, 
Edward  Gladding,  Company  G;  Pvts.  John  F.  Doherty, 
James  Field,  Company  H ;  Second  Lieutenant  Jarvis  White, 
Pvt.  John  Sweeney,  Company  I;  Pvt.  Wm.  McQuade,  Com- 
pany K. 


340  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Monday,  August  15th,  was  a  quiet  day  by  comparison 
with  the  one  before  and  that  to  follow.  Captain  Gardner 
says:  ''At  5  p.m.,  we  moved  out  into  the  Kingsland  road 
and  remained  till  11  p.m.,  when  the  march  was  resumed, 
and  at  12.30  a.m.  reached  Strawberry  Plains;  formed  line 
in  rear  of  the  Eleventh  Maine  and  bivouacked  for  the 
night.  Monday,  August  15th,  marched  with  the  rest  of  the 
troops  to  the  right  at  a  point  near  Deep  Run;  formed  line 
of  battle  on  the  left  of  the  Eleventh  Maine."  The  14th 
had  been  a  terribly  hot  day.  It  was  usual  in  those  times 
that  a  rainstorm  should  follow  extreme  heat,  especially 
if  there  had  been  cannonading.  These  two  requisites  having 
been  had  in  great  abundance,  it  is  no  wonder  that  rain 
fell  a  great  part  of  the  night,  and  Monday  dawned  with  a 
drizzling  continuance.  The  men,  so  earnestly  engaged  the 
day  before,  were  in  reserve,  while  General  Birney  and  those 
troops  of  his  corps  unengaged  on  the  14th,  were  searching 
for  the  Confederate  left,  his  flank  covered  by  Gregg's 
cavalry.  The  Second  Corps  held  the  line  to  the  river,  but 
Birney  took  so  wide  a  circuit  that  he  did  not  get  into  posi- 
tion before  night.  The  companies  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
that  had  been  sent  on  picket  the  preceding  afternoon  and 
thence  had  gone  back  to  camp,  on  this  morning  returned 
to  the  regiment,  which  was  found  some  five  miles  away. 
The  roads  everywhere  were  filled  with  stragglers,  but 
through  all  of  them,  men  with  a  purpose  were  able  to  find 
their  way;  thus  the  cooks  and  supply  wagons  reached  the 
regiment  in  bivouac,  getting  the  rest  that  General  Terry 
had  promised  them. 

DEEP  RUN. 

If  Monday,  the  15th,  was  a  day  of  rest,  nothing  of  the 
sort  could  be  said  of  the  16th,  for  that  was  to  prove  the 
most  trying  period  of  all  the  regiment's  time  of  service. 
"Deep  Run"  or  "Creek"  was  that  day  graven  ineffaceably 
upon  the  memory  of  every  survivor  of  the  Twenty-fourth. 


Aug.  16,  '64.  Deep  Run.  341 

In  general,  the  movement  was  a  continuation  of  the  effort 
to  tnrn  the  Confederate  left.  In  the  language  of  General 
Humphreys,  "Birney  was  ordered  to  attack  on  the  16th,  and 
Gregg,  with  Miles'  brigade  of  Barlow's  division,  to  move 
up  the  Charles  City  road  to  divert  the  enemy's  force  from 
Birney.  General  Gregg  advanced  at  an  early  hour  to  the 
vicinity  of  White's  tavern  (seven  miles  from  Richmond), 
driving  the  enemy's  advanced  force  of  calvary  before  him, 
their  commander.  General  Chambliss,  being  killed.  At  ten 
o'clock  General  Terry,  with  his  division  of  Birney 's  corps 
and  Craig's  brigade  of  Mott's  division,  together  with  a 
brigade  of  colored  troops  commanded  by  Brigadier-general 
Wm.  Birney,  advanced  against  the  enemy's  works  above 
Fussell's  mill,  and  after  a  severe  contest  carried  them, 
capturing  three  colors  and  between  200  and  300  prisoners 
from  Wilcox's  and  Mahone's  divisions.  Colonel  Craig,  who 
had  just  returned  to  the  army  from  an  absence  on  account 
of  wounds  received  during  the  campaign,  was  killed.  The 
enemy  soon  retook  their  line,  Birney  retaining  only  the 
advanced  line  of  pits,  the  picket-line.  The  wooded  charac- 
ter of  the  country  prevented  personal  examination  by  Gen- 
eral Hancock,  and  it  was  some  hours  before  he  was  fully 
informed  of  the  state  of  affairs. 

Captain  George  W.  Gardner  in  his  official  report  thus 
states  the  part  sustained  by  the  regiment: 

At  5  a.m.  Tuesday,  August  16th,  with  the  rest  of  the 
brigade,  we  moved  to  the  right,  being  on  the  left  of  the 
Eleventh  Maine.  Formed  line  of  battle ;  deployed  two  com- 
panies as  skirmishers ,  right  connecting  with  the  Eleventh 
Maine,  the  left  connecting  with  the  Tenth  Connecticut. 
The  whole  command  then  moved  to  the  right;  moved 
forward  in  line  of  battle  through  a  thick  pine  woods, 
wheeling  slowly  to  the  left.  About  10  a.m.  the  skirmishers 
encountered  those  of  the  enemy  on  the  opposite  side  of  a 
deep  ravine ;  sent  forward  Companies  H  and  K  to  reinforce 
the  skirmish-line.  After  being  engaged  some  time,  moved 
forward,  the  skirmishers  charging  those  of  the  enemy,  driv- 


342  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

ing  them  from  their  pits,  capturing  some  30  prisoners. 
Companies  D  and  K  being  out  of  ammunition,  were  relieved 
by  Companies  C  and  Gr.  The  regiment  then  moved  forward 
rapidly  and  found  the  enemy  strongly  posted  in  and  on  the 
opposite  side  of  a  deep  ravine.  The  Eleventh  Maine  having 
charged  and  occupied  a  portion  of  the  enemy's  intrench- 
ments,  Companies  C,  H  and  E  pushed  forward  at  the  same 
time,  occupying  a  part  of  the  same  works  on  the  left  of  the 
Eleventh  Maine,  capturing  some  25  prisoners.  The  connec- 
tion of  the  regiment  with  these  companies  being  broken, 
moved  by  the  right  flank  and  established  my  line  of  battle, 
right  resting  on  the  Eleventh  Maine  and  left  in  the  ravine, 
one  company  [I]  being  thrown  out  to  connect  the  left. 
This  forward  movement  uncovered  my  left  flank.  At  once 
sent  word  to  General  Foster,  commanding  the  brigade,  of 
the  position  of  affairs  on  my  left.  Two  companies  of  the 
Tenth  Connecticut  under  Captain  Goodyear  were  at  once 
sent  forward  as  a  support  to  that  part  of  my  line.  For  a 
long  time  the  regiment  was  exposed  to  a  severe  fire  from 
the  enemy,  strongly  posted,  enfilading  the  ravine  and 
breastworks  he  had  abandoned.  Several  vigorous  but  unsuc- 
cessful assaults  were  made  by  the  enemy  for  the  recovery 
of  the  works  from  which  they  had  been  driven.  The  ene- 
my being  heavily  reinforced,  finally  succeeded  in  compel- 
ling the  troops  on  my  right  to  retire.  This  necessitated 
the  withdrawal  of  my  command,  which  was  done  in  compar- 
atively good  order,  leaving  but  three  or  four  men  dead  or 
severely  wounded  on  the  field.  I  at  once  formed  line  of 
battle  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  ravine,  rallying  the  men 
that  had  fallen  back.  Finding  the  troops  on  my  left  retir- 
ing, I  faced  my  command  about  and  marched  in  retreat 
about  fifty  yards  and  halted,  reporting  to  the  general  com- 
manding the  brigade.  The  brigade  line  was  immediately 
formed  and  moved  forward  to  within  a  short  distance  of 
the  position  we  previously  held,  throwing  forward  Com- 
pany F  as  skirmishers.  At  12  o'clock  that  night  moved 
back  and  formed  line,  right  resting  on  Colonel  Hawley's 
brigade,  in  rear  of  intrenchments  that  had  been  thrown  up, 
and  bivouacked  for  the  night.  The  list  of  casualties  on 
the  16th  was  one  officer.  Lieutenant  Jesse  Williams,  Com- 
pany B,  killed,  and  three  wounded;  sixteen  enlisted  men 
killed,  seventy-nine  wounded  and  twelve  missing. 


Aug.  16,  '64.  Deep  Run.  343 

Incidents  in  the  deploying  to  the  left  of  Company  I,  as 
stated  by  Captain  Gardner,  are  told  by  survivors.  Sergeant 
O'PIearn.  who  had  been  ill  and  had  just  come  up,  was 
instantly  killed.  Blood  is  a  deal  thicker  than  water,  as  was 
evident  when  his  old  friend,  Sergeant  0  'Brien,  stooped  over, 
saying.  "Poor  old  chappie."  quite  heedless  of  the  storm 
of  bullets  about  him.  His  comrades  pulled  him  down,  he 
exclaiming  as  he  dropped  among  them,  "Thun deration!" 
his  favorite  expletive.  In  their  ardor,  the  company  was 
carried  up  to  a  point  whence  it  could  neither  advance  nor 
retreat  without  incurring  great  danger.  It  was  here,  close 
under  the  Confederate  works,  that  a  rebel  officer  stepped 
out  and  with  a  wave  of  his  hand,  said,  ''Surrender,  boys, 
for  we've  got  you."  He  had  hardly  uttered  the  words, 
when  Dennis  ("Chub")  O'Connor,  standing  behind  a  tree, 
with  a  deadly  aim,  fired,  and  as  the  unfortunate  rebel 
plunged  forward,  shouted:  "Surrender  yourself.  G — d 
d n  ye,"  his  act  and  words  being  received  by  his  com- 
rades with  shouts  and  cheers.  It  was  in  this  advanced 
position  that  several  of  the  missing  men  were  captured,  and 
as  they  went  into  the  enemy's  hands,  they  waved  a  good- 
bye to  those  who  had  stopped  short  of  their  advance.  During 
these  days  of  incessant  fighting  one  of  the  boys,  mindful 
of  the  hereafter,  was  accustomed  to  start  his  daily  duties 
with:  "The  Lord  is  good  and  the  d- 1  ain't  very  bad,"  evi- 
dently intent  on  a  happy  issue  either  way. 

Drummer-boy  Yining  of  Company  K  had  a  novel  experi- 
ence in  this  engagement.  In  his  capacity  as  a  musician,  he 
was  carrying  wounded  from  the  field.  With  three  other  drum- 
mers he  was  returning  from  the  field  hospital  when  he  saw  an 
orderly,  belonging  to  the  First  Mass.  Cavalry,  fall  from  his 
horse.  He  had  been  struck  by  a  bullet  on  the  cap-pouch  of 
his  revolver  with  sufficient  force  to  dismount  him,  but,  as  it 
turned  out,  he  was  more  scared  than  hiu't.  Vining  knew  the 
soldier  and  as  he  had  a  dispatch  from  General  Foster  to  Gen- 
eral Terrj%  the  drummer  essayed  to  cany  it  himself.     Shorten- 


344  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Reigiment. 

ing  the  stirrups,  he  mounted  and  started,  after  locating 
Terry's  headquarters  flag.  Somehow,  he  got  off  the  road  and 
ran  into  a  rebel  picket  and  was  fired  on,  but  he  managed  to  get 
away  and  deliver  his  dispatch.  On  giving  .up  his  paper  and 
explaining  how  he  came  by  it,  he  was  warmly  complimented 
by  the  General,  and  some  months  later  received  from  him  a 
medal,  now  a  precious  memento  of  the  event.  As  the  volun- 
teer orderly  was  growing  faint  one  of  the  General's  staff  said, 
"Why,  the  boy  is  wounded,"  and,  sure  enough,  blood  was  flow- 
ing freely  from  a  wound  in  his  left  leg,  but  it  proved  to  be 
nothing  serious  and  he  was  soon  about  again. 

Every  man  in  the  Twenty-fourth  held  his  neighbors  of 
the  Tenth  Connecticut  in  the  highest  esteem,  and  their 
regard  was  fully  reciprocated.  In  one  of  the  thrilling 
moments  of  this  day,  when  the  firing  was  most  intense, 
indeed  our  own  artillery,  through  some  inadvertence,  were 
dropping  their  shells  among  the  men  on  the  firing  line,  mak- 
ing a  condition  difficult  for  the  stoutest  of  hearts  to  endure, 
some  of  the  men  started  for  the  rear,  thus  leaving  a  gap 
on  the  line  nearest  the  enemy.  Said  Major  Camp,  writing 
of  the  event :  ' '  Our  boys  sprang  forward  to  fill  as  far  as 
their  thin  line  enabled  them  to,  the  vacancy,  and  with  cool 
determination  held  the  enemy  at  bay.  The  Twenty- fourth 
Massachusetts  stood  firm  on  our  right^New  England  Yan- 
kees every  man;  all  this  was  like  a  flash.  As  the  break 
commenced  our  officers  rushed  among  the  fugitives,  seized 
them  and  flung  them  back  to  the  front.  I  haven't  worked 
so  hard  since  the  Worcester  regatta."  Chaplain  Trumbull 
was  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  officers  as,  revolver  in 
hand,  he  was  doing  his  best  to  straighten  things  out,  and 
saying:  "Boys,  there  are  places  where  a  chaplain  can 
fight. ' '  The  boys  rewarded  his  conduct  with  three  vigorous 
cheers. 

The  duty  of  a  soldier  is  to  do  and  dare.  Precious  little 
does  the  man  in  the  ranks  know  of  the  situation  except  in 
his   immediate   vicinity,   hence   the   words   written   on   the 


Aug.  16,  '64.  Deep  Run.  345 

field  itself  have  special  significance.  A  confirmed  taker  of 
notes,  with  his  eyes  and  ears  ever  open,  of  this  day  remarks 
the  pleasantness  of  the  morning,  the  dispensing  of  coffee 
by  the  cooks,  the  falling-in  of  the  regiment  and  the  orders 
to  march  forward  till  they  found  something:  "We  threw 
out  a  line  of  skirmishers  [Company  D],  and  moved  about 
half  a  mile,  when  the  skirmishers  were  engaged.  The 
Eleventh  Maine  and  the  Tenth  Connecticut  were  on  our 
right  and  left  respectively.  The  Tenth  Connecticut,  after 
we  had  driven  the  rebels  from  their  rifle-pits,  charged  the 
breastworks  and  were  supported  by  the  First  Maryland 
Cavalry  (dismounted).  The  Eleventh  Maine  got  inside  of 
the  breastworks,  but  had  to  fall  back.  Next  a  brigade 
of  negroes  charged,  and  then  Colonel  Osborn's  brigade 
charged  and  took  the  first  line  of  works.  Then  we  on  the 
left  charged  and  came  up  to  the  works.  Our  company, 
G,  was  sent  out  to  relieve  Company  D  on  the  skirmish- 
line  just  before  the  charge,  and  then  we  moved  forward. 
We  skirmishers  got  into  the  rebel  works  and  were  mixed 
up  with  the  Eleventh  Maine.  The  regiment  soon  came  up 
and  formed  line.  The  rebs  had  a  sharp  cross-fire  on  us 
as  we  lay  in  the  ditch  in  front  of  the  first  line  of  works. 
I  had  a  rebel  knapsack  thrown  over  to  me,  which  I  opened 
and  took  out  four  plugs  of  tobacco,  and  stuffed  them  into 
the  breast  of  my  blouse.  I  took  out  a  letter,  too,  and  threw 
the  knapsack  back.  I  read  the  letter,  which  was  from 
Georgia,  for  a  private  in  the  Third  Georgia  Regiment.  I 
was  not  half  through  the  letter,  when  I  began  to  think 
how  it  would  seem  for  me  to  be  shot  while  reading  this 
rebel  missive.  I  had  not  more  than  finished  it  when  a 
bullet  pierced  my  left  arm,  grazed  my  breast  and  cut  in 
two  my  cartridge  belt.  I  thought  I  was  shot  through  the 
breast,  and  I  jumped  to  my  feet  and  made  for  the  rear, 
getting  one  of  the  boys  to  tie  my  towel  around  the  arm 
above  the  wound.  My  store  of  tobacco  fell  out  when  I  took 
off  my  equipments,  and  then  I  realized  that  the  weed  had 


346  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

saved  my  life,  for  the  plug  had  elevated  my  body  just 
enough  to  prevent  the  bullet's  passing  through  my  breast 
instead  of  merely  grazing  it.  The  Indian  weed  surely  did 
me  a  good  service." 

While  close  up  to  the  scene  of  action,  the  regiment  was 
not  activelj^  engaged  during  the  subsequent  movements  of 
this  "north-side-of -the- James"  attempt  to  turn  the  Con- 
federate left.  Resuming  the  report  of  Captain  Gardner, 
we  read : 

"Wednesday,  August  17th,  the  regiment  was  engaged  in 
no  operations.  Second  Lieutenant  Wm.  Thorne,  Company  F, 
was  severely  wounded  by  a  chance  shot  from  the  enemy's 
works.  [He  died  on  the  20th.]  Thursday,  August  18th, 
the  regiment  took  part  in  no  operation  during  the  day. 
At  6  p.m.  the  enemy  made  demonstration  along  our  lines, 
driving  in  our  pickets;  suffered  no  casualties.  At  11  p.m. 
moved  out  of  the  works  by  the  right  flank,  leaving  Captain 
Partridge,  with  thirty-two  men  of  Company  F,  on 
picket,  to  be  withdrawn  by  the  officer  of  the  day. 
Moved  back  and  took  position  near  the  New  Market 
road,  under  the  direction  of  the  brigadier-general 
commanding,  in  rear  of  the  First  IMaryland  Cavalry, 
and  bivouacked  for  the  night.  Friday,  August  19, 
the  regiment  took  part  in  no  operations.  Saturday, 
August  20,  the  regiment  moved  out  of  the  intrenchments 
at  6.30  p.m.  and  took  up  the  line  of  march,  reaching  StraAv- 
berry  Plain  about  midnight.  Bivouacked  behind  the 
intrenchments  and  remained  till  5  a.m.,  Sunday,  August 
21,  when  the  march  was  resumed,  arriving  in  camp  at  Deep 
Bottom  at  5.30  a.m. 

I  deeply  regret  to  report  the  loss  of  two  valuable  officers : 
Lieutenant  Jesse  Williams,  killed  instantly,  and  Lieutenant 
William  Thorne,  died  from  wounds.  Three  officers,  Captain 
Edmands,  Lieutenants  Wilson  and  Hayward,  are  slightly 
wounded  and  will  soon  be  able  for  duty.  Lieutenant  Sargent 
received  a  slight  wound  in  the  wrist,  Sunday,  August  14, 
that  entirely  disabled  his  right  arm  during  the  whole  six 
days,  but  kept  on  duty  with  his  company,  and  was  not 
reported  among  the  casualties.^ — R.  R..  Vol.  42,  Part  I,  p.  754. 

Of  Lieutenant  Sargent,    one   of   his   boys   said :   ' '  He   was 


Aug.  16,  '64.  Deep  Run.  347 

short  and  slight  in  figure,  but  if  pure  grit  were  pounds 
he  would  weigh  a  ton."  Concerning  Captain  Edmands' 
wound  ]Major  Stowits.  in  his  history  of  the  One  Hundredth 
New  York,  sslys,  "The  Adjutant  of  the  Twenty-fourth  ]\Ias- 
sachusetts  had  his  lips  cut  close  to  his  teeth  without  breaking 
the  enamel,  a  marvel  of  close  shooting." 

The  report  of  General  R.  S.  Foster,  commanding  the 
brigade,  while  a  clear  statement  of  the  week's  campaigning, 
adds  little  to  the  data  already  given.  In  the  portions  refer- 
ring to  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts,  he  says:  "At  7.15, 
the  14th,  I  ordered  a  charge,  which  was  gallantly  made 
at  7.35  by  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  in  column  of 
division,  supported  by  the  other  regiments  of  my  command 
*  *  *  driving  the  enemy  out  of  three  lines  of  rifle-pits 
and  into  the  main  line  of  intrenchment,  across  a  deep 
ravine,  with  considerable  loss,  capturing  about  100  pris- 
oners, their  dead  and  wounded  and  200  small  arms.  *  *  * 
I  desire  to  bear  testimony  to  the  gallant  character  of  the 
troops  comprising  my  command.  *  *  *  Captains  Maker 
[who  was  forced  by  sickness  to  retire  on  the  night  of  the 
14th]  and  Gardner  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts 
[w^ho  subsequently  commanded]  deserve  great  credit  for 
the  manner  in  which  they  handled  the  regiment  in  the 
engagements  in  which  they  participated,  both  displaying  all 
the  qualifications  requisite  to  competent  commanders." 

Casualties  at  Deep  Run,  Virginia,  August  16,  1864: 
Killed — First  Lieutenant  Jesse  S.  Williams,  Company  B; 
Pvt.  Charles  Phipps,  Company  A;  Corp.  Wm.  A.  Phinny, 
Pvts.  Henry  A.  Clark,  Samuel  B.  Gray,  Company  C;  Corp. 
Jos.  H.  Wyman,  Company  E;  Lieut.  William  Thorne,  Com- 
pany F  (died  August  20)  ;  Pvt.  John  J.  Ford,  Company 
G;  Sergeants  Patrick  Owens,  Wm.  H.  Streeter,  Pvt.  George 
Clark,  Company  H;  Sergeant  Patrick  O'Hearn,  Pvts. 
Marcus  Lyon,  Marshall  E.  Smith,  Company  I. 

Wounded — First  Lieutenant  Alex.  Hayward,  Corps.  John 
J.  Dickson,  John  C.  Gillen,  Pvts.  Timothy  Hassin,  John 
McKowm,  Company  A ;  Pvts.  Frank  Bumpus,  L.  S.  Bumpus, 


348  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Thos.  J.  Greeley,  Company  B;  Sergeant  B.  F.  Stoddard, 
Corp.  John  McMahon,  Pvts.  Robert  Johnson,  Peter  Powers, 
Company  C ;  Sergeant  Thos.  D.  Gammons,  Corps.  Alex. 
McWhirt,  John  W.  Martin,  Lewis  E.  Whitney,  Pvts.  Geo. 
W.  Bliss,  Hugh  Costello,  Wm.  H.  Dodge,  Thos.  Fanning, 
Daniel  Murray,  Asa  B.  Nute,  Michael  O'Connor,  John  T. 
Phelps,  Wm.  J.  Phelps,  Albert  A.  Taylor,  Geo.  W.  Thomas, 
Company  D ;  Corp.  John  0.  Bond,  Pvts.  John  Driscoll,  Thos. 
Malcom,  Company  E;  Corp.  James  J.  Dow,  Pvts.  Robert 
Clark,  Maurice  Cronin,  George  R.  King,  Company  F; 
Captain  Thomas  F.  Edmands,  Pvts.  James  D.  Delva,  George 
A.  Howard,  Frank  Morrison,  Company  G ;  Sergeant  Daniel 
Smith,  Corp.  Wm.  A.  Ford,  Pvts.  Oliver  A.  Kelley,  Samuel 
Locke,  John  A.  Lowell,  Charles  Lucas,  Wm.  Wrightington, 
Company  H;  First  Lieutenant  J.  T.  Wilson,  Sergeant  C.  C. 
Dickinson,  Pvts.  Patrick  Lines,  John  McCoy,  Company  I; 
Sergeant  Henry  K.  Paul,  Pvts.  John  W.  Brown,  H.  F. 
Davis,  Warren  Haskell,  James  Holland,  Thos.  Horrigan, 
Thos.  Mahony,  Michael  Mallady,  Wm.  Phillips,  Jos.  L. 
Sears,  Company  K. 

During  these  stirring  times  we  have  missed  the  presence 
of  Colonel  Osborn  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  but  he  was  giving 
a  good  account  of  himself,  though  obedience  to  orders  had 
removed  him  from  leading  his  own  beloved  regiment.  Com- 
manding the  Third  Brigade  of  the  Second  Division,  it  will 
be  remembered  that  he  left  his  regiment  the  day  before  the 
advance  was  ordered.  That  he  was  proud  of  the  record 
made  by  his  men  is  evident  when  he  inscribes  the  following 
words  to  friends  at  home:  "I  hear  the  best  accounts  of  my 
men.  All  agree  in  saying  that  they  behaved  nobly  and  fully 
maintained  their  reputation.  *  *  *  ]\/[y  brigade  was  in 
reserve  all  the  morning  (the  16th),  and  was  moved  about 
from  place  to  place.  At  about  noon,  it  was  posted  on  the 
brow  of  a  hill  just  behind  a  wood,  and  near  some  batteries. 
The  bullets  whistled  about  us  occasionally,  but  as  they  were 
apparently  stray  shots  and  only  wounded  onp  man  in  the 


Aug.  24,  '64.  Deep  Bottom.  349 

first  quarter  of  an  hour,  we  paid  no  attention  to  them  and 
ate  our  dinner  tranquilly.  A  little  later,  the  shots  came 
faster  and  I  told  mj'  orderly  to  move  my  horse  a  little  to  the 
rear,  where  she  would  be  sheltered  by  the  hill.  Soon  after, 
I  got  orders  to  move  over  to  the  right  and  to  support 
Terry's  division.  I  gave  the  command,  'Attention!'  to  the 
brigade  and  then  walked  back  and  called  for  my  horse. 
While  doing  that  I  felt  a  blow  apparently  in  the  back  of 
my  head  which  knocked  me  down.  I  w^as  immediately  raised 
and  examined.  It  was  found  that  the  ball  had  struck  upon 
the  cord  of  the  left  side  of  the  neck  and  had  not  penetrated 
the  skin.  The  shock,  however,  numbed  me  and  gave  a 
buzzing  sensation.  *  *  *  i  felt  mortified  to  go  to  the 
rear  without  even  a  scratch,  but  there  was  no  help  for  it. 
I  consoled  myself  with  the  thought  that  it  was  better  than 
a  sunstroke,  which  at  one  time  seemed  likely."  Colonel 
Osborn  was  unable  to  return  to  his  brigade  before  the  21st. 
In  the  night  of  the  21-22,  the  pickets  were  called  in, 
light  marching  orders  having  been  received,  and  at  1 
o'clock  a.m.,  the  Eleventh  Maine,  Tenth  Connecticut  and  the 
Twenty-fourth  were  started  off  on  another  movement,  recross- 
ing  the  James  and  taking  the  road  leading  to  the  Bermuda 
Hundred  front.  General  Birney,  commanding  the  Tenth 
Corps,  had  planned  to  assault  the  Howlett  House  Battery 
early  in  the  morning  of  the  22d.  and  on  account  of  the 
bravery  shown  by  the  brigade  in  the  preceding  days,  to  it 
was  to  be  assigned  the  honor  of  leading  the  assaulting 
column.  It  was  a  fortunate  thing  for  these  devoted  New 
Englanders  that  discretion  instead  of  valor  prevailed  and 
the  project  was  given  up.  While  the  trip  savored  some- 
what of  marching  up  the  hill  and  then  marching  down  again, 
there  were  many  souls  in  the  regiments  that  were  quite  con- 
tent to  keep  soul  and  body  together  for  a  while  at  least.  So 
back  all  went  to  Deep  Bottom  once  more.  August  24th, 
owing  to  the  illness  of  General  Turner,  commanding  the 
Second  Division  of  the  Tenth  Corps,  General  R.  S.  Foster,  so 


350  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

long  in  command  of  the  Third  Brigade  of  the  First  Division, 
was  transferred  to  Turner's  position  and  Colonel  Plaisted  of 
the  Eleventh  Maine  again  assumed  command  of  the  brigade, 
a  position  he  was  to  hold  for  the  greater  part  of  his  subse- 
quent stay  in  the  service.  On  the  same  day  came  orders  to 
be  ready  to  march  at  a  moment's  notice. 

PETERSBURG. 

On  the  25th,  tents  were  struck,  but  the  coming  up  of  a 
shower  gave  the  soldiers  a  taste  of  the  power  of  Pluveus 
they  would  gladly  have  been  spared,  but  Virginia  rain  was 
possible  at  almost  any  time.  The  next  day,  the  26th,  negro 
troops  of  Paine 's  brigade  (Eighteenth  Corps)  came  in  and 
relieved  the  Third,  and  at  4.30  p.m.  the  men  who  had 
inaugurated  the  Deep  Bottom  movement  started  away  to 
take  places  in  front  of  Petersburg  lately  held  by  the 
Eighteenth  Corps.  The  march  was  a  memorable  one  for  its 
discomforts,  most  graphically  pictured  in  the  story  of  the 
Eleventh  Maine : 

The  night  was  a  dark  and  rainy  one  and  the  way  lay 
through  thick  pine  woods  for  some  miles.  The  road  was 
muddy  and  patched  with  puddles  of  water,  lying  in  the  ruts, 
the  heavy  wagons  had  made.  The  line  of  march  was  a  bro- 
ken one,  every  man  straying  along  as  best  he  could,  now 
stumbling  through  a  pool  of  water,  now  running  against 
a  tree  trunk.  The  grumbling  and  swearing  can  be  imagined. 
We  reached  the  Appomattox  at  Point  of  Rocks  about  eleven 
o'clock.  By  this  time  the  rain  was  coming  down  in  torrents. 
A  wagon  train  was  passing  the  bridge,  so  we  had  to  lie  down 
and  wait  its  passage,  during  which,  wet  as  we  were,  our  tired 
men  lay  down  on  the  muddy  ground  and  napped  as  best 
they  could.  It  was  one  o'clock  before  we  started  again. 
We  crossed  the  bridge  in  the  dark,  guided  across  it  by 
the  flashes  of  lightning  that  now  lit  up  the  scene.  The 
bridge  was  a  long  one,  the  Appomattox  here  running  to 
wide  swampy  shores,  across  which  the  bridge  was  built  from 
the  high  ground  on  each  side  of  the  river.  After  marching 
a  few  miles  further,  the  storm  grew  to  such  violence  and  the 


Aug.  'G4.  Petersburg.  351 

roads  were  in  such  a  terrible  condition  that  the  order  came 
to  halt  and  to  shelter  ourselves  as  best  we  could.  All  we 
could  do  in  the  open  ground  we  were  in  now,  was  to  crouch 
down  in  the  mud  and  to  doze  it  out.  We  marched  in  the 
morning  when  the  storm  had  cleared  away,  through  a 
country  of  cleared  plantations  with  abandoned  houses  and 
negro  quarters.  Petersburg  was  plainly  in  sight  during 
a  part  of  the  march.  We  could  see  its  encircling  lines  of 
earthworks,  Confederate  and  Union.  Indeed,  everywhere  we 
could  see  were  earthworks,  frowning  guns  and  camps  of 
soldiers. 

About  fifteen  miles  from  Deep  Bottom  the  outer  line  of 
works  near  Jerusalem  Plank  road  was  reached.  The  bri- 
gad'e  was  halted,  and  then  in  line  of  battle  the  men  were 
marched  up  to  the  works,  relieving  the  troops  that  marched 
out.  Over  our  works  could  be  plainly  seen  those  of  the 
enemy,  nothing  intervening.  Evidently  some  of  the  artillery- 
men thought  the  new  comers  somewhat  verdant,  and  they 
essayed  some  joking  comments,  which  were  answered  in 
such  a  way  as  to  convince  the  critics  that  men  who  had 
soldiered  before  Charleston  knew  what  cannonading  was. 
Near  by  was  the  crater,  the  scene  of  the  terrible  mine  explo- 
sion of  the  preceding  July,  and  those  men  interested  in 
immediate  history  had  a  good  chance  to  inspect  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  cases  of  engineering  in  the  whole  course 
of  the  war.  Here,  during  the  remainder  of  August  and  till 
near  the  end  of  September,  the  Third  Brigade  was  to  learn 
what  constant  exposure  meant.  The  tour  of  duty  was  some- 
thing like  this,  again  quoting  from  the  record  of  our  Maine 
friends :  ' '  One  day  of  twenty-four  hours,  we  would  be  on  the 
picket-line  in  our  front,  placed  along  a  run  that  intersected 
an  exposed  field,  the  enemy's  picket-line  lying  on  the  other 
side  of  the  same  run.  Here,  in  the  head-high  holes  some  of 
our  predecessors  had  dug,  we  shivered  through  the  night 
and  boiled  through  the  day,  not  daring  to  lift  our  heads 
above  our  rude  earthworks  till  dark.  Firing  and  observing 
were   done   through   the    rude    embrasures,    the    banks    of 


352  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

earth  before  our  picket-holes  were  pierced  with.  Wlieu  relieved, 
always  at  night,  and  just  after  dark,  we  would  fall 
back  to  the  front  line  of  works  (batteries  connected 
with  infantry  parapets),  to  remain  there  forty-eight 
hours.  Then  relieved  by  incoming  pickets  we  would  fall 
back  to  our  camp  and '  remain  till  morning,  the  next  day 
being  spent  on  fatigue  duty.  Then  after  another  twenty-four 
hours  spent  in  camp  we  went  on  picket  again,  going  over  the 
weary  round." 

At  no  time  during  the  entire  staj^  in  front  of  Petersburg 
were  the  men  off  the  danger-line,  for  even  in  camp  they 
were  hit  by  the  enemy's  missiles,  and  when  lying  in  his  tent 
a  man  might  receive  his  death-stroke,  but  the  picket-line  was 
the  particularly  disagreeable  place,  on  account  of  the  con- 
strained position,  the  heat  of  day,  the  cold  of  night  and  the 
character  of  food  and  drink  the  situation  necessitated.  The 
Twenty-fourth  knew  what  impending  danger  was,  for  its 
men  had  been  through  the  siege  of  Charleston,  but  there, 
when  not  close  up  to  the  parallels,  they  were  in  comparative 
safety.  Then,  too,  every  man  on  picket  knew  that  if  the 
enemy  were  to  attack,  so  close  were  the  lines,  it  meant  cer- 
tain death  or  captivity  for  him,  since  escape  was  clearly  out 
of  the  question.  During  this  Petersburg  period  while  there 
were  no  charges  either  by  the  Federal  or  Confederate  side, 
the  incessant  strain  told  upon  the  men  and  the  mortality 
record  was  considerable,  not  to  mention  those  who  were 
wounded.  No  less  than  six  men  went  thus  to  their  deaths, 
Company  D  being  particularly  unfortunate,  since  three  of 
its  men  lost  their  lives,  w^hile  one  each  from  A,  E  and  I  was 
recorded.  The  man  of  Company  I  w^ho  was  shot  on  picket 
was  George  Gambol,  and  it  was  at  the  very  end  of  the 
service  here ;  just  a  few  more  days  of  risk  and  he 
might  have  gone  hence  with  his  fellows.  The  foeman  who 
shot  him  had  no  idea  of  the  discomforts  the  Yankee  was 
suffering,  and,  when  the  latter  essayed  to  drain  out  the  water 
from  his  drenched  rifle-pit,  it  was  for  his  enemy  to  fire  the 


Aug.  '64.  Petersburg.  353 

fatal  shot.  One  of  the  Company  D  killed  was  Corporal  Geo. 
W.  McKean.  liis  company  was  in  line  September  17th 
preparatory  to  going  out,  when  a  comrade,  passing  near  him, 
said,  ''Whose  turn  is  it  to-night,  George?"  This  in  view 
of  the  frequent  deaths  on  the  picket-line.  "I  don't  know, 
perhaps  mine,"  was  the  reply.  As  the  friend  wrote  in  his 
journal,  "You  may  imagine  my  feelings  when  his  dead  body 
was  brought  in.    The  turn   surely  was  his." 

Of  course  the  days  here  were  not  without  their  incidents, 
some  of  them  worthy  of  preservation.  Thus  when  a  cook 
of  the  Twenty-fourth,  after  long  and  patient  care,  had 
brought  his  beef-stew  to  a  satisfactory  condition  and  was 
lifting  it  from  the  fire  preparatory  to  serving  his  hungry 
comrades,  a  vagrant  shell  from  the  rebel  lines  hit  the  kettle 
and  dashed  it  to  fragments,  effectually  ruining  one  fragrant 
repast.  The  picturesque  profanity  of  that  cook  lingers  yet 
in  the  memories  of  those  who  heard.  Had  he  himself  been 
struck,  ho  would  not  have  thought  of  swearing,  but  the 
dispersidn  of  all  his  culinary  efforts  in  this  summary  method 
was  too  much  for  his  philosophy.  ]\Ien  grew  callous  to  mere 
noise,  and  when  permitted  to  sleep  did  so  with  a  devotion 
never  rivaled  elsewhere,  unless  it  were  by  the  famous  seven 
sleepers  of  old.  James  A.  was  a  youth  with  a  conscience 
which  never  troubled  him,  and  when  his  stomach  was  well 
filled,  and  the  call  to  duty  did  not  ring  in  his  ears,  he  could 
sleep  on  the  verge  of  Vesuvius  when  in  deepest  convulsions. 
One  night,  the  cannonading  assumed  proportions  tremendous 
even  for  Petersburg;  it  seemed  as  though  the  whole  earth 
were  trembling  under  the  terrible  shocks.  Apparently  every 
other  man  in  the  regiment  was  out  and,  finally,  someone 
missed  the  somewhat  numerous  James  and  fearing  he  might 
have  been  struck  in  his  quarters  he  was  sought,  only  to  be 
found  sleeping  as  peacefully  as  if  in  his  own  little  bed  in 
his  quiet  home. 

No  matter  what  the  danger  nor  how  great  the  weariness, 
men  and  boys  must  be  amused,  and  it  was  in  these  days 
23 


354  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

that  Yankee  ingenuity  suggested  a  leaden  mortar,  made  by 
the  soldiers  themselves,  whence  with  powder  extracted  from 
their  cartridges,  they  would  send  up  charges  dampened 
and  bullet  laden,  to  disconcert  the  enemy,  and,  as  the  boys 
said,  "keep  them  dodging,"  when  the  bullets  rattled  down 
among  them.  Again  some  of  the  younger  soldiers  essayed 
the  old  trick  of  boyhood  with  slings,  and,  k  la  David,  threw 
leaden  messengers  among  their  Philistine  foes,  much  to  the 
surprise  of  the  latter,  who  heard  the  hum  of  bullets,  but 
did  not  detect  the  report  of  guns,  until  finally  one  curious 

Johnny  sang  out,  "Say,  Yank,  what  in  h 1  kind  of  guns 

have  you  'uns  got  over  there  that  don't  make  any  noise?" 
A  good  instance  of  the  cool  indifference  is  told  of  a  party  of 
Twenty-fourth  boys  in  the  outer  line  of  works,  who  were 
whiling  away  the  tedious  time  with  a  game  of  cards,  when 
a  Confederate  mortar-shell  dropped  just  back  of  them,  and, 
in  its  explosion,  made  an  excavation  like  a  cellar  hole. 
The  boys  were  on  their  faces  in  an  instant  and  covered  with 
dirt,  but  unhurt  they  scrambled  up  and,  long  before  the 
smoke  had  cleared,  an  ardent  youth  was  exclaiming, 
"What's  trumps?" 

There  was  not  the  least  personal  rancor  between  Reb 
and  Yank.  They  exchanged  leaden  compliments  as  a  matter 
of  course,  but  when  opportunity  offered  none  could  be  more 
friendly  than  they.  Of  course  it  was  not  according  to  the 
rules  of  war,  and  for  that  matter  the  whole  Rebellion  was 
fought  through  in  the  face  of  no  end  of  departure  from  time- 
honored  notions  of  the  old  tacticians,  but  at  times  the  men 
themselves,  tired  of  so  much  shooting  and  constraint,  would, 
as  if  by  common  consent,  declare  a  brief  truce  and  proceed 
to  exchange  papers,  tobacco  for  coffee,  and  a  score  of  other 
things  dear  to  the  respective  parties.  Then,  as  quickly  as 
the  armistice  was  begun,  it  would  end  and  the  trouble  would 
begin  again.  It  was  in  one  of  these  intervals  that  a  young- 
ster, belonging  to  the  One  Hundredth  New  York,  rushed 
into  the  camp  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  saying,  "I  want  a  gun. 


Aug.  '64.  Petersburg.  355 

let  me  have  a  gun  quick,  I  want  to  shoot  the  d d  rebel," 

seemingly  quite  beside  himself  with  rage.  Of  course  he  was 
prevented  carrying  out  his  attempt,  and  subsequent  inquiries 
developed  a  bit  of  history  that  could  be  told  of  few  coun- 
tries other  than  ours.  It  appears  that  an  elder  brother  of 
the  young  New  Yorker  had  gone  South,  before  the  war,  had 
married  there,  and  had  ardently  espoused  the  secession  cause. 
After  a  time  he  had  been  taken  prisoner  and  on  his  way 
down  the  James  or  Potomac  in  a  vessel,  found  his  own 
brother,  not  the  one  of  this  incident,  in  a  seriously  wounded 
condition.  Instead  of  the  meeting  that  one  would  expect 
under  such  circumstances,  the  rebel  so  far  forgot  all  sense 

of  relationship  and  humanity  as  to  exclaim,  "I'm  d d 

glad  of  it,  I  wish  it  had  killed  you."  The  Union  man  reached 
his  home  and  told  his  folks  of  the  meeting.  The  younger 
brother,  a  mere  lad,  in  time  found  himself  in  the  army,  and 
on  this  day  enjoying  the  truce  which  was  on.  There  he  met 
the  secesh  brother,  again  in  the  field,  and  it  was  the  latter 's 
exclamation,  "What,  you  here,  you — (an  expression  reflecting 
on  the  virtue  of  their  common  mother) — , "  that  so  exasper- 
ated the  boy.  That  he  had  provocation  all  must  grant, 
but  he  was  not  allowed  to  gratify  his  feelings  of  resentment. 
Never  were  the  amenities  of  war  carried  to  a  greater 
extreme  than  along  the  lines  in  front  of  beleaguered 
Petersburg.  Says  one  man,  "It  was  not  an  infrequent  thing 
for  us  to  meet  in  the  corn-field  in  front  of  our  works  and  I 
have  taken  the  money  of  a  rebel,  found  my  way  to  the  sut- 
ler and  made  purchases  for  him  of  things  that  he  could  not 
get  in  his  own  lines  and  the  Johnny  would  give  me  a  good 
piece  of  tobacco  for  doing  it.  At  the  same  time,  it  was  thor- 
oughly realized  that  every  tour  of  duty  might  be  the  last. 
Indeed,  these  instructions  were  given  when  the  tour  was 
begun,  "You  might  just  as  well  consider  yourselves  dead,  if 
an  attack  is  made  on  you,  for  if  one  does  come  the  line  back 
of  you  will  fire  at  once  into  you  as  well  as  upon  the  enemy." 
"Hence,"  says  one  veteran,  "we  sought  out  the  most  con- 


356  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Eegiment. 

venient  places  into  which  to  stow  ourselves  if  the  Johnnies 
should  manage  to  get  inside  of  our  immediate  line."  Yet 
when  the  enemy  knew  that  the  relief  was  coming,  i.  e., 
when  the  pickets  were  to  change,  there  would  be  a  cessation 
of  firing  as  if  by  mutual  consent. 

Spear,  a  Company  D  note-taker,  says  of  his  surroundings : 
"I  awoke  early  and,  with  true  Yankee  curiosity,  peeped 
over  our  breastworks  to  see  what  was  in  front  of  us,  and 
great  was  my  astonishment  to  see  the  boys  in  blue  and  the 
boys  in  gray  apparently  as  friendly  as  if  there  was  no  war ; 
but  it  was  only  for  a  short  time.  An  hour  later  had  I  looked 
over  the  bank,  it  might  have  cost  me  my  head.  The  enemy 
comes  to  the  same  spring  where  we  get  water,  which  is  be- 
tween the  lines.  They  are  very  sociable  and  are  always  ready 
for  a  trade  with  our  men.  In  a  moment's  time,  it  may  all  be 
changed,  and,  without  warning,  they  may  open  fire  on  each 
other.  *  *  *  We  are  quite  near  Petersburg,  the  churches 
etc.,  being  in  plain  sight.  It  appears  to  be  a  pretty  place. 
Yesterday,  the  church-bells  were  ringing  and  the  people 
were  going  to  church  and  that,  too,  under  a  continuous  fire 
of  shot  and  shell.  At  night  the  sight  is  grand,  for  the  num- 
ber of  shells,  seen  overhead  with  their  streams  of  fire 
trailing  on  behind  like  comets,  make  it  a  scene  of  wonderful 
grandeur,  and  still  it  is  terrible  when  we  think  of  the  havoc 
caused  by  them.  We  are  near  the  big  gun  called  "Peters- 
burg Express." 

Perhaps  Spear's  notions  of  the  nomination  of  McClellan 
for  the  Presidency  in  August,  1864,  is  a  fair  presentation  of 
the  average  soldier's  opinion,  at  the  time,  of  the  political 
situation;  "McClellan  was  nominated  at  Chicago,  on  what 
is  called  a  peace  platform.  Now,  if  I  were  in  favor  of 
stopping  the  war  just  where  it  is  at  the  present  time,  give 
the  rebels  all  they  ask  for,  that  is,  return  to  them  their 
slaves,  pay  their  debts  contracted  during  the  war  and,  last 
but  not  least,  allow  them  to  secede  from  the  Union,  which 
last  demand  there  was  just  as  good  reason  for  granting  three 


Sept.  '6-4.  Petersburg.  357 

years  ago  as  now,  why,  then  I  should  vote  for  MeClellan. 
If  I  am  in  favor  of  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war  to  its 
bitter  end  no  matter  if  it  takes  twenty  year^,  then  I  am  in 
favor  of  the  election  of  Lincoln.  Some  of  the  politicians  of 
the  ]McClellan  class  speak  of  the  Avar  as  a  revolution,  but  I 
consider  it  simply  as  a  rebellion  that  must  be  crushed  out, 
even  if  it  does  cost  millions  of  treasure  and  thousands  of 
lives.  I  think  Lincoln  has  done  as  well  as  any  man  could, 
and  now  that  he  knows  how  to  run  the  ship,  it  is  better  to  let 
him  conduct  her  through  the  storm  rather  than  to  change, 
perhaps  for  the  worse.  I  have  a  high  opinion  of  MeClellan 
as  a  military  man,  but  I  cannot  vote  for  him  for  President." 
It  was  during  the  stay  in  front  of  Petersburg  that  the 
expiration  of  service  of  the  original  officers  began  and  the 
first  to  be  mustered  out  were  Captains  Daland  and  Maker 
of  Companies  H  and  K  respectively.  They  had  rendered 
long  and  valuable  service  and  were  now  to  return  to  their 
homes  for  the  rest  they  had  so  richly  earned.  Colonel 
Osborn,  in  his  brigade  headquarters,  refers  to  their  passing 
their  last  night  before  departure,  that  of  September  2d,  with 
him.  Their  going  left  only  Captain  Redding  of  the  original 
captains  still  with  his  company,  though  Hooper  of  B  and 
Richardson  of  G,  as  field  officers,  were  still  with  the  regiment, 
at  least  nominally.  Major  Richardson  was  discharged  for 
disability  September  23d,  and  on  expiration  of  service 
Captain  Redding  of  A  was  mustered  out  September  22d. 
The  same  month  saw  the  end  of  the  regimental  life  of 
Captains  Bell  of  C,  Nichols  of  D,  Partridge  of  F  and  Folsom 
of  E,  either  on  expiration  of  service  or  for  disability.  While 
there  were  other  men  ready  for  their  respective  places,  their 
going  made  a  gap  in  the  list  of  officers  sad  to  behold. 
Death,  transferral  and  promotion  were  making  important 
changes  in  the  personnel  of  the  regiment,  so  long  and  so 
justly  conspicuous  for  its  discipline,  readiness  and  deter- 
mination. Enlisted  men,  also,  who  had  fought  the  battles 
bravely,    had  finished  their  military  course  and  had  kept 


358  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

their  plighted  faith,  were  going  home,  so  that  parade 
occasions,  if  by  any  chance  such  should  be  had,  would 
reveal  a  different  line  from  those  of  Readville,  Annapolis 
and  Newbern,  yet  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  was  still  in 
the  field  and  as  ready  as  ever  to  give  a  good  account  of 
itself. 

The  abundance  of  artillery  along  the  battlemented  front 
at  Petersburg  made  it  possible  and  easy  to  fire  adequate 
salutes  over  recurring  Union  victories.  The  occupation  of 
Atlanta,  September  2d,  by  the  Twentieth  Corps,  under 
General  Slocum,  was  the  occasion  of  the  firing  of  a  shotted 
salute  at  midnight,  Sunday,  the  4th,  and  the  rebel  reply  in 
kind  only  added  to  the  din,  but  what  was  strangest  of  all, 
it  seemed  that  no  one  was  hurt,  though  all  agreed  that  the 
noise  exceeded  any  ever  heard  before.  Again,  in  the  morning 
of  September  21st,  in  honor  of  Sheridan's  signal  victory  at 
Winchester,  when  he  sent  Early  "whirling  up  the  valley," 
there  were  ten  rounds  of  shotted  guns  fired  at  the  enemy. 
A  certain  portion  of  the  Union  defense  was  locally  known  as 
Fort  Hell,  but  when  the  whole  front  blazed  with  sulphurous 
flames,  it  would  not  have  been  inappropriate  to  dub  the 
entire  front  Avith  its  Confederate  vis-a-vis,  "hell  and 
damnation."  Fort  Sedgwick,  otherwise  "Fort  Hell,"  was 
one  of  the  scenes  of  fatigue  duty  for  men  of  the  Twenty- 
fourth.  "Damnation,"  over  on  the  other  side,  was  the  sug- 
gestive title  given  to  Battery  Mahone. 

September  23d  brought  to  an  end  the  absence  of  Colonel 
Osborn  from  his  regiment,  since  on  that  day,  through  the 
return  of  Colonel  Bell  of  the  Fourth  New  Hampshire  and 
his  resumption  of  his  command.  Colonel  Osborn  was 
relieved.  The  order  of  General  Birney  relieving  Colonel 
Osborn  bears  date  September  23d,  and  closes  with  these 
commendatory  words : 

"In  relieving  Colonel  Osborn  from  that  duty,  the  com- 
manding General  desires  to  express  his  approval  of  the  zeal 
and  ability  with  which  Colonel  Osborn  has  discharged  the 
trust." 


Sept.  '64.  Petersburg.  359 

In  the  same  connection,  General  R.  S.  Foster,  command- 
ing the  division,  says : 

"In  relieving  Colonel  Osborn,  the  Brigadier-general  com- 
manding takes  great  pleasure  in  testifying  his  appreciation 
of  the  able  and  energetic  manner  in  which  the  affairs  of  the 
brigade  have  been  administered  by  him,  and  takes  this 
opportunity  of  expressing  his  thanks  to  Colonel  Osborn  for 
his  valuable  services  and  co-operation  vrhile  in  command  of 
the  Third  Brigade  of  the  Second  Division." 

The  Colonel  returned  just  in  time  to  receive  orders  for  the 
Tenth  Corps  to  be  ready  to  be  relieved  at  night  by  the 
Second  Corps  and  to  mass  in  rear  of  corps  headquarters, 
and  that  night,  the  24th,  the  men  had  the  privilege  of  rest 
and  sleep  undisturbed  by  Confederate  attentions.  Though 
the  order  incorporated  the  idea  of  rest  and  reorganization, 
those  familiar  with  the  characteristics  of  General  Grant 
were  not  surprised  w^hen,  on  the  28th,  came  orders  to  be 
ready  to  move  at  3  p.m.,  but  where?  that  was  the  question. 
Subsequently  it  was  learned  that  Grant  had  determined  to 
make  another  deiuonstration  against  the  rebels'  left,  think- 
ing it  much  weakened,  and  that  a  sudden  assault  by  the 
Tenth  and  Eighteenth  Corps,  both  of  them  familiar  with  the 
territory,  accompanied  by  Kautz's  Cavalry,  might  capture 
Chapin's  Bluff  and  enter  Richmond  before  Lee  could  hurry 
troops  to  its  relief.  If  he  did  withdraw  from  his  right  in 
behalf  of  his  left,  he  would  thus  leave  an  opening  for  Meade, 
of  which  the  latter  would  not  be  slow  to  avail  himself. 
General  E.  0.  C.  Ord  had  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the 
Eighteenth  Corps,  and  with  his  troops  crossed  at  Aiken's 
Landing,  preparatory  to  assaulting  the  works  near  Chapin's 
Bluff,  while  Birney  was  to  advance  by  the  Newmarket  road. 
But  as  our  quest  is  specific  rather  than  general.  Colonel 
Osborn  may  tell  the  story  of  the  part  performed  by  his  regi- 
ment in  this  movement : 


360  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

DEEP  BOTTOM. 

We  marched  from  our  camp  near  Petersburg,  Wednes- 
day [28th],  at  3  p.m.,  and  after,  a  long  and  very  tedious 
tramp  reached  our  old  station  at  Deep  Bottom  at  2  o'clock 
in  the  morning  of  the  29th.  We  were  allowed  to  sleep  till 
half  past  three,  when  we  started  out  for  the  front.  We 
occupied  a  position  on  the  flank,  where  there  was  no  fight- 
ing. We  soon  had  the  satisfaction  of  hearing  the  cheers  of 
our  victorious  men  and  then  heard  that  we  had  carried  the 
enemy's  line  and  that  they  had  left  precipitately.  The 
whole  force  then  moved  up  towards  Richmond,  several  miles 
by  the  Newmarket  road.  On  the  way  a  report  was  circu- 
lated that  the  Eighteenth  Corps  had  captured  Chapin's 
Bluff.  I  have  not  heard  confirmation  of  it  yet,  but  it  looks 
probable.  We  reached  more  of  the  enerny's  works  before 
noon  and  the  troops  were  placed  in  position  to 
attack  them,  Terry's  division  in  reserve.  This  attack 
was  not  successful.  At  3  p.m.  it  was  learned  that 
Kautz's  Cavalry,  who  had  gone  up  on  the  Charles 
City  road,  were  in  sight  of  Richmond.  General  Bir- 
ney,  thinking  they  needed  an  infantry  support,  sent 
Terry's  division.  We  marched  up  the  Darbytown  Turnpike 
until  within  three  miles  of  the  city,  and  in  front  of  the  main 
line  of  works,  where  we  halted  to  find  out  about  Kautz 
and  his  position.  I  rode  to  the  head  of  the  column  and 
saw  the  dome  of  the  Capitol.  I  was  just  going  further  for- 
ward to  a  position  where  I  could  get  a  better  view  of  the 
city,  when  we  were  ordered  to  return.  It  seems  that  Kautz 
had  gone  off  on  his  own  hook  and  could  not  be  found,  so 
that  the  presence  of  the  infantry  was  needless,  hence  Gen- 
eral Birney  ordered  us  back.  It  is  generally  believed  that 
there  is  but  a  small  force  in  and  about  the  city,  and  that 
ten  thousand  men  could  have  gone  in  there.  Whether  that 
is  what  Grant  wants  or  not,  I  do  not  know.  He  has  an 
admirable  faculty  of  keeping  his  plans  and  wishes  secret. 
We  returned  to  our  position  near  the  works  that  had  been 
attacked  in  the  afternoon,  and  bivouacked  there.  I  don't 
know  what  is  to  be  done  to-day.  Now  (7.30  a.m.,  the  30th) 
the  troops  are  taking  new  positions  and  drawing  rations. 
*  *  *  The  rebels  must  be  in  a  very  great  strait  for  men 
when  they  leave  their  capital  so  weakly  defended  as  we 
found  it  yesterday.     *     *     *     *     ^he  soil  we  are  on  now 


Oct.  '64.  Deep  Bottom.  361 

and  over  which  we  passed  yesterday  has  never  before  been 
trodden  by  a  Union  army,  and  I  am  happy  to  have  been 
one  of  an  army  which  first  approached  so  near  the  doomed 
city.  Richmond,  I  believe,  can  be  ours  at  any  time,  but 
what  we  want  is  Lee's  army,  and  that  I  think  we  shall  get. 

The  simultaneous  movement  of  General  Ord  and  the 
Eighteenth  Corps  on  the  Union  right  had  been  successful. 
He  had  assaulted  and  after  desperate  fighting  had  taken 
Fort  Harrison,  subsequently  to  be  known  as  Fort  Burnham, 
in  honor  of  the  Union  General,  Hiram  Burnham,  killed  in  the 
assault,  September  29th,  and  with  it  a  number  of  cannon  and 
many  prisoners.  General  Ord  was  seriously  wounded  and 
the  command  of  the  corps  devolved  on  General  Charles  A. 
Heckman.  The  efforts  to  gain  the  Confederate  works  nearer 
the  river  were  defeated  through  the  presence  and  activity 
of  the  enemy's  gunboats.  Also  a  similar  attempt  to  capture 
Fort  Gilmer  on  the  Union  right  was  repulsed  through  the 
heavy  reinforcements  which  had  been  thrown  in.  So  severe 
seemed  the  loss  of  Fort  Harrison  to  the  enemy  that  on  the 
30th  he  made  strenuous  efforts  to  recapture  it,  but  without 
success.  The  failure  to  capture  Fort  Gilmer  was  a  source  of 
regret  to  General  Grant,  who  had  appeared  on  the  scene,  for 
its  possession  was  essential  to  the  command  of  the  rebel 
defenses  at  Chapin's  Bluff. 

October  1st,  General  Terry  reconnoitered  to  the  right  with 
a  brigade,  but  the  men  of  the  Third  Brigade,  except  the 
Tenth  Connecticut,  remained  in  their  works,  lengthening  the 
line  to  cover  the  position  held  by  the  regiments  now  on  the 
reconnoissance.  The  Tenth  had  been  sent  up  to  the  front  to 
oppose  the  sending  of  reinforcements  against  Terry.  At 
night,  the  Connecticut  men  fell  back  to  their  old  place.  Gen- 
eral Terry  and  his  party  having  returned.  This  period  of 
time  is  recalled  by  all  interested  as  one  of  extreme  discom- 
fort, since  the  day  before,  rain  had  begun,  and  both  officers 
and  men  were  without  shelter  except  for  the  blankets  they 
carried.    All  night  long  the  men  suffered  from  the  driving 


362  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

rain,  getting  what  rest  they  could  in  the  mud,  and  wishfully 
looking  for  the  morning,  though  that  brought  them  no 
relief,  for  Chaplain  Trumbull  said  it  was  only  a  change  from 
a  horizontal  to  a  perpendicular  bath.  Several  days  were 
spent  in  strengthening  the  positions  and  in  keeping  a  sharp 
outlook  for  the  enemy,  the  latter  making  a  demonstration  on 
the  2d  which  seemed  to  indicate  a  determination  to  assault. 
Indeed  almost  every  day  brought  some  hostile  movement 
from  the  Confederates,  who,  as  it  appeared  later,  were 
really  feeling  of  the  entire  line,  trying  to  find  a  place  where 
they  might  make  a  breach.  During  these  days,  the  baggage 
came  up  and  with  shelter  tents  the  men  were  able  to  keep 
out  a  little  of  the  weather.  Deserters  were  constantly 
comin-g  in  and  those  of  the  6th  reported  that  an  assault 
was  projected  for  the  7th  of  the  month. 

DARBYTOWN  ROAD. 

Writing  on  the  field  itself  at  1.30  p.m.  of  the  7th,  Colonel 
Osborn  says : 

We  are  lying  now  in  the  woods,  a  little  in  the  rear  of  the 
position  which  we  have  occupied  for  the  past  week,  and 
having  just  repulsed  with  much  slaughter  a  furious  attack 
of  the  rebels,  I  have  a  breathing-spell,  which  I  devote  to 
writing.  We  knew  last  night  that  we  should  be  attacked 
this  morning  and  were  surprised  when  an  hour  of  daylight 
passed  without  any  alarm.  Between  6  and  7  o'clock 
we  heard  heavy  firing  on  our  extreme  right,  which  was  our 
most  exposed  point ;  as  it  increased  and  came  nearer,  our 
brigade  was  moved  from  its  position  to  a  point  beyond  the 
former  right  of  the  line,  in  order  to  prevent  our  being 
flanked.  We  marched  on  the  road  towards  Deep  Bottom 
about  a  mile,  then  marched  in  line  of  battle  into  the  wood, 
about  500  yards,  connecting  with  other  troops  already  in 
position.  This  was  at  about  9.30  a.m.  We  lay  there  about 
an  hour,  during  which  the  skirmishers  in  front  were  hotly 
engaged.  After  a  while  the  firing  became  much  heavier,  and 
the  bullets  flew  past  us  much  more  thickly,  showing  that  the 
enemy  had  brought  up  a  line  of  battle.    Our  skirmishers  fell 


Oct.  7,  '64.  Darbytown  Road.  363 

back,  at  first  slowly  and  then  with  a  rush,  breaking  through 
my  ranks,  and  then  going  to  the  rear.  They  were  not  my 
men.  This  did  not,  as  I  had  feared,  throw  my  men  into  any 
confusion ;  they  stood  quiet  and  waited  coolly  for  my  orders. 
I  could  see  them  watching  my  face  eagerly,  as  men  always 
do  watch  their  commanding  officer  in  battle,  so  I  called  for 
three  cheers,  which  were  given  with  a  will.  The  enemy  came 
in  sight  at  this  moment  and  we  poured  in  a  heavy  fire,  which 
drove  them  back.  The  fire  was  heavier  on  my  left  than  on 
my  immediate  front.  In  a  few  moments  firing  broke  out  on 
my  right,  which  did  not  connect  immediately  with  anything, 
but  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  which  lay  a  little  in  rear,  wel- 
comed so  many  of  them  to  bloody  graves  that  the  rest  retired 
with  haste.  Then  we  went  to  work  to*  throw  up  a  little 
breastAvork  to  make  our  position  more  secure  if  they  should 
charge  again,  and  while  the  men  are  working,  I  write  this 
line.  Some  prisoners  were  taken,  among  them  a  wounded 
officer  of  the  Fifth  South  Carolina.  They  all  agree  that  we 
slaughtered  them  fearfully.  They  say  they  have  never  met 
with  so  great  a  loss  in  any  battle.  My  own  regimental  loss 
is  small  as  yet,  not  more  than  half  a  dozen,  of  whom  one 
[Merritt  of  I]  was  killed.  Regiments  on  my  left  have 
suffered  more  severely.    Orders  have  just  come  to  advance. 

3.45  p.m.  We  have  advanced  slowly  a  short  distance  with- 
out seeing  the  enemy,  and  are  now  waiting  again.  What 
we  shall  do  next  is  not  known.  It  is  now  said  that  the 
enemy  are  again  trying  to  turn  our  right,  but  that  story  is 
subject  to  caution.  It  is  a  lovely  day,  clear  and  bright, 
with  the  sun  just  pleasantly  warm,  but  not  oppressive.  I 
have  as  usual  had  reason  to  feel  proud  of  the  conduct  of 
my  men.  They  have  been  perfectly  cool  and  steady,  have 
attended '  to  orders,  and  have  obeyed  them  promptly  and 
intelligently;  I  feel  the  utmost  confidence  in  them,  for  I 
am  satisfied  they  will  always  do  their  duty.  I  received 
orders  yesterday  assigning  me  to  the  command  of  a  brigade. 
I  did  not  like  that  and  I  accordingly  asked  General  Birney 
to  revoke  the  order,  which  he  did. 

8.30  a.m.,  October  8th.  After  writing  the  above  we 
advanced  about  half  a  mile.  The  enemy  had  retreated, 
having  utterly  failed -to  accomplish  his  purpose  and  having 
met  with  considerable  loss.  They  are  said  to  have  returned 
to  Richmond.  Lee  was  present,  directing  the  movement 
in  person.     The  affair  came  near  being  serious  for  us,  for 


364  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 

the  cavalry  who  guarded  onr  right  were  driven  back  flying, 
and  but  for  Terry's  division,  our  communications  would 
have  been  cut.  Our  division  prolonged  our  right,  met  the 
rebels  at  every  point  and,  as  one  of  the  prisoners  said,  they 
were  "handsomely"  foiled. 

Thus  far  we  have  the  story  as  it  appeared  to  Colonel 
Osboru.  writing  during  the  progress  of  the  fight.  In  the 
light  of  subsequent  knowledge  the  following,  abridged  fro7n 
the  History  of  the  Eleventh  Maine,  is  apropos : 

The  right  flank  of  our  force  (the  Third  Brigade  held  the 
extreme  infantrj^  position  on  tjiat  flank)  was  covered  by 
Kautz's  Cavalry.  His  position  was  on  the  Darbytown  road 
at  the  Confederate  line  of  intrenchments,  which  we  had 
captured  on  September  29th,  and  between  us  stretched  a 
swamp.  He  had  1700  men  and  two  batteries.  So  threatening 
was  his  position  that  the  greater  part  of  two  Confederate 
divisions,  Field's  and  Hoke's  with  a  cavalry  force,  moved 
out  on  the  night  of  October  6th,  and,  at  sunrise  of  the  7th, 
attacked  Kautz  on  his  front  and  right  flank.  He  could  not 
stand  up  against  the  attack  and,  in  falling  back 
through  the  swamp,  by  the  narrow  road  crossing  it,  found 
the  rebel  cavalry  there  before  him.  Leaving  them  his  eight 
guns,  his  men  made  a  desperate  attempt  to  get  under  the  wing 
of  our  division,  scouring  the  woods  in  flying  groups.  About 
as  soon  as  the  roar  of  the  enemy's  attack  on  Kautz  came  to 
our  ears,  the  advance  of  the  broken  cavalry  squadrons  came 
dashing  through  the  woods  on  our  flank,  riding  recklessly 
through  branches  and  copses.  Almost  immediately  our 
division  left  its  intrenchments  on  the  double-quick,  for  a 
position  at  about  a  right  angle  to  the  one  we  had  held. 

Our  brigade  was  moved  down  the  Newmarket  road  in 
the  direction  of  Deep  Bottom  for  a  mile  and  a  half,  when 
line  of  battle  was  formed  near  the  junction  of  the  New- 
market and  Varina  roads,  and  had  moved  forward  a  hun- 
dred yards  or  so,  when  we  were  fired  upon  by  the  enemy. 
We  were  now  at  right  angles  with  our  former  position. 
Hawley's  brigade  was  on  our  left.  Skirmishers  were  thrown 
out,  who  were  quickly  and  fiercely  engaged.  Heavy  artillery 
firing  was  now  heard  on  the  line  we  had  hurried  from,  and 
musketry  firing  came  rolling  down  the  line  towards  us  as 
the  enemy's  skirmishers  pressed  along  it  to  find  the  extreme 


Oct.  7,  'G4.  Darbytown  Road.  365 

right  of  our  line,  which  was  held  by  our  brigade.  Having 
found  it,  the  rebel  commander  prepared  his  assaulting 
column  under  cover  of  a  strong  skirmish  attack.  His  line  of 
skirmishers  pressed  forward  closely  to  ours,  and  the  rebel 
battalions  formed  for  attack  close  to  their  skirmish-line,  in 
order  to  lessen  the  distance  over  which  they  must  rush. 
Thick  woods  were  all  around  us,  but,  for  some  distance  in 
our  front,  was  clear  of  underbrush.  Suddenly  the  roar  of 
skirmishers  in  our  front  told  us  that  they  could  see  the 
rebel  brigades  in  motion.  Then  skirmishers  came  flying  back 
through  the  woods,  and  a  yell  broke  out  beyond  them. 
Scarcely  w^aiting  for  our  men  to  get  in,  indeed  some  of  them 
had  to  throw"  themselves  on  the  ground  and  lie  there  during 
the  engagement,  we  opened  a  furious  fire  on  the  rebels  as 
they  broke  cover  and  swept  forward  with  their  fierce  battle 
yell.  Instantly  the  volleys  opened  on  them  and,  amid  a  cloud 
of  smoke,  they  pressed  on,  their  battle  flags  flaunting  and 
their  officers  urging  them  forward.  Then  on  our  left  burst 
forth  the  roar  of  the  seven-shooters  of  Hawley's  brigade. 
Seven  volleys  in  one !  Flesh  and  blood  could  not  stand  such 
a  cyclone  of  lead  and  the  rebels  stopped,  broke  and  fell 
back  to  cover,  leaving  the  woods  piled  with  their  dead  and 
dying. 

But  they  did  not  give  up  the  attack.  Once  in  shelter,  they 
turned  and  opened  a  fierce  fire  upon  us,  their  shower  of  bul- 
lets tearing  through  the  Avoods  in  a  whistling  storm.  A 
regiment  at  our  extreme  right  had  broken  and  fallen  to  the 
rear  during  the  enemy's  assault,  leaving  the  flank  entirely 
exposed.  Xo  effort  was  made  to  stop  their  retrograde  move- 
ment, wasting  no  time  on  them,  but  the  Tenth  Connecticut, 
now  on  the  flank,  was  called  on  to  swang  its  right  a  little 
to  the  rear,  and  face  the  rebel  line  that  was  now  seeking  to 
move  round  our  right  flank.  On  the  Tenth  Connecticut,  the 
Eleventh  Maine  and  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  now 
rested  the  fate  of  the  day.  The  blood  of  the  men  was  up. 
They  had  the  enemy  outside  of  his  intrenchments,  man  to 
man  for  once,  and  although  the  three  regiments  were  so  sadly 
reduced  by  the  casualties  of  the  campaign  that  they  could 
not  have  had  more  than  600  men  in  their  brigade-line,  they 
were  strong  in  courage  and  ardor  and  had  no  thought  of 
giving  way. 

Writing  to  his  home  of  this  engagement.  Major  Camp  of 
the  Tenth  Connecticut  said:  "The  men  needed  little  in  the 


366  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

way  of  encouragement  and  orders — thej^  knew  just  what  to 
do,  and  did  it.  At  the  first  fire  the  regiment  on  our  right 
turned  and  fled.  Our  men  saw  it,  knew  that  our  flank  was 
exposed,  nothing  there  to  hinder  the  immediate  advance  of 
the  enemy.  Nothing  is  so  apt  to  shake  men  into  a  panic. 
Our  men  paid  no  other  attention  to  it  than  to  give  a  rousing 
cheer,  just  to  show  the  enemy  that  they  had  no  intention 
of  giving  ground,  then  turned  steadily  to  their  work.  Each 
man  stood  fast.  There  was  no  random  firing  in  the  air,  but 
rapid  loading,  cool  aim,  and  shots  that  told.  It  was  good  to 
see  such  fighting.  Those  whom  we  met  were  no  raw  recruits. 
They  fought  well  for  a  while,  though  unable  to  advance ;  they 
stood  their  ground.  Broken  once,  they  rallied  at  the  urging 
of  their  officers,  and  once  more  tried  to  move  forward 
through  the  fire  that  mowed  them  down.  It  was  of  no  use ; 
again  thrown  into  confusion,  they  fell  back,  leaving  their 
dead  and  wounded  on  the  field.  The  three  New  England 
regiments  of  our  brigade  are  as  good  men  as  ever  fought." 
The  Eleventh  Maine  History  remarks  further:  "The  New 
England  regiments  of  Plaisted's  brigade  were  particularly 
proud  of  this  victory,  as  it  was  won  largely  by  their  steadi- 
ness while  outflanked  and  in  the  open  field,  man  to  man, 
without  artillery  on  either  side,  and  the  men  opposed  to 
us  were  of  Longstreet's  famous  corps.  The  loss  of  the  enemy 
was  very  large.  Among  the  killed  was  General  John  Greeg, 
commanding  the  Texas  Brigade,  a  gallant  commander,  and 
General  Bratton,  of  the  South  Carolina  Brigade  of  Field's 
division,  was  wounded.  Our  own  losses  were  not  large.  As 
the  enemy  disappeared  in  the  forest,  reinforcements  came 
running  up  to  our  assistance.  Scouts  were  immediately 
sent  forward  to  ascertain  whether  the  rebels  had  retreated 
or  were  forming  for  another  attack.  As  they  reported  that 
the  enemy  seemed  to  be  in  full  retreat,  the  brigades  were 
moved  forward  rapidly  over  the  battlefield,  to  press  vig- 
orously upon  the  enemy's  rear,  but  the  Confederates  had 
retreated  so  rapidly  that  they  were  through  the  swamp  and 


Oct.  7,  '64.  Darbytown  Road.  367 

on  the  DarbytoAvn  road  before  we  could  strike  a  blow.  Retir- 
ing within  their  works,  they  resumed  the  defensive  attitude, 
and  this  was  the  last  Confederate  assault  made  on  the  north 
side  of  the  James." 

An  amusing  incident  of  the  morning  is  told  of  a  Com- 
pany I  man,  known  among  his  fellows  as  "Commodore" 
O'Neil,  and  he  was  not  much  of  a  soldier  who  did  not  have 
his  special  nickname.  O'Neil  was  on  the  skirmish-line  and 
was  doing  his  duty  as  he  saw  it.  Owing  to  the  heat  of  the 
day  and  that  incident  to  his  work,  and  excitement,  he  had 
laid  his  canteen  and  haversack  at  his  feet.  The  rebels  in 
their  search  for  that  weak  spot  were  working  from  the  left 
and  were  upon  our  soldier  almost  before  he  detected  their 
presence.  Saluted  with  a  thundering  "surrender!"  he  had 
started  back  on  a  run,  but  thinking  of  his  forsaken  posses- 
sions, he  turned  back  and,  like  a  modern  baseball  player  mak- 
ing the  home  base,  he  "slid  in,"  and  as  the  Johnny  was 
stooping  to  pick  up  the  precious  outfit  of  the  "Commodore," 

the  latter  shouted,  "Not  by  a  d d  sight,  them's  mine!" 

he  grabbed  them  and  made  good  his  escape  amidst  a  rain 
of  lead. 

At  nightfall,  after  this  eventful  day,  position  was  taken 
near  where  the  battle  had  been  fought  and  intrenchments 
were  thrown  up,  and,  for  the  better  part  of  a  week,  this 
work  and  the  arranging  of  a  camp  claimed  the  attention 
of  the  men.  Writing  on  the  11th  of  October,  Colonel  Osborn 
says :  ' '  Everything  continues  quiet ;  there  are  rumors  of 
more  troops  to  come  here,  and  some  are  sanguine  of  the 
early  capture  of  Richmond.  The  Tenth  Connecticut  soldiers 
are  voting  to-day,  and  the  vote  stands  almost  unanimous 
for  Lincoln.     That  is  the  feeling  of  the  whole  army." 

Casualties.  Darbytown  Road,  October  7,  186-i,  in  the 
Twenty-fourth.  Killed — Pvts.  Patrick  Connolly,  James 
0 'Conor,  Company  K. 

Wounded — Sergeant  Charles  H.  Jones,  Company  A; 
Pvt.  Jason  L.  Coffin,  Company  C;  Corp.  Charles  W.  Part- 


368  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

ridge,  Pvts.  John  C.  Mahony,  Houghton  Tower,  Charles  B. 
Young,  Company  D;  Pvt.  E.  W.  Merritt,  Company  I;  Pvt. 
John  Hallows,  Company  K. 

October  12th,  soon  after  noon,  the  whole  of  the  First 
Division,  now  under  the  command  of  General  Adelbert 
Ames,  General  Terry  having  taken  the  place  of  Birney  at 
the  head  of  the  corps,  was  ordered  out.  It  was  a  recon- 
noissance  in  force,  and  at  half  past  four  the  division  passed 
out  through  the  sally-port  of  the  new  works.  On  reaching 
the  Cox  farm,  open  ground  before  the  works,  it  was  learned 
that  a  flag  of  truce  was  up  between  the  two  armies,  so  the 
regiments  marched  back  to  their  own  lines.  At  3  o'clock 
in  the  morning  of  the  13th,  the  men  were  called  out  again, 
and  by  4  o'clock  they  were  moving  out  of  their  works. 
The  morning  light  was  dim  as  the  men  strode  on  across 
the  Cox  farm,  through  the  swamp  and  formed  for  attack 
on  the  Johnson  plantation,  where  Kautz  and  his  cavalry 
were  again  in  position.  Thence  moving  across  the  Darby- 
town  road  to  the  extensive  plains  lying  between  it  and  the 
Charles  City  road,  the  advance  was  begun.  Chaplain  Trum- 
bull of  the  Tenth  Connecticut  writes  in  the  following 
eloquent  strain  of  the  scene : 

The  morning  was  delightful.  It  was  the  opening  of  a 
bright  October  day.  The  air  was  clear  and  bracing.  The 
first  rays  of  the  rising  sun  were  reflected  from  one  frosted 
surface  of  the  wide-spreading  grassy  fields,  and  from  the 
many  hued  forest-trees  beyond,  as  the  skirmishers  of  three 
brigades  deployed,  and  moved  in  their  wavy  line,  extending 
far  to  the  right  and  left  up  towards  the  line  of  woods  where 
the  enemy's  mounted  videttes  were  distinctly  seen.  Mounted 
officers  rode  hither  and  thither.  Corps,  division  and  brigade 
flags  were  in  sight.  Long  lines  of  infantry  with  flashing 
arms  and  waving  standards  M^ere  coming  up  by  the  flank 
or  advancing  in  battle-front.  Cavalry  with  rattling  sabres 
and  fluttering  camp-colors  clattered  along  the  road,  and  the 
brilliant  guidons  of  the  artillery,  yet  far  in  the  rear,  signaled 
the  approach  of  the  rumbling  batteries.  The  first  line  of 
skirmishers  opened.    The  enemy's  advanced  line  was  easily 


Oct.  13,  '64.  Darbytown  Road.  369 

pressed  back  to  his  strongly  intrenched  position  beyond  the 
Avoods.  For  several  hours  the  fighting  was  brisk  between  the 
opposing  skirmishers,  the  main  force  halting  in  line  of  battle 
in  close  reserve.  Pond's  brigade,  reinforced  by  the  Tenth 
Connecticut,  assaulted  the  enemy's  works,  but  was  repulsed 
and  the  entire  force  fell  back  and  took  position  again  be- 
hind the  works. 

It  was  during  the  foregoing  assault  that  brave  Major 
H.  W.  Camp  of  jthe  Tenth,  so  often  referred  to  in  these 
pages,  lost  his  life.  There  were  few  if  any  men  in  the 
Twenty-fourth  who  had  not  a  warm  place  in  their  hearts 
for  this  splendid  soldier.  Years  have  not  effaced  the 
impression  that  he  and  his  inseparable,  Chaplain  Trumbull, 
made  on  every  one  whom  they  met.  After  more  than  forty 
j^ears  it  is  no  infrequent  remark  among  the  survivors  of  the 
Twenty-fourth,  when  the  Connecticut  Major  is  mentioned, 
''I  tell  you  he  was  a  dandy."  David  and  Jonathan  were  not 
nearer  to  each  other  than  the  Major  and  his  Chaplain,  and 
of  the  death  of  his  alter  ego,  the  clergyman  wrote,  ' '  Waving 
his  sword,  he  called  aloud  cheerily,  'Come  on,  boys,  come 
on ! '  then  turned  to  the  color  sergeant,  just  emerging  from 
the  thicket,  that  he  might  rally  the  men  on  the  regimental 
standard.  As  he  did  so,  a  bullet  passed  through  his  lungs 
and,  as  he  fell  on  his  side,  he  was  pierced  again  and  yet 
again  by  the  thick-coming  shot.  His  death  was  as  by  the 
lightning's  stroke.  His  eyes  scarce  turned  from  their  glance 
at  the  tattered,  dear  old  flag  ere  they  were  closed  to 
earth  and  opened  again  beyond  the  stars  and  their  field  of 
blue."  Rifled  and  stripped  of  his  outer  garments,  his  body 
was  hastily  buried  by  the  enemy,  but  under  a  flag  of  truce 
it  was  rendered  back  to  his  friends  the  following  day,  with 
expressions  of  regret  at  the  indignities  it  had  suffered.  His 
personal  diary,  also  taken  at  the  time,  was  not  returned  till 
later,  and  the  same  formed  the  foundation  of  the  charming 
story  of  the  officer's  career,  prepared  by  his  friend,"  Chaplain 
Trumbull,  and  called  "The  Knightly  Soldier,"  and  from 
which  so  many  quotations  have  been  taken  for  the  embel- 
24 


370  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Ebgiment. 

lishment  of  this  work.  Of  his  nearest  friend  in  the  army, 
Chaplain  H.  Clay  Trumbull,  much  if  not  all  already 
expressed  concerning  the  Major  might  be  fittingly  said. 
He  appeared  to  be  about  all  that  a  chaplain  could  be,  and 
men  of  every  regiment  in  the  brigade  never  cease  to  chant 
his  praise.  He  cared  for  the  sick,  and  in  the  pursuit  of  his 
duties  had  not  the  least  fear  of  the  firing-line.* 

Of  the  immediate  part  borne  by  the  Twenty-fourth, 
Colonel  Osborn,  again  writing  from  the  field,  says: 

When  I  wrote  you  last  from  the  field  of  battle,  I  was  rest- 
ing after  the  repulse  of  the  enemy.  Now  as  I  write,  the 
bullets  are  flying  quite  thickly,  and  our  skirmishers,  a  short 
distance  in  front,  are  briskly  engaged.  Our  line  is  in  a 
dense  wood.  It  is  not  engaged,  but  the  balls  reach  and  pass 
us  and  several  have  been  wounded  in  the  line.  We  are 
some  distance  in  front  of  our  fortifications,  having  moved 
out  to  attack  the  enemy.  The  day  is  a  lovely  one,  with  a 
bright  sun  and  a  cool  wind.  A  heavy  rain-fall  of  last  night 
cooled  the  air.  My  writing  is  not  very  legible,  for  I  am 
standing  and  leaning  against  a  tree. 

3  p.m.  Tn  camp ;  I  have  got  back  safely.  The  loss  of 
the  regiment  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing  is  twenty-six, 
about  ten  per  cent,  of  the  number  we  took  into  the  fight. 
The  affair  was  a  reconnoissance  and  developed  what  we 
wanted  to  know.  At  the  conclusion,  the  enemy  got  some 
advantage  of  us  and  we  retired  with  more  loss  than  it 
should  have  cost  us.  Our  troops  charged  a  fort  and  were 
repulsed  with  heavy  loss.  This  seems  to  have  been  unneces- 
sary, as  our  object  could  have  been  obtained  without  it. 
That  opinion  may  not  be  good  for  much,  as  I  am  not  in  so 
good  a  position  to  judge  as  the  generals.  My  regiment  was 
not  in  the  charge.    My  men  behaved  splendidly  as  usual. 

*The  Rev.  H.  Clay  Trumbull,  as  the  long-time  editor  of  the  Sunday 
School  Times,  published  in  Philadelphia,  won  a  reputation  as  wide  as 
the  nation.  Eloquent  in  the  pulpit,  indefatigable  in  all  ministrations 
for  good,  he  was  as  useful  in  civil  life  as  he  had  been  in  his  military  ex- 
perience. His  "Knightly  Soldier"  and  his  "Experiences  of  a  Chaplain," 
both  admirable  books,  constitute  the  only  history  of  the  Tenth  Connect- 
icut as  yet  written.  Much  to  the  sorrow-  of  all  friends  and  admirers, 
his  life,  ever  devoted  to  the  betterment  of  his  fellow  men,  was  closed  by 
apoplexy,  Dec.  8,  1903,  at  his  home  in  Philadelphia,  aged  7.3  years. 


Oct.  13,  '64.  Darbytown  Road.  371 

Though  not  in  the  charge  so  disastrous  to  the  Tenth  Con- 
necticut, the  Twenty-fourth  had  its  full  quota  of  exposure, 
as  the  record  of  five  enlisted  men  killed,  one  commissioned 
officer  and  sixteen  enlisted  men  wounded,  with  five  men 
missing,  clearly  indicates.  The  skirmish-line  is  seldom  a 
bower  of  ease,  and  the  way  men  this  day  were  served  shows 
what  was  encountered.  One  of  the  survivors,  long  years 
afterwards,  tells  the  tale  of  his  comrade  and  himself  dining 
off  the  meat  found  on  a  sow-belly  piece  of  raw  pork,  and  the 
jeers  that  Sam  Reed,  their  comrade,  indulged  in  at  their 
expense ;  also  of  how  Reed,  whose  hunger  finally  got  the  bet- 
ter of  his  repugnance,  remarked,  "After  all,  if  there  is  any 
meat  left,  I'll  just  sample  it;"  and  finding  it  edible  said, 
' '  'Tain 't  more  'n  half  bad. ' '  Just  forty  years  later  one  of  the 
duet  called  upon  his  comrade,  Henry  Rogers  of  Worcester, 
and  asked  him  if  he  remembered  what  they  had  to  eat  forty 
years  before.  The  surprised  veteran  hesitated  a  moment, 
then  with  an  exultant  look  exclaimed,  "Pork,  by  thunder!" 
As  the  regiment  was  falling  back  and  our  artillery  was 
playing  over  it,  the  band  struck  up  the  "Star  Spangled  Ban- 
ner." The  effect  was  electrical,,  the  men  began  to  cheer, 
halted  and  wanted  to  go  back  again,  but  hard-headed  dis- 
cretion prevailed  over  sentiment  and  valor. 

The  official  report  of  Colonel  Osborn  for  the  13th  of 
October  follows : 

The  regiment  moved  out  of  the  camp  with  the  rest  of 
the  brigade  at  4  a.m.,  and  marched  to  Gerhardt's  house,  near 
and  north  of  the  Darbytown  pike.  At  this  point  it  entered 
the  Avoods  in  line  of  battle,  marching  parallel  to  the  pike, 
having  the  Second  Brigade  on  its  left  and  the  Eleventh 
Maine  on  its  right.  A  strong  skirmish-line  was  pushed  for- 
ward under  command  of  First  Lieutenant  John  T.  Wilson, 
which  pressed  back  the  enemy's  skirmishers,  driving  them 
out  of  their  rifle-pits  and  across  a  slashing  to  the  woods 
beyond.  My  skirmishers  immediately  occupied  the  woods 
on  the  edge  of  the  slashing,  and  were  ordered  to  hold  that 
position.  This  they  did  during  the  day,  with  the  aid  of 
reinforcements,   although  the  fire  of  the  enemy  was  very 


372  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Resiment. 

much  heavier  than  their  own.  The  enemy  appeared  several 
times,  as  if  about  to  advance,  but  were  checked  by  the  heavy 
and  well-directed  fire  of  my  men.  They  seemed  to  occupy 
a  strong  line  of  earthworks,  partially  masked  with  bushes, 
and  were  in  strong  force  in  my  front.  At  about  3  p.m.,  they 
charged  partly  across  the  slashing,  and  for  a  moment  pushed 
back  a  part  of  my  line  about  twenty  yards,  the  line  on 
their  left  flank  having  previously  fallen  back.  They  were 
speedily  repulsed,  however,  and  retired  to  their  former 
position.  At  3.30  p.m.  I  was  ordered  to  withdraw  my 
regiment  to  the  open  field  near  the  Darbytown  pike,  where 
I  foriued  in  line  with  the  other  troops  of  the  division.  Shortly 
afterward  the  skirmishers  were  brought  in  by  the  colonel 
commanding,  and  the  troops  returned  to  camp.  The  com- 
panies composing  the  skirmish-line  were  I,  C,  K,  F  and  part 
of  B.  They  are  deserving  of  high  praise  for  their  coolness 
and  steadiness,  exposed  as  they  were  to  a  musketry  fire 
much  heavier  than  their  own  at  short  range,  together  with 
an  enfilading  artillery  fire,  and  having  at  times  their  left 
flank  entirely  exposed.  Although  I  sent  them  reinforce- 
ments twice,  at  no  time  did  they  call  for  them  nor  intimate 
any  doubt  of  their  ability  to  hold  their  position.  Company 
I  bore  the  brunt  of  the  affair,  having  been  seven  hours  on 
the  line  and  having  sustained  one  half  of  the  entire  loss. 

The  following  officers  and  men  deserve  honorable  mention 
for  gallant  conduct :  First  Lieutenant  John  T.  Wilson,  who 
had  command  of  the  skirmish-line,  and  conducted  it  with 
great  coolness  and  ability.  In  this  he  only  maintained  the 
character  he  has  displayed  during  his  whole  connection  with 
the  regiment  for  the  last  three  years ;  First  Lieutenant  F.  H. 
Shepard,  who  was  sent  with  reinforcements  to  the  line  in 
the  afternoon ;  First  Sergeant  Frank  B.  DePeyster,  Com- 
pany C ;  Sergeant  John  E.  Turner,  Company  I ;  Sergeant 
John  Ryans,  Company  K;  Corp.  John  W.  Nelson,  Company 
C ;  Pvt.  Edward  Parsons,  Company  C ;  Pvt.  Nelson  H. 
DeLane,  Company  I. 

Casualties,  Darbytown  Road,  October  13,  1864,  in  the 
Twenty-fourth.  Killed — Corp.  Henry  Watson,  Pvts.  Arte- 
mas  Adams,  Simon  Connor,  Fred  Young,  Company  I ;  Pvt. 
Jos.  Gaskin,  Company  K. 

Wounded — Pvt.  Edward  Charlton,  Company  A;  Capt. 
Geo.  W.   Gardner,  Pvts.  Edward  Carthy,  John  McCarthy. 


Oct.  '64.  Twenty-fourth  Commended.  373 

Company  B;  Pvts.  Victor  Easland,  John  "W.  Nelson,  Com- 
pany C ;  Pvts.  Jos.  King,  S.  A.  Snow,  Timothy  Sullivan,  Com- 
pany F;  Pvt.  AVm.  Berresford,  Company  H;  Pvts.  Curtis 
Dickinson.  James  H.  Jones,  Wm.  Keene,  Geo.  N.  Maynard, 
Sylvester  Stevens,  Company  I. 

October  6th,  General  Butler  had  written  to  General  Grant 
a  letter  of  special  significance  to  the  Twenty-fourth  Regi- 
ment and  its  commander.  It  was  couched  in  the  following 
terms:  "I  would  recommend  for  promotion  Colonel  X.  M.  Cur- 
tis, One  Hundred  and  Forty-second  New  York  Volunteers, 
First  Brigade,  Second  Division.  Tenth  A.  C.  and  Colonel  F. 
A.  Osborn  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Volunteers, 
Third  Brigade,  First  Division,  Tenth  A.  C.  Both  these 
gentlemen  are  and  have  been  in  command  of  brigades,  and 
both  distinguished  themselves  in  the  movements  on  the 
enemy's  works  near  Newmarket."  To  this  letter.  General 
Grant  appended  the  words,  ''Approved  and  respectfully 
forwarded,  U.  S.  Grant,  Lieutenant-General. "  In  the 
extended  congratulatory  order  of  General  Butler,  dated 
October  11th,  he  has  these  words:  "Colonel  F.  A.  Osborn, 
Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts,  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
services  through  the  campaign,  has  been  recommended  by 
the  commanding  General  for  promotion." 

October  16th,  General  Alfred  H.  Terry,  commanding  the 
Tenth  Corps,  writing  to  the  Assistant  Adjutant-general  of 
the  Army  of  the  James,  says :  ' '  The  Twenty-fourth  Regiment 
Massachusetts  Volunteers  is  a  regiment  whose  history  does 
great  honor  to  the  state  which  sent  it  to  the  field. 
For  discipline  and  courage  it  has  been  equaled  by  few 
and  surpassed  by  none  of  the  regiments  with  which  I  have 
served.  It  is  now  very  much  reduced  in  numbers,  and  will 
be  still  further  reduced  on  the  expiration  of  the  term  of 
service  of  the  men.  I  knoAv  of  no  prospect  of  its  receiving 
recruits.  It  seems  to  me  that  it  would  be  a  misfortune  that 
such  a  regiment  should  disappear,  for  I  believe  that  one 
man  placed  in  it,  and  imbued  with  its  spirit  would  be  of 


374         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

more  value  than  two  men  placed  in  many  regiments,  even 
among  those  which  are  called  good. 

"I  earnestly  desire  that  an  effort  should  be  made  to  fill 
its  ranks,  and  for  that  purpose  I  recommend  that  Colonel 
F.  A.  Osborn  be  detailed  to  proceed  to  Massachusetts  to 
confer  with  the  local  authorities,  and  take  such  measures 
to  procure  men  as  he  may  find  to  be  best."  This  letter 
was  endorsed  by  General  Butler  in  the  following  words: 
"Approved  and  respectfully  forwarded  to  the  Gorvernor  of 
Massachusetts  with  an  expression  of  an  ardent  wish  that 
the  Twenty-fourth  might  be  filled  up.  Colonel  Osborn  has 
thirty  days'  leave  for  this  purpose." 

Accordingly  Colonel  Osborn  obtained  his  leave  of  absence 
on  the  16th,  going  to  the  headquarters  of  General  Butler 
in  person,  and  then  not  forgetting  to  press  the  matter  of  the 
exchange  of  Lieutenant-colonel  Hooper,  still  in  the  hands 
of  the  enemy.  As  the  Colonel  goes  away,  the  command 
devolves  on  Captain  Thomas  F.  Edmands.  The  Colonel  takes 
his  steamer  for  the  North  on  the  17th,  having  as  a 
fellow  passenger  Chaplain  Trumbull  of  the  Tenth  Con- 
necticut, who  is  on  his  way  to  Hartford  with  the  body  of  the 
late  Major  H.  W.  Camp.  Exchanging  boats  at  Fortress 
Monroe,  passage  is  taken  for  Baltimore.  Captain  George  W. 
Gardner  of  Company  B,  who  had  been  mustered  out  on  the 
14th,  accompanied  the  Colonel  on  this  homeward  trip, 
which  terminated  on  the  ]9th,  in  Boston,  where  Colonel 
Osborn  made  an  immediate  effort  to  find  Governor  Andrew, 
but  he  was  absent  from  the  State  House.  An  interview,  how- 
ever, with  Colonel  King  of  the  Governor's  staff  did  not 
give  any  encouragement  as  to  the  possibility  of  securing 
men  for  the  ranks  of  the  depleted  regiment.  Leaving  the 
Colonel  in  Boston,  we  return  to  his  regiment,  which  was  left 
in  camp  near  the  scenes  of  many  attempts  to  force  the  lines 
of  the  enemy  near  the  eastern  confines  of  Richmond. 

The  later  days  of  October  brought  with  them  colder 
weather,   and  the  men  were  finding  the   camp   provisions 


Oct.  27, '64.  Twenty-fourth's  Last  Advance.  375 

hardly  up  to  the  comfort  standard.  The  eternal  vigilance 
essential  to  safety  in  the  presence  of  an  enemy  kept  the 
remaining  members  of  the  regiment  busy,  for  there  were 
always  fatigue  and  picket  duties  to  be  performed,  and  the 
less  the  numbers  ready  for  duty,  the  more  frequent  the  turn 
of  the  one  who  could  answer  "here."  On  the  18th  of  the 
month.  General  D.  B.  Birney  died  in  Philadelphia.  Only 
a  few  days  before  he  had  been  with  his  corps,  but  for  some 
time  he  had  been  in  failing  health,  to  whose  inroads  he  had 
been  compelled  to  .yield  at  last.  The  fourth  son  of  James 
G.  Birney,  who  had  been  the  long-time  standard  bearer  of 
the  Liberty  party,  he  was  one  of  five  brothers,  all  of  whom 
had  identified  themselves  with  the  suppression  of  the 
Rebellion.  Three  of  these  died  in  the  service,  a  liberal  gift 
of  the  Birney  family  to  the  cause  which  it  had  so  long 
championed.  A  grandson  of  James  G.,  and  a  namesake,  also 
died  of  disease  contracted  in  the  service. 

On  the  19th,  when  Colonel  Osborn  was  realizing  the  com- 
forts of  Boston  and  home,  Sheridan  and  his  followers  were 
winning  the  signal  victory  at  Cedar  Creek,  in  the  valley. 
The  next  day  salvos  of  artillery  all  along  the  Union  lines 
from  right  to  left  told  the  enemy  what  the  boys  in  blue 
thought  of  the  Shenandoah  incident.  There  was  still  one 
more  raid  to  be  made  by  the  Union  right  on  the  Confederate 
left.  It  was  late  in  October.  Again  to  cover  a  move  on  the 
South  Side  railroad,  orders  were  given  to  get  busy  on  the 
right,  for  it  was  not  desirable  that  the  enemy  should  have  a 
chance  to  rush  to  the  help  of  those  hard  pressed  at  the  rail- 
road. It  was  the  27th  of  October,  when  at  daylight  there 
was  a  movement  from  the  works  toward  the  Darbytown 
and  Newmarket  roads,  with  every  appearance  of  purpose 
to  assault  them  without  any  real  intention  of  doing  so. 
General  Weitzel,  still  further  to  the  right,  in  command  of 
the  Eighteenth  Corps,  was  ordered  to  attempt  to  turn  the 
rebel  left.  General  Longstreet,  in  command  of  the  left, 
had  his  affairs  so  well  in  hand  that  the  efforts  of  Weitzel 


376  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

met  with  disaster,  and  his  troops  were  compelled  to  with- 
draw "wet,  muddy  and  completely  discomfited,  not  reaching 
a  place  of  safety  till  the  following  morning.  Once  more, 
on  the  29th,  the  division  was  ordered  out  to  capture  certain 
picket-works  on  Johnson's  plantation,  whence  Kautz  was 
driven  on  the  7th.  Accomplishing  what  was  undertaken,  the 
men  returned  and.  for  many  members  of  the  Third  Brigade, 
active  campaigning  was  ended.  The  terms  of  service  of  the 
original  three  years  men  who  had  not  re-enlisted  were 
expiring  and  they  were  soon  to  go  home.  On  the  return 
from  the  last  reconnoissance,  the  Twenty-fourth  went  into 
camp  in  the  vicinity  of  Four  Mile  Church,  in  the  rear  of 
the  Union  works,  and  here  remained  through  the  remainder 
of  October,  all  of  November,  and  to  the  18th  of  December. 
Only  the  regular  round  of  camp  and  garrison  life  was  had. 
and  the  rest  that  came  to  the  boys,  not  a  few  of  them 
thought  well-earned.  A  glance  at  the  monthly  report  for 
the  month  of  October  gives  a  melancholy  view  of  the  numeri- 
cal condition  of  a  regiment  that  had  had  so  many  men  upon 
its  rolls,  but  now  was  scarcely  more  than  the  skeleton  of  its 
former  self. 

On  the  31st  of  October,  Captain  Thomas  F.  Edmands, 
commanding  the  regiment,  reported  8  commissioned  officers 
present  for  duty,  and  254  enlisted  men.  There  were  seven 
officers  absent  sick  and  "on  leave,"  and  150  men  were 
reported  absent  for  similar  reasons,  while  30  were  prisoners 
of  war.  Company  B,  the  largest,  had  46  men  ready  for 
duty,  and  E,  the  smallest,  had  18.  During  the  month,  102 
had  been  discharged  by"  reason  of  expiration  of  service,  and 
the  coming  of  recruits  was  very  slow  indeed;  for  the  entire 
month  only  one  man  was  reported.  During  November,  the 
course  of  depletion  continued,  there  being  only  three 
recruits,  but  52  were  mustered  out  through  expiration  of 
service,  and  enough  others  for  sundry  causes  to  bring  the 
aggregate  to  76,  leaving  less  than  200  enlisted  men  for  duty. 
The  regiment  was  commanded  by  Albert  Ordway,  who  had 


Nov.  '64.  Bermuda  Front.  377 

been  promoted  Major.  Xew  commissions  had  been  issued,  so 
that  the  aggregate  of  officers  was  17,  but  only  a  few  of  the 
originals  remained.  Lieutenant-colonel  Hooper  was  still  a 
prisoner  of  war,  thus  leaving  only  Major  Ordway  and 
Captain  Edmands.  the  lonely  survivors  of  that  splendid 
array  that  left  Boston  in  '61.  Lieutenant  Jas.  M.  Barnard, 
declining  a  captaincy,  had  been  mustered  out  October  31st; 
Surgeon  Samuel  A.  Green  had  followed  November  3d,  and 
the  11th  of  the  month  saw  the  end  of  the  regimental  life  of 
Colonel  Osborn.  Adjutant  Thomas  M.  Sweet,  Lieutenant 
Parmenas  E.  Wheeler  and  John  T.  Wilson.  Colonel  Osborn 
did  not  return  to  the  regiment  after  his  departure  in 
October.  His  own  diary  for  November  14th  has  only  the 
brief  sentence:  "Was  mustered  out  of  service  by  authority 
of  General  Butler,  who  was  in  New  York."  He  had  served 
several  months  beyond  the  time  for  which  he  was  com- 
missioned ;  the  tedium  of  winter  quarters  had  no  charm  for 
him;  the  call  of  home  and  family  and  provision  for  the 
future  grew  louder  every  day,  so  the  Twenty-fourth,  in 
service,  saw  him  no  more.  Long  acquaintance  and  common 
dangers  had  engendered  mutual  regard  and  respect.  He 
had  proved  a  brave  and  safe  leader,  his  men  the  most  reli- 
able followers. 

BERMUDA  FRONT. 

A  very  good  illustration  of  the  value  of  trained  troops  is 
recalled  in  the  fact  that,  in  the  week  of  Thanksgiving,  what 
there  was  left  of  the  Twenty-fourth  was  ordered  out,  in 
light  marching  order,  to  proceed  across  the  James,  down  to 
Bermuda  Front,  to  retake  a  certain  line  of  works  which 
had  been  lost  through  the  failures  of  a  green  regiment.  To 
these  experienced  campaigners  it  seemed  little  more  than  a 
pleasure  stroll,  though  at  nightfall  they  missed  sadly  the 
comforts  of  tents  and  blankets.  On  their  way  to  their  desti- 
nation thev  met  a  Committee  of  Congress,  evidently  study- 


378  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Reigiment. 

ing  the  situation.  To  the  minds  of  the  prankish  soldiers, 
the  highly  colored  visages  of  these  statesmen  were  sugges- 
tive of  extra  high  living,  and  the  queries  that  were  pro- 
pounded to  the  distinguished  gentlemen  as  to  how  their 
noses  assumed  their  rubicund  condition  were  provocative  of 
more  mirth  among  the  quizzers  than  with  the  quizzed.  On 
reaching  the  end  of  the  trip,  little  difficulty  was  experienced 
in  securing  what  they  went  for.  but  their  astonishment  was 
equaled  only  by  that  of  the  rebels,  who  also  had  performed  a 
night  feat  and  in  the  morning  were  found  continuing  the 
very  line  held  by  the  Twenty-fourth,  only  facing  in  the 
opposite  direction.  By  mutual  consent,  the  relations  through 
the  day  were  amicable,  and  at  night  the  enemy  quietly  with- 
drew. Remaining  here  till  after  Thanksgiving,  the  wagons 
had  just  brought  up  their  baggage,  when  they  were  ordered 
back  to  their  former  camp,  where  they  proceeded  to  make 
themselves  as  comfortable  as  industry  and  the  situation 
would  admit.  For  all  the  time  intervening  between  then 
and  now.  veterans  have  lamented  the  pains  they  took  to 
carry  bricks  from  the  underpinning  of  a  barn  on  Spring 
Hill  to  work  them  into  chimneys  for  the  log  huts  in  which 
they  expected  to  spend  the  winter.  As  it  generally  hap- 
pened, however,  they  had  hardly  more  than  finished  their 
tasks  when  the  command  to  repair  to  Bermuda  Hundred 
drove  them  out  from  all  their  labors,  and  they  had  the 
mortification  of  seeing  their  choice  habitations  given  up  to 
some  colored  troops. 

Their  fourth  Thanksgiving,  somewhat  delayed  on  account 
of  the  special  duty  at  Bermuda  Front,  was  observed  on 
their  getting  back,  with  divers  reflections  on  what  the 
friends  at  home  were  thinking  of  their  absent  sons  and 
brothers.  December  witnessed  many  changes  in  the  personnel 
of  the  regiment.  Four  men  had  died,  three  of  them  from 
wounds;  one  man  had  been  discharged  to  accept  a  commis- 
sion in  another  organization,  and  67  men  had  been  mustered 
out  at  the  expiration  of  their  term  of  service,  the  conditions 


Dec.  '64.  Bermuda  Front.  379 

of  their  enlistment  in  1862  *  being  that  their  terms  ended 
three  years  from  the  date  of  the  muster-in  of  the  organiza- 
tion, which  took  place  December  4,  '61.  It  began  to  look 
as  though  the  Twenty-fourth  could  not  survive  much  more 
depletion,  since  only  231  men  were  left  ready  for  duty. 
The  arrival  of  seven  recruits  was  small  compensation  for 
so  many  departures.  The  leave-taking  of  the  veterans,  whose 
battles  were  over,  was  not  formal.  It  was  simply  a  case  of 
folding  their  blankets  and  taking  themselves  hence,  making 
their  way  home  by  the  quickest  route  possible,  content  in 
most  cases  to  let  others  fight  the  remaining  battles,  though 
some  of  them  did  again  essay  the  army  role.  The  companies 
were  so  small  that  in  no  instance  do  the  December  rolls 
indicate  the  existence  of  a  second  lieutenant,  and  of  the 
captains,  only  Thomas  F.  Edmands  was  a  commissioned 
officer  at  the  start.  Lieutenant  B.  F.  Stoddard  was  adjutant 
and  James  Thompson  quartermaster,  though  he  was  absent 
on  detached  service.  Dr.  Edward  R.  Wheeler,  who  had 
been  mustered  in  December  2d,  was  the  Surgeon,  to  remain 
in  that  capacity  to  the  end.  Still,  the  regimental  form  was 
maintained,  since  men  on  detached  service,  prisoners  in  the 
hands  of  the  enemy  and  sick  in  hospital  or  at  home,  brought 
the  aggregate  membership  up  to  450  officers  and  men. 

*This  privilege  was  based  on  the  following  telegraphic  correspondence 
between  Boston  and  Washington  : 

Boston,  July  21,  1862. 
To  Hon.  E.  M.  Stanton,  Sec.  War,  Washington. 

Please  authorize  me  to  declare  that  all  who  enlist  in  old  regiments  will 
be  mustered  out  with  the  regiments.  This  will  help  induce  men  prefer- 
ring old  corps,  and  this  is  what  generals  urge  constantly. 

John  A.  Andrew. 

Washington,  July  21st,  4.15  p.m. 
Governor  Andrew,  Boston. 

You  are  authorized  to  say  that  new  recruits  for  old  regiments  will 
be  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Sec.  War. 

Under  date  June  13,  1864,  it  was  decided  by  the  War  Department  that 
men  recruited  under  the  foregoing  order,  between  July  21,  '62,  and  De- 
cember 31,  '62,  should  be  mustered  out  with  their  regiments. 


380  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Other  matters  were  ending  also.  The  brigade  in  whose 
grand  record  the  Twenty-fourth  had  borne  so  prominent  a 
part  was  to  be  broken  up,  and  on  the  first  of  November,  its 
last  commander.  Colonel  Harris  M.  Plaisted,  issued  the  fol- 
lowing order  on  the  eve  of  his  departure,  with  his  regiment, 
for  their  homes  in  Maine.  Those  who  had  not  re-enlisted 
were  the  ones  to  follow  the  Colonel  on  the  triumphal  trip 
homeward.  Every  one  had  won  the  right  to  his  discharge 
through  long  and  arduous  service,  and  the  men  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  most  heartily  wished  the  ''boys"  from  the 
Pine  Tree  State  a  "God-speed."  The  Avords  of  the  Colonel's 
General  Order  No.  30  were  long  cherished  by  those  who 
heard  them  and  the  printed  form  is  yet  in  the  possession  of 
many  a  survivor  of  the  old  Third  Brigade : 

The  Colonel  commanding  cannot  take  leave  of  his  command, 
even  temporarily,  without  giving  expression  of  his  respect 
and  admiration  for  the  brave  men  whom  it  has  been  his  good 
fortune  to  command.  While  life  shall  last  he  will  remember 
with  pride  and  extreme  satisfaction  the  brave  deeds  and 
heroic  conduct  of  the  men  of  the  Third  Brigade.  The  Army 
of  the  United  States  cannot  boast  of  your  superiors,  and  in 
his  humble  opinion,  you  stand  unrivaled  by  any  troops  who 
have  fought  in  the  Army  of  the  James.  Your  names  and 
fame  are  familiar  as  household  words  in  the  camps  of  this 
army  corps  and  among  your  fellow  citizens  at  home.  Your 
iron  will  and  firmness  have  won  for  yourselves  the  proud 
title  of  "The  Ironclads." 

Since  this  campaign  commenced  you  have  participated  in 
more  than  twenty  actions,  besides  skirmishes  almost  with- 
out number.  You  have  never  failed  to  accomplish  what  was 
set  down  for  you  to  do,  and  your  conduct  has  always  called 
forth  the  praises  of  your  commanding  oificers.  It  has 
never  occasioned  them  a  single  regret.  That  cow- 
ardly cry,  "We  are  flanked!"  has  never  been  heard  in  your 
ranks.  When  other  troops  have  given  way  on  your  right  or 
your  left,  you  have  shown  to  the  enemy  that  you  had  no 
flanks  and  no  rear — that  the  Third  Brigade  was  all  front, 
and  that,  too,  of  steel.  How  well  that  front  has  been  main- 
tained in  this  campaign,  the  long  list  of  your  casualties — 
1,385  out  of  2,693 — sadly  but  gloriously  attests. 


Dec.  '64.  Col.  Plaisted's  Farewell.  381 

Fellow-soldiers,  of  voiir  history  it  may  indeed  be  said, 
"The  past  at  least  is  secure."  You  have  won  a  noble  dis- 
tinction in  a  noble  army,  fighting  for  a  noble  cause.  That 
your  future  will  be  equally  successful  and  brilliant,  your 
conduct  in  the  ])ast  leaves  no  room  for  doubt.  Your  brave 
deeds  will  be  remembered  in  your  country's  history  and  be 
the  proud  boa.st  of  your  descendants. 

In  conclusion,  the  Colonel  commanding  desires  to  repeat, 
for  your  encouragement,  the  language  of  Washington  to  his 
brave  troops,  who  had  won  for  us  the  cause  we  are  now 
contending  to  maintain.  "Let  me  remind  you,"  said  he, 
"you,  the  private  soldiers  of  the  dignified  part  you  have 
performed  in  this  great  struggle.  For  happy — thrice 
happy — will  he  be  accounted  hereafter  who  has  contributed, 
though  in  the  least  degree,  to  the  establishment  of  this 
gigantic  republic  on  the  broad  basis  of  human  freedom  and 
empire."  Immortal  honors  will  belong  to  you  as  saviors 
of  the  republic,  no  less  than  to  our  fathers  as  founders 
of  it. 

The  regiments  so  closely  connected  during  the  campaign 
of  the  Battle  Summer  had  considerable  work  before  them 
ere  they  took  their  leave  of  SiVmy  life.  The  One  Hundredth 
New  York,  the  only  organization  in  the  brigade  not  from 
New  England,  made  its  winter  quarters  a  little  to  the  right 
of  where  the  rebels  were  repulsed  on  the  7th  of  October. 
After  the  departure  of  Colonel  Plaisted,  on  the  trip  home 
with  the  men  to  be  mustered  out,  Colonel  G.  F.  B.  Dandy  of 
the  One  Hundredth  New  York,  as  ranking  Colonel,  com- 
manded the  brigade  till  Colonel  Plaisted 's  return.  After 
the  resignation  of  the  Maine  Colonel,  Dandy  resumed  com- 
mand. March  27,  '65,  the  brigade  having  been  transferred  to 
the  Twenty-fourth  Corps,  the  One  Hundredth  moved  to  the 
left,  took  part  in  the  capture  of  Petersburg,  including  the 
assault  on  Fort  Gregg,  where  it  lost  heavily,  and  helped 
press  the  enemy  up  to  the  final  day  at  Appomattox.  Later 
it  was  ordered  to  Richmond,  near  which  it  was  encamped 
till  AugUvSt  28,  1865,  when  it  was  mustered  out  of  the  service. 
From  the  days  of  '63,  before  Charleston,  it  had  been 
associated   with   the  Twenty-fourth,   and  its  record  in  the 


382  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

strife  was  such  as  to  bring  it  into  the  ranks  of  the  300 
fighting  regiments  exploited  by  Wm.  F.  Fox.  While  the 
Empire  State  men  and  those  from  Massachusetts  may  not 
have  been  so  intimate  as  were  the  latter  with  their  Con- 
necticut comrades,  nevertheless,  the  most  cordial  relations 
existed,  and  this  item  from  the  regimental  history  by  Major 
George  H.  Stowits  deserves  a  place  here.  It  was  on  the 
27th  of  October,  in  one  of  those  expeditions  of  discovery  to 
which  the  Tenth  Corps  had  grown  accustomed.  Stowits, 
then  a  lieutenant,  had  been  ordered  to  advance  his  skir- 
mish-line. The  officer  started  to  obey,  though,  knowing  the 
impossibility  of  the  feat,  he  had  said  to  the  orderly,  who 
brought  the  order,  "Bring  up  a  stretcher,  for  I  shall  be 
either  killed  or  wounded,  since  that  line  can't  be  moved." 
He  had  not  gone  far,  moving  in  an  irregular  line  on 
account  of  the  rebel  sharpshooters,  when  he  was  shot  as 
he  had  predicted.  He  says,  "A  daring  soldier  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  ventured  to  bring  me  off  the 
field  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy's  sharpshooters." 
It  is  a  pity  that  the  name  of  the  hero  is  not  known  for 
insertion  in  this  recital.  The  history  of  the  One  Hundredth 
New  York  told  by  Major  Stowits  and  published  in  1870 
has  long  been  out  of  print. 

The  men  from  Maine,  being  a  sort  of  second  growth 
Massachusetts  sons,  were  favorites  of  their  Bay  State 
brothers,  and  were  men  always  to  be  depended  upon. 
Though  the  regiment  had  memories  of  Morris  Island,  they 
were  of  a  period  after  the  leaving  of  the  Twenty-fourth. 
Not  till  the  organizing  at  Gloucester  Point,  in  May,  '64,  did 
the  two  regiments  become  acquainted.  Chaplain  Trumbull 
of  the  brigade  there  formed  said:  "The  Twenty-fourth 
Massachusetts  and  the  Tenth  Connecticut  had  been  friends 
in  all  their  campaigning.  The  One  Hundredth  New  York 
had  been  brigaded  with  both  in  South  Carolina.  The 
Eleventh  Maine,  although  more  recently  with  them,  soon 
became  a  general  favorite."    The  historian  of  the  Eleventh 


Dec.  '64.  Eleventh  Maine.  383 

says  this  of  the  Twenty-fourth :  ' '  The  Twenty-fourth  Massa- 
chusetts we  soon  learned  to  respect  as  a  brave,  reliable  and 
effective  regiment, ' '  a  sentiment  which  the  men  from  the  Bay 
State  fully  reciprocated.  When  the  spring  campaign 
opened,  the  Eleventh  marched  over  to  the  scenes  in  the 
immediate  front  of  Petersburg,  and  was  among  the  fore- 
most in  all  that  was  doing  in  the  final  rout.  Her  one-armed 
Colonel,  Jonathan  A.  Hill,  was  a  conspicuous  figure  as  he 
led  his  veterans  and  in  every  place  the  regiment  gave  an 
excellent  account  of  itself.  After  Appomattox,  in  whose 
glories  the  regiment  shared,  it  came  back  to  Richmond  and 
for  many  weeks  camped  in  the  vicinity  of  the  famous  city, 
finding  plenty  to  do  in  the  way  of  detached  service,  in  the 
department  of  the  Provost  !^Iarshal,  as  city  police,  etc. 
The  "boys"  saw  Sherman's  men  and  the  Sixth  Corps  march 
through  the  rebel  capital  on  their  way  towards  "Washing- 
ton, and,  on  the  whole,  had  a  good  time,  with  enough  to  eat 
and  duties  light.  November  24th,  '65,  the  regiment  left 
Richmond  for  Fredericksburg,  with  which  as  a  centre  over 
the  area  of  seven  counties  these  Maine  men  served  as  con- 
servators of  public  peace,  a  duty  that  was  well  performed. 
In  January,  '66,  came  orders  to  proceed  to  City  Point  to 
be  mustered  out,  which  was  accomplished  February  2d, 
the  men  taking  a  steamer  immediately  for  New  York. 
Thence  came  the  homeward  journey  and  the  final  pay  in 
Augusta,  February  10th,  thus  exceeding,  by  a  few  days,  the 
service  of  the  Twenty-fourth.  While  the  number  of  killed 
in  battle  or  mortally  wounded  did  not  warrant  placing  the 
Eleventh  in  Fox's  list  of  300  "fighting"  regiments,  there 
could  be  no  question  as  to  its  fighting  qualities. 

The  friendship  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  for 
the  members  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut  has  been  a  theme  for 
regimental  reunions  for  more  than  forty  years.  Said  a 
veteran  captain  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut  as  late  as  the 
anniversary  of  Newbern,  1906,  "We  were  together  from  the 
very  start  and  the  history  of  one  is  practically  that  of  the 


384  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

other."  With  such  a  community  of  interests  there  is  no 
wonder  that  the  Massachusetts  men  love  to  hear  good  things 
told  of  their  follow  soldiers  from  the- "Land  of  Steady 
Habits."  Could  they  have  had  their  say,  there  had  been 
no  separation  until  the  very  end.  The  Tenth  spent  the 
winter  in  comfortable  quarters  north  of  the  James,  joined 
in  the  move,  March  27th,  to  the  works  in  front  of  Petersburg, 
earned  yet  brighter  laurels  in  the  assault  on  Fort  Gregg, 
participated  in  the  pursuit  of  Lee  and  his  retreating  army, 
and  rejoiced  with  the  other  thousands  at  the  scene  of  April 
9th,  when  the  Rebellion  ended.  The  regiment  reached  Rich- 
mond soon  after  the  surrender.  In  Croffut's  and  Morris' 
History  of  Connecticut  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  one  may 
read:  "When  the  Tenth  returned  to  Richmond  after  the 
capture  of  Lee's  army,  the  regiment  encamped  in  a  beauti- 
ful grove  on  the  plantation  of  Dr.  Powell,  on  the  Brooktown 
pike,  two  miles  from  the  city."  Here  the  Tenth  remained 
till  late  in  the  summer,  when  it  was  mustered  out  and 
proceeded  northward.  August  25th  is  the  date  of  its  sever- 
ance of  national  ties  and  in  due  time  it  reached  Hartford, 
there  to  receive  a  merited  ovation.  First  and  last  it  had 
included  in  its  membership  2,124  men,  losing  in  its  term  of 
service  enough  to  receive  a  place  among  the  immortal  "300," 
an  honor  that  no  one  acquainted  with  the  regiment  envies 
for  a  moment. 

BERMUDA    HUNDRED. 

December  18th  came  the  order  for  our  regiment  to  move 
over  to  Bermuda  Hundred,  and  to  begin  a  round  of  guard 
duty  that  ended  there  only  with  the  occupation  of  Richmond 
by  the  Union  troops  in  the  following  April.  Their  quarters, 
near  the  landing,  were  home-made,  i.  e.,  they  were  shanties 
whose  material  was  bought  or  stolen  from  the  post  sutler, 
the  sutler  of  the  Twenty-fourth  having  given  up  his  position 
and  retired.  Few  survivors  would  care  to  tell  just  what 
proportion   of  their  material  they  paid  for.     There  were 


Dec.  18,  'G4. 


Bermuda  Hundred. 


385 


piles  of  lumber,  and  there  were  active  young  soldiers  in 
need  of  shelter  and  somehow  the  two  came  together  with 
resulting  habitations,  in  which  the  remainder  of  the  winter 
was  spent.  The  sutler  complained  to  Major  Ordway,  but 
the  latter,  though  sympathizing  with  the  man,  said  he  could 
not  punish  on  general  information.  "Show  me  the  guilty 
parties  and  I'll  see  to  it  that  they  are  properly  dealt  with." 
The  result  was  that  no  punishments  were  inflicted.    In  this 


Sergt.  Batterman.    Capt.  Edmantls.    J.  W.  Arms. 
T.  F.  Carney  (H).    Capt.  Foster.    Lieut.  North.    Capt.  White. 

PROVOST  MARSH.\L'S  OFFICE,  BERMUDA  HUNDRED. 

new  scene  of  labor,  the  regiment  was  alone.     Just  why  it 
was  selected  may  never  be  known. 

The  duties  were  not  arduous,  consisting  in  standing  guard 
at  headquarters,  maintaining  discipline  at  the  bull  pen,  the 
uneuphonious  name  of  the  place  in  which  recruits  were 
confined  before  going  to  their  regiments,  and  in  seeing  that 
the  military  stores  were  not  carried  away  bodily.  One  man 
writing  home  said,  "The  boys  say  they  would  rather  be 
at  the  front  than  doing  this  provost  duty.  We  have  to 
receive  the  substitutes,  recruits,  convalescents  and  bounty- 
25 


386  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

jumpers  and  duly  forward  them.  Then,  too,  we  take  in  the 
prisoners  of  w^ar  and  the  rebel  deserters  and  send  them 
north;  also  we  have  to  look  out  for  men  trying  to  get  north 
to  re-enlist  and  go  get  another  bounty." 

January  15,  '65,  Major  Ordway  became  Provost  Marshal, 
Army  of  the  James,  retaining  the  position  till  April  6th,  and 
leaving  his  command  to  Captain  Edmands.  Among  the 
duties  at  this  post  was  the  guarding  of  recruits  to  the  regi- 
ments to  which  they  had  been  assigned.  Also,  when  the  lines 
in  front  of  Petersburg  were  broken  and  prisoners  by  the 
thousand  came  pouring  in,  they  fell  to  the  lot  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  to  be  cared  for,  and  escorted 
down  the  river  to  the  next  stopping  place.  The  quantity 
of  arms  thus  accumulated  was  great  and  a  stack  of  discarded 
muskets  grew  till  it  was  higher  than  the  quarters  of  Major 
Ordway.  When  the  rebels  made  their  assault  on  Fort 
Stedman,  the  last  of  March,  and  the  heavens  reflected  the 
flash  and  sound  of  arms,  some  of  the  veterans  through  force 
of  habit  began  to  fold  their  blankets  and  to  pack  up,  think- 
ing it  possible  that  they  would  be  ordered  out,  acts  that 
alarmed  not  a  little  some  of  the  new  recruits,  to  whom  the 
scene  was  especially  terrifying,  and  their  roguish  comrades 
were  not  averse  to  scaring  them  as  much  as  possible, 
delighted  in  the  expressions  of  terror  that  their  words 
evoked. 

Toward  the  end  of  March,  certain  men  employed  on  a 
mail  steamer  were  arrested  for  selling  liquor  to  soldiers. 
Captain  Davis  Foster,  Company  D  and  Assistant  Provost 
Marshal,  determined  to  make  their  punishment  effectual, 
had  the  head  of  each  culprit  shaved  half  over  and  then 
every  man  was  made  to  stand  upon  a  barrel,  having  on  his 
breast  a  placard  bearing  the  legend,  "See  how  my  hair  has 
come  off  through  selling  whiskey."  Another  inscription  read, 
"Do  not  sell  whiskey  to  soldiers,  it  is  bad  for  the  hair." 
It  was  expected  that  the  punishment  would  break  up  the 
practice  of  bringing  liquor  from  Baltimore  to  be  sold  to 
the  soldiers.    A  hard  thing  to  do,  however. 


Spring,  '65. 


Bermuda  Hundred. 


387 


Caring  for  prisoners  here  revealed  one  of  the  interesting 
conditions  existing  in  the  great  strife  so  provocative  of 
situations  never  heard  of  before.  Sam  Reed  of  Company 
I,  mentioned  before  in  these  pages,  was  guarding  a  party 
of  newly  arrived  Johnnies  and,  attracted  by  the  looks  of 
one  of  them,  he  asked  the  rebel  what  his  name  was.  Learn- 
ing that  it  was  Reed  also,  further  inquiries  revealed  the 
singular  fact  that  they  were  first  cousins,   whereupon  the 


Albert  Wood.    Alfred  O.  Cobb.    Sergt.  Wni.  Keating.    Sergt.  A.  A.  Nightingale. 

John  McLane. 
A  COMPANY  G  WINTER-QUARTERS  HUT,  BERMUDA  HUNDRED. 

Confederate  impulsively  reached  out  his  hand  for  a  friendly 
shake,  but  the  Union  man  was  not  of  the  forgiving  kind, 
forgetting  that  other  environment  might  have  made  a 
rebel  of  him  as  well,  and  emphatically  declined  any  assump- 
tion of  cousinly  relation  with  his  southern  kinsman.  When 
he  related  his  story  in  camp,  his  comrades  rallied  him  on 
his  conduct  and  told  him  he  ought  to  meet  the  reb  at 
least  half  way,  but  Read  had  no  use  for  a  Johnny,  rela- 
tive or  not.  In  the  hereafter,  into  which  both  have  been 
ushered,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  all  lines  of  demarcation, 
whether  Blue  or  Gray,  have  been  effaced. 


388  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

EICHMOND. 

Lee  had  not  surrendered  when  the  Twenty-fourth  was 
ordered  to  Richmond  to  have  a  part  in  preserving  order 
in  the  late  rebel  capital.  On  April  8th  came  the  command 
transferring  the  regiment  to  its  new  scene  of  service.  Of 
the  trip  itself,  one  of  the  regiment  wrote:  "We  had  a  pleas- 
ant ride  up  the  river,  taking  note  of  the  rebel  works  on  both 
sides :  the  much-talked-of  and  useless  Dutch  Gap  Canal, 
Butler's  failure,  and  the  rebel  rams,  blown  up,  their  old 
hulks  looking  as  though  they  had  seen  better  days.  All 
nature  was  taking  on  a  robe  of  beautiful  green,  and  we 
could  see  plainly  what,  in  the  '64  campaign,  we  had  tried 
so  hard  to  possess.  We  landed  at  Rockets,  near  which  the 
troops  were  having  a  review  in  light  marching  order,  so 
we  just  filed  by  in  heavy  marching  order  and,  as  usual, 
we  made  the  best  appearance."  The  embers  of  the  con- 
flagration started  by  the  departing  rebels  were  scarcely 
cooled  when  the  Massachusetts  men  came  in,  and,  from  their 
first  camp,  near  the  former  headquarters  of  the  Confederate 
War  Department,  essayed  the  part  of  peace  preservers  in 
Richmond,  a  duty  to  be  performed  through  many  a  month 
of  the  immediate  future.  A  permanent  stopping-place  was 
soon  found  on  the  corner  of  Franklin  and  Nineteenth 
Streets,  in  Wright 's  Tobacco  Factory,  where .  is  now 
manufactured  "The  Pride  of  Virginia,"  a  favorite  among 
users  of  the  weed.  After  two  months  tarrying  here,  a  move 
was  made  to  Howard  Grove  Hospital,  where  in  w^hat  had 
been  rebel  soldiers'  barracks,  the  remainder  of  the  Rich- 
mond stay  was  spent. 

Among  the  duties  of  this  Richmond  tour  was  the  looking 
after  Libby  Prison  and  Castle  Thunder,  both  of  them 
filled  with  ex-rebels  detained  for  a  variety  of  reasons,  and 
the  city  jail  with  its  complement  of  malefactors  of  all  colors 
and  creeds.  Its  situation  was  just  back  of  what  had  been 
the  residence  of  Jefferson  Davis,  in  other  words,  the  White 
House   of   the    Confederacy,   in   later   years   a   museum   of 


Spring  '65.  Richmond.  389 

Rebellion  relics.  In  the  jail-yard  was  the  old  whipping-post, 
a  reminder  of  other  times  and  other  rule,  now  a  curiosity  for 
the  northern  soldier.  The  destitution  of  the  people  was  a 
source  of  wonder  and  regret  to  the  tender-hearted  Federal, 
and,  as  far  as  he  could,  he  was  more  than  ready  to  relieve  it. 
Aside  from  dividing  rations,  however,  he  was  powerless,  but 
it  would  not  have  been  in  accordance  with  nature  if  he  had 
not  done  some  piloting  of  the  suffering  citizens  to  Uncle 
Sam's  commissary  stores.  The  situation  is  most  happily 
set  forth  in  the  words  of  one  to  the  manor  born,  who  was 
there  when  the  distress  was  on : 

In  all  this  time  of  horror  I  don't  think  anything  was  much 
harder  than  making  up  our  minds  to  draw  rations  from  the 
Yankees.  We  said  we  would  not  do  it — we  could  not  do  it ! 
But  as  hunger  gained  upon  us  and  starvation  stared  us  in 
the  face,  Mrs.  Sampson  rose  up  in  her  might:  "I'll  take 
anything  I  can  get  out  of  the  Yankees!"  she  exclaimed. 
"They  haven't  had  any  delicacy  of  feeling  in  taking  every- 
thing we've  got.     I'm  going  for  rations." 

And  go  they  did,  though  the  results  were  not  quite  so 
appetizing  as  they  had  expected,  since  the  piece  de  resistance 
in  each  case  was  likely  to  be  a  dried  codfish,  which,  how- 
ever orthodox  to  the  New  Englander,  was  not  much  of  a 
luxury  to  one  of  the  Old  Dominion,  but  with  the  accompany- 
ing bit  of  bacon  and  some  potatoes,  life  was  maintained 
after  a  fashion,  though  it  is  related  that  the  ancient  and 
fish-like  smell  that  accompanied  the  "ration"  compelled  the 
recipients,  in  most  cases,  to  hang  the  food  outside  the  win- 
dow. Perhaps  the  coffee  thus  obtained  was  most  appre- 
ciated. It  was  no  infrequent  sight,  that  of  well-dressed 
women,  evidently  of  the  best  families  of  the  city,  applying 
for  aid.  At  one  time,  the  soldier  inquired  of  replied  that  he 
did  not  know  in  what  way  he  could  be  of  service,  impressed 
by  the  evident  gentility  of  the  woman.  When  he  mentioned 
work,  with  his  northern  sentiments  on  that  subject,  he  was 
told  that  she  knew  verv  little  about  work,  and  that  her  ser- 


390 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


vants  had  all  been  scattered  by  the  war.  "Do  you  know 
who  that  lady  is?"  asked  a  citizen  of  the  guard.  "No,  I 
do  not,  but  she  is  a  lady,  whoever  she  may  be,"  was  the 
reply.  "Well,  she  represents  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
wealthy  families  in  Virginia.  Her  father  once  possessed 
hundreds  of  slaves,  but  the  folks  are  in  terrible  straits  now." 
However,  native  intelligence  and  energy  soon  began  to 
tell  and  it  was  not  long  before  order  was  evolved  from  all 


RICHMOND  RESIDENCE  OF  JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 

of  war's  carnage  and  confusion.  The  rebels,  or  those  lately 
in  rebellion,  began  to  discover  that  the  Yankees  were  not  so 
bad  as  they  had  been  painted ;  some  of  the  gentler  sex  even 
gave  their  hearts  into  the  keeping  of  soldiers  from  the 
North,  and  some  of  the  latter  made  Richmond  or  other  south- 
ern cities  places  of  permanent  abode.  Long  years  after  it 
was  all  over,  a  southern  writer  says  this  of  those  troublous 
days:  "Our  grandchildren  can't  understand  how  such  nice 
people  as  the  Yankees  and  ourselves  ever  could  have 
fought  each  other.  'It  doesn't  seem  reasonable,'  says 
Nellie  the  third,  who  is  engaged  to  a  gentleman  from  Boston, 


Spring  '65.  Richmond.  391 

where  we  sent  her  to  cultivate  her  musical  talents,  but 
where  she  applied  herself  to  other  matters.  'It  doesn't 
seem  reasonable,  grandmamma,  when  you  could  just  as 
easily  have  settled  it  all  comfortably  without  any  fighting. 
How  glad  I  am  I  wasn't  living  then!  How  thankful  I  am 
that  Old  Glory  floats  alike  over  North  and  South  now.' 
'And  so  am  T,  my  darling,  so  am  I.'  " 

Across  the  river  from  Bermuda  Hundred  resided  a  family 
of  the  Carters,  for  generations  one  of  the  proudest  and  best 
in  the  South.  This  particular  branch  had  remained  faith- 
ful to  the  Union,  though  the  most  of  the  name  had  affiliated 
with  the  Rebellion;  indeed  the  wife  of  Robert  E.  Lee  was  a 
relative,  and  to  her  a  message  had  been  intrusted  with  Major 
Ordway,  with  the  understanding  that  he  should  deliver  it 
in  person.  This  in  due  time  he  undertook  to  do,  but  he 
found  the  entrance  to  the  presence  of  the  chieftain's  com- 
panion, a  great  granddaughter  of  Washington's  wife,  was 
not  so  easily  effected.  To  enter  the  vestibule  and  to  be  met 
by  a  colored  servitor  who  inquired  his  business,  was  one 
thing,  but  to  meet  Mrs.  Lee  was  quite  another.  Notwith- 
standing his  repeated  statement  that  he  was  to  deliver  his 
message  personally,  he  received  only  the  same  reply, 
"Tell  the  gentleman  that  Mrs.  Lee  is  not  at  home,"  and  the 
valiant  and  fastidious  ]\Iajor  was  obliged  to  retire  discom- 
fited, his  message  unimparted,  at  least  not  in  person,  and  his 
failure  was  a  source  of  some  merriment  to  his  brother 
officers.  Later  when  he  had  led  to  the  altar  a  daughter  of 
Richmond,  and  became  a  resident  of  that  noted  city,  it  is 
probable  that  his  entrance  into  the  61ite  of  the  capital's 
society  was  more  easily  effected. 

Among  all  the  prisoners  committed  to  the  care  of  the 
Union  soldiers  in  Richmond,  the  most  famous  was  Dick 
Turner,  the  man  who  had  made  himself  so  hateful  to  the 
unfortunate  northern  men  confined  in  Libby  Prison.  That 
he  was  a  twant  every  one  agreed,  and  he  was  given  a  taste 
of  his  own  provisions,  in  that  he  was  at  first  incarcerated  in 


392  TWENTY'-FOURTH   MASSACHUSETTS   RbGIMENT. 

one  of  the  dungeons  beneath  the  very  structure  over  which 
he  had  formerly  held  so  hard  and  high  a  hand.  When  the 
troops  from  the  armies  further  south  began  to  pour  through 
the  capital,  there  were  many  men  appearing  whom  he  had 
tyrannized  over,  in  some  cases  had  maltreated.  All  wanted 
to  see  him;  some  were  civil  and  courteous  to  him,  others 
were  quite  the  reverse.  One  especially,  an  officer  who  had 
suffered  terribly  at  the  hands  of  the  former  keeper,  was 
determined  to  shoot  him.  It  required  a  deal  of  effort  and 
wisdom  to  prevent  the  death  of  the  rebel  by  his  half-crazed 
foe,  on  account  of  his  deeds  in  other  days.  But  prudence 
and  the  protection  accorded  prisoners  among  civilized  peo- 
ple prevailed  and  Turner's  life  was  spared.  Not  so  very  long 
after  the  guarding  of  the  ex-keeper  became  a  part  of  the 
regiment's  duties,  a  Union  officer  called  at  the  prison  and 
on  learning  where  the  Confederate  was  confined  remarked, 
"I  wonder  that  he  doesn't  find  out  that  one  of  the  bars  at 
his  window  is  of  wood."  It  appears  that  the  officer  him- 
self had  once  been  imprisoned  in  that  very  place,  and  that 
in  his  plans  for  escape  had  substituted  wood  for  iron  in 
the  bars  at  the  window,  but  departing  in  another  manner, 
before  he  had  used  this  avenue  of  escape,  the  false  bar  had 
remained.  Acting  on  knowledge  thus  imparted,  the  cell  of 
Turner  was  visited  at  once,  but  too  late,  for  the  prisoner  had 
learned  of  the  deception,  taken  advantage  of  it  and  had 
departed.  However,  his  liberty  was  of  short  duration,  since 
he  was  speedily  retaken  and  this  time  was  placed  in  Castle 
Thunder,  where,  for  the  sake  of  surety,  he  was  heavily  ironed. 
Strong  chains  connected  his  wrists,  and  his  feet  were  united 
in  a  similar  manner,  while  an  iron  rod  reached  from  his  feet 
to  his  hands,  and  to  make  his  escape  still  more  improbable, 
the  entire  assemblage  of  links,  rods  and  gyves  was  securely 
chained  to  the  ceiling,  his  manacles  reminding  one  of  those 
wuth  which  Pizarro  bound  the  Inca  of  Peru.  The  Government, 
evidently  intent  on  leaving  the  least  number  of  scars  possible, 
did  not  punish  Davis  and,  as  for  the  keepers  of  southern  pris- 
ons, the  hanging  of  Wirtz  apparently  sufficed,   and  Turner 


Spring  '65.  Richmond.  393 

eventually  went  forth  unscathed.  ' '  He  was  not  a  particularly 
bad  fello-\v  as  far  as  looks,  language  and  manners  were 
concerned,"  was  the  general  comment  of  the  men  w^ho  saw 
him  frequently.  His  rations  when  thus  kept  in  the  very 
building  over  which  he  had  lorded  so  long  were  simply 
hard  tack  and  water,  a  not  over-appetizing  layout,  but  one 
that  gave  his  former  captives,  now  his  visitors,  a  great 
deal  of  pleasure  as  they  asked  him  how  he  liked  it  himself. 

The  marching  through  Richmond  of  Sherman's  army  and 
that  of  the  Potomac  was  a  source  of  much  pleasure  to  all 
beholders,  and  possibly  there  was  some  pride  mingled  with 
the  sight  as  the  men  of  the  trip  from  Atlanta  to  the  Sea 
strode  through  the  Confederate  capital,  in  sight  of  the 
edifice  in  which  had  been  evolved  the  plans  and  plots  which 
kept  up  the  strife  during  four  long  years. 

One  W'ho  was  there  thus  describes  the  passage  of  the 
Second  and  Fifth  Army  Corps : 

Yesterday  (May  6th)  Richmond  saw  what  she  never  saw 
before,  viz. :  the  passage  of  about  40,000  troops  of  the  Union 
Army  on  their  way  to  Washington.  They  commenced  to 
come  over  from  IManchester  on  the  pontoon  bridge,  about 
6  a.m.,  and  were  till  4.30  crossing.  On  their  march  they 
passed  by  Libby  Prison  and  Castle  Thunder,  on  which  we 
had  placed  large  signs  so  that  the  soldiers  might  know  what 
they  w^ere  passing.  Their  remarks  as  they  passed  and  gazed 
Avere  more  forcible  than  polite.  Thence  they  passed  onto 
Main  Street,  where  the  Third  Division  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Corps  w^as  formed  in  line  to  receive  them.  They  thus 
stretched  along  two  miles  or  more.  Some  of  the  reviewing 
soldiers  recognized  old  friends  in  the  Massachusetts  regi- 
ments as  they  swung  along  the  route.  By  this  time,  the 
Tw^enty-fourth  had  resumed  some  of  its  Readville  dignity 
and  style  and  was  wearing  dress  coats  with  scales  on  the 
shoulders,  appearing  very  little  like  the  men  of  Drewry's 
Bluff  and  the  Petersburg  trenches.  Some  of  the  men  on 
guard  w'ere  in  full  regalia  and  even  w^ore  white  gloves,  an 
amount  of  ''put-on"  quite  too  much  for  the  rough-and- 
ready  fellows  just  in  from  the  field,  and  they,  thinking  the 
starched  soldiers  were  regulars,  stigmatized  them  as  ''band- 


394 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


box"  regiments  and  slurred  them  to  their  hearts'  content, 
little  realizing  that  in  the  preceding  season  they  were  all 
alike.  The  passage  of  the  wagon  train  was  even  more  inter- 
esting than  that  of  the  army.  If  northern  people  all  turn 
out  to  see  a  circus,  I  don't  know  what  they  would  do  for 
this. 

Then,  too,  w^hen  later  in  the  month  of  May,  the  Sixth 
Corps  came  along  from  its  tour  of  guard-duty  in  southern 


LIBBY  PRISON  IX  iNiy. 


Virginia,  there  was  another  chance  to  compare  notes  with 
soldiers  who  had  warred  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  and,  in  the  battle  of  Sailors' 
Creek,  had  won  the  last  great  victory  against  the  Confeder- 
acy. Those  were  pleasant  days  for  the  Twenty-fourth,  and  to 
the  younger  members  of  the-  regiment  they  were  almost 
delightful.  Says  one  of  the  survivors :  ' '  One  of  the  proudest 
moments  of  my  life  was  when,  as  Corporal,  I  was  in  charge  of 
a  squad  of  colored  soldiers,  going  with  them  across  the  pon- 


Summer  '64.  Richmond.  395 

toon  bridge  over  to  Manchester.  I  had  noticed  that,  with 
their  old-time  subserviency,  they  were  giving  way  to  every 
ex-reb  they  met,  so  I  just  told  them  not  to  give  a  single  inch 
when  they  met  any  more  of  the  secesh.  This  was  what  they 
had  been  anxious  to  hear,  and  the  way  they  stood  up  and  the 
way  they  walked  through  the  next  party  of  their  old  enemies 
was  a  sight  to  see.  I  felt  as  if  I  had  accomplished  something 
in  teaching  these  men  that  they  had  rights,  and  that  the 
uniform  they  had  on  was  entitled  to  respect  no  matter  who 
wore  it." 

It  would  be  idle  to  assert  that  all  the  men  enjoyed  the  sans- 
souci  life  in  Richmond.  "While  it  was  pleasant  for  some  of 
the  officers  and  for  many  of  the  younger  membere.  to  the  man 
who  had  enlisted  for  putting  down  the  Rebellion  and  whose 
family  and  business  required  him  at  home,  the  stay  was  irk- 
some in  the  extreme.  It  was  during  these  days  that  many  men, 
as  will  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  Roster,  took  French  leave. 
They  had  in  many  cases  been  admirable  soldiers,  some  of  them 
even  were  reenlisted  veterans,  but  the  call  of  home  was  too 
strong  and  they  heeded  the  prompting.  Government  recog- 
nized the  provocation,  and  some  years  later  ordered  that  all 
men  thus  taking  leave  of  the  service,  after  the  surrender,  and 
on  making  due  application,  should  have  their  names  removed 
from  the  list  of  deserters  and  should  be  entitled  to  all  the 
privileges  of  those  who  stayed  through.  Very  many,  how- 
ever, paid  the  debt  to  nature  due  before  this  ruling  was  had, 
and  some  excellent  names  still  rest  under  a  shadow.  Nor  did 
the  days  pass  by  without  some  remonstrance  from  the  sober- 
minded  men  who  were  doing  duty  for  fifty  cents  a  day,  and 
who  were  worth  dollars  at  any  one  of  a  score  of  employments 
in  the  North.  In  July  a  petition  was  carried  in  to  headquar- 
ters representing  that  the  men  were  tired  of  soldiering  and 
desired  to  have  measures  taken  to  secure  the  muster-out  of  the 
regiment.  The  signers  went  up  in  a  body  and  the  hospital 
steward  carried  in  the  paper.  No  satisfaction  coming  from 
this  action,  the  men  next  tried  General  A.  H.  Terry,  who, 


396 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


they  Avere  told,  had  the  naming  of  regiments  to  be  discharged. 
All  that  came  of  this  last  move  was  the  remanding  of  the 
messenger  to  his  companj^,  though  he  had  been  an  orderly  at 
regimental  headquarters  for  four  years.  The  prospect  of 
having  to  serve  out  the  eighteen  months  of  their  enlistments 
was  not  altogether  pleasant  to  the  men,  especially  when  the 
conditions   of  their  muster-in   included  the  words,     "Three 


RICHMOND  state  HOUSE,  CONFEDERATE  CAPITOL. 

years  or  the  close  of  the  war."  That  the  war  was  over,  all 
acknowledged  and  the  literalist  could  not  see  why  his  military 
obligations  were  not  ended  also. 

Patriotic  northern  boys  oould  not  permit  the  4th  of  July 
to  pass  without  some  recognition  of  its  significance,  particu- 
larly in  this  city  that  had  tried  its  best  to  get  out  of  the 
Union.  If  mere  noise  were  anj^  criterion  for  judgment, 
then  was  the  day  memorable,  but  with  so  much  explosion  of 
gunpowder,  there  were  as  usual  several  accidents,  and  one 
man  had  his  left  thumb  and  a  part  of  the  hand  carried  off 
by  the  explosion  of  his  musket,  while  another  sent  a  pistol 
ball  through  his  fingers.      'Twas  ever  thus. 


Jan.  '66.  Homeward  Bound.  397 

For  the  gi*eater  part  of  the  time,  in  their  guard  duty,  the 
men  of  the  Twenty-fourth  were  associated  with  their  old 
friends  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut  and  the  Eleventh  Maine, 
but  as  the  latter  were  either  sent  home  or  detached  for  duty 
in  Fredericksburg,  the  Twenty-fourth  had  the  work  largely 
to  itself.  To  add  to  its  numbers  and  to  render  the  positions 
of  its  officers  more  certain,  and,  at  the  same  time,  to  retain 
the  services  of  a  large  number  of  reenlisted  men,  those  of 
the  Thirty-fourth,  some  157  in  number,  and  12  from  the 
Fortieth  similarly  circumstanced,  were  transferred  to  the 
regiment,  constituting  Companies  A  and  G,  the  former  men 
of  said  companies  being  sent  into  K  and  D  respectively. 
As  the  time  of  the  volunteer  regiments  grew  nearer  an  end, 
soldiers  of  the  regulars  were  drawn  upon  and  they  eventually 
took  on  all  the  Provost  duty. 

1866. 

To  very  few  regiments  in  the  volunteer  service  was  it  giv- 
en to  date  letters  in  the  fifth  year  from  enlistment.  Only 
one  other  from  the  Bay  State,  the  Thirtieth,  had  such  neces- 
sity, but  the  record  for  the  Twenty-fourth  in  the  new  year 
was  very  brief.  The  rumors  of  preceding  weeks  as  to  a 
discharge  of  the  men  (Culminated  in  verity  soon  after  the 
middle  of  January,  and  on  the  20th,  Saturday  afternoon,  in 
heavy  marching  order,  the  route  was  taken  down  Seventeenth 
Street,  the  band  playing  so  blithely,  "The  Girl  I  left  Behind 
Me,"  proceeding  through  the  familiar  ways  to  Rockets,  where 
a  steamer  was  boarded  for  home.  Down  the  James  the  men 
had  a  chance  to  see  their  battle-grounds  of  1864,  and  to 
moralize  on  the  sad  fate  of  comrades  whose  bodies  were  yet 
lying  near  where  they  fell  in  the  fierce  strife;  dowTi  to  the 
union  of  the  waters  of  the  James  with  those  of  the  Chesapeake 
and  then  up  the  historic  bay  to  Baltimore.  Thence  they 
went  by  rail  through  Philadelphia  to  New  York,  many  a  lad 
thinking,  if  he  did  not  sing,  as  the  train  sped  along: 


398  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

"Rolling  home,  rolling  home,  rolling  home, 
Rolling  home,  rolling  home,  rolling  home: 
Oh,  happy  is  the  girl  that  will  greet  me, 
As  I  go  rolling,  rolling  home." 

The  return  of  the  regiment,  as  set  forth  in  the  Boston 
Journal  of  Wednesday  evening,  Jan.  24,  1866,  was  as  follows : 
"The  Twenty-fourth  Regiment,  Massachusetts  Volunteers, 
arrived  at  the  Fall  River  and  Newport  depot  about  8.30  o'clock 
on  Wednesday  morning  in  an  extra  train  from  Newport. 
(The  extended  Journal  account  of  the  life  of  the  organiza- 
tion afield  is  omitted. )  The  regiment  numbers  about  425  men, 
all  in  good  health,  having  left  Richmond,  Va.,  where  they 
have  been  stationed  since  its  capture,  last  Saturday  afternoon, 
en  route  for  home.  About  two  hundred  of  the  returned 
soldiers  are  veterans  and  went  out  with  the  regiment. 

"Immediately  on  leaving  the  cars  at  the  depot  this  morn- 
ing, the  regiment  M'^as  formed  in  line  by  Colonel  Edmands, 
and  to  the  excellent  music  of  their  own  band,  and  accompanied 
by  many  companions  in  arms,  the  men  marched  to  Boylston 
Hall,  where  they  partook  of  a  substantial  breakfast,  and 
passed  a  couple  of  hours  in  exchanging  congratulations  with 
friends  and  relatives.  While  in  the  hall,  the  band,  numbering 
some  twenty  pieces,  under  the  leadership  of  John  W.  Lincoln, 
performed  several  pieces  of  music  in  an  excellent  manner,  and 
much  to  the  gratification  of  all  present.  In  this  connection 
it  may  be  stated  that  it  is  the  intention  of  the  band  to  give  a 
grand  concert  in  Music  Hall,*  before  finally  separating  for 


*The  concert  was  given  Feb.  2d  in  Music  Hall,  the  band  having  the 
assistance  of  the  Stevenson  Glee  Club,  that  chorus  of  voices  that  had 
sung  Union  songs  in  rebellious  states  for  two  years  and  more.  Of  the 
concert  itself,  the  Transcript  of  Feb.  3d  commented  in  a  brief  article: 
"The  concert  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  in  Music  Hall,  last  night, 
was  one  of  the  most  admirable  musical  entertainments  given  by  a  full 
band  which  has  been  heard  in  Boston  for  several  years.  The  programme 
was  judiciously  selected  and  the  different  pieces  so  faultlessly  performed 
that  the  music  throughout  was  of  the  most  enlivening  character.  The 
singing  of  the  Glee  Club  belonging  to  the  band  was  of  a  superior  char- 
acter.    The  only  regret  possible  is  over  the  smallness  of  the  attendance. ' ' 


Jan.  '66.  Boston.  399 

their  respective  homes. ' '  A  roster  of  the  officers  follows,  and 
the  statement  that  the  regiment  proceeded  to  Gallup 's  Island 
in  the  afternoon. 

On  the  27th  of  the  same  month,  the  regiment  came  up 
from  the  Island  for  the  final  scene  in  its  four  years'  drama. 
Old  friends  were  ready  to  give  the  veterans  a  fitting  reception. 
Their  former  Colonel,  now  General  F.  A.  Osborn,  was  Chief 
^Marshal,  and  with  him  was  an  efficient  staff  of  aides.  The 
escort  comprised  Company  F,  Second  Regiment,  M.  V.  M. ; 
past  officers  and  men  of  the  Forty-fourth  Regiment ;  past  offi- 
cers and  men  of  other  IMassachusetts  regiments;  past  officers 
and  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment;  last- 
ly came  the  veterans  themselves  under  the  command  of  Lieut. - 
colonel  Edmands.  The  route  was  through  Washington, 
Boylston,  Arlington  and  Beacon  Streets  to  the  State  House. 
IMany  flags  were  thrown  out  in  honor  of  the  occasion,  and  the 
entire  way  was  filled  with  indications  of  rejoicing.  The  line 
was  formed  in  front  of  the  State  House  at  11.30  a.m.  The 
Governor  advancing  to  the  gateway,  received  the  regimental 
colors  from  Colonel  Edmands,  saying:  "Mr.  Commander! 
In  the  name  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  I  re- 
ceive from  your  hands  the  colors  of  the  Twent^'-fourth  Regi- 
ment. You  and  your  men  can  afford  to  part  with  them,  and 
we  are  proud  to  take  them  back,  since  they  reflect  upon  you 
and  upon  us  the  highest  honors  of  war  and  the  full  assurance 
of  peace.  With  the  other  kindred  memorials  of  Massachu- 
setts arms  and  Massachusetts  hearts,  they  shall  be  preserved 
in  this  Capitol  for  the  observation  of  all  the  people. 

"The  limitations  of  this  occasion  will  not  permit  me  to 
recall  to  those  who  are  in  attendance  to  witness  the  closing 
scene  of  your  long  and  eminent  service.  Since  you  left  the 
State  more  than  four  years  ago,  the  eyes  of  our  citizens  have 
followed  you — with  Bumside  to  Roanoke  Island,  Newbern, 
Kinston.  and  Goldsboro  in  North  Carolina ;  into  South 
Carolina  to  the  assault  on  Fort  Wagner  and  to  the  siege  of 
Charleston ;  to  Florida  and  back  to  South  Carolina ;  to  the 


400         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Army  of  the  James,  engaged  at  Drewry's  Bluff,  Deep  Bot- 
tom, in  the  siege  of  Petersburg,  and  retained  among  the  last 
to  crown  the  triumphs  of  the  field  with  peaceful  guaranties. 

"I  welcome  you  home,  but  all  have  not  returned.  Eight 
ofiQoers  of  the  line  and  210  enlisted  men  have  fallen  in  battle 
and  by  the  casualties  of  war.  The  soldiers'  bed  has  been 
made  for  them;  but  their  names  shall  be  treasured  upon  the 
official  rolls  and  in  the  heart  of  the  State,  and  they  themselves 
shall  live  in  immortal  fame. 

"AVhen  I  think  of  the  discipline  of  the  Twenty-fourth, 
distinguished  among  all  the  armies  of  the  United  States,  I 
cannot  forget  him  who  recruited  it  and  so  long  commanded 
it.  It  would  be  an  omission  ungrateful  to  you  and  uncon- 
genial to  my  own  feelings  if,  before  your  ranks  dissolve  for 
the  last  time,  I  were  not  to  pronounce  in  your  presence,  with 
honor  to  the  dead  and  with  respect  to  the  living,  the  name  of 
Brigadier-general  Stevenson.  Not  a  more  heroic  spirit  has 
passed  triumphantly  the  portals  which  this  war  has  opened 
to  so  many  young  and  noble  and  brave. 

"It  only  remains  that  I  should  transfer  your  colors  to 
the  great  companionship  in  which  they  shall  henceforth  be 
preserved,  and  that  in  behalf  of  a  grateful  people,  I  should 
greet  and  honor  your  return. ' ' 

After  these  exercises  at  the  State  House,  the  lines  were 
again  formed  and  all  proceeded  to  Faneuil  Hall,  where  a  col- 
lation was  served  by  the  city  of  Boston  in  honor  of  the  return 
of  her  sons.  After  the  eating.  Mayor  Lincoln  spoke 
at  length,  eloquently  recalling  the  extended  services  of  the 
regiment  and  concluding  with  these  w^ords :  ' '  Again  I  wel- 
come you.  I  welcome  you  back  to  Massachusetts,  to  whose 
renown  you  have  added  by  your  exploits;  to  Boston,  its  cap- 
ital, whose  chief  pride  is  in  the  character  of  its  citizens,  and 
to  old  Faneuil  Hall,  sacred  in  its  past  memories,  but  living  a 
new  life  in  the  last  few  years,  as  its  doors  have  opened,  time 
and  again,  to  greet  the  patriotic  sons  of  the  Union  who  have 
retiirned  in  triumph,  victorious  over  the  enemies  of  the 
;  nrblic.'' 


Jan.  '66. 


Boston. 


401 


Maj .  Davis  Foster. 
Bvt.-Maj.  R.  Carnitliers. 


Q.  M.  James  Thompson. 
Capt.  W.  F.  Wiley  (K). 


Lieut.  Geo.  A.  Higgins  (H). 
Capt.  G.  W.  LeFavor  (I). 


For  his  men  and  himself,  Colonel  Edmands  responded  in 
fitting  terms,  and  the  veterans  made  the  old  hall  ring-  with  their 
cheering  for  their  gallant  leader.  General  George  H.  Gor- 
don, who  was  commanding  the  New  England  Guard  when 
the  war  began,  and  who  had  won  fame  during  the  progress 
of  the  struggle,  was  next  heard  with  interest,  and  then  Gen- 
eral F.  A.  Osborn,  who  had  so  long  led  these  men,  spoke. 
The  "boys"  were  loud  in  their  shouts  as  their  old  commander 
arose,  and  Faneuil  Hall  never  heard  heartier  cheering  than 
that  which  greeted  the  first  Lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Twenty- 
fourth,  who  said  it  did  him  good  to  see  his  old  command  look- 
ing up  to  him  as  they  had  done  in  many  scenes  of  danger;  he 
paid  the  highest  compliment  to  the  regiment,  referring  to 
26 


402  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

its  promptness  in  obeying  orders  under  all  circumstances  and 
without  questioning.  He  had  never  received  a  disrespectful 
word  from  a  member  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  and  he  would 
rather  command  that  body  of  men  than  any  other  regiment 
in  the  army.  It  never  flinched  in  the  performance  of  duty, 
whether  on  the  dreary  march,  the  pitiless  bivouac  or  in  the 
rain  of  bullets  on  the  battlefield. 

General  William  Schouler,  the  war  Adjutant-general  of 
the  Commonwealth,  gave  the  soldiers  some  practical  advice 
as  to  their  conduct  when  they  separated,  warning  them 
against  the  guerrillas  of  Boston,  who  were  lying  in  wait  to 
despoil  them  of  whatever  valuables  they  might  chance  to 
have.  He  cautioned  them  to  take  good  care  of  their 
money  and  their  discharge-papers,  saying  that  their  bounty 
and  pay  were  ready  in  the  State  Treasury.  Eemarks  also 
were  made  by  General  B.  F.  Edmands  and  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Gaylord,  after  whom  Colonel  Thomas  F.  Edmands  addressed 
his  men  for  the  last  time,  saying  that  the  only  thing  for  him 
to  do  was  to  bid  farewell  to  them,  which  he  did  with  great 
emotion.  Then  came  more  cheers  for  the  Colonel,  final  hand- 
shakes all  around,  and  the  men  were  off  for  their  homes  and 
the  loving  greetings  there  awaiting  them. 

"And  back  again  came  the  marching  men, 

The  bugle  sounding  still, 
But  the  music's  surge  had  a  sighing  dirge. 

So  soft  and  low  and  shrill. 
And  a  woman  wept,  for  a  soldier  slept. 

The  dreamless,  silent  sleep. 
And  the  bugle  song  had  a  measure  wrong. 

For  buglers  sometimes  weep." 


ACTOR,  LSNOX  1 


A  '//:  B:!,C'.  <L  iX-irs 


Bronze  Memorial.  403 

THE    STATE   HOUSE   BRONZE    MEMORIAL    OF 
GENERAL  THOMAS  O.  STEVENSON. 

(The  following  account  is  abridged  from  the  address  of  General  Fran- 
cis A.  Osborn  at  the  presentation,  along  with  accompanying  data,  as 
given  in  the  printed  volume  issued  by  the  Memorial  Association  late  in 
1906.) 

The  personal  characteristics  of  General  Stevenson,  the  first 
Colonel  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  together  with  his  distinguished 
services  to  the  nation,  and  the  manner  of  his  death  in  the 
presence  of  the  enemy^  had  long  caused  the  community  to 
feel  that  some  permanent  memorial  of  him  should  be  erected 
in  the  State  House.  In  the  month  of  February,  1905,  several 
of  his  old  friends  and  comrades  decided  that  the  time  had 
come  for  action.  The  movement  was  committed  to  the  care 
of  the  Twenty-fourth  Club,  consisting  of  officers  of  the  Twen- 
ty-fourth Eegiment  and.  at  a  meeting  of  the  Club,  February 
27,  1905,  the  subject  was  thoroughly  considered  and  the  "Gen- 
eral Thomas  G.  Stevenson  Memorial  Association"  was  organ- 
ized. An  Executive  Committee,  having  full  powers  to  raise 
funds  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  memorial  in  the  State 
House,  was  appointed  as  follows : 

Francis  A.  Osborn,  President,  Edw.  C.  Richardson,  Secretary, 

Charles  B.  Amory,  Treasurer, 

Robert  F.  Clark,        James  Thompson,        Frank  G.  Webster, 

Thomas  F.  Edmands,    Edward  C.  Johnson,    John  Parkinson, 

Charles  Hunt. 

A  circular  representing  the  New  England  Guard,  the 
Fourth  Battalion,  the  Twenty-fourth  and  Forty-fourth  Regi- 
ments, Massachusetts  Volunteers,  with  their  friends  was  sent 
out  reciting  the  purpose  of  the  Association,  viz. :  to  erect  at 
tJhe  entrance  to  the  Hall  of  Flag's  in  the  State  House,  a 
high  relief  in  bronze  of  General  Stevenson,  the  cost  thereof 
to  be  in  the  neighborhood  of  $5,000. 


404  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Through  the  Legislature  and  the  Governor  and  Council 
permission  was  obtained  to  place  the  figure  at  the  right  of  the 
south  entrance  to  Memorial  Hall  and  the  services  of  Mr. 
Bela  L.  Pratt,  a  Boston  artist  of  repute,  were  secured  for  the 
task.  All  of  this  was  done  in  less  than  a  month  from  the 
date  of  organizing  the  Association,  thus  affording  an  idea 
of  the  energy  with  which  the  work  was  foi'warded.  The 
artist,  working  with  the  same  enthusiasm  which  had  charac- 
terized the  Executive  Committee,  proceeded  at  once  to  execute 
his  commission.  The  design  submitted  in  model  meeting  the 
approval  of  the  Governor  and  Council  and  of  the  Committee, 
the  full-sized  figure  was  made  and  the  same  was  cast  in 
bronze  by  the  Gorham  Manufacturing  Company  of  Prov- 
idence during  the  summer.  The  finished  product  of  artist's 
hand  and  bronzist's  care  was  placed  in  position  in  the 
month  of  November,  1905. 

The  relief  itself,  a  little  over  life  size,  full  length,  repre- 
sents the  officer  as  coming  towards  the  observer,  field-glasses 
in  hand.  He  has  taken  them  from  his  eyes  as  he  strides  for- 
ward to  get  the  broader  view  of  the  unaided  vision,  it  being 
the  sculptor's  intention  to  represent  General  Stevenson  at  the 
height  of  one  of  his  campaigns,  and  to  give  to  the  face  and 
figure  some  feeling  of  the  tense  strain  of  actual  warfare. 
So  well  has  Mr.  Pratt  accomplished  his  purpose,  so  perfectly 
does  his  work  harmonize  with  its  surroundings,  that  this 
remark  has  been  heard:  "It  seems  as  if  the  settings  were 
built  around  the  relief,  instead  of  it  being  fitted  into  a  wait- 
ing niche."  Cast  in  a  light  colored  bronze,  having  a  gray- 
green  finish,  the  result  is  in  perfect  harmony  with  its  envi- 
ronment of  Italian  marble. 

By  an  agreement  with  State  authorities  and  the  officers 
of  the  Association,  the  7th  of  December  was  fixed  upon  as 
the  day  of  dedication.  The  large  assemblage  of  interested  peo- 
ple in  the  afternoon  of  the  day  named,  was  a  living  attest  of 
the  respect  in  which  is  held  the  memory  of  the  young  hero  who, 
so  many  years  before,  fell  a  sacrifice  to  the  maintenance  of  the 


Bronze  Memorial.  405 

Union.  Beginning  promptly  at  2  o'clock  with  the  bugle 
call,  there  followed  the  presentation,  unveiling  and  accept- 
ance of  the  bronze,  the  latter  office  being  performed  by  the 
Hon.  Wm.  ]M.  Olin,  Secretary  of  the  Commonwealth.  Prayer 
was  offered  by  the  Rev.  Edward  A.  Horton,  Chaplain  of  the 
day,  and  the  memorial  address  was  given  by  General  Fran- 
cis A.  Osborn.  Appropriate  music  was  interspersed  by  the 
band  of  the  Fifth  Regiment,  M.  V.  M.,  under  the  direction 
of  John  Morley  Flockton. 

The  address  of  General  Osborn  was  all  that  might  be 
expected  from  his  long  association  w4th  General  Stevenson. 
The  occasion  had  been  incomplete  without  so  competent  and 
fitting  a  eulogist.  With  certain  omissions,  the  address 
follows : 

"Thomas  Greely  Stevenson  was  born  in  Boston,  February 
3,  1836.  His  father  was  J.  Thomas  Stevenson,  who  was  of 
an  old  Boston  family  and  filled  an  honored  position  as  one 
of  the  leading  men  of  this  city,  holding  many  places  of  trust 
and  honor,  a  man  of  high  character,  of  tried  ability  and  genial 
manners,  universally  looked  up  to  and  respected.  His  mother 
was  Hannah  Hooper  Stevenson,  a  member  of  a  prominent 
Marblehead  family,  and  a  woman  of  great  force  of  charac- 
ter and  affectionate  nature.  She  was  a  grand-daughter  of 
General  John  Glover,  a  gallant  officer  of  the  Revolution,  who 
distinguished  himself  in  many  actions,  whose  statue  lends 
dignity  to  Commonwealth  Avenue.  Truly,  General  Stevenson 
was  fortunate  in  his  ancestry,  from  whom  can  be  traced  many 
of  the  attractive  characteristics  which  so  greatly  endeared  him 
to  his  friends. 

"He  was  educated  in  the  Boston  common . schools,  finishing 
at  the  public  Latin  School.  From  there  he  went  into  a 
merchant's  counting-room,  and  later  into  the  service  of  the 
Boston  &  Lowell  Railroad  Company,  where  he  was  in 
April,  1861,  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Ci\il  War.  He  had 
already  sho"v\Ti  an  aptitude  and  liking  for  military  matters, 
and  was  at  that  time  a  sergeant  in  the  New  England  Guards, 


406  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

a  militia  company  of  Boston,  which  dated  its  existence  from 
1812,  and  had  since  that  time  held  a  conspicuous  and  dis- 
tinguished position  in  the  volunteer  militia  of  the  Common- 
wealth. 

[The  following  sixteen  pages  of  General  Osborn's  address  give  in  effect 
the  services  of  General  Stevenson  in  Fort  Independence,  in  the  formation 
of  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  and  his  experiences  with  that  organiza- 
tion up  to  the  time  of  their  separation,  when  the  regiment  was  ordered 
to  Florida,  all  of  which  is  interspersed  through  the  pages  of  this  volume.  ] 

"Through  all  this  weary  period  of  the  siege  [of  Wagner], 
General  Stevenson,  while  burdened  with  work  and  anxiety, 
advanced  his  already  high  reputation  for  ability  and  effi- 
ciency, securing  and  retaining  in  a  high  degree  the  confidence 
of  his  superior  officers,  and  the  affection  and  implicit  trust 
of  his  troops.  But  during  the  early  months  of  1864,  his 
health  gave  way  under  his  unremitting  labor,  and  he  was 
obliged  to  return  to  Boston  on  sick  leave.  At  that  time  Gen- 
eral Grant  was  making  his  plans  for  the  great  movements 
which  took  place  in  the  following  summer.  General  Burnside, 
who  commanded  the  Ninth  Corps,  having  a  lively  remem- 
brance of  General  Stevenson  and  appreciating  fully  his  high 
character  and  his  value  as  a  commander,  made  application 
to  have  him  assigned  to  duty  in  that  corps.  His  request  was 
granted,  and  General  Stevenson  was  directed  to  report  to 
General  Burnside,  who  put  him  in  command  of  his  First 
Division.  The  Ninth  Corps  came  up  to  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  May  6th,  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  hard-fought 
and  bloody  battle  of  the  Wilderness  and  subsequent  des- 
perate engagements.  Now  for  the  first  time,  General  Steven- 
son occupied  a  position  where  he  could  exercise  his  abilities 
on  a  large  scale  and  show  how  the  thought,  the  study,  and  the 
experience  of  nearly  three  years  in  active  service  in  war 
had  developed  and  matured  his  native  capacity.  High  hopes 
were  entertained  of  his  future,  and  fond  anticipation  pre- 
dicted brilliant  achievements.  Had  he  lived,  they  would  have 
been  realized,  and  he  would  have  taken  rank  as  one  of  the 


Bronze  Memorial.  407 

historic  generals  of  the  war  having  a  national  reputation. 
But,  alas!  the  opportunity  was  but  a  brief  one.  On  the 
10th  of  the  month,  in  the  battle  of  Spotteylvania,  when  he 
had  been  but  a  few  days  at  the  head  of  his  division,  he  was 
shot  and  instantly  killed. 

"Thus  was  cut  untimely  off  a  noble  life,  in  the  vigor  of 
youth,  full  of  patriotic  zeal,  and  charged  Avitli  capacity  for 
brilliant  service  in  his  country's  cause.  The  measure  of  the 
loss  cannot  be  estimated,  but  the  deep  grief  felt,  by  his  com- 
rades is  a  matter  of  bitter  memoiy.  By  the  nation  would 
be  missed  the  gallant,  brave  and  thorough  soldier,  with  his 
clear  good  sense,  his  calm  judgment,  his  military  ability  and 
his  conscientious  devotion  to  its  servnce;  but  friends  mourned 
the  joyous  comrade,  the  warm-hearted,  faithful  friend,  and 
the  true  man.  Thank  God  that  such  men  live !  Even  though 
they  walk  among  us  for  but  a  few  short  years,  they  exalt 
our  confidence  in  the  noble  capacity  of  human  nature,  and 
furnish  an  example  and  a  lofty  inspiration  to  all  who  know 
them. 

"Of  General  Stevenson's  capacity  as  an  officer  and  com- 
mander of  men,  I  cannot  speak  too  highly.  Whether  or  not  he 
would  have  developed  that  rare  military  talent  which  makes 
high  and  independent  command  illustrious,  I  cannot  decide, 
for  he  was  never  brought  to  the  test  of  experience;  but  I 
am  liappj''  in  the  belief  that  the  man  who  had  risen  from 
grade  to  grade  by  merit,  had  ever  filled  each  new  position 
with  ability  and  with  credit,  and  had  always  been  found 
equal  to  every  emergency,  would  have  made  an  honorable 
mark  in  any  place  of  responsibility  to  which  he  might  be 
called. 

"From  the  moment  he  entered  the  service  his  h^art  was  in 
his  work,  and  he  devoted  all  the  energies  of  an  active  and 
intelligent  mind  to  giving  to  his  beloved  country  the  best 
and  all  there  was  in  him.  He  did  not  take  up  the  profession 
of  arms  from  a  desire  of  military  glorj^ — he  cared  nothing 
for  it.     But,  when  he  saw  his  country's  peril,  he  felt  that  no 


408  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regimext. 

sacrifice  in  repelling  the  danger  would  be  too  great,  and  he 
would  not  have  shrunk  back  had  he  known  that  the  last 
full  measure  of  devotion  that  he  finally  paid  was  inevitable. 
He  was  filled  with  that  lofty  courage  that  fully  realizes 
danger,  but  nevertheless  faces  it  calmly,  upborne  by  the 
high  sense  of  duty  that  steels  the  heart  and  exalts  the  mind 
and  banishes  all  thought  of  consequences.  With  that  spirit 
he  entered  upon  the  important  office  of  Colonel  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  Regiment.  He  realized  from  the  very  begin- 
ning that  the  lives,  health,  and  welfare  of  the  men  of  his 
command  were  under  his  charge,  and  measurably  subject 
to  his  control,  and  he  made  it  a  study  how  he  could  best 
perform  his  responsible  duties.  Without  the  training  of  a 
professional  officer  to  guide  him  through  the  difficulties 
of  his  arduous  task  and  to  guard  him  against  mistakes,  he 
supplied  its  place  with  assiduous  study  of  the  requirements 
of  his  position,  prompted  and  stimulated  by  a  deep  sense  of 
responsibility,  with  the  good  judgment  that  quickly  seized 
upon  the  best  means  for  accomplishing  results,  and  above 
all  and  more  than  all  with  that  consecrated  devotion  to  duty 
that  thought  no  effort  too  great  for  attaining  success,  and 
considered  nothing  done  to  that  end  so  long  as  anything 
remained  to  be  done. 

"That  he  organized  a  regiment  that  was  a  credit  to  this 
Commonwealth  and  received  the  warmest  encomiums  from  all 
the  general  officers  under  whom  it  served,  was  not  a  matter 
of  chance  or  good  luck.  The  regiment  was  composed  of  fine 
material,  of  picked  men  drawn  from  all  parts  of  the  State ; 
but  even  that  was  a  part  of  his  plan  formed  before  a  single 
man  was  recruited,  and,  therefore,  was  to  his  credit.  But 
good  men,  brave  men,  do  not  of  themselves  make  a  good 
regiment.  It  is  needful  that  they  be  welded  into  a  compact 
mass,  completely  subservient  to  the  will  of  their  commander, 
full  of  faith  in  him  and  pervaded  with  his  enthusiasm.  To 
achieve  that  result  is  the  office  of  discipline,  which  I  under- 
stand to  be  the  inspiring  of  the  members  of  a  command  with 


Bronze  Memorial.  409 

such  a  deep  sense  of  their  obligation  to  the  service  and  to 
their  punctual  and  faithful  performance  of  their  duty  there- 
in that  they  give  themselves  up  to  the  will  of  their  superiors, 
and  obey  their  behests  almost  automatically. 

"General  Stevenson  was  eminently  fitted  to  establish  and 
maintain  that  form  of  discipline  that  subdued  his  command 
to  implicit  and  cheerful  obedience  ^vithout  crushing  the  indi- 
viduals under  a  sense  of  irritating  control.  He  was  in  no 
sense  a  martinet.  He  did  not  love  power  for  its  own  sake, 
and  he  never  used  it  wantonly,  but  he  thoroughly  understood 
that  discipline  is  the  foiuidation  of  all  efficiency,  and  that 
any  army  without  it  is  nothing  better  than  a  mob.  While 
insisting  on  obedience,  promptness,  punctuality,  and  faith- 
fulness, he  carefully  avoided  petty  restrictions  and  unneces- 
saiy  constraint.  He  sympathized  with  his  men,  and  realized 
that  nothing  was  more  important  for  carrying  on  the  war 
than  the  need  that  those  who  were  to  do  the  fighting  should 
be  maintained  in  full  vigor  and  in  good  spirits.  Thoughtless 
of  himself,  ever  thoughtful  of  others,  he  gave  unremitting 
care  to  the  welfare  of  the  men,  and  postponed  attention  to 
his  personal  wants  until  he  was  sure  he  had  done  for  them 
everything  in  his  power.  They  on  their  side  soon  came  to  real- 
ize the  kind  spirit  that  underlay  the  strict  discipline  that  was 
enforced,  and  to  recognize  that  their  commander  exercised 
his  authority  not  from  a  love  of  power  or  pride  of  office,  but 
in  the  simple  performance  of  his  duty  to  make  his  command 
the  most  efficient  possible  instrument  of  war,  and  that,  too, 
always  with  the  keen  appreciation  that  the  body  he  was  fash- 
ioning into  the  perfect  shape  was  composed  not  of  automatons, 
but  of  fellow  soldiers,  his  brethren  in  a  great  cause.  With 
the  intelligence,  good  sense,  firmness  and  patience  that  were 
his  marked  characteristics,  animated  with  the  kindly  and 
sympathetic  spirit  I  have  described,  the  task  of  dealing  with 
such  excellent  material  as  presented  itself  to  him  was  an  easy 
one,  and  the  effect  of  his  efforts  became  apparent  even  when 
the  recruits  that  had  been  sent  into  the  camp  of  instruction 


410  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

consisted  only  of  squads  of  men  who  a  few  days  previously 
had  not  known  the  meaning  of  a  military  order.  The  founda- 
tions were  at  that  time  laid  broad  and  deep,  and  the  super- 
structure that  he  built  on  them  bore  conclusive  testimony  to, 
the  wisdom  of  his  methods  and  the  efficiency  of  his  efforts. 
Though  he  remained  only  a  part  of  a  year  with  the  regi- 
ment before  he  was  called  to  higher  command,  he  in  that 
time  so  impressed  his  spirit  upon  it  that  it  always  bore  the 
stamp  of  his  genius,  always  looked  up  to  him  with  affection- 
ate regard,  and  rejoiced  to  continue'  under  his  conunand  as 
Brigadier-general. 

''It  is  a  fact  of  the  utmost  significance  that  the  rest  of  the 
troops  of  the  brigade,  among  whom  were  included  the  gal- 
lant Forty-fourth  Massachusetts,  so  well  and  favorably  known 
and  honored  in  Boston,  conceived  for  him  at  once  the  same 
cordial  feeling,  the  same  confidence  in  his  capacity  and  his 
faithfulness,  and  the  same  loyal  devotion  to  his  service. 
Never  was  a  brigade  more  devoted  to  its  comjaander,  more 
reposeful  in  its  trust  in  him. 

"It  is  difficult  to  convey  to  one  who  never  knew  our  friend 
whom  we  commemorate  in  this  noble  and  impressive  bronze 
the  charm  that  pervaded  him,  the  influence  he  exerted  over 
those  who  came  in  contact  with  him,  and  the  affection  he 
attracted  from  one  and  all,  whatever  might  be  the  relation 
they  bore  to  him,  whether  of  friend,  superior,  or  subordi- 
nate. In  any  gathering  when  his  personality  had  play,  he 
was  easily  first,  and  was  the  centre  around  which  others 
revolved.  And  this  without  any  assumption  on  his  part,  or 
any  effort  to  create  such  an  effect,  for  his  modesty  was  as 
conspicuous  a  characteristic  as  his  ability.  His  native  force 
of  character,  the  self-poise  that  held  him  equal  to  any  emer- 
gency, the  broad  mind  that  took  a  calm  survey  of  every 
situation,  the  cool  judgment  that  guided  him  unerringly 
through  all  difficulties,  the  strength  which  he  displayed  in 
every  position  in  M'hich  he  was  placed,  commanded  universal 
respect,  and  would  of  themselves  alone  have  made  him  a 
marked  man  and  a  favorite. 


Bronze  Memorial. 


411 


"But  what  endeared  him  to  all,  what  aroused  a  tenderness 
and  a  depth  of  feeling-  that  a  man  rarely  feels  for  one  of 
his  own  sex,  was  his  warmth  of  heart,  the  cordiality  of  his 
friendship,  his  frank  and  open  character,  his  transparent  sin- 
cerity, his  generous  appreciation  of  the  good  qualities  of 
others,  the  modesty  to  which  I  have  already  referred,  the 
absolute  freedom  from  any  trace  of  affectation  or  self-asser- 
tion, and  the  sense  of  humor  that  made  him  ever  a  cheery 
companion.  He  was  a  true,  earnest  and  faithful  friend,  and, 
as  a  natural  and  necessary  result,  he  made  friends  and  kept 
them. 

"For  forty-one  years  his  mortal  remains  have  lain  in  the 
grave,  but  to  his  friends  his  memory  is  to  this  day  as  fresh 
and  green  as  if  they  had  parted  with  him  but  yesterday. 
For  the  most  of  mortals,  the  sad  lament,  'Are  we  then  so  soon 
forgotten  when  we  are  dead?'  must  be  uttered  with  a  con- 
viction of  the  truth  it  bears :  but  our  loved  departed  comrade 
belongs  to  that  limited  and  illustrious  company  of  rare  souls 
whose  memoiy  wells  up  in  the  hearts  of  their  friends  like 
a  living  spring  pouring  out  its  clear,  sparkling,  and  refresh- 
ing stream  in  never  ceasing  flow." 


412  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

GILMORE'S    BAND. 

Perhaps  nothing  contributed  more  to  the  early  prestige  of 
the  Twenty-fourth  than  the  fact  that  its  officers  were  able 
to  take  with  them  in  their  army  life  the  most  famous  musical 
aggregation  at  that  time  in  the  country.  Though  each  man 
had  enlisted,  yet  to  secure  the  services  of  the  musicians,  it  was 
necessary  for  the  commissioned  officer  to  reach  down  into 
their  pockets  and  pay  therefrom  a  certain  percentage  of  their 
regular  compensation.  The  wonderful  spirit  of  unity  that 
prevailed  among  these  officers  rendered  possible  what  could 
hardly  have  been  attained  elsewhere.  The  band  was  easily 
the  star  wherever  military  music  was  in  question,  and  the 
dulcet  strains  M'hich  accompanied  the  progress  of  the  regi- 
ment southward  lingered  long  in  the  ears  of  those  who  heard. 
Whether  delighting  the  senses  of  Governor  Hicks  and  his 
associate  Marylanders  in  Annapolis,  or  captivating  General 
Burnside  and  staff  with  listening  natives  in  Newbern,  Gil- 
more  and  his  men  played  their  best  and  there  could  be  no 
better.  When  Arbuckle  placed  the  cornet  to  his  lips  and 
essayed  "The  Last  Eose  of  Summer,"  or  "Annie  Laurie," 
there  was  nothing  doing  within  the  sound  of  his  notes  but 
listening.  Just  to  think  of  the  privileges  of  those  far-away 
folks  at  the  junction  of  the  Trent  and  the  Neuse.  They 
had  all  that  was  afforded  a  few  years  later  to  the  assembled 
thousands  in  the  great  peace  jubilees.  Need  any  one  wonder 
that  the  Confederate  prisoners  at  Roanoke  fairly  went  wild 
when,  as  they  were  filing  down  to  the  transports  that  were 
to  take  them  to  their  own  Rebeldom,  Gilmore  and  his  men 
struck  up  ' '  Dixie ' '  ?  What  though  the  leader  was  called  down 
by  some  one  in  authority  for  his  act,  he  had  the  pleasure  of 
knowing  that  he  had  given  the  enemy  one  precious  moment 
never  to  be  forgotten. 

As  nearly  perfect  as  the  musicians  were  in  their  work,  they 
could  produce  discords,  as  when  their  application  for  a  fur- 
lough was  disapproved.     Then  in  their  way  across  the  parade 


Gilmore's  Band.  413 

ground,  there  came  from  their  brazen  instruments  notes 
that  no  one  would  believe  them  capable  of  blowing,  but  the 
spell  disappeared  and  harmony  as  of  old  prevailed.  When 
the  muster-out  of  all  regimental  bands  enlisted  as  such  came, 
the  men  played  their  farewells  amid  the  regrets  of  their 
listeners  and  their  own  sorrow  that  the  separation  must  come. 
But  Gilmore  did  not  forget  his  old  associates  in  the  Twenty- 
fourth,  and  very  soon  after  reaching  Boston  the  band  gave 
a  concert  which  netted  a  comfortable  sum  for  the  equipping 
of  a  band  to  be  drawn  from  the  enlisted  men  of  the  regi- 
ment. 

One  of  the  very  first  acts  of  Gibiiore  on  his  return  to 
Boston  was  to  project  a  grand  concert,  and  the  advertisement 
with  which  he  heralded  the  event  was  so  characteristic  of 
the  man  that  only  lack  of  space  prevents  its  publication  in 
full.  He  states  the  reasons  for  the  return  of  the  band,  and 
says  that  its  year's  experience  "on  the  field  of  battle  " 
renders  the  organization  all  the  better  equipped  for  musical 
service.  He  considers  the  band  still  a  part  of  the  "gallant 
corps  from  which  we  have  been  so  recently  detached,  and  we 
are  proud  to  claim  an  attachment  with  so  noble  a  regiment, 
which  is  at  present  in  a  high  state  of  discipline,  and  in 
action  may  be  relied  upon  as  a  unit.  I  look  upon  Colonel 
Thomas  G.  Stevenson  as  a  combination  of  the  disciplinarian, 
commissary,  judge  advocate,  medical  inspector,  and  true 
gentleman,  all  moulded  into  a  brave  and  thorough  soldier 
and  a  most  reliable  commander.  He  has  been  most  ably 
seconded  by  Lieutenant-colonel  F.  A.  Osborn,  upon  whom 
the  command  of  the  regiment  has  devolved  for  some  time,  in 
consequence  of  Colonel  Stevenson  being  detached  to  act 
in  the  capacity  of  a  brigadier-general.  Colonel  Osborn 
knows  the  full  meaning  of  the  word  'duty,'  and  not  only 
does  he  expect,  but  he  sees  to  it  that  every  man  under  his 
command  must  faithfully  perform  the  same  or  suffer  the 
consequences.  The  line  and  staff  officers  are  as  full  of  enthu- 
siasm to-day  as  they  were  when  the  first  glow  of  patriotism 


414  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 

inspired  them  to  go  forth  in  their  country's  cause.  The 
non-commissioned  officers  are  a  glorious  set  of  fellows,  and 
with  all  the  charms  and  attractions  of  camp-life  and  active 
service,  the  boys  of  the  rank  and  file  rather  doubt  that  a 
soldier's  life  is  alwaj^s  gay,  but  there  is  a  good  time  coming, 
when  they  will  look  back  with  as  much  pleasure  and  satis- 
faction upon  their  war  experience  as  the  members  of  the 
band  do  at  the  present  moment." 

All  this  was  a  prelude  to  the  statement  that  the  concert 
would  be  given  in  Music  Hall,  on  Saturday  evening,  Septem- 
ber 13,  1862:  "We  shall  appear  as  a  military  band  only- 
performing  the  gems  of  such  music  as  have  floated  over 
the  wild  waves  and  mingled  with  the  howling  winds  of 
Hatteras ;  such  patriotic  airs  as  fell  upon  the  ears  of  3000 
rebel  prisoners,  and  echoed  through  the  dense  woods  of 
Eoanoke;  such  strains  as  followed  our  victorious  march  to 
Newbern  and  vibrated  through  the  deserted  streets  of  that 
once  fair  city;  and,  more  than  all,  such  music  as  has  revived 
the  drooping  spirits  of  many  a  weary  soldier,  or  soothed 
the  pain  of  many  a  w^ounded  patriot."  With  a  promise  to 
play  a  piece  in  memory  of  their  deceased  comrade,  Morehouse, 
Gilmore  ends  his  notification,  which  must  have  convinced 
Boston  that  "Richard  was  himself  again,"  if  indeed  he  had 
ever  been  otherwise. 

Patrick  Sarsfield  Gilniar^rJ^^as  born  in  County  Galway, 
Ireland,  Christmas  Day,  to9^  It  might  with  truth  be  said 
that  he  was  nature's  Christmas  gift  to  a  music-loving  world. 
Luckily  the  parental  plan  of  making  a  priest  of  the  young 
man  did  not  succeed,  and  though  there  was  a  waste  of  time 
in  an  Athlone  commercial  house  in  his  early  life,  his  musical 
bent  was  permitted  to  have  full  sway.  Fiddles,  fifes  and 
drums,  home-made,  were  his  childhood's  toys,  and  everything 
of  melody  or  harmony  fell  upon  his  ear  like  a  charm.  This 
trend  of  the  lad  was  early  discovered  by  his  Atlilone 
employer,  and  instead  of  condemning  it,  he  utilized  the 
same  by  making  the  juvenile  Orpheus  the  musical  instructor 


Gilmore's  Band.  415 

of  his  children.  Athlone  was  a  garrison  town,  usually  having 
several  regiments  quartered  there,  and  the  results  with  such 
an  impressionable  boy  as  Gilmore  may  be  imagined.  All 
his  spare  time  was  spent  with  the  bands.  Finally  a  retired 
leader  named  Keating  took  our  prodigy  in  hand  and  put 
him  through  such  a  course  of  harmony  and  instrumentation 
that,  in  a  short  time,  he  could  play  any  instrument  in  the 
amateur  band  of  the  place,  and  for  which  he  composed 
several  musical  pieces.  He  was  nineteen  years  old  when  he 
said  "good-bye"  to  Ireland  and  sailed  for  Boston.  In  a 
week  after  his  arrival  here,  he  was  at  the  head  of  a  band 
and  successively  led  the  Charlesto-v^Ti.  Suffolk  and  Brigade 
bands.  Yielding  to  a  tempting  offer  of  a  thousand  dollars 
a  year,  he  went  to  Salem  and  remained  there  four  years ; 
then  coming  back  to  Boston,  he  organized  the  band  bearing 
his  own  name,  with  which  he  won  a  reputation  as  wide  as 
the  nation.  Soon  after  came  his  experience  with  the  Twenty- 
fourth,  and  later  he  was  made  by  General  Banks  the  direct- 
or of  all  the  bands  in  the  Department  of  the  Gulf.  It  was  in 
New  Orleans,  ^March  4,  1864,  that  he  carried  out  his  first 
mass  jubilee.  In  a  city  only  a  year  or  two  out  of  rebel 
dominance,  he  organized  a  chorus  of  10,000  school  children, 
collected  an  orchestra  of  500  players  and,  on  the  inauguration 
of  Michael  Hahn  as  the  first  Union  Governor  of  Louisiana, 
with  infantry  and  artillery  accompaniments,  he  made  that 
vast  aggregation  join  in  patriotic  airs,  crowning  all  with 
the  "Star  Spangled  Banner,"  which  the  gifted  leader  always 
said  was  the  cro^\^ling  triumph  of  his  life.  With  the  peace 
jubilees  in  Boston,  1869  and  1872,  the  world  is  familiar,  they 
being  marvels  of  size,  combinations  and  success.  In  1873 
Gilmore  went  to  New  York  City  and  organized  a  band  to  be 
known  for  many  years  as  that  of  the  Twenty-second  Regiment, 
with  which  he  played  in  Gilmore's  Garden,  made  national 
tours,  even  going  to  Europe,  and  there  adding  to  his  reputa- 
tion as  a  leader  and  manager.  During  the  later  years  of  his 
life  his  famous  band,  directed  by  that  magic  baton,  seated  in 


416 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Eegiment. 


the  cavernous  mouth  of  the  tunnel-like  stage  at  Coney  Island, 
attracted  many  thousands  of  eager  listeners,  who  watched 
him  as  he  elicited  a  concourse  of  sweet  sounds,  easily  the  most 
talented    orchestral    director    America   had    seen.      With    his 


Matthew  Arbuckle.  H.N.Blake.  P.  S.  Gilmore. 

H.  D.  Simpson.         Ahven,  August,  and  H.  A.  Kammerling.  William  H.  Cundy. 

(tIlmore's  band. 

band  he  was  playing  an  annual  engagement  in  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
in  September,  1893,  when,  on  the  24th,  after  less  than  a  day's 
illness,  he  died  at  the  Lindell  House.  Seemingly  there 
should  have  been  many  more  years  of  leadership  for  this 
gifted  son  of  harmony^  but  the  baton  had  been  raised  for 
the  last  time:  the  curtain  was  rung  down. 


Gilmore's  Band.  417 

Matthew  Arbuckle  not  only  came  first  alphabetically,  but 
as  a  musician  he  had  no  rival  in  the  band  or  elsewhere,  in 
his  particular  line,  till  the  appearance  of  Jules  Levy.  Born 
in  Scotland,  as  a  boy  he  joined  the  Twenty-sixth  Cameronians, 
and  with  that  regiment  saw  service  in  India  and  China, 
coming  to  Canada  early  in  the  fifties.  There  he  attracted 
the  attention  of  a  bandman  from  the  States,  who  was  delighted 
"\vitli  an  exhibition  of  talent  in  Arbuckle 's  use  of  the  cornet, 
a  talent  that  the  artist  himself,  apparently,  had  not  realized. 
This  visitor  prevailed  upon  the  Scotchman  to  desert  and  to 
follow  him  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  the  star  in  a  local 
band.  There  he  was  heard  by  Isaac  Fiske,  at  the  time  the 
leader  of  an  aspiring  musical  organization  in  Worcester.  His 
inducements  were  such  as  to  draw  Arbuckle  to  that  city  at  or 
about  1857,  and  there  he  remained,  easily  the  crowning  fea- 
ture in  the  band,  till  Gilmore,  leading  his  own  troupe  on  his 
return  from  the  Charleston  Convention  in  1860,  discovered 
him.  For  the  Boston  man  to  hear  such  music  in  a  provincial 
city  was  the  height  of  wonder.  He  made  haste  to  secure  the 
marvelous  Scotchman  for  Boston  service,  and  there  the  war 
engagement  found  him.  His  old-time  army  service  made 
military  life  easy,  but  British  experience  had  left  impressions 
on  Arbuckle 's  character  and  habits  that  not  all  of  his  Ameri- 
can life  could  efface. 

However,  once  on  his  feet  and  with  bugle  at  his  lips, 
such  melody  as  only  he  could  make  saluted  the  senses  of  his 
Newbern  listeners.  Somehow  the  band,  presuming  somewhat 
on  its  distinguished  character,  had  acquired  the  notion  that 
it  was  not  expected  to  perform  the  regular  duty  of  musicians 
when  a  fight  was  raging,  viz. :  to  carry  off  the  wounded,  but 
a  positive  and  direct  statement  as  to  their  duties  given  by  the 
Colonel  set  the  matter  right,  and  in  the  engagement  at 
Tranter's  Creek  in  June,  '62,  Surgeon's  Assistant  Spear 
remarks  that  the  band  was  right  up  where  it  belonged  and 
Gilmore  and  Arbuckle,  under  fire,  were  helping  the  wounded 
back  to  the  rear.  Thousands  will  ever  remember  with 
27 


418     ,     Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regument. 

delight  the  triumphs  of  this  wonderful  cornetist  at  Boston's 
peace  jubilees.  Soon  after  the  jubilee  of  1872,  he  removed 
to  New  York,  and  for  the  last  years  of  his  life  was  the 
band-master  of  the  Ninth  Eegiment.  He  died  of  pneumonia 
in  the  latter  city,  May  23,  1883,  aged  fifty-four  years. 

Henry  N.  Blake,  after  teaching  in  his  wife's  private  school 
in  Chelsea  till  1872,  went  with  his  family  to  Beatrice,  Neb., 
in  which  State  he  has  been  a  teacher  in  public  or  private 
schools  to  date.  Seventy-seven  years  old,  he  thus  briefly 
summarizes  his  life  in  the  West:  "Passed  examination  and 
received  No.  1,  State  Teacher's  Certificate;  was  for  many 
years  Treasurer  of  State  Teachers'  Association;  in  Beatrice, 
he  established  a  Preparatory  and  Normal  School,  founded  and 
directed  the  Blake-Hesse  Orchestra,  filled  the  chair  of  Music 
and  Elocution  in  the  State  Normal  School;  in  1894,  removed 
to  Nebraska  City  as  principal  teacher  and  director  of  the 
orchestra  in  the  State  Institution  for  the  Blind,  and  later,  till 
1903,  was  principal  of  one  of  the  city  schools,  at  which  time 
be  resigned."  As  a  Free  Mason  our  former  bandman  has 
been  very  prominent  in  lodge,  chapter,  council  and  com- 
mandery;  he  is  communicant,  vestryman  and  treasurer  of 
St.  Mary's  Episcopal  Church  and  superintendent  of  the  Sun- 
day school;  he  is  a  past  commander  of  his  G.  A.  R.  Post,  and 
in  a  word.  Professor  Blake  is  one  of  the  well-known  men  of 
Nebraska. 

William  H.  Cundy,  who  played  a  clarinet  in  the  band,  is 
a  prosperous  dealer  in  music  and  musical  instruments,  partic- 
ularly clarinet,  at  93  Court  Street,  Boston.  Born  in  Bir- 
mingham, England,  he  came  to  this  country  in  1854,  and  soon 
became  one  of  Gilmore  's  followers.  He  tells  with  great  pleas- 
ure incidents  of  his  career  with  the  great  leader,  dwelling  on 
the  fact  that  in  1860  they  had  a  great  reception  in  the  city 
of  Richmond,  escorted  the  Richmond  Blues  through  the 
streets  of  the  future  capital  of  the  Confederacy,  and  he 
exhibits  as  a  souvenir  the  card  of  Messrs.  Hill,  Dickinson  and 
Hill,  who  conducted  a  slave  exchange.    Those  same  Richmond 


Gilmore's  Band.  419 

Blues  were  among  the  captured  rebels  at  Roanoke,  and  when 
they  were  going  away  on  their  parole,  the  band  played  them 
down  to  the  landing.  They  recognized  the  members  of  the 
band  and  were  sociable  enough  on  all  subjects  save  that  of 
the  war.  Says  the  interesting  raconteur:  "As  they  went  on 
board  the  vessel,  we  gave  them  'Dixie.'  It  seemed  as  though 
they  would  raise  the  roof  with  their  shouts,  but  when  we 
shifted  to  'Carry  me  back  to  Ole  Virginy,'  they  were 
actually  wild. ' '  After  the  return,  Mr.  Cundy  settled  down  to 
musical  life  in  Boston,  played  for  many  years  in  the  orches- 
tra of  the  Boston  Theatre,  and  became  a  publisher  of  sheet 
music,  being  the  originator  of  the  five-cent  style,  assisted  by 
the  famous  Ed.  Rice  of  "Evangeline"  fame,  who  was  the 
printer.  Mr.  Cundy  is  one  of  the  longest  established  dealers 
in   ,his  line   in  the  city. 

Charles  De  La  Fontaine,  Mr.  Cundy  says,  went  to  California 
soon  after  the  war,  and  so  far  as  he  is  aware,  has  not  been 
heard  from  since ;  he  thinks  his  old  comrade  is  dead.  He  was 
the  man  who  excited  the  risibles  of  his  comrades  on  the 
approach  to  Newbern,  when  in  the  foggy  morning  a  shot 
from  a  masked  cannon  passed  over  them  with  no  warning. 
Badly  scared  he  fell  to  the  ground  and  tried  to  cover  himself 
with  his  bass-drum,  which  on  account  of  his  brevity  of  stat- 
ure he  was  able  to  do,  but  of  his  fright  he  never  heard  the 
last. 

Frederick  F.  Ford  died  in  Boston,  February  16,  1896. 

Louis  Frederick  died  in  Boston,  December  24,  1874,  the 
first  to  go  after  the  discharge  of  the  band. 

Frank  B.  Fuller,  residing  in  Barberton,  Ohio,  where  he 
is  "inspector  of  Pittsburg  valves  and  fittings,"  writes:  "It 
was  at  the  Newbern  camp  that  Mr.  Gilmore  first  laid  his 
plans  for  the  great  peace  jubilee,  which  were  carried  out  to 
the  letter  in  Boston  in  1869.  *  *  *  jje  could  see  more 
and  further  than  most  men,  was  never  discouraged  nor  dis- 
suaded when  once  his  mind  was  made  up.  This  jubilee,  with 
that  of  1872,  all  must  agree,  made  him  world-renowned  as 
the  greatest  musical  organizer  and  leader." 


420  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

August  Heise  was  a  Providence  musician. 

Cornelius  Higgins  is  still  active  in  musical  circles,  residing 
in  New  York  City. 

Alwen  Kammei'ling.  the  older  of  the  two  sons  of  August 
Kammerling,  is  a  resident  of  Roxbury,  having  given  up  music 
on  leaving  the  band. 

August  Kammerling,  as  his  name  would  imply,  was  a  Ger- 
man and  took  his  two  boys  into  the  band  with  him.  For  the 
last  twenty  years  of  his  life,  he  gave  up  music  and  died  in 
Omaha,  Nebraska,  January,  1893. 

Herman  Kammerling,  the  younger  of  August's  boys,  is  a 
resident  of  Winthrop,  Mass.,  where  he  is  a  popular  teacher 
of  the  violin  and  piano. 

Frank  M.  Kelly,  who  played  the  snare  drum,  died  in  Bos- 
ton, August  24,  1880. 

Charles  W.  Knowlton  died  in  the  National  Soldiers'  Home, 
Togus,  Me.,  July  27,  1906. 

Edward  Mille  died  in  the  Soldiers'  Home,  Togus,  Me., 
August  21,  1902 ;  the  name  is  also  found,  Miille. 

Isaac  H.  Morehouse  died  of  typhoid  fever  in  the  regimen- 
tal hospital  at  Newborn,  May  19,  1862.  He  had  been  ill  for 
several  weeks  and  his  associates  in  the  band  were  most  assid- 
uous in  their  care  and  attentions,  the  dying  man  finding 
much  satisfaction  in  the  music  with  which  they  favored  him. 
His  remains  were  forwarded  to  Boston  for  burial. 

William  C.  Nichols  died  in  Boston,  June  17,  1891. 

Thomas  K.  Payson  of  Boston,  no  record  found. 

Henry  D.  Simpson  died  in  Boston,  March  21,  1898. 

J.  Henry  Steinman  died  in  Cambridge,  November  5,  1890. 

Stephen  6.  Whittemore,  after  his  service  with  the  Twenty- 
fourth,  was  the  leader  of  a  band  connected  with  one  of  the 
colored  regiments;  he  died  in  Boston,  August  28,  1899. 

John  A.  Zimmerman  was  a  Charlestown  man,  supposedly 
dead. 

Ferdinand  Zohler  of  Boston ;  his  name  disappeared  from 
the  directory  more  than  twenty  years  ago. 


Captured  Scout.  421 

THE  CAPTURED  SCOUT. 

In  1868,  under  the  above  title.  Chaplain  H.  Clay  Trumbull 
of  the  Tenth  Connecticut  Volunteers  put  forth  the  sketch 
of  Sergeant  Henry  H.  INIanning's  life,  the  latter  having  been 
a  member  of  Company  G  of  the  Twenty-fourth.  The  Chap- 
lain's dedication  is  especially  cordial  towards  the  regiment 
and  reads  as  follows:  "To  the  surviving  members  of  the 
Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  this  sketch  of  their 
comrade  is  affectionately  dedicated,  by  one  who  holds  in 
fresh  and  ever  delightful  reuiembrance  his  three  years'  expe- 
rience as  their  brigade  companion  and  his  ministry  as  their 
occasional  chaplain. ' ' 

From  the  eloquent  and  touching  tribute,  there  is  space  only 
for  the  following  extracts :  Manning  was  born  among  the 
rural  scenery  of  Franklin  County,  being  a  native  of  Warwick, 
May  17,  1844.  From  earliest  childhood  the  most  helpful  and 
dutiful  of  sons,  he  had  the  advantages  of  the  public  schools 
until  in  his  early  teens,  where  the  war  found  him,  ab-eady  a 
wage-earner,  trying  to  lighten  home  burdens,  of  whose  exist- 
ence he  was  early  conscious.  Enlisting  October  1st,  he  was  one 
of  the  early  recruits  to  the  Guard  regiment,  and  his  whole  ca- 
reer was  one  of  faithfulness,  in  a  body  of  men  noted  for  excel- 
lent work.  ' '  The  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  was  a  noble  bat- 
talion with  a  glorious  record.  Through  its  four  years  of  ser- 
vice, its  well-earned  reputation  for  good  discipline,  thorough 
drill,  and  staunch  courage  was  unsurpassed,  and  few  regi- 
ments were  its  equals  in  hard  fighting  and  practical  efficiency. 
It  would  be  enough  for  any  man's  soldierly  reputation  that 
he  stood  well  in  that  regiment;  for  he  who  won  honor  there 
deserved  it  anywhere."  Of  his  soldierly  qualities,  his  officers, 
Ordway,  Edmands  and  Stoddard,  united  in  the  most  flatter- 
ing comments. 

In  all  the  incidents  of  the  Burnside  Expedition,  Manning 
bore  his  part  with  exemplary  fortitude,  always  near  the  front, 
never  a  laggard.     It  was  at  Seabrook  Island  in  the  summer 


422  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

of  1863  that  he  first  met  the  Chaplain  and  came  under  the 
latter 's  benig-n  influence.  On  James'  Island  he  suffered  a 
severe  attack  of  malarial  fever,  following  a  sun-stroke.  He  was 
with  his  regiment  in  all  work  against  the  fortifiications  of 
Charleston,  where  "The  Twenty-fourth  sweltered  and  toiled 
with  the  other  regiments,  and  won  for  itself  a  proud  name 
in  the  brilliant  charge  on  the  rifle-pits  in  the  very  face  of 
Wagner 's  guns. ' '  He  was  among  the  earliest  and  readiest  to 
re-enlist  when  the  regiment  was  in  Florida.  "Had  he  been 
wanted  for  thirty  or  fifty  years  instead  of  three  or  five,  he 
doubtless  would  have  been  ready.  God  be  praised  that  such 
boys  lived  and  were  willing  to  die  in  the  hour  of  our  country's 
need."  He  returned  from  his  furlough  with  his  comrades  in 
time  to  join  for  the  movement  of  Butler  against  Richmond 
by  way  of  Bermuda  Hundred.  "When,  early  in  June,  '64, 
General  Butler  called  for  a  volunteer  scout,  or  quasi  spy,  to 
enter  the  enemy's  lines  and  bring  back  information  as  to 
his  position  and  numbers,  the  invitation  found  a  ready 
response  in  the  case  of  Manning,  thinking  that  he  might  be  of 
real  service  to  the  cause  he  loved. 

"It  requires  not  a  little  moral  courage  and  true  nerve  to 
deliberately  leave  one's  military  lines  in  the  face  of  the 
enemy  and  pass  over  into  the  encircling  forces  of  the  foe. 
But  Henry  Manning  had  counted  the  cost  of  his  undertaking, 
and  late  on  the  evening  of  June  7,  '64,  he  glided  stealthily 
down  the  steep  right  bank  of  the  river  James,  and  along  the 
water's  edge  in  the  shade  of  the  heavy  foliage,  until  he  had 
passed  the  rebel  picket  in  front  of  the  famous  'Hewlett  Bat- 
tery;' then  cautiously  and  with  bated  breath  he  crept 
up  the  bank,  and  was  Avithin  the  enemy's  intrench- 
ments. "  He  saw  enough  in  his  new  surroundings  to  have 
seriously  affected  the  military  situation  had  he  been  able  to 
return  at  once  and  report,  but  he  must  wait  till  the  shades 
of  another  night  should  fall,  so.  seeking  a  secluded  place  in 
the  forest  near  Chester  station,  he  concealed  himself  in  its 
cover  and  was  soon  fast  asleep.  When  he  awoke  he  was 
surprised  to  hear  the  sound  of  voices  near  him  and  indica- 


Captured  Scout.  423 

tions  of  a  change  in  the  situation.  Soon  surrounded  by  the 
enemy,  he  was  seized  and  hurried  before  General  Beauregard. 
His  order  from  General  Butler,  found  upon  his  person,  gave 
ample  evidence  of  his  mission  and  he  was  assured  that  he 
would  be  hung  before  sundown.  However,  it  was  decided  to 
try  him  by  court  martial,  and  he  was  sent  to  Petersburg, 
where  he  was  consigned  to  the  most  loathsome  of  prison-cells, 
whence  he  was  eventually  sent  to  Georgia  for  trial.  By 
some  error  he  was  carried  to  Andersonville,  but  after  seven 
daj^s,  he  was  tracked  out  and  sent  on  to  Macon,  where  he 
was  confined  in  the  jail.  Here  he  suffered  from  all  sorts  of 
privation,  going  very  near  to  death's  door,  in  the  period  mak- 
ing several  efforts  to  escape,  but  each  time  was  recaptured. 

Back  to  Andersonville,  he  was  committed  to  that  pit  of 
horrors,  suffering  even  more  than  his  comrades  on  account 
of  the  charges  against  him:  though  the  same  having  been 
lost,  his  case  was  not  tried.  Under  these  circumstances  and 
with  the  hope  that  an  opportunity  might  arise  to  reach  his 
own  lines,  by  the  means,  he  entered  the  rebel  service. 

Ever  on  the  alert  to  secure  information  that  might  be  of 
use  in  case  he  ever  did  reach  the  Union  lines,  he  waited  the 
chance  to  escape.  It  came  when  Federal  cavalry  made  a  raid 
upon  the  place  where  he  was  stationed,  and  under  a  fire  from 
the  men  in  blue,  who  hardly  comprehended  his  run  for  their 
side,  and  from  those  in  gray,  who  readily  surmised  his  object, 
he  reached  the  ranks  of  his  friends,  though  his  story  told 
to  the  commander  was  not  believed,  and  he  was  sent  as  a 
captured  rebel  to  Alton,  111.,  whence  he  sent  complaint  to  his 
regiment,  where  he  had  been  borne  as  a  deserter.  When  the 
War  Department  had  ordered  his  release  he  sent  his  first 
message  home,  thus : 

St.  Louis,  Mo.,  March  10,  1865. 
My  dear  Loved  Ones : 

I  still  live  and  you  shall  hear  from  me  soon. 

Henry  H.  Manning. 

Rejoining  his  regiment   about  the  middle  of  April  in  Rich- 


424  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

mond,  he  was  received  with  the  greetings  that  his  services 
and  sufferings  merited.  On  the  22d  of  April,  by  a  special 
order,  Corporal  Manning  was  promoted  to  a  sergeancy  on 
account  of  his  courage  and  constancy. 

But  the  privations  of  his  prison  life  rendered  it  useless  for 
him  to  continue  longer  in  the  army,  and  on  the  16th  of  June 
he  was  honorably  discharged  and  sent  home.  After  the  re- 
ception there  that  every  good  soldier  received,  when  he  reached 
his  loved  ones.  Manning  set  about  preparing  for  his  life's 
work.  The  story  of  his  adventures  formed  an  excellent  theme 
for  many  an  audience  and  he  soon  entered  Phillips  Academy 
at  Andover  to  prepare  himself  for  the  Christian  ministry, 
through  the  education  here  and  further  to  be  acquired.  But 
the  seeds  of  disease,  sown  in  the  terrible  trials  of  the  south- 
lands, developed  into  permanent  illness,  so  that  his  studies 
were  given  up  and  he  returned  to  his  home,  there  to  linger 
in  feebleness  till  September  2,  1868,  when  the  loyal  brother, 
son  and  soldier  passed  on  to  the  other  life.  The  sermon 
preached  in  his  memory,  September  13,  formed  the  basis  of 
the  delightful  tribute  paid  to  the  soldier  by  Chaplain  Trum- 
bull. 

THE  DESERTER'S  FATE. 

[Somewhat  abridged  from  the  narratives  of  Surgeon  Samuel  A.  Green 
and  Captain  John  N.  Partridge  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  and 
that  of  Chaplain  H.  C.  Trumbull  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut.] 

From  Surgeon  Green: — The  French  have  a  saying  that  there 
is  nothing  more  probable  than  the  improbable,  and  events 
often  seem  to  prove  the  paradox.  *  *  *  j  am  about  to 
relate  a  story  Avith  many  unlikely  elements  which  happened 
in  connection  with  my  regiment  during  its  service  in  the 
South. 

In  the  autumn  of  1861,  a  Boston  boy,  Frank  McElhenny 
by  name,  enlisted  in  the  Twenty-fourth,  was  duly  mustered 
November  25,  and  assigned  to  Company  F.  His  age  was 
eighteen   years   and   his   mother   was   a   widow.      His   early 


Deserter's  Fate.  425 

advantages  had  been  few,  and  he  might  have  been  considered 
a  fair  specimen  of  the  North  End  i:ough.  During  the  early- 
part  of  his  enlistment,  he  experienced  the  usual  lot  that  falls 
to  the  private  soldier,  but  a  little  later  he  began  to  show  a 
spirit  of  insubordination  which  led  him  to  his  miserable  end. 
In  the  summer  of  1862.  when  the  regiment  was  stationed  in 
Newbern,  N.  C,  he  was  found  guilty  of  some  offense  by  a 
court  martial  and  sentenced  to  imprisonment  in  Fort  Macon, 
near  Beaufort,  N.  C,  for  the  remainder  of  the  war.  The  fort 
is  situated  at  one  end  of  a  very  long  and  narrow  island,  so 
characteristic  of  that  coast  and  separated  from  the  mainland 
by  the  ''Swash:"  and  here  Private  McElhenny  was  impris- 
oned. In  the  course  of  a  few  weeks,  amid  the  scenes  of  other 
exciting  events,  the  affair  ceased  to  be  talked  about,  and 
passed  entirely  out  of  mind.  Soon  afterward  it  was  reported 
in  camp  that  McElhenny  had  escaped  from  his  place  of  con- 
finement, but  the  rumor  produced  scarcely  a  ripple,  so  thor- 
oughly had  the  whole  matter  been  forgotten. 

The  scene  now  changes  from  North  Carolina  to  Virginia, 
and  let  us  pass  over  nearly  two  years.  One  hot  and  sultry 
afternoon  in  the  month  of  July,  1864,  on  the  picket-line  in 
front  of  Richmond,  a  man  in  rebel  uniform  was  seen  running 
towards  the  Federal  lines.  At  that  time  the  distance  between 
the  two  lines  was  very  short,  within  speaking  distance,  though 
it  varied  in  different  places.  It  was  late  in  the  day,  and  the 
deserting  soldier  reached  the  post  about  ten  minutes  before 
the  picket  guard  was  to  be  relieved.  Naturally,  he  was  soon 
surrounded  by  men  anxious  to  "buzz"  him  and  learn  the 
latest  news  from  the  other  side.  Among  the  first  to  approach 
him  was  a  member  of  Company  F  of  the  Twenty-fourth, 
who  approached  him  and  at  once  said,  ''How  are  you, 
Frank?"  The  rebel  soldier,  without  being  abashed,  immedi- 
ately replied,  "My  name  isn't  Frank,"  which  for  the  instant 
allayed  any  suspicion. 

A  minute  later  a  drummer  boy  who  belonged  to  the  same 
company  came  up  and  at  once  asserted  the  identity  of  the 


426  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

deserter  with  his  old  comrade,  when  McElhenny,  in  camp 
parlance,  gave  the  whole  thing  away  and  acknowledged  the 
fact.  He  was  at  once  taken  to  the  rear  and  delivered  over  to 
provost  guard.  The  news  spread  like  wildfire  through  the 
ranks  of  the  regiment  and  created  a  great  deal  of  excitement. 
The  next  day,  he  w^as  sent  to  Fortress  Monroe,  where  he  was 
tried  by  court  martial  as  a  deserter  from  the  Union  army, 
was  found  gniilty  and  sentenced  to  be  shot,  the  place  of  exe- 
cution to  be  near  the  camp  of  the  brigade  to  which  the  regi- 
ment belonged,  then  near  Deep  Bottom,  Va.,  on  the  north  side 
of  the  James  River. 

While  under  guard  in  camp,  I  had  an  interview  with  the 
unfortunate  man  and  he  told  me  that  after  escaping  from 
Fort  Macon  and  proceeding  to  the  southern  end  of  the  nar- 
row island,  he  swam  across  to  the  mainland,  and  made  his  way 
to  Raleigh,  where  for  a  short  time  he  worked  in  a  cobbler's 
shop.  Finding  this  mode  of  life  rather  tame,  after  his  army 
experience,  he  left  for  Richmond,  where  he  enlisted  under  an 
assumed  name,  in  a  company  of  heavy  artillery  (Nineteenth 
Virginia  Battalion).  Again  tiring  of  military  discipline,  he 
made  up  his  mind  again  to  desert,  knowing  that  the  National 
Government  had  agreed  to  send  all  deserters  from  the  rebel 
army  to  any  place  in  the  North  where  they  wished  to  go, 
and  he  intended  to  avail  himself  of  the  offer. 

If  he  had  come  into  our  lines  on  either  one  of  the  two 
preceding  days,  or  on  either  of  the  two  following,  he  would 
not  have  been  recognized  by  any  old  comrade,  as  the  regi- 
ment went  on  picket  only  once  in  three  days.  If  he  had 
come  into  our  lines  ten  minutes  later,  the  Twenty-fourth 
would  have  been  relieved,  and  another  regiment  stationed 
in  its  place.  Even  on  the  day  when  he  deserted  from  the 
rebels,  if  he  had  escaped  to  any  other  post,  he  would  have 
gone  among  strangers  and  would  have  passed  unrecognized. 
As  it  was,  along  a  picket-line  of  nearly  thirty-five  miles 
there  were  many  hundred  posts,  he  struck  the  identical  post 
manned  by  his  own  company,  which  ten  minutes  later  was 


Deserter's  Fate.  427 

manned  by  soldiers  of  another  regiment,  and  took  the  one 
day  in  three  when  that  combination  of  circumstances  was 
possible.  In  the  doctrine  of  chances,  everything  was  in  his 
favor,  and  yet  he  lost.  It  seems  as  if  keen-eyed  jufetice  on 
that  occasion  had  landed  on  the  point  of  a  needle. 

It  belonged  to  me,  in  an  official  capacity,  to  be  present 
at  his  execution ;  and  I  pitied  the  poor  wretch  from  the 
bottom  of  my  heart.  As  he  stood  near  his  coffin  by  the  open 
grave,  just  ready  to  receive  it,  he  nodded  to  me  very  famil- 
iarly as  if  we  were  soon  going  to  meet  again,  although  he 
was  then  tottering  on  the  verge  of  eternity.  In  colloquial 
language,  he  died  ''game,"  but  for  all  that  he  was  utterly 
unfit  to  enter  that  awful  presence  about  which  we  know 
nothing  except  through  faith.  He  never  knew — and  for 
that  matter,  no  one  else  in  the  camp — that  in  the  forenoon  of 
that  warm  day,  I  rode  seven  miles  to  the  Point  of  Rocks, 
where  were  the  headquarters  of  General  Butler,  then  in 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  James,  in  order  to  intercede 
for  him  and  secure  a  commutation  of  his  sentence,  but  the 
effort  was  of  no  avail. 

From  Captain  Partridge : — The  writer  of  this  story  at  the 
time  of  McElhenny's  desertion  in  1862  was  First  Lieuten- 
ant of  D  Company,  and  early  in  1864  was  promoted  to  be 
Captain  of  F  Company.  To  F  Company  was  assigned  the 
trying  duty  of  execution. 

McElhenny  was  from  the  start  a  troublesome,  insub- 
ordinate soldier.  He  was  in  several  scrapes,  and  finally  in 
1862  was  tried  for  some  offense  and  sentenced  to  imprison- 
ment for  the  remainder  of  his  term  of  enlistment.  One  of 
the  witnesses  against  him  was  Captain  J.  L.  Stackpole  of 
I  Company,  who  later  was  Major,  and  judge  advocate  of  the 
court  martial  which  tried  him  on  the  charge  of  desertion. 

According  to  McElhenny's  statement  made  to  Chaplain 
Trumbull  and  myself  the  day  before  his  execution,  he  was 
for  some  time  in  the  Confederate  Army  stationed  at  Rich- 
mond, and  for  awhile  was  on  guard  over  Federal  prisoners 
at  Libby  Prison.    He  had  watched  the  movements  of  his  old 


428  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

regiment  (Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts)  through  the  reports 
in  the  northern  newspapers  which  often  came  his  way.  He 
had  followed  us  thus  from  North  Carolina  early  in  1863  to 
South  Carolina ;  later  in  the  same  year  to  Florida.  It  was  in 
the  summer  of  1864  that  the  Confederate  regiment  in  which 
he  was  serving  was  ordered  to  the  front  and  late  in  July 
was  confronting  his  old  regiment  at  Deep  Bottom,  Va.  At 
this  time  he  supposed  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment  was  in 
Florida. 

Jul}^  27th,  the  Twentj'-f ourth  was  ordered  forward  from  its 
camp  at  Deep  Bottom  to  assist  in  a  demonstration  intended 
to  divert  the  attention  of  the  Confederates  and  to  prevent 
them  from  sending  reinforcements  to  Petersburg,  where 
more  important  work  was  going  on.  Our  line  was  deployed 
and  the  intervals  between  companies  wei"e  considerably 
extended.    There  was  not  much  firing  on  either  side. 

During  a  lull  in  the  firing,  one  of  my  drummer-boys 
called  my  attention  to  a  ''rebel  deserter"  coming  toward 
our  line  in  front  of  another  company.  The  boy  asked  per- 
mission to  go  and  see  the  deserter,  and  his  request  was 
granted.  In  a  few  minutes  he  ran  back  and  said  the 
deserter  was  McElhenny.  I  recalled  his  record  somewhat 
indistinctly  after  a  lapse  of  nearly  tAvo  years  and  sent  the 
drummer  to  Colonel  Osborn  to  state  to  him  the  facts,  and 
to  ask  him  to  have  him  detained  and  identified.  He  was 
so  identified  and'  sent  to  the  rear  under  guard.  This  inci- 
dent passed  from  my  thoughts  entirely  until  August  6th, 
when  it  was  forcibly  brought  to  my  mind. 

I  well  remember  that  as  we  were  coming  in  from  evening 
parade  on  that  afternoon  I  saw  a  prisoner  being  brought 
into  camp  in  irons  and  under  a  strong  guard.  In  a  few 
minutes  the  rumor  spread  through  camp  that  the  prisoner 
was  McElhenny,  that  he  had  been  tried  for  desertion  and 
sentenced  to  be  shot.  Shortly  afterwards  General  Osborn 
confirmed  this  rumor  and  informed  me  I  was  to  command 
the  firing  party,  AA'hich  was  to  be  selected  from  among  mem- 
bers of  his  former  company.     The  official  order  came  later. 


Deserter's  Fate.  429 

On  the  following  Monday — the  8th — the  execution  took 
place  near  oiir  camp.  The  troops  of  the  brigade  were  drawn 
up  on  three  sides  of  a  square.  In  the  middle  of  the  fourth 
was  an  open  grave. 

While  the  brigade  was  being  formed,  the  firing  party  of 
twenty-four  men  was  selected  by  lot  from  McElhenny's 
former  comrades  of  F  Company.  They  were  divided  into 
two  sections  of  twelve  men  each  and  were  formed  in  line 
at  the  side  of  my  tent.  Eleven  men  in  each  section  had 
rifles  loaded  with  ball  cartridges  and  one  with  a  blank 
cartridge.  Xo  one  knew  who  had  the  latter,  so  that  each 
had  a  right  to  suppose  that  he  held  it.  This  was  effected 
by  causing  a  sergeant  of  the  first  section  to  carry  all  of 
its  rifles  into  my  tent  and  then  to  withdraw.  Another 
sergeant  entered  with  me  and  in  my  presence  loaded  eleven 
rifles  with  ball  cartridges  and  one  with  a  blank,  and  then 
changed  the  rifles  about.  We  went  out  and  a  third  ser- 
geant was  ordered  to  bring  the  rifles  out  and  distribute 
them  without  regard  to  their  numbers.  No  one  was  alloAved 
to  "spring  rammer."  The  rifles  of  the  second  section  were 
loaded  in  the  same  manner. 

The  firing  party  then  formed  the  escort  for  the  prisoner. 
We  marched  from  the  guard  tent,  the  band  leading  and 
playing  a  dirge,  drums  muffled.  Following  was  an  army 
wagon  in  which  was  a  rude  pine  box  to  be  used  as  a  coffin. 
On  it  sat  McElhenny  and  beside  him  a  priest.  The  firing 
party,  with  arms  reversed,  brought  up  the  rear.  The  most 
unconcerned  appearing  man  in  the  entire  group  was  the 
man  who  had  the  most  at  stake — -McElhenny. 

The  procession  halted  at  the  grave  on  the  open  side  of 
the  square.  The  prisoner  and  the  priest  alighted,  the  box 
was  taken  out  and  placed  beside  the  grave,  and  the  band 
and  wagon  passed  on.  McElhenny  was  blindfolded,  his  arms 
were  pinioned  and  he  was  told  to  kneel  upon  his  coffin. 
The  first  section  was  drawn  up  a  short  distance  in  front 
of  him  and  a  volley  was  fired.  McElhenny  fell  forward 
pierced    by   many  bullets.       After  the  regimental  surgeon, 


430  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Dr.  Green,  had  examined  him  and  reported  him  dead,  the 
brigade  was  formed  in  columns  of  fours  and  marched  past 
the  prostrate  form — a  warning  to  the  living.  After  all 
had  passed,  the  body  was  placed  face  downward  in  the  box 
and  lowered  into  the  grave.  The  grave  was  then  filled  and 
the  earth  levelled.  No  mound  or  head-board  marked  the 
spot  where  the  deserter  was  lying.  Such  was  the  ignomin- 
ious ending. 

From  Chaplain  Trumbull : — My  first  meeting  with  this 
man  was  the  day  before  he  was  shot,  as  he  sat  on  the  banks 
of  the  James,  handcuffed,  fettered  and  closely  guarded. 
Conscious  of  being  watched  by  curious  eyes  of  his  old  com- 
rades and  others,  he  was  evidently  in  an  attitude  of  defiance, 
striving  to  appear  unconcerned.  Although  not  repelling 
with  rudeness  my  proffers  of  interest  and  sympathy,  he 
plainly  said  he  was  not  going  to  break  down  now;  he  had 
"lived  game,"  and  he  would  ''die  game."  Even  if  there 
were  a  God  and  a  hereafter,  it  was  ''too  late  to  think  of 
that  now."  He  had  put  it  off  too  long.  Then  he  spoke 
bitterly  of  those  who  had  been  over  him  in  his  earlier  cam- 
paigning and  insisted  that  he  had  been  sinned  against  rather 
than  been  a  wrong-doer  in  his  army  life.  I  saw  that,  just 
then,  he  was  in  no  frame  of  mind  for  such  service  as  I 
could  render  him,  and  I  left  him  with  assurances  of  prayer- 
ful interest  in  him  and  with  a  promise  to  come  back  in  the 
evening. 

When  I  came  to  him  later,  while  we  were  no  longer  under 
the  eye  of  observers,  I  found  him  less  defiant.  As  I  ques- 
tioned him  about  the  past,  I  found  that  he  had  a  mother 
living.  I  found  also  that  he  had  been  a  guard  in  Libby 
Prison  a  year  ago,  while  I  was  confined  there.  As  he  soft- 
ened down  in  his  tone  and  manner,  I  asked  him  if  I  might 
pray  with  him ;  he  assented.  As  I  prayed,  with  and  for  him, 
I  prayed  for  his  poor  mother.  At  the  mention  of  her  name, 
he  uttered  a  piercing  cry  and  fell  forward  on  his  face;  his 
whole   frame    convulsed   with    agony   and   with   sobs   that 


Deserter's  Fate.  431 

seemed  as  if  his  very  heart  were  breaking.  Stretching  my- 
self alongside  him  on  the  grass,  under  the  quiet  stars,  I  put 
m}^  arm  over  him  and  waited  in  silent  show  of  sympathy. 
His  hardihood  was  all  gone;  he  was  as  a  child  again.  He 
was  glad  to  have  me  talk  to  him  and  to  talk  to  me  of  him- 
self. He  no  longer  blamed  those  who  had  aided  in  bringing 
him  to  this  state.  He  blamed  only  himself.  Finding  that 
he  was  a  Roman  Catholic  and  would  naturally  desire  the 
ministrations  of  a  priest  of  that  church,  I  made  request  of 
our  division  commander  to  telegraph  to  General  Meade's 
headquarters,  before  Petersburg,  for  a  priest,  and  soon  I 
received  word  that  one  would  be  with  us  in  the  early  morn- 
ing. 

The  next  morning  I  had  my  first  sight  of  a  military  ex- 
ecution. I  wish  it  could  have  been  my  last.  The  entire 
brigade  was  ordered  out  to  witness  it.  As  the  command 
stood  waiting,  in  three  sides  of  a  hollow  square,  with  an  open 
grave  in  the  centre  of  the  fourth  side,  a  deep,  solemn,  oppres- 
sive stillness  weighed  down  upon  all  hearts.  This  stillness 
was  broken  by  a  low,  soft,  plaintive  strain  of  music  which 
came  floating  on  the  sultry  air  across  the  plain,  from  beyond 
the  rise  of  ground  in  the  direction  of  the  camp  he  had  left. 
It  was  the  sound  of  a  funeral  dirge  from  muffled  drums 
with  the  subdued  notes  of  an  accompanying  band.  A  funeral 
dirge  for  a  living  man !  Hearts  quickened  and  hearts  stood 
still  at  the  sound.  A  cart  drawn  by  a  pair  of  white  horses 
bore  the  condemned  soldier  seated  on  his  coffin,  accompanied 
by  the  kindly  priest,  while  a  military  escort  marched  on 
each  side  with  atms  reversed  as  though  the  man  were 
already  dead.  The  firing  party,  the  guard  and  the  music 
completed  the  gloomy  procession.  It  was  nearly  half  a 
mile  away  and  it  seemed  a  long,  long  while  in  coming. 

Low  and  soft  as  the  breathing  of  an  ^olian  harp,  mourn- 
ful and  oppressive  as  a  midnight  funeral  knell,  the  approach- 
ing music  rose  and  fell  in  swelling  and  dying  cadences,  while 
listening  ears  ached  in  sympathy  and  waiting  hearts 
throbbed   in   responsive  tenderness.     It  was  hard  to  bear. 


432  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Eegiment. 

Faces  paled  and  hands  shook  which  were  not  accustomed 
to  show  signs  of  fear,  and  officers  and  men  alike  would  have 
welcomed  a  call  to  battle  in  exchange  for  that  terrible 
inaction  in  the  sight  of  coming  death.  Then  came  the  last 
sad  scene.  The  fettered  deserter  was  helped  from  the  cart, 
just  back  of  the  open  grave.  The  priest  knelt  with  him  in 
prayer ;  then  bade  him  good-bye  and  retired  a  little  distance 
to  kneel  and  continue  praying  in  his  behalf.  The  guard 
formed  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  prisoner,  and  the  firing 
party  took  position  in  front  of  him  a  dozen  paces  distant 
as  he  knelt  on  his  coffin  with  bandaged  eyes  and  pinioned 
arms.  Twelve  men  were  of  the  firing  party.  Eleven  of 
the  rifles  were  loaded  with  bullets  and  one  with  a  blank 
cartridge.  No  one  knew  which  rifle  lacked  its  bullet,  so 
that  every  soldier  might  think  it  possible  that  it  was  his. 
A  second  firing  party  was  back  of  the  first.  Two  surgeons 
were  close  at  hand  to  see  that  the  dread  work  was  fully 
done. 

The  dirge  had  died  away.  A  stillness,  even  more  painful 
than  its  wailing  notes,  had  succeeded.  This  was  broken  by 
the  low,  clear  spoken  words  of  command:  "Ready!  Aim! 
Fire!"  There  was  a  sharp  explosion.  The  condemned  man 
fell  forward  on  his  coffin.  The  surgeons  were  quickly  at 
his  side.  Five  bullets  had  pierced  his  chest.  Yet  the  pulse 
still  beat  and  there  was  a  low,  moaning  respiration.  Soldier 
hands  were  not  steady  in  aiming  at  a  comrade's  heart.  The 
second  party  came  forward;  the  orders  were  repeated; 
eight  more  bullets  entered  his  chest  and  head.  The  deserter 
was  dead! 

The  entire  brigade  was  marched  in  column  by  the  open 
grave  and  the  dead  deserter.  The  band  struck  up  a  lively 
air,  as  always  in  going  from  a  soldier's  grave,  and  the  com- 
mand returned  to  the  camp  again.  None  who  witnessed  that 
sight  could  ever  forget  it. 


J.  K.  Clark.  433 

J.  K.  CLAEK,  THE  SUTLER. 

The  Twentj^-fourth  had  but  one  sutler,  and  he  was  Joseph 
Kempton  Clark,  who  began  his  duties  in  the  Eeadville  camp 
and  terminated  them  late  in  the  summer  of  1864,  when  his 
regiment  was  struggling  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  Union 
Army  in  front  of  Richmond.  Mr.  Clark  was  born  in  Wis- 
easset,  Maine,  October  9,  1826,  and  in  his  infancy  came  with 
his  parents  to  Boston,  where  the  family  resided  till  the  lad 
was  about  five  years  old,  when  all  went  back  to  the  Pine 
Tree  State.  In  his  youth  he  served  as  a  clerk  in  a  store 
and  then  went  to  sea,  continuing  in  that  work  long  enough 
to  become  the  master  of  his  craft.  As  might  be  expected, 
his  father  being  in  the  lumber  business,  the  young  man 
was  inducted  early  into  that  calling.  Apparently  he  was 
not  wanting  in  interest  in  passing  affairs,  since  in  1854 
Governor  Wm.  G.  Crosby  of  Maine  made  him  a  member  of 
his  staff,  thereby  conferring  the  title  of  Colonel,  by  which 
he  was  familiarly  known  in  subsequent  years. 

The  immediate  cause  of  his  leaving  his  post  with  the  regi- 
ment was  the  fact  that  his  father,  having  a  large  lumber  ven- 
ture in  Pennsylvania,  needed  the  presence  and  aid  of  his 
son,  and  there  the  latter  remained  for  five  years.  Thence 
he  M^ent  to  Minnesota  and  assisted  in  the  planting  of  infant 
Duluth ;  his  stay  there,  however,  was  brief,  for  he  soon  went 
to  Chicago,  where,  as  a  contractor  in  street  and  road  mak- 
ing, he  was  on  the  high  road  to  fortune,  when,  by  the  terrible 
conflagration  of  October  9,  1871,  his  birthday,  his  accumu- 
lations were  swept  away  in  a  day.  After  pulling  himself 
together,  he  left  the  scene  of  his  losses  in  1873,  and  repaired 
to  the  city  of  New  York,  where  he  became  one  of  the  four 
executive  officers  of  the  Sailors'  Snug  Harbor,  situated  on 
Staten  Island,  and  there  for  twenty-six  years  he  remained, 
retiring  at  the  end  of  that  period  on  a  life  pension. 

April  8,  1900,  the  hotel  in  which  he  made  his  home  caught 
fire  and  in  the  excitement  he  fell  down  a  flight  of  stairs, 
breaking  his  right  arm  and  dislocating  the  shoulder.  Then, 
28 


434  T\\^NTY-FOURTH  MASSACHUSETTS  REGIMENT. 

to  add  to  his  misfortunes,  his  sight  began  to  fail  and  in 
March,  1903,  gave  out  entirely.  After  June,  1904,  he  made 
his  home  for  the  most  part  in  Cottage  Park,  Winthrop,  and 
in  the  town  of  Brookline,  though  he  still  counted  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  as  his  home,  retaining  his  citizenship  or  voting  privilege 
there.  Though  completely  blinded,  he  retained  the  cheerful- 
ness of  earlier  days,  was  full  of  happy  reminiscence  of  years 
agone,  and  in  answer  to  the  question  as  to  the  profits  arising 
from  the  sutler  business,  replied  that  the  same  amount  of 
capital  invested  and  properly  cared  for  in  the  North  in 
those  days,  would  have  brought  as  great  or  greater  returns. 
As  a  sutler  he  had  to  endure  raids,  stealings  from  employees 
and  soldiers,  as  well  as  risks  from  the  enemy.  He  had  ex- 
ceptional facilities  on  account  of  the  regiment  always  being 
near  the  seaboard,  so  that  his  schooner,  as  a  base  of  sup- 
plies, could  be  regularly  utilized,  yet  the  dangers  of  all  sorts 
more  than  made  up  for  the  high  prices  at  which  his  wares 
were  sold. 

Among  his  pleasant  recollections  was  that  of  being  able 
to  do  a  good  turn  for  Captain  ''Ed."  Vaile  of  the  steamer 
Guide,  whom  he  encountered  in  Florida,  several  years  ago, 
no  longer  the  happy  and  prosperous  manager  of  the  vessel 
which  almost  merited  the  name  of  the  regiment's  houseboat. 
Through  the  kindness  and  good  will  of  Colonel  Clark,  the 
Captain  was  given  a  home  in  the  Sailors'  Snug  Harbor, 
where  he  died  October  19,  1904. 

The  story  of  the  regiment  was  in  type  when  the  news  came 
that  Colonel  Clark  had  died  in  Winthrop,  July  29,  1907,  and 
that  his  body  was  buried  in  the  Moravian  Cemetery,  Staten 
Island,  N.  Y. 


Surgeon  Green.  435 

SUEGEON  GREEN  WAS  LEFT. 

The  Burnside  Expedition  sailed  without  Surgeon  Green  of 
the  Twenty-fourth,  though  he  was  left  through  no  fault  of 
his  own.  Perhaps  his  earlier  service  in  the  First  Regiment 
had  given  him  a  prominent  place  among  the  regimental  sur- 
geons gathered  at  Annapolis;  at  any  rate  Dr.  W.  H.  Church, 
Division  Surgeon,  selected  him  for  the  duty  of  equipping 
two  schooners  for  hospital  purposes.  After  some  labor  in 
this  direction,  Surgeon  Church,  thinking  the  preparation  un- 
duly large,  directed  the  transferring  of  all  the  items  gathered 
to  one  vessel,  Adz.,  the  Recruit.  There  were  not  many  sick 
in  the  Annapolis  hospital  at  the  time  of  sailing,  and  Surgeon 
Green  essayed  to  take  with  him  only  those  who  were  hope- 
fully convalescing.  The  fleet  sailed  without  the  Doctor  and 
his  Recruit,  neither  Captain  Coggeshall  of  the  Recruit  nor 
the  Surgeon  having  sailing  orders.  Among  the  nurses  on  the 
vessel  was  S.  K.  Dunster  of  Co.  K,  afterwards  hospital- 
steward.  In  this  situation  Dr.  Green  applied  for  advice  to 
a  staff  officer  of  General  Burnside,  who,  also,  for  some  reason 
had  been  left  behind.  He  advised  Dr.  Green  to  set  out  for 
Fortress  Monroe  at  once  and  there  get  further  direction.  Act- 
ing accordingly,  they  arrived  about  twenty-four  hours  after  the 
final  departure  of  the  fleet,  hence,  so  far  as  direct  orders  were 
concerned,  the  situation  was  little  better  than  at  Annapolis. 
However,  the  Surgeon  reported  to  General  John  E.  Wool  in 
command  at  the  Fortress  and  from  him  received  the  follow- 
ing order: 

Headquarters  of  Virginia, 
Fortress  Monroe,  Va.,  13th  January,  1862. 

Captain  Coggeshall  and  Surgeon  Samuel  A.  Green  will 
proceed  to  Hatteras  Inlet,  where  he  will  learn  the  wherea- 
bouts of  Brigadier  General  Burnside. 

John  E.  Wool, 

Major  General. 

By  this  time  the  storm,  which  was  working  such  havoc 
with  the  fleet  on  its  appearance  off  Hatteras,  was  raging 
about  the  Fortress  also,  consequently  the  Captain  of  the  Re- 
cruit waited  till  the  fury  of  the  storm  was  over  and  then  set 
forth  for  North  Carolina,  making  the  trip  in  about  a  day  and 
a  half,  and  finding  the  fleet  partly    inside    and    partly    out- 


436  T\\T]NTY-POURTH   MASSACHUSETTS  KeGIMENT. 

side  of  the  Swash,  among  other  wrecks  with  which  the  coast 
w^as  strewn,  making  special  note  of  that  of  the  New  York, 
which  had  gone  to  pieces  at  so  great  a  loss.  It  was  easier 
to  reach  the  Inlet  than  to  go  in  and  find  the  fleet's  Medical 
Director,  Dr.  Church.  The  Recruit  was  manned  by  Cape 
Cod  and  Gloucester  sailors  belonging  to  the  Twenty-fourth. 
In  his  impatient  waiting  to  cross  over  the  bar  and  so  find  his 
regiment.  Dr.  Green  paced  many  miles  upon  the  beach  and 
recalls  now  his  surprise  when  he  saw  finely  drawn  on  the 
sands  of  the  shore,  a  map  of  the  town  of  Wendell,  Mass., 
with  which  his  family  was  connected,  anH  with  the  name 
plainly  written.  The  Doctor  was  not  a  Crusoe  nor  ship- 
wrecked, but  he  was  forlorn  enough  to  appreciate  a  Bay 
State  reminder,  left  upon  the  sands  of  North  Carolina. 
However,  even  the  delays  of  crossing  had  an  end  and  he  was 
able  to  report  to  Dr.  Church  and  to  secure  the  privilege  of 
reporting  to  his  regiment,  where  he  felt  more  at  home  and 
where  his  services  were  constantly  required. 

NEWBERN  NATIONAL  CEMETERY. 

The  Roll  of  Honor,  printed  by  the  Government,  contains 
the  names,  w^hen  known,  of  all  the  Union  dead  buried  in  the 
national  cemeteries.  Not  far  from  100,000  bodies  of  soldiers 
are  thus  waiting  the  judgment  day  "under  the  laurel"  so 
beautifully  sung  by  Judge  Francis  'M.  Finch  in  his  "Blue 
and  the  Gray."  The  dead  of  the  Twenty-fourth  w^ere  left 
in  all  the  States  in  which  the  regiment  saw  service.  Those 
who  fell  in  South  Carolina  were  buried,  for  the  most  part, 
in  Hilton  Head;  the  dead  of  Virginia  are  sleeping  in  Hamp- 
ton, while  those  of  North  Carolina  repose  in  Washington, 
N.  C,  and  in  Newbern,  the  number  there  (41)  being  greater 
than  in  any  other  one  place  and  exceeding  that  of  any  other 
regiment,  except  the  Twenty-seventh.  Bodies  at  first  buried 
in  Roanoke  Island  and  in  other  places  were  disinterred  and 
carried  to  Newbern  for  reburial,  save  those  at  Washington. 
With  one  or  two  exceptions,  the  graves  are  in  plats  8,  9  and 
10.  The  cemetery  itself  is  on  the  National  Cemetery  road- 
way, 1^4  miles  from  the  Post  Office,  and  contains  eight  acres 
of  land.  The  dead  ar-e  grouped  by  States,  and  two  of  the 
latter,  Connecticut  and  New  Jersey,  have  already  erected 
monuments  there  to  the  memory  of  their  sons.  IMassachusetts 
has  Appropriated  a  large  sum  of  money  for  the  purpose  of 


GiLL]NroRE  Medals.  "  437 

similarly  memorializing  her  loyal  children.  The  names,  se- 
cured through  the  inquiries  of  Charles  G.  Robinson  (F)  and 
the  kindness  of  George  E.  James,  superintendent  of  the  ceme- 
tery, are  given  as  sent  and,  presumably,  as  they  appear  on  the 
headstones.  In  some  cases  they  differ  from  the  spelling  as  giv- 
en in  the  Roster.  They  appear  in  the  order  of  burial  rather 
than  by  company  or  alphabetically.  Beginning  with  1282, 
the  tirst  nine  names  are  those  of  men  killed  at  Newbern, 
]\rarch  14.  '62,  and  are:  J.  Thomas.  C;  I.  N.  Vincent,  B;  F. 
Brown,  F ;  A.  J.  IMerritt,  I ;  C.  Riley,  I ;  W.  Bans,  A ;  C.  Hed- 
ricks,  F ;  S.  Lines,  F ;  W.  Jones,  F.  The  other  names  range  from 
1321  to  1853,  thus  lacking  two  of  the  total  ascribed  to  the  regi- 
ment. Of  the  numbers,  1321  is  that  of  an  unknown  Co.  D 
man;  other  numbers  with  "unknown"  added  are:  1593, 
1738,  1811,  B;  No.  1343  is  that  of  Sergt.  Geo.  N.  Gammons, 
D;  then  follow:  Charles  Sears.  — ;  J.  Moreland,  K;  John 
S.  Oldham,  B ;  ^Martin  Harmon.  G :  Chas.  F.  Moulton,  D ; 
David  C.  Bumpus,  B :  La^^Tcnce  Doyle,  D ;  T.  Hayes,  D ; 
Michael  Killdarv,  H ;  Francis  B.  Jones,  C :  Harrv  Currier, 
F ;  Henry  N.  Trask,  G ;  J.  W.  Smith,  B ;  Wm.  Canning,  D ; 
C.  N.  Bates,  A;  Da\'id  C.  Daniel,  D;  John  Lane,  D;  Wm. 
Sweeney,  D ;  0.  T.  Thrasher,  K ;  G.  H.  Baxter,  F ;  Victor  F. 
Ahrens,  H;  Richard  W.  Field,  H;  Francis  Marmo,  D;  James 
H.  Lee,  D ;  Daniel  H.  Shannahan.  D. 

GILLMORE  MEDALS. 

The  effect  of  time  on  memories  never  had  a  better  illus- 
tration than  in  the  almost  total  effacement  from  all  minds  of 
Twenty-fourth  survivors  of  facts  concerning  the  awarding  of 
medals  for  special  bravery  during  the  operations  against 
Charleston.  General  Q.  A.  Gillmore,  actuated  by  a  desire 
to  properly  recognize  the  zeal  and  energ\'  of  the  men  who 
fought  so  valiantly  under  his  direction,  had  a  large  number 
of  bronze  medals  prepared  by  Ball,  Black  &  Co.  of  New  York 
for  men  whose  names  had  been  sent  to  him  by  the  officers 
of  the  regiments  interested.  It  is  said  that  certain  regiments 
declined  furnishing  names  for  the  reason  that  it  was 
unfair  to  thus  discriminate,  for  all  had  been  equally  brave.  If 
any  list  of  all  recipients  was  ever  published  anywhere,  the 
same  cannot  be  found  now.  When  the  medals  came  to  the 
Twenty-fourth,  the  regiment  was  in  the  midst  of  the  trying 
campaign  against  Richmond  in  the  month  of  June,  the  18th 


438 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


day  (vid.  p.  319\  and  their  distribution  was  effected  with 
no  ceremony  whatever,  hence  the  lack  of  lasting  impression. 
When,  in  these  later  days,  an  effort  was  made  to  find  the 
names  of  the  regimental  recipients,  very  few  could  be  found 
who  had  any  recollection  whatever  of  the  matter.  The  result 
of  the  seeking,  somewhat  incomplete,  is  owing  largely  to  the 
industry  and  perseverance  of  C.  G.  Robinson  of  Co.  F,  who 
wrote  scores  of  letters  and  cards  in  his  quest,  and  whatever 
credit  is  due  for  thus  rescuing  from  oblivion  the  names  of 
Gillmore  medalists  is  his.  The  cut  accompanying  this  para- 
graph is  owed  to  the  kindness  of  Capt.  Dan.  Eldredge,  his- 
torian of  the  Third  New  Hampshire,  and  fully  represents 
the  face  and  reverse  of  the  souvenir.  It  will  be  strange  if 
this  publication  does  not  bring  forth  the  missing  names.  The 
names  secured  are  as  follows :  Co.  A,  Wm.  Egan  and  Thos. 
C.  Snell;  Co.  B,  Charles  Chesley;  Co.  C,  Alex.  M.  Hayward; 
Co.  D,  Charles  M.  Parker;  Co.  E,  Henry  M.  Stoddard;  Co.  F, 
George  A.  Higgins;  Co.  G,  Alfred  0.  Cobb  and  H.  H.  Man- 
ning; Co.  I,  Wm.  J.  O'Brien;  Co.  K,  John  Ryan  and  Bangs 
Taylor.  Henry  Scales  of  Co.  E  was  offered  a  medal,  but 
chose  a  furlough  instead.  Stranger  still  one  of  these  choice 
souvenirs  was  sent  for  a  man  who,  notwithstanding  his  Mor- 
ris Island  prowess,  had  deserted.     What  a  fall  was  there ! 


THE 

GILLMORE     MEDAL 


Army  and  Corps  Relations.  439 

ARMY  AND  CORPS  RELATIONS. 

The  different  localities  in  which  the  Twenty-fourth  served 
tended  to  involve  its  army  and  corps  relations  to  an  unusual 
degree.  Some  regiments,  with  full  three  years'  service  to 
their  credit,  came  home  with  only  one  corps  badge  as  a  sou- 
venir of  combat,  but  the  Twenty-fourth  survivors  wear  re- 
minders of  no  less  than  four  corps  organizations  to  which  the 
regiment  was  more  or  less  attached.  It  never  served  in  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  but  it  was  prominently  connected  with 
that  of  Bumside,  the  Army  of  the  South,  and  with  that  of 
the  James,  the  latter  always  co-operating  with  that  of  the 
Potomac. 

Burnside  Expedition.  It  has  ever  been  a  pleasant  memory 
of  the  regiment  that  its  first  service  was  in  the  brigade  of 
General  J.  G.  Foster.  When,  early  in  May,  '62,  the  reorgani- 
zation of  Burnside 's  forces  took  place,  the  Twenty-fourth 
became  a  member  of  the  First  or  Foster's  Division,  Second 
Brigade,  Col.  T.  G.  Stevenson,  and  thus  it  continued  until 
the  organization  of  the  Eighteenth  Corps. 

Eighteenth  Army  Corps.  The  warrant  for  the  existence  of 
this  corps  bears  date  Dec.  24,  1862,  General  J.  G.  Foster  com- 
manding, with  Brig.-General  H.  W.  Wessells  at  the  head  of 
the  First  Division  and  Col.  T.  G.  Stevenson  still  commanding 
the  Second  Brigade,  where  the  Twenty-fourth  is  found.  The 
departure  for  the  South  did  not  change  the  relations  of  the 
regiment,  though  in  the  published  records,  the  regiments 
thus  transferred  to  South  Carolina  are  borne  as  ''detached." 
Under  General  Hunter,  the  assignments  were  somewhat 
changed;  thus  early  in  1863  the  regiment  is  found  in  the 
Fourth  Division,  Second  Brigade,  though  still  under  Wessells 
and  Stevenson  respectively. 

Tenth  Army  Corps.  In  the  summer  of  '6^,  the  regiment 
is  found  in  the  Tenth  Corps,  First  Division,  General  A.  H. 
Terry,  Third  Brigade,  General  Stevenson.  Though  placed  in 
actual  service,  the  several  regiments  that  went  to  the  South 
State  with  Foster  are  still  carried  as  "detached,"  and  as  late 
as  Oct.  15,  '63,  General  Gillmore  is  found  complaining  because 
they  are  thus  reported,  though  an  integral  part  of  his  force. 
Indeed,  under  a  variety  of  corps,  division  and  brigade  com- 
manders, the  Twenty-fourth  remained  with  the  Tenth  Corps 
till  near  the  end  of  1864. 

Twenty-fourth  Corps.  In  December,  '64,  went  forth  the 
edict  that  the  white  regiments  of  the  Eighteenth  and  Tenth 


440 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


Corps  should  constitute  the  Twenty-fourth,  and  the  colored 
bodies  the  Twenty -fifth  Corps,  the  earlier  named  corps  being 
consequently  discontinued.  In  the  new  corps,  our  regiment 
was  assigned  to  the  First  Division,  General  A.  H.  Terry,  soon 
succeeded  by  General  R.  S.  Foster,  and  the  Third  Brigade, 
Col.  H.  M.  Plaisted.  Thus  placed  the  regiment  remained  till 
the  disbanding  of  the  corps,  which  took  place  August  1,  1865. 
Ninth  Army  Corps.  Though  the  symbol  of  this  corps  is 
found  in  the  regimental  badge,  yet  the  Twenty-fourth  never 
had  any  real  connection  therewith.  The  fact  that  Burnside 
was  so  long  connected  with  the  corps  and  so  many  of  the 
regiments  that  accompanied  him  to  North  Carolina  were  also 
members  of  the  corps  must  be  the  reason  that  the  anchor, 
naval  cannon  and  shield  are  found  in  the  emblazonry  of  the 
regiment,  just  a  pardonable  bit  of  sentiment.  It  is  claimed 
that  the  corps-badge  is  really  the  symbol  used  orginally  by 
the  officers  in  the  Burnside  Expedition. 

REGIMENTAL  BADGE. 

Where  an  organization  belonged  to  only  one  army  corps, 
special  badges  for  the  regiment  are  seldom  found,  but  when 
their  relations  were  many,  some  special  design  became,  if  not 
necessary,  at  least  desirable.  Hence,  the  somewhat  extended 
design  which  to  the  accustomed  eye  of  the  wearer  is  plain 
enough,  but  which  to  that  of  the  novice  needs  some  expla- 
nation. George  A.  Loring  of  Co.  C  was  the  designer  of  the 
badge  and  the  manner  in  which  the  several  corps  badges  have 


been  merged  is  decidedly  ingenious.  An  inspection  of  the 
several  symbols  outlined  herewith  will  show  what  the  founda- 
tion was.  Thus  the  Eighteenth  Corps  wore  a  design  some- 
times called  a  modified  Greek  cross  or  four  clover-leaves  united 
at  their  bases;  that  of  the  Tenth  was  a  square  fortification 


Regimental  Band.  441 

with  bastions  at  the  several  angles,  significant  perhaps  of  the 
siege  work,  so  long  the  dnty  of  the  Tenth  in  its  earlier  service ; 
the  Ninth  had  the  shield  and  naval  accompaniments,  a  remind- 
er of  Biirnside  and  his  men  in  their  Hatteras  experience; 
the  pendant  heart  was  worn  by  the  men  of  the  Twenty-fonrth 
Corps.  Above  all  of  these  figures  is  seen  the  rampant  lion 
holding  in  his  clasp  a  standard  bearing  the  numerals  "24." 
No  one  who  ever  saw  the  Old  State  House  of  Boston  needs  an 
introduction  to  the  figure  there  displayed,  and  when  it  is 
learned  that  the  same  was  for  half  a  century  and  more  the 
design  borne  on  all  occasions  by  the  New  England  Guard,  its 
significance  on  the  badge  of  the  New  England  Guard  Regi- 
ment is  apparent. 


m 


REGIMENTAL  BAND. 

Though  Gilmore's  aggregation  of  musicians  was  mustered 
out  at  the  end  of  the  regiment's  first  year,  the  Twenty-fourth 
was  not  long  without  instrumental  music,  since,  as  stated  in 
earlier  pages,  owing  to  the  generosity  of  Gilmore  himself 
and  other  friends,  funds  were  secured  for  the  purchase  of 
instruments,  and  enlisted  men  were  found  of  musical  capa- 
city to  make  of  the  new  association  one  of  the  best  in  the 
service.  For  the  most  part  they  re-enlisted,  were  constant 
and  reliable  and  formed  one  of  the  principal  attractions  in 
Boston  when  the  regiment  came  home  in  1866.  The  names 
of  the  members  were  acquired  through  the  recollection  of 
Atwood  and  Ingraham,  members,  but  now  separated  by  all 
the  space  intervening  between  Maine  and  Idaho.  The  first 
leader  was  Chief  Musician  George  S.  Stone.  On  his  depart- 
ure, he  was  succeeded  by  Chief  Musician    John  W.  Lincoln, 


442  'I'wENTY-FOURTii  Masi^aciiusetts  Regiment. 


H.  P.  Meader. 
George  H.  Gardner. 


Tilon  Robinson. 
H.  L.  Chamberlain  and  wife. 

REGIMENTAL  BAND. 


Charles  E.  Pratt. 
James  Dresser. 


who  continued  through.  He  was  a  piano-maker  after  the 
war,  in  Boston.  The  names  of  the  members  with  their  com- 
panies follow :  Wm.  French  and  Henry  L.  Chamberlain, 
A ;  John  H.  Armstrong,  B ;  John  W.  Lincoln  and  George  S. 
Stone,  D ;  Tilon  Robinson,  George  H.  Gardner,  Thos.  B. 
Holmes,  Leander  Hicks  and  Daniel  McPherson,  E ;  James  L. 
Carter  and  Oren  Mildam,  H ;  Sewell  S.  Ingraham  and  Chas. 
E.  Pratt,  I ;  Andrew  J.  Vining,  James  Dresser,  James  H.  At- 
wood,  Horace  P.  Meader  and  "Wm.  A.  Ackerman,  K.  The 
Drum-major,  Ernest  Meyer  (C),  was  German  born,  had 
served  in  the  army  of  his  native  land,  was  of  most  magnifi- 
cent figure,  more  than  six  feet  in  height  and  he  fully  real- 
ized the  dignity  of  his  position.  Of  him  a  competent  ob- 
server remarked,  "It  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  more  nearly 
perfect  figure  in  the  United  States." 


Regimental  Glee  Club.     General  Officers.      443 

REGIMENTAL  GLEE  CLUB. 

A  sort  of  wheel  within  wheels  was  tlie  Stevenson  Glee  Club, 
which  on  occasion  could  warble  the  sweetest  vocal  music. 
"Whatever  may  have  been  its  specific  appellation  before,  after 
the  lamented  death  of  General  Stevenson,  it  chose  to  be  known 
as  the  "Stevenson"  Club,  and  perhaps  no  organization  in  the 
regiment  afforded  a  greater  amount  of  pleasure  to  those  lis- 
tening than  did  these  young  men  drawn  from  the  ranks,  again 
showing  what  the  enlisted  men  of  a  New  England  regiment 
were  capable  of,  and,  more  than  this,  the  advantages  found 
in  the  average  northern  community.  If  a  party  of  officers 
wished  to  have  dinner,  supper  or  other  convivial  gathering, 
the  Club  was  ready  to  help  out:  were  there  distinguished 
guests  at  headquarters,  who  so  apt  to  serenade  as  these 
votaries  of  Orpheus?  Their  sweet  strains  are  lingering  yet 
in  some  memories.  Their  leader  was  Tilon  Robinson;  the 
pianist  or  accompanist,  Chas.  E.  Pratt,  a  musical  prodigj^; 
the  other  members  were  Chamberlain,  Gardner,  Hicks  and 
Meader. 

GENERAL  OFFICERS. 

First  and  last,  the  Twenty-fourth  served  under  many  gen- 
erals. For  some  there  was  felt  the  very  highest  degree  of 
esteem,  while  now  and  then  one  was  endured  rather  than  loved. 
Possibly  the  faces  shown  in  the  accompanying  group  repre- 
sent those  with  whom  the  regiment  was  brought  into  closest 
contact,  excepting  of  course  its  own  loved  Colonel,  later  Brig- 
adier General  Thomas  G.  Stevenson.  Colonel  H.  M.  Plaisted 
of  the  11th  Maine  was  long  in  command  of  the  brigade  to 
which  the  regiment  was  attached,  but  no  portrait  of  the  Col- 
onel has  been  secured. 

Few  names  are  mentioned  more  heartily  by  the  veterans  of 
the  Twenty-fourth  than  that  of  General  Burnside.  The  men 
rejoiced  at  every  recognition  of  his  merit  and  sorrowed  at  any 
apparent  lack  of  appreciation  of  his  efforts.  Mentally  at 
least,  they  followed  him  into  his  civil  life,  and  as  one  of  the 
United  States  senators  from  Rhode  Island,  as  well  as  thrice 
Governor,  they  were  sure  that  he  was  receiving  no  more  than 
his  deserts.  To  this  day,  no  soldier  who  followed  him  in  life 
fails  to  note  the  magnificent  equestrian  bronze  of  the  great 
soldier  when  he  passes  through  the  city  of  Providence.  Indi- 
ana born.  May  23,  1824;  West  Point,  1847,  he  acquired  affil- 
iation with  Rhode  Island  through  marriage  and  opened  his 


444  Twenty-fourth  ]\Iassachusetts  Regiment. 

experience  in  the  war  by  leading  the  First  Rhode  Island  Mili- 
tia to  the  front  and.  leaving  Providence,  April  20,  '61,  was 
present  at  the  First  Bnll  Rnn,  and  thenceforward  w^as  a  con- 
spicuous figure  in  the  prosecution  of  the  war.  He  died  sud- 
denly in  his  Bristol,  R.  I.,  home,  Sept.  3,  1881. 

Next  to  that  of  Burnside,  perhaps,  John  G.  Foster  sounds 
most  pleasantly  in  the  ears  of  men  who  served  through  the 
North  State  campaigns.  A  native  of  New  Hampshire,  May 
27,  1823,  a  graduate  of  West  Point  in  1846,  he  had  been  a 
soldier  up  to  the  beginning  of  the  war.  Indeed,  the  latter 
found  him  in  Fort  Moultrie,  Charleston  Harbor,  and  his  suc- 
cessful transferral  of  the  garrison  to  Fort  Sumter  won  for 
him  a  brevet  Major's  commission  in  the  regular  army.  He 
was  with  the  intrepid  Anderson  during  the  assault  on  the  lat- 
ter fortification  and  shared  with  him  the  bitterness  of  defeat. 
For  uniform  courtesy  and  gentleness  of  heart  he  had  no  supe- 
rior, and  officers  and  men  alike  respected  and  loved  him.  The 
hardships  of  his  many  campaigns  no  doubt  were  responsible 
for  his  relatively  early  death,  for  he  died  in  Nashua,  N.  H., 
Sept.  2,  1874.  The  old  Granite  State  sent  no  better  soldier 
into  the  service. 

Quincy  Adams  Gillmore  bore  in  his  Christian  names  a  sug- 
gestion of  iMassachusetts,  though  he  was  born  in  Black  River, 
Ohio,  Feb.  28,  1825.  Graduating  at  the  head  of  his  West 
Point  class,  1849,  he  was  assigned  to  the  Engineer  Corps, 
there  developing  the  skill  which  was  utilized  subsequently  in 
the  reduction  of  Fort  Pulaski  and  in  the  siege  of  Charleston. 
Quiet,  reserved  and  wholly  lacking  in  spectacular  character- 
istics. General  Gillmore  nevertheless  impressed  all  who  came 
near  him  with  the  extent  and  reliableness  of  his  resources. 
After  the  war.  he  continued  to  plan  and  execute  engineering 
operations  and  to  publish  works  dealing  with  that  subject. 
He  died  at  his  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  residence,  April  7,  1888.  A 
biographer  says  of  him :  ' '  He  made  himself  the  first  artiller- 
ist of  the  war,  and  if  not  the  first  engineer,  he  w^as  second  to 
none.  He  was  to  the  New  World  what  Todleben  was  to  the 
Old." 

Alfred  H.  Terry,  long  associated  with  the  Tenth  Corps" 
either  as  division  or  corps  commander,  was  born  in  Hartford, 
Conn.,  Nov.  10,  1827.  His  education  was  with  reference  to 
law^  rather  than  war,  and  the  Rebellion  found  him  a  practic- 
ing law^yer  with  a  fondness  for  amateur  arms,  since  he  was 
then  in  command  of  the  Second  Regiment  of  militia.  With  this 


Reguiental  Officers. 


445 


Maj.-Gen.  Q.  A.  Gillmore. 
Bvt.  Maj.-Gen.  R.  S.  Foster. 


Miij.-Gen.  A.  E.  Hurnside. 
Maj.-Gen.  J.  G.  Foster. 


Maj.-Gen.  A.H.  Terry. 

orgranization  he  was  present  at  the  First  Bull  Run.  Later  as 
Colonel  of  the  Seventh  Conn,  he  found  his  way  into  the  De- 
partment of  the  South,  where  he  served  for  the  most  part 
save  in  the  earlier  campaign  of  '64.  Undoubtedly  his  great- 
est claim  to  lasting  fame  rests  on  his  masterly  assault  on  Fort 
Fisher  and  the  effectual  reduction  of  the  same.  As  a  resolute, 
resourceful  and  generally  capable  officer,  he  made  a  lasting 
impression  on  every  follower,  whether  in  the  ranks  or  wearing 
shoulder  straps.  His  service  secured  for  him  recognition  in 
the  regular  army  and  there  he  remained  until  his  retirement 
in  April,  1888.  'He  died  in  New  Haven,  Conn.,  Dec.  16,  1890, 
having  been  in  ill  health  for  several  years. 

As  brigade  and  division  commander  when  in  the  Tenth 
Corps,  the  survivors  of  the  Twenty-fourth  have  vivid  recol- 
lection of  General  Robert  Sandford  Foster.  They  had  early 
become  accustomed  to  his  family  name  and  were  ready  to  like 
him  for  old  time's  sake,  but  service  wdth  him  soon  showed 


446         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

them  that  he  was  likable  for  qualities  of  his  own.  Born  in 
Vernon,  Indiana,  Jan.  27,  1834,  after  receiving  the  advan- 
tages of  the  public  schools,  he  entered,  in  his  teens,  upon  a 
mercantile  life  in  Indianapolis.  Meanwhile  he  found  recrea- 
tion in  the  militia  of  his  native  State,  thereby  receiving  in- 
struction which  served  him  well  when  the  war  began.  En- 
listing April  14,  '61,  he  went  to  the  front  as  Captain  of  Co. 
A,  11th  Indiana.  His  promotion  thence  was  rapid,  becoming 
Colonel  of  the  13th  Regiment  in  May,  '62.  His  service  was 
entirely  in  the  East  and  was  always  of  the  most  strenuous 
character.  As  General  Terry's  Chief  of  Staff,  he  was  intro- 
duced to  our  regiment  and  his  association  with  the  Tenth 
Corps  is  a  matter  of  record  thenceforward.  In  the  windup 
of  '65,  he  commanded  a  division  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Corps 
and  was  among  the  most  prominent  at  the  surrender.  It  is 
said  of  him  that  he  never  lost  a  battle  nor  a  skirmish.  After 
the  war  he  was  one  of  the  Military  Commission  for  the  trial 
of  the  conspirators  and  assassins  of  President  Lincoln. 
Though  proffered  a  Lieutenant-colonelcy  in  the  regular  army, 
he  preferred  to  return  to  civil  life  and  was  soon  found  in  his 
native  Indiana,  where  one  of  his  earliest  actions  was  to  bear 
a  prominent  part  in  the  organization  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic.  He  was  the  first  to  perform  the  duties  of  Com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  order,  and  was  the  first  Department 
Commander  of  Indiana.  He  organized  Post  No.  1  of  his  own 
State,  and  never  flagged  in  his  devotion  to  the  good  of  the 
organization.  There  can  be  no  question  that  to  him  as  much 
as  to  Major  B.  F.  Stephenson  is  due  the  successful  existence 
of  the  G.  A.  R.  His  civil  life  was  filled  with  honors,  having 
been  an  alderman,  city  treasurer,  and  president  of  the  Board 
of  Trade  in  Indianapolis  and  U.  S.  Marshal  for  Indiana.  At 
the  time  of  his  death,  March  3,  1903,  he  was  Quartermaster- 
general  of  the  National  Guard  of  Indiana. 

FOR  AULD  LANG  SYNE. 

Twenty -fourth  Club. — When  the  Twenty-fourth  was  in 
Florida,  the  original  commissioned  officers  of  the  regiment 
formed  an  organization  with  the  foregoing  title.  Till  the  war 
ended  there  was  little  opportunity  for  regular  meetings,  yet 
its  very  name  was  a  source  of  pleasure.  After  the  return  of 
the  regiment  there  was  an  annual  gathering  at  some  central 
point,    where,    over    the    fragrant    repast,    greetings    were 


They  Still  Live.  447 

exchanged  and  old  times  discussed.  Year  after  year  the  num- 
bers have  been  reduced  till  now  only  twelve  remain  eligible  to 
sit  at  the  feast.  The  Club  took  the  initiative  towards  placing 
the  memorial  of  General  Stevenson  in  the  State  House. 

Twenty -fourth  Regiment  Association. — Soon  after  the  regi- 
ment returned,  the  idea  was  advanced  that  the  "boys"  ought 
to  meet  at  least  once  a  year,  and  some  of  the  companies  had 
their  own  special  run-togethers,  a  practice  kept  up  to  this  day. 
The  organization  for  the  regiment  was  effected  before  the 
great  Boston  fire  of  1872,  and  the  records  then  in  existence 
disappeared  in  the  conflagration.  The  fires  of  memory,  how- 
ever, have  continued  burning  ever  since,  and  annually,  on 
Jan.  20,  the  date  of  the  muster-out,  in  some  one  of  the  Boston 
hotels,  the  '/old  boys,"  every  year  older  and  whiter  grown, 
assemble,  eat  a  good  dinner,  fight  over  again  the  battles  of  '61- 
'65,  drink  a  cup  to  the  memory  of  departed  comrades,  and  sep- 
arate for  one  more  year  in  the  battle  of  life.  Occasionally  a 
comrade  appearswho  has  crossed  half  a  continent  to  be  present, 
and  the  reception  accorded  is  worth  all  the  pains  it  cost.  For 
many  years  the  Secretary  has  been  Comrade  John  C.  Cook  of 
Company  C,  and  the  present  President  is  Capt.  Wm.  F. 
Wiley,  Company  K. 

THEY  STILL  LIVE. 

Though  their  mortality  long  since  moldered  back  to  its 
kindred  dust,  the  names  of  two  of  the  regiment's  dead  will 
live  for  years  to  come  in  the  appellations  of  two  Grand  Army 
Posts — 

Thomas  G.  Stevenson  Post  26  of  Roxhury  recalls  that  ad- 
mirable officer  and  his  lamentable  death  at  the  beginning  of 
the  closing  campaign,  which  ended  all  hopes  of  the  Confed- 
eracy. 

James  A.  Perkins  Post  156  of  Everett  brings  to  mind  the 
terrible  scenes  in  front  of  grim  Fort  "Wagner  and  the  form 
of  the  young  Lieutenant,  brave  to  rashness,  presenting  always 
his  face  to  the  foe. 


448  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

REGIMENTAL  ROSTER. 

The  foundation  of  the  Roster  is  material  preserved  in  the 
State  House.  There,  all  names  are  given  alphabetically, 
without  reference  to  company  or  rank.  To  present  the  list 
as  found  on  the  following  pages  it  was  necessary  to 
rearrange  the  names  by  companies  and  in  the  cases  of  coiar 
missioned  officers  to  place  their  names  with  their  respective 
organizations.  To  do  this  necessitated  the  examination  of 
every  accessible  document  bearing  on  the  subject.  It  is 
hoped  that  the  result  is  measurably  correct.  To  arrange  all 
the  captains  in  one  group,  and  first  and  second  lieutenants 
respectively  in  a  similar  manner  is  far  from  satisfactory. 
iPossibly  the  surviving  veteran  could  reach  in  and  select 
his  own  officers,  but  seemingly  it  is  much  better  for  officers 
and  men  to  go  together  in  printed  history  as  they  marched 
when  their  history  was  actually  made. 

The  Roster  aims  to  give  the  name,  age,  occupation,  resi- 
dence and  date  of  enlistment  of  every  man  in  the  regiment, 
together  with  such  incidental  data  as  his  service  may  have 
won,  together  with  date  of  his  death,  desertion  or  discharge 
for  whatever  cause. 

Thus:  Smith,  John,  18  years  old;  farmer,  Salem;  enlisted 
September  18,  1861;  wounded  March  14,  Newbern;  re-en- 
listed January  4,  1864;  promoted  Coporal  April  2,  1864;  dis- 
charged October  15,  1864,  disability. 

For  the  sake  of  brevity,  the  following  abbreviations  are 
used:  A.  A.  G.= Assistant  Adjutant  General;  b.=buried; 
bvt.=brevet ;  com.=commissiou ;  Corp.=Corporal ;  cr.=cred- 
ited;  d.=died;  desert.^deserted ;  dis.=discharged ;  disa.= 
disability;  en.=enlisted ;  ex.  of  s.=expiration  of  service; 
G.  0.  W.  D.^General  Order  War  Department;  k.=killed; 
M.  0.=muste.red  out;  Mus.=Musician ;  N.  E.  G.=New 
England  Guard ;  N.  F.  R.=no  further  record ;  N.  S.  H.= 
National  Soldiers'  Home;  0.  W.  D.^Order  War  Depart- 
ment; prom.=promoted  ;  [R]  ^Recruit;  re.=^re-enlisted ; 
res.=resigned ;  Sergt.^Sergeant ;  S.  H.^^Soldiers'  Home  in 
Chelsea ;  V.  R.  C.= Veteran  Reserve  Corps ;  wd.=wounded. 


Keolmextal  Roster. 


449 


"Aye,  bring  back  the  lianners  and  fold  them  in  rest  I 
They  have  wrought  their  high  mission,  their  holy  behest! 
Stained  with  blood,  scorched  with  flame,  lianging  tattered  and 

torn. 
Yet  dearer,  by  far,  than  when  bright,  they  were  borne 
By  brave  hearts  to  glory ! ' ' 

■     FROM  THE  HALL  OF  FLAGS,  STATE  HOUSE. 


29 


450  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

In  the  war  period,  there  were  33!)  cities  and  towns  in  Massacliusetts ; 
of  these  210  were  represented  in  the  Twenty-fourth  Regiment. 

Field  and  Staff. 
colonels. 

Thomas  G.  Stevenson,  25 ;  Boston ;  Aug.  31,  1861 ;  Brig-gen., 
Dec.  26,  '62;  k.  Spottsylvania  C.  H.,  Va.,  May  10,  '64, 
commanding  1st  Div.  9th  Army  Corps;  b.  Mt.  Auburn. 

Francis  A.  Osborn,  Dec.  28,  '62;  M.  0.  Nov.  14,  '64,  ex.  of 
s. ;  Brev.  Brig-gen.  Mar.  13,  '65.  In  civil  life  General 
Osborn  was  Tv^aval  Officer,  port  of  Boston,  Mar.  19,  '67 — 
June  8,  '69 ;  in  City  Council,  Boston,  '67,  '68,  '69 ;  Chair- 
man, Massachusetts  Civil  Service  Commission,  three 
years  from  June  23,  '86 ;  declined  reappointment.  He 
was  the  first  Commander  of  the  Massachusetts  Com- 
mandery,  Loj^al  Legion,  and  the  second  Commander, 
Massachusetts  Department  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

Charles  H.  Hooper,  Nov.  15,  '64;  M.  0.  Mar.  18,  '65,  as 
Lieut.-colonel ;  d.  June  25,  1899,  Boston.  Colonel  Hoop- 
er saw  no  more  active  service ;  he  was  confined  at  first  in 
Libby  Prison,  thence  was  taken  to  Danville,  Va.,  and 
finally  to  Salisbury  N.  C.  At  last  he  was  returned  to 
Richmond  and  as  above  to  liberty.  With  Gen.  Joseph 
Hayes,  also  of  Massachusetts,  he  took  charge  of  the 
receiving  and  distributing  of  supplies  from  the  Federal 
Government,  Major  M.  P.  Turner's  permit  bearing 
date  Feb.  3,  1865.  His  sword,  an  elegant  weapon,  was 
not  restored  to  Colonel  Hooper  till  Aug.  19,  1892,  and 
even  then  was  recovered  at  some  outlay  on  his  part,  the 
southern  possessor  considering  it  after  the  nature  of  an 
entrance  to  a  gold  mine. 

Albert  Ordway,  May  7,  '65;  M.  0.  Feb.  10,  '66,  as  Lieut.- 
colonel,  ex.  of  s. ;  Brev.  Brig.-gen.,  Mar.  13,  '65;  d. 
Nov.  21,  1897.  After  the  war,  settled  and  married  in 
Richmond;  a  member  of  Council  and  Board  of  Aldermen; 
candidate  for  Congress,  and  defeated ;  later  in  Washing- 
ton, active  in  National  Guard;  by  President  Cleveland 
made  a  Brigadier  in  command  of  all  of  the  forces  in  the 
district ;  he  brought  them  to  a  high  degree  of  efficiency. 


Field  and  Staff. 


451 


452  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

lieutenant-colonels. 

Francis  A.  Osborii,  27;  Boston;  Aug.  31,  1861;  prom. 
Colonel. 

Eobert  H.  Stevenson,  Dec.  28,  '62 ;  res.  May  31,  '64 ;  Brev. 
Colonel  and  Brig. -gen.,  Mar  13,  '65. 

Charles  H.  Hooper,  June  1,  '64;  captured  July  24,  '64,  Deep 
Bottom,  Va. ;  paroled  Feb.  22,  1865. 

Albert  Ordway,  Nov.  15,  '64 ;  prom.  Colonel. 

Thomas  F.  Edmands,  May  7,  '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  as 
Major;  Brev.  Colonel,  Mar.  13,  '65;  d.  Aug.  30,  1906; 
b.  Mt.  Auburn.  For  thirty-three  years  Colonel  Ed- 
mands commanded  the  First  Corps  of  Cadets,  Boston's 
crack  military  organization,  having  resigned  his  posi- 
tion hardly  more  than  a  month  before  his  death. 

MAJORS. 

Robert  H.  Stevenson,  23 ;  Boston ;  Sept.  2,  1861 ;  wd.  Mar.  14, 
'62,  Newbern,  N.  C. ;  prom.  Lieut. -colonel. 

Charles  H.  Hooper   (E),  Dec.  28,  '62;  prom.  Lieut-colonel. 

Edward  C.  Richardson  (G),  June  1,  '64;  dis.  Sept.  23,  '64, 
disa.  After  the  strife  was  over,  forming  a  business  part- 
nership with  his  First  Lieutenant,  J.  M.  Barnard,  he  con- 
tinued in  business  in  Savannah,  Ga.,  for  thirty-five  years. 
Now,  retired,  he  resides  in  Boston. 

Albert  Ordway  (I),  Sept.  24,  '64;  prom.  Lieut.-colonel. 

Thomas  F.  Edmands   (G),  Nov.  15,  '64;  prom.  Lieut.-colonel. 

Davis  Foster  (D),  May  7,  '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  as  Capt.; 
Brev.  Major,  U.  S.  Vols.,  Mar.  13,  '65;  cl.  Savannah,  Ga., 
Sept.  21,  1876.  The  stay  of  the  Twenty-fourth  in  St. 
Augustine  resulted  in  the  marriage  of  Major  Foster  to 
]\Iiss  Dolores  Sanches,  descended  from  one  of  the  old 
Spanish  families;  firing  of  a  planter's  life  he  became  a 
merchant  in  Savannah,  dying  there  early  in  life,  the 
result  of  wounds  received  in  the  service.  His  son,  J.  C. 
R.  Foster,  is  now  Adjutant-general  of  the  State  of  Flori- 
da, an  elective  office. 

ADJUTANTS  AND  ACTING  ADJUTANTS. 

John  F.  Anderson,  28;  Boston;  Sept.  2,  1861;  dis.  June  7. 
'63;  commissioned,  June  9,  '63,  Major  and  A.  D.  C, 
serving    on    staffs    of    Generals    Burnside    and    Foster 


Field  and  Staff.  453 

respectively ;  Brev.  Lieut.-col.  U.  S.  Vols.,  Mar.  1,  '65 ; 

Brev.  Colonel  aud  Brig.-gen.,  Mar.  13,  '65;  res.  March 

27,  '65 ;  d.  April  19,  1902,  Portland,  Me. 
Wm.  L.  Horton  (I).  Dec.  '62;  wd.  Mar.  14,  '62,  Newbern; 

vid.  Company  A. 
Albert  Ordwav    (G),   after  Battle  of  Newbern. 
Charles  Q.  Ward    (11),  March— May,  '63. 
James  M.  Barnard    (G).  June,  '63 — Sept.  '63. 
Thomas  F.  Edmands    (K),  Oct.  '63,  one  month. 
Charles  G.  Ward,  Nov.  '63;  k.  May  16,  '64.  Drewry's  Bluff, 

Virginia. 
Thomas  F.  Edmands,  May — July,  '64. 
Thomas  M.  Sweet  (I),  July  21.  '64;  declined  promotion  to 

Captain ;  M.  0.  Nov.  12,  '64 ;  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  June  9,  '73 ; 

b.  Mt.  Auburn. 
Benjamin   F.   Stoddard    (F),   Nov.    25,    '64— June   21,    '65; 

Captain  and  Acting  Adjutant  to  Aug.  '65. 
Augustus  D.  Ayling  (C).  Aug.  '65;  M  0.  Jan.  20,  '66.     From 

July,  '79,  to    December.    '06,    Adjutant-general    of    the 
'State  of  New  Hampshire.     General  Ayling  was  the  com- 
piler of  the  famous  and  almost  incomparable  register  of 

New   Hampshire   troops   in   the  War  of   the  Rebellion. 

Retired,  he  now  resides  in  Centreville,  Mass. 

QUARTERMASTERS . 

William  V.  Hutchings,  34;  Gloucester;  Sept.  2,  1861; 
appointed  Assistant  Quartermaster,  U.  S.  Vols.,  Nov. 
22,  '62;  dis.  from  the  Twenty-fourth.  April  16,  '63, 
G.  0.  W.  D;  res.  May  29,  '65;  d.  Auburndale,  Mass., 
July  26,  1888.  Resuming  the  insurance  business.  Major 
Hutchings  found  time  to  serve  upon  the  military  staff 
of  Governor  A.  H.  Rice,  and  to  pass  through  the  several 
offices  of  the  Loyal  Legion. 

James  Thompson,  acting  Quartermaster,  till  his  appointment, 
Nov.  27,  '62;  M.  0.  Jan.  12,  '65.  Since  1871  Captain 
Thompson  has  been  emploj^ed  in  the  U.  S.  Custom  House, 
Boston. 

James  N.  North,  24;  Chelsea;  Feb.  15,  '65;  res.  Oct.  7,  '65; 
had  served  as  private,  Co.  B,  1st  Mass.  Infantry,  2d 
Lieut.  35th  U.  S.  Col.  Troops,  1st  Lieut,  and  Adjutant 
1st  U.  S.  Col.  Cav. 

Eben  H.  Dadd  (G),  Oct.  18,  '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 


454  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

surgeons. 

Samuel  A.  Green,  31 ;  Boston ;  Sept.  2,  1861 ;  M.  0.  Nov.  3, 
'64,  ex.  of  s.  as  Major;  Brev.  Lieut.-colonel,  U.  S.  Vols. 
Mar.  13,  '65 ;  had  served  as  1st  Lieut,  and  Assistant  Sur- 
geon, 1st  Mass.  Infantry,  May  25— Sept.  2,  '61.  Dr. 
Green's  life  has  been  filled  with  good  works,  whether 
as  city  physician,  overseer  of  Harvard  University,  trus- 
tee of  the  Peabody  fund,  member  of  Boston's  school 
board,  trustee  of  the  Public  Library,  Mayor  of  Boston 
1882,  vice-president  and  librarian  of  the  Massachusetts 
Historical  Society,  or  historian  of  his  native  town, 
Groton,  he  has  never  faltered  a  moment.  Above  all,  he 
loves  his  old  comrades-in-arms. 

Edward  R.  Wheeler,  Nov.  10,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  as 
Major;  d.  April  30,  1904. 


assistant  surgeons. 

Hall  Curtis,  28 ;  Boston ;  Sept.  2,  '61 ;  prom.  Surgeon  and 
Major,  2d  Mass.  H.  A.,  June  18,  '63;  d.  June  1,  1906, 
Beverly  Farms. 

Charles  E.  Briggs,  Boston,  Aug.  13,  '62 ;  prom.  Surgeon  and 
Major,  54th  Mass.  Infantry,  Nov.  24,  '63 ;  d.  in  Boston, 
June  18,  1894. 

William  S.  Tremain,  Boston ;  Aug.  7,  '63 ;  prom.  Surgeon  and 
Major,  31st  U.  S.  Col.  Troops,  April  12,  '64;  later  Medi- 
cal Officer  in  Regular  Army;  d.  Jan.  9,  1898,  Buffalo, 
N.  Y. 

Edward  R.  Wheeler,  26 ;  Spencer ;  Maj'  15,  '64 ;  prom,  sur- 
geon. 

John  W.  Parsons,  24;  Boston;  April  8,   '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20, 

CHAPLAINS. 

William  R.  G.  Mellen,  40;  Gloucester;  Sept.  2,  '61;  res.  Jan. 
10,  '63 ;  d.  Dec.  30,  '95,  Yonkers,  N.  Y. 

Edmund  B.  Willson.  Salem;  Dec.  7,  '63;  res.  Julv  6,  '64; 
d.  1895. 


Field  and  Staff.  •    455 

nox  -  commission  ed  s  t  a  ff . 

sergeant-majors . 

Frank  W.  Lorintr.  2-i;  Boston;  Sept.  2.  '61 ;  dis.  Aug.  18,  '62, 
to  become  1st  Lieut,  and  Adjutant,  38th  ^Nlass.  Infan- 
try; Brev.  Captain  and  Major.  Mar.  13.  '65;  d.  Oct.  29, 
1905.  !Meran,  Austria.  With  ]Major  Loring  the  business 
of  a  broker  was  obliged  to  yield  to  his  love  of  art.  Hav- 
ing married  Miss  Caroline  P.  CareAV  in  England  he  made 
his  home  in  Florence,  Italy. 

AA^illiam  T.  Jones  (E).  Aug.  "9.  '62— Aug.  14.  '63;  dis.  for 
Com.  2d  ^lass..  H.  A.;  later  1st  Lieut,  in  same. 

John  T.  Wilson  (E),  Aug.  15.  '63— Jan.  21,  '64;  prom.  2d 
Lieut.,  Co.  E. 

William  C.  Severson  (I).  Jan.,  '64;  dis.  April  12,  '64,  for 
promotion. 

Robert  Carruthers  (G).  Julv  1— Oct.  14,  '61:  prom.  1st 
Lieut,  and  Captain,  Co.  H. 

Frederick  W.  Wilson  (C).  Nov.  4.  '64— Sept.  5,  '65;  absent 
sick. 

Henry  S.  Worrall  (B),  Sept.  1,  '65— M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  prom. 
1st  Lieut.  Jan.  20,  '66. 

QUARTERMASTER-SERGEANTS. 

James  Thompson,  23 ;  Boston ;  Sept.  2,  '61  ;  prom.  1st  Lieut, 
and  Quartermaster.  Nov.  27.  '62. 

Frank  H.  Nichols  (C).  May  1.  '63;  M.  0.  Dec.  4,  '64,  ex. 
of  s. 

Eben  H.  Dadd  (II).  Dec.  5,  '64;  prom.  1st  Lieut.  Quarter- 
master Aug.  18,  '65. 

John  Lowther  (A),  Sept.  2.  '65:  prom.  1st  Lieut.  Jan.  20, 
'66;  not  mustered;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66-  d.  Dec.  7,  '68;  b. 
Mt.  Auburn. 

COMMISSARY-SER(tEANTS. 

Parmeuas  E.  Wheeler,  27  ; ;  Sept.  2,  '61  ;  prom.  2d 

Lieut.  (I)  Aug.  1,  '62. 

John  Ellis  (H).  Aug.,  '62;  M.  0.  Sept.  2,  '64.  ex.  of  s. 

Eben  H.  Dadd  (H),  Sept.  1,  '64;  transferred  to  Q.  :\I.  De- 
partment   Dec.  5,   '64. 

Elbridge  Howe  (I),  Dec.  6,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66;  prom. 
1st  Lieut.  Jan.  20.  '66;  not  mustered. 


456  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment, 

hospital-stewards . 

John  H.  McGregor,  28 ;  Boston ;  Sept.  2,  '61  ;  prom.  Assistant 
Surgeon.  12th  Mass.  Infantry,  Aug.  14,  '62. 

Benjamin  H.  Mann  (H),  Aug.  is,  '62;  M.  0.  Sept.  4,  '64, 
ex.  of  s. 

Samuel  H.  Dunster  (K),  Sept.  4,  '64;  M.  O.  Jan.  20,  '66. 

PRINCIPAL   MUSICIANS. 

Daniel  McPherson   (E).  ^l{\y  1.   '63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66;  d. ; 

found  also  as  David. 
George  S.  Stone  (D),  Jan.  1.  '64;  deserted    Sept.  7,  '65. 
John  W.  Lincoln  (C),  Sept.  9,  '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 

Regimental  Band  (Gilmore's). 

Gilmore,  Patrick  S.,  Leader,  31 ;  Boston ;  Sept.  16,  '61 ;  dis. 

Aug.  30,  '62,  by  the  General  Order  No.  78,  doing  away 

with  regimental  bands;  d.  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  Sept.  24,  1892. 
Arbuckle,  Matthew,  33;  Boston;  Sept.  16,  '61;  dis.  October 

3,  '62. 
Blake,  Henry  N.,  32;  Chelsea;  Sept.  .16.  '61;  dis.  Oct.  3,  '62. 
Cundy,  William  H.,  29;  Boston;  Sept.  16,  '61 ;  dis.  Oct.  3,  '62. 
De  La  Fontaine,   Charles,   36;  Boston;   Sept.   16,    '61;   dis. 

Oct.  3,  '62. 
Ford,  Frederick  F.,  26;  Boston;  Sept.  26,   '61;  dis.  Oct.  3, 

1862. 
Frederick,  Louis,  50 ;  Boston ;  Sept.  16,  '61 ;  dis.  Oct  3.  '62. 
Fuller,  Frank  B.,  23;  Deerfield;  Sept.  16,   '61;  dis.  Oct.  3. 

1862. 
Heise,  August,  36;  Providence,  R.  I.;  Sept.  16,  '61;  dis.  Oct. 

3,  '62. 
Higgins,  Cornelius,  23 ;  Boston ;  Sept.  16,  '61 ;  dis.  Oct.  3,  '62. 
Kammerling,  Alwen,  17;  Boston;  Sept.  16,   '61;  dis.  Oct.  3, 

1862. 
Kammerling,  August,  39 ;  Boston ;  Sept.  16,  '61 ;  dis.  Oct.  3, 

1862. 
Kammerling,  Herman  A.,  19 ;  Boston ;  Sept.  16,  '61 ;  dis.  Oct. 

3,  '62. 
Kelly,  Frank  M.,  40;  Boston;  Sept.  16,  '61;  dis.  Oct  3,  '62. 
Knowlton,  Charles  W.,  27;  Boston;  Sept.  16,   '61;  dis.  Oct. 

3,  '62. 


Company  A.  457 

Mille,  Edward,  32;  Charlestown;  Sept.  16,   '61;  dis.  Oct.  3, 

1862. 
Morehouse.  Isaac  H.,  22;  Boston;  Sept.  16,  '61;  d.  Mav  19, 

'62,  Newbern,  N.  C. 
Nichols,  William  C.  33;  Salem;  Sept.  16.   '61;  dis.  Oct.  10, 

1862. 
Payson,  Thomas  K.,  28;  Boston;  Sept.  13.   '61;  dis.  Oct   10, 

1862. 
Simpson.  Henry  D..  24;  Boston;  Sept.  16,   '61;  dis.  Oct.  3, 

1862. 
Stanley,  Abram  J..  33;  Salem;  Sept.  16.  '61;  dis.  Oct.  10,  '62. 
Steinman^  J.  Henry,  38 ;  Boston ;  Sept.  16,   '61 ;  dis.  Oct.  3, 

1862. 
Whittemore,  Stephen  G.,  34;  Providence,  R.  I.,  Sept.  16,  '61; 

dis.    Oct.    10,     '62;    later    in    band,     Coi^ps     d'Afrique, 

U.  S.  A. ;  d. 
Zimmerman,  John  A.,  40 ;  Charlestown ;  Sept.  16,   '61 ;  dis. 

Oct.  10,   '62. 
Zohler,  Ferdinand,  35 :  Boston  -,  Sept.  16.  '61 ;  dis.  Oct.  3,  '62. 

Company  A. 

After  the  absorption  of  the  Thirty-fourth  and  Fortieth  Regiments, 
June,  '65,  and  the  assignment  of  ninety  men  to  A,  those  already  belong- 
ing were  transferred  to  K  and  there  served  to  their  muster-out. 

CAPTAINS. 

William  F.  Redding,  33 ;  weigher ;  East  Boston,  Sept.  2,  '61 ; 
wd.  June  5,  '62 ;  M.  0.  Sept.  22,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Spring 
Valley,  N.  Y.,  Mar.  7,  1876. 

Alexander  M.  Hayward,  Sept.  24,  '64 ;  res.  May  15,  '65,  disa. ; 
d.  May  14,  '97;  Charlestown.  In  the  U.  S.  postal  ser- 
vice from  1865  to  his  death ;  for  many  years  had  charge 
of  the  foreign  branch.  "He  was  brave,  considerate,  and 
kind  to  everybody, ' '  words  of  Capt.  G.  W.  Nichols. 

George  B.  Macomber,  original  1st  Lieut.  Co.  E,  34th  Mass. 
Infantry,  joining  from  Oakham,  transferred  with  others 
to  the  24th,  June  16,  '65 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66  ■  2d  Lieut. 
14th  U.  S.  Infantry,  May  11,  '66;  trans,  to  the  32d 
U.  S.  Sept  21,  '66;  1st  Lieut.  Jan.  14,  '67;  trans.  21st 
U.  S.  Int'antrv,  April  19,   '69;  d.  Sept.  19.    '69. 


458  TwENTY-FoiMiTH  ^NFassachusetts  Regiment. 

FIRST   LIEUTENANTS. 

James  H.  Turner,  25 ;  tradesman.  Medford ;  Sept.  2,  '61 ;  res. 

July  31,  '62. 
William  L.  Horton  (I),  Aug.  1,   '62;  dis.  Mar.  12,  '64.  disa. 

from  wounds;  d.  Nov.  23,  1884;  b.  Mt.  Auburn. 
Charles  T.  Perkins  (C),  Mar.  13,  '64;  res.  June  10,  '64;  d. 

Dec.  6.   '87,  Danvers. 
Alexander  M.  Hayward    (B),  June  11,    '64;  wd.   Aug.   16, 

'64,  Deep  Run ;  prom.  Captain. 
Andrew  Wilson    (E),  Oct.   15.    '64;    trans.   Co.  K,    June  16, 

'65,  and  prom.  Captain. 
Joseph  W.  Hobbs  (D),  Aug.  18,  '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
John  Lowther,  Jan.  20,  ^66 ;  not  mustered. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

Horatio  D.  Jarves,  25 ;  Boston ;  Sept.  2,  '61 ;  w^d.  June  5, 
'62,  Tranter's  Ck.,  N.  C. ;  dis.  Jan.  1,  '64,  for  Com.  as 
Major,  56th  Mass.  Infantrv ;  later  Lieut.-colonel  in  the 
same;  d.  April  16.  1883.  Togus.  Me.,  N.  S.  H. 

George  W.  Nichols  (H).  Jan.  8,  '64;  wd.  May  16,  '64, 
Drewry's  Blutf;  prom.  1st  Lieut.;  trans,  to  Co.  C. 

Edward  H.  Davenport,  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  not  mustered. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS  AND  PRIVATES. 

Adams,   Isaiah   M.,   22 ;   farmer.   East  Bridgewater ;   Oct.   4, 

'61;  dis.  Sept.  22,   '63,  disa. 
Adams,  Watson  F.,  19 ;  laborer.  East  Bridgewater ;  Oct.   16, 

'61  ;  dis.  Oct.  16,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Allen,  Jesse  H.,  42 ;  mariner,  Sandwich ;  Oct.  4,   '61 ;  M.  0. 

Sept.  2.  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Austin,  Alexander  R.,  38;    laborer.  South  •  Boston ;    Aug.  6, 

'62 ;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63 ;  M.  O.  Jan.  20.  '66,  as  Corp. 
Baker.   Charles    (Corp.).   26;   tinsmith.   East   Boston;    Sept. 

12,    '61;  w^d.  Mar.   14,    '62,  Newbern.  N.   C. ;  dis.   Sept. 

2,   '62,  disa. 
Baker,   Erastus,   20;   driver,   Barnstable;   Oct.   17,    '61;   dis. 

Oct.  17,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Bans,   William,   18 ;   ropemaker.  Roxburv ;   Oct.   14.    '61 ;   k. 

Mar.  14,  '62,  Newbern,  N.  C. 


Company  A. 


459 


CaiJt.  J.  L.  Stackpole  (I). 
Lieut.  J.  B.  Nichols  (H). 


Lii'iit.  .1.  A.  IVrkins  i  1 1. 
Lieut.  H.  D.  Jarves  (.A). 


(  ai.t.  \V.  K.  Redding  (A). 
I'apt.  John  Daland  (H). 


Barnes,  Albert  F.   (R),  24;  shoemaker,    Cohasset;    Aug.    14, 

'62;  wd.  May  16,   '64.  Drewry's  Bluff,  Va. ;  M.  0.  Dec. 

4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Barrett,  Lewis  F.  (Corp.),  19;  clerk.  Boston;  Sept.  25,  '61; 

trans,  to  28th  Mass.  Infantry,  Nov.  15,  '61. 
Barrows,  Henry  J.  (R),  31;  jeweler,  Foxboro;  Aug.  13,  '62; 

d.  Oct.  6,  '62,  Newbern. 
Bates,  Caleb  N.,  44;  mason,  Boston;  Nov.  30,  '61;  d.  May  6, 

'62,  Newbern. 
Beal,  William  H.    (R),  22;  farmer,  Cohasset:  Feb.  24,    '64; 

d.  Dec.  20,   '65 ;  had  served  in  Co.  K,  1st  ]Mass.  Infan- 

trj^;  wd.  at  Gettysburg  July  2,  '63;  also  Beals. 
Berwin,  Henry,  20 ;  clerk,  Swampscott ;   Sept.    28,     '61 ;    re. 

Dec.  21,  '63;  de.sert.  Sept.  22,  '65,  Co.  K. 


460  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Bidwell,  William  P.   (R),  34;  laborer,  Boston;  Aug.  4,  '62; 

M.  0.  Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Bond,  James,  21;  polisher,  Boston;  Oct.    17,    '61;    dis.    Oct. 

17,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Bond,  Robert,  26 ;  boatman,  Boston ;  Sept.  23,  '61 ;  re.  Dec. 

21,  '63 ;  d.  of  wounds,  Sept.  2,   '64,  Ft.  IMonroe,  Va. 
Bowers,  Patrick  (R),  32;  laborer,  Sudbury;  Aug.  2,  '62;  dis. 

Mar.  26,  '63,  disa. 
Bowers,  William  J.,  26;  mason,  Cambridge;  Sept.  9,  '64;  wd. 

May  16,  '64,  Drewry's  Bluff:  M.  0.  Sept.  9,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Burke,  David,  30 ;  laborer,  Boston ;  Sept.  28,   '61 ;  dis.  May 

5,  '63,  disa. ;  dead. 
Callahan,  Cornelius,  28;  laborer.  West  Roxbury;  Sept.  22, 

'61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  wd.  Oct.  14,   '64,  Darbytown  Rd., 

Va. ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  K. 
Campbell,  Patrick,  37;  laborer,  Boston;  Sept.  22,   '61;  dis- 
honorably dis.  Feb.  10,  '65,  by  sentence.  General  Court 

Martial. 
Carney,  Thomas,  28;  bootmaker,  Boston;  N.  F.  R. 
Chamberlain,  George  F.   (R),  18;  farmer,  Blackstone;  Mar. 

14,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Chamberlain,  Henry  L.    (Sergt.),  24;  clerk,  Boston;  Sept. 

27,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66;  had  served 

in  Co.  I,  1st  Mass.  Infantry,  May  24  to  Sept.  2,  '61 ;  d. 

June  13,  1899,  Chelsea  S.  H. 
Chamberlain,  Nahum  B.   (R),  21;  farmer,  Lexington;  Aug. 

9,  '62 ;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63 ;  dis.  May  20,  '65,  disa. ;  d.  Jan. 

11,  1905,  Jamaica  Plain. 
Charleton,  Edward   (R),  21;  glassmaker,  Saugus;  Aug.  2, 

'62 ;  re.  cr.  to  Roxburv,  Dec.  21,  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66, 

Co.  K. 
Charleton,  James  (R),  25;  farmer,  Saugus;  Aug.  2,  '62;  re. 

Dec.  21,  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  K. 
Clark,  Edward,  23;  mechanic.  Palmer;  Sept.  9,   '61;  M.  0. 

Sept.  9,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Cole,  Daniel  (R),  44;  shipper,  Boston;  Aug.  6,  '62;  dis.  Oct. 

3,  '62,  disa. 
Corliss,  Harvev  J.,  27 ;  farmer.  East  Boston ;  Sept.  14,  '61 ; 

re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Coughlan,    Martin    A.,    26;    miller,    Boston;    Oct.    15,    '61; 

M.  0.  Oct.  15,   '64,  as  Corp.,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Dec.  16,   '97, 

Chelsea,  S.  H. 


Company  A.  461 

Crawford,  John,  35 ;  spinner,  Blackstone ;  Nov.  8,   '61 ;  dis. 

Sept.  2.   '62.  disa.;    d.  Mar.  8,  1881,  Davton,    Ohio,    N. 

S.  H. 
Cummings,  Alonzo,  19;  barber,  Worcester;  Sept.  7,  '61;  dis. 

July  22,  '63,  disa. 
Devins,  Richard,  26 ;  mariner,  Boston ;  Sept.  23,  '61 ;  re.  Dec. 

21,  '63;  desert.  Mar.  20,  '64. 
Dingley,  Charles  B.,  40;  farmer,  Stoughton ;  Sept.  13,   '61; 

dis.  June  3,  '64,  disa. 
Dixon,  John  J.,  27;  spinner,  Woonsocket,  R.  I.   (cr.  to  Bos- 
ton), Oct.  17,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  Corp.  Oct.  17,  '65; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Doland,    Lerov,    21;    mechanic.    Palmer;    Oct.    2,     '61;    k. 

June  5,  '62,  Tranter's  Creek,  N.  C. 
Downs,   William,   37 ;  boot-treer,  Boston ;   Sept.   7,    '61 ;  re. 

Dec.  21,  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66.  Co.  K. 
Eddy,  Lorenzo  D..  24;  bootmaker,  Randolph;  Sept.  17,  '61; 

re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66;  Co.  K;  d.  Nov.  29, 

'99,  Togus,  Me.,  N.  S.  H. 
Egan,  Michael,  37';  farmer,  Moreton,  Vt. ;  Nov.  11,  '61;  re. 

cr.  to  Boston,  Dec.  21,   '63;    M.  0.  Corp.    Jan.  20,   '66, 

Co.  K. 
Eg-an,  William,  24;  stonecutter.  C^uincy;  Sept.  17,  '61;  M.  O. 

Sept.  17,  '64;  ex.  of  s. 
Ewer,  Benjamin,  38;  mariner.  Sandwich;  Oct.  4,  '61;  M.  0. 

Oct.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Farren,  James,  21 ;  mechanic,  Boston ;  Sept.  22,  '61 ;  desert. 

Dec.  8,  '61. 
Farrington,  Daniel,  33 ;  coatmaker.  West  Newbury,  Sept.  6, 

'61 ;  desert.  Dec.  8,  '61. 
Finnegan,  Michael,  24;  machinist,  Boston;  Sept.  17,  '61;  re. 

Sergt.  Dec.  21,  '63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  K. 
Fish.  John  F.,  21;  mariner,  Sandwich;  Oct.  14,   '61;  d.  Oct. 

5,  '62,  Sandwich,  Mass. 
Flagg,  Charles  H.  (R),  21;  shoemaker,  Lexington;  Aug.  12, 

'62;  re.  Dec.  21,   '63;  dis.  July  2,   '65,  disa.,  Co.  K;  d. 

Feb.  25,  1907,  Leominster. 
Foley,  John  W.,  23 ;  mechanic,  Palmer ;  Sept.  10,  '61 ;  M.  0. 

Sept.  10,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
French,  William,  31;  teamster,  Boston;  Oct.  2,  '61;  dis.  June 

29,  '63,  disa. 
French,  William  H.   (R),  26;  shoemaker,  Boston;  Aug.  11, 

62;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  K. 


462  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Fuller.  Fraiif^is  D.,  24;  farmer,   Palmer;   Sept.   9,    '61;  dis. 

Sept.  11,   '62,    disa. ;    later  served  in  Co.  E,    57th  Mass. 

Infantry. 
Gibbons,  Thomas   (R),  30;  laborer.  Sau»us;    Mar.    21.     '64; 

Corp.  Nov.  ].  '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '6Q,  Co.  K. 
Gibson,  James.  38 ;  farmer,  Boston ;  Sept.  10,   '61 ;  drowned; 

May  10.  '62,  Washington,  N.  C. 
Gillen,  John  C,  32;  carpenter,  Boston;  Sept.  12.    '61;  wd. 

Aug.  16,  '64,  Deep  Rnn;  dis.  Sept.,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Goldsmith.  Wm.  R.  (R),  26;  hat-presser,  Foxboro ;  Aug.  13, 

'62 ;  dis.  Dec.  5,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.    1903. 
Green,  John  A.  (Corp.).  28;  painter.  East  Boston;  Sept.  19, 

'61 ;  re.  Sergt,   Dec.  21.  '63 ;  prom.  1st  Lient.  Co.  E. 
Guptill,  John  A.    (wagoner),  38;  stonecutter,  Boston;  Sept. 

4,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21.  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  K. 
Hanson,  John  A.,  30;  carpenter,  Boston;  Sept.  20,   '61;  re. 

cr.  to  Quincy ;  Dec.  21^  '63 ;  desert.  Mar.  20,  '64. 
Harney,  John  A..  22;  butcher,  Boston;  Oct.  7,  '61,  1st  Sergt.; 

re.  Dec.  21,  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  K. 
Hassin,  Timothv   (Hassion),  25;  hatter,  Amesburv;  Nov.  9, 

'61;  re.  Dee.  26,  '63;  wd.  Aug.  16.  '64,  Deep  Run;  M.  0. 
Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  K. 
Hendricks,   Cornelius,   21;   ropemaker,   Roxburv;    Sept.    19, 

'61 ;  k.  Mar.  14,  '62,  Newbern. 
Hendricks,   David,   25;   ropemaker,   Roxburv;   Dec.    2,    '61; 

wd.  May  16,    '64,  Drewry's  Bluff;  dis.  Dec.   2,    '64,  ex. 

of  s. ;  d.  May  19,  1903,  Roslindale. 
Henry,  Harrison  (R),  28;  shoemaker,  Cohasset ;  re.  Dec.  26, 

'63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  K. 
Hill,  George,  18;  jeweler,  Newton;  Oct.  24,  '61,;  re.  Dec.  21, 

'63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  as  Sergt.  Co.  K ;  Com.  2d  Lieut. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Howard.    John    F.    (R),    18;    shoemaker,    Beverlv;    cr.    to 

Bridgewater ;  Nov.  10,   '64 ;  I\r.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66,  Co.  K. 
Howley,  John,   18 ;   bootmaker,   Quincy ;  Nov.   14,    '61 ;   re. 

Dec.  21,   '63 ;  dis.  Jan.  10,  '65,  disa. ;  dead. 
Ingalls,  Walter,  38;  gardener,  Dedham;  Oct.  11,    '61;  dis. 

Sept.  2,  '62,  disa. 
Jones,  Charles  11.,  23 ;  farmer.  Boston ;  Oct.  8,  '61 ;  re.  Dec. 

21,  '63;  Corp.  June  13,  '63;  Sergt.  Jan.  1,  '64;  wd.  Oct. 

7,  '64 ;  dis.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  B. 
Knodell,  Alexander,  19;  printer,  St.  John,  New  Brunswick; 

Sept.  13,  '61 ;  cr.  to  Roxbury ;  desert.  Mar.  20,  '64. 


COiMPANY  A.  463 

Knodell,  Robert   (R),  25;  carpentei-.  St.  John.  N.  B. -.  cr.  to 

Boston;  Dec.  23.  '63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66.  Co.  K. 
Kritzman,  Arthur  (nuis.).  14;  jeweler.  Boston;  Oct.  12.   '61; 

dis.  Sept.  2.   '62.  disa. ;  also  Kitzman. 
Lawler,   William.   27 ;  laborer,   Charlestown ;   dis.   Mar.   26, 

'63,  disa. 
[N.  E.  G.]    Litchfield.  Georo-e  S.   (Sergt.),  23;  carver,  Rox- 

bury;  Oct.  13,   '61;  k.  June  5,   '62,  Tranter's  Ck.,  N.  C. 
Llovd,  John  (R).  36;  tailor.  Boston;  cr.  to  Stoneham;  Nov. 

'  18,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  K. 
Lorden.  John.  26;  laborer,  Boston;  Nov.  5.   '61;  re.  Dec.  21, 

'63 ;  desert.  Nov.  17,  '65,  Co.  K. 
Low,  ^\m.  B. ,  Boston;  Nov.  26.  '61;  dis.  Dec.  20, 

'61,  disa. 
Lowther,  John,  21 ;    farmer,  Boston ;    Oct.  24.   '61 ;    re.  Dec. 

21,  '63 ;  Q.  M.  Sergt.  Feb.  2.  '65 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66,  Co. 

K;  Com.  1st  Lieut.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Lynch,  Thomas.  19 ;  teamster.  Boston ;  Dee.  2.    '61 ;  re.  Dec. 

21,  '63;  wd.  May  16,  '64,  Drewry's  Bluff;  dis.  Aug.  9, 

'65,  disa. 
McGrath,  Lawrence    (R),  21;  boot-titter,  Boston;  Aug.   11, 

'62 ;  dis.  Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  dead. 
McGuire,  Charles  H.,  21 ;  farmer,  Sharon ;  Sept.  13,  '61 ;  re. 

Dec.  2],  '63,  cr.  to  Roxbury;  Corp.  Sept.  1,  '65;  M.  O. 

Jan.  20.  '66,  Co.  K;  d.  1901,  Easton. 
McKeown,   John,    28;   laborer,   Roxbury;   Oct.   16,    '61;   re. 

Dec.  21,   '63;  wd.  Aug.  16.   '64.  Deep  Run;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,  '66,  Co.  K. 
McLellan,  Henry  B.    (Corp.),   23;  engraver,   Medford;   Oct. 

26,  '61 ;  dis.  Oct.  26,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  also  borne  on  M.  O. 

roll  as  William  B. 
McNamara.  John   (R),  22;  laborer,  Boston;  Aug.  4,    '62;  re. 

Dec.  21,  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  K. 
McNulty,  James,  20 ;  mariner,  Mt.  Desert,  Me. ;  Sept.  4,  '61 ; 

re.  cr.  to  Boston,  Dec.  21,   '63;  dis.  0.  W.  D.,  July  14, 

'65 ;  had  been  prisoner  of  war ;  d.  July  18,  1903. 
McNulty,  Michael,  33;    bootmaker,  Quincy;    Nov.    14,     '61; 

re.  Dec.  21,  '63 ;  desert.  Mar.  20,  '64. 
Melcher,  Charles  H.  (Corp.),  34;  clerk.  Roxbury;  Sept.  12, 

'61 ;  re.  Dec.  21,   '63 ;  trans.  April  13,  '65,  to  V.  R.  C. : 

dis.  as  1st  Sergt.  Nov.  15,  '65,  V.  R.  C. 


464  Twenty-fourth  ^Iassachusetts  Kegiment. 

Minnahan,  John.  26;  painter,  Boston;  Oct.  29,    '61;  re.  cr. 

to  Grafton  Dec.  21,  '63 ;  wd.  July  27,  '64,  skirmish-line ; 

M.  0.  as  Corp.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  K. 
Monks,  Thomas,  20 ;    shoemaker.  Boston ;    Sept.  4,   '61 ;    dis. 

May  28,   '63,  disa. 
Murdock,  Franklin  M.,  24 ;  clerk,  Palmer ;  Oct.  2,   '61  ;  dis. 

Oct.  2,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Nellagan . John  (R),  26;  butcher,  Halifax,  N.  S. ;  cr.  to  Bos- 
ton; Feb.  23,  '64;  desert.  Nov.  1,  '65,  Co.  K. 
0 'Callahan,  Patrick,  32;  laborer,  Boston;  Oct.  17,  '61;  d.  Oct. 

6,  '62,  NcAvbern. 
O'Leary,  Jeremiah  (R),  30;  bootmaker,  Boston;  Aug.  5,  '62; 

re.  Dec.  21,  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  K ;  d.  April  28, 

1875,  Togus,  Me.,  N.  S.  H. 
Page,  William,  42 ;  farmer,  Dennis ;  Oct.  17,  '61 ;  dis.  Oct.  11, 

'64,  ex.  of  s. 
Patterson,  John,  39 ;  stonecutter,  Boston ;  Sept.  15,  '61 ;  wd. 

Mar.  14,   '62,  Newbern,  N.  C. ;  d.  of  wound  Oct.  4,  '62. 
Pearl,  Henry  M.,  22 ;  farmer,  Milton ;  Oct.  17,  '61 ;  dis.  Nov. 

20,  '62,  disa. 
Phipps,  Charles  AV.,  24;  teacher,  Dedham;  Sept.  18,  '61;  k. 

Aug.  16,  '64.  Deep  Run,  Va. 
Piercy,  Samuel  G.   (Corp.),  20;  brass-finisher,  St.  John,  N. 

B. ;  Sept.  14.  '61 ;  re.  cr.  to  Boston,  Dec.  21,  '63 ;  desert. 

Mar.  20,  '64. 
Preble,  Charles  II.   (Corp.),  22;  farmer,  Boston;  d.  Dec.  3, 

'61,  Fort  Warren,  Boston  Harbor;  first  death  in  regi- 
ment. 
Riley,  David   (R).   28;  laborer,   Boston;  Aug.   10,    '62;  re. 

Dec.  21,  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  K. 
Riley,  Philip  J.,  21 ;  glass-blower,  Sandwich ;    Oct.    11,    '61 ; 

dis.  Oct.  11.  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Rivers,  James  H.   (mus.),  17;  clerk,  Boston;  Sept.  19,   '61; 

wd.  Mar.  14,   '62,  Newbern;  dis.  Sept.  2,   '62,  disa. 
Roche,  Patrick,  28 ;  farmer,  Foxboro ;  Sept.  27,   '61 ;  trans. 

Mar.  14,  '64,  to  V.  R.  C;  dis.  Oct.  1.   '64,  as  of  Co.  A, 

24th  Mass.  Infantry. 
Schroeder,    Henry   J.    (R),    30:    New    York    City;    Jan.    1, 

'62 ;  dis.  June  20,  '63,  for  Com.  in  1st  N.  C.  Vols. 
Scott,  David    (R),  30;  carpenter,  Foxboro;  April  13,    '62; 

dis.  Dee.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Shattuck,   Mark,   36;  blacksmith.   Fitchburg;   Nov.   1,    '61; 

desert.  Dec.  8,  '61. 


Company  A.  465 

Slu'i)anl.  Frank  II.  (Sergt.),  1^^;  clerk.  Boston;  Sept.  2,  '61; 

proui.  2d  Lieut.  Dec.  28.  '62;  Co.  K. 
Shepardson,   Hiram.   28 ;  clerk,  Boston ;    Sept.    9.     '61 ;    dis. 

April  28,  '63,  disa. 
Smith,  David  C,  19;  barber,  Readville ;  X.  F.  R. 
Smith,  James  B.    (Corp.),  25;  molder,  Readville;  Sept.  19, 

'61;  trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  Mar.  10.  '64;  dis.  Sept.  18,  '64. 
Snell.  Thomas  C.  18;  blacksmith,  Readville;  Sept.  25,   '61; 

re.  Dee.  21,    '63.  cr.  to  Dedham ;    Corp.    Nov.    18,     '64; 

:\I.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
[N.  E.  G.]    Snow.  Daniel  F.   (1st  Sergt),  21;  clerk.  Boston; 

Sept.  27,  '61;  dis.  June  9.   '63,  disa.;    d.    Feb.    13,    '98, 

Too-us,  Me.,  N.  S.  H. 
Stafford.   Thomas,   23 ;    horse-shoer,    Charlestown ;    Nov.    18, 

'61 ;  dis.  Nov.  18,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Street,  John,  43;  painter.  Boston;  Sept.  7,  '61;  dis.  Sept.  2, 

'62,  disa. 
Snmner,  John  H.    (R).  31;  bonnet-blocker.  Foxboro ;  Aug. 

13,  '61 ;  dis.  Dec.  4,  '64.  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  :\Iay  12.  1900,  South 
Braintree. 

Taber,  James  D.,  25;  farmer,  Stoughton;  Sept.  13,  '61;  re. 
Dec.  21,  '63;  Corp.  Jan.  1,  '64;  Sergt.  Nov.  16,  '64; 
M.  O.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  K;  dead. 

Torrey,  Wm.  H.,  22;  molder,  Foxboro ;  Nov.  20,  '61;  dis. 
as  Sergt.  June  8.  '63.  to  take  Com.  2d  Lieut.  55th  Mass. 
Infantry,  later  1st  Lieut..  Capt.  and  Brev.  Major. 

Turner,  John  (R).  24;  laborer,  Boston;  July  21.  '62;  \vd.  on 
picket  July  12,  '62;  k.  Sept.  12,  '64,  on  picket,  Peters- 
burg, Va. 

Tuttle.  Samuel  E.  (Corp.),  23;  shoemaker,  Boston;  wd.  Mar. 

14,  '62;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66.  Co.  K;  d. 
Jan.  5,  1899,  Everett;  b.  Mt.  Auburn. 

Walker,  H.  M.,  21;  mechanic.  Palmer;  d.  Dee.  12,  '61,  Ash- 
land, I\Iass.,  N.  F.  R. 

Wallace.  Charles  G..  22;  cook.  Cambridge;  Nov.  14,  '61; 
dis.  Nov.  14,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 

Warren,  George  H.,  25 ;  farmer,  Ashland ;  Sept.  6,  '61 ;  dis. 
Sept.  6.  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  later  in  V.  R.  C. 

Welch,  John  M.  (Sergt.),  24;  printer,  Foxboro;  Sept.  4, 
'61;  lost  left  leg  at  Roanoke  Island,  Feb.  8,  '62;  dis. 
Mar.  26,   '63,  disa.;  dead. 

West,  Edward  R.,  22;  farmer,  Athol;  Sept.   13,    '61;  d.   a 
prisoner  in  Andersonville,  Ga..  May  24,   '64. 
.■>() 


466 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


White,  Nelson  8.,  20  ■- 


-.  Readville;  Oct.  17,  '61;  dis. 


Dec.  20,  '64,  for  Com.  2d  Lieut.  33d  U.  S.  Col.  Troops; 

later,  1st  Lieut,  and  Captain. 
White,  Rufus  F.,  24 ;  farmer,  Wrentham ;  Sept.  14,  '61 ;  wd. 

Mar.  14.   '62,  Newbern  ;  dis.  Jiilv  14.   '62 ;  later  in  Co. 

H,  3d  H.  A. 
Windel,  John   (R),  21;  seaman,  Cape  Breton,  N.  S. ;  cr.  to 

New  Marlboro;  Nov.  10,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  K; 

also  Windell. 
Wiswell,  George  W.,  21;    hair-manufacturer,  Roxburv;  Nov. 

9,  '61;  dis.  June  26,  '63,  disa. 


Capt.  .1.  V>.  Nichols  (Di.  Caiit.  A.  M.  Haywani  (A). 

IX   LATER   YEARS. 


Enlisted  men  received  from  the  Tliirtj'^-fourth  Regiment,  June  Hi,  1865, 
thereafter  constituting  Company  A  of  the  Twenty-fourth: 


Adams,  Edwin  M.,  21;  Worcester;  Dec,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20, 

Aldrich,  John  0.   (Corp.),  29;  shoemaker,  Worcester;  Dec. 

8,  '63;  dis.  as  Sergt.  Dec.  28,  '65. 
Ashton,  Samuel,  18;  mechanic,  Colrain;  Jan.  4,   '64;  M.  O. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Ballard,  Milton,  19;  farmer,  Wendell;  Dec.  30,   '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66;  roll  says  "Absent  sick,"  Ft.  Monroe,  Va. 
Barr,  Wm.  R.,  31;  shoemaker,  Oakham;  Dec.  10,   '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 


Company  A.  467 

Benjamin,  Joseph.  41;  farmer,  Spencer;  Dec.  1.   '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Bennett.  Wm.  II..  ]9;  farmer,  Millbnry;  Dec.  26.  '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Benway,  John  "W..  19 ;  farmer.  South  Hadley ;  Nov.  7,   '63 ; 

dis.  July  1,  '65,  disa. ;  also  found  as  Bennsay. 
Bigelow,  James  G.,  18;  farmer,  Spencer;  Dec.  7,   '63;  Corp. 

July  1,  '65;  Sergt.  Jan.  1,  '66;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Bradley,  Uri.  44;  farmer,  Colrain;  Dec.  21,  '63;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,  '66:  d.  Mar.  13,  1902,  Chelsea    S.  H. 
Breauseau,  Lewis,  18 ;  operative,  Barre ;  Dec.  4,   '64 ;  desert. 

Aug.    14,    '65;   had   served   in   Co.   I,   53d  Mass.;   also 

Browseau. 
Burke,  James  A.,  27 ;  cutter,  Greenfield ;  Oct.  27,  '63 ;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66;  roll  says,  "Absent  sick,"  Chester,  Penn. 
Burnham.  Jos.  H.  (mus.),    17;    Holyoke;    Dec.    4,    '63;    dis. 

Dec.  24,  '65. 
Burroughs,  Jonathan  C.  (Corp.),  31;  bootmaker,  Worcester; 

Dec.  8.  '63-^  dis.  Dec.  15,  '65. 
Butler,  William,  18;  farmer,  Greenfield;  Dec.  1,   '63;  Corp. 

Jan.  1,  '66 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Cantwell,  George  B.,  22;  farmer,  Deerfield;  Dec.  21,  '63;  dis. 

June  18,   '65,  disa. ;  borne  also  as  ' '  Cantrell. '.' 
Casey,  Patrick,  39;  weaver,  Worcester;  Nov.  25,- '63;  M.  O. 

Jan.  20,   '66. 
Chapman,  Joseph  P.,  18;  farmer,  Springfield;  Aug.  10,   '64; 

Corp.  Jan.  1,  '66;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Chester,  Francis  A.  C,  1st  Sergt.,  23 ;  farmer,  Somerville ; 

desert.  Dec.  19,  '65. 
Clark,  Henry  G.,  32;  farmer,  Greenfield;  Nov.  19,  '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Clark,  John  H.,  19 ;  farmer,  Worcester ;  Dec.  5,  '63 ;  desert. 

Dec.  15,  '65. 
Collins,  John,  38;  operator,  AVorcester;  Nov.  28,   '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Cook,  George  W.,  40;  farmer,  Greenfield;  Aug.  9,  '64;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Cummings,  John  W.   (Corp.),  32;  farmer,  Ware;  Sept.  22, 

'63 ;  M.  O.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Davenport,  Edward  H.  (Corp.),  21;  farmer,  Greenfield;  Dec. 

17,    '63;  Sergt.   Sept.  21,    '65;  1st  Sergt.  Jan.   1,    '66; 
.  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66;  Com.  2d  Lieut.  Jan.  20,  '66. 


468  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 

De§hon,  Joseph,  18;  laborer,  Ashfield;  Jan.  12,   '64;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Dugan,    Thomas,    18 ;    farmer,    Charlemont ;    Dec.    31,    '63 ; 

desert.  Oct.  27,   '65. 
Eberlein,  John,  36;  tailor,  Deerfield;  Feb.  23,    '64;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Eddy,  Lucas  J.,  21 ;  farmer,  Greenfield ;  Sept.  25,  '63 ;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
EUdns,  Winnick,  42 ;  farmer,  Springfield ;  Dec.  11,  '63 ;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66 ;  had  served  in  Co.  K,  27th  Mass.  Infantry. 
Farnsworth,  Joseph  R.,  23 ;  farmer,  Colraiu ;    Dec.    21,    '63 ; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Fay,  Charles  L.,  39;  bootmaker,  Spencer;  Dec.  1,  '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Gammell,  Andrew,  28 ;  laborer,  Holden ;  Dec.  16,  '63 ;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Gavlord,  Gilbert  H.,   18;  farmer,  Springfield;  Dec.   11,    '63; 

"  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Gibbons,  Patrick,  34 ;    laborer,  Clinton ;    Dec.  7,    '63  -,    M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Giftord,  Stephen  E.,  18;  farmer,  Pittsfield;  Nov.  9,  '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Groves,  Francis  A.    (Corp.),  23;  shoemaker,  Brirafield;  Dec. 

14,   '63;  M.  0:  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Guild,  Edward  B.,  25;  carder,  Millbury;  Dec.  28,  '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '6d. 
Harrington,  John,  30 ;  shoemaker,  Worcester ;  Nov.   19,    '63 ; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Henry,  Albert,  21;    farmer,  Holden;    Sept.    19,    '63;    M.  0. 

Jan.  20,   '66. 
Hogan,  William,  34;  laborer,  Pittsfield;  Oct.  14,   '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Howard,  Joseph  W.,  18;  farmer,  Athol;  Mar.  31,  '64;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Howe,  George  F.,  18;  farmer,  Spencer;  June  7,   '64;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Howe,  Myron,  21 ;  farmer,  Wendell ;  M.   0.  as  jmsoner  of 

war,  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  no  records. 
Hunt,  Albert  L.,  18 ;  farmer,  Warwick ;  Dec.  18,  '63 ;  Corp. 

Oct.  14,  '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Hunt,  Albert  L.,  34 ;  laborer,  Pittsfield ;  Oct.  14,  '63 ;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 


C031PANY  A.  469 

Jennings.  George  W..  30;  shoemaker,  Greenfield;  Aug.  9,  '64; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Kingman,  Alexander  C,   36 :  bootmaker.   Xortlibridge ;    Dec. 

31,  '63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Klahn,  Lndwig,  35;  farmer.  Springfield;  Aug.  12.  '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Knight.  Benjamin  W.,  18;  laborer,  Worcester;  Oct.  14,  '63; 

Corp.  Jan.  1,  '66 :  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Leonard,  William,  29;  mechanic,  Deerfield :  Jan.  2.   '64;  dis. 

Nov.  19,  '65. 
McCarthy,  John,  44;  laborer,  Pittsfield;  Nov.  11,  '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,    '66;  also  borne  as  Thomas;  d.  Nov.  28,    '92, 

Togns,  Me.,  N.  S.  H. 
McElroy.  Henry,  25 ;  clerk,  Boston ;  Dec.  29,   '63 ;  dis.  July 

14,  '65,  disa. 
Maillette,  Felix  (Corp.).  18:  boatman.  Ashlield;  Jan.  12.  '64: 

Sergt.  Oct.  14,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Maloy,  Thomas,  24;  laborer,  Clinton;  Dec.  11,    '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Manning,  Wm.  C,  23;  painter,  Worcester:  Jan.  4,  '64;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Marsh,  Oscar,  18 ;  machinist,  Warren ;  Dec.  19,   '63 ;  d.  Mar. 

13,   '65,  Wilmington,  N.  C. 
Martin,  William,  23;  farmer,  Deerfield;  Dec.  21.   '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Miner,  Jonathan  J.,  21;  farmer,  Windsor;  Jan.  4,  '64;  Corp. 

Oct.  14,  '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Neff,  Roland  E.,  19;  farmer,  Worcester;  Sept.  29,  '63;  Corp. 

Sept.  21,  '65;  Sergt.  Jan.  1,  '66-  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Newton,  Emerson,  18 :  farmer.  ^lontagiie ;  Dec.  29,  '63 ;  ]\I.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
O'Keefe,  Daniel,  24;  clerk,   Springfield;  Jan.  11,    '64;  dis. 

Dec.  25,  '65,  as  Sergt. 
Packard,  IMelvin,  26;  mechanic,  Northampton;  Jan.  4.   '64; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Parker.  William  R.,  33;  mechanic,  Deerfield;  Jan.  22,    '64; 

Corp.  July  1,  '6o;  Sergt.  Jan.  1,  '66;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Pellissier.  Francois.  19;  sailor,  Greenfield;  Dec.  17,  '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20.  '66. 
Pennock,   Charles  L..  25;  farmer,  Pittsfield;  Oct.   26,    '63; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Phillips,  Edward,  18;  farmer,  Hadley;  Dec.  28,   '63;  Corp. 

Jan.  1,  '66;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 


470  Twenty-fourth  INIassachusetts  Regiment. 

Potter,  Warren  J.,  21 ;  farmer,  Greenfield ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Pratt,  EdAvard  L.,  41;  shoemaker,  Pittsfield;  Dec.  10,   '63; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Pratt,  Oren  A.,  18 ;  farmer,  Clinton ;  Dec.  11,  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,  '66 :  had  served  in  Co.  I,  53d  Mass. 
Putnam,  Nathan  B.,  36;  pailmaker,  Greenfield;  Nov.  16.  '63; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Riley,  Michael,  35;  spinner,  Worcester;  desert.  Dec.  16,  '65. 
Rivers,  Edward,  18;  laborer,  Worcester;  Dec.  16,   '63;  dis. 

Dec.  16,  '64. 
Sargent,  Ephraira  H.,  25;  farmer,  Worcester;  Dec.  7,    '63; 

dis.  Aug.  26,  '65. 
Siegars,  Gilbert  E.,  27;    pattern-maker,  Worcester;    Jan.    4, 

'64;  dis.  Jan.  18,  '66,  disa. 
Smith,  Andrew,  28 ;    music-teacher,  Swansea ;    Jan.  13,   '64 

dis.  June  29,  '65. 
Smith,  Joseph  D..  33;  teamster,  Springfield;  Aug.  10,    '64 

dis.  July  6,  '65. 
Smith,  William  R.,  22;  mechanic,  Greenfield;  Sept.  16,  '63 

dis.  Dec.  15,  '65. 
Stearns,  Ezra  J.,  21 ;  farmer,  Worcester ;  Dec.  7,    '63 ;  dis. 

Dec.  5,  '65,  disa. 
Stimson,  Royal,  24;  farmer,  Greenfield;  Oct.  30,  '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66;  also  Stimpson. 
Stowell,  Charles  H.,  18;  farmer,  Greenfield;  Nov.  16,    '63; 

Corp.  Jan.  1,  '66;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Temple,  Henry  W.,  22;    farmer,    Greenfield;    Dec.    21.    '64; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Veber,  Elias  E.,  22;  farmer,  Charlemont;  Dec.  25,  '63;  dis. 

July  24,  '65,  disa. 
Walker,  Charles,  18;  mechanic,  Colrain;  Jan.  11,  '64;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Walker,  Silas  P.,  22;  student,  Worcester;  Dec.  9,  '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66 ;  also  Silas  N. 
Wallace,  Joseph,  24;  farmer,  Colrain;  Jan.  4,    '64;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,   '66. 
Waterman,  Benjamin  D.,  30;  farmer,  Greenfield;  Nov.  23, 

'63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Waterman,  Horton,  32;  farmer,   Shrewsbury;  Feb.   5,    '64; 

dis.  May  11,  '65. 
Weston,  Chester  H.  (or  A.),  18;  farmer,  Worcester;  Jan.  4, 

'64 ;  absent  sick  at  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Wilbur,  Benjamin  C,  27 ;  farmer,  Richmond ;  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  dis. 

Dec.  15,  '65. 


(•OMl'AXY    B.  471 

Company  B.' 

captains. 

George  F.  Austin.  23  -.  merchant.  Salem ;  Sept.  2,  '61 ;  res. 
Aug.  21,  '62 ;  had  served  as  1st  Lieut.  Co.  I,  8th  M.  V.  M., 
May  18- — Aug.  1.  *61 :  d.  Jan.  15,  '79,  New  Orleans. 

George  V.  Gardner.  Aug.  27.  '62;  dis.  Oct.  14.  '64,  ex.  of  s.; 
d.  ]\Iareh  .18.  '65.  Salem;  had  been  appointed  City  Mar- 
shal, but  he  died  before  assuming  the  office. 

Jarvis  White.  Sept.  28.  '64;  M.  O.  Jan.  20,  '66;  dead.  He 
was  postmaster  of  So.  Superior,  Wisconsin,  for  several 
years. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS. 

George  W.  Gardner,  27 :  overseer.  Salem ;  Sept.  2,  '61 ;  prom. 
Captain. 

Thomas  F.  Edmands,  Aug.  27,  '62,  from  Co.  K ;  prom.  Cap- 
tain, Co.  G. 

Jesse  S.  Williams  fE),  May  17,  '64;  wd.  June  17,  '64,  picket; 
k.  Aug.  16,  '64,  Deep'Kun,  Va. 

Jarvis  White  (I),  Aug.  17.  '64;  prom.  Captain. 

Henry  L.  Hartshorn.  Oct.  15,  '64,  from  Co.  G,  Sergt. ;  M.  0. 
Jan.  20,  '66 ;  prom.  Captain,  Jan.  6,  '66 ;  not  mustered. 

SECOND   LIEUTENANTS. 

Deming  Jarves,  Jr.,  22 :  merchant.  Boston ;  Sept.  2,  '61 ;  res. 

Sept.  9,  '63,  disa. ;  was  early  detached  and  served  in  the 

Signal  Corps. 
Alexander  M.  Havward   (C),  Jan.  4,   '64;  prom.  1st  Lieut, 

Co.  A. 
Leonard  D.  Cobb.  Jan.  20,   '66 ;  not  mustered. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS  AND  PRIVATES. 

Abbott,  Charles  J.,  22 ;  teamster,  Salem ;  Oct.  17,  '61 ;  dis.,  as 

wagoner,  Oct.  17.  '64.  ex.  of  s. 
Alden.  Wm.  R.    (or  B.).  23:  mechanic,  Boston;  Oct.  1,   '61; 

re.  Dec.  19,  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  d.  Oct.  10,  '96,  Nor- 

Avood. 
Armstrong.  John  H.    (mus.),  14;  Boston;   Sept.   16,    '61;  re. 

Dec.  19,  '63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Baird,  James,   22 ;   tinsmith,   Philadelphia,   Penn. ;    Sept.    13, 

'61 ;  dis.  June  24.   '63.  disa. 


472         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Bangs,  George  (R),  30;  trader,  Cambridge;  July  21,  '62;  dis. 

July  22,  '63,  disa. 
Barnard,  George  N.,  18;  hostler,  Medford;  Sept.  25,   '61;  re. 

Dec.  19,  '63 ;  Corp.  Nov.  13,  '64 ;  ^L  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Barnes,  Wm.  11.   (R),  22;  farmer.  Boston;  Aug.  18,   '62;  dis. 

Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Barnes,  Wm.  L.   (R),  20;  laborer,  Boston;  Aug.  18,   '62;  dis. 

Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Barry,  John  (Corp.),  20;  painter.  St.  John,  N.  B. ;  Sept.  19, 

'61;  dis.  Oct.  24,  '62,  disa. 
Beal,  James  A.,  26 ;  farmer,  Boston ;  Oct.  9,  '61 ;  wd.  June  5, 

'62,  Tranter's  Ck.,  N.  C. ;  dis.  Oct.  9,  '64,  ex.  of  s.' 
Beedle,  Jerry  A.   (R),  28;  nailmaker,  Taunton;  Mav  8,   '62; 

re.  Dec.  19,  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  as  Sergt.  ^ 
Bent,  William  H.,  21;  cabinet-maker.   Quincy;  Oct.   1,    '61; 

re.  Dee.  19,  '63;  Corp.  April  22.   '64;  wd.  Aug.  14,   '64, 

Deep  Bottom,  Va. ;  trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  April  17,  '65;  dead. 
Besse,  Joshua,  27 ;  nailer,  Wareham ;    Sept.  30,   '61 ;    desert. 

Dec.  1,  '61. 
Blaisdell,  Edward  (R),  21;  stone-cutter,  Cambridge;  July  21, 

'62;  re.  cr.  to  Boston,  Dec.  19,  '63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,"  '66, 

as  Cori3. 
Bly,  Daniel  M.,  22;  seaman.  So.  Danvers;  Oct.  23,   '61;  re. 

Dec.  19.  '63;  desert.  Sept.  21.  '65-  lost  at  sea,  off  Thatch- 
er's Island. 
Bly,  Joseph   (Corp.),  23;  seaman,  Salem;  Sept.  25,  '61;  dis. 

June,  '63,  disa. 
Brown,  Harry  (R),  23;  painter,  Salem;  cr.  to  Roxbury,  Mar. 

24,    '64;*dis.  Oct.  31,    '65.  ex.  of  s. ;  had  sein^ed  in  91st 

Penn.  Vols. 
Brown,  John  H.   (R),  28;  shoemaker,  IMarblehead ;  Aug.  15, 

'62;  re.  Dec.  19,   '63;  desert.  Sept.  21,   '65. 
Brooks,  Charles  H.,  18 ;  currier,  ^Eliot,    Me. ;    Sept.    21,    '61 ; 

Corp.  Feb.  1,  '62;  dis.  July  27,  '62,  disa. 
Buftum,  Adelbert  A.   (Corp.),  18;    clerk,  Boston;    Sept.  23, 

'61 ;  dis.  Sept.  23,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Bumpus,  Benjamin  C,  37;  laborer,  Wareham;  Sept.  30,   '61; 

re.  Dec.  19,  '63;  Corp.  Sept.  1.  '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66; 

d.  April  10,  1889. 

Bumpus,  David  C,  27;  seaman,  Warehan);  Sept.  25,   '61;  d. 

Oct.  1,  '63,  Xewbern,  N.  C. 
Bumpus,  Henrv  F.,  28 ;  seaman,  Wareham ;  Oct.  28,   '61 ;  re. 

Dec.  19,  '63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66. 


Company  H.  473 

Bumpus,  Lvsaiider  N.,  38 ;    nailer,  Wareham ;    Oct.  16,   '61 ; 

Dec.  19.  '63 ;  wd.  Auo.  16.  '64.  Deep  Bottom.  Va. ;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  -66:  d.  Jan.  31.  1883. 
Bumpus,  Owen  F..  18;  laborer,  Wareham;  Sept.  26,   '61;  dis. 

Sept.  25,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Burg-ess.  Charles  B.    (wagoner).  22;    hostler.  No.  Abington; 

Sept.  21.  '61 :  re.  Dee.  19,  '63 ;  cr.  to  Bedford :  dis.  June 

9.   '65 ;  dead. 
Campbell.  John.  39 ;  g-ardener,  Wareham :  Sept.  27,   '61 ;  dis. 

June  9,    '63,  disa. 
Carthy,  Edward,  21;  teamster,  Boston;  re.  Dee.  19,   '63;  wd. 

Oct.  13,  '64,  Darbvtown  Rd.,  Va.;  dis.  as  Sergt.  Nov.  14, 

'64. 
Chase.  Charles  P.,  21;  butcher.  Salem;  Nov.  21,  '61;  captured 

Sept.  6,   '62;  re.  Dec.  19,    '63;  Corp.  Jan.  1.   '66;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Cheslev.  Charles  H.,  18 ;  machinist,  Salem ;  Sept.  18.  '61 ;  re. 

Dec.  19.   '63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20.   '66. 
Chipman,  Charles  G.  (1st  Sergt.).  21;  clerk,  Salem;  Sept.  5, 

'61;  dis.  Sept.  30,  '63,  for   Com.    2d   Lieut.    54th   Mass. 

Infantrv ;  later  1st  Lieut,  and  Captain ;  d.  Jan.  25,  1887, 

Green  Bav,  Wis. ;  had  served  in  Co.  A,  5th  :\r.  V.  M.,  May 

1— July  i,  '61. 
Clough,  Taylor  (R),  34;  shoe-cutter.  Natick;  May  21,  '62;  re. 

Dec.  19.  '63 ;  Corp.  Sept.  1,  '65 ;  Sergt.  Jan.  6.  '66 ;  i\r.  0. 

Jan.  20,   '66. 
Cloutman,  Alvah  (R).  29:  :\Iay  14,   '62;  laborer,  Boston;  re. 

Dec.  19,    '63;   Sergt.    April    22.     '64;    prom.    1st    Lieut. 

Co.  D. 
Cobb.  Leonard  D.    (Sergt),   24;    currier,    Brunswick.    Me.; 

Sept.  22,   '61;    re.  cr.  to  So.  Danvers,  Dec.  19,   '63 ;  1st 

Sergt.,  Sept.  1,  '65 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  prom.  2d  Lieut., 

Jan.  20,   '66;  not  mustered. 
Coggins,   Edward,  20;    pianoforte-maker,  Boston;    Sept.   23, 

'61;  trans,  to  Signal  Corps,  Oct.  15,  '63;  dis.  Oct.  2,  '64, 

ex.  of  s. 
Coleman,  Thomas  II.    (R),  19;  bootmaker,  Weymouth;  Dec. 

21,  '63;  desert.  Sept.  21,  '65. 
Comiellv,  Patrick,  22;  currier.  Boston;  Sept.  18.  '61;  re.  Dec. 

19,"^ '63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
Covell,  Samuel  0.  (mus.),  14;  storekeeper.  Boston;  Sept.  16, 

'61  ;  re.  Dec.  19.  '63 ;  "SI.  O.  Jan.  20.  '66. 


474         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Critchett,   Charles   E.,   31;   carriage-maker,   Salem;   Sept.   21, 

'61 ;  dis.  Sept.  23,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  June  3,  '02,  Melrose. 
Dam,  Benjamin  F.,  40;  bookkeeper,  Chelsea;  Sept.  20,   '61; 

dis.  Jan.  2,  '62,  disa. 
Devers,  Edward,  19 ;  teamster,  Boston ;  Sept.  25,  '61 ;  re.  Dec. 

19,  '63;  dis.  Jan.  18,   '66. 
Doan,  Patrick    (R),   35;  currier,   Salem;   cr.  to   Charlemont, 

Aug.  5,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Downing,  Sylvester  G.  (R),  22;  shoemaker,  Boston;  Aug.  28. 

'62 ;  re.^  Dec.  19,  '63,  cr.  to  Charlestown ;  M.  O.  Jan.  20, 

'66. 
Farris,  Robert,  21 ;  teamster,  Boston ;  Sept.  17,  '61 ;  re.  Dec. 

19,    '63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,    '66;  d.  June  12,  1885;  b.  Mt. 

Auburn ;   real  name,   Jas.   McBrien. 
Franklin,   Charles,  28 ;  nailer,  Wareham ;   Sept.  25,    '61 ;  re. 

Dec.  19,   '63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
French,  George  H.   (Corp.),  22;  nailer,  Dorchester;  Sept.  6, 

'61 ;  d.  Jan.  12,   '63,  Portsmouth,  Va. 
Friend,  Alfred,  21 ;  Oct.  26,  '61 ;  d.  of  wounds,  July  17,  '63, 

as  Corporal,  James  Island,  S.  C. 
Gibbs,  Phineas,  42 ;  foundrvman,  Plymouth ;  Sept.  6,  '61 ;  re 

cr.  to  Sandwich,  Dec.  19,  '63 ;  m".  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  d.  1892 

Bourne. 
Good,  Jolui  H.    (R),  20;  laborer,    Roxbury.    Aug.    15,     '64 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Greeley,  Thomas' J.,  18;  painter,  Salem;    re.    Dec.    19,    '63 

Corp.  Sept.  '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
Halloran,  Michael,  20 ;    farmer,  Wareham ;    Oct.  3,   '61 ;    re 

Dec.  19,   '63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
Hammond,  William  B.,  27;  painter,   Salisbury;  Oct.  8,    '61 

Corp.  Sept.  1,  '63 ;  dis.  Oct.  9,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Mar.  6 

1895,   Georgetown,   Mass. 
Hancock,  James,  41 ;  painter,  Boston ;  Oct.  21.    '61 ;  d.  Aug, 

10,   '62,  Washington,  N.  C. 
Hayden,  Joseph  (Corp.),  26;  nailer,  Boston;  Sept.  10,   '61 

dis.  June  23,  '63,  disa. 
Hayden,  Joseph   (R),  27;  nailer,  Wareham;  Sept.    10,     '62 

dis.  June  13,  '63,  disa. 
Higgins,  Asa  T.,  29;  laborer,  Boston;  May  19,  '62;  Corp.  May 

26,  '64 ;  dis.  Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Higgins,  John  0.,    19 ;    carriage-painter,    Boston ;    Sept.    22, 

'61 ;  dis.  June  17,   '63,  disa. 


Com  I 'ANY  B.  475 

Higgins,  Willard  S.,  Jr.,  18;  teamster,  Boston;  Sept.  19,  '61; 

re.  Dee.  19,  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Ireson,  Francis  E.    (R),  25;  shoemaker,   Marblehead ;    Aug. 

15,  '62;  re.  Dec.  19,  '63;    d.    of   wounds   Nov.    21,    '64, 

Bermuda  Hundred,  Va. 
Jacobs,  Lawrence,  19 ;  printer,  Boston ;  Oct.  15,  '61 ;  re.  Dec. 

19,  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  d.  Dec.  10,  1896. 
Johnson,  Uriah  M.   (R),  36;  laborer,  Wareham;  Jan.  2,  '64; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
Kehew,  Francis  A.,  25;  cooper,  Salem;  Oct.  17,  '61;  re.  Dec. 

'63 ;  dis.  as  Sergt.  Sept.  22,  '65. 
Kehew,  George,  21 ;  cooper,  Salem ;  Oct.  17,  '61 ;  re.  Dec.  19, 

'63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
Kehew,  John  H.,  28 ;  cooper,  Salem ;  Oct.  17,  '61 ;  re.  Dec.  19, 

'63;  desert.  Aug.  17,   '65. 
Knight,  Joseph  S.  (R),  25;  shoemaker,  Marblehead;  Aug.  15, 

'62 ;  re.  Dec.  19,   '63 ;  Corp.  Oct.  1,"  '64 ;  Sergt.  Sept.  1, 

'65 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  dead. 
Lake,  David  G.   (Sergt.),  29;  machinist,  Topsfield;  Sept.  22, 

'61 ;  dis.  Dec.  20,  '62,  for  promotion ;  dead. 
Leland,  Edward  (R),  33;  bootmaker,  Holliston;  May  14,  '62; 

d.  Oct.  30,   '63,  St.  Augustine,  Fla. 
Lennon,  Joseph  R.,  22 ;  clerk,  Roxbury ;  Oct.  30,  '61 ;  re.  Dec. 

19,  '63 ;  dis.  1st  Sergt.,  Feb.  28,  '65,  disa. 
Lewis,  Galen,  17 ;    paper-hanger,    Medford ;    Sept.    25,     '61 ; 

trans,  to  Signal  Corps   July  20,  '63. 
Lindsev,  Wm.  H.  (R),  19;  shoemaker,  Taunton;  May  13,  '62; 

re.  Dec.  19,  '63;  M.  0.  as  Corp.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Littlefield,  James  C,  18 ;  teamster,  Watertowu ;  Oct.  15,  '61 ; 

wd.  Sept.  6,   '62,    Washington  N.  C. ;    dis.  June  9,   '63, 

disa. ;  d.  Jan.  30,  1905,  Everett. 
Luscomb,  Wm.  H.,  18 ;  farmer,  Salem ;  Sept.  10,  '61 ;  re.  Dec. 

19,   '63;  M.  0.  as  Corp.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
McBrien,  James;  vid.  Robert  Farris. 
McCarthy,  Jeremiah   (R),  37;  • ,  Boston;  April  6, 

'64;  wd.  Oct.  28,   '64;    M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66;    d.  Dec.  26, 

1894,  Tog-US,  Me.,  N.  S.  H. 
McCarthy,  John  (R),  21;  teamster,  Somerville;  May  3,   '62; 

re.  cr.  to  Boston,  Dec.  19,   '63;  wd.  Oct.  13,   '64;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
McCue,  Barnard,  19 ;  shoemaker,  Boston ;  Sept.  25,   '61 ;  dis. 

May  6,  '63,  disa. 


476  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Mclntyre,   George,   19;   farmer,   Salem ;   Sept.   18,    '61;   d.  of 

wounds,  April  10,  '62,  Newbern. 
Malone,  Michael  (R),  22;  machinist,  Portsmouth,  N.  H. ;  cr. 

to  Sudbury,  Mar.  26,   '64;  desert.  July  30,  '65. 
Martin,   Richard  H.,   19;   shoemaker,   Marblehead;    Sept.   30, 

'61 ;  re.  Dec.  19,  '63 ;  d.  of  wounds,  June  30,  '64,  Hamp- 
ton, Va. 
Meacham,  Edward,  20;  clerk,  So.  Danvers;  Oct.  6,   '61;  dis. 

July  22,  '63,  disa. 
Mudge,  Everett,  30 ;  painter,  Lynn ;  Oct.  3,   '61 ;  dis.  Oct.  9, 

'64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Nov.  29,   '95. 
Nolan,  Francis,  23 ;  painter,  Salem ;  Nov.  12,  '61 ;  re.  Dec.  19, 

'63 ;  Corp.  Sept.  1,  '65 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Norris,  George  M.   (Corp.),  30;  machinist,  Boston-,  Sept.  16, 

'61;  dis.  Sept.  16,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
0  'Keefe,  John,  36 ;  .  shoemaker,  Salem ;    Sept.    14,    '61 ;    dis. 

Sept.  14,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Mar.  3,   '98,  Danvers. 
Oldham,  Isaac  T.,  24;  nailer,  Wareham;  Sept.    25,    '61;    d. 

Feb.  26,   '63,  Portsmouth,  Va. 
Oldham,  John  R.    (R),  18;  hostler,  Wareham;  Jan.   1,    '64; 

k.  Aug.  14,  '64,  Deep  Bottom,  Va. ;  had  served  in  Co.  B, 

3d  M.  V.  M.,  Sept.  26,  '62^rime  26,  '63. 
Oldham,  John  S.,  30;  stevedore,  Wareham;  Sept.  29,   '61;  d. 

Jan.  12,  '63,  Newbern,  N.  C. 
Oldson,  Francis  T.,  26;  cooper,  Salem;    Oct.  17,   '61;    d.    of 

wounds,  Sept.  6,   '61. 
O'Neal,  Thomas,  38;  laborer,  Salem;  Oct.  19,   '61;  dis.  Aug. 

7,   '63,  disa. ;  d.  June  12,  1905,  Salem. 
Osborn,  Franklin,  Jr.,  29 ;  farmer,  So.  Danvers ;  Dec.  2,  '61 ; 

Corp.  Dec.  19,  '62;  dis.  May  1,  '63,  disa. 
Parker,  George  F.,  19 ;  confectioner,  Salem ;  Sept.  30,  '61 ;  re. 

Dec.  19,  '63 ;  dis.  July  21,  '65,  disa. 
Peach,  Georg6  S.   (Sergt.),  37;  cordwainer,  Salem;  Sept.  12, 

'61;    lost  leg,  April  11,   '63,    Seabrook  Isle,  S.  C. ;    dis. 

April  22,  '64,  disa. 
Perry,  David  A.,  25;  seaman,  Wareham;  Sept.  27,   '61;  Dec. 

19,   '63;  d.  Sept.  28,   '64,  Hampton.  Va. 
Pettingill,  Wm.  H.,  21;  hatter,  Newburyport;  Oct.  1,   '61;  re. 

cr.  to  Cambridge,  Dec.  19,  '63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Phillips,  Wm.   (R),  18;  bootmaker,  Weymouth;  Dec.  21,  '63; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66;  also  borne  as  Lewis. 


Company  B.  477 

Pittsley,  Charles  B.   (or  P.),  18;  nailer,  Freetown;  Sept.  2, 

'61 ;  re.  cr.  to  Wareham,  Dec.  19,  '63 ;  wd.  May  16,  '64, 

Drewry's  Bluff;  dis.  June  21,  '65,  disa. 
Plnmmer,  Frank   (Corp.),  25;  cordwainer,   Salem;  Sept.  25, 

'61 ;  re.  cr.  to  So.  Danvers,  Dec.  19,   '63 ;  Sergt.  Dec.  19, 

'62;  dis.  Ang.  1,  '65,  disa. 
Power,  Frank   (R),  18;  laborer,  Boston;    Aug.  18,   '62;  dis. 

Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Putnam,   Henry   U.,   18; ,   Boston;  Oct.   10,    '61; 

desert.  Nov.  1,  '61. 
Reed,  Thomas,  34;  shoemaker,  Salem;  Oct.  5,   '61;  dis.  Oct. 

5,  64,  ex.  of  s. 
Ryan,  James,  21 ;  laborer,  Wareham ;  Sept.  27,  '61 ;  wd.  June 

17,   '64,  Bermuda  Hundred;  dis.  Sept.  27,   '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Sanger,  Augustus  H.,  Jr.,  19;  mechanic.  So.  Danvers;  dis.  as 

Sergt.  Oct.  15,   '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  April  11,  1901,  S.  H. ; 

also  found  as  Albert. 
Scates,  David  M.,  26;  mariner,  Salem;  Oct.  25,  '61;  dis.  Sept. 

2,  '62,  disa. 
Shove,  George  H.,  24;  currier,  Lynn;  Oct.  20,  '61;  dis.  Oct. 

23,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Sinclair,  David,  36 ;  carpenter,  Salem ;  Oct.  3,   '61 ;  re.  Dec. 

19,  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Smith.  John,  28;  machinist,  Boston;  Oct.  21,  '61;  dis.  Sept.  6, 

'62,  disa. 
Sprague,  Edwin  D.,  19;  farmer,  Medford;  Sept.  23,   '61;  d. 

of  wounds,  Sept.  8,  '62,  Newbern ;  wd.  the  6th  at  Wash- 
ington, N.  C. 
Stacey,   Henry  J.    (R),   41;  mariner,   Marblehead;   Aug.    19, 

'62 ;  re.  Dec.  19,   '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66 ;  also  borne  as 

Jos.  G. 
Stevenson,  Alexander,  31 ;  mechanic,  Boston ;  Oct. '1-,  '61 ;  re. 

Dec.  19,  '63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
Swift,  Joseph  H.,  23;  farmer,  Falmouth;  Sept.  12,   '61;  dis. 

Sept.  12,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Taylor,  Wallace,  42 ;  carpenter,  Boston ;  Oct.  11,  '61 ;  d.  Oct. 

23,   '62,  Newbern. 
Thomas,  Albert,  22;  laborer,  Weymouth;   Sept.   23,    '61;   re. 

Dec.  19,  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66  ■  d.  June  7.  '93. 
Trask,  Charles  W.,  23;  clerk.  So.  Danvers;  Sept.  21,  '61;  re. 

Dec.  19,  '63 ;  d.  as  Corp.  July  2,  '64,  Point  of  Rocks,  Va. 
Vincent,  James  N.,  30 ;  blacksmith,  Chelsea ;  Sept.  26,  '61 ;  k. 

Mar.  14,  '62,  Newbern. 


478         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Wetherell,  Isaac  P.^  24 ;  farmer,  Granville ;  Oct.  3,   '61 ;  dis. 

April  1,  '63,  disa. 
Whipple,  Simeon  R.    (Corp.),  34;  currier,  Concord;  Oct.  3, 

'61 ;  dis.  Oct.  9,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Mar.  30,  1900. 
White,  George,  22;  seaman,  Braintree;  Sept.  18,  '61;  re.  Dec. 

19,  '63;  cr.  to  Quincy;    M.    0.    Jan.    20,    '66;    d.    1901, 

Quincy. 
Wiley,  Wm.  F.    (1st  Sergt.),  24;  currier,   Salem;   Sept.  22, 

'61 ;  re.  Dec.  19,  '63 ;  cr.  to  So.  Danvers ;  prom.  1st  Lieut. 

Oct.  14,   '64,  Co.  K ;  had  served  in  Co.  I,  8th  M.  V.  M., 

May  18— Aug.  1,   '61. 
Willey,  John  H.    (R).  23;  teamster,  Sharon;    May  12,    '62; 

dis.  Oct.  7,  '62,  disa. 
Willey,  Wm.  A.,  20;  printer,  Salem;  Sept.  25,  '61;  dis.  Sept. 

12,  '62,  disa. 
Worrall,  Henry  S.    (R),  21;  engineer,  Boston;  May  8,   '62; 

re.  Dec.  19,  '63;  Corp.  April  22,  '64;  Sergt.  Oct.  16,  '64; 

1st  Sergt.  Mar.  '65;  Sergt. -major  Sept.  1,  '65;  prom.  1st 

Lieut.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  d.  Mar.  12,  1902,  S.  H. 
Young,  George  W.,  28;  seaman,  Rockport;  Oct.   14,    '61;  d. 

April  21,   '62,  Newbem. 

Company  C. 

captains. 

William  Pratt,  26 ;  clerk,  Boston ;  Sept.  2,  '61 ;  trans,  to 
Co.  D,  May,  '63 ;  dis.  June  26,  '63,  to  become  Captain 
and  A.  A.  G.,  U.  S.  Vols. ;  d.  Mar.  28,   '93,  New  York. 

James  B.  Bell,  Dec.  28,  '62;  dis.  Sept.  27,  '64,  ex.  of  s.;  d. 
July  29,  1894,  Boston. 

George  W.  Nichols,  Sept.  28,  '64 ;  res.  Jan.  14,  '65 ;  d.  Nov.  — 
1903. 

Alvah  Cloutman,  Jan.  15,  '65;  from  Co.  D;  M.  0.  Jan.  20, 
'66;  d.  Aug.  18,  1892,  Boston. 

FIRST  lieutenants. 

James  B.  Bell,  35;  tradesman,  Cambridge;  Sept.  2,  '61;  prom. 
Captain. 


Company  C.  479 

Nathaniel  S.  Barstow,  Dec.  28,  '62;  detached  and  served  in 
the  Signal  Corps,  rendering  valuable  service :  d.  May  22, 
'64,  Newbern,  N.  C. ;  b.  Mt.  Auburn. 

George  W.  Nichols,  June  16,  '64,  from  Co.  A ;  prom.  Captain. 

Augustus  D.  Ayling  (R),  24;  Lowell;  May  21,  '65;  Adjutant, 
Aug.,  '65 ;  had  sei*ved  as  private  in  the  7th  Battery,  and 
as  2d  and  1st  Lieuts.  in  the  29th  Mass.  Infantry. 

Henry  Hancock,  Jan.  6,   '66 ;  not  mustered. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

Nathaniel  S.  Barstow,  22;    student,    Boston;    Sept.    2,    '61; 

prom.  1st  Lieut. 
Frank  B.  DePeyster,  ^lar.  14,   '64;  declined. 
Henry  Hancock,  Aug.  18,   '65 ;  declined. 
Frederick  W.  M^ilson,  June  7,  '65;  cancelled. 
Cyrus  Andrews,  Jan.  20,   '66 ;  not  mustered. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS  AND  PRIVATES. 

Allen,  George  AV.,  22 ;  farmer,  Northboro ;  Sept.  7,   '61 ;  dis. 

Sept.  6,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Altrieth,  Leonard,  27 ;  tailor,  Attleboro ;  Sept.  12,    '61 ;  dis. 

May  24,  '62;  d.  Medford,  Mar.  15,  1902. 
Andrews,  Cyrus,  27 ;  shoemaker,  Essex ;  Oct.  18,  '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  wd.  May  13,  '64,  Drewry's  Bluff;  Corp.  June  1, 

'64;   Sergt.  Oct.  8,    '64;  prom.  2d  Lieut.  Jan.   20,    '66; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
Bartlett,  John  W.,  18;  farmer,  Holyoke;  Sept.  30,  '61;  d.  of 

wounds    Mar.  29,   '62,  Newbern. 
Baxter,  John  M.,  vide  John  McMahon. 
Berry,  Charles  H.,  23 ;  farmer.  East  Boston ;  Sept.  3,  '61 ;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64,  cr.  to  Wayland;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66;  Berry 

was  the  regimental  postmaster    throughout  his  term  of 

service. 
Bills,  Wilber  H.,  22;  farmer.   Great  Barriugton;    Sept.   10, 

'61;  dis.  May  2,   '63,  disa. ;  sei-ved  later  in  Co.  D,  57th 

Mass.  Infantry. 
Blackman,  Benjamin  E.,  19 ;  mariner,  Woolwich,  Me. ;   Oct. 

19,  '61 ;  d.  Jan.  29,  '62,  Annapolis,  Md. 
Blagg,  George  F.,  20;  clerk,  Waltham;  Oct.  14.  '61;  dis.  Oct. 

14,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 


480  Twenty-fourth  ]\Iassachusetts  Eegiment. 

Boyntoii,  Daniel,  24;    mariner.  Palermo,  ]\Ie. :    Oct.    17.    '61; 

re.  Jan.  4,   '64,  cr  to  Gloucester;  Corp.    Sept.    1.     '64; 

Sergt.  Sept.  1,  '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Bragg,  Edwin  C,  21 ; Attleboro ;  Sept.  14,  '61 ;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  lost  on  steamer,  General  Lyon,  April  28,  '65. 
Bray,  Josiah  C,  31;  mariner,  Gloucester;   Oct.   10.    '61;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64 ;  Corp.  July  1,  '62 ;  Sergt.  Jan.  11.  '66 ;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,   '66. 
Carr,  John  D.,  23 ;  shoemaker,   Gloucester ;   Oct.  4.    '61 ;  dis. 

April  23,  '62,  disa. 
Carroll,  John,  22 ;  painter,  Boston ;  Sept.  10,   '61 ;  re.  Jan.  4, 

'64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Carver,  Justin  A.,  22;  shoemaker,  Marshtield;  Oct.  17,   '61; 

wd.  Mar.  14,  '62,  Newbern ;  dis.  Oct.  5,  '62,  disa. 
Childs,  Oliver  F.,  32;  farmer,  Saugus;  Oct.  14.  '61:  dis.  Sept. 

20,  '62,  disa. 

Chubbuck,  Perez    (Corp.),  26;  ship-carpenter,   Quincy;   Oct. 

21,  '63;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  cr.  to  IMillburv;  wd.  Oct.  13,  '64, 
Darbytown  Rd.,  Va. ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 

Clark,  Henry  A.,  18;  student,  Lowell;  Oct.  19,  '61;  k.  Aug. 
16,  '64,  Deep  Run,  Ya. 

Coffin,  Jason  L.,  19 ;  shoemaker,  Winchester ;  re.  cr.  to  Mill- 
bury,  Jan.  4,  '64;  wd.  Oct.  7,  '64;  Darbytown  Rd.,  Va. ; 
dis.  June  17,  '65,  disa. 

Conly,  John,  20;  farmer,  West  Stockbridge;  Sept.  30,  '61; 
re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 

Cook,  John  C,  Jr.  (R),  21;  clerk,  Roxbury;  Aug.  7,  '62;  dis. 
Dec.  4.  '64,  ex.  of  s.  As  Secretary,  Treasurer  or  Vice- 
president  of  the  Regimental  Veteran  Association,  Cor- 
poral Cook  has  been  in  continuous  service  since  1880; 
he  is  Secretary  at  present ;  with  just  two  years  out,  he 
has  been  a  member  of  Boston's  Board  of  Assessore  since 
1878. 

Cooley,  George  I.,  18 ;  farmer,  Boston ;  Sept.  7.  '61 ;  re.  Jan. 
4,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 

Corliss,  Reuben  (R),  44;  stone-cutter,  Gloucester;  Aug.  5, 
'62 ;  dis.  Oct.  3,  '62,  disa. 

Cormerais,  Lucius,  40 ;  accojintant,  Boston ;  Oct.  20.  '61 ;  dis. 
]\Iar.  4,  '64,  disa. 

Corser,  Wm.  H.  (R),  34;  pianoforte-maker,  ]\Iedford;  July 
24,  '62 ;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64,  cr.  to  Medford ;  dis.  Sept.  21,  '65, 
disa. 


Company  C. 


481 


A.  J.  Vining  (K). 
Serfft.  G.  T.  Sibley  (I)  llS'ju). 


C.  H.  Berry  (C). 
S.  Reiniiigtoii  ( H). 


Siim'nVillis  (C). 
E.  B.Lyon  (K). 


Crowley,  James   (mus.),  17;  waiter,  Boston;   Sept.   17,    '61; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64,  cr.  to  Roxbury;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Day,  Jerome  N.   (R).  22;  cordwainer.  So.  Reading;  July  18, 

'62;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  cr.  to  Medford;  Corp.  Jan.  11,  '66; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
DePeyster,  Frank  B.   (Sergt),  19;  clerk,  Roxbury;  Oct.  28, 

'61 ;  1st  Sergt.  July  1,  '64 ;  prom.  2d  Lieut.  Mar.  14,  '64 ; 

not  mustered;  dis.  Oct.  27,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Dirks,  Charles  P.,  38;  jeweler,  Attleboro;  Sept.  16,  '61;  dis. 

Sept.  17,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  1903. 
Dresser,  George  N.,  21 ;  shoemaker,  Georgetown ;  Oct.  3,  '61 ; 

dis.  Oct.  8,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Drew,  Lewis  A.,  22 ;  clerk,  Boston ;  Nov.  8,   '61 ;  d.  Sept.  6, 

'62,  Newbern. 

Duren,  Charles  M.,  19 ;  clerk,  Cambridge ;  Oct.  24,   '61 ;  dis. 
Jan.  6,  '64,  for  Com.  2d  Lieut.  54th  Mass.  Infantry ;  later 
1st  Lieut,  and  Adjt. ;  d.  Mar.  16,   '69,  Bangor,  Me. 
31 


482  TwENTV-FOURTH  IMassachusetts  Regiment. 

Diirgin,  James  A.,  26 ;  luniljerman,  Veazie,  Me. ;  Oct.  18,  '61 ; 

dis.  April  23,  '63,  disa. 
Eastland,  Frederick  E.,  26;  carpenter,  Stockbridge;  Sept.  26, 

'61 ;  re.  cr.  to  So.  Reading,  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  wd.  May  16,  '64 ; 

dis.  Feb.  16,   '65. 
Eaton,  Victor    (R),   21;   cordwainer.   So.'  Reading;   July   18, 

'62;  re.  Jan.  4,   '64;  wd.  Oct.  13,   '64:  trans.  V.  R.  C. 

April  11,  '65 ;  dis.  Nov.  16,  '65. 
Eckert,  Joseph,  45 ;  carpenter,  Cambridge ;  Oct.  16,   '61 ;  dis. 

Oct.  14,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Fay,  Edward,  34 ;  farmer,  Sherborn ;  Oct.  2.  '61 ;  Corp.  Aug. 

15,  '63;  re.  Jan.  4,   '64;  wd.  May  16,   '64;  dis.  July  12, 
'65,  disa. 

Foley,  John  G..  30;  printer,  Boston;  Nov.  28,  '61;  re.  Jan.  4, 
'64 ;  cr.  to  Roxbury ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  d.  Sept.  12,  '92, 
Cambridge. 

Fortier,  Fabian  A.,  34;  mechanic,  Lee,  Sept.  9,  '61;  wd.  May 

16,  '64 ;  dis.  Sept.  7,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Dec.  14,  '66. 
Furnald,   Alonzo    (wagoner),   19;   expressman,   Quincy;   Oct. 

8,   '61;  re.  Jan.  4,   '64;  cr.  to  Stockbridge;  Corp.  Sept. 

21,   '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
Gilford,  David  A.   (Corp.),  35;  carpenter,  Danvers:  Oct.  28, 

'61 ;  trans.  Mar.  6,  '64.  to  173d  Co.,  2d  Batt..  V.  R.  C. ; 

dis.  Nov.  12,  '64,  ex.  of  s.;  d.  Aug.  4,  '97. 
Gilford,  Elbridge  H.   (Sergt.),  19;  box-maker,  Danvers;  Oct. 

7,  '61 ;  dis.  Oct.  8,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 

Gilmore,  Willard,  22 ;    farmer,  Sherborn ;    Sept.  14,   '61 ;    d. 

Oct.  31,  '62,  Newbern. 
Gordon,  John,  18 ;  student,  Essex,  N.  H. ;  Oct.  18,  '61 ;  Corp. 

Dec.  5,  '61;  dis.  June  11,  '63,  for  Com.  as  Captain,  55th 

Mass.  Infantry. 
Gould,  James  0.,  18 ;  clerk,  Gloucester ;    Oct.    7,    '61 ;    Corp. 

Feb.  1,  '63;  trans,  to  Signal  Corps,  Mar.  12,  '64. 
Gray,  Samuel  B.  (R),  24;  artisan,  Boston;  Oct.  14,   '62;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  k.  Aug.  16,  '64,  Deep  Run,  Va. 
Greenough,    Archibald     (R),    22;    stone-cutter,    Gloucester; 

July  17   '62;  re.  Jan.  4,   '64;  Corp.  June  1,   '64;  d.  in 

Rebel  Prison,  Richmond,  Va.,  Mar.  7,   '65. 
Hadley,  Daniel,  21;  mason,  Chelsea;  Oct.  9,  '61;  desert.  Dec. 

8,  '61. 

Hale,  Jonas,  27 ;  farmer,  Winchester ;  Sept.  18,  '61 ;  dis. 
Sept.  7,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 


Company  C.  483 

Hancock.  Henry,  41 ;  painter,  Boston ;    Oct.    20,    '61 ;    Corp. 

Dec.  1.  '63;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  Sergt.  June  1,  '64:  1st  Sergt. 

Oct.  28,  '64 ;  2d  Lieut.  Aug.  18,  '65 ;  declined  Com. ;  1st 

Lieut.  Jan.  6,  '66;  not  mustered;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66  as 

1st  Sergt. ;  d.  Aug.  30,  1902,  Milford,  Mass. 
Harrington,  Wm.  E.,  35:  farmer,  Westboro;  Sept.  7,  '61;  dis. 

Sept.  6.  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Hart,  Michael  F.  (R),  27;  printer,  Boston;  July  24,  '62;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64 ;  dis.  Aug.  18,  '65,  disa. ;  dead. 
Hayward,  Alexander  M.    (Sergt.),  21;  shoemaker,  Reading; 

Sept.  21.  '61;  1st  Sergt.;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  prom.  2d  Lieut. 

Co.  B. 
Holbrook.  Ellis  R.   (mus.),  16;  shoemaker,  Easton;  Sept.  23, 

'61 ;  dis.  Aug.  28,   '63,  inefficiency. 
Howes,  Erastus,  27 ;  ship-joiner,  Essex ;  Oct.  19,  '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,   '64 ;  cr.  to  Boston ;  wd.  ]\Iav  16,   '64 ;  trans.  April  13, 

'65,  to  Co.  G,  18th  Regt.  Y.  R.  C. ;  dis.  Nov.  15,  '65 ;  d. 

June  3,  1905,  Gloucester. 
Jordan,  Robert,  18 ;  sailor,  Essex ;  Sept.  6,    '61 :  re.  Jan.  4, 

'64;  wd.  Aug.  16,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Joy,  Francis  E.,  21;  shoemaker,  Charlestown;  Sept.  30,   '61; 

d.  of  wounds,  June  30,  '62,  Newbern. 
Kurr,  Edward  W.,  26 ;  teamster,  Boston ;  Oct.  21,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Larkins,  Lawrence,  20 ;  printer,  East  Boston ;  Oct.  8,  '61 ;  dis. 

Oct.  8.  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Lincoln,  John  W.,  26;  cabinet-maker,  Northboro;  Sept.   28, 

'61;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  Principal  Mus.  Sept.  9,  '65. 
Loring.    George   A.,    18 ;    clerk.    Boston ;    Sept.    5,    '61 :    dis. 

Sept.  5,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Lufkins,  Charles  P.,  18 ;  shoemaker,  Essex ;  Nov.  28,   '61 ;  d. 

Aug.  1,  '63,  Hilton  Head,  S.  C,  of  injury  ree'd.  July  25, 

'63,  Morris  Isle,  S.  C. 
McArtnev,  Charles  W.,  27;  cabinet-maker,    Roxbury;    Nov. 

23,  '61 ;  d.  Sept.  22,  '63,  Morris  Island,  S.  C. ;  also  borne 

as  McCartney. 
McEmmons,  Edward  J.,    32 ;    mariner,    Gloucester :    Oct.    19, 

'61 ;  dis.  Oct.  19,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
McFarlane,  John,  18;  shoemaker,  Barnstable;  Sept.  30,   '61; 

desert.  June  16,   '63,  Newbern. 
McGee,  Edward  (R),  21;  cordwainer,  So.  Reading;  July   26, 

'62;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  desert.  Jan.  13,   '65. 


484  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Mclntire,  Edward  E.,  18;    shoemaker,  Essex;    Nov.  28,   '61; 

dis.  Nov.  28,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  June  16,  1896. 
McKown,    Cvnis,    ]8;    fisherman,    Boothbay,    Me.;    Oct.    18, 

'61;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  cr.  to  Gloucester;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
McLeary,  George,  22;  saddler,  Greenfield;  er.    to    Ashfield; 

Jan.  7,  '65;  dropped  for  desertion,  June  5,   '65. 
McMahon,  John  (Corp.),  28;  barber,  Boston;  Sept.  6,  '61;  re. 

Jan.  4.  '64;  wd.  Aug.  16,  '64;  dis.  Feb.  6,  '65,  disa.;  d. 

as  John  M.  Baxter,  ,  1893,  Somerville. 

McNiel,  Angus,  22;  teamster.  Cape  Breton,  N.  S. ;  Oct.  18, 

'61 ;  d.  April  23,  '62,  Newbern. 
Mahoney,  John    (R),  42;  laborer,  Boston;  cr.  to  Chicopee; 

Mar.  8,  '65 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Maloy,  Edward,  24 ;  farmer,  Clinton ;  Sept.  7,   '61 ;  re.  Jan, 

4,  '64 ;  d.  Mar.  21,  '64,  Clinton. 
Mentzer,  George,  23;  farmer,  Northboro;  Sept.  25,   '61;  dis. 

Sept.  28,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  also  borne  as  Meutzer. 
Meyer,  Ernest  (Corp.),  36;  jeweler,  Attleboro;  Sept.  12,  '61; 

dis.  Sept.  15,  '63,  disa. ;  d.  Dec.  7,  1899.     He  was  Drum- 
major  of  the  regimental  band. 
Monserill,  George,  29 ;  bootmaker,  Taunton ;  Oct.  19,  '61 ;  dis. 

Dec.  29,  '61,  disa. 
Moody,  Edwin  A.   (Corp.),  21;  carpenter,  Lowell;  Sept.  20, 

'61 ;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  d.  of  wounds.  May  28,  '64,  Hampton, 

Va. 
Mullen,  John  (R),  20;  varnisher,  N.  Y.  City;  cr.  to  Granby, 

Dec.  30,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Nelson,  John  W.,  33 ;  shoemaker,  Wheelock,  Vt. ;  Oct.  23,  '61 ; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  cr.  to  Lynn;  wd.  Oct.  13,  '64,  Darbytown 

Rd.,  Va. ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  d.  1904. 
Newman,  James,  20;  farmer,  Adams;  Sept.  14,  '61;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  cr.  to  Stockbridge;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Nichols,  Francis  H.   (R),  23;  clerk,    Boston;    Aug.    7,    '62; 

prom.  Q.  M.  Sergt.  (F.  &  S.)  May  1,  '63. 
Oakley,  James  B.,  24 ;  printer,  Boston ;  Oct.  12,  '61 ;  dis.  Oct. 

14,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  also  borne  as  Joseph  B. 
O'Brien,  Jeremiah   (R),  34;  ,  Gardner;  Dec.  28, 

'64;  desert.  Dec.  28,  '65. 
Osgood,  Josiah  A.   (Corp.),  19;  student,    Chelsea;    Oct.    18, 

'61 ;  dis.  Nov.  5,  '62  for  Com.  as  Capt.,   47th   Mass.    In- 
fantry. 


Company  C.  485 

Ostrander,  Charles  L.,  26;  engineer,  Stockbridge;    Sept.    17, 

'61 ;  dis.  Sept.  1,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Owens,  William,  2-5 ;  teamster,  Boston ;  Oct.  12,  '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64 :  M.  0.  Jan.  20.  'm  ■  d.  Feb.   2.    '72,    Togus,   Me., 

N.  S.  H. 
Pare,  Lemuel   (R),  19;  laborer.    Vermont;    cr.    to    Ashford, 

Jan.  17,  '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Parsons,  Edward,  18 ;  mariner,  Readville :  Oct.  16,   '61 ;  dis. 

Oct.  14,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Payson,  John  W.,  21;  farmer,  Georgetown;  re.  Jan.  20,   '64; 

cr.  to  Stockbridge;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Pepoon,  Marshall  W.,  21;    teamster,    Stockbridge;    Sept.    10, 

'61 ;  dis.  Sept.  10,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Perkins,  Charles  T.    (1st  Sergt.),  31;  manufacturer.  Salem; 

Oct.  24,  '61 ;  wd.  Mar.  14,  '62,  Newbern ;  prom.  2d  Lieut. 

Co.  K. 
Perkins,  Enoch,  19 ;  mariner,  Damariscotta,  Me. ;  Oct.  18,  '61 ; 

dis.  April  2,  '62,  disa. 
Phinney,  William  P.,  35 ;  mariner,  Plympton :  Oct.  18,   '61 ; 

Corp.  July  30,  '62 ;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  k.  Aug.  16,  '64,  Deep 

Eun,  Va. 
Powers,  Peter,  20;  factory-hand.  So.  Adams;  Sept.  30,   '61; 

wd.  Mar.  14,  '62;  re."  Jan.  4,   '64;  cr.  to  Pittsfield;  dis. 

June  17,  '65 ;  lost  right  arm  at  Deep  Run. 
Rathbum,  Charles  W.,  21;    farmer,    Stockb:pdge;    Sept.    14, 

'61;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  desert.  Dec.  23,  '65. 
Read,  John  C.    (Corp.),    27;    mariner,    Gloucester;   Oct.    12, 

'61;  Sergt.  Aug.  5,  '62;  dis.  Oct.  21,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Risk,  Robert,  18 ;  shoemaker,  Easthampton ;  Sept.  7,  '61 ;  wd. 

Mar.  14,  '62,  Newbern;  dis.  Sept.  6,  '66,  ex.  of  s. 
Royal,  Dudley  C,  34;  victualler.  So.  Reading;  Oct.  28,   '61; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '61 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Sanacal,  Lewis   (R),  33;  harness-maker,  Stockbridge;  cr.  to 

Orleans,  Mar.  21,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Sargent,  Albert  (R),  18;  mariner,  Gloucester;  July  18,  '62; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  d.  Aug.  16,  '64,  Hampton,  Va.  ^ 
Sargent,  Rinaldo  R.,  29;  mariner,  Gloucester;  Oct.  23,    '61; 

re.  Jan.  20,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Saunders,  Robert,  35;  mariner,  Bucksport,  Me.;  Oct.  8,   '61; 

dis.  Nov.  26,  '62,  disa. 
Shepard,  David,  29;  shoemaker,  Manchester;    Oct.    21,    '61; 

dis.  April  20,  '63,  disa. 


486  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Sherman,  James,  -40 ;  jeweler,  Attleboro ;  Sept.  16,  '61 ;  trans. 

to  V.  R.  C.  Mar.  9,  '64;  dis.  Sept.  16,   '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d. 

Nov.  24,  1902. 
Souther,  Georsre  G.,  22;  carpenter,  Quincy;  Sept.  10,  '61;  dis. 

July  8,  '63,  disa. 
Stoddard,  Benjamin  F.    (Sergt.),  21;  clerk,  Salem;  Oct.  15, 

'61;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  wd.  Aug.  16,  '64,  Deep  Run ;  prom. 

1st  Lieut.  Co.  F. 
Stowell,  George  A.   (R),  42;  jeweler,  Boston;  July  18,   '62; 

dis.  Oct.  3,  '62,  disa. 
Thayer,  Daniel  A.  (R),  23;  boot-maker.  Gloucester;  July  28, 

"  '62 ;  d.  Jan.  '64,  Hilton  Head,  S.  C. 
Thayer,   Ebenezer  F.,  29 ;  teamster,   Great  Barring-ton ;   Oct. 

'21,  '61 ;  dis.  Dee.  9,  '61,  disa. 
Thomas,  John,  32;  jeweler,  Attleboro;  Sept.  9,   '61:  k.  Mar. 

14,  '62,  Newborn. 
Tibbetts,  Thomas  Z.,  19 ;  fisherman,  Boothbay,  Me. ;  Oct.  8,  '61 ; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64;   cr.  to  Gloucester;  d.  of  wounds  May  16, 

'64.  Hampton,  Va. 
Truitt,  John.  40;  mariner,  Gloucester;  Oct.  14.   '61-.  re.  Jan. 

4,   '64;  M.  O.  Jan.  20,   '66;  d.  Dec.  31   '85.  Tog-us,  Me., 

N.  S.  H. 
Turner,  James  W.    (R),  42;    laborer,  Boston;    ]Mar.  11,   '65; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  d.  Mar.  25,  '02,  S.  H. 
Weeks,  Nelson,  24;    mason,    Stockbridge;    Sept.  17.   '61;    re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Weiss.  Jacob,  30 ;  jeweler,  Attleboro ;  Sept.  12,   '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Willis,  Samuel,  24 ;  mariner,  Abington ;  Oct.  16.  '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Wilson,   Frederick  W.,   31 ;    draughtsman,   Boston ;    Sept.   4, 

'61 ;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  Sergt. -major,  Nov.  4,  '64 ;  prom.  2d 

Lieut.  June  7,  '65 ;  cancelled ;  absent  sick ;  d.  Oct.  1,  '65, 

Boston. 
Wyman,  AVilliam  (R),  20;    painter.  So.  Reading;    Julv    23, 

'62;    re.  Jau.  4,  '64;    cr.  to  Melrose;    wd.  Aug.  14^  '64; 

dis.  July  20,  '65,  disa. ;  d.  Feb.  23,  1903. 
Young,  Dewitt  C,  31;  jeweler,  Attleboro;  Sept.  16.   '61;  dis. 

Sept.  10,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Young,  Timothy   (R),  44;  mariner,  Gloucester;  Aug.  5,   '62; 

dis.  Sept.  26,  '62,  disa. 


Company  I).  487 

Company  D. 
captains. 

John  T.  Prince,  Jr..  26 ;  merchant.  Boston ;  Sept.  2.   '61 ;  res. 

Jan.  18.   '63,  disa. 
William  Pratt,  from  Co.    C.    Mav    '63— Jnne    26,    '63:    vid. 

Co.  C. 
James  B.  Nichols,  June  27,  '63,  from  Co.  K:  dis.  Sept.  1,  '64, 

disa.;  d.  July  21.  '99,  Salem.     Had  been  city  auditor  of 

Salem  many  years ;  died  in  office. 
Davis  Foster,  Sept.  3,  '64;  prom.  ]\Iajor. 

FIRST   LIEUTENANTS. 

John  X.  Partridge,  23 :  merchant.  Boston :  Sept.  2.  '61 ;  prom. 

Captain,  Co.  F. 
Davis  Foster,  July  5,   '64;  from  Co.  H:  prom.  Captain. 
Alvah  Cloutman,  Oct.  14.   '64 ;  from  Co.  D :  prom.  Captain, 

Co.  C. 
Alexander  ]\I.  Hayward,  Aug.  18.    '65;  Lieut.   Ilayward  had 

been  discharged  as  Captain,  the  preceding  May,  but  he 

now  returns  to  the  regiment    on    a    second    enlistment; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66. 
Alexander  McWhirk,  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  not  mustered. 
Samuel  H.  Koot,  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  not  mustered. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

Thomas  ^I.  Sweet,  25 ;  merchant,  Boston ;  Sept.  2.  '61 ;  prom. 

1st  Lieut,  and  Adjt.,  Co.  I. 
Oliver  H.   Walker,  Aug.  27,  '63;  d.  Jan.   3,  '64.    of  wounds 

rec'd  Dec.  30,  '63,  near  St.  Augustine,  Fla. 
Joseph  W.  Hobbs.    Julv  1,   '65,    from    Co.    E ;    prom.    Lieut. 

Co.  A. 
William  A.   Couthony.   ^lar.    14.    '64;   declined. 
Samuel  H.  Root.  Jan.  20.  '66 ;  not  mustered. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS   AND   PRIVATES. 

Alden,  Albert  W.  (R),  26;  farmer.  Florida:  Aug.  4.  '62:  dis. 
Dec.  5,  '64.  ex.  of  s. 


488  TWEXTV-FOUKTH    ^rASSACHUSETTS   ReGIMENT. 

Alden,  Henry  D.  (or  L.),  21;  laborer.  Adams;  Sept.  5,  '61; 

dis.  Sept.  5.  '6-4,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  May  13.  1887,  Adams. 
Ayers,  George  W..  28:  carpenter,  Somerville;  Nov.  18,  '61;  d. 

Dec.  9.   '64.  Annapolis.  :\ia. 
Ballou,  Irving  W.  (R),  19;  farmer,  Florida;  Aug.  4,  '62;  dis. 

Dec.  5  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Nov.  8.  '93.  No.  Adams. 
Barnard,  George  H.,  19;    farmer,  Salisbury;    Oct.    31,    '61; 

desert.  Nov.  '62,  NeAvbern. 
Barnes,  Frank  (R),  22;  clerk,  Nashville,  Tenn. ;  cr.  to  Hard- 
wick;  Dec.  27,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Bathrick,  Alanson  E.,  32;  farmer,  ]Mendon;  Sept.  6,   '61;  d. 

May  18,   '62,  Newbern. 
Beaton,  William  (R),  23;  miner,  Boston:  cr.  to  Stockbridge; 

Dec.  8,  '64 :  dis.  May  21,  '65,  disa. 
Besse,  Elisha   G.    (Sergt.),  21;  nailer.  AVareham ;   Sept.   24, 

'61 ;  dis.  June  23,  '63,  disa. 
Bigelow,  Charles  F.,  21;  carpenter.  West  Bovlston;  Nov.  1, 

'61 ;  dis.  Nov.  11,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Blake,  John  (R),  24;  iron-molder,  New  York;  cr.  to  Douglas; 

en.  for  one  year,  Dec.  9,  '64 ;  dis.  Dec.  9,  '65,  ex.  of  s. 
Bliss,  George  W.  (R),  30;  farmer,  Florida;  Aug.  4.  '62;  wd. 

Aug.  16,  '64.  Deep  Run,  Va. ;  dis.  Dec.  5,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Blood,  Charles  (Corp.),  36;  upholsterer.  Boston;  Oct.  1,  '61; 

dis.  Oct.  1,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Bowen,  Wilson  D..  19;  carpenter.  Taunton;  Sept.  25,  '61;  re. 

Jan.  2,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Brannan,  James  (R),  40;  cordwainer.  Natick;  Dec.  28,   '63; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Briggs,  Walter  R.  (Corp.).  21;  clerk,  Boston;  Dec.  3,  '61;  dis. 

Dec.  3,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Brown,  Patrick,  en.  Readville;  Dec.  1.  '61;  dis.  April  15,  '63, 

disa. 
Brown,  William  B.  (R),  44;  shoemaker.  So.  Reading;  Jan.  2, 

'64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Burdick,  Silas  W.  (R),  18;  farmer.  Blandford;  Mar.  17,  '64; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Burgess,   Elisha  H.    (Corp.),   24;   mariner.   Sandwich;   Sept. 

24,  '61 ;  dis.  May  28,  '63,  disa. ;  d.  :\Iay  29,  '03. 
Burnham,  James  H.,  37;  butcher.  So.  Reading;  Dec.  2,   '61; 

dis.  Dec.  2,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Canning,  Wm.  (mus.),  15;  errand-bov.  Boston;  Sept.  24,  '61; 

d.  Aug.  31.  '62,  AVashington.  N.  C. 


Company  J). 


489 


J.  C.  Eastman  I  D  I.  ('.  T.  FonHJi).  T.  Fanning  (D). 

B.  McC'ai'  IB).  (•.vrns(;etch('ll  (D). 


Canton.  Dennis.  29 :  hostler,  Boston ;  Oct.  16,  '61 ;  re.  Jan.  2, 

'64,  as  Wagoner ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Clark,  Sylvester  W.,  20;  laborer,  en.  Readville;  Dec.  5,   '61; 

k.  Sept.  6,  '62,  Washington,  N.  C. ;  had  served  in  Co.  H, 

5th  :\r.  V.  I\r.  May  1— Jnly  31,  '61. 
Costello,  Hugh.  29 ;  weaver,  Warren ;  Sept.  30,  '61 ;  wd.  Aug. 

16,  '64,  Deep  Run,  Va. ;  dis.  Nov.  1,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  May 

14,   '99,  Boston. 
Couthony,  Wm.  A.  (Sergt.),  19;  clerk,  Boston;  Oct.  31,  '61; 

1st  Sergt.  Jan.  3,  '64;  2d  Lieut.  Mar.  14,   '64;  not  mus- 
tered; dis.  Oct.  30,   '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Cutler,  Benjamin  W.,  24 ;    clerk,    Lvnn ;    Nov.  25,   '61 ;    dis. 

Sept.  29,  '62,  disa. 
Daniels,  Andrew  J.,  18 ;  hatter,  Boston ;  Nov.  22.  '61 ;  d.  Nov. 

18,  '63,  Beaufort,  S.  C. 


4i)()  'P\vi;\'rv-i'(»rirrii  Massaciu'setts  Kegi.aiext. 

Daniels,  David  C,  31;    ('ai'i)enter.    Williamstowii ;    Sept.  13, 

'61 ;  d.  Aug.  21,  '62,  Washington,  N.  C. 
Davis,  Wm.  H.  H.    (wagoner),  21;    blacksmith,    (Jloucester; 

Nov.  1,  '61 ;  dis.  Dec.  3,  '64.  ex.  of  s. 
Dempsev.  James,  38;  laborer,  Boston;  Oct.  14,   '61;  d.  Sept. 

2,  '*63,  Morris  Island,  S.  C. 
DeRibas,  Louis  A.,  21;  salesman,  Boston;  Nov.  29,   '61;  d.  of 

wounds,  Aug.  15,   '62,  Boston. 
Dodge,  William  H.    (R),     (Sergt.).  19;    painter,    Haverhill; 

Oct..  26,  '61 ;  re.  Jan.  2,   '64 ;  d.  of  wounds  Oct.  23,   '64, 

DeCamp  Hospital,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 
Dow,   Albert  S.,   39;   seaman,   Manchester;   Nov.   11,    '61;   d. 

Sept.  4,   '63,  Morris  Island,  S.  C. 
Dowd,  Edward,  21;  laborer.  Ware;  Sept.  9,  '61;  dis.  Sept.  9, 

'64,  ex.  of  s. 
Doyle,  Lawrence,  19 ;  brass-worker ;  Nov.  9,   '61 ;  d.  April  30, 

'63,  Newbern. 
Dunham,  Isaac  C,  19;  nailer,  Wareham;   Oct.   18,    '61;   dis. 

Corp.  Dec.  10,  '62;  Sergt.  Oct.  30,  '63;  dis.  Oct.  18,  '64, 

ex.  of  s. 
Eastman,  James  C,  20;   farmer,   Shrewsbury;  Nov.   18,    '64; 

re.  Jan.  2,  '64;  cr.  to  Worcester;  Corp.  Dee.  6,  '65;  AI.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Fanning,  Thomas.  25 ;  seaman,  Lubec,  .Me. ;  Nov.  14.  '61 ;  wd. 

Aug.  16,  '64 ;  dis.  Nov.  19,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Feehan,  Bernard    (R),  27;  moi-occo-dressei-,   Lynn;  Nov.   26, 

'64;  cr.  to  Raynhani;  dis.  Nov.  28,  '65,  ex.  of  s. ;  one  year 

man. 
Fitch, ■  Charles  A.    (R),  18;  turner,  Boston;  Auu'.  7.   '62;  re. 

Jan.  2,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   'm. 
Fitzgerald,  Francis   (R).   18;   })rinter.  Boston;   Oct.   27,    '61; 

]\1.  0.  Jan.  20,   'm-,  d.  .Mar.  2,   '6^  Togus.  Me..  X.  S.  II. 
Flynn,  Thomas   (R),  35;    teaiuster,    Saugus;    Jan.    15,     '65; 

desert.  Oct.  16,  '65. 
Folger,  Isaac  II.   (Corp.),  19;  clerk.  Nantucket;  Oct.  i;   '61; 

dis.  Nov.  6,   '62,  disa. 
Ford,  Charles  T.,  21 ;  carpenter,  Salem ;  Dec.  1,  '61  ;  dis.  Dec. 

15,   '63,  disa. 
Freeman,    Bernard    (R),    39;   tinplate-maker.    So.    Reading; 

Dec.  31,   '63;  wd.  .Mav  16.   '64;  trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  April 

10,   '65. 


Company  D.  491 

Fuller,  Isaac  A.   (R).  26;  shoemaker,  No.  Turner,  ^le. ;  cr.  to 

Abingtou;  Jan.   4,    '64;   Corp.  July   2.    '65:  ^I.   0.  Jan. 

20,  '66. 
Gammons,  George  N.   (Serg't.),  22;  iron-worker,  Middleboro; 

Sept.  10,   '61;  d.  Mar.  8,   '62,  Roanoke  Island,  N.  C. 
Gammons,  Phineas  P.,  19 ;  nailer,  Providence,  R.  I. ;  Sept.  25, 

'61 ;  dis.  Sept.  25,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Gammons,  Thomas  G.    (Corp.),  19;  shoemaker.  Middleboro; 

Oct.  18,  '61 ;  Sergt.  Dec.  20,   '62 ;  wd.  Aug.  16,   '64 ;  dis. 

Oct.  18,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Garrity,  Thomas,   27;  teamster,  Boston;   Sept.   20,    '61;   dis. 

Sept.  21,    '63,  disa.;  result  of  wounds. 
Garrow,  James  J.   (R),  30;  mason,  Boston;  Aug.  5,  '62;  dis. 

Dec.  5,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Getchell,  Cyrus,  21 ;  carpenter,  Wells,  "Me. ;  Dec.  4,   '61 ;  wd. 

Mar.  14,  '62,  Newbern;  dis.  Sept.  2,  '62,  disa. 
Gilbert,  Robert  V.,  23;  teamster,  Warren;  Nov.  2,    '61;  dis. 

Jan.  8,   '63,  disa. 
Greeley,  Philip  T.   (R),  27;  mariner,  West  Cambridge;  Aug. 

16,  '62 ;  re.  Jan.  2,  '64 ;  wd.  Aug.  14,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20, 

^66,  had  been  in  the  Navy. 
Griswold,  Theodore  D.,  18;  porter,  Pittsfield;  Sept.  16,   '61; 

re.  Jan.  2,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Hallahan,  Daniel  (R),  41;  laborer,  Boston;  Dec.  8,  '64;  cr.  to 

Worthington ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
Ham,  Alvaro  D.   (R),  18;  laborer,  Lawrence;  May  14,   '62; 

dis.  Dec.  5,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Ham,  James  D.   (R),  19;  clerk,  Boston;  Aug.  7,    '62;  Corp. 

Jan.  10,  '63 ;  dis.  Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Hampton,  Daniel,  25 ;  factory-hand,  Ware ;  Sept.  7,   '61 ;  dis. 

Sept.  5,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Haskell,  Wm.  H.,  30;  farmer,  Manchester;  Nov.  20,  '61;  dis. 

May  28,  '63,  disa. 
Hayes,  Timothy,  20 ;  blacksmith,  Springfield ;  Sept.  4,  '61 ;  d. 

Dec.  6,  '62,  Newbern. 
Hoffman,  Joseph,  35 ;  painter,  Boston ;  Oct.  9,   '61 ;  dis.  July 

14,  '62,  disa. 
Holmes,  John  H.,  21 ;  fisherman,  Dresden,  Me. ;  Nov.  14,  '61 ; 

re.  Jan.  2,  '64 ;  cr.  to  Gloucester ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Jackson,  Paul  N.    (R),  18;    stone-cutter,    No.    Bridgewater; 

]\Iay  28,    '62;  re.  Jan.  4,    '64;  wd.  June   17,    '64;  Corp. 

July  2,  '65 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 


492  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Johnson,  Charles  (R),  30;  peddler,  Boston;  Dec.  20,  '64;  cr. 

to  Chelsea;  desert.  Aug.  17,   '65. 
Kelley,  John  (R),  21;  cook,  Watertown,  N.  Y. ;  Dec.  30,  '64; 

cr.  to  Granby;  desert.  June  11,  '65. 
Kennedy,  John,   38;  carpenter,  Roxburv;   Oct.   17,    '61;   dis. 

Oct.  17,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Lane,  John,  36;  mariner,  Gloucester;  Nov.  4.  '61;  d.  Jan.  17, 

'63,  Newbern.     . 
Lawton,  Richard  (mus.),  14,  errand-bov,  Boston;  re.  Jan.  2, 

'64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Lee,  James  H.,  32 ;   mariner,   Manchester ;    Nov.    15,    '61 ;   d. 

Sept.  7,  '62,  Washington,  N.  C. 
Lowell,  Samuel   (R),  27;  farmer,  Phippsburg,  Me.;  Dec.  9, 

'63,  cr.  to  Charlestown;  M.  0.  Jan.  22,  '66. 
Lucas,  John  G.,  20;  farmer,  Dorchester;  Nov.  30,   '61;  Corp. 
*      Dec.  5,  '63 ;  dis.  Nov.  30,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Lucas,  Robert  T.,  19;  farmer,  Manchester;  Nov.  30,  '61;  wd. 

Mar.  14,  '62 ;  dis.  Nov.  30,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Lurvey,  Daniel  H.,  20 ;  mariner,  Gloucester ;  Oct.  26,  '61 ;  d. 

May  2,  '62,  Newbern. 
McDonald,  John  (R),  19;  sailor,  St.  John,  N.  B. ;  Jan.  7,  '65; 

cr.  to  Ashfield ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
McFee,  Michael,  25;  farmer,  Newton;  Nov.  22,   '61;  d.  Aug. 

9,  '62,  Washington,  N.  C. 
McKenna,  Daniel,  17 ;  factory-hand,  Pittsfield ;  Sept.  5,   '61 ; 

dis.  Sept.  5,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
McKean,  George  W.,  18 ;  seaman,  Boston ;  Nov.  14,  '61 ;  k.  as 

Corp.  Sept.  17,  '64,  on  picket^  Petersburg,  Va. 
McMahan,  William,   19;  factory-hand,  Ware;   Sept.   7,    '61; 

dis.  Mar.  23,  '63,  disa. 
McMullen,  Patrick,  26;    plasterer,  Waltham;    Sept.  17,   '61; 

dis.  Sept.  17,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
McWhirk,  Alexander,  18;  farmer,  Newburyport;  Dec.  4,  '61; 

re.  Jan.  2,  '64 ;  cr.  to  Milton ;  Corp.  Nov.  15,  '63 ;  Sergt. 

Nov.  1,   '64 ;  1st  Sergt.  Dec.  15,  '65 ;  1st  Lieut.  Jan.  20, 

'66-  not  mustered;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
McWhirk,  James  (R),  18;  laborer,  Dorchester;  Jan.  16,   '65, 

cr.  to  Fitchburg;  wd.  Aug.  16,   '64;  Corp.  Sept.  7,   '65; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Mahoney,  Dennis,  24;  farmer,  Boston;  Nov.  14,  '61;  re.  Jan. 

2,  '64 ;  wd.  Aug.  16,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66 ;  d.  Mar.  7, 

'85,  Togus,  Me.,  N.  S.  H. 


Company  D. 


493 


Mahoney,  John  C,  33 ;  laborer,  Salem ;  Dec.  3,   '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

2,  '64 ;  wd.  Oct.  7,  '64,  Darbytown  Ed.,  Va. ;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,   '66. 
Marmo,  Francis,  18 ;  seaman,  Fox  Island,  Me. ;  Nov.  13,  '61 ; 

d.  Sept.  6,  '62,  Washington,  N.  C. 
Martin,  John  W.,  18 ;  farmer,  Quincy ;  Nov.  29,  '61 ;  re.  Sergt. 

Jan.  2,   '64;  cr.  to  Milton;  wd.  Aug.  16,   '64;  prom.  1st 

Lieut.  Nov.  14,  '64,  Co.  G. 
Merrill,  George  W.,  21;  shoemaker,  Salisbury;  Oct.  29,   '61; 

dis.  Sept.  2,  '62,  disa.,  Newbern. 
Merriam,  Augustus  D.    (R),  29;  fireman,  Boston;  July  28, 

'62 ;  dis.  Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  dead. 


Capt.  S.  B.  Crane  (F). 


.laiiic'S  Crowley  (C). 


Sergt.  W.  A.  Couthony  (D). 


Metcalf,  Cyrus  E.  (R),  24;  shoemaker,  No.  Turner,  Me.;  Jan. 

4,  '64;  cr.  to  Abington;  Corp.  Dec.  16,   '64;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,  '66;  d.  Jan.  14,  '99. 
Mitchell,  Wm.  S.  (R),  27;  machinist,  Boston;  July  8,  '62;  re. 

Jan.  2,  '64;  desert.  May  2,  '64. 
Moulton,  Charles  T.,  21;  shoemaker,  Salisbury;  Oct.  29,  '61; 

d.  Jan.  17,  '63,  Newbern, 
Murray,  David,  18 ;  file-cutter,  Boston ;    Nov.    26,    '61 ;    wd. 

Aug.  16,  '64 ;  dis.  Nov.  26,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Murray,  Walter,  43 ;  carpenter,  Lynn ;  Nov.  28,  '61 ;  dis.  Nov. 

28,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Nute,  Asa  B.,  18;  clerk,  Boston;  Oct.  28,  '61;  wd.  Aug.  16, 

'64;  dis.  Oct.  28,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Jan.  13,  '94. 


494  TWEXTY-FOURTII    i\lASSACHUSETTS  ReGIMENT. 

O'Reilly,  John,  23;  factory -hand,  Hinsdale;  Sept.  5,  '61;  dis. 

Sept.  15,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
0 'Sullivan,  Thomas,  21;    farmer,    Ware;    Sept.    7,    '61;    dis. 

April  20,  '63,  disa. ;  d.  July  4,  1899,  S.  H. 
Parker,  Charles  M.  (R),  27;  farmer,  Lexington;  Aug.  9,  '62; 

Corp.  Nov.  10,  '63 ;  dis.  Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Parker,  George  W.,  30 ;  factory -hand,  Lawrence ;  Oct.  19,  '61 ; 

dis.  April  23,  '63,  disa. ;  later  served  in  Co.  L,  2d  H.  A. 
Partridge,  Charles  W.,  18 ;  clerk,  Bellingham ;  Nov.  22,   '61 ; 

re.  Jan.  2.  '64 ;  Corp.  Sept.  6,  '64 ;  wd.  Oct.  7,  '64,  Darby- 
town  Rd.,  Va. ;  dis.  June  24,  '65,  disa. ;  result  of  wounds. 
Phelps,  John  T.,  29 ;  carpenter,  Savoy ;  Oct.  2,  '61 ;  wd.  Aug. 

16,  '64;  dis.  Oct.  2,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Aug.  1,  1891,  Adams. 
Phelps,  William  J.,  41;  engineer,  Chelsea;  Nov.  13,  '61;  wd. 

Aug.  16,  '64 ;  dis.  Nov.  13,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  dead. 
Poole,  Frank,  23;  seaman,  Gloucester;  Oct.  26,  '61;  dis.  Nov. 
.       13,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Reed,  James  W..  19;  farmer,   Uxbridge ;  Nov.  15,    '61;  dis. 

Nov.  16,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Riley,  Thomas  (R),  22;  steward,  Yarmouth,  N.  S.;  Mar.  29, 

'65 ;  cr.  to  Boston ;  desert.  Dec.  25,  '65. 
Root,  Samuel  H.    (R),  44;  clerk,  Boston;  Aug.  15,   '62;  re. 

Jan.  2,   '64;  Corp.  Mar.  27,   '63;  Sergt.  Nov.  1,   '64;  2d 

Lieut.  Jan.  20,  '66  ■  not  mustered ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Rounseville,  Wm.  H.   (Corp.),  21;  carriage-maker,  Mattapoi- 

sett;  Oct.  1,   '61;    Sergt.  Jan.  2,   '63;    dis.    Oct.    1,    '64, 

ex.  of  s. 
Rowe,  Ozias  N.,  18;  lather,  Gloucester;  Nov.  23,  '61;  dis.  Nov. 

23,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Ryan,  John  (R),  28;    seaman,   Boston;    Nov.  30,  '64;    cr.  to 

Whately;  M.  O.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Sargent,  Winthrop,  37 ;  seaman,  Manchester ;  Nov.  15,  '61 ;  re. 

Jan.  2,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  dead. 
Saunders,  Charles  B.,  21;  sawyer,  Savoy;  Oct.  14,   '61-  wd. 

Mar.  14,  '62;  d.  Sept.  30,  '63,  St.  Augustine,  Fla. 
Scott,  John  H.,  39;    seaman,  Gloucester;    Nov.  21,   '61;    dis. 

May  2,  '62,  disa. 
Scott,  William  H.,  21;  mariner,  Abington;  Nov.  28,  '61;  dis. 

Nov.  28,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Shannahan,  Daniel,  40;  seaman,  Boston;    Nov.    27,     '61;    d, 

Sept.  1,  '62,  Washington,  N.  C. 


Company  1).  495 

Shepard.  Thomas  (K).  19;  laboivi-,  Toronto.  ('.  W. ;  Dee.  20, 

'64;  or.  to  Hadley;  desert.  June  11,   '65. 
Smart,  Ira  S.,  34;  farmer.  Williamstown ;  re.  Jan.  2,  '64:  dis. 

Sept.  30,  '65,  disa. 
Spear,  John  J[..  Jr.,  27 ;  mereliant,  ^lilton :  Dee.  5.   '61 ;  dis. 

Dec.  4.  '64.  ex.  of  s. :  d.  A])ril  14.  1893. 
Stewart,  James  (R),  26;  painter,  Boston:  Jan.  13,  '65;  er.  to 

Gill;  desert.  Aug.  17,  '65. 
Stimson,  Charles  E.    (R),  21;  seaman,   Cambridge;  Jan.   14, 

'65;  cr.  to  Charlestowu ;  ]M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66;  had  served 

3  years  in  the  Navy. 
Stoekwell,  Simeon  M.,  23;    ,  Prescott;    Sept.    12, 

'61 ;  dis.  Sept.  12,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  also  Simon  0. 
Stone,  George  S.   (R),  40;  paper-hanger,  Charlestown;  Aug. 

12,  '62;  re.  Feb.  5,  '64;  desert.  Sept.  7,  '65. 
Sweeney,  William,  18 ;  farmer,  Barre ;  Sept.  25.   '61 ;  d.  Aug. 

31,  '62,  Washington,  N.  C. 
Taylor,  Albert  (R),  18;  farmer,  Yarmouth;  Feb.  24,  '64;  wd. 

!May  30,   '64,  on  picket,  also  Aug.    16,    Deep    Run ;    dis. 

Sept.  12,   '65,  disa. 
Temple,  Washington  H.   (R),    (mus.),  16;    painter,    Boston; 

Oct.  7,  '63 ;  desert.  Dec.  5,  '65. 
Teuney,  Benjamin  F.   (R),  28;  blacksmith,  Florida;  Aug.  2, 

'62;  dis.  Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Thomas,  George  W.,  19 ;  farmer,  Nantucket ;  Oct.  26,  '61 ;  re. 

Jan.  2,  '64 ;  wd.  Aug.  16,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  absent 

sick  at  M.  O. 
Tower,  Houghton   (R),  27;  farmer,  Florida;  Aug.  4,   '62;  d. 

of  wounds,  Dec.  4,   '64,  Hampton,  Va. 
Trull,  George  A.  (R),  23;  clerk,  Lexington;  Aug.  9,  '62;  dis. 

Dec.  4,  .'64,  ex.  of  s. 
Walker,  Ephraim,  37 ;  farmer,  Williamstown ;  Oct.  9,  '61 ;  wd. 

Mar.  14,   '62;  dis.  May  9,   '63,  disa.;  later,  Co.  D,  57th 

Mass.  Infantry. 
Walker,  Oliver  H.   (1st  Sergt.),  23;  clerk,  Boston;  July  16, 

'61,  as  Private,  Co.  C,  13th  Mass.  Infantry ;  trans,  to  the 

24th,  Dec.  11,  '62 ;  prom.  2d  Lieut. 
Wartrous,  George  W.,  22 ;  seaman,  Harwich ;  Oct.  8,  '61 ;  wd. 

Mar.  14,  '62 ;  re.  Jan.  2,  '61 ;  cr.  to  Yarmouth ;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,  '66. 
AVashburn,  Justus  W.  F.   (R),    19;    clerk,    Montpelier,    Vt. ; 

Dec.  3,  '63 ;  cr.  to  Boston ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 


496  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Eegiment. 


Corp.  L.  E.  Whitney  (D). 
1st  Sergt.  J.  White  (G). 


Curp..!.  McWliirk  (Di. 
Will.  Canning  (Ul. 


(  urii.  ('.  W.  Partridtre  (D). 
Albert  Allien  (I). 


Weeks,  Samuel,  18;  fisherman,  Gloucester:  Xov.  22.   '61 ;  re. 

Jan.  2,  '61 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Weis,    Joseph,    38 ;    piano-maker,    Boston ;    Oct.    9,    '61 ;   dis. 

,   '62,  disa. 

Westgate,  Cyrus  F.,  25;    nailer,  Warehani;    Oct.  18,   '61;    d. 

May  17,  '62,  Newbern. 
Whitney,  Lewis  E.,  19 ;  bootmaker,  Bellingham ;  Nov.  25,  '61 ; 

Corp.  Jan.  15,  '63 ;  re.  Jan.  2,  '64 ;  d.  of  wounds.  Mar.  3, 

'65,  Bellingham. 
Wilson,  Horace,  43 ;  farmer,  Spencer ;  Nov.  5,   '61 ;  d.  April 

26,  '62,  Newbern. 


Company  E.  497 

Winn,  Andrew  J.,  23;  ,  Gloucester;  Dec.  5,   '61; 

re.  Jan.  2,  '64 ;  cr  .to  Brewster ;  M.  O.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Wortman,  Wm.  B.   (R),  21;    hatter,  Boston;    Nov.    13,    '61; 

Corp;  dis.  Sept.  27,   '62,  disa. 
Wright,  Charles  L.  — ;  ,  Worcester;  Sept.  7,  '61; 

re.  Jan.  2,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Young,  Charles  B.  (R),  31;  shoemaker.  No.  Turner,  Me.;  Jan. 

4,  '64 ;  cr.  to  Abington ;  wd.  Oct.  7,  '64,  Darbvtown  Rd. ; 

dis.  May  25,  '65. 


Company  E. 

captains. 

Charles  H.  Hooper,  25 ;  merchant,  Boston ;  Sept.  2,  '61 ;  prom. 

Major. 
Charles  A.  Folsom,  Jan.  19,  '63 ;  dis.  Sept.  23.   '64,  disa. ;  d. 

Jan.  10,  1905,  Chicago. 
John  A.  Green,  Oct.  15,  '64 :  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANTS. 

Charles  A.  Folsom,  24;    clerk,  Boston;    Sept.    2,    '61;    prom. 

Captain. 
Daniel  Sargent,  Jan.  19,  '63 ;  dis.  Oct.  14,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  Com, 

Captain,  Sept.  3,   '64;    not  mustered;    d.  Feb.  18,  1892, 

Boston ;  b.  Mt.  Auburn. 
John  A.  Green,  Oct.  14,  '64,  from  Co.  A;  prom.  Captain,  the 

next  day. 

SECOND   LIEUTENANTS. 

Daniel  Sargent,  23;  ,  Boston;    Sept.  2,   '61;    wd. 

Mar.  14,   '62,  Newbern ;  prom.  First  Lieutenant. 
Jesse  S.  Williams,    from  Co.  G,   Jan.    19,    '63:    prom.    First 

Lieutenant,  Co.  B. 
John  J.  Wilson,  Sept.  10,  '63;  prom.  1st  Lieut.  Co.  I. 
George  P.  Small,  Mar.  13,  '64;  declined. 
Stephen  F.  Davis,  Jan.  20,  '66;  not  mustered. 
Henry  Scales,  Jan.  20,  '66;  not  mustered. 
:52 


498  TWEXTV-FOURTH    M ASSACl  1  TSKTTS   ReGIMENT. 

NOX-COMMISSIONED   OFFICERS   AND  PRIVATES. 

Asliton.  Henry,  28;  weaver.  Providence,  R.  I.;  Oct.  17,   '61; 

d.  Aug.  21,  '63,  ]\rorris  Island.  S.  C. 
Arvedson,  Wm.  L.   (Sergt.),  28:  blacksmith,  Salem;  Oct.  28, 

"61 ;  wd.  .Mar.  14,  '62,  Newbern :  dis.  Sept.  1,  '62. 
Baker,  Henry   (R),  19;  cutter,  Cambridge:  Auo-.  8,    '62:  re. 

Jan.  4,   '64 ;  desert.  Dec.  4.   '64. 
Barrett.  James,  32;  harness-maker,  Boston;  Oct.  21,  '61;  dis. 

Oct.  24,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Dec.  6,  '94,  Togus,  Me.,  N.  S.  H. 
Bates,  Thomas  S..  18 ;  laborer,  Boston ;  Sept.  8,  '61 ;  dis.  Sept. 

8,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Blair.  John  H.  (R),  27;  gla.ss-eiitter.  Cambridge:  Aug.  8,  '62; 

dis.  Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Blaisdell,  Jonathan  E.,  42;  shoemaker,  Amesbury ;  re.  Jan.  4, 

'64;    cr.  to  Salisbury;    trans.  V.  R.  C.  May  4.   '65;    dis. 

Xov.   15,    '65. 
Boans,  John,  25 ;  laborer,  Boston ;  Xov.  30,   "61 ;  dis.  Xov.  30, 

'64,  ex.  of  s. 
Bonney,  Henry  C,  20 ;  machinist,  Dedham ;  Dec.  2,  '61 ;  Corp. 

X^ov.  10,  '63 ;  wd.  Aug.  16,  '64,  Deep  Run,  Va. ;  dis.  Dec. 

4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Briggs,  Marson  F.  E.,  21:  operative,  Cheshire;  Sept.  7,   '61; 

dis.  Oct.  24,  '63,  disa. 
Brown,  Henrv,  39:  gardener,  Mana^unk,  Pa.:  Sept.  19,  '61: 

d.  May  9,  '64,  N.  Y.  City. 
Burke,  Daniel.   19;    stone-cutter,    Roxbury;    re.  Jan.  4,    '64; 

wd.  Mav  14,    '64,  Drewrv's  Bluff,  Va. ;  M.   O.  Jan.   20, 

Burke,  Michael  J.  (R).  18;  laborer,  Boston;  Feb.  23.  '65;  cr. 

to  Rockport;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
Burnham,  Harlan  P.,  21 ;  sailor,  Essex :  Xov.  7,  '61 ;  dis.  Xov. 

7,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Burns,  John,  18 ;  clerk,  Boston ;  Oct.  5,   '61 ;  k.  Aug.  26,  '63, 

Jlorris  Island,  S.  C. 
Butterfield,  George  W.,  20 :  farmer,  Tyngsboro ;  Sept.  26,  '61 ; 

d.  June  14,  '62.  Washington,  X.  C. 
Campbell,  George  A.,  25;  shoemaker,  Salisbury;  X^ov.  18,  '61; 

dis.  Mar.  4,    '63,  disa. 
Carey,  John  B.,  24;  sailor,  Bowdoinham,  Me. ;.  Sept.  8,   '61; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  wd.  Mar.  14.  '64.  Drewrv's  Bluff:  desert. 

Aug.  6,  '65. 


C03IPAXY    E. 


499 


Lieut.  D.  Sargent  IE». 
Capt.  Win.  Pratt  (C). 


Caiit.  C.  H.  Hooper  (E). 
Lieut.  T.M.  Sweet  (D). 


Lieut.  ('.  A.  Folsom  (E). 
Lieut.  .L  X.  Partridge  (D). 


Cheney,  Johu  W.  (R),  18;  cigar-maker,  Saugus;  Mar.  l-t,  '64; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Chenev.  William,  19;  shoemaker,  Saugus;  Dec.  9,  '61;  re.  Jan. 

4,^  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Clifford,  Jlichard   (R),  26;    awl-finisher,    Ireland;    June    23, 

'64;  wd.  Mav  14,  '64,  Drewry's  Bhiff,  Va. ;  dis.  June  23, 

'65. 
Collins,  Barnard,  31;  weaver.  Fall  River;  Oct.  17,  '61;  desert. 

Dec.  11,  '61. 
Collins,  Joseph  A.,  23;  laborer,  Salisburv;  Dec.  5,    '61;  wd. 

June  5,  '62,  Tranter's  Ck.,  N.  C. ;  wd.  :\ray  14.  '64;  dis. 

Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Cook,  AVilliam,  38;  sailor,  Beverly;  Nov.  1,  '61;  d.  of  wounds, 

May  29,  '64.  Hampton,  Va." 


500  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Kegiment. 

Coolidge,  Oliver  S.,    36;    wood-carver,    Cambridge;    Oct.    17, 

'61 ;  dis.  Oct.  17,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Cranston,  James  R.   (Corp.),  19;  printer,  Pittsfield;  Sept.  9, 

'61;  Sergt.  Aug.  9,  '62;  dis.  Feb.  17,  '65,  (Col.  Higgin- 

son's  book  says,  Aug.  31,   '64),    for    Com.    as    Captain, 

119tli  U.  S.  C.  Infantry;   later   2d   and   1st   Lieut,    and 

Regimental  Q.  M.  in  lOth  Infantry,  U.  S.  A. ;  d.  Aug.  23, 

1888. 
Crosby,  Oliver,  Jr.,  28 ;  farmer,  Boston ;  Sept.  4,  '61 ;  d.  Aug. 

24,  '63,  MorMs  Island,  S.  C. 
Crumley,  George,  26 ;  weaver,  Lonsdale,  R.  I. ;  Sept.  19,  '61 ; 

dis.  Sept.  24,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Cunningham,  David  H.,    18;    shoemaker,   Danvers;    Sept.    3, 

'61;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Daley,  John,  39 ;  stone-cutter,  Boston ;  Nov.  30,   '61 ;  d.  May 

16,  '64,  Hampton,  Va. 
Davis,  John  E.   (Sergt.),  20;  brick-maker,  Somerville;  Sept. 

26,  '61 ;  wd.  Aug.  26,  '63,  Vinegar  Hill,   S.   C. ;  dis.  Nov. 

18,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Davis,  Stephen  F.   (R),  21;    printer,  Boston;    Jan.    1,    '62; 

Corp.  Oct.  12,  '63;    re.  Jan.  4,   '64;   wd.    May   14,    '64; 

Sergt.  Nov.  18,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66 ;  2d  Lieut.  Jan. 

20,   '66 ;  not  mustered. 
Dempsey,  Jeremiah,  33 ;  tailor,  Boston ;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  d.  Jan. 

11,  '65,  a  prisoner  of  war,  Salisbury,  N.  C. 
Derrick,  William,  40 ;  weaver,  Roxbury ;  Oct.  1,  '61 ;  dis.  Oct. 

4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  also  borne  as  Dewick ;  dead. 
Dolan,  Felix,  37 ;  laborer,  Boston ;  Oct.  1,   '61 ;  d.  Aug.  — , 

'63,  Morris  Island,  S.  C. 
Donovan,  Timothy  J.,  19 ;  printer,  Boston ;  Oct.  7,    '61 ;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Driscoll,  John   (R),  19;  brush-maker,  Chelsea;  Mar  19,    '64; 

wd.  Aug.  16,   '64,  Deep  Run;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66;  had 

served  in  Co.  G,  20th  Mass.  Infantry. 
Duffy,  John  G.,  23;  painter,  Boston;  Nov.  30,  '61;  re.  Jan.  4, 

'64 ;  Corp.  Nov.  8,  '64 ;  Sergt.  Mar.  1,  '65 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20, 

'66;  d.  Jan.  5,  '01. 
Dugan,  Patrick,  31 ;  laborer,  Boston ;  Sept.  19,   '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64 ;  wd.  May  14,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Eayrs,  Joseph  H.,  25;  farmer,  Needham;  Nov.  18,   '61;  dis. 

Nov.  17,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  May  20,  1905,  S.  H. 
Edgerly,  Samuel  A.  (Sergt.),  22;  carpenter,  Salem;  Oct.  15, 

'61 ;  dis.  Oct.  15,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 


Company  E.  501 

Fernald,  John  S.,  18 ;  painter,  Boston ;  Nov.  18,   '61 ;  Corp. 

Sept.  1,  '62 ;  d.  Sept.  11,  '62,  Newbern. 
Fitzpatrick,  David,  21 ;  laborer,  Chelsea :  Dec.  5,  '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64 :  wd.  May  14,  '64 ;  ]\r.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Fletcher,  Eeuben  H.,  20:  clerk,  Boston;  Oct.  7,  '61;  re.  Nov. 

30,  '63 ;  cr.  to  Winchester ;  trans,  to  U.  S.  A.  as  Hospital 

Steward,  Nov.  30,  1863. 
Follert,  John  S.,  21;  sailor,  ;  Dec.  5,  '61;  re.  Jan. 

4.  '64;  cr.  to  Salisburv;  Corp.  Aug.  18,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,   '66. 
Fosberrj^,  James,  18 ;  shoemaker,  Boston ;  Dec.  4,  '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  wd.  May  14,  '64;  dis.  July  5,  '65,  disa. 
Gaffney,  James,  18;  printer,  Boston;  Oct.  '61:  dis.  Oct.  6,  '64, 

ex.  of  s. 
Gannett,  John  A.,  33;  merchant,  Boston;  Oct.  17.   '61;  dis. 

April  22,  '62,  disa. 
Gardner,  George  L.,  23;  carpenter,  Hingham;  Sept.  30,   '61: 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Garvey,  John,  24;  spinner.  Fall  River;  Oct.  17,  '61;  d.  Nov. 

— ,   '64,  prisoner  of  war,  Salisbury,  N.  C. 
Gould,  Ezra  P.   (Corp.),  20;    student,    Cambridge;    Oct.  18, 

'61 ;  dis.  Dec.  20,  '63,  for  Com.  as  2d  Lieut,  in  55th  Mass. 

Infantry ;  later  Captain  and  ]\Iajor  in  the  59th ;  trans,  to 

the  57th  and  'M.  0.  from  the  same,  July  30,  '65 ;  d.  Aug. 

22,  1900 ;  b.  Mt.  Auburn. 
Gray,  Wm.  B.,  18 ;  shoemaker.  So.  Acton ;  Sept.  2.   '61 ;  dis. 

July  3,  '64  for  Com.  in  U.  S.  C.  T. 
Gurry,  John,  21 ;  lather,  Roxburv :  Nov.  26,  '61 :  dis.  Sept.  2, 

'62,  disa. 
Haggerty,  Barney,  26 ;  teamster,  Boston ;  Sept.   11,    '61 ;  re. 

.  Janl  4,  '64 ;  desert.  Dec.  19,  '65. 
Hall,  Edw^ard  PI.,  26 ;  saw-manufacturer,  Boston ;  Dec.  6,  '61 ; 

dis.  June  10,  '63,  disa. 
Hathaway,  George  H.  (R),  19;  student,  Boston;  June  3,  '62; 

dis.  Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Head,  Guy  C.   (wagoner),  29;  printer,  Chelsea;  Oct.  7,   '61; 

dis.  Oct.  8,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  May  14,  1890,  Chelsea. 
Heavy,  John,  38:  laborer.  Roxburv;  Oct.  16,   '61;  d.  Aug.  7, 

.'63,  Morris  Island,  S.  C. 
Herk,  James  (R),  30;  laborer,  Saugus;  Aug.  2.  '62:  wd.  Mav 

14,  '64 ;  dis.  Dec!  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s.  ^ 


502  Twenty-fourth  Massaciu'setts  REtiniENT. 

Hicks,  Leander  E.   (R),  18;    machinist.    Winthrop :    Aug.  5, 

'62;  re.  Jan.  4,    '64;  cr.  to  Cambridge:  ]\I.   0.  Jan.  20, 

'66;  d.  Oct.  14,  '88,  S.  H. 
Hobbs,  Joseph  W.,  18 ;  teamster,  Charlestown ;  Dec.  9,    '61 ; 

re.  1st  Seryt.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  prom.  2d  Lieut.  Co.  D. 
Hogan,  Thomas  U.  (R),  23;  gas-fitter,  Boston;  Mar.  18,  '64; 

cr.  to  Chelsea ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Holehoiise.   John.    21;    sailor,    Fall   River;    Dec.    2.    '61,    dis. 

Dec.  3.  '64.  ex.  of  s. 
Holmes,  Thomas  B.    (mus.),  17;  scholar, ;  Sept. 

21,  '61 ;  dis.  Sept.  24,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Hutchins,  Thomas  R.   (R),  19;  laborer.  Dnxburv;  Aug.  31, 

'64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Jennings,  Wm.  0.,  24 ;  farmer.  So.  Adams ;  Sept.  6,   '61 ;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  dead. 
[N.  E.  G.]  Jones,  Wm.  T.    (1st  Sergt),    22;    clerk,    Boston; 

prom.  Sergt.  Major,  (F.  &  S.),  Aug.  9,  '62. 
Keenan,  Charles  II.  (R).  26;  sailor.  Gloucester:  Jan.  14.  '64; 

cr.  to  Gill ;  desert.  Aug.  1,   '65. 
Lee,  John,  44;  shoemaker,  So.  Reading;  Oct.  31.  '61;  dis.  Nov. 

1,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
McPherson,  Daniel  (mus.),  21;  farmer.  So.  Reading;  Sept.  7, 

'61;  principal  musician  of  the  regiment.  ]May  1,   '63;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  cr.  to  Boston;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66;  also  borne 

as  David. 
McQuade,  John,  33 ;  machinist,  Newton ;    Sept.    7.    '61 ;    dis. 

Sept.  8,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Malcom,  Thomas.  28;  carpenter.  Boston:  Sept.  30,  '61;  d.  of 

wounds.  Aug.  28.  '64,  Point  of  Rocks,  Va. 
aiartin,  Wm.  G.  22 ;  servant,  Boston ;  Oct.  1.  '61 ;  dis.  Oct.  8, 

'64,  ex.  of  s. 
Moffitt,  Brvan.  28';  laborer.  Boston;  Nov.  21.   '61;  re.  Jan.  4, 

'64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Moore,  Charles  E.,  19;  hostler.  West  Cambridge;  Dec.  9,  '61; 

Corp.  Sept.  1.   '62;  re.  Jan.  4,   '64;    d.    April    11,    '64, 

Washington,  D.  C. ;  also  borne  as  Charles  J. 
Murphy,  John  H.,  19 ;  weaver,  Providence,  R.  I. :  Dec.  2,  '61 ; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  cr.  to  Boston :  :\I.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Murphv,  Patrick,  35 ;  laborer,  Boston ;  Sept.  26,   '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64 ;  :\I.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  d.  April  30,  "93,  S.  H. 
Niland,  Thomas  A.,  23;  painter,  Boston;  Nov.  30,    '61;  dis. 

Sept.  2.   '62,  disa. ;  later  in  Co.  D,  48th  Penn. ;  d.  April 

1,  '97,  East  Boston. 


CO.MPAXY    E. 


:)();} 


Corp.  J.  B.  O'Brien  (E). 
Scrgt.  S.  A.  Edgerly  (E). 


SiTKt.  C.  !•:.  (irant  (K). 
Sergt.  A.  H.  Knowles  (Ft. 


Sergt.E.  11.  Gilford  (C). 
cori).  S.  B.  Crane  (F). 


Noonan,  John,  32 :  laborer,  Boston ;  Oct.  15,  '61  -,  d.  Aug.  5, 
'63,  Morris  Island,  S.  C. 

O'Brien,  John  B.,  18;  clerk,  Boston;  Oct.  5.  '61;  Corp.  June 
23,  '62;  wd.  Aug.  16,  '64;  dis.  Oct.  5.  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d. 
May  6.  1900,  Boston.  No  name  on  the  regimental  rolls 
better  illustrates  the  saying  that  America  is  but 
another  Avord  for  opportunity.  Born  in  NeAV  Bruns- 
Avick  May  8.  1844.  he  came  to  the  States  when  a  child 
of  two  years.  Enlisting  at  seventeen,  he  did  his  duty 
manfully,  and  was  discharged  from  the  hospital,  where 
he  had  gone  on  account  of  wounds.  In  '65,  entering 
the  office  of  the  .sheriff  as  clerk,  he  remained  till  '72, 
when  he  was  made  a  deputy,  doing  such  excellent  work 
that  in  1883  he  was  elected  sheriff,  and  so  continued 
till  his  death.  Faithful  to  the  end  might  fittingly  be 
inscribed  on  his  tombstone. 

O'Connell,  Thomas,  36;  laborer,  Boston;  Dec.  2,  '61;  d.  Sept. 
20,  '64,  prisoner  of  Avar,  Andersonville,  Ga. 


504  TWENTV-FUURTII    MASSACHUSETTS    ReGIMENT. 

O'Keefe,  David,  18;  type-founder.  Boston;  Dec.  3,    '61;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Palmer,  George  E.,  29 ;  mechanic.  Newton ;  Nov.  29,  '61 ;  dis. 

Nov.  30,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Palmer,  Wm.  H.  H.,  20;  woodenware-maker,  Boston;  d.  Sept. 

30,  '63.  Hilton  Head,  S.  C. 

Patterson,  Thomas,  23;  mason.  Boston;  D§c.  2,   '61;  dis.  Dec. 

4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Parker,  Thomas  E.,  40;  provision-dealer.  So.  Reading;  Oct. 

31,  '61 ;  dis.  Sept.  24,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 

Peasley,  Charles  E.  (R),  18;  brass-finisher,  Cambridge;  July 

8,  '62 ;  dis.  Dec.  8,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Peterson,  Henrv  T.,  18;  hatter,  Boston;  Dec.  2,   '61;  k.  Nov. 

2,  '62,  Rawles'  Mill,  N.  C. 
Reardon,  John  J.,  19;  laborer,  Boston;  Oct.  7,  '61;  re.  Jan.  4, 

'64;  cr.  to  Cambridge;  Corp.  July  30,   '64;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,  '66. 
Reardon,  Timothv,  24;  molder.  So.  Adams;  Oct.  1,  '61;  Corp. 

Oct.  12,  '63  ■  re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  cr.  to  Pittsfield ;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,  '66 ;  d.  Jan.  14,  1893,  Pittsfield. 
Roach,  John,  23 ;  laborer,  Boston ;  Sept.  3,  '61 ;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ; 

wd.  Sept.  20,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Robinson,  Albert  M.   (Corp.),  21;  clerk,  Somerville;  Nov.  9, 

'61 ;  dis.  Nov.  8,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Feb.  14,  1905. 
Robinson,  Tilon  (R),  38;  clerk,  Boston;  Aug.  7.  '62;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64 ;  :\r.  0.  Jan.  20,  '63 ;  dead. 
Saunders,  Thomas,  25 ;    hostler,  Andover ;    Sept.  2,   '61 ;    dis. 

June  10,  '63,  disa. 
Scales,  Henrv  E.,  18;  upholsterer,  Boston;  Oct.  23,,  '61;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  Corp.  April  12,  '64;  Sergt.  Oct.  15,  '64;  1st 

Sei'gt.  June  30,  '65 ;  2d  Lieut.  Jan.  20,  '66  ;  not  mustered ; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Schriver,  David,  20;  tinsmith,  Pittsfield;  Oct.  17,   '61;  trans. 

V.  R.  C.  Nov.  20,  '63 ;  also  borne  as  Scriver. 
Small,  Francis  E.   (R),  19;  clerk,  Cambridge;  July  29,   '62; 

wd.  June  3.  '64,  on  Picket ;  dis.  Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Small,  George  P.   (Corp.),  21;  clerk,  Boston;  Sept.  26,   '61; 

Sergt.  Aug.  1,   '63;  1st  Sergt.  Oct.    12,    '63;    prom.    2d 

Lieut.  Mar.  13,  '64;  declined;  wd.  May  14,  '64;  dis.  Oct. 

8,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Stetson,   Alston  H.,   19;  mechanic,   ^larlboro;   Sept.   12,    '61; 

dis.  ilav  12,  '62,  disa. 


Company  E. 


505 


Stimpson,  Charles  L.  (Corp.),  23;  clerk,  Boston;  Oct.  2,  '61; 

dis.  Dec.  11,   '63,  to  take  Com. 
Stoddard.  Henrv  P..  18:  farmer,  Boston;  Oct.  4.   '61:  Corp. 

Oct.  12.  '63 :  re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Sullivan.  John,  24:  laborer,  Boston:  Sept.  19,   '61:    re.   Jan. 

4,  '64;  d.  of  wounds,  June  10,  '65,  Boston. 
Sweet,  Nathaniel  0.   (R),  26;  machinist,  Salisbuiy;  Aug.  8, 

'62 ;  d.  of  wounds,  June  26,  '64,  Salisbury. 
Thompson,  William   (R),  23;  trader,    Cambridge;    May    23, 

'62 ;  trans,  to  V.  R.  C. ;  d.  Aug.  16,  '64. 
Townsend,  George  W.  (Corp.),  34;  shoedealer.  So.  Reading; 
'    Dec.  5,  '61 ;  wd.  Mar  14,  '62,  Newbern ;  dis.  Oct.  20,  '62, 


Lieut.  Geo.  H.  Higgius  (Hi. 


Corp.  J.  B.  O'Brien  (E». 
IX  L.\TER  YEARS. 


rapt.  \V.  F.  Wiley  (Ki 


disa. ;  had  served  1st  Sergt.  in  Co.  B,  5th  M.  V.  M.  May 

1— July  31,  '61 ;  later  served  as  Sergt.  Co.  C,  59th  Mass. 

Infantry. 
Waitt,  Horace  A.  (Corp.),  23;  Oct.  17,  '61;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '64;  absent  on  furlo,ugh. 
Walker,  Oilman  S.,  (wagoner),  22;  hostler,  Chelsea;  Dec.  .5. 

'61 ;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Walsh,  Patrick  E.,  24;  laborer,  Boston;  Sept.  12,  '61;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64 ;  d.  Oct.  18,  '64,  prisoner  of  war,  Salisbury,  N.  C. 
Warner,  James,  20;  laborer,  Boston;  Nov.  30,   '61;  dis.  Nov. 

30,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Washburn,  W^m.  S.,  43;  farmer,  Falmouth;  Nov.  1,  '61;  dis. 

June  10,  '63,  disa. 


506  TwKNTY-FOURTn  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 

\Yhitteniore,  Wni.  A.    (R),  22 -.  milkman.    West    Cambridge; 

Corp.  May  10,  '62;  re.  Jan.  4.  '64;  dis.  Dec.  11,  '65;  also 

spelled  Whitemore;  dead.    - 
Wilson,  Andrew,  18;  upholsterer.  Cambridge;  Oct.  23,    '61; 

Corp.  Aug.  9,   '62;  Sergt.  Oct.  12,   '63;  re.  Jan.  4,   '64; 

prom.  1st  Lieut.  Co.  A. 
AYilson,  Frank.  18;  paintei-,  Tyngsboro;    Oct.    15,    '61;    dis. 

May  10.    '64,  disa. 
Wilson.  .)t)liii  T.  (X'orp.).  21;  clerk.  Cambridge:  Sept.  26,  '61; 

Sergt.  Sept.  1,  '62:  Sergt.-major    (F.  &  S.),  Aug.  1,  '63; 

prom.  2d  Lieut. 
Woods,  Ceorge  T.,  18 ;  glass-bloAver,  Cambridge ;  Nov.  29,  '61 ; 

re.  Jan.  4,    '64;  d.  of  wounds.  June  24.    '64,  Hampton, 

Va. 
Wvman,  Joseph  H.    (R),  18:  clerk.   Cambridge:  Corp.   Aug. 

12.   "63:  re.  Jan.  4,   '64:  k.  Aug.  16,   "64,  Deep  Run,  Va. 

Company  F. 
captains. 

Robert  F.  Clark^  22;  merchant,  Boston;  Sept.  '61;  res.  Feb. 
5.  '64.  By  occupation  banker  and  broker.  Captain 
Clark  was  the  choice  of  Governor  Russell  as  a  member 
of  the  Police  Commission  for  the  city  of  Boston,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  ten  years,  receiving  a  reap- 
pointment by  Governor  Wolcott,  who  made  him  chair- 
man of  the  board. 

John  N.  Partridge,  Feb.  6,  '64 ;  from  Co.  D ;  wd.  June  14,  '64 ; 
dis.  Sept.  27.  '64,  ex.  of  s.  In  1882  and  3,  Captain 
Partridge  was  Fire  Commissioner  of  the  city  of  Brook- 
lyn, X.  Y..  and  in  1884  and  5  was  Police  Commissioner, 
receiving  both  appointments  from  Mayor  Seth  Low. 
1886  to  1897  he  was  President  of  Brooklyn  &  Newtown 
Street  Railway  Co.;  in  1899  and  1900  he  was  Superin- 
tendent of  PuIdHc  Works.  State  of  New  Y'ork,  appointed 
by  Governor  Roosevelt,  being  reappointed  by  Govern- 
or Odell,  remaining  in  office  till  1901 ;  in  1902  he  was 
Police  Commissioner  of  Greater  New  York,  appointed 
by  Mayor  Low.  In  1868  he  entered  the  Twenty-third 
Regiment  of  National  Guard  of  New  York,  rising 
through  successive  ranks  from  second  lieutenant  to  the 


CO.MPAXY    F. 


50' 


i-oiamaiul  of  the   ri'giineiit.   liolding  tho  same   for   nine 

years,    resigning-    in    1894.     At    present    he    resides    in 

\Vestport.   Conn. 
John  C.  Jones,  Sept.  2,  'G4:  not  mustered;    dis.  as  1st  Lieut. 

Oct.  14,  '64.  ex.  of  s. 
William  J.  O'Brien,  Oct.  15,  "64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANTS. 

Charles  B.  Amory,  20;  clerk,  West  Roxbury;    Sept.    2,    '61; 
prom.  Captain,  Co.  I. 


Lieut.  J.  C.  JoufS. 


I.ic'vit.  ('.  B.  Aiaory. 
cO^rPAXY  F. 


Capt.  R.  F.  <  liiik 


John  C.  Jones,  Sept.  27,  '62;  prom.  Captain. 
William  J.  O'Brien  (I),  Oct.  14,  '64;  prom.  Captain  next  day. 
B.  Frank  Stoddard,  Oct.  14,  '64 :  from  Co.  C ;  prom.  Captain, 
Co.  G. 


SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 


-,  West  Roxbury  -,  Sept.  2,  '61 ; 


John  C.  Jones,  19 ;  — 

prom.  1st  Lieut. 
Edgar  Clough,  Sept.  27,  '62;  k.  May  16,  Drewry's  Bluff,  Va. 
William  Thorne,    July  21,    '64;  ,    Gloucester;    d. 

Aug.  20,  '64;  from  wounds  rec'd  at  Deep  Run,  Va. 
Thomas  H.  Dennis,  Jan.  20.   '66:  not  mustered. 


508  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

non-commissioned  officers  and  privates. 

Atkins,  Philip  D.,  33 ;  painter,  Augusta,  Me. ;  Sept.  26,  '61 ; 

dishonorably  dis.  Jan.  6,  '64. 
Atwill,  James  W.    (Sergt),  19;  clerk.  West  Roxbury,  Sept. 

12,   '61 ;  dis.  Oct.  29,   '62,  for  Com.  1st  Lieut.  1st  N.  C. 

Infantry:   later.   Captain,   ]\Iajor  and  Lieut.    Colonel  in 

same. 
Barry,  Robert  E.    (Corp.),  26;  shoemaker,  Randolph;   Sept. 

17,   '61;  dis.  Jan.  25,   '64,  disa. ;  d.  Nov.  10,   '83,  Togus, 

Me.,  N.  S.  H. 
Bates,  Samuel  H.    (Corp.),  40;  farmer,  West  Roxbury;  Oct. 

8,  '61  ;  dis.  as  1st  Sergt.  for  Com.,  2d  Lieut.  56th  Mass. 

Infantry;  dead. 
Baxter,  George  H.,  37;  farmer,  Newton;  Oct.  19,  '61;  k.  June 

5,  '62,  Tranter's  Ck,  N.  C. 
Beggs,  William  (R),  38;  laborer,  Charlestown ;  July  21,  '62; 

dis.  Oct.  3,  '62,  disa. 
Billings,  Ernestine,  24 ;  varnisher,  Boston ;  Oct.  24,   '61 ;  wd. 

Mar.  14,  '62 ;  dis.  Oct.  3,  '62,  disa. ;  d.  Oct.  3,  1906. 
Brady,  Patrick  (R),  25;  laborer,  Boston;  Aug.  4,  '62;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  cr.  to  Dorchester;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66;  dead. 
Brady,  Thomas,  38 ;    mechanic,  Neponset ;    Nov.    8,    '61 ;    re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  cr.  to  Dorchester;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Braman,  Frank  A.,  21 ;  boatman,  Boston ;  Sept.  9,   '61 ;  dis. 

Sept.  15,  '63,  disa. 
Brothers,  Joshua   (R),  33;  porter,  Boston;  Aug.  8,    '62;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66  ■  d.  Mar.  18,  '98,  S.  -H. 
Brown,  Frank  C,  36;  mason,  Springfield;  Sept.   12,    '61;  k. 

:Mar.  14,   '62,  Newbern. 
Buckley,  Jeremiah  C.    (R),  21;  bootmaker,   Randolph;   May 

19,  '62;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  Corp.  July  10,  '65;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,  '66. 

Bullard,  John  E.  (Corp.),  22 ;  clerk,  Boston  ;  Sept.  13,  '61 ;  dis- 

as  Sergt.  Sept.  13,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Callahan,  Thomas,  40 ;  farmer,  Boston ;  Nov.  8,  '61 ;  dis.  Nov. 

8,   '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Carey,  Edward  M.,  18 ;  cooper,  Boston ;  Oct.  29.  '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Carr,  Charles,  24 ;  mariner,  Chelsea ;  Nov.  23,  '61 ;  dis.  April 

19,  '62,  disa. 


Company  F.  :)()9 

Clark,  Robert,  35;  cottoii-dresser,  Springfield;  Oct.  24,    '61; 

wd.  Mar.  14,  '62  and  Aug.  16,  '64,  Deep  Rim,  Va. ;  dis. 

Oct.  24,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Clark,  AVilliam  E..  33;  salesman,  Boston;  Nov.  5,  '61;  dis.  as 

Sergt.  Nov.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Jan.  11,  1903,  Togus,  Me., 

N.  S.  H. ;  as  "Knapsack"  in  the  Boston  Traveller,  and 

Rix  in  the  Lynn  Reporter,  Clark's  letters  in  war  times 

excited  a  deal  of  interest  in  the  regiment,  possibly  all  the 

more  because  of  inabilitv  to  find  out  who  wrote  them. 
[N.  E.  G.]    Clough,  Edgar  ^st  Sergt),  23;    Sept.    2,    '61; 

prom.  2d  Lieut. 
Cockley,  William  (R),  25;  blacksmith,  Boston;  Jan.  21,  '65; 

cr.  to  Hadley ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Colby,  James  L.   (Corp.),  36;  machinist,  Framingham;  Oct. 

11,  '61 ;  dis.  Oct.  11,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Conway,  Thomas,  19;  groom,  Hingham;  Oct.  22,  '61;  dis.  Oct. 

22,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  July  23,  '88,  Togus,  Me.,  N.  S.  H. 
Cook,  Horace  W.   (R),  18;  farmer,  Claremont,  N.  H. ;  cr.  to 

Charlestown,  Jan.  26,  '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Corniffe,  Patrick,   21 ;  baker,  Boston ;   Nov.   22,    '61 ;   desert. 

Dec.  12,  '61. 
Crane,  Silas  B.,  18;  japanning,  Canton;  Oct.  22,  '61;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  Corp.  May  1,  '64;>M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Cronin,  Maurice,  21 ;  butcher,  Boston ;  Oct.  1,  '61 ;  wd.  Aug. 

16,  '64 ;  dis.  Oct.  14,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Croscup,  Joseph,  20;  shoemaker,  Lynn;    Oct.    14,     '61;    dis. 

July  27,   '62,  disa. 
Croscup,    ]\Ielbourne    (Corp.),    21;    morocco-dresser,    Lynn; 

Sept.  27,  '61;  k.  June  5,  '62,  Tranter's  Ck,  N.  C. 
Cummings,  Horatio  N.  (Corp.),  34;  mason,  Chelsea;  Oct.  14, 

'61 ;  dis.  Oct.  14,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Cunningham,  Wm.  T.,  30 ;  dyer,  Lawj-ence ;  Oct.  12,  '61 ;  dis. 

Jan.  5,  '65. 
Currier,  Harrison,  19 ;  clerk,  Portsmouth,  N.  H. ;  Oct.  23,  '61 ; 

d.  Mar.  13,  '62,  on  U.  S.  S.  Vidette. 
Damren,  Robert  D.,  21 ;  farmer,  Maine ;  Sept.  30,  '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '61 ;  M.  0.  Jau.  20,  '66. 
Davenport,  Charles,  30 ;  Oct.  24,  '61 ;  dis.  Oct.  30,  '64,  ex.  of 

s. ;  d.  Feb.  24,  '81,  Togus,  Me.,  N.  S.  H. 
Dennis,  Thomas  H.,  21;    fisherman,  Swampscott;    Sept.    27, 

'61;  Corp.  Oct.  2,   '62;  re.  Jan.  4,   '64;  Sergt.  July  15, 

'64 ;  1st  Sergt.  Dec.  6,  '66 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  prom.  2d 

Lieut.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  not  mustered. 


510 


TWEXTY-FOURTPI    MASSACHUSETTS    Rp:GIMENT. 


Donahue,  John  (R),  21;  slater.  Boston;  Jnly  22,  '62;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  desert.  Dec.  26.   '65. 
Donnahv.  Jerrv,  37 ;  laborer.  Greenfield ;  Sept.   10.    '61 ;  dis. 

Sept.  30,   '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Dow,  James  J.   (R),  22;    clerk,  Boston;    Aug.  15,   '62;    k.  as 

Corp.  Aug.  16,  '64,  Deep  Run,  Va. ;  b.  Mt.  Auburn. 
Downing,  Edward   (R),  25;  carriage-painter;    en.    Bermuda 

Hundred,  Ya. ;  cr.  to  Roxbury,  Jan.  15,  '65 ;  desert.  Aug. 

17,   '65. 
Doyle,  James  (R),  27;  shoemaker,  Boston;  July  27,   '62;  re. 

Jan.  4.   '64;  dis.  Nov.  15.   '65,  disa. 


Bvt.-Ma.i.  c.  H.  Aiiior.v. 


('<i|it..T.  T.  Prince  (D) 

1907. 


Ciipt.  R.  F.  cliirk  IF). 


EUard,  Owen  (R),  37;  tailor,  Bermuda  Hundred,  Va. ;  cr.  to 

Boston,  Jan.  16.   '65;  dis.  Jan.  15,   ^66,  one  year's  man; 

d.  Apr.  28.  1901.  Dayton,  0..  X.  S.  H. 
Ewer,  Henrv,  18 ;  salesman.  Boston ;  Oct.  14.   '61 ;  dis.  Mar. 

25,  '63,"  disa. 
Feather,  George.  34;  manufacturer,  Boston;  Oct.  30.  '61;  wd. 

June  5,  '62,  Newbern ;  dis.  Sept.  22,  '62,  disa. 
Ferguson,  James,  40 ;  laborer.  Boston ;  Sept.  4,   '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66 ;  d.  Lynn. 
Figges,  Thomas  (H),  21;  teamster.  Chelsea:  Jan.  3,   '65;  cr. 

to  Blandford;  desert.  Oct.  16,   '65. 
Finnegan,  Edward  A.    (mus.).  16:    clerk,  Boston;    Sept.   16, 

'61 ;  dis.  Sept.  18,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  dead. 


OoMPAXV  F.  r)!! 

Fold.  Charles  II..  37:  farnier.  Pembroke:   Nov.  2.1.    '61:  dis. 

Nov.  25.  '64.  ex.  of  s. 
Ford.  Stephen   (R).  24;  clerk.  Boston:    Feb.    2.    'i6o:    or.    to 

AVest  Boylston  :  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Foxeroft,  George  A.,  20:  salesman.  Boston;  Xov.  8.   '61:  dis. 

Nov.  7.  '64.  ex.  of  s. :  had  served  in  Co.  D.  8th  M.  V.  :\I.. 

April  30— Aug.  1.   '61;  d.  .May  25.  1907.  Winthrop. 
Calvin.  Timothv,  35;  ma.son.  Boston;  Sept.  25,   "61:  dis.  Julv 

14.  '62,  disa. 
(iilbert,  George  R.  (R).  18;  painter.  Gloucester:  July  28.  '62; 

re.  Jan.  4.   '64;  Corp.  Mar.  1.   '65;  Sergt.  Sept.  2.   '6o: 

:\I.  0.  Jan.  20.   '66;  dead. 
Gilbert,  J.  Frederick,  21:  sailmaker.  Gloucester:  Xov.  15.  '61: 

dis.  Dec.  8,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Glassett,  John.  30;  laborer.  Boston:  Oct.  28,  "61:  wd.  Mar.  14. 

'62 ;  re.  Jan.  4,  '61 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66. 
Gould.  Clement   (R),  21;  clerk,  Orleans:  Aug.  18,   '62;  dis. 

Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  had  served  in  the  Xavy. 
Gould.  Joshua  (R),  23:  tinsmith.  Orleans:  Aug".  18.   '62:  d. 

April  4,   '64,  Boston. 
Gray,  John  A.    (Corp.),  25;  bookbinder,    Boston:    Sept.    13, 

61 :  dis.  as  Sergt.  Sept.  13,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  dead. 
Grier,  Thomas,  27 :  stone-cutter,  Boston :   Sept.    24.     "61 ;    d. 

:\Iay  13,  '62,  Xewbern. 
Grover.  AndreAv,  34;  shoemaker,  Stoughton;  Oct.  11,  '61:  dis. 

Feb.  11,  '64,  disa. :  d.  Sept.  7.  1904. 
Haggei'ty,  .John,  Jr.,  18 :  farmer,  Springfield :  Sept.  10.   '61 : 

dis.  Sept.  10,  '64.  ex.  of  s. 
H.eafy,  John,  27;  laborer,  Boston:    Sept.  4,   "61:    re.    Jan.  4, 

'64 ;  d.  of  wounds,  Sept.  14,  '64,  Ft.  ]\Ionroe.  Ya. 
Henderson  Roderick  (R),  42;  dyer,  Lawrence:  Xov.  24,   '63; 

missing  in  action,  Aug.  16,   '64.    Deep    Run.    Ya. ;    had 

served  in  Co.  F,  28th  ]\Iass.  Infantry. 
Higgins,  George  A.,  18;  teamster,  Lvnn;  re.  Jan.  4.   '64:  wd. 

Oct.  13,  '64;  prom.  1st  Lieut.  Co.  H. 
Hilborn,  Murray,  28;  ,  Boston:  Oct.  8,    '61;  dis. 

Oct.  8,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Howarth,  John  (R),  19;  polisher.  Xew  Haven,  Ct. ;  Jan.  21, 

'65 ;  cr.  to  Sunderland ;  dis.  April  25,  '65.  0.  W.  D. 
Howe,  William,  32 :  laborer,  Readville :    Sept.    16.    '61 :    dis. 

Sept.  16,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Hubbard,  Benjamin  F.,  34 ;  engineer,  Boston ;  Xov.  28,    '61 ; 

dis.  Xov.  28,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 


512  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Johnson,  William  J.  (Serot.),  22;  mai-iner,  Xahant:  Sept.  11, 
'61 ;  dis.  July  31,  '63. 

Jones,  Thomas  B.  (R),  21;  grocer.  Boston;  ^^lar.  15,  '64; 
M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 

Jones,  AVilliam,  40;  weaver,  Boston;  Oct.  11,  '61;  k.  Mar.  14, 
'62,  Newbem. 

Keeling.  George  F..  18;  seaman.  Middleton;  Oct.  22,  '61;  re. 
Jan.  4,  '64;  cr.  to  Canton;  M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66. 

Kelleher,  Cornelius,  27 ;  shoemaker,  Randolph ;  Dec.  3,  '61 ; 
wd.  Mar.  14,  '62 ;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 

Kelleher,  James  (R),  36;  coachman,  Boston;  Jan.  21,  '65;  cr. 
to  Ashfield;  desert.  April  17,  '65. 

Kemp,  Arthur,  30 ;  net-maker,  Brookline ;  Nov.  2,  '61 ;  wd 
May  16,  '64 ;  dis.  May  3,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Sept.  19,  1902 

King,  George  R.  (R),  19;  soap-maker,  Boston;  Julv  31.  '62 
re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  Corp.  May  1,  '64;  Avd.  Aug."^  16,  '64 
Sergt.  May  1,  '65 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  d.  Feb.  25,  1889 

King,  Joseph,  18 ;  lamplighter,  Boston ;  Oct.  30,  '61 ;  wd.  Oct 
13,  '64;  dis.  Oct.  31,  '61,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Sept.  28,  1906,  Wil- 
mington. 

Knight,  Charles  A.,  19 ;  shoemaker,  Lynn ;  Nov.  15,  '61 ;  re. 
Jan.  4,  '64 ;  desert.  Aug.  24,  '65. ' 

Knowles,  Alfred  H.,  19  ;  tinpl ate- worker,  Orleans ;  Oct.  7,  '61 ; 
Corp.  Mar.  10,  '62 ;  Sergt.  Oct.  1,  '62 ;  dis.  for  Com.  as  2d 
Lieut.  54th  Mass.  Vols.,  Sept.  7,  '63 ;  1st  Lieut.  :\rar.  4.  '64 ; 
Capt.  Dec.  '64;  not  mustered;  wd.  Dec.  9,  '64;  dis.  Feb. 
22,  '65,  disa. ;  later  volunteer  aide  on  the  staffs  of  Gen- 
eral J.  G.  Parke,  9th  A.  C.  and  General  H.  G.  Wright, 
6th  A.  C. ;  reached  home  finally,  June  4,  '65 ;  was  the  first 
to  enlist  from  Orleans,  and  the  last  to  return. 

Leighton,  James  G.,  35 ;  machinist,  Augusta,  ]Me. ;  Sept.  26, 
'61 ;  dis.  Sept.  26,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 

Leonard,  Jonathan  W.,  18;  shoemaker,  Pembroke;  Nov.  25, 
'61 ;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  desert.  Aug.  17,  '65. 

Lines,  Samuel,  32 ;  Oct.  26,  '61 ;  k.  Mar.  14,  '62,  Newbem. 

Luzarder,  John,  25 ;  mariner,  Quincy ;  Nov.  2,  '61 ;  dis.  July 
15,  '62,  disa. ;  later  in  Co.  G,  42d  and  Co.  D,  56th  Mass. 
Infantrv ;  also  borne  as  Lewzarder ;  d.  Aug.  21,  1891, 
S.  H.     ^ 

Lyon,  William  (wagoner),  28;  teamster,  West  Roxbury;  Oct. 
2,  '61;  wd.  Mar.  14,  '62;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20, 
'66 ;  d.  May  20,  '98,  S.  H. 


Company  F. 


513 


(  orp..l.  Pcnderg-ast  (Fi. 

G.  K.  Keeling  (Fi. 


.1.  K.  P.ullarrt  iFl. 


Corp.  T.  H.  Dennis  IFI 
K.  Lawton  (D). 


Lyons,  Michael,  24 ;  laborer,  Boston ;  Oct.  5,  '61 ;  wd.  Aug.  14, 

'64 ;  dis.  Feb.  26,  '65,  0:  W.  D. ;  d.  Feb.  6,  1875,  Dayton, 

Ohio,  S.  N.  H. 
McCormick,  Michael,  37;  laborer,  Boston;  Sept.  4,   '61;  dis. 

Sept.  10,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
McElhenny,  Frank.  18 ;  teamster,  Boston ;  Nov.  25,  '61 ;  shot 

for  desertion.  Deep  Bottom,  Va.,  Aug.  8,  '64. 
McGeary,  John,  22 :  laborer,  Boston ;  .Nov.  15,  '61 ;  dis.  Nov. 

15,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
McGovrin,  Patrick,  30;  laborer,  Boston;  Sept.  4.  '61;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
McGrath,  Michael,  42:  laborer,  Brookline;  Oct.  11,   '61;  dis. 

Oct.  11,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Mclntire,  James  (K),  20;  plasterer,  Boston;  Aug.  6,  '62;  dis. 

Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
33 


514         Twenty-fourth  IMassachusetts  Regiment. 

Marsha]!,  John.  30;  plasterer.  Boston;  Nov.  16.  '61;  wd.  ]\Iar. 

11,  '62,  Newbern ;  dis.  Oct.  29,  '63,  disa. 
Morgan,  William.  39;    machinist.  Cambridge;    Oct.    21.    '61; 

dis.  Oct.  21,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Neil,  Lawrence,  21 ;  laborer,  Bermuda  Hundred,  Va. ;  cr.  to 

Boston,  Jan.  16,  '65;  dis.  Jan.  16.  '66,  ex.  of  s. ;  one  year's 

man. 
Newbury,  Henry,  26 ;  farmer,  Billerica :  Nov.  22.    '61 ;  d.  of 

Avounds,  Aug.  29,  '64,  Ft.  Monroe,  Va. 
Newcomb,  Thomas  J..  21;  painter,  Quincy;  Oct.  19.  '61;  dis. 

Jan.  16,   '64,  disa. 
Norcross,  George  W.,  24;  provision-dealer,  Boston:  Aug.  8, 

'62 ;  dis.  Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
O'Brien,  Michael,  29;  fisherman.  Boston:  Nov.  29,   '61:  dis. 

Nov.  26,  '62,  disa. 
O'Brien,  Patrick,  39;  laborer,  Boston;  Oct.  5,   '61;  dis.  Dec. 

6,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
O'Brien,  Richard,  28;  shoemaker,  Randolph;  Dec.  3,  '61;  dis. 

Aug.  27,  '62,  disa. 
Ogden,  F.  Gilbert  (Corp.),  23:  clerk,  Boston;  Oct.  9,  '61;  dis. 

Mar.  8,  '63  for  Com.  1st  Lieut,  and  Adjt.  48th  M.  V.  M., 

and  the  same  in  the  58th  Mass.  Infantiy;  k.  at  Spott- 

sylvania,  May  12,  '64. 
Owens,  Dennis,  19 ;  shoemaker,  Lynn ;  Nov.  18,  '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  dis.  as  exchanged  prisoner,  June  17,  '65,  0.  W.  D. 
Owens,  Joseph  ( Corp. ) ,  38  ;  morocco-dresser,  Boston ;  Oct.  2, 

'61 ;  wd.  May  16,  '64 ;  dis.  Oct.  1,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Packard,  Herman  E.,  34;  music-teacher.    No.    Bridgewater; 

Oct.  17,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  31,  '64,   to  re-enlist  as  Hospital 

steward. 
Palmer,  Charles  0.,  20 ;  shoemaker,  Lynn ;  Oct.  23.    '61 :  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64 :  dishonorably  dis.  Nov.  18.  '65 :  dead. 
Parker,  Charles  I,  19 ;  farmer,  Stockbridge ;  Sept.  17,  '61 ;  dis. 

Sept.  5,  '62,  to  take  Com. 
Pendergast,  Jesse,  25 ;  cabinet-maker,   Truro ;  Nov.   18,    '61 ; 

wd.  June  17,   '64,  on  picket:  dis.  as  Corp.  Nov.  18,  '64, 

ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Feb.  6,  '97,  Reading. 
Pillan,  James  (R),  19;  boatman,  Troy,  N.  Y. ;  cr.  to  Ashfield, 

Jan.  14,  '65;  M.  O.  Jan.  20,  '66.' 
Pollard,  James  (R),  19; ,  Bermuda  Hundred,  Va. ; 

Jan.  16,  '65;  dis.  Jan.  16,  '66;  one  year's  man. 


("o.Mi'AXV  F.  515 

Powers.  Jt'ft'ry   (R).  36;  laborer.  Boston;  Jiilv  27.    '62;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Rahel.  John  (R),  19;  clerk,  Boston;  Jan.  31,  '65;  cr.  to  Lynn; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Roberts,   Charles  H.,   22;  mariner,  Falmouth;  Nov.   23,    '61; 

desert.  Dec.  25,  '61. 
Robinson,  Charles  G.,  23;  clerk,  Chelsea;  Oct.  22.    '61;  dis. 

Oct.  22,  '64,  as  Corp.,  ex.  of  s. 
Rolland,  Jean  (R).  19;  sailor,  Bermuda  Hundred,  Ya. ;  cr.  to 

Boston.  Jan.  16,  '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  16,  '66,  one  year's  man. 
Schneider,  Jacob  (R).  23;  laborer,  Bermuda  Hundred,  Va. ; 

cr.  to  Boston.  Jan.  16,  '65 ;  desert.  Aug.  17,  '65,  en.  for 

one  year. 
Schofield,  Edward,  25 ;  shoemaker.  New  York ;  cr.  to  Lynn ; 

Jan.  30,  '65;  desert.  Aug.  17,  '65. 
Seaman,  George  N.  (mus.),  16;  student,  Boston;  Sept.  17,  '61; 

dis.  Sept.  18,   '64,  ex.  of  s. ;    d.  April    1905,    St.    Croix, 

Danish  West  Indies. 
Seaver,  Nathan  H.,  21 ;  clerk,  Roxbury ;  Oct.  29,  '61 ;  captured 

by  the  enemy  j\Iay  16,  '64,  Drewry's  Bluff;  recaptured  by 

the  Union  forces,  Dec.  28,   '64,  and  sent  to  Alton,  111. ; 

finally  dis.  June  7,  '65 ;  dead. 
Sheridan,  Patrick,  37 ;  laborer,  Boston ;  Sept.  4.  '61 ;  d.  July 

31.   '63.  Morris  Island,  S.  C. 
Small,  John  Y.,  35;  steward,  Boston;  Nov.  8,   '61;  dis.  Nov. 

5,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 

Smith,  Henry  C,  36;  carpenter,  Boston;  Nov.  20,   '61;  dis. 

Oct.  29.  ''62,  disa. 
Snell,  George  B.,  18 ;  laborer,  Dedham ;  Sept.  4,  '61 ;  dis.  Sept. 

17,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  later  in  Co.  D,  1st  U.  S.  Vet.  Vols. 
Snow,  Shubael  (R),  28-  May  22,   '62;  wd.  Oct.  14,  '64;  dis. 

]\Iay  18,  '65,  ex.  of  s. 
Sullivan,  John  (R),  25;  farmer,  Bermuda  Hundred,  Va. ;  cr. 

to  Lowell,  Jan.  16,   '65 ;  en.  for  one  year ;  dis.  Nov.  23, 

'65.  S.  0.  No.  245,  Headquarters,  Dept.  of  the  East,  Dec. 

6,  1870. 

Sullivan,  Timothy  J.  (R),  21;  printer,  Boston;  July  22,  '62; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  d.  as  Corp.,  of  wounds,  Oct.  13,  '64,  Deep 

Bottom,  Va. 
Sweeting.  Putnam  J.,  27;  sign-painter,  Weymouth;  Oct.  25, 

'61 ;  dis.  Oct.  30,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 


516         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


,1.  W.  Lt'onard. 


C.  ().  Palmer. 
COMPANY   F. 


.Sergt.  <;.  K.  Kiii^ 


Taylor,  Robert  (R),  23;  farmer,  Bermuda  Hmidred,  Va. ;  cr. 

to  Boston;  Jan.  16,  '65;  desert.  Aug.  17,  '65. 
[N.  E.  G.]-    Thompson,  George  J.  (Sergt.),  22;  clerk.  West 

Roxbury;  Sept.  18,  '61;  dis.  as  1st  Sergt.  April  18,  '63, 

for  Com. ;  2d  Lieut.  2d  Mass.  Infantry ;  later  1st  Lieut. 

and  Captain  in  same ;  d.  Sept.  26,  1882,  Jamaica  Plain, 

Mass. 
Thome,  William,  — ; .    Gloucester;    Dec.   4,    '61; 

prom.  2d  Lieut. 
Tuttle,  William  Y.,  42 ;  baker,  Bridgewater ;  Oct.  14,  '61 ;  dis. 

Oct.  14,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Upton,  George  H.,  22;  shoemaker,  Springfield;  Oct.  21,   '61; 

dis.  Oct.  21,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Vaughn,  John  (Corp.),  26;  laborer,  Dedham;  Nov.  29,   '61; 

wd.  June  5,   '62 ;  dis.  Mar.  8,   '63,  disa. ;  later  in  Co.  A, 

59th  Mass.  Infantry;  d.  Nov.  5,  1906. 
Walton,  Thomas,  27 ;  machinist,  Taunton ;  Oct.  30,   '61 ;  dis. 

Oct.  30,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Wesley,  Edward  L.,  21,  clerk,  Boston ;  Nov.  15,   '61 ;  desert. 

Dec.  25,  '62. 
Wherity,  Nicholas,  20 ;  fisherman,  Scituate ;  Oct.  19,   '61 ;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  wd.  May  16,  '64,  Drewry's  Bluff;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,  '66 ;  d.  Dec.  29,  '92,  Scituate. 
Woolley,  Lucien  J.,  22;  clerk,  West  Roxbury;  Aug.  11,  '62; 

desert.  July  18,  '63. 


Company  G.  517 

Company  G. 

On  the  merging,  June,  '65,  of  the  remnant:^  of  the  Twenty-fourth, 
Thirty-fourth  and  Fortieth  regiments,  79  of  tlie  latter  two  organizations 
became  a  new  Company  G,  while  the  men  of  the  Twenty-fourth  were 
transferred  to  Company  D,  and    thence  in  due  time  were  discharged. 

CAPTAINS. 

Edward  C.  Richardson,  21;  merchant,  Boston;  Sept.  2,  '61; 
prom.  Major. 

Thomas  F.  Edmands,  June  16.  '64,  from  Co.  B;  wd.  Aug.  16, 
'64,  Deep  Run ;  prom.  Major. 

James  ^l.  Barnard,  Sept.  3,  '64;  dis.  as  1st  Lieut.  Oct.  31, 
'64,  ex.  of  s.  Engaging  in  business  with  his  former  cap- 
tain, E.  C.  Richardson,  in  Savannah,  he  continues  to 
reside  where  the  greater  part  of  his  active  life  has  been 
spent. 

B.  Frank  Stoddard,  April  10,  '65,  from  Co.  F ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20, 
'66. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANTS. 

Albert  Ordway,  19 ;  student,  Dorchester ;  Sept.  2,  '61 ;  prom. 
Captain,  Co.  I. 

James  M.  Barnardj^  Feb.  6,  '64 ;  prom.  Captain. 

George  W.  LeFavor,  from  Co.  H,  Oct.  14,  '64 ;  prom.  Captain, 
Co.  I. 

John  W.  Martin,  from  Co.  D.  Nov.  14,  '64 :  res.  Dec.  18,  '65, 
from  Co.  D. 

Jere  Horton,  June  16,  '65 ;  dis.  Aug.  11,  '65,  0.  W.  D.  Com. 
as  Captain,  June  17 ;  not  mustered. 

Eben  H.  Dadd,  from  Co.  H,  Aug.  18,  '65;  appointed  Quarter- 
master. 

John  L.  Fox,  Dec.  20,  '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS. 

James  M.  Barnard,  21 ;  clerk,  Boston ;  Sept.  2,  '61 ;  prom.  1st 

Lieut. 
Jere  Horton,  teacher,  Westfield;  original  2d  Lieut.   Co.   H, 

34th  Regt. ;  from  the  34th,  June  16,  '65 ;  prom.  1st  Lieut. 
John  L.  Fox,  from  1st  Sergt.  Aug.  18,  '65;  prom.  1st  Lieut. 
Thomas  Harty,  Jan.  20,  '66 :  not  mustered. 


518         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


Lieut.  Albert  Ordway. 


('apt.  E.  <■    l;i(  hai'lMiii 
COMPANY   (t. 


Litiit.  .1.  M.  Biirnard. 


NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS  AND  PRIVATES. 


Atkins.  Charles  R..  26 :  musician,  New  Bedford ;  Sept.  23,  '61 ; 

dis.  Aug'.  13,  '62,  disa. 
Atkinson,  John  F.,  23;  bootmaker,  Stonghton ;  May  23,   '62; 

d.  as  Corp.  Nov.  17,  '63,  St.  Augustine.  Fla. 
Ballon,  Darius  A.,  25 ;  farmer,  Wrentham ;  Nov.  15.   '61 ;  dis. 

Nov.  23,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Bateman,  Robert  S.   (Corp.),  18;  farmer,  Dedham :  Sept.  12, 

'61 ;  dis.  Aug.  30,  '63,  disa. 
Bates,  James  T.    (Corp.),    (R),   21;  student,  Massachusetts; 

date  of  first  enlistment  not  giv^en;    re.   Jan.   4,  '64;  dis. 

April  S,  '64,  for  Com.  in  U.  S.  C.  T. ;  also  James  P.  and  F. 
Beals,  William  W.,  18;  farmer,  Williamstown ;  Oct.  13,   '61; 

desert.  Dec.  1,  '61. 
Blanchard,  George  N.,  18;  farmer,  Easton;  Sept.  24,   '61;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64 ;  wd.  May  24,  '64,  on  picket ;  dis.  from  Co.  D, 

Oct.  9,  '65,  disa. 
Brittan,  Richard,  42 ;  farmer,  Wrentham ;  Dec.  3,  '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  D. 
Brown,  Jeremiah  N.    (R),  21;  farmer,  Dighton;   Corp.  May 

20,  '62 ;  dis.  Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  1904. 
Bullard,  Frederic  H.,  18;  shoemaker,  Natick;  Nov.  22,    '61; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  cr.  to  Marlboro;  M.  O.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  D; 

d.  Aug.  9,  '07,  Cleveland,  Tenn. 


Company  (t.  'A9 

Burnham.  Arthur,  27;  jiaiiitcr.  Boston;  Oct.  28,  '61;  dis.  Oct. 

28.  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Carruthers,  Robert    (Corp.),  22;  clerk.  West  Newton;  Nov. 

14.  '61 ;  re.  Jan.  4.  '64 ;  Sergt. -major.  Jnly  1,  '64. 
Carter,  Galen  A.  (R),  42;  carpenter.  Weymouth;  Jan.  4,  '64; 

d.  of  wounds.  Sept.  18.  '64,  Ft.  ^Monroe,  Va. 
Cobb.  Alfred  0.   (Corp.),  19;  farmer,    Wrentham;    Oct.    12, 

'61 ;  wd.  Mar.  14,  '62 ;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  ^L  0.  Jan.  20,  '66, 

Co.  D. 
Cone,  Washinfi^ton  S..  27,  blacksmith.  Williamstown ;  Oct.  17, 

'61 ;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  D. 
Conve,   Patrick,  40:   carpenter,   Dedham ;   Sept.   20,    '61;   re. 
'jan.  4,  '64;  wd.  Aug.  14,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  D; 

d.  Nov.  11,  1889.  Dedham. 
Crosby,  Wm.  H.,  18 ;  sword-polisher,  Springfield ;  Nov.  6,  '61 ; 

re.    Jan.  4,   '64;    desert.    Aug.    17,    '65,    Richmond,    Va., 

Co.  D. 
Cummings,  Frederic  S..   18 ;  mariner,  Berkley ;   date  of  first 

enlistment,  not  found;  re.  Jan.  4.   '61;  cr.  to  Taunton; 

wd.  May  16,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  4,   '66,  Co.  D. 
Dean,  Abiathar,  31;  molder,  Taunton;  Oct.  11,   '61;  dis.  Oct. 

12,   '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Aug.  9,   '06,  Taunton. 
Delva.  James  D.,  23;  lumberer,  Warwick;  Oct.  1,   '61;  d.  of 

wounds,  Aug.  25.  '64.  Beverly,  N.  J. 
Diekerman,  Irving,  18;  shoemaker,  Easton ;  Oct.  12,   '61;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  cr.  to  Berkley;  :\r.  0.  Jan.  20.   '66,  Co.  D. 
Dorgin,  Lawrence,   28 ;   machinist,   Sharon ;   Oct.  2,    '61 ;   dis. 

Oct.  2,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Dorman,  Darius  C,  43 ;  farmer,  Williamstown ;  Oct.  13,   '61 ; 

dis.  Aug.  6,  '62,  disa. 
Drew,   Dennison   S.,   21 ;   shoemaker,   Easton ;    Sept.    24,    '61 ; 

dis.  Nov.  24,   '62,  disa. 
Drew,  Henry  F.,  29 ;  farmer,  Easton ;  Sept.  23,   '61 ;  d.  Nov. 

1,  '63,  Port  Royal.  S.  C. ;  also  Henry  T. 
Dusenbury,  Robert  0.    (Corp.),  24;  marble-cutter,  Sheffield; 

Nov.  19,  '61 ;  d.  April  6,  '62.  Newbern. 
Eagleton,  Charles,  26;  blacksmith,  Berkley;  Nov.  14,  '61;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  cr.  to  Andover;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66,  Co.  D. 
Ellis,  George  W.,  35 ;  farmer,  Freetown ;  Oct.  7.  '61 ;  dis.  May 

1.  '63,  disa. 
Fairbanks:  James  ^I.  (R).  21;  painter,  So.  Reading;  July  17, 

'62;  accidentallv  shot  in  foot.  June.  '63;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66,  Co.  D. 


520         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Fairbanks,  Steven,  28  ; ,  So.  Reading ;  Dec.  1,  '61 ; 

dis.  Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  also  borne  as  Zeph.  F. 
Fales,  Charles  F.   (R),  21;  farmer,  Taunton;  May  20,    '62; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  cr.  to  Dighton;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  O).  D. 
Fales,  George  (R),  28;  machinist,  Rehoboth;  cr.  to  Marlboro, 

Feb.  20,  '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  D. 
Ford,  John  J.    (Corp.),  18;  clerk,  Boston;  Sept.  4,    '61;  re. 

Jan.  4.  '64;  k.  Aug.  16,  '64,  Deep  Run,  Va. 
French,  Edward  M.,  35 ;  teamster,  Braintree ;  Noy.  23,    '61 ; 

dis.  Aug.  4,  '63,  disa. ;  d.  Dec.  6,  '86,  S.  H. 
Gilmore,  Henry  S.   (Corp.),  23;  molder,  Taunton*,  Sept  12, 

'61,  wd.  IMar.  14,  '62,  Newbern ;  dis.  April,  '63  disa. 
Gladding,  Edward  L.,  30;  hostler,  Newport,  R.  I.;  Oct.  3,  '61; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  cr.  to  West  Roxburv ;  d.  of  wounds.  Sept. 

25,  '64,  N.  Y.  Harbor. 
Gray,  Edward  M.,  33 ;  machinist,  Boston ;  Nov.  14,   '61 ;  de- 
sert. Nov.  25,  '61. 
Grinnell,  Isaac  W.,  25 ;  farmer,  Dartmouth ;  Oct.  7.  '61 ;  dis. 

Oct.  12,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Grinnell,  Oliver  C,  21 ;  farmer,  Tisburv ;  Oct.  7,  '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  D. " 
Hadlock,  Samuel  (R),  38;    farmer,  Jav,  Vt. ;    cr.  to  Boston, 

Feb.  5,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66',  Co.  D. 
Hale,  William,  25 ;    carpenter,    Boston ;    date  of  first  enlist- 
ment   not  found;  re.  Jan.  4,    '64;  desert.  Dec.  25,    '65, 

Co.  D. 
Harmon,  Martin,   18 ;    farmer,  Braintree ;    Nov.   13,    '61 ;    d. 

April  27,    '63,  Newbern. 
Hartshorn,  Henry  L.  (Sergt. ),  19;  farmer,  Boston;  Sept.  24, 

'61;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  cr.  to  Winchester;  1st  Sergt.  Jan.  4, 

'64 ;  prom.  1st  Lieut.  Oct.  15,  '64,  Co.  B. 
Hayden,  Loring  N.,  20 ;  farmer,  Braintree ;  Nov.  15,  '61 ;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  Corp.  Oct.  15,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66,  Co.  D; 

d.  June  30,  1901,  Braintree. 
Heyward,     Frederick     (Corp.),     35;     blacksmith,     Taunton; 

Sergt.  Sept.  17,   '61;  re.  Jan.  4,  '61;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 

Co.  D. 
Hobart,  Abraham  W.  (R),  21;  July  26,  '62;  lost  left  fore-fin- 
ger, Dec.  14,   '62;  re.  Jan.  4,   '61;  desert.  Aug.  17,   '65, 

Co.  D. 
Holt,  Samuel   (Corp.),    42;    ,    Readville;    Dec.  4, 

'-61 ;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  cr.  to  Ashburnham ;  :\I.  0.  Jan.  20, 

'66,  Co.  D. 


Company  G. 


521 


Albert  Alden  ( I ) . 
H.  H.  Manning  tGl. 


F.  H.  Billiard  (G). 
C.  A.  Fitch  (D). 


G.  A.  Howard  (G). 
Wm.  Reynolds  (I). 


Howard,  George  A.,  19 ;  farmer.  Xo.  Bridgewater ;  Sept.   6, 

'61 ;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  wd.  Julv  3,  '64,  fatigue :  wd.  Aug. 

16,  '64;  dis.  Sept.  23,  '65,  disa. 
Howard,  Justin  (Corp.),   (R),  18;  farmer,  No.  Bridgewater; 

Julv  24.  '62;  re.  Jan.  4.  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Hunt,  William,  20:  ,  Readville;  Dec.  5,   '61;  dis. 

Oct.  1,   '62,  disa; 
Hurley,  David,  41 ;  stone-cutter.  Quincy ;  Sept.  19,   '61 ;  dis. 

Sept.  19,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Hyde,  Thomas,  27 ;  laborer,  Boston ;  Sept.  6,   '61 ;  dis.  Aug. 

1,  '62,  disa. 
Jeffers,  David  W.,  18;  farmer,  So.  Adams;  Oct.  15,   '61;  re. 

Jan.  4,   '64;  dis.  July  28,   '65,  Co.  D. 
Jeffers,  George  W.,  19 ;  farmer,  So.  Adams ;  Oct.  15,  '61 ;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  cr.  to  No.  Adams:  dis.  Dec.  25,  '65,  Co.  D; 

d.  May  26,  '93,  No.  Adams. 


522  TwEXTY-p^ouRTH  jNIassachusetts  Regiment. 

Jennings,  Rufus  L.,  19;  farmer.  AYarwick;  Oct.  1.  '61;  dis. 
Aug".  4,   '63,  disa. 

Jewett,   Joseph   (wagoner),   48; ,    Foxboro;  Sept. 

5.  '61 :  dis.  Sept.  5,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Johns,  Stephen,  26 ;    carpenter.    Great    Barrington  -.    Nov.    8, 

'61 ;  desert.  June  20,   '62. 
Keating,  William,  21;  .  Readville;    Dec.    5,    '61; 

Corp.  Jnlv  23,  '62;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64:  cr.  to  Dedham;  Sergt. 

:\IaY  2.  "64 :  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  D. 
Kennedy.  William  C,  25;  shoemaker.  Boston;  Nov.  23,   '61; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  D. 
Lake,  George  W.,  25;  farmer,  Tiverton,  R.  I.;  Sept.  16,  '61; 

d.  of  wounds,  July  20,  '64,  Philadelphia,  Penn. 
Lawless,  Richard  (Corp.),  34:  stone-cutter,  Quincv:  Sept.  11, 

'61;  k.  Dec.  16,   '62,  Whitehall,  N.  C. 
Lingham,  George  H.,  25 :  stone-cutter,  Quincy :  Dec.  3,    '61 ; 

wd.  Mar.  14,   '62,  Newbern :  dis.  Nov.  1,    '62,  disa. 
Luce,  Edward  D.,  25 ;  sailor,  Chilmark ;  Sept.  9,  '61 ;  dis.  Aug. 

22,  '62,  disa. 

jleCleave,   Frederic   W.    (Corp.),  24;  sailor.   New  Bedford; 

Sept.  9.  '61 ;  dis.  Jan.  6,  '63,  disa. 
McDermott,   ]\rartin,   30 ;   stone-cutter.   Quincv ;   Oct.    7,    '61 ; 

wd.  ]\rar.  14,  '62 ;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  wd.  May  14,  '64 ;  I\I.  0. 

Jan.  20.  '66,  Co.  D ;  also  borne  as  ^NIcDarmot. 
McGraw,  Michael,  19;  farmer,  Sheffield:  Dec.  3,  '61:  dis.  Nov. 

23,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 

Mclntire,  Lewis  G.,  23 :  machinist,  Quincy :  Sept.  24,  '64 ;  re. 
Jan.  4,  '64;  had  been  prisoner,  Aug.  15,  '64;  finger  acci- 
dentally shot  otf ;  dis.  July  20.  '65,  disa.,  Co.  D. 

McLane,  John,  24 ;  coaler,  Williamstown ;  Oct.  18,  '61 ;  desert. 
Dec.  7,  '61 ;  apprehended  Nov.  10,  '63 ;  sent  to  duty 
without  trial,  to  forfeit  all  pay  and  allowance  and  to 
make  good  time  lost  bv  desertion :  AL  O.  Jan.  20,  '66, 
Co.  D. 

Macomber,  (ieorge  F.,  21 ;  mariner,  Berklev ;  Dec.  3.  '61 ;  re. 
Jan.  4,   '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66,  Co.  D :  dead. 

Manlev  Alfred  (or  Andrew)  S.,  32;  type-founder.  Maiden; 
Oct.  30,  '61 :  dis.  Oct.  29,  '64.  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Nov.  14,  '97, 
Chelsea. 

^Manning,  Henrv  H.,  18;  farmer,  Warwick;  Oct.  1,  '61;  re. 
Jan.  4,  '64:  dis.  as  Sergt.  O.  W.  D*.  June  16,  '65;  had 
been  prisoner. 


Company  G.  523 

IMatherson,  James,  21;  inaeliinist.  Taunton:  Oct.  24,   '61;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  Corp.  Jan.  1.  '64;  Sergt.  Mar.  11,  '65;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  D. 
Moran.  John,  23 ;  stoker.  Boston ;  Oct.   3,    '61 ;  dis.  Oct.  12, 

'64.  ex.  of  s. 
]\Iunroe.  Frank.  26 ;  farmer,  Lowell ;  Nov.  30.   '61 ;  wcl.  Aug. 

16.   '64;  dis.  Dec.  4.   '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  dead. 
Nighting'ale.  Alonzo  A.,  18:  teamster,  Qiiincv;  Sept.  10,   '61; 

re.  Jan.  4.  '64;  dis.  June  16,  '65,  0.  W.  D.  as  1st  Sergt; 

ex-prisoner. 
Otis,  Theodore  C.  (Sergt.),  19;  gentleman,  Roxbury;  Sept.  9, 

'61 ;  dis.  Aug.  2,   '62,  for  Com.  2d  Lieut,  in  41st  Mass. 

Infantry;  later  1st  Lieut,  in  same. 
Partridge,  Charles  (R).  26:  machinist,  Canton;  Mav  28,  '62; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  D. 
Partridge,  Le  Baron  M.,  20 ;  farmer.  Warwick :  Oct.  1.   '61 ; 

d.  as  Corp.  Oct.  15,   '63,  Warwick. 
Pettee,  Benjamin  (R),  22;  clerk.  Boston;  Aug.  7,  '62;  dis.  as 

Corp.  Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Phipps,  Benjamin  F.,  19;  varnisher,  Dedhani;  Sept.  19,  '61s 

dis.  Sept.  5,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  July  17,  1866,  Walpole. 
Pittslev.  John  W.,  2&;  farmer,  Berkley;  Oct.  7.  '61;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  d.  April  15,  '64,  Washington,  D.  C. 
Pratt,   George  H.    (R),  21;  bootmaker,  Weymouth :  Jan.   5, 

'64 ;  wd.  May  30,  '64 ;  dis.  Dec.  16,  '65,  Co.  D. 
Riley,  Charles,  19 ;  sailor,  Taunton :  date  of  firet  enlistment 

not  found ;  wd.  Aug.  18.   '62,  near  Swansboro,  N.  C. ;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  desert.  Sept.  6.  '65,  Co.  D. 
Riley,  John,  30 ;  blacksmith,  Taunton ;  Sept.  18,  '61 ;  dis.  Sept. 

18,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  later  in  Co.  B,  58th  ^lass.  Infantry ;  d. 

Nov.  '98. 
Robertson,  John  A.  (Corp.),  18;  clerk,  Boston;  Sept.  4,  '61; 

wd.  May  14,  '64 ;  dis.  Sept.  22,  '64  ex.  of  s. 
Rochford.  James  (R),  29;  clerk,  Holliston ;  Dec.  17,  '62;  dis. 

Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Rowe,  George  T.,  36 ;  sailor,  Gloucester ;  Nov.  14,    '61 ;  dis. 

Aug.  30,  '62,  disa. ;  served  later  in  Co.  G,  8th  M.  V.  M. 

100  days,  '64,  and  in  Co.  B,  56th  Mass.  Infantry. 
Shine,  Martin  (R),  24;  laborer,  Weymouth:  Jan.  6,  '64;  re- 
jected, Jan.  15,   '64. 
Smith,  William  H.,  18;  farmer,  Blandford;  Dec.  2.   '61;  re. 

Jan.  4,   '64;  accidentally  wd.  April  9,    '64;  ]\I.   0.  Jan. 

30,  '66.  absent  sick,  hence  delay. 


524         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


Corp.  L.  N.  Hiiyden  Hi 


Corp.  R.  t'arrutliers  (G). 


Corp.  T.  S.  Frothingham  (K) 


Spencer,   Ebenezer  R.    (R),   35;   currier,  Woburn ;   Dec.   29, 

'63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Stevens,  Frederick  L.,  18 ;  molder,  Dedham ;  Nov.  7,  '61 ;  dis. 

June  9,   '62,  disa. 
Stimson,  Roval,  44;  farmer,  AVarwick;  Oct.  23.  '61;  dis.  Sept. 

2,  '62,  disa.;  d.  Oct.  21,  '98,  Athol. 
Taunt,  Seth,  22;  farmer,  Braintree;  Dec.  8,   '61;  re.  Jan.  4, 

'64;  dis.  July  14,   '65,  disa.,  Co.  D. 
Taunt,  Wm.  P.,  33;  ,  Readville;  Dec.  5,   '61;  dis. 

April  23,  '63,  disa. 
Thayer,  George  N.,  27;  teamster,  Braintree;   Sept.  16,    '61; 

re.  Jan.  4,   '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '60,  Co.  D. 
Thayer,  Nathaniel  A.  (R),  34;  shoemaker,  Weymouth;  cr/  to 

Boston,  Feb.  22,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66;  Vet.  of  Co.  E, 

12th  ]\Iass.  Infantry. 
Thayer,  Wm.  F.  (R),  21;  bootmaker,  Quincy;  cr.  to  Boston; 

Jan.  18,  '64 ;  missing  in  action,  May  16,  '64,  said  to  have 

died  in  Millen,  Ga. ;  no  data  as  to  death;  Vet.  Co.  C,  12th 

Mass.  Infantry. 
Thorne,  John,  36;  wool  sorter.  Salisbury;  Sept.  29,  '61;  dis. 

Oct.  29,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Towne,  John  H.,  43;  teamster,  Dedham;  dis.  Aug.  13,   '62, 

disa. 
Trask,  Henry,  18;  engineer,  Quincy;  Sept.  24,  '61;  d.  as  Corp. 

June  3,   '62,  Newbern. 
Waite,  TIenrv  S.  (Corp.),  26;  hair-dresser,  Dedham;  Oct.  19, 
'61 ;  dis."  May  23,  '62,  disa. 


Company  G. 


525 


[N.  E.  G.]  Wales,  Nathaniel  (1st  Sergt.),  19;  salesman,  Dor- 
chester ;  Sept.  6,  '61 ;  dis.  July  15,  '62,  for  Com.  2d  Lieut. 

32d  Mass.  Infantry;  trans,  to  35th  Mass.  Aug.  13,   '62; 

Major,  April  25,   '63;  Brev.  Lieut.  Col.  and  Col.  U.  S. 

Vols.  Mar.  13,  '65. 
Wallace.  Roval  (R),  29;  farmer,  Jay,  Vt. ;  cr.  to  Boston,  Feb. 

5,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  D ;  absent,  sick. 
Webb,  John  A.   (R),  20;  blacksmith,  Taunton;  Mar.  1,   '64; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  D ;  absent  sick. 
Weed,  Willard  S.,  21;  farmer,   Stamford,   Conn.;   Sept.   16, 

'61 ;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  d.  Mar.  2,  '64,  when  on  furlough  in 

Mass. 
Welsh,  William,  28 ;  farmer,  Royalston ;  Oct.  2,  '61 ;  d.  Aug. 

9,   '63,  Port  Royal,  S.  C. 
White,  Jarvis  (Corp.),  28;  carjoenter,  Millburv;  Oct.  14,  '61; 

Sergt.  July  11,  '62;  1st  Sergt,.  July  1,  '63;' re.  Jan.  4,  '64; 

prom.  2d  Lieut.  Co.  I. 
Whitney,  Wm.  H.  (Mus.),  15;  ,  New  York;  Sept. 

20.  '61  ;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  cr.  to  AVest  Roxbury;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,   '66,  Co.  D. 
Wilber.  Wm.  S.,  25 ;  painter,  Quincy ;  Sept.  10,  '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  D ;  dead. 
Wilkinson,  Albert  P.,  18 ;  card-maker,  Chatham ;  Oct.  16,  '61 ; 

re.  Jan.  4,   '64;  cr.  to  Hancock;  dis.  Jan.  13,   '66,  to  be 

retained  in  Government  employ. 
Williams,  James,  21 ;  sailor,  Taunton ;  Dec.  1,   '61 :  dis.  Dec. 

4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 


Capt.  J.  M.  Barnard  (G). 


Maj.  E.  <_'.  Richanlson. 

1907. 


Capt.  .1.  X.  Partridge  (F). 


526         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Eegiment. 

[N.  E.  G.]  Williams,  Jesse  S.   (Sergt.),  19;  clerk,  Roxbury; 

Oct.  24,  '61;  1st  Sergt.  prom.  2d  Lieut.  Co.  E. 
Wittieroux,  George,  44;  farmer,  Sheffield;  Oct.  16,    '61;  dis. 

Aug.  1,  '62,  disa. 
Wood,  Albert,  19 ;  wheelwright,  Dedham ;  Oct.  7,  '61 :  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  Co.  D. 
Worcester,  Henry  (R),  20;  clerk,  Hollis,  N.  H.;  Aug.  7,  '62; 

dis.  May- 9,  "'63,  disa. 
Wright.  Timothy  M..  23;  sailor.  Shutesbury;  Nov.  1,  '61;  d. 

Feb.  20,  '62,  Hatteras  Inlet,  N.  C. 

Enlisted  men  received  from  the  Thirty-fourth  Regiment,  June  16,  1865, 
who  thereafter  constituted  Company  G  of  the  Twenty-fourth  while  the 
original  members  of  that  company  were  transferred  to  Company  D. 

Angel,  Nathan  B.,  39;  laborer,   Southbridge;  Feb.   25,    '64; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Bancroft,  Hiram  A.,  18 ;  farmer.   Greenfield ;  Dec.  26,    '63 ; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  as  Corp. 
Bancroft,  Loyey  I.,  18,  farmer,  Greenfield;  Oct.  27,  '63;  dis. 

Nov.  14,  '65,  disa. ;  also  borne  as  Lorey. 
Bliss,  George,  19;  teamster,  Warren;  Oct.  19,   '63;  trans,  to 

V.  R.  C.  and  dis.  July  20,  '6rx 
Blood,  Charles  E.,  21;  farmer,  Lancaster;  Dec.  19,  '63;  Corp. 

July  1,  '65 ;  Sergt.  Jan.  1,  '66 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Briggs,  Henry  E.,  27;  farmer,  Deerfield;  Dee.  8,  '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20.  '66. 
Boyden,   Charles,   21 ;   farmer,  Worcester ;   Dec.   2,    '63 ;   dis. 

June  23,  '65 ;  also  borne  as  Bardan. 
Brock,  Andrew.  43 ;  farmer,  Buckland ;  Jan.  12,  '64 ;  dis.  June 

16,  '65. 
Burkhardt,  Kaspar,  26 ;  machinist,  Deerfield ;  Jan.  26,    '64 ; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,'  66. 
Campbell,- Joseph  H.,  28:  shoemaker,  Greenfield;  Nov.  5,  '63; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Comaford,  Thomas,  37 ;  laborer,  Webster ;  Dec.  7,  '63 ;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66 ;  also  borne  as  Comerford. 
Curtis,  Andrew  J.,  18 ;  farmer,  Warwick ;  Dec.  30,  '63 ;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Day,  Andrew,  19;  farmer,  Colrain;  Jan.  4,  '64;  dis.  Sept.  26, 

'65,  disa. 
Day,  Joseph  N..  22 ;  farmer,  Lancaster ;  Jan.  4,    '64 ;  trans. 
'  May  2,  '65,  to  V.  R.  C. 


Company  G.  527 

Deering,    Joseph.    18:    meehanic,    Greenfield:    Dee.    15.    '63; 

:SL  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Deland.  Charles.  22;  saddler.  Hadley ;  Nov.   11.    '{):];  M.  0. 

Jan.  20.    '66. 
Faron.  Thomas.  27:  molder.  Millbnry:  Jan.  5.  '65:  ]\I.  0.  Jan. 

20.   "66 ;  also  borne  as  Farron. 
Fellows,  George  N..  18;  farmer.  New  ^Iarll)oro:  Nov.  10,  '63; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66. 
Folev,  John,  29 ;  laborer.  So.  Hadley ;  Jan.  4.  '64 :  :\I.  0.  Jan. 

20.  '66. 
Fox.  John  L..  21:  clerk,  Boston;  Dee.  16.  '63:  1st  Sergt.  prom. 

2d  Lieut. :  d.  Dee.  20,  1884. 
Frank.  Samuel,  29;  seaman.  Westfield;  Nov.  28.    "63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Gallagher.  Thomas,  34:    teamster.  Clinton;    Corp.    June    16, 

'65 :  Sergt.  July  15.  '65 ;  :\I.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Harback.  James  B.,  23 ;  farmer,  Warren ;  Dec.  26.  '63 ;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66;  also  borne  as  Harbuck. 
Harding.  Wm.  F..  21;    stripper,    Lancaster;    Noa'.    12,    '63; 

M.  O.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Harty,   Thomas    (Corp.),   18;   farmer,   Phillipston;   Feb.   15, 

'64;  Sergt.  Jan.  1,   '65;  1st  Sergt.  June  16,   '65;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20.  '66 ;  prom.  2d  Lieut.  Jan.  20.  '66 ;  not  mustered. 
Haskins.  William  E.,  30;  shoemaker,  Adams;  Dec.  14,    '63; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Hogan.  Michael,  18;    laborer,    Dudley;    Dec.  15.   '63;    Corp. 

July  15,  '65 ;  Sergt.  Sept.  1,  '65 ;  :\1.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Horton.  George  G.,  18;    farmer.    Huntington;    Jan.    4,    '64; 

Corp.  July  15,  '65 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  4.  '66. 
Houghton.  James.  33 ;  bootmaker.  West  Boylston :  Jan.  4,  '64 ; 

M.  O.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Hutchings,  Ariel,  27 ;  sailor,  Springfield ;  Dec.  27,  '63 ;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66 ;  also  borne  as  Asil. 
Kennedy,  Michael,  21 ;    farmer,  So.  Hadlev ;    Sept.  21,   '63 ; 

:\r.  b.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
King.  Heurv.  28;  shoemaker,  Pittsfield;  Dec.  20.   '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Kingman.  David  A..  34;  bootmaker,  Northfield;  Dec.  31,  '63; 

.M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Knapp.  George  F.,  21;  farmer,  Westfield;  Dec.  29.  '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,   '66. 


528  Twenty-fourth  ^Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Knox.  Henry  F..  21;  bonnet-presser,  AVorcester;  Dec.  2,  '63; 

dis.  July  20,  '65,  disa. 
Lynch,    James,    18 ;    card-cleaner.    Pittsfield ;    Nov.    24,    '63 ; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Malcom,  George,  18;  operative,  Pittsfield;  Jan.  4,  '64;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66;  also  Malcotab. 
Manning,  Charles  D.,  25;  farmer.  Springfield:  Dec.  30,   '63; 

dis.  July  5,  '65,  0.  W.  D. 
Matthews,  David  W.,  20 ;  teamster,  Lancaster ;  Sept.  12,  '63 ; 

desert.  Dec.  20,   '65. 
Moore,  Charles,  20;  upholsterer,  Roxbury;  Oct.  5,  '64;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Moriartv,  Patrick,  29;  laborer,  Greenfield;  Dec.  2,    '63;  dis. 
•      from  V.  R.  C. 
Morse,  AndrcAV  H.,  20;  farmer,  Southbridge;  ]\Iar.  31,   '64; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66,  as  Corp. 
Morse,  Wm.  B.,  21;  painter,  Southbridge;  Dec.  31,   '63;  dis. 

on  account  of  wounds,  June  21,   '65,  Boston. 
Onderdonk,  Marion,  44;  ship-carpenter,  Granby;  Jan.  4,  '64; 

d.  July  5,  '65,  Philadelphia;  also  Marvin. 
O'Neal,  John,  18;  farmer,  Warren;  Dec.  26,  '63;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,  '66,  as  Corp. 
O'Neal,  Samuel,  18:  laborer.  Ashford;  Jan.  12,    '64;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Philamon,  Joseph.  29;  mechanic,  Deerfield;  Jan.  2,   '64;  dis. 

Oct.  27,  '65,  0.  W.  D. ;  d.  Mar.  4,  1905,  S.  H. ;  borne  on 

the  rolls  of  Co.  K,  34th,  as  Philander;  died,  Fahrlander; 

a  good  illustration  of  the  phonetic  system. 
Powers.  David.   30;  mechanic,  Millbury;   Dec.   29,    '63;   dis. 

July  20,   '65,  disa. 
Quinn.  Michael,  18;  loom-fixer,  Pittsfield;  Nov.  24,   '63;  dis. 

July  20,  '65. 
Rice,  George  L.,  18;  farmer,  Wendell;  Dec.  8,  '63;  d.  Nov.  3, 

'65,  Richmond,  Va. 
Rivers,  Lewis,  35 ;  farmer,  Southbridge ;  Mar.  4,   '64 ;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Ryan,  Lawrence,  26;  laborer.  Webster;  Dec.  7,    '63;  M.   0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Samuel,  Frank,  19;  seaman.  Westfield;  Nov.  28,   '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Sawyer,  Henry  (Corp.),  29;  farmer,  Hancock;  Dec.  14.  '63; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 


Company  G.  529 

Sheary,  Patrick,  28,  bootmaker,  Lancaster;  Jan.  4,  '64;  M.  0. 

Jan.  4,  '66  ■  also  borae  as  Sherry ;  d.  Mar.  8,  1900,  S.  H. 
Siblev,  Philo,  Jr.,  27 ;  farmer,  Rowe ;  Dec.  15.  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,  '66. 
Skinner,  John  H.,  24 ;  teamster,  Worcester ;  Jan.  5.  '64 ;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Smith,  Dennis,  33;  bootmaker.  West  Brookfield;  Jan.  2,  '64; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
Southwick,  Henry  E.,  19;  mechanic,  Leicester;  Jan.  1,   '64; 

Corp.  July  1,  '65 ;  Sergt.  July  15,  '65 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Sprague,  Joel,  19;  farmer,  Conway;  Jan.  15,  '63;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,  '66. 
Stafford,  Chauncy,  Jr.,  22;  farmer,  Rowe;  Dec.  8,  '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Stevens,  Joseph  H.,  19 ;  farmer,  Hinsdale ;  Dec.  3,  '63  ;•  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66;  also  borne  as  Jos.  H. 
Walker,   Charles  H.,   18;  teamster,  Richmond;  Jan.   4,    '64; 

dis.  June  16,   '65. 
Walsh,  John,  29;  tailor,  Shelburne;  Jan.  15,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,  '66. 
Wiley,  George  E.,  22;  wheelwright,  Lancaster;  Jan.  4,   '64; 

dis.  June  26,  '65,  disa. 
Wilson,  Alonzo  M.,  39 ;  teamster,  Rowe ;  Dec.  8,  '63 ;  dis.  Nov. 

19,  '65,  disa. 

Wood,  Israel,  19 ;  laborer,  Conway ;  Jan.  15,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,  '66 ;  absent  sick  at  time. 

Enlisted    men    transferred  from  the  Fortieth  Massachusetts,   June  17, 
1865 : 

Baker,  Henry,  36 ;  shoemaker,  Pembroke ;  Dec.  31,  '63 ;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Crowther,  Wm.,.  40;  spinner,  Andover;  Nov.  23,   '63;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66;  had  served  in  Co.  D,  20th  Mass.  Infantry; 

d.  May  11,  1895,  Provincetown. 
Goodwin,  Asa  A.,  27;  clerk,  Montpelier,  Vt. ;  cr.  to  Roxbury, 

Feb.  2,  '64 ;  dis.  Jan.  16,  '66. 
Kilbrith,  Freeman   (Corp.),  38;  shoemaker,  Pembroke;  Dec. 

31,  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Lothrop,  Waldo  P.,  24;  blacksmith,  West  Bridgewater;  or. 

to  Dorchester,  Dec,  8,   '63;  dis.  July  28,  '65,  from  Dale 

Hospital,  Worcester. 
34 


530         Twenty-fourth  ]\Iassachusetts  Regiment. 

Millerd,  Alphonso  A..   18;    farmer,    Lakeville;    Jan.  4.    '64; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Moses,  James,  24 :'  shoemaker,  Beverly ;  "Slav.  23,   '64  -,  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,   '66. 
Nelson,  David  0.,  18:  farmer,  Rowley:  Jan.  4.  '64:  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,  '66,  as  Corp. 
Shaw,  Walter  G.  C.  C,  21;  cordwainer,  Salem;  Feb.  24,  '64; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20.   '66.  as  Corp. 
Sweeney,  Dennis,  37 ;  lithographer,  Shelburne ;  June  23,   '64 ; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Symonds,   Henrv  A.,   18:   shoemaker,   Salem;   Feb.    18,    '64; 

M.  0.  Jan. '20,  '66. 
Weeks,   Stephen    (Corp.),   19:  glassblower.  Taunton:  Jan.  3, 

'65;  dis.  Jan.  3,  '66.  ex.  of  s. :  one  year's  man. 

Company  H. 
captains. 

John  Dalaud,  23 :  merchant,  Salem :  Sept.  2,    '61 :  dis.  Sept. 

2,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Robert  Carruthers.  Oct.  15,  '64 ;  res.  Aug.  3,  '65 ;  Brev.  Major 

Mar.  13,   '65. 
Andrew  Wilson,  Aug.  4,  '65,  from  Co.  K ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 

FIRST   LIEUTENANTS. 

James  B.  Nichols.  30;  tanner,  Salem;  Oct.  14,  '61;  wd.  Mar. 

14,  '62,  Newbern;  prom.  Captain,  Co.  D. 
Charles  G.  Ward,  June  27,    '63;  k.  Mav  16,    '64,  Drewry's 

Bluff,  Va. 
Parmenas  E.  Wheeler,  Mar.  7,  '64,  from  Co.  I;  dis.  Nov.  12, 

'64,  ex.  of  s. 
Robert  Carruthers,  from  Sergt. -major,  Oct.  14,    '64;  prom. 

Captain. 
George  A.  Higgins,  from  Co.  F,  Oct.  15,   '64;  res.  Mar.  21, 

'65. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANTS. 

Charles  G.  Ward,    — ;   ,    Boston;    Nov.    22,    '61; 

prom.  1st  Lieut. 
Davis  Foster,  from  1st  Sergt.  June  27.   '63,  prom.  1st  Lieut. 

Co.  D. 
George  W.  Hill,  Jan.  20,  '66;  not  mustered. 


Company  H. 


531 


Capt.  John  Daland  (Hi. 
19m. 


Bvt.-Maj.  R.  Carruthers 

1S82. 


Capt.  J.  C.  Jones  (F). 

v.m. 


NON-COMMISSIOXED  OFFICERS  AND  PRIVATES. 


Ahrens,  Victor  H.   (Corp.),  20;  clerk.  Boston;  Sept.  5,   '61; 

d.  July  26.  '62,  Xewbern. 
Alcott.  Charles  H.  (Corp.),  33;  upholsterer,  Chelsea;  Oct.  15, 

'61 ;  desert.  Aug.  6,  '63. 
Allen,  Francis,  20 ;  sailor.  Freetown ;  Oct.  21,   '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64 ;  cr.  to  Taunton ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Andrews.  Daniel  H.,  29;  shoemaker,  Topsfield;  Nov.  27,  '61; 

dis.  April  20.  '63,  disa. 
Baker,  Isaiah.  Jr.,  24;  sailor,  Boston;  Oct.  21.  '61;  dis.  Aug. 

27,  '62,  disa. 
Beattie,  William  (Corp.),  26;  shoemaker,  Reading;  Sept.  20, 

'61 ;  Sergt.,  dis.  Sept.  24.  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Beose,  George  F.,  19;  painter.  Boston;  Oct.  19,  '61;  re.  Jan. 

4.  '64 ;  Corp.  Mar.  '65 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Beresford,  Wm.  (R),  32;  clerk,  London,  Eng. ;  cr.  to  Saugus; 

July  20,  '64;  wd.  Oct.  13,  '64;  trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  Mar.  26, 

'65 ;  dis.  Jan.  27,  '66. 
Berry,  Daniel  W.,  19;  farmer,  Reading;   Sept.   26,    '61;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  Coi-p-  Mar.  24.   '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Blanchard,  Wesley  G..  21 ;  grocer,  Lewiston.  ]\Ie. ;  re.  Jan.  4, 

'64;  cr.  to  Boston;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Boston,   Charles  H.,  39 ;  stone-cutter,  Boston ;  Oct.   29,    '64 ; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  dis.  July  26,  '65. 


532         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Brennan,  John,  18 ;  ,  Readville ;  Nov.  7,   '61 ;  dis. 

,  '61,  N.  F.  R. 

Briggs,  Edward  E.,  21;  farmer,  Attleboro;  Oct.  4,   '61;  dis. 

Oct.  8,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Brown,  Oliver,  41 ;  farmer,  Salem;  Oct.  30,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  27, 

'64,  ex.  of  s. 
Buchanan,  William,  32 ;  tailor,  Boston ;  Oct.  18,  '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Camp,  James,  35 ;    blacksmith,  Boston ;    Sept.    16,    '61 ;    dis. 

Sept.  24,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Carney,  Thomas  F.   (R),  21;  laborer,  Boston;  July  25,   '62; 

re.  Jan.  20,  '64;  dis.  Nov.  3,  '65;  d.  Dec.  8,  '97,  Togus, 

Me.,  N.  S.  H. 
Chase,  Joseph  C,  22;  mariner,  Harwich;   Oct.   28,    '61;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  wounded;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66;  d.  Oct.  14,  '96. 
Clark,   George  W.,   35;  farmer,  Attleboro;   Oct.   28,    '61;  k. 

Aug.  16,  '64,  Deep  Run,  Va. 
Coates,  Benjamin,  44 ;  shoemaker,  Saugus ;  Oct.  14,   '64 ;  ex. 

of  s. ;  had  served  in  the  Mexican  War,  Co.  K,  1st  Mass. 

Infantry. 
Converse,  James  W.,  Jr.   (Corp.),  18;  clerk,  Jamaica  Plain; 

Sergt.  Oct.  2,  '61 ;  dis.  Oct.  30,  '62,  for  Com.  2d  Lieut. 

Co.  K,  47th  Mass.  Infantry;  d.  May,  1876;  b.  Mt.  Au- 
burn. 
Cook,  Jonathan,  Jr.,  30;  shoemaker,  Reading;  Sept.  23,   '61; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  d.  Dec.  5,  '64,  Annapolis,  Md. ;  a  paroled 

prisoner. 
Coughlin,  Thomas  H.,  21;  teamster,  Salem;  Oct.  10,  '61;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  M.  O.  Jan.  20,  '66,  as  wagoner. 
Cummings,  Wm.  H.  H.   (R),  22;  gasfitter,  Boston;  July  28, 

'62;  dis.  June  8,  '64,  disa. 
Curtis.  James  L.    (R),  42;  bootmaker,  Braintree;  July  29, 

'62;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  cr.  to  Randolph;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Dadd,  Eben  H.  (R),  25;  clerk,  Boston;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  Com- 
missary Sergt.  Sept.  1,  '64;  Q.M.  Sergt.  Dec.  5,  '64;  prom. 

1st  Lieut.  Co.  G. 
Dalton,  James,  45;    laborer.  Sandwich;    Sept.    16,    '61;    dis. 

Sept.  17,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Davis,  Prentiss  H.,  21;  hatter,  Dunstable;  Oct.  17,   '61;  dis. 

Oct.  22,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Dean,  John  (R),  20;    machinist,    Boston;    July  25,   '62;    re. 

Jan.    4,    '64;    dis.    as    former    prisoner,    June    17,    '65, 

0.  W.  D. 


Company  H.  533 

Dean,  Albert  D.,  26;  jeweler,  Attleboro;    Oct.  3,  '61;  dis.  as 

Sergt.  Oct.  8,    '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Dec.  7,   '82,  Attleboro; 

also  borne  as  Deane. 
Dean,  Charles  F.,  25;  skirt-maker,  Attleboro;  Oct.  19,    '61; 

dis.  Oct.  22,   '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  April  24,   '91,  Attleboro; 

also  borne  as  Deane. 
Doherty,  John  F.  (R),  24;  printer,  Springfield;  July  29,  '64; 

cr.  to  Lowell;  wd.  Aug.  14,   '64;  dis.  July  29,   '65,  disa. 
Draper,  George  L.,  29 ;  miner,  Attleboro ;  Nov.  26,   '61 ;  dis. 

Oct.  28,  '64,  disa. ;  d.  Oct.  25,  '07. 
DufiPv,  Neal,  32 ;  marble-worker,  Boston ;  Oct.  16,  '61 :  re.  Jan, 

4,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Dunlap,  Robert  G.,  33 ;  porter,  Boston ;  Oct.  18,  '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Edwards,  Richard  L.  (R),  40;  printer,  Salem;  Julv  28,  '62; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
ElHs,  John   (Sergt),  28;  clerk,  Boston;  Sept.  2,    '61;   Com. 

Sergt.  (F.  &  S.),  Aug.  '62;  dis.  Sept.  2,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d. 

May  19,  '98,  Roxbury. 
Field,  James  J.,  23;  farmer,  Attleboro;  Oct.  4,  '61;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  wd.  Aug.  14,  '64;  dis.  as  Corp.  June  14,  '65,  disa. 
Field,  Richard,  21 ;  farmer,  Attleboro ;  Oct.  4,   '61 ;  d.  Aug. 

1,    '62,  Newbern. 
Fisher,  Benjamin  F.    (R),  18;  farmer,  Attleboro:  Mar.  21, 

'64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Fisher,  Joel  A.,  20;  farmer,  Attleboro;  Oct.  2,   '61;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66;  dead. 
Flowers,  Amos  K.,  27 ;  fisherman,  Essex ;  Nov.  11,   '61 ;  dis. 

April  20,  '63,  disa. ;  served  later  in  V.  R.  C. ;  d.  Feb.  15, 

'06. 
Ford,  William  A.   (Corp.),  24;  hack-driver,  Boston;  Oct.  28, 

'61 ;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  k.  Aug.  16,  '64,  Deep  Run,  Va. 
Foster,    Davis    (1st    Sergt.),    27;    upholsterer.    So.    Reading; 

Sept.  7,   '61;  prom.  2d  Lieut. 
Gardner,  William  F.,   29;  wheelwright,   Attleboro;   Oct.   29, 

'61 ;  dis.  Nov.  1,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Giles,  Edward,  25 ;  fisherman,  Marblehead ;  Oct.  31,  '61 ;  dis. 

Aug.  27,  '62,  disa. 
Goff,  William  H.,   18;   farmer,  Attleboro;   Oct.   21,    '61;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  Corp.  Sept.  2,  '64;  Sergt.  Mar.  1,  '65;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Gookin,  George  E.    (R),  33;  painter,  Boston;  July  29,    '62; 

dis.  Dec.  3,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 


534  TWENTY'-FOURTH    MASSACHUSETTS   ReGIMENT. 

Gowdy,  Alonzo,  32;  sailor,  West  Windsor,  Ct. ;  Oct.  8,   '61; 

desert.  Jan.  1,  '62. 
Graves,  Edward,  18;  clerk,  Bridgewater;  Oct.  18,  '61;  re.  as 

Sergt.  Jan.  4,   '64;  prom.  1st  Lieut.  Co.  I. 
Grey,  Charles  H.,  18 ;  clerk,  Boston ;  Sept.  4,  '61 ;  dis.  Sept.  4, 

'64,  ex.  of  s. 
Hall,  Francis  E.   (Mus.),  16;  .  So.  Reading;  Oct. 

28,  '61;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Hart,  Andrew  J.,  34;  farmer,  Ipswich;  Nov.  5,  '61;  dis.  Nov. 

4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Hart,  David  A.,  18;  farmer,  So.  Reading;  Nov.  14,  '61;  trans. 

to  V.  R.  C.  July  9,  '64;  dis.  from  same,  Nov.  3,  '64,  ex. 

of  s. 
Hart,  John  F.,  21;  farmer.  So.  Reading;  Nov.  4,  '61;  desert. 

Dec.  — ,  '61. 
Hastings,  Barney,  37 ;  laborer,  Boston ;  Oct.  9,   '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64 ;  accidentally  k.  Feb.  7,  '64,  en  route  to  Boston  on 

furlough. 
Hill,  George  W.,  24;  hack-driver,  Boston;  Oct.  24,    '61;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  Corp.  Oct.  '65;  1st  Sergt.  Jan.  5,  'm-  M.  O. 

Jan.  20,  ^QQ ;  prom.  2d  Lieut.  Jan.  20,  ^&Q ;  not  mustered. 
Hogan,  Edward,  34 ;  harness-maker,  Pawtucket,  R.  I. ;  Nov. 

4,   '61;  dis.  Nov.  3,  '64,  disa. 
Hughes,  Patrick  F.    (R),   31;   shoemaker,   Boston;  July  21, 

'62;  dis.  July  21,  '63,  disa. 
Ingalls,  Stephen,  35 ;    machinist,  Boston ;    Oct.  28,   '61 ;    dis. 

April  23,  '63,  disa.;  d.  July  20,  '95,  S.  H. 
Jacobs,  Edward  S.,  31;  carpenter,  Bridgewater;  Sept.  8,  '61; 

re.  Jan.  4,   '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  'm. 
Jones,   Benjamin  F.,  32;  shoemaker,   Foxboro;   Nov.  4,    '61; 

dis.  April  24,  '63,  disa. ;  d.  June  11,  '97. 
Jowders,  Peter  H.,   35;   shoemaker,   Hamilton;  Oct.  31,    '61; 

dis.  Oct.  30,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Kelley,  Oliver  A.  (R),  21;  clerk,  Winthrop;  Aug.  6,  '62;  wd. 

Aug.  16,   '64,  Deep  Run;  dis.  as  Corp.  Dec.  4,    '64,  ex. 

of  s. ;  d.  June  6,  '68 ;  b.  Mt.  Auburn. 
Keyes,  John,  22 ;  gardener,  Boston ;  Nov.  1,  '61 ;  desert.  Dec. 

'61. 
Kibble,  Joseph,  30 ;  printer,  Charlestown ;   Oct.  21,    '61 ;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  also  borne  as  Jos.  A. ;  d. 

Feb.  5,  '93. 


Company  H. 


535 


D.  W.  .TefYers  (G). 
C.  F.  Dean  (HI. 


1).  H.  Cunninghiim  (E) 
(i.W.  All.'U  (C). 


G.  W.  Jeffers  (G). 
A.  I).  Dean  (H). 


Killdarv,  Michael,  30 :  laborer,  Boston ;  Oct.  25,   '61 ;  k.  Nov. 

12,^  '62,  Batchelder's  Creek,  X.  C. 
Knapp,  Charles  K.   (R).  38;  tinsmith.  Boston;  Jnly  25,   '62; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  M.  O.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  d.  May  10,  '94,  S.  H. 
Leary,  James,  33 ;  molder,  Boston ;  Nov.  5,   '61 ;  dis.  Nov.  3, 

'64,  ex.  of  s. 
LeFavor,  George  W.  (Corp.),  18;  brass-finisher,  Boston;  Oct. 

21,  '61 ;  Sergt.  and  1st  Sergt. ;  re.  Jan.  4,   '64 ;  prom.  1st 

Lieut.  Co.  G. 
Lilyecrantz,  Herman  W.  (Corp.),  23;  civil  engineer,  Boston; 

Sept.  5,  '61 ;  trans,  to  U.  S.  Signal  Corps,  Feb.  29,   '64 ; 

dis.  Sept.  22,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Locke,  Samuel  A.   (R),  35;  roofer,  Boston;  Mar.  1,   '64;  dis. 

Feb.  17,  '65,  disa.,  through  loss  of  left  arm ;  had  served 

in  Co.  E,  1st  Mass.  Infantry. 
Lowell,  John  T.,  27 ;  farmer,  Newburyport ;  Nov.  15,  '61 ;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64 ;  wd.  Aug.  16,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 


536         Twenty-fourth  JMassachusetts  Regiment. 

Lucas,  Andrew  M.    (R),   18;  mariner,  Gloucester;  July  18, 

'62 ;  d.  May  28,  '63,  Hilton  Head,  S.  C. 
Lucas,  Charles  W.,  38;  fisherman,  Gloucester:  Oct.  23,   '61; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  dis.  July  9,  '65,  disa. 
McCann,  James  (R),  20;  coal-passer,  Liverpool,  Eng. ;  cr.  to 

Boston,  Roxbury ;  July  25,  '62 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
McChester,  Dwight  (R),  19;  laborer,  Granville;  cr.  to  Peters- 
ham ;  July  20,  '64 ;  dis.  May  18,  '65,  ex.  of  s. 
Mackin,  James,  29;  laborer,  Cambridge;  Oct.  9,  '61;  dis.  June 

25,  '63.  disa.  through  loss  of  left  leg,  Nov.  11,   '62. 
McKinley.  Wm.  C,  32;  jeweler,  Attleboro;  Oct.  8,   '61;  dis. 

Oct.  28,  '62,  disa. 
McLaughlin,  James  (R),  18;  ship-carpenter,  St.  John,  N.  B.; 

cr.  to  Mansfield;  Nov.  2,   '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66;  also 

borne  as  Israel. 
McLaughlin,  Michael,  23;  shoemaker,  Salem;  Sept.  18,   '61; 

dis.  Sept.  17,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Mann,  Benjamin  H.,  19;  ,  Boston;  Sept.  4,    '61; 

hospital-steward,  Aug.  13,    '62. 
Martin,  John  L.,  21;  fisherman,  Essex;  Nov.  11,  '61;  d.  April 

3,  '62;  Newbern. 

Mildam,  Oren,  39;  shoemaker,  Wareham;  Nov.  28,  '61;  re. 
Jan.  4,  '.64 ;  cr.  to  Lynn ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 

Mills,  David  N.  (R),  18;  farmer,  Charlestown;  cr.  to  Attle- 
boro; Feb.  8,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 

Mitchell,  Wm.  S.,  22 ;  shoemaker,  Eastham ;  Sept.  10,  '61 ;  dis. 
April  23,  '63,  disa. ;  later  Co.  D,  58th  Mass.  Infantry. 

Morris,  David,  19 ;  farmer,  Hamilton ;  Oct.  7,    '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 

Muir,  Robert  A.,  18;  sailor,  Boston;  Oct.  14,  '61;  re.  Jan.  4, 

'64;  dis.  Dec.  12,   '64,  for  commission. 
Muldoon,  James  (R),  22;  painter,  Boston;  July  21,   '62;  re. 

Jan.  4,  '64;  Corp.  Sept.  8,  '64;  Sergt.  Oct.  8,  '64;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Mullen,  Patrick  A.,  32;  currier,  Salem;  Oct.  12,  '61;  k.  Aug. 

14,  '64,  Deep  Bottom,  Va. 
Munroe,  Cornelius  K.,  18;    sailor,  Rockland,    Me.;    Oct.'  22, 

'61;  re.  Jan.  4,   '64;  wd.  May  8,   '64,  on  picket;   Corp. 

Oct.  2,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Munsey,  Henry  (R),  18;  mariner,  Gloucester;  July  18,   '62; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  d.  April  11,  '64,  Alexandria,  Va. 
Murphy,    Daniel    (Mus.),    17;    paper-stainer,    Roxburv;    dis. 

Sept.  24,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 


Company  H.  537 

Nichols,  George  W.   (Serg-t.)i  21;  farmer,  Reading;  Sept.  7, 

'61;  1st  Sero-t. :  prom.  2d  Lieut.  Jan.  8.  '64,  Co.  A;  had 

served  in  Co.  B.  5th  M.  V.  ]\r.,  May  1— July  31,  '61. 
Oakes,  Benjamin  F.  (Corp.),  19;  clerk,  Boston;  Sept.  28,  '61; 

dis.  as  Sero-t.  Aug-.  11,  '63,  for  Com.  Captain  36th  U.  S. 

C.  T. 
Owens,  Patrick,  34;  laborer,  Lvnn ;  Nov.  11,   '61;  re.  Jan.  4, 

'64 ;  k.  Aug-.  16,   '64,  Deep  Run,  Va. 
Parker.  Wm.  D.,  35 ;  carpenter.  So.  Reading ;  Oct.   10,    '61 ; 

dis.  June  5,  '63,  disa. 
Pierson,  James  W.,  27 ;  shoemaker,  Lvam ;  Nov.  14,   '61 ;  dis. 

June  20.  '65 ;  had  been  prisoner  of  war ;  d.  May  10,  1904, 

S.  H. ;  also  Pearson. 
Randall,  Ambrozine,  21 ;  fisherman,  Gloucester ;  Oct.  28,   '61 ; 

dis.  Jan.  2,   '62,  disa. 
Rayner,  Ozias   (Sergt),  33;  cordwainer,  So.  Reading;  Sept. 

4,  '61:  dis.  Sept.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Mar.  28,  1900,  Athol; 

b.  Townsend,  Sept.  25,  1827;  Co.  A,  Mass.  Regt.  Mexi- 
can War;  three  months'  service.  Co.  B,  5th  Mass.,   '61; 

also  borne  as  Raynor. 
Reed,   George    (R).   21;    (real    name    Stephen    Remington), 

farmer,    Tiverton,  R.  I.;    cr.   to   Taunton;    Nov.   1,   '64; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Reed,  George  W.,  26  •  sailor,  Boston ;  Oct.  31,   '61 ;  dis.  Oct. 

15,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Remington,  Stephen ;  vide  George  Reed  above. 
Robinson,  John   (Corp.),  19;  farmer,  Weston;  Oct.  23,   '61; 

re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  k.  May  16,  '64,  Drewry's  Bluff. 
Robinson.  S.   Gushing,  24,  sailor.   Fox  Island,  Me. ;  Oct.   23, 

'61 ;  dis.  Oct.  22,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Sawyer.   James,   21;   cabinet-maker.   Roxbury;    Oct.    18,    '61; 

"desert.  Aug.  29,  '64. 
Shattuck,  James  M.,  28 ;  shoemaker,  Wenham ;  Nov.  18,   '61 ; 

dis.  Nov.  28,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  May  11,   '93,  Togus,  Me., 

N.  S.  H. 
Shope,  Philip  C.  (R),  18;  clerk.  Boston;  May  5,  '62;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  wd.  May  16,  '64;  dis.  Oct.  1,  '65,  disa. 
Shultz,  William,  31 ;  teamster,  Boston ;  Oct.  14,  '61 ;  dis.  May 

28,  '63,  disa. 
Smiley,  John  H.,  33 ;  painter.  So.  Reading ;  Oct.  3,   '61 ;  dis. 

April  20,  '63,  disa. 


538 


TWKNTV-POURTH    ^MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 


Clias.  M.  Duren  (CI. 
Corp.  (;.•(,.  Hill  (A) 


G.  A.Loring  (Ci. 
J.  Howard  (lil. 


Lieut.  E.  Gravt'S  (I). 
Chas.Telles(H). 


Smith.  Daniel   H.    (Sergt.).   26;   jeweler,   Attleboro:    Oct.   7, 

'61;  wcl.  Aug.  16,  '64;  dis.  as  1st  Sergt.  Oct.  8,  '64,  ex. 

of  s. 
Smith,  George  H.    (R),  18;  farmer,  Wickford.  R.   I.;  cr.  to 

Springfield ;  Nov.  4,   '64 ;  dis.  Nov.  6,   '65,  ex.  of  s. ;  one 

year's  man. 
Spear,   Daniel   G.    (Corp.),   19;   sailmaker,   Boston;   Oct.    10, 

'61 ;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64 ;  dis.  as  Sergt.  Mar.  12,  '64,  for  Com. 

2d  Lieut.  54th  Mass.  Infantry;  died  in  Boston. 
Stone,  Charles  H.,  26;  gasfitter.  Boston;  Oct.  21,  '61;  re.  Jan. 

4,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Streeter,  Wm.  H.,  18;  farmer.  Attleboro;   Oct.   15,    '61;  re. 

Jan.  4.  '64;  k.  as  Sergt.  Aug.  16,   '64,  Deep  Run,  Va. 
Sullivan,  Jeremiah  E.,  18;  shoemaker,  Bridgewater;  Sept.  20, 

'61 ;  dis.  Sept.  24,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 


Company  I.  539 

Sullivau.  John,  21 ;  laborer,  Lynn ;  Oct.  21.  '61 :  re.  Jan.  4, 
'6-4;  cr.  to  Cambridge;  k.  ^lav  14,  '6-4,  Drewry's  Bluff, 
Va. 

Swears,  Charles  D.,  22 :  sailor.  Deer  Island,  Me. ;  Oct.  25,  '61 ; 
desert.  Dec.  — ,  '61. 

Telles,  Charles,  23;  clerk.  Boston;  July  26,  '62;  re.  Jan.  4, 
'64 ;  M.  O.  Jan.  20,  '66.  His  life  in  the  army  was  only  a 
continuation  of  the  adventurous  career  he  had  followed 
as  a  whaler,  having  just  escaped  the  Confederate  cruisers 
on  his  way  home  in  January.  '62 ;  as  a  soldier  he  served 
with  his  company  till  December,  '64,  when  he  was 
detailed  as  a  teamster,  and  in  that  capacity  was  with  the 
First  Division,  Tenth  Corps ;  later  his  train  was  on  the 
extreme  left  and  so  followed  up  to  Appomattox. 

Thompson,  Thomas,  18;  jeweler,  Attleboro;  Oct.  21,  '61;  dis. 
as  Corp.  Oct.  22,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 

Twist,  John  IL,  18;  fisherman.  Deer  Island,  Me.;  Oct.  22, 
'61 ;  d.  May  4,  '62,  Newbern. 

Wharton,  Davis  S.,  19 ;  fisherman,  Swan  Island,  Me. ;  Oct.  23, 
'61 ;  desert.  Dec.  6,   '61 ;  served  later  in  the  Navy. 

Winsor.  James  H.,  24;  machinist,  Providence,  R.  I.;  cr.  to 
Attleboro;  Feb.  8,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66;  also  Wind- 
sor. 

Wrig-htington,  Wm.  B.,  24;  shoemaker,  Bridgewater;  Sept.  8, 
'61;  re.  Jan.  4,  '64;  d.  of  wounds,  Sept.  8,  '64,  Parole 
Camp,  Annapolis,  Md. 

Company  I. 

CAPTAINS. 

J.  Lewis  Stackpole,  23;  lawyer,  Cambridge;  Sept.  2,  '61;  dis. 
Sept.  11,  '62,  for  prom,  as  Captain  and  Com.  of  Sub- 
sistence, V.  S.  Vols. ;  later  jMajor  and  Judge  Advocate ; 
brev.  Lieut.  Colonel,  Mar.  13,  '65;  d.  Jan.  2,  1904,  Bos- 
ton ;  b.  Mt.  Auburn. 

Charles  B.  Amory,  from  Co.  F,  Sept.  27,  '62 ;  prom.  Captain 
and  Asst.  Adjutant  General,  IJ.  S.  Vols.,  June  14,  '64; 
res.  May  9,  '65;  Brev.  Major  U.  S.  Vols.,  Mar.  13,  '65. 
On  page  107  may  be  found  a  brief  outline  of  the  services 
of  the  Amorv  familv  in  the  war;  in  addition,  mention 


540         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

should  have  been  made  of  a  brother-in-law,  Lieut.-col.  L. 
M.  Sarg-ent  of  the  First  Mass.  Cav.,  k.  at  Bellfield,  Va., 
Dec.  9,  '64.  A  son  of  Major  Amory,  2d  Lient.  in  the  First 
U.  S.  Infantry,  now  serving  in  the  Philippines,  seems 
likely  to  pass  on  the  military  spirit  of  the  family. 
Though  long  resident  in  New  Orleans,  immediately  fol- 
lowing the  war.  Major  Amory  returned  to  Massachu- 
setts to  become  treasurer  of  the  Hamilton  Mills,  one  of 
the  great  corporations  of  Lowell,  with  offices  in  Boston, 
He  is  a  Past  Department  officer  of  the  Mass.  Dept.  G.  A. 
R.,  Past  Sen.  Vice-commander  of  Post  113,  and  Past 
Conmiander  of  the  J.Iass.  Commandery,  Loyal  Legion. 

Albert  Ordway,  from  Co.  D,  June  15,  '64;  prom.  Major. 

George  W.  Le  Favor,  from  Co.  G,  Dec.  14,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan. 
20,  '66  ■  d.  April  6,  '94,  Roxbury. 


FIRST   LIEUTENANTS. 

James  A.  Perkins,  25 ;  merchant,  Boston ;  Sept.  2,  '61 ;  k.  Aug. 

26,  '63,  Morris  Island,  S.  C. ;  b.  Mt.  Auburn. 
Thomas  M.  Sweet,  from  Co.  D,  Nov.  1,  '63;  Adjutant,  July 

21,  '64;  prom.  Captain  Sept.  3,  '64,  declined  Com. 
John  T.  Wilson,  May  22,  '64,  from  Co.  E ;  wd.  Aug.  16,  '64 ; 

prom.  Captain,  ^ept.  23,  '64,  not  mustered ;  dis.  Nov.  12, 

'64,  ex.  of  s. 
Edward  Graves,  from  Sergt.  Co.  H,  Oct.  18,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,  '66. 
Elbridge  Howe,  Jan.  20,   '66;  not  mustered. 


SECOND  LIEUTENANTS. 

William  L.  Horton,  23;  merchant,  Boston;  Sept.  2,  '61;  wd. 
Mar.  14.  '62.  Newbern ;  prom.  1st  Lieut.  Co.  A,  and 
Adjutant. 

Parmenas  E.  Wheeler,  from  F.  and  S.  (Com.  Sergt.),  Aug.  1, 

'62;  prom.  1st  Lieut.  Co.  H. 
Jarvis  White,  from  1st  Sergt.  Co.  G,  Feb.  6,   '64;  wd.  Aug. 

14,  '64,  Deep  Bottom,  Va. ;  prom.  1st  Lieut.  Co.  B. 
George  F.  Sibley,  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  not  mustered. 


Company  I.  541 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS  AND  PRIVATES. 

Adams,  Artemas,  37 ;  farmer,  Brookfield ;  Oct.  9,  '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

2,  '64;  wd.  May  16,  '64;  k.  in  action,  Oct.  13,  '64,  near 

Richmond,  Va. 
Adams,  George,  24;  farmer,  Brookfield;  d.  May  24,  Newbern, 

N.  C. 
Alden,  Albert  (Mus.),  16;  hostler,  Waltliara;  Sept.  21,   '61; 

re.  Jan.  2,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Allen,  John  C,  18;  butcher,  Cambridge;  Sept.  10,    '61;  re. 

Jan.  2,   '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
Anderson,  Alexander,  34;  laborer,  Cambridge;  Sept.  25,  '61; 

wd.  Mar.  14,  '62,  Newbern;  dis.  Oct.  18,   '62,  disa. 
Armstrong,  Irwin,  33;  laborer,  Cambridge;  Oct.  28,   '61;  re. 

Jan.  2,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66;  d.  Mar.  13,  1893,  Cam- 
bridge. 
Armstrong,  James,  19 ;    wire-temperer,    Cambridge ;    Mar.  8, 

'64;  Corp.  Mar.  1,  '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66;  had  served  in 

Co.  A,  47th  Mass. 
Atwood,  Daniel  A.,  22;  oysterman,  Boston;  Oct.  2,   '61;  re. 

Jan.  2,  '64;  cr.  to  Chelsea;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Austin,  Wm.  H.  (Corp.),  21;  mechanic,  Brookfield;  Sept.  14, 

'61;  dis.  Oct.  13,  '63,  disa. 
Bacon,  Stillman  (R),  35;  farmer,  Vermont;  cr.  to  Ware;  Feb. 

21,  '65 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Baxter,  Hugh,  35;  laborer,  Boston;  Sept.  6,  '61;  dis.  Sept,  6, 

'64,  ex.  of  s. 
Bean,  James,  33;  farmer,  Boston;  Sept.  14,  '61;  re.  Jan.  2, 

'64;  cr.  to  Roxbury;  k.  May  16,  '64,  Drewry's  Bluff,  Va. 
Bean,  William  S.  (wagoner),  32;  baker,  Kansas;  Nov.  5,  '61; 

wd.  May  16,  '64;  dis.  Nov.  5,  '64,  disa. 
Bemis,  Alvin,  21;  farmer,  Spencer;  Sept.  19,  '61;  dis.  April 

15,  '63,  disa. 
Blood,  Alfred  0.,  21;  farmer,  Charlton;  Sept.  23,   '61;  dis. 

Oct.  9,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Bowen,  George  W.,  17;  farmer,  Charlton;   Oct.  9,    '61;  dis. 

Oct.  9,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Brock,  Orville,  19;  ,  Blackstone;   Oct.  9,   '61;  d. 

June  6,   '62,  from  wounds  rec'd  at  Tranter's  Ck.,  N.  C. 
Campbell,  John,  31 ;  Oct.  8,  '61 ;  provision-dealer.  So.  Boston ; 

re.  Jan.  2,  '61 ;  trans,  to  V.  R.  C.  June  30,  '65 ;  dis.  Nov. 

20,  '65,  from  Co.  C,  11,  V.  R.  C. 


542         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Eegiment. 

Carpenter,  Charles  B.   (R),  24;  shoemaker,  Brookfield;  Aug. 

28,  '62 ;  dis.  Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  dead.  * 

Carr,  Daniel,  33 ;  clerk,  Warren ;  Sept.  24,  '66 ;  dis.  Sept.  24, 

'64,  ex.  of  s. 
Carroll,  Thomas,  30 ;  laborer,  Cambridge ;  Nov.  11,   '61 ;  dis. 

Nov.  16,  '64,  ,ex.'  of  s. 
Clayton,  Thomas.  32 ;  mechanic,  Boston ;   Sept.   10,    '61 ;  dis, 

Sept.  10,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Clements,  Wm.  II.   (Mus.),  17;  bill-poster,  Blackstone;  Sept. 

11,   '61;  dis.  Aug.  22,    '62;  served  later  in  Co.  D,  43d 

Infantry,    and  Co.  C,  2d  H.  Artillery;    also    found    as 

Clemence. 
Colvin,  James  W.,  36;  spinner,  Blackstone;  Oct.  2,   '61;  dis. 

June  5,  '63,  disa. ;  served  later  in  Co.  F,  4th  H.  Artillery. 
Condon,  John  F.   (E),  18;  harness-maker.  So.  Boston;  Aug. 

5,  '62;  dis.  Mar.  26,  '63,  disa. 
Connelly,  Francis,  18 ;  laborer,  Cambridge ;  Sept.  10,  '61 ;  re. 

Jan.  2,  '61;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
Connor,  Jolin,  35 ;  laborer,  Cambridge ;  Sept.  9,  '61 ;  re.  Jan, 

2,   '64;  wd.  at  Drewrv's  Bluff;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66;  d. 

June  4,  '99,  S.  H. 
Conroy,  Wm.  N.   (R),  18;  laborer.  So.  Boston;  Aug.  5,   '62; 

re.  Jan.  2,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Costeller,   Edwin  E.,  28';  stone-mason,   Cambridge;   Oct.  28, 

'61 ;  dis.  Oct.  28,   '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  also  Costello. 
Costello,  John  M.,  25 ;    iron-worker,    Boston ;    Sept.   19,    '61 ; 

dis.  as  Corp.  Sept.  18,   '64;  d.  Sept.  30,   '64,  Hampton, 

Va. 
Costigan,  John  F.  (R),  34;  lather,  Boston;  July  19,  '62;  dis. 

Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Cronin,  Simon   (R),  18;  grocer,  Boston;  Mar.   15,   '64;  wd. 

May  7,  '64,  fatigue;  k.  Oct.  13,  '64,  near  Richmond,  Va. 
Cross,  William,  38 ;  hostler,  Boston ;   Oct.  22,    '61 ;  re.  Jan, 

2,  '64;  cr.  to  Wellfleet;    M.    0.    Jan.    20,    '66;    d.    1901, 

Lowell. 
Cummings,  Wm.  H,,  21 ;    mechanic,    Charlton ;    Oct.  7,   '61 ; 

dis.  Nov.  19,  '61. 
Davis,  Frederic,  18 ;    farmer,  Brookfield ;    Oct.  16,   '61 ;    dis. 

May  17,  '63,  Hilton  Head,  S.  C,  disa. 
Delane,  Nelson  H.  (R),  41;  farmer,  Charlton;  Aug.  28,  '62; 

dis.  Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s.  as  Corp. ;  also  written  DeLane. 
Delane,  Peter,  24;  farmer,  Brookfield;  Sept.  28,  '61;  re.  Jan, 

2,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  also  written  DeLane. 


•    Company  I.  543 

Dickinson.    Charles    E.     (Corp.).    18:    operator,    Brookfield; 

Sept.   14,    '61 ;  Sergt. ;  re.  Jan.  2.    '64 ;    d.    in    hospital, 

Beverly,  N.  J..  Oct.  9.    '64,  of  wounds  rec'd    Aug.   16, 

'64. 
Dickinson,  Curtis  (R).  41;  farmer.  Brookfield;  Aug.  28,  '62; 

M-d.  Oct.  13,  '64;  dis.  Dec.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Nov.  2,  '98, 

Worcester. 
Doane.  Lorenzo    (R).   21:   farmer.   Brookfield:   Aug  28.    '62; 

d's.  Dec.  4.  '64.  ex.  of  s.  as  Corp. 
Dolan,  Patrick  H..  26;  tailor.  Boston:  Sept.  16,  '61;  dis.  June 

5,    '63,  disa. ;  served  later  in  Co.  F,  69th  New  York,  as 

W.  F.  Mason. 
Dunn,  John,  24,  cook,  Boston:  Oct.  19.    '64:  re.  Jan.  2.   '64; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Eagleson.  Thomas.  40:  cook.  Cambridge:  Sept.   21.    '61;  dis. 

jMar.  26.  '63,  disa. :  also  written  Eagleston. 
Eaton,   George  A.    (Sergt.),  clerk,  Boston:  Dec.  4.    '61:   dis. 

Dec.  18.  '62,  disa. ;  d.  Jan.  10.  1905. 
Feary,  Wm.  H.  (R),  19;  shoemaker.  Sturbridge;  cr.  to  Brook- 
field; Dee.  17.   '63:  dis.  ^May  24.   '65,  absent  in  hospital 

and  dis.  from  same :  d.  May  11,   '93. 
Finton.  Isaac.  20 ;  butcher.  Cambridge :  Oct.  19.   '61 :  d.  Sept. 

23,  '63;  also  Fenton. 
Fitzgerald,  Dennis,   35 :   laborer.   So.  Boston ;   Sept.   24.    '61 ; 

wd.  ]\Iar.  14,  '62 ;  re.  Jan.  2.  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66. 
Flaherty.  Daniel,  34 ;  rigger,  Boston ;  Oct.  2.   '61 ;  re.  Jan.  2, 

'64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Gambol,  George.  25 ;  gasworker.  So.  Boston :  Oct.  16,  '61 ;  re. 

Jan.  2.   '64;  k.  Sept.  22.   '64,  near  Petersburg,  Va. 
Gilbert,  Isaac  H.,  18 ;  millwright,  Warren ;  Oct.  10,  '61 ;  dis. 

May  26,   '63,  disa. ;    later  in  the  Navy :    also    given    as 

Israel. 
Griffin.  James,  24 ;  currier.  Boston :  Sept.  30,  '61 ;  re.  Jan.  2, 

'64;  Corp.  April  16,   '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
Hall.  Patrick  (R).  22,  teamster.  Lowell;  July  21,  '62:  re.  Jan. 

2.  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Hill,  Edward  (Corp.).  28;  blacksmith,  Boston;  Sept.  18,  '61; 

dis.  May  28,  '63,  disa. 
Holmes.    Oren    H.     (wagoner).    40;     ironworker,    Wareham; 

Oct.  23,  '61 ;  dis.  June  8.  '63,  disa. 
Howard,  George  H.,  21 ;  lamplighter.  So.  Boston ;  Oct.  3,  '61 ; 

dis.  Oct.  3,   '64.  ex.  of  s. :  d.  Jan.  10,    '94,  Togus.  Me., 

N.  S.  H. 


544 


Twenty-fourth  MAssACiiusEiiTS  Regiment. 


Corp.  J.  C.  Cook  (C). 
.1,  H.  Atvvood  (K». 


.1.  A.  MilliT  (  I). 
Sergt.  \V.  H.  King  (1). 


Corp.  C.  E.  Weeks  (II. 
X.  H.  DeLane  Hi. 


Howe.  Albert  S.,  20;  farmer,  Brookfield;  Sept.  19.   '61;  dis. 

Feb.  23,  '63;  d.  Sept.  24,  1905. 
Howe,  Elbridge   (E),  23;  trader,  Brookfield;  Aug.  28,    '62; 

re.  Jan.  2,  '64;  Commissary-Sergt.  (F.  and  S. ),  Dec.  6, 

'64 ;  d.  Nov.  7,  '94. 
Hoxie,  Zenas  (R),  21;  farmer,  Sandwich;  cr.  to  Cambridge; 

Sept.  21,  '64;  dis.  June  12,  '65. 
Huber,  John   (R),  33;  nailer,  Boston;  cr.  to  Northampton; 

Feb.  16,   '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
Ingraham,  Sewall  S.,  24;  cabinet-maker,  Dorchester;  Nov.  5, 

'61 ;  re.  Jan.  2,  '64 ;  cr.  to  Milton ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Irwin,  John,  32;  laborer,  Cambridge;  d.  Dec.  18,  '61,  Annap- 
olis, Md. ;  the  first  death  in  the  regiment  after  leaving 

Massachusetts. 
Jones,  James  H.,  25 ;  farmer,  Barnstable ;  Nov.  1.  '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

2,  '64 ;  wd.  Oct.  13,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 


Company  I.  545 

Jones,  Lemuel  S.   (Corp.)<  37;  farmer,  Barnstable;  Oct.  25, 

'61:  re.  Jan.  2.  '64:  M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66:  d.  June  2,  1907, 

West  Barnstable. 
Jones,  Thomas  TV..  18 :  farmer,  Barnstable :  Nov.  1,  '61 ;  re. 

Jan.    2,    '64;    cr.    to    Sandwich;    wd.    at    Weir    Bottom 

Churt-h:    trans.    April    17,    '65.    to  Co.    B,    11th   Regt., 
.    V.  E.  C. 
Joslin,  Leonard,  29 :  operative,  Attleboro ;  Sept.  25,   '61 ;  re. 

Jan.  2,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
Keene,  William,  41;    carpenter,  Boston;    Oct.  24.    '61;    wd. 

Oct.  13,  '64 ;  dis.  Oct.  24,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Kennev,  John,  20 ;  laborer,  Boston ;  Sept.  24,  '61 :  desert.  Dec. 

8,' '61. 
King,  William  H.   (Sergt.),  25;  carpenter,  Charlton;  Oct.  9, 

'61 ;  dis.  Jan.  1,  '63,  for  Com.  1st  N.  C.  Vols. 
Lamb,  William  J.,  26 :  shoemaker,  Charlton ;  Oct.  7,  '61 ;  re. 

Jan.  2,  '64 ;  cr.  to  Oxford ;  wd.  Mav  16,  '64 :  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,  '66. 
Lathrop,  Julius  M.  (Corp.),  22;  clerk,  Dedham;  Nov.  4,  '61; 

(Sergt.)  dis.  Aug.  26,  '62,  for  Com.  1st  Lieut.  38tli  Mass. 

Infantry;  later  Captain  same;  d.  of  wounds,  April  25, 

'64;  also  found  as  Lothrop. 
Lines,  Patrick  (R),  34;  laborer,  Wevmouth;  Jan.  6,  '64;  wd. 

Aug.  16,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Lyon,  Charles  A.    (1st  Sergt.),  23;  law-student,  Brookfield; 

Sept.  6,    '61;  dis.  June  1,    '62,  for  Com.   1st  Lieut.  1st 

N.  C.  Vols. 
Lyon,  Marcus  E.  (R,),  — ;  ,  enlist.  Annapolis,  Md. ; 

Jan.  1,  '62 ;  k.  Aug.  16,  '64,  Deep  Run,  Va. 
McCarthy,  Eugene   (R).  44;  laborer,  Charlton;  Jan.  4,   '64; 

wd.  at  Proctor's  Ck. ;  also  May  16,   '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20, 

'66. 
McCourt,   Charles   (Corp.),   18;  plumber,   Cambridge;    Sept. 

10,   '61 ;  wd.  Morris  Island ;  re.  Jan.  2,   '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,  '66. 
McCoy    John,  19;  brass-founder,  Boston;  cr.  to  Cambridge; 

Mar.  8,  '64;  wd.  Deep  Run,  Aug.  16,   '64;  dis.  June  30, 

'65,  disa. 
McDonald,  Patrick,  35;    farmer,    Cambridge;    Sept.  6,   '61; 

dis.  Sept.  6,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
McKean,  William  J.,  32;  dyer,  Lawrence;  Sept.  18,   '61;  d. 

Nov.  20,  '63,  St.  Augustine,  Fla. 
35 


546  TWENTV-FOURTH    MASSACHUSETTS   REGIMENT. 

McVay,  Patrick,   35;  laborer,  Walthani;   Sept.  23.    '61;   dis. 

Oct.  3,  '63,  disa. ;  also  found  as  McVey. 
Marcy.  Marvin  G.,  34;  farmer.  Brookfield;  Oct.  31,   '61:  re. 

Jan.  2,  '64 ;  cr.  to  Southbridge :  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Marker.  ITenrv  J.  (R),  24;  painter.  Boston;  July  23.  '62;  re. 

Jan.  2,  '64:  dis.  Jan.  13.  '66:  d.  Dee.  21.  1902,  S.  H. 
Marsh.  John  H.,  20;  sawyer,  Spencer;  Sept.  23.  '61:  dis.  June 

29.  '63,  disa. 
Maynard,  George  N.,  22 ;  molder.  Brookfield ;  Oct.  12,  '61 :  re 

Jan.  2,   '64;  wd.  Oct.  13.   '64.  Darbytown  Road:  M.  0 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
Merrick,  James  F.,  27 ;  tinsmith.  Boston :  cr.  to  Concord :  Feb 

11,  '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66. 
Merritt,  Andrew  J.,  18;  sleighmaker,  Brookfield:  Oct.  16,  '61 

k.  Mar.  14,  '62,  Newbern. 
Merritt,  Edwin  R.,  21;  sleighmaker,  Brookfield;  Oct.  14,  '61 

wd.  Mar.  14,  '62,  also  Oct.  7,   '64:  dis.  Oct.  16,   '64.  ex 

of  s. ;  d.  Dec.  15,  '64,  Hampton.  Va. 
Meyers,  Joseph.  20;  cigar-maker,  Cambridge;  Sept.  19.  '61 

'  dis.  Sept.  18,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Miller,  John  A.  (R),  18;  blacksmith.  Boston;  Aug.  6,  '62;  re 

Jan.  2.  '64;  M.  O.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Miller,  Thomas  R.   (R),  22;  blacksmith.  So.  Boston:  Jan.  1, 

'64;  Corp.  Oct.  9,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Nixon.  Hugh,  24 ;    laborer,   Cambridge :    Sept.   20,    '61 :    dis. 

Sept.  20,  '66,  ex.  of  s. 
Noonan,  John,  21;  laborer.  Salem;  Nov.  14,  '61;  dis.  ^Maj^  13, 

'64,  disa.  through  wounds. 
O'Brien.  Jeremiah   (R),  25;  laborer,   Boston;   cr.  to   Brook- 
line;  Nov.  25,  '64;  k.  Drewry's  Bluff.  May  16,  '64. 

O'Brien,  Michael,  18;  hose-maker,  Boston;  wd.  Tranter's Ck., 
N.  C,  June  5,  '62;  dis.  Oct.  3,  '62,  disa. 

O'Brien,  Thomas,  22;  laborer,  Concord;  Sept.  10,    '61;  wd. 

Mar.  14,  '62,  Newbern ;  dis.  Aug.  17,  '62,  disa. 
O'Brien,  William  J.   (Sergt.),  19;    clerk.    Cambridge;    Sept. 

23,  '61;  re.  Jan.  2,  '64;  1st  Sergt.  prom.  1st  Lieut,  and 

Captain,  Co.  F. 
O'Connor,  Dentiis,  23;  laborer,  Cambridge;  Oct.  19,   '61;  re. 

Jan.  2,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66;  d.  Mav  25,  1904,  Togus, 

Me.,  N.  S.  H. 
O'Hearn,  Patrick,  21;  mason,  Boston;  Oct.  2,    '61;  re.  Jan. 

2,  '64 ;  k.  as  Sergt.  Aug.  16,  '64,  Deep  Run,  Va. 


Company  I.  547 

O'Xiel,    Uominick.    28;    farmer,   Boston;    Sept.    20.    '61;   dis. 

Sept.  1,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
0'Xi(4.  John  (R).  22:  cooper.  So.  Boston;  Jan.  18.  '64;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20.   '66. 
Page.  George  H..  32;  lal)orer.  Connecticut;  er.  to  Sunderland; 

Feb.  9,  '65 ;  desert.  Aug.  16.  '65. 
Page,  Henrv  J.    (Corp.),    23;    shoemaker,    Xo.    Brookfield; 

Sept.  23,  '61 ;  dis.  Aug.  30.  '62,  disa. 
Pike.  Horace  S.,  22 ;  wheelwright.  Charlton ;  Oct.  7.  '61 ;  dis. 

Oct.  7,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  dead. 
Pond,  Edward  R..  18;  varnisher,  Dedham;  Oct.  8.   '61;  dis. 

April  7,   '63.  disa. ;  later,  Co.  E,  17th  Me. ;  d.  Aug.  22, 

1902,  S.  H. 
Pratt,  Charles  E.   (R),  24;  music-teacher,  Hartford.  Ct. ;  cr. 

to  ^Dedham ;  Mar.  28,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66. 
Prescott,  Irving  A.,  18 ;  seaman,  ^Maiden ;  Oct.  3.  '61 ;  re.  Jan. 

2,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Reed,  Elijah  R.,  Jr..  34;  carpenter,  Attleboro;  Oct.  18,   '61; 

dis.  Oct.  18,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Feb.  6,  1901. 
Reed,  Nathan  H.,  18;  jeweler,  Attleboro;  Oct.   18.    '61;  dis. 

Oct.  18,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Reed,  Samuel,  31;  laborer,  Cambridge;  Oct.  18.  '61;  re.  Jan. 

2,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66;  dead. 
Reynolds,  N^athan  (Corp.),  30;  farmer,  X'^o.  Brookfield;  Sept. 

23.  '61 ;  dis.  May  9.  '63.  disa. 
Reynolds.  William,  26 ;  farmer,  Xo.  Brookfield ;  Sept.  23,  '61 ; 

w^d.  June  5,  '62,  Tranter's  Ck.,  N.  C;  re.  Feb.  28,  '64; 

cr.  to  Dedham ;  :\r.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Riley,  Charles.  29;  blacksmith.   So.  Boston;   Oct.   3.    '61;  k. 

]Mar.  14,  '62.  X'^ewbern. 
Rogers.  Henry  D.   (R).  19;  shoemaker,  Brookfield;  Aug.  28, 

'62 ;  dis.  Dec.  4.  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  dead. 
Sawin,  Sullivan  0.,  24 ;  expressman,  Cambridge ;  X^ov.  5,  '61 ; 

dis.  X^ov.  5,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Severson,  Wm.  C,  21;  (Sergt.),  clerk,  Boston;  Sept.  21,  '61; 

re.  Jan.  2,  '64;  dis.  April  12,  '64,  as  1st  Sergt.  for  Com. 

2d  Lieut.,  56th  ]\fass.  Infantry;  later  1st  Lieut,  and  Cap- 
tain in  same. 
Shannon,  John  (R),  20;  sailor,  St.  John,  N.  B. ;  cr.  to  Bos- 
ton; Mar.  10,   '64;  desert.  Dee.  20,   '65. 
Shine.  John,  25 ;  painter.  Boston ;  Oct.  31,  '61 ;  wd.  Mar.  14, 

'62;  dishonorablv  dis.  Xov.  5.   '62. 


548         Twf:nty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


Company  I  549 

Siblev.  George  F.  (R).  33;  clicker,  Brookfield;  Aug.  28,  '62; 
Corp.  Jan.  1,  '63;  re.  Jan.  2,  '64;  Sergt.  Aug.  16,  '64; 
1st  Sergt.  Nov.  4,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  1st  Lieut.  Jan. 
20,  '66 ;  not  mustered ;  d.  April  6,  '93,  Worcester. 

Sirae,  William,  28;  blacksmith.  Boston;  Sept.  9,  '61;  re.  Jan. 
2,  '64 ;  dis.  June  19.  '65,  disa. 

Slayton,  George  A.  (R).  19;  machinist,  Brookfield:  Aug.  28, 
"  '62:  Corp.  Mar.  22,  '64:  Sergt.  Oct.  1.  '65;  M.  0.  Jan. 
20,  '66. 

Slayton,  Salem  D.,  19:  shoemaker,  Brookfield;  Sept.  19,  '61; 
'  re.  Jan.  2,  '64 ;  k.  May  30,  '64,  Bermuda  Hundred,  Va. 

Smith,  Marshall  E.,  18 :  seaman,  Smithtown,  L.  I. ;  Oct.  3, 
'61;  re.  cr.  to  West  Roxbury;  Jan.  2,  '64;  k.  Aug.  16, 
'64,  Deep  Run,  Va. 

Spooner,  Luther,  33 :  shoemaker,  Charlton ;  Aug.  28.  '62 ;  k. 
Aug.  26,   '63,  Morris  Island,  S.  C. 

Stanton,  Thomas,  35;  laborer,  Boston ;  Oct.  19,  '61:  re.  Jan. 
2,  '64;  M.  O.  Jan.  20.  '66. 

Stevens,  James,  25 ;  laborer.  Barnstable ;  ,  ;  a  de- 
serter from  Dec,  '61,  to  June  6,  '64 ;  made  good  the  time 
lost  and  was  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 

Stevens,  Sylvester  H.,  21 ;  farmer,  Brookfield ;  Sept.  19,  '61 ; 
re.  Jan.  2,  '64;  wd.  Oct.  13,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66;  d. 
Oct.  15.  1907,  East  Brookfield. 

Stewart,  James  (R),  42;  farmer,  Plainfield:  Feb.  20,  '65; 
M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66;  d.  June  18,  1906.  Leyden,  at  106 
years ;  while  there  is  uncfertainty  as  to  data,  it  is  claimed 
that  Stewart  was  bom  in  Scotland,  son  of  a  lieutenant 
in  the  British  army  and  had  vivid  impressions  of  the 
receipt  of  news  from  Waterloo. 

Sweeney.  John  (R),  21;  mariner,  Charlestown;  July  18,  '62; 
,  re.' Jan.  2,  '64;  wd.  Aug.  16,  '64;  dis.  May  20,'  '65,  disa. 

Todd,  Franklin  (R),  23;  laborer,  Stockbridge;  cr.  to  Cam- 
bridge ;  Mar.  22,  '64 ;  d.  June  7,  '64,  from  wounds,  in  the 
hands  of  the  enemy,  Petersburg,  Va. 

Travis,  James,  28 ;  waiter,  Cambridge ;  Dec.  6,  '61 ;  d.  May 
16,  '64,  Ft.  Monroe. 

Tucker,  Edwin  M.,  22;  shoemaker.  No.  Brookfield;  Sept.  23, 
'61;  wd.  Mar.  14,  '62;  Corp.  Oct.  1,  '62;  re.  Jan.  2,  '64; 
Sergt.  Mar.  22.  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66.  After  the  pro- 
motion of  Sergeant  Hartshorn,  Co.  G,  who  had  been  the 
color-bearer.  Sergeant  Tucker  was    intrusted  with    the 


550  'rWKNTV-ForRTH    ^MASSACHUSETTS    REGIMENT. 

duty  and  porfonned  it  to  the  end.  his  being  the  hands 

from  whose  keeping  to  that  of  the  Commonwealth  the 

colors  passed  on  the  return  of  the  regiment. 
Turner,  John   E.    (Sergt),  24;  carpenter.  Brookfield;   Sept. 

19,  '61 ;  re.  Jan.  2,  '64 ;  dis.  June  24.  '65.  disa. 
Wallace,  George  F.,  18;  machinist,  Attleboro;  Oct.   18.    '61; 

re.  Jan.  2,  '61:  cr.  to  Foxboro;  Corp.  Aug.  16.  '64;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20,  '66. 
"Watson,  Henry  W.   (Corp.),  17;  shoemaker.  Brookfield;  Nov. 

18,  '61;  re.  Jan.  2,  '64;  k.  Oct.  13,  '64,  before  Richmond. 
Weeks.  Charles  E.,  21;  painter,  Haverhill;    Sept.    30,     '61; 

Corp.  Dec.  1,    '63;  re.  Jan.  2.    '64;  Sergt.   Oct.  9,    '64; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  d.  May  8,  1901,  Haverhill. 
Whelan,  Michael,  18;  glass-blower,  So.  Boston;  Sept.  14,  '61; 

wd.  at  Proctor's  Ck.,  also  ]\[av  16,   '64;  re.  Jan.  2,   '64; 

trans.  April  13,  '65,  to  V.  R.  C. ;  dis.  Nov.  15,  '65. 
Works,  Frank  P.    (R),  29;  shoemaker.  Brookfield;   Feb.   27, 

'64;  Avd.  Jnne  16,  '64;  dis.  Sept.  15,  '65.  disa. 
Young.  Frederick  E.,  21 ;  shoemaker,  Charlton ;  Oct.  9,    '61 ; 

re.  Jan.  2,  '64;  k.  Oct.  13.  '64,  before  Richmond. 


Company  K. 
captains. 

J.  Crosby  Maker,  23 ;  merchant.  Boston ;  Sept.  2,  '61 ;  dis. 
Sept"!  2.  '64.  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  June  19.  1900,  Melrose.  Like 
some  other  officers  of  the  Twenty-fourth,  Captain  Maker 
engaged  in  business  in  Savannah.  Ga.,  but  for  more  than 
twenty  years  before  his  death  he  was  with  the  firm  of 
Brown,  Durrell  Co..  Boston,  residing  in  Melrose,  where 
he  was  ever  interested  in  the  public  schools,  for  many 
years  a  member  of  the  school  board.  June  19,  1900,  the 
^Massachusetts  Commandery  of  the  Loyal  Legion  pre- 
sented a  fine  bronze  tablet  to  his  memory,  placing  the 
same  on  the  walls  of  the  Melrose  High  School. 

AVilliam  F.  Wiley,  Oct.  15,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66.  Always 
an  Essex  County  man.  Captain  Wiley  is  and  long  has 
been  the  efficient  postmaster  of  Peabody.  At  the  same 
time  he  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  devoted  mem- 
bers of  the  local  post  of  the  Grand  Army. 


Company  K.  551 

first  lieutenants. 

Mason  A.  Rea.  34 :  .  Boston ;  Sept.  2.  '61 ;  k.  May 

16,   '64.  Drewry's  Bluiie.  Va. :  b.  Mt.  Auburn. 

Frank  H.  Shepard.  :\Iav  17.  '64:  dis.  Oct.  16.  '64,  ex.  of  s.; 
d.  April  26.  1881. 

William  F.  Wiley,  from  Co.  B.  Oct.  14.   '64 :  prom.  Captain. 

Andrew  Wilson,  from  Co.  A,  June  16.  *65;  prom.  Captain 
Co.  H. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANTS". 

Thomas  F.  Edmands.  20;  ,  Boston:  Sept.  2,   '61; 

prom.  First  Lient.  Co.  B. 
Charles  T.  Perkins,    from  1st  Sergt.    Co.   C,    Aug.  27,    '62; 

prom.  First  Lieut.  Co.  A. 
Frank  H.  Shepard,  from  Sergt.  Co.  A,  Dec.  28,    '62 ;  prom. 

First  Lieut.  Co.  K. 
Amos  W.  Bridges,  Jan.  20.  '66';  not  mustered. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS  AND  PRIVATES. 

Adams,  George  R..  22 ;  farmer,  Newton ;  Oct.  18,  '61 ;  re.  Dec. 

29,  '64;  cr.  to  Boston;  Corp.  Oct.  13,  '64;  Sergt.  Oct.  1, 

'65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66. 
Adams,  John.   19 ;    hair-dresser.    Boston ;    Oct.  4,    '61 ;    had 

been  prisoner  of  war,  taken  May  18,    '64;  dis.  July  6, 

'65,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  Sept.  1900,  Holbrook. 
Akerman,  William   (Mus.),  18;  store-boy,  Boston;  Sept.  17, 

'61 ;  re.  Dec.  29.  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,'  '66. 
Anderson.  James  H.  (R).  22;  cordwainer.  So.  Reading;  July 

18,  '62 ;  dis.  Dec.  4.  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Appleton,  Samuel  F.,  38;  shoemaker,  Lynn;  Xov.  8,  '61;  dis. 

Aug.  27,  '62,  disa. 
Atwood,  James  H.  (R),  22;  porter.  So.  Boston;  Aug.  9,  '62; 

re.  Dec.  29,   '63;  wd.  Morris  Island  and  Deep  Bottom; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Bates,  George  E.   (R),  18;  laborer,  So.  AVevmouth;  Mar.  14, 

'64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Beers,  Charles  F.  (Sergt.),  23;  printer,  Boston:  Sept.  3,  '61; 

dis.  April  6.  '63.  disa. ;  d.  Feb.  14,  '94. 


552         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Bennett,  Jeremiah  S.,  36;    shoe-manufacturer,   Lynn;    Nov. 

28,  '61 ;  dis.  Nov.  28,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Blaisdell,  John,  36;  ,  Springfield;  Nov.  22,   '61; 

re.  Dec.  29,  '64;  cr.  to  Salisbury;  d.  Sept.  12,  '65,  Rich- 
mond, Va. 
Bliss,  Edward,  26;  shoemaker,  Lee;  Jan.  2.  '65;  cr.  to  Dracut; 

desert.  Aug.  15,   '65. 
Bowley,  Albert  R.   (or  A.).  34;  shoemaker.  Lynn:  Nov.  25, 

'61 ;  dis.  June  5,  '63.  disa. :  d.  April  16.  1900,  Lynn. 
Boynton,"  Benjamin  F.  (R),  44;  heeler,  Lynn;  Mar.  21.  '64; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66. 
Bridges,  Amos  W.,  19;  milkman.  Cambridge;  Nov.  25,   '61; 

re.  as  Corp.  Dec.  29.  '63;  Sergt.  Mar.  1.  '65;  1st  Sergt. 

Sept.  1,  '65:  M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66;  2d  Lieut.  Jan.  20,  '66; 

not  mustered. 
Brotherson.  Andrew 'J.   (R),  24;  sailor.  Halifax.  N.  S.  ;•  Jan. 

7,  '65 ;  cr.  to  Conway ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Brown,  John  H.,  18;  farmer,  Medford;  Oct.  18.  '61;  wd.  Aug. 

16,  '64 :  dis.  Oct.  18,  '64.  ex.  of  s. 
Bullock,  William  H.,  19;  blacksmith.  Palmer;  Oct.  23.    '61; 

captured  Dee.  30.    '63.  St.  Augustine;  d.  May  10,    '64; 

a  prisoner  in  Andersonville,   Ga. 
Case,  Daniel  (R),  21;  clerk.  Boston;  cr.  to  Gill;  Jan.  13,  '65; 

dis.  May  19,  '65,  disa. 
Carter,  Horatio  (Corp.),  26;  farmer,  Newton;  Sept.  19.  '61; 

dis.  as  1st  Sergt.  Sept.  19,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Cawley.  Thomas  (R).  29;  teamster.  Boston;  July  9.   '62;  dis. 

July  9,  '65,  ex.  of  s. 
Codyer,   Peter,   27 ;  paper-maker.   Boston ;   Oct.   14,    '61 ;   dis. 

Oct.  14.  '64,  ex.  of  s.,  as  Corp. 
Connelly,  John,  18;  clerk,  Boston;  Nov.  14.   '61;  d.  May  13, 

'63,  Annapolis,  Md. ;  supposed  to  have  been  a  prisoner. 
Connelly,  Patrick  (R).  30;  laborer.  So.  Boston;  Aug.  7,  '62; 

re.  Dec.  29,  '63;  k.  Oct.  7,  '64,  before  Richmond. 
Connor,  Andrew  J.  (wagoner),  41:    painter,  Roxburv;  Sept. 

12,   '61;  dis.  Sept.  12,    '64,  ex.  of  s.;  d.  Oct.  25,  1902, 

S.  H. 
Connors,  Thomas  (R),  20;  brushmaker.  Boston;  cr.  to  East- 

hampton;  Jan.  12,  '65;  desert.  June  27,  '65. 
Conroy,  George  H.,  21;  upholsterer.  Boston ;' Sept.  22,   '61; 

dis.  Sept.  23,   '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Conroy,  "William,  22 ;  tailor,  Boston :  Nov.  19.  '61 ;  dis.  Nov. 

19,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 


C'OMPAXY    K. 


553 


Lk'Ut.  M.  A.  Rra  (K).  (  iilit.  .1.  C  Maker  (Kl. 

«'aiit.  <i.  W.  (ianliicr  ll!i. 
Dr.  Hall  Curtis  IX.  K.  (i.  unifonii).  Lioiit.  T.  F.  Ivliiumils  IK). 


Dacv,  Michael.  21 :  laborer,  Newton ;   Sept.  16.    '61 ;  re.  Dee. 

^29,  '64:  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Davis.  Henrv  F..  18;  painter.  Lvnn;  Nov.  27.   '61;  re.  Dec. 

29,  '63:\vd.  Aug.  16.  '64:  Corp.  Jan.  1,  '66;  M.  0.  Jan. 

20,   '66:  d.  July  23.  1888,  Boston. 
Dennis.  John  F..   18 :    shoemaker.  Lvnn ;    Nov.  13,    '61 ;    d. 

April  26.  '62,  Newbern. 
Dennison.  David,  21 :  laborer.  Boston :  Sept.  28.  '61 :  re.  Dec. 

29,    '64:  Corp.  Mar.   1.    '65:  Sergt.  Sept.  1,    '65;  M.  0. 

Jan.  20.  '66 ;  d.  Mav  8.  '83.  Togns.  'Sle..  N.  S.  H. 


554  'rwKNTY-ForRTH  ^Massaciu'setts  Eegiment. 

Dodiio.  IsiVM'  K..  21 ;  farmer.  Hamilton  -.  Nov.  27.  '61 :  d.  May 

12.   '62,  Xewbern. 
Dres.ser,  James,  21 ;  porter.  Boston ;  Aug-.  9.  '61 :  re.  Dee.  29, 

'64 :  M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66 ;  dead. 
Dunster.  Samuel  K.,  29:  shoemaker.  Lynn;  Nov.  26.   '61;  re. 

Dec.  29.   '64:    cr.    to    Cohasset :    prom,    hospital-steward, 

F.  and  8. 
Eaton.  Lowell  ^I..  18:  shoemaker.  Lvnn :  Dec.  29.  '61:  trans. 

to  V.  K.  C.  Sept.  1.  '63:  dis.  Sept.  28.  '63. 
[N.  E.  0.]  Edmands.  J.  Cnshino-  (1st  Sero:t.).  19;  clerk,  New- 
ton: Oct.  4,    '61;  dis.  Aug.  25,    '62.  for  Co^i.  Captain, 

Co.  K.  32d  ]\Iass.  Infantry;  later  Major,  Lient.-Colonel, 

Colonel  and  Brev.  Brig.-General :  diecl.  Boston,  Dec.  28, 

1879 ;  h.  Mt.  Auburn. 
Egan,   Andrew   A.    (Corp.),   27:   painter.   Boston;    Sept.   17, 

'61;  Avd.  Oct.  13.  '64;  dis.  Sept.  17.  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Estes.  Jacob  S..  23;  shoemaker,  Lvnn:  Oct.  21.   '61;  re.  Dec. 

29,  '63 ;  :\I.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66. 
Evans,  John  A..  26;  teamster.  Boston;  Aug.  1,   '62;  re.  Dec. 

29,  '63;  dis.  Awg.  5,  '65. 
Frothinofham,  Thomas  S.,  28 ;  shoemaker.  Lynn ;  Nov.  28,  '61 ; 

dis.  Nov.  28.  '64,  ex.  of  s..  as  Corp. 
Gafifey.  ^lichael.  35 :  currier,  Koxbury ;  Nov.  4.  '61 ;  dis.  Nov. 

4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Gannett,  George  W.    (Sergt.),  24;  seaman.  Boston;  Sept.  4, 

'61 ;  dis.  June  11.  '63,  for  Com.  2d  Lieut. ;  later  1st  Lieut. 

and  Brev.  Captain,  55th  Mass. 
Gaskin,  George   (R).  20;    laborer,    Boston:    Aug.  7,   '62;    re. 

Dec.  29.  '63 ;  k.  Oct.  13.  '64.  before  Richmond. 
Gill,  Austin.  37 ;  tailor,  Boston ;  Nov.  14,  '61 ;  k.  June  5.  '62 ; 

Tranter's  Ck..  N.  C. 
Glancey,   Peter,   22 ;   cotton-spinner,   Taunton ;   Oct.   28,    '61 ; 

dis.  June  5,  '63,  disa. 
Graham,  Charles  H.    (R),  23;  mechanic,  Newark,  N.  J.;  cr. 

to  Hadley;  Jan.  5,  '65;  dis.  May  19,  '65.  disa. 
[N.  E.  G.]  Grant,  Charles  E.  (Sergt).  20:  ,  Bos- 
ton ;  Sept.  22,  '61 ;  dis.  May  25,  '63.  for  Com.  2d  Lieut. 

55th  ]Mass.  Infantry;  later  Captain  and  Brev.  Major. 
Green,  Thomas,  37 ;  blacksmith,  Newton :  Oct.  7,  '61 ;  dis.  Jan. 

8.  '63.  disa. ;  later  in  the  Navy. 
Grififiths.   Griffith  H.,  24;    paper-hanger,    Boston;    Sept.   14, 

'61;  dis.  June  18,   '64,  disa. 


Company  K.  0.55 

Griffiths.  John,   21 :   painter.  Boston ;   Nov.  23.    '61 ;  re.   Dec. 

29.   '63;  k.  May  16,   '64.  Drewry's  Bhitf.  Va. 
Grogan.  ^Michael,  35 :  shoemaker,  Xewton ;  Sept.  17,   '61 ;  wd. 

]\[ar.  14,  '62.  XeAvbern :  dis.  Jnne  10,  '63,  disa. 
Hagar.   Foster.   27 :   hatter.   Boston ;    Oct.   28,    '61 ;   trans,   as 

Corp.  to  Signal  Corps ;  dis.  Nov.  2,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Hallows,  James,  43 :  shoemaker,  Lvnn ;  Nov.  30.  '61 ;  re.  Dec. 

29,  '63 ;  d.  of  wounds,  Nov.  6,'  '64,  Hampton,  Va. 
Hardy.  George  H..  22;  farmer,  Maiden;  Oct.  14,  '61;  dis.  as 

Corp.  Oct.  14.  '64.  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  May  14,  1902. 
Haskell,  Warren.  22;  Dec.   3.    '61;   d.   of  wounds.  Aug.   29, 

'64,  Beverly,  N.  J. 
Hasson,  Patrick  J.  (E),  20;  porter,  Boston;  Aug.  6,  '62;  dis. 

Dec.  4,   '64,  ex.  of  s.  as  Corp. ;  also  borne  as  Hanson. 
Hayes,  Patrick  E.    (R),  35;  laborer,  Lynn;  cr.  to  Hadlev; 

Julv  8,  '64;  M.  0.  Jan.  20.   '66;  d.  Oct.  25,  '94.  Togus, 

Me.,  N.  S.  H. 
Hill.  William  G.,  32 ;  brick-maker,  Boston ;  Nov.  28,  '61 ;  dis. 

Nov.  28.    '64.    ex.  of  s. ;    d.   Sept.   6.    '95.    Togus.    Me., 

N.  S.  H. 
Holbrook,  James.   34;  .  Eeadville;  Nov.   18.    '61; 

N.  F.  R.       - 
Holland,  James  J.,  35 ;  hostler,  Boston ;  Nov.  20.  '61 ;  re.  Dec. 

29.  '63;  wd.  Aug.  16.  '64;  desert.  Aug.  5,  '65. 
Hollis.  Benjamin  W..   36;  fish-dealer,  So.  Boston;  Nov.   27, 

'61 ;  trans.  Aug.  15.  '64,  to  V.  R.  C. ;  M.  0.  Dec.  3,  '64. 
Hope.  John,  42;  laborer.  So.  Weymouth;  Oct.   14,    '61;  wd. 

Mar.  14.  '62,  Newbern :  dis.  Sept.  22,  '62.  disa. 
Horrigan,   Thomas,  35;  laborer.  Boston;    Nov.   20.    '61;    re. 

Dec.  29.  '63 ;  wd.  Aug.  16,  '64 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Howarth.   Frederick   (R),  23;  sailor,   England;   cr.  to  Con- 
way; Jan.  7,   '65;  d.  July  23.   '65,  Richmond,  Va. 
Jager,  Joseph.  41 ;    cotton-carder,    New  Bedford ;    Nov.    26, 

'61 ;  dis.  May  12,  '62,  disa. 
Jelly,  William,  32;  painter,  Newton;  Sept.  11,  '61;  wd.  July 

27.  '64,  skirmish  line ;  dis.  as  Sergt.  Sept.  11,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Johnson,  George   (R),  19;  sailor,  Pictou,  N.  S. ;  cr.  to  Had- 

ley ;  Jan.  4,  '65 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20.  '66. 
Keefe,  John  J.     (Corp.),  23;  trunk-maker,  Boston;  Sept.  19, 

'61 ;  .dis.  as  Sergt.  Sept.  19,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Kelty,  James  0..  — ; .  Boston;  Oct.  29,   '61;  dis. 

Oct.  29.  '64.  ex.  of  s. 


556         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Kimball,  Joseph  M.,  43;  painter,  Boston;  Sept.  12,   '61;  dis. 

Sept.  12,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  April  15,   '94,  S.  H. 
Knights,  George  F.,  18;  clerk,  Boston;  Oct.  15,  '61;  re.  Dec. 

29,  '63 ;  dis.  Aug.  5,  '65 ;  dead. 
Lewis,  Benjamin  A.,  23;  shoemaker,  Lynn;  Oct.  14,   '61;  re. 

Dec.  29,  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66 ;  d.  July  27,  '84,  Togus, 

Me.,  N.  S.  H. 
Lord,  Noah  B.,  31 ;  shoemaker,  Lynn ;  Nov.  5,   '61 ;  dis.  Nov. 

4,   '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Lyon,  Edgar  B.,  21;  clerk,  Newton;  Oct.  3,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  3, 

'64,  ex.  of  s. 
McCawliffe,  Patrick  (R),  21;  laborer,  Boston;  July  10,  '62; 

dis.  July  20,  '65,  ex.  of  s. 
McDonald,  Cornelius,  32;  mason,  Marblehead:  Nov.  5,    '61; 

dis.  Nov.  4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
McDougall,  Peter,  35;  carpenter,  Boston;  Oct.  12,   '61;  dis. 

Oct.  12,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  later  in  Co.  K,  61st  Mass.  Infantry. 
McElwain,  George,  25 ;  machinist,  Chicopee ;  Oct.  11,  '61 ;  dis. 

Oct.  11,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
McElwain,   Henry,   20 ;  weaver,   Chicopee ;   Oct.   5,    '61 ;   dis. 

Oct.  5,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
McQuade,  William,  24 ;  seaman,  Roxbury ;  Nov.  4,    '6l ;  re. 

Dec.  29,  '63;  wd.  Aug.  14,  '64;  d.  May  15,  '65,  Worces- 
ter, Mass. 
Mahenny,  Daniel,  21;    painter,  Orange;    Nov.  24,   '61;    wd. 

Aug.  16,  '64 ;  dis.  Nov.  24,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  June  11,  '97, 

Orange. 
Malady,  Michael,  43;    mason.  Roxburv;    Nov.  29,    '61;    wd. 

Aug.  16,   '64 :  dis.  Nov.  29,  '64.  ex.  of  s. ;  also  Mallady ; 

d.  Aug.  3.  1906,  aged  100  years,  the  oldest  resident  of 

Roxbury;  born  in  Ireland,  he  came  to  America,  70  years 

ago;  a  stone-mason  by  trade,  he  was  also  a  contractor 

and  builder,  and   laid  the  foundations  of  the  Boston  and 

Providence  Station.  Park  Sq..  and  had  the  contract  for 

the  old  Brookline  reservoir;  w^hile  himself  in  the  army, 

he  had  a  grandson  in  the  service. 
Meader,  Horace  P.   (R).  23;  teamster,  Boston;  Aug.  9,   '62; 

re.  Dec.  29,  '63 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66  ■  dead. 
Millett,  Benjamin  H.  (Corp.),,  21;»currier,  So.  Danvers;  Dec. 

4,  '61 ;  dis.  Dec.  9,  '62,  disa. ;  had  served  in  Co.  H,  5th 

M.  V.  M.,  May  1  to  July  31,  '61. 
Moreland,  James.  36;  tailor,  Boston;  Oct.  8,  '61;  k.  Mar.  14, 

'62,  Newbern. 


Company  K.  557 

Morrissev,  Patrick  (R),  20;  laborer,  New  Haven,  Ct. ;  cr.  to 

Hatfield ;  Jan.  10,  '65 ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
O'Connor,  James,  37;  wheelwright,  Boston;  Nov.  13,  '61;  k. 

Oct.  7,  '64,  Four  Mile  Ck.,  Va. 
0  'Connor,   ^Michael,   21 ;   farmer,  Boston ;  cr.  to  Dorchester ; 

Feb.  29,  '64 ;  d.  of  wounds,  Dec.  22,  '64,  Beverly,  N.  J. ; 

was  a  veteran  of  the  20th  and  45th  Regts. 
Orpin.  Richard,  35;  Oct.  13,   '61;  k.  Mav  16,   '64,  Drewry's 

Bluff. 
Orr,  Charles  H..  24;  shoemaker,  Lynn;  Dec.  4,  '61;  dis.  May 

19,  '63,  disa. 
Parker,  George  W.,  28 ;  shoemaker,  Lynn ;  Dec.  3,   '61 ;  dis. 

Dec.  3,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Parrott,  Otis,  44 ;  shoemaker,  Lynn ;  Dec.  3,   '61 ;  dis.  June 

10,  '63,  disa. ;  served  later  in  V.  R.  C. 
Paul,  Henry  K.,  21;  clerk,  Newton;  Oct.  30,   '61;  wd.  Aug. 

16,  '64 ;  dis.  Oct.  30,  '64,  ex.  of  s.,  as  Sergt. 
Pearson.  James  A.,  28 ;  carpenter,  So.  Boston ;  Dec.  3,   '61 ; 

dis.  June  5,  '63,  disa. 
Phillips,  William  W.,   19;  shoemaker,  Lynn;  Nov.  23,    '61; 

wd.  Aug.  16,   '64;  dis.  Nov.  22,   '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Pruden,  Edwin,  28;  seaman,  S^    Boston;  Nov.  28,   '61;  dis. 

Dec.  4,   '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Quinn,  William  N.,  24;    shoemaker,    Swampscott;    Nov.  25, 

'61;  dis.  Nov.  28,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Randall,    Asahel   J..  26,  printer,  Boston;  Nov.  13,  '61;  miss- 
ing in  action  after  Aug.  16,  '64,  Deep  Run,  Va. 
Redwood,  Moses  H.   (R),  19;    tailor,  Boston;    Feb.  29,   '64; 

Corp.  Aug.   '65;  Sergt.  Jan.  1,   '66;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
Riordon,  Patrick   (R),  N.  F.  R. ;  save  that  he  was  dis.  Dec. 

4,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Ring,  John,  19;  shoemaker,  Lynn;  Nov.  1,   '61;  re.  Dec.  29, 

'61 ;  cr.  to  Fall  River ;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Ryan,  Patrick  (R),  23;  molder,  Springfield;  cr.  to  Conway; 

Jan.  5,  '65;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Ryans,  John,  20 ;  shoemaker,  Lynn ;  Nov.  11,  '61 ;  re.  Dec.  29, 

'63;  M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66. 
Sanborn,  Loammi  B.,  26 ;  car-driver,  So.  Boston ;  Oct.  17,  '61 ; 

wd.  Feb.  14,  '62;  dis.  Oct.  8,  '62,  disa. 
Sears,  Joseph  S.   (or  M.),  39;  painter,  Newton;  Dec.  3,   '61; 

wd.  Aug.  16,  '64 ;  dis.  Dec.  3,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Shaw,   Hezekiah    (R),   33;  shoemaker,  Lynn;  Mar.  21,    '64; 

M.  0.  Jan.  20,  '66;  d.  1901,  Lynn. 


558  Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


E.  B.  Lyon  (Kl 


Cynis  Getchcll  (D). 


S.  A.  Edgefly  (El. 


IX   LATER   YEARS. 


J.  H.  At  wood  (K). 
.\.  .1.  Yiniiig  (  K  i. 


Smith,  James  AV..   23;   seaman.    Eastham;   Nov.    22,    '61;   d. 

April  3,    '62,  Newbern. 
Stark,  Kirk   (Sergt.),  28;  painter.  So.  Danvers;  Dec.  4,   '61; 

dis.  June  10,  '63,  disa. 
Stark,  Nelson,  21;    painter,  So.  Danvers;    Dec.  2,   '61;    dis. 

Dec.  3,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Sullivan,  James  (R),  22;  sailor.  Nova  Scotia;  cr.  to  Ashford; 

Jan.  7,  '65 ;  dishonorably  dis.  July  24,  '66. 
Sullivan,  Jeremiah,  28;  laborer,  Boston;  Sept.  5,  '61;  d.  Jan. 

30,  '62,  Annapolis,  Md. 
Sullivan,   Timothy,   36 ;   laborer,  Boston ;   Sept.   13,    '61 ;   dis. 

Oct.  2,  '62,  disa. 
Taylor,  Bangs,  21;  seaman,  Orleans;  Nov.  1,   '61;  dis.  June 

12,   '65,  0.  W.  D. ;  had  been  a  prisoner ;  captured,  Dec. 

30,  '63,  St.  Augustine. 


Company  K.  of)!) 

Thompson,  Cvnis.  21;    barber.    So.  Dam^rs:    Dee.    5,     '61; 

desert.  Nov.  29,    '62. 
Thiirber,  James  W.,  35:  teamster.  Boston:  Xov.  22.   "61:  re. 

Feb.  15,  '64;  k.  Aug.  16.  '64,  Deep  Run.  Va. 
Tiernan.   Thomas    (R).  22:  laborer,  Bermuda  Hundred;  er. 

to  Boston ;  Jau.  16,   '65 :  desert.  Aug-.  5,    '65. 
Truax,  Allen  C,  24:  farmer.  Orange:  Xov.  25,  "61:  dis.  Aug. 

5,  '63,  disa. 
Vining.  Andrew  J.  f^Ius.).  17;  farmer.  So.  Wevmouth ;  Sept. 

11,  '61;  re.- Dee.  29.  '63 ;  M.  O.  Jan.  20,   '66. 
"Waite,  George  C.    (R).  21;  teamster,  Boston;   Aug.  6,    '62; 

dis.  Oct.  3,  '62,  disa. 
Walsh.  James,  36 :  laborer.  Boston ;  Nov.  13.  "61 :  dis.  Oct.  2, 

'62. 
Walsh,  Robert,  29;  slioemaker,  ]\Iarblehead :  Dee.  3,    '61;  re. 

Dee.  29,  '63 ;  wd.  Oct.  13.  '64 :  dis.  as  1st  Sergt.  by  reason 

of  consolidation  June  10.   '65;  d.  Nov.  28,   '93.  iMarble- 

head. 
Ward.  Gustavus  A.,  30;  shoemaker,  Lynn;  Dec.  3.   '61;  dis. 

June  10,  '63,  disa. 
Warren,  Charles  (R).  20;  seaman,  N.  Y.  Citj';  cr.  to  Hadley; 

Jan.  7,  '65 ;  desert.  Nov.  17,  '65. 
West,  Edward  S.,  40;  shoemaker.  INIanchester:  Nov.  27,   '61; 

k.  Aug.  16,   '64,  Deep  Run,  Va. 
Whelan,  Timothy  (R),  22;  boatman,  N.  Y.  City;  cr.  to  Gill; 

Jan.  15.  '65 ;  desert.  Aug.  5,  '65. 
Whitton,  Albert  G.,  26;  hostler.  Newton;  Dec.   3,    '61;  dis. 

Dec.  3,   '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Wilson.  Edward  C!  21:  waiter.  Boston;   Sept.   16.    '61;  dis. 

as  Corp.  Sept.  11.  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Wogan,  Michael,  42 ;  teamster.  Boston ;  Nov.  20.    '61 ;  d.  of 

wounds,  Nov.  12,  '62,  Newbern. 
Wood,  William  H..  43:  carpenter.  So.  Boston;  Dec.  4.    '61; 

dis.  June  5,  '63,  disa. 


560         TwKXTV-ForKTii  ^Iassachusetts  Regiment. 


UNASSIGNED  RECRUITS. 

Till'  following'  lii^t  iiicludcH  the  nanies^  of  men  who  enhnteil,  l)ut  for  all 
shorts  of  reasons  were  r(»je(;te(l.  As  may  be  snpposed  the  principal  cause 
was  l)o(lily  weakness.  In  many  cases  the  records  are  exceedingly  meagre, 
bnt  the  data  given  are  all  tliat  the  State  House  documents  afford.  They 
are  printed  without  further  explanation: 

Adams,  George  F..  27;    clerk,  Belmont;    June    2,     '62;    dis. 

June  17,  '62,  for  Com.  2d. Lieut,  in  33d  Mass.  Infantry. 
Albert,  Frederick.  24.  painter.    Germany:  Dee.  20.    '()2:    not 

mustered ;  deserted. 
Andrews.  Daniel  H.,  30 ;  shoemaker,  Boston;  Dec.  6,  '64;  cr. 

to  Franklin;  not  mustered;  dis.  Dec.   28,    '64;  rejected 

recruit. 
Black,  John,  22 ;  shoemaker.  Boston ;  N.  F.  R. 
Booth,  James,  21 ;  laborer,  Hingham ;  May  16,   '62 ;  N.  F.  R. 
Bowen,  Wm.  D.,  18;  farmer,  Charlton;  Jan.  2.  '64;  rejected, 

Jan.  8,  '64. 
Brown,  Robert,  — .  Dec.  29.  '62 ;  X.  F.  R. 
Brown,  Wm.,  34;  Aveaver,  New  York;  Mav  27.  '62;  deserted, 

May  27,  '62. 
Burton,  Joseph,  33 ;  stocking-maker.  Lawrence :  May  13,   '62 ; 

deserted  May  25,  '62. 
Campbell,  John,  19;  laborer,  Greenfield;  cr.  to  Ware;  Feb. 

20,  '65 ;  dis.  May  6,  '65 ;  unassigned. 
Carpenter,   Charles  B.,   24;   shoemaker,    Charlton;   Aug.   28, 

'62;  N.  F.  R. 
Carr,  Alexander;  enlisted    Dec.  29,   '62;  X.  F.  R. 
Carter,  Frederick;  enlisted    Dec.  29,  '62;  X.  F.  R. 
Casey,  Joseph,  22;    bricklayer.  Ireland;    Dec.    20.    '62;    de- 
serted. 
Cassady,  John;  Dec.  29,  '62;  X.  F.  R. 
Doney,  John  or  Joseph,  25;  laborer.  Boston;  July  22,    '62; 

X.  F.  R. 
Dougherty.  Frank.  36;  colorer,  Scotland;  X'ov.   18,    '64;  cr. 

to  Groton ;  dis.  Dec.  2,   '64,  unassigned. 
Farralasco,  John,  30;  soldier,  Boston;  Oct.  27,  '62;  N.  F.  R. 
Fleming.  Gerald,  26;  printer,  Boston;  Mav  17,  '62;  deserted. 

May  22,  '62. 
Furlong.  James.  24;  painter,  Springfield;  Jan.  9,  '65;  cr.  to 

Florida ;  X.  F.  R. 


Unassk^ned  Recruits.  -IGl 

Goodwin,  Lorenzo,  26;  bootmaker,  Quincy;  Jan.  4,  '64;  cr. 
to  Weymouth;  deserted   Jan.  22,  '64. 

Grav,  Thomas  N.,  18;  surgeon,  Boston;  July  15,  '62;  N.  F.  R. 

Haggart,  James,  2.3 ;  bleacher,  Chelsea ;  July  29,  '62 ;  N.  F.  R. 

Halpin,  Frederick,  19;  shoemaker,  England;  Dec.  18,  '62; 
deserted. 

Hill,  John,  29;  butcher,  Springfield;  Dee.  20,  '62;  deserted. 
■  HoAvard,  F.  B.,  22 ;  farmer.  Canton ;  May  28,  '62 ;  N.  F.  R. 

Ipser,  Frank,  32 ;  tailor,  Boston ;  July  24,  '62 ;  N.  F.  R. 

Jones,  James  M.,  18;  mechanic,  Randolph;  June  9,  '62;  dis. 
Oct.  27,  '62. 

Leahy,  Timothy,  35 ;  laborer,  Boston ;  July  24,  '62 ;  N.  F.  R. 

Lewis,  Francis,  35;  painter,  Boston;  July  24  '62;  N.  F.  R. 

Linehan.  Michael,  21 ;  laborer.  Lawrence ;  cr.  to  Boston ;  ^lar. 
19,  '64;  N.  F.  R. 

Lovely,  James,  21 ;  farmer,  Boston ;  Aug.  19,   '62 ;  N.  F.  R. 

McCarthy,  Jeremiah,  21.  laborer,  Ireland;  June  25,  '62:  de- 
serted  June  27,  '62. 

McGowan,  Wm.,  23 ;  printer,  Boston ;  July  28,  '62 ;  N.  F.  R. 

McGrath.  27 ;  laborer,  IMaine ;  June  2,  '62 ;  N.  F.  R. 

Martin,  Harrv,  23;  baker,  Springfield;  cr.  to  Ludlow;  April 
9,  '64;  N.  F.  R. 

Mears,  James  S.,  23;  bootmaker,  Stoughton;  May  28,  '62; 
N.  F.  R. 

Muldoon,  Henry,  23;  silver-plater,  Boston;  May  28,  '62;  de- 
serted, June  8,   '64. 

Myer,  John,  36 ;  farmer,  Boston ;  July  19,  '62 ;  N.  F.  R. 

Norris,  Wm.,  22;  carriage-maker,  Canada;  Aug.  2,  '62; 
N.  F.  R. 

O'Brien,  Michael.  23;  laborer,  Rochester;  Mar.  12,  '64;  de- 
serted   Mar.  18,   '64. 

Oliver,  Thomas,  26;  engineer,  England;  Dec.  20,  '62;  de- 
serted. 

Parker,  Charles,  18;  shoemaker,  Boston  ;  July  21,  '62;  N.F.R. 

Pell,  Benjamin,  21;  farmer.  Lake  George,  Canada;  Dec.  18, 
'62;  deserted. 

Pell,  Wm.,  29;  farmer,  Lake  George,  Canada;  Dec.  18,  '64; 
deserted. 

Phinney,  Ezra,  18;  sailor,  Dedham;  Feb.  27,  '64;  trans,  to 
the  Na\T,  April  2,  '64. 

Powers,  Wm.,  21;  sailor,  Ireland;  Dec.  18,  '62;  deserted. 

Quigley,  John,  29;  boiler-maker,  Ireland;  Dec.  20,  '62:  de- 
serted. 


562         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 

Quinn,  John,  28;  blacksmith,  Boston;  July  12,  '62;  N.  F.  R. 

Ratto,  Joseph,  35;  machinist,  Boston;  Oct.  27,  '62;  N.  F.  R. 

Reynolds,  Joseph;  Dec.  29;  N.  F.  R. 

Reynolds,  Thomas,  23 ;  sailor,  HoUiston ;  Dec.  16,  '61 ;  N.  F.  R 

Rush,  Patrick,  44;  farmer,  Boston;  Feb.  5,  '64;  rejected 
Feb.  5,  '64. 

Russell,  John  W.,  37;  sail-maker,  East  Boston;  cr.  to  West- 
field;  d.  Mar.  30,    '65,  Gallop's  Island,  Boston  Harbor." 

Stewart,  John ;  Dec.  29,  '62 ;  N.  F.  R. 

Stuart,  George  A.,  34 ;  carpenter,  Boston ;  er.  to  Monson ; 
dis.  May  6,  '65. 

Sullivan,  Thomas,  44 ;  laborer,  Boston ;  Jan.  o,  '64 ;  rejected 
Jan.  7,  '64. 

Towle,  John  A.,  27;  shoemaker,  Abington;  Jan.  4,  '64;  re- 
jected   Jan.  22,   '64. 

Walsh,  John,  28 ;  tailor,  Sunderland ;  July  1,  '63 ;  rejected 
Oct.  21,  '64. 

Waters,  Charles,  26 ;  plumber,  Boston ;  July  30,  '62 ;  N.  F.  R. 

Wayne,  Wm.  P.,  22;  sailor,  Boston;  cr.  to  Winthrop;  Mar. 
'     15.  '64;  N.  F.  R. 

Wilkins,  Richard,  29 ;  spinner,  Boston ;  July  21,  '62 ;  N.  F.  R. 

Williams.  John ;  Dec.  29 ;  N.  F.  R. 

Wilson,  Wm.,  22;  baker,  N.  Y.  City;  Dec.  20,  '62;  deserted. 

Witham,  Jeremiah  D.,  24;  shoemaker,  Roxbury;  Mar.  24, 
'64 ;  N.  F.  R. 

Young,  Wm.,  25;  shoemaker,  Boston;  July  22,  '62;  N.  F.  R. 
Seventeen  deserted. 


"And  the  bugle's  lure  while  the  years  endure, 

Will  eoax  them  to  the  line, 
For  the  lilting  strains  o'er  hills  and  plains, 

Still  echo  far  and  fine; 
But  the  suits  of  blue,  and  the  sabres  too, 

And  the  worn  a,nd  Ijattered  caps 
Will  tell  some  maid' what  the  bugle  played, 

AV'hen  it  sighed  the  song  of  taps." 


HQAUOKt  l5LAND.F»r.8-lSG2 


iw 


'As  we  gaze  at  their  tatters,  what  battle-tields  rise, 
Fields  flashing  in  deeds  of  snbHmest  emprise! 
When  earth  rocked  with  thunder,  the  sky  ghired  with  tire, 
And  Havoc's  red  pinion  dashed  onward  in  ire'. 
Deeds  deathless  in  glory!" 


FUO.M    THE    IIALl,   ol"    KI.A(; 


-TATE    llorSE. 


TABLE  OF  AGGRLGATL5. 


Is 

■C  C  r 
^  c  ^ 

1     t 

.S  S  — 

-a 

hargert  for 
mission  in 
r  branches 
le  service. 

5 

U 

o'J 

i5  i 

gas. 

5 
5 

•| 

Disci 
comi 
otlie 

of  til 

a 

Field  and  Stafk, 

21 

1 

6 

NoM-Coiii.  Staff, 

20 

2 

1 

Gilmore's  Band, 

25 

1 

COiMl'ANY    A. 

Officers, 

12 

1 

Enlisted  Men, 

127 

9 

1 

7 

7 

2 

48 

11 

Company  B. 

Officers, 

<) 

1 

Enlisted  Men, 

123 

8 

9 

9 

2 

55 

7 

Company  C. 

Officers, 

S 

1 

1 

Enlisted  Men, 

119  . 

10 

1 

8 

18 

3 

49 

6 

Company  D. 

Officers, 

15 

1 

Enlisted  Men, 

141 

(j 

20 

25 

28 

8 

CorPANY  E. 

Officers, 

0 

Enlisted  Men, 

116 

8 

4 

12 

19 

.> 

39 

5 

Company  F. 

Officers, 

9 

2 

P^nlisted  ]\Ien, 

134 

11 

4 

18 

4 

2() 

12 

Company  G. 

Officers, 

11 

Enlisted  Men, 

117 

6 

1 

11 

17 

3 

47 

8 

Company  H. 

Officers, 

10 

1 

Enlisted  ^Nlen, 

125 

10 

7 

12 

3 

45 

7 

Company  I. 

Officers, 

12 

1 

2 

Enlisted  Men, 

138 

17 

1 

5 

27 

4 

52 

3 

Company  K. 

Officers, 

S 

1 

Enlisted  Men, 

129 

14 

2 

7 

16 

3 

26 

6 

Tnassitrned 

recruits, 

m 

1 

1 

17 

Total 

1497 

106 

10 

93 

169 

40 

415 

91 

In  these  tables  no  consideration  is  given  to  the  members  of  the  34tli  and 
40th  regiments,  who  were  added  in  June,  1865,  thus  giving  90  additional 
names  to  Company  A,  and  79  to  O,  l)ut  in  no  way  did  they  participate  in 
the  active  career  of  the  regiment,  hence  their  omission.  From  the  total, 
1497,  should  be  subtracted  76,  representing  the  names  of  officers  used  more 
than  once  in  their  successive  promotions,  in  some  cases  as  many  as  live 
times,  leaving  the  actual  number  of  names  borne  on  the  rolls  1421.  Should 
the  66  unassigned  recruits  who  never  saw  the  regiment  also  be  omitted,  the 
aggregate  would  be  reduced  to  1355,  which  number  really  represents  those 
who  made  the  regimental  record.  ' 

In  the  desertion  column,  were  those  omitted  who  left  after  the  end  of  the 
war  and  in  whose  behalf  the  government  issued  the  order  for  reinstatement 
together  with  the  unassigned  recruits,  chiefly  "bounty  jumpers,"  the  sum- 
mary would  be  lessened  by  52,  thus  leaving  39  as  the  number  of  real  desert- 
ers from  the  Twenty-fourth,  a  very  small  percentage  of  the  entire  organiza- 
tion. 


INDEX. 


The  following  index  contains  all  names  found  in  the  narrative  portion 
of  the  history  together  with  important  subject  items.  Small  capitals  indi- 
cate divisions  of  the  story.  Letters  and  reports  are  given  chronolog- 
ically, while  portraits,  of  which  there  are  above  one  hundred  and  fifty,  are 
indicated  alphabetically.  As  the  names  of  all  enlisted  men  are  printed 
alphabetically  by  companies  in  the  Roster,  no  attempt  is  made  to  repro- 
duce them  here  save  for  some  individual  reason.  As  officers'  names  are 
given  according  to  rank,  they  are  reprinted.  In  naming  regiments  from 
the  several  states,  full-faced  numbers  designate  regiments,  others  the 
pages. 


Adams,  Artfimis,  oT'J. 

Adams,.!.,  2,  U9. 

Adjutant  GeneraTs  Dept.,  8. 

Admiral,  Steamer,  M,  00. 

Akerman,  Wm.,  'JOO. 

Alabama,  Steamer,  :V2A. 

Alden,  A.,  -IW.  .VJl. 

Alexandria,  271. 

Alice  Price,  .Steamer,  V2'.K 

Allen,  G.,W.,  .535. 

Ames,     Adelbert,     •Jt;5,     271, 

•J75,  3H.S. 
.\mory,  Chas.  B.,  4,    7,    17, 

20,  108,  25:^,  261,  -103,  507,  510, 

539. 
Amory,  R.  (i.,  lOs. 
Amory,  T.  ,J.  C:.,  107,  154,  100, 

164. 
Amorj-,  Wm.  X.,  loS. 
Ammunition  carrying,  5y. 
Andrew,  ,lohn  A.,  9,  14,  15, 

2(},  149,  379. 
Anderson,  'Sin.,  239. 
Anderson,  ,Tohn   V..  5,  17.  28, 

4.52. 
Anderson,  Rob't,  54. 
Andrews,  C,  479. 
Annapolis,  'M,  4:'.. 
Annapolis  and  Camp   Fos- 
ter, 35. 
Arbuckle.  M.,  124,  41i;,  417. 
Armstrong,  James,  5. 
.\RMV     AND     Corps     Rki.a- 

TIONS,  439. 
Arnold,  Capt.,  109. 
Arrow-field  Church,  279. 
Artillery  drill,  240. 


-Vstor  House,  32. 
.\tkinson,  John,  245. 
.\twood,  .1.  H.,  8,  544,  .558. 
.Austin,  George  F..  17,  02,  471. 
.\ustin,"\V.  n.,8, 140,  54S. 
Avery,  Wm.  B.,  121,  129. 
.\yling.  .\.  D.,  453. 
Band  concert,  398. 
Barnard,  Gen.  J.  G.,  305. 
Barnard,  James  M.,  7, 17,  24 

105,   115,  119,   123,   127,   150. 

173,  2M,  237,  2.5,5,   377,  4.53, 

517,  518,  .525. 
Barracks,  St.  Augustine,  253. 
Barstow.  X.  S.,  17.478. 
Bartlftt,  Wm.F.,13,  3;!1. 
Batchelder's  Creek,  ino,  101. 
Batteries,  Rebel,  >v4. 
Battery  Gregg.  223. 
Battle  flag,  449,  563. 
Battle  reflections,  92. 
Battle  Summep.,  274. 
Beaufort,  X.  C.  142. 
Beaugler,  Col.,  killed,  ;!10. 
Beauregard,  C.  (i.  T.,  283. 
Beaver  ('reek,  104. 
Belger,  ('apt.,  109. 
Belger's  Battery,  l.''>4, 1.55, 104. 
Bell,  .lames  B.,   17,  1S2.  '201, 

320,  3.57,  47S. 
Bent,  Wm.  H.,  339. 
Bermuda  Fi:ont,  377. 
Bermcda  Hundred,  277,  302, 

31S,  384. 
Berresford,  Wm.,  .'{73. 
Berry,  C.  H.,  312,  481. 
Bigelow,  (xcorge  T.,  '29. 


Big  Swift  Creek,  105. 
Birney,  D.  B.,  329,  333,  349, 

368,  375. 
Birney,  Gen.  Wm.,  '273. 
Blake,  H.N.,  416,418. 
Bliss,  George  W.,  348. 
Bomb-proof,  Wagner,  '2'25. 
Bond.G.  0.,34S. 
Bond,  Robert,  339. 
Boston, '261. 

Botany  Bay  Isle,  189,  193. 
"Bottled  up,"  305. 
Boylston  Market,  21,  '22,  398. 
Bradlee",  J.  Putnam,  29. 
Branch,  L.  O'B.,  83,  88,  90,  92. 
Bray  ton,  C.  R.,  226. 
Bridges,  A.  W.,. 5.51,  5.52. 
Briggs,  E.  E.,  4W. 
Bronze  Me.morial,  403.     -' 
Brooks  Thos.  B.,  219,  220, 328. 
Brooks,  W.  T.  H.,  319. 
Brown,  (Jeo.  W.,  26. 
Brown,  J.  W.,  :348. 
Bullard,  F.  H.,  8,  217,  .5-21. 
Bullard,  J.  E.,  513. 
Bullock,  W'm.  H.,  249. 
Bumpus,  Frank,  347. 
Bumpus,  L.  8.,  347. 
Bunker  Hill  Day,  198,  310. 
Burnham,  Gen.  H.,  361. 
Burnside,  A.  E..  30,  33,  39,45, 

52,  53,  59,  87,  113,  116,  130, 

134.  443,  445. 
Bl'lINSIDE  E.xpedition,  42. 

Burnside  Expedition  sails, 
44;  incident,  45;  reaches 
Hatteras  Inlet,  45. 


566 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Kegiment. 


"liiirusiilcV  IVt.s,  "  11:!. 
lUitler,  U.  F.,  25,  An,  (i'J,   .>72, 

273,  278,  2m,  2X2,  31'J. 
Oallalian,  Conu'lius,  :!3(i. 
Cami),   II.  \V.,  2.s<i,  :n3,  :«H, 

344,  30'),  3()'.». 
Camp  Lee,  Newbern,  105. 
Campbell.  Col.  R.  P.,  S<). 
CanniiiR,  Willie,  79. 
Cannichael,  Maj.  A.  H.,  S'j. 
Cai'TVUKI)  Scout,  421. 
Carney,  F.  A.,  240. 
Carney,  T.  F..  3H5. 
Can-dll.  CoL,  14S. 
Carmthers,    R.    7,    276,    401, 

45.5,  519,  524,  530,  531. 
Carter  family,  391. 
Carthy,  Edward,  149,  372. 
Castle  Thunder,  388. 
Chamberlain.  H.  L.,  442. 
Charleston.  177. 
Ch.vuleston,  203. 
('harle.-;ton,  Toward,  2iil. 
Charlton,  Edw.,  372. 
Chase,  C.  P.,  5. 
Christmas  in  camp,  38, 173, 

248. 
City  Point,  277. 
Clapp,  W.  W.,  2t;2. 
Clark,  Geo.,  347. 
Clark.  Governor,  14s. 
Clark,  H.  A.,  347. 
Clark,  J.  B.,  7t;. 
Clark,  J.  K.,  433. 
Clark,  R.  F.,  7,  17.  108, 122, 

123,  231,  403,  .50;,  510. 
Clark,  Rotat.,  348. 
Clark,  Sylvester,  149. 
Clark,A\m.E.,5,  .509. 
Clough.  Edgar,  170,  2(«i,  281, 

.507.  .")<)9. 
Cloutman.  A.  473,478,  4,S7. 
Cobb,  A.  O.,  :387. 
Cobb,  L.D.,  471,473. 
Coffin,  .J.  L.,  387. 
Cole's  Island,  205. 
Colored  babies,  110. 
Colored  mammy,  80. 
Color  Sergeant  Tucker,  549. 
Columbia,  75,  70. 
Confederate  Malaprop,  75. 
Congress,  Committee  of,  377. 
Connecticut  Troops,  7,  83;  8, 

22:},  22(5;  10,  36,06,   83,   107 

136,   140,  152,   1.54,   1.55, 164 


174.  l.s;;,  18.5,  198,  199,  203, 
2(W,  226,241,  247,  248,  2.55, 
259.  278,  289,  :?20,  :i2.5,  '.iSS, 
:M4,:?61,;W3,  ;}97;  11,  66,83. 

Connor,  Simon,  372. 

Connolly,  Pat,  367. 

Consolidation,  ;397. 

Convalescent  Camp,  269. 

Cook,  .John  C,  4,  8,  ISO,  .544. 

Cook  houses,  23. 

Cornelius  Vanderliilt.  Sti'am- 
er,  31 . 

Costello,  Hugh,  34,s. 

Couthouy,  W.  A.,  487.  4S9. 

Covell,  S.  O..  241. 

Coyne,  Patrick.  339. 

Crane,  S.  B.,  493. 

Crisp,  B.  G.,  73. 

Cronin,  ilorris,  348. 

Crowley,  Jas.,  200. 

Cundy,  \Vm.  H.,  s,  416,  418. 

Cunningham,  D.  H.,  8,  .535. 

Currier,  Harrison,  60. 

Curtis,  Hall,  17.  2.s,  :;3, 124, 
211,  2.54,  .553. 

Curtis,  Gen.  N.  M.,  373. 

Dadd,  E.  H.,4.53,  455,  .517,  .532. 

Daland,  -John,  17,  62,  123,197, 
357,^4.59,  .530,  531. 

Dandy,  Col.  G.  B.,  303,  381. 

Darbytown  road  casualties, 
372. 

Darbytown  Road,  362, 

Darljytown  road  move,  375. 

Dare.  Virginia,  .53. 

Davenport,  E.  H.,  458,  467. 

Davis,  H.  F.,  :348. 

Davis,  "Jeff,"  in  effigy,  135. 

Davis,  S.  F.,  497,  ^(X). 

Dean,  A.  D.,  .535. 

Dean,  C.  F..  .535. 

Deep  Bottom,  319,  360. 

Deep  Bottom  Fight,  3:53; 
Casualties  at,  339. 

Deep  Run,  .340. 

De  La  Fontaine.  ('.,  419. 

DeLane,  N.  K.,  8,  372,  .544. 

Delva,.I.D.,348. 

Dennis,  I.  H.,  507,  .513. 

De  Peyster,  F.B..  :372,  479, 481 

Deserter'.^  F.\te,  424. 

Desertions,  395. 

Destitution     in    Richmond 

mi 

Diamond  Shoal,  .51. 


Dickinson,  C,  373,  .548. 
Dickinson,  C.  E.,  348,  518. 
Dickinson,  Geo.  W.,  8. 
Dickison"s  Cavalry,  249,  2.57. 
Dickson,  .John  J.,  347. 
Dimmick,  Col. .!.,  27. 
Dodge,  Wm.  H.,:348. 
Dodsworth's  Band,  31. 
Doherty,  J.  F.,  339. 
Dow,  J.. r.,  348. 
Dresser.  ,T.,  442. 
Drewry's  Bia'ff,  281. 
Drewry's  Bluff,  Battle  of,  281- 

302. 
Drills,  23,  29,  38,  193,  243. 
Driscoll,  .John,  348. 
Drop-curtain,  241. 
Drummers'. contest,  200. 
Duffy,  .J.  G.,  240. 
Dunster,  S.  H.,  4.56,  .5.54. 
Dupont.  S.  F.,  177,  178. 
Duren,  C.  M.,  .538. 
Easland,  Victor,  373. 
Eastern  Queen,  Steamer,  34, 

35. 
Eastman,  J.  C,  489. 
Edgerly,  S.  A.,  8,  .503,  .558. 
Edmands,  .1.    C,  5,  113,  327, 

.5.54. 
Edmands,  Hon.  J.  W.,  113. 
Edmands,  Thos.  F.,  6,  17, 18, 

100,   173,   207,   267,  325,  347, 

348,   374,   376,   379,   :58.5, 398, 

402,   403,   4.52,   4.53,  471,  .517, 

.5.51,  553. 
Eighteenth  Corps,  178,    275, 

277,  281,  286,  :307,  311,  319. 
Eldredge,  Dan.,  8,  4:is. 
Elizabeth  City,  65,  71.    , 
Elliott,  Robert,  26. 
Ellis,  J.,  4.55,  .5:53. 
Ellsworth,  Colonel,  12. 
Emancipation     celebration, 

•2.51. 
Enlisting,  21. 
Enlistment  certificate,  21. 
Estvan,  Col.  B.,  91,  92. 
Evans.  X.  G.,  165, 172. 
Exchanging  papers,  :506,  332, 
-3.54. 

Fairbanks,  Jas.,  19.5. 
Faneuil  Hall.  262,  400.        -■ 
Fanning,  Thos.,  8,  :54S,  489. 
Fay,  Rich.  S.,  29. 
j  Fernandina,  235. 


Index. 


567 


l-Vrry,  O.  S..  ISl,  is;!,  ly;!,  'Jdl. 
Field,. las.,  :!.;0. 
Field  and  staff  officers,  •J.'^. 
Fillebrowii.  H.C.,  l:!l. 
Fillmore  and  Donulsqn  flag, 

128. 
First  death,  :!S. 
Flitch,  C.  A.,  s,  rvji. 
Fitzgerald,  Dennis,  2.'>:;. 
Flagler,  Lieut.,  i:)S. 
Flanders  brothers,  "Jl. 
Florida  and  \'iri;ima,  JTi". 
Florida  fruits,  2:!7. 
Folly  Island,  2(r>. 
Folsom,  Chas.  A.,  17,  liil,  :J.'>7, 

-197. 
Foraging,  M,  V4l,  l.i."<. 
For  AiLi)  La.N(;  .Sv.nk,  441). 
Ford,  C.  T.,  5,  79,  48il. 
Ford.  F.  F.,  419. 
Ford,  J.J. ,:J47. 
Ford,  Wm.  H.,  34s. 
Fort  Clarke,  4tl,  4S. 
Fort  Damnation,  34.s. 
Fort  Darling,  2S2,  2S7. 
Fort  Hatteras,  46. 
Fort  Hell,  3.3S. 
Fort  Independence,  0,  WS. 
Fort  Macon  taken.  111. 
Fort  Marion,  •J4'J,  244. 
Fort  Richardson,  270. 
Fort  Rowan,  101. 
Fort  .Sumter,  22(). 
Fort  Thompson,  So. 
Fort  Wagner,  J).'),  211-22i;. 
Fort  Warren,  2.j. 
Fortifications,  Wash.,  X.  C, 

132. 
Fortress  Monroe,  42,  49. 
Foster,  Davis,  2.')7,  322,  3S."), 

:?8ti,  401,  452,  530,  .533. 
Foster,  J.  C.  R.,h. 
Foster,  J.  G..  35,  39,  .52,  53,  5S 

(»,  7.3.  78,  83,  84,  87. 105,  113, 

114,   117,   128,  129,  137,  1(54, 

176, 178, 188,  265,  444,  445. 
Foster,  Mrs.  .1.  (i.,  140. 
Foster,  R.  .S.,  265,  271,  2>m;. 

315,  32(i,  328,  :i59, 445. 
Four  Mile  Church,  376. 
Four  Mile  Creek,  322,  328. 
Fourth  of  July,  iri'i,  2(«i,  323, 

396. 
Fox,  J.  L.,  .517,  .527. 
Fox,  Wm.  F.,  6,  91. 


Frederic,  L.,  119. 
Friend.  Alfred,  2<M. 
Frothingham,  T.,  -524. 
Fuel  scarce,  209. 
Fuller,  F.  B.,  419. 
Furloughs,  191,  195. 
Galvin,  M.  A.,  140. 
Gambol,  Geo.,  3.52. 
Gammons,  T.  D.,  34s. 
Gardner,  G.  II.,  442. 
Gardner,  Geo.  L.,  206. 
•  iardner,  (reo.  W.,    17, 
339,  :?40,  :?46,  .372,   :!74, 


Gardner,  Jas.  K.,  S. 
Gardner,  Wm.  II.,  29. 
Garrity,  Thos.,  196. 
Gaskin,  Fred,  372. 
Gener.\l  Officers,  44:!. 
Gerrard,  Maj.,  165. 
Getchell,  Cy.,  489,  .5.58. 
Gilford,  E.  H.,  8,  .503. 
Gillen,  J.  C,  :i47. 
Gillmore,  Q.  A.,  198, 199,  203. 

22.3,228,  232,  244,   254,   2.55. 

259,  266,   273,   280,  319,  444, 

445. 
Gillmore    congratulates,  231. 
Gillmore  Medals,  437. 
Gilmore,  P.   S.,  12,   124,   142, 

414,416,  4.5(;. 
Gilmore's  Band,  412. 
Gilmore's  Band,  31,   77,  103, 

109,  124,  129,  146,  412,  45(3. 
Gladding,  Edward,  339. 
Glee  Club,  is5,  241,  307. 
Gloucester  Point,  271,  273. 
Going  home,  397. 
(ioldsboro.  Battle  of,  172  ,175. 
Goldsboro,  163. 
Goldsboro  bridge,  171. 
Goldsboro  Expedition,  l(i4. 
Goldsborough,  L.  M.,  67. 
Gordon,  Chas.,  29. 
Gordon,  (Jeo.  H.,  9.  186,  401. 
Goodyear,  E.  D.  S.,  226. 
Graffenreid,  Baron  de,  77. 
liraham,  (tco.  W.,  167,  171. 
Grant,  Chas.  E.,  8.  503,  .5.54. 
Grant,  U.  S.,  274.275,  320,  373. 
(Graves.  Edw.,  .5:54,  .538,  .540. 
Gray,  John,  8. 
(iray,  S.  B.,  :i47. 
<;reek  Testament,  21. 
(Jregg,  Battery,  223. 


Greeley,  E.  .'^.,  226.  265. 

(ii-eeley,  P.  T.,339. 

(ireeley,  T. .!.,  :!4s. 

Greeley  (luoted,  17s. 

Green,  J.  A.,  462,  497. 

(ireen,  Samuel  X..  5,  7,  s,  17. 
21,  22,  28,  :i:!.  76,  109,  114, 
129,193,  198,  241,  281.  .377, 
424,  435,  4.51,  4r>4. 

(xreen,  .S.  .S.,  8. 

Green,  Wharton  .1..  <'t'>,  67. 

Griffin,  Lt.-Col..  75. 

Griffith,  John,  240. 

Grimes,  Wm.,  125. 

Guide,  .'^teamer,  29,  34,  41, 
42;  life  on  the,  4(),  47;  over 
the  .Swash,  47;  leaves  Roa- 
noke, 77;  176. 

Guns  spiked,  138. 

(iust,  Wm.,  114. 

Hailstorm.  112. 

Hale,  Rev.  E.  E.,  305,  :!u7. 

Hall,  F.  E.,  240. 

Hawley,  Mrs.  Jos.,  2:>s. 

Halleck,  Gen'l,  193. 

Hallows,  John,  MS. 

Halpine,  Col.  C.,  9,  19,  210. 

Hamilton,  156. 

Hancock,  H.,  479,  4.S3. 

Hardwick,  (has.  F.,  29. 

Hartshorn.  H.  L.,  471,  -520. 

Harty,  Thos.,  -517,  .527. 

Hascall,  Warren,  :34s. 

Hassin,  Tim.,  ;M7. 

Hatch,  J.  P.,  267. 

Hatteras  Bar,  4(;,  4s,  49. 

Haulover  Cut,  199. 

Havelocks  presented,  115. 

Hawkins'  Zouaves,  67. 

Hawley,  .Tos.  R.,  2S6. 

Hay,  John,  264. 

Hayden,  L.  X., -521. 

Hayward,  Alex.,  ::47,  457, 
466,  48;},  4S7. 

Haxall's  Mills,  325. 

Heafy,  John,  :!:39. 

Heated  season,  13«). 

Heckman,  <;en.  C.  A.,  :!61. 

Heise,  X..  420. 

Henry,  Col.  G.  V.,  2i;4,  26t;. 

Henshaw,  Jos.  L.,  29. 

Hicks,  Gov.,  :?S. 

Higgins,  C  420. 

Higgins,  Geo.  A.,  7,  401,  505, 
.511,.5:!0. 


568 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Eegiment, 


HiKsiiisoii,  Thos.  \V.,  T),  jeCi. 

llill.Cieo.,  4,  538. 

llill.Maj.G.  H.,  (IS). 

Hill,  G.AV.,r>30,  DIM. 

Hill,  fol.  J.  A.,  383. 

Hilton    Head,  177.  179,   195, 

201,  273. 
Hinks,  E.  W.,  277,  .ill , 
Hobbs,  .1.  AV..  158,  487,  502. 
nodKe'sMill>;,121. 
Holland.  las.,  318. 
Holmes,    O.  W..   11,   19,    180, 

2i_K). 

Holmes,  0.  \V.  .Ir.,  11. 

HOMK,  2118. 

Home  at  last,  398. 

Hooper,  C'has.  H.,  8,  17,  Ol, 
80,  108,  114,  123,  133,  142, 
153,  17(>,  181,  189,  197,  204, 
226.244,  260,  282,  311,  321, 
328,  3;«,  374,  450.  452,497, 
499. 

Hooper,  Louisa  M.-,  7. 

Hooker,  Fighting  .loe,  194. 

Horrigan,  Thos.,  348. 

Hor.se  for  Col.  Stevenson,  29. 

Horton,  E.A.,405. 

Horton,  Jere,  517. 

Horton,  Wm.  L.,  17.  79.  88, 
101,  114,  267,  453,  458,  540. 

Howard.  Colonel,  52,  75. 

Howard,  Rebel,  119, 120. 

Howard,  Geo.  A.,  5,  348,  .521. 

Howard,  ,1.,  •538. 

Howe,  Elb.,  455,  .540,  544. 

Howe,  Lt.-Col.,  33. 

Howell,  Col.  J.  B.,279. 

Howlett  House,  313,  349. 

Hudson,  (apt.  P.  W.,  HI. 

Huger,  Benj.,  .54. 

Humphreys,  A.  A,,  281,  335, 
341. 

Hunt,  Chas.,  4(i3. 

Hunt,  Col.L.  C,  174. 

Hunter,  David,  178,  179,  182, 
198.  266. 

Hutehings,  Wm.  V.,  17,  28, 
453. 

Ice  e.xpensive,  137. 
Ice  in  Florida,  2i>l. 
Ice,  Northern,  231. 
Illinois  troops,  89,  279. 
Ingraham,  S.  <i.,  8. 
Irwin,  .John,  dies,  38. 


Illustrations  —  War-time 
Poster,  19;  Enlistment  Cer- 
tificate, 22;  Camp  Massa- 
soit,  24;  Field  and  Staflf 
Officers,  28;  Non -Com- 
missioned Staff,  37;  New- 
bern,  N.  C,  98;  Camp  Lee, 
Newbern,  105;  Tranter's 
Ck.  Mill,  119;  Pillory 
and  Stocks,  127;  Steamer 
Vidette,143 ;  Looking  down 
the  Neuse,  150;  Battle  of 
Kinston,  166;  Battle  of 
Whitehall,  168;  Battle  of 
(ioldsboro,  172;  Charge  at 
Wagner,  214 ;  Ordnance 
Hdqtrs.,  Morris  Isl.,  218; 
Swamp  Angel,  222;  Bomb- 
proof Wagner,  225;  Fort 
Sumter,  2:30;  Camp  on 
Morris  Isl.,  2:M;  Plaza  St. 
Augustine,  238;  Fort  Mar- 
ion, 244;  Artillery  Drill, 
246;  Barracks,  St.  Augus- 
tine, 2r>,5;  ()n  Picket,  257; 
Parapet,  Ft.  Marion,  265; 
Deep  Bottom  Pontoon 
Bridge,  :321;  Provost  Mar- 
shal's Office,  Bermuda 
Hundred,  385  ;  Winter 
Quarters,  Bermuda  Hun- 
dred,:387;  Richmond  Home 
of  Jeff.  Davis,  :^90;  Libby 
Prison  in  '63,  394 ;  Confed- 
erate C'apitol,  396.  For 
other  illustrations  vid. 
Portrait  Groups. 

Jacksonville,  259,  266,  272, 
•273. 

Jackson  viiJ.E,  2()4. 

James,  Horace,  76. 

.Tames  Island,  2(J3. 

.lames  River,  275,  319. 

Jamestown,  277. 

Jamesville,  158. 

Jarves,  Deming,  Jr.,  17.  471. 

Jarves,  H.  D.,  17,  75,  120,  124, 
458,  459. 

JefYers,  D.  W.,  5;i5. 

.Teffers,  G.  W.,  5;i5. 

Jelly,  Wm.,  3:«. 

Jocknick,  (Jeo.  F.,  122,  i;?l. 

Johnson,  E.  C,  403. 

Johnson,  Rob't,  ;!48. 


Jones,  .1.  ('.,  .ir.,   17,   109,123, 

138,  197,  2S7,  .507,  531. 
Jones,  J.  H.,  ;373,':548. 
.Tones,  L.  S.,;548. 
.Tones,  W.  T.,  455,502. 
Jordan,  Col.  J.  V.,  69. 
July  4,  135,  200,  ;W3,  376. 
Kammerling,  Al.,  416.  420. 
Kammerling,  Aug.,  416.  420. 
ICaminerling,  H.  A..  416,  420. 
Kane,  Geo.  P.,  26. 
Kautz,  A.   ^•.,   275,   276,   311, 

Keating.  A.  J.,  387. 

Keeling,  (i.  F.,  513. 

Keene,  Wm.,  373. 

Kiley,  F.  M.,420. 

Kelley,  O.  A.,  :«8. 

King,  (J.  ()..  .516. 

King,  Jos.,  373. 

King,  G.  R..  348. 

King,  Wm.  H.,  8,  544. 

Ivinston,  1(13,  170. 

Kinston,  Battle  of,  165,  166, 
175. 

Kinston,  Camp  towards,  109. 

Kirk,  E.  N.,  270. 

Knightly  soldier,  369. 

Knowles,  A.  H.,  5,  503,  510. 

Knowlton,  C.  W.,  420. 

Kurtz,  Col.  John,  39,  153, 160. 

Lawless,  Rich.,  170,  199. 

Law'ton,  R.,  513. 

Lee's  wife.  Gen.,  391. 

Lee,  Col.  F.  L..  169. 

Lee,  Col.  H.  C,  39,  IW. 

Lee.  Henry.  Jr.,  15. 16, 153. 

Lee.  Col.  Wm.  R.,  60. 

LeFavor.  G.  W.,  240,  401,  517, 
.5:i5,  .540. 

Leggett,  Lt.  Col.  R.,  169,  2.55. 

Leonard,  J.  W.,  516. 

Litcher,  (iovernor,  ()9. 

Letters — Hatteras  Inlet,  51; 
Roanoke,  55,  57,  60,  62,  74 
(2);  Newborn,  93;  Tran- 
ter's Ck.,  117;  from  Col. 
Stevenson,  126;  rainy  ex- 
pedition. 141 ;  Swansboro 
expedition,  144;  attack  on 
Wash.,  N.  C,  148;  Tarboro 
march,  1-53;  burning Golds- 
boro  bridge,  171;  on  the 
S.  C.  situation,  181;  from 
S.  C,  184;  from  Seabrook, 


Index. 


569 


is'),  l.sfi,  1S7.  I'A);  f^oster  to 
Osborn,  I'.fi;  about  llow- 
ere,  I'M;  from  Jas.  Thomp- 
son, lt»5;  on  military 
events,  llHi;  on  accounts. 
197;  from  Seabrook.  i;"9; 
assault  on  Wagner,  205; 
Morris  Island,  20f>;  from 
Hoston,210:  Aug  2(1,  Wag- 
ner, 211 ;  from  Florida,  237, 
238;  wood-chopping  inci- 
dent, 249;  on  reenlisting, 
'i-'i'A;  to  Gcii.  Seymour.  2.>1; 
Florida  weather,  2.")0;  from 
Jacksonville,  2(ir>;  leaving 
home,  26S;  on  Drewry's 
Bluff,  284 ;  concerning  pick- 
ets, 309 ;  June  1st,  310 ;  camp 
life,  312;  from  Deep  Bot- 
tom, 323;  about  HaxalFs 
Mills,  S-2o;  Deei)  Bottom 
Fight, 3:5<1;  Deep  Run,  ;344, 
348;  from  Petersburg,  356; 
from  Deep  Bottom,  oiiO; 
Darby  town  road,  :J62;  on 
Darbytown  road,  ;370;  on 
5th  and  6th  Corps  in  Rich- 
mond, 393. 

Libby  Prison,  :J88. 

Light  marching  order,  79. 

Lincoln,  Pres.,  320. 

Lincoln.  J.  W..  ;!9S,  4.56,  4S3. 

Lines.  Pat..  34s. 

Little  Creek.  l')5.  160. 

Little  field,  J.  C.  149. 

Locke,  Sam.,  34s. 

Looking  down  the  Xeuse, 
1.50. 

Loring,  Chas.  <i.,  2'.i. 

Loring,  F.  W.,  \i~,  4x>. 

Loring,  Geo.  A.,  22,  5;?8. 

Lowell.  J.  A.,  :348. 

Lowell,  Robt.,  216. 

Lowther,  J..  455.  45S,  46:'.. 

Loyal  Floricla  regt.,  254,  255, 
258. 

Lucas,  Charles,  :>4s. 

Lufkins.  C.  P.,  207. 

Lyman,  (ieo.  W..  29. 

Lynch,  Commander.  67. 

Lyon,  E.  B.,  5,  62,  63,  64,  303, 
481.  .5.58. 

Lyon,  Marcus,  ;'.47. 

Lyons,  Michael,  3;W. 

McCoy,  John,  ;548.  , 


Mackin,  .las.,  189. 
McCarter,  J.  G.,  89. 
.\rcCarthy,  John,  372. 
Mc(  'lellan's  Nomination,  356. 
Mcculloch  Rangers,  i\S. 
Macomber,  G.  B.,  457. 
McElhenny,  Frank,  329,  3;i2, 

424. 
Mc(;raw,  M..  217. 
Mcciregor,  J.  H.,  22,  124,  456. 
McKean,  G.  W.,  353. 
McKown,  John,  347. 
McLane.  .Fohn,  :i87. 
McLellan.  H.  B.,  5,  210. 
McMahon,  J.  J.,34S. 
McPherson.  D.,  4.56,  .5<i2. 
McQuade,  Wm.,  ;«9. 
McWhirk,  Alex.,  *l.s,  487,492. 
Madge,  The  Col.'s  horse,  321. 
Mahony,  J.  C,  368. 
Mahony,  Thos.,  ;34.s. 
Maine    Troops,    8,     271;  9, 

201,223;    11,    2::!5.  271,    :516, 

:W8,  ;3:34,  ;>17,  3.5(.i,  3tV4,  ;:;6<'i, 

:382,  :397. 
Maker,  J.  C,  17,  117,  118, 122, 

197,  2^56,   267,   273,   SH,  3:38, 

:357,  .550,  5.53. 
Malady,  M.  (old),  .5.5t;. 
Malaria,  KU. 
Malcom.  Thos.,  ?.As. 
Mallady,  Mich.,  M^^. 
Mann,  B.  H.,  4-56,  .5:j(;. 
Manning.  H.  H.,  4,  311,  :!:14. 

421,  .521. 
Maps- 
North  Carolina  Coast,  '*). 

Roanoke  Island,  -56. 

So.  Carolina  Coast,  178. 

Charleston  Harbor,  202. 

James  and  Morris  Islands, 
20S. 

James  River  region,  288. 

Bermuda  Ifundred,  :304. 
Marion,  (ien.  Francis,  242. 
Marines,  124,  129,  l-M. 
Marston,  Gilman,  286. 
Martin,  J.  W.,  :«8,  493,  517. 
Mason  and  Slidell.  26. 
Masonic  Lodge,  245. 
Massacliusetts    Troops  —  1st 

Cav.,    ;!6;    2d   H.   A.,  108; 

3.     llM;     5.    1(U;    17,    107, 

110.    V^^.    164;    20,  60;  21, 

6.S,  77,   S6;   23,  ;!6,  .39,  66, 76, 


S3,  140,  1.53,  164;  25,  :!6, 
66,  76,  S3,  93,  95,  140,  1()4, 
279;  27,  ;i6,  :S9,  06,  8;i, 
107,  1:56,  140,  1;>1,  164, 
279;  84,  ;«17,  4.57;  40. 
264,  .397.  4.57,  529;  43,164; 
44 ,  1.52,  l.M,  1.55,  164 ;  45, 
164;  46,  164;  54,204,264. 

Massasoit,  Camp,  22,  24,  27. 

Mather,  Miss,  2:39. 

Mauran,  Adjt.  Genl.,  l;!0. 

Mayflower,  .'steamer,  201. 

May  in  So.  Car.,  litO. 

Maynard.G.N.,  :373. 

Meader,  H.  P.,  442. 

Mellen.  Wm.  R.  G.,  17,  28,  33, 
76,  128,  142,  162,  174,  2.54. 

Merritt,  E.  R.,  :368. 

Messenger,  Capt.,  :!9. 

"Miles  O'Reilly,"  19,210. 

Mills,  Mrs.  C.  C,  2:3s. 

Mills,  Edw.,  420. 

Miller,  J.  A..  .514. 

Mine  explosion.  :>!1. 

Minnahan.  John,  :3:30. 

Minnesota,  Frigate,  44. 

Mississippi  Wildcats.  ('*>. 

Mittens  for  the  regt..  29. 

Mix,  Col.S.  H.,147. 

Money,  Con  fed.,  127. 

Monteil,  Lt.  Col.  V.  de,  67. 

Morris  Island,  203,  210. 

Morris  Isle  Camp,  2:34, 

Morehead  City,  143,  1.53,  175. 

Morehouse.  I.  H..  420. 

Morrison,  F.,  :!4s. 

Mos(iuito  Fleet.  67. 

Muddy  Lane,  140. 

Mullen,  P.  A.,  339. 

Murray,  Dan.,  :34s. 

Muster-out.  :!79. 

Naglee.  H.  M..  179,  isi. 

Nag's  Head,  67. 

Negroes  come  in,  125. 

Negroes  Impudent,  l:'.9. 

Nelson,  J.  W.,:372,  :373. 

Neuse  River.  77. 

Nkwbeun,  77,  l;i:;.  160, 173. 

Xewbern,  Casualties  at,  99. 

Newbern.  Loss  at.  .ss.  91. 

Newbern,  A'iew  of,  98. 

Newbern  fortifications,  82. 

NkwBEKX  N.VTIoNAL  C'EM- 
KTERV,  4:36. 

Newberry,  Henry,  ;!:!9. 


570         Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


Xewell.J.  A.,2itl. 

XfW  KiiKlaml  (iimrd,  ;•,  10, 
17. 

Xi'W  Hampshire  Troops,  2, 
•jsii;  8,  210,  281;  4,  223; 
B,  75;  7,272. 

New  .lersey  Troops,  9,  l.'Hi, 
IW.  1S2. 

New  Year's  Day,  :!0,  174,  251, 
397. 

New  York,  31. 

New  York  Express,  32. 

New   York  Reception,  33. 

New  York  Troops,  3d  Art., 
ion,  132,  l(Vl;28dBat.,lti4; 
24tli  Bat..  ltV4;3dCav.,114, 
122,  12'.i,  140,147,  1(>4;  9,  67; 
47,  273;  48,  235,  237,  239, 
273:  61,  79;  53,  36,  67;  58, 
183;  85,  164;  92,  164;  96, 
lt)4,  286;  100,  208,  226,  280, 
281,  ;«l,  381. 

Nichols,  ('apt.,  of  "Picket," 
122. 

Nicliols,  F.  H.,  455,  4s4. 

Nichols, G .  W.,  4.58, 478,479,537. 

Nichols,  J.  B.,  17,  88,  101,  161, 
261,  357,  459,  466,  550. 

Nichols,  W.C,  420. 

Night  before  Newberu,  81. 

Nightingale,  A.  A..  387. 

Non-commissioned  staff,  37. 

North,  J.  N.,  385,  453. 

No.  Carolina  Troops  (1st 
Union),  123, 129. 

North  Carolina  Troops,  Con- 
fed.,  2d  Bat.,  te;  7,  &4; 
8,  61,  69;  17,  6il;  26,  y4,  89; 
27,  M;  28,  84;  31,  69;  33, 
.S4,  89;  85,  84,  89;  87,  84,  89, 
ilO;  44,123;  61.  219,220. 

Nute,  A.  B.,  ;i4H. 

O'Brien,  .1.  B.,  8,  rm,  .505. 

O'Brien,  .las.,  240. 

O'Brien,  Mrs.  M.  E.,  8. 

O'Brien,  W.  .T.,  :M3,  507,  546. 

O'Connor,  Dennis,  .343. 

O'Connor,  Jas.,  3()7. 

O'Connor,  Michael,  ;J48. 

O'Hearn,  Patrick,  343,  347. 

Ohio  Troops,  67,216. 

Oldson,  Frank,  149. 

Oldham,  J.  R..;«9. 

Olin,  Wm.  M.,405. 

Olmstead,  C.  S.,  215,  229. 


Olustec,  26-1. 

Olympic    Theatre,    2:!'.i,  240, 

24<.i. 
O'Neil,  Dom.,  3ii7. 
On  Picket,  257. 
Ord,  E.  O.  C  359,  361. 
Ordnance     Hd(itrs.<    Morris 

Isle,  218,  224. 
Ordway,    Albert,    5,  17,  35, 
123,  129,   152,   170,  255,  264, 
271,  .322,   376,  385,  386,391, 
4.50,  452,  453,  517,  .518. 
O'Reilly,  Private  Miles,  19, 

210. 
Osborn,  Francis  A.,  4,  5,  7,  8, 
14,  16,    17,    2;3,  25.   28,    34, 
42.  43,   55,   60,  61,62,70,71, 
75,  79,  80,  86,   105,  106,  108, 
113,  117,  122,   129,  133,  135, 
1:37,  139,  143,  146,  1.52, 161, 
173,  175,   181.   191,  194,  196, 
197,  199,   204,   219,  220.  226, 
228.  233,  236,  248,  249,  2M. 
256,   264,   266,  273.  279,  280. 
299.   302,  305,   308,  321.  .323. 
:334,   345,   318,   :358,  359,  367, 
370,   ;373,   374,   375,  377,399, 
401,  403,  405,  450,  4.51,4.52, 
540. 
Otis,  Col.  J.  L.,  28y. 
Owens,  Pat.,  347. 
j  Pactolus,  122. 
Palatka,273. 
}  Palmer,  C.  O.,  516. 
■Parade  in  New  York,  :!2. 
j  Parapet,  Ft.  Marion,  265. 
Parke,  J.  G.,  80. 
1  Parkinson,  John,  4o;!. 
Parrott  gun,  210,  211. 
I  Parsons,  Edward,  :i72. 
Parsons,  J.  W.,  2-54. 
Partridge,  (;.  W.,  ;!67. 
Partridge,  John  N.,  6,  17,  79, 
I     197,  282.   :n2,   :l.57.  427,487, 
j     499,  506,   .52.5. 
Paul,  H.  K.,  ;^48. 
Pawtuxet,  Steamer,  125. 
Pay-day,  40, 114. 139, 152,  199, 

242,  261,  272. 
Paymaster  comes,  '30, 10',). 
Payne,  L.  S.,  2()8. 
Payson,  T.  K.,  420. 
Peach,  Geo.  S.,  186, 189. 
Pearson,  Mr.,  2. 
Pendergast,  J.,  513. 


Pendleton,  J.  M.,  12:;,  1.54. 
Penn.  Troops,  85,    164,  219. 
27'.i;    97,   18'j,   196,   198,  203, 
2;«;  101,  164:103.  164;  104, 
226. 
Perit,  Miss,  2: '.9. 
Perkins,  C.  T.,  2(n.  4-58,  485, 

.551. 
Perkins,  James  A.,    17,  213, 

220,  459,  540,  4.59. 
Petersburg,  350. 
Peterson,  H.  T.,  1-56. 
Pettee,  B.,  8. 
Philadelphia,  269. 
;  Phelps,  J.  T.,  348. 
Phelps,  W.  J..  348. 
Phillips,  Wm.,  348. 
Phinny,  W.  A.,  347. 
Phipps,  Charles,  347. 
Picket,  Gunboat,  45. 
Pillory  and  .Stocks,  127. 
Pilot  Boy,  Steamer,  49. 105, 

111,  116, 118,  129. 
Pittsley.  J.  \V.,270. 
Pitching  camp    in  Annapo- 
lis. 36. 
Plaisted,  H.  M.,  278,  289,  329, 

:380. 
Plaisted's  Farewell,  380. 
Plymouth,  158. 
Poor,  J.  S.,  251. 
"Pork,  by  thunder  I"  ;371. 
Port  Royal,  177.  179. 
Portrait  Groups,  28,  :i7,  385, 

:38J,  401,  416,   442,  445,  4.51, 

459,466,   481,   489,  493,   496, 

499,503,   505,   510.  .513,   .516, 

.518,  .521,   524,  .525,   531,   .535. 

.538,  544,  .548,  5.53,  .5.58. 
Portraits — 

Alden,  Albert,  496. 

Allen,  G.  W.,  535. 

Amory,  C.  B.,  .507,  510. 

Anderson,  John  F.,  28. 

Arbuckle,  M.,  416. 

Armstrong,  James,  .548. 

Atwood,  J.  H.,  rA4,  5.58. 

Austin,  W.  H.,  .548. 

Barnard.  J.  M..  518,  525. 

Berry,  C.  H.,  481. 

Blake,  H.  N..  416. 

Bullard,  F.  H.,  521. 

Bullard,  J.  E.,  513. 

Burnside,  A.  E.,  445. 

Canning,  William,  49<;. 


Index. 


:)7l 


Tort  raits  ( Contimu<l)— 
Carney,  T.  F..  385. 
Carruthers,  R.,  401,524,531 
Chamberlain,  H.  L.,442. 
Clark,  R.  K.,  507,  510. 
Cobb,  A.  O.,  387. 
Cook,  J.  C,  544. 
Couthony,  W.  A.,  493. 
Crane,  S.  B.,  493. 
CYowley,  James,  493. 
C\indy,  \V.  H.,  416. 
Cunningham,  D.  H.,  535. 
Curtis,  Hall,  28.  .5.53. 
Daland,  ,J.,  4.59,  531. 
Dean,  A.  D.,  535. 
Dean,  C.  F.,  5:i5. 
DeLane,  N.  H.,  .544. 
Dennis,  T.  H.,  .513. 
Dickinson,  C.  E.,  .548. 
Dickinson,  Curtis,  '>i%. 
Dresser,  J.,  442. 
Duren,  C.  M.,  5:is. 
Eastman,  ,1.  C,  489. 
Edgerly,  S.  A.,  503,  558. 
Edmands,  T.  F.,  385.  553. 
Fanning,  T..  489. 
Fitch,  C.  A.,  521. 
Ford,  Chas.  T.,  79. 
Foster,  Davis.  385,  401. 
Foster,  J.  G.,  445. 
Fosfer,  R.  S.,  445. 
Frothingham,  T.  S.,  524. 
(Gardner,  (i.  H.,  442. 
Gardner,  (i.  W.,  553. 
Getchell,  Cy.,  489.  558. 
Gilford,  E.  H..  503. 
Gillmore,  Q.  A.,  445. 
Gilmore,  P.  S.,  416. 
Graves,  Edw.,  538. 
Grant,  C.  E.,  .503. 
Green,  S.  A.,  28,  451. 
Hayden,  L.  N.,  524. 
Hay  ward,  A.  M.,  466. 
Higgins,  Geo.  A.,  401.  505. 
Hill,  Geo.,  538. 
Hooper,  C.  H.,  499. 
Howard,  G.  A.,  .521. 
Howard,  .!.,  .538. 
Hatchings,  Wm.  V.,  28. 
.larves,  H.  I).,  4.59. 
Jeffers,  D.  W.,  ,535. 
Jeffers,  G.  W.,  535. 
Jones,  J.  C,  507.  531. 
Jones  J.  H.,  548. 
Jones,  L.  S.,  548. 


Kaininrrling.  Alwen,  416. 
Kannnorling,  Aug.,  416. 
Kannnerling,  H.  A.,  416. 
Keating,  Wm.,  ;is7. 
Keeling,  G.  F.,  513. 
King,  G.  O.,  516. 
King,  W.  H.,  514. 
Knowles,  A.  H.,  .503. 
Lawton.  R.,  513. 
LeFavor,  G.  W.,  401 . 
Leonard,  J.  W.,  516. 
Loring,  F.  W.,  37. 
Loring.  G.  A.,  .5;?S. 
Lyon,  E.  B.,481,.55S. 
McCue,  B.,489. 
McLane,  J..  387. 
McWhirk,  J.,  496. 
Maker,  J.  C,  5-53. 
Manning,  H.  H.,  521. 
Meader,  H.  P.,  442. 
Mellen,  AVm.  R.  G.,  28. 
Merritt.  E.  R..  548. 
Miller,  J.  A.,  .544. 
Nichols,  J.  B.,  4.59,  466. 
Nightingale,  A.  A.,  387. 
North.  J.  N..  385. 
O'Brien.  J.  B..  503.  505. 
Ordway.  Albert,  518. 
Osborn.  F.  A..  28.  4-51. 
Palmer,  C.  O..  516. 
Partridge,  C.  W..  496. 
Partridge.  J.  N.,  499,  .525. 
Pendergast,  J..  513. 
Perkins,  J.  A.,  459. 
Pratt,  C.  E.,  442. 
Pratt,  Wm.,  499. 
Prince,  J.  T.,  -510. 
Rea,  M.  A.,  .553. 
Redding,  W.  F.,  459. 
Remington,  S.,  481. 
Reynolds,  Wm.,  .')21. 
Richardson,  E.  C,  518.  .325. 
Robinson.  T.,  442. 
Sargent,  D.,  499. 
Sibley,  G.  F.,  481. 
.Simpson,  H.  D.,  416. 
Stackpole,  J.  L.,  459. 
Stevenson,     Robt.  H.,  28, 

451. 
Stevenson,  Thos.  G.,jrmit., 
■    28.403. 
Sweet.  T.  M.,  499. 
Telles.  Chas.,  538. 
Terry,  A.  H.,  415. 
Thompson,  .las.,  37,  401. 


TuriKT,  .1.  !•;.,  .")(s. 
Tucker,  E.  M.,  .548. 
Vining.  A.  J..  481,  .5;58. 
^^■eeks.  C.  E..  .M4. 
Wheeler.  P.  E..  37. 
White.  J.,  ;^5,  496. 
Whitney,  L.  E.,  496. 
Wiley,  W.  F.,  401.  .505. 
Willis.  S..  481. 
Wood.  A..  3S7. 
Poster.  War-time,  18. 
"Pot  of  Gold, "32(1. 
[Potter,  Col.  E.  E.,    111,117, 

118.  12:5. 137, 138. 
Powers,  Peter,  348. 
Pratt,  BelaL.,404. 
Pratt,  C.  E..  442. 
Pratt,   Wm.,   17,   22,    61.  129. 

478,  499. 
I  Prince.  J.  T.,  Jr.,  17,  22,  110, 

137,  138,  147,  149,  173,  510. 
Proctor's  Creek,  281. 
Promotions.  108. 
Punishments,  139,    221,    331, 

386. 
Quincy,  E.  G.,  175. 
Rain,  Lack  of.  322. 
I  Rainbow  Banks.  156, 160. 
Rainy  expedition,  141. 
IRandlett,  Capt.,  219. 
I  Rat.  Negress  and  the,  103. 
Raw  recruits.  22. 
Rawle's  Mill,  16(). 
[Rea,   Mason  A.,   17,261,286, 
I     551.  ,553. 

iRe.^dvii.i.k  .vxi>  Dep.\kture, 
!    -"• 

Rebel  in  a  tree,  306. 
,  RECRUITINC  .VXD  Re.vdville, 
i     21. 

j  Recruiting  stations,  20. 
[Recruits,  146. 

Redding,  Wm.  F.,  17.  61.  Ill, 
I     113,   122,   123,   204,  208,  221, 
231.   240.   261.   270.  357.457, 
459. 

Reed,  Q.  M.  (Jeneral,  34. 
jReed,  Sam,  371,  387. 
j  Reenlistnient,  247,  2.55. 

REfi.NLISTME.VT,  2.57. 

(Reenlistment  furlough,  260. 
j  Reception  in  Boston,  399. 

Reciment.vi,  Badge,  440. 

Re<;imext.\i.  B.vxd,  441. 

REfiiMEXT.vi.  Glee  Cu'b.  443. 


572 


Twenty-fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment. 


Rj-.i ;  1 M  r.NTA  I.  K( )sti;h ,  US. 

Kesiinont  departs,  ;!0. 

Kosiineiit  outlinud,  Ki. 

JiefriiiiLMit  projected,  ]:i. 

Keiuiiigton,  8.,  481. 

Reports — Roanoke,  GO;  ex- 
chanKe  of  prisoners,  70; 
Nowliern,  %;  Washington, 
]()] ;  Tarljoro  march,  159; 
(ioldsboro  expedition,  164, 
167;  attack  on  Sumter, 
226;  on  death  of  I.t.  Walker, 
249;  on  May  S,  't>4,  278; 
Drewry's  Bluff,  290,  293; 
Col.  Plaisted's,  June,  '64, 
;316;  Malvern  Hill  scout, 
:126 ;  Deep  Bottom ,  o38 ;  Deep 
Run,:'.41,  346,  :'.47 ;  Darby- 
town  road,  311. 

Reno.  Jesse  !>.,  ;!9,  60,  80,  86, 
151. 

Respess,  Isaiah,  129,  130, 147. 

Reynolds  shoots  rebel,  106. 

Reynolds,  Wni.,  206,  521. 

Rhode  Island's  Troops,  6, 
152,  l.M,  164,  171. 

Richardson,  E.  C,  7, 17,  49, 
110,  115,  123,  137,  182,  204, 
255,  256,  270,  287,  302,  322, 
367,  403,  452,  517,  518,  .525. 

Ritchie,  Harrison,  9,  26,  33, 
34. 

RiCH.MONI),  3S8. 

Richmond  Blues,  63,  68. 
Richmond  Examiner,  311. 
Roanoke,  53. 
Roanoke  Cemetery,  76. 
Roanoke  Islands,  54,  72,  77. 
Roanoke  River,  156. 
Robertson,  B.  H..  172. 
Robinson,  C.  G.,  5,  4:^8. 
Robinson,  T.,  442. 
Rodgers,  Geo.  W.,  198,  209. 
Rodman,  Col.,  148. 
Rogers,  Henry,  371. 
Root,  S.  H.,  487,  494. 
Roster,  Original,  17. 
Rowan,  (apt.  S.  C,  83,  129. 
Ryans,  John,  372. 
St.  Aiigustine,  233,  236,  243, 

264. 
St.  AiGTJSTiNE,  235. 
St.  Helena  Isle,  180.  201. 
Salutes  for  victories,  358. 
.Sanborn,  L.  B.,  62. 


Sanford,  Maj.  (>.  S.,  221,  228. 
.Sargent,  D.  T.,  17,88.101,134, 

l:!8,  220,  261,  :146,  497,  499. 
San  Jacinto,  Steamer,  26. 
Saxton,  Gen.  Rufus,  236. 
.Scales,  H.,  497,  5(M. 
Scarred  backs,  1:51. 
.Schouler,  Wm.,  4()2. 
Scott,  Col.,  39. 
.Scott,  General,  26. 
.Sciippernong  River,  75. 
Seabrook  Isle,  183,  2(Hi. 
.Sears,  J.  L.,  348. 
Second   Corps    crosses    the 

James,  329. 
Severson,  W.  C,  254,  •")47. 
Seymour  Truman,   247,  2.59, 

265,  2()6. 
Sharpshooters,  17i). 
Shaw,  Col.  H.  M..  .'.5.  63,  68, 

69,  71. 
Sheep-killing,  48. 
Sheparrt,  V.  H.,  306,  372,  465, 

.551 . 
Sheridan,  Phil.  H.,  329. 
Sherman,  T.  W.,  177. 
Sibley,  G.  F.,  481,  .540,  549. 
Simpson,  H.  D.,  416,  420. 
Singletary,  Col.  Geo.  B.,  120, 

123. 
Sixth  Army  Corps,  .318. 
Slate,  A.  F.,8. 
Slay  ton,  Geo.  A.,  ;508. 
Slidell  and  Mason,  26. 
Slipper-poetry,  132. 
.Slocum's  Creek,  78,  101. 
Small,  G.  P.,  491,  .504. 
Smith,  Dan.,  348. 
Smith,  M.  E.,  347. 
.Smith,  W.  F.,  275,  2S0,  286. 
Snakes,  191. 
Snow,  S.  A.,  373. 
Snuff-dipping,  132. 
Socks  presented,  115. 
Sons  of  Massachusetts,  31, 32, 

.34. 
.South  Carolin.\,  177. 
So.  Carolina  Coast,  178. 
So.  Carolina  Troops,  1,  266. 
Spear,  Annie  R.,  8. 
Spear,  John    M.,  Jr.,  5,  284, 

3.56. 
Sprague,  E.  D.,  149. 
Springfield  lad,  31. 
Spruill,  Col.  S.  B.,  91,  92. 


Spy  ill  camp.  2.so. 

Stackpole,  J.  L.,  17.  4-59,  .539. 

Standing  guard,  41 . 

.Stanly,  Gov.  E.,  114,  115, 116, 
128,  129. 

Stanton,  E.  M.,  379. 

Steinman,  J.  H.,  420. 

Stetson,  ('has.,  Jr.,  presents 
flag,  34. 

Stevens,  S.,  373. 

Stevenson,  Hannah  E.,  12. 

Stevenson,  J.  T.,  263. 

Stevenson,  Robt.  H.,  5,  7, 10, 
17,  28,  41,  .58,  61,  86,  88,  101, 
108,  149,  1.52,  1.53,  161,  169, 
170,  173,  181,  201,  206,  210, 
269,  270,  272,  ;W8,  4.51,  452. 

Steve.nson,  Thos.  (J.,  4,  5,  9, 
10,  11,  12,  13,  16,  17.  23,  25, 
28,  29,  33,  ai,  41,  48,  .58.  60, 
(53,  78,  83,  86,  104,  106,  108, 
113,  116,  125,  V.il,  1:^8,  141, 
146,  1.54,  160,  161,  164,  174, 
181,  183,  193,  IW,  198,  204, 
223,  231,  263,  268;  killed, 
283,  312.  403,  4.50,  4.51. 

Stevenson  parents,  169,  173, 
198. 

.Stewart.,  J.  (oldest  man), 549. 

Stickney,  Judge,  2.52. 

.Stoddard,  B.  F..  :148,  .379,  453, 
486,  .507,  .517. 

Stone,  <i.  S.,4.56,  495. 

.Stono  River,  201. 

•Stowits,  Geo.  H.,  3.30,  :347. 

Streeter,  W.  H.,  :147. 

Strickland,  D.  W..  236,  :i06. 

Stuart,  (Jeo.  H.,  270. 

"Subjugated,"  310. 

Sullivan,  Tim.,  :173. 

Sumter,  Fort,  226,  2:!1, 

Surgeon  Green  was  Left; 
43;5. 

Sutler,  Regimental,  433. 

Sutler  < 'lark,  183,  322. 

Sutler  raided,  138. 

Swamp  Angel,  222,  223,  226. 

Swansboro  expedition,  144. 

Sweeney,  John,  339. 

Sweet,  Thos.  M.,  17,  267,  272, 
377,453,  487,  499,  ,540. 

Sweitzer,  Col.,  39. 

Swift  Creek,  1.54. 

Sword  for  (ien.  Burnside, 
130. 


Index. 


.■)73 


Table  of  AggreKatfS,  r)(>4. 
Tarboro,  IGO. 
Tarhoko  March,  ir<i. 
Targi't  practice,  -iO. 
Taylor,  A.  A.,  3-18. 
Taylor,  Albert,  308. 
Taylor,  Bangs,  24y. 
Taylor,  Bayard,  1224. 
Telles,  Charles,  538,  539. 
Terry,    A.   H.,  211,  213,  223, 

22(i,   273,   274,   289,  305,  313, 

328,  361,  373,  39(5,  444,  445. 
Tenth  Corps,  182,  275,  .31(5. 
Texas  Rangers,  t)6. 
Thanksgiving  Day,  162,  245, 

378. 
Theatre    at    St.    Augustino, 

239,  240,  248. 
They  Stili.  Live,  447. 
Thomas,  G.  W.,  348. 
Thonia.s,  Gen.  R.  B.,  251. 
Thompson,  James,  7,  29,  37, 

109, 173, 194, 197, 267.271, 321, 

379,  401,  403,  4.53,  455. 
Thorne,  .Tohn,  5. 
Thome,  \Vm.,  347,  .507. 
Three       hundred       fighting 

regiments,  (i. 
Tillinghast,  C.  B.,  8. 
Tobacco,      X\l    chew       and 

smoke,  104. 
Tobacco  high,  189. 
Tossing  "niggers,"  134. 
Townsend.  E.  D.,  1S2. 
Tower,  H.,  36,s. 
Transcript,  Eve.,  261,  262. 
Tranter's  Creek,  118,  128. 
Tremain,  Wm.  S.,  211,  254. 
Trent  River,  77. 
Tnnnbull,   H.    Clay,  4,  24' 

247,  248,  2.52,  2.57,  259. 
Tucker,  C.  M.,  8,  548,  549. 
Turner,  "Dick,"  391. 
Turner,  J.  E.,  220,  372,  .548. 


TuriKT.I.  II.,  17,  45S. 
Twenty-fourth    Association. 

447. 
Twenty-fourtii  Club,  446. 
Tyng,  Dr.  S.  H.,  33. 
Upton,  Col.  E.,  S3,  104. 
Vaile,  Capt.  Ed.,  29. 
Vance,  (Jov.  Zeb.,  173. 
Vanderbilt,  .Steamer,  31. 
"Vidette,"  Steamer,  42,  43; 

over  the  Swash,  47;  52,  .53, 

75,  77,  143. 
Vincent's  Creek,  228,  2;W. 
Vining,   A.  .T.,  s,   66,240,  309, 

343,481,558. 
Wagner,  Fort,  203,  205,  211- 

226. 
Wales,  Nat.,  6,  87. 
Walker,  Capt.  .Joseph,  220. 
Walker,  O.  H.,   241,  249,  250, 

2.54,  487. 
Walker,  Gen.  W.  S.,  302,  303. 
Ward,  Charles  G.,  17, 123, 206, 

210,233,   241,  286,   453,   479, 

530. 
Warren,  Rich.,  33. 
War-time  Poster,  18. 
Washington,  D.  C,  269. 
Washington,  X.  C,  101,  111, 

113,  137,  147,  148,  1.54. 
Washington,  N.  C,  116. 
Watson,  Henry,  372. 
Wayland,  Mrs.  H.  L.,  238. 
Webster,  F.  G..  403. 
Weeks,  C.  E.,  .544. 
Weir  Bottom  Church,  279. 
Weir  Botioje  Church,  313. 
Weir's  Point,  Ii5. 
Weitzel,  Gen.G.,  370. 
Wessells,  H.  W.,  164,  174. 
West,  E.  R.,  249. 
West,Col.  R.  M.,  275. 
Wetmore,  P.  M.,  33. 
What  a  private  thought,  93. 


Wheelbarrow    steamer,    142, 

].')2. 
Wheeler,  Dr.  K.  K.,  379,  4.54. 
Wheeler,  P.  E.,  7,  37,  20S,  261, 

,377,  4.55,  5:50,  .540. 
White,  .Jarvis,  217,  339,  ,385, 

471,  525.  ,51(1. 
Whitehall,  163, 165. 
Whitehall,  Battle  of,  168, 175. 
Whitney,  L.  E.,  348. 
Whittemore,  S.  G.,  420. 
Wildes,  Rev.  G.  D.,  200. 
Wiley,  Wm.  F.,  7,  401,  505, 

.5.50,  .551. 
Wilkes,  Capt.  <'harles,  26. 
Williams,  Austin,  :J20,  321. 
Williams,  J.  S.,  261.  316,  328, 

329,  347,471,497. 
Williamson,  George,  61. 
Williamston,  1.56,  1.58. 
Willis,  Sam.,  8,  481. 
Willson,  Rev.  E.  B.,  248,  252, 

255,   2(U,  265,   272,   307,   319, 

324. 
Wilson,  And.,  458,  .')06,  ,530, 

.5.51. 
Wilson,  F.  W.,  455,  479,  486. 
Wilson,   ,1.   T.,   :M8,  372,   377, 

4.55,  497,  ^m,  .540. 
Winders,  Wm.  H.,  26. 
Wise,  H.   A.,  .54,  6S. 
Wise,  John  S.,  .54. 
Wise,  Capt.  O.  J.,  68. 
Wood,  Albert,  387. 
Wood-chopping,  247,  249. 
Worrall,  H.  S.,  4.55,  472. 
Wrightington,  Wm.,  .548. 
Wyman,  J.  H.,  :!47. 
Yankee  curiosity,  57. 
"Yankee  Hall,''  125. 
"Yankee  Slayer,"  65. 
Young.  C.  B.,  368. 
Young,  Fred,  ;?72. 
Zohler,  Ferd.,  420. 


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