[Illustration: Camp Meigs at Readville, Mass.]
THE CAMPAIGN
OF THE
FORTY-FIFTH REGIMENT
MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER MILITIA.
"THE CADET REGIMENT."
[Illustration]
BOSTON:
PRINTED BY JAMES S. ADAMS.
1882.
PUBLISHED BY THE "COMPANY A ASSOCIATES" OF THE FORTY-FIFTH REGIMENT,
M. V. M.
PREFACE.
Not long after the return of the Forty-Fifth Massachusetts regiment
from North Carolina, an informal meeting of some of the members of
Company A was held in Boston, which resulted in the formation of a
permanent association, known as the "Co. A Associates of the 45th Regt.
Mass. Vol. Mil."
This association has proved a constant source of pleasure to its
members, and has served to keep in fresh remembrance the many and
varied experiences of our campaign. The annual reunions are held on the
anniversary of the expedition to Trenton, and from year to year the
friendships which were formed in the service so many years ago, are
renewed. The presence of some of the officers as invited guests often
adds to the pleasure of the occasion.
Not a little of the success of these yearly meetings is due to that
warm friend of the company and regiment, Colonel Edward W. Kinsley. As,
in the old war time, no guest was ever more welcome than he, whether
in camp at Readville, on the deck of the "Mississippi," in the city of
Newbern, or on the sand-plains of North Carolina, so it has been in
the time of peace at our reunions. Elected an honorary member of the
"Co. A Associates," the meetings would be incomplete, indeed, without
his cheery presence to enliven us with reminiscence or song, or, better
still, to give us a bit of the inner history of the dark days in '62
and '63, with which he is so familiar, and in which he played so
important a part.
The question of publishing a history of the campaign of the 45th has
been often discussed at these Company A meetings, and a committee was
even appointed to consider the matter. The subject has also been under
consideration in the Regimental Association, organized some years
since. But nothing was done by either association, until at the meeting
of the Co. A Associates, held in January last, it was definitely
voted to publish a history of our campaign, with illustrations, and a
committee was chosen for this purpose. This book is the result, and in
offering it to the members and friends of the regiment, the committee
desire to make this explanation.
Shortly after the regiment was mustered out of the service, one of the
members of Company A wrote a brief history of the campaign, not with
any view to publication, but for his own private gratification, and
to preserve the leading incidents of his army experiences. He induced
another member of the company, now a well-known Boston artist, to
illustrate the manuscript with drawings copied from sketches taken
during our army life.
This history has been read with interest by different members of the
regiment, and the committee were convinced that it would be far better
to obtain, as they have done, permission of the writer and artist to
publish, without alteration, this illustrated story of the campaign,
written when the scenes described were fresh in the mind, than to
attempt the publication of an elaborate history of the regiment, even
if it were possible to induce any member to undertake such a task at
this late date.
In justice to our comrades who have kindly granted us this privilege,
the committee feel sure, if any apology is needed, that the reader will
bear in mind the fact that this joint effort is the production of their
youth, and not the work of to-day.
BOSTON, June, 1882.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER. PAGE.
I. CAMP LIFE AT READVILLE, 1
II. THE VOYAGE, 11
III. CAMP AMORY ON THE TRENT, 21
IV. ON THE MARCH, 31
V. OUR BATTLES, 39
VI. THE RETURN, 49
VII. A TRIP TO TRENTON, 57
VIII. LIFE IN NEWBERN, 67
IX. THE GRAND REVIEW, 77
X. THE FOURTEENTH OF MARCH, 87
XI. A TRIP UP THE RAILROAD, 97
XII. CAMP MASSACHUSETTS, 107
XIII. HOMEWARD BOUND, 117
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE.
CAMP MEIGS AT READVILLE, (_Frontispiece_).
OUTWARD BOUND, FORT MACON, ETC., 11
CAMP AMORY ON THE TRENT, 21
BATTLE OF KINSTON, 31
KINSTON SWAMP AND PLAN OF BATTLE-GROUND, 39
BATTLE OF GOLDSBORO, 49
RESERVE PICKET-STATION, BLOCKHOUSE, ETC., 57
QUARTERS OF CO. A., NEWBERN, (Front View,) 67
QUARTERS OF CO. A., NEWBERN, (Rear View,) 77
FIELD AND STAFF, 45TH M. V. M., 87
UP THE RAILROAD, DOVER CROSS-ROADS, ETC., 97
NEWBERN, CAMP MASSACHUSETTS, ETC., 107
COMPANY A AT READVILLE, 117
ROSTER
OF
FORTY-FIFTH REGIMENT, M. V. M.
CHARLES R. CODMAN, _Colonel_.
OLIVER W. PEABODY, _Lieutenant Colonel_.
RUSSELL STURGIS, JR., _Major_.
SAMUEL KNEELAND, _Surgeon_.
JOSHUA B. TREADWELL, _Assistant Surgeon_.
DANIEL McLEAN, _Assistant Surgeon_.
GERSHOM C. WINSOR, _Adjutant_.
FRANCIS A. DEWSON, _Quartermaster_.
ANDREW L. STONE, _Chaplain_.
HENRY G. WHEELOCK, _Sergeant Major_.
ARTHUR REED, _Quartermaster Sergeant_.
CHARLES F. RICHARDSON, _Commissary Sergeant_.
EDWARD WIGGLESWORTH JR., _Hospital Steward_.
THEODORE PARKMAN, _Color Sergeant_.
COMPANY A.
GEORGE P. DENNY, _Captain_.
GEORGE E. POND, _1st Lieutenant_.
EDWARD B. RICHARDSON, _2d Lieutenant_.
COMPANY B.
JOSEPH M. CHURCHILL, _Captain_.
WILLIAM S. BOND, _1st Lieutenant_.
ABIJAH HOLLIS, _2d Lieutenant_.
COMPANY C.
EDWARD J. MINOT, _Captain_.
HARRISON GARDNER, _1st Lieutenant_.
LEWIS R. WHITTAKER, _2d Lieutenant_.
COMPANY D.
NAT'L WILLIS BUMSTEAD, _Captain_.
SAMUEL THAXTER, _1st Lieutenant_.
CYRUS A. SEARS, _2d Lieutenant_.
COMPANY E.
THOMAS B. WALES, JR., _Captain_.
ALPHEUS H. HARDY, _1st Lieutenant_.
J. FRANK EMMONS, _2d Lieutenant_.
COMPANY F.
EDWARD F. DALAND, _Captain_.
SAMUEL C. ELLIS, _1st Lieutenant_.
THEODORE C. HURD, _2d Lieutenant_.
COMPANY G.
JOSEPH MURDOCH, _Captain_.
THEODORE A. THAYER, _1st Lieutenant_.
BENJAMIN H. TICKNOR, _2d Lieutenant_, promoted.
M. EVERETT WARE, _2d Lieutenant_.
COMPANY H.
LEWIS W. TAPPAN, JR., _Captain_.
ALFRED WINSOR, JR., _1st Lieutenant_.
ALFRED K. POST, _2d Lieutenant_.
COMPANY I.
CHARLES O. RICH, _Captain_.
J. DIXWELL THOMPSON, _1st Lieutenant_.
EDWARD R. BLAGDEN, _2d Lieutenant_.
COMPANY K.
GEORGE H. HOMANS, _Captain_.
CHARLES A. WALKER, _1st Lieutenant_.
JOHN H. ROBINSON, _2d Lieutenant_.
ROLL OF COMPANY A,
FORTY-FIFTH REGIMENT, M. V. M.
GEORGE P. DENNY, CAPTAIN.
GEORGE E. POND, 1st Lieutenant.
EDW. H. RICHARDSON, 2d Lieut.
CHARLES W. BARSTOW, Ord. Sergt.
GEORGE H. WATSON, 2d Sergeant.
WILLIAM R. BUTLER, 3d Sergeant. (Died Jan. 26, 1867.)
WM. E. WHEATON, 4th Sergeant.
GEO. F. WOODMAN, 5th Sergeant. (Promoted.)
CHARLES B. SUMNER, 5th Sergeant.
LUTHER F. ALLEN, 1st Corporal.
AUGUSTUS S. LOVETT, 2d Corporal.
CHAS. EUSTIS HUBBARD, 3d Corporal.
ERROL GRANT, 4th Corporal.
HENRY K. PORTER, 5th Corporal.
ALBERT A. CHITTENDEN, 6th Corp'l.
WILLIAM F. SHAW, 7th Corporal. (Died Nov. 15, 1871.)
WILLIAM B. STACY, 7th Corporal.
HENRY E. MERRIAM, 8th Corporal.
SAMUEL L. ALLEN.
NATHANIEL ANDREWS.
WM. B. ATKINSON.
CALEB L. BATES. (Died Oct. 15, 1864.)
CYRUS H. BATES.
WILLIAM H. BECKET.
CHARLES H. BENNETT.
WILLIAM H. BERRY.
JOSEPH H. BINGHAM.
HENRY S. BLISS.
CHARLES H. BROOKS.
GEORGE BROOKS. (Died Feb. 10, 1863.)
ELIAS W. BOURNE.
LOUIS H. BOUTELLE.
EDMUND W. BUSS.
MOSES J. COLMAN.
EDMUND P. DAVENPORT. (Died 1878.)
FRANKLIN H. DEAN.
REUBEN EDGETT.
JOHN B. EDMANDS.
GEO. W. ESTABROOK.
FRANK A. FIELD.
CALVIN W. FITCH.
JOHN W. FOWLE. (Died July 8, 1863.)
GEO. E. FOX. (Died Jan. 10, 1863.)
JOSEPH V. FREELAND. (Died May 10, 1872.)
RUFUS P. FURGUSON.
STEPHEN A. FURGUSON. (Died July 17, 1863.)
GARDNER GILMAN.
CHAS. P. GOLDSMITH.
ELBRIDGE GRAVES. (Died Dec. 17, 1862.)
CHAS. H. GRIFFIN.
CHAS. A. GROSS.
ABRAHAM G. R. HALE.
E. THOMAS HALE. (Died Sept. 7, 1868.)
MILO T. HARDY.
FRANCIS P. HASKELL.
ROBERT HASTY.
HORACE HOLMES. (Died Aug. 19, 1864.)
CHAS. A. HOWARD.
RODOLPHUS K. HOWARD.
LEVI D. JONES.
THOMAS KINSLEY.
SILAS W. LANG.
CHARLES H. LEONARD.
RICHARD H. LINCOLN.
STEPHEN LINCOLN. (Died June 30, 1863.)
JEREMIAH R. LORD.
EDMUND S. LUNT.
ALBERT W. MANN.
JAMES H. MASON.
JOSEPH A. MORGAN. (Died July 3, 1863.)
EDWIN T. MORSE.
JOHN R. MORSE.
HENRY D. NORTON.
GEO. B. PARKER. (Died ----.)
DANIEL PERT.
FRANCIS B. PERT.
WM. J. PERT.
WM. P. PLIMPTON.
WM. POLAND.
WM. H. PRATT.
FRANK L. PUTNAM.
WM. A. RICHARDS.
SWARTZ RICHARDSON. (Died Dec. 1, 1872.)
OSCAR W. SARGENT. (Died Oct. 19, 1877.)
HENRY B. SCUDDER.
FRANK H. SHAPLEIGH.
SAMUEL B. SHAPLEIGH.
THOMAS W. SHAPLEIGH.
RUFUS S. SMITH. (Died ----.)
JEFFREY T. STANLEY.
HENRY R. THOMPSON.
EDWIN E. TIFFANY.
GEO. W. TOWER. (Died Jan. 20, 1871.)
CHAS. A. VINAL.
JOHN H. WATSON. (Died Oct. 22, 1873.)
ISAAC G. WHEELER.
L. HENRY WHITNEY.
ISRAEL D. WILDES.
LYMAN D. WILLCUT.
GEO. WILLMONTON.
HENRY T. WINSLOW. (Died June 30, 1863.)
_Honorary Member._
EDW. W. KINSLEY.
THE FORTY-FIFTH.
CHAPTER I.
CAMP-LIFE AT READVILLE.
Shortly after the President's call for three hundred thousand nine
months' men, in the summer of 1862, a meeting was held by the
Independent Corps of Cadets, in their armory in Boston, to consider the
expediency of organizing a nine months' regiment, of which that corps
should be, as it were, the nucleus. The proposition being favorably
received, application was speedily made to Governor Andrew by various
members in favor of the movement, for permission to recruit for such a
regiment, under the title of the Cadet Regiment, but officially to be
known as the Forty-fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Militia.
Charles R. Codman of Boston, then adjutant of the cadets, was selected
as future commander of the regiment, subject, however, to the approval
of the line officers, who were themselves to be elected by their
respective companies in accordance with the militia law of the state,
prior to receiving their commissions from the governor. Recruiting
officers canvassed the state, and the companies ranked in the order in
which their respective rolls were filled.
Readville was selected as the rendezvous and camping-ground for the
regiment, and on the twelfth of September, Company D went into camp
at that place, followed at intervals by the other companies as they
severally attained a size which would warrant a respectable appearance
on drill and parade.
The camp was pleasantly situated on high ground, surrounded on three
sides by other camps, while the fourth was skirted by woods, back of
which, as a fitting background, rose the blue hills of Milton in all
their beauty.
We were quartered in barracks, long wooden sheds running parallel to
each other, and perpendicular to and facing the parade-ground. Back
of each barrack, and separated by a street some twenty feet in width,
were the little cook-houses, while still farther to the rear were the
officers' quarters, quartermaster's department, etc.
The first night in camp was a novel one to most of us, and formed the
entrance to a new phase of existence, a military life. We marched from
the depot and were received with shouts of welcome by the companies
already in camp. Halting in front of the barrack assigned us, the order
to break ranks was the signal for a simultaneous rush of all to take
possession of the movable bunks, which in two tiers lined both sides of
the building, followed by another stampede after straw to fill them.
My first military duty was the scouring of sundry rusty pots and pans
preparatory to the evening meal. All the true patriots came into camp
with empty haversacks, determined to brave the soldier's fare at the
outset, and our pride was at its height when, formed in line, we
marched single file to the cook-house, and had doled out to us from
its window, the huge slice of bread and dipper of coffee or tea.
"Truly, we are serving our country at last," we said, and ate our
rations without thought of what we had left behind; but that slice of
bread, varied often by hard-tack, so often, indeed, that the bread was
the exception, and the dipper of coffee soon became an old, very old
story, and the good things at home would rise in our memories, the
ghosts of better times, and would not down at our bidding, nor would
the hard-tack, either.
The interval between supper and roll-call was wisely spent in making
our bunks comfortable for the night; and that first night the custom
was instituted by our captain, of reading the lesson and prayers
for the day after morning and evening roll-call; and was faithfully
continued until the regiment went into tents, some seven months later.
Punctually at nine, taps sounded and the lights were extinguished, and
as reveille was at half-past five, we naturally desired and expected
to lose ourselves immediately; but alas! for the fallacy of human
hopes, not an eye in that barrack was closed in sleep a moment before
midnight, except, perhaps, that of one of our number, afterwards
discharged for deafness. The evil one himself was, without doubt, on a
rampage that night, and raised a very bedlam in our midst.
In vain did the orderly threaten; in vain did the officer of the day,
encircled by that mysterious sash at which we raw ones had gazed with
awe, command silence. For a moment there would be a lull in the storm,
deluding the sober-minded into a belief that quiet was at length
restored, when, with a laugh or a jest, the uproar would burst forth
with redoubled vigor. Even after sheer exhaustion had quieted the
unruly ones, it was hard to sleep as we lay thinking over our strange
situation, and at intervals through the night caught the distant
challenge of the sentry at the approach of the welcome relief. But the
longest day must have an end, and at last our weary eyelids were closed
not to open again till the loud beat of the drum summoned us from the
land of dreams.
With the return of the day our new duties commenced; some were detailed
for camp guard, others for police duty, but most of us were marched out
to drill, and during our nine months' service this proved an unfailing
source of amusement and occupation, and was improved to the utmost by
the officers.
Police duty has a mysterious sound to the uninitiated, and those first
detailed for that service had their expectations raised to a great
height, but the fall was so much the more severe. Some were set to
work digging wells, others to sweep up the camp with brooms of their
own manufacture, and one squad were assigned the task of emptying
the barrels in the rear of the cook-houses, filled with the refuse
of the men's rations; police duty is, in fact, to enact the part of
general scavenger for the camp, a very necessary, but at the same time
disagreeable, business.
Our first day's guard duty was an experience never to be forgotten.
The solitary march back and forth, back and forth, in the same narrow
path, rain or shine, warm or cold, can only be appreciated after actual
trial. Never did time fly with such tardy wings as in the night-watches
of those dark, wet, fall nights, when the approach of the relief was
to the weary sentinel like a release from imprisonment. But those first
experiences had their comical side as well. The awkward manner of
handling the guns, the stupidity displayed in learning the instructions
and duties of the post, and the various mistakes constantly occurring
were laughable to witness.
One day there was a more than usually difficult subject, whose mistakes
furnished a fund of amusement for the whole guard. After innumerable
blunders during the day, at nightfall he was carefully and at great
length instructed with regard to the countersign, its object, nature,
etc., until the lieutenant of the guard thought he would be able to
pass muster under the ordeal of the grand round, but the officer, by
skillful questioning, discovered that the countersign was in his belief
a sort of counterfeit bill, which was to be passed on delivery,--to say
the least, an original interpretation of the meaning of the word.
But the mistakes and blunders were by no means confined to the men,
for the officers could, without breach of modesty, lay claim to their
full share. One was particularly noted for his ignorance of military
knowledge, and had earned, among the men, the soubriquet of "Right
Backward Dress," from his repeated blunders in reference to that order;
while another, having occasion to salute the commandant of the post,
managed to bring his guard to the "present," but then gave the order
"stack arms," quite regardless of the intermediate orders essential to
a proper execution of the manoeuvre.
On pleasant days, guard duty at the camp entrance was by no means
disagreeable, for on such days the stream of visitors was unceasing
from morning till night. How we all enjoyed those visits! and the sight
of a friend in the distance was a never-failing pretext for an excuse
from drill or parade. We were always ready to relieve them of the
baskets and bundles they labored under, and of course they must inspect
the barracks, admire the various decorations and inscriptions that
ornamented the different bunks, and wonder how any mortal could ever
sleep in such boxes.
One afternoon, two of us were made happy by the arrival of a
carriage-load of friends, who had come to dress-parade. We both
noticed several mysterious-looking baskets stowed away in the depths
of the carriage, but of course no remark was made as to their probable
contents. After witnessing and duly admiring the parade, at the sound
of the supper-call, the ladies invited us to take supper with them,
if we could for once deny ourselves the pleasures of the government
commissariat. So, nothing loath, we were armed with the above-mentioned
baskets, and took up our line of march toward a grassy knoll, back
of the camp and outside the lines, to avoid intrusion, and there,
stretched out on shawls and blankets, we had a supper worthy of the
name.
As we lay about the grass, taking our meal, the full moon rose in all
its beauty from behind the Milton hills, and lit up the quiet October
evening till the camps and hills were flooded with the silvery light.
The growing dampness warned us at last to shorten our pleasure, but
on taking refuge in the barrack, we were agreeably surprised by an
impromptu concert from visitors and hosts, and as our regiment boasted
some very good voices, the singing formed an appropriate ending to
such a delightful evening. We enjoyed one or two moonlight evenings in
rather a different way, marching about the camp, headed by the band,
and blundering through some of the simpler battalion movements for the
colonel's benefit.
Our battalion drills in those days were very amusing, for though in
company drill the men got the blame for all mistakes, yet here the
burden of reproof was shifted to the officers' shoulders, and this
was in some measure a recompense to us, for the laugh was now on our
side. The tortures undergone by the colonel, in those early days, in
witnessing the officers' oft-repeated blunders, must have been truly
excruciating. Now one, then another, would fall the victim of his
censuring tongue, until, bewildered by the flying sarcasms and the
complication of manoeuvres, their confusion became worse confounded,
and we of the file, rejoicing over the misfortunes of the rank, would
hail with delight the welcome command of "Drill is dismissed," screamed
forth by the colonel, half an hour before the usual time.
Nor did we depend on visitors or drill for our whole stock of
amusement. Bathing formed a part of the daily routine while the weather
permitted, and foot-ball was a favorite occupation during our leisure
hours. Our evenings passed quickly in a quiet rubber of whist, or in
listening to the music with which the singers often favored us, usually
in the barrack, but occasionally on the mild fall evenings, in the open
air, stretched lazily on the grass before the door.
But the crowning feature of our life at Camp Meigs was the
dress-parade, and this would be an incomplete history indeed, had that
been omitted in the tale. Very modest in appearance at the outset, with
thin ranks, but two or three drummers and those far from perfect, and
more than all, no guns for the men; they were gradually improved, now
by fresh recruits, then by the addition of the band, and the arrival of
our Springfield rifles, until, under this combination of improvements,
we were enabled to present a very respectable appearance.
It seems like a dream to recall the two long rows of people which night
after night stood facing each other in front of the barracks,--the
actors and spectators. We come to parade-rest, and the performance
commences. Three groans from the band, then the inevitable--the show
tune of the band; and as they come slowly marching down the line, we
see a familiar but ever novel sight. A little in advance of the band,
monarch of all he surveys, and the "cynosure of neighboring eyes,"
struts Mariani, the drum-major, pride of the regiment, twirling his
baton, token of empire, giving that finish to the show which even our
rival neighbors are prone to admire. Never afterwards did the band play
that familiar old tune, No. 45, on the sand-plains of North Carolina,
but a smile ran down the line; and as our thoughts reverted to the
pleasant dress-parades at Readville, we longed for that opposite row of
faces, that we might show our friends what a good parade was like.
The twenty-sixth of September, eight companies were mustered into
the service of the United States; and on the eighth of October, the
remaining companies,--together with the field and staff officers,--and
we became an organized regiment under the United States, though
constituting a part of the state militia.
It had been supposed all along that the Army of the Potomac would be
our destination, but when the 44th sailed for Newbern, it became a
settled fact that North Carolina was to be our arena also, and as the
day of departure drew near, every hour of our short furloughs became
precious and the visits of our friends even more frequent and pleasant
than before.
The last Sunday but one, about half the regiment marched to Milton,
and there took the cars for Boston, where we attended service at Park
Street Church, the church of our chaplain, Rev. A. L. Stone, D. D.
After an appropriate farewell discourse, we returned to camp much
pleased with our trip, with a good appetite for the regular Sunday
dinner in camp of baked beans.
On Saturday, the first of November, the colors were presented to the
regiment by Governor Andrew, and were received by Colonel Codman in
our behalf. It was a gala day in camp, and the grounds were covered
with visitors, many present for the last time, as the regiment was
under marching orders. In the evening an impromptu mock dress-parade
was quite successfully carried out, much to the amusement of the
spectators, who still lingered, reluctant to say good-bye.
The last day or two was full of bustle and confusion and all who could
obtain furloughs were at home, leave-taking and making their final
arrangements. Wednesday, the fifth of November, dawned on us at last,
raw and disagreeable, and with full knapsacks and full hearts as well,
we bade farewell to old Camp Meigs, where we had passed a month and
a half so pleasantly. Perhaps at the time we did not realize fully
all our advantages at Readville, being new to the life, but we have
certainly appreciated them in the retrospect, and those of our number
who may take the field again will reap the full benefit of their early
experience.
Leaving the cars at the Boston depot, we formed our line, and escorted
by our patrons and godfathers, the Cadets, marched directly to the
Common, where, on the Beacon mall, a collation was spread to which
ample justice was done.
After receiving our remaining colors from the hands of the governor
(the regiment carried three flags, United States, State and
Regimental), and hearing addresses, very appropriate, no doubt, but so
long that we were ready to drop with fatigue, loaded down as we were
with full equipments, the last good-byes were said, and we started en
route for the wharf.
It was, indeed, a proud moment of our lives, the march that day through
the crowded streets of old Boston, elate with the consciousness that we
were embarked in a righteous cause, and determined to play our parts
like men.
[Illustration: OUTWARD BOUND
FORT MACON N.C.
MOREHEAD CITY N.C.]
[Illustration: THE HALT]