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MEMORIES OF THE CIVIL WAR.
MEMORIES OF THE CIVIL WAR.
BY Henry B. James . Co. B, 32nd Mass. Volunteers. NEW BEDFORD, MASS. FRANKLIN E. JAMES. 1898 NEW BEDFORD, MASS. FRANKLIN E. JAMES. 1898 To my Boys, Who delighted in their childhood to hear their father tell stories of the war, and at whose desire these memories have been recalled, this book is — DEDICATED. —...
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PREFACE
PREFACE
I have written this account of my experience in the service of my country from memory, aided by old diaries, letters, etc., and have endeavored to be as accurate as possible, in regard to dates and events of historical importance, but if mistakes occur, it cannot be wondered at, after such a lapse of time. Some of my diaries were lost upon the battlefield, and of those that remain, many of the entries were in pencil and are almost effaced. I had no intention when I began writing of making a long
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Chapter I. ENLISTMENT.
Chapter I. ENLISTMENT.
I have often been asked to narrate my experience in the War of the Rebellion, and have as often refused, but now after the lapse of thirty three years since the close of that fearful struggle between brother men, I feel that perhaps it would be well, for the satisfaction of those who so earnestly desire it, to “Fight my battles over again.” Mine was not an exceptional experience, only that of many a boy of ’61, but it may partly answer the question so often asked: “What did the privates do?” I h
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Chapter II. TO THE SEAT OF WAR.
Chapter II. TO THE SEAT OF WAR.
On the 25th of May we left Fort Warren for the seat of war. Arriving at Washington we went into camp Alexander. June 30th our battalion, now composed of six companies, was ordered to join the army on the peninsula. Embarking on the transport Hero we arrived at Fortress Munroe July 2nd. We continued on up the James river, landing at what was formerly President Harrison’s plantation, on July 4th 1862. Now began our soldier life in earnest, for fighting was then going on; mud was knee deep and all
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Chapter III. ON THE MARCH.
Chapter III. ON THE MARCH.
Marching orders came on August 10th, and we gladly took up our line of march, passing through Williamsburg, Yorktown and Big Bethel to Newport News, where we boarded steamer Belvidere for Acquia Creek, thence by rail to Stafford Courthouse, near Fredericksburg. We were still kept on the move, and on August 27th we marched out on the Gainesville road, and formed in line of battle; here we had quite a sharp brush with the enemy. We were endeavoring to head him off in his march northward, but were
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Chapter IV. ANTIETAM.
Chapter IV. ANTIETAM.
Harper’s Ferry had fallen, and Lee was gathering his army on the west bank of Antietam Creek in Maryland. When we reached the east side of the creek, we caught up to the main army under General McClellan on the 16th of September, just at sunset. We found the rebels to be well posted behind the top of the ridge on the other side of the stream. The two armies now stood face to face, for McClellan’s army was camped on the east side of the hills on the west branch of the Antietam. Our division was s
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Chapter V. UNDER ARREST.
Chapter V. UNDER ARREST.
My company was detailed to guard the ammunition train on its way back into Virginia. Before starting on the march, we had general orders read to us, forbidding all foraging in Maryland. On the first day’s march towards Harper’s Ferry, several of the boys, myself included, noticed a number of small pigs in a field near the road. As we had been on very short rations for about a week, it seemed to us a good chance to have a feast when we went into camp, so over the fence after the pigs we went. As
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Chapter VI. IN CAMP.
Chapter VI. IN CAMP.
The Army of the Potomac, on November 10th, 1862, was massed near Warrington Virginia, where General McClellan was relieved from command of the army. I shall never forget the grief that was manifested by the soldiers on the removal of this popular commander. Ever mindful of the welfare and comfort of his men, he had won a warm place in their hearts, and enjoyed the respect and esteem that was never accorded any other commander. The following verses were sung in camp and on the march long after he
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Chapter VII. FREDERICKSBURG.
Chapter VII. FREDERICKSBURG.
Here we remained for some weeks, building ourselves log shanties, chopping wood, standing guard, being drilled, inspected, reviewed, and now and then going over towards the river and watching the confederates making their works good and strong, against the time when we were ready to attack them. While we were making ready, they were building and strengthening works, that would be beyond the power of mortal man to carry by assault, and yet that was what we were called upon to do, when at last Gen
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Chapter VIII. CHANCELLORSVILLE.
Chapter VIII. CHANCELLORSVILLE.
On April 27th 1863, we again started on our tour through Virginia. We crossed the Rappahannock at Kelley’s Ford, marched to the Rapidan river, and went into camp on the south side. A brief rest, and again on the march, arriving at Chancellorsville, where we waged battle with the enemy from April 30th to May 5th. Here, on the 2nd of May, occurred the famous charge of the eighth Pennsylvania cavalry, numbering but three hundred men under Major Keenan, on Stonewall Jackson’s leading division, keepi
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Chapter IX. BRANDY STATION AND ALDIE.
Chapter IX. BRANDY STATION AND ALDIE.
After the battle of Chancellorsville, the thirty-second Massachusetts was detailed for guard duty on the railroad to Acquia Creek. We remained here but a short time however, for northward moved the enemy, and we on after them; at Brandy station on the 9th of June, we caught up with them, and had a sharp engagement, but failed to stop the march into Pennsylvania. Crossing the river towards Culpepper Courthouse, past Morrisville, on to Manassas, camping on the old battle ground on the night of the
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Chapter X. GETTYSBURG.
Chapter X. GETTYSBURG.
We arrived on the field of Gettysburg at nine o’clock A. M., July 2nd, and without rest were ordered into the front line of battle. Our brigade consisted of the 9th and 32nd Massachusetts, 4th Michigan, and 62nd Pennsylvania. We had hardly got into line, when the enemy advanced directly upon us, and for an hour we had it hot and heavy. Here our regimental loss was heavy, but we finally repulsed them, and soon after changed position to a piece of woods bordering on the wheatfield. Here a line was
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Chapter XI. MINE RUN.
Chapter XI. MINE RUN.
We crossed the river near Berlin, keeping east of the Blue Ridge. At Manassas Gap on July 23rd, we saw some pretty fighting by the Third Corps, and on the 8th of August, we went into camp at Beverly Ford, and remained five weeks, enjoying our well earned rest. Here I saw five deserters shot. Sept. 15th we moved to Culpepper, where I saw a bounty jumper drummed out of camp, branded with the letter D. Here we received 180 recruits, and between October 10th and 29th, we were marching back and forth
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Chapter XII. A LETTER FROM THE FRONT.
Chapter XII. A LETTER FROM THE FRONT.
Camp at Liberty Va., Dec.—1863. You ask me about our daily life, and now, while “All is quiet upon the Potomac,” I will try to give you some idea of company B’s life in camp. Reveille is sounded at sunrise; our company falls into line, and the first sergeant calls the roll. Each man then cooks his own breakfast, except when two or three tentmates agree to take turns. In my case, my tentmate does the cooking, and I get the wood and water. Our rations when in camp are generally hardtack, pork, sal
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Chapter XIII. RE-ENLISTED.
Chapter XIII. RE-ENLISTED.
It was at Liberty that most of the members of the 32nd Massachusetts re-enlisted for three years more. I was not the first to re-enlist; I knew now what a soldier’s life really was. I realized that my father knew what he was talking about, when he told me that it was no holiday picnic, and that the men of the South were as brave as those of the North, and that it would take years instead of months to conquer them, as so many thought when the war began. I had endured two years of hardships and da
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Chapter XIV. AT HOME AGAIN.
Chapter XIV. AT HOME AGAIN.
As the day of our arrival was the Sabbath, which we dimly remembered was kept sacred at the North, the commanding officer telegraphed to Governor Andrew to know if it would do to take his men through Boston on the Sabbath day. He quickly received the answer, “Come right along!” So he issued orders to the men to be as orderly as possible, and not shock the pious people of the Puritan state, and we took the train to Boston. How astonished the war-worn soldiers were at their reception! Ours was the
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Chapter XV. IN THE WILDERNESS.
Chapter XV. IN THE WILDERNESS.
General Grant now took command of the army, and on April 30th 1864, we broke camp at Liberty, and began the hardest, most bloody campaign of the war. Our division gathered near Rappahannock Station; crossed the river for the fifteenth time, and marched to Brandy Station, marching almost constantly. We crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford, marched all the next day, camping at night in the Wilderness, very near the enemy. May 5th we threw up earthworks, but at noon advanced, leaving our works to o
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Chapter XVI. LAUREL HILL.
Chapter XVI. LAUREL HILL.
For two or three days we remained on the skirmish line, digging rifle pits to protect ourselves from the fire of the enemy. These were holes in the ground deep enough for one or more men to stand in, and if we showed our heads we were pretty sure to draw their attention, so we kept out of sight as much as possible. But our greatest peril was from our own line, a quarter of a mile in the rear of us, for there were several pieces of artillery continually sending shells and solid shot over our head
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Chapter XVII. THE WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.
Chapter XVII. THE WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.
From the 12th to the 23rd, our regiment was constantly under fire from the enemy in front of us, at Spotsylvania Courthouse, and vicinity, continually changing our location, throwing up earthworks each night after a weary day’s march, before we could roll ourselves in our blankets, and take our short night’s rest. On the morning of the 23rd, we took up our line of march towards the North Anna river, crossing it at Jericho Ford, our brigade advancing at once in line of battle into a piece of wood
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Chapter XVIII. LEAVES FROM MY DIARY.
Chapter XVIII. LEAVES FROM MY DIARY.
May 1, 1864. Was relieved from picket last night, broke camp, went within one mile of Rappahannock Station. To-day crossed the Rappahannock river, and marched to Brandy Station. Corporal Tuttle left for home. May 2. In camp near Brandy Station; sent letters home. Several of the boys left us, having exchanged into the navy. May 3. Broke camp at one o’clock P. M. Camped near Culpepper. May 4. Broke camp last night at eleven o’clock; marched through Stephensburg, crossed the Rapidan at Germania For
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Chapter XIX. COLD HARBOR.
Chapter XIX. COLD HARBOR.
On the 3rd of June, before daylight, we were called up to do our part in the battle of Cold Harbor. The troops that had relieved us at the front the day before had been driven from their works, and our division was called upon to re-take them. It was the same along the whole line. We were to charge across an open field, under a terrible fire from the enemy, strongly entrenched behind earthworks. Between our line of works and that of the enemy, the ground was covered with pine trees, felled and f
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Chapter XX. THE NORFOLK RAILROAD.
Chapter XX. THE NORFOLK RAILROAD.
On the 12th of June, General Grant changed his plan of operations, and started us off for the James river. Our corps crossed the Chickahominy river at Long Bridge, marched southward to the James river, and on the 16th of June, the Army of the Potomac was on the right bank of the James, preparing for a fresh start in another direction. As we went up in front of Petersburg on the 18th of June, we were double quicked across an open field, and made a dash on the Norfolk railroad, where we made a sta
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Chapter XXI. EXTRACTS FROM MY DIARY.
Chapter XXI. EXTRACTS FROM MY DIARY.
June 1, 1864. Sunset. Another battle has begun, and brave men are now falling for their country and their homes. Ah, many a heart will mourn when they hear of this hour’s history, but may the thought cheer them, that their dear ones fell like heroes, as they are, in the holiest cause for which man ever fought. June 2. Five P. M. Again has the battle begun, and again we hear the hum of lead and iron, like hail in a storm. Oh, how terrible is the conflict of arms among men of one nation! June 3. T
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Chapter XXII. PETERSBURG.
Chapter XXII. PETERSBURG.
After our line of entrenchments was established, our brigade was ordered to the rear, and we encamped along the Jerusalem plank road, where we were held in reserve for special duty. Here we worked day and night building a large earthen fort, which we named in honor of our lamented Col. Prescott. Here Major Edmunds was appointed colonel, and took command of the regiment. We remained in reserve about three weeks, during which time we were called upon to re-enforce the Second and Sixth Corps, on tw
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Chapter XXIII. PEEBLE’S FARM.
Chapter XXIII. PEEBLE’S FARM.
On the 16th of August we were relieved from the trenches. On the 18th we made an attack on the Weldon railroad, in order to cut off the supplies of the rebel forces in front of Petersburg. In this action our regiment lost thirteen men. The railroad was too strongly guarded for our attempt to succeed. We were called upon frequently to repel attacks from the enemy, and continually kept busy until the 1st of September, when we were again ordered to the trenches for a few days. We were soon relieved
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Chapter XXIV. WELDON RAILROAD.
Chapter XXIV. WELDON RAILROAD.
In October 1864, the re-enlisted men of the Ninth, Eighteenth, and Twenty-second Mass. Volunteers were transferred to our regiment, and we once more showed full ranks on parade. By a re-organization of our division, we were transferred to the Third brigade, now made up of veteran regiments and called the “Veteran Brigade.” As the weather grew colder, we went into winter quarters on the Jerusalem plank road, and built ourselves good log huts with chimneys, and proceeded to make ourselves comforta
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Chapter XXV. HATCHER’S RUN.
Chapter XXV. HATCHER’S RUN.
New Years day 1865 found the 32nd Mass. living in their log huts on the Jerusalem plank road, one mile in rear of our line of works in front of Petersburg. Here we worked building and strengthening our works, taking turns so that the work went steadily on night and day. Thus we lived until late in the afternoon of Feb. 4th, when we received orders to move next morning at daybreak. We imagined it was to be another railroad raid, and we left our huts standing, expecting to return to them; but in t
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Chapter XXVI. ON FURLOUGH.
Chapter XXVI. ON FURLOUGH.
About the 18th of February I sent in an application for a furlough; I hardly expected to get it, as all furloughs had been refused, except in some cases, where an exceptional reason was urged, or strong influence brought to bear. I felt, after the hard experience of the past year, and with the prospect of another campaign full as hard, that a brief furlough was what I needed, so I could but try for one, which I did, and on Sunday the 26th of the same month, received a furlough for twenty days. W
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Chapter XXVII. WOUNDED.
Chapter XXVII. WOUNDED.
Our line of march led us in the direction of the Boydton plank road, and on the morning of March 30th the 32nd was detailed for the skirmish line. It was a rainy day, but we soldiers could not stop for the weather. About two o’clock in the afternoon, we sighted the enemy’s pickets, and then firing began in earnest. All went well with me until about three o’clock, when I felt something strike my foot, not realizing that it was a bullet until I saw the jagged holes where it went in and out, breaki
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Chapter XXVIII. CLOSING SCENES.
Chapter XXVIII. CLOSING SCENES.
I can give the further movements of my regiment after I was wounded, only from what I learned later from my comrades, for to my great regret, I was not with them to the end. The Fifth corps kept on in spite of the enemy’s artillery, until they reached around the extreme right of the confederate line of works in front of Petersburg. Next day they were relieved by the Second corps, and moved off again to the left, a little to the west of the Boydton road. Here they were attacked, and driven back,
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Chapter XXIX. MUSTERED OUT.
Chapter XXIX. MUSTERED OUT.
I remained in Armory Square hospital until the 26th of May, when I was transferred to a place called White Hall, on the Delaware river, about eighteen miles above Philadelphia. It was formally a seminary, but had been taken for hospital use. At the time I wished it had always remained what it was built for, as it was the most lonesome and dreary place I ever saw. The nearest place was a village called Bristol, two miles away, and we went there when we could, and those who were able traveled the
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