EMORY UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GIFT OF CAPT. H. G. GiLMORE. CAPT. G. W. BIGELOW. CAPT. E. L. KNIGHT. ADJT. C. H. BREWSTER. COL. J. B. PARSONS. LIEUT. W. F. DARBY. DR. WM. HOLBROOK. LIEUT. G. C. KAULBACK. DR. J, H. GILMAN. "O U RS." A^ilkl^ of 10tl\ i\e^iinei|t, MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS, IN THE REBELLION. EDITED BY CAPTAIN JOSEPH KEITH NEWELL, HISTORIAN OF THE REGIMENT, From personal observation, private journals of officers and men, selections from the press of the day^ and from letters front soldiers of tlie regiment published in the local newspapers. PUBLISHED BY C A. NICHOLS & CO., SPRINGFIELD, MASS. 187s Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1S75, by C. A. NICHOLS & CO., In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. CLARK W. BRYAN AND COMPANY, ELECTROTVPERS, PRINTERS AND BINDERS, SPRINGFIELD, MASS. TO GENERAL HENRY S. BRIGGS, THE ORGANIZER AND FIRST COMMANDER OF THE TENTH, AND TO COLONEL JOSEPH B PARSONS, WHO SO GALLANTLY LED THE REGIMENT DURING THE LATTER PERIOD OF ITS .SERVICE, S^is Morh WITH THEIR PERMISSION, IS MOST RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. PREFACE. To MY COMRADES OF THE TENTH MASSACHUSETTS : AT your annual re-union held at Westfield in 1872, the Commit­ tee appointed the previous year for the purpose, requested me to prepare for publication and preservation such records and sketches of the Regiment as it was possible to obtain. This task, although a pleasant and agreeable, has not been an easy one. When the Regiment was organized and enlisted for the war in 1861, no liv­ ing person had any idea of the magnitude and duration of the struggle just commencing. Our most prominent statesman only gave the rebels ninety days to lay down their arms and disperse, and a year at the most was expected to crush out all signs of re­ bellion, and no well directed means were taken to keep a system­ atic record of occurrences and events. The Regimental records are scattered and incomplete. Letters from soldiers in the army to the public press are necessarily disconnected and imperfect, but to these I am in a great measure indebted for material. For personal biographies and sketches I have written nearly two thou­ sand letters and circulars to men of the Regiment. Many of these have been returned as uncalled for, the parties having removed. Many have been returned to me giving useful information, for which I hereby return my sincere thanks, and many others have neither been returned or answered, showing that the recipient had a careless inditference in regard to the matter. To the newspa­ pers of Western Massachusetts I am greatly indebted for courte­ sies received and free access to their files. I have freely pirated from their columns, sometimes giving credit and sometimes not, so they must take this acknowledgment as covering the whole ground and not accuse me of what I freely confess. The Tenth Regiment was one of the first to answer the coun­ try's appeal in the hour of her peril. It was one of the first to " PREFACE. march to the Nation's Capitol, when that Capitol was in danger. With their strong arms and stout hearts and very life's blood they upheld the honor of their country on many a stubbornly contested battle-field. The southern soil is enriched and hallowed by the blood of their best and bravest, and to their valor and devotion the present peace and prosperity of the country are largely indebted. Your comrades are fast passing away. Every year the attend­ ance at your re-unions will be less and less, until only a few gray- haired old veterans will be left to recount the deeds and talk over the achievements of the days gone by; and they in turn will pass away, leaving only their memories and the result of their services as a legacy to their descendants. It is for this that these pages are written :—To preserve the na?nes and deeds of the soldiers of the Tenth Massachusetts. Many errors and omissions will unavoidably occur, but these I trust you will pardon, believing that I have made the record as historically correct as possible. To the officers and men who have rendered me valuable assistance in prosecuting my researches for information, I return my sincere thanks. JOSEPH K. NEWELL. SPRINGFIELD, JUNE, 1875. CONTENTS. PAGE. PREFACE, 5 CHAPTER L Suggestions of Adjutant General Schouler—General Order No. 4—Re­ sponse of the militia—Legislative act to increase the militia—News of attack on Sumpter—Awakening of the North—Permission to raise six regiments in Massachusetts—General Order No. 12—The six regi­ ments being organized—Selection of companies for the Tenth—Ap­ peal to the citizens of Western Massachusetts—Arrival of the Barring- ton company—Appointment of officers—Muster of the Regiment at Hampden Park—The first battalion drill—Appointment of surgeons —Anniversary of Bunker Hill—Rations, 11 CHAPTER II. Sworn into the United States service—A few who wouldn't swear — Complaints in regard to food — Arrival of quartermaster's and ord­ nance stores — Celebration of Independence Day — Arrival of regi­ mental band — Inspection by Governor Andrew — Presentation of colors—Testimonials to officers—Departure for Medford—The new camp—Rank of officers—Supplied with baggage and ambulance train —Orders to embark for Washington—Mustering in recruits—Break­ ing up camp—Address of Ex-Governor George N. Briggs — March through Boston—All aboard and off for the war, .... 26 CHAPTER III. At sea—Sea-sick—In Chesapeake Bay—Matthias Point—Acquia Creek —Mount Vernon—Arrival at Washington—To Kalorama—New uni­ forms— A new camp — Inspection—Brightwood, beautiful Bright- wood—More measles—A christening in camp—Visit from General McClellan — Building forts — First brigade review by McClellan — Funeral service in camp—Reviewed by General Buell—Arrival of nurses—More recruits—Sanitary condition of the Regiment—March­ ing orders—A new camp proposed—Visit from Governor Andrew— Review by General Keyes—Report of commission appointed to in­ vestigate cause of sickness—Building barracks for winter—Small pox in camp—General vaccination—Company savings—Two months' pay , —Machine poetry, 44 S CONTENTS. PAGE. CHAPTER IV. A new doctor—News from the Burnside expedition—Detail for gun-boat service—News from Fort Donelson—New uniforms—Marching orders —The slavery agitation—The raid into Maryland—March into Vir­ ginia—At Prospect Hill—Evacuation of Manassas—March back to Camp Brightwood—More marching orders—Good-bye to Brightwood —Down the Potomac to Fortress Munroe—Hampton—Newport News —Allotment commission—March to Warwick—A reconnoissance— Bad roads and reduced rations—Picket duty—The rebels evacuate Yorktown—Williamsburg—The march resumed—To Barhamsville— To New Kent Court-house—Picket under difficulties—Baltimore Cross Roads—Crumps Cross Roads—Across the Chickahominy, . 66 CHAPTER V. P.econnoissance—Careless picket duty—The battle of Fair Oaks—Gen­ eral Briggs wounded—Other casualties—The enemy repulsed at last— The band—Colonel Briggs' report—Captain Miller's account—New York Herald account—General Keyes' opinion of the Tenth—Offi­ cial report of killed and wounded—Burying the dead, ... 97 CHAPTER VI. After the battle—Skirmishing—To the right—For the James River— The silent march—Arrival at Ilaxall's—Battle of Malvern Hill—Gal­ lant conduct of the Tenth—Death of Major Miller—Casualties—Re­ treat to Harrison's Landing—Visit of President Lincoln—A temporary commander—Digging wells—Inspection—General Devens re-assumes command of the brigade—The rebels fire on our transports—Another trip to Ilaxall's and Malvern—A new chaplain and surgeon—Good- by to Harrison's Landing—For Yorktown—Promotion of Captain Parsons, 117 CHAPTER VII. Introduces Major Dexter F. Parker—Leave the peninsula for Alexan­ dria—March towards Fairfax—Back to Alexandria—To Ball's Cross Roads — To Chain Bridge—Across the Potomac into Maryland — Crampton's Gap — Surrender of Harper's Ferry—Antietam — More new recruits—To Williamsport—Resignation of officers, and court- ni.irtial of same — March to Hancock — Back to Williamsport and Downesville—To Berlin—Across into Virginia once more—To New Baltimore—Exit McClellan—Enter Burnside—The last of the court- martial—To Stafford Court-house—To Belle Plain, .... 138 CHAPTER VIII. Across the Rappahannock—First Fredericksburg—Back to Falmouth— Departure of the discharged officers for home—Present roster—State­ ment from General Devens to Governor Andrew—Mr. Birnie's letter —The situation of the Regiment as portrayed in the Sprinqfie/d A'e- /«W/ta;<—Resignation of Chaplain Bingham, and his farewell address, 163 CONTENTS. CHAPTER IX. The new commissions—March to Briar Church—Return to camp—Dis­ charge of Captain Pierce—Review by Generals Hooker and Sedg­ wick—Reviewed by President Lincoln—The balloon corps—Marching orders—Promotion of General Devens and his farevcell address to his old brigade—Once more crossing the Rappahannock—Salem Hights — Gallant charge of the Thirty-sixth New York—Advance of the Tenth under terrible fire—List of casualties—Recrossing the river after repulse of Hooker at Chancellorsville—Back into the old camp— Letter from General Newton to Governor Andrew, .... 187 CHAPTER X. Marching orders—A detail from the Tenth across the river digging rifle- pits—They cross and relieve the skirmish line—In the rifle-pits—Re­ turn to the Falmouth side—To Stafford Court-house—To Dumfries— To Wolf Run Ford—To Fairfax Station—To Fairfax Court-house— To Centerville—To Drainesville—To Edwards Ferry—Across the Potomac into Maryland—To Chewsville — To Westminster—Good­ bye New York Thirty-sixth—To Manchester—To Gettysburg—Fol­ lowing up the rebel retreat—To Boonsboro and Williamsport—To Berlin—Over into Virginia once more—To Manassas Gap—To War- renton—Capture of Captain Ives—March for Culpeper Court-house —Stone House mountain—Rappahannock station—To Catlett's—Bris- tow—To Centerville—Captain Fred Barton captured—To Gainesville —To New Baltimore—Back to the old camp-ground at Warrenton— Fight at Rappahannock Station—March to Kelly's Ford and then to Brandy Station—A new chaplain—Crossing the Rapidan, .