Battle Fields

.'in i?j? ? •'bin nn ?w Plíti •?/.;,;,?,:,? £i?ifi?í«H' BATTLE FIELDS I ! V G A Mť F 1RES T HI R T Y - E I G H T H. AN AUTHENTIC NARRATIVE AND RECORD OP THE ORGANIZATION OS' THE THIRTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT OP WIS. VOL. INF'Y, AND THE PART TAKEN BY IT IN THE LATE WAR, A SHORT 11IOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OP EACH COMMISSIONED OFFICER, AND THE NAME, AGE AT TIME OF ENLISTMENT, NATIVITY, RESIDENCE AND OCCUPATION OP EVERY ENLISTED MAN, WITH NOTES OP INCI DENTS RELATING TO THEM. BY LIEUT. S. W. PIERCE.. I— Z / « I MILWAUKEE : DAILY WISCONSIN PRINTING HOUSE- 18G6. ™\ ^**K PREFACE The task of writing the following pages was un dertaken at the request of several gentlemen, hold ing various positions in the Thirty-Eighth Regiment, who desired that an authentic narrative of the part it had performed in the War of the Great Rebellion, toward vindicating the authority of the Government, might he given to the Avorld. The task was not undertaken without many misgivings. It involved much patient and close attention, and even after weeks spent in collecting the material, where cannon '' Shrieked their horror, boom for boom." all his labors and pains-taking in the collection of data might he swept away by a single mischance of war. Added to this wTas the fact that he felt a great diffidence in undertaking the work, knowing how inadequate he was to the task of doing justice to as brave and noble a band of men as ever battled for the Right. However, he finally determined to make the effort, and :he result is this little volume. The author does not claim that it is entirely per- IV PEEFACE. feet. Much of the data was collected while the Regiment lay under fire in front of Petersburg. Again, when he visited Madison, as late as the mid dle of last September, for the purpose of correcting and verifying the "Regimental Record," he Avas unable to find any Muster-Out Roll of Company A on file in the Adjutant General's office, and therefore the record of that company is not as full as that of the others. In this connection, the author Avould express the great obligation he is under to his brother officers, for many courtesies extended to him—especially to Gen. Bintliff, Col. Pier, who furnished the material for that portion of the work Avhich relates to the First Battalion, and to Lieut. W. E. Maxson, many of Avhose letters are embodied in the Avork. The map to accompany the Avork will be sent as soon as it can be prepared and Avorked off. If this little Avork shall serve to keep fresh, in the memories of his comrades, the scenes through Avhich the Thirty-Eighth passed, and enable them to occa sionally spend a pleasant hour, in the quiet and peace of home, in "fighting their battles o'er," it will fulfill the greatest desire of THE AUTHOR. JANUARY 15TH, I860. C O N T E N T S CHAPTER I. Effects of the campaigns of McDowell, McClellan, Burnside, and Hooker—Of the victories of Antietam and Gettysburg— The campaign in the West—Capture of Vicksburg, New Orleans, and Port Hudson—Conduct of the Hebels—Call of the President for troops, April 3, 1864—How the North-west Avas affected by it—Course of Northern opponents of the war—Conduct of the Executive of Wisconsin—Organization of four companies of the Thirty-Eighth—Presentation of a sword to Col. Bintliff— Start for the front. CHAPTER II. Journey to Chicago—Soldier's Rest—Fine appearance of the men—Journey to Pittsburg—Report at Baltimore—Ordered to Washington and Arlington Heights—March to Alexandria —Voyage from Alexandria to White House Landing. CHAPTER III. Arrival at White House Landing—Assignment to Provisional Brigade—Wins the post of honor—Escorts trains to Cold Harbor—lleports to Gen. Meade, and is assigned to 1st Bri gade, 1st Division, Ninth Army Corps—Builds its first breast- Avorks—Transferred to 3d Division—Its first loss—March toward City Point—News from Petersburg. CHAPTER IV. Arrival in front of Petersburg—Battle of 16th of June—Battle of the 17th—Battle of the 18th—Losses of the Battalion- Hardships and exposures—Battalion decimated by sickness— Is moved out of the trenches—Arrival of Company E. VÍ CONTEXTS. CHAPTER V. Explosion of Burnside's mine and battle of July 30th—Gallant condnct of the men—Death of Capt. Ferris—Losses of the Battalion—Gloom and despondency in camp. CHAPTER VI. Battles of the Weldon Railroad, Aug. 19-21—Charge of the Thirty-Eighth—Is fired on by our own artillery through mis take—Gallant charge and terrible slaughter of the enemy— Losses of the Battalion—Moves back to Yellow House. CHAPTER VII. Battle of Beam's Station—Moves to the right—Fatigue duties— Brightening prospects—A new movement—Battle of Poplar Spring Church—Arrival of the Second Battalion. CHAPTER VIII. Reasons for the delay in organizing the Second Battalion— Company E goes to the front—Call of the President, July 18th, for 500,000 men—Organization of the Tùirty-Eighth completed—Journey to the front—March in the dark and rain—Join the First Battalion—First Sabbath in Virginia— Hard duties and exposure—Two-thirds of the Regiment sick. CHAPTER IX. Movement of the 27th of October—Battle of Hatcher's Run— The work of our shell—Heavy rain—Return to camp. CHAPTER X. Relieved from overtaxing duties—Beneficial effects—Spirit and efficiency of the men—The election—Moves into the trenches immediately in front of Petersburg—Muddy weather—Mur derous picket-firing—Grand news from Sherman—Fall of Savannah—Flag of truce. CONTENTS. VU CHAPTER XI. Heavy storm of 9th of January—Pickets cease firing—A wo man from "Dixie"—Glorious news from Georgia and the Carolinas—Deserters—Hard times in Rebeldom—Friendly spirit between the men in the opposing lines—Shelling. CHAPTER XII. A "Flag of Truce"—The "Peace Commission "—Great num ber of deserters from the enemy—New troops in front— Splendid artillery practice—Letters from rebel deserters. CHAPTER XIII. More good news from Sherman—Continued desertions from the enemy—A "shotted salute"—Rumors from Dixie—Rebels capture Fort Steadman—Are driven out with great loss— Splendid conduct of our troops—Regimental matters. CHAPTER XIV. Investigations in Q. M. Department—The Grand Movement begun—Firing heard in camp—The storming of Fort Mahone —Splendid conduct of the men—Gallantry of Cols. Bintliff and Pier and Major Roberts—Hoisting the colors on the enemy's works—The conflagration. CHAPTER XV. Entrance into Petersburg—Amusing scenes—March pack to camp—Contrabands—Up the South-side Railroad—Surrender of Lee's Army—News of the assassination of President Lincoln—Ordered to Washington—The journey. CHAPTER XVI. Camp at Tennally Town—Visit from Gov. Lewis—His Address —The Grand Review—The first detachment mustered out- Homeward Bound—Incidents of the journey—Keceptions at Pittsburg, Cleveland, Owasso, Milwaukee, and Madison- Paid off and discharged. VIH CONTENTS. CHAPTER XVII. The last detachment—Ordered to consolidate with the 37lh Wis.—Resignation of Gen Bintliff—Promotions—Detach ment mustered out—Journey home—Reception at Madison —Speech of Col. Pier—Paid off and discharged—Conclusion. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. Gen. James Bintliff—Col. C K. Pier—Major C. P. Larkin— Major R. N. Roberts—Capt. Anson Rood, R. Q. M.— II. S. Butterfield, R. S.—Hugh Russell, 1st A. It. S— C. B. Pier- son, 2d A. R. S.—C. Tochterman, 2d A. R. S.—A. H. M c Cracken, Adjutant—J. M. Walker, Chaplain—Capt. Charles T. Carpenter—Capt. C. L. Ballard—Lieut. J. M. Searles— Lieut. G. W. Pier—Capt. F. A. Hay ward—Lieut. Geo. II Nichols—Lieut. S. C. Strickland—Capt. S. D. Woodworth— Capt. L. B. Waddington—Lieut. VV. N. Wright—Lieut. J. D. Million—Capt- James Woodford—Capt. AV. H. Foster— Capt. B.S. Kerr—Lieut. J. P. Nichols—Lieut, C. W. Hyatt —Capt. N. S. Ferris—Capt. F. G. Holton—Lieut. F. M Phelps—Lieut. E. A. Bentley—Capt. A. A. Kelly—Capt. E. W. Pride—Lieut. J. \V. Parker-Capt. It. F. Beckwith— Lieut. W. E. Maxson—Lieut. C S. Wood—Capt. T. B. Mars- den—Lieut- S. W. Pierce—Lieut. Ered. T. Zettelcr. REGIMENTAL RECORD. [ State Historical Societ A OF WISCONSIN MADISON - WIS BATTLE FIELDS AND C X M P FIRES OF THE 3SÜ1 WISCONSIN VOLUNTEERS. CHAPTER I. The War, Avith A'a-ried fortunes of successes and reverses to the National arms, had dragged itshloody length through three years. McDowell, McClellan, Lurnside and Hooker had successively advanced to assault the Rebel capital, and each in his turn Avas driven hack Avith disaster. Antietam only saved the North from invasion ; and the victory of Gettyshurg only compelled the insurgents to retire Avithin their own lines. NoAvhere iu all the Eastern States, in rehellion, had Ave made progress at all commensu rate Avith the expectations of the loyal people of the North. In the West, our arms had met with gratifying success. SAveeping from the North along the Missis sippi, the invincible army of Grant had surmounted all obstacles and captured Vicksburg. NCAV Orleans 10 BATTLE FIELDS had fallen an easy conquest into our hands. Banks had succeeded in clearing all the lower Mississippi, and five days after the capitulation of Vicksburg, received the surrender of Port Hudson, the last Pebel stronghold on the great "Father of Waters." Kentucky and Missouri were firmly established in the Union, and the greater part of Tennessee Avas recovered and remained in possession of the Nation al arms, AA'hile, at the same time, Ave had secured and retained important positions in Georgia and other portions of the rebellious States.

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