Washington, D. C, December 5, 1862.
To his Excellency,
John A. Andrew,
Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
Governor:
In compliance with your circular of the 5th ultimo, I have
the honour to submit a brief report of the operations and actions of such
Massachusetts regiments as have been under my command. On the 25th of February,
1862, I assumed command of the division previously commanded by
Brigadier-General Stone, at that time doing important guard duty on the upper
Potomac. The 15th, 19th, and 20th Massachusetts regiments formed a part of the
division, and had for the four previous months performed active and arduous
duty in guarding the river. The 15th and 20th were engaged in the battle of
Ball's Bluff, and are reported to have behaved with great gallantry. On the
27th of February the division was ordered to Harper's Ferry to operate with
General Banks in driving the enemy out of the Shenandoah Valley. This having
been successfully accomplished without a general engagement, the division was
ordered to Washington to form part of the Army of the Potomac, there embarking
for the Peninsula.
We landed at Hampton, Virginia, March 30, 1862, and on the
5th of April found the enemy strongly entrenched around Yorktown. The siege
lasted thirty days, and although no brilliant action was fought, skirmishing
and picket warfare were carried on the whole time.
After the evacuation of Yorktown, the division formed a part
of the expedition, under General Franklin, ordered up the York River to seize
the railroads at West Point. The enemy having attempted to interrupt the
landing, the 19th and 20th were engaged in the brilliant skirmish in which the
enemy was repulsed. On the 31st of May the 15th and the 20th were engaged in
the great battle of Fair Oaks. The 15th, as a part of Gorman's brigade, made a
brilliant bayonet charge, which routed and drove the enemy from that portion of
the field, and there we bivouacked. The next morning the enemy renewed the
attack, but principally on Richardson's division, and these regiments were but
partially engaged. During this time the 19th was performing important duty in
guarding the bridge across the Chickahominy.
From this time until the movement on James River no action
was fought, but the troops were constantly engaged in reconnoissances, skirmishes,
picket duty, and labour of the most arduous kind. On the 30th of June we
commenced the march upon James River. This was a scene of battles and combats
the whole distance. In the morning the 20th, temporarily attached to Burns's
brigade, was warmly engaged at Allen's Farm with a superior force, and behaved
most handsomely. In the evening the battle at Savage's Station was fought, in
which the 15th, 19th, and 20th were engaged, repulsing the enemy at every
point. After a long night's march across White Oak Swamp, the next day found
the same regiments at Glendale (Nelson's Farm), engaged with the enemy at close
quarters for three hours, routing and driving them from the field. Another
day's march, and daylight found them ready for action at Malvern Hill. After this
day's hard fight another night's march brought them to Harrison's Landing.
During all this — marching by night, fighting by day,
without rest, and short of rations — no troops ever behaved better. On the 3rd
of August these regiments formed part of the force under General Hooker which
retook and held Malvern Hill. On the 16th of August the evacuation of the
Peninsula was commenced. The division marched via Yorktown to Newport News,
embarked for Alexandria, landed the 29th, marched to Chain Bridge, returned to
Alexandria, and then marched to the relief of General Pope's army.
After its retreat on Washington, the division formed a part
of the army under General McClellan ordered in pursuit of Lee, then invading
Maryland. On the 15th of September the enemy was found strongly posted in the
passes of South Mountain, from which he was driven with great loss. On the
17th, near Sharpsburg, was fought the battle of Antietam, where these regiments
(now greatly reduced in numbers) were in the hottest of the fight, as their
list of killed and wounded testifies. As I was wounded early in the action, I
had no opportunity of seeing them, and have not seen the reports of the
Brigadiers, but have no reason to believe their conduct different from that on
all other occasions. Since that the division marched to Harper's Ferry,
Warrenton, and are now in front of Fredericksburg.
I have already forwarded through the military channels a
list of officers and soldiers who were distinguished for gallantry and good
conduct, recommending them for promotion; and I would again commend to your
Excellency Colonel Lee of the 20th, Colonel Hinks, 19th, Lieutenant-Colonel
Kimball, 15th, and Lieutenant-Colonel Palfrey of the 20th. Great credit is due
these officers for the splendid condition in which their regiments were
prepared for the field. The 15th and 19th are in my opinion fully equal to any
in the service; the 20th was badly cut up at Ball's Bluff, many officers
wounded and taken prisoners, and the regiment was thereby deprived of their
services.
I have on two occasions strongly recommended the appointment
of Colonel Hinks as Brigadier. He disciplined and brought into the field one of
the finest regiments, and has been twice wounded while gallantly leading it in
battle. I again urge the appointment and respectfully ask your Excellency's
favourable endorsement.
I trust your Excellency will not think me presumptuous in
offering you a suggestion in regard to promotions and appointments. The system,
which seems to have been adopted and carried out to a limited extent, of
promoting officers who by their gallantry and good conduct have merited it, is
an excellent one, and I would not confine their promotion to their own
regiments. I think it adds to an officer's usefulness to place him in a
regiment in which he has no acquaintances, and this holds good to a greater
extent in promotions from the ranks.
I would also call your attention to the importance of
filling up the old regiments. Recruits sent to these learn their duties and
become acquainted with the details of camp life much sooner, while they impart
new life and vigour to the old regiments.
I have the honour to be, very respectfully,
Your Excellency's
obedient servant,
John Sedgwick,
Major-General
Volunteers
SOURCES: George William Curtis, Correspondence of
John Sedgwick, Major-General, Volume 2, p. 82-7
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