Major Charles Fessenden Morse: June 24, 1864

Near Marietta, Ga., June 24, 1864.

My letter of the 19th brought our operations up to that date, and closed just as we were about to start on a fresh move. An advance of a few hundred yards brought us to their works, — a line so strong that if decently well held, I don't think it could be carried by assault by the best infantry in the world. We pushed on by the flank about a mile, then struck the enemy. All this movement was in a pouring rain (from the 1st to the 21st, inclusive, eighteen of the days were rainy), which finally came in such torrents that we were obliged to halt for two or three hours before making our dispositions.

The enemy was found entrenched on a ridge in our front. We began, just before night, to throw up a slight line of works to protect us from sharpshooters. I had the extreme right of the division. One of our men, First Sergeant Lord, of Company K, was mortally wounded while constructing breastworks; he was a splendid fellow, and had been recommended for a commission.

At five o'clock on the 20th, our division was relieved by Wood's Division, Fourth Corps. We moved gradually along the line to the right, connecting at night with the left of the Twenty-third Corps; this gained us a position pretty well on the enemy's left flank. On the 21st our line was slightly changed; on the 22d, our corps swung forward on its left in a north-easterly direction, the Twenty-third Corps following our movement, except that its right was well refused. The object of the movement was to take possession of the Powder Spring road, an important highway leading from Marietta. By stretching out our division into a single line, and connecting some parts of it with a line of skirmishers, its right just reached this road, and connected with the left of the Twenty-third Corps.

Before the troops were all in line, word was sent in from the skirmishers that the enemy was massing for an attack on our centre and left. We were just ready and nothing to spare, when Hood's Corps came out of the woods in our front (to my left, the length of about two regiments), and advanced, with their usual yell, in four lines. The division opened upon them with musketry and artillery, and before their first line had gotten within fifty yards, they were all broken and repulsed; their loss was very heavy, as they were in entirely open ground. I think three or four hundred will cover our division's loss. I had only two men wounded. Towards the close of the attack our situation was very critical; our ammunition was nearly exhausted, and not a single support was near. If there had only been one line behind us, we could have advanced at once and taken large numbers of prisoners. As soon as support did arrive, we advanced our skirmish line, but the enemy had gone, leaving their dead and hundreds of small-arms on the ground. I enclose you a fragment of the Fifty-third Virginia's flag, which was captured by the Fifth Connecticut.

I think our division has a right to brag a little on this tight, for if a single regiment had misbehaved, our line would have been broken. We are still in the same position as on the 21st, but there is a constant movement of troops to our right, threatening, you see, all their lines of communications and retreat. They still hold Kenesaw Mountain, which is due north from here. If they can only be forced to attack us, I think we can use them up completely. On the 21st, we took prisoners from three divisions, comprising the whole of Hood's Corps, which forms at least one quarter of their entire army.

I will give the Western army credit for their superior use of artillery. Wherever infantry goes, the batteries follow right in line, and in this way guns can be used continually at very short range, producing, of course, deadly effect. At Gettysburg, every colonel in our brigade besought the chief of artillery to put some guns in position in our line, but we were told that it couldn't be done, as the gunners would be picked off by sharpshooters. Here they have to take the same chances as an infantry man.

SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 171-3

1st Lieutenant Charles Fessenden Morse, May 29, 1862

May 29, 1862.

I am going to start to give you a detailed account of what has transpired during the last week; whether I shall be interrupted or not, I cannot tell. Last Friday, after dress parade, I went out for my usual ride with Jim Savage. We met an artillery man, who cautioned us about riding outside of the camps, as they had just had a man shot by guerillas within a short distance of camp, and several others had been fired at. This shortened our ride. No sooner were we back at camp than we heard of an attack at Front Royal. The Third Wisconsin of our brigade was immediately ordered over there. At half-past two that same night, we were roused and ordered to strike tents and pack wagons at once. From that time till daylight, we sat around waiting further orders; none came till Saturday at ten A. M., when the whole division started down towards Winchester. After marching five or six miles, one of Banks' aides came galloping back from the front to order up a battery, saying that the enemy were right ahead of us attacking the wagon train. We halted for a short time, but the alarm proved to be false; only one wagoner had been shot by a guerilla, but this was sufficient for Banks to make up his mind that the wagons were safer behind than in front.

We kept on in this way till the town of Newtown was passed. Soon after, we halted, and a section of Cathran's and a section of Best's batteries were sent to the rear. In less than fifteen minutes a brisk cannonading commenced, and our regiment and the Twenty-seventh Indiana were ordered double quick towards the sound of it. We found the wagon train in a perfect heap in and on each side of the road, some wagons tipped over, and a great many deserted by their drivers. The men were allowed here to take off their knapsacks and overcoats which were left piled up in the field under a guard. The rebel cavalry ran as soon as we deployed, leaving a good many killed and wounded by our shells. The enemy were drawn up (how many we do not know) just beyond Newtown, with cavalry stretching out on each flank; they commenced the skirmish by shelling us; the second shell wounded two men of Company A. We took up a good position on each side of them, with the artillery on each flank. We fought here with our artillery for nearly two hours until our wagon train was fairly started and most of it in Winchester. Then, just as it began to get dark, the artillery and the Twenty-seventh Indiana filed away and left us alone to cover the retreat to Winchester. Companies A, B, C and D were thrown out as skirmishers; hardly were we out of town than the enemy's cavalry and artillery dashed in, with a tremendous yell of triumph. They attacked us at once. We fell back without any hurry, firing all the time, till we got to a little bridge the other side of Cairnstown, where half the regiment made a stand while the other half got their knapsacks. The rebels here closed right around us; they were so near we heard every order, and were able to make our dispositions accordingly. There was not a word spoken in our regiment, by officer or man, above a whisper, and it was so dark that nothing could be seen except by the flashes of our muskets. Finally, we heard the order given to the rebel cavalry to “Charge!” A square was instantly formed in the road, and the skirmishers rallied on each side. The rebels came thundering down the road, literally making the ground shake. Not a shot was fired until they were within fifty yards of us, when Major Dwight gave the order, “Rear rank, aim! fire! load! Front rank, aim! fire! Charge bayonets!” But the bayonets were not needed. Men and horses were rolled over together, breaking the charge and sending them back in confusion.

This was the last attack of their cavalry that night; they fell back and their infantry took their place. The firing here was very heavy, but we finally drove them back again after losing about twenty of our men killed and wounded. The men had now all got their knapsacks, and we again started back. All of the wounded that could walk were sent on ahead towards Winchester, but nine had to be carried into a house to wait for ambulances. Colonel Andrews wouldn't abandon these, so we halted again, throwing out a strong guard in every direction. It was now eleven o'clock, the men were tired out, having been up for twenty-four hours. They sank right down in the road and a great many went to sleep, I among the rest. I don't know how long it was, but we were awakened by a tremendous volley being poured into us from almost every side, and for about a minute I could hardly collect myself, but I gave the orders for my platoon, which was then in the rear, to “dress, face about and fire!” I lost two men by their volley, both badly wounded. We were obliged to abandon our dead and wounded here and Doctor Leland was taken prisoner.

At one A. M., Sunday morning, we reached the bivouac of our brigade, stacked arms, lay down tired enough, to get a short sleep. Our total loss that night was somewhere about twenty or thirty. Company I suffered the most severely, losing about twelve.

I have been as minute as possible in describing this fight because I believe that we saved the entire train from destruction and kept the whole rebel force in check. Great credit is due to Colonel Gordon, Colonel Andrews and Major Dwight; the latter especially displayed the most perfect bravery and coolness. The men never obeyed better on drill or parade than they did under the hottest fire; they behaved splendidly throughout the whole.

At daylight on Sunday, our cavalry picket was driven in and soon afterwards the infantry; still no orders arrived as to the disposition of our brigade. Finally, after the rebel infantry began to deploy, Colonel Gordon would wait no longer and ordered us into line. On the right, the Second Massachusetts succeeded by the Wisconsin Third, Pennsylvania Twenty-ninth, Indiana Twenty-seventh, then came Colonel Donnelly's brigade consisting of the Fifth Connecticut, Forty-sixth Pennsylvania, and Twenty-eighth New York. In all, seven regiments not averaging six hundred men apiece. We had three first-rate batteries, and one or two regiments of cavalry that might just as well have been at home for all we saw of them. We had no sooner taken arms and faced to the right, than the infantry commenced firing. Not many of our men were hit, and we moved steadily on till we reached our appointed place. Meanwhile, the batteries on each side were keeping up an incessant roar. We attacked the two regiments opposite our position and drove them away. Two companies, G and D, were then deployed as skirmishers to attack the battery in front of us; their fire was so well directed that the guns were abandoned by the gunners, but the rebel infantry pressed them (Companies D and G) so closely that they were withdrawn by Colonel Andrews' order just as the Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania and the Twenty-seventh Indiana came up to their support. These latter fired a few volleys; then, as two rebel regiments came out of the woods, prepared to charge them, but before they had fairly started, seven more regiments emerged from the woods stretching almost down to Winchester. The firing was then tremendous, and, I am sorry to say, the Twenty-seventh Indiana broke and ran, every man for himself. The Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania filed off in good order at the double quick. Colonel Andrews gave the order: “Attention! battalion! About face! By company right wheel!” We marched away from the enemy in ordinary time, company front, in the most perfect order. The rebels instantly took our former position and commenced a pelting fire; they were within short range, yet almost all their shots went over our heads, otherwise our regiment would have been destroyed. It was cruel to see our poor fellows shot through the back and pitch forward on to their faces, as we marched down the hill. As soon as we reached the town, we took the first street on our right hand, and there formed line. Then it seemed to be first discovered how completely we were outflanked and the strong probability that, in a few minutes, their artillery would be posted in our rear, cutting off all avenues of retreat.

We were then again faced to the left and started on the double quick through the town. Meanwhile, the enemy had gained the Martinsburgh pike parallel to the street we were on, and were pouring a heavy fire on us through the side streets, and numbers of men fell dead here that can only be accounted for as missing.

After getting out of town, they again began with their artillery, throwing grape and canister. Here the retreat was better organized: the whole division formed into five parallel columns, two or three hundred yards apart, all going on the double quick. We continued this for a considerable distance when, having passed all their flanking batteries, the lines were closed in more to the centre, the artillery and cavalry formed in the rear, and we went on in ordinary time. This was the last I saw of any fighting, although there was a constant firing in the rear of us. We marched twenty-three miles to Martinsburgh without a halt. There we rested for about ten minutes, then marched on to the Potomac, thirteen miles further. We brought up here between seven and eight o'clock P. M., after twelve hours' incessant marching. From twelve o'clock Saturday noon till seven o'clock Sunday night, we had marched sixty miles,* been in two severe fights, had only three hours' rest, and had scarcely a particle of food.

Our loss in the regiment, as well as it can be ascertained to-day (Friday), is nineteen killed, forty-seven wounded, eighty-three missing. None are considered killed unless they were seen dead by some one. We were the last regiment that left the field from the right flank, and the very last in Winchester. I forgot to say that the United States storehouses were in flames as we passed by them, and the heat was perfectly terrible. The loss in our company was eleven.

Monday morning at three o'clock, I was roused by the Adjutant and ordered to report with Company B, together with Companies A, K, and E, and two companies of the Third Wisconsin, to Lieutenant Colonel Pinckney of the Third Wisconsin, to act as rear guard and support to a section of Cathran's battery and some cavalry, while the wagon train and troops crossed the river. We were in this responsible place till Wednesday night, when we were relieved. It was a most anxious time, as the enemy, in what force we did not know, were within a mile of us and we were receiving constant alarms from our cavalry. The first night, we kept our men under arms all the time, tired as they were. However, we got safely across Wednesday night, and I had the pleasure of taking my shoes and clothes off and getting a little quiet sleep for the first time since last Friday night.

Our greatest loss is the poor Major, but he may turn up yet. The men think everything of him and speak constantly of the “bully little Major.” Captain Mudge is at Frederick, shot through the leg. Lieutenant Crowninshield is at Williamsport, shot in the leg.

_______________

* The actual distance from Strasburg to the Potomac is 54 miles, but including countermarching and movements on the field, the total distance marched was not much less than 60 miles.

SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 57-64

1st Lieutenant Charles Fessenden Morse, March 15, 1862

Camp Near Winchester, March 15, 1862.

I never thought to head a letter as this is headed until after a hard fight, but so it is. I will give you a short journal of things as they happened to us since I wrote mother last Sunday.

Monday morning about two thirty, we were again awakened by C. Wheaton, Jr., with the orders, “Wake your cooks; cook three days' rations; reveille at five; breakfast immediately after; march at seven.”

Reveille and breakfast took place per order, but marching orders did not arrive until past eleven, when they came post haste, ordering us to leave tents and baggage and march at once, as General Gorman, who had gone on with his brigade, was threatened with an attack. Start we did and marched eleven miles to Berryville, but saw no enemy. Our brigade was marched into a wood to bivouac; we stacked arms in line of battle and then allowed the men to get straw from a neighboring stack to make themselves comfortable with. With the help of rails borrowed from fences, various styles of shelter were rigged up. We made one to accommodate four of us, that was quite comfortable, although the night was cold and windy, with occasional rain squalls. Hogan and Tom (Captain Williams' servant), built us a fire, and then went foraging for a supper; they succeeded in getting two or three slices of raw bacon, some hard boiled eggs and a canteen of milk. With these, we made a good supper, toasting the bacon to a delicate brown and making some good tea in my faithful tea pot. I have got to be a pretty good campaigner, now, and never start on any kind of a march without my rubber blanket, my thick woollen one and a haversack containing a little bag of tea, coffee and sugar, some hard bread, a piece of salt pork and my aforementioned tea and coffee pot. With these articles, I can make myself and several others happy, no matter where we bring up.

Rolled up in our blankets, with a fire at our feet, we enjoyed a good night's sleep. The next morning was very pleasant, although cool; breakfast was a repetition of supper; in fact, almost every meal up to date has been, varying bacon with pork and tea with coffee. We passed the day lazity; four or five regiments and as many batteries came up in the morning and camped near us. Wednesday was a beautiful, warm day with us; our company was detailed for “Grand Guard.”

About five o'clock that afternoon, we received orders to draw in our vedettes and report with the company at the camp as soon as possible, as the brigade had received marching orders. We joined the regiment on the Winchester road. It was a fine, clear moonlight night and we had a very good road. We marched until nearly half past twelve, to within a mile of Winchester, and bivouacked in a very thick pine wood. The trees were so thick that we officers all lost each other, each one, on finding a comfortable place, settling himself for the rest of the night. I was lucky enough to stumble across Hogan and got my blanket; after a good cup of coffee, I rolled up under a pine tree and slept soundly until morning. Looking around me at daylight, I saw Captain Williams not twenty yards from me, alongside of Charley Horton, Captain Savage and several other officers. George Bangs and Captain Goodwin presented a lamentable appearance, not having brought any blankets. Our wagons came up in good season for the men to get their breakfasts, and at ten, or thereabouts, we pitched our camp in a neighboring field. Yesterday, Bob Shaw and I walked into Winchester to see the sights. It is a rather decayed-looking town, larger than Frederick; some fine houses, not many. We saw Mason's house, now used by the field officers of the Fifth Connecticut; the shops and stores are almost empty, but will probably revive rapidly. We took dinner at Taylor's Hotel, a pretty large house; a great many officers there. While we were in town, a skirmish took place on the Strasburg road four or five miles from town, resulting in our capturing between twenty and thirty prisoners; we saw them marched into town, some in uniform, some not.

SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 41-3

Diary of Private Charles H. Lynch: July 20, 1863

We left Upperville, near Snicker's Gap. very early in the morning, having served in the 3d Corps, Army of the Potomac about five weeks. On the march back we met the 12th Corps, meeting the 5th and 20th Connecticut Regiments of that corps. Met Charlie Corey, a boyhood friend from my old home in Hanover, New London County. It was a short meeting but we talked fast. Charlie had been in service a little over two years in the 5th Regiment, while I had been in eleven months. His mother often read his letters to me before I came to be a soldier. A pleasant meeting for a few moments. On our backward march we kept pushing along, stopping to rest at one point. Blackberries grew wild, we picked our coffee cups full and ate them while we marched along. Nothing of special interest took place, but by the time we reached Harper's Ferry, twenty miles march, we were tired and foot-sore. After a short rest and rations we were obliged to push on toward Sharpsburg, twenty miles further on. Darkness coming on we did not have the hot sun beating down upon us. The marching was over rough, stony roads, up hill and down. Reaching Sharpsburg along in the night, we learned the boys were in camp about two miles out of town, so we pushed on, reaching the camp at midnight, a march of about forty miles. The boys were sleeping, except the guard and the pickets. They did not know that we had arrived. We were glad to drop down on the ground and get sleep and rest after the severe march from Upperville, Virginia, to the town of Sharpsburg, Maryland. The command now numbered about two hundred. Consolidated into two companies. Our meeting was a very happy one. We talked over the events that had taken place during the past few weeks that we had been separated, and wondered how our boys in prison were getting along.

SOURCE: Charles H. Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn. Vol's, p. 26-7

Further Particulars of the Battle near Winchester

WINCHESTER, March 26.

Our pickets are six miles beyond Strasburg.  Jackson is not in sight.

All the fences, trees and ground along the road show the terrible effect of our artillery on the retreating army.

Gen. Shields’ arm has been reset.  He is comfortable, and will probably be able to resume active duties in two weeks.

The following, as near as can be ascertained, is the number of wounded at the battle of Sunday:

In the 7^th Ohio, 45, 29^th O., 3; 5^th, 16; 69^th, 24; 8^th 19.  In 7^th Ind., 11; 13^th, 13; 14^th, 12.  In 84^th Pa., 40; 10^th, 36; 1^st Va., 8; 28^th N. Y., 1; 1^st O. battery, 2; 9^th Pa., 1; 5^th Ct., 2.

The list of the killed is not yet received, but the number is believed to be 105.

All is quiet at Strasburg to-night.

The following is Gen. Banks’ general order relative to the battle of Sunday:

HEADQUARTERS 5^TH ARMY CORPS,

Strasburg, March 26^th, 1862.

The Commanding General of the 5^th army corps congratulates the officers and soldiers of Gen. Shields’ division, and especially its gallant commander, on the auspicious and decisive victory gained over the rebels on the 25^th.  The division has achieved renown against superior forces and a subtle and barbarous enemy.

Signed,

N. P. BANKS

HEADQUARTERS, BRIG. GEN. SHIELDS’ DIV.,

WINCHESTER, Va.,

Brig. Gen. Shields congratulates the officers and soldiers of his division, upon the glorious victory achieved by them on the 23^rd inst., near Winchester, Va.  They defeated an enemy whose forces outnumbered theirs, who are considered the bravest and best disciplined of the Confederate army.  He also congratulates them that it has fallen to their lot to pen the campaign on the Potomac.  The opening has been a splendid success; let them inscribe “Winchester” on their banners, and persevere for other victories.

(Signed)

Brig. Gen. SHIELDS.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, March 28, 1862, p. 1