Diary of Colonel William F. Bartlett: October 30, 1863

The Governor sent for me and asked if I would like to take the Fortieth Massachusetts Regiment, now at Folly Island, Charleston Harbor. He wanted some one to straighten it out. I told him if I was well enough to take the field now, I would.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 91

Colonel William F. Bartlett to Colonel Francis W. Palfrey, June 19, 1863

Baton Rouge, June 19, 1863.

. . . . You needn't let them know, if you can avoid it, that the wound in my wrist-joint is worse than I knew of at first. If I had been told just how bad the wound was that afternoon on the field, I would have made the surgeon take off the hand without a second thought. The surgeon assured me so positively that I could save the hand, that I didn't think to ask, “At how great a risk, in how long a time?” I want the surgeons to take it off now, and let me get well, instead of running the risk of inflammation, and losing it above the elbow, or worse. The surgeons say, wait. . . . .

As to the assault, Frank, it was a very nasty fight. If Mr. Banks had been, as you and I had, at Howard's Bridge and Yorktown, he would have seen what sort of things rebel fortifications were. He had never seen any of any account (nor Augur either, but he was much opposed to storming the works). I had told myself quietly, long before we had the order to storm, just what sort of a place there would be to pass over after we cleared the woods, and just about what we should catch while we were scrambling over these obstacles. I was sorry to find with how much truth I had told myself that yarn. You know, Frank, just what it was. After you got to the edge of the woods, you could see the breastworks, two or three hundred yards distant. While waiting in the edge of the woods, we were beyond reach of their musketry, but the grape was profuse. The intervening ground was, as you have seen it, covered with trees ingeniously felled and cut up, so that they afforded no shelter, but were great obstacles. It was pretty hard getting through and over it on horseback. The rest you know. It was hard to keep a line where men had to pick their way and scramble over these things. I halted them two or three times for a few seconds, just to get a formation on the colors, which were carried beautifully. . . . . We lost pretty heavily, seventy-five out of two hundred and twenty odd. Eleven officers out of eighteen killed or wounded I am glad to hear Holmes is doing well. Give my love to him. Tell him we “tie on the number of wounds; we shall both have to try it again to see who gets the rubber.” . . . .

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 88-90

Colonel William F. Bartlett to Harriett Plummer Bartlett, June 13, 1863

Baton Rouge, June 13, 1863.

Dear Mother: — I have improved very much within the last few days. My appetite has returned, and I feel much better every way. My arm is suppurating very freely under the application of warm woollen cloths, which act like a mild poultice. All the doctors who look at my arm say it is doing finely. Even those who thought it was impossible to save the hand at first, think now there isn't the least doubt. It will be a long time getting well, on account of the little pieces of bone, two of which came out this morning. I have no pain in the wrist now, except when it has to be moved. My foot is doing very well, almost all healed up. I keep simple cerate on that, some of my old supply. I had a long letter from Anna yesterday, from Baltimore. It was quite an interesting letter, — all but the writing; and that was amusing. You must write to Sallie for me a few lines. Had a letter from Little too, dated the latter part of April. Have they published the account of our storming the works? The New Orleans papers have not been allowed to mention it. Didn't want to gratify the many rebs there. General Augur told one of Banks' staff the other day, in speaking of me, that I “was the best colonel in his Division, and he had rather have lost any other!”

Talk about your one leg, I don't see but it is as good as some people's two. I have heard other things, which, as the “correspondents” say, “I am not at liberty to divulge at present.”

I don't want all those strawberries to be gone before I get there. They have the meanest strawberries and the meanest tomatoes here that you can imagine. It's a mean place anyway, the whole State, and I wouldn't live here for it.

I long to get out on to salt water; that will set me up, I expect. Well, it won't be long now, I hope. I suppose you are all worrying yourselves at a great rate, by this time. You ought to have got my first letter now.

Love to all.

Your affectionate son,

W. F. B.

The other officers, as far as I can find out, are doing very well. Ben is well, at least he was a day or two since.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 87-8

Colonel William F. Bartlett to Harriett Plummer Bartlett, June 14, 1863

Feeling better. Big dinner today. Colonel Sumner came to see me to-day. He is doing well.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 88

Mrs. Ann Ware Winsor* To Charles L. Bartlett, June 10, 1863

June 10, 1863.

My Dear Sir: — I have dates to-day to the 30th. I suppose you have the same, but give extracts: —

“May 28. Colonel Bartlett got a ball in left wrist, which I took out; the bone is broken, but I am sanguine in the opinion that his arm and hand can be saved. His pluck was splendid, and he thought far more of his regiment than of himself. He is on his way to Baton Rouge. Lieut-colonel got a ball in the shoulder, but no bones broken.”

“May 29. General Augur said every officer there was brave, but Colonel Bartlett the bravest, and one of his best colonels.”

“May 30, 7½ A. M. Colonel Bartlett was hit in left wrist by round musket ball, which went through from one side to the other, where I took it out. The hand will be saved.”

_______________

* Wife of Frederick Winsor, Surgeon of the 49th Massachusetts Infantry.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 86-7

Diary of Colonel William F. Bartlett: Wednesday, March 25, 1863

The prospect seems to be that we shall stay here quiet now for the present, unless attacked. It does not promise to be a very brilliant campaign.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 81

Diary of Colonel William F. Bartlett: Tuesday, March 24, 1863

Rode down to Baton Rouge, saw Dr. Winsor; he is much better, will be out soon. Banks' staff goes to New Orleans, to-day. A letter from Uncle Edwin last night. Lieutenant-colonel Rodman (New Bedford), Massachusetts Thirty-eighth, called this evening.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 81

Diary of Colonel William F. Bartlett: Monday, March 23, 1863

Raining. My bed being pretty comfortable I concluded to lie still until Jacques summoned, “Déjeuner tout prêt, Monsieur le Colonel,” at eight A. M. A nice one it was too. Dip toast, our regular morning dish (we get a pint of milk now twice a day, ten cents per pint), and fried pudding. Fletcher Abbott and Charley Sargent called in the afternoon. A heavy shower coming up drove them off, and nearly spoiled our dinner, which you know is cooked out doors, on three or four bricks, just back of our tent.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 81

Diary of Colonel William F. Bartlett: Saturday, March 21, 1863

Rode down town this morning to see Dr. Winsor, whom we left sick. He is much better; will be out in a few days.

I invited George Wheatland (of Salem), Major of the Forty-eighth, to dine with me this evening. We dine at six. I gave him a very good dinner. We used the new mess pail; just right for three. I had a pork steak off a young pig, French bread, which Jacques gets in Baton Rouge, and chocolate, which the latter makes very well, fried sweet potatoes, guava jelly, boiled rice, butter, and for dessert, figs, coffee, and cigars, and a thimbleful of whiskey. He said it was the first decent dinner he had had since he left Boston. The mail came this evening too, a letter from Mother and one from Anna and Nellie Putnam.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 80

Diary of Colonel William F. Bartlett: Sunday, March 22, 1863

A beautiful morning, quite cool. Banks went to New Orleans yesterday; his staff remains here still. A prisoner was brought in by my pickets this morning. He just came from Port Hudson. Says they have fifty thousand men there. They think we have about sixty thousand here. If they knew that we only had sixteen thousand fighting men here, perhaps they would drop in on us some morning.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 80-1

Diary of Colonel William F. Bartlett: Friday, March 20, 1863

Orders this morning to march to Baton Rouge. We got in about three P. M. We got our tents up and began to make ourselves at home again.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 80

Diary of Colonel William F. Bartlett: Saturday, March 21, 1863

Rode down town this morning to see Dr. Winsor, whom we left sick. He is much better; will be out in a few days.

I invited George Wheatland (of Salem), Major of the Forty-eighth, to dine with me this evening. We dine at six. I gave him a very good dinner. We used the new mess pail; just right for three. I had a pork steak off a young pig, French bread, which Jacques gets in Baton Rouge, and chocolate, which the latter makes very well, fried sweet potatoes, guava jelly, boiled rice, butter, and for dessert, figs, coffee, and cigars, and a thimbleful of whiskey. He said it was the first decent dinner he had had since he left Boston. The mail came this evening too, a letter from Mother and one from Anna and Nellie Putnam.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 80

Diary of Colonel William F. Bartlett: Sunday, March 22, 1863

A beautiful morning, quite cool. Banks went to New Orleans yesterday; his staff remains here still. A prisoner was brought in by my pickets this morning. He just came from Port Hudson. Says they have fifty thousand men there. They think we have about sixty thousand here. If they knew that we only had sixteen thousand fighting men here, perhaps they would drop in on us some morning.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 80-1

Diary of Colonel William F. Bartlett: Monday, March 23, 1863

Raining. My bed being pretty comfortable I concluded to lie still until Jacques summoned, “Déjeuner tout prêt, Monsieur le Colonel,” at eight A. M. A nice one it was too. Dip toast, our regular morning dish (we get a pint of milk now twice a day, ten cents per pint), and fried pudding. Fletcher Abbott and Charley Sargent called in the afternoon. A heavy shower coming up drove them off, and nearly spoiled our dinner, which you know is cooked out doors, on three or four bricks, just back of our tent.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 81

Diary of Colonel William F. Bartlett: Tuesday, March 24, 1863

Rode down to Baton Rouge, saw Dr. Winsor; he is much better, will be out soon. Banks' staff goes to New Orleans, to-day. A letter from Uncle Edwin last night. Lieutenant-colonel Rodman (New Bedford), Massachusetts Thirty-eighth, called this evening.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 81

Diary of Colonel William F. Bartlett: Wednesday, March 25, 1863

The prospect seems to be that we shall stay here quiet now for the present, unless attacked. It does not promise to be a very brilliant campaign.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 81

Diary of Colonel William F. Bartlett: Tuesday, March 17, 1863

Ben and I took a bath in a stream back of our camp. Banks publishes in orders that “the Hartford and Albatross passed the fort safely, and lie anchored above. The object of the expedition is accomplished.”

I expect that the first news which reaches the North will be through rebel sources, announcing the destruction of our fleet, etc.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 79

Diary of Colonel William F. Bartlett: Wednesday, March 18, 1863

Slept on my gridiron of rails till late this morning, not feeling well. Three hours of a cool northern breeze, and a good dinner at home or at Parker's, would make me all right. What must it be here in July! We are likely to find out, I guess. When we came away from Baton Rouge I left my little leather-covered pocket flask on my bed. It was dark and no one saw it, to bring it along. I would not have lost it for anything, I have had it so long. Some nigger picked it up after we had gone, probably. While we were lying in the shade this afternoon, trying to keep cool, I began to make up some verses on the subject of the present expedition. It reminded me, our marching up to Port Hudson and then turning about and marching back again without fighting, of the

"King of France with twenty thousand men

Marched up the hill and then marched down again."

Perhaps I will send them to you, if you won't show them. We tried to make them absurd. You can't understand all the “hits.”

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 79

Diary of Colonel William F. Bartlett: Thursday, March 19, 1863

Allowed to sleep all night. Anyone who knows how I hate snakes and all sorts of reptiles, will imagine my disgust at finding a lizard in my bed after the blanket was taken off this morning. If I had been the lizard I should have chosen a softer bed than mine was. One of my officers killed eight snakes yesterday. One of the rattlesnakes had eleven rattles.

Yesterday afternoon the mess pail arrived. It quite set me up. I have felt better ever since. To-day we use it for the first time.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 80

Diary of Colonel William F. Bartlett: Monday, March 16, 1863

Stopped raining this morning and the sun is out very hot. I am sitting in the shade of my tent, writing up my journal. I wonder what the first reports of this affair will be in the Northern papers. They will say nothing about the order to retreat, I imagine. Colonel Clark of Banks' Staff was wounded in the leg day before yesterday, out at the front somewhere.

Over at Augur's quarters in the afternoon. They blame Farragut for stopping to fight their batteries, instead of pushing directly by. Farragut is to wait above Port Hudson until Banks communicates with him, which was the object of the expedition I was selected to command, to cross the river and go up above Port Hudson on the other side.

SOURCE: Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett, p. 78-9