Further and fuller accounts of the great battle of Saturday and Sunday, in front of Richmond, show that our victory was most dearly won, and that the battle was prevented from becoming a terrible defeat only by the most persistent and plucky fighting ever witnessed. And we are proud to say that no regiment did braver work, or stood up more unflinchingly in the most difficult and dangerous position than the Massachusetts Tenth.
From its place near the rifle pits the Massachusetts Tenth was ordered into a piece of ground nearly surrounded with abatis and with the thick woods on its left, and the two regiments which had supported its left - the 93d and 102d Pennsylvania - were ordered to the right. Thus the Tenth was left in a bad place and entirely without support.
Colonel Briggs was informed of the approach of a body of rebels; but as he knew the position that Peck's regiments had held he deemed the report incredible, and went into the woods to see. He had not far to go. There they were, not only in the woods, but through it, and ere an order could be given they delivered their fire full in the rear of the 10th.
Utter confusion was the result. The regiment broke but it proved to possess that power which has been denied to volunteers, and claimed as the special attribute of old and so-called "regular" soldiers, namely, the power of regeneration. It was rallied, and became once more a complete regiment, with only those out whose bodies lay upon the field. Nay, they did it repeatedly. Four different times they were broken on that day, and four different times the gallant 10th was rallied and went back into the fight. Let some regular regiment beat that.
After the brilliant fight of the 23d Pennsylvania, the enemy brought up a large reinforcement of fresh troops, and advanced again in the same good order that had been observed in his line throughout the battle.
The 10th Massachusetts were hotly engaged. Three batteries also played on the advancing line, and still it came on. It seemed as if nothing could stop it. The scene at this time was awfully magnificent. The faint smoke of the musketry arose lightly all along the line just so that the heads of the men could be seen through it; sudden gusts of intense white smoke burst up from the mouth of the canon all around; bullets shredded the air, and whistled swiftly by, or struck into trees, fences, boxes, or with their particular "chuck" into men; and far up into the air shells burst into sudden flame like shattered stars, and passed away in little clouds of white vapor, while others filled the air with a shrill scream, and hurried on to burst far in the rear. Every second of time had its especial tone, and every inch of space was packed with death.
The fact that Gen. Casey's division was routed and driven back in panic by the first attack of the rebels is fully sustained and Gen. McClellan's rebuke is proved to be fully merited, nor is its force at all diminished by the attempt to blame him for placing them in the front, since they happened to be in front only because the rebels chose to attack our lines at that point.
Lieut. Howell, of Spratt's 1st New York battery, who was wounded in the battle of Fair Oaks, states in extenuation of the disorderly retreat of a part of Casey's division, that the division was completely surprised. The exterior line of pickets was at no point more than one thousand yards in advance, and could not have been pushed further without going into the open field in full sight of the enemy. The enemy drove in the pickets without firing a gun, and within ten minutes after the first alarm were upon our main body. For three hours General Casey's division, unsupported, kept the rebels at bay. A small proportion of the men running, although they were encompassed on three sides by masses of the enemy, and constantly under a terrible fire. Of the bravery and good conduct of the officers, naming especially Col..Bailey, Major Van Valkenburg, and Gens. Casey, Negley, and Palmer, Lieut. Howell speaks in the highest terms. The rebels, he says, fought well. They charged upon Bate's battery with trailed arms and steady march, not firing a gun, closing their ranks as fast as they were furrowed by his deadly shot, and advanced until they took the guns, which they turned almost instantly upon our infantry. Quite as large a proportion at least of our men skulked away from the field. Lieut.. Howell with his two eyes saw the rebels knock out the brains of wounded soldiers with the butts of their muskets; saw them bayonet others; shoot prisoners who asked for quarter, and run their bayonets into poncho tents where they must have pierced the sick and wounded.
The brigades of Gen. Daniel E. Sickles and Thomas Francis Meagher did some of the best fighting, and vied with each other in gallant deeds. Gen. McClellan stated that the bayonet charges of these two brigades were the most stubborn, sanguinary, and signal of modern times. Again and again they advanced with the cold steel, and were as vigorously met by the enemy. In one place on the field of carnage, three men were found on each side, that had fallen by mutual thrusts.
Yesterday was a hard day for eight companies of the 10th regiment. The other two companies (A and E,) were on picket guard when the fight began, at one and a half p.m. The rebels opened fire on our troops and business was lively until dusk; our troops were driven back about two miles. This morning the show opened again, and we regained nearly all we lost yesterday. This morning's engagement was short but sharp. Infantry was all that worked this morning.
General Devins' brigade was the first that was called into action, and the Bloody Tenth (as it is called) was the first to open fire on the enemy, and held on till orders came to fall back which they did very slowly. Col. Briggs was wounded by a musket ball in both legs, between the knees and the hips, in the fourth charge that was made. This morning he was feeling lively.
The prospect is that we shall have a fight tomorrow to hold our present position, but they will have a good time driving us back, for we have a line of rifle pits across our front filled with men, and three lines of reserves in the rear of them to fill up as fast as they are cut off. .
The loss of the Tenth regiments, Corporal N.A. Powers, Company A, Missing. .
Company B, 1 Captain and 2 privates killed; 1 Corporal and 8 privates wounded; 1 missing.
Company C, 1 Sergeant and 2 privates killed; 1 captain, 2 sergeants, 2 corporals and 17 privates wounded and 4 missing.
Company D, 2 privates killed; 1 sergeant, 1 corporal and 4 privates wounded.
Company F, 2 privates killed; 2 corporals and 8 privates wounded. .
Company G, 1 captain and 2 privates killed; 1 sergeant, 3 corporals and 14 privates wounded. .
Company H, 2 sergeants and 7 privates killed, 1 lieutenant, 2 sergeants, 1 corporal and 15 privates wounded; 1 sergeant and 2 privates missing. .
Total, 28 killed, 99 wounded, and 12 missing.
Meanwhile another misfortune happened on our left. From its place near the rifle pits, the Massachusetts Tenth was ordered into a piece of ground nearly surrounded with abatis, and with the thick wood on its left; and the two regiments which had supported its left, - the Ninety-third and One Hundred and Second Pennsylvania, were ordered to the right. Thus the Tenth was left in a bad place, and entirely without support. As the emend advanced, firing, and torn by fire of Flood's, McCarthy's and Miller's batteries - for Miller from his side of the field, when he could not get a clear shot at the enemy in his front, threw his missiles clear across the field, and with awful effect, too; as the enemy advanced under this fire, the Tenth became engaged in front, a body of the enemy made their way through the woods on its flank. Lieutenant Eccleston was the first to discover this body, and rode desperately over the field, to find General Couch, that he might get an order for the Tenth to move, and so save it. But the gallant fellow's exertions were in vain. General Couch was in the thick of the struggle, on the right, too far away to be reached in time. Colonel Briggs was informed of the approach of this body, but as he knew the position that Peck's Regiments had held, he deemed the report incredible, and went into the woods to see. He had not far to go. There they were, not only in the woods, but through it, and ere an order could be given, they delivered their fire full in the rear of the Tenth. The Regiment broke, but it proved to possess that power, which had been denied to volunteers, and claimed as the special attribute of old and so called "regular" soldiers, namely, the power of regeneration. It was rallied, and became once more a complete Regiment, with only those out whose bodies lay on the field. Nay, they did it repeatedly. Four different times they were broken in that day, and four different times the gallant Tenth was rallied and went back into the fight. Let some regular regiment beat that. Thus reformed, the Tenth went back into the rifle pits, on the left of the road. But the left now rested upon others. Kearney was in, and at it. Berry's Brigade and a portion of Jameson's now held the left, and the Tenth was soon called across, to take part in the bitter struggle at that point, which was then our right, but which, by the extension of our line, due to the arrival of fresh troops on both sides, became the center. End of Herald article.
NOTES: General Keyes, in a subsequent private conversation with a gentleman from Western Massachusetts, in regard to the fighting at Seven Pines, and the character of the Tenth, said, "Tell them, when you go back, that I have led a hundred regiments into battle, and never did I see such bravery. I looked back at them as they advanced, while the shot fell like hail, and there never was such a dauntless corps. When the fight was over, I spoke to them of their courage, and they said they had only done their duty, but I have never heard them mentioned in the journals. Their conduct was, and is, unparalleled in the whole war."
Corporal Powers from Company A, mentioned in the letter to the Courier, was wounded and taken prisoner.
List of Killed, wounded, prisoner, p. 102-104, Roe. Gens. Couch and Devins comments p. 104-105, Roe.
Mr. Editor; - As I have but little time to write, I can only give you a short account of the battle here.
The 6th Corps occupied Fredricksburg on Sunday morning (3d inst.,) at 3 o'clock, and immediately prepared to storm the enemy's works. While the infantry were getting ready the artillery engaged and succeeded in silencing the enemy's battery. Everything ready, the order came to "charge," and immediately the column commenced to advance. The enemy poured a sharp fire from their rifle pits on the advancing column, and our men fell thick and fast, but on we pressed; and on reaching the foot of the hill, sent up a defiant shout and rushed upon them, capturing a large number of prisoners and two pieces of artillery.
The place where the 36th N.Y., and 7th Mass., charged, was where the Excelsior brigade was repulsed last fall, under Burnside.
Major Faxon of the 36th N.Y. was killed by a shell before reaching the works.
The enemy fell back about three miles and took a position in a dense wood, and prepared to give us battle. At 5 p.m. the light brigade forming the front line, charged into the woods, and were repulsed with heavy loss, the 93d Pa., losing their colors. The second line advanced and were met by a division of the enemy, and also forced to fall back. The third line (our brigade) commanded by Col. Brown of the 36th N.Y., then advanced and poured a galling fire on the advancing foe, which checked them, and on our column pressed and drove them into the woods, and ending the fight for this day. Col. Brown was severely wounded in the leg; also Adj. Gen. Jones. Col. Eustis then took command of the brigade, and Adjutant Brewster acting Adjutant General.
List of killed, wounded and missing in the 10th regiment.
Co. A. - Wounded: Sergt. A.F. Couch, head; Corp. Patrick O'Brien, leg; Privates James Cormick, foot; Geo. A. Barber, ankle; Henry Barker, arm and shoulder; Thomas Pugh, leg; James Cahill, leg and hip;, Luman Dennis, leg. Missing, Michael Finn, Thomas Welch.
Co. B. - Wounded; John Wallace, arm broken; Francis Walker, hand; John Reily, hip. Missing: Alfred Hall, John W. Stafford, Charles Vanvaltenberg, Peter Perry.
Co. C. - Killed: Corp. Constant Beaumont. Wounded: Joseph Thaylor, arm: Nelson Ball, leg; Charles Daniels, foot.
Co. D. - Killed: John Donovan. Wounded: 1st Sergt. Michael S. Hogan, both legs; James Finnecane, both hands; Charles Duncan, thigh and hip; Perry Green, hand. Missing: Charles H. Shaw, John Campbell.
Co.E. - Corp. Wm J. Turner, ankle; Charles M. Hall, breast and side; Dwight E. Bassett, arm; James Welch, leg; Edman Dumphey, face.
Co. F. - Killed: Silas L. Putnam. Wounded: Lieut. Terry Noble, hand; James H. Burbank, leg; Henry M. Chapin, arm; Henry M. James, leg. Missing: Geo. H. Duncan.
Co. G. - Killed; Dwight E. Armstrong, William Rither. Wounded: Charles Blodgett, side, Oliver Keyes, head; Henry Dewey, foot; William Marvell, leg; Francis Williams, leg; William Scott, leg; Christopher Magrath, head; Alpheus Parker, face. Missing, Truman R. Sibley.
Co. H. - Killed: Jacob Riedell. Wounded; Capt. Flavel Shurtleff, neck; John W. Hersey, ankle; Charles F. Powers, head. Missing, Sergt. Charles James.
Co. I. - Killed: 1st Sergt. Amos Pettis, John Berry, H.J. Boyington, Charles E. Hogan. Wounded: Sergt. Phillip Hyde, knee; Corp. Stephen W. Reed, both legs; Corp. Charles F. Fowler, arm; Corp. David B. Nye, thigh; James Livingston, leg; Anthony Cain, leg; Frederick Crocket, hand; Charles Decie, leg; Charles L. Hartwell, breast; Dwight O. Judd, thigh; Gustavus W. Peabody, arm. Missing, John E. Casey.
Co. K. - Wounded: Corp. Charles Knight, leg; Corp. John J. Beaumont, head; Anson J. Collier wrist; James Demein, thigh; William Lay, thigh; Henry C. Bates, hip.
As I have not had time to get accounts of anything farther you will be obliged to wait a few days.
Yours,
C.A.G.
Same edition of the Courier:
THE LOSSES. - The principal losses in the late battle were from the 2d, 3d, 5th and 6th army corps. The 1st corps lost only about 200. The Vermont brigade lost 300. The 1st Massachusetts regiment lost 10 killed, 70 wounded, including Lieuts. Myrick and Doherty. The Massachusetts 10th lost 11 killed and 57 wounded; Capt. Flavel Shurtleff of Westfield was severely wounded; Lieut. T.S. Noble of company F (Springfield) wounded in the hand; privates Orderly Michael S. Hogan, Hinsdale, wounded in the knee; John Donovan, Cummington, killed; Thomas D. Larkin, Pittsfield, wounded in ankle.
The Massachusetts 37th (Col. Edwards of Springfield), lost 1 killed, 10 wounded, 12 missing. Henry Chapin of Springfield was wounded in the arm.
Same edition of the Courier, under the heading LOCAL INTELLIGENCE:
In Washington. - Geo. A. Barber, of Mill River, a member of company A, 10th Mass. Regiment, who was wounded in the leg at the recent battles near Fredricksburg, arrived in Washington Monday afternoon. Corp. Pat O'Brien, of the same company, wounded in the leg, also arrived there on the same boat.
Mr. Editor: - It is with feelings of deep regret and shame, for my in writing to your worthy paper, that I again take up my pen to enlighten you on the doings and present state of affairs in this desolatee part of Dixie. I have very poor material at present, out of which to make a very interesting communication; but if you will give this a place in your columns, by the help of kind providence and my weak abilities I will endeavor to keep you posted on matters and things as fast as they may come to light, hereafter.
Friend Rogers: - I have been obliged to delay writing you, as our constant moving hither and thither has prevented me doing so at an earlier date.
Friday, 12th - We crossed the river last evening at 6 ½ and relieved the 98 N.Y. as skirmishers. The enemy's sharp-shooters commenced firing on our regiment as we was deploying, and kept it up until we reached the skirmish line. Only one man was hit, (A.B. Parker of Co. G) through both legs, severe. This morning at 5 o'clock, we were relieved and marched back to the rifle-pits as reserves. Berdan's sharp-shooters have completely silenced the rebs, and not one dare show his head above the pits. At 7 P.M. the enemy threw a few shells at our ammunition train across the river but did no damage, except killing one horse.
Saturday - Expected an attack on our left flank this morning, and everything was ready to meet it, with orders to hold our position at all hazards; but, as our movements were made in sight of the emend, they probably had the desired effect as no attack was made. At 9 a.m. a thick cloud of dust was seen rising along the line of the Bowling Green road, which proved to arise from a heavy column of Lee's troops moving to our right. Up to 7 p.m. nothing has been heard from it.
Sunday - Last evening at eight o'clock a heavy thunder shower burst upon us, which lasted about two hours, and leaving the night very dark, and the order come to be ready to move at a moments' notice. At midnight the whole corps had recrossed the river without firing a gun. The troops bivouaced for the night back of Falmouth, and at daylight this morning the column was in motion, with orders to report at Stafford Court House, which place we reached at 5 p.m., a distance of about 16 miles. Bivouaced for the night, and received orders to march at 10 o'clock. .
Monday - Started on the march last night according to orders, to report to Dumfree's, a distance of about 18 miles, which place we reached at 12m. To-day. Bivouaced here for the night and drew three days rations.
Tuesday - Started on the march this morning at 2 o'clock, with orders to report at Fairfax Station, which place we reached at about 5 p.m. after a march of about twenty miles. The sun shone very warm all day, and the column was enveloped in a thick cloud of dust, and but very little air stirring, on the whole march.
Nearly sixty men have fallen from sun-stroke to-day out of the 3rd (our) division. Heavy firing was heard to-day, on our right, towards the Potomac.
Wednesday - Started this morning for Fairfax Court House, where we are at present waiting orders, or for Lee to make his appearance. The cause of the heavy firing yesterday was a collision between a body of Stuart's cavalry, and a body of cavalry under Kilpatrick, which resulted in a complete victory for the latter who drove the enemy from the field and captured nearly one hundred prisoners.
Nothing of importance has transpired up to to-day. Yesterday (20th) a heavy thunder shower came upon us, and lasted all day and night leaving the roads in a very bad condition for travel.
A large number of prisoners have passed here en route for Washington. In one squad there was 80 of Stuart's cavalry; in another squad about one hundred men belonging to Jackson's Corps. A long train of ambulances passed have (sic) this morning filled with wounded rebels.
The men in the tenth are in very good spirits, but many are rather foot-sore. The men that have been off on detail from the regiment have all been ordered back. This increases the size of the regiment greatly, and decreases the duty for each man.
Co A is all right, and somewhat on their "muss." As I close a heavy cannonading is heard to-wards the Potomac above Washington. With high hopes of some excitement soon, I remain, Yours &c., C. A. G.
NOTES: This letter was written as the 10th marched from Chancellorsville to Gettysburg. During Hooker's Chancellorsville Campaign, the 10th helped storm and take Marye's Heights on May 3. Later in the day the regiment was in heavy fire at Salem Heights, losing 66 killed and wounded (W. M. Stanard among the wounded). It is interesting to note that C. A. G. Says that Co. A is all right (don't know what "on their muss" means). Compare this to George Arms Whitmore's diary entry for May 7, 1863, when he writes that we just can't beat them on their own ground.