Thursday, July 31, 1862
The Confederates had positioned an arsenal of artillery opposite the James River, and began shelling the Union camp at Harrison's Landing at one o'clock in the morning. Union artillery successfully repulsed the Confederate barrage before dawn.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 139.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Regimental Matters - Reassignments
Friday, July 25, 1862
Colonel William Lee was reassigned to assist Massachusetts Governor John Andrew in the recruiting effort, assigned to Camp John E. Wool in Worcester. Lee contracted malaria at Harrison's Landing, and was too weak to resume command of the Twentieth Massachusetts. Charles Peirson returned from assignment on General John Sedgwick's staff to his former role as adjutant of the regiment.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 139.
Colonel William Lee was reassigned to assist Massachusetts Governor John Andrew in the recruiting effort, assigned to Camp John E. Wool in Worcester. Lee contracted malaria at Harrison's Landing, and was too weak to resume command of the Twentieth Massachusetts. Charles Peirson returned from assignment on General John Sedgwick's staff to his former role as adjutant of the regiment.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 139.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Sumner's Grand Dress Parade
Tuesday, July 22, 1862
General Edwin "Bull" Sumner held a grand dress parade and review of the Union Army Second Corps, of which the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment was a part, at Harrison's Landing.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 139.
General Edwin "Bull" Sumner held a grand dress parade and review of the Union Army Second Corps, of which the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment was a part, at Harrison's Landing.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 139.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Balloon Duty Terminated for Company D
Thursday, July 17, 1862
Company D of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, led by Lieutenant Nathaniel Messer, ended their service for balloon reconnaissance today. Company D had served on balloon reconnaissance since December 1861.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 139.
Company D of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, led by Lieutenant Nathaniel Messer, ended their service for balloon reconnaissance today. Company D had served on balloon reconnaissance since December 1861.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 139.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Dress Parade
Friday, July 11, 1862
As President Abraham Lincoln continued his visit to Harrison's Landing, the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment had their first dress parade in several weeks.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 139.
As President Abraham Lincoln continued his visit to Harrison's Landing, the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment had their first dress parade in several weeks.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 139.
Monday, July 9, 2012
President Lincoln at Harrison's Landing
Wednesday, July 9, 1862
In order to honor the arrival of President Abraham Lincoln at Harrison's Landing, General John Sedgwick performed an inspection of his division, including the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, on the spacious grounds of Berkeley Plantation along the James River.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 139.
In order to honor the arrival of President Abraham Lincoln at Harrison's Landing, General John Sedgwick performed an inspection of his division, including the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, on the spacious grounds of Berkeley Plantation along the James River.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 139.
Monday, July 2, 2012
Arrival at Harrison's Landing
Wednesday, July 2, 1862
Exhausted from the Seven Days Battles, the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment arrived at their new camp with the Army of the Potomac at Harrison’s Landing on the James River. The Union forces camped on the grounds of Berkeley Plantation, the home of the Harrison family and former U.S. President William Henry Harrison. This location afforded the Union army a strong defensive position, one which General Robert E. Lee decided not to attack.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 135. Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 152.
Exhausted from the Seven Days Battles, the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment arrived at their new camp with the Army of the Potomac at Harrison’s Landing on the James River. The Union forces camped on the grounds of Berkeley Plantation, the home of the Harrison family and former U.S. President William Henry Harrison. This location afforded the Union army a strong defensive position, one which General Robert E. Lee decided not to attack.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 135. Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 152.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Seven Days Battles - Day 7 - Battle of Malvern Hill
Tuesday, July 1, 1862
The Seven Days Battles ended with a Confederate attack at Malvern Hill, the current position of the Union army in their retreat to Harrison’s Landing. The high ground at Malvern Hill afforded the Union army the advantage in the ensuing fight.
General Robert E. Lee planned a frontal assault on the Union line led by General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, with attacks by Generals John Magruder and Benjamin Huger in support. Generals James Longstreet and A.P. Hill, who had been heavily engaged in the previous day’s fight at Glendale, were held in reserve.
Lee’s battle plans were poorly executed again, and the forces of Jackson, Magruder, and Huger were ordered to await the Confederate artillery barrage before attacking. The Union artillery commander, Colonel Henry Hunt, attacked first, disabling most of the Confederate artillery. Regardless of this setback, Lee ordered his infantry units to attack. By nightfall the Confederate attacks had been repulsed with heavy losses on both sides, but the Confederates suffered nearly two-to-one in casualties compared to the Union forces.
The Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment was not engaged at Malvern Hill.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 132-136. Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 152.
The Seven Days Battles ended with a Confederate attack at Malvern Hill, the current position of the Union army in their retreat to Harrison’s Landing. The high ground at Malvern Hill afforded the Union army the advantage in the ensuing fight.
General Robert E. Lee planned a frontal assault on the Union line led by General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, with attacks by Generals John Magruder and Benjamin Huger in support. Generals James Longstreet and A.P. Hill, who had been heavily engaged in the previous day’s fight at Glendale, were held in reserve.
Lee’s battle plans were poorly executed again, and the forces of Jackson, Magruder, and Huger were ordered to await the Confederate artillery barrage before attacking. The Union artillery commander, Colonel Henry Hunt, attacked first, disabling most of the Confederate artillery. Regardless of this setback, Lee ordered his infantry units to attack. By nightfall the Confederate attacks had been repulsed with heavy losses on both sides, but the Confederates suffered nearly two-to-one in casualties compared to the Union forces.
The Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment was not engaged at Malvern Hill.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 132-136. Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 152.
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