Sunday, May 12, 2013

Letters from the Front - Doctor Nathan Hayward

Tuesday, May 12, 1863

In a letter to his father Doctor Nathan Hayward relayed the news of the recent calamities at Chancellorsville. He mentioned that General Joseph Hooker had been knocked senseless by a pillar at the Chancellor House during the battle and was carried from the battlefield. Upon reviving from the injury General Hooker ordered a retreat of his forces, which Doctor Hayward believed was a mistake. He believed that Generals Couch and Sedgwick were making well-informed decisions that could have saved the day for the Union Army. Doctor Hayward ended his letter with an expectation that General Hooker would order another forward movement of the army in the near future.1

References:
1Nathan Hayward, "Letters," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 422-424, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Oliver's Story - Battle of Second Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville

Tuesday, May 5, 1863

Oliver Stanton Bates survived another battle during the three day campaign of Second Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. He was not listed among the wounded on casualty lists or on his service record, and once again was very fortunate to escape injury.1

References:
1Compiled service record, Oliver S. Bates, Pvt., Co. A, 20th Massachusetts Infantry; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Retreat to Falmouth

Tuesday, May 5, 1863

Before dawn Colonel Norman Hall received orders to withdraw his brigade across the Rappahannock River into Falmouth. The Twentieth Massachusetts covered the retreat and was the last regiment to cross the river. They reached their camp in Falmouth by 9:00 P.M.

The Twentieth Massachusetts reported two killed and thirteen wounded as casualties. Captain Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. was among the casualties with a severe wound to his foot from an artillery shell. He would not see service again with the Twentieth Massachusetts for several months.1

References:
1Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 235-236, 240-41. George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 256.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Confederates Retake Marye's Heights

Monday, May 4, 1863

Sensing no imminent Confederate threat, the Federals abandoned their position at Marye’s Heights. However, Confederate forces led by General John B. Gordon and General William Barksdale took control of Marye's Heights. General John Gibbon's division was once again under fire, and the Twentieth Massachusetts was ordered to defend and protect the Union line between Hazel Run and the railroad in Fredericksburg. There would be no reinforcements from General John Sedgwick, as his forces were marching along the Orange Plank Road to Chancellorsville. During the night the Twentieth Massachusetts exchanged bullets with the Confederates but held their portion of the line.1

References:
1Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 238-40.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Storming Marye's Heights

Sunday, May 3, 1863

The Twentieth Massachusetts arrived at the Lacy House at 4:00 A.M. to prepare for crossing the Rappahannock River into Fredericksburg. An attack from the south by General John Sedgwick cleared the Confederates from the river bank, and General John Gibbon’s division crossed the Rappahannock River around 6:00 A.M. The Twentieth Massachusetts attempted to scale Marye's Heights from the north, but were delayed by the need to build makeshift bridges at two stream crossings. Their delay allowed the Confederates sufficient time to fortify Marye's Heights. As the Twentieth tried to assail the heights they met with enemy rifle fire and artillery shells. A frontal assault by General John Sedgwick coordinated with a flank attack by the Twentieth Massachusetts was successful, and Marye's Heights was taken by the Union troops. General John Sedgwick was ordered to continue on the Orange Plank Road and connect with General Joseph Hooker at Chancellorsville.1

References:
1Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 233-37.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Orders to Cross into Fredericksburg

Saturday, May 2, 1863

As battle lines were drawn around Chancellorsville the Twentieth Massachusetts received orders to cross the Rappahannock River into Fredericksburg at 10:30 P.M.1

References:
1Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 233.

Jackson is Seriously Wounded

Saturday, May 2, 1863

After his brilliant and successful flank attack in the afternoon General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson began a reconnaissance along the Orange Plank Road to determine the position of the Union army after their retreat. His reconnaissance met with disaster after dark as he approached a Confederate picket line and shots rang out. Jackson was struck by three bullets, two in his left arm and one in his right hand. He was carried by ambulance to the nearby Ellwood Plantation, where his left arm was amputated.1

References:
1Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 232.

Jackson's Flanking Movement and Attack

Saturday, May 2, 1863

At approximately 5:00 P.M. in the afternoon General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson emerged from the woods after a long march and struck the flank of the Union Army. The Eleventh Corps under the command of General Oliver Howard bore the brunt of the attack. The Union troops retreated in panic toward the Chancellor House.1

References:
1Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 232.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Lee and Jackson's Evening Meeting

Friday, May 1, 1863

In the evening Generals Robert E. Lee and Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson met along the Orange Plank Road to discuss a bold plan to divide the Confederate army once again, with Stonewall leading a force around the flank of the Union army and striking it from the rear as General Lee's main force attacks the Union army from the front. Jackson's plan was bold and risky, as it necessitated another division of the Confederate army. General Lee approved the plan and Jackson began his flanking move.1

References:
1Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 232.

Lee Takes the Initiative

Friday, May 1, 1863

General Joseph Hooker took a defensive position around the intersection at Chancellorsville to the surprise and dismay of his senior officers. In a bold and daring action General Robert E. Lee divided his army to take an offensive position around Chancellorsville.1

References:
1Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 232.

Regimental Matters – Promotions for George Macy and Henry Abbott

Friday, May 1, 1863

Major George Macy was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the Twentieth Massachusetts, succeeding Frederick Dreyer, who died of his wounds on May 1. Captain Henry Abbott of Company I was promoted to Major.1

References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 235.