Longest Day March to Uniontown

Monday, June 29, 1863

As General George Meade assumed command he ordered all Union Corps into rapid motion. This morning the Second Corps departed Monocacy Junction and marched over thirty-two miles to Uniontown in their longest single-day march during the Civil War. Although the day was hot only fifteen men were overtaken by the heat, as two men dropped from the ranks and thirteen needed transport by ambulance.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 266-7.

Meade Assumes Command

Sunday, June 28, 1863

Continuing their rapid northward advance the Second Corps arrived at Monocacy Junction in Maryland, where they received news of a change in command of the Union Army. General George Meade, leader of the Fifth Corps, replaced General Joseph Hooker as commander of the Army of the Potomac. As this news reached the Second Corps Confederate Cavalry General James Ewell Brown (J.E.B.) Stuart continued his raid in the rear of the Union Army, capturing a large supply train and causing panic in Washington, D.C.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 264-5.

Arrival at Edwards Ferry

Friday, June 26, 1863

The Second Corps reached the Potomac River today, crossing at Edwards Ferry. This location held painful memories for the Twentieth Massachusetts, who remembered their first conflict at Ball's Bluff nearly two years earlier. During the evening the Twentieth Massachusetts performed picket duty along familiar locations on the Potomac River.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 263-4.

Second Corps Departs from Thoroughfare Gap

Thursday, June 25, 1863

The Second Corps left Thoroughfare Gap this morning after a well-needed four-day rest. Confederate Cavalry General James Ewell Brown (J.E.B.) Stuart, on one of his famous raids, attacked the rear of the Union Army as they departed from Thoroughfare Gap. As the Second Corps reached Haymarket, a short distance from Thoroughfare Gap, Stuart fired upon the Second Division, of which the Twentieth Massachusetts was a part, exacting casualties. Heavy rains halted the advance of the Second Corps as they made evening camp during a deluge.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 263.

Letters from the Front - Doctor Nathan Hayward

Monday, June 22, 1863

Doctor Nathan Hayward penned a hasty letter to his father from Thoroughfare Gap, informing him that the regiment was moving rapidly north. Doctor Hayward expressed that the rapid march in the intense heat had taken casualties among the regiment and that they had paused for rest. He expected that they were prepared to move or to defend from an attack. He closed his letter by reassuring his father that "I am very well and enjoy the change highly." 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. 427, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.

Arrival at Thoroughfare Gap

Sunday, June 21, 1863

On Friday the Twentieth Massachusetts departed from Sanger's Station, passing Centerville yesterday and the Manassas (Bull Run) battlefield this morning. By evening the regiment arrived at Thoroughfare Gap for evening camp and four days rest. ¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 263.

Rest at Sanger's Station

Wednesday, June 17, 1863

The Twentieth Massachusetts continued their northward progress, camping at Occoquan River on Tuesday and at Sanger's Station this evening. As the weather remained exceedingly hot, the Second Corps camped two days at Sanger's Station for rest. ¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 263.

Second Corps Departs from Falmouth

Monday, June 15, 1863

The Second Corps, as rear guard of the Union Army, was the last to leave Falmouth on the march north to pursue the Confederates. The Twentieth Massachusetts, along with the Second Corps, departed from Falmouth today and marched through Stafford Court House, which was in flames, en route to Acquia Creek for evening camp. The temperatures were extremely warm and the regiment suffered several cases of heat stroke and exhaustion. This was the first day of the most grueling march in the history of the regiment. ¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 262-3.

Lee's Rapid Advance through the Shenandoah Valley

Saturday, June 13, 1863

The recent cavalry battle at Brandy Station on June 9 induced Confederate General Robert E. Lee to proceed through the Shenandoah Valley rather than east of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Not wasting any time General Lee advanced rapidly through the Shenandoah Valley, marked by General Richard Ewell's arrival at Winchester today.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 262.

Oliver's Story - Petition to Governor Andrew

Friday, June 12, 1863

Private Oliver Stanton Bates of Company A was one of the many signatures on the petition to Massachusetts Governor John Andrew requesting the removal of Sumner Paine from command. It is unclear from available records whether or not Oliver was an object of Paine’s disciplinary actions or the dislike for Paine was so prevalent among the enlisted men of the regiment that Oliver signed in solidarity to his comrades. At the time of the petition Paine was in charge of Company G but at Gettysburg Paine was in charge of Company A, the company in which Oliver remained for the entire length of his service with the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment.¹

References:
¹Petition to Governor John Andrew from the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 12 June 1863, Massachusetts State Archives.

Petition to Governor Andrew

Friday, June 12, 1863

A majority of the enlisted men of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment drafted a petition to Massachusetts Governor John Andrew to have Second Lieutenant Sumner Paine removed from command. Eighteen-year old Paine, who had recently been commissioned from civilian life, was inexperienced as a leader and had taken extreme measures to discipline the enlisted men. The severity of the discipline resulted in dissention among the enlisted and the formation of the petition to Governor Andrew.

The body of the petition reads as follows:

Falmouth June 12, 1863

To his Excellency John A. Andrew, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Greeting[s].

The undersigned noncommissioned officers and privates of the 20th Regt. Mass. Vols. would respectfully present to your Excellency the following facts:

It has long been the boast of Massachusetts that whatever other states might do Massachusetts should ever be the home of the free, an asylum for the oppressed. And while this is her proud boast shall it be said that her soldiers who have periled their lives in defense of the Union, cemented by the blood of our fathers, have been subjected to a tyranny worse than African slavery? Many of us have left happy homes, loving wives and prattling babes – perhaps never more to see those loved ones again – and have placed ourselves between our country and her foes that we might leave to generations yet to come a heritage of freedom. Freely have we periled our lives – with the assurance that merit should receive a just reward, and he who was valorous on the battlefield should be promoted. Has that pledge been redeemed?

What are the qualifications that caused a civilian to receive the title of Lieut. and to be promoted to command over “veterans” from many a bloody field?

Was it because he was superior to us in military science that he was thus preferred? We answer, No. Was it not rather from partisan influence, or family connection, that Lieut. Paine was promoted to a command as second Lieut. In the 20th Massachusetts regiment?

But what has been his record during the few – weeks he has been connected with this regt.?

For the most trifling causes soldiers have been incarcerated in the guard house, suspended to trees, tied in the stocks, or elevated on instruments of torture, thereby crippling their energies and tending to destroy their manhood. And while we believe that such a course is detrimental to our glorious cause we would most respectfully request your Excellency to cause the said Lieut. Paine to be removed from all command in the 20th Massachusetts regiment. All of which is respectfully submitted.

The petition concludes with "the written document is approved by every member of the regt. but as the said Lieut. Paine is in command of Co. G we do not deem it advisable to have them sign it, it being signed by more than ¾ of the regt."

The rapid departure of the Second Corps from Falmouth on June 15 in pursuit of the Confederate Army precluded any timely action to remove Sumner Paine from command.

Among the signatures on the petition was Private O.S. Bates of Company A.¹

References:
¹Petition to Governor John Andrew from the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, 12 June 1863, Massachusetts State Archives.

Battle of Brandy Station

Tuesday, June 9, 1863

Union Cavalry General Alfred Pleasonton encountered Confederate Cavalry led by General James Ewell Brown (J.E.B.) Stuart near Culpeper. At dawn Pleasonton launched a surprise attack on Stuart and an all-day battle ensued. This battle, known as the Battle of Brandy Station, was the largest engagement of cavalry during the Civil War. The battle terminated in the evening without the Union Cavalry determining the position of the Confederate Army.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 262.

Letters from the Front - Doctor Nathan Hayward

Monday, June 8, 1863

In a letter to his father Doctor Nathan Hayward reported the crossing of the Rappahannock by General Sedgwick. At first he was concerned that it was part of a larger action but relayed that Sedgwick's movement was mainly demonstrative. Hayward was concerned that he would need to return to the Lacy House, which had been used as a hospital for two battles at Fredericksburg. He proclaimed, "I sincerely wish that my post may not be again at the Lacy House. The house is haunted for me with the horrors of the previous battles. I would like a change of place." 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. 425-427, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.

Pleasonton Detached for Cavalry Reconnaissance

Sunday, June 7, 1863

Cavalry General Alfred Pleasonton was sent to Culpeper Court House with all available cavalry for a reconnaissance of the Confederate Army to determine their current position.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 262.

Sedgwick Ordered to Guard River Crossings

Friday, June 5, 1863

In response to Confederate troop movements in Virginia General John Sedgwick was ordered from Falmouth to guard the river crossings at United States and Banks Fords.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 262.

Lee and Longstreet March Northward

Wednesday, June 3, 1863

In order to blunt the negative effects on the Confederacy from the ongoing siege at Vicksburg Confederate General Robert E. Lee hoped to draw the Union Army out of Virginia and make a bold strike north of Washington D.C. Lee ordered General James Longstreet to begin a northward march out of Virginia.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 261.