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.

Returnees from Ball's Bluff and New Recruits

Saturday, October 11, 1862

During the week the Twentieth Massachusetts regained some strength in numbers. The regiment welcomed fifty of their men who returned after wounding or capture at Ball's Bluff in October 1861. Thirty new recruits arrived at camp and joined the regiment. Lieutenant William Milton returned after his wounding at Antietam, and Lieutenant Arthur Curtis returned to camp.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 178.

Captain Schmidt Returns

Monday, September 29, 1862

Captain George Schmidt of Company E returned to the regiment today, nearly one year after his wounding at Ball's Bluff.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 177.

Leesburg occupied by General Geary

Saturday, March 8, 1862

The town of Leesburg, Virginia, was abandoned by the Confederates and occupied by General John W. Geary. Capturing Leesburg was the objective of the ill-fated encounter at Ball's Bluff. General Geary was wounded and captured at Ball's Bluff, but he was fortunate to receive an expedited exchange.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 78.

Author's Note - The Fate of Sergeant Emery Mellen

Records from the Twentieth Massachusetts Regimental History and from Adjutant Charles Peirson's journal reveal a contradiction in the fate of Sergeant Emery Mellen of Company G at Ball's Bluff. In the Regimental History the casualty list from Ball's Bluff reports that Sergeant Mellen was captured, while the roster in the Appendix states that Sergeant Mellen drowned in the Potomac River on October 21, 1861.¹ Charles Peirson's journal clearly states that Sergeant Mellen was captured at Ball's Bluff and imprisoned at Ligon Prison with other soldiers from the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment. Mellen contracted consumption during his imprisonment and was released from prison on January 3, 1862.²


References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 60-61, 486.
²Diary of Charles Lawrence Peirson, "Memorandum of the Battle of Leesburg," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 103, 123, 129, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.

In His Own Words - Captain William Francis Bartlett

Thursday, November 7, 1861

In his journal Captain William Bartlett responded with characteristic humility to the praise he received from Boston and New York newspapers concerning his outstanding performance at Ball's Bluff: "They compliment me too highly, who did nothing more than my duty. My coolness was in me. I ought not to have the credit of it, but be grateful to God, who in his mercy has spared me, for granting me the courage and self-possession."¹

References:
¹Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Osgood and Company, 1878), 33-34.

Letters from the Front - Henry Abbott

Thursday, November 7, 1861

In a letter to his father, Lieutenant Henry Abbott shared his thoughts about his conduct under fire at the recent conflict at Ball's Bluff:

You know I told you that I didn’t believe I was physically brave. In fact, I was pretty sure I should be frightened on the field of battle, though I hope my feelings of duty, pride & honor would keep me up. The fact is, however, that on the battle field I was very much surprised to find that I wasn’t frightened at all ...

Abbott modestly downplayed his bravery while praising that of fellow officers Captain William "Frank" Bartlett and newly-promoted Captain Norwood Hallowell:

All the stuff you see in the newspapers about 'young Abbott, son of Judge Abbott,' is all blow & poppy cock. I no more deserve to share Frank's praise with him than any of his privates do ... There are plenty of officers in the regt., Hallowell for instance, who deserve more praise than I do, though they haven't had the distinguished honor of being posted by the newspapers. Frank, however, you may be sure deserves all he gets.

He admonished his father to be skeptical of newspaper reports: "In a word, you had better disbelieve all the stories & all the puffs in the papers, except those which have the sanction of this regt., & then you will be safe..."¹

References:
¹Robert Garth Scott, editor, Fallen Leaves: The Civil War Letters of Major Henry Livermore Abbott (Kent, Ohio: The Kent State University Press, 1991), 73-74.

Under a Flag of Truce

Wednesday, November 6, 1861

On the previous day Lieutenant Colonel Palfrey crossed the Potomac at Edwards Ferry under a flag of truce to arrange for transport of the bodies of soldiers killed during the Ball's Bluff conflict. He also inquired about the welfare of the prisoners and asked if it were possible to send them letters and supplies. He was received by officers of General Nathan Evans' staff, who gave permission for their endeavor. At 9:00 AM, again under a flag of truce, Lieutenant Colonel Palfrey arrived with a detail to transport the bodies of fallen comrades for burial and to deliver supplies, money, and clothing to the prisoners.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 71.

A Name Brilliant and Glorious ...

Tuesday, October 29, 1861
To bolster morale in the dispirited regiment, Governor John Andrew of Massachusetts issued General Order Number 70, in which he offered gratitude and praise for their valiant service at Ball's Bluff. Lieutenant Colonel Palfrey read the order to the regiment at dress parade:

His Excellency John A. Andrew, Governor of Mass. desires to express through the proper channel his sincere thanks to the officers and privates of the 20th Regt. Mass. Vols. for the bravery which they displayed in the recent battle at Ball's Bluff, and for the admirable discipline which their behavior there so strongly bears evidence of. He regrets the severe loss sustained by the regiment, and deeply sympathizes with the wounded and the suffering relatives of the dead and wounded, but will assure the regiment that they have earned and own a name brilliant and glorious, and that the Bay State is proud to recognize them as sons, and as sons worthy of the Commonwealth and worthy to share past glories of the Commonwealth.

In his statement Governor Andrew intended not only to bolster morale but also to strengthen the recruiting effort through recognition of valiant service. Captain Henry Tremlett of Company A was dispatched to Boston to take charge of recruitment. The regiment hoped to acquire two hundred additional enlistments over the winter.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 63, 71; Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 88.

Aftermath of Ball's Bluff - Regiment Restructuring

Thursday, October 24, 1861
W.F. Milton, Acting Adjutant, issued General Order number 69 from Camp Benton to address the vacancies in the shattered command of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment:

The following arrangements of this command will be observed until further orders.

Capt. Bartlett, Co. I, is detailed for duty as acting Lieutenant Colonel.

Capt. Crowninshield, Co. D., is detailed for duty as acting Major.

Lieut. Milton, Co. G, is detailed for duty as Adjutant. They will be obeyed and respected accordingly. The non-commissioned officers and privates of Company G ready for duty are assigned to Capt. Tremlett of Company A, who ranks as senior Captain. The 1st Sergt. of Co. G, will report to Lieut. Hallowell, commanding Co. H, as 1st Sergt.

Capt Shepard of Co. K takes rank as 2nd Captain.

The non-commissioned officers and privates of Co. E are assigned to Lieut. Macy, Co. I, who ranks as 3rd Captain.

The non-commissioned officers and privates of Co. D are assigned to Lieut. Hallowell, Co. H., who ranks as 4th Captain. Sergt. Burrill of Co. H will act as 1st Lieut.

Lieut. Cabot of Co. F ranks as 5th Captain, assisted by Lieut. Sturgis of Co. H as 1st Lieut.

Lieut. Le Barnes of Co. B takes command of that Company and ranks as 6th Captain.

It is to be understood that the above arrangement is adopted for the present emergency; it is subject to revision at any moment and is expected to continue only till new officers can be commissioned and arrangements made for filling up the regiment. Where men are assigned in accordance with these orders, they will continue to occupy their quarters under charge of their ranking Sergeants, reporting to their commanding officers for duty.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 70-71.

Letters from the Front - Henry Abbott

Thursday, October 24, 1861
Lieutenant Henry Abbott wrote a letter to his mother to reassure her that both he and his sister Caroline's fiance, Lieutenant George Perry, were not wounded at Ball's Bluff. He continued by reassuring her of his belief that George would be returned home from prison quickly:

I have written several letters already to notify the family of my whereabouts & George's, because I knew you would be so anxious ... The telegraph of course has, before this, assured [you] of my safety. George is equally safe as far as wounds go, but is undoubtedly a prisoner with the col., major, adjutant & Dr. [Edward] Revere. He will be well treated & released on paroll not to engage again in the war, which will bring him home much quicker than any thing else...

Abbott bemoaned the fate of Colonel Lee, the regimental commander captured at Ball's Bluff, “It is the col. we grieve for … All we want now is another fight to avenge his capture …”

Abbott finished the letter by expressing his concern and grief for his decimated regiment, ending with a note of optimism:

Now all I have to do is to tell you about the dead & wounded, which [is] so awful melancholy because we got licked in that infernal slaughter pen instead of whipping the scoundrels. Of the 315 men we took in ... nearly one half escaped to this side. We brought out one half [of] our company, but amongst the killed were 3 of the noblest fellows that were ever born, men that we love. However, we are cheerful as we ought to be, of course, that it was no worse…¹

References:
¹Robert Garth Scott, editor, Fallen Leaves: The Civil War Letters of Major Henry Livermore Abbott (Kent, Ohio: The Kent State University Press, 1991), 66-69.

Journey of the Captives - Ball's Bluff

Thursday, October 24, 1861
The prisoner train arrived at Richmond at 9:00 A.M. The officers and enlisted of the Twentieth Massachusetts disembarked from the railroad cars and marched toward their destination, Ligon's Warehouse and Tobacco Factory, a three-story brick employed as a makeshift prison. Civilians taunted the prisoners as they progressed through the streets of Richmond. As the regiment entered Ligon’s Factory to an uncertain fate, guards directed the officers to quarters on the first floor and the enlisted men to quarters on the second and third floors.¹

References:
¹ Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 87.

Journey of the Captives - Ball's Bluff

Wednesday, October 23, 1861
The prisoners of the Twentieth Massachusetts arrived at Manassas Junction at 10:00 A.M., where they were processed by name and rank and confined to a barn. After a long wait they boarded onto a train for Richmond at 7:00 P.M. Packed into cattle cars, they endured an excruciating fourteen-hour journey in a standing position for the entire trip.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), 87.

Letters from the Front - Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Wednesday, October 23, 1861
First Lieutenant Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. of Company A wrote a letter to his mother from the Twentieth Regiment Hospital at Camp Benton. He began by reassuring her that he was recovering from his injuries, and then followed with an account of his wounding:

Here I am flat on my back after our first engagement – wounded but pretty comfortable … I was out in front of our men encouraging ‘em on when a spent shot knocked the wind out of me & I fell – then I crawled to the rear a few paces … so up I got and rushed to the front and asked if none would follow me when down I went again by the Colonel’s side – The first shot (the spent ball) struck me on the belly below where the ribs separate & bruised & knocked the wind out of me – The second time I hope only one ball struck me entering the left & coming out behind the right breast in wh. case I shall probably recover and this view is seconded by finding a ball in my clothes by the right hand wound – I may be hit twice in which case the chance is not so good – But I am now so well that I have good hopes … And now seem to think that I have a fair chance and all my friends whatever happens I am very happy in the conviction I did my duty handsomely…

He continued his letter by detailing the severity of the casualties in the regiment and ended with a touch of humor, “I can’t send a good looking note lying on my back …”¹

References:
¹ Mark De Wolfe Howe, editor, Touched With Fire: Civil War Letters and Diary of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (New York, New York: Fordham University Press, 2000), 13, 18-19.

Journey of the Captives - Ball's Bluff

Tuesday, October 22, 1861
The Twentieth Massachusetts prisoners continued on their progress toward Richmond. Civilians taunted them with shouts of “Kill the damned Yankees!” as they passed by homes along the route. Around 4:00 P.M. they reached the Bull Run battlefield after an exhausting sixteen-hour march. Confederate guards confined the officers in a stone house while detaining the enlisted men outside in the pouring rain. After being deprived of food for many hours, the prisoners devoured a scant meal of corn bread and raw pork. Cold and hungry, the prisoners settled in for the evening with expectations for another grueling march in the morning.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 65-66; Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 86.

Oliver's Story - Ball's Bluff

Tuesday, October 22, 1861

Private Oliver Stanton Bates of Company A escaped injury and capture at the Battle of Ball's Bluff.  His name does not appear on the casualty list for Ball's Bluff in the Twentieth Massachusetts Regimental History and his military records do not include a casualty sheet for wounding.  In this episode he proved to be extremely resilient, as Company A reported the third highest casualties by company for the regiment, totaling 31 killed, wounded, or captured. Only the flank Companies D and H reported higher casualties at 37 and 32 respectively.¹

It is unclear from the records whether Oliver swam across the Potomac River or made the passage by boat. He owed his survival in large part to the resourcefulness of company commanders Henry Tremlett and Charles Whittier of Company A and William "Frank" Bartlett and Henry Abbott of Company I, who plotted an escape route along the river bank and remained until all the enlisted men made it safely across the river.²

References:
¹ Compiled 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.; George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 59-61.
² Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 77; Francis Winthrop Palfrey, Memoir of William Francis Bartlett (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Osgood and Company, 1878), 26-29.

Letters from the Front - Henry Abbott

Tuesday, October 22, 1861
Lieutenant Henry Abbott penned another letter to his father, explaining the horrific events at Ball’s Bluff in greater detail. Selected excerpts are presented below:

The fight was made up of charges. You would see our capts. rush out in front & cry forward & their companies would follow them at full speed under a tremendous fire till they were obliged to fall back. And this was repeated over & over during the 4 hours fight…
The general [Baker] was killed ... & Col. Lee ordered a retreat... we all started down the bank, every body knowing, however, that there was no chance of an escape. The col. ordered a surrender & had a white flag raised but the rebels fired upon us & we were obliged to retreat to the river's edge, the rebels pouring down a murderous fire…

Abbott noted that Company A suffered heavy casualties during the battle. He observed, "Tremlett's company got the worst of it…" Abbott recounted his escape down the river bank with Captains Bartlett and Tremlett and Lieutenant Whittier and men from their respective companies, Companies I and A. The officers sent enlisted men across the river by fives in a boat, with the officers leaving last. He followed this observation with an expectation of reprisal: “The little midnight adventure of ours has started the whole thing: now we shall have our revenge...”

He concluded his letter optimistically, praising the endurance of the soldiers under heavy fire: “The good of the action is this. It shows the pluck of our men. They followed their commanders admirably, except in the last charge that we made…”¹

References:
¹Robert Garth Scott, editor, Fallen Leaves: The Civil War Letters of Major Henry Livermore Abbott (Kent, Ohio: The Kent State University Press, 1991), 60-66.

Ball's Bluff - The Aftermath

Tuesday, October 22, 1861
The Twentieth Massachusetts suffered a devastating blow to their ranks at Ball’s Bluff. The regiment reported 87 killed or wounded and 111 captured, for a total of 198 casualties, a loss of approximately one-third of the regiment.

The casualties among the officers were catastrophic. The high command of the regiment were captured and taken prisoner by the Confederates. Colonel William R. Lee, Major Paul Revere, Adjutant Charles Peirson, and Assistant Surgeon E.H.R. Revere, as well as First Lieutenant George Perry of Company D, were reported captured. Major Revere was also wounded.

Among the officers killed were Second Lieutenant Reinhold Wesselhoeft of Company C, Second Lieutenant William Lowell Putnam of Company E, and Captain Alois Babo of Company G.

Among the officers wounded were First Lieutenant Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. of Company A, Captain Ferdinand Dreher of Company D, Captain George Schmidt and First Lieutenant James Lowell of Company E, and Captain John Putnam of Company H.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 59-61.

Letters from the Front - Henry Abbott

Monday, October 21, 1861
After returning safely to Camp Benton, Henry Abbott, First Lieutenant of Company I, sent a letter by telegraph to his father, reassuring him that he had survived:

We miraculously escaped without a wound. All the officers of our co. that is. Half the men [of the regiment] killed & wounded ... George Perry is unwounded but a prisoner with the col., major & adjutant & Dr. Revere. We have [heard] from the rebels that they are well treated. There are a hundred of the regt. [which] came out [safely]. 2 or 3 capts. killed, & half the officers wounded…

Especially poignant is his report of the capture of Lieutenant George Perry, the fiance of Caroline Abbott, Henry's sister.¹

References:
¹Robert Garth Scott, editor, Fallen Leaves: The Civil War Letters of Major Henry Livermore Abbott (Kent, Ohio: The Kent State University Press, 1991), 58-59.

Journey of the Captives - Ball's Bluff

Monday, October 21, 1861
Colonel William Raymond Lee, Major Paul Joseph Revere, Assistant Surgeon E.H.R. Revere, Adjutant Charles Lawrence Peirson and Lieutenant George Perry were captured early in the evening not far from Smart’s Mill. They were taken to a tavern in Leesburg, a makeshift headquarters for the Confederate commander, General Nathan Evans. He offered the officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts terms for parole, which would indemnify them from continued service in the war. They were provided a meager meal, and at midnight they began their march toward Richmond in a drenching rain. Most of the prisoners made the march on foot, but some of the officers who had been provided transport in a wagon switched places with enlisted wounded who were unable to march.¹

References:
¹George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 65.