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.
Showing posts with label Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.. Show all posts
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Holmes Designated as Provost Marshal of Falmouth
Sunday, January 25, 1863
The Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment was assigned as provost guards of Falmouth in recognition of their splendid service during the battle of Fredericksburg. Captain Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. received the honor of the role of Provost Marshal.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 227.
The Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment was assigned as provost guards of Falmouth in recognition of their splendid service during the battle of Fredericksburg. Captain Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. received the honor of the role of Provost Marshal.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 227.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Holmes, Abbott and Hayward Rejoin the Regiment
Wednesday, November 19, 1862
Captains Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. and Henry Abbott rejoined the regiment today. Both men had been absent from the regiment since the Battle of Antietam. Holmes was wounded at Antietam and had fully recovered from his injuries. Abbott had taken ill shortly before Antietam and had been on sick leave since September 14. Doctor Nathan Hayward, who had been taken prisoner at Antietam, was rapidly exchanged after his capture and rejoined the regiment on November 12.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 181. Nathan Hayward, "Letters," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 397-8, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.
Captains Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. and Henry Abbott rejoined the regiment today. Both men had been absent from the regiment since the Battle of Antietam. Holmes was wounded at Antietam and had fully recovered from his injuries. Abbott had taken ill shortly before Antietam and had been on sick leave since September 14. Doctor Nathan Hayward, who had been taken prisoner at Antietam, was rapidly exchanged after his capture and rejoined the regiment on November 12.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 181. Nathan Hayward, "Letters," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 397-8, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Battle of Antietam - Casualties
Thursday, September 18, 1862
The Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment had retreated to the Poffenberger farm, which was being used as a hospital for the wounded. Colonel William Lee sent a detail from the Twentieth to assist in removing the wounded and burying the dead from the battlefield.
The battle at Antietam on September 17, 1862 would prove to be the bloodiest day in American history. The Union reported over 12,000 casualties, while the Confederates reported over 10,000. Casualties among the Twentieth were high; the regiment lost one-hundred and fifty men out of four-hundred. Casualties among the officers of the Twentieth were also severe. Colonel Francis Palfrey was wounded by a canister ball to his shoulder. Captain Norwood "Pen" Hallowell received a shattering wound to his left arm. Captain Oliver Wendell Holmes, shot in the neck and left for dead on the battlefield, was later revived with a shot of brandy. Sergeant James Spencer was struck by a shell fragment in his leg and was carried from the battlefield by his own men. The most tragic and poignant casualty was the death of Doctor Edward Revere, who was killed while performing field surgery on the wounded. Doctor Nathan Hayward was taken prisoner as he tended the wounded, but was paroled as the Confederates withdrew.
Some of the wounded officers would never return to the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment after the battle of Antietam. Colonel Francis Palfrey never returned to military service. Brothers Edward "Ned" Hallowell and Norwood "Pen" Hallowell received commissions to Massachusetts' first colored regiment, the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts Volunteers.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 175-6. Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 176-80.
The Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment had retreated to the Poffenberger farm, which was being used as a hospital for the wounded. Colonel William Lee sent a detail from the Twentieth to assist in removing the wounded and burying the dead from the battlefield.
The battle at Antietam on September 17, 1862 would prove to be the bloodiest day in American history. The Union reported over 12,000 casualties, while the Confederates reported over 10,000. Casualties among the Twentieth were high; the regiment lost one-hundred and fifty men out of four-hundred. Casualties among the officers of the Twentieth were also severe. Colonel Francis Palfrey was wounded by a canister ball to his shoulder. Captain Norwood "Pen" Hallowell received a shattering wound to his left arm. Captain Oliver Wendell Holmes, shot in the neck and left for dead on the battlefield, was later revived with a shot of brandy. Sergeant James Spencer was struck by a shell fragment in his leg and was carried from the battlefield by his own men. The most tragic and poignant casualty was the death of Doctor Edward Revere, who was killed while performing field surgery on the wounded. Doctor Nathan Hayward was taken prisoner as he tended the wounded, but was paroled as the Confederates withdrew.
Some of the wounded officers would never return to the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment after the battle of Antietam. Colonel Francis Palfrey never returned to military service. Brothers Edward "Ned" Hallowell and Norwood "Pen" Hallowell received commissions to Massachusetts' first colored regiment, the Fifty-Fourth Massachusetts Volunteers.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 175-6. Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 176-80.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Letters from the Front – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
Friday, April 25, 1862
In a letter to his mother Captain Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. expressed his sorrow over the wounding of Captain William Bartlett. He remarked, "The Regt has suffered a gr[ea]t loss by Capt. Bartlett’s being shot in left leg yesterday wh[ich] is amputated just above the knee – He bore it bravely – he was hit at one of the posts on picket ..."1
References:
1Marc DeWolfe Howe, editor, Touched with Fire: Civil War Letters and Diary of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (New York: Fordham University Press, 2000), 46-47.
In a letter to his mother Captain Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. expressed his sorrow over the wounding of Captain William Bartlett. He remarked, "The Regt has suffered a gr[ea]t loss by Capt. Bartlett’s being shot in left leg yesterday wh[ich] is amputated just above the knee – He bore it bravely – he was hit at one of the posts on picket ..."1
References:
1Marc DeWolfe Howe, editor, Touched with Fire: Civil War Letters and Diary of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (New York: Fordham University Press, 2000), 46-47.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Letters from the Front – Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
Sunday, March 25, 1862
In a letter to his parents Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. wrote that he arrived in Washington, D.C. and that the regiment would likely be on the move in a day or two. He quipped, "Officers have reduced baggage to a very few portables – Nobody knows – but we may go on a naval expedition – Whatever happens keep up your pluck …"1
References:
1Marc DeWolfe Howe, editor, Touched with Fire: Civil War Letters and Diary of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (New York: Fordham University Press, 2000), 37-38.
In a letter to his parents Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. wrote that he arrived in Washington, D.C. and that the regiment would likely be on the move in a day or two. He quipped, "Officers have reduced baggage to a very few portables – Nobody knows – but we may go on a naval expedition – Whatever happens keep up your pluck …"1
References:
1Marc DeWolfe Howe, editor, Touched with Fire: Civil War Letters and Diary of Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (New York: Fordham University Press, 2000), 37-38.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Regimental Matters – Officers Return; Resignations and Promotions
Saturday, March 24, 1862
Earlier in the week Captains John C. Putnam and Ferdinand Dreher, First Lieutenant Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., and Second Lieutenant William Riddle returned to the regiment for the first time since their wounding at Ball’s Bluff in October 1861. Captain Allen Beckwith and First Lieutenant John LeBarnes resigned, and Lieutenant Holmes was promoted to Captain of Company G. Second Lieutenants August Muller and Nathaniel Messer were promoted to First Lieutenant.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 80.
Earlier in the week Captains John C. Putnam and Ferdinand Dreher, First Lieutenant Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., and Second Lieutenant William Riddle returned to the regiment for the first time since their wounding at Ball’s Bluff in October 1861. Captain Allen Beckwith and First Lieutenant John LeBarnes resigned, and Lieutenant Holmes was promoted to Captain of Company G. Second Lieutenants August Muller and Nathaniel Messer were promoted to First Lieutenant.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 80.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
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:
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.
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.
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