Friday, July 3, 1863
The Twentieth Massachusetts suffered severe casualties at Gettysburg. Among the officers killed were Colonel Paul Joseph Revere, First Lieutenant Henry Ropes, and Second Lieutenant Sumner Paine. Among the officers wounded were Lieutenant Colonel George Macy and Adjutant William H. Walker. The Twentieth Massachusetts reported one-hundred twenty-two casualties, included forty killed, eighty-one wounded, and one missing. The regiment incurred the majority of the casualties during the hand-to-hand combat at the copse of trees to seal the Union line.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 297-98. Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 273.
Showing posts with label Sumner Paine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sumner Paine. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Battle of Gettysburg - Day 3
Friday, July 3, 1863
The Twentieth Massachusetts remained in their position at the center of the Union line, about 150 yards south of a copse of trees located near a stone wall. Union General George Meade advised Second Corps General John Gibbon to prepare for an attack on the center of the Union line directed squarely at the Second Corps. At 9:00 A.M. First Lieutenant Henry Ropes of Company K was tragically killed by an artillery shell that misfired from a Union battery. Lieutenant Ropes was greatly respected by officers and enlisted alike, and the Twentieth was deeply affected by his sudden loss.
At 1:00 P.M. a heavy artillery barrage commenced from the Confederate line clustered in the line of trees approximately one mile across the field from the Union line. All along the Union line the infantry regiments hugged the ground and hoped that they would not be torn to bits by Confederate artillery shells. The majority of the Confederate shells fell well behind the infantry lines and hit several Union artillery batteries.
At 3:00 P.M. a line of Confederate infantry emerged from the trees. The Confederate line stretched nearly a mile long and numbered nearly twenty-thousand men, comprised from the divisions of Generals George Pickett and James Johnston Pettigrew. As the Confederates advanced through the fields, long-range Union artillery posted securely along the Round Tops began to exact casualties among the Confederates. As the Confederate line approached the Emmitsburg Road, which bisected the fields, they took fire from the Union batteries along the center of the line. Although suffering numerous casualties the Confederates continued their advance.
The Twentieth Massachusetts remained on the ground as the Confederates continued to approach their position. They were ordered to hold their fire until the Confederates were one-hundred yards away. Confederate General James Kemper's brigade of George Pickett's division immediately faced the position of the Twentieth Massachusetts. As Kemper's brigade neared to within range of the Twentieth Massachusetts rifles the Twentieth arose from the ground and poured blistering rounds of rifle fire into Kemper's men. General George Stannard positioned two Vermont regiments at a ninety-degree angle and poured rifle fire along Kemper's flank. Union artillery behind the Twentieth Massachusetts sent several bursts into the Confederates, and Kemper's advance was repulsed.
As the Twentieth Massachusetts celebrated their successful repulse the remnants of two Confederate brigades of General George Pickett led by Generals Richard Garnett and Lewis Armistead breached gaps in the Union line along the stone wall near the copse of trees. Captain Henry Abbott was the senior ranking officer on the field for the Twentieth Massachusetts, as Colonel Paul Revere had been wounded on the previous day and Lieutenant Colonel George Macy had just been wounded by a minie ball in his left hand as the Confederates breached the line. Abbott, immediately sensing the new Confederate threat and fearing that his line would be flanked, led the Twentieth Massachusetts immediately to the right to the new conflict at the copse of trees. Severe hand-to-hand combat ensued for the next twenty minutes until the breach was sealed and the Confederate advance was repulsed. The Twentieth Massachusetts suffered the majority of their casualties during the fierce hand-to-hand combat. Among the casualties were Lieutenant Sumner Paine of Company A, who fell from artillery and rifle fire as he approached the breach in the Union line with his men. Among the wounded during the conflict was Private Oliver Stanton Bates of Company A. 1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 284-98. Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 262-72. Edwin R. Root and Jeffrey D. Stocker, Isn't This Glorious! The 15th, 19th, and 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiments at Gettysburg's Copse of Trees (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: Moon Trail Books, 2006), 17-44.
The Twentieth Massachusetts remained in their position at the center of the Union line, about 150 yards south of a copse of trees located near a stone wall. Union General George Meade advised Second Corps General John Gibbon to prepare for an attack on the center of the Union line directed squarely at the Second Corps. At 9:00 A.M. First Lieutenant Henry Ropes of Company K was tragically killed by an artillery shell that misfired from a Union battery. Lieutenant Ropes was greatly respected by officers and enlisted alike, and the Twentieth was deeply affected by his sudden loss.
At 1:00 P.M. a heavy artillery barrage commenced from the Confederate line clustered in the line of trees approximately one mile across the field from the Union line. All along the Union line the infantry regiments hugged the ground and hoped that they would not be torn to bits by Confederate artillery shells. The majority of the Confederate shells fell well behind the infantry lines and hit several Union artillery batteries.
At 3:00 P.M. a line of Confederate infantry emerged from the trees. The Confederate line stretched nearly a mile long and numbered nearly twenty-thousand men, comprised from the divisions of Generals George Pickett and James Johnston Pettigrew. As the Confederates advanced through the fields, long-range Union artillery posted securely along the Round Tops began to exact casualties among the Confederates. As the Confederate line approached the Emmitsburg Road, which bisected the fields, they took fire from the Union batteries along the center of the line. Although suffering numerous casualties the Confederates continued their advance.
The Twentieth Massachusetts remained on the ground as the Confederates continued to approach their position. They were ordered to hold their fire until the Confederates were one-hundred yards away. Confederate General James Kemper's brigade of George Pickett's division immediately faced the position of the Twentieth Massachusetts. As Kemper's brigade neared to within range of the Twentieth Massachusetts rifles the Twentieth arose from the ground and poured blistering rounds of rifle fire into Kemper's men. General George Stannard positioned two Vermont regiments at a ninety-degree angle and poured rifle fire along Kemper's flank. Union artillery behind the Twentieth Massachusetts sent several bursts into the Confederates, and Kemper's advance was repulsed.
As the Twentieth Massachusetts celebrated their successful repulse the remnants of two Confederate brigades of General George Pickett led by Generals Richard Garnett and Lewis Armistead breached gaps in the Union line along the stone wall near the copse of trees. Captain Henry Abbott was the senior ranking officer on the field for the Twentieth Massachusetts, as Colonel Paul Revere had been wounded on the previous day and Lieutenant Colonel George Macy had just been wounded by a minie ball in his left hand as the Confederates breached the line. Abbott, immediately sensing the new Confederate threat and fearing that his line would be flanked, led the Twentieth Massachusetts immediately to the right to the new conflict at the copse of trees. Severe hand-to-hand combat ensued for the next twenty minutes until the breach was sealed and the Confederate advance was repulsed. The Twentieth Massachusetts suffered the majority of their casualties during the fierce hand-to-hand combat. Among the casualties were Lieutenant Sumner Paine of Company A, who fell from artillery and rifle fire as he approached the breach in the Union line with his men. Among the wounded during the conflict was Private Oliver Stanton Bates of Company A. 1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 284-98. Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 262-72. Edwin R. Root and Jeffrey D. Stocker, Isn't This Glorious! The 15th, 19th, and 20th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiments at Gettysburg's Copse of Trees (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: Moon Trail Books, 2006), 17-44.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
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.
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:
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Sumner Paine Commissioned as Second Lieutenant
Thursday, April 23, 1863
Eighteen-year old Sumner Paine, great-grandson of Declaration of Independence signer Robert Treat Paine and cousin of Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., was commissioned as a second lieutenant from civilian life.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), 228. George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 235.
Eighteen-year old Sumner Paine, great-grandson of Declaration of Independence signer Robert Treat Paine and cousin of Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., was commissioned as a second lieutenant from civilian life.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), 228. George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 235.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)