Tuesday, January 14, 1862
Charles Peirson received an interview with Provost Marshal General Jonathan Winder and obtained the unwelcome news that the Confederate government refused his exchange. Peirson expressed to General Winder that he believed he could affect better treatment for the Confederate privateers if he were sent north by the Confederate government with assurances of their reciprocation. General Winder suggested that Peirson apply directly in writing to Secretary of War Judah Benjamin and additionally informed Peirson that the Twentieth Massachusetts prisoners would not be transferred to Salisbury with Major Gibbs. General Winder also offered to forward a request to Lieutenant Colonel Walter Jenifer, Cavalry commander at Ball's Bluff, for the return of William Putnam's sword.
General Winder gave Peirson a pass into the jail to visit Colonel William Lee and Major Paul Revere. His heart sank when he saw the squalid conditions of their confinement. Peirson observed that " .. no prison in New England is so miserable and uncomfortable, and I believe no seven imprisoned men in the North are so illy cared for as these ..."1
References:
1Charles 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. 133-34, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.
Showing posts with label William Lowell Putnam. Show all posts
Showing posts with label William Lowell Putnam. Show all posts
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Journey of the Captives
Saturday, November 30, 1861
Dr. Edward G. Higginbotham, chief surgeon of the Richmond prison hospitals, confirmed to Adjutant Charles Pierson that hostages Colonel Lee and Major Revere were well. Peirson wrote a second letter to Captain George C. Gibbs about Lieutenant William Putnam’s sword, as he had not received a response from his letter of November 24.1
References:
1Charles 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. 120-21, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.
Dr. Edward G. Higginbotham, chief surgeon of the Richmond prison hospitals, confirmed to Adjutant Charles Pierson that hostages Colonel Lee and Major Revere were well. Peirson wrote a second letter to Captain George C. Gibbs about Lieutenant William Putnam’s sword, as he had not received a response from his letter of November 24.1
References:
1Charles 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. 120-21, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Journey of the Captives
Sunday, November 24, 1861
In Ligon Prison, Adjustant Charles Peirson wrote to the Richmond commandant, Captain George C. Gibbs, about the sword of Second Lieutenant William Lowell Putnam, who was mortally wounded at Ball's Bluff. In his request Peirson asked Gibbs to make inquiries into the whereabouts of the sword. Once located, Peirson asked Gibbs to obtain the sword and offered compensation for the cost.1
References:
1Charles 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. 120-21, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.
In Ligon Prison, Adjustant Charles Peirson wrote to the Richmond commandant, Captain George C. Gibbs, about the sword of Second Lieutenant William Lowell Putnam, who was mortally wounded at Ball's Bluff. In his request Peirson asked Gibbs to make inquiries into the whereabouts of the sword. Once located, Peirson asked Gibbs to obtain the sword and offered compensation for the cost.1
References:
1Charles 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. 120-21, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
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.
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.
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