Saturday, May 7, 1864
Both armies awaited behind fortifications for an another day of battle which never materialized. In the evening General Ulysses S. Grant ordered General George Meade to move the Army of the Potomac in the direction of Richmond by way of Spotsylvania Court House along the Brock Road.
As the Twentieth Massachusetts prepared to depart loud cheering moved down the line. General Ulysses Grant rode with his entourage along the Brock Road, reviewing the line as he passed. The Union army finally had a reason for cheering, as their commander was advancing rather than retreating to face the next battle.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), 347-48.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Battle of the Wilderness - Day 2
Friday, May 6, 1864
General Winfield S. Hancock faced a dilemma of strategy. He needed to defend the vital intersection of the Orange Plank and Brock Roads from an attack on both flanks. At 5:00 A.M. Hancock deployed two divisions under Generals David Birney and George Getty to attack along the Orange Plank Road with support from artillery under General John Gibbon to protect his left flank. At the same time he positioned General Alexander Webb's brigade, including the Twentieth Massachusetts, to defend the Orange Plank and Brock intersection. Hancock was concerned about the whereabouts of Confederate General James Longstreet, who had yet to make an appearance at the Wilderness. Hancock assumed that Longstreet's arrival was imminent.
Hancock's attack along the Orange Plank Road was very successful during the first hour,as the Confederates were halted along the Plank Road and Hancock's men took prisoners from the divisions of Confederate Generals Henry Heth and Cadmus Wilcox. Around 6:00 A.M. the lead divisions of General James Longstreet, led by General Joseph Kershaw, attacked along the Plank Road east of the Tapp Farm. Hancock's offensive abruptly ended as Birney's and Getty's divisions were pushed east toward the intersection. At this point Hancock ordered Webb's brigade, including the Twentieth Massachusetts, north of the intersection to the relief of General Getty.
As the Twentieth Massachusetts entered the fray and moved west along the Orange Plank Road they came under the fire of Confederate General A.P. Hill. The Twentieth Massachusetts advanced to a clearing south of the Plank Road, where General Webb ordered them to "hold the position at any cost." The Twentieth held this position successfully until 11:00 A.M., when they were approached by General James Wadsworth of the Fifth Corps. Wadsworth ordered the Twentieth Massachusetts to leave their defensive position and come to the aid of General Birney, who was under severe fire. The Twentieth Massachusetts, led by Colonel George Macy, advanced from their breastworks and almost immediately were met by a rapid volley of gunfire from Abner Perrin's Alabama brigade. As the Twentieth Massachusetts sought cover in the underbrush they viewed their untenable situation. Perrin's brigade was secure behind breastworks at the top of a slope. The Twentieth Massachusetts, however, still continued to advance, and hand-to-hand combat ensued. The Twentieth was soon overrun by the Confederates, and they were forced to retreat. Losses to the Twentieth Massachusetts were severe. Officers Albert Holmes, George Macy, Henry Bond, Henry Patten, John Summerhays, William Perkins were wounded in the ill-fated attack. The greatest loss to the Twentieth was the mortal wounding of Major Henry Abbott, who died around 4:30 P.M. at a battlefield hospital. Colonels George Macy and Theodore Lyman stood by Abbott's side as he tragically succumbed to his wounds.
As the afternoon wore on the battle continued to rage. The thick tangled underbrush of the Wilderness was set ablaze by continual gunfire. General James Longstreet was wounded by his own men and was carried off the battlefield. By evening the Union forces held the vital Orange Plank and Brock Road intersection.
The casualty count for both armies was staggering, as the Union reported 18,000 and the Confederates reported 11,000. The Twentieth Massachusetts lost approximately 300 men in casualties, with the greatest number occurring in the ill-fated charge on Perrin's brigade. General James Wadsworth, who ordered the charge, was killed shortly after ordering the Twentieth Massachusetts into the fatal fray.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), 334-40.
General Winfield S. Hancock faced a dilemma of strategy. He needed to defend the vital intersection of the Orange Plank and Brock Roads from an attack on both flanks. At 5:00 A.M. Hancock deployed two divisions under Generals David Birney and George Getty to attack along the Orange Plank Road with support from artillery under General John Gibbon to protect his left flank. At the same time he positioned General Alexander Webb's brigade, including the Twentieth Massachusetts, to defend the Orange Plank and Brock intersection. Hancock was concerned about the whereabouts of Confederate General James Longstreet, who had yet to make an appearance at the Wilderness. Hancock assumed that Longstreet's arrival was imminent.
Hancock's attack along the Orange Plank Road was very successful during the first hour,as the Confederates were halted along the Plank Road and Hancock's men took prisoners from the divisions of Confederate Generals Henry Heth and Cadmus Wilcox. Around 6:00 A.M. the lead divisions of General James Longstreet, led by General Joseph Kershaw, attacked along the Plank Road east of the Tapp Farm. Hancock's offensive abruptly ended as Birney's and Getty's divisions were pushed east toward the intersection. At this point Hancock ordered Webb's brigade, including the Twentieth Massachusetts, north of the intersection to the relief of General Getty.
As the Twentieth Massachusetts entered the fray and moved west along the Orange Plank Road they came under the fire of Confederate General A.P. Hill. The Twentieth Massachusetts advanced to a clearing south of the Plank Road, where General Webb ordered them to "hold the position at any cost." The Twentieth held this position successfully until 11:00 A.M., when they were approached by General James Wadsworth of the Fifth Corps. Wadsworth ordered the Twentieth Massachusetts to leave their defensive position and come to the aid of General Birney, who was under severe fire. The Twentieth Massachusetts, led by Colonel George Macy, advanced from their breastworks and almost immediately were met by a rapid volley of gunfire from Abner Perrin's Alabama brigade. As the Twentieth Massachusetts sought cover in the underbrush they viewed their untenable situation. Perrin's brigade was secure behind breastworks at the top of a slope. The Twentieth Massachusetts, however, still continued to advance, and hand-to-hand combat ensued. The Twentieth was soon overrun by the Confederates, and they were forced to retreat. Losses to the Twentieth Massachusetts were severe. Officers Albert Holmes, George Macy, Henry Bond, Henry Patten, John Summerhays, William Perkins were wounded in the ill-fated attack. The greatest loss to the Twentieth was the mortal wounding of Major Henry Abbott, who died around 4:30 P.M. at a battlefield hospital. Colonels George Macy and Theodore Lyman stood by Abbott's side as he tragically succumbed to his wounds.
As the afternoon wore on the battle continued to rage. The thick tangled underbrush of the Wilderness was set ablaze by continual gunfire. General James Longstreet was wounded by his own men and was carried off the battlefield. By evening the Union forces held the vital Orange Plank and Brock Road intersection.
The casualty count for both armies was staggering, as the Union reported 18,000 and the Confederates reported 11,000. The Twentieth Massachusetts lost approximately 300 men in casualties, with the greatest number occurring in the ill-fated charge on Perrin's brigade. General James Wadsworth, who ordered the charge, was killed shortly after ordering the Twentieth Massachusetts into the fatal fray.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), 334-40.
Monday, May 5, 2014
Battle of the Wilderness - Day 1
Thursday, May 5, 1864
At 6:00 A.M. the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment began its march with the Second Corps along the Catharpin Road in the direction of Shady Grove Church, about five miles southwest of Chancellorsville. At 9:00 A.M. the Second Corps received news that the Confederates were lining up in force along the Orange Turnpike near Wilderness Tavern, and that the Second Corps needed to reverse their march two miles to Todd's Tavern at the intersection of the Brock Road.
General Robert E. Lee attempted to forestall Ulysses S. Grant's advantage by dispatching Richard Ewell's Second Corps along the Orange Turnpike and advancing A.P. Hill's Third Corps along the Orange Plank Road toward its intersection with the Brock Road. Holding this intersection was vital to Union success; if Lee advanced and held the intersection before Grant, the Union Army would be divided. General Winfield Scott Hancock hurried the Second Corps up the Brock Road to its strategic intersection with the Orange Plank Road to hold the ground at all costs.
During the afternoon General Hancock received support from General George W. Getty's Sixth Corps and General Governeur K. Warren's Fifth Corps to hold the line along the Orange Plank Road until Hancock could deploy his Second Corps. The Twentieth Massachusetts arrived at the intersection around 4:30 P.M. and were deployed along the Brock Road to build breastworks and stabilize the line. Heavy fighting ensued for the remainder of the afternoon, but by evening the Union held the Orange Plank Road and Brock Road intersection.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), 330-33.
At 6:00 A.M. the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment began its march with the Second Corps along the Catharpin Road in the direction of Shady Grove Church, about five miles southwest of Chancellorsville. At 9:00 A.M. the Second Corps received news that the Confederates were lining up in force along the Orange Turnpike near Wilderness Tavern, and that the Second Corps needed to reverse their march two miles to Todd's Tavern at the intersection of the Brock Road.
General Robert E. Lee attempted to forestall Ulysses S. Grant's advantage by dispatching Richard Ewell's Second Corps along the Orange Turnpike and advancing A.P. Hill's Third Corps along the Orange Plank Road toward its intersection with the Brock Road. Holding this intersection was vital to Union success; if Lee advanced and held the intersection before Grant, the Union Army would be divided. General Winfield Scott Hancock hurried the Second Corps up the Brock Road to its strategic intersection with the Orange Plank Road to hold the ground at all costs.
During the afternoon General Hancock received support from General George W. Getty's Sixth Corps and General Governeur K. Warren's Fifth Corps to hold the line along the Orange Plank Road until Hancock could deploy his Second Corps. The Twentieth Massachusetts arrived at the intersection around 4:30 P.M. and were deployed along the Brock Road to build breastworks and stabilize the line. Heavy fighting ensued for the remainder of the afternoon, but by evening the Union held the Orange Plank Road and Brock Road intersection.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), 330-33.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Bivouac at Chancellorsville
Wednesday, May 4, 1864
The Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment marched through the night, reaching the Rapidan River at Ely's Ford at 8:00 A.M. By 11:00 A.M. the footsore Twentieth arrived at the Chancellorsville crossroads.
General Ulysses S. Grant's objective was to force General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia out of their entrenched position south of the Rapidan River and face an engagement on open ground by attacking and turning Lee's right flank.
In the evening the Twentieth Massachusetts bivouacked on the Chancellorsville Battlefield, the site of the previous year's battle one year and a day earlier. 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), 328-30.
The Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment marched through the night, reaching the Rapidan River at Ely's Ford at 8:00 A.M. By 11:00 A.M. the footsore Twentieth arrived at the Chancellorsville crossroads.
General Ulysses S. Grant's objective was to force General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia out of their entrenched position south of the Rapidan River and face an engagement on open ground by attacking and turning Lee's right flank.
In the evening the Twentieth Massachusetts bivouacked on the Chancellorsville Battlefield, the site of the previous year's battle one year and a day earlier. 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), 328-30.
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Overland Campaign of 1864 Begins
Tuesday, May 3, 1864
After a brief skirmish drill in the morning the Twentieth Massachusetts received orders to prepare to march, breaking their camp at Stevensburg for the first time since December. In the evening the men of the Twentieth struck tents and left camp at 11:25 P.M. 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), 328.
After a brief skirmish drill in the morning the Twentieth Massachusetts received orders to prepare to march, breaking their camp at Stevensburg for the first time since December. In the evening the men of the Twentieth struck tents and left camp at 11:25 P.M. 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), 328.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Grant Establishes Headquarters at Culpeper
Saturday, March 26, 1864
General Ulysses S. Grant arrived at his headquarters in Culpeper, Virginia to prepare for the Spring Campaign of 1864.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 338.
General Ulysses S. Grant arrived at his headquarters in Culpeper, Virginia to prepare for the Spring Campaign of 1864.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 338.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Oliver's Story - Re-enlistment for Three Years Service
Saturday, March 19, 1864
This day, at winter camp in Stevensburg, Virginia, Private Oliver Stanton Bates re-enlisted for three additional years of military service with Company A of the Twentieth Massachusetts as a veteran volunteer. Upon re-enlistment as a veteran volunteer Oliver was granted five weeks of furlough from March 23 to April 28.
Oliver was twenty-three years old at the time of his re-enlistment.1
References:
1Compiled 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.
This day, at winter camp in Stevensburg, Virginia, Private Oliver Stanton Bates re-enlisted for three additional years of military service with Company A of the Twentieth Massachusetts as a veteran volunteer. Upon re-enlistment as a veteran volunteer Oliver was granted five weeks of furlough from March 23 to April 28.
Oliver was twenty-three years old at the time of his re-enlistment.1
References:
1Compiled 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.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
Ulysses S. Grant Takes Command of all Union Armies
Wednesday, March 9, 1864
General Ulysses S. received his commission to assume command of all Union armies from President Lincoln. The U.S. Congress had prepared the way for Grant's commission by reviving the rank of Lieutenant General two weeks earlier on February 26.1
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), 324.
General Ulysses S. received his commission to assume command of all Union armies from President Lincoln. The U.S. Congress had prepared the way for Grant's commission by reviving the rank of Lieutenant General two weeks earlier on February 26.1
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), 324.
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