Wednesday, January 28, 1863
By order of President Abraham Lincoln General Ambrose Burnside was removed from command of the Army of Potomac and replaced by General Joseph Hooker. General Edwin "Bull" Sumner, the commander of the Right Grand Division, resigned due to ill health. General William Franklin also resigned his commission due to the change in command.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 226.
Monday, January 28, 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.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Burnside's "Mud March"
Tuesday, January 20, 1863
The Twentieth Massachusetts received orders to march toward Fredericksburg, as General Ambrose Burnside planned to advance upon the city and redeem the failure of the attack on December 13. Generals Joseph Hooker and William Franklin were ordered to march north six miles and cross the Rappahannock River at Banks' Ford in a flanking move on Fredericksburg and General Edwin Sumner was to cross at Falmouth to directly assault the city. As the army began their move rain ensued for several days, and the advance of the army was impeded by heavy rain and mud. After three days the campaign, known as the "Mud March," was halted permanently. General Burnside's fate as commander of the Union Army was likewise sealed.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 225-26.
The Twentieth Massachusetts received orders to march toward Fredericksburg, as General Ambrose Burnside planned to advance upon the city and redeem the failure of the attack on December 13. Generals Joseph Hooker and William Franklin were ordered to march north six miles and cross the Rappahannock River at Banks' Ford in a flanking move on Fredericksburg and General Edwin Sumner was to cross at Falmouth to directly assault the city. As the army began their move rain ensued for several days, and the advance of the army was impeded by heavy rain and mud. After three days the campaign, known as the "Mud March," was halted permanently. General Burnside's fate as commander of the Union Army was likewise sealed.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 225-26.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Letters from the Front - Nathan Hayward
Saturday, December 27, 1862
Doctor Nathan Hayward penned a letter to his father from Fredericksburg, the first letter he was able to compose since the battle. He explained that he was operating on wounded soldiers from morning until after dark every day for nearly two weeks. He worked in concert with other doctors and surgeons, consulting with them for the best course of treatment and operation. He relayed that he is currently the acting surgeon for his brigade.
Doctor Hayward stated that the newspaper reports of the battle at Fredericksburg was laughable and exaggerated. He hoped that the disaster at Fredericksburg will bring about the restoration of General George McClellan. He relayed that the soldiers are dissatisfied and dispirited since the removal of McClellan and that they entered Fredericksburg expecting defeat and slaughter. Hayward spoke highly of McClellan, stating that “no other man can command the confidence of his veterans.” Hayward felt that General Ambrose Burnside is affable and a gentleman, but he remarked that these qualities do not make a great General. “The army knows full well that affectional qualities are not what it requires, but intellect in a special department, and that the only man who has displayed great intellect in this specialty has been most foolishly, almost madly, removed.”1
References:
1Nathan Hayward, "Letters," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 401-403, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.
Doctor Nathan Hayward penned a letter to his father from Fredericksburg, the first letter he was able to compose since the battle. He explained that he was operating on wounded soldiers from morning until after dark every day for nearly two weeks. He worked in concert with other doctors and surgeons, consulting with them for the best course of treatment and operation. He relayed that he is currently the acting surgeon for his brigade.
Doctor Hayward stated that the newspaper reports of the battle at Fredericksburg was laughable and exaggerated. He hoped that the disaster at Fredericksburg will bring about the restoration of General George McClellan. He relayed that the soldiers are dissatisfied and dispirited since the removal of McClellan and that they entered Fredericksburg expecting defeat and slaughter. Hayward spoke highly of McClellan, stating that “no other man can command the confidence of his veterans.” Hayward felt that General Ambrose Burnside is affable and a gentleman, but he remarked that these qualities do not make a great General. “The army knows full well that affectional qualities are not what it requires, but intellect in a special department, and that the only man who has displayed great intellect in this specialty has been most foolishly, almost madly, removed.”1
References:
1Nathan Hayward, "Letters," Association of Officers of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment, Reports, Letters and Papers Appertaining to Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, vol. 1, p. 401-403, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Christmas at Falmouth
Thursday, December 25, 1862
The Twentieth Massachusetts celebrated Christmas at their winter camp in Falmouth. The men were delighted to receive shipments of cooked turkeys, chickens, and geese for their holiday meal.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 232-33.
The Twentieth Massachusetts celebrated Christmas at their winter camp in Falmouth. The men were delighted to receive shipments of cooked turkeys, chickens, and geese for their holiday meal.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 232-33.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Retreat Across the Rappahannock River
Monday, December 15, 1862
The three Grand Divisions of the Army of the Potomac retreated across the Rappahannock River and removed the pontoon bridges at the three river crossing locations. 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), 215.
The three Grand Divisions of the Army of the Potomac retreated across the Rappahannock River and removed the pontoon bridges at the three river crossing locations. 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), 215.
Friday, December 14, 2012
General Howard Praises the Twentieth Massachusetts
Sunday, December 14, 1862
General Oliver Howard, commander of the division, praised the Twentieth Massachusetts for their splendid service during the three-day battle at Fredericksburg. General Howard approached Captain George Macy and proclaimed, "Capt. Macy, I have come to thank you and your Regiment for your noble conduct in the late battles. You have done nobly, the Regiment has done nobly. Massachusetts men always do nobly."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), 216.
General Oliver Howard, commander of the division, praised the Twentieth Massachusetts for their splendid service during the three-day battle at Fredericksburg. General Howard approached Captain George Macy and proclaimed, "Capt. Macy, I have come to thank you and your Regiment for your noble conduct in the late battles. You have done nobly, the Regiment has done nobly. Massachusetts men always do nobly."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), 216.
Cease Fire at Fredericksburg
Sunday, December 14, 1862
During the early hours of the morning the Fourth United States Infantry relieved the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment from their entrenched position along William Street. The exhausted Twentieth withdrew to the city of Fredericksburg. In light of the slaughter of the previous day General Edwin "Bull" Sumner convinced General Ambrose Burnside to abandon additional assaults by all three Grand Divisions. 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), 215.
During the early hours of the morning the Fourth United States Infantry relieved the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment from their entrenched position along William Street. The exhausted Twentieth withdrew to the city of Fredericksburg. In light of the slaughter of the previous day General Edwin "Bull" Sumner convinced General Ambrose Burnside to abandon additional assaults by all three Grand Divisions. 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), 215.
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