Monday, February 2, 1863
Doctor Nathan Hayward penned a letter to his father from Falmouth, explaining that the Twentieth was encamped in the town of Falmouth as provost guard of the town. He mentioned that the conditions of the roadways were in terrible state due to recent weather. He also mentioned that despite the adverse weather conditions the regiment was healthy.
Doctor Hayward related that the appointment of General Joseph Hooker as the new commander of the Army of the Potomac has been received by the soldiers with indifference. He believed that Hooker was a fighter, but not a strategist. Hayward felt that the army lost its greatest remaining general when General William Franklin resigned his command as a direct result of Hooker's appointment.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. 412-413, Twentieth Massachusetts Special Collection, Boston Public Library, Boston, Massachusetts.
Showing posts with label William Franklin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label William Franklin. Show all posts
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Monday, January 28, 2013
Burnside Replaced with Hooker
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.
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.
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 13, 2012
Battle of Fredericksburg - Day 3
Saturday, December 13, 1862
General Ambrose Burnside ordered General William Franklin's Left Grand Division to strike Confederate Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson south of Fredericksburg, and ordered General Edwin "Bull" Sumner's Right Grand Division and General Joseph Hooker's Center Grand Division to assault Confederate General James Longstreet at Marye's Heights.
Around 1:00 P.M. General Oliver Howard's division, of which the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment was a part, formed a line of battle and prepared for an assault on Marye's Heights. They witnessed the failed attempts of General William French and General Winfield Hancock's division during the late morning and early afternoon and were aware of the terrible carnage that befell these two divisions. They knew that their attack would be a desperate and futile attempt on a well-fortified position. Confederate artillery was securely positioned atop Marye's Heights, and the stone wall at the base of Marye's Heights afforded protection for Confederate rifleman lined behind the wall. The Twentieth Massachusetts had a slight advantage in that their division planned to attack north of the well-fortified stone wall at the base of Marye's Heights.
The Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment advanced along William Street toward the northern end of Marye's Heights. As they neared their objective they came under blistering rifle fire from Confederate infantry units that spanned William Street and were exposed to artillery fire from Confederate batteries atop Marye's Heights. Both exacted casualties in the Twentieth Massachusetts, who formed a line to return fire. Colonel Norman Hall realized the futility of the attack, but reformed his division for another assault which proved likewise futile. At their advanced position the Twentieth Massachusetts could not retreat but were forced to lie down on the ground and seek cover. As darkness fell they remained entrenched along William Street on their stomachs to avoid Confederate rifle and artillery fire as well as friendly fire from their own men positioned behind them.
Casualties were heavy among the Twentieth Massachusetts for the two days of battle at Fredericksburg. On December 11 and December 13 the regiment suffered one-third of its available strength in casualties. Among the wounded on December 13 was Private Oliver Stanton Bates of Company A.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), 208-216. George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 221.
General Ambrose Burnside ordered General William Franklin's Left Grand Division to strike Confederate Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson south of Fredericksburg, and ordered General Edwin "Bull" Sumner's Right Grand Division and General Joseph Hooker's Center Grand Division to assault Confederate General James Longstreet at Marye's Heights.
Around 1:00 P.M. General Oliver Howard's division, of which the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment was a part, formed a line of battle and prepared for an assault on Marye's Heights. They witnessed the failed attempts of General William French and General Winfield Hancock's division during the late morning and early afternoon and were aware of the terrible carnage that befell these two divisions. They knew that their attack would be a desperate and futile attempt on a well-fortified position. Confederate artillery was securely positioned atop Marye's Heights, and the stone wall at the base of Marye's Heights afforded protection for Confederate rifleman lined behind the wall. The Twentieth Massachusetts had a slight advantage in that their division planned to attack north of the well-fortified stone wall at the base of Marye's Heights.
The Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment advanced along William Street toward the northern end of Marye's Heights. As they neared their objective they came under blistering rifle fire from Confederate infantry units that spanned William Street and were exposed to artillery fire from Confederate batteries atop Marye's Heights. Both exacted casualties in the Twentieth Massachusetts, who formed a line to return fire. Colonel Norman Hall realized the futility of the attack, but reformed his division for another assault which proved likewise futile. At their advanced position the Twentieth Massachusetts could not retreat but were forced to lie down on the ground and seek cover. As darkness fell they remained entrenched along William Street on their stomachs to avoid Confederate rifle and artillery fire as well as friendly fire from their own men positioned behind them.
Casualties were heavy among the Twentieth Massachusetts for the two days of battle at Fredericksburg. On December 11 and December 13 the regiment suffered one-third of its available strength in casualties. Among the wounded on December 13 was Private Oliver Stanton Bates of Company A.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), 208-216. George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 221.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Union and Confederate Troop Movements around Fredericksburg
Wednesday, November 19, 1862
The units of the Army of the Potomac began deployment around Fredericksburg. The Left Grand Division under General William Franklin arrived at Stafford Court House on Tuesday. Today the Center Grand Division under General Joseph Hooker arrived at Hartwood.
In anticipation of a Union attack on Fredericksburg Confederate General Robert E. Lee deployed divisions under General Lafayette McLaws and General Robert Ransom at Fredericksburg, with General James Longstreet's division to follow. He ordered General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson to remain in the Shenandoah Valley with discretionary authority to move at will.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 183, 186.
The units of the Army of the Potomac began deployment around Fredericksburg. The Left Grand Division under General William Franklin arrived at Stafford Court House on Tuesday. Today the Center Grand Division under General Joseph Hooker arrived at Hartwood.
In anticipation of a Union attack on Fredericksburg Confederate General Robert E. Lee deployed divisions under General Lafayette McLaws and General Robert Ransom at Fredericksburg, with General James Longstreet's division to follow. He ordered General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson to remain in the Shenandoah Valley with discretionary authority to move at will.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 183, 186.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Burnside Takes Command
Sunday, November 9, 1862
General Ambrose Burnside assumed command of the Army of the Potomac. He planned to concentrate the Army around Warrenton and feint a move toward Culpeper or Gordonsville while driving toward Fredericksburg and Richmond. He communicated his intentions to General-in-Chief Henry Halleck in Washington. General Burnside partioned the Army of the Potomac into three divisions, placing General Edwin "Bull" Sumner in charge of the Right Grand Division, General Joseph Hooker in charge of the Center Grand Division, and General William Franklin in charge of the Left Grand Division.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 181.
General Ambrose Burnside assumed command of the Army of the Potomac. He planned to concentrate the Army around Warrenton and feint a move toward Culpeper or Gordonsville while driving toward Fredericksburg and Richmond. He communicated his intentions to General-in-Chief Henry Halleck in Washington. General Burnside partioned the Army of the Potomac into three divisions, placing General Edwin "Bull" Sumner in charge of the Right Grand Division, General Joseph Hooker in charge of the Center Grand Division, and General William Franklin in charge of the Left Grand Division.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 181.
Friday, June 29, 2012
Seven Days Battles - Day 5 - Battle of Allen's Farm and Savage Station
Sunday, June 29, 1862
Confederate General Robert E. Lee ordered Generals John Magruder and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson to pursue the retreating Union army, pushing them from the rear and hoping to engage an attack. Lee sent General James Longstreet south to Glendale and General Theophilus Holmes to Malvern Hill in anticipation of the movement of the Union army. Union General George McClellan left only five divisions from three corps, including General Bull Sumner’s Second Corps, General Samuel Heintzelman’s Third Corps, and General William Franklin’s Sixth Corps, to defend the rear of the Union army at the supply depot at Savage Station.
At dawn Brigadier General Napoleon Dana received orders to re-pitch the tents struck around midnight to confuse the Confederates who were rapidly approaching behind their lines and to give his brigade additional time for the ensuing retreat to Savage Station. One half-hour later, after re-pitching their tents and marching into the woods toward Savage Station, the men of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment observed the arrival of the Confederates into their abandoned camp. At approximately 8:00 A.M. the Twentieth Massachusetts arrived at a location about two miles west of Savage Station. General Dana positioned the Twentieth Massachusetts along the Richmond and York Railroad near the woods on Mrs. E. Allen’s Farm. At 9:00 A.M. the Confederates attacked. The battle ensued for two hours, and General Dana’s brigade was not heavily engaged. The Confederate attack was repulsed by 11:00 A.M. The Twentieth suffered no casualties during this encounter.
Shortly after the battle at Allen’s Farm ceased Second Corps Commander Bull Sumner received news that the Confederates had crossed the Chickahominy River with a large force, and Sumner realized the necessity to remove his corps to Savage Station immediately. Although the march to Savage Station was relatively short, the day was exceedingly hot, and many soldiers suffered from heat exhaustion during their progress. The Twentieth reached Savage Station in the early afternoon, and deployed on elevated ground near the hospital tents. The men of the Twentieth who had pushed the railroad cars to Savage Station depot on the previous day were burning and destroying large stores of ammunition. Thick smoke from the destruction marked the location of the Union troops.
Once again General Jackson was late to assist General Magruder, and Magruder decided to attack Sumner’s Corps before Jackson’s arrival. On the Union side, General Heintzelman’s Third Corps, who was ordered to guard the rear flank, did not reinforce Sumner’s Second Corps, but proceeded to join the remainder of the Union army and left Sumner alone to defend the flank. At approximately 5:00 P.M. Magruder approached Savage Station and a battle ensued between the forces of Magruder and Sumner. The Twentieth saw much of the action from their position on high ground, although they were in range of Confederate artillery fire. Sumner’s Pennsylvania regiments saw the heaviest fighting at Savage Station. As nightfall approached and the Twentieth was ordered to relieve the Pennsylvania Fire Zouaves, the Confederates ordered a cessation of the fight because they feared firing on their own men. As darkness descended the Twentieth Massachusetts again escaped the heat of battle, but not for long.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 111-118. Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 139-44.
Confederate General Robert E. Lee ordered Generals John Magruder and Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson to pursue the retreating Union army, pushing them from the rear and hoping to engage an attack. Lee sent General James Longstreet south to Glendale and General Theophilus Holmes to Malvern Hill in anticipation of the movement of the Union army. Union General George McClellan left only five divisions from three corps, including General Bull Sumner’s Second Corps, General Samuel Heintzelman’s Third Corps, and General William Franklin’s Sixth Corps, to defend the rear of the Union army at the supply depot at Savage Station.
At dawn Brigadier General Napoleon Dana received orders to re-pitch the tents struck around midnight to confuse the Confederates who were rapidly approaching behind their lines and to give his brigade additional time for the ensuing retreat to Savage Station. One half-hour later, after re-pitching their tents and marching into the woods toward Savage Station, the men of the Twentieth Massachusetts Regiment observed the arrival of the Confederates into their abandoned camp. At approximately 8:00 A.M. the Twentieth Massachusetts arrived at a location about two miles west of Savage Station. General Dana positioned the Twentieth Massachusetts along the Richmond and York Railroad near the woods on Mrs. E. Allen’s Farm. At 9:00 A.M. the Confederates attacked. The battle ensued for two hours, and General Dana’s brigade was not heavily engaged. The Confederate attack was repulsed by 11:00 A.M. The Twentieth suffered no casualties during this encounter.
Shortly after the battle at Allen’s Farm ceased Second Corps Commander Bull Sumner received news that the Confederates had crossed the Chickahominy River with a large force, and Sumner realized the necessity to remove his corps to Savage Station immediately. Although the march to Savage Station was relatively short, the day was exceedingly hot, and many soldiers suffered from heat exhaustion during their progress. The Twentieth reached Savage Station in the early afternoon, and deployed on elevated ground near the hospital tents. The men of the Twentieth who had pushed the railroad cars to Savage Station depot on the previous day were burning and destroying large stores of ammunition. Thick smoke from the destruction marked the location of the Union troops.
Once again General Jackson was late to assist General Magruder, and Magruder decided to attack Sumner’s Corps before Jackson’s arrival. On the Union side, General Heintzelman’s Third Corps, who was ordered to guard the rear flank, did not reinforce Sumner’s Second Corps, but proceeded to join the remainder of the Union army and left Sumner alone to defend the flank. At approximately 5:00 P.M. Magruder approached Savage Station and a battle ensued between the forces of Magruder and Sumner. The Twentieth saw much of the action from their position on high ground, although they were in range of Confederate artillery fire. Sumner’s Pennsylvania regiments saw the heaviest fighting at Savage Station. As nightfall approached and the Twentieth was ordered to relieve the Pennsylvania Fire Zouaves, the Confederates ordered a cessation of the fight because they feared firing on their own men. As darkness descended the Twentieth Massachusetts again escaped the heat of battle, but not for long.1
References:
1George A. Bruce, The Twentieth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry 1861 - 1865 (Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press, 1906), 111-118. Richard F. Miller, Harvard's Civil War: A History of the Twentieth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (Lebanon, New Hampshire: University Press of New England, 2005), 139-44.
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