13th Mass History 1862

Summary of service; 1862.

The year would be a difficult one. The long awaited advance began with high hopes on March 1st 1862, when the army of General Nathaniel Banks advanced across the Potomac River into Virginia. The 13th in the vanguard, were the first Union troops into Martinsburg, and Winchester. They soon split off from Banks and marched over the Blue Ridge Mountains to Warrenton where their new Brigade commander Brigadier General John J. Abercrombie placed their camp in a dismal fever swamp. The hospital began to fill up with sick men. In early May, General George Lucas Hartsuff replaced the retiring Abercrombie and immediately moved the camp to a much better spot, high on a windy hill at Catlett’s Station. Thus began a mutual feeling of fondness and admiration between the new brigade commander & his troops that would last a life time. Hartsuff was a disciplinarian and reigned in the spirited men of the 13th. General Irvin McDowell was the division commander. McDowell took away the wagons that carried their supplies; large Sibley tents were replaced with pieces of canvas called shelter tents; and the men conducted marching drills with full equipments on, in weather frequently near 100° F. Gen. McDowell was seen as the route of all evils and remained unpopular.

McDowell’s plan was to link up with Gen’l. George McClellan’s forces around Richmond, but when Confederate General Stonewall Jackson showed up in the Shenandoah Valley and drove Gen’l. Banks back across the Potomac, President Lincoln ordered McDowell to divert some of his force to the valley to protect Washington from a potential attack, and to (hopefully) assist in trapping Jackson. This turned into a fatiguing campaign with the men exposed to a week of constant heavy rain, with little food & no shelter tents. Then on June 6th two men of the regiment, left behind with a dozen others two days earlier when a bridge was washed away, drowned while trying to cross the swollen Shenandoah River in a small skiff. Jackson was able to out wit & out maneuver the Federal troops pursuing him at Cross Keys & Port Republic. He eventually left the valley June 17th when Lee called him back to Richmond. The 13th Mass which was held in reserve at Front Royal returned to Manassas June 17th. General John Pope took command of the newly formed army of Virginia June 26th.

Pope advanced his little army to the line of the Rappahannock River in August. The battle of Cedar Mountain ensued, Aug. 9th. The 13th listened to the battle all day not far off & wondered when they would be brought up. Early in the evening they arrived on the battlefield. The enemy began shelling them. They changed position and watched from behind a hill as the Union batteries exchanged fire with the enemy, eventually silencing the Confederate artillery. The next day the Confederate troops slipped away.

On Aug. 25th & 26th using the Blue ridge mountains as a shield Stonewall Jackson (again Jackson) circled around Pope’s right flank and showed up in his rear, sacking Pope’s headquarters & capturing his supply lines at Manassas Junction. General Longstreet demonstrated in front of Pope’s line and diverted his attention from the flanking march Jackson had made. August 27th Pope pulled his disorganized army back toward Manassas in hopes of bagging Jackson, but glaring blunders and failure to acknowledge reports of enemy movements culminated in the routing of his army at 2nd Bull Run Aug. 30th. On that day, Gen’l. James Longstreet made a sweeping attack across Pope’s weak left flank at Chinn Ridge.

Re-enforcements were rushed to Chinn Ridge to bolster what little troops where there trying to stave off the waves of Confederate grey. The 13th Mass was among those sent in. Private John B. Noyes, Co. B, guessed about 500 men of 580 went into the fight, the rest skulking, shirking and doing whatever to avoid the battle. They were in position (a jumbled & confused line) about 20 minutes flanked on three sides. Thirty-eight men of the regiment were killed, many were captured. Those that got away stood in line of battle at Chantilly two days later on Sept. 1st. The fiasco ended with General Pope resigning and General McDowell relieved. General Joseph Hooker took command of their division thereby boosting morale.

Two weeks later at Antietam the 13th made a gallant stand at the Miller Corn field early in the morning of Sept. 17th. Lt. Charles Barnard Fox of Company K, carefully made out the casualty list of killed and wounded. Partly protected by the east woods the regiment’s casualties were somewhat lighter than others in their brigade, but still high at 45%. They took 301 men into the fight and brought out 165. The battle of Fredericksburg was still ahead, but there, acting as skirmishers for the Grand Left Division of General Burnside’s army, the casualties of the regiment were remarkably light in that bloody battle. They lost 4 men killed. The year ended in winter camp at Falmouth, Va.; the men cold hungry and demoralized.

Jan. 1st - March 1st 1862 Winter Camp at Williamsport, Md.

Companies A, B, E & H are detached at Hancock, Md. Until Jan. 2nd.

Jan. 1st - Williamsport; Co. K has its first dress parade. New Years day celebrations for some of those detached at Hancock.

Jan. 2nd - Co. K has its first drill since Fort Independence. Companies A, B, E & H take canal boats from Hancock to Williamsport arriving 9 p.m. They stay in town arriving at camp the next morning.

Jan. 4th - General Stonewall Jackson attacks Hancock; (as a rear guard action to his Romney campaign). Confederates drive the 39th Illinois out of Bath, Va. to Hancock. No 13th Mass troops are at Hancock at this time.

Jan. 5th - Jackson shells Hancock. Companies C, D, I & K are ordered there from Williamsport, under command of Lt. Col. Batchelder. They leave in a blizzard that night arriving 2 A.m. the next morning.

Jan. 7th - Jackson takes Romney W.Va. Jan. 9th – 10th. Companies C, D, I & K return to Williamsport from Hancock, Md. staying over night at Clear Spring. It is a muddy march.

Jan. 16th - Sergeant-Major Elliot C. Pierce is promoted to 1st Lt. jumping the line of ten 2nd Lieutenants. He is Col. Leonard’s friend & favoritism is suspected by the officers outside the Colonel’s circle. Pierce will serve 3 years and receive a Major’s commission with the regt. before muster out. He proves a capable officer.

Jan. 17th - 22nd rainy and stormy weather in camp.

Jan. 27th - Capt. Pratt, Co. E, resigns. Harvard educated private John B. Noyes writes home that Col. Leonard, who has been away, is “attending to the officers of late.”

Jan. 28th -1st Lt. John Hovey, Co. B, is promoted captain of Co. E. Jan. 29th - Pay day.

Jan. 31st - George Bush is promoted to 1st Lt., Co. B.

Sunday, Feb. 2nd - Chaplain Gaylord preaches that the men will see active service soon.

Feb. 3rd - A New England style snow storm blows through camp all day long.

Feb. 6th - Lt. Chamberlain, Co. H, resigns. Orders to march are handed out at 4 p.m. but there is no march.

Feb. 7th - Dress parade in the evening.

Sunday, Feb. 9th - Chaplain Gaylord preaches on the "Temptations of a Soldier." After the service Major Gould, just back from Washington D.C., speaks to them. He says the 13th Mass stands 1st in the Army. Many men are sick with severe colds at this time.

Feb. 11th - An escaped slave arrives in camp. His wife drowned when their boat capsized.

Feb. 12th - A rehearsal for the "Grand Concert of the Young Ladies" is held at Williamsport resident Dr. Weissel's home.

Feb. 13th - A 2nd rehearsal is held at the Williamsport Presbyterian Church. News of Burnside's success in North Carolina, and the taking of Fort Henry in Tennessee arrives. There is joy in camp; Major Gould orders 3 cheers.

Feb. 14th - On this day the 'old rummies' former sailors among the ranks are transferred to the Navy and marched off. In the evening the Grand Concert takes place. Performers include the 13th Mass. Band, which played "Spanish Retreat" among other tunes; Lt. Elliot Pierce played guitar and sang accompanying a Miss Laura Shoop; Corporal Russell, Corporal Armstrong and John H. White were the principle performers, songs including "Mother Dear" "Moon Behind the Hill" & "The Sexton." the concert was attended by Col. Leonard, Adjt. Bradlee, Capt. Joe Cary, Lt. A.N. Sampson, and many prominent citizens of Williamsport.

Feb. 15th - The 2nd night of concert performances.

Feb. 17th - News of the capture of Fort Donelson is received.

Feb. 20th - Charles A. Holmes, age 22, (Co. G) dies of disease.

Feb. 22nd - In honor of Washington's birthday a 34 gun salute is given. There is a battallion drill in town.

Sunday, Feb. 23rd - Religious Services are held at 11 a.m.

Feb. 24th - A fierce gale blows through camp.

Feb. 25th - Lt. A. N. Sampson, Co. B, leads 25 men on a scout across the river. Some rebel cavalry are spotted.

Feb. 26th - Edwin Rice writes the band gave a concert in the Lutheran church for the benefit of the Society this evening. The 12th Indiana band was also there, and the glee club from the regiment.

Feb. 28th - Another fierce gale blows through camp.

Read More about the camp at Williamsport, 1862.

Advance with Gen. Banks Corps into Va., March 1 - 17, 1862.

March 1st - The regiment crosses the Potomac River with the army of General Banks. It is the beginning of the long awaited advance. At dusk the regiment marches 12 miles to Martinsburg, (now W. Va.) arriving in the center of town around midnight. Co. K arrives first and stacks arms. Moments later there is some confusion in the ranks as Company A, which has circled around the town and entered from the south, opens fire on what they believe to be retreating rebel troops. The mistake is discovered before anyone is hurt. This prompts members of the country companies (sometimes derided by members of the 4th Battalion) to inquire "Who took Martinsburg?" Answer : "Co. A."

March 2nd - Company B does provost duty in town with some members of the 12th Indiana.

March 3rd - Battalion drill in the mud.

March 4th - George Dickey (Co. F) dies at Williamsport, Md.

March 5th - Their brigade (Hamilton's) marches 10 miles to Bunker Hill. Co. D remains behind guarding the wagon train.

March 6th - Gen'l. Banks visits the brigade.

March 7th - A detail of men who were left at Williamsport are ordered up to the regiment.

[March 9 - 11, the Confederates evacuate Centreville for Rhappahannock Station.]

March 11th - The troops march 6 miles to Stephenson's Depot. The assault on Winchester is planned for the next day. There is some harassment of their advance by Confederate Colonel Turner Ashby's cavalry.

March 12th - March 18th; Occupation of Winchester, Va.

March 12th - The 13th Mass are deployed as skirmishers leading the advance to Winchester. Col. Ashby Turner tips his hat to them in front of the the Taylor Hotel, and rides off as they enter the town.

March 15th - Lt. Col. Batchelder leads a reconnaissance in force to Newtown, 8 miles away. Thomas Rathburn (Co. F) dies at Winchester, Va. Thomas J. Little is promoted 2nd Lt. (Co. C).

March 16th - Chaplain Gaylord preaches from the Courthouse steps to the citizens of Winchester on the 'evils of secession." The crowd is not impressed. Charles Stone (Co. D) dies.

March 18th - Companies B & K stay in town as the rest of the regiment moves camp 2 miles away. They are attached to General John Abercrombie's Brigade. Horace Crocker (Co. I) dies of fever at Centreville, Va.

March 19th - Companies B & K re-join the regiment in camp just outside WInchester.

Read More about the Advance into Virginia.

March 21st -25th They march back & forth between Berryville and Aldie.

From March 21st to March 25th they leave Winchester & march over the mountains from Berryville to Aldie, but are ordered back to Berryville in anticipation of an attack by Gen'l. Stonewall Jackson.

March 22nd - They buy supplies at Berryville, cross the Shenandoah River on a pontoon bridge & march up the mountain to Snicker's Gap & make camp.

March 23rd - They march to Aldie, but are called back toward Berryville. They spend the night in Aldie.

March 24th - They march 18 miles back to Snicker's Gap, where they were on the 22nd.

March 25th - They continue to march west to the Shenandoah River, cross it, heading towards Berryville, but an order from Gen. Banks sends them back up the mountain to Aldie at 3 p.m.

March 26 – April 2nd; March to Warrenton Junction.

March 26th - They march toward Aldie & make camp at Goose Creek. Gen'l Abercrombie orders them not to take fence rails for their fires. The general places his tent right in front of a rail fence and stands guard. As he disappears inside some members of the 13th dash up and grab the fence rails. Gen'l Abercrombie comes out of his tent and yells "Put down those rails!" to little effect. They don't like Gen'l Abercrombie and dub him 'Aunt Abby."

March 27th - They make a 6 mile reconnaissance to Middleburg with the 16th Indiana. (12 miles round trip).

March 28th - March 18 miles to Pleasant Valley.

March 29th - March 7 miles to Blackburn's Ford in the rain, passing through Centreville where they take a look at some rebel huts. One man counts 70 dead horses. The field, they comment, looks like a graveyard.

March 30th - They bivouac at the Bull Run Battlefield during a rainstorm.

March 31st - March 5 miles to Manassas. 45 new recruits join them.

April 1st - The new recruits are assigned to their companies. O. C. Livermore (Co. A) is promoted Sgt. Major.

April 2nd - They march 14 miles through mud to Warrenton Junction. Some try marching on the railroad tracks. Patrick Cleary (Co. K) dies at Manassas.

April 2nd - May 3rd Camp Misery, Warrenton Junction, Va.

Gen'l Abercrombie has them make camp in what is called a 'dismal swamp.' They are on duty guarding the Orange & Alexandria Rail Road until May 18th.

Sunday, April 6th - Chaplain Gaylord preaches "Follow the Flag."

April 10th - The name of the camp is changed to 'Camp Starvation.' The water is very bad.

April 12th - Jame Dunn (Co. E) dies at Williamsport.

April 14th - Brigade review by Gen'l. Abercrombie ('Old Crummy').

April 18th - Pay day.

April 23rd - Lists are drawn up of men thought to be too frail to continue with the regiment for the hard service that is soon expected.

April 28th - 19 guns are fired in honor of the capture of New Orleans. It is expected the war will be a short one.

May 1st - ‘Old Crummy” is relieved and General George Lucas Hartsuff takes command of the brigade. The new general is a disciplinarian but they learn to like him very much. He moves the camp to a much better spot.

May 4th - May 12th Camp at Catlett's Station.

General Hartsuff relocates their camp to a beautiful spot at Catlett's station. Once again they take to beautifying the camp like at Darnestown.

May 5th - The two Indiana regiments in their brigade leave for home.

May 9th - The band of the 12th Mass. goes home. read more about General Abercrombie.

May 10th - They join General McDowell’s Division of the Army.

They do not like Gen'l. McDowell & blame him for all their ills as the service gets hard. They call him McDo-nothing.

May 11th - Brigade review by Gen'l. Hartsuff.

May 12th – June 5th move to Falmouth, Va.

They move to Falmouth, Va., to hook up with McClellan. They are anxious to get into the fight.

May 12th - Their coats are packed away & sent to Boston. March 6 miles in the hot sun to Elk Run.

May 13th - It's 100° F. - they march 18 miles to Falmouth. There are some cases of sun-stroke.

May 14th - March 8 miles to HQ. (rain).

May 16th - The 11th PA joins the brigade.

May 17th - Move camp. Gen. Ord assumes command of their division.

Sunday, May 18th - Brigade religious services are held. Co. D acts as Gen. Ord's body-guard.

May 20th - Corp Review of 40,000 men by Gen'l. McDowell. The cheering for McDowell stops as he rides by the line of the 13th Mass, who remain conspicuously silent.

May 21st - McDowell schedules a 'Marching Drill' with full equipments.

May 23rd - Review by President Lincoln & Secretary of War Stanton.

May 24th - They are called out on a march for no apparent reason. It begins to rain. They return to camp & find their Sibley tents have been taken from them & shelter tents or dog tents are left in their place. They provide little shelter this day as the small new shelter tents are soaking wet.

May 25th - June 4th; Move to Front Royal, Va.

In what becomes a very difficult move in bad weather with poor rations they move to Front Royal, Va., excited at the prospect of helping to catch Gen'l. Stonewall Jackson operating in the Shenandoah Valley.

June 4th - June 16th Operations around Front Royal.

They don't participate in the pursuit of Jackson but remain at Front Royal in reserve.

June 6th - Two men, John F. Fuller (Co. B) and Charles B. Cushing (Co. C) members of the 'pioneers' drown while trying to cross the flooded Shenandoah River in a skiff.

June 13th - The regiment reports 600 men on duty. (Down from the original strength of 1,000 which left Boston).

June 17th - July 4th

They leave Front Royal June 17th arriving at Manassas Junction that afternoon where they make camp near the Bull Run Battlefield.

Pope’s Campaign in Northern Virginia, June 26 – September 2, 1862.

On June 26th the Army of Virginia is created commanded by Major-General John Pope. July 4th - A planned celebration is canceled by an order to march.

July 5th - July 21st Camp at Warrenton, Va.

July 5th, they arrive at Warrenton, Va., and make camp in a fine spot. At this time the doctor is able to report 'no men sick in the hospital.' July 16th The anniversary of their enlistment. General Banks pays them a visit. They are hoping to return to General Bank's Corps.

July 22nd - August 4th

March to Waterloo, Va., and make camp.

Aug. 4th - 9th - Advance to Culpeper, VA.

Aug. 5th - March 12 miles to Culpeper Court House.

August 9, 1862; Battle of Cedar Mountain.

They laid under arms as General Banks Division continued past them and became engaged with Jackson. Until 4 p.m. they heard the battle ahead and wondered when they would be sent forward. It was nearly dark when they arrived and the fighting had stopped. Enemy shells began to come in and they were ordered to change position. Col. Leonard orders the regiment to ‘trail arms’ before moving so the moonlight wouldn’t reflect off their bayonets. They make the move unharmed. Other regiments in the brigade fail to do this and several men are killed. Behind a hill they watched their own batteries return the fire. The 13th is the only regiment in the brigade with no loss.

Read More about General Pope and the Battle of Cedar Mountain

Aug. 11th - They march 7 miles to the Rapidan River and make camp.

Aug. 17th - March 4 miles down river to near Mitchell's Station.

Aug. 18th - 19th. A batch of new recruits arrive. At 11 P.M. the long roll sounds From Midnight until 9 A.m. of the 19th, they stand on the road waiting for the wagons to pass so they can move out.

Aug.19th - Retreat to Rappahannock Station with the enemy closely following. Gen. Hartsuff compliments them on their hard work. General Pope orders McDowell’s Corps to fall back towards Manassas.

Aug. 20th - 23rd. Skirmishes at Rappahannock Station.

Aug. 20th - They are immediately sent across the river, Companies D & K acting as skirmishers. The 11th Pa., soon arrives as their relief. Mathew's battery Co. F, 1st Pa., is with them too. They build breastworks.

Aug. 21st - They continue work on the trenches while the Rebel battery fires shells over their heads.

Aug 23rd - Heavy rains of the 22nd cause Gen'l McDowell to order the troops back across the river to the north side in case the bridge is washed away. At 4 A.M. they pack their duds. As soon as they crossed a heavy artillery duel commenced. A rebel charge to the hills they had just evacuated was repulsed. In the afternoon they leave & march toward Warrenton.

August 24th -28th They are slowly retreating toward Manassas.

Aug. 25th - General Hartsuff is ordered to the hospital with the flaring up of old wounds. Col. Styles of the 9th NY (militia; 83rd NY Vols.) assumes command of the brigade.

Aug. 28th Engagement at Thoroughfare Gap.

Aug. 28th - The brigade arrives at Thoroughfare Gap in the afternoon, moments after Longstreet’s Corps arrives from the other side and gains the high ground. Skirmishing occurs until dark. Two men of Company E are killed; Corporal Daniel R. Jackson, & private George Clark. Two others are wounded. The following day they rest a while at Bristoe Station, then move toward Manassas.

Aug. 30th 1862 - Second Battle of Bull Run.

This is the first major engagement for the regiment. They are in reserve the first half of the day. In the afternoon they are lead into the maelstrom on Chinn ridge, on the left of the Union lines, where Longstreet’s Corps is making a sweeping attack around Gen'l. Pope's left flank. Surrounded on three sides, the fighting is as fierce as any that will be seen during the war. It buys time for General Pope to move his army to the rear; and thus prevents its annihilation. The 13th’s fight is brief, about 20 minutes. Thirty eight men are killed. The Confederate’s overrun this position. Private John B. Noyes, Co. B, in a letter home to his father estimated 500 men of the 13th Mass went into the fight, another 80 or so, skulking in the rear of the lines.

Aug. 31st - The regimental band is mustered out.

Sept. 1st Engagement at Chantilly, Va.

September 1st - Move to Chantilly as a reserve, they stand in line of battle all night but aren't engaged. The falling rain helps to keep them awake.

Sept. 2nd - General Pope asks to be relieved.

Sept. 2nd - 7th. The regiment remains in the area of Washington, D.C. then march to Maryland. During the march General Ricketts announces General McDowell’s replacement by General Hooker. Cheers ring out despite the rain.

Sept. 6th - Gen. McDowell asks to be relieved. General Joseph Hooker takes command of what was McDowell's 3rd Division. McClellan is in command of all the troops around Washington. Morale improves.

Sept. 7th - They march into Maryland.

Sept. 8th - They are half way between Washington & Darnestown, the place they encamped a year earlier when their strength was 1,000 men.

Sept. 10th - Another batch of recruits joins the regiment.

General McClellan’s Maryland Campaign September 12-22.

Sept. 11th - Sept. 14th. They march to & through Frederick, Md.

Battle of South Mountain, September 14, 1862.

At about 6 o’clock Hartsuff’s Brigade is placed in 2nd line of battle, in the center of the line, and marched up the hill. The enemy bullets pass over their heads. The left of the line is more heavily engaged than the 13th Mass is. They lay on their arms all night.

Battle of Antietam, September 16th and 17th.

They are up early the morning of the 17th and are the second brigade to advance to the Miller Cornfield. General Hartsuff is wounded early on during the advance while doing reconnaissance, so Colonel Coulter leads them into the fight, Major J. Parker Gould commands the 13th troops. They stand their ground under a heavy fire for 30 minutes before retiring to the rear to replenish their ammunition. 301 men go into the fight, 165 come out, for a loss of 45%. 26 men are killed.

September 18th - October 26th.

On duty around Sharpsburg until October 26th, when they slowly make their way to Falmouth, VA; arriving November 20. During this period the men are ragged and hungry.

Oct. 8th - Brig. Gen. Nelson Taylor takes command of Hartsuff's Brigade.

Nov. 10th - Nov. 18th. The regiment is back at Rappahannock Station.

Nov. 11th - Gen. McClellan is relieved of command. General Burnside takes his place. The regiment is now at Rappahannock Station.Nov. 19th - Nov. 23rd. They resume their march to Fredericksburg, Va., making a camp near Brook's Station on Nov. 23rd. They staid here until December 3rd.

Dec. 3rd - They move their camp 1/2 mile in the direction of Falmouth, Va.

Dec. 4th - A large supply of clothing & shoes arrives in camp as well as boxes from home. The boxes were accidentally shipped to Newbern, NC first so many of the contents were spoiled by the time they arrived. The regiment numbers about 300 men.

Dec. 6th - Orders rec'd. to march. One thousand dollars worth of goods collected by the chaplain are distributed among the troops, including drawers, gloves, stockings & handkerchiefs.

Dec. 9th - March 3 miles across Potomac Creek.

Dec. 10th - March 3 - 4 miles to a point near the Fitzhugh place, not far from where they were the 17th of May. Sixty rounds of ammunition are handed out to each man.

Dec. 11th - Roused up at 3 A.M. At 4 A.M. following breakfast they march to the Rappahannock River expecting to cross, but the pontoon bridge wasn't completed due to rebel sharpshooters. They bivouac in a woods nearby. Heavy cannonading heard up river so some of the boys go check it out.

Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, December 12-15, 1862

Dec. 12th - The 13th Mass. crosses the pontoon bridge & marched along the river bank in an easterly direction for about 1/2 mile. Gen. Gibbon asks Col. Leonard to deploy the whole regiment (300 men) as skirmishers. On their right was a Vermont regiment, to their left a Pennsylvania regiment. These 3 regiments were the skirmish line of the 'Left Grand Division." They reached the Bowling Green road at night and remained there.

Dec. 13th - They advance from the road at about 9 A.M. as skirmishers. When the artillery start dueling they are caught between two fires and ordered to lie down, protecting Hall's Maine battery, firing shells into the enemy from a slight elevation to their rear. The shells clear the prostrate soldiers by only about 1 foot. A protest is made to Capt. Hall to raise his guns. One of the boys is indeed struck and killed by a shell from Hall's battery. At about One o'clock a general advance is ordered. They advanced as skirmishers with their division until the firing became too thick for them to be of any use, so they laid down to let the division pass over them. Toward night they are withdrawn to the Bernard house to replenish ammunition. Losses were 3 men killed, one officer and 12 men wounded.

Dec. 14th - At about 2 A.M. they are sent to the left to support Gen'l. Doubleday's division. They extinguish an approaching grass fire during the day to prevent some unexploded shells lying about the field from going off.

Dec. 15th - The 11th Pa. & 13th Mass. provide 250 men for picket duty. At 2 A.m., Dec. 16th, they are notified by a cavalryman that the rest of the army had re-crossed the river. They had to pass withing a few rods of the enemy on the 2 mile journey to the bridge without being noticed. After they crossed the bridge was immediately taken up by Gen'l. Franklin. The regt. marched 2- 3 miles and bivouacked with the brigade.

Dec. 19th - They march 12 miles to Fletcher's Chapel where they make winter camp.

Dec. 30th - General John C. Robinson takes command of the division. General Nelson Taylor resigns shortly after.

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History of the 13th Massachusetts Volunteers

1862