History of the 13th Massachusetts Volunteers

Summary of service; 1863.

     General Burnside’s mud march of late January started things off on in a bad way. General Joseph Hooker’s replacement of Burnside improved morale, as well as rations & sanitation.  The 13th Mass remained in winter quarters until late April.     During the Chancellorsville Campaign the 6th Corps & the 1st Corps lead a feigned attack south of Fredericksburg while the rest of Hooker’s army crossed the Rappahannock River farther away.  The 13th was with the First Corps.  On April 30th 1863 at Fitzhugh crossing, an enemy shell fell into their midst & struck and killed two officers and severely wounded John S. Fay.  Careful surgery by Dr. Alston Whitney saved Fay’'s life but he still lost an arm and a leg, becoming the most severely maimed man in the regiment.  Both Dr. Whitney and John Fay were shortly thereafter captured by the advancing rebel army and sent to Richmond’s Libby prison for a spell.

     The regiment was lucky at the battle of Chancellorsville spending most of their time in rifle pits.  Four companies from the 12th & 13th went out on reconnaissance May 4th . Two men  of the 13th were killed and 7 wounded.  They were more engaged with the enemy at the battle of Gettysburg.

     The 13th held the extreme right of the 1st Corps line on the Mummasburg Road, July 1st 1863.  On their right was a regiment of skirmishers belonging to the 11th corps but for all they knew the 11th corp lines were 1/2 mile away. They fought hard all afternoon & when the 1st corps line broke they had to make a run past the town for cemetery hill.  Ninety men were captured trying to get there.  About seventy made it, and spent the next two days supporting the Union lines wherever needed.  Twenty five men of the regiment are listed in the revised roster* as killed at Gettysburg. *( 13th Regiment Association Circular #8 )    

    On Aug 14th new men joined the regiment at Rappahannock Station, Va.  Two hundred started from Boston, 12 were shot or drowned trying to escape en route to the front. Some had taken part in the NY draft riots.  Forty deserted the first night with the regiment.  These conscripts brought tears to the eyes of the original members and recruits of the old 13th.   Of the 186 men received, 115 deserted, 26 transferred to the Navy 6 were discharged with disability and 1 was killed in battle. For the time they were with the regiment most of them caused nothing but trouble.  

     In October the regiment followed the rebel army north taking part in the Bristoe Campaign.  They heard the cavalry skirmishes all along the way but never were engaged with the enemy themselves.

    During the advance to Mine Run in Nov. the regiment was placed in the 2nd line of battle for a scheduled assault that would have sent them across a flooded meadow in front of strongly fortified heights beyond. Many thought they wouldn’t make it, but after a restless night of waiting for the order to advance the attack was called off.  The year closed with the regiment in winter quarters  guarding the Orange & Alexandria railroad between Cedar Mountain and Mitchell’s’ Station.

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Winter Camp at Flecther's Chapel

January 1st 1863.  The regiment musters slightly less than 350 men.

January 20th - 24th;  Burnside’s Mud March.

 An advance is ordered but the entire army gets stuck in the mud due to heavy rains.  “It is not an exaggeration to say, that before or after, there was seen no such state of demoralization as possessed a large part of the Army of the Potomac at the end of this foolish undertaking.” Charles E.  Davis, Jr., "Three Years in the Army." 

Jan. 26th - Burnside resigns and General Hooker takes command of the army to the great satisfaction of the troops.

April 2nd - The division is reviewed by General Hooker. He pays the 13th Mass a compliment.

April 9th - The First Army Corps is reviewed by President Lincoln & Secretary Stanton.  The 13th had the right of the line, and was the first to march by the President  The precision of the12th & 13th Mass Regiments at this review was written up in the newspapers.

April 13th - Division review by Gen'l. John C. Robinson.  News of the 13th's 'prinking' for review reached  Col. Coulter of the 11th Pa.  He dressed his dog 'Sally' with a white paper collar around her neck labeled "13," and a white glove on each paw, to poke fun of the 13th Mass, nicknamed 'the Band-box guard.'  Sally had the run of the field during the entire event to the amusement of all.

On duty in Falmouth and Belle Plain, Virginia until April 27th 1863.

Chancellorsville Campaign, April 27th - May 7th 1863.

April 28th - The Regt. brakes camp and marches toward the Rappahannock River carrying eight days rations.  They stay here a few days, across from Fredericksburg.

April 30th - After a quiet morning a sudden shelling by the enemy begins between 1 & 2 o’clock in the afternoon.  A shell suddenly strikes Capt. George Bush and 2nd Lt.William Cordwell killing them instantly.  The same shell strikes John S. Fay severely wounding him.  Orderly Sgt. Enoch Pierce quickly ties up John’s wounds to stop the bleeding and carries him to the Fitzhugh House field hospital where Dr. Whitney saves his life by amputating an arm & a leg. Whitney and Fay are captured by the advancing rebel army several weeks later and sent to Libby Prison in Richmond.  Both survive.  Fay is held 33 days, and Whitney is released after five months.

May 2nd - Up at 4 a.m.  After a long march to United States Ford they start to make camp at 8 p.m. when orders are received to rush forward with great haste.  Jackson’s surprise flank attack panicked the 11th Corps lines.  The regiment hurries to Chancellorsville past the wreckage of a confused army and finally halts on the right of the Union lines at 2 a.m. They begin digging earthworks. They traveled 30 miles. The First Corps is inactive the next day.

May 4th - The 12th & 13th Mass. with the 2d Maine Battery advance ½ mile and do a reconnaissance.  Four companies are sent forward as skirmishers.  One man, Samuel S. Carleton, (Co. D) is killed.

May 5th - 8th.   It is excessively hot until 3 p.m. when a torrential thunderstorm soaks them through & through.  They are ordered to retreat about 8 p.m. but the river is swollen so they return to their trenches.  They spend what they called their most miserable night in the cold rain waiting for the order to move.  It finally comes the morning of May 6 at 3 a.m. Two days later they return to White Oak Church & make camp.  They are  within 1 mile of their Fletcher's Chapel winter camp.

Gettysburg Campaign June 12- July 24, 1863.

June 12th - They break camp at 4 A.M. and march 25 miles along the Rappahannock River to Deep Run.

June 13th - Marched 10 miles to Bealton Station on the Orange & Alexandria Railroad.

June 14th - Start at 8 A.M. & march until sunset; cook supper & resume the march to Manassas Junction arriving at 3:30 A.M.; distance 23 miles.

June 15th - 17th.  March 8 miles to Centreville & stay a couple days.  On the 16th they were able to buy supplies from the regimental sutler.  The band of the 33rd Mass gave them a concert.

June 17th - The new brigade commander is General Gabriel Paul, whom they dub 'the Apostle.'  They march 16 miles; it is so hot sixty men in the corps get sunstroke.  

June 19th -25th.  March 3 miles to Guilford Station on the Leesburg Railroad.   Half the regiment are placed on picket.  Violent storm at night.  They remain here until the 25th.

June 25th - They cross the Potomac River into Maryland at Edward's Ferry & march to Poolesville & then to Barnesville, about 20 miles.

June 26th - At 6 A.M. they marched over the Catoctin mountain to Adamstown, through Greenfield's Mill, across Monocacy Rive to Jefferson, a distance of 18 miles.  A change in direction given on the march made the route circuitous.

June 27th - March 8 miles to one mile beyond Middleton.  Gen'l. Hooker resigns.

June 28th - Col. Leonard announces the appointment of Gen'l Meade to the command of the Army of the Potomac in place of Gen'l. Hooker, removed; adding "that we needn't be discouraged, as we all might yet receive the same honor."

June 29th -  March 26 miles to Emmitsburg camping a mile beyond the town.  The Maryland people have been greeting them with offerings of food and good wishes for success.

June 30th -  Gen'l. Meade’s Circular angers the men. “Corps commanders are authorized to order the instant death of any soldier who fails in his duty at this hour.”

July 1st - They are the last of the First Corps Divisions (Gen. John C. Robinson’s two brigades) to arrive that morning and they build earthworks in front of the Seminary during enemy shelling from Oak Ridge.  About noon they advance to Oak Hill and form on the extreme left of the 1st Corps lines.  They are very heavily engaged for several hours, and capture many prisoners.  Popular Color Sgt. Roland Morris is among those killed. Nearly out of ammunition and out-flanked, the line retreats about 4 p.m. Many are captured making their way to Cemetery Hill. “Of the 184 men and officers we took into the fight, only ninety-nine  now remained for duty, the casualties being seven killed and eighty wounded, a total of eighty–seven.  In addition to this number ninety-eight men were taken prisoners on their way back through the town.”   They spend the night guarding a battery. They are held in reserve the next two days, filling in where most needed along the line.

July 2nd - They are held in reserve this day, to be moved to any part of the line that needs assistance.  In the afternoon they march toward the Peach Orchard to re-enforce Gen. Sickles but the crisis is over by the time they arrive.  During their absence they miss the hard fighting at Cemetery Hill.  Early evening they return to Cemetery Hill where the Louisiana Tigers are attacking but again, by the time they arrive the fighting has subsided.

July 3rd - Still guarding the battery in the morning they scramble behind the guns to escape the fire of enemy sharpshooters.  The massive cannonading begins in the afternoon and take shelter along the line as best they can.  They are sent toward the center of the line during Picket’s charge and arrive just as the attack is breaking up and cheers begin ringing out along the Union line.

July 4th - They wonder why Lee has been allowed to slip away but still recognize the great victory they’ve taken part in.

Pursuit of Lee to Manassas Gap Virginia, July 4th -24th.

July 7th – On the march south they are serenaded by some young Pennsylvania school girls, dressed in red, white and blue singing ‘Battle cry of Freedom.’  It is the first time they hear the song and they are deeply moved by the gesture.

They march to Boonesboro Funkstown and toward Williamsport but Lee slips across the river July 14th.  Someone comments “We act like a lot of scared monkeys.”

July 10th - At Boonsboro it is remarked that the regimental strength is only 78 men.  Old friends of the regiment met them with supplies of milk and bread pies and cakes.

July 12th - They move across Antietam Creek and build earthworks facing Hagerstown.

July 13th - Skirmish fire is heard all day long.  The troops are impatient to make an attack.

July 14th - They learn Lee's army has crossed the river. They move to within one mile of Williamsport but are too dejected to look up old friends they had made in the Winter of 1861 - '62.  Some townspeople still came out to see them to bring news of the 13th Mass boys that had been spotted amongst the Union  prisoners with Lee's Army.

July 15th - March 20 miles in a south - easterly direction to Crampton Gap & camp.

July 16th  The second anniversary of their muster in at Fort Independence.  One more year of service.  They march 8 miles through Burkitsville to near Berlin.  The sutler arrived with many luxuries to be bought.

July 18th - They cross the Potomac on a pontoon bridge to Waterford & march 8 miles.

July 19th  A Lieutenant & squad of 6 men leave for Boston to get the conscripts, volunteers & bounty - jumpers assigned to the regiment.

July 20th - Marched at 4 A.M. to Middleburg, Va., 16 miles.  Mosby's guerrillas capture 2 of General Newton's  staff. (Commander; 1st Corps)

July 22nd - At 10 P.M. they start as rear guard to the wagon train marching until 3 A.M.  10 miles.

July 23rd - March at 10 A.M., arriving at Warrenton at 4 P.M.; 12 miles.

July 25th - Up at 3 A.M.; start marching at 5 A.M. to Warrenton Junction arriving at noon; 12 miles.  After a couple hours rest they march 3 miles to Catlett's Station, but are called back to the Junction.   At nightfall it began to rain.  They were summoned up and marched 8 miles until midnight, soaked through to the skin.

July 26th - Change camp to higher ground.

July 27th - Marched to Rappahannock Station, taking position in the old fortifications above the bridge.  They can see the rebel pickets across the river.

On picket duty on the Rapidan River, Virginia July 27th until October 9, 1863.

July 27th – Sept. 16th The regiment is back at Rappahannock Station.  “All campaigns lead to Rapp Station.”  Col. Davis of the 39th Mass. joins their brigade and earns their disrespect for criticizing their unsoldierly like appearance.  They tell him to go somewhere.  He calls them an armed mob.  They have not had such fun with an officer since Old Crummy.  He earns the nickname ‘Old Bowels.’

Aug. 7th - New substitutes arrive to the regiment. Most of them are criminals from the NY draft riots that fled to Boston.  The veterans are disgusted the state would send such men into their ranks.  Forty desert the first night.  Most will desert before the spring campaign opens. Of 186 men, 115 deserted, 26 transferred to the navy, 6 were discharged with disability and 1 was killed in battle.

Aug. 14th - "One hundred eighty-six recruits arrived in camp.  Substitutes, bounty-jumpers and one unfortunate conscript.  Most of this number were thieves and ruffians who were engaged in the draft riots, ans ewe obliged to leave New York and Boston in self-defense.   Strong me, particularly soldiers, are not easily moved to tears, yet the cheeks of a good many men were wet as they gazed on these ruffians drawn up in line for assignment to companies. The pride which we felt in the membership of the Thirteenth turned to bitterness at sight of these fellows."  - Charles E. Davis, Jr.  "Three Years in the Army."  Aug. 15th - At night 40 of the new 'recruits' deserted.  (Of the 186 new men, 115 deserted).  Several men captured at Gettysburg, & paroled returned to the regiment this day.   The parole was declared null & void by government agents.

Sept. 16th - A general alarm at 3 A.M. has them cross the Rappahannock River and march to the foot of Pony Mountain near Culpeper; 12 miles.  

Sept. 24th - At 1 P.M., with 8 days rations they march round the mountain to Raccoon Ford; 5 miles.

Sept. 27th & 28th.  Move camp about 4 miles up river toward Mitchell's Station.

Bristoe Campaign, October 9th - 28th

     They follow the rebel army north toward Centreville.  They hear the cavalry skirmishing with the enemy the whole way.  On Oct. 14 they form in line of battle on the heights but are not engaged. They could see the 2nd Corps fighting at Bristoe Station from their position on the hill.

     They called one of the recruits ‘Frenchy.’  He had a beautiful singing voice and was often called upon to treat the men and officers to a song.  As they marched away from Bristoe, Frenchy’s gun and knapsack were there, but no Frenchy.  He deserted.

Advance to the line of the Rappahannock, November 7th - 8th.

They are back at ‘Rapp Station.’  They spend time repairing the Orange & Alexandria Railroad.

Nov. 8th - They followed the rebels across the river at night.  "There seemed to be no reason but stupidity in the way of capturing a force of rebel artillery & a wagon train.  When the enemy position was discovered, a detachment was sent out to flank them.  But before the move was complete, the remainder of troops were ordered to advance out of the woods, thereby giving away their position to the enemy, who immediately withdrew to Culpeper."

Mine Run Campaign, November 26th - December 2nd.

Nov. 26th - Their Thanksgiving feast is canceled when they receive orders to march. They march to the Rapidan River and cross it at 10 p.m.

Nov. 29th  – Early before dawn they are scheduled to make a frontal attack across a flooded meadow and up the heavily fortified heights beyond.  They form is the second line of battle that was five lines deep.  They know that many will be killed in this charge.  Most men pinned pieces of paper with their names written on them to their coats for identification of bodies.  They wait in silence for the order to advance. By daylight the order still had not come.   At 4 A.M. a move is made, but not the one expected.  They mass with the 5th Corps in a field for an attack.  Gen. Warren eventually suspends the charge upon realizing the strength of the enemy’s positions.  The troops are moved beyond a hill.  To relieve the stress the 13th engage in a game of baseball.

Dec. 1st & 2nd.  The troops move back across the river.

Winter Camp doing picket duty - guarding the Orange & Alexandria Railroad, Dec. 31 - April 26, 1864.

Dec. 26th  Camp is moved to near Cedar Mtn. 1 mile from the spot they camped in 1862.  They see little progress being made in the war.  They spend the winter here guarding the Orange & Alexandria Railroad.

Copyright © 2008 by Brad Forbush.   All rights reserved.