Year End, 1863; Part 2

Introduction - What's On This Page

The Massachusetts Adjutant General’s Office [A.G.] printed annual reports at the end of each year of the war.  In addition to State Expenditures which documented all the State’s war-time activities, these reports gave a brief summary of service for each Massachusetts unit in the field.   The annual Regiment summaries included a list of commissioned officers and a summary of service for the year most recently completed.  The final reports for each unit, at the end of its term of service, included the record of non-commissioned officers and enlisted men. For the 13th MA the final reports were generated at the end of 1864 and again in 1865.  They divided service records into categories:  discharged, transferred, died, missing, deserted and dropped.  Muster in dates, and muster out dates were listed for each soldier.   This page attempts to compile the records for each soldier whose end of service date falls within the year 1863.

Many errors permeate the list of names given in the A.G. reports.  I’ve checked any questionable names against the roster in the regimental history, and entries in some of the original regimental books, to determine the correct name.  I gave preference to the original books and the roster.    The original books from the Massachusetts State Archives, are digitized and posted at the Family Search genealogy website.  Having them to reference has been a great help.

I have learned a few things.

First, soldiers’ records in the roster of the regimental history, closely match records recorded in the original regimental books, which were carried in the field.  Historian Charles E. Davis, Jr. had access to these books when he authored the history of the regiment and compiled the roster for the book's printing in 1894.  The entries in the original field books  are in general very complete up through July 1863 and the Battle of Gettysburg, except in times of arduous active campaigning, like the two week period in  the Summer of 1862 during General John Pope's Retreat.  After Gettysburg the entries become a bit more random.  In many instances a soldier’s record is sparse after July 1863.

It also became evident to me, soldiers’ records are fluid.  It can be hard to pin down where a particular soldier may have been at certain times.  Many moved from detached duty somewhere, back to the company, and then were detached again.  Many returned to regular service after long stints doing detached duty, with the wagon train, head-quarters or elsewhere.  Some were permanently detached at hospitals, or in the Quarter-Master Department. Some were away without leave.  It can be tricky trying to determine who was actually in the ranks at any given time.

Third, officers moved around from company to company depending on their assignments.  This is why when non-commissioned officers were appointed 2nd Lieutenants they mustered out of their respective companies, even though they were still serving in the 13th Regiment.  Some officer assignments are recorded in the original books.  I have also seen occasional lists of officer assignments included in the personal papers of Colonel Leonard and Major Elliot Pierce culled from special collections in libraries like the Gilder Lehrman Institute in New York, or the Massachusetts Historical Society in Boston.

Whats On This Page

I  have embellished the A.G.’s 1863 summary of service with pictures and maps.  It is preceded by a chart listing the record of officers discharged, and promoted.

If I had available a relevant photo of a soldier I posted it.  In the officers’s section, I only posted images of officer’s still on active service with the regiment at the end of 1863, provided I had one.

Following  the summary of service I posted Soldiers’ records which are listed in a series of charts aggregated the same way the A.G. Office organized its reports in 1864 and 1865.

There are a few special interest items collected from the Massachusetts State Archives posted below the tables.  Some  more in-depth human interest stories are posted on page 3.

This is a long page, but the soldiers' records posted here is more complete than any other such chart posted on this website so far.   This will be the case until I add the new information from the original books to older pages.

Please note, the two sidebars on the left margin in the blue column, represent the brigade organization of the 2nd Division of the 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac.  This was the home of the 13th Regiment. The sidebars are a somewhat different format from the usual Orders of Battle I place in the left margin.  These sidebars show the brigade in which the 13th MA was placed, and the different commanders in charge during the year.  The second sidebar represents the re-organization of the Army under Major General Hooker in May 1863.

Massachusetts Adjutant General William Schouler

According to Wikipedia, and historian Patrick Browne at his blog titled, Historical Digression,* William Schouler [pictured] was born, December 31, 1814 in Kilbarchan, Scotland.  He grew up mostly in West-Cambridge, Mass., where his father had established a silk-print textile business.  His brothers worked with their father in the family business but William went off to begin his career as a newspaperman in 1842.

He edited the Lowell Courier for 6 years, then moved to Boston to become part owner of the Boston Atlas, which became a leading Whig newspaper in New England.  He was politically active through these times and also took an interest in the Massachusetts State Militia where he reached the rank of Colonel.   In 1853,  he moved his family to Cincinnati to edit the Cincinnati Gazette.  Due to his knowlege and experience with state militias, Ohio Governor Salmon P. Chase appointed Schouler, Adjutant General of the State of Ohio in 1855.   In 1858 Schouler returned to Boston.

Governor Nathaniel P. Banks appointed Schouler Adjutant General of Massachusetts in 1860.  Recognizing Schouler’s ability, the next Governor, John A. Andrew, kept him in that office throughout his administration.  Schouler was a natural master politician and model of organizational ability.

A contemporary of Schouler, described his efficiency.  “[Schouler] organized and recruited Massachusetts regiments, consolidating fragmentary bodies in the State camps, and applying immeasurable tact and kindness to reduce the friction so constantly engendered among raw military aspirants and raw enlisted men, and to draw all together into harmony for the common weal.  Besides other high officials and legislators in his own State, he had national military organizers and officials to encounter, and to move smoothly with, in a common task which could not possibly escape asperities on the one hand nor permit of haughty compulsion on the other.”

His compassion for the common soldier was ever present in his actions.

 “He worked for the soldier with all the devotion of a personal friend. While marshaling and directing large numbers of armed men, he did not forget that they were torn from the homes of a lifelong peace to do the unaccustomed work of cruel war. Not a man went to the front from Massachusetts during the whole of that dreary period, without feeling that the friendship and sympathy of the adjutant-general accompanied him. He knew the stuff of which our regiments were made.”

Each year of the Civil War, Adjutant Schouler filed a detailed summary report for each Massachusetts Volunteer Military organization.  After the war he turned these reports into a masterful 2 volume history titled, “History of Massachusetts in the Civil War.”

The information presented on this page is lifted from Schouler’s 1863, 1864, & 1865 annual reports for the 13th Regiment, and cross-checked with other sources.

*Historical Digression post “Gen. William Schouler and Massachusetts Going to War” by Patrick Browne, posted at historical digression.com September 23, 2011.  His sources: [Sources: James Schouler, Historical Briefs, (1896), 207-262; Bob Leith, “Lincoln Thanks Mother for Sons’ Sacrifice,” Ironton Tribune, August 28, 2011.]

PICTURE CREDITS:   All images are from the Library of Congress digital images collection, with the following exceptions: Portraits of Capt. George N. Bush, the 2 Hoveys & Col. Leonard, Adjt. Bradlee, Lt._Col. Batchelder, Surgeons Whitney & Hixon, Elliot Clark Pierce, Oliver C. Livermore, Morton Tower, J.A. Howe, Sam C. Whitney, David L. Brown, William Damrell, William Cary, Oscar F. Morse, Sam Cary, Warren E. Shepard, William Pfaff, James D. Thurber, Thos. Appleton, Sigourney Wales, Thos. Little, Edwin Buswell, A.W. Leonard, James Gibson, Frank Bigelow, W.W. Davis, Samuel Bean, Frank Whitney, Charles Leland, George Clement, and George LeMoyne  (author's collection)  come from the Mass. MOLLUS Collection, Army Heritage Education Center, Carlisle, PA;  Augustus Pfafft, Co. A, at Antietam, was taken by regimental historian, Charles E. Davis, Jr. in 1888, (author's collection) courtesy of Stephen Recker; All pictures of Company B men, author's  personal collection, courtesy of Mr. Scott Hann; Portraits of Company A men,  Henry Harris, Wm. Jackson, Horace Shepard, Emanuel Nutze, Henry Kellog, Charles Cunningham, Albert Hentz, R.B. Henderson and Surgeon Heard, author's collection courtesy of Mr. Tim Sewell;  Louis E. Granger was copied from Flickr sight of Ron Coddington, publisher of Military Images Magazine;  J.N.P. Johnson, Company F, from a book, The History of Berlin, Massachusetts;  George Maynard, John Noyes, from the Massachusetts Historical Society, William Forbush, & Hollis Fairbanks, from Westboro Historical Society, Authors Collection, William Barnes Marlboro Historical Society, courtesy Paul Brodeur;  James Smith, from Greg Dowden; John F. Berry from the book, History of Stoneham, MA by Willam B. Stevens & F.L. Whittier, 1891, accessed on the internet archive;  Images of James Ramsey, Melvin Smith, & John S. Fay, were shared with me by descendants; Peter Peterson, William B. Kimball, Michael J. Dagney, Charles E. Horne, Walter Pollard, Charles C. Howland, George Ehler, Abner Greenwood, George Craig, Frank Whitney, and John Collins downloaded from various on-line auction houses (author's collection);  Color Snapshots were taken by the author.  ALL IMAGES HAVE BEEN EDITED IN PHOTOSHOP.

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Roster of Officers

Captain George N. Bush, Killed in Action April 30, 1863

Four officers of the 13th Regiment are listed as killed in Battle during the span of their 3 year term; George N. Bush, Charles W. Whitcomb, Joseph H. Stuart, and William Cordwell.   Captain George N. Bush is the only one for whom I have a picture.  He was promoted captain in February 1863, and had just shortly returned to the regiment after a leave of absence in Boston to collect his new uniform and equipments when he was killed instantly by a shell April 30, 1863 near Pollock's Mill Landing on the Rappahannock River opposite Fredericksburg.  The same shell killed 2nd-Lt. William Cordwell, the second of the four officers of the 13th Regiment listed killed in battle.  A sergeant of Company K, Cordwell had recently received his commission to 2d-Lieutenant.  The same shell that killed Bush and Cordwell, mangled Corporal John S.  Fay, who would  survive but with the loss of  two limbs.  Surgeon Allston Whitney of the 13th MA performed the operation which saved Fay's life.  According to Fay, the incident occurred while a small group of men had gathered round Captain Bush and newly minted Lieutenant Cordwell, to listen to news from Boston.  The morning had been fairly quiet, but suddenly in mid-afternoon, enemy artillery opened up and began lobbing shells across the lines. One of the first few shots exploded in the midst of the 13th MA.  This one  shot was responsible for killing 2 of the 4 officers who lost their lives while serving in the regiment.

Officers' Records as of the end of the year, 1863.

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Photo Gallery of Officers

Colonel Leonard and the Two Hoveys

Left to right, Captain John G. Hovey, Colonel Samuel H. Leonard, Captain Charles H. Hovey. John G. would resign shortly in January, 1864.  Charles would be promoted Lt.-Colonel and go home with the regiment at the end of service.  Col. Leonard was never promoted to Brigadier-General, and was the senior colonel in the Army of the Potomac when the regiment went home in July 1864.  It was probably his weak health in the field  that prevented advancement.  He was a brave and true military man.  A letter of Colonel Leonard's, on file in the Governor's Correspondence Collection of papers at the MA State Archives, states he wished to re-organize the 13th MA for another 3 years, like many veteran regiments were doing in late 1863.  That never happened.  I can only speculate why, and think it may have come down to his poor health, and his relationship with Maj.-Generals Samuel Crawford and G.K. Warren during the Spring campaigns of 1864.

Pictured left to right, Adjutant David Bradlee, Quartermaster George Craig, Lieutenant-Colonel N. Walter Batchelder.  Charles E. Davis, Jr. wrote of Adjutant Bradlee in December, 1895, "The record of Adjutant Bradlee, as it appears in the published roster, seems meagre in comparison with the service he performed.  Most of his service was in the capacity of A.A.A.G. on the staffs of brigade and division commanders.  He left among his papers no record of these details, hence the difficulty of making his record complete.  Lt.-Col. Batchelder frequently commanded the regiment, when Col Leonard had command of the brigade, or was absent.  He would resign his commission after 3 years hard service, before the Spring Campaigns began in 1864.

Lieutenant Melvin Smith and Lieutenant Michael J. Dagney.  Original Officer, Lieutenant Melvin S. Smith, worked closely with George Craig in the Quartermaster Department.  Subsequently, like Craig, he was detached from the regiment.  Next to Smith is a low-resolution image of 1st-Lieutenant Michael J. Dagney.  The image was cropped out of a group photo of the 13th MA Glee Club, from the early days of the regiment when it was camped in Williamsport, Maryland.  Dagney began service as a corporal and rose through the ranks to 1st-Lieutenant, promoted February 2nd 1863.

 Surgeon J. Theodore Heard, Surgeon Allston W. Whitney, and Assistant Surgeon Lloyd Hixon.  No medical officer advanced through the ranks as quickly as J. Theodore Heard.  He mustered into the 13th Mass. as Assistant Surgeon, on July 16, 1861.  On May 1st, 1862 he was promoted Brigade Surgeon.  On October 28th, 1863 he was promoted Division Surgeon. Twelve days later on November 10, he was appointed Medical Director of the First Army Corps. He continued in that capacity til the end of the war, assigned Medical Director of the Fourth Corps, Army of the Cumberland, after the First Corps was broken up in March, 1864.  Before the war, Heard did two tours in Europe studying medicine after graduationg from Harvard Medical School in 1859.  He studied medical tactics in the Crimean War.  He was from a wealthy Boston family, that made money as brewers, and was considered a gentleman of the highest sort.  Even Colonel Wainwright liked him, which makes him a most rare bird.

Surgeon Whitney was also a worthy doctor.  His father was also a surgeon and before the war they practiced together.  Whitney was also promoted Brigade Surgeon.  He was captured June 15, 1863 at the Fitzhugh House Hospital opposite Fredericksburg (of which he had charge) when the wagons necessary to evacuate his most severe cases failed to show up.  Whitney refused to abandon the hospital's wounded in the face of the enemy's advance.  For this he spent nearly five months in captivity at Richmond's Libby Prison.  Whitney, a stout man was released and reached Washington somewhat thinner, November 26, 1863.  He re-joined the army as brigade surgeon during the winter encampment at Culpeper.  I currently don't have specific dates for his return to the field. A letter of Sergeant Warren Freeman says Dr. Whitney returned April 16, 1864, after nearly 6 months captivity.  His record in the Regimental Roster says, “was detailed as surgeon-in-chief of brigade or division during most of his service.” A Westboro Chronotype Newspaper article, dated January 10, 1863 says, “Dr. A. W. Whitney of Framingham, Surgeon of the 13th Regt. Mass. Vols., has been appointed Chief Medical Officer of the 2d Division-1st Army Corps, and attached to Gen. Gibbons Staff.”

Assistant Surgeon Lloyd Hixon, was an educator at heart.  He ran a school for camp-followers during his service with the regiment and encouraged many of the soldiers to consider getting an advanced education when their volunteer service ended.  He ran his own school for boys in Newburyport, MA after the war. An in-depth tribute to Dr. Hixon is posted elsewhere on this website.

Captain Elliot C. Pierce, left, and Captain Oliver C. Livermore. Captain Pierce would soon be Major Pierce of the 13th, replacing Jacob Parker Gould who resigned to take charge of the 59th M.V.I.  Pierce was appointed Major, April 22, 1864.  He was a friend of Colonel Leonard and quickly rose through the ranks faster than any other officer in the regiment.  I cannot but think the Colonel promised him an officer's commission as soon as it was possible, when he mustered in as Sergeant-Major in July 1861.  In January 1862, he jumped the line of ten men and was promoted 1st-Lieutenant, assigned to Company H.  Six months later in July 1862 he was promoted captain.  He ended his service with the rank of major, 3rd in command.  Pierce was a good soldier and was the last man of the regiment to leave the front lines before Petersburg the day they were relieved of duty and ordered to the rear.   He was on duty as Officer of the Day.  Captain Livermore, was often acting adjutant of the regiment.  In December 1863, Livermore was on Colonel T. F. McCoy's Brigade Staff.

Captain Morton Tower, left, and  Captain Jacob A. Howe.  1st-Lieutenant Morton Tower was captured at Gettysburg and marched off to Libby Prison in Richmond.  He participated in a dramatic escape with over 100 others February 9, 1864, through a secret tunnel the officers dug from the prison basement.   He received his captain's commission July 16, 1863, during confinement.  1st-Lieutenant Jacob A. Howe saved the National Colors from capture at the battle of Gettysburg.  He was promoted captain a month later.   Both Tower and Howe began their service in the regiment as non-commissioned officers.

Pictured left to right are Samuel C. Whitney,  Robert B. Henderson, and  David L. Brown.  All three would soon leave the regiment.  Whitney started service as first-sergeant of Company G. He was appointed 1st-Lieutenant in May,  1863.  He resigned his commission April 4, 1864 and was replaced by Edwin F. Rollins. Henderson started out as a sergeant of Company A, and made his way up through the ranks to 1st-Lieutenant, August 4, 1863.  He was acting adjutant of the regiment at this time, but left in March 1864, due to disability from his Antietam related wounds.  He finished service as Assistant-Quartermaster at the Draft Rendezvous in Boston Harbor, (probably at Long Island, MA).  David L. Brown helped organize Company I in the Spring of 1861.  He was bumped down to 2nd-Lieutenant when notorious Captain Shriber was appointed by Governor Andrew to command the company.  Brown would resign his commission March 13, 1864 the day he was promoted captain. David Whiston was promoted to take his place.

Pictured left to right are William S. Damrell, William B. Kimball, and William Cary.  Damrell started out as Corporal in Company D.  He had the misfortune to be captured at Spotsylvania and sent to Rebel Prisons in the South.  He was not released until well after the regiment mustered out.  He was promoted Captain while in prison, like Morton Tower.  William B. Kimball also rose through  the ranks, beginning his service as Corporal of Company K in July 1861.  William Cary was the oldest of the 3 Cary brothers, [William, Joseph, and Sam]  to muster into the regiment in 1861.  He and his younger brother Joseph was the original captain of Company B, while youngest brother Sam entered service as a sergeant.  Joseph resigned February 28, 1863..  Both William and Sam were promoted and served to the end of the regiment's 3 year term.

Picture left to right are, Oscar F. Morse, Charles E. Horne, and  Samuel E. Cary.  Morse began service as a sergeant in Company H.  He would soon be promoted to the rank of captain on January 4, 1864.  He mustered out of service July 8, 1864, shortly before the rest of the regiment left the front lines.  Horne began service as 4th Sergeant, Company G. After Gettysburg, where he was wounded he was promoted 2nd-Lieutenant.  He was promoted again in March, 1864. At Spotsylvania he would be wounded a second time in which he would lose an arm. He was also captured and sent to prison and was not mustered out of service until September 1864 two months after his term of service had expired.  Sam Cary as mentioned above, mustered into service in the 13th MA with two older brothers.  He was the youngest of the 3 and began as a sergeant in Company B, of which his brother Joseph was then captain.  Sam mustered out of the regiment as 1st-Lieutenant.

 I have no identified pictures of 2nd Lieutenants Whiston, Welles, Washburn, and Whitcomb. There must be something about the W.   2nd-Lieutenant William R. Warner's image is posted below on this page.  I would also like to find pictures of Lt. Edwin Rollins and Josiah "Joe" Stuart if anybody reading this can help.

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1863 Summary Report of Service

Presented here is Massachusetts Adjutant General William Schouler's 1863 Summary Report for the 13th Regiment, Volunteer Infantry.  Pictures are inserted between the entries, which makes it seem less like a report. I have also added titles to the campaigns.

THIRTEENTH REGIMENT, 1863 SUMMARY OF SERVICE.

The nucleus of the Thirteenth Regiment, was the Fourth Battalion of Rifles, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, which was recruited to a full regiment, while in camp at Fort Independence, Boston harbor, and was ordered to Washington, July 30, 1861.

 

Fort Independence

From the time it left Massachusetts until the spring of 1862, it was on patrol and outpost duty, on the Upper Potomac, in Maryland.  Previous to the 1st of January, 1863, the Thirteenth was engaged in the battles of Bull Run (second,) Antietam, and Fredericksburg.  The following is its history from December 19, 1862, up to December 31, 1863.

December 19, 1862.  Broke camp and marched to Fletcher’s Chapel, a distance of about twelve miles, and went into camp.  From December 19, 1862, to January 20, 1863, remained in camp, usual drills with bayonet exercises occupying the time.

Winter Huts, January 17, 1863, Harper's Weekly

[Mud March, January 20 - 23.]

January 20, 1863.  Broke camp and marched to Stoneman’s Switch, a distance of nine miles, and bivouacked for the night.  21st, moved at 7, A.M., towards the Rappahannock, halting on the left of the road leading to United States Ford, distance four miles.   Very heavy rain and the roads impassable for artillery and trains.  22d.  In the mud.

Harper' Weekly engraving of an Alfred Waud sketch drawn during the "Mud March."

  23d.  Marched back to our old camp near Fletcher’s Chapel; distance marched, thirteen miles.  We remained in this camp attending to the usual duties until April 28.

“Review by the President of the Cavalry of the Army of the Potomac –– General Buford's Division of Regulars.”  Drawn by A.R. Waud.  The review took place April 9, 1863.  The picture was published in Harpers Weekly, May 2nd 1863.

[Chancellorsville Campaign, April 28 - May 6.]

April 28.  Broke camp and marched towards the Rappahannock, halting in rear of the “Fitz Hugh House,” formed line of battle and bivouacked.

29th.  Moved down near the river, on the interval in front of the “Fitz Hugh House” and reformed line.  Remained in this position until the afternoon of the 30th, when the enemy opens his artillery upon us, and we moved to the rear for shelter, which we found in the ditch by the roadside.  During the shelling, Captain George Bush, and Lieutenant William Cordwell, both of Company F, were killed, and Sergeant J. S. Fay, of the same company, lost his right leg and arm.

The Henry Fitzhugh house and grounds photographed by John Cummings in 2011.  The house was used as a field hospital. 13th MA Surgeon Allston W. Whitney had charge of the hospital.  John S. Fay was operated on at this house after his severe wounding at Fitzhugh Crossing, April 30, 1863.  The house is derelect today, the grounds developed.

May 1. Laid in line of battle.

2d.  Were ordered to march, proceeded up the river to United States Ford, where we crossed, halted and made preparations to remain over night. At 8, P.M., we advanced to the front and took possession on the right of Chancellorsville, distance marched, eighteen miles.  Here we threw up earthworks, using, instead of picks and shovels, bayonets and tin plates.*

3d.  Laid in our intrenchments.

4th.  In connection with the Twelfth Massachusetts, and one section of the Second Maine Battery, made a reconnoissance, the object being to discover the position of the enemy on our right.  We soon came upon his pickets, who fired upon our skirmishers, wounding seven men.  The object of the advance being accomplished, we returned to our intrenchments.

*General Hooker didn't utilize General John Reynold's 1st Corps troops at the Battle of Chancellorsville.  They were in an excellent position to make a flank attack upon the enemy.  Such a manouevre was strongly advised to the commander, but he refused to act upon it.

6th.  Moved at 3, A.M., and recrossed the Rappahannock, at United States Ford, marched to Falmouth, a distance of fourteen miles.  

Artists Edwin Forbus Sketched U.S. Ford during the Chancellorsville Campaign.  Few pictures exist of the ford and it is difficult to access today, except perhaps by water, canoeing along the river.

7th.  Marched to White Oak Church , six miles, and went into camp.   18th Moved camp half a mile.  20th.  This regiment was transferred to First Brigade.  21st.  Changed camp and remained until June 12th.

White Oak Church, Stafford County, Virginia, during the war, and a contemporary view.

[Gettysburg Campaign, June 12 - July 14.]

June 12.  Broke camp at 5 o’clock, A.M., and marched to Deep Run, arriving at 7 o’clock, P.M.,  a distance of about twenty-two miles.

13th.  Marched at 7, A.M., reaching Bealton Station at 6, P.M., a march of twelve miles.  A very hot day –– the men suffering severely.

14th.  Marched at 8, A.M.;  passed through Warrenton Junction and Catlett’s Station, reaching Kettle Run at 9, P.M.  Halted to cook coffee at half-past 10 o’clock.  Marched for Manassas JunctIon, arriving at half-past 3, A.M. of the 15th–-a march of eighteen miles.

15th.  Marched at 8, A.M.; and on reaching Bull Run, the First Corps was drawn up in line of battle, left resting on the creek, and the right extending towards Centreville.  Remained in position one hour, and then took up our line of march for Centreville, and bivouacked at 3, P.M., on the heights.

16th.  Rested.

17th.  Line formed, and marched at half-past 5, A.M., and reached Herndon Station at 3, P.M.; distance sixteen miles; a very warm day.  18th.  Remained in camp.

19th.  Marched to Guilford Station, four miles, and went into camp.  At 8, P.M., ordered to pack up, (in a heavy rain-storm;) after remaining under arms two hours, marching orders were countermanded and nearly the whole regiment was sent out on picket.

25th.  At 9 o’clock, broke camp, and crossed the Potomac at half-past 1, P.M., near Edward’s Ferry; marched through Poolesville to Barnesville, arriving at 9, P.M., when the regiment was sent half a mile out on the road for picket duty.  The day’s march was eighteen miles.

26th.  Marched at half-past 4, A.M., crossed the Monocacy at Greenfield, passed though Adamstown, and halted at Jeffersonville at 3 P.M., –– a sixteen-miles march.  Rain for two days.

27th.  Marched at 8, A.M., passed through Middleton, camping a mile from town at 1, P.M.

28th.  Marched at half-past 3, A.M., crossed the mountain by the old road, and reached Frederick City at 8, P.M.; distance, nine miles;  the men unusually cheerful, enlivening the march by songs and cheers.

29th.  Marched at 5, A.M., passing through Emmetsburg at half-past 5, P.M., camping near the town. The distance marched was twenty-six miles, (it raining all day,) and the greater part of the distance over mud roads in very bad condition.

30th.  Marched at 8, A.M.; and, after proceeding about six miles, crossing the Pennsylvania line, halted and formed line of battle, owing to the First Division, (which was in the advance,) encountering the pickets of the enemy.

July 1.  Marched at 6, A.M.  After proceeding about four miles, heard cannonading in front, our cavalry and flying artillery having engaged the advance of the enemy.  The First and Third Divisions being ahead of us, advanced, and we followed rapidly.  Before proceeding far, the news came to the rear of the death of General Reynolds.  We rapidly neared the firing, which grew more rapid and severe as we approached.

General Robinson's 2nd Division of the First Corps, paused briefly in front of  the seminary, seen in the background with the cupola, and built earthworks before moving into action north of the town.  A first Corps Monument to the 3rd Division stands in the foreground.

Soon the First Division was engaged and General Paul notified the commanders that they were immediately going into an engagement.  We left the road, and moved out to the front of Gettysburg, and soon came under the fire of the enemy.

The enemy so much out numbering us, our brigade was sent into action by regiments and with so great intervals between them, as not to be able to properly support each other.  The enemy pressed hard on our flanks, but our regiment ––commanded by Colonel Leonard, until he was wounded and retired, and afterwards by Lieutenant-Colonel Batchelder ––held its ground for upwards of an hour, when, being seriously annoyed by a regiment of the enemy lying behind the banks of Chambersburg Pike Road, a charge was ordered, which resulted in the capture of 132 of the enemy, 7 of whom were commissioned officers. They were safely carried to the rear.  A division of the Eleventh Corps, on our right, giving way before a charge of the enemy, with very slight resistance, left our flank exposed, and no support coming up, a retreat was ordered, and we fell back through the town to the heights in the rear, where the command was reorganized.  About 100 were taken prisoners in passing through the town.  Our loss in killed, wounded, and missing, in the day’s battle, was 189.  We took into action 260 muskets.**

**NOTE:  The 11th Corps over-extended its line and did not have enough men to hold the advancing enemy.  Capt Hubert Dilgers 1st Ohio battery and skirmishers from the 45h NY Infantry greatly assisted the 13th MA on the right of the 1st Corps line in repelling the first attack of Colonel Edward A. O'Neal's Confederate Brigade. The Official Report of Lt.-Col. Dobke, of the 45th NY; dated August 21, 1863, says:

“At about 1.30 p.m. a long line of the enemy moved on the extreme right of the First Corps, passing the left of the Forty-fifth, and offering the flank to the Forty-fifth Regiment New York Volunteers, the left wing of our regiment at once gave fire at very short distance (50 or 100 yards) with such terrible effect that, in result with the combination of the fire from the extreme right of the First Corps, the whole of the enemy’s line halted, gradually disappeared on the same spot where they stood, and the remainder, finding they could not retrace their steps, surrendered, partly to the First Corps and a great number to the Forty-fifth Regiment, which prisoners were at once sent to the rear, but in the heat of the battle no account could be taken.”

This photo shows the slope of Oak Ridge, with Baxter's Brigade on the top of the ridge facing east, and the 13th MA on the reverse slope facing north (left).

July 2.  Supported batteries on Cemetery Hill until nearly dark, when we were ordered to the left, and ran the gauntlet of a very heavy artillery fire, reaching the point of attack as the enemy were driven back.  Returned to our position on the right, and about 9, P.M., were moved over the hill in front of the batteries and near the town, where we were much annoyed by the sharpshooters firing from the windows of the houses.

July 3.  Soon after daylight were ordered to the rear of the batteries.  As we rose from the stone wall and moved off, received a volley from the pickets of the enemy, which fortunately did no damage.  Held a position in support of batteries until the enemy, making a desperate attack on the centre, our division was sent to reinforce the Second Corps. Reached the point of attack just as the enemy fell back, broken and defeated.  Relieved the Second Corps, built earthworks in the edge of the woods, and, after sending out a strong picket, bivouacked.

July 4.  Our pickets skirmished with the enemy all day; casualties very few.  Heavy rain nearly all day.

5th. At daylight discovered that the enemy had retreated.  At 9, A.M., moved to the left, occupying part of the ground held by the Third Corps.  Made out report of the action and list of casualties, and forwarded them.

6th.  Formed line at 6, A.M., move towards Emmettsburg.  After marching six miles, were halted and marched back two miles where we halted in a piece of woods until afternoon. We again formed, and marched to within two miles of Emmettsburg, and went into camp.

View from South Mountain looking east, toward the Cactoctin Mountains.  The 13th Mass. crossed this ridge from Emmistburg to get near Middleton, and from there to the west slope of South Mountain Gap.

July 7.  Marched by a very rough mountain road to Belleville, a distance of twenty miles, reaching camp about 8, P.M.  Before tents could be pitched, the rain began to fall in torrents, and continued all night.

View west from the top of South Mountain looking towards the Antietam Battlefield.

8th.  Rainy day; marched through Belleville, and Middleton, halting for about four hours near the latter place; passed through South Mountain gap, and threw up earthworks on the west side of the ridge. The distance marched fourteen miles.

9th.  Remained in position.

      July 10.  Marched early in the morning, passed through Boonsboro’ to Beaver Creek, and built more earthworks.  After completing the works, were ordered to change front to rear, and built another line of works.

11th.  Late in the afternoon went on picket.

12th.  Withdrawn from picket early A.M.;  marched to Funkstown, on the Hagerstown Road.  Formed line of battle on the left of the road, and intrenched.

July 13.  Remained in our works; were reinforced by a brigade composed of the Eighth, Thirty-Ninth, Forty-Third, and Forty-Sixth Massachusetts Volunteers.

14th.  It became evident that the enemy had again fallen back. Marched at 2, P.M., and reached Williamsport before night;  went into camp.  A hard rain during the night.

15th.  Marched early, and after a very hard march encamped near Crampton’s Gap.

The map shows the positions of the opposing armies July 13, 1863.  Click here to view the map a little bit larger.

Crampton's Gap

View East at Crampton's Gap, showing the prominant War Correspondents' Monument, errected through the efforts of Correspondent George Alfred Townsend who settled in the area years after the war.

July 16.  Marched through Crampton’s Gap, and Burkittsville, and encamped near Berlin.  17th.  Remained in camp.

The Potomac River Crossing at Berlin, Maryland.

18th. Crossed the Potomac on pontoons, marched through Lovettsville, and encamped near Waterford.  

19th. Marched east 7. A.M., and reached Hamilton about 10, A.M.

July 20.  Marched at 4, A. M., and reached Middleburg at 6, P.M., and encamped.  21st. Remained in camp.

July 22.  Marched in the evening as rear-guard to the corps.  Were on the road till 3, A.M., of the 23d, when we halted, one mile from White Plain.  A night attack on the train by guerrillas was expected, and we were disposed accordingly.

July 23.  Marched at 10, A.M., and reached Warrenton at 4, P.M., and went into camp, the teams coming up with tents and baggage.  24th. Remained in camp.

25th.  Were aroused at 3 o’clock, A.M., and ordered to prepare to march immediately.  Started at 5, A.M., and arrived at Warrenton Junction at noon.  At 8, P.M., resumed march towards Bealton Station, arriving at half-past ten, P.M., the most of the distance being marched in a very heavy thunder storm.  The day’s march was twelve miles. 

26th.  Changed position in order to camp on better ground; the most of the regiment sent out on picket towards night.

27th.  Marched to Rappahannock Station, taking position in rear of the old fortifications above the bridge.  28th Remained in camp. Heavy thunder storm. 

29th.  Remained in camp.  A very hot day.

30th.  Remained in camp.  Very warm.

31st. Remained in camp.  [Click here to view map larger.]

Sketch of Rappahannock Station

Edwin Forbes sketch of Rappahannock Station in August, 1862.  The two hills numbered "3" are on the south side of the river.   General George Lucas Hartsuff's Brigade lay on one of them during the fight at Rapp Station, August 23, 1862.

August 1.  Moved at daylight into the entrenchments to cover the crossing of our cavalry, (General Buford’s division.)  The enemy’s pickets fell back without firing a shot, and after the cavalry had all crossed on a hastily-constructed pontoon, our brigade crossed, moving to the left, to the heights on which stands the “White House,” and encircled the height with rifle pits.  2d.  Remained in same position until the 8th.

This map is conjecture as to the positions of the 13th MA, at Rapp Station, July 27 - August 15, 1863.  I believe the "White House" referenced is the "Payne" house indicated on this map.

8th.  Were relieved by fresh troops and recrossed the river, encamping a short distance above the railroad bridge.

10th. Remained in camp.  Resumed the regular routine of camp duties.

16th.  Broke camp at daylight and marched at 7 o’clock, A.M., towards Culpeper. The First Division in the advance, the artillery next, Second Division in the centre, the Third Division in the rear.  Arrived in camp near Culpeper at 3, P.M.

17th.  Ordered to resume regular camp duties. Remained in camp until September 24th.

View of Pony Mountain, from the east, where the regiment camped.  The village of  Culpeper, VA is just north-west of the mountain.

September 24th. Marched to Raccoon Ford; went into camp in a piece of woods one mile from the Rapidan.

27th.  Changed camp two miles up the river, where we remained until October 10th.

View of Clarks Mountain  from the north side of the Rapidan River (looking south) near Raccoon Ford.  The regiment did picket duty here along the river in the Fall of 1863.  The Rapidan follows the heavy tree line in the middle ground of the picture.

[Bristoe Campaign; October 10 - 19.]

October 10.  Ordered to be in line ready to march at 1, A.M., moved at 3, A.M., towards Morton’s Ford. After a cavalry reconnoissance at the ford, the enemy being discovered making a flank movement, we were marched at 6, P.M. to the rear, towards Stevensburg, going into camp to the left of the town.

11th.  “General” sounded at 3, A.M.  Troops marched soon after daylight, passing through Stevensburg, reaching Kelly’s Ford about 3, P.M., fording the river, water leg deep, went into camp on the heights. 

12th.  At daylight were ordered to move down into the rifle-pits on the banks of the river, and remained in that position the rest of the day.

13th.  At one o’clock, A.M., ordered to prepare to march.  Marched at 2, A.M., passing through Warrenton Junction, Catlett’s Station, and bivouacking at Bristol Station at 9, P.M.  Anticipating  flank attack at Warrenton Junction, the First Corps was drawn up in line of battle a few hours, while the trains were being moved to the rear.

14th.  Marched at daylight, passing through Manassas, crossing Bull Run, and reaching Centerville at one, P.M.  Heavy cannonading in the rear all day; were soon ordered to pack up ad move out on the Warrenton Pike.  Thirteenth Massachusetts deployed as skirmishers and advanced to Stone Bridge on Bull Run, threw out strong pickets and  bivouacked.

[Map shows the first leg of the long march on October 13th, from Kelly's Ford to Warrenton Junction along the Orange & Alexandria Railroad.  They continued to march north the next day to Centreville.]

The Stone Bridge over Bull Run Creek.

 15th.  Moved back across Cub Run to the hill in front of Centerville Heights, where we remained until October 19.

19th.  Marched at at 8 o’clock to Haymarket, cavalry of the enemy offering slight resistance.

Map of the march through much fought over ground, from Centreville to Haymarket on October 19th.  Thoroughfare Gap is a short distance west of Haymarket.  The Bristoe Campaign ended with the skirmishing on the 19th.

20th.  Enemy disappeared during the night.  At 3, P.M., marched through Thoroughfare Gap, and camped on the heights at 9 o’clock, P.M.  Colonel Leonard returned from Long Island, [Massachusetts] and assumed command of brigade.

24th. Marched at 7, A.M., through the Gap, Haymarket, Gainesville, forded Broad Run, and encamped on the battle-ground near Bristol Station at 5, P.M., weather very cold and rain fell nearly all day.

31st. Moved camp one mile to the westward, in a thick grove of pines.

Thoroughfare Gap illustrated in Frank Leslie's Illustrated Weekly.

November 5.  Struck tents at 4, P.M., moved to Catlett’s Station and bivouacked.

6th.  Went into camp on high ground east of the station.

7th.  Marched at daylight, passed through Warrenton Junction, and bivouacked at Morristown at 4, P.M.; drew and issued ammunition.

Battle of Kelly's Ford, November 7, 1863.  Captain J. Henry Sleeper's 10th Massachusetts Battery opens on Confederate Pickets from a ridge overlooking Kellys Ford.  Troops of the Major-General William French's 3rd Corps drove away Rebel pickets and secured the crossing for the Army of the Potomac.  The 13th MA with the 1st Corps lay in support of the 3rd Corps, some distance away at Morristown.

8th. Moved at daylight, crossed Kelly’s Ford and advanced, acting as a reserve, to near Brandy Station.

9th.  Marched at 4, P.M., recrossed river at Rappahannock Station, and marched to Licking Run, going into camp at one o’clock, A.M., November 10, a very cold night, snowing, with a strong north-west wind.

23d.  Marched at daylight for Rappahannock.

[Mine Run Campaign; November 26 - December 3rd.]

26th.  Thanksgiving Day.  Marched across the Rappahannock, and Culpepper Ford on the Rapidan, and camped on the heights south of the river.

27th.  Marched down Fredericksburg Plank Road a few miles, and crossed over to the Orange Court house road, moved out into the Wilderness, joining in to the left of the Second Corps, and picketed through the night.

Map of the marches of the various Union Army Corps, November 26 & 27, 1863, during the Mine Run Campaign.  Click here to view map larger.

28th. Moved forward into line of battle early in the morning;  after a little artillery fire the regiment was sent out on the left flank as skirmishers; were relieved by the Third Army Corps that night.

29th.  Laid in line of battle.

30th.  Moved to the right about a mile and massed on the left of the Fifth Army Corps, to make an assault on the works. The intention to storm the works was finally abandoned by General Meade on account of the great risks involved.

December 1.  Moved back before daylight to our old position.  Late in the afternoon were ordered to march to Germania Ford, on the Rapidan, and cover the crossing of the rest of the army.

Artist Correspondent A.R. Waud sketched General Meade's army recrossing the Rapidan River at Germanna Ford December 2nd 1863.  The campaing was like a dry run for General U.S. Grant's Spring Campaign in May, 1864.

2d. The whole army being safely withdrawn, we crossed the river and marched to Stevensburg, where we camped for the night.

3d.  Marched to near Kelly’s Ford, went into camp, and resumed camp duties.

 

Edwin Forbes' sketch of Kelly's Ford in April, 1863, gives a good idea of the location, showing Kelly's Mill on the Culpeper (south) side of the Rappahannock River.  There was a battle fought here in November, but  Forbes' sketch was made at the start of General George Stoneman's failed cavalry raid, which was part of General Joseph Hooker's Chancellorsville campaign.  The 13th MA spent most of December, 1863 camped between here and Paoli Mills to the west, on Mountain Run, in huts built by Southern soldiers.

[December] 24th.  Broke camp at daylight and marched seventeen miles and bivouacked.

25th.  Christmas.  Laid in line.

27th.  Marched to Mitchell’s Station, a distance of three miles, and camped.

31st.  Changed camp to higher ground.

Picture of Mitchell's Station, Virginia; photo by Brett V. Johnson.

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Adjutant General's Report: Methodology & Sources

METHODOLOGY

The following lists were compiled from the Massachusetts Adjutant General’s Reports for  the 13th Regiment in 1864 and 1865. Any soldier whose record ended in the year 1863, was culled from those reports and aggregated here. There were many incorrect names on the A.G. Report.  When there was a question about a name or record I consulted the roster printed in Charles E. Davis, Jr’s regimental history, “Three Years in the Army” Estes & Lauriat, 1894.   I also consulted the 13th Regiment Association Circulars.  Davis addressed the errors found in his roster by printing corrections in the Circulars beginning with #8 in December, 1895, #9 in December 1896, and finally in #10, December 1897.  Considering the wide circulation this pamphlet had among veterans of the regiment, it was an economically wise method used to make the corrections.  But, if today, you are unaware of the 13th MA Association Circulars, you are stuck with the errors contained in the history’s roster.   The third source used to check up on a soldier’s record were the entries in the original Regimental and Company Books carried in the field when the 13th MA was in service.  These books were turned over to the Massachusetts State Archives and have recently been digitized and posted on-line by the genealogy site "Family Search."   I found two descriptive books from this source.  The first which I have termed the "Regt. Descriptive List" organizes soldiers' names alphabetically with short notes and comments on service.  Many of these notations were added and dated years after the war.  The othere record I found from this source I have called, "Regt. Descriptive Book."  This record is organized by Company with more space allowed for notes.  The notes for each company are written in a different hand, and follow a slightly different style or pattern depending on who filled in the comments. In this book, for each soldier's record, the list of "battles engaged in" were added all at one time in a different handwriting from the original comments.   It is a great boon to have these documents available to consult.  In most cases,  Davis’s roster reflects the entries in the original books.  Although it is great to have these records it makes proof reading tedious and time consuming.  Other sources I used to clarify records included pension index-card files and town histories when available.   Where there were discrepancies, preference was given to the roster and original books over the A.G. Reports.

Differences between the Adjutant General Report, and the Regimental Roster are noted.  “Regt. says” refers to a soldier's record in the regimental history.  “AG says,” refers to information in the Adjutant General's Report.   “Regt. Descriptive List,” and “Regt. Descriptive Book,” were two different compilations within the original books. Between the two main sources, small differences in a soldier's age were recorded.  I tended to ignore them.  Greater differences are noted.  I have sometimes used the notation m/o for "mustered out."   I've tried to be as careful as possible but handling this many records there are probably some errors. I found a few while proofreading.  Readers may contact me if they are uncertain about a particular soldier's record as it is listed, and I will be glad to  re-check my files.— B.F.

List of Absent Men (1863 Only)

Photo Gallery

Peter F. Petersen, Company B.

Absent Men

These are only men reported absent in the 1864 Adjutant General's Report for the year 1863.  Men listed absent since 1862 are not included here, (perhaps with a couple of exceptions) nor are men who would be absent in 1864 included here. The first comments in the  "NOTES" column are the A.G.'s.  Different sources are quoted after that in brackets or parenthesis.

NOTE:  Whoever filled out some of the battle entries in the Regimental Books consistently  dated the battle of Gettysburg July 3rd, and the battle of  Fredericksburg  November 15th.  The correct dates for the regiment's primary engagements at those fights were July 1st and December 12th & 13th.

Of Special Interest

Presented here, just as one example of tracking a particular soldier's record, I thought the following document transcription might be of interest.  Considering the vagueness of Robert J. Walker's record above,  the following communication found in a book of Regimental Orders, July 17, 1861 to April 30, 1864, would have been some help in defining his record.  This is but one helpful document of many found, in one of serveral books carried by the regiment in the field.  But the Company Order books and Regimental Orders books were probably  unavailable, and too obscure of a reference to be consulted when the original  rosters were compiled. [Source: Document downloaded from Family Search.]

R. J. Walker, Company A, Detached at Campbell Hospital, Washington D.C.

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List of Discharged Men (1863), Company A;

Photo Gallery - Discharged Men, Company A

Pictured left to right, Sergeant Warren E. Shepard, Private Walter F. Pollard, & Sergeant William Pfaff, Company A.  Shepard and Pfaff were original sergeants with the company.  Sgt. Shepard was discharged for disability March 14th 1863 at U.S. General Hospital, Baltimore.  Warren Shepard attended the 1904 re-union dinner in Boston.  Pfaff was dicharged for disabilty in Boston, January 28, 1863. Pollard was a recruit of '62.  He was wounded at the Battle of Antietam and thereafter absent from the regiment in hospitals for a year.  He managed to get a positon as hospital steward and was discharged September 21, 1863.

Private Henry A. Harris, Private William P. Jackson, & Private Emanuel Nutze, all of Company A.  Harris lobbied the governor's office for promotion and gained a commission, March 7, 1863 in Col. Daniel Ullman's  brigade [Corps D'Afrique] of Colored troops.   He rose through the officer ranks in the Colored units and made captain in in the 82nd U.S. Colored troops, August 1864.  He mustered out of service on September 7, 1866. Private Jackson was discharged on a surgeon's certificate of  disability at Boston, January 22, 1863.  Emanuel Nutze was wounded at the Battle of Antietam, and Dischared March 19, 1863 at Reading, Pa. by order of Major-General Shurz on account of disability.

Pictured  left to right, Private Horace Shepard, Private Henry J. Kellog, Jr., and Charles N.W. Cunningham.  Shepard was absent sick since October 25, 1862 after the battle of Antietam. He was dropped from the rolls August 1st 1863, and discharged in December that year.  Kellog went through the battles of Thoroughfare Gap and 2nd Bull Run.  He was detailed at Brigade Headquarters August 1st 1862.  He was discharged April 25, 1863 in Boston by order of Lt. Collins, Captain 4th Infantry, on account of disability.  Both men were active in the Thirteenth Regiment Association Re-union dinners.  Shepard attended most of the re-unions between the years 1889 and1906.  Kellog attended many times between the years 1901 and 1918.  Cunningham's mother and guardian undertook a focused letter writing campaign on behalf of her son Charles, to help him in his military careers.  Charles always aspired to join the regular army and sought advancement in the volunteer ranks.  It took time but he eventually succeeded in his goal. The letters are posted on the next page of this website.

Pictured are Private James Dammers and Private James D. Thurber.  Both men mustered into the 13th MA as August 1862 recruits.   Dammers was severely wounded at Antietam and spent time in the same Harrisburg, PA hospital as prolific letter writer Private John B. Noyes.  Noyes wrote Dammers could project his voice like a ventriloquist, and used it to play tricks on some of the hospital stewards, and to entertain the boys recovering from their wounds.  Dammers received his discharge August 1, 1863 and was dropped from the rolls. He attended several of the post-war regimental re-union dinners in Boston.   Private James D. Thurber was wounded at the Battle of Antietam while serving in the 13th.  He mustered out of the 13th MA where he was a clerk at Headquarters to accept an officer's commission in the 55th Mass., June 15, 1863.  He ended his military career with the rank of Captain.

Private Albert E. Hentz, and Private Augustus Pfeiffer, Company A.  Hentz was severely wounded at 2nd Bull Run and discharged March 4th, 1863 at Washington, D.C. by order of General Martindale on account of disability.  Pfeiffer was discharged on a surgeons certificate of disabilty, also on March 4th, 1863. The photo of Pfeiffer is cropped from a post war image of several members of the 13th MA posing in front of Dunker Church at Antietam Battlefield, circa 1888.  Charles E. Davis took the picture.  Lt.-Col. Charles Hovey and Colonel Leonard were also along on the tour.  They travelled together to several of the places they had been during the war after attending the dedication of their monument at Gettysburg.

Discharged, Company A

*Note:  Louis E. Granger

Comrade Granger (pictured below) seemed to have gone to some trouble to get his complete record recorded in the roster of the 13th MA Vols.  One correction was placed in Circular #8, December 1895.  Two years later in Circular #10, December 1897, Charles Davis printed the following.

Thirteenth Regiment Association Circular #10, December 1897, printed this correction to the roster:  “The following addition is made to the record of Comrade Granger:

Louis Edwin Granger, Private, Company A, Fourth Battalion Rifles;  Private Company A, Thirteenth Massachusetts Volunteers; Second-Lieutenant, Third United States Volunteers;  First Lieutenant, Eighth Corps d’Afrique;  Captain Eightieth United States Colored Infantry;  Brevet Major, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, United States Volunteers; Aide-de-Camp, Staff Brigadier-General John F. Appleton;  Aide-de_camp and AAA General, Staff Brevet, Major-General Daniel Ullman;  Assistant Provost Marshal General, Staff Major-General E.R.S. Cunby, Department of the Gulf;  Acting Assistant Quartermaster, Western Department of Louisiana in charge of all surrendered property;  General Kirby Smith’s Army, Transportation Mississippi Department; Second Lieutenant Fortieth Infantry United States Army;  Adjutant, Fortieth Infantry United States Army;  Brevet Captain, United States Army;  AAA General, Staff General Nelson A. Miles, Department, North Carolina;  Assistant Commander, Freedman's Bureau, Beaufort, North Carolina;  Brigadier-General and Assistant Adjutant-General, State of Louisiana;  Colonel and Aide-de-Camp, State of California; Brigadier-General and Aide-de-Camp, Staff General Grant.”

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List of Discharged Men (1863), Company B;

Photo Gallery - Discharged Men, Company B

Private George H. Bowen, Private William F. Perkins, & Private Silas B. Crane.  Bowen and Crane were wounded at 2nd Bull Run, Aug. 30, 1862 and eventually discharged because of it.  Perkins went missing that very day, absent sick. He was also discharged for disability, so perhaps he checked himself into a hospital following the battle.  The record is ambiguous.  Many of the 13th MA men discharged in early 1863 were casualties of 2nd Bull Run, where the regiment lost about 189 wounded.

Sergeant Walter P. Beaumont, Private Charles E. Davis, Jr., &  Private William L. G. Clark, Company B.  Beaumont and Davis were tent-mates in 1862.  Davis wrote “Beaumont was badly wounded August 30, 1862, at Manassas.  He recovered after some months and was commissioned a lieutenant in the Heavy Artillery and became the provost marshal of Washington.”  Davis himself was very badly wounded at the Battle of 2nd Bull Run and lay on the battlefield for a week before any help arrived.  He went on to write the Regimental History. His story titled "From Manassas to Boston" is posted on this website.  Clark was described by messmate John B. Noyes as such:  “We have a Wm. L. Garrison Clarke who is a serious pure abolitionist of the no bible belief stamp; but he does’nt talk abolitionism much though one of the ablest in the mess at an argument, overthrowing his antagonist as often by ironical thrusts so concealed as often to discomfort completely his man when on the point of claiming victory, as by soberer reasons.”

 Sergeant David Hicks, 1st Sergeant Samuel E. Cary & Sergeant George S. Worcester, of Company B, were all discharged for promotion.  Cary stayed with the 13th Regiment til the end of his service.

Private Albert V. Johnston, Private Frank J.  Baxter, and Private John A. Bennett, Company B.  I have few details on these men, outside the comments included here.  In 2022 a gentleman began sharing a cache of John Bennett's war-time letters with me, but the on-going exchange is not yet completed and I haven't taken a close look at them yet.

 Private Peter J. Rooney, & Private John B. Noyes, Company B.  Rooney transferred to the U.S. Cavalry at the end of 1862. In the early months of 1864 he quickly rose through the officer's ranks  from 2d-Lieut. in January, to be commissioned Captain in March. Harvard educated John B. Noyes military career is well documented through his letter transcriptions posted on this website. He transferred into the 28th MA as 2nd Lt. in April, 1863 and served with that fighting unit until his discharge in December 1864.  He rose to the rank of brevet Lt.-Colonel.

Private Charles C. Howland, presented here a bit larger than the other portraits because it is a full body pose. I also have a post-war, head-shot image of Howland via the Massachusetts Historical Society.  Howland also had influential letters of endorsement sent to the Governor's office in Massachusetts, in hopes of gaining an offiers's commission.

Discharged Men, Company B

*Note: George Worcester's Record as corrected in Thirteenth Regiment Association Circular #8, Dec. 1895, goes into great detail. 

Of Special Interest

Sample endorsements from the Executive Correspondence Collection at the Massachusetts State Archives will show that many of the privates in the 13th Mass., were eager to obtain an officer's commission.  New regiments were being organized back home, and to these educated and intelligent men, the field experience they had gained, even at this early stage in the war, was an asset toward obtaining that goal.  Letters of endorsement poured into the Governor's office from prominent citizens, mothers, fathers, uncles, persons of influence and field officers.  Massachusetts Governor John A. Andrew gave more weight to the military endorsements. A few examples are posted on this page.  Some were successful in their efforts to gain a commission and some, like Private Edward Perkins were not, even though he had the confidence of the senior officer of his regiment.    More about Governor Andrew's efforts is posted on the next page of this website.

Endorsement for Private William F. Perkins

A recommendation like the one below could be on file at the Governor's Office, or the Adjutant General's office for months even years before anything might come of it.  In this case Private Charles C. Howland, pictured above was successful in getting a 2nd Lieutenant's commission in another regiment fairly quick.  He left the 13th MA in September, 1862 to accept it.  This letter is dated early March, so sixth months passed before something came of it.  Thats actually not bad timing.

Endorsement for Private Charles C. Howland

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List of Discharged Men (1863), Company C;

Photo Gallery, Company C

Private Thomas L. Appleton, Sergeant Sigourney Wales & Sergeant-Major Thomas J. Little, Company C.  In the early months of 1863, Appleton, Wales, and Little were successful in obtaining officer's commissions in new regiments being organized in Massachusetts.

Private Edwin Buswell, a recruit of August, '62 was wounded at Gettysburg, which is about all that I know about him.  Gettysburg and Antietam casualties seem to have more images floating around on the internet than other men whose portraits might exist in some collection somewhere.

Discharged Men, Company C.

Of special Interest

I found the following interesting letter among the Executive Correspondence Collection scrapbooks pertaining to the 13th Regiment, at the MA State Archives in Boston.

Joseph Halstrick, Company C

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List of Discharged Men (1863), Company D;

Photo Gallery, Company D

 Private George Maynard, & Private Andrew H. Leonard.  Both Maynard and Leonard received promotions in other regiments.  Maynard  received the Medal of Honor for his actions with the 13th Regt. at Fredericksburg. Andrew Leonard was part of the detail detached from the regiment to help bring the 1863 Concripts from Boston to Rappahannock Station in July.

Discharged Men, Company D

Of Special Interest Re: William Hanscom

The following is another of many letters in the Executive Correspondence Collection pertaining to the 13th Regiment, on file at the MA State Archives.

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List of Discharged Men (1863), Company E;

Picture Gallery, Company E

Private James F. Ramsey and Private George Lehman of Company E.  The letters of James Ramsey are well represented on this website.  George Lehman's record states he was wounded at Gettysburg and transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps in December 1863.  He was discharged in 1864.  He is on the list of absent men above, but I have so few pictures of Company E soldiers, that I thought I would place him here.

Dishcharged Men, Company E

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List of Discharged Men (1863), Company F;

Photo Gallery, Company F

Sergeant James Gibson, Corporal John S. Fay, & Private John N.P. Johnson, Company F.  Sergeant Gibson was the first Standard Bearer in the regiment. He left the 13th and became an officer in the 59th MA.  He was discharged in February 1864.  Hard service took its toll on Johnson, who was quite older than the average soldier, although there were a few others of his age in the regiment.  He served with the 13th MA up until the winter of 1862 -63 before he took ill.  He worked for a time at a Washington D.C. Hospital before he was discharged in February 1863.  At home his health declined and he died a year later in May, 1864.  Corporal Fay was struck by a shell during  the Chancellorsville Campaign.  He was seated on the ground, at Fitzhugh's Crossing, opposite Fredericksburg April 30, 1863. The same shell that struck him, killed two officers standing nearby.  Dr. Allston W. Whitney amputated Fay's right hand and right leg to save his life. The boys in the regiment took up a collection for him. His story is well documented on this website.  When he returned home to Marlboro, a collection was raised by the town citizens to pay his tuition so he could attend a Business School in Worcester, MA.

Post war picture of John S. Fay, on the left, visiting the Gettysburg battlefield. It looks like Captain Moses Palmer and perhaps Sam Webster standing behind him left to right but thats an educated guess. The seated man on the far right is Lt.-Colonel Charles Hovey.  The picture was given to me the by the late Mr. Peter Boland of Connecticut, one of many descendants of Fay.

Discharged Men, Company F

*Note: Obviously Charles A. Howe & Wm P. Howe could not have been at the last three battles listed, (Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, having already been wounded, and since left the service.  The battle asignations were added to the record at a later date.  These two records are listed next to each other in the Descriptive Book, and have the same error.––B.F.

Of Special Interest

Private Walter Burgess of Company F, listed above, tried to get a furlough home from the hospital where he was sick with pleurisy [enflamed thin layer of  tissue between lungs.]  But it was often difficult to obtain a pass, as in this case, where the doctor refused.  Governor Andrew of Massachusetts deployed State Agents to different cities to look after the needs of soldiers from the state.  William Robinson is one such agent, reporting from Baltimore.

William Robinson to Governor John Andrew

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List of Discharged Men (1863), Company G;

Photo Gallery, Company G

Corporal John F. Berry, Private William Wallace Davis & Sergeant Frank W. Bigelow, Company G.  Corporal Berry was written up in the town history of Stoneham, MA which included this portrait. He was with the regiment until taken sick on May 24, 1862.  He remained in the hospital until January, 1863.  He went home on a furlough and was discharged in February for disability. Thirteenth Regiment Circular #8, December 1895 adds, that he was commissioned 2nd-Lieutenant in the Eighty-first U.S. Cavalry troops.  Berry went back to his old job in a shoe factory when his service ended.  In 1872 he opened a retail store for men's clothing which was very successful in the town of Stoneham. He continued to serve in the peace-time militia, post-war.   Private Davis was wounded at Gettysburg.  He was dishcharged from the 13th MA and later re-enlisted in the 59th MA.  He would lose an arm with this unit at Petersburg.  [See Biography Below.]   Frank Bigelow served on detached duty in the Commissary Dept. from May 1862 until his discharge in January 1863.  He left the regiment to accept an officer's commission in the 4th N.Y. Cavalry.

Dishcharged Men, Company G

NOTES:
        George E. Bates:  All records in the Regimental Books agree that George mustered out February 1863, except the Roster printed in the Regimental History which contains errors.  That record says George mustered in as a private, Co. G, Aug. 18, '62; transferred to 39th Mass.; re-enlistcd in the l3th, Jan. 4, '62.  The re-enlist date should be 1863 so error seems to be a typo.  But the transfer to the 39th is not recorded in any of the original books or the A.G. Report.  There are two other men in the roster named Bates; Henry of Company B, and John F., of Company K.  Neither re-enlisted.

The roster lists Stephen Lufkin, age 48, and Stephen W. Lufkin age 18, both in Company G.   On the original Descriptive List they are both from S. Reading, Massachusetts.  Both were assigned to Company G, which is printed in the roster, but on the descriptive list for the younger one, the letter G is crossed out and the letter B is written in its place. Stephen W. Lufkin (the younger)  was wounded at Gettysburg and mustered out in May, 1864.

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Of Special Interest

Another mother writes to the Governor's Office in hopes of obtaining an officer's commission for her son.  In this case it is Frank Bigelow, who would be promoted into the 4th N.Y. Cavalry in January, 1863.

Mary Bigelow to Colonel Harrison Ritchie

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List of Discharged Men (1863), Company H;

Photo Gallery, Company H

Corporal Samuel Bean of Company  H, was discharged to receive an officer's commission (2d-Lieutenant) in the U.S. Cavalry.  He then transferred to the 59th Massachusetts Volunteers, commanded by Colonel J. P. Gould (formerly Major Gould of the 13th Mass.). He was promoted to 1st-Lieutenant and Captain, with the 59th. Captain Bean died of wounds received in action with the 59th at Petersburgh. “Crossing the James River, June 15, and advancing to the front on the 17th, on the afternoon of that day the regiment joined in the assault made by the 1st Division, losing 13 killed, 49 wounded, and eight missing.  Among the mortally wounded was Capt. Samuel A. Bean.”  He died June 25, 1864.  Source:  Acton Memorial Library.

Dishcharged Men, Company H

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List of Discharged Men (1863), Company I;

Photo Gallery, Company I

1st Sergeant William Barnes lost a leg at 2nd Bull Run and was later discharged.  Sergeant James A. Smith suffered a severe back sprain while helping a wounded comrade from the battlefield and was eventually discharged.  It is possible, as they were both sergeants in the same company, that Smith hurt his back helping Barnes, (who had a bad leg wound) off the battle-field.  Smith re-enlisted in the 58th Mass. Vols, and was badly wounded at Peebles Farm, September 30th 1864.  He survived the war.  This websites Co-founder, Greg Dowden is a direct descendant of Sgt. James A. Smith.

Discharged Men, Company I

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List of Discharged Men (1863), Company K;

Company K

Sergeant Abner R. Greenwood,  Private Hollis Fairbanks, (twin brother of Henry), & Lieutenant William Raynor Warner.  Greenwood was badly wounded at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.  The Fairbanks boys, enlisted into the Westborough Rifles (Company K) with their father.  Joseph Fairbanks was forced to muster out in May of 1862, because of his age.  Other men who were considered too unhealthy to withstand the difficult rigors of the coming Summer campaigns were released at the same time.   Hollis, who is pictured was killed August 30, 1862 during the battle of 2nd Bull Run.  Henry was wounded at Antietam.  William Warner rose from the rank of sergeant to 1st Lieutenant and was with the regiment all 3 years.

Private Alden Lovell of Westboro. In the early days of my research on the 13th MA I visited the Westboro Historical Society, in 2001.  The docent showed me notebooks full of carefully labelled and preserved images of men from the town who served in the Volunteer Service during the war.  I found the picture of my G. G. Grandfather included in the collection.  Westboro Historical Society was only willing to share a few images with me so I chose Alden Lovell thinking he had been mentioned in my G G Grandfather's diary of 1863.  But I was mistaken it was Lyman Haskell he mentioned.  But I have Alden Lovell now, so here he is.  Its a great image all in all.

Discharged Men, Company K

*Notes ––Of Special Interest

I found the following records of Company K Men taken from a digital book, A Record of the Soldiers of Southboro, Massachusetts.

A. E. Chamberlain

Son of Alanson and Ann Chamberlain, was born in Westboro’, July 16th, 1839, enlisted, May 7th, 1861, and was mustered into the U.S. Service, July 16th, 1861, as private in Company K, 13th Regiment Mass. Volunteers, to serve three years.

He was in the skirmishes at Harper’s Ferry, Bolivar Heights, and Falling Waters, in 1861. He was under fire at Cedar Mountain, and Rappahannock Station, and in the battles of Thoroughfare Ga, second Bull Run, Chantilly, and Antietam in 1862; he was there wounded and taken prisoner.  He was discharged for disability, March 7th, 1863.

Henry L. Flagg

Son of Leland and Betsey Flagg, was born in Hopkinton December 3d 1828; enlisted march 5th, 1862, and was mustered into the U.S. Service the same day, as private in Company K, 13th Regiment Mass. Volunteers, to serve three years.

He was under fire at Rappahannock Station, August 22d, 1862; at the battles of Thoroughfare Gap the 28th, Bull Run the 29th and 30th, Chantilly September 1st, 1862; he was there slightly wounded in the wrist, taken prisoner and paroled.  He was discharged for disability at Boston, Mass., February 20th, 1863.  He again enlisted August 9th 1864, and was mustered into the U.S. Service August 12th, 1864, and was mustered into the U.S. Service August 12th, 1864, as private in the 21st Company Unattached Heavy Artillery, for one year; was attached to the 4th Regiment in Company E, Mass. Heavy Artillery.  He was mustered out at Fort Richardson Va., June 17th, 1865, by reason of the close of the war.

Gardner Parker

Son of Reuben and Clarissa G. Parker, was born in Chelmsford April 7th, 1837; enlisted may 25th, 1861, as private in Company K, 13th Regiment Mass. Volunteers for three years.

He was in the skirmishes at Harper’s Ferry, Bolivar Heights, and Falling Waters in 1861.  He was under fire at Cedar Mountain, and Rappahannock Station, and at the battles of Thoroughfare Gap, second Bull Run, Chantilly and Antietam. “He was wounded in the finger at the battle of Fredericksburg December 13th, 1862, by the discharge of his own gun,” and was discharged for disability April 20th, 1863.

Warren W. Williams.

Son of Guilford and Mary Williams, was born in Hopkinton November 11th, 1840; enlisted may 8th, 1861, and was mustered into the U.S. Service July 16th, 1861, as private in Company K, 13th Regiment Mass. Volunteers, to serve three years.

He was in the skirmishes at Harper’s Ferry, Bolivar Heights, and Falling Waters in 1861, and under fire at Cedar mountain August 9th, Rappahannock Station August 22d, 1862, and at the battle of Thoroughfare Gap on the 28th of August.  He was wounded at the second Bull Run August 30th, 1862, and taken prisoner. He was discharged for disability December 24th, 1862.

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Adjutant General's Report; Transferred Men;

Photo Gallery; Men Transferred to Other

Private William Henry Forbush, Company K, & Private Frank Whitney, Company H.  Forbush, [spelled Furbush in the records] transferred into the regular U.S. Army Artillery while he was recovering from a gunshot wound to the left hand received at the battle of 2nd Bull Run.  He was at Broad & Cherry Streets Hospital in Philadelphia at the time.  He served out the remainder of his 3 year term with 3rd Battery C, U.S. Artitllery.  Some of his diary entries for the year 1863 are posted on this website.  Frank Whitney, like most of the soldiers on this "transferred" list, went into the Veteran Reserve Corps, which was formed for men unfit to do strenuous duty in the regular ranks, but who could still serve the cause of the Federal Forces on less active duty.

Private Samuel F. McIntyre, Company B, Private John Collins, Company  K, & Sergeant George S. LeMoyne, Company C.  McIntyre transferred to the Invalid Corps, later changed to Veteran Reserve Corps.  I found private John Collins biography in the history of Southboro.  He was the son of Temple P., and Sally Collins, and was born in Southboro November 6th, 1843, enlisted March 19th, 1862, and was mustered into the U. S. Service the same day as private in Company K, 13th Regiment Mass. Volunteers, for three years.  He was in the battle of Fredericksburg only, as he was in the hospital most of the time.  He was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps, September 1st, 1863, and was discharge for disability, September 25th, 1865, from the 18th Company, 2d Battalion, Veteran Reserve Corps.  Sergeant George LeMoyne was wounded at Thoroughfare Gap, August 28, 1862, and transferred to the V.R.C. July 1, 1863.  He mustered out of the V.R.C. with the rank of Sergeant-Major in July, 1864.

Transferred  (Co G has several Dropped men with no date).

Of Special Interest

The Veteran Reserve Corps, which so many men transferred into, was called at first, The Invalid Corps.  Naturally its members disliked the name of their branch of the service, and it was changed to V.R.C.  This article from the Philadelphia Press explains its purpose, and organizational structure.

Philadelphia Press, July 6, 1863

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Adjutant General's Report: Men Who Died, 1863

Name spelling varies sometimes greatly between the Adjutant General's Report and the Regimental History.  There are also many discepancies between the two, for middle initials such as when an N is printed as an H or W; B is printed K; H is printed M; etc.  I have given preference to the names as they are listed in the regimental history, Three Years in the Army which closely followed the original Regimental Books. — B.F.

Picture Gallery;  Men who Died

Charles Leland, Company B, Charles Clement, Company C, John Fly, Company K.  Corporal Clement part of the Color Guard...died of a chest wound Sept. 30, 1863 at Letterman Hospital, Gettysburg.

Edwin Field, Company B, Roland Morris, Company C, Herschel Sanborn, Company G.

Men Killed

*NOTES
        Corporal Gilbert Greenwood, The record above is correct, whereas the Regimental History is incorrect in listing Greenwood killed in the Wilderness, suggesting he may have died at the Battle of the Wilderness a year later.  But Chancellorsville was also fought in the area of Virginia known as "the Wilderness" whereby the confusion comes into play.  Greenwood was also wounded at Antietam. His medical case is posted on the next page.)

Sergeant Edgar A. Fiske, Company E,  is listed killed at Gettysburg but dates vary.  Some entries in the Descriptive List consistently list the dates for the battles of Gettysburg in-correctly as July 3d 1863, which seems to be the fact in this case. The Regimental Roster does not list a specific date of death for Sergeant Fiske, just, "July, 1863."  The 1865 Adjutant General's Report says Fiske died July 23rd, 1863.  The Regiment Descriptive Book says he died July 2nd.

The Adjutant General's Report lists a man in Company G, named James H. Oyer age 18.  The record says: "Died. Dropped by order Regimental Commander."  I haven't found a reference to him anyplace else.

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Adjutant General's Report; Missing, Deserted & Dropped. 1863

Deserted & Dropped

Many times sloppy record keeping caused a soldier to be put on the deserted list.  If they did not take the time to correct their record the error remained on the books and was perpetuated in the regimental history.  In order to give a soldier on this list the benefit of the doubt, I checked all the field records and looked to see if they filed for a pension.  This does not clear them of the charge, but it  suggests that their service may have been honorable.  However, in one case not listed here, I know for a certainty the soldier in question, Walter S.C. Heath, Company K, who filed for a pension, was a deserter, and a scammer.

Deserted & Dropped

The drafted "Recruits" of 1863 are well represented on this chart.   Soldiers with an asterisk* filed for a pension.  I  did not consult the descriptive books for records of the "recruits of '63" as most of them deserted as soon as they got the chance. These would be the men who deserted between August and December, 1863.

Next up:  Loose Ends

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© Bradley M. Forbush, 2023.

Page Updated February 22, 2023.