Reminiscences Of The Nineteenth Massachusetts Regiment. [Illustrated Edition]

By Captain John G. B. Adams

Includes Civil War Map and Illustrations Pack – 224 battle plans, campaign maps and detailed analyses of actions spanning the entire period of hostilities.
The Nineteenth Massachusetts Regiment had a long and glorious history during the American Civil War, as the author states in his introduction—
“For thirty-four years I have waited patiently for someone to write a history of the 19th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, but fearing that it may never be accomplished, I have concluded to send out this story. I do not dignify it by calling it a history. It is simply a soldier’s story, told by one of the "boys." Most of it is written from memory. The account of prison life is taken from an imperfect diary, kept by the writer while a prisoner of war. “
Captain Adams recounts the history of his illustrious regiment through the battles of Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville to perhaps their finest hour at Gettysburg, where five men of the 19th won the Congressional Medal of Honour. His own troubles in the war became worse upon his capture by Confederate soldiers after the battle of Cold Harbor, and, despite escaping, was recaptured. As he says, his is a soldier’s story. A very engaging one at that.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Golden Springs Publishing
• Release date: Jun 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781782891215

Captain John G. B. Adams

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Text originally published in 1899 under the same title.

© Pickle Partners Publishing 2013, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without the written permission of the copyright holder.

Publisher’s Note

Although in most cases we have retained the Author’s original spelling and grammar to authentically reproduce the work of the Author and the original intent of such material, some additional notes and clarifications have been added for the modern reader’s benefit.

We have also made every effort to include all maps and illustrations of the original edition the limitations of formatting do not allow of including larger maps, we will upload as many of these maps as possible.

Reminiscences of the

Nineteenth Massachusetts Regiment

By CAPT. JOHN G. B. ADAMS.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

PREFACE 13

CHAPTER I. — THE CALL TO ARMS. 15

CHAPTER II. — OUR JOURNEY SOUTH. 18

CHAPTER III. — BATTLES OF BALL'S BLUFF AND EDWARD'S FERRY. - EXPERIENCES AT DARNESTOWN AND ROCKVILLE. 20

CHAPTER IV. — OUR FIRST CAMPAIGN. - BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS. 25

CHAPTER V. — BATTLES AT PEACH ORCHARD, GLENDALE AND MALVERN HILL. 29

CHAPTER VI. — BATTLES OF FAIRFAX COURT HOUSE, FLINT HILL AND ANTIETAM. 33

CHAPTER VII. — BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG AND MARYE'S HEIGHTS. 37

OUR FALLEN BRAVES. 40

CHAPTER VIII. —BATTLES OF CHANCELLORSVILLE, THOROUGHFARE GAP AND GETTYSBURG. - WOUNDED AT GETTYSBURG AND ORDERED HOME. 44

CHAPTER IX. — REGIMENT ORDERED HOME. - RECEPTIONS. - MY FIRST CALL UPON GOVERNOR ANDREW. - RETURN TO THE FRONT. 52

CHAPTER X. — BATTLES OF THE WILDERNESS, TODD'S TAVERN AND LAUREL HILL. - ENGAGEMENT AT THE BLOODY ANGLE. 57

CHAPTER XI — BATTLES AT TOTOPOTOMOY CREEK AND COLD HARBOR. 61

CHAPTER XII. — EXPERIENCES IN REBEL PRISONS, - LIBBY, MACON. 66

CHAPTER XIII. —MACON CONTINUED; CHARLESTON. - UNDER FIRE OF OUR BATTERIES ON MORRIS ISLAND. 72

CHAPTER XIV. — COLUMBIA. - PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. 80

CHAPTER XV. — THE ESCAPE. 83

CHAPTER XVI. — THE CAPTURE AND RETURN TO COLUMBIA. 94

CHAPTER XVII. — THE EXCHANGE AND RETURN NORTH. 101

MAPS 108

I – CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE MAPS - 1861 108

Charleston Harbor, Bombardment of Fort Sumter – 12th & 13th April 1861 108

1st Bull Run Campaign – Theatre Overview July 1861 109

Bull Run – 21st July 1861 110

1st Bull Run Campaign – Situation 18th July 1861 111

1st Bull Run Campaign – Situation 21st July 1861 (Morning) 112

1st Bull Run Campaign - 21st July 1861 Actions 1-3 p.m. 113

1st Bull Run Campaign - 21st July 1861 Union Retreat 4 P.M. to Dusk 114

II – CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE MAPS - 1862 115

Battle of Mill Springs – 19th January 1862 (6-8.30 A.M.) Confederate Attacks 115

Battle of Mill Springs – 19th January 1862 (9 A.M.) Union Attacks 116

Forts Henry and Donelson – 6th to 16th February 1862 117

Battle of Fort Donelson – 14th February 1862 118

Battle of Fort Donelson – 15th February 1862 Morning 119

Battle of Fort Donelson – 15th February 1862 Morning 120

New Madrid and Island No. 10 – March 1862 121

Pea Ridge – 5th to 8th March 1862 122

First Battle of Kernstown – 23rd March 1862, 11 – 16:45 123

Shiloh (or Pittsburg Landing) - 6th & 7th April 1862 124

Battle of Shiloh – 6th April 1862 - Morning 125

Battle of Shiloh – 6th April 1862 – P.M. 126

Battle of Yorktown – 5th to 16th April 1862 127

Jackson’s Valley Campaign – 24th to 25th May 1862 - Actions 128

Williamsburg – 5th May 1862 129

Fair Oaks – 31st May to 1st June 1862 130

Battle of Seven Pines – 31st May 1862 131

Seven Days – 26th June to 2nd July 1862 132

Seven Days Battles – 25th June to 1st July 1862 - Overview 133

Seven Days Battles – 26th & 27th June 1862 134

Seven Days Battles – 30th June 1862 135

Seven Days Battles – 1st July 1862 136

Battle of Gaines Mill – 27th June 1862 2.30 P.M. Hill’s Attacks 137

Battle of Gaines Mill – 27th June 1862 3.30 P.M. Ewell’s Attacks 138

Battle of Gaines Mill – 27th June 1862 7 P.M. General Confederate Attacks 139

Pope’s Campaign - 24th August 1862 140

Pope’s Campaign - 28th August 1862 A.M. 141

Pope’s Campaign - 28th August 1862 6 P.M. 142

Second Battle of Bull Run – 28th August 1862 143

Second Battle of Bull Run – 29th August 1862 10 A.M. 144

Second Battle of Bull Run – 29th August 1862 12 P.M. 145

Second Battle of Bull Run – 29th August 1862 5 P.M. 146

Pope’s Campaign – 29th August 1862 Noon. 147

Second Battle of Bull Run – 30th August 1862 3 P.M. 148

Second Battle of Bull Run – 30th August 1862 4.30 P.M. 149

Second Battle of Bull Run – 30th August 1862 5 P.M. 150

Battle of Harpers Ferry – 15th September 1862 151

Antietam – 16th & 17th September 1862 152

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 Overview 153

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 6 A.M. 154

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 7.30 A.M. 155

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 9 A.M. 156

Battle of Antietam – 17th September 1862 10 A.M. 157

Iuka – 19th September 1862 158

Battle of Iuka – 19th September 1862 159

Corinth – 3rd & 4th October 1862 160

Second Battle of Corinth – 3rd October 1862 161

Second Battle of Corinth – 4th October 1862 162

Perryville – 8th October 1862 163

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 2 P.M. 164

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 3 P.M. 165

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 3.45 P.M. 166

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 4 P.M. 167

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 4.15 P.M. 168

Battle of Perryville – 8th October 1862 – 5.45 P.M. 169

Fredericksburg – 13th December 1862 170

Battle of Fredericksburg – 13th December 1862 Overview 171

Battle of Fredericksburg – 13th December 1862 Sumner’s Assault 172

Battle of Fredericksburg – 13th December 1862 Hooker’s Assault 173

Battle of Chickasaw Bayou – 26th to 29th December 1862 174

Stone’s River – 31st December 1862 175

Battle of Stones River – 30th December 1862 176

Battle of Stones River – 31st December 1862 – 8.00 A.M. 177

Battle of Stones River – 31st December 1862 – 9.45 A.M. 178

Battle of Stones River – 31st December 1862 – 11.00 A.M. 179

III – CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE MAPS - 1863 180

Battle of Stones River – 2nd January 1863 – 4 P.M. 180

Battle of Stones River – 2nd January 1863 – 4 P.M. 181

Battle of Stones River – 2nd January 1863 – 4.45 P.M. 182

Chancellorsville Campaign (Hooker’s Plan) – April 1863 183

Battle of Chancellorsville – 1st May 1863 Actions 184

Battle of Chancellorsville – 2nd May 1863 Actions 185

Chancellorsville – 2nd May 1863 186

Chancellorsville – 3rd to 5th May 1863 187

Battle of Chancellorsville – 3rd May 1863 Actions 6 A.M. 188

Battle of Chancellorsville – 3rd May 1863 Actions 10 A.M. – 5 P.M. 189

Battle of Chancellorsville – 4th to 6th May 1863. 190

Battle of Brandy Station – 8th June 1863 191

Siege of Vicksburg – 25th May to 4th July 1863 192

Siege of Vicksburg – 19th May 1863 - Assaults 193

Siege of Vicksburg – 22nd May 1863 - Assaults 194

Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 195

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 Overview 196

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 7 A.M. 197

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 10 A.M. 198

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 10.45 A.M. 199

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 11 A.M. 200

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 12.30 P.M. 201

Battle of Gettysburg – 1st July 1863 2 P.M. 202

Gettysburg – 2nd to 4th July 1863 203

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Lee’s Plan 204

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Overview 205

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Cemetary Ridge A.M. 206

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Culp’s Hill – Initial Defence 207

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Culp’s Hill – Evening attacks 208

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Hood’s Assaults 209

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Peach Orchard Initial Assaults 210

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Peach Orchard and Cemetary Ridge 211

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Wheatfield – Initial Assaults 212

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Wheatfield – Second Phase 213

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Cemetery Hill Evening 214

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Little Round Top (1) 215

Battle of Gettysburg – 2nd July 1863 Little Round Top (2) 216

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 Overview 217

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 – Pickett’s Charge 218

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 – Pickett’s Charge Detail 219

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 Culp’s Hill – Johnson’s Third Attack 220

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 East Cavalry Field – Opening Positions 221

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 East Cavalry Field – First Phase 222

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 East Cavalry Field – Second Phase 223

Battle of Gettysburg – 3rd July 1863 South Cavalry Field 224

Battle of Gettysburg – Battlefield Overview 225

Fight at Monterey Pass – 4th to 5th July 1863 226

Chickamauga – 19th & 20th September 1863 227

Chickamauga Campaign – Davis’s Crossroads – 11th September 1863 228

Chickamauga Campaign – 18th September 1863 After Dark 229

Battle of Chickamauga – 19th September 1863 Morning 230

Battle of Chickamauga – 19th September 1863 Early Afternoon 231

Battle of Chickamauga – 19th September 1863 Early Afternoon 232

Battle of Chickamauga – 20th September 1863 9 A.M. to 11 A.M. 233

Battle of Chickamauga – 20th September 1863 11 A.M. to Mid-Afternoon 234

Battle of Chickamauga – 20th September 1863 Mid-Afternoon to Dark 235

Battle of Chickamauga – 20th September 1863 Brigade Details 236

Chattanooga – 23rd to 25th November 1863 237

Chattanooga Campaign – 24th & 25th November 1863 238

Chattanooga Campaign – Federal Supply Lines and Wheeler’s Raid 239

Battle of Missionary Ridge – 25th November 1863 240

Mine Run – 26th to 30th November 1863 241

IV – CAMPAIGN AND BATTLE MAPS - 1864 242

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 29th to 31st March 1864 242

Wilderness – 5th & 6th May 1864 243

Battle of the Wilderness – 5th May 1864 – Positions 7 A.M. 244

Battle of the Wilderness – 5th May 1864 - Actions 245

Battle of the Wilderness – 6th May 1864 – Actions 5 A.M. 246

Battle of the Wilderness – 6th May 1864 – Actions 6 A.M. 247

Battle of the Wilderness – 6th May 1864 – Actions 11 A.M. 248

Battle of the Wilderness – 6th May 1864 – Actions 2 P.M. 249

Spotsylvania – 8th to 21st May 1864 250

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 7th & 8th May 1864 - Movements 251

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 8th May 1864 - Actions 252

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 9th May 1864 - Actions 253

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 10th May 1864 - Actions 254

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 12th May 1864 - Actions 255

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 13th May 1864 - Actions 256

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House – 17th May 1864 - Actions 257

North Anna – 23rd to 26th May 1864 258

Battle of North Anna – 23rd May 1864 259

Battle of North Anna – 24th May 1864 260

Battle of North Anna – 25th May 1864 261

Battle of Haw’s Shop – 28th May 1864 262

Battle of Bethseda Church (1) – 30th May 1864 263

Battle of Bethseda Church (2) – 30th May 1864 264

Cold Harbor – 31st May to 12th June 1864 265

Battle of Cold Harbor – 1st June 1864 266

Battle of Cold Harbor – 3rd June 1864 267

Pickett’s Mills and New Hope Church – 25th to 27th May 1864 268

Battle of Kennesaw Mountain – 27th June 1864 269

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 15th to 18th June 1864 270

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 21st to 22nd June 1864 271

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 30th July 1864 272

Wilson-Kautz Raid – 22nd June to 1st July 1864 273

First Battle of Deep Bottom – 27th to 29th July 1864 274

Second Battle of Deep Bottom – 14th to 20th August 1864 275

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 18th to 19th August 1864 276

Opequon, or Winchester, Va. – 19th September 1864 277

Fisher’s Hill – 22nd September 1864 278

Siege of Petersburg – Actions 27th October 1864 279

Cedar Creek – 19th October 1864 280

Battle of Cedar Creek – 19th October 1864 5-9 A.M. Confederate Attacks 281

Battle of Spring Hill – 29th November 1864 – Afternoon 282

Battle of Spring Hill – 29th November 1864 – Evening 283

Battle of Cedar Creek – 19th October 1864 4-5 P.M. Union Counterattack 284

Franklin – 30th November 1864 285

Battle of Franklin – Hood’s Approach 30th November 1864 286

Battle of Franklin – 30th November 1864 Actions after 4.30 P.M. 287

Nashville – 15th & 16th December 1864 288

V – OVERVIEWS 289

1 – Map of the States that Succeeded – 1860-1861 289

Fort Henry Campaign – February 1862 290

Forts Henry and Donelson – February 1862 291

Jackson’s Valley Campaign – 23rd March to 8th May 1862 292

Peninsula Campaign – 17th March to 31st May 1862 293

Jackson’s Valley Campaign – 21st May to 9th June 1862 294

Northern Virginia Campaign – 7th to 28th August 1862 295

Maryland Campaign – September 1862 296

Iuka-Corinth Campaign – First Phase – 10th to 19th September 1862 297

Iuka-Corinth Campaign – Second Phase – 20th September – 3rd October 1862 298

Fredericksburg Campaign – Movements mid-November to 10th December 1862 299

Memphis to Vicksburg – 1862-1863 300

Operations Against Vicksburg and Grant’s Bayou Operations – November 1862 to April 1863 301

Campaign Against Vicksburg – 1863 302

Grant’s Operations Against Vicksburg – April to July 1863 303

Knoxville Campaign - 1863 304

Tullahoma Campaign – 24th June – 3rd July 1863 305

Gettysburg Campaign – Retreat 5th to 14th July 1863 306

Rosecrans’ Manoeuvre – 20th August to 17th September 1963 307

Bristoe Campaign – 9th October to 9th November 1863 308

Mine Run Campaign – 27th November 1863 – 2nd December 1863 309

Grant’s Overland Campaign – Wilderness to North Anna - 1864 310

Grant’s Overland Campaign – May to June 1864 311

Overland Campaign – 4th  May 1864 312

Overland Campaign – 27th to 29th May 1864 313

Overland Campaign –29th to 30th May 1864 314

Overland Campaign – 1st June 1864 – Afternoon 315

Sheridan’s Richmond Raid – 9th to 14th May 1864 316

Sheridan’s Trevilian Station Raid – 7th to 10th June 1864 317

Sheridan’s Trevilian Station Raid – 7th to 10th June 1864 318

Battle of Trevilian Station Raid – 11th June 1864 319

Battle of Trevilian Station Raid – 12th June 1864 320

Shenandoah Valley Campaign – May to July 1864 321

Operations about Marietta – 14th to 28th June 1864 322

Atlanta Campaign – 7th May to 2nd July 1864 323

Operations about Atlanta – 17th July to 2nd September 1864 324

Richmond-Petersburg Campaign – Position Fall 1864 325

Shenandoah Valley Campaign – 20th August – October 1864 326

Sherman’s March to the Sea 327

Franklin-Nashville Campaign – 21st to 28th November 1864 328

Operations about Petersburg – June 1864 to April 1865 329

Carolinas Campaign – February to April 1865 330

Appomattox Campaign - 1865 331

PREFACE

For thirty-four years I have waited patiently for someone to write a history of the 19th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, but fearing that it may never be accomplished, I have concluded to send out this story. I do not dignify it by calling it a history. It is simply a soldier's story, told by one of the boys. Most of it is written from memory. The account of prison life is taken from an imperfect diary, kept by the writer while a prisoner of war.

I sincerely hope the publication of this volume will inspire other comrades, and that from the memories thus evoked someone may gather further material whereby the deeds of the men who so bravely followed the flags of the State and Nation for four long, weary years may be preserved.

JOHN G. B. ADAMS

Follow the colors of the Nineteenth - General Webb

Captain Jack Adams — July 1865

CHAPTER I. — THE CALL TO ARMS.

At the breaking out of the war I was a resident of the quiet but patriotic town of Groveland. Sumter had been fired upon and all was excitement. I could not work, and on the 18th of April, 1861, walked to Haverhill with my elder brother and Mark Kimball. We went to the armory of the Hale Guards, who were making active preparations to march, and I returned home that night resolved to go with them if possible. The next day we walked to Haverhill again, and I at once interviewed Captain Messer, but was informed that the company was more than full, so I could not go with it.

I had said nothing to my brother or Mark of my intention, but as we were walking home I found that we all had the same desire, - to enlist at once. We talked the matter over and concluded that as company A of the 1st Battalion of Rifles, an old militia company located in West Newbury, and then under arms, would soon be ordered away, we would join it. That night we walked to West Newbury (five miles), found the company at the armory in the town hall and enrolled our names. Company A was one of three that composed the 1st Battalion of Rifles, commanded by Maj. Ben. Perley Poore. They had been organized several years and were known as Poore's Savages. They were armed with Winsor rifles and sabre bayonets, the rifles and bayonets weighing about fifteen pounds. The uniform was dark green, trimmed with light green, and as I donned it for the first time it was hard to tell which was the greener, the soldier or the uniform. We had a peculiar drill. Most of it, as I can remember, consisted of running around the town hall in single file, giving an Indian war-whoop and firing into the corner of the hall as we ran.

I was a soldier now. I did not walk the streets as I had done, but marched, always turning a square corner. People grasped me by the hand and congratulated me on my courage. (I did not see where the courage came in.) The Sons of Temperance, of which my brother Isaac and myself were members, presented us at a public meeting with two suits of underclothes and havelocks, housewives, testaments, etc., so that before we received our army outfit we had enough to load a mule.

We waited for orders to march, but none came, and from being heroes we began to be looked up with disgust, and we were the most disgusted of all. As we would meet friends in the street they would say, Is it not about time to have another public meeting to bid you fellows good-by? or, "You will want some more shirts before you