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July 31st, 1861 AD 163 163 Browse Search
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Browsing named entities in a specific section of Caroline E. Whitcomb, History of the Second Massachusetts Battery of Light Artillery (Nims' Battery): 1861-1865, compiled from records of the Rebellion, official reports, diaries and rosters. Search the whole document.

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3rd (search for this): chapter 3
storian in relating this incident says, Nims' Battery saved the day. The following is the official report of Lieutenant Marland as given in Official Records, Vol. 26, p. 371. Bayou Bourbeau, Ion Crow Bayou. In pursuance to your orders I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken in the action at this place on the 3rd of November by the section under my command. In obedience to orders received on the evening of the 2d of November I harnessed up at 4 A. M. on the 3rd, remaining so until 11 A. M. when I was ordered to unharness—the pickets firing all the while. At about 11.45 P. M. the firing became general. Hearing the cavalry buglers blow Boots and Saddles, I began to harness up on my own responsibility and was attacked in camp before I could get harnessed. The enemy being within 400 yards of me I opened on them with canister and percussion shell which checked their advance and drove them to the right. I limbered to the front and advanced to the fo
5th (search for this): chapter 3
nor), took place September 5, and was witnessed by Generals Banks, Arnold, Franklin and many other officers. The following letter, a copy of which was found among Colonel Nims' papers, is a proof of their high opinion of this new organization. Office, Chief of Artillery, Qrs. Dept. of the Gulf, Orleans, September 7, 1863. Capt. O. F. Nims, Chief of Artillery, 19th Army Corps. Sir:— It becomes my great pleasure to communicate to yourself and the batteries under your command on the 5th inst., the high commendation of the Commanding General of the Department of the Gulf and the Adjutant General of the United States Army. They were pleased to express the belief that no artillery in the service could be more thorough in their equipments and general appointments. Please communicate the above to each battery commander. Your obedient servant Very respectfully, Richard Arnold. Brig. Gen. and Chief of Artillery. On the 17th of September another movement began toward the
6th (search for this): chapter 3
uld not expect any cooperation from General Steele. Even at the beginning of April experts foretold the failure of the expedition. The march into the enemy's country began on the 28th of March, and from that time the command was in active service. The Confederates constantly retreated, frequently stopping to skirmish, but offering no serious resistance. Natchitoches was reached on April 3, the cavalry division camping just outside the town where a halt of a day or two was made. On the 6th the march toward Shreveport was begun at daylight, the battery marching in the center of the division as reserve artillery. In addition to the troops there was a train of 200 wagons carrying ten days rations for the men, three days forage, ammunition, and camp equipage. General Lee's orders from General Franklin were to attack the enemy wherever he could be found but not to bring on a general engagement. No enemy was seen that day. The next morning the march was renewed until on reaching W
8th (search for this): chapter 3
boys dispersed to their quarters with six rousing cheers for Captain Nims, who, truth to say, was almost overpowered by his feelings, so completely was he taken by surprise. We also quote the Special Order No 1 issued April 28, as still further indicating the honor given to the battery by commander and other officers. Special order no. 1 The commandant takes this method of congratulating his command upon the part which they took in the engagement at Sabine Cross Roads, La., on the 8th inst., and of thanking them not only for himself, but also in behalf of the general commanding the division, and the general commanding in the field, for the gallantry, courage, and efficiency with which you conducted yourselves in the trying position in which you were placed. Although it has been your misfortune to lose your guns, it is gratifying to know that it was through no dereliction or shortcoming on your part; having done all that lay in your power as brave men to do. We must submit t
10th (search for this): chapter 3
, one rubber and one woolen blanket had to do for five men, while half rations only made one all the more hungry. The next day the remaining men were assigned to guard the ammunition train on the retreat to Grand Ecore, which was reached on the 10th. Here the Union army gathered its scattered battalions. As the members of the battery were without equipment, they were ordered to New Orleans, and on the 19th went on board the little steamer Meteor, arriving at New Orleans on the 92d, where wan and Sergeant Jacob M. Ellis, both of Boston. The battery was next ordered to report to General Steele for active service, and accordingly arrived at New Orleans on March 7, where it took transport for Barrancas, Fla., arriving there on the 10th. After waiting about a week it began its march through the woods and swamps of Florida toward Mobile. Rain fell most of the time and the mud was unfathomable. Fighting its way from point to point wherever troops could fight, the battery finally
11th (search for this): chapter 3
ain fell most of the time and the mud was unfathomable. Fighting its way from point to point wherever troops could fight, the battery finally reached Fort Blakely on April 2. It was necessary to take this point before proceeding to Mobile, and after waiting a few days the place was finally taken by assault on April 9, 1865. After the fall of Fort Blakely the battery started with a column of infantry and cavalry toward Claiborne, Ala. Its last serious conflict was at Daniel's Landing on the 11th. For the next seven weeks the battery was almost constantly on the march until men, horses, and mules were completely worn out. Late in May, Columbus, Miss., was reached. The men were sent to Mobile and then on to Vicksburg, which they reached on June 4. Since landing in Florida they had traveled over 1600 miles. The company encamped at Vicksburg till July 22, when it turned its equipment over to the United States authorities and set out for home. Boston was reached on the 4th of A
12th (search for this): chapter 3
neficence. On arriving at Baltimore the men went into camp on the estate of the Confederate General J. E. B. Stuart on West Baltimore Street, the camp bearing the name of Camp Hale. Here drill was resumed in earnest, battery, piece and sabre drill and target practise. A letter to the Boston Journal bearing the date August 18, 1861 gives the following picture of camp life. Camp Hale, Baltimore, August 18, 1861. To the Editor of the Boston Journal: We came through Baltimore on the 12th, on our way from Camp Adams to this encampment, which is situated on West Baltimore Street, is a half-mile outside of the city, and in General Stuart's Park, which is a beautiful place for an encampment, though as a park it is pretty well used up. General Stuart is a general in the rebel army, and at this place there were seized five hundred stand of arms. We have plenty of fruit here, but do not eat much. The Baltimoreans use us well and treat us as if we were their own citizens, but this
16th (search for this): chapter 3
by some of the colored troops engaged with us on that occasion. After the assault had failed, and the ground in our front was strewn with our wounded comrades, these colored soldiers could be seen by twos crawling on their knees dragging after them a stretcher and on reaching a wounded soldier would roll him upon the stretcher, then, after a moment's rest, they would arise quickly and make a dash for a shelter from the shower of lead that was sure to fall around them. E. K. Russell. On the 16th General Banks issued an order for a thousand stormers, offering medals to the soldiers and promotions to the officers, and preparations were making for a third assault when on July 7 came the news of the surrender of Vicksburg. This put an end to the hopes of the Confederacy, and two days later Port Hudson surrendered, 6408 becoming prisoners of war. In addition to the important post the spoils of victory included two steamers, 51 pieces of artillery, 5000 small arms and a large quantity of
January (search for this): chapter 3
The Confederates held Alexandria as their chief point of defense but they extended their outposts as far as the railroad from New Orleans to Brashear City. Another earthwork known as Fort Bisland was on the Bayou Teche and reached to the swamps south of the bayou. All this territory for 50 miles west of the Missississippi is an impassable network of swamps and lakes, but there is a road from Brashear City to Alexandria and along this road lay the line of advance to Red River. Early in January expeditions had been organized for the purpose of moving up Red River but it had been found impossible to make a way through the swamps and bayous, and it was thought necessary to abandon the project. About this time information was received that the Confederates had captured on Red River the ram Queen of the West, and the gunboat De Soto which had run past the batteries at Vicksburg and descended the river. Farragut determined at once to patrol the river above Port Hudson with his vess
February (search for this): chapter 3
Trull and Hall were promoted to their positions and the vacancies were filled by the commissioning of William Marland of Andover and Sergeant Warren K. Snow of Boston as second lieutenants. Life at Camp Andrew from December till the following February was uneventful though by no means idle. The men worked hard, drills were held almost daily furnishing perhaps an explanation for the later record of the battery when real warfare began. In regard to this Capt. E. K. Russell writes: One of td Letter from home—good Christmas present that; and another writes I don't get my letters so often as I wish I did. Boxes too were gladly received and their contents shared with less fortunate comrades. A quotation from the Boston Journal of February gives a picture of a social event in camp. The first grand ball of the battery came off at Stewart's Hall, Baltimore, on Monday evening and was a grand success. The floor managers and musicians were all members of the battery. The order of da
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