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A FAMILY PAPER DEVOTED TO THE NEWS OF THE DAY IN SOUTH DANVERS (PEABODY), MASSACHUSETTS
January 6 – June 29, 1864 - Part VI
United States - History - 1861-1865, War of Rebellion

South Danvers Wizard, 5/25/1864, p. 1/ 4-5
BATTLES OF SPOTTSYLVANIA – ACCOUNT BY “CARLETON” [SELECTED]
TUESDAY’S OPERATION
       “It became evident on Tuesday morning that General Lee had chosen Spottsylvania as a place for a trial of strength. Preparations were accordingly made for the work. The great drawback to Gen. Grant was his wounded. – He decided to send them to Fredericksburg. All who could walk were started on foot. – Those who could not walk, but, did not need ambulances, were placed in empty wagons. The long, sad procession departed or rather began to depart, to make room for the other thousands soon to take their place in the hospitals. It was a sad sight. It made me sick and weary of war, and yet a truer view is that which looks at the sin and insanity which causes all this suffering, pain and sorrow. – Trains of supplies not immediately needed were sent to the rear and ammunition trains were ordered up.
     At daybreak the cannonade commenced, our own batteries coming first into play. The batteries attached to the 2d corps, near Hart farm and on the Piney Church road were very active. The rebel batteries at first treated the demonstration with silent indifference, but as continual teasing rouses a wild beast from slumber, so at length they replied. The air was calm and reverberation rolled far away over the forests. There was no movement of troops to the front, but there was change of position all along the line. Brigades which had been in the front the day before were placed in the second line, and those which had a little respite from fighting were thrown to the front. Gen. Grant rode along the lines, made an inspection of the situation, and issued orders for a general attack at five o’clock in the afternoon. At noon our batteries slackened fire, but the rebels took the initiative. SPOTTSYLVANIA      The place is old, seedy, ruined long ago, like every other Southern town. It was once a center – a place for trade, political meetings and the like. The Catharpen road runs along Catharpen creek toward Orange Court House; the road to Fredericksburg is the most traveled of all; the others are mere country roads with little travel in the best of times. As has already been said, the country is undaunting, half wilderness and half cleared land. The roads meet on elevated ground, commanding the valley of the Po river.
     There is nothing at Spottsylvania worthy of contention – no mountain pass or deep running river – but Gen. Grant is on his way to Richmond. Lee has determined to expose him at every step. Like Apollyon out to meet him on the spot.
     Lee has the advantage of position and is able to concentrate his forces. THE BATTLE.      It was about 1 o’clock when Longstreet began to press Hancock. Birney, on the extreme right was first engaged. It was a hot fire, lasting a half hour, but he held his ground. – The artillery, which had been silent a while, recommenced their uproar and at 2 o’clock it was a continuous discharge of field pieces. The 20th Massachusetts were thrown out as skirmishers on the right, and performed their part without flinching.
Having made no impression on Birney’s division, the attack was abandoned there, and the rebels tried to pry open the field between the 2d and 5th corps, but Hancock reflected a portion of Gibbons’ command towards the left, while Warren brought up a brigade toward his right, and thus the joint was made exceedingly strong. It had been weakened by advancing Barlow’s division across the creek. The rebels’ columns came in mass. After a little skirmishing Hancock withdrew Barlow and made his corps more compact. The withdrawal of Barlow was a sign to faint-hearted men that they it was going against us.
     During the lull in the strife, I rode back to the Second Corps hospitals to see the wounded.
     “How goes it boys?” was the question.
     “All right,” said one.
     “Pretty rough,” said another.
     “They niver will get through the Second Corps,” said a Hibernian.
     The lull had become a storm. How fearfully rolled the musketry. It is utterly useless, to attempt description or comparison. It was volley after volley, surge after surge, roll after roll!
      Maurice Collins of the 12th Massachusetts was brought in with an ugly wound through his shoulder. He was a Catholic and the priest was showing him the crucifix.
      “Will it be mortal?” he asked.
      “Perhaps not, if you lie still and keep quiet; but you may have to lose your arm.”
     “Well, I am willing to give an arm to my country,” was the reply of one who, though born in the ever green isle, while loving the Harp and Shamrock, adores the Stars and Stripes of his adopted country.
     Leaving the hospital, and galloping toward the front, I met hundreds of men working their way to the rear – an unmistakable sign that there is hot work in front, and that there is some doubt as to what will be the result.
     The contest went on with but little cessation on the right, and gradually extended toward the left; but the main attack of the rebels was on the Second Corps, which stood like a wall adamant.
     The attack of Longstreet upon the 2d Corps at Gettysburg had more of desperation in it than this, but that was an action of fifteen minutes, while this was one of hours – hours of hard, persistent fighting of sanguinary character. The attack of Longstreet here, as at Gettysburg, utterly failed. Great fame and credit is due to the 2d Corps. It never has faltered, and its commander has proved himself to be one of the ablest Generals of the war.
     It would be unfair, however, to give all credit to the 2d Corps; the 5th and a portion of the 6th were engaged in this struggle.
     This is a tame description and incomplete. It would require many pages if I were to give a narrative of the action of regiments - so vast the army. And how futile all attempts at description! Even now, I seem to hear, although miles from the scene of strife, the constant rattle and roar of musketry; the cannonade; the deep reverberations; the cheers; the shouts; the trampling of horses; the rumbling of artillery; the sharp ringing of the musket shot; the explosion of shells, and the loud whirring of the fragments. It goes on hour after hour. The sad train of men with stretchers bearing away the wounded increases its numbers. The ranks are thinning out, but yet the true and faithful ones face without flinching the deadly storm. They stand as firm as a rock for their country. O you who read these lines in your happy homes, know but little of war! You cannot comprehend till you have stood in the ranks, or at least till you have been a near observer, how much you owe to the brave men who for six consecutive days have stood upon the battlefield fighting for your liberty. You cannot thank them enough; you cannot do too much for them. The unflinching heroism of the 2d Corps on Tuesday last will be forever memorable in history.
     While this fierce contest was going on a body of rebels marched out on the Catharpen road and cam down upon the rear of the second corps, probably not to attack the troops, but to cut out the trains which were parked in the rear. Gen. Grant and Gen. Meade’s headquarters were on the Piney Grove road. A signal officer who had been stationed on the right flank came in upon the gallop, evidently much excited. “You must pack up quick,” he shouted. Preparations had already been made for a removal of headquarters nearer to the center, and in a few moments the trains were in motion. Orders were sent to the rear to be ready for any emergency. Two or three batteries went out and took position, but that was all that came of the movement. The rebels gained nothing for the trouble. THE ADVANCE OF THE LEFT.      Orders had been issued for the advance of the ninth corps promptly at 5 o’clock, but the exceeding fierceness of the struggle on the right, the necessity of sending divisions of the sixth to sustain the second, delayed the advance. It was half-past 6 before the ninth began its movement upon the enemy.
     The 6th and 5th moved at the same time. What a grand movement it was! A line four miles long; not a continuous line, but brigade after brigade of men – dark masses, now in open field, now lost to sight in the forest; now in open field, now lost to sight in the forest; now emerging into view and opening fire upon the foe. The movement was like the swinging of a huge folding door, the pivot hinge being near the Piney Grove road, and the folding hinge between that and the Fredericksburg road.
     Hill’s corps, in front of Burnside, evidently was not prepared for the advance. The column of the 9th pushed him back steadily, halting at times to get new foothold, but still pushing, till the rebel lines were driven back to the village. The fighting was not so severe on the left as on the right, but the results were exceedingly gratifying. The rebel lines, which had been in the form of a crescent, were hammered into a horse shoe. It was a glorious movement, that of the 9th. I can only wish that a little extra force had been thrown in. Then the rebel right would have been completely turned and the whole force put to rout. I do not write it as a criticism, but merely notice it to show how near Burnside came toward giving the finishing stroke. It was glorious as it was. He advanced close to the forks of the roads and the cluster of houses which make the town. The rebels tried again and again to recover the ground which they had lost; but all their efforts were in vain. The 9th, which has been tried often and never found wanting, maintained its position through the night. THE SIXTH CORPS.      Ewell’s position in the center in front of the 5th and 6th was very strong. The rebel line of skirmishers were in a belt of woods, behind which, in advantageous positions, were rifle pits, abattis and earthworks, with several batteries. Gen. Hunt, commanding the artillery of the army, made a thorough inspection of the ground, and brought several batteries into position to rain shells upon the enemy’s works as the line advanced. Among the batteries was McCartney’s Massachusetts. An officer of a Vermont regiment praised its action in high terms.
     The Sixth was commanded by Wright after the death of Sedgwick. The first division was commanded by Col. Upton; the second by Wheaton, and the third by Ricketts. In the fourth brigade of Wheaton’s division, there is the 2d Rhode Island, 7th, 10th and 37th Massachusetts. The second brigade is of Green Mountain boys, the 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th and 6th Vermont regiments.
     The line did not have to move far before it came upon the enemy – their old enemy which they had met on the hills at Gettysburg.
     It was past 7 o’clock. There was a few minutes of terrible fighting, in fierceness and intensity surpassing even that of Friday afternoon at Gettysburg. When the uproar was wildest there was a cheer – a shout, sharper and louder than the din of arms. It was not a savage cry of the enemy, but a buoyant, thrilling shout. Away they went into the storm over the intervening space, with bayonets firmly set, Vermont leading the charge, plunging into Dale’s brigade of Rhodes’ division and leading it captive from the field. Ewell poured in his men to cover his works, but the 2d Vermont was in possession and were determined not to give them up. Far in advance of all the line, lay that regiment, pouring its fire upon the enemy. They were so far ahead that Gen. Wright feared to have them remain through the night. He was about to withdraw them.
     “We don’t want to go back. Give us rations and ammunition and we will hold it six months,” said the soldiers.
     Gen Wright rode to Gen. Grant. “What shall I do?” he asked.
     “Pile in the men and hold it,” was the reply. Gen. Wright went back, but meanwhile by some means they had been ordered to return.
     That charge! It will be forever memorable. Even now I seem to hear that shout, ringing like a trumpet blast above the thunders of the cannonade, and the crashing of fifty thousand muskets. It was Vermont which took a rebel brigade prisoners of war in the last charge of Longstreet at Gettysburg. They were on the defensive, now it is Vermont again, on the offensive, cuts out a second brigade. Glorious always and forever. THE 5TH CORPS.      I have already spoken of the part which the 5th corps performed in connection with the 2d in the early part of the afternoon. It was in once more. Robinson’s, Cutler’s and Crawford’s divisions – all were engaged. Cutler, commanding the 4th division since Wadsworth’s death, was in the thickest of the fight. When the battle was raging, Gen. Rice, commanding the 2d brigade of the 4th division, was lying in the hospital wounded. The surgeon had laid down his knife after amputating the shattered limb. The sufferer could hear the tide of battle –the constant rolls, like waves upon the shore. His eyes were closing to the scenes of earth. He was nearing that land which it without a shore. His pain was intense.
     “Turn me over,” he said to the surgeon and attendants.
     “Which way will you lie?”
     “Let me lie with my face toward the enemy!”
     They were his last words. And with them I close the narrative of the operations of the day – of one of the great battles of the war. With his face toward the enemy! He and his fellow soldiers met them upon the gory field – thousands of them lying upon the spot which is forever their resting place. Let this be the inscription upon the mausoleum erected to their memory – “They fell with their faces towards the enemy!”

About the South Danvers Wizard

Overview: Jan.- July 1864

About South Danvers (Peabody), Massachusetts

South Danvers Wizard, 1/6/1864, p. 2/1
[Satire] “The grand political chowder at Paris, to which the various European governments – called a congress – are invited, seems to be a long while in cooking, and will probably get burnt before the parties assemble. Several difficult conditions are annexed to bring his own spoon, salt, pepper & etc. As a number of the Continental States are exceedingly poor, it will be hard for them to comply with these stipulations.”

South Danvers Wizard, 1/6/1864, p. 2/ 3-4
ANOTHER WAR MEETING.

South Danvers Wizard, 1/6/1864, p. 3/1
THE SANITARY COMMISSION – Report on the commission by Chaplain Quint as printed in the Congregationalist.

South Danvers Wizard, 1/13/1864, p. 2/4
“Sunday, the 10th of January, completed the sixth month since Gen. Gilmore commenced operations on Morris Island, in the present attempt to capture Charleston. It was six weeks before, or about the first of June, that the rebels evacuated James Island. We shall have to admit that Charleston is the toughest of all. But defend it as the chivalry may, it will yield at last. There never was a place yet so strong that it could not be taken by some means. Gen. Gilmore has already advanced his works till shelling is an easy business, though it is surprising how non-effective that is. As yet but a few old houses have been burned, not so many during all the siege as were consumed by the fire two years ago.” Reprinted from the Newburyport Herald.

South Danvers Wizard, 1/20/1864, p. 2/2
DESTITUTION IN REBELDOM – “We have heard of destitution in the rebel States, and probably it will increase rather than diminish as the war continues.” Includes a report of the market in Richmond, describing the availability and cost of each of the following categories: Provisions, Flour and Grain, Dry Goods, Whiskey, Coffee, Money and Tobacco.”

South Danvers Wizard, 1/27/1864, p. 2/1
THE CONFEDERATES [Editorial] – “The rebels were certainly unlucky in their selection of a name…”

South Danvers Wizard, 1/27/1864, p. 2/2
“The horse people throughout the country will be glad to learn that the Government is in the market for the purchase of 11,500 horses. They must all be suitable for the cavalry arm of the service.”

South Danvers Wizard, 2/3/1864
RELIABLE GENTLEMEN [Editorial] – “The reliable gentlemen who used to pass up and down between Richmond and Washington during the early part of the war, with important intelligence, closed his travels some time ago, retiring to finish a well spent life in the bosom of this family. He was immediately succeeded by the ‘intelligent contraband,’ who still continues on the route; but having been considered insufficient for his arduous duties, he was, not long since, reinforced by Jeff Davis’s coachmen. Even then, the two combined, were found unequal to the transmission of such valuable information as they were in the habit of collecting, and now Davis’s ‘body servant’ has been added to the number. Having such a trio to depend upon, it might naturally be expected that we should not lack for existing and useful news from rebeldom. Our hopes in this respect have been favored with some very important intelligence from the rebel capital, furnished by the ‘body servant’ aforesaid.
     Thus we learn that Jeff’s house leaks badly, the roof wanting shingling, and that he cannot procure tubs enough to catch the water – thanks to the blockaders, no doubt. We expect to hear soon of the capture of some blockade runner laden with a cargo of that useful article of housekeeping; also that Jeff contemplates vacating his residence on account of this trouble. Added to this grievance, his good eye begins to fail him and will not much longer merit that flattering and distinctive designation. These afflictions, with others besides, have made him exceedingly waspish, not to say savageiferous, insomuch that he kicks over tables and chairs on the slightest provocation or even on no provocation at all. He can get nothing better than brandy to drink, having been out of ale and cider a long while. His ‘neuraligey’, whatever that may be, is also baddish. He frequently snubs Mrs. Jeff with great severity, provoking retorts from her of a similar unction. His pork and beef barrels have also run low, and his supply of cheese, bacon and flour is falling, but he still thinks Southern Independence is a sure thing.
     Mrs. Jeff thinks Washington far preferable as a residence to Richmond and grumbles unceasingly because her husband did not remove to the White house two years ago, as he calculated upon – a strain of remark which must be very soothing to the feelings of the rebel President.
     The above are among the startling pieces of information lately received. It remains to be seen what effect they will have on the progress of the war.”

South Danvers Wizard, 2/3/1864, p. 2/3
ANOTHER DRAFT under Conscription.

South Danvers Wizard, 2/10/1864, p. 2/1
THE NEW CALL [Editorial] under Conscription.

South Danvers Wizard, 3/9/1864, p. 2/1-2
THE ISSUE [Editorial] – Concludes, “Before we can bring this war to an honorable, umphant and righteous close, we must dismiss four capital errors from our minds, vis: - 1.) That the Union is not dissolved. 2.) That the rebels will ever voluntarily return to the Union. 3.) That we can ever starve outside Rebellion. 4.) That we can beat them in the field without hard fighting.”

South Danvers Wizard, 5/4/1864, p. 2/3
LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD – “There seems to be quite a difference of opinion in the public mind, whether Gen. [Nathaniel] Banks, in the late battles on the Red River, was a “conquering hero” or a hero conquered. Private letters from the Union officers and soldiers say it was a complete rout, and that the whole affair was bunglingly managed; but it is said that Banks claims a victory – and so, also, does Dick Taylor, the Rebel General. If Banks is the victor, why does he relinquish the expedition and retire to Alexandria. If it was a victory for our forces to be driven fifteen miles in a disordered flight, losing camp equipage, cannon, muskets and thousands of prisoners, what could the result have been to the rebels? We think if we had done to the rebels what they did to us, the popular verdict would have been unanimous that we had gained a victory.”

South Danvers Wizard, 5/4/1864, p. 2/3
RETALIATION under African-Americans.

South Danvers Wizard, 5/25/1864, p. 1/ 4-5
BATTLES OF SPOTTSYLVANIA – ACCOUNT BY “CARLETON” [SELECTED]
TUESDAY’S OPERATION - See article reprinted at left.

South Danvers Wizard, 6/8/1864, p. 2/2
WAR DEBTS OF THE STATES – “Congress has refused to assume the war debts of several States…”

South Danvers Wizard, 6/8/1864, p. 2/7
THE EXPLOSION OF MONSTER TORPEDOES NEAR NEWBERN, N.C. – Report from a correspondent of the N.Y. Herald.

South Danvers Wizard, 6/29/1864, p. 2/1-2
PHILADELPHIA SANITARY FAIR – “This exhibition is a prodigy of its kind…” Describes inventions on display including: a patent brick making machine in working operation; a Burglar Alarm Telegraph; a hot air engine; a steam engine in full operation made entirely of glass; the Jacquard loom; as well as works of art, such as the Union Vase. The tone of the article defends the price tag attached to everything at the Fair in addition to the 50 cent admission since the proceeds benefited the [Ladies’] Soldier’s Aid Society.

South Danvers Wizard, 6/29/1864, p. 2/3
[For the Wizard] THE RICHMOND CAMPAIGN – “We think we prophesized about two months ago that, by the 4th of July, the flag of the Union would float over Richmond. In this we fear we were too sanguine, as it now looks as if much hard work is yet necessary to capture the Rebel City or break up the Rebel army. It would be not only entirely useless, but in a high degree pernicious, for the press to undertake to disguise the fact that the campaign has not thus far yielded so much advantage to our arms, either in victories or position, as we anticipated when Grant started from Washington.
It is now nearly two months since the campaign opened. Our side has suffered losses, computed, in the aggregate, all the way from forty to sixty thousand. There is about the same disparity in conjectures as to losses of the enemy. We have not yet seriously weakened the defences of Richmond, nor apparently very much crippled Lee’s army. We have had many bloody battles, and in every case our men have fought with the most undaunted heroism, and generally with success. General Grant has shown himself to be an able and active general – fertile in resources, bold in designs, swift in execution, and persistent in his purposes. We hear no questions made of the ability of General Grant, or the gallantry of his men. The only wonder expressed is, that the Confederacy should be able, at this day – after three years’ hard fighting – to offer such powerful resistance to our advance.
While we are not able to report any decided and positive advantage gained towards the reduction of the great Rebel Capital, we are able to say that all accounts agree in representing the army in the best of spirits, and discipline, hopeful and enthusiastic, thoroughly reinforced, and amply supplied. Great faith is yet laid by the people that the army of the Potomac is bound to succeed, sooner or later, in this campaign. No loyal men can fail to pray continually that victory will yet perch upon our banners.”