Sept. 17, the company was at Raccoon Ford. A detail of men was sent out to silence the rebels, who were firing on our pickets: this was accomplished, and, the following day, all was quiet.

Oct. 6, the army began a retrograde movement. On the 14th, the action at Bristow Station took place, in which the company was distinguished for its cool and praiseworthy conduct.

The commanding officer of the Twentieth Massachusetts sent out a sergeant with nine men of the company to act against the sharpshooters of the enemy; which they did. In advancing, they came upon a number concealed in ditches, who surrendered, and were brought within the lines by the sergeant and his party. Corporal Curtis, perceiving three of the enemy's guns nearly disabled by the fire of our batteries, took possession of them. Sergeant Galbraith coming to his assistance, they secured two of them; leaving the third to the Nineteenth Massachusetts.

The Twentieth, to which the company was attached, reached Centreville on the 15th, where it remained until the 19th. On the 24th, the company was again encamped near Warrenton.

It left camp on the 7th of November, and next became engaged with the enemy at Brandy Station. Crossing the Rapidan at Germania Ford on the 26th, the next day the skirmishers encountered the enemy at Robertson's Tavern. On the 28th, some severe fighting took place, and the company had two men wounded. The next two days, the Twentieth Massachusetts, with the company, was in line of battle in front of the enemy's works at Mine Run. On the 1st of December, the retreat commenced; and on the 2d the company reached its old camp at Brandy Station, having marched thirty-five miles in twenty-five hours. There were no stragglers on this march. The company was mustered out with the Nineteenth Regiment, to which organization it for a long time was attached.

SECOND COMPANY OF SHARPSHOOTERS.

The Second Company of Sharpshooters was recruited at Lynnfield. It was from the commencement attached to the Twentysecond Regiment Massachusetts Volunteers, and shared the fatigues, the battles, and the honors of that regiment. Its history is therefore the history of the Twenty-second, in which it bore a brave and gallant part. It was mustered out with this regiment in October, 1864.

UNATTACHED COMPANIES.

The two unattached companies were commanded successively by Capts. L. G. Dennis, J. G. Barnes, O. A. Baker, F. A. Johnson, Louis Soule, R. W. Thayer, Joshua H. Wilkie, Fitz J. Babson, Walter D. Keith, and Samuel C. Graves.

The Second, Seventeenth, Eighteenth, Nineteenth, Twenty-first, Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth, Twenty-sixth, and Twenty-seventh companies were mustered into the service of the Government for one year during November and December of 1864, and stationed in the forts along the coast of Massachusetts. They were mustered out during the months of May, June, and July, 1865. They performed for the country a quiet but indispensable service.

Of the First and Second Companies of Sharpshooters, a brief account has already been given. Their history for 1864 forms a part of that of the regiments with which they were connected.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE HEAVY ARTILLERY.

The Fourteenth Regiment of Infantry changed to the First Heavy Artillery. — Garrisoning the Forts about Washington.- Col. Tannett. - Company I at Winchester. Gen. Grant's Campaign. - Battles. - Before Petersburg. - Closing Scenes of the War. — Return to Washington. - Mustered out. - Second Regiment in Department of Virginia and North Carolina. — Companies captured at Plymouth, N.C.- Recruits. — Close of the War. Discharged. — Third Regiment. - Composition. - Roster. - Company I.— Fourth Regiment. - Composition. - Roster.- Unattached Companies.-First Battalion. Why raised. -Service.- Companies A, C, D.- Mustered out.

FIRST REGIMENT HEAVY ARTILLERY.

HE First Regiment of Heavy Artillery was originally organized as the Fourteenth Regiment of infantry; and, as such, left Fort Warren for the seat of war, Aug. 7, 1861. It was employed on garrison-duty in the vicinity of Washington until Jan. 1, 1862; when, by orders from the War Department, it was changed into a regiment of heavy artillery. Fifty recruits were added to each company, and two additional companies raised to fill it to its maximum standard.

The regiment was employed in garrisoning the forts around Washington until the 26th of August, when it was ordered to the front. It was present in line of battle at Bull Run, but did not enter into the engagement. It was ordered back to Washington, and the several companies of the regiment were employed in detached service at different points on the Potomac.

Col. Thomas R. Tannett took command of the regiment Jan. 1, 1863. Up to the 10th of June, it was employed mainly in build

ing batteries, magazines, &c., and putting guns in position. Company I was then sent to Winchester, Va., and was in the battle at that place, gaining much praise for good conduct. It was then ordered by Gen. Milroy to remain and spike the guns left by his command. Here Capt. Martin and forty men were taken prisoners.

During the presence of the enemy in Pennsylvania, this command was called upon to picket in front of their line; thus doing the double duty of infantry and artillery, and proving itself ready for any duty, regardless of exposure.

For two years and a half, the First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery had done good service to the cause, and had performed without grudging a great deal of severe labor, but had had no opportu nity of participating in any one of the more glorious achievements of the war.

The order, therefore, to join the Army of the Potomac at the front, received May 15, 1864, was obeyed with alacrity. It was assigned to the second brigade, of Tyler's division, Col. Tannett commanding. At Harris's Farm, the regiment was heavily engaged with the enemy, and for a time was alone opposed to Rhodes's division, of Ewell's corps. The men stood up to their work manfully until re-enforcements arrived, when they fell back to re-form and advance again. In this action, Major Rolfe, coinmanding first battalion, was killed. The entire loss of the regiment was fifty-five killed, and three hundred and twelve wounded. The engagement lasted until ten, P.M. The regiment remained on the field all night.

At the battle of North Anna, the regiment was held as reserve, and lost but one killed and eleven wounded.

On the 31st, in the battle of Tolopotomy, the regiment threw forward a skirmish line, and occupied the enemy's works. It lay under a heavy fire of artillery all day.

viz.,

On the 3d of June, at Cold Harbor, four companies B, F, H, and Kwere engaged in the charge on the enemy's works in the morning, and in the repulse of the enemy in his night charge.

On the 14th, the regiment crossed the James, and marched for Petersburg, and, on the 16th, charged the enemy's works in its front, and was repulsed with the loss of twenty-five killed, and a hundred and thirty-two wounded.

On the 18th, it charged the enemy's works near Hare House, and carried them, driving the enemy through the woods. The

men of the First Heavy Artillery held their position until the 20th, when they were ordered to the rear, and the next day advanced upon the Weldon Railroad. On the 22d, while throwing up breastworks with the brigade, they were flanked by the enemy, who, breaking through Gen. Barlow's division, succeeded in getting into position in the woods on the left of the brigade. The loss of the regiment here was nine killed, forty-six wounded, and a hundred and eighty-five captured.

July 6, the term of service of the original members expired, and the regiment was ordered to the rear to prepare for mustering out the men. For those who continued in the service, nothing of note took place until the 30th, when they occupied a position in the front, half a mile to the right of the mine exploded in the morning, and were ordered to keep up a continuous fire on the enemy in front, whose works were about two hundred yards distant. The regiment used during the day an average of a hundred and fifty rounds to the man.

On the 12th of August, it was ordered to City Point; on the 15th, advanced near five miles on the Charles-city Road, skirmishing nearly all the way.

On the 18th, the regiment returned to Petersburg, and garrisoned Fort Hayes until the 25th.

On the 2d of October, it was engaged with the enemy in a brisk encounter near Preble's Farm. On the 6th, it returned to Fort Hayes, where it remained until the 26th. Next day it marched to the Boydtown Plank-road, and in the afternoon became engaged with the enemy. Returning to Fort Hayes, the regiment remained there until the 28th of November, when it again marched to Preble's House, and went into camp near the Vaughn Road. On the 6th of December, it participated in Gen. Warren's raid on the Weldon Railroad, returning by the same route to camp on the 13th. On this raid, the men suffered extremely from cold, but had no engagement with the enemy.

The regiment remained in camp until the opening of the spring campaign, March 25, excepting during the affair at Hatcher's Run. In several of the most stirring events of this campaign, the regiment participated; and from the engagement at Duncan's Run, to the date of Gen. Lee's surrender to Gen. Grant, it was constantly in action or on the march. On the successful close of this campaign, the regiment remained in camp at Burkesville until May 2, when it started for Washington, via Richmond and Fredericksburg, reaching its destination on the 15th,—just one year