CHAPTER XII.

EIGHTEENTH AND NINETEENTH REGIMENTS.

The Mustering of the Eighteenth Regiment, and its Officers. — March to the Front.-In the Campaign of the Peninsula.- From the Chickahominy to Boston. The Nineteenth. Colonel Hinks and his Heroic Command.

EIGHTEENTH REGIMENT.

E

IGHT companies of the Eighteenth, recruited chiefly from the counties of Norfolk, Bristol, and Plymouth, were mustered into the service of the United States, Aug. 27, 1861; leaving the two companies necessary to complete the organization of the regiment to be added subsequently. The next day it left the State, under orders for Washington, with a full complement of officers, and eight hundred and ninety-one men. Field and staff

On reaching the capital, the regiment was ordered, Sept. 3, to cross the river, and report to Gen. Fitz John Porter. It was assigned by him to the first brigade of his division, commanded by Brig. Gen. J. H. Martindale, and encamped near Fort Corcoran. Here it was engaged in drilling, and in working on the intrenchments then constructing for the defence of the capital. Sept. 26, the army advanced; and the regiment moved forward with the division, and took position at Hall's Hill. During the months of October and November, the two companies in which the regiment was deficient were added; making the number of enlisted men nine hundred and ninety-five.

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The time allowed at Fort Corcoran and Hall's Hill for the instruction and drilling of the regiment was improved by its officers; and the command attained a high degree of discipline, and a commendable proficiency in military drill and exercise. Here the regiment was complimented by the commanding general of the division with a new outfit of uniforms and camp-equipage.

Leaving Hall's Hill March 10, 1862, the regiment arrived in front of the defences of Yorktown April 5. Here, acting as skirmishers and in support of batteries engaged, the regiment, or a portion of it, was almost every day, during the siege, under the fire of the enemy. Leaving Yorktown May 7, it reached Kidd's Mills on the 22d, where it was supplied by Government with the Springfield rifled muskets, as a substitute for the smoothbore, which, up to this time, had been in use by the regiment. On the 26th, it marched to Gaines's Mills, on the Chickahominy. Immediately on reaching this point, and during a furious storm, eight companies of the regiment were ordered on picket-duty. Subsequently, during the night, orders came to relieve them, as the division, under the command of Gen. Morell, was to move to Hanover Court House the following day. The division moved at three o'clock in the morning of the 27th; but the companies of the Eighteenth that had already been on duty twenty-four hours were ordered to remain behind, and rest a few hours in camp.

In consequence of this delay, the regiment had not the good fortune to arrive at Hanover Court House in time to share in the honors of the victory gained by the division. Returning, the regiment remained in camp at Gaines's Mills until the 26th of June, when, a movement upon the right flank of our army being anticipated, an expedition, consisting of light cavalry and artillery, with two regiments of infantry to act as light troops, and placed under the command of Gen. Stoneman, was started from the camp of Porter's corps. The Eighteenth Massachusetts was selected as one of the infantry regiments for the expedition, and thus became temporarily detached from the rest of the division during the battles of Chickahominy and Malvern Hill. On the 2d of July, the regiment was at Harrison's Landing; and, on the 14th following (Col. Barnes, a brave and high-toned man in all respects, having been assigned to the command of the brigade), the command of the regiment devolved upon Lieut.-Col. Hayes.

Leaving Harrison's Landing, the regiment marched, via Williamsburg and Yorktown, to Hampton, where, owing to a severe illness contracted on the Peninsula, Lieut.-Col. Hayes was com

BATTLES OF BULL RUN, ANTIETAM, FREDERICKSBURG. 249

pelled to leave the regiment, for a few days; and the command devolved on Capt. Stephen Thomas, the senior officer present. Proceeding via Acquia Creek, Falmouth, Warrenton, and Thoroughfare Gap, the regiment arrived at Bull Run on the 30th of August, in time to participate in the second battle on this already noted field. The total loss of the regiment in this battle, being fifty-two per cent of the whole number engaged, is a sufficient proof of its steadiness and gallantry, and of how well it merited the great praise it received from both division and corps commanders. It was the first regiment of the division to advance to the attack, and the last to retire from the field. Here fell some of those gallant officers whose names henceforth will be borne upon the list of those who have made Massachusetts honored in the annals of this contest for freedom. Sept. 1, Col. Hayes, having joined his regiment, assumed command. Although not having for the space of twenty days enjoyed an interval of twenty-four hours' rest, the regiment set out upon its march to Maryland, reaching the battle-ground of Antietam Sept. 16. On the 17th, it was placed in support of batteries engaged; and the next twentyfour hours it was on picket-duty at Stone Bridge. Under command of Lieut.-Col. Hayes, the regiment crossed the river, leading the advance, and commenced the action of Shepardston. The regiment remained encamped near Sharpsburg until the 30th of October, when it recrossed the Potomac, and continued its advance until it reached the river opposite Fredericksburg, where it remained during the bombardment until the 13th of December, when, under command of Lieut.-Col. Hayes as the leading regiment of the corps, it crossed the river, and engaged in the battle of Fredericksburg. Here it well sustained the reputation for discipline and valor it had previously earned. In a charge made by order of the general of the division, the regiment nearly penetrated the enemy's fortified position upon Mary's Heights; but, being unsupported, it was compelled to fall back, with a loss, in killed and wounded, equal to nearly one-half of its number. Having rallied again, it occupied the most advanced position gained by the corps, which position it held throughout the battle. Here several officers fell; and it is believed that the dead of this regiment lay nearer the enemy's works than those of any other engaged on this part of the field.

On the 31st of December, the brigade recrossed the river, the Eighteenth leading, and the men fording the water waist-deep. In May following, it was present at and participated in the battle

of Chancellorsville. July 1, the regiment was within three miles of Gettysburg, and participated in the decisive battles of the next two days.

Following up the flying columns of Gen. Lee, the 8th of September found the regiment encamped at Beverly Ford, Va. About this time, Col. Hayes was placed in command of the brigade, leaving Major White in command of the regiment. Oct. 12, it moved in line of battle to Brandy Station; but, the enemy retreating, it marched to Manassas Junction, and formed a line of battle there. It was afterwards ordered back to support the Second Corps engaged with the enemy at Bristow's Station. Nov. 7, under the command of Lieut.-Col. White, the regiment was engaged in battle at Rappahannock Station; and on the 29th and 30th, it was in line of battle before the enemy's works at Mine Hill. The regiment marched Dec. 3, to Beverly Ford, and encamped. Here about one-third of its force was detailed for outpost-duty. On the 1st of May following, the regiment broke camp, crossed the Rappahannock, and encamped near Brandy Station. May 3, marched near Culpeper. On the next day, the regiment, commanded by Col. Hayes, and consisting of twenty officers and two hundred and ninety-six men, forming a part of the third brigade, first division, Fifth Corps, left camp near Culpeper, crossed the Rapidan, and marched to the Wilderness Church, where it bivouacked for the night. Next morning, in consequence of a report that the enemy was moving down the Stone Road, the division commenced throwing up a defence of logs and earth near where it had bivouacked. Col. Hayes was directed to take the Eighteenth Massachusetts and the Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, move up the Stone Road, and discover the force and intentions of the enemy. The two regiments moved up to the picketline; and two companies of the Eighteenth were detailed to be moved forward as skirmishers, and placed under the command of Capt. Bent. It was quickly ascertained that the enemy was present in force, and was briskly engaged in throwing up breastworks. In this movement, Charles Wilson of Company I, the first man lost in this campaign, was killed.

The regiment was now joined on its left by a brigade of the fourth division, and on its right by the Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers. At the command to advance, the division moved forward across an open space, and into the woods beyond. The enemy fell back, leaving his wounded and forty prisoners in our hands. The regiment returned through the woods to the breast

works. During this movement, Col. Hayes was severely wounded in the head by a bullet.

Next day, the Eighteenth Regiment was sent out as skirmishers; and, being ordered to move forward in advance of a line of troops sent to ascertain if the enemy remained in front, his skirmishers fell back to his line of battle, where he was found to be strongly posted with infantry and artillery.

The troops were now withdrawn, and the regiment relieved of picket-duty. After dusk, the brigade left its position, and, marching all night, reached Laurel Hill about daybreak. Here no time was allowed for the men to rest or take food; but, without halting, they were marched forward against an intrenched position. The brigade was formed in two lines, the Eighteenth Massachusetts on the right of the second line, and the First Michigan on the left. The assault was repulsed, and the brigade fell back.

The regiment was now again joined to the second brigade, and, on the night of the 13th of May, marched to the left of the Ninth Corps over a very heavy road; arriving in on exhausted condition, in the morning, in front of Spottsylvania. Here it was placed in line of battle, and remained until the 17th, when it was moved forward to the picket-line, and worked all night throwing up riflepits, behind which the regiment remained until the 20th.

The brigade was withdrawn from line, and marched to the North Anna River, which it forded on the 23d. As soon as the brigade had reached the south bank, the Eighteenth was detached from it, and sent to occupy a hill to the front and left of the crossing. A part of the regiment was disposed on the crest of the hill, behind hastily constructed breastworks; and two companies were sent out, under command of Capts. Dallas and Pray, to prevent the enemy from occupying the woods directly in front of the line. These were actively engaged nearly an hour before the furious attack was made by Hill's corps on the division. In this attack, Lieut.-Col. White received a severe wound in his hand, disabling him; and the command devolved upon Capt. Meservey, the senior officer present.

June 1, the brigade took up a new position, the Eighteenth on the right. A swampy and heavily wooded ravine, separating the regiment from Burnside's corps, ran perpendicular to the line of battle, and extended nearly to the enemy's intrenchments.

Here the regiment commenced throwing up a defence of rails and logs, but had made little progress, when the enemy, suddenly debouching from the ravine, where he had formed unobserved,