Howard Volney, Randolph Hartwell Clarence E., No. Bridgewater, detached to U. S. artillery Hamilton John S., No. Bridgewater, detached to U. S. artillery Hallahan John, Lowell Howard Charles, 2d, No. Bridge water Hayden William W., So. Bridgewater Jackson Andrew, W. Bridgewater Jackson Laban, No. Bridgewater Keith Thaddeus, No. Bridgewater, clerk of company Keith Dexter D., No. Bridgewater Keith Benjamin J., Bridgewater, discharged Keith Martin M., Bridgewater Lindsteat Carl A., No. Bridgewater Manchester Francis A., No. Bridgewater Maroni Francis M., No. Bridge water, promoted to corporal Morley Henry E., No. Bridgewater Morse Herbert C., Boxford Newson William W., Boston O'Keefe Arthur J. F., Boston O'Leary Timothy, W. Bridgewater Porter Isaac C., Stoughton Packard James A., No. Bridgewater, promoted to corporal Packard Samuel N., No. Bridgewater Company G, Abington. — 12th Reg. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. Captain, IRA BLANCHARD, East Abington. 1st Lieut., EDWARD P. REED, East Abington; 2d Lieut., LYSANDER F. CUSHING, East Sergeants. Abington. NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES. Loud Marcus M., East Abington Pratt Samuel L., North Abington Leavitt Harrison C., East Abington Buxton Aaron O., East Abington Corporals. Glasure James L., North Abington Smith James G., East Abington Revere Nathan L., Abington, promoted to ordnance sergt. of reg't McGill Francis, E. Abington, promoted to sergeant Foster Solomon B., East Abington Musicians. Davis Charles H., East Abington Jacobs William F., East Abington Maynard Frank W., Lawrence Maxwell Charles W., Abington Pool Elbridge G., East Abington Studley William A., East Abington Williamson Franklin S., East Abington Winslow John C. jr., Duxbury Wortman William B., Boston, discharged Walker William T., East Abington Company H, Weymouth.-12th Reg. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. Captain, JAMES L. BATES, Weymouth. 1st Lieut., CHAS. W. HASTINGS, Weymouth; 2d Lieut., FRANCIS B. PRATT, Weymouth. Churchill Joshua F., Weymouth Deshon Jason L., Weymouth Hayward Josiah, Weymouth Lewis William H., Weymouth Rogers Daniel F., Weymouth Company I, Stoughton. - 12th Reg. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. Captain, JOHN RIPLEY, Stoughton. 1st Lieut., CHEster Clark, Stoughton; 2d Lieut., WARREN THOMPSON, Stoughton. Sergeants. NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES. Whitman Jonathan B., Stoughton White Seth M., Stoughton Weld George A., Stoughton Lane Edgar N., Stoughton Packard James F., No. Bridgewater Chase Charles H., Dorchester Henry George P., Stoughton Heath George E., Bradford Kimball Job K., Stoughton, as- Kaiser Joseph, Roxbury Lewis Lathrop H., Fall River Lee Michael J., Boston Company K, Gloucester. -12th Reg. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. Captain, DAVID ALLEN, JR., Gloucester. 1st Lieut., BENJAMIN F. COOK, Gloucester; 2d Lieut., GILMAN SAUNDERS, Gloucester. Sergeants. Hazel Edwin, Gloucester NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS AND PRIVATES. Fader Charles W., Gloucester Raymond Thomas, Gloucester, tr. to Company D Doten Edwin W., No. Bridgewater Walker Calvin, Limerick, Me. Coas Edward K., Gloucester, promoted to sergeant Colby Hezekiah, Gloucester, pro- Wadleigh Rufus S., Manchester Wagoner. Hicks Thomas R., Gloucester Privates. Allen Isaac F., Manchester Allen A. J., Goffstown, N. H. Allen William, Manchester Allen Edward F., Manchester Atwood William N., Wellfleet Aymar Adolphus, Gloucester Bayley George T., Gloucester Carr Frank J., Gloucester Clark William A., Exeter, N. H., promoted to corporal Cullen Patrick, Beverly Cole Clement C., New York Cotter Michael, Boston Clifford David E., Essex Dennis John B., Gloucester Driscoll John O., Salem Hayward Simeon F., North Bridgewater Hooper George R., Gloucester Hodgkins Timothy, Gloucester Hatch George, Scituate Ingersoll Amos M., Gloucester Keating John L., Gloucester Kenny John, Gloucester Knowlton Samuel, Manchester Keefe Thomas, Boston Kelley John, Roxbury Lane John, Lowell Lufkin Fitz Otis, Gloucester McGrath Wm., Abington Centre Morey Sherborn F., jr., Gloucester Morey James, Gloucester Pert Daniel S., Manchester Simonds John S., Franklin, N. H. Storey George D., Lynn Tanner James, Portland, Me. Wright George W.. Quiney Thirteenth Regiment. The Fourth Battalion of Rifles formed the basis of the Thirteenth Regiment, and, to complete the organization, six companies, part of which had previously composed the Second Battalion of Rifles M. V. M., were added. The Rifle Battalion was formed in this way. The City Guard of Boston, one of the oldest volunteer companies of the State, having a history as far back as 1821. after going through various transitions, during all of which, however, it preserved its distinct character, was, during the winter of 1860-61, one of the companies of the First Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, under Col. Cowdin. A vacancy occurred in its command, and a project was broached to cut loose from the regiment, become a rifle company, and form the germ of a battalion organization. This scheme was entertained at headquarters, and Samuel H. Leonard, lately of Worcester (and proprietor of Leonard's Worcester Express), well known in the State as a thorough military man, having been Brigadier General of the Worcester Brigade, was chosen Captain. In March, 1861, a second company was raised, to which N. Walter Batchelder, a thorough soldier, formerly of the Boston Light Infantry, was elected Captain. Capt. Leonard was then chosen Major, and James N. Fox (an old " City Guard"), a lawyer of Boston, and a man of large estate and universally esteemed, succeeded to the command of Company A. The two companies were already full before the Fort Sumter affair ignited the flames of war. An impetus was then given to the military spirit of the community, so that in a few days the applications for recruiting were so numerous that, permission being given, two companies were organized under Capt. John Kurtz and Capt. Augustine Harlow, both well known as militia captains in Boston. The four companies, thus organized, were composed of young men of Boston and the immediate vicinity, of education and business experience in the stores and countingrooms of the city, and averaging less than twenty-three years of age. Though they carried into the service of their country intelligence and activity rather than strong arms and muscular frames, they afterwards accomplished the longest marches with unsurpassed endurance. In May the battalion, numbering about 350 men, procured a neat rifle-gray uniform, costing about $15 per man, paying for it themselves, and asked for service or camp duty. On the 25th of May they were sent to Fort Independence, in Boston harbor, to garrison that place, a company from Roxbury under Capt. Bartlett (who subsequently resigned, and was succeeded by Lieut. Pratt) being added to the garrison as "Company E." Here they remained until after the regiment was organized in July. Meanwhile their time was used in the most effective manner for acquiring the art of warfare under their skilful teachers, and their superior drill attracted thousands of visitors 10 the fort to witness their evolutions. So rapid was their advancement, that when, on the 4th of July, they went to Boston to assist in the celebration of the day, numbering nearly 300 men, the precision and ease of their movements excited much surprise and the greatest applause. About the first of July five more companies were added to the garrison, preparatory to a regimental organization. Two of these were from Marlboro', one from Natick, one from Sudbury, and one from Westboro', -all more or less based on militia organizations in these places. The members were young men-mostly mechanics-who went forth from the confinement of the workshop with ardor in their new and stirring vocation. The Sudbury company was afterwards disbanded, its members joining other companies, and a company from Stoneham was added to the regiment, its captain being J. P. Gould. On the 16th of July the regimental organization was announced, Maj. Leonard being Colonel; Capt. Batchelder, Lieut. Colonel; and Capt. Gould, Major. When the time of the three months' troops had nearly expired, the "Thirteenth received marching orders: and, on the 29th of July, left Fort Independence for the seat of war, escorted to the depot in Boston by the old members of the Boston City Guard. Although the weather was most inauspicious for the event, the streets were lined with multitudes to witness their departure; for, to the people of Boston, this seemed more like their regiment than almost any other which had left for the seat of war, and they felt that in the "Thirteenth" went forth the "flower of the Massachu setts troops." Along the route of the railroad, until their arrival at Norwich at midnight, their passing was anticipated by crowds at the various stations, who cheered them on their way. At Worcester they disembarked and spent a portion of the evening partaking of a collation tendered by the government of that city. On the following day, they arrived in New York city. Their appearance, as they marched down Broadway, elicited much applause. Arriving at the Park Barracks at ten, they were dismissed until dinner time, and were soon scattered about the city, viewing the sights of the metropolis. An incident, which occurred while they were in New York, is worthy of record, as it shows the substantial character of the men composing the regiment. Colonel Leonard was advised to keep his men within the Park, if he wanted to find them there when the hour for departure arrived. "No," said he; "I can trust every one of them; they may go where they please, and I guarantee that every one will be in his place, sober, at the appointed time." His words proved true. Ordered to the department of Harper's Ferry, they took passage by the Camden and Amboy Railroad, and, via Philadelphia and Harrisburg, arrived at Hagerstown, Maryland, August 1st. After resting here a day, they took up their line of march, and in twenty-two hours reached Pleasant Valley, two miles from Harper's Ferry, having, in that time, traversed twenty-six miles, over a mountainous country, and under a sultry sun. Two days after, they took the same road back fifteen miles, and then crossed the mountains, being ordered to Sharpsburg, to guard the fords on the Potomac in that vicinity. Companies D, F, G, and K, were stationed at headquarters in Sharpsburg. Compa. nies A and B were detailed to "Antietam Ford," four miles down the river; Companies E and H to the ford opposite Shepardstown, Va., and C and I up the river several miles. They remained thus on duty until August 21st. While opposite Shepardstown, Major Gould sent an expedition of sixty inen across the river by night, which passed through the town unobserved, to the residence of A. R. Boteler, previously a member of Congress, then an active secessionist, whom they arrested. He was brought over without resistance, but was afterwards released. While Boteler was a prisoner, about three hundred cavalry appeared on the opposite shore, and, firing a volley, retired to cover, behind some trees and underbrush. Major Gould, anticipating that they would cross the river, set his men to digging rifle-pits, and sent to Antietam Ford for reinforcements. On arriving, as the enemy had, to all appearances, retired, the reinforcements returned in time to hear a volley fired across the river, at Antietam Ford, by the same party of cavalry, and to see them retreat, followed by the bullets of their comrades, who had been left to guard the camp. August 21st, the regiment was gathered together at Sharpsburg, and started for Sandy Hook, opposite Harper's Ferry, arriving in the afternoon of the 23d, having traversed a round about road, bivouacking at Boonsboro' and Broad Run. They remained here until September 3, Companies I and K guarding at the river, the remainder of the regiment encamped on the plain, east of the Maryland Heights. Being ordered to General Banks's headquarters at Darnestown, the eight companies not on guard duty took passage on canal boats as far as Conrad's Ferry, then marched across the country sixteen miles, pitching their tents on the 5th of September at Darnestown, it having rained almost every hour during the journey. While at Darnestown, Company C was sent to Monocacy Junction, to search the trains passing that point, the other seven companies remaining at headquarters five weeks, during which time the men improved their leisure in decorating the streets of their camp with arches and rows of evergreen trees; each street having a name tastefully painted on a sign, the whole named "Hamilton Park," in compliment to Brigadier-General Hamilton, of whose brigade the Thirteenth formed a part. The camp attracted a great many visitors from the neighboring regiments, who pronounced it the neatest and pleasantest to be found in the army. October 10th, the seven companies were ordered to Williamsport, sixty miles distant, on the Upper Potomac. They arrived on the 14th, having bivouacked in the rain each night of the journey. On arriving here, Colonel Leonard was placed in command of the district between Harper's Ferry and Hancock, acting as Brigadier-General, with about three thousand five hundred troops under his command, including two pieces of the First Pennsylvania Artillery and a company of one hundred Pennsylvania cavalry. On the 18th, the three companies, C, I, and K, on detached duty at Harper's Ferry, took part with the Wisconsin regiment, and three companies of the Pennsylvania 28th (the whole force being under the command of Colonel Geary), in a fight near Bolivar, against a greatly superior force of the enemy, defeating them, and capturing a thirtytwo pound cannon. In this affair, Lieut. Jackson, in command of company C, displayed much skill and courage in the management of his men, who were deployed as skirmishers, receiving the commendation of Gov. Geary both on the field and by letter a few days after to the colonel at Williamsport. In this engagement privates Twichell and Stimpson, of Co. C, were severely wounded. October 31st, the three companies from Harper's Ferry rejoined the regiment. Companies I and K had been on duty at that place over ten weeks, during which time they had raised defensive works of a permanent character, under the superintendence of Major Gould and Captain Screiber. While at Harper's Ferry, Company I lost one of their men, private Spencer, who, while walking up between the canal and river with six others, was shot by a rebel picket, expiring instantly. November 25th, a messenger arrived from Hancock, twenty-seven miles above Wil. liamsport, asking for reinforcements, as six hundred rebels were encamped on, and occasionally firing from, the opposite shore. Companies A, B, E, and H, with one piece of artillery, were dispatched at once. Starting during the evening, they arrived the following afternoon at 3, but only to be disappointed. The field-piece reaching Hancock in advance, opened fire on the rebels, and the first shell, breaking in their midst, caused them to scatter and run in every direction for cover. On the arrival of the companies, not a rebel was to be seen. On the following day, Company E, that was stationed at Sir John's Run, four miles above Hancock, exchanged fire with a rebel force in ambush, across the river, in which affair private Cheney received a ball in the calf of his leg. December 7th, the rebels appeared on the Potomac, opposite Dam 5, for the purpose of destroying the dam, and thus stopping the canal navigation. Company C was dispatched from headquarters, and a lively exchange of rifle shots followed, during which private Kenney was severely but not fatally wounded, being pierced by three bullets, one of which went through both legs. The enemy being over a thousand strong, with three pieces of artillery, Companies G and I, and a Parrott gun from the First Pennsylvania Artillery, were sent up. Firing was kept up on both sides, for a number of days, when the enemy retired without being able to accomplish their object. A large stone mill, valued at $50,000, from which the rebels had fired during the daytime, was fired and destroyed in the night by a boat-load of men from the Thirteenth. From the foregoing sketch it will be seen that though the ranks of the Thirteenth have not been exposed in mass to the rebel fire, yet portions of it have been engaged in important skirmishes, those at Bolivar and Dam No. 5 being the principal ones. The duty of the regiment has been important and arduous. No regiment has probably done more marching, and it has been posted as guards along the bank of the Potomac for a distance of fifty miles, where only the most reliable and intelligent troops should be detailed. Its health has been most excellent, the deaths in seven months being but three, and its discipline complete. No court-martial has disturbed the equanimity of the camp, and an arrest for even minor offences is a remarkable event. And, withal, the officers are held by the men in the highest esteem, and regarded with the utmost confidence. Feb. 10, 1862, the regiment was in quarters near Williamsport; Company B on provost duty in the town. Colonel. Major...... Adjutant Quartermaster Surgeon... .... Field and Staff, 13th Reg. .SAMUEL H. LEONARD ...Boston. Chaplain...... ........NOAH M. GAYLORD Boston. ........ Boston. Assistant Surgeon.....J. THEODORE HEARD......Boston. Boston. Promoted to 2d Lieutenant, February 27, 1862. Hospital Steward ...... Cambridgeport. Band Master .........T. C. RICHARDSON.. Knapp F. W., Marlboro' MUSICIANS. Gassett F. W., Marlboro' Fuller J. B., Berlin Company A (Boston City Guard), Boston. - 13th Reg. The sketch of the 13th Regiment gives briefly an account of the recruiting and organizing of companies A, B, C, and D, which, previous to the organization of the regiment, were known as the 4th Battalion of Rifles. COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. Captain, JAMES A. FOX, Boston. 1st Lieut., SAMUEL N. NEAT, Boston. 2d Lieut., GEORGE BUSH, Boston, promoted 1st lieut. Co. B, Jan. 31, 1862. |