Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- units:21st_massachusetts_primary_sources [2019/06/10 14:20]
admin
+++ units:21st_massachusetts_primary_sources [2019/07/02 12:47] (current)
admin
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[units:21st Massachusetts Infantry|Back to 21st Massachusetts Infantry]]
+----
+Annapolas Junction\\
+Aug 30th, 1861
+Dear Berdille
+Since I last wrote
+we have pitched our moving
+tents one days march - farther
+from home. Rather unexpectedly
+we recd orders to move to the seat
+of war.  It is understood the
+the Col. went down to Gen Dixs
+quarters at Ft McHenry and
+represented to him that we were
+hardly in condition yet for active
+service and so wee were sent
+to take the place of
+a Penn. Reg. That was quartered
+partly here and party at the
+Naval Academy at Annapolis
+The Ashburnham Spring field
+expenses & our Company
+are here under command
+of Capt Walker of Ashburnham
+our duty is to keep watch of
+the Railroad and all the
+roads that crow it within ten
+miles toward Washington and
+three the other way.  Those corp-
+orals and 33 men were detailed
+From our Co and I presume
+the other Cos as the same.  The people have a holy honor of the
+Massachusetts men.  The men
+that were here report that the
+people with whom they have come
+in contact expressed to them
+their respect that they were to
+leave as they were afraid that
+Mass. Men would be substituted
+the proportion of secessionist
+in many secesh to one union.
+If the men like the business
+and do it to the satisfaction
+of all concerned I don't know
+when we shall see them again.
+The men that were here had
+Not seen some of those first
+sent out though they had been
+here four weeks. The Sergeant
+goes out everyday with the
+rations and if any one wishes
+to change he has the privelege
+of doing so and some one is
+sent in his place. I didn't
+happen to be detailed for
+which I don't know whether
+I am glad or sorry. They
+stop every body that passes
+an search till they are
+satisfied even to unrolling
+the stocking in his valise.
+The Company that left today
+got goods of the value of $800.
+in one hand, and have got
+near $2000 worth since they
+have been here.  There is a
+rumor about the camp this
+P. M that we are to move again
+soon. Whether true or not
+I can't tell.  If we move
+I shall give you earliest
+information of the same.
+I don't know and better
+way than to direct letters
+to the last place you know
+of our being and they will follow.  It seems to me that it
+is about time for one for me
+to catch me.  Of course I look
+to you among you to write
+often.
+Saturday morn.  I didn't get
+time to finish this last evening
+so take an hour before breakfast.
+We had an alarm in the night.
+Some one of the guard round the
+encampment saw or dreamed something suspicious and fired on it
+and those near him instead of
+passing along the watchword as
+they should, they discharged their
+pieces.  The word of alarm is Boston
+and in case of trouble the guard
+should shout that and every soldier
+should repeat the word and rush
+for his quarters. The Companies
+all came on a line at the alarm
+but it proved that these was nothing
+at all the matter and we went back
+to bed.  This is decidedly the most
+shake ground that we have been on
+secession without and Irish within
+I presume I shall be on guard
+today & tonight and will have
+to look out for more things than
+I have even had to.  I only wish
+we had one do the better disciplined
+Companies instead of one that is
+here which is of that sort of material that can't learn anything
+and can't be relied on for what
+they know.  Most of our Co. can
+be relied on as can the Ashburnham.
+The other two are of another sort.
+Sereno has been appointed an
+Corporal in place of Bryant who
+goes as waggoner.  He has just come
+in to the tent with some braid
+with which to put on the stripes
+as is going to sew it on himself.
+So you know that Lydia Ann
+Gates did that job for us at Worcester?  I write to Lenny to send
+with this and think I will direct
+It to him.  I think I am getting
+toughened by the knocking round
+we get. I can sleep on the ground
+or on bare boards and don't see
+but I rest as well as in a bed.
+Not but that I would rather if I
+could creep into the old nest
+after the days [...]
+here with all the inconveniences
+and hardships hasnt affect me
+a bit. We are in a very pleasant
+situation so far as a good ground
+is concerned.
+I have no time for more this morn.
+God bless and keep you all is
+the prayer of yours
+Wyman
+Letter of E. Wyman Stone\\
+Gilder-Lehrman Collection, 2182.
 ----
@@ Line 90: / Line 246: @@
 FROM THE TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT. Troops for the rent of war continue to pass this point in large numbers daily, with trains of horses, cattle, and quartermaster’s stores for the army of the Potomac. Within the last four days some 12,000 soldiers have been transported from Washington through this place for the port of Annapolis, whore a large expedition is now fitting out for service down the coast, said to be part of the force of Gen. Sherman, It is useless to inquire its destination. No one knows—at least no one connected with the division—at present. Some say it is destined for New Orleans, and some for Charleston, but if I might presume to guess, I should say Fortress Monroe. With the division I notice regiments from Maine, New Hampshire, New York, Michigan and Connecticut, all equally in the dark as to the place of their departure Yesterday a large number of officers parsed on to join the expedition, among whom I noticed many belonging to the force detailed for signal duty.
-So we may be prepared for some now demonstration against the stronghold of the enemy, I under- stand some 400 more will pass to day and tomorrow. Often the trains bound South hold up at the depot to allow the Annapolis trains to pass, and it occasionally happens that regiments from the same state thus meet, bound in opposite directions, without either being able to give the de[..]d information as to their destination, though each one has a theory of his own, At any rate, Government so fur has kept its own secret.
+So we may be prepared for some now demonstration against the stronghold of the enemy, I under- stand some 400 more will pass to day and tomorrow. Often the trains bound South hold up at the depot to allow the Annapolis trains to pass, and it occasionally happens that regiments from the same state thus meet, bound in opposite directions, without either being able to give the de[..]d information as to their destination, though each one has a theory of his own, At any rate, Government so for has kept its own secret.
 Our regiment has lost one more from own number by accidental death. Lieut. Stoddard of Co. F, from Upton, was shot by one of his own guard on Monday night of lust week. It is said he failed to give the countersign, when halted by the sentinel three times, and oven attempted to push by without informing the sentry who he was, The night was dark, and the soldier, by the name of H. C. Wester, discharged his gun, as was his duty, causing the death of the other in the course of two hours. A court of Inquiry was called, which resulted in his acquittal or honorable discharge. the suffering Lieutenant received every attention from the members of his command, with whom he was very popular, and from Doctor Warren, our regimental Surgeon, but he was past medical aid, and he died, retaining to the last his senses, forgiving and exonerating him by whose hand he fell.
@@ Line 142: / Line 298: @@
-<figure label>
+----
-{{:{{ :21st_mass_inf:boston_evening_transcript_-_nov_05_1861.jpg?400 |img}}
-<caption>boston_evening_transcript_-_nov_05_1861</caption>
-</figure>
-<figure label>
+//Boston Evening Transcript//, November 5, 1861
-{{:{{ :21st_mass_inf:rutland_herald_11_21_1861_1.png?400 |img}}
-<caption>rutland_herald_11_21_1861</caption>
+st MASS REGIMENT, ANNAPOLIS JUNCTION,\\
-</figure>
+Saturday noon, Nov 2. 1861.
+Editor of the Transcript Your paper (as well as many others) has reported that our regiment was with the naval expedition, which report has caused much uneasiness among the anxious ones at home, and many letters from those who have loved ones in our ranks. Such is not the case. Our Col. Morse commanded the post at the naval school, from which the expedition started, and had much to do with its preparation, but for some reason we were not allowed to join in its departure.
+For the last twenty-four hours a violent storm, with very high wind from the southeast, has raged and will continues to, and much I fear it may retard, if not more seriously interfere, with the landing of our forces on the southern coast.
+An extra train passed here this morning from Washington, with Gen Scott on board, bound for Baltimore and the North It is said that many from the Southern army have returned to Baltimore to take part in the election, which takes place next Wednesday, and it is the determination of the Union men to arrest them Two of our companies have been sent down into one of the Southern counties of this State, to keep order there until after election. Another portion of one of our companies, under Capt Richardson, has charge at the depot in Baltimore, and it seems to be the determination of the Government as well as the Corporation, to retain him there. Captain R being an old railroad man, his services are indispensible to both. The balance of our regiment is stationed at Annapolis, at this junction, and along the twenty miles of this railroad. I am indeed glad to see by your paper that efforts are being made by patriotic men in Boston in behalf of Capt Putnam, who so nobly sustained himself in the battle of Ball's Bluff. It is indeed a noble object for a noble man — for he almost unaided and alone commenced raising his company, when volunteer enlistment was very dull in our city. At that time the writer of this, in company with Captain P, visited a number of merchants on Contral wharf, who liberally supplied him, and he was thus enabled to complete his command Nobly indeed has friend Putnam repaid their generosity with his blood, and I little thought that morning when I parted with him, he so elated with his success, that although I was the first on the field, ho would be the first to suffer.
+Those vessels blockaded by the rebel guns from ascending the Potomac, have since passed round to Baltimore, where they have been discharged and their contents transported to Washington General Van Vliet, of the Quartermaster's Department, having visited Baltimore, and inspected the accommodations of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, pronounced their facilities for the speedy trans-shipment of freight sufficient to answer the demands of the War Department At the railroad wharf they can discharge at the same time the some ten or twelve vessels, while the rail is enabled to transport two hundred cars per day. So that the loss of the navigation of the Potomac will be by this means much lessened, and the opening of the main branch of the Baltimore and Ohio road (which we hope soon to be enabled to report) will more than compensate for that water transit Of this great road to the West—"the home of plenty to the city of Baltimore"—I understand that about twenty miles of the road are to be rebuilt, with ten or twelve very costly bridges, which the hand of rebellion has destroyed, and the Company have now on hand more than one hundred locomotives and two thousand freight cant, Yours, truly,\\
+BOSTON
+{{ :21st_mass_inf:boston_evening_transcript_-_nov_05_1861.jpg?linkonly|}}
+----
+//Rutland Herald//, November 21, 1861
+FROM A VERMONTER AT ANNAPOLIS.
+Annapolis Junction, Nov. 11,
+Editor Herald:-—Since writing you last, have been moved from Annapolis city to this place, which is about twenty miles from the Naval Academy,—but this morning we have orders to return to the city, the 10th Maine regiment taking our place, and the 60th N. Y. regiment taking their place at the Relay House.
+There are now several thousand troops at Annapolis preparing to go in the expedition, now forming under the command of Gen. Burnside, and it is whispered among the men that the 21st Massachusetts regiment goes with them, but I think rather doubtful, as our Col. has accepted the command of the Naval Academy until Spring. The men are rather fast to go, but I for one had rather not go until we have different guns, the guns we now use being the Springfield muskets, such as the 15th Mass. regiment, had at the battle of Ball's Bluff. Our, Lieutenant Col. Maggie, is doing the best he can to get them, but if we are to stay here we shall probably keep these muskets.
+We have been kept up two nights with our guns loaded expecting an attack from the rebels who went to Baltimore to the election, and now want to get back to the other side of the Potomac to go into their companies. They were allowed to come over to vote and are not allowed to go back, but the Union troops were allowed to come and vote and they returned to their stations the next day. The Union men have caged several of them and they are now in durance vile.
+This county (Anna Arandel) has gone Union by a large majority. Considerable money changed hands here on election day. There was also a great deal of whiskey drank by the voters, consequently some swearing and bullying by the Peace Party men. Long trains of cars pass here daily. I saw one train of 45 cars all loaded with oats. Nine passenerger trains pass daily with from ten to fifteen passenger cars on each train, and nearly every train heavily loaded.
+I find, that in about every regiment passing here there are some of the Vermont boys, no matter where the regiments are from. VERMONT.
+{{ :21st_mass_inf:rutland_herald_11_21_1861_1.png?linkonly|}}
+----
+//Rutland Herald//, November 21, 1861
+FROM ANNAPOLIS.
+NAVAL ACADEMY,\\
+Annapolis, Md., Nov. 14th.
+Editor of the Rutland Herald:\\
+the news received last night was of the most cheering kind. The report made to Col. Agustus Morse, commander at this post, was to the effect that the fleet had succeeded in all their undertakings, and there was a general rejoicing among the inhabitants and soldiers in this section. Our Band played Yankee Doodle, the Star Spangled Banner, and other pieces of a similar kind.
+The statement in the Northern papers that our regiment (the Mass. 21sth.) had gone with the expedition, is not correct. We have been here at Annapolis for nearly three months, and I think we shall stay here until the first of April, at least that is the talk now among the officers of our regiment. We have had some guard guard duty to do since we came here.
+There is considerable responsibility resting on the commander of this post. If the rebels could get possession of this place and the Junction, they would cut off all communication between the North and South, for the reasons that the Potomac is blockaded. Many of our men are sick on account of having such severe and laborious work to do when we were at the Junction (company A,) we were up night and day for a long time but now they have relieved us and the Michigan first regiment are there, and we only guard from this place to the Junction.
+The expedition now forming at this place bids fair to be as large as the one sent before it. There are several thousand troops at this place ready to start as soon as the government get the vessels here. I should judge that they had forty thousand boxes of hard bread here now.
+Our sick in the hospital are improving.\\
+Yours truly, E. R. R.
+{{ :21st_mass_inf:rutland_herald_11_21_1861_2.png?linkonly|}}
+----
-<figure label>
-{{:{{ :21st_mass_inf:rutland_herald_11_21_1861_2.png?400 |img}}
-<caption>rutland_herald_11_21_1861</caption>
-</figure>
 <figure label>

Howard County, MD in the Civil War

User Tools

Site Tools

Differences

Page Tools