First Week at Camp Bowers

Sunday, May 24, 1863

The Thirteenth New Hampshire spent their first week at Camp Bowers hard at work digging entrenchments in and around on Fort Rodman. The weather had become exceedingly hot and the men needed to work either early in the morning from 5:00 to 11:00 A.M. or in the late afternoon from 3:00 to 7:30 PM. The Thirteenth spent their Sunday in their usual fashion at religious services, inspection, and dress parade. ¹

References:
¹S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 161-163.

Settling in at Camp Bowers

Sunday, May 17, 1863

After the usual Sunday regimental inspection the Thirteenth New Hampshire is ordered to move four miles into a pine grove, forming a new camp nicknamed Camp Bowers. Camp Bowers was strategically located at a position where the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad met three roadways. Upon forming camp the Thirteenth immediately began work on a new fort named Fort Rodman.¹

References:
¹S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 161.

Funeral of Captain Lewis Buzzell in Barrington

Sunday, May 17, 1863

Nearly one-thousand people attended the funeral of Captain Lewis Buzzell at 2:00 P.M. in Barrington, New Hampshire. Freewill Baptist Minister Enoch Hayes Place officiated at the funeral. Below is an excerpt from Reverend Place's journal concerning the funeral:

The procession led by the Strafford Guards was nearly one mile in extent. He was interred in his father’s cemetery, and three volleys discharged by the guards over the grave ... [Captain Buzzell's sword] lay on his coffin, with his bible and hymn book, coffin plate, and two miniatures of the deceased. The coffin was shrouded in a flag of the glorious Union. ¹

References:
¹William E. Wentworth, Journals of Enoch Hayes Place, 2 vols. (Boston, Massachusetts: New England Historic and Genealogical Society and New Hampshire Society of Genealogists, 1998), 2:1615.

Farewell to Suffolk

Thursday, May 14, 1863

At 9:00 A.M. the Thirteenth New Hampshire broke camp at Suffolk and marchee nine miles east along the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad to Bowers Hill.¹

References:
¹S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 159.

Captain Buzzell Sent Home For Burial

Sunday, May 10, 1863

The body of Captain Lewis Buzzell of Company F was disinterred and embalmed for transport for a funeral and burial in his home town of Barrington, New Hampshire. The regimental band played for the procession as it moved to the railroad station nearly three miles from camp.¹

References:
¹S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 157.

Nathaniel's Story - In Memorium

Tuesday, May 5, 1863

Nathaniel Caverly Jr. died from wounds received on May 3. He was originally interred at Suffolk but in 1866 was re-interred at Hampton National Cemetery.¹

References:
¹Compiled service record, Nathaniel Caverly, Pvt., Co. F, 13th New Hampshire Infantry; Carded Records, Volunteer Organizations, Civil War; Records of the Adjutant General's Office, 1780s-1917, Record Group 94; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Burial of Captain Lewis Buzzell

Tuesday, May 5, 1863

Captain Lewis Buzzell of Company F was buried by his men in the woods near camp in Suffolk. He was held in high esteem by his regiment and would be greatly missed.¹

References:
¹S. Millett Thompson, Thirteenth Regiment of New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry in the War of the Rebellion, 1861-1865 : A Diary Covering Three Years and a Day (Boston, Massachusetts: Houghton, Mifflin and Company, 1888), 153, 157.