Friday, May 31, 2013

Rumors at Camp Bowers

Sunday, May 31, 1863

The Thirteenth New Hampshire spent their Sunday in the usual fashion, engaged in inspection, dress parade, and religious services. A rumor circulated through the camp that the Thirteenth New Hampshire would be mustered out on July 19th. 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), 163-65.

Friday, May 24, 2013

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), 161-63.

Friday, May 17, 2013

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 and recorded the sad event in his journal:
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.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Farewell to Suffolk

Thursday, May 14, 1863

At 9:00 A.M. the Thirteenth New Hampshire broke camp at Suffolk and marched 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.

Friday, May 10, 2013

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 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.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

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.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Aftermath of Battle

Monday, May 4, 1863

The Thirteenth New Hampshire Regiment rested in camp after their long day in battle on Sunday. Five soldiers of the Thirteenth who hid during the charge were publicly disciplined in camp. Praise for the bravery of the Thirteenth New Hampshire acclaimed by many officers in their division.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), 152-53.

Friday, May 3, 2013

"Your Son is Dangerously Wounded..."

Sunday, May 3, 1863

Surgeon Samuel A. Richardson of the Thirteenth New Hampshire drafted a letter to John S. Caverly, step-father of Nathaniel Caverly Jr. The letter read:

In the Field Near Suffolk Va.
Sabbath day, May 3rd, 1863

Mr. John S. Caverly.
Dear sir, It becomes my painful duty to write you that your Son is dangerously wounded ...

It is not likely that he will live long as his spine is injured by a musket shot.

I asked him if he had any friends to send word to ... & he said write to my father and tell him that "I die trusting in the Lord"

We then asked the Chaplain to pray for him and was sent immediately to the Methodist Church Hospital in Suffolk ...

You receive my deepest sympathy and yet I can but congratulate you that you have been the father of so noble a son who could die for his country blessing God.

I am Sir,
Very truly,
S. A. Richardson
Surgeon, 13th N.H. Reg.

[P.S.]We have had about 60 wounded in our division today. Capt. Buzzell Co. F. was shot dead1

References:
1Letter from Samuel A. Richardson to John S. Caverly, 3 May 1863, copy in possession of Carol Swaine-Kuzel.

Battle of Providence Church Road

Sunday, May 3, 1863

At 6:00 A.M .the Thirteenth New Hampshire regiment marches toward Suffolk with Colonel Aaron Stevens in command. At 9:00 A.M. the Thirteenth crosses the Nansemond River in support of the 89th New York, the 103rd New York, and the 25th New Jersey regiments. The Thirteenth New Hampshire takes position in a line of battle along a field near the ruins of Captain Nathaniel Pruden’s house. The Confederates formed a line in the woods nearly 500 yards across the field. At 1:00 P.M. the order to charge is given. The Thirteenth New Hampshire charges gallantly across the open fields into the woods. At about 1:15 P.M. the Confederates are in full retreat and the rifle pits are taken. The Thirteenth New Hampshire continued into the woods for nearly two hours. Rapid gunfire from sharpshooters exploded from the dense brush. Captain Lewis Buzzell of Company F and others were shot; Captain Buzzell was shot through the heart and died instantly. The Thirteenth New Hampshire retreated with their dead and wounded and reached camp at 10 P.M. The casualties for the Thirteenth New Hampshire were four killed and nineteen wounded, with the largest number of casualties occurring during the charge. Among the mortally wounded was Nathaniel Caverly Jr. The Thirteenth was wisely praised for their gallantry in their charge. General Longstreet withdrew from Suffolk later in the day and reached the main body of the Confederate Army on May 9.1

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), 139-52.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Orders to March

Saturday, May 2, 1863

The Thirteenth New Hampshire received orders to march at 3:00 A.M. on the following morning with two days rations.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), 138-39.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Camp along the Nansemond River

Friday, May 1, 1863

After spending most of their week reinforcing earthworks and rifle pits the Thirteenth New Hampshire formed a new camp along the Nansemond River. Upon forming camp the Thirteenth received badly-needed shelter tents and are ordered to send excess personal baggage home or to Fortress Monroe.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), 135-38.