Sunday, July 31, 1864
The Thirteenth New Hampshire spent another hot day in the front rifle trenches approximately five-hundred feet from the crate of the mine explosion the day before. The Union raised a flag of truce to bury their dead but the Confederates were slow to respond. In the evening the Thirteenth is relieved by the Sixth New Hampshire and returns to the camp at the rear lines, with many of the dead and wounded still on the field of battle around the crater. 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), 434.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Battle of the Crater
Saturday, July 30, 1864
The Thirteenth New Hampshire arrived at their new position in the rear of the Ninth Corps as support at 3:00 A.M. A mine underneath the Confederate position exploded at 4:40 A.M., leaving a wide crater, and the Ninth Corps charged into the thirty-foot deep crater to overtake the Confederates. The Eighteenth Corps remained along the front lines in support. The attack ended in massive failure for the Union, as the Confederates charged to the defense of their men by lining along the rim of the gaping hole and firing into the men of the Ninth Corps inside the crater. Massive losses from death or capture for the Ninth Corps were the tragic result of the catastrophic episode. Casualties mounted to nearly 5,000 for the Union and 1,000 for the Confederacy. 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), 431-432.
The Thirteenth New Hampshire arrived at their new position in the rear of the Ninth Corps as support at 3:00 A.M. A mine underneath the Confederate position exploded at 4:40 A.M., leaving a wide crater, and the Ninth Corps charged into the thirty-foot deep crater to overtake the Confederates. The Eighteenth Corps remained along the front lines in support. The attack ended in massive failure for the Union, as the Confederates charged to the defense of their men by lining along the rim of the gaping hole and firing into the men of the Ninth Corps inside the crater. Massive losses from death or capture for the Ninth Corps were the tragic result of the catastrophic episode. Casualties mounted to nearly 5,000 for the Union and 1,000 for the Confederacy. 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), 431-432.
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Orders to March
Friday, July 29, 1864
After remaining primarily in the rear trenches for most of the week the Thirteenth New Hampshire is ordered to march with the Eighteenth Corps at nightfall with two days rations. Their destination is to the rear of the Ninth Corps, about four miles away from their 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), 430-431.
After remaining primarily in the rear trenches for most of the week the Thirteenth New Hampshire is ordered to march with the Eighteenth Corps at nightfall with two days rations. Their destination is to the rear of the Ninth Corps, about four miles away from their 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), 430-431.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Rain and Shelling at Camp
Sunday, July 24, 1864
After heavy rain on Tuesday the Thirteenth New Hampshire returned to the front rifle pits on Wednesday to repair the damage created by the rainfall. Once again the Thirteenth was subjected to heavy artillery and picket fire and returned to camp in the rear lines on Saturday evening. In the earlier hours this morning the camp experienced some of the heaviest shelling received to date. During the day the Thirteenth experienced some relief from the heat with cooler temperatures and rain in the evening. 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), 427-429.
After heavy rain on Tuesday the Thirteenth New Hampshire returned to the front rifle pits on Wednesday to repair the damage created by the rainfall. Once again the Thirteenth was subjected to heavy artillery and picket fire and returned to camp in the rear lines on Saturday evening. In the earlier hours this morning the camp experienced some of the heaviest shelling received to date. During the day the Thirteenth experienced some relief from the heat with cooler temperatures and rain in the evening. 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), 427-429.
Thursday, July 17, 2014
Intensely Hot Weather at the Front
Sunday, July 17, 1864
The Thirteenth New Hampshire Regiment endured another grueling week of blistering temperatures in the front rifle trenches. This evening the Thirteenth received their relief by men of the Third Brigade and retired safely to camp in the rear lines 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), 425-427.
The Thirteenth New Hampshire Regiment endured another grueling week of blistering temperatures in the front rifle trenches. This evening the Thirteenth received their relief by men of the Third Brigade and retired safely to camp in the rear lines 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), 425-427.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Worn Down in the Trenches
Sunday, July 10, 1864
The Thirteenth New Hampshire Regiment endured another intensely hot and dangerous week mainly in the front rifle trenches along the Appomattox River. In the advanced position on the front the Thirteenth New Hampshire had been subjected to rifle, artillery, and mortar fire, requiring the utmost vigilance. At this time the Thirteenth New Hampshire was able to muster only one-hundred and fifty men that were fit for duty. 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), 423-425.
The Thirteenth New Hampshire Regiment endured another intensely hot and dangerous week mainly in the front rifle trenches along the Appomattox River. In the advanced position on the front the Thirteenth New Hampshire had been subjected to rifle, artillery, and mortar fire, requiring the utmost vigilance. At this time the Thirteenth New Hampshire was able to muster only one-hundred and fifty men that were fit for duty. 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), 423-425.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Report from the Front Lines
Sunday, July 3, 1864
The Thirteenth New Hampshire endured an intensely hot week in the trenches along the Appomattox River. On Thursday the Confederates shelled their position for nearly an hour with forty to fifty rounds of artillery per minute, and the Thirteenth was lucky to report only one minor injury from the barrage. During the week it was noted that the Army of the James had suffered casualties of 6,903 men killed, wounded, and missing since May 4, and that the Army of the Potomac had suffered 61,400 casualties for the same period. Today the Thirteenth moved along the left of the line to a temporary position halfway between Battery Five and Petersburg.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), 419-423.
The Thirteenth New Hampshire endured an intensely hot week in the trenches along the Appomattox River. On Thursday the Confederates shelled their position for nearly an hour with forty to fifty rounds of artillery per minute, and the Thirteenth was lucky to report only one minor injury from the barrage. During the week it was noted that the Army of the James had suffered casualties of 6,903 men killed, wounded, and missing since May 4, and that the Army of the Potomac had suffered 61,400 casualties for the same period. Today the Thirteenth moved along the left of the line to a temporary position halfway between Battery Five and Petersburg.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), 419-423.
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