Answering the "Long Roll" Call to Arms

Sunday, April 17, 1864

On Tuesday at 11:00 P.M. the Thirteenth New Hampshire responded to the "Long Roll," a call to arms or to battle, by marching from Camp Gilmore to Suffolk and lying on their arms all night. On Wednesday the Thirteenth deployed pickets at Suffolk and on Thursday marched along the Nansemond River to their old camp of May 1863 at Jericho Creek. Early Friday morning the Thirteenth boarded railroad cars for the return to Camp Gilmore. The event was designated a reconnaissance for cavalry with support of the infantry. Today the true reason for the reconnaissance was revealed, as the Thirteenth received orders to march in the morning with three-days rations for the beginning of the Spring Campaign of 1864. 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), 247-49.

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.

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.

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.

Back to the Nansemond River

Sunday, April 26, 1863

In the morning the Thirteenth New Hampshire engaged in inspection and dress parade in camp. Later in the day the regiment attended religious services. At 9:00 P.M. General John Peck ordered the Thirteenth back to the Nansemond River, where they spent the entire evening digging rifle pits.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), 134-36.

Thirteenth Returns to Camp in Suffolk

Wednesday, April 22, 1863

The Thirteenth New Hampshire returned to their former camp near Suffolk, ending thirteen days and twelve nights of constant picket duty in rifle pits along the Nansemond River. The strains of picket duty for nearly two weeks necessitated rest for the regiment. The Thirteenth New Hampshire received news of transfer to General Edward Harland's brigade.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), 131-34.