Tuesday, May 10, 1864
The Thirteenth New Hampshire was deployed as skirmishers during the two-day battle of Swift Creek. Union General Benjamin Butler's Army of the James advanced upon Petersburg, tearing up the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad from Chester Station to Swift Creek, and was beaten back by the Confederates.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), 263-74.
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Clash at Port Walthall
Sunday, May 8, 1864
The Thirteenth New Hampshire departed from their camp at Yorktown on Wednesday, May 4. At 4:00 PM the Thirteenth boarded the steamer "S. R. Spaulding" and sailed to Fortress Monroe. The next morning, at 7:00 A.M. on May 5, they entered the James River, arriving at Bermuda Hundred by early evening. After nightfall the Thirteenth New Hampshire disembarked and bivouacked at Bermuda Hundred. At 6:00 A.M. on May 6 the Thirteenth marched six miles to a spot near Petersburg, making evening camp three miles from Port Walthall and the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad. The next morning the Thirteenth New Hampshire exchanged fire with a South Carolina brigade led by Confederate General Johnson Hagood near Port Walthall. The Thirteenth lost only one man during the encounter. Today the Thirteenth rested while the army remained on alert. At 4:00 P.M. the Thirteenth received orders to march in the morning with three 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), 255-62.
The Thirteenth New Hampshire departed from their camp at Yorktown on Wednesday, May 4. At 4:00 PM the Thirteenth boarded the steamer "S. R. Spaulding" and sailed to Fortress Monroe. The next morning, at 7:00 A.M. on May 5, they entered the James River, arriving at Bermuda Hundred by early evening. After nightfall the Thirteenth New Hampshire disembarked and bivouacked at Bermuda Hundred. At 6:00 A.M. on May 6 the Thirteenth marched six miles to a spot near Petersburg, making evening camp three miles from Port Walthall and the Richmond and Petersburg Railroad. The next morning the Thirteenth New Hampshire exchanged fire with a South Carolina brigade led by Confederate General Johnson Hagood near Port Walthall. The Thirteenth lost only one man during the encounter. Today the Thirteenth rested while the army remained on alert. At 4:00 P.M. the Thirteenth received orders to march in the morning with three 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), 255-62.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Grant Organizes His Armies
Sunday, May 1, 1864
The Thirteenth New Hampshire remained in camp at Yorktown all week. Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant has reorganized the Union Army into three major wings: Grant's former command, the Army of the Southwest; the Army of the James, under Major General Benjamin Butler; and the Army of the Potomac, under Major General George Meade. The Thirteenth New Hampshire was in the Second Brigade of the First Division of the Eighteenth Corps of the Army of the James, under the command of Brigadier General Hiram Burnham. The Eighteenth Corps was commanded by Major General William Farrar Smith. The capture of Richmond was the objective of the Army of the James and the Army of the Potomac in Grant's Overland Campaign. Today the usual regimen of inspection and dress parade was suspended. At 5:00 P.M. the Thirteenth received orders for four days cooked rations and 100 rounds of ammunition per man, indicating an imminent departure for battle. Baggage for officers was reduced to one valise per two officers.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), 252-55.
The Thirteenth New Hampshire remained in camp at Yorktown all week. Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant has reorganized the Union Army into three major wings: Grant's former command, the Army of the Southwest; the Army of the James, under Major General Benjamin Butler; and the Army of the Potomac, under Major General George Meade. The Thirteenth New Hampshire was in the Second Brigade of the First Division of the Eighteenth Corps of the Army of the James, under the command of Brigadier General Hiram Burnham. The Eighteenth Corps was commanded by Major General William Farrar Smith. The capture of Richmond was the objective of the Army of the James and the Army of the Potomac in Grant's Overland Campaign. Today the usual regimen of inspection and dress parade was suspended. At 5:00 P.M. the Thirteenth received orders for four days cooked rations and 100 rounds of ammunition per man, indicating an imminent departure for battle. Baggage for officers was reduced to one valise per two officers.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), 252-55.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Departing from Camp Gilmore
Sunday, April 24, 1864
The departure from Camp Gilmore was delayed by one day to break down the camp and to begin a march on Tuesday morning. The Thirteenth New Hampshire had been stationed at Camp Gilmore for nearly one year. With a final cheer the Thirteenth bade farewell to Camp Gilmore on Tuesday, April 19, and embarked on the road to Portsmouth, where they boarded the steamer "Escort" en route to Newport News. After disembarking at Newport News the Thirteenth marched to Yorktown by way of Big Bethel and Lee’s Mills and made camp. On Saturday, for the first time in one year, the Thirteenth engaged in a brigade dress parade. Today the Thirteenth took part in the usual Sunday routine of inspection, dress parade, and religious services. They also received orders to cut down their baggage for marching to one suit and one set of underclothes. 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), 249-52.
The departure from Camp Gilmore was delayed by one day to break down the camp and to begin a march on Tuesday morning. The Thirteenth New Hampshire had been stationed at Camp Gilmore for nearly one year. With a final cheer the Thirteenth bade farewell to Camp Gilmore on Tuesday, April 19, and embarked on the road to Portsmouth, where they boarded the steamer "Escort" en route to Newport News. After disembarking at Newport News the Thirteenth marched to Yorktown by way of Big Bethel and Lee’s Mills and made camp. On Saturday, for the first time in one year, the Thirteenth engaged in a brigade dress parade. Today the Thirteenth took part in the usual Sunday routine of inspection, dress parade, and religious services. They also received orders to cut down their baggage for marching to one suit and one set of underclothes. 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), 249-52.
Thursday, April 17, 2014
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.
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.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Detachment for Duty around Camp Gilmore
Sunday, April 10, 1864
The Thirteenth New Hampshire endured another week of heavy rain at Camp Gilmore. Many of the Thirteenth had again detached for picket, guard, garrison, and provost duty in and around camp. Today the Thirteenth took part in the usual Sunday regimen of inspection, dress parade, and religious services. 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), 246.
The Thirteenth New Hampshire endured another week of heavy rain at Camp Gilmore. Many of the Thirteenth had again detached for picket, guard, garrison, and provost duty in and around camp. Today the Thirteenth took part in the usual Sunday regimen of inspection, dress parade, and religious services. 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), 246.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Colonel Stevens Returns for Service
Sunday, April 3, 1864
In the early part of the week heavy rain caused flooding at Camp Gilmore, with the wet weather postponing daily drills. At least one-hundred men from the Thirteenth New Hampshire were detached and sent to Portsmouth on provost guard duty. Colonel Aaron Stevens returned to Camp Gilmore on Friday, as he had been away from camp since December enlisting men for other New Hampshire regiments. General Ulysses S. Grant arrived in Norfolk by boat but did not make landing. This morning the Thirteenth lined up for inspection and in the evening engaged in a 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), 244-46.
In the early part of the week heavy rain caused flooding at Camp Gilmore, with the wet weather postponing daily drills. At least one-hundred men from the Thirteenth New Hampshire were detached and sent to Portsmouth on provost guard duty. Colonel Aaron Stevens returned to Camp Gilmore on Friday, as he had been away from camp since December enlisting men for other New Hampshire regiments. General Ulysses S. Grant arrived in Norfolk by boat but did not make landing. This morning the Thirteenth lined up for inspection and in the evening engaged in a 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), 244-46.
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