HeadQuarters 2^nd Mass. Infy.

                                                                        Elk River R. R. Bridge Tenn. Dec. 11^th/63

 

Brig. Gen. Wm. Schouler

            Adjt. Genl. State of Massachusetts

 

                        Sir—

            The last annual report left this Regt. guarding the fords of the Potomac at Sharpsburg, Md. Capt. (Now Col.) Cogswell was then in command,—Col. George L. Andrews being at about that time promoted to be Brigadier General.

 

            The Dec. 12^th 1862 the Regt. broke camp and leaving comfortable Winter quarters behind, started on their march towards Fredericksburg Va. Crossing with the Corps (the 12^th) at Harpers ferry, the march was continued over frozen ground and through snow and mud, by way of Loudon Valley, Leesburg, Farifax C. H. and Station, to a / point three miles south of the Occoquan River on the Dumfries road which point are was reached Dec. 16^th after a march of 73 miles. After camping, orders were received to go back to Fairfax Station, about 8 miles, which place was reached Dec. 19^th and camped.

 

            At this Fairfax Station, with the exception of about 16 miles of travelling through the mud after the rebel cavalry under Stewart, whom it is needess to say, we failed to was not overhauled, we the regiment remained untill Jan. 19^th 1863. At which that date we again took the Dumfries road towards Stafford C. H.was again taken. The movement was particularly trying to our patience, as the men had occupied for a few days only an elaborated set of Winter Quarters cont built with much labor and pains of pine logs and arranged exactly according to Army regulations. The march was a trying severe one, the streams being swollen by rain which fell continuously during the march, the air being very cold and rations scant and the mud very deep and sticky. A part of this road, called in old times the “Sabonian Bog” is the worst known to the experience of the Regt.— / We Reached Stafford C. H. was reached Jan. 23d. Camped, built Winter Quarters were built for the third time and commenced the usual routine of picket, guard and fatique duty was commenced with drills and occasional reviews. March 6^th Col. Quincy joined the Regt. & took command, Capt. Cogswell having previously been promoted to be Lieut. Col. & Capt. C. R. Mudge to Major. Co’s B, E, & G, under command of Capt. C. F. Morse of this Regt. Acting Provost Marshal of the Corps, were camped at Corps Head Quarters about a mile from the Regt. and acted as Provost Guard of the Corps Command of Brig. Gen. Shouler until April 27^th when the whole army broke camp and started on the Chancellorsville campaign.

 

            Our The Corps, (the 12^th,) with the 5^th and 11^th forming the right wing of the Army marched up the North Bank of the Rapahannock to Kelleys Ford where we a crosseding was made on pontoons without serious opposition from the enemy. On the th march from Kelley’s ford to Germanna Ford on the Rapid Ann, the enemy’s cavalry were met in small force and driven on to the ford by the brigade which had the in advance in which was the 2^d Mass. On arriving near the bank of the river our the Regt. with the third Wisconsin, our old companions in arms, being deployed as skirmishers, succeeded after a / little maneuvering in capturing nearly all the enemy opposing force numbering about 100 men. Although the enemys cavalry were constantly on our its flank and there was some skirmishing we it reached Chancellorsville on the 30^th of April without anything of note occurring. May 1^st we it moved to U. S. Ford, and after some skirmishing and a pretty lively artillery fire we it was ordered to our its first position, having covered the Ford untill possession had been taken by our forces.

 

On May 2^nd the Corps? built a slight defence of logs and abattis and in the afternoon the [?] was ordered out towards the front to capture a wagon train, the enemy being reported in full retreat. The waggon train proving to be guarded by the large better part of the Rebel Army under Stonewall Jackson it was the our whole force was ordered to retire to our its first line, which movement was commenced. But the 11^th Corps, having left with the exception of the Brigade in which is the 33d Mass., having hastily left their position on our right under the influence of an aversion to for Stonewall Jackson it was found difficult to occupy the position ordered, / and night closing in the whole force lay in line of battle waiting for light. This proved a most harassing night. Several attempts were made to ascertain the position and strength of the enemy but it being dark they only resulted in confusion worse than the previous uncertainty and finally they were given up and with exception of occasional. Skirmishing and the explosion of a shells now and then, all remained quiet rendered the night a sleepless one.

 

            At day break the enemy advanced in three lines and the fight commenced in earnest. After fighting for an hour and half we the regiment cleared the space in our its front and found ourselves itself in possession of our the old intrenchments. But we it had fired 60 rounds of cartridges and had none left so we and the guns were very fierce. So after breaking three lines of the enemy (including a South Carolina regiment,) it could only stand and look at the new movements dispositions of the enemy and wait with what patience we could be commanded for ammunition or relief. Relief came at last and we the regiment were ordered to the rear. The rebel batteries had by this time opened on three sides with great fury and the line road to the rear was a trying / one. Thus far our The loss in officers had already been rather heavy. Lieut. Fitzgerald was mortally wounded and as he was being carried from the field was instantly killed by a shell; and Col. Cogswell, Capt. Grafton, Capt Torrey and Lieut. Perkins wounded. were severely wounded and Capt. Powers hit although able to but was able to keep kept the field until fighting was over. Reaching the vicinity of Chancellor House we the regiment halted, still without ammunition, and the Artillery fire kept increasing. [?] Two men in the same company had both legs taken off by a single solid shot. After much waiting we the regiment was finally ordered back out of the immediate fire and after being furnished with ammunition and having a short rest were ordered sent to the left which was then threatened. The thick woods were and underbrush were burning fiercely in many places and where the fires smouldered or were out being smothered the black dust and smoke were almost insupportable. It was a great relief to reach the bluffs near the river at the extreme left of the line and after throwing out pickets, rations coming up, we to fed and rested fine have found rest. May 6^th. Orders came late at night to / recross the river. The artillery having already left us. Strict orders were given to preserve silence. The orders about crossing were, however, countermanded and wet and cold we went into the regiment was [?] in the trenches again. Just before morning orders came again to cross, and after long delays we the men dragged wearily along to the river about three miles, expecting every minute to hear the whiz of shell or bullet notifying us that the enemy were pursuing. On the river bank another long delay occurred infantry and artillery were crowded together in the mud and only two little weak pontoons spanning spanned the rushing and swollen river. Finally across and then back After crossing started a march of twenty three miles back to Stafford C. H. to our the old camp was had, through rain and mud and swollen streams, but it was like going home out of a wilderness and nobody grumbled. reached The old camp was reached at night where and the roofless tents houses some of them never to know their old owners tenants again reminded one of going home to met a house after a the funeral ceremony of its owner.

 

P/         May 27^th a new camp was laid out and occupied a new camp near the old one. The weather continued became intensely hot. with more picket & guard, more drills, more reviews.

 

P/         Towards the last of May Col. / Quincy resigned. His health, shattered by wounds and imprisonment and the hardships of the active position of a Col. in the Field, needing requiring required temporary rest and easier service. This left Major Lieut. Col. Mudge was in command, and (Capt. C. F. Morse, [?] to be Major but had not yet joined)—when, on June 6^th, the 3d Wisconsin & 2^nd Mass. were ordered to start in light marching order, leaving sick and baggage behind, on a secret expedition. As we It was soon ascertained, that expedition it was was one to assist the Federal our Cavalry in attacking and checking an advance of an expedition, under Stewart, of the whole rebel caval force of cavalry and mounted infantry which was massed on the south of the Rappahannock near at near Beverly ford. Starting at nightfall in a heavy thunder storm, a the long first twenty four hours march found us the regiment thirty-six miles towards our its destination. Here we it met some of the picked detachments from other Corps and all came under command control of Genl. Ames who commanded the infantry of the expedition.

 

Another days march and night found / us only our forces separated from the enemy only by the river.

 

At day break on the 9^th we the regiment [?] the infan the troops crossed. The cavalry attacked with fury and were promptly supported by the infantry. For once the enemy was was surprised and although they they fought well, were driven back more than a mile where our forces waited, holding them them there enemy till a large flanking force sent out by a different route could come in on their rear. At two o’clock the guns of the flanking party were heard and soon after the rebel lines began to waver and then to fall back. They were followed for about two miles; and then where, all our forces being united and the object of the expedition fully accomplished, the troops fell back in good order to the north side of the river and the morning of the 10^th our the detachment marched back to Bealeton Station. The 2d and the 3 In that affair, a line of skirmishers (in which was the 2^d) had driven seven battalions of rebel cavalry. Co. D. of the 2^d Regiment, captured with a company of the 3^d Wisconsin, captured a force Co. D. of the 2^d Mass with a company of the 3^d Wisconsin as skirmishers attacked a superior force, and killed and captured more than their own number. Although owing to the skill with which the movement was directed the losses in the whole fight had not been very severe and amounting in this Regt. to only one killed and two wounded, still the result was most / important, as besides inspriting our force, engaged and mortifying  the enemy it checked essentially materially the plan for the hostile advance northward and covered the movements of our army on their way towards Fairfax. Our The Regt. lay at Bealeton till the 10^th when we it started to join our its Corps at Fairfax where we it arrived on the 16^th finding meeting there the men left behind with wagons, baggage &c. in charge of Maj. Morse, they having marched from Stafford C. H. by way of Dumfries.

On the 14^th it marched towards Leesburg which we was reached on the 18^th and took possession of some old rebel wor earthworks which we it commenced strengthening. On the 18 26^th it crossed the Potomac on pontoons and following river roads and the canal bank and countermarching some distance we passed through to finally arrived at Frederick and by way of Petersville on the 28^th. Here Genl. Meade previously known to us the army as the able commander of the 5^th Corps took command of the Army. /

 

The regt started for towards northward through Taney town and arrived at the village of “Two Taverns” on the 30^th 1^st July and went into bivouac. We were soon startled by Heavy and continuous firing in the direction of Gettysburg and soon startled the Corps, which was at once were ordered forward and went into took position about two miles south of the town, on the right. Skirmishers were thrown out. towards night the disposition of the regt. was somewhat changed. On the morning of the 2^nd after some skirmishing, another change was made and breastworks of logs were thrown up on the bank of a deep stream in the woods. At night When, in the afternoon, heavy firing commenced on the left and towards night we the regiment (with the [?]) were ordered to leave our the works and go the to the [?] left of that wing. Arriving on there left the command was exposed to a heavy artillery fire but reached took its new position without loss. Scarcely were the arran was the movement completed when the enemy being repulsed and it being dark, we the [?] were ordered back / to our its log defences again.

 

Arriving near their position, circumstances lead Lt. Col. Maj. Mudge to fear that the enemy had occupied the ground during our absence and Co. F. was sent in as skirmishers to ascertain the state of the case. Meanwhile the Regt. was promptly placed in line of battle at right angles to our its old line in the edge of the woods on the opposite side of the meadow from where the enemy might be expected. The night was dark, with an occasional gleam of moonlight, and with exception of occasional dropping shots from distant pickets all was still as death. The skirmishers soon reported a rebel line of battle at about 400 yds. distance in the woods, which they had not only got into our works but had formed their line directly across them several prisoners were brought out to confirm this statement. Maj. Mudge not fully satisfied that such could be the case withdrew the first Company and sent in another with orders to put go forward till they met the enemy. This was at once done. /

 

The Company advanced to within ten feet of the enemy captured about 20 prisoners drew their fire and returned to the edge of the wood with a loss of only two men wounded and two taken prisoner. It having been ascertained without a doubt that the enemy were in position and in force the new line was protected by rails and logs as far as possible, skirmishers were pushed well forward, and daylight was anxiously wai to waited for. The time was improved by posting two batteries of Parrott and Napoleon guns to command the wood, and at daylight they opened a tremendo rapid fire which was kept up for over an hour. But although severe it failed to dislodge the enemy who still held their position favored by the nature of the ground which was steep and rocky and covered with dense woods. the The battery ceased firing and by this time the action had commenced in other parts of the field. At about The fire of the sharpshooters posted in trees on the other side of the meadows was very close and annoying. /

 

At about                                  orders were given our the 2^d Regt. and one other to advance across the open meadow and occupy take the position of the enemy. It seemed certain destruction but it was such were orders. Maj. Mudge issued gave the orders command “rise up, over the breast works, forward, double quick.” With a cheer and a yell with bayonets unfixed without firing a shot the line advanced as rapidly as the wet swampy ground would allow. Maj. Mudge fell dead in the centre. three Three color bearers were shot in going two hundred yards. But the colors kept on into the enemy’s line over the breast work and we the regiment held the old line. But it can’t be held long and from behind every tree and rock above us the rebel fire is poured in. Another color bearer is shot dead, waving the colors, the Regt. on our the right pulls back in disorder. ten Ten of our the officers of the 2^d are killed or wounded and a Regt. of the enemy have nearly got round our is flanking it gaining its rear. Maj. Morse gives the order orders came [?] to pull back and slowly and sullenly the Regt. returned to the other side of the meadow and taking position behind / a ruined stone wall opened fire on the enemy wherever they showed themselves in the open ground.

P/         In that advance of about 400 yds. and in about twenty minutes time the 2^d we had lost out of 293 men and               officers 22 killed and 112 wounded.

 

Soon after this attack we the regiment filed into our its works and lay there on our its arms. As soon as we it were driven from had left the woods, the artillery opened again with good effect and after sev at the same time an attack was made on the enemy by a part of the 2^nd Div. on their flank and rear and after seven hours of hard infantry fighting including the time we the 2^d had been engaged, and was the rebels were driven from the works, and at about three o’clock we the regiment occupied the position already covered by our its dead and wounded. The wounded latter were at once cared for and the dead former brought off some from under the fire of sharp shooters and others under the cover of the night.

 

During the night we it lay in the works constantly wakened by skirmishing fire and volleys of musketry but in the morning / the enemy had disappeared and we were Ordered on a reconnaissance outside our the lines which the regiment adv movement of the 2d only served to establish the fact of the rebel retreat.

 

The fourth of July was employed in burying the dead and caring for the wounded and on the 5^th we it started in pursuit of the enemy by way the same route that we it had advanced. of advance.

On the 10^th of July, we it crossed the old Antietam battle ground every step reminded us of that stubborn fight. Marching on to the neighborhood of Williamsport where we it lay four days having thrown up breastworks. At this point Col. Cogswell having arrived nearly recovered from his wound took command. On the 15^th, advancing we it advanced [?] found the strong rebel works were found deserted with the exception of by their rear guard, who were attacked and dispersed and many prisoners taken by our advance of cavalry. On the same day we started back to cross the Potomac in pursuit was commenced and on the 16^th camped in Pleasant valley was reentered. On the 19^th we crossed the Potomac was crossed at Harpers Ferry, and marching through Loudon Valley by way of                  and Thoroughfare Gap Warrenton Junction was arrived at on the 26^th of July. /

 

Here Col. Morse left us with Capts. George & Sawyer they being detailed to bring conscripts to the Regt. some of which, however, were sent drafted but not sent.

 

Marching from Warrenton Junction we arrived At Kelleys Ford on the Rappahannock July 31^st. On the 1^st of Aug. we the regiment crossed the river with the Division to support the our cavalry advance After some skirmishing we it took position about two miles from the river which we they held till the night of but one day when we recrossed when the regiment recrossed and went into camp near the ford.

P/         We The regiment lay here until Aug. 16^th, when, turning in waggons & camp and garrison equipage we it marched to Rapahannock Station and took the cars for Alexandria. On the 19^th, we went on board the transport Merrimac; and sailed for New York City; where we arrived on the 22^nd; and were quartered in the City Hall Park Barracks our purpose being to help enforce the laws against Northern rebels. Northern rebels being less formidable than Southern ones as far as courage is concerned the work was not very dangerous.

 

On the 5^th of Sept. we the regiment was suddenly ordered on board a transport again and sailed for Alexandria where we it arrived on the 9^th. On the 10^th we it started for marched towards Kelleys Ford which we it reached on the 13^th. On the 16^th we it crossed the Rappahannock / at Kelleys ford and arrived at Raccoon ford on the Rapid Ann where we it went into bivouac and afterwards into camp under the guns of the enemy’s batteries, who fortunately did not molest us except by occasional firing of infantry and artillery on our the pickets.

 

On the 24^th we the regiment marched to Brandy Station on the Orange and Alexandria R. R.; from there we marched thence to Bealton Station, where we it arrived on the 26^th. On the 27^th the Regt. it was loaded into freight cars and started for the West to reinforce Gen Rosecrans. Going by way of Alexandria, Relay House, Baltimore & Ohio R. R., through Columbus Ohio, Indianapolis, Ind., Louisville Kentucky and Nashville Tenn. we it arrived Oct. 4^th at Stevenson Ala. having been out of the cars but three times since leaving the Army of the Potomac and having travelled 1178 miles by rail.

 

            After travelling up and down the R. R. from Stevenson to Nashville Murfreesboro Christian and from Murfreesboro Christian to Stevenson by on foot and by rail we the regiment finally settled, if my military position can / be termed final, at Elk River R. R. Bridge Tenn. where we it remains at this date, occup defending a part of

 

            I have the honor to enclose a tabular statement of losses in different actions and also of the marches made during the past year.

 

                                                Yours &c—

 

great importance to the communications of the army

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