LETTER FROM THE 32D MASS[ACHUSETTS] REG[IMEN]T.

Co. D, 32d Mass[achusetts].,

WELDON RAILROAD, Va.,

Sept. 12th, 1864.

MR EDITOR:—Everything in this part of the army remains quiet, though on our right the Second Corps keep up artillery and infantry firing. Early on Saturday morning [September 10, 1864] they made a dash on the rebel picket line in their front, capturing the line, taking about two hundred prisoners. They still hold the line, the rebels having established another nearer their works.¹

There was quite a rejoicing last week among the troops over the fall of Atlanta and Fort Morgan. What do our friends (?) across the water, and the Copperheads at the North, think of the war now? They will think soon that it is a one-sided affair, if the union armies are to gain all the victories, as we hope they will. If the North will only send us enough of the thing needful, men, we will make the Fall campaign a successful one. Gen. [Ulysses S.] Grant, with the help of the North, is just the man to give the Rebellion its death blow.

It is reported that there is to be another desperate battle fought soon for the possession of this railroad. Deserters report that Gen. [Robert E.] Lee is massing his troops on our left, at Reams Station. All is, if Mr. Lee should attempt to drive us from our position he must bide the consequences. If he could not drive us when we first took it, how much more difficult now that we are so well entrenched. Our army is gaining strength every day by the arrival of recruits, and convalescents from the hospital.²

Last Saturday [September 10, 1864] we were visited by Mr. George Fox, formerly of Gloucester, who is working for the government. He belongs to what is called the Destruction corps. Construction corps would be quite as appropriate, as they have been at work the last ten days in building a railroad from City Point, [to] Gen. [Gouverneur K.] Warren’s Headquarters, on the extreme left of the army. The track runs along just in the rear of our works, in front of Petersburg. Yesterday [September 11, 1864], for the first time, the iron horse came up, blowing his whistle inside of our works. I think it must have astonished the Johnnies and set them to wondering what could be in the wind, as it made some of our men open their eyes. It is a big thing, and helps make the siege complete.³

We were also visited on Saturday [September 10, 1864] by Sergt. Ireland, of the 35th Mass[achusetts]., who was looking well. He informed us that a large number of recruits had been sent to their regiment lately, most of whom were Germans, and could hardly speak a word of English[.] It must be interesting work drilling such men.⁴

The old Fifth Corps is going to be re-organised again, into two divisions, it being the smallest in the army. It is not certain whether our brigade [2/1/V/AotP] will be broken up or not, but I hope not, as it has been kept together ever since we belonged.⁵

Let me say a word in closing in regard to directing letters to our regiment. For some time past a great many of our letters have been sent to the 32d Maine, through a mistake. I would advise all who send letters to the members of our regiment to have them addressed very distinctly to the 32D MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT. It may save delay to write it in full, and so ensure a speedy reply.

Yours, SIEGE.⁶

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Other Massachusetts’ Soldier Letters in the Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph

• NP: July 9, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 59th MA at Second Petersburg, June 17, 1864
• NP: July 16, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 13th MA, Last Days at Petersburg
• NP: July 16, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA at Petersburg, Late June to Early July 1864
• NP: July 23, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA Fourth of July
• NP: July 30, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA, Mid-July 1864
• NP: July 30, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA, Mid-July 1864
• NP: August 6, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA And Shelling Along The Lines
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA and Confederate Countermines
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA Observes the Crater Battle
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA Observes the Crater Battle
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA, the Crater, and a Feud
• NP: August 20, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA and the City Point Explosion
• NP: August 27, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA Feuds with the 32nd MA
• NP: August 27, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA Shelling and Explosions at Petersburg
• NP: September 3, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA at the Siege of Petersburg, Late August 1864
• NP: September 3, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA at the Battle of Globe Tavern, August 18-21, 1864
• NP: September 10, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA at Bermuda Hundred, Late August 1864
• NP: September 10, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA After Globe Tavern, Late August 1864
• NP: September 10, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA After Globe Tavern, Early September 1864
• NP: September 17, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA Leaves Bermuda Hundred for New Bern

Source/Notes:

LETTER FROM THE 23D MASS[ACHUSETTS]. REG[IMEN]T.

Co. C, 23d Mass[achusetts].,
On board Steamer Wenonah,
OFF FORTRESS MONROE, Va.,
Sept. 7th, 1864.

MR. EDITOR:—Being now en route for Newbern [North Carolina], I will write a few lines to let you know of our whereabouts.

On Sunday (4th) [September 4, 1864] we had orders to pack up and be ready to start that night, the line to be formed at half-past eleven o’clock in the evening. We started at that hour for Bermuda Hundred, a distance of about six miles from our camp, arriving at about three o’clock next morning [September 5, 1864], when we halted to get what sleep we could, as we expected to go on board the steamer at daylight. However, we did rot [sic, not] go on board until nearly eleven o’clock in the forenoon, and started at noon for Fortress Monroe, where we arrived soon after dark, and remained until morning.

Yesterday (Tuesday) [September 6, 1864] we steamed over to Portsmouth, to get the companies’ and regimental effects that were left there when we went to Yorktown. We found everything in good order, except a few knapsacks which were missing, probably stolen.¹

Last night [September 6, 1864], while lying in the stream, about half way from Portsmouth to Fortress Monroe, two men fell overboard from the steamer, and were drowned before the men on board could get the boats lowered to go to their aid. One was Corporal [Thomas J.] Peach, [Jr.] of Co. B, of our regiment, and the other was a member of the 25th Mass[achusetts]., whose name I did not learn.²

There are but two regiments on board the steamer, the 23d [Massachusetts] and 25th Massachusetts. After our arrival at Newbern the steamer will return for the 27th Mass[achusetts]., and 9th New Jersey regiments, who are ordered to the same department. There are no other troops at present ordered to North Carolina but our old brigade [First Brigade, Second Division, Eighteenth Corps, Army of the James], known as the “star” brigade. The two regiments on board the steamer are under command of Lt. Col. [John W.] Raymond, of our regiment, as Col. [James] Stewart [Jr., 9th New Jersey], who is in command of the brigade, stops behind, and will come on with the rest of the troops.³

I don’t know how soon we shall start from here, as it depends entirely upon the state of the weather. Letters and papers for our members should be addressed to Co. C, 23d Mass[achusetts]. Regt., Newbern, N, C. [sic, N. C.]

Yours,                                                   GUARD.⁴

SOPO Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Claude (Anthropic) and reviewed for accuracy by Brett Schulte.

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Other Massachusetts’ Soldier Letters in the Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph

• NP: July 9, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 59th MA at Second Petersburg, June 17, 1864
• NP: July 16, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 13th MA, Last Days at Petersburg
• NP: July 16, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA at Petersburg, Late June to Early July 1864
• NP: July 23, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA Fourth of July
• NP: July 30, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA, Mid-July 1864
• NP: July 30, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA, Mid-July 1864
• NP: August 6, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA And Shelling Along The Lines
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA and Confederate Countermines
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA Observes the Crater Battle
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA Observes the Crater Battle
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA, the Crater, and a Feud
• NP: August 20, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA and the City Point Explosion
• NP: August 27, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA Feuds with the 32nd MA
• NP: August 27, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA Shelling and Explosions at Petersburg
• NP: September 3, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA at the Siege of Petersburg, Late August 1864
• NP: September 3, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA at the Battle of Globe Tavern, August 18-21, 1864
• NP: September 10, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA at Bermuda Hundred, Late August 1864
• NP: September 10, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA After Globe Tavern, Late August 1864
• NP: September 10, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA After Globe Tavern, Early September 1864
• NP: September 17, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA Leaves Bermuda Hundred for New Bern

Source/Notes:

LETTER FROM THE 32D MASS[ACHUSETTS] REGT.

Camp 32d [Massachusetts] Regt. Co. D, Capt. Rich,

On the Weldon Railroad, Va.

Sept. 5th, 1864.

MR. EDITOR:—There remains but very lit­tle to write about in this section. For the last week everything has remained quiet in the way of fighting, and most of our time has been employed in doing picket and fatigue duty. The whole corps have been engaged in fatigue work, mostly on a large fort that is in course of construction a short distance from our camp, which is to protect our flank and rear. It is the largest and best fort that we have worked on during the campaign. The height from the bottom of the ditch to the top of the fort is not less than twenty feet; it is so constructed that the artillery can rake the ditch each way with their grape and cannister. Besides this, it commands the whole of the surrounding country, and is really a “big thing.”¹

Last Wednesday [August 31, 1864] our regiment left the breastworks that they had built, and we are now in camp a short distance in their rear, with orders to move back into them at any moment the rebels should move against our line.

On Thursday [September 1, 1864] , Serg’t Edward Knights, who was wounded the third day of June [1864, at Cold Harbor], made his appearance among us, his wound having entirely healed up. He is looking well, and was warmly welcomed by the boys.

Last Saturday [September 3, 1864], some of the boys belonging in Gloucester built a neat and substantial railing and placed it around the grave of the la­mented [Richard J.] Powers, of our company, killed in the recent engagement. Although our comrade is absent, he is not forgotten.²

To-day is the day appointed for the draft. I suppose there are some who are trembling in their leather for fear of being drafted. I hope a they will cheerfully respond to the call, as we need a few more not to help administer a dose which shall cure secessia. Perhaps they will not have long to stop in the army for the rebels are on their last legs. Grant has got the fellow by the throat, choking him. Sherman has got Atlanta, and is after the Hood family with a long stick, while our old Ironsides, [Admiral David G.] Far­ragut, is in a fair way of making an unwelcome visit to Mobile. It may be early in the day to talk of the end of the poor victim, but never mind, there is an end. “How are you conscript,” coming out to find it.³

Yours,                                          SIEGE.⁴

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Other Massachusetts’ Soldier Letters in the Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph

• NP: July 9, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 59th MA at Second Petersburg, June 17, 1864
• NP: July 16, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 13th MA, Last Days at Petersburg
• NP: July 16, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA at Petersburg, Late June to Early July 1864
• NP: July 23, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA Fourth of July
• NP: July 30, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA, Mid-July 1864
• NP: July 30, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA, Mid-July 1864
• NP: August 6, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA And Shelling Along The Lines
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA and Confederate Countermines
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA Observes the Crater Battle
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA Observes the Crater Battle
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA, the Crater, and a Feud
• NP: August 20, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA and the City Point Explosion
• NP: August 27, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA Feuds with the 32nd MA
• NP: August 27, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA Shelling and Explosions at Petersburg
• NP: September 3, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA at the Siege of Petersburg, Late August 1864
• NP: September 3, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA at the Battle of Globe Tavern, August 18-21, 1864
• NP: September 10, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA at Bermuda Hundred, Late August 1864
• NP: September 10, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA After Globe Tavern, Late August 1864
• NP: September 10, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA After Globe Tavern, Early September 1864
• NP: September 17, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA Leaves Bermuda Hundred for New Bern

Source/Notes:

How the Data Was Gathered

In plain terms, here is what I did:

1. I picked one newspaper and read all of it. The Washington Evening Star printed a steady stream of steamer news during the siege: mail boats arriving from City Point, transports clearing for Fortress Monroe, hospital boats coming up the Potomac with wounded, and the occasional Confederate gunboat spotted at Chaffin’s Bluff. I went through every page of every issue from June 10, 1864 to April 15, 1865, column by column, with the help of an AI research assistant, Claude Opus Model 5 and 5.5.
2. Every time a vessel was mentioned, I logged it: the boat’s name, the date, where it was, what it was doing (arrived, sailed, lying at anchor, under fire), who commanded it, and an exact citation down to the page and column. That came to more than 12,000 mentions of boats of every kind.
3. I then kept only the mentions tied to the Petersburg theater: City Point, Bermuda Hundred, Deep Bottom, Fortress Monroe, Hampton Roads, White House, and the James and York Rivers, along with boats sailing to or from those places.
4. Wherever I could, I checked each boat against the standard registers of the era, especially Lytle and Holdcamper’s list of American merchant steamers, to make sure that a Connecticut or a New York in the paper was the same hull I already had on my lists and not another boat with the same name.

The result: 307 named vessels reported on 278 different days between June 1864 and April 1865.

A couple of caveats. A newspaper only reports what someone happened to send in, so a boat that is missing on a given day was not necessarily gone; it just was not mentioned. The counts below are boats the Star mentioned on each date, not every boat on the river. And the identifications are a work in progress. A handful of names still need a final ruling, and I will be correcting things as I go.

What Comes Next

The Evening Star is only one paper. Next, I plan to give the same cover-to-cover treatment to papers from the major Northern ports that fed the army: New York, Baltimore, Philadelphia and Boston. Their marine columns logged ships clearing for and arriving from Fortress Monroe and City Point day after day, and many boats that sailed out of New York or Baltimore never made the Washington papers at all. Every paper added will fill in more of the gaps, and you will see these charts grow as it does.

The Data, in Pictures

Boats on the River, Day by Day. Each square below is one day of the siege; the number is how many steamers the Star reported in the theater that day. The busiest day in the paper was December 1, 1864, when the Star reported fourteen vessels, including the Confederate James River Squadron lying at Chaffin’s Bluff. Tap any day to see which boats were reported and what they were doing, with the source citation.

The Workhorses of the James. Here every steamer gets its own row and every dot is a day the paper reported her. The steamers Dictator (46 days) and Daniel Webster (42) were the most reported vessels of the siege, running regularly between Washington and City Point. Use the buttons to show only civilian boats, the Union navy, or the Confederate navy, or to sort the boats by when they first appear. Tap any dot for the report.

The River, Day by Day, on the Map. Finally, here is every one of those 278 days on an 1864 U.S. Coast Survey map of southeastern Virginia from the Library of Congress. Each red pin marks a landing where the paper placed a boat that day; a hollow pin marks a boat on the run to or from that landing, such as a mail boat reaching Washington from City Point. Pick a date, step forward or back a day at a time, drag the slider, or press Play and watch the traffic on the James and York come and go across the siege.

If you have a diary, letter or regimental history that mentions a boat by name (“we went down to City Point and boarded the steamer ___”), please send it my way. Those mentions are exactly what this project is built on.

LETTER FROM THE 23D MASS[ACHUSETTS]. REG[IMEN]T.

Co. C, 23d Mass[achusetts].

BERMUDA HUNDRED, Va., Aug. 31, 1864.

MR. EDITOR :—We still remain at Bermuda Hundred, and all is comparatively quiet. It seems rather strange to us to be where we do not hear much cannonading. We seldom hear a gun now, that is anywhere near us. We can hear them from in front of Petersburg quite often, and up on the James River occasionally, but seldom in our front. The Johnnies have thrown a few shot and shell in this direction, but they are soon silenced, as the batteries here have got a complete range of the rebel batteries. They threw three shells yesterday [August 30, 1864], and one of them struck in the camp of the [1]58th New York regiment, but did no damage. When we first arrived here they threw a few shells among us, some striking in the camp of the 27th Mass[achusetts]., doing no damage but to frighten a horse that was standing there, and waking up some of the men. I should think they would get tired of that kind of fun.¹

We are having some splendid weather, though it is rather cool nights, and we have a shower nearly every afternoon.

We are awaiting orders to leave for North Carolina, but presume we shall have to wait till Gen. Butler gets back from his ten days’ leave of absence.²

Yours,               GUARD³

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Source/Notes:

WAR CORRESPONDENCE.

_____

LETTER FROM THE 32D MASS[ACHUSETTS] REG[IMEN]T.

Camp 32d Regt. Co. D, Capt. Rich,

On the Weldon Railroad, Va.

Aug. 29^th, 1864.

MR. EDITOR:—The old Fifth Corps are still in possession of the Weldon Railroad, and will continue to be for all that our neighbors, the rebels, can do to regain its possession. Since the date of my last (22d inst.,) [August 22, 1864] there has been no fighting in front of our Corps.  It is supposed the rebels suffered a little too much in their last engagement (21^st) [August 21, 1864] to try the same again with us, in our strong works.¹

Everything remained quiet until the 25^th [August 25, 1864], when there was a battle fought by two divisions of the Second Corps, and a portion of our Cavalry, who went out on our left for the purpose of destroying more of the Railroad, which they had done for the distance of five miles or more, when they were attacked by a heavy force of rebels, who charged on them, forcing them back a short distance into their works.  Here they were able to repulse the rebels for some time, until being greatly outnumbered by the enemy they were obliged to abandon the position, leaving several of their cannon in the hands of the rebels.  The third division of our [Fifth] corps, with a portion of the Ninth Corps, started for their assistance, but were not needed, and the order being countermanded they returned to their works.  During the night the second corps returned to their old position on the plank road.²

Since the last-mentioned engagement [Second Reams’ Station] an unusual quietness has prevailed along our lines.  Anybody would suppose that the rebels had left these parts altogether, but [Major] Gen. [Gouverneur K.] Warren, who like the good sailor prepares for a storm while the calm lasts, does not think such to be the case.  I should judge from the way we have been fortifying for the last week that a heavy storm was brewing, which was likely to burst upon us at any moment.  And such is undoubtedly the case, for our position is too important to the success of the Rebellion to be abandoned without a desperate struggle on their part.—If it comes it will find us prepared to withstand the shock, as our breastworks almost completely encircle the whole corps, trains, and all belonging to it.  If a stranger were among us now he would no doubt inquire in what direction the rebels were, as our works are so constructed as to resist an attack from any quarter.³

Last Friday [August 26, 1864] Capt. [Stephen] Rich was detailed as Brigade officer of the picket, for forty-eight hours.—He had with him a detail from each regiment in the brigade [2/1/V/AotP].  The picket line is about three-fourths of a mile in front of the works.⁴

Yesterday [August 28, 1864] the work of bending all the track that remained within our works was completed.  Perhaps your readers would like to know the MODUS OPERANDI of bending railroad iron to render it unfit for further use.  First the ties are built up in piles, across each other at right angles; across these the rails are laid, with the ends overhanging, so that when heated by the burning of the ties the weight at the end bends the rail; this comprises the whole art.

To-day [August 29, 1864] Generals Grant, Meade and others rode around our lines, viewing the strength of our works.

The health of our regiment is not quite as good as it has been, on account of the swampy country that we are operating in.

Having used up all my small stock of items in regard to the 32d [Massachusetts], I will now say a few words in regard to the letter of my brother Vet[eran]. (Guard), which I read in your paper of the 24^th inst. [August 24, 1864]  I was well pleased with its contents, especially to know that he took what I said in good part.  But I see he does not intend to bring on a general engagement to argue the point with me, but chooses to act on the defensive, and await further movements on my part.  But I have concluded to take the defensive myself, by laying a siege to hold the position which I assumed on the 13^th, until he attacks me with more force.  If he should force me to abandon it, I will, with my forces, retreat to a more secure and stronger position in my rear.—As the thing now stands I will establish a strong picket line, then return to my quarters and try to answer some of his questions, and perhaps ask him some in return.  In the first place he informed me that he was a Vet[eran]., as far as that is concerned we will be able to understand ourselves very well hereafter.  He thought that I was piling it on rather thick; but not so thick, after all, but what he could see out and call it a square thing on his part.  He wished to know where I gained my information in regard to the guides.  I think I can satisfy him on that point by telling him I gained it from a Gloucester paper in the Spring of ’62, written by a correspondent from his regiment.  But “how are you” general guides in the Army of the Potomac?  What a fine sight it must have been to see a regiment advance in that manner “right smart.”  I reckon it may be done by the 32d [Massachusetts] before they get out of the army, but “I don’t see it.”  He says I would not find much pleasure marching in North Carolina.  Agreed; I am no lover of travel at any time, but as regards the marching in N. Carolina, it is about the same now as it has been in Virginia the last three years; the great army worm has destroyed all the sweet potato and peanut plantations.⁵

But I fear, Mr. Editor, that my letter is getting rather lengthy for the patience of your readers, so I will bring it to a close by informing Guard that if he should come to the extreme left of the army he will find the siege progressing finely and always open to receive its old friends, such as I take him to be.  But previous to that visit we should like to see that man that our Uncle Sam keeps to deal out to the troops their regular rations of greenbacks.  Then perhaps he will find right side up his and

Yours,                                          SIEGE. ⁶

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Other Massachusetts’ Soldier Letters in the Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph

• NP: July 9, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 59th MA at Second Petersburg, June 17, 1864
• NP: July 16, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 13th MA, Last Days at Petersburg
• NP: July 16, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA at Petersburg, Late June to Early July 1864
• NP: July 23, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA Fourth of July
• NP: July 30, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA, Mid-July 1864
• NP: July 30, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA, Mid-July 1864
• NP: August 6, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA And Shelling Along The Lines
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA and Confederate Countermines
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA Observes the Crater Battle
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA Observes the Crater Battle
• NP: August 13, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA, the Crater, and a Feud
• NP: August 20, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA and the City Point Explosion
• NP: August 27, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA Feuds with the 32nd MA
• NP: August 27, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: Co. D, 32nd MA Shelling and Explosions at Petersburg
• NP: September 3, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA at the Siege of Petersburg, Late August 1864
• NP: September 3, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA at the Battle of Globe Tavern, August 18-21, 1864
• NP: September 10, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA at Bermuda Hundred, Late August 1864
• NP: September 10, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA After Globe Tavern, Late August 1864
• NP: September 10, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 32nd MA After Globe Tavern, Early September 1864
• NP: September 17, 1864 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph: 23rd MA Leaves Bermuda Hundred for New Bern

Source/Notes:

Editor Journal: Words cannot possibly express to you the full measure of pleasure that has been enjoyed for so many months now by many “old Rebs,” who are yet left in Dixie awaiting final orders to “strike tents” and be ready to cross over the River of Death and rest under the shade of the trees. No one but a participant in those day of heroic sacrifice and suffering can fully appreciate these biographical sketches of the many scenes that tried the patriotism and courage of those who followed our battle cross through so much blood and suffering for four long, weary years.

Reading an article a few days ago from the pen of one of my old brigade, viz., Benning’s [Benning/Field/First/ANV], giving some of the incidents of the fall of Fort Harrison in the fall of 1864, has tempted me to scribble a little myself and give you a few of my own recollections of that event.

Bennings’ [sic, Benning’s][Benning/Field/First/ANV] and Robertson’s [Gregg/Field/First/ANV, the famous Texas Brigade] brigades of infantry had been taken from the trenches in front of Petersburg and sent to the north side of Richmond to protect a line of works stretching out two or three miles north and supporting Fort Harrison, which was near James river. It was a rare treat for us to get a rest from life in the hot trenches and from the constant care of dodging the crack of the sharpshooter’s deadly rifle. It was during that halcyon season of the year (September [1864]) when summer is quickly passing away, and the cool days of autumn are coming in to sweeten the air and give new life to the stagnant blood. We kept up a strong picket line some mile in front of our line of works, and for weeks we kept the enemy fooled as to our real strength. As Mr. [George] McRae says, we soon established a truce between the pickets, so that for several weeks we had no fighting at all.²

What a glorious rest it was for the Johnnies after five months of constant and hard campaigning from the Wilderness, May 5th [1864], till September. My brigade had a most delightful place to camp, a beautiful piece of wooded land, with plenty of shade to shelter us, good springs close by to get drinking and cooking water and a large clear creek close by to bathe in. It was a treat to see how the boys revelled in these matchless luxuries. You could see them sitting here and there under nearly every tree, writing to their “best girl” back in Georgia, or to their precious loved ones at home. Here with plenty of wood and water convenient they could once more enjoy the luxury of a biled shirt.³

And now I wanted to tell of something that was to me the most remarkable thing that I witnessed during the whole war. While here enjoying our rest from war a prayer meeting was started among the private soldiers. It soon began to grow in interest and was taken charge of by two chaplains of the brigade, one a Baptist, of the 17th Georgia, and the other a Methodist, of the 15th Georgia regiment, who is yet living and is the loved and honored pastor of a church at Eatonton, Ga., Rev. W[illiam]. F. Robinson.⁴

The interest rapidly grew in religious zeal and soon developed into a genuine revival. Many old seasoned vets were happily converted and joined the churches by letter; and at the close of the meeting they all repaired to the creek close by camp and all were baptized by immersion at the same time. Some by the Baptist minister and others by the Methodist, and the impression made on the mind of your scribe, who was not then a member of the church, was that religion is certainly a genuine reality and the work of God. I heard men who had been noted for their extreme wickedness up to that time, shout aloud with the joy’s of the new born soul. But all these happy peaceful scenes were soon to be marred. The enemy by some means, found out how weak our line was. I heard the day before we were attacked by two corps[,] that a captain in charge of the picket line, I believe that he belonged to the 17th Georgia, had deserted and gone over to the enemy, giving away our whole situation. I can’t vouch for this fact, but it was currently reported about camp the day before they attacked. I do know though that at day dawn on the morning of the 29th of September [1864], our line was attacked simultaneously at two points over a mile apart, one in our immediate front by one corps [at New Market Heights] and the other at Fort Harrison.⁵ We fought them in our front and repulsed three successive charges before breakfast. About this time we were ordered to double-quick to the relief of Fort Harrison, which we did as quick as possible. But alas! when we got in sight of it and while a quarter of a mile distant, the enemy, another corps had already taken it and were pouring over our lines without opposition. We took position as near as possible and gave them all we could for breakfast, but we were soon flanked out of our position. My right was stampeded and your scribe with quite a number of others were taken in out of the wet and in a few days sailed down the James [River] to spend the winter at Point Lookout.⁶ So I closed my war record there, freezing and starving in cloth tents. I have seen but few of my old regiment since the war, but my heart goes out to them in loving regards, wherever they may be.

W[ILLIAM]. S. NEEL.

Co[mpany]. K., 15th [Georgia] Reg[iment]. “Old Rock’s” [Benning’s] Brigade.

Social Circle, Ga.⁷

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BY GEO[RGE]. M[C]RAE.¹

SHELL BURST OVER HIM AS HE LAY ASLEEP–AN INCIDENT NEAR RICHMOND.

Late in the year 1864 Longstreet’s corps occupied the breastworks below Richmond, north of James’ river [sic, the James River], the right of Benning’s brigade [Benning/Field/First/ANV] being near Fort Harrison, which was the most important strong hold for defense on that part of our lines. At this point our picket line was about a mile in front of our main line, and the space between thickly wooded, it could not be seen from the main line. The enemies’ pickets were about 150 yards from ours and in plain view of each other. Each picket line had rifle pits, though at this point they were not using them as they were friendly and by mutual understanding refrained from firing on each other. They would occasionally meet between the lines and exchange newspapers, giving us the New York papers for the Richmond papers. They would frequently do other trading in a small way, generally giving our men ground coffee mixed in sugar in exchange for tobacco. While we always had plenty of tobacco and [were] scarce of coffee, they always had plenty of coffee and were scarce of tobacco; though I could not understand the cause of their scarcity of tobacco when all the markets of the world were open to them.

It was the custom when a picket desired to meet an opposite picket for the purpose of exchange, he would wave a newspaper which would be in like manner answered by an opposite picket, and each would immediately start to meet the other, leaving their arms behind. These conferences were always very brief.

But those who have had no experience in war must not suppose that such was the case on all parts of the line all the time. At the same time the opposing pickets were friendly at some points on the line, at other places it would be their constant study to gain an advantage and contrive ways openly or be stealthy craft to kill each other. But at points where they were friendly and either side for some cause desired to resume hostilities, they would first put the other side on fair notice.

While we were occupying this line the enemy would at intervals each day send a shell from a gunboat in James river over their line and ours, for as those on the gunboat could not see or locate our line to get the range, the shells, which were very large, round ones, would always fall or explode somewhere between our picket and main line, where there was no one for them to hurt. But it happened different on one occasion. An old man who was a conscript that had recently been sent to one of the companies of Benning’s brigade, was out one day on picket for the first time. He was not cowardly, but seemed to be a careful, methodical old man. Not being used to them, it was natural that he should not enjoy the strange, unearthly screeching of the huge shells as they would occasionally pass over. Desiring to take some sleep while off duty, he spread his blanket on the bottom of one of the rifle pits as a place least likely to be disturbed by the shells, and, lying down, was soon fast asleep, and perchance, was dreaming of his beloved family and little farm in far-away Georgia, and it seemed that no human forethought could have made a better selection for a place of safety. It seemed next to impossible for one of the shells from the gunboat to have injured him. But he was scarcely more than asleep when one of the shells, for the first and only time, fell short, striking the ground in front of us, but nearer to their own pickets, and ricocheting, passed directly over and high above the rifle pit, striking a tall, springy tree high up near its top, its force being nearly spent, rebounded back and exploded with terrific force as it fell on the old man lying asleep in the rifle pit, scattering his body in all directions in minute fragments.²

One night [September 28-29, 1864] we could hear the enemy crossing James river on a pontoon bridge. They seemed to be travelling rapidly; footmen, horsemen and artillery; and the length of time they were crossing indicated a large force, and we felt sure a sudden attack would be made on us at some point. But we could not know by the noise made crossing the bridge which direction they were marching, whether they were going from the north side, which was our side, to attack some point on the south side, or whether they were coming from the south side to attack us on the north side of the James river. I do not know what time it was when General Lee received correct information as to which direction they were moving. However, they attacked us on the north side at daylight, and it was late in the day before reinforcements from the south side reached us, a few minutes too late to assist us.³

We supposed that if they were coming to attack us on the north side they would strike us on our extreme left, and in this way turn us out of our works before the reinforcements could arrive from the south side to assist us. Fort Harrison was almost the last point we expected they would attack, as it would be folly for them to attack it unless they could surprise it, and it was situated at such a distance in rear of the picket line it was not thought they could come on it by surprise. But at daylight [September 29, 1864] we who were on the picket line were astonished to hear sudden and rapid firing at Fort Harrison, a mile in our rear.⁴

They had formed their attacking column in perfect quietness near their picket line before daylight, and a little to the right of where we of Benning’s brigade [Benning/Field/First/ANV] were on picket. They formed their line in the shape of the letter V, with the point directed to Fort Harrison, and before it was quite daylight they moved rapidly on the fort and took it, and as they could enfilade our lines from the fort, our troops were compelled to abandon them at once, and thus the two wings of the enemy’s line straightened out and passed over them; we who were out on the picket line barely escaping out before being cut off.

We retired to another line of works we had already prepared about two miles in rear of those we were forced out of. On this line was a fort called Fort Gilmer. We only had men enough to occupy these works from Fort Gilmer to the right, and for about two hundred yards to the left of the fort. The balance of our works were empty when the enemy attacked Fort Gilmer later in day. That part of our works unoccupied and defenseless, was quite hidden by dense woods from the view of the enemy, but directly in front of Fort Gilmer was open level ground for a mile from the fort. If the enemy had known our works were defenseless and made their second attack there they would have turned us out of that line also, unless our reinforcements who were already near us and fast approaching, would be strong enough to drive them back again. They did not suppose we had time to fully man Fort Gilmer, and their idea was to hasten and capture it before our reinforcements could arrive, and which they well knew were on the way from the south side; and though they failed in their attack on the fort they succeeded in making the attack a few minutes before our reinforcements arrived and occupied the vacant works.⁵

But what made it the more interesting, enlivening as well as amusing, our reinforcements who were just arriving in sight, did not know the enemy were defeated and were retreating. As they were advancing in line of battle at double quick, their course directed towards the vacant portion of the breastworks, they first came in view of the vacant works when they were about two hundred yards from them. The guns were firing rapidly from Fort Gilmer at the retreating enemy; but the reinforcements thought that Fort Gilmer was firing on the advancing enemy, and supposing it was a race between themselves and the enemy which would reach the works first, every man of them increasing their speed struck out with all possible haste for the breastworks, in order to reach them before the enemy could.

If the enemy had let well enough alone and contented themselves with driving us out of our first line of works, they would have had much the best of the day, but as it was, before the day ended they got much the worst of it, losing many more men than we did. They advanced to the attack on Fort Gilmer in two lines. The first line was composed of negro troops, and the second line close following it were white troops. The negro prisoners afterwards told us there was no escape for them, that they were warned that if they turned back the white troops would fire on them. But the fort was better prepared for defense than they supposed, and the white troops were glad enough to get out of the reach of its guns. Many of the negroes did reach the fort, but without any intention of taking it, but to beg to be taken over as prisoners.⁶,⁷

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I’ve been working my way through the Washington, D.C. Evening Star, page by page, looking for vessels connected to the Siege of Petersburg. I’ve finished thirty-five issues now, June 10 through July 20, 1864.

I started this project to build itineraries for the civilian steamers: where a given boat was on a given date, so I can eventually put that information on the ship pages here at the site. What I did not expect was that reading the paper straight through, every column, would hand me something else entirely.

The Star counted the wounded as they came up the river. Boat by boat. Almost every day.

I’ll admit I wasn’t looking for this. I was after vessel names and dates, and the wounded counts were just something I was recording along the way because they happened to be in the same paragraph. It wasn’t until I had a month and a half of them lined up in a spreadsheet that I saw what I actually had.

The Washington, DC Evening Star, published during the Siege of Petersburg, is a great resource to track civilian and military vessel traffic.

Thirty-one loads. More than eleven thousand sick and wounded men. Six weeks.

Here are a few of them, in the Star’s own words:

• June 14, the Connecticut, Capt. Stranahan, 1,125 sick and wounded, among them 49 officers. That’s the largest single load in the six weeks.
• June 12, the John Brooks, about 250 wounded, seven of whom died on the way up.
• June 16, the Ranger, 150 wounded colored troops, 14 severe cases, two of whom died on the upward trip.
• June 21, the Wenonah, 505 wounded, six of them officers — very slight cases, the majority having walked in from the battle-field to City Point.
• June 23, the Connecticut again, 500 wounded, over 300 of whom could not be moved except on stretchers.
• July 1, the Connecticut once more, 540 wounded including 23 officers, six died on the upward trip, and a company of the Invalid Corps unloaded her from six in the evening until midnight.

Every load with a reported count is charted below, largest bar to smallest number of men, in the order they arrived. Green came down the Pamunkey from the White House. Red came up from City Point and the James.

What the boats show that the dispatches don’t

Two things jumped out at me once I had them in order.

The first is that you can watch the army change rivers. Every load before the middle of June comes down the Pamunkey from the White House Landing. After the crossing of the James, every load comes up from City Point. That’s not news to anybody who studies this campaign, of course. But it’s one thing to read that the base shifted and another to see thirty-one boatloads of wounded men do it in front of you.

The changeover is also messier than I expected. The Lizzie Baker came up from the White House on June 23 with a wounded cavalry officer and thirty-two men, well after the landing was supposedly cleared out. Three days later the Connecticut dropped down to Powhatan Landing on the James expecting to take on three hundred of Sheridan’s wounded and found that the Eliza Washington had already carried them off.

The civilian steamer Connecticut, not to be confused with the USS Connecticut, served as a hospital ship during the Siege of Petersburg. [Erik Heyl, “Connecticut,” in Early American Steamers, vol. 4 (Buffalo, NY: Erik Heyl, 1965), 65.]

The second thing is that Washington ran out of room. On June 28 the Thomas Morgan came up from City Point with 250 wounded and was ordered back down to Alexandria to unload. The same day the Mary Washington arrived with about 200 of Sheridan’s men and got the same order. On July 2 the Guide came in with 184, mainly of the Second Corps, and her men were sent on to Alexandria too. Ten days before that the Star had noted that only two regular hospital boats would be running to the city for the present, the Connecticut and the State of Maine. By the end of the month the traffic had blown past whatever arrangement anybody had made.

There’s a detail I can’t stop thinking about. On June 23 the City of Albany carried conscripts down to the front. A week later she came back up with 247 wounded, and the Star observed that a good many of them were the same men.

The river wasn’t safe either

While I’m at it, a few things from the same six weeks that didn’t fit anywhere else.

On June 22 the Lizzie Hancock was coming down the Pamunkey from the White House when a detachment of rebel cavalry fired into her. One hundred and forty-two shots struck the boat and her pilot was seriously wounded.

At City Point the New World, which had no engine, was towed up to lie as a floating hospital, waiting on a load of wounded for a destination the paper couldn’t name.

And on July 14, aboard the Connecticut off Newport News, a sick man said to be a Philadelphia newspaper correspondent went over the side and was drowned.

Every load, in order

A note on the numbers

Counts are exactly as the Star printed them, including the ones spelled out in words. Where an arrival got reported in two different issues, I’ve counted her once. I’ve left out sick and wounded landed in other theaters — there are Mississippi and Ohio River items in the same issues, and they don’t belong in a Petersburg total.

This is six weeks out of roughly ten and a half months. I’m going to keep reading, and I expect the picture to change as I go, especially once I get into the last days of July. Whatever the Crater did to these numbers, it’s going to be visible.

If you have anything that would fill this out (hospital steamer records, a nurse’s or surgeon’s letters, a soldier who describes his trip up the river, a diary from one of these boats) please Contact Us. My goal here is the same as it’s always been: to put together the most complete record of this campaign that anybody has assembled, and that includes the boats.

Source: thirty-five issues of the Evening Star (Washington, D.C.), June 10 – July 20, 1864, read page by page. Every load above carries the citation for the paragraph it came from.

Ship Information (from the Lytle-Holdcamper List and Erik Heyl’s Early American Steamers)¹,²,³,⁴

Images:

⁵

Captain(s):
Captain Carpenter
Captain Image

Captain Pepper
Captain Image

Captain 3
Captain Image

Pre-Siege (June 1-12, 1864):

• Captain:
• Locations Mentioned:
  • June 2, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont sailed from New York on June 2, 1864.⁶

First Offensive Order of Battle (June 13-18, 1864):

• Captain:
• Locations Mentioned:
  • June 14, 1864, no time listed: The Admiral DuPont left White House on the morning of June 13 with matters quiet and unchanged in the Army of the Potomac. Guerrillas were reported becoming troublesome in the vicinity of White House. Shortly after leaving, eight deserters were found secreted on board and put under guard. As she neared Alexandria on the morning of June 14 three jumped overboard attempting to escape; two reached shore and got away, the third was drowned. The remaining five were taken in charge by the Provost Marshal on the boat’s arrival. No names were obtained.⁷,⁸,⁹
  • June 15, 1864, no time listed: On the morning of June 15, 1864 the Admiral DuPont and the North Point left the Sixth Street wharf at Washington with three hundred and twenty-four Confederate prisoners who had been confined in the Old Capitol Prison, to be conveyed to Fort Delaware.¹⁰

Second Offensive Order of Battle (June 19-30, 1864):

• Captain: Carpenter (June 19, 1864)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • June 19, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont (U.S. transport), Carpenter, arrived at New York from Fort Delaware, 18 hours, in ballast.¹¹,¹²

Third Offensive Order of Battle (July 1-31, 1864):

• Captain: Carpenter (July 3-21, 1864)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • July 3, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont (U.S. transport), Carpenter, arrived at New York from Fort Monroe, 23 hours, in ballast, to the U.S. Quartermaster. Detained off Sandy Hook by a thick fog.¹³
  • July 6, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont sailed from New York on July 6, 1864, heading the day’s list of sailings.¹⁴,¹⁵
  • July 21, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont (U.S. transport), Carpenter, arrived at New York from Fort Monroe, 40 hours, in ballast, to the U.S. Quartermaster.¹⁶
  • July 25, 1864, no time listed: The steamer Admiral DuPont arrived at Fort Monroe from New York with 108 bounty jumpers and deserters, also some 800 convalescents. Arrivals from the front that day reported no important movements.¹⁷,¹⁸,¹⁹

Fourth Offensive Order of Battle (August 1-31, 1864):

• Captain: Carpenter (August 7-26, 1864)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • August 7, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont (U.S. transport), Carpenter, arrived at New York from Fort Monroe, 32 hours, to the U.S. Quartermaster, having had the Gabriel in tow.²⁰
  • August 18, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont, Carpenter, arrived at New York from Fort Monroe, in ballast, to the U.S. Assistant Quartermaster. The passage is given as 23 hours in three accounts and as 36 hours in a fourth.²¹,²²,²³,²⁴
  • August 22, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont sailed from New York on August 22, 1864, in company with the General Meigs.²⁵
  • August 26, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont (transport), Carpenter, arrived at New York from Fort Monroe, 23 hours, in ballast.²⁶,²⁷

Fifth Offensive Order of Battle (September 1-October 13, 1864):

• Captain: Carpenter (September 2-27, 1864)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • September 2, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont, Carpenter, arrived at New York from Washington, D.C.²⁸
  • September 8, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont arrived at Portland, Maine from New York.²⁹,³⁰,³¹
  • September 9, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont, Carpenter, cleared Portland, Maine for New York.³²,³³
  • September 14, 1864, no time listed: The steamer Admiral DuPont was to take 400 men from Hart’s Island to Washington, while the Blackstone conveyed 700 from the same rendezvous to the James River.³⁴,³⁵
  • September 15, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont sailed from New York on September 15, 1864, in company with the Blackstone, the Western Metropolis, the California and the Tubal Cain.³⁶
  • September 27, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont (transport), Carpenter, arrived at New York from New Haven.³⁷
  • October 4, 1864, no time listed: The 23rd Massachusetts regiment, 180 men under command of Capt. Addison Centre of Gloucester, arrived at New York on the morning of October 4 aboard the steamer Admiral DuPont from Fort Monroe, and left that afternoon for Boston on the steam transport Charles Thomas to be mustered out of the service.³⁸,³⁹

Sixth Offensive Order of Battle (October 14-31, 1864):

• Captain: Pepper (October 16-27, 1864)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • October 16, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont, Pepper, arrived at New York from Washington, 40 hours.⁴⁰
  • October 27, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont, Pepper, arrived at New York from Fort Monroe, 22 hours, in ballast.⁴¹

Seventh Offensive Order of Battle (November 1-December 31, 1864):

• Captain: Pepper (November 5-15, 1864)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • November 5, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont (transport), Pepper, arrived at New York from City Point, 30 hours, with 870 men of the 11th US Infantry.⁴²
  • November 15, 1864, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont, Pepper, arrived at New York from Fort Monroe, 35 hours, to the U.S. Army Quartermaster.⁴³

Eighth Offensive Order of Battle (January 1-February 28, 1865):

• Captain: Pepper (February 17-21, 1865)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • February 12, 1865, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont arrived at Port Royal, South Carolina, from New York, in company with the America.⁴⁴
  • February 17, 1865, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont, Pepper, cleared Port Royal, South Carolina, for New York.⁴⁵
  • February 21, 1865, no time listed: The steamer Admiral DuPont, Captain Pepper, arrived at Fort Monroe from Hilton Head, S.C., having sailed on the 17th instant, via Beaufort, N.C. She brought the mails and important despatches for the War Department. Nothing was known at Hilton Head of General Sherman’s movements, as his base of operations was so far removed that there was but little communication carried on with his army except by mounted couriers.⁴⁶,⁴⁷,⁴⁸,⁴⁹,⁵⁰,⁵¹,⁵²

Ninth Offensive Order of Battle (March 1-April 2, 1865):

• Captain: Pepper (March 18, 1865)
• Locations Mentioned:
  • March 18, 1865, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont (transport), Pepper, arrived at New York from Fort Monroe, 18 hours.⁵³
  • March 22, 1865, no time listed: Steamer Admiral DuPont sailed from New York on March 22, 1865, listed among the day’s steamer sailings.⁵⁴

Siege of Petersburg Battles:

• None

Ship History:⁵⁵

As the ANGLIA the steamer was a well-known Irish cross-channel steamer running on the Holyhead Dublin route in consort with her sister the SCOTIA. After fourteen years of service both steamers were superseded by newer, larger and faster vessels. In 1861 the ANGLIA was bought by Alexander Duranty of Liverpool, who promptly converted her into a blockade runner. At that time the blockade was as yet not very stringent and a rather old and slow steamer like the ANGLIA had a good chance of evading any blockading men-of-war.

ANGLIA made a few successful trips through the Federal fleet, the profits of which probably repaid her owners their investment or speculation. But on October 27, 1862 she was met by USS FLAG at Bull’s Bay, S. C. and compelled to heave to. She was carrying a load of drugs and supplies consigned to Wilmington, N. C. from Nassau. Sent north the ANGLIA was condemned in prize court and sold to private parties, as she was too old and In too bad a state of repair to be of any use for naval services. The purchaser was Caleb Pierce of Boston, Mass., with whom the Whitney’s were associated.

Renamed ADMIRAL DUPONT she was put into service between Boston, Portland and St. John, N. B. for about a year or so. Apparently she was not a successful steamer on this route for in 1864 she was sold to Nathaniel McCready of New York, who transferred the ADMIRAL DUPONT to New York and ran her between New York and some of the open ports of the south, varied by occasional trips to Boston.

June 7, 1865 the ADMIRAL DUPONT left New York with a small detachment of some forty soldiers returning from their furloughs to their various commands at Fort Monroe. During the night a very heavy fog was encountered. At 4:20 AM June 8 the ship STADACONA was suddenly seen through a rift in the fog steering on an intercepting course. The helm of the ADMIRAL DUPONT was put hard aport, her engines were immediately stopped and then reversed but she had too much headway and the STADACONA drove into the ADMIRAL DUPONT‘s starboard side, Just forward of the wheel-housing.

The steamer was cut open nearly down to her keel; the fore-mast was carried away and she began to settle fast. The only people of the ADMIRAL DUPONT which were saved were those who had happened to be on deck and had Jumped over onto the STADACONA. Between fifteen and twenty lives were lost, while the monetary loss of the steamer and cargo, which were only insured for $50,000.-, ran well over $40,000.-.

Bibliography:

Siege of Petersburg Documents Which Mention This Unit:

• Admiral DuPont (Steamship) (1847-1865)

Sources: