Uncategorized | 150 Years Ago This Month

Camp near Fredericksburg
Jan 1st 1863
Dear Sister H
Yours and Mothers
letter came safe to hand for
I am really obliged I have
7 letters home within the
last ten days including
one to Mr Faris, but I
think it is quite a chance
if more than half of them
reach their destination, such
is the confusion attending
the movement of our army
I have written all the news
at different times and have
nothing new to communicate
Since the great battle both
armies have been watching
each other neither one seem
ing to want to commence
again, Our march here was
a hard one and no mistake

[page 2]

[look for pages 2 and 3; probably with rest of Perry, or recopy]

[page 4]
yet this I wish you wold write
to her about it tell her to send
me $1 at a time by mail and
if I do not get it it will not be
much to lose; We expect to get our
pay some time, but when we do not
know. Give my love to enquiring
friends take a good share for
yourself and write often from
your affectionate Brother
Josiah
PS
Keep up good spirits all
will come out right don’t
be alarmed the loss, in the
last battle was not all on
one side by a long shot
176 cannon didn’t fire all
day and not hurt anybody
be assured J W Perry

Josiah Perry, Co. K, 33rd Massachusetts

MSS 2215

March 15th

The past five weeks have been very quiet
and monotonous, nothing worthy of note
has transpired. Gen Sedgwick has been appointed
to the command of the 6th Army Corps.
Have had several snow storms, and a
great plenty of mud. On the 14th of Feb.
another of our men, John Pooler, died after
a very short illness. No prospects as yet
of a mov^ ‘e’ment. Another recruit has joined
the battery. The weather has been unpleas-
ant and cold.

March 22nd

The past week has also been very quiet,
have had another snow storm, ending in
rain. There has been some very heavy skirmish-
-hing on our right; the rebs have been trying
to destroy the rail road bridge over the
Potomac creek. No prospects of a movment.
The weather has been pleasant, and
very cool.

[page 76] [2nd Battle of Fredericksburg – May 3, 1863]
April 19th

The past month has been full as quiet
as the last. Have had rain and
snow storms in abundance. Have been
reviewed by Gen Brooks, and again by
Gen Hooker, and the Swiss Gen. Forlardin,
who was sent to this country to take
notes on the summer’s campaign.
Ten thousand Cavalry and flying artillery
have been sent out, under Gen Stoneman,
on a reconnoisance. We have at last
received orders to be in readiness to move
at a moments notice. The Balloon
has made ascents daily. The weather
has been rather moderate and cool.

May 3rd

The past fortnight has been very unlike
the former one. Active preparations have
been made, and an advance is in progress;
until the 27th, however every thing was very
quiet. On that day the 3rd, 5th, 11th, and 12th
corps under Gen Hooker, broke camp,
and marched to the United States
ford on the Rappahannock river, some
twelve miles above Fred^‘e’ricsburg. Here
they crossed the river, and attacked

[page 77]
the left flank of the rebs, and drove
them from their works, and until the third
of May was successful in all their attempts.
On the 28th, the 1st and 6th corps under Gen
Sedgwick proceeded to the old crossing opposi-
-te Fred^‘e’ricsburg. Here the 1st Div. and D.
Battery, 2nd U. S. Arty. crossed the river and
formed a line of battle; brisk skirmishing
ensued until the night of the 2nd of May,
when [‘w’ lined through] the remainder of our corps was
ordered to cross the river, and be in readi-
-ness to attack the rebs at day light; a sharp
skirmish followed, and by [‘day light’ lined through] dark
our lines were extended to our old line
of Dec. 13th on the Bowling Green Road.
On the [‘left H’ lined through] right, Hooker was very
successful, and the victory was deemed
ours, but Jackson by his indomitable [word lined through]
energy, cut a road through the Wilder-
-ness, and attacking our extreme right at
midnight, succeeded in turning our flank,
and caused Hookers defeat. Early
Sunday morning the rebs opened on us
a brisk artillery fire, to which we [word lined through]
replied as soon as we could get a
position, and for three hours a most
steady and terrible fire was kept up.
At one time, we had not less than
twenty four pieces fireing at our battery,

[page 78] [Battle of Salem Church – May 4th, 1863]
which our div. was engaged on the left.
Howe’s and Newton’s Div. on our right.
After a series of feints, and manoeuvre’s
succeeded in forcing back the rebel picket
line, and by a well ordered charge,
drove the rebs from their fortifications,
and pursued them for five miles, until
they reached Salem Church; here the rebs
made a successful stand; in our hurry to
follow up the retreating rebs, we left our
flank unprotected, and this caused our
defeat. In a charge made by the 1st Div. of
our corps, 1680 men were lost; in the battery,
we had one man killed, one wounded,
three horses killed, and a number wounded.
During the morning, we repulsed three
separate charges made on the battery.
Night coming on put an end to the
battle. The weather has been pleasant
and cool.

May 10th

Monday the 4th, all was quiet until 4.
P. M. The rebs have been busy all day,
trying to surround us, but at 4. oclock
finding it impossible to do so even though
they had their entire army against our
corps, [ ‘About’ lined through] they advanced their line
and attacked us, but were repulsed quite

[page 79] [3rd Battle of Fredericksburg – June 5th, 1863]
easily. At half past five, the rebs again advan-
-ced and attacked our entire lines simultaneous-
-ly and from that time until dark, a most
terrible battle ensued, darkness come on, not
a moment too soon, and under its cover we
retreated to Bank’s ford on the Rappahannock,
fighting our way every inch as we fell back,
crossed the river at 9. P. M. All night long
the rebs kept up a heavy fire on us. Early
next morning we fell back to Briar Church,
here we remained until Friday morning,
when all the army having gone into camp,
we started again, and at noon we reached
our old encampment at White Oak Church.
Next day we cleaned up the battery. The
weather has been pleasant and mild.

June 14th

Since the 10th of May, every ^‘day’ was very quiet, until
the 5th of June. Have been reviewed by Brig
Gen Hunt, Chief of Artillery Army of the
Potomac and have been inspected by Col.
Tompkins Chief of Arty 6th Corps. Have
built a brush stable to protect our
horses from the sun. On the 4th were
turned out at three A. M. harnessed
and packed up, and were in readiness to
move. An attack is expected at day light,

[page 80]
remained in harness until 11. A. M, when all
being quiet we unharnessed, and [word lined through] went into
camp. During the forenoon of the 5th, orders
came very suddenly to corps Hd. Qrs, for us to
move immediately, and effect a crossing at our
old place on the Rappahannock. At 10. A. M
we received marching orders, and by noon our
entire corps was in motion. Arrived at the banks
of the river, at four P. M; here all the batteries went
into position, and opened a most terrible and
rapid fire upon the rebel rifle pits on the
opposite bank of the river, under cover of our
fire the [‘rebs’ lined through] engineers laid a pontoon bridge; and
the bridge was crossed by the 5th Vt [?] and 26th N. J. Reg.
At a given signal we ceased our fire, and the
two regts. by a charge carried the pits, captur-
-ing sixty prisoners. One man only, on each side
was killed, the 2nd Div. immediately crossed
the river, a line of battle was formed, and our
picket line extended to the Bowling Green Road.
On the 6th Batteries D. 2nd U. S. [‘and’ lined through] F, 5th U.
S. and our battery, was ordered to cross the
river and to go into position. In the evening
had a severe thunder shower. During the night
of the 7th, an immense and very strong rifle
pit was thrown up. On the 8th 9th and 10th
our men were busy strengthening the rifle pits,
and on the 11th, three very strong forts (one for
each battery) were built, which were connected

[page 81]
by a very strong breast work. On the evening of the 10th
the rebs opened on us, but were soon silenced by
our long range guns. The day’s of the 11th 12th and 13th
were remarkably quiet. On the evening of the 13th and 14th
the rebs again opened on us, and were silenced
both times. During the night of the 14th our object in
crossing the river having been accomplished, we
recrossed the river, and by day light every thing
was [‘a’ lined through] across and the bridges taken up, all
unknown to the rebs. The weather has been warm
and pleasant

June 25th

Gen Lee having out flanked and out general^ ‘e’d
Hooker, we were obliged to fall back toward
Washington. All the army except the 2nd Corps
having fallen back, we immediately, after crossing the
river, took up our line of march, and fell back to
Stafford Ct. House where we went on picket
for the night. Early the next morning we were
relieved by the 2nd Corps, and we again fell back
reaching Dumfries at five P. M. where we went
into camp. Early the next morning were up and
off again. After a long and tedious march, we
reached Fairfax Station, where we went into
camp and remained for the night, and all the
next day. On the 19th we marched to Fairfax
Ct. House, where we went into camp and
remained until the 21st, when together with

[page 82] [Battle of Gettysburg – July 1-4, 1863]
the 2nd Div. and Cowan’s 1st N. Y. Battery , we
marched to Bristow Station, on the Orange
and Alexandria Rail Road; here we went into
position, and remained until the 25th. The weather
except the 20th and 21st has been warm and
pleasant.

July 16th.

The past fortnight has been one of the most
active ones of the war, having marched from
Bristow Station Va. to Gettysburg Pa. thence to
Williamsport Md. down the Mts. to Berlin, there
we crossed the Potomac into Va. again, making
in all a distance of some 200 miles, and
during the limits of the past fortnight, the
heaviest battle of the war has been fought. On
the evening of the 25th left Bristow Station, and
marched to Centreville where we encamped at
2 P. M. Up and off early next morning, passed
through Herndon Station, and Drainsville, and
at five P.M. encamped for the night. Up early
the next morning, but it was 9 A. M before we
[ ‘got’ lined through] started. At 1. P.M we arrived at Edward’s
ferry on the Potomac, and crossed over into
Md. Lee and his army have crossed the river
at Williamsport, and [‘has’ lined through] marched as far north
as Carlisle Pa. where he destroyed the most
extensive Gov. barracks in the country. We went
into camp at three P. M. near the banks of

page 83]
the river. Early the next morning were again on the road,
passed through Poolsville and Barnestown. Late in the
afternoon, went into camp. Turned out at 3 A. M.
and by day light were in motion, passed through
Monrovia New Market, Rigeville, and Mt. Airy. At
7. P. M. went into camp. Up at 2 A. M. and
before daylight were again on the tramp, passed
through Hughsburg, Westminster, and New-
Mexico. At six P. M. went into camp about one
mile from Germantown. Our advance has been
skirmishing with the rebs all day, and in the town

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library

150 Years Ago This Month

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