History of the Second Massachusetts Regiment of Infantry: Beverly Ford

History of the Second
Massachusetts
by Daniel Oakey

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Title: History of the Second Massachusetts Regiment of Infantry:
Beverly Ford.
Author: Daniel Oakey
Release Date: September 12, 2007 [EBook #22586]
Language: English
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HISTORY
OF THE
SECOND MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT OF INFANTRY.
BEVERLY FORD.
A PAPER READ AT THE OFFICERS' REUNION IN BOSTON,
MAY 12, 1884,
BY
DANIEL OAKEY,
CAPTAIN SECOND MASSACHUSETTS REGIMENT OF
INFANTRY.
BOSTON:
GEO. H. ELLIS, PRINTER, 141 FRANKLIN STREET.
1884.

BEVERLY FORD.
JUNE 9, 1863.
In taking up the thread of Captain George A. Thayer's admirable
chapter upon the Chancellorsville campaign, we find the regiment
baling out their old log pens, on a dark night, in the rain. They had
stripped the canvas roofs before starting for Chancellorsville. The
return to a deserted camp, even in fine weather, flushed with victory, is
not agreeable. The failure of Chancellorsville made the discomforts of
this memorable night harder to bear, and it seemed very much like

some of the worst experiences of the "Mud campaign."
Company "D" pursued their work with vigor, and sang with the
broadest sarcasm "Home Again." This had rather an enlivening effect
upon some of the other companies, who, up to this time, had been very
silent. Daylight relieved us all; and, with sunshine and regimental
"police," the place soon looked as if nothing had happened, except for
the late absentees, some of whom would return when their wounds
permitted; but others would never again draw their swords under the
old battle-flag. The scholarly Fitzgerald, who died so bravely, was the
only officer of "ours" killed at Chancellorsville.
It was at this very camp, about a month before, that the gallant and
lamented Colonel Shaw, then a captain in our regiment, left us to
organize and command that fated battalion, the "Fifty-fourth Colored
Massachusetts." Here, we again formed a mess with the officers of the
Third Wisconsin; and our former caterer, Charley Johnson, and his
colored staff, managed the table d'hôte. Those who were fortunate
enough to be present will remember the surprise party given to us by
the officers of the Third Wisconsin in our canvas dining-room, at the
foot of the hill, and how it burst upon us in all its splendor of bayonet
chandeliers and unlimited "commissary." Brigade manoeuvres and
battalion drills were diligently practised; and, when Casey's tactics
were scarcely dry from the press, Colonel Sam Quincy, with the least
possible preparation on our part, "sprung" on us the new movement of
"Forward on the centre to form square" at "double-quick." And, I am
ashamed to say, that, practised as we were in all the tricks of field
manoeuvres, we "got mixed." The right wing started without delay for
Falmouth, the left wing for Acquia Creek, and the color division took a
steady trot for the camp of the Tenth Maine. Adjutant Fox galloped
wildly about the field, the Colonel howled in despair, but on we went
till the word "Halt!" brought us to a stand, and we came back and
formed line. The Colonel then made the memorable remark,
"Gentlemen will please to have some connection of ideas," and started
the machine again at full speed. This time we melted into a square in a
manner which would have pleased General Andrews. From this camp,
Colonel Quincy resigned, pretty well exhausted with wounds, exposure,

and the trials of the Rebel prison.
We now moved camp--Major Mudge commanding--to a pine grove,
where we constructed quite a picturesque military village, and became
absorbed in the habits and peculiarities of the wood-tick.
The days rolled on into June; and it seemed fully time to be doing
something more about beating Lee, whose lieutenants were
successfully screening their preparations for the coming Northern
invasion. General Halleck, General-in-Chief at Washington, was still
busily engaged telegraphing to the generals in the field; and, no doubt,
Hooker was hampered by these voluminous instructions, often so at
variance with his own plans, which were apt to be excellent, and he was
unable at times to suppress his own dominant and rather insubordinate
spirit.
On the 5th of June, Stuart was discovered concentrating his troopers in
great force at Culpepper. Mr. Stuart's "Critter-back Company" was
supposed to number about twelve