The story of the Thirty Eighth regiment of Massachusetts volunteers

by George Whitefield Powers

Sunday, Aug. 21, orders came to pack up; and the regiment formed in line of battle, stacked arms, and threw up breastworks, heavy skirmishing going on at the front; but, during the evening, again fell back, passed through Charlestown, and reached Halltown at one P. M., of the 23d, going into camp for the night. During a heavy rain, the next day the regiment built more breastworks, and then moved to the left; but returned on the day following, and remained in camp until Sunday, the 28th, when the army again assumed the offensive, and advanced to Summit Point, a few miles beyond Charlestown. While these movements were being executed, skirmishing between the advance of one army and the rear of the other was continually going on, and the cavalry were almost constantly in the saddle.

On the 3d of September, the army again broke camp, and marched to Berryville, where a sharp encounter took place between a portion of the Eighth Corps and Early’s force; but the enemy retiring, the engagement did not become general. The third brigade, however, formed in line of battle, took up a position on a ledge of rocks, and remained there all night, sending out two companies as skirmishers. Every one was wet through, and the wind swept coldly over the ledge.

Sunday, Sept. 4, the regiment was detached from the brigade, and marched further to the front, where new breastworks were thrown up, the rain still continuing; the enemy, all the while, shelling the line, and skirmishing constantly going on. During the next fortnight, but little worthy of mention transpired, except that the army here completed a third line of breastworks.

On the 14th, a detail was sent from each company to procure the blankets belonging to the men in the regiment, which had been packed at Baton Rouge previous to the Red River campaign, and which were then supposed to be at Harper’s Ferry; but upon the arrival of the detail at that place, it was found that the boxes had been sent to Washington, and the blankets were not received until late in October. When the weather permitted, company, battalion, and brigade drills took place while the regiment was encamped in this place.

Although Gen. Sheridan kept his own counsels, he was not deceived in regard to the movements of Early. At three o’clock, on the morning of the 19th of September, the reveillé was beaten in the camps, and the army marched through Berryville, the Nineteenth Corps halting beyond, and being informed that they would probably fight on that spot. At this time, heavy cannonading was heard on the right, and at the front, where the cavalry was engaged. After halting an hour or two, the Nineteenth Corps advanced by the flank, passing a hospital into which great numbers of wounded men were being brought, who had fallen when the cavalry drove the enemy from the woods on each side of the Winchester Pike. Passing through a defile, the brigade came upon a high table-land, and formed in line of battle on the edge of a belt of woods between the opposing forces, the third brigade being at this time on the extreme left of the Nineteenth Corps, and connecting with the Sixth Corps. Each regiment sent out skirmishers, who advanced into the woods, followed by the brigade in line of battle; and emerging on to an open plain, which was crossed at a rapid pace, the enemy were encountered in the woods beyond, and the battle became hot.

The brigade had advanced too fast, leaving its right flank exposed; and, unable to withstand the heavy fire concentrated upon it, the Thirty Eighth fell back, having lost many officers and men. At one time, the battle-flag was within a few yards of the banner of a rebel regiment, and its capture seemed imminent; but color-sergeant Lunt, supported by color-corporal Abbot, bravely carried it through. Col. Sharpe and Lieut.-Col. Richardson had been wounded; and the command of the brigade devolved upon Lieut.-Col. Neafie, of the One Hundred and Fifty Sixth New York, Maj. Allen taking command of the Thirty Eighth.

The regiment, as usual, had gone into battle with few officers. Lieuts. Whitney and Davis, and Sergt. Palmer, in command of companies, had been shot down, with many warrant officers, and many men; and in the retreat, owing to this fact, and to the nature of the ground, the regiment became separated from the brigade, which had been partially broken up by the impetuosity of the first charge. The men, however, rallied around the colors; and, under the lead of Major Allen and Adjutant Wellington, again sought the front of the fight.

After a desperate struggle, the enemy broke; and, having formed his army in three crescent-shaped lines of battle, Gen. Sheridan gave the order, “Forward!” Before that victorious charge, the veterans of Stonewall Jackson fled in confusion, the whole rebel force went “whirling through Winchester,” and the Union army remained in possession of the hard-fought field.

The cavalry followed the retreating enemy, and gathered up the spoils of the victory; but the infantry went into camp on the outskirts of Winchester, and rested from the labor and excitement of the day, while the great news was silently speeding its way North to electrify and gladden the loyal hearts of the country. The Valley of the Shenandoah was no longer to recall memories of defeat and humiliation alone.

The loss in the regiment had been eight killed, thirty-eight wounded, eight prisoners, and one missing. A number afterward died from the effects of the wounds received; but those captured were remarkably fortunate, the majority of them being paroled in a few days, and sent to Annapolis.