James M. Nichols was born in Haverhill, Mass., in 1835. His early education was received in the public schools of his native town, and he prepared for college at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass. He graduated at Williams College in 1857, having been a fellow-student with President James A. Garfield. The storming of Fort Sumter fired his heart with patriotism, and he was soon among his own townsmen actively engaged in enlisting a company which was at once consolidated in another organization. He then went to New York, and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 48th regiment, but afterwards rose to the rank of captain. During his three years of service Colonel Nichols was second to none in that famous regiment in thorough devotion to duty and in the display of soldierly qualities. On several occasions he was in command of the regiment, and led it through many a fiery ordeal with courage and ability. In recognition of these services he was brevetted successively major, lieutenant-colonel, and colonel. In private life Mr. Nichols was frank, manly, impulsive, sympathetic, and an earnest Christian. To these qualities were added musical gifts and a rare power in conversation, which made him a delightful companion; while to those who knew him best, his thorough genuineness, and the nobility of a nature which scorned everything narrow and mean, made him the trusted and beloved friend. He died suddenly, July 1, 1886, from the effects of disease contracted in the service. He was tenderly borne to his last resting-place by comrades from the Grand Army of the Republic, and he has left behind as the inalienable possession of his sons the legacy of a pure, upright, and useful life.
PREFACE.
The following narrative is, for the most part, a transcript from journals kept by the writer during his three years and more of service in the army of the Union. Facts, experiences, and observations, were noted down from day to day, whether we were in camp, in garrison, or in the field, and are given to the public in the hope not only of affording pleasure to those who have never shared in such experiences, but of correcting erroneous impressions in regard to the real life of the soldier. Those who served in the army, I feel assured, will recognize the truthfulness of the picture of army life.
James M. Nichols,
Brev.-Col. U.S. Vols.
Haverhill, Mass.
CONTENTS.
| [CHAPTER I.] | |
Causes of the War. | [13] |
| [CHAPTER II.] | |
Colonel Perry. Formation and character of the regiment. LutherB. Wyman, Esq. | [19] |
| [CHAPTER III.] | |
Camp Wyman. Incidents of camp life. Lieutenant Elfwing.Fête Champêtre. Departure for seat of war. List of officers.In camp near Washington. Off for Annapolis. General Butlerin Maryland. Attitude of Governor Hicks. Waiting at Annapolis.Colonel Perry's last sermon. Journey to New York. Returnof contrabands. Departure for Fortress Monroe. | [32] |
| [CHAPTER IV.] | |
At Fortress Monroe. General Viele's talk. Weary waiting. Offat last. Order of sailing. Storm. Horrors of the voyage. Vesselslost. Off Port Royal. Tatnall's Mosquito fleet. Bombardmentof Hilton Head and Bay Point by navy. Surrender.Captain Drayton. Landing of troops. First camp on Confederatesoil. Foraging. Negroes' account of bombardment.Inspection and review. The sutler. Thanksgiving. | [48] |
| [CHAPTER V.] | |
Expedition to Port Royal Ferry. Progress up Broad River.Colonel Perry acting brigadier-general. The rebel yell heardfor the first time. The regiment's first baptism of fire. Theold horse. Night on the field. Return to Hilton Head. Objectof the expedition. Presentation of flag to the regiment. Offfor Dawfuskie. Southern homes. Preparatory work by MajorBeard and others. Building batteries on Jones and BirdIslands. Mud and malaria. Reconnoissances and midnightwanderings. | [73] |
| [CHAPTER VI.] | |
Planting batteries on Tybee Island. General Gilmore. Listeningfor the opening gun. Bombardment of Fort Pulaski. Watchingthe contest from Dawfuskie. Surrender of the fort. Itsappearance after the bombardment. | [94] |
| [CHAPTER VII.] | |
Camp life at Dawfuskie. Scheelings and his "leetle tog." Highliving. Effects of malaria. Discussing the situation. Emancipationorder of General Hunter. Lincoln the emancipator. JohnC. Calhoun and nullification. Ordered to Pulaski. JamesIsland expedition. A sad failure. Shouting service of thenegroes. | [100] |
| [CHAPTER VIII.] | |
The wreck of the sutler's schooner. Its consequences. Thedeath of Colonel Perry. His character. Action of officers.Sent to New York. Lieutenant-Colonel Barton promoted.Detailed on recruiting service. General Mitchell commanderof the department. Expedition to Bluffton. Blockade-runnerEmma. Confederate ironclad. Back with the regiment. Itscondition. Bluffton again visited. Ravages of war. | [112] |
| [CHAPTER IX.] | |
| Expedition to Coosawhatchie. Landing at Dawson's plantation.March to Coosawhatchie. Ambuscade. Firing onConfederate train. Confederate prisoners. Destruction oftrack. Retreat. Peril of Lieutenant Corwin. LieutenantBranding wounded. Pocataligo expedition a failure. Perilousvoyage back to Pulaski. Confederate weapons. Yellow fever.Death of General Mitchell. His character. Review ofCoosawhatchie. | [124] |
| [CHAPTER X.] | |
At Fort Pulaski. Changes at Dawfuskie. Amusements. Thepride and taste of the soldiers in fitting up their quarters.Mosquitoes and other pests. Thanksgiving celebration. Incidentsof garrison life. Flag of truce. Confederate ironclad.New Year's Day. Mr. Logan's account of the condition ofthings in Savannah. Prices of provisions, etc. Resignationand departure of Chaplain Strickland. Inspector-General Townsend'sand Colonel Green's opinion of the regiment. Flag oftruce. Interesting interview with Adjutant-General Gordonand Lieutenant Styles, of the Confederate army. Formationof negro regiments. Our theatre. Building a steam launch.Deserters. Capture of blockade-runner. Effect of garrisonlife on the regiment. Capture of Confederate ironclad Atlanta. | [132] |
| [CHAPTER XI.] | |
Good-by to Fort Pulaski. At St. Helena Island, under GeneralStrong. Billinghurst and Regua battery. Folly Island.Masked batteries. Attack on Morris Island. Killed andwounded of the regiment. Captain Lent. Capture of Confederatebatteries. Building batteries. Hot work and littlerest. Completion of batteries. Assault on Wagner. Badlymanaged. Terrible losses. General Strong. Negro soldiers.Their effect upon the Confederates. After the assault. Theshelling by the Confederates. Incident. | [157] |
| [CHAPTER XII.] | |
Back to the regiment. Off for St. Augustine. The duties ofprovost-marshal. The quaint old city. Its pleasant people.Two months of rest. Lieutenant Ingraham. Back to HiltonHead. The regiment reunited. Visit to Morris Island. CaptainEaton. Fort Wagner and its reminders. Lieutenant-ColonelGreen. | [178] |
| [CHAPTER XIII.] | |
Relations between the 47th and 48th regiments. Re-enlistmentof veterans. Court-martial. Departure of veterans on furlough.Expedition to Florida. Battle of Olustee. A greatblunder. Heavy losses. Admirable conduct of the troops.Dr. Defendorf. The retreat. Return of veterans. SergeantThompson. At Palatka. Expedition into the country. Dunn'sCreek. Its marvellous beauty. Ludicrous scenes. Good-byto Palatka. At Gloucester Point, Va. A happy change.Shelter tents. General Grant. Army of the James underButler. General Terry. | [188] |
| [CHAPTER XIV.] | |
Bermuda Hundred. Company E as skirmishers. Battle ofChester Heights. Couldn't resist the temptation. CompanyE fighting on its own account. Bad predicament. Company Edid nobly. More fighting. In sight of Richmond. Confederatesharpshooters cleaned out. Battle of Drury's Bluff.Company E again in a bad spot. Wonderful examples ofdiscipline and soldierly conduct. General Terry to the rescue.Retreat. Back to old quarters. Captain Lock wood. | [205] |
| [CHAPTER XV.] | |
Assigned to 6th corps. On the way to the Army of the Potomac.A dreadful march. At Cold Harbor. Trying situation.Assume command. A gallant charge. Grand success. Severelosses. Driven back. Lack of support. Incidents of the battle.The demoralized general. Further account of Cold Harbor.Occupying the Confederate line. A sad picture of war.An uncomfortable situation. Relieved. Close work. Changeof base. Grand but perilous movement of the army. The oldchurch at Jamestown. | [222] |
| [CHAPTER XVI.] | |
Back to Bermuda Hundred. A running fight. Destructionof railroad. Kindness of Major Young and General Terry.Ordered to charge. A happy escape. President Lincolnand General Butler. Ordered to attack Confederate line.Recalled. Captain Fee and others killed. Picket-lines atPetersburg. Sanitary and Christian Commissions. Mine explosion.Our losses. Major Swartwout. Effects of malaria. | [241] |
| [CHAPTER XVII.] | |
On duty at the front. Strange sickness. General Grant underfire. Captain D'Arcy. Battle of Strawberry Plains. Splendidbehavior of the regiment. Lieutenants Tantum and Searspicked off by Confederate sharpshooters. Other losses. Theexcited officer. Hurried retreat. Captain Taylor. The greetingof General Terry. A night's rest. On picket duty. Sadcondition of the regiment. Expiration of term of enlistment.Disaffection. Severe duty. Artillery attack on Petersburg.Out of the service. | [254] |
| [CHAPTER XVIII.] | |
Discharge of old members of the regiment. Attack at Chapin'sfarm. Partial success. Condition of the South. New recruits.In winter-quarters. Thanksgiving Day. Resignation of ColonelBarton. His long and faithful service. Tenth and Eighteenthcorps united. Expedition against Fort Fisher. Second expeditione and capture of thefort. An important event. Other successes. March to Wilmington.Pursuit of the Confederates. Their surrender ofUnion prisoners. Their condition. On the march to joinSherman's army. Sherman's grand march to the sea-coast,and its results. Grant's operations ending in surrender ofLee and his army. With Sherman's army on the march forJohnston. Announcement of surrender of General Lee. Continuedpursuit of Johnston. Lincoln's assassination. Its effecton the army. Surrender of Johnston. | [264] |
| [CHAPTER XIX.] | |
A general review. Change in condition of the regiment. Barrettas provost-marshal. Delicate question. Colonel Coan.Gradual disbandment of the army. Discharge of the 48th.Some personal explanations. | [289] |
| [CHAPTER XX.] | |
Special references to some of the officers of the regiment. Remarksupon prominent questions before the country. Finis. | [295] |
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
[Fort Sumter].
[The Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon].
[Fortress Monroe].
[Map of a Portion of "Sea Islands," showing "Port Royal."]
[Plan of the Battle at Port Royal Harbor].
[Fort Walker].
[Fort Beauregard].
[Drayton's Mansion].
[Pope's House at Hilton Head].
[Live Oak Grove at Port Royal].
[Negro Quarters].
[Obstructions in Savannah River].
[Fort Pulaski].
[Breach in Fort Pulaski].
[The Planter].
[Headquarters of Hunter and Mitchell].
[Martello Tower, Tybee Island].
[New Ironsides and Monitors].
[The Interior of Fort Sumter].
[Siege of Charleston].
[Noiseless Hauling of the Guns].
[Bomb and Splinter Proof].
[Fort Wagner at Point of Assault].
[Fort Wagner, Sea Front].
[The Swamp Angel Battery].
[A Florida Swamp and Jungle].
[General Grant's Headquarters at City Point].
[Line of Defence at Bermuda Hundred].
[Pickets on Duty].
[Fort Darling].
[General Smith's Headquarters, Cold Harbor].
[Position of General Smith's Command at Cold Harbor, Va.].
[Battery and Church Tower. Site of Jamestown].
[Battery near Dutch Gap].
[Defences of Richmond and Petersburg].
[Outline of the Crater and Magazines].
[Army's Huts at Chapin's Farm].
[Officer's Quarters, Chapin's Farm].
[Pontoon Bridge at Jones' Landing, near Deep Bottom].
[Interior of Fort Fisher].
[Plan of Land and Naval Operations at Fort Fisher].
[Mound Battery near Fort Fisher].
[M'lean's House, the Place of Lee's Surrender].
[Place of Johnston's Surrender to Sherman].