THE BATTLE OF CHANCELLORSVILLE.

351

The Thirty-second up to this time had been frequently under casual fire, but had not been engaged, and had lost no men in battle.

When the regiment left Fort Warren, May 26, 1862, it consisted of six companies. Another company joined at Harrison's Landing, July 23; and three more, Sept. 4, at Mine Hill, Va.

Dec. 13 and 14, the regiment was engaged in the battle of Fredericksburg. Of this, the regiment's first experience in battle, Col. Parker writes,

For the first time, this regiment was thoroughly under fire, and proved itself equal to my warmest expectations. Not an officer flinched a tithe of a hair during thirty hours of trying exposure, commencing with a rush to the front, over a plain, under hot fire of ball and shell; and the coolness evinced by officers and men has won the applause it richly merited.

Companies B and C, on detached service, were not engaged.

After the army recrossed the Rappahannock and returned to Falmouth, the Thirty-second remained quietly in camp until the 30th of December, when the division made a reconnoissance to Morrisville, and, having accomplished its object, returned to camp next day.

Jan. 20, 1863, another movement against Fredericksburg commenced; but, the roads being found impassable for artillery, the expedition was abandoned, and the troops returned to Falmouth.

In the latter part of April, the army, under the command of Gen. Hooker, crossed the Rappahannock and the Rapidan, and, on the 4th and 5th of May, fought the battle of Chancellorsville. In this battle, the Thirty-second was actively engaged. On the retreat of the army, the regiment recrossed the Rapidan at U. S. Ford early on the morning of the 6th, and returned to Falmouth.

May 17, it was ordered to duty along the Acquia-Creek and Falmouth Railroads. Forts at Potomac-Creek Bridge were occupied, and guards stationed on the track.

June 9, it crossed the Rappahannock, in support of the cavalry fight at Brandy Station, being drawn up in line two miles from the station.

On the 19th, the regiment moved to Aldie; remained there until the 21st, when it moved in light marching order to Middletown, and threw out pickets beyond the town to protect the column advancing to Aldie Gap. It held this position until the object was accomplished, and then returned toward Aldie.

On the 26th, it moved through Leesburg; crossed the Potomac at Edward's Ferry, and bivouacked near Poolesville in Maryland. The marches northward were resumed the next day. The regi ment reached Hanover in Pennsylvania July 1, and the next day advanced towards Gettysburg, and formed a line of battle within two miles of that town. At two o'clock, P.M., it moved forward, and took position on an eminence just in the rear of the line of the Third Corps. In the engagements of this and the succeeding day, the Thirty-second took an active part, losing heavily in men, -eighty-one in killed, wounded, and missing, out of a total of two hundred and twenty-nine who went into battle.

Leaving the battle-field on the evening of July 5, the regiment pursued the retreating columns of the enemy toward the Potomac, which it crossed on the 19th; continued its march to Manassas Gap, and took part in supporting the troops engaged there in the fight of the 23d of July.

It advanced as far as Culpeper, Sept. 15, and remained there until Oct. 10. Meanwhile the Thirty-second received an allotment of a hundred and eighty-four drafted men. These proved generally to be good soldiers.

The regiment now shared in the retreat to Centreville, supporting the Second Corps in the action at Bristow Station.

Oct. 19, the army commenced a movement southward again, and reached Warrenton Junction on the 30th.

In the fight at Rappahannock Station, Nov. 7, the regiment was under fire, and was with the army in the movement across the Rapidan towards Orange Court House. Recrossing the Rapidan, the regiment went into camp alone at Liberty, a small village two miles west of Bealton, on the main road to Warrenton.

Jan. 13, 1864, three hundred and thirty men having re-enlisted for three years, an order from Gen. Sykes, commanding Fifth Army Corps, permitted the men to go to their homes for thirtyfive days, and take with them their arms and colors. When the regiment reached Boston, it was honored with a salute of artillery, and a handsome reception in Faneuil Hall by the Governor and the city authorities.

Feb. 17, the regiment left Boston, and arrived at Liberty, Va., on the 23d.

April 30, it broke camp. May 1, it crossed the Rappahannock for the fifteenth time, and the Rapidan, May 4, for the fifth time; continuing the march through a part of the Wilderness till dark. It bivouacked near the Wilderness Tavern; and the next day,

THE THIRTY-SECOND AT PETERSBURG.

353 May 5, was put in line of battle, and became engaged with the enemy, and for seventeen successive days and nights was under arms without an hour's respite, and in the front line always. In the hardships, victories, and losses of this unparalleled campaign, it shared with all the regiments in the Army of the Potomac.

On the 16th of June, the James River was crossed in transports, and the regiment marched to within three miles of Petersburg. On the 18th, it went to the front, was formed in line of battle, charged the enemy, and drove them over an open field into their last line of intrenchments. A second charge was made later in the day with but partial success: the enemy were not driven from their works; but the crest of the hill was gained, which afterwards formed the line of the part of the Ninth Corps when the famous mine was made.

In the first charge of this day, Col. George L. Prescott fell, mortally wounded. He was one of the best and bravest of officers. "In his veins flowed the pure blood of the Revolution." July 21 and Sept. 1, the regiment was engaged with the enemy on the Weldon Railroad. In both engagements it was attacked, and in both repulsed its assailants with heavy loss.

Sept. 30, the regiment made an advance to Poplar-Grove Church, two miles distant, where the enemy had forts, and lines of earthworks. The regiment was drawn up in front of Fort M-Rae, charged across an open field a thousand yards under a heavy fire, and took the fort with one piece of artillery and sixty prisoners. Soon after, the second line of works, to which the enemy had fallen back, was charged and taken.

At dusk the saine day, when the Ninth Corps, which had advanced in front, was coming back in confusion, Gen. Griffin threw his division upon the pursuing enemy, and checked and drove them back; thus saving the whole of the Ninth Corps and the fortunes of the day. This fighting is called the battle of Preble's Farm. Col. Edmands was wounded in the beginning of this engagement.

By order of the War Department, Oct. 26, the Eighteenth and Twenty-second Battalions were consolidated with the Thirty-second, to be called the Thirty-second Regiment. The same day, by order of Gen. Warren, the regiment was transferred from the second to the third brigade. This (third) now contained all the old regiments of the division, eight in number, and no new troops.

Dec. 12, the regiment went into comfortable winter-quarters.