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at Po river, Tottopottomy creek, North Anna, South Anna, and the great fights of Spottsylvania, May 18th, the ‘Daylight Assault’ of May 12th, also the ‘Bloody Angle.’
On May 12th, after our daylight assault, we captured the formidable earthworks, 3,000 prisoners, twenty-two pieces of artillery, and two major-generals, (Stuart and F. Lee). While on top of the bastion, I seized the gun of a dead soldier and some ammunition and commenced to load and fire upon the Confederates.
I had fired thus three times when a piece of exploded shell struck me exactly upon my belt-plate, doubled up the plate and completely knocked the breath out of me. I fell forward into the earthworks, where I remained until two P. M. I had lain there from about nine A. M. I was finally carried back to the field hospital, and after remaining three days I again reported to the front for duty.
About this time Colonel Richard Byrnes of the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts returned from the recruiting service, and took command of the brigade, and as my regiment had lost many officers, I was ordered to my regiment, then commanded by Colonel George W. Cartwright.
On May 18th, at Spottsylvania, the brigade had captured a line of earthworks and held it some time, subjected to an enfilading fire of grape and cannister and shell.
A consulting of officers was held at the base of a large tree.
While congregated there, a rebel shell exploded in our midst, killing outright Captain Magner, Major Lawler, and Captains Cockran and McIntyre, and severely wounding Major Fleming, Captain Page, Captain Annand, and Lieutenant Bird.
Thus were terribly decimated the officers in the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts regiment.
June 3rd and 4th was fought the battle of Cold Harbor, Va., and this regiment on the night of June 4th could muster only two officers, Captain Noyes and myself, and less than 100 men. When the Twenty-eighth went into the Wilderness, May 3rd and 4th, we had 385 men and twenty-seven officers.
In just thirty days it was reduced to two officers and less than 100 men.
On June 4th, 1864, at the battle of Cold Harbor, First
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Somerville. Historical Society. , 1903.
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