War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld

June 5. —Were again under orders to move, and did not get off until 6 P.M. We then moved to the rear, throwing back our right, as we form the extreme right of the army, the Fifth Corps moving to the left. Very heavy firing on our extreme left, some ten miles off, I should think. The enemy attacked the Eighteenth Corps a little after dusk, and were repulsed. Saw Ladd to-day.

In the field, near Bethesda Church, June 4, 1864.

Dear Father — Your letters of May 26th and 28th were received yesterday, and glad enough I was to get them.

We form the extreme right of the army, and are in strong fortifications. Yesterday our corps attacked the enemy in our front, and drove them about half a mile. The day before, we fell back from our line about two miles in front of our present one, in order to keep up our connection with the rest of the army, which had moved to the left. While falling back the enemy attacked us, but we held our own and repulsed them. Our brigade was not actively engaged yesterday, being held in reserve. We were started from one end of the line to the other, and then back again, being under heavy shell fire, and scattering musketry. I had a very narrow escape. I was sitting on a fallen tree, when a 12-pounder shell came along very nearly spent, and grazed my coat sleeve. If I had not changed my position about 15 seconds before, it would have struck me in my right shoulder.

The enemy made a heavy attack on Hancock’s Corps late last evening, and were repulsed with heavy loss. Things look well, although I have no idea what General Grant’s plans can be. I should think that he would endeavor to reach the James River, and join with Butler.

I am perfectly well, although pretty well tired out from this hard campaigning. You have no idea of what the men and officers have had to undergo for the last month. A good portion of the time I have slept on the ground without blankets or shelter during rain and shine. I have not caught cold, and have never been in better health.

Give my love to all the family.

P.S. I received my commission as colonel this morning.

June 4. — We were under orders to march during the whole day. Finally moved in the afternoon to a position between the Fifth Corps and the Eighteenth Corps. We were placed in reserve under the crest of a hill. Took tea with Captain Wright.

June 3. — We were held in reserve, and had to march and countermarch all day long. We were finally moved out to support Willcox, who was to make a charge. While we were lying here, a shell came along and grazed my coat sleeve. I had just changed my position, thereby saving my life, for the shell otherwise would have hit me in the back. We were finally moved to form a junction between Willcox and Potter. We did so, and after building rifle-pits retired to our old position, leaving the 39th to guard the pits. I was in command of the brigade part of the day as the general was sick.[1]

[Since this diary was written, I have found out that we formed the extreme right of the army, this right being refused so as to protect our rear. This brought us back to back with our troops right in front of us, our line being curved around like a fish-hook, and we forming the barb, as it were. It also turned us back to the enemy. There was a battery somewhere on our flank that was annoying us, and the rumor was that Willcox was to charge it and we were to support him. Anyway, the men were all lying down, and I was sitting with a cape of my coat thrown over my shoulder, leaning against the roots of an rooted pine tree. Shells and bullets would keep dropping every once in a while, but nothing hot or heavy. I finally got tired and threw my legs from one side of the trunk to the other. It was not more than five seconds after I had done this that a shell fired at our troops on the front of our line, along the long part of the fish-hook, as it were, came over them, and plunged through the roots of the pine tree, just grazing my shoulder and covering me all over with dirt. It dropped right at my feet. Had I not changed my position, I should have been taken square in the back and crushed to pieces. It made me very nervous about shells. Until then I had not minded them much. Sometimes they seem to burst in the air all around you and never do much harm, although occasionally one would be destructive. My men all jumped up, thinking I was killed ; but my usual luck attended me and I came out all right.]

[1] The fighting in these early days of June is known as the Battle of Cold Harbor.

Near Tottopotamoy Creek, Va.,
(11 miles from Richmond) June 2, 1864

Dear Father, — We are stationed here about four or five miles from Mechanicsville, and about 11 from Richmond. We are bivouacking, and may move at any moment. We have had skirmishing almost every day, in which this regiment has lost some men. Yesterday evening the enemy opened a heavy fire on us, advancing a very heavy line of skirmishers on to the front of our corps, and also on the Fifth Corps. It was more of a reconnoissance on their part than a general attack. They were driven back along the whole line.

Our men are pretty well used up by this campaign. Officers as well as men need rest, and I hope we shall get it before long. A great many of the men are without shoes, and most all of them are in rags. We have communication open with White House now, and I hope that we shall soon have all such deficiencies supplied.

We shall have some pretty hard fighting before we get Richmond. We are gradually working our way to the left towards James River, where I imagine we shall open communication with Butler.

I never knew before what campaigning was. I think, though, that all this army have a pretty fair idea of it now. We have had to march all day and all night, ford rivers, bivouac without blankets or any covering during rain and sunshine, and a good part of the time have been half starved. I know that no one staying at home can have any idea of what this army has been through. Any one who gets through safely may consider himself lucky.

We have lost 300 men in killed, wounded and missing since the beginning of the campaign. The missing amount to about 30 or 40 men, many of them killed and wounded. I have but 250 men for duty now, —rather a contrast to the size of the regiment when we left Readville.

Do you know whether I am to be commissioned as colonel of the regiment or not? No other person, were he commissioned, could take the place, as there are not enough men for him to be mustered. If I am commissioned as colonel and my commission dates the 6th or 7th of May, I can probably be mustered back to that date, as I have been acting as colonel since then. I had over a minimum regiment on the 7th of May.

I think there is no doubt about our getting Richmond. It will undoubtedly be hard work, but we expect that.

I have not heard from home for a long time. I suppose you have seen Major Jarves. He behaved splendidly.

Give my love to all the family.

Thursday, June 2. — We were under marching orders, and about 3 P.M. moved to our rear. The whole corps marched ahead of us, leaving us as rear-guard. We had not gone far before the rebels attacked us. The whole thing was miserably managed. We checked the enemy, however. Our regiment was in the third line, being in front of Captain Thomas’s battery. While there we lost about six men, and Lieutenant Mitchell, wounded by our own shell. We were moved afterwards to the right, occupying some temporary rifle-pits. Had a heavy thundershower during the afternoon, just before the enemy attacked. Captain Cowdin, F. O. D., was wounded while falling back. During night, rainy. Dug some strong rifle-pits.

[Our position this day was a most disagreeable one. We were supporting a battery and in front of it, they firing over our heads and we lying down on the ground. The battery was on slightly rising ground, but the shells stripped as they were fired from the guns, and as the firing was unusually bad, it was most destructive to our regiment, as the strips of the shells and shot flew around us right and left. It was bad enough to be killed by the rebels, but to have our own men shoot us was worse. Captain Cowdin never turned up. He was probably killed. The last seen of him he was getting over a wall. He was a good officer and did his duty well, and we were very sorry to lose him.]

Wednesday, June 1. — We did not get the regiment into camp until about 2 A.M. We occupy a very unpleasant place. The road passes right in our rear, and a cloud of dust envelopes us night and day. We were under marching orders all day. The enemy attacked the Fifth Corps, and also made a reconnoissance in force in our front. Saw Riddle and Mason in the evening. Hancock moved to the left.

Tuesday, May 31.— We were ordered out to the front, and took possession of some rifle-pits. Remained there but a few minutes as the enemy were found to be in strong force. Had two men shot while moving out, by the enemy’s sharpshooters. Went back to our old rifle-pits, but about two o’clock were ordered out again, the 56th being deployed as skirmishers in front of the brigade. Moved forward and took possession of the pits we vacated in the morning. Skirmishers were thrown out 6o paces in front of the rifle-pits. Had some heavy skirmishing for about an hour. Lost two men killed, and thirteen wounded, and one officer. About dark the brigade was withdrawn, the 56th remaining until 12 P.M., when we were relieved.

[I cannot find from my diary exactly when what I am about to narrate here occurred, but it was somewhere within a day or two, if it was not this very day. We were ordered out to attack the enemy, and it was to be in the nature of a surprise as far as possible, so that orders were given that no one should speak above a whisper. All orders were whispered to the men, and we were told, in marching forward, to try and not even break the branches on the ground that we were treading on. It was a beautiful summer’s day, birds were singing and the sun shimmering and shining through the trees. Everything as far as nature was concerned was as far removed from the idea or appearance of war as it possibly could be. I do not think that the suspense of going into a fight was ever so trying as it was on this occasion, and that is why I mention it here. It made such an impression on me that it will last the rest of my life. Everything, as I have said, in the surroundings breathed of peace and beauty and quiet and the loveliness of nature. Contrasted with it, we knew that within two or three minutes there would be a fight, and while advancing and waiting for the first shot to come, I had all I could do to keep myself up to my duty. When the first shot was fired, I did not care, the charm was broken, and I was ready to do my duty; but the suspense of waiting for this was perfectly awful.]

Monday, May 30. — We moved to the front about noon. We then went into position in the right of the Fifth Corps. Threw up rifle-pits and remained there during the night. Quite heavy skirmishing in our front. Day pleasant.