bers, at once attacked their position by assault. Twice he was repulsed with severe loss; but undauntedly moving on the third time, his gallant division poured over the works into twice its numbers, and captured five hundred prisoners, while the remainder fled toward the river. Half a battery was also captured, and some colors. The enemy was vigorously pursued for three days, and on the morning of the 6th of April, when the whole army moved forward to attack him at Amelia Court House, where he was supposed to be resting, his rear was discovered in full retreat toward Lynchburg, by the Second Corps. Not a moment was lost in attacking him, and the retreat was soon changed into a rout. The course pursued by the enemy was a succession of hills and valleys, which afforded eligible positions for resistance, which the enemy availed himself of at five different times during the day, when his rear guard, of five or six thousand men, forming its line on the crests, strove to retard our advance upon the trains, which could be seen flying over the hills. The Second Corps formed in line of battle two miles in length, the whole front covered by skirmishers and with three brigades in reserve. The Fifth was in the front line during the whole day. The whole line moved forward together, and when it arrived in front of the position chosen by the rebels for defense, halting just long enough to discover the approaches, it invariably sent them flying after their retreating columns. The road for twelve miles was strewn with abandoned wagons and impediments of every kind, attesting to the terror of the fugitives. Just as the sun went down the enemy's train was discovered at Sailor's Creek at a halt, with the bridge and ford blocked so that a passage was impossible. On either side of the creek there rose lofty hills. On the crest of one of them between our advance and the creek, the rebel rear guard made an obstinate stand, but with one grand charge the Second Corps swept it over the hill across the creek, and up the next, and triumphantly took possession of the train. Darkness closed on the wearied men, who in the twelve hours of light had marched thirteen miles, fought five times, and captured fifteen hundred prisoners, three cannon, eleven colors, and a train of near two hundred wagons. Some hundred thousand dollars of "Confederate" money was captured in the train, with which our soldiers perpetrated the pleasantry of paying off the prisoners in their hands. The Fifth lost twentythree men killed and wounded during the day. The pursuit was resumed on the next morning. The Appomattox was crossed at High Bridge, a structure two thousand feet long and eighty feet high, which was set on fire at the west end, by the rebels, who, forming line of battle, endeavored to retard the advance of our troops until it should be materially injured; but they were soon put to flight, and the bridge, which promised to be of the utmost importance in future operations, was saved by the exertions of Major Livermore, of the Fifth New Hampshire Regiment, of Major General Humphrey's Staff. At a short distance from Farmville the rebels made a stand with their whole army against the Second Corps the only infantry across the river-and the cavalry. They skirmished with the rebels all day, not having force enough to warrant a direct assault, expecting the arrival of re-enforcements. Near sundown all the companies of the Fifth but two, which remained on the skirmish line, with two other regiments, were selected to make a charge. The Fifth was commanded by Capt. Ricker, Lieut. Colonel Crafts being in command of the skirmishers. The country between the enemy's works and the right flank of the corps, from which point the assault was to be made, was a succession of abrupt hills and difficult ravines, presenting great obstacles to a rapid movement. The regiment moved forward, and almost immediately the enemy opened with both a direct and cross fire, and one of the most bloody battles in which the Fifth had been engaged during the war, ensued. Close to the works the colors of the regiment were taken by the enemy. Lieut. Ryder, a gallant officer, was killed, and Capt. Collins, a brave man, was mortally wounded. Both of these had joined the regiment from the Engineers Corps. Capt. Ricker, in the most persistent efforts to carry his line forward, fell with three wounds-one of which he had borne all day-after having two horses shot under him, and was taken prisoner close to the works. The loss of the Fifth on this day was six officers and one hundred and four men killed and wounded, and four officers and sixty-three men taken prisoners. The next day the regiment moved again in the pursuit, when Capt. Ricker was recaptured. On the 9th, the shattered remnant of the Fifth having followed to the surrender, received back its colors, which it had fairly won from the rebels, together with the release of the captured officers and men. After the surrender of the rebel army, the Fifth marched through Richmond to the vicinity of Washington, and in May marched in grand review before the President. On the last of June it started for Concord, and was mustered out of service on the 8th of July, 1865. During the three years and nine months that this regiment was in the service, it had borne upon its rolls the names of about twenty-six hundred men. It lost from the casualties of war about fifteen hundred, about thirteen hundred of which were in actions. Sixteen of its officers were killed or mortally wounded in battle. The foregoing sketch of the Fifth Regiment has been taken mostly from the Adjutant General's reports, and serves to give but a faint and imperfect idea of its valuable services during the war; its desperate and bloody battles, than which none from this State can show a longer list; its hardships in the trenches opposite Petersburg and on working details; its fatiguing marches and privations incident to war, all of which the men endured. with uncomplaining patience and bravery. Were a full history of its operations attempted, a much larger volume than the one in hand would be required to contain it. Instances of individual gallantry on the part of officers and men in that regiment are so numerous that a list of them would be too great for present limits; and a roll of its killed in battle would appear almost incredible. May a grateful country do the Fifth New Hampshire Regiment of Volunteers justice-written history never can. SIXTH REGIMENT. This Regiment was recruited mainly in the western part of the State, under the same call and with the same bounty as was paid to the three preceding ones. It rendezvoused at Keene, and was mustered into the United States service on the 27th, 28th and 30th of November, 1861, and left the State for the seat of war on the 25th of December, with ten hundred and twentyfour officers and men. The following were its field, staff and company officers while in service, with the official record of each: FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS. COLONELS-Nelson Converse, of Marlborough. Simon G. Griffin, of Concord. Resigned March 8, 1862. Promoted to Brigadier General U. S. Vols. May 12, 1864. Phin P. Bixby, of Concord. Appointed Colonel U. S. Vols. by brevet, for gallant and highly meritorious conduct in the assault before Petersburg, Va., to date from April 2, 1865. Mustered out July 17, 1865. Lieut. Colonels-Nelson Converse, of Marlborough. Promoted to Colonel Oct. 26, 1861. Simon G. Griffin, of Concord. Promoted to Colonel April 22, 1862. Charles Scott, of Peterborough. Phin P. Bixby, of Concord. Resigned Oct. 4, 1862. Killed in action May 26, 1864. Promoted to Colonel Feb. 21, 1865. Samuel D. Quarles, of Ossipee. Appointed Lieut. Colonel U. S. Vols. by brevet, for gallant and meritorious conduct before Petersburg, Va., to date from April 2, 1865. Mustered out July 17, 1865. Majors-Charles Scott, of Peterborough. Promoted to Lieut. Colonel April 22, 1862. |