Episode 40 PVT Martin A. Haynes and the 2nd New Hampshire at the Battle of Cold Harbor

At the Battle of Cold Harbor, 3 June 1864, PVT Martin A. Haynes and the 2nd New Hampshire, just days from the expiration of their enlistments, advanced into what would become one of the great debacles of the Civil War as the XVIII, VI and II Corps suffered heavy casualties during their failed advance upon Confederate fortifications.

 Sources used for this episode:

 Haynes, Martin A. A History of the Second Regiment, New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, In the War of the Rebellion. Lakeport, 1896. https://www.loc.gov/item/02001828/.

 Scott, Robert N. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. ser. 1, vol. 36, pt: 1 – Reports. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1891. https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924097311744&view=1up&seq=3/

 Haynes, Martin A. History of the Second Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers: Its Campaigns, Marches and Battles. Manchester: Charles F. Livingston, 1865. https://archive.org/details/03435198.3268.emory.edu.

Transcript

0:22

Hello everyone. My name is bill Conklin and welcome to first person civil war podcast. Which retails the stories of the soldiers and officers on the ground, in the battles of the civil war. Episode 40 is entitled. Private Martin, a Haynes. And the second New Hampshire at the battle of cold Harbor. And relies on his book. Uh, history of the second regiment, New Hampshire volunteer infantry in the war of the rebellion, which he privately published in 1896. Martin Alonzo Haines was born in Springfield, New Hampshire on 30 July, 1842. And by the early 1860s lived in Manchester, New Hampshire with his family. H 19, when the civil war began, he worked as a printer when he decided to enlist on 22 May, 1861. And the second New Hampshire infantry. When president Lincoln made his initial call for 75,003 months, volunteers. The state of New Hampshire, given his population was only required to field one regiment. Volunteers from across the state soon flooded into Concord, the state Capitol. Which easily filled the ranks of the first New Hampshire. By late April state authorities correctly assumed that a further call for New Hampshire volunteers was forthcoming. And decided to organize the 700 men not assigned to the first regiment into a second regiment. By may the second New Hampshire moved to camp constitution just outside of port Smith. And mustered into service as a three year regiment with an initial strength of 1022 men. March and a Haynes enlisted as a private in the second New Hampshire, alongside 70 other men from Manchester, which formed company I. While drilling and becoming a soldier, private Haines recall several instances in camp. To be sure time passed very pleasantly at camp constitution. With an occasional extra excitement, like the ridiculous hogs had Regata on the mill pond. Meaning a boat race. Of the rebellion of the Abbott guard. Company I private Haynes is company. Against the character of its rations. Which resulted in the company being put under guard in its quarters. But effected the desired change in the interest of the whole regiment. The second New Hampshire departed for Washington DC by train on 20 June and arrived there three days later. The regimen joined the army of Northwestern, Virginia, and fought in the first battle of bull run. Following that defeat. The second New Hampshire remained at Washington DC. While the rest of the brigade being 90 day, volunteers returned home. As the army of the Potomac formed in the wake of first bull run. Private Haynes. And the second New Hampshire found themselves in the first brigade, second division of the third core. And fought in the peninsula campaign. Second bull run Fredericksburg. And at the battle of Gettysburg in the divisions, third brigade. The second New Hampshire suffered heavily at Gettysburg. And by late July, 1863, the regiment was reassigned as guards at the point, lookout prisoner of war camp in Maryland. While the regiment refilled its ranks with more volunteers. As they arrived in November and December of 1863, private Haines commented on the new recruits. There was a little good material mixed in with these recruits. But it is no credit to New Hampshire that she turns such a massive rubbish loose into her old veteran regiments. The old men of the second, the true New Hampshire boys. Who for more than two years had faced death fearlessly to make a record, what should be the pride of their state for ages? Keenly felt the change at com. For them, the old second of glorious memory and heroic achievements had ceased to exist. With enough strength to retake the field. Private Haynes. And the second New Hampshire returned to the Virginia peninsula in April, 1864. Assigned to Colonel Griffin Alexander Steadman's second brigade. In Brigadier general, John H March and Dale's second division. Of major general William F Smith's 18th core. Of the army of the James commanded by major general Benjamin F. Butler. Following the unsuccessful Bermuda hundred campaign, Lieutenant general grant ordered the 18th core detached from the army of the James. And traveled by boat toward the army of the Potomac. Now operating between the poll monkey and the Chickahominy rivers. On one, June, 1864, private Haines, and the second New Hampshire reconnected with the army of the Potomac. When after a misdirected, March the 18th core met the sixth core at a crossroads called cold Harbor. Formed on their right and joined in the ongoing battle. As the rest of the army, the Potomac was still further north and west. The fighting on this day, fell to the 18th and sixth cores. As they approach the Confederate lines, private Haines, and the second New Hampshire got some morbid amusement from the baggage trains. As Martin deal's division came upon the field. Uh, rebel battery opened upon it unexpectedly. Sending the cooks waiters camp followers, and other non-combatants flying out from the column in wild excitement. The ludicrous plight of the cloud of frightened men. Spavined. And horses and broken down mules loaded with camp kettles and other truck. Was too much for the gravity of the fighting men. This was the second day of the battle of cold Harbor with the day prior being a cavalry engagement. The second New Hampshire on this day, sustained light casualties on the right flank. And the advance was ordered for the next day, but the army of the Potomac was not fully concentrated and the order was delayed. For private Haines and the old veterans of the second New Hampshire. They were less than a week away from the expiration of their enlistments. Yet, they were on the Eve of one of the bloodiest advances of the civil war, which would solidify a belief in the north. That Lieutenant general grant was a butcher. Having participated in one advance already many within the ranks expected a bloody fight the next day. It was well-known that there was to be a big fight in the morning. And grouped in their comfortless bevel, whack, med rocks and bushes wet with a sudden rain. The men discuss their chances of battle. For whom would be a mystery of fate until the casting of the bloody die on the Moro. But while the hardship of the situation was fully appreciated and discussed. There was no disposition to Dodge. It. One of the men express the sentiment. It wouldn't be good manners to go without saying goodbye to our old friends, the Giannis. Like other battles of the Overland campaign. The Confederate Seldon entrenched line, a cold Harper. Which made the success of an assault difficult. On top of this, the ground, which the 18th core was to advance across was not ideal. According to private Haines. The ground over which the 18th Corps had to move. Was the most exposed of any over which the charges were made on. On the front of the Corps, wasn't open plain, gradually narrowing toward the left, across which the troops were to advance. The main assault was to be made by March and Dale's division. His division. Undercover of a depression, which would afford a slight protection from an inflating fire. Meaning firing down the length of a line. To which it would be exposed on its right. At 4:30 AM on three, June, 1864. The second, sixth and 18th cores. Began their assault through a dense fog upon the well-constructed Confederate fortifications at cold Harbor. Advancing on the right flank was private Haynes and the second New Hampshire. The assaulting column moved promptly. The enemy skirmishers were rushed back. And on Brooks's front, the first division. His rifle pits were captured. The column was now within striking distance. And was halted until Smith could see what he was leading his troops into. Major general Smith halted his entire core to rearrange his lines. Which meant the assault was disjointed with the sixth core. Brigadier general, March and Dale, unable to see through the fog and hearing the roar of battle to his left. Ordered his division to again, advance on his own volition. Marching toward the Confederate fortifications was private Haynes and the second New Hampshire. Steadman's brigade was formed in mass by battalion. The 12th, New Hampshire leading. And the second, the fifth battalion. Meaning in the rare. As the brigade fully uncovered. Meaning out of the depression. It was greeted by an awful fire from the rebel works. It was a straight dash of 400 yards to the rebel lines. As the column plunged forward, it left an awful trail of the dead and wounded at every step of its progress. It was very soon apparent that the charge could not succeed. When only halfway across. So murderous was the fire that the 12th loss, half of its men and every other regiment heavily. The Confederate brigade that initially faced private Haynes in the second New Hampshire does not have a report to reference. But they did call upon the support of Colonel James P Simms commander of the 53rd Georgia. And on that day, the Georgia regiments of Brian's brigade. About the time, the minute stacked arms, preparatory to rest. An attack was made on general laws line. He sent a courier to me asking that I would move up to his assistance. As his works had not been well supplied with ammunition. The brigade was put under arms immediately and moved up to general laws line through a heavy fire of musketry. The men moved up in gallon style, and very soon the enemy were forced to retire. Under heavy fire. The 18th core retreated to its original position. And private Haines and the second New Hampshire. Still a cohesive regiment, engage the Confederates at a distance. The column was thrown back in some confusion. But at the edge of a point of woods from which they had charged the troops halted. The second regiment whose loss had been less than any of the others. Arrived at this point in very good order. And as soon as it's front was clear of the retreating troops opened fire on the enemy. In fact it was while holding this line, that the regiment suffered a large portion of its loss. With the charge of the 18th core, a failure, the second New Hampshire and other regiments. Erected hasty earthworks with whatever they could find. Knives plates, bayonets and their bare hands. All while continuing to fire upon the Confederates from a distance. Old and well-respected comrades of private Haines and the entire regiment began to fall as they hastily dug under fire. So dire was the situation that even a regimental surgeon came up to the line. In this fight. Good old Dr. Bonton assistant surgeon established his reputation with the men. He had been well-liked and it was a no spirit of his disrespect, but on account of his bald plate. That he was familiarly known as old lamp stone. In some way, he got possession of a shovel and taking a position. Well, up to the line, he threw up a little entrenchment of his own. And was in position to render immediate surgical assistance to many, a poor wounded fellow. Whoever afterwards, swore by old lamps stone. The second New Hampshire was relieved the next day. And over the next few days rotated into the entrenchments to relieve other regiments. Private Haynes recalls that even in relieving a unit from the line could be hazardous. The second, simply drew back a little distance and in the days and nights that succeeded had its full share of duty on the front line. From this line, the sharp shooting was continuous and men were wounded every day. They were relieved at night and the person who passed in or out by daylight took a great many chances. It was a brace for a rush. A jump. A foot race against time and a plunge for cover and always plenty of music about one's ears before he landed. Private Haynes. And the second New Hampshire had just experienced one of the most lopsided battles of the civil war. Though the union army remained in position and dug extensive fortifications over the next several days. The failed advance of three June a cold Harper was seen to the heaviest fighting. Of the approximately 18,000 overall casualties from the battle of cold Harbor. Almost 13,700 we're from the union army. On eight, June, 1864. What remained the three year veterans, including private Haines departed, the entrenchments having completed their enlistments. By 15 June. The men were back in New Hampshire and mustard out of service in Concord. Of the original strength of 1022 men. 28 officers and 199 enlisted men mustered out of service. Also present, but not counted on these roles where the four officers and 66 enlisted men. That re-enlisted for further service and other regiments. After this state, the second New Hampshire, according to Martin, a Haynes was the new second. And remained an active regiment for the remainder of the war around Richmond, but did so without the old soldiers. Martin a Haynes became a successful newspaper publisher after the war, as well as a politician who served in the New Hampshire house of representatives. And two terms and the us house of representatives for new Hampshire's first district. He published his book, a history of the second regiment, New Hampshire volunteer infantry in the war, the rebellion in 1896. But in the preface of his book, he confesses that this is a second edition. He goes on to defend the reprint. The present work is a no sense of rewriting or revision of the former volume. The writer has had a, his command, a great deal of material, not then conveniently available. For which he has attempted to reconstruct a reasonably complete and fairly satisfactory history of the regiment. The writer fully appreciates that the most exacting critics will be the grizzled old veterans who in their glorious manhood, rot, their deeds of which this book is a record. If it passes muster with them. He has little care of what others may think or say. To you living or dead. Comrades of the old second. This volume is affectionately, inscribed and dedicated. I will include a link to the original volume in the show notes, but I will second what Martin Haynes wrote. His 1896 edition. Indeed includes more information than the original. And to anyone listening, who happens to have an ancestral link to the second New Hampshire. You owe it to yourself to look through the 1896 edition. This volume contains hundreds of pictures of the men that served in the second New Hampshire. The most I've seen out of any of the sources featured on the podcast thus far. Thank you for listening to the 40th episode. The link to private Haynes's book is now available on the podcast website. First person, civil war, podcast.com. On Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn. This week, you will find a picture of Martin, a Haynes sometime during the war. In two weeks time. Corporal E McDowell Anderson. Of company G second Missouri Confederate provides next episodes. First person account at the battle. Of champion hill. My name is Belle Caughlin. And thank you for listening to first person civil war podcast.