SIGNED - FIFTH MASSACHUSETTS BATTERY - 1902 FIRST EDITION - CIVIL WAR

Description: HISTORY OF THE FIFTH MASSACHUSETTS BATTERY ORGANIZED OCTOBER 3, 1861 – MUSTERED OUT JUNE 12, 1865 SIGNED GIFT PRESENTATION FROM THE ADJUTANT GENERAL OF MASSACHUSETTS TO LIEUTENANT WALCOTT FROM THE 3rd MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER LIGHT ARTILLERY BATTERY - DATED 1904. WALCOTT WAS A BATTERY COMMANDER AT GETTYSBURG'S WHEATFIELD AND DEVIL'S DEN AS WELL AS OTHER BATTLES CONTAINS AN ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPH OF UNIT VETERANS FIRST EDITION NEAR FINE CONDITION PROTECTED IN A CLEAR, MYLAR DUST JACKET Original, handsome, Clean, Solidly Bound, Antique Book Handsome Cover Image with Soldier on Horseback with Unit Guideon Illustrated Throughout; Contains a Comprehensive Unit Roster PUBLISHED BY LUTHER E. COWLES, PUBLISHER, BOSTON, IN 1902 “A full and useful history, containing excerpts from letters, diaries, and recollections; a good source for the Army of the Potomac.” – Civil War Books The 5th Massachusetts Battery was organized in the fall of 1861. The battery left for Washington, D.C. on Christmas Day, and began a string of extensive combat during the course of the Civil War as part of the V Corps, Army of the Potomac. It embarked for Fortress Monroe and participated in the Peninsular Campaign, firing its first shots in combat at Howards Mills. The unit was present at the Siege of Yorktown, at Hanover Court House, and (after doing Pickett duty), if fought at Gaines' Mill where is was very heavily engaged losing four guns, several men and 22 horses. With the two guns remaining, it rendered valuable service at Malvern Hill before retiring to Harrison's Landing. After being temporarily disbanded, many of its members fought at the Battle of Bull Run. Returning to the defense of Washington, it was reequipped and rejoined its division at Sharpsburg. In December 1862, the Battery crossed the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg being sharply engaged there. It participated in the "Mud March" in January 1863, and in the Chancellorsville Campaign in May. It participated in the Battle of Gettysburg, with many casualties. In November it was engaged at Rappahannock Station, and later participated in the Mine Run Campaign. On May 4, 1864, the Battery crossed the Rapidan and was engaged at the Wilderness; it fought at Spotsylvania. It was engaged at Bethesda Church, near Bottom's Bridge, crossed the James River, and fought at Petersburg, including during the Battle of the Crater. It was in the movement to the Weldon Railroad and was stationed at various places on the east front of Petersburg. The 5th Battery was in the movement to Hatcher's Run and Jarrett's Station on the Weldon Railroad in December. On April 2, it participated in the general assault on Petersburg and after the capture of the Confederate battery position near the Jerusalem Road, two detachments from the 5th Battery were sent into the captured works to assist in turning the captured guns against the enemy. Remaining here about a month, on May 3, 1865, it started on its last march, passing northward across Central Virginia and reaching the defenses of Washington May 13. The unit was mustered out of service in June 1865. LIEUTENANT WALCOTT - BATTERY COMMANDER GETTYSBURG WHEATFIELD & DEVIL'S DEN Twenty-six years old, Lt. Walcott commanded the 3rd Massachusetts Battery was a part of the Artillery Brigade (Martin) attached to the V Corps (Sykes) at the Battle of Gettyburg. Captain Augustus Martin had commanded the battery through most of its service in the war, but had recently been promoted to command of the V Corps Artillery Brigade. During the Peninsular Campaign in 1862, the battery was engaged in several battles including Hanover Court House and, most notably, in the Battle of Gaines Mill during which the battery fired canister in the face of an overwhelming Confederate advance. In the campaigns that followed, between the Peninsula and Gettysburg, the battery was fortunate in being held in reserve or only lightly engaged After the Battle of Chancellorsville in May 1863, Capt. Martin was promoted and command of the 3rd Massachusetts Battery fell to Lt. Aaron Francis Walcott. The 3rd Massachusetts arrived on the field at Gettysburg about noon, having marched 65 miles in the past three days. They were ordered to keep close to Gen. James Barnes’s First Division of the V Corps which was posted on Stony Hill near the Wheatfield. Instructing Lt. Walcott to keep his battery where it was, Martin went off to deal with a Herculean task. Major General Gouverneur Warren had observed the enormous tactical importance of Little Round Top in anchoring the left of the Union line. At that time in the afternoon, however, the Union had yet to occupy the boulder strewn hill. Warren called for an infantry brigade from the nearby V Corps and one artillery battery from Martin’s brigade. Martin selected the 5th United States Battery D commanded by Lt. Charles Hazlett. Getting artillery pieces atop Little Round Top, up and over boulders, was a brutal task, but proved enormously effective in delivering fire on Devil’s Den. Returning to the V Corps line, the 3rd Massachusetts Battery took a position east of the Wheatfield and at the foot of Little Round Top, just north of the Wheatfield Road with Plum Run directly in their front. Plum Run, a small brook running along the base of Little Round Top, would be known after the battle as “Bloody Run” along the apporach of Confederate General Longstreet's assault. Their first indication that the situation had turned bad came when General Charles Griffin of the V Corps rode by their position and shouted to Walcott, “Get that battery out of there! You can’t live in that place five minutes!” Lt. Walcott must have considered how much time he had to limber up and save his guns. The answer came when Wofford’s Brigade of Georgians burst over Houck’s Ridge directly in their front. The Regulars at the stone wall, as surprised as the 3rd Massachusetts Battery, retreated in disorder, leaving the 3rd Massachusetts Battery exposed. Lt. Walcott gave the only order he could: spike the guns and abandon the battery, before the Georgians were on top of them. They might have been decimated had it not been for the counterattack of Crawford’s Pennsylvanians. The 13th Pennsylvania Reserves, the famed “Bucktails,” advanced on the battery’s position, checked the Georgians, retook the guns of the 3rd Massachusetts Battery and pushed the Confederates back through the Wheatfield. Lt. Walcott rallied his men and quickly pulled his guns by prolonge to the rear. They were eventually posted to the southeast of Big Round Top along today’s Wright Avenue at the extreme left of the Union position with Colonel Lewis Grant’s brigade of Vermonters. The position was a quiet one during the third day of battle on July 3. THIS BOOK IS IN NEAR FINE CONDITION This original, first edition, 1902, antique book contains a signed, gift presentation (dated 1904) by the Massachusetts Adjutant General to the battery commander Lieutenant Aaron F. Wallcote, 3rd Massachusetts Volunteer Light Battery. This book is in excellent overall condition and is protected in a clear, Mylar dust jacket (see photo #2). The book also contains an original photograph of veterans of the unit that is placed inside the book and marked "5th Mass Battery Reunion, Marblehead - August 18, 1902." Bound in red, cloth covers with gold lettering and image on the spine, and an image on the cover. The exterior is clean and has no bumping, rubbing or discernible edge wear. The spine lettering has faded some, but can still be read. The image on the cover is exceptionally sharp and bright. The interior is clean and the pages are in excellent condition. The aforementioned gift description is sharp and clear and is written on the front end page as shown. The book has some additional writing on some pages, in pencil. The book has no stamps, pasteboards, foxing, smudging or other markings. This is not an ex-library book. The book has a full page, full color frontispiece illustration of unit flags and has 34 other illustrations and maps throughout the book. The book has solid binding throughout; both hinges are fine. The book measures 10 inches by 6 1/2 inches by 2 1/4 inches. This is an excellent condition, first edition, clean, original, antique book with a Civil War era gift inscription. Track Page Views With Auctiva's FREE Counter

Price: 750 USD

Location: Burke, Virginia

End Time: 2025-01-14T00:34:53.000Z

Shipping Cost: 8.38 USD