January 22, 2025 • 19 mins
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.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:22):
Hello everyone.
My name is bill Conklin andwelcome to first person civil
war podcast.
Which retails the stories of thesoldiers and officers on the
ground, in the battles of thecivil war.
Episode 40 is entitled.
Private Martin, a Haynes.
(00:43):
And the second New Hampshire atthe battle of cold Harbor.
And relies on his book.
Uh, history of the secondregiment, New Hampshire
volunteer infantry in the war ofthe rebellion, which he
privately published in 1896.
Martin Alonzo Haines was born inSpringfield, New Hampshire on 30
(01:05):
July, 1842.
And by the early 1860s lived inManchester, 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 Hampshireinfantry.
When president Lincoln made hisinitial call for 75,003 months,
(01:29):
volunteers.
The state of New Hampshire,given his population was only
required to field one regiment.
Volunteers from across the statesoon flooded into Concord, the
state Capitol.
Which easily filled the ranks ofthe first New Hampshire.
By late April state authoritiescorrectly assumed that a further
(01:50):
call for New Hampshirevolunteers was forthcoming.
And decided to organize the 700men not assigned to the first
regiment into a second regiment.
By may the second New Hampshiremoved to camp constitution just
outside of port Smith.
And mustered into service as athree year regiment with an
(02:11):
initial strength of 1022 men.
March and a Haynes enlisted as aprivate in the second New
Hampshire, alongside 70 othermen from Manchester, which
formed company I.
While drilling and becoming asoldier, private Haines recall
several instances in camp.
(02:31):
To be sure time passed verypleasantly at camp constitution.
With an occasional extraexcitement, like the ridiculous
hogs had Regata on the millpond.
Meaning a boat race.
Of the rebellion of the Abbottguard.
Company I private Haynes iscompany.
Against the character of itsrations.
(02:53):
Which resulted in the companybeing put under guard in its
quarters.
But effected the desired changein the interest of the whole
regiment.
The second New Hampshiredeparted for Washington DC by
train on 20 June and arrivedthere three days later.
The regimen joined the army ofNorthwestern, Virginia, and
(03:16):
fought in the first battle ofbull run.
Following that defeat.
The second New Hampshireremained at Washington DC.
While the rest of the brigadebeing 90 day, volunteers
returned home.
As the army of the Potomacformed in the wake of first bull
run.
Private Haynes.
And the second New Hampshirefound themselves in the first
(03:38):
brigade, second division of thethird core.
And fought in the peninsulacampaign.
Second bull run Fredericksburg.
And at the battle of Gettysburgin the divisions, third brigade.
The second New Hampshiresuffered heavily at Gettysburg.
And by late July, 1863, theregiment was reassigned as
(04:02):
guards at the point, lookoutprisoner of war camp in
Maryland.
While the regiment refilled itsranks with more volunteers.
As they arrived in November andDecember of 1863, private Haines
commented on the new recruits.
There was a little good materialmixed in with these recruits.
(04:23):
But it is no credit to NewHampshire that she turns such a
massive rubbish loose into herold veteran regiments.
The old men of the second, thetrue New Hampshire boys.
Who for more than two years hadfaced death fearlessly to make a
record, what should be the prideof their state for ages?
Keenly felt the change at com.
(04:45):
For them, the old second ofglorious memory and heroic
achievements had ceased toexist.
With enough strength to retakethe field.
Private Haynes.
And the second New Hampshirereturned to the Virginia
peninsula in April, 1864.
Assigned to Colonel GriffinAlexander Steadman's second
(05:06):
brigade.
In Brigadier general, John HMarch and Dale's second
division.
Of major general William FSmith's 18th core.
Of the army of the Jamescommanded by major general
Benjamin F.
Butler.
Following the unsuccessfulBermuda hundred campaign,
Lieutenant general grant orderedthe 18th core detached from the
(05:30):
army of the James.
And traveled by boat toward thearmy of the Potomac.
Now operating between the pollmonkey and the Chickahominy
rivers.
On one, June, 1864, privateHaines, and the second New
Hampshire reconnected with thearmy of the Potomac.
When after a misdirected, Marchthe 18th core met the sixth core
(05:53):
at a crossroads called coldHarbor.
Formed on their right and joinedin the ongoing battle.
As the rest of the army, thePotomac was still further north
and west.
The fighting on this day, fellto the 18th and sixth cores.
As they approach the Confederatelines, private Haines, and the
(06:13):
second New Hampshire got somemorbid amusement from the
baggage trains.
As Martin deal's division cameupon the field.
Uh, rebel battery opened upon itunexpectedly.
Sending the cooks waiters campfollowers, and other
non-combatants flying out fromthe column in wild excitement.
(06:37):
The ludicrous plight of thecloud of frightened men.
Spavined.
And horses and broken down mulesloaded with camp kettles and
other truck.
Was too much for the gravity ofthe fighting men.
This was the second day of thebattle of cold Harbor with the
day prior being a cavalryengagement.
(06:59):
The second New Hampshire on thisday, sustained light casualties
on the right flank.
And the advance was ordered forthe next day, but the army of
the Potomac was not fullyconcentrated and the order was
delayed.
For private Haines and the oldveterans of the second New
Hampshire.
They were less than a week awayfrom the expiration of their
(07:19):
enlistments.
Yet, they were on the Eve of oneof the bloodiest advances of the
civil war, which would solidifya belief in the north.
That Lieutenant general grantwas a butcher.
Having participated in oneadvance already many within the
ranks expected a bloody fightthe next day.
(07:41):
It was well-known that there wasto be a big fight in the
morning.
And grouped in their comfortlessbevel, whack, med rocks and
bushes wet with a sudden rain.
The men discuss their chances ofbattle.
For whom would be a mystery offate until the casting of the
bloody die on the Moro.
But while the hardship of thesituation was fully appreciated
(08:03):
and discussed.
There was no disposition toDodge.
It.
One of the men express thesentiment.
It wouldn't be good manners togo without saying goodbye to our
old friends, the Giannis.
Like other battles of theOverland campaign.
The Confederate Seldonentrenched line, a cold Harper.
(08:24):
Which made the success of anassault 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 18thCorps had to move.
Was the most exposed of any overwhich the charges were made on.
(08:44):
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 madeby March and Dale's division.
His division.
Undercover of a depression,which would afford a slight
protection from an inflatingfire.
Meaning firing down the lengthof a line.
(09:07):
To which it would be exposed onits right.
At 4:30 AM on three, June, 1864.
The second, sixth and 18thcores.
Began their assault through adense fog upon the
well-constructed Confederatefortifications at cold Harbor.
(09:27):
Advancing on the right flank wasprivate Haynes and the second
New Hampshire.
The assaulting column movedpromptly.
The enemy skirmishers wererushed back.
And on Brooks's front, the firstdivision.
His rifle pits were captured.
The column was now withinstriking distance.
(09:49):
And was halted until Smith couldsee what he was leading his
troops into.
Major general Smith halted hisentire core to rearrange his
lines.
Which meant the assault wasdisjointed with the sixth core.
Brigadier general, March andDale, unable to see through the
fog and hearing the roar ofbattle to his left.
(10:10):
Ordered his division to again,advance on his own volition.
Marching toward the Confederatefortifications was private
Haynes and the second NewHampshire.
Steadman's brigade was formed inmass by battalion.
The 12th, New Hampshire leading.
And the second, the fifthbattalion.
Meaning in the rare.
(10:31):
As the brigade fully uncovered.
Meaning out of the depression.
It was greeted by an awful firefrom the rebel works.
It was a straight dash of 400yards to the rebel lines.
As the column plunged forward,it left an awful trail of the
(10:52):
dead and wounded at every stepof its progress.
It was very soon apparent thatthe charge could not succeed.
When only halfway across.
So murderous was the fire thatthe 12th loss, half of its men
and every other regimentheavily.
The Confederate brigade thatinitially faced private Haynes
(11:14):
in the second New Hampshire doesnot have a report to reference.
But they did call upon thesupport of Colonel James P Simms
commander of the 53rd Georgia.
And on that day, the Georgiaregiments of Brian's brigade.
About the time, the minutestacked arms, preparatory to
(11:34):
rest.
An attack was made on generallaws line.
He sent a courier to me askingthat I would move up to his
assistance.
As his works had not been wellsupplied with ammunition.
The brigade was put under armsimmediately and moved up to
general laws line through aheavy fire of musketry.
The men moved up in gallonstyle, and very soon the enemy
(11:58):
were forced to retire.
Under heavy fire.
The 18th core retreated to itsoriginal position.
And private Haines and thesecond New Hampshire.
Still a cohesive regiment,engage the Confederates at a
distance.
The column was thrown back insome confusion.
(12:18):
But at the edge of a point ofwoods from which they had
charged the troops halted.
The second regiment whose losshad been less than any of the
others.
Arrived at this point in verygood order.
And as soon as it's front wasclear of the retreating troops
opened fire on the enemy.
In fact it was while holdingthis line, that the regiment
(12:40):
suffered a large portion of itsloss.
With the charge of the 18thcore, a failure, the second New
Hampshire and other regiments.
Erected hasty earthworks withwhatever they could find.
Knives plates, bayonets andtheir bare hands.
All while continuing to fireupon the Confederates from a
(13:02):
distance.
Old and well-respected comradesof private Haines and the entire
regiment began to fall as theyhastily dug under fire.
So dire was the situation thateven a regimental surgeon came
up to the line.
In this fight.
Good old Dr.
Bonton assistant surgeonestablished his reputation with
(13:25):
the men.
He had been well-liked and itwas a no spirit of his
disrespect, but on account ofhis bald plate.
That he was familiarly known asold lamp stone.
In some way, he got possessionof a shovel and taking a
position.
Well, up to the line, he threwup a little entrenchment of his
own.
And was in position to renderimmediate surgical assistance to
(13:48):
many, a poor wounded fellow.
Whoever afterwards, swore by oldlamps stone.
The second New Hampshire wasrelieved the next day.
And over the next few daysrotated into the entrenchments
to relieve other regiments.
Private Haynes recalls that evenin relieving a unit from the
line could be hazardous.
(14:12):
The second, simply drew back alittle distance and in the days
and nights that succeeded hadits full share of duty on the
front line.
From this line, the sharpshooting was continuous and men
were wounded every day.
They were relieved at night andthe person who passed in or out
by daylight took a great manychances.
(14:35):
It was a brace for a rush.
A jump.
A foot race against time and aplunge for cover and always
plenty of music about one's earsbefore he landed.
Private Haynes.
And the second New Hampshire hadjust experienced one of the most
lopsided battles of the civilwar.
(14:56):
Though the union army remainedin position and dug extensive
fortifications over the nextseveral days.
The failed advance of three Junea cold Harper was seen to the
heaviest fighting.
Of the approximately 18,000overall casualties from the
battle of cold Harbor.
Almost 13,700 we're from theunion army.
(15:19):
On eight, June, 1864.
What remained the three yearveterans, including private
Haines departed, theentrenchments having completed
their enlistments.
By 15 June.
The men were back in NewHampshire and mustard out of
service in Concord.
Of the original strength of 1022men.
(15:39):
28 officers and 199 enlisted menmustered out of service.
Also present, but not counted onthese roles where the four
officers and 66 enlisted men.
That re-enlisted for furtherservice and other regiments.
After this state, the second NewHampshire, according to Martin,
a Haynes was the new second.
(16:02):
And remained an active regimentfor the remainder of the war
around Richmond, but did sowithout the old soldiers.
Martin a Haynes became asuccessful newspaper publisher
after the war, as well as apolitician who served in the New
Hampshire house ofrepresentatives.
And two terms and the us houseof representatives for new
(16:25):
Hampshire's first district.
He published his book, a historyof the second regiment, New
Hampshire volunteer infantry inthe 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 thereprint.
(16:45):
The present work is a no senseof rewriting or revision of the
former volume.
The writer has had a, hiscommand, a great deal of
material, not then convenientlyavailable.
For which he has attempted toreconstruct a reasonably
complete and fairly satisfactoryhistory of the regiment.
The writer fully appreciatesthat the most exacting critics
(17:08):
will be the grizzled oldveterans who in their glorious
manhood, rot, their deeds ofwhich this book is a record.
If it passes muster with them.
He has little care of whatothers may think or say.
To you living or dead.
Comrades of the old second.
This volume is affectionately,inscribed and dedicated.
(17:32):
I will include a link to theoriginal volume in the show
notes, but I will second whatMartin Haynes wrote.
His 1896 edition.
Indeed includes more informationthan the original.
And to anyone listening, whohappens to have an ancestral
link to the second NewHampshire.
You owe it to yourself to lookthrough the 1896 edition.
(17:55):
This volume contains hundreds ofpictures of the men that served
in the second New Hampshire.
The most I've seen out of any ofthe sources featured on the
podcast thus far.
Thank you for listening to the40th episode.
The link to private Haynes'sbook is now available on the
podcast website.
(18:16):
First person, civil war,podcast.com.
On Facebook, Instagram, X, andLinkedIn.
This week, you will find apicture of Martin, a Haynes
sometime during the war.
In two weeks time.
Corporal E McDowell Anderson.
(18:36):
Of company G second MissouriConfederate provides next
episodes.
First person account at thebattle.
Of champion hill.
My name is Belle Caughlin.
And thank you for listening tofirst person civil war podcast.
Hello everyone.
My name is bill Conklin andwelcome to first person civil
war podcast.
Which retails the stories of thesoldiers and officers on the
ground, in the battles of thecivil war.
Episode 40 is entitled.
Private Martin, a Haynes.
(00:43):
And the second New Hampshire atthe battle of cold Harbor.
And relies on his book.
Uh, history of the secondregiment, New Hampshire
volunteer infantry in the war ofthe rebellion, which he
privately published in 1896.
Martin Alonzo Haines was born inSpringfield, New Hampshire on 30
(01:05):
July, 1842.
And by the early 1860s lived inManchester, 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 Hampshireinfantry.
When president Lincoln made hisinitial call for 75,003 months,
(01:29):
volunteers.
The state of New Hampshire,given his population was only
required to field one regiment.
Volunteers from across the statesoon flooded into Concord, the
state Capitol.
Which easily filled the ranks ofthe first New Hampshire.
By late April state authoritiescorrectly assumed that a further
(01:50):
call for New Hampshirevolunteers was forthcoming.
And decided to organize the 700men not assigned to the first
regiment into a second regiment.
By may the second New Hampshiremoved to camp constitution just
outside of port Smith.
And mustered into service as athree year regiment with an
(02:11):
initial strength of 1022 men.
March and a Haynes enlisted as aprivate in the second New
Hampshire, alongside 70 othermen from Manchester, which
formed company I.
While drilling and becoming asoldier, private Haines recall
several instances in camp.
(02:31):
To be sure time passed verypleasantly at camp constitution.
With an occasional extraexcitement, like the ridiculous
hogs had Regata on the millpond.
Meaning a boat race.
Of the rebellion of the Abbottguard.
Company I private Haynes iscompany.
Against the character of itsrations.
(02:53):
Which resulted in the companybeing put under guard in its
quarters.
But effected the desired changein the interest of the whole
regiment.
The second New Hampshiredeparted for Washington DC by
train on 20 June and arrivedthere three days later.
The regimen joined the army ofNorthwestern, Virginia, and
(03:16):
fought in the first battle ofbull run.
Following that defeat.
The second New Hampshireremained at Washington DC.
While the rest of the brigadebeing 90 day, volunteers
returned home.
As the army of the Potomacformed in the wake of first bull
run.
Private Haynes.
And the second New Hampshirefound themselves in the first
(03:38):
brigade, second division of thethird core.
And fought in the peninsulacampaign.
Second bull run Fredericksburg.
And at the battle of Gettysburgin the divisions, third brigade.
The second New Hampshiresuffered heavily at Gettysburg.
And by late July, 1863, theregiment was reassigned as
(04:02):
guards at the point, lookoutprisoner of war camp in
Maryland.
While the regiment refilled itsranks with more volunteers.
As they arrived in November andDecember of 1863, private Haines
commented on the new recruits.
There was a little good materialmixed in with these recruits.
(04:23):
But it is no credit to NewHampshire that she turns such a
massive rubbish loose into herold veteran regiments.
The old men of the second, thetrue New Hampshire boys.
Who for more than two years hadfaced death fearlessly to make a
record, what should be the prideof their state for ages?
Keenly felt the change at com.
(04:45):
For them, the old second ofglorious memory and heroic
achievements had ceased toexist.
With enough strength to retakethe field.
Private Haynes.
And the second New Hampshirereturned to the Virginia
peninsula in April, 1864.
Assigned to Colonel GriffinAlexander Steadman's second
(05:06):
brigade.
In Brigadier general, John HMarch and Dale's second
division.
Of major general William FSmith's 18th core.
Of the army of the Jamescommanded by major general
Benjamin F.
Butler.
Following the unsuccessfulBermuda hundred campaign,
Lieutenant general grant orderedthe 18th core detached from the
(05:30):
army of the James.
And traveled by boat toward thearmy of the Potomac.
Now operating between the pollmonkey and the Chickahominy
rivers.
On one, June, 1864, privateHaines, and the second New
Hampshire reconnected with thearmy of the Potomac.
When after a misdirected, Marchthe 18th core met the sixth core
(05:53):
at a crossroads called coldHarbor.
Formed on their right and joinedin the ongoing battle.
As the rest of the army, thePotomac was still further north
and west.
The fighting on this day, fellto the 18th and sixth cores.
As they approach the Confederatelines, private Haines, and the
(06:13):
second New Hampshire got somemorbid amusement from the
baggage trains.
As Martin deal's division cameupon the field.
Uh, rebel battery opened upon itunexpectedly.
Sending the cooks waiters campfollowers, and other
non-combatants flying out fromthe column in wild excitement.
(06:37):
The ludicrous plight of thecloud of frightened men.
Spavined.
And horses and broken down mulesloaded with camp kettles and
other truck.
Was too much for the gravity ofthe fighting men.
This was the second day of thebattle of cold Harbor with the
day prior being a cavalryengagement.
(06:59):
The second New Hampshire on thisday, sustained light casualties
on the right flank.
And the advance was ordered forthe next day, but the army of
the Potomac was not fullyconcentrated and the order was
delayed.
For private Haines and the oldveterans of the second New
Hampshire.
They were less than a week awayfrom the expiration of their
(07:19):
enlistments.
Yet, they were on the Eve of oneof the bloodiest advances of the
civil war, which would solidifya belief in the north.
That Lieutenant general grantwas a butcher.
Having participated in oneadvance already many within the
ranks expected a bloody fightthe next day.
(07:41):
It was well-known that there wasto be a big fight in the
morning.
And grouped in their comfortlessbevel, whack, med rocks and
bushes wet with a sudden rain.
The men discuss their chances ofbattle.
For whom would be a mystery offate until the casting of the
bloody die on the Moro.
But while the hardship of thesituation was fully appreciated
(08:03):
and discussed.
There was no disposition toDodge.
It.
One of the men express thesentiment.
It wouldn't be good manners togo without saying goodbye to our
old friends, the Giannis.
Like other battles of theOverland campaign.
The Confederate Seldonentrenched line, a cold Harper.
(08:24):
Which made the success of anassault 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 18thCorps had to move.
Was the most exposed of any overwhich the charges were made on.
(08:44):
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 madeby March and Dale's division.
His division.
Undercover of a depression,which would afford a slight
protection from an inflatingfire.
Meaning firing down the lengthof a line.
(09:07):
To which it would be exposed onits right.
At 4:30 AM on three, June, 1864.
The second, sixth and 18thcores.
Began their assault through adense fog upon the
well-constructed Confederatefortifications at cold Harbor.
(09:27):
Advancing on the right flank wasprivate Haynes and the second
New Hampshire.
The assaulting column movedpromptly.
The enemy skirmishers wererushed back.
And on Brooks's front, the firstdivision.
His rifle pits were captured.
The column was now withinstriking distance.
(09:49):
And was halted until Smith couldsee what he was leading his
troops into.
Major general Smith halted hisentire core to rearrange his
lines.
Which meant the assault wasdisjointed with the sixth core.
Brigadier general, March andDale, unable to see through the
fog and hearing the roar ofbattle to his left.
(10:10):
Ordered his division to again,advance on his own volition.
Marching toward the Confederatefortifications was private
Haynes and the second NewHampshire.
Steadman's brigade was formed inmass by battalion.
The 12th, New Hampshire leading.
And the second, the fifthbattalion.
Meaning in the rare.
(10:31):
As the brigade fully uncovered.
Meaning out of the depression.
It was greeted by an awful firefrom the rebel works.
It was a straight dash of 400yards to the rebel lines.
As the column plunged forward,it left an awful trail of the
(10:52):
dead and wounded at every stepof its progress.
It was very soon apparent thatthe charge could not succeed.
When only halfway across.
So murderous was the fire thatthe 12th loss, half of its men
and every other regimentheavily.
The Confederate brigade thatinitially faced private Haynes
(11:14):
in the second New Hampshire doesnot have a report to reference.
But they did call upon thesupport of Colonel James P Simms
commander of the 53rd Georgia.
And on that day, the Georgiaregiments of Brian's brigade.
About the time, the minutestacked arms, preparatory to
(11:34):
rest.
An attack was made on generallaws line.
He sent a courier to me askingthat I would move up to his
assistance.
As his works had not been wellsupplied with ammunition.
The brigade was put under armsimmediately and moved up to
general laws line through aheavy fire of musketry.
The men moved up in gallonstyle, and very soon the enemy
(11:58):
were forced to retire.
Under heavy fire.
The 18th core retreated to itsoriginal position.
And private Haines and thesecond New Hampshire.
Still a cohesive regiment,engage the Confederates at a
distance.
The column was thrown back insome confusion.
(12:18):
But at the edge of a point ofwoods from which they had
charged the troops halted.
The second regiment whose losshad been less than any of the
others.
Arrived at this point in verygood order.
And as soon as it's front wasclear of the retreating troops
opened fire on the enemy.
In fact it was while holdingthis line, that the regiment
(12:40):
suffered a large portion of itsloss.
With the charge of the 18thcore, a failure, the second New
Hampshire and other regiments.
Erected hasty earthworks withwhatever they could find.
Knives plates, bayonets andtheir bare hands.
All while continuing to fireupon the Confederates from a
(13:02):
distance.
Old and well-respected comradesof private Haines and the entire
regiment began to fall as theyhastily dug under fire.
So dire was the situation thateven a regimental surgeon came
up to the line.
In this fight.
Good old Dr.
Bonton assistant surgeonestablished his reputation with
(13:25):
the men.
He had been well-liked and itwas a no spirit of his
disrespect, but on account ofhis bald plate.
That he was familiarly known asold lamp stone.
In some way, he got possessionof a shovel and taking a
position.
Well, up to the line, he threwup a little entrenchment of his
own.
And was in position to renderimmediate surgical assistance to
(13:48):
many, a poor wounded fellow.
Whoever afterwards, swore by oldlamps stone.
The second New Hampshire wasrelieved the next day.
And over the next few daysrotated into the entrenchments
to relieve other regiments.
Private Haynes recalls that evenin relieving a unit from the
line could be hazardous.
(14:12):
The second, simply drew back alittle distance and in the days
and nights that succeeded hadits full share of duty on the
front line.
From this line, the sharpshooting was continuous and men
were wounded every day.
They were relieved at night andthe person who passed in or out
by daylight took a great manychances.
(14:35):
It was a brace for a rush.
A jump.
A foot race against time and aplunge for cover and always
plenty of music about one's earsbefore he landed.
Private Haynes.
And the second New Hampshire hadjust experienced one of the most
lopsided battles of the civilwar.
(14:56):
Though the union army remainedin position and dug extensive
fortifications over the nextseveral days.
The failed advance of three Junea cold Harper was seen to the
heaviest fighting.
Of the approximately 18,000overall casualties from the
battle of cold Harbor.
Almost 13,700 we're from theunion army.
(15:19):
On eight, June, 1864.
What remained the three yearveterans, including private
Haines departed, theentrenchments having completed
their enlistments.
By 15 June.
The men were back in NewHampshire and mustard out of
service in Concord.
Of the original strength of 1022men.
(15:39):
28 officers and 199 enlisted menmustered out of service.
Also present, but not counted onthese roles where the four
officers and 66 enlisted men.
That re-enlisted for furtherservice and other regiments.
After this state, the second NewHampshire, according to Martin,
a Haynes was the new second.
(16:02):
And remained an active regimentfor the remainder of the war
around Richmond, but did sowithout the old soldiers.
Martin a Haynes became asuccessful newspaper publisher
after the war, as well as apolitician who served in the New
Hampshire house ofrepresentatives.
And two terms and the us houseof representatives for new
(16:25):
Hampshire's first district.
He published his book, a historyof the second regiment, New
Hampshire volunteer infantry inthe 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 thereprint.
(16:45):
The present work is a no senseof rewriting or revision of the
former volume.
The writer has had a, hiscommand, a great deal of
material, not then convenientlyavailable.
For which he has attempted toreconstruct a reasonably
complete and fairly satisfactoryhistory of the regiment.
The writer fully appreciatesthat the most exacting critics
(17:08):
will be the grizzled oldveterans who in their glorious
manhood, rot, their deeds ofwhich this book is a record.
If it passes muster with them.
He has little care of whatothers may think or say.
To you living or dead.
Comrades of the old second.
This volume is affectionately,inscribed and dedicated.
(17:32):
I will include a link to theoriginal volume in the show
notes, but I will second whatMartin Haynes wrote.
His 1896 edition.
Indeed includes more informationthan the original.
And to anyone listening, whohappens to have an ancestral
link to the second NewHampshire.
You owe it to yourself to lookthrough the 1896 edition.
(17:55):
This volume contains hundreds ofpictures of the men that served
in the second New Hampshire.
The most I've seen out of any ofthe sources featured on the
podcast thus far.
Thank you for listening to the40th episode.
The link to private Haynes'sbook is now available on the
podcast website.
(18:16):
First person, civil war,podcast.com.
On Facebook, Instagram, X, andLinkedIn.
This week, you will find apicture of Martin, a Haynes
sometime during the war.
In two weeks time.
Corporal E McDowell Anderson.
(18:36):
Of company G second MissouriConfederate provides next
episodes.
First person account at thebattle.
Of champion hill.
My name is Belle Caughlin.
And thank you for listening tofirst person civil war podcast.
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