Combat History of the 5th New Hampshire Infantry

The 5th New Hampshire deserved the laurels you are bestowing upon it 1SG Dan. It
was literally shot to pieces and still preservered until the end. Thanks for this series
and keep up the good work! When Colonel Cross went into battle, he wore a red
bandana wrapped around his head if memory serves me correctly. At Gettysburg,
he wore a black bandana instead. One of his men asked him about that and he said
it would be his last battle. He was mortally wounded later that day. He was a brave
and tenacious fighter and he instilled that spirit into his men.
 
Combat History of the 5th New Hampshire Infantry - Part 10

Gettysburg
By the time of the Gettysburg Campaign the 5th NH had been whittled down to "14 commissioned officers and 165 men." These remaining few would be tested before the march to catch Lee would begin. Colonel Cross and his brigade were selected by General Hancock to lead the infantry portion of a combined infantry/cavalry raid on Culpeper Court House. Cross opted to take many of his 300 men from the unit he knew best, the 5th NH. He gave command of the two companies to officers from the 5th, Captain Larkin and Captain Livermore. On 8 June the detachment moved to Kelly's Ford where Larkin and fourteen men would cross the Rappahannock by boat to secure a lodgment. A tense crossing was made at 0400 the next morning. Despite the fear of enemy batteries a few badly aimed shots fired by rebel pickets before they retreated were all that opposed them. Before the remainder of the infantry force could be aligned for battle the cavalry pounded past them and engaged the Confederates on their own. Unable to keep pace with the troopers the infantry force remained in place until the horsemen returned near dark. The infantry rowed back without being challenged throughout the whole affair. Captain Livermore's fear of a "forlorn hope" attack on rebel batteries went unrealized. On their return the two captains were invited to dinner with Cross, who boasted "the last pig of the Rappahannock" had "surrendered himself" and would be served up for dinner.


On 17 June the detachment rejoined II Corps and marched in pursuit of Lee. It was a grueling march. On 28 June Hooker's letter of resignation was accepted by Lincoln, who replaced him with MG George Meade. The new commander asked the columns to redouble their efforts and the march became even harder. Cross was particularly strict on march discipline. A corporal from the 148th PA suffered his wrath when that unit failed to negotiate a stream crossing to his satisfaction. Cross drew his sword and struck the man on the back of his neck with the flat of the blade. He later increased that unit's dislike of him when he unceremoniously relieved their popular commander and replaced him with an officer of his own liking.

On 1 July the 5th left Taneytown, Maryland and headed towards Gettysburg and the sound of battle already joined. They stopped at 8pm and lay down to sleep. At 0300 they were awake and moving towards a position on Cemetery Ridge overlooking Plum Run. MG Daniel Sickles soon took an advanced position with III Corps below them. Sickles forward deployment invited attack and the Confederates were not long in accepting the invitation. The III Corps was quickly in grave danger of collapsing altogether. Meade was forced to commit II Corps to prevent a total disaster. The 5th was called back from guard duty behind the Round Tops. LTC Hapgood reported the situation was so desperate that he “did not wait for my outposts (pickets) to come in but marched at once at double quick” to the front. They left in such a hurry that 16 pickets under LT Lowe were left to wonder what happened to their regiment.* In front of the ridge there was confusion as units jockeyed for room. The 5th, part of Caldwell's division, counter-marched only to be called forward again at around 1700. On the move forward a poor set of orders had the file closers in front of the regiment. The experienced men of the 5th corrected the problem and moved on.

The Brigade climbed a fence and headed for a field of ripe wheat. They stopped at a small clump of trees to dress their line and then moved forward without deploying skirmishers. The rebel pickets had no time to react and 20 became prisoners. The attack was signaled and the brigade lunged into action. The 1st Texas and 15th Georgia were waiting. The two forces collided and casualties mounted. Col Cross was targeted by a rebel sharpshooter. The fiery leader was removed from the field with a stomach wound. The 5th New Hampshire and the 148th Pennsylvania moved through the rebel position with fixed bayonets driving them back beyond Rose Run. The two badly depleted units attempted to hold on to their hard won gains, but ran low on ammunition. Gen Caldwell desperately searched for reinforcements. They remained in action for over two hours before they were relieved by BG Ayres regulars. The first of Caldwell's troops on the field the 5th was the last to leave. The retreat was a disaster. Disorganized, battle weary men herded to the rear by the dozens. Units became scattered and accountability was impossible. Lt Liscomb called the role of A Co and of the 23 assigned only 3 answered. The Confederate Counter-attack was finally stopped with the sacrifice of the 1st Minnesota and the fighting died down with the coming of nightfall. The 5th reorganized in their original position on Cemetery Ridge. The 5th's role at Gettysburg encompassed about four hours of actual combat but they came at a terrific price. Major Cross listed 26 men killed and 53 wounded.

On the morning of the 3rd the regiment posted a strong picket and” threw up a line of works.” Major Cross stated that this “proved of great benefit to the regiment, as the enemy opened a tremendous cannonade on our line at about 2 pm." The two hour bombardment claimed only one member of the 5th. After “the advance of the enemy had failed the picket in connection with a regiment of the Vermont Brigade captured a great number of prisoners.” The 5th took part in the pursuit of Lee from the battlefield. On 14 July they were assigned as skirmishers and advanced to Falling Waters where they took "some 50 prisoners."

Newly promoted Colonel Hapgood wrote from his sick bed in Fredrick, MD requesting that the 5th be allowed to go home to rest and recruit. On 1 August his request was granted and 165 men, a quarter unfit for duty, boarded the train for New Hampshire, but the 5th's role in the Civil War was not finished yet.

*Lowe later reported with the missing men in the midst of the fighting in the wheat field.
 
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Combat History of the 5th New Hampshire - Part 11

Death of Colonel Cross
Colonel Edward Cross had been the first leader of the Fifth New Hampshire Regiment and its heart and soul. Although his death from wounds suffered at Gettysburg came at a time when he was no longer in command of the regiment his loss was still strongly felt there. In the regimental history the story of his death is told this way;

“At 6 o’clock in the afternoon, while directing the action of his brigade on the spot where now stands the monument of the Fifth Regiment, he was struck in the abdomen by a minie ball, near the center of the body, which passed through and out near the spine. Thus wounded he was carried about a mile to a locality directly in the rear of the right wing of the Army, near Culp’s Hill, into the midst of a wheat field. The crop had just been cut and bound into sheaves. A good number of these were gathered by his attendants and a comfortable bed was formed upon which the noble form of the dying hero and patriot was tenderly laid. The gloom of deep darkness covered all. Some camp fires crackled, glimmered, flashed and cast weird shadows around the group of friends and attendants. Now and then a shell went screeching across the sky bursting with a sudden flash and stunning report. Many of his regiment, men who had followed him in a score of battles, were around. His brother, Major Cross, was bending low by his side. His surgeon, Major J. W. Buckam rendered skilful medical aid and friendly comfort. Assistant Surgeon Child silently watched the Colonel whom he so much admired and respected. Standing nearby were the officers and men who had so often followed him into battle. All the faces were sad all the hearts were sorrowful. The dying warrior had a kind word for all. To his officers and men he sent messages of love, of respect, of encouragement. To his brother he gave messages of love to his sisters and brothers, and with tears and sighs urged his brother to care for the mother and to convey to her his tenderest regard and love.”

In great pain he lasted until just after midnight mumbling “my brave men” until the end. His body was escorted home to New Hampshire by Captain Welcome Crafts. He is buried in his native Lancaster under a tombstone that reads;

Col. Edward E. Cross
5th N.H. Infantry Vols.
Born April 22, 1832
Mortally wounded July 2, 1863 while leading his command - 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 2nd Army Corps, at the battle of Gettysburg, Penn. The “Fighting Fifth” raised and disciplined by Col Cross, performed distinguished service through the war, and was led by him in the battles of Rappahannock, Fair Oaks, Yorktown, Savage’s Station, Peach Orchard, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Charles City, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. This monument is erected by his friends in memory of the accomplished journalist, brave pioneer, chivalric soldier, affectionate son, true friend and faithful craftsman, who, after a life of adventure at the commercial and political centres, and in the distant Territories of the Republic, died for its honor and integrity, and whose ashes repose amid the scenes and friends of his youth.
Gentle, courteous and brave, the story of his life closes with the fitting record,
“DIED ON THE FIELD OF HONOR.”
 
Combat History of the 5th New Hampshire Infantry - Part 12

Cold Harbor
The 5th NH's stay at home lasted two months. During this time the ranks swelled with recruits and a great many bounty soldiers. Captain Livermore explained it this way; "a class of substitute brokers sprang up, who imported men from other states, chiefly New York City, who enlisted for money." These men were of poor quality or as Livermore put it; "there came out to us crowds of disreputable rascals whose determination it was to desert at the earliest opportunity, as well as idiots and cripples..." that were passed through examinations " by collusion with the medical and enlistment officers."

Nearly six hundred men reported with Colonel Hapgood for their first assignment. The regiment spent until June of 1864 guarding prisoners at Point Lookout, MD. In their first call to combat duty the reconstituted 5th would play a big role in the failed grand assault at Cold Harbor, VA.

The 5th was one of the few units that made a, at least momentarily successful, attack on the entrenched Confederates there. After crossing the open space between the two lines they managed to push Confederate defenders out of the first line of works at Edgar's Salient. After a bitter hand to hand struggle they reversed the position and held on waiting for support to take advantage of the opening they had gained at a high price. The support never materialized and after moving as far as the McGehee house they were pushed back. A counter-attack by a Brigade of Floridians drove them from their hard earned gains. Eventually they were forced to retreat to their original positions with considerable loss.

In the aftermath of the bloody repulse on 3 June, Colonel Hapgood played an integral part in the truce that allowed the wounded to be removed from between the two armies. Meade refused to order such an arrangement under his name but Grant, seeing the necessity of such an action wrote to Lee seeking a way to assist the wounded. He suggested that each side be "authorized" to send help in the form of "unarmed men bearing litters." Uncomfortable with the possibility that this entreaty would be rejected, Grant added another line to his message;

"Any other method equally fair to both parties you may propose for meeting the end desired, will be accepted by me."

The delivery of the message became the responsibility of LTC Theodore Lyman, an aide to Meade. He searched down the line looking for a place to approach the rebel lines, under a flag of truce (a torn pillowcase). Finally Col Hapgood was selected to act as a guide. When they approached Miles Brigade H.Q. and headed forward they were warned;

"Do you know where you are going?"

Hapgood, sporting several bullet holes in his attire responded;

"Yes sir! I do know where I am going..."

When the intrepid group reached the picket lines they called out the purpose of their mission and the Confederate troops in the area were ordered to cease firing. A sergeant led the way out, waving the makeshift banner and eventually they made contact with Major Thomas Wooten, 18th NC. The message was forwarded to Lee while the party invited the rebels to share a drink. Hapgood had brought along some whiskey as a good will gesture. The informal truce spread and soon the pickets in close proximity were swapping stories.

Lee's response finally arrived. He suggested, as the fewer causalities amongst his troops would suggest, that whatever party felt compelled to offer such assistance could do so under a white flag, "as is customary." Despite the obvious admission of failure that this course represented Grant accepted this and asked for three hours to clear the battlefield. Squabbling over the particulars lasted until 7 pm when Grant finally gave in and accepted a 2 hour period between 8 pm and 10 pm, when Confederate pickets would be removed and the mercy mission could begin. Slow communications pushed the hour of the wounded men's redemption out even further. By the time the truce was apparent to all the two hours had expired and little was accomplished.

On 7 June further communication between Grant and Lee firmed up an arrangement and the rescue crews could go to work. There is no way of knowing how many died during the negotiations. A blank round was fired by a Confederate battery to signal the end of the truce period. The universal response along the line was;

"Get back in your holes, boys!"

The 5th's involvement in the assault at Cold Harbor cost them 202 casualties. It was the bloodiest single engagement of their storied history.
 
Combat History of the 5th New Hampshire Infantry - Part 13

Petersburg
Grant's move south of the James River started a new series of events for the Fighting 5th. They departed Cold Harbor on June 12th and crossed the James on the Long Bridge and entered the battles about Petersburg almost immediately. From June 15th to July 27th they were engaged in a series of minor actions. Major Larkin described the rapidly developing course of events, that added 73 men to the casualty list, this way in his report of the period;

16June-"About 3 p.m. the 5th NH formed a line of battle on the extreme right of the first division...In the engagement that followed Col Charles Hapgood was wounded..."
Larkin took over command of the 5th.

17 June - "I was ordered...to move my regiment forward...the regiment moved out of breastworks...occupied a rise...commanding rebel works...for two hours and a half... expending 160 rounds of ammunition per man."

18 June - "...the Fifth moved forward...near the Petersburg and Norfolk railroad. In gaining the railroad 6 men were wounded."

21 June - "...occupied the breast works just in time to repel an attack from a rebel force..."

24 June - 9 July -"...relieved a portion of the picket of Sixth Corps."

13 July - 26 July "...arduous fatigue duty required in the prosecution of the siege."

27 July - "...took up a line of march for Deep Bottom...line of battle was formed...the line moved upon the enemy's works, driving him out and capturing 4 Parrot guns...and prisoners."

An unexpectedly hard delaying action by the severely outnumbered defenders and tentative decisions by the Union commanders prevented the capture of the city when it was most vulnerable. Siege operations lasted for more than eight months. The collapse of the defenses here caused the evacuation of Richmond and led to the final actions of the Civil War. On August 25th the 5th was involved in the action at Ream’s Station. Using refurbished earthworks at the station as a base to destroy nearby railroads the Federal forces there came under attack by A.P. Hill’s Corps (Heth directing the attack for the ailing Hill). The initial assault was driven off but the reinforced Confederates came on again. Miles Division put up a strong defense until two regiments panicked and left a gap in the line. As the enemy started to pour into the gap Miles called for Colonel Horace Rugg’s reserve brigade to fill the line. Rugg’s men refused to budge, instead they lay down and would not fire. The 5th’s portion of the line was enfiladed and forced to retire “in confusion.” Left in the works was 33 men killed, wounded or captured.

Another two were killed and several wounded at Charles City Crossroads, where the 5th claimed their skirmishers shot and killed Confederate General John Chambliss. As the siege dragged on the Granite Staters did the usual fatigue duty in the works around Petersburg. The monotony was broken only by their involvement in the failed pursuit of the Confederate cattle raiders in September. In October the regiment was no longer capable of maintaining the minimum number of men required to retain that designation. As the veteran’s began to leave for home they were reduced to the 5th New Hampshire Battalion. November saw the departure of Colonel Hapgood (mustered out)* and the battalion strengthened by the addition of two companies of New Hampshire men from the disbanded Berdan’s Sharpshooters. There would be one more campaign for the Fifth.

*Command was passed to LTC Welcome Crafts
 
The Last Campaign
The Appomattox Campaign saw the last engagement of the 5th in combat and a sad climax to their glorious battle history. On 6 April the 5th was “fully engaged” at Sayler’s Creek (Lockett Farm). They “charged down the hill through General Mahone’s wagon train, capturing the train and many prisoners.” Their action there added 23 Killed and wounded to casualty rolls.

On 7 April six companies* of the 5th, under Captain John Ricker, assaulted the Confederate works at Farmville as part of the II corps assault. Movement was slow over terrain that included “abrupt ridges and rough hills, irregular gulches and tangled ravines” and the enemy “opened at once.” The elongated exposure to the fire from the Confederate works had predictable results. The “ranks melted away and the file closers went down.” Many of the surrounding units returned to their start positions leaving Ricker alone on the field with the survivors. Abandoned by the supporting units from BG Miles division they ran out of ammunition. Ricker and the remaining members of the 5th were forced to surrender and their colors taken. Ricker, although badly wounded, managed to crawl away from his captors and return to Union Lines and the medical attention that undoubtedly saved his life. Many of the 5th were not so lucky. 110 men were killed or wounded and 64 made prisoner. Hours before the final surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia the POW's and the colors were rescued by the 91st PA.

Death followed the 5th in other ways besides combat. Like all Civil War units they suffered badly from disease. A total of 178 officers and enlisted men died in this manner. In an ugly scar against an otherwise faultless record at least five members of the 5th were executed for desertion.** In almost every case the man's name was followed by the word "substitute" on the rolls. Accidents also claimed at least one. John Kendall was reported drowned at Fort Monroe.

On 23 May the survivors of the 5th marched in the grand review. These survivors proudly stood in for all those that had served in the regiment. No better unit was represented that day. They were mustered out of service on 28 July 1865 after suffering 1051 killed and wounded. In the final paragraphs of the Official History of the 5th this statement appears;

“May a grateful country do the Fifth New Hampshire Regiment of Volunteers justice – no written history ever can.”

*The other companies were on picket duty with LTC Crafts
** Like all Regiments at this stage of the war the 5th was plagued by desertion. Over 400 recruits deserted, most never actually reported to the regiment.
 
Bibliography
A History of the Fifth Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers in the American Civil War, 1861-1865, Child, William, 1834-

Mike Pride and Mark Travis

With Grant and Meade from the Wilderness to Appomattox, Colonel Theodore Lyman, George R. Agassiz, Ed.

Stand Firm and Fire Low: The Civil War Writings of Colonel Edward E. Cross

Walter Holden, William E. Ross, Elizabeth Slomba, Mike Pride, Mark Travis

The Personal Journal of Edward Cross, Edward Cross, Available through the University of New Hampshire special Collection Library

Dozens of other books, articles, and online resources related to the individual battles were used.
 
A small mistake Dan, in post #25. It should be Edgar's Salient. Great thread though, thanks.

The 5th was one of the few units that made a, at least momentarily successful, attack on the entrenched Confederates there. After crossing the open space between the two lines they managed to push Confederate defenders out of the first line of works at Elliot's Salient. After a bitter hand to hand struggle they reversed the position and held on waiting for support to take advantage of the opening they had gained at a high price. The support never materialized and after moving as far as the McGehee house they were pushed back. A counter-attack by a Brigade of Floridians drove them from their hard earned gains. Eventually they were forced to retreat to their original positions with considerable loss.
 
dvrmte,
You are certainly correct and I am certainly embarassed by such a silly mistake. I will repair it immediately. Thanks for the heads up.
Dan
 
dvrmte,
You are certainly correct and I am certainly embarassed by such a silly mistake. I will repair it immediately. Thanks for the heads up.
Dan

My wife lost one of her kin at Elliot's Salient, that's why it grabbed my attention.

My main interest has focused on the ANV side of most battles. It's neat to research what part my relatives played in the different campaigns and battles.

It's good to read what was happening on the other side. Especially the less wrote about subjects.
 
Dan, how many original men were left at the end of the war to march in the parade? How many men from the 5th marched that day?
 
Great thread on the 5th NH. Thanks. I’m new to Civil War history and I found this site via Google for the 5th NH Regiment, which was originally created as a “three year” regiment so many of the (relatively few?) surviving original members returned home in Oct 1864 unless they re-enlisted.

Good news:
A new “primary source” is becoming available for some history involving the 5th NH volunteers: In 2011, the previously unknown 60+ Civil War letters of Lt. George S. Gove (5th NH, Company K) of Raymond, NH were donated to the UNH Special Collections department for preservation and sharing both the originals plus images and transcriptions access via the Internet (soon). George was writing home to his older sister Julia Gove Parsons in Rye, NH.

George S. Gove was one of the original volunteers in that "three year" regiment under Col. Cross, mustering on Oct 12, 1861 as a Private and out on Oct 12, 1864 as 2nd Lt.. These letters were locked up and never known to the public, until now (2011). Gove is mentioned in some of those Civil War books about the 5th NH Regiment, since his field journal was used as one of the sources. Gove's brief journal entries were quoted in "The History of the 5th NH Volunteers" (Dr. Child), "Days and Events" (Thomas Livermore from the same Company “K”), "My Brave Boys" (2001) and a few other books. The journal entries were short, but the letters George wrote to home were very detailed, especially the descriptions of the battles, including Fredericksburg where he was wounded like several other soldiers in-a-row -- after picking up the colors and advancing into heavy fire. He also wrote about politics and camp life. He survived the war and later became a locomotive engineer in Boone, Iowa.

Members of my family donated those 60+ Civil War letters (and other family letters from the 1830s to the 1930s) to UNH... Follow the link below for the summaries of the letters and scroll down to 1861 to see the Gove letters.

http://www.library.unh.edu/special/index.php/parsons-family

The linked images and transcriptions should be online by sometime in early 2012 but I have my own electronic copies of the original raw transcriptions and scannings that my Uncle made before UNH began improving on those. If you read those summaries and have any questions before the transcriptions online, just let me know and I can cut-and-paste a few excerpts.

I got into Civil War history this year only after reading the Gove letters but I’ve since been reading about the NH regiments and general writings on the Civil War. Julia Gove Parsons was my G-G-Grandmother. She and others saved all these letters which were passed down through the family. Each letter was still folded in their stamped envelopes and boxed away. Our families weren’t aware what we really had, here, until the older generation finally read and transcribed them during the past few years... which wasn’t easy. I’m just helping to share this history, including new a window on life in the 5th NH Volunteers regiment. I wonder how many other stashes of old Civil War letters are out there waiting to appear some day?
 
Great thread on the 5th NH. Thanks. I’m new to Civil War history and I found this site via Google for the 5th NH Regiment, which was originally created as a “three year” regiment so many of the (relatively few?) surviving original members returned home in Oct 1864 unless they re-enlisted.

Good news:
A new “primary source” is becoming available for some history involving the 5th NH volunteers: In 2011, the previously unknown 60+ Civil War letters of Lt. George S. Gove (5th NH, Company K) of Raymond, NH were donated to the UNH Special Collections department for preservation and sharing both the originals plus images and transcriptions access via the Internet (soon). George was writing home to his older sister Julia Gove Parsons in Rye, NH.

George S. Gove was one of the original volunteers in that "three year" regiment under Col. Cross, mustering on Oct 12, 1861 as a Private and out on Oct 12, 1864 as 2nd Lt.. These letters were locked up and never known to the public, until now (2011). Gove is mentioned in some of those Civil War books about the 5th NH Regiment, since his field journal was used as one of the sources. Gove's brief journal entries were quoted in "The History of the 5th NH Volunteers" (Dr. Child), "Days and Events" (Thomas Livermore from the same Company “K”), "My Brave Boys" (2001) and a few other books. The journal entries were short, but the letters George wrote to home were very detailed, especially the descriptions of the battles, including Fredericksburg where he was wounded like several other soldiers in-a-row -- after picking up the colors and advancing into heavy fire. He also wrote about politics and camp life. He survived the war and later became a locomotive engineer in Boone, Iowa.

Members of my family donated those 60+ Civil War letters (and other family letters from the 1830s to the 1930s) to UNH... Follow the link below for the summaries of the letters and scroll down to 1861 to see the Gove letters.

http://www.library.unh.edu/special/index.php/parsons-family

The linked images and transcriptions should be online by sometime in early 2012 but I have my own electronic copies of the original raw transcriptions and scannings that my Uncle made before UNH began improving on those. If you read those summaries and have any questions before the transcriptions online, just let me know and I can cut-and-paste a few excerpts.

I got into Civil War history this year only after reading the Gove letters but I’ve since been reading about the NH regiments and general writings on the Civil War. Julia Gove Parsons was my G-G-Grandmother. She and others saved all these letters which were passed down through the family. Each letter was still folded in their stamped envelopes and boxed away. Our families weren’t aware what we really had, here, until the older generation finally read and transcribed them during the past few years... which wasn’t easy. I’m just helping to share this history, including new window on life in the 5th NH Volunteers regiment. I wonder how many other stashes of old Civil War letters are out there waiting to appear some day?

Doug,

Wonderful of your family to donate the letters to UNH, such primary source material is invaluable when studying the civil war or any other subject in history. Thanks for making them available.
 
I must agree with CW3O. What a wonderful donation. I am familiar with the collection at the special collections vault at Dimond Library. They will be in good care there.
 
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You're both welcome. Dan, you can see the letters at UNH in person when you get back to NH. Thanks for your work with the 5th NH's history and your every day efforts overseas, in support of our country.

I'm very happy to have helped guide the older generation in my family toward this. I influenced their decision but was not a voting member. It got easier to do as I started learning more about this CW, NH's role, and the 5th NH in particular. Our families are especially grateful to have found the fine home for all these family letters at UNH Special Collections which headed by Bill Ross who co-wrote the book "Stand Firm and Fire Low...", which revolved around Col. Cross's journal. William Holden donated that journal to UNH SC about 10 years ago and was a contributor to that book. Cross's journal was used as one of the many sources for Mike Pride's and Mark Travis's book about the 5th, "My Brave Boys...".

Mike Pride's is former editor of the Concord Monitor and is working on a new book about NH Civil War soldiers and I think some about their families back home but I'm not sure exactly. It won't focused on the 5th NH but will draw from that regiment at least a little bit along with the many other regiments. I contacted him recently and learned that he'd just become aware of these Gorge S. Gove letters about a month ago and has already gotten access to them via word of mouth from another CW researcher. Mike had already used one of Gove's letters in his new book in progress.

I just signed up for this account the other day and I'll probably mostly just "lurk", for now, but I'm glad to have found these forums. Thanks for all the good work you do, supporting each others interests... even for newbies like me. Just remember that I knew hardly anything about these subjects until last Spring.

Thanks,

Doug
 
Doug
I heartily encourage you to participate in adding your voice to the forum. This is a good crowd of smart historians. There is an expert here for everything CW. I am sure I speak for most when I welcome you to add your voice.
Dan
 
I'm bumping this thread...great work 1SGDan..
Thanks.

greetings from New Hampshire...
I got a kick out of someone saying above...are those towns close together for recruiting ...ummmm, no those are counties....LOL....all of them in the state, actually.
we don't call it Cow Hampshire for nuthin'
 
As Forrest Gump said "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get" (or words to that effect = brain drain). And these threads prove it - thanks a bunch:smile:
 
Thanks for the encouragement. :smile:

This week, the UNH library in Durham, NH opened a new exhibit about letters written home by NH Civil War soldiers, telling some of the personal experiences of soldier life. This draws on various letters that UNH Special Collections has from varioius NH regiments, including the "new" letters from Sgt/Lt George S. Gove of the 5th NH. The exhibit will be there until the end of this school year. The UNH weekly web journal has a story about it:
http://unh.edu/unhtoday/2012/02/dear-sister-letters-civil-war-display-special-collections

And for this week the main page also links to the same story under the heading "Dear Sister...":
http://unh.edu/unhtoday

I plan to drop by there next week to see the exibit.

Note:
1. George Gove is mentioned in Dr. Child 5th NH Regimental history from the 1880s and also in Dan's thread, above. Dr. Child had Gove's journal with its brief entries and that book also includes at least one 1880s letter from Gove to Dr. Child to help sort out some of the points of at least one battle. Many in the regiment must have helped the Dr. put that together. Too bad George didn't have the letters that he'd sent to his sister as in-the-moment CW resources to draw from.

2. UNH has George Gove down as a "Captain" so I'm going to have them fix that on their web page and this article. I've only found records so far indicating he was a 2nd Lt and at the end of his 3yrs he was given a commission as a 1st Lt but that didn't take affect because he mustered out in Oct 1864 when the commitment date for the original 3-yr commitment was up. Near the end he might have been doing the job of a higher rank but I haven't found an actual record for that... and the 1914 Civil War soldiers statue in Raymond, NH also lists him as "Lt. George S. Gove".

Thanks,

Doug
 
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