Captain Paul Whipple and the
Seventh Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers
in the War of the Rebellion*
in the War of the Rebellion*
From Fernandia to "Hilton Head, S.C.; thence to Folly Island, S.C., June 15-19" 1863.
The 7th New Hampshire arrives in Hilton Head and deploys to Folly Island in preparation for the attack on Fort Wagner. Little's comment from his Seventh Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion is followed by an article from the Boston Herald dated June 19, 1863.
"....Fernandina was the home of the rebel general, Finnegan, so we were informed, and we were shown his residence, which was a fine one : the buildings and their surroundings were evidence that previous to hostilities he had been in affluent circumstances, but at the commencement of the war he had accepted a commission in the Confederate service and was in command of the rebel forces in Florida.We were now settled down in good shape and were getting comfortably situated when, on the 5th of June, the steamer "Boston" came in at 7 o'clock in the morning, with orders for Colonel Putnam to report at once with his regiment at Hilton Head, S. C. The steamer brought on board the Eleventh Me. Volunteers, or what was left of that regiment, for it only mustered three hundred men ; orders were at once issued and the 6th was consumed in making preparations for leaving, and on the 7th, the Seventh went aboard the "Boston," and at 3 o'clock p. m. we steamed out of the harbor. As we fondly looked upon the receding shore we scarcely realized that many of us- were taking our last farewell of Florida, where we had passed so many pleasant and happy days, and as the out- lines of her coast faded gradually from view there was a sadness noticed among the men who had taken kindly to the beautiful climate and had almost begun to consider that state as the next place to home. On the night of the 7th, we anchored off Stono Inlet, near a light-ship, and on the morning of the 8th proceeded to Hilton Head, arriving there at 8 o'clock a. m., and anchored in the stream. Colonel Putnam at once went ashore to find out whether we were to go into camp at Hilton Head or at St. Helena Island, and in the afternoon we received orders to go ashore at Hilton Head ; therefore we steamed up to the wharf', disembarked, formed line, and eight companies marched to a camp-ground about two miles out in a southeasterly direction, while companies A and D were detailed to go to Jenkins Island, on picket duty." Henry F. W. Little. The Seventh Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion. Seventh New Hampshire Veterans Association, Concord, N. H., 1896.
“From the Department of the South”
The Boston Herald, June 19, 1863, pg.4.
Fernandia, Fla. June 7.
‘Your correspondent arrived here on Friday last, having accompanied the 11th Maine Volunteers to this place from Beaufort, S.C., in the fine steamer Boston, Capt. Norris.... They were sent down to relieve the 7th N. H., a larger regiment, which, it is anticipated, may take part in active operations before long.... The 7th New Hampshire is, in many respects, the finest regiment I have seen in the department. It is composed of a superior class of men, well offered, well drilled, and well taken care of. The discipline is noticeable as being just the mean between the two extremes of laxity and severity. Col. H. S. Putnam, of Cornish, is a graduate of West point, a strict disciplinarian, but not a martinet, with a rare reputation among both officers and privates for impartiality, and those other qualities which make a commander beloved by his men. He commanded a brigade in the Charleston expedition. Lieut. Col. Jos. C. Abbott, of Manchester, was formally Adjt. General of his State, and has distinguished himself in the editorial profession. Major Thomas A. Henderson, of Dover, is a graduate of Bowdoin College and Harvard Law School. The following is a list of the staff officers:
Adjutant, H.G. Webber of Manchester; Quartermaster, Geo. S. Hanson of Dover; Chaplain, Rev. W. W. Brown, of Manchester; Assistant Surgeon, Dr. H. Boynton.
The Seventh have done much important service for the Government, as credible to them as if their ranks had been decimated in battles and their banners inscribed with the names of a hundred bloody conflicts, which they would have been glad to participate in. They were sent first to Tortugas, where they put Fort Jefferson in excellent condition. Then they were ordered to Beaufort, where their duties were arduous , and, in spite of all precautions, their numbers were diminished by sickness. They they went to St. Augustine, which post Col. Putnam commanded til about five weeks since, when the regiment was sent to Fernandina. Where ever they have been they have been praised, and it is to be hoped they will now have their quality tested on the battles-fields, which the most reliable sort of rumors assure us they will soon find, wither in front of Charleston or on the Potomac.
Lieut. Frank G. Wentworth, of Co. F., as resigned, and his resignation has been accepted. The vacancy caused by this resignation is the only one in the regiment.
I regret to state that Quartermaster Hudson was thrown from a vicious horse ten days ago, and striking on the wheel of an army wagon, has one of his ribs broken, and was otherwise injured. His friends, however, will be glad to learn that he is rapidly recovering, and is already beginning to re-assume charge of his department.
Capt. W.E.F. Brown has been acting as Provost Marshall since the 7th has been here. He is now relieved by Capt. F.W. Sabine, of the Maine Regiment.
I witnessed the final dress parade of the 7th, last evening, and they appeared to great advantage. Lieut. Col Abbott was in command, and all the exercises were performed with precision and skill. A large number of the inhabitants of the post, and nearly all of the Maine regiment were present, and applauded the New Hampshire for their performance.
The Regiment embarked on the Boston for Hilton Head, early in the afternoon, presenting a very fine appearance as they marched through the streets to the wharf. They are now well on the way to Hilton Head, where they will remain until the final disposition of the troops there is settled on.....”
One year later, the Boston was scuttled after running aground near a Confederate battery. The New York Times article can be found here:
See also: Alan Albright The USS Boston Project. In Underwater Archaeology Proceedings
http://artsandsciences.sc.edu/sciaa/mrd/documents/a2b_boston.pdf
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| Hilton Head and Jenkins Island, S.C. |
*Title taken from Henry F. W. Little's regimental history The Seventh Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers in the War of the Rebellion. Seventh New Hampshire Veterans Association, Concord, N. H., 1896.
