Caroline Elizabeth Whitcomb

“ It is proper to say that Captain Nims' Battery displayed throughout the whole of the fight an example of coolness and true courage unsurpassed in the annals of history. They are entitled to highest commendation, and although they lost their guns it is due to them to say that they could not have prevented it, and that the damage they inflicted on the enemy was such as to entitle them to the thanks of the whole army. ”

“ Although it has been your misfortune to lose your guns, it is gratifying to know that it was through no dereliction or shortcoming on your part; having done all that lay in your power as brave men to do. We must submit to the misfortune with the best grace we may. Your commandant would also express his satisfaction at the sorrow exhibited on all hands at your misfortune, by officers of every grade in the service as well as by civilians, which tends to show in a clearer light the golden opinions you have won on all hands. ”

“ Associated as we have been together for the past three years both in camp and on the field of battle, bound together by more than brotherly ties, we should feel grateful for our safe return and proud to know that we once constituted a battery that knew no superior in style or action. ”

“ At one time the opposing forces were hand to hand, and our handful of men were driven out of their camps and back into the town; but, rallied on every hand by their officers, and the cool daring of General Williams, assisted by the gunboats that began to fire shell on each bank with perfect accuracy and deadly effect, our troops bravely rushed to the front and drove the entire rebel center, back across the road, into and beyond the cemetery, from which they were not again able to emerge. ”

“ The remaining three guns being out of ammunition retired to the foot of the hill where our caisson lay, filled up with ammunition and went into position. By this time infantry and cavalry had become completely routed and were fleeing to the rear. Our officers tried to rally them but in vain. Finding it impossible to save the guns, our officers ordered us to slip our traces and save our lives if possible, which the men did reluctantly. Our wagon train had been pushed forward before the engagement, completely blocking the road, making a retreat impossible. ”

“ Our camp is somewhat different from that of a regiment, not having quite such strict orders to conform to, and having no guard duty to perform, that being done by the Fourth Pennsylvania Regiment. We are in excellent health, having had but one sick man since we left Camp Adams. It is probable we shall remain here for the present. Today is Sunday and most of the men are writing home. It is quite warm, but we have had no warmer weather here than we found at home. All letters should be directed to "Camp Hale," Baltimore, care Capt. O. F. Nims, Second Company Massachusetts Artillery. ”

“ Some of our men were acting as mounted pickets, and as they sat upon their horses looking up the road, and listening for the footfall of horse or man, a sharp sound of a bell came from the thick timber land on their side and quickly their ears were open and with eager eyes they sought to fathom the cause of the sounds, when tinkle-tinkle-tinkle came the sounds again and as it fell upon the ears of our men it took them back to their boyhood days when sent for the cows. ”

“ Our center was composed of the Indiana 21st, the Massachusetts and Connecticut, drawn up on the opposite side of the roads, and not more than forty-five rods distant. The rebel right approached through corn-fields and over a rolling country, attacked with great impetuosity the 14th Maine's camp and drove them out, burning and pillaging the camp in a few minutes. The 14th Maine rallied, and, supported by the Massachusetts and Nims' Battery, returned to the attack and drove the enemy back with great slaughter. ”

“ The records during this period show that a soldier's life meant good hard work—even if fighting was not going on. Battery drill, gun drill, marching drill—all these filled the days and brought the battery to the highest degree of efficiency. One drill consisted of flying movements, dismounting and mounting guns and carriages, slinging guns under the limber, etc., and was nicknamed by the boys "break-neck drill." Accidents were rare, however. Captain Nims invented new signals for the use of his men so that the enemy might not know what orders were being given. ”

“ We soon discovered men coming out of the woods much nearer than those down the road, so we fired to the front and right until they came to point-blank range and then we fed it to them with double-shotted canister. Although the battle was very severe, we received no reinforcements except the 3d division of the 13th Corps. Owing to the superior force of the enemy, our cavalry and infantry were driven back, leaving the hill on which our six guns were planted with out support of 23d Wisconsin and 19th Kentucky to fight nearly alone. ”

“ At another time the enemy advanced bearing the Stars and Stripes until they were within 25 yards of the battery who supposed them to be their own men, but soon their artillery and infantry opened a tremendous fire, too high, however, to do much damage. In an instant the guns were discharged and the enemy mowed down like grass, the first fire killing over 100. Great cheers and praises for Nims' boys could be heard all over the battlefield. ”

“ During the stay in New Orleans the battery was commanded to mount as horse or flying artillery and to join the cavalry division of the 19th Army Corps. Associated with them were two other batteries, one from Missouri, and one from the regular army, and Captain Nims was appointed Chief of Artillery of the 19th Army Corps, Col. A. L. Lee, and was made a member of Colonel Lee's staff.
The first parade of these batteries as horse artillery (at which Nims' Battery held the post of honor) , took place September 5, and was witnessed by Generals Banks, Arnold, Franklin and many other officers. ”

“ After leaving the army, Colonel Nims took almost no part in military or political affairs—except in connection with Nims' Battery Association and for a short time serving as commander of Post 7, G.A.R. He was also a member of the Loyal Legion. He would never accept a pension. To quote his own words on the subject, "I don't want a pension. It doesn't seem right to me that a man should be paid by the Federal government simply because he was in the army. ”

“ An old artillery officer for many years in the English service visited the camp frequently and said that he never saw better material than the men in Nims' Battery. "They have," said he, "intelligence and will, and a very few months of active service will find them in the front rank of merit in their class." Boston Journal, August 8, 1861.
Preparations were made to break camp August 7, but owing to an accident which befell the machinery of the steamer which was to convey the battery to New York it was necessary to wait until the following day. ”

“ On August 22 Privates Lombard and Barnes died at St. James Hospital. Indeed, sickness followed the battery and in every record we read: "Have been in hospital two weeks." "Came to hospital to-day." "Two more men on the sick list." In the month of October eleven members, some of whom had been in the hospital for weeks were discharged and came home. During the stay in New Orleans, however, the men began to regain their health.
The time from August to December was spent largely in drilling, a parade and some form of drill constituting a part of each day's duty. ”

“ Here for a month, the men were drilled in all the movements from the position of a soldier to battery drill in the field and also as infantry and cavalry.
Target practise, too, was introduced and for that purpose targets were placed at several points with reference to distance and correctness in shooting. These afforded an excellent opportunity for the men to become familiar with their guns.
On the 31st of July, the command was mustered into the United States service under the name of the 2d Massachusetts Light Artillery, and from the same date the officers were commissioned. ”

“ Captain Nims lost two of his guns, but charged with his sabres and revolvers and retook them. The 21st Regiment repulsed three times their own numbers, and drove them back in confusion. I was at this time detached with the first platoon of our company (4th Regiment Wisconsin) , to skirmish on the extreme left of the line, to prevent a surprise on our flank. I took a position one mile outside the old picket lines, in true Yankee style, behind stumps and trees. The rebels did not think it safe to honor us with a shot. ”

“ At the request and through the generosity of a member of the Nims' Family Association, the writer has prepared the following brief account of the military career of Nims' Battery, together with the life of its commander, the history of the Battery Association and the complete roster. After a period of fifty years, it has been impossible to gather together the personal reminiscences and to bring before our readers the life of an artillery man as clearly as we could wish. ”

“ When within 20 yards of the Fort and under a heavy cross fire the order was given, clear and distinct: 'Charge!' and after a long hard struggle the skirmishers gained the top of the works. Here they found bayonets and guns presented to their breasts, the enemy at the same time shouting: 'Surrender or die.' The brave soldiers looked around for their support but it had failed them, and forty brave boys had to surrender as prisoners. We remained all day under a heavy fire from the enemy and at 9 o'clock withdrew from the field having gained nothing." Knowlton's diary. ”

“ The captain has just learned that some arms are stored in Pratt Street, and has ordered our detachment to attend to examining the premises and putting things in order. To do this we take one baggage wagon, one gun, and twenty-five men, each armed with two seven-shooters and sabre, and thus we make easy work of it
We like our officers. Our captain is a man in the right place. We all like him, for he looks out for the boys. And we have a fine set of men, are very happily situated and every evening we have camp life in full activity. ”

“ They kept up a continual firing on our fleets sending their shots with great rapidity. At 5 P. M., the fleet having passed, we were ordered back to camp, having been engaged an hour and a half. Not a man in our company was injured in the whole engagement and only one horse was hit."
Another member of the battery writes: "Probably few grander sights were to be had during the war than we saw that morning as Farragut in the Hartford, just going enough to prevent the current getting the better of him, led his fleet of wooden vessels through that deluge of shot and shell." S. P. Skilton. ”

“ All the staff officers with those of General Lee were sent hurriedly to right, left and rear. About 4 P. M. General Banks' chief of staff rode along our left to where the third piece stood and said to me (Maxwell) , 'Call your men, load your gun and point it down the road. If you see anyone crossing where the road enters the wood, open fire. Don't wait for further orders.' In less than fifteen minutes the enemy were sneaking across the road and the third detachment obeyed orders. ”

“ It had not left Boston, however, before Governor Andrews gave orders for the formation of a second battery and designated Major Moses Cobb as its commander. Recruiting headquarters were opened on the 20th of April at the Boston Light Artillery Armory under Major O. F. Nims, and in less than two days two hundred men applied for enlistment. "Every member, officers and men, was the greenest of raw material, but they were an intelligent set of fellows and took to drilling as a duck to water." Colonel Nims. ”

“ So he paid closer attention then ever to getting through the lines to reach his regiment, where rations were better both in quality and quantity, and near the end of the siege he was successful. In relating his experience he said of the corn mill: 'If they hadn't had that, I should have been obliged to take my corn on the ear.'
"This having been reported to headquarters, General Banks sent for Captain Nims and said, to him:
"'Send over a section of your battery to a point opposite and throw a few of those percussion shells into that mill. It may weaken their power of endurance. ”

“ Another quotation is from the Lacon, Ill., Gazette, [17] "Nims' Battery worked manfully—the veteran battery, hero of seventeen engagements, all successful, but doomed this time to defeat. They double charged their guns with canister and adding a bag of bullets mowed the enemy down only to have their places filled by the advancing hordes." Again, "Nims' splendid battery with its honorable record on every field from Baton Rouge to Port Hudson was taken by Walker's men." ”

“ A week later an advance was made to Bisland and then on to Opelousas, which was reached October 24. All along the advance, skirmishing and fighting occurred almost every day, and in it all the battery did its part most creditably. At Indian Bend, October 2, the left and center divisions, which were in the advance, met the enemy and drove them back. Two days later at Vermillion Bayou the same sections forced the enemy once more to fall back. Again the right section at Vermillion Bayou contended with the enemy for a ford for over three hours, driving them completely from their position. ”

“ Day after day a continuous stream of men and batteries passed us calling to us 'Come on, get into the swim with us.'"
While here the battery had an opportunity to compete with one of the regulars in target practise. "Several Confederate steamers, the Merrimac among them, came out of Norfolk and lay in line off Sewall's Point. The battery was ordered to Hampton Creek with a battery of the regular army on the left. About 4 P. M. the Merrimac moved a little nearer and fired at the Union steamer Naugatuck, but burst a gun and fell back disabled. ”