Experiences of Henry K. Wing (Owl 4767) son of John and Susan (Morse) Wing, of Company D., 23d Massachusetts Volunteers from New Bedford, Massachusetts.
I tried to enlist with the three months men, but they said I was too small. Later on I tried again; they said that they wanted Men and not Boys. I tried the third time and enlisted for three years - unless sooner killed. The third time when I enlisted I went up to Concert Hall in the evening and was told to report at the Hall at nine o'clock the next morning. I was a clerk in a store. I went home and went to bed as ususal, and did not mention what I had done. Opened the store as ususal and when my employer came to the store, I asked him for a vacation. He said that he could not let me have a vacation. I then told him what I had done. Well, he was surprised. But I got my vacation - for three years, unless sooner killed. Well, we left for camp. We marched up to the depot. Had a band, and about all the men, women and children were in the depot. It was a sad sight. It did seem as if everybody was crying. But we kissed the women and girls through their tears, and with the band playing, The Girl I left Behind Me, we got on the train. We left amid tears and cheers, and went to camp at Lynnfield, Massachusetts. Here we were drilled and got ready for service, and to find out which was our Right Foot and which was our Left Foot. Our next move was to Boston Common to be reviewed by Governor John A. Andrews. Our next move was to New York City. Here I made my first bayonet charge on a pike of gingerbread. Next move, we went on the steamer Star to Annapolis, Maryland. Arrived at Annapolis at midnight in a hard rain storm. Well, we marched up to the Naval Academy. The Mud was Red Clay and it stuck to our shoes. We walked in the Mud - We laid down in the Mud - We slept in the Mud - We walked in the Mud - We were Stuck in the Mud. Next move, we went out and camped for awhile. The last night there I was on guard in a snow storm. Early in the morning we had orders to move. No breakfast. Covered with snow. Well, we marched down to the wharf and stood there two hours. The snow had turned to sleet and rain. Well, we had another order to move. Moved about ten feet - halted - stood there twenty minutes. We then marched on board a vessel, our home for the next 20 days. Left Annapolis Januarty 9th, 1862. This was the formation of the Burnside Expidition. Our next move was to Hampton Roads, near Fortress Monroe, Virginia. Arrived there January 10th, 1862. Our next move was to Cape Hatterar Inlet. Arrived there January 14th, and we stayed there 20 dyas in what the sailors called a living gale of wind. Sad sights we saw, while we were anchored off Cape Hatteras. Vessels dragging their anchors, and drifting on the reefs and rocks - and men in the water and no chance to rescue them, as it was not safe to lower a boat and try to save them. Capt. Hart of Dompany D called for volunteers, and New Bedford boys volunteered and rescued some of the 9th New Jersey men. The inside of my bunk - I never saw the inside. It was in the hold of the vessel as the sailors call it, and it was the lower bunk. And I slept on the back side of the bunk. We had one light and that was a ship's lantern - and a very dim one. And it hung very high. My ration of tea - I never saw it. It was the custom when I was on guard for my bunk mate to save my ration for me. But, being so hungry, he ate mine. Well I was mad and I stayed mad until March 14th, 1862. A good many of our supplies being lost, we were put on very short rations, and lonly half a gill of water a day. After staying there about 20 days we had orders to move. The expidition started and arrived near Roanoke Island, February 7th, 1862. The naval battle was fought the same day. It was the finest sight that I ever saw. I went aloft in the rigging and saw the battle between our gun boats and the enemy's gun boats and their fortifications on the shore. We knew that our time would soon come, and still we enjoyed the sights we saw. Well, after a few hours our Navy whipped them. And then came our turn. It was about dark when we landed in a rain storm. We laid down in a cornfield in a hard rain storm and tried to get some sleep. But no sleep tuntil morn, and none then. Well, what do you think of it - having been on short rations 20 days, no supper, and a rain sttorm and the pleasure of sleeping in a cornfield (or lying down in a cornfield and trying to sleep all night in a rain storm.) Music all night; but not the right kind of music. Too much discord. February 8th was the battle of Roanoke Island. Early in the morning has orders to fall in. No breakfast, and we were wet through. We started, and met the enemy. The reception they gave us was not with open arms, but with fire arms. The first volley from the enemy - how I felt. If I ever had a heart it came right up in my mouth. This was our first victory. We whipped them and Roanoke Island was ours. But fighting is not all there is in War. There is a sadder duty to perform, and this is taking care of the wounded. I was detailed to help take care of the woulded. We laid them down side by side - the Blue and the Gray - and used them both alike. I remember one of the enemy that I had the care of. He seemed but a boy. A bullet entered his cheek and cut off part of his tongue, and he was wild. But he died. And he kept calling for his mother. Our next trip was March 13th, 1862, for New Berne, North Carolina. We landed at a place called Slocum Creek 15 miles below New Berne. Another rain storm. And I saw a woman - a strange sight in such a place. Her husband was a color bearer in a Rhode Island Regiment. Well, for a change we had a rainy night, but we laid down on the ground and tried to sleep. But no sleep until morn, and none then. Well, the morning of March 14th we got up before breakfast and met the enemy and we whipped them. If you remeber, I got mad and stayed mad until March 14th, 1862. The bunk mate of mine that ate my supper was one of the wounded. He did not live long, but I had a talk with him and he was so thirsty that he emptied my canteen. My canteen - I have it now; it was always a temperance canteen. We then started for the city of New Berne. We got up to the Trent River and the bridge was all on fire, set on fire by the enemy. They had covered the bridge with tar and rosin. In case they got whipped they could get on board a train and get away before we could get across the river. Just as they started, one of our gun boats came around the bend in the river and fired a solid shot and knocked off the top of the smoke stack on the engine, but the train went on and the enemy escaped. Well, we went across the river in a ferry boat. Our regiment marched up to the Fair Grounds and we camped there awhile and March 21st we went to a place called Carolina City - a population of 15 or 20 negroes and 2 or 3 old shanties. Next place was Morehead City - about the same population. We then went to a place called Bachelors Creek. April 9th, to do picket duty while the bridge was being repaired. Stayed there until April 24th, and then back to New Berne. Stayed there doin probost duty. While there, a great many had the typhoid fever, and also yellow fever. Company D. had a nice brick house to live in, and feather beds to sleep in, and had a piano and a long dining room. An an old Auntied, as we called the colored women. She did all the house work. Well, we lived high and some of us sleptt in the garret. Our dity was the same as police duty. I was on guard one night. I heard a widow open and soon a woman's voice said, "Guard, Guard," in a low whisper. And when you answered, along would come a bullet, fired by a woman. Another place where I was on guard, was a white cottage with green blinds. A woman and her two children lived there. She was a very pleasant lady, and sociable. She and her children gave us food and fruit to eat. Soon a soldier went to the hospital sick, and the doctor said that the man had been poisoned. And soon some others were poisoned. And then we had orders not to have any converstion and not to take any food or anything from them. And this spoiled our good times. Nights we would go out on the streets and bring in two or three colored men or boys, and as soon as the music started, then the fun commenced. They did love to dance and sing. We had an orchestra. One of our company had a violin and one had a fiddle, and one an accordion. We had some good times. But the duty on the street was very disagreeable. When we passed a woman on the street, she would spit in our faces. Well, we had to leave all the good and bad things and go and lie down on the cold, cold ground. But such is a soldier's life. Our next move was to Kinston, N.C. Battle of Kinston was December 14, on a Sunday. We whipped them and started for the city. We came to a burning bridge, and the man that set the bridge on fire lay there, burnt to death. Our next move was to a place called Whitehall. We met the enemy and we whipped them. Our next move was to a place called South WEst Creek. Met the enemy and whipped them, and this was our fifth victory. We then started for Goldsborough. Met the enemy and did not whip them. We camped for the night, and the next morning we started back to New Berne, found some hard bread, only it was soft when we found it having laid in the ground ten days. It was sour and water soaked, but it tasted good for we were hungry. Well, we reached the city and we then went to Fort Spinola to do garrison duty. Stayed there a few months and then went on a steamer to Fort Sumter, South Carolina, January 20th, 1863. And then we went to St. Helena Island. While there I had a visitor whose father used to go with my mother. It was my brother Joseph. April 17th we went back to North Carolina. Our next move was to Newport News, Virginia. Here I had my first and last drunk. Having been on picket duty 48 hours, I was about used up. The doctor gave me some quinine and whisky. It wnet to my head (and that was my first and last drunk.) I forgot to tell you about our Christmas dinner. Four of us bought a pair of ducks. Had an old Auntie to cook them. Next, boxes from home - how we did enjoy them. And letters from home, and how they cheered us up. Next in order we re-enlisted for three years more, unless sooner killed. Furlough home, December 1863. We arrived att Mansfield, Maaa. Saturday night about 11 o'clock, in a hard snow storm in the month of December. And no train for home until morning. The depot master would not let us sleep in the depot or the freight house. Well, we started out to find a place to sleep. We stopped at a house and knocked on the door, and the man refused us a place to sleep although he had a large carriage house and a large shed. It was near midnight. We started again and we met a man and he told us of a place to sleep, ONLY a mile down the road. Well, we found the house and 26 of us stood at the door. When the man opened it he was scared to see 26 ghosts, as we were all covered wtih snow. We told him what we wanted was a place to lie down and rest and he called the women up and they got us a nice supper. Then we laid down and had a few hours sleep, some in beds and some on the floor. Sunday morning they gave us a nice breakfast, and we asked for our bill. And he said that we were welcome to all that they had done for us. But we made up a sum of money and gave them. Also our thanks for their kindness to us. And then We took the train home. HOME FOR A MONTH When we arrived home what sights we saw in the depot. It did seem as if every man, woman and child were in the depot to receive us, and we were received with open arms, and not with fire arms. They had a band and barouches for us to ride in. WEll, the band started, and the barouches started (empty) down Purchase Street. All the soldiers walked down Purchase Street with their friends. Home for a month, and we did have a good time. No sleep until morn, and none then. Out every night to parties and dances. The last night of my furlough I shall never forget. I went home late, or early in the morning, and in my bed some one laid with their face to the wall. I pulled him over and it was my brother David, home on furlough. And I was to leave for camp that morning. Well, no sleep till morn, and none then. We started for Gettys Station, Virginia. We had a number of skirmishes while we were there. We were then ordered up the James River, and we landed at a place called Bermuda Hundreds, under General Butler. And then we started to take Richmond. But we did not take it - we only tried to take it - five times for five days. Our refuge was our gun boats. Well, we tried them the sixth time and we whipped them with the help of the gun boats, but we did not take Richmond. Our next move was to a place called Drewry's Bluff. Our brigade was near the banks of the James River about two o'clock in the morning, in a dense fog. We were surprised by the enemy, and at 4 o'clock in the moring we were surrounded. After a hard fight with them we had orders from our Colonel - Every man for himself! That neant Get Out - the best way. We made a break through their lines and got out. My cowardly legs, I had to follow them. And I made good time running, and my legs ran behind a large tree and I had to follow them. I got on the right side of the tree and that was the back side of the tree. Well, my cowardly legs got uneasy then and they started and I had to follow them. And I made a home run. Well, enough nonsense. But it is the truth we had to run. After awhile we got together and the roll was called to see who was missing, and my brother John was among the missing. Next was the Battle of Cold Harbor. It should have been named Hot Harbor, for it was too hot for us. Had to leave our killed on the field five days in June before we could get a chance to bury them, as they whipped us each day and we had to fall back. But we ginally got a chance to bury them. You can just imagine the condition that they were in after lying five days in the hot sun. We could not handle them. Our next move was to Petersburgh where we stayed ten weeks under a continuous fire from the enemy. The enemy had a cannon that had a peculiar sound. It seemed to say, "Which one - which one." And we would say, "Don't take me - don't take me." A queer place for fun, but we had fun when we could get it. And one of the enemy had a peculiar sounding gun. And when the church bells rang in the city Sunday we did not hear that particular sounding gun. And one of the soldiers said, "I guess the Old Man has gone to church," and at 12 o'clock when meeting was done we would hear that peculiar sounding gun and some one would say, "The Old Man has got back from church." You would not think it possible to lie down in front of 5 or 6 cannon within five feet of you, firing over your head at the enemy. Well, we did sleep, because we were all tired out. Well, our camp was Dog Town - about every man had a dog. Where in the world so many dogs came from no one seemed to know. We had to drive them out of the camp. Colored boys in camp - about every soldier had a colored boy to black his shoes and clean his clothes. Well, they were driven out of camp and one time our company was reduced down to five men that were fit for duty, on account of sickness, Yellow Fever, Typhoid Fever, and other kinds of sickness. When going into camp at night, we would go for the rail fences to make a fire to make our coffee. We had orders to take only the top rail. When we took the top rail, the next one would be the top rail, and so on. And when we got to the bottom rail or the last rail, that was the top rail. So you see, we obeyed orders and took only the top rail. Once 10,000 men undertook to cross a bridge on a single rail. 15 or 20 men were walking in the rail and the rail broke, and the rest of the 10,000 men had to walk in the brook. On a long march heavy men have sore feet. Little fellows like me have carried their guns for them a good many times. Next - We sometimes used our tin cups and tin plates to throw up dirt in front of us for protection from the enemy. Foxboro Girls and the Straw Hats that they sent to our regiment, and the little note under the lining of the hat. And our new stockings and a little note in the tow of the stocking, and the note read: "Sentry on your lonely beat, may these new stockings warm your feet." At one time old Cornelius Howland come out South so see us. Our Company was named for him (Howland Guards). He brought me a pair of mittens, double yarn, with one finger to handle my gun easy. His wife sent them to me. I used to deliver goods there when I was in the market. One night we had a surprise party. While we were eating our supper, the enemy gave an awful yell and we thought that they were going to make a charge on us. Well, we dropped our cups of tea, grabbed our guns, and then they laughted and said we played that well. Well, we remained around Petersburgh until after the Mine Explosion and then we were sent back to North Carolina to join General Sherman's army at Bentonville. We remained in and around New Berne, N.C., until June 15th, 1865, and then we returned to our home. In regard to letters from home - when we opened our letters and threw the envelopes on the ground, someone that had no one to write to him and did not have any home would pick up the envelope and read the address. And their faces would brighten up and it did seem to do them as much good as if it came from someone to them. One time when on a march in December, we laid down on the ground to sleep with one blanket over us, and when we waked up in the morning we had two blankets over us. One was a snow blanket, and a very thick one. It had snowed in the night. When on a march, to cook our meat we would put it on the end of a stick and hold it over the fire and when it was black we called it done. And a good many times if we could find an old brick chimney we would sit up all night and build a brick oven and bake our beans. Half bake them - and call them done. Talk about soldiers suffering in the War - my mother suffered a good deal more than we boys. She had four boys in the War nearly four years. I will give you a little idea of what she suffered. First came the sad news that Joseph was wounded. Then came the news that David was wounded. Then came the news that John was killed. Then came the news that Henry was missing. That was the time that I followed my cowardly legs. And I think, and I know that my mother suffered more than we boys did. Every morning from 1861 to 1865, not knowing what sad news might come each day. THE AUTHOR ADDS -- (When I wrote this I was 72 years old. What I have written is the truth, although it may be that there are a great many mistakes.) BATTLES AND SKIRMISHES OF COMPANY D, 23D MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEERS Roanoke Island --------------------- Feb. 8th, 1862 New Berne, N.C. --------------------- March 14, 1862 Deep Gully, N.C. -------------------- March 24, 1862 Red House, N.C. --------------------- 1862 Bachelors Creek, N.C. ---------------- April 9, 1862 Swift Creek, N.C. ---------------- October 30, 1862 Tarbora, N.C. --------------------- November 5, 1862 Plymouth, N.C. -------------------- November 9, 1862 Rawls Mills, N.C. ----------------- 1862 Barnards Mills -------------------- 1862 Jamestown Road -------------------- Dec. 10, 1862 South West Creek ------------------ Dec. 13, 1862 Kinston -------------------------- Dec. 14, 1862 Whitehall ------------------------- Dec. 15, 1862 Goldsboro ------------------------ Dec. 17, 1862 Pocahontas ----------------------- May 19, 1863 Wilson Creek --------------------- July 26, 1863 Winton --------------------------- July 27, 1863 Wrens Mills ---------------------- 1864 Wilcox Bridge -------------------- 1863 Gettys Station ------------------- Feb. 26, 1864 Magnolia station ------------------ March 12, 1864 Bernards Mills -------------------- April 8, 1864 Williamsburgh -------------------- April 29, 1864 Smithfield ----------------------- 1864 Cobbs Farm ----------------------- May 5, 1864 Arrowfield Church ----------------- May 6, 1864 Evans Mills ---------------------- 1864 The Ravine ----------------------- 1864 Bermuda Hundreds ----------------- May 6, 1864 Half Way House -------------------- May 12, 1864 Drewry's Bluff ------------------- May 16, 1864 Proctor Creek -------------------- 1864 Heckman Farm --------------------- May, 1864 Petersburgh (10 weeks) ------------ June 9, 1864 Petersburgh Mine Explosion -------- June 30, 1864 Chesterfield Court House ---------- 1864 Jewett Station ------------------- 1864 Chapin Farm ---------------------- 1864 Walthall Junction ---------------- 1864 Chesters Station ----------------- 1864 Cold Harbor (5 days) -------------- 1864 Richmond Turnpike (4 days) -------- 1864 Weldon Rail Road ----------------- 1864 Gaines Mill ---------------------- 1864 Reams Station --------------------- Aug. 25, 1864 Jackson Mills -------------------- 1864 Swift Creek ---------------------- October 30, 1864 Kinston --------------------------- March 7, 1864 War Record of the Four Wing Boys
JOHN A. WING Co. D, 23d Massachusetts Volunteers Enlisted in 1861 Re-enlisted in 1863 Killed at Drewrys Bluff, Virginia May 16, 1864 DAVID P. WING Co. R, 12th Connecticut Volunteers Enlisted 1861 Re-enlisted 1863 Was wounded - Served until end of the war. Lost at sea, 1867 JOSEPH B. WING 17th Massachusetts Volunteers Enlisted 1861 Re-enlisted 1863 Was wounded - Served until end of war. Served also in 3rd Rhode Island HENRY K. WING Co. D, 23d Massachusetts Volunteers Enlisted in 1861 Re-enlisted 1863 Served until end of the war - Discharged June 18th, 1865 (Did not get wounded-So small the Johnnies did not see anything to shoot at.) 
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