John Lord Parker
P. 106 May 27, 1862: “Col . Gove reported in person to Gen. Martindale the great necessity of throwing forward artillery, which he would support on the left , the Second Maine being on the right . A section of Griffin 's Fifth United States Artillery was quickly thrown forward, and as soon as it opened fire the enemy replied, supported by a regiment of infantry immediately in front of the Twenty-second . A well-directed shot from Griffin exploded a caisson, and the enemy soon retired, the infantry moving back into the woods to our left and rear. To guard against this, Col. Gove threw back the left of the regiment, and sent out a small picket to observe their movements.”
P. 128 July 1, 1862 “Gen. Griffin , who was near where the Twenty-second was posted, watching the progress of the battle, when he saw his old battery, the Fifth United States, threatened by the advance of a rebel line, rode up with his hat in his hand, and shouted, “Gen. Martindale, forward your brigade! They are charging my battery. ”Previous to this, we had deployed column and fixed bayonets, and were all ready to move at the word . “Attention ! Charge bayonets! Forward!” and we were off as if it were a battalion-drill. Gen. Martindale was delighted, and exclaimed, “Beautiful, beautiful, Twenty-second!” We advanced until almost on a line with the battery , and then lay down . While in this position , Capt. Wardwell went along the line and set the men to singing “ John Brown's Body.” Finally , the regiment was ordered to support the first line of battle , which was being hard pressed . The regiment opened fire by file, and fired sixty rounds of ammunition, and held their position until relieved . They captured thirty-two prisoners, and sent them to the rear.”
P. 166 Capt . Follett resigned Nov. 27, 1862, and Nov. 28, Lieut. Martin was promoted to be captain . A few days after this , the battery was inspected by Capt. Charles Griffin, then Chief of Artillery, of Gen . Porter's corps , afterwards brigadier-general, later major - general, commanding the first division in the corps . At the close of the war he was commander of the Fifth Army Corps. After the inspection he told our commander he had a fine body of men and well - equipped battery, but officers, men, and horses had a great deal to learn . He was very sure that they soon would be well drilled . He said to the captain, he could see in him the qualities of a good soldier, and as he him self had been in the regular service for the past fifteen years, he ought to know something about it . Told him it would be a very pleasant duty to give all the instruction to the officers possible, and would invite them to his quarters , and give them lessons three evenings each week . It was gladly accepted by our officers. After Capt. Martin had drilled the battery three months , it was again inspected by Capt. Griffin, going through the full field and park movements . After the inspection the Chief of Artillery rode to the front , and taking off his hat , he said it was surprising to him to see the proficiency attained since the first inspection . He had seen nearly every battery drill in the regular service , but he must say he had never seen a more perfect drill than he had just witnessed . It was great praise , coming as it did from the commanding officer of a regu lar battery. Gen. Griffin after that always had a good word for the Third Battery .”
P. 226 Fredericksburg; “Griffin vainly endeavored to form a line of battle, but we were in a basin that gave no room for deployment.”
Wilderness p. 410 The 4th of May the Third Battery crossed the Rapidan River, to take part in the campaign of the Wilderness. It was a wil [411] derness in every sense of the word . The battery , after marching twenty - five miles , went into park ten rods to the left of the pike known as the Mine Run pike , the right of the battery close to the Wilderness . Before midnight Gen . Griffin had a small wall - tent put up , within ten yards of the battery wagons . Our orderly - sergeant extended his guard beyond the general ' s tent . At daylight the battery was ordered to hitch up . Before sun rise an orderly rode up , and asked if we could direct him to Gen . Griffin ' s headquarters . I told him he was asleep in the tent . He said he must deliver a verbal message to him at once . I stepped to the tent , and told the general that an orderly had a verbal message for him . He opened his tent in a moment . The orderly said he was sent to report to him from the colonel of the advanced picket - line , and say that the enemy was coming down the pike in three columns . The general requested our orderly - sergeant to send a man for his horse . In a few minutes he started for the front . Before noon Gen . Warren had a similar tent put up beside Gen. Griffin's .
When the first division crossed the Rapidan , Gen. Charles Griffin , its commander , reviewed it . The division was one of the finest in the army , drawing that morning rations for eleven thousand men , almost all old veterans . I never heard louder cheering than they gave “ Fighting Jack , " as he was familiarly called by his boys .
At three in the afternoon of the first day's battle of the Wilderness, Gen . Griffin came to his tent , and reported to Gen . Warren that he was ready to advance . Standing near , I heard Gen . Warren say to him , “ Be careful of your men in there , general , as it is a bad place . ” Gen . Griffin bade him good by , and started for the front . In half an hour a report of the first volley was heard . About five o ' clock the next after noon Gen. Griffin came to his tent , covered with the stains of battle . Without dismounting , and with the tears running down his powder - begrimed face , speaking to Warren , he said , “ General , I have lost four thousand of my boys in that cursed hole . ” A large number had been taken prisoners , as the Sixth Corps , in advancing by a swamp , had left a wide gap open .
p. 412 Soon after the battle commenced , Gen . Griffin , hearing a heavy tramping on his right , went there , and found a rebel division pouring through the gap . He was just in time to countermarch his third line of battle , and by fierce fighting check the enemy . He captured and lost many prisoners . One section of our battery , and the same of Battery D , First New York , went into position on the pike , about noon , May 5th . Our drivers and cannoneers were hard at work all day , cutting roads , and throw ing up works for the other guns . On the morning of May 6 , when Longstreet and Hill massed their corps , determined to capture the pike , they found our line of battle waiting for them . They fought desperately for it all day and night . Our caissons remained where they were parked the first night . Our guns were directly in front , one quarter of a mile , in the line of battle .”
p. 460 CG called “Old Jack” by his troops.
p. 487 “The following letter from Gen . Charles Griffin , afterwards commanding Fifth Army Corps , shows how the regiment was regarded in the Army of the Potomac :
HEADQUARTERS FIRST Division , FIFTH ARMY CORPS ,
BEFORE PETERSBURG , VA., Oct. 3, 1864. GENERAL: - As your regiment leaves the army on the 5th inst., by reason of expiration of term of service, I desire to express to you, your officers and men, my satisfaction at the manner you have conducted yourselves since I have commanded the division , in every circumstance of trial and danger .
The valuable and efficient service you have rendered your country during the past three years of its eventful history is deserving of its gratitude and praise .
You leave the army with an enviable record , and with the regrets of your comrades at parting with you .
Sincerely yours, CHARLES GRIFFIN , Brigadier - General Com'd’g Division .
Brig.-Gen. W. S. Tilton, Com ' d ' g Twenty - second Mass . Vols .
p. 516
“WHILE the army was at Cold Harbor, the enemy's lines in front of Gen. Griffin were in a fine grove, which at that point extended out toward our lines. It was an annoyance to Gen. Griffin to see the rebels enjoying themselves in the shade while his headquarters were out in the burning sun. Obtaining permission to straighten the enemy's line , he sent for Capt. Phillips, of the Fifth Massachusetts Battery, at that time chief of the first division artillery, consisting of four batteries. The general explained to him his plan to capture the grove in his front, and dared Capt. Phillips to execute it, telling him he could not order it, as the kind of tactics proposed were not laid down in the army movements . Capt. Phillips replied , that he would, if possible, carry out his wish . The grove was occupied by two rebel batteries and a brigade of infantry . The gen eral ' s plan was for the Fifth Battery to advance on the gallop , and go into battery one hundred yards from the grove , and open with canister. The lines at that point were about one fourth of a mile apart . The other batteries were to advance in the same manner the moment the Fifth's guns opened . After an artillery fire of five minutes , the first division would advance on the double quick . The batteries were to cease firing [517] as the infantry passed them. The movement was executed as planned, and it was done so quickly the enemy was taken entirely by surprise. The rebel battery men, seeing the charge of the artillery , were completely taken aback. They jumped upon their caissons and climbed up the trees to ascertain what it all meant, when they received a shower of canister. As they did not have time to form in line of battle before the division charged, they skedaddled back nearly half a mile . Sixty-nine dead horses were found in the grove, and some of the enemy's dead. The plan was executed in less than fifteen minutes, with very little loss on our side. Gen. Griffin was very much pleased with the grove for his headquarters. While commanding the Southern military division he died, a victim of the yellow fever, Sept. 15, 1867.”
p. 525 to Capt. Martin: “Gen. Charles Griffin, commanding the first division, Fifth Corps, wrote: ‘Your term of service expires on the 5th inst., and your departure will be regretted by many friends , whilst they congratulate you upon having escaped the deadly bullet of the enemy. Your association with the first division, Fifth Corps, during the three years of your service, has been of the most pleasant kind, and by your attention to duty and ability as an artillery officer has won you a reputation second to none in the army. Although you have not received the promotion that your services and good judgment entitled you to expect or merited, you have the satisfaction of knowing that your name has often been meritoriously mentioned, and the consciousness of having done your duty to your country honestly and faithfully. The good wishes of the division, of the corps, and army for your future welfare and happiness will accompany you.
p. 534 – re Warren replaced because “too slow”: “No fault could be found with Griffin in the matter of slowness; he was another Sheridan in a fight.”
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