History of the Fifth Massachusetts Battery (Boston 1902)
p. 132 Grows’ Journal – Feb. 14, 1862
“The men were drawn up in a line to receive [133] Captain Griffin and Aide. (Captain Charles Griffin, Battery D, 5th U.S.). He is the man who lost a portion of his battery at Bull Run. He is a stern looking man, but a splendid artillerist. He will be our drill master. We were marched to our pieces and had a slight drill.”
p. 135 Letter of Lieut. Phillips – Hall’s Hill, Feb. 18, 1862
“While I had my section out this morning, Captain Griffin rode up and drilled us a little. Our men do first rate considering what opportunities we have had. Captain Griffin says we have ‘the finest set of men that ever were got together on the face of the earth.’ Lieut. Henry W. Kinsburgy of Captain Griffin’s Battery has been assigned to this Battery as instructor, as General Porter wishes to push us forward as fast as possible, so that we shall not be much behind the rest of the Division.”
p. 136 Grows’ Journal Feb. 18, 1862: “At 11 we went out to drill under the Drill Captain – Griffin. He is very strict about drill. At 2 we went to drill again… Drill was over at 3 when we went to our quarters.”
Grows: Feb. 19, 1862: “the Detachment went out to drill on the guns, for word has come that we must move in fifteen days with the Division.”
Grows: Feb. 20, 1862: Kingsbury drilled the men “and he did ‘put them through a course of sprouts’ they never saw before.”
p. 137 Phillips: Feb. 20, 1862 – Lt. Kingsbury “has the general oversight of the drill and interior economy of the Battery…. Captain Griffin has been here several times.”
p. 139 Philips Feb. 23, 1862 “Yesterday afternoon Captain Griffin and Lieut. Kingsbury came here and ordered out the Right section for target shooting, so taking 40 rounds of ammunition, we started across the country, taking two fences, and a man’s back yard on the way, till we got to the top of a hill, and came into battery. … The day being foggy and misty, Captain G. and Lt. K who directed the firing, put the pieces at an elevation of 3 and 4 degrees, corresponding to a range of 1300 and 1600 yards.
P 140: they end up accidentally shooting up some houses. “We told the man that we knew nothing about the country, but the shooting was under the direction of Captain Griffin, and General Porter was present, and we supposed that they knew what was in range of our guns.”
p. 141-2 Lt. Scott’s account of accidental shelling of village of Union
p. 143: Grows’ account of shelling of village on Feb. 22. “Shortly after we were visited by General Porter, Captain Griffin, and their aides. They ordered two of our pieces to be taken out for target practice.”
p. 173 Phillips March 20, 1862: “Captain Griffin has been appointed Chief of Artillery for the Division.”
p. 203 “we were in the advance in that action [Howard’s Mills], and were in the advance ordered by Captain Griffin of the 5th Regulars U.S.A., …Capt. Griffin told Capt. Allen that he had the honor of firing the first gun on the Peninsula.”
p. 633 – “Scott on the Fight of July 2d”: July 3, 1863: Gettysburg “During the day I met General Griffin of the Fifth Corps, who formerly commanded Battery D, 5th Regulars of Bull Run fame. He had been sick and had just arrived from Baltimore.” Knowing me, he inquired after the Fifth Battery. I told him what I knew. He was very much pleased and said in complimenting Captain Phillips, that he considered him one of the best artillery officers in the Volunteer service, and he would not except the Regulars.”
p. 799 April 18, 1864: Letter of Lt. Appleton: “General Charles Griffin and others called Page got extra guard duty because the man on No. 1 post failed to salute General Griffin.”
p. 807 May 6, 1864: “Towards night the other two sections (the Centre and Left) were brought into line. About sunset the Right Wing (6th Corps) broke, and there was quite a panic. General Griffin met the stragglers in the rear of our guns, and most earnestly urged them to form [808] line, ‘For,’ said he, ‘I know that my artillery will stand!’”
p. 864; Notes of Private Wm H Dunham, 3/29/1901: June 3, 1864; charge of the 5th MA Batt. “The position of the rebel battery was such that it was able to annoy our infantry, without receiving check. General Griffin saw that if a battery could advance to a knoll within 400 yards of them, the advantage would be ours. He came to Captain Phillips and said, ’Dare you take your battery to yonder knoll?’ Captain Phillips answered – ‘I dare take my men anywhere.’ General Griffin then said; ‘I want a battery on that know, but I do not order you there.’ However, orders were immediately given by Captain Phillips. … The order was then given- ‘Limber to the front, double quick, March!’ We started in on the yell under a heavy fire. The 14NY were in our rear, they told us they did not expect to see a man or horse standing.
As soon as we came in battery, there was rapid work until the rebels were silenced. Out only casualty was the loss oc Comrade WHH Lapham, who was killed during the charge in the open field.
p. 864: also John E. Dyer’s notes of June 3, 1864: “General Griffin ordered the Battery to charge the infantry. We went in with a yell, driving the Rebs, and came in position of ¼ mile in advance of our breastworks.”
P 866 Letter of Captain Phillips, 6/8/64: “We are very pleasantly placed now that we are attached to Griffin’s Division. Griffin is a good general, and has one of the best Division in the Army; acknowledged to be by all odds the best Division in the Corps. General Griffin under-[867] stands artillery, and I suppose selected the batteries to be assigned to him. Our Battery is very well liked in the Division, and all the officers I have seen seem well pleased at having us with them. I am now Division Chief of Artillery and command 3 batteries.”
p. 874: Griffin home sick at time of Crater, division under Bartlett
p. 879 Captain Stewart: at Petersburg June 18, 1864, Griffin “came to me and told me he wanted me to move my battery forward, and that he would cover my advance by the other two batteries. After moving a certain distance, and Phillips and Richardson having joined me, I was directed to move forward again, the General pointing out the place where he wished me to form the line of batteries, but when I reached the place I found there was no protection for either men or horses, but that there was a good position about 200 yards in advance of it. I moved forward to that point, the other batteries coming up on my left…. After that attack of June 18th it was quite a common saying that the batteries assigned to Griffin’s Division were always used as skirmishers, and such was the fact.”
p. 838 JL Chamberlain, Feb. 21, 1900: “But one cheering thing was, that on the first of June the dear old Fifth Battery with dear, brave Phillips, were permanently assigned to our Division, where they passed for ‘Griffin’s Pets,’ which meant terrible experiences together and closer friendships, neither of which can fade from our minds and hearts.”
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