I. “The Fighting Ninth” for Fifty Years and the Semi-Centennial Celebration by Frank L Flynn
Malvern Hill p. 21: “Gen. Griffin was one of the most conspicuous officers on that day. He was a thorough artillerist and he rode from one end of the battlefield to the other placing the batteries in the best positions.”
p. 22 “Gen. Griffin, who had spent the day with the artillery now had returned to his brigade and shouted for the men to be ready to charge. Going by the front of the Ninth he shouted: ‘Out Col. Cass, get ready to charge; they are coming.’”
p. 27 capture of artillery after Antietam: “These captured guns included at least one gun which had been captured at the First Bull Run when Gen. Charles Griffin was in command of an artillery company. ‘Black Jack,’ as Griffin was known, was the most delighted man in the union camp and his pleasure was a source of happiness to all the men. He was a daring and brilliant soldier.”
II. The History of the Ninth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Second Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps Army of the Potomac June 1861-June 1864 by Daniel George MacNamara (Boston 1899) https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015019940538
p. 111; “No braver or fighter as an artillerist held rank in the regular army than General Griffin. His promotion to that of brigadier-general was won by honest merit and hard work. During the whole war his brilliant career proved the wisdom of his selection.”
p. 151 Malvern Hill “This particular artillery was under the direction of Gen. Charles Griffin, commanding the 2d brigade. He was a West Point artillery officer of great skill, bravery and experience. His great activity in placing batteries in position, and his general supervision of the artillery battle-line that day was most conspicuous from the face that, at time during the early part of the day, he was the only mounted officer to be seen on the field directing operations. He was an officer greatly beloved by all the soldiers that he ever commanded.”
p. 152 During the forenoon General Griffin was activity itself as he rode in all and every direction over the field occupied by his artillery. As fast as our batteries came galloping up from the right and rear he would ride up swiftly at their head and lead them into good positions. In every instance he personally directed each new arrival while shot and shell flew over the field ; a matter of fact that he treated with cool indifference. The troops of the division, while quietly watching his movements, commented freely on “Black Jack’s ” (a nickname for General Griffin on account of his swarthy complexion) chances of getting hit, momentarily fearing that the danger he courted would surely end in wounding or killing him; but he bore a charmed life it seemed. When asked why he didn't dismount, he said it would not do for him, for his legs shook so that he couldn’t stand. No braver man than General Griffin was in the army; notwithstanding his weak legs.”
“At about noontime, during some lively cannonading, General Griffin dashed up to the headquarters of General Martindale, near the cut road, on the bank under the friendly shade and protection of a large tree, and reining up his active bay horse, called out in his charac- teristic shrill tones, that were plainly heard by the writer: “Martin- [153] dale, come out here, and I will show you the best artillery fighting that you ever saw.” Receiving only a negative shake of the head from General Martindale in reply (who was at the time in command of his brigade nearby), General Griffin dashed away to place another newly arrived battery in position where it would do the most good for the Union army. While hastening towards this particular battery his orderly's horse was struck with a piece of an exploding shell on the ear and across the back near the saddle. The orderly quickly dismounted and removed the harness from his disabled animal and then went to the rear for another mount. The poor horse, finding himself free, wandered away bleeding from his wounds and shaking his head to free his ear from the blood that trickled into it. In the meantime General Griffin had gone down the line at a rapid canter, wholly oblivious of the fact that his brave orderly had suddenly disappeared.”
p. 155 “General Griffin rode up to his brigade, on his spirited bay horse, and, in his clear shrill tones, called on his regimental commanders to “get ready to charge.” He likewise warned each brigade commander to be ready. Again, in a short time, he dashed on to the line of the Ninth and cried out “Colonel Cass' Get ready to charge They are coming !”
Major Hanley, who was now acting lieutenant-colonel in command of the right wing of the regiment, saw General Griffin coming, and was on his feet in an instant ready to assume command, thinking, perhaps, that Colonel Cass would be unable to go forward in the charge. Lieutenant-Colonel Guiney, who had been prostrated since the close of the battle of the 27th ult., had previously been taken violently sick on the field, and had to be assisted to an ambulance. From lack of proper food, medicine and rest, he was so weak as to finally be unable to move without assistance. The surgeon pronounced him sick with malarial fever and ordered him home. Colonel Cass ordered Captain O'Leary of Company F in charge of the left wing of the regi- ment, as acting major. At the same time he placed Sergt.-Maj. P. E. Murphy in command of Captain O'Leary's company, as there was no lieutenant with the company, one being absent wounded, and the other a prisoner in the hands of the enemy since the battle of Gaines' Mill. Colonel Cass on hearing General Griffin's orders, which the latter supplemented by shouting, “Up Ninth and at them : " cried out at once, “Attention, battalion " whereupon every man of the Ninth sprang from the ground like magic, eager for the fray.”
p. 222 After Antietam: “The next morning – September 20 — early, the 4th Michigan and the 62d Pennsylvania with battery horses, crossed the ford and returned with three captured guns and several caissons. The enemy did not appear on the scene. General Griffin, who had been the captain of Company D, 5th U.S. artillery, lost his battery at the first Bull Run in July, 1861. Among the guns captured by the 4th Michigan was one or two of his old lost battery. When General Griffin recognized one of his old pieces he was delighted and to every one he met he would cry out in his characteristic shrill tones, “I’ve recaptured one of my old guns that was taken at Bull Run.” His joy was contagious, and all who heard him were highly pleased at the fortunate capture. General Griffin was seldom known to be very demonstrative or hilarious on any- thing. He was well liked and respected throughout the corps as a brave and able officer, and it pleased everyone to hear him tell of his prize.”
p. 257 Fredericksburg “Our division was fortunate in having as its general a trained and experienced regular soldier of Gen. Charles Griffin's shrewd discern- ment. He could see the folly and futility of any further advance against the strong position occupied by Lee's army. Only under the severest pressure would he make a move that would end, in his judg- ment, in the sure defeat and slaughter of his soldiers. While a brave and able general like Griffin was willing to fight and take the chances of losing life, yet he wanted to see some living show of success. [258] Before us there was none and General Griffin knew it, and his brother officer of the same corps, General Humphreys, knew it, for he had tried it with his own division. Were it not for their wisdom our divi- sion would that afternoon have added large numbers more to the list of the slain, for their order could have sent us forward on the fatal charge.”
p. 343 Father Egan joins 9MA as chaplain Sept. 18, 863; Griffin commissions as division chaplain when the 9MA is mustered out (presumably June 64)
p. 373 Wilderness: “When the Ninth retired to the brigade line, Colonel Sweitzer, commanding, rushed up shortly afterwards from the rear and demanded of Colonel Hanley in a loud and insolent tone of voice, “Why don’t you take your regiment in " Colonel Hanley replied, “We have been in, and just come out !” “Well,” said Sweitzer, “take 'em in again.” Colonel Hanley, without a murmur, gave the order to the men of the regiment, who were then resting on the ground talking about the trap they had been caught in, “Fall in, Ninth.” The regiment promptly formed line of battle, and as Colonel Hanley was about to give the order “ Forward " a staff officer came galloping down towards the regiment, and on nearing it, cried out, “General Griffin's orders are not to take the Ninth in again.” Colonel Sweitzer heard the order and moved off to headquarters, in the rear, without a word. The Ninth resumed its place of rest. It afterwards proved that when the brigade went forward to the attack that its commander, Colonel Sweitzer, remained in the rear, and was, therefore, ignorant of what his regi-[374] ments did, or where they went. General Griffin, however, knew all about them, as that gallant officer did of every regiment in his division. He saw the Ninth forming line and surmised correctly that they were ordered in again and sent his aide-de-camp to stop them. The next morning, when the report of casualties was sent to brigade headquar- ters, Colonel Sweitzer came to Colonel Hanley and apologized, saying, besides that, he did not know that the Ninth had been in and lost so heavily. If Colonel Sweitzer's irrational order had not been countermanded by General Griffin, but few, if any, of the Ninth would have come out of “that hole" again fit for duty. It was known by General Griffin, at that hour, that a large Confederate division of infantry, of Ewell’s corps, was in our front.”
p. 406 “On Friday morning of the 10th of June, 1864, Colonel Hanley and his officers, some half dozen now present, called on General Griffin [407] to bid him farewell. The general in saying good-bye complimented the Ninth regiment very highly on its long and faithful service, and referred particularly to its good qualities as a fighting regiment, and hoped that after Colonel Hanley got rested he would him out again to reorganize the Ninth, for, the general said, he would transfer all the Ninth men over to him again.”
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