HEADQUARTERS BUTTERFIELD'S BRIGADE, MORRELL'S DIVISION.

Circular.

BRAVE SOLDIERS OF THE THIRD BRIGADE

It is with no ordinary pride that your general promulgates to you general orders No. 4, from the headquarters of the army corps. Your bravery and gallantry have won my love, and you are as dear to me as brothers. Let the esprit and the pride which have always distinguished you be renewed and redoubled. Your children's children will be proud of your noble acts, and your country will love you. let every one, officers and men, make renewed exertion, and let the next call to arms find the brigade, as it always has been heretofore, unflinching, unfaltering devoted to the country and the honor of its flag. Let the proud recollections of the glorious names your banner will bear redouble your strength and zeal, so that, as heretofore, you will equal twice your numbers of the enemy.

By command of
Brig.-Gen. Butterfield
(Signed) Thos. J. Hoyt, Asst. Adjt.-Gen.

During the night of the 31^st of July the enemy on the south side of the river suddenly opened fire from more then fifty pieces of artillery on the Union army lying on the north side, the camp of Butterfield's brigade being fairly within their range. The scene was a grand and exciting one and the wildest commotion ensued, the great guns of the fleet in the river adding their thunder to the road of the cannonade. Very little injury was inflicted however on either side. On the following day the Third Brigade crossed the river, burned the plantation buildings near which the hostile batteries had been placed and then made a reconnaissance towards Petersburg, but finding no enemy it returned to he river and bivouacked on the Ruffin plantation where it remained five days foraging on the country and at the end of that time recrossed tie river to its former position. After this, few, if any, noteworthy events, occurred in the experience of the sixteenth during the remained of its stay at Harrison's Landing.

In the night of the 14^th of August the regiment struck camp and with its corps took the advance in the march of the army down the Peninsula, reaching Hampton after three day's and one night's march. There was a striking contrast between the appearance of the haggard and tattered remnant of the sixteenth Michigan who now returned to their old camping-place, and that of Stockton's Independent Regiment of well-fed and healthy men as they had marched away from the same place a little more than four months before; but their hope and courage were still high and none were doubtful of ultimate triumph. On the 19^th they took transports for Acquia Creek, and arrived there the following morning, proceeding thence by railroad to Fredericksburg. Remaining there until the evening of the 23d, the line of march was then taken northwestwardly along the left bank of the Rappanhannock and, after an eventless march and some countermarching reached Kelly's Ford on the 26^th. During the night, orders were received to burn such regimental and company property as could not be carried and be ready to march at daybreak for the line of the Orange & Alexandria railroad. On arriving at Bealton Station, it was reported that the enemy had destroyed a portion of the railroad between that place and Alexandria and has captured and burned a large amount of property. Rations had become very low and a forced march was necessary to make a junction with the Army of Virginia, under General Pope, which was effected by the corps at Groveton August 29. While at this place the troops were formed in line of battle, but no engagement occurred. For his failure to engage the enemy General Porter was severely censured by General Pope.

The command then moved towards Manassas and on the 30^th a new position was taken near Bull Run. The brigade lay for hours under a heavy artillery fire until the middle of the afternoon when the regiments were formed in column by division and ordered to advance. The infantry of the enemy lay well protected in a deep railroad excavation and a large number of artillery pieces were posted in the rear of the infantry and on higher ground. Then the Third Brigade has reached an open field, the enemy poured into its ranks an infernal fire of artillery and musketry. The brigade advanced most gallantly to within a few yards of the enemy's infantry, and on that spot the bones of its brave men who fell on that day were found when the survivors again marched over the field months afterwards. While the brigade was engaged at this point a force of the enemy attacked in flank, and they were thus forced back in disorder and with severe loss. No troops ever better deserved victory than did the Union forces on that day and that they did not obtain it was no fault of theirs. It was because "some one had blundered." The loss of the regiment in this battle was seventy-nine killed and wounded, among whom were three color-bearers, and seventeen missing. Capt. Randolph W. Ransom, of Flint, was also among the killed.

After this crowning disaster the command fell back, by way of Centreville, and Hall's Hill, their winter camp of 1861-62, to Arlington where a rest of ten days was had, during which Colonel Stockton returned from his captivity in Richmond and the regiment received considerable accessions to its numbers from hospitals and other sources. On the 12^th of September the brigade, under command of Colonel Stockton, moved with the fifth /Corps on the Maryland campaign which culminated in the bloody battle of Antietam, September 17^th. On that day the Fifth Corps was not engaged, though towards evening the third Brigade was ordered first to the right and then back to the left, but sustained no loss.

On the 20^th the Fifth Crops--the sixteenth Michigan in advance--started in pursuit of the retreating columns of Lee, and engaged his read guard at Shepherdstown Ford; after this the regiment and brigade returned and camped near Sharpsburg on Antietam creek, where the Twentieth Maine Regiment as added to the brigade.

On the 30^th of October, the Fifth Corps broke camp and marched by way of Harper's Ferry, a point at which the Potomac River was crossed, to Warrenton, Virginia. This march occupied ten days, and during its continuance the men of the Sixteenth, in common with those of other regiments, foraged almost at will in the country through which they passed; the result was that their commissariat was abundantly supplied with rations of the best quality. "So well," says Captain Powers, 'was the regiment supplied with poultry, fresh meats, honey and preserves that the commanding officer of the division made a sly insinuation to Colonel Stockton that the Sixteenth must have had a lax training in its youth to so soon forget that high moral culture that had made the Army of the Potomac so fond of furnishing food for the powder of rebel bushwhackers."

On the arrival of the Fifth Corps at Warrenton, the regiment found itself under a new commander of the Army of the Potomac--General Burnside--who had superseded General McClellan in that command on the 5^th of November; at about the same time General porter was relieved of the command of his corps. General Burnside, on assuming command of the army, reorganized it into three grand divisions of two corps each. The Fifth and Third Corps forming the centre grant division were placed under command of "Fighting Joe" Hooker.

The army, resuming its march reached the Acquia Creek railroad on the 26^th of November, and the brigade of which the Sixteenth Michgian formed a part encamped in the vicinity of what was afterwards known as Stoneman's Switch.

On the 12^th of December the Fifth Corps moved to the Rappahannock river, opposite Fredericksburg, where the commander of the army was preparing for the great battle, which was found on the following day. During the progress of that unequal fight the third Brigade remained quiescent until about four p. m.,. when it was ordered across the river. It crossed and formed line in the outskirts of the town, then advanced under a heavy fire of musketry and canister, halting near the front at a point which was lightly protected by the conformation of the field. This position was held, but with some loss, until darkness closed the contest for the day. the fight was renewed on the 14^th, but the results were far less sanguinary, both sides held their ground, though the general result was most disastrous to the Union arms.

At midnight of the 15^th the brigade went to the front and withdrew all the pickets on that part of the field, and shortly after daylight crossed to the north side of the Rappahannock as the main body of the army had done during the night.

The Sixteenth Regiment cannot be said to have participated prominently in the battle of Fredericksburg, but it performed all that was required of it, and in doing so sustained a loss of twenty-three killed and wounded. After the battle it went into winter quarters at Stoneman's Switch.

In the spring after General Hooker had been placed in command of the army and was making preparations for that forward movement which ended at Chancellorsville, the Sixteenth moved with the otter regiments of the command to the Rappanhannock and passed up on the left bank of the river April 27. It crossed to the south side of the stream on the 28^th and was present on the field of Chancellorsville during all of the three bloody days succeeding May 1, taking part in the fight at Hooker's headquarters on Sunday, but sustaining no heavy attacks and losing only one killed and six wounded. At the close of the campaign it recrossed the river with the army and returned to camp at Falmouth, where on the 18^th of May at evening parade Colonel Stockton took leave of the regiment, having resigned for the purpose of raising a brigade of Tennessee troops, under authority conferred by Gov. Andrew Johnson and sanctioned by the war department. This resignation gave the command of the regiment to Lieut.-Col. Norval E. Welch who was afterwards killed in an assault upon the enemy's works at Poplar Grove Church in the Petersburg campaign.

Early in June it was learned that the enemy was moving towards the Shenandoah valley and the Army of the Potomac was put in motion to meet and oppose him. On the 20^th, at Aldie, the Third Brigade joined General Pleasonton on an expedition to disperse Stuart's cavalry, which resulted in a fight at Middleburg, June 21, in which the loss of the Sixteenth was nine wounded; this was one-half the loss of the whole brigade. The command then returned to Aldie where it remained till the 25^th, when it commenced a force march to Maryland and Pennsylvania; it reached Gettysburg in the morning of July 2, when the great conflict had already commenced. The Third Brigade was detached from the remainder of the division and about three p. m. was posted on the Little round top, forming the extreme left of the Union Line. The order of the brigade line was as follows: on the left, the Twentieth Maine, Colonel Chamberlain; next, the Thirty-third Pennsylvania, Captain Woodward; next the Forty-fourth New York, Colonel Rice; and on the right, the Sixteenth Michigan, Colonel Welch; the brigade being under command of Colonel Vincent who on that day fell mortally wounded. In this position the brigade was soon attacked by Hood's division of Longstreet's Corps. The enemy came on impetuously and with great confidence on account of superiority of numbers, being a division against a singe brigade; but his repeated assaults were successfully repelled. His last attack was made simultaneously on the front and flank of the brigade so that the Maine regiment was compelled to change face to repel the flanking column. But the work was bravely and successfully done, and when ammunition was well-nigh exhausted and no reinforcements were near, Colonel Rice, who succeeded to the command of the brigade when Vincent fell, sent word to each of the regimental commanders to fix bayonets and one a signal from him, to charge. The enemy received the charge steadily at first, then wavered, rallied, wavered again, and at last broke in confusion, with a loss of five hundred prisoners and over one thousand stand of arms. The brigade pressed on through the valley and halted with its left resting on big round top, on which its line was soon after established. The fighting at Little Round Top was nearly all in which the sixteenth took active part at Gettysburg, and in it the loss of the regiment was sixty in killed and wounded.

A special correspondent of the New York Tribune mentions the brigade as follows:

While this main battle, involving two-thirds of both armies, had for it’s object the possession of Sickles' false line, an episodical combat had taken place upon the scythe-handle itself, more limited but more furious. When, at the beginning of the fight, the Texan line overlapped the left of Sickles', and burst across the Devil's Den, there were not Union soldiers on either of he Round Tops, only a group of signal-men and General Warren, the chief engineer, on the Smaller Knob. The rebel column looked up amazed. No troops peered over to oppose them. Lonely and frightened, the little bunch of signal-men flung their mysterious messages through the blue air. But the natural grimness of the gnarled mountain seemed of itself to intimidate the arrested Texans. Like a fortress dismantled, it rose, piled high with natural masonries, and on its granite ramparts oaks of a hundred years waved darkly. The signal colors were no more than tulips, as they blew to and fro on its deserted profile. Its flanks were wild ravines, like the lairs of satyrs and goblins. Before this northern hill the tangled-haired Texans shrank an instant, looking up through powdery countenances. Then, with a yell, they moved up among the bowlders and quarries, threw heir sharpshooters into shelves of outcropping shale and hollow rhomboids of gneiss and greenstone, and at the crest of Little Round Top, their artillery, far behind, hailed showers of shell and ball.

It was a terrible instant. With the round Top lost, the Union position would be a scythe without a handle, a man one-armed and one-footed; the destruction of the whole army was positive. Already the signal flags were folded; the signal men were retreating.

"Stay!" cried Warren, "you are he army now. Wave your flags, as if they stood in line of battle, and you ten wee ten thousand."

They shook down defiances--that handful of impotent telegraphers--and raised a cheer out of their forlornness that was like a dying comedian's laugh.

For a moment the Texans wavered; they closed up column and advanced more slowly, anticipating a desperate defense.

Just then music burst through one of the gorges and the tread of men came in from the rear. They wore blue uniforms. They were marching to the peach orchard to reinforce Birney. Warren galloped down; his dark Indian face almost bloodless. "I must have a brigade,' he said. "I take the responsibility of detaching you, General Vincent! Out yonder we may be repulsed; here we should be destroyed."

The brigade of Vincent faced left and ram up the hill with a will, The plain, morass gorge and farther woodside, as they looked over, was full of advancing deploying, flanking columns of gray. A huzza they flung over their bristling bayonets as they boldly advanced down the declivity, and simultaneous volleys poured upward and downward. Hazlitt, the gunner, came also at Warren's command. His battery would not budge on the rock-strewn height. The horses would not keep their balance up the almost vertical places, with the dead weight of thirty-pounders below them. Pioneers, with frenzied blows, leveled the oak trees; they charged the bowlders and blew them to pieces; they made a roadway as speedily as a housewife sweeps a stair. Then to every gun lines of men put their sinews and shoulders. Lever and shovel cleared the path. A flying battery, indeed, it went hawking into the clouds, and when it screamed from its eyrie the line of battle-flags waved like the pinions of its young. Warren was away for reinforcements. Vincent shouted, "Aim, men! We must hold fast here though we all perish."

"Aye! Aye!" came in the niche between the volleys.

Now the strong mountain groaned to see the blood they spilt down his face. He grew into a volcano, palpitating, smoking, running over with fire. Great seams of blaze zigzagged down his cheeks. His eyes were shot through with shells. Into the oaken tangles of his hair men climbed like battle-panthers and, mortally shot in their perches, leaped out with a yell of rage.

Steadily, deadly, murderous, the Texans, column after column, wound up the ledges. Vincent's ammunition was failing. His men robbed the cartridge boxes of their slain comrade. They rolled the boulders down and half way to the base stabbed and parried with cold steel. Side swords were crossed. Head opened to scabbard cuts. The devilish things that were done half way to heaven on that seared knob will haunt it a thousand years. the hot battery quaked over all through its natural granite embrasures. Line after line driven back, new columns of yelling savages leaped upward.

Men of Maine, Michiganders, New Yorkers, Pennsylvanians hurled them back. From a series of charges the enemy's attack resolved into a volleying rest, lying upon their faces. A cry ran through the Union line almost plaintive in its poverty; "The ammunition is out!"

Then said young chamberlain, of Maine, a boy-faced college professor: "Men! Our only hope is in the steel' charge with me!" Like the swooping out of the clouds on a flock of blackbirds, gold-daggered, upon the files of corn, the lumbermen and watermen of Maine whistled down the precipices, the rebel lines were swallowed, as if the ground had opened, into the gorges behind the Devil's Den and Round Top was saved tot he Union, of which he became the keystone, indeed, on its decisive day of blood.

Standing now on Round Top, who can revive all the strong or beautiful episodes that were written on the scorched parchment of this landscape; the tenderness, the atrocities, the forgivenesses, the lonely agonies, the crying on deaf men to help and blind men to have mercy. A hundred and fifty thousand fighting men represented the population of the great city. Set this city afire, loosen the Jails and dens of it, make fiends howl in the flames for lust or fly in despair, send charity and heroism upon bold and noble errands, and you have superficial battle. What noble hearts ceased to beat at Gettysburg and got no fame; what awful crimes were committed and got no infamy! Dropped into the century and the republic, the good and the evil that fell that day were but as the poisons and the sweets that ripen in the purple apple.

In the morning of the 3d the brigade was relieved and took position in the rear of the main line. On the morning of July 5 it was discovered that the enemy had retreated and the Fifteenth marched with the army in pursuit. Slight collisions were had with lee's rear guard at Jones' Cross Roads on the 10^th, and at Williamsport, Maryland, on the 12^th of July On the 17^th the regiment crossed the Potomac at Berlin and was almost constantly on the march from that time until September 16 when it reached Culpepper. There it remained till October 7, when it moved to Raccoon Ford and crossed the Rapidan. It crossed the Rappahannock on the 10^th, recrossed on the 11^th, and moved to Brandy Station, where the enemy was attacked by a portion of the corps; but the Sixteenth Regiment was not engaged. Another period then ensued of marching and countermarching, with a stay of a week in camp on the Orange and Alexandria railroad, until the 7^th of November, when the Sixteenth was slightly engaged and lost three wounded in the capture of a rebel work near Rappahannock Station. It moved with the army, November 26, on the Mine Run campaign, which ended without results on the 2d of December, when the regiment went into camp on the north bank of the Rappahannock near the railway station.

At this place nearly three hundred members of the regiment re-enlisted as veterans, were mustered as such on the 24^th of December, and about a week later left for Michigan on furlough. They reached Detroit on the 9^th of January. At the expiration of their furlough February 9, the reassembled at Saginaw City, and on the 17^th left that place to rejoin the army. On their return the regiment made winter quarters at Bealton Station, where they remained till April 30, 1864, when they moved to Brandy Station preparatory to commencing the campaign of the Wilderness.

In that campaign the movements of the Sixteenth were too numerous to follow in detail. It moved across the Rapidan at Germania Ford, may 4.m and on the 6^th and 7^th took part in the battles of the Wilderness, sustaining no loss on the 6^th, but losing on the following day thirty-five in killed and wounded. On the 8^th it made a forced march to Laurel Hill near Spottsylvania Court-House, and in the evening of that day was attached by the enemy in an almost impassable swamp; but its loss was inconsiderable, while a considerable number of the enemy were taken prisoners. May 22 the Sixteenth moved from Spottsylvania towards the North Anna river, and, being the advanced guard of the corps, it encountered the rear guard of the enemy at Polecat Creek and captured a considerable number of prisoners. The next day it was engaged at North Anna river, where it charged successfully and drive the enemy. It crossed the Pamunkey river at Hanover town in the morning of the 28^th, and assisted in throwing up woks on South creek. On the 29^th it moved to Tolopotomoy Creek and crossed it just before evening. May 30 it moved forward and became engaged with the enemy, losing the major, Robert T. Elliott, who was killed at the head of the regiment. On June 1 the brigade was ordered to advance its line, and in doing so was brought under a raking cross-fire. The Sixteenth advanced, drove the enemy from their rifle-pits and held the position thus secured. The next day the corps took up a new position and while the movement was in progress the enemy attacked in heavy force, but a heavy storm came up and stopped the battle; it was renewed, however, on the 3d of June, and again on the 4^th. This three days' fight was near Bethesda Church, and in it the Sixteenth Regiment was engaged during each day. from this point it moved by way of Cold harbor and Dispatch Station to the left bank of the Chickahominy , and there remained until the 12^th, this being its first rest since crossing the Rapidan on the 4^th of May; the intervening time had been constantly employed in march, skirmish or battle.

On the 13^th of June the regiment crossed the Chickahominy by the Long Bridge and marched to the James river, which it crossed on the 16^th and arrived in front of Petersburg on the 17^th. then followed a month of severe labor in the trenches, from which the regiment was relieved and placed in reserve August 15. Three days later it moved to the Weldon railroad, and was there engaged in the construction and occupation of defenses until September 30 when it formed part of the force which stormed and carried the enemy's fortifications near Poplar Grove church, in which desperate assault the Sixteenth lost fifty-two killed and wounded, among the former bring the commanding office of the regiment, Colonel Welch, who died on the parapet.

Following the death of Colonel Welch, Major Partridge assumed command of the regiment, retaining ir until the muster out of service. A correspondent writes as follows:

"A more magnificent charge was never made by any corps in any way," said General Warren, speaking of the charge made today by General Griffin's division upon a redoubt and line of formidable breastworks fronting upon our headquarters. The place is called Peeble's farm, from this being the name of the owner and late occupant of a large deserted house nearby, five miles from Petersburg and about the same distance from the Danville railroad. "Was it not a splendid charge?" I have heard scores ask. The natural tendency of General Warren to speak in terms of glowing exultation of the brilliant and daring achievements of his troops, or any portion of them, cannot in this case be set down as exaggeration. Everyone who saw the charge, or who has expressed an opinion on it--and there are none who have not passed an opinion--speak in the highest terms of the dash, courage, and impetuosity of the men engaged. There were two charges made, and subsequently some fighting. I will recite the events in the order of their occurrence. The story is not length, for in each case the rout was short and decisive.

At 9 a.m. the First and Second divisions of the corps, Colonel Hoffman's brigade of the third division and several batteries took up their line of march. The other troops of General Crawford's division and most of the corps batteries, together with a division of the Ninth Corps, remained to hold the works and forts at out old position, the latter troops, as well as the batteries, being under General Crawford's command. Arriving at the edge of a piece of woods, fronting which was an open space, beyond Peeble's house, was seen a redoubt and a line of the enemy's entrenchments . The enemy's pickets, meantime, had fallen back before our advancing column to the redoubt. The enemy opened with six pieces of artillery. To this redoubt and the earthworks in the distance was not over six hundred yards, and a line of battle was formed.

It was determined to charge this redoubt and the works. The charge was made solely by General Griffin's division. General Ayres' division was on the right of General Griffin's and Colonel Hoffman's brigade on the right of the former division' but the latter troops did not charge. The Eighteenth Massachusetts Battalion, Captain Bert commanding, was first sent forward as skirmishers, but found too weak, and was subsequently strengthened by the One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania, Colonel Rinson, and the First Michigan, Major Hopper commanding. The order being given to charge, the skirmish battle lines soon advanced across the open ground. The charging column pressed steadily, earnestly, persistently forward. Rebel shells and bullets had no dismaying effect.

"A commission to him who first mounts the parapet of that redoubt." Shouted Colonel Welch, of the Sixteenth Michigan, to his men. "Follow me!" He led his regiment. He was the first to mount of parapet, when he waved his sword. In an instant a rebel bullet penetrated his brain and he lay dead. The men followed simultaneously and mounted the works at different points, the colors of some half dozen regiments floating triumphantly where a few moments before rebel colors had flaunted their traitorous folds to the breeze. It was no wonder that here should be different claimants for the honor of being the first to plant the Stars and Stripes on the works. All behaved magnificently and all are deserving of life and honor. Nearly one hundred prisoners were captured and one cannon. The enemy got off his remaining guns, but not all his horses.

"We have taken the enemy's first line of works; can you take the second?" shouted General Griffen. "Yes, yes," was the responsive shout from a thousand throats, and they did take the second line, as bravely as they took the first. In the second line was the second redoubt. Brae heroes had fallen, but a splendid victory, a double victory, had been won. It was all work of a few minutes, a work requiring less time that I have taken to write it. The second line was on the farther ledge of the open field, and beyond were woods. Through the latter woods the beaten enemy fled in haste. Two brigades of Heth's division were in the force opposing us. No artillery was used on our side. Both lines of earthworks wee very strong and the redoubts were substantially put up. The Ninth Corps troops wee shortly after placed in front of the Fifth Corps.

Desultory firing was kept up between the opposing pickets until about 5 p.m., when the enemy charged on the Ninth Corps, causing them to fall back in confusion. Quickly the Fifth Corps rushed to the rescue of the Ninth, and send the enemy back beyond the ground he had recovered. Night and darkness and rain ended the day's conflict. But it has been a day og splendid success and our troops--as well they may be--are jubilant over their victory.

Major Partridge, Sixteenth Michigan, but commanding the Eighty-third Pennsylvania, had an =exceedingly narrow escape. He was hit on the chin by a minie ball, which struck the neck, just glancing the jugular vein, and entering the shoulder and passing out at the back.

There is deep and universal regret at the loss of Colonel Welch. A more popular and vigilant officer was not in the division. Not twenty-seven years of age, a most promising career in the future seemed open before him. He came out as major of the regiment. Impulsive, patriotic and fearless, he was brave to rashness, and this was his great and only fault. After completing his education, he became a student at law, which profession he had just entered upon with the most brilliant prospects of success before him, when, like thousands of the brilliant young men of our country, he entered the army to fight in defense of this country. At one time he was private secretary to Lewis Cass. His body will be embalmed and sent home. Captain Finley, commissary, his classmate and fellow-townsman, will convey his remains to his friends in Michigan.

For more then two months after this battle the regiment lay most of the time in the trenches at Poplar Grove church. In December it accompanied the corps on a raid to Bellefield, Virginia, on which about sixteen miles of railroad was destroyed. It was in the trenches before Petersburg during January, 1865, and on the 6^th and 7^th of February took part in the battle of Dabney's Mills, losing heavily. It fought at Hatcher's Run, March 25; at White Oak Road, March 29; at Quaker Road, March 31; at Five Forks, April 1; at Amelia Court House, April 5, and at High Bridge, April 6. After Lee's surrender it marched to Sutherland Station where it remained stationed during April, and early in May it marched to Washington, D. C., arriving there on the 12^th and taking part in the grand review of the Army of the Potomac, May 23. It was encamped near Washington until the 16^th of June, when it moved under order for Louisville, Kentucky arriving there on the 21^st. thence it moved across the river to Jeffersonville, Indian, and was there mustered out of service July 8. The men and officer left on the 10^th for Michigan, and on the 12^th arrived at Jackson, the 25^th of July, 1865, they received their pay and were disbanded.