Northampton in the Civil War II

In March of 1862 General George McLellan began his Penninsular campaign to take Richmond. He attacked up the Peninsula between the James and York Rivers. At Fair Oaks (Seven Pines) Company C was engaged for the first time. They occupied a poor position, an open field surrounded by brush. During the battle they were flanked and broke 4 times, yet each time they rallied and returned to the fight. Casualties were very heavy, 27 killed, and 96 wounded. Soon afterwards General Robert E. Lee began a concerted counter attack against McLellan (the Seven Days battle). McLellan held a precarious position as the flooded Chickahominy River had divided his force in two, leaving his right flank unprotected. At Oak Grove and Mechanicsville the two armies fought to a draw, but the ever cautious McLellan was sure he was out numbered (in truth he had 100,000 men to Lee's 90,000) and began to withdraw. McLellan fought rearguard actions at Gaines' Mill, Savage Station, and White Oak Swamp. Company C was not engaged in any of these, but when the Union army finally turned at Malvern Hill, they were in the heaviest fighting. After the victory at Malvern Hill, McLellan finally withdrew back down the river. There followed a parade of inept Union commanders before setteling on "fighting" Joe Hooker. Company C did not fight at Antietam or Fredricksburg. And it was not until Chancellorsville (when Hooker first took command declaring that, "The Army of Northern Virginia is now the official property of the Army of the Potomac.")that they would again face the enemy. During that battle they were part of Sedgwick's 6th Corps, who attempted to flank a section of Lee's divided army. The Confederates held the same ground as they had during the battle of Fredricksburg and the results were the same. Many of Company C's men fell trying to take the same ground the entire army could not take 5 months before.

CAPTIONS Top Captured Confederate Army blouse, made from butternut dyed homespun. Above left Sword of Gen. Joseph Hooker, commander of the Army of the Potomac. Below right Left to right, Capt. James H. Witherell, Lt. Col. Joseph B. Parsons, Capt. Flavel Shurtleff, of the 10th Mass.

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