UNION SOLDIER DIARY GROUPING - LIEUTENANT SAMUEL G. SAVAGE, CO. H, 16TH MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY; MORTALLY WIA, CHANCELLORSVILLE, MAY 3, 1863

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Item Code: 454-42

Consists of Savage’s 1862 diary, a copy of the U.S. Constitution [small book in brown buckram], two Carte de Visits in uniform, three unidentified Carte de Visits of two civilian males and one unidentified soldier in uniform, Savage’s civilian fireman appointment document, his Boston “Five Cent” bank book, a Savage tax receipt, a and a fireman’s military ball flyer.

Samuel Savage was 22-year-old resident of Waltham, Mass. and a machinist and a fireman by trade, enlisting as a corporal into Co. “H,” 16th Mass. Infantry, 6/29/1861. He was promoted to Sergeant and then to 2nd Lieutenant, 11/5/1862. He was listed as missing at 2nd Bull Run, 8/29/1862, and wounded at Chancellorsville, VA, 5/3/1863. He died at wounds of 5/11/1863.

The 16th Massachusetts Infantry. was mustered in August 1861, served in the Washington defenses before being attached to the Union 3rd Corps. It was engaged in nearly of the major battles through Grant’s 1864 Overland Campaign, including the 1862 Seven Days battles before Richmond, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, the Wilderness and Spotsylvania, leaving the Army just prior to Cold Harbor for mustering out. During service that unit lost 150 men killed and wounded and 95 by disease for a total of 245.

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The two Savage images are back-marked: “H.F. Warren, Waltham, Mass.” Both are seated poses, in one of which he holds a kepi adorned with “16” and “H” company and regiment letter and number, w/reverse pencil markings “Lieutenant Sam. G. Savage / Lieutenant 1th Mass. regt. Boston” and “Died Willard’s Hotel /Washington May 11th 1863. Lieut. S.G. Savage 24 years.” Both images sharp w/slight wear and soiling.

The three unidentified CDVs are also back-marked “H.F. Warren / Waltham, Mass.” The two bearded civilians are in formal dress in seated. The seated soldier CDV depicts a young volunteer holding his 43rd Mass. adorned kepi, and is clean but lightly faded.

Savage’s diary is a standard “Pocket Diary of 1862…Published for the Trade”. 3” x 4.75, black lea. w/fldg. flap & rear pocket. Penciled entries daily run from January 25th to November 22, a few smudged to the point of illegibility. Early January entries consist of a list of soldier’s names of various companies from various regiments.

As the diary commences, the 16th Mass. is posted at Ft. Monroe, VA., awaiting the beginning of Gen. McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign. With dates per page, mostly entries are short and to the point.

On March 8-9,1862, 1862, Savage records the ironclad fight between the Federal Monitor and Confederate Merrimac as follows: “Attack on Newport News this AM. Frigate Congress burned, great excitement in camp. Laid on our arms last night. Great battle between the Merrimac & Ericson [Monitor]. Went out most to New Market Bridge.

On March 4-5, he records: “Heavy firing heard today…Heavy firing into the direction of Yorktown.” [the beginning of McClellan’s Peninsula Campaign.] On April 11 the Merrimac is seen off Sewall’s Point and all troops are under arms. In late April the Regiment leaves for Portsmouth enroute for Suffolk.

On June 11-12 they are issue shelter tents and start for Richmond—“marched for Heintzelman’s headquarters and camp. On June 18th they are under arms and “the 16th drove in the rebel pickets—Lyman fields

Jr. Killed G Robinson wounded.—59 loss, and on the 19th Savage is detailed as provost Sergeant.

Between June 29-July 2 [“Seven Days” battles] the entries run continuously as follows: Packed up last night and took rations. Smashed up things generally and started to the rear early in the morning. Went about a mile and about 4 p.m. we started for the James, marched about 10 or 12 miles and camped-----Woke this morning and found myself about 4 miles from the James. A fight today. Jonny came off second best—camped for the night near a church. Col. Wyman killed---Moved toward the James. Another fight today, camped for the night on the hill, moved off at 2 a.m. …in drenching rain. Nothing to eat. Camped near the river. Sick tonight.”

Two months later, August 29, at Second bull run, Savage is captured and paroled in the following sequence: “Camped last night on the banks of Bull Run. Reveille at 1 ½ and started for Centreville, passed through Centreville and had a fight and I was taken prisoner

[Aug. 30] Our names was taken today. More prisoners constantly coming in—the officer in command of the guard killed two beeves for us prisoners.

[Sept. 1] About the middle of the afternoon we fell in & started. Marched three or four miles and stopped for the night [Sept. 2 Started off this morning and marched about fifteen miles and camped some five miles from Fairfax courthouse where it is said our pickets are. [to become exchanged parolees]

[Sept 3] Started before sunrise & marched to Centreville thence for Fairfax C.H., thence to Falls Church, Alexandria and Washington. At Fall Church the 23rd Ohio gave us some crackers. At. Washington soft bread and coffee.

The 16th PA are then posted in a former camp of the 5th New York Cavalry., joined by other by “4 or 5 thousand more paroled prisoners from Richmond” on the 10th of Sept. Savage goes on to note that “Pennsylvania boys went on a ‘rampage’…they want to go home, and so do I.”

Subsequent brief entries through November, mention the departure of more and more Union parolees heading North, including Savage himself in mid-October, arriving in Boston and Waltham, Mass. by the end of the month. He will return to the Regiment and soldier on through Chancellorsville, where he will be mortally wounded on May 3, dying May 11, 1863.

Solid grouping from a 16th Mass. 2nd Lieut. mortally wounded at Chancellorsville. Interesting diary and carte de visites. In protective sleeves. Invites further research.   [jp] [ph:L]

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