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J. R. Gardner Small, January 1863-August 1864. Gardner Small lived up to a name reeking of New England, serving during the Civil War in the 1st Massachusetts (Light) Artillery. A typical light artillery unit, the 1st Massachusetts was regularly engaged throughout its service with the main body of the Army of the Potomac in northern Virginia. Small left two journals describing his experiences, or, perhaps more accurately, two memoirs that overlap somewhat. It is difficult to determine exactly how the two volumes relate to one another. The first volume begins with a well written and engaging 6pp. memoir of Small`s enlistment in August 1862 and his subsequent service at Antietam and South Mountain. Typical of his style, Small described the violence and confusion of the bloody day in the corn field: `The next Zim blim shooting we had at `Antietam,` rather Hot. Went into position in a cornfield and blazed away; `Johnnies` lay wounded & killed all around us. I saw some tough sights – Heads, arms & legs shot off – We were engaged all day & the next night Mr. Rebs abscotulated…` In late April 1863, as the Battery was preparing for Chancellorsville. Small`s account begins May 3: `Moved to the left of the line went into `battery` with the 15th N.J. Regt. as a support. Were charged 3 times by the Johnnies each piece fired 3 boxes ammunition when our skirmishers were driven in gave the Johnnies a parting salute of canister limbered up & went to the rear – Ben Daniels & three horses killed instantly by a shot from a Reb battery…` The next day he continued: `Rebs came out of the woods in line of battle - -We gave them a dose of solid shot & shells & held our position till dark then took a skip across the river at Banks ford. Every one for himself, went into camp on a high ridge of land had not got settled before we were shelled by the Rebs stood it a spell then changed camp before the shot done us any damage. The Rebs had a cross fire on us & we saw blue lights sent up in our rear directing the shots.` Later, Small includes a brief account of Gettysburg (they arrived on the battlefield at the end of the second day, and were stationed atop Cemetery Hill on the third), as well as a good description of the pursuit of Lee. After a winter of concise entries and snide comments about the Battery`s nags, the memoir reaches its high point in a fine description of the engagements in the Wilderness and at Spotsylvania. After having little to do in the Wilderness due to the thick woods, Small picks up on May 8: `Our march last night was to get on the Rebs flank & we have a chance now to work our guns; the battle commenced about 9 a.m. this morning & we went into battery at 2 P.M. fired away till dark.` Interestingly, he records a rumor that Sedgwick`s death the next day was purposely kept from the troops until the evening so as not to demoralize them. At Cold Harbor, he had a near miss when `a Caisson of Battery M, 5th Regulars,` as he wrote, `was blown up by a shell from the Johnnies killing two men. We were not 150 feet from it, but escaped damage from the flying fragments.` After a brief time before Petersburg, Small`s battery took part in destroying rail road (Sherman ties, even here), and on July 15, he was present to witness the trial and execution of a spy: `A spy & deserter was hung at noon by one of our men `Fischer` by name (a Dutchman)… Fisher said he would like to hang de tam cuss & he was given the privilege; after which he was presented with a canteen of whiskey, & he was gloriously drunk at night, and said he would hang one every day for the same reward.` At the end of the summer, Small`s Battery moved into the Valley, and took part at the Battle of Winchester in August: `The Rebs had the best of it the first of the morning & drove the infantry back, after Sheridan came on the field he posted his staff across the road to keep the stragglers from going to the read & every man (not wounded) was sent to the front… After the Johnnies got started on the skedadle, we drove them with a rush. The batteries would limber up & go after them on the double quick – more like flying artillery than field batteries…` Mustered out in October 3, 1864, returning home to Boston. The diary ends with a complete roster of the battery, including notes on the fate of each, and additional notes made during reunions in 1877 and 1879. It also includes a pencil sketch of Small`s winter quarters. Much less detailed than the first volume, the second covers the period January 1863-August 1864, and consists of somewhat briefer entries beginning with Burnsides infamous mud march. Picking up some steam during the spring, Small mentions several smaller engagements leading up the Gettysburg, with a brief account of their activity on the second and third day. The highlight of the volume, however, is probably his account of participation in the Wilderness-Spotsylvania Campaign, and a second, telegraphic eye witness description of the death of Gen. Sedgwick: `Detached to dislodge sharpshooters under direction of Genl. Sedgwick. The left & center sections busy throwing up breastworks & a lively time of it. Genl. Sedgwick killed just before dark by a sharpshooter near the right section & Genl. Morris wounded. Sedgwick was much thought of by his Corps & it was a sad blow & a great loss to the army when he was killed.` There are, as well, descriptions of Cold Harbor and Petersburg. Written clearly and well, though often telegraphically, both volumes appear to be copies made for a veteran`s reunion in the 1870s. A fine relic from a survivor of a typical light artillery unit in the Army of the Potomac, containing first hand accounts of the great engagements at Antietam, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Winchester. In good condition, with a few loose pages in the first volume, but nothing lacking.

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