Id’d Civil War Officer’s Hardee Hat Embroidered Eagle – Lt. Col. John M. Studley 51st Mass. Vol. Infantry

Id’d Civil War Officer’s Hardee Hat Embroidered Eagle – Lt. Col. John M. Studley 51^st Mass. Vol. Infantry – This finely embroidered, officer’s Hardee hat eagle insignia was worn by Lt. Col. John Moore Studley of the 51^st Mass. Vol. Infantry. Studley, a resident of Worcester, Mass., enlisted, at the rank of Captain, in July 1861, into the 15^th Mass. Infantry; a year and a half later, he was discharged for promotion into the 51^st Mass. Vol. Infantry, mustering out in late July 1863. Studley, while still serving with the 15^th Mass., was captured at the Battle of Ball’s Bluff and imprisoned at the Liggon Tobacco Factory warehouse in Richmond. After a very brief confinement, Studley was released and exchanged, shortly thereafter attaining the rank of Lt. Col. in the 51^st Mass. Inf. in Nov. 1862.

Service in the 51^st Mass. entailed primarily garrison and guard duty with the Dept. of North Carolina, with some brief encounters and minor skirmishes with Confederate forces in North Carolina, as well as the regiment enduring a ravaging number of cases of fatal meningitis. Studley, with the rest of his regiment, mustered out of service in the end of July 1863. This Hardee hat badge is a top-drawer example and remains in excellent condition. The badge is constructed of silver and gold bullion wire and thread, with sequins highlighting various areas on the eagle. The badge was accompanied by an old, typed tag that has been highlighted by inked over-writing, when we obtained it; the tag reads as follows:

“LTC JOHN M STUDLEY

51^st Regiment, Mass

Volunteer Infantry”

John Moore Studley

Residence Worcester, MA; a 32-year-old Stair Builder.
Enlisted on 7/12/1861 as a Captain.

On 7/12/1861, he was commissioned into “D” Co. Massachusetts 15th Infantry.
He was discharged for promotion on 10/27/1862

On 11/11/1862, he was commissioned into Field & Staff Massachusetts 51st Infantry.
He was Mustered Out on 7/27/1863 at Worcester, MA

He was listed as:

• POW 10/21/1861 Ball’s Bluff, VA
• Confined 10/24/1861 Richmond, VA (Liggon Tobacco factory)

Promotions:

• Lt Colonel 10/29/1862 (As of 51st MA Infantry)

Died 4/10/1903 in Providence, RI

After the war, he lived in Providence, RI

John Moore Studley was born on 8 Jan 1829 at Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was the son of Zenas Studley and Almira (Stowell). John married Julia Ann Gill Bet. 1849 – 1850.

On 6 Aug 1861, Mr. Studley mustered into service with the 15th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry as a Captain, being credited to the quota of Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts. He was 32 years, 6 months and 29 days old.
John died on 10 Apr 1903 at Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island. He was 74 years, 3 months and 2 days old.

Mr. Studley is entered in the MOLLUS records as follows:

STUDLEY, JOHN MOORE.
LIEUTENANT COLONEL, 51st INFANTRY, MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER MILITIA, IN SERVICE OF THE UNITED STATES.

Elected January 1, 1890. Insignia 7569.
Captain, 15th Mass. Infantry, July 12, 1861; mustered, August 1, 1861. Discharged to accept promotion, October 27, 1862. Lieutenant Colonel, 51st Infantry, M.V.M., October 31, 1862; mustered, November 11, 1862. Mustered out, July 27, 1863. Died at Providence, R.I., April 10, 1903.

Capt. Studley’s Brief Imprisonment

Ligon’s Tobacco Warehouse in Richmond, Virginia was the first building used as a prison by the Confederacy during the Civil War. The warehouse was owned by John L. Ligon.

General Hospital #23 was also called Ligon’s Factory Hospital, Liggon Factory Hospital, Ligion Factory Hospital, Prison Depot, and Prison No. 1. It was formerly the tobacco factory of John L. Ligon.

John. L. Ligon’s Tobacco Warehouse was confiscated during the early part of 1861 and was used as a prison for Federal soldiers. This building later became General Hospital #23. This building was at times used as a hospital for Libby Prison, and for baggage storage. It had 45 employees.

General Hospital #23 was located on the southeast corner of 25th and Main Streets.

15th MA Infantry

Organized: Camp Scott, Worcester, MA on 6/12/1861

Mustered out: 7/28/1864

FIFTEENTH REGIMENT MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY THREE YEARS The 15th Regt. Mass. Vol. Inf. was recruited in Worcester County, the Leominster and Fitchburg units being old militia companies, while the others were raised by voluntary assemble at Camp Scott, Worcester, and there, July 12, the regiment was mustered into the United States service with Charles Devens, Jr., major of the old 3d Battalion Rifles, as its colonel. The regiment left Camp Scott for Washington, D. C., August 8, and on the 27th arrived at Poolesville, Md. where it was attached to Gen. Charles P. Stone’s command. It was active in guarding the Potomac from Conrad’s Ferry to Harrison’s Island until October 21, 1861, when it led the advance to Ball’s Bluff, losing in that action over 300 men of whom 44 were killed or mortally wounded. The winter of 1861- 62 was spent near Poolesville, over 200 recruits being received before spring opened. In February Gen. John Sedgwick was given command of the division, while Gen. Willis A. Gorman was assigned to the brigade. After a short time spent in the Shenandoah Valley the regiment was sent to the Peninsula, where Sedgwick’s Division became a part of Sumner’s (2d) Corps. It participated in the siege of Yorktown, and in the battle of Fair Oaks May 31, and was under fire at Savage’s Sta., Glendale, and Malvern Hill with slight loss. The 1st Company of Sharpshooters became attached to the regiment at Yorktown and continued with it for over a year. After spending most of July and August at Harrison’s Landing, on the 28th of August the regiment reached Alexandria and helped to cover Pope’s retreat from Second Bull Run. In early September it joined in the advance to Frederick and South Mountain. At Antietam, September 17, the 15th was outflanked in the West Wood and in twenty-seven minutes lost a total of 318 officers and men, or over 50% of the number engaged, 98 being killed or mortally wounded. During the Peninsular campaign and at Antietam the regiment was commanded by Lieut. Col. John W. Kimball. At Fredericksburg, Dec. 13, 1862, Gen. Sully commanded the brigade and Gen. Howard the division, Gen. Couch commanding the 2d Corps. Here the 15th was engaged but with small loss. The winter of 1862-63 was spent in camp near Falmouth. During the Chancellorsville campaign in May, 1863, Gen. Gibbon being in command of the division, the 15th was in the reserve at Fredericksburg and suffered slight loss. At Gettysburg, July 2 and 3, 1863, as a part of Harrow’s Brigade, Gibbon’s Division, Hancock’s (2d) Corps, the regiment was heavily engaged on the Union left centre losing its colonel, George H. Ward, and 36 officers and men killed or mortally wounded. On October 14, 1863, the regiment was engaged at Bristoe Sta. covering the retirement of the army toward Centreville. It was engaged near Robertson’s Tavern in the Mine Run expedition Nov. 27, and on its return from Mine Run went into winter quarters near Stevensburg. At the Wilderness, May 5 and 6, 1864, Gen. Webb being in command of the brigade, the 15th was engaged on the Plank road with loss. At Spottsylvania, May 12, it was in Hancock’s assault on the Bloody Angle again losing heavily. Its losses at North Anna, Totopotomoy, and Cold Harbor reduced the regiment to 5 officers and about 70 enlisted men. On June 22 when the 2d Corps was outflanked near the Jerusalem Plank road the entire regiment save one officer and five men were taken prisoners. These with those who returned from hospitals or from detached service were attached to the 20th Mass. of the same brigade until July 12, when the remnant of the regiment was sent home, arriving in Worcester, Mass., July 21, where on the 26th nine companies were mustered out of the service. Co. I, which had a little longer to serve, was mustered out August 6, and the regiment ceased to exist. Few Massachusetts units had as gallant a history as the 15th Infantry. Source: Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors & Marines in the Civil War *************************************************************************** Antietam after battle report: Report of Lieut. Col. John W. Kimball Fifteenth Massachusetts Infantry, of the battle of Antietam. HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH REGIMENT, MASS, VOLS., Camp near Sharpsburg, September 20, 1862. CAPT.: I have the honor to report that on Wednesday, 17th instant, at 7 o’clock a. m., I was ordered to hold my command in readiness to move at a moment’s notice. At 7.30 o’clock we took up our line of march with 582 muskets, including First Company Andrew Sharpshooters, Capt. J. Saunders, attached to this command, being the third regiment in the brigade line. We moved in a direct line toward the ground held by the forces under command of Gen. Hooker, fording, in the march, Antietam Creek. On reaching the field, a line of battle was formed, in which my command occupied the position of third regiment of the first line. We then moved forward in line under a severe artillery fire about one mile over the ground gained by Gen. Hooker, passing fences, fields, and obstacles of various descriptions, eventually occupying a piece of woods, directly in front of which, and well covered by the nature of the ground, field of grain, hay-stacks, buildings, and a thick orchard, were the enemy in strong force. At this time we were marching by the right-oblique, in order to close an interval between my command and that of Col. Hudson, Eighty-second New York Volunteers, and as we gained the summit of a slight elevation my left became hotly engaged with the enemy, covered as before mentioned, at a distance of not more than 15 yards. A section of the enemy’s artillery was planted upon a knoll immediately in front of and not more than 600 yards distant from my right wing. This was twice silenced and driven back by the fire of my right wing, concentrated upon it. The engagement lasted between twenty and thirty minutes, my line remaining unbroken, the left wing advancing some 10 yards under a most terrific infantry fire. Meanwhile the second line of the division, which had been halted some 30 or 40 yards in our rear, advanced until a portion of the Fifty-ninth Regiment New York Volunteers, Col. Tidball, had closed upon and commenced firing through my left wing on the enemy. Many of my men were by this maneuver killed by our own forces, and my most strenuous exertions were of no avail either in stopping this murderous fire or in causing the second line to advance to the front. At this juncture Gen. Sumner came up, and his attention was immediately called by myself to this terrible mistake. He immediately rode to the right of the Fifty-ninth Regiment, ordered the firing to cease and the line to retire, which order was executed in considerable confusion. The enemy soon appeared in heavy columns, advancing upon my left and rear, pouring in a deadly cross-fire on my left. I immediately and without orders ordered my command to retire, having first wit nested the same movement on the part of both the second and third lines. We retired slowly and in good order, bringing off our color stand a battle-flag captured from the enemy, reforming by the orders of Gen. Gorman in a piece of woods some 500 yards to the rear, under cover of our artillery. This position was held until I was ordered to support a battery planted upon the brow of a hill immediately in our rear, the enemy having opened again with artillery. His fire being silenced, the position was held throughout the day. I desire to say that my entire regiment behaved most gallantly during the engagement, evincing great coolness and bravery, as my list of casualties will show. Although suffering terribly from the fire of the enemy, it was with great surprise that received the order to retire, never entertaining for a moment any idea but that of complete success, although purchased at the cost of their lives. The order forbidding the carrying wounded men to the rear was obeyed to the very letter. Of my line officers, without exception, I cannot speak in too high praise. They were all at their posts, bravely and manfully urging on their men, and equally exposed with them. Those wounded refused all assistance, ordering their men to return to the ranks and do their duty. I desire to call your particular attention to Maj. Philbrick and Adjutant Hooper. They were with me during the entire engagement in the thickest of the fight, receiving and executing my orders with great coolness and promptitude. I herewith append a list of the casualties in the late engagement. Officers killed: Capt. C. S. Simonds, Capt. J. Saunders, First Lieut. R. Derby, First Lieut. William Berry, First Lieut. F. S. Corbin. Officers wounded: Capt. W. Forehand, slight; Capt. G. C. Joslin, severe; Capt. A. Bartlett, slight; First Lieut. Thomas J. Spurr, severe; First Lieut. L. H. Ellingwood, severe; Second Lieut. W. Gale, slight; Second Lieut. A. J. Bradley, slight. Enlisted men killed, 60; wounded, 238; missing, 38. Officers killed and wounded, 12. Enlisted men killed, wounded, and missing, 336. Total, 348. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN W. KIMBALL, Lieut.-Col., Commanding. Capt. J. GORMAN, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

51st MA Infantry

Organized: Camp Wool, Worcester, MA on 10/1/1862

Mustered out: 7/27/1863

FIFTY-FIRST REGIMENT MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER MILITIA (INFANTRY) NINE MONTHS The 51st Regt. Mass. Vol. Mil. was raised largely in southern Worcester County as a part of Massachusetts’ quota of nine months troops. Its rendezvous was Camp Wool, Worcester, Mass., where the recruits gathered in the early fall of 1862, Col. George H. Ward of the 15th Mass. Regt., who had lost a leg at Ball’s Bluff, being commandant of the camp. The companies of the 51st were mustered in between the 25th of September and the 14th of October. A. B. R. Sprague, an officer of the 25th Mass. Inf., was commissioned colonel, and under his command the regiment left Camp Wool, Nov. 25, 1862, proceeding by rail to Boston, where it immediately embarked on the transport MERRIMAC bound for North Carolina. After a rough voyage it reached Beaufort, N. C., Nov. 30, proceeding thence by rail to Newbern. Here it was assigned to Amory’s Brigade. Not until Dec. 5 were arms issued to the regiment and the men instructed in their use. On Dec 11, the 51st was assigned to the Goldsboro expedition. Proceeding with it as far as Beaver Creek Bridge, it was delayed there to guard the crossing at that important point. Continuing on after the main body on Sunday the 14th, it overtook the column Tuesday the 16th while it was engaged in the battle of Whitehall. During the battle of Goldsboro, Dec. 17, the 51st guarded the wagon train and was not in action. It returned to its barracks on the Trent River near Newbern on Sunday the 21st. Company “G” was sent to Brice’s Ferry, Dec. 30, to do guard and outpost duty, and there remained during the entire period of the regiment’s service in North Carolina. On Jany. 17, 1863, seven companies took part in an expedition to Pollocksville, five of them proceeding as far as Young’s Cross Roads, and having a skirmish with the enemy at White Oak Creek, returning to Newbern, Jany. 21. During the month of February the regiment suffered much from the ravages of disease and especially from an epidemic of cerebro-spinal meningitis, a number of men dying of the latter disease. Early in March several companies of the regiment were distributed at various points along the railroad between Newbern and Morehead City, while others were stationed at Beaufort and Evans’ Mills, Colonel Sprague being assigned to the command of the District of Beaufort, which included Fort Macon. Company ” C ” became a part of the garrison of this fort. On May 4, the regiment returned to Newbern much improved in health, and reoccupied its old camp on the Trent River. On June 24, 1863, the 51st was ordered to Fort Monroe. Arriving at this place on the 27th, it was ordered to report to General Dix at White House where a force was being collected to attack Richmond. Arriving at White House, June 28, it was almost immediately ordered back to Fort Monroe. Here the colonel offered the services of the regiment for emergency duty until the Confederate army under General Lee should be driven back from Pennsylvania, and it was immediately transferred to Baltimore, Md., where it remained from July 1 to July 6, searching houses for concealed arms, guarding prisoners from Gettysburg, etc. On the date last mentioned it was attached to a provisional brigade under Brig. Genl. H. S. Briggs, the other regiments being the 8th, 39th, and 46th Massachusetts. Proceeding to Sandy Hook, Maryland Heights, and Fort Duncan, opposite Harper’s Ferry, it remained at the latter place until July 12 when it started for Funkstown, Md., in front of the Confederate position at Williamsport, and here on the following day it joined the 1st Corps, Army of the Potomac. The night following its arrival, the Confederate army recrossed the Potomac. On the 15th the regiment was sent with the 1st Corps to Berlin, Md., where the Union army was preparing to cross the Potomac in pursuit of Lee. Here the 51st was detached from the corps and ordered to Massachusetts for muster out. Arriving at Worcester, Mass., July 21, the men were furloughed for six days, after which they reassembled and were mustered out of the service July 27, 1863.