The following handwritten notes were found in an 1862 New Testament that was carried by Levi Lewis Jaquith (1829-1913) while serving as a sergeant in Co. B, 53rd Massachusetts Infantry.
Levi was the son of Seth Jaquith (1804-1866) and Ann Robbins (1805-1878) of Cheshire county, New Hampshire. Levi was first married in 1850 to Sarah Louisa Kingsbury (1833-1892) and later, in 1894 to Orvilla Wilson (1842-1918). At the time of the Civil War, Levi was living in Fitchburg, Worcester county, Massachusetts. Levi was 33 years old when he enlisted on 25 August 1862, giving his occupation as a “chair maker.”
After it was organized in the fall of 1862, the regiment was assigned to the expedition to go to Louisiana and once there, in January 1863, it was assigned to Gooding’s 3rd Brigade, Paine’s 3rd Division, 19th Army Corps. After participating on some expeditions into Louisiana, the 53rd found itself in May 1863 at Bayou Sara, bearing down on Port Hudson from the north. It was here that Levi began taking notes on the flyleaf of the New Testament, distributed by the American Bible Society.
In addition to preserving the New Testament that he carried with him in the service, Levi collected and kept a rather unusual relic of his sojourn into Dixie—a lash that he picked up from a Louisiana plantation. The braided leather lash measures approximately 21 inches in length and bears a contemporary tag, barely discernible, but appears to read, “Lyman Plantation, Laurel Hill, Lash,” and includes Levi’s signature. There was a village named Laurel Hill in West Feliciana Parish through which the troops passed, though I cannot find any mention of a plantation owned by the Lyman family.
Transcription
Arrived at St. Francisville
Saturday morn 23rd [May]. Midnight on Mississippi river. Moved from Alexandria to Simsport. Start May 22nd. March 75 miles. 3 days. Morning of 26th, go into city from river. Camp near Lyman Plantation in magnolia grove and cape jasmine. Cross in Laurel Hill [packet sidewheeler]. Change camp. Nearly all the troops gone up river towards Port Hudson. Embark on Laurel Hill. Don’t start up river.
Store houses on the river burned by Butler. Ammunition train. Stop at St. Francisville. No flour, cloth, meal, servants nearly starved. Fine court house and church (new). Most luxuriant country…
March three miles to enemy’s works through woods. In ravine, see the [ ] skirmishing. Heavy artillery open. Pioneers clear away—make road for artillery. 1 o’clock, abandon this road because of deep ravine. Change position to another a half mile away near forward. Corps of Pioneers build new road. Cross ravine 30 to 50 feet deep, cut trees &c. Camp down at dark. I work forming picket lines until 11 o’clock. Sleep with adjutant. Distant sound of horses in night. Rebels make a feint to retreat twice. Fearful volley in front and rear. A few fall back. They volley, take old position. Three or four wounded. One finger shot off (self shot) Capt. [George H.] Bailey. 1
Work until 11 deploying skirmishers. Return to headquarters with reserve. Co. I and F did from 12 to 3. Major waked me and we count on the whole line, examining the position. Adjutant struck with spent ball. One volley at daylight. Rebs retire. Two persons come in Tuesday noon. I retire to rear. [Gen.] Paine with them. Order of Col.—remain all quiet. Returned at 9 o’clock. Retire half a mile to cook and sleep. Remain all day resting. Negro regiments. 22 guns. Bouquet of magnolias.
No firing. A strange calm before the storm. Quiet walk in the evening alone. Sat down but no sleep. Restless, nervous, weary and sleepy. But no sleep. I feel the weight of our position. The awful solemnity. Col. came in at 11. I notify all commander that the grand attack will commence in the morning by the central force. Order that men have two day’s rations, breakfast eaten, blankets rolled, and left under guard, and start at 4:20.
Move at 4:30 through the woods. Gen. [William] Dwight leads, having command of us infantry. In one to two hours the rebs are all driven through the woods to a clearing and the artillery comes up. Open a terrible fire. Rebs respond. An awful artilllery duel. 30 lb. fused shells strikes within 2 feet of our line [but] did not explode. Men did not move. The 30 lb. shells strike all about us. Several battery trains cut down. Tree cut entirely in two, falls upon a caisson and 6 horses, crushing them all. Men go by in crowds wounded—officers also. Lots of skedaddlers. “All cut up.”
Gen. Paine comes up and says our forces have taken two rifle pits but are badly cut to pieces. Needs us there. Had regiment [start] for the place he wants but we must support the battery and hold the hill. [ ] the 91st New York and 2nd Louisiana &c. welcomed with “bully for you” over and over. The men have driven the rebs out of a ravine for three-quarter mile. Our regiment sprang to the edge of a cliff and opened fire. The enemy are behind rifle pits 150 yards in front. From 10 till dark our men fire continuously. Reb’s big Columbiad……4 men wounded on our side.
On Thursday, 28th, firing with rifles stopped. We lay all day resting with a watch, ordered to cease firing. After noon the artillery opened and in a few moments dismounted the enemy guns. Flag of truce to bury dead till 7 evening.
1 Capt. Bailey was mortally wounded on May 25th and died on the 27th.
Spared & Shared 23 