The Bay State Monthly, Volume 3, No. 1 | Page 6

farm-house to note the

direction of the bombs, the Confederate artillerists sent a shell which
demolished a pig-pen but a few feet distant.
While at Island No. 10, the battle of Pittsburg Landing was fought.
Leaving the fleet he hastened thither, accompanied the army in its slow
advance upon Corinth, was present at the battle of Farmington and the
occupation of Corinth.
General Halleck, smarting under the criticism of the press, ordered all
correspondents to leave, and Mr. Coffin once more joined the fleet,
descending the Mississippi. During the engagement with the
Confederate fleet at Memphis, he stood upon the deck of the Admiral's
despatch boat with note-book and watch in hand--noting every
movement. He was fully exposed, aided in hauling down the flag of the
Confederate ship, "Little Rebel," and assisted in rescuing some of the
wounded Confederates from the sinking vessels.
He accepted an invitation from Captain Phelps of the Benton to
accompany him on shore when the city was surrendered, and saw the
stars and strips go up upon the flag-staff in the public square and over
the Court House.
The Army of the Potamac was in front of Richmond, and he returned
east in season to chronicle the seven day's engagement on the
Peninsular. The constant exposure to malaria brought on sickness,
which prevented his being with the army in the engagement at the
second Bull Run, but he was on the field of Antietam throughout the
entire contest, and wrote an account which was published in the
Baltimore American, of which an enormous edition was disposed of in
the army--and was commended for its accuracy.
In October Mr. Coffin was once more in Kentucky, but did not reach
the army in season to see the battle of Perrysville. Comprehending the
situation of affairs there, that there could be no movement until the
entire army was re-organized under a new commander, he returned to
Virginia, accompanying the army in its march from the Potomac to
Fredericksburg, and witnessed that disastrous battle. A month later he
was with the fleet off Charleston and saw the attack on Sumter by the

Monitor, and the bombardment of Fort McAllister.
In April he was once more with the Army of the Potomac, arriving just
as the troops were getting back to their quarters after Chancellorsville
to hear the stories and collect an account of that battle.
When the Confederate army began the Gettysburg Campaign Mr.
Coffin watched every movement. He was with the cavalry during the
first day's struggle on that field, but was an eyewitness of the second
and third days' engagement. His account was re-published in nearly
every one of the large cities, was translated and re-published in France
and Germany. While the armies east and west were preparing for the
campaign of 1864 Mr. Coffin made an extended tour through the
border states--Maryland, West Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas,
Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio, to ascertain what changes had taken place in
public opinion. In May he was once more with the Army of the
Potomac under its great leader, Lieutenant General Grant, and saw all
the conflicts of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, North Anna, around
Hanover, Cold Harbor, the struggles in front of Petersburg through '64.
Upon the occupation of Savannah by General Sherman he hastened
south, having an ardent desire to enter Charleston, whenever it should
be occupied by Union troops. He was successful in carrying out his
desires, and with James Redpath of the New York Tribune leaped on
shore from the deck of General Gilmore's steamer when he steamed up
to take possession of the city.
Mr. Coffin's despatch announcing the evacuation and occupation of
Sumter, owing to his indefatigable energy, was published in Boston,
telegraphed to Washington, and read in the House of Representatives
before any other account appeared, causing a great sensation.
Thus read the opening sentence:
"Off Charleston, February 18, 2 P.M. The old flag waves over Sumter
and Moultrie, and the city of Charleston. I can see its crimson stripes
and fadeless stars waving in the warm sunlight of this glorious day.
Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory."

In March the correspondent was again with the Army of the Potomac,
witnessing the last battles--Fort Steadman--Hatcher's Run--and the last
grand sweep at Five Forks. He entered Petersburg in the morning--rode
alone at a breakneck pace to Richmond, entering it while the city was a
sea of flame, entered the Spottsville hotel while the fire was raging on
three sides--wrote his name large on the register--the first to succeed a
long line of Confederate Generals and Colonels. When President
Lincoln arrived to enter the city, he had the good fortune to be down by
the river bank, and to him was accorded the honor of escorting the
party to General Weitzel's headquarters in the