By the beginning of 1862 the 21st Massachusetts was finally ready for war. During the early battles of the Civil War, the overall mindset of these new recruits was that the war would be of short duration and most were anxious to find glory on the battlefield before the war was over. As the regiment began to bury its war dead, these romantic notions of glory were quickly replaced by the horrific realities of combat. Throughout 1862, Henry and his regiment underwent a dramatic transformation as they began to realize they were fighting a grinding war of attrition with no end in sight.

When the 21st Massachusetts first engaged the Rebels at Roanoke Island, the regiment was able to field approximately 800 men. During this early stage of the war most combat regiments averaged between 700 and a 1000 men. However, by the end of 1862, sickness and battlefield casualties had whittled the strength of an average regiment by half. Because of the high rate of attrition and the number of available new recruits, most combat regiments (on both sides) would rarely average more than 400 men for the remainder of the war. 

Henry's Tour of Duty with the 21st Massachusetts

On January 6, 1862, the 21st Massachusetts set sail with Burnside's Expeditionary Corps for the outer banks of North Carolina.  The expedition was to become the first step of General-in-Chief Winfield Scott's "Anaconda Plan". This bold strategic plan was designed to strangle the Confederacy by blockading or capturing all of its coastal ports and fortifications. Without the ability to import much needed war materials, the agricultural based Confederacy could not hope to counter the industrial might of the northern states. 

A month after leaving Annapolis, Henry's regiment made its first amphibious landing during the attack against the Rebel fortifications on Roanoke Island. In General Burnside's official report this well executed amphibious operation was described in glowing terms...

"In less than twenty minutes from the time the boats reached the shore 4,000 of our men were passing over the marshes at a double-quick and forming in most perfect order on the dry land near the house; and I beg leave to say that I never witnessed a more beautiful sight than that presented by the approach of these vessels to the shore and the landing and forming of the troops.

Each brigadier-general had a light-draught steamer, to which were attached some 20 surf-boats in a long line in the rear. Both steamers and boats were densely filled with soldiers, and each boat bearing the national flag.

As the steamers approached the shore at a rapid speed each surf-boat was "let go," and with their acquired velocity and by direction of the steersman reached the shore in line."

The next day, the 21st Massachusetts was deployed on the Union left flank for the final assault against the main rebel fort. After an arduous flanking movement through a back water swamp, the 21st Massachusetts emerged unexpectedly on the Confederate right flank.  From this position they boldly charged across 100 yards of open ground and swept the rebel defenders from the field of battle. The 21st Massachusetts, followed by the Fifty-first New York, swarmed over the fortifications and was the first regiment to raise it's flag over the captured fort. 

During this four hour baptism of fire the 21st Massachusetts proved from the outset that they were a determined and hard fighting unit. The regiment showed no hesitation, confusion or undue excitement as they coolly met the enemy for the first time. The most telling measure of their fighting spirit is vividly illustrated by the regiment's high casualty rates, not only in this battle, but in every battle that followed throughout 1862. 

The Union loss for the Battle of Roanoke Island was 37 killed, 214 wounded and 18 missing, for a total of 264 casualties. The 21st Massachusetts sustained some of the highest losses during the battle with 13 killed and 39 wounded.

The following month, the 21st Massachusetts once again fought with distinction at the Battle of New Bern. Under it's new commander Colonel Clarke, the regiment went into battle with 743 strong and again suffered some of the highest losses with 23 killed and 42 wounded. As the mounting casualty lists clearly showed, the 21st Massachusetts was fast becoming known as a hard fighting unit... 

Throughout the spring and summer of 1862 the regiment continued to lose more men on the battlefield and from sickness. By late August, it was only at half of its original strength but was mostly spared from the carnage of Second Manassas when the regiment was ordered to support an artillery battery. However the regiment's good fortune was shattered a day later during the Battle of Ox Hill (Chantilly).

As the 21st Massachusetts advanced through thick woods and heavy rain on the southern slopes of Ox Hill, a concealed Confederate brigade rose up and poured a point blank volley into it's ranks. The front ranks were decimated as the regiment staggered from the impact of the murderous volley (over 100 men were lost in that split second). Of the officers present, Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph P. Rice,  Lieuts. Frederick A. Bemis and William B. Hill were instantly killed ;  Capts. John D. Frazer and Ira Judson Kelton were also mortality wounded and died soon after the battle. 

During the Battle of Ox Hill, the 21st  Massachusetts had the unfortunate distinction of having suffered the highest number of casualties of any regiment both north and south. It was also the regiment's highest casualty rate of  the entire war. Out of less than 400 men who were present for duty, fewer than 200 were left standing after the battle. The total number of reported casualties were 38 killed, 98 wounded and 26 captured. A week after witnessing such a terrible loss Henry wrote that "The boys are gradually getting over the terrible Battle of Chantilly.  It was a scene I shall never forget.  It was wholesale murder to stand at the muzzle of the enemies’ guns and have a volley poured into us.".

Given the fact that the regimental report was either lost or never filed after the Battle of Ox Hill, it's possible that the casualty numbers may have actually been higher. Two weeks later, just before the Battle of Antietam, the regiment was only able to muster 85 men (one company had previously been detached for other duties).  After the Battle of Antietam was over Henry noted that new recruits began to arrive which eventually brought the regiment back up to a strength of about 300 men.

In reading Henry's letters it becomes apparent that he rarely let his emotions spill over into his letters. He was a good observer who rarely embellished his observations and would in fact often understate what he observed. Whether or not this was his nature, or he was trying to spare his family worry, the end result was a guarded and measured outlook of the war.  Although Henry's letters didn't for the most part reveal his inner feelings, it's apparent that the high casualty rate had taken its toll  and was probably the reason Henry transferred to the horse artillery. 

After Henry's transfer, the 21st Massachusetts was again heavily engaged during the Battle of Fredericksburg. During this last battle of 1862, Henry's artillery battery gave support and dueled with the Confederate batteries across the Rappahannock. 

The 21st Massachusetts continued to distinguish itself in future battles but would never regain the espirit de corps of 1862. Most of the idealistic young recruits who had first answered their Country's call to arms now lay buried in North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland. 

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