Bio: Asa O. Carr : Pittsfield, Merrimack County, New Hampshire

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Submitted by: Rick Giirtman rickman@worldpath.net
Date: March 12, 2001
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From the Book
'History of Pittsfield, N. H. in the Rebellion'
by H. L. Robinson, published 1893




ASA O.   CARR.

Asa O. Carr, a brother of Edgar L. Carr, was born in Gilmanton, October 31,
1842. When five years of age his parents moved to Pittsfield, and Asa lived
with them, working on his father's farm until he enlisted August 16, 1862.
He attended the public school at " Upper City" and a private school kept by
the Rev. Hosea Quimby.

He was mustered into Company F, Twelfth New Hampshire volunteers, the fifth
of the following September. He served with his company until the Battle of
Gettysburg, and during that time was never sick nor excused from duty.

On the I3th of December, 1862, the Battle of Fredericksburg was fought, and
his company was sent to support a battery in the streets of that city. After
the defeat of our forces two companies of the regiment, of which Company F
was one, were detailed to cover a part of the retreat of the army, and were
forgotten by the officers. After the rest had crossed the river they were
remembered, and under cover of a heavy fog an officer came back and found
them. He told them to run for their lives towards the bridge. Just as they
reached it, the fog lifted and they were discovered by the rebels, who
opened fire upon them. Such running as those boys made has seldom been
excelled. The last one reached the bridge just as the pontoons were loosed
and the bridge swung down the river.

While at Falmouth, opposite Fredericksburg, President Lincoln, and Governor
Berry of New Hampshire, paid them a visit.

Then came Burnside's famous mud march. Soon after the army was in motion it
began to rain ; it came down in torrents, the roads were quagmires of sticky
mud, the army could not move either way. After a while the rain ceased, and
then came the heavy labor of building a road of logs so that the army could
once more get on solid ground.

On May 3, 1863, was the Battle of Chancellorsville. In this engagement Carr
was hit in the leg by a piece of shell; a bullet struck him in the ankle,
and after cutting his stocking more than half off, lodged in his boot. His
cap was blown off by the discharge of a rifle in the hands of a careless
comrade.

After this fight the regiment went back to its old camp at Falmouth. During
the last days of June they received orders to march, and started north in
the great race with Lee's army. On July 1 they were at Emmetsburg, some
fifteen miles from Gettysburg. Quite late in the afternoon they got orders
for a forced march, and started at once, guided by a Pennsylvania farmer.
Just at dark they ran into the rebel picket, and had to make a wide detour
to get around the rebel army. It was twelve o'clock at night before they
could stretch themselves on the ground, where they slept soundly until
daybreak. After drinking a cup of coffee, and eating a hasty breakfast of
hard bread as they marched along, they arrived in line of battle just at
sunrise on the now historic field of Gettysburg. This was July 2, 1863.
This regiment was stationed on the Emmetsburg road, but was not engaged
until about 4 p. m. A few minutes later a ball struck Carr's belt-buckle
with such force as to knock him over; he was helped to his feet by
Lieutenant French, and as soon as he regained his breath, the regiment fell
back a few rods. Soon came that order most difficult to execute while under
fire, " Change front to the rear!" Carr had just loaded his rifle and had
about-faced without bringing it to a shoulder, when he was struck by a
Minie ball in the shoulder. The bullet passed through his right lung and
shattered two of his ribs. He crawled away a short distance, and soon after
saw his regiment pass along to enter the fight. He tried calling to them,
but was too weak to make them hear. Just then an officer rode up, and Carr
asked him to call George H. Sanborn (of Pittsfield) who was still in sight,
to help him off. The officer asked if he was wounded. Carr replied that he
was, very badly. The officer sat in thought for a moment, then said, " We
can't spare a man : we need every one," and galloped away. All night long
Carr laid on the field without food or drink. The thirst that comes to all
wounded men tortured him, and he had no means of allaying it. At last, the
next day, he was taken to the field hospital, where he remained a month ;
from there he went to Baltimore, and still later was given a thirty days'
furlough. He came home, arriving at his father's house October 10. His
furlough was extended for thirty days longer, and at length, January 4,
1864, he was discharged.

Several pieces of bone came from his shattered shoulder and ribs. These he
has, with his canteen, testament, and cap--there is a hole made in the last
by his comrade's bullet,--as mementos of the days he went soldiering.

While at Falmouth, just before entering the Battle of Fredericksburg, Carr
and some comrades got a kettle of potatoes from a house and built a fire to
cook them, when a cannon ball from the enemy knocked the kettle over ; so
they had to leave the potatoes on the ground. The night before, their
blankets froze to the ground on which the boys slept.

Comrade Carr has been a resident of this town since his discharge.