James Ingersoll Grafton was the youngest son of Major Joseph Grafton, of the United States Army. His father served in the war of 1812. His eldest brother was also in the military service, dying in it during the Mexican war. His mother was Maria (Gurley) Grafton. He was born in Boston (where he studied with William P. Field, Esq.) and at Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and entered Harvard College in August, 1858.
On the 1st of November, 1861, he left college to join the 2d Massachusetts Volunteers as 2d Lieutenant; he was made 1st Lieutenant, July 21, 1862, and was promoted Captain, November 9,
1862.
He served faithfullt with his regiment through all its hard service, declining a colonelcy, on one occasion, from unwillingness to leave it. His first fighting was in the retreat of General Banks from the Valley, at Newtown and Winchester, Virginia, in May, 1862. At the battle of Cedar Mountain, where his regiment suffered so severely, he was badly wounded in the head, and was off duty for several months. He was again severely wounded (in the leg) at Chancellorsville, and could not rejoin his regiment till after the battle of Gettysburg. Inthe autumn of 1863 the 2d Massachusetts was ordered to the West, and took part in Sherman's famous march. He was absent for a time on recruiting service, the ranks being exceedingly depleted; but he returned in
time for the entry into Atlanta. He wrote many graphic letters, describing the experiences of the march, and the following extracts are takenfrom the few that have been preserved.
Captain Grafton accompanied his regiment on its march northward through North Carolina. They marched with inadequate supplies, without proper clothing, and amid increasing opposition. At
Averysborough, North Carolina, they first encountered the enemy in force, on the morning of March 16, 1865. The action was thus described by an eyewitness:
"It was on our skirmish line, which was but a short distance in advance, that Captain Grafton was killed. The enemy was so near and his fire so close, that it required the greatest exertion to hold him until the necessary relief should arrive to attack his position. Captain Grafton had command of about 20 men,--his own company and another,--and worked hard with them against heavy
odds until he was struck in the leg. He started to the rear; but, in his anxiety to do his whole duty, turned back to give some last instructions to his men, and received a mortal wound in the neck. He was seen staggering back, and was helped to the rear; but he never spoke, and died in a few minutes."
The death of Captain Grafton was deeply felt, not merely in his own regiment, but throughout the corps to which it belonged. The circumstances of his fall were soon after mentioned by Major-General Slocum, in urging upon Governor Andrew the importance of filling up the ranks of the 2d Massachusetts. He wrote thus:
Lt.-Col. Morse, commanding the regiment, wrote as follows to Captain Grafton's brother:
"I have seen and noticed the faces of a great many men as they stood up to face their death, but I have never seen on any of them such an expression of fearless gallantry as was on Captain
Grafton's when I gave him his last order. I was quite near him when I gave it; he looked me full in the face to catch every word, then, fully understanding what I wanted, he turned and gave the necessary orders. I shall never forget that face, so cheerful, so handsome, and yet so full of stern determination to do or die. The records of our regiment can show the name of no braver man or better officer. I am very truly yours, C.F. Morse."
Captain Grafton's character was thus described by one who knew him well:
The announcement of his death, with that of Lieutenant Storrow, who fell on the same field, was received with peculiar emotion among a large circle of those who had known these ywo young
men in their native city,--from the very fact that the war seemed so nearly ended and their perils almost over. They were nearly the last of the Harvard men to fall on the field; and the historian of the Great March wrote truly of Captain Grafton, "He could not have found a nobler death, nor could we have lost a nobler soul."
"Atlanta, Georgia, November 1, 1864. My Dear Brother,--I am happy to acknowledge the receipt of your welcome letter. My letter, dated Argyle Island, left off with a general account of our march through the State of Georgia. I had scarcely finished my letter when our brigade was ordered across the river to the sacred soil of South Carolina, and there remained
for 2 days, threatening the only road left open to the Rebel forces under General Hardee, and skirmishing pretty sharply with Wheeler's cavalry. On the second day we heard of the evacuation
of the city of Savannah. We were, however, pretty well assured of the fact before news came to the brigade head-quarters; for from our position we could see baggage, carriages, cavalry, and
camp-followers passing along the Charleston and Savannah roads. On the next day we returned from the sacred soil, and encamped with the division half a mile from the city, where we have
remained to the present date. The city of Savannah is a very pleasing old place, possessing very many elegant residences. Very few of the inhabitants left with the Rebel army, and the city
consequently presents quite a cheerful aspect. Last week the various corps were reviewed by General Sherman. The review took place in one of the pricipal streets, and I believe it was the
general opinion that our corps carried off the laurels. The regiment received numerous compliments as to its appearance and marching. On New Year's day, early, head-quarters in the
city were thrown open, and, in company with other officers, I made my calls. I had the honor and pleasure of shaking hands with General Sherman,--Tecumseh, as he is commonly called by the
soldiers. The General occupies a really elegant house, and entertained his guests on that day in a truly hospitable manner. He possesses a very happy faculty of catching one's name directly when introduced, and pronouncing it, with rank attached, very distinctly, and also a happy faculty for remembering any officer he may have by chance seen before, and extracting from him, in an
incredibly short space of time, all the information he possesses. He is a truly great man, as he has and will prove himself to be. Your hope that we shall now remain quiet until the winter is over
will not be fulfilled. An hour ago orders came to be in readiness to move at seven tomorrow. The 15th and 17th Corps several days since embarked and landed at Hilton Head or thereabouts.
Tomorrow our corps crosses the river to the South Carolina shore. Augusta, or some point on the Augusta and Charleston Railroad, will be, I suppose, our first objective point. That General
Sherman commands the army is sufficient guaranty that there will be little rest."
"At about 7, a.m., on the 16th, our brigade, with skirmishers in front and cavalry on both flanks, advanced over the works, and had gone but a short distance when we met
the enemy's skirmish line. This was driven about a mile, though it contested the ground with some spirit; but at that distance we encountered a line of battle, with artillery, and our force being
inadequate to break it, we were forced to pause and wait for troops to come up.
"In almost every battle it has lost heavily, until it now has but 130 men for duty. One of its best officers (Captain Grafton) was killed but a few days since while in command of only 6 men. Its officers are too valuable to the government to be sacrificed under such circumstances. Justuce to these officers and to the regiment demands that the ranks be filled. No regiment that ever served with me can show a better record. It is an honor to the service and to your State, and I earnestly hope no efforts will be spared to preserve its organization."
"Please, Sir, to accept my sincere sympathy for the loss you have sustained by the death of your noble brother. Although I never knew him before he joined the regiment, I have
since that time been on terms of intimate friendship with him, and during the last three years have learned to love and respect him more than almost any man I ever knew. In everything he
said and did he was always manly, honorable, and noble; he attracted respect and attention wherever he served, both from superiors and inferiors. We had a review at Fayetteville a few
days before the battle. As the regiment passed the reviewing officer, Genral Slocum pointed out Captain Grafton to General Sherman, mentioning, I think, that he was your brother, and telling him what a fine officer he was. On the night of the battle some one told Sherman that he had been killed that morning. The General said, 'What, that splendid fellow that Slocum pointed out?' and seemed to feel his death as a personal loss.
"Endowed by nature with a powerful frame and vigorous constitution, and of a cheerful and sanguine temperament, Captain Grafton was well suited for a soldier's life. He was eminently a courageous man, not only physically, but morally and mentally courageous. He never fell into that attitude of disocuragement and dissatisfaction into which so many brave and good offciers have at times fallen during the long course of this varied and at times disheartening struggle. To see his strong, handsome face, his firm step, his resolute carriage, and to hear his cheery voice, was at such times a cordial and an encouragement. He never wavered in his firm belief in the success of the cause. He never indulged in that unfavorable criticism of the administration, or of the generals employed by it, which has been at times so rife in our army. He never attended much to ploitical matters, but his sound judgment early saw the necessity or propriety of many of the measures which for a time threatened so greatly to weaken the
confidence of the army in the government. He was a strong, clear-headed man, hopeful and courageous. He enjoyed the comforts and luxuries of life as much as any man; but the cheerfulness and zeal with which he would go through fatigue and exposure, and brave danger, were never surpassed. In the marches through Georgia and the Carolinas he suffered greatly from
rheumatism, and his pluck in persistently marching with his company, and refusing the offers of a horse or an ambulance which were made him, was perfectly characteristic of him."
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