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A History of Company F

™,..F1RST UNITED STATES SHARP SHOOTERS,

1861 TO 186B.

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VERMONT RIFLEMEN

IN THE

WAR FOR THE UNION

1861 TO 1865.

k HISTORY OF COMPANY F

FIRST UNITED STATES SHARP SHOOTERS,

WM. Y. W. RIPLEY, Lt. Col.

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RUTLAND :

TuTTLE & Co., Printers.
1883.

THE J^r.

221013B

AS-TCS, Lr.:cr:x >md
TiLDEN For- ;)At:ons

CHAPTER I.

Abate the edge of traitors, gracious Lord,

That would reduce these Ijloody days again,

And make poor Enghmd weep in streams of blood I

Let them not live to taste this lands increase.

That would with treason wound this fair land's peace!

Now civil wounds are stopp'd, peace lives again;

That she may long live here, God say — Amen !

— King Richard III.

ORGANIZATION.

Very soon after the outbreak of tlie war for the
Union, immediately, in fact, upon the commence-
ment of actual operations in the field, it became
painfully apparent that, however inferior the rank
and file of the Confederate armies were in point of
education and general intelligence to the men who
composed the armies of the Union, however imper-
fect and rude their equipment and material, man
for man they were the superiors of their northern
antagonists in the use of arms. Recruited mainly
from the rural districts (for the South had but few
large cities from which to draw its fighting
strength), their armies were composed mainly of
men who had been trained to the skillful use of the
rifle in that most perfect school, the field and
forest, in the pursuit of the game so abundant in
those sparsely settled districts. Theae men, who
came to the field armed at first, to a large extent,
with their favorite sporting or target rifles, and
with a training acquired in such a school, were

individually more than the equals of the men of the
North, who were, with comparatively few excep-
tions, drawn from the farm, the workshop, the
office or the counter, and whose life-long occupa-
tions had been such as to debar them from those
pursuits in which the men of the South had gained
their skill. Indeed, there were in many regiments
in the northern armies men who had never even
fired a gun of any description at the time of their
enlistment.

On the other hand, there were known to be
scattered throughout the loyal states, a great
number of men who had made rifle shooting a
study, and who, by practice on the taget ground
and at the country shooting matches, had gained a
skill eqnal to that of the men of the South in any
kind of shooting, and in long range practice a
much greater degree of excellency.

There were many of these men in the ranks of
the loyal army, but their skill was neutralized by
the fact that the arms put into their hands,
although the most perfect military weapons then
known, were not of the description calculated to
show the best results in the hands of expert
marksmen.

Occasionally a musket would be found that was
accurate in its sliooting qualities, and occasionally
such a gun would fall into the hands of a man com-
petent to appreciate and utilize its best features.
It was speedily found that such a gun, in the hands
of such a man, was capable of results not possible
to be obtained from a less accurate weapon in the

hands of a less skillful man. To remedy this state
of affairs, and to make certain that the best
weapons procurable should be placed in the hands
of the men best fitted to use them effectively, it
was decided by the war department, early in the
summer of 1861, that a regiment should be organ-
ized, to be called the First Regiment of United
States Sharp Shooters, and to consist of the best
and most expert rifle shots in the Xorthern States.
The detail of the recruiting and organization of
this regiment was entrusted to Hiram Berdan,
then a resident of the city of New York, himself
an enthusiastic lover of rifle shooting, and an
expert marksman.

Col. Berdan set himself earnestly at work to
recruit and organize such a body of men as should,
in the most perfect manner, illustrate the capacity
for warlike purposes of his favorite weapon.

It was required that a recruit should possess a
good moral character, a sound physical develop-
ment, and in other respects come within the usual
requirement - of the army regulations; but, as the
men were designed for an especial service, it was
required of them that before enlistment they should
justify their claim to be called '^ sharp shooters"
by such a public exhibition of their skill as should
fairly entitle them to the name, and warrant a
reasonable expectation of usefulness in the field.
To insure this it was ordered that no recruit be
enlisted who could not, in a public trial, make a
string of ten shots at a distance of two hundred
yards, the aggregate measurement of which should

not exceed fifty inches. In other Avords, it was
required that the recruit should, in effect, be able
to place ten bullets in succession within a ten-inch
ring at a distance of two hundred yards.

Any style of rifle was allowed — telescopic sights,
however, being disallowed — and the applicant was
allowed to shoot from any position he chose, only
being required to shoot from the shoulder.

Circv.lar letters setting forth these conditions,
and Col. Berdan authorit}^, were issued to the gov-
ernors of the loyal states, and, as a first result
from the state of Vermont, Capt. Edmund Weston
of Randolph applied for and received of Gov.
Holbrook authority to recruit one company of
sharp shooters, which was mustered into the service
as Co. F, First United States Sharp Shooters, and
is the subject of this history.

Capt. Weston at once put himself in communi-
cation with well known riflemen in different parts
of tlie state and appointed recruiting officers in
various towns to receive applications and superin-
tend the trials of skill, without which no person
could be accepted.

The response was more hearty and more general
than could have been expected, and many more
recruits presented themselves than could be
accepted — many of whom, however, failed to pass
the ordeal of the public competition — and, as the
event proved, more were accei^ted than could be
legally mustered into the service.

All who were accepted, however, fully met the
rigid requirements as to skill in the use of the rifle.

The company rendezvoused at Randolpli early
in September, 18G1, and on the 13th of that month
were mustered into the state service by Charles
Dana. The organization of the company as per-
fected at this time was as follows:

Captain, - . - Edmund Weston.

First Lieutenant, - - C. W. Seaton.

Second Lieutenant, - M. V. B. Bronson.

First Sergeant, - - H. E. Kinsman.

Second Sergeant, - - E. W. Ilindes.

Third Sergeant, - - Amos H. Bunker.

Fourth Sergeant, - Milo C. Priest.

Fifth Sergeant, - - L. J. Allen.

First Corporal, - - Daniel Perry.

Second Corporal, - - Fred. E. Streeter.

Third Corporal, - - Ai Brown.

Fourth Corporal, - - W. C. Kent.

Fifth Corporal, - - H. J. Peck.

Sixth Corporal, - - W. H. Tafft.

Seventh Corporal, - CD. Merriman.

Eighth Corporal, - - C. W. Peck.

Bugler, - - - - Calvin Morse.

Wagoner, - - - - Edward F. Stevens.

Thus organized, the company, with one hun-
dred and thirteen enlisted men, left the state on
the same day on which they were mustered, and
proceeded via New Haven and Long Island Sound
to the rendezvous of the regiment at Weehawken
Heights, near New York, where they went into
camp with other companies of the regiment which
had preceded them. On or about the 24th
of September the regiment proceeded under

8

orders from the Wcar department to Washington,
arriving at that city at a late hour on the night of
the twenty-fifth, and were assigned quarters at the
Soldiers' Rest, so well known to the troops who
arrived at Washington at about that time. On the
twenty-sixth they were ordered to a permanent
camp of instruction well out in tlie country and
near the residence and grounds of Mr. Corcoran, a
wealthy resident of Washington of supposed seces-
sion proclivities, where they w^ere for the first time
in a regularly organized camp, and could begin to
feel that they were fairly cut off at last from the
customs and habits of civil life. Here they were
regularly mustered into the service of the United
States, thirteen enlisted men being rejected, how-
ever, to reduce the comi^any to the regulation com-
plement of one hundred enlisted men; so that of
the one hundred and thirteen men charged to the
company on the rolls of the Adjt. and Ins. -Gen. of
Vermont, only one hundred took the field. Other
companies from different states arrived at about
the same time, and the regiment was at last com-
plete, having its full complement of ten companies
of one liundred men each.

The field and staff at this time was made up as
follows:

Colonel, - - - - H. Berdan.

Lieutenant-Colonel, - - Frederick Mears.

Major, W\ S. Rowland.

Adjutant, - - - Floyd A. Willett.

Quarter-Master, - - - W. H. Beebe.

Surgeon, - - - G. C. Marshall.

Assistant Surgeon, - - J)r. Brennan.

Chaplain, - - - - Rev. Dr. Coit.

Only one of the field officers had had a military
education or military experience. Lieutenant-
Colonel Mears was an officer of the regular army,
a thorough drill master and a strict disciplinarian.
Under his efficient command the regiment soon
began to show a marked and daily improvement
that angered well for its future usefulness. The
officers of the regimental staff were, eacli in his
own department, able and painstaking men. The
chaplain alone was not quite i)opular among the
rank and file, and they rather envied the Second
Regiment of Sharp Shooters who were encamped
near them, and whose chaplain, the Rev. Lorenzo
Barber, was the beau ideal of an army chaplain.
Tender hearted and kind, he was ever ready to
help the weak and the suffering; now dressing a
wound and now helping along a poor fellow, whose
fingers were all thnmbs and whose thoughts were
too big for utterance (on paper), with his letter to
the old mother at home; playing ball or running a
foot race, beating the best marksmen at the targets,
and finally preaching a rousing good sermon which
was attentively listened to on Sunday. His faith
was in the '' Sword of the Lord and of Gideon,"
but his best work was put in with a twenty pound
telescopic rifle which he used with wonderful effect.
The original plan of armament contemplated the
use exclusively of target or sporting rilles. The
men had been encouraged to bring with them their
favorite weapons, and had been told that the gov-

10

ernment would 2:)ay for such arms at the rate of
sixty dollars each, while those who chose to rely
upon the United States armories for their rifles
were to be furnished with the best implements
procurable. The guns to be so furnished were to be
breach loaders, to have telescopic sights, hair trig-
gers, and all the requisites for the most perfect
shooting that the most skillful marksman could
desire.

Many of the men had, with this understanding,
brought with them their own rifles, and with them
target shooting became a pastime, and many
matches between individuals and companies were
made and many very short strings were recorded.

Under the stimulus of competition and ogan-
ized practice great improvement was noted in
marksmanship, even among those who hud been
considered almost perfect marksmen before. On
one occasion President Lincoln, accompanied by
Gen. McClellau, paid a visit to the camp and asked
to be allow^ed to witness some of the sharp shooting
of which he had heard so much.

A detail of the best men was made and a display
of skill took place which, perhaps, w^as never before
equalled. President Lincoln himself, as did Gen.
McClellan, Col. Hudson and others of the staff,
took part in tlie firing, the President using a rifle
belonging to Corporal H. J. Peck of the Vermont
company.

At the close of the exhibition Col. Berdan, being
asked to illustrate the accuracy of his favorite rifle,
fired three shots at different portions of the six

11

hundred yjird target; when having satisfied him-
self that lie had the proper range, and that both
himself and. rifle could be depended upon,
announced that at the next shot he would strike
the right eye of the gaily colored Zouave which,
painted on the half of an A tent, did duty for a
target at that range. Taking a long and careful
aim, he fired, hitting the exact spot selected and
announced beforehand. Whether partly accidental
or not it was certainly a wonderful ])erformance
and placed Col. Berdan at once in the foremost
rank of rifle experts. On the 2Sth of November,
the day set apart by the governors of the loyal states
as Thanksgiving Day, shooting was indulged by in
different men of Co. F and other companies for a
small prize offered by the field officers, the terms
being two hundred yards, off hand, the shortest
string of two sliots to win. The prize was won
from a large number of skillful contestants by Ai
Brown of Co. F — his two shots measuring 4^ inches,
or each within 2} inches of the center.

On the 7th of December another regimental shoot-
ing match took place; the prize going this time to a
Michigan man, his string of three shots, fired off-
hand at two hundred yards, measuring six inches.
These records are introduced here simply for the
purpose of showinfi: the wonderful degree of skill
possessed by these picked marksmen in the use of
tlie rifle. But it was soon found that there were
objections to the use in the field of the fine guns so
effective on the target ground. The great weight
of some of them was of itself almost proliil)itory.

12

for, to a soldier burdened with the weight of his
knapsack, haversack and canteen, bhmket and
overcoat, the additional weight of a target rifle —
many of which weighed fifteen pounds each, and
some as much as thirty pounds — was too much to
be easily borne.

It was also found difficult to provide the proper
ammunition for such guns in the field, and finally,
owing to the delicacy of the construction of
the sights, hair triggers, etc., they were con-
stantly liable to be out of order, and when thus
disabled, of even less use than the smooth-bore
musket, with buck and ball cartridge of fifty
years before. Manufacturers of fine guns from all
parts of our own country, and many from Europe,
flocked to the camp of the sharp shooters offering
their goods, each desirous of the credit of furnish-
ing arms to a body of men so well calculated to
use them effectively, and many fine models were
offered. The choice of the men, however, seemed
to be a modified military rifle made by the Sharpe
Rifle Manufacturing Co., and a request was made
to the war department for a supply of these arms.
At this early day, however, the departments were
full of men whose ideas and methods were those
of a half a century gone by; and at the head of the
ordinance department was a man v/ho, in addition
to being of this stamp, was the father of the muz-
zle loading Springfield rifle, then the recognized
arm of the United States Infantry, and from him
came the most strenuous opposition to the proposal
to depart from the traditions of the regular army.

13

Gen. McClclhiii, and even tlie President liimself,
were approached on this subject, and both recog-
nized the propriety of the proposed style of arma-
ment and the great capacity for efficient service
possessed by the regiment wlicn it sliouhl be once
satisfactorily armed and fairly in front of the
enemy. But the ordinance department was ever a
block in the way; its head obstinately and stub-
bornly refusing to entertain any proposition other
than to arm the regiment with the ordinary army
musket; and, to add to the growing dissatisfaction
among the men over the subject of arms, it became
known that the promises made to them at the time
of enlistment, that the government would pay them
for their rifles at the rate of sixty dollars each, was
unauthorized and would not be fulfilled; and also
that the representations made to them with respect
to telescopic breech loaders were likewise unaathor-
ized. Discontent became general and demoraliza-
tion began to show itself in an alarming form.

Some of the field officers were notoriously incom-
petent; the Major, one of those military adventurers
Avho floated to the surface during the early years of
of the war, particularly so; he was a kind of a
modern Dalgetty without the courage or skill of his
renowned prototype, rarely present in camp, and
when there of little or no service. The Lieutenant-
Colonel, a man of rare energy and skill in his
profession, and whose painstaking care had made the
regiment all that it was at that time, fearing the
after effects of this demoralization or the efficiency of
the command, and seeing opportunity for his talents

14

111 other fields, resigned; and on the 29th of Novem-
ber, 1861, Wm. Y. W. Eipley of Rutland, Yt, was
appointed Lieutenant-Colonel, and Caspar Trepp,
Captain of Co. A., was made Major. Lieutenant-
Colonel Ripley had seen service only as Captain of
Co. K, First Yermont Yolunteers. Major Trepp
had received a thorough military training in the
army of his native Switzerland, and liad seen active
service in European wars. The regiment remained
at camp of instruction under the immediate com-
mand of Lieut. -Col. Ripley, employed in the usual
routine of camp duty, drills, etc., during the whole
of the winter of 18G1-G2, particular attention being
paid to the skirmish drill, in which the men became
wonderfully proficient; and it is safe to say that for
general excellence in drill, except the manual of
arms, they were excelled by few volunteer regiments
in the service. All orders were given by the sound
of the bugle, and the whole regiment deployed as
skirmishers could be as easily maneuvered as a single
company could be in line of battle. The bugle
corps was under the charge of Calvin Morse of Co.
F as chief bugler, and under his careful instruc-
tion attained to an unusual degree of excellence.
All camp and other calls were sounded on the
bugle, and the men found them pleasant little
devices for translating curt and often rough English
into music. They were bugled to breakfast and to
dinner, bugled to guard mounting and bugled to
battle, brigades moved and cavalry charged to the
sound of the bugle. The men often found fanciful
resemblances in the notes of the music to the words

15

intended to be conveyed. Thus, the recall was sung
as follows:

" Come back again, come back again,
Come back, come back, come back again."

while the sick call was thus rendered into words:

" Come to quinine, come to qui-nine.
Come to <iui-i-nine, come to qui-i-nine."

They were not, on the whole, bad translations. The
winter was an unusually severe one, and, as the
enemy maintained a strict blocade of the Potomac,
the supply of wood was often short, and some suffer-
ing was the result. The health of the regiment
remained fairly good; measles, small pox, and
other forms of camp diseases appeared, however,
and Co. F, of course, suffered its share, losing
by death from disease during the winter, Wm. T.
Battles, Edward Fitz, Sumner E. Gardner and Geo.
H. Johnson.

On the 20th of March, 18G2, the regiment
received orders to report to Major-Gen. Fitz John
Porter, whose division then lay at Alexandria, Va.,
awaiting transportation to Fortress Monroe to join
the army under McClellan. At this time the reg-
iment was without arms of any kind, except for
the few target rifles remaining in the hands of
their owners, and a few old smooth bore muskets
which had been used during the winter for guard
duty. Shortly before this time the war depart-
ment, perhaps wearied by constant importunity,
perhaps recognizing the importance of the subject,
had so far receded from its former position as to offer

16

to arm the regiment with revolving rifles of the Colt
pattern, and had sent the guns to the camp for
issue to the men with promise of exchanging them
for Sharpens rifles at a hiter day. They were five
chambered breech loaders, very pretty to look at,
but upon examination and test they were found
inaccurate and unreliable, prone to get out of
order and even dangerous to the user. They were
not satisfactory to the men, who knew what they
wanted and were fully confident of their ability to
use such guns as they had been led by repeated
promises to ex23ect, to good advantage. When,
however, news came that the rebels had evacuated
Manassas, and that the campaign was about to
open in good earnest, they took up these toys, for
after all they were hardly more, and turned their
faces southward. Co. F w^as the first company in
the regiment to receive their arms, and to the influ-
ence of their patriotic example the regiment owes
its escape from what at one time appeared to be a
most unfortunate embarrassment.

The march to Alexandria over Long Bridge was
made in the midst of a pouring rain and through
such a sea of mud as only Virginia can afford
material for. It was the first time the regiment
had ever broken camp, and its first hard march.
It was long after dark when the command
arrived near Cloud's mills; the headquarters of
Gen. Porter could not be found, and it became
necessary for the regiment to camp somcAvhere for
the night. At a distance were seen the lights of a
camp, which was found upon examination to be

17

the winter (juurters of the G9th New York in ehurge
of a camp guard, the regiment having gone out in
pursuit of the enemy beyond Manassas. A few
persuasive words were spoken to the sergeant in
command, and tlie tired and. soaked sharp shooters
turned into the tents of the absent Irishmen.

CHAPTER II.

TIIK TEXIXSUL-VR CAMPAIGX.

On the 22d of March the regiment embarked on
the steamer Emperor, bound for Fortress Monroe.
The day was bright and glorious, the magnifi-
cent enthusiasm on every liand was contagious,
and few who were partakers in that grand pageant
will ever forget it. Alas', however, many thou-
sands of that great army never returned from that
fatal campaign. The orders required that each
steamer, as she left her moorings, should pass up
the river for a short distance, turn and pass down
by Gen. Porter's flag-ship, saluting as she passed — a
sort of military-naval review.

As the twenty-two steamers conveying this mag-
nificent division thus passed in review, bands
playing, colors flying and the men cheering, it was
an inspiring spectacle for the young soldiers who
were for the first time moving toward the enemy.
The enthusiasm was kept up to fever heat until
the leading steamers reached Mount Vernon,
2

18

when, as thoiigli by order, the clieeniig ceased,
fiiig-s were dropped to half-mast, the strains of
"The girl I left behind me," and ''John Brown's
body," gave way to funereal dirges, and all hats
were doHed as the fleet passed the tomb of Wash-
ington. On the twenty-third the regiment disem-
barked at Hampton, Va., and went into camp at
a point about midway between that place and
Newport's Xews, where they remained several days,
awaiting the arrival of the other divisions and the
artillery and supplies necessary before the march on
Yorktown could commence.

Hampton Roads was a scene of the greatest
activity, hundreds of ships and steam transports
lay at the docks discharging their cargoes of men
and material, or at anchor in the broad waters
adjacent aAvaiting their turn. Both army and navy
here experienced a period of the most intense anx-
iety. Only a few days previous to the arrival of
the first troops, the rebel iron-clad, Merrimac, had
appeared before Newport's News, only a few miles
away, and had made such a fearful display of her
power for destruction as to excite the gravest
apprehension lest she should again appear among
the crowded shipping, sinking and destroying, by
the simple battering power of her immense weight,
these frail steamboats crowded with troops; but
she had had a taste of the Monitor's quality,
and did not apparently care to repeat the experi-
ment. While thus awaiting the moment for the
general advance, Fitz John Porter's division was
ordered to make a reconnoissance in the direction of

19

Great Bethel, tlio scone of the disaster of June ]0,
1801. Tlie division moved on two roads nearly
parallel with each otlier. A body of sharp shooters
led the advance of each column, that on the right
being under the command of Lieut. -Col. Kipley,
while those on the left were commanded by Col.
Berdan.

This was the first time that the regiment had
ever had the op[)ortunity to measure its marching
qualities with those of other troops; they had been
most carefully and persistently drilled in this par-
ticular branch, and as they swept on, taking the
full twenty-eight inch step and in regulation time,
they soon left the remainder of the column far in
rear, at which they were greatly elated, and when
Capt. Auchmuty of Gen. Morell's staff rode up
with the General's compliments and an inquiry as
to *' whether the sharp shooters intended to go on
alone, or would they prefer to wait for support,"
their self-glorification was very great.

Later, however, they ceased to regard a march
of ten or fifteen miles at their best pace as a joke.
Co. F.was with the right column, under Col. Kip-
ley. and came for tlie first time under hostile fire.
No serious fighting took place, although shots were
frequently exchanged with the rebel cavalry, who
fell back slowly before the L^nion advance. At
Great Bethel a slight stand was made by the enemy,
who were, however, soon dislodged by the steady
and accurate fire of the sharp shooters, with some
loss. Pushing on, the regiment advanced some
three miles towards Yorktowm, where, finding no

20

considerable force of the enemy disposed to make a
stand, and the object of the reconnoissance having
been accomplished, both columns returned to camp
near Fortress Monroe. The march had been a long
and severe one for new troops, but Co. F came in
without a straggler and in perfect order.

The experience of the day had taught them one
lesson, however, and certain gray ovej^coats and
Havelock hats of the same rebellious hue were
promptly exchanged for others of a color in which
they were less apt to be shot by mistake by their
own friends. The uniform of the regiment con-
sisted of coats, blouses, pants and caps of green
cloth; and leather leggins, buckling as high as the
knee, were worn by officers and men alike. The
knapsacks of the men were of the style then in use
by the army of Prussia; they Avere of leather
tanned with the hair on, and, although rather
heavier than the regulation knapsack, fitted the
back well, were roomy and WTre highly appreciated
by the men. Each had strapped to its outside a
small cooking kit which was found compact and
useful. Thus equipped the regiment was dis-
tinctive in its uniform as well as in its service, and
soon became well known in the army.

On the 3d of April Gen. McClellan arrived at
Fortress Monroe, and early on the morning of the
fourth the whole army was put in motion toward
Yorktown, where heavy works, strongly manned,
were known to exist. The sharp shooters led the
advance of the column on the road by which the
Fifth Corps advanced, being that nearest the York

21

river. Sliglit resistance was made ])y the enemy's
cavalry at v;'rious points, but no casualties were
experienced l-y Co. F on that day.

Cockeysvilic, a small hamlet some sixteen miles
from Hampton, was reached, and the tired men of
Co. F laid down in bivouac for the first time.
Heretofore their camps, cheerless and devoid of
hoii.c comforts as they sometimes were, had had
some clement of permanence; this was quite
another thing, and what wonder if thoughts of
home and home comforts flitted through their
minds. Then, too, all supposed that on the
morrow would occur a terrible battle (for the siege
of Yorktown was not then anticipated) ; nothing less
than immediate and desperate assault was contem-
plated by the men, and, as some complmentary
remarks had been made to the regiment, and espec-
ial allusion to the effect those five shooting rifies,
held in such trusty and skillful hands, would have
in a charge, they felt that in the coming battle
their place would be a hot and dangerous, as
well as an honorable one. At daybreak on the
morning of the fifth, in a soaking rain storm, the
army resumed its march, the sharp shooters still in
the advance, searching suspicious patches of woods,
streaming out from the road to farm houses, hurrying
over and around little knolls behind which danger
might lurk, Avhile now and then came the crack of
rifles from a group across a field, telling of the
presence of hostile cavalry watching the advance
of the invaders. More strenuous resistance was
met with than on the dav before, but the rebels

22

fell back steadily, if slowly. The rain fell continu-
ously and the roads became difficult of passage for
troojos. The sharp shooters, however, fared better
in this respect than troops of the lino, for deployed
as skirmishers, covering a large front, they could
pick their way with comparative ease. At ten
o'clock A. M., all resistance by rebel cavalry having
ceased, the skirmishers emerged from dense woods
and found themselves immediately in front of the
heavy earth works before Yorktown. They were
at once saluted by the enemy's artillery, and were
now for the first time under the fire of shell.

Dashing forward one or two hundred yards, the
skirmishers took position along and behind the
crest of a slight elevation crowned by hedges and
scattered clumps of bushes. The men of Co. F
found themselves in a peach orcliard surrounding
a large farm house with its out-buildings. In and
qbout these buildings, and along a fence running
westwardly from the cluster of houses, Co. E
formed its line, at a distance of some five hundred
yards from a powerful line of breastworks running
from the main fort in front of Yorktown to the
low ground about the head of Warwick creek.

Once in position, Co. F went at its work as
steadily and coolly as veterans. Under the direction
of a field officer, who watched the result with his
glass, a few shots were fired by picked men at spots
in the exterior slope of the works to ascertain the
exact range, which was then announced and the
order given, ''Commence firing."

The rebels, ensconced in fancied security behind

/» •)

their strong works, and wlio up to that time had
kept np a constant and lieavv lire from their artil-
lery, while ih'Ai' infantry lined the parapets, soon
found reason to make themselves less conspicuous
and to modify very essentially the tone of their
remarks, which liad been the reverse of compli-
mentary. Gun after gun was silenced and aban-
do:ied, until within an liour every embrasure
within a range of a thousand yards to the right and
left was tenantless and silent. Their infantry,
which at first responded with a vigorous lire,
found that exposure of a head meant grave danger,
if not death.

Occasionally a man would be found, who, carried
away by his enthusiasm, would mount the parapet
and with taunting cries seem to mock the Union
marksmen, but no sooner would he appear tlian a
score of rifles would be brought to hear, and he
was fortunate indeed if he escaped with his life.
At this point occurred the first casualty among the
men of Co. F, Corp. C. AY. Peck receiving a severe
wound. During the day a small Ijody of horsemen,
apparently the staff and escort of a general officer,
appeared passing from the village of Yorktown,
behind, the line of breastworks before spoken of,
towards their right. When first observed little
more than tlie heads of the riders were visible above
the breastworks; near the western end of their
line, however, the ground on wdiich they were
riding was higher, thus bringing them into plainer
view, and as they reached this point every rille was
brought into use, and it appeared to observers that

24

at least half the saddles in that little band were
emptied before they could pass over the exposed
fifty yards that lay between them and safety.
While the sharp shooters had been snccessful in
silencing the fire of the enemy's cannon, and
almost entirely so that of their infantry, a few of
the rebel marksmen, who occupied small rifle pits
in advance of their line of works, kept up an
annoying fire, from which the Union artillerists
suffered severely.

These little strongholds had been constructed at
leisure, werem carefully selected positions, usually
behind a cover of natural or artificially planted
bushes, and it was almost impossible to dislodge
their occupants; every puff of smoke from one of
them was, of course, the signal for a heavy fire of
Union rifles on that spot; but sharp shooters who
are w^orthy of the name will not continue long to
fire at what they cannot see, and so, after one or
two shots, the men would devote their attention to
some other point, when the Confederate gunner,
having remained quite at his ease behind his shel-
ter, would peer out from behind his screen of
bushes, select his mark, and renew^ his fire.

One spot was marked as the hiding place of a
particularly obnoxious and skillful rifleman, and to
him. Private Ide of Co. E of New Hampshire, who
occupied a commanding position near the corner
of an out house, devoted himself. Ide was one of
the few men who still carried his telescopic target
rifle. Several shots were exchanged between these
men, and it began to take the form of a personal

25

affair and was watched with the keenest interest bv
those not otherwise engaged, but fortune first
smiled on the rebel, and Ide fell dead, shot through
the forehead while in the act of raising his rifle to
an aim. llis fall was seen by the enemy, who
raised a shout of exultation. It was short, how-
ever, for an officer, taking the loaded rifle from the
dead man's hand, and watching his opportunity
through the strong telescope, soon saw the
triumphant rebel, made bold by his success, raise
himself into view; it was a fatal exposure and he
fell ap2->arently dead.

At nine o'clock p. m. the sharp shooters were
relieved by another regiment and retired to a point
about half a mile in the rear, where the tired sol-
diers lay down after nearly twenty hours of contin-
ual marching and fighting. The fine position they
had gained and held through the day, was regained,
however, by the rebels by a night sally and was not
reoccupied by the Union forces again for several
days. On the next day, Gen. Porter, command-
ing the division, addressed the following highly
complimentary letter to Col. Berdan:

Headquarters Poktkr's Division, j

TiiiRU Army Corps. :-

Camp near Yorktown, April G, 1862. )

Col. Berdan, Commanding Sharp Shooters:

Colonel. — The Commanding General instructs me to say
to you that he is glad to learn, from the admissions of the
enemy themselves, that they begin to fear your sharp shoot-
ers. Your men have caused a number of the rebels to bite
the dust. The Commanding General is glad to find your
corps are proving themselves so eflicient, and trusts that

26

this intelligence ^vill encourage your men, give them, if
possible, steadier hands and clearer eyes, so that when their
trusty rifles are pointed at the foe, there will be one rebel
less at every discharge. I am, Colonel, very respectfully,
your obedient servant,

. FRED. T. LOCKE, A. A. G.

Gen. McClelhm, believing the place too strong
to be carried by assault, and liis plans for turning
the position having been disarranged bj the deten-
tion in front of Washington of Gen. McDowell's
corps, to which he had entrusted the movement,
the arm}' went into camp and settled down to the
siege of Yorktown. The ensuing thirty days were
full of excitement and danger, and Co. F had its
full share. Several of the companies were detached
and ordered to other portions of the army. Co. F,
however, remained at regimental headquarters.
Heavy details were made every day for service in
the rifle pits, the men leaving camp and occupying
their positions before daylight, and being relieved
by details from other regiments after dark. Details
were also frequently made for the purpose of dig-
ging advanced rifle pits during the night. These
pits were approached by zigzags, and could only
be reached during the hours of da3dight by crawl-
ing on the hands and knees, and then only under
circumstances of great danger. They were pushed
so far to the front that, when the evacuation took
place on the night of the 3d of May, they v/ere
hardly more than one hundred yards from the main
rebel line of works, and hardly half as far from the
rebel rifle pits. Frequent sharp conflicts took place
between bodies of rebel and Union soldiers striving

27

for tlio same position on which to dig a new rifle
pit, in several of wliich Co. F took a prominent
part and suffered some loss.

So close were the opposing lines at some jdaces
that sharp shooting became almost impossible for
either side, as the exposure of so much as ;i hand
meant a certain wound.

In this state of affairs the men would im})rovise
loop holes by forcing sharpened stakes through the
l)ank of earth in front of the pits, through which
they would thrust the barrels of their breach
loaders, over which they would keenly watch for a
chance for a shot, and avoc to that unfortunate
rebel Avho exposed even a small portion of his figure
within the circumscribed range of their vision.

The regimental camp before Yorktown was
beautifully situated near the York river and not
far from army headquarters. Great rivalry existed
between the different companies as to which
company street should present the neatest
appearance, and the camp was very attractive to
visitors and others. The officers mess was open to
all comers and was a constant scene of visiting and
feasting. For a few days, it is true, the troops,
officers and men alike, were on short rations, but as
soon as the river was opened and d(jcks constructed,
the necessities, and even the luxuries of life were
abundant. At this cam[) tlie llrst instalment of
the much desired and long [promised Siiarpe rifles
arrived. Only one hundred were received in the
first consignment, and they were at once issued to
Co. F as an evidence of the high esteem in wdiich

28

that company was held by the officers of tlie regi-
ment, and as a recognition of its particularly good
conduct on several occasions — it was a compliment
well deserved. On the night of the 3d of May,
the rebels kept up a tremendous fire during the
whole night. Heavy explosions, not of artillery,
w^ere frequent, and it was evident that some move
of importance was in progress. At an early hour
the usual detail of sharp shooters relieved the
infantry pickets in the advanced rifle pits, and
soon after daylight it became apparent to them that
matters at the front had undergone a change, and
cautiously advancing from their lines they found
the rebel works evacuated.

Pressing forward over the earth works which
had so long barred the Avay, the sharp shooters
were the first troops to occupy tJie village of York-
town, where they hauled down the garrison flag
which had been left flying by the retreating rebels.
All was now joyous excitement; what was consid-
ered a great victory had been gained without any
considerable loss of life — a consideration very
grateful for the soldier to contemplate. Seventy-
two heavy guns were abandoned by the rebels,
which, though of little use to them, and of less to
us, by reason of their antiquated styles, were still
trophies, and so, valuable.

Regimental and brigade bands, which, together
with drum and bugle corps, had been silent for a
month, by general orders (for the rebels had kept
up a tremendous fire on every thing they saw,
heard or suspected), now filled the air with many

29

a stirring and patriotic strain. Salutes were lired,
and with the balloon, used for observing the move-
ments of the enemy, iloating in the air overhead,
one could easily believe himself to be enjoying a
festival, and for a moment forget the miseries of
war. At York town the rest of the regiment
received their Sharpe's rifles and, with the exception
of a few men who still clung to their muzzle
loaders, the command was armed with rifles of
uniform calibre, and which were entirely satisfac-
tory to those who bore them. The Colt's five
shooters were turned in without regret; for,
although they had done fairly good service, they
were not quite worthy of the men in whose hands
they were placed.

On the 5th of May was fought the battle of
AVilliamsburgh, on which hard fought field two
companies of the regiment, A and C, bore an honor-
able part — Co. F, however, was with the part of the
command retained in front of Yorktown. The
guns were plainly heard at the camp, and painful
rumors befjan to be circulated. At about ten
o'clock A. M. there came an order to prepare to
march at once, with three day's cooked rations;
the concluding words of the brief written message,
" prepare for hard fighting," were full of significance,
but they were received with cheers by the men
who were tired of rifle pit work, and desired
ardently an opportunity to measure their skill with
that of the boasted southern riflemen in the field —
a desire that was shortly to be gratified to an
extent satisfactory to the most pronounced glutton

30

among tliem. The preparations were soon made,
and the regiment formed on the color line, but the
day passed and the order to march did not come.
The battle of Williamsbnrgh was over. On the
evening of the eighth the regiment was embarked
on the steam transport ''State of Maine," and
under convoy of the gun boats proceeded up the
York river to West Point where they disembarked
on the afternoon of the ninth, finding the men of
Franklin's division, which had preceded them, in
position. Franklin's men had had a sharp fight the
day before with the rear guard of the Confederate
army, but were too late to cut off the retreat of the
main body, whose march from the bloody field of
Williamsburgh had been made with all the vigor
that fear and necessity could inspire. Here the
sharp shooters remained in bivouac until the
thirteenth, when they were put in motion again
towards Richmond. The weather was warm, the
roads narrow and dusty, water scarce and the march
a wearisome one. Rumors of probable fighting in
store for them at a point not far distant were rife,
but no enemy was found in their path on that day,
and near sundovrn they Avent into camp at Camber-
land Landing on the Pamunkey.

On the fourteenth the regiment was reviewed by
Secretary Seward, who made a short visit to the
army at this time. On the fifteenth they marched
to White House, a heavy rain storm prevailing
through the entire day. The sharp shooters were
in support of the cavalry and had in their rear a
battery, the guns of which were frequently stalled

31

in the deep luiul, out of which they had often to
be lifted jind pulled by sheer force of human
muscle. The march was most fatiguing, and
although commenced at half-past six a. m., and
terminating at four p. ^r., only about six miles
were gained. White House was a place of historic
interest, since it was here that Washington wooed
and married his wife; a strict guard was kept
over it and its surroundings, and it was left as
unspoiled as it was found. Above White House
the river was no longer navagable, and the York
river railroad, which connects Richmond, some
twenty miles distant, with the Pamunkey at this
point, was to be the future line of supply for the
army. On the nineteenth the troops again
advanced, camping at Turnstall's Station that
night and at Barker's Mill on the night of the
twentieth. On the twenty-sixth they passed Cold
Harbor, a spot on Avhich they were destined to
lose many good and true men two years later, and
went into camp near the house of Dr. Gaines, and
were now fairly before Richmond, the spires of
which could be seen from the high ground near
the camp. On the morning of the twenty-seventh,
at a very early hour, there came to regimental
headquarters an order couched in words which had
become familiar: ''This division will march at
daylight in the following order: First, the sharp
shooters." * * * Three days cooked rations
and one hundred rounds of ammunition were also
specified. This looked like business, and the camp
became at once a scene of busy activity. At the

32

apppointed hour, in the midst of a heavy rain
shower, the cohinin was put in march, but not, as
had been anticipated, towards the enemy who
blocked the road to the rebel capitol. The line of
march was to the northward towards Hanover
Count House.

As the head of the column approached the junc-
tion of the roads leading respectively to Hanover
Court House and Ashland, considerable resistance
was met with from bodies of rebel cavalry supported
by a few pieces of light artillery and a small force
of infantry. At the forks of the road a portion of
Branch's brigade of North Carolina troops were
found in a strong position, prepared to dispute the
passage. This force were soon dislodged by the
sharp shooters, the twenty-fifth New York, a
detachment from a Pennsylvania regiment and Ben-
son's battery, and retreated in the direction of
Hanover Court House. Prompt pursuit was made
and many prisoners taken, together with two guns.
Martindale's brigade was left at the forks of the
road before spoken of, to guard against an attack
on the rear from the direction of Richmond, while
the rest of the division pushed on to destroy, if
possible, the bridges at the points where the Rich-
mond & Fredericksburgh and the Virginia Cen-
tral railroads cross the North and the South Anna
rivers; the destruction of these bridges being the
main object of the expedition, although it was
hoped and expected that the movement might
result in a junction of the forces under McDowell,
then at Fredericksburgh only forty miles distant

33

from the point to which Porter's lulviince reached,
witli the riglit of McClcllan's uriny, when the
speed}' fall of liiclimond inioht he confidently
expected.

Tlie sharp shooters accom})anicd the column
which was charged Avitli this duty. The cavalry
reached the rivers and succeeded in completing
the destruction of the bridges, when ominous
reports began to come up from the rear, of heavy
forces of the enemy having appeared between this
isolated command and the rest of the army twenty
miles to the southward. Firing was heard dis-
tinctly, scattering and uncertain at first, but soon
swelling into a roar that gave assurance of a hotly
contested engagement.

The column was instantly faced about, not even
taking time to counter-march, and taking the
double quick — left in front — made all haste to
reach the scene of the conflict. The natural desire
to help their hard pressed comrades was suplemented
by a conviction that their own safety could only be
secured by a speedy destruction of the force
between them and their camp, and the four or five
miles of road, heavy witii mud, for, as usual, the
rain was falling fast, were rapidly passed over. As
they neared the field of battle the sharp shooters.
Avho had gained what was now the head of the
column, were rapidly deployed and with ringing
cheers passed through the ranks of the 2d Maine,
opened for the purpose, and plunged into the woods
where the enemy were posted. The spirit of the
rebel attack was already broken bv the severe losses
3

34

inflicted upon them by Mtirtindale's gallant brigade
which, althongh out-numbered two to one, had
clung desperately to their all important position;
and when the enemy heard the shouts of this relieve-
ing column, and caught sight of their advancing
lines, a panic seized them and they fled precipitately
from the field. Pursuit was made and many
prisoners taken, who, with those captured in the
earlier part of the day, swelled the total to over
seven hundred. Two guns were also taken, in the
capture of which Co. F bore a prominent part.
This affair cost the Union forces four hundred men;
the loss, however, priucij^ally falling on Martin-
dale's brigade, who bore the brunt of the rear attack.
The sharp shooters lost only about twenty men,
killed and wounded — three of whom, Sergt. Lewis
J. Allen, Benjamin Billings and W. F. Dawson
were of Co. F; Dawson died on the 1st of June
from the effects of his wound.

The regiment, however, met with a great loss
on that day by the capture of its surgeon, Guy C.
Marshall, who, with other surgeons and attendants,
was surprised by a sudden attack on the field
hospital by the enemy's cavalry. Dr. Marshall
never rejoined the regiment. Being sent to Libby
Prison, he was, with other surgeons, allowed cer-
tain liberties in order. that he might be the more
useful in his professional capacity. Placed upon
his parole he was allowed, under certain restric-
tions, to pass the prison guards at will, for the
purpose of securing medicines, etc., for use among
the sick prisoners. The terrible sufferings of his

35

comrades, Ciiused mainly by \vh;it he believed to be
intentioniil neglect, aroused all the sympathy ot*
his tender nature, and as the days passed and no
attention was paid to his protests or elilorts to get
relief, his intense indignation was aroused. Tak-
ing advantage of his liberty to pass the guards, he
succeeded in getting an audience with Jefferson
Davis himself It is probable thit his earnestness
led him into ex))ressions of condemnation too
strong to be relished by the so c.iUed President.
Howsoever it was, his liberty was stopped and he
was made a close prisoner. He continued his
labors, however, with such scanty means as he
could obtain until, worn out by his over exertions,
and with his great heart broken by the sight of the
suffering he was so powerless to relieve, he died,
— as truly the death of a hero as though he had
fallen at the head of some gallant charge in the
field. He was a true man, and those who knew him
best will always have a warm and tender remem-
brance of him.

On the twenty-ninth, the whole comniaiid
returned to their camp near Gaines Hill. The
experience of Co. F for the next thirty days was
similar to that of Yorktown — daily details for
picket duty wera made, and always where the
danger was greate. t; for, as it was the province of
the sharp shooter lo shoot soma bDdy, it was neces-
sary that he should be placed where there was
some one to shoot. In a case of this kind, how-
ever, one cannot expect to give blows without
receiving them in return, hence it came about that

36

the sliarp shooters were constantly in the most
dangerous places on the picket line. At some
point in the Union front, perhaps miles away, it
would be found that a few rebel sharp shooters had
planted themselyes in a position from which they
gave serious annoyance to the working parties and
sometimes inflicted serious loss, and from which
they could not readily be dislodged by the imper-
fect weapons of the infantry. In such cases calls
would be made for a detail of sharp shooters, who
would be gone sometimes for several days before
returning to camp, always, however, being suc-
cessful in removing the trouble.

On the thirty-first, the guns of Fair Oaks were
distinctly heard, and early the next morning the
Fifth Corps, to which the regiment was now
attached, was massed near the head of ]^ew Bridge
en llie Chicahominy, with the intention of forcing
a passage at this place to try to convert the
repulse of the rebels at Fair Oaks on the day before
into a great disaster. The swollen condition of
the river, however, which had proved so nearly
fatal to the Union forces on the day of Fair Oaks,
became now the safety of the rebels. A strong
detachment of the sharp shooters, including some
men from Co. F, were thrown across the river at
New Bridge to ascertain whether the water cover-
ing the road beyond was fordable for infantry.
This detachment crossed the bridge and passed
some distance along the road, but finding it
impracticable for men, so reported and the attempt
was abandoned.

37

No incidents of unusual interest occurred to the
Vermonters after June 1st until the movements
commenced which culminated in what is known
in history as the seven dayshattle, commencing on
the 25th of June at a point on the right bank of
the Chicahominy at Oak Grove, and ending on
the first of July at Malvern Hill on the James
river.

. For some days rumors of an unfavorable nature
had been circulating among the camps before
Richmond, of disasters to the Union forces in the
valley. It was known that Stonewall Jackson had
gone northward with his command, and that he
had appeared at several points in northern Virginia
under such circumstances and at such times and
places as caused serious alarm to the government
at Washington for the safety of the capitol. To
the Army of the Potomac, however, it seemed
incredible that so small a force as Jackson's could
be a serious menace to that city, and preparations
for a forward movement and a great and decisive
battle went steadily on. On the 25th of June,
Hooker advanced his lines near Oak Grove, and
after severe fighting forced the enemy from ilieir
position which he proceeded to fortify, and which
he held. On the night of that day, the army was
full of joyous anticipation of a great victory to be
gained before Jackson could return from his foray
to the north. On the morning of the twenty-
sixtli, however, scouts reported Jackson, reinforced
by Whiting's division, at Hanover Court House
pressing rapidly forward, Avitli 30,000 men, toward

38

our exposed right and rear. At the same time
large bodies of the enemy were observed crossing
the Chicahominy at Meadow Bridge, above Mechan-
icsville. It was at once apparent that the Army
of the Potomac must abandon its advance on
Richmond, for the time at least, and stand on its
defense. McCall, with his division of Pennsyl-
vania reserves, occupied a strong position on the
left bank of Beaver Dam creek, a small affluent of
the Chicahominy, near Mechanicsville, about four
miles north of Gaines Hill, and this command
constituted the extreme right of the Union army.
On this isolated body it was evident that the first
rebel attack would fall.

At about three o'clock p. m. the division of the
rebel General A. P. Hill appeared in front of Mc-
Call's line, and severe fighting at once commenced.
About one hour later Branch's division arrived to
the support of the rebel general, and vigorous and
repeated assaults were made at various points on
the Union line; the fighting at Ellison's Mills
being of a particularly desperate character. Por-
ter's old division, now commanded by Morell, was
ordered up from its camp at Gaines Hill to the
assistance of the troops so heavily pressed at
Mecbanicsville. The sharp shooters, being among
the regiments thus detailed, left their tents stand-
ing, and in light marching order, and with no
rations, moved out at the head of the column.
Arriving at the front they took post in the left of the
road, in the rear of a rifle ]iit occupied by a battalion
of Pennsylvania troops and on the right of a

30

redoubt in which was ;i battery of guns. It was
now nearly darl>:, the force of the attack was spent,
and the sharj) sliooters had but small share of the
fighting. The night was spent in this position,
and the rest of the soldiers was unbroken, except
by the cries and moans of the rebel wounded, many
of whom lay uncarcd for within a few yards of the
Union line. Some of the men of Co. F, moved
by pity foi- the sufferings of their enemies, left their
lines to give them assistance; they were fired on,
however, by the less merciful rebels and had to
abandon the attempt. Before daylight the order
was whispered down the line to withdraw as silently
as possible. The men were especially cautioned
against alloAving their tin cups to rattle against
their rifles, as the first sign was sure to be the sig-
nal for a rebel volley. Cautiously the men stole
away, and, as daylight appeared, found themselves
alone.

They were the rear guard and thus covered
the retreat of the main body to Gaines Hill. As
they approached the camp they had left on the
preceding afternoon a scene of desolation and
destruction met their astonished eyes. Enormous
piles of quartermaster and commissary stores
were being fired, tents were struck, the regimental
baggage gone, and large droves of cattle were being
Jiurried forward towards the lower bridges of the
'Chicahominy — the retreat to the James had com-
menced. Halting for a few minutes amidst the
ruins of their abandoned camp where, however,
they found the faithful (juartermaster-sergcant

40

with a scanty supply of rations, very grateful to
men who had eaten nothing for twenty hours and
expected nothing for some time to come. They
hastily commenced the preparation of such a mod-
est break-fast as was possible under the circum-
stances, but before it could bo eaten the pursuing
rebels were upon them, and the march towards the
rear was resumed. A mile further and they found
the Fifth Corps, which was all there was of the
army on the south bank of the Chicahominy,
in line of battle prepared to resist the attack of the
enemy, which it was apparent to all would be in
heavy force. The position was a strong one, and
the little force — small in comparison to that which
now appeared confronting it — were disposed with
consumate skill. Dust — for the day was intensely
hot and dry — arising in dense clouds high above
the tree tops, plainly denoted the line of march,
and the positions of the different rebel columns as
they arrived on the field and took their places in
line of battle.

Deserters, prisoners, and scouts, all agreed that
Jackson, who had not been up in time to take
part in the battle of the ^^revious day as had been
expected, was now at hand Avith a large force of
fresh troojDs, and it was appiirent that the Fifth
Corps was about to become engaged Avitli nearly the
whole of the rebel army. Any one of three things
could now happen, as might be decided by the
Union commander. The force on Gaines Hill
might be re-enforced by means of the few, but
sufficient, bridges over the Chicahominv and

41

accept battle on soinctliing like e(iiial ter»ns; or the
main army on the right bank of the river might
take advantage of the opportunity offered to break
through the lines in its front, weakened as they
must be by the absence of the immense numbers
detached to crush Porter on the left bank; or the
Fifth Corps might by a great effort, unassisted,
hold Lee's army in check long enough to enable
the Union army to commence in an orderly man-
ner its retreat to the James. Whichever course
might be decided upon, it was evident that this
portion of the army w^as on the eve of a desperate
struggle against overwhelming odds, and each man
prepared himself accordingly.

In front of Morell's division, to which the sharp
shooters were attached, was a deep ravine heavily
wooded on its sides, and through which ran a
small stream, its direction being generally north-
east, until it emptied into the Chicahominy near
Woodbury's bridge. The bottom of the ravine
was marsby and somewhat difficult of passage, and
near the river widened out and took the name of
Boatswain's swamp. On the far side of this ravine
the sharp shooters were deployed to observe the
ap[)roach of the enemy and to receive their first
attack. In their front the ground was compara-
tively open, though Bomcwhat broken, for a con-
siderable distance. At half-past two p. :m. the
enemy's skirmishers appeared in the rolling open
country, and desultory firing at long range com-
menced. Soon, however, the pressure became more
severe, and a regiment on the right of the sharp

42

shooters having given way, they, in their turn,
were forced slowly back across the marshy ravine
and part way up the opposite slope; here, being
re-enforced, they turned on and drove the rebels
back and reoccupied the ground on which they
first formed, soon, however, to be forced back
again. So heavily had each of the opposing lines
been supported that the affair lost its character as
a picket fight, and partook of the nature of line of
battle fighting. The troops opposed at this time
were those of A. P. Hill, who finally, by sheer
weight of numbers, dislodged the sharp shooters
and their supports from the woods and permanently
held them. They were unable, however, to ascend
the slope on the other side, and the main federal
line was intact at all points. There was now an
interval of some half an hour, during which time the
infantry were idle; the artillery firing, however,
from the Union batteries on the crest of the hill
was incessant, and was as vigorously responded to
by the rebels. From the right bank of the Ohica-
hominy a battery of twenty pound Parrots, near
Gen. W. F. Smith's headquarters, was skillfully
directed against the rebel right near and in front
of Dr. Gaines' house. At six o'clock p. m. Slo-
cum's division of Franklin's corps was ordered across
to the support of Porter's endangered command.

At seven o'clock the divisions of Hill, Long-
street, Whiting and Jackson were massed for a
final attack on the small but undismayed federal
force, who yet held every inch of the ground so
desperately fought for during five long hours.

43

Whiting's division led the rebel assiailt with
Hood's Texan brigade in the front line. The
attack struck the center of the line held l)y Mor-
ell's division, and so desperate was the assault and
so heavily supported, that Morell's tired men were
finally forced by sheer weight of masses to abandon
the line which they had so long and so gallantly
held. Had the rebels themselves been in a posi-
tion to promptly pursue their advantage, the situa-
tion would have been most perilous to ilie Union
forces. The enemy had now gained the crest of
the hill which commanded the ground to the rear
as far as the banks of the Chicahominy. This
deep and treacherous stream, crossed but by few
bridges — and they, with one exception, at a con-
siderable distance from the field of battle — offered
an effectual barrier to the passage of the routed
army.

But while the federals had suffered severely, the
losses of the rebels had been far greater. The dis-
organization and demoralization among the victors
was even greater than among the vanquished; and
before they could reform for further advance the
beaten federals liad rallied on the low ground
nearer the river and formed a new line which, in
the gathering darkness, undoubtedly looked to the
rebels, made cautious by experience, more formid-
able than it Avas in fact. Their cavalry appeared
in great force on the brow of the hill, but the
expected charge did not come; they had had fight-
ing enough and rested content with what they
had gained. The least desirable of the three

u

choices offered to the Union commander had been
taken, as it appeared, bnt a precious day had been
gained to the army ah-eady in its retreat to the
James. A fearful price had been paid for it, how-
ever, by the devoted band who stood between that
retreating army and the flushed and victorious
enemy. Of the (dghteen thousand men who stood
in line of battle at noon, only twelve thousand
answered to the roll call at night. One-third of
the whole, or six thousand men, had fallen. They
had done all that it was possible for men to do,
and only yielded to superior numbers. It is now
known that less than 25,000 men were left for the
defense of Richmond; the rest of the rebel forces,
or over 55,000 men, had been hurled against this
wing of the Union army hoping to crush it utterly,
and the attempt had failed.

Co. F had done its full share in the work of the
day, and, although out of ammunition, retained its
position with otlier companies of the regiment on
the front line until tlie general disruption on the
right and left compelled their retirement from the
field. Tired, hungry and disheartened, they lay
down for the night on the low ground a mile
or more in the rear for a few hours of repose. At
about eleven o'clock p. m. they were aroused and
put in motion, crossing the Chicahominy at Wood-
bury's bridge and going again into bivouac on the
high ground near the Trent Hospital some dis-
tance in the rear of the ground held by the Ver-
mont brigade on the northern, or right, bank of
tlm river. During the night the entire corps was

45

withdniwn and tlie l)riclgcs dcstroyca. A fresh
supply of Mmmunition was obtained and issued at
daylight, and at ten o'clock a. m. the sharp
shooters, with full cartridge boxes, but empty
haversacks, took up their line of march towards the
James. In this action the regiment lost heavily
in killed and wounded. B. W. Jordan and Jas. A.
Read of Co. F were mortally, and K. 11. Himes
severely wounded. Passing Savage Station, where
the ot'h Vermont sulfered so severely on the
next day, the regiment crossed White Oak swamp
before dark on the twenty-eighth, and went into
bivouac near the head of the bridge.

Wild rumors of heavy bodies of Confederate
troops, crossing the Chicahominy at points lower
down prepared to fall upon the exposed flank and
rear of the federals were prevalent, and the dreaded
form of Stonewall Jackson seemed to start from
every bush.

During the night, which was intesely dark, the
horses attached to a battery got loose by some
means and, dashing through a portion of the
ground occupied by other troops, seemed, with their
rattling harness, to be a host of rebel cavalry. A
bugle at some distance sounded the assembly,
drums beat the long roll, and in the confusion of
that night alarm it seemed as though a general
panic had seized upon alL The sharp shooters,
like all others, were thrown into confusion and
momentarily lost their sense of discipline and dis-
appeared. When the commanding officer, perhaps
the last to awake, came to look for his command

4G

they were not to be found; with the exception of
Calvin Morse, bugler of Co. F, he was alone. The
panic among the sharpshooters, however, was only
momentary; the first blast of the well known bngle
recalled them to a sense of duty, and, a rallying
point being established, the wdiole command at
once returned to the line reassured and prepared
for any emergency.

At daylight the march was resumed and con-
tinued as far as Charles City cross roads, or Glen-
dale, the junction of two important roads leading
from Richmond southeasterly towards Malvern
Hill; the lower, or Newmarket road, being the only
one by which a rebel force moving from the city
could hope to interpose between the retreating
federals and the James.

The sharpshooters were thrown out on this road
some two miles with instructions to delay as long
as possible the advance of any body of the enemy
who might approach by that route. This was the
fourth day for Co. F of continuous marching and
fighting; they had started with almost empty
haversacks, and it had not been possible to supply
them. The country was bare of provisions, except
now and then a hog that had so far escaped the
foragers. A few of these fell victims to the hunger
of the half-starved men; but, with no bread or salt,
it hardly served a better purpose than merely to
sustain life. To add to their discomforts the only
water procurable was that from a well near by
which was said to have been poisoned by the flying
owner of the plantation; his absence, with that of

47

every living tiling upon the pliice, nuide it impossi-
ble to apply the usual and proper test, that of com-
pelling the suspected parties to, themselves, drink
heartily of the water. A guard was therefore
placed "over the well, and the thirsty soldiers were
compelled to endure their tortures as best they
could. The day passed in comparative ([uiet; only
a few small bodies of rebel cavalry appeared to con-
test the possession of the road, and they being
easily repulsed. Late in the afternoon the sharp
shooters were recalled to the junction of the roads,
where they rested for a short time to allow the
passage of another column. At this point a single
box of hard bread was procured from the cook in
charge of a wagon conveying the mess kit of the
officers of a battery; this was the only issue of
rations made to the regiment from the morning of
the "^oth of June until they arrived at Ha^rison^^
landing on the 2d of July, and, inadequate as it
was, it was a welcome addition to their meager fare
At dark the regiment marched southwardly on a
country road narrow and difficult, often appearing
no more than a path through the dense swamp;
the night, intensely dark, was made more so by the
gloom of the forest, and all night the weary unfed
men toiled along. At midnight the column was
halted for some cause, and while thus halted another
of those unaccountable panics took place— in fact,
in the excited condition of the men, enfeebled by
long continued labors without food, a small matter
was sufficient to throw them oif their balance; and
yet these very men a few hours later, with an

48

enemy in front whom they could see and at whom
they could deal blows as well as receiye them,
fought and won the great battle of Malyern Hill.
During the night Co. F. with one or two other
comjjanies were detailed to accompany Gen. Porter
and others on a reconnoissance of the country to
the left of the road on which the column was
halted. With a small force in adyance as skirmish-
ers, they passed oyer some two miles of difficult
country, doubly so in the darkness of the night,
striking and drawing the fire of the rebel pickets.
This being a2:)parently the object of the movement,
the skirmishers were withdrawn and the command
rejoined the main column. So worn and weary were
they that wheneyer halted eyen for a moment, many
men w^ould fall instantly into a sleep from which it
would require the most yigorous efforts to arouse
them. Shortly before daylight they were halted
and allowed to sleep for an hour or two, when,
with tired and aching bodies, they continued their
march. At noon they passed oyer the crest of
Malvern Hill and before them lay, quiet and
beautiful in the sunlight, the valley of the James;
and, at the distance of some three miles, the river
itself with Union gun boats at anchor on its bosom.
It was a welcome sight to those who had been
for six long days marching by night and fighting
by day. It meant, as they fondly believed, food
and rest, and they greeted the lovely view with
cheers of exultation. But there Avere further
labors and greater dangers in store for them before
the longed for rest could be obtained. Passing

49

over the level phiteiiu known iis Mulvern Hill, they
descended to the valley and went into hivonac.
Here was at least water, and some food was
obtained from the negroes who remained about the
place.

No sooner were ranks broken and knapsacks
unslung than the tired and dirty soldiers flocked
to the banks of the beautiful river, and the water
was soon filled with the bathers, who enjoyed this
unusual luxury with keen relish.

The bivouac of the regiment was in the midst of
a field of oats but recently cut and bound, and the
men proceeded to arrange for themselves couches
which for comfort and luxury they had not seen
the like of since they left the feather beds of their
New England homes. Their repose, even here, was,
however, destined to be of short duration; for
hardly had they settled themselves for their rest
when the bugles sounded the general, and the head
of the column, strangely enough, turned north-
ward. Up the steep hill, back over the very road
down wdiich they had just marched, they toiled, but
without murmur or discontent, for this movement
was toiuards the rebels, and not away from them.
Inspiring rumors began to be heard; where they
came from, or how, no one knew, but it was said
that ]k[cCall and Sumner had fought a great battle
on the previous day, that the rebel army was
routed, that Lee was a prisoner, that McClellan
was in Richmond, and the long and short of it was
that the Union army had nothing more to do but to
march l^ack, make a triumphal entry into the cap-
4

50

tured stronghold, assist at that often anticipated
ceremony which was to consign " JeS. Davis to a
sour app^e tree/' be mnstered out, get their pay
and go home. When they arrived on the plateau,
however, a scene met their eyes that effectually
drove such anticipations from their minds. A mile
away, just emerging from the cover of the forest,
appeared the forms of a number of men; were they
friends or enemies ? Glasses were unslung and
they were at once discovered to be federals.
Momentarily their numbers increased, and soon
the whole plain was covered with blue coated
troops, but they were without order or organiza-
tion, many without arm^, and their faces bearing
not the light of successful battle, but dull with the
chagrin of defeat. The story was soon told.
Sumner and McCall had fought a battle at Charles
City cross roads, but had been forced to abandon
the field with heavy loss in men and guns. Instead
of a triumphant march to Richmond, the Fifth
Corps was again to interpose between the flushed
and confident rebels and the retreating federals —
but not, as at Gaines Hill, alone. This was late
in the afternoon of June 30. That night the
sharp shooters spent in bivouac near the ground
on which they were to fight the next day. At
dawn on the 1st of July the men were aroused, and
proceeding to the front were ordered into line as
skirmishers, their line covering the extreme left of
the Union army directly in front of the main
approach to the position. Malvern Hill, so called,
is a hill only as it is viewed from the southern or

51

western side; to the north and east the ground is
only slightly descending from tlie higliest eleva-
tion. On the Avestern side, flowing in a southerly
direction, is a small stream called Turkey run, the
bed of the stream being some one hundred feet
lower than the plateau. On the south, toward the
James, the descent is more precipitous. The
approaches were, as has been stated, from the
north where the ground was comparatively level
and sufficiently open to admit of rapid and regular
maneuvers. The position taken by the Union
army was not one of extraordinary strength, except
that its flanks were well protected by natural fea-
tures; its front was but little higher than the
ground over which the enemy must pass to the
attack, and was unprotected by natural or artificiiil
obstacles. No earth works or other defenses were
constructed; although the "lofty hill, crowned by
formidable works," has often figured in descrip-
tions of this battle. The simple truth is it was an
open field fight, hotly contested and gallantly won.
The Union artillery, some three hundred guns,
was posted in advantageous positions, some of the
batteries occupying slight elevations from which
they conld fire over the heads of troops in their
front, the most of them, however, being formed on
the level ground in the intervals between regiments
and brigades. The gun boats were stationed in
the river some two miles distant, so as to cover and
support the left flank, and it was expected that
great assistance would be afforded Ijy the fire of
their immense guns.

52

Porter's corps held the extreme left, with its
left flank on Turkey run, Morell's division forming
the front line with headquarters at Crew's house.
Sykes' division, composed mostly of regulars, was
in the second line. McCall's division was held in
reserve in rear of the left flank. On the right of
Morell's line thus formed, came Couch's division;
further to the right the line vras refused, and the
extreme right flank rested on the James; but with
this portion of the line we have little to do. The
main attack fell on the Fifth Corps, involving to
some extent Couch's troops nexr on the right. In
this order the army awaited the onset. In front
of Morell's division stretched away a field about
half a mile in length, bounded at its oi3posite
extremity by heavy woods.

Nearly level in its general features, tliere extended
across it at a distance of about one-third of a
mile from the federal front, and parallel with it,
a deep ravine, its western end debouching into the
valley formed by Turkey run. This open field
v/as covered at this time wdth wheat just ready for
the harvest.

Along the north side of this ravine, covered
from view by the waving wheat, the sharp shooters
were deployed at an early hour and patiently
aw^aited the attack of the enemy. A few scattered
trees afforded a scanty supply of half grown apples
which were eagerly seized upon by the famished
men, who boiled them in their tin cups and thus
made them fairly palatable; by such poor means
assuaging as best they could the pangs of hunger.

53

At about twelve o'clock heavy clouds of dust
arising in the north announced the approach of
the Confederate columns, and soon after scouts and
skirmishers began to make their presence known
by shots from the edge of the woods, some two
hundred yards distant, directed at every exposed
head. A puff of smoke from that direction, how-
ever, was certain to be answered by a dozen well
aimed rifles from the sharp shooters, and the
rebel scouts soon tired of that amusement. In
the meantime the artillery firing had become
very heavy on both sides, our own depressing their
muzzles so as to sweep the woods in front; the
effect of this was to bring the line of fire unpleas-
antly near the heads of the advanced sharp shoot-
ers. The gun boats also joined in the canonade,
and as their shells often burst short, over and even
behind the line of skirmishers, the position soon
became one of grave danger from both sides.

At about half-past two the artillery fire from ihe
rebel line slackened perceptibly, and soon appeared,
bursting from the edge of the forest, a heavy line
of skirmishers who advanced at a run, apparently
unaware of any considerable force in their front.
Bugler Morse of Co. F, who accompanied the
commanding officer as chief bugler on that day, was
at once ordered to sound commence firing, and the
sharp shooters sent across the field and into the
lines of the oncoming rd'ols, such a storm of lead
from their breach loading, rifles as soon checked
their advance and sent them back to the cover of
the woods in orcat confunon and witli serious loss.

54

The repulse was but momenLai7, liowever, for
soon another line appeared so heavily re-enforced
that it was more like a line of battle than a skir-
mish line. Still, however, the sharp shooters
clung to their ground, firing rapidly and with pre-
cision, as the thinned ranks of the Confederates,
as they pressed on, attested. They would not,
however, be denied, but still came on at the run,
firing as they came. At this moment the sharp
shooters became aware of a force of rebel skirmish-
ers on their right flank, who commenced firing
steadily, and at almost point blank range, from the
shelter of a roadway bordered by hedges. The
bugle now sounded retreat, and the sharp shooters
fell back far enough to escape the effect of the
flank fire when they were halted and once more
turned their faces to the enemy. The tables were
now turned; the rdhels had gained the shelter of
the ravine, and vv^ere firing with great deliberation
at our men who were fully exposed in the open
field in front of the Crew house. Still the sharp
shooters held their ground, and, by the greater
accuracy of their fire, combined with the advantage
of greater rapidity given by breach loaders over
muzzle loaders, kept the rebels well under cover.
Having thus cleared the way, as they supposed, for
their artillery, the rebels sought to plant a battery
in the open ground on the hither side of the woods
which had screened their advance. The noise of
chopping had been plainly heard for some time as
their pioneers labored in the woods opening a pas-
sage for the guns. Suddenly there burst out of the

00

flense foliage four magnificent gray horses, and
behind them, whirled along like a child's toy, the
gun. Another and another followed, sweeping
out into tlie plain. As the head of the column
turned to the right to go into battery, every rifle
within range was brought to bear, and horses
and men began to fall rapidly. Still they
pressed on, and when there were no longer horses
to haul the guns, the gunners sought to put their
pieces into battery by hand; nothing, however,
could stand before that terrible storm of lead, and
after ten minutes of gallant effort the few surviv-
ors, leaving their guns in the open field, took
shelter in the friendly woods. Not a gun was
placed in position or fired from that quarter during
the day. This battery was known as the Rich-
mond Howitzers and was composed of the very
flower of the young men of that city; it was their
first fight, and to many their last. A member of
the battery, in describing it to an officer of the
sharp shooters soon after the close of the war, said
pithily: '' We went in a battery and came out a
wreck. AVe staid ten minutes by the watch and
came out with one gun, ten men and two horses,
and without firing a shot."

The advanced position held by the sharp shooters
being no longer tenable, as they were exposed to
the fire, not only of the rebels in front but to that
of their friends in the rear as well, they were with-
drawn and formed in line of battle in the rear of
the fourth ^lichigan volunteers, where they
remained for a short time. The rebel fire from

56

the brink of the ravine from which the the sharp
shooters had been dislodged, as before described,
now became exceedingly galling and troublesome to
the artillery in our front line, and several horses
and men were hit in Weeden's K.I. battery,an officer
of which requested that an effort be made to silence
the fire. Col. Ripley directed Lieut. J. Smith
Brown of Co. A, acting Adjutant, to take twenty
volunteers far out to the left and front to a point
designated, which it was hoiked would command
the ravine. The duty was one of danger, but
volunteers W' ere quickly at hand, among whom were
several from Co. F. The gallant little band soon
gained the coveted position, and thereafter the fire
of the rebel riflemen from that point was of little
moment. Lieut. Brown's command maintained
this position during the entire battle, and being
squarely on the flank of Magruder's charging col-
umns, and being, from the very smallness of their
numbers, hardly noticeable among the thousands
of struggling men on that fatal field, they inflicted
great damage and loss in the Confederate hosts.
It was now late in the afternoon, no large bodies
of the rebel infantry had as yet shown themselves,
though the clouds of dust arising beyond the woods
told plainly of their presence and motions. A
partial attack had been made on the extreme right
of Morell's line, involving to some extent the left
of Couch's division, but was easily repulsed; the
fire of Co. E of the sharp shooters, which had been
sent to that point, contributing largely to that
result. The artillery fire had been heavy and inces-

61

saut for some hours,ancl shells were bursting in (jiiick
succession over every portion of the field. Sud-
denly there burst out of the ravine a heavy line of
battle, followed by another and another, while out
of the woods beyond poured masses of men in sup-
port. The battle now commenced in earnest.

The Union infantry, heretofore concealed and
sheltered behind such little inequalities of ground
as the field affoided, sprang to their feet and opened
a tremendous fire, additional batteries were brought
up, and from every direction shot and shell, can-
ister and grape, were hurled against the advancing
enemy, while the gun boats, at anchor in the river
two miles away, joined their efforts with those of
their brethren of the army. It was a gallant
attempt, but nothing human could stand against
the storm— great gaps began to be perceptible in
the lines, but the fiery energy of Magruder was
behind them and they still kept on, until it seemed
that nothing short of the bayonet would stop them.
Gradually, however, the rush was abated; here and
there could be seen signs of wavering and hesita-
tation; this was the signal for redoubled efforts on
the part of the Union troops, and the discomfited
rebels broke in confusion and fied to the shelter of
the woods and ravines.

At the critical moment of tliis charge the sharp
shooters had been thrown into line on the right of
the fourth Michigan regiment and bore an honor-
able part in the repulse; indeed, so closely crowded
were the Union lines at this point that many men
of the sharp shooters found themselves in the line

58

of the Michigan regiment and fonght shoulder to
shoulder with their western brothers. The battle
was, howcTer, by no means over; again and again
did Magruder hurl his devoted troops against the
Union line, onh- to meet a like repulse; the rebels
fought like men who realized that their efforts of
the past week, measurably successful though they
had been, would h'tve failed of their full result
should they now fail to destroy the Army of the
Potomac; while the Union troops held their lines
with the tenacity of soldiers who knew that the
fate of a nation depended upon the result of that
day. At the close of the second assault the sharp
shooters found themselves with empty cartridge
boxes and were withdrawn from the front. The
special ammunition required for their breech
loaders not being obtainable, they were not again
engaged during the day. In this fight the regi-
ment lost many oflBcers and men, among whom
were Col. Eipley, Capt. Austin and Lieut. Jones
of Co. E, wounded. In Co. F, Lieut. C. W.
Seaton, Jacob S. Bailey and Brigham Buswell were
wounded. Bus well's wound resulted in his dis-
charge. Bailey rejoined the comi^any, only to
lose an arm at Chancellorsville.

The final rebel attack haviug been repulsed and
their defeat being complete and final, the Union
army was withdrawn during the night to Harri-
son's landing, some eight miles distant, whicli
point had been selected by Gen. McClellan's
engineers some days before as the base for future
operations against Richmond by the line of

59

tlie James river; ()i)enitioriS which, as the
event proved, were not to be uiidertakon until
after two years of unsuccessful fighting in other
fields, the Army of the Potomac found itself once
more on the familiar fields of its earliest experience.
The campaign of the Peninsula was over; that
mighty army that had sailed down the beautiful
Potomac so full of hope and pride less than four
montlis before; that had tlirough toil and suffering
fought its way to within sight of its goal; found
itself beaten back at the very moment of its antici-
pated triumph, and instead of the elation of vic-
tory, it was tasting the bitterness of defeat; for,
although many of its battles, as that of Hanover
Court House, Williamsburgh, Yorktown, Mechan-
icsville and Malvern Hill, had been tactical victo-
ries, it felt that the full measure of success had
not been gained, and that its mission had not been
accomplished. While the army lay at Harrison's
landing the following changes in the rolls of Co.
F. took place: Seargent Amos H. Bunker, Azial
N. Blanchard, Wm. Cooley, Geo. W. Manchester
and Chas. G. Odell were discharged on surgeon's
certificate of disability, and Brigham Buswell was
discharged on account of disability resulting from
the wound received at Malvern Hill. Benajah W.
Jordan and James A. Read died of wounds received
at Gaines Hill and W. S. Tarbell of disease.
E. F. Stevens and L. D. Grover were promoted
sergeants, find W. II. Leach and Edward Trask
were made corporals. At this camp also Capt.
Weston resigned and Lieut. C. VV. Seaton was

60

appointed captain, Second Lient. M. Y. B. Bron-
son was promoted first lieutenant and Ezbon W.
Hindes second lieutenant. Major Trepp was pro-
moted lieutenant-colonel, vice Wm. Y. W. Ripley,
and Capt. Hastings of Co> H. was made major.

The regiment remained at Harrison's landing
until the army left the Peninsula. The weather
was intensely hot and the army suffered terrible
losses by disease, cooped up as they were on the
low and unhealthy bottom lands bordering the
James. The enemy made one or two demonstra-
tions, and on one occasion the cam}) of the sharp
shooters became the target for the rebel batteries
posted on the high lands on the further side of the
river, and for a long time the men of Co. F were
exposed to a severe fire to which they could not
reply, but luckily w^ithout serious loss.

CHAPTER THIRD.

SECOND BULL RUN. ANTIETAM, FREDERICKS-
BURG H.

About the middle of August, the government
having determined upon the evacuation of the
Peninsula, the army abandoned its position at
Harrison's landing. Water transportation not
being at hand in sufficient quantity, a large portion
of the army marched southward towards Fortress
Monroe, passing, by the Avay, the fields of Wil-

61

liamsburgh, Lee's Mills unci Yorktown, u])on
which they hud so recently stood victorious over
the very en<?my upon whom they were now turning
their backs. Co. F. was with the division which
thus passed down l)y land. U})on arriving at
lIam])toii the Fifth Corps, to which the sharj)
shooters were attached, embarked on steamboats
and were quickly and comfortably conveyed to
Acquia Creek, at which place they took the cars
for Falmouth, on the Piapahannock opposite Fred-
ericksburgh.

No sooner did McClelhm turn his back on Rich-
mond in the execution of this change of base, than
Lee, no longer held to the defense of the rebel
capitol, moved with his entire force rapidly north-
ward, hoping to crush Pope's scattered columns in
detail before the Army of the Potomac could
appear to its support. Indeed, before McClellan's
movement commenced, th^ Confederate General
Jackson — lie whose foray in the valley in May had
so completely neutralized McDowell's powerful
corps that its services were practically lost to the
Union commander during the entire period of the
Peninsular campaign — had again ajipeared on
Pope's right and rear, and it was this apparition
that struck such dread to the soul of Ilalleck, then
General-in-Chief at Washington. Now commenced
that campaign of maneuvers in which Pope was
so signally foiled by his keen and wary antagonist.

The Fifth Corps left Falmouth on the 24th of
August, marching to Pappahannock Station,
thence along: the line of the Orantje & Alexandria

62

R. R. to Warrenton Junction where they remained
for a few hours, it being the longest rest they had
had since leaving Falmouth, sixty miles away.
On the 28th of August the shar]^ shooters arrived,
with the rest of the corps, at Bristoe's Station
where Porter had been ordered to take position at
daylight to assist in the entertainment which Pope
had advertised for that day, and which was to con-
sist of " bagging the whole crowd " of rebels.

The wily Jackson, however, was no party to that
plan, and while Pope was vainly seeking him about
Manassas Junction, he was quietly awaiting the
arrival of Lee's main columns near Groveton.
The corps remained at Bristoe's, or between that
place and Manassas Junction, inactive during the
rest of the twenty-eighth and the whole of the
twenty-ninth, and the sharp shooters thus failed
of any considerable share in the battle of Groveton
on that day. During the night preceding the 30th
of August, Porter's corps was moved by the Sudley
Springs road from their position near Bristoe's to
the scene of the previous day's battle to the north
and east of Groveton, where its line of battle was
formed in a direction nearly northeast and south-
west, with the left on the Warrenton turnpike.
Morell's division, to which the sharp shooters were
attached, formed the front line with the sharp
shooters, as usual, far in the advance as skirmish-
ers. With a grand rush the riflemen drove the
rebels through the outlying woods, and following
close upon the heels of the flying enemy, suddenly
passed from the comparative shelter of the woods

(j'3

into an open field directly in the face of Jackson's
corps strongly posted behind the embankment of
an " unfinished railroad leading from Sudley
Springs southwestwardly towards Groveton.

It was a o-rand fortification ready formed for the
enemy's occupation, and stoutly defended by the
Stonewall brigade. Straight up to the embank-
ment pushed the gallant sharp shooters, and hand-
somely were they supported by the splendid troops
of Barnes and Butterfield's brigades. The attack
Avas made with tlie utmost impetuosity and tena-
ciously sustained; but Jackson's veterans could not
be dislodged from their strong position behind
their Avorks. The sharp shooters gained the
shelter of a partially sunken road parallel to the
enemy's line and hardly thirty yards distant; but
not even the splendid courage of the men who had
held the lines of Gaines Hill and Malvern against
this same enemy, could avail to drive them from
their shelter.

To add to the peril of the charging column,
Longstreet, on Jackson's right, organized an
attack on Porter's exposed left flank. The corps
thus placed, with an enemy in their front whom
they could not dislodge and another on their
unprotected flank, were forced to abandon their
attack. The sharp shooters were the last to leave
their advanced positions, and then only when,
nearly out of ammunition, Longstreet's fresh troops
fairly crowded them out by sheer numerical sui)e-
riority. Of C^o. F the following men were wounded
in this battle: Corporals II. J. Peck and Ai Brown

64

and Private W. H. Blake. Corporal Peck was
honorably discharged on the 26th of October fol-
lowing for disability resulting from his wound.
The sharp shooters were not again seriously engaged
with the enemy during Pope's campaign. On the
night after the battle they retired with the shat-
tered remains of the gallant Fiith Corps, and on
the 1st of September went into camp near Fort
Corcoran. So far the campaigns of the sharp
shooters had, although full of thrilling incident
and gallant achievement, been barren of result.
Great victories had been won on many fields, but
the end seemed as far off as when they left Wash-
ington more than five months before.

Disease and losses in battle had sadly thinned
their ranks, but the remnant were soldiers tried
and tempered in the fire of many battles. They
were not of the stuff that wilts and shrivels under
an adverse fortune, and putting the past reso-
lutely behind them, they set their faces sternly
towards the future, prepared for whatever of good,
or of ill, it should have in store for them.

THE ANTIETAM CAMPAIGTs^.

On the 12th of September, the main portion of
the army having preceded them, the Fifth Corps
crossed to the north bank of the Potomac,
and by forced marches came up with the more
advanced columns on the sixteenth and took part
in the maneuvers which brought the contending
armies again face to face on the banks of the
Antietam.

The rebels, flushed with the very substantial

Go

advantages tliov liad gained during the past sum-
mer, were conlident and full of enthusiasm.
Posted in an e^fceptionally strong position, their
flanks resting on the Potomac while their front
was covered by the deep and rapid Antietam, they
calmly awaited the Union attack, confident that
the army which they had so signally discomfitted
under Poi)e would again recoil before their fire.
But the Union situation was not the same that it
had been a month before; McClellan had resumed
the command, not only of the old Army of the
Potomac — the darling child of his own creation,
and which in turn loved and honored him with a
devotion difficult for the carping critic of these
modern times to understand — but of the remains
of the army of Northern Virginia as well.

These incongruous elements he had welded
together, reorganized and re-equipped while still
on the march, until, when they stood again before
Lee's hosts on the banks of Antietam creek on the
ITtli of September, they were as compact in organ-
ization and as confident as at any previous time in
their history. Then, too, they were to fight on soil
which, if not entirely loyal, was at least not the
soil of the so called Confederate States; and the
feeling that they were called ui)on for a great effort
in behalf of an endangered North, gave an addi-
tional stimulus to their spirits and nerved their
arms with greater power. But with the history of
til is great battle we have little to do. The Fifth
Corps was held in reserve during the entire day.
It was the first tinii; in the history of the company
5

66

that its members had been lookers on while rebel
and Unionist fought together; here, however, they
could, from their position, overlook most of the
actual field of battle as mere spectators of a scene,
the like of which thev had so often been actors in.

On the day after the battle they received a wel-
come addition to their terribly reduced ranks by
the arrival of some fifty recruits under Lieut.
Bronson, w^ho had been detached on recruiting
service while the army yet lay along the Chica-
hominy during the previous month of June. On
the 19th of September the pursuit of Lee's
retreating army was taken up, the Fifth Corps
in the advance, and the sharp shooters leading the
column. The rear guard of the enemy wa3 over-
taken at Blackford's ford, at which place Lee had
recrossed the Potomac. ■

The rebel skirmishers having been driven across
the river, preparations for forcing the pursuit
into Virginia were made, and tlie sharp shooters
were ordered to cross and drive the rebel riflemen
from their sheltered positions along the Virginia
shore. The water was waist deep but, holding
their cartridge boxes above their heads, they
advanced in skirmish line totally unable to reply
to the o-allino- flre that met them as thev entered
the stream. Stumbling and floundering along,
they at last gained the farther shore and quickly
succeeded in compelling the rebels to retire.

Advancing southward to a suitable position, Co.
F was ordered to establish an advanced picket line
in the execution of which order a party under Cor-

G7

poi'cil Cassius Peck discovered the presence of a
small body of the enemy with two guns, who had
been left behind for some reason l)y the retreatin<,^
rebels. This force was soon put to lliglit and botli
guns captured and one man taken i)risoner. The
captured guns were removed to a point near the
river bank, from which they were subsecpiently
removed to the Maryland shore. Remaining in
this position nntil after dark the sharp shooters
were ordered back to the north bank of the river, to
which they retired. Morning found them posted
in the bed of the canal which connects Washington
with Harper's Ferry, and which runs close along the
Maryland shore of the Potomac at this point. The
water being out of the canal, its bed afforded capi-
tal shelter, and its banks a fine position from which
to fire upon the rebels, now again in full possession
of the opposite shore from which they had been
driven by the sharj) shooters tlie previous after-
noon, but which had been deliberately abandoned
to them again by the recall of the regiment to the
northern shore on the preceding night.

It now became necessary to repossess that posi-
tion, and a Pennsylvania regiment composed of
new troops were ordered to make the attempt.
Covered by the close and rapid lire of the sharp
shooters, the Pennsylvanians succeeded in crossing
the river, but every attempt to advance from the
bank met with repulse. Wearied and demoralized
by repeated failures, tiie regiment took shelter
under the banks of the I'iver where they were
measurably protected from the fire of tlie enemy,

68

and covered also by the rifles of the sharp shooters
posted in the canah Ordered to recross the river,
they could not be induced by their officers to expose
themselves in the open stream to the fire of the
exulting rebels.

Every effort was made by the sharp shooters to
encourage them to recross, but without avail.
Calvin Morse, a bugler of Co. F, and thus a non-
combatant (except that Co. F had no non-combat-
ants), crossed the stream, covered by the fire of his
comrades, to demonstrate to the panic stricken men
that it could be done; but they could not be per-
suaded, and most of them v/ere finally made pris-
oners. In these operations Co. F was exceptionally
fortunate, and had no casualties to report.

The regiment remained at or near Sharpsburgh,
Marvland, until the 30 th of October folio win <?."
The members of Co. F, except the recruits, were
but poorly supplied with clothing; mi;ch had been
abandoned and destroyed when they left their
camp at Gaines Hill on the 27th of June, and
much, also, had been thrown away to lighten the
loads of the tired owners during the terrible
marches and battles they had passed through since
that time, and the little they had left was so worn
and tattered as to be fit for little more than to con-
ceal their nakedness. The rations, too, were bad;
the hard bread particularly so, being wormy and
mouldy, and this at a place and time when it
seemed to the soldiers that there could be no good
reason Avhy such a state of things should exist at
all. But time cures all ills, even in the army, and

09

on the 30tli of October the regiment, comi)letely
refitted, rested and in fine spirits, crossed tlie
Potomac at Harper's Ferry and were once more on
the sacred soil of Virginia. Moving sonthwardly
towards Warrenton they arrived, on the evenins:
of November 2d, at Snicker's Gap and Avere at
once pushed out to occupy the summit. The
niglit was intensely dark, and the ground difficult;
but a proper picket line was finally estaljlished and
occupied without event through the night. The
next morning's sunlight displayed a wonderful
sight to the eyes of the delighted sharp shooters.
They were on the very summit of the Blue
Ridge Mountains, and below them, like an open
map, lay spread out the beautiful valley of Vir-
ginia.

Scathed and torn as it was, to a close observer,
by the conflicts and marches of the past summer,
from the distant point of view occupied by the
watchers, all was beautiful and serene. No sign
of war, or its desolating touch, was visible; except
that here and there could be seen bodies of march-
ing men, and long trains of wagons, which told of
the presence of the enemy. Now, however, the
head of every column was turned southward, and
the rebel army, which had swept so triumphantly
northward over that very country only two months
before, wjis retiring, beaten and ballled, before the
army of the Union. The scene v/as beautiful to
the eye, while the reflections engendered l)y it were
of the most hopeful nature, and the shar]) shooters
descended the southern slope of the mountain

70

Avitli high holies and glowing anticipations of
speedy and decisive action.

From Snicker's Gap the army advanced by easy
marches to Warrenton, where, on the 7th of
November, Gen. McClellan was relieved from the
command and Gen. Burnside appointed to that
position. The army accepted the change like sol-
diers, but with a deep sense of regret. The vast
mass of the rank and file honored and trnsted Gen.
McClellan as few generals in history have been
trnsted by their followers. He was personally
popular among the men, but below and behind
this feeling was the belief that in many respects
Gen. McClellan had not been quite fairly treated
by some of those who ought to have been his warm
and ardent supporters. They felt that political
influences, which had but little hold upon the sol-
diers in the field, had been at work to the personal
disadvantage of their loved commander, and to the
disadvantage of the army and the cause of the
Union as well.

Whether they were right or wrong, they
regretted the change most deeply, and in this gen-
eral feeling the sharp shooters stood with the great
mass of the army.

While they were always ready with a prompt
obedience and hearty support of their later com-
manders, the regiment never cheered a general
officer after McClellan left the head of the Army
of the Potomac.

After a few days of rest at Warrenton to allow
Gen. Burnside to get the reins well in hand, the

71

army was put in motion towards Frcdericksburgh
where they arrived on or about the 23d of Novem-
ber. While at Warrenton Gen. Burnside effected
a complete reorganization of the army, on a plan
which he had been pressing upon the notice; of his
superiors for some time. The entire army was
divided into three Grand Divisions, the right under
Sumner, the center under Hooker, and the left
under Franklin. The Fiftli Corps formed part of
the Center Grand Division under Gen. Hooker,
and at about the same time Gen. F. J. Porter, who
had been its commander since its organization
while the army lay before York town during the
preceding April, was relieved from his command
and was succeeded by Gen. Dan'l Butterfield.

. Gen. Burnside, having been disappointed in
finding his ponton trains, on which he depended
for a rapid passage to the south bank of the Rapa-
hannock, ready on his arrival at Falmouth, was
constrained to attempt to force a passage in the
face of Lee's now concentrated army. The position
was one well calculated to dampen the ardor of the
troops now so accustomed to warfare as to be able
to weigh the chances of "success or failure as accu-
rately as their commanders, and to judge quickly
of the value to their cause of tluit for whicli they
were asked to offer up their lives, but they under-
took the task as cheerfully ami as willingly as
though it had been far less uncertain and perilous.
The Rapahannock at this point is bordered by
opposing ranges of hills; tliat on the left bank,
occupied by the troops of tlie Union and called

72

Stafford heights, rising quite abruptl}^ from the
river bank; while on the southern shore the line
of hills, called Marye's heights, recedes from the
river from six hundred to two thousand yards, the
intervening ground being generally open and,
although somewhat broken, affording very little
shelter from the fire of the Confederate batteries
posted on Marye's heights. On the plain and near
the river stands the village of Fredericksburgh.

During the night of the 10th of December Gen.
Burnside placed in position on Stafford heights a
powerful array of guns, under cover of whose fire
he determined to attempt the passage of the river
at that point, while to the Left Grand Division
under Franklin was assigned the task of forcing a
j)assage at a point some two miles lower down.
On the night of the 11th attempts were made to lay
the ponton bridges at a point opposite the town.
The enemy, however, well warned, posted a strong
force of riflemen in the houses and behind the
stone walls bordering the river, whose sharp fire
so seriously impeded the efforts of the engineers
that they were forced to_ retire. The guns on
Stafford heights were opened on the town, and for
nearly two hours one hundred and fifty guns
poured their shot and shell upon the devoted town.
Each gun was esti united to have fired fifty rounds;
but at the close of the bombardment the annoying
riflemen were still there. Three regiments were
now thrown across the river in ponton boats, and
after a severe fight in the streets of the town, and
after heavy loss of men, succeeded in dislodging

73

the c'liuiny, luul the bridges were coiniileted. Of
course a surprise, upon which Burnside seems to
have couuled, was now out of the question; but
urged on b}^ the voioe of the North, whose sole idea
at tliat time seemed to be that their generals should
only fight — anywhere, under all circumstances and
at all times — he threw Sumner's Grand Division
over the river and determined to try the issue of a
general battle.

The Center Grand Division, under Hooker, were
held on the left bank of the river and were thus unen-
gaged in the earlier portion of that terrible day;
but from their position on Stafford heights, the
sharp shooters were eye witnesses to the terrible
struggle in Avhicli tlieir comrades were engaged on
the plain below — where Hancock's gallant division,
in their desperate charge upon the stone wall at
the foot of Marye's Iieight, lost two thousand men
out of the five thousand engaged in less than fifteen
immortal minutes, and where a total of twelve
thousand, three hundred and twenty-nine Union
soldiers fell in the different assaults; assaults that
every man engaged knew were utterly hopeless and
vain; but to the everlasting honor of the Army of
the Potomac be it said that, although they well
knew the task an impossible one, they responded
again and again to the call to advance, until Burn-
side himself, at last convinced of the hopelessness
of the undertaking, suspended further effort.

During the day CIriffin and IIum})lirey's divis-
ions of the Fifth Corps, and Whi})})le's of the
Third, all Ijclonging to the Center Grand Division,

74

were ordered over the river to renew the attack
which had been so disastrous to the men of the
Second and Ninth Corjis. Hooker in person
accompanied this relieving column, and after a
careful personal inspection of the field, convinced
of the uselessness of further effort in that direction,
sought to persuade the commanding general to
abandon the attack.

Burnside, however, clung to the hope that
repeated attacks must at last result in a disruption
of the enemy's line at some point, and the brave
men of the old Fifth were in their turn hurled
against that position which had been found impos-
sible to carry by those who had preceded them.
Griffin and Humphrey's divisions fought their way
to a 23oint farther advanced than had been reached
in former attempts, some of the men falling within
twenty-five yards of tlie enemy's line, but they were
unable to reach it and were compelled to retire.
It was clearly impossible to carry the position.
Hooker's educated eye had seen this from the fii^st,
hence his unaA-ailing suggestion before the useless
slaughter. His report contains the following grim
lines: " Finding that I had lost as many men as
my orders required me to lose, * * * j g^^g_
pended the attack." With his repulse the battle
of Fredericksburgh substantially closed. The
sharp shooters were not ordered to cross the river
on the thirteenth, and thus had no share in that
day's fighting and no casualties to report. On the
early morning of the fourteenth, however, the
remainder of the Center Grand Division crossed to

75

tlie south hank, reiuaiiiiui;- in the streets of tlie
town until the nif^ht of the fifteentli, wlien tlie
sharp shooters relieved the advanced pickets in
front of the heights, where considerahle tiring
occurred during the night, the opi)osing lines being
very near each other. The ground was thickly
covered with the bodies of the gallant men who
had fallen in the several assaults, lying in every
conceivable position on the field, gory and distorted.
How many of the readers of this book will make it
real to themselves what gore is? A familiar and
easily spoken word, but a dreadful thing in reality,
that mass of clotted, gelatinous purple oozing from
mortal wounds.

Such things are rarely noted in the actual iK^at
of the battle, but to occupy such a field after the
fury of the strife is over is enough to unman the
stoutest heart, and many a brave man, who can
coolly face the actual danger, turns deathly sick as
he looks upon the result as shown in the mangled
and blood stained forms of those who were so lately
his comrades and friends. During the night the
army was withdrawn to the north bank, and just
before daylight the sharp shooters were called in.
So close were the lines that great caution was nec-
essary to keep the movement from the sharp eyes
of the peering rebel pickets. To aid in deceiving
the enemy the bodies of the dead were pi-opped up
so as to represent the presence of the picket line
when daylight should appear. The ruse was suc-
cessful, and the sharp shooters were safely with-
drawn to the town. They were the last troops on

76

this portion of the field, and on arriving at the
head of the bridge found that the phmking had
been so far removed as to render the bridge impas-
sable. They had, therefore, to remain until the
engineers could relay sufficient of the planks to
enable them to cross. In their retreat through the
town they picked up and brought away about one
hundred and fifty stragglers and slightly wounded,
men who had been left behind by other commands.
The Army of the Potomac was again on the north
bank of the Rapahannock. They had fought
bravely in an assault which they had known was
hopeless; they had left behind them twelve thou-
sand of their comrades and gained absolutely
nothing. The loss which they had inflicted bore
no projiortion to that which they had suffered;
what wonder, then, if for a time officers and men
alike almost despaired of the cause of the Union?
This feeling of depression and discouragement
was, however, of short duration. The men who
composed the Army of the Potomac were in the
field for a certain well defined purpose, and until
that purpose was fully accomplished they intended
to remain. No reverse could long chill their ardor
or dampen their splendid courage. Defeated
to-day, to-morrow would find them as ready to do
and dare again as thougii no reverse had overtaken
them.

Thus it was that .-ifier a few days of rest the
army was ready for wliatever task its commander
might set for it. The sharp shooters remained
quietly in their camp until the 30th of December,

77

when they accompiuiied ii detjichnK'nt of cavalry
on a reconnoissance northwardly along the line of
the Rai)ahannock to UichanVs Ford, some ten
miles above Falmouth. The cavalry crossed the
river at this point, covered by the fire of the sharp
shooters; a few prisoners were taken, and on the
1st of January, 18G3, the command returned to
their comfortable camp near Falmouth, where they
were agreeably surprised to find the Second Regi-
ment of Sharp Shooters, and among them, two
other com])anies from Vermont. The little band
of Green Mountain boys composing Co. F had some-
times felt a little lonesome for the want of congen-
ial society, and hailed the advent of their fellow
Vermonters gladly.

At about this time Col. Berdan became an
appendage to the general staff, w^ith the title of
Chief of Sharp Shooters. The two regiments were
distributed at various points along the line, and
the detachments reported directly to Col. Berdan.
The right Aving, under Lieut. Col. Trepp, was
assigned to the Right Grand Division under Gen.
Sumner, but Comi)any F remained near j\rmy
headquarters.

On the 19th of January the Grand Divisions of
Franklin and Hooker moved up the river to essay
its passage at Banks' ford, some six miles above
Falmouth, but in this aifair, known as the'Mud
Campaign, the company hiul no share, not even
leaving their camp. Of this campaign it is enough
to say that it had for its object a turning operation
similar to that undertaken by Hooker some

78

months later; but a furious rain storm in con-
verted the country into one vast quagmire, in
which horses, wagons, guns and men were alike
unable to move. It was entirely abortive, and, after
two days of exhausting labor, the disgusted troops
floundered and staggered and cursed their way
back to their camps, actually having to build cordu-
roy roads on which to return. In consideration of
their dry and comfortable condition in camp, the
sharp shooters freely conceded all the glories of
this campaign to others, preferring for themselves
an inglorious ease to the chance of being smothered
in the mud. Some of the difficulties of the march
can be understood by recalling the requisition of
the youug engineer officer who reported to his
superior that it was impossible for him to construct
a road at a certain point which he had been
directed to make passable for artillery. " Impos-
sible," said the commander, '^nothing is impossible;
make a requisition for whatever is necessary and
build the road." Whereupon the officer made the
following requisition in the usual form:

SPECIAL REQUISITIOX.

KEQUISITION FOR MEN.

Fifty men, each twenty-five feet high, to work in the
mud eighteen feet deep.

I certify that the above described men are. necessary to
the buikling of a road suitable for the passage of men and
guns, in compliance with an order this day received from

Major-Gen. . Signed,

, Lieut. Engineers.

79

On the 2otli of Jamiarv Cien. Burnsiile was
relieved from tlie command and Gen. Hooker
appointed to sncceed him. Tlie army accepted
the change willingly, for although they recognized
the many manly and soldierly qualities possessed
by Gen. Burnside, and in a certain way respected
and even sympathized with him, they had lost con-
fidence in his ability to command so large an army
in the presence of so astute a commander as Lee.
His manly avowal of his sole responsibility for the
terrible slaughter at Fredericksburgh commended
him to their hearts and understandings as an hon-
est and generous man; but they had no wish to
repeat the experience for the sake of even a
more generous acknowledgement after another
Fredericksburgh.

The remainder of the winter of 1802-3 was spent
by the men of Co. F in comparative comfort,
although severe snow storms were of frequent
occurrence, and occasional periods of exceedingly
cold weather were experienced, to the great discom-
fort of the men in their frail canvas tents. Both
armies seemed to have had enough of marching
and fighting to satisfy them for the time being,
and even picket firing ceased by tacit agreement
and consent.

Soon after assuming command. Gen. Hooker
reorganized the army on a plan more consistent
with his own ideas than the one adopted by his
predecessor. The system of Grand Divisions was
abandoned and corps were reorganized; some corps
commanders were relieved and others {i})pointed to

80

fill the vacancies. The cavalry, which up to this
time had had no organization as a corps, was con-
solidated under Gen. Stoneman, and soon became,
under his able leadership, the equals, if not the
superiors, of the vaunted horsemen of the South,
In these changes the sharp shooters found them-
selves assigned to the first division of the Third
Corps, under Gen. Sickles. The division was com-
manded by Gen. Whipple, and the brigade by Gen.
De Trobriand. The detachments were called in
and the regiment was once more a unit. Under
Gen. Hooker's system the army rapidly improved
in morale and spirit; he instituted a liberal system
of furloughs to deserving men, and took vigorous
measures against stragglers and men absent w^ith-
out leave, of whom there were at this time an
immense number — shown by the official rolls
to be above eighty thousand. Desertion, which
under Burnside had become alarmingly prevalent,
was substantially stopped; and by the 1st of April
the tone and discipline of the army was such as to
fairly warrant Hooker's proud boast that it was
**the grandest army on the planet."

The sharp shooters parted v/ith their comrades
of the Fifth Corps with regret. They had been
identified with it since its organization, while
the army lay before Yorktown, in April of 1862;
they had shared with it splendid triumphs and
bitter defeats; they had made many warm friends
among its officers and men, with vvdiom they were
loth to part. Of the ofiicei's of the Third Corps
they knew nothing, but they took their i)lace in

81

its ranks, confident tliiit their stout soldiersliip
would win for tlieni the respect and esteem of
tlieir new comrades, even as it had that of the
friends tliey were leaving. Gen. De Trobriand,
their new brigade commander, was at first at object
of special aversion. Foreign officers were at that
time looked upon with some degree of suspicion
and dislike, and perhaps the foreign sound of the
name, together with the obnoxious prefix, had an
undue and improper influence in the minds of the
new comers. However it came about, the men
were accustomed to speak of their superior officer
as Gen. *'Toejam,"' '^Frog Eater," and various other
disrespectful ai)pellations, much to his chagrin and
discomfiture. Later, however, wlien they became
better acquainted, they learned to liave a mutual
respect and esteem for each other and two years
later, when they parted company finally, the gen-
eral issued to them a farewell address more than
usually complimentary, as will be seen further on.
Indeed, long before that time and on the field of
actual and bloody battle he paused in front of the
line of the regiment to say to them: ^^ Men, you
may call me Frofj Eater now if you like, or by
whatever name you like better, if you will only
always fight as you do to-day." The sharp shoot-
ers 2)assed the winter months in comparative inac-
tion except for the ordinary routine of drills,
inspections, etc., incident to winter (juarters;
they took part in all tlic grand reviews and i)arades
for whicl) Hooker was somewliat famous, and wliich,
if somewhat fatiguing to the nuMi and smacking
G

82

somewhat of pomp and circumstance, had at least
the effect of showing to each portion of the great
army what a magnificent body they really were,
thus adding. to the confidence of the whole.

On the twenty-first of February First Lieut.
Bronson resigned, and was succeeded by Lieut. E.
W. Hindes, while, in deference to the unanimous
petition of the company, Sergt. C. D. Merriman
was promoted second lieutenant, both commissions
to date from February 21, 1863. The roster of the
company now stood as follows:

Captain ,

First Lieutenant,
Second Lieutenant,
First Sergeant,
Second Sergeant, -
Third Sergeant,
Fourth Sergeant,
Fifth Sergeant, -
First Corporal,
Second Corporal,
Third Corporal, -
Fourth Corporal,
Fifth Corporal,
Sixth Corporal, -
Seventh Corporal, •
Eighth Corporal,

C. W. Seaton.

E. W. Hindes.

C. D. Merriman.

H. E. Kinsman.

A. H. Cooper.

Cassius Peck.
Edward F. Stevens.
Lewis J. Allen.
Paul M. Thompson.
Ai Brown.
L. D. Grover.
Cbas. M. Jordan.
E. M. Hosmer.
Edward Trask.

W. H. Leach.

M. Cunninofham.

The winter was not altogether devoted to sober
work. Sports of various kinds were indulged in, one
of the most popular being snowball fights between
regiments and brigades. Upon one occasion after
a sharp conflict between the first and second regi-

83

ments of sliarp shooters, tlic former captured the
regimenlal colors of tlie hitter, and for a short time
some little ill feel iiiir between the regiments existed,
a feeling which soon wore away, however, with the
opening of the spring campaign.

On the 5th of April the first regiment had
a grand celebration to mark the anniversary of the
advance on Yorktown where the sharp shooters
were for the first time under rebel fire. Taro-et
shooting, foot races, jumping and wrestling were
indulged in for small prizes. Jacob S. Badey of
Co. F won the wrestling match against all comers
and Edward Bartomey, also of Company F, won the
two hundred yards running race in twenty-eight
and one-half seconds. In the shooting test the
Vermonters were unfortunate, the prize going to
Samuel Ingling of Michigan. Gen. Whipple, the
division commander, accompanied by several ladies
who were visiting friends in camp, were interested
spectators of the games. As the season advanced
and the roads became settled and passable, prepa-
rations ])egan on all sides for an active campaign
against the enemy. " Fighting Joe Hooker " htd
inspired the army with much of his own confi-
dence and faith in the future, and it was believed
by the troops that at last they had a commander
worthy in every respect of the magnificent army
he was called to command.

84
CHAPTER IV.

CHAXCELLORSVILLE.

On the 28tli of April the Third Corps, to which
the sharp shooters were now attached, moved down
the river to a point some five miles below Fal-
mouth to support Sedgwick's command which was
ordered to cross the Rapahannock at or near the
point at which Gen. Franklin had crossed his Grand
Division at the battle of Fredericksburgh.

Some days prior to this all surplus clothing and
baggage had been turned in. Eight days rations
and sixty rounds of ammunition w^ere now issued,
and the '^finest army on the planet" was foot
loose once more. Sedgwick's crossing was made,
however, without serious opposition, and on the
thirtieth the Third Corps, making a wide detour
to the rear to avoid the notice of the watchful
enemy, turned northward and on the next day
crossed the river at United States ford and took its
place in the lines of Chancellorsville with the rest
of the armv. This cTcat battle has been so often
described and in such minute detail that it is not
necessary for us to attempt a detailed description
of the movements of the different corps engaged,
or indeed proper, since this purports to be a his-
tory of the marches and battles of only one small
company out of the thousands there engaged. It
will be remembered that the regiment was now
attached to the Third Corps, commanded by Gen.
Sickles,, the First Division under Gen. Whipple and

So

tlie Third Brigade, Gen. De Trobriand. At eleven
o'clock A. M. on this day, being the first of May,
the battle proper commenced, although severe and
continuous skirmishing had been going on ever
since the first troops crossed the river on the
29tli of April. The Third Corps was held in
reserve in rear of the Chancellorsville house,
having arrived at that point at about the time that
the assaulting columns moved forward to the attack.
Almost instantly the fighting became furious and
deadly. The country was covered with dense
undergrowth of stunted cedars, among and over
which grew heavy masses of the trailing vines
which grow so luxuriantly in that portion of Vir-
ginia, and which renders the orderly passage of
troops well nigh impossible. To add to the diffi-
culties which beset the attacking forces, it was
impossible to see what was in front of them; hence
the first notice of the presence of a rebel line of
battle was a volley delivered at short range directly
in the faces of the Ifnion soldiers, whose presence
and movements were unavoidably made plain to
the concealed enemy by the noise made in forcing
a passage through the tangled forest. Nothwith-
standing these disadvantages the Fifth Corps, with
which the sharp shooters had so recently parted,
struck the enemy at about a mile distant from
the position now held by the Third Corps, and
drove them steadily back for a long distance until,
having passed far to the front of the general line,
Meade found his fiank suddenly attacked and was
forced to retire. Other columns also met the

86

enemy at about the same distance to the front and
met with a like experience, gaining, however, on
the whole, substantial ground during the after-
noon; and so night closed down on the first day of
the battle.

On the morning of the 2d of May a division
of the Third Corps was detached to hold a gap in
the lines between the Eleventh and Twelfhh Corps
which Gen. Hooker thought too weak. The
sharp shooters, however, remained with the
main column near the Chancellorsville house.
Early on this day the Confederate Gen. Jackson
commenced that wonderful flank march which
resulted in the disaster to the Eleventh Corps on
the right, later in the day. This march, carefully
masked as it was, was, nevertheless, observed by
Hooker, who at first supposed it the commence-
ment of a retreat on the part of Lee to Gordons-
ville, and Gen. Sickles was ordered with the two
remaining divisions of his corps to demonstrate in
that direction and act as circumstances should
determine. In this movement Birney's division
had the advance, tlie first division, under Whip-
ple, being in support of Birney's left flank.
The sharp shooters were, however, ordered to
report to Gen. Birney, and were by him placed in
the front line as skirmishers, although their
deployment was at such short intervals that it was
more like a single rank line of battle than a line of
skirmishers. Sickles started on his advance at
about one o'clock p. m., his formation being as
above described. Eapidly pressing forward, the

87

sluirp shooters passed out of tlie dense thickets
into a companitivel}' oi)en country, where they
could at least breathe more freely and see a little
of what was before them. They soon struck a line
of rebels in position on the crest of a slight eleva-
tion, and brisk liring commenced; the advance,
however, not being checked, they soon cleared the
hill of the enemy and occupied it themselves.
Changing front to the left, the regiment moved
from this position obliquely to the southeast, and
soon found themselves opposed to a line which had
evidently come to stay. The fighting here was
very severe and lasted for a considerable time.
The rebels seemed to have a desire to stay the
advance of the Union troops at that particular
point, and for some particular reason, which was
afterwards made apparent.

After some minutes of brisk tiring, the sharp
shooters, by a sudden rush on their ilank, succeeded
in compelling the surrender of the entire force,
Avhich was found to consist of tlie Twcnty-tliird
Georgia regiment, consisting of three hundi-ed and
sixty ofiicers and men, which had been charged by
Jackson svitli the duty of preventing any advance
of the Union trooi)S at this point wliich migiit
discover his march towards Hooker's rigiil,
hence the tenacity with whicli tliey clung to the
position.

In this affair Co. F lost Edward Trask and
A. D. Griftin, wounded.

The obstruction having been tlius removed, the
Third Corps, led by the sharp shooters, pressed

88

raj)idly forward to the southward as far as Hazel
Grove, or the old furnace, some two miles from
the place of starting, and far beyond any support-
ing column which could be de23ended on for early
assistance should such be needed. It had now
become apparent to all that Jackson, instead of
being in full retreat as had been supposed, was in
the full tide of one of the most violent offensives
on record; and at five o'clock p. m. Sickles Avas
ordered to attack his right flank and thus check
his advance on the exposed right of the army.
But at about the same time Sickles found that he
was himself substantially cut off from the army,
and that it would require the most strenuous efforts
to prevent the capture or destruction of his own
command. Furthermore, before he could make
his dispositions and march over the ground neces-
sary to be traversed before he could reach Jack-
son's right, that officer had struck his objective
point, and the rout of the Eleventh Corps was
complete. The most that Sickles could now do,
under the circumstances, was to fight his own way
back to his supports, and to choose, if possible,
such a route as would place him, on his arrival, in
a position to check Jackson's further advance and
afford the broken right wing an opportunity to
rally and regain their organization, which w^as
hopelessly, as it appeared, lost. In the darkness
and gloom of the falling night, with unloaded
muskets (for in this desperate attempt the bayonet
only was to be depended upon), the two divisions of
the Third Corps set their faces northwardly, and

89

l)rcssed their way tliroiigh tlic taiii^led undergrowth
to the rescue of the endangered right wing.

As usual, the sliarp shooters liad the advance,
and received the first volley from the concealed
enemy. They had received no especial orders con-
cerning the use, solel}^, of the bayonet, and were at
once engaged in a close conflict under circumstances
in which their only superiority over troops of the
line consisted in the advantage of the rapidity of fire
afforded by their breech loaders over the muzzle
loading rifles opposed to them. Closely su})ported
by the line of Birney's division, and firing as they
advanced at the flashes of the opposing guns (for
they could see no more), they pushed on until they
were fairly intermingled with the rebels, and in
many individual instances, a long distance inside
the enemy's line, every man fighting for himself —
for in this confused melee, in the dense jungle and
in tlie intense darkness of the night, no supervision
could be exercised by officers and many shots were
fired at distances no greater than a few feet. So
they struggled on until, with a hurrah aiul a grand
rush, Birney's gallant men dashed foi'ward with
the bayonet alone, and after ten minutes of hand
to hand fighting, they succeeded in retaking the
plank road, and a considerable portion of the line
held by the left of the Eleventh Corps in the early
portion of the day and lost in the tremeiulous
charge of Jackson's corps in the early evening.
Sickles luid cut his way out, and more, lie was now
in a position to afford the much needed aid to those
who so sorely required it. ]5oth parties had fought

90

to the point of exhaustion, and were glad to sus-
pend operations for a time for this cause alone,
even had no better reasons offered. But the Union
army was no longer in a position for offense; the
extreme left, with which we have had nothing to
do, had been so heavily pressed during the after-
noon that it had been with difficulty that a disaster
similar to the one which had overtaken the right
had been prevented on that flank, and in the
center, at and about Hazel Grove and the furnace,
which had been held by Sickles, and from which he
had been ordered to the support of the right as we
have seen, an absolute gap existed, covered by no
force whatevei". This, then, was the situation,
briefly stated.

The left was barely able to hold its own, the
center was absolutely abandoned, and the right had
been utterly routed. In this state of affairs the
Union commander was in no mood for a further
offense at that time. On the other hand, the con-
trolling mind that had conceived, and thus far
had successfully carried out this wonderful attack
which had been so disastrous to the Union army,
and which bade fair to make the Southern Con-
federacy a fact among the nations, had been
stricken down in the full tide of its success. Stone-
wall Jackson had beei wounded at about nine
o'clock by the tire of his own men. He had
passed beyond the lines of his pickets to recon-
noiter the Union j^osition, and on his return with
his staff they were mistaken by his soldiers for a
body of federal cavalry and he received three wounds

from the effects of wliich lie died iibout a week
later. So fell a man who was perha})s as fine a
type of stout American soldiership as any produced
on either side during the Mar.

The sharp shooters, with the remnant of the
Third Corps, passed the remainder of the night on
the plank road near Dowdall's tavern. Co. F had
left their knapsacks and blankets under guard
near the Chancellorsville house when they advanced
from that point in the morning, as had the rest of
the regiment. Under these circumstances little
sleep or rest could be expected even had the enemy
been in less close proximity. But with the rebel
pickets hardly thirty yards distant, and firing at
every thing they saw or heard, sleep was out of the
question. So passed the weary night of the dis-
astrous 2d of May at Chancellorsville.

During the night Gen. Hooker, no longer on the
offensive, had been busily engaged in laying out
and fortifying a new line on which he might hope
more successfully to resist the attack which all
knew must come at an early hour on the morning
of the third. On the extreme left the troops were
withdrawn from their advanced positions to a more
comi)act and shorter line i-n front of, and to the
south and east of the Chancellorsville house. The
center, which at sunset was unoccupied by any
considerable body of Union troops, was made
secure; and at daylight Sickles, with the Third
Corps, was ordered to withdraw to a position indi-
cated immediately in front of Fairview, a com-
manding height of land now strongly occupied

92

b}' the Union artilleiy. It was not jiossible, how-
ever, to withdraw so hirge a body of troops from
their advanced position, in the face of so watchful
an eneni}^, without interruption. In fact, even
before the movement had commenced, the enemy
took the initiative and commenced the battle of
that day by a furious attack upon the heights of
Hazel Grove, the position so handsomely won by
the Third Corps on the previous day and from
which they were ordered to the relief of the Elev-
enth Corps at five o'clock on the preceding after-
noon, as we have seen. This height of land com-
manded almost every portion of the field occupied
by the Union army, and from it Sickles' line, as it
stood at daybreak, could be completely enfiladed.
This position was held by an inadequate force for
its defense; indeed, as it was far in advance of the
new line of battle it may be supposed that obser-
vation, rather than defense, was the duty of its
occupants. They made a gallant fight, however,
but were soon compelled to retire Avith the loss of
four guns. The rebel commander, quick to see the
great importance of the position, crowned the hill
with thirty guns which, with the four taken from
the Unionists, poured a heavy fire on all parts of
the line, devoting particular attention to Sickles'
exposed left and rear.

At almost the same period of time the rebels in
Sickles' front made a savage attack on his line*
The men of the Third Corps fought, as they always
fought, stubbornly and well, but, with a force more
than equal to their own in point of numbers,

03

flushed with their success of the previous afternoon
and burning to avenge the fall of Jackson, in theii
front, and this enormous concentration of artillery
hammering away on their defenseless left, they were
at last forced back to the new line in front of
Fairview.

In preparation for the withdrawal contemplated,
and before the rebel attack developed itself, the
sharp shooters had been deployed to the front and
formed a skirmish line to the north of the jdank
road with their left on that highway, and thus
received the first of the rebel attack. They suc-
ceeded in repulsing the advance of the first line
and for half an hour held their ground against
repeated attempts of the rebel skirmishers to dis-
lodge them. The position they held was one of
the utmost importance since it commanded the
plank road which must be the main line of the
rebel approach to Fairview, the key to the new
Union line, and aware of this the men fought on
with a courage and determination seldom witnessed
even in the ranks of that gallant regiment. After
half an hour of this perilous work, the regiment on
their right having given way, the sharp shooters
were ordered to move by the right flank to cover
the interval thus exposed, their own place being
taken by still another body of infantry. Steadily
and coolly the men faced to the right at the sound
of the bugle, and commenced their march-, still
firing as they advanced. Necessarily, however, the
men had to expose themselves greatly in this move-
ment, and as necessarily tlicir own fire was less effec-

94

tive than when delivered coolly from the shelter of
some friendly tree, log or bank which skirmishers
are so prone to seek and so loath to leave. Still the
march was made in good order and in good time,
for the sharp shooters had only just time to fill the
gap when the rebels came on for a final trial for the
mastery. For a long time the green coated rifle-
men clung to their ground and gave, certainly as
good, as they received. But the end of the long
struggle was at hand; the regiment Avhich had
taken the position just vacated by the sharp shoot-
ers was driven in confusion, and to cap the climax
of misfortune, the Union artillery, observing the
withdrawal of other troops, and supposing that all
had been retired, opened a furious fire of canister
into the woods. The sharp shooters were now in a
sad case — before them a furious crowd of angry
enemies, on the left the rebel artillery at Hazel
Grove sweeping their lines from left to right at
every discharge, while, worst of all, from the rear
came the equally dangerous fire of their own friends.
To retreat was as bad as to advance. The ground
to 1:heir right was an unknown mystery and no
hopeful sign came from the left; so taking counsel
from their very desperation they concluded to
remain just there, at least until some reasonable
prospect of escape should present itself. Taking
such cover as they could get, some from the fire of
our own guns and some from those of the rebels,
shifting from side to side of the logs and trees as
the fire came hotter from the one side or from the
other, but always keeping up their own fire in the

95

direction of the enemy, they nuiinluined the
nncMjual tight wntil tin otiicer, sent for tlie pnrpose,
succeeded in stopping the fire of our own guns, and
the sharpshooters willingly withdrew fronni position
sucli as they had never found themselves in before,
and from a scene which no ni<in present will ever
forget.

They were sharply pressed hy the advancing
enemy, but now, being out of the line of the
enfilading fire from Hazel Grove, and no longer
sul)ject to the fire of their own friends, the with-
drawal was made in perfect order, the line halting
at intervals at the sound of the bugle and delivering
well aimed volleys at the enemy, now fully exposed,
and even at times making countercharges to check
their too rapid advance.

In one of these rallies there fell a nnin from
another company whose death as well deserves to
be remembered in song as that of the *' Sleeping
Sentinel." He had been condemned to death by
the sentence of a court martial, and was in confine-
ment awaiting the execution of the sentence when
the army left camp at Falmouth at the outset of
the campaign. In some manner he managed to
escape from his guards, and joined his company on
the evening of the second day's fight. Of course it
was irregular, and no precedent for it could pos-
sibly be found in the army regulations, but men
were more valuable on that field than in the giuird
house; perhaps, too, his captain hoped that he
might, in the furor of the battle, realize his own
expressed wish that he might mccf his fate there

96

instead of at llie hands of a firing party of the pro-
vost guard, and thus, by an honorable death on the
battle field, efface to some extent the stain on his
character. However it was, a rifle was soon found
for him (rifles without owners were plenty on that
field), and he took his place in the ranks. During
all of that long forenoon's fighting he was a marked
man. All knew his history, and all watched to see
him fall; for while others carefully availed them-
selves of such shelter as the field afforded, he alone
stood erect and in full view of the enemy. Many
times he exhausted the cartridges in his box, each
time rei:)Jenishing it from the boxes of his dead or
wounded companions. He seemed to bear a
charmed life; for, while death and wounds came
to many who would have avoided either, the bul-
lets passed him harmless by. At last, however, in
one of the savage conflicts when the sharp shooters
turned on the too closely following enemy, this
gallant soldier, with two or three of his compan-
ions, came suddenly upon a small party of rebels
who had outstripped tlieir fellows in the ardor of
the pursuit; he, being in the advance, rushed upon
them, demanding their surrender. *^Yes," said
one, "we surrender," but at the same time, as

lowered his gun, the treacherous rebel

raised his, and the sharp shooter fell, shot through
the heart. He spoke no Avord, but those who
caught the last glimpse of his face, as they left him
lying where he fell, knew that he had realized
his highest hope and wish, and that he died con-
tent. The se(|uel to this sad personal history

brings into tender recollection the memor^■ of that
last and noblest martyr to the cause of the Union
President Lincoln. The case was brought to hi's
notice by those wlio felt that the stain upon the
memory of this gallant, true hearted soldier ,.as
"0 fully effaced, even by his noble self-sacrifice
and would not be while the records on the book^
stood so black against him. The President was
never appealed to in vain when it was possible for
him to bo merciful, and, sitting down, he wrote
11 his own hand a full and free pardon, dating
It as of the morning of that eventful 3d of Mav
and sent it to the widow of the dead soldier in I

ithifr '-^--"-'-- this that made
Abiaham Lincoln so loved by the soldiers of the
Union. They respected the President, but Abra-
ham Lincoln— the man— was loved.

Upon the arrival of the retreating riflemen at
the new hne .n front of Fairview, they found their
division, the main portion of which had of
course, preceded them, in line of battle in rear of
the slight defenses which had been thrown up at
that point where they enjoyed a brief period of
much needed repose, if a short respite from actual
personal encounter could be called repose Thev
were still under heavy artillery fire, while musketry
was incessant and very heavy only a short distance
away, the air above their heads being alive at
times with everything that kill.s. Yet so great' was
their fatigue, and so c,uiet and restful their position
in comparison with what it had been for so Ion. a
tnne, tjiat, after receiving rations and a fresh

98

supply of ammunition for their exhausted boxes,
officers and men alike lay down on the ground,
and most of them enjoyed an hour of refreshing
sleep. So

" Use dotli breed a liabit in a man."
Their rest was not of long duration, however,
for the rebels made a desperate and savage attack
on the line in their front and the Third Corps
soon found itself again engaged. The enemy,
under cover of their artillery on the high ground
at Hazel Grove, made an assault on what was now
the front of the Union line, (if it could be said to
have a front,) while the force which the sharp
shooters had so long held in check during the
early part of the day made a like attack on that
line now the right of the entire army. So heavy
was the attack, and so tenaciously sustained, that
the Union troops were actually forced from their
lines in front and on tlie flank of Fairview, and the
hill was occupied by the rebels, wlio captured, and
held for a time, all the Union guns on that emi-
nence. It was at this stage of affairs that the
Third Corps was again called into action, and
charging the somewhat disorganized enemy they
retook the hill with the captured guns, and follow-
ing up the flying rebels, they drove them to, and
beyond the position they had occupied in the
morning. Here, however, meeting with a fresh
line of the enemy and being brought to a check,
they were ordered again to retire; for Hooker, by
this time intent only upon getting his army safely
back across the river, had formed still anocher

99

now Vme near to, and coverino-, the bridges and
fords by which alone could he pUice his forces ih
a position of even conii)ai'ativc safety. To this
line then the Third Corps, with the tired and deci-
mated sharp shooters, retired hite in the afternoon,
hoping and praying for a respite from their terri-
ble hibors. For a little time it looked, indeed, as
if their hopes would be realized, Init as darkness
drew on the corps commander, desiring to occupy
a wooded knoll at some little distance from his
advanced picket line, and from which he antici-
pated danger, ordered Gen. Whipple, to who^e
division the sharp shooters had been returned, to
send a brigade to occupy it. Gen. Whipple
replied that he had one regiment who were alone
e(pial to the task and to whom he would entrust
It, and ordered the sharp shooters to attempt it.

Between this wooded hill and the i)osition from
which the regiment must charge was an open field
about one hundred yards in width wiiich was to be
crossed under what might prove a destructive fire
from troops already occupying the coveted posi-
tion. It was a task requiring the most undaunted
courag.3 and desperate endeavor on the part of men
who had already been for two full days and nights
in the very face of the enemy, and they felt that^'the
attempt might fairly have been assigned to a portion
of the forty thousand men who, up to that time, had
been held in reserve by Gen. Hooker for some inscru-
table purpose, and who had not seen the face of an
enemy, much less fired a shot at them; but they
formed for the assault with cheerful alacrity. To

221()13B

100

Co. F was assigned the lead, and marching out
into the open field they deployed as regularly as
though on tlieir old drill ground at camp of instruc-
tion. Corps, brigade and division commanders
were looking on, and the men felt that now, if never
before, they must show themselves worthy sons of
the Green Mountain state. Led by their officers,
they dashed out into the plain closely supported
by the rest of the regiment. Night was rapidly
coming on, and in the gathering gloom objects
could hardly be distinguished at a distance of a
hundred yards. Half the open space was crossed,
and it seemed to the rushing men that their task
was to be accomplished without serious obstruc-
tions, when, from the edge of the woods in front,
came a close and severe volley betraying the pres-
ence of a rebel line of battle; how strong could
only be judged by the firing, which was so heavy,
however, as to indicate a force much larger than
the attacking party. On went the brave men of
Co. F, straight at their work, and behind them
closely followed the supporting force. In this
order they reached the edge of the forest when the
enemy, undoubtedly supposing from the confi-
dence with which the sharp shooters advanced
that the force was much larger than it really was,
broke and fied and the position was won.

From prisoners and wounded rebels captured in
that night attack it was learned that the force which
had thus been beaten out of a strong position by
this handful of men was a portion of the famous
Stonewall brigade, Jackson's earliest command.

101

and they asserted that it was the first time in the
history of the brigade that it had ever been driven
from a chosen position. Tlie sharp shooters were
justly elated at their success and the more so when
Gen. Whipple, riding over to the point so gallantly
won, gave them unstinted praise for their gallant
action. In this affair the regiment lost many gal-
lant officers and men, among whom were Lieut.
Brewer of Co. C and Capt. Chase, killed, and
Major Hasting and Adjt. Horton, wounded. In
Co. F Michael Cunningham, J. S. Bailey and E.
M. Hosnier were wounded.

Major Hastings had not been a popular officer
with the command. Although a brave and capa-
ble man, he was of a nervous temperament, and in
the small details of camp discipline was apt to be
over zealous at times. He had, therefore, incurred
the dislike of many men, who were wont to apply
various opprobrious epithets to him at such times
and under such circumstances as made it extremely
unpleasant for him. Such were the methods
adopted by some soldiers to make it comfortable for
officers to whom they had a dislike.

In the case of the Major, however, this was a
thing of the past. On this bloody field the men
learned to respect their officer, and he, as he was
borne from the field, freely forgave the boys all
the trouble and annoyance they had caused him,
in consideration of their gallant bearing on that
day. Adjt. Horton, also a brave and efficient
officer, received a severe wound — which afterwards

102

cost him his good right arm— while using the rifle
of J. S. Bailey of Co. F, who had been wounded.

Co. F, which, it will be remembered, had been
acting as skirmishers, were- pushed forward in
advance of the main portion of the regiment to
further observe the movements of the enemy and
to guard against a surprise, and shortly afterwards
were moved by the flank some two hundred yards
to the right, and were soon after relieved by a force
of infantry of the line which had been sent up for
that purpose. While retiring toward the position
to which they were directed, they passed nearly
over the same ground which they had just vacated
when they moved by the right flank, as previously
mentioned, and received from the concealed rebels,
v\^lio had reoccupied the line, a severe volley at close
range. Facing to the right, Co. F at once charged
this new enemy and drove them m confusion from
the field. Lying down in this advanced position
they passed the remainder of the night in watchful
suspense.

At day break on the fourth day of the battle,
Co. F was relieved from its position on the picket
line and returned to the regiment, which was
deployed as skirmishers, and led the van of Whip-
ple's division in a charge to check movements of
the enemy, which had for their apparent object the
interposition of a rebel force between the right
wing of the army and its bridges. Firing rapidly
as they advanced, and supiDorted by the division
close on their heels, they drove the enemy from
their rifle pits, which were occupied by the infantry

103

of tlie Third Corp.s, tlie sliar}) shooters being still
in front. Here they remained, exchanging occa-
sional shots with the rebel sharp shooters as occasion
offered, for some hours. Hooker was not minded
to force the fighting at Chancellorsville; preferring
to await the result of Sedgwick's Ijattle at Salem
Church, which had raged furiously on the preced-
ing afternoon until darkness put an end to the
strife, and the tell tale guns of which even now
gave notice of further effort.

Lee, however, pugnacious and aggressive, deter-
mined to renew his attack on the right, and, if
possible, secure the roads to the fords and bridges
by which alone could the defeated army regain the
north bank of the river. With this view he recn-
forced Jackson's (now Stuart's) corps, and organ-
ized a powerful attack on the position of the Third
Corps. The force of the first onset fell on the
sharp shooters, who fought with their accustomed
gallantry, but were forced by the w^eight of num-
bers back to the main line. Here the fighting was
severe and continuous. The one party fighting
for a decisive victory, and the other, alas, only
bent on keeping secure its last and only line of
retreat; but the incentive, i)oor as it was, was
sufficient, and the rebels were unable to break the
line. After four hours of continued effort they
abandoned the assault and (juiet once more \n-c-
vailed. In this fight Gen. Wliii)ple, the division
commander, was killed. He was a gallant and an
able soldier, greatly beloved by his men for the
kindliness of his disposition. He had an especial

104

liking for and confidence in the sharp shooters,
which was fully understood and appreciated by
them, and they felt his death as a personal loss.

To add to the horrors of this bloody field, on
which lay nearly nine thousand dead and wounded
Union soldiers and nearly or quite as many rebels,
the woods took fire and hundreds of badly wounded
men, unable to help themselves, and hopeless of
succor, perished miserably in the fierce flames.
Nothing m the whole history of the war is more
horrible than the recollection of those gallant men,
who had been stricken down by rebel bullets,
roasted to death in the very presence of their com-
rades, impotent to give them aid in their dire dis-
tress and agony.

"Oh, happy dead who early fell/'
It was reserved for the wounded to experience the
agonies of a ten-fold death. Hour after hour the
conflagration raged, until a merciful rain quenched
it and put an end to the horrible scene. The Third
Corps remained in their position during the night,
the sharp shooters, oddly enough as it seemed to
them, with a strong line of infantry behind works
between them and the enemy. Nothing occurred
to break their repose, and for the first time for
seven days they enjoyed eight hours of solid sleep
unbroken by rebel alarms.

At day break on the morning of the 5th of May
they^were aroused by the usual command of * 'sharp
shooters to the front," and again found themselves
on the picket line confronting the enemy. The
day i^assed, however, without serious fighting, one

105

or two iittacks being nuide by rebel skirmisliers,
more, apparently, to ascertain if the Union troops
-were actually there than for any more serious
business.

These advances were easily repulsed by the
sharp shooters without other aid, and at nine
o'clock P. M., after seventeen hours of continuous
duty without rations — for the eight days rations
with which they started from their camp at Fal-
mouth had long since been exhausted, and the
scanty supply they had received on the afternoon
of the third was barely enough for one meal — they
were relieved and retired to the main line. The
company lost on this day but one man, Martin C.
Laffie, shot through the hand. Laffie was })erma-
nently disabled by his wound, and on tlie 1st of
the following August was transferred to the Invalid
Corps and never rejoined the company. Several
prisoners were captured by the men of Co. F on that
day, but on the whole it was, as compared with the
days of the preceding week, uneventful. On the
6th the army recrossed the Rapahannock by the
bridges which had been preserved by the stubborn
courage of the Third Corps, and the battle of
Chancellorsville passed into history. The sharp
shooters returned to their old camp at Falmouth
as they had returned to the same camp after the
disastrous battle of Fredericksburgh. It seemed
as though they were fated never to leave that ground
to fight a successful battle. Only eight days before
they had marched out with buoyant anticipations.

106

full of courage and full of hope. They returned
discouraged and dispirited beyond description.

At Fredricksburgh the army had marched to the
attack without hope or expectation of victory, for
their soldiers' instinct told them that that was
impossible. At Chancellorsville, however, they felt
that they had everything to hope for — a magnifi-
cent army in full health and high spirits, an able
and gallant commander, for such he had always
shown himself to be, and a fair field. The thickets
of the wilderness, it is true, were dense and well nigh
impassable for them, but they were as bad for the
enemy as for themselves, and they had felt that
on anything like a fair field they ought to win.
Now they found themselves just where they started;
tliey had left seventeen thousand of their comrades
dead, or worse than dead, on the field, and fourteen
guns remained in the hands of. the rebels as trophies
of their victory; guns, too, that were sure to be
turned against the federals in the very next battle.
Twenty thousand stand of suiall arms were also
left on the field to be gathered up by the victors.
It was a disheartening reflection, but soldier-like
the men put it from their thoughts and turned
their minds and hands to the duties and occupations
of the present. In this battle Co. F lost Edward
Trask, Jacob S. Bailey, Almon D. Griffin, Martin
C. Laffie and John Monahan, wounded, besides
several more whose names do not now occur to the
writer. Bailey had been previously wounded at
Malvern Hill and on this occasion his wound necessi-
tated the amputation of his left arm, and he was

107

honorably discharged from the service on the
twenty-sixth of the followino; August. Monalian
w^s transferred to t]ie Invalid Corps and CJrifhn
returned to his coni})any and remained with it to be
honorably mustered out by reason of ex})iration of
term of service, on the 13th of September, 1804.
Trask returned to his company to serve with it
until the 5th of May, 1804, when he was killed in
the battle of the Wilderness.

CHAPTER V.

GETTYSBURGir TO THE WILDEKXESS.

From the date of their return from the field of
Chancellorsville to the 11th of June, the sharp
shooters remained in camp near Falmouth eno^aged
only in the nsul routine duties of camp life.
Drills, reviews and other parades of ceremony
were of frequent occurence, but nothing of moment
took place to essentially vary the monotony of their
lives. Occasionally a detail would be made from
the company for a day or two of especial service at
some portion of the picket line where the rebel sharp
shooters had become unusually aggressive, but
affairs in those parts generally soon became satis-
factory, and the men would be ordered back to
camp. These little episodes were eagerly welcomed
by men tired again of the inactivity of their lives
in permanent camp. During this time, however,

108

important changes in the organization of the com-
pany took phace. Capt. Seaton, wlio had never
entirely recovered from the effects of his wo^nd
received at Malvern Hill, resigned on the 15th day
of May, and E. W. Hindes was appointed and com-
missioned captain. C. D, Merriman was promoted
to be first lieutenant and H. E. Kinsman second
lieutenant, the two former to date from May 15,
1863, and the latter from May 26.

The non-commissioned officers were advanced to
rank as follows:

First Sergeant, - - Lewis J. Allen.

Second Sergeant, - A. H. Cooper.

Third Sergeant, - - Cassius Peck.

Fourth Sergeant, - Paul M. Thompson.

Fifth Sergeant, - - Edward F. Stevens.

First Corporal, - Jacob S. Bailey.

Second Corporal, - L. D. Grover.

Third Corporal, - Chas. M. Jordan.

Fourth Corporal, - E. M. Ilosmer.

Fifth Corporal, - Edward Trask.

Sixth Corporal, - - W. H. Leach.

Seventh Corporal, - M. Cunningham.

Eighth Corporal, - - Edward Lyman.

The new officers had been connected v/ith the
company from its organization; they were all roll
of honor men, straight up from the ranks, and
were men of distinguished courage and skill, as
they had demonstrated already on at least fifteen
occasions upon which the Army of tl>e Potomac
had been engaged in pitched battles with the
enemy, besides numberless minor engagements and

109

skirmishes. Indeed, tlieir lives miglit be said to
liave been i)assed, for the year and a lialf tliey liad
been in the field, in constant battle, and tiic same
was true of every man in the company as well.
The month of June was, however, destined to
bring with it hard marches and stirring events.

Not content with the results of the Maryland
campaign of 18G2, which had resulted in a disas-
trous rebel defeat at Antietam, Lee, perhaps recog-
nizing the historical fact that a power which allows
itself to be placed entirely on the defensive is sure
to be beaten in the end, determined to essay once
more an invasion of the loyal states, and to transfer
the seat of war, if possible, from the impoverished
and suffering South, to the soil of populous and
wealthy Pennsylvania.

His route was substantially the same one pursued
by him the previous year, but not now, as on that
occasion, Avas the severe fighting to take i)lace on
the soil of Virginia.

By skillful feints and rapid marches, he suc-
ceeded in placing his army north of the Potomac
before the Union commander could strike a
blow at him. Early in the month it was
certain that Lee was about to take the field in some
direction. Sick and wounded were sent to northern
hospitals, all surplus baggage and stores were turned
in, and the Union army, stripped of everything
but what the men carried on tlieir persons, was
ready to follow or to confront him. On the 11th
of June the sharp shooters broke camp at five
o'clock p. M., and, for the third time, marched out

110

from the ground that had been their home foi*
nearly seven months. Twice before had they left
the same place to fight desperate battles with
the same enemy, and twice had they returned
to it, defeated and despondent. Many a man, as
the regiment marched out, wondered in his heart
if such would be their fate again; but soldiers are
optimists by nature and education; they soon learn
that to fear and dread defeat is to invite it; that
confidence begets confidence, and that the example
of courage and cheerfulness is contagious. Not for
a long time, therefore, did these gloomy thoughts
possess their minds, and soon they were stepping
out merrily to the sound of the bugle.

Other portions of the army lia,d preceded them,
and still others were starting by different roads;
and as far as the eye could reach, as the columns
passed over some height of land, could be seen the
clouds of dust that, rising high in the air, betrayed,
the presence of marching men. Pressing rapidly
northward, passing successively Hartwood church,
Eapahannock Station, Catlet's Station, Manassas
Junction, Centerville and Green Springs — all
familiar as the scenes of past experience, and
many of them sacred to the memory of dead com-
rades— they forded the Potomac at Edwards' Ferry
on the 25th of June and reached the mouth of the
Monocacy, having marched thirty-one miles on
that. day. Arriving at that point, tired and foot-
sore, as may be imagined after such a march, they
found an aide-de-camp ordered to conduct them to
their allotted camp ground. He aj")peared to be

Ill

one of tliose nice younfij men who were so often
jip})ointed to positions on the stall. for their beauty
or their fragrance, or for the general elegance of
manners, rather than for their ability to be of any
real service. This young person, with no apparent
idea of where he wanted to go, marched them up
and down and around and about, until the patience
of Trepp, the Dutch lieutenant-colonel, was
exhausted. Commanding halt, he turned to the
bewildered aide and w^th phrases and objurgations
not fitted for the polite ears of tliose who will read
this book, concluded his lecture with "Now mine
frent, dese men is tired and dey is to march no
more dis day," then, turning to the regiment, he
commanded, in tones that might have been heard
at Washington, "Men, lie down!" and the sharp
shooters camped just there. Leaving this place on
the twe;ity-sixth, they marched to Point of Kocks,
and on the twenty-seventh to Middletown. On
the twenty-eighth they marched via Frederick and
Walkersville and crossed the Catoctin Mountains at
Turner Gap. On this day the corps commander,
General Sickle?, returned to his command after a
short absence, and on the same day General
Hooker, not being aide to make his ideas of tiie
cami^aign square with those of the department
generals at Washington, was relieved, at his own
request, and General Meade was appointed to the
command. Tiie army parted with Hooker with-
out very much regret. They recognized his won-
derful lighting qualities as a division or corps
commander, and lie was personully po])ular, but

112

tliey had never quite forgiven him for Chancellors-
ville, where he took his army, beaten and well
nigh crushed, back from an enemy numerically
weaker than his own, while he had yet nearly
forty thousand soldiers who had not been engaged
in the action, and hardly under fire. It is safe to
say that his army had no longer that degree of
confidence in his ability to handle large armies,
and to direct great battles, so essential to success.
Of his successor the army only knew that he was a
scholarly, polished gentleman, personally brave, and
that as a brigade, division and corps commander
he had made few mistakes. On the whole, his
record was favorable and the men marched wil-
lingly under him, although the choice of the rank
and file might possibly have been some other man.

On the twenty-ninth the sharp shooters marched
with the corps to Taneytown, some twenty miles
distant, and on the next day to within two miles
of Emmetsburgh, where they camped for the night.
On the morning of July 1st the guns of Reynold's
fight at Gettysburgh were plainly heard, and in the
late afternoon they started for the point of action,
some ten miles distant, making most of the distance
at the double quick.

At about sunset they arrived on the field and
went into bivouac in the rear of the hill known in
the history of the subsequent battle as Little
Eound Top, and were once more confronting their
ancient antagonists. The sharpshooters were now
attached to the second brigade, commanded by
Gen. J. H. H. Ward, of the first division, under

113

Gen. Birney, tlie old tliird division luiving been
consolidated with tlie first and second aft^'er the
terrible losses of the corps at Chancellorsville, and
in this connection we shall have to follow them
throngh the battle of Gettysbnrgh. The battle of
the 1st of July was over. The First and Eleventh
Corps had sustained a serious defeat, and at the
close of that day the rolls of these two corps showed
the terrible loss of over nine thousand men, and
yet the battle had hardly commenced. The situa-
tion was not an eiicouraging one to contemplate;
not half the Union army was up, some corps being
yet thirty or forty miles distant, while the event's
of the day showed that the rebel army was well
concentrated— but the die was cast, events forced
the battle then and there, and thus the rocky
ridges of Gettysburgh became of historic interest
and will remain so forever.

Troops arrived rapidly during the night and
were assigned places, as they arrived, in the chosen
line, which was in a direction nearlv north and
south. The extreme left rested on a rockv height
rising some three hundred feet above theleverof
the surrounding country: some five hundred yards
to the north of this hill, called Kound Top, rises a
similar elevation, although of less height, called
Little Konnd Top; thence north to Cemetery Hill,
immediately overlooking the village of Gettysburgh
about two miles distant, the Union troops occupied,
or were intended to occupy, a rocky ridge over-
looking and commanding the plain to the west-
ward. From Cemetery Hill the line was refused
8

114

and carved backward to the east until the extreme
right rested on a wooded eminence called Gulp
Hill, and fronted to the east, so that the entire
line was some three miles, or perhaps a little more,
long, and was m shape like a fish hook, the shank
lying along the ridge between Round Top and
Cemetery Hill, and the point on Gulp Hill. Below
the bend of the hook, at the base of Gemetery Hill,
lay the village of Gettysburg!!. Such Avas the
Union position at daylight on the morning of the
2d of July, 1863. Fronting that portion of the
federal troops which was faced to the Avest, and at
a distance of about one mile, ran another ridge,
parallel to the first, called Seminary Kidge, and
which was occupied by the Gonfederate army. To
the north and east of Gettysburgh the ground was
open, no ridges or considerable body of wood land
existed to cover or screen the movements of the rebel
troops. The village of Gettysburgh was occupied
by the enemy on the afternoon of the 1st of July
after the defeat of the First and Eleventh Gori^s,
and yet remained in their possession. Midway
between the two armies ran the Emmetsburgh
road, following the crest of a slight elevation
between the two lines of battle. The position
assigned to the Third Gorps was tliat portion of the
line immediately north of Little Round Top where
the ridge is less high than at any other portion.
Indeed, it sinks away at that point until it is
hardly higher than the plain in front, and
not as high as the ridge along Avhich runs the
Emmetsburo-h road. At an early hour on the

115

morning of tlio '2d, Sickles, believing himself
that the hitter ridge afforded the better position,
iind perhaps mistaking Gen. Meade's instructions,
passed down into tlie valley and took up the line of
the Emmetsbnrgh road, his center resting at a point
known in the history of the battle as the "peach
orchard. " From this point his line was prolonged to
the riglit by Humphrey's Division along the road,
wliile liirncy's Division, to which Ward's brigade
with the sharp shooters was attached, formed the left,
which was refused; the angle being at the peach
orchard, and the extreme left resting nearly at the
base of Round To]), at a point known by the alto-
gether suggestive and appropriate name of the Devil's
Den — a name Avell aj^i^lied, for a more desolate,
ghostly place, or one more suggestive of the home
of evil spirits can hardly be imagined. Barren of
tree or shrub, and almost destitute of any green
thing, it seems cursed of God and abandoned of
man.

Pending the deployment of the Third Corps,
four companies of the sharp shooters, F, I, D and
E, with the Third Maine, ii; small regiment of only
two hundred men, were det'iched from Ward's
brigade and ordered to a point in front and to the
right of the peach orchard, where they were
directed to advance to a piece of wooded land on
the west of the Emnietsburgh road and feel for the
enemy at that point. The four companies,
deployed as skirmishers, advanced in a north-
westerly direction, and at about nine o'clock
encountered a strong force of the rebels, consisting

116

of at least one brigade of Longstreet's command,
who, with arms stacked, were busily engaged in
preparing their breakfast when the rifles of the
sharp shooters gave them notice of other em-
ployment. They were taken entirely by surprise,
and quickly perceiving this fact, the riflemen
dashed forward, firing as they pressed on as rapidly
as the breech loaders could be made to work. The
rebels made but a short stand; taken entirely un-
prepared and unaware of the insignificant numbers
of the oncoming force, they seized their guns from
the stack, and, after one or two feeble volleys,
retreated in confusion.

The general in command made a gallant per-
sonal effort to rally his men, but fell dead from
his horse immediately in front of Co. F. The rout
of the enemy at this point was now complete, and
pressing their advantage to the utmost the sharp
shooters drove them back nearly to the main rebel
line on Seminary Ridge, capturing many prisoners
who were sent to the rear, and a large number of
small arms which, however, they were unable to
bring away. Having thus cleared the ground nearly
to the main rebel line, they took position behind
walls, fences, etc., and for the two or three hours
following were engaged in sharp shooting with the
enemy similarly posted in their front. Their posi-
tion was now some distance to the right of the peach
orchard and in front of the right, or rio-ht center,
of Humphrey's Division.

At about half-past three in the afternoon Long-
street commenced his attack on Sickles' extreme

117

left near Kouud Top, tlie buttle soon becoming
very severe also at the angle in the peach orchard
and involving Humphrey further to the right.
The attacking columns had passed to the left
of the sharp shooters and the fighting was now
in their left and rear. The rebels in their
front also l^ecame very aggressive and they were
gradually pushed back until they became inter-
mingled with the troops of Humphrey's Division
posted along the Emmetsburgh road where the
struggle soon became close and deadly. The angle
at the peach orchard was the key to Sickles' line,
and against it Longstreet pushed his best troops in
dense masses, and at this point occurred some of
the hardest fighting that took place on the whole
field; but as the troops whose doings are chronicled
in these pages had no part in that struggle, it is
enough to say that after a gallant resistance the
line was broken at the angle and the shouting
rebels, rushing through the gap, took both portions
of the line in reverse, while both portions were yet
resisting heavy attacks on their fronts. Such a
situation could have but one result — both wings
were compelled to retire in confusion.

Anticipating this, Meade had ordered heavy
supporting columns to be formed behind the crest
of the ridge and these were ordered down to the
relief of the sorely tried Third Corps. Barnes'
Division of tlie Fifth Corps, the same to Avhich the
sharp shooters had l^eeii attached for so long a
time, and in the ranks of which they had fought
in all the battles previous to Fredericksburgh,

118

came gallantly to the rescue, but were unable to
withstand the terrible vigor of the Confederate
assault, and Caldwell's Division of the Second
Corps was also thrown in to check the onset.

These troops fought with the greatest courage
but were defeated with the loss of half the
men engaged. In the mean time Longscreet,
finding the ground between the left of Birney's
Division and the base of Round Top unoccupied,
pushed a force behind the Union left at that point
which succeeded in gaining a portion in the rocky
ravine between the two Round Tops from which
they 25ushed forward to secure the possession of
the lesser elevation, at that moment unguarded.
This was the key to the entire Union line, and
once in the hands of the rebels would probably
decide the battle in their favor. But Warren,
another old Fifth Corps friend, quickly discovered
the danger and ordered Vincent with his brigade
to occupy and defend this important i^oint. The
struggle for its possession was terrible, but victory
perched upon the Union banners and the hill was
made secure. Vincent and Hazlett, both of the
Fifth Corps also, were killed here. They had
been well kno\tn and highly esteemed by many of
the officers and men of the sharp shooters, and by
none were they m-jre sincerely lamented.

Darkness put an end to the battle of July 2d.
Lee had gained considerable ground, for the whole
of the line occupied by the Third Corps was now
in his possession. There yet remained for him to
carry the real line of the federal defenses which

no

was as yet intact. Tlie position taken by Gen.
Sickles liad been intrinsically false, and was one
from whicli he would have been withdrawn with-
out fighting had time allowed. Lee had gained
ground, and that was all, unless the inspiriting
effects of even partial success can be counted.

Many thousa4ids of Union soldiers lay dead and
wounded on the field, and the Army of the Poto-
mac was the weaker by that number of men, buti
Lee had lost an equal, or more likely a greater
number, so that on the whole the result of the day
could not be counted as a substantial gain for the
rebels, and when the federals lay down for the
night, it was with confidence and assurance that
the morrow would bring its reward for the mishaps
of the day. The corps commander. Gen. Sickles,
had been wounded and Gen. Birney succeeded to
the command. Gen. Ward took command of the
division, and thus it came about that Col. Berdan
was in command of the brigade.

Company F had killed on this day Sergeant A.
H. Cooper, and Geo. Woolly and W. H. Leach
wounded. Woolly's wound was severe and resulted
in the loss of his arm. Other companies in the
regiment had suffered more or less severely, the
four companies engaged in front and to the right
of the peach orchard losing twenty men, killed
and wounded, out of the one hundred engaged.

During the night succeeding the 2d of July
the shattered remains of the Third Corps was with-
drawn from the front line and massed behind the
sheltering ridge as a reserve. Its terrible losses of

120

the day, added to those sustained at Chancellors-
ville, had reduced the once powerful corps almost
to the proportions of a brigade. As the troops
stood in line the colors were like a fringe along its
front, so close together were they. The regiments
that defended them were like companies — indeed,
many regiments had not the full number of one
hundred men which is called for on paper by a full
company. The Third Corps was nearly a matter
of history, but the few men left with their colors
were veterans, tried and true, and although they
were not displeased to be relieved from the active
fighting yet in store for the federals, they were
quite ready to stand to arms again whenever it
should please Gen. Meade to so direct. At day-
light the enemy opened a heavy artillery fire all
along the line. The randon nature of the filing
was proof, however, that nothing more serious than
demonstration was intended.

Late at night on the preceding day the rebels
had succeeded in gaining important ground on the
extreme right, and had indeed possessed themselves
of almost the whole of the wooded eminence known
as Gulp's Hill, from which their artillery, should
they be allowed time to get it up, would take
almost the entire Union line in the rear. To
regain this, Geary's Division Avas sent in early in
the day, and after four hours of severe fighting
the rebels were dislodged and the Union right was
restored. Affairs now became quiet and so remained
for some hours — suspiciously quiet indeed, and all
felt that some great effort was about to be made

121

by the Confederates. At about one o'clock a single
gun was fired as a signal from the Confederate lines
near the seminary, and instantly one hundred and
fifteen guns opened on the Union center, which
was held by the First and Second Corps, supported
by all that remained of the Third. Never before
had the Union troops been subjected to such an
artillery fire. Previous to this battle the cannon-
ading at Malvern Hill had always been quoted as
the heaviest of the war. The bombardment of Fred-
ericksburgh had also been on a magnificent scale,
but here the troops were to learn that still further
possibilities existed. Eighty Union guns responded
vigorously, and for two hours these guns— nearly
two hundred in number — hurled their shot and
shell across the intervening plain in countless
numbers. The Union artillery was posted along
the crest of, or just behind the ridge, while the
lines of infantry were below them on the western
slope. The soldiers lay prone on the ground, shel-
tering themselves behind sueli inequalities of the
surface as they could find, well knowing that this
awful pounding was only the precursor of a struggle
at closer quarters, which, if less demonstrative
and noisy, would be more deadly; for experience
had taught them that however frightful to look at
and listen to, the fire of shell at such long range was
not, on the whole, a thing to inspire great fear.
It is a curious fact, however, tliat heavy artillery
fire, long sustained, begets an irresistal)le desire to
sleep; and hundreds of Union soldiers went (piietly

122

to sleep and slept soundly under the soothing influ-
ence of this tremendous lullaby.

At three o'clock the artillery fire ceased, and
from the woods crowning Seminary Kidge, a mile
away, swarmed the grey coated rebels for another
attempt on the federal line. Lee had tried the
left and had failed; he had been partially success-
ful on the right on the preceding evening, but had
been driven back in the morning. It only remained
for him to try the center. In the van of the charging
column came Picket's Division of Virginia troops,
the flower of Lee's army, fresh and eager for the
strife. On his right was Wilcox's brigade of Hill's
corps, and on his left Pender's Division. Could
Picket but succeed in piercing the Union center,
these two supporting columns, striking the line at
points -already shattered and disorganized by the
passage of Picket's command, might be expected
to give way in turn, and the right and left wings of
the federal army would be hopelessly separated.
But others besides Lee saw this, and Meade hastened
to support the points on which the coming storm
must burst with all the troops at his command.
I'he Third Corps was ordered up and took position
on the left of the First, directly opposite the point
at which \Yilcox must strike the line, if he reached
so far. Our artillery, which had been nearly silent
for some time, opened on the oncoming masses as
they reached the Emmetsburgh road with canister
and case shot which made fearful gaps In their
front, but closing steadily on their colors they con-
tinued to advance. Their courage was magnifi-

123

cent and worthy of u better cause. Eiglit Union
batteries, brouglit forward for the purpose, poured
an enfilading fire into the rushing mass, while
Stannard's Second ' Vermont Brigade, far in
advance of the main line, suddenly rose u\) and,
quickly changing front, forward on the right, com-
menced a close and deadly fire directly on their
exposed right flank. Their track over that open
plain was marked by a swath of dead and dying
men as wide as the front of their column; still
they struggled on and some portion of the attack-
ing force actually pieroed the Union line, and the
rebel Gen. Armistead was killed with his hand
upon one of the guns of Wheeler's battery. The
2)oint had been well covered, however, and no
sooner did the rebel standards appear crowning
the stone wall, which was the principal defensive
work, than the troops of the second line were
ordered forward and for a few moments were
engaged in a fierce hand to hand fight over the
wall. The force of the rebel attack was, however,
spent; exhausted by their march of a mile across
the plain in the face of the deadly fire, and with
ranks sadly thinned, the rebels, brave as they
undoubtedly were, were in no shape to long con-
tinue the struggle. They soon broke and fled,
thousands, however, throwing down their arms
and surrendering themselves as prisoners rather
than risk the dangerous passage back to their own
lines, a passage only in a degree less perilous than
the advance.

In the meantime Wilcox, on the right, had

124

pushed gallantly forward to strike the front of the
Third Corps where the sharp shooters had been
posted in advantageous positions to receive him.
They had opened fire when he was some four hun-
dred yards away, too far for really fine shooting at
individual men, but not so laras to prevent consid-
erable execution being done on the dense masses of
men coming on. This attack, however, was not
destined to meet with even the small measure of
success which had attended Picket's assault, for
Col. W. G. Veazey of the Sixteenth Vermont, one
of the regiments of Stannard's Second Vermont
Brigade, which had been thrown forward on the
right flank of Picket's column, seeing that attack
repulsed, and being aware of the appi'oach of
Wilcox in his rear, suddenly counter-marched his
regiment and made a ferocious charge on the left
of Wilcox's column, even as he had just done on
the right of Picket's. The effect w^as instantane-
ous; they faltered, halted, and finally broke.
Launching forward, A^eazey captured many prison-
ers and colors, many more, in fact, than he had
men in his own ranks.

The fighting of the 3d of July now ceased and
the federals had been signally successful. The
morrow was the 4th of July, the birthday of the
nation; would it be. ever after celebrated as the
anniversary of the decisive and closing battle of
the war ? Many hearts beat high at the thought,
and the troops lay on their arms that night full of
hope that the end was at hand.

The repulse of Lee's final assault on the 3d of

125

July had been so complete and crushing, so appar-
ent' to every man on the field, tluit there were
none who did not awake on tlie morning of the
4th with the full expectation that the Army of
the Potomac would at once assume the offensive and
turn the repulse of the last two days into such a
defeat as should insure the utter destruction of
the rebel army. Everything seemed propitious;
Sedgwick's gallant Sixth Corps had arrived late
on the night of the second, and had not been
engaged. The men were fresh and eager to
deliver on the national holiday the death blow to
the rebellion. The troops who had been engaged
during that terrible three days battle were equally
eager, notwithstanding their labors and sufferings,
but Meade was eminently a conservative leader,
and feared to

" Put it to the touch
To win or lose it all."

And so the day was spent in such quiet and rest
as could be obtained by the men. The wounded
were gathered and cared for, rations and ammuni-
tion were issued, and every preparation for further
defense should Lee again attack, or for pursuit
should he retreat, was made. Some rather feeble
demonstrations were made at various point^s but no
fighting of a serious character took place on that
day. The sharp shooters were thrown forward as
far as the peach orchard where they took up a
position which they held during the day, con-
stantly engaged in exchanging shots with the rebel
pickets posted behind the walls and fences in the

126

open field in front of the woods behind which lay
the rebel army. It was of itself exciting and dan-
gerous employment; but, as compared with their
experiences on tlie two jDreceding days, the day
was uneventful. Co. F lost here, however, two
of its faithful soldiers, wounded, L. B. Grover
and Chas. B. Mead. Both recovered and returned
to the company, Grover to be promoted sergeant for
his gallantry on this field, and Mead to die by a
rebel bullet in the trenches at Petersburgh. The
regiment as a whole had suffered severely. The
faithful surgeon, Dr. Brennan, had been severely
wounded while in the discharge of his duty in car-
ing for the wounded on the field, and Capt.
McLean of Co. D was killed.

Many others, wliose names have been lost in the
lapse of years, fell on this bloody field. The fifth
was spent in gathering the wounded and burying
the dead. On the sixth Meade commenced that
dilator]" pursuit which has been so severely criti-
cised, and on the twelfth came up with the rebel
army at Williamsport, where Lee had taken up and
fortified a strong position to await the falling of
the river, a sudden rise of which had carried away
the bridges and rendered the fords impassable.

The army was eager to attack; flushed with their
success, and fully confident of their ability to give
rebellion its death blow, they fairly chafed at the
delay — but Meade favored the cautious policy, and
spent the twelfth and thirteenth in reconnoitering
Lee's position. Having finished this preliminary
work, he resolved on an attack on the fourteenth;

12:

but Lee, liaving completed his bridges, made a
succe.^sful passage of the river, and by eight o'clock
on that morning had his army, witli its trains and
stores, safe on the Virginia side.

On the seventeenth the Third Corps crossed the
river at Harper's Ferry and were once more follow-
ing a defeated and flying enemy up the valley,
over the same route by which they had pursued
the same foe a year before while Hying from Antie-
tani. The pursuit was not vigorous— tlie men
marched leisurely, making frequent halts. It was
in the height of the blackberry season, and the
fields were full of the most delicious specimens.
The men enjoyed them immensely, and, on a diet
composed largely of this fruit, the lieuUh of the
men improved rapidly.

On the nineteenth the sharp shooters reached
Snicker's Gap, where, on the 3d of the previous
November, they had looked down on the beautiful
valley of Virginia and beheld from their lofty perch
Lee's retreating columns marching southward.
To-day, from the same point of view, they beheld
the same scene; but how many changes had taken
place in that little company since they were last on
this ground! Death, by bullet and by disease, had
made sad inroads among them, and of the whole
number present for duty the previous November,
less than one-half were with their colors now, the
others were either dead in battle, or of wounds
received in action, or honorably discharged by rea-
son of disability incurred in the service. Sher-
idan once said that no regiment was fit for the

12g

field until one-half of its original numbers had
died of disease, one-quarter been killed in action,
and the rest so sick of the whole business that they
would rather die than live. Judged by this rather
severe standard, Co. F was now fit to take rank
as veterans. Descending the mountains, they
marched southward, passing the little village of
Upperville on the twentieth.

On the twenty-third the Third Corps was
ordered to feel the enemy at Manassas Gap, and
there ensued a severe skirmish, known as the affair
of Wapping Heights. The sharp shooters opened
the engagement and, indeed, bore the brunt of it,
dislodging the enemy and driving them through
the gap and beyond the mountain range. They
inflicted considerable loss on the rebels, and made
a number of prisoners.

In this affair a man from another company came
suddenly face to face with an armed rebel at very
short range; each, as it subsequently appeared, had
but one cartridge and that was in his gun. Each
raised his rifle at the first sight of the other and
the reports were simultaneous. Both missed — the
rebel bullet struck a tree so close to the sharp
shooter's face that the flying fragments of bark
drew blood; the Union bullet passed through
the breast of the rebel's coat, cutting in two in its
passage a small mirror in his breast pocket. They
were now upon equal terms but each supposed him-
self at the disadvantage. Yankee cheek was too
much, however, for the innocent Johnnie, for the
sharp shooter, with great show of reloading his

150

rifle, advanced on the rebel demandin^^ his surren-
der. He threw down liis gun with bad grace,
saying as he did so: "If I liad another cartridge
I would never surrender." ^' All right, Johnnie,"
said the Yankee, '^ If I had another you may
be sure I would not ask you to surrender."
But Johnnie can-ic in a prisoner. In this action
the sharp shooters expended the full complement
►of sixty rounds of ammunition per man, thus veri-
fying the assertion of their ancient enemy in the
ordnance department that "the breech loaders
would use up ammunition at an alarming rate;"
both he and others were by this time forced to
admit, however, that the ammunition was expended
to very useful purpose. Passing now to the south-
east over familial- grounds they encamped at War-
renton on the twenty-sixth, and on the thirty-first
at or near White Sulphur Springs, where they
remained until' the loth of Sei^tembcr, enjoying
a much needed rest. It was eighty-one days since
they left their camp at Falmoutli to follow and
defeat Lee's plans for an invasion of the North,
and during that time t.hey had not had one single
day of uninterrupted rest. Here the regiment had
the first dress parade since the campaign opened.
On the 15th of September they broke camp and
marched to Culpepper, some ten miles to the south-
ward, where they remained until the 10th of Octo-
ber. On the 22d of September eight diiys rations
had been issued and it looked as thougli serious
movements were contemplated, but the })hin, if
tliere was one, was not carried out.
0

130

On the 11th of October, Avith full haversacks and
cartridge boxes, they broke camp and moved again
northward, crossing the Rapahannook by Free-
man's ford, near which they remained during the
rest of that day and the whole of the twelfth on
the picket line, frequently engaged in unimpor-
tant skirmishes with the enemy's cavalry. On the
thirteenth they marched in the early morning,
still towards the north, prepared for action., and at
Cedar Run, a small tributary of the Rapahannock,
they found the enemy in considerable fon^e to dis-
pute the crossing. Here a severe action took
place, and as the emergency was one which did
not admit of delay, the attack was made without
the formality of throwing out skirmishers, and
the sharp shooters charged with the other regi-
ments of the division in line of battle. Edward
Jackson was severely wounded here, but returned to
his company to remain with it to the close of the
war. Quickly brushing away this force the corps
advanced northwardly by roads lying to the west
of the Orange & Alexandria railroad and parallel
with it, and after a fatiguing march arrived at
Centerville, only a few miles from Washington.

The cause of this rapid retrograde movement was
not easily understood by the men at the time, but
was subsequently easily explained. Lee had not
been satisfied with the results of his three previous
attempts to destroy tlie Union army by turning its
fight and cutting it off from Washington, and had
essayed a fourth. It had been a close race, but the
Union commander had extricated his army from a

131

position that, at one time, was one of grave peril,
and had it compact and ready on the heights of
Centerville with the fortifications of Washington
at his back. Lee was now far from his own base
of supplies and must attack the Union army in
position at once, or retreat. He took one look at
the situation and chose the latter alternative, and
on the nineteenth the Army of the Potomac was
once more in pursuit, tlie Third Corps with the
sharp shooters passing Bri^oe's Station on that
day with their faces toward the South. On the
twentieth they forded Cedar Run at the scene of
their battle of the week before, and on the same
day, owing to an error by which the sharp slioot-
ers were directed by a wrong road, they recrossed
it to the north bank, from which they had, later
in the day, to again ford it to reach their desig-
nated camping place on the south side near Green-
wich, thus making three times in all that they
waded the stream on this cold October day, some-
times in water waist deep. The next camp made
was at Catlet's Station, when the sharp shooters
with the Third Corps remained inactive until the
7th of November awaiting the repairing and
reopening of the Orange & Alexandria railroad
which had been greatly damaged by Lee in his
retreat, and which, as it was the main line of
of supply for Meade's army, it was necessary to
repair before the army could move further south-
ward.

On the seventh, the railroad having been com-
pletely repaired and the army fully su})plied with

132

rations, ammunition and other necessary articles,
Meade determined to try to bring his enemy to a
decisive action in the bpe.n field, and to that end
directed the right wing of his army, consisting of
the Fifth and Sixth Corps under Sedgwick, to
force the passage of the Kapahannock at Rapa-
hannock Station, while the left wing, consisting of
the First, Second and Third Corps, was directed
on Kelly's Ford, some five miles lower down the
river.

, The Third Corps, under Birney, had the advance
of the column, the sharp shooters acting as flankers,
until the head of the column arrived at the river
opposite the designated crossing place. The enemy
were found in strong force occupying rifle pits
oil the opposite bank, and the column was
deployed to meet the exigency of the occasion.
The sharp shooters were at the front as skirmishers
and advanced at the double quick in splendid order
until they reached the bank of the river, when
they took such cover as was afforded by the inequal-
ities of the ground, and commenced an active fire
upon the enemy in the rifle pits on the opposite
side. It was soon found, however, that they could
not be driven from their strong position by simple
rifle work, and the regiment was ordered to cross
the stream and drive them out by close and vigor-
ous attack. It was not a cheerful prospect for the
men who were to wade the open stream nearly
waist deep and exposed to the cool fire of the con-
cealed enemy, who would not aim less coolly because
the sharp shooters would necessarily be unable to

133

return the tire; 1)ut tlie line was carefally prepared
and at tlie sound of tlie bugle every man dashed
forward into the cold and rapid water and strug-
gled on. Co. F was one of tlie reserve companies
and til us followed the skirmishers in column of
fours instead of in a deployed line. As the skir-
mishers arrived on the further shore they naturally
took such cover as they could get, and opened a
rapid fire. The Vermonters, however, closely fol-
low^ing the movement, passed the skirmish line
thus halted and pushed on without stopping to
deploy even. Capt. Merriman, who had just suc-
ceeded to his well deserved promotion, led the way
until he stood upon the very edge of the works
overlooking the rebels within, of whom he
demanded an immediate and unconditional surren-
der. He was far in advance of his men, and the
rebels, at first taken aback by the very boldness of
the demand, now seeing him unsupported as they
thought, refused with strong language to surren-
der, but on the contrary called upon him to yield
himself up as their prisoner. Merriman, however,
was not minded to give up his captain's sword on
the very first day he had worn it, and called out
for ** Some of you men of Co. F with guns to come
up here." His call was obeyed, and five hundred
and six Confederates surrendered to this little com-
pany alone. In the com])any the casualties were
as follows: Patrick jMurray, killed; Eugene
Mead, Watson P. Morgan and Fitz Green Halleck,
wounded. Having thus uncovered the ford the
sharp shooters were pushed forward some distance

134:

to allow the remainder of the left wing to cross
and form on the south bank. Advancing about a
mile from the river they took up a position from
which they repulsed several feeble attacks during
the day, and at dark were relieved.

For their gallantry and dash in this affair they
received unstinted 23raise from their brigade com-
mander, De Trobriand, they having been trans-
ferred back to his brigade some days previous.
On the next day the troops advanced towards
Brandy Station where the union of the two
wings of the army was expected to take place.
Considerable resistance was met with at several
points during the day, and at one point the skir-
mishers of the third division, which was in advance,
being unable to start the rebels, the corps comman-
der sent back his aide for ^^the regiment that
crossed the river the day before," but the brigade
was some miles in rear of the point of obstruction,
and Gen. De Trobriand, rightly believing that it
would be unjust and cruel to require these men to
march so far at the double quick after their severe
service of the day before, sent the second reg-
iment instead, who fully met the requirement
and soon cleared the road for the head of the
column. On arriving at Brandy Station the vast
open plain was found packed and crowded with
troops, the entire Army of the Potomac being now
concentrated here. The sharp shooters went into
camp on the farm of the so called loyalist John
Minor Botts, where they remained for the eighteen
days following. In consideration of his supposed

135

loyalty, every effort was made to proteet the i)rop-
erty of the owner of the plantation, but 7 ails are
a temptation that no soldier was ever known to
withstand on a cold November night. Evil dis-
posed troops of other organizations raided the
fences every night, and the troops nearest at hand,
the sharp shooters, were reqniied to rebuild them
every day; and- in this manner they passed the
time until the 26th of November, when the army
broke camp and crossed the Kai^dan at several
points simultaneously.

This was the initial movement in what is known
as the Mine Run campaign. The Third Corps
crossed at Jacobs Mills ford, their destination
being understood to be Robertson's Tavern where
they were to join the Second Corps in an attack on
the Confederate line behind Mine Run at that
point. But Gen. French, by a mistake of roads,
and sundry other unfortunate errors of judgment,
found himself far to the right of his assigned
position, and while blindly groping about in tJie
mazes of that wilderness country, ran the head of
his column against Ewell's Corps and a brisk fight
took place, which was called the battle of Locust
Grove.

De Trobriand's brigade was near the rear of the
column and was not therefore immediately engaged.
The familiar sounds of cannon and musketry indi-
cated to their practiced ears something more than
a mere affair of skirmishers, and soon came an order
to take up a more advanced position in support of
the Third Division which was said to be heavily

136

engaged. Upon arriving at the front the sharp
shooters were deployed and ordered forward to a
fence a little distance in advance of the main Union
line, and to hold that position at all hazards.
Moving rapidly forward they gained the position,
and quickly converted the stout rail fence into a
respectable breastwork from which they opened
fire on the rebels in their front. Near them they
found the Tenth Vermont, and thus once again
stood shoulder to shoulder with the men of their
native state. Five times during that afternoon did
the enemy endeavor to drive the sharp shooters
from this line, and as often were they repulsed, and
each time with heavy loss. In one of these assaults
the colors of a rebel regiment, advancing immedi-
ately against Co. F, fell to the ground four times,
and just there four rebel color bearers lay dead,
stricken down by the fire of the Green Mountain
riflemen.

The line of breastworks were held until the
fighting ceased after dark, when the sharp shooters
were relieved and retired from the immediate front
and lay on their arms during the uight. Co.
F had lost in the battle of the day five good men;
E. S. Hosmer was killed at the fence, while A. C.
Cross, Eugene Payne, Sherod Brown and Corporal
Jordan were w^onnded. Cross rejoined the com-
pany and served faithfully until the battle of the
Wilderness in the following May where he was
killed. Payne returned to duty and served his
full term of enlistment and was honorably dis-
charged on the 13th of September, 1864. Brown

137

never fully recoveied from the effects of liis wound
and was subsequently transferred to the Veteran
Reserve Corps. Jordan also reported again for
duty and served until the 31st of August, 1804,
when he was honorably discharged on surgeon's
certiticate of disability. The regiment had lost
thirty-six men killed and wounded during the day,
while the corps had suffered a total loss of fifteen
hundred, and had not yet reached its objective
point. And this was the soldiers' Thanksgiving
Day at Locust Grove. Faraway in quiet northern
homes, fathers and mothers were sitting lonely at
the loaded tables thinking lovingly of their brave
boys, who were even then lying stark and cold
under the open sky, or suffering untold agonies
from cruel wounds. But this was war, anil war is
no respecter of time or place, and so on this day of
national thanksgiving and praise, hundreds of the
best and bravest suffered and died that those who
came after them might have cause for future
thanksgiving.

''To the misjudging, war doth appear to be a
worse calamity than slavery; because its miseries
are collected together within a short space and time
as may be easily, at one view, taken in and per-
ceived. But the misfortunes of nations cursed by
slavery, being distributed over many centuries and
many places, are of greater weight and number."

Further severe fighting took place on the next
day, but the sharp shooters were not engaged.
On the twenty-ninth (the corps having changed
its position on the previous day, taking up a new

1JJ8

line further to the left), tlie sharjo shooters were
deployed as skirmishers and pushed forward to
within sight of the strong works of the enemy on
the further side of ^line Run .where they were
halted and directed to closely observe the move-
ments of the rebels, but to do nothing calculated
to provoke a conflict, tlie preparations for assault
not being completed on the Union side. AVhile
laying here in a cold ]S'"ovember rain storm they had
ample opportunity to calculate the strength of the
enemy's line and the chances of success. It reminded
them strongly of Fredericksburgh. The position
was not dissimilar to that. Here was a swampy
morass instead of a hard plain, but beyond was a
height of land and, as at Fredericksburgh, it was
crowned with earth works, while at the base of
the elevation, plainly to be seen by the watchers,
were the long yellow lines that told of rifle pits
well manned by rebel soldiers. It looked like a
desperate attempt, but early on the morning of the
thirteenth, in obedience to orders, the sharp shooters
advanced across the swamp through the partly
frozen mud, in many places mid-leg deep, driving
the rebel pickets into their works and pressing
their way to withiu a. few rods of the enemy's
front, which position they held, being of them-
selves unable to go further without support, which
was not forthcomiuL". This advance had the.
seeming character of a demonstration only, but
the sharp shooters made the best of their opportu-
nities, picking oS a rebel now and then as the

:3i) .

chance occurred. Night came on and no hint of
relief came to the worn and weary men.

It was intensely cold and, of course, they had to
endure it as best they could, since to light a fire
within so short a distance of the watchful rebels
would be to draw the fire of every gun within
range. Neither could they get the relief which
comes from exercise, for the first movement was
the signal for a shot. So passed the long and dis-
mal night; the men getting such comfort as they
could from rubbing and cliafing tlioir benumbed
and frost-bitten limbs. Morning dawned, but yet
no relief from tiieir sufiierings; and it seemed to
the waiting men that they were deserted. At
times firing could be heard on the right, but of
other indications of the presence of their friends
there were none. They remained in this state all
day on the 1st of December, and at night, after
thirty-six hours of this exposure, they were ordered
back across the swamp. M any men were absolutely
unable to leave their positions without aid, so stiff
with cold and inaction were they: but all were
finally removed. The army liad retired from the
front of the enemy and was far on its way to
the river, leaving tlie Third Corps to cover the
witlidrawal; the greater })ortion of tliis corps was
also en route for its old camp, and tlie sharp shooters
were thus the ro ir guard of the army. The march
was simply terrible. All night they struggled on,
many men actually falling aslec}) as they marched
and falling to the ground, to be roused by shakes
and kicks administered by their more wakeful

140

comrades. In spite of all, however, many men
left the ranks and lay down in the fields and woods
to sleep, preferring the chance of freezing to death,
or of that other alternative onlv less fatal — being
made prisoners — to farther effort. At day break
the regiment arrived at the Rapidan at Culpepper
Mine ford, crossing on a ponton bridge and going
into bivouac on the north bank, where they could
at least have fires to warm their half frozen bodies.
Here they lay until noon, their numbers being aug-
mented by the arrival of the stragglers, singly and
i'U squads, until all were accounted for, though at
day break there were not guns enough in some of
thecompanies to stack arms with. At night, how-
ever, all were comfortably quartered in their old
camp — a thankful lot of men. This was perhaps
the most severe experience that Co. F had to
undergo during its three years of service. On
many occasions they had more severe fighting and
had often to mourn the loss of tried and true com-
rades; but never before or after did the company,
as a whole, have to undergo so much severe suffer-
ing as on this occasion. The principal loss of the
regiment in this campaign was by the death of
Lieut. -Col. TrejDp, who was shot through the head
and instantly killed on the 30th of November.
Col. Trepp had been with the regiment from the
first, having joined as captain of Co. A. He was a
Swiss by birth, and liad received a military educa-
tion in the army of l^.is native land, and had seen
much service in various European wars. He was
a severe disciplinarian, even harsh; but was

141

endeared to the men by long ussociation in the
field, and was sincerely lamented.

From this time until the 6th of February, 18G-4,
the regiment lay in camp, inactiv-e. On that day
they were engaged in a reconnoissance to the Kap-
idan, but were not engaged.

On the 28th of March the gallant old Third
Corps, reduced as it was by its losses at Chancel-
lorsville, Gettysburgh and Locust Urove to the
proportions of a small division, passed out of
existence, being consolidated with the Second
Corps, and becoming the first and second brigades
of the Third Division of that corps. Gen. Birney
continuing in the command of the division, while
the corps was commanded by Gen. Hancock, who
had so far recovered from his wound received at
Gettysburgli as to be able to resume his place at
the head of his troops. The shar}) shooters were
attached to the second brigade, commanded by
Gen. Hayes.

This change was viewed by the officers and men
of the Third Corps with great regret. They were
proud of their record, and justly so, but the neces-
sities of the service were paramount, and no senti-
ment of loyalty to a corps fiag could be allowed to
interfere with it. In recognition of the distin-
guished services rendered by the old organization,
however, the men were allowed to retain their
corps badge; and they took their [)lace8 in the
ranks of Hancock's command resolved that the
honor of the old Third should be maintained
unsullied in the future, as it had been in the past.

142

CHAPTEE VL

THE WILDERNESS, SPOTTSYLYAKIA AND COLD
HARBOR.

On the lOtli of March an order was receiYed
from President Lincoln assigning Gen. U. S. Grant
to the command of all the armies of the United
States, and during the last days of the same month
Gen. Grant pitched his headquarters tent at Cul-
pepper Court House, and commenced a study of
the situation in A^irginia, where the real stuggle of
the war had been maintained for nearly three
years, and where the strength of the Confederacy
yet lay. The time, until the 3d of May, was spent
in active preparation for the opening of the spring
campaign. Sick and disabled men were sent to the
rear. All surplus baggage and stores were turned
in, and the army, stripped for the fight, stood
ready whenever the new commander should sound
the advance; for although Gen. Meade was still
commander of the Army of the Potomac, every man
knew^ that Gen. Grant was i here for the purpose
of personally directing its movements. On the 3d
of May the sharp shooters broke camp and marched
out on that campaign which was destined to be one
continual battle for nearly a year to come, and at
the end of which was to come the final triumph at
Appomattox.

The organization of Co. F at this time was as
follows:

Captain, C. D. Merriman: vice E. VV. Hindes

143

honorably cliscliarged on surgeon's certificate of
disability.

First Lieutenant,
First Sergeant,
Second Sergeant,
Third Sergeant,
Fourth Sergeant,
Fifth Sergeant,
First Corporal, -
Second Corporal,
Third Corporal, -
Fourth Corporal,
Fifth Corporal, -
Sixth Corporal,
Seventh Corporal,
Eighth Corporal,

H E. Kinsman.
Lewis J. Allen.
Cassius Peck.
Paul M. Thompson.
L. D. Grover.
Edward F. Stevens.
Chas. M. Jordan.
Edward Trask.
M. Cunningham.
Edward Lyman.
D. W. French.
Carlos E. Mead.
Henry Mattocks.
Chas. B. Mead.

With this organization and forty-three enlisted
men, the company crossed the Rapidan at Ely's
ford at nine o'clock a. m. oti the 4th of May,
1864. Marching rapidly to the southeast; they
bivouacked for the night near Chancellorsville on
the identical ground on which they had fought
exactly one year before under Hooker. The omen
was not a happy one, but with high hopes of suc-
cess under this new western general who had
always beaten his enemies hitherto, they lay down
prepared for whatever of good or ill the morrow
might bring forth.

Reminders of the conflict of May, 1863, were
thickly scattered about on the ground, and some
men in the regiment found their hair covered
knapsacks where they had thrown them off in the

144

heat of the former battle, and which they had been
forced to abandon. They found also the graves of
some of their lost comrades, buried where they
fell, while in many places human bones shone
white and ghastly in the moonlight. It was the
very ground over which the sharp shooters had
driven the Stonewall brigade on the night of the
3d of May of the preceding year. With the earli-
est streaking of the eastern sky on the morning of
the fifth, the Second Corps, with the sharp shooters
in the advance, was put in motion towards
Shady Grove church, situated some four or five
miles to the southward at the junction of two
important roads, and where they were to form the
extreme left of the army. Before the head of the
column had reached that point heavy firing w^as
heard on the right and rear, and the column was
countermarched and ordered to return to the junc-
tion of the Brock road with the Orange plank road,
Avhich the enemy were making desperate efforts to
secure. It was indeed a matter of the utmost
importance to maintain possession of the Brock
road, since it was the very key to the whole battle
ground. Running nearly north and south from
the Orange turnpike, near the old Wilderness
tavern, it intersects all the roads leading from the
direction from which the enemy w^ere approaching,
and, as it is the only important, or even passa-
ble, road running in that direction, its possession
by either amry would enable that party to outflank
the other almost at pleasure. Getty's Division of
the Sixth had been detached from that corps on

U5

the right some lioiirs Ix'fore, and ordered to hold
this position at all hazards, and it was the sudden
attack on tliis isolated command that liad called
the Second Corps back from its march towards
Shady Grove church.

At about two o'clock p. m. Birney's Division
arrived at the threatened point and were at once
deployed for action on the Brock road, and to the
left, or south, of its intersection with the i:)lank
road. Here the men of Co. F. found themselves
again shoulder to shoulder with their friends.

The old Vermont brigade formed part of Getty's
Division and were already deployed and sharply
engaged: so that Co. F. found themselves in the
immediate neighborhood of the gallant Vermonters.
Immediately upon the arrival of the head of the
division upon the field, and pending the necessarily
slower formation of the main line, the sharp
shooters were pushed out towards the enemy and
at once came under a heavy fire. It was their first
fight under Hancock, and they felt that not
only was theii' own well earned reputation to be
sustained, but that the honor of the now dead and
gone Third Corps was in a measure committed
to their keeping. There, too, just on their right
stood the men of the old brigade, proud of their
own glorious record, and just a little inclined to
rate their own courage and skill above that of any
other troops in the army.

Under^the stimulus of these conditions the sharp
shooters as a regiment, and the men of Co. F in
particular, fought with a dash and energy which

10

146

surprised even their own officers who had learned
long before that there was almost no task which the
rank and file thought themselves unequal to. This
contest of a skirmish line against lines of battle con-
tinued for nearly two hours; but at about four
o'clock p. 31., the whole of the Second Corps having
arrived and being in position, a general advance
was ordered, and now the fighting, which had been
very severe before, became simply terrific. The
ground was such thiit the artillery could not easily
be brought into action. Only two gnus could be
brought up, which were placed on the plank road
where they rendered excellent service. The
musketry, however, was continuous and deadly
along the whole line. The roar of battle was
deafening, and struck upon the ear with a peculiar
effect from the almost total absence of artillery,
usually so noisy an accompaniment of modern
battle. The men who noted this fact, however^
Avere men accustomed to warfare, and who knew
that the fire of infantry was much more deadly
than that of artillery, and never before had they
heard such continuous thunder or confronted such
a storm of lead as on this occasion. The fierce
struggle continued with unabated ferocity until the
merciful night put an end to it. The Brock road
was held, but it had been impossible to do more.
The enemy were badly shattered, and at points
the line had been broken: but the nature of the
ground was such as to prevent an orderly and
systematic pushing of such advantages as were,
here and there, gained, and, except that the key

147

point remained in the liands of tlie federals, it was
a drawn battle.

The men lay on their arms during- the night, in
the position in which the cessation of the battle
found them; and, as illustrative of the closeness of
the contending lines, and the labyrinthian charac-
ter of the ground, it may be stated that during the
night many men from both armies while searching
for water, or for their Avounded friends, strayed
within the opposing lines and were made prisoners.
Among the above were Sergt. Paul M. Thompson
and J. II. Guthrie of Co. F. Besides these two
men, Co. F had lost terribly in killed and wounded
during the day. Coi-poral David M. French, W. J.
Domag and E. E. Trask were killed on the field;
A. C. Cross and Wm. Wilson were mortally
wounded, while M. Cunningham, Spalford A.
Wright, John C. Page, S. M. Butler and Wm.

McKeever suifercd severe and i)ainful wounds a

total of twelve men lost out of the forty-three Avho
answered to the roll call on that morning, and this
m the first tight of the campaign.

But the survivors felt that they had well and
nobly sustained the honor of their corps, and of
their state. They were proud, also, to have
received the commendation of distinguished
officers of the old Vermont Brigade, and so, with
mingled emotions of sorrow and gladness, they lay
down on the bloody field. It will be remembered
that the sharp shooters had been pushed out on
the left of the plank road immediately upon their
arrival and while the troops of the line were beino-

148

formed on t]ie Brock road. In this formation,
Birney's Division had been sent to the north or
right of the plank road, and formed on Getty's
right; so that during the subsequent battle the
sharp shooters had been separated from their brig-
ade, and had been fighting in an entirely independ-
ent manner, subject to no orders but those of their
regimental and company officers. At daylight the
men were rallied on the colors and moved to the
north of the plank road in search of their proper
command, which, after some search in the tangled
forest, they found the shattered remains of. The
brigade commander. Gen. Alexander Hays, and
very many other gallant officers and men had fal-
len on the preceding day, and so heavy had been
the losses that the entire brigade when deployed,
hardly covered the front of an average regiment as
they had stood when the army crossed the Rapidan.
Notwithstanding his severe losses of the day
before, Gen. Grant (who, by the way, was under-
stood to have expressed the opinion at some time
that ^' The Army of the Potomac had never been
fought up to its capacity") ordered another gen-
eral assault along the whole line at five A. m. on
the sixth.

Promptly at that hour the Second Corps
advanced along the Orauge plank road, the sharp
shooters being now on the right of that thorough-
fare with their own division. They were, as on
the day before, in the front line, but on this occa-
sion they were heavily supported from the stiirt,
Birney's and Mott's Divisions being in the first line

while Getty's Division formed a second line, the
whole sup]iorted by Carroll's and Owen's brigades
of the Second Division of the same corps.

The attack was made witli great vigor and
impetuosity, and was for a time successful, the
enemy being driven with great loss and disorder
from two strong lines of Avorks, one about foui-
hundred yards behind the other, which they hjid
materially strengthened during the night. Birney's
left, in front of which was Co. F, advanced further
than his right, driving the Confederates before
them and completely disru})ting their line at this
point; in fact so far did they penetrate that they
were m a position to take the rebel left in flank
and rear, and at one time the sharp shooters,
during a momentary lull on their own front, turned
their attention to a Confederate battery which Avas
actually in rear of tlieir right, and which they liad
passed beyond in their charge. They were not
destined to reap the fruits of this victory, however,
for at this time Longstreet's command arrived on
the field and commenced a furious attack on
Birney's exposed left. Changing fronts to meet
this new enemy, the sharp shooters, with 'tlie aid
of their comrades of Birney's Division, made a
vigorous resistance to this counter attack. The
momentum of their 'own charge was gone; they
had now fought their way through nearly a mile
of thickets and swamps and had, necessarially, lost
their alignment and cohesion. The utmost they
could now hope to do was to beat back the oncom-
ing rebels and give the Union troops time to

150

reform for iiiiother assault. It was a vain elTort,
for the fresh masses of rebel troops succeeded
in forcing the advanced left back as far as the
center and right, which was at the same time,
about seven o'clock a. m., struck by a strong
force of Confederates. By desperate effort the
line was held and a reorganization effected, and
at about nine o'clock the offensive was resumed
along the plank road. The force of this attack was
seriously impaired by the supposed necessity of
protecting the extreme left which was greatly
exposed. For some time heavy firing had been
heard in that direction, afid ugly rumors of col-
umns of infantry, too strong to be checked by
the cavalry, were rife. Then, too, a consider-
able body of infantry was discovered actually
a23j)roaching the left and rear from the direction
of Spottsylvania. All this necessitated the detach-
ment of considerable bodies of troops to guard that
Aving, which weakened the force of the main
attack. The infantry force which had occasioned
so much uneasiness proved to be a body of convales-
cents trying to rejoin the Union army, and the
troops sent to oppose them were restored to the
23oint of action. By this time, in the movement
of the lines, the sharp shooters found themselves,
with most of the division, again on the left of the
plank road. The fighting now became as close
and severe as that of the preceding day; so dense
and dark was the thicket, that the lines were
often close together before either could determine
whether the other was friend or foe; regiments

lost their brigiult's and brigades their divisions.
Indeed, so confused was the melee that it is
stated that one regiment, being surrounded and
ordered to surrender, actually laid down their
arms to another regiment of their own brigade.

Still, progress was made, and, on the whole, the
federals, although losing heavily, were gaining
substantial ground. After half an hour of this
work the troops on the right of Birney's Division
having given way, Birney detached two of his
own brigades to till the gap, and at about eleven
o'clock the resistance in front of Hancock's Corps
having nearly ceased, another halt was called to
readjust the confused and irregular lines. Before
this could be accomplished a new enemy appeared
square on the left of Birney's Division, which was
doubled up by the suddenness and impetuosity of
the attack, and the confusion became so great along
the whole line that Gen. Hancock directed a with-
drawal of the entire corps to the breastworks which
had been constructed on the Brock road, and from
which they had advanced on the day before. It
began to look like the same old story — as though
Chancellorsvillo was to be repeated— and as though
the most cheerful bulletin Grant would have to send
North would be the often repeated one, "The
Army of the Potomac is again safe across the
Rapid an.''

But there, some way, seemed to be no actual
movement looking in that direction — m fact.
Grant had ordered the hridf/es removed as soon as
the last troops had crossed the river, and for

152

twenty-four hours there had been no possibility of
recrossing had any one been so minded. Lines of
retreat seemed to have no place in the plans of the
new general-in-chief.

The enemy followed the retiring Union troops
closely, but once within the breastworks the Second
Corps was soon rallied, and, reforming, lay down
behind the rude entrenchments to await the signal
for renewed action. The Confederates pushed
their lines to within two or three hundred yards of
the Brock road, but rested at that point until
about four o'clock r. m., when they took the
offensive in their turn and made a gallant assault
on Hancock's command behind the breastworks.
This attack was understood to be under the
immediate direction of Gen. Lee, who was present
and commanded in person.

The rebel line came gallantly forward to within
a few yards of the road, when they halted and
opened a fierce fire, which was returned by the
Union troops from their shelter, coolly and with
deadly effect.

Here the sharp shooters had the unusual good
fortune to fight in a sheltered position instead of
in the open field, as was usually their fate. During
this affair the woods took fire and for a long time
the troops fought literally surrounded by the flames.
The wind Avas from such a direction as to bring
the smoke from the blazing woods directly in the
faces of the federal soldiers, while the heat and
smoke combined made the position almost unten-
able, even had there been no other enemy to contend

153

with. In many places the log breastworks them-
selves took tire and Ijecanie a blazing n-ass which
it was impossible to (piench. Still the battle
raged; at some points it was impossible to fire over
the parapet, and the defenders were comi)elled to
withdraw for a short distance. The rebels were
prompt to take advantage of sncli breaks, and at
one point pushed tlieir advance up to and over the
road, ph.nting their battle flags on the Union
works, but a brigade of Birney's Division ciiarged
them with such vigor that their holding was of
short duration and they were driven back in great
confusion, leaving numbers of their dead and
wounded inside the breastworks.

In this charge the sharp shooters were conspicu-
ous. Advancing in line of battle and at the double
(piick, they forced the enemy from their front over
and far beyond the road, pursuing them and making
prisoners even beyond tlie lines which had been
held by the rebels previous to their assault. Their
regimental flag was the only one advanced beyond
the line of works; other troops contenting them-
selves with simply repossessing the line of the road.
In this charge Jacob Lacoy of Co. F. was killed,
the only casualty in the company on that day.
Following this repulse Grant, still aggressive,
ordered another attack by Hancock, and the troops
were formed for that purpose; but before the
advance actually commenced the order was counter-
manded and the men of the )Second Corps lay
down for the night along the road which they
had so gallantly defended. The morning of the

154

third day of the battle oj^ened with the greater
portion of tlie army (juietly resting on their arms;
but for the sharp shooters there seemed no relief
or respite. At day break they were deployed, again
on the right of the plank road, and advancing over
the scene of the fighting of the two previous days,
now thickly covered with the dead of both armies,
encountered the rebel skirmishers at a distance of
about four hundred yards from the Union line.
Ordered to halt here and observe the enemy, they
passed the time until about noon in more or less
active sharp shooting and skirmishing. At twelve
o'clock they were ordered to push the enemy back
and develop if possible his main line.. Supported by
infantry they dashed forward and after sharp fight-
ing drove the rebels back into their works, some
half a mile away. Here they were brought to a
halt and found themselves unable to advance
further. Counter attacks were made by the rebels
which were for a time successfully resisted; but the
regiment was at last so far outflanked that it
became necessary to fall back to avoid the capture
of the entire command. The rebels did not pursue
vigorously; the fight was out of them, and with a
few unimportant affairs on different portions of the
line the day passed without battle. Neither party
had won a victory. Grant had not destroyed
Lee's army, neither had Lee driven Grant back
across the river, as he had done so many other
Union commainlers, and the battle of the Wilder-
ness was of no advantage to either party, save the
fact that Grant had destroyed a certain number of

155

Lee's soldiers wlio could not easily be replaced,
while Ins own losses could be made good by fresh
levie from the populous North. Whatever may
have been Geu. Grant's idea of the ''capacity" of
the Army of the Potomac for fighting hitherto, or
whether he believed it to have been noNV " fought
up to its capacitv," he was forced to acknowledge
that the fighting of the past three days had been
the severest he had ever seen. But his thoughts
were not vet of retreat; he had seen enough of the
Wilderness as a battle field, however, and on the
evening of the seventh issued his orders for a con-
centration of his army on Spottsylvania.

Companv F. had lost in the action of this day
Edward Giddings and Joseph Hagan, killed, and
Lieut. Kinsman, Dustin U. Bareau, Henry Mat-
tocks and Edward Lyman, wounded.. The wound
received bv ^lattocks, although painful, was not
such as to^lisable him, and he remained with the
companv onlv to lay down his life on the bloody
field of Spottsylvania a week later. The total losses
now footed up nineteen men since the morning of
the 5th of May.

All nio-ht lono- columns were marching to the
• the southward. ^It was evident that the army was
to abandon this battle field, but it seemed strange
that the customs and traditions of three years
should be thus ruthlessly set aside by this new
man, and that he should have turned his face again
southward, when bv all precedent he should have
crone nortli. The men, however, began to surmise
the true state of affairs, and when during the

156

night Grant and Meade, with their respective staffs,
passed down the Brock road headed still south, the
men took in the fall sio-nificance of the event, and,
tired and worn as they were, they sprang to their
feet with cheers that must have told Grant that
here were men fully as earnest, and fully as per-
sistent as himself in their determination to ''fight
it out on that line." The stench from the decom-
posing bodies of the thousands of dead lying
nnburied filled the air and was horrible beyond
description, and the sharp shooters were not sorry
when at nine a. m., on the morning of May 8th,
they were relieved from their duties on the picket
line and, forming on the Brock road, took up their
line of march toward Spottsylvania. They were
the last of the infantry of the whole army; a small
body of cavalry only being between them and the
rebels who might well be expected to pursue.

The cavalry soon found themselves unable to
check the pursuers, and Co. F, now the rear guard
of the army, was faced about and deployed to
resist the too close pursuit. In this order, and
constantly engaged with the rebel cavalry following
them, they retired fighting, until. at Todd's tay-
ern they found the rest of %he division. During
the day Wm. Wells was wouuded and taken
prisoner, the only casualty in the company during
the day. Wells met the same sad fate which befell
so many thousands of unfortunate prisoners, and
died at Florence, S. C, during the month of
September following.

Immediately upon their arrival a portion of the

157

regiment, including Co. F, was placed on the
picket line to the west of the tavern, their line
extending across the Catharpin road. Here they
met the advance of Early's rebel corps, and some
skirmishing took place; but the rebels were easily
checked, and no severe fighting took place. Early
on the morning of the ninth a strong force of the
enemy's cavalry appeared in their front and made
a vigorous effort to force a passage. They were
strongly resisted and at last forced to retire before
the well aimed ritles of the Vermonters. Fol-
lowing rapidly, the sharp shooters pushed them to
and beyond the Po river, along the banks of wliich
they halted.

During this affair a rebel ca2-)tain of cavalry was
wounded and captured. Capt. Merriman, whose
sword had been shot from his side during the
action of the preceding day, thinking that a fair
exchange was no robbery, appropriated the cap-
tured rebel's sabre, and thenceforth it was wielded
in behalf of instead of against the Union. In the
afternoon of this day the sharp shooters were
recalled from their somewhat exposed position,
more than two miles from any support, and
resumed the march towards Spottsylvania,
akirmishing with the rebels as they retired, until
they reached the higli ground overlooking the val-
ley of the Po, Avhere they found the rest of the
corps making preparations to force the 2)assage of
the river.

The Union artillery was noisily at woi'k, while
rather faint response came from the enemy on the

158

opposite side. A rebel signal station was discov-
ered some fifteen hundred yards away, from which
the movements of our troops could be plainly
observed, and from which Gen. Hancock desired
to drive the observers. A battery opened fire on
them, bat the distance was too great for canister,
and the saucy rebels only laughed at shell. The
men of Co. F., who were in plain view of both
parties, watched this effort with great interest for
half an hour, when they concluded to take a hand
in the affair themselves. Long practice had made
them proficient in judging of distances, and up to
a thousand yards they were rarely mistaken — this,
however, was evidently a greater distance than the
rifles were sighted for. They therefore cut and
fitted sticks to increase the elevation of their sights
and a few selected men were directed to open fire,,
while a staff officer with his field glass watched the
result. It was apparent from the way the men in
the distant tree top looked doion when the Sharpes
bullets began to whistle near them that the men
were shooting under still, so more aad longer sticks
were fitted to still further elevate the sights; now the
rebels began to look upward, and the inference was
at once drawn lliat the bullets were passing over
them. Another adjustment of the sticks, and the
rebels began to dodge, first to one side and then to
another, and it was announced that the range was
found. Screened as they were by the foliage of
the tree in which they were perched, it was not
possible to see the persons of the men with tlie
naked eye; their position could only be deter-

150

mined by the tell-ttile Hags; but when all the rifles
had been pj'oi)erly siglited and the whole twenty-
throe opened, the suri)rit^ed rebels evaeuatetl that
signal station with great alacrity. Gen. Hancock
had been a close and greatly interested ol)server of
this episode, ami ]»ai(l the men handsome comi)li-
ments for their ingenuity and skill. The same
night tl:e division commander, Gen. Birney,
ordered that tiiereafter the sharp shooters should
report directly to his head({uarters and also receive
their orders from the same source. They were
thus detached from their brigade. At six o'clock
p. M. the line advanced, and, after some slight
resistance, effected the passage of the river.
Pushing forward the sharp shooters soon found
themselves again on the banks of the same river,
which here changes its course to the south so as to
again cross the road along wliich the corps was
advancing. It was now well into the ni:ht, and
as the men found the river too dee}) to ford: the
column was halted and spent the niglit in this
position. The second corps, which had lield the
entire left of tlie Union line ever since the crossing
of the l{ai)idan a week before, by these maneuvers
found itself now on the extreme right of the army,
and its })osition was a serious menace to Lee's left
Hank.

Indeed Harlow's Division, as it lay that night,
was actually in rear of the rebel left. Lee was
quick to perceive the seriousness of the situation,
and during the night he placed a formidable force
in Hancock's front, and by the morning of the

160

eleventh tlie corps found a strong line of works,
whII manned, to oppose tlieir further progress.
Eeconnoissances were made, and a crossing effected
at a point lower down, but the position was deemed
too strong to attack, and the troops who had
crossed were retired, soon after which the entire
command was withdrawn to the northern bank of
the Po.

Birney's Division was first over, and thus escaped
the severe fighting which befell the other portions
of tlie command in the movement. During all
this time the battle had been raging furiously on
the center and left of the Union army; repeated
desperate assaults had been made at various points,
and everywhere the enemy were found in great
force behind strong worlvs. The different assaults
had been bloodily repulsed and the losses of men
had been terrible. Still there was no sign of a
retrograde movement. Grant seemed to have an
idea that the true coarse of the Army of the Poto-
mac lay to the southward instead of to the north.
A repulse — such as would have been to the former
commanders of that army a defeat — only spurred
him to renewed effort, and it was in the evening
of this day that lie sent to President Lincoln the
celebrated dispatch which so electrified the people
of the Xorth and made it clear to them that
thenceforth there were to be taken no steps back-
ward. '' I propose to fight it out on this line if
it takes all summer." The operations of the past
two days had convinced Generals Grant and Meade
that a salient near the center of Lee's entrenched

IGl

line was his weakest point, and during tlie after-
noon and night of tlie eleventh the troops selected
were brought up and formed for the assault. The
point at which the attack was aimed was the one
which has since come to be called the Death Angle
at Spottsylvania; and well was it so called.
Hancock's command was withdrawn from the
extreme right and placed on the left of the Sixth
Corps in such a position that their advance would
bring them, not opposite the exact angle, but on
the rebel right of that point.' Birney's Division
had the right formed in two lines of battle, with
Mott's Division in one line in support. The sharp
shooters were deployed on the right of Birney's front
line so as to connect the right of the Second Corps
with the left of the troops next on the right. The
night was made doubly dark by a thick fog which
shut out all objects from sight at a distance of even
a few yards, and in groping along to find their
designated position, the men found themselves far
in advance of the proper point and close up to the
rebel line. As soon as their presence was discov-
ered the enemy opened a brisk tire upon them, but
believing their position to be at least as advantageous
as the one they had left behind, the men lay
quietly down without replying to the enemy and
waited the signal of attack. They were now
exactly opposite the Death Angle and only a few
yards from the abatis. At half past four a. m.
the signal was given, and the troops of the main
line, rising to their feet, moved forward silently
to the attack.
11

162

The sharp shooters, far in the advance, lay
quietly until the charging lines were abreast of
them when they too sprang up and dashed straight
at the enemy's works. The lines were now in
entirely open ground, sloping upward toward the
enemy, and fully exposed to the fire which came
thick and deadly from every gun that could be
brought to bear. Men fell rapidly, but nothing
could stay the magnificent rush of the veterns
of the Second Corps, and with ringing cheers they
crowned the works with their standards and fairly
drove the rebels out by the sheer weiglit and vigor
of their charge. Not all, however — for nearly four
thousand Confederates, including two general
officers, surrendered themselves as prisoners. Some
thirty colors and twenty guns were also captured.

The sharp shooters were active in the assault
and also in the short pursuit, which was brought
to a sudden check, however, by the sight of a
second line of works extending across the base of
the triangle made by the salient. The Union
troops were now a confused mass of rushing men.
They had lost their brigade, regimental and even
their company organization, as not unfrequently
happens in such assaults, and the enemy, advanc-
ing from behind their second line, compelled the
triumphant but disordered federals to retire to che
captured works where they were rallied. Quickly
reversing the order of things, they, in their turn,
became the defenders where they had so lately been
the attacking party. Forming on the exterior
slojoe, they fought the rebels stubbornly. It was

103

as apparent to Lee as it had been to Grant and
Meade, that tliis was the vital point, and now
both parties bent tlieir utmost energies — the one
to liokl what they had gained, and the other to
repossess themselves of what they had lost. Both
lines were heavily reent'oreed and the fighting
assumed the most sanguinary character of any that
had been seen during the whole of the bloody three
years of the war. With desperate valor the Con-
federates I'ushed again and again against tlie Union
lines to be met with a fierce fire at such short
ranges, and into such dense masses, that every shot
told. In some places they gained the crest of the
breastworks and savage hand to hand encounters
took place, but it was in vain; not all the valor of
the boasted chivalry of the South could pass that
line. Those who gained the works could not stay
and live, and to retreat was as bad. Many gave
themselves up as prisoners, while others, taking
shelter on the other side of the works, kept up the
fight by holding their muskets high above their
heads and thus firing at random among the Union
troops on the reverse side. All day long this ter-
rible combat continued. The dead on each side
lay in heaps — literally piled the one on the other,
until in many places the ground was covered three
and four deep. The very trees were cut off by
musket balls and fell to the ground. There is in
the War Department at Washington, to this day,
the stump of a tree more than eighteen inches in
diameter which was cut down by this awful fire.
Darkness brought with it an abatement, but not a

164

cessation of the struggle; for until three o'clock
in the morning of the thirteenth the strife con-
tinued. At that hour the enemy definitely aban-
doned the attempt to recapture the angle and
retired to an interior line. Twice during the day
had Co. F exhausted the ammunition in its
boxes, and it was replenished by a supply brought
to them as they lay by the stretcher bearers, and
once the regiment was retired for a fresh supply,
upon receipt of which they returned to the fighting.

In this carnival of blood — this harvest home of
death — Co. F again suffered the loss of brave men.
Henry Mattocks, Thomas Brown and John Bowen
were killed, and Amos A. Smith and J. E. Chase
w^ere wounded. Only eighteen men were now left
out of the forty-three who entered the campaign;
twenty-five had fallen on the field.

A great sovereign once addressed his general
thus: ^^I send you against the enemy with sixty
thousand men.'' '*But," protested the general,
'^tliere are only fifty thousand." '^ Ah! '' said the
Emperor, " but I count you as ten thousand I " "So
each man of the galhiut few who were left of what
had been Co. F agreed to call his comrade equal
to two men, and so they counted themselves yet a
strong company.

The night of the twelfth was spent on the line
which had been won and held at such a fearful
cost of life. At twelve o'clock on the thirteenth
the regiment, now but a handfuU of men, were
moved by the right flank some three or four hun-
dred yards, and ordered to establish a picket line

Kif)

in front of this new position. This was success-
fully accomplished witli but little opposition and
no loss to Co. F. That evening they were relieved
and returned to division headquarters, where they
bivouacked for the night. The three succeeding
days were spent in the same manner; out before
daylight, establishing new picket lines, sharp
shooting as occasion offered, and spending the
night near headquarters; but no important affair
occurred, and no casualties were re})orted.

The seventeenth was spent ((iiietly in camp — the
first day of uninterrupted repose the men had
enjoyed since crossing the Rapidan two weeks
before. During that eventful period there had not
been one single day, and hardly an hour, that the
men of Co. F had not been under fire. It was a
short time to look back upon, but what a terrible
exi)erience had been crowded into it ! The com-
pany which is the subject of this history had lost
more than half of its numbers, while in the Army
of the Potomac the losses had been appalling — no
less than four thousand five hundred and thirty-
two men had been killed on tlio field, and the
wounded numbered eighteen thousand nine hun-
dred and forty-five) a total of twenty-two thousand
four hundred and seven t3'-seven men) while of tlie
missing there were four thousand eight hundred
and seventy-two, making a total of twenty-seven
thousand three liundred and forty-nine lost from
tlie effVctive strength of the army since May -ith.
Some idea of the extent of the losses may be
obtained by the casual reader by a comparison,

166

thus: If the entire popiihition of any of the
great and populous counties of Bennington,
Orange or Orleans, as shown by the census
of 1880, were suddenly blotted out, the loss
would not equal the total of killed and wounded
during the twelve days between the 4th and 17th
of May, while the entire population of Grand Isle
county is not as great as the number of tlie killed
alone; and the total loss in killed, wounded and
missing is greater than the population of any
county in the State of Vermont except Chittenden,
Franklin, Rutland and Windsor. And yet there
was no sign of retreat. On the contrary, on every
side were evidences of preparation for renewed
battle, and during tliese days of comparative quiet
attempts were made at various points to penetrate
the rebel line, some of these assaults rising of
themselves almost to the dignity of battles, but
so insignificant were they as compared with what
had gone before that they hardly attracted the
the attention, even, of any but the men immedi-
ately engaged.

On the nineteenth Gen. Grant ordered another
movement of the army, again by the left, and
again in the direction of Richmond. No unusual
incident occurred to mark the progress of the
sharp shooters until the twenty-first, vdien the
regiment, by a sudden dash, occupied the little
village of Bowling Green, where the retreating
enemy had confined in the jail all the negroes
whom they had swept along with them, and whom
they intended to remove to a point further south

1G7

where they would be removed from tlie tem])tutioii
to desert their kind masters and join the Union
forces. The advance was too sudden for them,
however, and some hundreds of negro slaves were
released from their captivity by the willing rifle-
men.

Two miles beyond Bowling Green tlie skirmishers
met a considerable force of rebel cavalry, and a
sharp skirmish took place. Two regiments of new
troops came into action on the right, but being
dispersed and routed retired to be seen no more,
and the sharp shooters fell heirs to their knapsacks
which they had laid off on going into action. The
departed regiments had evidently had a recent issue
of clothing, and their successors were thankful for
the opportunity of renewing their own somewhat
dilapidated wardrobes. They were further grati-
fied about this time by the arrival of four conva-
lescents, which swelled the number to tweny-two
for duty. The twenty-second was a red letter day
for the men who had been confined to such rations
as tiiey could carry on their persons. On this day
they were ordered on a reconnoissance whicli took
them into a section of country not frequently vis-
ited by either army. Halting at the County Poor
House, they proceeded to gratify a soldier's natu-
ral curiosity to see what might be found on the
premises to eke out their unsatisfactory rations,
and, to their great delight, found chickens, mutton,
milk and eggs in profusion, upon which tliey
regaled themselves to their hearts' content. If
these, thought the delighted men, are Virginia

168

poor house rations, the pooi\of Virginia are greatly
to be envied. Proceeding on the twenty-third
towards Hanover Junction, they found their way
oncie again blocked by tlie rebel army in a strong
position behind the ]^orth Anna river and pre-
jDared again to receive battle on a fortified line of
their own choosing. This was a disappointment,
for the soldiers had become tired of such work and
ardently desired to get at the rebels in an open
field; but Grant, patient and persistent as ever, at
once set about finding a means whereby he might
beat them even here, if such a thing was possible.
The line of march had brought the Second Corps
to the extreme left of the army, and it struck the
river at the point at which the telegraph road
crosses it at the county bridge. Here the enemy
had constructed, on the north side of the river,
a strong work for the defense of the bridge head;
while on the southern bank, completely command-
ing the approaches to the river, was another, and
a still stronger line of fortifications. The land in
front of the nearer of the two Avas a bare and
open plain, several hundred yards in width, which
must be passed over by troops advancing to the
attack, and every foot of which was exposed to the
fire of the enemy on either bank. To Birney'S
Division was assigned the task of assaulting this
position, and at five o'clock p. m., on the twenty-
third, the division moved out in the discharge of
its duty, Pierce's and Egan's brigades in the
front line, while the Third brigade formed a
second, and supporting line. The sharp shooters

IGii

were deployed as skirniisjliers and led the way.
The works were won without serious loss, and the
sharp shooters passed the night near the river,
charged with the duty of protecting the bridge
for the passage of the troops on the next day, Gen.
Hancock not deeming it advisable to attempt
the crossing at that late hour of the evening.
Attempts were made during the night by the rebels
to destroy the bridge, but it was safely i)reserved,
although the railway bridge below was destroyed,
and on the morning of the twenty-fourth, the
troops commenced crossing covered by the fire of
the shar^) shooters, who lined the north bank, and
the Union artillery posted on the higher ground
in the rear. The regiment followed the last of the
troops, and were pushed forward beyond the Fox
house, a large, though dilapidated Virginia man-
sion, where they met the rebel skirmishers. Sharp
firing at long range continued for some hours until
the ammunition in the boxes became exhausted,
when the regiment was relieved and fell back to
the Fox house, where breastworks were thrown up
and where they remained during the rest of that
day and the next, exposed to desultory artillery
fife, but suffering no considerable loss. The next
day the quartermaster, Lieut. Geo. A. Marden,
arrived with the regimental wagons, and with such
stores, clothing, and so forth, iis the small train
could bring.

As it was the first sight the regiment had had of
its baggage for twenty-two days, the arrival was
the signal for great rejoicing among the men,

170

especially as the good quartermaster brought ^
mail, and the heart of many a brave soldier was
made glad by the receipt of warm and tender words
from the loved ones far away among the peaceful
valleys of the state he loved so well.

The morning of the twenty-sixth brought sharp
fighting for the troops on the right and left, but
in Birney's front all was quiet, and the tired sharj^
shooters lay still until dark, when they were ordered
to relieve a portion of the pickets of the Ninth
Corps on their right. The night was very dark,
and it was with difficulty that they found their
designated position; but it was finally gained and
found occupied by the Seventeenth Vermont,
among whom the men of Co. F found many friends.

During the night the army Avas withdrawn to
the north bank of the river, and on the morning
of the twenty-seventh the sharp shooters were
also withdrawn, and operations on the North Anna
ceased. Grant had found the position too strong
to warrant another attempt like those of the
Wilderness and Spottsylvania, and had determined
on another movement to the left. All day, and
until two o'clock the next morning, the troops
toiled on, passing on the way the scene of a severe
cavalry fight a few days previous, the marks of
which were plainly visible to the eye as well as
apparent to the nose, since the stench from the
decaying bodies of horses and • men was almost
unbearable. After a few hours of needed rest the
march was resumed at daylight, still to the south,
and at four o'clock they crossed the Pamunkey at

171

Hjinovertown. Tliey were now ji})i)i'o;icliing famil-
iar trrouiul. Only two or three miles away was the
old battle field of Hanover Court House, while but
little further to the soutli lay Mechanicsville and
Gaines Hill, where they had fought under
McClellan two years before. Halting in a field
near the river they rested until near noon of the
following day.

During the forenoon of this day an inspection
was had, from which it was inferred by some that
it was Sunday, although there was no other visible
sign of its beino- in anv sense a dav of rest. In the
afternoon a reconnoissance in force was ordered to
determine, if possi1)le, the whereabouts of the
rebels. Some skirmishing took place, but no
important body of the enemy was found until the
advance reached the point at which the Richmond
road crosses the Totopotomy, where the enemy
were found strongly posted with their front well
covered by entrenchments and abatis, prepared to
resist a further advance. A brisk skirmish took
place, and the rebels were forced into their works.
The whole corps was now ordered up and took
position as close to the rebel line as it was possible
to do without bringing on a general engagement, for
which the federal commanders were not ready. In
this position they lay, exchanging occasional shots
with the rebel shar[) sliooters, but with little or no
serious fighting, until the evening of June 1st,
when the corps was ordered again to the left, and
by a forced march reached Cold Harbor early in
the forenoon of the second. At two o'clock .v. m.

172

on the 30tli of May Capt. Merriinan had been
ordered to take a detail of twenty-five men from
the regiment and establish a picket line at a point
not before fnlly covered. In the darkness he
passed the proper position and went forward until
he reached the rebel picket line, which, after chal-
lenging and receiving an evasive answer, opened
fire on him. By careful management, however, ho
was able to extricate his little force, and eventually
found and occupied his designated position. This
was an unfortunate locality for Capt. Merriman,
for when the corps moved on. Cold Harbor, he, by
some blunder, failed to receive his orders and was
thus left behind. Finding himself abandoned,
and surmising the reason, he took the responsibility
of leaving his post; and as it was clearly the proper
thing to do under the circumstances, he escaped
without censure. Severe fighting had already
taken place between tlie Sixth and Eighteenth
Corps and the rebels, for the possession of this
important position, and Old Cold Harbor had been
secured and held for the Union army. This little
hamlet is situated at the junction of the main
road from White House to Eichmond, and the
road leading south from Hanovertown, which,
a mile south of Old Cold Harbor intersects the
road leading southeasterly from Mechanicsville,
wdiicli road in its turn connects with the Williams-
burgh road near Dispatch Station, on the Richmond
& York River Railway. The control of the road
from White House was indispensible to the

173

Union army, as it was the only sliort line
to the new base of supply on the Pamnnkey.

A mile to the westward of Old Cold Harbor this
road intersects the Mechanicsville road at a place
called Ne2U Cold Harbor, the possession of which
would have been more desirable, since it would
have oiven to the Union commander all the
advantages of the roads heretofore mentioned and,
also, the i)ossession and control ot the highway
from Mechanicsville to Dispatch Station, wliich
gave to the party holding it the same advantage
Avhich the Brock road had afforded to the Union
troops in the Wilderness; that is, the opportunity
to move troops rapidly over a good road, and by
short lines, from right to left, or vice versa. This
point was, however, held by the confederates in
great force, and wtis defended by formidable works.
The heavy fighting of tlic day before had been for
its possession, and the federals had not only gained
no ground, but the troops engaged had sutfered a
disastrous repulse with severe loss, no less than
two thousand men having fallen in the assault.
The morning of the ^d of June brought to the
anxious eyes of the federals the same familiar old
view. In every direction across their front were
seen the brownish red furrows which told of rifle
pits, Avhicli at every commanding point in the rebel
line rose stronger and higiier Avorks, above which
peered the dark muzzles of hostile artillery.

It Avas evident that one of two things would
ensue. Either a sanguinary Ijattle, like those of
the Wilderness and Spottsylvania, where the rebels,

174

strongly in trenched, had all the advantages on
their side must be fought, or Grant mnst try
another move by the left and seek a more favorable
battle ground. But that meant a move to the
James river; since between the White House and the
James there could be no new base of supply. Fur-
thermore, the ground further to the south and nearer
the James, was known to be fully as difficult as that
on which the army now stood and was, presuma-
bly, as well fortified. And even if it was not
fortified, the further Grant moved in that direc-
tion the stronger grew Lee's army, since the troops
in and about Richmond, reenforced by a very large
portion of those who had so recently made, and
still kept, Butler and his thirty thousand men close
prisoners at Bermuda Hundred, could be safely
spared for more active operations in the field against
this more dangerous enemy.

Moreover Grant had said '^ I propose to fight
it out on this line," and it was now nineteen days
since the fight for the angle at Spottsylvania, and
the Army of the Potomac had hardly lost that
number of hundreds of men in the operations on the
North Anna and the Totopotamy. It was time to
fight another great battle, lest the army should
forget that it was now to be "fought up to its
capacity," and so the battle of Cold Harbor Avas
ordained. The position of the Second Corps Avas
now, as at the Wilderness, on the extreme left of
the army; on their left were no forces, except the
cavalry Avhicli watched the roads as far to the south
as the Chicahominy. It was Avell remembered

175

ground: two years before the sliiiri) sliooters, then
part of the Fifth Corp^, had, with that organiza-
tion, fought the great battle of Gaines Hill, on
this identical ground, but how changed was the
situation.

They had now the same enemy before them, but
the positions were completely reversed. Then, they
were fighting a defensive battle for the safety of the
army. Then, the enemy came far out from their
intrenchments and sought battle in the open field.
Now, it was the federals who were the aggressive
party, and the rebels could by no means be tempted
from the shelter of their strong works. Now, the
enemy occupied nearly the same lines held by the
federals on the former occasion, while the federals
attacked from nearly the same positions, and over
the same ground, formerly occupied by the rebels.
Then, however, the federals had fought without
shelter; now, the rebels were strongly intrenched.
Indeed, an nnparalleled experience in warfare had
taught both parties the necessity of preparation of
this kind to resist attack, or to cover reverses.
There was, however, a greater change in the moral
than in the physical situation. Then, the rebels
had been haughty, arogant and aggressive; now,
they were cautious and timid. Brought squarely
to the test of battle they were, individually, as
brave as of yore, but the spirit of confidence had
gone out of them. They had learned at last that
" one southern gentleman " was not '• tlie equal of
three northern mudsills.'' The handwriting on
the wall was beginning to appear plainly to them,

176

and while they still fought bravely and well — while
they were still able to deal damaging blows, and to
inflict terrible punishment — they never afterwards
fought with the dash and fire which they had
shown at Gaines Hill, at Malvern, at the Second
Bull Eun, at Chancellorsville, or at Gettysburgh.
The noontide of the Confederacy had i3assed, and
they knew then that henceforth they were marching
towards the darkness of the certain night.

The 2d of June was spent by both parties in
strengthening positions and other preparations.
Constant firing, it is true, was going on all along
the line, but no conflict of importance took place
on this day. Co. F was thus engaged, but no
important event occurred on their front. On the
third, however, at half past four a. m. the corps
moved forward to the assault. Barlow's and Gib-
bon's Divisions formed the front line, while Bir-
ney's Avas in the second.

The early morning fogs still hung low and ren-
pered it impossible for the advancing troops to see
what was before them; thus many parts of the line
became broken by obstacles which might have been,
in part, avoided had it been possible to discover
them in time, and the column arrived at the point
of charging distance somewhat disorganized. Still
the vigor of the attack was such that the rebels
could not long resist it; they were driven out of
a sunken roadway in front of their main line, into
and over their intrenchments, and at this point
the success of the assault was complete. Several
hundred prisoners and three guns were captured,

Ill

the gilns being iit once turned upon their former
owners.

The supporting column, however, fiiiled, as is so
often tlie case, to come up at the proper time and
the enemy, being strongl}^ reenforced, advanced
against the victorious men of the Second Corps,
and after a desperate struggle, reminding the par-
ticipants of the fight at Spottsylvania, forced them
back and reoccupied the captured works. In this
affair Co. F, being with Birney's Division in the
second line, was not actively engaged, nevertheless
in the charge they lost two or three men whose
names are not now remembered, slightly, and
Alvin Babcock, mortally wounded. Babcock was
one of the recruits who joined the company on tbe
day after the battle of Antietam, nearly two years
before, and had been a faithful and good soldier.
He died on the first of July following from the
effects of his wound. The corps retired in good
order to their own works. A partial attack by the
rebels on their position was easily repulsed, and the
rest of the day was passed in comparative (piiet.
The picket line, in full view of the rebel works and
only about one hundred yards distant, was held by
a regiment for whose marksmanship the rebels
seemed to have a supreme contempt, since they
exposed themselves freely, using the while the
most opprobrious epithets.

The fire of their sharp shooters Avas constant and

close, and a source of great annoyance to all within

range. Co. F lay some distance in the rear of the

pickets and somewhat exposed to the stray bullets

12

178

which passed over the front line. They became
somewhat restive under this unusual state of
affairs; but receiving no order to move up to take
part in the conflict, and having no liberty to shift
their position, Capt. Merriman and Sergt. Peck
determined to see what could be done by independ-
ent effort to relieve the situation. Taking rifles
and a good supply of ammunition they made their
way to the front and, taking up an advantageous
position, commenced operations. The first shot
brought down a daring rebel wdio was conspicu-
ously and deliberately reloading his gun in full
view of a hundred Union soldiers. This single
shot and its result seemed to convey to the minds
of the rebels that a new element had entered into
the question, and for a few moments they were
less active. Soon regaining their courage, how-
ever, and apparently setting it down as the result
of some untoward accident, they resumed their
exposure of persons and their annoying, fire. It
did not long continue, however, for wherever a
man appeared within range he got such a close
hint of danger, if indeed he escaped without
damage, that the sharp shooting along that front
ceased. Further to the right was a place where
the breastwork behind which the rebel infantry
was posted did not quite connect with a heavy
earthwork which formed part of the rebel line, and
which was occupied by artillery. Across this open
space men were seen passing freely and openly,
apparently officers or orderlies passing along the
line in the discharge of their duties.

lid

To this point the two shar]) sliootcrs now
directed tlieir attention. Dodging from tree to tree,
now crawling along behind some little eleva-
tion of land, and now running at full speed across
some exposed portion of the ground, they reached a
idace from which they could command the passage,
and very soon the rebels found it safer and more
convenient to take some other route. Service of
this independent nature had a })eculiar fascination
for these men. In fact, sharp shooting is the
squirrel hunting of war; it is wonderful to see how
self-forgetful the marksman grows — to see with
what sportsmanlike eyes he seeks out the grander
game, and with wh^it coolness and accuracy he
Ijrings it down. At the moment he grows utterly
indifferent to human life or human suffering, and
seems intent only on cruelty and destruction; to
make a good shot and hit his man, brings for the
time being a feeling of intense satisfaction.

Few, however, care to recall afterwards the look
of the dying enemy, and there are none who would
not risk as much to aid the wounded victim of
their skill as they did to inflict the wound. War
is brutalizing, but the heat of the actual conflict
passed, soldiers are humane and merciful, even to
their foes. The assault of the Second Corps had
not been an isolated attempt to force the rebel line
at one point only. On their immediate right the
Sixth and Eighteenth Corps had also advanced,
and had met with severe loss; while far away to
the north, even to and beyond the Totopotomy,
miles away, Burnside and Warren had been

180

enguged in more or less serious battle. At no
point, however, except in front of the Second
Corps had the enemy's line been entered, and this
lodgement, as has been seen, was of brief duration.
Advanced po;5itions had been held, however, and
in many places a distance no greater than fifty
to one hundred yards now separated the opposing
lines. Barlow's Division, magnificent fighters,
when forced out of the captured rebel works, had
taken advantage of a slight crest of ground not
fifty yards from the rebel line, and with the aid of
their bayonets, tin cups, etc., had thrown up a
slight cover, from which they stubbornly refused
to move; and to this far advanced line Companies
F and Gr were ordered during the night of the third
to keep down, so far as they were able, the rebel fire
when the morning light should enable them to see
the enemy. They spent the fourth in this position,
constantly exposed and constantly engaged, suffer-
ing the loss of one man, Joseph Bickford, killed.
The shooting on the part of the rebels was unusu-
ally close and accurate, and was a source of great
discomfort to one, at least, of the men of Co. F.
Curtiss Kimberly, known best by his friends as
*' Muddy," had such a breadth of shoulders that
the small stump behind Avhich he lay for shelter
was insufficient to cover both sides at once. Three
times in as many minutes the stump was struck by
rebel bullets, and ''Muddy" gravely expressed the
opinion that there was ''a mighty good shot over
there somewhere,'' at the same time uttering an
earnest hope that '' lie might not miss that stamp."

During the niglit uf thel'ourtli they were muved
to tlie left, and at daylight found themselves face
to face with the rebel pickets near Barker's Mill.
This was indeed ''Tenting on the old camp
ground," since this point had been the extreme
right of the Union line at the battle of Gaines Ilill,
June 27, 1862.

The3' lay in tliis position until the twelfth,
engaged every day, to a greater or less extent, in
skirmishing and sharp shooting until the eleventh,
when an agreement Avas made between the pickets
that hostilities should cease in that part of the line,
and the day was spent in conversation, games, etc.,
with the rebels. They Avere ravenous for collee,
but had plenty of tobacco. The federals were
"• long " of coffee but " short " of tobacco, and many
a quiet exchange of such merchandise Avas made in
the most friendly Avay betAveen men Avho for days
had' been, and for days to come Avould be, seeking
each otliers lives. It Avas a curious scene and Avell
illustrated one phase of war. On the tAvelfth, the
truce being over, hostilities were resumed and the
men who had so lately fraternized together Avere
again seeking opportunity to destroy each other.
On this day Almon D. Griffin, Avho had been
Avounded at Chancellorsville, was again a victim
to bullets. He recovered, however, and rejoined
his company to serve until the expiration of his
term of service, Avhen he was discharged. Grant
Avas noAv minded to try another movement by the
left, this time transporting his entire army to the
south bank of the James, and on the thirteenth

182

the sharp shooters crossed the Chicahominy at
Long Bridge, and leaving the old battle field of
Charles City cross-roads and Malvern Hill to the
right, struck the James river the same niglit at
Wilcox's landing some two miles below Harrison's,
wdiere McClellan's army had lain so long after his
unfortunate campaign in 1862. This was the first
opportunity for a bath which had been offered
since the campaign opened, and soon the water was
alive with the dirty and tired men, their hands and
faces of bronze contrasting strangely with the
Saxon fairness of their sinewy bodies, as they
laughingly dashed the Avater at each other, playing
even as they did when they were school boys in
Vermont. It was a luxury which none but those
who have been similarly situated can appreciate.

CHAPTER VII.

SEIGE OF PETERSBURGH. MUSTER OUT.

Early on the morning of the fourteenth the
regiment crossed the James by means of a steam
ferry boat and spent the day near the south bank.
There was trouble somewhere in the quartermas-
ter's department, and no rations could be procured
on that day. On the next day orders Avere issued
for an immediate advance; still no rations, and
the hungry men started out on the hot and dusty
march of some twenty miles breakfastless and with

183

empty Imversacks. But a liiingry soldier is greatly
given to reconnoissances on i)rivate account, he has
an interrogation point in each eye as well as one in
his empty stomach. Every hill and ravine is
explored, the productions of the country, animal
and vegetable, are inventoried, and poor indeed
must be the section that fails to yield something
to the hungry searcher. Chickens, most care-
fully concealed in the darkest cellars by the anxious
owners, are unearthed by these patient seekers,
pigs and cows driven far away to the most seques-
tered valleys are brought to light; bacon and hams
turn u]) in the most unexpected places, and on the
whole, the soldier on a march fares not badly when
left to his own devices for a day or so. Thus our
sharp shooters managed to sustain life, and at dark
went into bivouac in front of the rebel defenses of
Petersburg!!.

The Eighteenth Corps, under Gen. Smith, had
preceded the Second, and had had heavy fighting on
the afternoon of this day; they had captured and
now held important works in the line of rebel
defenses. Darkness and an inadequate force had
prevented them from following up their advan-
tages, and thus the first of the series of terrible
battles about Petersburgh had ended.

At daylight on the morning of the sixteenth the
Union artillery opened a brisk cannonade on the
now reenforced enemy. During the forenoon the
sharp shooters lay quietly Ijchind the crest of a
slight elevation in support of a battery thus
engaged. At about noon they were deployed and

184

adyanced against the rebel pickets with orders to
drive them into their main line and also to
remove certain fences and other obstructions so as
to leave the way clear for an assault by the entire
corps at a later hour. The advancje was spirited,
and after a determined resistance the rebels were
driven from their advanced rifle pits, the skir-
mishers following them closely, while the reserve
companies leveled the fence in the rear.

At six o'clock p. M. the Second Corps, supported
by two brigades of the Eighteenth on the right,
and two of the Ninth on the left, advanced to the
attack, and after severe fighting, in which the
corps suffered a heavy loss in officers and men,
they succeeded in capturing three redans in the
rebel line of works, together with the connecting
breastworks, and in driving the enemy back along
their whole front.

Darkness put an end to the advance, but several
times during the night the rebels attempted to
regain their lost works, and were each time
repulsed with loss. In this charge Caspar B. Kent
of Co. F was killed on the field. Co. F moved
during the night to a position further to the left,
and further to the front than any point reached
by the Union troops during the day, and were
made happy by an issue of rations, the first they
had received since leaving the lines of Cold Harbor.
A fresli supply of ammunition was also received
by them, of which they stood in great need, they
having very nearly exhausted the supply with
which they went into the fight. The rebels in

185

their front were active during the n,j;ht and a
aood deal of random firing took place, but ot
course witl> little result so far -^ ':'^'="';'°";:;'; ^
Morning, however, showed a new hue " ' "^
thrown up during the night, not over f. ty >-uds
in front of the sharp shooters, who had by no
means spent the night in sleep themselves, bu
making such preparations for defense as they co d
with such poor tools as bayonets, tni plates and
cups They had been sufficient, however, and day-
liglit found them fairly well covered from the fire
of the enemy-s infantry, and with a z.g.ag, or
covered way,' by means of which a careful ma
could pass to the rear with comparatnxly httlc
danger Co. F bold this advanced line alone, ana
the day which dawned on then, lying in this posi-
tion was destined to be one of the most active and
arduous, and the one to be best remembered by the
men present, of any during their entire term of
service. No sooner did the liglit appear than
sharp shooting began on both sides, and was
steadily kept up during the day. Ihc lines were
so close that the utmost care wasrcpured to obtain
a satisfactory shot without an exposure which was
almost certainly fatal. Nevertheless, thoj gallant
men of the Vermont company managed to use up
the one hundred rounds of cartridges with which
they were supplied long before the day was over
Capt. Merriman, foreseeing this, had directed
Sergt. Oassius Peck to procure a fresh supply.

It was a service of grave danger, but taking two
haversacks the sergeant succeeded in safely passing

186

twice over the dangerous ground and thus enabled
the company to hold its threatened lines. Many
men in the company fired as many as two hundred
rounds on this day, and at its close the rifles were
so choked with dirt and dust, and so heated with
the rapid and continuous firing, as to be almost
unserviceable.

The company suffered a severe loss at this place
by the death of Corporal Charles B. Mead, who
was shot through the head and instantly killed.
Corporal Mead was one of the recruits w^ho joined
in the autnmn of 1862, and had been constantly
with the company and constantly on duty ever
since, except while recovering from a former w^ound
received at Gettysburgh. He w^as one of two
brothers who enlisted at the same time, the other,
Carlos E. Mead, having been himself wounded.
He was a young man of rare promise, and his early
death brought sadness, not only to his comrades in
the field, but lo a large circle of friends at home.
He had kept a daily record of events in the form
of a diary during his entire period of service, to
which the writer of these lines lias had access, and
from whicli he has obtained valuable information
and assistance in his w^ork.

Henry E. Barnum was also mortally wounded,
and died on the fourteenth of the following month,
while John Quinlan received a severe wound.
Quinlan, however, recovered and served his enlist-
ment to the close of the Avar. Sergt. -Major Jacobs,
formerly of Co. G, who served with Co. F on this
day, w^as also mortally wounded.

187

Tlic L'Oinpjiny was relievcnl at night and ri'tircd
to the roar for a well earned rest, to Ije engaged
the next day in tlie sliarp engagement around the
Hare house. Their position liere, however, was less
exposed and tlieir service less arduous. The Ilare
house had but lately been vacated l)y its former occu-
pants, a wealtliy and influential Virginia family,
who had left so suddenly as to have abandoned
nearly everything that tho house contained. The
windows of the basement oi)ened full on the rebel
works and rifle pits, the latter within i^oint bank
range, and here the sharp shoo';ers, seated at ease
in the fine mahogany chairs of the late owner,
took careful aim at his fi'iends in his own garden.
They boiled their coffee, and cooked their rashers
cf pork, on his cooking range, over fires started and
fed with articles taken from his elegant apart-
ments, not, it is to be feared, originally intended
for fuel, and ate them on his dining table. There
was, however, no vandalism, no wanton destruc-
tion of property for the mere sake of destruction
in all this. The house and its contents were
doomed in any event, and the slight havoc worked
by the sharp shooters only anticipated by a few
hours what must come in a more complete form
later. The shooting here was at very short range,
and correspondingly accurate. As an Alabama
rifleman, who was taken prisoner, remarked, ''It
was only necessary to hold up your hand to get a
furlough, and you were lucky if you could get to
the rear without an extension."

Silas Giddings Avas wounded here. (Jiddings

188

had been a friend and schoolmate of the Meads, and
had enlisted at the same time. Thus of the three
friends two were severely wounded and one. was dead.
During the day Birney's Division had made an
assault on the main rebel line to the left of the Hare
house which had been repulsed with severe loss. The
wounded were left on the field, some of them close
under the enemy's works. They lay in plain sight
during the hours of daylight, but it was impossible
to help them. When darkness came on, however,
Capt. Merriman, slinging half a dozen canteens
over his shoulder, crept out onto the field and
spent half the night in caring for the poor fellows
whose sufferings during the day had so touched
his sympathies. The 19th, 20th and 21st of June
were sj^ent at this place, sharp shooting constantly
going on. On the twentieth Corporal Edward
Lyman received a wound of which he died on the
twenty-fifth. Corporal Lyman was one of the
original members of the company; was promoted
corporal on the 15th of August, 1863, and had
long been a member of the color guard of the reg-
iment^ having been selected for that position for
his distinguished courage and coolness on many
fields. Some times during these days a temporary
truce would be agreed upon between the opposing
pickets, generally for the purpose of boiling coffee
or i^reparing food. Half an hour j^terhaps would
be the limit of time agreed upon; but whatever it
was, the truce was scrupulously observed. When
some one called '' time," however, it behooved
every man to take cover instantly.

189

Upon one occasion a rebel rifleman was slow to
respond to the warnino^ — in fact he appeared to
think himself out of sight; while all others hurried
to their posts he alone sat (piietly blowing his hot
coffee and munching his hard-tack. It so hap-
pened, however, that lie was in plain sight of a
sharp shootel' less bloodthirsty than some others,
who thought it only fair to give him one more
warning, therefore he called out, "I say, Johnny,
time is up, get into your hole." ''All right,"
responded the cool rebel still blowing away at his
hot cup. ''Just hold that cup still," said the
sharp shooter, "and 1 will show you whether it is
all right or not." By this time the fellow began
to suspect that he was indeed visible, and holding
his cup still for an instant while he looked uj-), he
afforded the Union marksman the opportunity he
was waiting for. A rapid sight and the sharp's
bullet knocked the coffee cup far out of its owner's
reach and left it in such a condition that it could
never serve a useful purj^ose again. The sur-
prised rebel made haste to get under cover, pur-
sued by the laughter and jeers of his own com-
rades as well as those of the sharp shooters.
Thus men played practical jokes on each other
at one moment, and the next were seeking to do
each other mortal harm.

The various assaults having failed to force the
enemy from any considerable portion of the
defenses of Petersljurgh, it was determined by the
federal commanders to extend again to the left,
with the intent to cut off, one by one, the avenues

190

by Avhich supplies might be brought to the
enemy from the South; and on the twenty-first the
Second Corps, now under Gen. Birney (Gen.
Hancock being disabled by the reopening of an
old wound), in company with the Fifth and Sixth
Corps, moved to the left and took up a position
with its right on the Jeausalem plank road. The
Sixth Corps, whicli was to have prolonged the line
to the left, not arriving in position as early as was
expected, the enemy took instant advantage of the
opportunity and, penetrating to the rear of the
exposed left of the Second Corps, commenced a
furious attack. Thus surprised, the entire left
division gave way in disorder and retreated towards
the right, thus uncovering the left of Mott's
Division, wliich was next in line, which in its turn
was thrown into confusion. The sharp shooters,
who had been skirmishing in advance of the left,
had, of course, no option; they were compelled to
retire with their supports or submic to capture.
They fell back slowly and in good order, however,
gradually working themselves into a position to
partially check the advancing rebels and afford a
scanty space of time in which the disordered mass
might rally and reform. In this movement they
were gallantly supported by the Fifth Michigan
volunteers by whose assistance they were, at last,
enabled to bring the rebels to a halt; not, however,
until they had captured some seventeen hundred
men and four guns from the corps. The company
again suffered heavy loss in this affair.

Barney Leddy and Peter Lafflin were killed on

191

the field; "Watson V. Morgan was wounded and
taken prisoner; Sergt. Grover was badly wounded
by a rifle ball through the tliigli, and David Clark
received a severe wound. Morgan was a young
but able and gallant soldier; he had previously
been wounded at Kelly's ford, but returned to his
company to be again wounded, and to experience
the additional misfortune of being made a prisoner.
He was exchanged soon after, but subse(iuently
died from the eifect of his Avound. Sergt. Grover
had also previously been wounded at Gettysburgh,
where he had been promoted for gallantry and
good conduct. Clark recovered to reenlist upon
the expiration of his term of service, and served to
the close of the war. Of the forty-seven men who
had been with the company since it crossed the
Rapidan only ten were left for duty — thirty-five
had been killed or wounded, and two had been
captured unwounded. From this time to the 26th
of July the company were employed, with short
intervals for rest, on the picket line, here and there
as occasion demanded their services, but Avith-
out important incident. Active operations having
now continued so long in this particular (puirter as
to afford room for hope that the rebels might be
caught napping on the north bank of the James,
Gen. Grant determined to send a large force in
that direction to co-operate with the Army of the
James, hoping to take the enemy by surprise and,
by a sudden dash, perhaps to capture the capitol of
the Confederacy before its real defenders could get
information of the danger. With this view he

192

detaclied the Second Corps and two divisions of
cavalry to attempt it.

The troops nifirched at one o'clock on the after-
noon of the twenty-sixth, and at two o'clock on the
morning of the twenty-seventh the corps crossed
the James by a ^^onton bridge at Jones' Landing.
Passing rapidly to the north, in rear of the lines
held by the Tenth Corps (belonging to the Army
of the James), the troops faced to the west and
were soon confronting the enemy in position. The
sharp shooters were deployed and advanced in
skirmishing order across an open and level tract of
land known locally as ^^ Strawberry Plains."

The advancing line was heavily supported and
drove the enemy steadily until they were forced
back into their works, when, Avith a grand dash,
sharp shooters, supports and all in one rushiijg
mass, swept up to and over the rebel works, cap-
turing in the charge four guns and some seven
hundred prisoners. Notwithstanding this success,
the enemy were found to have been so heavily
reenforced by troops from the Petersburgh lines
— who could be transferred by railroad, while the
Union forces were compelled to march — that the
full object of the movement could not be attained.
The captured works were held, however, while the
cavalry, moving still further north, destroyed the
railroads and bridges north of the city, and
returned to the vicinity of Deep Bottom, where
the corps returned by a night march to their former
position in front of Petersburgh, resting for a few
hours by the way on the field of their battle of

19;{

the 18tli of July. The regiment lay in camp until
the 12tli of August, engaged in the usual routine
of ])ickot duty and sharp shooting, but without
unusually hard service. Indeed, what would once
have been called by them active employment was
now enjoyed as a season of grateful repose, so con-
stantly liad they been engaged in bloody battle
since crossing the Kapidan. On the 12th of
August the bugle mounded the general once more,
and with knai)sacks packed, blankets strapped,
haversacks and cartridge boxes tilled, the one hun-
dred and sixty men who now represented what had
once been the First Regiment of United States
Sharp Shooters, marched with their division
towards City Point.

Rumors were rife as to their destination — some
said Washington; some said a southern seaport,
while some maintained that the objective point was
Cliicago, where they were wanted to maintain order
during the coming democratic convention. At City
Point they were embarked on steam transports and
headed down the river. The wisest guessers were
now really puzzled, and the prophet who foretold
Chicago had as many chances in his favor as any of
his fellows. A few miles down the river, and the
fleet of laden steamers came to an anchor, and lay
quiet for some hours. The rest, cleanliness, and
cool, refreshing breezes from the river, were very
grateful to the tired soldiers so long accustomed to
tlie dirt and dust of the rifle pits.

Soon after dark the anchors were got up and
the heads of the steamers turned again up stream.
13

194

Now all was plain, another secret movement was
planned, and at daylight on the morning of the
fourteenth the troops landed at the scene of their
crossing on the 26th of July at Deep Bottom.

Moving out toward the enemy severe skirmish-
ing took place, but no engagement of a general
character occurred on that day. On the fifteenth
they were detached from the Second, and ordered
to the Tenth Corps, now commanded by their
former division commander. Gen. Birney, and at
his especial request. Moving out at the head of
the column they found themselves in the early
afternoon the extreme right of the army, and in
front of the enemy at a little stream known as
Deep Run, or Four Mile creek. Deploying under
the personal direction of Gen. Bn-ney they
advanced toward a wooded ridge on which they
found the rebel skirmishers in force, and evidently
determined to stay. In the language of Capt.
Merriman, who must be accepted as authority, ^^It
was the hardest skirmish line to start that Co. F
ever struck.'' But Co. F was rarely refused when
it demanded a right of way and was opposed by
nothing but a skirmish line; and on this occasion,
as on many former ones, their steady pressure and
cool firing prevailed at last, and after more than
an hour the rebels yielded the ground. On the
sixteenth more severe fighting took place with seri-
ous loss to the regiment, but Co. F escaped with-
out loss — in fact there was hardly enough left of
the company to lose. Col. Craig, commanding the
brigade to which they wej-e attached, was killed,
and Capt. Andrews of Co. E, Capt. Aschmann

11)5

of Co. A, tiiul Lieut. TyU'rot'Co. I wciv wouiKk'il.
Thus this movement eiideil, as hud the former
one, with no decisive result so far as the partici-
pants could see. A few guns had been captured,
a few rebels killed, and a corresponding loss had
been suffered by the federals; but who could tell
what important effect on the great lield of action,
extending from the Mississippi to the Atlantic,
this apparently abortive movement was intended
to have ?

The men were beginning to understand that
marches and battles were not always for immedi-
ate effect at the point of contact; and so they
marched and fought as they were ordered; win-
ning if they could, and accepting defeat if they
must, but witli a growing confidence that the end
was near.

On the seventeenth they rejoined their proper
corps and marched again toward the James, leav-
ing Lieut. Kinsman in charge of a party who,
under a flag of truce, was caring for the wounded.

The corps recrossed the James on the night of
the nineteenth and resumed a place in the lines of
Petersburgh, relieving the Fifth Corps who moved
to the left to try to seize and hold the Weldon
railroad, the attempt on which had been aban-
doned since the battle on the Jerusalem plank road
on the 22d of July. On the twentieth, companies
C and A, whose term of service had expired, were
discharged. In Co. C only five, and in Co. A.
only eleven of the original members were left to be
mustered out. The terrible exposures of three
years of fighting had done their perfect work on

196

them, and the little band who answered to the roll
call on that day had little resemblance to the
sturdy line that had raised their hands as they took
the oath only three years before. The re^^iment
was on the eve of dissolution, since other com-
panies were soon to reach the end of their enlist-
ment and might soon be expected to leave the ser-
vice. Indeed, the company whose history we have
followed so long, would be entitled to its discharge
on the 12th of September, now only twenty-three
days off.

The departure of Co. A was made more sad from
the fact that they took with them their wounded
captain, who had lost a leg in the battle at Deep
Kun on the fifteenth. Capt. Aschmann had been
with the company from its organization, and had
participated with distinguished gallantry in all the
battles in which it had been engaged, escaping
without a wound, only to lose his leg in the last
fight, and only five days before he would be entitled
to his honorable discharge. It seemed a hard fate.
In Co. F great excitement existed in consequence
of the near approach of the time when they, also,
might honorably doff the green uniforms which had
so long been worn as a distinctive mark of their
organization, and turn their faces homeward, once
more to become sober citizens in the peaceful and
prosperous North — that North which they had
fought so long and so hard to preserve in its peace
and prosperity. Many and frequent were the dis-
cussions around the camp fire as to whether it was
better to leave the service or to reenlist. It was
now plain that the days of the rebellion were num-

197

hered, and tliut tlie end was at liaiid. It was evi-
dent to tliese veterans, however., that a few more
desperate battles must be fought before the end
was finally readied. Tliey ardently desired to bo
present at tlie tinal surrender and share the triumph
they liad suffered so much to assure. On the other
hand they as ardently longed to resume their places
in those home circles which they had left to take
up arms, only that the country and the Hag, whicli
they so honored and loved, might be preserved to
to their children, and their children's children,
forever. Tiiey felt that they had done all
that duty re<iuircd of them, that they had honorably
served their term, and that they might safely leave
it to those who had entered the service later to
finish the work which they had so far completed.
They felt, also, that they should leave behind them
an honorable record, on which no stain rested, and
second to that of no body of men in the army.

There were left of the original one hundred and
three men who had been mustered into the United
States service only twenty-five present and absent.
Of these, six, namely, David Clark, Jas. H. (lutli-
rie, Sam'l J. Williams, Stephen B. Flanders, John
Kanaaii and I^ewis J. Allen, had reenlisted. The
remainder, nineteen in number, as follows, elected
to take their honorable discharge:

0. D. Merriman, Fitz Green Halleck,

Spafford A. Wright, H. E. Kinsman,
Curtiss P. Kimberly, Edwin E. Kobinson,
W. C. Kent, Wm. McKeever,

Eugene Payne, Almon D, Griffin,

Cassius Peck, E. F. Stevens,

198

Watson X. Spragae. W. W. Cutting,
Jas. Af. Thompson, David 0. Daggett,
Thos. H. Tarnbull, Geo. H. Ellis,
H. B. Wilder.
Of these, nine only Avere present with the company
to be mustered out. The remaining six were
absent, sick or wounded, or on detached service.

The few remaining days were destined, however,
to be full of excitement and danger. It seemed to
the men that their division commander, aware of
the fact that he was soon to lose them, was deter-
mined to use them to the best advantage while he had
them. They were kept constantly engaged during
the hours of daylight, skirmishing and engaged
in the rifle pits. On the 21st of August they
drove the rebels from a rifle pit in their front,
capturing forty prisoners, just four limes as many
as there were men in their own ranks. From this
date until September 10th they were engaged every
day on the picket line. On that day, with other
companies, they were ordered to occupy what had
been, by consent, neutral ground surrounding a
well from which both parties had drawn water,
and where rebel and Unionist often met unarmed
and exchanged gossip. It seemed a pity to spoil
so friendly an arrangement, but orders must be
obeyed, and soon after daylight the sharp shooters
dashed out of their lines and occupied the ground
which they proceeded to fortify, capturing eighty-
five surprised, but not on the whole displeased,
rebels.

The enemy did not relish being deprived of the
opportunity of getting water from this place, and

199

cm tluit day and the next made rei)eated effort to
repossess it, but \vitl\oiit avail. Carlos K. Mead
received his second wound in repulsino- one of
these attempts. At last the day arrived when
thev might claim to have fuHilled on their
part the engagement which they had entered into
with Uncle Sam three years before, and on the
thirteenth the men present took their final dis-
charge and bade farewell to all the " Pomp and
circumstance of glorious war.'" They were des-
tined, however, to have one more opportunity to
show their skill even on this last day of their
service, for even while they were preparing for their
leave taking a sharp exchange of shots took place,
in which the departing Vermonters paid their last
compliments to the enemy whom they had so often
fought, and during which A. W. Bemis, a recruit
of 180:^, was wounded. At last all was over; reluc-
tantly turning in their trusty rilles, to which they
had become attached by long companionship in
many scenes of danger and death, they answered
to the last roll call and, bidding an affectionate
adieu to their comrades who were to remain, they
turned their faces toward City Point and home.

The small remnant of the company kept u\) an
organization under Sergt. Cunningham, and was
heavily engaged on the 27th of October in the
battle of Burgess Mill, which resulted from Grant's
attempt on the South Side railroad. The few men
left fought with their accustomed gallantry, losing
Daniel E. Bessie and Charles Danforth, killed in
action, and Volney W. Jencks and Jay S. Percy,
wounded and left on the field.

200

The little squad, now reduced to almost nothing,
were again engaged on the 1st of November, when
they suffered the loss of still another comrade,
Friend Weeks, who was mortally wounded and
died on the seventeenth of the same month. On
the 23d of December the few men left of the once
strong and gallant company were transferred to Co.
E of the Second Sharp Shooters, and Co. F ceased
to exist as an organizjition. With Co. E the
men so transferred participated in the affair at
Hatcher's Run on the loth of December, and at
other points along the line. On the 25tli of Feb-
ruary, 1865, the consolidated battalion of sharp
shooters being reduced to a mere skeleton, was
broken up and its members transferred to other
regiments, the Vermonters being assigned to Co.
G, Fourth Vermont Volunteers, with which com-
i)any they served until the close of the war.

On the 16th of February, the division comman-
der. Gen. De Trobriand, under whom they had
served for nearly two years, and who knew them
better, probably, than any general officer of the
army, issued the following complimentary order:
Headqtjakters 3d Div. 2d Army Corps, /
February 16, 1865. S

GENERAL ORDER NO. 12.

The United States Sharp Shooters, including the first
and second consolidated battalions, being about to be broken
up as a distinct organization in compliance with orders
from the War Department, the brigadier-general command-
ing the division will not take leave of them without
acknowledging their good and efficient service during about
three years in the field. The United States Sharp Shooters
leave behind them a glorious record in the Army of the
Potomac since tlie first operations against Yorktown in
1862 up to Hatcher's Kun, and few are the battles or engage-
ments where they did not make their mark. The brigadier-

201

general nmuu'.ynd\u^, ^^■hn luul thru, u.ulrr his command
flur ng most of th. ram,.aigns of mV,) ami 1S04. would be

he h.?t to forget their l.rave dec-ds during that period and
he feels assured that in the .litferent organi/a ions to whi( h

hev mav U long severally, officers and men will show them-
seh'-es worthy of their old reputation; with them the past

will answer for the future. m i • i

Bv command of Brig. -Gen. KDerrobriand

W, Iv. l)nl\ l\n, A. ^1. ''•

It was a haiidsome compliment on the part of
the commander, well deserved and heartily
bestowed. The history of Co. F would not be
complete, or do justice to the memories of the
brave men who died in its ranks, or to the gal-
lant few yet living, without a record of the names
of those who so freely shed their blood in the con-
flict for the Union.

In all thirty-two of its members died of wounds
received in action, of whom twenty-one were
killed on the field while eleven died in the hospi-
tal from the effects of their wounds. Their names

are as follows:

Volney W. Jencks,
Pat'k Murray,
David W. French,
Edw'd Trask,
E. A. Giddings,
Henry Mattocks,
Jos. Bickford,
Chas. B. Mead,

A. H. Cooper,
Jay S. Percy,
E. M. Hosmer,
AV. J. Domag,
Jacob Lacoy,
Joseph Ilagan,
Thos. H. Brown.
Caspar B. Kent,
Barney Leddy,
Uan'l "E. Bessie,
W. F. Dawson,
Jas. A. Read,
M. W. Wilson,
Alvin Babcock,
Edw'd Lyman,
Watson P. Morgan

Peter Lafflin,
Chas. Danforth,
B. W. Jordan,
A. C, Cross,
J no. Bo wen,
Henry E. Barnum,
Friend Weeks,
William Wells.

202

The Avouiicled who recovered and again reported
for dnty number forty-five. The names are given
here as second in honorable recollection only to
those who died on the field. The list will be found
to contain the names of several who were subse-
quently killed, or died of w^ounds received on other
fields:

C. M. Jordan,
Wm. McKeever,
Spafford A. Wright,
Dustin E. Bareau,
Edward Lyman,
J. E. Chase,
John Quinlan,
L. D. Grover (twice),
A. W. Bemis,
Sam'l Williams,
C. W. Peck,
Benjamin Billings,
C. W. Seaton,
W. C. Kent,
Brigham Buswell,
W. H. Blake,
Barney Leddy,
E. M.'Hosmer,
Jno. Monahan,
Chas. B. Mead,
Watson P. Morgan,
A. J. Cross,

Jno. C. Page,

M. Cunningham (twice),

H. E. Kinsman,

Henry Mattocks,

Amos A. Smith,

Almon D. Griffin (twice),

Silas Giddings,

David Clark,

Carlos E. Mead (twice),

Geo. W^ooley,

Lewis J. Allen,

E. H. Himes,

Jacob S. Bailey (twice),

H. J. Peck,

Ai Brown,

S. M. Butler,

Edward Trask,

Martin C. Lafiie,

AV. H. Leach,

Edw'd Jackson,

Fitz Greene Halleck,

Eugene Payne,

Sherod Brown.

Thus out of a total of one hundred and seventy-
seven men, including all recruits actually mustered
into the United States service (for it must be
remembered that thirteen of the one hundred and
sixteen men who were mustered by the state mus-
tering officer at Randolph, and charged against

203

the company on tlio rolls, were discharged at
Washington to reduce tlie number to the legal
re([uirement of one hundred and three officers
and men), thirty-two, or more than eighteen per
cent, died of wounds; while • the • killed and
wounded taken together number seventy-seven, or
forty-three and one-half per cent of the whole.

The record shows the severe and dangerous
nature of the service performed by these men, and
on it they may safely rest, certain that a grateful
counlry will honor their memories, even as it does
those of their comrades who fought in the ranks
of other and larger organizations.

CONCLUSION.

" You can have ten descriptions of a battle, or plans of a
campaign, sooner than one glimpse at the unthought of
details of a soldier's life."

The history of Co. F is finished, and is far from
satisfactory to the Avriter. Originally undertaken
for the purpose of supplying the Hon. G. G. Bene-
dict, State Military Historian, with material for
such a brief record as he could atford room for in
his history of the Vermont troops in tlie Avar of the
rebellion, it has grown far beyond what Avas
intended at the outset, and far beyond wliat would
be proper for him to publish in such a work as he
is charged w^ith. It should have been undertaken
by some other person than myself; by some one
more intimately and longer acquainted Avitli the
company in tlic field: l)y some one whose personal

204

recollection of the detail of its daily doings is
more exact than mine can possibly be; for the
history of so small a portion of a great army as a
company is, should be a personal history of the
men avIio composed it. The record of a company
is mainly made up of the every day scenes and
every day gossip about its company kitchen and
its company street. With these matters the writer
does not profess to be, or to have been, familiar.

The work has, therefore, become more of a
description of campaigns and of battles, and more
a history of the regiment to which it was attached,
1 fear, than of the company. Such as it is, how-
ever, its preparation has been a labor of love, and
it is published with the earnest hope that it may
serve at least to keep warm in the hearts of the
survivors the memories of those who marched with
them in 1861, and whose graves mark every battle
field whereon the Army of the Potomac fought.

Wm. Y. W. R.

^^

m§